PMID- 1433482
TI  - Mathematical description of the concentration of oxytetracycline and penicillin-G
      in tissue cages in calves as related to the serum concentration.
AB  - A mathematical model based on Fick's laws of diffusion describing the
      concentration of drug in tissue cage models was elaborated. The model takes into
      account differences in protein binding, tissue cage geometry and serum
      pharmacokinetics. The validity of the model was tested against experimental data
      obtained from a tissue cage model in calves by simultaneous fitting to serum and
      tissue cage fluid (TCF) data in a non-linear least-squares regression computer
      program. Concentrations of penicillin-G (pen-G) in serum and TCF following
      intravenous (i.v.) administration of potassium pen-G were adequately described by
      the mathematical model. Concentrations in TCF after intramuscular (i.m.)
      administration of the same drug and of procaine pen-G could be predicted by the
      mathematical model. Concentrations of oxytetracycline (OTC) in serum and TCF
      following i.v. administration and continuous i.v. infusions were also adequately
      described by the model, and TCF concentrations after i.m. administration of the
      same drug could be roughly predicted. The results indicate that pen-G and OTC
      have the same permeability coefficient for transport from serum to TCF.

PMID- 1433483
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of [3H]-ivermectin in the dog following oral administration of a
      beef-based chewable formulation containing ivermectin alone or in combination
      with pyrantel pamoate.

PMID- 1433484
TI  - Bioavailability of oral penicillins in the horse: a comparison of pivampicillin
      and amoxicillin.
AB  - The pharmacokinetics of ampicillin and amoxicillin following intravenous
      administration at a dose rate of 15 and 10 mg/kg respectively were studied in
      four healthy adult horses. Pharmacokinetics of pivampicillin and amoxicillin were
      studied after oral administration to four healthy adult horses. Pivampicillin, a
      prodrug of ampicillin, was administered orally to starved and fed horses at a
      dose rate of 19.9 mg/kg, which is equivalent on a molecular basis to 15 mg/kg
      ampicillin. Amoxicillin was administered orally to starved horses only, at a dose
      rate of 20 mg/kg. Ampicillin and amoxicillin concentrations in plasma, synovial
      fluid and urine were determined. Mean biological half-life of intravenously
      administered ampicillin and amoxicillin was 1.72 and 1.43 h respectively, whilst
      the distribution volume (Vss) appeared to be 0.180 and 0.192 1/kg. Orally
      administered pivampicillin and amoxicillin were rapidly absorbed. A maximum
      concentration in plasma of 3.80 micrograms/ml was reached 2 h after
      administration of pivampicillin to starved horses; in fed horses a maximum
      concentration of 5.12 micrograms/ml was reached 1 h after administration. After
      oral administration of amoxicillin a maximum concentration of 2.03 micrograms/ml
      was reached after 1 h. The (absolute) bioavailability of pivampicillin
      administered orally was 30.9% in starved horses and 35.9% in fed horses. The
      bioavailability of amoxicillin administered orally was 5.3% in starved horses.

PMID- 1433485
TI  - The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of furosemide in the anaesthetized dog.
AB  - The correlation between pharmacokinetics and dynamics of furosemide was
      investigated in anaesthetized dogs. After intravenous administration (i.v.) of
      furosemide (5 mg/kg), the plasma concentration declined rapidly with
      bioexponential decay. The half-life (t1/2 beta) of the late phase of elimination
      was 0.931 +/- 0.187 h and the apparent volume of distribution at steady state was
      0.25 +/- 0.043 l/Kg. The total clearance (Cltot) was 0.435 +/- 0.031 l/h/kg, in
      which the renal clearance was 0.260 +/- 0.020 (about 60% of Cltot). The change in
      rate of urinary excretion of furosemide was similar to the plasma concentration
      decay curve. The diuretic effect of furosemide was accompanied by an extreme
      increase in the excretion rate of sodium and chloride, but not potassium. The
      relationships between the diuretic response and the plasma concentration or the
      urinary excretion rate of furosemide was depicted by sigmoidal dose-response
      curves in both cases. The half-maximum effect was obtained at 1.5 micrograms/ml
      of plasma concentration or at 80 micrograms/min of excretion rate of furosemide.

PMID- 1433486
TI  - Synovial and serum levels of triamcinolone following intra-articular
      administration of triamcinolone acetonide in the horse.
AB  - Seven mature thoroughbred horses, weighing between 400 and 541 kg, were each
      injected intra-articularly into three joints with 6 mg/joint of triamcinolone
      acetonide (Vetalog). The fourth joint, the control, was injected with saline.
      Synovial fluid was taken from all four legs of the horses on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
      6, 7, 8, 11, and 15 following the injections. Triamcinolone acetonide was assayed
      by a radioimmunoassay. Blood was collected at 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 h and on days 1, 2,
      3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, and 15 following injection of either triamcinolone or
      saline. Both cortisol and triamcinolone were assayed. The results show that the
      synovial fluid level of triamcinolone was 7.5 micrograms/ml 1 day following
      treatment and decreased to 10 ng/ml by the 4th day. These low levels were
      maintained for approximately 14 days. By the 15th day, the triamcinolone was
      below a detectable level. Serum levels of triamcinolone increased to 3 ng/ml
      within 1 h and further increased to a peak of 4.3 ng/ml at 4th h. The level then
      decreased to 2 ng/ml at 24 h and to nearly an undetectable level in 48 h. The
      mean level of serum cortisol, on the other hand, gradually decreased as the serum
      level of triamcinolone increased. As the serum level of triamcinolone reached an
      undetectable level on the 2nd day, the serum cortisol level gradually increased
      and returned to the pre-administration level by the 5th day. These results showed
      that the intra-articular administration of triamcinolone maintained triamcinolone
      in the synovial fluid for 4-14 days and that the triamcinolone reached the blood
      within 1 h. The serum level of triamcinolone was maintained for 2 days and
      resulted in the inhibition of adrenal function for 4 days.

PMID- 1433487
TI  - Effects of phenothiazine and thiabendazole on bovine dorsal pedal vein
      contractility induced by ergonovine and serotonin; potential for alleviation of
      fescue toxicity.
AB  - Phenothiazine and thiabendazole were studied for their ability to antagonize
      venoconstriction induced by ergonovine, and the biogenic amine serotonin, in the
      isolated dorsal pedal vein of cattle. The two compounds are commercially
      available, approved for usage in cattle and have been reported to reverse some of
      the toxic effects associated with the intake of Acremonium coenophialum-infested
      fescue forage by cattle. Neither compound had any antagonistic activity against
      venoconstriction induced by ergonovine. However, thiabendazole did have some
      activity against venoconstriction induced by serotonin. Ergot alkaloids are known
      to cause venoconstriction through effects on biogenic amine receptors, including
      serotonergic receptors, and since thiabendazole has anti-serotonin activity, part
      of the reported beneficial effects of thiabendazole in alleviating fescue
      toxicity may be due to the anti-serotonin activity of the drug. Further work is
      needed to determine if phenothiazine and thiabendazole have any effect on other
      types of alkaloids that are present in A. coenophialum-infested fescue.

PMID- 1433488
TI  - Acyclovir (Zovirax) pharmacokinetics in Quaker parakeets, Myiopsitta monachus.
AB  - The pharmacokinetics of intravenous (i.v.) and intramuscular (i.m.) single-dose
      administration of acyclovir were determined in Quaker parakeets. After i.v.
      injection at a dose of 20 mg/kg of acyclovir, elimination half-life was estimated
      at 0.65 h, volume of distribution at steady state was 627.65 ml/kg, and clearance
      was 11.22 ml/kg/min. The estimated pharmacokinetic values after i.m. injection at
      a dose of 40 mg/kg of acyclovir were an elimination half-life of 0.71 h and a
      bioavailability of 90.1%. The peak plasma acyclovir concentration occurred at 15
      min when the drug was administered i.m. Plasma concentrations of acyclovir were
      undetectable 4-6 h after i.v. administration and 6-8 h after i.m. administration.
      Oral (capsules) and intravenous (sodium salt) formulations of acyclovir were
      given by gavage at 80 mg/kg. Peak concentrations with the sodium salt formulation
      were lower and developed more slowly than with the capsules. In studies designed
      to detect excessive drug accumulation or adverse side effects, acyclovir was
      administered i.m. at 40 mg/kg every 8 h for 7 days. Plasma concentrations were
      determined 15 min after (peak) and just prior to drug administration (trough). In
      another study acyclovir was gavaged at a dose of 80 mg/kg every 8 h for 4 days.
      Acyclovir plasma concentrations were determined just prior to and 2 h after drug
      administration. In both experiments, the birds maintained normal appetite and
      weight and did not exhibit excessive drug accumulation. Acyclovir plasma
      concentrations ranging from 2.07 +/- 1.09 micrograms/ml to 3.93 +/- 1.13
      micrograms/ml were maintained for 4 days when acyclovir was administered in the
      feed and water (sole source of food and water).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1433489
TI  - Quantitative electroencephalography for measurement of central nervous system
      responses to diazepam and the benzodiazepine antagonist, flumazenil, in
      isoflurane-anaesthetized dogs.
AB  - Quantitative EEG was assessed in six dogs anaesthetized with 1.8% end-tidal
      isoflurane concentration and following diazepam (0.2 mg/kg i.v.) administration.
      Ventilation was controlled to maintain normocapnia. Five dogs were subsequently
      given the benzodiazepine antagonist, flumazenil (0.04 mg/kg i.v.), and
      quantitative EEG was recorded. One dog received a saline injection following
      diazepam (as a control) and quantitative EEG was recorded for an additional 2.5
      h. Heart rate, arterial blood pressure, esophageal temperature, arterial pH and
      blood gas tensions, end-tidal CO2 tension and end-tidal isoflurane concentration
      were monitored throughout the study. A 21 lead linked-ear montage was used for
      recording EEG. Quantitative EEG data were stored on an optical disc for analysis
      at a later date. Values for absolute power of EEG were determined for theta,
      delta, alpha, and beta frequencies. Cardiovascular parameters remained stable
      throughout the study. Diazepam administration was associated with decreased
      absolute power in all frequencies of EEG at all electrode sites. The duration of
      diazepam-induced decreased absolute power of EEG was at least 3 h in one dog.
      Administration of flumazenil antagonized diazepam-induced decreased absolute
      power of EEG in all frequencies at all electrode sites. We conclude that
      quantitative EEG provides a relatively non-invasive, objective measure of
      diazepam- and flumazenil-induced changes in cortical activity during isoflurane
      anaesthesia.

PMID- 1433490
TI  - Methimazole-mediated modulation of netobimin biotransformation in sheep: a
      pharmacokinetic assessment.
AB  - The effects of modulation of liver microsomal sulphoxidation on the disposition
      kinetics of netobimin (NTB) metabolites were investigated in sheep. A zwitterion
      suspension of NTB was given orally at 7.5 mg/kg to sheep either alone (control
      treatment) or co-administered with methimazole (MTZ) orally (NTB + MTZ oral
      treatment) or intra-muscularly (NTB + MTZ i.m.) at 3 mg/kg. Blood samples were
      taken serially over a 72 h period and plasma was analysed by HPLC for NTB and its
      major metabolites, i.e. albendazole (ABZ), albendazole sulphoxide (ABZSO) and
      albendazole sulphone (ABZSO2). Only trace amounts of NTB parent drug and ABZ were
      detected in the earliest samples after either treatment. There were significant
      modifications to the disposition kinetics of ABZSO in the presence of MTZ. ABZSO
      elimination half-life increased from 7.27 h (control treatment) to 14.57 h (NTB +
      MTZ oral) and to 11.39 h (NTB + MTZ i.m.). ABZSO AUCs were significantly higher
      (P less than 0.05) for the NTB + MTZ oral treatment (+55%) and for the NTB + MTZ
      i.m. treatment (+61%), compared with the NTB alone treatment. The mean residence
      times for ABZSO were 12.66 +/- 0.68 h (control treatment), 18.85 +/- 2.35 h (NTB
      + MTZ oral) and 17.02 +/- 0.90 h (NTB + MTZ i.m.). There were no major changes in
      the overall pharmacokinetics of ABZSO2 for the concomitant MTZ treatments.
      However, delayed appearance of this metabolite in the plasma resulted in longer
      ABZSO2 lag times and a delayed Tmax for treatments with MTZ.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1433491
TI  - Comparative pharmacokinetics of the photosensitizer tin-etiopurpurin in dogs and
      rats.
AB  - Photodynamic therapy is a promising new treatment for local eradication of
      cancer. Little work has been done to define the pharmacokinetics of photodynamic
      drugs or the variability in drug disposition that may occur between different
      species and pathophysiological states of tissues. Pharmacokinetic studies of tin
      etiopurpurin (SnET2), a lipophilic photosensitizer, were conducted on six Beagle
      dogs and six Sprague-Dawley rats. Blood was collected up to 24 h following drug
      administration for measurement of tin-etiopurpurin concentration. Dogs and rats
      were euthanatized 24 h post-administration and tissues were collected for drug
      analyses. The plasma drug concentrations were best described by a 2-compartment
      model (Ct = Ae-alpha t + Be-beta t). Median distribution and elimination half
      lives were 0.24 and 0.34 h and 10.21 and 5.25 h for dogs and rats, respectively.
      The apparent volumes of distribution were 4.26 +/- 1.75 L/kg for dogs and 1.84 +/
      0.36 L/kg for rats. Systemic clearance was 7.56 +/- 2.45 ml/kg/min and 6.63 +/-
      0.91 ml/kg/min for dogs and rats, respectively. Drug was detected in all tissues
      analyzed 24 h after drug administration. Drug was detected only sporadically in
      skin and muscle and was generally below the limit of detection of the assay.
      Where comparisons could be made, concentrations of SnET2 were significantly
      greater in all tissues except jejunum of rats compared to dogs 24 h after drug
      administration.

PMID- 1433492
TI  - Clorsulon pharmacokinetics in sheep and goats following oral and intravenous
      administration.
AB  - Clorsulon was measured in plasma and urine of sheep and goats after
      administration of a single intravenous (i.v.) and after a single oral dose of 7
      mg/kg. A three-compartment model with elimination occurring from the central
      compartment was determined to best describe the i.v. data, whereas a one
      compartment model with a single exponential absorption phase best described the
      oral plasma data. The bioavailability of orally administered clorsulon was
      approximately 55% in goats and 60% in sheep. Peak plasma concentrations occurred
      at 14 h and 15 h after oral administration in goats and sheep, respectively.
      Absorption from the gastro-intestinal tract effectively prolonged the elimination
      of clorsulon by increasing the elimination half-life from 17 to 28 h in sheep and
      from 12 to 23 h in goats for the i.v. and oral routes, respectively. In both
      goats and sheep, approximately 50% of the i.v. dose was recovered in urine as
      parent drug at 48 h after administration, whereas 41% and 30% of the dose was
      recovered after oral administration for goats and sheep, respectively. The
      elimination rate constant (kel) in goats was nearly twice as large as the value
      determined in sheep, and the urea under the i.v. plasma curve in goats was only
      63% of the value in sheep indicating that goats are more effective in their
      capacity to eliminate clorsulon than are sheep. These differences in drug
      disposition between sheep and goats may account for the reduced efficacy of
      clorsulon reported in goats.

PMID- 1433493
TI  - Plasma concentrations of flunixin in the horse: its relationship to thromboxane
      B2 production.
AB  - The effects of the intravenous (i.v.) administration of 1.1 mg/kg of flunixin
      meglumine on thromboxane B2 (TxB2) concentrations were studied in sedentary and 2
      year-old horses in training. The baseline TxB2 serum concentrations generated
      during clotting were 2.89 +/- 0.81, 2.19 +/- 0.25 and 0.88 +/- 0.12 ng/ml for the
      2-year-old Thoroughbreds in training, sedentary horses under 10 and over 10 years
      old, respectively. There was a significant difference in baseline TxB2
      concentrations between older and younger horses (P less than 0.005). Significant
      reduction in TxB2 production from baseline were noted at 1 (P less than 0.01) and
      4 h (P less than 0.01) but not at 8 h after flunixin administration. The percent
      reduction in serum TxB2 concentration at 1 h after the administration of flunixin
      was 68.6 +/- 7.3 and 45.2 +/- 6.8 for the training and sedentary horses,
      respectively; the differences were significant (P less than 0.04). Serum
      concentrations of TxB2 returned to baseline values by 12-16 h after flunixin
      administration. The results of this study indicate a difference in the TxB2
      concentrations of older vs. younger horses and a difference in the suppression of
      TxB2 after the administration of flunixin in 2-year-old Thoroughbreds in training
      compared to sedentary horses. The results of this study suggest that the
      detection of low concentrations of flunixin in urine 24 h post-administration may
      not represent pharmacologic effective concentrations of flunixin in plasma.

PMID- 1433494
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of phenobarbital after repeated oral administration in normal
      horses.

PMID- 1433495
TI  - Rifampin disposition in the horse: effects of repeated dosage of rifampin or
      phenylbutazone.

PMID- 1433496
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of gentamicin and antipyrine in the horse--effect of advancing
      age.

PMID- 1433497
TI  - Identification and cloning of a novel heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C
      like protein that functions as a transcriptional activator of the hepatitis B
      virus enhancer II.
AB  - Liver specificity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication has been attributed to
      the action of its second enhancer (EII). We report here the characterization of
      EII and the subsequent isolation of a novel liver-specific DNA-binding protein
      which binds to and activates EII. The cDNA clone of the protein, designated E2BP,
      was isolated from a lambda gt11 expression library constructed from the hepatoma
      cell line HuH-6 which was screened with a binding site probe derived from EII.
      Sequence analysis of E2BP revealed 86.6% homology with a rat heterogeneous
      nuclear ribonucleoprotein C protein sequence, while conformational studies
      suggest a helix-loop-helix motif as a DNA-binding site. Cloned E2BP expressed in
      human fibroblasts by transient transfection displayed EII binding and activating
      characteristics similar to those of native E2BP in hepatocytes.

PMID- 1433498
TI  - Translational stimulation by reovirus polypeptide sigma 3: substitution for VAI
      RNA and inhibition of phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic
      initiation factor 2.
AB  - COS cells transfected with plasmids that activate DAI depend on expression of
      virus-associated I (VAI) RNA to prevent the inhibitory effects of the alpha
      subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2 alpha) kinase (DAI) and restore
      the translation of vector-derived dihydrofolate reductase mRNA. This VAI RNA
      requirement could be completely replaced by reovirus polypeptide sigma 3,
      consistent with its double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-binding activity. S4 gene
      transfection of 293 cells also partially restored adenovirus protein synthesis
      after infection with the VAI-negative dl331 mutant. In dl331-infected 293 cells,
      eIF-2 alpha was present mainly in the acidic, phosphorylated form, and trans
      complementation with polypeptide sigma 3 or VAI RNA decreased the proportion of
      eIF-2 alpha (P) from approximately 85 to approximately 30%. Activation of DAI by
      addition of dsRNA to extracts of S4 DNA-transfected COS cells required 10-fold
      higher levels of dsRNA than extracts made from cells that were not producing
      polypeptide sigma 3. In extracts of reovirus-infected mouse L cells, the
      concentration of dsRNA needed to activate DAI was dependent on the viral serotype
      used for the infection. Although the proportion of eIF-2 alpha (P) was greater
      than that in uninfected cells, most of the factor remained in the
      unphosphorylated form, even at 16 h after infection, consistent with the partial
      inhibition of host protein synthesis observed with all three viral serotypes. The
      results indicate that reovirus polypeptide sigma 3 participates in the regulation
      of protein synthesis by modulating DAI and eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation.

PMID- 1433499
TI  - Enhancement of polyhedrin nuclear localization during baculovirus infection.
AB  - Polyhedrin is the major component of the nuclear viral occlusions produced during
      replication of the baculovirus Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear
      polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV). Since viral occlusions are responsible for the
      horizontal transmission of AcMNPV in nature, the biosynthesis, localization, and
      assembly of polyhedrin are important events in the viral replication cycle. We
      recently defined the sequence requirements for nuclear localization and assembly
      of polyhedrin. In this study, we examined the localization of polyhedrin at
      different times of infection. The results showed that nuclear localization of
      polyhedrin becomes more efficient as the occlusion phase of infection progresses.
      Several different factors were identified that might contribute to this overall
      effect, including a higher rate of polyhedrin nuclear localization and a higher
      rate of polyhedrin biosynthesis. We also examined the biosynthesis and processing
      of polyhedrin in cells infected with an AcMNPV few polyhedra (FP) mutant, which
      produces smaller numbers of viral occlusions that contain few or no virions.
      Compared with wild type, the FP mutant produced polyhedrin more slowly and
      localized it to the nucleus less efficiently at the beginning of the occlusion
      phase of infection (24 h postinfection). This supported the idea that the
      efficiency of polyhedrin nuclear localization is tightly coupled to its rate of
      biosynthesis. It also revealed that expression of the viral 25K gene, which is
      inactivated in the FP mutant, is directly or indirectly associated with an
      enhancement of polyhedrin biosynthesis and nuclear localization at the beginning
      of the occlusion phase of infection. This enhancement effect appears to be
      necessary to ensure the normal assembly of viral occlusions.

PMID- 1433500
TI  - Sulfation of the human immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoprotein.
AB  - Sulfation is a posttranslational modification of proteins which occurs on either
      the tyrosine residues or the carbohydrate moieties of some glycoproteins. In the
      case of secretory proteins, sulfation has been hypothesized to act as a signal
      for export from the cell. We have shown that the human immunodeficiency virus
      type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein precursor (gp160) as well as the surface
      (gp120) and transmembrane (gp41) subunits can be specifically labelled with
      35SO42-. Sulfated HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins were identified in H9 cells
      infected with the IIIB isolate of HIV-1 and in the cell lysates and culture media
      of cells infected with vaccinia virus recombinants expressing a full-length or
      truncated, secreted form of the HIV-1 gp160 gene. N-glycosidase F digestion of
      35SO4(2-)-labelled envelope proteins removed virtually all radiolabel from gp160,
      gp120, and gp41, indicating that sulfate was linked to the carbohydrate chains of
      the glycoprotein. The 35SO42-label was at least partially resistant to
      endoglycosidase H digestion, indicating that some sulfate was linked to complex
      carbohydrates. Brefeldin A, a compound that inhibits the endoplasmic reticulum to
      Golgi transport of glycoproteins, was found to inhibit the sulfation of the
      envelope glycoproteins. Envelope glycoproteins synthesized in cells treated with
      chlorate failed to incorporate 35SO42-. However, HIV glycoproteins were still
      secreted from cells in the presence of chlorate, indicating that sulfation is not
      a requirement for secretion of envelope glycoproteins. Sulfation of HIV-2 and
      simian immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoproteins has also been demonstrated
      by using vaccinia virus-based expression systems. Sulfation is a major
      determinant of negative charge and could play a role in biological functions and
      antigenic properties of HIV glycoproteins.

PMID- 1433501
TI  - Plasmid models for bacteriophage T4 DNA replication: requirements for fork
      proteins.
AB  - Bacteriophage T4 DNA replication initiates from origins at early times of
      infection and from recombinational intermediates as the infection progresses.
      Plasmids containing cloned T4 origins replicate during T4 infection, providing a
      model system for studying origin-dependent replication. In addition,
      recombination-dependent replication can be analyzed by using cloned nonorigin
      fragments of T4 DNA, which direct plasmid replication that requires phage-encoded
      recombination proteins. We have tested in vivo requirements for both plasmid
      replication model systems by infecting plasmid-containing cells with mutant
      phage. Replication of origin and nonorigin plasmids strictly required components
      of the T4 DNA polymerase holoenzyme complex. Recombination-dependent plasmid
      replication also strictly required the T4 single-stranded DNA-binding protein
      (gene product 32 [gp32]), and replication of origin-containing plasmids was
      greatly reduced by 32 amber mutations. gp32 is therefore important in both modes
      of replication. An amber mutation in gene 41, which encodes the replicative
      helicase of T4, reduced but did not eliminate both recombination- and origin
      dependent plasmid replication. Therefore, gp41 may normally be utilized for
      replication of both plasmids but is apparently not required for either. An amber
      mutation in gene 61, which encodes the T4 RNA primase, did not eliminate either
      recombination- or origin-dependent plasmid replication. However, plasmid
      replication was severely delayed by the 61 amber mutation, suggesting that the
      protein may normally play an important, though nonessential, role in replication.
      We deleted gene 61 from the T4 genome to test whether the observed replication
      was due to residual gp61 in the amber mutant infection. The replication phenotype
      of the deletion mutant was identical to that of the amber mutant. Therefore, gp61
      is not required for in vivo T4 replication. Furthermore, the deletion mutant is
      viable, demonstrating that the gp61 primase is not an essential T4 protein.

PMID- 1433502
TI  - Down-regulation of the major histocompatibility complex class I enhancer in
      adenovirus type 12-transformed cells is accompanied by an increase in factor
      binding.
AB  - In transformed cells, the E1A gene of adenovirus type 12 (Ad12) represses
      transcription of class I genes of the major histocompatibility complex. The
      tumorigenic potential of Ad12-transformed cells correlates with this diminished
      class I expression. In contrast, the E1A gene of the nontumorigenic Ad5 does not
      affect class I expression. We show here that a transfected reporter
      chloramphenicol acetyltransferase plasmid driven by an H-2K promoter (-1049 bp)
      was expressed at much lower levels in Ad12- than in Ad5-transformed mouse cells.
      Analysis of mutant constructs revealed that only 83 bp of H-2 DNA, consisting of
      the enhancer juxtaposed to the basal promoter, was sufficient for this
      differential expression. Whereas the H-2 basal promoter alone was somewhat less
      active in Ad12-transformed cells, the H-2 TATA box itself did not appear to be
      important. The H-2 enhancer proved to be the principal element in Ad12 E1A
      mediated repression, since (i) substitution of the H-2 enhancer by simian virus
      40 enhancers overcame the repression, and (ii) when juxtaposed to either its
      native or heterologous basal promoters, the H-2 enhancer was functional in Ad5-
      but not Ad12-transformed cells. Mobility shift assays showed that there is a DNA
      binding activity to the 5' site (R2 element) of the enhancer that is
      significantly higher in Ad12- than in Ad5-transformed cells. These results
      suggest that decreased class I enhancer activity in Ad12-transformed cells may,
      at least in part, be due to the higher levels of an enhancer-specific factor,
      possibly acting as a repressor.

PMID- 1433504
TI  - Localization of an immunodominant domain on baculovirus-produced parvovirus B19
      capsids: correlation to a major surface region on the native virus particle.
AB  - An immunodominant region on baculovirus-produced parvovirus B19 VP2 capsids was
      localized between amino acids 259 and 426 by mapping the binding sites of a panel
      of monoclonal antibodies which recognize determinants on the particles. The
      binding sites of three monoclonal antibodies were fine-mapped within this
      antigenic domain. Six VP2-specific monoclonal antibodies recognized determinants
      common to both the empty capsids and native parvovirus. The defined antigenic
      region is most probably exposed on the native B19 virion and corresponds to part
      of the threefold spike on the surface of canine parvovirus particles.

PMID- 1433503
TI  - Negative regulation of the major histocompatibility complex class I enhancer in
      adenovirus type 12-transformed cells via a retinoic acid response element.
AB  - In cells transformed by the highly oncogenic adenovirus type 12 (Ad12), the viral
      E1A proteins mediate transcriptional repression of the major histocompatibility
      class I genes. In contrast, class I transcription is not reduced in cells
      transformed by the nononcogenic Ad5. The decreased rate of class I transcription
      is, at least in part, the result of a reduced major histocompatibility complex
      class I enhancer activity in Ad12-transformed cells and correlates with an
      increase in the levels of a DNA-binding activity to the R2 element of the
      enhancer (R. Ge, A. Kralli, R. Weinmann, and R. P. Ricciardi, J. Virol. 66:6969
      6978, 1992). Employing transient transfection assays, we now provide direct
      evidence that the R2 element can confer repression in Ad12- but not Ad5
      transformed cells. Repression by R2 was observed only in the presence of the
      positive enhancer element R1 and was dependent on (i) the number of the R2
      elements and (ii) the relative arrangement of R2 and R1 elements. The putative R2
      binding repressor protein, R2BF, was similar in molecular weight and binding
      specificity to members of the thyroid hormone/retinoic acid (RA) receptor family.
      RA treatment abrogated the R2-mediated repression in Ad12-transformed cells and
      had no effect on the activity of R2/R1-containing promoters in Ad5-transformed
      cells. These results are consistent with the presence of an R2-binding repressor
      in Ad12-transformed cells. In the absence of RA, the repressor compromises
      enhancer activity by interfering with the activity of the positive cis element
      R1. RA treatment of Ad12-transformed cells may render the repressor inactive.

PMID- 1433505
TI  - Importance of p12 protein in Mason-Pfizer monkey virus assembly and infectivity.
AB  - Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV) represents the prototype type D retrovirus,
      characterized by the assembly of intracytoplasmic A-type particles within the
      infected-cell cytoplasm. These immature particles migrate to the plasma membrane,
      where they are released by budding. The gag gene of M-PMV encodes a novel
      protein, p12, just 5' of the major capsid protein (CA) p27 on the polyprotein
      precursor. The function of p12 is not known, but an equivalent protein is found
      in mouse mammary tumor virus and is absent from the type C retroviruses. In order
      to determine whether the p12 protein plays a role in the intracytoplasmic
      assembly of capsids, a series of in-frame deletion mutations were constructed in
      the p12 coding domain. The mutant gag genes were expressed by a recombinant
      vaccinia virus-T7 polymerase-based system in CV-1 cells or in the context of the
      viral genome in COS-1 cells. In both of these high-level expression systems,
      mutant Gag precursors were competent to assemble but were not infectious. In
      contrast, when stable transfectant HeLa cell lines were established, assembly of
      the mutant precursors into capsids was drastically reduced. Instead, the
      polyprotein precursors remained predominantly soluble in the cytoplasm. These
      results show that while p12 is not required for the intracytoplasmic assembly of
      M-PMV capsids, under the conditions of low-level protein biosynthesis seen in
      virus-infected cells, it may assist in the stable association of polyprotein
      precursors for capsid assembly. Moreover, the presence of the p12 coding domain
      is absolutely required for the infectivity of M-PMV virions.

PMID- 1433506
TI  - Role of ribosomes in Semliki Forest virus nucleocapsid uncoating.
AB  - The mechanism by which Semliki Forest virus nucleocapsids are uncoated was
      analyzed in living cells and in vitro. In BHK-21 cells, uncoating occurred with
      virtually complete efficiency within 1 to 2 min after the nucleocapsids entered
      the cytoplasm. It was inhibited by monensin, which blocks nucleocapsid
      penetration from endosomes. As previously shown for Sindbis virus (G. Wengler and
      G. Wengler, Virology 134:435-442, 1984), the capsid proteins from incoming
      nucleocapsids became associated with ribosomes. The ribosome-bound capsid
      proteins were distributed throughout the cytoplasm, while the viral RNA remained
      associated with vacuolar membranes. Using purified nucleocapsids and ribosomes in
      vitro, we established that ribosomes alone were sufficient for uncoating. Their
      role was to release the capsid proteins from nucleocapsids and irreversibly
      sequester them, in a process independent of energy and translation. The process
      was stoichiometric rather than catalytic, with a maximum of three to six capsid
      proteins bound to each ribosome. More than 80% of the capsid proteins could thus
      be removed from the viral RNA, resulting in the formation of nucleocapsid
      remnants whose sedimentation coefficients progressively decreased from 140S to
      80S as uncoating proceeded.

PMID- 1433507
TI  - Serial backcross analysis of genetic resistance to mousepox, using marker loci
      for Rmp-2 and Rmp-3.
AB  - At least three genes from C57BL/6 mice that mediate dominant resistance to lethal
      mousepox were isolated and transferred onto a susceptible DBA/2 background. Three
      [(C57BL/6 x DBA/2)F1 x DBA/2] male mice that survived infection were selected as
      founders on the basis of different complements of marker loci for two resistance
      genes, Rmp-2r (Hc1) and Rmp-3r (H-2Db). They were crossed with DBA/2 mice, male
      progeny were infected with ectromelia virus, and the cycle was repeated with
      surviving male progeny through seven backcross generations. Two founders carried
      a marker locus for Rmp-2r or Rmp-3r, and the third carried neither marker locus.
      Resistance pedigrees were analyzed for passage of marker loci. From the three
      founders, resistance was passaged through multiple generations, producing
      backcross lines with intermediate-male-resistance phenotypes (20% resistant).
      Females of backcross lines with intermediate male resistance had high resistance
      (> 50%). High-resistance backcross lines (40% male resistance) also developed
      from the founders that carried marker loci for Rmp-2r and Rmp-3r, and marker loci
      were passaged through all generations of high resistance but not intermediate
      resistance lines. About one-third of all resistant mice in high-resistance lines
      sired by mice that carried marker loci for Rmp-2r and Rmp-3r did not carry the
      respective marker locus. In lines that carried Rmp-2r, this was apparently not
      the result of recombination between Rmp-2r and Hc1, because Rmp-2 was not in the
      predicted location on chromosome 2 and because mice that did not inherit Hc1
      transmitted significantly less male resistance than Hc1-positive mice, although
      female resistance remained high. These results confirmed that C57BL/6 mice have
      redundant resistance mechanisms, two of which are controlled at least in part by
      Rmp-2r and Rmp-3r, and provided evidence for a fourth resistance gene, herein
      presumptively named Rmp-4, which protects females more than males and which may
      be epistatic to Rmp-2.

PMID- 1433508
TI  - Baculovirus phosphoprotein pp31 is associated with virogenic stroma.
AB  - The PstI K fragment of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV)
      encodes a protein with a molecular weight of 31,000. To define the role of this
      protein (pp31) in virus infection further, it was overexpressed in bacteria and
      used to produce polyclonal antiserum. Radioimmunoprecipitation analysis indicated
      that pp31 was synthesized during both the early and late phases of virus
      infection, consistent with previous analyses indicating that the gene was
      regulated by tandem early and late promoters. Metabolic labeling of cells with
      carrier-free phosphate indicated that pp31 was phosphorylated. Biochemical
      fractionation experiments showed that pp31 was localized in the nucleus and that
      it was more stably associated with the nucleus at later times of infection.
      Immunoblot analysis of subnuclear fractions indicated that pp31 was associated
      predominantly with the chromatin and nuclear matrix fractions. Immunofluorescence
      experiments confirmed that the pp31 protein was localized in the nucleus. Nuclear
      staining was relatively uniform early but was more centrally nuclear later in
      infection. Immunoelectron microscopy indicated that the pp31 protein was a
      component of virogenic stroma. Southwestern (DNA-protein) blot analysis
      demonstrated that pp31 is a DNA-binding protein. These findings suggest a
      possible role for pp31 in the virus life cycle.

PMID- 1433509
TI  - Attenuation of Sindbis virus neurovirulence by using defined mutations in
      nontranslated regions of the genome RNA.
AB  - We examined a panel of Sindbis virus mutants containing defined mutations in the
      5' nontranslated region of the genome RNA, in the 3' nontranslated region, or in
      both for their growth in cultured cells and virulence in newborn mice. In
      cultured cells, these viruses all had defects in RNA synthesis and displayed a
      wide range of growth rates. The growth properties of the mutants were often very
      different in mouse cells from those in chicken cells or in mosquito cells. We
      hypothesize that host factors, presumably proteins, interact with these
      nontranslated regions to promote viral replication and that the mammalian protein
      and the chicken or mosquito protein are sufficiently divergent that alterations
      in the viral RNA sequence can affect the interactions with these different host
      proteins in different ways. Some of the mutants were temperature sensitive for
      plaque formation, whereas one mutant was slightly cold sensitive in its growth in
      chicken cells. Upon inoculation into mice, viruses that grew well in cultured
      mouse cells retained their virulence, but mice that succumbed usually had
      extended survival times. One virulent mutant that grew slightly less well in
      cultured mouse cells than did the parental virus produced eight times as much
      virus in mouse brain following intracerebral inoculation, suggesting that changes
      in these regulatory regions may have tissue-specific as well as host-specific
      effects. Viruses that were severely crippled in their growth in mouse cells in
      culture were usually, but not always, attenuated in their virulence. In
      particular, temperature sensitivity was correlated with attenuation. The effect
      of two mutations was found to be cumulative, and double mutants that contained
      mutations in both the 5' and 3' nontranslated regions were more attenuated than
      was either single mutant. Three of four double mutants tested were severely
      crippled for virus production in cultured cells and were avirulent for mice, even
      when inoculated intracerebrally.

PMID- 1433510
TI  - Mutational inactivation of an inhibitory sequence in human immunodeficiency virus
      type 1 results in Rev-independent gag expression.
AB  - We have characterized an inhibitory RNA element in the human immunodeficiency
      virus type 1 (HIV-1) gag coding sequence that prevents gag expression. The
      inhibition exerted by this element could be overcome by the presence of the Rev
      responsive element in cis and of Rev protein in trans. To understand the
      mechanism of function, we inactivated the inhibitory element by mutagenesis while
      maintaining an intact gag coding region. A constitutive high level of Rev
      independent gag expression was achieved only after the introduction of 28 point
      mutations over a large region of 270 nucleotides within the gag coding region. To
      our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of inactivation of a negative RNA
      element within a coding region without alteration of the expressed protein.
      Elimination of the inhibitory element in the p17gag region, named INS-1, offered
      the opportunity to detect a second inhibitory element in the gag-pol region. The
      presence of either INS element is sufficient to inhibit gag expression,
      demonstrating that multiple INS elements acting independently can inhibit HIV RNA
      expression. Expression of gag from Rous sarcoma virus, a retrovirus that does not
      require Rev-like regulatory proteins, revealed that the Rous sarcoma virus p19gag
      region does not contain inhibitory elements. These results demonstrate the
      presence of a strong inhibitory element acting at the level of mRNA and provide a
      general method for the removal of such elements from mRNA coding regions. The
      inhibitory element functions in the absence of any HIV-1 proteins, suggesting
      that cellular factors are responsible for this inhibition.

PMID- 1433511
TI  - Mutational analysis of human T-cell leukemia virus type I Tax: regions necessary
      for function determined with 47 mutant proteins.
AB  - We have made 47 mutations that span the length of the human T-cell leukemia virus
      type I (HTLV-I) Tax open reading frame. Of the 47 mutations, 38 were
      substitutions of single amino acids, 5 were missense changes in two or more amino
      acids, and 4 were deletions. A subset of these mutations includes individual
      changes of all 26 naturally occurring serines to alanines. By assaying each
      mutant protein separately on the HTLV-I long terminal repeat (LTR) and the human
      immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) LTR in parallel, we were able to identify
      regions of Tax selectively necessary for each promoter. A small region in the
      carboxyl terminus, amino acids 315 to 325, was found to be selectively important
      for activation of the HTLV-I LTR. Three changes at serine 113, serine 160, and
      serine 258 were found to specifically affect function on the HIV-1 LTR.
      Surprisingly, we found that the great preponderance of missense changes (32 of
      42) in Tax did not affect function.

PMID- 1433512
TI  - Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vpu protein induces rapid degradation of CD4.
AB  - CD4 is an integral membrane glycoprotein which is known as the human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV) receptor for infection of human cells. The protein
      is synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and subsequently transported to
      the cell surface via the Golgi complex. HIV infection of CD4+ cells leads to
      downmodulation of cell surface CD4, due at least in part to the formation of
      stable intracellular complexes between CD4 and the HIV type 1 (HIV-1) Env
      precursor polyprotein gp160. This process "traps" both proteins in the ER,
      leading to reduced surface expression of CD4 and reduced processing of gp160 to
      gp120 and gp41. We have recently demonstrated that the presence of the HIV-1
      encoded integral membrane protein Vpu can reduce the formation of Env-CD4
      complexes, resulting in increased gp160 processing and decreased CD4 stability.
      We have studied the effect of Vpu on CD4 stability and found that Vpu induces
      rapid degradation of CD4, reducing the half-life of CD4 from 6 h to 12 min. By
      using a CD4-binding mutant of gp160, we were able to show that this Vpu-induced
      degradation of CD4 requires retention of CD4 in the ER, which is normally
      accomplished through its binding to gp160. The involvement of gp160 in the
      induction of CD4 degradation is restricted to its function as a CD4 trap, since,
      in the absence of Env, an ER retention mutant of CD4, as well as wild-type CD4 in
      cultures treated with brefeldin A, a drug that blocks transport of proteins from
      the ER, is degraded in the presence of Vpu.

PMID- 1433513
TI  - U3 long terminal repeat-mediated induction of intracellular immunity by a murine
      retrovirus: a novel model of latency for retroviruses.
AB  - BL/VL3 radiation leukemia virus (RadLV) is a thymotropic, highly leukemogenic
      murine leukemia virus (MuLV) which is unable to replicate in vitro in mouse
      fibroblasts. We have previously reported that the U3 long terminal repeat region
      of its genome is responsible for this block (E. Rassart, Y. Paquette, and P.
      Jolicoeur, J. Virol. 62:3840-3848, 1988). By using hybrids of permissive and
      resistant cells infected with BL/VL3 RadLV or fibrotropic MuLV, we found that the
      resistant phenotype was dominant. Investigation to determine at which step of the
      virus cycle the block operates revealed that integration, transcription, and
      translation of the BL/VL3 viral genome occurred at normal levels in nonpermissive
      cells. The BL/VL3 RadLV Pr65gag proteins made in nonpermissive cells were also
      myristylated and located at the membrane, and the levels of their cleaved
      products were similar to those of fibrotropic MuLV. However, processing of BL/VL3
      RadLV Pr85env was impaired in nonpermissive cells. Virions were not released into
      the culture medium of nonpermissive cells, as measured by reverse transcriptase
      activity and by content in p30 or gp70 protein and as documented by lower levels
      of budding particles seen by electron microscopy. These results indicate that
      BL/VL3 RadLV replication is blocked at a late stage of the virus cycle, i.e., at
      virion assembly. Interestingly, these BL/VL3 RadLV-infected nonpermissive
      fibroblasts were resistant to superinfection by fibrotropic Moloney MuLV, and
      this resistance also occurred at a late step of the Moloney virus cycle. Since
      this block is dominant, it appears that the U3 long terminal repeat region of the
      BL/VL3 viral genome has the ability to induce a cellular suppressor factor(s),
      thus bringing intracellular immunity against itself and against other ecotropic
      MuLVs.

PMID- 1433514
TI  - Characterization of a vaccinia virus-encoded 42-kilodalton class I membrane
      glycoprotein component of the extracellular virus envelope.
AB  - Using a reverse genetic approach, we have demonstrated that the product of the
      B5R open reading frame (ORF), which has homology with members of the family of
      complement control proteins, is a membrane glycoprotein present in the
      extracellular enveloped (EEV) form of vaccinia virus but absent from the
      intracellular naked (INV) form. An antibody (C'-B5R) raised to a 15-amino-acid
      peptide from the translated B5R ORF reacted with a 42-kDa protein (gp42) found in
      vaccinia virus-infected cells and cesium chloride-banded EEV but not INV. Under
      nonreducing conditions, an 85-kDa component, possibly representing a hetero- or
      homodimeric form of gp42, was detected by both immunoprecipitation and Western
      immunoblot analysis. Metabolic labeling with [3H]glucosamine and [3H]palmitate
      revealed that the B5R product is glycosylated and acylated. The C-terminal
      transmembrane domain of the protein was identified by constructing a recombinant
      vaccinia virus that overexpressed a truncated, secreted form of the B5R ORF
      product. By N-terminal sequence analysis of this secreted protein, the site of
      signal peptide cleavage of gp42 was determined. A previously described monoclonal
      antibody (MAb 20) raised to EEV, which immunoprecipitated a protein with
      biochemical characteristics similar to those of wild-type gp42, reacted with the
      recombinant, secreted product of the B5R ORF. Immunofluorescence of wild-type
      vaccinia virus-infected cells by using either MAb 20 or C'-B5R revealed that the
      protein is expressed on the cell surface and within the cytoplasm. Immunogold
      labeling of EEV and INV with MAb 20 demonstrated that the protein was found
      exclusively on the EEV membrane.

PMID- 1433515
TI  - Mutational analysis of the octapeptide sequence motif at the NS1-NS2A cleavage
      junction of dengue type 4 virus.
AB  - We have previously shown that proper processing of dengue type 4 virus NS1 from
      the NS1-NS2A region of the viral polyprotein requires a hydrophobic N-terminal
      signal and the downstream NS2A. Results from deletion analysis indicate that a
      minimum length of eight amino acids at the C terminus of NS1 is required for
      cleavage at the NS1-NS2A junction. Comparison of this eight-amino-acid sequence
      with the corresponding sequences of other flaviviruses suggests a consensus
      cleavage sequence of Met/Leu-Val-Xaa-Ser-Xaa-Val-Xaa-Ala. Site-directed
      mutagenesis was performed to construct mutants of NS1-NS2A that contained a
      single amino acid substitution at different positions of the consensus cleavage
      sequence or at the immediate downstream position. Three to eight different
      substitutions were made at each position. A total of 50 NS1-NS2A mutants were
      analyzed for their cleavage efficiency relative to that of the wild-type dengue
      type 4 virus sequence. As predicted, nearly all substitutions at positions P1,
      P3, P5, P7, and P8, occupied by conserved amino acids, yielded low levels of
      cleavage, with the exception that Pro or Ala substituting for Ser (P5) was
      tolerated. Substitutions of an amino acid at the remaining positions occupied by
      nonconserved amino acids generally yielded high levels of cleavage. However, some
      substitutions at nonconserved positions were not tolerated. For example,
      substitution of Gly or Glu for Gln (P4) and substitution of Val or Glu for Lys
      (P6) each yielded a low level of cleavage. Overall, these data support the
      proposed cleavage sequence motif deduced by comparison of sequences among the
      flaviviruses. This study also showed that in addition to the eight-amino-acid
      sequence, the amino acid immediately following the NS1-NS2A cleavage site plays a
      role in cleavage.

PMID- 1433516
TI  - Posttranscriptional regulation by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev and
      human T-cell leukemia virus type I Rex proteins through a heterologous RNA
      binding site.
AB  - The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev and human T-cell leukemia virus type
      I Rex proteins induce cytoplasmic expression of incompletely spliced viral mRNAs
      by binding to these mRNAs in the nucleus. Each protein binds a specific cis
      acting element in its target RNAs. Both proteins also associated with nucleoli,
      but the significance of this association is uncertain because mutations that
      inactivate nucleolar localization signals in Rev or Rex also prevent RNA binding.
      Here we demonstrate that Rev and Rex can function when tethered to a heterologous
      RNA binding site by a bacteriophage protein. Under these conditions, cytoplasmic
      accumulation of unspliced RNA occurs without the viral response elements,
      mutations in the RNA binding domain of Rev do not inhibit function, and nucleolar
      localization can be shown to be unnecessary for the biological response.

PMID- 1433517
TI  - Expression and characterization of the trans-activating protein Tax of human T
      cell leukemia virus type I in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - The trans-activator protein Tax of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I)
      stimulates transcription of the viral genome from the long terminal repeat. With
      a reporter HIS4TATA::lacZ fusion gene, the transcriptional activity of the Tax
      responsive element in the long terminal repeat was tested in Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae. We found that fragments containing the 21-bp repeat of the HTLV-I
      enhancer stimulate synthesis of beta-galactosidase activity 15- to 20-fold. To
      test the ability of the Tax protein to trans activate the HTLV-I enhancer in
      yeast cells, the pX region of HTLV-I, encoding the Tax protein, was cloned under
      the control of the yeast GAL1 promoter. The expressed Tax protein is localized in
      the nucleus and associated with the yeast nuclear matrix fraction. In yeast cells
      that contained the integrated tax gene, two- to sixfold stimulation of expression
      from the HTLV-I enhancer was detected at the early stages of tax induction. This
      in vivo reconstitution system provides a new approach for examining the host
      factor(s), the signal transduction mechanism(s), and the role of nuclear
      architecture involved in Tax-mediated trans activation.

PMID- 1433518
TI  - The requirements for viral entry differ from those for virally induced syncytium
      formation in NIH 3T3/DTras cells exposed to Moloney murine leukemia virus.
AB  - Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MuLV) has the unique ability to infect
      different cells via either a low-pH-dependent or a pH-independent entry pathway.
      Only the pH-independent mechanism of Mo-MuLV entry has been associated with Mo
      MuLV-induced syncytium formation. We have now identified a transformed cell line
      (NIH 3T3/DTras) which efficiently forms syncytia when exposed to Mo-MuLV, yet is
      low pH dependent for Mo-MuLV entry. Treatment of NIH 3T3/DTras cells with
      chloroquine, an agent which raises endosomal pH, blocks Mo-MuLV entry, but not Mo
      MuLV-induced syncytium formation. This demonstrates that fusion which accompanies
      viral entry and fusion which is responsible for syncytium formation occur as
      independent processes in these cells. In addition, we determined that neither
      inherent differences in the Mo-MuLV receptor nor reduced affinity for Mo-MuLV
      gp70 can account for resistance of NIH 3T3 cells to Mo-MuLV-induced syncytium
      formation.

PMID- 1433519
TI  - Identification of the domains required for direct interaction of the helicase
      like and polymerase-like RNA replication proteins of brome mosaic virus.
AB  - Brome mosaic virus is a positive-strand RNA virus whose RNA replication requires
      viral protein 1a, which has putative helicase and capping functions, and 2a,
      which has putative polymerase function. Since domains of related sequence are
      conserved in a wide range of plus-strand RNA viruses, analysis of 1a and 2a
      function should have applicability to many other viruses. We have recently
      demonstrated that 1a and 2a form a complex in vivo and in vitro. Using immune
      coprecipitation and mutant polypeptides made in reticulocyte lysates, we have now
      mapped both the 1a and 2a domains necessary for complex formation. The sequences
      needed to bind 2a map to the carboxy-terminal helicase-like domain of 1a.
      Truncated polypeptides containing this domain were able to bind to 2a, while
      several small insertions in the helicase-like domain disrupted binding. The
      sequence required for binding 1a lies within a 115-residue subset of the 2a N
      terminal segment preceding the polymerase-like domain. Truncations or fusion
      polypeptides containing this segment can bind 1a. We also determined that highly
      purified 2a protein made in insect cells can form a complex with highly purified
      1a helicase-like domain made in Escherichia coli, suggesting that no other factor
      is required to mediate 1a-2a interaction. Previous genetic analyses of 1a and 2a
      are consistent with this mapping and show that the newly defined 1a and 2a
      binding regions are required for RNA synthesis. The locations of these
      interacting regions are discussed with regard to models of viral replication and
      the evolution of positive-strand RNA virus genomes.

PMID- 1433520
TI  - Membrane fusion of Semliki Forest virus involves homotrimers of the fusion
      protein.
AB  - Infection of cells with enveloped viruses is accomplished through membrane
      fusion. The binding and fusion processes are mediated by the spike proteins in
      the envelope of the virus particle and usually involve a series of conformational
      changes in these proteins. We have studied the low-pH-mediated fusion process of
      the alphavirus Semliki Forest virus (SFV). The spike protein of SFV is composed
      of three copies of the protein heterodimer E2E1. This structure is resistant to
      solubilization in mild detergents such as Nonidet P-40 (NP40). We have recently
      shown that the spike structure is reorganized during virus entry into acidic
      endosomes (J. M. Wahlberg and H. Garoff, J. Cell Biol. 116:339-348, 1992). The
      original NP40-resistant heterodimer is dissociated, and the E1 subunits form new
      NP40-resistant protein oligomers. Here, we show that the new oligomer is
      represented by an E1 trimer. From studies that use an in vitro assay for fusion
      of SFV with liposomes, we show that the E1 trimer is efficiently expressed during
      virus-mediated membrane fusion. Time course studies show that both E1 trimer
      formation and fusion are fast processes, occurring in seconds. It was also
      possible to inhibit virus binding and fusion with a monoclonal antibody directed
      toward the trimeric E1. These results give support for a model in which the E1
      trimeric structure is involved in the SFV-mediated fusion reaction.

PMID- 1433521
TI  - Molecular profile of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in symptomless
      patients and in patients with AIDS.
AB  - Recent molecular evidence indicates that active human immunodeficiency virus type
      1 (HIV-1) infection is detectable in both symptomless and symptomatic infected
      patients. For this main reason, it has been pointed out that precise quantitative
      analysis of viral activity in vivo is necessary, firstly, for the pathogenetic
      investigation of the steps relevant to infection progression and, secondly, for
      better clinical management of HIV-1-infected patients. In this study, the
      presence of HIV-1 genomic RNA in plasma samples, specific HIV-1 transcripts in
      peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and proviral DNA sequences were assayed for
      33 HIV-1-infected patients (including symptomless and symptomatic subjects) by
      using a competitive polymerase chain reaction method that allows quantitation of
      the RNA/DNA target sequences. The quantitative results obtained confirm that
      transcription of HIV-1 structural genes and complete viral replication occur in
      all the HIV-1-infected patients independently of the clinical stage. However,
      although sharp individual differences were detected, a high degree of correlation
      of the molecular parameters studied with both disease progression and a decrease
      in the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes was documented. Interestingly, despite the
      increasing viremia level associated with infection progression, the mean
      transcriptional activity of individual infected cells was found to be only
      moderately greater in AIDS patients than in asymptomatic infected subjects. In
      addition, it was noted that quantitation of HIV-1 genomic RNA in plasma samples
      and quantitation of specific HIV-1 transcripts in peripheral blood mononuclear
      cells appear to be more reliable and sensitive markers of viral activity than
      quantitative analysis of proviral HIV-1 sequences in peripheral lymphocytes.

PMID- 1433522
TI  - Promoter influence on baculovirus-mediated gene expression in permissive and
      nonpermissive insect cell lines.
AB  - The activities of viral and insect promoters were examined in a range of insect
      cell lines permissive and nonpermissive for the replication of the baculovirus
      Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus. Recombinant baculoviruses were
      constructed to place the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene under
      the control of promoters strongly active in the early, late, or very late stages
      of virus replication. In fully permissive cells, expression from a very late
      promoter was 2- to 3-fold higher than expression from a late promoter and 10- to
      20-fold higher than expression from an early promoter or from a virus-borne
      insect promoter. In cell lines that do not support the efficient production of
      viral progeny, late-promoter-driven expression was similar to or surpassed very
      late promoter-driven expression. In nonpermissive insect cell lines, expression
      driven by an insect promoter derived from Drosophila melanogaster was higher than
      expression from the three viral promoters and was especially high in the
      Drosophila cell line tested. Surprisingly, late-promoter-driven expression, which
      is dependent on DNA replication, was higher than early-promoter-driven expression
      in three of four nonpermissive lines. In contrast, very late promoter-driven
      expression was quite limited in nonpermissive cell lines. The results indicate
      that the promoter used to drive foreign-gene expression strongly influences the
      range of insect cells which can efficiently support the production of the foreign
      protein during infection with recombinant baculoviruses.

PMID- 1433523
TI  - Requirement of active human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integrase enzyme for
      productive infection of human T-lymphoid cells.
AB  - The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase enzyme exhibits
      significant amino acid sequence conservation with integrase proteins of other
      retroviruses. We introduced specific amino acid substitutions at a number of the
      conserved residue positions of recombinant HIV-1 integrase. Some of these
      substitutions resulted in proteins which were not able to be purified in the same
      manner as the wild-type enzyme, and these were not studied further. The remaining
      mutant enzymes were assessed for their abilities to perform functions
      characteristic of the integrase protein. These included specific removal of the
      terminal dinucleotides from oligonucleotide substrates representative of the
      viral U5-long terminal repeat, nonspecific cleavage of oligonucleotide
      substrates, and mediation of the strand transfer (integration) reaction.
      Substitution at position 43, within the protein's zinc finger motif region,
      resulted in an enzyme with reduced specificity for cleavage of the terminal
      dinucleotide. In addition, a double substitution of aspartic acid and glutamine
      for valine and glutamic acid, respectively, at positions 151 and 152 within the
      D,D(35)E motif region rendered the integrase protein inactive for all of its
      functions. The introduction of this double substitution into an infectious HIV-1
      provirus yielded a mutant virus that was incapable of productively infecting
      human T-lymphoid cells in culture.

PMID- 1433524
TI  - Functional dissection of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus
      immediate-early 1 transcriptional regulatory protein.
AB  - Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus-infected insect
      cells express a viral immediate-early transcriptional regulatory protein, IE1,
      that has been shown by transient-expression assays to stimulate the expression of
      certain baculovirus delayed-early (DE) promoters and to inhibit the expression of
      other immediate-early (IE) genes. It is believed that certain DE promoters are
      activated, in part, by direct interactions between IE1 and enhancer elements
      located in regions adjacent to these genes. We have used transient cotransfection
      and DNA-binding assays to examine the function of mutant forms of IE1. Our
      results indirectly show that IE1 has at least two separable domains that are
      essential for its role in the modulation of baculovirus gene expression. A domain
      rich in acidic residues and essential for transactivation is located within the N
      terminal 145 amino acids of the polypeptide. A second domain, located in the C
      terminal 437 amino acids of IE1, is required for inhibitory and DNA-binding
      activities. Several nontransactivating IE1 mutants trans-dominantly interfered
      with wild-type IE1 transactivation of enhancer-linked DE genes. trans-dominant
      interference was expressed only by IE1 mutants that retained the N-terminal
      putative acidic activation domain, suggesting that this region may be involved in
      associations with a factor(s) essential for activation of enhancer-linked genes.

PMID- 1433525
TI  - Pulmonary histopathology induced by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) challenge
      of formalin-inactivated RSV-immunized BALB/c mice is abrogated by depletion of
      CD4+ T cells.
AB  - In previous studies, it was observed that children immunized with a formalin
      inactivated respiratory syncytial virus vaccine (FI-RSV) developed severe
      pulmonary disease with greater frequency during subsequent natural RSV infection
      than did controls. During earlier efforts to develop an animal model of this
      phenomenon, enhanced pulmonary histopathology was observed after intranasal RSV
      challenge of FI-RSV-immunized cotton rats. Progress in understanding the
      immunologic basis for these observations has been hampered by the lack of
      reagents useful in manipulating the immune response of the cotton rat. This
      problem prompted us to reinvestigate the characteristics of immunity to RSV in
      the mouse. In the present studies, extensive pulmonary histopathology was
      observed in FI-RSV-immunized or RSV-infected BALB/c mice upon RSV challenge, and
      studies to determine the relative contributions of CD4+ or CD8+ T cells to this
      process were undertaken. Mice previously immunized with FI-RSV or infected with
      RSV were depleted of CD4+, CD8+, or both T-cell subsets immediately prior to RSV
      challenge, and the magnitude of inflammatory cell infiltration around bronchioles
      and pulmonary blood vessels and into alveolar spaces was quantified. The
      magnitude of infiltration at each anatomic site in previously FI-RSV-immunized or
      RSV-infected, nondepleted animals was similar, indicating that this is not a
      relevant model for enhanced disease. However, the effect of T-cell subset
      depletion on pulmonary histopathology following RSV challenge was very different
      between the two groups. Depletion of CD4+ T cells completely abrogated pulmonary
      histopathology in FI-RSV-immunized mice, whereas it had a much smaller effect on
      mice previously infected with RSV. FI-RSV-immunized or RSV-infected animals
      depleted of CD8+ T cells had only a modest reduction of pulmonary histopathology.
      In addition, RSV infection induced high levels of major histocompatibility
      complex class I-restricted cytotoxic T-cell activity, whereas FI-RSV immunization
      induced a low level. These data indicate that immunization with FI-RSV induces a
      cellular immune response different from that induced by RSV infection, which
      likely played a role in enhanced disease observed in infants and children.

PMID- 1433526
TI  - Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev activation can be achieved without Rev
      responsive element RNA if Rev is directed to the target as a Rev/MS2 fusion
      protein which tethers the MS2 operator RNA.
AB  - The posttranscriptional trans activation of unspliced or partially spliced human
      immunodeficiency virus RNAs by the Rev regulatory protein is crucial for virus
      replication and is dependent on sequence-specific RNA binding by Rev. The cognate
      RNA target of Rev is contained within a highly structured, 244-nucleotide Rev
      responsive element (RRE) RNA in the viral env gene. Here, we show that specific
      interaction with the RRE is not an absolute requirement for Rev function. When
      the RRE is replaced by a heterologous MS2 phage operator sequence, Rev will
      facilitate the cytoplasmic expression of human immunodeficiency virus mRNAs
      containing this sequence if directed to the MS2 operator via the RNA binding
      motif of the MS2 phage coat protein (MS-C) as a Rev/MS-C fusion protein. Rev/MS-C
      efficiently activated both RRE and MS2 targets. A mutation in the MS2 operator
      that abolished the coat protein binding in vitro rendered the mutant RNA
      nonresponsive to the fusion protein in vivo. Notwithstanding that Rev can be
      tethered to the viral RNAs via another RNA binding motif, the structural
      integrity of the N terminus of Rev was still required for optimal trans
      activation.

PMID- 1433527
TI  - An infectious molecular clone of an unusual macrophage-tropic and highly
      cytopathic strain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.
AB  - We isolated and molecularly cloned a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)
      strain (89.6) which is unusual because it is both macrophage-tropic and extremely
      cytopathic in lymphocytes. Moreover, this is the first well-characterized
      infectious molecularly cloned macrophage-tropic HIV-1 strain derived from
      peripheral blood. HIV-1 89.6 differs markedly from other macrophage-tropic
      isolates within the envelope V3 region, which is important in determining cell
      tropism and cytopathicity. HIV-1 89.6 may thus represent a transitional isolate
      between noncytopathic macrophage-tropic viruses and cytopathic lymphocyte-tropic
      viruses.

PMID- 1433528
TI  - TAR-independent replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in glial
      cells.
AB  - The molecular mechanisms involved in the replication of human immunodeficiency
      virus type 1 (HIV-1) may differ in various cell types and with various exogenous
      stimuli. Astrocytic glial cells, which can support HIV-1 replication in cell
      cultures and may be infected in vivo, are demonstrated to provide a cellular
      milieu in which TAR mutant HIV-1 viruses may replicate. Using transfections of
      various TAR mutant HIV-1 proviral constructs, we demonstrate TAR-independent
      replication in unstimulated astrocytic cells. We further demonstrate, using viral
      constructs with mutations in the tat gene and in the nuclear factor kappa B (NF
      kappa B)-binding sites (enhancer) of the HIV-1 long terminal repeat, that TAR
      independent HIV-1 replication in astrocytic cells requires both intact NF-kappa B
      moiety-binding motifs in the HIV-1 long terminal repeat and Tat expression. We
      measured HIV-1 p24 antigen production, syncytium formation, and levels and
      patterns of viral RNA expression by Northern (RNA) blotting to characterize TAR
      independent HIV-1 expression in astrocytic glial cells. This alternative
      regulatory pathway of TAR-independent, Tat-responsive viral production may be
      important in certain cell types for therapies which seek to perturb Tat-TAR
      binding as a strategy to interrupt the viral lytic cycle.

PMID- 1433529
TI  - Neutralization of diverse human immunodeficiency virus type 1 variants by an anti
      V3 human monoclonal antibody.
AB  - The third variable region (V3) of the HIV-1 gp120 envelope glycoprotein is
      thought to induce potent neutralizing antibodies which are generally defined as
      type specific and reactive with individual viral isolates. In contrast, the CD4
      binding domain is thought to induce neutralizing antibodies that are group
      specific and capable of neutralizing all isolates of HIV-1. However, in this
      study, we used a panel of human monoclonal antibodies to these regions of gp120
      which displays specificities and neutralizing activities that challenge these
      tenets. In particular, we used a human monoclonal antibody to the V3 domain with
      exceptionally potent and broad neutralizing activity against many diverse HIV-1
      isolates. The anti-CD4-binding domain antibodies, on the other hand, showed a
      more restricted pattern of activity.

PMID- 1433530
TI  - Processing and localization of Dengue virus type 2 polyprotein precursor NS3-NS4A
      NS4B-NS5.
AB  - Processing of dengue virus type 2 polyprotein precursor NS3-NS4A-NS4B-NS5 could
      be mediated by the catalytically active NS3 protease domain and NS2B in trans at
      the dibasic sites NS3-NS4A and NS4B-NS5. Subcellular localization of the
      unprocessed precursor NS3-NS4A-NS4B-NS5 showed that it was confined to a distinct
      subcellular organelle in the cytoplasm, which was distinct from the distribution
      of the mature NS5.

PMID- 1433531
TI  - Specific binding of the human T-cell leukemia virus type I Rex protein to a short
      RNA sequence located within the Rex-response element.
AB  - Expression of the structural proteins of human T-cell leukemia virus type I is
      dependent upon the interaction of the viral Rex trans activator with its highly
      structured cis-acting RNA target sequence, the 254-nucleotide Rex-response
      element. Nucleotides critical for Rex binding in vitro have been mapped by
      modification interference analysis to a discrete 12-nucleotide RNA sequence that
      is predicted to form a stem-bulge-stem structure. This minimal RNA binding site
      was sufficient to mediate specific Rex binding in vitro when analyzed in the
      context of a short RNA probe. The critical importance of this short RNA sequence
      in mediating Rex function in vivo is supported by its complete conservation among
      all primate T-cell leukemia virus isolates.

PMID- 1433532
TI  - Effects of altering palmitylation sites on biosynthesis and function of the
      influenza virus hemagglutinin.
AB  - Mutagenesis studies indicated that the three cytoplasmic cysteines of the
      influenza virus A/Japan/305/57 hemagglutinin (HA) are all palmitylated, but to an
      unequal extent. Replacement of all three cysteines abolished palmitylation, but
      affected neither HA biosynthesis nor function. Palmitate was not required for HA
      to be incorporated into virions.

PMID- 1433533
TI  - The use of alloplastic biomaterials in bladder substitution.

PMID- 1433534
TI  - Renal colic in pregnancy.
AB  - Renal calculi are an infrequent but significant management problem during
      pregnancy. We reviewed all cases of renal colic occurring during pregnancy
      between 1979 and 1990 at Grace Hospital, a tertiary care obstetrical hospital in
      Vancouver, British Columbia. Of the patients 80 had a discharge diagnosis of
      renal colic and pregnancy during this 11-year period. Calculi were confirmed in
      57 patients. Of the patients 66% were multiparous and 99% of the calculi occurred
      during either the second or third trimester. The most common symptom was flank
      pain seen in 89% of the patients, while greater than 95% displayed either
      microscopic or gross hematuria. Methods of radiographic diagnosis included
      ultrasonography and limited stage excretory urography. A total of 84% of patients
      passed stones spontaneously. Indications for urological or obstetrical
      intervention included persistent pain, sepsis, progressive hydronephrosis,
      solitary kidney or high grade obstruction. There were 37 procedures done in 23
      patients. The most common procedure was placement of a ureteral stent. The
      complication rate associated with intrapartum intervention and stent passage in
      the 23 patients was 16%. All patients with a ureteral stent subsequently had
      spontaneous vaginal delivery without complication. A scheme for managing renal
      calculi in pregnancy is presented.

PMID- 1433535
TI  - Intraoperative sonography of renal tumors.
AB  - Intraoperative sonography (7.5 MHz. transducer with Doppler probe) was used to
      evaluate renal masses in 41 kidneys to determine its correlation with
      pathological findings. This intraoperative determination of the extent of the
      renal lesion prompted occasional changes in surgical management. We conclude that
      intraoperative sonography is most useful in partial nephrectomy, and helps to
      determine the extent of tumor, multicentricity, venous extension and associated
      cysts. These findings may not be appreciated with intraoperative, visual
      inspection of the kidney.

PMID- 1433536
TI  - Clean intermittent catheterization and urinary diversion in the management of
      renal transplant recipients with lower urinary tract dysfunction.
AB  - Renal transplant recipients with lower urinary tract dysfunction may be managed
      by urinary diversion or clean intermittent catheterization. To evaluate the
      comparative problems associated with each mode of therapy we studied 13 patients
      managed by clean intermittent catheterization (group 1, 6 patients) or urinary
      diversion (group 2, 7 patients). All 6 and 2 of 7 recipients in groups 1 and 2,
      respectively, had a neuropathic bladder. Mean followup was 3.7 +/- 1.5 (group 1)
      and 5.7 +/- 4.9 (group 2) years. Three allografts were lost in group 2 due to
      rejection (2) and death (1). Two patients each in groups 1 and 2 had febrile
      urinary tract infections requiring hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics.
      Complications related to urinary diversion developed in 4 patients in group 2.
      The serum creatinine at 1 and 3 years, number of hospital days per patient, total
      number of rejection episodes and number of patients employed in a full-time job
      following transplantation were similar in both groups. In summary, clean
      intermittent catheterization appears to have more morbidity in immunosuppressed
      transplant versus nontransplant patients but it may be preferable in renal
      transplant recipients due to the overall simplicity, positive psychological
      effect and comparable morbidity to other forms of management.

PMID- 1433537
TI  - Complications of radical cystectomy and urinary diversion: a retrospective review
      of 675 cases in 2 decades.
AB  - A retrospective review was performed on all 675 patients who underwent radical
      cystectomy and urinary diversion during 2 decades. Of the patients 197 were
      treated from 1969 to 1979 (group 1) and 478 were treated from 1980 until 1990
      (group 2). The mean age of patients in group 1 was 56.7 years versus 64.2 years
      in group 2 (p < 0.001). The overall operative mortality rate in both groups was
      2.5%. A total of 215 patients (31.9%) experienced postoperative complications
      (within 30 days of surgery). The morbidity rate was nearly identical between the
      2 groups (32.0% for group 1 versus 31.8% for group 2, p = 0.962). Of note,
      however, there was a decreased incidence of wound infections and wound dehiscence
      among the patients in group 2 compared to group 1. Long-term complications
      occurred in 198 of the 675 patients (29.3%). At followup group 1 had a 35.5%
      incidence of long-term complications versus 26.8% in group 2 (p = 0.022). Most
      notably there was significant improvement in the incidence of ureteroenteric
      anastomotic strictures when comparing groups 1 (11.2%) and 2 (5.2%) (p = 0.006).

PMID- 1433538
TI  - Tamm-Horsfall protein as a marker in interstitial cystitis.
AB  - It has been suggested that immunohistochemical staining for Tamm-Horsfall protein
      in bladder epithelium may be a marker for interstitial cystitis. Of bladder
      biopsies from 14 interstitial cystitis patients only 3 demonstrated positive
      staining for Tamm-Horsfall protein within the mucosa, whereas 2 of 11 control
      biopsies showed positive Tamm-Horsfall protein results. In addition, staining in
      4 ureteral specimens from interstitial cystitis patients and 4 controls was
      negative in all cases. An effort to detect this protein in enterocystoplasty
      specimens also showed a negative pattern. Our study does not confirm the Tamm
      Horsfall protein as permeating either the bladder epithelium in interstitial
      cystitis or bowel mucosa in enterocystoplasty. This finding does not necessarily
      mean that these surfaces are not permeable to substances of smaller molecular
      size, nor does it define whether this is of importance in the etiology of
      interstitial cystitis. However, it does suggest that this technique does not
      allow detection of a marker for the disease.

PMID- 1433539
TI  - Idiopathic reduced bladder storage versus interstitial cystitis.
AB  - Idiopathic reduced bladder storage is a term we used to describe a group of
      patients who have subjective and objective evidence (by cystometrogram) of
      diminished bladder capacity without a demonstrable cause. We performed a
      prospective study comparing this condition with interstitial cystitis. We studied
      the clinical, urodynamic and histological features, and response to therapy in
      these 2 groups of patients. No statistical difference was found between the
      incidence of irritative bladder symptoms and/or suprapubic pain. Only minor
      differences were noted in the maximum cystometric capacity and incidence of
      bladder instability. Histological and immunofluorescent features were analogous.
      Also, the reduced bladder storage and interstitial cystitis patients responded
      similarly to bladder dilation and pharmacological therapy. Augmentation
      ileocystoplasty used in patients refractory to medical treatment produced
      comparable results in the short term. Based upon similar findings, it is likely
      that these 2 conditions represent the same disease entity with the only
      difference being the cystoscopic findings.

PMID- 1433540
TI  - Treated history of noninvasive grade 1 transitional cell carcinoma. The National
      Bladder Cancer Group.
AB  - A total of 178 patients with grade 1 noninvasive (stage Ta) bladder tumors
      followed from 1 to 10 years (median 58 months) was prospectively evaluated by
      cystoscopy, transurethral resection, mucosal biopsies, cytology, size and number
      of tumors at diagnosis, recurrences, progression in grade and stage, number of
      negative or positive cystoscopies and death from all causes. Histopathological
      and cytological studies were confirmed by a Central Pathology Laboratory using
      the criteria for grade 1 as described previously. Of the patients 122 (68.5%) had
      a single tumor. Three-quarters of the patients had tumors of less than 2 cm., 95%
      had mild or no urothelial dysplasia and 1 had positive cytology results. There
      were 419 recurrent tumors in 109 patients (61%). Patients with multiple tumors
      were at a significantly greater risk for recurrences (p < 0.001). Size of tumor
      significantly affected the rate of recurrence in the first 2 years after initial
      diagnosis in single tumor patients only. Of the multiple tumor patients 90%
      experienced a recurrence compared to 46% of the single tumor patients. Of the
      1,112 cystoscopies performed in 122 single tumor patients 18% were positive,
      compared to 33% of the 686 cystoscopies performed in 56 multiple tumor patients.
      A total of 29 patients had a change in grade, 5 having grade 3 and 24 having
      grade 2 tumors. Progression to stage T1 occurred in 5 patients and to stage T2 or
      greater in 3. Of the 36 patients who died, 1 died of obstruction due to bladder
      cancer. Experimental evidence supports the opinion that the cells of stage Ta,
      grade 1 tumors are different in several ways from normal urothelium. There are
      little data to support the use of the term papilloma to describe stage Ta, grade
      1 tumors without reservation. The data demonstrate that the tumor diathesis being
      expressed ceases with time and for unknown reasons. Multiple tumor patients with
      stage Ta, grade 1 disease might be included in chemotherapy trials only with
      stratification and a control arm of transurethral resection/fulguration alone.

PMID- 1433541
TI  - Prognostic significance of mucosal aneuploidy in stage Ta/T1 grade 3 carcinoma of
      the bladder.
AB  - In a prospective series of 71 patients with newly detected grade 3, stages Ta and
      T1 bladder carcinoma tumor characteristics, including the results of
      deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis as well as morphological and DNA
      characteristics of the grossly normal urothelium, were investigated and related
      to progression-free survival. The mean duration of followup was 57 months, with a
      minimum of 24 months. Of the 71 patients 24 underwent primary cystectomy, and 47
      were conservatively treated with transurethral resection alone, or followed by
      instillation therapy or irradiation therapy. Of the cystectomy and conservatively
      treated patients 2 (8%) and 16 (34%), respectively, died of bladder carcinoma.
      Among the 47 conservatively treated patients tumor progression could not be
      predicted by the initial characteristics of tumor stage, papillary or
      nonpapillary growth, tumor multiplicity, tumor size, existence of 1 or multiple
      aneuploid cell populations, S phase value, carcinoma in situ and atypia or
      aneuploidy in the mucosal biopsies. Neither was progression predicted by the
      recurrence rate during year 1 of observation. However, a change to or persistent
      mucosal aneuploidy and a change to or persistent morphological abnormality of the
      mucosa during year 1 of observation were predictive for tumor progression (p =
      0.001 and 0.045, respectively). When compared in stepwise regression analysis
      (Cox's proportional hazard model), DNA aneuploidy in the mucosa at 12 months
      after diagnosis was a highly significant predictor, whereas morphology added no
      further prognostic information. Therefore, progression is related to gross
      chromosomal abnormalities of the mucosa. High risk patients can be identified by
      evaluation of the grossly normal mucosa, which should be done as part of the
      initial diagnosis and during followup in conservatively treated patients with
      stages Ta and T1, grade 3 bladder carcinoma.

PMID- 1433542
TI  - The value of immediate or early catheterization of the traumatized posterior
      urethra.
AB  - A total of 16 patients with posterior urethral ruptures was treated with the aim
      of reestablishing urethral continuity immediately or early after injury. Followup
      ranged from 13 to 83 months (average 27). In all patients an emergency retrograde
      urethrogram demonstrated extravasation from the posterior urethra. Of the
      patients 13 were treated with a urethral catheter either immediately or within 1
      to 5 weeks after injury. Three patients were treated with a suprapubic catheter
      alone after unsuccessful attempts at reestablishing urethral continuity and all 3
      subsequently required urethroplasty for an obliterative stricture. These 3
      patients were also impotent after injury. Of the 13 patients treated with a
      urethral catheter 8 had the catheter inserted either retrograde (2) in the
      emergency room or antegrade (6) in the operating room just after the injury, and
      in 5 the catheter was inserted transurethrally at cystoscopy within a mean of 3
      weeks after injury. A total of 7 patients (54%) treated with urethral
      catheterization had a stricture during followup: 4 responded well to internal
      urethrotomy and 3 required simple dilation. Of 12 patients 5 (42%) became
      impotent after injury, while 1 was impotent before injury. No patient became
      incontinent. We conclude that careful urethral catheter realignment either
      immediately or within 5 weeks after injury is safe and obviates total urethral
      closure. Impotence may result from the severity of the injury and not from
      management with catheterization.

PMID- 1433543
TI  - Penile extensibility: to what is it related?
AB  - Penile extensibility is the difference between the length of the flaccid penis
      and the penis submitted to a maximal constant traction. This measurement has been
      proposed for use as a new potential diagnostic method to assess intracavernous
      fibrosis. To determine the value of this method we measured penile extensibility
      before and after removing the skin and cavernous tissue in 17 cadavers and 4
      patients undergoing penile implantation. In all cases a cavernous tissue biopsy
      was performed and the percentages of the different structures were objectively
      quantified by computer analysis. The extensibility decreased with patient age but
      it was not influenced by removal of the skin and/or cavernous tissue. No
      correlation was observed between decreased extensibility and the increase in
      fibrotic elements in the penile tissue. Penile extensibility seems to reflect the
      elasticity of the tunica albuginea, which is the limiting factor and cannot be an
      expression of fibrosis of the corpora cavernosa.

PMID- 1433544
TI  - Vascular impotence: focal or diffuse penile disease.
AB  - Using computerized image analysis the percentage of smooth muscle fibers was
      measured in several biopsies of the penis from 10 cadavers and 5 patients with
      vascular impotence. No significant difference was observed between the proximal
      and distal areas, and/or between the peripheral and central areas in 1 corpus
      cavernosum, and between the 2 corpora cavernosa for each patient or cadaver. The
      percentage of smooth muscle fibers was less in impotent patients in comparison
      with the cadavers, in which the erectile status was not known, and this reduction
      occurred throughout both cavernous bodies. Vascular impotence is a diffuse penile
      disease. Therefore, a cavernous body biopsy can be used to study the penile
      structure in the assessment of vascular impotence.

PMID- 1433545
TI  - Preliminary results with the nitric oxide donor linsidomine chlorhydrate in the
      treatment of human erectile dysfunction.
AB  - Recent experimental studies showed an important role of endothelium derived
      relaxing factor for cavernous smooth muscle relaxation. Since nitric oxide seems
      to account for the biological actions of endothelium derived relaxing factor, a
      study was done to examine a possible role of the nitric oxide donor linsidomine
      chlorhydrate (SIN-1) in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. To determine a
      therapeutically useful dose 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1 mg. SIN-1 were injected
      intracavernously in patients with erectile dysfunction. Each dose was given to 2
      patients. Then, 63 patients received 1 mg. SIN-1, including 7 who had prolonged
      erections to minimal doses of papaverine plus phentolamine and 4 who did not
      respond with a full erection to other pharmacological agents. Intracavernous
      injection of SIN-1 induced a dose-dependent erectile response by increasing the
      arterial inflow and relaxing cavernous smooth muscles. Of the patients 29 had a
      full, 21 an almost full and 13 a moderate erection to 1 mg. SIN-1. There were no
      systemic or local side effects. In the patients with prolonged erections to
      papaverine plus phentolamine the mean duration of a full erectile response to SIN
      1 was 57 minutes. Compared to the responses to a papaverine (15 mg./ml.) and
      phentolamine (0.5 mg./ml.) mixture, the erection induced by SIN-1 was superior in
      10, comparable in 47 and inferior in 6 patients. Our data suggest a possible role
      for SIN-1 in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Possible advantages may be
      that erection is induced by a mechanism similar to that occurring
      physiologically, a decreased risk of inducing prolonged erections and low therapy
      costs.

PMID- 1433546
TI  - Volume-dependent intracavernous hemodilution during pharmacologically induced
      penile erections.
AB  - The change in the cavernous hematocrit following induction of pharmacological
      erection by an intracavernous injection of papaverine hydrochloride was
      documented in normal controls and patients with impotence. Blood samples taken
      from the penile cavernosa showed a significantly lower hematocrit compared to the
      systemic venous blood in all normal subjects. The decrease in the cavernous
      hematocrit was attributable to dilution of the cavernous blood pool by the
      injected volume of the drug, since this was not observed in erections produced by
      visual sexual stimulation. It appears that a restriction of the cavernous venous
      outflow in response to papaverine injection causes sequestration of the diluted
      blood in the cavernous compartment. The degree of cavernous hemodilution was
      found to aid in the differential diagnosis and was especially valuable in
      differentiating patients with arteriogenic impotence from those with venous
      leakage.

PMID- 1433547
TI  - Early experience with the controlled girth and length expanding cylinder of the
      American Medical Systems Ultrex penile prosthesis.
AB  - A prospective study was done to evaluate length expansion characteristics of the
      AMS Ultrex penile prosthesis cylinder intraoperatively and in the early
      postoperative period. A total of 50 patients 30 to 74 years old (mean age 55.2
      years) underwent implantation of this device. Intraoperative changes in the pubis
      to mid glans distance between deflation and inflation ranged from 1 to 4 cm.
      (mean 1.9). Postoperative followup measurements were obtained in 46 patients at 1
      to 15 months (mean 4). There was a 1 cm. decrease in the amount of postoperative
      length expansion for 6 patients, while length expansion increased by 1 cm. for 12
      and for 28 the postoperative length expansion was the same as the intraoperative
      length expansion.

PMID- 1433548
TI  - Varicocele treatment: prospective randomized trial of 3 methods.
AB  - This study was done to evaluate the surgical results and the impact on fertility
      potential of 3 methods of varicocele treatment. Consecutive varicocele patients
      with primary or secondary infertility were randomly assigned to 3 treatment
      groups. Of the patients 36 underwent percutaneous embolization, 55 high ligation
      of the internal spermatic vein and 28 transinguinal simultaneous ligation of the
      internal and external spermatic veins. The transinguinal ligation proved to be
      safe. There was no difference in pregnancy rates but the seminal variables showed
      a slight improvement with statistical significance only in the 2 open surgical
      methods. There were no surgical failures in the transinguinal group as opposed to
      the other 2 techniques. Transinguinal ligation of the internal and external
      spermatic veins may be recommended as the primary treatment for varicocele. This
      technique also seems to be the procedure of choice when repeat intervention is
      required for failure of high ligation or embolization.

PMID- 1433549
TI  - A test for the identification of relevant sympathetic nerve fibers during nerve
      sparing retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy.
AB  - We present a new intraoperative test for the identification of sympathetic nerve
      fibers relevant to ejaculation during nerve sparing retroperitoneal
      lymphadenectomy in patients with nonseminomatous testicular tumors.
      Electrostimulation of specific isolated postganglionic nerve fibers resulted in
      intraoperative ejaculation in 9 of 11 patients. Ejaculation was without
      tumescence in a noneruptive manner and was reproducible in most cases upon
      repeated stimulation. In 6 patients ejaculation resulted after stimulation of the
      L3 fiber and in 1 each after stimulation of the L1, L2 and hypogastric plexus.
      The test seems to be particularly useful in post-chemotherapeutic dissections or
      otherwise extended dissections when sparing of irrelevant fibers is to be
      avoided.

PMID- 1433550
TI  - Transurethral surgery using intravesical bupivacaine and intravenous sedation.
AB  - We report our experience using intravesical 0.5% bupivacaine as a topical
      anesthetic along with intravenous fentanyl and midazolam sedation to perform a
      variety of transurethral procedures in 78 patients. We achieved adequate pain
      control in all patients and observed no anesthetic complications. Use of this
      combination of intravesical topical anesthesia and intravenous sedation provided
      safe, adequate anesthesia to our patients undergoing various transurethral
      procedures in an outpatient clinic setting.

PMID- 1433551
TI  - Ambulatory monitoring of bladder pressure in low compliance neurogenic bladder
      dysfunction.
AB  - Upper tract dilatation is an important complication of neurogenic bladder
      dysfunction. Risk factors include incomplete bladder emptying with large residual
      volumes of urine and high tonic increases in bladder pressures during artificial
      filling. However, on natural bladder filling many of these patients do not have
      high tonic increases in detrusor pressures. We compared conventional urodynamic
      studies with ambulatory monitoring during natural bladder filling in 66 patients
      with low compliance neurogenic bladder dysfunction. There were marked differences
      in the tonic increase in bladder pressure during filling and in compliance during
      artificial bladder filling compared with ambulatory monitoring. Faster filling
      rates during artificial filling resulted in greater end filling pressures and
      lower compliance but the lowest increases in bladder pressure were found during
      ambulatory monitoring with natural bladder filling. During natural bladder
      filling significantly more patients had phasic changes in detrusor pressure; a
      high intensity of phasic activity during ambulatory monitoring correlated with
      high end filling pressures during artificial bladder filling. Upper tract
      dilatation was associated with large volumes of residual urine, high resting
      bladder pressures and low bladder compliance on filling at 100 ml. per minute.
      However, upper tract dilatation was most strongly associated with high intensity
      phasic pressure activity during natural bladder filling in combination with high
      residual urine volumes and high resting bladder pressures. On multivariate
      statistical analysis the intensity of phasic pressure activity during ambulatory
      monitoring was the best discriminator between patients with dilated and normal
      upper tracts. Our study has highlighted important differences in the results
      obtained by artificial filling cystometry and ambulatory monitoring during
      natural bladder filling. In particular, high increases in pressure did not occur
      during natural bladder filling, apparently being replaced by phasic activity.
      Within this group of patients who had the high risk factor of low bladder
      compliance measured during artificial bladder filling, a combination of greater
      residual urine volumes, greater resting pressures and greater phasic activity
      during natural bladder filling was found in patients with upper tract dilatation.

PMID- 1433552
TI  - A quantitative histological analysis of the dilated ureter of childhood.
AB  - A quantitative histological study of the dilated ureter of childhood was
      performed on 26 ureters. The specimens were from 15 male and 11 female patients
      10 days to 12 years old (mean age 2.0 years). A color image analysis system was
      used to examine and compare collagen and smooth muscle components of the
      muscularis layers to normal control ureters of similar age. In comparing primary
      obstructed (12) to primary refluxing (14) megaureters and control ureters (6),
      there was a statistically different collagen-to-smooth muscle ratio (p < 0.001)
      between the primary obstructed and primary refluxing megaureter groups. For
      patients with primary refluxing megaureter there was a 2-fold increase in the
      tissue matrix ratio of collagen-to-smooth muscle when compared to patients with
      primary obstructed megaureter. In the primary obstructed megaureters the amount
      of collagen and smooth muscle was not statistically different from controls (p >
      0.01). The increased tissue matrix ratio of 2.0 +/- 0.35 (collagen-to-smooth
      muscle) in the refluxing megaureter group compared to 0.78 +/- 0.22 in the
      obstructed megaureter group and 0.52 +/- 0.12 in controls was found to be due not
      only to a marked increase in collagen but also a significant decrease in the
      smooth muscle component of the tissue. Primary obstructed and normal control
      ureters had similar quantitative amounts of smooth muscle with 60 +/- 5% and 61
      +/- 6%, respectively, while refluxing megaureters had only 40 +/- 5% smooth
      muscle. The percentage collagen was 36 +/- 5 in the obstructed megaureter group
      and 30 +/- 5 in controls, with refluxing megaureters having 58 +/- 5% collagen on
      analysis. Our findings emphasize the significant differences in the structural
      components (collagen and smooth muscle) of the dilated ureter of childhood, and
      provide us with further insight into the pathological nature of these dilated
      ureters and their surgical repair.

PMID- 1433553
TI  - Prenatal diagnosis of the megacystis-megaureter association.
AB  - A total of 11 male neonates with hydronephrosis and a large bladder in utero had
      the megacystis-megaureter association. Prenatal ultrasound findings included
      bilateral hydroureteronephrosis; a large, smooth, thin-walled bladder, and normal
      volume of amniotic fluid. Postnatal studies demonstrated grades 4 to 5 bilateral
      reflux, a large bladder without obstruction and in 2 infants nonfunction of a
      kidney or renal moiety. Of 7 infants initially managed nonoperatively 5 have
      undergone surgery due to persistent reflux or breakthrough urinary infections.
      The prenatal diagnosis of the megacystis-megaureter association can be suspected
      with reasonable accuracy. Prompt postnatal continuous antibiotic prophylaxis and
      uroradiological confirmation allow for nonemergency management of this condition
      with excellent results.

PMID- 1433554
TI  - Endopyelotomy associated ureteral necrosis: complete ureteral replacement using
      the Boari flap.
AB  - A case of an adolescent who sustained necrosis of the entire ureter after
      attempted endopyelotomy for congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction is
      presented. Successful reconstruction of a neoureter was performed easily with the
      Boari bladder flap coupled with nephropexy and a psoas hitch. Although repair of
      upper ureteral injuries with the Boari flap has been described in the literature,
      to our knowledge its use in the pediatric population has not. Our case
      exemplifies how the Boari flap repair is particularly suitable in children for
      bridging significant segments of injured ureters, not just the lower third.

PMID- 1433555
TI  - Influence of preoperative bladder capacity and compliance on the outcome of
      artificial sphincter implantation in patients with neurogenic sphincter
      incompetence.
AB  - We performed a retrospective study of 23 patients with neurogenic sphincteric
      incompetence who had undergone implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter to
      determine if bladder capacity and compliance as determined by cystometrography
      could predict the need for enterocystoplasty. Study criteria were neurogenic
      sphincteric incompetence, no previous operations on the lower urinary tract, and
      performance of preoperative and postoperative cystometrography. Patients were 5
      to 17 years old at implantation. Incontinence was caused by myelomeningocele (18
      patients), sacral agenesis (3) and spinal cord tumor (2). The 8 patients for whom
      preoperative cystometric bladder capacity was greater than 60% of the expected
      capacity for age have been followed for a mean of 60 months. All 8 patients are
      continent and none required enterocystoplasty. Preoperative bladder compliance
      exceeded 2 ml./cm. water in all patients (group 1). Of the 15 patients for whom
      preoperative cystometric bladder capacity was less than 60% of the expected value
      (group 2, small bladders) 8 followed an average of 72 months had a compliance
      greater than 2 ml./cm. water and have done well without bladder augmentation. In
      contrast, 7 patients in this group (46%) required enterocystoplasty: 6 for
      persistent or recurrent incontinence and 1 for upper tract changes. The average
      interval between artificial sphincter placement and enterocystoplasty was 14
      months. Patients with a small bladder that required augmentation had a
      preoperative bladder compliance of less than 2 ml./cm. water. We conclude that
      small bladder capacity, as determined by cystometrography in patients with
      neurogenic sphincteric incompetence but a bladder compliance of less than 2
      ml./cm. water predicts the future need for bladder augmentation. In all other
      patients, with good medical treatment and followup, the possible adverse effects
      of a small capacity bladder can be prevented or corrected. With this strategy we
      have been able to avoid enterocystoplasty with its attending potential
      complications in 70% of our patients with neurogenic incontinence and favorable
      urodynamics regardless of preoperative cystometric bladder capacity.

PMID- 1433556
TI  - Adventitious knots in urethral catheters: report of 5 cases.
AB  - Urethral catheterization with 5 or 8F feeding tubes in 5 boys was complicated by
      stochastic knotting within the bladder thereby impeding removal. The common
      factor in these patients was insertion of excessive length within the bladder.
      Percutaneous endoscopic retrieval was done successfully in 1 child. This
      technique may avoid urethral trauma associated with catheter removal,
      particularly in younger boys.

PMID- 1433557
TI  - Radiographic and serologic correlates of azotemia in patients with posterior
      urethral valves.
AB  - A retrospective statistical analysis with a minimum followup of 10 years was done
      on 102 patients who presented in early childhood with posterior urethral valves.
      All patients were treated with initial bladder drainage. Factors correlating with
      the development of renal failure were evaluated. No patient with a normal kidney
      on 1 side had renal failure. Calculated glomerular filtration rate was
      significantly higher in patients who retained adequate renal function (80.7 +/-
      17.8 ml. per minute per 1.73 m.2), as compared with those who had renal failure
      (18.6 +/- 9.6 ml. per minute per 1.73 m.2). Patients with renal failure also had
      a significantly higher serum creatinine level at stabilization (2.0 +/- 0.8
      mg./dl.) than those who had adequate renal function (0.5 +/- 0.2 mg./dl.). The
      presence of bilateral high grade vesicoureteral reflux, hydronephrosis and
      nonfunction was significantly higher in patients with renal failure. Patient age
      at presentation was not a significant factor. These data represent a guideline
      for the prognosis and management protocols of infants with dilated upper urinary
      tracts and posterior urethral valves.

PMID- 1433558
TI  - Urethral stricture in children: treatment by urethroplasty with bladder mucosa
      graft.
AB  - Urethral strictures in children, which are not frequent, often require
      urethroplasty when dilations and/ or urethrotomies have failed. A bladder mucosa
      graft was used successfully for urethral reconstruction to treat posterior
      hypospadias. We describe our experience with a bladder mucosa graft during
      urethroplasty for acquired urethral strictures in 8 children. Urethral strictures
      secondary to the treatment of hypospadias were excluded. Bladder mucosa was used
      successfully as an onlay or patch graft urethroplasty in 7 patients. One patient
      had a tubularized graft with secondary stenosis treated successfully by dilation.

PMID- 1433559
TI  - Onlay island flap urethroplasty: variation on a theme.
AB  - The onlay island flap urethroplasty is useful in patients with distal, mid shaft
      and proximal hypospadias who have a well developed urethral plate and exhibit
      little or no curvature after release of chordee. The technique described has 2
      main features: 1) use of the entire inner prepuce of the foreskin facilitates its
      mobilization and protects the vascular pedicle, and 2) additional soft tissue
      coverage is gained by removing the excess preputial mucosa not used for the
      neourethra. This extra soft tissue covering of the suture lines should prevent
      fistula formation. During the last 4 1/2 years the onlay island flap has been
      used for repair of hypospadias in 61 patients. The complication rate (6%) is low
      and compares favorably with other techniques. Further refinements in the onlay
      flap hypospadias repair should decrease the complication rate and widen its
      applicability.

PMID- 1433560
TI  - Penoscrotal transposition with hypospadias: 1-stage repair.
AB  - A 1-stage surgical repair of penoscrotal transposition with hypospadias is
      described. The basic principles are correction of hypospadias with the best
      vascularized island penile skin flap used for a new urethra and 2 vascularized
      sliding skin flaps used for reconstruction of the penile skin, and transposition
      of the penis to the suprascrotal position in the area of the mons pubis, with
      mobilization plus midline testicular fixation (inter-orchiopexy) and
      scrotoplasty. This technique was applied in 42 patients 2 to 9 years old between
      1986 and 1991. The complications were 2 urethral stenoses on the proximal
      anastomosis (1 was treated successfully by urethrotomy and 1 by an open
      operation) and 2 fistulas (successfully treated by surgery), while 2 patients
      required additional correction of penoscrotal transposition.

PMID- 1433561
TI  - Intraoperative spermatic venography during varicocele surgery in adolescents.
AB  - Intraoperative internal spermatic venography performed immediately following
      varicocele ligation in the adolescent has been touted as reducing varicocele
      persistence rates. Previously published data corroborate this statement with low
      persistence rates. Other series in which venography was not performed report a
      failure rate of 9 to 30%. During a 5-year period a total of 64 varicocele
      ligations was performed in 62 male adolescents at our institution. Followup
      postoperatively revealed an overall varicocele persistence rate of 9%. All
      patients had intraoperative internal spermatic venography on the affected side.
      Of 64 venograms 16% had shown collateral drainage that, if not ligated, may have
      resulted in varicocele persistence. These cases accounted for only 1 of the
      persistent varicoceles. Additionally, venograms had demonstrated filling of the
      ipsilateral external iliac vein in 8% of the cases. Despite the fact that no
      attempt was made to ligate these collaterals, none of these patients had a
      persistent varicocele. After varicocele ligation 30 of 62 patients were followed
      long enough to evaluate for testicular catch up growth. Of these 30 patients 24
      demonstrated an average relative increase in left testicular volume of 17%. These
      data support routine intraoperative internal spermatic venography while
      performing varicocele ligation in the adolescent.

PMID- 1433562
TI  - Endocytosis of calcium oxalate crystals and proliferation of renal tubular
      epithelial cells in a patient with type 1 primary hyperoxaluria.
AB  - A patient with primary hyperoxaluria who received a liver-kidney transplant is
      presented. A postoperative renal biopsy showed apparent tubular cell endocytosis
      of calcium oxalate crystals and cell proliferation, indicating that renal
      epithelial cells do not perceive urinary crystals as inert. Such cellular
      responses to crystals may have a role in nephrolithiasis.

PMID- 1433563
TI  - Arteriovenous fistula complicating endopyelotomy.
AB  - We report a case of arteriovenous fistula and pseudoaneurysm formation following
      endopyelotomy. Presentation, successful management with interventional radiology
      techniques, and the relationship between variant renal artery anatomy and
      endopyelotomy are discussed.

PMID- 1433564
TI  - Leiomyoma of the female urethra: a case report and review.

PMID- 1433565
TI  - The management of injuries to the urethra, bladder or vagina encountered during
      difficult placement of the artificial urinary sphincter in the female patient.
AB  - Between 1977 and 1989, an artificial urinary sphincter was implanted in 57 female
      patients. In 6 patients inadvertent intraoperative injuries to pelvic organs
      occurred, 5 of whom had a history of an average 2.8 previous operations for
      incontinence (range 2 to 4). The remaining patient was a 16-year-old girl with
      primary internal sphincter incompetence. All 6 patients presented with total
      incontinence. Intraoperative injury included 4 women who sustained vaginal
      perforations, while 1 had an anterior bladder perforation and in 1 the urethra
      was entered. Mechanisms of injury were sharp perforation of structures adherent
      to the pubis and blunt tears of distorted urethrovaginal tissues. Primary
      closures of the urethra, bladder and vaginal defects followed by insertion of the
      artificial urinary sphincter were accomplished successfully. Postoperative
      management included vaginal antiseptic packs, appropriate antibiotics and delayed
      sphincter activation. Of the 6 patients 5 remained dry after initial placement
      with a mean followup of 32 months (range 7 to 77). The remaining patient required
      replacement with a higher pressure balloon and a smaller cuff, which resulted in
      complete continence.

PMID- 1433566
TI  - Use of a polytetrafluoroethylene tube graft as a circumferential neotunica during
      placement of a penile prosthesis.
AB  - Various techniques have evolved for augmentation of the tunica albuginea in cases
      when tunical tissue has been found deficient during penile prosthesis
      implantation. An intraoperative situation occurred in which the size of the
      tunical defect did not permit primary tunical closure or allow for approximation
      by placement of a tunical patch graft. In this case, to ensure satisfactory
      insertion of a penile prosthesis a polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex) tube graft
      was used as a circumferential neotunica.

PMID- 1433567
TI  - Epididymo-orchitis developing as a late manifestation of intravesical bacillus
      Calmette-Guerin therapy and masquerading as a primary testicular malignancy: a
      report of 2 cases.
AB  - In 2 cases epididymo-orchitis, indistinguishable from a testicular tumor,
      developed as a late (15 and 34 months, respectively) complication following use
      of Tice strain bacillus Calmette-Guerin for treatment of superficial bladder
      carcinoma. In each instance the lesion was asymptomatic and ultrasonography
      demonstrated a complex scrotal mass. Inguinal orchiectomy was performed for
      diagnosis and therapy. The importance of obtaining a mycobacterial culture for
      further therapy planning is stressed.

PMID- 1433568
TI  - Prostatic abscess due to Candida tropicalis in a nonacquired immunodeficiency
      syndrome patient.
AB  - We report a case of prostatic abscess due to Candida tropicalis in a nonacquired
      immunodeficiency syndrome patient with diabetes. The diagnosis and management are
      discussed, and the literature is reviewed.

PMID- 1433569
TI  - Papillary adenocarcinoma in a seminal vesicle cyst associated with ipsilateral
      renal agenesis: a case report.
AB  - Cysts and tumors of the seminal vesicle are uncommon, and their coexistence is
      extremely rare. We report a case of multiple papillary tumors inside a seminal
      vesicle cyst associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis in a 17-year-old man.
      Surgical excision of the cyst and tumors was performed without any morbidity and
      histology revealed well differentiated papillary adenocarcinoma.

PMID- 1433570
TI  - Effect of PSK and its subfractions on peripheral blood lymphocytes mediated
      cytotoxicity against urinary bladder tumor cells.
AB  - Our previous studies have indicated that the protein-bound polysaccharide Kreha
      (PSK) enhances the cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL)
      against the T24 human urinary bladder tumor cell line in patients with bladder
      tumor. Since PSK consists of a mixture of various kinds of protein-bound
      polysaccharides, the present study was designed to examine which subfractions of
      PSK mediated the enhancement of cytotoxicity. When PSK was separated according to
      size, treatment of PBL with the 50 kilodalton (kd) or less fraction killed T24
      cells more efficiently than unfractionated PSK-treated PBL. The higher molecular
      weight fractions did not enhance killing above the control level. PSK was
      fractionated on a diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-cellulose column to obtain a protein
      rich fraction that absorbed onto the column and a polysaccharide rich fraction
      that did not. PBL treated with the polysaccharide rich fraction were able to kill
      T24 cells more effectively than unfractionated PSK-treated PBL. The protein rich
      fraction had no effect on the killing. Further fractionation of the
      polysaccharide rich fraction was performed by differential precipitation with
      ammonium sulfate. PBL treated with the precipitated fraction at 70-80% saturation
      (PSK Fraction D) enhanced cytotoxicity equal to that of the polysaccharide rich
      fraction. Treatment of PBL with the other fractions did not augment the
      cytotoxicity. These enhancement by PSK fractions were observed in healthy donors
      and also in patients with bladder tumor. An increase of the proliferative
      response of PBL to PSK Fraction D as well as unfractionated PSK was observed.
      Treatment of PBL with PSK Fraction D had no effect on the proportion of PBL
      binding to T24 cells, thus suggesting a post-binding effect. The structure of PSK
      Fraction D as inferred from the results of methylation analysis was mainly an
      alpha-glucan. These results demonstrate that PSK mediated enhancement of
      cytotoxicity and proliferation of PBL may be largely due to an alpha-glucan of
      less than 50 kd.

PMID- 1433571
TI  - Impaired immune response by isoniazid treatment during intravesical BCG
      administration in the guinea pig.
AB  - At present, isoniazid (INH) is being used prophylactically to reduce the side
      effects of intravesical BCG therapy for superficial bladder cancer, although it
      is not clear whether or not this reduces the antitumor efficacy of BCG. In this
      study the impact of INH treatment on the immune response after repeated
      intravesical BCG administration was investigated in guinea pigs. INH was given on
      the 3 days around each BCG instillation. We found that the administration of INH
      severely impaired the immunological effects of BCG. The induction of mononuclear
      cell infiltration in the bladder wall was reduced. Enlargement of the regional
      lymph nodes (weight and number of cells), and increase of MHC Class II expression
      on the lymph node cells, normally observed after intravesical BCG administration,
      were inhibited by INH. Systemic immunity, measured by the DTH reaction in the
      skin to PPD, was also diminished due to the combined treatment of BCG with INH.
      When INH was administered during the last 4 of 6 BCG instillations, the immune
      response to BCG was still impaired. A five-fold increase of the dose of BCG did
      not overcome the effect of INH. INH probably did not exert a direct suppression
      of the immune system of the guinea pig as the DNCB skin reactivity was not
      influenced. Although INH concentrations in the urine were high at the onset of
      the instillation, in vitro experiments indicated that the effect of INH may not
      be caused by killing of the BCG organisms shortly after application in the
      bladder. In conclusion, our data in guinea pigs suggest that the use of INH may
      impair the immune response to intravesical BCG. As this response may be important
      for the antitumor effect of BCG, urologists should be cautious with the
      prophylactic use of INH. The influence on the antitumor efficacy is now
      investigated in man.

PMID- 1433572
TI  - Expression of adhesion molecules by bladder cancer cells: modulation by
      interferon-gamma and tumour necrosis factor-alpha.
AB  - The constitutive expression by eight human bladder cancer cell lines of the cell
      adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular adhesion
      molecule-2 was studied using monoclonal antibody probes in conjunction with flow
      cytometry. Tumour lines of low grade (G1) did not constitutively express
      intercellular adhesion molecule-1, rather they were found to express
      intercellular adhesion molecule-2. The G2 cells expressed no intercellular
      adhesion molecule-2, however, a low percentage did express intercellular adhesion
      molecule-1. High grade cells (G3) only expressed intercellular adhesion molecule
      1 on their cell surface but at higher levels than the G2 cell line. Exposure of
      the bladder cancer cell lines to interferon-gamma induced and augmented the
      expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 by all except one of the cell
      lines (UMUC3). Intercellular adhesion molecule-2 expression remained unaltered.
      The modulation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression was dependent on
      the concentration of interferon-gamma and the duration of stimulus. De novo
      intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression, induced by interferon-gamma, was
      rapid (< 4 hours) with only a short period of stimulation being required (< 10
      seconds). The rapid increase in expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1
      required de novo protein synthesis and was not the result of release of
      intercellular adhesion molecule-1 from an intracellular pool. Interferon-gamma
      and tumour necrosis factor-alpha were found to act synergistically in the
      induction and augmentation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression.
      Optimal induction occurred with 10 Uml-1 of both molecules. These results suggest
      a correlation between constitutive adhesion molecule expression and the
      histopathological grade of the tumour. The implications of these findings for
      Bacillus Calmette Guerin and interferon-gamma immunotherapy of bladder cancer is
      discussed.

PMID- 1433573
TI  - Diabetes mellitus impairs neurogenic and endothelium-dependent relaxation of
      rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle.
AB  - The effect of alloxan-induced diabetes on the reactivity of corporeal nerves,
      endothelium and smooth muscle was studied in the New Zealand white rabbit.
      Fifteen rabbits were randomly divided into treated (n = 6) and control (n = 9)
      groups. The treated group was maintained for 6 weeks. Two control groups were
      studied. One control group (n = 3) was maintained for 6 weeks as littermate
      controls for diabetic group. The second control group (n = 6) was not maintained
      but was weight matched with the 6 week diabetic group. The reactivity of corpus
      cavernosum tissue from the diabetic animals and the control animals was studied
      in organ chambers. When tissue contraction was produced with phenylephrine for
      the study of relaxation to various stimuli, the tension induced was similar in
      the diabetic and the control groups. Relaxation of corpus cavernosum tissue to
      electrical stimulation of autonomic nerves as well as relaxation to the
      endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine were comparably unaffected in the
      weight matched and littermate control groups while significantly inhibited in the
      diabetic group. Treatment of the corporeal tissue with the cyclooxgenase
      inhibitor indomethacin enhanced the relaxation to electrical stimulation and to
      acetylcholine in the control and in the diabetic groups but did not improve the
      significant difference in relaxation between the two groups. Relaxation of
      corporeal tissue to endothelium-independent vasodilators, papaverine and
      nitroprusside was similar in the control groups and the diabetic groups. It is
      concluded that diabetes impairs neurogenic and endothelium-mediated relaxation of
      rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle. These findings are comparable to those
      described in corpus cavernosum tissue from diabetic men, showing the validity of
      this experimental animal model. The mechanism for the nerve or endothelial
      dysfunction does not appear to involve alteration in cyclooxygenase products of
      arachidonate or the ability of the corporeal smooth muscle to relax via a cGMP
      dependent mechanism. Since nitric oxide has been shown to act as the
      nonadrenergic noncholinergic neurotransmitter as well as endothelium-derived
      relaxing factor (EDRF) of the trabecular smooth muscle, it is possible that
      impairment of neurogenic and endothelium-dependent relaxation due to diabetes is
      mediated by alteration in the synthesis or availability of nitric oxide in
      corporeal tissue.

PMID- 1433574
TI  - Microbial adhesion and biofilm formation on ureteral stents in vitro and in vivo.
AB  - Thirty ureteral stents, inserted for 5 to 128 days following extracorporeal shock
      wave lithotripsy, were examined for the presence of bacterial biofilms. Of these,
      90% had adherent pathogens (44% mixed organisms) on the stents, 45% of which were
      present in low numbers (10(1)-10(2) per 1 cm3 section) and 55% were in small and
      large microcolony biofilms (> 2 x 10(2)-10(7)). The organisms were recovered from
      the stents even though urine culture was only positive in 27% of patients. Of the
      organisms isolated, 77% were Gram positive cocci, 15% Gram negative rods and 8%
      Candida. No blockage of the stents occurred. All of the patients had received
      antimicrobial therapy post-insertion, and in 15 cases biofilms were found while
      on treatment. None of the patients received therapy for urinary tract infections
      while the stent remained in place. In vitro experiments demonstrated the ability
      of Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis and
      Enterococcus faecalis uropathogens to adhere and form biofilms on ureteral stents
      within 24 hours. Clearly, bacterial biofilms do occur on ureteral stents and
      urinary culture may not detect their presence. The high recovery rate of Gram
      positive organisms may indicate a preferential adhesion to the biomaterial
      surface. The findings also indicate that unlike biofilm formation on many other
      prosthetic implants, colonization with Gram positive organisms on ureteral stents
      does not necessarily coincide with the development symptomatic infection.

PMID- 1433575
TI  - Allelic loss of chromosome 17p in urothelial cancer: strong association with
      invasive phenotype.
AB  - Allelic loss of chromosome 17p with a mutated p53 gene on the remaining allele
      has been observed in various kinds of human cancers. To examine the significance
      of allelic loss of chromosome 17p in human urothelial cancer with special
      attention to the clinicopathological features, 49 tumors with various stages and
      grades from 43 cases (35 bladder cancers and 8 renal pelvic or ureteral cancers)
      were examined for loss of heterozygosity using 5 polymorphic probes on chromosome
      17p. Thirty-seven cases were informative, and allelic loss of chromosome 17p was
      observed in 15 (41%) of them. In bladder cancers, the loss of 17p was observed
      with significantly higher frequency (p < 0.01) in cases with invasive (> or =
      pT2) tumors (7/10, 70%) than in cases with superficial (pTa or pT1) tumors (4/21,
      19%). In renal pelvic or ureteral cancers, none of 2 superficial tumors and all
      of 4 invasive tumors showed the allelic loss. As to tumor grade, the allelic loss
      was observed in 1/9 (11%) for grade 1 cases, 6/18 (33%) for grade 2 cases, and
      8/10 (80%) grade 3 cases (grade 1 versus 3, p < 0.01; grade 2 versus 3, p <
      0.05). On the other hand, examination of clinical features, such as primary tumor
      site, tumor multiplicity or previous history of urothelial cancer did not
      significantly influence the frequency of the allelic loss. Our results suggest
      that the allelic loss of chromosome 17p is strongly associated with invasive
      phenotype in urothelial cancer. The results further indicate that the 17p
      deletion may represent a new genetic marker of malignant potentials in urothelial
      cancers.

PMID- 1433576
TI  - Urinary bladder function in the tight-skin mouse.
AB  - Tight-skin mice develop hypertrophy of connective tissue and tendons, associated
      with increases in collagen concentration in skin, heart, lungs, and tail. The
      bladders from these mice have not previously been examined. Because of the
      purported importance of collagen in bladder wall structure and compliance, we
      examined collagen content, micturition characteristics, and length-tension
      relationships in bladders from tight-skin mice. Bladder collagen content and
      concentration were approximately 70% greater in 5-6 month tight-skin mice than
      age-matched controls, but bladder mass, protein content, and protein
      concentration were similar. Tight-skin mice urinated larger volumes more
      frequently during the light cycle, and the functional bladder capacity appeared
      to be greater than that of controls. There was a small shift to the right of the
      passive length-tension curves of bladder strips from tight-skin mice, but the
      shift was not statistically significant. The magnitude of active tension
      development was the same. The data suggest that bladder collagen concentration
      does not necessarily determine bladder capacity or compliance. It is suggested
      that other factors, such as the ratio of collagen subtypes or the
      collagen:elastin ratio may have more importance for the maintenance of bladder
      distension.

PMID- 1433577
TI  - Comparison of urinary bladder function in 6 and 24 month male and female rats.
AB  - Micturition characteristics, collagen composition, and in vitro urinary bladder
      strip contractility were examined in young adult (six month) and old (24 month)
      male and female Fischer 344 rats. Although young female rats consumed
      significantly less water than young males, there were no differences in volumes
      of urine excreted. Old females excreted significantly more urine than old males,
      but there were no differences in volumes of water consumed. Old male rats had
      similar micturition frequencies during the light and dark cycles, in contrast to
      females and young males, where the number of micturitions during the dark cycle
      was significantly greater than those during the light cycle. The mean and maximal
      micturition volumes were significantly greater in old males compared to young
      males and old females during both the light and dark cycles. Bladders from female
      rats weighed significantly less than bladders from males of the same age, and the
      bladders from young rats weighed less than those of old rats. The protein and
      collagen concentrations were significantly less in bladder bodies from young
      females than old females. The amount of collagen resistant to digestion by
      Pronase, and thus thought to be cross-linked, was significantly greater in
      bladders from old rats compared to young. No differences between groups were
      found in the contractile responses of bladder base strips. There were trends for
      the absolute contractile responses of bladder body strips from old males to field
      stimulation, carbachol, ATP, and KCl to be larger than the other groups, and for
      strips from the young females to be smaller. The responses of strips from young
      females to field stimulation and KCl were significantly less than those of young
      males or old females, and responses to 10(-3) M ATP were less than those of old
      females. Responses of strips from old males to 60 mM KCl were significantly
      greater than those of young males. The differences in contractility could be
      attributed to the differences in strip mass. It appears, therefore, that urinary
      bladder function in male and female rats is unaffected by increasing age between
      6 and 24 months.

PMID- 1433578
TI  - A randomized comparison of cisplatin alone or in combination with methotrexate,
      vinblastine, and doxorubicin in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma: a
      cooperative group study.

PMID- 1433579
TI  - The detection and characterization of vesicoureteral reflux in the child.
AB  - Voiding cystourethrography or radionuclide cystography should be performed in the
      child in whom it is important to know whether reflux is present. Voiding
      cystourethrography is more accurate in characterizing and grading reflux, and
      monitoring is intermittent. Conversely, radionuclide cystography uses a lower
      radiation dose and its continuous monitoring leads to fewer false negative
      results but its ability to characterize reflux is poor. The performance of
      voiding cystourethrography or radionuclide cystography to detect reflux is an art
      as well as a science. These tests are done best by those who are experienced and
      interested in imaging the urinary tract of the child. At our hospital we perform
      voiding cystourethrography in all young children with urinary tract infection to
      detect and precisely characterize reflux to enable intelligent planning of
      management. In older patients, when it is less likely that reflux is present but
      it is still desirable to ensure that reflux is not occurring, radionuclide
      cystography is performed. If reflux is present, then a decision is made on an
      individual basis as to whether additional characterization by voiding
      cystourethrography is needed. Radionuclide cystography is also used for family
      screening, for periodic followup of reflux being managed nonoperatively and to
      ensure that reflux has been eliminated after antireflux surgery.

PMID- 1433580
TI  - Characteristics at entry of children with severe primary vesicoureteral reflux
      recruited for a multicenter, international therapeutic trial comparing medical
      and surgical management. The International Reflux Study in Children.
AB  - A total of 532 children, 401 from Europe and 131 from the United States, was
      recruited into an international multicenter study comparing the results of
      medical and surgical treatment of children with international grade III or IV
      vesicoureteral reflux and urinary tract infection. Patient age was less than 11
      years, glomerular filtration rate was greater than 70 ml. per minute per 1.73 m.2
      and there was no obstruction, renal malformation, previous urinary tract surgery
      or neuropathic bladder. A total of 80 children had less than grade III
      vesicoureteral reflux on a second pre-entry cystourethrogram required by the
      European protocol, and they were followed separately as a sideline group. At
      entry the age distribution, history of urinary tract infection and proportion of
      children with grade IV vesicoureteral reflux were similar in Europe and the
      United States. Of the European and United States children 48% and 54% had renal
      scarring, and 17% and 14% had parenchymal thinning, respectively. In each group
      renal length and planimetric area were normal in two-thirds and 5% had small
      kidneys (<2 standard deviations from normal). Differences included sex
      distribution (24% boys in Europe and 11% in the United States group), the
      proportion of children in whom vesicoureteral reflux was previously known (18%
      Europe and 69% United States) and the proportion of children with bilateral
      reflux (77% Europe and 57% United States). Randomization and stratification for
      treatment were successful.

PMID- 1433581
TI  - Infection pattern in children with vesicoureteral reflux randomly allocated to
      operation or long-term antibacterial prophylaxis. The International Reflux Study
      in Children.
AB  - A total of 306 children with grade III to IV vesicoureteral reflux (international
      classification) and a history of documented urinary tract infection was
      randomized into medical (155 patients) or surgical (151 patients) treatment arms
      in the European portion of the International Reflux Study in Children. Children
      treated medically were maintained on prophylactic antibacterials as long as the
      reflux persisted, while those treated surgically were covered prophylactically
      until followup studies at 6 months postoperatively demonstrated the reflux to be
      corrected. Standard definitions for bacteriuria were used, and the distinction
      was made clinically among acute pyelonephritis, cystitis and asymptomatic
      bacteriuria, supported in many instances by additional laboratory testing. Urine
      was cultured after 3 months and whenever suspicious symptoms occurred. Urinary
      tract infections developed during the first 5-year followup period in 59 patients
      (38%) in the medical group and in 59 (39%) in the surgical group but the
      incidence of pyelonephritis was higher in the medical group (21%) than in the
      surgical group (10%) (p < 0.01). Pyelonephritis often followed catheterization or
      cystoscopy but asymptomatic bacteriuria was uncommon after these procedures in
      either group. Recurrent infections were related to age, sex and treatment center.
      They were common in boys and girls entering under 1 year of age but were less
      common in girls and rare in boys entering after 1 year of age. Recurrences were
      lowest among the Finnish children and highest in the German and Belgian children.

PMID- 1433582
TI  - Renal scars and parenchymal thinning in children with vesicoureteral reflux: a 5
      year report of the International Reflux Study in Children (European branch).
AB  - A total of 321 children less than 11 years old with nonobstructive grade III or
      IV vesicoureteral reflux and with previous urinary tract infection was randomly
      allocated to medical or surgical treatment in the European branch of the
      International Reflux Study in Children. (Randomization was stratified for age,
      sex, grade of reflux, presence of renal scarring, interval since last urinary
      tract infection and treating hospital). The results of excretory urography are
      reported for 233 girls and 73 boys treated according to the random allocation,
      89% of whom were followed for 5 years. After 5 years in the medical group (155
      children) new renal scars were seen in 19 and new renal parenchymal thinning in
      11. The proportions were almost identical among 151 children allocated to
      surgical treatment with 20 new scars and 15 new thinnings. Progression of
      established scars was also similar in both groups. However, the new scars
      developed sooner after surgery than during medical treatment. In 6 surgically
      treated children postoperative obstruction was followed by the development of new
      scars. In addition, 12 patients showed new scars approximately 6 months after
      successful surgery, while in only 2 children scars developed more than 6 months
      after surgery. In 11 children of the medical group new scars were seen more than
      6 months after allocation. More new scars developed in the children with
      parenchymal thinning at entry (23%) than in those with scarred or normal kidneys
      at entry (10% each) (p < 0.05). The younger the patients at entry, the higher the
      frequency of new scars (less than 2 years 19.8%) 2 to 4 years 9.8% and 5 years or
      more 4.6%, p < 0.05).

PMID- 1433583
TI  - Surgical results in the International Reflux Study in Children (Europe).
AB  - In the European part of the International Reflux Study in Children (7
      participating centers) 151 infants and children were randomly allocated to
      surgical treatment of primary grades III and IV vesicoureteral reflux.
      Reimplantation was performed unilaterally in 65 patients and bilaterally in 86,
      for a total of 237 ureters reimplanted. The patients were followed at regular
      intervals for 5 years. Reflux was absent in 231 of the reimplanted ureters
      (97.5%) at the end of 5 years. No patient underwent reoperation for reflux. In 10
      ureters (4.2%, 10 patients) obstruction developed postoperatively and 7 needed
      reoperation. All reoperations were performed on the left side. Of the obstructed
      kidneys new scars developed in 6 during the 5-year followup. Including these
      cases, the number of new renal scars was equal in the surgical and medical groups
      (20 each). The number of pyelonephritic episodes during followup was
      significantly less in the surgical group (without chemoprophylaxis) than in the
      medical group (on chemoprophylaxis). No kidneys were lost and no child became
      hypertensive. If voiding cystourethrography and excretory urography were normal 6
      months postoperatively, the reflux had been permanently eradicated and
      postoperative obstruction could be ruled out. In this study the patients who
      underwent reimplantation had a 74% (112 of 151) chance of an uncomplicated
      postoperative course (no persisting reflux, obstruction, pyelonephritis or severe
      renal damage).

PMID- 1433584
TI  - Cessation of vesicoureteral reflux for 5 years in infants and children allocated
      to medical treatment. The International Reflux Study in Children.
AB  - A total of 401 children with severe vesicoureteral reflux (97 with grade III and
      304 with grade IV) was entered into the European branch of the International
      Reflux Study in Children. Of these patients 37 with grade III and 43 with grade
      IV reflux were allocated to medical treatment as a sideline group because the
      reflux grade III or IV had improved to grade II or I, or it had disappeared
      during the preceding 2 to 6 months (median 4). Of the remaining 321 patients with
      persistent grade III or IV reflux 158 were randomly allocated to medical
      treatment of whom 3 switched to surgery. We report on 235 children treated
      medically (155 random medical and 80 sideline), of whom 88% had a complete 5-year
      followup with x-ray and/or isotope voiding cystourethrography at 6, 18, 30 and 54
      months. Seven children dropped out of the study after a followup of 6 months or
      less, including 6 with persistent vesicoureteral reflux. Cessation of
      vesicoureteral reflux was observed significantly more often in children with
      unilateral (40 of 74, 54%) than with bilateral (18 of 154, 12%) reflux (p <
      0.001). No significant difference between grades III and IV was noted.
      Vesicoureteral reflux ceased in 25 of 153 children (16%) from the random medical
      group and in 32 of 75 children (43%) in the sideline group. Of 194 children with
      vesicoureteral reflux detected for the first time at entry reflux resolved in 55
      (28%). In only 2 of 34 children (6%) in whom vesicoureteral reflux was detected
      more than 1 year before entry did reflux resolve after 5 years. Among the
      children in whom vesicoureteral reflux either disappeared, diminished or remained
      unchanged the proportion with urinary tract infection recurrences was almost the
      same.

PMID- 1433585
TI  - Results of a randomized clinical trial of medical versus surgical management of
      infants and children with grades III and IV primary vesicoureteral reflux (United
      States). The International Reflux Study in Children.
AB  - A total of 132 infants and children with grades III and IV primary vesicoureteral
      reflux was entered into a prospective trial comparing medical to surgical
      management. Inclusion criteria were an age not exceeding 10 years and a
      glomerular filtration rate of at least 70 ml. per minute per 1.73 m.2. Children
      with significant urinary tract malformations and clinical signs/symptoms of
      dysfunctional voiding were not accepted into the trial. Medical therapy consisted
      of continuous low dose antibiotic prophylaxis until vesicoureteral reflux
      resolved. The type of surgical procedure used for the correction of reflux was
      left to the discretion of the surgeon. Outcome variables included the appearance
      or progression of renal lesions, rate of renal growth, recurrence rate of urinary
      tract infection or pyelonephritis, changes in total kidney glomerular filtration
      rate, development of hypertension and resolution rate of vesicoureteral reflux.
      Followup at 6, 18, 36 and 54 months after entry included, in addition to history
      and physical examination, voiding cystourethrography, excretory urography and a
      urine culture. Of the patients 68 were allocated to the medical group and 64 to
      the surgical group. They were stratified for age, sex and preexisting renal
      scarring. Of the patients 10% were boys, 47% were between 2 and 6 years old at
      entry, 93% had a history of pyelonephritis, 67% had either scarring or thinning
      of the parenchyma at entry, 87% had grade IV vesicoureteral reflux in at least 1
      unit and 56% had bilateral reflux. There were no significant differences in the
      frequency distribution of entry characteristics between the patients allocated to
      either group. New renal scarring developed in 22% of medical and 31% of surgical
      patients (p < 0.4). Growth of kidneys with grade IV vesicoureteral reflux was
      slightly less than normal in the medical (-0.67 +/- 0.15 standard deviation) and
      surgical (-0.42 +/- 0.11 standard deviation) groups (p < 0.7). Pyelonephritis
      occurred in 15 medical patients versus 5 surgical patients (p < 0.05). There was
      no significant change in glomerular filtration rate within each treatment group
      and no difference in glomerular filtration rate between groups. No patient had
      hypertension during the followup period. The disappearance rate of vesicoureteral
      reflux in patients with grade IV reflux was approximately 8% per year. Of the
      medical patients 75% still had vesicoureteral reflux after 3 years of
      observation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1433586
TI  - Surgical results: International Reflux Study in Children--United States branch.
AB  - A total of 87 patients in the United States underwent surgical correction of
      vesicoureteral reflux as part of the International Reflux Study in Children. Of
      the 66 patients randomized to surgical treatment 2 were transferred to the
      medical group before surgery was performed, while 23 patients originally assigned
      to receive medical management ultimately underwent surgery. Of the patients 17
      (20%) were less than 1 year old, while the remaining children were evenly
      distributed by age in 2-year intervals up to age 9 years. Reimplantation was
      performed by the Cohen technique in 52% and by the Politano-Leadbetter technique
      in 28% of the patients. Bilateral reimplantation was done in 70 patients (80%).
      The results were satisfactory, with no obstructions. In 81% of the patients
      average followup was 3.9 years, although followup of less than 1 year in 19% was
      satisfactory to determine obstruction. Only 3% of the children were lost to
      followup. Postoperative reflux, which was noted in 5 patients, resolved in all
      but 1 ureter. These results reflect the experience of senior surgeons in
      pediatric urology.

PMID- 1433587
TI  - Commentary: management of children with severe vesicoureteral reflux.
AB  - The main findings of the IRSC after 5 years of observation are summarized. Of the
      434 children entered 128 were from centers in America and 306 from Europe. They
      were randomly allocated and stratified to a medical or surgical regimen. Of the
      children 50% had scarred kidneys at entry evenly distributed between the groups.
      After 5 years of observation there was no difference in outcome between the 2
      treatment groups in terms of renal size and growth, the development of new
      radiological renal scars or areas of parenchymal thinning, or of progression of
      established scarring. In Europe infection recurred in equal numbers of children
      but pyelonephritic symptoms were more common in the medical group. Nevertheless,
      new scars developed in 19 of 155 children treated medically and 20 of 151
      children treated surgically, including 5 and 7, respectively, with previously
      normal kidneys. Factors influencing the choice of treatment include patient age,
      availability of expert surgical care and experienced medical supervision,
      parental choice and compliance. Followup studies indicate that renal scarring
      rather than persistence of reflux determines the prognosis and, therefore,
      emphasis should be placed on the prevention of scarring.

PMID- 1433588
TI  - Medical management of mild and moderate vesicoureteral reflux: followup studies
      of infants and young children. A preliminary report of the Southwest Pediatric
      Nephrology Study Group.
AB  - Mild and moderate vesicoureteral reflux is expected to resolve spontaneously in
      most children treated medically; however, maximum benefit or minimum risk of such
      therapy has not been defined. A prospective 5-year followup study of infants and
      children younger than 5 years at entry with primary vesicoureteral reflux (grades
      I to III/V) and radiographically normal kidneys after the first recognized
      urinary tract infection was initiated in 1984. A total of 113 patients was
      entered from 5 centers and 61% of the patients were less than 2 years old.
      Vesicoureteral reflux was unilateral in 65 cases (58%) and bilateral in 48 (42%).
      Of the 226 renal units reflux was grade IV in 4 (2%), III in 51 (22%), II in 81
      (36%) and I in 25 (11%), and 65  (29%) had no vesicoureteral reflux. Data on 59
      patients who have completed the protocol were analyzed for this report.
      Breakthrough urinary tract infection occurred in 20 patients. Of the 84 ureters
      with vesicoureteral reflux at diagnosis reflux resolved in 67%, and it was of
      lower grade in 22%, same grade in 8% and higher grade in 2%. Grade I
      vesicoureteral reflux resolved in 82%, grade II in 80% and grade III in 46% of
      the ureters. Resolution was better when vesicoureteral reflux was unilateral left
      (74%) than unilateral right (46%) or bilateral (60%). Renal scarring occurred, on
      average, in 10% of the kidneys without known vesicoureteral reflux or exposed
      only to nondilating (grades I and II) reflux and in 28% of those with dilating
      (grade III) reflux. Thirteen cases had breakthrough urinary tract infection but
      only after the scar was noted in 5. We conclude that under good medical
      management during 5 years of followup, even mild and moderate vesicoureteral
      reflux can be associated with renal injury.

PMID- 1433589
TI  - Followup of conservatively treated children with high and low grade
      vesicoureteral reflux: a prospective study.
AB  - A total of 202 children (mean age 31.5 +/- 23.3 months) with vesicoureteral
      reflux identified during the investigation that follows a urinary tract infection
      entered this prospective study dealing with the medical management of reflux. The
      diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux was made significantly earlier in boys than in
      girls regardless of reflux grade (p < 0.001). At entry reflux nephropathy was
      present on a dimercaptosuccinic acid scan in 44% of 314 refluxing kidneys. There
      was no significant difference between boys and girls in the prevalence of reflux
      nephropathy. The renal lesions were more severe in boys independently of the
      grade of vesicoureteral reflux (p < 0.05). Breakthrough urinary tract infection
      was significantly more common in girls than in boys, regardless of vesicoureteral
      reflux grade (p < 0.05). Mean followup was 68.7 +/- 31.2 months. Patient age at
      the time of the first of 2 radionuclide cystograms without vesicoureteral reflux
      was considered the age of spontaneous resolution of reflux. Using life table
      estimations and analyzing data stratified to sex and grade of vesicoureteral
      reflux, we found that although reflux lasted longer in boys compared to girls,
      this difference was not statistically significant. During followup new scars
      developed in 7 patients related to breakthrough urinary tract infection. There
      was no significant difference between boys and girls in the development of new
      scars. To understand the natural history of vesicoureteral reflux children must
      be stratified by sex and grade of reflux.

PMID- 1433590
TI  - Commentary: the management of grades I and II (nondilating) vesicoureteral
      reflux.

PMID- 1433591
TI  - Historical clues to the complex of dysfunctional voiding, urinary tract infection
      and vesicoureteral reflux. The International Reflux Study in Children.
AB  - The prevalence of nonneuropathic bladder/sphincter dysfunction was assessed with
      a questionnaire in 310 of the 386 children enrolled in the European branch of the
      International Reflux Study in Children. Despite the exclusion criteria
      (neuropathic bladder, anatomical malformations other than vesicoureteral reflux
      and overt dysfunctional voiding or urge incontinence), the prevalence of
      bladder/sphincter dysfunction was as high as 18%. Four patterns of dysfunction
      emerged: urge syndrome, staccato voiding, fractionated and incomplete voiding,
      and voiding postponement. The questionnaire proved helpful in detecting low
      profile cases of bladder/sphincter dysfunction, as well as indicating the need
      for further urodynamic studies. A strong correlation was established between
      recurrences of urinary tract infections, as well as disappearance of
      vesicoureteral reflux (negative correlation) and nonneuropathic bladder/sphincter
      dysfunction. This finding implies that detection and treatment of
      bladder/sphincter dysfunction are essential in every child with the complex of
      recurrent urinary tract infection and vesicoureteral reflux.

PMID- 1433592
TI  - Relationship between dysfunctional voiding and reflux.
AB  - Bladder instability and the nonneurogenic neurogenic bladder are 2 urodynamically
      different dysfunctional voiding patterns. However, they share a common urodynamic
      mechanism in that they both produce functional urinary obstruction, which by
      changing the anatomy and function of the bladder, and ureterovesical junction
      produces and perpetuates vesicoureteral reflux. Urodynamic studies show that
      bladder decompensation with high end filling pressures, rather than high voiding
      pressures, is the mechanism for reflux and help to explain the seemingly
      paradoxical relationship among obstruction, reflux and high bladder pressures,
      namely that reflux does not usually occur when bladder pressures are high. This
      urodynamic analysis and review of the literature strongly support the belief that
      functional urinary tract obstruction caused by dysfunctional voiding can initiate
      and perpetuate vesicoureteral reflux, and provide an understanding of the
      mechanisms involved.

PMID- 1433593
TI  - Commentary: voiding dysfunction and reflux.

PMID- 1433594
TI  - Long-term followup of infants with gross vesicoureteral reflux.
AB  - The majority of children (1 year old or less) with gross vesicoureteral reflux
      already have renal damage at the time of presentation or reflux nephropathy
      develops during the first few years of life. We report the long-term followup of
      31 patients (16 boys) presenting in infancy with gross vesicoureteral reflux
      (Rolleston classification) between 1952 and 1970. They had a total of 44 grossly
      refluxing ureters (13 bilateral, 18 unilateral) and presented between ages 1 day
      and 48 weeks (mean 15.3 weeks). Of the 31 infants 5 died within the first year of
      life, 4 were followed for up to 11 years before being lost to followup and 1 was
      killed in a motor vehicle accident after 19.5 years of followup. The remaining 21
      patients have been followed for 16 to 37 years (mean 23.9 years); 4 have normal
      kidneys, and 13 have unilateral and 4 have bilateral reflux nephropathy. Of those
      patients with unilateral reflux nephropathy proteinuria, hypertension and renal
      failure developed in 1 born with a single kidney and he is now on hemodialysis,
      while 2 others have a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm. Hg or greater. Of the 4
      patients with bilateral reflux nephropathy 2 have proteinuria and renal
      insufficiency, with 1 progressing towards end stage renal failure. Infants who
      present with gross vesicoureteral reflux within the first year of life appear to
      do well if free of severe bilateral reflux nephropathy at presentation. Patients
      with reflux nephropathy should remain under regular nephrological supervision
      with particular attention given to proteinuria, renal function and blood
      pressure.

PMID- 1433595
TI  - Morphological characteristics of segmental renal scarring in vesicoureteral
      reflux.
AB  - We examined 25 complete and partial nephrectomy specimens from 21 patients with
      advanced reflux nephropathy, all of which showed severe renal atrophy and loss of
      parenchyma. All specimens that included nonatrophic or partially atrophic renal
      tissue contained small medullary scars that involved only portions of the
      medullary pyramids. These sublobar medullary scars, which appeared linear and
      were typically discrete, extended from the inner medulla to the cortex. They
      obliterated collecting ducts, vasa recta and recurrent loops. The cortical
      portions of the scars contained remnants of nephrons and variable infiltrates of
      chronic inflammatory cells with lymphoid follicles. Seven of the specimens also
      contained acute disruptive ductal lesions with histopathological features
      characteristic of intrarenal reflux. We believe that the linear scars are the
      result of single duct medullary disruptions, mediated perhaps through obstruction
      of the several thousand nephrons subtended by each papillary duct and perhaps
      through localized disruption of the renal microvasculature. These sublobar scars
      accumulate as scarring progresses to end stage renal atrophy.

PMID- 1433596
TI  - Long-term followup of renal morphology and function in children with recurrent
      pyelonephritis.
AB  - Renal morphology and function were evaluated in 161 children with recurrent
      pyelonephritis with or without vesicoureteral reflux and with or without scarred
      or small kidneys. The patients were followed for 1 to 21 years. Renal function
      was determined by glomerular filtration rate and effective renal plasma flow by
      clearances of inulin and paraaminohippuric acid. Of 105 children with normal
      kidneys originally small or scarred kidneys developed in 37, of whom 22 had grade
      III or greater vesicoureteral reflux, while small kidneys developed in 13 of 29
      children with renal scarring originally. Of the 37 children with normal kidneys
      originally renal parenchymal scarring developed in 14 after the age of 4 to 5
      years. Glomerular filtration rate was already < -2 standard deviations of that of
      controls in 51% of the patients at the first and in 53% at the last investigation
      of renal function. Of these patients with a glomerular filtration rate of < -2
      standard deviations 69% had small or parenchymally reduced kidneys most of whom
      had the first pyelonephritis episode before age 3 years. Patients with small
      kidneys had a lower glomerular filtration rate than those with normal sized
      kidneys, whether scarred or not. The low glomerular filtration rate and its
      subsequent further reduction were related to kidney size and not to the presence
      or degree of vesicoureteral reflux. However, in individual patients the rate of
      functional deterioration could not be predicted from the radiological findings.
      Patients with bilateral small kidneys seemed to show the greatest decrease in
      glomerular filtration rate during followup as did those with grade III or greater
      reflux undergoing surgery bilaterally and those patients also had a lower
      glomerular filtration rate at the last investigation compared to patients not
      undergoing surgery. In conclusion, renal functional damage seems to occur early
      in the course of the disease and seems to be related to kidney size but there is
      a further slow progression with reduction in renal function which occurs,
      although this is difficult to predict from the radiological changes in individual
      patients. Therefore, patients with recurrent pyelonephritis should be followed
      regularly by glomerular filtration rate determination using an accurate method.

PMID- 1433597
TI  - Vesicoureteral reflux and pyelonephritis in the monkey: a review.
AB  - P-fimbriated Escherichia coli, which cause nonobstructive pyelonephritis, adhere
      to a specific urothelial glycolipid receptor. In either the presence or absence
      of reflux (in the area of turbulent urine flow) these bacteria ascend the ureter
      and cause a decrease in ureteral motility. Endotoxin causes peristalsis to cease,
      leading to ureteral dilatation and change in papillary shape, thus allowing
      intrarenal reflux and adherence of the bacteria to renal tubules. Bacterial
      infection of a refluxing ureter may cause reflux to persist. Once the bacteria
      reach the kidney rapid effects occur at the cellular level with activation of
      complement followed by granulocytic aggregation and capillary obstruction,
      causing renal ischemia and damage during reperfusion. In addition, during
      phagocytosis the respiratory burst occurs, releasing toxic oxygen molecules,
      which leads to renal tubular death, invasion of the interstitium, microabscess
      and renal scar formation, that is chronic pyelonephritis, which equates with
      reflux nephropathy.

PMID- 1433598
TI  - Commentary: progressive renal damage from infection with or without reflux.

PMID- 1433599
TI  - The long-term results of prospective sibling reflux screening.
AB  - A prospective study was begun more than 10 years ago to identify the incidence of
      vesicoureteral reflux in the siblings of patients with reflux. A total of 354
      siblings of 275 index patients was screened with a voiding cystourethrogram for
      the presence of reflux. Of the siblings tested 119 (34%) were found to have
      reflux, including 75% who were asymptomatic. Reflux was present in a significant
      percentage of younger siblings. No correlation with index patient reflux grade,
      sex or established renal damage could be related to the likelihood of sibling
      reflux. A slightly higher rate of reflux was found in the female siblings of
      female index patients, which is a variation from the initial study. The incidence
      of renal damage was significantly reduced in the siblings with reflux compared to
      the index patients, which was also true in the youngest patients, who are
      believed to be the most susceptible to reflux-mediated renal damage. Sibling
      reflux screening can be justified due to a high percentage of siblings found to
      have reflux without symptoms and a significant decrease in renal damage compared
      to the index patients. Aggressive screening in young children (less than 5 years
      old) is still advisable, although this recommendation has been modified for older
      children. Additional information will be needed before the genetic transmission
      of reflux can be clarified.

PMID- 1433600
TI  - Fetal vesicoureteral reflux: outcome following conservative postnatal management.
AB  - Of 222 infants with a urinary tract abnormality detected antenatally 30 male and
      9 female patients (64 renal units) were found to have primary vesicoureteral
      reflux. Grade of reflux was predominantly severe, with grade III or higher noted
      in 83% of the patients. Prenatal and postnatal ultrasound failed to detect any
      abnormality in 29 refluxing units (45%) discovered contralateral to the known
      abnormal system, although 19 had grade III or higher reflux. Of the 64 refluxing
      units 8 underwent primary ureteral reimplantation, 12 were lost to followup and
      44 were managed conservatively for a mean of 3.3 years. Reflux ceased in 61% of
      the cases, improved in 14% and remained unchanged in 23%. In only 1 unit did the
      grade of reflux increase. Documented urinary tract infection occurred in 6 of the
      39 reflux patients. Dimercaptosuccinic acid renography performed in 21 infection
      free patients demonstrated global reduction in renal parenchyma in 4 units, focal
      parenchymal defects in 3 and normal function in 14. Conservative postnatal
      management of fetal vesicoureteral reflux is justified. Global and focal
      parenchymal changes can occur in the kidneys of infants with reflux despite the
      absence of urinary tract infection.

PMID- 1433601
TI  - Commentary: importance of antenatal diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux.
AB  - Although hydronephrosis detected by prenatal ultrasonography often is assumed to
      be secondary to obstructive uropathy, in approximately 10% of the cases renal
      pelvic dilatation results from primary vesicoureteral reflux. More than 80% of
      neonates with reflux are male and two-thirds have bilateral reflux. Approximately
      80% have at least grade III reflux. At birth between a third and half may have
      reduced renal function on isotope renography, even in the absence of urinary
      infection. Approximately 20% of neonates with grade IV or V reflux followed
      nonoperatively experience spontaneous reflux resolution by age 2 years. However,
      in approximately 25% of boys followed nonoperatively urinary tract infections
      developed by age 2 years despite antimicrobial prophylaxis. Because the majority
      of these boys have been uncircumcised, circumcision seems advisable. Ureteral
      reimplantation should be reserved for those with breakthrough urinary tract
      infection, new renal scars or persistent high grade reflux.

PMID- 1433602
TI  - Commentary: vesicoureteral reflux--1992.

PMID- 1433603
TI  - Pediatric genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma.

PMID- 1433604
TI  - Intrarenal access: 3-dimensional anatomical study.
AB  - In an attempt to determine the best route to puncture and access the kidney
      collecting system we studied 62, 3-dimensional polyester resin endocasts of the
      pelvicaliceal system together with the intrarenal vessels. A retrograde pyelogram
      was obtained, and the arterial and venous trees were injected with red and blue
      resins, respectively. When the resin was still in the gel state, the kidneys were
      positioned at 30 to 45 degrees and the collecting system was punctured under
      radioscopy. Since the resin is not opaque to x-ray the operator was not able to
      visualize the vessels while puncturing. After puncture, the needle was maintained
      in place, the contrast medium was removed and the pelvicaliceal system was filled
      with yellow resin. After the resin had set, the renal organic matter was corroded
      in acid and the endocast was obtained (with the needle in the original position).
      This type of preparation allowed us to examine the needle tract and the vessels
      damaged during the puncture. In the same kidney we punctured the superior pole,
      mid kidney and inferior pole. In some cases we also punctured the renal pelvis.
      We performed 104 punctures through an infundibulum, 39 through a fornix of a
      calix and 12 through the renal pelvis. Due to a high percentage of vascular
      lesions, intrarenal access through an infundibulum should be avoided. Also, renal
      pelvis puncture should be avoided. Regardless of the kidney region, puncture
      through a fornix of a calix was safe.

PMID- 1433605
TI  - Flow cytometric analysis of small renal tumors.
AB  - Flow cytometric deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content analysis was performed on 26
      renal tumors 3.0 cm. or less in maximum diameter. We noted DNA aneuploid cell
      populations in 8 of 25 tumors (32%) evaluable for DNA ploidy status. DNA
      aneuploid cells comprised 7 to 59% of the cells in those tumors. In comparison,
      12 of 25 tumors (48%) larger than 3.0 cm. had aneuploid cell populations. S phase
      cell populations were significantly increased in the small aneuploid tumors
      compared with the small diploid tumors (p < 0.001). We believe that these small
      tumors have the potential to behave aggressively and, therefore, they should be
      treated no differently than larger renal neoplasms.

PMID- 1433606
TI  - Interleukin-6 in renal cell carcinoma.
AB  - We studied interleukin-6 production in 4 human renal cell carcinoma cell lines
      and measured the serum level in 71 patients with renal cell carcinoma, thus,
      clarifying a relationship between interleukin-6 secretion and an occurrence of
      the paraneoplastic syndrome in the carcinoma. Interleukin-6 was produced by 3
      cell lines and detected in 25% of the patients. The level of interleukin-6 did
      not directly correlate with tumor volume and the differentiation grade of the
      carcinoma. However, the positive rate increased with progression of the stage.
      The serum level affected the 5-year survival of patients without distant
      metastasis. When serum interleukin-6 was elevated patients had a significantly
      higher frequency of unexplained fever and an elevation of acute phase proteins.
      These results suggest that some renal cell carcinomas can produce interleukin-6
      and this cytokine is responsible for several paraneoplastic syndromes in the
      carcinoma.

PMID- 1433607
TI  - The prognostic significance of vascular invasion in upper urinary tract
      transitional cell carcinoma.
AB  - The prognostic significance of vascular invasion was evaluated in a retrospective
      series of 30 patients with upper urinary tract cancer who underwent a potentially
      curative operation. Vascular invasion was found in 11 patients (36.7%). The
      incidence of vascular invasion was well correlated with tumor grade and stage.
      The incidence of metastases postoperatively was significantly higher in the
      patients with (72.7%) than without (21.1%) vascular invasion (p < 0.01). The
      survival rate of the patients with vascular invasion was significantly lower than
      in those without vascular invasion (p < 0.005). In multivariate Cox regression
      analysis the prognostic value of vascular invasion was independent of tumor stage
      and grade. These results indicate that vascular invasion should predict a more
      unfavorable outcome in patients with upper urinary tract cancer as an independent
      morphological indicator.

PMID- 1433608
TI  - In situ extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for obstructing ureteral stones
      with acute renal colic.
AB  - In situ (no instrumentation) extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL*) was
      used to treat 49 patients with obstructing ureteral stones causing acute renal
      colic. Ureteral obstruction was diagnosed on the delayed films of an excretory
      urogram and was classified as severe (dilatation above and no contrast medium
      seen below the stone) in 17 patients and partial (dilatation above and contrast
      medium seen below the stone) in 32. Upper third ureteral stones were present in
      41 patients (obstruction severe in 15 and partial in 26) and lower third ureteral
      stones were present in 8 (obstruction severe in 2 and partial in 6). ESWL was
      performed within 14 days of the onset of the acute renal colic because of
      persistent pain with an unmodified Dornier HM3 lithotriptor in 17 patients and a
      Medstone STS device in 32. With single stones the stone-free rate at 3 months,
      the repeat ESWL rate and the secondary procedure (stone basketing) rate were 92%,
      6% and 8%, respectively, with severe obstruction, and 78%, 6% and 6%,
      respectively, with partial obstruction. No urinary drainage procedures for sepsis
      were required after ESWL. Obstructing ureteral stones, which presented mainly in
      the upper third of the ureter, were successfully treated with in situ ESWL
      without the need for either bypassing the stone with a ureteral stent or for
      pushing the stone back into the kidney before treatment with ESWL.

PMID- 1433609
TI  - Clinical experience with flexible ureteropyeloscopy.
AB  - Flexible ureteroscopes and their accessory working instruments have undergone
      tremendous design advances since the earliest reports in the 1960s. These changes
      have allowed for the expansion of indications for flexible ureteroscopy with the
      emphasis now on therapeutic and not just diagnostic applications. This report
      covers 290 procedures done with actively deflectable, flexible ureteroscopes on
      222 patients. Followup averaged 11.2 months in 228 patients, while the remaining
      62 were followed by the original referral center. Included were 154 procedures
      for stones and 79 for tumors or filling defects. Of the procedures 149 were
      performed with the patient under local anesthesia with sedation, while 128 were
      done with use of general anesthesia. The procedure was done in only 22% of the
      cases for purely visual diagnosis without any interventional manipulation. More
      than 42% of the cases involved stone retrieval or lithotripsy, in which case the
      laser was most commonly used (56 cases). The total success rate was 95.5%, and
      the most common complications were colic or pain in 9% and fever in 6.9%. A
      stricture developed in 2 patients. A stent was left in more than 93% of the
      patients and the usual postoperative stay was less than 3 days. With the
      introduction of even more improved instruments, flexible ureteroscopy should
      continue to gain ground as an option for the management of upper urinary tract
      pathology.

PMID- 1433610
TI  - A European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer--Genitourinary Group
      phase 2 study of chemotherapy in stage T3-4N0-XM0 transitional cell cancer of the
      bladder: evaluation of clinical response.
AB  - From 1986 to 1990 the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-
      Genitourinary Group conducted a phase 2 trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in
      patients with stage T3-4N0-XM0 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. The
      objectives were to evaluate the clinical response in relation to the pathological
      response, and to measure the side effects of chemotherapy. Of 171 patients
      entered 136 were fully evaluable: 18% had clinical complete remissions, 36% had
      clinical partial remissions, 39% had no clinical remissions and 10% had unknown
      response. A selected subgroup of 76 patients underwent cystectomy after 2 or 4
      courses of chemotherapy: 2 were not evaluable for pathological response because
      of preoperative radiotherapy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 16 had a
      pathological complete remission, 7 had a pathological partial remission and 51
      had no pathological remission. Comparison of the clinical response or T category
      only after 2 courses of chemotherapy with the pathological response after 2 or 4
      courses of chemotherapy showed that in a number of patients the disease status
      could be downstaged to pathological complete or partial remission by additional
      courses of chemotherapy. If the discrepancies between clinical and pathological
      responses, or between T and P categories, induced by further downstaging after
      additional chemotherapy were left out, it was shown that clinical complete and
      partial remissions were a heterogeneous group but nonresponders could be
      delineated with a 100% accuracy by clinical response evaluation and transurethral
      resection biopsy only. Furthermore it seems important to establish the number of
      chemotherapy courses to induce a maximal response of the primary tumor.

PMID- 1433611
TI  - Early experience with intraurethral collagen injections for urinary incontinence.
AB  - We report on 41 patients (10 men and 31 women) who underwent collagen injections
      for urethral incompetence. Mean followup was 6 months (range 3 to 11 months) in
      men cured or improved, 8.4 months (range 3 to 15 months) in women who were cured
      and 4.5 months (range 2 to 10 months) in women who were improved. In women the
      procedure was usually performed through a periurethral approach while they were
      under local anesthesia and in men it was performed transurethrally while under
      either general or local anesthesia. Of the 31 women 28 (90.3%) were cured (15) or
      improved (13). Mean maximum Valsalva pressure increased from 31 cm. water before
      injection to 85 cm. water at 6 months after injection in women who were cured or
      improved. The mean amount of collagen used in the female group was 12.7 cc (range
      2.5 to 47.5) and the mean number of treatments was 2 (range 1 to 7). Of the men 7
      (70%) had successful results (2 cured and 5 improved). In contrast to the women,
      they required a mean of 51.8 cc (range 7.5 to 82.5) of collagen and a mean of 6
      treatments (range 3 to 12). Of 5 patients with bladder instability 4 did not
      improve. One patient suffered acute bacterial prostatitis and 2 patients had post
      injection urinary retention. All women with little or no bladder neck
      hypermobility (types 1 and 3) were either cured or improved. We conclude that
      intraurethral collagen injection is safe and simple to perform. The results
      achieved in women are acceptable. In men, while collagen does provide
      improvement, the cost-to-benefit ratio and effectiveness are less than those in
      women. Instability may obviate a good outcome.

PMID- 1433612
TI  - The need for antibiotic prophylaxis of patients with penile implants during
      invasive dental procedures: a national survey of urologists.
AB  - A national survey of urologists was conducted regarding the need for prophylactic
      antibiotic coverage for patients with penile implants when undergoing invasive
      dental treatment. A total of 1,756 questionnaires was sent to urologists in the
      United States and 297 responses were received, for a participation rate of 17%.
      The low response rate might be partly related to a low level of concern by
      urologists due to the lack of reported cases of penile implant infections
      following invasive dental procedures and the lack of the literature calling
      attention to this possible association. This is supported by the fact that none
      of the responding urologists had noted any case of infection of the prosthesis
      following dental treatment. The majority of urologists who responded did not
      recommend antibiotic prophylaxis for penile implant patients undergoing invasive
      dental treatment. The majority of urologists who recommended prophylaxis selected
      a cephalosporin. None of the responding urologists indicated that they were aware
      of infection developing in any penile implant patients following invasive dental
      treatment. The dentist is advised to consult with the urologist of patients with
      penile implants on an individual basis to determine the need for antibiotic
      prophylaxis.

PMID- 1433613
TI  - Risk factors for male partner antisperm antibodies.
AB  - The role of antisperm antibodies in human infertility remains controversial.
      Indications for antisperm antibody testing of male partners of infertile
      marriages have been based upon anecdotal reports and studies using outdated
      assays. In an effort to define the indications for antisperm antibody testing of
      the male partner, the immunobead assay for antisperm antibodies was performed
      upon 100 consecutive men referred for evaluation of male factor infertility. The
      prevalence of antisperm antibodies in this patient population was 18% and only 9%
      when patients with a history of vasectomy were excluded. Of all the factors
      analyzed, only a history of vasectomy and sperm agglutination on semen analysis
      were predictive of antisperm antibody status (p < 0.001). Use of the
      aforementioned parameters as an indication for antisperm antibody testing would
      have resulted in a sensitivity of 94%, specificity 73% and negative predictive
      value 98% in this patient population. The only way to identify all patients with
      significant levels of antisperm antibody activity (sensitivity 100%) would have
      been to test every patient.

PMID- 1433614
TI  - Microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy with delivery of the testis: an artery and
      lymphatic sparing technique.
AB  - Conventional techniques of varicocele repair are associated with substantial
      risks of hydrocele formation, ligation of the testicular artery, and varicocele
      recurrence. We describe a microsurgical technique of varicocelectomy that
      significantly lowers the incidence of these complications. The testicle is
      delivered through a 2 to 3 cm. inguinal incision, and all external spermatic and
      gubernacular veins are ligated. The testis is returned to the scrotum and the
      spermatic cord is dissected under the operating microscope. The testicular artery
      and lymphatics are identified and preserved. All internal spermatic veins are
      doubly ligated with small hemoclips or 4-zero silk and divided. The vas deferens
      and its vessels are preserved. Initially, we performed 33 conventional inguinal
      varicocelectomies in 24 men without delivery of the testis or use of a
      microscope. Postoperatively, 3 unilateral hydroceles (9%) and 3 unilateral
      recurrences (9%) were detected. For the next 12 cases 2.5x loupes were used
      resulting in no hydroceles but another recurrence (8%). We then performed 640
      varicocelectomies in 429 men using the microsurgical technique with delivery of
      the testis. Among 382 men available for followup examination from 6 months to 7
      years postoperatively no hydroceles and no cases of testicular atrophy were
      found. A total of 4 unilateral recurrent varicoceles (0.6%) was identified. The
      differences between the techniques in the incidence of hydrocele formation and
      varicocele recurrence are highly significant (p < 0.001). No wound infections
      occurred in any men. Four scrotal hematomas (0.6%), 1 of which required surgical
      drainage, occurred in the group with microsurgical ligation and delivery of the
      testis compared to none with the conventional technique. Preoperative and
      postoperative semen analyses (mean 3.57 analyses per patient) were obtained on
      271 men. The changes in sperm count x 10(6) cc (36.9 to 46.8, p < 0.001), per
      cent motility (39.6 to 45.7%, p < 0.001) and per cent normal forms (48.4 to
      52.10%, p < 0.001) were highly significant. The pregnancy rate was 152 of 357
      couples (43%) followed for a minimum of 6 months postoperatively. Delivery of the
      testis through a small inguinal incision provides direct visual access to all
      possible avenues of testicular venous drainage. The operating microscope allows
      identification of the testicular artery, lymphatics and small venous channels.
      This minimally invasive, outpatient technique results in a significant decrease
      in the incidence of hydrocele formation, testicular artery injury and varicocele
      recurrence.

PMID- 1433615
TI  - Laparoscopic unroofing of a renal cyst.
AB  - Excision of a renal cyst via the flank approach results in a painful
      postoperative recovery requiring several days of hospitalization. We used
      laparoscopy in a selected patient to unroof a large complex renal cyst. The
      technique could optimally be used for simple cysts. The procedure was minimally
      traumatic, morbidity was negligible and the patient was discharged from the
      hospital the morning after the operation. After a 6-month followup, we believe
      that this laparoscopic technique is a significant advance in urological surgical
      management and may be better indicated for symptomatic, recurrent, simple renal
      cysts.

PMID- 1433616
TI  - Laparoscopic removal of bladder diverticulum.
AB  - A large symptomatic bladder diverticulum in a 72-year-old man was removed through
      laparoscopic dissection. The surgical technique of laparoscopic diverticulectomy
      is described. Laparoscopic diverticulectomy can be done with minimal morbidity
      and has distinct advantages over other forms of treatment of bladder diverticula.

PMID- 1433617
TI  - Urodynamic effects of intravesical instillation of terodiline in healthy
      volunteers and in patients with detrusor hyperactivity.
AB  - The effects of intravesical instillation of terodiline on urodynamic parameters
      were investigated in 8 healthy volunteers (10(-4) M.) and in 34 patients with
      detrusor hyperactivity (10(-5) M.) of neurogenic (22) or nonneurogenic (12)
      origin. The volunteers were investigated with conventional medium-fill
      cystometry, while in the patients a modified cystometric technique with slow
      intermittent filling was used. The reproducibility of the procedure was verified
      in 17 patients. Instillation of terodiline had no effect on the normal bladders
      nor were any improvements found in the nonneurogenic patients. In 12 patients in
      the neurogenic group treated with terodiline instillation the bladder capacity
      increased significantly (p < 0.05) from 289 +/- 32 to 413 +/- 55 ml. Within this
      group 5 patients were responders. It is suggested that pathophysiological changes
      may explain the difference between the neurogenic and nonneurogenic groups, and
      that the number of responders within the neurogenic group may be increased by an
      optimal drug preparation and increased dosage. Intravesical administration of
      terodiline may offer an alternative treatment in selected patients with detrusor
      hyperreflexia.

PMID- 1433618
TI  - Function of the conus medullaris and cauda equina in the early period following
      spinal cord injury and the relationship to recovery of detrusor function.
AB  - A total of 26 patients with an early suprasacral spinal cord injury underwent
      comprehensive neurourological evaluation to determine if there was any
      correlation between the return of detrusor function and neural function of the
      sacral cord. In addition, the incidence of a subclinical sacral neural
      dysfunction early after spinal cord injury was assessed. Lumbosacral evoked
      potentials to tibial nerve stimulation were used to assess the sensory root and
      cord gray matter of the L5 to S2 segments, while urodynamic evaluation was
      performed to assess detrusor function. Of those patients with normal lumbosacral
      evoked potentials 82% recovered detrusor contractility as opposed to 66% with
      abnormal evoked potentials. Four patients (23.5%) had persistent detrusor
      areflexia when studied 9 to 20 months following the acute injury. The potential
      problems attempting to correlate the neurophysiological and urodynamic studies
      are multiple and are extensively discussed. Despite these potential problems the
      return of detrusor function correlated well with associated normal lumbosacral
      evoked potentials suggesting that this test can be used in the early phase
      following spinal cord injury to predict return of bladder function, since it is
      independent of the level of spinal cord excitability. Of the patients studied 38%
      had coexistence of an occult lumbosacral dysfunction. This rate is higher than
      that found in the chronic stabilized spinal cord injury population (20.5%), since
      the cases in our study may represent a more severe lesion.

PMID- 1433619
TI  - Effects of acute bolus and chronic continuous intrathecal baclofen on
      genitourinary dysfunction due to spinal cord pathology.
AB  - A prospective, blinded study was done to examine the effects of acute bolus and
      chronic continuous intrathecal baclofen on genitourinary function in 10 patients
      with severe spasticity due to spinal cord pathology. Genitourinary function was
      assessed by symptom questionnaires and urodynamic studies performed after a bolus
      dose of baclofen and 6 to 12 months after continuous intrathecal baclofen.
      Results were compared to placebo for acute bolus testing or to pre-continuous
      intrathecal baclofen values. In all patients with irritative voiding and urge
      incontinence uninhibited bladder contractions were eliminated. Of 3 patients with
      an indwelling urethral catheter for incontinence due to detrusor hyperreflexia 1
      was converted to intermittent self-catheterization. Whereas bladder capacity,
      compliance, sensation and voiding pressures were not different after continuous
      intrathecal baclofen, when a mean of all patients was compiled, a 72% increase in
      capacity and 16% improvement in compliance were observed in subjects without
      cervical spinal cord pathology. Detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia was abolished in
      40% of the patients. Continuous intrathecal baclofen may represent a novel
      approach to the management of patients with a neurogenic bladder who have
      decreased bladder compliance and detrusor hyperreflexia not controlled by oral
      medications.

PMID- 1433620
TI  - The prognostic value of bladder contractility in transurethral resection of the
      prostate.
AB  - The contractility of the bladder as quantified by a parameter of approximated
      power per bladder surface area based on the Hill equation (Wmax) was calculated
      for 29 patients before and 3 months after transurethral resection of the
      prostate. There was no significant change in this parameter as a result of the
      operation. Patients who still had a significant amount of residual urine
      postoperatively had decreased contractility before and after surgery so that the
      postoperative condition could have been predicted preoperatively. In many
      patients a fading contraction was observed, that is detrusor contractility
      decreased during voiding, which gave rise to a significantly increased volume of
      residual urine. In most patients this pattern was restored to normal after relief
      of the obstruction, indicating that it was not related to structural changes in
      the detrusor muscle. A preoperative fading contraction had no predictive value
      towards the outcome of the operation.

PMID- 1433621
TI  - Continence after radical cystoprostatectomy and total bladder replacement: a
      urodynamic analysis.
AB  - Urodynamic evaluation was performed in 10 patients after radical
      cystoprostatectomy and continent urethral diversion with detubularized ileum and
      in 13 patients continent after radical prostatectomy. In both groups surgical
      techniques were modified to optimize preservation of the periurethral tissue at
      the prostatic apex. For the ileal neobladder group 9 patients (90%) were
      completely continent and 1 (10%) noticed moderate nocturnal incontinence. The
      urethral sphincteric mechanism was well preserved in these patients, with no
      significant difference between the 2 groups in mean functional urethral length
      (3.8 +/- 0.6 versus 3.6 +/- 0.8 cm., p = 0.55) or maximal urethral closure
      pressure (87 +/- 34 versus 74 +/- 20 cm. water, p = 0.26). Tubularization of the
      bladder or neobladder above the level of the external sphincter was noted in both
      groups. Continence after radical cystoprostatectomy with continent urethral
      diversion and after radical prostatectomy is dependent upon an intact urethral
      sphincteric mechanism as well as a compliant, low pressure reservoir, either
      bladder or a bladder substitute. Urinary incontinence after total bladder
      replacement with detubularized ileum can be minimized by preserving as much of
      the distal urethral sphincter as possible. This can be done by careful dissection
      of the prostatic apex, performed under direct vision, with an understanding of
      the anatomy of the urethral sphincter and its innervation.

PMID- 1433622
TI  - False diagnosis of renal transplant urinary leakage on scintigraphy with
      mercaptoacetyltriglycine.
AB  - 99mTechnetium-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (99mTc-MAG-3) has rapidly become the best
      isotope for transplant renal scintigraphy because of the excellent anatomical
      resolution. Because 99mTc-MAG-3 is also sequestered by the liver and excreted
      into the biliary system, images of the gallbladder and intestinal tract will
      appear in normal 99mTc-MAG-3 scans, especially on delayed scintigraphs. We
      describe the clinical interpretation of normal bowel images as urinary
      extravasation in a renal transplant recipient with a sudden decrease in renal
      function.

PMID- 1433623
TI  - Retroperitoneal neurogenous choristoma.
AB  - A 6-year-old girl with urinary complaints underwent ultrasonography, which
      revealed a retroperitoneal cystic mass adjacent to the left kidney. Computerized
      tomography did not demonstrate whether the mass was an adrenal cyst or a
      duplicated upper pole segment. Exploration revealed a neurogenous choristoma,
      which is a collection of histologically normal tissue that is ectopically
      situated. We believe that this is the first report of this rare entity occurring
      in the retroperitoneum.

PMID- 1433624
TI  - The transmission of vesicoureteral reflux from parent to child.
AB  - Vesicoureteral reflux is now recognized to be hereditary and familial. The
      incidence of reflux in siblings has proved to be significant but less is known
      about the incidence of reflux in the offspring of known reflux patients. In an
      ongoing prospective series of reflux screening we identified 23 patients of
      childbearing age with a known history of reflux and screened their 36 offspring
      with an awake voiding cystourethrogram. Of these 36 offspring 24 (66%) exhibited
      vesicoureteral reflux. The literature was also reviewed to determine the
      incidence of parent/child reflux from reported cases. This review revealed a 65%
      rate of reflux in the offspring of known patients. Our preliminary results
      coupled with those in the literature signify a need to screen the offspring of
      known reflux patients and suggest a rethinking of the genetic transmission for
      this trait. While vesicoureteral reflux could still be a multifactorial genetic
      trait with a major gene, consideration must also be given to an autosomal
      dominant inheritance pattern.

PMID- 1433625
TI  - Median raphe cysts of the genitalia.
AB  - We report 2 recent cases of midline cysts of the genitoperineal raphe in
      children, and discuss the embryogenesis, diagnosis and management. Congenital
      anomalies of an unclear etiology, median raphe cysts are probably more common
      than has been reported in the literature. Medical attention is usually sought for
      secondary infections or pain with intercourse. Awareness and prompt
      identification of these entities by urologists are essential for proper
      management when differentiation from other more formidable lesions, including
      urethral diverticula, becomes important. Simple surgical excision is effective in
      most cases.

PMID- 1433626
TI  - Urinary tract infections in children with posterior urethral valves after kidney
      transplantation.
AB  - The records of 14 boys with posterior urethral valves who had renal failure and
      subsequently underwent renal transplantation were reviewed to determine the
      postoperative incidence of urinary tract infection relative to that of 29 male
      transplant children without valves, who served as controls. There were no
      significant differences between the posterior urethral valve patients and
      controls with regard to age, donor source, immunosuppression, followup after
      transplantation or mean calculated creatinine clearance. Vesicoureteral reflux
      was found in 1 child with posterior urethral valves and 3 of the children in the
      control group (p not significant). A total of 15 urinary tract infections
      occurred in 5 children (36%) with posterior urethral valves, for a rate of 1 per
      30 patient-months of followup, and 6 urinary tract infections occurred in 2
      controls (7%), for a rate of 1 per 216 patient-months of followup (p < 0.05).
      However, only 1 of 26 controls (4%) without vesicoureteral reflux had urinary
      tract infection, for a rate 1 per 1,144 patient-months (p < 0.01). Conversely,
      the rate of urinary tract infections in controls with vesicoureteral reflux was
      similar to that of children with posterior urethral valves. Of the 5 children
      with posterior urethral valves 4 had the initial urinary tract infection within 2
      months of transplantation and 10 of 15 episodes occurred within the first 4
      months. Antimicrobial prophylaxis did not appear to decrease the rate of
      infection in children with posterior urethral valves. A history of posterior
      urethral valves increases the frequency of urinary tract infection after renal
      transplantation but the usefulness of antimicrobial prophylaxis and the
      relationship to long-term graft function remain to be determined. Urinary tract
      infection rarely develops in other transplanted boys without vesicoureteral
      reflux.

PMID- 1433627
TI  - Hydronephrosis secondary to congenital pelvic arteriovenous malformation: a case
      report.
AB  - We report on a 26-year-old woman with a pelvic mass that caused ureteral
      obstruction and a hydronephrotic kidney. Diagnosis was congenital pelvic
      arteriovenous malformation and surgery was successful. The patient underwent
      staged preoperative intra-arterial embolization to decrease operative morbidity
      and facilitate complete removal.

PMID- 1433628
TI  - Diagnostic and therapeutic problems in multicentric renal angiomyolipoma.
AB  - Multicentric renal angiomyolipoma is a rare form of benign tumor. However, its
      effective incidence as evaluated in autopsy studies may be as high as 8%. There
      are 2 main types of renal angiomyolipoma, that is isolated forms and those
      associated with other diseases, such as phakomatosis, polycystic kidneys and
      fibromuscular dysplasia. The tumor may also display malignant behavior with local
      invasiveness and regional lymph node involvement. However, the clinical course is
      benign and multicentricity is important for prognosis. Histopathological
      diagnosis often is difficult. Immunohistochemical analysis of surgical specimens
      using a panel of monoclonal antibodies, including HMB-45 and actin, enabled us to
      make a definitive diagnosis in 3 cases of multicentric renal angiomyolipoma.

PMID- 1433629
TI  - Bilateral renal angiomyolipoma associated with bilateral renal vein and inferior
      vena caval thrombi.
AB  - We report a case of bilateral renal angiomyolipoma with thrombosis of the
      bilateral renal veins and inferior vena cava. Right partial nephrectomy and total
      thrombectomy were performed. To our knowledge only 5 cases of invasion of the
      inferior vena cava have been described. We report a case in which the renal veins
      were involved bilaterally. Treatment modalities are discussed.

PMID- 1433630
TI  - Unilateral ureteral obstruction secondary to rupture of liver echinococcal cyst.
AB  - We report a case of ureteral obstruction by reactive retroperitoneal fibrosis
      secondary to rupture of a liver echinococcal cyst after minimal blunt flank
      trauma. The patient presented initially with a cyst-cutaneous fistula and was
      treated with mebendazole, since surgery was refused. Unilateral ureteral
      obstruction due to reactive dense retroperitoneal fibrosis developed 2 years
      later, which presumably was initiated by intense inflammatory reaction to the
      cyst content. Diagnosis was established by excretory urography, ultrasonography
      and computerized tomography, and was histologically confirmed. Hydronephrosis and
      hydroureter resolved following ureterolysis. This complication is anticipated to
      be encountered more frequently with the use of the new potent anthelmintic
      agents, which may successfully prevent daughter cyst formation but fail to
      abolish reactive retroperitonitis.

PMID- 1433631
TI  - Delayed spontaneous rupture of an ileocolonic neobladder.
AB  - A case of delayed spontaneous rupture of an ileocolonic neobladder and subsequent
      peritonitis 4 years after the initial operation is reported. Many of the features
      of this case are similar to those noted in recent reports of spontaneous rupture
      of an augmented bladder and it is postulated that the etiology is the same.

PMID- 1433632
TI  - Complications of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin: a case report.
AB  - Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the most effective agent currently available to
      treat superficial bladder cancer. However, this form of therapy is not without
      potential serious or fatal complications. In addition to the potentially toxic
      systemic side effects attributed to hematogenous absorption of the bacillus,
      direct upper tract seeding may occur in patients with vesicoureteral reflux. We
      report on a patient treated with intravesical BCG for bladder cancer in whom
      unilateral necrotizing granulomatous pyelonephritis developed. Although severe,
      this complication is rare and we conclude that reflux is not a contraindication
      for intravesical BCG therapy.

PMID- 1433633
TI  - Clinical evidence of systemic persistence of bacillus Calmette-Guerin: long-term
      pulmonary bacillus Calmette-Guerin infection after intravesical therapy for
      bladder cancer and subsequent cystectomy.
AB  - A patient with urothelial bladder carcinoma is reported who suffered from culture
      proved pulmonary bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) infection 14 months after a
      single course of intravesical BCG and 11 months after subsequent radical
      cystectomy for progressive cancer. This unusual case raises the question of the
      ultimate fate of intravesically instilled BCG and the possible persistence of
      these mycobacteria in remote organs. Systemic spread and dormant survival at
      least in some cases are suggested, and therapeutic and diagnostic consequences
      are discussed.

PMID- 1433634
TI  - Invasive bladder cancer following 125iodine implants.
AB  - We present 2 cases of invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder
      following implantation of 125iodine seeds for the treatment of localized
      adenocarcinoma of the prostate. These tumors, which occurred approximately 6
      years after radiotherapy, were located in the trigone and prostatic urethra
      within the previous radiation treatment field. The development of high grade
      transitional cell carcinoma in these patients may be due to the tumorigenic
      effects of 125iodine radiation.

PMID- 1433635
TI  - Significant obliteration of the urethral lumen after Wallstent implantation.
AB  - The permanently implanted self-expandable urethral stent (Wallstent) has found
      increased use in patients with recurrent urethral strictures because of its
      simple implantation technique. To date there have been no reports of serious
      complications. At 6 weeks after stent implantation our patient had complete
      luminal obstruction. This complication demonstrates the need for short-term
      controls after implantation of a urethral stent.

PMID- 1433636
TI  - Malacoplakia of the urethra: a case of unique localization with followup.
AB  - A case of malacoplakia of the urethral meatus, without any association of vesical
      involvement, or any other synchronous or metachronous localization is presented.
      To our knowledge this is the fourth case in the literature at this site. The
      patient was free of disease 9 years after excision.

PMID- 1433637
TI  - Prosthetic penile infection: "rescue procedure" with rifamycin.
AB  - Penile prosthetic implantation is a successful procedure for the management of
      male erectile impotence. However, infection remains the most serious complication
      requiring removal of the device. Later reinsertion can be difficult due to
      fibrosis and a shortened penis. We present 3 cases of penile infection with
      Staphylococcus epidermidis in which a new penile prosthesis was placed after 72
      hours of continuous irrigation of the corpora cavernosa with rifamycin. The
      procedure requires judicious selection of patients and a stable clinical status.

PMID- 1433638
TI  - Laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in a patient with stage 1
      testicular carcinoma.
AB  - Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical techniques are being increasingly
      applied to the treatment of urological diseases. We report a case of a
      laparoscopically performed modified bilateral retroperitoneal lymph node
      dissection for clinical stage 1 testicular cancer. The laparoscopic surgical
      approach to the retroperitoneal nodes is a technically feasible procedure that
      can remove lymph node tissue from all primary landing sites for testicular cancer
      metastases with potentially decreased morbidity.

PMID- 1433639
TI  - Endoscopic hydrocele ablation.
AB  - A new technique for the treatment of hydroceles by percutaneous drainage and
      endoscopic ablation under direct vision is described. The possible benefits and
      drawbacks of this treatment modality for symptomatic hydroceles are discussed.

PMID- 1433640
TI  - Near fatal liver dysfunction secondary to administration of flutamide for
      prostate cancer.
AB  - A 66-year-old man with metastatic prostate cancer was treated with bilateral
      orchiectomy and 750 mg. flutamide per day. Near fatal liver dysfunction developed
      10 weeks later. Flutamide was discontinued and 8 weeks later liver enzymes had
      returned to normal.

PMID- 1433641
TI  - Urodynamics in the early stages of spinal cord compression from prostate
      adenocarcinoma.
AB  - Acute urinary retention developed in 2 patients with a history of prostate
      cancer. Urodynamic evaluation revealed autonomic dysfunction, which contrasted
      with a prior urodynamic study, indicating a possible spinal lesion. Radiographic
      evaluation led to early diagnosis and treatment of spinal cord compression from
      metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma. We discuss the diagnostic role of urodynamics
      in such cases.

PMID- 1433642
TI  - Successful use of fluconazole for treatment of urinary tract fungal infections.
AB  - Two cases are reported that demonstrate significant activity of the new
      antifungal agent, fluconazole, in treating urinary tract fungal infections. One
      patient was severely immunocompromised with the underlying complication of renal
      failure and the other presented with a much simpler case of candidal cystitis
      that responded quickly despite unfavorable in vitro susceptibility testing.

PMID- 1433643
TI  - Re: Pharmacological erection program using prostaglandin E1.

PMID- 1433644
TI  - Re: Pharmacological erection program using prostaglandin E1.

PMID- 1433645
TI  - Re: Correlation of testicular color Doppler ultrasonography, physical examination
      and venography in the detection of left varicoceles in men with infertility.

PMID- 1433646
TI  - Re: Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus in chronic prostatitis.

PMID- 1433647
TI  - Reduction in the length of the intravesical ureter associated with pyelonephritis
      in the adult pig.
AB  - The ureterovesical junction of pigs with cystitis and pyelonephritis was
      examined. There was significant shortening of the intravesical portion of the
      ureter in sows with pyelonephritis. In cases associated with acute pyelonephritis
      the ureteric orifice was found to be significantly wider than that found in the
      normal population. The ratio of the intravesical length to the ureteric orifice
      diameter was also significantly reduced. It is postulated that these changes to
      the ureterovesical junction originate or are caused by the disease processes in
      the bladder and may allow vesicoureteric reflux to occur, leading to ascending
      pyelonephritis.

PMID- 1433648
TI  - Hereditary renal cell carcinoma in the Eker rat: a rodent familial cancer
      syndrome.
AB  - A rodent model of hereditary cancer in which a single gene mutation predisposes
      rats to bilateral multicentric renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is described. This rat
      hereditary cancer syndrome shares certain similarities with von Hippel-Lindau
      disease (VHLD). In addition to the early development of renal epithelial tumors
      with morphologic similarity to human RCC, rats which bear the RCC gene are
      predisposed to the development of secondary primary cancers later in life.
      Splenic vascular proliferative lesions, including hemangiosarcoma, were seen in
      23% of 14-month-old rats of both sexes that had renal tumors. At fourteen months
      of age, 62% of female rats with renal cell tumors had sarcomas of the lower
      reproductive tract of probable smooth muscle origin. Non-carrier siblings of
      affected animals did not have renal, reproductive, or splenic neoplasia. The
      finding of a specific constellation of familial neoplasms, including multicentric
      bilateral renal cell carcinoma, in this autosomal dominant disorder of rats
      suggests that this syndrome is analogous to human VHLD. In addition to its
      usefulness for studies of the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of renal
      carcinogenesis, this animal model will provide a unique tool to investigate how
      cancer susceptibility genes interact with environmental risk factors such as
      chemical carcinogens.

PMID- 1433649
TI  - Effect of tetrodotoxin on the phasic and tonic responses of isolated rabbit
      urinary bladder smooth muscle to field stimulation.
AB  - The response of the rabbit urinary bladder to field stimulation (80 volts, 2-32
      Hz, 1 msec duration) is biphasic, consisting of an initial phasic contraction
      mediated by cholinergic and purinergic neurotransmitters, followed by a prolonged
      tonic contraction which is solely cholinergic. Obstructive hypertrophy of the
      bladder induces a variety of contractile alterations including a significantly
      greater reduction in the tonic component of the contractile response as compared
      to the phasic component. This results in a severe dysfunction in the ability of
      the bladder to empty. One possibility is that the inability of the bladder to
      maintain tension and empty efficiently may be related to a degeneration of nerves
      innervating the bladder smooth muscle. In addition to the well documented
      neuropathy, the bladder undergoes hypertrophy +/- hyperplasia of both smooth
      muscle and interstitial cellular elements, alterations in the metabolism of
      substrates, alterations in the synthesis of structural and smooth muscle
      proteins, and alterations in the deposition of collagen. The purpose of this
      study was to 1) to create a specific neuropathy in the absence of the additional
      structural, smooth muscle, and metabolic changes that are induced by partial
      outlet obstruction; and 2) determine if the contractile dysfunctions induced by
      the neuropathy have properties similar to the contractile dysfunctions induced by
      outlet obstruction. In the present study, a progressive "smooth muscle
      neuropathy" was induced in isolated strips of male rabbit urinary bladder smooth
      muscle by incubating isolated strips of urinary bladder body in the presence of
      increasing concentrations of tetrodotoxin (15-1500 nM). In these studies, we
      determined the effect of increasing concentrations of tetrodotoxin (TTX) on the
      response to field stimulation utilizing 2 Hz and 32 Hz, at 80 V and 1 ms
      duration. The effects of TTX on maximum rate of contraction, peak contraction and
      tonic contraction were monitored. In addition, the effects of atropine
      (cholinergic muscarinic blockage) and ATP-desensitization (purinergic inhibition)
      on the effects of TTX were also determined. The results can be summarized as
      follows: 1) Both atropine and ATP desensitization individually inhibited
      significantly the peak response to field stimulation. 2) Atropine abolished the
      tonic response. 3) TTX inhibited the tonic contraction at significantly lower
      concentrations than it inhibited peak contraction. Thus, at low concentrations of
      TTX, a condition similar to that seen in obstructive hypertrophy was created. 4)
      The ED50 in the presence of atropine was significantly greater than the ED50
      following ATP desensitization. This may indicate that there are separate synaptic
      elements for cholinergic and purinergic transmission.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400
      WORDS)

PMID- 1433650
TI  - The fate of buried vaginal epithelium.
AB  - A new technique in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence utilizes a sling
      fashioned from a rectangular island of buried vaginal epithelium. We developed a
      model to study the natural history of vaginal wall covered by an epithelial flap
      in 12 rabbits sacrificed at intervals to 26 weeks. Histopathologic examination
      demonstrated an immediate acute inflammatory reaction. This early response was
      followed by formation of an epithelial lining of the potential space overlying
      the buried vaginal tissue. Acute inflammatory cells continued to enter this lumen
      until week 20, when granulomas were first detected. Histopathologic examination
      at twenty-six weeks showed stratified squamous epithelium lining the lumen. No
      deleterious inflammatory sequelae were detected, and no dysplastic or malignant
      changes were identified. These results suggest that buried vaginal epithelium is
      a safe (short term) tissue alternative for sling creation.

PMID- 1433651
TI  - Experimental autoimmune cystitis: a potential murine model for ulcerative
      interstitial cystitis.
AB  - Interstitial cystitis is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. To
      facilitate the study of the pathophysiology of interstitial cystitis, an animal
      model that correlates with the clinical features of interstitial cystitis and
      expresses histologic features consistent with those observed in interstitial
      cystitis patients was developed. Various strains of mice were immunized with a
      syngeneic bladder homogenate to determine their susceptibility to the induction
      of autoimmune cystitis. Of 3 mouse strains tested, only the Balb/cAN mice
      reproducibly developed the clinical correlates and histological features
      consistent with those observed in interstitial cystitis. In a blinded pathologic
      review, autoreactive Balb/cAN bladders were correctly distinguished from chronic
      bacterial cystitis, sham treated bladders and normal control bladders. Edema,
      fibrosis, perivascular lymphocytic infiltrations and detrusor mast cell
      accumulation were apparent in 75% of the Balb/cAN mice 2 weeks after immunization
      and 100% at 4 weeks. These histologic features plateaued and remained stable for
      at least 6 months. Grossly, the immunized mouse bladders were fibrotic and
      contracted with a significantly (p < .05) decreased fluid capacity. On
      hydrodistension, increased vascular prominence and petechial hemorrhage
      (glomerulations) were evident. Instillation of 14C-urea demonstrated increased
      permeability in immunized bladders compared with controls. A cellular autoimmune
      basis for the cystitis is supported by adoptive transfer studies. Spleen cells
      from experimental mice but not controls transferred the histological features of
      the disease to naive mice. These studies outline the development of a new
      experimental autoimmune cystitis model that expresses features similar to those
      frequently observed in human interstitial cystitis, and may provide a model for
      the study of the inflammatory process associated with interstitial cystitis.
      Furthermore, these data suggest a possible role for cellular immune components in
      interstitial cystitis.

PMID- 1433652
TI  - Venous ulcers, the vascular surgeon, and the Medicare budget.

PMID- 1433653
TI  - The role of air plethysmography in monitoring results of venous surgery.
AB  - The development of an objective, noninvasive method to assess the hemodynamic
      effects of venous surgery has long been awaited. Previous methods used to
      evaluate the results of surgery for varicose veins and venous stasis ulceration
      have been limited in their quantitative assessment. Now, by use of air
      plethysmography (APG), we can accurately quantify the effectiveness of corrective
      venous surgery. Twenty-five extremities that had evidence of venous insufficiency
      were examined with use of APG before and after venous surgical procedures.
      Surgery was directed at specific sites of venous incompetence as defined by
      physical examination and high-resolution duplex imaging. Twenty-one extremities
      underwent ligation and stripping of the greater saphenous vein. In these
      patients, APG showed an improvement in venous reflux as demonstrated by a
      decrease in the venous filling index from 6.6 +/- 0.7 ml/sec to 1.8 +/- 0.3
      ml/sec (p = 0.0001) and venous volume from 177.1 +/- 14.5 ml to 139.2 +/- 8.9 ml
      (p = 0.0008). In addition, these patients showed a mild improvement in calf
      muscle pump function as noted by an improvement in ejection fraction from 45.8 +/
      2.0% to 50.8% +/- 2.5% (p = 0.07). The residual volume fraction decreased from
      45.0% +/- 3.4% to 42.0% +/- 3.7%, a difference that was not statistically
      significant (p = 0.4). Four extremities with grade III chronic venous
      insufficiency underwent popliteal vein valve transplantation with use of an
      autogenous axillary vein valve.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1433654
TI  - In vitro evaluation of endothelial and smooth muscle function of primary varicose
      veins.
AB  - Experiments were designed to study functional changes in superficial leg veins of
      patients with primary varicosity. Excess segments were taken from 19 patients
      undergoing elective vein resection. Excess segments of greater saphenous veins
      taken from 13 patients undergoing coronary or lower extremity arterial bypass
      were used as controls. These rings, some with endothelium deliberately removed,
      were suspended for the measurement of isometric force in organ chambers. Segments
      of veins were also evaluated with respect to their total protein content,
      endothelin content, and histologic structure. In varicose veins, maximal
      contractions in response to potassium chloride (n = 9), norepinephrine (n = 9),
      and endothelin (n = 4) were reduced 71.1%, 78.2%, and 75.6%, respectively,
      compared with contractions in control veins (p < 0.01). In addition, no
      differences were detected in the maximal tension or tissue sensitivity (EC50)
      between segments of nonvaricose greater saphenous vein and adjacent varicose
      tributaries from the same patient. Rings with and without endothelium contracted
      similarly. In varicose veins, endothelium-dependent relaxations produced by the
      calcium ionophore A23187 were attenuated 89.7% compared with relaxations in
      controls (n = 6, p < 0.01). In veins from patients with primary varicosity,
      endothelium-independent relaxations produced by nitric oxide (n = 6) and
      forskolin (n = 3) were diminished 86.8% (p < 0.01) and 65.6% (p < 0.05),
      respectively, compared with relaxations in control veins. In primary varicose
      veins, protein content was decreased (n = 17, p < 0.01) and endothelin content
      increased (n = 17, p = 0.1) compared with those values in control veins (n =
      5).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1433655
TI  - A comparison between descending phlebography and duplex Doppler investigation in
      the evaluation of reflux in chronic venous insufficiency: a challenge to
      phlebography as the "gold standard".
AB  - To evaluate venous reflux in 56 lower limbs of 32 consecutive patients,
      hemodynamic tests, ascending and descending phlebography, and supine and erect
      quantitative duplex scanning were performed and the clinical severity was
      classified (class 0 = 15, class 1 = 19, class 2 = 8, and class 3 = 14). Of the 56
      lower limbs, 22 (40%) had severe swelling and hyperpigmentation with or without
      ulcer (classes 2 and 3). Adequacy of the clinical severity classification was
      supported by the hemodynamic results. Radiologic and ultrasound findings were
      described by axial grading, multilevel/multisystem point, and multisegment
      scoring systems. Applying these evaluation systems, the phlebographic and scan
      results correlated poorly. There was no relationship between the radiologically
      obtained average reflux grade or points and the clinical severity. An erect
      quantitative duplex Doppler test assessed by the multisegment scoring system
      correlated best with the severity classification. The predictive value of this
      test to diagnose severe reflux leading to severe symptoms (classes 2 and 3) was
      77% compared with 35% to 44% for descending phlebography. The study suggests that
      erect quantitative segmental duplex Doppler reflects the degree and distribution
      of venous reflux more accurately than does descending venography.

PMID- 1433656
TI  - Femoral vein valvuloplasty: intraoperative angioscopic evaluation and hemodynamic
      improvement.
AB  - Femoral vein valvuloplasty (FVV) is the operation of choice for primary valvular
      incompetence, but this procedure is highly operator dependent for judging the
      competence of the valve repair during surgery. We have reviewed our experience
      with FVV, focusing on the utility of angioscopic-guided valve repair and
      hemodynamic results. Nine limbs in six patients underwent superficial FVV. There
      were four men and two women; the average age was 49 years (range 32 to 62 years).
      All limbs were Society for Vascular Surgery/International Society for
      Cardiovascular Surgery clinical stage III (venous ulcer), and descending
      phlebography showed grade 4 reflux in six limbs, grade 3 reflux in one limb, and
      grade 2 reflux in two limbs. In addition to FVV, five limbs underwent subfascial
      ligation of incompetent perforators and three limbs underwent ligation and
      stripping of superficial varicosities. Two limbs underwent
      polytetrafluoroethylene wrapping of the valvuloplasty. The last five
      valvuloplasties underwent angioscopic evaluation of the repair, and the last two
      procedures were closed valvuloplasties (without venotomy). Follow-up averaged
      20.3 months (range 2 to 51 months). In all patients ulcers healed without
      recurrence. There were two perioperative deep vein thromboses in the
      polytetrafluoroethylene wrapped repairs. All superficial femoral veins were
      patent by duplex scanning at the time of follow-up. Venous refill time measured
      by light reflection rheography did not improve after surgery. Venous filling
      index measured by air plethysmography showed near normalization (3.83 +/- 0.82)
      after angioscopically guided FVV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1433657
TI  - Current use of inferior vena cava filters.
AB  - To study possible changes in the clinical use of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters
      caused by the introduction of percutaneous delivery systems, we reviewed all
      patients who underwent placement of IVC filters at our institution from 1988 to
      1991. Eighty-four patients (52 men and 32 women) ranging in age from 18 to 90
      years (mean 67 years) were identified. Filters were required because of
      contraindications to anticogulation in 64% anticoagulation failure in 25%, and
      preoperative prophylaxis in 11% of patients. The underlying disease was lower
      extremity deep vein thrombosis in 50% and pulmonary embolism in 45% of patients.
      Five percent of patients received prophylactic filters without documented
      thromboembolism. All filters were placed percutaneously by interventional
      radiologists, 77 through the common femoral vein and 7 through the internal
      jugular vein. Three types of filters were used. One procedure-related death
      occurred because of acute IVC occlusion. Fatal pulmonary embolism within 48 hours
      after filter placement was documented in one patient and suspected in one late
      death. No other clinically apparent pulmonary embolism or leg swelling occurred
      after filter placement. Minor complications related to filter placement occurred
      in 13 patients, but none required operative intervention. Analysis of
      complication rates of the three filter types was precluded by the small sample
      size. After a mean follow-up of 11 months, 42 patients (50%) had died of
      malignancy (n = 25), multisystem organ failure (MSOF; n = 7), cardiovascular
      events (n = 4), recurrent pulmonary embolism (n = 2), cerebrovascular events (n =
      4), or an unknown cause (n = 1). Twenty-three patients (27%) died before hospital
      discharge.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1433658
TI  - Physician practices in the management of venous thromboembolism: a community-wide
      survey.
AB  - Although there is a broad consensus on the optimum approach to the management of
      venous thromboembolism, there are few data from which to assess the extent of
      compliance with these recommendations. A community-wide study was therefore
      conducted in 16 short-stay hospitals in central Massachusetts to assess the
      clinical management of venous thromboembolism. Based on validated discharge
      diagnostic codes, there were 1231 clinically recognized cases of venous
      thromboembolism, 0.8% of 148,730 discharges in the 18-month period from July 1,
      1988, to December 31, 1989. Eighty-one percent of study patients were admitted
      with signs or symptoms of acute venous thromboembolism. Ninety-seven percent of
      patients were treated with either heparin, warfarin, or inferior vena caval
      filter. Intravenous heparin was given to 89% of patients (mean bolus 6674 IU;
      mean duration 6.6 days). After heparin administration, there was a mean delay of
      2.3 days in starting warfarin. Assuming a corresponding decrease in the length of
      hospital stay, appreciable cost savings could have been realized by earlier start
      of oral anticoagulation. An inferior vena cava filter was placed in 14% of
      patients. There was a clinically recognized in-hospital recurrence of venous
      thromboembolism during treatment in 2% of patients. Despite a slightly lower rate
      of compliance with recommended treatment regimens in nonteaching hospitals, and
      despite less frequent use of the inferior vena cava filter, there was no
      significant difference in the rate of in-hospital recurrence of clinically
      recognized venous thromboembolism in 10 nonteaching hospitals compared with six
      teaching hospitals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1433659
TI  - Frequency of pulmonary embolism in ambulant patients with pelvic vein thrombosis:
      a prospective study.
AB  - One hundred thirty-nine consecutive patients (average age 70.1 years) who were
      able to walk with a swollen leg were seen at the clinic where diagnosis of acute
      deep vein thrombosis (DVT) extending to the pelvis was confirmed by injecting
      microspheres labeled with technetium 99m into the dorsal foot vein (radionuclide
      venography). Thirty-nine (28%) of these patients had malignant disease. Perfusion
      lung scans performed immediately after radionuclide venography were supplemented
      by inhalation scans (99mTc-labeled diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid aerosol)
      in case of perfusion defects. During scintigraphy patterns highly indicative of
      pulmonary embolism (PE) were found in 80 patients (58%), but only 11 (7.9%) had
      minor clinical symptoms. All patients were admitted to the ward, were given
      standard heparin subcutaneously (35,000 to 40,000 units/24 hr) and firm bandages,
      and were encouraged to walk. After 11 days pulmonary scintigraphy was repeated
      and revealed no change in 55 of 59 patients without PE and in 40 of 80 patients
      with PE. Thirty-three patients (23.7%) showed regression of perfusion defects.
      New PE developed in 11 patients (7.9%, four without and seven with previous PE).
      Autopsy revealed that one 80-year-old patient with prostatic carcinoma had died
      of massive PE. When comparing this frequency of newly developed PE during
      ambulation with the occurrence of PE after bed rest, according to the literature,
      it is no more dangerous for a mobile patient with proximal DVT to walk wearing a
      firm bandage than it is for the patient to be in bed. Therefore we recommend
      treating mobile patients with DVT by use of anticoagulation and firm compression
      bandages and without immobilization.

PMID- 1433660
TI  - Circumferential venolysis and paraclavicular thoracic outlet decompression for
      "effort thrombosis" of the subclavian vein.
AB  - Effort thrombosis of the subclavian vein (Paget-Schroetter syndrome) has long
      been considered a primary thrombotic process, but recent experience suggests that
      it may commonly result from repeated mechanical compression. Increased awareness
      of the pathophysiology of this syndrome can allow timely, improved diagnostic
      screening and the use of specific surgical intervention to relieve the venous
      consequences. During the past 15 years we have treated six patients with
      mechanical compression in the thoracic outlet causing surgically correctable
      venous occlusive problems. There were four men and two women with an average age
      of 38 years (range 26 to 53 years). All patients exhibited pain, swelling, and
      cyanosis of the upper extremity, with worsening venous congestion on abduction of
      the arm. Five of six patients were originally treated for effort thrombosis of
      the subclavian vein with arm elevation and anticoagulation; two also underwent
      immediate thrombolytic therapy with urokinase. Venography was prompted in each
      case by positional symptoms during follow-up and showed irregular stenosis of the
      subclavian vein adjacent to the first rib. All patients underwent extended first
      rib resection and circumferential venolysis (one patient underwent bilateral
      procedures); one was performed through a transaxillary approach, two through a
      supraclavicular approach, and four through a new, "paraclavicular" approach. All
      subclavian veins appeared normal after venolysis. Five of six patients also
      underwent complete scalenectomy and brachial plexus neurolysis. In each patient,
      venous and neurogenic symptoms resolved and venography confirmed a patent
      subclavian vein, with follow-up ranging from 11 months to 13 years (mean 3.8
      years).

PMID- 1433661
TI  - Hemodynamic deterioration in chronic venous disease.
AB  - Clinical deterioration of patients with chronic venous disease (CVD) has been
      well described and a standardized classification has been proposed. The
      progressive hemodynamic deterioration producing these clinical findings is less
      well appreciated. This study examines and correlates venous hemodynamics with
      clinical severity in patients with CVD. Two hundred seventy-four extremities from
      149 patients with varying degrees of CVD and 56 extremities from 28 symptom-free
      volunteers were evaluated clinically and hemodynamically. Each limb was assessed
      for functional venous volume, degree of valvular insufficiency, efficiency of the
      calf muscle pump, and noninvasive estimate of ambulatory venous pressure. In
      addition, exercise venous pressures were recorded in 56 extremities from 36
      patients and 9 extremities from 6 volunteers. As CVD progresses from class 0 to
      class 2, venous volume expands, valvular function deteriorates, the calf muscle
      pump becomes inefficient, and ambulatory venous hypertension develops. However,
      once extremities develop brawny edema or hyperpigmentation, further deterioration
      of limb hemodynamics does not occur. Patients with deep venous obstruction have
      more severe valvular insufficiency, calf muscle pump dysfunction, and ambulatory
      venous hypertension than have patients without evidence of obstruction. Residual
      volume fraction offers a reliable noninvasive estimate of ambulatory venous
      pressure (r = 0.76), although its correlation was significantly better for
      patients without venous obstruction (r = 0.86) than for those with obstruction (r
      = 0.40; p < 0.05). Deterioration in venous hemodynamics parallels clinical
      severity through class 2. Once brawny edema and hyperpigmentation occur,
      ulceration develops without additional deterioration of venous hemodynamics.

PMID- 1433662
TI  - Long-term effects of superficial femoral vein ligation: thirteen-year follow-up.
AB  - This study examines the late clinical, hemodynamic, and anatomic results of
      superficial femoral vein ligation performed in 35 extremities that were followed
      an average of 13 1/2 years (range, 5 to 22 years). Indications for interruption
      were to prevent recurrent embolization from distal deep venous thrombosis (14
      cases), to prevent emboli in patients with contraindication to anticoagulants
      (eight cases), to prevent distal reflux in selected patients undergoing
      iliofemoral thrombectomy (11 cases), and to control reflux in failed venous
      reconstruction (two cases). Ligation was effective in the prevention of pulmonary
      emboli as indicated by no significant clinical events and 15 negative
      postligation ventilation-perfusion scans. Long-term clinical follow-up showed
      normal (class 0) or near-normal (class 1) extremities in 83%. Fourteen percent
      developed mild to moderate symptoms of pain or swelling but without ulceration
      (class 2), and only one case (3%) had ulcerative sequelae (class 3). The only two
      findings that correlated with worse clinical outcome were the presence of an
      incompetent profunda femoris or an obstructed greater saphenous vein. Profunda
      femoris reflux was found in 60% (3/5) of patients with class 2 or 3 sequelae,
      which was significantly higher than the 14% (3/22) found in those patients with
      class 0 or 1 results (p < 0.05). Obstruction of the greater saphenous vein was
      found in 50% of those patients with class 2 or 3 results as opposed to 9% with
      class 0 or 1 results (p = 0.05). A large collateral vessel between the profunda
      femoris and the distal superficial femoral or popliteal vein was associated with
      poor long-term results.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1433663
TI  - Reconstruction of large veins for nonmalignant venous occlusive disease.
AB  - To evaluate the effectiveness of venous grafting, we reviewed the management and
      clinical course of 28 patients (21 males and seven females) who underwent 29
      reconstructions of large veins for benign disease. There were 12 patients with
      superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome, two with subclavian vein thrombosis, and 15
      with occlusion of the inferior vena cava (IVC) or iliac veins. One of these
      patients underwent both IVC and SVC reconstructions. Reconstruction of the SVC
      was performed with spiral saphenous vein graft (SSVG) in nine patients and
      expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) in three. All seven straight SSVGs had
      documented patency at a median of 7 months (2 weeks to 5 years) after
      reconstruction. Six patients had complete relief of symptoms. Two patients with
      bifurcated SSVG had early occlusion of one graft limb. Two of the three ePTFE
      grafts needed early thrombectomy. One graft reoccluded at 6 months and two were
      patent at 2 and 5 years. The two subclavian vein reconstructions with axillary
      jugular ePTFE grafts with an arteriovenous fistula had documented early patency.
      Both patients had rapid resolution of symptoms. The IVC or iliac vein was
      reconstructed with ePTFE graft in 11 patients, SSVG in three, and Dacron in one.
      A femorofemoral arteriovenous fistula was added in eight patients with ePTFE
      grafts. Seven of the 11 ePTFE grafts had documented patency at the last follow-up
      (median 9 months; range 2 weeks to 5 years). None of the three SSVGs had
      documented long-term patency. The one Dacron cavoatrial graft occluded at 3
      years. A straight SSVG continues to be our first choice for SVC replacement.
      Short, large-diameter ePTFE grafts perform the best in the abdomen. Femorocaval
      or long iliocaval grafts need an arteriovenous fistula to maintain patency. Long
      term patency after closure of the fistula is still unknown. Femorocaval grafts
      with poor venous inflow have limited chance of success. Failed or failing grafts
      may be salvaged by early thrombectomy. Venous reconstruction to treat selected
      patients with symptoms with large vein occlusion continues to be a viable option.

PMID- 1433664
TI  - Long-term results of venous reconstruction after vascular trauma in civilian
      practice.
AB  - The natural history of venous reconstruction (VR) in terms of patency and
      clinical outcome after vascular trauma has not been well documented. This study
      consists of 32 patients who had VR performed for extremity vascular trauma and
      were available for long-term assessment (mean follow-up time 49 months, range 6
      to 108 months). The types of repair performed were as follows: lateral
      venorrhaphy (simple repair) (56%), interposition grafting (22%), patch repair
      (12.5%), and end-to-end repair (9.5%). Seventeen patients underwent venography
      after the operation with documentation of repair patency in eight patients (46%)
      and thrombosis in nine (54%). Only two patients had significant clinical edema at
      follow-up examination. Noninvasive venous evaluation consisted of Doppler
      ultrasonography, impedance plethysmography, photoplethysmography, and color-flow
      duplex scanning (CFDS). The photoplethysmography-derived venous refilling time of
      the injured extremity was 34.9 +/- 16.2 seconds whereas that of the contralateral
      noninjured extremity was 36.8 +/- 16.1 seconds (p = 0.5). Based on standard
      criteria for CFDS, 90% of VRs were patent. Eight repairs that were patent in the
      early postoperative period remained patent on CFDS. Of the nine repairs with
      early thrombosis, eight were assessed as patent on follow-up CFDS. In conclusion,
      VR is a durable surgical procedure associated with minimal morbidity, good long
      term patency, and preservation of venous competence. The natural history of
      thrombosed VRs appears to be one of thrombus absorption with recanalization.

PMID- 1433665
TI  - Absorbable suture improves growth of venous anastomoses.
AB  - Growth of vascular anastomoses is desirable in pediatric vascular surgery,
      especially in pediatric organ transplantation. Although absorbable suture has
      been shown to be superior to nonabsorbable suture in permitting growth of
      arterial anastomoses, the optimal suture material for venous anastomoses has not
      been established. To examine this in a porcine model, we performed bilateral
      primary end-to-end anastomoses of transected external jugular veins in 10, 4-week
      old piglets. In each piglet one anastomosis was constructed with continuous
      absorbable 8-0 polyglyconate suture, whereas the contralateral anastomosis was
      constructed with continuous nonabsorbable 8-0 polypropylene suture. After 6
      months the veins were excised, pressure fixed at 15 mm Hg for 2 hours, and
      examined grossly and histologically. Vein diameter was measured by contrast
      radiography at the anastomosis and 1 cm proximal and distal to the anastomosis.
      Vein cross-sectional area 1 cm from the anastomosis was similar in the two
      groups: polyglyconate 95.7 +/- 12.3 mm2 versus polypropylene 95.3 +/- 9.7 mm2.
      However, polyglyconate anastomoses had greater cross-sectional area
      (polyglyconate 72.8 +/- 7.9 mm2 vs polypropylene 51.8 +/- 6.0 mm2; p < 0.05). In
      addition, at 6 months polyglyconate anastomoses had a greater percentage of
      growth (polyglyconate 207% vs polypropylene 118%; p < 0.05) compared with native
      vein cross-sectional area (23.7 +/- 0.39 mm2) from control pigs at 4 weeks of
      age. On histologic examination, polyglyconate had dissolved entirely in six cases
      and was present but in varying degrees of dissolution in the other four; in
      contrast, polypropylene was identifiable at all anastomoses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1433666
TI  - The effects of aortic reconstruction and collagen impregnation of Dacron
      prostheses on the complement system.
AB  - Complement activation has been associated with numerous clinical hazards such as
      platelet aggregation, adult respiratory distress syndrome, and renal dysfunction.
      The complement system is activated by exposure of different biomaterials to
      blood. Recently a watertight knitted Dacron aortic prosthesis impregnated with
      bovine collagen has been developed. One potential disadvantage is that this
      bovine collagen may activate the complement system and evoke the production of
      inflammatory mediators. We conducted a prospective randomized trial to study the
      systemic effects of collagen-impregnated prostheses and of aortic surgery with
      implantation of Dacron prosthesis on the complement system in the perioperative
      period and at 3 months after operation. Forty-one patients randomly received
      either a collagen-impregnated (n = 20) or a nonimpregnated prosthesis (n = 21).
      Twelve patients who had cholecystectomy served as controls. CH50 consumption and
      C3a generation were determined to study overall complement activation.
      Furthermore, C3a/C3 fractions were calculated. Finally, C4 and factor B
      consumption were determined to evaluate the complement stimulation via the
      classic and the alternative pathways, respectively. We found significant
      activation of the complement system during the operation in both the collagen
      group (CH50 consumption: 40%, p = 0.03; C4 consumption: 74%, p < 0.0001; factor B
      consumption: 73%, p < 0.0001; C3a/C3 fraction increase: 173%,p = 0.04), and the
      nonimpregnated group (CH50 consumption: 40%, p < 0.0001; C4 consumption: 71%, p <
      0.0001; factor B consumption: 76%, p < 0.0001; C3a/C3 fraction increase: 165%, p
      = 0.025), with no statistically significant differences between the groups of
      prostheses. Activation was initiated via both the classic and the alternative
      pathway. This indicates aortic implantation significantly activates the
      complement system, but that collagen-impregnated prostheses do not stimulate the
      complement system any more than its nonsealed substrate. Comparing results in
      patients with vascular disease with controls, a significantly increased
      complement activation was observed in the vascular group (CH50 consumption: 40%,
      p < 0.0001; C4 consumption: 74%, p < 0.0001; factor B consumption: 75%, p <
      0.0001; C3a/C3 fraction: 169%, p = 0.002), compared with the controls (CH50
      consumption: 71%; C4 consumption: 104%; factor B consumption: 94%; C3a/C3
      fraction: 119%, all p = NS), with statistical significant differences between the
      vascular group and cholecystectomies (CH50: p = 0.005; C4: p = 0.002; factor B: p
      < 0.0001, and C3a/C3 fraction: NS). This observation demonstrates that aortic
      surgery with the implantation of a Dacron prosthesis significantly activates the
      complement system.

PMID- 1433668
TI  - Aneurysms of the superficial femoral artery: a report of two cases and review of
      the literature.
AB  - True "arteriosclerotic" aneurysms of the superficial femoral artery, not
      associated with generalized dilatation of the common femoral or popliteal artery,
      are relatively rare. We report our experience with two isolated superficial
      femoral artery aneurysms and review the previous literature. An 88-year-old woman
      was first seen with thrombosis of a superficial femoral aneurysm and limb
      threatening ischemia and had eventual limb loss as a result of occlusion of
      distal run-off vessels despite surgical revascularization. A 93-year-old man came
      to us with rupture and was treated with an interposition graft, which resulted in
      limb salvage. Review of 17 "arteriosclerotic" superficial femoral artery
      aneurysms in 14 patients whose cases were reported in the literature revealed a
      complication at presentation in 65%, rupture in 35%, thrombosis in 18%, and
      distal emboli in 12%. However, limb salvage was 94% and there were no
      perioperative deaths. Abdominal aortic aneurysms were discovered in 40%. Males
      (75%) were more common than females, and the average age was 77 years (range 61
      to 93). Isolated superficial femoral artery aneurysms are rare and occur at an
      older average age than do other peripheral aneurysms, but their incidence is
      anticipated to increase with this growing segment of our population. In the
      absence of evidence of syphilitic, other infectious, immunologic, inflammatory,
      or connective-tissue disorders, these and other aneurysms are considered
      arteriosclerotic in origin, despite the absence of diffuse arteriosclerosis in
      many cases and controversy regarding the role of arteriosclerosis in their
      cause.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1433667
TI  - Interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha release in normal and diseased
      human infrarenal aortas.
AB  - The presence of chronic inflammatory cells in the adventitia and media of
      abdominal aortic aneurysms and aortic occlusive disease suggest an immunologic
      response. The purpose of this study is to determine whether normal or diseased
      infrarenal aortas liberate the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha
      (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). Twenty-six infrarenal aortic
      biopsies (5 aortic occlusive disease, 15 abdominal aortic aneurysms, and 6
      cadaveric donors) were weighed, minced into small pieces, and incubated in media
      for 48 hours. Conditioned media was harvested at 48 hours and assayed for IL-1
      beta or TNF-alpha with use of an ELISA assay. Comparison of groups was performed
      with a one-way analysis of variance. The constitutive IL-1 beta produced by
      abdominal aortic aneurysms was significantly different than that in cadaveric
      donors (908 +/- 194 pg/ml [SE] vs 100 +2- 30 pg/ml). There was no statistically
      significant difference between abdominal aortic aneurysms and aortic occlusive
      disease (908 +/- 194 pg/ml vs 604 +/- 256 pg/ml) or aortic occlusive disease and
      cadaveric donor (604 +/- 256 vs 100 +/- 30). In time-course studies for the
      release of IL-1 beta, abdominal aortic aneurysms demonstrated maximal release at
      48 hours. IL-1 beta release was augmented by lipopolysaccharide in all
      categories. A dose response curve demonstrated maximal IL-1 beta release on
      stimulation with 5 micrograms/ml LPS. Constitutive TNF-alpha production was low,
      ranging from 13 +/- 1.5 pg/ml in cadaveric donor, to 20 pg/ml in aortic occlusive
      disease, and 24 +/- 11 pg/ml in abdominal aortic aneurysms. There was no
      augmentation in TNF-alpha with lipopolysaccharide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1433669
TI  - In memoriam Fiorindo A. Simeone, MD 1908-1990.

PMID- 1433670
TI  - Angioplasty restenosis: need for accurate definitions and controls.

PMID- 1433671
TI  - Long-term evaluation of composite sequential bypass for limb-threatening
      ischemia.

PMID- 1433672
TI  - Subarachnoid hemorrhage after carotid endarterectomy.

PMID- 1433673
TI  - A piece of my mind. Outside in.

PMID- 1433674
TI  - Gulf War symptoms remain puzzling.

PMID- 1433675
TI  - Eleventh annual Science Reporters Conference offers cornucopia of medical
      research stories.

PMID- 1433676
TI  - The Public Health Service action plan for women's health: STDS.

PMID- 1433677
TI  - The Public Health Service action plan for women's health: STDs.

PMID- 1433678
TI  - Quality assessment of quality improvement programs.

PMID- 1433679
TI  - Did health care injustice fuel rage, riots?

PMID- 1433680
TI  - The antiquity and origins of rheumatoid arthritis.

PMID- 1433681
TI  - Ultrasound surveillance to detect postoperative venous thrombosis.

PMID- 1433682
TI  - Ultrasound surveillance to detect postoperative venous thrombosis.

PMID- 1433683
TI  - Group B streptococcal sepsis.

PMID- 1433684
TI  - HIV in semen.

PMID- 1433685
TI  - The relation between hospital experience and mortality for patients with AIDS.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is an association between mortality and
      hospital acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) experience for all AIDS
      related diagnoses, and to determine whether the association is explained by
      differences in severity of illness, earlier discharge of terminally ill patients,
      or differences in resource use. DESIGN AND SETTING: Population-based statewide
      cohort study. All hospitalizations identified for a cohort of AIDS patients
      diagnosed during 1987 in 40 Massachusetts hospitals were included. PATIENTS: All
      women and all male intravenous drug users (n = 151), and a random sample of all
      male non-intravenous drug users diagnosed with AIDS during 1987 in Massachusetts
      (n = 149). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary end points studied were (1) inpatient
      mortality and (2) 30-day mortality. Length of stay, cost, and intensive care unit
      use were also examined. RESULTS: In 806 hospitalizations at 40 hospitals
      inpatient mortality was 13.2%. Relative risk of mortality at low AIDS experience
      hospitals was 2.16 (95% confidence interval, 1.43 to 3.26) compared with high
      AIDS experience hospitals. When logistic regression was used to control for age,
      sex, race, human immunodeficiency virus transmission mode, severity, payer,
      admission type, hospital ownership, and teaching status, low hospital experience
      with AIDS remained a significant predictor of inpatient mortality (relative risk,
      2.92; 95% confidence interval, 1.37 to 6.22). Comparisons of 30-day mortality by
      hospital AIDS experience yielded similar results. Length of stay and intensive
      care unit use were also significantly higher at low-experience hospitals after
      controlling for severity of illness (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that
      mortality of AIDS patients is higher at hospitals with less AIDS experience. This
      finding is not because of greater severity of illness, differences in discharge
      patterns of the terminally ill, or less intensive use of resources.

PMID- 1433686
TI  - A randomized clinical trial of high-dose epinephrine and norepinephrine vs
      standard-dose epinephrine in prehospital cardiac arrest.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative efficacy of high- vs standard-dose
      catecholamines in initial treatment of prehospital cardiac arrest. DESIGN:
      Randomized, prospective, double-blind clinical trial. SETTING: Prehospital
      emergency medical system of a major US city. PATIENTS: All adults in nontraumatic
      cardiac arrest, treated by paramedics, who would receive epinephrine according to
      American Heart Association advanced cardiac life support guidelines.
      INTERVENTIONS: High-dose epinephrine (HDE, 15 mg), high-dose norepinephrine
      bitartrate (NE, 11 mg), or standard-dose epinephrine (SDE, 1 mg) was blindly
      substituted for advanced cardiac life support doses of epinephrine. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: Restoration of spontaneous circulation in the field, admission to
      hospital, hospital discharge, and Cerebral Performance Category score. RESULTS:
      Of 2694 patients with cardiac arrests during the study period, resuscitation was
      attempted on 1062 patients. Of this total, 816 patients met study criteria and
      were enrolled. In the entire cardiac arrest population, 63% of the survivors were
      among the 11% of patients who were defibrillated by first responders. The three
      drug treatment groups were similar for all independent variables. Thirteen
      percent of patients receiving HDE regained a pulse in the field vs 8% of those
      receiving SDE (P = .01), and 18% of HDE patients were admitted to the hospital vs
      10% of SDE patients who were admitted to the hospital (P = .02). Similar trends
      for NE were not significant. There were 18 survivors; 1.7% of HDE patients and
      2.6% of NE patients were discharged from the hospital compared with 1.2% of SDE
      patients, but this was not significant (P = .37; beta = .38). There was a
      nonsignificant trend for Cerebral Performance Category scores to be worse for HDE
      (3.2) and NE patients (3.7) than for SDE patients (2.3) (P = .10; beta = .31). No
      significant complications were identified. High-dose epinephrine did not produce
      longer hospital or critical care unit stays. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose epinephrine
      significantly improves the rate of return of spontaneous circulation and hospital
      admission in patients who are in prehospital cardiac arrest without increasing
      complications. However, the increase in hospital discharge rate is not
      statistically significant, and no significant trend could be determined for
      neurological outcome. No benefit of NE compared with HDE was identified. Further
      study is needed to determine the optimal role of epinephrine in prehospital
      cardiac arrest.

PMID- 1433687
TI  - Management of small abdominal aortic aneurysms. Early surgery vs watchful
      waiting.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare two clinical strategies for the management of small
      abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) less than 5 cm in diameter: early surgery
      (repair small AAAs when diagnosed) and watchful waiting (measure AAA size every 6
      months and repair when the diameter reaches 5 cm). DATA SOURCES: We reviewed data
      from an earlier longitudinal study of patients with small AAAs to estimate
      incidence rates of rupture or acute expansion. Estimates for other parameters in
      the model were obtained by searching the medical literature (MEDLINE, 1966 to
      present). DATA SYNTHESIS: We constructed a Markov decision tree to compare early
      surgery with watchful waiting in patients with asymptomatic AAAs less than 5 cm
      in diameter, with respect to long-term survival in quality-adjusted life years.
      The average annual rates of rupture or acute expansion for AAAs with a maximal
      transverse diameter of less than 4.0, 4.0 to 4.9, and at least 5.0 cm, are 0,
      3.3, and 14.4 events per 100 patient-years of observation, respectively. At an
      average rupture rate of 3.3 events per 100 patient-years and an average operative
      risk for elective surgery (4.6%, 30-day mortality), our model predicts that early
      surgery improves survival in patients who present with a 4-cm AAA. The benefit of
      early surgery decreases with increased age at presentation. If the average
      rupture rate for AAAs less than 5 cm is assumed to be low (eg, 0.4 event per 100
      patient-years), watchful waiting if favored, particularly as operative risk
      increases. The decision in this subgroup, however, is sensitive to possible
      future increases in operative risk. CONCLUSIONS: In the majority of scenarios
      that we examined, early surgery is preferred to watchful waiting for patients
      with AAAs less than 5 cm in diameter. Watchful waiting is generally favored,
      however, for patients with a low risk of AAA rupture or acute expansion,
      including those patients who present with very small AAAs (eg, < 4 cm). More
      accurate data concerning the rupture risk of AAAs less than 5 cm would improve
      clinical decision making.

PMID- 1433688
TI  - Latex glove allergy. A survey of the US Army Dental Corps.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of latex glove allergy in a population of
      health care providers (dentists) with a high occupational exposure to latex
      gloves. DESIGN: A survey instrument was distributed to all active-duty dental
      officers in the US Army (n = 1628). The survey was designed to identify those
      individuals who had symptoms of allergy to latex gloves. SETTING: US Army dental
      facilities worldwide. RESULTS: The response rate to the survey was 64% (n =
      1043). There were 143 (13.7%) responses indicating latex glove allergy. If
      nonrespondents were assumed to be allergy-free, the prevalence rate would be
      8.8%. CONCLUSION: Latex allergy, as ascertained by self-report in this survey,
      appears to have a substantial prevalence in this health care provider population.

PMID- 1433690
TI  - Memorandum to the President-elect. Parameters for health system reform.

PMID- 1433689
TI  - Experience and outcomes in AIDS.

PMID- 1433691
TI  - AARP's call to arms: 'reform health care--now!'.

PMID- 1433692
TI  - Diagnostic and therapeutic technology assessment. Distraction/compression
      osteosynthesis with the Ilizarov device.
AB  - Although the Ilizarov device (and technique) to treat problematic fractures and
      bone deformities has been used since the 1950s in the former Soviet Union, the
      technique was not introduced to the United States until 1984. Since that time,
      the technique has become increasingly popular because, in comparison with the
      alternatives, the Ilizarov technique involves only one surgical procedure and it
      appears to have fewer complications. In addition, the Ilizarov technique was
      designed to correct multiple deformities simultaneously. The DATTA panelists
      thought that the technique was established in terms of safety and effectiveness
      as a treatment of limb length deformity, bone defects, and angular/rotational
      deformity of the long bones. The panelists thought that it was promising in terms
      of safety and effectiveness as a treatment of pseudarthrosis. However, this
      overall endorsement of the technique was tempered by comments that the technique
      was associated with a lengthy learning curve, was very labor intensive, and
      required a large degree of patient cooperation.

PMID- 1433693
TI  - Primer on allergic and immunologic diseases.

PMID- 1433694
TI  - The biology of the immune response.

PMID- 1433695
TI  - Immunodeficiency diseases.

PMID- 1433696
TI  - Rhinitis and asthma.

PMID- 1433697
TI  - Anaphylaxis and stinging insect hypersensitivity.

PMID- 1433698
TI  - Immunotherapy with allergens.

PMID- 1433699
TI  - Food allergies.

PMID- 1433700
TI  - Allergic reactions to drugs and biological agents.

PMID- 1433701
TI  - Allergic skin disorders and mastocytosis.

PMID- 1433702
TI  - Immunologic aspects of diseases of the eye.

PMID- 1433703
TI  - Immunologic aspects of granulomatous and interstitial lung diseases and of cystic
      fibrosis.

PMID- 1433704
TI  - The autoimmune diseases.

PMID- 1433705
TI  - Vesiculobullous diseases with prominent immunologic features.
AB  - It may be very difficult to differentiate between the many bullous skin diseases.
      Clinical presentation and age of onset can sometimes be helpful. Consultation
      with a dermatologist may facilitate diagnosis and treatment. More often,
      information from skin biopsy and immunofluorescent studies, such as DIF, IIF, or
      split-skin DIF or IIF, is required to make the diagnosis. It is hoped that
      current investigative studies will elucidate the role of immunoreactants found
      within the dermoepidermal basement membrane zone in the pathogenesis of these
      blistering diseases.

PMID- 1433706
TI  - Immunologic aspects of endocrine diseases.

PMID- 1433707
TI  - Immunologic aspects of renal diseases.

PMID- 1433708
TI  - The immunopathogenesis of gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases.

PMID- 1433709
TI  - Immunologic aspects of neurological and neuromuscular diseases.

PMID- 1433710
TI  - Immunologic aspects of reproductive diseases.

PMID- 1433711
TI  - Tumor immunology.

PMID- 1433712
TI  - Immunohematologic diseases.

PMID- 1433713
TI  - Plasma cell dyscrasias.

PMID- 1433714
TI  - Transplantation immunology.

PMID- 1433715
TI  - Immunization.

PMID- 1433716
TI  - Immunopharmacology. Immunomodulation and immunotherapy.

PMID- 1433717
TI  - Use and interpretation of diagnostic immunologic laboratory tests.

PMID- 1433718
TI  - Future trends in allergy and immunology.

PMID- 1433719
TI  - Cerebral percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in second year of trials.

PMID- 1433720
TI  - Alternative therapies study moves into new phase.

PMID- 1433721
TI  - Dermatology academy drafts skin cancer warning.

PMID- 1433722
TI  - Healthy workplace: employers, employees benefit.

PMID- 1433723
TI  - From the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment.

PMID- 1433724
TI  - From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public health: surveillance,
      prevention, and control of nosocomial infections.

PMID- 1433725
TI  - From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cigarette smoking among
      American Indians, Alaskan Natives--behavioral risk factor surveillance system,
      1987-1991.

PMID- 1433726
TI  - From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Plague--United States, 1992.

PMID- 1433727
TI  - From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Treatment, end-stage renal
      disease attributed to diabetes mellitus--United States, 1980-1989.

PMID- 1433728
TI  - Violence in America: time to bite the bullet back.

PMID- 1433729
TI  - Violence in America: time to bite the bullet back.

PMID- 1433730
TI  - Violence in America: time to bite the bullet back.

PMID- 1433731
TI  - Violence in America: time to bite the bullet back.

PMID- 1433732
TI  - Violence in America: guns.

PMID- 1433733
TI  - Violence in America: guns.

PMID- 1433734
TI  - Assault weapons as a public health hazard.

PMID- 1433735
TI  - Assault weapons as a public health hazard.

PMID- 1433736
TI  - Assault weapons as a public health hazard.

PMID- 1433737
TI  - Thermography in breast cancer.

PMID- 1433738
TI  - The excess incidence of diabetic end-stage renal disease among blacks. A
      population-based study of potential explanatory factors.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the excess incidence of diabetic end-stage
      renal disease (ESRD) among African Americans could be explained by racial
      differences in putative ESRD risk factors. DESIGN: Population-based, ecologic
      study using the 1981 and 1982 Maryland Statewide Household Hypertension Survey
      for data on risk factor prevalence. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2.1 million adults
      residing within the boundaries of the Maryland Regional ESRD Registry, grouped by
      race and ZIP code into 26 subpopulations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Incidence rates
      of treatment for diabetic ESRD between 1980 and 1985 from the Maryland Regional
      ESRD Registry by subpopulation. RESULTS: Between 1980 and 1985, 442 persons
      entered treatment for diabetic ESRD. At the level of the subpopulation, diabetic
      ESRD incidence was positively associated with black race (relative risk [RR],
      3.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.84 to 4.13), prevalence of diabetes (RR,
      2.35; 95% CI, 1.92 to 2.87), prevalence of poorly controlled hypertension (RR,
      1.80; 95% CI, 1.45 to 1.86), lack of a regular source of health care (RR, 1.82;
      95% CI, 1.62 to 2.05), and lower socioeconomic status as indicated by lack of
      college education (RR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.32 to 1.52) (all, P < .0001). After
      adjusting for these risk factors, black race remained strongly associated with
      the overall incidence of diabetic ESRD (RR, 2.70; 95% CI, 1.89 to 3.86; P <
      .0001). Further analyses suggested that this excess risk among blacks was
      confined to ESRD related to non-insulin-dependent diabetes (RR, 4.80; 95% CI,
      3.09 to 7.46; P < .0001); blacks were at no higher risk than were whites for ESRD
      related to insulin-dependent diabetes (RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.52 to 1.55; P = .70).
      CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the excess incidence of diabetic ESRD among
      blacks is not fully explained by a higher prevalence of diabetes or hypertension
      in blacks or by racial differences in age, socioeconomic status, or access to
      health care. Instead, they suggest an increased susceptibility to ESRD resulting
      from non-insulin-dependent diabetes among blacks as compared with whites.

PMID- 1433739
TI  - Renal function change in hypertensive members of the Multiple Risk Factor
      Intervention Trial. Racial and treatment effects. The MRFIT Research Group.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the contribution of mild to moderate hypertension to
      progressive loss of renal function by analysis of renal function data from the
      Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. DESIGN: The cohort of men with mild to
      moderate hypertension (baseline diastolic blood pressure > or = 90 mm Hg),
      randomized to a special intervention (SI) group or usual care (UC) group, were
      examined for change in renal function based on individual reciprocal creatinine
      slopes over an average of 7 years' follow-up as the outcome measure. Contribution
      of blood pressure control during follow-up, age, race, and blood pressure at
      entry were assessed. PARTICIPANTS: The cohort of 5524 (463 black, 5061 nonblack)
      hypertensive men receiving no therapy at entry provided the data for the present
      analysis. RESULTS: Blood pressure control was similar for black and white
      participants, but significant decline in reciprocal creatinine slope was found
      for black men (mean slope, -0.0090 +/- 0.0013 dL/mg/y) compared with white men
      (+0.0018 +/- 0.0004 dL/mg/y) (P < .001 for difference between blacks and whites).
      Decline in renal function was also greater among individuals with elevated
      systolic (P < .001) as well as diastolic blood pressure (P < .001), and older
      individuals (P < .001). No difference between the SI and UC groups was seen in
      reciprocal creatinine slopes, but in both groups combined, treatment that
      maintained diastolic blood pressure below an average value of 95 mm Hg was
      associated with stable or improving renal function, whereas participants whose
      blood pressure remained 95 mm Hg or greater continued to decline at -0.0013 +/-
      0.0009 dL/mg/y (P = .007 for difference). Separate examination of the subset of
      black men (n = 463) failed to show such a difference. CONCLUSIONS: Effective
      blood pressure control was associated with stable or improving renal function in
      nonblacks but not in blacks. These findings emphasize the importance of blood
      pressure control to maintain adequate renal function in hypertensive white men
      and raise important questions about the relationship of pressure reduction and
      renal function change in blacks.

PMID- 1433740
TI  - Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in New York State. Risk factors
      and outcomes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify significant independent risk factors for major
      percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty outcomes. DESIGN: Retrospective
      analysis using univariate and logistic regression analysis to identify
      significant independent risk factors for adverse outcomes. SETTING: All 31
      hospitals performing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in New York
      State in 1991. PATIENTS: All 5827 patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal
      coronary angioplasty between January 1, 1991, and June 30, 1991, in New York
      State. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: In-hospital mortality, major complication(s) (in
      hospital mortality, myocardial infarction, and/or emergency coronary artery
      bypass graft), and absence of angiographic success (stenosis reduction of less
      than 20% on any attempted lesion or residual stenosis of at least 50% on any
      attempted lesion). MAIN RESULTS: Before discharge from the hospital, a total of
      37 patients (0.63%) died; 67 patients (1.1%) suffered a myocardial infarction,
      with a mortality rate of 4.5%; and 97 patients (1.7%) underwent emergency
      coronary artery bypass graft surgery, with a mortality rate of 2.1% (no deaths in
      85 patients who were hemodynamically stable and two deaths among 12 patients who
      were hemodynamically unstable). A total of 187 patients (3.2%) experienced a
      major complication. Angiographic success was achieved for 88% of all patients.
      Multivariate analysis found four independent preprocedural variables related to
      death: female gender, hemodynamic instability, shock, and ejection fraction.
      CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty outcomes in New York
      compare favorably with other recent results reported in the literature. Several
      preprocedural variables markedly increase the incidence of adverse events.

PMID- 1433741
TI  - The changing rate of major depression. Cross-national comparisons. Cross-National
      Collaborative Group.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To estimate temporal trends in the rates of major depression cross
      nationally. DESIGN: Nine epidemiologic surveys and three family studies. SETTING
      AND PARTICIPANTS: Approximately 39,000 subjects in population-based samples from
      nine epidemiologic surveys, and 4000 relatives from three family studies that
      were conducted independently but using similar methodology in the 1980s in North
      America, Puerto Rico, Western Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific Rim.
      OUTCOME MEASURES: Age at first onset of major depression by birth cohort and time
      period. RESULTS: There was an increase in the cumulative lifetime rates of major
      depression with each successively younger birth cohort at all sites with the
      exception of the Hispanic samples, in whom the rates in the older cohort (1915
      through 1935) were approximately equal to those of the younger cohorts. However,
      results of fitting statistical models that separate period and cohort effects
      showed an overall increase in the rates of major depression over time over all
      countries, although the magnitude of the increase varied by country. The average
      relative risk of major depression between a particular cohort and the cohort born
      immediately before varied between 2.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.8 to 3.7) in
      Florence, Italy, and 1.3 (95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 1.4) in Christchurch,
      New Zealand. Short-term fluctuations in the rates of major depression during
      specific time periods and in specific cohorts also varied by country.
      CONCLUSIONS: Cross-nationally, the more recent birth cohorts are at increased
      risk for major depression. There are, however, variations in the long- and short
      term trends for major depression by country, which suggests that the rates in
      these countries may have been affected by differing historical, social, economic,
      or biological environmental events. The linking of demographic, epidemiologic,
      economic, and social indices by country to these changes may clarify
      environmental conditions that influence the rates of major depression.

PMID- 1433742
TI  - Thrombolytic therapy of acute myocardial infarction. Keeping the unfulfilled
      promises.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the use of thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial
      infarction, evaluating whether inclusion and exclusion criteria should be altered
      as well as the public health implications of any such alterations. DATA SOURCES:
      Data obtained were from English-language articles on the use of thrombolytic
      therapy in acute myocardial infarction. Articles that reported on inclusion and
      exclusion criteria as well as specific complications of this therapy were
      specifically sought. The review included articles under the terms thrombolytic
      therapy and acute myocardial infarction in the National Library of Medicine's
      MEDLINE database. STUDY SELECTION: Studies selected for detailed review were
      those reporting specifics about inclusion and exclusion criteria and efficacy.
      Data extraction guidelines for assessing data quality included study size,
      patient population, detail of patient information acquired, and consecutive
      patient enrollment. DATA SYNTHESIS: Thrombolytic therapy can provide substantial
      decrements of morbidity and mortality of acute myocardial infarction in the
      subset of patients who receive this therapy, but is underused in the United
      States. Advanced age per se should not be an exclusion criterion. Improvements
      can be made in electrocardiographic diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.
      Many of the clinical conditions initially excluded from thrombolytic
      consideration, such as hypertension or having received cardiopulmonary
      resuscitation, are only relative contraindications. The benefit/risk ratio in
      treatment of these patients is often acceptable. Several well-documented points
      of delay from onset of symptoms to treatment can be minimized, and accelerated
      therapy can result in a reduction in mortality rates. CONCLUSION: Significant
      public health benefits will result from greater use of thrombolytic therapy in
      acute myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1433743
TI  - Can we prevent end-stage renal disease due to hypertension or to diabetes
      mellitus?

PMID- 1433744
TI  - The uncertainties surrounding carotid endarterectomy.

PMID- 1433745
TI  - Sexuality in the patient-physician relationship.

PMID- 1433746
TI  - The bottom line.

PMID- 1433747
TI  - Correction facility TB rates soar; some jails bring back chest roentgenograms.

PMID- 1433748
TI  - Some experts suggest the nation's 'war on drugs' is helping tuberculosis stage a
      deadly comeback.

PMID- 1433749
TI  - Surgeons say cutting out some TB and MOTT may be the answer in multidrug
      resistant infections.

PMID- 1433750
TI  - From the National Institutes of Health.

PMID- 1433751
TI  - From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV instruction and selected
      HIV-risk behaviors among high school students--United States.

PMID- 1433752
TI  - From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Committee on immunization
      practices: PedvaxHIB lots with questionable immunogenicity.

PMID- 1433753
TI  - Cancer of the prostate.

PMID- 1433754
TI  - Cancer of the prostate.

PMID- 1433755
TI  - Cancer of the prostate.

PMID- 1433756
TI  - The medical library as a patient aid.

PMID- 1433757
TI  - The medical library as a patient guide.

PMID- 1433758
TI  - Active compression-decompression cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

PMID- 1433759
TI  - A multistate outbreak of Salmonella javiana and Salmonella oranienburg infections
      due to consumption of contaminated cheese.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the source of an outbreak of Salmonella javiana and
      Salmonella oranienburg infections. DESIGN: Laboratory-based statewide
      surveillance for Salmonella infections and two separate case-control studies.
      SETTING: Community- and industry-based studies conducted from May through October
      1989. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-one culture-confirmed outbreak-associated cases of S
      javiana infection and 60 community controls matched for telephone prefix, gender,
      and age in case-control study I; 50 cases, 100 community controls, and 64 family
      member controls in case-control study II. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-six culture
      confirmed cases of S javiana infection and 11 cases of S oranienburg infection
      were associated with the outbreak in Minnesota. Outbreak-associated cases were
      also identified in Wisconsin (15 cases), and in Michigan and New York (one case
      each). Cases were more likely than controls to have consumed mozzarella cheese
      manufactured at a single cheese plant (plant X) or cheese that had been shredded
      at processing plants that also shredded cheese manufactured at plant X (odds
      ratio [OR], 7.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7 to 23.2; P < .01). The
      outbreak-associated strains of both serovars were isolated from two unopened 16
      oz (0.45-kg) blocks of mozzarella cheese produced at plant X. The most probable
      numbers of Salmonella organisms in these samples were 0.36/100 g and 4.3/100 g.
      CONCLUSIONS: The potential for bacterial pathogen contamination of cheese during
      manufacture and processing has important epidemiologic implications, particularly
      because cheese consumption has recently increased in the United States. Low-level
      contamination of a nationally distributed food product can cause geographically
      dispersed foodborne outbreaks that may be difficult to detect.

PMID- 1433760
TI  - An international foodborne outbreak of shigellosis associated with a commercial
      airline.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the source of an international outbreak of shigellosis
      associated with consumption of food served by a Minnesota-based airline. DESIGN:
      Cohort studies of players and staff of a Minnesota-based professional football
      team and passengers on flights with a confirmed case of outbreak-associated
      Shigella sonnei infection. SETTING: Community- and industry-based studies
      conducted from October through November 1988. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-five football
      team players and staff, and 725 airline passengers in the cohort studies.
      RESULTS: Twenty-one (32%) of 65 football players and staff developed shigellosis
      that was associated with consumption of cold sandwiches prepared at the airline
      flight kitchen (relative risk [RR], 17.1; 95% confidence interval [Cl], 2.4 to
      120; P < .001). Confirmed or probable shigellosis was identified among 240
      passengers on 219 flights to 24 states, the District of Columbia, and four
      countries between September 14 and October 13. An outbreak-associated strain of S
      sonnei was isolated from football players and staff, airline passengers, and
      flight attendants. Thirty (4.1%) of 725 passengers on 13 flights with confirmed
      cases had confirmed or probable shigellosis. Illness was associated with
      consumption of cold food items served on the flights and prepared by hand at the
      airline flight kitchen (RR, 5.7; 95% Cl, 1.4 to 23.5; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: This
      international outbreak of shigellosis was identified only because of the
      occurrence of an index outbreak involving a professional football team.
      Prevention of Shigella transmission in mass catering establishments may require
      reduction of hand contact in the preparation of cold food items or elimination of
      these items from menus.

PMID- 1433761
TI  - Cognitive development of Yu-Cheng ("oil disease") children prenatally exposed to
      heat-degraded PCBs.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the cognitive development in Taiwanese children who had
      been exposed prenatally to high levels of heat-degraded polychlorinated biphenyls
      (PCBs) with control children who were exposed to background levels. The disorder
      was called Yu-Cheng, "oil disease," in Taiwan. DESIGN: Matched-pair cohort study.
      SETTING: Communities in central Taiwan in which there had been a cooking-oil
      contamination and mass poisoning by heat-degraded PCBs in 1978 through 1979.
      PARTICIPANTS: One hundred eighteen children born between June 1978 and March 1985
      during or after their mothers' consumption of contaminated rice oil; 118 children
      matched for age, sex, neighborhood, maternal age, and parental education and
      occupational class; and 15 older siblings of exposed children, born before the
      poisoning. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cognitive development measured from 1985
      through 1990 using the Chinese versions of the Stanford-Binet test and the
      Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Revised, RESULTS: The exposed children
      scored approximately 5 points lower on the Stanford-Binet test at the ages of 4
      and 5 years and approximately 5 points lower on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale
      for Children, Revised, at the ages of 6 and 7 years. Children born up to 6 years
      after their mothers' exposure were as affected as children born within a year or
      two after exposure when examined at 6 and 7 years of age. Older siblings
      resembled the control children. CONCLUSION: Children prenatally exposed to heat
      degraded PCBs had poorer cognitive development than their matched controls. The
      effect persisted in the children up to the age of 7 years, and children born long
      after the exposure were still affected.

PMID- 1433762
TI  - Misconceptions about cancer among Latinos and Anglos.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To collect information regarding knowledge about and attitudes toward
      cancer in a sample of adult health plan members, self-identified as Latino or
      Anglo. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Prepaid health plan. RESPONDENTS:
      A random sample of 844 Latinos (mean age, 50.5 years) and 510 Anglos (51.8 years)
      completed the interview. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS: Latinos were
      significantly more likely than Anglos to think that sugar substitutes (58% vs
      42%), bruises from being hit (53% vs 34%), microwave ovens (47% vs 23%), eating
      pork (31% vs 11%), eating spicy foods (15% vs 8%), breast-feeding (14% vs 6%),
      and antibiotics (32% vs 12%) could cause cancer (P < .001 for each). Compared
      with Anglos, Latinos more often misidentified constant dizziness (39% vs 25%) and
      arthralgias (35% vs 20%) as being symptoms of cancer. A higher proportion of
      Latinos believed that having cancer is like getting a death sentence (46% vs
      26%), that cancer is God's punishment (7% vs 2%), that there is very little one
      can do to prevent getting cancer (26% vs 18%), that it is uncomfortable to touch
      someone with cancer (13% vs 8%), and that they would rather not know if they had
      incurable cancer (35% vs 23%; P < .001 for each). Latino ethnicity was a
      significant predictor of these knowledge and attitude items in multivariate
      logistic regression models adjusted for sex, education, age, employment, marital
      status, county of residence, and self-perceived health status. CONCLUSIONS: We
      conclude that misconceptions about cancer are more prevalent among Latinos than
      Anglos and that selected attitudes about cancer among Latinos fit a cultural
      theme of fatalismo. These data can enable development of culturally appropriate
      cancer control interventions for Latinos.

PMID- 1433763
TI  - A critique of the rationale for cancer treatment with coffee enemas and diet.

PMID- 1433764
TI  - Campylobacter enteritis outbreaks associated with drinking raw milk during youth
      activities. A 10-year review of outbreaks in the United States.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of recognized outbreaks of Campylobacter
      enteritis associated with drinking raw milk during youth activities. DESIGN:
      Retrospective survey of 51 state and territorial health departments. SETTING: The
      50 United States and the Territory of Puerto Rico. POPULATIONS: Persons in
      preschool through college. MEASUREMENT: Information was obtained for all
      Campylobacter outbreaks associated with consumption of raw milk during youth
      activities from 1981 through 1990 that were investigated by state and territorial
      health departments. RESULTS: Twenty outbreaks were identified in 11 states. Four
      hundred fifty-eight outbreak-associated cases occurred among 1013 persons who
      drank raw milk, with an overall attack rate of 45%. At least one outbreak was
      reported for each year of the 10-year period. Fourteen outbreaks (70%) occurred
      among children in kindergarten through third grade, compared with one outbreak
      (5%) among fourth through sixth graders. The remaining five outbreaks (25%)
      occurred in mixed groups of children and teenagers. Only nine (60%) of 15
      outbreaks identified from 1981 through 1988 were reported to the Campylobacter
      national surveillance system maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and
      Prevention. CONCLUSION: Drinking raw milk on school field trips or other youth
      activities continues despite the occurrence of multiple Campylobacter outbreaks
      documented from this practice. Such illnesses can be prevented by educating dairy
      farmers and officials of schools and youth organizations about the hazards of
      drinking raw milk. Public health organizations need to develop and implement such
      educational programs.

PMID- 1433765
TI  - Induced termination of pregnancy before and after Roe v Wade. Trends in the
      mortality and morbidity of women. Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical
      Association.
AB  - The mortality and morbidity of women who terminated their pregnancy before the
      1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v Wade are compared with post-Roe v Wade
      mortality and morbidity. Mortality data before 1973 are from the National Center
      for Health Statistics; data from 1973 through 1985 are from the Centers for
      Disease Control and The Alan Guttmacher Institute. Trends in serious abortion
      related complications between 1970 and 1990 are based on data from the Joint
      Program for the Study of Abortion and from the National Abortion Federation.
      Deaths from illegally induced abortion declined between 1940 and 1972 in part
      because of the introduction of antibiotics to manage sepsis and the widespread
      use of effective contraceptives. Deaths from legal abortion declined fivefold
      between 1973 and 1985 (from 3.3 deaths to 0.4 death per 100,000 procedures),
      reflecting increased physician education and skills, improvements in medical
      technology, and, notably, the earlier termination of pregnancy. The risk of death
      from legal abortion is higher among minority women and women over the age of 35
      years, and increases with gestational age. Legal-abortion mortality between 1979
      and 1985 was 0.6 death per 100,000 procedures, more than 10 times lower than the
      9.1 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births between 1979 and 1986. Serious
      complications from legal abortion are rare. Most women who have a single abortion
      with vacuum aspiration experience few if any subsequent problems getting pregnant
      or having healthy children. Less is known about the effects of multiple abortions
      on future fecundity. Adverse emotional reactions to abortion are rare; most women
      experience relief and reduced depression and distress.

PMID- 1433766
TI  - How safe is the food we eat?

PMID- 1433767
TI  - Molecular genetics and medicine. A call for papers.

PMID- 1433768
TI  - A piece of my mind. Lasting impressions.

PMID- 1433769
TI  - Elevated creatine kinase level in postpolio syndrome.

PMID- 1433770
TI  - Surgery for intracerebral hemorrhage.

PMID- 1433771
TI  - Use of triple-lumen subclavian catheters for administration of total parenteral
      nutrition.
AB  - This study evaluated the safety of triple vs single-lumen catheters in
      intravenous nutrition. Patients who were judged likely to benefit from a triple
      lumen catheter were randomized to receive either a single-lumen catheter, with
      additional peripheral or central venous access as needed, or a triple-lumen
      catheter. All patients were at increased risk of catheter-related infection
      because of one or more of the following conditions: > 60 years of age, breakdown
      of skin integrity, severe underlying illness, diagnosis of acute pancreatitis,
      recent head or neck surgery, or presence of a preexisting infection. Patients
      were excluded who had neutropenia, were immunosuppressed, had body burns > 40%,
      or had contaminated wounds in the subclavicular area. Of 204 patients entered
      between June 1989 and November 1991, 177 completed the required > or = 7 days of
      therapy. Seventy-eight of these patients were randomized to a single-lumen
      catheter and 99 to a triple-lumen catheter. Catheters were inserted and
      maintained by the Nutrition Support Team. Dressings were monitored daily and
      changed weekly using a bio-occlusive dressing. When parameters were met for a
      possible septic episode, simultaneous peripheral and central catheter blood
      cultures were obtained using the Isolator method. Catheter-related sepsis was
      considered present if the colony count from a central catheter lumen was > or = 5
      times that of the peripheral blood. The incidence of catheter-related sepsis for
      single-lumen catheters was 2.6% (2 of 78) compared with 13.1% for triple-lumen
      catheters (13 of 99) (p < .01). No correlation was found with the number of
      insertion attempts, catheter days, or patient's age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1433772
TI  - Effect of body positions and splints in bioelectrical impedance analysis.
AB  - The objective of this study was to evaluate body composition as measured by
      bioelectric impedance analysis using splints and body positions differing from
      the standard supine position. Forty-three patients, randomized into two groups of
      different body positions, and 101 healthy volunteers were prospectively studied.
      Resistance and reactance of body tissues were measured by bioelectric impedance
      analysis. Body composition is described by a three-compartment model composed of
      body fat, body cell mass, and extra cellular mass. The patients were measured in
      the standard supine position and then randomized into two groups. They were then
      remeasured with the appropriate splinting device or position change. Volunteers
      were measured in the standard supine position and all four alternative positions.
      There was a statistically significant difference demonstrated in whole body
      resistance, whole body reactance, body cell mass, and the ratio of extracellular
      mass to body cell mass in some body positions. The percentage of change with
      different body positions and splints, when compared with the standard supine
      position, was generally below 2%, a clinically insignificant difference. We
      conclude that the reliability of resistance and reactance as measured by
      bioelectric impedance analysis is clinically valid using any of the tested body
      positions and/or splints. The three-compartment model may be a useful concept to
      measure body composition changes in both healthy and sick persons.

PMID- 1433773
TI  - Parenteral glutathione monoester enhances tissue antioxidant stores.
AB  - Glutathione (GSH) is a potent endogenous antioxidant that protects major organs
      from oxidant injury. However, present nutrition regimens may inadequately support
      tissue stores of this tripeptide during critical illness. To determine whether
      GSH reserves can be enhanced in vivo with intravenous (IV) supplements, rats
      underwent central venous catheterization, were given chow and water ad libitum
      during a 2-day recovery period, and were then randomized to receive one of three
      treatments as an IV bolus: (1) dextrose, (2) glutathione (GSH), or (3)
      glutathione monoethyl ester. GSH monoethyl ester is transported into cells more
      easily than is GSH. Tissue and plasma samples were analyzed for GSH at 2 and 4
      hours after drug administration. Liver, renal, and ileal mucosal GSH were
      significantly increased in the GSH-monoethyl ester rats compared with dextrose
      treated animals. In addition, plasma GSH was dramatically increased after
      monoester injection. In contrast, GSH administration depressed liver GSH stores
      and did not significantly affect GSH concentration in the other organs analyzed.
      Plasma GSH concentration was elevated 2 hours after GSH administration. We
      conclude that: (1) the monoethyl ester of glutathione can be used in vivo to
      enhance tissue and plasma GSH concentration and (2) IV GSH administration does
      not significantly increase tissue GSH levels and may paradoxically depress
      hepatic GSH in normal rats. Because the malnourished and critically ill are
      likely to have depleted GSH stores, nutrition strategies that include the
      provision of GSH monoester may lend additional support to those organs that are
      at risk for injury from oxygen free radicals during catabolic states.

PMID- 1433774
TI  - Gastroesophageal reflux in intubated patients receiving enteral nutrition: effect
      of supine and semirecumbent positions.
AB  - The incidence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in critically ill patients as well
      as the effect of a nasogastric tube (NGT) and body position as risk factors for
      GER were determined. Seventy patients with orotracheal intubation receiving
      enteral nutrition through a NGT for more than 48 hours were prospectively studied
      with two randomly assigned body positions: supine or semirecumbent. Detection of
      GER was achieved by scintigraphy after labeling gastric contents with 500 microCi
      of technetium-99m sulfur colloid administered through the NGT. In 50 patients
      scintigraphy was performed after subjects had remained in the randomized position
      for 2 hours with the NGT pinched. Twenty additional patients were studied after
      the NGT had been removed. In 50 patients with NGT, GER was present in 74% (37 of
      50) and was higher in the supine position (81%, 21 of 26) than in the
      semirecumbent position (67%, 16 of 24), but this difference was not statistically
      significant (p = .26). In 20 patients without NGT, the incidence of GER was 35%
      (7 of 20) and it was also higher in the supine (50%, 6 of 12) than in the
      semirecumbent position (12%, 1 of 8, p = .16). There was a statistically
      significant difference between GER in patients with and without NGT (74% vs 35%,
      p = .0002). These data show that there is a high incidence of GER in patients
      with orotracheal intubation and NGT. The presence of a NGT is a risk factor for
      GER. Semirecumbency does not prevent GER, but there is less incidence than in the
      supine position.

PMID- 1433775
TI  - Parenteral arginine infusion in humans: nutrient substrate or pharmacologic
      agent?
AB  - When given as a dietary supplement, arginine enhances lymphocyte mitogenesis and
      improves nitrogen balance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate arginine's
      ability to mediate these same effects when given as the sole nitrogen source with
      minimum additional calories. Thirty patients were randomized to receive 20 g/day
      arginine hydrochloride or a mixed amino acid solution (Travasol) by intravenous
      infusion for 7 days after abdominal operations. Mean patient age, body weight,
      gender ratios, and preoperative degree of weight loss were similar between
      groups. Mean plasma arginine and ornithine levels rose to 228 +/- 50 mumol/L and
      191 +/- 76 mumol/L in the arginine group during infusion. Mean nitrogen balance
      was -8.8 g/day and -9.2 g/day in the arginine and Travasol groups, respectively.
      Mean lymphocyte stimulation indices to concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin fell
      on postoperative day 1 in both groups. No significant differences in patterns of
      lymphocyte mitogenesis changes were noted between groups. The mean total number
      of circulating T cells increased in the arginine group at postoperative day 7.
      Thus, parenteral arginine infusion in postoperative patients provided comparable
      nitrogen balance to a balanced amino acid solution but did not increase
      peripheral blood lymphocyte mitogenesis. When arginine is given parenterally as
      the sole nitrogen source with minimal additional calories to postoperative
      patients, no enhancement of mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation could be
      demonstrated.

PMID- 1433776
TI  - Arginine enhances T-cell responses in athymic nude mice.
AB  - Supplemental L-arginine has been shown to enhance thymic and T-cell responses in
      rodents. We examined the ability of supplemental dietary L-arginine to induce T
      cell function in athymic nude mice that lack a normally developed T-cell system.
      Groups of male nude (nu/nu) mice (Balb/c background) 7 to 8 weeks old were given
      for 2 weeks 1.2% arginine hydrochloride solution for drinking, whereas controls
      received acidified tap water. All mice ingested a standard laboratory chow. In
      the first experiment, the arginine-supplemented animals had significantly greater
      number of T cells in the spleen (assessed by the number of Thy 1.2-positive
      lymphocytes) and these cells had enhanced mitogenic responses to mitogenic
      stimulation (phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A). In vivo delayed-type
      hypersensitivity responses to 2,4-dinitro-1-difluorobenzene were also
      significantly increased after the 2 weeks of arginine supplementation. In a
      second experiment, mice maintained under the same conditions were skin grafted
      with rat tail skin. Animals were observed for 100 days for rejection but no
      significant difference was noted in skin graft survival. We conclude that dietary
      arginine can increase extrathymic T-cell maturation and function, but cannot
      induce in vivo allogeneic graft recognition in athymic nude mice.

PMID- 1433777
TI  - Intravenous glutamine fails to improve gut morphology after radiation injury.
AB  - Male Sprague-Dawley rats housed in individual metabolic cages received total
      parenteral nutrients via chronic indwelling internal jugular catheters to
      determine whether supplementing parenteral nutrition with glutamine would
      accelerate recovery of small-bowel morphology after abdominal radiation. After
      recovering from catheter insertion for 3 days they received either 1000 cGy gamma
      radiation to the abdomen only or no radiation and immediately thereafter received
      isonitrogenous and isocaloric intravenous solutions containing either 0% or 2%
      glutamine at 1.58 mL/h for the next 5 days. Intestinal segments were then assayed
      for whole-bowel deoxyribose nucleic acid content and villus height. Irradiation
      caused a 40% decrement in these parameters, which were not restored by glutamine
      supplementation. Therefore, intravenous glutamine supplementation failed to
      accelerate recovery of small-bowel morphology in this model of combined surgical
      and radiation injury.

PMID- 1433778
TI  - Early postprandial energy expenditure and macronutrient use after a mixed meal in
      cirrhotic patients.
AB  - The effect of meal ingestion (9 kcal/kg of body weight, 53% carbohydrate, 30%
      fat, 17% protein, as a liquid formula) on energy expenditure and oxidation rate
      of carbohydrate, fat, and protein was assessed by indirect calorimetry and
      urinary nitrogen excretion before and for 3 hours after eating in stable
      cirrhotic patients and control subjects of comparable age. Postprandial
      modifications of substrate and hormone levels were also studied. Compared with
      basal values, the mean +/- SD resting energy expenditure during the first 3 hours
      after meal ingestion increased similarly in cirrhotic patients (+0.32 +/- 0.12
      kcal/min) and control subjects (+0.31 +/- 0.08 kcal/min). Dietary induced
      thermogenesis was equivalent to 10% of the energy contained in the meal in both
      groups. Before eating, the carbohydrate oxidation rate was lower and fat
      oxidation higher in cirrhotic patients than in the control subjects. After
      eating, glucose oxidation increased whereas fat and protein oxidation rates were
      reduced in both groups. As a consequence the amount of fat oxidized in the
      postprandial period remained higher in cirrhotic patients than in the control
      subjects. After meal ingestion, serum glucose levels increased whereas plasma
      free fatty acid and glycerol levels decreased in both groups. The substrates,
      however, remained significantly higher in cirrhotic patients than in control
      subjects, despite the higher postprandial insulin increment in the patients
      group, thus suggesting the presence of insulin resistance. Because the
      postprandial glucose oxidation rate was normal, the low insulin-mediated glucose
      uptake observed in cirrhotic patients seems to reflect a defect in the
      nonoxidative disposal of the glucose ingested.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1433779
TI  - Different effects of long-chain and medium-chain triglycerides on glucose
      oxidation during total parenteral nutrition.
AB  - This study was undertaken to clarify differences in the effects of lipid
      emulsions containing either long-chain or medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) on
      glucose metabolism during total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Glucose kinetics were
      assessed in beagle dogs using primed, constant infusions of [14C]- and [6
      3H]glucose. The rate of appearance of glucose, the percent of VCO2 derived from
      the oxidation of glucose, the rate of glucose oxidation, and the percent of
      glucose uptake oxidized were measured at the end of 72 hours of each of the two
      TPN regimens, ie, TPN in which soybean oil served as long-chain triglyceride
      comprising 40% of nonprotein calories (L-TPN), and TPN in which tricaprylin
      emulsion served as MCT (M-TPN). Glucose intake was 5.9 +/- 0.5 mg/kg per minute
      in L-TPN and 5.8 +/- 0.2 mg/kg per minute in M-TPN. There was no significant
      difference in the rate of glucose appearance between L-TPN and M-TPN. The rate of
      glucose oxidation was higher with M-TPN than with L-TPN (p < .05). Not only the
      percent of VCO2 derived from the oxidation of glucose but also the percent of
      glucose uptake oxidized tended to be higher during M-TPN than during L-TPN. These
      findings suggest that the glucose metabolism of dogs receiving L-TPN is different
      from that of dogs receiving M-TPN.

PMID- 1433780
TI  - Long-term central venous access vs other home therapies: complications in
      patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
AB  - One hundred and forty silicone catheters were inserted in 127 patients for long
      term intravenous access with a cumulative follow-up time of 21,125 catheter-days
      (58 patient-years). Fifty-six patients had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
      (AIDS); 44 were not AIDS patients and were receiving ambulatory home parenteral
      nutrition, whereas the remaining 27 did not have AIDS and were receiving home
      antibiotic therapy. Patients had a mean of 1.1 catheters inserted, and the rate
      of Hickman catheter-related sepsis was 0.18 per 100 catheter days or 0.6 septic
      episodes per patient year of treatment. Catheter-related sepsis was higher in
      AIDS patients (p < .01) and in patients receiving parenteral nutrition (p < .05)
      compared with those receiving antibiotic therapy. Prior catheter infection and
      AIDS were the most significant predictors of catheter infection (p < .01).
      Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly isolated pathogen (61%) in AIDS
      patients. Fever (p < .001) and relative leukocytosis (p < .02) were the most
      common signs of infection. Only 14 infected catheters (37.8%) were salvaged by
      antibiotic therapy after the initial infection episode, and 6 of these catheters
      (42.9%) had recurrent multiple infections. In addition, inflammatory bowel
      disease was found to be a risk factor for venous thrombosis (p = .018). We
      conclude that because immunocompromised patients have a high risk of infection,
      catheter-related sepsis in these patients should be treated by catheter removal
      and antibiotics.

PMID- 1433781
TI  - Prefilter and postfilter cysteine/cystine and copper concentrations in pediatric
      parenteral nutrition solutions.
AB  - Pediatric amino acid products contain lower concentrations of methionine and
      require the addition of L-cysteine HCl just before infusion. Reports of a
      potential interaction between cysteine and copper, a routine addition to
      parenteral nutrition solutions, have appeared in the literature. This study
      serially evaluated cysteine/cystine and copper concentrations pre- and postfilter
      (0.22 microns) in two parenteral nutrition formulations prescribed for normal
      fluid (NF) or fluid-restricted (FR) pediatric patients. Solutions were infused
      via a peristaltic pump in vitro for 24 hours. Pre- and postfilter samples were
      obtained immediately after the infusion began (time 0) and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12,
      16, 20, and 24 hours during the infusion. At 24 hours pre- and postfilter,
      cysteine/cystine were quantitated at 87.3% and 85% of the initial concentrations,
      respectively, for the NF solution and 92% and 91.5% for the FR solution. Pre- and
      postfilter copper was quantitated at 87.5% and 92.5% of the initial
      concentrations, respectively, for the NF solution and 88.2% and 95.2% for the FR
      solution. The 24 hour area under the curve for cysteine/cystine was 88.4% for the
      NF solution and 96.4% for the FR solution. For copper, the area under the curve
      for the NF solution was 99% and 96.7% for the FR solution. There was no visual
      evidence of incompatibility or precipitation. We conclude that copper-containing
      parenteral nutrition solutions with L-cysteine HCl added immediately before
      infusion are relatively stable after compounding and infusion over 24 hours.

PMID- 1433782
TI  - Hypermetabolism and hypercatabolism in Guillain-Barre syndrome.
AB  - We studied 21 patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome who demonstrated multiple
      nutritional risk factors upon admission to an intensive care unit: ventilator
      dependence (71.4%), adynamic ileus (23.8%), significant weight loss in the 2
      weeks before admission (53.0%), antecedent viral illness with gastrointestinal
      sequelae (43.0%), cranial nerve deficits impairing oral intake and
      gastrointestinal motility (60%), and depressed serum transferrin (85.7%).
      Patients are hypermetabolic and hypercatabolic because of endocrine, infectious,
      and inflammatory components of the disease. High-energy (40 to 45 nonprotein
      kcal/kg), high-protein (2.0 to 2.5 g/kg) nutrition support appears to exert a
      favorable effect on visceral protein repletion, nitrogen balance, and resistance
      to pulmonary infection. Immediate attainment of positive energy balance in these
      hypermetabolic patients, ideally assessed by indirect calorimetry and followed by
      high-energy, high-protein feedings, may promote positive nitrogen balance early
      and attenuate muscle wasting in Guillain-Barre syndrome.

PMID- 1433783
TI  - A simple technique to redirect malpositioned Silastic central venous catheters.
AB  - A simple and noninvasive method to redirect malpositioned Silastic central venous
      catheters is described. A syringe is connected to the catheter hub, and burst
      injections of saline cause the tip of the catheter to flip into the correct
      intravascular position. The present technique has been applied to more than 30
      pediatric patients with excellent results. A detailed description of the
      technique and case examples are presented.

PMID- 1433784
TI  - Experimental and clinical applications of molecular cell biology in nutrition and
      metabolism.
AB  - Rapid advances in molecular biology have yielded important new techniques for
      understanding the cellular mechanisms of normal homeostasis and disease. In
      particular, molecular laboratory methodologies have become important
      investigative tools for nutritional studies. Detection techniques for specific
      DNAs, RNAs, and proteins allow direct examination of cellular regulation of
      protein expression in health and illness. Construction of transgeneic models by
      recent techniques of inserting foreign genes into experimental animals has
      provided novel models for studies of cellular metabolism. In addition, molecular
      biology has had impact on clinical nutrition and therapy. Molecular techniques
      not only allow for early diagnosis of many inborn genetic errors of metabolism,
      recombinant technology has also provided for large-scale production of proteins
      and hormones of potential therapeutic value. The possibility for direct gene
      therapies is also nearing reality. Hence, understanding the language of molecular
      biology and the recent developments in this field is not only of research
      interest, but is also of clinical relevance.

PMID- 1433785
TI  - Lecithin increases plasma free choline and decreases hepatic steatosis in long
      term total parenteral nutrition patients.

PMID- 1433786
TI  - Defining and reporting diarrhea in tube-fed patients--what a mess!

PMID- 1433787
TI  - Glycylglutamine: metabolism and effects on organ balances of amino acids in
      postabsorptive and starved subjects.

PMID- 1433788
TI  - Hepatic cytologic and cholestatic changes in long-term parenteral nutrition.

PMID- 1433789
TI  - Conversion from continuous to intermittent feedings.

PMID- 1433790
TI  - Home TPN and AIDS patients.

PMID- 1433791
TI  - Circulatory indirect calorimetry.

PMID- 1433792
TI  - Pleural effusion: transudate or exudate.

PMID- 1433793
TI  - Diagnosis of pleural effusions.
AB  - Sixty patients of pleural effusion with different aetiology are described.
      Various microbiological and biochemical parameters were done simultaneously in
      blood and pleural fluid to differentiate tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis
      effusions. Some biochemical tests were thought to be helpful in differential
      diagnosis but no single parameter was found diagnostic. Routine investigations of
      pleural fluid, sputum and pleural biopsy still remain the best method of
      diagnosis.

PMID- 1433794
TI  - Bone tuberculosis in Abbottabad.
AB  - Eighty patients of bone and joint tuberculosis were diagnosed and treated at DHQ
      Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad from August, 1987 to December, 1990. Majority of
      them were children and young adults. There were more females (57.5%) than males
      (42.5%). A major fraction of the cases were Afghan refugees. Most of the patients
      were malnourished and belonged to low socioeconomic class.

PMID- 1433795
TI  - Emotional and behavioural problems among school children in Pakistan.
AB  - The prevalence of emotional and behavioural problems in school children using
      Rutters children behavioural questionnaire was 9.3% with antisocial disorders
      being the commonest one. These disorders are not only present in this culture but
      also differ in terms of psychopathology with different levels of schooling. The
      findings are discussed in terms of their relevance to mental health of children
      with comparison of results from other countries.

PMID- 1433796
TI  - Adhesion formation to incisional abdominal wound in response to polyamide "6" and
      polyglactin "910" sutures.
AB  - Frequency of adhesion formation to laparotomy wound scar in response to
      absorbable and non-absorbable synthetic sutures and closure technique was
      studied. Polyglactin "910" (synthetic absorbable) and polyamide "6" (synthetic
      non-absorbable) sutures were compared employing both mass and layered closure
      technique. Layered closure with polyglactin "910" closure developed maximum
      number of adhesions to laparotomy scar.

PMID- 1433797
TI  - Focal epithelial hyperplasia--a newly discovered disease in north west frontier
      province of Pakistan.

PMID- 1433798
TI  - Radiation induced tumour lysis syndrome in a patient with leukaemia.

PMID- 1433799
TI  - Appearance of a methotrexate binding plasma protein during high dose methotrexate
      therapy.

PMID- 1433800
TI  - Prevalence and causes of blindness in Pakistan.

PMID- 1433801
TI  - Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.

PMID- 1433802
TI  - Diet and cancer.

PMID- 1433803
TI  - Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma--clinicopathological pattern.
AB  - A study of histopathological and clinical features of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in
      495 consecutive cases, diagnosed at AFIP during 1984-1989 is presented. Children
      below the age of 15 years were not included in this study. The relative frequency
      of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was 4.29% in our material. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was
      more frequent than Hodgkin's disease, ratio being 2.44:1. Lymphadenopathy
      (78.78%), fever (33.08%), weight loss (31.62%) and anemia (30.14%) were the main
      presenting features. New working formulation was used for morphological
      characterisation. Follicular lymphoma constituted 8.08% of all cases. Follicular
      lymphoma was seen only in older age whereas diffuse lymphoma occurred in all age
      groups. Intermediate and high grade lymphoma represented 73.54% of all NHL. Small
      lymphocytic lymphoma was common in low grade tumours (13.13%). Extra nodal
      lymphoma was encountered in a significant proportion (21.22%), gastrointestinal
      tract being the most frequent site. This study outlines certain interesting
      features of NHL in Pakistan.

PMID- 1433804
TI  - Gastric ulcer in Karachi.
AB  - Of 138 endoscopically or surgically confirmed cases of gastric ulcer, 102 (74%)
      were males and 36 (26%) females. Both sexes were affected most commonly in the
      6th decade of life. Pain, vomiting and gastrointestinal bleeding were the major
      presenting symptoms, with a median duration of 6 months. Cigarette smoking was
      the most common (44%) addiction and 10% were on analgesics or nonsteroidal anti
      inflammatory drugs (NSAID). Family history of ulcer was uncommon (2%) and no
      predilection for any blood group was noted. Among males 53% were skilled workers
      while 94% of females were housewives. Forty five percent patients were migrants
      from India and the rest belonged to different provinces of Pakistan. Presentation
      and behaviour of different sites of gastric ulcers though varied but the results
      were not significant. Healing rates with H2 receptor antagonists were 33% at 4
      weeks and 78% at 8 weeks.

PMID- 1433805
TI  - Heroin addiction and sex hormones in males.
AB  - To investigate the effects of illicit heroin abuse on the endocrine system a
      study was carried out in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) where heroin
      addiction is prevalent. Sixty-eight subjects were included in this study. Thirty
      three were untreated heroin addicts visiting "drug abuse treatment centres" in
      Peshawar and 35 age matched normal males. Urine samples of all addicts showed the
      presence of morphine. The serum concentrations of testosterone (T) in addicts was
      228 ng/ml, leutinizing hormone (LH) 10.7 mlU/ml and folical stimulating hormone
      (FSH) 4.9 mlU/ml whereas the corresponding values for control males were T 630
      ng/ml, LH 14.3 mlU/ml and FSH mlU/ml, respectively. Heroin exerts a depletion
      effect on T and FSH levels in more or less all the groups studied irrespective of
      age, amount of heroin intake per day and period of contact with heroin. LH levels
      remained affected and are within clinically accepted normal range.

PMID- 1433806
TI  - Prevalence of mutans streptococci and dental caries in Pakistani children.
AB  - The caries status of two hundred and eighteen 12 year old school children from
      four schools of Karachi and Lahore was determined through a WHO pathfinder
      survey. In addition, the levels of mutans streptococci in the sample were
      estimated in order to define the proportion of children with high and low mutans
      levels. A mean DMFT of 1.82 (1.67-0.03-0.12), for decayed and filled teeth
      respectively; 42% were caries free. Four mutans streptococci; 22% had mutans
      class 0, 22% class 1, 31% class 2 and 25% class 3. The mean DMFT was
      respectively, 1.0 + 1.23, 0.98 + 1.52, 2.03 + 2.36 and 3.04 + 3.08. The
      difference was statistically significant. Twenty four children had 5 or more DMF
      all except two of them, belonging to mutans classes 2 or 3.

PMID- 1433807
TI  - Simple, efficient and simultaneous determination of anabolic steroids in human
      urine.
AB  - A high performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of free
      anabolic drug "sustanon 250" (Organon) is developed. Four testosterone esters,
      propionate, phenylpropionate, isocaproate and decanoate were detected
      simultaneously and quantitatively in only 15 minutes. The percentage extraction
      in dichloromethane of the four testosterone esters from doped urine was 88, 87,
      89 and 94% respectively. The separation recorded at 254 nm using analytical
      column ODS-C18 and methanol as an eluent, showed no interference of naturally
      occurring steroids. This method can be used for pharmacokinetic studies, routine
      analysis in pharmaceutical industry, routine therapeutic surveillance and in drug
      abuse by sportsmen.

PMID- 1433808
TI  - Extradural tumours in children presenting as paraplegia.

PMID- 1433809
TI  - Otogenic intracranial abscess.

PMID- 1433810
TI  - Yoghurt (dahi): a probiotic and therapeutic view.

PMID- 1433811
TI  - Human toxoplasmosis.

PMID- 1433812
TI  - Subarachnoid haemorrhage and normal CT scan.

PMID- 1433813
TI  - Carcinoid tumour of gall bladder.

PMID- 1433814
TI  - Toxoplasma gondii in cerebrospinal fluid.

PMID- 1433815
TI  - Electrophysiologic changes before onset of ventricular tachyarrhythmias during
      partial reperfusion following severe myocardial ischemia in dogs.
AB  - We examined the electrophysiologic changes before an onset of ventricular
      tachyarrhythmia during partial reperfusion following severe myocardial ischemia.
      The left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded and cannulated below
      the occluded portion in 26 dogs. To deplete collateral flow into the ischemic
      myocardium, retrograde blood flow was induced for 20 min. Then, in all dogs
      except 7 with ventricular fibrillation during retrograde blood flow, partial
      reperfusion through collateral flow into the ischemic myocardium was produced by
      stopping the retrograde flow. Within 2 min of partial reperfusion, sustained
      ventricular tachycardia (VT) occurred in 7 dogs (group A) and non-sustained VT
      degenerating ventricular fibrillation occurred in 11 dogs (group B) of the
      remaining 12 dogs. In 6 dogs of group A and 9 of group B, epicardial conduction
      block appeared 5.0 +/- 2.2 and 3.5 +/- 1.3 min after ischemia. This was followed
      by fractionated electrical activities 15.2 +/- 3.2 and 11.7 +/- 3.3 min after
      ischemia. In group A, the fractionation had a slight change in configuration and
      a small increase in amplitude before the onset of VT during reperfusion; in group
      B, new deflections with large amplitude emerged before it. There was a
      significant difference in the amplitude (0.38 +/- 0.2 vs 0.67 +/- 0.3 mV, p <
      0.025) between the 2 groups, although there was no significant difference in the
      amplitude (0.33 +/- 0.2 vs 0.23 +/- 0.1 mV) of the fractionation just before
      reperfusion. Our results show that slight improvement in fractionation induces
      sustained VT, and new deflections induce non-sustained VT degenerating
      ventricular fibrillation, even during partial reperfusion.

PMID- 1433816
TI  - Intermittent anterior divisional block and far advanced right bundle branch block
      induced by vasospasm during exercise testing.
AB  - A patient is reported in whom exercise induced reversible ischemic left anterior
      fascicular block and far advanced right bundle branch block. Master's two step
      exercise test for pre-operative check-up revealed significant ST elevation in
      leads V1-5, negative U waves in leads V3-5 and fascicular blocks with
      retrosternal anginal chest pain. Long acting nitrate and nicorandil relieved the
      fascicular blocks.

PMID- 1433817
TI  - Long-term follow-up study of three patients with the long QT syndrome.
AB  - We studied three women with the long QT syndrome. They were aged 42, 52 and 25
      years and had experienced recurrent syncopal attacks. We followed case 1 for 17,
      case 2 for 18, and case 3 for over 6 y. The attacks tended to occur during the
      premenstrual stage in case 1 and case 2; case 3 often experienced attacks after
      exercise. The QT(U)c intervals on admission were 0.68, 0.62, and 0.50 in case 1,
      2, and 3, respectively. Torsade de pointes followed by ventricular fibrillation
      was documented in case 1 and case 2. Although each was treated with a beta
      blocker, none was fully compliant with the regimen. In case 1, estrogen therapy
      administered to maintain the hormonal balance premenstrually effectively
      prevented attacks. Despite the inconsistent use of beta-blockers, the attacks in
      case 1 and case 2 tended to decrease with age. Case 2 experienced no attacks
      after menopause. Cause 3 took medication consistently and remained free of
      attacks for over 6 y. Although she discontinued beta-blocker therapy because of
      pregnancy, she has experienced no attacks to date. These case studies suggest
      that hormonal status may be important in the development of syncopal attacks in
      female patients with the long QT syndrome.

PMID- 1433818
TI  - Segmental asynergy of the left ventricle in a case of tight aortic stenosis
      associated with mild ischemic heart disease.
AB  - Emergency aortic valve replacement with double aorto-coronary bypass surgery was
      performed to treat severe intractable congestive heart failure in an 82-year-old
      man. Mild circumflex and left anterior descending artery lesions were present and
      the pressure gradient across the aortic valve was 80 mmHg despite a low cardiac
      output. The preoperative anteroseptal akinesia seen by two-dimensional
      echocardiography was normalized after surgery. Thus, even in patients with
      segmental left ventricular dysfunction, tight aortic stenosis might be present
      when concomitant mild ischemic heart disease is present.

PMID- 1433819
TI  - Molecular analysis of the pathophysiology of cardiomyopathy.

PMID- 1433820
TI  - The studies of cell damaging and cell growth factors which induce cardiomyopathy.
AB  - We demonstrated that phosphatidylinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC)
      activity was greater in cardiomyopathic hamster hearts (BIO 14.6 and BIO 53.58)
      then in hamster controls (F1b). Inositol trisphosphate (IP3) production was
      markedly greater in both of the cardiomyopathic hamsters, BIO 14.6 and BIO 53.58.
      We have also determined the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function of heart.
      Calcium uptake into SR markedly increased in BIO 14.6. On the other hand, it
      significantly decreased in BIO 53.58 compared with F1b. It is well known that IP3
      stimulates calcium release from SR. In BIO 14.6, calcium release from SR
      stimulated by IP3 increased, but its effect decreased in BIO 53.58 compared with
      F1b. These results suggest that PI response may produce high intracellular
      calcium levels in both BIO 14.6 and BIO 53.58 myocytes. In addition, in the BIO
      53.58 hamster the sarcoplasmic reticulum deteriorate in function. It was
      concluded from these results that a prolonged high intracellular calcium level
      may lead to the death of BIO 53.58 myocytes. The expression of angiotensinogen
      mRNA was observed in the hamster heart. There was no differences in its
      expression level between F1b, BIO 14.6 and BIO 53.58. There was no effect of ages
      on its expression in these hamster hearts. We have also determined the
      distribution of angiotensinogen in these hamsters. At 4 weeks of age, the
      immunohistochemical study revealed that angiotensinogen was widely distributed in
      subendocardium in these hamsters. There was no difference in its distribution
      between F1b, BIO 14.6 and BIO 53.58. But at 20 weeks old of age its
      immunoreactivity decreased in BIO 53.58.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1433821
TI  - Mitochondrial DNA mutations in cardiomyopathy.
AB  - Deletions and point mutations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of patients with
      dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were analyzed using the polymerase chain
      reaction and fluorescence-based direct sequencing. The patients included are with
      hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with left ventricular dilatation, a
      patient with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke
      like episodes (MELAS), and a patient with fatal infantile cardiomyopathy.
      Deletions were frequently seen in mtDNA in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.
      The mtDNA was sequenced and the direct repeat at each edge of deletion was
      identified as (5'-CATCAACAACCG-3') which was located in the ATPase6 gene and in
      the D-loop region. In a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with
      left ventricular dilatation, another mutant mtDNA was found not to have directly
      repeated sequence, and was revealed to jump from nucleotide position 8,992 to
      position 16,072 of mtDNA resulting in a 7,079 bp deletion. This patient had
      unique point mutation in the tRNA genes. A G-to-A transition in the tRNA(Cys)
      gene (nucleotide position 5,821) at the aminoacyl acceptor stem and an A-to-G
      transition in the tRNA(Thr) gene (nucleotide position 15,951) were identified. In
      a patient with MELAS, an A-to-G transition in the tRNA(Leu)(UUR) gene (nucleotide
      position 3,243) was observed. This mutation was located at the 5' end of the
      dihydrouridine loop of this tRNA molecule, and would disturb its function. In a
      patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with lactic acidosis,
      mutations of mtDNA should be suspected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1433822
TI  - Dilated cardiomyopathy with special reference to humoral immunity.
AB  - The question of whether the etiology of DCM is immune or autoimmune has been
      increasingly discussed. Abnormal findings on humoral immunity in DCM were
      investigated, especially those regarding anti-heart antibodies (AHA), IgG
      subclasses and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R). The heterophile type AHA
      was detected in 64.7% of cases by the indirect immunofluorescence technique (IF)
      with rat heart, by indirect IF with human heart AHA in 57.8% of cases, and by
      thin-layer chromatogram with human glycolipids AHA in 44% of cases. Also, 57.1%
      of the specimens were found to bind IgG on perimyocytes by direct IF with biopsy
      specimens taken from patients with DCM. The epitope of an antigen which reacted
      with the heterophile type AHA is a Gal alpha 1-3Gal structure. 200 Kd, 70 Kd and
      40 Kd antigens were reacted with AHA detected by indirect IF with human heart.
      The possible mechanisms of AHA in the pathogenesis could be either complement
      dependent cytotoxicity or interference to cardiac metabolism. The concentration
      of sIL-2R and IgG3 in sera from patients with DCM were elevated. These results
      suggest that immunological abnormalities occur continuously in DCM.

PMID- 1433823
TI  - Negative washout rate of myocardial thallium-201--a specific marker for high
      grade coronary artery narrowing.
AB  - A decline is usually observed in the myocardial uptake of thallium-201 in delayed
      imaging compared with initial imaging. In patients with severe coronary artery
      disease (CAD), the uptake is sometimes higher in the delayed than in the initial
      imaging, which is expressed as negative washout rate. To evaluate the diagnostic
      implications of this negative washout rate the findings of dipyridamole thallium
      scintigraphy in 582 patients with coronary artery disease were evaluated. The
      negative washout rate was present in 201 of 582 patients (35%). It had a
      significant association with high grade coronary artery narrowing of > or = 90%.
      Sensitivity in detecting patients with this high grade narrowing by negative
      washout rate was 48%, its specificity was 93%, and its positive predictive value
      was 94%. Sensitivity to detect individual coronary artery narrowing of > or = 90%
      did not decrease according to the extent of CAD, with the highest detection in
      the left anterior descending coronary artery and the lowest in the left
      circumflex coronary artery. Since patients with high grade coronary narrowing
      often require coronary intervention, the results of this study suggest the
      diagnostic importance of negative washout rate in the identification of the
      particular subset of patients with CAD.

PMID- 1433824
TI  - Echocardiographic evaluation of pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients with
      progressive systemic sclerosis and related syndromes.
AB  - In order to evaluate the usefulness of echocardiography in detection and
      characterization of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in scleroderma
      patients, we performed M-mode, two-dimensional, and Doppler echocardiography in
      71 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) and related syndromes:
      mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and overlap syndromes. We estimated
      systolic pressure gradients across the tricuspid valve from the peak velocity of
      tricuspid regurgitation (TR) by color-flow guided continuous wave Doppler. TR
      velocities of analyzable quality for gradient estimation were obtained in 28
      patients (39%), of whom 12 showed PAH (peak TR velocity > or = 2.5 m/sec). In
      comparison, analyzable TR was recorded in 19 (35%) of 55 patients with left-sided
      cardiac disease. None of the 12 with Doppler-estimated PAH showed left
      ventricular dilatation or decreased fractional shortening by M-mode and two
      dimensional measurements. Nonsimultaneous cardiac catheterization confirmed PAH
      in 8 of 9 with Doppler-estimated PAH and in 3 of 12 without analyzable TR who had
      hemodynamic study. Doppler-estimated right ventricular systolic pressures (RVSP)
      correlated well with catheterization-measured pulmonary arterial systolic
      pressures (PASP) (< 0.01). Our results indicate that Doppler echocardiography is
      useful in detecting subclinical PAH and estimating PASP in patients with collagen
      vascular disease. The results of pulmonary function studies suggest that PAH in
      MCTD is mainly caused by pulmonary vasculopathy.

PMID- 1433825
TI  - Alteration of pulmonary blood flow in tetralogy of Fallot: pre- and postoperative
      study with macroaggregates of 99mTc-labeled human serum albumin.
AB  - The pulmonary blood distribution was examined in 17 patients with tetralogy of
      Fallot (TOF) pre and postoperatively with macroaggregates of 99mTc-labeled human
      serum albumin. Most of the patients with TOF demonstrated an abnormal
      preoperative distribution pattern. The abnormalities included not only an
      unbalanced distribution between the right and left lungs but also a
      maldistribution of peripheral vessels in each lung. The Right/Left lung counts
      ratio and Pulmonary Peripheral Index (calculated in order to express the severity
      of peripheral maldistribution) correlated neither to the diameter nor the cross
      sectional area of either right or left pulmonary arteries which were measured
      angiographically. Postoperatively, the pulmonary blood was shunted toward the
      developed side of the lung which further contributed to maldistribution of blood
      flow and unbalanced pulmonary growth. Since the patients with an unbalanced
      pulmonary blood distribution demonstrated a higher right ventricular pressure one
      year after the operation, a palliative operation facilitating the growth of the
      underdeveloped side of the lung might be considered as an effective procedure to
      precede intracardiac repair.

PMID- 1433826
TI  - The effect of acute hypoxia on left ventricular function with special reference
      to diastolic function--an analysis using ultrasonic method.
AB  - In order to evaluate the effect of acute hypoxia on left ventricular (LV)
      contractility and diastolic function, hemodynamics and LV wall motion were
      investigated in anesthetized open-chest paced dogs using M-mode or pulsed Doppler
      echocardiography. Animals were ventilated with 10% oxygen (Hypo 1) and 6.3%
      oxygen (Hypo 2). LV contractility and diastolic functions were enhanced under
      "Hypo 1" and at an early phase of "Hypo 2". However, LV functions, both systolic
      and diastolic, were simultaneously reduced in the presence of hypercapnic
      acidosis by "Hypo 2". Peak velocities of diastolic rapid filling flow (R) and
      atrial contraction flow (A) were increased under "Hypo 1", but showed a biphasic
      change (an increase and a subsequent decrease) under "Hypo 2". The ratio of A/R,
      known as an index of LV diastolic function, was not altered under hypoxia alone
      or even under hypercapnic acidosis. Even when hypoxia seems to enhance LV
      contractility, LV function has already begun to be depressed with a reduction of
      pH. This seems, however, to be compensated for by LV dilatation and increase in
      preload, or preservation of left atrial performance.

PMID- 1433827
TI  - [Japanese Circulation Society meetings. 1988-1991. Abstracts].

PMID- 1433828
TI  - [Total intravenous anesthesia vs. regional anesthesia].

PMID- 1433829
TI  - [Effect of intravenous pirenzepine on hemodynamics and gastric juice volume as
      well as pH in surgical patients].
AB  - The effects of pirenzepine on blood pressure, heart rate and gastric juice volume
      as well as pH were evaluated and compared with those after atropine and
      cimetidine in 54 adult patients divided into five groups. Patients in Groups A,
      P, AP, AC and ACP received atropine, pirenzepine, atropine plus pirenzepine,
      atropine plus cimetidine, or atropine, cimetidine plus pirenzepine, respectively.
      Atropine 0.5 mg and cimetidine 200 mg were given intramuscularly 60 min before
      induction of anesthesia, and pirenzepine 10 mg was given intravenously 5 min
      before induction. Gastric juice was aspirated just after, 60 and 120 min after
      induction of anesthesia. Mean blood pressure and heart rate remained unchanged
      following intravenous pirenzepine in Group P, whereas heart rate increased
      significantly in Groups AP and ACP. There were no significant differences in mean
      volume and pH of gastric juice among the groups just after and 120 min after
      induction of anesthesia, although gastric volume in Group AC was significantly
      less than in Groups P, AP and ACP 60 min after induction. Gastric pH increased
      gradually and gastric volume decreased slightly following intravenous
      pirenzepine. The incidence of samples with a pH higher than 2.5 was greater in
      Group AC than in Group P just after and 60 min after induction, whereas there was
      no difference between the two groups after 120 min. We conclude that intravenous
      pirenzepine 10 mg is effective to reduce gastric juice volume and acidity, and it
      should be given at least 60 min before induction of anesthesia.

PMID- 1433830
TI  - [Ventilation under high spinal anesthesia--the effect of hypotension].
AB  - The ventilatory changes during the course of high spinal anesthesia and the
      effect of hypotension on ventilation during high spinal anesthesia were studied.
      Spinal anesthesia with hyperbaric tetracaine was applied to 30 patients scheduled
      for elective surgery. Patients breathed by mask for ten minutes at rest before
      and after receiving spinal anesthesia. Respiratory parameters were measured in
      supine position during (1) pre-anesthetic period under resting condition, (2)
      anesthetic period when analgesia with pin prick extended to T4 level and (3)
      anesthetic period when analgesia extended to T1 level. The patients were divided
      into two groups; those with and without hypotension. In hypotension group, tidal
      volume and minute ventilation decreased significantly for 30% compared with the
      control values after spinal anesthesia. PaO2 decreased and PaCO2 increased. In
      non-hypotension group, tidal volume and minute ventilation after spinal
      anesthesia increased for 10% compared with the control values. In conclusion,
      hyperventilation tended to occur in patients with high spinal anesthesia unless
      hypotension was severe enough. Once severe hypotension had occurred, obvious
      hypoventilation and respiratory irregularity were observed. Decrease of tidal
      volume and minute ventilation, hypoxia, hypercarbia and increase in VD/VT were
      significant during hypotension. The results suggest that during high spinal
      anesthesia severe hypotension causes hypoventilation and if not treated
      respiratory arrest ensues.

PMID- 1433831
TI  - [Effect of epidural buprenorphine on postoperative respiratory function].
AB  - The effects of epidural buprenorphine on postoperative respiratory function were
      studied using respiratory inductive plethysmography (RIP) in two groups of
      patients [(1) 0.1 mg (2) 0.2 mg] after upper abdominal surgery. Buprenorphine 0.1
      mg group showed decreased respiratory rate and increased tidal volume. Decreases
      in the respiratory rate and the tidal volume were seen in buprenorphine 0.2 mg
      group and continued for 3-4 hrs after the epidural administration. However, there
      was no severe respiratory depression in either group. It seems that 0.1 mg of
      epidural buprenorphine may give a satisfactory postoperative pain relief and less
      respiratory depression, and RIP is a useful method for the measurement of
      postoperative respiratory function.

PMID- 1433832
TI  - [Postoperative pain relief by continuous epidural infusion of bupivacaine and
      buprenorphine].
AB  - Continuous postoperative pain relief produced by epidural block with bupivacaine
      and buprenorphine was evaluated in 12 patients after thoracotomy, 19 patients
      after upper abdominal surgery, and 14 patients after lower abdominal surgery.
      Patients initially received 8 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine and 0.1 mg of buprenorphine
      at recovery room in operating theater and continuously received the mixture of
      0.25% bupivacaine and 5 micrograms.ml-1 buprenorphine at a rate of 1 ml.h-1 using
      a portable pump. About fifty percent of the patients did not need additional
      narcotics during 48 postoperative hours. About ninety percent of the patients
      needed one additional narcotics during 48 postoperative hours. The authors
      conclude that epidural analgesia with the mixture of bupivacaine and
      buprenorphine produces satisfactory postoperative pain relief.

PMID- 1433833
TI  - [Changes in myocardial blood flow and systemic hemodynamics during hypotensive
      anesthesia induced by adenosine triphosphate with or without dipyridamole].
AB  - The changes in myocardial blood flow and systemic hemodynamics during hypotensive
      anesthesia with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) or ATP with dipyridamole (0.5 mg.kg
      1) were studied in 20 mongrel dogs anesthetized with 0.7% halothane in 100%
      oxygen. In both groups, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was reduced to 60 mmHg
      by intravenous administration of ATP. During hypotensive anesthesia, coronary
      blood flow, myocardial blood flow and cardiac index increased significantly in
      both groups. Lactic acid and uric acid increased significantly during hypotensive
      anesthesia in the group 1. Heart rate, MAP, systemic vascular resistance and
      coronary vascular resistance decreased significantly during hypotensive
      anesthesia in both groups. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary arterial
      wedge pressure and central venous pressure showed no significant changes in both
      groups. Base excess in the group 1 increased markedly compared with the group 2.
      We conclude that pretreatment with dipyridamole can prevent metabolic acidosis
      that occurs during hypotensive anesthesia induced by ATP.

PMID- 1433834
TI  - [Changes in forehead and sole tissue temperature during cardiopulmonary bypass
      for acquired cardiac disease].
AB  - The forehead tissue temperature (FT-T) and the sole tissue temperature (ST-T)
      were measured and recorded by a deep body thermometer (Terumo Corp.) during open
      heart surgery. The changes in FT-T and ST-T after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)
      showed two characteristic patterns; the convergence pattern and the dissociation
      pattern. It is said that the dissociation pattern can notes a poor peripheral
      circulation. The deverging point of the two patterns was studied in 65 patients
      with acquired cardiac disease. We divided the patients into two groups taking 3.5
      degrees C of the FT-T and ST-T difference (DT) after 2 hour weaning from CPB. The
      number of the patients in convergence group (group I) was 42, and that in the
      dissociation group (group II) was 23. The two groups were compared with the DT
      and the time required for the rise in each temperature from CPB rewarming to CPB
      weaning. There was no intergroup difference in the DT when the FT-T began to rise
      upon CPB rewarming. However, the DT was 3.8 +/- 2.3 (mean +/- SD) degrees C in
      group I and 7.1 +/- 1.8 degrees C in group II when the ST-T began to rise, and
      4.2 +/- 2.5 degrees C in group I and 6.9 +/- 1.4 degrees C in group II when the
      FT-T reached its peak; the figures were significantly lower in group I (P <
      0.01). The time required for the rise in ST-T was significantly shorter in group
      I (14.8 +/- 17.1 min) than in group II (25.8 +/- 14.7 min).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1433835
TI  - [Effects of propentofylline on hypoxia-hypoglycemia-induced calcium accumulation
      in gerbil hippocampal slices].
AB  - The xanthine derivative propentofylline (HWA 285) has been reported to show
      protective effects against neuronal damage induced by cerebral ischemia. In the
      present study, we investigated the effect of propentofylline on the hypoxia
      hypoglycemia-induced intracellular calcium accumulation in gerbil hippocampal
      slices using microfluorometry. When slices were superfused with hypoxic
      hypoglycemic medium that did not contain propentofylline, an acute increase in
      calcium accumulation was detected 75-200s (mean latency of 123s) after the start
      of hypoxic-hypoglycemia. When slices were superfused with hypoxic-hypoglycemic
      medium that contained 10 microM, 100 microM and 1mM propentofylline, the latency
      period before acute increase in calcium accumulation was prolonged in all
      subregions of the hippocampus in a dose-dependent manner: mean latencies in field
      CA 1 were 146, 168, and 197s after hypoxic-hypoglycemia, respectively. This
      retardation in calcium accumulation may be involved in the mechanisms by which
      propentofylline diminishes ischemic injury.

PMID- 1433836
TI  - [The function of red blood cells under open-heart surgery with extracorporeal
      circulation without donor blood].
AB  - In 18 patients scheduled for open-heart surgery with extracorporeal circulation
      without donor blood, P50, 2, 3-DPG, intracellular sodium and potassium in red
      blood cells, and erythrocyte deformability were measured for the purpose of
      investigating the influence of severe hemodilution on oxygen transport and
      function of red cells. P50 and 2, 3-DPG in red cells showed no significant
      changes until the end of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). At the end of operation,
      2, 3-DPG content decreased significantly without a significant change of P50.
      This is probably due to the rightward shift of oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve
      as compensation for the hemodilution without donor blood. On the first
      postoperative day, P50 value and 2,3-DPG content decreased significantly but
      returned to previous values on the second day. As the result of changes of red
      cell sodium contents and deformability, erythrocyte morphology recovered soon
      after the end of CPB, but the membrane function of red cells was restored a few
      days later. In conclusion, oxygen transport in red cells may be disturbed after
      open-heart surgery with extracorporeal circulation without donor blood.

PMID- 1433837
TI  - [Mathematical simulation of intracranial condition--Part 1. Linear model
      stimulation].
AB  - We developed a linear mathematical model of the intracranial vessels, which
      reflects changes of the pulse wave (pulse pressure) of intracranial pressure
      after ligation of the internal jugular vein. The model composed of eight major
      variables: 1. resistance of arteries, 2. resistance of small arteries and
      capillary vessels, 3. resistance of veins, 4. resistance of internal jugular and
      vertebral veins, 5. compliance of arteries, 6. compliance of small arteries and
      capillary vessels, 7. compliance of veins and 8. intracranial compliance. All
      variables are presumed to have linear elements and replaced with electrical
      elements. The model of neck dissection is expressed as the change of resistance
      of the internal jugular and vertebral veins. Intracranial condition is expressed
      as the pulse wave (pulse pressure) of intracranial pressure and driving pressure.
      After unilateral ligation of the internal jugular vein, the pulse wave of
      intracranial pressure increased 24% and, after bilateral ligation of the internal
      jugular vein, it increased 55%. After unilateral ligation of the internal jugular
      vein, the pulse wave of intracranial pressure increased 27%, and, after bilateral
      ligation, it increased 79%. When intracranial compliance is normal, the
      respective ratios of pulse wave of intracranial pressure and driving pressure to
      cross-sectional area decreased, whereas those after increase of intracranial
      compliance increased.

PMID- 1433838
TI  - [Integration of informations gained from heterogeneic world of myocardial
      function and ischemia].
AB  - Currently, heterogeneity is the word to describe any inhomogeneous phenomenon
      observed in the ever changing living creatures. Myocardial function is dynamic in
      nature which is a summation of many inhomogeneous components. In fact,
      heterogenic phenomenon has been observed both at cellular and at ventricular
      levels during myocardial contraction and relaxation. However, this heterogenic
      behavior of myocardial activities serves as a source of monitoring parameters by
      which we can grasp what is happening in the patient. Reliance on only one of
      those parameters would lead to a wrong diagnosis and judgement in the heterogenic
      world. We, therefore, need to integrate those parameters to form more realistic
      image about patient's status. We have to have a cut off point to divide what is
      right and what is wrong. Although the truth may not be reached eventually from
      heterogeneous informations, an appropriate method to integrate informations in
      the heterogenic world will aid us to come closer to the reality.

PMID- 1433839
TI  - [Utility of intra-bladder pressure monitoring during closure of abdominal wall
      defects in newborn infants].
AB  - Recently, it was demonstrated that intra-bladder pressure (IBP) measured through
      a transurethral catheter accurately reflects intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). We
      monitored IBP during closure of abdominal wall defects in three newborn infants
      with gastroschisis. We were able to avoid complications due to increased IAP by
      keeping IBP below 20 mmHg. IBP correlated well with inferior vena cava pressure
      (r = 0.93) which reflects IAP. We advocate the use of IBP monitoring as a simple
      and reliable means of indirectly determining IAP during operations for closure of
      abdominal wall defects in newborn infants with omphalocele or gastroschisis.

PMID- 1433840
TI  - [The use of a Swan-Ganz catheter with a fast-response thermistor for the
      measurement of right ventricular performance during anesthetic management of
      pheochromocytoma].
AB  - We used a Swan-Ganz catheter with a fast-response thermistor to measure the right
      ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) during the anesthetic management of two
      patients with epinephrine-dominant pheochromocytomas. Pre-operatively, one
      patient received alpha adrenergic blocking agents (prazocine, doxazocine) to
      control the blood pressure but the other patient did not receive any agents. In
      the latter patient who did not receive alpha adrenergic blocking agents, right
      ventricular function was depressed post-operatively in the recovery room. The
      importance of preoperative preparation with alpha adrenergic blocking agents was
      confirmed by the reductions in RVEF and RVEDVI (right ventricular end-diastolic
      volume index) after resection of the tumor. Not only left heart monitoring but
      also right heart monitoring with RVEF and RVEDVI are recommended for the proper
      management of a patient with pheochromocytoma.

PMID- 1433841
TI  - [Simulation in anesthesia].
AB  - Simulation in anesthesia is reviewed. Its aim includes education/training,
      analysis of phenomena, explanation or interpretation of phenomena and instrument
      checks. It deals with pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of inhalational and
      intravenous agents, respiration and circulation, action and behavior of
      anesthesiologists and income analysis. Simulations are accomplished mainly by
      using computers, yet few use physical models or a physical model combined with
      computers. For writing this review, CD-ROM's of Medline data were used. Problems
      in searching literatures through this route are discussed. Finally, the problem
      of the distribution of softwares is also discussed.

PMID- 1433842
TI  - [The epidemiology and clinical features of anaphylactic and anaphylactoid
      reactions in the perioperative period in Japan].
AB  - In an attempt to review the Japanese epidemiology of the anaphylactic and/or
      anaphylactoid reactions in the perioperative period, we investigated 105 cases
      with clinical features of anaphylactic and/or anaphylactoid reaction, which are
      reported in the Japanese anesthesiology-related journals from 1952 to 1990.
      Eighty-nine percent of the cases were reported during the last decade. There were
      66 males and 34 females. The majority of the patients were below 60 years of age,
      and most of the patients were in their teens and fifties. Ninety percent of the
      patients had no past history of drug-induced allergy nor tendencies of atopy.
      Ninety-four percent of the patients recovered completely without any sequelae,
      and 0.95 percent of them recovered with serious complications. Deaths occurred in
      4.67% of the patients. Most frequent clinical signs were cardiovascular (91.4%)
      and cutaneous (84.8%) manifestations. Respiratory, signs appeared in 41% of the
      patients. Patients are frequently unconscious and covered with drapes, and early
      signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis can be masked. In 25% of the patients
      cardiovascular collapse, including cardiac arrest and undetected blood pressure,
      appeared as the first noticeable sign. Causative drugs were confirmed
      immunologically in 5.7% of the patients. In other cases, causative drugs were
      presumed based on clinical course. Causative drugs and presumed causative drugs
      were varied, including blood and blood products (24 cases), intravenous
      anesthetics (19 cases), local anesthetics (15 cases), and muscle relaxants (9
      cases), which were used generally in the perioperative period.

PMID- 1433843
TI  - [Influence of nicardipine on the renin-angiotensin system ina hypertensive crisis
      during operation in elderly patients].
AB  - We studied the influence of nicardipine on renin-angiotensin (RA) system in
      twelve elderly patients, because the suppression of RA system, the decrease in
      reactivity of its feedback mechanism, and a high probability of arteriosclerosis
      and hypertension are well recognized in elderly patients. In hypertensive crisis
      during operation, intravenous bolus injection of nicardipine was done promptly by
      anesthesiologists in charge. Plasma renin activity (PRA), angiotensin I (A I),
      and angiotensin II (A II) were measured with RIA methods before administration of
      nicardipine and after hemodynamics were stabilized. Changes of systemic arterial
      pressure and heart rate were simultaneously recorded. Concentrations of PRA, A I,
      and A II were not significantly elevated, whereas systemic and diastolic blood
      pressures decreased significantly at 5 min, 15 min, 30 min and 60 min after
      administration of nicardipine. Heart rate was unchanged. But in a few cases there
      was an increase in PRA and A I. Average total dose of nicardipine was 26.8
      micrograms.kg-1 and average fall of blood pressure was 23.9%. In conclusion, we
      can use intravenous nicardipine safely and stabilize hemodynamics easily without
      activation of RA system and rebounding of its feedback mechanism.

PMID- 1433845
TI  - [Effect of isoflurane, enflurane and halothane on hemodynamics during the
      induction of anesthesia].
AB  - The effects of isoflurane(I), halothane(H) and enflurane(E) on hemodynamics of 36
      patients (12, 11 and 13, respectively) were studied during the inhalation of 1.5
      MAC of each anesthetics before the surgery. Mean arterial pressure(MAP), heart
      rate(HR), cardiac index(CI), systemic vascular resistance index(SVRI), and stroke
      volume index (SVI) were measured noninvasively using the automatic blood pressure
      manometer and the ultrasonic Doppler method (Accucom). MAP decreased with I, E
      and H, but a larger decrement was observed with E than with H. CI and SVI with H
      were less than with E. SVRI decreased with I and E but a significant difference
      was observed between E and H. Each value with I was between those with H and E.
      These results indicate that isoflurane causes the depression of blood pressure
      mostly by its effect to decrease afterload during the induction of anesthesia,
      although its depressing effect is less than that of enflurane.

PMID- 1433844
TI  - [Interaction of nicardipine and inhalational anesthetics--comparison between
      enflurane and isoflurane].
AB  - The effects of nicardipine 1 mg bolus injection under enflurane anesthesia were
      compared with those under isoflurane anesthesia. Twelve neurosurgical patients
      were divided into 2 groups, enflurane group (n = 6) and isoflurane group (n = 6).
      In all patients anesthesia was induced with midazolam, thiamylal, fentanyl and
      vecuronium. Anesthesia was maintained with fentanyl, nitrous oxide, pancuronium
      plus enflurane (enflurane group) or plus isoflurane (isoflurane group). After
      incision of dura mater, nicardipine 1 mg was given through forearm venous line.
      For about 30 minutes before and after nicardipine injection, concentration of
      inhalational anesthetics was kept constant and no drugs were given. Blood
      pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), rate pressure product (RPP), and serum
      concentrations of catecholamine and nicardipine were monitored for 30 minutes
      after nicardipine injection. In isoflurane group, BP decreased more and longer,
      and increases of HR and serum concentration of catecholamine continued longer
      compared with enflurane group. Elimination half life of nicardipine was shorter,
      area under the curve (AUC) was smaller and clearance of nicardipine was larger in
      isoflurane group than in enflurane group. It was concluded that isoflurane
      increased the effects of nicardipine, which were BP depression and reflex
      sympathetic stimulation, than enflurane and that metabolism and elimination of
      nicardipine were accelerated more by isoflurane than by enflurane.

PMID- 1433846
TI  - [A study of cerebral circulation following cervical sympathetic ganglion block].
AB  - Cerebral circulation following cervical epidural block or stellate ganglion block
      at the transverse process of the 6th cervical vertebra (C6-SGB) was evaluated by
      single photon emission computed tomography of inhaled Xenon-133. Cerebral blood
      flow before and 15 min after both blocks was measured in eight patients after
      cervical epidural block and ten patients after C6-SGB. Cerebral blood flow
      decreased slightly following cervical epidural block, but it was not a
      statistically significant difference. Cerebral blood flow following C6-SGB could
      be separated into two groups; in one it increased and in the other it decreased
      slightly. In conclusion, cerebral circulation is not influenced by cervical
      epidural block, but it is probably affected by C6-SGB. The manner in which C6-SGB
      increases cerebral blood flow seems that local anesthetics reached the superior
      cervical ganglion and block it. C6-SGB without superior cervical ganglion block
      does not influence cerebral circulation, and it only dilates extracranial
      vessels.

PMID- 1433847
TI  - [Pulmonary reaction after protamine reversal of heparin in goats and rabbits].
AB  - Protamine reversal of heparin is often associated with severe hemodynamic side
      effects, including pulmonary hypertension in cardiovascular surgery. However, the
      precise mechanism of this transient pulmonary hypertension is not clear.
      Recently, it was reported that pulmonary intravascular macrophages (PIM) react
      avidly with and phagocytize various foreign particles (liposome, latex, red
      cells). Sheep, goat and pig have a large population of PIM, but rabbit, rat and
      human have few. To investigate whether the pulmonary reaction after protamine
      reversal is related to PIM, we compared the pulmonary reaction after protamine
      reversal between goats and rabbits. We also studied it in patients for cardiac
      surgery. Protamine sulphate (2 mg.kg-1) was injected in 2.5 min into femoral
      artery at five min after heparin sodium (200 IU.kg-1) injection in goats and
      rabbits. Mean pulmonary arterial and peak airway pressures increased
      significantly after protamine reversal in goat. On the other hand, in rabbit and
      human, mean pulmonary arterial and peak airway pressures showed no significant
      changes. Goat was far more sensitive to protamine reversal than rabbit and human.
      We conclude that PIM may be the main cause of the pulmonary reaction after
      protamine reversal.

PMID- 1433848
TI  - [Effect of hypotensive anesthesia on tissue oxygen tension of the heart, kidney
      and liver].
AB  - The effects of hypotensive anesthesia by prostaglandin E1 (PGE1: 8 dogs) or
      trimetaphan (TMP: 8 dogs) on tissue oxygenation were studied in 16 mongrel dogs
      anesthetized with pentobarbital. Mean blood pressure (MBP), heart rate (HR),
      cardiac output (CO), blood gases (BG), the blood flow and tissue oxygen tension
      of the heart, the kidney and the liver were measured. The blood flow and oxygen
      tension were measured by electromagnetic flowmeters and by polarographic oxygen
      electrodes respectively. PGE1 or TMP was injected intravenously to decrease MBP
      by 30%. MBP, CO, HR and BG of PGE1 were not significantly different with those of
      TMP. Coronary blood flow decreased for 12% with PGE1 and for 33% with TMP. Though
      blood flows of the renal and the hepatic arteries were well maintained with PGE1,
      they decreased for 36% and 34% respectively with TMP. Oxygen tensions of the
      myocardium (both outer and inner layers) and the liver were well maintained with
      PGE1. But with TMP, oxygen tension decreased for 23% in outer layer, for 16% in
      inner layer and for 31% in the liver. Oxygen tension of the kidney remained
      unchanged with PGE1 and TMP. The results suggest that PGE1 is more useful for the
      maintenance of the tissue oxygenation than TMP during hypotensive anesthesia.

PMID- 1433849
TI  - [A relationship between plasma ANP concentration and hemodynamics during PEEP-
      evaluation by transesophageal ECHO cardiography].
AB  - This study was undertaken to find which cardiac function indices as judged by
      transesophageal ECHO cardiography (TEE) would accurately predict the plasma ANP
      levels during PEEP. Fourteen patients who underwent orthopedic surgery were the
      subjects of the study. PEEP 10 cmH2O or 15 cmH2O was added with a PEEP valve
      during mechanical ventilation under general anesthesia. The cardiac function
      indices were measured using a 5 MHz TEE probe and plasma ANP levels were
      evaluated by radioimmunoassay. There were significant reductions in the left
      atrial diameter, cardiac output and pulmonary venous flow during PEEP, while A/R
      and CVP were significantly increased. The plasma ANP concentration decreased
      significantly from 39.2 +/- 4.8 pg.ml-1 at pre PEEP period to 26.8 +/- 3.1 pg.ml
      1 at PEEP 15 cmH2O (mean +/- SE, P less than 0.05). However, we could not find
      any significant correlation between the cardiac function indices and ANP levels.
      The secretion of ANP from the heart is regulated mainly by stretch tension of the
      atrium. PEEP increases the pericardial pressure. Therefore, it seems to be
      difficult to predict the stretch tension of the atrium using TEE under PEEP.

PMID- 1433850
TI  - [A study of postoperative respiratory function].
AB  - The purpose of this study is to investigate the causes of postoperative
      respiratory failure from the point of view of respiratory movement and
      respiratory function, using a respigraph. Thirty patients who had laparotomy,
      thoracotomy or both were studied. A-aDo2 increased after operation. The values
      recovered slowly in the order of thoracotomy, laparotomy, was thoraco-laparotomy
      group. Percent vital capacity (% VC), one second timed force expiratory volume
      (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were suppressed immediately after
      operations and increased slowly, but showed still lower values even on the 7th
      day. VT, V min, f, TI/TT, VT/TI and PaCO2 were almost at the same levels among
      the three groups. Percent rib cage (% of RC) increased and remained high on the
      7th day after laparotomy and thoraco-laparotomy, but showed no remarkable changes
      after thoracotomy. Between A-aDo2 and % RC in laparotomy group, there was a good
      correlation. Not only FRC but also the change of % RC seemed to have caused
      postoperative hypoxemia. The movement of the abdomen affected respiratory
      dysfunction more than the movement of the thorax after thoracic and abdominal
      surgery.

PMID- 1433851
TI  - [Intrabiliary pressure changes produced by inhalational anesthetics in dogs].
AB  - The common bile duct pressure was studied in dogs under inhalation of 1.0 MAC and
      2.0 MAC of halothane, enflurane, isoflurane or sevoflurane. A double lumen
      catheter was inserted into the common bile duct through the cholecystic duct for
      the measurement of intraductal pressure in the choledochoduodenal junction. The
      intra-bile-ductal pressure (IBP) was measured with constant rate infusion methods
      every 10 minutes for one hour. After obtaining control IBP measurements, 44 dogs
      received randomly either 1.0 MAC (n = 6 in each group) or 2.0 MAC (n = 5 in each
      group) of each four inhalational anesthetics, through a non-rebreathing system.
      The decreases in IBP produced by 1.0 MAC concentrations of four inhalation
      anesthetics were not statistically significant although there was a decline from
      control measurements obtained for each group. The elevations of IBP following 2.0
      MAC halothane, isoflurane or sevoflurane were significantly depressed and were
      38.3 +/- 21.2, 67.5 +/- 23.8, 63.7 +/- 23.7 (%, mean +/- SD) of the control
      levels, respectively. However, 2.0 MAC enflurane produced no significant decrease
      in IBP.

PMID- 1433852
TI  - [Serum concentrations of ranitidine after intravenous administration in geriatric
      patients under general anesthesia].
AB  - The elimination rate of serum ranitidine was investigated in healthy geriatric
      patients under general anesthesia. The patients (50-90 y.o., ASA classification 1
      and 2) were divided into Group 1 (age greater than or equal to 70, n = 9) and
      Group 2 (50 less than age less than 65, n = 6). Ranitidine (1 mg.kg-1) was
      administered intravenously after the induction of anesthesia, and the serum
      concentration was measured at 60 min and 120 min. The biological half life of
      serum ranitidine in Group 1 was 98.9 +/- 13.8 (M +/- SD) min, which was not
      significantly different from that of Group 2. The half life correlated with
      intraoperative urine volume (r = 0.62), but not with intraoperative bleeding or
      age. The duration of the above effective ranitidine concentration was calculated
      as about 4 and half hours after its i.v. injection. This indicates that
      additional administration is necessary for longer operations.

PMID- 1433853
TI  - [A comparison of the effects of omeprazole with those of ranitidine on
      intragastric pH and volume in patients for elective surgeries].
AB  - This study compared the effect of omeprazole with those of ranitidine on
      intragastric secretion during perioperative period. Thirty-one patients were
      randomly allocated to three groups. Each group received either omeprazole,
      ranitidine orally or one on the night before surgery. Intragastric pH and volume
      were measured after induction of anesthesia. Omeprazole group and ranitidine
      group had a higher mean pH than control group (P less than 0.01). None of the
      omeprazole group had an aspirate of pH lower than 2.5. One patient (10%) in the
      ranitidine group and five patients (50%) in the control group and five patients
      (50%) in the control group had aspirates of pH lower than 2.5. Mean gastric
      volume was not significantly different among these groups. A single dose of
      omeprazole 20 mg significantly decreased the number of patients at risk of
      aspiration pneumonitis.

PMID- 1433854
TI  - [Use of omeprazole for premedication].
AB  - Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor was used for premedication for general
      anesthesia, and its effects on gastric secretion and serum gastrin level were
      investigated in 60 patients. The patients were divided into the following 4
      groups and each group received one of the following medications; (I) a tablet of
      omeprazole 20 mg before sleep at the night before the surgery, (II) a tablet 2
      hours before the induction of anesthesia, (III) one on the night before and
      another tablet 2 hours before the induction, or (0) no tablet. In the patients
      who received any dose of the drug, the volume of gastric juice at the beginning
      of the surgery was significantly less than that in those who received no drug (P
      less than 0.05). Gastric pH showed a tendency to increase depending on the dose
      of omeprazole (0 less than I less than II less than III), but it was not
      significant. No significant change in serum gastrin level was observed in this
      study. A 20 mg omeprazole tablet may not be adequate as the premedication for
      general anesthesia.

PMID- 1433855
TI  - [Anesthetic management of a patient with right ventricular myxoma].
AB  - Right ventricular myxoma in a 79 year old male, whose pulmonary trunk was
      obstructed by the myxoma, was reported. Myxoma of the heart is rare, and
      especially right ventricular myxoma is rare. Myxomas of the heart have been
      reported by thirty-seven authors, but right ventricular myxoma has been reported
      by only one author. Anesthesia for the removal of right ventricular myxoma must
      be carried out carefully, because some critical troubles may happen during
      anesthesia for the resection of the right ventricular myxoma. Particularly,
      occlusion of the pulmonary artery is the most dangerous complication.

PMID- 1433856
TI  - [Perioperative management of a patient with transient polyuria].
AB  - Perioperative and anesthetic management of a patient with a diabetes insipidus is
      reported. A 33 year old man was followed by physical therapy after spinal cord
      injury. At that time polyuria (4300-8600 ml.day-1) and polydipsia developed. His
      urine output was controlled by DDAVP (desmopressin) preoperatively. As the result
      of water restriction test and Carter-Robbins test the diagnosis of complete
      central diabetes insipidus was doubted preoperatively. We investigated the
      changes of his perioperative body fluids and endocrine responses. The following
      conclusions are made: 1) The diagnosis of this case is not renal and true
      diabetes insipidus, but is probably partial or transient diabetes insipidus. 2)
      These results indicate that endocrine examinations related to AVP secretion are
      essential.

PMID- 1433857
TI  - [Pneumothorax during laparoscopy].
AB  - A 28-year-old female was scheduled for laparoscopy under general anesthesia. Her
      history and physical examination were unremarkable. Trachea was intubated
      uneventfully following intravenous administration of thiopental 200 mg and
      vecuronium 8 mg. Anesthesia was maintained with 40% O2, 60% N2O and sevoflurane.
      Shortly after pneumoperitoneum was introduced, airway resistance increased and
      breathing sounds were hardly audible over the right side of the chest. A chest
      radiograph showed the right pneumothorax. Immediately after evacuating the
      peritoneal gas, the chest radiograph and a blood gas analysis showed that the
      pneumothorax had improved. Pneumothorax can occur subsequently to
      pneumoperitoneum due to passage of gas through weak points or defects in the
      diaphragm. Breathing sound should be monitored carefully during the laparoscopic
      surgery. Anesthetic gas analyzer and capnometer are considered to be useful to
      confirm the cause of the pneumothorax.

PMID- 1433858
TI  - [Anaphylactoid reactions to contrast media which occurred during cholecystectomy
      and subsequent disseminated intravascular coagulation--a case report].
AB  - A 67-year-old woman without any history of allergic episode developed severe
      hypotension (40 mmHg) without skin rash one minute after the administration of
      amidotrizoic acid for intraoperative cholangiography during thoracic epidural and
      light general anesthesia. Although ephedrine, methoxamine, dopamine and
      norepinephrine were administered, severe hypotension persisted for three hours
      and epinephrine was only effective. Marked elevations of serum levels of
      histamine, leukotriene D4 and leukotriene E4 were noted after the episode,
      suggesting the occurrence of the anaphylactoid reaction to amidotrizoic acid and
      the activation of the immunological complement system. After the recovery from
      the anaphylactoid reaction, the patient developed disseminated intravascular
      coagulation (DIC) and severe bleeding around the wound for which reoperation was
      needed. It is necessary to consider some prophylactic treatments against DIC when
      severe anaphylactoid reaction occurred.

PMID- 1433859
TI  - [Cardiac herniation after right pneumonectomy].
AB  - Cardiac herniation is a rare, but highly lethal complication of intrapericardial
      pneumonectomy for progressive carcinoma of lung, and occurs in early
      postoperative period. Our patient with this complication presented sudden onset
      of severe hypotension and cyanosis after several ventricular premature beats. We
      suspected cardiac herniation as we observed dilatation of cervical veins and
      rightward deviation of heart sound. The patient was immediately positioned on his
      left side and systemic blood pressure increased soon. After verification of the
      incident by chest X-ray film, emergency operation was performed. Fortunately,
      vital signs were stable during and after reoperation and the patient could
      survive.

PMID- 1433860
TI  - [Herpes zoster of the right cervical region associated with right facial nerve
      palsy and hoarseness].
AB  - A 69-year-old man was suffering from herpes zoster on his 2nd and 3rd right
      cervical spinal segments and 3rd branch of the trigeminal nerve. He came to our
      hospital on his 10th illness day and was treated with continuous cervical
      epidural block, intravenous infusion of acyclovir for five days, and oral
      paramethasone and Vitamin B12. Oh his 18th illness day, right facial nerve palsy
      and hoarseness became clear. His cerebrospinal fluid showed no abnormality except
      cell count 23 x 3 mm-2. No clear paralysis of vocal cords was detected on
      laryngoscopy. He was also treated with right stellate ganglion block starting on
      his 21st illness day. His pain and facial nerve palsy recovered completely by his
      68th illness day, but hoarseness continued about two months. The hoarseness might
      be a result of spread of the disease 1) by cerebrospinal fluid, 2) by contact
      with the 3rd cervical nerve and vagal nerve via accessory nerve, and 3) direct
      effect on the vocal cords and the muscles controlling them. Herpes zoster on the
      head and neck region shows various complications and we should follow its course
      cautiously.

PMID- 1433861
TI  - [Transient second-degree A-V block during an epidural procedure].
AB  - A 26 year old pregnant female had a left ovarian tumor and was scheduled to have
      an operation. No specific complication was noted preoperatively except pregnancy
      of 16 weeks and one day. Spinal anesthesia for the operation and continuous
      epidural catheter placement for postoperative pain relief were planned. During
      the epidural procedure on L2-3 under left lateral recumbent position, patient
      developed a bradycardia when the tip of Tuohy needle touched the 3rd lumbar bone
      (lamina arcus vertebrae). This bradycardia occurred three times and the last
      episode was recorded on the ECG (Fig 2). Blood pressure at this period was 82/44
      mmHg, but patient did not complain any discomfort. The recorded ECG showed II
      degree A-V block (Wenkebach type). We considered this A-V block is probably due
      to sharp pain from touching of Tuohy needle on the lamina arcus vertebrae. This
      kind of periosteal pain is sometime associated with vagal stimulation and it
      could produce II degree A-V block. During a spinal or epidural procedure, ECG
      should be monitored and we have to pay attention to these kinds of arrhythmia to
      prevent more profound hemodynamic changes.

PMID- 1433862
TI  - [Pulmonary embolism was suspected during hip surgery under spinal anesthesia: a
      case report].
AB  - Most of the lower leg surgeries are done under spinal anesthesia. This 53 year
      old male had undergone a surgery for his left hip fracture previously and was
      scheduled for the removal of the screw. Spinal anesthesia was administered and
      sensory block was obtained up to T8. After the removal of the screw, he coughed
      weakly for several times. Suddenly ECG monitor showed severe bradycardia and
      hypotension was observed. He complained of chest pain, dyspnoea and went into
      shock. Immediately after giving atropine 0.5 mg iv, ephedrine 8 mg x 2 was
      necessary to raise his heart rate. About 3 minutes later he recovered from his
      shock state. ECG changes were transient and the bradyarrhythmia during his shock
      turned out to be AV dissociation. Arterial blood gas analysis showed decreased
      PaO2 and increased PaCo2. We suspected lung embolism. However, postoperative
      chest X-ray and pulmonary perfusion scans were within normal limits.

PMID- 1433863
TI  - [Three cases of irritable bowel syndrome treated with stellate ganglion block].
AB  - We examined three patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who did not
      respond to drug therapy and who were treated by stellate ganglion block (SGB)
      alone. The clinical symptoms improved by the SGB in all these three patients.
      There was no recurrence. The pathophysiological mechanism of this disease and the
      therapeutic efficacy of SGB should be elucidated with respect to the autonomic
      nervous, endocrine and immune systems. These results suggest that SGB therapy is
      effective for IBS, a typical psychosomatic disease.

PMID- 1433864
TI  - [Evaluation of efficacy of a disposable monitor for surface temperature
      (PROCHECKER) compared with thermography].
AB  - We evaluated efficacy of a disposable monitor for surface temperature
      (PROCHECKER) compared with thermography. Changes in surface temperature after
      epidural block with mepivacaine 1% were measured using both PROCHECKER and
      thermography. Measured areas were regions of bilateral Th 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and
      along the midmammary line. The surface temperatures on all areas were measured
      before, 15 min after and 30 min after the epidural block. Discrepancies of the
      temperatures measured by the two methods were found in 16.7% of all measured
      areas, and discrepancies in changes in the temperature were found in 6.7%. In
      conclusion, a disposable monitor for surface temperature (PROCHECKER) is
      effective and sensitive to measure changes in the temperature.

PMID- 1433865
TI  - [Hypoventilation due to disconnection of the vaporizer and negative-pressure leak
      test to find disconnection].
AB  - Most of Ohmeda anesthesia machines have a outlet check valve located in the low
      pressure circuit, and this influences the type of leak test greatly. We report a
      case of hypoventilation due to a gas leakage from the junction of two vaporizers,
      Fluotec 3 and Enfluratec of Ohio 30/70. This gas leakage was not discovered
      preoperatively by performing traditional leak test of squeezing the bag filled
      with oxygen. Following intubation of the trachea the patient was paralyzed and
      mechanically ventilated. Her vital signs were stable and operation was started.
      Soon thereafter, she became hypertensive in spite of increases in concentration
      of enflurane and supplemental doses of fentanyl and diltiazem. ETCO2 showed 7.4%
      and spontaneous respiration started. We checked anesthesia machine and found a
      gas leakage at the junction of two vaporizers. Anesthesia machine was exchanged.
      The remainder of the procedure was uneventful and the patient showed a normal
      recovery. The outlet check valve closes when back-pressure is exerted on it, and
      a vulnerable area including flow tubes and vaporizers is not tested by the
      traditional positive-pressure leak test squeezing bag. Ohmeda recommends the use
      of a negative pressure leak test with suction bulb device. We propose
      manufacturers to place a cation on anesthesia machine such as -- "Negative
      pressure leak test is inevitable because of presence of outlet check valve."

PMID- 1433866
TI  - [Translation of Tabulae Anatomicae in the 19th century and international
      competition].

PMID- 1433867
TI  - [Suppressive effect of sevoflurane on somato-sympathetic reflexes in cats].
AB  - Effects of sevoflurane on the reflex activity of the sympathetic nervous system
      in cats were investigated by observing alteration of the amplitudes of somato
      sympathetic medullary reflex potentials. These reflex potentials consist of two
      components, A- and C-reflex potentials, which are induced from the lumbar
      sympathetic trunk by electric stimulation of the ipsilateral femoral nerve. It is
      known that A- or C-reflex potential is induced by stimulating peripheral A-fiber
      group or C fiber group, respectively. Sevoflurane 1, 2 and 3% in oxygen for 30
      minutes for each concentration by incremental fashion, were inhalated. Neither A
      nor C reflex potentials were suppressed by 1 and 2% sevoflurane but 3%
      sevoflurane caused a significant suppression of both reflex potentials in brain
      intact cats. Concentration-dependent suppression of C-reflex potentials and a
      tendency of concentration-dependent suppression of A-reflex potentials were
      observed in decerebrate cats. Mean arterial blood pressure showed a concentration
      dependent decrease in both brain intact and decerebrate groups. These results
      indicate that sevoflurane with concentrations higher than 1 MAC (2.5% for cats)
      significantly suppresses somato-sympathetic reflex activities. The results
      suggest, however, that this agent with concentrations lower than 1 MAC suppresses
      the descending inhibitory system from supra-medullary centers so that the
      integrated sympathetic outflow from the medulla oblongata are not suppressed
      significantly. The results also suggest that direct depressive effect on the
      cardiovascular system by sevoflurane rather than through suppressive effect on
      sympathetic reflexes may play a major role in hypotension during inhalation of
      concentrations below 1 MAC.

PMID- 1433868
TI  - [Effect of prostaglandin E1 on peripheral body temperature in pediatric patients
      after open heart surgery].
AB  - The effect of prostaglandin E1 was studied to examine if it works favorably for
      peripheral circulation in pediatric patients after cardiac surgery. Dose of 0.1
      mcg.kg-1.min-1 increased temperature of dorsal pedis significantly. Difference of
      temperature of dorsalis pedis and that of rectum was significantly smaller than
      that in control group. A significant increase in heart rate and a decrease in
      systolic arterial pressure produced no clinical side effects. We conclude that
      prostaglandin E1 is a useful and safe vasodilator for circulatory management of
      pediatric patients after cardiac surgery.

PMID- 1433869
TI  - [The effects of prostaglandin E1 on renal function].
AB  - The effects of prostaglandin E1 on renal function were studied in surgical
      patients under general anesthesia. The patients were over 20 years old, and had
      ischemic heart disease, hypertension and/or liver dysfunction. In 67 patients
      (PGE1 group), prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) was in fused at a rate of 0.02 mcg.kg-1.min
      1. In 55 patients (control group), only lactated Ringer solution was infused at a
      rate of 10 ml.kg-1.h-1. Urine output and fractional sodium excretion in PGE1
      group were significantly higher than those in control group. There were no
      significant differences in creatinine clearance and free water clearance between
      the two groups. The increase in urine output in PGE1 group could be attributed to
      the decrease in the water reabsorption in the proximal renal tubule.

PMID- 1433870
TI  - [Effects of deliberate hypotension on the ischemic heart during isoflurane
      anesthesia--a comparison of prostaglandin E1 and sodium nitroprusside].
AB  - The effects of hypotension induced by prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) or sodium
      nitroprusside (SNP) on regional myocardial function and metabolism were studied
      in a canine heart with coronary artery stenosis. Ultrasonic dimension technique
      was used to assess left ventricular performance. Fourteen open-chest mongrel dogs
      were anesthetized with isoflurane and mean aortic pressure was maintained at
      approximately 80 mmHg. The left circumflex coronary artery blood flow was reduced
      by 40% using a screw flow regulator without affecting global and regional
      myocardial function. The severity of stenosis was considered almost critical.
      PGE1 (n = 7) or SNP (n = 7) was administered to reduce mean aortic pressure to 50
      mmHg. There were no significant differences between PGE1 and SNP regarding their
      effect on systemic hemodynamics. Nevertheless SNP decreased percent segment
      shortening in the stenosed area from the pre-hypotension value more significantly
      than PGE1 (55.0 +/- 10.8% versus 24.2 +/- 7.3%). This suggests that regional
      myocardial ischemia is more deteriorated during SNP-induced hypotension. It seems
      that PGE1-induced hypotension is safer when it is applied to patients with
      coronary artery disease.

PMID- 1433871
TI  - [Effects of high-dose fentanyl anesthesia on auditory brain stem responses].
AB  - It was previously reported that high-dose (50 micrograms.kg-1) fentanyl
      anesthesia had no effect on auditory brainstem response (ABR). However, the
      effect of the dose of 100 micrograms.kg-1 of fentanyl is unknown. We examined the
      effects of the dose of 50 micrograms.kg-1 and 100 micrograms.kg-1 of fentanyl on
      ABRs in 10 patients scheduled for cardiovascular surgery. No significant change
      was observed immediately after infusion of 50 micrograms.kg-1 of fentanyl, but
      peak latencies of waves I, III and V were significantly prolonged and the
      amplitude of wave V was significantly decreased immediately after infusion of 100
      micrograms.kg-1 of fentanyl. The interpeak latencies of I-III and I-V were not
      affected. Therefore, prolongations of latencies of waves III and V were due to
      the change of latency of wave I. These results demonstrate that high-dose (100
      micrograms.kg-1) fentanyl anesthesia depresses the peripheral auditory perception
      but dose not depress the central conduction.

PMID- 1433872
TI  - [The anesthetic effects of steroids and their actions on the properties of model
      membrane].
AB  - The action of anesthetic steroid on the GABAA receptor in the postsynaptic
      membrane has been suggested as a mechanism of steroid anesthesia. Alphaxalone,
      the main component of althesin, is a strong anesthetic, whereas its analogue,
      delta 16-alphaxalone is not. The only structural difference between the two is a
      presence of the double bond in the D ring of delta 16-alphaxalone. The effects of
      these steroids on the model membrane structure and the hydrogen bonding between
      lipid membrane and water were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
      and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and compared with their
      anesthetic potencies in goldfish. Alphaxalone decreased the phase-transition
      temperature from the solid-gel to the liquid-crystal state of DPPC liposome. FTIR
      showed that alphaxalone molecules released the bound water molecules in the lipid
      water interface of D2O-in-CCl4 reversed micelles. delta 16-alphaxalone in high
      concentration was also an anesthetic in goldfish. It also showed a weak effect on
      the phase-transition temperature and the hydrogen bond breaking activity. These
      changes in the membrane properties correlated to the anesthetic potency. These
      results suggest that anesthetic potency of steroids is related to their action in
      destabilizing the structures of the water molecules in the macromolecule-water
      interface and the macromolecules.

PMID- 1433873
TI  - [The effect of isoflurane or sevoflurane on circulating blood volume--a study
      under controlled ventilation].
AB  - Changes of circulating blood volume during isoflurane or sevoflurane anesthesia
      were investigated by the dual indicator dilution method in eighteen mongrel dogs.
      The animals were randomly divided into three groups; control (C) group n = 6,
      isoflurane (I) group n = 6, and sevoflurane (S) group n = 6. The values of
      circulating blood volume (ml.kg-1) at 0, 0.5 and 1.0 MAC period were 90.1 +/-
      18.7----87.5 +/- 17.2----94.1 +/- 23.6 in the I group and 91.6 +/- 12.5----96.5
      +/- 15.0----94.1 +/- 8.5 in the S group, respectively. No significant changes
      were found in both groups concerning circulating blood volume, red cell volume,
      and plasma volume, but circulating blood volume and plasma volume tended to
      increase slightly in both groups at 0.5 and 1.0 MAC period compared with 0 MAC
      period. Mean arterial pressure decreased 68% of the initial value in the I group
      at the 1.0 and 78% stages in the S group. Cardiac index tended to increase from
      2.6 +/- 0.4 l.min-1.m2 to 3.2 +/- 0.9 in the I group at the stage 1.0 but to
      decrease from 5.2 +/- 1.4 l.min-1.m2 to 4.1 +/- 0.9 in the S group. It was
      suggested that the increase of venous pressure resulted in the significant
      decrease of plasma volume. Increase of intrathoracic pressure during positive
      pressure ventilation might partially influence the blood volume change. Our data
      suggest that isoflurane and sevoflurane do not greatly affect the circulating
      blood volume under control ventilation.

PMID- 1433874
TI  - [Effects of sevoflurane on intracranial pressure and formation and absorption of
      cerebrospinal fluid in cats].
AB  - The effects of sevoflurane on intracranial pressure (ICP) and the formation and
      absorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were examined in cats. Changes in ICP and
      superior sagittal sinus pressure (SSSP) were studied for 180 minutes during
      anesthesia with 1MAC sevoflurane (2.6%, inspired) and 50% N2O in O2. ICP
      increased significantly immediately after the start of anesthesia. The level
      remained for the subsequent 120 minutes, but increased significantly again 140
      minutes after the start of anesthesia. There was no change in SSSP. The rate of
      CSF formation (Vf) was examined using the open ventriculocisternal perfusion
      method during anesthesia for 180 minutes with 1MAC sevoflurane or 1MAC enflurane
      (2.4%, inspired) and 50% N2O in O2. During sevoflurane administration, Vf
      decreased significantly 30 minutes after the start of anesthesia. In contrast,
      during enflurane administration, Vf increased significantly 10 minutes after the
      start of anesthesia. Finally, Vf and the rate of CSF absorption (Va) were
      measured under 1MAC sevoflurane or 1MAC enflurane and 50% N2O in O2 anesthesia,
      or under 50% N2O in O2 anesthesia. They were compared with ICP level. Vf
      decreased significantly when ICP level increased in all groups. The increase in
      Va when ICP level increased, was greater in the N2O group than in those
      anesthetized with sevoflurane or enflurane. The delayed increase of ICP under
      sevoflurane may have resulted in part from the cranial accumulation of CSF due to
      increased resistance to CSF absorption.

PMID- 1433875
TI  - [Effects of sevoflurane on regional myocardial oxygen balance in the canine heart
      with coronary artery stenosis].
AB  - The effects of increasing inspired sevoflurane (Sev) concentrations (0.5, 1.0,
      1.5, 2.0 MAC) on regional myocardial oxygen balance and metabolism were studied
      in 10 open-chest dogs with coronary artery stenosis. Regional myocardial oxygen
      balance was assessed by continuous recording of subendocardial and subepicardial
      oxygen tensions. After the basal measurement, the left circumflex coronary artery
      blood flow (CBFLCX) was reduced by 20% with a screw flow regulator. The
      institution of stenosis caused a slight but significant decline in subendocardial
      oxygen tension. Otherwise, there were no significant differences between basal
      values and those after the stenosis. During the subsequent inhalation of Sev at
      0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 MAC, endocardial oxygen tension was maintained at the level of
      control value. Sev 2.0 MAC caused a severe reduction in systemic arterial
      pressure and resulted in a marked and significant decline of endocardial oxygen
      tension compared with control value. On the other hand, subepicardial oxygen
      tension remained unchanged during each Sev inhalation. The ratio of
      epicardial/endocardial oxygen tension did not show a significant decline with
      increasing Sev concentration. It seems that Sev may not possess sufficient
      potency to cause myocardial ischemia by redistribution of coronary blood flow.

PMID- 1433876
TI  - [The effects of preanesthetic oral clonidine upon heart rate response to
      intravenous atropine in patients during general anesthesia].
AB  - In awake subjects the positive chronotropic effect of intravenously administered
      atropine 10 micrograms.kg-1 has been demonstrated to be blunted by preanesthetic
      medication of oral clonidine 5 micrograms.kg-1. The aim of the present study is
      to investigate whether general anesthesia could alter the clonidine-induced
      attenuation of positive chronotropic effect by atropine. Thirty-two patients were
      randomly assigned to one of the two groups; patients of the clonidine group
      received oral clonidine 5 micrograms.kg-1 (n = 12), whereas those of the control
      group received no clonidine. General anesthesia was induced with intravenous
      thiamylal 4-5 mg.kg-1, and was maintained with enflurane and nitrous oxide in
      oxygen after endotracheal intubation. Following the stable circulatory period of
      10 min, hemodynamic measurements were made at 1 min intervals for 10 min after
      atropine 10 micrograms.kg-1 was administered intravenously as a bolus in both
      groups. A significant attenuation in heart rate response to intravenous atropine
      10 micrograms.kg-1 was observed in patients receiving clonidine 5 micrograms.kg
      1, as compared with that in the control group (P less than 0.01); maximal
      increases in heart rate were 15 +/- 8 and 22 +/- 6 beats.min-1 (mean +/- SD) in
      the clonidine and control groups, respectively. It is concluded that clonidine 5
      micrograms.kg-1 blunts the heart rate response to intravenous atropine 10
      micrograms.kg-1 in patients anesthetized with enflurane and nitrous oxide in
      oxygen.

PMID- 1433877
TI  - [Changes in plasma LDH-isozyme in rats during hypoxia and its recovery stage].
AB  - Rats were placed in an air-tight glass dome connected to a spirometer, into which
      nitrogen gas was introduced gradually, to achieve oxygen concentration of about
      10%. The animals gradually exhibited dyspnea, and became apneic after about 30
      min. Most of the rats in this stage died after the sampling. A different group of
      rats were returned to the room air from the apneic stage with hypoxia, and were
      used for the study on the recovery stage. Blood gas analysis revealed severe
      acidosis and hypoxemia during the apneic stage, while PO2, O2 CT, and O2SAT
      increased rapidly and significantly during the recovery stage. pH was unchanged
      between the apneic and recovery stages. During the apneic stage, plasma LDH
      zymogram was similar to that of the liver taken as the control. However, after
      returning from hypoxia, the LDH-isozyme patterns quickly approached that of the
      heart muscle with increasing LDH1 and LDH2. During hypoxia, the changes of
      arterial oxygen content with alteration of blood flow in the organs, brought
      direct effects upon the blood isozyme patterns.

PMID- 1433878
TI  - [Effect of M1 blocker or H2 blocker on gastric secretion during anesthesia and
      surgery].
AB  - Effect of pirenzepine, famotidine or a combination of both agents on gastric
      secretion during anesthesia and surgery was evaluated in 42 surgical patients
      ranged in age from 17 y to 70 y. They underwent orthopedic, ophthalmic, ENT,
      plastic, oral or non-abdominal surgery under either neuroleptanesthesia or
      enflurane anesthesia. They received either pirenzepine 10 mg, famotidine 20 mg or
      the combination of both agents intravenously just before the induction of
      anesthesia. Volume and acidity of gastric juice were measured during 3 hours
      after the administration of these agents. A continued decrease in volume and
      acidity of gastric juice was observed 3 hrs after the administration of the
      agents both in the pirenzepine group and in the famotidine group. Efficacy of the
      combination of pirenzepine and famotidine on gastric secretion tended to be more
      prominent than that of either pirenzepine or famotidine alone.

PMID- 1433879
TI  - [Neuromuscular blocking effect of ORG9426, a new non-depolarizing muscle
      relaxant, and its recovery with various antagonists in vitro].
AB  - We evaluated the neuromuscular blocking effect of ORG9426, a new non-depolarizing
      muscle relaxant, and its recovery by means of washout or by antagonists in vitro,
      using phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm preparations of rats. IC50 and IC90 of ORG9426
      in single twitch were 10.62 +/- 0.58 microM and 15.75 +/- 0.95 microM; and those
      in train of four ratio were 9.04 +/- 0.38 microM and 11.87 +/- 0.42 microM,
      respectively. The potency of ORG9426 in vitro was compared with those of other
      non-depolarizing muscle relaxants. The order of potency among the non
      depolarizing muscle relaxants was the following: d-tubocurarine greater than
      pipecuronium greater than pancuronium greater than vecuronium greater than
      ORG9426. There was no difference between ORG9426 and vecuronium in the recovery
      from block with washout, neostigmine, 4-aminopyridine, 3, 4-diaminopyridine, and
      edrophonium. In conclusion, the potency of ORG9426 is relatively low, and it can
      be easily antagonized by anti-cholinesterases and aminopyridines.

PMID- 1433880
TI  - [Clinical study on total intravenous anesthesia with droperidol, fentanyl and
      ketamine--15. Application for cardiac anesthesia].
AB  - Total intravenous anesthesia with droperidol, fentanyl and ketamine (DFK) was
      administered to 36 cardiac patients who underwent mostly coronary artery bypass
      graft or heart valve replacement. The induction and maintenance of anesthesia
      using this technique were almost satisfactory with little decrease in systolic
      blood pressure (SBP), although six patients among the early 21 patients developed
      hypotension below 90 mmHg (SBP) during the induction, and required vasopressors.
      Half of the patients had hypertensive episode of above 180 mmHg (SBP), from the
      start of operation to onset of cardiopulmonary bypass, which was safely and
      effectively overcome by a small dose of antihypertensive agents. Total
      intravenous anesthesia with DFK was accompanied with much more hypertensive
      episodes compared to anesthesia with moderate dose fentanyl (30 micrograms.kg-1)
      combined with enflurane. However, the incidence of cardiovascular complications
      following anesthesia was not statistically different between the two anesthesia
      groups. In addition, most of the patients with DFK showed a rapid awaking time
      with relatively good postoperative cardiovascular stability. These findings
      suggest that total intravenous anesthesia with DFK is accompanied with minimal
      hemodynamic changes during and after open heart surgery.

PMID- 1433881
TI  - [The effect of preoperative oral administration of ranitidine on pH and volume of
      gastric juice].
AB  - The effect of ranitidine, administrated 2 or 4 hours prior to induction of
      anesthesia, on volume and pH of gastric juice was investigated in patients
      undergoing elective surgery. Three-hundred mg of ranitidine was administrated
      orally in 54 patients 2 hours prior to anesthesia and in 50 patients 4 hours
      prior to anesthesia. The volume and pH of gastric juice were measured immediately
      after induction of anesthesia. In more than 90% of patients of both groups,
      volume of gastric juice was smaller than 25 ml and its pH was more than 2.5.
      Ranitidine 450 mg was administrated orally in 7 patients, and its plasma
      concentration was measured 2, 4 and 6 hours after administration. In one patient,
      volume of gastric juice was larger than 25 ml and its pH was less than 2.5.
      Ranitidine concentration in this patient was below the effective level 2 hours
      after administration and it was above the level after 4 hours. We concluded that
      oral administration of ranitidine 300 mg, 4 hours preoperatively, could be more
      effective to prevent aspiration pneumonitis than when it is given 2 hours
      preoperatively.

PMID- 1433882
TI  - [A case of coronary spasm during the operation for lung cancer].
AB  - We reported a case of coronary spasm during the operation for lung cancer. A 72
      year-old man underwent left upper lobectomy for lung cancer under general
      anesthesia with the aid of thoracic epidural anesthesia. Preoperative
      examinations did not reveal any clinical problems in the past. Hypotension and
      premature ventricular beats were observed for several times during operation due
      to the compression of the heart and left pulmonary artery by the surgeon's hands
      in stopping brisk bleeding. After this event, ST-segment of ECG was elevated
      abruptly. Intravenous administration of nitroglycerin was effective to relieve
      the coronary spasm in this case. Possible triggering factors were mechanical
      injury of the coronary artery due to compression of the heart, vagal stimuli
      under thoracic epidural anesthesia and alpha-stimulating drugs to treat
      hypotension. The importance of preoperative evaluation of coronary lesions,
      perioperative treatments with nitrates and calcium-channel blockers, and
      avoidance of intraoperative triggering factors are emphasized to prevent the
      coronary spasm.

PMID- 1433883
TI  - [Compression of the graft during the corrective surgery for scoliosis in a
      patient who has undergone a Rastelli's operation: a case study].
AB  - A 14 year-old male who had undergone Rastelli's operation for the tetralogy of
      Fallot had general anesthesia for the corrective spinal instrumentation and
      posterior fusion. The patient also suffered from the complication of Klippel-Feil
      syndrome. During the operation, right ventricular pressure gradually increased
      from 34 mmHg to 60 mmHg and systolic blood pressure decreased from 110 mg to 80
      mmHg when the maneuver to correct spinal deformity was done. The hemodynamics
      returned to its former level after the maneuver was resumed. This change was
      presumably attributed to the fact that the external conduit was compressed by the
      sternum and vertebral bodies. In order to prevent this hazardous incidence, it is
      crucial to understand both the three-dimensional configuration of the thoracic
      structure and the influence of spinal correction on it. In the prone positioned
      patients with scoliosis, especially lordoscoliosis, compression or dysfunction of
      the artificial valve might occur and we have to be aware of the possibility of
      the compression during general anesthesia and after corrective surgery.

PMID- 1433884
TI  - [A case of tracheobronchopathia osteoplastica discovered after difficulty in
      intubation].
AB  - A 77-year-old man was scheduled for Love's method to correct lumbar disc
      herniation. He had fracture of maxilla and mandibula during World War II.
      Physical examination and laboratory data revealed no abnormalities. Anesthesia
      was induced with oxygen, nitrous oxide and halothane. Following administration of
      succinylcholine, an attempt was made to insert a tracheal tube (from 8.5mm to
      5.5mm), but the tubes were met with an obstruction. The operation was cancelled
      because tumor-like nodules were seen in the trachea. Diagnosis of
      tracheobronchopathia osteoplastica was made afterwards following biopsy. The
      patient with this disease has a good prognosis. Artificial ventilation can be
      performed safely by choosing an appropriate method for airway maintenance.

PMID- 1433885
TI  - [A case of pulmonary embolism after abdominal surgery].
AB  - A 67-yr-old man who suffered from pulmonary embolism following abdominal surgery
      was reported. The patient received left hemicolectomy and cholecystectomy for
      cancer of descending colon and cholecystolithiasis, respectively. Anesthesia was
      maintained with enflurane 0.6-1.0% and pancuronium combined with epidural
      analgesia. The anesthetic course was uneventful. But after leaving operating room
      the patient showed severe hypoxemia without abnormal shadow on chest X-P and
      other abnormal laboratory values. The cause of hypoxemia was unclear, but on the
      fourth postoperative day pulmonary scintigrams revealed pulmonary embolism. Then
      12000 units.day-1 of heparin infusion was started. After 10 days of anticoagulant
      therapy, the hypoxemia improved and he was discharged on 28th postoperative day.
      Although pulmonary embolism is a rare disorder, we have to take it into
      consideration as one of the causes of postoperative hypoxemia.

PMID- 1433886
TI  - [Two cases of diffuse pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis].
AB  - We cared 2 patients with diffuse pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis (LAM) through the
      perioperative period. LAM is a disease of uncertain origin and poor prognosis
      because of respiratory failure. Therefore, it is important to provide not only a
      good anesthetic care but also a good preoperative respiratory care. In the first
      case (a 35-yr-old woman), an open lung biopsy was performed after dyspnea and
      sputum had disappeared with preoperative medications of a bronchodilator and some
      antibiotics. In the second case (a 35-yr-old woman), oophorectomy was performed
      after FEV1.0% had remarkably increased with preoperative medication of a
      bronchodilator. Both patients did well through the perioperative period without
      any trouble or complications, such as pneumonia or severe hypoxemia, presumably
      owing to our perioperative management system.

PMID- 1433887
TI  - [Intrathecal morphine for postoperative pain relief after transvaginal
      hysterectomy].
AB  - We studied the effect of a low-dose intrathecal morphine (0.1 or 0.2 mg) in
      postoperative pain relief and the incidence of side effects. Two hundred and
      fifteen patients scheduled for transvaginal hysterectomy were divided into 3
      groups according to intrathecal morphine doses: M1 (morphine 0.1 mg N = 75), M2
      (morphine 0.2 mg N = 69) and C (control N = 71). A standard mid-line lumbar
      puncture was performed using a 25-gauze needle in the L3/4 interspace.
      Preservative-free morphine hydrochloride mixed in hyperbaric tetracaine solution
      was administered intrathecally. Pain relief was significantly greater for the
      first 24 hrs in groups M1 and M2 compared with group C. Respiratory depression
      was not seen in any groups. The incidence of vomiting was about 40% in all
      groups. We conclude that intrathecal morphine 0.1-0.2 mg is useful for pain
      relief after transvaginal hysterectomy and accompanies no major side effects.

PMID- 1433888
TI  - [Clinical evaluation of sulbactam/cefoperazone for severe infections associated
      with hematological disorders].
AB  - The combination therapy of sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ) and piperacillin
      (PIPC) was evaluated in 49 patients with severe infections associated with
      hematological disorders. Clinical responses in 43 evaluable patients out of the
      49 patients were excellent in 12, good in 18, thus, overall efficacy rate was
      69.8% (excellent plus good). Efficacy rates of this combination therapy were 60%
      (3/5) for sepsis, 75% (21/28) for suspected sepsis, and 50% (4/8) for pneumonia.
      The efficacy rate was 71.4% (10/14) in patients with neutrophil counts less than
      200/microliters; this combination therapy was highly effective even in the
      neutropenic patients. Transient increases in hepatic function test values were
      observed in 2 patients, but no other side effects were observed during the
      combination therapy. From these observations it appears that the combination
      therapy of SBT/CPZ and PIPC is a very useful empiric therapy for severe
      infections associated with hematological diseases.

PMID- 1433889
TI  - [A randomized controlled study on imipenem/cilastatin sodium in comparison to
      aztreonam + lincomycin in treating severe infections in patients with malignant
      tumors or hematological diseases].
AB  - A randomized controlled study was conducted to compare effects of imipenem (IPM)
      (1.0-1.5 g/day) with those of aztreonam (AZT) (4 g/day) +lincomycin (LCM) (1,200
      2,400 mg/day) in patients with malignant tumors or hematological diseases and
      severe infections. A total of 95 patients entered the study between October 1989
      and March 1991. Forty-seven patients were treated with IPM and the remaining 48
      patients were given AZT+LCM. No statistically significant differences existed in
      age, sex or underlying diseases between the 2 groups. Overall, the clinical cure
      rate of the IPM group was 53%; This was significantly higher than the 31% cure
      rate obtained in the AZT+LCM group (P less than 0.05). The difference was
      significant in patients whose granulocyte counts were less than
      1,000/microliters, but not in those whose granulocyte counts were
      1,000/microliters or higher. Side effects were observed in 5 patients given IPM
      and one given AZT+LCM. In conclusion, no significant differences appeared to
      exist regarding clinical efficacy and safety between the 2 treatment regimens.

PMID- 1433890
TI  - [Clinical evaluation of imipenem/cilastatin sodium against infections in
      compromised children (malignancy, hematological disease, collagen disease)].
AB  - Eighteen immuno-compromised children (malignancies, hematological diseases,
      collagen diseases) with neutropenia and infections were treated with
      imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS), and the efficacy and the safety of the drug
      were evaluated. 1. Responses to IPM/CS were excellent in 13 patients, good in 1,
      and fair in 4. None of the patients displayed a poor response to the treatment
      thus the efficacy rate was 77.8%. 2. Of 5 patients with sepsis, 4 had excellent
      or good responses. IPM/CS was effective against sepsis caused by Enterococcus
      faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 3. In patients with severe neutropenia (WBC
      less than 100/mm3), the efficacy rate was 70%. 4. As for side effects, elevations
      of GOT and GPT were observed in 1 patient with liver cirrhosis. These results
      indicate that IPM/CS is safe and effective in immuno-compromised children with
      neutropenia and infections.

PMID- 1433891
TI  - [Clinical studies on imipenem/cilastatin sodium in the early therapy of preterm
      premature rupture of the membrane or threatened abortion and premature delivery].
AB  - The efficacy and safety of early therapy with imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS)
      were studied in patients who had chorioamnionitis with preterm PROM or threatened
      abortion and premature delivery. The following results were obtained. 1. The
      clinical efficacy of IPM/CS administered by intravenous drip infusion at daily
      dosages of 1 to 2 g as concurrent treatment with antiuteronics (ritodrine
      hydrochloride or terbutaline sulfate) was studied in patients with threatened
      abortion and premature delivery in the 11th to 34th week of pregnancy (n = 9), or
      premature PROM in the 23rd to 36th week (n = 9). 2. Response to IPM/CS were good
      in all of the patients with threatened abortion and premature delivery. Latent
      periods were prolonged for more than 7 days in 44.4% (4/9) of the patients with
      preterm PROM. 3. Changes in elastase appeared to be significant as those in CRP
      for inflammatory markers. 4. These findings combined with our previous results
      indicate that treatment of preterm PROM before the 32nd of pregnancy prolongs the
      latent period.

PMID- 1433892
TI  - [Clinical studies on imipenem/cilastatin sodium in the field of obstetrics and
      gynecology].
AB  - The efficacy and safety of imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS) were studied in
      patients with obstetric and gynecologic infections and in those given the drug as
      prophylaxis against postoperative infections. The following results were
      obtained: 1. Efficacy rates were 96.0% (48/50) in patients with obstetric and
      gynecologic infections and 100% (28/28) in those with urinary tract or other
      infections. The overall efficacy rate was 97.4% (76/78). Bacteriologically, 30
      organisms were isolated from 28 patients. The eradication rate was 95.2% (20/21)
      and the efficacy rate was 96.4% (27/28). 2. Changes in blood elastase before and
      after treatment were compared with those in CRP, WBC, and ESR in the patients
      with obstetric and gynecologic infections. The changes in elastase were similar
      to those in CRP. 3. The efficacy rate was 98.0% (48/49) in the patients given
      prophylaxis against postoperative obstetric and gynecologic infections. 4. An
      adverse reaction was observed in only one patient (diarrhea), and abnormal
      laboratory findings were noted in 2 patients (elevation of GOT and GPT). These
      results indicate that IPM/CS is very useful for the treatment of obstetric and
      gynecologic infections.

PMID- 1433893
TI  - [A clinical study of transfer of cefminox and piperacillin into pulmonary
      tissue].
AB  - Serum concentrations of cefminox (CMNX) and piperacillin (PIPC) and their
      transfer into pulmonary tissue during surgery were serially studied following 1
      hour intravenous instillation of 1 g of CMNX or PIPC immediately before
      thoracotomy, and the following results were obtained. Maximum serum
      concentrations of CMNX and PIPC were observed 1 hour after the commencement of
      administration, and their levels gradually decreased thereafter. The mean peak
      level of CMNX was 72.21 micrograms/ml, and T 1/2 was 1.62 hours. The mean peak
      level of PIPC was 43.26 micrograms/ml, and T 1/2 was 1.54 hours. In the pulmonary
      tissue, mean concentrations of CMNX in the normal pulmonary (alveolar) tissue
      were 28.80, 26.50 and 17.80 micrograms/g at 2.5, 3 and 4 hours, respectively,
      after the commencement of administration, and the corresponding levels for
      bronchiolar tissue were 19.6, 18.40 and 20.53 micrograms/g, respectively. The
      mean concentrations of PIPC in the normal pulmonary (alveolar) tissue were 18.97,
      7.34 and 5.0 micrograms/g at 2, 3 and 4 hours, respectively, after the
      commencement of administration, and the corresponding levels for bronchiolar
      tissue were 7.2, 9.20 and less than 0.2 micrograms/g, respectively. PIPC also
      showed favorable transfer into the hilar lymph node tissue and obstructive
      pneumonitic lesions. The transfer of both drugs into pulmonary tissue suggests
      that both drugs are useful for the treatment of respiratory infectious diseases
      and the prevention of postoperative infections.

PMID- 1433894
TI  - [Therapeutic effects of a combination treatment with flomoxef and tobramycin
      against infections complicated with hematological disorders].
AB  - The efficacy and safety of a combination regimen using flomoxef (FMOX) and
      tobramycin (TOB) were evaluated in the treatment of infections complicated with
      hematological disorders. The primary diseases in 40 patients included acute
      leukemia, malignant lymphoma and others. Complicated infections included 35 cases
      with suspected septicemia, 4 cases with septicemia and 1 case with pleuritis.
      Clinical responses were excellent in 10 (25.0%), good in 14 (35.0%), fair in 2
      (5.0%) and poor in 14 (35.0%). The efficacy rate was 73.1% in patients with
      neutrophil counts higher than 501/microliters after administration, but it was
      35.7% in patients with counts less than 501/microliters; the difference was
      statistically significant. No side effects were observed in any of the 40
      patients. Abnormal laboratory data in liver functions were identified in 1
      patient (2.5%). Degree of this abnormality was very slight, and the continuation
      of treatment was not disturbed. In conclusion, this combination therapy of FMOX
      and TOB thus appears to be useful and safe in therapies for infections
      complicated with hematological disorders.

PMID- 1433895
TI  - [Clinical evaluation of flucytosine in patients with urinary fungal infections].
AB  - The clinical effectiveness of flucytosine (5-FC) was evaluated in 52 patients
      with urinary fungal infections which were diagnosed because of the presence of
      both funguria (greater than or equal to 10(4) cfu/ml) and pyuria (greater than or
      equal to 5 WBC/hpf). The patients received oral daily doses of 5-FC ranging 20 to
      150 mg/kg, with a mean treatment duration of 11 days. The 57 fungus strains
      isolated from urine specimens consisted of 51 Candida spp. including 28 Candida
      albicans, 10 Candida glabrata, 4 Candida tropicalis and 6 Trichosporon beigelii.
      Forty-seven (92.2%) and 4 (66.7%) of the 51 Candida spp. and 6 T. beigelii
      strains isolated were eradicated by the treatment, respectively, giving an
      overall eradication rate of 89.5%. Clinical responses in 32 patients, from whom
      only fungi were submitted, were excellent in 5, moderate in 22, and poor in 5,
      thus the overall efficacy rate was 84.4%, based on the criteria of Japanese UTI
      Committee. Of the 18 strains of Candida spp. tested, 5-FC showed 0.20
      micrograms/ml or less of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against 16
      strains and higher than 100 micrograms/ml against the remaining 2 strains. The
      MICs of the 5 T. beigelii strains tested were between 3.12 and 6.25
      micrograms/ml. As adverse reactions, only 2 patients (3.8%) experienced diarrhea
      but did not require treatment cessation. These results suggest that flucytosine
      is an effective drug for urinary fungal infections.

PMID- 1433896
TI  - Comparisons of the bacterial flora in genital regions at non-pregnancy.
AB  - In the development of infectious diseases at non-pregnancy and at pregnancy,
      correlations between bacterial flora in the vagina and portio vaginalis and the
      ascending infections of those bacteria have recently been discussed. To clarify
      the cause of those infectious diseases, we studied the localization of
      microorganisms in genital regions. Patients undergone abdominal total
      hysterectomy (n = 172) were employed as subjects, and microorganisms isolated
      from 4 genital regions were studied. In addition, the preventive effect of
      cefmetazole (CMZ) against postoperative infections was analyzed in 479 cases
      including the hysterectomy cases mentioned above. The results obtained are
      summarized as follows: 1. The isolation rate of microorganisms at non-pregnancy,
      from subjects of 30 to 69 years old, was 65.6% (82/125) in the vagina and portio
      vaginalis, 52.1% (25/48) in the cervical mucus, 7.3% (9/124) in the uterine
      cavity and 0% (0/47) in the ovarian surface. 2. Numbers of microorganisms
      isolated in each region were 99 strains in the vagina and portio vaginalis, 28 in
      the cervical mucus, 10 in the uterine cavity and none in the ovarian surface.
      Isolation of aerobic Gram-positive bacteria (60-89.3%) and anaerobic Gram
      positive bacteria (7.1-30%) were varied in each region. Lactobacillus spp. (38
      strains), Staphylococcus epidermidis (20 strains) and Propionibacterium acnes (10
      strains) were isolated from vagina and portio vaginalis, and Lactobacillus spp.
      (17 strains) were the most often isolated bacteria from the cervical
      mucus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1433897
TI  - [A new oral cephem, cefdinir: its structure-activity relationships and biological
      profile].
AB  - This article reviews structure-activity relationships and biological properties
      of a new oral cephem, cefidinir (CFDN). It also describes a hypothesis concerning
      the absorption mechanism from the intestine. Antibacterial activities and the
      oral absorption efficiencies were studied with regard to 3-vinyl cephalosporins
      with various 7-acyl side chains. From the study, 2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2
      hydroxyiminoacetyl group was selected and various 3-substituents were screened.
      As a result, it was found that the vinyl compound, CFDN, showed excellent
      antibacterial activity and good oral absorption in rats. In vitro and in vivo
      antibacterial activities, the affinity for PBPs and the stability to beta
      lactamases revealed that CFDN had well balanced antimicrobial activities against
      Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and good biological properties. The
      pharmacokinetics of CFDN in healthy volunteers showed that serum concentration
      and half life were good enough to make CFDN an effective therapeutic agent. The
      mechanism of intestinal absorption of CFDN and related oral cephems are discussed
      and a hypothesis for molecular recognition by the carrier protein in the
      intestine is proposed.

PMID- 1433898
TI  - [Study on the pharmacokinetics of cefepime (I)].
AB  - The pharmacokinetics of 14C-cefepime dihydrochloride (14C-CFPM), were studied in
      rats upon both single and repeated intravenous administration. 1. Blood level of
      radioactivity was 59.27 micrograms eq./ml at 5 minutes after single intravenous
      administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg, and declined biexponentially thereafter.
      The values of AUC and T 1/2 were 70.1 micrograms eq..hr/ml and 38.0 hours,
      respectively. 2. Blood level of radioactivity was 59.41 micrograms eq./ml at 5
      minutes after administration on the 7th day of repeated intravenous
      administration at a daily dose of 20 mg/kg, and declined more slowly as compared
      to the case of single administration. The values of AUC and T 1/2 after repeated
      administration were 159.7 micrograms eq..hr/ml and 44.5 hours, respectively. 3.
      Urinary and fecal excretion rates after single administration were 93.3% and
      3.3%, respectively. 4. Urinary and fecal excretion rates were almost constant
      throughout the repeated administration; 88.4-90.7% and 2.3-3.7%, respectively. 5.
      14C-CFPM distributed rapidly to the whole body except to the central nervous
      system. Although the radioactivity was removed rapidly from tissues, high levels
      of radioactivity remained in the kidney and the spleen as compared to other
      tissues. 6. Tissue concentrations of radioactivity at 5 minutes after the final
      dose of repeated administration were about the same as those after single
      administration but they declined more slowly than those after single
      administration. High levels of radioactivity were found in the kidney and the
      spleen as were found upon single administration. The ratios of these levels
      between repeated and single dosing were 4.3 and 2.6 for kidney and spleen,
      respectively. 7. Data obtained with autoradiograms of the whole body were
      consistent with measured tissue distribution obtained in both cases of single and
      repeated administration.

PMID- 1433899
TI  - [Study on the pharmacokinetics of cefepime (II)].
AB  - The pharmacokinetics of 14C-cefepime dihydrochloride (14C-CFPM), was studied in
      dogs after single intravenous administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Protein
      binding was also investigated both in vitro and in vivo. 1. Blood level of
      radioactivity was 83.53 microns eq./ml at 5 minutes after single intravenous
      administration and declined biexponentially thereafter. The values of AUC and
      T1/2 were 229 microns eq.(.)hr/ml and 90 hours, respectively. 2. Urinary and
      fecal excretion rates were 95.1% and 2.7%, respectively. 3. The in vitro protein
      binding at 1 to 100 microns/ml of drug concentration was 7.9 to 12.7% in rat,
      12.4 to 18.6% in human, and 12.5 to 14.5% in dog. In vivo protein binding, which
      increased with time after administration, was 10.8 to 92.9% in rat and 17.5 to
      64.9% in dog at 5 minutes to 6 hours.

PMID- 1433900
TI  - Cross-resistance of clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
      aureus to aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones.
AB  - Susceptibilities of 117 clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
      aureus (MRSA) to aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones were investigated during
      1987 and 1990. Gentamicin, tobramycin, sisomicin, micronomicin, and astromicin
      showed the bimodal antimicrobial activity pattern against MRSA, revealing cross
      resistance to these antibiotics. However, amikacin, netilmicin, isepamicin and
      arbekacin (ABK) exhibited the monomodal antimicrobial activity pattern,
      suggesting the presence of less resistant strains. All 117 MRSA strains were
      susceptible to ABK with MICs less than 3 micrograms/ml. MRSA also showed the
      bimodal antimicrobial susceptibility pattern to fluoroquinolones such as
      ofloxacin (OFLX), ciprofloxacin (CPFX) and tosufloxacin (TFLX). Frequencies of
      TFLX susceptible MRSA isolates decreased progressively from 1987 to 1989 when
      this drug was not even in general clinical use. The cross-resistance of MRSA
      between TFLX and OFLX or CPFX persisted. Cross-resistance between aminoglycosides
      and fluoroquinolones, however, was less frequently observed.

PMID- 1433901
TI  - [Combined effects of arbekacin with other antibiotics against methicillin
      resistant Staphylococcus aureus. I. The combined effect of arbekacin with
      fosfomycin or clavulanic acid/ticarcillin].
AB  - As arbekacin (ABK) has a highly potent antibacterial activity against methicillin
      resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), its combined effects with fosfomycin
      (FOM) and clavulanic acid/ticarcillin (CVA/TIPC) against MRSA were examined. The
      obtained results are summarized as follows. 1. Against MRSA either combination,
      FOM+ABK or CVA/TIPC+ABK showed a strong antibacterial effect at the MIC or the
      sub MIC of ABK in the blood expected from clinical observations. The MIC of ABK
      by the combination use seemed to be equivalent to the MBC value. 2. Effective
      concentrations of antibiotics in these combinations appeared to be strongly
      dependent on the effective concentration of ABK and less dependent on that of FOM
      or CVA/TIPC. Therefore, the antibacterial activity of a combination seems to
      mostly depend on the antibacterial activity and the concentration of ABK. 3. As
      FOM and CVA/TIPC have antibacterial activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
      combinations of ABK with these antibiotics are likely to be effective against
      double infection with P. aeruginosa in MRSA infected patients.

PMID- 1433902
TI  - [Combined effects of arbekacin with other antibiotics against methicillin
      resistant Staphylococcus aureus. II. The combined effect of arbekacin with
      imipenem or cefminox].
AB  - Combined antibacterial effects of imipenem (IPM)+arbekacin (ABK) and cefminox
      (CMNX)+ABK against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were
      examined and the obtained results are summarized below. 1. Either combination,
      IPM+ABK or CMNX+ABK, showed a strong antibacterial effect against MRSA when blood
      concentration of ABK were sustained at MIC as could be expected in clinical
      situations. While at sub MICs of ABK the antibacterial effect of these
      combination was slightly less than those of the previously reported combinations
      of ABK and other antibiotics. 2. Antibacterial effects of the combinations
      against MRSA were strongly dependent on the concentration of ABK and less
      dependent on the concentration of IPM or CMNX. As were observed in the previously
      tested combinations of ABK with other antibiotics, the antibacterial effect of
      the combination appeared to be highly dependent on the antibacterial activity and
      the concentration of ABK. 3. As IPM has potent antibacterial activities against
      Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) including Pseudomonas aeruginosa while CMNX has
      potent antibacterial activities against GNB except P. aeruginosa, it is likely
      that the combinations of IPM+ABK or CMNX+ABK are useful for treatment of
      infections with MRSA together with GNB.

PMID- 1433903
TI  - [Antimicrobial activities of major oral antibacterial agents against clinically
      isolated microbial strains from inpatients].
AB  - Antimicrobial activities were examined for major antibacterial agents against
      clinically isolated microbial strains which were isolated and identified from
      materials collected from inpatients with various infections in 1988, 1989 and
      1990, and the following conclusions were obtained. 1. Among strains isolated each
      year, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were found frequently.
      2. CEPs-resistant Escherichia coli strains were observed among strains isolated
      each year. 3. Increasing tendencies in resistances of Citrobacter freundii,
      Enterobacter spp., Serratia marcescens to cephems and new quinolones were
      observed. 4. Increasing tendencies in resistances of Proteus vulgaris to
      ceftazidime (CAZ) and new quinolones appeared to exist. 5. Among strains isolated
      each year, resistances of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to CAZ and quinolones were
      observed in high rates, but also their resistances to imipenem appeared to
      increase. 6. Many of recently increasing multiple resistant bacteria seem to have
      different sites of drug action and/or to have non-hydrolytic modes of resistance.

PMID- 1433904
TI  - [Antimicrobial activities of major oral antibacterial agents against clinically
      isolated microbial strains from outpatients with respiratory tract infection].
AB  - Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined for major oral
      antibacterial agents for clinically isolated microbial strains from materials
      collected from outpatients with respiratory tract infections in 1988, 1989 and
      1990, and the following conclusions were obtained. 1. Methicillin-resistant
      Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) appeared to be responsible for community-acquired
      respiratory tract infections, but there also was a tendency showing that MRSA
      increased year by year. 2. A tendency was observed indicating that
      benzylpenicillin (PCG)-insensitive Streptococcus pneumoniae (PISP) increased year
      by year. 3. Beta-lactamase-producing strains of Haemophilus influenzae were
      observed in a certain ratio, and also those of Branhamella catarrhalis were found
      in high ratios. 4. A tendency of increasing resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae
      to new quinolones was observed. 5. It is of a great importance to evaluate
      methods of selecting primary choice antibiotic agents since increasing numbers of
      new oral antibacterial agents are becoming rapidly available.

PMID- 1433905
TI  - [Antibacterial activities of sisomicin against fresh clinical isolates].
AB  - To investigate antibacterial activities of sisomicin (SISO), MICs of SISO as well
      as other aminoglycosides (AGs) were determined against many clinical isolates
      which were obtained in 1991. Results are summarized below: 1. No SISO-resistant
      strains were observed among isolates of Escherichia coli, Citrobacter diversus,
      Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter aerogenes, Proteus
      mirabilis and Morganella morganii. 2. In comparison with the results of our
      previous study against isolates obtained in 1986, the rate of methicillin
      resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was higher, and SISO-resistant strains
      were observed at a high rate among the MRSA. Also, SISO-resistant strains of
      Serratia marcescens increased. However, the rate of SISO-resistant strains of
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa decreased, and among Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter
      cloacae and Proteus vulgaris, SISO-resistant strains did not increase over the
      years. 3. MICs of SISO against Providencia rettgeri and Providencia stuartii were
      high, suggesting that antibacterial activities of SISO was weak against genus
      Providencia. 4. For comparison, according to MICs of ofloxacin and imipenem, new
      quinolone-resistant strains were observed at a high rate among various organisms,
      and carbapenem-resistant strains were observed at a high rate among S. marcescens
      and P. aeruginosa. 5. SISO is still one of the useful AGs in the 1990's since it
      maintains its strong antibacterial activities against most clinical isolates
      obtained in recent years and its potential as a combination drug with beta
      lactams is being reported.

PMID- 1433906
TI  - [Comparative studies on activities of antimicrobial agents against causative
      organisms isolated from urinary tract infections (1988). I. Susceptibility
      distribution].
AB  - Isolation frequencies and sensitivities to antibacterial and antibiotic agents
      were investigated on 801 bacterial strains isolated from patients with urinary
      tract infections in 9 hospitals during the period of June to November 1988. Of
      the above total bacterial population, Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 29.3%
      and a majority of them were Enterococcus spp. Gram-negative bacteria accounted
      for 70.7% and most of them were Escherichia coli. 1. Enterococcus faecalis:
      Vancomycin was most active with its MIC90 < or = 0.78 microgram/ml. Ampicillin,
      piperacillin, ofloxacin (OFLX), ciprofloxacin (CPFX) and imipenem (IPM) were also
      active. 2. Staphylococcus aureus: Arbekacin and minocycline were most active with
      their MIC90s 0.39 microgram/ml and 1.56 micrograms/ml, respectively. Among
      penicillins, dicloxacillin was the most active. Activities of cephems were
      considerably lower. 3. E. coli: Most of the agents were tested active.
      Particularly the second and third generation cephems were active in a range of <
      or = 0.10-0.20 microgram/ml. Carumonam (CRMN), IPM, OFLX and CPFX were also
      active with MIC90s < or = 0.10 microgram/ml. 4. Klebsiella pneumoniae CRMN and
      IPM were highly active. Penicillins generally showed lower activities. Cephems
      and new quinolones had high activities with their MIC90s in a range of 0.39-0.78
      microgram/ml. 5. Proteus mirabilis: The third generation cephems were active with
      their MIC90s in a range of < or = 0.10-0.20 microgram/ml. CRMN, OFLX and CPFX
      were also active with their MIC90s < or = 0.10 microgram/ml, 0.39 microgram/ml
      and 0.20 microgram/ml, respectively. 6. Pseudomonas aeruginosa: IPM and
      tobramycin were active with their MIC90s 1.56 micrograms/ml and 3.13
      micrograms/ml, respectively. CRMN and new quinolones showed MIC80s of 25-100
      micrograms/ml. Most of penicillins and cephems were not active. 7. Other Gram
      negative rods: Against Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae and Serratia
      marcescens, IPM, CPFX and OFLX were active. Penicillins and cephems were not so
      active. CRMN was active against S. marcescens with its MIC80 at 6.25
      micrograms/ml.

PMID- 1433908
TI  - [Comparative studies on activities of antimicrobial agents against causative
      organisms isolated from urinary tract infections (1988). III. Secular changes in
      susceptibility].
AB  - Sensitivities to various antibacterial and antibiotic agents of strains of
      Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., Citrobacter spp., Enterobacter
      spp., Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients with
      urinary tract infections (UTIs) in 9 hospitals during June to November 1988 were
      compared with those in the same period of previous year according to a
      classification, uncomplicated UTIs, complicated UTIs without indwelling catheter,
      and complicated UTIs with indwelling catheter. No remarkable changes were found
      in sensitivities of E. coli, Proteus spp., Citrobacter spp. and S. marcescens.
      The sensitivity of Klebsiella spp. to cephems decreased in complicated UTI
      without indwelling catheter and increased in complicated UTI with indwelling
      catheter. The sensitivity of Enterobacter spp. to third generation cephems
      decreased in complicated UTI with indwelling catheter. Sensitivities of P.
      aeruginosa to aspoxicillin and cefsulodin increased. The number of resistant
      strains to new quinolones increased slightly.

PMID- 1433907
TI  - [Comparative studies on activities of antimicrobial agents against causative
      organisms isolated from urinary tract infections (1988). II. Background of
      patients].
AB  - Clinical background was investigated on 916 bacterial strains isolated from
      patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in 9 hospitals during the period
      from June to November, 1988. 1. Distribution of sexes, ages and infections: Among
      males, fifties and older were most frequent and most of them had complicated
      UTIs. Among females, most cases among twenties or thirties were uncomplicated
      UTIs. Forties and older cases were most frequent and complicated UTIs were more
      frequent among them than among patients in twenties and thirties. 2. Distribution
      of sexes, ages and pathogens isolated from UTIs: In males, Pseudomonas spp. and
      Enterococcus spp. were frequently isolated. In contrast, in females, Escherichia
      coli was the most frequent. In thirties, E. coli was not the most frequently
      isolated bacterium. Frequency of Pseudomonas spp., other non-fermented Gram
      negative rods and Enterococcus spp. were greater among patients with higher ages.
      3. Administration of antibiotics and pathogens isolated from UTIs: (1) Before
      administration: In uncomplicated UTIs, E. coli accounted for the majority of
      causative organisms. In complicated UTIs, particularly in those cases with
      indwelling catheter, Enterococcus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. were rather
      frequently isolated. (2) After administration: In complicated UTIs, higher number
      of pathogens were isolated. Pseudomonas spp. and Enterococcus spp. were the most
      frequent. Distribution of pathogens isolated from complicated UTIs without
      indwelling catheter was similar to that before antibiotic administration.

PMID- 1433909
TI  - [Salmonella vaccines and immunity].

PMID- 1433910
TI  - [Phosphoenolpyruvate:hexose phosphotransferase systems in Lactobacillus species].
AB  - The substrate range of phosphoenolpyruvate:hexose phosphotransferase systems
      (hexose-PTSs) in Lactobacillus casei subsp. casei LAC3 and L. acidophilus LAC5
      was examined. Strain LAC3 demonstrated PTS activities for glucose (Glc), mannose
      (Man), glucosamine (GcN), 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) and fructose (Fru), while strain
      LAC5 showed the activities only for Man and Fru. These activities were all
      constitutive. Growth of both strains was strongly inhibited by 2DG. 2DG-resistant
      mutants DG329 and DG504 were isolated, respectively, from strains LAC3 and LAC5.
      Mutant DG329 grown on Glc was defective in all the above-described activities
      observed with strain LAC3, whereas no defect in PTS activities was found in
      mutant DG504. Mutant DG329, however, showed some inducible activities for Man and
      Fru when grown on Man, Fru or Scr. These results strongly suggest that strain
      LAC3 has inducible PTS(s) specific for Man and/or Fru besides the well-known,
      broadly specific, constitutive Man-PTS, and also that strain LAC5 lacks the Man
      PTS, but has other constitutive PTS(s) specific for Man and/or Fru. L. fermentum
      LAC12 had the Man-PTS as reported previously (Nagasaki et al., 1992), but had no
      inducible activities like those found in strain LAC3.

PMID- 1433911
TI  - [Effect of pH on preferential antibacterial-activity of
      ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)].
AB  - Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), a chelating agent, was examined for the
      antibacterial activity against 15 species of bacteria by treating with a 10mM
      solution at pH adjusted to 5.0, 7.0 or 9.0. All bacterial species tested were
      classified into three groups; tentatively named the pH5 EDTA-sensitive group
      comprising Vibrio cholerae and Staphylococcus aureus, the pH9 EDTA-sensitive
      group comprising Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the EDTA
      nonsensitive group comprising Proteus mirabilis. The EDTA-sensitivity grouping
      may be used as a tool for preferential decontamination of certain bacteria in
      live edible fishes, although further experiments are needed to characterize more
      strains and also species of bacteria.

PMID- 1433912
TI  - [Proteins C,S and C4bp--their structures and functions].

PMID- 1433913
TI  - [Genetic analysis of congenital protein C deficiency].

PMID- 1433914
TI  - [Acquired protein C or S deficiency--its relationship with physiopathology].

PMID- 1433915
TI  - [Protein C as a new therapeutic agent].

PMID- 1433916
TI  - [Clinicopathological study of 6 cases of mantle zone lymphoma].
AB  - Clinicopathological analyses of 6 cases of mantle zone lymphoma (MZL) were
      carried out. The median age of the patients was 62 years with a range of 41 to 71
      years and the male-to-female ratio was 1:1. Superficial lymph node (LN) swelling
      was present only in 2 patients. Giant LN swellings of the mesenteric or inguinal
      regions were present in 4, and bone marrow involvement by lymphoma cells in 5.
      Serum protein electrophoresis revealed a monoclonal protein of IgM kappa type in
      2 patients. One of these also had polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. An
      immunohistochemical study of 6 patients revealed LN-1-(-)+, LN-2+(-)++, sIgM+,
      sIgD+, CALLA +/-(-)+, DRC-1+(-)++. The immunohistochemical features of the cases
      were similar to those of small lymphocytic lymphoma or follicular lymphoma. Only
      1 patients out of 6 achieved complete remission. Two patients died, one of
      pneumonia after chemotherapy and the other of cancer. The others were alive 4 to
      100 months after the diagnoses. Although giant LN swelling and bone marrow
      involvement of lymphoma cells which were refractory to treatments were frequently
      observed, we consider MZL to be a slowly progressive and low-grade type of non
      Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PMID- 1433917
TI  - [Interferon therapy of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura].
AB  - The authors evaluated the efficacy of a daily administration of recombinant human
      alpha 2a interferon (IFN), given at a dose of 300MU for 12 consecutive days, in
      patients with steroid-nonresponsive or -dependent idiopathic thrombocytopenic
      purpura (ITP). Nine patients received courses of IFN therapy. Mean platelet
      counts rose from 1.39 to 10.9 x 10(4)/microliters and PAIgG decreased from 151.7
      to 59.7 ng/10(7) cells. The maximum rise in platelet counts occurred from 10 to
      42 days (mean 19.1) after the initiation of IFN. Complete response (CR) was
      achieved in 3 of 13 courses (23.1%), and partial response (PR) in 8 (61.5%). One
      CR case continued for longer than 20 months without further treatment, but
      intermittent IFN therapy was necessary for the other. The increment of the
      platelet counts was transient in all of the partial responders. No severe side
      effect requiring interruption of the course of IFN was experienced. Both serum
      IgG and PAIgG significantly correlated with the increment of platelet counts,
      therefore the mechanism of IFN on ITP was presumed to be associated with the
      inhibition of autoantibody production. Daily administration of IFN appears to be
      an effective and safe treatment protocol for refractory ITP.

PMID- 1433918
TI  - [Differential diagnosis and course of patients with pure erythrocytosis and
      spurious polycythemia].
AB  - We established the diagnostic criteria of pure erythrocytosis (PE) and spurious
      polycythemia (SP), and investigated the different points between 4 PE patients
      and 4 SP patients who had clinical course longer than 5 years from diagnosis. The
      red cell mass (RCM) was greater in PE patients than in SP patients, but the
      difference was not significant. However, the actual measurement of RCM was
      significantly greater in PE than their predicted values (p less than 0.01), and
      was not significant in SP. Such laboratory data as red cell counts, Hb, Hct,
      reticulocyte counts, M/E ratio of bone marrow pictures, the positive rate and
      score of NAP, and bone marrow CFU-E numbers were not significantly different in
      the two groups, and serum EPO levels in patients with PE were significantly lower
      than those in patients with SP (p less than 0.01). When in hospital, the Hct
      levels of patients of both groups decreased linearly. Sustained erythrocytosis
      was found in two patients with PE and one patient with SP. Vascular complications
      in patients of both groups have not been observed. There was no essential
      difference between the two groups. Therefore, it is suggested that PE patients
      without endogenous erythroid colonies may follow almost the same clinical course
      as SP patients.

PMID- 1433919
TI  - [Measurement of busulfan concentration in plasma and spinal fluid from transplant
      patients pretreated with busulfan and cyclophosphamide].
AB  - Busulfan (BU) concentrations in the blood and spinal fluid of 7 patients
      pretreated with BU for bone marrow transplantation (BMT) were measured using gas
      chromatography. The data from these periodically obtained samples were used to
      study the relationship between the BU concentration and complications (e.g.
      vomiting), indicating that vomiting leads to a lower maximum BU level. The trough
      level of BU concentration at 6 hours after administration was stable at around
      500 ng/ml, not showing little effect of vomiting. The BU concentrations in the
      spinal fluid were virtually the same as those in plasma collected at the same
      time and the spinal fluid/plasma ratio of the BU concentration averaged 1.06. No
      veno-occlusive disease (VOD) was noted. Failure of engraftment occurred in one
      case of myelofibrosis, however, as the plasma BU concentration in this case was
      not lower than the others, the graft failure was not considered to be due to the
      preconditioning regimen including BU.

PMID- 1433920
TI  - [Cold agglutinin hemolytic anemia complicating mycoplasma pneumonia].
AB  - A case of Mycoplasma pneumonia complicated with severe hemolytic anemia, which
      occurred as a result of a high titer of cold agglutinin is presented. A 49 year
      old male was admitted because of fever, jaundice and dyspnea. Chest x-ray showed
      diffuse small nodular infiltrates throughout both lung fields. Laboratory studies
      disclosed the following values: Hb 4.6 g/dl, Ht 13.9%, reticulocyte 11.5%, direct
      and indirect Coombs' test positive, haptoglobin 38 mg/dl, ESR 145 mm/hr, cold
      agglutinin titer 1:2,048 mycoplasma antibody titer 1:640, PPD negative. The
      diagnosis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia associated with Mycoplasma pneumonia was
      made, and treatment with minocycline and prednisolone observed striking clinical
      improvement. It was suggested that the cold exposure was possibly a major factor
      in the pathogenesis of hemolysis in this patient.

PMID- 1433921
TI  - [A case of monoblastic crisis of CML beginning with extramedullary tumor
      formation in a rib].
AB  - A patient with CML showed monoblastic crisis which started with extramedullary
      tumor formation in a rib before medullary involvement. She was diagnosed as
      having CML in 1984 at the age of 57. In February 1990, she was admitted to
      Furukawa City Hospital because of extramedullary blastic crisis beginning at the
      right 5th rib. At that time, the bone marrow revealed 4.6% blasts. On March 5,
      after one course of chemotherapy, she was transferred to our hospital for
      radiotherapy. Hematological findings were WBC 10,100/microliter with 10% blasts,
      Hb 10.9 g/dl, platelet 3.7 x 10(4)/microliters. Bone marrow aspiration was
      unsuccessful. The blasts in the peripheral blood were negative for peroxidase and
      chloroacetate esterase; but positive for naphtylbutyrate esterase. The leukemic
      cells were positive for CD13, CD33, and had phagocytic activity. Chromosomal
      analysis revealed 46XX with Ph1 chromosome and some additional anomalies.
      Southern blot analysis of tumor cells shows BCR rearrangement. These findings
      suggest that the blasts were immature monocytic cells, and we conclude that this
      is a rare case of extramedullary monoblastic crisis of CML.

PMID- 1433922
TI  - [Changes in bone marrow MRI patterns in aplastic anemia before and after
      successful treatment with ATG].
AB  - In order to evaluate the usefulness of MRI in estimating bone marrow cellularity,
      we performed MRI of the lumbar spine in two patients with severe aplastic anemia,
      before and after successful treatment with antithymocyte globulin (ATG). Case 1,
      a 25-year-old man with idiopathic aplastic anemia, was treated with ATG 6 months
      after the onset. One month after treatment, his peripheral blood count and bone
      marrow cellularity recovered, and the MRI bone marrow pattern became normal. Case
      2, a 78-year-old woman with drug-induced aplastic anemia, was treated with ATG 4
      months after the onset. Three months after treatment, her peripheral blood count
      improved. Five months after treatment, her bone marrow cellularity recovered and
      the MRI bone marrow pattern was normal for her age. Seven months after treatment,
      when her peripheral blood count was almost normal, we observed hypercellular bone
      marrow restoration at the periphery of the vertebrae. MRI seems to be an
      effective method of evaluating bone marrow recovery in aplastic anemia.

PMID- 1433923
TI  - [A case of T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia].
AB  - A 54-year-old man who had been known to have a high prolymphocyte count for four
      years was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea in September, 1990.
      Physical examination revealed skin eruption, lymphadenopathy and
      hepatosplenomegaly. Chest X-ray demonstrated bilateral pleural effusions. The
      leukocyte count was 232,900/microliter with 99% lymphoid cells possessing single
      nucleoli. The cells expressed the phenotype CD2+, CD3-, CD4+, CD7+, and CD8-.
      Southern blot analysis of DNA from these cells revealed monoclonal rearrangement
      of T-cell receptor beta-chain genes. Anti-human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1
      (HTLV-1) antibody and HTLV-1 proviral DNA were not detected. A biopsy specimen
      from the skin lesions showed infiltration of the leukemic cells which were
      positive for anti-MT1 antibody. Histological finding of the axillary lymph node
      was malignant lymphoma, diffuse, medium-sized, T-cell type. Combination
      chemotherapy resulted in the improvement of skin eruption, lymphadenopathy,
      hepatosplenomegaly and pleural effusions, although his prolymphocyte count
      increased to 910,000/microliters. He died of cerebral bleeding in July, 1991. We
      diagnosed this case as T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia, observed for five years.

PMID- 1433924
TI  - [Norfloxacin-induced infectious mononucleosis (IM)-like syndrome with Stevens
      Johnson syndrome].
AB  - A 77-year-old male who had suffered from an upper respiratory infection and had
      been given Norfloxacin (NFLX) on May 2, 1990, developed generalized erythema
      which did not subside with prednisolone. He was hospitalized on May 8, and
      Stevens-Johnson syndrome was diagnosed. The WBC was 115,400/microliter (Ly 61.0%,
      Aty Ly 39.5%). Sternal tap revealed hypercellular marrow with increased
      lymphocytes (48.5%; Aty Ly 24.5%) and eosinophils (7.0%). Clinical chemistry
      revealed slightly abnormal liver and renal function with LDH (1,745 IU/l) and IgE
      (803 IU/ml) elevation. No pathognomonic result was obtained with several viral
      antibodies. CD4+, CD8+ lymphocytes and the 4/8 ratio were 39%, 43% and 0.9,
      respectively. Clinical and laboratory abnormalities were normalized within 3
      weeks after the discontinuance of all drugs. Positive lymphocyte stimulation test
      results were obtained by NFLX. While drug allergy is known to be a cause of IM
      like syndrome, there are few reports regarding the subset characterization of the
      increased T lymphocytes. In this case, T lymphocytosis was remarkable, but the
      4/8 ratio declined only slightly, indicating that CD4+ as well as C8+ cells were
      activated and increased, unlike IM. The record of this case helps to clarify the
      mechanisms of the lymphocyte activation shared and not shared by EBV-induced IM
      and IM-like syndrome.

PMID- 1433925
TI  - [Malignant lymphoma occurring subsequent to autoimmune disease].
AB  - The authors report six cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (3B-cell type, one T
      cell type, one non-T non-B cell type, one unclassified type) occurring
      subsequently to autoimmune diseases. The patients were females aged 43 to 70
      (median 61). Rheumatoid arthritis was most frequent as the preceding autoimmune
      disease, and the intervals from the onset of an autoimmune disease to that of NHL
      were 10 to 36 years (median 20). Polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia was seen in 4
      cases, lymphocytopenia in 3 cases, and conversion to negative PPD reaction in 2
      cases. Only one patient had been given corticosteroids, and immunosuppressive
      agents may not contribute much to the development of lymphoma in patients with
      autoimmune diseases.

PMID- 1433926
TI  - [Chronic lymphocytic leukemia diagnosed after corticosteroid therapy for Evans
      syndrome].
AB  - A 59-year-old woman was admitted in February 1991, because of abdominal
      distension. On admission, she had splenomegaly, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and
      idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Evans syndrome had been diagnosed and daily
      prednisolone therapy had been performed. After this therapy, a rapid increase of
      lymphocytes was observed accompanied with contraction of spleen. The monoclonal
      proliferation of B-lymphocytes and rearrangement of JH and J kappa gene were
      detected and chronic lymphocytic leukemia was diagnosed. With reduction of
      prednisolone, the lymphocyte counts decreased and the size of the spleen returned
      to the previous state. It is suspected that the cause of rapid lymphocytosis in
      this case was due to the redistribution of lymphocytes from the spleen to the
      peripheral blood.

PMID- 1433927
TI  - [Interleukin-6 in hematological diseases with septic shock].
AB  - The authors measured the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6), endotoxin and CRP from 7
      patients of documented sepsis with hematological disorders. IL-6 was higher in
      patients who developed septic shock, compared with patients who had only sepsis.
      These data revealed the importance in the level of IL-6, rather than endotoxin
      and CRP, in managing the patients with septic shock.

PMID- 1433928
TI  - [Malignant lymphoma with subdural effusion].
AB  - A 64-year-old woman was admitted for treatment of malignant lymphoma involving
      the pharynx and abdomen. Lymphoma disappeared after chemotherapy and
      radiotherapy, but she had central nervous system symptoms; euphorism, left facial
      nerve palsy, right hemiplesia, and disturbance of micturition. Magnetic resonance
      imaging (MRI) revealed a diffuse dural thickening and a subdural fluid retention.
      The subdural fluid was determined to be an exudate, and a biopsy of the dura
      mater revealed a normal dura and a fibrin clot containing lymphoma cells and
      neutrophils. MRI can be very useful to detect the meningeal involvement of
      malignant lymphoma.

PMID- 1433929
TI  - [Autoimmune hemolytic anemia induced by alpha-interferon therapy in a case of IgG
      kappa type multiple myeloma].
AB  - A 47-year-old male case of IgG-kappa type multiple myeloma was treated with VMCP
      and recombinant human alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha 2a). The direct Coombs test was
      positive before treatment. Hemolytic anemia associated with massive hematuria was
      observed during the administration of 9 million IU IFN-alpha 2a per day for 2
      weeks. The hemolytic symptoms rapidly improved after withdrawal of IFN-alpha 2a.
      This clinical course suggests that IFN-alpha as an immunomodulator was
      responsible for the progression of autoimmune hemolytic anemia in a case of
      multiple myeloma.

PMID- 1433930
TI  - [A case of primary malignant lymphoma of the uterine body].
AB  - A 70-year-old female was found to have class V cytology on an endometrial smear,
      and a histological diagnosis of malignant lymphoma was made by endometrial
      biopsy. The pathological diagnosis was malignant lymphoma, diffuse large cell
      type according to the Working Formulation classification. Immunohistochemical
      staining showed lymphoma cells to be positive for CD 20 (B 1), indicating B cell
      lineage. Two cervical lymph nodes were palpable, and swelling of a para-aortic
      lymph node was also found by abdominal CT scan. The clinical stage was determined
      to be III according to the Ann Arbor classification. After three courses of CHOP
      chemotherapy, lymphoma cells could no longer be detected by endometrial biopsy,
      and the para-aortic and cervical lymphadenopathy also disappeared. Primary
      malignant lymphoma of the uterus, especially of the uterine body, is very rare.
      Only eight cases of primary malignant lymphoma of the uterine body were reported
      in the literature. The cell lineage was decided in only one case, which was B
      cell type.

PMID- 1433931
TI  - [Leukemic blast colony assay in studies of progenitor cells from acute
      myeloblastic leukemia and its clinical application].

PMID- 1433932
TI  - [Analysis of adhesive proteins on the surface of platelets from the patients with
      lung cancer: studies in histological type and clinical stage].
AB  - Flow cytometry was used to detect platelet-associated fibrinogen (PA-Fbg),
      platelet-associated fibronectin (PA-FN) and platelet-associated thrombospondin
      (PA-TSP) on the surface membrane of platelets and plasma (P)-TSP in 30 patients
      with lung cancer (16 case of adenocarcinoma and 14 of squamous cell carcinoma).
      ELISA was used to analyze beta-TG and PF4. In the lung cancer group, beta-TG and
      PF4 were higher than those of a normal control group. PA-Fbg values were
      correlated with beta-TG and PF4 values. Each adhesive protein had a higher value
      in the patient than in the normal control group, and the degree of the increase
      was related to the progression of clinical disease stage. In the squamous cell
      carcinoma group, the P-TSP value was significantly elevated. Platelet size
      increased as the clinical stage of the disease progressed. These results suggest
      the following: 1. An increase in PA-Fbg can indicate the presence of activated
      platelets. 2. In patients with lung cancer, activated platelets appear in the
      blood, and their numbers increase as the clinical stage of the disease
      progresses. 3. Differences in histologic type led to differences in binding
      adhesive protein.

PMID- 1433933
TI  - [Renal and electrolyte disturbances in chronic myelogenous leukemia].
AB  - Renal and electrolyte disturbances in 91 patients with chronic myelogenous
      leukemia (CML) were analyzed over a period of these twenty years. At diagnosis,
      renal and electrolytes were studied in 72 patients including 65 in chronic cases,
      5 in accelerated phase and 2 in blastic crisis. There were 8 cases of
      hypocalcemia among 62 patients and 5 cases of hyperphosphatemia among 48
      patients. The cases of hyperphosphatemia and renal dysfunction had short median
      survival. There were no significant differences of renal and electrolyte
      disturbances between before and after chemotherapy. Various electrolyte
      disturbances, that is, hyponatremia, hypo-, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, hypo-,
      hyperphosphatemia, were found in the blastic crisis of CML. In the last
      admission, renal dysfunction and various electrolyte disturbances were present in
      almost half of the cases. Pathological studies were performed in 18 autopsy
      cases. Acute tubular insufficiency or necrosis, hypercalcemic nephropathy, and
      renal infiltration of leukemic cells were recognized in patients who had renal
      dysfunction.

PMID- 1433934
TI  - [Studies of human bone marrow stromal cells--effects of antimetabolites on the
      growing dynamics of human bone marrow cells and their support of hemopoietic
      cells].
AB  - The effects of antimetabolites on the growing dynamics of human bone marrow
      stromal cells and their support of hemopoietic cells were tested by using a
      modified version of Dexter's culture system. Cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) was
      found to suppress neither the growing dynamics nor the supportability. On the
      other hand, methotrexate (MTX) suppressed the supportiveness, even though it
      hardly suppressed the growing dynamics. The recognition of injury to marrow cells
      could be of potential importance in cancer chemotherapy. Our in vitro evidence
      may provide clinical insights for cancer chemotherapy including prolonged marrow
      suppression or pretreatment of bone marrow transplantation.

PMID- 1433935
TI  - [Clinical significance of serum erythropoietin levels in patients with multiple
      myeloma].
AB  - Serum erythropoietin (Epo) levels were measured in 53 patients with multiple
      myeloma (MM), 49 normal subjects and 53 patients with some hematological diseases
      including aplastic anemia (AA), iron deficiency anemia, etc. to study the
      significance of erythropoietin in anemia of MM. The serum Epo level was 72.0 +/-
      94.4 mIU/ml (mean +/- SD) in MM patients, which was significantly higher than in
      normal subjects (24.1 +/- 6.1 mIU/ml), but lower than in AA patients (7069.9 +/-
      9406 mIU/ml). A significant inverse correlation was found between the hemoglobin
      (Hb) levels and the logarithmic values of serum Epo levels (r = -0.543, p < 0.05)
      in MM patients. This inverse correlation was stronger (r = -0.636, p < 0.05) in
      MM patients without renal dysfunction than in whole MM patients, while no
      correlation was observed in MM patients with renal dysfunction. These results
      indicate that MM patients with renal dysfunction have a low ability to synthesize
      Epo and that the supplemental therapy of recombinant Epo is effective to improve
      their anemia. In addition, the circadian rhythm of serum Epo level was lower in
      the morning than in the afternoon in both MM patients and normal controls. Serum
      Epo levels after chemotherapy in MM patients were elevated temporarily and then
      decreased in spite of no change of blood Hb level.

PMID- 1433936
TI  - [Urinary excretion of parathyroid hormone-related protein in patients with adult
      T-cell leukemia and other hematologic disorders].
AB  - Urinary excretion of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH-rP) was measured by
      radioimmunoassay in 25 patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), in 68 patients
      with other hematologic disorders and in 13 asymptomatic individuals seropositive
      for human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I). The mean levels of urinary PTH
      rP in ATL patients with hypercalcemia (11.01 micrograms/g.Cr) were higher than in
      ATL patients with normocalcemia (5.16 micrograms/g.Cr). The mean levels in
      patients with acute type (8.84 micrograms/g.Cr), lymphoma type (4.18
      micrograms/g.Cr) and crisis ATL (18.20 micrograms/g.Cr) were significantly higher
      than in urine of healthy controls. However, all asymptomatic carriers of HTLV-I
      and patients with chronic and smoldering ATL had normal urinary PTH-rP levels. In
      7 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, 1 patient with blastic crisis of
      chronic myelogenous leukemia and 3 patients with malignant lymphoma, the urinary
      levels of PTH-rP were above the normal range. Urinary levels of PTH-rP of the ATL
      patients with hypercalcemia correlated with the serum calcium levels. Urinary
      levels of PTH-rP of the all ATL correlated with serum lactic dehydrogenase level.
      These findings suggest that the measurement of urinary levels of PTH-rP is useful
      for evaluation of ATL and that some tumor cells of other hematologic diseases may
      produce PTH-rP.

PMID- 1433937
TI  - [Prophylaxis of thrombosis in a pregnant woman with congenital antithrombin III
      deficiency: changes in hemostatic molecular markers before the onset of
      thrombosis].
AB  - A pregnant woman with congenital antithrombin III (AT III) deficiency was given
      AT III concentrate and warfarin at the first and after 36th week of gestation
      periods and at the other gestation period, respectively. The patient developed
      thrombosis in the left leg, but fibrinopeptide A (FPA) and thrombin-AT III
      complex (TAT) had already shown high values one week before, suggesting the
      possibility of their being forecast markers of thrombosis. The administration of
      AT III concentrate caused an improvement in thrombosis. Therefore, in case of
      high FPA and TAT values as determined one or two times a week, the administration
      of AT III concentrate was thought necessary. In case of warfarin, however, non
      administration during the 6th-9th weeks of gestation for the purpose of avoiding
      teratogenicity and frequent blood coagulation tests taking heed of overdosage for
      the purpose of avoiding fetal central nervous system abnormalities were suggested
      necessary. Delivery was uneventful, both mother and child being doing very well;
      umbilical blood AT III activity was 18%. It is generally difficult for us to form
      the diagnosis as AT III deficiency only from AT III activity at neonatal stage,
      but in the present study, we analyzed the restriction fragment length
      polymorphism of the AT III gene using umbilical blood, and succeeded in
      diagnosing the neonatal child as AT III deficiency.

PMID- 1433938
TI  - [Effect of subcutaneous administration of interleukin-1 beta on blood platelet
      count and serum GM-CSF in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and aplastic
      anemia].
AB  - Subcutaneous administration of recombinant human Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta)
      in a dose of 1-3 x 10(4) U/day for 14 to 72 days resulted in an increase in
      circulating granulocytes and bone marrow monocytes in all the 4 patients
      examined. Circulating platelet count was also increased in two of four patients
      with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and aplastic anemia (AA). Bone marrow
      examination revealed an increase in megakaryocyte count in these patients,
      whereas the percentage of blast was not changed. An increase in blood platelet
      count was accompanied by an increase in serum GM-CSF in a patient with AA,
      whereas serum IL-6 level was not changed throughout the treatment with IL-1 beta.
      These findings suggest that IL-1 beta may be useful for the treatment of a
      proportion of patients with MDS and AA who are associated with thrombocytopenia.

PMID- 1433939
TI  - [Clinical significance of antinuclear antibody in patients with idiopathic
      thrombocytopenic purpura].
AB  - The clinical significance of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in patients with
      chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) was evaluated. Serum samples of
      55 patients with ITP without clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus
      (SLE) were examined. The average follow-up period was 5.5 years. Positive ANA was
      found in 23 of the 55 patients. Twelve of these 23 showed a high-titer of ANA.
      There was no difference in platelet counts between ANA positive patients and
      negative patients, and there was no correlation between platelet counts and
      antibody titers. Ten of the 23 positive sera had precipitating antibodies to
      nuclear antigens; 7 SS-A and 3 RNP antibodies. The platelet counts of the 7 cases
      with anti-SS-A antibody positive were slightly low compared with those of the
      anti-SS-A antibody negative patients. None of the 10 patients developed SLE
      during the average follow-up period of 8.1 years. These results suggest that ITP
      patients who have a high-titer of ANA or antibody against SS-A do not always
      develop SLE. It was concluded that ANA with a high titer or precipitin to nuclear
      antigens, particularly SS-A, dose not predict a high risk of developing SLE in
      the future.

PMID- 1433940
TI  - [Clinical significance of aldolase A in sera of patients with leukemia].
AB  - Serum aldolase A (ALD-A) levels were determined in patients with leukemia using a
      radioimmunoassay method. The method is a double antibody radioimmunoassay
      consisting of purified ALD-A as ligand, chicken antisera to ALD-A and rabbit
      antibodies to chicken IgG. Serum ALD-A levels of 41 normal healthy subjects
      ranged from 130 to 210 ng/ml (mean +/- 2 SD; 171 +/- 39 ng/ml). Serum ALD-A
      levels ranged from 90 to 200 ng/ml in patients with 42 non-neoplastic
      hematological diseases with the exception of hemolytic anemia. In contrast, 61
      patients with acute leukemia before treatment exhibited increased serum ALD-A
      levels ranging from 125 to 1,550 ng/ml, with a mean value of 480 ng/ml. Serum ALD
      A levels in 24 patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) during the chronic
      phase also exhibited high mean values of 481 ng/ml in a range of 270 to 1,100
      ng/ml. Serum ALD-A levels were higher than 210 ng/ml in 85.2% of the patients
      with acute leukemia and in all patients with CML. Serum ALD-A levels tended to be
      decreased within the normal range, if those patients could achieve complete
      remission. In contrast, serum ALD-A levels showed a tendency to increase if those
      patients experienced a relapse of leukemia. These results suggest that the
      measurement of serum ALD-A levels by radioimmunoassay is useful for diagnosis and
      prediction of relapse in patients with leukemia.

PMID- 1433941
TI  - [The measurement of erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin/heme ratio in various anemias
      in childhood].
AB  - The measurement of erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) with a hematofluorometer
      is known to be a simple and cost-effective method to screen iron deficiency and
      lead poisoning. We measured ZPP on blood samples from 201 children suffering from
      various diseases, which revealed that ZPP has better sensitivity and specificity
      for identifying iron deficiency than serum ferritin and percent transferrin
      saturation. ZPP levels in various anemias were also measured. ZPP rose markedly
      (> 200 mumol/mol heme) in untreated iron deficiency anemia and returned to normal
      in 3-4 months since the initiation of iron therapy. Moderate elevation of ZPP was
      observed in acute leukemia (at onset and during induction therapy), MDS, aplastic
      anemia and some other anemic conditions. These findings suggest that erythrocyte
      ferrochelatase may be unexpectedly affected in anemias even except lead
      poisoning.

PMID- 1433942
TI  - [Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura associated with pregnancy].
AB  - We examined 14 patients (18 cases) with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
      during pregnancy at our department. ITP, which had improved, recurred during
      pregnancy in 4 cases while it developed for the first time during pregnancy in 10
      cases. In the other 4 cases, pregnancy occurred in the course of ITP. Although a
      normal infant was born in 14 cases, 3 stillbirth and a premature infant was
      observed in 4 cases. Six deliveries had some toxemia of pregnancy. A transient
      decrease in neonatal platelets was observed in 4 of 14 cases and mother's
      platelets count was less than 40 X 10(3)/microliters in the 4 cases. Although
      antinuclear antibody, Coomb's test and antiphospholipid antibody were positive in
      some cases, these were not markedly related to clinical course or neonatal
      platelets count. Eleven cases were treated with glucocorticoids, high dose gamma
      globulin or platelets transfusion, but 11 cases were not treated. Since ITP is
      frequently observed during pregnancy and may be some risk factor for pregnancy,
      treatment of ITP is important during pregnancy.

PMID- 1433943
TI  - [Cyclic thrombocytopenia with chronic thyroiditis and ankylosing spondylitis].
AB  - A 58-year-old man with cyclic thrombocytopenia who was initially diagnosed as
      idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), concomitant with chronic thyroiditis
      and ankylosing spondylitis, was reported. Serum level of T 3 (0.48 ng/ml) and T 4
      (2.1 micrograms/ml) were both subnormal and that of TSH (257.1 microU/ml) was
      markedly elevated. Thyroid test (6400X) and microsome test (6400X) was both
      positive, but anti-nuclear antibodies were negative. Radiographic findings of
      lumbar spine showed the typical "bamboo spine" and HLA B 27 was positive.
      Therapies for ITP, such as adrenocorticosteroids including steroid pulse therapy,
      high-dose intravenous gamma-globulin, danazol, slow infusion of vinca alkaloids
      and splenectomy, were only effective transiently. After these therapies platelet
      counts began to fluctuate from 0.4 X 10(10)/L to 34.4 X 10(10/L, therefore the
      diagnosis of cyclic thrombocytopenia was done. Interestingly low-dose
      methotrexate (MTX) was effective, and the cyclic fluctuation of platelet counts
      disappeared. These observations in this case were very suggestive of the
      pathogenesis of cyclic thrombocytopenia and mechanisms of cyclic change of
      platelet counts.

PMID- 1433944
TI  - [A case report of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia with leukoencephalopathy
      that responded to oxygenation under hyperbaric pressure therapy].
AB  - In this report, we described a case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia with
      leukoencephalopathy that responded to oxygenation under hyperbaric pressure (OHP)
      therapy. The patient was 6 year-old female who was diagnosed as acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) one year and 9 months earlier. After the first
      relapse of the central nervous system (CNS) leukemia, intrathecal administration
      of methotrexate (MTX) and skull irradiation induced CNS remission. The patient
      was readmitted because of second CNS relapse. After the third administration of
      weekly intrathecal MTX injection, apathy and finger tremor were observed. Her
      conscious disturbance continued for two weeks and magnetic resonance imaging
      (MRI) revealed abnormal findings in the white matter of her brain. Subsequently
      OHP therapy was commenced, and the conscious disturbance was improved gradually.
      One month later, neuro-disturbance resolved completely and the findings of MRI
      were improved. We could not find any case of leukoencephalopathy which was
      treated with OHP in the literature. But our case suggested that OHP therapy is
      valuable in patient with leukoencephalopathy in the early stage.

PMID- 1433945
TI  - [Disappearance of Philadelphia chromosomes after remission induction in lymphoid
      crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia].
AB  - The authors report a rare case of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in which the
      Ph1 clone disappeared after remission induction of lymphoid crisis. A 58-year-old
      man was admitted to our hospital because of fever in July 1988. The white cell
      count was elevated. Bone marrow aspirate showed hypercellularity with myeloid
      hyperplasia. In the chromosomal analysis, Ph1 chromosomes were detected in 100%
      of bone marrow cells analysed. Diagnosis of CML was made and treatment was
      initiated with recombinant interferon-alpha 2a. Hematological remission without
      cytogenetic improvement was achieved. In March 1990 he developed lymphoid crisis
      with proliferation of CD10-positive cells. The chromosomal analysis revealed
      additional abnormalities including, 45, X, -Y, t(9;22) (q34;q11), +1, -8. With
      vincristine 0.6 mgX4, pirarubicin 15 mgX4, dexamethasone 40 mgX4 therapy complete
      remission was obtained. In December 1990 the Ph1 positive clone completely
      disappeared judging from normal karyotypes in the chromosomal analysis and the
      disappearance of M-bcr gene rearrangement.

PMID- 1433946
TI  - [Effective treatment of CMMoL with F-COP (epirubicine, cyclophosphamide,
      vincristine, prednisolone) therapy].
AB  - A 66-year-old female was admitted with high fever and loss of consciousness. For
      the past one year, she has experienced recurrent febrile episodes. On admission,
      the presence of monocytosis, thrombocytopenia of the peripheral blood and
      dysplastic findings of the bone marrow cells indicated chronic myelomonocytic
      leukemia (CMMoL). The high fever persisted in spite of treatment with
      antibiotics. Although she was treated by pulse therapy with methyl-prednisolone,
      her clinical symptoms did not improve. Pleural effusion and ascites were also
      noted. Treatment with F-COP (epirubicine, cyclophosphamide, vincristine,
      prednisolone) therapy, resulted in a dramatic improvement of her condition. The F
      COP therapy was given monthly for the next 7 months. This case suggests that F
      COP therapy may be effective for some patients with CMMoL.

PMID- 1433947
TI  - [Hodgkin's disease presenting with fever of unknown origin associated with
      granulomas of the bone marrow].
AB  - A 73-year-old man was admitted to our hospital on April 30, 1990, because of
      fever persisting for 18 months. Bone marrow puncture and biopsy were performed,
      because examination on admission revealed an elevated leukocyte count and anemia
      while his superficial lymph nodes, liver and spleen were not palpable. The
      results of the bone marrow biopsy revealed evidence of granuloma. Around May 10,
      the patient developed hepatosplenomegaly and enlargement of left cervical lymph
      nodes. Based on the results lymph node biopsy, a diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease
      was made, and CHOP therapy was instituted on May 20. However, the patient
      developed interstitial pneumonia and died on July 3. This patient's disease was
      manifested by fever of unknown origin. Bone marrow biopsy revealed granuloma with
      histiocytes predominating, and the patient subsequently developed lymph node
      enlargement. His disease was then diagnosed as Hodgkin's disease on the basis of
      a biopsy. Malignant lymphomas associated with granulomas in the bone marrow,
      liver or spleen are for the most part found in the advanced stage of the disease.
      It should be borne in mind, however, that some patients may exhibit granuloma
      formation in their bone marrow prior to lymph node enlargement or
      hepatosplenomegaly, as in the present case.

PMID- 1433948
TI  - [Isolated cerebellar tumor formation in a patient with blastic crisis of chronic
      myelogenous leukemia].
AB  - A 42-year-old male was diagnosed as having Ph-positive chronic myelogenous
      leukemia (CML) in 1988. He had been treated with ranimustine and interferon
      alpha. In April 1990, he was admitted to our hospital because of hemorrhagic
      diathesis. Blood counts revealed a white blood cell count of 319,200/microliters
      with 12 per cent blasts, a hemoglobin level of 9.2 g/dl, and a platelet count of
      48,000/microliters. The bone marrow aspiration revealed hypercellularity with
      68.2 per cent blasts, and chromosomal analysis showed 48, XY, +8, double Ph. A
      combination chemotherapy containing vindesine, cytarabine and prednisolone was
      administered. Four days later, he suddenly complained of headache and vertigo. CT
      scan of the brain showed a high density area at the cerebellar vermis. He was
      then treated with intensive combination chemotherapy including enocitabine,
      daunomycin, 6-mercaptopurine and prednisolone. He attained a hematological
      response and clinical improvement temporarily, as the cerebellar tumor regressed.
      In September he had headache and vertigo again, and CT scan revealed a rapid
      increase in size of the cerebellar tumor. Local irradiation with total doses of
      19 Gy brought about a partial resolution of the lesion, and relief from the
      symptoms. In November, his hematological conditions deteriorated gradually and he
      died of brain hemorrhage on November 22, 1990. Post-mortem examination disclosed
      a 1 x 1 cm sized mass in the cerebellar vermis which showed a fibrous change
      surrounded with hemosiderin-laden macrophages microscopically. We reviewed the
      eight reported cases of CML with intracranial tumors, and discussed the factors
      which had contributed to the prolongation of survival in our patient.

PMID- 1433949
TI  - [Treatment of CML with blastic crisis by the combination therapy of VP and low
      dose Ara-C].
AB  - Forty-three-year-old man with schizophrenia, who had been diagnosed as chronic
      myelogenous leukemia (CML) and had been treated with hydroxyurea for 3 months,
      developed blastic crisis. The cytochemical study of the blastic cells showed POX
      (+), SBB (+) and TdT (+). The surface marker analysis revealed that the blastic
      cells expressed both myeloid (CD13, 33) and lymphoid (CD10, 19) markers. In the
      chromosomal analysis, additional chromosomal abnormality (11q+) was detected in
      all cells analysed (20/20) in addition to the standard type Ph1 chromosome. He
      was diagnosed as bi-phenotypic blastic crisis, and vincristine-prednisolone
      therapy was started. Initially, he responded to VP therapy well, but gradually
      became refractory to the therapy after 5 courses of VP. As many myeloblasts
      containing azurophilic granules were seen in the bone marrow after VP therapy,
      low dose Ara-C therapy was combined to VP. After 21 days of low dose Ara-C and
      VP, the percentage of the blast in the BM was significantly decreased and normal
      myeloid differentiation was observed after transient BM suppression. The
      chromosomal analysis showed the partial reappearance of standard Ph1 chromosome
      in 55% of the cells analyzed (11/20). Taken together, our data suggested that the
      combination of VP and low-dose Ara-C therapy might have some therapeutic benefit
      for the treatment of the CML with blastic crisis.

PMID- 1433950
TI  - [Successful interferon-alpha treatment of hepatitis B developing during
      chemotherapy of malignant lymphoma].
AB  - In a 47-year-old male patient a tonsillar swelling was pointed out in May, 1991.
      Lymph node biopsy revealed that he had malignant lymphoma (diffuse large cell
      type). He had no hepatic dysfunction on admission, but because of positive
      hepatitis B (HB) antigen and negative HB antibody, he was diagnosed as an
      asymptomatic HB carrier. The staging examination showed that he had stage IIA
      lymphoma. Treatment with the COP-BLAM regimen was initiated on June 8. But the
      level of serum GOT and GPT increased to 286 IU/l and 392 IU/l, respectively.
      Serum DNA polymerase also increased to 9492 cpm. Interferon-alpha (3 x 10(6)
      units daily) was administered intramuscularly from June 8. Serum DNA polymerase
      decreased to zero on September 2, and his HBe antibody became positive indicating
      seroconversion. COP-BLAM chemotherapy without prednisolone was initiated from
      September 9 and complete remission was achieved. He was discharged from our
      hospital on September 25. It has been frequently reported that asymptomatic HB
      antigen carriers developed fulminant hepatitis during the course of chemotherapy.
      Our case suggests that it is necessary to continue chemotherapy in order to
      attain seroconversion by early use of interferon-alpha, when lymphoma patients
      display aggravated hepatic dysfunction and increased DNA polymerase levels.

PMID- 1433951
TI  - [HIV-1 seropositive hemophilia A complicated by disseminated intravascular
      coagulation syndrome and acute pancreatitis during treatment of Pneumocystis
      carinii pneumonia].
AB  - Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is a major opportunistic infection in
      acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and is treated with co-trimoxazole,
      pentamidine and others. The severe adverse reactions, including bone marrow
      suppression, by these therapeutic agents often preclude their continued use. A 14
      year-old male HIV-positive hemophilia A patient, who was complicated by
      disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome (DIC) following acute
      pancreatitis during treatment for PCP, was treated with proteinase inhibitors and
      anticoagulant agents. He was improved and discharged. As pentamidine may cause
      pancreatitis and develop DIC, it is important that pancreatic enzymes should be
      carefully followed when this agent administrated. In this case, granulocyte
      colony-stimulating factor and erythropoietin were effective for the bone marrow
      suppression, suggesting that importance of these agents for the prophylaxis of
      other secondary infections during the treatment.

PMID- 1433952
TI  - [Clinicopathological review of Japanese cases with neoplastic
      angioendotheliosis].
AB  - The patient was a 76-year-old female who had been referred to our hospital
      because of fever of unknown origin on October 15, 1987. On admission, the body
      temperature was 38.6 degrees C and atonic palsy of the left upper limb was noted.
      Abnormal laboratory findings included CRP5+, an increase in LDH, Hb 7.9 g/dl. The
      cause of the fever could not be identified. The fever did not respond to various
      treatment. The patient developed DIC in late October and died on November 5. In
      autopsy histological examination revealed tumor cells in the vessels of the
      generalized organs. A diagnosis of neoplastic angioendotheliosis (NAE) and
      immunohistologically B lymphoma was made. We reviewed the literature on 37
      Japanese cases of NAE. The cases, consisting of 19 males and 18 females, were
      aged 37-87 years with a median value of 60 years. The symptoms observed during
      the course were most frequently mental or neurological symptoms and fever, and
      rash was uncommon. Laboratory findings were non-specific and biopsy was needed
      for definitive diagnosis. By autopsy, lesions were noted more frequently in the
      brain, kidneys, and lungs, and the findings in the skin were indeterminate. These
      observations suggest that when NAE should be considered, kidney, lung or skin
      biopsy should be performed for definitive diagnosis.

PMID- 1433954
TI  - [Pleiotropy and redundancy of cytokines].

PMID- 1433953
TI  - [Lumbago as a presentation of B-cell lymphoma invading psoas muscle].
AB  - A 73-year-old male had severe lumbago and right inguinal lymphadenopathy. A CT
      scanning of his abdomen showed marked enlargement of right psoas and erector
      spinae muscles. The biopsies of the lymph node and the muscles revealed non
      Hodgkin's lymphoma of follicular mixed type with muscle invasion. THP-COPE
      therapy was begun. The swelling of the muscles diminished and the lumbago
      resolved rapidly. It was reported that clinically prominent infiltration of of
      lymphoma in skeletal muscle was rarely and psoas muscle was for the most part. We
      have to consider that psoas muscle invasion of lymphoma cause hard to cure
      lumbago.

PMID- 1433955
TI  - [Present status and future aspects of clinical use of cytokines].

PMID- 1433956
TI  - [Mechanism of cytokine pleiotropy and mutual regulation].
AB  - Cytokines manifest overlapping effects on many cell types and their production is
      regulated by a cytokine network. This minireview summarizes the current
      understanding of how affinity converter molecules, shared by several cytokines,
      is related to cytokine pleiotropy, and how Th1/Th2 are differentially developed
      and regulated through a cytokine network, especially, negative loop. Finally, the
      importance of the temporal expression of cytokines, in relation to the
      physiological relevance of the network, is pointed out.

PMID- 1433957
TI  - [Regulation of proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells by
      cytokines].
AB  - Recent studies on the hematopoietic system have revealed that both constitutive
      and inducible hematopoiesis are regulated by complicated networks composed of
      various kinds of cytokines and that there are some general rules for
      hematopoietic cytokine biology. Further accumulation of knowledge about the
      regulation of proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells by
      cytokines will serve to clarify the pathophysiology of hematological diseases,
      resulting in the development of therapeutic strategy for these diseases.

PMID- 1433958
TI  - [Regulation of immune response by cytokine network].
AB  - Cytokines are a highly diverse group of intracellular messages. Many cDNAs that
      encode the cytokines have been cloned in 1980's and the structure of the
      molecules have been determined. The main function of the cytokines is to amplify
      the immune and inflammatory responses, keeping them under control at the same
      time. They orchestrate the response and maintain a proper balance among the
      various cell types. In this chapter, we summarized the immunoregulation by
      cytokine network, focussing on the control of antibody production and
      immunoglobulin class switch by various cytokines produced by helper T cell
      subsets.

PMID- 1433959
TI  - [Inflammation and pro-inflammatory cytokine].
AB  - The main pathological feature of inflammation consists of leukocyte infiltration
      and exudation of plasma into the lesion in the early stage followed by
      proliferation of connective tissue including fibroblasts, which leads to the
      formation of granulation tissue. Systemic manifestations include elevation of
      body temperature and increase of serum acute phase reactants such as C-reactive
      protein and serum amyloid A. Most of these reactions are presumed to be caused by
      mediators which are produced by a various kinds of cells and tissues upon contact
      with inflammatory stimuli, such as bacteria, helminths, viruses, etc. Recently,
      it has become known that most of inflammatory stimuli induce the production of
      large amounts of several cytokines including interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6, and
      tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and that these cytokines exert a wide variety
      of effects to accelerate inflammation. Hence, these cytokines are called "pro
      inflammatory cytokines". These cytokines have overlapping biological functions
      and induce the production of each other, thus forming a complicated cytokine
      network. Here, in order to review the roles of these cytokines in the progression
      of inflammation, the effects on the body temperature, leukocyte infiltration and
      production of serum acute phase reactants, in particular, will be discussed.

PMID- 1433960
TI  - [Membrane receptors and cell transformation].
AB  - Here I discuss quantitative and qualitative activation of several receptor-type
      molecules in tumor cells. Recently we have shown that EGF-R gene is frequently
      mutated in human glioblastoma. Mutant EGF-R had a 801-bp deletion within the
      ligand binding domain, and showed a ligand-independent, constitutive elevation of
      tyrosine kinase activity. This EGF-R mutation is detected only in glioma and
      associated with gene amplification, suggesting a relationship in the molecular
      mechanism between deletion mutation and initiation of gene amplification in these
      cases. Secondly I have shown an activation of mouse CD43 gene by amplification
      and rearrangement in erythroleukemia cell lines. Intracellular domain of CD43 has
      no kinase domain but a highly conserved structure among mammals, probably
      interacting with intracellular signal transducers. Recently CD43 has been
      demonstrated to be specifically associated with a cell-adhesion molecule ICAM-1.
      Thus, CD43-ICAM-1 system might be a new type of cytokine system which regulate
      cell-proliferation through cell-cell interaction. In addition, activation of EpoR
      and v-mpl is also discussed.

PMID- 1433961
TI  - [Antitumor cytokines].
AB  - Cytokines have various kinds of functions, including immunoregulation, host
      defense system, induction of inflammation and pathogenesis of many diseases. One
      of the characteristics of cytokines is the interaction among cytokines, and they
      further play an important role in the defense against tumor development, although
      its mechanism is highly complicated. In this paper, cytokines possessing
      antitumor activity, are described. These are 2 categories of antitumor cytokines,
      immunological and non-immunological ones. As immunological cytokines,
      interferons, interleukin 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 12, tumor necrosis factor and
      lymphotoxin, have been investigated. On the other hand, tumor-degenerating
      factor, tumor regressing factor, glial maturation factor, glial growth inhibitory
      factor, neuroblastoma growth inhibitory factor, neonatal brain derived
      carcinostatic factor, chondromodulin and gliostatin have been characterized as
      non-immunological antitumor cytokines. These cytokines interact, and the
      complicated network of immunological and non-immunological antitumor cytokines is
      formed.

PMID- 1433962
TI  - [New cytokines for negative growth regulation].
AB  - Considerable evidence has accumulated indicating that proliferation of animal
      cells is regulated by a balance between positive and negative growth stimuli. To
      clarify molecular species and physiological roles of growth inhibitors, we have
      been studying cytostatic or cytotoxic proteins present in different sources, such
      as sera and conditioned media of cultured cells. One cytostatic and two cytotoxic
      factors were recently purified from normal rabbit serum and characterized. Other
      groups also have reported various kinds of growth-inhibitory factors. The
      properties of these recently reported growth-inhibitory factors and their
      possible significance are summarized in this article.

PMID- 1433963
TI  - [Growth regulation of vascular cells by cytokines].
AB  - Cytokines with stimulatory or inhibitory activities for vascular cells are
      reviewed. Directly or via humoral factors, vascular endothelial cells interact
      with blood cells, such as lymphocytes, neutrophils and platelets, while smooth
      muscle cells do so with inflammatory cells. Various cytokines, including IL-1, 6,
      7, 8, GM-, G-, M-CSF, a, b-FGF, PDGF, TGF beta, PAF, PA, PAI-1, cell adhesion
      molecules and endothelin are produced by endothelial cells and/or smooth muscle
      cells, and in turn they and cytokines produced by blood cells, act as modulators
      of growth or function of the vascular cells under some physico-pathological
      states. Vascular cells, especially, endothelial cells might thus be involved in
      cytokine network.

PMID- 1433964
TI  - [Structural similarity and signal transduction of cytokine receptors].
AB  - The advent of expression cloning has established a new group of membrane
      glycoproteins, called the cytokine receptor superfamily. Members of this family
      have common structural similarities in the extracellular region and no intrinsic
      tyrosine kinase activity is seen in the intracellular region. A combination of
      two distinct subunits (alpha and beta) in the family has been shown to generate
      high-affinity receptors in which the alpha subunits specify the binding and the
      beta subunits function as transducers that are presumably associated with
      tyrosine kinases. The high-affinity receptors for IL-3, IL-5 and GM-CSF all share
      the same beta subunit. The high-affinity receptor for IL-2 is however unique in
      that it requires a third component, notably, the gamma subunit, whose gene we
      have recently cloned.

PMID- 1433965
TI  - [Studies of physiological functions of cytokines by generating mutant mice
      through the transgenic and the gene-targeting technology].
AB  - Molecular cloning of gene coding for cytokines, growth factors and their
      receptors have facilitated an accumulation of findings regarding the function of
      their products. So far, many kinds of functions of such molecules in vitro have
      been identified. To clarify the physiological roles of such molecules in vivo a
      variety of cytokine-transgenic mice and a few cytokine-gene targeted mice have
      been generated. Many of the phenotypes expressed by these animals are as expected
      from the in vitro assay data, but some are unexpected. In this short article,
      some of the phenotypes reported are introduced and their significance is
      discussed.

PMID- 1433966
TI  - [Function, molecular structure and gene expression of interleukin-1].
AB  - Recent cloning of human and murine IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) has revealed that there
      are at least two type of IL-1R: type I IL-1R is detected on T cells and
      fibroblasts and consists of 552 AAs with a cytoplasmic domain of 213 AAs, while
      type II is detected on B cells and monocytic cell lines and consists of 398 AAs
      with a short stretch intracytoplasmic domain of 29 AAs. Extracytoplasmic portion
      of IL-1R has some homology with vaccinia virus B15 Ag or fibroblast protein ST-2,
      while cytoplasmic portion has considerable similarity with Drosophila toll gene.
      By transfecting murine type I IL-1R cDNA into a human Jurkat cell line,
      structural and functional potion required for the IL-1 signal transduction is
      determined. At least broad portion of cytoplasmic domain including 364-474 AAs
      from N-terminus are found to be essential, while PKC acceptor site (Ser-431 and
      Ser-509), and PKA acceptor site (Ser-528) are not essential for the IL-8 gene
      expression.

PMID- 1433967
TI  - [Function, molecular structure and gene expression of IL-2 and the receptors].
AB  - The Interleukin 2 receptor is now assumed to be composed of three chains, the L
      (alpha or Tac), H (beta) chain and p56. The L chain binds IL-2 with low affinity,
      whereas intermediate-affinity binding of IL-2 is achieved by an association of
      p56 and the H chain. The high-affinity IL-2R is therefore believed to be a
      quaternary complex composed of the L chain, the H chain, p56 and IL-2. A larger
      number of L chains enhances the association rate of IL-2 to form the high
      affinity IL-2R in agreement with the stepwise binding model. The signal
      transduction-competent H chain has been shown to associate with p56lck upon IL-2
      stimulation.

PMID- 1433968
TI  - [IL-3 gene, receptor and signal transduction].
AB  - Interleukin 3 (IL-3) plays a critical role in growth and differentiation of
      myeloid cells. The human IL-3 gene, located on chromosome 5 contains several cis
      acting DNA sequences, i.e. CLE (conserved lymphokine element) and a GC rich
      region, similar to the GM-CSF gene. The expression of the GM-CSF and IL-3 genes
      in activated T cells may be regulated coordinately through these cis-regulatory
      elements. Recently, reconstitution experiments using isolated cDNA clones for
      receptor subunits have revealed that two distinct proteins are required for the
      high affinity receptors for GM-CSF, IL-3 and IL-5; the alpha subunits bind with
      the corresponding ligands with low affinity, and the beta subunit is shared in
      common. Tyrosine kinase activity appears to be involved in the signal
      transduction of the IL-3 and GM-CSF receptors.

PMID- 1433969
TI  - [Function, molecular structure and gene expression of IL-4].
AB  - Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a T-lymphocyte-derived 20-kDa glycoprotein that has a
      broad spectrum of biological activity including growth and differentiation of T
      cells, B cells, mast cells, hematopoietic cells and non-hematopoietic cells. The
      biological effects of IL-4 are induced by binding to specific membrane receptors
      (IL-4R) on target cells. Molecular cloning of IL-4R revealed a novel cytokine
      receptor family, but not clues as to the signalling mechanism. The biochemical
      mechanism of IL-4 signal, induced by its specific binding, remains to be
      clarified. Recent studies on the physiological function of IL-4 are presented
      here.

PMID- 1433970
TI  - [IL-5-and its receptor--the role of IL-5 in the development of hematopoietic
      cells in the long-term bone marrow cultures].
AB  - IL-5 is a T-cell-derived glycoprotein that acts on B cells and eosinophils to
      induce their growth and differentiation. We clarified using in vitro long-term
      bone marrow culture that IL-5 supports the growth and survival of Ly-1+ common
      progenitor cells which can differentiate into Ly-1+ B cells and Ly-1+
      macrophages. The functional IL-5 receptor (IL-5R) consists of alpha and beta
      heterodimers. The 60 kDa alpha chain binds to IL-5 with low affinity, while the
      130 kDa beta chain does not bind with IL-5 by itself, but converts low affinity
      IL-5R to high affinity IL-5R together with the alpha chain. The beta chain is
      shared with GM-CSFR and IL-3R.

PMID- 1433971
TI  - [The interleukin-6 signal transducer, gp130, functioning in immune,
      hematopoietic, and neural systems].
AB  - Functional pleiotropy and redundancy are characteristic features of cytokines. To
      understand the signaling mechanisms of such cytokines, we have proposed a two
      chain interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6-R) model: IL-6 triggers the association of a
      ligand-binding chain (IL-6-R) and a non-binding signal transducer (gp130) to form
      a high-affinity receptor complex, causing transmission of the signal by the
      cytoplasmic portion of gp130. This model would explain the functional redundancy
      of cytokines if we were to assume that gp130 interacts with several different
      receptor chains. Here we present data indicating that gp130 functions as a common
      signal transducer for IL-6, oncostatin M (OM), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF),
      and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). We show that anti-gp130 monoclonal
      antibodies completely block the biological responses induced by all of these
      factors. Since LIF functions as a cholinergic differentiation factor in nerve
      cells as does CNTF, these results suggest that gp130 may also play a role in the
      neural system.

PMID- 1433972
TI  - [Molecular aspects of IL-7-IL-7 receptor system].
AB  - IL-7 is a multifunctional cytokine which acts on cells such as B cells, T cells
      and macrophages. As the IL-7 clearly plays many important roles the in control of
      growth and differentiation, it is important to understand how IL-7 and IL-7
      receptor (IL-7R) are expressed. Recently, to understand the transcriptional
      regulation of IL-7 and IL-7R genes, a detailed analysis of the 5' flanking region
      of the IL-7 and IL-7R genes has been done. In this review recent progress on
      these topics is introduced and discussed.

PMID- 1433973
TI  - [Function, molecular structure and gene expression of IL-8].
AB  - Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a potent chemotactic factor for neutrophils and T
      lymphocytes. Various reagents such as lectins, mitogens, IL-1, TNF, induce IL-8
      production in a wide range of cells and tissues. The IL-8 gene is known to be
      activated by AP-1, NF-kB like factor and C/EBP like factor, but the relative
      importance of these transcriptional factors varies from cell to cell. Two types
      of human IL-8 receptor cDNA have recently been cloned. Both are G-protein coupled
      receptors and the amino acid sequences are highly homologous. Other members of
      the IL-8 family, such as GRO/MGSA and MIP2, bind to IL-8 receptors, and the
      receptors of other chemoattractants such as fMLP and C5a, show high homology to
      the IL-8 receptors.

PMID- 1433974
TI  - [Function, molecular structure and gene expression regulation of interleukin 9
      (IL-9)].
AB  - Interleukin-9 (IL-9)/P40 is a recently reported murine growth factor for helper T
      cell clones. It is produced by ConA stimulated CD4+ T-cells or several T-cell
      lines such as TUC 2.15 derived from C57Bl/6 mouse. In the murine system, IL-9/P40
      directly supported proliferation of mucosal type mast cells, and also induced
      erythroid burst formation, indirectly. On the other hand, human IL-9, which is a
      homologue to murine P40, was cloned from a cDNA library prepared with mRNA
      isolated from PHA-induced T-cell line (C5MJ2). Analysis of the sequence of cDNA
      revealed a striking similarity between murine and human IL-9/P40. Human IL-9
      supported formation of a subpopulation of erythroid bursts that are responsive to
      IL-3. In this communication, identification, cloning of cDNA, and biological
      activities of murine and human IL-9/P40 are discussed.

PMID- 1433975
TI  - [Function, molecular structure and gene expression regulation of interleukin-10
      (IL-10)].
AB  - Interleukin-10 has a variety of biological activities. Murine interleukin-10
      inhibits cytokine production by Th2 cells in the presence of macrophages,
      enhances T cell proliferation, sustains the viability of B cells in vitro,
      induces class II MHC antigen expression on B cells, enhances mast cell
      proliferation in the presence of IL-3 and/or IL-4, and inhibits cytokine
      production by macrophages. Human interleukin-10 inhibits cytokine production by
      human T cells and reduces antigen-specific human T cell proliferation by
      downregulation of class II MHC antigen expression on monocytes. cDNA clones
      encoding murine and human interleukin-10 exhibit a strong homology to BCRFI in
      Epstein-Barr virus. BCRFI conserves only a part of interleukin-10 activities.

PMID- 1433976
TI  - [Function, molecular structure and gene expression of interleukin-11 (IL
      11/AGIF)].
AB  - Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is a novel cytokine that was identified in a medium
      conditioned by the primate bone marrow-derived stromal cell line PU-34. It was
      originally identified as a growth factor for the IL-6-dependent plasmacytoma cell
      line T1165. Adipogenesis inhibitory factor (AGIF) was cloned from the human bone
      marrow-derived cell line KM-102. The AGIF cDNA sequence was revealed to be
      identical to that of the IL-11 cDNA. AGIF inhibits the process of adipogenesis of
      the bone marrow-derived preadipocyte cell line H-1/A. Other biological activities
      of IL-11/AGIF, megakaryocytopoiesis, stem-cell proliferation, hepatic acute phase
      responses and antigen-specific antibody responses are also summarized.

PMID- 1433977
TI  - [Function,molecular structure and gene expression of macrophage colony
      stimulating factor].
AB  - Human urinary macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hM-CSF) is a glycoprotein
      with a molecular weight of 85 kDa which consists of two homologous subunits with
      a molecular weight of 43 kDa. It stimulates monocyte production through the
      stimulation of progenitor cells to differentiate to mature monocytes as well as
      neutrophil production through the stimulation of mature monocytes to produce
      granulocyte-macrophage and granulocyte CSF. It also enhances platelet production
      through the production of megakaryocyte potentiator (Meg-POT). Recently,
      proteoglycan type M-CSF has been found by our group. This type of M-CSF has a
      molecular weight of greater than 200 kDa and consists of a 43 kDa subunit and a
      150-200 kDa subunit, the latter of which contains chondroitin sulfate
      glycosaminoglycan. This proteoglycan type M-CSF binds to extra-cellular matrix at
      the part of glycosaminoglycan. In addition to hematopoiesis-stimulating activity,
      M-CSF has a promoting activity on monocyte tumor-killing, osteoclast production
      and differentiation of cytotrophoblasts to syncytiotrophoblasts which secrete
      gonadotropin. M-CSF receptor (M-CSF-R) was found as a product of proto-oncogene,
      c-fms which consists of 972 amino acids. Mutations at Tyr 969 and Ser 301 of M
      CSF-R has been found in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and monocytic
      leukemia.

PMID- 1433978
TI  - [Function, molecular structure and gene expression of granulocyte-macrophage
      colony stimulating factor].
AB  - Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a 22 kDa glycoprotein
      secreted from activated T cells and stroma cells, plays an important role, both
      in the constructive and inducible hemopoiesis, by stimulating a wide range of
      hemopoietic cells. After the cloning of receptor genes, the high affinity GM-CSF
      receptor was reconstituted by the combination of cloned 80 kDa molecule (alpha
      chain) and 120 kDa molecule (beta chain). This human GM-CSF receptor beta chain
      also works as a beta chain of IL-3 or IL-5 high affinity receptor. The fact that
      the alpha chains of GM-CSF, IL-3 and IL-5 share the same beta chain may define a
      biological interaction among these three cytokines.

PMID- 1433979
TI  - [Function, molecular structure and gene expression regulation of erythropoietin].
AB  - Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone which enhances red blood cell
      production by stimulating growth and differentiation of erythroid progenitor
      cells. Recombinant human EPO (huEPO), expressed in CHO cells, is highly similar
      to urinary huEPO with respect to both structural and functional properties. EPO
      production is primarily localized to peritubular interstitial cells in the cortex
      of the kidney. Increased EPO production due to anemia seems to be correlated with
      increased numbers of EPO-producing cells rather than with increased production by
      the individual EPO-producing cells. A heme protein is proposed to be the oxygen
      sensor. Tissue-specific and hypoxia-inducible expression of EPO gene is governed
      by multiple regulatory elements. Murine CFU-E from the spleens of mice, infected
      with the anemia-inducing strain of Friend virus, differentiate into reticulocytes
      in response to EPO. EPO appears to prevent CFU-E from programmed death
      (apoptosis). The gene for mouse EPO receptor produces 65 Kd protein on the cell
      surface. This protein seems to be specifically associated with another 100 Kd
      and/or 85 Kd proteins. The gene for human EPO receptor was also cloned, based on
      its similarity to murine counterpart. EPO receptor belongs to a novel class of
      receptors termed the cytokine receptor superfamily.

PMID- 1433980
TI  - [Epidermal growth factor and its receptor: the structure and function].
AB  - Epidermal growth factor (EGF) binds to the specific membrane receptor and
      subsequently activates the signal transduction pathway through intrinsic tyrosine
      kinase activity. To elucidate the mechanism in which structural alteration of the
      EGF may affect functional properties including its receptor binding ability, site
      directed mutagenesis has been employed. The functional significance of structural
      characteristics of the EGF receptor has been studied also by mutant receptor
      constructs in the transfected cells. Recent progress on the studies of the EGF
      and EGF receptor interaction are reviewed.

PMID- 1433981
TI  - [Function, molecular structure and gene expression of fibroblast growth factor
      (FGF/HBGF)].
AB  - The structure and function of members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) gene
      family and their receptors are reviewed. All the member of this gene family bind
      heparin, and therefore, are also called the as heparin-binding growth factor
      (HBGF). In this review, the structural features of FGF/HBGF are summarized first,
      and general features of the structure and function of their receptors are then
      described briefly. After biological effects of FGF/HBGF on adult-type tissues and
      cultured cells are reviewed, effects of FGF on the mesodermal induction in
      amphibian (Xenopus laevis) embryonic system are reviewed in more detail. Emphasis
      is given on the experiments with Xenopus animal cap assay system and also on the
      injection into Xenopus fertilized eggs of mRNA of dominant defect mutant of FGF
      receptor, which leads to the formation of embryos with abnormal axial mesoderm.

PMID- 1433982
TI  - [Function, molecular structure and gene expression regulation of Platelet-derived
      growth factor].
AB  - Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a cationic glycoprotein of approximately
      30 kDa, composed of two subunits. These subunit chains are termed A (18 kDa) and
      B (12-14 kDa) with high homology of the peptide sequences, including 8 cysteine
      residues at identical positions. Three isoforms of PDGF, AA, BB homodimers and AB
      heterodimer are distributed in the different tissues and cell lines suggesting
      that these isoforms have different functions. Two types of PDGF receptors alpha,
      and beta with Mr of 160-180 kDa are seen on the cell surface. PDGFR alpha can
      bind to both A and B subunits of the PDGD, while PDGFR beta, only B subunit. PDGF
      (AA) combines alpha alpha, PDGF (AB) makes dimers of alpha alpha and alpha beta,
      and PDGF (BB) can make three types of dimers, alpha alpha, alpha beta, and beta
      beta. These dimeric PDGFRs are active forms and phosphorylate its own domain and
      other neighbor specific proteins. The substrates of the receptor kinase are
      phospholipase C-gamma, GTPase activating protein (GAP), serine/threonine kinase
      Raf-1 and others. These molecules are thought to transfer information of the
      PDGFs on its receptors to the nucleus.

PMID- 1433984
TI  - [Function, molecular structure and gene expression of insulin-like growth factors
      ].
AB  - In this short review, gene structure, transcriptional pattern, biological
      activity, specific receptors and binding proteins for insulin-like growth factors
      (IGF: IGF I and IGF II) are explained. In spite of their close similarity in both
      gene and peptide structures, their receptors are completely distinct from each
      other in molecular structure and in signal transduction. Expression of IGF
      function in vivo is strongly restricted by plasma binding proteins.

PMID- 1433983
TI  - [Function, molecular structure and gene expression regulation of nerve growth
      factor].
AB  - Nerve growth factor (NGF) is the initially discovered and best characterized
      target-derived neurotrophic factor. The NGF gene family includes NGF, brain
      derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin (NT)-3, NT-4, and NT-5. The
      members of this family can interact with the members of trk family of receptor
      like protein-tyrosine kinases (trk, trk B and trk C), suggesting that the
      different trk protein serves as receptor subunits for the different
      neurotrophins. Meanwhile, some recent reports have shown that exogenous
      administration of NGF itself or a stimulator of NGF synthesis to damaged neurons
      have beneficial effects. These findings open the possibility of new therapy for
      nervous diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 1433985
TI  - [Function, molecular structure and gene expression regulation of transforming
      growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)].
AB  - Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a multifunctional peptide growth
      factor widely distributed in vertebrates and represents a prototype of a large
      family of structurally related factors that regulate various cellular functions,
      ranging from amphibian embryonal development to hormone production in the human
      pituitary. TGF-beta is a disulfide-bonded homodimer of a subunit of 12.5 kD that
      is derived from a much larger precursor. The amino acid sequences of TGF-betas
      are highly conserved among species, suggesting their physiological importance.
      TGF-beta was originally isolated from human platelets as a factor that induces
      anchorage-independent growth of normal fibroblasts. However, later studies have
      revealed that its major biological activities include inhibition of cell
      proliferation, and regulation of differentiation, cell adhesion and extracellular
      matrix deposition. There are three types of cellular receptors that bind TGF
      beta. Type II receptor, of which cDNA was recently cloned, is a functional
      serine/threonine kinase and is thought to be involved in the TGF-beta-mediated
      signal transduction pathway. The importance of TGF-beta in clinical medicine will
      increase not only as it is a promising therapeutic drug, but also as its
      excessive activity can be the cause of various human fibrotic diseases.

PMID- 1433987
TI  - [Function, molecular structure and gene expression regulation of receptor for D
      factor/LIF].
AB  - Differentiation-stimulating factor (D-factor)/leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is
      a cytokine inducing differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemic M1 cells. IL-6,
      oncostatin M (OSM) and G-CSF also induce differentiation of M1 cells. These four
      cytokines are suggested to be members of a single cytokine family. The LIF
      receptor is structurally related to the gp130 signal-transducing component of the
      IL-6 receptor and to the G-CSF receptor. The high-affinity receptors for LIF, OSM
      and IL-6 share the common subunit, gp130. This provides an explanation for the
      functional redundancy of those cytokines.

PMID- 1433986
TI  - [Function, molecular structure and gene expression regulation of LD78].
AB  - LD78 is a member of a new cytokine superfamily, consisting of at least twelve
      small proteins, which are involved in inflammation and cell growth. Depending on
      their primary structure, these cytokines can be divided into two families, one of
      which contains LD78 and is known as the CC family. The protein and gene
      structures and the physiological functions of LD78 in comparison with the other
      CC family members are summarized here. Furthermore, the generation mechanism of
      the three LD78 genes and their expression are discussed.

PMID- 1433988
TI  - [Structure and biological property of fibroblast-derived tumor cytotoxic factor
      (F-TCF)].
AB  - Fibroblast-derived tumor cytotoxic factor (F-TCF), isolated from human embryonic
      lung fibroblasts, is cytotoxic against various human and mouse tumor cells.
      Physicochemical and biological properties indicate that F-TCF is closely similar
      to hepatocyte growth factors (HGFs), cDNAs of which are isolated from human liver
      and placenta. Isolation and expression of F-TCF cDNA revealed that F-TCF was
      identical to the placenta type HGFs, including a variant with a deletion of 15
      base pairs in the coding region. The deleted form of recombinant HGF (rHGF) had
      slightly lower heparin binding affinity than the intact form. Specific activities
      of rHGFs were almost the same in tumor cytotoxic activity, but different in
      hepatocyte growth stimulating activity. These results indicate that deletion of
      five amino acids results in conformational change which alter biological
      activity.

PMID- 1433989
TI  - [Therapy with interleukin 2 for chronic viral hepatitis].
AB  - We administered 250-10,000 u of recombinant interleukin 2 (r-IL2) for 1-4 weeks
      intravenously or intramuscularly to patients with chronic hepatitis B positive
      for serum HBe antigen as immunostimulants and studied the effect of r-IL2 for
      antiviral system. Serum ALT levels increased during the therapy and then
      decreased after the treatment. Activities of DNA-P were gradually reduced and
      became negative in 6 of 11 cases. Serum HBeAg decreased and anti-HBe increased
      during and after the therapy. Peripheral lymphocytes and eosinocytes increased
      during the therapy but returned to the pretreatment level after the therapy. TSI
      (%) increased rapidly and TS (%) decreased during infusion of r-IL2. However,
      TH/TS ratio increased after the infusion since TH (%) decreased gradually during
      the infusion of r-IL2. The r-IL2 therapy was useful for chronic hepatitis with
      serum HBe antigen as therapy with immunostimulant or treatment with biological
      response modifier (BRM).

PMID- 1433990
TI  - [Acid-base regulation: a general introduction].
AB  - Acid-base homeostasis of the body fluid in all the animal species including
      humans is now recognized to be kept at 0.6-0.7 unit higher than neutral pH (pN).
      This concept is called relative constant alkalinity. It has also found that
      intracellular pH is approximately kept at pN, so that the difference between
      extracellular (pHo) and intracellular pH (pHi) is again 0.6-0.7. Since pN
      increases about 0.016 unit/1 degree C with decreasing temperature, normal blood
      pH at 20 degrees C is about 7.7 in cold-blooded animals as well as in humans with
      low temperature e.g. during special operative procedure. The main physiological
      significance for maintaining pHi at pN is that ionized small molecules in the
      cell are held within the intracellular space and metabolic process can be
      proceeded smoothly.

PMID- 1433991
TI  - [General aspect of cellular pH regulation].

PMID- 1433992
TI  - [Measurement of intracellular pH].
AB  - Since various cellular processes depend on changes in pH, the regulation of
      intracellular pH (pHi) is important both for the individual cell and for the
      organism. The mechanisms of the regulation of pHi can be investigated by
      monitoring pHi. In this report, we discuss the four major techniques available
      for measuring pHi, which are 1) Distribution of weak acids and bases, 2) pH
      sensitive microelectrodes, 3) pH-sensitive dyes, and 4) Nuclear magnetic
      resonance. Among four techniques, the advantage of the microelectrode approach is
      that it can monitor membrane potential at the same time and be applied to a
      single cell. The dye technique is a relative new developing technique, which has
      lots of advantages. It is easy to use, and is capable of monitoring rapid pHi
      changes, and being applied to a smaller cell, or a single cell.

PMID- 1433993
TI  - [Band 3 protein, anion exchange protein of the erythrocyte membrane].
AB  - Band 3 protein is the major transmembrane protein of the erythrocyte membrane,
      comprising 25% of the total membrane protein and existing at 10(6) copies per
      cell, and mediates the rapid exchange of anions across the membrane. The exchange
      of Cl- for HCO3- anions plays an important role on the regulation of oxygen and
      bicarbonate delivary to or from peripheral tissues. Band 3 protein has
      functionally distinct two domains. The membrane-spanning domain, 55K domain, is
      believed to span the membrane bilayer 14 times and mediates the rapid anion
      exchange. The complementary cytosolic domain, 40K domain, is an anchor for the
      cytoskeletal proteins and regulates the cell deformability and the cell life
      span. The purpose of this paper is to review the physiological functions of band
      3 protein and the anion exchange mechanisms.

PMID- 1433994
TI  - [Respiratory regulation system].
AB  - In 1874, Kussmaul described "featiful terminal dyspnea" in a case of severe
      diabetic coma. Probably, this was the first sign of respiratory regulation for
      metabolic acidosis. After this first case, about 40 years has been needed to
      establish the theory of acid-base equiribration, namely Henderson-Hasselbalch's
      equation. pH = 6.1 + log [HCO3-]/[H2CO3] This equation indicates that plasma pH
      is determined by the ratio of HCO3 concentration and H2CO3 concentration. Because
      of linear relationship between H2CO3 and PaCO2, pH depend on the ratio of HCO3-
      and PaCO2. In the state of metabolic acidosis, increase of [H+] stimulates
      ventilation and decreases the PaCO2. Inversely, in the state of metabolic
      alkalosis, increase of PaCO2 occurs. These reactions are called "respiratory
      compensation" or "respiratory regulation". The respiratory regulation system will
      not retern pH to normal (7.4), but compensation has some limitation which is
      shown as "SIGNIFICANCE BAND". In this paper, physiological and clinical
      importance of respiratory regulation and significance band is discussed.

PMID- 1433995
TI  - [Acid-base equilibrium control system--red cell function].
AB  - The physiological functions of the red cell are oxygen transport, facilitation of
      carbon dioxide transport and control of acid-base equilibrium in the blood. The
      last function is closely related to the first two, which are cooperative to each
      other. The oxygen transport by red cells is characterized by high efficiency and
      regulation, which depend on allosteric properties of hemoglobin. The CO2
      transport in the form of bicarbonate is also facilitated by the buffer action and
      the Haldane effect of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the major buffer system in the
      red cell. Its buffer power is strengthen through the Haldane effect. Carbonic
      anhydrase in red cell, together with band 3 protein in the membrane which
      facilitates the Cl-/HCO3- exchange across membrane, allows the conversion between
      CO2 and HCO3- and the buffering of carbonic acid to occur in a time scale of
      blood circulation.

PMID- 1433996
TI  - [Urinary acidification].
AB  - Current understanding of the features and mechanisms of renal acidification along
      the nephron segments is summarized. Emphasis is placed on recent approaches to
      the "structure and function" of H/HCO3 transport proteins by molecular
      techniques. The amount of renal acidification is strictly matched to the
      endogenous production of non-volantile acids. This regulation is handled by many
      factors, including blood acid-base parameters, aldosteron, distal delivery of Na
      and accompanying anions, extracellular fluid volume, and PTH. Cellular mechanisms
      of these regulatory factors are summarized.

PMID- 1433997
TI  - [The interaction between neural activity and intracellular pH].
AB  - The regulation of intracellular pH (pH(i)) in the nervous system has been
      vigorously studied using a variety of animal cells in the last decade, through
      advances in techniques for measuring pH(i) accurately in living cells. These
      studies have elucidated the mechanisms of pH(i) regulation, such as intracellular
      buffering and acid transport across the cell membrane, in neurons and glial
      cells. Following an outline of pH(i) regulation, the interaction between neural
      activity and acid-base balance is discussed. The dynamic change of pH(i),
      produced by neural activity, and the effect of pH(i) on the electrical properties
      of neurons and other excitable cells is emphasized.

PMID- 1433998
TI  - [Acid-base balance and contraction of the cardiac muscle].
AB  - In cardiac muscle, intracelular pH (pHi) is regulated to close to 7.1, both by
      membrane transport systems (Na-H and Cl-HCO3 exchange) and intracellular H+
      buffers. Internal acidosis depresses the contraction, while alkalosis increases
      it. Internal proton depresses the contraction even without altering the internal
      concentration of Ca (Cai). The proton blocks the Ca channels. However, as it
      releases membrane-bound Ca and the influx of Na via Na-H exchange increases Ca
      influx through Na-Ca exchange, pHi decrease is often accompanied by the Cai
      increases. The internal proton also affects the uptake and release of
      sarcoplasmic reticulum, Ca binding to troponin, actomyosin dynamics and variable
      catalytic processes.

PMID- 1433999
TI  - [Effects of pH on vascular smooth muscle contraction].
AB  - Effects of pH on vascular smooth muscle contractility were reviewed. Basic effect
      of acidosis seems to be the inhibition of K channels and L-type Ca channels.
      Inhibition of K channels results in a membrane depolarization, opening of L-type
      Ca channels, increase in Ca influx and muscle contraction. Inhibition of Ca
      channels results in an opposit effect. Thus, the effect of acidosis is determined
      by the relative potency of these two contradictory effects. This may be the
      reason why acidosis induces contraction in polarized muscle whereas it slightly
      inhibits contraction in depolarized muscle. In addition, measurements of
      cytosolic Ca level simultaneously with muscle tension suggest that acidosis
      increases Ca sensitivity of contractile elements, and this effect also helps
      acidosis to induce contraction in vascular smooth muscle.

PMID- 1434000
TI  - [Effect of pH on blood cells].
AB  - Intracellular pH of blood cells is controlled by the Na+/H+ exchanger and anion
      channels. The Na+/H+ exchanger plays a major role in elevating intracellular pH
      in activated platelets, lymphocytes and neutrophils. In lymphocytes,
      intracellular alkalinization is associated with proliferation and
      differentiation. In platelets, protein kinase appears to increase the turnover
      rate of Na+/H+ exchange, thus accelerating the process of alkalinization.
      Intracellular alkalinization serves to increase the energy supply by glycolysis,
      and to activate the production of thromboxane A2, a potent activator of
      platelets. Clinically an increased activity of the Na+/H+ exchanger has been
      demonstrated with platelets from hypertensive patients.

PMID- 1434001
TI  - [Renal adaptations to acid-base disorders].
AB  - Alterations in acid-base status affect renal hemodynamics and tubular function.
      GFR is reduced both in acute acidosis and alkalosis. Tubular functional
      adaptation to acute acidosis includes an acceleration in proximal acidification,
      induced by the increase in Pco2 and luminal bicarbonate concentration and a
      stimulated ammonia production, induced by low pH. Alteration in distal
      bicarbonate reabsorption is also an important determinant of the net acid
      excretion. Renal functional alterations in acute alkalosis include a reduction in
      GFR and a stimulated bicarbonate secretion in the cortical collecting duct.
      Proximal acidification is almost unchanged during acute alkalosis but reportedly
      accelerates after at least 3 weeks of maintained alkalosis. Renal adaptation
      during chronic phase of acid-base disorders differs from that during the acute
      phase.

PMID- 1434002
TI  - [Effects of pH on the endocrine system and metabolism].
AB  - Changes in extra- and intracellular pH affect metabolic states and hormone
      responses. In general, alkalosis stimulates and acidosis inhibits glycolysis
      although the relationship is not a simple one. 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase, a rate
      limiting enzyme in glycolysis, seems to be activated directly by a rise in pH.
      Alkalosis stimulates the production of pyruvic acid and lactic acid. Citric acid
      cycle is stimulated in alkalosis and hexose monophosphate shunt pathway is
      facilitated in acidosis. Acid-base disorders affect the insulin secretion and
      insulin action. In acidosis, insulin action in the target tissues is reduced.
      Other hormones, including parathormone, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and
      adrenocorticotropine, respond to the changes in pH.

PMID- 1434003
TI  - [Clinical aspects of acid-base disorders].
AB  - Acid-base disorders are frequently recognized in a wide variety of clinical
      settings such as severe systemic hospitalized patients. The principal object is
      to assessment of acid-base equilibrium and to obtain an appropriate guide to
      therapy. The approach is centered to a systemic analysis of blood gas evaluation.
      To establish this complex matter is followed. Is an acid-base disorder present?
      Is the disorder a simple or a mixed abnormality? What is the primary cause? These
      evaluations should be obtained by accurate history taking, physical examination,
      and routine laboratory tests. In addition, the supporting analysises such as
      anion gap (AG) calculation, urine AG assessment, urine chloride concentration and
      so on are also useful for correct diagnosis. In view of the complexty and
      difficult expression of acid-base disorders, it is desirable that clinicians must
      have full knowledges of systemic approach to the blood gas analysis and its
      evaluation.

PMID- 1434004
TI  - [Diagnosis, countermeasure and classification of acidosis].
AB  - Acidosis is the result of the net addition of hydrogen ion to the extracellular
      space or loss of bicarbonate from that space. Hydrogen ion may be added by the
      increased production of strong acids, an increase in CO2 concentration, or the
      addition of exogenous acids. The common approach to the differential diagnosis of
      metabolic acidosis is to divide the patients into two categories based on whether
      the anion gap in plasma is increased or not. Metabolic acidosis with normal anion
      gap (hyperchloremic) suggests that bicarbonate has been effectively replaced by
      chloride. In contrast, metabolic acidosis with an increased anion gap suggests
      addition to the body fluids of an acid other than hydrochloric acids or its
      equivalent.

PMID- 1434005
TI  - [Diagnosis, therapy and classification of alkalosis].
AB  - The pathogenesis, classification, diagnosis and treatment of alkalosis are
      described. Alkalemia is defined as an elevation in the blood pH and alkalosis
      refers to processes that tend to raise the pH, and divided into two types;
      metabolic alkalosis (a primary increase in plasma HCO3- concentration) and
      respiratory alkalosis (a primary decrease in PCO2). These disorders are most
      frequently observed in the hospitalized patients. As the critically ill-patients
      with severe alkalemia are often associated with high mortality, treatment should
      be directed to the underlying diseases and severe alkalemia should be corrected
      promptly.

PMID- 1434006
TI  - [Mixed acid-base disorders].
AB  - Maintenance of the acid-base balance is critical for keeping cellular and whole
      body integrity, and acid-base disturbances are commonly encountered in critically
      ill patients. In this chapter, the classification and the pathogenesis of mixed
      acid-base disorders are reviewed in order to understand and manage these
      abnormalities. First of all, the compensatory reactions to the primary acid-base
      state must be evaluated. Careful examination of the physical findings and medical
      history are also essential for making a correct diagnosis and to treat the
      patients effectively.

PMID- 1434007
TI  - [Graphic evaluation of the significance band for hypercapnia in pulmonary
      disorders].
AB  - Alveolar hypoventilation due to the chronic obstruction of the airway such as
      pulmonary emphysema, or severe restrictive dysfunction due to sequela of
      pulmonary tuberculosis causes chronic hypercapnia (chronic respiratory acidosis).
      Ninety-five percentile of significance band of chronic and acute hypercapnia of
      both experimental and clinical setting is introduced in the graphic display of
      the acid-base balance. On acute exacerbation of these disorders, examination of
      arterial blood gas in series are usually plotted along the significance band of
      hypercapnia. With clinical improvement, the plot will gradually drop down to the
      chronic stable area of the band. Although cases with metabolic disorders
      complicate the interpretation, evaluation of the acid-base status using the
      graphic display will be of help at bedside assessment.

PMID- 1434008
TI  - [Acid-base disturbances in heart failure].
AB  - Disturbance in acid-base balance is commonly observed in patients with heart
      failure. The most common disturbance is metabolic alkalosis combined with
      hypokalemia, as a result of the excessive use of loop diuretics. Occasionary,
      hypoxia due to pulmonary edema stimulates ventilation, resulting in respiratory
      alkalosis. When pulmonary edema develops, carbon dioxide retention occurs,
      resulting in respiratory acidosis. Decreased tissue oxygen delivery may also
      produce lethal lactic acidosis. Compensatory mechanisms, coexistence of
      independent acid-base disorders and changes in electrolytes complicate acid-base
      balance in the individual patients. As acid-base disturbances have harmful
      effects on the cardiovascular system, precise diagnosis and proper treatment are
      highly important.

PMID- 1434009
TI  - [Impairment of acid-base balance in renal failure].
AB  - It is very critical for the living organism to maintain homeostasis of body fluid
      volume and its electrolyte composition by renal regulation, including acid-base
      balance. In renal failure, impaired acid-base balance is inescapable because of
      disturbed urinary acidification, one of the major renal functions. Among all
      types of acid-base imbalance, metabolic acidosis is a major one in renal failure.
      For better understanding of this issue, several fundamental items for the renal
      mechanisms of urinary acidification must be discussed first, and the
      pathophysiological features and their relevant treatment for acid-base imbalances
      in renal failure, next. Moreover, some comments on the practical aspects, in long
      term dialyze uremic patients, is also provided.

PMID- 1434010
TI  - [Disorders of acid-base balance in liver disease].
AB  - Disorders of acid-base balance are frequently encountered in fulminant hepatic
      failure, liver cirrhosis and autoimmune liver diseases. The disorders per se
      except lactic acidosis rarely poses serious clinical problems. However metabolic
      alkalosis induced by administration of diuretics and hypokalemia in renal tubular
      acidosis are risk factors for hepatic encephalopathy.

PMID- 1434011
TI  - [Acid-base disturbance in adrenal and parathyroid diseases].
AB  - Aldosterone stimulates sodium absorption in the collecting tubule, which makes
      the potential more lumen-negative, and secondarily stimulates proton and
      potassium secretion. Potassium depletion stimulates ammonia synthesis, which
      increases distal buffer delivery, increases luminal pH in the collecting tubule,
      and secondarily stimulates proton secretion. This stimulation of the distal
      nephron acidification by aldosterone can result in metabolic alkalosis.
      Inversely, aldosterone deficiency can produce characteristic metabolic acidosis
      with hyperkalemia (type IV renal tubular acidosis). Acute administration of
      parathyroidhormone (PTH) decreases renal bicarbonate reabsorption in the proximal
      tubule. Since the effect of PTH is overridden by other factors, such as PTH
      induced base release from bone, hyperparathyroidism does not uniformly cause
      metabolic acidosis.

PMID- 1434012
TI  - [Renal tubular acidosis].
AB  - Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) can be separated into three main types: distal RTA
      (the defect in the excretion of hydrogen ion), proximal RTA (the defect in the
      reabsorption of bicarbonate), and hyperkalemic RTA. Some patients present
      combined types of proximal and distal RTA. Most of the pediatric patients with
      RTA manifest failure to thrive. They have hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis and
      normal plasma anion gap. Fractional excretion of bicarbonate is below 5% in dRTA
      and over 15% in pRTA. Renal complications of dRTA are nephrocalcinosis, renal
      calculi, renal cysts and reversible low molecular weight proteinuria. The patient
      with isolated pRTA is very rare.

PMID- 1434013
TI  - [Acid-base balance disorder in various diseases--diabetes mellitus].
AB  - Metabolic acidosis is the serious acid-base balance disorder complicated in
      diabetes mellitus. The pathogenesis and treatment of various type of metabolic
      acidosis (Keto-acidosis, lactic acidosis, hyperchloremic acidosis and type IV
      renal tubular acidosis) are discussed. Metabolic acidosis in the diabetic patient
      is associated with an increased anion-gap caused by the presence of organic anion
      (beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and lactate). The rise in anion-gap usually
      equals the fall in plasma bicarbonate. With appropriate therapy, progressive
      decline in the anion-gap is one of the best indications of successful treatment.
      If hyperchloremic acidosis is established, appropriate infusion of hypochloremic
      rehydration fluid may be useful.

PMID- 1434014
TI  - [Acid-base disturbances in hematologic diseases].
AB  - In this article, the acid-base disturbances encountered in hematologic diseases
      are discussed. Occurrence of lactic acidosis (LA) without obvious clinical tissue
      hypoxia has been reported in patients with leukemia and lymphoma. Most of the
      patients with LA had liver involvement and clinical evidence of impaired hepatic
      function, suggesting that both increased production and decreased lactate
      metabolism are necessary for the development of LA in leukemia and lymphoma.
      Acute tumor lysis syndrome consists of hyperuricemia, hyperpotassemia, and
      hyperphosphatemia with hypocalcemia following neoplastic cell lysis, particularly
      in lymphoproliferative disorders. In patients with multiple myeloma (MM),
      proximal renal tubular acidosis (Fanconi syndrome) associated with Bence Jones
      proteinuria has been reported. In addition, MM is one of the first conditions
      recognized to be associated with lower anion gap.

PMID- 1434015
TI  - [Lactic acidosis].

PMID- 1434016
TI  - [Acid-base disorders in anesthesiology and in related fields].
AB  - Acid-Base disorders in anesthesia and in related fields were discussed. Four
      topics were chosen because they are relatively new and attracting attentions.
      They are 1) Monitoring Petco2 in anesthesia and in Intensive Care, 2)
      Relationships between newly established laparoscopic surgery and ventilatory
      impairment/elevation of Paco2, 3) Surgery in which large amount of chloride ion
      is absorbed, and 4) High venous Pco2 in resuscitation.

PMID- 1434017
TI  - [Drug-induced acid-base disorders].
AB  - Drug-induced acid-base disorders may be classified into four categories with
      respect to the mechanism. 1. Metabolic acidosis is induced by a large acid loads
      incurred from exogenous sources (e.g. NH4Cl, or toxin ingestion) or endogenous
      acid production (e.g. generation of ketoacids or lactic acids by alcohol or
      phenformin) or base loss (e.g. abuse of laxatives). 2. Metabolic alkalosis
      results from exogenous bicarbonate loads (e.g. milk-alkali syndrome) or effective
      extracellular fluid contraction, potassium depletion plus hyperaldosteronism
      (e.g. vomiting, diuretics, or licorice). 3. Renal tubular acidosis is induced by
      the drugs which mainly impair proximal and/or distal tubules (e.g. vitamin D,
      NSAID, acetazolamide or amphotericin B). 4. Respiratory acidosis or alkalosis
      results from drug-induced respiratory center depression or neuromuscular
      impairment (e.g. anesthetic, sedative overdosage or curare) or hyperventilation
      (salicylates, paraldehyde, epinephrine, or nicotine).

PMID- 1434018
TI  - [Acid-base disturbances in surgical operation].
AB  - Metabolic acidosis immediately after surgical operation is followed by metabolic
      alkalosis. Hormonal change by surgical stress and anaerobic glucolysis due to
      tissue ischemia cause initial lactic acidosis. Later alkalosis may be caused by
      secondary aldosteronism and bicarbonate production from lactate and citrate
      supplied by massive infusion and transfusion. Postoperative complications, such
      as respiratory insufficiency, renal failure and hypovolemic or septic shock,
      cause acidosis. In the gastrointestinal surgery, acidosis can be caused by
      starvation and loss of bicarbonate contained in bile, pancreatic juice or
      intestinal fluid, and alkalosis can be caused by loss of HCl in gastric juice.
      Severe acidosis can be caused by extracorporeal circulation, hypothermia, low
      output syndrome or declamping shock in cardioaortic surgery.

PMID- 1434019
TI  - [Acid-base disturbances in pediatrics].
AB  - Acid-base balance is regulated by respiratory and metabolic factors and also by
      the compensatory mechanisms of the body. This balance is often disturbed by
      various diseases or conditions in children. These diseases or conditions which
      cause acidosis or alkalosis in pediatric practice are presented and discussed in
      this paper with special interest in their age at presentation.

PMID- 1434020
TI  - [Abnormalities in acid-base balance in the elderly].
AB  - Physiological decline in the ability to adjust acid-base balance and increase the
      incidence of diseases with aging, modifies pathophysiological and clinical
      features of acid-base disturbance in the elderly. Regulation of pH ultimately
      depends on the kidney and lung, however, the ability of the two organs is
      decreased with physiological aging. Moreover, the elderly are more prone to
      suffer from renal insufficiency and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
      Furthermore, medication with various drugs, such as diuretics, often affect the
      acid-base balance in the elderly. This paper describes the characteristics of the
      abnormalities in acid-base balance in the elderly, including metabolic acidosis
      and alkalosis, and respiratory acidosis and alkalosis.

PMID- 1434021
TI  - [Acid-base balance during exercise].
AB  - The required energy may be produced almost exclusively by aerobic processes
      during light exercise. Anaerobic energy-yielding metabolic processes however,
      play a greater role as the severity of the exercise increases. This process
      produces endoproducts, such as lactate, which are related to acid-base
      regulation. During exhaustive exercise, large amounts of lactate accumulate in
      both muscle and blood, and the corresponding accumulation of proton ions produces
      metabolic acidosis. Three mechanisms control the acid-base quality of the
      internal environment; intramuscle buffers, blood buffers and physiologic buffers.
      In healthy male, the change in blood pH after heavy exercise is one which is
      expected in conditions of metabolic acidosis, and this change is consistently
      related to the lactate content. Finally, the effect of exercise on acid-base
      status in patients with several conditions is discussed.

PMID- 1434022
TI  - [Transgenic mouse and gene targeting].
AB  - Transgenic mouse technology has proved to be a powerful tool for medical
      research. So far, a large number of transgenic mice have been generated
      expressing, e.g. oncogenes, viral genes, immunoglobulins, lymphokines and MHC
      antigens, and have provided much valuable information. Furthermore, gene
      targeting technology (homologous recombination between specific chromosomal DNA
      sequences and exogenously introduced DNA sequences) has been improved and applied
      to pluripotent, mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, providing the means to create
      mice of specifically altered genotype. In this review, some of the background and
      recent advances of transgenic mouse technology and gene targeting in mouse ES
      cells are described.

PMID- 1434023
TI  - [Mutations of amyloid precursor protein in early-onset familial Alzheimer's
      disease].
AB  - Genetic linkage studies of familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) have suggested that
      some form of early-onset FAD is linked to proximal long arm of chromosome 21. It
      has been also suggested that some form of late-onset FAD is linked to long arm of
      chromosome 19. Goate et al have identified a mis-sense mutation (Val to Ile) in
      exon 17 of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene in 2 of 16 early-onset FAD
      families, and have shown that the FAD locus in an FAD family is tightly linked to
      the mis-sense mutation. To determine if the mis-sense mutation is observed in
      different ethnic origine, we have studied some early-onset FAD families. Two
      early-onset FAD families showed the existence of the mutation. As the mutation
      has been identified in different ethnic origine and the mutation has not been
      observed in normal individuals, it strengthen hypothesis that the mutation is
      pathogenic. Recently, Val to Phe and Val to Gly mutations have been also
      identified at the same codon (Codon 717) of the APP gene.

PMID- 1434024
TI  - [Acid base balance in the digestive system].
AB  - The mechanisms of acid base balance in digestive organs, including stomach,
      intestine as well as liver, have been described in the present paper. The stomach
      secrets large amount of acid as well as sodium bicarbonate, so that hydrogen ion
      would be lost in the severe vomiting state such as pyloric stenosis, resulting in
      metabolic alkalosis and hypokalemia. In the diarrheal condition, sodium
      bicarbonate would be lost in large amount, causing metabolic acidosis and
      hypokalemia. Hepatic failure induces the respiratory alkalosis of which
      mechanisms have not been clarified yet. In any case, urgent correction of acid
      base imbalnce would be crucial. It is, however, obscure to date how the systemic
      acid base imbalnce affects the function of the digestive system. This issue would
      be promising field in the investigation of digestive diseases.

PMID- 1434025
TI  - Dysplasia in the human esophagus: clinicopathological study on 500 esophagi at
      autopsy.
AB  - To clarify the relation between esophageal carcinoma and dysplasia, the pathology
      and epidemiology of 500 cases where clinically overt esophageal carcinoma had not
      been the direct cause of death were studied at autopsy. There were 297 men and
      203 women. Four hundred and eighty-five patients had had malignant disease, of
      which 91 fulfilled the criteria for multiple primary malignancies. For all cases,
      cigarette and drinking habits were examined in patient records. All the esophagi
      were examined at autopsy by microscopy. Carcinoma in situ was found in six cases
      (1.2%). Dysplasia was observed in 73 (14.6%) and was graded mild in 58, moderate
      in 25 and severe in seven. The incidence of dysplasia was frequent in men than in
      women. Carcinoma in situ and severe dysplasia were more frequent where there was
      a history of habitual smoking and drinking, and were often associated with
      multiple primary cancers, mainly in the head and neck region. Predisposing
      factors for high grade dysplasia of the esophagus are gender, smoking, drinking,
      head and neck cancer and multiple primary cancers, corresponding to those of
      clinical esophageal carcinoma.

PMID- 1434026
TI  - The role of socioeconomic factors in the survival of patients with
      gastrointestinal cancers.
AB  - The relations between type of occupation, marital status and residential area and
      survival from gastrointestinal cancers were examined among 4485 cases of stomach
      cancer and 2618 cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed between 1983 and 1988 and
      recorded in the Aichi Cancer Registry. In univariate analyses, the cumulative
      five-year survival rates of both cancers were highest among professionals and
      managers and lowest among service workers, in males. They were highest among
      professionals, managers and clerical workers and lowest among housewives, in
      females. For both men and women, single people had a lower survival rate than
      married, and patients living in a metropolis had a higher survival rate than
      those living in other areas. Multivariate analyses, based on Cox's proportional
      hazards model, revealed occupation to have a statistically significant effect on
      prognosis for both sexes, although the effect of extent of disease was
      definitive. The analyses also confirmed the unfavorable effect of a single
      marital status and the favorable effect of residing in a metropolis, in women.
      The results suggest that socioeconomic factors may have a role to play in the
      survival of patients with gastrointestinal cancers.

PMID- 1434027
TI  - A multi-institute case-control study on the risk factors of developing pancreatic
      cancer.
AB  - A multi-institute, hospital-based, case-control study on pancreatic cancer was
      carried out to examine its association with preceding diseases, cigarette
      smoking, alcohol drinking and dietary factors. Analyses were based on 124 newly
      diagnosed exocrine pancreatic cancer cases and sex-, age- and institute-matched
      hospital controls in seven hospitals in Japan. Cigarette smoking showed a
      positive association with the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Especially
      among smokers, a risk enhancing effect of involuntary/passive smoking prior to
      twenty years of age was observed (P < 0.05). No consistent associations were
      found with coffee, black tea or alcohol consumption. Among dietary factors,
      favoring food of a salty taste and drinking green tea five cups per day or more
      were positively associated with the risk. Drinking milk and eating fish everyday
      were inversely associated with the risk.

PMID- 1434028
TI  - Penile metastasis from lung cancer.
AB  - A case of metastatic tumor of the penis from lung cancer is reported. The
      patient, who had received a right pneumonectomy 17 months previously for a
      squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, complained of urinary retention and painful
      erection of the penis. He underwent an emergency suprapubic cystostomy. Twenty
      days after the procedure, he died of disseminated lung carcinoma. The autopsy
      demonstrated massive metastasis to the penis from squamous cell carcinoma of the
      lung. Penile metastasis from lung cancer is a very rare condition and only 14
      cases of this secondary carcinoma have been reported.

PMID- 1434029
TI  - [Analysis of circulating thyroid-stimulating activities in pregnant women with
      Graves' disease: differential measurement of activities induced by TSH receptor
      antibody and hCG].
AB  - Thyrotoxicosis in Graves' disease is often aggravated in early pregnancy and this
      aggravation is associated with postpartum relapse of thyrotoxicosis. To examine
      whether thyroid-stimulating TSH receptor antibody (TSAb) or human chorionic
      gonadotropin (hCG), which also has thyroid-stimulating activity (TSA), is
      responsible for this early aggravation, the respective TSA due to TSAb or hCG
      were evaluated with a sensitive cAMP accumulation assay using FRTL-5 cells. TSA,
      which was detectable in all of 11 women in normal early pregnancy, correlated
      positively with serum hCG level, but was abolished completely by the pretreatment
      of serum samples with the solid-phase hCG antibody coupled with Sepharose-4B.
      Total TSA in the model samples of mixture of Graves' and pregnant sera (Gr +
      Preg), was reduced by the pretreatment with the solid-phase antibody, just
      corresponding with the reduction in hCG-induced TSA. Total TSA in early pregnant
      sera in 15 patients with Graves' disease, decreased significantly but was still
      positive even by the pretreatment with the hCG antibody. Pregnancy-associated
      changes in TSA was examined serially in a patient with Graves' disease, and hCG
      induced TSA increased predominantly along with the serum thyroid hormone in early
      aggravation period. These data indicate that (1) the respective TSA due to TSAb
      or hCG can be differentially measured by using the solid-phase hCG antibody and
      (2) hCG plays an important role for aggravation of Graves' thyrotoxicosis in
      early pregnancy.

PMID- 1434030
TI  - [Study for the nature of interfering substances responsible for non-specific
      reactive phenomena occurred occasionally in EIA determination of CA125].
AB  - We studied the nature of IgM-like protein responsible for non-specific reactive
      phenomena occurred occasionally in EIA determination of CA125. We isolated highly
      purified IgM-like protein from two patients with non-specifically high CA125
      serum values in affinity high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using anti
      human IgM antibody-TSKgel Tresy15PW column. The isolated IgM-like protein
      possessed CA125 activity determined in EIA method. SDS-PAGE profiles of this
      isolated IgM-like protein were compatible with that of normal human IgM, and were
      distinct from those of CA125 antigen. Moreover, we ruled out the possibility that
      the Fc region of anti-CA125 monoclonal antibody might be responsible for the non
      specific reactive phenomena. Thus, the data obtained from the present study
      indicate that the IgM-like protein is an anti-idiotypic antibody against the anti
      CA125 monoclonal antibody (OC125).

PMID- 1434031
TI  - [Detection of dystrophin with anti-peptide antibodies].
AB  - The analysis of dystrophin in skeletal muscles was performed to identify Duchenne
      and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD and BMD) by means of immunohistochemical stain
      and Western blotting with antisera against synthetic dystrophin peptides. The
      control muscle specimens derived from normal healthy persons, and patients
      without DMD and BMD revealed clearly continuous stains of dystrophin at surface
      membrane. A band with 400 kDa of molecular size by Western blotting was
      positively stained by anti-dystrophin antibodies. The muscle specimens from
      eleven DMD patients showed no observation both in the band on Western blotting
      and in the immunohistochemical staining of dystrophin on frozen-thin sections.
      BMD muscle specimens showed patchy and faint stains, but no detection of any band
      on Western blotting except a 380 kDa minor band with anti-peptide IX antibody in
      one patient muscle. The immunohistochemical procedure was found to be more
      sensitive than Western blotting for the detection of dystrophin. These results
      indicate that the dystrophin analysis by both methods is an useful tool for the
      differential diagnosis of patients with DMD and BMD.

PMID- 1434032
TI  - [Expansion of CD4+CD8+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of a patient with
      pulmonary tuberculosis].
AB  - We detected a high level of CD4+CD8+ double marker cells in the peripheral blood
      of a male patient with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), ranging from 10% to 12%.
      Three color staining was useful for the further examination of surface markers of
      these abnormal lymphocytes. Three color staining of his CD4+CD8+ cells
      demonstrated that his CD4+CD8+ cells expressed CD2, CD3 and TCR alpha beta.
      Stimulation of his PBMC with OKT3 (or rIL-2) for 4 days resulted in the increase
      of up to about 50% (20%) of CD4+CD8+ cells. His PBMC had a normal proliferative
      response to mitogen. Although we could not evaluate the significance of the
      presence of an expanded CD4+CD8+ cells, it was not correlate with the disease of
      TB or the activity of the disease at least.

PMID- 1434033
TI  - [Comparison of different methods for anti-HTLV-I assay].
AB  - In 130 patients, who were considered to be anti-HTLV-I positive or negative by
      the PA method, we compared the anti-HTLV-I detection rates and the specificity of
      the following three EIA methods: the Ei-test ATL and two new EIA methods using
      different recombinant antigens which recognize different sites. The results from
      the three EIA methods were consistent with the results from the PA method at a
      rate over 96.9%. The specificity and sensitivity of the three methods were
      excellent. In 8 (0.6%) of the 130 cases, however, the results from the four
      methods were not in agreement. All of these 8 cases had been classified (by the
      PA method) as weakly positive (low antibody titer). The use of the Ei-test ATL
      produced some false positive cases and some false negative cases (no false
      negative cases have been reported in tests for anti-HTLV-I antibody before). In 3
      patients, the results of the two new EIA methods were not in agreement. Because
      all of these three patients had a low antibody titer, the discrepancy was
      difficult to explain based on the difference in the antigens used. Although the
      four methods had similar anti-HTLV-I detection rates, the results indicate a need
      to carefully evaluate the data in patients with low antibody titers. Therefore,
      it is recommended that a combination of multiple tests be used or that the
      results from one test be checked against those from another test.

PMID- 1434034
TI  - [Studies on a serum factor inhibiting lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in a
      patient's serum].
AB  - We found extremely low activity of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, EC.
      1.1.1.27) in a 70-year-old female patient. The decrease of LDH activity was
      observed when the normal serum was incubated with the patient's serum. Inhibition
      rate of LDH activity by the patient's serum was higher at 4 degrees C than at 37
      degrees C. The patient's serum inhibited both subunits of LDH, and inhibited more
      strongly the M-subunit than the H-subunit LDH isoenzymes. IgG (lambda type) in
      the patient's serum was found to be responsible for the inhibition of LDH
      activity. The mechanism why IgG inhibiting LDH activity developed in the
      patient's serum remain undetermined.

PMID- 1434035
TI  - [Clinical significance of the measurement of serum pepsinogen group I and II by
      enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay].
AB  - We have developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for pepsinogen group
      I and II (PG I.II) in human serum, and clinical significance of serum pepsinogen
      measurement was evaluated. Serum PG I.II levels in patients with gastric and
      duodenal ulcer were higher than those in normal healthy subjects. On the other
      hand, serum PG I levels in patients with pernicious anemia were significantly low
      levels. In both gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, serum PG I.II levels at active
      stage were higher than healing stage. These results suggested that the
      measurement of PG I.II levels was useful for screening or monitoring test for the
      injury of gastric and duodenal mucosa.

PMID- 1434036
TI  - [Development of automated lactate analyzer with continuous blood sampling for
      monitoring blood lactate and its application for the testing of physical
      exercise].
AB  - The anaerobic threshold is useful for estimating the intensity of physical
      exercise. It is shown as either an increase in blood concentrations of lactate or
      a disproportionate increase in ventilation. We developed a lactate analyzer based
      on an electroenzymatic method with a continuous blood sampling system through a
      double-lumen catheter. Ascorbic acid, bilirubin, hemoglobin, creatinine, uric
      acid, and glucose did not interfere the results. The lactate concentrations in
      blood samples from healthy subjects during physical exercise correlated well (r =
      0.993) with results measured by the conventional enzymatic method. We measured
      the concentrations of blood lactate with a use of this lactate analyzer to see
      the anaerobic threshold in nine healthy volunteers during exercise on a treadmill
      with an increasing workload. The point at which lactate concentrations started to
      increase was detected easily. The anaerobic threshold identified as a
      disproportionate increase in ventilation was seen at almost the same time. We
      conclude that the lactate analyzer, with a continuous blood sampling system, can
      measure precisely concentrations of lactate in blood and can detect the anaerobic
      threshold during physical exercise.

PMID- 1434037
TI  - [Immunological detection of fecal occult blood-follow up study on patients with
      positive testing].
AB  - To evaluate its clinical utility in the early detection of colorectal diseases,
      we carried out the immunological fecal occult blood test in 922 patients and
      monitored the clinical course of the 87 patients in whom it was positive. Thirty
      five (40.2%) of these patients underwent subsequent X-ray and colonoscopy, and
      colorectal cancer was detected in 8 (20%). Our findings confirm the clinical
      usefulness of this test.

PMID- 1434038
TI  - [Decrease of CD16 antigen density on granulocytes in chronic myeloid leukemia].
AB  - We examined the fluorescence intensity of CD16 antigen, which represents the
      density of CD16 antigen, on granulocytes by flow cytometry in 15 healthy subjects
      and 15 patients with neutrophilia due to inflammatory diseases and 10 patients
      with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The fluorescence intensity of CD16 antigen
      was significantly lower in patients with CML than in healthy subjects and also
      than in patients with neutrophilia. These data indicate that 1) density of CD16
      antigen on granulocytes decrease in CML, and 2) analysis on the density of
      granulocyte CD16 antigen is useful for differential diagnosis of CML from
      inflammatory diseases with neutrophilia.

PMID- 1434039
TI  - [A case of hyperalphalipoproteinemia with complete deficiency of cholesteryl
      ester transfer activity].
AB  - A 68-year-old male patient with benign hypertension shows high levels of high
      density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) of 171 mg/dl. The serum total cholesterol
      was 240 mg/dl. An abnormal slow alpha band and polydisperse low density
      lipoprotein (LDL) bands were detected by agarose gel and polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis. The slow alpha band was considered as an apo E-rich HDL. A peak
      of large HDL particle and a peak of abnormal high-molecular-LDL particle were
      observed in the patient's serum by gel permeation high performance liquid
      chromatography. Cholesteryl ester transfer activity (CETA) of the patient's serum
      was completely deficient (0.0%/10 microliters/18 hr). From these results, it is
      strongly suggested that patient's hyper-HDL-cholesterolemia caused by a complete
      deficiency of CETA.

PMID- 1434040
TI  - The measurement of fibronectin concentrations in human aqueous humor.
AB  - The concentrations of fibronectin in aqueous humor, measured by ELISA which was
      developed to detect fibronectin, ranged from 5 ng/ml to 100 ng/ml. Aqueous humor
      was aspirated from human eyes with cataracts and glaucomas using a 26 gauge
      needle through the peripheral cornea before making the limbal incision into the
      anterior chamber during surgery. The results of the study show that the average
      concentration and standard deviation of fibronectin was 0.136 +/- 0.192
      microgram/ml in cataract eyes, and 0.962 +/- 0.918 microgram/ml in glaucoma eyes
      respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between both
      groups (p = 0.000). However, no significant differences according to age and sex
      were noted. There was no influence due to preoperative intravenous mannitol
      injection on fibronectin concentration. The source of aqueous fibronectin is
      still not clearly known and the mechanism of the higher concentration of
      fibronectin in glaucoma has not been clearly disclosed, however it is thought
      that normally present fibronectin is accumulated in the anterior chamber because
      it can not pass the aqueous outflow pathway, or that fibronectin production may
      be increased in glaucoma.

PMID- 1434041
TI  - Clinical efficacy of topical homologous fibronectin in persistent corneal
      epithelial disorders.
AB  - The clinical efficacy was investigated of topical homologous fibronectin on
      persistent corneal epithelial defects of various etiologies. Fibronectin was
      purified from blood bank homologous plasma by gelatin-Sepharose 4B affinity
      chromatography. Twenty eight eyes of twenty five patients with persistent corneal
      epithelial defects and sterile corneal ulcers that failed to improve with
      standard therapy were treated by the instillation of homologous fibronectin
      eyedrops 5 times a day (500 micrograms/ml). Complete reepithelialization was
      achieved in all patients except two eyes due to uncontrolled glaucoma and the
      taking of steroids. The healing time tended to be different depending on the
      duration of persistent corneal epithelial defects and the severity of underlying
      diseases. The mean +/- standard deviation duration of epithelial defect was 68.18
      +/- 77.80 days. Average healing time was 42.07 +/- 17.47 days. Ocular symptoms
      were relieved significantly and no side effects were observed. Over an average
      follow-up period of about 8 months, two cases of recurrences were noted. These
      results show that homologous fibronectin was also effective in patients with
      persistent corneal epithelial defects and corneal ulcers.

PMID- 1434042
TI  - Ocular dimensions with aging in normal eyes.
AB  - To quantify the dynamic changes taking place in the anterior segment, we measured
      the anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT) and their difference
      between sexes and age groups in normal eyes using contact ultrasonography and
      anterior chamber photography. There were 141 women (241 eyes) and 76 men (130
      eyes) between the ages of 10 and 70 years. In normal eyes, the lens thickness was
      increased and the anterior chamber depth was decreased with aging in both sexes.
      The anterior chamber depth showed an accelerated decrease between the 4th and 5th
      decades in females and the ratio of anterior chamber depth to axial length was
      smaller in females than in males after the 5th decade. The results suggested that
      the prevalence of angle closure glaucoma will be increased in females after
      middle age.

PMID- 1434043
TI  - Optic disc of the myopic eye: relationship between refractive errors and
      morphometric characteristics.
AB  - Because the optic disc in myopic eyes is different from a normal optic disc,
      there are many difficulties in examining the optic discs of myopic eyes. To study
      optic disc change due to myopia, we performed a morphometrical study of
      stereophotographs of 61 men, 109 eyes, who had no glaucoma history. The range of
      refractive error was from +0.75 diopter to -12.75 diopter, and all subjects had
      intraocular pressure below or equal to 21 mmHg. According to the increase in the
      myopic degree, the temporal slope of the disc cup was significantly decreased,
      but the ratio of the vertical disc diameter (VDD) to the horizontal disc diameter
      and the ratio of the width of peripapillary atrophy (PPA) to the VDD were
      significantly increased. The above results suggests that in high myopia the optic
      disc was tilted and the rim-cup border was indistinct and there are some problems
      in the estimation of the morphometric parameters. Also in evaluation of the PPA
      of myopic glaucoma patients, there may be some difficulty in deciding whether it
      is due to myopic change or glaucomatous damage.

PMID- 1434044
TI  - The components of the proliferative membranes in retinopathy of prematurity: an
      electron microscopic study.
AB  - Electron microscopic examination of proliferative membranes in retinopathy of
      prematurity (ROP) was performed in order to evaluate the components of the
      membranes. The proliferative membranes were obtained from nine patients with ROP
      stage 5 during pars plicata lensectomy, vitrectomy, and delamination of membrane.
      Fibrous astrocytes, myofibroblasts, lymphocytes, macrophages, and calcification
      were found respectively in two cases, and fibroblast-like cells were found in one
      case. Varying amounts of collagen tissues were found in eight cases and vascular
      tissues in four cases. Most of membranes were hypocellular and composed mainly of
      collagen matrix. It is considered that fibrous astrocytes, myofibroblasts,
      fibroblasts, and vascular structures are involved in the formation of
      proliferative membranes of ROP, and that later these cells degenerate and
      disappear, and that finally only collagen matrix remains in the membranes.

PMID- 1434046
TI  - Unilateral congenital ocular motor apraxia: a case report.
AB  - Congenital ocular motor apraxia (COA), first described by Cogan in 1953, is a
      rare disorder which shows characteristic defects of the horizontal voluntary
      saccades, and compensatory head thrust. Until now, most cases have showed a
      presumably congenital origin, bilaterality, and a tendency to various stages of
      recovery with aging. But the cause and mechanism of COA are not completely known.
      Occasionally, it combines with other neurologic abnormalities and metabolic
      diseases such as Gaucher's disease exhibit similar clinical characteristics to
      COA. We recently experienced a case of a 3-year-old girl who showed the clinical
      features of unilateral congenital ocular motor apraxia.

PMID- 1434045
TI  - Myopia in premature infants at the age of 6 months.
AB  - The authors performed cycloplegic refractions in 180 eyes of 99 premature infants
      at the age of 6 months to evaluate the incidence and the degree of myopia
      according to the development and disease course of retinopathy of prematurity
      (ROP) and to investigate the effect of cryotherapy on the refractive error. The
      incidences of myopia were not different between premature infants without ROP and
      premature infants with spontaneously and totally regressed ROP (36.3%, 25.5%),
      and the degrees of myopia were low in both groups (-1.76 D, -2.25 D). In
      premature infants with totally regressed ROP after cryotherapy, the incidence of
      myopia was high (75.5%) but the degree of myopia was low (-3.03 D). In premature
      infants with cicatricial ROP, cryotreated or not, both the incidence and the
      degree of myopia were high (93.9%, -5.50 D). It is suggested that cryotherapy
      increases the incidence of myopia but the degree of myopia induced by cryotherapy
      is low.

PMID- 1434047
TI  - Effects of aqueous humor on filtering bleb in rabbits.
AB  - Preoperative aqueous humor, known to inhibit the growth of fibroblasts in tissue
      culture assay, was used as an adjunct to filtering surgery in rabbits to
      determine its effect in vivo on the outcome of filtering surgery. Fifteen rabbits
      underwent a posterior-lip sclerectomy in both eyes. In experimental eyes 1.4 ml
      preoperative aqueous humor and in fellow eyes 1.4 ml balanced salt solution were
      injected intracamerally. Gross and histopathological differences of bleb were
      observed. In this animal experiment, although there was no statistical
      significance or late postoperative effect, the rabbit eyes refilled with
      preoperative aqueous humor intracamerally just after filtering surgery, had a
      larger bleb and less fibroconnective tissue on the bleb than the control eyes in
      the early postoperative period.

PMID- 1434048
TI  - [Recent therapeutic advances in geriatric neurology].
AB  - Marked advances in the treatment of neurological disorders which affect the
      elderly have been established in recent years. Cerebrovascular disorders
      including stroke and vascular dementia are still among the most frequent diseases
      in the Japanese elderly. For treatment of hypertensive patients with or without a
      history of stroke, slight decrease of blood pressure (BP) is recommended since
      recent PET studies have revealed that an excessive drop of BP markedly decreases
      cerebral blood flow. Furthermore, 24-hour-monitoring of BP revealed that
      physiological fluctuation of BP consisting of high daytime BP and low nocturnal
      BP disappears in hypertensive patients with vascular dementia and those with non
      symptomatic vascular lesions on MRI. Recommendable BP levels for the hypertensive
      elderly must be established. The efficacy of both aspirin and ticlopidine for
      prevention of stroke has been established. Recent multi-centric trials have
      revealed that ticlopidine is more effective in preventing stroke but has more
      dangerous adverse effects than aspirin. Aspirin is reported to improve both the
      intellectual scale and cerebral blood flow in vascular dementia. In Parkinson's
      disease (PD), L-DOPA therapy, usually in combination with a dopa decarboxylase
      inhibitor, is common. Other dopaminergic drugs including bromocriptine, lisuride
      and pergolide are used clinically or are being studied. Recently selective
      monoamine oxidase (MAO) B inhibitors have been used in order to slow clinical
      progression of the disease, in addition to an attempt to increase the potential
      of dopamine through inhibition of MAO. Neural transplants to the striatum of PD
      were first applied using autografts of the adrenal medulla in 1985, but resulted
      in transient or only slight improvements.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434049
TI  - [Altered bone metabolism in db/db mice].
AB  - Bone and calcium metabolism was investigated in genetically obese, diabetic db/db
      mice and compared with that in a new hypoglycemic agent (AS-6) treated db/db mice
      and in their lean litter mates as controls. The 5-week-old db/db mice (serum Ca
      9.88 +/- 0.22 mg/dl, glucose 258.6 +/- 13.3 mg/dl) were randomly divided into two
      groups. One group, together with their lean litter mates, was fed a commercial
      diet (CE-2). The other db/db group was fed CE-2 diet containing 0.1% of AS-6.
      Both groups were fed for 20 weeks. The serum glucose and calcium levels in db/db
      control groups (serum Ca 12.3 +/- 0.1 mg/dl, glucose 650.2 +/- 23.9 mg/dl) were
      higher than those in lean control groups (Ca 9.8 +/- 0.2 mg/dl, glucose 180.7 +/-
      10.1 mg/dl). The wet, dry and ashed weights of the femur in db/db control were
      significantly lower and the length of femur in db/db control was significantly
      shorter than those of lean controls. These data suggest that retarded bone growth
      in db/db mice is related to progression of diabetes. Although, there was no
      change in Ca/P, Ca/ash and total perimeter in femurs, the cortical area in the
      femurs of db/db control mice (0.65 +/- 0.02 mm2) was significantly smaller than
      that of the femurs of lean control mice (0.74 +/- 0.02 mm2). The cortical bone
      thinning observed in the db/db control could have been caused by increased bone
      resorption. Treatment with AS-6 for 20 weeks resulted in a 48.6% decrease of
      serum glucose and 5.2% decrease of calcium as compared with db/db
      controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434050
TI  - [Silent lacunes in the elderly Parkinson's disease correlated with ambulatory
      blood pressure].
AB  - Lacunes on brain MRI, causal blood pressure, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure
      and common carotid blood flow measured by the doppler method were studied in 31
      elderly patients with Parkinson's disease (mean age 67.5 +/- 7.3 years). Nineteen
      patients with Parkinson's disease (61%) had at least one lacune. Patients with
      lacunes (P(+)) were significantly higher in age than patients without lacune (P(
      )). The difference of casual blood pressure between patients in the two groups
      was not significant. On the other hand, the average of ambulatory blood pressure
      measurements during a 24-hour period was significantly higher in the P(+) group
      than in the P(-) group. The average of carotid blood flow was also significantly
      lower in the P(+) group than in the P(-) group, however, after adjustment for
      age, the difference between them became insignificant. In conclusion, the
      incidence of silent lacunes on brain MRI was fairly common in elderly patients
      with Parkinson's disease. A high average 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure was
      suggested to be one of the risk factors of lacunar stroke in elderly cases of
      Parkinson's disease. The concept of "combine type" in Parkinsonism was supposed
      to be suitable as well as in senile dementia of Alzheimer type.

PMID- 1434051
TI  - [Analysis of nocturnal disturbed breathing in the elderly using desaturation
      index].
AB  - This study was conducted to examine the nocturnal ventilatory parameters and gas
      exchange in the elderly with nocturnal disturbed breathing. In order to
      facilitate analysis of ventilatory parameters with minimum manpower, we developed
      an unattended continuous nocturnal monitoring system for ventilation and arterial
      oxygen saturation. Using this system, nocturnal ventilatory parameters and gas
      exchange were investigated in our geriatric ward. We investigated 30 elderly
      subjects aged between 65 and 94 (mean age 77.8 +/- 6.5 years, male; female =
      15:15). The subjects were free of severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular
      disorders, and underwent 10 hours of continuous monitoring of ventilation and
      arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2). Number of significant desaturation (SDS;
      desaturation greater than 4% in SaO2 from the baseline value) and desaturation
      index (DI; sigma SDS(%) x duration (hour)) were calculated using the same system.
      The number of apnea episodes significantly correlated with DI and the number of
      SDS. DI also significantly correlated with lowest SaO2, while the number of SDS
      and the number of apneas were not found to be correlated with lowest SaO2. The
      number of SDS and the number of apnea episodes did not correlated with lowest
      SaO2. From the view point of gas exchange during the night, newly introduced DI
      is more comprehensive parameter when compared with the number of apneas or SDS.
      Subjects with a DI of over 0.5 were assigned to the group A (n = 8, mean age =
      77.8) and the remaining subjects were assigned to group B (n = 22, mean age =
      77.8). We compared the group A with the group B regarding nocturnal ventilatory
      parameters and SaO2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434052
TI  - [Serum lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in patients with senile
      dementia].
AB  - Serum lipid, lipoprotein, apolipoprotein, and sterol profiles were studied in 22
      patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) and 29 patients with
      vascular dementia (VD). Levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C)
      were lower in both patients groups of SDAT and VD than in control group.
      Apolipoprotein AI and AII are two major proteins in HDL. In this study,
      apolipoprotein AI levels were normal, but apolipoprotein AII levels were lower in
      the patient groups, especially in the VD group, than in the control group.
      Lipoprotein(a) levels were higher in both patient groups, especially in the VD
      group. There were no differences of cholesterol, cholesterol precursors
      (desmosterol and lathosterol), and plant sterols (campesterol and beta
      sitosterol) among the three groups. Murine apolipoprotein AII is a serum
      precursor of murine senile amyloid protein, and the apolipoprotein AII variant
      with proline-->glutamine substitution at position 5 in the serum of accelerated
      senescence-prone mice is identical to the murine senile amyloid fibril protein
      from amyloid-deposited tissues of these mice. In human SDAT and VD, the reason
      for the low level of apolipoprotein AII remains unclear.

PMID- 1434053
TI  - [Clinical characteristics of postinfarction left ventricular aneurysm with
      extensive calcification].
AB  - The authors experienced 4 cases of calcified postinfarction aneurysm of the left
      ventricle. They were all male, aged 55 to 71 (mean 64). Risk factor for coronary
      artery disease was only smoking in 2 patients, but there was none in the others.
      They had had acute anteroseptal or extensive anterior infarction at age 41-57
      years (mean 49.3), and associated major cardiac events 10-22 years (mean 14.5)
      after acute myocardial infarction. Ventricular tachycardia, congestive heart
      failure and systemic thromboembolism were seen in 4, 2 and 1 patients
      respectively. However, none developed angina pectoris. In the 2 patients in whom
      signal-averaged electrocardiogram was performed, late potential was detected, so
      it was suspected that ventricular tachycardia could be due to reentry. Left
      ventricular end-diastolic pressure was elevated in all patients except one and
      ranged from 11 to 22 mmHg. Left ventricle was dilated in all cases and the end
      diastolic volume index ranged from 143 to 503 ml/m2. The left ventricular
      ejection fraction ranged from 11 to 24%. However, in 2 of the 4 patients, the
      cardiac index was within normal limits, and evidence of congestive heart failure
      was absent. In 2 other patients with associated congestive heart failure, cardiac
      indices were 2.32, 1.56 l/min/m2 respectively. Coronary arteriogram showed a
      total occlusion in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery in all cases, and
      only the LAD artery was affected in 2 patients. In the remaining 2 patients, the
      right coronary arteries also were significantly stenotic or totally occluded,
      i.e., they had 2-vessel disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434054
TI  - [Successful treatment with vincristine for an elderly patient with idiopathic
      thrombocytopenic purpura].
AB  - A 77-year-old female was referred to our hospital in March 1991 because of a
      severe bleeding tendency. Her blood count on admission was as follows: Hb 7.5
      g/dl, WBC 4.6 x 10(9)/l with normal differentiation and platelet 2 x 10(9)/l. One
      month prior to admission, her blood count was normal. Initially, acute idiopathic
      thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) was suspected, because of the acute onset of the
      bleeding tendency and thrombocytopenia. High dose intravenous immunoglobulin (400
      mg/kg/day for 5 days) and bolus methylprednisolone (1 g/day for 3 days then
      tapered) were administered, starting March 13. Her platelet count had increased
      immediately on March 20 to 40 x 10(9)/l. However, platelet count decreased to 4 x
      10(9)/l in the following two weeks. Her clinical course differed from that of
      typical acute ITP. Because the treatment with prednisolone was not effective, it
      was changed to intravenous infusion of vincristine (VCR) at a weekly dose of 1 mg
      for 6 weeks. The treatment was extremely effective, and her platelet count
      reached over 200 x 10(9)/l. The treatment was discontinued. Three weeks later,
      her platelet count decreased to 15 x 10(9)/l, the administration of VCR was
      resumed, and her platelet count recovered again. Throughout her clinical course,
      no side effect of VCR was noticed except for mild hypesthesia of the fingertips.
      VCR therapy was considered to be an useful treatment in elderly patients with
      ITP.

PMID- 1434055
TI  - [Two autopsy cases of aortitis syndrome in the elderly].
AB  - Two autopsy cases of aortitis syndrome (Takayasu's aortitis) in the elderly are
      presented. Case 1 was an 81-year-old woman in whom hypertension was observed at
      age 37, and difference of right and left arm blood pressure was pointed out at
      age 65. She was referred to the authors' hospital at age 72. Chest X-ray and
      computed tomography of the thorax indicated atypical coarctation and diffuse
      calcification of the aorta. Case 2 was a 69-year-old woman in whom hypertension
      was pointed out at age 49, and blood pressure in the arms was found to differ
      from that in the legs at age 63. Chest X-ray and computed tomography showed
      diffuse calcification and marked narrowing of the descending aorta. Pathological
      examination revealed marked calcification in the thickened adventitia of the
      aorta with mild atherosclerotic change. Irregular fibrotic changes of the
      adventitia and degeneration of elastic fibers of the media of the aorta were
      noted in both cases, and were consistent with Takayasu's aortitis. This disorder
      is common in young women and only a small number of elderly cases are reported
      although its incidence is increasing. Diffuse calcification of the aorta with an
      absence of inflammatory signs, which is frequent in older patients, were observed
      in both case. Systemic hypertension is the most important risk factor with
      coarctation of the aorta in Takayasu's aortitis. Bypass surgery is recommended in
      young patients, however in elderly patients, it is generally avoided, in favor of
      medical control of hypertension.

PMID- 1434056
TI  - [Three cases of Chilaiditi's syndrome--hepatodiaphragmatic interposition of the
      colon].
AB  - Three cases of Chilaiditi's syndrome are reported. Case 1: A 56-year-old woman
      was admitted with dysphagia. She had been suffering from progressive systemic
      sclerosis for 16 years. Three years before the admission, dysphagia developed and
      dilatation and hypomotility of the esophagus were observed. Chest and abdominal x
      ray films on admission showed severe dilatation of the intestine, pneumatosis
      cystoides intestinalis, abdominal free air, and Chilaiditi's syndrome.
      Chilaiditi's syndrome and other signs disappeared after conservative treatment.
      She died four months later due to cor pulmonale. Case 2: An 87-year-old man was
      admitted with constipation and left lower abdominal pain. Physical examination
      showed ascites. Chest and abdominal x-ray examination showed Chilaiditi's
      syndrome. Cytological examination of ascites revealed adenocarcinoma cells.
      Diagnosis of peritonitis carcinomatosa due to cancer of pancreatic tail was made.
      Chilaiditi's syndrome disappeared after removal of ascites. Case 3: A 71-year-old
      bedridden man who had urinary incontinence developed meterorism. Repeated chest x
      ray examinations constantly showed Chilaiditi's syndrome. He died of pneumonia
      two years later. The pathogenesis of Chilaiditi's syndrome was discussed and the
      literature was reviewed.

PMID- 1434057
TI  - [A case of recurrent cerebral hemorrhage considered to be cerebral amyloid
      angiopathy by cerebrospinal fluid examination].
AB  - A 73-year-old man was admitted with gait disturbance and dysarthria. He showed
      right-side cerebellar ataxia. Computed tomography of brain showed left thalamic
      bleeding. Nine months later, he was admitted again because of seizure and
      consciousness disturbance. He had a history of diabetes mellitus and gout for
      five years, but no hypertension. On physical examination the lungs and heart were
      normal. On neurological examination, he showed stupor,pupils and eye position
      were normal. He showed right hemiparesis and urinary incontinence. The deep
      tendon reflexes were (+) at the upper limbs and (2+) at the right knee and ankle.
      Blood pressure was 162/88 mmHg and glucose was 275 mg/dl. Other laboratory data
      were normal. Brain CT showed hemorrhage of the left frontal lobe. The cystatin C
      level in cerebrospinal fluid was 68 ng/ml. Therefore we suspected cystatin C
      deposit amyloid angiopathy. In this case, thalamic hemorrhage was initially
      thought to be amyloid angiopathy. In cases of cerebral hemorrhage in the elderly
      without hypertension, we must be considered amyloid angiopathy.

PMID- 1434059
TI  - [Neuropathological study of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in relation to aging].
AB  - It has been assumed that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) involves precocious
      senility as one of its pathogenetic aspects. The authors studied 55 autopsied
      cases of ALS in relation to age at death, ranging from 42 to 86. The materials
      consisted of 8 cases in the fifth decade, 8 in the sixth, 20 in the seventh, 12
      in the eighth, and 7 in the ninth. The total duration of illness ranged from 6
      months to 14 years. The most distinct relationship was observed in the anterior
      horn lesion of the cervical enlargement which became less severe with advancing
      age, irrespective of the length of illness. Fifth decade cases showed marked
      atrophy with severe neuronal loss and fibrillary gliosis in the anterior horn,
      while those in the ninth decade showed slight changes which were similar to age
      matched controls. On the other hand, pyramidal tract degeneration did not show
      any correlation to age at death or to length of illness. Pyramidal tract
      degeneration was found in all younger age group cases, being always severe. In
      the older age groups, however, the degeneration varied extremely in degree from
      case to case. Some cases showed severe degeneration comparable with that in the
      younger age groups, while the others had no findings suggesting degeneration. In
      addition, cases on artificial respirators had a longer duration of illness, and
      more marked degeneration in the anterior horn, irrespective of age. Our study did
      not reveal that senile changes including senile plaques and neurofibrillary
      tangles were more marked in ALS cases. No clinicopathological correlation with
      dementia was recognized.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434058
TI  - [Prognostic analysis for postoperative complications of abdominal surgery in the
      elderly].
AB  - In order to evaluate the prognostic importance of the conditions before abdominal
      surgery for patients over 60 years of age. Multivariate analyses of postoperative
      complications were performed in 634 patients (comprising 525 cases of elective
      abdominal surgery and 109 cases of emergency abdominal surgery). The Mortality
      rate was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the emergency group (11.9%) and
      relatively low among the elective abdominal surgery group (3.8%). In the
      emergency group, 13 patients died, and MOF (multiple organ failure) was found to
      be the direct cause of death in 11 (85%). Although, the majority (75%) of
      emergency operations were for benign disorders, the remainder (25%) had malignant
      tumors. It is noteworthy that among 25% of cases, obstructions and perforations
      due to large bowel cancers were found to be 59% and 19%, respectively. In the
      elective surgery group, postoperative pulmonary and cardiovascular complications
      were found in 11.6% and 9.6%, respectively. Death due to cardiovascular problems
      in rare (5%), however, postoperative pneumonia was the cause of death in 70% of
      all of postoperative death. Risk factors affecting postoperative pulmonary
      complications were malnutrition, advanced age, male sex, malignant disease,
      dementia, cerebrovascular disorders, impaired pulmonary function tests.
      Surprisingly, the risk factors were identical, except for impaired pulmonary
      function, for postoperative MRSA pneumonia. In our study, postoperative pulmonary
      death was not associated with impaired pulmonary function, and it appears to be
      rather affected by the presence of cerebrovascular disorders and malnutritional
      state. A poor nutritional states (< 40 according to Onodera's nutritional index)
      was present in over 50% of patients with cerbrovascular disorders and low
      ADL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434060
TI  - [Immunological functions and clinical course of elderly patients with
      cerebrovascular diseases].
AB  - In the elderly, cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) are often complicated by severe
      infections such as pneumonia. This study aimed to examine the possible
      relationship at various timepoints of observation between immunological functions
      and the clinical course and to correlate the changes of immunological functions
      with CVD lesion side. The study was based on 25 right-handed patients (14 male
      and 11 female, mean age; male 69.0 years and female 74.9 years) with acute, focal
      neurological deficits of CVD (5 cerebral bleeding, 20 cerebral infarction; 11
      right cerebral lesioned subjects, 14 left cerebral lesioned subjects). All
      patients were evaluated in terms of lymphocyte counts, T, B cell counts, T cell
      subsets, lymphocyte transformation and natural killer activity in peripheral
      blood as indices of immunological functions at various timepoints during the
      clinical course. Some of these immunological functions decreased within two
      months (acute stage) after onset of CVD, and some cases with decreased
      immunological functions developed complications of severe infection such as
      pneumonia. Patients who had both decreased immunological function and severe
      infection were 1 out of cases with 7 right cerebral lesions and 6 out of with 9
      left cerebral lesions. This study suggests that the decreased immunological
      function in CVD subjects may be correlated with the site of the CVD lesion. In
      all left cerebral lesioned subjects, a reduction of immunological functions and a
      susceptibility to severe infection were not observed in the acute stage of CVD,
      however, some left cerebral lesion cases may be more closely related than in
      right cerebral lesion cases. The mechanism remains to be clarified.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434061
TI  - [Postprandial hypotension in the elderly with and without hypertension].
AB  - To clarify the mechanism of postprandial hypotension in the elderly, blood
      pressure and humoral factors were measured before and after meal, water, and
      glucose ingestion in 20 healthy elderly. The elderly patients were divided into
      10 normotensive and 10 hypertensive cases. A reduction in systolic BP after meals
      in the hypertensive group was significantly larger than that in the normotensive
      group (-12.0 +/- 4.1 vs. 4.0 +/- 3.2 mmHg, p < 0.05). Systolic BP in hypertensive
      group significantly decreased at 30, 45 and 60 minutes after meals compared to
      the value before meals. However, no significant reduction in systolic BP was
      observed in the normotensive group. A change in systolic BP after meal
      significantly correlated with that after glucose, but not with that after water
      ingestion, suggesting that glucose intake mainly contributes to the postprandial
      hypotension in the elderly. An increase in plasma renin activity and plasma
      catecholamine were observed after meals in the normotensive group, but not in the
      hypertensive group. An increase in systolic BP significantly correlated with an
      increase in PRA. It was suggested that an impairment of the sympathetic nervous
      system in the elderly with hypertension was involved in the mechanism of
      postprandial hypotension.

PMID- 1434062
TI  - [Long-term nasogastric feeding and complications of acute gastric ulcer in two
      elderly patients].
AB  - Some elderly patients with chronic illness such as stroke, or Parkinsonism cannot
      take food orally because of dysphagia. In such cases, tube feeding can be used as
      a supplement to oral intake when malnutrition is present. This route allows for
      easier nursing care and decreases the frequency of aspiration pneumonia.
      Complications of tube feeding include nutrient deficiency states, pulmonary
      aspiration, gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders. We report two cases with
      complications of acute gastric ulcer which was thought to be induced with long
      term tube feeding. Case 1 was a 61-year-old male patient with Parkinson's disease
      for ten years. L-DOPA had been administered with good control of his condition.
      However, his ability to swallow has deteriorated gradually. As he often suffered
      from aspiration pneumonia, nasogastric tube feeding was performed. After three
      years of tube feeding, he suddenly vomited much bloody material. He died from
      massive bleeding with acute gastric dilatation. Autopsy showed giant acute
      gastric ulcer covered with coagulated blood. UL3, 50 mm in maximum diameter, was
      observed in the middle portion of the greater curvature, where the top of tube
      probably came in contact with the gastric wall. Case 2 was an 83-year-old female
      patient with stroke and chronic heart failure. She had been hospitalized for
      about one year because of the intermittent deterioration of her cardiac
      condition. Furthermore, her inability to swallow increased during her
      hospitalization. She also suffered from aspiration pneumonia. Nasogastric tube
      feeding was performed to prevent aspiration pneumonia and malnutrition. She died
      of acute heart failure after twelve months. Autopsy revealed heart dilatation,
      old myocardial infarction and stroke. In addition, two acute gastric ulcers
      (UL3.10 and 30 mm in diameter) were recognized; one was in the upper portion of
      the greater curvature, the other in the lower portion of the greater curvature.
      The location of these gastric ulcers was unusual. Moreover, they coincided with
      location of top of the nasogastric tube. From these two cases, we conclude that
      in long-term tube feeding the tip of the tube often comes in contact with the
      gastric wall, and gastric ulcer could be produced by repeated mechanical stimulus
      of the wall. Reports of acute gastric ulcer induced by tube feeding have not been
      published previously. Therefore, we should pay much attention to this
      complication in the care of the elderly people with long-term tube feeding.

PMID- 1434063
TI  - [An 88-year-old female case of hyperalphalipoproteinemia associated with
      deficiency of cholesteryl-ester transfer activity].
AB  - An 88-year-old female was admitted to our hospital for examination of
      hyperalphalipoproteinemia. The high level of her serum high-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (HDL-C, 148 mg/dl) was due to cholesterol amount of HDL2-C but not
      HDL3-C, and serum cholesteryl ester transfer activity (CETA) was at a non
      detectable level. Despite her age, apparent atherosclerotic changes were not
      observed. She may be the oldest case of hyperalphalipoproteinemia, possibly due
      to deficiency of serum CETA.

PMID- 1434064
TI  - [A case of amnesic stroke caused by left hippocampal infarction].
AB  - A 78-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of acute onset amnesia
      in March 1991. Neurological examination revealed right homonymous hemianopsia and
      clumsiness of the right hand. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated
      abnormal intensity areas in the left hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, fimbria
      of the hippocampus and the occipital lobe. Immediate memory and long-term memory
      were relatively well-preserved, but short-term memory was severely disturbed. Her
      memory disturbance persisted for more than 9 months and she eventually developed
      an "amnesic stroke". According to the MRI findings, the "amnesic stroke" was
      produced by infarction of the left hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus and fimbria
      of the hippocampus. We emphasized that in this case an "amnesic stroke" was
      caused by infarction of the left hippocampal lesions.

PMID- 1434065
TI  - [Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in an elderly patient complicated by cyclophosphamide
      induced allergic hepatic dysfunction].
AB  - A 77-year-old male presented at our Department of Urology in August 1990 with a
      gradually enlarging swelling in the right scrotum. On August 21, right high
      orchietomy was performed. This was diagnosed histologically as non-Hodgkin's
      lymphoma (diffuse large cell type), and the patient was transferred to our
      department on September 11 for further examination and treatment. As enlargement
      of the lymph nodes around the abdominal aorta was evident, it was diagnosed as
      stage IIA according to the Ann Arbor Classification. Beginning on September 21,
      three courses of COP-BLAM therapy (CPM, VCR, PDN, BLM, ADR, PCZ) were
      administered (the third course started on November 8) to achieve complete
      remission. Hepatic dysfunction appeared, however, from November 16, and by
      November 19, GOT and GPT increased to 6700 and 2120, respectively, with
      aggravation of jaundice. PDN therapy was instituted, and GOT and GPT improved
      gradually, but jaundice did not improve. On December 22, laparoscopy was
      performed, and liver biopsy produced histologic findings of drug-induced
      hepatitis. Further, lymphoblastic response was positive for CPM. Hepatic failure
      occurred on December 29, and plasma exchange was performed, but it failed to
      improve the condition, and the patient died on January 15. We described a case of
      non-Hodgkin's lymphoma complicated by hepatic dysfunction, probably induced by
      CPM, in an elderly patient who died to hepatic failure.

PMID- 1434066
TI  - [A case of choreoathetoid movements induced by anticholinergic drugs,
      trihexyphenidyl HCl and dosulepin HCl].
AB  - We report a 72-year-old woman who showed marked orolingual dyskinesia and
      choreoathetoid movements of the neck, with rolling and nodding of the head. She
      had been treated for postural tremor and other complaints with multiple drugs,
      including trihexyphenidyl HCl (THP) 6 mg/day for about two years. Moreover, two
      months before admission to our hospital, a doctor added tricyclic antidepressant,
      dosulepin HCl (DL) because of her state of anxiety. Two weeks following DL
      administration, the persistent dyskinesia described above appeared. Suspecting
      the dyskinesia to be induced by anticholinergics, we withdrew THP, which
      decreased the intensity of the dyskinesia. Then, when DL was ceased the
      dyskinesia almost completely disappeared, slightly recurring only during
      calculating, when excited or writing. In order to confirm that anticholinergics
      were the cause of the dyskinesia, we administered THP 6 mg/day again. In a few
      days the same dyskinesia reappeared, disappearing following THP withdrawal. In
      this case the overlap of anticholinergics might have resulted in the dyskinesia,
      because both THP and DL have anticholinergic effects. It should be stressed that
      inappropriate administration of anticholinergics could cause severe dyskinesia in
      the elderly.

PMID- 1434067
TI  - A significant age shift of the human parvovirus B19 antibody prevalence among
      young adults in Japan observed in a decade.
AB  - A seroepidemiological study on human parvovirus (B19) in Japan was undertaken
      with serum samples randomly collected from healthy Japanese populations (416 in
      1973, 675 in 1984 and 508 in 1987/88). All samples were tested for anti-B19 IgG
      antibody by the indirect antigen-capture ELISA. The antibody prevalence for ages
      0-9 years old in 1984 was significantly higher (16%) than that in 1973 (2%),
      whereas those for ages 20-29 years and 30-39 years were significantly lower in
      1984 (20% and 56%) than in 1973 (67% and 80%) (p < 0.005). After the erythema
      infectiosum (EI) outbreak in 1986/87, the antibody prevalences for ages 5-9, 10
      14 and 15-19 years were 40-85% in Fukuoka, 0-10% in Gunma, and 21-41% in Chiba
      reflecting each EI incidence in these three prefectures, whereas those for ages
      20-29 years remained low (< 20%). These data indicate that B19 virus was
      transmitted mainly among children and no significant incidence of B19 virus
      infection in adults has occurred since 1973, resulting in a notable shifting of
      B19 susceptibility toward older ages including child-bearing females.

PMID- 1434068
TI  - Assessment of the molluscicidal activities of Tribromosalan, Cartap and
      Chlorothalonil against Oncomelania hupensis.
AB  - Molluscicidal activities of Tribromosalan, Cartap and Chlorothalonil were
      evaluated in the laboratory and the field against Oncomelania hupensis, the
      intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum in China. The three chemicals were
      very effective against O. hupensis in the laboratory. The molluscicidal
      activities found in the field trials suggest that Tribromosalan and Cartap may be
      used as practical molluscicides. Dosage of 10 g/m2 of Tribromosalan in spring
      only and 20 g/m2 of Cartap in both spring and autumn would be recommendable as
      practical mollusciciding doses for the control of O. hupensis.

PMID- 1434069
TI  - Isolation of spotted fever group rickettsia from Apodemus speciosus in an endemic
      area in Japan.
AB  - A spotted fever group rickettsia was isolated from Apodemus mice captured near
      the site where a person had been infected in Miyazaki Prefecture. Antigenic
      characteristics of the isolate designated as strain TO-1 were compared with those
      of Rickettsia japonica (strain YH) and Rickettsia montana (ATCC VR611) by the
      indirect fluorescent antibody test with 14 serum specimens obtained from Apodemus
      speciosus, immune rat antisera against the strains TO-1 and YH, and three
      patients' sera. The titers of these sera measured with strain TO-1 were identical
      to those with strain YH, suggesting the antigenic similarity between these two
      organisms. It was also suggested that Apodemus speciosus is likely to be an
      important vertebrate host for a spotted fever group rickettsia in Japan.

PMID- 1434070
TI  - [Radionuclide study of left ventricular function and regional myocardial
      perfusion in patients with a DDD pacemaker].
AB  - In order to determine the influence of right ventricular artificial pacing on
      left ventricular function, particularly on diastolic specificity and regional
      myocardial perfusion, 99mTc multigated blood pool study and 201Tl myocardial
      SPECT at rest were performed on 12 patients with a DDD pacemaker implanted due to
      atrio-ventricular block at various degrees and on 7 normal adults without
      pacemaker as controls. Studies were performed on the pacing group during both
      ventricular pacing (VP) and atrio-ventricular sequential pacing (AVSP) at a rate
      of 80 beats/min. Although global left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) showed
      no significant differences between the control group (63.7 +/- 9.1%) and the
      pacing group, or between during AVSP (57.8 +/- 9.6%) and during VP (55.8 +/-
      10.0%), global early diastolic peak filling rate (EDPFR) in the pacing group were
      significantly lower during AVSP (0.90 +/- 0.52 counts/second/end-diastolic
      counts) than during VP (1.55 +/- 0.52) (p less than 0.01), which were both found
      to be lower than those seen in control group (2.37 +/- 0.48 (p less than 0.01).
      Functional images disclosed regional prolongation of left ventricular ejection
      time (ET) in septal and apical areas of the left ventricle adjacent to the pacing
      site in 7 of the 12 patients (58.3%) during AVSP and in 3 of them (25%) during
      VP, and also revealed regional decrease in EDPFR in the similar areas in all of
      the patients during both modes, being more remarkable during AVSP than during VP.
      On 201Tl myocardial SPECT at rest, regional perfusion impairment was observed in
      septum, apex and the infero-posterior wall on the septal side adjacent to the
      pacing site in 8 of 10 patients (80%) during AVSP and in 6 of 9 patients (66.7%)
      during VP. These results suggest that a change in electrical conduction by right
      ventricular pacing may disturb regional myocardial relaxation, probably resulting
      in a regional impairment of myocardial perfusion.

PMID- 1434071
TI  - [The utility of quantitative 99mTc-GSA liver scintigraphy in the evaluation of
      hepatic functional reserve: comparison with 99mTc-PMT and 99mTc-Sn colloid].
AB  - Using data from 17 patients with liver cirrhosis and 3 patients with fatty liver,
      we have compared the utility of 3 hepatic imaging agents in the evaluation of
      hepatic functional reserve. Evaluated here were 99mTc-galactosyl human serum
      albumin (GSA) which is a new ligand for hepatic binding protein, 99mTc-N
      pyridoxyl-5-methyl tryptophan (PMT) of a hepatobiliary agent, and 99mTc-Sn
      colloid. In each patient, we performed these 3 imaging studies within a week and
      also examined hepatic function tests (indocyanine green test, hepaplastin test,
      choline-esterase, etc). In each imaging study, serial images and dynamic data
      were obtained after the injection of 99mTc-GSA (185 MBq/3 mg), 99mTc-PMT (185
      MBq), or 99mTc-Sn colloid (185 MBq). Using the obtained dynamic data, we analyzed
      the liver kinetics of the 3 agents based on 1 compartment model with 3 parameters
      (hepatic clearance, hepatic excretion rate, non-specific volume of distribution).
      From fitting the liver and heart data to this model, three unknown parameters
      were determined. Patlak plot was also applied in order to estimate liver uptake
      rate. Both curve fitting and Patlak plot could determine appropriate parameters
      in every study. In 99mTc-GSA, a nonlinear 3 compartment model was also applied in
      order to estimate hepatic blood flow, liver receptor density, and affinity of
      receptor-GSA binding separately. Using the obtained parameters, we analyzed the
      correlations between the parameters and the results of hepatic function tests. In
      all of the parameters, those obtained from 99mTc-GSA imaging showed the most
      significant statistical correlation with the results of hepatic function tests.
      From the present results, 99mTc-GSA imaging was concluded to be the best for
      evaluation of hepatic functional reserve.

PMID- 1434073
TI  - [Estimation of perioperative myocardial infarction in patients under aorto
      coronary bypass grafts with plasma level of myosin light chain I and 201Tl
      SPECT].
AB  - After aorto-coronary bypass grafts surgery plasma level of myosin light chain I,
      determined with monoclonal antibodies to myosin light chain I (LC-I), were
      studied in 12 patients (pts) without electrocardiographical perioperative
      myocardial infarction. Rest 201Tl myocardial images were collected before and
      after surgery. LC-I increased and reached peak levels (15 +/- 7 ng/ml) at 91 +/-
      29 minutes after the aortic declamp. From peak levels LC-I rapidly decreased with
      fast half-time disappearance (1.4 +/- 0.9 hours). In 5 pts of 12 pts LC-I
      recovered to normal range and MB reached maximum levels (34 +/- 23 IU/L) at 18 +/
      9 hours after declamp. In 4 pts 201Tl images showed improvement and in one 201Tl
      images showed no changes. In 7 pts of 12 pts LC-I decreased to minimum levels
      (2.7 +/- 0.6 ng/ml) at 12 +/- 6 hours and then gradually increased to peak levels
      (5.6 +/- 0.9 ng/ml) on day 3 +/- 0.9. MB reached maximum level (61 +/- 20 IU/L)
      at 3.2 +/- 1 hours. In 201Tl images 3 pts showed suspected new lesion, 2 pts
      showed no changes and 2 pts showed improvement. No correlation was noted between
      peak LC-I level and duration of aortic declamp. No significant relation was
      suspected between early LC-I peak and irreversible myocardial cell injury. From
      close relationship between aortic declamp and appearance of LC-I peak, it was
      concluded that LC-I, accumulated during aortic clamp, was washed out by aortic
      declamp. Relation was suspected between early LC-I peak and myocardial injury
      during myocardial protection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434072
TI  - [Pulmonary clearance of 99mTc-DTPA aerosol in patients with progressive systemic
      scleroderma].
AB  - Alveolar epithelial permeability was assessed in 32 patients with progressive
      systemic scleroderma (PSS), using 99mTc-DTPA aerosol. Immediately after the
      inhalation of 99mTc-DTPA aerosol for 3 to 6 minutes under normal tidal breathing,
      lung was imaged sequentially for 30 minutes from the posterior by a gamma camera
      and exponential fitting was processed on the time activity curve. T1/2 (min) was
      used as a parameter for the evaluation of permeability of alveolar epithelium.
      Patients with collagen disease showed shorter T1/2 (T1/2 = 43.7 +/- 23.8 min)
      than the normal volunteers (T1/2 = 76.8 +/- 8.7 min). No significant difference
      was observed between patients with or without interstitial changes on the chest
      CT. Significant correlation was not observed between T1/2 and %VC or %DLco. In 8
      cases, studies were repeated in the interval of 3 to 19 months. Improvement of
      T1/2 was seen in 4 cases, independent of CT findings. These results suggest that
      99mTc-DTPA aerosol clearance study provides information independent from other
      lung examinations, and may be useful for the assessment of lung interstitial
      changes in patients with PSS.

PMID- 1434074
TI  - [Diffusely increased uptake in the skull in normal bone scans].
AB  - Diffusely increased skull uptake (a hot skull) is often seen in patients with
      bone metastases and metabolic diseases. This finding is also, however, noticed in
      normal bone scans of aged women. To determine whether the hot skull could be
      considered a normal variant in elderly women and is associated to menopause, we
      studied 282 normal bone scans (166 women and 116 men without metabolic and
      hormonal disease; age range 11 to 84 yr). We divided the patients into eight age
      groups--ages 10-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80-89 yrs.
      Measurements of skull uptake were obtained from anterior total body views using
      contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). CNR for the skull was calculated using the
      following equation: (counts skull - counts femur)/square root of counts
      skull+counts femur, where the denominator signifies a measure of the noise and
      the numerator represents the contrast between the skull and the midfemur. Counts
      skull and femur are the number of average counts per one pixel recorded over the
      skull and midfemur, respectively. The sex dependent difference in skull uptake
      began to develop in the age group 30-39 yrs (p less than 0.05). The skull showed
      greater activity in women than in men for age groups from 30-39 to 80-89 yrs. In
      the age groups 50-59 and 60-69, the difference was particularly large (p less
      than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434075
TI  - [Assessment of myocardial viability with 201Tl myocardial SPECT 24 hours after
      injection].
AB  - Recently many investigators reported that conventional stress-redistribution
      myocardial scintigraphy with 201Tl underestimated the presence of ischemic but
      viable myocardium. We studied the usefulness of 24 hour 201Tl myocardial single
      photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to assess myocardial viability and
      investigated the factors affect to the quality of 24 hour SPECT images. Study
      patients were consisted with 70 patients with old myocardial infarction (OMI), 72
      patients with angina pectoris without OMI (AP) and 43 patients with
      angiographically proven normal coronary arteries. To obtain SPECT images, 10
      minute and 4 hour imagings were sampled 30 seconds per projection. Twenty-four
      hour imaging was sampled 60 seconds per projection. Twenty-four hour images were
      visually interpreted as good, moderate and poor quality. Then study patients were
      divided into 2 groups, group A with good 24 hour images and group B with moderate
      or poor 24 hour images. One hundred and fifty-eight patients (85.4%) of study
      patients had 24 hour SPECT images on a good quality. Only 4 patients (2.2%) had
      poor quality SPECT. All of these 4 patients had broad myocardial infarction. In
      patients with OMI 61 patients (87.1%), in AP 63 patients (87.5%) and in normal 35
      patients (81.4%) had a good 24 hour SPECT. Total sampling counts and myocardial
      ROI counts were significantly higher in group A than in group B. Body weight was
      significantly higher and there were more male patients in group B than in group
      A. Late redistribution was seen in 20 patients (28.5%) with OMI and in 11
      patients (15.3%) with AP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434076
TI  - [Evaluation of coronary hemodynamics and exercise 201Tl-myocardial scintigraphy
      in patients with vasospastic angina].
AB  - To clarify the coronary hemodynamics and myocardial perfusion in patients with
      vasospastic angina, we performed exercise-201Tl-myocardial scintigraphy (planar
      and SPECT) in 72 patients and left coronary digital subtraction angiography (DSA)
      in 37 patients without significant organic coronary artery stenosis. Coronary
      artery spasm was documented by coronary angiography in all patients. Fifty-four
      patients (75%) developed exercise-induced 201Tl-myocardial perfusion defect on
      SPECT. 201Tl pulmonary uptake (L/H) was significantly increased in patients with
      vasospastic angina. Especially, L/H was higher in patients with multiple small
      perfusion defect on 201Tl-SPECT, so that exercise-induced left ventricular
      dysfunction existed in patients with vasospastic angina and especially in cases
      with multiple small perfusion defect on 201Tl-SPECT. The left coronary
      circulation time (CCT) was prolonged in patients with vasospastic angina. The
      mechanism of prolonged CCT is still unknown, but we suspected that prolonged CCT
      was induced by increased peripheral coronary vascular resistance in patients with
      vasospastic angina. It was concluded that the peripheral coronary circulation was
      disturbed in patients with vasospastic angina, but its abnormal coronary
      circulation had no relation to location of spasm-induced vessels. We concluded
      that impaired coronary microcirculation was taken a part of pathophysiology in
      vasospastic angina.

PMID- 1434077
TI  - [Discrepancy between 123I-IMP SPECT and X-ray CT in chronic cerebrovascular
      disease].
AB  - The discrepancy between the low accumulation area (LAA) seen on 123I-IMP SPECT
      and the low density area (LDA) on X-ray CT was evaluated in 76 cases with chronic
      cerebrovascular disease. In 19 patients, LAA was larger than LDA beyond the
      vascular territory. Brain angiogram showed either obstruction or stenosis of the
      major arteries in as many as 59 percentages of this discrepancy group. In many
      patients of this group, cortical neurological symptoms were observed. In 37
      patients in which the size of LAA was equal to that of LDA, abnormality of the
      major arteries was observed in only 7 percentages. These results indicated that
      the discrepancy mainly reflected the infarction due to irreversible ischemic
      change of perforate artery with the cortical low perfusion caused by the major
      artery disease. In some patients, the discrepancy was believed to show the remote
      effect caused by neurological pathway disturbance.

PMID- 1434078
TI  - [67Ga scintigram and MRI in malignant bone tumors and malignant soft tissue
      tumors].
AB  - We have analyzed the characteristics of 67Ga scintigram and MRI in 11 malignant
      bone tumors and 11 malignant soft tissue tumors. Osteosarcoma showed a high
      accumulation in 67Ga scintigram and low signal intensity in T1 weighted image. T2
      weighted image were not characteristic. Chondrosarcoma showed medium 67Ga
      accumulation and low signal in T1 weighted image and high signal in T2 weighted
      image. Ewing sarcoma showed low accumulation in 67Ga scan and medium intensity in
      MRI. Malignant soft tissue tumors showed rather low 67Ga accumulation compared
      with malignant bone tumors. Malignant fibrous histiocytoma showed medium
      accumulation of 67Ga, low signal in T1 weighted image and high signal in T2
      weighted image. Liposarcoma showed low 67Ga accumulation and medium signal in T1
      weighted image and high signal in T2 weighted image. To summarize these
      characteristics, three dimensional display is demonstrated.

PMID- 1434079
TI  - [Analysis of stereoisomers involved products of synthesized 18F-2-deoxy-2-fluoro
      D-glucose by 1H-NMR spectroscopy].
AB  - 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-mannose (FDM) is eventually involved in side products of
      18F-2-fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) synthesized by the acetylhypofluorite method. We
      attempted the measurement of existence ratio of FDM and FDG, FDM alpha and FDM
      beta, FDG alpha and FDG beta by 400 MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The ratio of FDM to
      FDG were 4.0%. The amounts of FDG beta were much larger than those of FDG alpha.
      The difference between the amounts of FDM alpha and FDM beta were not
      significant. 1H-NMR spectroscopy could be utilized in quantitative analysis of
      products and byproducts in cyclotron chemicals. The FDM in FDG synthesized in our
      cyclotron system was not considered to affect a lot of influence in PET study.

PMID- 1434080
TI  - [81mKr scintigraphic evaluation of hemodynamics in gynecologic malignancies under
      condition of angiotensin II-induced hypertension].
AB  - Transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy is one of the most useful
      therapeutic procedures for gynecologic malignancies. Recently, several reports
      have been published about Angiotensin II-induced hypertension chemotherapy and
      the efficacy of the method, but there have been no reports to evaluate an
      application for gynecologic malignancies. We evaluate the usefulness of the
      method for gynecologic malignancies demonstrating the changes of hemodynamics of
      the tumor using 81mKr scintigraphy. Thirteen patients with pathologically
      confirmed gynecologic malignancies were evaluated by angiography and continuous
      infusion of 81mKr via the catheter with and without Angiotensin II. At first,
      continuous infusion of 81mKr was performed under the superselective
      catheterization of the uterine artery. The radioactivities in the ROI were
      counted. Then, withdrew the catheter from the uterine artery to the internal
      iliac artery, and again continuously infused 81mKr and counted the
      radioactivities in the same ROI. Finally, keeping the catheter in the internal
      iliac artery, Angiotensin II and 81mKr were infused simultaneously. And counted
      the radioactivities. The radioactivities were highest when the catheter tip was
      placed in uterine arteries and lowest when the catheter tip was placed in
      internal iliac arteries. But radioactivities in the ROIs were definitely
      increased when Angiotensin II was used, even if the catheter tip was keeping in
      the internal iliac arteries. The optimal catheter position of transcatheter
      arterial chemotherapy for gynecologic malignancies is at proximal uterine artery.
      Since Angiotensin II-induced hypertension may increase blood flow of tumors, it
      seems to have indication for post-operative cases, highly advanced cases and
      cases with difficulties to perform superselective catheterization.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434081
TI  - [The usefulness of the emergency hepatobiliary scintigraphy to rule out acute
      cholecystitis--43 patients report].
AB  - We studied emergency hepatobiliary scintigraphy in the 43 patients to rule out
      acute cholecystitis. After injection of 185-222 MBq (5-6 mCi) of 99mTc-EHIDA or
      99mTc-HIDA, serial static scintigraphic images were obtained up to 7 hours in
      maximum. Of 43 patients in this study, 20 had a normal scan and finally in all of
      them cholecystitis was ruled out. Of the 43 patients, 14 had an abnormal scan
      (nonvisualized gall bladder). In 10 of them the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis
      was confirmed after emergency cholecystectomy. The other 9 patients of 43 had an
      incomplete scan mainly due to liver dysfunction. Four of them had acute
      cholecystitis in the cholecystectomy. These results indicate that acute
      cholecystitis can be excluded by the findings of gall bladder visualization in
      hepatobiliary scintigram. We concluded that emergency hepatobiliary scintigraphy
      is very useful to rule out acute cholecystitis.

PMID- 1434082
TI  - [Phase I clinical study of 99mTc-ECD].
AB  - A phase I clinical study of 99mTc-L,L-ethyl cysteinate dimer (99mTc-ECD) was
      carried out in 3 normal volunteers. There was no significant change in vital
      signs and laboratory parameters attributing to the radiopharmaceutical. 99mTc-ECD
      was rapidly taken up by the brain, reaching the maximum peak activity within 1
      min after the injection and remained relatively constant over several hours. The
      brain uptake of 99mTc-ECD at 5 min was 5.4 +/- 0.5% which decreased to 5.0 +/-
      0.3% by 65 min. 99mTc-ECD cleared rapidly from other organs. The primary
      excretion route was through the kidneys. Cumulative 99mTc activity in the urine
      at 90 min and 24 hr were 60.2 +/- 7.3% and 88.5 +/- 10.3%, respectively. The
      critical organ was the bladder wall with an estimated radiation dose of 0.073
      mGy/MBq, which was acceptable value. Clear SPECT images were obtained at 30, 90
      and 150 min postinjection. In conclusion, 99mTc-ECD is a safe and promising
      radiopharmaceutical for the evaluation of regional cerebral blood flow.

PMID- 1434083
TI  - [A case of unusually muscle localization of 99mTc-hydroxy methylene diphosphonate
      scintigraphy in a patient with acute rhabdomyolysis].
AB  - A 85-year-old man was admitted with a history of right upper arm pain following
      trauma. Laboratory studies included an initial CPK level of 5,385 IU/liter. Other
      laboratory values were GOT, 114 IU/L; LDH, 701 IU/L; myoglobin, 1,100 ng/ml;
      aldolase, 13.8 IU/L. The patient was presumed to have have rhabdomyolysis. A
      99mTc-hydroxy methylene diphosphonate (99mTc-HMDP) scan revealed an increased
      uptake in the right shoulder area. 99mTc-HMDP scan is a sensitive indicator of
      local skeletal muscle injury in rhabdomyolysis.

PMID- 1434084
TI  - [Clinical assessment of serum myosin light chain I in patients with dilated
      cardiomyopathy].
AB  - Serum cardiac myosin light chain I (LCI) levels were quantitated using a
      radioimmunoassay kit in patients suspected of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). In
      this study, 55 patients were evaluated between 1986 and 1991. They were composed
      of 40 males and 15 females, and their age was 27-75 years (51 +/- 11 years). The
      patients with renal dysfunction were excluded due to their serum creatinine
      levels (greater than 2.0 mg/dl). 1) After cardiac catheterization, endomyocardial
      biopsy and echocardiography, 44 patients were diagnosed as DCM, 2 as ischemic
      heart disease, 2 as chronic myocarditis, 1 as restrictive cardiomyopathy, 1 as
      dilated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 1 as cardiac amyloidosis, 2 as myopathy, 1
      as polymyositis and 1 as hypothyroidism. 2) Only two patients with DCM had
      elevated LCI. Besides, two patients with myopathy or hypothyroidism had elevated
      LCI. 3) In the follow-up, one patient died suddenly 6 months later and another
      showed normal value of LCI four years later. 4) LCI elevation in DCM was not
      related to either the severity of heart failure or cardiac function and it showed
      no finding of 201Tl myocardial defect or elevated CPK. 5) The mechanism for
      elevated LCI in myopathy is related to a cross-reaction with myosin light chain
      in the skeletal muscle. In hypothyroidism, it may be related to decreased
      clearance of normal LCI concentration or increased myosin light chain from
      damaged skeletal muscle. In conclusion, it is evident that the measurement of LCI
      is not helpful in clinical assessment of patients with DCM, but may be useful in
      detection of secondary cardiomyopathy.

PMID- 1434085
TI  - [Metabolism of 99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer (99mTc-ECD) in blood--mainly in
      vitro].
AB  - Metabolism of 99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer (99mTc-ECD) in blood was studied
      mainly in vitro. When 99mTc-ECD was mixed with blood taken from 12 subjects, the
      octanol extraction ratio of ECD (y) decreased rapidly and the octanol extraction
      ratio-time profile well fitted a monoexponential curve (y = Ae-kt/1000, A, k:
      constant, t: time after mixing). The k value and hematocrit (Ht) were
      significantly correlated (k = 0.376Ht-3.27, r = 0.897, p less than 0.001),
      therefore, it was suggested that the majority of the enzyme which dissolves ECD
      exists in red blood cells. When ECD was mixed with blood, there were more
      hydrophilic products of ECD in plasma than those generated by the enzyme in
      plasma. In vivo input function of 99mTc-ECD was calculated by arterial blood
      sampling and octanol extraction. The duration of effective input was relatively
      short, which was attributed to rapid decrease of octanol extraction ratio in
      vivo.

PMID- 1434086
TI  - [A new polar map to quantify reversible area by myocardial 201Tl single photon
      emission computed tomography and clinical application to patients before and
      after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty].
AB  - In the studies of stress 201Tl single photon emission computed tomography, we
      have developed a computer method to discriminate reversible from irreversible
      defect, then quantify each area and display the area on the polar map. Initial
      percent uptake (%Ui) and delayed percent uptake (%Ud) were expressed as percent
      of the maximum uptake area and were defined as regional myocardial 201Tl uptake
      in initial and delayed image, respectively. The %Ud/%Ui ratio was defined as
      redistribution ratio (RD-ratio). The values of %Ui obtained from each pixel of
      short axis slices were plotted against the values of RD-ratio on XY co-ordinates.
      In this graphic display, normal area, ischemic viable area and non viable area
      were separated by the following four lines. A; The straight line (Y = 2.0-0.012X)
      indicating the relationship between %Ui and RD-ratio for the group with ischemic
      viable myocardium. B; The parallel line to A and shifted to -1.5 SD from A. C;
      The vertical line at 67.0% level (ischemic upper level). D; The vertical line at
      27.6% level (viable lower level). Each area was discriminated by color display
      and calculated relative area values were displayed on the polar map. Criteria for
      discriminating each area were derived from the results of ischemic pre
      transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) lesions (n = 21) in which viability was
      confirmed by successful PTCA and previous results of 66 cases with single vessel
      disease and 16 cases of control group. This new computerized technique was
      applied for evaluation of another group with successful PTCA (n = 15).(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434087
TI  - [Phase III trial of 99mTc-rhenium colloid for lymphoscintigraphy].
AB  - A multicenter study was carried out on 191 patients (196 examinations) with
      lymphatic system disorders to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 99mTc-rhenium
      Colloid, a tracer for lymphoscintigraphy (TCK-17). Local pain and swelling
      occurred at the site of injection in 79.6% and 5.1% of patients, respectively,
      and 2 patients experienced mild fever. The accuracy was calculated on the basis
      of the results obtained by other diagnostic methods. Lymphoscintigraphy using TCK
      17 was sensitive diagnostic procedures, but low specificity. The efficacy was
      classified into five grades: "Excellent", "Good", "Moderate", "Equivocal", and
      "Poor". 67.3% of all examination were evaluated as "Excellent" or "Good". This
      study revealed TCK-17 was a useful radiopharmaceutical for lymphoscintigraphy
      because of its safety and effectiveness.

PMID- 1434089
TI  - Facilitatory and inhibitory processes in the thalamic ventrobasal nucleus of the
      rat.
AB  - Experiments were carried out on anesthetized rats to clarify the actions of the
      corticothalamic input on the thalamic ventrobasal neuron (VB). The field
      potentials and the unit activities were evoked in the VB by the electrical
      stimulation of the contralateral (cSCx) and ipsilateral somatosensory cortex
      (SCx), the thalamic radiation (TR), and the medial lemniscus (ML). The
      corticothalamic axons could be activated from cSCx via the ipsilateral SCx, with
      the result of a clear excitation followed by the inhibition of VB neurons. These
      VB responses were also evoked from SCx, TR, or even ML with other responses.
      Paired stimulation of these sites revealed that the corticothalamic input exerted
      facilitation on the succeeding corticothalamic input for 690 +/- 74.2 ms (n = 5).
      It was confirmed that these corticothalamic actions were abolished by the lesion
      of SCx. In contrast to the corticothalamic-induced VB responses, the VB responses
      to ML input received powerful inhibitory effects from ML or SCx for 1,150 +/-
      35.4 ms (n = 5). It is concluded that the corticothalamic input can excite the VB
      neuron in a mechanism that differs from that of ML input.

PMID- 1434088
TI  - [Clinical usefulness of exercise/rest 99mTc-teboroxime SPECT imaging: results of
      a Japanese multi-center phase II study].
AB  - 99mTc-Teboroxime [Chloro[tris(cyclohexyldioxime)methaneboronic acid]
      (99mTc)technetium], a perfusion agent for myocardial imaging, has a distinct
      advantage over 201Tl because of its very high myocardial extraction and is a
      99mTc compound ideal for gamma camera imaging. This agent also demonstrates rapid
      myocardial washout, which allows completion of exercise and rest imaging studies
      in a short interval (to 1 hour). However, the rapid washout necessitates the
      completion of image acquisition very quickly after injection and therefore may
      require nonconventional SPECT imaging. In this Phase II study we evaluate the
      safety and efficacy of 99mTc-Teboroxime to detect coronary artery disease by
      exercise and rest SPECT imaging in 38 patients with prior myocardial infarction,
      31 patients with angina pectoris, and 4 patients with non-coronary cardiac
      diseases. The 99mTc-Teboroxime dose used was 370-740 MBq in each study. The
      findings were compared with coronary angiography or 201Tl exercise and
      redistribution SPECT. No significant adverse reactions or laboratory
      abnormalities attributable to 99mTc-Teboroxime were observed. The quality of
      SPECT images was optimal in 62.5% of all patients. The relatively large
      population of suboptimal cases (37.5%) was attributed to the delay of the start
      and prolongation of the image acquisition time. In 85.7% of patients whose
      imaging was started within 5 minutes and completed within 11 minutes after
      injection, optimal quality was observed. Thus, 99mTc-Teboroxime SPECT requires
      the rapid completion of image acquisition after injection to achieve optimal
      image quality. Abnormalities of 99mTc-Teboroxime distribution were detected in
      97.1% and 62.1% of patients with prior myocardial infarction or angina pectoris,
      respectively. The concordance with coronary angiography was 84.4% and 68.0%, and
      with 201Tl was 78.1% and 74.1%, respectively. Although standardization of the
      image protocol suitable for this agent is needed for the next study, these high
      correlations suggest the potential usefulness of 99mTc-Teboroxime SPECT imaging.

PMID- 1434090
TI  - Reappraisal of the corticothalamic and thalamocortical interactions that
      contribute to the augmenting response in the rat.
AB  - In urethane-anesthetized rats, low frequency electrical stimulation of the
      thalamic radiation (TR) evoked an augmenting response in the somatosensory cortex
      (SCx) which was followed by rhythmic slow waves. The augmenting response mainly
      consists of the incremental secondary response (II-response). Simultaneously,
      augmentation also occurs in the ventrobasal nucleus of thalamus (VB) on the late
      component responses, C- and D-waves, to TR stimulation. The latencies of these
      augmented responses were shorter for the C-wave and the accompanying unit
      discharges in the VB relay neurons than for the D-wave and the II-response. We
      hypothesized that the thalamo-cortico-thalamic reverberating circuit was crucial
      in generating the augmenting response in the SCx. To test this hypothesis, an
      attempt was made to block temporarily the corticothalamic glutamatergic
      transmission by means of microinjections of kynurenate (KYN), an antagonist of
      glutamate, into the VB with a dose of more than 2 mM. This local procedure
      blocked all of the augmenting phenomena completely with a full recovery after the
      duration that depended on the dose of KYN. Besides, in the stage of complete
      blocking of the II-response to the test TR stimuli, the augmentation was able to
      be restored by adding a short train of high frequency TR stimuli that mimicked a
      burst discharge of VB relay neurons. These results in support of the hypothesis
      would reappraise the functional significance of the reverberating circuit in
      augmentation that has recently been controversial.

PMID- 1434091
TI  - Effects of blood gas, pH, lactate, potassium on the oxygen uptake time courses
      during constant-load bicycle exercise.
AB  - Changes in the time courses of VO2 during constant-load exercise were examined in
      connection with other cardiorespiratory and blood chemical parameters. Eleven
      healthy male subjects performed a ramp exercise and three to six constant-load
      exercises at varying degrees of load using an electro-braked bicycle ergometer.
      Heart rate, ventilation, and gas exchange were measured during both types of
      exercise, and chemical parameters of the subject's blood (blood gas, pH, lactate,
      and electrolytes) were determined during two intensities of constant-load
      exercise. The time courses of cardiorespiratory and blood chemical data 3 min
      after the onset of constant-load exercise were fitted by linear regressions to
      see whether these parameters had reached the steady state or not. Heart rate
      increased significantly at a lower intensity of constant-load exercise than VE,
      VO2, and VCO2. While the increase in VCO2 was slower than that of VO2, a definite
      difference in time courses was not found between VE and VO2. The time courses of
      changes in blood gas, pH, bicarbonate, and lactate were not correlated with those
      of VO2. However, changes in blood potassium concentration were closely correlated
      with those of VO2 in terms of time courses and magnitude. This suggests the
      possibility that blood potassium may play an important role in the control of VO2
      time course during constant-load exercise.

PMID- 1434092
TI  - Responses of muscle sympathetic nerve activity and cardiac output to the cold
      pressor test.
AB  - We measured muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSA) to clarify the mechanisms of
      the blood pressure rise during cold pressor test (CPT), simultaneously with
      impedance cardiography and blood pressure wave measurement in 10 healthy
      subjects. MSA remained unchanged during the initial period of 0-30s of the CPT
      and increased remarkably during the later period of 30-90s of the CPT, while
      cardiac output exhibited a slight increase during the initial period but not
      during the later period. Mean blood pressure increased significantly throughout
      the entire period of CPT and reached the maximal level during 90-120s of the CPT.
      The mean blood pressure and total peripheral resistance during the CPT showed a
      linear correlation with MSA. In conclusion, an increase of cardiac output
      elevates blood pressure at the initial period of the CPT with little increase in
      MSA, while an increase of MSA plays an essential role to elevate the blood
      pressure at the later period of the CPT.

PMID- 1434093
TI  - ANP decreases arterial oxygen partial pressure by increasing shunt flow in
      pulmonary circulation.
AB  - This study was designed to clarify the decreased arterial oxygen partial pressure
      (PaO2) mechanism induced by atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) infusion. In order
      to examine the effects of ANP on gas exchange across the normal lungs, ANP was
      infused to eight anesthetized dogs, ventilated with mixed gases of oxygen and
      nitrogen. PaO2 and venous oxygen partial pressure (PvO2), ventilation-perfusion
      ratio (VA/Q), shunt-total blood flow ratio (QS/QT) were measured before and
      during ANP infusion under ventilation with 10, 20, 30% oxygen. In this study ANP
      decreased PaO2 from 89.0 +/- 4.2 to 85.4 +/- 5.4 mmHg during 20% oxygen
      ventilation, and from 138.1 +/- 3.6 to 132.5 +/- 4.1 mmHg during 30% oxygen
      ventilation. ANP increased VA/Q and QS/QT. We conclude that the decrease in PaO2
      caused by ANP infusion was mainly due to the increased venous admixture.

PMID- 1434094
TI  - Excitatory and inhibitory controls of the masseter and temporal muscles elicited
      from teeth in the rat.
AB  - The periodontal mechanism that controls the jaw reflexes was examined in lightly
      anesthetized rats. Motor-unit activity in the masseter and temporal muscles was
      recorded electromyographically and pressure stimulation was applied to either an
      upper incisor or an upper molar. Reflex effects of dental stimulation varied
      depending on the level of ongoing activity (background activity, BGA) in each
      motor unit. Incisal or molar stimulation elicited excitatory reflexes in both the
      masseter and temporal motor units at a low BGA, but inhibitory reflexes in both
      types of motor unit at a higher BGA. In contrast to these synergistic reflex
      actions, the reciprocal reflex actions of the two motor units that belonged to
      the respective muscles occurred when the BGA was intermediate. The results
      suggest that different patterns of periodontal jaw reflexes may be elicited,
      depending on the different levels of BGAs. Furthermore, the present reflexes were
      modified with the site of a stimulated tooth within the dentition. Incisal
      stimulation produced greater excitation in the masseter motor unit than in the
      temporal one, and the opposite type of response occurred during molar
      stimulation. Moreover, smaller-amplitude motor units with a low reflex threshold
      and larger-amplitude motor units with a higher reflex threshold tended to exhibit
      excitatory and inhibitory reflexes, respectively.

PMID- 1434095
TI  - Effect of immobilization stress on in vitro and in vivo thermogenesis of brown
      adipose tissue.
AB  - Repetitive intermittent stress such as immobilization has been shown to induce an
      improved cold tolerance through an enhanced capacity of nonshivering
      thermogenesis (NST), causing positive cross adaptation between nonthermal stress
      and cold. In the present study, effect of 3-h-daily immobilization stress for 4-5
      weeks was investigated on in vitro and in vivo thermogenesis of interscapular
      brown adipose tissue (BAT). In vitro thermogenesis was measured in the minced
      tissue blocks incubated in Krebs-Ringer phosphate buffer with glucose and albumin
      at 37 degrees C, using a Clark-type oxygen electrode. The stressed rats showed
      less body weight gain during the experiment. The BAT weight, its protein and DNA
      contents were significantly greater in the stressed rats. Basal, noradrenaline-
      and glucagon-stimulated oxygen consumptions were significantly greater in the
      stressed rats. In vivo thermogenesis was assessed by the changes of temperatures
      in colon (Tcol), BAT (TBAT), and tail skin (Tsk) induced by noradrenaline or
      glucagon infusion in the anesthetized rats. Noradrenaline and glucagon increased
      the TBAT and the extent of increase was greater in the stressed rats. These
      results indicate that cross adaptation between nonthermal stress and cold may be
      mediated through an enhanced thermogenic activity of BAT.

PMID- 1434096
TI  - Effects of selective vagal stimulation on the gallbladder and sphincter of Oddi
      and peripheral vagal routes mediating bile evacuative responses induced by
      hypothalamic stimulation.
AB  - Peripheral routes of the vagus nerves to the biliary system were studied in
      anesthetized dogs using various selective vagal stimulation. Efferent stimulation
      of the gastric, hepatic, or celiac vagal branch as well as the cervical or
      thoracic vagal trunk induced gallbladder and Oddi's sphincter contractions, but
      those induced by hepatic vagal stimulation were rather small. The contraction
      responses in the gallbladder and sphincter of Oddi induced by thoracic vagal
      stimulation were greatly reduced after an external ligation around the pyloric
      sphincter. After administration of sympathetic blockers and atropine, vagally
      induced gallbladder contractions were completely abolished and slight relaxation
      was seen in some animals. On the other hand, relaxation or transient relaxation
      followed by enhanced contractions was elicited in the sphincter of Oddi by vagal
      stimulation after atropine and sympathetic blockers. The relaxation response in
      the gallbladder after atropine and sympathetic blockers was abolished and that in
      the sphincter of Oddi was greatly reduced after the ligation around the pyloric
      sphincter. Stimulation of a ventral part of the anterior hypothalamic area
      induced gallbladder contraction and simultaneous relaxation of the sphincter of
      Oddi. These responses were completely abolished by the ligation around the
      pyloric sphincter in six dogs, while a slight relaxation response in the
      sphincter of Oddi remained in two dogs. These results suggest that the vagal
      fibers passing across the pyloric sphincter region are important for regulation
      of canine biliary motility and that extragastric vagal routes play a minor role
      in the nervous control of canine bile evacuation.

PMID- 1434097
TI  - Nitroarginine-sensitive and -insensitive components of the endothelium-dependent
      relaxation in the guinea-pig carotid artery.
AB  - In the guinea-pig carotid arteries, nitroarginine elevated the resting tension
      (greater than 3 x 10(-6) M) and enhanced the noradrenaline (NA)- and high
      potassium (high-K, 29.6 mM) induced contractions (greater than 10(-7) M), in a
      concentration-dependent manner, with no significant change in the resting
      membrane potential and depolarizations elicited by NA or high-K. ACh (10(-6) M)
      relaxed the muscles precontracted with NA or high-K by 96 or 46% of the
      contraction, respectively. In the presence of nitroarginine (10(-5) M) for 1-3 h,
      the ACh-induced relaxation was reduced to 40 or 0% of the NA- or high-K
      contractions, respectively. In tissues contracted with NA and exposed to
      nitroarginine, the ACh-induced relaxation changed from a sustained to a transient
      form. ACh relaxed the muscles to a similar extent, at any given level of tension,
      as elevated by different concentrations of NA to 1-3 times the level produced by
      10(-6) M NA, either in the presence or absence of nitroarginine. ACh (greater
      than 10(-8) M) produced a transient hyperpolarization of the membrane, in an
      endothelium-dependent manner, and the responses were blocked by atropine (10(-6)
      M) or high-K solution, but not by NA or nitroarginine. We propose that 1)
      endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) is produced by pathways
      independent of the biosynthesis of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), 2)
      the sustained release of EDRF maintains the muscle tone at a low level, and 3)
      the endothelium-dependent relaxation is produced by both EDRF and EDHF, and they
      elicit sustained and transient relaxations, respectively.

PMID- 1434098
TI  - Effects of brain natriuretic peptide and C-type natriuretic peptide infusion on
      urine flow and jejunal absorption in anesthetized dogs.
AB  - Effects of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) or C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) on
      urinary excretion and jejunal absorption of fluid and electrolytes were examined
      in anesthetized dogs. Intravenous infusion of BNP increased urinary fluid and
      electrolyte excretion and decreased jejunal fluid and electrolyte absorption. CNP
      had a similar effect on jejunal absorption as BNP. However, CNP had no
      significant effect on renal fluid or electrolyte excretion. These results
      indicate that: 1) BNP is a powerful natriuretic peptide comparable to ANP and; 2)
      CNP may also contribute to the regulation of body fluid homeostasis by way of
      inhibiting net jejunal fluid and electrolyte absorption.

PMID- 1434099
TI  - Peristaltic movement evoked in intestinal tube devoid of mucosa and submucosa.
AB  - Computerized analysis of video-recorded peristalsis was made in a preparation of
      guinea-pig ileum tube from which both mucosa and submucosa were mechanically
      scraped off. Threshold value for provoking peristalsis was higher, conduction
      velocity of peristalsis was slower, and peristaltic force was weaker in
      comparison with the ileum tube from which only mucosa was scraped off and with
      the normal ileum tube. A histological control of the preparation proved that
      there was no nerve cell body of submucous plexus on the surface of separated
      circular muscle. It was concluded that peristalsis, though impaired, could be
      provoked by way of activation of the reflex arch consisted by neural circuit of
      myenteric neurons which should be produced by excitation of stretch receptors in
      the muscularis externa.

PMID- 1434100
TI  - Pulmonary C-fibers do not play a role in ammonia-induced brief tachypnea in the
      rabbit.
AB  - To determine the role of pulmonary C-fibers in evoking a brief tachypnea induced
      by ammonia vapor, we examined the responses of diaphragm electromyogram (DIAP
      EMG) to ammonia inhalation before and after procaine treatment to the
      contralateral vagus nerve in urethane-anesthetized, spontaneously breathing
      rabbits with unilateral vagotomy. Procaine treatment that blocked the conduction
      of vagal afferent C wave did not significantly alter the response of brief
      tachypnea to ammonia. Furthermore, the stimulation of pulmonary C-fibers by
      ammonia inhalation did not coincide with the induction of brief tachypnea. In
      addition, we also examined the responses of rapidly adapting receptors (RARs) and
      slowly adapting receptors (SARs) to ammonia inhalation in rabbits, particularly
      in which inhalation of this chemical gas produced a brief tachypnea. The burst
      activity of RARs evoked by ammonia inhalation coincided with the phase of rapid
      shallow breathing for a few breaths. The discharge rates of SARs during both
      inspiration and expiration increased when ammonia inhalation caused a brief
      tachypnea. From these results, it can be suggested that the ammonia-induced brief
      tachypnea is probably mediated by transient stimulation of both SAR and RAR
      activities but does not occur as a result of the pulmonary C-fiber stimulation.

PMID- 1434101
TI  - Acid-induced two-step depolarization in the peritubular membrane of bullfrog
      kidney proximal tubules.
AB  - Using ion-selective microelectrode technique, we investigated acid-induced
      changes of peritubular membrane potential (EM) and intracellular activity of Na+
      and H+ ((Na)i and pHi) in the proximal tubule of perfused bullfrog kidney in
      vivo. When peritubular pH was reduced at constant PCO2, EM was depolarized in two
      steps: i.e., an initial sharp fall followed by an additional deeper fall. This
      was termed as the acid-induced two-step depolarization. During this change, pHi
      was decreased gradually from 7.4 to 6.9 in response to 1/10 HCO3- reduction (pH
      from 7.7 to 6.7), whereas (Na)i was increased after a transient decrease. This
      result supports the peritubular rheogenic HCO3- exit coupled to Na+ movement
      during the initial depolarization period. Complete removal of peritubular HCO3-
      at constant pH produced a less marked initial depolarization with a transient
      rise of pHi, followed by a partial repolarization without appreciable change in
      (Na)i. Peritubular SITS administration inhibited these depolarization responses
      to the acid perfusion. The above findings suggest that 1) the initial part of the
      two-step EM depolarization produced by low HCO3- or HCO(3-)-free perfusion
      resulted mainly from the peritubular rheogenic exist of HCO3-, 2) the magnitude
      of initial depolarization would also be affected by pHi, and 3) the subsequent
      delayed changes of EM were mainly determined by the pHi-sensitive K+ conductance
      of the peritubular membrane.

PMID- 1434102
TI  - Forced vital capacity in Malaysian females.
AB  - Spirometry was performed on 614 female subjects ranging in age from 13 to 69
      years and comprising all the main races in Malaysia. They were divided into six
      age categories. Mean forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in
      1 s (FEV1) were 2.51 +/- 0.02 and 2.31 +/- 0.02l, respectively. Both FVC and FEV1
      correlated negatively with age. Regression analysis revealed an age-related
      decline in FVC of 220 ml per decade of life. Multiple stepwise regression of the
      data for the prediction of an individual's FVC above the age of 20 years gave an
      equation: FVC(l) = 0.0312 (height)-0.022 (age)-1.64. Predicted FVC values derived
      from equations based on other populations were considerably higher than the
      observed mean in this study. Our study, therefore, reemphasizes the need to be
      cautious when applying formulae derived from one population to another. Grossly
      erroneous conclusions may be reached unless predicted equations for lung-function
      tests for a given population group are derived from studies based on the same
      population group.

PMID- 1434103
TI  - Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel is present in guinea-pig but lacking in rat
      hepatocytes.
AB  - The mechanisms of norepinephrine-induced membrane responses in isolated
      hepatocytes from guinea-pigs and rats were compared using the suction-pipette,
      patch-clamp method, and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured
      using the Ca2+ fluorescent dye, Quin 2. The resting membrane potentials of
      isolated guinea-pig hepatocytes were -50 +/- 1 mV (mean +/- SD; n = 38), which is
      similar to that previously reported in rat hepatocytes by Sawanobori et al. (J
      Cell Physiol 139: 580-585, 1989). In guinea-pig hepatocytes, norepinephrine (6
      microM) caused a membrane hyperpolarization, and norepinephrine (6 microM) or
      Ca(2+)-ionophore (A23187) (0.4 microM) caused a corresponding outward current.
      The sensitive current produced by norepinephrine and Ca(2+)-ionophore reversed
      its polarity at -74 +/- 9 mV (n = 7). The single channel recorded by cell
      attached patch and inside-out patch had mean conductance of around 20 + 1 pS and
      was activated by 1 microM [Ca2+]i. On the other hand, neither norepinephrine (6
      20 microM) nor Ca(2+)-ionophore (A 23187) (0.4 microM) caused any change in
      membrane potential and current in rat hepatocytes, whereas norepinephrine
      increased [Ca2+]i both in rat and guinea-pig hepatocytes to a similar degree. In
      the single-channel recording, we recorded single channels that had a mean
      conductance of 109.8 +/- 17.7 pS different from around 20 pS in guinea-pig. In
      inside-out patches, increased Ca2+ concentration from 10(-6) to 10(-3) M at the
      intracellular face of the membrane did not modify the single channel of rat
      hepatocytes. These results indicate that increased [Ca2+]i activates this channel
      in guinea-pigs, but that the channel activated by increased [Ca2+]i is lacking in
      rat hepatocytes membrane. Therefore, different mechanism operates in different
      species of liver cells to keep the constant state.

PMID- 1434104
TI  - Transient increase in deformability of stressed red blood cells and role of
      plasma proteins.
AB  - In the context of possible fatigue and eventual destruction of red blood cells
      (RBCs) in the circulation, changes in deformability (filterability) were studied
      in RBCs which had just undergone deformation. Fresh human RBCs suspended in media
      of varying protein concentrations were stressed by causing them to pass through a
      5-microns Nuclepore filter. Resultant changes in their deformability were
      assessed from their mean pore passage time in a subsequent filter passage.
      Contrary to the expectation, that deformability would be reduced, shortened
      passage times were observed for those stressed RBCs. The changes were, however,
      transient and, like the initial passage times, were an increasing function of the
      protein concentration in the suspending fluid. These results appeared to be
      consistently explicable by assuming release due to stresses and readsorption in
      time for plasma protein molecules normally adsorbed on cell surfaces. An
      analysis, furthermore, yielded acceptable estimates for magnitude of the cell
      plasma protein interaction, number of protein molecules normally adsorbed on a
      cell, and also cell membrane viscosity and its apparent change due to the protein
      adsorption.

PMID- 1434105
TI  - Frequency thresholds of rat cochlear nerve fibers.
AB  - Activities of single cochlear nerve fibers of Wistar rats were recorded
      extracellularly. Best frequencies (BF) distributed from 0.50 to 62.6 kHz. The
      audiogram was made as the minimum boundary of the BF threshold distribution. The
      range of audible frequency was 0.54-63 kHz at 60 dB SPL and 0.15-67 kHz at 100 dB
      SPL. The lowest trough of the audiogram was 5 dB SPL at 41.2 kHz. There was the
      second trough of 10 dB SPL at 7.01 kHz leaving a notch between the two troughs.
      The shapes of the frequency-threshold curves (FTCs) of fibers were evaluated
      quantitatively and typical FTCs were shown as a function of BF.

PMID- 1434106
TI  - Muscle activity during forelimb stepping in decerebrate cats.
AB  - In decerebrate cats with the lower thoracic cord transected, electromyographic
      activities were analyzed in up to 41 forelimb muscles, almost all muscles
      involved in forelimb stepping (intrinsic hand muscles were not included). From
      the active period in the step cycle, muscles were classified into three groups:
      extensors, of which activity is like that of elbow extensors; flexors, activity
      like that of elbow flexors; others, including dorsiflexors of the wrist,
      pronators, and supinator. The results were well consistent with those from
      conscious animals as well as efferent pattern of fictive locomotion in elbow and
      distal muscles. Nevertheless, in some proximal muscles discrepancies were noted,
      suggesting their changeability depending on environmental conditions. Recording
      from almost all muscles allowed to estimate rhythmic change of the overall output
      of the forelimb central pattern generator.

PMID- 1434107
TI  - Activity of cervical neurons during forelimb fictive locomotion in decerebrate
      cats.
AB  - Unit activities were recorded from cervical neurons during forelimb fictive
      locomotion. Rhythmic activities were evaluated by onset and termination.
      Rhythmically-active neurons were classified into 4 major groups: (1) <f> neurons,
      the active periods covered the whole flexor phase; (2) f+e neurons, the active
      periods commenced prior to and terminated in the extensor phase; (3) e neurons,
      the active periods appeared within the extensor phase; (4) e+f neurons, the
      active periods commenced prior to and terminated in the flexor phase. In
      addition, a few neurons that were not classified were observed. Neuronal
      behaviors seemed to suggest that <f> and e+f were grouped "flexor-like," while e
      and f+e were grouped as "extensor-like." "Flexor-like" neurons were likely
      distributed in the dorsal (lamina V-VI) and rostral (C5-C6) region, whereas
      "extensor-like" neurons distributed mainly in the ventral (lamina VI-VII) and
      caudal (C7-T1) region. Some neurons showed rhythmic activities prior to
      appearance of fictive locomotion (prelude rhythm). The structure of the central
      pattern generator was discussed.

PMID- 1434108
TI  - Hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) secretion into hypophysial
      portal blood is regulated by cutaneous sensory stimulation in anesthetized rats.
AB  - The effects of noxious and non-noxious mechanical stimulation of various
      segmental skin areas (face, forelimb and forepaw, abdomen, hindlimb and hindpaw)
      on the secretion of immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing hormone (iCRH) from
      the hypothalamus into hypophysial portal blood was examined in artificially
      ventilated rats under halothane anesthesia. Secretion of iCRH was calculated from
      the iCRH concentration in hypophysial portal plasma and the plasma flow rate.
      Noxious mechanical stimulation of the skin was delivered by pinching using
      surgical clamps, while non-noxious mechanical stimulation was provided by
      brushing with tooth brushes. Pinching of the bilateral forepaws or hindpaws and
      brushing of the bilateral hindlimbs for 20 min increased hypothalamic iCRH
      secretion. In contrast, pinching of the face or abdomen and brushing of the face,
      forelimbs, or abdomen for 20 min did not significantly influence it. These
      results indicate that cutaneous mechanical sensory stimulation contributes to the
      reflex regulation of CRH secretion from the hypothalamus into hypophysial portal
      blood, and also that this effect is highly dependent on the site of stimulation.

PMID- 1434109
TI  - Intracellular and extracellular chloride ions in the horizontal cells of the
      stingray retina.
AB  - Intracellular and extracellular concentrations of chloride ([Cl-]i, [Cl-]o) ions
      in the horizontal cells of the stingray retina were studied by means of ion
      selective microelectrodes. The electrodes used were of the double-barreled type
      and Corning's #477315 resin was used as the exchanger. The average [Cl-]o and [Cl
      ]i in the L-type cells were 320 and 130 mM, respectively (n = 37), and the
      equilibrium potential (ECl) was calculated as -23.3 mV. In some cases, dark
      membrane potentials were more positive than the ECl. With white light stimulus,
      the membrane hyperpolarized to a more negative level than ECl. Based on the
      experiments described above, the hypothesis that the hyperpolarizing response of
      horizontal cells is due to the permeability change of the membrane to chloride
      ion was excluded in the stingray retina.

PMID- 1434110
TI  - Effects of KB-2796, a new diphenylpiperazine calcium antagonist, on renal
      hemodynamics and urine formation in anesthetized dogs.
AB  - The effects of KB-2796, a new calcium antagonist with a diphenylpiperazine
      moiety, on renal hemodynamics and urine formation were investigated in
      anesthetized dogs. Intravenous infusion of KB-2796 (10, 30, and 100
      micrograms/kg/min) decreased mean blood pressure (MBP) and renal vascular
      resistance (RVR) in a dose-dependent manner, but did not change renal blood flow
      (RBF). At the highest dose, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and urine flow (UF)
      tended to decrease. Nicardipine (0.1, 0.3, and 1 microgram/kg/min) also dose
      dependently decreased MBP, RVR, GFR, and UF. When KB-2796 was infused into the
      renal artery at lower doses of 3 and 10 micrograms/kg/min, UF and urinary
      excretion of electrolytes increased without a significant change in RBF and GFR.
      Intrarenal infusion of KB-2796 at 30 micrograms/kg/min and nicardipine at 0.3
      microgram/kg/min produced a significant increase in GFR, RBF, UF, urinary
      excretion of electrolytes, and renin secretion rate. These results suggest that
      KB-2796 administered intrarenally exerts a diuretic action via tubular effects
      and the alteration of renal hemodynamics. However, its diuretic action might be
      masked by diminished urine formation via a reflex activation of the sympathetic
      nerves and/or via a reduction of renal perfusion pressure when it is administered
      systemically.

PMID- 1434111
TI  - Stimulation by capsaicin of gastric alkaline secretion in anesthetized rats.
AB  - Effects of mucosal application of capsaicin on alkaline secretion were examined
      in the stomachs of anesthetized rats and compared with those in the duodenum. The
      stomach (acid secretion was inhibited by omeprazole given i.p.) or the duodenum
      was perfused with saline (pH 4.5); both the pH of the perfusate and transmucosal
      potential difference (PD) were continuously monitored; and the HCO3- output was
      determined by the pH change. Under these conditions, the mucosal application of
      capsaicin (0.3-6 mg/ml for 30 min) caused significantly increased pH and HCO3-
      output in a concentration-related manner in both tissues, while PD increased in
      the duodenum and decreased in the stomach. The HCO3- stimulatory action of
      capsaicin was markedly attenuated by sensory deafferentation, significantly
      mitigated by prior administration of indomethacin, and exhibited a marked
      tachyphylaxis after the repeated exposure at a high concentration (6 mg/ml). None
      of these treatments had any effect on the pH, PD and HCO3- responses induced by
      prostaglandin E2 (300 micrograms/kg, i.v.) in these tissues. These results
      indicate that mucosal application of capsaicin increased the gastroduodenal HCO3-
      output by stimulation of capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons. This action may be
      in part mediated by endogenous prostaglandins.

PMID- 1434112
TI  - Studies on the antinephritic effect of plant components (4): Reduction of protein
      excretion by berberine and coptisine in rats with original-type anti-GBM
      nephritis.
AB  - The present study was conducted to investigate the antinephritic effects of
      berberine and coptisine, which are contained in Coptidis rhizoma, on original
      type anti-GBM nephritis in rats. Berberine and coptisine at the doses of 0.5, 1.0
      and 5.0 mg/kg/day, i.p. were effective in inhibiting urinary protein excretion,
      elevation of serum cholesterol and creatinine contents as well as glomerular
      histopathological changes. In addition, berberine at 20 mg/kg/day, p.o. also
      inhibited urinary protein excretion throughout the experimental periods.
      Berberine and coptisine inhibited platelet aggregation in both in vitro and in
      vivo assays, and berberine inhibited the decline of renal blood flow. Although
      berberine inhibited an increase in thromboxane B2 formation, it increased the
      formation of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha in platelets and isolated glomeruli.
      These results indicate that the antinephritic effects of berberine and coptisine
      may be partly due to antiplatelet action and improved renal hemodynamics via
      changing prostanoid synthesis.

PMID- 1434113
TI  - Effects of semotiadil (SD-3211), a benzothiazine calcium antagonist, on blood
      pressure and atrioventricular conductivity in anesthetized dogs.
AB  - We investigated the effects of semotiadil (SD-3211), a novel calcium antagonist,
      on blood pressure and the atrioventricular (AV) conduction time and functional
      refractory period (FRP) of the AV conduction system (AV conductivity) in
      anesthetized open-chest dogs. The heart was electrically stimulated at a constant
      rate. In dogs with an intact nerve supply to the heart, i.v.-injections of
      semotiadil (0.03 to 0.3 mg/kg) produced a fall of blood pressure in a dose
      dependent manner. AV conduction time and FRP were prolonged by rather higher
      doses (0.3 mg/kg), and second-degree AV block occurred only with the highest dose
      (1 mg/kg). In dogs with the nerve supply to the heart interrupted, the
      vasodepressor effects and suppressant effects of semotiadil on AV conductivity
      were slightly enhanced. The suppressant effects on AV conductivity became marked
      as pacing rates were increased. These results suggest that semotiadil at
      appropriate doses produces a vasodepressor effect without affecting AV
      conductivity even in the heart deprived of nervous control, e.g., the heart with
      beta-adrenoceptors blocked. The frequency-dependent suppressant effect on FRP of
      semotiadil is also noteworthy in the treatment of reentrant supraventricular
      tachycardia that involves the AV node.

PMID- 1434114
TI  - Inhibitory action of dilazep on histamine-stimulated cytosolic Ca2+ increase in
      cultured human endothelial cells.
AB  - Using a fluorescent Ca(2+)-sensitive dye, fura-2, and photometric fluorescence
      microscopy, we measured changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in
      cultured human endothelial cells and studied the effect of dilazep on [Ca2+]i
      elevation induced by histamine. Histamine (1 microM) caused a rapid transient
      peak in the average [Ca2+]i of a group of cells (approximately 10(2) cells),
      followed by a decrease to a sustained elevation. Dilazep as well as diltiazem
      (1.0 to 100 microM) concentration-dependently inhibited the latter sustained
      elevation, which was eliminated by removal of extracellular Ca2+, while the
      initial transient response was not changed by dilazep at concentrations up to 100
      microM. The IC50 values of dilazep and diltiazem were 16 and 58 microM,
      respectively. The patterns of the [Ca2+]i elevation responses to histamine were
      variable among individual cells. Some single cells showed a transient peak and a
      sustained elevation as observed in a group of cells. Some single cells caused a
      repetitive spikelike elevation of [Ca2+]i. Dilazep lowered the sustained
      elevation to the resting level and in some single cells, changed the sustained
      elevation to the spikelike elevation. The frequency of the spikelike [Ca2+]i
      elevation was also decreased by dilazep. Decrease in extracellular [Ca2+] showed
      the same pattern of inhibitory actions as dilazep did. These results indicate
      that dilazep inhibits the extracellular Ca2+ influx in endothelial cells.

PMID- 1434115
TI  - Myocardial Na+ during ischemia and accumulation of Ca2+ after reperfusion: a
      study with monensin and dichlorobenzamil.
AB  - The intracellular cation contents were determined in isolated perfused rat heart
      using cobaltic EDTA as a marker of the extracellular space. In hearts in which
      Na+ accumulation was induced with monensin, a Na+ ionophore, during 20 min
      ischemia which otherwise did not result in accumulation of Na+, the levels of Na+
      and Ca2+ were significantly higher after reperfusion with a significant decrease
      in K+. While the recovery of the cardiac mechanical function (CMF) was complete
      after reperfusion in control hearts, the recovery was incomplete in monensin
      hearts. Dichlorobenzamil (DCB), the most specific inhibitor of Na(+)-Ca2+
      exchanger, infused for 10 min before induction of ischemia in a dose of 10(-5) M,
      which produced a definite suppression of CMF (over 80%), inhibited the
      accumulation of Ca2+ and Na+ and the loss of K+ and ATP after 40 min-ischemia and
      reperfusion. The same dose of DCB given for 3 min before induction of ischemia
      and after reperfusion, which produced a less than 20% inhibition of CMF, failed
      to prevent the Ca2+ accumulation after 40 min-ischemia and reperfusion. These
      findings are at variance with the idea that the accumulation of Na+ during
      ischemia and the consequent augmented operation of Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange is
      responsible for accumulation of Ca2+ after reperfusion.

PMID- 1434116
TI  - Active cutaneous anaphylaxis (ACA) in the mouse ear.
AB  - Active cutaneous anaphylaxis (ACA) was studied in the ear of female BALB/c mice.
      Mice were immunized with ovalbumin in the presence of aluminium hydroxide gel or
      complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Two weeks after the immunization, ACA was
      elicited in the mouse ear by injecting 10 microliters of antigen solution
      intradermally into the ear lobe. ACA was assessed by the amount of extravasated
      dye, which was given intravenously just after the antigen injection. Antiallergic
      drugs (tranilast, ketotifen and azelastine), antihistamines (chlorpheniramine,
      diphenhydramine and mequitazine), beta-stimulants (isoproterenol and salbutamol),
      theophylline and glucocorticoids (hydrocortisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone)
      inhibited the reaction significantly. These drugs inhibited both ACA in mice
      immunized with alum-precipitated antigen and ACA in mice injected with CFA
      emulsified antigen similarly. ACA in the mouse ear might be a useful tool for
      studying drugs for allergy.

PMID- 1434117
TI  - Influence of DOCA treatment on administration-time-dependent changes in the
      effects of furosemide in saline-loaded rats.
AB  - We have previously found that the administration-time-dependent change in the
      effects of furosemide, a loop diuretic agent, is observed in normal rats. The
      present study was undertaken to examine whether an alteration in this phenomenon
      occurs in rats with DOCA-saline hypertension. Unilateral nephrectomized rats were
      divided into three groups. The first group (DOCA-saline) received a 50 mg DOCA
      tablet intraperitoneally and drank 1% NaCl solution. The other two groups were
      given sham operations. A 1% NaCl solution was given as drinking water to the
      second group (control-saline), while tap water was given to the third group
      (control-water). Furosemide (30 mg/kg) was given orally to each group at 12 a.m.
      or 12 p.m. Urine was collected for 8 hours after the agent, and urinary excretion
      of sodium and furosemide were determined. Urine volume and urinary excretion of
      sodium and furosemide following the agent were significantly greater at 12 a.m.
      than at 12 p.m. in the control-water and control-saline groups. However, the
      administration-time-dependent changes in these parameters disappeared in the DOCA
      saline rats. These results suggest that the mode of the administration-time
      dependent changes in the effects of furosemide is altered in the DOCA-saline
      hypertensive rats.

PMID- 1434118
TI  - Vagal afferent fibers and peripheral 5-HT3 receptors mediate cisplatin-induced
      emesis in dogs.
AB  - The involvement of visceral afferent fibers and 5-HT3 receptors in the emesis
      induced by cisplatin was studied in beagle dogs. The emesis induced by cisplatin
      (3 mg/kg, i.v.) was inhibited by the intravenous administration of ICS205930 (2 x
      0.01 or 2 x 0.1 mg/kg) and MDL72222 (2 x 0.5 mg/kg), 5-HT3 receptor antagonists,
      but not by the intravenous administration of metoclopramide (2 x 0.5 mg/kg), a
      dopamine D2 receptor antagonist. The cisplatin-induced emesis was also suppressed
      by the intravenous administration of para-chlorophenylalanine (300 mg/kg/day for
      3 days), an inhibitor of 5-HT synthesis. On the other hand, the administration of
      ICS205930 into the IVth ventricle (2 x 0.01 mg/animal) had no effects on the
      cisplatin-induced emesis. The cisplatin-induced emesis was completely inhibited
      by abdominal vagotomy and splanchnicectomy, but not by splanchnicectomy alone. On
      the contrary, the emesis induced by apomorphine was suppressed by the intravenous
      (0.1 mg/kg) or intracerebroventricular (0.05 mg/animal) administration of
      metoclopramide, but not by visceral nerve section. These results strongly suggest
      that cisplatin evokes emesis mainly by acting on the vagal afferent terminals
      through the release of 5-HT and that peripheral 5-HT3 receptors are involved in
      this action.

PMID- 1434120
TI  - Effect of endothelin (ET)-1, ET-3 and ET-(16-21) on the isolated and perfused rat
      kidney from normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats.
AB  - We have investigated the effect of endothelin (ET)-1, ET-3 and ET-(16-21) on
      isolated and perfused rat kidney (IPK). ET-1 and ET-3 produced a similar dose
      dependent increase in perfusion pressure of IPK, while ET-(16-21) was completely
      inactive. The ET-1 effects were greater in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)
      as compared to normotensive rats (WKYR), whereas the ET-3 effects were greater in
      the SHR group only at the lowest doses. The pressure response of IPK induced by
      ET-1 was partially modified by prior application of the nitric oxide synthetase
      inhibitor L-nitroarginine in both WKYR and SHR.

PMID- 1434119
TI  - Recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-beta entrapped in liposomes formed by a
      modification of the dehydration-rehydration method retains potent cytotoxic
      activity on L929 cells in vitro.
AB  - Recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-beta (rhTNF-beta) may be encapsulated
      with high efficiency in phosphatidylcholine and distearoylphosphatidylcholine
      liposomes, with entrapment values of 93.4% and 92.3%, respectively, by first
      entrapping the substance in multilamellar vesicles using a high solute-to
      phospholipid ratio followed by freeze-drying and then rehydration. The entrapped
      cytokine retains potent cytotoxic activity on L929 cells in vitro, causing 100%
      cytotoxicity, equal to that of free rhTNF-beta at a concentration of about 5 x
      10(-8) g/ml.

PMID- 1434121
TI  - MK-801 prevents the post-ischemic cerebral hypoperfusion, but not the dysfunction
      of the vagal baroreflex in dogs.
AB  - Pretreatment with MK-801, a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)
      antagonist, failed to protect the vagal component of reflex bradycardia from 5
      min global cerebral ischemia in dogs under pentobarbital anesthesia. On the other
      hand, MK-801 completely prevented the development of the post-ischemic cerebral
      hypoperfusion without affecting the cerebral blood flow in sham-operated animals.
      The results suggest that NMDA receptors may participate in the development of the
      secondary disturbance of the cerebral circulation, but are not involved in the
      post-ischemic dysfunction of the baroreflex system.

PMID- 1434122
TI  - Effect of ketotifen on acute gastric lesions and gastric secretion in rats.
AB  - Ketotifen, a histamine H1-receptor antagonist and mast cell stabilizer,
      significantly protected the rat gastric mucosa against lesions induced by
      necrotizing agents, histamine or compound 48/80. The agent significantly
      inhibited the basal gastric acid secretion, but had little or no effect on the
      histamine-stimulated secretion. The mucosal protective effect was observed even
      at a dose that had little or no effect on gastric acid secretion, suggesting that
      ketotifen exhibits so-called cytoprotective activity.

PMID- 1434123
TI  - Effect of manidipine on balloon catheter-induced arterial smooth muscle cell
      proliferation in spontaneously diabetic GK rats.
AB  - The inhibitory effect of manidipine, a long acting calcium channel blocker, on
      vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation was investigated in spontaneously
      diabetic GK rats with balloon catheter-induced denudation of the carotid artery.
      Treatment with manidipine at doses of 4.6 and 15.1 mg/kg/day inhibited thickening
      of the neo-intima in the balloon catheter-injured artery without any effect on
      blood pressure and lowered the ratio of intima to wall areas and wall to total
      vascular areas in a dose-dependent fashion. These results suggest that manidipine
      inhibits an abnormal proliferation of the intima in the carotid artery of
      spontaneously diabetic rats.

PMID- 1434124
TI  - Neurotrophic effects of epidermal growth factor on cultured brain neurons are
      blocked by protein kinase inhibitors.
AB  - The influences of protein kinase inhibitors, K-252a and staurosporine, on the
      neurotrophic effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) were investigated in
      dissociated cell cultures of the hippocampus and cerebellum of fetal rats.
      Addition of 1 ng/ml EGF enhanced the survival of cultured neurons of both brain
      regions. Both K-252a (10-200 nM) and staurosporine (1-100 nM) blocked the
      survival-promoting effects of EGF in a concentration-dependent manner. These
      results suggest that activation of protein kinase(s) is involved in the
      neurotrophic effects of EGF.

PMID- 1434125
TI  - Preventive actions of N-(3-aminopropionyl)-L-histidinato zinc (Z-103) through
      increases in the activities of oxygen-derived free radical scavenging enzymes in
      the gastric mucosa on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage in rats.
AB  - Z-103 at 1 to 25 mg/kg, p.o. prevented 100% ethanol-induced gastric mucosal
      lesions in a dose-dependent manner. Z-103 at 3 to 25 mg/kg, p.o. significantly
      elevated gastric mucosal superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity 1 hr after its
      administration to normal rats. In addition, Z-103 at doses (10 and 25 mg/kg,
      p.o.) which prevented 100% ethanol-induced gastric lesion further increased
      gastric mucosal SOD-like and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activities elevated
      by 60% ethanol. Z-103 (10 and 25 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the increase in
      thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in gastric mucosa injured by 60% ethanol.
      The combination with cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, completely
      abolished the prevention of 60% ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions and the
      elevation of both free radical scavenging enzyme activities in the mucosa by Z
      103 (10 mg/kg, p.o.). These results suggest that Z-103 may partly protect rat
      gastric mucosa against ethanol-induced damage by scavenging oxygen-derived free
      radicals via increases in the synthesis of SOD-like and GSH-px enzymes in the
      mucosa.

PMID- 1434126
TI  - Ca2+ influx induced by the agonist U46619 is inhibited by hyperpolarization
      induced by the K+ channel opener cromakalim in canine coronary artery.
AB  - The fura-2 microscopic fluorimetric method was used to examine the effects of the
      thromboxane A2 analogue, U46619, on the force of contraction and intracellular
      calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in canine coronary arteries. Upon cumulative
      application, U46619 increased [Ca2+]i and force. Depolarization by 20 mM KCl
      potentiated the increase in [Ca2+]i and increased the maximum force induced by
      U46619. In 5 mM KCl-PSS, the reduction of resting [Ca2+]i by cromakalim (3 x 10(
      6) M) was greater than that by verapamil (3 x 10(-6) M). Cromakalim and verapamil
      inhibited the increases in [Ca2+]i and force induced by U46619 in 5 mM KCl-PSS.
      In 90 mM KCl-PSS in the presence of U46619, verapamil inhibited the increases in
      [Ca2+]i and force, whereas cromakalim did not inhibit them at all. The inhibitory
      effect of cromakalim was counteracted by depolarization by 20 or 25 mM KCl.
      Curves in the presence of U46619 which related force to [Ca2+]i were shifted to
      the left compared with that in the absence of U46619, suggesting that U46619
      increases the Ca(2+)-sensitivity of the contractile proteins. Thus, U46619
      produces Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels, which are deactivated by
      hyperpolarization induced by cromakalim.

PMID- 1434127
TI  - Hypolipidemic effect of ethyl all-cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoate (EPA-E) in
      rats.
AB  - We examined the effect of ethyl all-cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoate (EPA-E)
      with high purity on circulating lipids in rats under several experimental
      conditions. In normolipidemic rats, EPA-E decreased the lipids in a dose
      dependent manner. Clofibrate (100 mg/kg/day) was more potent in lowering the
      lipids than EPA-E (1000 mg/kg/day). In high cholesterol diet-fed rats, EPA-E (300
      mg/kg/day) decreased the total cholesterol. However, clofibrate (300 mg/kg/day)
      had little effect on the total cholesterol. In hypertriglycemic rats induced by
      corn oil, EPA-E (300 mg/kg/day) or clofibrate (100 mg/kg/day) reduced the rise of
      triglycerides. EPA-E (300 mg/kg/day), clinofibrate (100 mg/kg/day) or clofibrate
      (300 mg/kg/day) caused a significant reduction in the lipids induced by the
      injection of Triton WR-1339. Furthermore, EPA-E (300 mg/kg/day) or clinofibrate
      (100 mg/kg/day) decreased the elevation of lipids produced by feeding the rats a
      casein-rich diet. These results show that EPA-E possesses potent inhibitory
      activity on experimental hyperlipidemia induced either exogenously or
      endogenously.

PMID- 1434128
TI  - Impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation in aorta from rats with
      arteriosclerosis induced by excess vitamin D and a high-cholesterol diet.
AB  - The present investigation was undertaken to characterize the relaxing
      responsiveness in aortic strips from rats with arteriosclerosis, which was
      produced by excess vitamin D2 (VD) administration followed by treatment with or
      without a high-cholesterol diet for 6 weeks (VD + CHOL and VD group,
      respectively). This arteriosclerotic aorta was characterized by medial
      calcification and intimal cell proliferation. Helical strips of thoracic aorta
      were suspended in oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit solution. Under precontraction with
      noradrenaline, endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine were
      significantly attenuated in the VD and VD + CHOL as compared with the control.
      Relaxation to calcium ionophore A23187 was also significantly attenuated in the
      VD + CHOL. However, the relaxing responses to acetylcholine and A23187 in aortas
      from rats fed a high-cholesterol diet alone remained unaffected. Nitroglycerin
      caused an equal degree of relaxation in aortas from control and arteriosclerotic
      rats. There was a significant negative correlation between the relaxing response
      to acetylcholine and the calcium content in the aorta. These results indicate
      that in arteriosclerotic rat aortas, the endothelium-dependent relaxation to
      acetylcholine is impaired in proportion to the degree of calcification, and such
      impairment is facilitated by cholesterol feeding but can not be attributed to
      hypercholesterolemia or vascular cholesterol deposition.

PMID- 1434129
TI  - Protective effects of arbaprostil against indomethacin-induced gastric lesions in
      rats: significance of maintained gastric blood flow.
AB  - The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the
      effects of 15(R)-15-methylprostaglandin E2 (arbaprostil) on gastric blood flow
      (GBF) and its protective effects on gastric lesions in rats. The GBF of
      anesthetized rats was measured by two different methods: Total blood flow into
      the stomach (total GBF) was determined by means of an ultrasonic pulsed Doppler
      flow meter; and gastric mucosal blood flow (mucosal GBF) was measured by
      nonradioactive microspheres. Systemic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR) and
      gastric vascular resistance (GVR) were recorded simultaneously. Arbaprostil (10
      100 micrograms/kg) given i.v. did not affect resting total or mucosal GBF even
      though it decreased SBP and GVR. Significant improvement of the total and mucosal
      GBF decreased by indomethacin pretreatment (10 mg/kg, i.v.) was observed by
      administration of arbaprostil (10-100 micrograms/kg, i.v.) in a dose-dependent
      manner. Furthermore, i.v.-administration of this agent, in the same dose-range,
      prevented the formation of gastric lesions induced by indomethacin. The present
      result suggests that mitigation for the ischemic state of the gastric mucosa may
      be one of the important mechanisms for the prophylactic and curative effect of
      arbaprostil on gastric lesions induced by indomethacin.

PMID- 1434130
TI  - Effects of KW-3635, a novel dibenzoxepin derivative of a selective thromboxane A2
      antagonist, on human, guinea pig and rat platelets.
AB  - We examined the binding of [3H]U-46619, a thromboxane A2 agonist, to human and
      guinea pig platelets and the binding of [3H]SQ 29,548, a thromboxane A2
      antagonist, to human, rat and guinea pig platelets. KW-3635 (sodium (E)-11-[2
      (5,6-dimethyl-1- benzimidazolyl)ethylidene]-6,11-dihydrodibenz[b,e]oxepin-2-c
      arboxylate monohydrate) concentration-dependently inhibited the [3H]U-46619
      binding to human and guinea pig platelets with inhibition constants of 1.2 nM and
      2.7 nM, respectively. KW-3635 also potently inhibited the [3H]SQ 29,548 binding
      to human and guinea pig platelets with inhibition constants of 1.9 nM and 3.2 nM,
      respectively. In contrast, KW-3635 was less active against thromboxane
      A2/prostaglandin H2 receptors in rat platelets with an inhibition constant of 97
      nM. KW-3635 at 10(-5) M did not antagonize various receptors including
      prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin I2 and neurotransmitters. In addition, 10(-5) M
      KW-3635 did not alter the prostaglandin D2-induced cAMP accumulation in EBTr
      cells. KW-3635 was inactive towards thromboxane synthase, cyclooxygenase and
      prostaglandin I2 synthase up to 10(-5) M. KW-3635 slightly inhibited 5
      lipoxygenase with an IC50 value of 71 microM. These data indicate that KW-3635 is
      a potent and selective non-prostanoic thromboxane A2 antagonist, and it can
      recognize the species differences in thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 receptors.

PMID- 1434131
TI  - Basic fibroblast growth factor ameliorates rotational behavior of substantia
      nigral-transplanted rats with lesions of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons.
AB  - Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was injected with dissociated substantia
      nigral cells into the striatum of rats prepared by unilateral lesion of the
      nigrostriatal pathway with 6-hydroxydopamine. The transplanted cells with 5 and
      50 ng bFGF reduced the apomorphine-induced rotations by 40 and 30%, respectively,
      while the decrement of rotations was only 15% in the grafted control without
      bFGF. Immunohistochemical staining with anti-tyrosine hydroxylase antibody showed
      that bFGF also tended to increase the number of grafted catecholaminergic neurons
      along the tracts. In the case of 50 ng bFGF treatment but not 0 or 5 ng bFGF
      treatment, however, severe gliosis was detected along the grafted region by
      staining of anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein antibody. These
      immunohistochemical studies suggested that high-dose bFGF induced extensive
      gliosis, which might affect the survival of the grafted neurons.

PMID- 1434132
TI  - Regulatory effect of neurotropin on nasal mucosal hypersensitivity in guinea pigs
      caused by SART (intermittent exposure to cold) stress.
AB  - We stated that SART-stressed guinea pigs showing nasal mucosal hypersensitivity
      would serve as an animal model for the in vivo evaluation of antiallergic drugs.
      In the present study, the mode of action of Neurotropin on nasal allergy compared
      with those of antiallergic drugs was studied by using SART-stressed guinea pigs.
      Daily administrations of Neurotropin improved the methacholine-induced
      hypersecretion and histamine-evoked sneeze response, which are parameters of
      nasal mucosal hypersensitivity, and increased the density of muscarinic ACh
      receptors located on the nasal mucosa caused by SART stress. In addition, the
      inhibitory action on nasal secretion in a passively sensitized model was more
      intense in SART-stressed guinea pigs than in normal ones. Ketotifen and tranilast
      were also found to have marked effects on nasal secretion in the passively
      sensitized SART-stressed model, but only had weak effects on nasal mucosal
      hypersensitivity. Neurotropin significantly potentiated the action of ketotifen
      or tranilast. Thus, at least part of the inhibitory effect of Neurotropin on
      nasal symptoms such as watery secretion and sneezing is thought to have been
      brought forth through the regulatory action on nasal mucosal hypersensitivity,
      and its combined use with antiallergic drugs would be a very effective
      therapeutic regimen for nasal allergy.

PMID- 1434133
TI  - Caffeine does not effectively ameliorate, but rather may worsen the ethanol
      intoxication when assessed by discrete avoidance in mice.
AB  - Ethanol disrupted the discrete lever-press and shuttle avoidances in mice at
      doses over 1.6 and 2.4 g/kg, p.o., respectively, eliciting a dose-dependent
      decrease in the % of avoidance with no significant change or slight increase in
      the response rate. Caffeine increased the response rate of both the avoidances at
      the doses of 1-30 mg/kg, p.o., but disrupted the avoidance at 100 mg/kg. Caffeine
      (10 mg/kg) reduced the decreased % of avoidance by ethanol (1.6 and 2.4 g/kg)
      with a significant increase in the response rate. In contrast, the % of avoidance
      was significantly lower after the combined administration of ethanol (3.2 g/kg)
      with caffeine than after ethanol (3.2 g/kg) alone. Unlike ethanol, diazepam (2
      mg/kg, s.c.) and pentobarbital (10 mg/kg, s.c.) significantly decreased both the
      response rate and the % of avoidance. Caffeine (10 mg/kg) ameliorated the
      decreased response rate and the % of avoidance produced by diazepam and
      pentobarbital. The present results suggest that caffeine does not effectively
      ameliorate, but rather may worsen the ethanol intoxication.

PMID- 1434134
TI  - Anti-stress effect of ginseng on the inhibition of the development of morphine
      tolerance in stressed mice.
AB  - We examined how the ginseng extract (GE) acts on the antinociceptive effect
      induced by footshock (FS)-, psychological (PSY)- and forced swimming (SW)-stress
      (stress-induced analgesia, SIA), and also on the suppression by FS- and PSY
      stress of the development of tolerance to morphine in mice. Neither an acute
      treatment nor 5 daily pretreatments with GE at 100 mg/kg, p.o. affected each SIA.
      Pretreatment with GE at 100 mg/kg, p.o. for 5 days followed by the treatment in
      combination with the exposure to stresses for another 5 days caused no
      appreciable changes in the development of tolerance to FS- and SW-SIA, but
      suppressed the development of tolerance to PSY-SIA. When mice were pretreated
      with GE for 5 days and given GE daily prior to morphine at 10 mg/kg/day, with
      stress exposure for another 5 days, the inhibitory effect of FS-stress on the
      development of tolerance to morphine was completely eliminated. The present
      results suggest that GE, by improving the general metabolism in the body, directs
      toward normalization of the adaptability which is impaired by stress exposure,
      while not compromising morphine antinociceptive activity or the SIA, another
      adaptability produced in confrontation to abnormal environmental stimuli. In
      addition, the differences in the mechanism underlying the FS- and PSY-stress
      effect which we have previously demonstrated are also reconfirmed.

PMID- 1434135
TI  - The acyl-CoA synthetase inhibitor triacsin C enhanced eicosanoid release in
      leukocytes.
AB  - Triacsin C was previously reported to inhibit long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase and
      to reduce the production of acyl-CoA in rat neutrophils dose- and time
      dependently. We found that preincubation with triacsin C inhibited the
      incorporation of labeled arachidonic acid into rat neutrophils. Furthermore, when
      triacsin C-treated neutrophils were stimulated with the Ca-ionophore A23187, they
      released an increased amount of eicosanoids into the culture medium. These
      results indicate that triacsin C suppressed acylation of arachidonic acid, which
      resulted in an increase in its metabolites.

PMID- 1434136
TI  - Nootropic candidates inhibit head-twitches induced by mescaline in mice.
AB  - The effects of various nootropic candidates on mescaline-induced head-twitches
      were studied in mice. The number of head-twitches induced by mescaline (100
      mg/kg, s.c.) was significantly reduced by idebenone (32 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.),
      minaprine (0.32-10 mg/kg, p.o.) and nebracetam (100 mg/kg, p.o.). Cholinesterase
      inhibitors such as tetrahydroaminoacridine (1 and 10 mg/kg, p.o.), NIK-247 (10
      and 18 mg/kg, p.o.) and physostigmine (0.32 mg/kg, i.p.) also suppressed the head
      twitch response to mescaline. These results suggest that the direct or indirect
      cholinergic-activating effects of these drugs may be involved in inhibiting
      mescaline-induced head-twitches.

PMID- 1434137
TI  - Blockade by ginseng extract of the development of reverse tolerance to the
      ambulation-accelerating effect of methamphetamine in mice.
AB  - Daily repeated administration of methamphetamine (MAP) developed reverse
      tolerance to its ambulation-accelerating effect. After pretreatment of mice daily
      with ginseng extract (GE) for 5 days, concomitant injections of MAP and GE
      suppressed the development of reverse tolerance to the effect of MAP, although GE
      itself did not affect the spontaneous motor activity of the naive mice. These
      results provide evidence that GE may be useful for prevention and therapy of the
      adverse action of MAP.

PMID- 1434138
TI  - Relationship between density of muscarinic receptors and nasal hypersecretion in
      a nasal allergic model.
AB  - In guinea pigs actively sensitized with ovalbumin, we have observed that nasal
      hyperreactivity and hypersensitivity to methacholine causes nasal secretion
      accompanied by an increase in the density of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (m
      ACh.R) following the appearance of nasal symptoms induced by the ovalbumin
      challenge. Therefore in the present investigation, we studied the relationship
      between the density of m-ACh.R and nasal hypersecretion in actively sensitized
      guinea pigs. There was no relationship between the quantity of nasal secretion
      and serum Ig G1 or Ig E levels. On the other hand, the sensitivity to
      methacholine and nasal secretion induced by methacholine were significantly
      related to the density of m-ACh.R located on the nasal mucosa. The quantity of
      nasal secretion induced by allergen was also correlated significantly to the
      density of m-ACh.R. These results suggest that the nasal hypersecretion observed
      in the nasal allergic model may be closely associated with an increase in the
      density of m-ACh.R located on the nasal mucosa.

PMID- 1434139
TI  - Effects of naloxone and levallorphan on the spinal cord reflex potentials under
      the spinal ischemic condition in cats.
AB  - The spinal reflex potentials elicited by electrical stimulation of the tibial
      nerve were recorded from the lumbo-sacral ventral root in spinal cats. When the
      thoracic aorta and the bilateral internal mammary arteries were occluded for 10
      min, the potentials were completely depressed. Reappearance of these potentials
      could be observed at about 10 min after removal of the occlusion and they
      gradually recovered. Intravenous injection of naloxone (1 or 10 mg/kg) or
      levallorphan (0.1 mg/kg) together with removal of occlusion significantly
      promoted the recovery of the polysynaptic reflex potential. Morphine (5 mg/kg)
      showed no particular effect on the recovery of potentials. Furthermore,
      pretreatment with morphine (5 mg/kg) did not influence the effects of these
      opioid antagonists. These results suggest that naloxone and levallorphan may
      preserve or potentiate the interneuronal activities of the lumbo-sacral spinal
      cord under the ischemic condition and that the effects may not be mediated
      through morphine-like opioid receptors.

PMID- 1434140
TI  - Tolerance to the convulsions induced by daily nicotine treatment in rats.
AB  - Development of tolerance to the nicotine-induced convulsions in rats was
      examined. Acute intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of nicotine (2.5, 3.75 and
      5 mg/kg) produced convulsions in a dose-dependent manner. Mecamylamine (1 mg/kg,
      i.p.) antagonized the convulsions, but hexamethonium (5 mg/kg, i.p.) did not
      modify them. Daily nicotine administration (2.5, 3.75 and 5 mg/kg, i.p.) once a
      day for 6 days developed tolerance to the convulsions induced by nicotine. After
      the daily administrations of nicotine for 6 days, the effects of a challenge
      administration of nicotine (2 mg/kg) on the nicotine-induced convulsions were
      tested on the 7th-day. Further tolerances were also developed by the 7th-day
      challenge administration. After the 7th-day test, nicotine levels of the brain
      and blood 15 min after the challenge injection were measured. With nicotine (5
      mg/kg once a day)-treatment, nicotine levels of all the brain regions were
      increased. In contrast, a similar challenge injection had no effect on blood
      nicotine level. These results indicate that the development of tolerance to the
      nicotine-induced convulsions is produced relatively earlier and day by day by
      daily administrations to rats, which is closely related with the increase in
      brain nicotine level.

PMID- 1434141
TI  - Protective effect of benidipine against the development of glomerular sclerosis
      in experimental nephrotic syndrome.
AB  - An experimental focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) was induced by the
      combined administration of puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) and protamine sulfate
      (PS). Blood collections were made on days 0, 37, 70 and 94. Urine collections
      were made on days 0, 24, 80 and 94. Vehicle-treated rats showed severe
      proteinuria and an increase in serum total cholesterol (sTC). Benidipine (1 or 3
      mg/kg, p.o.)-treated rats exhibited less proteinuria and lower sTC than the
      vehicle-treated rats. On days 70 and 94, both blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum
      creatinine (sCR) values in the vehicle-treated rats were significantly higher
      than those in normal rats (without treatment with PAN and PS). On the other hand,
      the treatment with benidipine (1 or 3 mg/kg, p.o.) attenuated the increases in
      BUN and sCR. On day 94, vehicle-treated rats showed a significant decrease in
      creatinine clearance as compared with normal rats, but benidipine (1 or 3 mg/kg,
      p.o.)-treated rats did not. The histology was examined on day 94. Vehicle-treated
      rats demonstrated a significantly greater percentage of glomeruli with segmental
      areas of glomerulosclerosis/hyalinosis, mesangial cell proliferation, and
      mesangial foam cell. Benidipine (3 mg/kg, p.o.) ameliorated the development of
      renal regeneration as estimated by histological examination. These results
      suggest that the Ca-channel blocker benidipine is a favorable drug for preventing
      the progression of glomerular sclerosis.

PMID- 1434142
TI  - Antitumor activity of two novel low immunosuppressive fluoropyrimidines UK-21 and
      UK-25.
AB  - We have previously reported that 2',3',5'-tris-O-[N-(2-n-propyl-n
      pentanoyl)glycyl]-5-fluorouridine (UK-21), a derivative of 5-fluorouridine (5
      FUR), and 1-(6-[N-(2-n-propyl-n-pentanoyl)-glycyl]amino-n-hexylcarbamoyl)-5-
      fluorouracil (UK-25), a derivative of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), exert their
      antitumor activity in mice bearing Meth A or EL4 tumor, while their
      immunosuppressive effects are mild. In the present study, we examined the effects
      of these compounds on Sarcoma-180 (S-180), P388, L1210, and Lewis lung carcinoma
      (LLC) in mice by p.o. administration and i.p.-administration. UK-21 given p.o.
      showed an antitumor effect against S-180, but it showed virtually no antitumor
      effects against P388, L1210 and LLC. UK-21 given i.p., on the other hand,
      strongly inhibited the growth of Meth A tumor at a far lower dose than that for
      oral administration. The bioavailability of UK-21 given p.o. was suspected to be
      poor. UK-25 given p.o., in contrast, showed the antitumor effect on all of the
      tumors employed. The bioavailability of UK-25 given p.o. seemed to be comparable
      to those of other drugs. These results suggest that UK-21 has the potential for
      development as a parenterally applicable anticancer drug, and UK-25 has the
      potential as an oral one.

PMID- 1434143
TI  - Protective effects of antioxidants on paraquat-induced acute renal failure in
      mice.
AB  - The protective effects of antioxidants against elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
      were studied in newly developed acute renal failure in mice induced by paraquat.
      The administration of paraquat caused marked azotemia accompanied by a decreased
      glomerular filtration rate. In contrast, elevated BUN was significantly reduced
      by the preadministration of either dimethylthiourea, deferoxamine or alpha
      tocopherol. These data suggest that acute renal failure induced by paraquat is
      mainly related to the hydroxyl radicals produced via the iron-catalyzed Haber
      Weiss reaction.

PMID- 1434144
TI  - Characterization of subtype of propylbenzilylcholine mustard (PrBCM)-sensitive
      and -resistant muscarinic cholinoceptors in guinea pig ileal muscle.
AB  - The subtype of propylbenzilylcholine mustard (PrBCM)-sensitive and -resistant
      muscarinic cholinoceptors in guinea pig ileal muscle was examined using four
      selective muscarinic antagonists, pirenzepine, AF-DX 116, himbacine and 4-DAMP.
      The pA2 values of the four antagonists against pilocarpine were not different
      from their values against carbachol after the treatment with PrBCM and was
      identified with the values for the m3 subtype. These results suggest that the
      subtype of PrBCM-sensitive and -resistant muscarinic cholinoceptors in guinea pig
      ileal muscle is the m3 subtype only and not other subtypes.

PMID- 1434145
TI  - Effects of nitric oxide-related compounds and carperitide on hemodynamics and
      hematocrit in anesthetized rats.
AB  - Sodium nitroprusside, nitroglycerin and carperitide (alpha-human ANP) all reduced
      mean blood pressure, but only carperitide increased the hematocrit in rats with
      bilateral renal artery- and ureter-ligation. NG-Monomethyl-L-arginine, a
      selective inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, elevated the mean blood pressure
      but did not change the hematocrit significantly. These findings suggest that ANP
      has a physiological role in regulating circulatory blood volume distinct from
      that of NO, although both increase intracellular cyclic GMP in the vasculature.

PMID- 1434147
TI  - Proceedings of the 25th annual meeting of the Japanese Epilepsy Society and the
      Japanese Branch of the International League against Epilepsy. Shizuoka, October 4
      5, 1991.

PMID- 1434148
TI  - Does epilepsy cause symptoms other than seizures?

PMID- 1434149
TI  - Long-term clinicoelectroencephalographic evolution of childhood absence epilepsy.

PMID- 1434146
TI  - Inhibitory effect of (4R)-hexahydro-7,7-dimethyl-6-oxo-1,2,5-dithiazocine-4
      carboxylic acid (SA3443), a novel cyclic disulfide, on the production of TNF-like
      factor from Propionibacterium acnes-primed rat liver macrophages/Kupffer cells.
AB  - The effect of (4R)-hexahydro-7,7-dimethyl-6-oxo-1,2,5-dithiazocine-4-carboxylic
      acid (SA3443), a novel cyclic disulfide, on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like
      factor production from Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes)-primed rat liver
      macrophages/Kupffer cells was investigated. A remarkable increase in TNF-like
      activity was detected in the culture supernatants of the liver
      macrophages/Kupffer cells from P. acnes-treated rats. At concentrations of 1 x
      10(-6) to 1 x 10(-4) M, SA3443 significantly inhibited the production/release of
      TNF-like factor from these P. acnes-primed/activated liver macrophages/Kupffer
      cells.

PMID- 1434150
TI  - The seizure prognosis of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
AB  - Thirty-two patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) were studied to
      evaluate the seizure prognosis. The response to antiepileptic drugs was excellent
      in 68%, but the patients, who had much more focal discharges on EEG and were
      sensitive to neuropsychological EEG activations at the beginning of treatment,
      had an unfavorable outcome. A combination of absence seizure alone resulted in
      the excellent prognosis for both absence and myoclonic seizures, and a
      combination of generalized tonic-clonic seizure on awakening related to rare
      myoclonic seizures. These findings suggest that the outcome of JME would be
      predicted by the EEG abnormality and the combination of the other types of
      seizures, which are probably determined by the pathophysiology at the beginning
      of treatment.

PMID- 1434151
TI  - Long-term course of childhood epilepsy with intractable grand mal seizures.
AB  - Twenty-nine children with childhood epilepsy characterized by frequent grand mal
      (generalized tonic-clonic) seizures in spite of maximal doses of antiepileptic
      drugs and by an early onset of seizures (before 1 year of age) were followed up
      for more than 5 years. The children were divided into 3 groups: severe myoclonic
      epilepsy in infancy (SME), no SME, and intractable childhood epilepsy with
      generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTC). In all the 3 groups, the grand mal
      seizures persisted, whereas the other types of seizures tended to disappear as
      the patients aged, and the prognosis for mental development was poor. In the
      majority of cases in all the 3 groups, the waking grand mal seizures altered to
      sleep grand mal seizures with aging. Two pairs of monozygotic twins with SME
      suggested that genetic factors play a role in this epileptic syndrome.
      Intractable childhood epilepsy with GTC is distinguished by the absence of other
      types of generalized seizures. It cannot be regarded as an epileptic syndrome,
      but its pathogenesis and treatment require further studies.

PMID- 1434152
TI  - A long-term follow-up study of first episodes of idiopathic status convulsivus in
      childhood: in relation to subsequent epilepsy (second report).
AB  - Fifty-four idiopathic status convulsivus (SC) cases were followed prospectively
      for a period between 5 and 21 years, the average being 13 years. Three-fourths of
      the cases had no residuals. There were two patterns of subsequent epilepsy; 1)
      complex partial seizures (CPS) with or without secondarily generalization (GTS)
      developed 4.3 +/- 3.5 years after febrile SC, 2) unilateral seizures or CPS +/-
      GTS developed 1.2 +/- 1.0 years after afebrile SC. The seizure prognosis of these
      cases was good except for some cases in the former group. There have been two
      kinds of theories regarding SC and epilepsy until now. One was derived from
      retrospective studies: SC and/or complex febrile convulsion (FC) were considered
      the main causes of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) producing mesial temporal
      sclerosis (MTS). Another was derived from prospective studies, in which the
      relation between FC and TLE was considered weak. Our results revealed that 6
      cases (15%) out of 30 febrile SC developed epilepsy, and that five of those six
      cases were diagnosed as CPS. Three of 5 CPS cases were diagnosed as TLE. Recently
      the seizure prognosis of operative therapy for TLE--especially the MTS type--has
      been very favorable. Furthermore, it has become easy to find MTS by Magnetic
      Resonance Imaging (MRI). So, we emphasize that a precise follow-up study of SC
      using MRI, EEG, etc., is important in deciding the appropriate therapy for TLE,
      as well as in the study of the pathogenesis of TLE.

PMID- 1434153
TI  - The long-term prognosis of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy for more than 20
      years.

PMID- 1434154
TI  - Cooperative prospective study on posttraumatic epilepsy: risk factors and the
      effect of prophylactic anticonvulsant.

PMID- 1434155
TI  - Conditions for omitting invasive long-term monitoring before surgical resection
      in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.
AB  - The omission of invasive long-term monitoring before surgical resection in
      patients with epilepsy should be permitted only for those in whom the
      epileptogenic focus is presumed to localize unilaterally in the mesial aspect of
      the temporal lobe. The localization may well be confirmed through noninvasive
      measures. Retrospective analyses of data obtained from noninvasive investigations
      (scalp-recorded and sphenoidal EEGs, neuroimages, and electroclinical seizure
      manifestations) were carried out in 58 patients. The localization of their
      epileptogenic focus was subsequently confirmed by the implantation of both
      intracerebral and subdural electrodes; the focus had an amygdalohippocampal
      origin in 41 patients and a lateral temporal origin in 17 patients. From the
      comparison of noninvasive findings between these two groups, we propose the
      following indispensable conditions for omitting an invasive evaluation: 1.
      Appearance of focal epileptic discharges unilaterally in the sphenoidal lead
      observed during the simple phase of partial seizures, or unilateral discharges
      with predominancy in the sphenoidal lead during the early phase of complex
      partial seizures. 2. Interictal spikes on scalp-recorded EEGs localizing
      unilaterally in the anterior region of the temporal lobe, and if bilaterally
      independent, presenting with unilateral predominancy in a ratio of greater than
      4:1. 3. Presence of autonomic signs in the initial phase of signal symptoms. 4.
      Neuroimaging findings in the mesial temporal region: elongated T2 on MRI and
      hippocampal atrophy, or a tumorous lesion. The lateralization conforms to
      interictal and ictal paroxysmal EEG findings. There were 8 patients with seizure
      of amygdalohippocampal origin who satisfied all the indispensable condition, but
      not a single patient with seizures of lateral temporal origin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434156
TI  - Surgical treatment for convexity focal epilepsy.
AB  - Fifty-four cases with intractable convexity focal epilepsy were analyzed with
      regard to surgical treatment. To acquire satisfactory results, preoperative
      precise localization of focus and selection of relevant operative methods are
      indicated.

PMID- 1434157
TI  - Anterior callosotomy for medically intractable epilepsy.

PMID- 1434158
TI  - Neuropsychological evaluation before and after surgical treatment of temporal
      lobe epilepsy.
AB  - We present the results of pre- and postoperative neuropsychological evaluations
      of 58 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy who underwent a chronic intracranial
      EEG monitoring and a subsequent standard anterior temporal lobectomy. Wada's test
      provided valuable information on the speech dominant side and on the focus
      localization. Some warning signs as well as verbal automatisms indicated the
      effect for focus localization and lateralization. The results of interictal
      neuropsychological tests suggested that each subgroup of TLE performed
      differently. A postoperative neuropsychological performance has improved in many
      tests that may be explained by the diminished epileptic bombardment resulting
      from the resection.

PMID- 1434159
TI  - Indication of surgery for childhood epilepsy.

PMID- 1434160
TI  - A morphological study of the cortical pyramidal neuron in the cobalt-induced
      epileptogenic focus of the cat.

PMID- 1434161
TI  - Role of surgery in the comprehensive treatment of epilepsies: introduction and
      summary.

PMID- 1434162
TI  - A model of status epilepticus induced by intermittent electrical stimulation of
      the deep prepyriform cortex in rats.

PMID- 1434163
TI  - The effect of hypoxia on the epileptiform activities induced by magnesium-free
      medium in rat brain slices.
AB  - In order to understand the mechanisms underlying the seizure generation, the
      present study has investigated the effect of hypoxia on the transition between
      seizure and interictal bursting. Bathing rat brain slices of the hippocampus and
      entorhinal cortex in magnesium-free medium elicits electrographic seizures.
      However, they are eventually replaced by the interictal bursts. It has previously
      been shown that the interictal bursts, arising in the hippocampal area CA3, are
      propagated to and disrupt the seizure generation in the entorhinal cortex. In
      this report we demonstrate that hypoxia promotes the seizure reappearance in the
      entorhinal cortex by suppressing the interictal bursts in CA3.

PMID- 1434165
TI  - Can we predict carbamazepine responsiveness in partial epilepsy?
AB  - We studied 153 patients with partial epilepsy who were placed on a carbamazepine
      monotherapy plan in order to evaluate the clinical factors that may determine
      drug responsiveness to carbamazepine. The subjects were divided into 3 groups
      based on their therapeutic outcome--complete seizure control (44%), significant
      seizure reduction (32%) and unsatisfactory control (24%). Fifteen tentative
      clinical factors were examined in relation to the therapeutic outcomes. Factors
      such as seizure type, number of generalized tonic-clonic seizures, age of onset,
      duration of illness, seizure frequency, previous treatment and EEG finding were
      relevant to drug responsiveness. However, other variables including mental
      retardation, etiology, febrile convulsion, positive family history and abnormal
      neurologic examination showed no significant correlation. Our data suggest that a
      potential success of carbamazepine treatment should not be underestimated even in
      patients with complicated clinical features.

PMID- 1434164
TI  - Temporal lobe CO2 vasoreactivity in patients with complex partial seizures.
AB  - The topography of CO2 vasoreactivity during hyperventilation in 8 patients with
      complex partial seizure (CPS) was visualized using the regional cerebral blood
      flow (rCBF) as measured by H(2)15O-PET (positron emission tomography) and
      compared with that of 10 normal volunteers. In the normal volunteers, the
      vascular response to CO2 (VrCO2 = delta CBF%/delta PaCO2) in the temporal lobe
      was 2.46 +/- 0.56 (%/mmHg). In the patients with CPS, VrCO2 in the temporal lobe
      of the affected side was 2.08 +/- 0.40 (%/mmHg), while VrCO2 on the contralateral
      side was 2.30 +/- 0.46 (%/mmHg). There was a significant difference in VrCO2
      between the affected side of the temporal lobes and the temporal lobes of the
      normal volunteers. Furthermore, there was a tendency for VrCO2 to be lower in the
      affected than in the contralateral side of the temporal lobe in patients with
      CPS. As CO2 is the main regulator of CBF, this impaired vasoreactivity may
      reflect the brain dysfunction in the seizure focus and adjacent areas.

PMID- 1434166
TI  - Sleep grand mal--all-night polygraphic EEG recordings in 20 cases.
AB  - All-night polygraphic EEG recordings were carried out in 20 epileptic patients
      who are characterized as follows; 1) clinical attacks took the form of
      generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTCS), which occurred only or at least 90%
      during sleep without other seizure types in awakening, 2) no epileptic discharges
      were revealed in routine EEG examinations, also including sphenoidal electrode
      deriving during daytime, 3) recognizable organic brain damage in these patients
      had been excluded by neurological examinations and CT-scan. Interictal records
      showed epileptiform abnormalities in 5 of the 20 patients, which were all related
      with NREM sleep. Four patients exhibited bilateral synchronous paroxysms of 3-3.5
      Hz spike-wave short burst and only one patient had temporal-localized discharges.
      The results of this study demonstrated that although there was a difference
      compared with other reports, the most characteristic features seen in our
      patients diagnosed as idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) were as follows: 1)
      less frequent SGM seizures within a year, 2) SZ onset around teen age, 3)
      seizures were easily evoked by some precipitating factors and 4) no recognizable
      organic lesions. As a conclusion, patients with an uncertain or unknown type of
      epilepsy should always be examined with sleep recordings and all-night sleep
      recordings if necessary.

PMID- 1434167
TI  - A preliminary observation on auto-cholinergic synapse dysfunction in patients
      with different types of epilepsy.
AB  - Serum anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies (A AchR Ab) and anti-synaptic
      premembrane antibodies (A PrM Ab) were measured in 21 patients with absence
      epilepsy, 21 cases with benign childhood epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes
      (BCECTs) and 13 cases with atypical epilepsy. Respectively, in five (23.8%),
      eleven (51.2%) and eight (66.7%) of the above mentioned groups of patients both A
      AchR Ab and A PrM Ab were found.

PMID- 1434168
TI  - Status of follow-up among patients with epilepsy in epilepsy clinic.
AB  - Out of 238 consecutive patients entering our epilepsy clinic from October 1988
      till March 1990, the status of follow-up was evaluated in October 1990. One
      hundred patients (42%) could adhere to the follow-up appointment and 33 patients
      (14%) visited the clinic irregularly. A total of 105 patients (44%) failed to
      return for the follow-up at least for 2 months dated backward from October 1990.
      Seventy-five percent of the patients lost the follow-up within 6 months. The main
      reasons of the dropout were poor seizure control, seizure free, denial of
      epilepsy, receiving operation in other hospitals. The appropriate strategies to
      aid in adherence to medical care among patients with epilepsy should be
      formulated through the analysis of factors contributing to the dropout, which
      might be strongly influenced by different medical and sociocultural backgrounds
      all over the world.

PMID- 1434169
TI  - Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy in Sri Lanka.

PMID- 1434170
TI  - Forceps delivery as a risk factor in epilepsy: some further observations.
AB  - A total of 381 children born with forceps delivery and 372 with normal delivery
      were followed up for 4-7 years. More children in the forceps group developed
      seizures than in the normal group, i.e. 22:10. This was statistically significant
      (P < 0.05). There was no neurological deficit in any child who had seizures. Both
      partial and generalized seizures were seen but partial seizures were more
      frequent.

PMID- 1434171
TI  - Development of epilepsy in children with perinatal brain injuries: relationship
      to other neuropsychiatric deficits and EEG features.

PMID- 1434172
TI  - Clinical study of epileptic type moyamoya disease in children.

PMID- 1434173
TI  - Specific problems of benign epilepsy of children with centro-temporal EEG foci:
      prognostic assessment and reconsideration of medical treatment.

PMID- 1434174
TI  - Long-term effectiveness of antiepileptic drug treatment and seizure recurrence in
      patients with epilepsy.
AB  - We studied the rate of seizure recurrence in 334 patients with epilepsy who had
      received antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy for at least eight years. During the
      three-year "observation period" (April 1985-March 1988), 163 or 48.8% of the 334
      patients were considered to be seizure-free. Seizures were absent in 53 or 81.5%
      of 65 patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy, 48 or 40% of 120 with
      temporal lobe epilepsy, 39 or 39.4% of 99 with partial epilepsy other than those
      involving the temporal lobe, 2 or 8.3% of 24 with symptomatic generalized
      epilepsy and 21 or 80.8% of 26 with other epilepsies. Of the 163 patients, 15 or
      9.2% suffered seizure(s) during the three-year "follow-up period" (April 1988
      March 1991). There was no difference among the different types of epilepsy with
      respect to seizure recurrence rates. Compared with the 15 patients whose seizures
      recurred, more of the 148 patients with nonrecurring seizures received AED
      monotherapy (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were seen between the
      two groups for other background factors.

PMID- 1434175
TI  - Prognosis of temporal lobe epilepsy: report of a multi-institutional study.

PMID- 1434176
TI  - Lateralizing significance of unilateral upper limb dystonic posturing in temporal
      lobe seizures.

PMID- 1434177
TI  - West syndrome associated with chromosome abnormalities: clinicoelectrical study.

PMID- 1434178
TI  - Polysomnographical study in the patients with West syndrome before treatment.

PMID- 1434179
TI  - A pathophysiological consideration of 21 cases of reflex epilepsy induced by
      higher mental activity.

PMID- 1434180
TI  - Procedural memory in temporal lobe epilepsy.

PMID- 1434181
TI  - Depressive symptoms in patients with epilepsy.

PMID- 1434182
TI  - Intravenous administration of anticonvulsants under EEG monitoring in ESES: rapid
      prediction of the efficacy of oral administration of drugs.

PMID- 1434183
TI  - The effects of antiepileptic drugs on attentional function in the patient with
      epilepsy.

PMID- 1434184
TI  - Comparison of MRI and PET in patients with intractable partial epilepsy of
      childhood onset.

PMID- 1434185
TI  - Neuroimaging study of frontal lobe epilepsies.

PMID- 1434186
TI  - A localized metabolic study of epileptic brains with 31P-chemical shift imaging.

PMID- 1434187
TI  - Early childhood prolonged convulsions and mesial temporal sclerosis demonstrated
      by magnetic resonance imaging.

PMID- 1434188
TI  - Problems of the notification of the name of epilepsy: questionnaire study for
      parents, teachers and pediatricians.

PMID- 1434189
TI  - The effect of anticonvulsants on EEG background activity in epileptic children
      with monopharmacy.

PMID- 1434190
TI  - Investigation on epileptic spikes by dipole tracing method.

PMID- 1434191
TI  - Magnetoencephalographic localization of epileptic foci in patients with complex
      partial seizures using a 37-channel biomagnetometer.

PMID- 1434192
TI  - Event related potentials evoked by pure tone and linguistic stimulation in
      epileptic children.

PMID- 1434193
TI  - Low urea and high ammonia levels in plasma in epileptic patients and their
      relatives.

PMID- 1434194
TI  - Periodic hypersomnia: a case with very early onset, age 7.

PMID- 1434195
TI  - Independent epileptogenic multifoci in a girl with symptomatic partial epilepsy.

PMID- 1434196
TI  - A case of Lafora disease diagnosed by skin biopsy.

PMID- 1434197
TI  - Bilateral interhemispheric synchrony and amygdaloid kindling in congenitally
      acallosal and corpus callosum bisected mice.

PMID- 1434198
TI  - Changes of the afterdischarge threshold in the primary and secondary sites during
      kindling of cats: II. A study in neocortical kindling.

PMID- 1434199
TI  - Increase of pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation in amygdaloid kindling
      model of epilepsy.

PMID- 1434200
TI  - Serotonergic mechanism in hippocampal kindled seizures.

PMID- 1434201
TI  - Permanent increase in membrane-associated protein kinase C activity in the
      hippocampal kindled rat.

PMID- 1434202
TI  - The amygdaloid kindling in developing, adult and aged rats.

PMID- 1434203
TI  - Alteration in specific [3H]GTP binding in hippocampus of amygdaloid kindled rats.

PMID- 1434204
TI  - Effect of N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist on entorhinal responses by amygdala
      kindling stimulations.

PMID- 1434205
TI  - Simultaneous recordings of electroencephalograms and multiunit activities in the
      hippocampus during epileptic seizures of E1 mice.

PMID- 1434206
TI  - Behavior and EEG changes of unanesthetized cats after kainic acid injection into
      unilateral caudate nucleus.
AB  - 1. The microinjection of KA into the unilateral caudate nucleus induces
      secondarily generalized seizure. 2. The caudate nucleus considered to be one of
      the important relay structures in the generalization of epilepsy. 3. In this
      model of caudate nucleus epilepsy, cats did not show spontaneous seizure or
      choreic movement in the chronic stage.

PMID- 1434207
TI  - Temporal and spatial differences of the GABAergic abnormalities during
      development of the E1 mouse.

PMID- 1434208
TI  - Increased aspartate release from brain slices of epileptic experimental animals
      and effect of valproate on it.

PMID- 1434209
TI  - Serial change of cerebral blood flow and intracranial pressure in status
      epilepticus.

PMID- 1434210
TI  - Intraoperative measurement of rCBF in epileptic foci using laser Doppler
      flowmetry in 5 patients with intractable posttraumatic epilepsy.

PMID- 1434211
TI  - Correlations between local cerebral glucose utilization and electroclinical
      observations in kainic acid-induced visual cortical seizures in the rat.

PMID- 1434212
TI  - [The mechanism and specificity of IL-1 inhibitory factor released from human
      alveolar macrophages].
AB  - We have previously reported the presence of interleukin 1 (IL-1) inhibitory
      factor in the culture supernatants of alveolar macrophages. The activity is
      decreased in healthy smokers and patients with interstitial lung diseases
      (sarcoidosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis), compared with healthy non-smokers.
      In this study, we further examined the mechanism and specificity of IL-1
      inhibitory factor. The inhibitory factor exhibited specific inhibition of
      augmentation by IL-1 of PHA induced murine thymocyte proliferation, whereas there
      was no inhibition of the augmentation by IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 or TNF. This IL-1
      inhibitory factor competitively blocked the binding of IL-1 to the IL-1 receptor
      on PHA-stimulated murine thymocytes. These results indicate that alveolar
      macrophages produce a specific IL-1 inhibitory factor which functions as a IL-1
      receptor antagonist.

PMID- 1434213
TI  - [Cytokine gene expression in interstitial lung diseases].
AB  - We studied the role of macrophages in the process of pulmonary fibrosis, focusing
      on gene expressions of cytokines. TGF-alpha is a factor which stimulates
      fibroblasts or endothelial cells to proliferate, by combining to receptors of EGF
      competitively with EGF in vitro. Total RNA was extracted from alveolar
      macrophages recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage from patients with idiopathic
      pulmonary fibrosis or normal healthy volunteers, and the expression of TGF-alpha
      mRNA was evaluated by Northern analysis. There was no detectable TGF-alpha mRNA
      in alveolar macrophages from normal healthy volunteers; however, in patients with
      idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a considerable level of mRNA of TGF-alpha could be
      detected. Using an experimental rat model of alveolitis induced by bleomycin, the
      expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in alveolar macrophages recovered by BAL was
      evaluated by Northern analysis. Alveolar macrophages from bleomycin-treated rats
      expressed a significant level of TNF-alpha mRNA. Both TGF-alpha and TNF-alpha
      have proliferative activity on fibroblasts, and may have an important role in the
      process of fibrosis of the lung.

PMID- 1434214
TI  - [Alpha 1-antitrypsin genes in patients with alpha 1AT deficiency in Japan:
      mutational analysis and allelic background].
AB  - Deficiency of alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT), a plasma serine protease
      inhibitor, increases the risk of precocious pulmonary emphysema. Patients with
      alpha 1AT deficiency in Japan are extremely rare and no Z type alpha 1AT
      deficiency, which is one of the most frequent genetic disorders among Caucasians,
      are reported in Japan at the level of gene analysis. It is not yet clear why Z
      type alpha 1AT is rare among Japanese. When Ala213(GCG)-Val213(GTG) mutation in
      the alpha 1AT gene was examined by restriction endonuclease BstPI, all of 156
      Japanese samples were Val213(GTG) in contrast to the finding that 30% of U.S.
      Caucasians are Ala213(GCG), indicating that alpha 1AT genes among Japanese were
      diverted from M1(Val213) variant and are different from M1(Ala213) variant, from
      which Z variant was likely diverted. This may explain why Z type alpha 1AT
      deficiency is not found among Japanese. A new alpha 1AT deficient variant,
      Siiyama (Ser53(TCC)-Phe53(TTC)), was found in a 39-year-old male with pulmonary
      emphysema (Seyama K, et al, J Biol Chem, 266, 12627, 1991). Interestingly, 6 out
      of 10 families with alpha 1AT deficiency in Japan shared the identical
      substitution as Siiyama. This indicates that although Caucasian type Z alpha 1AT
      deficiency is not found, Siiyama variant may be relatively common in Japan and
      even in other oriental countries because of the historical migration of people.

PMID- 1434215
TI  - [IgE-mediated allergy and Fc epsilon receptor II].
AB  - Two types of IgE receptors, Fc epsilon receptor I (Fc epsilon RI) and Fc epsilon
      receptor II (Fc epsilon RII), are known to be involved in IgE-mediated allergy.
      Fc epsilon RI is expressed on mast cells and basophils, and cross-linkage of Fc
      epsilon RI leads to the release of chemical mediators from these cells. Fc
      epsilon RI consists of alpha, beta and gamma chains, and cDNAs encoding these
      chains were recently cloned. Fc epsilon RII is expressed on various cells such as
      mature mu+delta+ B cells and activated monocytes and eosinophils. The cDNA
      encoding B cell Fc epsilon RII was cloned by several groups including ours, and
      Fc epsilon RII was found to be a single chain receptor expressed with its N
      terminal inside the cells, homologous to C-type animal lectins. Subsequently, we
      identified two species of Fc epsilon RII, Fc epsilon RIIb, whose structures
      differ only at the N-terminal cytoplasmic region but share the same C-terminal
      extracellular region. These two receptors are generated utilizing different
      transcriptional initiation sites and 5' exons. Fc epsilon RIIa is constitutively
      expressed only on B cells. While Fc epsilon RIIb is inducible by IL-4 on B cells,
      monocytes and eosinophils. By employing transformants expressing Fc epsilon RIIa
      or Fc epsilon RIIb, it was demonstrated that Fc epsilon RIIa is involved in IgE
      mediated endocytosis, whereas Fc epsilon RIIb functions in IgE-dependent
      phagocytosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434216
TI  - [Induction by local injections of IL-2 of antitumor effector cells and secondary
      production of cytokines in malignant pleural effusion].
AB  - The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of intrapleural
      administration of IL-2 on induction of cytotoxic killer cells and on secondary
      production of cytokines in malignant pleural effusions. During daily local
      administration of IL-2, significant in vivo induction of cytotoxic activity was
      observed after 3-7 days, followed by a decrease in this activity in pleural
      mononuclear cells (MNC) to almost zero by day 15. IL-4 suppressed induction of IL
      2-inducible killer cells from MNC in blood and pleural effusion, but
      significantly augmented the killer induction from pleural effusion MNC obtained
      after local 7-day administration of IL-2. Before therapy, malignant pleural
      effusions contained various levels of IL-6 and M-CSF, but no IL-4 or IFN-gamma.
      Daily intrapleural instillation of IL-2 resulted in significant augmentation of
      the levels of IL-4, IL-6, IFN-gamma and M-CSF. Chromatographical fractionation of
      the pleural effusion showed only one major peak with a MW of 24 kD, which had IL
      6 activity. The level of the latent form of TGF-beta also increased during local
      IL-2 therapy. In contrast, significant levels of TNF (alpha, beta), IL-1 beta or
      IFN-alpha were not detectable in pleural effusions before or during therapy.
      These data suggest that IL-2 is an important inducer of secondary production of
      various cytokines in vivo, responsible for up- or down-regulation of induction of
      IL-2-inducible killer activity.

PMID- 1434217
TI  - [Evaluation of physical fitness and exercise performance in patients with chronic
      pulmonary emphysema].
AB  - Physical fitness was studied in patients with chronic pulmonary emphysema using
      Kraus-Weber methods in addition to pulmonary function and exercise tolerance. In
      Kraus-Weber tests, explosive strength of abdominal muscles in these patients were
      within the normal range, but both abdominal and back muscle endurance were
      significantly diminished compared to age-matched controls. On the other hand,
      flexibility was not different between the patients and the controls, although
      large variation was present. Exercise performance as assessed by 6 minutes' walk
      distance in patients was significantly correlated with FEV1.0, DLco and maximal
      inspiratory mouth pressure, as well as explosive strength of abdominal muscles
      and abdominal and back muscle endurance capacity. Treadmill walking training for
      20 minutes with a load greater than 80% VO2max, twice a week for 2 months was
      performed in 11 patients with mild to moderate pulmonary emphysema. Six minutes'
      walk distance (6MD) was significantly prolonged with improvement of back muscle
      endurance and flexibility. Another walking training consisting of five
      repetitions of two minutes' near maximal walking and a two minute interval of
      rest was performed in 6 patients with severe pulmonary emphysema. 6MD tended to
      increase with improvement of both back and abdominal muscle endurance. However,
      pulmonary function tests and VO2max showed no significant changes after both
      types of training. Improved walked distance after the training was significantly
      correlated with improved VO2 at AT. Furthermore VO2, VE, HR and lactate
      production during exercise at the same load were significantly decreased compared
      to pre-training. Dyspnea sensation measured by modified Borg scale during
      exercise was improved after the training. It is concluded that a physical
      training program adapted to the condition of the individual patients could
      improve exercise performance, and should be prescribed in addition to medication.

PMID- 1434218
TI  - [Clinical study on respiratory muscle training for chronic respiratory failure].
AB  - The purpose of respiratory muscle training for patients with chronic respiratory
      failure is to improve exercise performance during daily life. Firstly, to confirm
      the clinical effect on respiratory muscle training, the abdominal pad method for
      inspiratory muscle training and abdominal pad method with expiratory resistor for
      both inspiratory and expiratory muscle training were simultaneously performed.
      Both methods were clinically useful to increase respiratory muscle power and to
      subjectively decrease dyspnea. Ventilatory pattern analyzed by the Konno-Mead (K
      M) diagram during exercise also showed their effectiveness. Secondly, the
      influence of hypoxemia and hypophosphatemia, which are important factors
      producing respiratory muscle fatigue, was investigated in a patient with
      respiratory failure. (1) O2 inhalation in patients receiving home oxygen therapy
      was effective in terms of the endurance time and ventilatory pattern analyzed by
      the K-M diagram during exercise. (2) A case of hypercapnea due to hypoventilation
      caused by respiratory muscle fatigue developed reduced PaCO2 following correction
      of serum phosphate level, suggesting that hypophosphatemia is an important
      clinical factor producing respiratory muscle fatigue.

PMID- 1434219
TI  - [Recent technical advances in portable oxygen delivery systems].
AB  - According to a Japanese national survey (June 30, 1990), the number of patients
      receiving home oxygen therapy (HOT) has been greater than 18,000 since March
      1985, when HOT was first covered by health insurance. The oxygen concentrator,
      especially the molecular sieve type, is the most common method of delivery (more
      than 90%). In April 1988, the portable oxygen cylinder was acknowledged by health
      insurance, and the liquid oxygen supply system in April 1990. Three types of
      portable oxygen delivery systems are available; oxygen cyclinder, liquid oxygen
      system, and oxygen concentrator (membrane type), of which the oxygen cylinder is
      most commonly used. In our hospital, portable oxygen supply systems were used in
      80% of 168 HOT cases in 1990, and the use of 400 L aluminum oxygen cylinders at a
      flow rate of 1-2 L/min has been most popular. There is an strong desire from
      patients for lighter portable oxygen supply system of longer duration. In 19
      patients with chronic respiratory failure, we evaluated a newly designed demand
      oxygen delivery system (DODS), which weighs 2.4 kg including the DOD device (TER
      20 Teijin), 1.1 L oxygen cylinder made of ultressor, nasal cannula, and carrier.
      Arterial blood gases at rest (room air) were PaO2 61.9 +/- 6.3 torr, PaCO2 63.8
      +/- 9.4 torr and pH 7.40 +/- 0.04. A crossover trial was performed under three
      conditions; breathing room air with no weight, and pulse oxygen flow and
      continuous oxygen flow each carrying 2.4 kg of weight. Both 6 minute walking (E1)
      and walking on a slow speed treadmill (E2) were studied.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434220
TI  - [Psychological approach to chronic respiratory failure].
AB  - Patients with chronic respiratory diseases, particularly chronic respiratory
      failure, are seriously handicapped mentally and physically as compared with those
      with diseases of other medical fields. This is because their disorders relate to
      breathing, which is the basic physical function directly associated with
      sustaining life. The authors have attempted a psychosomatic approach for patients
      with chronic respiratory disorders. Clinical science in this field of medicine in
      Japan is far behind that of other advanced nations. In the Comprehensive
      Emphysema Inventory, it was clearly reported that in many cases, psychological
      stress is involved in the onset of dyspnea. In SRQ-D or MAS, moreover, decreased
      motivation for treatment, anxiety regarding prognosis, and conflict were notable
      in psychosomatic tests. Patients on home oxygen therapy (HOT) appear to have
      problems in family relations and in the daily-living environment, even though HOT
      provides both mental and physical benefits. It was also noted that holistic or
      comprehensive care designed for improvement of not only physical condition, but
      also psychosocial aspects and quality of life, is essential to achieve good
      results in the respiratory rehabilitation of patients affected by chronic
      respiratory failure.

PMID- 1434221
TI  - [Nutritional assessment and the effect of supplementary oral nutrition in
      patients with pulmonary emphysema].
AB  - Nutritional status and its relation to respiratory function and respiratory
      muscle strength were assessed in patients with pulmonary emphysema. Energy
      metabolism was also examined in order to elucidate the mechanism of their
      malnutrition. BCAA/AAA ratio of plasma amino acid was positively correlated with
      FEV1.0%. Resting energy expenditure (REE) was negatively correlated with FEV1.0%,
      and REE/REEpred ratio was also negatively correlated with BCAA/AAA and PImax.
      These findings suggest that increased mechanical work load, associated with
      airway obstruction and reduced respiratory muscle efficiency, contribute to the
      increased energy expenditure and amino acid imbalance. Oral nutritional
      supplementation using BCAA enriched-elemental diet was found to be effective, as
      assessed by nutritional parameters, PImax, D.O.E., and QOL index, in malnourished
      emphysema patients.

PMID- 1434223
TI  - [Relationship between signal intensity of blood flow in the pulmonary artery
      obtained by magnetic resonance imaging and results of right cardiac
      catheterization in patients with pulmonary disease].
AB  - Electrocardiogram-gated spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) images of the chest
      were obtained in five normal controls and 35 patients with pulmonary disease (11
      chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 6 pulmonary thromboembolism, 5 primary
      pulmonary hypertension, 4 interstitial pulmonary disease, 4 pulmonary
      hypertension with disturbance of portal circulation, and 5 other diseases) who
      underwent right cardiac catheterization. In transverse images at the level of the
      right main pulmonary artery (rPA) and sagittal images at the level through the
      midsternal line and the spinal chord, the signal intensity of blood flow in the
      rPA was quantitatively evaluated, and the correlations with the MR signal
      intensity of intravascular flow and the parameters of hemodynamics were studied.
      In diastole MR images of both normal controls and patients mostly showed a
      significant signal intensity of flowing blood, but in systole some patients
      demonstrated significant signals and visible flow images. In systolic MR images,
      the mean values of hemodynamic parameters (mean pulmonary arterial pressure
      (mPAP), pulmonary arteriolar resistance (PAR), and cardiac index (CI)) were
      abnormal in patients with significant signal intensity of flow compared with
      those in patients without sufficient MR signal. The signal intensity was not
      correlated with mPAP; however, it significantly increased as PAR increased, and
      it increased as CI decreased both in diastole and in systole. Especially in
      systole, there was good correlation between the signal intensity in transverse MR
      images and CI (r = -0.85, P less than 0.01) and between signal intensity in
      sagittal MR images and PAR (r = 0.90, P less than 0.01). These results suggest
      that significant flow signal in the rPA in systole has pathophysiological
      significance, and signal intensity is considered to be significantly affected by
      changes of PAR and CI. The signal intensity of blood flow in the rPA on MR images
      can be used as an index of the severity of right heart failure associated with
      pulmonary disease. MR imaging is a useful modality to evaluate pulmonary
      circulation disturbance because of its ability to assess blood flow in the
      pulmonary artery noninvasively without interference from other structures such as
      bone and normal lung.

PMID- 1434222
TI  - [Effect of potassium channel openers on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction].
AB  - The ATP-sensitive potassium channel (K+ATP) has been suggested as an important
      mechanism for the reactivity of vascular smooth muscle. We investigated the
      effects of K+ channel openers (lemakalim, pinacidil) on hypoxic pulmonary
      vasoconstriction (HPV) and angiotensin II (Ag II) induced vasoconstriction in
      isolated rat lungs (Sprague-Dawley rats: 300-450 g). Ventilation with hypoxic gas
      (2% O2, 5% CO2) was performed for 6 min after the injection of Ag II (0.1
      microgram). Isolated lungs were perfused under constant flow (0.04 ml/g/min)
      using 20 ml of blood from donor rat. The perfusion pressure was used as the
      pulmonary artery pressure. Lemakalim or pinacidil was pre-administered through
      the reservoir. Pretreatment with pinacidil (10(-4) M) or lemakalim (10(-5) M)
      inhibited the pressor response to hypoxia, but did not inhibit the response to
      angiotensin II. Although the effect of lemakalim on HPV was reversed by
      administration of glibenclamide (10(-5) M) or tolbutamide (10(-3) M), the effect
      of pinacidil on HPV was not influenced by either drug. These results suggest that
      1) K+ channel openers (lemakalim and pinacidil) inhibit the pressor response to
      hypoxia, and 2) lemakalim seems to act through K+ATP, whereas pinacidil may have
      other mechanisms of inhibition of vascular smooth muscle contraction. K+ATP may
      play an important role in the regulation of pulmonary vascular reactivity to
      hypoxia.

PMID- 1434224
TI  - [Activity of the respiratory muscles during natural defecation: a study on
      experimental animals].
AB  - Activity of the respiratory muscles during natural defecation was studied in two
      anesthetized and two decerebrate dogs. In anesthetized dogs, excitation of the
      abdominal muscles and an increase in gastric pressure were observed during
      defecation. However, pleural pressure was little influenced by such increase in
      abdominal pressure, maintaining the same rhythmic changes as observed during
      spontaneous respiration. The rhythmic changes in pleural pressure were associated
      with rhythmic activity of the diaphragm. When gastric pressure increased during
      defecation, the diaphragmatic activity also increased during both the inspiratory
      and expiratory phases. In a decerebrate dog, airflow and airway pressure changed
      similarly to during defecation. The diaphragm was continuously active, with
      superimposed rhythmic augmentation. In a paralyzed and artificially ventilated
      dog with open-chest, the phrenic nerve similarly developed discharges. We
      conclude that the non-respiratory activity and rhythmic augmentation of phrenic
      nerve discharge during defecation is pre-programmed in the command for
      defecation. The activity of phrenic motoneurons may be further modulated by
      changes in thoracic and abdominal pressure. These mechanisms may act together to
      coordinate respiration and defecation.

PMID- 1434225
TI  - [Production of reactive oxygen species by rat alveolar macrophages. Dissociation
      between the intracellular and extracellular release of hydrogen peroxide].
AB  - In order to clarify the features of reactive oxygen species produced by rat
      alveolar macrophages (AMs), the concentrations of intracellular and extracellular
      hydrogen peroxide were measured under various experimental conditions.
      Intracellular hydrogen peroxide was measured by DCFH method using a flow
      cytometer, while the extracellularly released fraction was measured by scopoletin
      method using a spectrophotometer. The concentration of intracellular hydrogen
      peroxide after stimulation with opsonized zymosan (10 micrograms/ml) was
      significantly higher than that after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate
      (PMA; 100 ng/ml). On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide released extracellularly
      after stimulation with PMA was significantly greater that that after stimulation
      with opsonized zymosan. These results indicate that the soluble membrane
      stimulant and the phagocytic particles have different mechanisms in activating
      the production of hydrogen peroxide in AMs. That is, hydrogen peroxide induced by
      PMA was mainly released extracellularly, while that induced by zymosan was mainly
      released into the intracellular environment. At rest, the concentration of
      intracellular hydrogen peroxide in rat AMs was high. Potassium cyanate, a known
      mitochondrial inhibitor, suppressed the intracellular hydrogen peroxide in AMs
      not only at rest but also after stimulations, indicating that most of the
      reactive oxygen species released into the intracellular environment in AM are
      produced by mitochondria. From these results, in order to gain a closer insight
      into the function of AMs, it is very important to distinguish the oxidative
      metabolites produced intracellularly which are related to bactericidal function
      from those of the extracellularly released fraction which give rise to lung
      damage.

PMID- 1434226
TI  - [A 14-year-old with pulmonary hamartomatous lymphangiomyomatosis associated with
      bilateral pneumothoraces].
AB  - A 14-year-old girl was admitted because of cough, chest pain and hemosputum.
      Chest roentgenogram on admission showed a pneumothorax and a cavitary lesion with
      niveau formation in the right lung and cystic lesions in the bilateral lung
      fields. After bed rest and intravenous administration of antibiotics for two
      weeks, the right lung inflated well and the niveau formation disappeared, and the
      patient was discharged. One week later, she was readmitted with sudden-onset
      severe dyspnea, caused by bilateral pneumothoraces. Emergency tube thoracostomy
      and wedge resection of the bullous lesion was performed. Macroscopically,
      multiple small cystic changes were seen on the surface of the right lung.
      Histological examination revealed nodular proliferations of smooth muscle cells
      in the interstitium and vessel walls in the lung, which contained slit-like
      lymphatic channels. The diagnosis of pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis was made. In
      this case, we could not measure receptors for estrogen and progesterone.
      Recently, hormonal therapy and oophorectomy have been reported as being useful.
      Tamoxifen (Norvadex) was therefore initiated, and the patient has remained well
      with slight dyspnea on exertion. There has been no recurrence of pneumothorax.
      Lymphangiomyomatosis is a rare disease of unknown etiology which occurs
      exclusively in women, mostly in those of reproductive age. We report a 14-year
      old female patient with lymphangiomyomatosis associated with repeated
      pneumothorax, who had been under treatment for epilepsy. We believe this case to
      be of importance because of the long discussed relation between pulmonary
      lymphangiomyomatosis and tuberous sclerosis.

PMID- 1434227
TI  - [A case of bronchocentric granulomatosis associated with uveitis].
AB  - A 32-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of abnormal pulmonary
      shadows and a decrease in visual acuity. Analysis of peripheral blood revealed
      eosinophilia, and chest roentgenogram demonstrated multiple infiltrates in the
      right upper lung field. Pathological examination of transbronchial lung biopsy
      specimens revealed necrotizing granulomatous lesions in the walls of bronchioles,
      and a definitive diagnosis of bronchocentric granulomatosis was made. The cause
      of bronchocentric granulomatosis in this patient was suggested to be an allergic
      reaction to Aspergillus because of positive response to skin test for
      Aspergillus. Although it is reported that extrapulmonary involvement is rare in
      bronchocentric granulomatosis, the present case was associated with uveitis, and
      to our knowledge is the first reported case.

PMID- 1434228
TI  - [A case of pulmonary fibrosis in which inhibition of pulmonary vasoconstriction
      was detected using DSA pulmonary wedge angiography].
AB  - A 65-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of productive cough
      and dyspnea on exertion. X-ray films and CT scan of the chest disclosed diffuse
      reticular shadows, especially in the bilateral lower lung fields. Blood gas
      analysis showed severe hypoxemia. Pulmonary function test disclosed severe
      restrictive pattern. From these findings, the patient was thought to have
      pulmonary fibrosis. Right heart catheterization showed pulmonary hypertension. To
      evaluate the pulmonary vascular bed, we performed DSA pulmonary wedge
      angiography. The pulmonary capillary phase stained homogeneously in normal
      subjects. However, in the present case, filling of the right pulmonary A9 was
      incomplete and capillary bed staining was decreased under room air condition.
      After breathing 5 L/min oxygen for 20 min., the A9 was filled well and capillary
      bed staining was increased. We consider that this change was induced by
      inhibition of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) by oxygen. DSA pulmonary
      wedge angiography was useful for visual evaluation of HPV.

PMID- 1434229
TI  - [A case of early mucoepidermoid carcinoma arising from the left upper bronchus
      and presenting the flow-volume curve as a manner of extra-thoracic airway
      obstruction].
AB  - A 23-year-old female was admitted with dyspnea, dry cough, and rhonchi. No
      abnormalities were detected on chest roentgenogram. Fiber-bronchoscopy revealed a
      polypoid lesion with necrotic material occluding the left main bronchus. The
      pathological diagnosis of the biopsied material was low grade mucoepidermoid
      carcinoma. Following tumor reduction by Nd-YAG laser, it was clear that the
      primary lesion originated from the left upper bronchus. Sleeve lobectomy was
      performed, and the tumor was proved to be early lung cancer of hilar type with
      extension limited to the bronchial wall.

PMID- 1434230
TI  - [An autopsy case of massive pulmonary hemorrhage in systemic lupus
      erythematosus].
AB  - A 60-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of respiratory failure.
      She was diagnosed as having systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in 1971 and had
      been treated with low-dose oral corticosteroids for 13 years. She developed
      cough, fever and anemia several days after oral corticosteroids were tapered.
      Initially, she had no complications such as congestive heart failure, renal
      failure or bleeding tendency. Respiratory failure progressed without any response
      to antibiotic therapy. Chest roentgenogram showed bilateral diffuse infiltrates
      and air bronchograms. There was no improvement even with steroid pulse therapy,
      and she died of multiple organ failure. Autopsy revealed massive intra-alveolar
      hemorrhage and interstitial pneumonitis. Deposition of immunoglobulins in the
      lung was not seen. To our knowledge, this is the 11th reported case of SLE
      associated with pulmonary hemorrhage in Japan.

PMID- 1434231
TI  - [A case of isoniazid (INH)-induced pneumonitis].
AB  - A 58-year-old man was referred for the evaluation of a lung nodule on chest X
      ray. On admission, chest X-ray showed a solitary nodule with cavitation in the
      left lung field. Histological examination revealed epithelioid cell granulomas
      and the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis was made. He was treated with INH,
      ethambutol (EB), and rifampicin (RFP). On the 16th day of treatment, he developed
      dry cough and high fever. On the 20th day, dyspnea developed and PaO2 was
      decreased to 38.2 Torr. Chest X-ray showed new widespread infiltrates in both
      lung fields and bilateral pleural effusions. The size of the cavitary lesion was
      decreased. Transbronchial biopsy specimen showed slight interstitial thickening,
      lymphocyte infiltration, and multiple granulomas. Drug lymphocyte stimulation
      test was positive only with INH (230%). INH-induced pneumonitis was highly
      suspected. All drugs was discontinued and hydrocortisone 2400 mg daily was
      started. He soon became afebrile, and dyspnea and dry cough resolved. Chest X-ray
      film showed resolution of infiltrative shadows. He was subsequently successfully
      treated with streptomycin, EB, and RFP without any adverse effects. To our
      knowledge, this is the sixth reported case of INH-induced pneumonitis.

PMID- 1434232
TI  - [Case of adult primary varicella pneumonia].
AB  - We report a case of adult primary varicella pneumonia. A 34-year-old man was
      admitted to our hospital with fever, dry cough and eruptions. He had no history
      of chicken pox and his sons had contracted varicella 2 weeks before the onset of
      his symptoms. Chest X-ray showed diffuse nodular shadows in both lungs. The
      diagnosis of primary varicella pneumonia was made based on family history,
      typical eruptions and high titer of antibody against Varicella zoster virus. An
      electron micrograph indicated this case to be primary varicella pneumonia with
      fibrosis and edema of interstitial spaces and the presence of virus-like
      particles in cells. The patient was treated with antibiotics, an antiviral agent
      and immunoglobulin. The clinical symptoms and diffuse nodular shadows resolved
      with this treatment.

PMID- 1434233
TI  - [Two cases of Churg-Strauss syndrome with bilateral wide-spread pulmonary
      infiltrates].
AB  - We report two cases of Churg-Strauss syndrome. The first case was a 25-year-old
      woman with a one year history of bronchial asthma, who developed fever, skin
      eruptions, abdominal pain and mononeuritis multiplex. During treatment with
      prednisolone 40 mg per day, chest X-ray films showed bilateral wide-spread
      infiltrates. When the dosage of prednisolone was increased to 80 mg per day,
      these infiltrates disappeared. Skin and lung biopsy specimens demonstrated
      allergic vasculitis and eosinophilic pneumonia. There was no response to high
      dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy for persistent severe abdominal pain and
      mononeuritis multiplex. Pericardial and pleural effusions with eosinophilia
      recurred eight months later. The second case was a 31-year-old man with a six
      year history of bronchial asthma, who developed fever, skin eruptions, myalgia
      and mononeuritis multiplex. One year later, during treatment with prednisolone 15
      mg per day, bronchial asthma with eosinophilia relapsed and chest X-ray films
      showed bilateral patchy infiltrates. Skin biopsy specimens demonstrated
      eosinophilic infiltrates and necrotizing vasculitis, while lung biopsy specimens
      demonstrated eosinophilic infiltrates and small granulomas. With additional
      administration of cyclophosphamide, he has had no evidence of active disease for
      six years. In both cases, the neurological symptoms persisted despite treatment
      with high doses of steroids, and during tapering of prednisolone, vasculitis
      syndrome relapsed. Therefore, long-term careful surveillance is necessary in this
      disease.

PMID- 1434234
TI  - [A case of bronchial asthma whose disease activity was associated with changes in
      serum alkaline phosphatase linked-immunoglobulins levels].
AB  - A 67-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with status asthmaticus. Serum
      alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level was elevated and ALP-linked immunoglobulins (ALP
      Igs) were detected by ALP isozyme analysis. Treatment with prednisolone resulted
      in improvement of her asthmatic symptoms and serum ALP level. Thereafter,
      elevations of serum ALP and ALP-Igs levels were seen whenever she had an
      asthmatic attack. She had no manifestations of autoimmune diseases. Changes in
      ALP-Igs levels in association with asthmatic activity suggested that ALP-Igs were
      related to the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma in this case.

PMID- 1434235
TI  - [A case of pneumonitis and hepatic injury caused by a herbal drug (sho-saiko
      to)].
AB  - We report a case of pneumonitis and hepatic injury caused by Sho-saiko-to. A 56
      year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of hepatic disorder. The levels
      of serum transaminases returned to normal within two months without specific
      treatment and he was discharged. Four weeks later, he was readmitted because of
      severe pneumonitis and mild hepatic disorder. Under the suspicion of drug-induced
      pneumonitis, all medications were discontinued and high-dose glucocorticoid
      including "pulse therapy" was given. Consequently, pneumonitis and hepatic
      function markedly improved. Careful history taking revealed the ingestion of Sho
      saiko-to before both admissions. Lymphocyte stimulation test against Sho-saiko-to
      was positive. Challenge test using Sho-saiko-to resulted in decrease of PaO2 and
      elevation of serum transaminases. Based on these findings, the diagnosis of
      pneumonitis and hepatic injury induced by Sho-saiko-to was established.

PMID- 1434236
TI  - [Case report: chronic aggressive pulmonary sarcoidosis with bilateral
      cavitation].
AB  - A 34-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital because of progressive
      exertional dyspnea and weight loss (8 kg in one year). Twelve years previously,
      he had had an episode of uveitis accompanied with bilateral hilar
      lymphadenopathy. Scalene node biopsy at that time revealed non-caseating
      epithelioid granulomas. Four years later, a follow-up chest radiograph showed
      bilateral fine nodular lesions. The bilateral parenchymal lesions gradually
      increased in density, and eventually, formed a confluent air-space consolidation
      containing multi-ocular cavities. On physical examination, the patient was
      emaciated (Ht 165 cm, Wt 40 kg). Nodular cutaneous lesions were present on his
      face and elbows. Hypoxemia with hypercapnea (PaO2 56 Torr, PaCO2 51 Torr) was
      noted. Repeated sputum cultures yielded negative results for acid-fast bacilli,
      fungi, and other pathological organisms. A transbronchial lung biopsy specimen
      obtained from near the cavitary lesion revealed non-caseating granulomas
      compatible with sarcoidosis. Skin lesion biopsy showed similar findings. The
      cavitation, was therefore considered to be due to ischemic necrosis of confluent
      sarcoid granulomas. Prednisolone (40 mg daily) was given with a prompt
      improvement of symptoms including dyspnea, as well as the radiographic
      abnormalities. We conclude that uncomplicated pulmonary sarcoidosis may rarely
      develop into an aggressive parenchymal disease with cavitation. It is of
      importance to differentiate such cases from infectious diseases (tuberculosis,
      mycosis etc.) because of the need for corticosteroid treatment.

PMID- 1434237
TI  - [A case of bronchoplasty for endobronchial chondroid hamartoma].
AB  - A 62-year-old male was admitted to our hospital to investigate his obstructive
      pneumonia-like symptoms. A chest roentgenography, computed tomography revealed
      the tumor to be located in the left lower bronchus. Bronchoscopy showed
      endobronchial tumor at the level of the left lower lobe bronchus. Preoperative
      pathological confirmation was possible by transbronchial biopsy, pathological
      diagnosis of the tumor was endobronchial chondroid hamartoma. And then,
      bronchoplasty was performed. He was discharged from our hospital after operation,
      showing no evidence.

PMID- 1434238
TI  - [Active infective endocarditis with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: a case
      report].
AB  - This is a case report of infective endocarditis with idiopathic thrombocytopenic
      purpura (ITP). Open heart surgery to the patient with ITP has a problem of
      perioperative hemorrhage. Usually, treatment for ITP is performed before
      operation, and platelet transfusion is provided for hemorrhage. However, in our
      patient, we had to perform emergency operation because of progressive heart
      failure without treatment of ITP. Emergency operation should be performed without
      treatment of ITP, not to delay operative timing in such a case of progressive
      heart failure from active infective endocarditis.

PMID- 1434239
TI  - [Bilocular pericardial cyst diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging: a case
      report].
AB  - A 47-year-old female who had removal of pericardial cyst is reported.
      Preoperative examination including echocardiography, computed tomography and
      magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated the cystic nature of the mass
      attaching to the right pericardial surface. MRI clearly revealed that the cyst
      was bilocular. MRI brings a more detailed information of pericardial cyst for
      surgery.

PMID- 1434240
TI  - [A successful removal of the left ventricular lipoma].
AB  - We reported a rare case of left ventricular lipoma, which arose nearby the
      papillary muscle in the left ventricular wall. It was disclosed by
      echocardiography and nearly diagnosed by computed tomography and magnetic
      resonance images. We successfully removed the tumor. It measured 3.8 x 1.5 x 1.3
      cm and 3.6 g. Microscopically, it was not encapsulated and consisted of mature
      adipose tissue. But, it did not invaded the cardiac muscles. In conclusion, the
      tumor detected lipoma. Postoperative course is uneventful, and the patient has
      been followed by serial echocardiography.

PMID- 1434241
TI  - [A case of hydropneumothorax].
AB  - A 19-year-old girl was admitted because of fever, cough and suddenly occurred
      chest pain. One month earlier she had experienced a fever and cough, then she had
      felt sudden chest pain 2 weeks prior to the admission. A chest X-ray showed left
      pneumothorax and massive pleural effusion. A diagnosis of hydropneumothorax was
      made. In spite of the chest tube drainage, reexpansion of the lung was
      unsatisfactory. Thoracotomy and decortication of the lung resulted in good
      reexpansion. Histological finding revealed pleuritis due to bacterial
      peribronchial infection, which resulted in hydropneumothorax, namely an abscess
      ruptured to the pleural cavity.

PMID- 1434242
TI  - [Cryosurgery for left atrial myxoma with coronary artery bypass grafting].
AB  - This is the first report of cryoblasion of atrial myxoma which was performed in
      conjunction with coronary artery bypass grafting. A 63-year-old man was admitted
      for left atrial tumor and ischemic heart disease. Following coronary artery
      bypass grafting and resection of left atrial myxoma, cryosurgery was carried out
      for the residual tumor on atrial septum and left atrial posterior wall.
      Ultrasonic cardiogram after 1 year revealed no signs of recurrence. Cryoablasion
      was effective in preventing the recurrence of atrial myxoma.

PMID- 1434243
TI  - [Mitral valve replacement in a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic
      telangiectasia].
AB  - A 46-year-old female with mitral insufficiency complicated by hereditary
      hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler's disease) underwent successfully mitral valve
      replacement. The patient had a history of repeated large-volume nasal bleeding.
      Mitral valve replacement using a xenograft was safely performed with various
      attempts for preventing abnormal postoperative hemorrhage.

PMID- 1434244
TI  - [Bilateral pneumothorax and rupture of dissecting aortic aneurysm following a
      mitral valve replacement in Marfan syndrome: a case report].
AB  - A 12-year-old girl with Marfan syndrome was referred to our department because of
      severe mitral regurgitation. The patient was pale and in a pre-shock condition.
      The echocardiogram revealed a chordae rupture of the posteromedial papillary
      muscle at the posterior leaflet. A moderate dilatation of the aortic annulus (30
      mm) and the ascending aorta (45 mm) without aortic regurgitation was also
      observed. Emergent mitral valve replacement was performed without replacement of
      the aortic valve or the ascending aorta. After two months, the patient developed
      bilateral pneumothorax, which was resistant to continuous suction therapy and
      finally required surgical treatments. Despite the relatively uneventful recovery,
      a lethal rupture of dissecting aortic aneurysm into the pericardial cavity,
      developed four months after the initial operation. We discussed the desired
      surgical approaches and respiratory problems in patients with connective tissue
      disorder.

PMID- 1434245
TI  - [Mitral valve replacement with concomitant coronary bypass for the papillary
      muscle rupture after acute myocardial infarction in situs inversus].
AB  - A 53-year-old man, who was known to have situs inversus totalis all of his life,
      had acute myocardial infarction complicated by partial rupture of the posterior
      papillary muscle causing mitral regurgitation and pulmonary edema. The patient
      underwent mitral valve replacement (Omnicarbon 27 mm) with concomitant
      aortocoronary saphenous vein bypass, and he is now doing well 9 months following
      the operation. To our knowledge, this is the first case of the successful mitral
      valve replacement and concomitant aortocoronary saphenous vein bypass on a
      patient with situs inversus totalis (mirror-image dextrocardia) in Japan.

PMID- 1434246
TI  - [Cervical esophago-gastrostomy via the posterior mediastinal route for carcinoma
      of the thoracic esophagus].
AB  - From 1981 to 1990, 297 cases of carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus were resected
      in our department. Among these cases, 225 cases (84.3%) were reconstructed
      cervical esophagogastrostomy via the posterior mediastinal route. In this paper,
      these 225 cases were analysed to evaluate the usefulness of this procedure which
      was developed by S. Abo in 1975. Operative mortality was 4.4% Anastomotic leakage
      occurred in 24.4% of the cases, but the majority of the cases were treated
      successfully without any drainage and 83.3% of the cases could start their diet
      within one month after operation. The volume of oral intake by the patients after
      discharge increased satisfactorily (1,500-1,800 kcal/day), but the body weight
      decreased gradually. So the ambulatory enteral nutritional support was started
      and proved useful for maintaining their body weight. Alkaline reflux evaluated
      using 24-hour pH-monitoring system was observed in about half of the cases but
      the degree of the alkaline shift was not strong. Some complaints (heart burn in
      6.3%, regurgitation in 21.9%, feeling of fullness after eating in 40.6%, stenotic
      sensation in 20.7%) were present but not serious.

PMID- 1434247
TI  - [Brain dysfunction after operation of aortic arch aneurysm].
AB  - Postoperative brain dysfunction was studied for 18 patients who survived more
      than 30 days after operations of aortic arch aneurysms. The operative procedures
      were graft replacement in 12 patients, resection with direct or patch closure in
      3, and thromboexclusion in 3. Except for thromboexclusion, adjuncts were used:
      temporary bypass in 1, partial EPC (extracorporeal circulation) in 2, and
      selective cerebral perfusion during EPC in 12. As for intra-operative monitoring,
      the temporal artery blood pressures were more than 50 mmHg in all, but the
      electroencephalogram changed to flat wave just after clamping the aorta in one
      patient. Postoperative brain dysfunction occurred in 5 patients, including
      temporary loss of consciousness in 2, lasting loss of consciousness in 1, and
      paralysis with loss of consciousness in 2. Postoperative brain dysfunction
      occurred more often in old aged men with atherosclerotic aneurysms. Patients with
      temporary brain dysfunction had no remarkable change in CT scan, but patients
      with lasting brain dysfunction had low density areas. It is recommended to
      prevent this complication as follows: 1) pre-operative evaluation of cerebral
      vascular disorders, 2) gentle maneuver of atherosclerotic lesions, 3) bilateral
      cerebral perfusions and intra-operative monitorings, 4) intensive perioperative
      care of circulation and respiration.

PMID- 1434248
TI  - [Surgical treatment of coarctation of the aorta].
AB  - Repair of coarctation of the aorta was performed in 37 cases (31 patients, 6
      patients of reoperation) ranging from 4 days old to 15 years old. Subclavian flap
      repair were performed in 15, resection and end-to-end anastomosis in 14, patch
      aortoplasty in 6, and interposition graft in 2. Subclavian flap angioplasty or
      end-to-end anastomosis is considered the procedure of choice in infants. However,
      the incidence of reoperation significantly increased in patients younger than age
      one month at initial subclavian flap repair. Mechanism of recurrent coarctation
      may be possibly related to retention of abnormal tissue, which is possibly ductal
      and/or intimal shelf, with the potential for proliferation and luminal narrowing.
      We suggest that in applicable case end-to-end anastomosis rather than subclavian
      flap angioplasty may be the surgical technique of choice in infants less than one
      month of age, and the most common reoperation technique was patch aortoplasty in
      re-stenosed cases.

PMID- 1434249
TI  - [Cardiac valve replacement in the elderly].
AB  - From January 1980 through December 1990, seventy one consecutive patients over 60
      years of age (mean age 64 +/- 4 years) and 231 patients younger than 60 years
      underwent cardiac valve replacement procedures. In the elderly group, aortic
      valve replacement was performed in nineteen patients, mitral valve replacement in
      thirty-three patients both aortic and mitral valve replacement in sixteen
      patients, and both mitral and tricuspid valve replacement in three patients.
      Aortocoronary bypass was performed in four and tricuspid annuloplasty in 19
      patients simultaneously. Two patients were operated on emergency. As for
      preoperative status, 63 patients (88.7%) were in New York Heart Association
      (NYHA) Functional Class III or IV. Mechanical valves were implanted in all aortic
      position and 16 mitral position. Bioprosthetic valves were placed in 34 mitral
      position and 3 tricuspid position. Mean follow-up period was 42 +/- 33 months.
      The early mortality rate was 11% (8 patients) and the actuarial survival rate was
      88 +/- 5% at five years and 74 +/- 10% at ten years. Postoperative functional
      improvement was excellent in 85.7% of the survivors. In the younger age group,
      77.9% belonged to NYHA class III or IV preoperatively. The early mortality was
      3.0% (7 patients) and the actuarial survival rate was 95 +/- 2% at five years and
      86 +/- 2% at ten years. And postoperatively 91.3% were in NYHA class I or II. In
      conclusion, cardiac valve replacement in the elderly can be performed with an
      acceptable mortality and excellent functional improvement.

PMID- 1434250
TI  - [Effects of blood-diltiazem-nitroglycerin-cardioplegia in coronary artery bypass
      grafting].
AB  - Forty-seven patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting using blood
      cardioplegia (BCP) were studied clinically. They were divided into 3 groups based
      on concentration of diltiazem (DTZ) and nitroglycerin (NTG). Group I (n = 12);
      DTZ 5 mg plus NTG 5 mg in BCP 1,000 ml, Group II (n = 10); NTG 25 mg in BCP 1,000
      ml, Group III (n = 25); DTZ 5 mg plus NTG 25 mg in BCP 1,000 ml. From the
      standpoint of serum enzyme analysis, there was no significant difference between
      3 groups, however, the incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction (PMI) and
      perioperative coronary spasm (PCS) were significantly higher in Group I than that
      in other groups. The present data suggests that intramyocardial concentration of
      NTG in Group II and III were 5 times higher than Group I. Increased dose of NTG
      in BCP would be benefit for myocardial protection in CABG.

PMID- 1434251
TI  - [Left heart bypass using a centrifugal pump as an adjunct measure for surgery of
      thoracic descending aorta].
AB  - We have employed left heart bypass (LHB) using a centrifugal pump with heparin
      coated tubes as an adjunct measure for surgery of thoracic descending aortic
      aneurysm in 8 cases. During aortic cross-clamping, LHB was controlled to maintain
      the distal pressure above 50 mmHg. In 7 cases, hemodynamics were stable and no
      complication occurred in relation with this method. However, acute heart failure
      due to coronary insufficiency occurred in one patient, and subsequent
      cardiopulmonary bypass was required to maintain systemic circulation. LHB
      provides adequate distal perfusion and proximal decompression in most cases, and
      it has also contributed to diminution of intraoperative bleeding. However, LHB
      can not maintain distal perfusion when acute heart failure occurs, which
      indicates that we have to select another adjunct measures, such as femorofemoral
      bypass to avoid distal hypoperfusion in cases with heart diseases.

PMID- 1434252
TI  - [A case report on the sliding commissuroplasty for mitral regurgitation due to
      posterior commissural chordal rupture].
AB  - We have performed a mitral valve reconstruction on a 31-year-old man who suffered
      from infective endocarditis four years ago. Severe mitral regurgitation and
      posterior commissural chordal rupture were noted. The mitral valve was repaired
      by Carpentier's sliding commissuroplasty and ring annuloplasty. The postoperative
      course was uneventful, and mitral regurgitation completely disappeared. It
      appears that Carpentier's sliding commissuroplasty is a superior new
      reconstructive technique for mitral regurgitation due to commissural chordal
      rupture.

PMID- 1434253
TI  - [Indication of pulmonary embolectomy for acute pulmonary embolism].
AB  - During the past 7 years, 15 patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) were
      treated at Kagawa Medical School and 10 patients were survived. Nine patients had
      an embolus in a right or left pulmonary trunk (group A) and 6 patients were
      peripheral APE (group B). In group A abnormal findings in a chest x-ray film and
      an electrocardiogram were observed in many patients, but in group B these
      findings were slight. In group A a shock was observed in 89% and cardiac arrest
      in 4 patients, although in group B neither shock nor death were observed. Marked
      hypoxia with hypocapnia was observed in 8 patients in group A and only in 2 in
      group B. All patients in group B were recovered by medical therapy. In group A,
      however, only 3 patients were recovered by medical therapy. Two patients in group
      A were performed pulmonary embolectomy (PER), but one of them, who had been in
      nonreversible shock, died. We conclude that the patient who had marked hypoxia
      (PO2 less than or equal to 50 mmHg) with hypocapnia (PCO2 less than or equal to
      35 mmHg) early at an attack should be taken a pulmonary angiography, and when a
      large embolus is found out in the proximal pulmonary artery, the PER should be
      performed as soon as possible.

PMID- 1434254
TI  - [Treatment of postoperative mediastinitis using an omental pedicle flap].
AB  - Four patients with postoperative mediastinitis who were treated by omentopexy at
      the Fukuoka University Hospital between 1989 and 1990. Three of the 4 patients
      healed successfully, another one died of multiple organ failure 83 days after
      surgery. All patients were received coronary artery bypass surgery harvesting a
      left internal thoracic artery for ischemic heart disease. Three patients had
      diabetes mellitus, one patient had renal failure preoperatively. Recognition of
      mediastinitis was made by sternal wound purulent discharge and sternal
      dehiscence. Culture of the discharge fluid yielded methicillin-resistant
      Staphylococcus aureus in three, and Enterococcus cloacae in one. Irrigation with
      popidone-iodine or blonopol were ineffective. Thus, the wound was treated with
      debridement and omentopexy with an omental pedicle flap, respectively.
      Postoperative course after omentopexy were excellent, had no complications. We
      conclude that the omentopexy is useful in the treatment of postoperative
      refractory anterior mediastinitis.

PMID- 1434255
TI  - [Advantage of internal thoracic artery for coronary arterial bypass surgery in
      patients over 70 years of age].
AB  - Between April 1988 and September 1991, 16 among 23 patients over 70 years of age
      underwent coronary bypass grafting (CABG) with at least one arterial graft. The
      age ranged from 70 to 77 years (mean, 72.1 years) and involved coronary lesions
      were two vessels in two patients and three vessels in 14 patients. Seven patients
      with unstable angina received emergency CABG. The number of distal anastomosis
      with arterial graft was mean of 1.3 per patient and left internal thoracic artery
      (ITA) was used as a pedicled graft in all patients. Sequential grafting with left
      ITA arterial graft was performed in two and right gastroepiploic artery was
      concomitantly used in three patients. No atherosclerosis was seen in left ITA,
      however, poor quality saphenous vein graft (SVG) was in five and atherosclerosis
      of ascending aorta was in five patients. After operation deep vein thrombosis of
      leg after harvesting SVG occurred in one patient. The angiogram performed within
      one month of operation in nine patients showed that the patency rate of arterial
      graft was 100% and that of SVG was 94.4%. The longest follow-up period was 42
      months and New York Heart Association Functional Class improved to Class I or II
      in all patients. The use of pedicled ITA in elderly patient showed advantage for
      diseased ascending aorta and it seemed to prevent the postoperative complication
      due to the use of SVG.

PMID- 1434256
TI  - [Concomitant cardiac and pulmonary operation in a case of lung tumor with
      unstable angina].
AB  - The patient, a 55-year-old male, suffered from malignant lung tumor with
      complaints of bloody sputum and anterior chest pain. Angina pectoris was detected
      during neoadjuvant chemotherapy, because of total obstruction at #7 and 99%
      stenosis at #12, as disclosed by CAG. As he complained frequently anginal chest
      pain in the course of time, the concomitant cardiac and pulmonary operation was
      decided via median sternotomy and fourth intercostal thoracotomy. The operating
      procedure was as follows: 1) mediastinal lymph nodes dissection before
      extracorporeal circulation, 2) aorto-coronary bypass (#8, #12), 3) final left
      lower lobectomy. He was histopathologically diagnosed as a rare case of
      endobronchial type of leiomyosarcoma. He has achieved a remarkable recovery,
      without tumor recurrence or angina pectoris for ten months postoperatively, and
      has been allowed to resume a normal life.

PMID- 1434257
TI  - [A case of malignant localized visceral pleural mesothelioma].
AB  - We experienced malignant localized mesothelioma of which origin was visceral
      pleura. According to, 1) the preoperative chest X-ray and chest CT which showed
      extra-pleural sign, 2) the rapid tumor growth, and 3) the result from needle
      biopsy, we diagnosed malignant localized mesothelioma of which origin was
      parietal pleura. Surgical treatment was performed, and diagnosed that its origin
      was visceral pleura. The tumor invaded the lung. It is dangerous to diagnose by
      means of needle biopsy because of malignant cell implantation. We recommend that
      firstly the surgical treatment should be carried out for malignant mesothelioma,
      which needs extended resection for preventing its recurrence.

PMID- 1434258
TI  - [Computers in urology].
AB  - The present state of computer utilization in urology has been described.
      Nowadays, use of computer is becoming essential in the urological diagnosis and
      treatment. Recently computers have been so rapidly developed so that it became
      much smaller and yet offers higher performance. The methods and problems of
      utilizing computers have been explained by presenting actual examples. An
      important point that must be recognized in utilizing computers is that the
      computer is meant to be a part of method in resolving problems and its use itself
      is not conclusion. In other words, computers are a means of methodology.
      Computers have been used for frequency analysis in urophonograms, diagnosis in a
      simultaneous pressure-flow study in lower urinary tract, and for supporting the
      data entry by photoscanner. Moreover, computers have been used for digital
      differentiation to materialize higher performance uroflowmeter. Computers have
      also been applied to litholytic fluid pressure-flow control system for renal
      stones, and played important role in long hours's intra pelvic pressure
      monitoring system in support of the large amount of data accumulation and noise
      reduction. Recently, in the expert system in the pressure-flow study etc.,
      computer plays an essential role which covers most territory of the system.
      Finally, its future applications have also been speculated.

PMID- 1434259
TI  - [Complete testicular feminization syndrome associated with thermolabile androgen
      receptor].
AB  - Radioreceptor assay and thermostability test for the androgen receptor in two
      cases with complete testicular feminization syndrome were performed in regard to
      the fibroblasts cultured from genital skin on the basis of dispersed whole cell
      binding assay (Eil et al., 1980). No [3H]dihydrotestosterone binding to the
      androgen receptor was observed in case 1 (receptor negative), while maximum
      binding capacity and dissociation constant of androgen receptor for
      [3H]dihydrotestosterone in case 2 were 21000 sites per cell and 1.67 x 10(-10) M
      (receptor positive). The specific binding of [3H]dihydrotestosterone to the
      androgen receptor in case 2 decreased remarkably to 6.6% after high temperature
      (42 degrees C) incubation in comparison with that at 22 degrees C incubation. The
      specific binding of [3H]dihydrotestosterone to the androgen receptor in normal
      controls decreased down to 81.6% at high temperature incubation. Thermostability
      test was useful to demonstrate qualitative abnormality of androgen receptor in
      receptor positive testicular feminization syndrome.

PMID- 1434260
TI  - [Monotherapy with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for renal and ureteral
      stones].
AB  - We performed extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) as a monotherapy using
      the Medstone STS lithotripter on 288 patients with renal and ureteral stones
      between June, 1989 and June, 1991. We compared our results with previous reports
      on ESWL as used in combination therapy. Our cases consisted of 121 patients with
      renal stones and 167 patients with ureteral stones. A total of 437 sessions of
      lithotripsy were performed on 288 patients, for an average of 1.52 sessions of
      lithotripsy per patient. The percentage of stones measuring less than 4.0 mm in
      diameter that were fragmented was 94.3% for renal stones and 87.6% for ureteral
      stones. The stone-free rates 3 months after ESWL were 60.3% and 90.4%,
      respectively. Our results of the monotherapy with ESWL did not differ from those
      reported on ESWL as used in combination therapy, in terms of the rate of stone
      destruction and stone-free rates. We studied the other reports carefully and
      determined that ESWL monotherapy could have been performed in most those cases.
      We concluded that ESWL monotherapy is an excellent therapeutic method in the
      light of fewer complications and side effects compared with those from
      combination therapy, and the fact that the rate of recurrence for renal and
      ureteral stones is high makes ESWL monotherapy very useful because the procedure
      can be repeated.

PMID- 1434261
TI  - [A study of quantitative and qualitative abnormality of androgen receptor in
      patients with hypospadias associated with enlarged prostatic utricle].
AB  - The prostatic utricle, a rudimentary structure present in the male prostatic
      urethra, is currently thought to be of mixed origin, with its cranial portion
      being derived from mullerian duct and caudal segment from wolffian and mullerian
      ducts and the urogenital sinus. Enlargement of prostatic utricle has often been
      demonstrated in patients with hypospadias and its incidence increased according
      to the severity of hypospadias. It has been suggested that insufficient
      androgenic stimulation of the urogenital sinus and urethral groove during the
      critical period of sexual differentiation may cause this entity. Since 5 alpha
      dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a major androgen for the normal development of
      urogenital sinus, androgen receptor levels in the patients with hypospadias
      associated with enlarged prostatic utricle may concern this ontogenesis.
      Fibroblasts derived from penile skin in these patients were assayed for androgen
      receptor levels using dispersed whole cell binding assay after Eil (1970).
      Thermostability of androgen receptor in the same fibroblasts was also evaluated
      by the remaining androgen receptor activity after incubation at 42 degrees C, and
      expressed as a ratio (percentage) to the androgen receptor activity in the
      incubation at 22 degrees C. Preputial skin of endocrinologically normal boys in
      the same range of age (3 to 8 years) was served as controls. There was a
      significant difference in averages of maximum binding capacities of [3H]DHT to
      the androgen receptor between those of controls (n = 4) and patients with grade
      II utricle (n = 4) (89 +/- 5.7 (SE) x 10(2) sites/cell vs. 37 +/- 7.1 x 10(2)
      sites/cell).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434262
TI  - [Immunological and biochemical characterization of urinary carcinoembryonic
      antigen and its clinical significance].
AB  - The immunobiochemical properties of urinary carcinoembryonic antigen (U-CEA)
      purified from non-tumor-bearing patients with urinary tract infection were
      investigated. Moreover, immunohistochemical localization of CEA in the normal
      urothelium was studied and clinical significance of U-CEA was also analyzed
      statistically. The purified U-CEA showed a molecular weight of approximately
      160,000 by the Western blotting and an antigenicity identical to the purified CEA
      (Calbiochem Corp.). Amino acids analysis of U-CEA revealed nearly the same values
      as the purified CEA or the theoretical values of CEA, except for several amino
      acids susceptible to hydrolysis and sugar chains. Therefore, it was assumed that
      the U-CEA was a new CEA-related antigen, different from nonspecific cross
      reacting antigen (NCA) or even CEA itself. Immunohistochemically, CEA was found
      mainly at the cytoplasmic membrane in normal urothelial cells. The urine samples,
      collected from patients with various urological disorders, were divided into the
      inflammation group, showing 5 leukocytes/hpf or more in the urine, and the non
      inflammation group, showing less than 5 leukocytes/hpf. The groups were
      subdivided and U-CEA levels were statistically studied; it was found that the U
      CEA levels strongly reflected the presence of inflammation, rather than the
      presence of urothelial tumors. Consequently, it was considered that CEA was
      present in the normal urothelium and that destruction and regeneration of these
      cells due to tumor or inflammation might release CEA, not NCA, into the urine.

PMID- 1434263
TI  - [Autologous blood retransfusion in transurethral resection of prostate (TURP)].
AB  - Blood collected from the irrigation fluid used during TURP was retransfused in 17
      patients. Of the 17 patients, 8 cases were also transfused preoperatively
      reserved blood. The weight of resected adenoma (g), resection time (minutes), the
      volume of salvaged blood (ml) of 9 cases who were transfused only salvaged
      autologous blood were 30.6 g, 63 min. and 355 ml, respectively, and those of 8
      patients who were given both salvaged and preoperatively reserved autologous
      blood were 46.1 g, 78 min. and 703 ml, respectively. No patient was transfused
      homologous blood. Preoperative urine cultures showed contamination of bacteria in
      12 cases (70.6%), and the blood concentrated from irrigated fluid was positive
      for bacteria in 2 cases (11.8%). Blood count (RBC, Hb, Ht) just after TURP, after
      blood retransfusion, at the next and the 7th day after the operation were
      compared to those of just before TURP (Blood Count Ratio). The ratio of the 9
      cases who received only salvaged blood were 83.5%, 96.8%, 90.9%, 85.2% each and
      the ratio of the 8 cases who were transfused both salvaged and preserved blood
      were 86.9%, 102.6%, 101.4%, 97.5% each. There were no adverse effects due to the
      autologous blood retransfusion. CONCLUSION: Retransfusion of salvaged autologous
      blood from the irrigating fluid of TURP was clinically safe and effective. No
      homologous blood was transfused in TURP when salvaged autologous blood with or
      without preserved blood was retransfused to the patient.

PMID- 1434264
TI  - [Effects of magnesium ions on the contraction of the rat detrusor muscle].
AB  - Effects of magnesium (Mg) ions on the contraction of the rat detrusor muscle
      induced by intramural nerve stimulation were investigated in vitro. 1. Frequency
      response curve demonstrated that contractile responses increased in magnesium
      free Krebs' solution and decreased in high magnesium solution (MgCl2 5 mM) in
      comparison with those in normal Krebs' solution. 2. When MgCl2 was added into an
      organ bath with cumulative way, the magnitude of detrusor contraction decreased
      dose-dependently. The contractile response was completely abolished by 30 mM
      MgCl2. 3. Mg ions suppressed the detrusor contraction induced by a high KCl
      concentration. 4. The effect of Mg ions on the detrusor contraction was enhanced
      by verapamil but was inhibited by Bay-K8644. 5. Procaine agonized the effect of
      Mg ions on the detrusor contraction. On the other hand, caffeine did not modify
      the effect of Mg ions. These results suggest that Mg ions seem to play an
      inhibitory role on 2 types of Ca-channels existing on the cell membrane and to
      inhibit release of Ca ions from the intracellular deposit.

PMID- 1434265
TI  - [Management of multicystic dysplastic kidney detected in perinatal periods].
AB  - We analyzed 17 cases of multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) to document the
      natural history of MCDK and its management. One patient was nephrectomied for
      respiratory failure associated with MCDK. Follow-up studies of 14 kidneys
      revealed that 5 kidneys (36%) did not change in size, 7 kidneys (50%) decreased
      in size. Two kidneys (14%) increased in size during the follow up periods and
      were nephrectomized. Hypertension and malignancy was not observed in our cases.
      Evaluations for the contralateral kidney and urinary tract system were performed
      in 15 patients and 5 (33%) revealed abnormalities--two patients with VUR, 1 with
      PUJ stenosis, 1 with ureteral stricture and 1 with ectopic ureterocele. In our
      hospital, the management for MCDK is conservative in most cases. Nephrectomy is
      indicated when there are complications resulting from the size of MCDK, or when
      the kidney continues to increase in size after the second year of life.

PMID- 1434267
TI  - [A study of inhibitory effect of chondroitin polysulfate on stone formation of
      calcium oxalate].
AB  - Chondroitin polysulfate (CPS) have inhibitory activity on stone formation of
      calcium oxalate. This study compared the inhibitory effect of three CPS (CPS S-I,
      CPS S-II, CPS S-III) with sodium pentosan polysulfate (SPP) and chondroitin
      sulfate (CS). Crystal growth inhibition was measured in a seeded crystal growth
      system with 14C-oxalate, and CPS S-I and CPS S-II were the most active substances
      inhibiting crystal growth. Since CPS S-II and CPS S-III had remarkable
      hemorrhagic adverse effect, these two substances were excluded from the following
      study. The study of administration of the rest of the substances (CPS S-I, SPP,
      CS) to rats revealed that CPS S-I highly inhibited formation of stone in kidney.
      About 65 percent of CPS S-I administered subcutaneously was excreted in 24 hours
      urine. Therefore it may be of value to study clinical usefulness of CPS S-I for
      treatment of patient with urolithiasis.

PMID- 1434266
TI  - [Adjuvant chemotherapy for invasive bladder cancer. Multicenter study].
AB  - During 2 years and 10 months from November 1985 to September 1988, 50 patients
      with invasive bladder cancer (pT2-4, pN0-2, M0) were treated with total
      cystectomy followed by adjuvant combination chemotherapy including cis-platinum.
      In addition, so-called immunopotentiator (OK-432) and Kanpo (Juzentaihoto: TJ-48)
      were given to the patients in a random fashion to evaluate whether or not these
      agents had any significant effect on patients' prognosis. The 3- and 5-year
      survival rates for 48 evaluable patients were 71% and 67%, respectively.
      Histologic grade of primary tumors and number of cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy
      administered had a significant correlation to patients' survival: patients with
      grade 2 anaplasia had a better 3- and 5-year survival rates than those with grade
      3 anaplasia, and patients receiving 3 or more cycles of chemotherapy had a better
      3-year survival rate than those with 2 or less cycles. pT and pN categories also
      affected patients' survival, though not statistically significant. Administration
      of OK-432 or TJ-48 and pre-operative treatment such as irradiation and intra
      arterial chemotherapy had no favourable effects on the survival. Side effects of
      the adjuvant chemotherapy were minimal to moderate and more than 70% of the
      patients tolerated at least 3 cycles of chemotherapy. It is likely that adjuvant
      chemotherapy, when given in a post-operative setting, should be repeated at least
      3 cycles or more.

PMID- 1434268
TI  - [Double-blind trial of oral prostaglandin E1 on impotence].
AB  - The effect of oral prostaglandin E1 (limaprost) on erectile function was studied
      in a double-blind placebo controlled trial. Fifty one patients who agreed to
      participate were examined for their subjective symptoms and nocturnal erection
      was recorded using an erectometer at the beginning of the study, after an initial
      6 week period, and again after a second 6 week period. Patients were randomly
      assigned to a group which received placebo followed by limaprost or to a group
      which received limaprost followed by placebo. Ten cases dropped out. In the
      remaining forty one patients, NPT during the limaprost phase was significantly
      different from that during the placebo phase. Patients with the history of
      diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or pelvic surgery showed relatively poor
      responses to oral prostaglandin E1. Oral prostaglandin E1 achieved 42.9%
      effectiveness in the psychogenic impotence, and this effectiveness is
      significantly higher than that of placebo. Oral prostaglandin E1 was suggested as
      an additional or alternative therapy in the management of psychogenic impotence.
      Psychogenic impotent who didn't respond to sex therapy and patients with slight
      organic causes would seem to benefit from oral prostaglandin treatment.

PMID- 1434270
TI  - [Single-dose captopril test and captopril renal scintigraphy in the evaluation of
      renovascular hypertension].
AB  - The effectiveness of single-dose captopril test (CP-T) and captopril renal
      scintigraphy with 99mTc-DTPA (CP-RG) in the diagnosis of renovascular
      hypertension (RVH) was evaluated in 27 patients with (Group I, 16 patients) or
      without (Group II, 11 patients) renal vascular disease. Group I consisted of RVH
      in 8 patients (bilateral in 3, unilateral in 5), arteriovenous malformation in 3,
      renal artery aneurysm in 4, including 2 with essential hypertension, and
      asymptomatic renal artery stenosis in 1. Group II consisted of 6 hypertensive
      patients (2 with essential hypertension and 4 with renal hypertension) and 5
      normotensive patients. Sensitivity of CP-T and CP-RG in the diagnosis of RVH was
      29% (2/7) and 86% (6/7), respectively, indicating the latter was more sensitive
      than the former. In 3 patients with bilateral RVH, positive response in CP-RG was
      observed only in the unilateral kidney. Specificity of CP-T and CP-RG was 86%
      (6/7) and 100% (5/5), respectively in Group I, 100% (8/8) and 83% (5/6),
      respectively in 16 hypertensive patients. CP-T and CP-RG before and after the
      treatment of RVH were evaluated in 4 patients. The change of positive response in
      CP-T and CP-RG into negative after percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty
      (PTA) or surgery were found in 3, all followed by a fall in blood pressure, which
      was not observed in the other patient with positive response after PTA.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434269
TI  - [Incidence of renal cell carcinoma in Chiba Prefecture, Japan; ten years
      experience].
AB  - Many reports about the increase of renal cell carcinoma patients have been
      published in Japan recently, however, the real fluctuations in the total number
      of patients in relation to the change of population have not been reported yet.
      Most of the patients with renal cell carcinoma in the last 10 years were examined
      in Chiba prefecture, which has a population of about five million and 25 active
      urological offices. Histologically confirmed cases were investigated by sending
      questionnaire letters. The items were as follows; sex, age, address, occupation,
      family history, past history, symptoms, examination methods that first detected
      the tumor, operation date, tumor diameter and clinical stage. Twenty two offices
      returned answers and 560 cases who lived in Chiba were found to have renal cell
      carcinoma from 1980 to 1989. Yearly incidence rates per 100,000 persons
      demonstrated a significant increase from 0.32 to 2.07. Small, asymptomatic and
      low stage cancers have been increasing rapidly, however, the rate of metastatic
      disease has not shown any decrease. The main cause of rapid increase seems to be
      attributed to progress in diagnostic methods and increase of early detection, but
      the possibility of an increase in some carcinogenic factors can not be ruled out.

PMID- 1434271
TI  - [Endopyeloureterotomy via transpelvic extraureteral approach].
AB  - Endopyelotomy has been established as a valuable procedure to relieve the
      obstruction of ureteropelvic junction or upper ureteral stenosis. However, in a
      case with a long stenotic segment and in a case with high insertion type of
      ureteropelvic junction obstruction, we had often poor results by the conventional
      technique. To resolve these problems, we developed a new technique of
      endopyeloureterotomy via transpelvic extraureteral approach. We made an auxiliary
      incision in renal pelvis or dilated ureter involved with stricture to pass a 22
      Fr. urethrotome equipped with a cold knife into the retroperitoneal space. Then
      we incised a stenotic segment by the knife through the urethrotome until the
      normal caliber of ureteric lumen was found. A 10-16 Fr. stent was left in place
      in the incised segment for 3 weeks. We treated 38 patients with ureteropelvic
      junction stenosis or upper ureteral stenosis by this procedure between August
      1988 and June 1990. A total of 39 procedures were performed on 39 ureteropelvic
      junctions or upper ureters. Original disease were congenital anomalies in 23
      patients, strictures secondary to urinary calculi in 12 and postoperative
      strictures in 4. The length of incision was 2 to 6 cm with the average being 3.2
      cm. Postoperative follow-up period ranged 4 to 32 months with the average being
      19 months. Obstructive changes disappeared or improved in 37 procedures (95%). In
      two procedures we failed. Thus this new technique of endopyeloureterotomy might
      be an useful procedure to relieve ureteropelvic junction stenosis or upper
      ureteral stenosis with a long stenotic segment or high insertion type of
      ureteropelvic junction stenosis.

PMID- 1434272
TI  - [Percutaneous transabdominal whole layer core needle biopsy for staging the
      urinary bladder cancer].
AB  - Accurate staging is one of the most important determinants necessary in planning
      an effective treatment for bladder cancer, but at the present time, staging by
      the conventional clinical methods are not completely reliable. Accordingly, we
      have newly developed a percutaneous transabdominal core needle biopsy technique
      capable of obtaining good cylindrical specimens of the entire layer. In order to
      obtain the core specimen of the bladder wall, which is a vesico-elastic material,
      the biopsy needle must penetrate the bladder wall at an extremely high speed. We
      have developed an original automatic biopsy instrument and modified the head of
      needle for this purpose. With this method, we could obtain good core specimens
      for pathological staging in about 90% cases. The correlation between the
      pathological stagings of core specimens and those of cystectomy specimens were in
      good agreement. This technique is accurate not only for preoperative pathological
      staging, but also monitoring histopathologically the responsiveness of multi
      disciplinary treatment for invasive bladder cancer. This method allows us to
      determine the optimal therapeutic modality for managing individual patient with
      invasive bladder cancer.

PMID- 1434273
TI  - [Prophylaxis of superficial bladder tumor with the intravesical instillation of
      bacillus Calmette-Guerin or anti-cancer agents. A retrospective study].
AB  - It was retrospectively analyzed whether intravesical instillation of bacillus
      Calmette-Guerin (BCG) or anti-cancer agents had prophylactic effect or not after
      removal of superficial bladder tumors. The results over a follow-up period
      ranging from 6 to 40 months showed 23.8 per cent recurrence in group 1 patients
      treated with BCG (21 patients), 46.7 per cent recurrence in group 2 treated with
      anti-cancer agents (45 patients) and 52.3 per cent recurrence in the group 3 (127
      patients) which were not received any intravesical drugs. Long-term results among
      the 3 groups calculated with Kaplan-Meier method demonstrated that the
      instillation of BCG or of anti-cancer agents was more useful for prophylaxis,
      compared with the actuarial non-recurrence rates of group 3. The instillation of
      BCG showed good prophylactic effects especially in recurrent, grade 2 and pTa
      bladder tumors. The instillation of anti-cancer agents showed to provide
      prolonged protection from recurrence, but the instillation of BCG did not.

PMID- 1434274
TI  - [Antitumor effect of combined use of purified human natural tumor necrosis factor
      (N-TNF) and cis-diamminedichoroplatinum (II) (cisplatin) on the implanted bladder
      carcinoma (MBT-2) in mice].
AB  - The antitumor effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in combination with Cis
      diammine-dichloroplatinum (II) (Cisplatin) upon implanted bladder carcinoma (MBT
      2) in mice was analysed together with the toxicity. Mice were implanted into the
      bladder wall with about 10(4) cells MBT-2 viable cells. TNF was the purified
      human natural tumor necrosis factor. The antitumor effects were evaluated by the
      volume of the tumor thus implanted and the drug-toxicity by the body weight of
      mice and microscopic as well as macroscopic findings of the main organs. As a
      result, 1) The toxicity of TNF to mice was not enhanced in a dose-dependent
      fashion when combined with Cisplatin. 2) The antitumor effect by combination of
      TNF and Cisplatin was significantly increased compared to control group. 3) The
      effects of TNF was enhanced in a dose-dependent fashion when combined with
      Cisplatin. 4) The antitumor effects was confirmed by pathological findings. These
      results suggest that the combined use of n-TNF and Cisplatin is promising as a
      clinically effective treatment against bladder cancer in human.

PMID- 1434276
TI  - [Endoscopic operation of congenital anterior urethral valve. Application of
      flexible renoureteroscope for antegrade urethroscopy].
AB  - 4 children with anterior urethral valve were treated by TUR-Valve. Before TUR,
      valve anatomy could be easily seen by antegrade urethroscopy through cystostomy
      using a 10.8Fr caliber flexible renoureteroscope and destruction of the valve
      could be recognized after TUR. Antegrade urethroscopy with a flexible fiberscope
      was so helpful to TUR-Valve and the findings of voiding cystourethrography and
      micturition have remarkably improved. This technique is not so difficult to apply
      and thought to be one of the best methods to recognize valve anatomy and degree
      of resection. This technique is also applicable to other lower urinary tract
      lesions in children.

PMID- 1434275
TI  - [Kock-rectal bladder. Augmented and valved rectum].
AB  - Eight patients with total cysto-urethrectomy underwent an augmented and valved
      rectum (Kock), a type of continent urinary diversion. A satisfactory outcome was
      obtained in 6 patients. These 6 patients urinated 6 to 8 times a day (1-2 times
      during the night). The volume each time was 350-450 ml. Urinary incontinence
      occurred only 1-2 times a month when deeply asleep, and there were no patients
      whose daily life was restricted. However, there were 3 patients with urinary
      tract complications. In 2 of them, urinary diversion was required, and unilateral
      total ureteral obstruction was observed in the remaining patient. The reason for
      the complications appeared to be that stapling of the intussusception of the
      sigmoid colon was performed in 5 placements as described in the original method.
      Following the 4th patient, we were able to prevent any complication in the
      urinary tract by stapling of the intussusception in 3 places (at 12, 5 and 7
      o'clock), and by suturing mucosa to mucosa of the rectum and intussusception in 6
      places with polyglycolic acid suture, and further suturing serosa to serosa of
      the sigmoid colon and rectum in 4 places with silk suture.

PMID- 1434277
TI  - [A case of inverted Y ureteral duplication with an ectopic ureterocele].
AB  - A 29 year-old male with the complaints of two steps urination and sense of
      residual urine was admitted. At cystoscopy, a ureterocele was found between the
      normal left ureteric orifice and the bladder neck. Excretory urography
      demonstrated a radiolucent area in the bladder and a left lower hydroureter.
      Retrograde pyelography revealed that the left ureter was divided into two
      branches. Operative exploration demonstrated that the left ureter was an inverted
      Y ureteral duplication with an ectopic ureterocele; one opened into the
      ureterocele and the other into the trigone. We resected the ureterocele wall.
      Four months later, a voiding cystogram did not show vesicoureteric reflux. Now,
      he has no symptoms and the results of examination are normal. An inverted Y
      ureteral duplication is the rarest of all anomalies of the ureter. A review of
      the literature revealed 36 cases reported previously. Clinical analysis was
      obtained by reviewing 26 of these cases and adding our own (male 10: female 17,
      average age: 23 years). Complication included 6 cases of ectopic ureteral
      opening, 6 with blind-ending branch and 5 with ureterocele. The symptoms of this
      disease depended on the complicating anomalies. The present case was the 5th one
      of an inverted Y ureteral duplication with a ureterocele in the world literature.

PMID- 1434278
TI  - [Successful local adoptive immunotherapy for pleuritis carcinomatosa due to renal
      cell cancer. A case report].
AB  - A 54-year-old woman who had undergone radical nephrectomy for renal cell cancer
      nine months before was admitted to our hospital because of difficulty in
      breathing. X-ray films of the chest showed massive pleural effusion on the left
      side and cytological examination of the effusion revealed malignant cells which
      may have originated from renal cell cancer. Intrapleural instillations of
      interleukin-2 and of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes isolated from the pleural
      effusion were performed. After the initiation of the treatment, the pleural
      effusion decreased and malignant cells disappeared from the pleural fluid.
      Partial response defined by the criteria provided by the Japan Lung Cancer
      Society was achieved. No serious side effects were observed. This would be a
      useful treatment for pleuritis carcinomatosa by renal cell cancer.

PMID- 1434279
TI  - [Endoscopic surgery and minimally invasive therapy].

PMID- 1434280
TI  - [Partial purification of oxalate degrading enzyme produced by human intestinal
      bacteria].
AB  - It is unclear whether the oxalate in foods degrades or not in the intestinal
      tract. We isolated oxalic acid decarboxylase from anaerobic bacteria present in
      human feces which was grown in the culture medium containing oxalic acid as the
      sole carbon source. The enzyme was partially purified by 80% ammonium chloride
      precipitation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography and molecular sieve chromatography.
      The amino acid composition was found to be relatively rich in glycine and
      alanine, but to have low basic, hydrophobic and aromatic amino acid residues
      compared with average proteins.

PMID- 1434281
TI  - [Effects of extracorporeal shock waves on renal morphology, renal function and
      blood pressure in rats--follow-up for one year].
AB  - Effects of extracorporeal shock waves on renal tissue, renal function, and blood
      pressure were studied by applying 500 shock waves to both kidneys in 72 female
      Wistar rats. Six groups, 12 rats in each, were sacrificed on days, 1, 7 and at
      months 1, 3, 6 and 12 after the procedure, when serum levels of BUN, creatinine,
      urine levels of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase
      (NAG), 28-kDa carbindin-D and creatinine clearance (Ccr) were determined.
      Findings were then compared with those from the control group. In each group,
      both kidneys were weighed and histologically evaluated. In the treatment group,
      systolic blood pressure was measured at post-irradiation months 1, 3, 6, 9, and
      12; plasma renin activity was studied 6 and 12 months after irradiation to make
      evaluation in comparison with the control group. In the treatment group,
      histologically, coagulative necrosis associated with bleeding around the renal
      tubules and tubular epithelial cell degeneration were marked on day 1, but the
      glomerulus was kept in relatively good shape. Inflammatory cellular infiltration
      and interstitial fibrosis were noted on day 7 and the addition of scar formation
      1 month after irradiation. Interstitial fibrosis, inflammatory cellular
      infiltration, scar formation, and tubular epithelial degeneration remained
      significant even after 12 months. In the treatment group, kidneys weighed
      significantly more than in the control group from day 1 through month 3, with
      edema likely accounting for this. However, weight then significantly declined 12
      months after irradiation, owing to suspected scarring atrophy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434282
TI  - [Balloon dilation for ureteral stricture with stone fragments after ESWL].
AB  - We treated 5 cases of severe hydronephrosis with balloon dilation. Those
      hydronephrosis were due to the ureteral stricture with small stone fragments
      after ESWL (Lithostar). In each case, in situ ESWL had been done on a long-lodged
      ureteric stone with severe hydronephrosis. And even after the disintegration of
      stone with ESWL, hydronephrosis remained due to ureteral stricture with small
      stone fragments. Balloon dilation was done through percutaneous nephrostomy tract
      in 4 cases and via retrograde transurethral routine in 1 case. Balloon dilation
      catheter (7 fr. 6 mm diameter 4-10 cm length, Bard Co.) was used. There was no
      need for stone extraction. After dilation, ureteric stents (8.2/7 fr.) were kept
      in place for 4-8 weeks. Intravenous urogram was taken on 4-8 weeks after removing
      ureteric stents. In all of the 5 cases, improvement of hydronephrosis was
      remarkable. And there was no residual stone fragments in 4 cases. It is concluded
      that balloon dilation for ureteral stricture with stone fragments after ESWL is
      very useful. For the valid evaluation of balloon dilation, further experience and
      longer observation are requisite.

PMID- 1434283
TI  - [Promotive effects of intravesical instillation of dimethylsulfoxide on bladder
      carcinogenesis in mice].
AB  - The effect of intravesical instillation of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on bladder
      carcinogenesis was examined in mice. Experiment 1: Fifty-five female C3H/He mice
      were administered 0.05% N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxy-butyl) nitrosamine (BBN) in their
      drinking water for 8 weeks. In week 9 they were divided into two groups
      consisting of 25 mice each. Then, under nembutal anesthesia the first group was
      given weekly intravesical inatillations of 0.1 ml DMSO (minimum 99.0%) for 10
      weeks. The second group received no treatment except anesthesia. All mice were
      killed 30 weeks after the begining of the experiment and their urinary bladder
      resected for histological examination. The incidence of bladder carcinoma was
      93.7% (15.16) and 27.7% (6/22) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. These incidences
      differed significantly between the two groups. Experiment 2: One hundred and
      twenty female C3H/He mice were divided into two groups. The first group was given
      0.05% BBN in their drinking water for 5 weeks and then tap water. The second
      group was not given BBN. In week 6, the first group was divided again into three
      groups (1, 2 and 3) consisting of 28, 26, and 27 mice, respectively. The second
      group was divided into groups 4 and 5 consisting of 21 and 18 mice, respectively.
      Under nembutar anaesthesia groups 1 and 4 received weekly intravesical
      instillation of 0.05 ml DMSO (minimum 99.0%) from weeks 6 to 13, Group 2 received
      weekly intravesical instillation of 0.05 ml distilled water from weeks 6 to 13.
      Groups 3 and 5 received no treatment except anesthesia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1434284
TI  - [Analysis of anchorage independent growth of human prostate cancer cell line
      LNCap].
AB  - LNCap, a human prostate cancer cell line, possess androgen dependent growth
      characteristics. We studied anchorage independent proliferation of LNCap cells
      using semi-solid agarose double layer culture. The cells formed colonies in the
      semi-solid medium supplemented with charcoal filtered steroid free fetal calf
      serum and maximal colony formation was obtained in the medium with 10% serum. The
      addition of several steroids (testosterone, dihydrotestosterone,
      ethinylestradiol) influenced the colony formation. Testosterone at the
      concentration of 10(-8) M to 10(-10) M stimulated colony formation with optiman
      of 10(-9) M. When LNCap cells were placed under the basal layer of the semi-solid
      culture as feeder cells, also stimulated was the colony formation of the LNCap
      cells cultured in upper layer of semi-solid medium. The addition of EGF, TGF
      alpha and TGF beta to the medium also stimulated the colony formation. The
      combined effect of EGF and TGF alpha was shown to be cooperative with
      testosterone. TGF beta, however, did not show such cooperative effect with
      testosterone on colony formation. The addition of the anti-body to EGF, TGF alpha
      or TGF beta to the medium decreased the colony formation of LNCap cells. These
      results suggest that LNCap cells excrete EGF, TGF alpha, TGF beta and/or similar
      substances and these factors autocrinely decorate the cell proliferation of LNCap
      human prostate cancer cells.

PMID- 1434285
TI  - [Studies on vessel invasion by cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter].
AB  - The significance of vessel invasion by cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter was
      estimated with surgical specimens of 45 patients. The vessel invasion by cancer
      was observed in 25 out of 45 cases (55.6%). The incidence of vessel invasion
      increased with the grade of cancer and the extent of the primary tumor. The
      postoperative metastases by cancer was noted in 22 of the 25 patients with vessel
      invasion (88%) and in 4 of 20 (20%) patients without vessel invasion. The
      incidence of metastases in patients with vessel invasion was significantly higher
      than that without it (p < 0.01). The 5-year survival rate was 13.1% in the
      patients with vessel invasion and 80.6% in the patients without it (p < 0.005).
      Postoperative chemotherapy had no effect on the unfavorable outcome of the
      patients with vessel invasion. Therefore, vessel invasion by cancer may be one of
      the prognostic factors in renal pelvic and ureteral cancer. The patients with
      vessel invasion should be treated with more aggressive therapy to improve the
      poor prognosis.

PMID- 1434286
TI  - [Chromosomal aberrations in cases of male infertility].
AB  - Mitotic chromosomal analysis was done on 130 cases of male infertility, 85 with
      azoospermia and 45 with oligospermia. Eighteen cases of chromosomal aberrations
      were found, consisting of eight cases of Klinefelter's syndrome, four with 46,
      XYq-(including one mosaic case), three translocations, one with 47, XYY, one with
      46, XY, 15p+ and one with normal variant. Among these, 46 XYq- is a notable
      karyotype because it cannot be accurately diagnosed without Q-banding, and
      because 46, XYq- is important for determining the role of the locus on the long
      arm of the Y chromosome which is supposed to include spermatogenesis. Eleven
      cases of 46, XYq- in azoospermic males, including our cases, have been reviewed
      in the Japanese literature. Statistical analysis of the values of testicular
      volume and serum hormones in these azoospermia cases, revealed obvious
      differences between normal and abnormal karyotypes and also between 46, XYq- and
      Klinefelter's syndrome.

PMID- 1434287
TI  - [Percutaneous renal cyst puncture and ethanol instillation].
AB  - Under ultrasound guidance 79 simple renal cysts in 65 patients were punctured and
      aspirated with our contrivance, a 5 Fr single J catheter on a 19 gauge needle.
      Forty-eight renal cysts were successfully punctured, that is, they had no bloody
      fluid and did not have any leakage of contrast medium. These cysts were instilled
      with absolute ethanol for 5 minutes. To follow up the patients, consecutive
      observation was done by sonography or CT every three months. Ethanol-instilled
      renal cysts were more markedly reduced (reduction rate: 93 +/- 17%) than not
      instilled cysts (reduction rate: 32 +/- 28%). Thus, ethanol-instillation was
      useful in the reduction of renal cysts. After the puncture of cysts, hematuria
      disappeared in most patients.

PMID- 1434288
TI  - [Effects of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist on bladder
      carcinogenesis in male rats].
AB  - In previous studies, it has been suggested that the suppression of testicular
      androgen had inhibits bladder carcinogenesis. In this study we investigated which
      phase of bladder carcinogenesis is inhibited by the hormonal change of the
      hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis induced by the depot form of the LH-RH
      agonist. All rats were treated with 0.05% BBN in tap water for 8 weeks and were
      observed for the following 16 weeks. They were divided into five groups. Group 1
      (Control group); The LH-RH agonist was not administered. Group 2 (Initiation
      group); The LH-RH agonist (depot form) was administered subcutaneously two weeks
      before and after the initiation of the experiment. Group 3 (Promotion group); The
      LH-RH agonist (depot form) was subcutaneously administered at intervals of 4
      weeks starting 6 weeks after the initiation of the experiment. Group 4 (Full term
      group); The LH-RH agonist (depot form) was administered subcutaneously at
      intervals of 4 weeks starting from 2 weeks before the initiation of the
      experiment. Group 5 (Castration group); Bilateral orchiectomy was performed one
      week before the beginning of the experiment. From our results, the followings
      were suggested, (1) more intensive inhibition of bladder carcinogenesis was
      observed in the group which received the LH-RH agonist (depot form), compared
      with the Castration group, (2) the bladder carcinogenesis was more intensively
      inhibited when the LH-RH analogue (depot from) was given in the promotion phase
      and (3) not only testosterone but also the regulatory system of the hypothalamus
      pituitary-testicular axis is related to the bladder carcinogenesis.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434289
TI  - [Effects of bombesin and its antibody on growth of human prostatic carcinoma cell
      lines].
AB  - Bombesin (BMBS), a tetradecapeptide isolated from frog skin, and its antibody
      were evaluated in vitro and in vivo for their growth modulating effects on human
      prostatic carcinoma cell lines DU-145 and PC-3. The two cell lines were
      maintained in DME medium containing 2% FCS and 1 microgram/ml insulin in a
      humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2/95% air at 37 degrees C. BMBS added at 0.1-10.0
      nM caused a striking shift of the concentration-dependent increase in cell growth
      of DU-145 and PC-3 in the absence of any other exogenously added growth factors.
      The addition of 1:250 antibody versus BMBS (Ab-BMBS; rabbit antiserum) to the
      medium during the lag phase of growth resulted in specific inhibition of growth
      of DU-145 and PC-3 with or without BMBS. Nude mice were transplanted with DU-145
      cells in order to evaluate the suppressing qualities of Ab-BMBS on carcinoma
      cells in vivo. After the inoculation of 10(7) cells/mouse DU-145 into nude mice,
      20 microliters/mouse Ab-BMBS was intraperitoneally injected into mice three times
      weekly for three weeks. In mice administrated with Ab-BMBS, the growth of DU-145
      was suppressed markedly. By immunocytochemical study, BMBS immunoreactivities
      were detected on DU-145 and PC-3 cells. These results suggest that BMBS can
      function as an autocrine growth factor for human prostatic carcinoma cells.
      Furthermore, on xenografts in mice, Ab-BMBS inhibits the increase of human
      prostatic carcinoma.

PMID- 1434290
TI  - [Neuroanatomical studies on the urine storage facilitatory areas in the cat
      brain. Part I. Input neuronal structures to the nucleus locus subcoaruleus and
      the nucleus radicularis pontis oralis].
AB  - Input neuronal structures to the nucleus locus subcoeruleus (LSC) and the nucleus
      reticularis pontis oralis (PoO) were investigated by the horseradish peroxidase
      (HRP) study in cats. Under halothane anesthesia, a double barreled electrode was
      inserted into the LSC where electrical stimulation increased bladder capacity and
      the external urethral sphincter muscle activity, and into the PoO where chemical
      stimulation with carbachol increased bladder capacity and decreased the external
      urethral sphincter muscle activity. After identification of these regions, the
      HRP was ionphoretically injected into the LSC or PoO. By injecting the HRP into
      the LSC, retrogradely HRP labeled cells were located broadly in the frontal,
      rectal, orbitalis, rostral cingulate, internal aspect of posterior sigmoidal and
      anterior sylvian gyli, nucleus corticomedialis of amygdala, lateral area of the
      hypothalamus, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, substantia nigra,
      periaqueductal gray, reticular formation of the mesencephalon, pons and medulla,
      cerebellar nuclei and intermediate gray of the spinal cord. By injecting the HRP
      into the PoO, retrogradely HRP labeled cells were located broadly in the frontal,
      rectal, orbitalis, internal aspect of the posterior sigmoidal and anterior
      sylvian gyli, lateral area of the hypothalamus, paraventricular hypothalamic
      nucleus, periaqueductal gray, reticular formation of the mesencephalon, pons and
      medulla, cerebellar nuclei and intermediate gray of the spinal cord. These areas
      where HRP labeled cells were located mostly corresponded to the areas where
      electrical stimulation evoked either bladder relaxation or contraction in the
      previous reports. The LSC and the PoO seem to perform important roles in the
      neuronal mechanism for urine storage, receiving the inputs which facilitate or
      inhibit micturition from the extended areas between the cerebral cortex and the
      sacral spinal cord.

PMID- 1434291
TI  - [Neuroanatomical studies on pontine urine storage facilitatory areas in the cat
      brain. Part II. Output neuronal structures from the nucleus locus subcoeruleus
      and the nucleus reticularis pontis oralis].
AB  - Output neuronal structures from the nucleus locus subcoeruleus (SLC) and the
      nucleus reticularis ponts roalis (PoO) were investigated by the wheat germ
      agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) study in cats. Under halothane
      anesthesia, a double-barreled electrode was inserted into the LSC, PoO. After
      identification of these regions, the WGA-HRP was injected ionphoretically into
      the LSC or PoO. WGA-HRP labeled fibers were observed from the hypothalamus to the
      sacral spinal cord. Fiber connection was assumed between the WGA-HRP injection
      sites and areas where WGA-HRP labeled cells were located. There were input and
      output relationships between the LSC, the PoO and the nucleus locus coeruleus
      alpha which is the pontine micturition center. By injecting the WGA-HRP into the
      LSC, two major rostral pathways and four major caudal pathways from the LSC were
      recognized. Two short caudal pathways projected into the cerebellum and the
      nucleus raphe magnus. Two long caudal pathways passed through the ipsilateral
      ventral and contralateral funiculi, and projected into the sacral intermediate
      gray and the Onuf's nucleus. By injecting the WGA-HRP into the PoO, two major
      rostral pathways and four major caudal pathways from the PoO were recognized.
      Three short caudal pathways projected into the cerebellum, contralateral
      reticular formation of the brain stem and the ipsilateral nucleus reticularis
      gigantocellularis. One long caudal pathway passed through the ipsilateral ventral
      funiculus and projected into the sacral intermediate gray and the Onuf's nucleus.
      From these results, the LSC and the PoO seem to send and receive outputs and
      inputs each other and to integrate the informations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1434292
TI  - [Radiotherapy for stage B prostate cancer].
AB  - Thirty five cases with stage B prostate cancer underwent radiotherapy to the
      primary lesion from 1965 to 1989 in our hospital. Twenty two of them were given
      radiotherapy alone and 13 were treated by radiotherapy combined with hormone
      therapy. Twenty nine of them were given 113 or 127 TDF (Time, Dose and Fraction)
      of external radiotherapy using linear accelerator. Three of the other 6 cases
      underwent external radiotherapy combined with administration of bleomycin and the
      others received intraoperative irradiation by electron beam. We defined on
      digital examination a reduction in the primary lesion as improvement and complete
      flattening as atrophy for evaluation of the treatment. Rates of the improvement
      were 95% in radiation, alone, and 100% in hormone and radiation combination.
      Atrophy rates were 62% in the former, and 92% in the latter. Five-year non
      relapse rates were 85% and 100%, respectively. Four cases relapsed in the
      radiotherapy alone group, in which two cases given intraoperative irradiation
      relapsed in the primary lesion and another two given external radiotherapy in the
      pelvic nodes and required further treatment. One of the 2 relapsed cases with
      intraoperative irradiation has been alive with cancer and the other died from
      dissemination. One of the 2 relapsed cases with external radiotherapy has been
      alive and well and the other died at home without any information of death. One
      relapsed in the combination group at 130 months but has been alive despite
      gradually progressive dissemination for 185 months. All relapsed cases were those
      with atrophy group. No relapse was seen in cases without atrophy of the
      prostate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434293
TI  - [A case report of spermatocytic seminoma--clinical review of 17 cases in Japan].
AB  - A male aged 48 visited our department on October 17, complaining of swelling of
      his left scrotal content from July, 1990. Physical examination showed the testis
      to be swollen to the size of a chicken egg, and ultrasound examination disclosed
      the swelling to be solid and nodular. Left high inguinal orchiectomy was
      performed on October 29. The testis extirpated was 50 x 40 x 45 mm in size and
      weighted 80 g; the gross appearance of the cut surface of the testis was nodular
      with grayish-white color. The lesion was proved to be spermatocytic seminoma
      histopathologically, but no hemorrhage or necrosis was observed. Radiation in the
      dose of 36 Gy was given over the left hypogastrium and paraaortic region in 36 Gy
      each. The patient subsequently did will and has been followed up in our
      outpatient clinic without evidence of recurrence as of 10 postoperative months.
      This patient was the 19th reported case of spermatocytic seminoma in Japan.
      However, General Rules for Clinical and Pathological Studies on Testicular Tumors
      explain that spermatocytic seminoma is usually seen in a pure form, unassociated
      with other types of germ cell tumors, making our case actually the 17th case of
      this particular seminoma if spermatocytic seminomas combined with other germ cell
      tumors are exclude from the statistical analysis. Reports of spermatocytic
      seminoma thus defined are reviewed in this study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1434294
TI  - [Renal lymphoma. Report of 2 cases and review of the literature].
AB  - Two cases of renal lymphoma were reported. Case 1 was a 73-year-old, and case 2
      was a 59-year-old female. Their chief complaint was flank pain. The findings
      obtained by CT and angiography were not compatible with renal cancer. The
      tentative diagnosis of case 1 was inflammatory disease or soft tissue tumor, and
      that of case 2 was renal subcapsular tumor. Histological specimen was obtained by
      open biopsy from case 1, and by nephrectomy from case 2. Immunohistochemical
      surface marker study revealed both tumors were B cell lymphoma. Chemotherapy
      (CHOP-Bleo, or PPA) in both cases and additional radiotherapy in case 2 markedly
      reduced the tumor size. Nevertheless, case 1 died 5 months later from recurrence,
      and case 2 died 14 months later of gastrointestinal bleeding. At autopsy, the
      renal subcapsular layer was infiltrated by lymphoma cells in both cases, and
      lymphadenopathy was not observed. Reviewing 16 cases previously reported as renal
      lymphoma, the capsular or subcapsular diffuse infiltration to the kidney is
      considered to be a characteristic feature of renal lymphoma.

PMID- 1434295
TI  - Latex agglutination test: a simple, rapid and practical method for bovine serum
      CRP determination.
AB  - A semi-quantitative latex agglutination test for bovine serum CRP levels has been
      established by mixing diluted serum (or diluted standard serum) with a 1% latex
      suspension containing 0.489 micron latex particles coated with affinity-purified
      antibody at a ratio of 20 micrograms/mg latex. The agglutination was performed on
      a glass slide in a moist chamber at room temperature with 45 min. incubation.
      This test is reliable, reproducible and the results correlate with those of the
      single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) test. The effect of low temperature storage
      on CRP concentration revealed a 30% degradation of CRP during 2 years storage at
      4 degrees C. The possible role of EDTA addition to prevent a decrease in serum
      CRP concentration by freezing and thawing is also discussed.

PMID- 1434296
TI  - Detection of equine immunoglobulin-secreting cells by a plaque assay.
AB  - A protein A-hemolytic plaque assay was applied to detect immunoglobulin (Ig)
      producing cells in horse peripheral blood, using pokeweed mitogen as a B
      lymphocyte activator. A maximum number of Ig-secreting cells was obtained when
      horse peripheral blood lymphocytes were cultured in a medium containing horse
      serum. The number of Ig-secreting cells in young horses (2 years old) was lower
      than that in adult horses (6 to 23 years old). In addition, the plaque formation
      was unchanged from blood samples kept at 4 degrees C for 24 hours, while blood
      samples kept for 72 hours did not yield plaques. These results indicate that the
      plaque assay is a reliable and useful method for detecting Ig-secreting cells in
      the peripheral blood of the horse.

PMID- 1434297
TI  - Muted victories.

PMID- 1434298
TI  - Working together for better health care.

PMID- 1434299
TI  - Physicians' liability for failure to report communicable diseases.

PMID- 1434301
TI  - Encourage your patients to have mammograms.

PMID- 1434300
TI  - A core electronic medical library in a rural setting. Part I: The in-house, off
      line system.

PMID- 1434302
TI  - Women residents after residency: what does the future hold?

PMID- 1434303
TI  - Salmonellosis associated with homemade ice cream in Kansas, 1992.

PMID- 1434304
TI  - How important is a 20-fold risk reduction?

PMID- 1434305
TI  - Cardiac rehabilitation 1992.
AB  - The goal of cardiac rehabilitation is to optimize function through attention to
      the patient's medical needs, risk factors for recurrent events, physical
      reconditioning, and psycho-social needs. Medical needs include beta-adrenergic
      blocking agents and aspirin unless contraindicated, angiotensin converting
      inhibitors for left ventricular dysfunction, and relief of residual ischemia.
      Smoking, lipid abnormalities, physical inactivity, and hypertension remain
      important predictors of reinfarction and death and must be controlled. Obesity
      must be addressed because it exacerbates these problems. Therefore, the
      principles of behavior change should be applied to help patients control their
      risk factors and adopt healthy lifestyles. Smoking cessation and appropriate
      dietary behaviors can be adopted by the patient while in the hospital. Physical
      reconditioning can also begin with twice-daily exercises. After discharge from
      hospital and after an initial submaximal exercise evaluation, the patient will
      benefit from three sessions per week of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation for six
      to eight weeks. These sessions should last about an hour and raise the patient's
      heart rate as much as 30 beats per minute. Along with physical reconditioning,
      the cardiac rehabilitation program provides an opportunity to address risk factor
      modification, return to work, return to sexual activity, management of depression
      and anxiety, and the presence of risk factors in the patient's family. The
      patient should attend reinforcing sessions every three months for the first year
      and as necessary after that to control risk factors and reinforce the necessity
      for physical fitness.

PMID- 1434306
TI  - Quantitative analysis of mesenteric microcirculatory disturbances induced by
      autonomic nervous irritation.
AB  - In this study, we have demonstrated that repeated electrical stimuli to the
      artery of the mesenteric pedicle can produce mesenteric microcirculatory
      disturbance by autonomic nervous irritation in rats. The parameters to
      demonstrate microcirculatory damage were observed and quantitatively analyzed
      using the intravital microscopy after electrical stimulation for 40 minutes. The
      blood flow of arterioles and venules in the mesentery showed ischemia-reperfusion
      pattern during the repeated electrical stimulations. The diameter of arterioles
      did not show significant change, while RBC velocity of arterioles was
      significantly decreased at 30 min after the irritation. The RBC velocity in
      venules was decreased from the early period to about 20%. But this values were
      not significantly dropped during the later observation period, suggesting the
      formation of short circuit flow by passing the collapsed capillary beds. The
      number of rolling WBC in the venules was notably increased at the time
      immediately after irritation, and thereafter the number of rolling WBC number was
      rather reduced. The number of sticking WBC in venules was time-dependently
      increased and reached its maximum at 30 min. When permeability of venular wall
      was determined by the injection of pontamine sky blue, significant increase in
      permeability was already shown immediately after irritation, suggesting that the
      integrity of microvascular wall was disturbed in this early period. The permeated
      area expanded thereafter in parallel with the increase in sticking WBC number.
      From these observations, it is suggested that endothelial cell damage and
      following leukocyte-endothelium interaction induced by autonomic nerve irritation
      appear to be an important factor in microcirculatory disturbances.

PMID- 1434307
TI  - Role of the sympathetic system in impairment of the cerebrovascular CO2
      responsiveness during moderate hypoglycemia.
AB  - We examined the mechanism of impairment of the cerebrovascular CO2 responsiveness
      in moderate hypoglycemia. Twelve fasted cats were used. The brain-PO2, brain-PCO2
      and brain-pH were measured continuously with electrodes placed on the brain
      surface. Hypoglycemia was induced with insulin. Intravenous injection of
      hexamethonium (a sympathetic ganglion blocker, C6; 0.1 mg/kg) was performed at
      the following stages: Control, hypoglycemia and recovery. Before and after the C6
      administration, 5% CO2 in air was inhaled for 3 min at the respective stages. The
      CO2 responsiveness (cerebrovascular dilatory response to increased PaCO2) at the
      control stage was not altered after the ganglionic blockade. At the hypoglycemic
      stage, the increase in BrPO2 by CO2 inhalation was significantly less than that
      at the control stage. This reduction of delta BrPO2 was significantly improved
      after the administration of C6. At the recovery stage, the CO2 responsiveness
      before and after the administration of C6 was not significantly different. An
      impaired CO2 responsiveness in the hypoglycemic state was improved by sympathetic
      ganglion blockade with C6 which did not alter the reactivity during
      normoglycemia. It is suggested that the sympathetic activity plays an important
      role in impairment of the cerebrovascular CO2 responsiveness during moderate
      hypoglycemia.

PMID- 1434308
TI  - Initial predictors of survival in patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).
AB  - We conducted a retrospective study of 86 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc)
      to clarify the initial predictors of survival at the first visit to the hospital.
      A life-table analysis of survival was performed concerning 137 items from their
      histories, physical examinations, and laboratory data. The observed cumulative
      survival rates were 78.0 percent at 5 years and 68.2 percent at 10 years. Ten
      items were found to be the initial predictors of survival in patients with SSc.
      Of these 10 items, 9 items showed significant differences within 5 years of the
      first visit to the hospital. Patients with resting electrocardiographic
      abnormalities, such as atrial or ventricular arrhythmias, or conduction
      disturbances, pulmonary fibrosis on the chest x-ray films, or decreased vital
      capacity had significantly lower survival rates. However, patients with anti
      centromere antibody had a significantly better survival rate. In addition, males,
      aged patients over 65 years old, and patients with proteinuria, leucopenia, or
      hypergammaglobulinemia had significantly lower survival rates. Only patients with
      proximal scleroderma at the first visit to the hospital had a significantly lower
      survival rate after 8 years. These results are useful in predicting individual
      patients at risk of shortened survival and in managing these patients.

PMID- 1434309
TI  - Cell-mediated cytotoxicity of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes on rat bladder
      cancer.
AB  - Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were tested for cytotoxicity against
      autologous tumor cells in a study utilizing a chemically induced cancer of the
      bladder (transitional cell carcinoma), BC-47, in inbred ACI/N rats. From tumors
      grown after subcutaneous implantation of BC-47 in the rats TIL were separated by
      density gradient centrifugation and incubated in plastic dishes for separation of
      non-adherent from adherent cells. The non-adherent cells were further
      fractionated into T and B cells by the panning method using anti-rat F(ab')2
      antibody. The cell fractions were each added to BC-47 in culture to be assessed
      for antitumor effect by the crystal violet dye exclusion method and 3H-thymidine
      incorporation inhibition assay. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were
      also tested as described above. TIL expressed significantly higher cytotoxicity
      against BC-47 with the mean % cytotoxicity of 56.6 +/- 5.6% and 87.5 +/- 7.1% at
      E/T ratios of 10:1 and 20:1, respectively, as compared to PBMC (9.9 +/- 5.0% at
      E/T 10:1) (P < 0.001). The adherent cells, B and T cell fractions showed
      respective % cytotoxicity of 92.4 +/- 2.8%, 57.9 +/- 10.6% and 9.9 +/- 7.8% at an
      E/T ratio of 10:1. TIL pretreated with IFN or rIL-2 for 24 or 48 hours did not
      exhibit any noticeably enhanced antitumor activity at an E/T ratio of 5:1.
      Prevention of direct contact of BC-47 cells and TIL by an interposed Millipore
      membrane (0.45 microns) resulted in an unequivocal reduction of antitumor
      effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434310
TI  - Health profiles of workers exposed to acrylonitrile.
AB  - The objective of this study was to reveal the health effects of acrylonitrile
      (AN) in seven Japanese acrylic fiber manufacturing factories. The study subjects
      were 157 AN-exposed male shift workers who had been exposed to AN for 17 years on
      the average and 537 control workers whose working conditions were similar to
      those of the AN-exposed workers. The seven factories were classified into two
      groups according to their AN exposure levels in 1987, and also into three groups
      on the basis of 1976 exposure levels. The most highly exposed group of subjects
      showed a mean AN concentration of 1.13 ppm by personal sampling. Medical
      examination failed to detect any health effects attributable to long-term
      exposure to AN, although the existence of some symptoms of acute irritation could
      not be completely ruled out. The results of this study may provide a "no observed
      effects level" for human on-the-job exposure with regard to the health effects
      examined here.

PMID- 1434311
TI  - Phytosphingosine-containing neutral glycosphingolipids and sulfatides in the
      human female genital tract: their association in the cervical epithelium and the
      uterine endometrium and their dissociation in the mucosa of fallopian tube with
      the menstrual cycle.
AB  - In human cervical epithelium and uterine endometrium, globo-series neutral
      glycosphingolipids with N-alpha-hydroxy fatty acyl phytosphingosine (4-D
      hydroxysphinganine) as the ceramide and sulfatide (I3SO3-GalCer), which were
      contained in trace amount at the follicular phase, significantly increased in
      concentration at the luteal phase, comprising about 20% of the individual neutral
      glycosphingolipids and about 15% of the total acidic glycosphingolipids,
      respectively. However, in the mucosa of fallopian tube, neutral
      glycosphingolipids with the same polarity as those in the cervical epithelium and
      uterine endometrium at the luteal phase and sulfatide remained at a constant and
      higher level independently of the menstrual cycle. The structures of neutral
      glycosphingolipids in the fallopian tube, having the same polarity as that of N
      alpha-hydroxy fatty acyl phytosphingosine-containing molecules appeared in the
      cervical epithelium and uterine endometrium at the luteal phase, were determined
      to be N-alpha-hydroxy palmitoyl 4-sphingenine-containing ones by negative-ion
      FABMS. Also, laminin, but not collagen type IV, was found to be contained in the
      concentration correlated well with that of sulfatide in the genital tract, when
      determined by western blotting with monoclonal anti-laminin and anti-collagen
      type IV antibodies, indicating a possible function of sulfatide as a receptor for
      laminin in the human female genital tract.

PMID- 1434312
TI  - Positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia: application of Jacksonism.
AB  - Factors influencing prognosis and relapse in schizophrenia were investigated
      systematically. The results agreed with Jacksonism. Data were collected from 166
      patients who suffered relapses and were readmitted to Hospital, into seven
      categories from Nov 15, 1971 to Dec 31, 1974. The psychiatric symptoms were
      classified from A to G, positive to negative. The initial symptoms were divided
      into 4 groups. There was interrelation between the somatic and psychiatric
      symptoms; in the initial symptoms and the prognosis, courses, and psychiatric
      symptoms. Based on the author's results, the author suggests that an evolutional
      and hierarchical interpretation, which Jackson emphasized, in the correlation
      between brain and mind is applicable in the psychopathology of schizophrenia.

PMID- 1434313
TI  - Malignant and premalignant lesions of the esophagus.
AB  - Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the esophagus and
      it is one of the most common fatal cancers worldwide. There is great geographic
      variation in occurrence of these tumors. Especially high-risk areas have been
      identified in Northern Iran, Central Asian Republics, Northern China and South
      Africa. In some of these areas annual mortality rates reach 133/100,000 and over
      20% of the population dies of esophageal cancer. The mortality in the US is
      considerably lower (3 to 8 per 100,000). In common with squamous dysplasias
      elsewhere eg the cervix, squamous dysplasia of the esophagus also appears to be a
      precancerous lesion. We have found that squamous dysplasia and early cancer are
      characterized by a number of distinctive endoscopic changes, namely, mucosal
      friability, erosions, plaques and nodules. Another finding of interest is the
      failure on our part to confirm the frequency of esophagitis in high risk areas.
      Barrett's esophagus is an epithelial metaplasia which replaces esophageal
      squamous epithelium for variable lengths from the lower esophageal sphincter
      region cephalad. It is a complication that occurs in approximately 12% of
      patients with prolonged gastroesophageal reflux. The importance of this disorder
      is that it is associated with an increased risk of adenocarcinoma of the
      esophagus. In assessing biopsies from patients with Barrett's esophagus, the main
      role of the pathologist is to be on the alert for histologic features of
      dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. Since dysplasia in Barrett's is endoscopically
      invisible, multiple biopsies are necessary if surveillance is to be successful in
      detecting dysplastic lesions and early carcinoma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1434314
TI  - [Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in general hospital "a study of 114 cases"].
AB  - We conducted a study on the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis at Chiba Kaihin
      Municipal Hospital. Examinations were performed to determine the presence of
      active Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum and gastric aspirate. For the sputum
      smear-negative cases, fiberoptic bronchoscopy was further used as a means for
      detecting the tuberculosis. The results obtained were as follows: 1. A total of
      114 cases in the past six years diagnosed as active pulmonary tuberculosis
      (including 88 primary treatment cases) were analysed. 2. The 114 cases consisted
      of 74 males and 40 females, the mean age was 49.3 years old. Categorically, the
      main age groups were: 60s, 24 cases; 30s, 21 cases; and 40s, 20 cases. 3. Chest X
      ray findings: Cavitary cases were 28.9% GAKKAI classification of the sizes of the
      affected areas being Type 1 (mostly limited cases), 58.9% of all total cases, and
      68.4% in the cases under the age of 50 years old. The number of cases having
      infection in a solitary nodule was 19, and the ages of 15 out of the 19 patients
      were under 50 years old. 4. Sputum or gastric aspirate smear-positive cases
      totalled 37 (32.5%), and culture-positive cases totalled 77 (67.5%). Sputum or
      gastric aspirate cultures were positive in 52 out of 56 cases (92.9%) with
      extended shadows, GAKKAI classification Types 2 and 3, but were positive in 25
      out of 58 cases (43.1%) with Type 1. 5. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed on
      49 out of the 77 smear-negative cases. 6. Definite diagnosis was obtained in 90
      (78.8%) out of total 114 cases. The results of this study suggest that
      examination for active mycobacterium in sputum and gastric aspirate are very
      useful for the diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis, especially in extended
      cases.

PMID- 1434315
TI  - [A clinical study of tuberculous pleurisy].
AB  - Forty-eight cases of tuberculous pleurisy were examined and the following results
      were obtained. (1) Most of the patients were male, and there was no significant
      age and underlying diseases. (2) Fever and chest pain were observed mainly in
      younger patients, and sputum and dyspnea in older patients. (3) All of the cases
      examined had exudative pleural effusion, and increased ADA activity was
      frequently observed. (4) Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected in the sputum of
      65%, and also in the pleural effusion of 28% of the patients. The pathological
      diagnosis of tuberculosis was made by pleural biopsy in 83% of the patients,
      suggesting that pleural biopsy is very useful in the diagnosis of tuberculosis
      pleurisy. (5) The prognosis of the patients with tuberculosis pleurisy was good.
      Steroid therapy was generally ineffective.

PMID- 1434316
TI  - [Correlation of tuberculin skin reaction with lymphocyte proliferation,
      interferon-gamma production and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production after in
      vitro stimulation with PPD and killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis using peripheral
      blood of healthy donors].
AB  - The quantitative relationships among the in vitro lymphocyte proliferation in
      peripheral blood in 19 healthy donors to purified protein derivative (PPD) and
      the killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis, interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) and tumor
      necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) production in these culture supernatants, and
      the in vivo skin reaction to PPD which were simultaneously measured were studied.
      Statistical analysis was performed with t-test and multiple regression analysis:
      The results obtained were as follows; 1) The magnitude of the in vitro lymphocyte
      proliferation by PPD and the killed M. tuberculosis failed to correlate with the
      erythema and the induration of the in vivo skin reaction to PPD. 2) The erythema
      of skin test correlates with TNF alpha production in the culture supernatants
      that the lymphocytes in peripheral blood were cocultured with these antigens for
      7 days. (R = 0.566062, 0.01 less than p less than 0.02) 3) There is a correlation
      between the erythema and the induration of skin test. (R = 0.526662, 0.02 less
      than p less than 0.05). 4) Though the magnitude of the lymphocyte proliferation
      to PPD correlates IFN gamma production in the culture supernatants (R = 0.525915,
      0.02 less than p less than 0.05), these response to the killed M. tuberculosis
      correlates both IFN gamma production (R = 0.55049, 0.01 less than p less than
      0.02) and TNF alpha production (R = 0.51283, 0.02 less than p less than 0.05) in
      the culture supernatants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434317
TI  - [A recovered case of serious lung tuberculosis on wanderer].
AB  - This report is a case study of a vagrant whose state of tuberculosis showed
      noteworthy improvement due to clinical treatment. A 54-year-old male, vagrant,
      was admitted to the hospital in a state of preshock because of a serious stage of
      lung tuberculosis. The clinical course was severe, but after three months of
      intensive care the patient recovered. It was noted that the echocardiogram taken
      after recovery revealed improvement when compared with the one taken upon
      admission, which showed remarkable right ventricular overload. Furthermore, anti
      tuberculosis agents proved to be very effective in this case. The patients
      respiratory functions improved more markedly than had been expected. The reason
      for reporting this case study is to bring attention to the improvements in the
      patient's clinical course and echocardiographic findings. These suggest that
      tuberculosis in vagrants may differ from the usual stage of tuberculosis
      diagnosed in elderly persons in terms of response to anti-tuberculosis agents and
      potential recovery.

PMID- 1434318
TI  - [Rapid diagnosis of mycobacteria, especially Mycobacterium tuberculosis and
      Mycobacterium avium complex, using MB Check system].
AB  - Fourty-five sputum specimens were subjected to isolation for mycobacteria either
      MB Check system (MB method; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland) or 3%
      Ogawa egg medium (Ogawa method). Test sputum was treated with 4 volumes of 4%
      NaOH for 1-2 min and 0.1 ml of the resulting mixture was inoculated onto 3% Ogawa
      egg medium. The remaining portion of the mixture was neutralized with IN HCl,
      diluted with 1/15 M phosphate buffer (PB; pH 6.8), and subsequently centrifuged
      at 3,000 rpm for 20 min. The sediment was suspended in 1.5 ml of PB and 0.5 ml
      each was inoculated into MB Check M bottle (20 ml) supplemented with M supplement
      (1 ml). In MB method, bacterial growth was measured on Middlebrook 7H11 agar
      medium and Middlebrook 7H11 agar medium containing NAP (p-nitro-alpha-acetylamino
      beta-hydroxy-propiophenone). Among 45 sputum specimens, the number of positive
      specimens for mycobacterial growth in the above two cultivation methods and time
      required for growth were as follows: 3% Ogawa egg medium; 12 specimens (26.7%)
      gave positive growth, including 7 of M. tuberculosis complex strains on 14-35
      days (average 22 days) and 5 of M. avium complex strains on 14-21 days (average
      18 days); MB method; 15 of specimens (33.3%) gave positive growth, including 8 of
      M. tuberculosis complex strains on 7-21 days (average 15 days), 6 of M. avium
      complex strains on 7-14 days (average 11 days) and 1 of M. scrofulaceum strain on
      28 days. There was no specimen which was positive for mycobacterial growth on 3%
      Ogawa egg medium but negative on MB medium.

PMID- 1434319
TI  - [Phenotypic analysis in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with pulmonary
      tuberculosis].
AB  - In order to clarify the immunological aspects of tuberculosis, phenotype of
      peripheral blood lymphocytes was analyzed in 96 patients with pulmonary
      tuberculosis and 43 normal controls. In tuberculosis, CD8 positive T cells were
      significantly decreased in comparison with normal controls and regarding
      expression of CD3, CD4, CD19, CD16 and gamma delta T cell receptor (TCR), there
      was no significant difference between tuberculosis and normal controls, though in
      tuberculosis CD4 positive T cells tended to be high as compared to normal
      controls. With respect to previous therapeutic condition, the group with previous
      chemotherapy had significantly high CD4 positive cells, low CD8 positive cells
      and low gamma delta TCR positive cells as compared to the group without previous
      chemotherapy. Between groups divided by Type or Expansion of pulmonary
      tuberculosis without previous chemotherapy, there was no significant difference
      regarding any surface markers. Regarding pulmonary tuberculosis with previous
      chemotherapy, the group of Type II had significantly high CD4 positive cells and
      low CD8 positive cells as compared to Type III, and in the group of Expansion 3,
      CD19 positive cells were significantly high as compared to Expansion 2.
      Characteristic of phenotype in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with
      pulmonary tuberculosis is predominant CD4 positive cells in a corresponding
      decrease in the proportion of CD8 positive cells and is no elevation of gamma
      delta TCR positive T cells.

PMID- 1434320
TI  - [Clinical characteristics of the patients with primary infection of Mycobacterium
      avium complex].
AB  - Clinical characteristics are analyzed in patients with primary infection of
      Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). The definition of primary infection of MAC are
      determined as follows; 1) MAC is found several times since the beginning of the
      disease, 2) clinical symptoms or abnormal shadow corresponding to MAC infection
      on chest roentgenogram, 3) no old tuberculous lesions nor other abnormal shadows
      like bronchiectasis, 4) no abnormal serological results suggesting other
      bacterial or viral infections. According to this definition, 17 out of 84 MAC
      patients are diagnosed as primary MAC infection, and clinical features are
      analyzed in these 17 patients. Average age of patients is 61.1 +/- 12.9 year old.
      This age is significantly higher than that of inpatients with pulmonary
      tuberculosis in our hospital, and lower than that of all MAC patients including
      secondary infection. Five (29.4%) are male and 12 (70.6%) are female, the ratio
      of male to female is 1 to 2.4. This value is significantly different with that of
      inpatients with pulmonary tuberculosis in our hospital who show about 3 to 1.
      Most of the patients complained of cough with sputum, especially of hemosputum.
      Eleven out of 17 patients (64.7%) complained repeated hemosputum. The frequency
      of hemosputum is very high compared with that of the patients with pulmonary
      tuberculosis (about 20%). No compromised condition was present except for a
      patient with Behcet's disease who are taking steroid hormone. Roentgenographic
      features of primary infection are those of scattered small nodular lesions in the
      peripheral part of the lung, thin wall cavity formation, no contraction of the
      diseased lung nor dislocation of the trachea.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434321
TI  - [On the problems of the antituberculous drug resistance].
AB  - In this part, we will discuss exclusively about the technique of measurement. It
      is desirable especially for the proportion method that two inoculations with the
      same doses give the same number of colonies and when diluted, the colonies
      decrease exactly parallel to it degree of dilution. But this ideal is not
      necessarily realized and especially the difference between the dilution of 10(-3)
      and 10(-4) mg/ml on the drug free medium and that of 10(-2) and 10(-3) on the
      drug containing medium is fairly remarkable: the former is not so large but the
      latter sometimes varies tremendously with the drugs and their concentrations. So
      it is necessary to use always two inoculations for all specimens and the
      resistance is calculated on the medium inoculated with the same doses, for that,
      colonies on the control must be countable and suitable number that is 50-300.
      Further too concentrated solution like 10(-2) mg/ml must not be used for the
      proportion method. The selection of the most suitable two dilutions is specially
      important for this method. Original one is 10(-3) and 10(-5). Unfortunately we
      did not follow this formula and at first we adopted the combination of 10(-3) and
      10(-4), then 10(-2) and 10(-4) finally 10(-2) and 10(-3) which was the worst. Now
      we searched for the dilution which gave the suitable number of colonies from our
      several thousand cases and found that 10(-4) was the most excellent and gave this
      number in 63%, next 10(-5) in 14%, and then 10(-3) in 7.2%, 10(-2) in only 1.0%.
      With the combination of 2 solutions 10(-3) and 10(-5)--original one--was most
      excellent (94.8%) then 88.4% with 10(-4) and 10(-5). The combination of 10(-2)
      and 10(-3) was worst, it gave only 8.9%. As the proportion method demands the
      most strict procedures for all cases, it is necessary as simplify as possible,
      thus in every day practice, only the drugs most frequently used (3 or 4 drugs)
      and one concentration for each drug could be examined. Further we discussed on
      the difference between DH-SM and SM, direct and indirect method and problem of
      plug.

PMID- 1434322
TI  - [Tuberculous meningitis in Japanese children between 1980-1991].
AB  - We evaluated the clinical and laboratory findings of tuberculous meningitis
      admitted to Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Hospital from 1980 through 1991
      retrospectively. They consisted of 26 patients (14 boys and 12 girls), and their
      age ranged from 4 months to 11 years. Seventeen patients were under 3 years of
      age. Mortality rate was 4% (1/26), and there were 13 patients with sequelae on
      discharge from the hospital, and 12 patients without any sequelae. The period to
      recover normal CSF findings was relatively long. Some cases which did not seem to
      respond well to chemotherapy at the initial stage, recovered from meningitis
      without sequelae. This suggests that it is not necessary to change the
      chemotherapy at the initial few weeks of therapy. The risk factors of poor
      prognosis were; age less than 2 years, decreased level of consciousness on
      admission, convulsion, CSF protein more than 70 mg/dl, and CSF glucose less than
      20 mg/dl. Tryptophan reaction was not always positive. Chloride in CSF was not so
      important to diagnose tuberculous meningitis in children. For the proper
      diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in children one should consider several
      factors such as tuberculin skin test, family history, chest X-ray findings and
      CSF study. BCG was inoculated in six children (three patients were under one year
      old and the rests were older than 4 years). In three patients under one year old
      BCG was seemed to be inoculated after Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, and
      apparently not effective to prevent tuberculosis meningitis. We conclude that BCG
      vaccination is necessary in early infancy to prevent tuberculous meningitis.

PMID- 1434323
TI  - [Mycobacterium fortuitum pulmonary infection in a healthy 17-year-old man].
AB  - A 17-year-old man was admitted with a 5-month history of intermittent dyspnea on
      exertion, 10 kg weight loss, cough, sputa and fever. He did not smoke, had no
      apparent underlying pulmonary disease, and was not immunocompromised.
      Mycobacterium fortuitum was cultured from sputa at admission. Chest radiograph
      showed many thin-walled cavities and infiltration in the bilateral middle and
      upper fields. Chest CT detected multiple cystic lesions that were not revealed in
      conventional X-ray. It was suggested that the formation of the cystic lesions was
      one of the predisposing factor of Mycobacterium fortuitum pulmonary infection in
      this patient. The pneumonic change improved after six-month treatment using
      isoniazid, rifampicin and streptomycin, despite in vitro resistance of the
      bacilli to all of these drugs.

PMID- 1434324
TI  - [A complication of bronchoscopical brushing cytology and biopsy for pulmonary
      tuberculoma].
AB  - Although bronchoscopical brushing cytology and biopsy are useful tools for
      differential diagnosis of localized abnormal lung shadows, they have some
      complications, one of which is bacterial infection. The patient was a 42-year-old
      female with a RUL coin lesion on chest roentgenogram, which was diagnosed as
      pulmonary tuberculoma through the bronchoscopical examination. The exam. was
      followed, however, by perifocal lung abscess with a cavity, which was believed to
      be anaerobic infection, and cured rapidly with initial intensive chemotherapy
      including RFP. Prophylactic use of antimicrobial drugs, which are also sensitive
      to anaerobic flora, would be necessary for preventing or minimizing such
      complication after bronchoscopy.

PMID- 1434325
TI  - [Do very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) participate in atherogenesis?].

PMID- 1434326
TI  - [Do calcium antagonists inhibit the development of arteriosclerosis?].

PMID- 1434327
TI  - [Percutaneous pulmonary valvuloplasty in 135 patients].
AB  - We present our 7 years experience with 135 pts aged 1.4-44 years (mean 10-yrs) in
      whom percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty (BPV) for congenital pulmonary stenosis
      was attempted. In 4 pts we failed to place the balloon at valvar level, in
      another four BPV was repeated so, 135 procedures in 131 pts were performed.
      Balloon diameter/pulmonary anulus diameter ratio (BD/PD) ranged from 0.9 to 1.85
      (mean 1.37). In 10 cases double balloon technique was used. Immediate results: in
      the whole group of 131 pts the right ventricular-pulmonary artery gradient (RV
      PAG) was reduced from 74 +/- 42 to 34 +/- 34 mm Hg, and right ventricular
      systolic pressure (RVSP) decreased from 92 +/- 41 to 54 +/- 34 mm Hg just after
      BPV. 86 pts (65.6%)--group I, had good immediate result of BPV (RVSP less than 50
      mm Hg). 4 of them had dysplastic pulmonary valves (DPVs). RV-PAG in 82 pts with
      normal valves decreased from 53 +/- 25 to 15 +/- 7 mm Hg right after BPV. In 45
      pts (34.4%)--group II, immediate result of valvuloplasty was recognised as
      unsatisfactory (RVSP greater than or equal to 50 mm Hg): in 4 of them BD/PD was
      smaller or equal 1.2 (subgroup IIa); 34 others had significant subpulmonary
      obstruction (SPO) that appeared or increased after BPV (subgroup IIb); and in
      remaining 7, DPVs were noticed (subgroup II c).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434329
TI  - [Should the patients with atrial fibrillation receive long-term anti-arrhythmia
      treatment after successful cardioversion?].

PMID- 1434328
TI  - [Preventive pharmacological treatment after cardiac electroversion for atrial
      fibrillation following surgical treatment of heart defects].
AB  - 265 patients (168 women, 97 men) after cardiac surgery (mitral valve replacement-
      74 pts, mitral commissurotomy--158 pts, aortic valve replacement--6 pts,
      replacement of both valves--16 pts, closure of ASD--11 pts) were randomized after
      successful electro-conversion of atrial fibrillation to quinidine (63 pts),
      verapamil (56 pts), amiodarone (50 pts), digoxin (56 pts) or control group (40
      pts). The groups were comparable regarding age, sex and mitral valve disease
      distribution, heart volume, echocardiographic left atrium size and time from
      cardiac surgery to electro-conversion. After one year sinus rhythm was still
      present in 43% receiving quinidine, 43% receiving verapamil, 40% receiving
      amiodarone, 22% receiving digoxin, 20% in the untreated group, and after two
      years in 14%, 11%, 20%, 0% and 0%--respectively. The treatment was discontinued
      because of side effects in 13% of pts in the quinidine group, 8% of pts in the
      amiodarone group and 4% of pts in the verapamil group. It is concluded that
      quinidine, amiodarone and verapamil compared with control group are significantly
      (p less than 0.05--after one year) more effective in preventing late relapses of
      atrial fibrillation. Digoxin is ineffective in preventing recurrence of the
      arrhythmia. There are no significant differences between quinidine, verapamil and
      amiodarone regarding its prophylactic efficacy.

PMID- 1434330
TI  - [Mitral valve prolapse. Atrial stimulation, ajmaline test and "pharmacological
      denervation" in the evaluation of ventricular repolarization].
AB  - In patients with mitral valve prolapse syndrome (MVP) various
      electrophysiological abnormalities occur. There are convergent opinions
      concerning QT distance variability and the influence of autonomic nervous system
      on ventricular repolarization in this syndrome. In 38 MVP patients (group I) and
      24 subjects without this abnormality (group II) ecg was recorded during
      transvenous right atrial pacing at baseline, after ajmaline administration and
      after pharmacological autonomic blockade (atropine + propranolol). The following
      ventricular repolarization parameters were analysed: QTe (distance to the end of
      T wave), JTe (distance between J point and the end of T wave--so called "pure
      repolarization"), QTdys (repolarization dispersion) and the corrected QTc.QTe
      during 90/min right atrial pacing was significantly shorter than QTc in both
      groups. QTc was abnormally prolonged (above 440 msec) in MVP group. Ajmaline
      administration prolonged QTe in group II only, whereas autonomic blockade
      resulted in marked shortening of QTe in MVP group. QTdys was significantly
      prolonged only after ajmaline administration in group II. Based on above results,
      the following conclusions are made: 1) Right atrial pacing technique may be used
      for calculating standardized QT distance, an alternative to corrected QT. 2)
      Ajmaline test is useless in ventricular repolarization estimations in MVP
      patients. 3) In MVP patients the influence of adrenergic system on ventricular
      repolarization at rest appears to be greater than in non-MVP subjects.

PMID- 1434331
TI  - [Anatomical correction of transposition of the great arteries in 7 newborn
      infants].
AB  - In the presented article, the course and results of anatomical correction of
      transposition of great arteries (TGA) in 7 neonates (2 females and 5 males) with
      mean body mass of 3250 g and 2 to 5 days old (mean 3 days) are reviewed. Surgery
      was performed in moderate hypothermia. St. Thomas cold cardioplegia was used.
      Mean aortic clamping time was 70 min (55-115), and the time of extracorporeal
      circulation was 165 min (117-210). Low cardiac output in all patients in the
      postoperative period required prolonged mechanical ventilation and positive
      inotropic drugs. Out of 7 patients operated, two died (29%). The cause of death
      in both cases was myocardial ischemia of right ventricle. The other 5 patients
      were discharged after healing of operational wound. In the control
      echocardiographic examination performed 3 to 12 months postoperatively, apart
      from one case of moderate pulmonary artery stenosis, no other haemodynamically
      significant complications were noted.

PMID- 1434332
TI  - [Pregnancy and labor in women with acquired heart defects].

PMID- 1434333
TI  - [Controversies regarding electric stimulation of the heart].

PMID- 1434334
TI  - [Complex treatment concept of psoriasis vulgaris in childhood with integrated
      high altitude-climate therapy].
AB  - A sample of 102 inpatient children with psoriasis demonstrated differences in
      appearance and treatment to the psoriasis of adults. The complex therapy concept
      is based on 5 elements with dermatologic, high-altitude climatic and
      psychological treatment. Important additional factors are pre-school and school
      activities and vocational assistance. Of utmost importance is an early step-by
      step education of the parents and of the psoriasis child about the disease.
      Medical treatment is effectively completed and optimised by an appropriate life
      style and multiple prophylactic activities in the premedical and environmental
      fields of the diseased. Dermatologists and pediatrists should aim at on-target
      and well-organised medical guidance of the young psoriatics.

PMID- 1434335
TI  - [Sensitization to house dust mites: importance and possibilities of allergen
      elimination].
AB  - House-dust mite allergy (Dermatophagoides pteronissinus and Dermatophagoides
      farinae) is an important causative factor for allergic asthma or rhinitis in
      children. There is a clear relationship between the degree of allergen exposure
      and the subsequent development of asthma or the risk of sensitisation. It is
      therefore useful to know how intensive a patient is exposed to house-dust
      allergen. This can be managed either by counting all mites in the dust, by
      measuring of the content of Der p I and Der f I (major antigens of the two mites)
      per gram dust or using the Acarex test. These methods are also suitable for the
      control of sanitation measurements, e.g. avoidance of all dust sources in the
      bedroom and living-room, use of suitable materials for bedding, application of
      acaricide products and covering mattresses with polyurethane-coated materials.

PMID- 1434336
TI  - [Failure to thrive in young children--disorders of carbohydrate absorption?].
AB  - We examined 31 formerly hypotrophic newborn children (birth weight < 5th Kyank
      percentile) with failure to grow in infancy (weight < 3th Prader percentile). The
      rates of digestion and absorption of carbohydrates were determined by segmental
      perfusion of the small intestine and compared to the results of 21 patients with
      florid coeliac disease. Despite the normal structure of the mucous membrane of
      the small intestine, the rates of absorption of glucose in 14 formerly
      hypotrophic children and, additionally, in 12 and 10 of these children,
      respectively, the rates of hydrolysis of lactose and sucrose were nearly as low
      as in patients with florid coeliac disease. The reduced absorption and digestion
      of carbohydrates, respectively, could be a cause of subsequent failure to grow in
      some of the hypotrophic newborn children.

PMID- 1434337
TI  - [Kinetics of vaccination antibodies against tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid,
      measles virus, poliomyelitis virus and pneumococcus after allogenic and
      autologous bone marrow transplantation and booster vaccination. 2: Kinetics of
      vaccination antibodies against diphtheria toxoid after allogenic and autologous
      bone marrow transplantation].
AB  - In the second part of the paper we report on the results of the diphtheria
      antitoxin valuation of 8 children after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation
      (BMT) with and without graft versus host disease (GvHD) as well as on the
      kinetics of the diphtheria antitoxin of 5 children after allogeneic BMT with and
      without GvHD and of 5 children after autologous transplantation. The antibody
      valuation was done by a cell-culture assay. Whereas the inspection of the
      isolated data gives the impression of a swift antibody decrease up to the non
      protective level from the 7th month after BMT, the kinetic tests are more highly
      differentiated. Besides rapidly decreasing values below the accepted protection
      rate of 0.01 IU/ml in the allogeneic transplanted groups, there are patients with
      positive antibody titres within an observation period of up to 24 months after
      BMT in the allogeneic as well as in the autologous transplantation group.

PMID- 1434338
TI  - [Treatment of atopic dermatitis with borage seed oil (Glandol)--a time series
      analytic study].
AB  - The therapy of atopic dermatitis with highly unsaturated fatty acids has
      witnessed a renaissance in the last years. Therefore, a study was conducted with
      borage oil (Glandol), rich in highly unsaturated, so-called omega fatty acids,
      against palm seed oil as placebo in a total of 12 patients. Evaluation of the
      severity of the skin changes was done by means of the ADASI (Atopic Dermatitis
      Area and Severity Index)-score system described by us recently. The ADASI-scores,
      forming a time series, were analyzed by trend analysis methods. These methods
      allow an evaluation of the effectiveness of the therapy in each case. The
      analysis revealed that five out of seven patients treated with borage oil showed
      a favourable effect with regard to the skin changes assessed by the ADASI-score.
      In contrast, only one out of the five patients treated with placebo showed a
      significant improvement in skin changes. In view of the positive effect ob borage
      oil in patients with atopic dermatitis, a trial therapy for a certain period
      seems justified. Our study demonstrates both the value of our ADASI-scoring
      system as well as the advantages that time series or trend analysis methods might
      have for the evaluation of therapeutic effects in chronic skin diseases such as
      atopic dermatitis.

PMID- 1434339
TI  - [The 800 numbers in pediatric practice. Is psychosomatic disorder reimbursable?].

PMID- 1434340
TI  - [Practice management aspects in pediatric practice].

PMID- 1434341
TI  - [Neurolemmoma of the stomach].

PMID- 1434342
TI  - [The successful surgical treatment of a rare complication of a benign esophageal
      neoplasm].

PMID- 1434343
TI  - [A human life over the course of 22 years after a gastrectomy].

PMID- 1434344
TI  - [The surgical treatment of a giant follicular lymphoma of the mediastinum (Brill
      Symmers disease)].

PMID- 1434345
TI  - [Multiple carcinoids of the small intestine].

PMID- 1434346
TI  - [Fibrosarcoma of the gastrocolic ligament].

PMID- 1434347
TI  - [A combined operation in cancer of the cecum, aneurysm of the abdominal aorta and
      calculous cholecystitis in an elderly patient].

PMID- 1434348
TI  - [Leiomyosarcoma of the small intestine].

PMID- 1434349
TI  - [The resection of the liver with a plasma scalpel for solitary cancer
      metastases].

PMID- 1434350
TI  - [Neurinoma of the lesser omentum].

PMID- 1434351
TI  - [An unusual location of an osteoblastoclastoma].

PMID- 1434352
TI  - [Lymphogenous metastasis and lymphadenectomy in stomach cancer].

PMID- 1434353
TI  - [Combined resections in the surgery of lung cancer].
AB  - Operations were performed on 3,313 patients for lung carcinoma in the Department
      of Surgery of the Lungs and Mediastinum of the National Research Center of
      Surgery, AMS USSR, from 1963 till 1.01.90. Among these patients 263 (7.9%) were
      treated by combined operations (resection of the lung together with part of the
      chest wall, trachea and its bifurcation, pericardium, diaphragm, superior vena
      cava, pulmonary artery, aorta, and atrium, and also with removal of metastatic
      lymph nodes of the contralateral lung). Three types of combined resections were
      carried out--vasculo-atrial, tracheo-bronchial, and parieto-diaphragmatic.
      Postoperative complications developed in 38.6% of patients. Intraoperative
      mortality was 1.5%, 13.9% of patients died after the operation. More than 5 years
      survived 21.8% of patients who underwent operation, more than 10 years 10.2%, and
      more than 15 years 5.6% of patients.

PMID- 1434355
TI  - [Extracorporeal biliary lithotripsy].

PMID- 1434354
TI  - [The immunogenicity of different organs and the characteristics of
      immunosuppressive therapy during their allotransplantation].

PMID- 1434356
TI  - [Essays on surgical diagnosis].

PMID- 1434357
TI  - [The surgical treatment of patients with benign tumors and cysts of the
      mediastinum].
AB  - The article deals with the experience in the surgical treatment of 315 patients
      with benign tumors and cysts of the anterior (in 58.8%) and posterior (in 41.2%)
      mediastinum. Various methods of intervention--transpleural and extrapleural--were
      employed. Some extrapleural approaches were developed at the clinic. The clinical
      postoperative data show that they cause little trauma. Indications in observance
      of which these approaches may be considered optimal are determined.

PMID- 1434358
TI  - [The use of the CO2 laser in the surgical treatment of benign breast diseases].
AB  - Benign diseases of the breast of a noninflammatory character are a widely
      encountered pathological condition. Most surgeons claim the nodular form of
      mastopathy to be a precancer. Sectoral resection of the breast is the only
      grounded and justified method for its treatment. Unfortunately, wound
      complications develop often in the postoperative period, which increases the
      duration of in-patients treatment, prolongs the period of restoration of the
      working capacity, and leads to the formation of coarse scars which disfigure the
      breast. Dissatisfaction with the results is also explained by the development of
      a recurrence in a certain percent of cases. The results of treatment in 2 groups
      of patients were compared: patients of the main group (group 1) were operated on
      with the use of the CO2-laser, those of the control group (group 2) were operated
      on by the traditional method. Analysis of the results of treatment shows that the
      modified method of sectoral resection has advantages over the traditional method
      and can therefore be recommended for wide introduction into clinical practice.

PMID- 1434361
TI  - [Risk in the surgical and general plan (a lecture)].

PMID- 1434359
TI  - [Puncture aspiration biopsy under ultrasonic control in the diagnosis of breast
      neoplasms].
AB  - The authors studied the results of sonography of the breast and zones of regional
      lymph drainage in 15,973 patients. In 154 of them puncture aspiration biopsy was
      conducted under ultrasonic control. Breast carcinoma was found in 23 patients, in
      2 of them the tumor was not palpable. The examination was performed on the Aloka
      SSD-630 apparatus. The sonographic picture was that of a structure with
      diminished echogenic properties, irregular notched contours, and non-uniform echo
      signals from the internal structures. Echography with puncture biopsy made it
      also possible to reveal the presence of nonpalpable axillary metastatic lymph
      nodes and to establish the precise differential diagnosis of benign and malignant
      intraductal tumors. The method of puncture aspiration biopsy under control of
      ultrasonic examination is highly effective in the differential diagnosis of
      breast carcinoma.

PMID- 1434360
TI  - [Benign symmetrical lipomatosis with predominant localization in the neck area
      (Madelung's disease)].
AB  - Eighty-eight males with benign symmetrical lipomatosis (BSL) were subjected to
      complex examination, 68 of them were operated on. BSL is a slowly progressing
      disease marked by the development of nonencapsulated symmetrical fatty masses
      mainly in the region of the neck. It usually occurs in males at the age of 35-50
      years. Chronic alcoholic intoxication was found in 46 (48%) patients, 36 (41%)
      patients had various functional disorders which caused invalidation in 5 (5.7%)
      cases. A familial character of the disease was revealed in four (4.5%) cases. A
      classification of the disease is suggested which takes into account the
      functional disorders and the degree of development of the lipomatous masses in
      the neck. The author discusses the stages of the treatment, the surgical anatomy,
      a method for revealing the salivary glands in the lipomatous tissue by staining
      them with methylene blue solution, the operative techniques, the complications
      and their prevention, and the late results of surgical treatment. Satisfactory
      esthetic and functional results were achieved in 94.2% of patients who were
      operated on.

PMID- 1434362
TI  - [The potentials for the organ-preserving treatment of early stomach cancer].
AB  - The oncological substantiation of endoscopic and economical surgical treatment of
      T1N0-1M0 gastric carcinoma in 46 patients was appraised. The results were studied
      with due regard for the peculiarities of early gastric carcinoma (EGC) revealed
      in 290 patients after standard surgical management. It was established that organ
      preserving treatment of ECG is possible--5-years survival was 96.2%. Endoscopic
      removal can be considered radical only in T1P1 tumors without invasion of the
      lymphatic vessels of the wall and was of a multistage character in 86.2% of
      cases. Careful surveillance after its completion is necessary. Surgical treatment
      in indicated in repeated recurrences; they were encountered in 44.8% of cases.
      The causes of the recurrences were noncoincidence of the macroscopic and
      histological boundaries of the tumor (33.6%), multicentric growth (30.4%), and
      invasion of the submucosa. Metastases are encountered in the lymph nodes in 9.1%
      of cases in economical treatment. In T1N0-1M0P1-2 carcinoma, absence of
      multicentric growth, and III degree dysplasia in the surrounding mucosa
      (reflecting increased risk of multicentric growth) the volume of organ resection
      may be limited on condition that P1 lymphadenectomy is performed. The results of
      organ-preserving treatment are comparable with those of surgical treatment
      conducted in a standard volume.

PMID- 1434363
TI  - [The choice of an optimal variant in the reconstructive stage of gastrectomy].
AB  - The authors analyse 40-year experience in gastrectomy and extirpation of the
      gastric stump in carcinoma of the stomach. Operations were performed on 742
      patients. The results show that the mechanical suture has advantages over the
      manual suture in the formation of the esophago-intestinal anastomosis. The
      functional results were found to be best when the continuity of the
      gastrointestinal tract was restored by establishing the esophago-intestinal
      anastomosis with a loop of the small intestine isolated according to Roux.
      Comparative appraisal of end-to-end and end-to-side esophago-intestinal
      anastomoses revealed the advantages of the last-named in relation to the
      incidence of postoperative complications and total outcomes. The effect of the
      surgeon's qualification on the frequency of postoperative complications is
      discussed.

PMID- 1434364
TI  - [The surgical and combined treatments of locally disseminated cardioesophageal
      cancer].
AB  - The article deals with the experience in the treatment of more than 1,000
      patients with cardioesophageal carcinoma in 1965-1989. The authors note increase
      of surgical activity and widening of indications for operative treatment at the
      cost of patients of the old age groups and those with locally-extending forms of
      the neoplastic process. In distinguishing the term cardioesophageal carcinoma the
      authors insist on the community of the surgical tactics and operative methods in
      carcinoma of the cardia extending to the esophagus and in esophageal carcinoma
      spreading to the stomach. Improvement of the results of tre treatment the authors
      attribute to the perfection of the methods of lymphodissection and formation of
      esophageal anastomoses. The authors claim that the development of effective
      methods of combined treatment underlies the prospects of improving the late-term
      results. Experience in preoperative hypoxyradiotherapy, adjuvant postoperative
      chemotherapy, and preoperative regional intraarterial polychemotherapy is
      analysed.

PMID- 1434365
TI  - [The surgical treatment of malignant stomach ulcers].
AB  - The authors analyse the specific features of the clinical picture, diagnosis,
      pathomorphological changes and surgical treatment in 52 patients with gastric
      ulcer which underwent malignant degeneration. It is noted that malignancy occurs
      most frequently in close vicinity to the ulcerative defect and rarely in the
      mucosa beyond the ulcer. The morphostructural reorganizations are determined to a
      certain degree by the peculiarities of extension of the tumor along the mucosa
      and the organ as a whole. The authors discuss the principles of the choice of the
      method for treatment according to the findings of pathomorphological examination
      of biopsy material and the results of emergency intraoperative examination. Even
      if the merest suspicion of malignancy of the ulcer arises, the operation should
      be conducted with observance of all oncological principles. Postoperative
      mortality was 3.8%, complications occurred in 7.7% of cases. Five-year survival
      was 84.6% in the absence of metastases and the presence of carcinoma cells within
      the limits of the mucosa and 12.5% among cases in which metastases were found
      during the operation. Attention is drawn to the principles of regular medical
      surveillance over patients receiving nonoperative treatment for gastric ulcer.

PMID- 1434366
TI  - [The groups at risk for a recurrence of rectal cancer after radical operations].
AB  - The article discusses a group of patients with rectal carcinoma who underwent
      radical operations at the Scientific Research Institute of Proctology in 1982
      1983. The terms and frequency of rectal carcinoma recurrences are analysed and
      the factors influencing these indices are studied. The results made it possible
      to form a group with a risk of a recurrence among patients with carcinoma of the
      rectum and suggest new schedules of regular medical observation over these
      patients with consideration for the risk group.

PMID- 1434367
TI  - [The surgical treatment of benign smooth-muscle tumors of the rectum].
AB  - From analysis of the surgical treatment of 36 patients with rectal leiomyoma the
      authors suggest and substantiate the indications for various types of operative
      interventions according to the size and location of the tumor. The late-term
      results of the treatment were studied in all patients who underwent surgery and a
      brief review of literature on the methods of diagnosis and surgical management of
      benign smooth-muscle tumors of the rectum is given.

PMID- 1434368
TI  - [Kidney cancer morbidity in a population group under continuous observation in
      dispensary care].
AB  - Information on kidney carcinoma case rate among a contingent kept under
      continuous observation and subjected to regular medical examination is discussed.
      The authors had 390 cases under observation which allowed them to estimate the
      case rate according to the patients' sex and age group. A 5.8-fold increase of
      the case rate in a period of 15 years was found. In males it increased from
      0.31:1000 to 1.8:1000, and was highest in the 50-59-year age group. Among females
      the kidney carcinoma case rate increased 2.5-fold in 15 years; it was highest
      among females aged over 70 (3.20:1000) and was 2.6 times higher than the case
      rate in the 50-59-year age group and 4.5 times higher than that in the 40-49-year
      age group (0.32:1000 and 1.44:1000, respectively). Kidney carcinoma takes a
      steady 6th place in the morbidity structure. Ultrasonic diagnosis of kidney
      carcinoma is the most effective method. The authors point out that study of the
      case rate of malignant kidney tumors is very important for elaborating the
      volumes of examination.

PMID- 1434369
TI  - [The characteristics of kidney cancer invasion of the major retroperitoneal
      veins].
AB  - The authors discuss the variants of kidney carcinoma thrombus invasion of the
      major retroperitoneal veins, up to the right atrium, on basis of the literature
      data and their own findings during prosectorial (4) and clinical (7) practice.
      They emphasize that carcinoma may not only invade the large veins in the cardial
      direction in the blood flow but may also spread against the flow into the
      contralateral renal, hepatic, iliac, and other veins, which is illustrated by
      examples. Symptoms of cardiovascular insufficiency with venous congestion in the
      liver and lungs with the formation of red infarcts, the development of ascites
      and even with fibrous changes in the organs and insufficiency of their function
      came to the forefront in mild clinical signs of the main focus of affection.
      According to the clinical material, the incidence of thrombi in the inferior vena
      cava was 3.9%. All the thrombi in operated on patients were below the diaphragm
      and measured up to 11 cm in length. Histologically the thrombus consisted of
      formed elements of the blood, tumor cells (adenocarcinoma of light cells) which
      were inside it and fibrin which was outside. The thrombi grow slowly and undergo
      organization and vascularization.

PMID- 1434370
TI  - [Tendoplasty of the fingers and the restoration of the skin-fatty layer of the
      dorsal surface of the hand in boutonniere contracture].
AB  - In the period from 1983 to 1990 operations were conducted on 63 patients with
      postburn boutonniere contracture of 116 fingers. In 19 patients (42 fingers)
      tendoplasty of the extension apparatus of the fingers was carried out with
      simultaneous restoration of the dermatoadipose layer on the dorsal surface of the
      hand with an inguinal or dermatoadipose graft. In 39 patients the tendon of the
      extensor digitorum muscle was injured over several proximal interphalangeal
      articulations. A new method for treating boutonniere contracture is suggested. It
      is based on restoration of the continuity of the central fasciculus and the
      normal position of the lateral fasciculi with a single tendon autograft. The
      suggested method produced good results in 90% of cases, i.e. in all cases in
      which a sufficient volume of passive movements at the proximal interphalangeal
      articulation was restored in the preoperative period.

PMID- 1434371
TI  - [The combined treatment of acute suppurative diseases of the fingers and hand
      using decamethoxin].
AB  - The authors discuss the results of complex treatment of 286 patients with acute
      pyoinflammatory diseases of the fingers and hand with the use of a new Soviet
      produced antiseptic decametoxin. Panaris was diagnosed in 196 (68.5%), phlegmons
      and abscesses in 82 (29.7%), furuncle in 6 (2.1%) and carbuncle in 2 (0.7%)
      patients. 224 (78.4%) patients received out-patient and 62 (21.6%) in-patient
      treatment. The authors established that as the result of the applied complex
      treatment with the use of various antiseptic compositions containing decametoxin
      the mean duration of treatment was 7.8 days. The article discusses the causes of
      the disease, the methods of operative treatment, and management of patients in
      the postoperative period.

PMID- 1434372
TI  - [The technic of esophageal extirpation with one-stage esophagoplasty using a
      stomach tube].
AB  - The article deals with the technical aspects of operation for extirpation of the
      esophagus through a cervico-abdominal approach in carcinoma (133 operations) and
      benign esophageal strictures (117 operations) with one-stage plastics by means of
      an isoperistaltic tube formed from the greater curvature of the stomach. The
      relative safety (2.8% of patients died) and high efficacy of the described
      operation allow it to be recommended for wide introduction into the practice of
      institutions engaged in surgery of the esophagus.

PMID- 1434373
TI  - [An analysis of the reasons for relaparotomy in the surgical clinic].
AB  - The results of surgical treatment of 4,078 patients who underwent operation in
      1985-1989 were studied. Due to the occurrence of complications in the early
      postoperative period, 182 relaparotomies were carried out in 164 patients. The
      main indications for relaparotomies were advanced underlying disease, surgical
      errors (tactical, technical), changes of the patients' immune status. Early
      diagnosis, timely operation with the use of technically correct manipulations,
      and the application of a full complex of intensive therapy measures in the
      postoperative period are important in the prevention of complications.

PMID- 1434374
TI  - [A system for the clinico-immunological prognosis of infectious-inflammatory
      complications in planned surgery].
AB  - Postoperative infectious complications in planned surgery are a pressing problem.
      The preoperative condition of the patient and his immune system play an important
      role in their development. Fifty patients of the "risk" group were selected from
      the standpoint of classification of the etiological factors of secondary
      immunodeficiency states. Fifteen patients who had no symptoms classified as SIDS
      risk factors formed the control group. The immune status was examined before and
      on the third day after the operation in all patients of the main and control
      groups. Various infectious complications developed after the operation in 23
      patients of the risk group. No such complications occurred in the control group.
      The preoperative immune status of the risk group patients differed significantly
      from that of the controls in 13 of 19 parameters. The patients of the main and
      control groups formed the instructing selection. An expert system of preoperative
      clinico-immunological prognostication of postoperative infectious-inflammatory
      complications was created on oasis of the methods of the theory of image
      recognition and instructing selection. The system was tested in a direct clinical
      experiment on 66 patients. The prognoses were correct in 89% of cases. It was
      thus proved that symptoms classified as SIDS risk factors influence the initial
      immunity status and the course of the postoperative period in planned surgery. An
      accurate, sensitive, and specific method for prognosticating postoperative
      infectious complications is suggested.

PMID- 1434375
TI  - [Colored light stimuli in ERG for differential diagnosis of cone dystrophies].
AB  - We recorded electroretinograms (ERG) with white and color stimuli in normal
      persons and four patients with cone dystrophies. Kodak Wratten-filters in blue,
      blue-green, green, yellow and red were used for the color flashes. ERGs to all
      color stimuli were recorded at dark and light adapted conditions with different
      stimulus intensities, to 30 Hz flicker stimulation and with special filtering for
      oscillatory potentials. Selective blue cone-responses were obtained using strong
      blue flashes at a yellow background. Patients with cone dystrophies showed
      slightly to moderately reduced responses at dark adaptation to blue, blue-green,
      green and yellow stimuli. Red stimuli elicited only small responses with a
      markedly delayed b-wave implicit time. The light adapted recordings, flicker
      responses and oscillatory potentials were reduced to all color stimuli. However,
      differences between patients with cone dystrophies could be detected concerning
      the responses to red and green. In two patients the responses were reduced to the
      same degree to all color stimuli. Another patient had very small responses and no
      oscillatory potentials to red, but his responses were only moderately reduced to
      green. A patient with combined red-green cone and rod dystrophy had a blue cone
      hypersensitivity. Responses to blue and blue-green were large at all stimulus
      conditions, but responses to all other stimuli were much smaller. The blue cone
      ERG showed a prominent blue cone response. ERG recording to colored stimuli
      allows a separation of retinal dysfunction in patients with cone dystrophies.

PMID- 1434376
TI  - [Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome].
AB  - A 38-year-old male patient experienced a unilateral visual acuity decrease to
      20/60 and showed white dots at the level of the retinal pigment epithelial
      interface characteristic of multiple evanescent white dot-syndrome. Fluorescein
      angiography demonstrated early hyperfluorescent defects and some late staining.
      In spite of improvement of the visual acuity and the alterations of the fundus,
      an enlargement of the blind spot and some sharply demarcated depigmentations of
      the retinal pigment epithelium remain. This case shows, that already at the
      beginning of symptoms the characteristic white dots may be present. Enlargement
      of the blind spot and depigmentations of the retinal pigment epithelium may
      remain as defects after multiple evanescent white dot-syndrome.

PMID- 1434377
TI  - [Detection of phosphoglucomutase in the cornea and corneal cell cultures using
      isoelectric focusing and enzymatic stain methods].
AB  - PGM-1 and its isoenzymes had been studied in the human cornea, in cornea cell
      cultures, in erythrocytes and lymphocytes. Qualitative and quantitative
      comparisons between cornea of healthy persons and cornea cell cultures of
      patients with cornea dystrophies showed differences between certain phenotypes
      and their signals of activity.

PMID- 1434378
TI  - [Cardiac myxoma with central retinal artery occlusion, hemiparesis and epileptic
      seizure in a 9-year-old patient].
AB  - A cardiac myxoma is a very rare cause for a central retinal artery occlusion
      (CRAO). We report the case of a nine-year-old boy who had an epileptic seizure,
      the computer-tomographically suspected diagnosis was intracerebral granulomas of
      unknown etiology. Five months later he suffered an acute hemiparesis and a CRAO.
      Through echocardiography the diagnosis of a cardiac myxoma was determined. This
      case shows the importance of the differential diagnosis "cardiac myxoma" in cases
      of central retinal artery occlusion in young patients especially with additional
      neurological disorders.

PMID- 1434379
TI  - [Reversible mydriasis and cycloplegia after isocyanate exposure].
AB  - We saw three patients working in the production of polyurethanes, who showed
      mydriasis and cycloplegia of unknown origin. In one patient there was also a
      transient opacification of corneal stroma. After discontinuation of working both
      mydriasis and cycloplegia resolved completely within 3-5 days. Because of the
      history and the analysis of chemical reactions involved in the production of
      polyurethanes there is strong evidence that both mydriasis and cycloplegia have
      been caused by topical and (/or) systemic intoxication with the aryl diet of the
      isocyanate molecule.

PMID- 1434380
TI  - [Congenital facial hemiatrophy. Report of two pediatric cases].
AB  - In facial hemiatrophy two different types are known: the progressive acquired
      type, which is relatively more common, and the rare congenital non progressive
      form. Two children--both with congenital facial hemiatrophy--are presented, both
      showed a (horizontally and vertically) smaller lid fissure and antimongoloid
      configuration of the lid. In addition in one case we could observe: small corneal
      diameter, staphyloma posticum, paving stone degeneration of the retina,
      convergent strabismus, and vertical deviation, in the other case: ptosis, major
      astigmatism, and latent divergent strabismus.

PMID- 1434381
TI  - [Endogenous candida endophthalmitis in a drug dependent patient: intravenous
      therapy with liposome encapsulated amphotericin B].
AB  - We report this exemplary case of a drug addict with candida endophthalmitis where
      we used the new form of amphotericin B, encapsulated in liposomes. We were able
      to reconfirm the reduced number of side effects and the minimized nephrotoxicity
      reported by authors of other specialties. In our patient, a reduction or
      elimination of the yeast was probably achieved, nevertheless, he developed a
      traction retinal detachment. In future cases of fungal endophthalmitis, we
      recommend liposomal amphotericin B in higher doses.

PMID- 1434382
TI  - [Further development of a streak retinoscope with calibrated collimator].
AB  - Development and rationale of a new streak retinoscope have been discussed in an
      earlier paper. In contrast to classical retinoscopy this retinoscope determines
      the refraction by forming the narrowest streak in the test person's pupil with a
      calibrated collimator. In addition to the first prototype the extension of the
      lamp according to variation of the refraction is measured electronically and the
      data are transposed into a computer. This allows to freely choose a working
      distance in a range from about 30 to 120 cm and therefore it is possible to
      examine restless patients. Accuracy of the measurement was less than or equal to
      0.25 D for Ametropia from -0.5 to 5.0 D in a working distance of 30 cm or from 
      4.0 to -1.5 D in 100 cm. In most persons it is not necessary to use additional
      glasses during refraction by choosing the adequate distance. Therefore this
      method can help to refract kids and other persons which could not be refracted by
      use of glasses. In addition this method excludes the accommodation of the patient
      as apposed to regular refractometers.

PMID- 1434383
TI  - [64th meeting of the Rhein-Main Ophthalmologists. Main theme: Diabetes and the
      eye. Frankfurt am Main, 5 October 1991].

PMID- 1434384
TI  - [Comment on cataract incidence of sulcus versus capsular sac fixed posterior
      chamber lenses by G. A. Vilhjalmsson, B. C. Lucas].

PMID- 1434385
TI  - [Success of retinal surgery comparing phakic and pseudophakic eyes with reference
      to preoperative findings and the kind of lens implant].
AB  - We analyzed retrospectively 597 eyes over a minimum follow-up of 6 months and
      compared the results of pseudophakic eyes with phakic eyes. The repair of
      pseudophakic retinal detachment is more difficult than the surgery in aphakic
      retinal detachment. Pseudophakic retinal detachment had a more advanced retinal
      detachment and PVR-stages at the time of diagnosis. Localisation of the tear was
      more complicated and the surgery was more invasive than in phakic eyes. In 61.2%
      the repair was for pseudophakic eyes with posterior chamber lens 78%, with
      anterior chamber lens 81.8% and for iris-fixated IOL's 75%. Compared to this, the
      anatomic reattachment rate in phakic eyes was 94.8%. The pseudophakic group had
      less favorable visual results.

PMID- 1434386
TI  - [Ocular findings in infection with Borrelia burgdorferi].
AB  - During the years 1988 to 1990 ten patients were observed in the eye clinic of
      RWTH Aachen with ocular findings of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi. 6 of
      them showed neuro-ophthalmological signs, 4 had uveitis. In both groups recent
      infections were documented in fresh and chronic stages of the disease, lasting
      longer than one year. The various clinical pictures of the disease following
      infection with Borrelia burgdorferi are described. As a vaccination against
      Borreliosis is not yet available, it is important to detect the antibodies
      against Borrelia burgdorferi early enough, to initiate an effective treatment.

PMID- 1434387
TI  - [Errors of monocular localization in strabismic amblyopia. Two-dimensional
      distortion].
AB  - Spatial distortions, i.e. spatial localization errors, and precision of
      localization were measured monocularly in the central visual field of 7 normal
      observers, 17 strabismic amblyopes and 2 anisometropic amblyopes. The task of the
      subjects was to construct circles of 2 degrees, 4 degrees and 6 degrees radius
      around a fixation point, using the dominant and the amblyopic eye in turn. Normal
      observers set distances on the vertical meridian smaller than distances on the
      horizontal meridian. Anisometropic amblyopes showed localization errors and
      variances similar to those of normal observers. The amblyopic eyes of strabismic
      observers with a large angle strabismus and deep amblyopia showed significant,
      individually different localization errors correlating with the depth of
      amblyopia. Strabismics with microstrabismus exhibited parallels between monocular
      localization and dichoptic retinal correspondence.

PMID- 1434388
TI  - [Objectified measurement of eye lens transparency in elderly probands. Results of
      a Scheimpflug photography study over the course of three and a half years].
AB  - Lens density has been followed-up in 32 healthy volunteers (mean age 65 years)
      over a period of 3.5 years. The negatives of Scheimpflug-photos (Topcon SL-45)
      were evaluated by linear microdensitometry in three measure planes (Joyce Loebl 3
      CS). Correlation coefficients, curves of regression as well as calculations of
      the percentage of density change made obvious, that a minimal increase in lens
      density occurred in the anterior cortical region.

PMID- 1434389
TI  - [Inflammation of omental appendices of the large intestine].

PMID- 1434390
TI  - [Detoxication methods in pancreatogenic enzymatic peritonitis].
AB  - A therapeutic response was analyzed in 536 patients with acute destructive
      pancreatitis complicated by pancreatogenic enzymatic peritonitis. All the
      patients had the syndrome of endogenic intoxication and underwent intensive
      resuscitation with protease inhibitors, cytostatic agents, antibacterial,
      desensitization and detoxication treatment. If indicated, the patients with
      pronounced endogenic intoxication were subjected to forced diuresis, abdominal
      laparoscopic drainage and intraperitoneal dialysis, drainage of the thoracic
      lymphatic duct, hemosorption. Routine surgical intervention was performed. Up to
      11% fell the general lethality due to a differentiated therapeutic approach.

PMID- 1434391
TI  - [Prognostication in pancreatic shock in patients with acute pancreatitis during
      enzymatic toxemia].

PMID- 1434392
TI  - [Clinico-morphological correlations of chronic pseudotumorous pancreatitis and
      cancer of the pancreas].
AB  - Examination of 57 pancreatic cancer patients and 40 subjects with chronic
      pseudotumorous pancreatitis revealed a resemblance in the clinical picture and
      uniform changes in the blood levels of pancreatic enzymes in both groups.
      Histological examination of 32 patients who expired from pancreatic cancer
      revealed total chronic pancreatitis manifested in inflammatory infiltration,
      focal destruction of the duct epithelium, atrophy, interstitial, periductular and
      perivascular sclerosis, dilatation of the ducts and pancreolithiasis. The
      character of the morphological changes in patients with pancreatic cancer
      corresponds to both primary and secondary origin of pancreatitis. Similarity of
      clinical manifestations and uniform changes in the blood content of pancreatic
      enzymes could be explained by the presence of chronic pancreatitis concurrent to
      pancreatic cancer.

PMID- 1434393
TI  - [Possibilities of the use of trypsinogen activation peptide in the pancreatic
      tissue in the diagnosis of pancreatic necrosis].
AB  - The test of peptide of trypsinogen activation (PTA) in various biological media
      is a principal new diagnostic test for acute pancreatitis. PTA levels in the
      pancreatic tissue and the plasma of the blood in acute experimental pancreatic
      necrosis reflects the process of the pathological activation of trypsin in the
      diseases focus and confirms the source of higher levels of activation peptide in
      the blood flow. Together with the values of other enzymatic systems of the
      pancreatic gland the discussed value permits one to make a more precise
      assessment of the mechanism and stages of autodigestive processes which develop
      in acute experimental pancreatitis.

PMID- 1434394
TI  - [Course and therapy of nonpancreatic complications of chronic pancreatitis].
AB  - Out of 647 patients with chronic recurrent pancreatitis followed up for 10-12
      years 27 patients (4.2%) developed symptomatic gastroduodenal ulcers, 29 (4.5%)
      multiple gastroduodenal erosions. Ulcers and erosions emerged in patients with
      pronounced pancreatic bicarbonate insufficiency. Sucralfate treatment produced
      the best effect, while almagel plus vicalin were superior to gastrozepin.
      Relapses of ulcerogenesis were registered in 8 cases, multiple erosions in 11
      cases, left pleural exudate in 8 cases in the presence of chronic pancreatitis
      exacerbation. Pancreatocardiac syndrome with cardialgias, a trend to arterial
      hypotonia, reduced voltage of ECG waves, occasional extrasystolic arrhythmia
      occurred in 45 patients (7%). It is shown that metabolic disorders of biogenic
      amines and lowered blood levels of insulin and C-peptide may underlie
      pathogenesis of pancreatocardiac syndrome.

PMID- 1434395
TI  - [Prognostic significance of cytochemical and functional activity of blood
      lymphocytes in patients with peptic ulcer and the presence of Helicobacter
      pylori].

PMID- 1434396
TI  - [Reactive arthritis in young men in organized collectives].
AB  - The authors followed up 398 young males with reactive arthritis who had been
      admitted from organized collectives to hospital settings. Only one third of them
      could connect the development of reactive arthritis (ReA) with a survived
      infection: acute nasopharyngeal (26%), acute enterocolitis (7%), urethritis
      venerea (1%). Analysis of the clinical picture demonstrated that in case of
      indefinite ReA etiology together with the signs of myocardiac involvement one
      should not only exclude the presence of rheumatic attack but also to establish a
      possible relation of the disease with a prior survived poorly manifest intestinal
      infection. This fact should be taken into account if in the collectives, where
      from the patients were hospitalized, epidemic outbreaks of acute dysentery or
      cases of ReA and Reiter's disease etiologically connected with manifest
      intestinal infection were documented. Postenterocolitic origin of ReA could be
      suspected in patients with its continuous course and resistance to
      antiinflammatory therapy in whom arthralgia was preserved for a long time as was
      joint rigidity after a subsidence of joint changes due to the effect of acute
      inflammation. Besides, the detection of certain features of the articular
      syndrome and separate extraarticular signs characteristic of Reiter's disease and
      other conditions which comprised the group of seronegative HLA--B27-positive
      spondyloarthropathy are of high diagnostic value.

PMID- 1434397
TI  - [Indicators of lipid metabolism and lipid peroxidation system in patients with
      different types of lesions of the vessels of the lower limbs].
AB  - A total of 66 patients were investigated with IR imager and television
      capillaroscopy for the blood circulation in the vessels of low extremities as
      well as for the values of lipid metabolism and the system of lipid peroxidation.
      According to the status of the vascular system in the low extremities the
      examinees were divided into the groups with the normal status of the vascular
      system, the groups with the signs of venous insufficiency, microcirculatory
      disorders and atherosclerosis of major vessels. With the disorders of
      microcirculation in low extremities staged increments in the atherogenic shifts
      in the exchange were demonstrated. It was suggested that atherosclerotic changes
      in the arteries could be preceded with the hemodynamic changes in the venous and
      capillary systems due to rheological disorders due to the development of
      hypercoagulation which accompanied dyslipoproteinemias and other atherogenic
      shifts in the metabolism.

PMID- 1434398
TI  - [Ultrasonic methods of diagnosis of late complications after reconstructive
      surgery of the aorta and major arteries of the lower limbs].
AB  - Long-standing results were studied in 587 patients who sustained reconstructive
      vascular surgeries when aged under 16 years (the average age was 6 years and 4
      months). Out of them 141 patients faced the necessity of repeated surgeries: in
      115 (81.6%) patients the extremity function was preserved, in 19 (13.5%) a
      repeated amputation was performed, 7 patients (4.9%) expired. All those operated
      on had been actively followed up with the use of periodical instrumental
      investigation which included dopplerography and ultrasonic angiography. High
      significance of ultrasonic technique was proved as the use of it permitted one to
      detect late complications on the early stages of their development and perform
      surgical corrections before the development of life-threatening complications.
      Therefore repeated preventive surgeries were performed in 53 patients, 52 of them
      were a success. Repeated amputations were performed in 1 patient. All those
      operated on survived.

PMID- 1434399
TI  - [A case of photodermatosis after long-term use of amiodarone].

PMID- 1434400
TI  - [A case of toxic fibrosing alveolitis caused by ammonia vapors].

PMID- 1434401
TI  - [Ochronosis with severe lesions of joints and the cardiovascular system].

PMID- 1434402
TI  - [Bronchial asthma and broncho-obstructive syndromes].

PMID- 1434403
TI  - [Acanthosis nigricans in patients with stomach cancer].

PMID- 1434404
TI  - [Chronic cholecystitis with manifestations of hypomotor dyskinesia].

PMID- 1434405
TI  - [Quantitative and qualitative changes in blood leukocytes in patients with
      duodenal ulcer and their diagnostic significance].

PMID- 1434406
TI  - [Treatment of patients with initial manifestations of cerebral circulation
      insufficiency in vasomotor dystonias].

PMID- 1434407
TI  - [Gilbert's syndrome: experience with a follow-up of an outpatient group].

PMID- 1434408
TI  - [Oncological aspects of ambulatory care of patients with diseases of the thyroid
      gland].

PMID- 1434409
TI  - [Diffuse toxic goiter].
AB  - Diffuse toxic goiter is a common disease of the thyroid gland. As organospecific
      autoimmune condition the disease is not infrequently combined with endocrine
      ophthalmopathy and in this connection a more precise preparation of the patients
      to surgery is found to be mandatory. Elderly persons demonstrate atypical
      patterns of the disease course (insignificant enlargement of the gland, manifest
      depression, isolated cardial disorders without other symptoms of thyrotoxicosis,
      resistance to thyrostatic treatment). The patients need a life-long dispensary
      follow-up as diffuse toxic goiter is a condition of a relapsing type.

PMID- 1434410
TI  - [Language of scientific works and lectures].

PMID- 1434412
TI  - [Conservative therapy in chronic renal failure].

PMID- 1434411
TI  - [Organization and methodology of the process of examinations in internal diseases
      in higher education].
AB  - The authors developed a system for examinations at the stage of postgraduate
      advanced training for therapists which included fundamental and practical
      classes. Fundamental classes are presented with certain tests with regard to the
      curriculum while the practical ones are based on the evaluation of professional
      clinical skill demonstrated at the examination of the patient. The developed
      system is realized with the help of computerized programmes CM-4. High
      objectivity and the wide spectrum of the programme evidence the practicability of
      the methods developed in the evaluation of knowledge in therapists.

PMID- 1434413
TI  - [State and perspectives of the treatment of patients with malignant
      neoformations].

PMID- 1434414
TI  - [Career planning in nursing].

PMID- 1434415
TI  - [Education in the new provinces].

PMID- 1434416
TI  - [Nursing in the extended Europe. Aspects of education in nursing, pediatric
      nursing and geriatric nursing].

PMID- 1434417
TI  - [For discussion: nursing insurance and nursing shortage].

PMID- 1434418
TI  - [Documentation notes for ambulatory care. A study by the professional group
      "Ambulatory Care" of the German Federation of Nurses, Bavaria].

PMID- 1434419
TI  - [Nursing documentation in psychiatric nursing? A questionnaire project by the
      professional group Psychiatry in the Bavarian section of the German Nursing
      Federation].

PMID- 1434420
TI  - [The Hannover office of the German Nursing Association].

PMID- 1434421
TI  - [Relief from non-nursing activities. Report on a project].

PMID- 1434422
TI  - [Publicity for nursing].

PMID- 1434424
TI  - [The aged patient in endoscopy].

PMID- 1434423
TI  - [Quality assurance in intensive care. From controlled emergency to planned care].

PMID- 1434425
TI  - [Changes in the operating room service. Reflections of an operating room
      administrator from the new federal provinces].

PMID- 1434426
TI  - [Interprofessional cooperation by nursing teams].

PMID- 1434427
TI  - [The Bad Schwartau office of the German Nursing Society].

PMID- 1434428
TI  - [Europe--new chances for nursing?].

PMID- 1434429
TI  - [Strike in public service--strike in nursing].

PMID- 1434430
TI  - [Introduction of new coworkers].

PMID- 1434431
TI  - [Continuing education "Nursing in Geriatric Rehabilitation". A model project of
      the Essen Educational Center of the German Nursing Association. Qualification for
      geriatric nursing, nursing specialist for geriatric rehabilitation].

PMID- 1434432
TI  - [Professional stress for nurses. I].

PMID- 1434433
TI  - [The summer festival. An event in long-term care].

PMID- 1434434
TI  - [Humaneness and economic efficiency--tasks for the nursing professions aimed at
      the future].

PMID- 1434435
TI  - [Nursing review. Interview by Krankenpflege with Karin Schroeder-Hartwig].

PMID- 1434436
TI  - [Trends in buying for nursing concerns. Looking for work simplifying products].

PMID- 1434437
TI  - [A new alternative for persons with loss of psychologic autonomy: validation].

PMID- 1434438
TI  - [Questions about the professional role. A face to face complex].

PMID- 1434439
TI  - ["Our health depends on our environment"].

PMID- 1434440
TI  - [Buying--with ecological conscience].

PMID- 1434441
TI  - [Preventive projects against poverty and disease: a place for children].

PMID- 1434442
TI  - [75 years St. Gallen School for Pediatric Nursing. From infant nurse to
      specialist in pediatric nursing].

PMID- 1434443
TI  - [Experiences with the voluntary home care organization in Israel. With an army of
      volunteers].

PMID- 1434445
TI  - [The nurse facing an alcoholic patient. What attitude to take?].

PMID- 1434444
TI  - [Swiss Society for Health Politics meeting on hospitals needing care. From sick
      house to health house].

PMID- 1434446
TI  - [The Diogenes syndrome].

PMID- 1434447
TI  - [End of the personnel shortage in Berne. Many are awaiting the recovery].

PMID- 1434449
TI  - [Legal foundations. Part-time workers, auxiliaries and temporaries].

PMID- 1434448
TI  - [Borders in everyday life].

PMID- 1434450
TI  - [Democracy before all else].

PMID- 1434451
TI  - [Admission and transcultural representation in an emergency service. Better
      understanding the differences].

PMID- 1434452
TI  - [Alternative care for patients with AIDS].

PMID- 1434453
TI  - [Visit to a psychiatric hospital in Haiti. Misery does not exclude noblesse].

PMID- 1434454
TI  - [Contract negotiations].

PMID- 1434455
TI  - [Meditation on limits as part of living: threat or challenge?].

PMID- 1434456
TI  - [Setting processes in motion].

PMID- 1434457
TI  - [Between normal and abnormal. Behind the horizon we find the adventure].

PMID- 1434458
TI  - [Between identity and integrity. The difficult search for identity].

PMID- 1434459
TI  - [Between stability and change. Does he, who persists really have to die?].

PMID- 1434460
TI  - [A tool for the measurement of quality--the model of the Swiss Nursing
      Association. Quality can be measured].

PMID- 1434461
TI  - [New rules for nursing education: advantages, misunderstandings].

PMID- 1434463
TI  - [Successful cultural work in the health care system. Social marketing].

PMID- 1434462
TI  - [The danger of that which is not expressed].

PMID- 1434464
TI  - [Work and life of the nurse Elisabeth Kasser, the angel of Gurs].

PMID- 1434465
TI  - [Training rules of the Swiss Red Cross: Baccalaureate, also for nursing!].

PMID- 1434466
TI  - [Introduction of a nursing guide. One team, one nursing philosophy].

PMID- 1434467
TI  - [Consequences for nursing of the economic measures in health care. How much
      latitude is left?].

PMID- 1434468
TI  - [Evaluation of the self-care capabilities of patients and nurses].

PMID- 1434469
TI  - [Industrial nurse--a beautiful task].

PMID- 1434470
TI  - [Hospital trash. The ecologic hospital].

PMID- 1434471
TI  - [Study on patients who await a diagnosis. A time of insecurity].

PMID- 1434472
TI  - [Informing, reassuring, understanding. Role of nurses towards patients with
      AIDS].

PMID- 1434473
TI  - [Educational experience. Meeting of a different type].

PMID- 1434474
TI  - [Interview with Patricia Gentil, representing the Romand Center for Permanent
      Education. "Perspective, innovative". Interview by Francoise Taillens].

PMID- 1434475
TI  - [Working conditions in the Canton Vaud. Unemployed nurses in spite of personnel
      shortage?].

PMID- 1434476
TI  - [Touching during everyday care--summary of a diploma paper. In the hands of the
      healers].

PMID- 1434477
TI  - [A mouth care concept--with special reference to the problems of cancer patients.
      A healthy mouth].

PMID- 1434478
TI  - [Tasks in physical therapy following hand surgery].

PMID- 1434480
TI  - [The aged don't drink enough].

PMID- 1434479
TI  - [Alzheimer's disease: etiology, clinical aspects and therapy].

PMID- 1434481
TI  - [Which interventions can be performed on an outpatient basis in pediatrics].

PMID- 1434482
TI  - [Preparation of cytostatic agents in the laminar airflow].

PMID- 1434483
TI  - [Technique of urethral catheterization].

PMID- 1434484
TI  - [Suprapubic urinary diversion with the Freka-Cyst-Set].

PMID- 1434486
TI  - [A controlled measure for the relief of the nursing service--use of ward
      assistants].

PMID- 1434485
TI  - [The importance of an instrument specialist in an intensive care unit].

PMID- 1434487
TI  - [Tasting the cherries--or "People eat the way they are". Defense mechanisms and
      joy of living as forms of neurose-psychological ego-instances in the mother-child
      interaction].

PMID- 1434488
TI  - [Hospital chaplain: more help for aged psychiatric patients. Talking about
      emotional problems the same way as about a head cold].

PMID- 1434489
TI  - [Health has been and will be an expensive idol].

PMID- 1434490
TI  - [Burial. Stillbirths disposed of like hospital garbage].

PMID- 1434491
TI  - Acute gastric distention in guinea pigs.

PMID- 1434492
TI  - Chronic spinal cord-injured cats: surgical procedures and management.

PMID- 1434493
TI  - Factors associated with intestinal amyloidosis in pigtailed macaques (Macaca
      nemestrina).
AB  - Factors associated with intestinal amyloidosis in pigtailed macaques (Macaca
      nemestrina) were studied in 74 cases at the Washington Regional Primate Research
      Center. The medical records of monkeys during the 5-year period from 1983 to 1988
      were analyzed to determine the age at death, age at first episode of diarrhea,
      number of episodes of diarrhea, episode and cumulative duration of diarrhea, and
      etiologies of diarrhea. Univariate analysis, using one control for each case,
      indicated that only episode duration was related to intestinal amyloidosis.
      Affected monkeys had significantly longer mean episode durations of diarrhea.
      None of the etiologies examined--bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and simian retrovirus
      -were significant risk factors for amyloid deposition in the intestinal tract.

PMID- 1434494
TI  - Diarrhea rates and risk factors for developing chronic diarrhea in infant and
      juvenile rhesus monkeys.
AB  - Ten independent risk factors were evaluated in an effort to identify predictors
      of problem diarrhea at weaning and chronic diarrhea in infant and juvenile rhesus
      monkeys (Macaca mulatta) at the California Primate Research Center. None of the
      variables proved to be a significant predictor of problem diarrhea at weaning;
      however, two of the variables were significant predictors for developing chronic
      diarrhea. Odds ratios, adjusted for other variables in the logistic regression
      model, showed that compared with females, males were nearly three times more
      likely to develop chronic diarrhea, and nursery-reared animals were 7.5 times
      more likely to develop chronic diarrhea than were breast-fed animals. The annual
      incidence rates for problem diarrhea at weaning for 1978, 1979, and 1980 were
      49%, 37%, and 41%, respectively. A weighted average annual incidence rate for
      problem diarrhea at weaning for the 3-year period was 39%. The incidence rate for
      chronic diarrhea for the 3-year period was 49%.

PMID- 1434495
TI  - Endometrial venous aneurysms in three New Zealand white rabbits.
AB  - Hematuria in rabbits has been associated with uterine adenocarcinoma, uterine
      polyps, renal infarction, urolithiasis, cystitis, bladder polyps, and
      pyelonephritis. Three adult female New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus
      cuniculus) developed apparent hematuria, as suggested by blood in their excreta
      pans. They had been immunized with antigen-adjuvant emulsions, but had uneventful
      clinical histories. Physical examination disclosed no abnormalities, and
      laboratory tests, including hematology, serum chemistries, urinalyses, urine
      cultures, ultrasonography, and intravenous pyelography disclosed mild anemia,
      hematuria, and proteinuria in two of the rabbits. Antibiotic therapy failed to
      alleviate clinical signs. Two rabbits were euthanized because of persistent
      urogenital bleeding and the third rabbit underwent exploratory laparotomy and
      ovariohysterectomy. Multiple endometrial venous aneurysms were present in the
      uteri of all rabbits and urogenital bleeding was attributed to episodic bleeding
      from these lesions. Varices and aneurysms of uterine subserosal and myometrial
      venous plexuses, but not of endometrial vessels in women have been reported. To
      our knowledge, endometrial venous aneurysms have not been reported in animals
      previously. Our findings indicate that the differential diagnoses for sporadic
      apparent hematuria in female rabbits should include endometrial aneurysms.

PMID- 1434496
TI  - Effects of sex hormones on fulminant hepatitis in LEC rats: a model of Wilson's
      disease.
AB  - LEC rats, which have hereditary hepatitis and have recently been proposed as an
      animal model for Wilson's disease, were examined to determine the effects of sex
      hormones on fulminant hepatitis. After the rats had undergone ovariectomies or
      orchidectomies (castration) and were compared with intact rats, the age at the
      onset of fulminant hepatitis was not substantially altered but the survival rates
      decreased from 50% to 12.5% for females and 75% to 14.3% for males, indicating
      that sex hormones did not influence the occurrence of fulminant hepatitis but
      influenced mortality due to fulminant hepatitis. When testosterone was
      administered to the ovariectomized or orchidectomized rats, the survival rate
      increased to over 90% in both sexes. In contrast, estradiol did not affect the
      survival rate of either sex but affected the onset of fulminant hepatitis. That
      is, with the administration of estradiol, the age at which serum GPT activity
      reached its maximum was delayed 4 weeks in ovariectomized rats and 6 weeks in
      orchidectomized rats as compared with intact rats. A similar but somewhat weaker
      tendency appeared in rats given progesterone. The results of our study indicate
      that sex hormones have no effect on the rate of occurrence of hepatitis but
      affect the progression of hepatitis. In particular, testosterone increased the
      survival rate of rats with fulminant hepatitis, and exogenous estradiol delayed
      the onset of hepatitis for several weeks.

PMID- 1434497
TI  - A reproducible method for producing and quantifying the stages of fracture
      repair.
AB  - Male CD-1 mice, 4 to 6 months of age, were used to establish a reproducible model
      to study the stages of fracture repair. A custom-designed fracture apparatus was
      constructed, and trials with it demonstrated its capacity to reliably reproduce a
      closed fracture of the tibia. Dietary and sleep habits in the treated mice were
      the same as unfractured control mice. Four stages of fracture repair were
      documented and the duration of each stage was quantifiable and reproducible. The
      last stage of fracture repair was completed by 21 days postfracture. The
      reproducibility of the fracture, the reproducibility of the times and stages of
      fracture repair, the relatively short time to complete the fracture repair
      process, and the minimal discomfort which allowed the mice to maintain a normal
      daily routine, suggest that this is an ideal animal model for studying the
      fracture repair process.

PMID- 1434498
TI  - Lymphoblastic lymphoma in a colony of N:NIH(S)-bg-nu-xid mice.
AB  - During a 1-year period, 28 animals from a breeding colony of N:NIH(S)-bg-nu-xid
      mice were discovered to have rapidly enlarging subcutaneous swellings in the
      ventral, cervical, and axillary regions. Five of the mice also had hind limb
      paresis. Twenty-two of the mice were heterozygous nude females, five were
      homozygous nude males, and one was a homozygous nude female. All of the above
      mice were homo- or hemizygous for the beige and X-linked immunodeficiency
      mutations. The average age of the mice was 8.3 months. Generalized enlargement of
      the peripheral and internal lymph nodes was present at the time of necropsy
      examination. Other lesions commonly noted at necropsy included splenomegaly (15
      mice), pale and thickened ventral lumbar spinal musculature (11 mice), and
      opaque, thickened meninges of the brain (10 mice). Histologic examination
      consistently disclosed infiltrates of neoplastic lymphoblasts in multiple tissues
      including lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, and meninges of the brain and spinal
      cord. The cells were positive for IgG on immunofluorescent staining, suggesting
      that the tumors were of B cell origin. The neoplasms observed in these mice have
      several similarities to tumors found in immunodeficient humans, suggesting that
      these mice may serve as useful animal models of lymphoma.

PMID- 1434499
TI  - Convulsions in senescence-accelerated mice (SAM-R/1/Eis).
AB  - Senescence-accelerated mice (SAM) are one of the animal models used for studying
      senescence, which consist of several substrains such as SAM-R/1, R/2, P/1, P/2.
      SAM-R/1/Eis maintained in Eisai Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Ibaraki, Japan,
      was originally introduced as a substrain of a normal control SAM-R/1 from Kyoto
      University, Japan. We have noted signs of convulsions in SAM-R/1/Eis mice during
      routine animal care, particularly while changing cages. We identified the
      clinical signs and determined the concentrations of glucose and immunoreactive
      insulin in plasma of SAM-R/1/Eis mice. There were no differences in the
      male:female ratios of mice showing prodrome only, grand mal, or no-signs. The
      ages at which prodrome and grand mal were first noted peaked between 20 and 25
      weeks. Concentrations of glucose and immunoreactive insulin in plasma did not
      indicate the mice were in insulin hypoglycemia, which is one cause of
      convulsions. AKR strain mice, some of which originated with the SAM strain are
      known to become convulsive by repeated "throwing" stimulations. Conversely, in
      SAM-R/1/Eis, throwing stimuli are not needed to cause convulsive signs. Thus it
      is likely that in SAM-R/1/Eis mice the signs are triggered by repeating mild
      environmental changes, such as changing cages. The results of this study show
      that SAM-R/1/Eis is neither a normal control strain, nor an original SAM-R/1
      strain. But it is possible that SAM-R/1/Eis is another useful animal model for
      studying spontaneous convulsion.

PMID- 1434500
TI  - Persistent free-running circannual reproductive cycles during prolonged exposure
      to a constant 12L:12D photoperiod in laboratory woodchucks (Marmota monax).
AB  - Serum levels of gonadal steroid were assayed at approximately 3-month intervals
      in groups of 5 to 8 male or female woodchucks which were exposed to a natural
      photoperiod for 1 year as yearlings or 3 years as adults (Study 1), or a constant
      photoperiod of 12L:12D from birth for 4.5 years (Study 2). After 4.5 years of
      12L:12D, food intake was measured in November and compared with that in natural
      photoperiod animals (Study 3). Other groups of 11 males and 3 females were housed
      in 12L:12D for 2.5 years after capture at 2 months of age, and gonadal structure
      and serum steroid levels in November were compared with those of animals at
      selected times in the normal annual cycle (Study 4). All animals were provided
      food and water ad libitum and were not induced to hibernate. In Study 1, normal
      circannual breeding season elevations in testosterone in males and in
      progesterone in females were detected in most animals maintained in natural
      photoperiod. In Study 2, similar cycles persisted for 4.5 years in animals
      exposed to 12L:12D. However, based on quarterly blood samples, obvious asynchrony
      relative to natural light animals appeared to develop after 2, 3, or 4 years,
      with apparent free-running intervals of about 10 to 11 months. In Study 3, mean
      daily food consumption in late autumn for woodchucks in the 12L:12D group was 72%
      greater than animals in the natural photoperiod. In Study 4, some woodchucks
      exposed to 12L:12D for only 2.5 years had prematurely increased spermatogenic
      activity, Leydig tissue development, and elevated serum testosterone levels in
      November. They were similar in November to those in natural photoperiod animals
      in March, and significantly greater than those in natural photoperiod animals in
      November when normal regression and repair of the testis was complete. Likewise,
      females in the 12L:12D group had luteinized follicles and elevated progesterone
      in November which were not noted in natural photoperiod animals and which were
      similar to those observed during the spring in unbred females under normal
      conditions. The results suggest that circannual cycles of metabolic and
      reproductive activity in woodchucks persist in the absence of normal changes in
      photoperiod, are entrained to seasonal changes in the natural photoperiod, and
      can recede to a periodicity of less than 12 months within 2.5 to 4 years of
      laboratory maintenance in 12L:12D.

PMID- 1434501
TI  - Pickle barrels as enrichment objects for rhesus macaques.
AB  - Two breeding groups of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) housed in outdoor
      enclosures on Key Lois island were observed for 84 hours. Instantaneous scan
      sampling of a focal animal was used to gather data to test hypotheses concerning
      frequencies of agonistic and affiliative behaviors as well as differential use of
      pickle barrels as enrichment objects. Type of barrel used, behavior, and age/sex
      class of the animal were noted. Barrels were arranged three ways: unattached, on
      a swivel, and stationary. The behaviors of animals in an enriched environment
      were compared with control condition animals, which did not have pickle barrels.
      Animals in an enriched environment accounted for 60.8% (n = 56) of total
      affiliative contact, 62.2% (n = 399) of total social grooming, and 26% (n = 5) of
      total agonistic noncontact. A total of 134 scans of barrel use were observed.
      Analyses of the data showed that swivel and stationary barrels were used the most
      (55% of all scans of barrel use). Yearlings, juvenile females, and old males used
      barrels most often (82.8% of all scans of barrel use), although they constituted
      only 39% of the enriched environment population. In this study, pickle barrels
      provided enrichment for young and old animals of both sexes.

PMID- 1434502
TI  - Ultrasound-guided blood sampling of rabbit fetuses.
AB  - A rabbit animal model for hemolytic disease of the newborn has been previously
      described. However, evaluating the effects of this disease was limited to
      histologic and hematologic examinations of liveborn kitlings. To assess the
      feasibility of in utero blood sampling, we performed ultrasound-guided cardiac
      sampling of 50 fetuses in 16 New Zealand White does on days 26 and 27 of
      gestation. The overall rate of successful sampling was 80%. The procedure-related
      mortality declined to 35% by the third phase of the study. The mean (+/- SD)
      hematocrit (%) and reticulocyte values (#/100 RBCs) on day 26 were 26.3 +/- 3.3
      and 35.6 +/- 5.1, respectively; values on day 27 were 31.3 +/- 4.9 and 27.5 +/-
      7.6. The results of this study suggest that hematologic data can be obtained from
      rabbit fetuses in the majority of cases with only moderate fetal loss.

PMID- 1434503
TI  - Evaluation of subcutaneous chambers as an alternative to conventional methods of
      antibody production in chickens.
AB  - We compared antibody levels among serum, egg yolk extract, and granuloma fluid in
      chickens immunized with bovine serum albumin (BSA). One group of hens was
      immunized by intramuscular and subcutaneous injection of bovine serum albumin in
      complete Freund's adjuvant, followed by two subsequent booster injections in
      incomplete Freund's adjuvant. Two other groups were surgically implanted with
      plastic, perforated wiffle balls (subcutaneous chambers). After a 30-day recovery
      period, one of the groups with subcutaneous chambers was immunized with BSA in
      sterile water with two subsequent boosts. The other group was injected with only
      sterile water. Serum samples, eggs, and granuloma fluid were collected biweekly
      and analyzed to determine specific IgG, total IgG, and total protein. The
      subcutaneous chambers were well tolerated. Quantitative ELISAs of serum, egg yolk
      extract, and granuloma fluid specimens disclosed that specific antibody levels
      were present in all specimens by 2 weeks after primary immunization. During the
      course of the experiment, specific antibody levels of serum and egg yolk
      specimens were significantly higher than those of granuloma fluid (P less than
      0.05). However, an additional injection of antigen into the subcutaneous chambers
      resulted in specific antibody levels in granuloma fluid specimens that were
      comparable to those of serum and egg yolk extract. Use of subcutaneous chambers
      in chickens may be a viable alternative to routine antibody production methods.

PMID- 1434504
TI  - Diagnostic exercise: cardiomegaly in a young dog.

PMID- 1434505
TI  - Congenital hypotrichosis in a rhesus monkey.

PMID- 1434506
TI  - Eradication of pinworms (Syphacia obvelata) from Syrian hamsters in quarantine.

PMID- 1434507
TI  - An occipito-temporal syndrome in adolescents with optimally controlled
      hyperphenylalaninaemia.
AB  - The study included 16 adolescents with optimally controlled
      hyperphenylalaninaemia (McKusick 26160), of whom six did not require treatment
      according to conventional criteria. All except the two patients with lowest
      median serum phenylalanine level throughout childhood (most values at 200-300
      mumol/L) had white matter abnormalities detectable with magnetic resonance
      imaging. The lesions were particularly prominent in the watershed regions between
      the posterior and middle cerebral arteries. In most patients with moderate or
      severe hyperphenylalaninaemia frontal white matter lesions were present as well.
      Normal proton magnetic resonance spectra indicated that the lesions were stable.
      Occipital EEG abnormalities were frequent, and deficient performance on a pattern
      recognition test was a characteristic neuropsychological finding. Serum
      phenylalanine levels at about 300 mumol/L or below throughout childhood and early
      adolescence may be required to avoid lesions. The present study demonstrates the
      limitations of even an optimally controlled dietary regimen in
      hyperphenylalaninaemia.

PMID- 1434508
TI  - Allopurinol challenge test in children.
AB  - The allopurinol challenge test was performed on 44 healthy subjects (28 children
      and 16 adolescents) in order to establish normal values of urinary orotic acid
      excretion following allopurinol ingestion in the paediatric population. The
      subjects were divided into three groups according to their age: 6 months to 6
      years; 6 years to 10 years; and 10 years to 17 years. They were given 100 mg, 200
      mg, or 300 mg of allopurinol, respectively (based on age) in a single oral dose.
      Maximum peak urinary orotic acid levels following ingestion of allopurinol were
      13.0 (n = 14), 9.3 (n = 14), and 10.2 (n = 16) mumol/mmol creatinine in the three
      groups, respectively. In all children tested the peak orotic acid level was 3.1
      +/- 2.7 mumol/mmol creatinine (mean +/- SD, n = 44). This allopurinol challenge
      test was also performed in six children with urea-cycle disorders, including five
      females with ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, all of whom
      demonstrated abnormally elevated levels of urinary orotic acid (peak levels of 26
      134 mumol/mmol creatinine) following allopurinol ingestion.

PMID- 1434509
TI  - Prenatal diagnosis of non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia.
AB  - Non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia (NKH) is a devastating neurological disease for
      which there is no effective therapy. Consequently, most couples with a pregnancy
      known to be at risk for NKH request prenatal diagnosis. We have applied the
      combination of chorionic villus (CVS) assay for glycine cleavage enzyme activity
      and determination of amniotic fluid glycine concentration to increase the
      reliability of prenatal diagnosis for this disorder beyond that of each of these
      methods alone. All 15 of the at-risk pregnancies monitored had CVS glycine
      cleavage assay and five also had amniotic fluid glycine measurements. Two cases
      had no detectable cleavage activity in CVS and one gave uninterpretable enzyme
      results. Amniotic fluid glycine concentration was increased in all three and NKH
      was confirmed by abortus tissue assays for cleavage activity and amino acids. The
      remaining 12 case had activity in CVS (two also had normal amniotic fluid glycine
      levels) and delivered unaffected infants. Four of these 12 cases had cleavage
      activities below or at the low end of the normal range, perhaps indicating
      carrier status. We believe that the combination of CVS glycine cleavage assay and
      amniotic fluid glycine measurement is currently the best approach to the prenatal
      diagnosis of NKH.

PMID- 1434510
TI  - Fructose and glucagon loading in siblings with fructose-1,6-diphosphatase
      deficiency in fed state.
AB  - Hypoglycaemia induced by fructose administration is one of the diagnostic clues
      to fructose-1,6-diphosphatase (FDPase) deficiency (McKusick 229700). However, the
      pathological mechanism of this reactive hypoglycaemia is not fully known. This
      paper describes two siblings with FDPase deficiency, diagnosed enzymatically in
      leukocytes, who failed to correct reactive hypoglycaemia after glucagon
      administration even in the fed state, supporting a possibility that disturbed
      hepatic phosphorylase activity may be a main cause of reactive hypoglycaemia.

PMID- 1434511
TI  - In vivo 13C-NMR evaluation of glycogen content in a patient with glycogen storage
      disease.
AB  - Glycogen storage disease was suspected in a 10-month-old boy. Initial technical
      problems did not permit the determination of the precise enzyme, deficiency, and
      type VI glycogen storage disease was only diagnosed at the age of 2 years. In the
      mean time, natural abundance 13C nuclear magnetic resonance evaluation of
      muscular and hepatic glycogen content indicated normal muscular glycogen and
      increased hepatic glycogen in our patient, a finding which strongly argued for
      the diagnosis of type VI glycogen storage disease. Even though the use of nuclear
      magnetic resonance might seem, in this situation, a somewhat circuitous means of
      reaching the diagnosis, it appears that nuclear magnetic resonance could provide
      a useful tool for a non-invasive diagnosis of glycogen storage diseases.

PMID- 1434512
TI  - Measurement of acyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity in cultured skin fibroblasts and
      blood platelets.
AB  - The measurement of acyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity is an essential part of the
      investigation of patients with suspected defects of fatty acid oxidation, and
      recently the organometallic oxidant ferricenium hexafluorophosphate has been
      introduced as an electron acceptor for these assays. However, we show that when
      medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity was measured in cultured skin
      fibroblasts and platelets from patients with proven defects of this enzyme, there
      was considerable residual enzyme activity when this electron acceptor was used.
      The ferricenium assay is not as specific as the anaerobic ETF-linked assay in the
      biochemical diagnosis of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency in
      fibroblasts, and therefore is of limited clinical applicability in its present
      form.

PMID- 1434513
TI  - Carrier detection in glutaric aciduria type I using interleukin-2-dependent
      cultured lymphocytes.
AB  - Cultured interleukin 2 (IL-2)-dependent leukocytes from 13 patients with glutaric
      aciduria type I, 12 obligate carriers, 105 family members and 31 normal controls
      were assayed for glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase activity. Of the 13 affected
      patients, 10 (all Ojibway Indian) had residual enzyme activity (2-13% of control)
      and 3 patients (all non-Indian) had undetectable enzyme activity. There was
      partial overlap between the distribution of enzyme activity in obligate
      heterozygotes and in normal controls (mean values +/- SD: 6.29 +/- 0.94 and 10.75
      +/- 2.58 nmol/h per mg protein respectively). Using an arbitrary cutoff level of
      < 7 nmol/h per mg protein as presumptive evidence of carrier status, the observed
      frequency of carriers did not differ significantly from that expected from their
      a priori risk of carrier status. Thirteen per cent of the family members had
      inconclusive status (activity between 7 and 8.5 nmol/h per mg protein). The
      method appears suitable for carrier detection, although definitive carrier
      assignment awaits identification of the mutation(s) responsible for glutaric
      aciduria type I.

PMID- 1434515
TI  - N-acetylglucosamine 6-sulphatase deficiency in a Nubian goat: a model of
      Sanfilippo syndrome type D (mucopolysaccharidosis IIID).
AB  - A male Nubian goat (SD-1) presented at birth with neurological manifestations
      consistent with a lysosomal storage disease. Histological studies of tissue
      obtained at autopsy suggested glycosaminoglycan storage. Total urinary
      glycosaminoglycan levels, as measured by the uronic acid method, were elevated
      but overlapped with levels in a younger control goat. However, N-sulphate content
      was increased 2- to 5-fold, suggestive of heparan sulphate excretion, and this
      elevation was confirmed by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Further, urinary
      levels of free N-acetylglucosamine 6-sulphate were increased 6-fold over
      controls, SD-1 cultured skin fibroblasts, labelled with [35S]sulphate from the
      incorporated twice as much radioactivity into macromolecular material as did
      normal fibroblasts. Forty-eight hours after removal of [35S]sulphate from the
      medium the SD-1 fibroblasts retained 58% of the label, whereas in control
      fibroblasts it had declined to 20%, indicative of [35S]proteoglycan storage in SD
      1. The assay of fibroblast extracts revealed a profound deficiency of N
      acetylglucosamine 6-sulphatase whereas eight other activities including beta
      mannosidase, arylsulphatase B, iduronate 2-sulphatase, N-acetylgalactosamine 6
      sulphatase, and heparin sulphamidase were normal. Mixing of SD-1 sonicates with
      normal sonicates showed no evidence of an inhibitor, and mixing of SD-1 sonicates
      with Sanfilippo D cell sonicates yielded no activity. These data ruled out
      multiple sulphatase deficiency and suggested the first example of the human
      Sanfilippo syndrome, type D (N-acetylglucosamine 6-sulphatase deficiency) in
      goats.

PMID- 1434514
TI  - Characterization of phosphofructokinase-deficient canine erythrocytes.
AB  - Dogs homozygously affected with muscle-type phosphofructokinase (PFK) deficiency
      had about 20% of normal erythrocyte PFK activity and exhibited a compensated
      haemolytic anaemia. Erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate
      concentrations were increased and dihydroxyacetone phosphate and 2,3
      bisphosphoglycerate values were below normal in affected dogs. Other
      intermediates distal to the PFK step were not significantly below normal and
      fructose-1,6-bisphosphate was even above normal. Erythrocyte ATP was higher than
      normal in affected dogs owing to the reticulocytes present. Abnormal adenylate
      metabolism was demonstrated by low ATP/AMP and ADP/AMP ratios and the inability
      to maintain ATP content when affected erythrocytes were incubated with cyanide.
      Glucose-1,6-bisphosphate content was normal, and fructose-2,6-bisphosphate
      content in affected canine erythrocytes was higher than normal. Studies of
      erythrocyte PFK isozymes revealed altered enzyme kinetic properties in affected
      dogs which appeared to be due to the loss of the M-type subunit.

PMID- 1434516
TI  - Serum selenium levels in individuals on PKU diets.
AB  - Serum selenium levels in 73 patients with phenylketonuria were significantly
      lower than in controls. The phenylketonuric and hyperphenylalaninaemic
      individuals taking the non-supplemented amino acid mixture generally had lower
      levels: 36% were below the normal range as defined by our laboratory, compared
      with 19% in the supplemented group. The low levels were present even in those on
      diet, who had a greater phenylalanine tolerance--that is, a tolerance for more
      than 9 x 50 mg phenylalanine exchanges per day, in other words a higher intake of
      natural protein. Individuals on long-term synthetic diets may be at risk for
      selenium deficiency even on selenium supplements. In areas where the soil may be
      low in selenium, the deficiency may be aggravated. Long-term low levels may
      impair health but the required amount of selenium supplementation remains
      uncertain.

PMID- 1434518
TI  - Lesch-Nyhan syndrome in a girl.

PMID- 1434517
TI  - Elevated plasma carnitine in the hepatic form of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1
      deficiency.
AB  - In a boy with a defect in fatty acid oxidation due to the hepatic form of
      carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 deficiency, plasma carnitine concentrations were
      found to be twice normal. The elevation in plasma carnitine levels was
      accompanied by an unusually high renal threshold for free carnitine, suggesting a
      secondary increase in carnitine transport. Similar to other fatty acid oxidation
      disorders involving the carnitine cycle, urinary dicarboxylic acids were not
      abnormally elevated during illnesses. The combination of elevated plasma
      carnitine levels and absence of dicarboxylic aciduria may help to distinguish the
      hepatic form of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 deficiency from other defects in
      fatty acid oxidation.

PMID- 1434519
TI  - Simultaneous detection of mutant gene and transgene in ornithine carbamoyl
      transferase-deficient spf-ash mice with rat OCT gene.

PMID- 1434520
TI  - Defects of mitochondrial respiratory enzymes in cloned cells from MELAS
      fibroblasts.

PMID- 1434521
TI  - The mutant mitochondrial genes in mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic
      acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) were selectively amplified through
      generations.

PMID- 1434522
TI  - Multiple enzyme defects in mitochondria of a case with congenital lactic acidosis
      and hyperammonaemia.

PMID- 1434523
TI  - Study of bone marrow transplantation for Niemann-Pick mice using Sry and Zfy
      genes.

PMID- 1434524
TI  - Molecular diagnosis of maple syrup urine disease: screening and identification of
      gene mutations in the branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase multienzyme
      complex.

PMID- 1434525
TI  - Liver regeneration and growth factors: old puzzles and new perspectives.

PMID- 1434526
TI  - Hyperglycemia and microangiopathy. Direct regulation by glucose of microvascular
      cells.

PMID- 1434527
TI  - Topographic dissociation between mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death during
      low-flow hypoxia in perfused rat liver.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although it has been postulated that mitochondrial dysfunction and
      oxygen radicals may play a role in the mechanisms of hypoxic liver injury, little
      is known about the intralobular topographic relationship between a disorder in
      oxygen metabolism and cell death during hypoxia. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:
      Intralobular heterogeneity of mitochondrial dysfunction and its topographic
      relationship to cell death during 25% low-flow hypoxia was visually demonstrated
      in perfused rat hepatic microcirculatory units by dual-color digital
      microfluorography using rhodamine 123, a fluorochrome sensitive to the
      mitochondrial membrane potential, and propidium iodide, which labels the nuclei
      of nonviable cells with a concomitant enhancement of fluorescence. RESULTS: In
      the normoperfused liver from fasted rats, no significant depletion of the
      mitochondrial membrane potential values was observed in any portion of lobules
      during 100 minutes. In the liver treated with the 40-minute hypoxia, the
      mitochondrial membrane potential values within the entire lobule were
      significantly decreased. After a longer period of hypoxia, the pericentral
      fluorescence decreased to background levels, and the intralobular gradient showed
      a steep decline midway between the periportal and pericentral regions. Cell death
      was at first prominent in the midzone at 40 minutes, and then extended towards
      the pericentral regions, forming centrilobular necrosis at 100 minutes. Although
      allopurinol diminished the early midzonal cell death and retarded the development
      of centrilobular necrosis, it did not attenuate depression of the mitochondrial
      membrane potential. CONCLUSIONS: It is conceivable that mitochondrial dysfunction
      per se may not be related to the intralobular distribution of cell death during
      hypoxia. On the other hand, mitochondrial dysfunction in the centrilobular
      regions seems to be an important event leading to early midzonal oxidative tissue
      damage in that this change may involve ATP breakdown and the subsequent
      enhancement of xanthine oxidase-mediated oxidative cell injury in the midzonal
      regions, which are incompletely oxygenated.

PMID- 1434528
TI  - Regulation of p26-bcl-2 protein levels in human peripheral blood lymphocytes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The protein encoded by the bcl-2 (B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2) proto
      oncogene has been implicated in the regulation of lymphocyte cell survival and
      has been shown to interfere with programmed cell death (apoptosis). Recently,
      controversy has emerged regarding the expression of bcl-2 in circulating
      peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and its correlation with lymphocyte
      proliferation. Using immunohistochemical methods, Pezzella et al. (Pezzella F,
      Tse G, Cordell J, Pulford K, Gatter K, Mason D. Am J Pathol 1990; 137:225-32)
      detected abundant amounts of Bcl-2 protein in resting PBLs and observed an
      inverse correlation between bcl-2 expression and cellular proliferation in
      lymphoid tissues. In contrast, previous in vitro studies of bcl-2 mRNAs showed
      that expression of this gene is very low in unstimulated PBLs but can be markedly
      induced when lymphocytes are stimulated to proliferate in culture (Reed JC,
      Tsujimoto Y, Alpers JD, Croce CM, Nowell PC. Science 1987; 236:1295-9; Granniger
      W, Seto M, Boutain B, Goldman P, Korsmeyer S. J Clin Invest 1987; 80:1512-5).
      EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: To resolve this issue, the regulation of p26-Bcl-2 protein
      levels was examined in freshly isolated and in cultured human PBLs by
      immunoblotting using two different polyclonal antisera specific for the human Bcl
      2 protein. RESULTS: When freshly isolated from whole blood, resting PBLs
      contained easily detectable amounts of p26-Bcl-2 protein that did not
      significantly change in culture when cellular proliferation was stimulated with
      mitogenic lectins and lymphokines. If processing of the blood was delayed,
      however, p26-Bcl-2 protein was low or undetectable in resting PBLs and underwent
      marked increases in its relative levels after in vitro stimulation of PBLs by
      mitogenic lectins and lymphokines. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that bcl-2
      is normally expressed in quiescent circulating lymphocytes, consistent with a
      role for this gene in the maintenance of lymphocyte survival, and illustrate the
      importance of correlating in vitro and in vivo expression data.

PMID- 1434529
TI  - Chinese hamster ovarian cells transfected with human parathyroid hormone-related
      protein cDNA cause hypercalcemia in nude mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH-rP) has been implicated as a
      causative factor in the humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. Animal models of
      hypercalcemia of malignancy that have traditionally utilized human or animal
      tumors or injections or infusions of hypercalcemic factors have limitations that
      may prevent exact delineation of the biologic effects of tumor-produced PTH-rP.
      EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: To assess the effects of tumor-produced PTH-rP in vivo, we
      have transfected Chinese hamster ovarian (CHO) cells with cDNA encoding human
      preproPTH-rP-(1-141) which then stably express only PTH-rP. We inoculated these
      tumor cells into nude mice, and compared tumor-bearing nude mice with similar
      tumor-bearing nude mice inoculated with non-transfected CHO cells using standard
      parameters of calcium homeostasis. RESULTS: The nude mice carrying tumors
      expressing PTH-rP became hypercalcemic over 12 to 18 days. Blood ionized calcium
      values correlated positively with plasma PTH-rP concentration and tumor volume.
      Plasma PTH-rP concentrations in hypercalcemic mice were similar to those reported
      in humans with hypercalcemia of malignancy. Bone histology and histomorphometry
      from hypercalcemic nude mice demonstrated increased bone resorption when compared
      with mice bearing nontransfected CHO tumors. CONCLUSIONS: We have produced an
      animal model of tumor-produced PTH-rP by transfecting CHO cells with the cDNA for
      PTH-rP and inoculating these tumor cells into nude mice. Hypercalcemia in this
      model is mediated in part by the effects of PTH-rP to increase osteoclastic bone
      resorption. The model is advantageous because PTH-rP alone is secreted in a
      prolonged, constitutive fashion with pharmacokinetics similar to naturally
      occurring tumors. It should prove to be a useful model to study the effects of
      tumor-produced PTH-rP in vivo.

PMID- 1434530
TI  - Carbohydrate metabolism in human renal clear cell carcinomas.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Renal cell carcinomas can be subclassified into clear cell
      carcinomas, chromophobe cell carcinomas, chromophilic cell carcinomas, and
      oncocytomas. Previous studies, in which no distinction among the different types
      of renal cell tumors and their grades of malignancy was performed, showed that
      these tumors had high glycolytic rates. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The carbohydrate
      metabolism of control human kidney samples and renal clear cell carcinomas with
      different degrees of cytologic malignancy (G I, G II, and G III) was studied by
      determining the glycogen and glucose-6-phosphate levels and the activities of key
      enzymes involved in glycolysis (hexokinase, glucokinase, pyruvate kinase),
      gluconeogenesis (glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1,6-diphosphatase), and the
      pentose phosphate pathway (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) in these tissues
      and compared with those of a limited number of chromophilic cell carcinomas,
      chromophobe cell carcinomas, and oncocytomas. RESULTS: The glycogen and glucose-6
      phosphate levels were significantly higher in G I, G II, and G III clear cut
      carcinomas than in control kidneys; glucokinase, hexokinase, and glucose-6
      phosphate dehydrogenase activities remained unchanged, pyruvate kinase activity
      was enhanced, and glucose-6-phosphatase as well as fructose-1,6-diphosphatase
      activities were strongly reduced when compared with control kidney values. In
      chromophilic cell carcinomas glycogen content, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase,
      and pyruvate kinase activities were elevated, while fructose-1,6-diphosphatase
      activity was reduced. In chromophobe cell carcinomas glycogen content was
      elevated and gluconeogenesis was reduced, whereas glycolysis was not activated.
      In oncocytomas glycogen was not detected and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase,
      pyruvate kinase, and fructose-1,6-diphosphatase activities remained unchanged.
      CONCLUSIONS: It has been demonstrated that a series of characteristic changes
      occur in the carbohydrate metabolism of renal clear cell carcinomas: glycogen and
      glucose-6-phosphate levels increase, glycolysis is activated, and gluconeogenesis
      is reduced. Furthermore, the alterations of the carbohydrate metabolism within
      clear cell carcinomas are clearly distinct from those observed in chromophilic
      cell carcinomas, chromophobe cell carcinomas, and oncocytomas.

PMID- 1434531
TI  - Platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta is induced during tumor development
      and upregulated during tumor progression in endothelial cells in human gliomas.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Endothelial cells proliferate during brain development, are quiescent
      in normal adult brain but proliferate again under pathologic conditions such as
      glioma growth. The vascular phenotype of low grade glioma is comparable to normal
      brain, however high grade gliomas are focally highly vascularized and there is
      associated prominent endothelial cell proliferation. The mechanisms of this
      change in vascular phenotype are unknown but there is evidence that growth
      factors play an important role in this process as well as in normal angiogenesis
      and vascular differentiation. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: To investigate whether
      endothelial cells become activated during tumorigenesis and progression of human
      gliomas by a platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) dependent pathway, we analyzed
      platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFR-beta) expression by in situ
      hybridization and immunocytochemistry in normal human brain, astrocytoma (grade
      II), anaplastic oligo-astrocytoma (grade III), and glioblastoma multiforme (grade
      IV). RESULTS: PDGFR-beta mRNA was not detectable in the vessels of normal human
      brain, but was expressed in the vasculature of low and high grade gliomas,
      particularly in endothelial cell proliferations in glioblastomas. The expression
      of the receptor in the tumor microvessels, was confirmed by double
      immunofluorescence in which the staining appeared to be in the endothelial cells.
      Primary cultures of endothelial cells derived from glioblastoma multiforme
      maintained receptor expression for 2 days in vitro, whereas it was not detectable
      in vitro in endothelial cells derived from normal brain. Tumor cells in all
      grades of glioma expressed very little PDGFR-beta mRNA in situ. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      results indicate that the malignant phenotype in human glial tumors is associated
      with an upregulation of the PDGFR-beta on endothelial cells of vessels which
      vascularize the tumor. These findings may contribute to our understanding of the
      mechanisms that regulate vessel growth and differentiation in normal and
      pathologic states.

PMID- 1434532
TI  - Diverse role of pulmonary cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase.

PMID- 1434533
TI  - Prostate cancer: therapeutic, diagnostic, and basic studies.

PMID- 1434534
TI  - Relationship of cytochrome P-450 activity to Clara cell cytotoxicity. III.
      Morphometric comparison of changes in the epithelial populations of terminal
      bronchioles and lobar bronchi in mice, hamsters, and rats after parenteral
      administration of naphthalene.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to define, in quantitative terms,
      epithelial alterations produced by the cytochrome P-450-activated Clara cell
      cytotoxicant, naphthalene, in lobar bronchi and terminal bronchioles of three
      species with differing sensitivity: mouse, rat, and hamster. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:
      Adult mice, hamsters, and rats were treated intraperitoneally with a single dose
      of naphthalene ranging from 0 mg/kg up to the approximate LD50. The animals were
      killed 24 hours postinjection and the changes in airway epithelium characterized
      by light microscopic morphometry. RESULTS: In mouse, bronchiolar epithelial
      thickness was significantly elevated by low, but not high, doses; ciliated cell
      number increased and Clara cell number decreased in a dose-dependent fashion.
      Vacuolated Clara cell number increased in all treated mice. In rat and hamster,
      bronchiolar epithelial thickness or cell number did not change. In mice,
      bronchial epithelial thickness was unchanged except at high doses, but both
      ciliated and Clara cell number was decreased. In bronchi of rats, epithelial
      thickness and numbers of nonciliated, ciliated, and basal cells were unchanged.
      In bronchi of hamsters, both ciliated and nonciliated cell number were decreased.
      CONCLUSIONS: (a) In mice, naphthalene-induced acute bronchiolar toxicity involves
      not only Clara cells, but also affects the purported nontarget cell type
      (ciliated cells). (b) In rats and hamsters, bronchiolar epithelium is insensitive
      to naphthalene injury. (c) In mice, injury to bronchi occurs at higher doses than
      in bronchioles and involves both ciliated and nonciliated cells. (d) In rats,
      bronchi are insensitive. (e) In hamsters, bronchi are more sensitive than
      bronchioles. This study emphasizes the variability of response by species, airway
      and epithelial cell type to cytochrome P-450-mediated pulmonary toxicants and the
      need for precise quantitative methods of defining both cytotoxic and metabolic
      events.

PMID- 1434535
TI  - Thrombospondin induces glomerular mesangial cell adhesion and migration.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Extracellular matrix components are known to modulate mesangial cell
      functions as adhesion, motility and proliferation. Among other extracellular
      matrix components, mesangial cells have been recently described to secrete
      thrombospondin (TSP), a high molecular weight glycoprotein, produced by several
      cell types, and known to play a role in embryogenesis, wound healing,
      angiogenesis, and tumorigenesis. The aim of this work was the functional and
      molecular characterization of TSP interactions with mesangial cells. EXPERIMENTAL
      DESIGN: Adhesion of mesangial cells to TSP-coated plastic, and chemotaxis in the
      Boyden chamber assay were tested. In order to identify TSP active domains,
      heparin, known to bind to the amino-terminal region of TSP, four monoclonal
      antibodies directed against specific domains of the molecule, and TSP fragments
      obtained by enzymatic digestion were used. RESULTS: We found that TSP induces
      mesangial cell adhesion and chemotaxis, in a dose dependent manner. Adhesion was
      inhibited by antiserum against TSP, and by an anti-CD36 monoclonal antibody
      tested in the presence of heparin, but not by the peptide Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser. We
      have also found that only the carboxy-terminal end of TSP retains the adhesive
      properties of the molecule, while all the fragments tested showed some degree of
      chemotactic activity. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that TSP modulates mesangial cell
      adhesion and motility, thus acting as a potential autocrine and paracrine
      regulator of mesangial cell functions in normal and pathologic conditions.

PMID- 1434536
TI  - Pathophysiologic implications of proteinuria in a rat model of progressive
      glomerular injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Males of a substrain of Munich-Wistar rats (MWF/Ztm), selected for
      their large number of superficial glomeruli, develop spontaneous proteinuria with
      age, whereas females of this strain have a normal urinary protein excretion rate.
      EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We investigated the relationship between functional and
      structural glomerular alterations in four groups of male and female MWF/Ztm rats,
      respectively at 20 and 35 weeks of age. Systolic blood pressure, urinary protein
      excretion and composition of urinary proteins were periodically measured during
      the study. At the end of the observation period, renal function was evaluated
      with solute clearance technique and kidney tissue processed for morphologic and
      morphometrical analysis using light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: Systolic
      blood pressure in males was significantly higher than in females, and progressed
      toward systemic hypertension with age. Urinary protein excretion became
      spontaneously abnormal in males. About 50% of urinary proteins consisted of
      albumin, whereas 35% was a sex-dependent low molecular weight protein. Albumin
      excretion increased with age in these animals, whereas excretion of the sex
      dependent protein decreased. Urinary protein excretion in females was
      significantly lower than in males of the same age, remaining near normal levels.
      No decline in renal function with age was observed in all animal groups.
      Glomerular structural alterations developed progressively with age in males,
      leading to important glomerular and tubular alterations. Female rats maintained
      almost intact glomerular morphology until the end of the study. Morphometric
      analysis showed an important increase in glomerular volume with age in males but
      not in females. This glomerular tuft enlargement was the result of an increase in
      the number of glomerular cells and a concomitant increase in cell volume.
      CONCLUSIONS: Male MWF/Ztm rats develop spontaneously systemic hypertension,
      proteinuria of glomerular origin, and glomerulosclerosis. Female rats develop
      less severe hypertension and are protected from proteinuria and
      glomerulosclerosis.

PMID- 1434537
TI  - A molecular biologic study of extracellular matrix components during the
      development of glomerulosclerosis in murine chronic graft-versus-host disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We studied the development of glomerulosclerosis in murine chronic
      graft-versus-host disease, a model for human systemic lupus erythematosus.
      EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The disease was induced in (C57BL10 x DBA/2)F1 hybrids by
      injection of DBA/2 lymphocytes leading to deposition of auto-antibodies in the
      glomeruli, and a lupus type of nephritis morphologically. We have determined the
      levels of mRNA coding for laminin (B1 and B2), a 67 kilodalton laminin binding
      protein, and types I and IV collagen, in control and graft-versus host disease
      mice at various times after disease induction. RESULTS: Laminin and collagen
      mRNAs were increased in whole kidneys 4 weeks after induction of the disease. At
      week 10, all animals displayed dramatic stimulation of alpha 1(I), alpha 1(IV),
      laminin B1, and B2 mRNAs. The 67 kilodalton laminin binding protein mRNA was also
      doubled from week 4 to 16. In isolated glomeruli, the mRNA level coding for
      laminin B2 was already significantly increased from week 8. This enhancement of
      laminin synthesis corresponds to the mesangial expansion and to the development
      of laminin-containing spike formations of the glomerular basement membrane at
      week 8. CONCLUSIONS: The expansion of the mesangial matrix in murine chronic
      graft-versus-host disease is caused at least in part, by an increased production
      of extracellular matrix components by glomerular cells. These results demonstrate
      that the increase of specific extracellular matrix components mRNAs precedes
      light microscopic changes. Quantitative evaluation of the mRNA levels coding for
      extracellular matrix proteins may reveal a useful method for the early detection
      of the development of glomerular sclerosis at the stage preceding the onset of
      anatomo-clinical changes.

PMID- 1434538
TI  - A comparative analysis of glycosaminoglycans from human umbilical arteries in
      normal subjects and in pathological conditions affecting pregnancy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vascular cells express different phenotypes in adult and fetal
      vessels, and the extracellular matrix they synthesize should reflect these
      differences. Alterations of vascular proteoglycan/glycosaminoglycan is verified
      in disorders such as hypertension and diabetes, and when occurring during
      pregnancy, they bring about structural changes to fetal vessels that often lead
      to impaired fetus growth. Yet there is little data about the extracellular matrix
      of an important human fetal vessel, the umbilical artery. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:
      This study involved the biochemical characterization of the extracellular matrix
      of normal umbilical arteries, umbilical arteries from complicated pregnancies
      (maternal hypertension and diabetes and intrauterine growth retardation
      syndrome), and, for purpose of comparison, normal adult arteries (aorta and iliac
      and pulmonary arteries). Although the collagen types I:III ratio was determined
      in some cases, emphasis was placed on analysis of glycosaminoglycans. RESULTS:
      Normal umbilical arteries differ from normal adult arteries in that they contain
      greater concentrations of hyaluronic acid and lesser concentrations of heparan
      sulfate and chondroitin 4- and 6-sulfate. The umbilical artery also differs from
      adult arteries in the disaccharide composition of its chondroitin and heparan
      sulfates and in the molecular weight of this latter glycosaminoglycan. The
      glycosaminoglycan distribution in umbilical arteries derived from complicated
      pregnancies is roughly similar to that of controls. However, total
      glycosaminoglycan and collagen were significantly reduced, and the collagen I:III
      ratio was increased in the umbilical arteries from hypertension-complicated
      pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: The glycosaminoglycan composition of the normal
      umbilical artery, a fully differentiated tissue, differs in many aspects from
      that of normal adult arteries. Of the cases of complicated pregnancies studied,
      the extracellular matrix of umbilical arteries was altered only in maternal
      hypertension. The changes, notably a mild fibrosis, were not very pronounced and
      should not impair hemodynamic properties of the vessel.

PMID- 1434539
TI  - Thrombin enhancement of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced
      polymorphonuclear leukocyte migration.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cytokines such as IL-1 alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF
      alpha) activate vascular endothelium to express leukocyte adhesion molecules that
      promote polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) migration and to synthesize tissue
      factor, thus making the endothelium a procoagulant surface. alpha-Thrombin,
      generated during coagulation, also activates endothelial cells. Since all these
      processes are likely involved in inflammation, the effect of alpha-thrombin on
      PMNL interaction with cytokine activated endothelium was investigated.
      EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Human umbilical vein endothelium was grown on polycarbonate
      filters to investigate the effects interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), TNF-alpha,
      and alpha-thrombin on PMNL transendothelial migration quantitated with 51Cr
      labeled PMNL, and on endothelial monolayer permeability, quantitated with 125I
      labeled albumin (HSA). To evaluate the expression of endothelial-leukocyte
      adhesion molecules, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed on human
      umbilical vein endothelium monolayers. The effect of thrombin on PMNL
      accumulation and plasma exudation in inflammation was studied in a rabbit dermal
      model, using 51Cr-labeled blood leukocytes and [125I]HSA respectively. RESULTS:
      On resting human umbilical vein endothelium, alpha-thrombin induced a transient
      increase (2.5- to 4-fold) in monolayer permeability lasting 30 minutes. Slight
      but significant transendothelial migration of 51Cr-labeled PMNL was induced by
      alpha-thrombin (7.4 +/- 0.6% of cells added, unstimulated = 1.9 +/- 0.4%),
      although this response was less than that induced by f-norLeu-Leu-Phe (17%), IL-1
      alpha (29%) or TNF-alpha (21%). alpha-Thrombin enhanced the initial rate of IL-1,
      TNF-alpha and f-norLeu-Leu-Phe induced PMNL transendothelial migration in an
      additive or supradditive manner (e.g., with IL-1 alpha+alpha-thrombin, migration
      was 58% greater than additive at 15 to 30 minutes, p < 0.001). Catalytically
      inactivated alpha-thrombin, D-phenylalanyl-L-propyl-L-arginine chloromethyl
      ketone and diisopropyl-fluorophosphate alpha-thrombin, did not enhance migration
      or permeability. In dermal inflammation in rabbits, alpha-thrombin (10
      units/site) induced an increase in plasma protein exudation, with only a mild
      infiltration of PMNL. However, alpha-thrombin synergistically enhanced the PMNL
      infiltration induced by IL-1 alpha, TNF-alpha, but not that induced by zymosan
      activated plasma (C5a) or IL-8 (neutrophil-activating peptide-1). These
      measurements were confirmed histologically. Investigations into the mechanisms of
      the enhancement of PMNL migration indicated that individually vascular
      permeability changes, prostaglandins, platelet activating factor, and P-selectin
      expression did not account for the observation effects. CONCLUSIONS: Alpha
      thrombin may have a role in synergistically enhancing PMNL infiltration at sites
      of inflammation, in part via enzymatic action on the cytokine activated
      endothelium. The mechanisms involved in this effect are likely a complex
      interaction.

PMID- 1434540
TI  - Langerhans cells, macrophages and lymphocyte subsets in the cervix and vagina of
      rhesus macaques.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The lower reproductive tract is an important site of contact with
      pathogenic microorganisms and local immune responses to a variety of antigens
      have been reported. The purpose of this investigation was to define the
      morphology of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue in the genital tract of
      rhesus monkeys. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Monoclonal antibodies were used in an
      immunoperoxidase staining technique to identify immunophenotypic markers on
      mononuclear cells in the vaginal and cervical mucosa of 14 cycling, multiparous
      rhesus macaques. RESULTS: CD1a+ Langerhans cells were present in the stratified
      squamous epithelium of the vagina (14 animals) and ectocervix (11 animals).
      Surprisingly, CD1a+ dendritic cells were also found within the columnar
      epithelium of the endocervix (5 animals). Moderate numbers of CD68+ macrophages
      were located in the submucosa of the vagina, ectocervix, and endocervix of all
      the monkeys. In all of the animals, moderate numbers of CD8+ lymphocytes were
      present in the submucosa and squamous epithelia of the vagina and ectocervix.
      Variable numbers of CD20+ B cells and CD4+ lymphocytes were located in the
      submucosa of all the areas examined. Lymphoid nodules were present in the
      submucosa of vagina (14 animals) and ectocervix (4 animals), and these nodules
      contained macrophages, CD4+ T cells and B cells, with fewer numbers of CD8+ T
      cells and Langerhans cells. CONCLUSIONS: These observations provide a morphologic
      basis for mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue in the female genital tract.
      Langerhans cells in the vaginal mucosa and endocervix may be well suited to
      sample antigen in the lumen of the reproductive tract, travel to the draining
      lymph node, present the antigen to T lymphocytes and initiate an immune response.
      This pathway of antigen presenting cell migration from the mucosa to the genital
      lymph node may represent the inductive arm of the mucosal immune system in the
      lower female reproductive tract.

PMID- 1434541
TI  - Astrocyte activation correlates with cytokine production in central nervous
      system of Trypanosoma brucei brucei-infected mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: During the late-stage disease associated with human African
      trypanosomiasis, caused by infection with either Trypanosoma gambiense or T.
      rhodesiense, parasites invade the central nervous system (CNS), eventually
      leading to development of CNS pathology. This can be exacerbated by subcurative
      chemotherapy. The mechanisms through which the inflammatory processes within the
      CNS are controlled remain unclear. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Mice infected with T. b.
      brucei were treated with a trypanocidal drug regimen on day 28 postinfection that
      cleared parasites from all sites except the brain. Brains of mice killed at
      different times during infection and after chemotherapy were analyzed, using
      immunocytochemistry for astrocyte activation and polymerase chain reaction
      assisted amplification of RNA to detect cytokine transcripts. RESULTS: Drug
      treated animals developed a posttreatment meningoencephalitis similar to that
      which can occur in humans with late-stage African trypanosomiasis. Between days
      14 and 21 postinfection, before chemotherapy and the subsequent development of
      inflammatory lesions in the brain, astrocytes became activated. The production of
      several cytokines correlated with this astrocyte activation. Low levels of
      interleukin-1 alpha transcripts were detected in uninfected controls, but levels
      increased with astrocyte activation in the infected animals. Transcripts for the
      macrophage inflammatory protein-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were first
      detected on day 21 postinfection, with higher levels in mice after development of
      the posttreatment meningoencephalitis, whereas granulocyte macrophage-colony
      stimulating factor was detected only in animals that developed posttreatment
      reaction. Interleukin-6 and interferon-gamma were also first detected on day 21
      postinfection, correlating with astrocyte activation but subsequently declined
      with time in both treated and untreated mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate
      that cytokines are being produced within the CNS before any inflammation and that
      astrocytes may be the source of some of these cytokines. Thus astrocyte
      activation may be key in the control and development of the CNS inflammatory
      processes that occur in African sleeping sickness.

PMID- 1434542
TI  - Characterization of high affinity binding between laminin and Alzheimer's disease
      amyloid precursor proteins.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In vivo amyloid formation apparently involves several extracellular
      matrix components that are usually found associated with basement membranes.
      These include laminin, heparan sulfate proteoglycan, collagen type IV, and
      entactin. These components have also been found in neuritic plaques. We have
      therefore been examining interactions between extracellular matrix components and
      the Alzheimer's amyloid precursors (AAPs). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Binding
      interactions of laminin with AAP-695, -751, and -770 were examined using a solid
      phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. RESULTS: Objective,
      quantitative analyses of the laminin AAP-695, -751, and -770 binding data reveal
      two binding sites for laminin, with Kd values of 1 x 10(-10) M and 1 x 10(-8) M.
      Zinc and dithiothreitol profoundly stimulate laminin binding to AAPs.
      Furthermore, zinc fingers were found in the laminin amino acid sequences.
      Previous binding studies of AAPs with the basement membrane heparan sulfate
      proteoglycan revealed similar affinities. A particular order of addition of
      laminin and heparan sulfate proteoglycan to AAPs can be demonstrated.
      CONCLUSIONS: These avid interactions with extracellular matrix proteins likely
      reflect normal functions of the AAPs and may be involved in nucleation events in
      Alzheimer-type amyloid formation.

PMID- 1434543
TI  - A new marker for rhabdomyosarcoma. Insulin-like growth factor II.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Accurate diagnosis of soft tissue tumors is often difficult and
      considered important because the clinical outcome and the modality of therapy
      vary according to tumor type. We have realized that rhabdomyoblasts seen in
      occasional Wilms' tumors express high levels of insulin-like growth factor II
      (IGF-II) transcripts. This observation prompted us to see if IGF-II could be a
      useful marker for differential diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) from other
      soft tissue sarcomas. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Five cases of RMSs (including
      embryonal, botryoid, and alveolar types), various other soft tissue tumors, and
      10-week gestation fetal muscle tissue were studied to demonstrate IGF-II
      transcripts by means of Northern blot hybridization and in situ mRNA
      hybridization using radio-labeled probes. Hybridization results were then
      compared with data obtained from immunohistochemistry using antibodies against
      desmin and vimentin. RESULTS: Northern blot hybridization demonstrated that all
      five RMSs contained three major sizes of IGF-II transcripts. In situ
      hybridization indicated that all RMSs showed highly strong and specific IGF-II
      mRNA expression, whereas other soft tissue tumors showed very low or no signal. A
      characteristic finding was that the expression of IGF-II mRNA was inversely
      correlated with the degree of tumor cell differentiation. Thus poorly
      differentiated RMSs showed the highest signal, whereas well-differentiated RMSs
      showed low expression, albeit, still significantly higher than normal skeletal
      muscle fibers. Among five RMSs, desmin was seen in three tumors and vimentin in
      all tumors. Desmin was negative in other nonskeletal muscle origin tumors while
      vimentin was present in all tumors examined. CONCLUSIONS: IGF-II has potential as
      a new marker for differential diagnosis of RMS from other soft tissue tumors and
      could be especially useful in differential diagnosis of small blue cell tumors.

PMID- 1434545
TI  - Creating an agenda for school-based health promotion: a review of 25 selected
      reports.

PMID- 1434544
TI  - Multiple-modified desialylated low density lipoproteins that cause intracellular
      lipid accumulation. Isolation, fractionation and characterization.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The basic differences between sialylated (sialic acid rich) and
      desialylated (sialic acid poor) human low density lipoproteins (LDL) are not
      fully defined. It is not known whether there are any differences in the LDL
      composition of coronary atherosclerosis patients and healthy individuals.
      EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Sialylated (45 to 94% of total LDL) and desialylated (6 to
      55%) LDL were separated by affinity chromatography on Ricinus communis agglutinin
      agarose, and their chemical composition and physical properties were examined.
      RESULTS: Sialic acid contents in sialylated LDL fractions of healthy subjects and
      patients were the same and 1.5 to 3-fold higher than in desialylated LDL.
      Desialylated LDL had smaller sizes and greater electrophoretic mobility than
      sialylated ones. Desialylated, but not sialylated LDL, induced 1.5- to 4-fold
      accumulation of neutral lipids in human aortic smooth muscle cells and human
      blood monocytes. Subfractions of desialylated LDL containing lower amount of
      sialic acid revealed higher ability to accumulate lipids in cultured cells.
      Desialylated LDL contained lower amounts of cholesteryl esters, free cholesterol
      and triglycerides as compared with sialylated LDL. On the other hand,
      concentration of di-, monoglycerides and free fatty acids in desialylated LDL was
      2 to 3-fold higher than in sialylated lipoproteins. Desialylated LDL fraction was
      characterized by lower levels of phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin,
      phosphatidylethanolamine, but higher content of lysophosphatidylcholine. Freshly
      isolated sialylated and desialylated LDL contained equal amounts of
      thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, but oxidation of desialylated LDL was
      more pronounced in presence of Cu(2+)-ions. Desialylated LDL had higher level of
      oxysterols and lower amounts of vitamin A and E. Content of free amino groups of
      lysine in desialylated LDL of patients was 2-fold lower than in sialylated LDL.
      This difference was partially due to masking of amino groups caused by
      conformational change in the tertiary structure of apolipoprotein, partially to
      chemical modification of amino groups. When subfractionated by density gradient
      ultracentrifugation, desialylated LDL was represented by higher density particles
      than sialylated LDL. Sialic acid content in desialylated LDL subfractions
      decreased with rise of lipoprotein density. Higher density desialylated LDL and
      in less extent sialylated LDL contained smaller amounts of free and esterified
      cholesterol and phospholipids. Only the densest subfractions of desialylated LDL
      from healthy subjects caused intracellular lipid accumulation. Ability of
      patients' desialylated LDL to accumulate cholesterol in cells increased with
      particle density. CONCLUSIONS: Extensive biochemical and biophysical analysis
      performed in this study shows that desialylated LDL differ from these sialylated
      LDL in many respects. The LDL of coronary atherosclerosis patients differ from
      those in healthy individuals in several parameters.

PMID- 1434546
TI  - Use of a school referendum to deter teen-age tobacco use.
AB  - Montana's 1991 school "tobacco referendum," authorized by the state legislature
      and approved by about 60% of approximately 50,000 students voting in grades 7-12,
      represents an innovative attempt to include youth in decisions regarding tobacco
      and health and to decisively demonstrate peer disapproval of tobacco use. The
      referendum asked students whether tobacco sellers should voluntarily refuse to
      sell cigarettes and tobacco to persons younger than age 18. Montana is one of
      five states which allow tobacco sales to minors but has one of the nation's
      lowest youth smoking rates. The statewide referendum follows the successful
      example of the Bozeman, Montana, school district's 1990 tobacco referendum, in
      which 80% of the 2,200 grade 7-12 students and staff voted to make their schools
      "tobacco-free."

PMID- 1434547
TI  - Susceptibility to peer pressure as an explanatory variable for the differential
      effectiveness of an alcohol misuse prevention program in elementary schools.
AB  - A school-based alcohol misuse prevention program had differential effects on
      students' susceptibility to peer pressure, depending on prior experience with
      alcohol. These effects paralleled those on alcohol use and misuse, indicating
      program effects on use and misuse were mediated by reductions in the rate of
      increase on susceptibility to peer pressure. Experimental group students with
      prior unsupervised use of alcohol showed a significantly greater reduction than
      their controls in the rate of increase in susceptibility to peer pressure,
      alcohol use, and alcohol misuse. This difference was not found among students
      without prior unsupervised use of alcohol.

PMID- 1434548
TI  - Peer perceptions of adolescent health behaviors.
AB  - Perceptions adolescents form of peers in relation to modeled health behaviors
      were examined. Five hundred ten adolescents, ages 12-15, from eight midwest
      schools were shown a slide of a male or female adolescent displaying a health
      behavior artifact (apple, tennis racket, cigarette, beer can), or without an
      artifact and asked to rate the model on 16 characteristics using a semantic
      differential scale. Data were factor analyzed using principle components analysis
      and a 2x2x5 MANOVA. Results indicated that models appeared less mature when
      holding a beer can or cigarette. In addition, the female model was rated more
      popular than the male in the control and beer can depictions. The influence of
      modeled behaviors on traits adolescents want to develop must be understood to
      present effective health education programs. Educational efforts should include
      consideration of the perceptions adolescents hold of their peers' health
      behaviors.

PMID- 1434549
TI  - HIV-infected students in school: who really "needs to know"?

PMID- 1434551
TI  - Selected tobacco-use behaviors and dietary patterns among high school students-
      United States, 1991.

PMID- 1434550
TI  - Community-oriented primary care: a process for school health intervention.

PMID- 1434552
TI  - Demographics of adolescent sexual behavior, contraception, pregnancy, and STDs.
AB  - The demographics of fertility-related behavior of youth ages 10-18 are reviewed.
      Data were collected from U.S. vital statistics, and birth rates, contraceptive
      use, sexual behavior, number and types of sexual partners, patterns of sexual
      initiation and sexual intercourse, and sexually transmitted diseases were
      examined. Despite data limitations, the demographic profile of adolescent sexual
      intercourse is striking. Age clearly is the single most important predictor of
      sexual debut.

PMID- 1434553
TI  - Risk factors for adolescent sexual behavior, fertility, and sexually transmitted
      diseases.
AB  - Current understanding of the risk factors related to adolescent initiation of
      sexual activity, use of contraception, pregnancy, and STDs is examined. From
      recent research on adolescent fertility, findings that have particular relevance
      to school health or reflect new understandings of adolescent sexuality are
      summarized. In selected cases, prevention programs that build directly on an
      understanding of these risk factors are cited.

PMID- 1434555
TI  - Teen contraception in the 1990s.
AB  - Basic information about appropriate contraceptive methods for teen-agers is
      provided. Methods most commonly used will be reviewed and an overview of
      alternative methods available for use in special subgroups will be provided.

PMID- 1434554
TI  - School-based programs to reduce sexual risk-taking behaviors.
AB  - This article reviews the major approaches implemented during the last two decades
      to reduce sexual risk-taking behaviors, examines their evidence for success, and
      provides several recommendations for effective programs and program evaluations.
      This article does not discuss more broad-based sexuality education programs which
      address sexuality in a broader context. Instead, this article focuses primarily
      on programs that educators believed would reduce unprotected sexual intercourse.

PMID- 1434556
TI  - Adolescent reproductive health: roles for school personnel in prevention and
      early intervention.
AB  - The practical roles school staff can play in addressing adolescent reproductive
      health issues such as teen-age pregnancy, STDs, and HIV/AIDS are reviewed.
      Particular attention is given to identification and assessment of adolescents
      most at risk for pregnancy, STDs, and HIV/AIDS, and the regulations that address
      protection of students' privacy in this area.

PMID- 1434557
TI  - Adolescent pregnancy options.
AB  - The range of pregnancy options available to adolescents each have significant
      ramifications for future educational and economic achievement. The changing
      societal context of adolescent pregnancy decision-making are described, and the
      characteristics of adolescents who choose to terminate their pregnancy, parent
      their child, or place for adoption are examined. The role of significant others
      in decision-making and the implications of mandatory parental involvement in
      pregnancy decision-making is discussed, as well as the roles of schools in
      promoting the well-being and potential of adolescents considering pregnancy
      decisions.

PMID- 1434558
TI  - School-based prenatal and postpartum care: strategies for meeting the medical and
      educational needs of pregnant and parenting students.
AB  - Adolescent pregnancy is not a new phenomenon, but it is a source of concern to
      U.S. educators because of the many young women choosing to become parents and the
      profound effect early childbearing has on the educational and vocational careers
      of many young Americans. Strategies for addressing the unique medical,
      educational, and psychosocial needs of pregnant and parenting students will be
      examined. Documented physical and psychosocial risks associated with adolescent
      childbearing will be reviewed, and data related to the effect of young maternal
      age on pregnancy outcome and the effect of pregnancy on the life course
      development of adolescents will be emphasized. Specific elements of
      comprehensive, adolescent-oriented prenatal and postnatal care will be discussed,
      as well as the effectiveness of existing prenatal and postnatal programs at
      preventing the most serious sequelae of adolescent childbearing. The role of
      school-based services will be examined, and ways will be discussed for educators
      and health care providers to collaborate in providing medical, educational, and
      social services for adolescent parents and their children. In addition, topics
      for future research will be suggested.

PMID- 1434559
TI  - Consequences of teen-age parenting.
AB  - The changing context of teen-age childbearing and current related controversies
      are reviewed. Recent research about the consequences of teen-age childbearing for
      the teen-age mother, the father, and for the children born is examined. The
      article also summarizes current knowledge about the consequences of teen-age
      childbearing with regard to the mother's educational attainment, marital
      experience, subsequent fertility behavior, labor force experience and
      occupational attainment, and experience with poverty and welfare.

PMID- 1434560
TI  - Abortion among adolescents: research findings and the current debate.
AB  - Utilizing research that focuses on adolescents as well as findings in samples
      which might have special relevance to young, unmarried women, this report
      summarizes research on the consequences of abortion among adolescents. It
      discusses prior literature in the area of parental notification and parental
      consent, subjects on which public opinion is not divided along familiar pro
      choice/anti-choice lines. Following a discussion of methodological problems
      identified in prior research, it reports on a study designed to address these
      problems in an adolescent population; it discusses implications for the current
      debate of this and other studies' findings that there are no identifiable adverse
      sequelae of the abortion process.

PMID- 1434561
TI  - Epidemiology of AIDS, HIV prevalence, and HIV incidence among adolescents.
AB  - Health educators, policy analysts, and public health officials are becoming more
      aware of the serious threat HIV poses to the health of U.S. adolescents. While
      AIDS among adolescents remains relatively uncommon, considerable data indicates
      this age group has alarmingly high HIV infection rates and that minority
      adolescents are at disproportionately greater risk of HIV infection relative to
      their White peers. Recent seroconversion studies of active duty military
      personnel indicate that the number of new HIV infections (incident cases) are
      especially high among Black adolescents. Findings suggest the urgent need for
      more tailored HIV prevention programs, especially gender- and ethnic-specific
      programs.

PMID- 1434562
TI  - Adolescents and sexually transmitted diseases.
AB  - Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a serious health problem for
      adolescents, occurring in an estimated one-quarter of sexually active teen-agers.
      Many of the health problems--including STDs--result from specific risk-taking
      behaviors. Determinants of STD risks among adolescents include behavioral,
      psychological, social, biological, institutional factors. Education is an
      important component in STD control in adolescents. The goal of education is to
      increase adolescent self-efficiency in practicing STD prevention and risk
      reduction. A comprehensive approach including quality, theory-based education,
      accessible and effective health clinics, and improved social and economic
      conditions has the most promise of controlling STDs in adolescents.

PMID- 1434563
TI  - Making sexuality education and prevention programs relevant for African-American
      youth.
AB  - A demographic and cultural profile of African-American youth is presented.
      Culturally-based differences in decision-making are reviewed. Attitudes and
      cultural values related to identity and self-image, gender role socialization,
      contraception, marriage and parenthood, homosexuality, and HIV/AIDS are
      described. Recommendations and strategies to make sexuality education and
      pregnancy prevention programs relevant to African-American youth are offered.

PMID- 1434564
TI  - Adolescent pregnancy prevention for Hispanic youth: the role of schools,
      families, and communities.
AB  - A sociodemographic profile of Hispanic youth is presented as well as a
      description of the incidence of adolescent pregnancy and parenting in this
      population. Strategies and recommendations that should be implemented to provide
      Hispanic youth with viable options and assistance in delaying early childbearing
      also are offered.

PMID- 1434565
TI  - Creating a safer school environment for lesbian and gay students.
AB  - Information obtained from clinical experiences of the University of Minnesota
      Youth and AIDS Project (YAP), a primary AIDS prevention program for gay and
      bisexual males ages 14-21, is described. More than 300 YAP clients have been
      interviewed regarding sexual behavior, suicide attempts, drug use, and
      experiences in disclosing their homosexuality to peers and parents during their
      high school years. The authors also have drawn from their experiences as support
      group leaders for gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth in high school and community
      settings. Constructive and destructive coping strategies employed by gay,
      lesbian, and bisexual students are described. Roles and responsibilities of
      school professionals to create a safer school environment also are presented. Key
      issues include how school professionals support or deny the existence of
      homosexuality in young people; how adults' biases against homosexuality, as well
      as institutionalized heterosexism, prevent lesbian and gay students from
      succeeding in school; how language, behaviors, and environmental cues contribute
      to school professionals' approachability; how children of lesbian and gay parents
      suffer when negative attitudes toward homosexuality are not challenged; and what
      resources and referrals can help lesbian and gay young people.

PMID- 1434566
TI  - Sensitivity coefficients, trajectories and graphs of a human head-movement model.
AB  - With time as the criterion to be optimized, the divergences from optimal head
      movements show systematic differences in their control signal variables with
      respect to single behaviours. To clarify these relationships, this study applies
      manipulation and mathematical analysis of the 6th-order nonlinear head movement
      model, using the three-fold approach of sensitivity analysis. The sensitivity
      analysis of the improved and refined head movement model explains the different
      tasks of the control parameters and their relation to the plant. It shows that
      width more than height of the agonistic and antagonistic pulses dominate the
      important behaviours of the movement: acceleration, magnitude and duration.

PMID- 1434567
TI  - Analysis of electromagnetic heating patterns inside a cryopreserved organ.
AB  - Computer analysis of the induced electromagnetic field and heating distribution
      inside cryopreserved organs subjected to electromagnetic illumination at
      frequencies of 84 MHz, 434 MHz and 2.45 GHz were carried out using a spherical
      model for the organ, with special reference to heating in a single-mode resonant
      cavity. The interaction between the frequency of the incident field and the size
      and dielectric properties of the sample was investigated. It is shown that
      uniform heating of organs is likely to be achieved at lower frequencies, as might
      be expected. However, the ratio between the power penetration depth for plane
      waves and the size of the organ is not a sufficient basis on which to judge
      quantitatively the uniformity of the power absorption. Hot or cold spots can
      occur within the organ even when this ratio is greater than unity; the wavelength
      in the material is also an important factor. The results from this study indicate
      that the use of a resonant cavity as a heating applicator has advantages over
      plane-wave illumination. A sharp upper limit can be set to the frequency suitable
      for rapid and uniform heating of a given organ.

PMID- 1434568
TI  - Finite element stress analysis of simulated metastatic lesions in the lumbar
      vertebral body.
AB  - A three-dimensional finite element model of a lumbar vertebral body was developed
      to study the effects of geometry, material properties and loading conditions on
      stresses in the presence of metastatic lesions. Parameters studied included
      location and size of the lesion, modulus of the cortical and trabecular bone
      within and near the lesion, generalized osteoporosis and load distribution. The
      results, expressed as ratios of peak values of displacement and stress, relative
      to a normal baseline case, indicated that the location of a defect which did not
      penetrate the cortex had a minor influence on the peak displacement and stresses,
      as did the presence of lesions occupying less than 40% of the volume of the
      vertebral centrum. A lesion occupying 40% of the centrum volume increased the
      endplate displacement by 2.9 times, the peak tensile stress in the cortical shell
      by 2.2 times, and the peak von Mises stress in the endplate by 2.8 times. When
      this lesion penetrated the cortex, these values increased to 3.8, 3.3 and 4.4
      times, respectively. The most severe case involved a defect penetrating the
      anterior cortex, osteoporotic bone properties and anteriorly eccentric loading.
      In this case, the peak values increased to 8.4, 3.4 and 5.9 times their baseline
      values, respectively. The results are consistent with a model of the vertebral
      body as a stiff frame of cortical bone surrounding a relatively compliant core of
      trabecular bone. Only variations in geometry and properties large enough to
      lessen significantly the structural stiffness affect the peak stresses and
      displacements.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434569
TI  - Performance of a 7-parameter DLT method for the calibration of
      stereophotogrammetric systems using 1-D transducers.
AB  - A method is presented for calibrating stereophotogrammetric systems which are
      based on 1-D cameras, i.e., able to record only one of the two coordinates
      relative to the projection of the target point onto the image plane of a camera.
      This procedure is based on the Direct Linear Transformation, DLT, introduced by
      Marzan and Karara. The present version (7DLT) is different from the standard 11
      parameter DLT (11DLT); it avoids certain non-orthogonality problems arising in
      usual DLT implementations, whose correction can be obtained by modifying the
      basic algorithm, at the expense of its simplicity (MDLT). The accuracy assessment
      of the 7DLT method was carried out both by a computer simulation of a two-camera
      stereophotogrammetric system, and on real data from three 1-D optoelectronic
      cameras. The computer simulation permitted us to compare the performance of 7DLT
      with 11DLT and MDLT. The reconstruction accuracies of the three algorithms were
      quite similar. When using real 1-D data, a reconstruction accuracy of 0.66 mm RMS
      error was obtained (mean value for X, Y, Z coordinates) for 18 target points used
      as calibration control points. The extrapolation accuracy was 1.85 mm RMS for 180
      target points lying outside the calibration structure.

PMID- 1434570
TI  - Three-dimensional finite element modelling of bone: effects of element size.
AB  - This study quantifies the effects of element size on the stress/strain results of
      finite element (FE) models of bone that are generated with a previously described
      automated method. This method uses cube-shaped hexahedral elements, which enabled
      element shape and aspect ratio to be held constant while the effects of element
      size were studied. Three models of a human proximal femur, each with a different
      element size (3.1 mm, 3.8 mm and 4.8 mm), were analysed. Convergence in strain
      energy of the models had been verified in previous work. The stresses and strains
      predicted by the models were compared on a pointwise basis using linear
      regression analysis. There was a general decrease in the level of stress and
      strain when element size was increased, even though convergence in strain energy
      had been achieved. An increase in element width from 3.1 mm to 3.8 mm decreased
      the predicted stresses by 13% to 29% overall; the predicted strains decreased by
      4% to 20% for the same increase in element size. These results indicate that
      linear cube-shaped hexahedral elements must be very small (3 mm on a side or
      smaller) to represent the sharp variations in mechanical properties that exist in
      bone, and that use of larger elements decreases the predicted stresses and
      strains. The elements used in this study are similar to those typically used to
      represent trabecular bone in conventional (non-automated) FE modelling methods.
      Therefore, the sensitivity of the stress/strain results to element size that was
      found for trabecular bone also applies to conventional modelling of such
      bone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434571
TI  - Use of uncalibrated biplanar radiography for the measurement of skeletal
      coordinates around the shoulder girdle.
AB  - Mechanical modelling of the musculoskeletal system is dependent upon information
      regarding the bony attachments of the relevant muscles; in order to study the
      biomechanics of the shoulder girdle the authors have identified the muscle
      attachments in three embalmed cadavers. A simple biplanar radiographic technique
      was then used to determine the attachment coordinates using frames of reference
      defined for each bone. This technique, using hand positioning without special
      fixtures was believed to be sufficiently accurate, bearing in mind the likely
      degree of biological variation. In order to test this assumption, the accuracy of
      the technique has been studied by measuring the agreement between the two
      measurements of the common coordinate in the pairs of radiographs. It was found
      that for the trunk, the errors in the common coordinate were always less than the
      natural variation; for the scapula they were of a similar magnitude but, for the
      humerus, the measurement errors frequently exceeded the variation in the
      coordinates of muscle attachments. It was concluded that, in general,
      uncalibrated biplanar radiography was sufficiently accurate for the determination
      of the spatial coordinates of muscle attachments.

PMID- 1434572
TI  - Development and validation of a new transducer for intradiscal pressure
      measurement.
AB  - Potentially damaging tensile stresses in the annulus fibrosus are directly
      related to the hydrostatic pressure in the centre of an intervertebral disc: the
      design and development of a miniature strain gauge pressure transducer is
      described for measuring such pressures. Static calibration tests in bulk liquid
      demonstrated that measurements made with the transducer were of sufficient
      accuracy and stability for in vitro and in vivo investigations of spinal
      mechanics, and a study of the dynamic behaviour of the transducer demonstrated
      that it had a frequency response suitable for in vitro and in vivo
      investigations. Tests within loaded cadaveric discs showed that the transducer
      could be used to make repeatable measurements which were free from significant
      artefacts, when the disc was subjected to forces of up to 4000 N and when
      deformed in full flexion/extension.

PMID- 1434573
TI  - Design of intramedullary prostheses to prevent bone loss: predictions based on
      damage-stimulated remodelling.
AB  - The adaptation of bone around intramedullary fixated prostheses, such as the
      femoral component of the hip joint or the radial component of the elbow joint, is
      well documented in follow-up studies. Bone adaptation takes the form of proximal
      bone atrophy accompanied, in some cases, by distal bone hypertrophy. A
      mechanistic model has been formulated to predict bone adaptation based on the
      concept that the continuous processes of damage and repair regulate bone
      adaptation. We apply the model to investigate the significance of two features of
      intramedullary prosthesis design on bone adaptation: prosthesis Young's modulus
      and the presence of a prosthesis collar. Results, as well, as indicating some
      characteristics of accumulative-damage stimulated bone adaptation, predict that a
      low Young's modules stem will very much reduce the extent of bone loss whereas
      the presence of a collar will have no significant effect. The results predict
      that a collarless low stiffness prosthesis is one possible approach for improving
      the secondary stability of intramedullary-fixated orthopaedic implants.

PMID- 1434574
TI  - Running discrete cosine transform.
AB  - The discrete cosine transform (DCT) has become an important tool in digital
      signal processing because its performance is close to the optimal Karhunen-Loeve
      transform. In this work the running discrete cosine transform (RDCT) is
      introduced. Using the properties of the discrete Fourier transform kernel W = exp
      (-2 pi j/N), a fast recursive algorithm was developed for real-time computation
      of the RDCT coefficients. For N-point RDCT the present algorithm needs only 2N
      real multiplications. The hardware implementations of the RDCT algorithm and
      applications in real-time data processing are discussed.

PMID- 1434575
TI  - Universal joint slippage as a cause of Hoffmann half-frame external fixator
      failure [corrected].
AB  - Slippage of the universal joints of external fixation devices is known to occur
      but its significance or incidence is often overlooked. In this study, controlled
      experiments were used to determine the relationship between joint slippage and
      the maximum loads a single half-frame could bear for the Hofmann device. The
      experiments showed that: (a) the joints slipped at minimal loads and (b) frame
      failure, i.e. loss of initial alignment of the frame components, was determined
      by joint slippage. The importance of the control of slippage cannot be
      overstated; the orthopaedic community must educate itself and its patients and
      guard against the problem in order to avoid complications secondary to slippage.

PMID- 1434576
TI  - Correlation algorithm and sampling techniques for estimating the signal-to-noise
      ratio of the electrocardiogram.
AB  - An algorithm, based on correlation techniques, is proposed for estimating the
      signal-to-noise ratio of very low frequency signals contaminated by white and
      flicker noise. Sampling techniques based on converting a single continuous signal
      into two time series that satisfy the requirements of cross-correlation functions
      are proposed. The algorithm has been tested on simulated data and the
      electrocardiogram transduced from ten patients.

PMID- 1434577
TI  - Drug recirculation model with multiple cycles occurring at unequal time
      intervals.
AB  - A pharmacokinetic model for enterohepatic recycling has been developed to take
      into account multiple recirculations likely to occur at various times after
      intravenous or subcutaneous injection, after infusion, or after a single oral
      administration of a drug. The times when the gall bladder empties, the duration
      of infusion and the number of recirculations may be arbitrarily chosen (for
      simulations) or computed (for optimization) to express the concentration in the
      central compartment at any time. Without a new theoretical calculation, the area
      under the concentration curve may be obtained as a function of the model
      parameters. As an example, the model is applied to an experimental case of four
      recirculations after oral administration and to a new drug data fitting.

PMID- 1434578
TI  - Forces required for dilatation of human cervix in first trimester of pregnancy.
AB  - Cervical resistance to dilatation was measured in 76 patients undergoing first
      trimester legal abortion; a specially designed force-sensing instrument was used.
      No correlation between cervical resistance and patient age or gestational age was
      found. Increasing parity and earlier legal abortions were significantly
      correlated with a lowering of the cervical resistance. In patients dilated to 11
      mm a lowering of resistance was noted suggesting a tear in cervical tissue.

PMID- 1434579
TI  - The relationship between anaerobic running capacity and peak plasma lactate.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between anaerobic
      running capacity and peak plasma lactate. Twelve adult males (mean age +/- SD =
      21.9 +/- 1.2 yrs) performed a critical velocity test from which anaerobic running
      capacity was determined and a maximal treadmill running test from which peak
      plasma lactate was determined from post-exercise blood samples taken at one
      minute intervals. The results indicated that anaerobic running capacity (mean +/-
      SD = 0.18 +/- 0.04 km) was not significantly (r = -0.06, p greater than 0.05)
      correlated with peak plasma lactate (9.3 +/- 1.8 mM). These findings do not
      support anaerobic running capacity as an indirect indicator of anaerobic
      capabilities.

PMID- 1434580
TI  - Energy expenditure following a bout of non-steady state resistance exercise.
AB  - Little is known about the effect of non-steady state resistive exercise on
      postexercise energy expenditure. Using a counterbalanced design, energy
      expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry in six adult males (mean age +/-
      SD = 24.5 +/- 6.1) for 30 min before and 60 min after a single 42 min bout of
      weight lifting, and again on a separate day for 30 min before and 60 min after a
      42 min control period of quiet sitting. For the exercise condition the subjects
      performed 4 sets of upper and 3 sets of lower body resistive exercises at weights
      equivalent to a 12 repetition maximum for each respective lift. Metabolic rate
      remained significantly elevated at the end of the 60 min recovery period compared
      to the control condition, although the excess postexercise oxygen consumption
      accounted for only approximately 19 additional kcal expended. These data suggest
      that while postexercise metabolic remains elevated for at least one hour
      following a moderate level of resistive exercise, the caloric cost of this
      elevation during a one hour recovery period is small and similar to that induced
      by steady-state exercise of moderate intensity.

PMID- 1434581
TI  - Is aerobic dance an effective alternative to walk-jog exercise training?
AB  - In order to compare the physiological effects of an 8 week aerobic dance program
      to those of a walk-jog exercise training program, 60 male and female University
      employees ages 24-48 years were randomly assigned to an aerobic dance program (N
      = 22), a walk-jog program (N = 24), or a sedentary control group (N = 15).
      Subjects who had an exercise compliance rate less than or equal to 85% were
      dropped from the study, as were control subjects who had scheduling conflicts or
      illnesses precluding post-treatment testing. Thirty-five subjects completed the 8
      week period with a compliance rate greater than or equal to 85%, leaving 14 in
      the aerobics group, 11 in the walk-jog group and 10 in the control group.
      Significant increases (p less than 0.001) in maximal oxygen uptake occurred in
      both the aerobics (+3.9 ml/kg-1/min-1) and walk-jog group (+3.4 ml/kg-1/min-1),
      while no significant change was observed in the control group. Peak heart rate
      decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) in the aerobics (-4 b/min-1) and walk
      jog groups (-3 b/min-1 but was unchanged in the control group (-1 b/min-1)
      following the treatment period. Body weight, peak respiratory exchange ratio and
      peak minute ventilation remained the same in the aerobics, walk-jog and control
      groups throughout the treatment period. It is concluded that aerobic dance
      programs can result in similar improvements in aerobic power as a walk-jog
      program. Thus, an aerobic dance program is an effective alternative to a
      traditional walk-jog training regime.

PMID- 1434582
TI  - Biological and performance variables in relation to age in male and female
      adolescent athletes.
AB  - To observe the cross-sectional nature of the effect of age, height, and body mass
      on motor performance during adolescence (13-18 years), 103 boy and 65 girl
      athletes were measured for motor performance and anthropometric variables. Motor
      performances included tests of strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, aerobic
      capacity, anaerobic power, speed, and agility. Anthropometric determinations
      included height, body mass, lean body mass, %fat, and somatotype. Boys were
      significantly different from girls in all measurements except endomorphy, while
      girls were significantly superior to boys only in flexibility. Physical
      maturation, as reflected by height and body mass, was a major contributor to
      increases in motor performance. Somatotype did not differ greatly across the age
      groups. Boys were significantly more mesomorphic than girls, while girls were
      significantly more ectomorphic than boys. Higher %fat and more endomorphy were
      significantly related to poorer performance for relative aerobic capacity, 40-yd
      dash, and agility in boys but only for upper body muscular endurance in girls.
      Mesomorphy had higher relationships with performance variables among boys than
      among girls. Growth would appear to contribute significantly to enhanced motor
      performance with age, and its effect may be different in boys than in girls.

PMID- 1434583
TI  - A physiological and nutritional profile of young female figure skaters.
AB  - This study was undertaken to develop a physiological and nutritional profile of
      13 female figure skaters, aged 9-17 years. Compared with previous published data,
      skaters in this study were younger and smaller with a higher percent body fat.
      Skaters in this study were less experienced and trained less than skaters in
      other studies but attained similar levels of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max),
      handgrip strength, and vertical jump power. Relative VO2max (ml/kg/min) was
      significantly negatively correlated (p less than 0.0033) with body weight and
      percent body fat, while body weight was significantly positively correlated (p
      less than 0.0003) with handgrip strength and vertical jump power. In terms of
      nutritional recommendations, skaters in this study consumed comparatively high
      amounts of fat and protein with low amounts of carbohydrate, calcium, and iron.
      Despite suboptimal nutrition and a relatively low training volume, skaters in
      this study exhibited physiological characteristics similar to those reported for
      female figure skaters in the literature.

PMID- 1434584
TI  - Body composition and energy metabolism in resting and exercising muslims during
      Ramadan fast.
AB  - Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset during Ramadam, the ninth
      month of the Islamic calendar. The purpose of this study was to examine the
      changes that occurred in body composition and both resting and exercise
      metabolism during a 4 week Ramadan fast. Subjects consumed an average of 1220
      kcal each day during Ramadan and lost a significant 1.92 kg body weight. The
      subjects also lost 2.8% fat. Fat-free mass did not change. Serum sodium,
      chloride, and protein increased during the first week of Ramadan and returned to
      the pre-fasting levels during the last week. This indicates a state of
      dehydratation existed during the first week of Ramadan. Consistent with this is
      first week 1.13 kg body weight loss with no change in percent fat. First week
      Ramadan tests showed a significant decrease in VO2max with a return to the pre
      test levels in the last week. The lower resting afternoon VO2 suggests that
      during Ramadan the body's metabolism slows down during the day in order to
      conserve its energy stores, however, exercise economy as measured by submaximal
      VO2 in mk/kg/min is not affected.

PMID- 1434585
TI  - Physiological assessment of Saudi athletes.
AB  - This study was aimed at assessing the physiological responses of Saudi male
      athletes to maximal exercise testing. Seventy five national athletes representing
      nine different sports and fourteen healthy controls were subjected to graded
      bicycle ergometer tests, during which cardiorespiratory and metabolic functions
      were monitored and recorded. The results of this study indicate that the maximal
      oxygen uptake (VO2max) values for the Saudi athletes were not significantly
      different from those of controls. The cyclists, however, attained the highest
      VO2max with a mean of 55.05 ml.kg-1.min-1 followed by the middle distance runners
      (X = 53.17) and the long distance runners (X = 51.19). Comparison of the Saudi
      athletes with some previously reported international standards revealed that the
      Saudi athletes had a VO2max that was lower than their respective French, Swedish,
      Belgian, Norwegian, Italian, Canadian or American athletes.

PMID- 1434586
TI  - Effect of body position on the afterload response during sustained exercise.
AB  - Hemodynamic and cardiovascular responses were studied in 80 males (age: 30 +/- 2
      years) at rest, and during separate three minute trials of upright and supine
      isometric deadlift exercise at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). MVC
      did not differ significantly between supine and upright deadlift exercise. In
      comparison to values at rest, both forms of isometric exercise resulted in
      significant increases (p less than 0.05) in heart rate, systolic blood pressure,
      diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure, oxygen uptake, oxygen
      pulse and double product. In the upright exercise, the values obtained for all of
      the physiological variables were found to be significantly higher (p less than
      0.05) than in the supine exercise. These findings indicate that the upright
      isometric deadlift produces a higher after-load than the supine maneuver, and
      that this response may be a good indicator of cardiovascular functioning.

PMID- 1434587
TI  - Effect of musculoskeletal development on the prediction of body density in
      females.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine if musculoskeletal development had a
      significant effect on the prediction of body density in females. Subjects
      consisted of 156 females aged 17 to 44 years. Subjects were divided into three
      groups on the basis of musculoskeletal development as determined by the Heath
      Carter Anthropometric Somatotype mesomorphy rating. Anthropometric measurements
      included eight skinfold measures (tricep, subscapula, chest, midaxillary,
      abdomen, suprailiac, thigh, and calf), body diameters of the humerus and femur,
      and circumferences at five locations (waist, forearm, upper arm, calf, and
      gluteal). Residual lung volume was determined by the closed circuit oxygen
      dilution method prior to the measurement of body density by hydrostatic weighing.
      A regression equation was developed to predict body density from the sum of seven
      skinfolds, sum of seven skinfolds squared, age, and mesomorphy rating. A similar
      regression equation was developed using the sum of three skinfolds, sum of three
      skinfolds squared, and the other variables. Results indicated that mesomorphy
      rating did not contribute significantly to the prediction of body density in
      females. It was concluded that musculoskeletal development did not have a
      significant effect on the prediction of body density in females.

PMID- 1434588
TI  - Serum enzymes activities at rest and after a marathon race.
AB  - With the purpose of determining the long and short term changes in serum enzyme
      activities after a marathon race, a survey involving nine healthy male runners
      was carried out. A basal blood sample was extracted from each 24 hours prior to
      the race and three further extractions were made immediately after the race, as
      well as at 1 and a final 24 h after the end of the race. In the enzymes of
      preferably hepatic origin--alkaline phosphatase (AP), ganna-glutamyltransferase
      (GGT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)--scanty modifications were found and
      these could be related to the changes observed in the plasma volume. Enzymes such
      as aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which are
      widely distributed in the tissues, were found to have undergone more marked
      variations and these could not be related to the changes in the volume of the
      plasma, while in enzymes of muscular origin such as aldolase (ALD), creatine
      kinase (CK) and its cardiac isoenzyme (CK-MB), notable increases were observed
      due to the muscular injury suffered. The greatest example of this was the
      increase found in total CK 24 h after the end of the marathon (414.6%). The high
      serum percentages found in CK-MB in these endurance-trained runners in relation
      to total CK activity should be carefully assessed in order to avoid false
      diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1434589
TI  - Monitoring training status in professional ballet dancers.
AB  - Methods of non-invasive monitoring of training status for prevention of staleness
      in athletes and dancers need to be developed and evaluated. In order to monitor
      physiologic and psychologic changes which may result from overstraining, we
      measured urinary excretion of free norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) and
      mood states over 5 weeks of an intensive ballet season in 12 (6 men, 6 women)
      professional dancers. First morning urine voids (AM) were collected at the start
      of the season and following the only off-day each week with final collection on
      the last day of the season. Additional urine samples were collected before (pre)
      and after (post) each dancer's subjectively-rated single most difficult
      performance. Profile of Mood States (POMS) was completed by and collected from
      each dancer at the same time as the AM urine samples. NE and E excretions
      (nanograms per mg creatinine) increased significantly with time (r = 0.91, p less
      than 0.02, and r = 0.94, p less than 0.01, respectively) from beginning to end of
      season, and pre to post (51.1 +/- 7.3 to 115.6 +/- 19.7, p less than 0.001 and
      19.3 +/- 3.2 to 37.7 +/- 4.2, p less than 0.001, respectively). Women had a
      significantly higher excretion of NE than did men (F = 9.33, p = 0.014) and no
      gender differences existed in the excretion of E (F = 0.57, p = 0.484).(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434590
TI  - Urinary protein excretion induced by exercise: effect of a mountain agonistic
      footrace in healthy subjects. Renal function and mountain footrace.
AB  - The increase in albuminuria induced by exercise in healthy subjects is variably
      dependent on an increased glomerular filtration and/or to a decreased tubular
      reabsorption of albumin, in relation to the intensity of muscular work. Membrane
      anionic charges and haemodynamic changes have been implicated in exercise-induced
      albuminuria. We evaluated in 12 healthy subjects albumin and beta-2-microglobulin
      excretion rate and the presence in urine of cationic compounds before and after
      an agonistic mountain footrace. Albumin excretion rate increased significantly
      (3.7 +/- 1.3 vs 43.7 +/- 10.0 micrograms/min) (p less than 0.001) and beta-2
      microglobulin excretion rate (16.5 +/- 4.4 vs 37.9 +/- 7.4 micrograms/min) (p
      less than 0.025), too. In 3/4 subjects, urines revealed a peak of highly cationic
      proteins, sharing antigenic and biological characteristics with platelet-derived
      cationic proteins. The increase in albuminuria induced by strenuous exercise of
      an agonistic mountain footrace is of mixed type (both glomerular and tubular) and
      is associated to the urinary excretion of cationic proteins.

PMID- 1434591
TI  - The Kaike triathletes' hematocrit values. With relation to their competition
      results.
AB  - The subjects were 20 male triathletes in the 4th Kaike Triathlon, held in Tottori
      during 1984. The competitors' hemogram values were estimated at rest, during, and
      after the competition. The results were related to their competition order by
      methods of rank correlations and cluster analysis, using the average distance
      method. The first cluster, including an competition order is composed of
      hematocrit at rest, after swimming, after bicycling, and after the finish. The
      rank correlation coefficients between competition order and hematocrit values
      were significant (p less than 0.05) at each of the four periods, especially after
      swimming, though the probability is the same. We found that lower hematocrit
      values correlate with excellent competition results, as the competitors'
      hematocrit values could be elevated during exercise if their hematocrit values
      are in the low normal density whilst at rest.

PMID- 1434592
TI  - Physical activity, physical fitness and mortality in a sample of middle aged men
      followed-up 25 years.
AB  - One-thousand-seven-hundred-twelve men aged 40-59, representing two demographic
      samples of rural areas in Northern and Central Italy, were examined in 1960 and
      then followed-up for 25 years. Total mortality and coronary mortality were
      related to the entry measurements of physical activity at work, estimated in
      three levels by a simple questionnaire and to four possible indicators of
      physical fitness, ie resting heart rate, the circumference of the right arm
      cleaned from the contribution of skin and subcutaneous fat, vital capacity and
      forced expiratory volume in 3/4 sec, the latter two adjusted by height. The four
      indicators of fitness and the score of physical activity were somewhat related
      each other in the expected direction. Both all causes and coronary mortality were
      indirectly related to the score of physical activity. The relative risk for age
      adjusted rates of sedentary vs heavy workers was 1.23 for all causes of death,
      and 1.72 for coronary deaths. Direct univariate relationships were found between
      resting heart rate and mortality (for both all causes and coronary deaths)
      whereas indirect relationships were found for arm circumference and the two
      indicators of respiratory function. The age adjusted relative risks between the
      upper and the bottom quartile of the distribution were, for all causes of death,
      0.75 for vital capacity, 0.68 for forced expiratory volume 1.32 for heart rate,
      and 0.84 for arm circumference. The correspondent relative risks for coronary
      deaths were 0.71, 0.65, 1.23 and 1.02 respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1434594
TI  - The effect of dexamethasone and endotoxin administration on biliary IgA and
      bacterial adherence.
AB  - Adherence of bacteria to the intestinal epithelial cell may be the crucial
      initiating event for invasion and translocation and is normally prevented by both
      immune (IgA) and nonimmune (mucus, peristalsis, desquamation) mucosal defense
      mechanisms. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of
      endotoxin administration on mucosal immunity and to define the role of
      glucocorticoids, commonly released during endotoxicosis, in this process. Thirty
      female Fisher rats were randomly assigned to three groups of 10 animals each.
      Group I (CONT), was fed rat chow and H2O ad lib., Group II (DEX) was administered
      0.8 mg/kg subcutaneously of dexamethasone, and Group III (ETX) was given 1 mg/kg
      of endotoxin. Twenty-four hours later animals were sacrificed and mesenteric
      lymph nodes and vigorously washed stool-free ceca were collected and cultured.
      Bile was collected and assayed for IgA from 5 animals in each group. A
      significant decrease (P < 0.05) in secretory IgA was noted in animals treated
      with either dexamethasone or endotoxin (CONT = 332 +/- 42, DEX = 78 +/- 24, ETX =
      68 +/- 16 micrograms/mg protein +/- SEM). No difference in S-IgA between animals
      in the dexamethasone-treated group and the endotoxin-treated group was noted (P =
      NS). A statistically significant increase (P < 0.001) in bacteria adherent to the
      cecal wall in both the dexamethasone-treated rats and the endotoxin-treated rats
      over that in = 7.5 +/- 0.8, CONT = 6.4 +/- 0.6 cfu/g(log10) +/- SD). Our results
      suggest that endotoxin or glucocorticoid administration results in significant
      bacterial adherence to the cecal mucosa and a decrease in IgA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434593
TI  - Trends in sports injuries, 1982-1988: an in-depth study on four types of sport.
AB  - In this study, we analyzed the records of both inpatients and outpatients which
      were treated for acute sports injuries in the Trauma Department of the University
      of Groningen (The Netherlands) during the years 1982 to 1988. We examined whether
      there was a trend in sports injuries in this time period. The study comprised
      four types of sports, i.e., soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, and martial arts. The
      absolutely highest rates of injuries across the seven years were found in soccer,
      followed by gymnastics, volleyball, and martial arts. Injuries sustained at
      participating in soccer, volleyball, and gymnastics involved for the major part
      the lower extremities, followed by injuries of the upper extremities, whereas the
      reverse pattern was observed for patients who participated in martial arts. For
      all four types of sport, the ankle and foot were the most frequently site of
      injury of the lower extremities. Sprains and strains were the major types of
      injury. Most injuries were seen at ages between 10 and 30 years. The ratio of
      male to female patients within age groups did not differ significantly across the
      seven years. We concluded that, except for martial arts, the increased
      participation in sports in the last decade was not accompanied with a change in
      the patterns of sports injuries by the patients' age, sex, and number and nature
      of the injury. This consistency in results can be used to guide the development
      of prevention programs aimed at a reduction of injuries in specific sports.

PMID- 1434595
TI  - Evaluation of a rat model for the study of local regulation of intestinal blood
      flow: ex vivo asanguineous perfusion of the ileal vascular bed.
AB  - A new model of ex vivo vascularly perfused, isolated rat ileum was developed and
      evaluated. Segments of distal ileum (approximately 5 cm) from male Wistar rats
      were isolated on their vascular pedicles. Perfusion through an aortic cannula
      with oxygenated (95% O2, 5% CO2) Krebs solution containing 5% bovine albumin, 5.6
      mM glucose, and 25 mM mannitol at 37 degrees C was initiated immediately after
      interruption of blood flow. The bowel preparations, including the abdominal
      aorta, were then transferred to a perfusion chamber. Perfusion pressure was
      maintained by gravity at 40 mm Hg. Flow was measured with an electromagnetic flow
      probe. The portal vein, together with the lymphatics, drained freely into
      collection tubes. The bowel lumen was perfused at 0.85 ml/min with isotonic
      modified Krebs solution containing [14C]polyethylene glycol, and the luminal
      perfusion pressure was monitored. Luminal effluents were collected through a
      large-bore outlet tubing. As determined by histology, O2 consumption, vascular
      reactivity, and mucosal permeability, the preparations were viable for at least
      60 min of perfusion. With this model, a vasoconstrictor effect of the alpha 2
      adrenoceptor agonist clonidine was documented for the first time in isolated rat
      bowel.

PMID- 1434596
TI  - Preoperative radiation therapy produces an early and persistent reduction in
      colorectal anastomotic blood flow.
AB  - Preoperative external beam radiation therapy (RT) is an increasingly popular form
      of adjunct therapy for rectal cancer; however, little is known about its effects
      on healing of colorectal anastomoses. We serially evaluated colorectal
      anastomotic healing following moderate dose RT. Twenty-four adult female pigs
      were administered 4250 centiGrays (cGy) of external beam pelvic RT over 4 weeks
      followed by rectosigmoid resection with handsewn or circular stapled anastomosis.
      Groups of animals were then sacrificed at 5, 11, 60, and 120 days
      postoperatively. A control group (N = 24) was studied similarly but not
      irradiated. Perianastomotic blood flow was measured using laser doppler
      velocimetry at each time interval. Nonirradiated anastomoses demonstrated
      significantly higher blood flows compared to irradiated anastomotic segments at
      each study interval. In addition, early (Days 5 and 11) postoperative gross
      inflammatory scores and microscopic inflammatory score (all intervals) were
      significantly higher for irradiated animals. Anastomotic complications were more
      frequent in irradiated animals (7/24) vs controls (2/24, P < 0.05). These results
      indicate that a preoperative dose of 4250 cGy results in an early and persistent
      decrease in colorectal mural blood flow independent of anastomotic technique.
      This is the first experimental study which attempts to quantitate the effects of
      preoperative pelvic radiation therapy on anastomotic blood flow.

PMID- 1434597
TI  - The effect of temporary hepatic artery or portal vein occlusion in obstructive
      jaundice.
AB  - Hepatic hemodynamics before vascular occlusion and the effect of transient
      hepatic artery or portal vein occlusion on the liver were investigated in normal
      dogs and dogs with experimentally induced obstructive jaundice by measurement of
      hepatic tissue blood flow (HTBF), index of hemoglobin concentration (IHb), oxygen
      saturation (ISO2), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) concentration, and
      malonaldehyde (MDA) concentration in liver tissue. Livers with obstructive
      jaundice had increased blood flow and a lower hemoglobin concentration compared
      with normal livers at baseline before vascular occlusion. Percentage change of
      ISO2 from baseline was higher than percentage change of HTBF after reperfusion in
      both normal and obstructive jaundiced liver, although they were decreased to
      almost similar proportions during vascular occlusion. MDA concentration in
      obstructive jaundice after reperfusion following vascular occlusion was higher
      than in normal liver. Furthermore, MDA concentration after reperfusion following
      hepatic artery occlusion was increased compared with after reperfusion following
      portal venous occlusion in obstructive jaundice. There was no evidence of massive
      liver necrosis which was newly developed by transient vascular occlusion. These
      results represent the pathological condition in the liver before transient
      vascular occlusion and after reperfusion in obstructive jaundice.

PMID- 1434598
TI  - The vascular supply of splenic autotransplants.
AB  - The close opposition of blood to phagocytic cells lining the pulp cords and
      marginal sinus has been proposed as a contributing factor in the clearance
      mechanism of the spleen. The vasculature of splenic autotransplants was
      investigated in rats using microcorrosion casts. Six-month-old splenic
      autotransplants and unoperated control spleens were selectively perfused and a
      methyl methacrylate cast was made. Scanning electron microscopy of these corroded
      casts was performed. In autotransplants, the marginal zone capillary network was
      abnormal with the fine network of capillaries replaced by dilated blood vessels.
      The red pulp cords were also found to be abnormal with increased diameter and
      loss of the fine saccular dilations found in normal spleens. The abnormally
      dilated capillaries and cords in the autotransplants may decrease antigen contact
      with these cells and hence explain previous reports of reduced phagocytic
      function.

PMID- 1434599
TI  - Limiting oxygen delivery attenuates intestinal reperfusion injury.
AB  - Since free radical-mediated injury is dependent on the reintroduction of oxygen
      into ischemic tissues, restriction of oxygen content in the initial reperfusate
      has therapeutic potential. The degree to which oxygen must be restricted is
      crucial since hypoxic injury would continue if reperfusion O2 delivery remained
      below the ischemic threshold of the tissue. We examined this treatment strategy
      in 20 pump-perfused intestinal preparations subjected to 30 min of flow
      interruption. The oxygen content of the reperfusate was varied by utilizing
      arterial (A) or venous (V) blood; as a further modification, we also performed
      experiments in which hemodiluted arterial blood (HD) was the reperfusate at
      normal (NHD) and high (HHD) flow rates. The flow rates and O2 contents of the
      reperfusates were adjusted to produce either high (approximately 12 ml O2/min/100
      g) or low (approximately 8 ml O2/min/100 g) levels of O2 delivery. Histologic
      sections, obtained after ischemia and after 1 hr of reperfusion, were blindly
      evaluated for mucosal injury (1 = normal to 5 = severe injury). Immediately after
      30 min of ischemia, all groups had comparable histologic grades (A 2.0 +/- 0.3, V
      1.8 +/- 0.3, NHD 1.6 +/- 0.3, HHD 2.3 +/- 0.3). One hour after reperfusion,
      intestines reperfused with blood with high O2 content and hence high O2 delivery
      showed significantly more damage (P < 0.001) than those with exposed to low O2
      delivery during reperfusion: A 3.9 +/- 0.5 and HHD 4.4 +/- 0.4 versus V 2.7 +/-
      0.5 and NHD 2.9 +/- 0.3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434600
TI  - Reversal of gelatin-impaired wound healing in rats by exogenous fibronectin.
AB  - Animal experiments have shown that administration of gelatin results in a
      deprivation of plasma fibronectin (FN) and impaired wound healing. For further
      elucidation of these findings a therapy study with purified human FN was
      performed in rats. Fifty animals received a standard burn injury of 1% body
      surface and were divided into five experimental groups. Positive controls given
      no further treatment or treated with solvent only served for estimation of normal
      healing. For a negative control, 10 animals received three intraperitoneal
      injections of gelatin (58 mg/kg body wt) on Days 0, 1, and 2 after injury. They
      exhibited a striking lack of plasma FN (Day 1) and a significant delay of wound
      contraction (Days 7 and 14). In the therapy groups each administration of gelatin
      was followed by an intraperitoneal or intracardiac injection of FN (58 mg/kg body
      wt) 1 hr later. In these animals the negative effect of gelatin upon plasma FN
      and wound contraction was prevented. According to this study wound healing is
      menaced by FN deficiency and can be optimized by substitution of exogenous FN.

PMID- 1434601
TI  - Peri-insular presence of collagenase during islet isolation procedures.
AB  - Reportedly, higher islet yields are obtained by ductal collagenase administration
      and subsequent digestion of the pancreas than by the chopped tissue collagenase
      digestion technique. However, the exact mechanism of islet isolation is not
      known. This study aims to understand the underlying mechanism of a favorable
      effect of ductal collagenase administration. To this end, we investigated if the
      higher yields can be explained by a different distribution of the collagenase
      enzymes in the pancreatic tissue after ductal application as compared to during
      chopped tissue digestion. India ink was used to mimic and visualize the
      distribution of collagenase in histological sections of pancreases of several
      species. Ink particles were seen around and even within the islets both after
      ductal application and during chopped tissue collagenase digestion. Thus,
      collagenase enzymes are not restricted to the exocrine tissue compartment with
      either technique. In view of this observation, we compared the efficacy of both
      techniques in islet isolation procedures in paired experiments in rats. Both
      techniques gave similar islet yields to those reportedly obtained with the ductal
      collagenase method. However, with either technique, the islet yield was only
      approximately 50% of the endocrine volume of the pancreas, indicating that a
      substantial loss of islet tissue had occurred. We conclude that, irrespective of
      the route of collagenase administration, collagenase enzymes are present in the
      peri-insular space during islet isolation procedures. This is pertinent in view
      of the finding that both methods have similar islet yields in rats and that
      collagenase digestion, as such, is associated with loss of islet tissue.

PMID- 1434602
TI  - The effects of endothelin-1 on human dermal fibroblast growth and synthetic
      activity.
AB  - Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is the most potent vasoconstricting substance known, and is
      believed to have a fundamental role in the regulation of blood flow. It is a
      peptide produced and secreted by endothelial cells in response to hypoxia and
      injury, as well as by macrophages. These properties suggest that ET-1 may play a
      role during tissue repair. In this study, we have examined the effects of ET-1 on
      the growth and synthetic activity of human dermal fibroblasts. ET-1 stimulated
      DNA synthesis in serum-deprived cultures: this effect reached a mean value of 64%
      more than control (P < 0.01) at 2.5 ng/ml (10(-9) M) of ET-1. In contrast, the
      addition of ET-1 to fibroblasts at different densities and in 0, 3, or 10% fetal
      bovine serum (FBS) failed to increase cell counts. In 1% FBS, a 41% mean increase
      in cell counts compared to control values was observed in cultures treated with
      2.5 ng/ml of ET-1 (P < 0.01). Incubation of dermal fibroblast cultures at 37
      degrees C for 1 hr with increasing concentrations of 125I-ET-1 resulted in
      saturable binding and a half-maximal specific binding of 27.5 pM. Scatchard plot
      analysis of the binding showed a Kd of 224 pM and 11,400 high-affinity binding
      sites per cell. ET-1 had no effect on [14C]-glucosamine incorporation by
      fibroblasts and caused no increase in collagen synthesis, as measured by
      collagenase-sensitive [3H]proline incorporation and by salt precipitation of 3H
      labeled collagen at acid and neutral pH successively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1434603
TI  - A simple method for bile duct anastomosis and interval bile collection in the
      liver-transplanted rat.
AB  - A mini T-tube is introduced for the bile duct anastomosis of rat liver
      transplantation as well as interval bile collection. The validity of the T-tube
      was evaluated in 14 liver-transplanted rats and compared to 14 rats using
      traditional stent for bile duct anastomosis. Changes of biliary tree after the T
      tube anastomosis were examined by T-tube cholangiography on sample rats at 4 days
      and at 4 months after liver grafting. Additionally, bile volumes and rates of
      bile salt secretion were compared in the continuously flowing cannula and the
      chronic T-tube fistula in normal rats. The results show that the mini T-tube
      facilitates bile duct anastomosis and study of bile secretion after liver
      transplantation in rats without increase in surgical difficulty or interference
      of biliary enterohepatic circulation.

PMID- 1434604
TI  - Implications of a pre-existing tumor hypoxic fraction on photodynamic therapy.
AB  - The presence of oxygen in tissue is a requirement for photodynamic therapy (PDT)
      induced destruction of solid tumors, otherwise no cell death occurs. Since many
      tumors have been shown to have significant populations of hypoxic cells, it is of
      clinical interest to determine if pre-existing tumor hypoxia limits phototherapy.
      This question was examined using RIF tumors where tumor response to PDT of
      completely oxygenated tumors was compared to tumors with an induced hypoxic
      fraction. Tumor hypoxia was induced by using vasoactive drugs (epinephrine,
      chlorpromazine, or isoproterenol), given 30 min prior to PDT, or by a surgical
      method. PDT consisted of 5 mg/kg Photofrin II ip 24 hr prior to treatment and 135
      J/cm2 630-nm light. The administration of the various vasoactive agents induced
      hypoxic fractions of 2.2 to 10%. The surgical method induced hypoxic fractions of
      35%. Tumor response and cure in animals given vasoactive agents did not differ
      from controls, suggesting that low levels of pre-existing tumor hypoxia do not
      limit photodynamic therapy in this tumor model. Animals with tumors made hypoxic
      by a surgical method showed significantly reduced tumor response to PDT. Only 14%
      of these animals had tumors which became flat and necrotic by the day following
      PDT, compared to nearly 100% for animals given vasoactive drugs or controls.
      Furthermore, no tumor cure was observed in animals treated by this method. The
      higher level of tumor hypoxia in these animals likely represents one point where
      large proportions of PDT-resistant cells can survive after treatment.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434605
TI  - Skeletal muscle fiber type does not predict sensitivity to postischemic damage.
AB  - Because the three distinct fiber types of skeletal muscle have significant
      metabolic differences, the predominant fiber type in a muscle may influence its
      sensitivity to injury from ischemia and reperfusion. The few studies to address
      this issue have been conflicting. We explored possible differences in the
      sensitivity of fiber types to ischemia/reperfusion injury with an isolated rat
      hindlimb preparation perfused with an albumin-enriched Krebs buffer. Following
      120 min of ischemia and 60 min of reperfusion, the tibialis anteriorwhite,
      tibialis anteriorred, soleus, and plantaris muscles were assessed for injury by
      examining three parameters: skeletal muscle injury (via 99Tc-pyrophosphate),
      microvascular injury (via 125I-albumin), and tissue water content. There was no
      consistent correlation between fiber type and sensitivity to postischemic injury.
      Both the soleus (slow twitch) and plantaris (fast twitch) muscles sustained
      similar significant injury: muscle damage was 133 and 167% greater than controls,
      and microvascular damage 96 and 91% greater than controls, respectively. However,
      other fast twitch muscles (tibialis anteriorwhite and tibialis anteriorred)
      exhibited no significant injury. Both injured muscles were in the posterior
      compartment while the uninjured muscles were in the anterior compartment.
      Regional flow as measured by microspheres revealed no correlation between
      postischemic flow and muscle injury, microvascular injury, or compartmental
      location. Skeletal muscle fiber type was not consistently predictive of its
      sensitivity to ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury. Compartmental location may
      have played an as yet unknown role in modulating vulnerability to postischemic
      damage.

PMID- 1434606
TI  - Modulation of peritoneal re-epithelialization by postsurgical macrophages.
AB  - The studies reviewed here show that postsurgical macrophages are capable of
      modulating the proliferation of TRC. That is, macrophages either suppress or
      enhance the proliferation of TRC depending on the culture time and the medium
      used as a comparison, i.e., culture medium with only serum or spent medium from
      cultures of resident peritoneal macrophages. Postsurgical macrophages also
      modulate the morphology of (spindly or rounded appearance) and the secretion of
      extracellular matrices by TRC. The responsivity of TRC to control by postsurgical
      macrophage-spent media or growth factors changes as a function of postsurgical
      and/or culture time. In addition, cells harvested from the site of peritoneal
      trauma (TRC) did not respond to growth factors in a fashion entirely the same as
      fibroblasts. This indicates that cells harvested from the site of peritoneal
      injury are unique. Lastly, after removal of a suppressive factor from
      postsurgical macrophage-spent media by dialysis, the factors secreted by
      postsurgical macrophages are more potent in enhancing TRC proliferation than
      growth factors individually.

PMID- 1434607
TI  - Thoracoscopic lobectomy.

PMID- 1434608
TI  - Hypertension occurring for the first time postpartum: was it preeclampsia?

PMID- 1434609
TI  - Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in pregnancy: a diagnostic dilemma. Case report and review
      of the literature.

PMID- 1434610
TI  - Laparoscopic evaluation of the diaphragm in penetrating injury to the lower
      thorax.

PMID- 1434611
TI  - Miscarriage in a patient with migraines.

PMID- 1434612
TI  - The health care crisis: causes, implications, and strategies.

PMID- 1434613
TI  - Recertification--a real hazard.

PMID- 1434614
TI  - The physician's responsibilities in dealing with organ donations.

PMID- 1434615
TI  - The ticking time bomb.

PMID- 1434616
TI  - The health care crisis.

PMID- 1434617
TI  - Pregnancy following Mustard operation for transposition of great arteries.

PMID- 1434618
TI  - Monoamniotic twin gestations.

PMID- 1434619
TI  - Traumatic disruption of the cervical trachea.
AB  - Treatment of a case of traumatic disruption of the cervical trachea has been
      described. This injury is not common but must be suspected in blunt chest trauma
      patients, with evidence of possible tracheal obstruction as in this patient.
      Massive subcutaneous emphysema, large air leaks, and persistent pneumothorax are
      more common signs of tracheobronchial disruption. Diagnosis can be made with
      fiberoptic bronchoscopy, and primary repair is the treatment of choice.

PMID- 1434620
TI  - Lead toxicity in a house painter.

PMID- 1434621
TI  - Newborn screening for galactosemia in Tennessee.

PMID- 1434622
TI  - A slow walk on a weekend.

PMID- 1434623
TI  - Understanding the benefits and hazards of health care reform proposals. TMA
      Communications and Public Service Committee.

PMID- 1434624
TI  - State of the art medicine outsmarted by octogenarian thumb or to dance or not to
      dance.

PMID- 1434625
TI  - Loss prevention case of the month.

PMID- 1434626
TI  - Life support for Medicaid.

PMID- 1434627
TI  - Truth in packaging.

PMID- 1434628
TI  - Learning alcohol tolerance by mental or physical practice.
AB  - Five groups of six male social drinkers learned a psychomotor task (Tracometer)
      and subsequently attended five sessions to perform the task after drinking. On
      each of the first four sessions, subjects received 0.62 g/kg alcohol. On session
      5, a placebo was administered when alcohol was expected. During treatment
      sessions 1-3, two groups performed the task with a valuable consequence for drug
      compensatory performance: either information (IO) or information plus money (MI).
      This MI experience was mentally rehearsed by a third group (MR). Two control
      groups performed the task, either with no outcome (N), or with money for
      compensatory performance but no information about earnings until the study
      concluded (MO). Sessions 4 and 5 assessed the effect of the prior treatments when
      all groups performed the task with money and information. Groups MI, IO and MR
      displayed comparable and significantly more tolerance and a stronger compensatory
      response to placebo than control groups MO and N. The evidence indicates that
      mental or physical practice associating drug-compensatory performance with some
      valuable outcome enhances tolerance to moderate doses of alcohol.

PMID- 1434629
TI  - The effect of alcohol on emotional response to a social stressor.
AB  - Social drinkers were administered either an alcoholic, placebo or no-alcohol
      control beverage. Subjects were next informed that they were to give a self
      disclosing speech about their body and physical appearance. Subjects' heart rate
      and videotapes of their facial expression were recorded during this instruction.
      Facial reactions to the stressor were analyzed using a system based on the
      Maximally Discriminative Facial Coding System (Izard, 1979). Subjects who were
      intoxicated showed significantly less negative emotion, as measured by the facial
      expression analysis, than those subjects consuming either the control or placebo
      beverage. We attribute this effect of alcohol to its actions on subjects'
      appraisal of anxiety-inducing information.

PMID- 1434630
TI  - Neuropsychological efficiency measures in male and female alcoholics.
AB  - The role of time in performance on many neuropsychological tests has been
      relatively neglected in the literature to date. Neuropsychological functioning in
      90 male and female alcoholics and 65 peer controls was examined using both
      accuracy and time measures for four basic types of neuropsychological
      functioning: verbal skills, learning and memory, problem-solving and abstracting,
      and perceptual-motor skills. Alcoholics had significantly lower efficiency ratios
      (accuracy/time) than controls in each of the four areas, and had significantly
      lower overall accuracy and time scores. There were no significant Group x Gender
      interactions for efficiency, speed or accuracy scores, indicating that male and
      female alcoholics have similar deficits as a result of chronic alcoholism. The
      study is the first to apply systematically an empirical measure of
      neuropsychological efficiency to different areas of cognitive function; the
      results have implications for neuropsychological testing procedures.

PMID- 1434631
TI  - The relationship between three subtypes of the flushing response and DSM-III
      alcohol abuse in Japanese.
AB  - This study examined the relationship between the flushing response and drinking
      patterns and DSM-III alcohol abuse among Japanese using data collected in the
      joint U.S.-Japan collaborative study. The flushing response was classified into
      the following three subtypes: typical flushing (always flushed in the face after
      drinking), atypical flushing (sometimes) and nonflushing (never). This study of
      male current drinkers showed that typical flushers drank less alcohol than did
      atypical and nonflushers, but there was no observed difference between the
      drinking patterns of atypical flushers and nonflushers. Although the relationship
      was less pronounced, a similar association was found for female current drinkers.
      The 12-month prevalence of DSM-III alcohol abuse was estimated to be highest
      among atypical flushers and lowest among typical flushers, with nonflushers in
      between for both genders. When daily alcohol consumption and other pertinent
      sociodemographic variables were controlled, logistic regression analyses revealed
      that the risk for alcohol abuse by men was approximately 3.0 times higher among
      atypical flushers and 1.7 times higher among nonflushers than among typical
      flushers. The corresponding risks for abuse by women were 7.8 (atypical flushers)
      and 2.8 (nonflushers) times higher. Possible explanations for these differences
      in drinking patterns and the risk for alcohol abuse among the three flushing
      subtypes and between genders are discussed.

PMID- 1434632
TI  - The reliability and stability of the Mortimer-Filkins test.
AB  - The Mortimer-Filkins test has been used widely as an instrument for detecting
      problem drinkers among drink-driving offenders. While extensive psychometric
      testing has been undertaken by the developers of the test, few independent
      validation studies have been conducted, and few studies have used the Mortimer
      Filkins test with general populations. The present study investigated the test
      retest and internal-consistency reliability of the instrument, and the stability
      of problem drinking, as measured by the instrument. The test was administered to
      moderate and heavy drinkers at an industrial workplace on three occasions. The
      results indicated that the Mortimer-Filkins test has high test-retest and
      internal-consistency reliability, and problem drinking, as measured by the test,
      appears to be a stable characteristic across time.

PMID- 1434633
TI  - Changing the legal minimum drinking age: results of a longitudinal study.
AB  - Alcohol consumption patterns of samples of college students were examined before
      and after legislation to raise the minimum drinking age for "weak" beer (3.2% or
      less alcohol content by weight). Sampling was completed just before and
      immediately after inception of the law, and then each semester for a total of 4
      years. These samples were compared with baseline data obtained 2 years before the
      legislative action. Quantity and frequency of consumption showed an increase in
      the sampling period just before the law change and a decrease immediately
      following. Overall, the quantity-frequency index remained constant, and reports
      of problem drinking changed very little. Some adjustments were found in drinking
      locations with students reporting less drinking in public places, such as bars or
      restaurants, and more drinking in private places, such as residence halls or
      homes. Policy implications of legislation designed to control drinking are
      discussed.

PMID- 1434634
TI  - Problems in deterrence: a comparison of the driving histories of DUII and non
      DUII drivers.
AB  - Driving records of subjects arrested for driving under the influence of
      intoxicants (DUII), both recidivists and nonrecidivists, were compared with
      records of an age- and sex-matched random sample of non-DUII drivers. Major
      differences were found between DUII and non-DUII groups in the incidence of
      traffic violations but some differences also existed between nonrecidivist and
      recidivist DUII subjects. Rehabilitative diversion programs for first-time DUII
      offenders did not affect recidivism rates in the study population. Findings in
      this study suggest that general deterrence directed at the non-DUII population
      should receive emphasis equal to specific deterrence directed at DUII offenders.

PMID- 1434635
TI  - Relationship of family history, antisocial personality disorder and personality
      traits in young men at risk for alcoholism.
AB  - Studies examining possible risk factors for the development of alcoholism have
      focused recently on a variety of personality factors, including those associated
      with risk-taking behaviors. Alcohol-seeking behavior leading to the abuse of
      alcohol may be associated with a variety of risk-taking behaviors that derive
      from certain personality traits. Further, there is evidence that personality
      traits are transmitted across generations. This study examined the relationship
      of a family history of alcoholism, antisocial personality disorder (ASP) and
      alcohol use to several personality traits including the Tri-dimensional
      Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) in a sample (N = 91) of nonalcoholic, young male
      volunteers. The men with ASP scored higher than the non-ASP men on the Novelty
      Seeking Scale of the TPQ, but not on the Harm Avoidance or Reward Dependence
      subscales. In addition, ASP men scored higher than non-ASP men on a measure of
      impulsivity and tended to score higher on measures of sensation seeking,
      psychopathy and monotony avoidance. A family history of alcoholism did not
      differentiate the young men on any of the childhood behavior problems,
      personality measures or alcohol-related variables.

PMID- 1434636
TI  - A high-risk community study of paternal alcohol consumption and adolescents'
      psychosocial characteristics.
AB  - A prospective community study looked at drinking behavior and biopsychosocial
      correlates of adolescents (in years 9 and 10 and again in years 11 and 12 at 23
      high schools) and their parents. Heavy drinkers were compared to nil/low
      drinkers. Sons were more likely to drink heavily if fathers drank heavily and
      mothers who drank heavily were more likely to cohabit with heavy drinkers.
      Differences in psychological characteristics and home environment were defined in
      regard to heavy drinking fathers and drinking sons. Difficulty in settling
      disagreements and reduced time spent with family were the main correlates
      associated with drinking by both boys who did not necessarily have a heavy
      drinking father and those who did.

PMID- 1434637
TI  - The characterization of inconsistencies in self-reports of alcohol and marijuana
      use in a longitudinal study of adolescents.
AB  - The reliability of self-reported measures remains an important issue for research
      on adolescent alcohol and drug use. Many studies have concluded that adolescents'
      self-reports are valid and reliable, but few studies have excluded consistent
      nonusers from their reliability estimates, and no study has examined in detail
      the reliability of reported age at first use of substances. This study explores
      the consistency of self-reports of frequency of use and age of first use of
      alcohol and marijuana in a sample of 5,770 secondary school students in a
      southeastern U.S. county. Two waves of data were collected between 1985 and 1988
      using state-of-the-art data collection procedures and self-administered
      instruments. Consistency of reports was examined by comparing reports at T1 and
      T2, approximately 1 year apart. Results showed that when consistent nonusers were
      dropped from the analysis, consistency rates of lifetime frequency of use dropped
      from 82.7% to 74.7% for alcohol and from 95.6% to 83.2% for marijuana. Reports
      were more consistent for lifetime marijuana use than for alcohol use, but these
      results must be interpreted with caution given differences in the measures for
      the two substances. Reliability of reported age of first use was very low for
      both substances. When consistent nonusers were dropped from the analysis, only
      27.8% of respondents made consistent estimates of their age at first alcohol use
      and 34.4% for their age at first marijuana use. Implications and recommendations
      for this area of research are discussed.

PMID- 1434638
TI  - The changing role of the surgeon in the management of cancer in the university
      setting and its impact on resident training.
AB  - A retrospective review was performed of 22,168 cancer cases registered by the
      Tumor Registry between 1965 and 1990. Eighty-six percent of these cases involved
      solid tumors; this number remained fairly constant throughout the study period.
      There was a significant trend toward more advanced disease at the time of
      presentation, most marked in the last 10 years; prior to 1980, 63.7% had
      localized or in situ cancer as opposed to only 49.4% since 1980 (P < 0.001). This
      suggested that more advanced cases were being submitted for treatment. As
      expected, more disseminated disease at the time of presentation was coupled with
      an overall decrease in the number of cases in which surgery comprised part of the
      treatment: 43.6% prior to 1980 vs. 38.1% after 1980. This trend has reversed,
      however, in the last 5 years. Though the number of cases in which surgery was the
      only treatment modality remained constant prior to and after 1985 (26.8% and
      27.1%, respectively), the number of cases in which surgery was part of a
      multimodality treatment plan significantly increased (39.9% prior to 1985; 45.3%
      after 1985). This was coupled with a significant decrease in the number of cases
      treated with nonsurgical modalities alone (60.1% prior to 1985; 54.7% after
      1985). Therefore, not only has the surgeon been called upon to operate on more
      advanced disease for cure in the last 5 years, but he or she has also become
      increasingly involved in multimodality treatment. Since 40.4% of university
      departments of surgery (as of 1990) did not provide specific training in surgical
      oncology, it is suggested that these departments reevaluate the objectives of
      their educational programs in view of the changing, increasingly complex role of
      the surgeon in the multidisciplinary approach to the care of the cancer patient.

PMID- 1434639
TI  - Prognostic markers of colorectal cancer: an evaluation of DNA content, epidermal
      growth factor receptor, and Ki-67.
AB  - Between January 1989 and August 1991, 62 patients undergoing resection for
      colorectal adenocarcinoma were assessed in a prospective fashion on the basis of
      various tumor characteristics that are thought to indicate prognosis. Parameters
      measured included epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) expression, a cell
      membrane receptor known to be overexpressed in a variety of tumors, Ki-67, a
      monoclonal antibody marker of cell proliferation, as well as flow cytometry and
      standard histologic examination. Statistical analysis included chi square with
      Yates correction when appropriate, Wilcoxon W, and multivariate logistic
      regression. EGFr positive tumors were associated with worse Dukes' stage (27% of
      EGFr negative tumors were Dukes' C or D vs. 58% of EGFr positive tumors, P =
      0.03), as well as more aneuploid characteristics by flow cytometry (48% EGFr
      negative = aneuploid vs. 82% EGFr positive = aneuploid, P = 0.01). Lymphatic
      invasion was more frequent in EGFr positive tumors (P = 0.03). These factors
      proved to be independent of each other by multivariate analysis. Ki-67 did not
      correlate with any of the measured parameters and was of extremely limited use in
      the evaluation of the study population. Multivariate analysis indicated that
      aneuploid tumors were associated with worse Dukes' stage than diploid tumors.
      Histologic parameters such as lymphatic and vascular invasion as well as
      histologic grade are compared to the other parameters involved with prognosis.

PMID- 1434640
TI  - Accurate specimen preparation and examination is mandatory to detect lymph nodes
      and avoid understaging in colorectal cancer.
AB  - Lymph node involvement in colorectal cancer, one of the most important prognostic
      factors, can be sometimes underestimated. In this study the authors report the
      results of two different techniques of specimen preparation and examination. In
      240 patients (Group I), histologic examination was performed using a conventional
      procedure. In Group II (60 cases) the resected bowel and its mesentery were
      separately stretched, pinned on to a cork board, and fixed. The mesentery was
      divided according to node location (intermediate and principal) and evaluated by
      sight and palpation to identify lymph nodes. The bowel segment was divided from 5
      cm proximally to 5 cm distally to the tumor every 10 mm in serial 3 mm slices.
      Three and 10 mm slices were then carefully examined by sight and palpation.
      Isolated lymph nodes embedded in groups (10-12 per paraffin block) were stained
      and investigated for neoplastic involvement. The specimen examination procedure
      used in Group II resulted in identification of a higher number of lymph nodes
      (mean = 41.1) and nodal metastases (mean = 10) compared to the standard technique
      used in Group I (mean = 11.3 and 2.4, respectively--P < .05). The percentage of
      N+ cases also was increased in Group II (48.3%) when compared to that in Group I
      (30.4%; P < .05). The new technique is simple, inexpensive, and efficacious for
      the detection of lymphatic metastases in colorectal cancer.

PMID- 1434641
TI  - Prognostic assessment of superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus
      using karyometric analysis and nucleolar organizer regions.
AB  - To investigate prognostic values for squamous cell carcinoma, we measured nuclear
      area (NA), nuclear shape factor (NSF), DNA content and mean number of nucleolar
      organizer regions (NOR), using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections
      from 39 patients with superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. NA
      and DNA content were significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastasis
      than in those without metastasis. NA and the NOR number were also significantly
      higher in patients with recurrence than in those surviving for more than 3 years
      without recurrence. To determine the optimal combination of these parameters for
      prognostic assessment, we used a stepwise discriminant analysis to obtain two
      linear discriminant functions. One (f = 0.331 x NA + 6.64 x NSF + 9.85) gave an
      accuracy of 87.2% in predicting lymph node metastasis, and the other (f = -0.071
      x NA - 2.34 x NOR + 13.0) yielded an overall accuracy of 88.9% in classifying
      patients into two groups with a better and worse prognosis. These results suggest
      that karyometric analysis and determination of the NOR number are useful for the
      prediction of disease outcome in patients with superficial squamous cell
      carcinoma of the esophagus.

PMID- 1434642
TI  - Breast masses in adolescent females.
AB  - In a retrospective study of 38 adolescent females operated on for mammary masses,
      42 fibroadenomata (FA), 2 fibrous scars around abscesses, and one papilloma were
      found. All were postmenarchal. Clinical and pathological features were reviewed
      and the patients reexamined or interviewed. FA were mostly asymptomatic and
      removed a few weeks after incidental discovery. They were often seen in Jewish
      girls of parents born in North Africa and the Middle East, and were more
      frequently located in the outer superior quadrant of the left breast. New FA
      appeared in almost half of the cases later on in the same breast, as well as in
      the other breast, or bilaterally. Necrosis occurred in three FA and was unrelated
      to the size of the tumor. There was no correlation between the size of FA,
      multiplicity, or necrosis, nor between increased stromal or epithelial atypia,
      cellularity, or mitotic activity. One explanation for the high rate of
      multiplicity might be related to this neoplasm occurring in an actively
      developing organ under hormonal control. There was no increased breast carcinoma
      apparent in the family history. Therefore, except in cases of fast-growing
      tumors, a conservative approach is recommended because of the frequency of
      multiple FA as well as aesthetical postoperative complications.

PMID- 1434643
TI  - Colorectal carcinoma in young patients.
AB  - Utilizing Tumor Registry records dating from 1935 to 1988, 50 patients diagnosed
      with colorectal adenocarcinoma at the age of 40 years or younger were
      retrospectively studied with respect to sex, race, family history, delay in
      diagnosis, primary tumor location, tumor differentiation, mucin production, stage
      at presentation, and the effect of these factors on 5-year survival. This younger
      group of patients was compared to a computer-generated, randomly selected group
      of 50 patients 40 years of age or older. There was no difference with respect to
      sex, racial distribution, family history, symptoms at presentation, or expediency
      of physician diagnosis between the two groups. Younger patients waited
      significantly longer to seek medical attention than did their older counterparts.
      However, those patients who delayed presentation had no higher incidence of
      advanced disease than those patients who presented earlier. Younger patients had
      a higher incidence of poorly differentiated, advanced, right-sided tumors. This
      is in contrast to a predominance of well-differentiated, less advanced,
      rectosigmoid lesions in the older patients. There was no age-related difference
      in the incidence of mucin-producing tumors. Overall 5-year survival was 75% in
      older patients, in contrast to only 51% in younger patients (P = 0.01). We
      conclude in this study that it is advanced stage at presentation that is the most
      significant prognostic indicator in patients of all ages. The high incidence of
      poorly differentiated, right-sided tumors is responsible for the majority of
      young patients presenting with advanced disease, resulting in their poorer
      prognosis.

PMID- 1434644
TI  - Long-term right atrial catheters in patients with malignancies: an Indian
      experience.
AB  - Ninety-eight single lumen and two double lumen silicone right atrial
      Hickman/Broviac catheters inserted in 91 patients with various malignancies over
      a period of 36 months were prospectively studied. The average duration of use for
      all Hickman/Broviac catheters was 7,460 days with an average of 74.6 days. A
      total of 41 episodes of catheter-related infections were documented in all
      patients (0.5 per 100 access days). Catheter related bacteremia was the most
      frequent type of infection (31 out of 41, 75%). Majority of the bacteremias could
      be controlled with routine antimicrobial therapy. Exit site infections were seen
      in 5 Hickman/Broviac catheters. Two catheters had to be removed because of
      catheter tunnel infections. Gram negative bacteremic infections were the most
      common, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa being the major pathogen. Silicone rubber
      Hickman/Broviac catheters proved to be convenient, reliable, and easily
      manageable devices in our experience.

PMID- 1434645
TI  - Synergistic effects of intratumor administration of cis
      diamminedichloroplatinum(II) combined with local hyperthermia in melanoma bearing
      mice.
AB  - The synergistic effect of local hyperthermia (LHT) with intratumor injection
      (i.t.) of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (DDP) was studied using a rodent
      model with implanted B16 melanoma tumors. The hindfoot of the C57BL/6 mouse
      bearing the tumor was placed in a water bath at 42.5 +/- 0.2 degrees C
      (intratumor temperature was at 42.3 +/- 0.1 degrees C) for 30 minutes just after
      local (i.t.) or systemic (intraperitoneal;i.p.) administration of DDP (1-3 mg/kg
      once in experiment I and 1-3 mg/kg three times in experiment II). The tumor
      growth ratio (TGR) at 7 days after treatment in the group given DDP 3 mg/kg
      (i.t.) with LHT was 1.1 in experiment I and 0.5 in experiment II, and there was a
      statistically significant difference in both experiments compared to findings in
      other groups (P < 0.01). The mean survival time was 42.1 days in experiment I and
      50.2 days in experiment II, with a significant difference in the latter (P <
      0.001). Thus regional injection chemotherapy given concomitantly with local
      hyperthermia promotes the anticancer effects and improves the prognosis without
      either severe renal injury or the promotion of hematogenic metastasis.

PMID- 1434646
TI  - Biological monitoring of cancer chemoprevention.
AB  - A major limiting factor in the successful implementation of cancer
      chemoprevention trials has been the determination of endpoints to measure
      efficacy and success. The use of the ultimate goal of such trials, namely, cancer
      incidence, as an endpoint has serious feasibility problems, including the need
      for large numbers of participants, long follow-up periods, and high costs. The
      application of biological markers as intermediate endpoints to reveal responses
      to chemopreventive agents within a short time and to act as surrogates for cancer
      is an attractive concept worthy of intense investigation. This study reviews some
      potential biological markers, including genetic, cellular, biochemical, and
      immunological, as well as their possible application to cancer chemoprevention.

PMID- 1434647
TI  - Surgical treatment of colon and rectum adenocarcinoma in elderly patients.
AB  - The results are presented of disease-free interval and overall survival in 53
      elderly patients with colon or rectum adenocarcinoma treated with curative
      surgery. The average age was 75.3 years (median = 75.0); 21 patients were male
      and 32 were female. Tumor location was as follows: rectum 18 (34%), sigmoid 17
      (32.1%), right colon 14 (26.4%), and transverse colon 4 (7.5%) All patients were
      surgically treated following the classical patterns for tumor resection. After
      pathological examination, which included the histological grade differentiation,
      the disease stage was reevaluated following the pTNM system. Overall and disease
      free survival at 5 years, for all patients, independent of histological grade
      differentiation and disease stage, were 75.3% and 55.5%, respectively. Overall
      survival at 5 years for patients with grades I and II histological
      differentiation was 74.1% and 85.0%, respectively. None of the grade III patients
      (2 cases) survived more than 1 year. The 5 years disease-free survival for
      patients with histological grade differentiation I and II was 56.8% and 60%,
      respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in overall
      survival for patients with stages SI, SII, and SIII, but the disease-free
      survival at 5 years by stages was found to be significant with rates of 100%,
      67.6%, and 22.6%. Postoperative mortality was 4 (7.5%). The postoperative
      mortality and survival rates obtained in this group of patients encourage us not
      to consider age as a limiting factor for curative surgical treatment.

PMID- 1434648
TI  - Mucinous biliary cystadenoma: a case report and review of the literature.
AB  - Mucinous biliary cystadenomas are rare neoplasms with protean manifestations. In
      most cases the mucinous material is retained within the cyst itself. We describe
      an asymptomatic case of a mucin secreting biliary cystadenoma in which the mucin
      presented as an amorphous intraluminal filling defect in the common hepatic duct
      on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The neoplasm itself was
      confined to the posterior segment of the right hepatic lobe and was treated by
      formal right hepatic lobectomy. This case prompted a review of mucinous biliary
      cystadenomas.

PMID- 1434649
TI  - Metastatic breast carcinoma presenting as persistent diarrhea.
AB  - Patients with breast carcinoma metastatic to the colon generally present with
      multiple symptoms, usually pain, vomiting, nausea, and ascites. We describe a
      patient who presented only with persistent diarrhea, underwent surgery for colon
      cancer, and, on pathological evaluation of the surgical specimen, was found to
      have metastatic breast cancer affecting the colon. Metastatic breast cancer
      should therefore be suspected in patients with a history of breast cancer and
      diarrhea of unknown cause that is not accompanied by other symptoms. Evaluating
      such patients by colonoscopy and biopsy would provide important information
      relevant to choosing between colon surgery and systemic therapy.

PMID- 1434650
TI  - Staging invasive bladder tumors.
AB  - Staging of bladder tumors is based primarily on the depth of tumor invasion (T
      category). Stage is important to treatment planning and prognosis. The problem is
      that clinical evaluation by T-category alone often understages the pathologic
      extent of disease and does not reliably predict treatment results. The current
      analysis shows that the presence of a mass palpable on bimanual examination is of
      prognostic value. Incorporating tumor volume with microscopic tumor invasion may
      enhance the usefulness of clinical staging.

PMID- 1434651
TI  - Noncurative resection for advanced gastric cancer.
AB  - Between 1965 and 1985, 489 patients with advanced gastric cancer who were treated
      with gastric resection and in whom tumor cells remained after the operation were
      defined as cases of a "noncurative resection." The clinicopathological features
      and prognosis of these patients were examined and two groups were prepared:
      locally advanced cancer and cancer with a distant metastasis. In locally advanced
      cancer cases, tumor cells remained in the neighboring organs, lymph nodes, and/or
      resected margins; in those with distant metastasis, peritoneal dissemination
      and/or liver metastasis were present regardless of whether or not the metastasis
      was removed, with or without locally noncurative factors. Serosal invasion was
      prominent and high rates of lymph node metastasis and lymphatic involvement were
      evident in both groups. The survival rate for patients with locally advanced
      gastric cancer was better than that of patients with distant metastasis (P <
      0.01). Survival time in patients with locally advanced cancer can be lengthened
      by resecting all of the primary tumor and as much of the metastatic lesions as
      possible, even if the surgical management is "noncurative." Aggressive
      postoperative chemotherapy for patients with distant metastasis from a gastric
      cancer is to be recommended.

PMID- 1434652
TI  - Gamma probe location of 111indium-labeled B72.3: an extension of
      immunoscintigraphy.
AB  - Eight colorectal and 5 ovarian cancer patients were evaluated with preoperative
      immunoscintigraphy and intraoperative gamma probe detection of 111indium-labeled
      monoclonal antibody B72.3. Immunoscintigraphy detected the presence of tumor in
      every patient shown to have tumor at surgery. There was one false-positive scan.
      A total of 21 pathologically verified lesions were identified at surgery in the
      11 patients with tumor. Immunoscintigraphy localized 12 (57%) and intraoperative
      gamma probe detection located 17 (81%) of the lesions. Intraoperative probe
      detection located 6 of 8 lesions smaller than 1 cm and 3 lesions that were not
      identified on initial surgical exploration. The gamma probe offers information
      that is complementary to immunoscintigraphy in that (1) it aids the surgeon in
      locating intra- and extra-abdominal lesions previously identified by
      immunoscintigraphy, (2) it locates lesions too small to be seen by
      immunoscintigraphy alone, (3) it locates lesions that otherwise might be missed
      at surgery, and (4) it provides objective evidence for adequacy of surgical
      resection of cancer in the abdominal cavity.

PMID- 1434653
TI  - Clinicopathologic comparisons between estrogen receptor-positive and -negative
      gastric cancers.
AB  - We report that a modified dextran-coated charcoal (DCC) assay, including the
      addition of sodium molybdate and 5% DCC stripping of endogenous hormone, detected
      higher estrogen receptors (ERs) than those by the conventional assay. ERs in 21
      gastric adenocarcinoma were determined by the modified DCC assay; 13 patients had
      ERs of 2.5 to 520.2 fmol/mg protein with a mean dissociation constant of 1.9 x
      10(-10) M. The remaining 8 patients had no detectable amount of the receptor.
      There were no differences between the ER-positive and ER-negative groups in
      clinico-pathologic characteristics such as age, sex, tumor size, location, gross
      appearance, invasive depth, invasion of lymph vessel or vein of stomach wall,
      nodal involvement, peritoneal dissemination, liver metastasis, and curability.
      Histological analysis, using Japanese, Lauren's, or Ming's classifications, all
      revealed no differences between the ER-positive and -negative groups. The
      survival rate was identical for the 2 study groups. These results suggest that
      the presence or absence of ERs in gastric adenocarcinoma does not correlate to
      either biologic or clinicopathologic characteristics of this tumor; the role of
      ERs in human gastric cancer remains to be elucidated.

PMID- 1434654
TI  - Complications of radical vulvectomy and inguinal lymphadenectomy for the
      treatment of carcinoma of the vulva.
AB  - Forty-two patients with invasive carcinoma of the vulva, subjected to radical
      vulvectomy and inguinal lymphadenectomy, were evaluated retrospectively. The mean
      age of patients was 61.6 years. Fifteen patients (35.7%) had complicating medical
      diseases, the histopathological diagnoses were squamous carcinoma (n = 39),
      undifferentiated carcinoma (n = 1), and malignant melanoma (n = 2). The
      postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were found to be 73.8% and 11.6%,
      respectively.

PMID- 1434655
TI  - Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas: a heterogeneous disorder.
AB  - Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are rare tumors with a relatively better
      prognosis as compared to other pancreatic cancers. They may be mistaken for
      pseudocysts. Seventeen patients who underwent surgical resection were analyzed.
      Seventy percent of the patients were females and 76.7% of the tumors were located
      in the tail of the pancreas. Preoperative diagnosis was made on the basis of
      ultrasonography and/or computed tomography findings in 60% of patients.
      Retrospective review of the imaging modalities revealed one or more findings
      suggestive of cystic neoplasms in 90% of the patients. These included
      multiloculated cysts, thickened cyst wall, intracystic mass or calcifications,
      and presence of liver metastasis. All the tumors were completely or partly
      excised. The final histopathological diagnosis was microcystic adenoma in 2,
      mucinous cyst adenoma in 1, papillary cystic neoplasm in 3, cystic neuroendocrine
      tumor in 5, and cystadenocarcinoma in 6. Of the 17 patients, 10 had malignant
      tumors. Seven patients with benign tumors and 3 patients with malignant tumors
      are disease free 12-30 months after resection. Cystic neoplasm must always be
      considered as a possibility when dealing with cystic lesions of the pancreas and
      a careful evaluation of ultrasonography and computed tomographic scan may give a
      clue to the diagnosis.

PMID- 1434656
TI  - Transhiatal and transthoracic esophagectomy: a comparative study.
AB  - From January 1981 to December 1990, 55 consecutive patients underwent esophageal
      resection by either the transhiatal (THE, 26 patients) or transthoracic (TTE, 29
      patients) approach. Patient age, tumor size, and tumor stage were similar in the
      two groups. THE patients had a significantly worse mean preoperative American
      Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) risk class assigned by the anesthesiologist.
      Patients who underwent THE had a significantly lower operative mortality and rate
      of cardiopulmonary complications, significantly shorter intensive care unit and
      hospital length of stay, and a significantly better postoperative survival when
      operative deaths are included in the analysis. Operative deaths in the TTE group
      were concentrated among patients > 65 years of age (4 of 9 died), in an ASA risk
      class > or = III (3 of 7 died) or with moderate or severe cardiac or pulmonary
      impairment preoperatively (4 of 6 died).

PMID- 1434657
TI  - Antitumor effect of triphenylethylene derivative (TAT-59) against human breast
      carcinoma xenografts in nude mice.
AB  - The antitumor activity of a newly synthesized triphenylethylene derivative [(E)-4
      [1-[4-[2-(dimethylamino)ethoxy-phenyl]-2-(4-isopropyl)phenyl-1- butenyl] phenyl
      monophosphate] (TAT-59) was investigated against human breast carcinoma
      xenografts in nude mice with reference to the changes of hormone receptors. Five
      strains (MCF-7, Br-10, R-27, ZR-75-1, and T-61) used for the experiments
      possessed cytosol estrogen receptor (ER), and their growth was estradiol
      dependent. Five mg of TAT-59 and tamoxifen citrate (TAM) per kg were administered
      p.o. daily except Sunday. TAT-59 showed a positive antitumor effect against MCF-7
      and R-27, whereas TAM was effective on MCF-7, and their adverse effects detected
      by mortality rate, body weight loss, and spleen weight loss were similar to each
      other. The reduction of ER and production of progesterone receptor (PgR) after
      the treatment with TAT-59 were more potent than after TAM, suggesting that TAT-59
      exerts its antitumor effect through binding to ER. These findings suggest that
      TAT-59 might merit use in clinical trials with breast cancers.

PMID- 1434658
TI  - Management of long-term postirradiation periclavicular complications.
AB  - Four cases of periclavicular postirradiation sarcoma and two cases of clavicular
      osteoradionecrosis with pathologic fractures are reported. All six cases
      presented more than 10 years after irradiation for breast cancer (five) or
      nasopharyngeal carcinoma (one). A review of radiotherapy received showed that
      they were subjected to unconventional radiation schedules (hypofractionation or
      high dose per fraction treatment). An approach to diagnosis and management of
      periclavicular lesions arising long after therapeutic irradiation is presented
      and the unique problems encountered with periclavicular surgery are discussed.

PMID- 1434659
TI  - Early drain removal following modified radical mastectomy: a randomized trial.
AB  - The dilemma of increasing costs of medical care and shrinking health budgets has
      stimulated attempts to implement stricter control on expenditure without
      affecting the quality of care. This study shows that in patients with operable
      breast cancer, a policy of early discharge after a mastectomy did not have
      deleterious effects on wound healing and was well accepted by patients. In a
      randomized trial, drains were removed after either 3 or 6 days postmastectomy,
      and in both groups of patients there was no difference between the mean volumes
      of seromas aspirated or the number of aspirations and return visits to the
      hospital. This suggests that a policy of early discharge is safe, acceptable,
      economical, and may improve bed utilization.

PMID- 1434660
TI  - Primary gastrointestinal lymphomas in Turkey: a retrospective analysis of
      clinical features and results of treatment.
AB  - Thirty-three patients with primary gastrointestinal lymphoma (GIL) followed at
      Ankara University Medical School have been evaluated. The most frequent locations
      of the disease are the small intestine (48.4%) and the stomach (39.3%). The
      intermediate and high grade lymphomas constitute 84.8% of the cases. The mean age
      of the patients with small intestinal lymphoma is 28.7 years and 47.1 years for
      those with gastric lymphoma. The patients treated with surgery and chemotherapy
      (S+CT) have a longer survival than those treated with chemotherapy (CT) alone. IN
      CONCLUSION: 1) Small intestinal lymphoma occurs more frequently than gastric
      lymphoma in our study. 2) The median age of the Turkish patients with primary GIL
      is approximately 10 years less than those in the Western countries. 3) The
      therapeutic results of S+CT are superior to those of CT in the early stages of
      the disease.

PMID- 1434662
TI  - The effect of vagotomy and pyloroplasty on colorectal tumor induction in the rat.
AB  - Epidemiologic studies have suggested that vagotomy increases subsequent
      colorectal cancer risk. This hypothesis was investigated in the rat 1,2
      dimethylhydrazine (DMH) colorectal carcinogenesis model. Eighty-five rats were
      divided into four groups having either truncal vagotomy and Heineke-Mickulicz
      pyloroplasty, pyloroplasty alone, laparotomy alone, and anesthesia alone. After
      recovery from the procedures, colon tumors were induced with five injections of
      DMH. Results of carcinogenesis show a trend towards increased incidence and yield
      of colorectal and duodenal tumors after vagotomy, though this was not
      statistically significant, perhaps because the high postoperative mortality from
      vagotomy diminished the power of the study.

PMID- 1434661
TI  - Experimental chemotherapy for xenograft cell lines of human bile duct and gall
      bladder cancers in nude mice.
AB  - Most biliary tract cancers are advanced and inoperable when first diagnosed. Even
      if surgery can be performed, the postsurgical prognosis of these diseases is
      poor. In the present study, we investigated effective chemotherapies for a human
      bile duct cancer xenograft cell line (undifferentiated carcinoma, BDC-SN) and a
      gall bladder cancer xenograft cell line (well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, GBC
      GN), which were transplanted into nude mice. Eight anticancer agents (CDDP, 5-FU,
      VDS, MMC, ADR, EPIR, CQ, and VP-16) and their various combinations were evaluated
      at 2-4 times the clinical dose. When used singly, CDDP, 5-FU, and VDS were
      effective against BDC-SN, and only CDDP was effective against GBC-GN. Among the
      various 2-agent combinations, CDDP + 5-FU was the most effective against both BDC
      SN and GBC-GN. However, 3-agent combinations consisting of CDDP + 5-FU + another
      agent were less effective than the CDDP + 5-FU double regimen and caused
      significant loss of weight as well as high mortality. These results suggest that
      CDDP + 5-FU may be the most useful regimen against biliary tract cancers in
      clinical application.

PMID- 1434663
TI  - Bowel perforation due to metastatic lung cancer.
AB  - Lung cancer infrequently metastasizes to the bowel. When this occurs, the
      symptoms may vary from mild to emergent in nature. Three patients are presented
      illustrating the life threatening complications that may occur due to bowel
      metastases of lung carcinoma. A review of the literature reveals that only four
      of 24 reported patients have survived bowel perforation due to metastatic lung
      carcinoma. One of the three patients presented herein survived to be discharged
      home. Patients with known lung carcinoma who develop abdominal complaints should
      be investigated aggressively to prevent life-threatening complications by early
      intervention.

PMID- 1434664
TI  - A method for investigating hepatocyte polyploidization kinetics during postnatal
      development in mammals.
AB  - A method for investigating weakly-proliferating cell populations of liver
      parenchyma on the basis of a quantitative analysis of hepatocyte polyploidization
      during postnatal development is described. The method uses a mathematical model
      which characterizes the hepatocyte polyploidization process, and incorporates
      data concerning the time course for relative frequencies of hepatocytes in
      different ploidy classes. As a result of these measurements and calculations for
      rat liver, transition rates of hepatocytes (the relative number of cells during a
      given time unit) from one ploidy class to another, and a coefficient for the
      reduction of hepatocyte mitotic activity with an increase in its ploidy class
      were obtained. Calculated curves show a good correspondence with the real process
      of hepatocyte frequency changes as they relate to changes in the age of the
      animals. To check this method, experiments investigating time changes of
      autoradiographic label content in the different ploidy classes of hepatocytes
      were carried out. By mathematically modeling the label diluting process resulting
      from cell proliferation and polyploidization, transition rates of hepatocytes
      were calculated, and they reflect values calculated from the model according to
      changes in occurrence frequencies.

PMID- 1434665
TI  - Phenotypic evolution under gene-culture transmission in structured populations.
AB  - I consider a simple model for the evolution of a quantitative character is
      structured populations when an offspring's phenotype is determined partly by his
      or her genetic constitution and partly by cultural transmission of the parental
      phenotype. Analysis of the model indicates that when individual and group
      selection are in the same direction, phenotypic evolution always proceeds faster
      under gene-culture vs. purely genetic transmission. When individual and group
      selection are countervailing, altruistic characters evolve faster under gene
      culture transmission when individual selection is weak and migration among groups
      is limited, with increased individual selection and migration tending to decrease
      the advantage of gene-culture transmission over purely genetic transmission.
      Given the prevalence of cultural transmission in higher species, these results
      suggest that contrary to what is often assumed, group selection may indeed by a
      potent evolutionary force in the evolution of altruistic characters.

PMID- 1434666
TI  - Intragenomic conflict and the evolution of eusociality.

PMID- 1434667
TI  - Sodium-calcium exchange: derivation of a state diagram and rate constants from
      experimental data.
AB  - A mechanism is developed for Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange using a new approach made
      possible by the availability of computer software that allows the systematic
      search of a large parameter space for optimum sets of parameters to fit multiple
      sets of experimental data. The approach was to make the experimental data dictate
      the form of the mechanism: the qualitative features of the data dictating the
      number and nature of the states of the exchanger and their interrelationship, and
      the quantitative aspects of the data dictating the values of the rate constants
      that govern the amount of each state relative to the total amount of exchanger. A
      single set of experimental data served this initial purpose, namely, observations
      of equilibrium Ca(2+)-Ca2+ exchange in cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles (Slaughter et
      al., 1983, J. biol. Chem. 258, 3183-3190). From this data a minimum mechanism was
      induced having 56 states (SYM56), which gave satisfactory quantitative fits to
      the experimental data. With this set of parameters additional experimental data
      were fitted, from the same preparation, the single cardiac cell and the squid
      giant axon, with some changes in parameters, but none dramatic. In spite of the
      symmetric nature of the mechanism, i.e. binding constants for Na+ and Ca2+ do not
      depend on the orientation of the binding sites, the mechanism exhibits marked
      asymmetric behavior similar to that observed experimentally. Finally, in
      accounting for Ca(2+)-Ca2+ exchange in the absence of monovalent cations, Ca2+
      influx becomes dependent on intracellular Ca(2+)--an unexpected outcome--exactly
      in keeping with the "essential activator" role of intracellular Ca2+ observed by
      DiPolo & Beauge (1987, J. gen. Physiol. 90, 505-525). Observations of Na(+)-Ca2+
      exchange in the retinal rod outer segment are well fitted with a simplified
      version of SYM56 comprising 25 states (namely, SYM25), supporting the notion that
      the exchanger in the retinal rod outer segment differs from that in cardiac
      sarcolemma and squid axon. Maximum turnover rate of 840 sec-1 for SYM56 and 20
      sec-1 for SYM25 are comparable to those reported for the exchanger in cardiac
      muscle and retinal rod outer segment, respectively.

PMID- 1434668
TI  - The growth of mammals following a period of nutritional limitation.
AB  - A theory of predicting the growth of an animal following a period of nutritional
      limitation is proposed here. The theory consists of the following three
      propositions. Proposition 1: there is a scale of size, such that the growth rate
      following a period of nutritional limitation is that of normal animals at the
      same size. Proposition 2: any abnormalities in body composition at the end of the
      period of limitation will be corrected over time. Proposition 3: the rates at
      which abnormalities in body composition at the end of the period of limiting
      conditions are corrected, are always set by the conditions of rehabilitation. The
      propositions are connected with three other problems viz normal growth, growth
      under some limitation and the conditions needed by an animal to perform at its
      potential. These problems are dealt here by: (i) using a simple description of
      normal growth, (ii) considering the limitation by its effects rather by
      attempting to predict the effects of a given limitation, and (iii) using simple
      assumptions about protein and energy scales and requirements. The predictions of
      the theory are compared with experimental data, and a good qualitative agreement
      is found. Important conclusions from the theory are: (a) that it is essential to
      measure as fully as may be the state of the animal at the end of the period of
      limitation and to compare it with the state of normal animals and (b) that
      careful attention needs to be given to the choice and the description of the
      treatment, or preferably treatments, during the rehabilitation period.

PMID- 1434669
TI  - A mathematical model of homologous recombination in cultured cells.
AB  - This work presents a model describing the rate of recombination between
      homologous segments of DNA stably integrated into the genome of cultured cells.
      The model has been applied to rat cell lines carrying the polyomavirus middle T
      oncogene and a functional origin of viral DNA replication. Introduction of the
      gene coding for the polyoma large T antigen or the SV40 large T antigen into
      cells by DNA transfection promotes homologous recombination in the resident viral
      inserts with rates varying between 0.1 x 10(-3) and 3.7 x 10(-1) per cell
      generation.

PMID- 1434671
TI  - Promotion of evolution: disparity in the frequency of strand-specific misreading
      between the lagging and leading DNA strands enhances disproportionate
      accumulation of mutations.

PMID- 1434670
TI  - Applied molecular evolution.

PMID- 1434672
TI  - A stochastic evolutionary model of molecular sequences.
AB  - A stochastic evolutionary model of molecular sequences is proposed. The basic
      forces in evolution are supposed to be mutation and selection. The concept is
      somewhat similar to Kauffman-Levin's concept of adaptive walks and corresponding
      analytical expressions have been developed. The selective force is divided into
      two parts: a slowly-varying part and a rapidly-changing fluctuation. The latter
      influences the distribution of sequences and results in an equation of motion
      along the flow line. The former plays a more important role in the emergence of
      evolutionary order. It is demonstrated that the asymmetry of selective forces
      would lead to a definite order of the system.

PMID- 1434673
TI  - Intron evolution: a statistical comparison of two models.
AB  - The two most frequently occurring explanations for the existence and distribution
      of introns in the genes of different species are: (1) introns are remnants of the
      original genetic material. (2) Introns were introduced during evolution. We
      construct mathematical models corresponding to these two explanations, and
      calculate the probabilities that the intron distribution in genes from different
      species coding for actin, alpha-tubulin, triosephosphate isomerase and superoxide
      dismutase are described by these models. In both models, the branch lengths as
      well as the structure of the corresponding evolutionary tree is taken into
      account. Every branch in the evolutionary tree is assumed to have its own
      individual rate of loss of introns for the first model and rate of gain of
      introns for the second model. These rate constants are estimated from the actual
      number of introns. Using the rate constants we stimulate the intron evolution and
      calculate the probabilities that the actual intron arrangements are produced. The
      results for actin and alpha-tubulin, which are the two genes we have the most
      data for, favor the model corresponding conjecture (1), i.e. the idea that
      introns are old. This contradicts the results from an earlier attempt to model
      intron evolution where almost the same data was used (Dibb & Newman, 1989, EMBO
      J. 8, 2015-2021).

PMID- 1434674
TI  - A comprehensive multiple matrix model representing the life cycle of the tick
      that transmits the agent of Lyme disease.
AB  - An extension of Leslie matrix methodology was developed to describe the life
      cycle of Ixodes dammini, the tick that transmits the agent of Lyme disease in
      eastern North America. Thereby, we described the seasonally changing pattern of
      interactions of the tick with its various hosts in a well-studied site on
      Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. Particular numerical values representing the
      site were estimated mainly on the basis of published values and interpreted on
      the basis of experience. The model was used to predict seasonal abundance and
      annual rate of increase of this vector tick. Although these ticks quest for hosts
      during two consecutive feeding seasons, all but a few feed during the first such
      season. The relative distribution of developmental stages of the tick stabilized
      after 35 years. Abundance of the simulated population increased exponentially and
      doubled every 6 years. The simulations produced realistic seasonal feeding
      distributions of the ticks in its various developmental stages.

PMID- 1434675
TI  - Evolutionarily stable age at first reproduction in a density-dependent model.
AB  - We develop a new model of life history evolution to investigate the evolution of
      age at first reproduction. Density dependence is taken into account. For a given
      "species", age of maturity, offspring survival, immature survival, adult
      survival, fecundity, immature age-classes entering in competition with adults and
      immature competitive ability are traits adjustable by natural selection, and
      constitute a particular strategy. On the contrary, the type of intraspecific
      competition (scramble or contest), strength of competition and inherent net
      reproductive rate Ro(inh) are fixed (specific) characteristics. As a consequence
      of fixing Ro(inh), the evolution of any trait will affect trade-offs between
      others. Evolutionarily stable strategies are determined numerically by using the
      mathematical concept of Lyapunov exponents. Altogether, we consider 960 different
      hypothetical "species" (i.e. different combinations of fixed traits).
      Corresponding ESSs are analyzed with respect to their age at first reproduction,
      adult survival and immature competitive ability components. They appear to be
      gathered in three groups. One is intuitive and characterized by a reduction of
      immature competitive ability and a correlation of age of maturity with adult
      survival; populations reach mainly equilibria. The two other groups respectively
      include "species" with low age of maturity but high adult survival, and "species"
      close to semelparity with delayed maturity; immature competitive ability may not
      be minimized, and populations possibly exhibit complex dynamics. In conclusion,
      the hypothesis that the evolution of a demographic parameter modifies trade-offs
      between others turns out to have important consequences. We argue that life
      history theory cannot ignore the source and mode-of-operation of density
      dependence and must regard potential short-term instability as essential.

PMID- 1434676
TI  - South African traditional herbal medicines used during pregnancy and childbirth.
AB  - Many black South African women use traditional herbal remedies as antenatal
      medications or to induce or augment labour. Very little is known about the
      pharmacology and potential toxicity of the plants used in these herbal remedies.
      The ethnic background and traditional usage of these remedies was researched and
      a literature survey revealed that 57 different plants were used in herbal
      remedies during pregnancy and childbirth. Several of these plants are poisonous
      and details of their toxicity are given.

PMID- 1434677
TI  - Headache treatments by native peoples of the Ecuadorian Amazon: a preliminary
      cross-disciplinary assessment.
AB  - Headache, specifically migraine, is an extremely frequent and debilitating
      syndrome with worldwide prevalence, including indigenous cultures of Amazonia.
      This paper considers headache as perceived within the medical philosophy of 5
      Indian tribes of the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin. Their ethnobotanical treatments for
      headache are examined, along with the limited available biochemical assay data.
      This information is analyzed by means of an Ethnopharmacology Rating Scale.
      Suggestions are offered as to methods of biochemical analysis that may be
      fruitful in assessment of potential clinical headache remedies. Key among these
      is the screening of ethnobotanical samples for serotonin receptor activity. The
      potential may exist for the discovery of more effective, less toxic headache
      drugs, as well as for the development of a new industry for the local economy
      that could promote conservation of an endangered ecosystem.

PMID- 1434678
TI  - Essential oils and antimicrobial activity of two varieties of Cedronella
      canariensis (L.) W. et B.
AB  - The qualitative and quantitative determination of the essential oils of the
      aerial part of two varieties of Cedronella canariensis (L.) W. et B., namely, C.
      canariensis var. canariensis and C. canariensis var. anisata have been performed,
      together with the study of the antimicrobial activity of both oils. The
      noteworthy inhibition exhibited against Bordetella bronchiseptica and
      Cryptococcus albidus may justify the popular use of the these plants in the
      treatment of certain diseases of the respiratory tract.

PMID- 1434679
TI  - Stevioside effect on renal function of normal and hypertensive rats.
AB  - Physiological and pharmacological experiments have suggested that stevioside from
      the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana acts as a typical systemic vasodilator. The
      effect of stevioside on renal function in both normal and with experimental renal
      hypertension rats (GII) was evaluated using clearance techniques. Stevioside
      provoked hypotension, diuresis and natriuresis in both the normal and
      hypertensive rats. Normal rats presented an increase in renal plasma flow (RPF)
      and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) constant following stevioside
      administration. The last effect is in part due to vasodilation of both the
      afferent and efferent arterioles. Moreover, stevioside infusion in hypertensive
      rats caused an increase in RPF and GFR. These data are consistent with impairment
      of a renal autoregulation mechanism in this experimental hypertensive model.

PMID- 1434680
TI  - Cardiovascular responses in the normotensive rat produced by intravenous
      injection of gambirine isolated from Uncaria callophylla B1. ex Korth.
AB  - Among several alkaloids, including dimeric indoles, isolated from Uncaria
      callophylla, gambirine which is an alkaloid unique to this plant, has been found
      to be another hypotensive principle from the plant. Intravenous injections of
      gambirine in the dose range of 0.2 to 10.0 mg/kg caused a dose-related fall in
      both systolic and diastolic blood pressures as well as heart rate. At all doses
      gambirine showed a prompt onset of action and at the higher doses (5.0-10 mg/kg),
      marked persistence of hypotension accompanied by severe bradycardia were
      observed. In addition, higher doses of gambirine produced a more marked decrease
      in diastolic than systolic pressure while at lower doses both decreased equally.
      It is suggested that the hypotensive effect of gambirine may be peripheral in
      origin and is associated, at least in part, with a cardiac action.

PMID- 1434681
TI  - Studies on the individual and combined diuretic effects of four Vietnamese
      traditional herbal remedies (Zea mays, Imperata cylindrica, Plantago major and
      Orthosiphon stamineus).
AB  - Herbal remedies are widely used in Vietnam alongside modern drugs. We assessed
      the diuretic effect of four traditional Vietnamese herbal remedies from Zea mays,
      Imperata cylindrica, Plantago major and Orthosiphon stamineus, all claimed to
      produce an increase of diuresis. No influence was recorded for the 12- and 24-h
      urine output or on the sodium excretion for any of the drugs when tested under
      standardized conditions in a placebo controlled double-blind crossover model. The
      present study indicates the need for critical review of the present
      recommendations regarding therapy with plant materials in countries relying on
      empiric traditions.

PMID- 1434682
TI  - Pharmacologic properties of Moringa oleifera. 2: Screening for antispasmodic,
      antiinflammatory and diuretic activity.
AB  - Hot water infusions of flowers, leaves, roots, seeds and stalks or bark of
      Moringa oleifera were screened to detect three pharmacologic activities in
      experimental models in rats. The antispasmodic activity was demonstrated using
      isolated duodenum, oral anti-inflammatory activity by carrageenan-induced hindpaw
      edema and oral diuretic activity by urine output in metabolic cages. The seed
      infusion showed a significant inhibition of acetylcholine-induced contraction
      with an ED50 of 65.6 mg/ml bath concentration, inhibition of carrageenan-induced
      edema at 1000 mg/kg and diuretic activity at 1000 mg/kg. Some activity was also
      demonstrated in the roots. All doses expressed here are as equivalents of dried
      starting plant material.

PMID- 1434683
TI  - Evaluation of xanthotoxol for central nervous system activity.
AB  - Xanthotoxol (XT), 8-hydroxypsoralen, exhibited dose-graded sedative activity in
      dogs, cats, rats, mice and hamsters. At doses of 5-20 mg/kg intraperitoneally
      (i.p.) in cats and 3-100 mg/kg orally (p.o.) in dogs, XT blocked predatory
      mouse/rat killing behavior. In mice, XT (10-300 mg/kg i.p.) exhibited a dose
      dependent reduction in locomotor activity but was less potent in this regard than
      reference diazepam (10-100 mg/kg i.p.). XT in mice (0.1-10.0 mg/kg i.p.) and in
      hamsters (0.1-10.0 mg/kg p.o.) antagonized amphetamine-induced hypermobility but
      was less potent than diazepam. XT elevated the electrical threshold in foot-shock
      induced fighting behavior in rats. XT (0.1-30.0 mg/kg p.o.) potentiated
      pentobarbital-induced narcosis in hamsters at otherwise subeffective doses of
      pentobarbital. Conditioned avoidance responses in rats were not significantly
      altered with 1-3 mg/kg i.p. and 30-100 mg/kg p.o. doses of XT but 300 mg/kg p.o.
      blocked both conditioned and unconditioned response. Doses of 100-1000 mg/kg i.p.
      of XT in mice were used to study 48-h acute toxicity of XT and its LD50 was
      estimated to be 468 mg/kg. Doses of 10, 40 and 80 mg/kg p.o. were used to study
      the chronic toxicity of XT in rats for 6 months and no side effects or
      abnormalities in reproductive activity or endocrine integrity were noted. The F1
      generation of rats from 6-month XT-treated parents were free of teratogenic
      effects.

PMID- 1434684
TI  - Phytochemical and analgesic investigation of Tabebuia chrysotricha.

PMID- 1434685
TI  - Anti-granuloma activity of Iraqi Withania somnifera.
AB  - The granuloma-tissue formation inhibiting activity of various fractions of an
      extract of the aerial parts of Withania somnifera were established using
      subcutaneous cotton-pellet implantation in rats. Antiinflammatory activity was
      retained in the methanolic fractions of the plant extract and was comparable to
      that of a 5 mg/kg dose of hydrocortisone sodium succinate. Activity was
      attributed to the high content of biologically active steroids in the plant, of
      which withaferin A is known to be a major component.

PMID- 1434686
TI  - Medicinal plants used to treat malaria in Madagascar.
AB  - Two-hundred thirty-nine Madagascan medicinal plants have been either retrieved
      from computerized ethnobotany information or identified in our own ethnomedicine
      work as having antimalarial properties. Such a high rate percent of plants
      compared to those used empirically to treat other diseases reflects the
      importance and the complication of this major tropical disease in Madagascar.

PMID- 1434687
TI  - The Moraceae-based dart poisons of South America. Cardiac glycosides of Maquira
      and Naucleopsis species.
AB  - The use of cardenolide-containing Moraceae in the dart poisons of South America
      is reviewed. Those prepared by the Choco Indians of western Colombia--called
      niaara or kieratchi--have probably been made from the latex of Naucleopsis amara
      and N. glabra. In Ecuador, the Colorado Indians used N. chiguila, while the
      Coaiquer Indians still derive a poison from the latex of N. naga and the Cayapa
      Indians occasionally make use of a blowgun poison, hambi, which probably also
      comes from a Naucleopsis species. The Kabori (Rio Uneiuxi Maku) Indians of north
      western Brazil may have utilized Maquira coriacea, but a more recent collection
      documents N. mello-barretoi latex as a source of their poison. The Tikuna Indians
      of western Brazil included leaves and bark of N. stipularis in one of their
      poisons. The principal cardiac glycosides present in Maquira species are
      strophanthidin-based and the main ones occurring in Naucleopsis species are
      antiarigenin- as well as strophanthidin-based. The structures of two new
      glycosides, isolated from dart-poison samples, have been established as
      strophanthidin beta-D-glucomethylosido-D-alloside and beta-D-digitoxosido-D
      alloside. The former is a major component of pakurin, the crystalline glycoside
      mixture prepared by Santesson in 1928 from a Choco Indian poison.

PMID- 1434689
TI  - Inhibition of Microlax-induced experimental diarrhoea with narcotic-like extracts
      of Psidium guajava leaf in rats.
AB  - Measurement of rates of propulsion in the small intestine in control and
      experimental groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) were carried out as a
      means of assessing antidiarrhoeal activity of aqueous extracts of the leaf of
      Psidium guajava (L.), using morphine as the standard drug of reference.
      Hyperpropulsion (diarrhoea) was induced by gavaging rats in a control group with
      Microlax, using phenol red mixed into it as a marker in the intestine, and the
      mean rate of the hyperpropulsion was determined. The normal rate of propulsion,
      defined as the percentage of the length of the ileum traversed by the front of
      the dye in 1 h after gavaging animals with a liquid paraffin-phenol red meal, was
      also determined in another control group. In experimental groups pretreated with
      enteral administration of either morphine or aqueous extracts, 1 h before the
      challenge with Microlax, the percentage inhibition to the hyperpropulsive rate
      (antidiarrhoeal activity) was calculated. Both morphine and the extracts produced
      a dose-response relationship in their antidiarrhoeal effects. A dose of 0.2 ml/kg
      fresh leaf extract produced 65% inhibition of propulsion. This dose is equiactive
      with 0.2 mg/kg of morphine sulphate. The antidiarrhoeal action of the extract may
      be due, in part, to the inhibition of the increased watery secretions that occur
      commonly in all acute diarrhoeal diseases and cholera.

PMID- 1434688
TI  - Experimental cardiovascular depressant effects of garlic (Allium sativum)
      dialysate.
AB  - The objectives of this work were to investigate the effects of a garlic dialysate
      on diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR) and electrocardiogram (ECG) of
      anaesthetized dogs and its effects on frequency and tension of isolated rat
      atria. Garlic dialysate led to a drop in DBP (from 112.5 +/- 3.67 to 70 +/- 3.16
      mmHg) and a decrease in HR (from 198 +/- 9.81 to 164 +/- 16.59 beats/min) in a
      dose-dependent manner. The ECG showed a regular sinus bradycardic rhythm. The
      addition of garlic dialysate to isolated left rat atria evoked a decrease in
      tension development. Frequency, measured by spontaneous beating of the right
      atria, was also reduced. Both effects were dose-dependent. In addition to these
      effects, the positive inotropism and chronotropism induced by addition of
      isoproterenol 10(-9) M, were partially antagonized by preincubation of the rat
      atria with the garlic dialysate. The above findings can be explained by a
      depressant effect on automaticity and tension development in the heart,
      suggesting a beta-adrenoceptor blocking action produced by the garlic dialysate.

PMID- 1434690
TI  - Biological and chemical studies of Pera benensis, a Bolivian plant used in folk
      medicine as a treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
AB  - The stem barks of Pera benensis are employed by the Chimane Indians in the
      Bolivian Amazonia as treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by the protozoan
      Leishmania braziliensis. The chloroform extracts containing quinones were found
      active against the promastigote forms of Leishmania and the epimastigote forms of
      Trypanosoma cruzi at 10 micrograms ml-1. The activity guided fractionation of the
      extract by chromatography afforded active compounds. Their structures were
      elucidated, by spectral and chemical studies, as known naphthoquinones,
      plumbagin, 3,3'-biplumbagin, 8-8'-biplumbagin, and triterpene, lupeol. The
      activity in vitro of each compound was evaluated against 5 strains of Leishmania
      (promastigote), 6 strains of Trypanosoma cruzi (epimastigote) and the
      intracellular form (amastigote) of Leishmania amazonensis. The baseline drugs
      used were Glucantime and pentamidine (Leishmania spp.), nifurtimox and
      benznidazole (T. cruzi). Plumbagin was the most active compound in vitro. This
      study has demonstrated that Pera benensis, a medicinal plant used in folk
      medicine, is an efficient treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

PMID- 1434691
TI  - Medicinal plants used by the Fang traditional healers in Equatorial Guinea.
AB  - This work is an ethnobotanical study of some medicinal plants used by the Fang
      traditional healers of two regions of Equatorial Guinea in Central Africa: Malabo
      and Bata. For each species listed, the family, the botanical name, the voucher
      specimen number, the vernacular name, the pharmacological and therapeutical
      properties are given.

PMID- 1434692
TI  - An Ayurvedic formulation 'Trikatu' and its constituents.
AB  - 'Trikatu' is an Ayurvedic preparation containing black pepper, long pepper and
      ginger, which is prescribed routinely for a variety of diseases as part of a
      multidrug prescription. These herbs along with piperine (alkaloid of peppers)
      have been shown to possess diverse biological activities in mammalian systems. A
      review is presented of these studies and it has been suggested that their use in
      the Indian system of medicine could be due to their bioavailability enhancing
      action on other medicaments.

PMID- 1434693
TI  - Inventory of plants used in traditional medicine in Somalia. III. Plants of the
      families Lauraceae-Papilionaceae.
AB  - Thirty-five plants are listed, which are used by traditional healers in the
      central and southern parts of Somalia. For each species are listed: the botanical
      name with synonyms, collection number, vernacular name, medicinal use,
      preparation of remedy and dosage. Results of a literature survey are also
      reported including medicinal use, substances isolated and pharmacological
      effects.

PMID- 1434694
TI  - The Association at seventy-five: the challenge of the future.

PMID- 1434695
TI  - Operative treatment of Ebstein's anomaly.
AB  - From April 1972 to February 12, 1991, 189 patients with Ebstein's anomaly
      underwent repair. Ages ranged from 11 months to 64 years (median 16 years, mean
      19.1 years). In 58.2%, tricuspid valve reconstruction was possible, and in 36.5%,
      a prosthetic valve, usually a bioprosthesis, was inserted. In 5.3%, a modified
      Fontan or other procedure was performed. There were 12 hospital deaths (6.3%).
      All 28 patients who had accessory conduction pathways (Wolff-Parkinson-White
      syndrome) underwent successful ablation of the pathways as part of the operative
      treatment. Follow-up was obtained in 151 (85.3%) patients. Of those patients
      followed up more than 1 year after operation, 92.9% were in New York Heart
      Association class I or II. There were 10 late deaths: seven cardiac (four
      sudden), two noncardiac, and one of an unknown cause. Postoperative Doppler
      echocardiographic assessment showed the atrial septum was intact in all patients
      and tricuspid valve function was good to excellent in most patients. Four of the
      110 patients (3.6%) who underwent valve reconstruction required reoperation 1.4
      to 14.1 years later. Postoperative reduction in heart size was usual, atrial
      arrhythmias were reduced, and late postoperative exercise testing showed a
      significant improvement in performance: Maximal oxygen consumption increased from
      a mean of 47% of predicted value before the operation to a mean of 72% after the
      operation. Nine patients had a total of 12 successful pregnancies with deliveries
      of normal children.

PMID- 1434696
TI  - Morphology of ventricular septal defects in complete transposition. Surgical
      implications.
AB  - Postmortem examination of 62 hearts with complete transposition (concordant
      atrioventricular and discordant ventriculoarterial connections) and an
      accompanying ventricular septal defect was performed to determine the morphologic
      variability of ventricular septal defects and to explore the surgical
      implications of these defects. Particular attention was directed toward assessing
      alignment of the outlet septum relative to the muscular septum. Coronary arterial
      distributions were also evaluated, but specific patterns of distribution did not
      correlate with morphology of the defect. Of 49 hearts with a normally aligned
      outlet septum, there were 24 perimembranous, 21 muscular, and 2 doubly committed
      and juxtaarterial defects. Two hearts had both perimembranous and muscular
      defects. Twelve of the 21 muscular defects were "central," being surrounded
      entirely by muscle and located just below the leaflets of the pulmonary valve,
      and 9 were located in the inlet or apical trabecular septum. There were 13 hearts
      with malalignment of the outlet septum, anteriorly in 11 and posteriorly in 2.
      All with anterior malalignment had a subpulmonary defect that was perimembranous
      in 7 and muscular in 4. Both defects with posterior malalignment had a subaortic
      perimembranous defect. Because variations in morphology of a ventricular septal
      defect have a direct impact on selection of the most suitable surgical repair,
      specific operative approaches are discussed.

PMID- 1434697
TI  - Role of the septal leaflet in tricuspid valve closure. Consideration for
      treatment of complete atrioventricular canal.
AB  - A septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve is thought to work differently from other
      anterior and posterior leaflets. We studied its role in valve closure in dogs by
      means of a dynamic area meter. During the control state, the tricuspid valve
      orifice area increased twice in diastole coincidentally with either atrial
      systole or rapid ventricular filling. We observed several findings after the
      septal leaflet resection: (1) two peak area patterns of the tricuspid valve
      orifice in diastole, (2) no elevation of right atrial pressure on ventricular
      systole (there was no V wave), (3) no tricuspid valve regurgitation on right
      ventriculography. These findings suggest that a complete valve closure occurred
      without the septal leaflet in regular sinus rhythm. An elevation of the right
      ventricular pressure produced by pulmonary artery stenosis without septal
      leaflet, however, easily caused tricuspid valve regurgitation in contrast to the
      same pressure of the right ventricle with the normal tricuspid valve. The right
      ventricular pacing caused severe valve regurgitation without the septal leaflet.
      Results indicate that in the repair of the complete atrioventricular canal defect
      and other tricuspid valve lesions, the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve
      rarely requires attention. An atrioventricular block should be avoided, however,
      because electrical cardiac pacing on the right ventricle causes severe valve
      regurgitation without the septal leaflet.

PMID- 1434698
TI  - The Mustard procedure for correction of simple transposition of the great
      arteries before 1 month of age.
AB  - Since April 1976, 34 infants (25 male and 9 female) less than 1 month of age
      underwent a Mustard intraatrial baffle procedure for repair of simple
      transposition of the great arteries. Thirty patients were less than 2 weeks old
      and 19 patients less than 1 week (mean 7.8 +/- 6 days). The weights ranged from
      2.6 to 4.4 kg (mean 3.4 +/- 0.4 kg). Rashkind balloon atrial septostomy was
      performed in the first hours or days of life in 29 patients. The average interval
      from balloon atrial septostomy to baffle repair was 3.9 days (range 2 hours to 14
      days). Mechanical ventilation was required in eight patients preoperatively and
      prostaglandin E1 was infused in 17 patients to maintain ductal patency. In all
      patients, the Mustard procedure was performed with the use of deep hypothermic
      circulatory arrest, averaging 53 minutes (range 37 to 82 minutes). The duration
      of postoperative intubation and ventilatory support averaged 1.7 +/- 1.0 days
      (range 1 to 5 days). Inotropic drugs were used in 24 patients during a period of
      1.4 +/- 1.3 days (range 1 to 6 days) postoperatively. There were no hospital
      deaths. Follow-up evaluation has extended from 1 month to 14 years (mean 3 +/- 3
      years). One infant died 2 months postoperatively as a result of milk aspiration;
      no cardiac defects were found at the autopsy. A second infant died at 1 year with
      right ventricular and tricuspid valve dysfunction. Baffle complications occurred
      in 6 of the 32 survivors, including superior vena caval stenosis in 4, inferior
      vena caval stenosis in 1, and pulmonary venous obstruction in 3. Reoperations for
      baffle obstructions were performed in three patients (8.8%) and balloon
      angioplasties in two. One patient required permanent pacemaker implantation.
      Results with the Mustard procedure before 1 month of age show that it can be
      performed with negligible mortality and a low incidence of late complications at
      an age comparable to when arterial switching would be performed. Until long-term
      studies demonstrate superiority of arterial operations, the low operative
      mortality favors continued evaluation of the neonatal Mustard repair as a valid
      alternative to the arterial switch.

PMID- 1434699
TI  - Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration after cardiac operations in infants and
      children.
AB  - Acute renal insufficiency after cardiopulmonary bypass can lead to a significant
      morbidity from fluid overload and electrolyte disturbance, impede pulmonary gas
      exchange, and postpone weaning from mechanical ventilation. The limitations
      placed on free water intake result in severe restriction of nutrition while
      diuretic therapy causes electrolyte imbalance. Artificial renal support either in
      the form of peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis may be complicated by sepsis and
      hemodynamic instability. We reviewed our experience with the use of continuous
      arteriovenous hemofiltration, an extracorporeal technique for removal of solutes,
      toxins, and water in critically ill patients with cardiac failure complicated by
      acute renal insufficiency and hemodynamic instability after cardiopulmonary
      bypass. Ten infants and children with renal insufficiency caused by low cardiac
      output had continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration instituted for indications
      including sepsis, volume overload, oliguria for more than 24 hours nonresponsive
      to diuretic therapy, and the need for hyperalimentation. All were supported by
      mechanical ventilation and receiving high-dose inotropic support. Arterial and
      venous vascular access was successfully obtained by cannulation of the femoral
      artery and vein in nine patients. Anticoagulation of the circuit was achieved
      with heparin infusion (6 to 20 micrograms/kg/hr) and monitored by measurement of
      activated clotting time. The continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration circuit was
      replaced if there was clot formation, or at 3 days after placement. Dialysis
      solution (Dianeal) 1.5% or 0.5% was infused as prefilter dilution. With the use
      of continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration, 20 to 100 m/hr of ultrafiltrate was
      removed, which allowed correction of hypervolemia, and caloric intake increased
      from 13.5 kcal/kg/day to 79.5 kcal/kg/day. Continuous arteriovenous
      hemofiltration was maintained between 5 hours and 8 days and was well tolerated
      in all patients. Serum urea and creatinine levels declined during continuous
      arteriovenous hemofiltration. We conclude that continuous arteriovenous
      hemofiltration is a safe and effective method for fluid and electrolyte
      homeostasis and that it thus allows hyperalimentation in infants and children
      after cardiac operations.

PMID- 1434700
TI  - Combined mustard and Rastelli operations. An alternative approach for repair of
      associated anomalies in congenitally corrected transposition in situs inversus
      [I,D,D].
AB  - We report on two patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great
      arteries in situs inversus who underwent successful anatomic repair of associated
      cardiac anomalies--ventricular septal defect and pulmonary outflow tract
      obstruction. Surgical intervention was influenced by the recently introduced
      technique of Ilbawi and colleagues in cases of congenitally corrected
      transposition in situs solitus. Principles of the correction are as follows: (1)
      patch redirection of venous flows at the atrial level through an incision in the
      left-sided right atrium; (2) patch closure of the ventricular septal defect
      through a right ventriculotomy, baffling the left ventricle to the aorta; and (3)
      valved conduit interposition between the right ventricle and the pulmonary
      artery. If the ventricular septal defect is restrictive, it can be safely
      enlarged by extensive resection of the anterosuperior border, because of the
      posteroinferior location of the bundle of His in this anomaly. With this
      technique, the left ventricle and the native mitral and aortic valves are
      recruited for systemic work, with intrinsic long-term advantages. It is, however,
      a complex procedure involving substantial use of prosthetic material. More
      experience is necessary to establish whether this approach is superior to
      currently available physiologic repairs.

PMID- 1434701
TI  - The Bjork-Shiley valve prosthesis. Analysis of long-term evolution.
AB  - The long-term follow-up of 831 patients who underwent valve replacement with
      Bjork-Shiley Delrin and standard Pyrolyte prostheses (341 aortic, 345 mitral, and
      145 mitroaortic) between 1971 and 1980 is reviewed. The follow-up concluded in
      1985. Cumulative follow-up amounted to 4724 years, with a mean of 5.68 years per
      patient. Data on survival were obtained in 754 patients (complete follow-up in
      90.8% of cases). Perivalvular leak was the most frequent complication in aortic
      valve replacement, whether isolated or combined, with values significantly higher
      than those registered in isolated mitral replacement (p < 0.001 in both cases).
      No correlation was found between this complication and valve calcification, but
      it was statistically correlated with the size 19 model (p < 0.05). Prosthetic
      stenosis was more common in mitral than in aortic replacement (p < 0.001), and of
      the former, size 23 was that most often affected (p < 0.001). The earliest case
      of mitral pannus was diagnosed 20 months postsurgery, and from 45 months on this
      pathology was the cause of every case of stenosis. The risk of thromboembolism
      was similar in aortic, mitral, and double prostheses, while it was the single
      most frequent complication in isolated mitral replacement. Prosthetic thrombosis
      was triggered in all cases in which it occurred by discontinuance of
      anticoagulant therapy. Anticoagulant-induced hemorrhages were more frequent in
      double replacement than in mitral (p < 0.05) and aortic valve replacement.
      Endocarditis was the complication that produced the highest mortality rate in all
      groups; the frequency of this infection was higher among patients with double
      prostheses when compared with either aortic replacement (p < 0.05) or mitral
      replacement (p < 0.001). The risk of suffering endocarditis was correlated with
      the existence of active preoperative infection in patients with mitral prostheses
      and double prostheses (p < 0.001 in both cases). Overall morbidity was higher in
      the double replacement group with respect to the mitral group (p < 0.01). The
      rate of mortality was also higher among the double valve replacement patients
      when compared with both the aortic (p = 0.0002) and mitral (p = 0.006) groups.

PMID- 1434702
TI  - Eleven-year follow-up study of aortic or aortic-mitral anulus-enlarging procedure
      by Manouguian's technique.
AB  - Although Manouguian's operation is well established, there have been little long
      term data published on its outcome. From January 1980 to June 1988, 15 patients
      underwent patch enlargement of the small aortic anulus by Manouguian's approach,
      either with aortic single valve replacement (7 patients) or with aortic-mitral
      double valve replacement (8 patients). Follow-up ranged from 3.0 to 11.4 years
      (mean 8.5) and was completed with a cumulative total of 102 patient-years. One
      patient died of fulminant hemolysis, probably related to turbulent jet flow and
      Dacron patch material (operative mortality 6.7%). There were four late deaths,
      and the actuarial survival, including operative death at 10 years, was 62% +/-
      14%. Reoperations were performed seven times in six patients. Most of these
      complications were not considered to be caused by the anulus-enlarging procedure.
      Actuarial freedom rate from reoperation at 10 years was 65% +/- 15%. Four
      patients underwent rereplacement of prostheses for Hancock valve failure during
      2.9 to 11.3 years (mean 8.2 years). The anulus enlargement was found to be well
      healed and presented no problem during reoperation. Surgically induced mitral
      regurgitation by Manouguian's procedure was observed in two patients. The
      regurgitation did not progress during follow-up duration of 1.9 to 10.0 years,
      nor did it cause congestive heart failure. Annular enlargement by Manouguian's
      procedure with use of mechanical valves is one of the good selections in patients
      with the narrow aortic valve ring.

PMID- 1434703
TI  - Comparison of immediate hemodynamic response to closed mitral commissurotomy,
      single-balloon, and double-balloon mitral valvuloplasty in rheumatic mitral
      stenosis.
AB  - The hemodynamic response to closed mitral commissurotomy, single-balloon, and
      double-balloon mitral valvuloplasty was compared using 20 patients in each group.
      All patients had symptomatic rheumatic mitral stenosis with a mitral valve area <
      1 cm2, without any left atrial clot, mitral valve calcification, or mitral
      regurgitation. There was a significant improvement in hemodynamics following
      intervention in all three groups. The mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased
      from 49.1 +/- 17.5 to 28.6 +/- 8.3 mm Hg (p < 0.001), 48.8 +/- 12.3 to 34.0 +/-
      13.9 mm Hg (p < 0.001), and 46.7 +/- 18.0 to 26.3 +/- 13.7 mm Hg (p < 0.001) in
      the closed mitral commissurotomy, single-balloon, and double-balloon mitral
      valvuloplasty groups, respectively. The mitral valve area increased from 0.62 +/-
      0.27 to 1.5 +/- 0.5 cm2 (p < 0.001), 0.68 +/- 0.24 to 1.5 +/- 0.4 cm2 (p <
      0.001), and 0.68 +/- 0.25 to 1.9 +/- 0.8 cm2 (p < 0.001) in the closed mitral
      commissurotomy, single-balloon, and double-balloon mitral valvuloplasty groups,
      respectively. The increase in the mitral valve area was maximum in the group with
      double-balloon mitral valvuloplasty. In the closed mitral commissurotomy group
      there was a significant rise in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, from 6.8
      +/- 3.9 to 9.3 +/- 3.1 mm Hg (p < 0.001), but this remained unchanged in the
      single-balloon and double-balloon mitral valvuloplasty groups. Our study shows
      that single-balloon and double-balloon mitral valvuloplasty are comparable to
      closed mitral commissurotomy in the immediate hemodynamic response, with a larger
      valve area in the double-balloon mitral valvuloplasty group.

PMID- 1434704
TI  - Correction of anterior mitral prolapse. Results of chordal transposition.
AB  - From 1986 to 1992 102 mitral valve repairs were done for mitral regurgitation due
      to a degenerative disease. Forty-eight patients had an anterior prolapse or
      prolapse of both leaflets at initial presentation and underwent chordal
      transposition from the mural leaflet to the anterior leaflet. The corrective
      procedure was completed by polytetrafluoroethylene or pericardial posterior
      annuloplasty. Operative mortality was 2.9%, and follow-up (average 22 months) was
      100% complete. There were three postreconstruction valve replacements (one
      earlier and two later) for a probability of freedom from reoperation of 91.5% +/-
      5.2% at 3 years. Freedom from all morbidity was 85.5% +/- 5.5% at 3 years.
      Postoperative echocardiographic studies demonstrated a good mitral valve
      function: (1) Eighty-seven percent of patients presented no or mild residual
      regurgitation; (2) transmitral flow indexes were within the norm; (3) left
      ventricular outflow tract flow was normal in all patients. This study shows that
      chordal transposition is a safe and effective technique for prolapse of anterior
      or both leaflets and improves the chances of repair in patients with mitral
      degenerative disease.

PMID- 1434705
TI  - Partial replacement of mitral valve by homograft. An experimental study.
AB  - Satisfactory long-term clinical results with heart valves have renewed the
      interest in the use of mitral homografts, despite the technical difficulties with
      their surgical implantation. This report describes the behavior and viability of
      the partial mitral homograft in the ortotopic position in a chronic sheep model
      (n = 25). The 20 surviving animals were studied hemodynamically and were
      anesthetized and electively put to death 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the
      operation. All specimens had a normal mitral valve without signs of infection or
      thrombosis. Light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy showed the
      presence of viable endothelial cells from the recipient covering the graft, signs
      of reendothelialization, and organized dense collagen tissue. The structural
      integrity was more evident in the fresh mitral homografts. This method may
      provide consider improvement in the viability of the mitral homograft, and it
      could be a valid alternative for repair of mitral valve localized pathology.

PMID- 1434706
TI  - Tolerance to glyceryl trinitrate in isolated human internal mammary arteries.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to examine the vascular reactivity of segments of
      internal mammary artery removed from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass
      operations. Responses to relaxant and contractile agents were compared in
      arteries removed from patients who had or had not been treated with glyceryl
      trinitrate after admission to the hospital until operation. Segments of mammary
      artery were removed from 13 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass
      grafting. Endothelium-containing rings of artery, 3 to 5 mm long, were suspended
      in physiologic saline solution in 20 ml organ baths. Responses to the endothelium
      dependent relaxant acetylcholine and the endothelium-independent relaxants
      glyceryl trinitrate and sodium nitroprusside were compared. In addition,
      contractile responses to phenylephrine and 9,11-dideoxy-9 alpha,11 alpha
      methanoepoxy prostaglandin F2 alpha (U46619) were examined. Glyceryl trinitrate
      induced relaxation was significantly impaired in mammary artery segments from
      patients treated with that nitrate before operation; the responses to
      acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside were not affected. Previous treatment with
      glyceryl trinitrate also reduced the contractile responses to both phenylephrine
      and U46619. These studies indicate that treatment of patients with glyceryl
      trinitrate before operation induces significant tolerance to this agent in the
      mammary artery; however, there was no evidence of cross tolerance to sodium
      nitroprusside or the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine. Glyceryl
      trinitrate may therefore not always be effective in dilating mammary artery
      grafts and sodium nitroprusside may be a more effective dilator of the internal
      mammary artery in patients who have been treated with glyceryl trinitrate before
      operation.

PMID- 1434707
TI  - Antimineralization treatments for bioprosthetic heart valves. Assessment of
      efficacy and safety.
AB  - Since calcification limits the durability of contemporary bioprosthetic heart
      valves, antimineralization treatments are being widely investigated. Potential
      antimineralization treatments must have sustained prevention of mineralization
      without adverse effects. The preclinical investigation of efficacy and safety of
      antimineralization treatments comprises four essential steps: (1) subcutaneous
      implantation in small animals, (2) in vitro biomechanical studies of hemodynamics
      and durability, (3) morphology of unimplanted valves, and (4) circulatory
      implants in large animals.

PMID- 1434708
TI  - The effect of ambient temperature on papaverine-induced relaxations in canine
      saphenous veins.
AB  - This study was designed to measure the effect of ambient temperature (25 degrees
      C) on papaverine-induced relaxations in canine saphenous veins. Segments of vein
      were suspended in water-jacketed tissue baths at 37 degrees C, and isometric
      tension was recorded. After equilibration, veins were preconstricted by a median
      effective dose of norepinephrine 2 x 10(-6) mol/L at either 25 degrees C or 37
      degrees C. Consequent dose-dependent relaxations showed that papaverine (10(-7)
      to 10(-3) mol/L was three times more potent as a dilator at 37 degrees C than at
      25 degrees C, with half-maximal relaxations occurring at 2.2 x 10(-5) mol/L and
      6.4 x 10(-5) mol/L, respectively. A 10(-4) mol/L dose of papaverine completely
      relaxed veins at 37 degrees C, whereas veins at 25 degrees C never fully relaxed
      even at ten times the standard concentration. In addition, the time for half
      maximal relaxation with a 10(-4) mol/L dose of papaverine averaged 40 minutes at
      25 degrees C compared with 22 minutes at 37 degrees C; this is indicative of a
      reduced relaxation rate at the lower temperature. These data show that papaverine
      is a slower and less potent dilator of canine saphenous veins at 25 degrees C
      than at 37 degrees C. This may have implications for the use of papaverine in the
      operating room, where it is usually applied at ambient temperature to reduce
      vasospasm of the saphenous vein during coronary artery bypass procedures.

PMID- 1434709
TI  - Different effects of activated platelets in the right gastroepiploic and internal
      mammary arteries. Implications for coronary artery grafting.
AB  - The right gastroepiploic artery is increasingly utilized as an alternative
      coronary bypass conduit, although postoperative spasm can represent a problem.
      Platelet-vessel wall interactions are important determinants of graft function
      and patency. We studied the effects of activated platelets in porcine and human
      gastroepiploic and mammary arteries. Arterial rings were suspended in organ
      chambers for isometric tension recording. In the porcine and human gastroepiploic
      arteries with or without endothelium contracted with norepinephrine, activated
      platelets evoked only further and strong contraction. In contrast, in the porcine
      and human mammary arteries, endothelium-dependent relaxations to platelets
      mediated by nitric oxide were noted, particularly in rings preincubated with the
      thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist SQ-30741 and the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT2)
      serotonergic receptor antagonist ketanserin. Although endothelium-dependent and
      endothelium-independent relaxation to bradykinin and the nitrovasodilator 3
      morpholino sydnonimine were more pronounced in the gastroepiploic than in the
      mammary artery, norepinephrine, serotonin, and potassium chloride evoked much
      stronger contractions in the former than in the latter. Thus activated platelets
      induce pronounced contraction of the gastroepiploic artery that may contribute to
      postoperative spasm. The administration of antiplatelet drugs and vasodilators
      that prevent the effects of thromboxane A2 and serotonin may be beneficial for
      gastroepiploic graft function.

PMID- 1434710
TI  - The effects of different techniques of internal mammary artery harvesting on
      sternal blood flow.
AB  - We investigated chest wall blood flow in a canine model to determine if the
      technique used to harvest the mammary artery has a differential effect on
      residual chest wall blood flow. Eight dogs underwent bilateral internal mammary
      artery mobilization; one artery was harvested as a pedicle and the other was
      harvested as a skeletonized vessel. Residual blood flow to the chest wall
      distribution of each artery was measured with radioactive microspheres. Chest
      wall blood flow was significantly decreased from preharvest levels after internal
      mammary artery mobilization regardless of the technique used. Tissue blood flows
      decreased to 46.9%, 22.1%, and 41.2% of baseline values for the manubrium (p <
      0.01), sternum (p < 0.001), and ribs (p < 0.05), respectively. Residual sternal
      blood flow on the side of the skeletonized vessel was significantly greater than
      on the side of the pedicle graft (2.60 +/- 0.68 versus 1.27 +/- 0.27 cm3/min/100
      gm, p < 0.001). We conclude that minimization of tissue mobilization during
      internal mammary artery harvesting may reduce sternal devascularization. This
      finding may have clinical significance with respect to lowering the incidence of
      sternal wound complications in coronary bypass surgery using the internal mammary
      artery as a bypass conduit.

PMID- 1434711
TI  - Evaluation of surgical procedures. Changing patterns of patient selection and
      costs in heart transplantation.
AB  - During the past 4 years we have observed a marked increase in costs of heart
      transplantation in our center. This trend coincides with a shift in our recipient
      population toward the more severely ill patients. The percentage of patients
      bound for the intensive care unit has doubled. In analyzing the components of
      cost, we find that the length of stay, both in special care and regular nursing
      units, accounts for most of the cost increase. In our study of outcomes we find
      no significant difference in survival, at 1 month and 1 year, between recipients
      operated on from the intensive care unit and those not in intensive care. We find
      that at 1 year after transplantation, approximately 80% of patients are
      rehabilitated, which we define as the ability to work or to go to school. Only
      20% of patients are off disability rolls, however, primarily because of problems
      related to insurance and the cost of continuing care, including drugs. We
      conclude that the comprehensive evaluation of surgical procedures requires an
      approach that balances costs with results on a continuing and long-term basis.

PMID- 1434712
TI  - The effects of donor-recipient size disparity in infant and pediatric heart
      transplantation.
AB  - To determine the effect of heart donor and recipient size mismatches in infant
      and pediatric heart transplantation, we studied all 69 patients (age 1 day to 11
      years) having 71 orthotopic heart transplants from 1985 to 1989. Patients were
      divided into three groups based on donor to recipient weight ratios. Group I
      comprised 13 heart transplants with a donor to recipient weight ratio less than
      0.95 (mean 0.81, range 0.48 to 0.94); group II comprised 29 heart transplants
      with a weight ratio between 0.95 and 1.60 (mean 1.28); and group III had 27 heart
      transplants with weight ratios greater than 1.60 (mean 2.2, range 1.61 to 3.09).
      All chests were closed primarily. The cardiothoracic ratio by chest radiography
      was significantly larger in group III (p = 0.0002); 75% of group III patients had
      periods of lobar or complete lung collapse by chest radiography compared with 28%
      of group II and 19% of group I patients (p < 0.05). Despite this, there was no
      difference in the number of days of ventilator support for any group (p = 0.92).
      There was no difference in graft ischemic time or inotropic drug use among
      groups, nor were differences found in the cardiac systolic function parameters of
      left ventricular preejection time (p = 0.975), left ventricular ejection time (p
      = 0.975), left ventricular fiber shortening (p = 0.97), and left ventricular
      fractional shortening (p = 0.596). Thus despite a high incidence of transient
      lobar or complete lung collapse in high donor to recipient weight ratio
      transplants, large donor heart size produces very little clinical impairment in
      recipient lung function. Size mismatches do not influence cardiac systolic
      function. Overall, large size mismatches appear to be very well tolerated in
      infant and pediatric heart transplantation.

PMID- 1434713
TI  - The myocardial recovery mode after cold storage for transplantation with Collins'
      solution and cardioplegic solution. A functional and metabolic study in the rat
      heart.
AB  - Mechanisms and kinetics of the effects of the ionic composition of two different
      storage solutions, an intracellular type and an extracellular type, were analyzed
      by examining the myocardial functional and metabolic recovery processes during
      the early reperfusion periods after 3 hours of cold storage using an isolated
      perfused working rat heart model. The hearts were stored either in our own
      cardioplegic solution (group 1) or in Collins' solution (group 2) for 3 hours at
      4 degrees C and were then reperfused. The electromechanical activity in group 1
      was elevated, as indicated by a higher incidence of ventricular fibrillation at 5
      minutes of reperfusion (group 1: 5/6; group 2: 0/5; p < 0.05). The coronary flow
      rate in group 2 was significantly lower, at least for the first 15 minutes after
      reperfusion, than that of group 1, suggesting the possible existence of
      vasoconstriction in group 2. Although myocardial oxygen uptake during this period
      was smaller in group 2, the recovery of myocardial high-energy phosphate levels
      was better and creatine kinase leakage was less in group 2. The recovery of
      aortic flow after 30 minutes of reperfusion was significantly better in group 2
      (group 1, 59.1 +/- 5.8%; group 2, 71.7 +/- 6.0%; p < 0.01), although the early
      recovery was somewhat worse in group 2. These data suggest that the heart stored
      in an intracellular-type solution, compared with one stored in an extracellular
      type solution, recovers in an electromechanically suppressed fashion during the
      early reperfusion phase, associated with a better metabolic recovery and a slower
      but larger functional recovery. The disadvantage of the intracellular-type
      solution, however, may be its effect on the increase of coronary vascular
      resistance during the early reperfusion period.

PMID- 1434714
TI  - Growth potential of porcine reduced-size mature pulmonary lobar transplants.
AB  - The use of mature pulmonary lobes for pediatric lung transplantation has recently
      been described. Successful application of this technique could help alleviate the
      pediatric donor lung shortage. Whether an already mature lobe can grow by forming
      new alveolar units after transplantation into a developing recipient is not
      known. We therefore measured functional residual capacity, fixed lung volume and
      weight, alveolar size and air space volume percent, and total number of alveoli
      in mature left lower lobe porcine lung transplants 12 weeks after transplantation
      into growing piglets. Comparisons were made with nontransplanted mature left
      lower lobes to determine if functional or morphologic growth had occurred after
      transplantation. The transplanted and control lobes were all taken from 6-month
      old animals (mean body weight 105 +/- 4 kg). Recipients of the transplanted lobes
      were 9 weeks old and weighed 22 +/- 2 kg. By the end of the 12-week holding
      period, the recipient animals increased their body weight approximately fourfold
      (85 +/- 4 kg). No significant differences were seen in functional residual
      capacity or morphologic analysis of total alveolar number and alveolar size
      between the transplanted and nontransplanted lobes (p = not significant).
      Although the reduced-size mature porcine lobar transplants did not display a
      significant increase in either functional residual capacity or total alveolar
      number, there was significant growth of the transplanted mature lobes as
      determined by fixed volume and total lobar weight (p < or = 0.05 versus control
      animals).

PMID- 1434716
TI  - The use of combined antegrade-retrograde infusion of blood cardioplegic solution
      in pediatric patients undergoing heart operations.
AB  - The benefits of combined antegrade-retrograde infusion of blood cardioplegic
      solution are becoming well known in adult coronary and valvular heart operations.
      Many of these advantages relate directly to the pediatric patient. They include
      prompt arrest and even distribution, particularly with aortic insufficiency or
      open aortic root, avoiding or limiting ostial cannulation, allowing uninterrupted
      surgical procedures, and flushing air/debris from the coronary arteries. We
      therefore report on the first 123 pediatric patients at the University of
      California, Los Angeles, to receive myocardial protection with antegrade (aortic)
      infusion in conjunction with retrograde (coronary sinus) infusion of blood
      cardioplegic solution. We employed a retroplegia catheter with a self-inflating
      and deflating occlusion balloon on the tip of a pressure-monitored infusion
      cannula that remains in the coronary sinus during the operation. Induction blood
      cardioplegic solution, 30 ml/kg in equally divided doses, is administered in the
      coronary sinus first antegrade at an aortic pressure less than 80 mm Hg, followed
      by retrograde infusion at less than 40 mm Hg. Maintenance cardioplegic solution
      (15 ml/kg) is administered every 20 minutes through one or both of the infusion
      cannulas, depending on the surgical procedure. Patients' ages ranged from 1 week
      to 16 years with a mean of 4.6 years. The following procedures were included in
      descending order: Fontan 20, atrioventricular valve repair/replacement (and
      complete atrioventricular canal) 16, aortic root/Konno/Ross 16, Rastelli 13,
      aortic valve repair/replacement 13, ventricular septal defect (and double-outlet
      right ventricle) 13, tetralogy of Fallot 10, coronary artery
      reimplantation/fistula repair 6, truncus arteriosus 4, arterial switch 3,
      bidirectional Glenn 2, sinus venosus 2, and aortopulmonary window, Senning,
      Stansel, interrupted aortic arch, and Ebstein's, 1 each. Aortic crossclamp times
      ranged from 6 to 219 minutes with a mean of 87 minutes. Myocardial oxygen
      consumption data for a series of six patients indicated the supplemental benefit
      for retrograde infusion of cardioplegic solution along with antegrade infusion,
      particularly in hypertrophied myocardium. Three deaths occurred (2.4% 30-day
      mortality), in the following patients: the first with truncus arteriosus and
      interrupted aortic arch, the second with complete atrioventricular canal and
      pulmonary hypertension, and the third with truncal valve regurgitation and
      replacement. There were no complications related to the retroplegia catheter.
      From this initial positive experience, we conclude that (1) combined antegrade
      retrograde infusion of blood cardioplegic solution can be safely used in an
      expanding number of pediatric heart operations in all age groups, and (2)
      combined antegrade-retrograde infusion of blood cardioplegic solution may provide
      additional myocardial protection, with excellent surgical outcome, in complex
      congenital heart repairs.

PMID- 1434715
TI  - Lazaroid U74500A as an additive to University of Wisconsin solution for pulmonary
      grafts in the rat transplant model.
AB  - Lazaroids are a class of novel 21 aminosteroids. They have been reported to be
      potent inhibitors of lipid peroxidation, which is a major contributing factor to
      ischemia-reperfusion injury in the lung. A Lewis rat orthotopic left lung
      isotransplant model was used to investigate the effects of the lazaroid U74500A
      on pulmonary preservation. The heart-lung blocks of donor rats were flushed with
      and then stored in either standard University of Wisconsin solution or University
      of Wisconsin solution with 30 mumol/L of U74500A substituted for the
      dexamethasone. After 6 or 12 hours of cold storage at 0 degrees C, the left lungs
      were transplanted into recipient rats and reperfused for 1 hour. Pulmonary
      function was assessed by measuring oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions in arterial
      blood after removal of the right lung. Lipid peroxide concentrations were
      measured as a thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance. Although arterial oxygen
      and carbon dioxide pressures and water content after 6 hours of preservation
      followed by reperfusion were similar in both the lazaroid and dexamethasone
      groups, lipid peroxide concentration was significantly higher in the
      dexamethasone group (0.88 +/- 0.07 mumol/gm) than in the lazaroid group (0.54 +/-
      0.07 mumol/gm) (p < 0.01). After 12 hours of preservation, there were significant
      differences between the lazaroid and dexamethasone groups in arterial oxygen
      pressure (339 +/- 70 vs 27 +/- 3 mm Hg, p < 0.01), arterial carbon dioxide
      pressure (24.3 +/- 2.7 vs 47.7 +/- 7.0 mm Hg, p < 0.001), and lipid peroxide
      concentrations (0.69 +/- 0.07 vs 1.30 +/- 0.09 mumol/gm, p < 0.001). We conclude
      that addition of U74500A to the flush and storage solution enhances the
      preservation of the pulmonary graft in this transplant model.

PMID- 1434717
TI  - The effectiveness of University of Wisconsin solution on prolonged myocardial
      protection as assessed by phosphorus 31-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
      and functional recovery.
AB  - The effectiveness of the University of Wisconsin solution on extended myocardial
      preservation was examined in this study using phosphorus 31-nuclear magnetic
      resonance spectroscopy. Isolated perfused rat hearts were arrested and stored in
      four preservation solutions: group 1, modified Krebs-Henseleit solution; group 2,
      modified St. Thomas' Hospital solution; group 3, oxygenated modified St. Thomas'
      Hospital solution containing 11 mmol/L glucose; and group 4, University of
      Wisconsin solution. The changes in myocardial high energy phosphate profiles and
      the intracellular pH values were measured during 12 hours of cold (4 degrees C)
      global ischemia and 90 minutes of normothermic reperfusion. Following ischemia,
      the hearts were assessed for hemodynamic recovery and myocardial water content.
      During ischemia, adenosine triphosphate depletion was observed in all groups;
      however, after 5 hours of ischemia, the adenosine triphosphate levels were
      significantly higher in group 3 compared with the other groups (adenosine
      triphosphate levels at 6 hours in mumol/gm dry weight: group 3, 7.6; group 4,
      3.2; group 2, < 1; p < 0.025). The tissue water content at the end of ischemia
      was lower with the University of Wisconsin solution compared with the modified
      St. Thomas' Hospital solution or the oxygenated modified St. Thomas' Hospital
      solution (in ml/gm dry weight: group 4, 3.0; group 2, 4.4; group 3, 3.9; p <
      0.05). The adenosine triphosphate repletion during reperfusion was greater with
      the University of Wisconsin solution compared with the modified St. Thomas'
      Hospital solution or the oxygenated modified St. Thomas' Hospital solution (12
      mumol/gm dry weight in group 4; 8.1 in group 2; 9.0 in group 3; p < 0.05).
      Similar findings were obtained for the recovery of left ventricular pressure (in
      percent of preischemic control: group 4, 70%; group 2, 42%; group 3, 52%; p <
      0.01) and coronary flow (group 4, 61%; group 2, 49%; group 3, 49%; p < 0.05).
      These data suggest that preservation with the University of Wisconsin solution
      affords improved hemodynamic recovery, enhanced adenosine triphosphate repletion,
      and reduced tissue edema upon reperfusion; however, oxygenated St. Thomas'
      Hospital solution with glucose is associated with the preservation of higher
      myocardial adenosine triphosphate levels during prolonged cold global ischemia.
      In conclusion, these data indicate that the University of Wisconsin solution
      might improve graft tolerance of ischemia in clinical heart transplantation.

PMID- 1434718
TI  - Crystalloid cardioplegia and hypothermia do not impair endothelium-dependent
      relaxation or damage vascular smooth muscle of epicardial coronary arteries.
AB  - Canine hearts were arrested with crystalloid cardioplegic solution (45 minutes at
      7 degrees C) to determine whether either cardioplegia or hypothermia impairs the
      production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor or damages the vascular smooth
      muscle of epicardial coronary arteries. In addition, isolated coronary artery
      segments were exposed to either cold (7 degrees C) or warm (37 degrees C)
      crystalloid cardioplegic solution and physiologic salt solution in vitro for 45
      minutes. After cardiac arrest or incubation with the solutions, segments of
      epicardial coronary artery were prepared and studied in organ chambers.
      Cardioplegic arrest of the heart or exposure to cardioplegic solution in vitro (7
      degrees or 37 degrees C) did not alter endothelium-dependent relaxation of
      epicardial coronary artery segments in response to adenosine diphosphate or
      acetylcholine (10(-9) to 10(-4) mol/L). Cardioplegic arrest did not alter G
      protein-mediated, endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to sodium
      fluoride. In addition, smooth muscle contraction in response to potassium ions
      (voltage-dependent) or prostaglandin F2 alpha (receptor-dependent) and relaxation
      in response to isoproterenol (cyclic adenosine monophosphate-mediated) or sodium
      nitroprusside (cyclic guanosine monophosphate-mediated) was unaltered after
      exposure to cardioplegic solution or hypothermia. These experiments demonstrate
      that hyperkalemic crystalloid cardioplegia does not irreversibly alter function
      of epicardial coronary arteries. We hypothesize that coronary artery endothelial
      cell dysfunction identified in previous studies of cardioplegia may have been due
      to the effects of barotrauma or shear stress on the vasculature and not the
      effect of cardioplegia per se.

PMID- 1434719
TI  - Enhancement of low coronary reflow improves postischemic myocardial function.
AB  - The effect of reperfusion coronary vasodilatation on postischemic myocardial
      mechanical function has been investigated in the isolated working rat heart.
      After a working period to assess control function, all the hearts were subjected
      to a single infusion (10 ml) of St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution No. 1
      at 4 degrees C and were kept immersed in the same solution for 4 hours at 4
      degrees C. Then hearts (six in each group) were initially reperfused at 37
      degrees C for 10 minutes, either with ordinary reperfusate (Krebs-Henseleit
      bicarbonate buffer) or with reperfusate containing additional coronary dilator.
      After this period, all hearts were subjected to a further 5 minutes of ordinary
      reperfusate before being put back into the working mode to assess functional
      recovery. Mean reperfusion coronary flows and the steady coronary flow measured
      after 10 minutes of reperfusion in ml/min +/- SEM were--Krebs (control): 17.4 +/-
      0.39 and 13.4 +/- 0.40; adenosine (3.75 mumol/L): 19.9 +/- 0.6 and 16.7 +/- 0.8;
      papaverine (0.05 mmol/L): 21.8 +/- 2.3 and 17.3 +/- 1.8; dipyridamole (2 mmol/L):
      20.7 +/- 1.7 and 17.9 +/- 1.0; nitroglycerin (15 mg/L): 20.5 +/- 0.45 and 19.9 +/
      1.4; diltiazem (0.05 mmol/L): 19.6 +/- 2.98 and 17.7 +/- 1.8; calcitonin gene
      related peptide (0.03 mmol/L): 20.8 +/- 0.69 and 18.0 +/- 1.3; 5
      hydroxytryptamine (0.01 mmol/L): 19.2 +/- 0.53 and 16.9 +/- 0.80. Mean
      postischemic recovery of cardiac output, peak aortic pressure, and
      differentiation of pressure were expressed as percent of preischemic control +/-
      SEM were--Krebs: 54.1 +/- 2.8, 69.1 +/- 2.8, and 53.9 +/- 3.0; adenosine: 78.0 +/
      5.6, 89.5 +/- 2.9, and 69.1 +/- 1.9; papaverine: 81.8 +/- 3.9, 91.8 +/- 3.1, and
      71.0 +/- 4.1; dipyrdamole: 67.3 +/- 3.3, 84.3 +/- 2.3, and 75.0 +/- 2.7;
      nitroglycerin: 83.1 +/- 4.8, 79.7 +/- 2.7, and 69.0 +/- 0.5; diltiazem: 76.5 +/-
      3.7, 85.9 +/- 2.9, and 73.3 +/- 1.7; calcitonin gene-related peptide: 79.5 +/-
      3.6, 90.0 +/- 4.9, and 75.4 +/- 3.9; 5-hydroxytryptamine: 71.6 +/- 3.2, 85.5 +/-
      3.5, and 67.9 +/- 4.8. There was a positive correlation between mean reperfusion
      coronary flow, steady coronary flow, and postischemic recovery of cardiac output,
      peak aortic pressure, and differentiation of pressure. Mean reperfusion coronary
      flow, steady coronary flow, and postischemic recovery of cardiac output, peak
      aortic pressure, and differentiation of pressure were significantly greater in
      groups reperfused with vasodilators (p < 0.05) compared with control
      values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1434720
TI  - Continuous warm blood cardioplegia preserves cardiac autonomic function.
AB  - We studied in anesthetized dogs, the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass with
      normothermic whole blood, crossclamping of the aortic root, and continuous warm
      blood cardioplegia on the ability of the efferent sympathetic nervous system to
      augment the heart and that of the efferent parasympathetic nervous system to
      depress the heart. In control states, heart rate, atrial force of contraction,
      and right and left ventricular wall systolic pressures were augmented by
      stimulation of the intrathoracic efferent sympathetic nervous system and by
      administration of isoproterenol into the systemic circulation. After 1 hour of
      normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass that utilized aortic crossclamping and
      continuous perfusion of the coronary arteries with normothermic blood (20 mEq/L
      potassium), cardiac-augmenting effects induced by the efferent sympathetic
      nervous system and by isoproterenol were similar. Depressive responses elicited
      by the efferent parasympathetic nervous system were also unaffected by these
      procedures. Continuous warm blood cardioplegia does not result in impairment of
      the efferent sympathetic nervous system regulating the heart.

PMID- 1434721
TI  - Influence of pH management on hemodynamics and metabolism in moderate
      hypothermia.
AB  - In moderate hypothermia, three different concepts of pH management have been
      described to date: pH-stat, alpha-stat, and alkalinity. In our study these pH
      strategies were compared in adult sheep, with animals serving as their own
      controls for direct comparability. Hemodynamic parameters, such as mean aortic
      pressure (from 109 +/- 12 to 72 +/- 23 mm Hg), cardiac output (from 5.55 +/- 1.25
      to 4.5 +/- 0.82 L/min), and systemic oxygen consumption (from 3.73 +/- 0.8 to
      1.81 +/- 0.4 ml/kg/min), decreased significantly with alpha-stat at 28 degrees C
      from values for normothermia. No marked or even significant differences were
      found among the three pH strategies in any value, with the exception of body
      oxygen consumption. The difference of 2% between pH-stat and alpha-stat, at 0.06
      ml oxygen/kg/min, was significant (p < or = 0.05), however of no practical
      relevance because hypothermia itself caused a decrease of nearly 52%. With regard
      to myocardial parameters, pH-stat impaired myocardial function compared with both
      alpha-stat and alkalinity. At nearly identical mean aortic pressures and cardiac
      outputs, myocardial oxygen consumption reached the highest level in pH-stat (7.65
      ml oxygen/100 gm/min; alpha-stat, 6.76 ml oxygen/100 gm/min; p < or = 0.05).
      Myocardial efficiency thus decreased from 21% (alpha-stat) to 17% (pH-stat). No
      evident changes in hemodynamic and metabolic values were found for alkalinity vs
      alpha-stat. The best response to continuously infused epinephrine, however, was
      found with alkalinity. According to our data there was an impairment of
      myocardial function without any evident further reduction in body metabolism with
      pH-stat vs alpha-stat. There were, however, no marked metabolic or hemodynamic
      differences between alkalinity and alpha-stat, with the exception of a better
      preservation of sensitivity to adrenergic stimuli with alkalinity.

PMID- 1434722
TI  - A comparison of the effects on neuronal Golgi morphology, assessed with electron
      microscopy, of cardiopulmonary bypass, low-flow bypass, and circulatory arrest
      during profound hypothermia.
AB  - Adult swine (n = 18) were studied to compare the effects on neuronal morphology
      of hypothermic circulatory arrest with hypothermic very-low-flow cardiopulmonary
      bypass. Animals were anesthetized with halothane and prepared in a standard
      manner for nonpulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass. Monitored variables included mean
      arterial pressure, arterial blood gases, the processed electroencephalogram, and
      subdural brain temperature. Bypass was initiated with pump flows of 100 ml.kg
      1.min-1, and mean arterial pressure was kept above 50 mm Hg at all times. Animals
      were cooled to 18 degrees C, using a heat exchanger, and were randomly assigned
      to one of three groups. Group 1 animals were control animals who underwent 1 hour
      of hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Group 2 animals underwent 1 hour of
      circulatory arrest. Group 3 animals underwent 1 hour of very-low-flow
      cardiopulmonary bypass (10% of normal). At the end of the 1 hour of hypothermic
      bypass, very-low-flow bypass, or arrest period, animals were rewarmed to 37
      degrees C with normal bypass flows, and normothermic perfusion continued for 1
      additional hour. Animals were then perfusion fixed with formalin and the brains
      were removed for electron microscopic analysis. Electron microscopic analysis was
      used to determine the effects of treatment and was limited to 20 neurons of the
      CA1 sector of the hippocampus in each animal. Golgi bodies were identified and
      classified as normal, mildly affected, or severely affected. Animals subjected to
      either very-low-flow bypass or circulatory arrest had significantly more severely
      affected and significantly fewer normal Golgi bodies than control animals (p <
      0.001). Animals maintained with very-low-flow bypass, however, had significantly
      more severely affected and fewer normal Golgi bodies than animals subjected to
      circulatory arrest (p < 0.001). We conclude that under the conditions of this
      experiment very-low-flow hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with
      significantly greater neuronal Golgi abnormalities than total circulatory arrest.

PMID- 1434723
TI  - Cognitive outcome after cardiac operations. Relationship to intraoperative
      computerized electroencephalographic data.
AB  - Cardiopulmonary bypass frequently causes new postoperative neuropsychologic
      deficits. To assess whether these deficits could be predicted or limited, we
      monitored 29 patients receiving bypass intraoperatively with an on-line
      computerized electroencephalograph. We hypothesized that the 15 patients whose
      cerebral perfusion pressure was adjusted on the basis of this
      electroencephalographic data would have fewer postoperative deficits than the 14
      patients whose pressure was monitored on the basis of systemic pressure. The
      results showed that new postoperative cognitive deficits in both groups were less
      prevalent than in previous studies, but there was not a significant difference in
      outcomes between the two groups. The intraoperative electroencephalographic
      records correlated with surgical, but not neuropsychologic, outcome. It is
      concluded that careful attention to intraoperative cerebral perfusion pressure
      may decrease the prevalence of postoperative neuropsychologic complications, but
      that the use of a computerized electroencephalograph does not necessarily
      contribute to an improved outcome.

PMID- 1434724
TI  - Transesophageal echocardiography predicts successful withdrawal of ventricular
      assist devices.
AB  - Transesophageal echocardiography has been found to be an effective technique for
      the real-time assessment of myocardial and valvular function in postoperative
      patients. To determine the value of transesophageal echocardiography in patients
      with mechanical assist devices, we performed daily, bedside transesophageal
      echocardiography on 16 patients with right (n = 3), left (n = 1), or
      biventricular assist devices (n = 12). We obtained four-chamber and short-axis
      views in all patients. Valvular function and the presence of left-to-right shunts
      were evaluated by means of color flow Doppler imaging. During the
      echocardiographic study ventricular assist device flow was diminished to less
      than 1.5 L/min, and inotropic agents (dobutamine or epinephrine) were given to
      assess ventricular reserve. Changes in day-to-day ventricular function were
      assessed in comparisons made by two observers (one unaware of the study sequence)
      using a semiquantitative method for wall motion analysis. The left ventricular
      wall motion scores in the patients successfully weaned from left or biventricular
      assist devices (n = 5) improved (14.2 +/- 1.6 versus 8.2 +/- 1.5, p < 0.0001).
      The scores did not improve in patients who remained dependent on the devices (n =
      8). Two patients with only right ventricular assist devices were successfully
      weaned after documentation of improvement of right ventricular function by
      transesophageal echocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography documented a
      clot compressing the heart in three patients; intracavitary thrombi were seen in
      two other patients. Marked hemodynamic improvement occurred after surgical
      decompression. In conclusion, transesophageal echocardiography is a safe,
      effective method for the assessment of ventricular function of patients on
      ventricular assist device support. In addition, it allows one to assess valvular
      function and the presence or absence of impaired ventricular filling.

PMID- 1434725
TI  - The effect of desmopressin acetate on postoperative hemorrhage in patients
      receiving aspirin therapy before coronary artery bypass operations.
AB  - It has been suggested that desmopressin acetate has been effective in reducing
      hemorrhage after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients receiving aspirin
      before operation. We conducted a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled,
      double-blind trial to determine the effectiveness and safety of desmopressin in
      these patients. Sixty-five patients pretreated with aspirin within 7 days before
      their scheduled elective coronary artery bypass grafting were randomized to
      receive desmopressin (0.3 micrograms/kg) or placebo after cessation of bypass and
      reversal of heparin with protamine. The demographic characteristics and last dose
      of aspirin were similar in both groups. There was a significant reduction in
      postoperative blood loss noted between groups for both chest tube blood loss (833
      +/- 311 ml for the 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin [desmopressin] group
      versus 1176 +/- 674 ml for the placebo group; p = 0.016) and total blood loss
      (1215 +/- 381 ml for the desmopressin group versus 1637 +/- 761 ml for the
      placebo group; p = 0.0097). Despite the differences in blood loss between the two
      groups, the red cell transfusions were not significantly different, but the use
      of platelets was less in the desmopressin group and almost achieved statistical
      significance (p = 0.053). Neither was there a difference in the occurrence of
      thrombotic complications between groups. It appears that desmopressin in this
      specific subgroup of patients receiving preoperative aspirin is effective as a
      prophylactic agent for reduction of postsurgical hemorrhage.

PMID- 1434726
TI  - Comparative study of cefazolin, cefamandole, and vancomycin for surgical
      prophylaxis in cardiac and vascular operations. A double-blind randomized trial.
AB  - Three-hundred twenty-one adults undergoing cardiac or major vascular operations
      were randomized to receive intravenous cefazolin, cefamandole, or vancomycin for
      prophylaxis against surgical infection in a double-blind trial. All three
      regimens provided therapeutic blood levels throughout operation in patients
      studied undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. The prevalence of surgical wound
      infection was lowest with vancomycin (4 infections [3.7%] versus 14 [12.3%] and
      13 [11.5%] in the cefazolin and cefamandole groups, respectively; p = 0.05);
      there were no thoracic wound infections in cardiac operations in the vancomycin
      group (p = 0.04). The mean duration of postoperative hospitalization was lowest
      in the vancomycin group (10.1 days; p < 0.01) and highest in the cefazolin group
      (12.9 days). Prophylaxis with vancomycin or cefamandole, compared with cefazolin,
      did not prevent nosocomial cutaneous colonization by methicillin-resistant
      coagulase-negative staphylococci; colonization or infection with vancomycin
      resistant staphylococci or enterococci was not detected. Adverse effects
      attributable to the prophylactic regimen were infrequent in all three groups.
      Eight patients given vancomycin became hypotensive during administration of a
      dose, despite infusion during a 1-hour period; however, slowing the rate of
      administration and pretreating with diphenhydramine allowed vancomycin to be
      resumed and prophylaxis completed uneventfully in five of the patients. We
      conclude that administration of vancomycin (approximately 15 mg/kg), immediately
      preoperatively, provides therapeutic blood levels for surgical prophylaxis
      throughout most cardiac and vascular operations, resulting in protection against
      postoperative infection superior to that obtained with cefazolin or cefamandole.
      Vancomycin deserves consideration for inclusion in the prophylactic regimen (1)
      for prosthetic valve replacement and prosthetic vascular graft implantation, to
      reduce the risk of implant infection by methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative
      staphylococci and enterococci; (2) for any cardiovascular operation if the
      patient has recently received broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy; and (3) for
      all cardiovascular operations in centers with a high prevalence of surgical
      infection with methicillin-resistant staphylococci or enterococci. Guidelines for
      dosing and administration of vancomycin for cardiovascular surgical prophylaxis
      are provided.

PMID- 1434727
TI  - Output power and metabolic input power of skeletal muscle contracting linearly to
      compress a pouch in a mock circulatory system.
AB  - Output power and metabolic input power values were determined for unconditioned
      canine latissimus dorsi (two), gastrocnemius (seven), and triceps (three) muscles
      contracting linearly to cause compression of a doubly valved pouch in a hydraulic
      model of the circulation. The motor nerves to the muscles were stimulated
      tetanically with 450 msec trains of 0.1 msec pulses having a frequency of 50/sec.
      The muscles were contracted 10, 20, 30, and 40 times per minute and pouch output
      in milliliters per minute was measured directly for each muscle at each
      contraction (train) rate. The output power in milliwatts was determined by two
      methods: (1) by using the pouch output and the pressure rise imparted to the
      stroke volume (average power) and (2) by using the pressure-volume loop.
      Metabolic input power in milliwatts was determined from the oxygen consumption in
      milliliters per minute of the working muscle. It was found that as the pouch
      output was increased, the pouch output power and the metabolic input power both
      increased. The average power output was slightly less than that computed from the
      pressure-volume loop. The mean output power values, when pumping at L liters per
      minute, were 0.62 L (average) and 0.75 L mW/gm (pressure-volume loop) for the
      latissimus dorsi muscles; 0.83 L (average) and 1.16 L mW/gm (pressure-volume
      loop) for the gastrocnemius muscles; and 0.55 L (average) and 0.66 L mW/gm
      (pressure-volume loop) for the triceps muscles. The percent efficiency of energy
      conversion ranged from 9.2% to 17.8% for the latissimus dorsi muscles, from 5.1%
      to 19.5% for the gastrocnemius muscles, and from 10.5% to 27.3% for the triceps
      muscles. However, it should not be concluded that one muscle type is better than
      another on the basis of percent efficiency because efficiency does not take
      endurance into account. An important observation in this study relates to the
      large output obtained with the three linearly contracting muscle types. All were
      capable of pumping in excess of 1.5 L/min. A second observation relates to the
      absence of fatigue, although determination of endurance was not an objective in
      these studies.

PMID- 1434728
TI  - Subglottic tracheal resection and synchronous laryngeal reconstruction.
AB  - Postintubation injury of the upper airway commonly results in stenotic lesions of
      the larynx, subglottis, and adjacent trachea. The traditional approach to
      surgical correction is laryngofissure for the laryngeal component and staged
      plastic reconstruction of the subglottic stenosis. Reported results are variable
      and unpredictable, and permanent extubation is impossible in a significant number
      of patients. We report experience with 15 patients with combined laryngeal,
      subglottic, and tracheal stenosis who were managed by a one-stage operation:
      circumferential resection of the subglottis and trachea with primary
      thyrotracheal anastomosis, combined with laryngofissure and laryngeal
      reconstruction. These procedures required the collaboration of the Departments of
      Otolaryngology and Thoracic Surgery of the Toronto General Hospital. Between 1972
      and 1991, our thoracic surgical division did 53 circumferential subglottic
      tracheal resections with primary thyrotracheal anastomosis for benign disease.
      There were no operative deaths and 51 of 53 patients were successfully extubated.
      In 15 of these patients, a concomitant laryngofissure for laryngeal
      reconstruction was required. Laryngeal repair included excision or incision of
      interarytenoid scar (n = 13), interarytenoid mucosal graft (n = 6), or
      mobilization of cricoarytenoid joint (n = 3). A temporary laryngotracheal stent
      (usually a Montgomery T tube) was maintained after the operation in all cases
      (duration 3 to 42 months). Thirteen of these 15 patients are now permanently
      extubated and none has functionally significant restenosis. Vocal function is
      satisfactory to good in these patients. The approach described for these combined
      laryngotracheal lesions provides better results than those reported with
      traditional staged and plastic techniques of reconstruction. The collaboration of
      the departments of otolaryngology and thoracic surgery was essential to achieve
      these results.

PMID- 1434729
TI  - Second primary lung cancer after bronchial sleeve resection. Treatment and
      results in eleven patients.
AB  - During the years 1960 to 1989, 145 patients underwent sleeve lobectomy or sleeve
      resection of a main bronchus. Follow-up was complete except for one patient, who
      was no longer available for follow-up 4 years after operation. Eleven patients
      (7.6%) had a second primary cancer in the lung; 10 of these patients (90.9%) were
      men. Mean age at sleeve operation was 61.2 +/- 11.6 years. Mean interval between
      sleeve operation and development of second primary cancer was 53.8 months (range,
      6 to 197 months). All second primary cancers occurred on the contralateral side.
      In five cases there was squamous cell carcinoma, in two there was adenocarcinoma,
      in one there was adenosquamous carcinoma, in two there was small cell carcinoma,
      and in one patient no definite histologic type could be established. Five
      patients had different histologic type from the initial, resected primary tumor.
      Seven patients (64%) were operated on: five underwent lobectomy and two underwent
      segmentectomy. In one patient the tumor was judged to be unresectable.
      Chemotherapy was given to the two patients with small cell carcinoma and
      radiotherapy was given to one patient with bone metastases. Follow-up was
      complete for these 11 patients. Data were calculated from detection of second
      primary cancer. There was one postoperative death from myocardial infarction.
      Eight other patients died during follow-up: five died of recurrent tumor or
      metastases, two died of acute cardiac failure, and one died of a perforated
      ulcer. The 1- and 4-year actuarial survivals were 41% and 30%, respectively. For
      the patients operated on, 1- and 4-year survivals were 57% and 43%, respectively.
      There were no survivors at 5 years. Sleeve resection is a valuable method of
      preserving functional lung tissue. It offers a chance of subsequent resection in
      patients who have second primary cancer, with acceptable results.

PMID- 1434730
TI  - Bronchopleural fistulas associated with lung cancer operations. Univariate and
      multivariate analysis of risk factors, management, and outcome.
AB  - During a 28-year period, 52 bronchopleural fistulas developed after pulmonary
      resection of 49 primary and three recurrent lung cancers at the National Cancer
      Center Hospital, Tokyo. During the same period there were 2359 pulmonary
      resections for primary lung cancer; the prevalence of bronchopleural fistula was
      2.1%. Multivariate analysis on 15 variables in the most recent 1360 resections
      revealed significant risk factors for bronchopleural fistula: wider resection
      such as pneumonectomy, residual carcinomatous tissue at the bronchial stump,
      preoperative irradiation, and diabetes. Univariate analysis further recognized a
      risk in preoperative bronchial arterial infusion and the postsurgical stage of
      lung cancer. Six patients were not treated. Apart from chest tube drainage in
      seven patients, surgical repair was attempted in 39, direct resuture of the stump
      in 16, wrapping in 25, thoracoplasty in 31, completion pneumonectomy in 6, and
      other treatments. Despite various treatments, 37 patients (71.2% mortality) died
      from fistula-related complications (such as regurgitation of infected pleural
      fluid through the fistula and airway/intrathoracic bleeding). Even for patients
      whose fistulas were cured and who were discharged, the average hospital stay was
      189 days. Further investigation is necessary to answer whether prevention by flap
      coverage is of any benefit.

PMID- 1434731
TI  - A twenty-five-year follow-up of ninety-three resected typical carcinoid tumors of
      the lung.
AB  - From 1965 to 1990, 93 patients (57 women and 36 men) with typical
      bronchopulmonary carcinoids were operated upon. Patient ages ranged from 17 to 78
      years, the mean age being 45.5 years. Central carcinoids were symptomatic in 80%
      of the patients. A correct preoperative diagnosis was made in 54 of 64 (84%)
      patients. Peripheral carcinoids were usually asymptomatic and a correct diagnosis
      was established in 4 of 29 patients (14%). The prognosis in the group of patients
      with bronchopulmonary carcinoids treated surgically was excellent. Seven patients
      died from nonrelated causes. The 5-, 10-, and 15-year survival rates for the
      remaining 86 patients are 100%. Only one patient died as a result of the tumor
      after 17 years and another patient is known to have had distant metastasis 9
      years after resection. There was no hospital mortality. In the last decade a lung
      parenchyma-preserving attitude was adopted. Whenever possible, bronchoplastic
      surgery was applied for central carcinoids and resection of one segment or less
      was used for peripheral carcinoids. This approach was possible in 30 of 50
      patients (60%). Nine patients were treated with preoperative endobronchial
      neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser resection to facilitate a lung-preserving
      surgical resection. The prognosis of patients for whom a lung-preserving approach
      was adopted was as good as that of those with conventional resections.
      Involvement of regional lymph nodes (nine patients, 9.7%) or positive resection
      margins (two patients, 2.1%) had no influence on prognosis. We conclude that lung
      preserving resections are often facilitated by preoperative neodymium:yttrium
      aluminum-garnet laser treatment in central obstructing carcinoids.

PMID- 1434732
TI  - Degree of severity of pectus excavatum and pulmonary function in preoperative and
      postoperative periods.
AB  - Pulmonary function was evaluated in 138 patients with pectus excavatum, paying
      particular attention to the degree of severity of chest deformity. We defined the
      severity of deformity quantitatively based upon a computed tomographic index
      obtained from a computed tomogram. We recognized a positive relationship between
      computed tomographic index (x) and percent vital capacity (y), as follows: y =
      137x + 58 (n = 138, r = 0.61, p < 0.05). Pulmonary function tests were performed
      from 2 to 42 months postoperatively. Vital capacity decreased about 10% from the
      baseline value during the initial 2 months after surgical treatment and recovered
      to the preoperative level by 1 year after surgery. At 42 months after surgical
      correction, the pulmonary function was maintained at the baseline level and the
      severity of deformity was significantly improved. Surgical procedures for the
      treatment of pectus excavatum--sternocostal elevation and sternal turnover-
      resulted in an excellent cosmetic result but did not importantly affect
      respiratory function.

PMID- 1434733
TI  - Invited letter concerning: correction of prolapse of the anterior leaflet of the
      mitral valve.

PMID- 1434734
TI  - Possible treatment for meralgia paresthetica after coronary bypass operations.

PMID- 1434735
TI  - Surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation.

PMID- 1434736
TI  - Invited letter concerning: futility of yearly biopsies in patients undergoing
      heart transplantation.

PMID- 1434737
TI  - Ebstein's anomaly and intermediate-form atrioventricular septal defect with
      double-orifice mitral valve.

PMID- 1434738
TI  - Surgical repair of Ebstein's malformation associated with atrioventricular septal
      defect (atrioventricular canal).

PMID- 1434739
TI  - Echocardiographic assessment of homograft aortic root replacement in fixed
      subaortic stenosis.

PMID- 1434740
TI  - Subtotal cavopulmonary connection.

PMID- 1434741
TI  - The dioxopiperazine derivatives, their leukemogenic potential and other
      biological effects.

PMID- 1434742
TI  - Interactions between retroviruses and environmental carcinogens and their role in
      animal and human leukemogenesis.

PMID- 1434743
TI  - Relationship of the type of bcr-abl hybrid mRNA to clinical course and
      transforming activity in Philadelphia-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia.
AB  - We studied the type of bcr-abl mRNA for 34 patients with chronic myelogenous
      leukemia and analyzed for correlations among the mRNA type, the clinical outcome
      and the transforming activity using the tumorigenicity assay. There was no
      difference in the distribution of the mRNA-types (b2-a2 and b3-a2) between
      clinical phases. We found no correlation between the two types of bcr-abl mRNA
      and the chronic phase duration or survival. The DNA from 12 of 20 chronic phase
      patients and all five blastic phase patients showed transforming activity.
      Although there was no difference in the positive rate of transforming activity
      among the two mRNA-type groups, the blastic phase patients showed a tendency to
      have higher transforming activity.

PMID- 1434744
TI  - Unexpected cytokinetic effects induced by puromycin include a G2-arrest, a
      metaphase-mitotic-arrest, and apoptosis.
AB  - The potent effects of low doses of PM on the cell cycle have to date been
      obscured by the conventional usage of this drug at high concentrations (5-50
      micrograms/ml) to inhibit protein synthesis. In this in vitro study undertaken in
      a variety of malignant and non-malignant human and murine cell types, we found
      that low doses of PM (0.1-0.5 microgram/ml) disrupted significant phase-to-phase
      cell cycle transitions, causing a G2-arrest, a metaphase-mitotic-arrest, and
      apoptosis. In HL-60 cells these observations were elicited by PM concentrations
      starting at 0.1 microgram/ml, and were more pronounced at slightly higher PM
      concentrations, including that (0.5 microgram/ml) which inhibited [14C]leucine
      incorporation by approximately 20% after one hour, and by approximately 50% after
      24 h. A concentration of CHX (0.25 microgram/ml) which was equivalent to 0.5
      microgram/ml of PM, both in terms of molarity (0.9 microM) and degree of
      inhibition of [14C]leucine incorporation, failed to induce similar changes to
      those induced by PM. This suggests that at these particular concentrations the PM
      induced changes were likely to have been related to the different mechanisms of
      protein synthesis inhibition exerted by these two 'classical' translation
      inhibitors. PM but not CHX generates nascent peptidyl-PM complexes (PMPs), and we
      therefore propose that the subsequent intracellular effects exerted by the PMPs
      may account, in part, for the differential cytokinetic effects elicited by these
      drugs. The role of PM is currently being evaluated in vivo as a low-dose
      component of a multidrug chemotherapeutic regimen in which its cell cycle
      specific effects could potentially be synergistic with other agents.

PMID- 1434745
TI  - Immunological studies of gamma delta T cells in a case of large granular
      lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia: leukemic gamma delta+ T cells are resistant to growth
      stimulation in vitro but respond to interferon-alpha treatment in vivo.
AB  - Leukemic T cells from patient BU (WBC 22,000/microliter) resembled
      morphologically large granular lymphocytes, and expressed a V delta 1-encoded
      gamma delta T-cell receptor (TCR) on their surface. Upon in vitro activation with
      various mitogens, IL-2-dependent V delta 1+ cell lines were only obtained if V
      delta 1+ cells had been positively selected on a cell sorter before culture.
      However, even under these conditions, the V delta 1+ IL-2-dependent cell lines
      showed a TCR beta and gamma gene-rearrangement different from that of the freshly
      isolated leukemic cell population, indicating that they were not derived from the
      leukemic clone. Thus, known T-cell growth factors (IL-2, IL-4, IL-7) in concert
      with mitogenic signals failed to induce in vitro proliferation of the V delta 1+
      leukemic clone. Interestingly, the patient responded to treatment with interferon
      alpha 2c (daily dose of 10(6) I.U.). After 2 1/2 years of continuous interferon
      treatment, the patient is in partial remission with WBC around 8000/microliter.

PMID- 1434746
TI  - Modification of the DiSC assay by the incorporation of monoclonal antibody
      staining.
AB  - The use of immunohistochemical staining with the DiSC assay is described. This
      modified staining procedure allows differentiation of viable human tumor cells
      from normal cells in biopsy preparations, facilitating the evaluation of slides
      from chemosensitivity assays. Samples from ALL and CLL patients were processed
      using both the DiSC and modified MoAb-DiSC procedure. The predictive results were
      compared and found to be identical. This procedure is advantageous in determining
      the chemosensitivity of tumor cells in a highly heterogeneous biopsy specimen.

PMID- 1434747
TI  - Specific chromosomal translocations and therapy-related leukemia induced by
      bimolane therapy for psoriasis.
AB  - This paper reports for the first time results of cytogenetic studies on 14
      consecutive secondary acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (S-ANLL) induced by bimolane
      therapy. They included 10 males and 4 females with ages ranging from 17 to 54
      years. They had all suffered from psoriasis and received bimolane treatment
      before the occurrence of their leukemia. The total dose of bimolane ranged from
      40 to 400 g (mean dose 194 g). The interval between the initiation of bimolane
      therapy and the diagnosis of leukemia was 12-96 months (median 30 months). A
      preleukemic phase was only found in one case. No dysplastic features in the
      hemopoietic series were seen in any patient. Chromosome analysis of bone marrow
      cells using banding techniques revealed clonal karyotypic abnormalities in all
      cases: t(15;17) in 8 cases of M3, of which 75% had extra abnormalities, t(8;21)
      in 4 cases of M2, del(7q) only in one case of M4 and one case of M5. After
      antileukemic therapy, complete remission was obtained in 10 out of 12 cases with
      specific translocations and one out of 2 cases with 7q-anomaly, respectively. The
      former survived 4-58 months (median 12 months), while the latter 1 and 9 months,
      respectively. This study indicates that: (1) bimolane is a causative factor of
      leukemia in this series; (2) the leukemia in our series is therapy-related
      leukemia (TRL) rather than de novo ANLL; (3) there exists, in fact, a new
      subgroup of TRL characterized by specific rearrangements, whose clinical,
      hematological and prognostic features and pathogenetic mechanism may be different
      from classical TRL characterized by chromosome abnormalities involving absence or
      deletion of parts of chromosome 5 and/or 7.

PMID- 1434748
TI  - HTLV-related markers in a Hungarian patient with adult T-cell leukemia.
AB  - Monoclonal integration of DNA sequences related to, but not identical to HTLV-I
      provirus was detected in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of a Hungarian male
      suffering from ATL. The patient and his parents showed serological cross
      reactivity with both HTLV-I and HTLV-II group-specific antigens. Restriction
      enzyme analysis with EcoRI, PstI, BamHI, HindIII and SacI revealed structural
      similarity of the provirus integrated in the DNA of ATL cells to HTLV-I but not
      to HTLV-II. Data suggest that this provirus and HTLV-I are similar to each other
      along gag and pol regions, but they are different in the env region.

PMID- 1434749
TI  - A new method of mounting and directing chronically implanted microdrives.
AB  - A new method of mounting a microdrive on the skull and adjusting the trajectories
      of microelectrodes is described. The key to this system is a swiveling guide tube
      held in a small, skull-mounted base by a low-melting-point metal alloy. The
      microelectrode is advanced via a modified, commercially available, miniature
      microdrive screwed onto the guide tube. To change the trajectory of the
      electrode, the alloy is melted in place, and the guide tube swiveled to a
      different angle. The microelectrode or the trajectory of the pass may be changed
      in a few minutes while easily maintaining aseptic conditions. The entire assembly
      is small enough so that several can be simultaneously implanted on the skull of a
      cat. A metal crown is used to fix the head during recording sessions or to hold a
      fiberglass cap that protects all skull implants between sessions. Since the
      microdrives need not be removed between recording sessions, an electrode pass may
      be continued from day to day. Although guide tubes are generally employed only
      for subcortical structures, this arrangement also works well when recording from
      cortex in deeper parts of gyri.

PMID- 1434750
TI  - Positioning device for magnetically sensitive environments.
AB  - Presented in this short communication are design principles for the construction
      of a positioning apparatus for biological specimens in magnetically sensitive
      environments. An apparatus with 3 degrees of freedom was built and found to
      provide position accuracy to within +/- 0.25 mm throughout a cubic volume
      measuring 9 cm on each side.

PMID- 1434751
TI  - Purification of embryonic rat motoneurons by panning on a monoclonal antibody to
      the low-affinity NGF receptor.
AB  - Available methods for purifying motoneurons to homogeneity from rodent spinal
      cord involve retrograde labelling and fluorescence-activated cell sorting, making
      them costly and time consuming. Motoneurons are the only neurons within the 15
      day embryonic rat spinal cord to express the p75 low-affinity NGF receptor and we
      show that monoclonal antibody 192-IgG, which binds to the extracellular domain of
      p75, selectively labels a sub-population of large multipolar ventral spinal cord
      neurons in vitro. We have developed a bench-top panning method for purifying
      these motoneurons using antibody 192-IgG. Approximately 10(5) cells/spinal cord
      are obtained in 2 h by this method; 95% of them express p75 in culture. They
      rapidly put out neurites on laminin substrata, and their survival is enhanced by
      extracts of skeletal muscle. Using the panning method in conjunction with
      centrifugation on a 6.8% metrizamide cushion, separate populations of large and
      small motoneurons were obtained, each containing more than 90% neurons staining
      with antibody 192. The large motoneurons had choline acetyltransferase
      activities/cell approximately 4-fold greater than those of dissociated total
      spinal cells and 7-fold higher than those of the small motoneurons. These methods
      should be of considerable use for studies on factors affecting motoneuron
      survival and development and for transplantation of highly purified neuronal
      populations.

PMID- 1434752
TI  - Fluorescent labeling of dissociated fetal cells for tissue culture.
AB  - The ability to pre-label cells used in transplantation experiments would have the
      potential benefits of identification of cell type and associated processes and
      the analysis of graft migration in the host. We have used an in vitro tissue
      culture system as a model to test several fluorescent dyes for this application.
      Fetal rat hippocampal tissue (E17-E18) was dissociated and incubated in the
      presence of carboxyfluorescein ester (CFSE), rhodamine-B dextran amine (RBD),
      DiI, or rhodamine-labeled latex microspheres. Cells were cultured in defined
      medium for up to 1 month. Cells labeled with CFSE were initially bright but faded
      over several days. RBD labeled the soma of cells, but fluorescence intensity was
      lost over a period of a few weeks. Cells labeled with DiI possessed brilliant
      staining of neuronal processes for weeks. Latex microspheres brightly labeled the
      soma but not the processes of neurons; fluorescent debris and sterility were
      problems with this label. We conclude that CFSE and DiI have significant
      potential usefulness in vitro as markers of cell viability and process formation
      with mammalian fetal CNS cells, whereas RBD is much less permanent. Latex
      microspheres may be suitable for pre-labeling of cells for transplantation if
      purification and sterility can be enhanced over present preparations.

PMID- 1434753
TI  - A gated differential amplifier for recording physiological responses to
      electrical stimulation.
AB  - Artifact from electrical stimulation imposes a problem for the recording of
      physiological responses to electrical stimulation. Here we describe a simple, low
      cost, gated differential amplifier for the recording of physiological responses
      to electrical stimulation. The gain of the amplifier is set to 1 during
      electrical stimulation by setting the gate input to a high logic state to avoid
      overloading of the amplifier by the artifact. Following electrical stimulation,
      the gate input is set to a low logic state, resulting in a gain of 1000 for
      frequencies between 300 Hz and 25 kHz (-3 dB points). The gain at low frequencies
      (0-0.2 Hz) is held constant at 1 to avoid transients in the output signal arising
      from changes in gain at these frequencies. The gain of the amplifier following
      stimulation (gate low) was independent of the magnitude of the artifact and was
      therefore suitable for the measurement of neural field potentials with low
      impedance electrodes.

PMID- 1434754
TI  - Antiprogestin drugs: ethical, legal and medical issues.

PMID- 1434755
TI  - Updating RU 486 development.

PMID- 1434756
TI  - Antiprogestin drugs: research and clinical use in Sweden.
AB  - The Swedish experience indicates that the combination of RU 486 and vaginal or
      intramuscular administration of different prostaglandin analogues such as
      Cervagem, Sulprostone, and 15- methyl PGF2 alpha is a highly effective and safe
      non-surgical method to terminate early pregnancy. The combined treatment may also
      be used during the second trimester. In mid- and late second trimester abortion
      this procedure represents a simple, non-invasive, highly effective method. There
      are several possibilities by which RU 486 can be used as a contraceptive. We have
      shown that post-ovulatory administration of RU 486 will effectively inhibit
      implantation. If the preliminary results are confirmed, treatment with RU 486
      once a month on day LH+2 may be an attractive alternative to present
      contraceptive technology.

PMID- 1434757
TI  - Introduction of abortion technologies: a quality of care management approach.

PMID- 1434758
TI  - RU 486/prostaglandin: considerations for appropriate use in low-resource
      settings.

PMID- 1434759
TI  - RU 486: what physicians know, think and (might) do--a survey of California
      obstetrician/gynecologists.
AB  - The results of this informal survey indicate that a solid majority of California
      obstetricians and gynecologists are very interested in RU 486 and are following
      its story closely; that this majority is confident in the research already
      conducted on the drug, and feel that RU 486 should be made available at this time
      for both clinical practice and additional research; that many physicians already
      performing abortions would utilize RU 486 in their practices; and that a
      significant number of physicians not currently performing abortions would do so
      using RU 486, thus potentially increasing access to early abortion services in
      this country. However, strong support for RU 486 among American physicians has
      not yet had an appreciable impact on hastening the eventual availability of RU
      486 in the United States.

PMID- 1434760
TI  - Studying the acceptability and feasibility of medical abortion.

PMID- 1434761
TI  - "Inducing a miscarriage": women-centered perspectives on RU 486/prostaglandin as
      an early abortion method.

PMID- 1434762
TI  - Are adolescents good candidates for RU 486 as an abortion method?

PMID- 1434763
TI  - Antiprogestin drugs: ethical issues.

PMID- 1434764
TI  - Do pharmacists have a right to refuse to fill prescriptions for abortifacient
      drugs?

PMID- 1434765
TI  - RU 486, the FDA and free enterprise.

PMID- 1434767
TI  - Patents and the supply of therapeutic products.

PMID- 1434766
TI  - RU 486 in France and England: corporate ethics and compulsory licensing.

PMID- 1434768
TI  - Benten v. Kessler: the RU 486 import case.

PMID- 1434769
TI  - Abortion on the Supreme Court agenda: Planned Parenthood v. Casey and its
      possible consequences.

PMID- 1434771
TI  - The FDA: is it protecting the public with one hand tied behind its back?

PMID- 1434770
TI  - Patient dumping in the federal courts: expanding EMTALA without preempting state
      malpractice law.

PMID- 1434772
TI  - Capping the crisis: medical malpractice and tort reform.

PMID- 1434773
TI  - Hospital did not commit battery on mortician who embalmed HIV-infected corpse.

PMID- 1434774
TI  - OSHA issues regulations on workplace exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

PMID- 1434775
TI  - Patient stories, doctor stories, and true stories: a cautionary reading.

PMID- 1434776
TI  - Charting Dante: the Inferno and medical education.

PMID- 1434777
TI  - Seeing patients.

PMID- 1434778
TI  - Tragedy of the commonplace: the impact of addiction on families in the fiction of
      Thomas Hardy.

PMID- 1434779
TI  - The fall of John Thomas.

PMID- 1434780
TI  - Beloved illness: transference love as romantic pathology in F. Scott Fitzgerald's
      Tender is the night.

PMID- 1434782
TI  - Self-administered chest physiotherapy in cystic fibrosis: a comparative study of
      high-pressure PEP and autogenic drainage.
AB  - Fourteen patients with cystic fibrosis were trained in 2 self-administered chest
      physiotherapy (PT) techniques: high-pressure PEP-mask physiotherapy (PEP), and
      autogenic drainage (AD). They then visited the clinic on 5 consecutive days, and,
      in a random order, performed 1 of the following: PEP, AD, PEP followed by AD (PEP
      AD), AD followed by PEP (AD-PEP), and, no PT except for spontaneous coughing.
      Lung function was measured repeatedly before, during, and after PT; time needed
      for and sputum produced by each form of PT was recorded. PEP produced the highest
      amount of sputum, followed by PEP-AD, AD-PEP, and AD; all 4 forms of PT produced
      significantly more sputum than coughing. Lung function improved significantly
      after PEP, AD, and PEP-AD, but PEP-induced changes did not exceed those after AD.
      Within the investigated group, the PEP-induced lung function improvement per
      milliliter of sputum produced was significantly lower for those patients with
      airway hyperreactivity. The fact that the highest sputum yield with PEP was not
      reflected in higher PEP-effected lung function changes might thus be explained by
      PEP-induced bronchospasm in patients with airway hyperreactivity. PEP clears more
      sputum than AD or combined techniques; patients with airway hyperreactivity,
      however, should either prefer AD or should take a bronchodilator premedication
      before PEP.

PMID- 1434781
TI  - Combined effects of ozone and cigarette smoke on airway responsiveness and
      vascular permeability in guinea pigs.
AB  - The effects of combined exposure to ozone and cigarette smoke on airway
      responsiveness and tracheal vascular permeability, compared with those of single
      exposure were examined in guinea pigs. Airway responsiveness was assessed by
      measuring the specific airway resistance (sRaw) as a function of increasing
      concentration of inhaled methacholine aerosol immediately, 5 hr, and 24 hr after
      exposure. In a parallel study, tracheal vascular permeability was quantified by
      measuring the tracheal extravasation of intravenously administered Evans blue
      dye. Neither exposure to 1 ppm ozone for 30 min nor 5 puffs of cigarette smoke
      increased airway responsiveness or vascular permeability at any time after
      exposure. Combined exposure to 1 ppm ozone for 30 min and 5 puffs of cigarette
      smoke caused airway hyper-responsiveness and increased vascular permeability
      immediately after exposure. Exposure to 1 ppm ozone for 90 min increased both
      airway responsiveness and vascular permeability immediately after exposure.
      Exposure to 10 puffs of cigarette smoke increased airway responsiveness but not
      vascular permeability immediately after exposure. Combined exposure to 1 ppm
      ozone for 90 min and 10 puffs of cigarette smoke increased both airway
      responsiveness and vascular permeability immediately after exposure. The combined
      exposure to ozone and cigarette smoke thus increased both airway responsiveness
      and tracheal vascular permeability to a greater extent than did exposure to a
      single agent, suggesting that a combination of air pollutants has a more
      deleterious effect both on airway responsiveness and on tracheal vascular
      permeability than does either agent alone in guinea pigs.

PMID- 1434783
TI  - Cellular sequence of tracheal repair in sheep after smoke inhalation injury.
AB  - The cellular repair process of injured tracheal epithelium is described for sheep
      after exposure to toxic smoke containing high concentrations of acrolein.
      Fourteen fasted 3-4-year-old ewes had a portion of their cervical trachea exposed
      to cotton smoke for 20 min and then were sacrificed at various time intervals
      ranging from 1 to 22 days after exposure. Within 1 day of injury, columnar
      epithelium sloughed intact from the trachea with a concomitant reduction of
      nearly 35% in the basal cell population. At 2 days of recovery, the cellularity
      of the epithelium had increased and mitotic figures were observed in some
      tracheal epithelial and gland cells. By 8 days, undifferentiated hyperplastic
      cells increased to 30/100 microns, differentiated nonciliated columnar cells
      first appeared, and the basal cell population returned to a normal count of 13
      cells/100 microns. Thirteen days after exposure, the undifferentiated
      hyperplastic cell population had declined to 7 cells/100 microns, nonciliated
      columnar cells were at control values, and some ciliated cells were identified.
      At 18 and 22 days, epithelium was normal in appearance and the count was 13
      cells/100 microns. Data suggest that because the columnar epithelium sloughs
      intact with the cilia remaining active, toxic smoke may affect their attachment
      to the basal lamina. Furthermore, the regeneration process involves
      differentiation of hyperplastic cells in which they elongate down to the basal
      lamina, thus re-establishing the integrity of tall epithelium in the sheep
      trachea.

PMID- 1434784
TI  - Hypotonic solutions induce epithelium-dependent relaxation of isolated canine
      bronchi.
AB  - The present study was designed to investigate the effect of changes in osmolarity
      on the modulatory role of the respiratory epithelium on the underlying smooth
      muscle. Canine bronchial segments with or without epithelium were perfused
      intraluminally with modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution. The transluminal
      isometric tension was recorded by means of stirrups passed through the bronchial
      wall. During contractions to extraluminal carbachol, the tissues with epithelium
      exhibited epithelium-dependent relaxations to hypotonic solution given
      intraluminally. The level of relaxation was dependent on the osmotic pressure. No
      significant difference was noted between relaxations due to hypotonic solution
      made by mixing the Krebs-Ringer solution with distilled water and those made by
      decreasing the concentration of sodium chloride. The epithelium-dependent
      relaxations could not be blocked by the antagonists or blockers of cyclo
      oxygenase, endothelium-derived relaxing factor, alpha-adrenoceptors, beta
      adrenoceptors, and sodium channels. No evidence for the release of a relaxing
      factor into the bronchial lumen was found in bioassay study. When the preparation
      was stimulated with hypertonic solutions prepared by adding mannitol or urea,
      similar relaxations were induced in tissues with and without epithelium. These
      observations suggest that changes in osmolarity affect the responses of canine
      bronchi to carbachol and that the epithelium modulates the responses of airway to
      hypotonic solutions.

PMID- 1434785
TI  - Spontaneous cluster formation of dendritic (veiled) cells and lymphocytes from
      skin lymph obtained from dogs with chronic lymphedema.
AB  - To examine the mechanism of spontaneous attachment of afferent lymph lymphocytes
      to dendritic cells (veiled), we sampled and tested cells from skin lymph in 3
      dogs with chronic lymphedema. There were 3.3 +/- 2.8% veiled cells in clusters
      with lymphocytes in lymph obtained directly from dilated dermal lymphatics by
      percutaneous puncture. The number of ex vivo clusters forming in the collected
      lymph samples increased as a function of time and was temperature dependent. The
      ability of veiled cells to bind lymphocytes was independent of divalent cations
      but reduced by xylocaine and retinoic acid. Among various steroids tested only
      methylprednisolone showed an inhibitory effect on cluster formation. Indomethacin
      and acetylsalicylic acid had no blocking activity on cell binding. Moreover, no
      effect was seen by cyclosporin A and azathioprine. However, FK 506 had a potent
      inhibitory effect on spontaneous cluster formation. This study suggests that
      cluster formation by skin lymph veiled cells and lymphocytes is a spontaneous
      process which can be controlled in vitro.

PMID- 1434786
TI  - Enhancement of cytotoxicity in mouse regional lymph nodes by local tissue
      injection of aclacinomycin A.
AB  - The effect of local tissue injection of activated carbon particle adsorbing
      aclacinomycin A (ACR-CH) on the cytotoxicity in popliteal, inguinal, paraaortic,
      and axillary lymph nodes was investigated in mice. Aclacinomycin (0.2 mg/kg), a
      potent antineoplastic drug was injected subcutaneously into the footpad of mice
      in the form of ACR-CH or as an ACR solution. After a single injection of ACR-CH,
      the regional nodal cytotoxic response against mouse YAC-1 lymphoma cells was
      markedly increased and sustained for 7-10 days. The immune response was also
      increased after ACR solution but to a much lesser extent. These effects were
      found in popliteal, inguinal, and paraaortic lymph nodal effector cells but not
      in the more remote axillary nodes. Absorption of adherence cells largely
      abrogated the cytotoxic response. These results suggest that ACR-CH did not
      impair but rather stimulated nodal immunoregulatory cells. Potentially ACR-CH may
      enhance immune responsiveness of regional lymph nodes after subcutaneous
      administration while concomitantly curtailing neoplastic growth in these same
      lymph nodes.

PMID- 1434787
TI  - Particle clearance from the canine pleural space into thoracic lymph nodes: an
      experimental study.
AB  - We instilled tungsten powder (CaWO4) into the pleural space of the dog and
      studied the kinetics and distribution of particle translocation from the pleural
      space to the thoracic lymph nodes over 1-7 days. We found that the transport of
      tungsten particles to regional lymph nodes was present at day 1, and reached its
      peak at day 3. In situ detection of tungsten by elemental particle analysis of
      lymph node sections by scanning electron microscopy complemented by light
      microscopy and X-ray analysis allowed precise mapping of the marker in the
      thoracic nodes. The first lymph nodes to become tungsten-laden was the
      parasternal group (day 1-3). From day 3 to 7 tungsten inclusions decreased in
      these parasternal nodes while moderately increasing in the remaining
      intrathoracic lymph nodes. Retrocardiac pleural folds containing numerous "milky
      spots" also accumulated prominent amounts of tungsten early after intrapleural
      injection of CaWO4. These data indicate that 1) particle translocation from the
      pleural space to regional lymph nodes is a rapid process and is first directed to
      the parasternal lymph nodal subgroup; 2) particle dissemination to virtually all
      other lymph nodes within the thorax follows thereafter; 3) retrocardiac pleural
      folds contribute to the clearance of particles from the pleural space.

PMID- 1434788
TI  - Ultrasonography of extremity lymphedema.
AB  - Ultrasonography of the extremities was performed in 91 patients with unilateral
      or bilateral peripheral lymphedema of the arms or legs. Linear 3.5 to 10 mHz
      ultrasonographic linear probes were used in accordance with standardized
      procedure. The data demonstrated a volumetric increase of the lymphedematous limb
      with increased thickness of both the subcutaneous and subfascial (muscular)
      compartments consistent with fibrosclerosis in both compartments with chronic
      disease. Whereas dermal thickening was minimal, subcutaneous and subfascial
      changes were more prominent in primary than secondary lymphedema. By providing
      information about the volumetric and structural alterations with chronic
      lymphedema, ultrasonography safely and simply supplements conventional and
      isotopic lymphography in assessing patients with chronic lymphedema.

PMID- 1434789
TI  - Mesenteric lymph node transplantation in syngeneic rats: changes in cellularity
      and architecture.
AB  - The cellular architectural and functional changes of transplanted mesenteric
      lymph nodes in rats were studied. After lymph nodes were transplanted with
      interruption of both the afferent and efferent lymphatics, the nodal cellular
      content gradually became depleted. One month after operation, the recirculating
      lymphocyte count in the transplanted node was only 3.5% of that in control nodes,
      whereas the number of mononuclear cells per mg tissue of transplanted node was
      only 28% of normal. In the transplanted nodal paracortex, the cells of high
      endothelial venules (HEV) became less prominent and gradually flattened
      altogether. In the transplanted nodal cortex, germinal centers and follicles also
      sharply decreased and later disappeared. Three months after transplantation, the
      normal compartmentalization of the transplanted nodes were no longer
      distinguishable. Regeneration of afferent lymphatics was not detected in
      transplanted nodes and the lack of circulating antigen and stimulated lymphocytes
      was probably responsible for the histological and functional involution of
      grafted mesenteric lymph nodes.

PMID- 1434790
TI  - Detection of relapse in acute leukemia: should we discontinue routine bone marrow
      surveillance?

PMID- 1434791
TI  - Autologous bone marrow transplantation in acute myelogenous leukemia.
AB  - Autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) is a therapeutic approach that
      permits the administration of high-dose chemoradiotherapy followed by the
      infusion of the patient's own marrow, previously collected during remission and
      cryopreserved. In recent years, ABMT has been increasingly used as a treatment
      for acute leukemias. The mechanisms underlying leukemic relapse represent the
      most exciting and controversial aspects of ABMT. At least three factors may be
      responsible for leukemic relapse in patients receiving ABMT: (a) minimal residual
      disease; (b) leukemic cells reinfused with the graft; and (c) the lack of a graft
      versus-leukemia effect. Techniques for pharmacological marrow decontamination,
      clinical results obtained with ABMT, and new perspectives opened by growth
      factors and cytokines are reviewed.

PMID- 1434792
TI  - Antibody recognition of the tumor-specific b3-a2 junction of bcr-abl chimeric
      proteins in Philadelphia-chromosome-positive leukemias.
AB  - The reciprocal translocation between chromosome 9 and chromosome 22, as observed
      in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) as well as in acute lymphoblastic leukemia
      (ALL), results in a 22q- chromosome, the so-called Philadelphia chromosome. The
      translocation event creates on the Philadelphia chromosome a fusion between two
      genes: bcr and abl. Depending on the localization of the breakpoint in the bcr
      gene different chimeric bcr-abl genes are generated, each encoding their own
      tumor-specific protein: e1-a2P190bcr-abl, b2-a2p210bcr-abl, or b3-a2P210bcr-abl.
      Especially in ALL, the presence of such a tumor-specific protein is highly
      associated with a poor prognosis. Detection of these proteins therefore has a
      strong clinical significance. In this study a polyclonal antiserum, termed BP-2,
      was raised against a synthetic peptide, corresponding to the tumor-specific
      'fusion-point' epitope of the b3-a2P210bcr-abl protein. The specificity of BP-2
      for the bcr-abl joining region in b3-a2P210bcr-abl is demonstrated by means of
      peptide inhibition studies in combination with immunoprecipitation. In addition
      we show the reactivity of BP-2 with bcr-abl proteins in leukemic cells of a
      Philadelphia-chromosome-positive ALL patient.

PMID- 1434793
TI  - Feasibility of the fluorometric microculture cytotoxicity assay (FMCA) for
      cytotoxic drug sensitivity testing of tumor cells from patients with acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia.
AB  - The automated fluorometric microculture cytotoxicity assay (FMCA) was used for
      chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity testing of fresh and cryopreserved tumor cells
      from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at diagnosis and relapse.
      The technique success rate was 87% for fresh and 81% for cryopreserved samples.
      Up to 16 different cytotoxic drugs were routinely tested, but neither
      asparaginase nor methotrexate produced dose-response related cell kill. FMCA data
      showed good correlation to the well established Disc assay and the drug
      sensitivity reported by the FMCA was in good agreement with known clinical
      activity. Samples from children and initial ALL tended to be more drug sensitive
      than those from adults and ALL at relapse, respectively. For 36 samples clinical
      outcome was correlated to the quartile position in comparison to all other
      samples for the most in vitro active drug actually given to the patient. For
      patients with samples in the first, second, third, and fourth quartiles, the
      probabilities of complete remission were 89, 57, 38, and 0%, respectively. Using
      the median value as cut-off line, the sensitivity and specificity of the assay
      were 87 and 62%, respectively. It is concluded that the FMCA with a minimum of
      effort and with high success rate report clinically relevant drug sensitivity
      profiles for ALL.

PMID- 1434794
TI  - Differences in DNA fingerprints of continuous leukemia-lymphoma cell lines from
      different sources.
AB  - The genetic stability of human cell lines in long-term culture has been tested by
      DNA fingerprinting a panel of 31 different continuous cell lines from patients
      with leukemias or lymphomas. Duplicates of the same cell line obtained from
      different sources, subclones of cell lines, and samples of cell lines at
      different passage levels were studied. In most cases the fingerprints of
      duplicates of the same cell line remained perfectly preserved even after long
      time passaging. However, in five cases there were notable differences between
      individual fragments of corresponding fingerprints. We have found four cases of
      mislabeled and/or cross-contaminated cell lines so far. Taken together, our
      results indicate that DNA fingerprinting qualifies as a very reliable means of
      cell line identification which allows the detection of mislabelling or
      contamination and of genetic variation among subclones.

PMID- 1434795
TI  - Mitogenic effects of human recombinant insulin on B-cell precursor acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia cells.
AB  - Insulin and the insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I, IGF-II) constitute a family
      of peptides capable of stimulating diverse cellular responses, including cell
      proliferation. In order to determine the effects of these peptides on malignant
      cells, we analyzed the expression and function of insulin, IGF-I, and IGF-II
      receptors on B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP ALL) cell lines,
      utilizing competitive binding, affinity crosslinking, and cell proliferation
      assays. The BCP ALL cells bound to each peptide with mean specific binding for
      125I-insulin, 125I-IGF-I, and 125I-IGF-II of 19.6%, 7.1%, and 4.3% of radioligand
      added, respectively. Competitive binding to intact cells demonstrated that 125I
      IGF-I was displaced by IGF-I = IGF-II >> insulin, 125I-IGF-II was displaced by
      IGF-II > insulin = IGF-I, and 125I-insulin was displaced by insulin >> IGF-II >
      IGF-I. These data were remarkable for the potency of IGF-II displacement of 125I
      IGF-I and 125I-insulin. Affinity crosslinking of radioligands to SUP-B2 cell
      membranes demonstrated the high affinity insulin and IGF-I (type 1 IGF)
      receptors. IGF binding proteins were also present in BCP ALL cell membrane
      preparations. In the cell proliferation studies, insulin stimulated a 50-130%
      increase in leukemic cell growth with a half-maximal concentration of 0.1-3.0
      ng/ml in three BCP ALL cell lines. The proliferative response to insulin was
      blocked by the addition of an insulin receptor antibody. However, no response was
      observed with IGF-I, and IGF-II was only weakly mitogenic with a proliferative
      response noted at 100 ng/ml. Thus, while BCP ALL cells possess receptors for
      insulin and IGF-I, only the insulin receptor mediated a proliferative response.

PMID- 1434796
TI  - Expression of the serglycin gene in human leukemic cell lines.
AB  - The expression of the human serglycin gene was determined in nine human leukemic
      cell lines, representing a spectrum of erythrocytic, megakaryocytic, monocytic,
      granulocytic, and lymphocytic potentialities. By Northern blot analysis, a 1.4 kb
      transcript was characterized in some of these cell lines, using a cDNA probe
      coding for human serglycin. Five of these cell lines, HEL, U-937, HL-60, K-562,
      and KU-812 were treated with phorbol myristic acetate to induce differentiation.
      Under these conditions the expression of the serglycin gene was modulated
      compared to the non-induced cells. HL-60, K-562, and KU-812 were also induced
      with dimethyl sulfoxide and retinoic acid; variations in serglycin transcript
      level were also observed. The present investigation establishes, at the nucleic
      acid level, the ability of various cells mimicking different stages in the
      developmental pathways of the haemopoietic lineage to synthesize proteoglycans
      belonging to the serglycin family. The results reported here led us to conclude
      that serglycin expression is closely associated with the haemopoietic cell
      differentiation pathway. The putative functions of serglycin in the haemopoietic
      system are briefly discussed.

PMID- 1434797
TI  - Production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in human long-term marrow cultures from
      normal subjects and patients with acute myelogenous leukemia: effect of
      recombinant macrophage colony-stimulating factor.
AB  - We have recently reported that normal long-term marrow cultures (LTMC) treated
      with recombinant human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhCSF-1), as well as
      LTMC from patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), produce a soluble
      activity capable of inhibiting hemopoietic colony formation in semisolid
      cultures. In the present study, we have found that such an activity is produced,
      both in normal and AML LTMC, by an adherent, nonfibroblastic cell population
      (most likely macrophages), and also by blast cells developed in AML LTMC. The
      presence of the inhibitory activity correlated with increased levels of tumor
      necrosis factor (TNF) in the culture supernatants. Part of the activity (30%)
      produced in rhCSF-1-treated normal LTMC was neutralized in colony assays by anti
      TNF alpha monoclonal antibody. In contrast, the soluble inhibitory activity from
      AML LTMC was completely neutralized by anti-TNF alpha. However, addition of anti
      TNF alpha (every 72 h, from day 0 to 21, at 125 ng/ml) to AML LTMC resulted in
      only partial neutralization of the inhibitory activity, indicating that
      production of TNF alpha is just one of the mechanisms by which normal hemopoiesis
      is inhibited in AML LTMC, and that other factors are involved in this process. In
      keeping with this idea, we found very high levels of prostaglandin E, a
      hemopoietic inhibitor, in the supernatant of cultures that contained the soluble
      inhibitory activity. Interestingly, rhCSF-1 showed opposite effects on TNF
      production in normal (up-regulation) and AML (down-regulation) LTMC, which
      suggests the presence of functionally abnormal, leukemia-derived macrophages in
      AML LTMC.

PMID- 1434798
TI  - Effects of interferon-alpha (IFN) on the expression of interleukin 1-beta (IL-1),
      interleukin 6 (IL-6), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)
      and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts.
AB  - Interferon-alpha (IFN) induces the enzyme 2-5 oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5 AS)
      in cells from patients with hairy cell leukemia and B-cell chronic lymphocytic
      leukemia and this is associated with a breakdown of certain species of cytokine
      messenger (m)RNA via the activation of a latent ribonuclease. We have studied the
      expression of the cytokines interleukin 1-beta (IL-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6),
      granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and tumour necrosis
      factor alpha (TNF) as well as of the ribonuclease activator 2-5 AS in the
      presence and absence of IFN in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) blast cells from 26
      patients. Before monocyte and T-cell depletion there was no expression of IL-1,
      IL-6 or GM-CSF, and only three of 13 patients studied expressed TNF mRNA. After
      cell depletion one or more cytokine was expressed in 31-62% of the 26 patients.
      Expression of one or more mRNA for IL-1, IL-6, GM-CSF and TNF after 18 h
      incubation was detected in 16 of 26 patients (63%) and this was particularly so
      in French-American-British (FAB) subtypes M4 and M5. Eight of nine patients with
      IL-6 mRNA expression and seven of 10 with IL-1 mRNA expression were in the FAB
      subtypes M4 and M5. Twenty-two of 26 patients showed induction of 2-5 AS mRNA in
      response to IFN in vitro. Exposure to IFN resulted in reduction of IL-1 mRNA in
      nine of 12 cases, of IL-6 mRNA in eight of nine, and GM-CSF mRNA in five of seven
      cases. TNF mRNA was unaffected by IFN despite 2-5 AS induction in 12 of 13
      patients expressing this cytokine. In the presence of exogenous IFN, cells from
      six of seven patients studied showed inhibition of 3H-thymidine incorporation
      into DNA. DNA synthesis could also be abrogated in six of seven patients with
      anti-IL-1 monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) and in two of seven with anti-IL-6 MoAb.
      This inhibitory effect could be reversed in all patients when anti-IL-1 or anti
      IL-6 was given in combination with their corresponding cytokine. These data
      suggest that IFN may exert a therapeutic effect in a proportion of AML patients
      by blocking IL-1 and IL-6 mediated growth, consequent on activation of the
      ribonuclease activator 2-5 AS.

PMID- 1434799
TI  - L4415: further characterization of the rat model for human acute lymphocytic
      leukemia.
AB  - The biological properties of a transplantable lymphocytic leukemia, L4415 in the
      WAG/Rij rat, are described. The radiation-induced L4415 leukemia is characterized
      as a relatively slowly growing, non-immunogenic, immature T-cell leukemia which
      shows a reproducible growth pattern upon intravenous (i.v.) transfer. Survival
      time following i.v. inoculation is inversely related to the number of leukemic
      cells in the inoculum, which allows a quantitative estimate in terms of log
      leukemic cell kill of the effect of treatment. The first signs of leukemic growth
      are found in the bone marrow, the spleen, and the liver. Leukemic cells can be
      detected in the peripheral blood 13 days after inoculation. Due to replacement of
      normal hemopoietic tissue by leukemic cells and their number increasing
      exponentially thereafter, normal hemopoiesis is inhibited in the later stages of
      the disease as indicated by severe thrombocytopenia and anemia. Death is caused
      by a combination of splenic rupture, gastrointestinal and pulmonary hemorrhage,
      and impaired functions of heavily infiltrated organs. Hepatosplenomegaly and
      lymphadenopathy are prominent features at autopsy. Cyclophosphamide- and
      radiosensitivity of the clonogenic leukemic cells have been determined, a 2.9 log
      cell kill could be induced by single dose cyclophosphamide inoculation and a
      dosage giving a surviving fraction of 0.37 (D0) of 0.99 Gy with an extrapolation
      number (N) of 8.5 were calculated. Based on these data, the L4415 rat leukemia
      may be regarded as a relevant model for human acute lymphocytic leukemia and may
      thus serve to explore new treatment strategies.

PMID- 1434800
TI  - Interferon treatment for hairy cell leukemia: an update on a cohort of 69
      patients treated from 1983-1986.
AB  - This report documents the follow-up information on 69 hairy cell leukemia (HCL)
      patients treated with interferon alpha-2b (IFN) as primary treatment from 1983
      86. Follow-up through October 1991 shows only 11 patients have died. Forty-one of
      the 57 patients completing the intended 12 or more months of initial IFN
      treatment were eventually considered IFN failures. Thirty-nine required
      retreatment (38 received a second course of IFN and one received pentostatin).
      Two patients died without further therapy for HCL. The median time to interferon
      failure was 33 months. Sixteen patients are alive and have not required further
      treatment after completing their initial 12 or more months of interferon. Eight
      patients underwent a third course of interferon therapy at a median time after
      completion of a second course of IFN of 1.3 years. Seven patients developed a
      second malignancy; three of these patients developed a high-grade lymphoma
      between 3.5 and 6.5 years after initiation of interferon therapy. We conclude
      that although interferon provides excellent palliation, most patients will
      eventually require further treatment with interferon or chemotherapy. Future
      trials in HCL must be aware of second malignancies as a common cause of death.

PMID- 1434801
TI  - Phase I study of recombinant human interferon gamma in children with relapsed
      acute leukemia.
AB  - Fourteen children (ages 2-15 years) with acute leukemia in relapse were treated
      with daily recombinant interferon gamma for 14 days by subcutaneous injections at
      fixed dose levels of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, or 0.75 mg/m2 (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, or 7.5 x 10(6)
      units/m2) without intrapatient escalation. Patients received a second 14-day
      course of therapy followed by thrice weekly administration unless there were
      signs of progressive disease or grade 3 or 4 toxicity. Side effects in the 13
      evaluable patients included fever (n = 10), fatigue (9), decreased Karnofsky
      performance score (8), hypertriglyceridemia (8), myalgia (5), weight loss > 5%
      (4), elevated liver transaminases (4), and abdominal pain (3). There was only one
      grade 4 toxicity: one of the six patients at the 0.5 mg/m2 dose level developed
      reversible acute renal failure. One patient died of gastrointestinal hemorrhage
      due to disease-related refractory thrombocytopenia. One child had an oncolytic
      response and two others stable disease for 138 and 148 days. An appropriate dose
      level for phase II studies in children is 0.5 mg/m2 per day.

PMID- 1434802
TI  - Homoharringtonine is safe and effective for patients with acute myelogenous
      leukemia.
AB  - Homoharringtonine (HHT) is a cephalotaxine alkaloid with reported efficacy in
      acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). In a phase II trial, we evaluated HHT 5 mg/m2
      by continuous infusion daily for 9 days in patients with relapsed or refractory
      acute leukemia and blastic phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia (BLCML). Sixty
      six patients were entered. There were 40 males and 26 females with a median age
      of 41 years (range 15-81). Of 43 patients with relapsed AML, seven achieved a
      complete remission (16%, 95% confidence interval 5%-27%). Although 11 patients
      with AML primarily resistant to an anthracycline/cytarabine combination did not
      respond, two of three patients primarily resistant to low-dose cytarabine
      achieved complete remission. No patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia,
      biphenotypic leukemia, or BLCML responded. Hypotension during the administration
      of HHT was the most difficult toxicity encountered, requiring multiple
      interruptions of therapy in several patients and the administration of
      intravenous saline. Fluid retention and weight gain occurred in 29% of patients.
      Transient asymptomatic hyperglycemia was observed in 63% of patients. Other
      toxicity was mild and included nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, mucositis, hepatic
      dysfunction, and cardiac arrhythmias. As expected, severe myelosuppression
      occurred in all patients. HHT is well tolerated, but with unique problems
      associated with administration. It has demonstrable efficacy in pre-treated
      patients with AML, but its role in the treatment of this disease remains to be
      defined.

PMID- 1434803
TI  - Homoharringtonine in combination with cytarabine for patients with acute
      myelogenous leukemia.
AB  - Homoharringtonine (HHT) is one of several cephalotaxine alkaloids that has shown
      clinical efficacy in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). In a phase I
      trial we evaluated cytarabine 100 mg/m2 by continuous infusion daily for 7 days
      in combination with four dose levels of HHT ranging from 1.5-5 mg/m2 by
      continuous infusion daily for 7 days to see if an effective regimen could be
      developed. Twenty-two patients with relapsed and/or primary refractory AML were
      treated. Seventeen males and five females were treated, with a median age of 40
      years (range 19-63). There were five remissions in 14 patients with relapsed AML
      and none of eight responders in patients with primary refractory AML. None of the
      three patients treated at 1.5 mg/m2 dose level of HHT responded. Of three
      patients treated at the 3 mg/m2 dose level, there was one complete remission. At
      both 4 mg/m2 and 5 mg/m2, two of eight patients achieved complete remission. Four
      of the five remissions occurred in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia.
      Drug induced pancytopenia was universal, and hypotension and fluid retention were
      more common at the higher dose levels. Other toxicity was mild and included
      nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mucositis. No significant hepatic, renal, or
      cardiac toxicity was seen. We conclude that the dose of HHT 4 mg/m2 for 7 days by
      continuous infusion in combination with cytarabine is safe for patients with AML;
      and this combination is appropriate for a phase II evaluation.

PMID- 1434804
TI  - High-dose cytosine arabinoside remission induction for acute myelogenous
      leukemia: comparison of two regimens of remission maintenance.
AB  - We report a single institution sequential trial of two maintenance treatment
      regimens for patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). A total of 175
      consecutive patients with AML received initial remission induction therapy with
      high-dose cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) and glucocorticoids. For the initial 63
      patients (group A), the control population, planned maintenance treatment was
      with conventional-dose ara-C given over 4 days for up to 18 months. The
      subsequent 107 patients (group B) had planned maintenance therapy of up to 6
      courses of daunorubicin, ara-C and prednisone and daily cis-retinoic acid for up
      to two years. The presenting features of group A and B patients were similar as
      were the response to remission induction, 60 and 52%, respectively. Severe
      neurological toxicity was encountered once after high-dose ara-C; no drug-related
      deaths occurred during maintenance treatment. Median duration of remission for
      group B patients was 9.9 months compared with 5.5 for group A (p = 0.0685).
      Median survival duration for the two groups was similar, 9.1 months for group A
      and 10.4 for group B. Survival of patients in group B who attained a complete
      remission was significantly better than that of patients in group A (p = 0.0439).
      The studies confirm our initial experience with remission induction using single
      agent high-dose ara-C and suggest a positive role for maintenance therapy in AML.

PMID- 1434805
TI  - Effect of high-dose methotrexate on plasma hypoxanthine and uridine levels in
      patients with acute leukemia or non-Hodgkin lymphoma in childhood.
AB  - We investigated the effect of high dose methotrexate (HDMTX) therapy on plasma
      hypoxanthine (Hx) and uridine (UR) concentrations in 12 children with acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The initial plasma Hx
      level before the first administration of HDMTX (1 g/m2) was significantly higher
      in patients (25.5 +/- 17.5 microM) than that in healthy adult controls (4.0 +/-
      1.4 microM). By 48 or 72 hours after the beginning of MTX infusion, the Hx
      concentration had decreased to 7.9 +/- 7.7 microM and 4.7 +/- 4.1 microM,
      respectively. This decrease of plasma Hx concentration after MTX infusion was
      also observed with the second course of HDMTX (3 g/m2) therapy. On the other
      hand, the plasma UR level did not change significantly. The in vitro treatment
      with 2 microM MTX of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT)
      deficient mutant cells selected from HL-60 lowered the excretion of Hx into the
      culture medium. These data suggest a possible new explanation of the synergism of
      HDMTX and 6-thiopurines, for example 6-mercaptopurine and 6-thioguanine, since
      plasma Hx is considered to counteract 6-thiopurine toxicity through competition
      at the level of HGPRT.

PMID- 1434806
TI  - Third complementarity determining region (CDR III) sequence analysis in childhood
      B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: implications for the design of
      oligonucleotide probes for use in monitoring minimal residual disease.
AB  - The genetic sequence of the third complementarity determining region (CDR III) of
      the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene was analysed in 55 rearranged alleles
      from 36 children presenting with B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
      This confirmed the unique nature of these rearrangements. However, contrary to
      the hypothesis that the CDR III is produced by a random process of rearrangement,
      biased utilisation of diversity (D) segments and of joining (J) regions 4, 5 and
      6 was demonstrated. Moreover, preferred sequence boundaries were seen in J
      regions 1 to 5 and were suggested at the 3'-end of certain D regions, notably
      D21/9 and DK1. Similar patterns of rearrangement have been noted in normal B
      lymphocyte clones. Together with relatively limited N nucleotide addition, these
      factors may restrict the potential sequence variability at the D-N-J junction.
      The occurrence of clonal progression by secondary gene rearrangements, such as V
      V replacement, favours the use of this site when designing clone-specific
      oligonucleotide probes for use in monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD). In
      cases where biased features of D-J rearrangement are shared by both the leukaemic
      and normal B-lymphocyte clones this could reduce the sensitivity of these probes
      in detecting low levels of residual disease.

PMID- 1434807
TI  - Mosaicism of trisomy 12 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia detected by non
      radioactive in situ hybridization.
AB  - Cytogenetic analysis using banding techniques of B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia
      (CLL) is hampered by the difficult in vitro proliferation of these tumor cells.
      For detection of specific cytogenetic aberrations these problems can be overcome
      with non-radioactive in situ hybridization (ISH). ISH may especially be applied
      for the detection of trisomy 12, which is the most frequent cytogenetic
      aberration in CLL. Sixty-seven patients with CLL, four normal controls and one
      lymphoblastoid B-cell line with a trisomy 12 were studied using a chromosome 12
      specific probe. To determine the hybridization properties of the CLL cells, all
      samples were also hybridized with probes specific for chromosomes 1 and 8. All
      leukemias were analyzed by immunocytochemistry to determine the proportion of
      tumor cells. Eight cases (11%) showed a trisomy 12. After correction for the
      number of tumor cells, it was demonstrated that in almost all cases (7 out of 8),
      the aberration was present in a proportion of the tumor cells (between 30 and
      72%). Except for one patient this mosaicism persisted with long-term follow-up.
      We conclude that the in vivo incidence of trisomy 12 in CLL is approximately 11%,
      and that trisomy 12 occurs in most instances in only a subpopulation of the
      leukemic cells. Both findings suggest that trisomy 12 in CLL is a late event.

PMID- 1434808
TI  - Relapse as acute monoblastic leukemia (AML-M5) of t(6;9) acute myeloblastic
      leukemia (AML-M2).
AB  - Two patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia with t(6;9)(p23;q34) translocation
      and classified as AML-M2 relapsed as acute monocytic leukemia (AML-M5). Trisomy 8
      was found associated with t(6;9) at that time in both patients. Such changes in
      differentiation of leukemic cells have not previously been reported in this
      subtype of AML and add data favoring the pluripotent nature of the stem cell
      involved in leukemia with t(6;9).

PMID- 1434809
TI  - Polymerase chain reaction detection of residual disease in chronic myeloid
      leukemia patients in complete cytogenetic remission under interferon with or
      without chemotherapy.

PMID- 1434810
TI  - Autologous bone marrow transplantation for intensification of first remission in
      adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PMID- 1434811
TI  - Autologous bone marrow transplantation for acute myeloid and lymphoid leukemia.

PMID- 1434813
TI  - Are autotransplants effective in leukemia?

PMID- 1434812
TI  - Autologous graft-versus-host disease.

PMID- 1434814
TI  - Therapy of chronic myelogenous leukemia with related or unrelated donor bone
      marrow transplantation.

PMID- 1434815
TI  - Autografting in chronic myeloid leukemia with cultured marrow.

PMID- 1434816
TI  - Pathology and immunology of acute leukemia.
AB  - Tremendous advances in our understanding of acute leukemia have been made through
      the development of new technologies and close collaboration between
      immunologists, molecular biologists, and clinical oncologists. These
      technological advances have included the development of monoclonal antibodies
      (MoAb) reactive with surface antigens on leukemic cells which can help confirm
      the lineage and diagnosis of acute leukemia. More importantly, MoAb in
      conjunction with morphology and cytochemical stains have led to the
      identification of FAB-MO and the more common recognition of FAB-M7. MoAbs have
      also helped define prognostic groups, e.g., T-cell leukemia, mature B-cell
      leukemia, and rare groups such as CD7+ AML. However, the greatest advances in our
      understanding of acute leukemia has occurred with the application of genetic
      techniques. Disregulation of genes responsible for normal growth and
      differentiation initiates the molecular events that lead to the transformation
      and proliferation of cells recognized clinically as leukemia. Non-random
      cytogenetic abnormalities apparently contribute to this gene disregulation and
      specific abnormalities are associated with clinically important subgroups. In
      acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the t(9;22), t(1;19), and t(4;11) appear to
      have a poor prognosis. In acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), -7/7q-;-5/5q-, 11q23
      abnormalities have poor outcomes while t(15;17) and in some series t(9;11),
      t(8;21), and inv(16) have a good response to therapy. Molecular studies of
      somatic cell (immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor) gene rearrangements have
      assisted in the diagnosis and classification of ALL. The application of the
      polymerase chain reaction technique to specific gene rearrangements has provided
      a useful approach to minimal residual disease. Specific gene activation (N-myc,
      evi-1) or fusion genes such as the alpha retinoic acid receptor (alpha RAR) and
      pml have been identified as the specific cause of some cases of leukemia. The
      cloning of specific chromosomal breakpoints identified in leukemia (as has been
      done for CML) will result in specific probes which can be used to make the
      diagnosis rapidly at the molecular level. Because of the tremendous number of
      recent developments, this paper will focus only on major developments that will
      soon have a clinical impact.

PMID- 1434817
TI  - Newer aspects of prognosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

PMID- 1434818
TI  - Autoimmunity and auto-immune syndromes associated with and preceding the
      development of lymphoproliferative disorders.
AB  - In this report the association of autoimmunity and autoimmune syndromes with
      lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD) is described in 15 patients. Non-Hodgkin's
      lymphoma (NHL) developed in 10 patients, Hodgkin's disease (HD) in 3 and chronic
      lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in two. In most instances clinical and laboratory
      phenomena preceded the development/diagnosis of these disorders. Manifestations
      ranged from the presence of autoantibodies in the serum to the presence of both
      ill defined or incomplete autoimmune syndromes including cold urticaria,
      Raynaud's phenomenon, cold agglutinin disease, thyroiditis, nephrotic syndrome
      and vasculitis to typical systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid
      arthritis (RA) and even one of scleroderma. It is suggested that in some patients
      (in)complete clinical manifestations of autoimmunity may precede the development
      of lymphoid neoplasias. The link between autoimmunity and lymphoproliferative
      disorders is briefly discussed.

PMID- 1434819
TI  - Secondary leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome after treatment for Hodgkin's
      disease.

PMID- 1434820
TI  - Cytogenetics and oncogenes.
AB  - There is abundant evidence that leukemia arise through somatically acquired
      genetic changes. Familial or congenital predisposition is rarely involved. These
      genetic changes are often visible as chromosomal aberrations. Molecular analyses
      of the DNA sequences rearranged in leukemia has demonstrated the presence of
      cellular oncogenes which are modified (fused, mutated, truncated) by the specific
      translocations. This results in a disturbance of the delicate balance between
      proliferation and differentiation and constitute a major step towards cell
      transformation. Some of these genetic rearrangements have been analyzed in depth,
      but the exact defect that causes leukemia is often not yet understood. Meanwhile
      these studies have increased our knowledge of normal cell proliferation and
      differentiation and provided us with new tools for diagnosis and for developing
      more specifically targeted treatment. An example would be the production of
      antibodies that recognize specifically the new chimeric proteins. Oncogenesis is
      a complex and multiple step process that proceeds by acquisition of successive
      genetic insults. The different steps do not necessarily occurs following a
      predetermined order, although some secondary changes are preferentially induced
      by a given first mutation. In leukemia, sequential changes in karyotype are well
      documented but molecular makers for tumor progression have not yet been
      systematically investigated. This is one of our many challenges for the future.

PMID- 1434821
TI  - What can we learn from Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide (BMDW).

PMID- 1434822
TI  - Unrelated bone marrow donor transplantation (UD-BMT): interim results of the
      IMUST study. International Unrelated Search and Transplant.

PMID- 1434823
TI  - Immunotherapy of minimal residual disease in conjunction with autologous and
      allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT).
AB  - Recent investigations in animal models of human lymphoid and myeloid leukemia
      suggest that induction of immune-mediated antitumor effects is feasible at the
      stage of minimal residual disease (MRD) using allogeneic immunocompetent
      lymphocytes following initial reconstitution with T cell depletion and/or
      activation of reconstituting syngeneic or allogeneic immune cells by recombinant
      interleukin-2 (rIL2). Pilot clinical trials in patients with leukemias and
      lymphomas at high risk to relapse following autologous bone marrow
      transplantation (BMT) suggest that beneficial antitumor effects may be achieved
      at the stage of MRD by home immunotherapy as soon as hematopoietic reconstitution
      occurs using rIL2 (Cetus) and alpha interferon (Roferon A) (Hoffmann LaRoche).
      Although results obtained from our open trial seem encouraging, prospective
      randomized trials and longer observation periods are needed in order to confirm
      immune-mediated antitumor effects in conjunction with autologous BMT in patients
      with malignant hematological disorders at high risk to relapse. Likewise, it
      seems that amplification of anti-leukemia effects following allogeneic BMT is
      feasible by post-transplant infusion of donor's peripheral blood lymphocytes for
      prevention and/or treatment of relapse.

PMID- 1434824
TI  - Selective metaphasic arrest of erythroblasts by vincristine in patients receiving
      high doses of recombinant human erythropoietin for myelosuppressive anemia.
AB  - As an introduction to a Satellite Symposium on the utilization of recombinant
      human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO) in hematology (Leukemia & Lymphoma 1992; 7
      (Suppl.2): 94-100) a contribution to its mechanism of action was presented, and
      is published here. In three patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease treated with
      combination chemotherapy (MOPP) incorporating vincristine, and receiving at the
      same time a fixed daily dose of 8000 U of rHu-EPO subcutaneously for 10 to 15
      days because of myelosuppressive anemia, myeloaspirates were performed one week
      before and 24 hours after the administration of vincristine. A dramatic
      accumulation of arrested metaphases in all stages of erythroblasts was found,
      while there was no augmentation of granulocytic metaphases. This is a further
      confirmation, following a previous contribution (Marmont AM: Haematol 1991; 76,
      251-255), of the demonstration in man of the combined effects of erythropoietin
      as an erythroid mitogen and vincristine as a mitotic blocker.

PMID- 1434825
TI  - Diagnostic approach to the myelodysplastic syndromes.

PMID- 1434826
TI  - Therapy-related myelodysplastic syndromes and acute leukemias.

PMID- 1434827
TI  - Lymphocytic leukemias: new insights into biology and therapy.

PMID- 1434828
TI  - Epidemiology and etiology of acute leukemia: an update.

PMID- 1434829
TI  - Expression of adhesion molecules in lymphoproliferative disorders.
AB  - We review the role of adhesion molecule expression on malignant lymphoid cells as
      delineated by experimental studies and clinical observation. Adhesion molecules
      of the Ig superfamily, integrins, selectins, and the lymphocyte homing receptor
      CD44 mediate cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular matrix interactions. These
      molecules have been investigated with the aim (i) of defining certain biological
      features of the malignant cells, (ii) of providing a rationale to understand
      tumor organization, metastasis and organ specificity, and (iii) of detecting
      disease subsets and prognostic groups.

PMID- 1434830
TI  - Cellular and molecular studies on the early stages of human hematopoietic
      differentiation in culture of pure progenitors.
AB  - Methodology has been developed that enables virtually complete purification and
      recovery of early hematopoietic progenitors from human adult blood, a minority of
      which is multipotent and endowed with self-renewal capacities, i.e., exhibits
      stem cell properties. This report briefly reviews: (i) the key steps involved in
      the progenitor purification and assay procedure; (ii) the characterization of
      "pure" progenitors at the level of membrane antigen pattern and response to HGFs;
      (iii) the development of a liquid suspension culture for the pure progenitors,
      which allows synchronized and selective erythroid or GM differentiation, and
      hence may be utilized for the analysis of molecular mechanisms underlying early
      and late stages of hematopoiesis; (iv) the study of the expression and modulation
      of HGFRs expressed on progenitors.

PMID- 1434831
TI  - Approaches for an explanation of the differentiating effect of all trans retinoic
      acid in acute promyelocytic leukemia.

PMID- 1434832
TI  - Prognostic factors in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PMID- 1434833
TI  - Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: present and future.

PMID- 1434834
TI  - Role of bone marrow transplant in acute lymphocytic leukemia.

PMID- 1434835
TI  - Chemotherapy versus allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantation in
      second complete remission of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PMID- 1434836
TI  - Diagnosis of leukemia: morphology.

PMID- 1434837
TI  - Prognostic factors for selecting curative therapy for adult acute myeloid
      leukemia.

PMID- 1434838
TI  - Combined effect of very early intensification and prolonged post-remission
      chemotherapy in patients with AML.
AB  - The study combines the effects of prolonged postremission chemotherapy with that
      of very early intensification. 900 adult patients at all ages with newly
      diagnosed AML uniformly received TAD for induction and consolidation followed by
      monthly myelosuppressive maintenance for 3 years. In patients of 60+ years with
      persistent bone marrow blasts a second TAD course was given. In all patients of
      less than 60 years a second induction course started on day 21 even in aplasia
      with no blasts. Second induction was randomly either TAD or HAM. In the younger
      age group 69% attained CR and similar in the two arms the CR rate after 5 years
      is 35%. Including the 50% patients attaining CR in the higher age group the CR
      rate after 5 years is 32%. In 40 patients receiving allogeneic BMT and 21
      patients receiving autologous BMT in first CR relapse free survival is similar to
      that from chemotherapy alone in a matched pair analysis. We conclude that age
      adapted very early intensification followed by prolonged postremission
      chemotherapy represents a therapeutic progress.

PMID- 1434839
TI  - High-dose cytosine arabinoside for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.
      Studies of the North American Marrow Transplant Group.

PMID- 1434840
TI  - Post-remission therapy in adults with acute myelogenous leukemia: the Eastern
      Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) experience.

PMID- 1434841
TI  - Allogeneic versus autologous marrow transplantation for patients with acute
      myeloid leukemia in first marrow remission. An update of the Genoa experience
      with 159 patients.

PMID- 1434842
TI  - Leukemic cell kill in autologous bone marrow transplantation: in vivo or in
      vitro?
AB  - Both the contribution of high dose chemo-radiotherapy ("conditioning treatment")
      prior to autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) and "purging" of
      autologous marrow grafts to the prevention of leukemia relapse are being
      addressed in the present communication. Based on both preclinical and clinical
      studies, it is concluded that cures achieved after ABMT are mainly due to
      effective eradication of residual leukemic cells in the host. The chance that
      leukemia will relapse is due to leukemic cells reinfused with the graft is
      estimated to be less than 10%.

PMID- 1434843
TI  - High dose etoposide melphalan, total body irradiation and ABMT for acute myeloid
      leukemia in first remission.

PMID- 1434845
TI  - Autologous bone marrow transplantation in 2502 patients with acute leukemia in
      Europe: a retrospective study.

PMID- 1434844
TI  - Has IL2 a role in the management of minimal residual disease for acute leukemia?
AB  - Based on pre-clinical findings and on more recent preliminary in vivo data it has
      been suggested that immunotherapy with Interleukin 2 (IL2) may be employed in the
      treatment of acute leukemia patients. Here we shall discuss the biological and
      clinical observations which indicate that this innovative therapeutic approach
      may play a role in the management of minimal residual disease.

PMID- 1434846
TI  - Medical mythology: Hera (Juno).

PMID- 1434847
TI  - Expanded use of thrombolytic therapy.

PMID- 1434848
TI  - Medullary thyroid carcinoma--an uncommon cause of thyroid nodules but an
      important cause of thyroid neoplasms.

PMID- 1434849
TI  - The mast cell and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

PMID- 1434850
TI  - Prolactin and carcinoma of the breast.

PMID- 1434851
TI  - The 25th anniversary of the Alfred Building at Saint Marys Hospital.

PMID- 1434852
TI  - Tissue plasminogen activator for treatment of livedoid vasculitis.
AB  - Livedoid vasculitis, a hyalinizing vasculopathy, is characterized by extensive
      formation of microthrombi and deposition of fibrin in the middermal vessels,
      which result in epidermal infarction, ulceration, and formation of stellate
      scars. In a prospective study of nonhealing ulcers in patients with livedoid
      vasculitis, we found a high incidence of anticardiolipin antibodies, lupus
      anticoagulants, increased levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor, and low
      levels of endogenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity. This
      procoagulant tendency and decreased fibrinolysis may provide an explanation for
      the occlusive vasculopathy often noted in biopsy specimens from these patients.
      On the basis of these findings, we proposed that fibrinolysis with recombinant t
      PA would lyse microvascular thrombi, restore circulation, and promote wound
      healing. In six patients who had nonhealing ulcers caused by livedoid vasculitis
      and in whom numerous conventional therapies had failed, low-dose t-PA (10 mg) was
      administered intravenously during a 4-hour period daily for 14 days. Five of the
      six patients had dramatic improvement; almost complete healing of the ulcers
      occurred during hospitalization, and tissue oxygenation, as measured by
      transcutaneous oximetry, increased. The one treatment failure was due to
      rethrombosis of the microvasculature; this patient was subsequently re-treated
      but with concurrent anticoagulation, and her leg ulcers healed. We conclude that
      daily administration of a low dose of t-PA is safe and effective treatment for
      nonhealing ulcers due to occlusive vasculopathy.

PMID- 1434853
TI  - Medullary thyroid carcinoma: clinicopathologic features and long-term follow-up
      of 65 patients treated during 1946 through 1970.
AB  - We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 65 consecutive patients with
      medullary thyroid carcinoma, who had had their primary surgical treatment at the
      Mayo Clinic during the years 1946 through 1970. Of these patients, 58 had
      sporadic and 7 had familial medullary thyroid carcinoma. Thyroid nodules were the
      most common initial manifestation. Near-total thyroidectomy was the most frequent
      initial operation. Survival was affected by the following factors: male sex,
      familial inheritance, size of the tumor, stage of the tumor (American Joint
      Committee on Cancer), and completeness of initial resection of the tumor. The
      mean duration of follow-up was 23.5 years, and the maximal follow-up was 36
      years. Among 52 patients without initial distant metastatic involvement and with
      complete resection of the tumor, 20-year survival free of distant metastatic
      lesions was 81%. Overall 10- and 20-year survival rates were 63% and 44%,
      respectively. Because of the substantial morbidity and mortality associated with
      medullary thyroid carcinoma, early diagnosis and thorough initial resection of
      the tumor are important.

PMID- 1434854
TI  - Immunofluorescent staining for mast cells in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis:
      quantification and evidence for extracellular release of mast cell tryptase.
AB  - In many diseases, retrospective analysis for determining the presence of mast
      cells has been difficult because of their loss of metachromatic staining
      properties once tissue has undergone formalin fixation. We quantified mast cells
      in peribronchiolar tissue of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and in normal
      human lung by using rabbit antiserum to human mast cell tryptase. In lung biopsy
      specimens from 15 patients with IPF, the mean number of mast cells per high-power
      field in connective tissue directly adjacent to the lumen of small airways (0.5
      to 2 mm in diameter) and other fibrotic foci was 29.9 +/- 10.8 in comparison with
      13.7 +/- 3.5 in 16 normal controls (P < 0.001). In addition, mast cells in cases
      of IPF had an altered appearance--irregularity of the plasma membrane and release
      of extracellular tryptase. We conclude that the number of mast cells is increased
      in IPF and that the altered appearance of the mast cells suggests that they are
      activated and undergoing degranulation.

PMID- 1434855
TI  - The pituitary gland in patients with breast carcinoma: a histologic and
      immunocytochemical study of 125 cases.
AB  - Pituitary glands obtained at autopsy of 125 women with disseminated breast
      carcinoma were studied to determine whether pituitary prolactin cell
      abnormalities (hyperplasia or adenoma) might be involved in the pathogenesis of
      breast carcinoma. In addition, we studied 85 pituitary glands obtained from
      unselected, consecutive autopsies in women without breast carcinoma but who died
      of other diseases (control group). The frequency of lactotroph hyperplasia was
      slightly higher in patients with breast carcinoma than in the control group, but
      the difference was not statistically significant, nor were differences in the
      frequency and size of pituitary adenomas, prolactin-producing or otherwise. No
      correlation was found between the presence of lactotroph hyperplasia or prolactin
      producing adenomas (or both) and such factors as the patient's age, bilaterality
      of the carcinoma, previous treatment with tamoxifen citrate or oophorectomy,
      stage of disease, or survival. The frequency of breast carcinoma metastatic to
      the pituitary gland was higher in the study group than in the control group;
      however, the difference was not statistically significant. No preferential site
      of metastatic involvement in the pituitary gland was noted. Relative proportions
      of other lesions such as infarcts, cysts, lymphocytic infiltrates, and basophilic
      invasion were similar in the study and control groups. This study indicates that
      accumulation of prolactin cells, whether hyperplastic or adenomatous, cannot be
      considered a major risk factor for the genesis or progression of breast
      carcinoma.

PMID- 1434856
TI  - Pathology of surgically excised primary cardiac tumors.
AB  - Between 1957 and March 1991, 106 patients with 110 neoplasms that originated in
      the heart were treated surgically at the Mayo Clinic and had pathologic material
      available for review. The study group consisted of 39 male and 67 female
      patients, who ranged in age from 2 to 80 years. Benign atrial myxomas (64 in the
      left atrium and 16 in the right atrium) were the most commonly encountered
      neoplasm. The other benign tumors were nine fibromas, five lipomatous tumors,
      seven valvular fibroelastic papillomas, and one cardiac hamartoma (so-called
      oncocytic cardiomyopathy). In addition, eight patients had a primary cardiac
      malignant lesion: angiosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and malignant fibrous
      histiocytoma in two patients each and sarcoma (not otherwise specified) and
      osteogenic sarcoma in one patient each. The angiosarcomas originated in the right
      atrium, and the other malignant tumors originated in the left atrium. The
      histologic feature that most frequently predicted an adverse clinical outcome was
      the presence of mitotic figures, although highly cellular tumors and those with
      necrosis also tended to have a malignant course.

PMID- 1434857
TI  - Humoral hypercalcemia associated with a dysgerminoma.
AB  - A 16-year-old girl sought medical attention at the Mayo Clinic because of a 4.5
      kg weight loss, hypercalcemia, and a pelvic mass. Preoperatively, the level of
      the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin was 147 IU/liter. After a brief
      period for observation and hydration, abdominal exploration revealed a stage III
      dysgerminoma; total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
      were performed. Within the dysgerminoma, syncytial giant cells expressed human
      chorionic gonadotropin-positive immunostaining in the cytoplasm. Postoperatively,
      the value of the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin decreased rapidly.
      The patient received whole-abdomen irradiation 4 weeks postoperatively, after
      which the level of calcium returned to normal. The patient has been free of
      disease for more than 7 years.

PMID- 1434858
TI  - Cutaneous micrographic surgery: Mohs procedure.
AB  - Skin cancer is an increasingly serious public health issue that affects a high
      percentage of the population. Surgical resection is still standard treatment for
      skin cancer, but for difficult cases, cutaneous micrographic surgery, originally
      described by Mohs, is our preferred technique because of the routine methodic
      accuracy for evaluation of the surgical margin, the high rate of oncologic cure,
      and the tissue-sparing quality of the procedure. We report the Mayo Clinic
      experience with cutaneous micrographic surgery from July 29, 1986, through June
      30, 1991, which consisted of 3,355 cases (principally basal cell and squamous
      cell carcinoma). Herein we discuss practical concerns about this procedure:
      duration of the technique, reconstruction, cure rates, tumors best treated by
      cutaneous micrographic surgery, and cost. In addition, we review the Mayo Clinic
      multidisciplinary management of difficult skin cancers.

PMID- 1434859
TI  - Cyclosporine treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
AB  - Numerous uncontrolled studies and one controlled trial of cyclosporine therapy
      suggest that this selective inhibitor of cell-mediated immunity may be of benefit
      in patients with chronically active Crohn's disease. In addition, uncontrolled
      studies indicate that cyclosporine may be useful in the following settings:
      fistulous Crohn's disease; corticosteroid sparing in Crohn's disease; severe
      ulcerative colitis; and refractory proctosigmoiditis. The major advantages of
      cyclosporine therapy are apparent efficacy in patients with refractory disease
      and a rapid onset of response. Nevertheless, the incidence of relapse is high
      after cyclosporine therapy is discontinued, and this outcome is not prevented by
      low-dose maintenance therapy. Furthermore, the frequency of occurrence of
      cyclosporine-related side effects during treatment of patients with inflammatory
      bowel disease is high; paresthesias and hypertrichosis are the two most common
      adverse effects reported in the literature. Although the potential for permanent
      renal damage is of concern, serious, irreversible toxicity seldom occurs. Ongoing
      clinical trials will provide additional information about the efficacy and safety
      of cyclosporine for the aforementioned indications.

PMID- 1434860
TI  - Gestational diabetes mellitus: now is the time for detection and treatment.
AB  - The extent of universal screening for gestational diabetes and the incidence of
      gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) by diagnosis were analyzed in four primary
      care sites. The medical records of 798 women were reviewed to identify the
      presence of historical risk factors, familial determinants, and biophysical
      attributes associated with GDM and to determine whether screening and diagnostic
      tests consistent with national criteria had been completed, as well as to obtain
      the method of delivery and the weight and overall medical status of the infants.
      Of the 798 women, less than 60% underwent screening. Overall, 1.5% of the women
      were diagnosed with GDM, seven of whom were identified through screening. Eighty
      nine infants were classified as large for gestational age, 61 of whom weighed
      more than 4,000 g. Of these 61 infants with macrosomia, 61% were born to women
      who either were not screened or had negative screening results. Most of these
      women had risk factors consistent with GDM. The likelihood that a substantial
      proportion of these women would have delivered normal-sized infants had they
      undergone proper screening, diagnosis, and treatment prompted us to conclude that
      universal screening for GDM should be adopted.

PMID- 1434861
TI  - World War II and Mayo.

PMID- 1434862
TI  - Mitral valve operation in postinfarction rupture of a papillary muscle: immediate
      results and long-term follow-up of 22 patients.
AB  - The long-term clinical outcome was assessed in 22 patients (15 men and 7 women;
      mean age, 68 years) who underwent mitral valve replacement or repair for acute
      mitral regurgitation due to postinfarction rupture of a papillary muscle during
      the period 1981 through 1990 at the Mayo Clinic. All but three patients underwent
      operation within the first 3 weeks after acute myocardial infarction. The
      perioperative mortality was 27%, and the estimated actuarial survival rate at 7
      years postoperatively was 47% and 64% for the entire group and for the patients
      who survived the operation, respectively. The concomitant performance of a
      coronary artery bypass grafting procedure was the only factor identified that
      improved both immediate and long-term survival. Patients with a decreased
      preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (less than 45%) had somewhat
      greater short-term and long-term mortality than did those with a left ventricular
      ejection fraction of 45% or more, but the difference was only of borderline
      statistical significance. Other factors such as age, sex, severity of coronary
      artery disease, preoperative existence of congestive heart failure, and timing of
      the operation in relationship to occurrence of the infarction had no effect on
      survival. Of the 13 long-term survivors, 10 had significant clinical improvement
      in comparison with their preoperative state.

PMID- 1434863
TI  - A prospective randomized comparison of epidural infusion of fentanyl and
      intravenous administration of morphine by patient-controlled analgesia after
      radical retropubic prostatectomy.
AB  - In a prospective, randomized study, continuous infusion of epidural fentanyl
      citrate (group E) was compared with patient-controlled intravenously administered
      morphine sulfate (group P) for analgesia in 66 men after radical retropubic
      prostatectomy. Although both methods provided satisfactory analgesia, the mean
      comfort level scores were lower (that is, greater comfort) in group E than in
      group P at all observation times. The difference in mean resting comfort level
      scores between groups E and P was statistically significant (P < or = 0.05) at 9
      of the 11 observation times. In addition, significant differences in comfort
      level scores were noted at 8 of the 11 observation times during deep breathing, 5
      of 11 during coughing, and 3 of 9 during ambulation. Maximal and minimal comfort
      level scores recorded by each patient during the course of the study were
      significantly lower (that is, less pain) in group E than in group P for all four
      categories of activity. The percentage of patients who reported no pain was
      significantly higher in group E than in group P at 9 of 11 observation times
      during resting and 5 of 11 observation times during deep breathing. No
      significant differences were noted in side effect profiles or duration of
      hospital stay. In summary, when two effective methods of analgesia used after
      radical retropubic prostatectomy were compared prospectively, patients who
      received epidural infusion of fentanyl were more comfortable than those with
      patient-controlled intravenous administration of morphine, as evidenced by lower
      mean, maximal, and minimal comfort level scores and a greater proportion of
      patients with complete relief of pain.

PMID- 1434864
TI  - Predictors of outcome after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: a community
      based study.
AB  - Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is used to provide nutrition for
      patients who are unable to eat but have a functionally intact gut. Clinical
      guidelines for PEG are uncertain and have been derived mainly from referral
      practices. We performed a population-based cohort study in 97 residents of
      Olmsted County, Minnesota, referred for PEG between January 1982 and December
      1988 to determine complications, duration of tube feeding, and survival. Follow
      up continued until death or February 1990. Inpatient and outpatient records were
      reviewed to determine indications, comorbid conditions, level of consciousness,
      and limitations in activities of daily living. Outcomes determined after referral
      for PEG included type and number of complications, tube removal, and survival.
      Statistical methods used included Kaplan-Meier and proportional hazards
      regression analyses. PEG placement was successful in 94% of patients. Although
      complications occurred in 70% of patients, they usually were minor (88%) and most
      occurred within 3 months. In 24 patients, tubes were removed because eating was
      resumed. The probability of surviving 30 days, 1.5 years, and 4 years after
      referral for PEG was 78%, 35%, and 27%, respectively. The major causes of death
      within and after 30 days were pneumonia, heart disease, and vascular disease of
      the central nervous system. An increased risk of death after referral for PEG
      placement was associated with older age, male gender, diabetes, and specific
      indications for PEG. If validated in other population-based studies, these
      predictors of survival after referral for PEG placement could be used to identify
      patients with a low probability of survival who may not benefit from PEG.

PMID- 1434865
TI  - Importance of breast biopsy incision in final outcome of breast reconstruction.
AB  - Currently, breast cancer is one of the most common malignant lesions among women
      in North America--it occurs in one in every nine such women. Approximately
      180,000 cases will be diagnosed this year. During the past 3 years at the Mayo
      Clinic, approximately 4,000 breast biopsies were performed. In approximately 20%
      of such biopsy specimens, a malignant lesion will be identified. Surgeons should
      be aware of the current possibilities in breast reconstruction and should
      consider the cosmetic result in the placement of breast biopsy incisions. Even
      lesions in the superior or inferior portions of the breast are accessible through
      generous periareolar incisions. The biopsy incision should be within the confines
      of a possible skin excision for mastectomy to avoid creating two scars if the
      specimen proves cancerous. The choice of site for the biopsy incision, however,
      should never jeopardize the treatment of the cancer. Appropriate preoperative
      planning will ensure optimal cosmetic and therapeutic results in the management
      of breast lesions.

PMID- 1434866
TI  - Cemented versus noncemented total hip arthroplasty--embolism, hemodynamics, and
      intrapulmonary shunting.
AB  - Bone cement implantation syndrome is characterized by hypotension, hypoxemia,
      cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, or any combination of these complications.
      It may result from venous embolization that occurs in conjunction with
      intramedullary hypertension in the femur during insertion of the prosthesis in
      patients undergoing cemented total hip arthroplasty (THA). Intramedullary
      hypertension does not occur in patients undergoing noncemented THA. In this
      study, we sought to compare embolization between patients undergoing cemented and
      noncemented THA and to determine whether this state resulted in cardiorespiratory
      deterioration. In this prospective investigation of 35 patients undergoing
      elective THA, we used transesophageal echocardiography and invasive hemodynamic
      monitoring, and in 12 of them, we monitored distribution of pulmonary ventilation
      and perfusion intraoperatively. Embolization was significantly greater after
      insertion of the prosthesis in patients undergoing cemented than in those
      undergoing noncemented THA. Cemented THA was also associated with decreased
      cardiac output and increased pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular
      resistance. Increases in ventilation-perfusion mismatching, however, could not be
      demonstrated 30 minutes after insertion of the femoral prosthesis. Intraoperative
      monitoring for embolism may help physicians assess patients in whom
      cardiorespiratory function deteriorates during THA.

PMID- 1434867
TI  - Allergic reactions to latex among health-care workers.
AB  - With the emergence of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic and
      the practice of protecting health-care workers from all body fluids, the use of
      rubber gloves has increased, as has occupational allergy to latex among health
      care workers. During 1991, 49 Mayo Medical Center employees sought assessment and
      treatment of rhinitis, conjunctivitis, contact urticaria, contact dermatitis,
      asthma, or eczema thought to be related to exposure to latex. Most of these
      persons had a history of atopy and worked in areas where rubber gloves were used
      and changed frequently. Of the 49 subjects, 34 had positive results of skin tests
      to latex products, and the sera from 19 of 35 persons tested contained increased
      latex-specific IgE antibodies. Employees with sensitivity to latex (and co
      workers in the immediate areas) should use vinyl gloves and should notify their
      own health-care providers of their sensitization. Changes in job assignment may
      be necessary for some persons.

PMID- 1434868
TI  - Wladyslaw Bieganski--father of modern Polish medicine.

PMID- 1434869
TI  - Use of the internal mammary artery for myocardial revascularization in a patient
      with radiation-induced coronary artery disease.
AB  - A 9-year-old boy with clinical stage IIA Hodgkin's disease underwent radiotherapy
      to the neck and mediastinum. Twenty-two years later, he sought medical attention
      because of angina pectoris. Cardiac catheterization revealed proximally located
      high-grade stenoses of the left main, left anterior descending, circumflex, and
      right coronary arteries. He underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with use of
      the left internal mammary artery to the left anterior descending coronary artery
      and reversed saphenous vein grafts to the circumflex and right coronary arteries.
      The postoperative course was uncomplicated. Previous radiotherapy to the
      mediastinum should be considered a risk factor for the development of premature
      coronary artery disease. Surgical revascularization is the preferred method of
      management. A combination of an internal mammary artery graft and a saphenous
      vein graft should be used in young patients.

PMID- 1434870
TI  - Pancreatic pseudocyst that compressed the inferior vena cava and resulted in
      edema of the lower extremities.
AB  - To our knowledge, edema of the lower extremities has not previously been reported
      as a sign of a pancreatic pseudocyst. In this case report, we describe a 66-year
      old man in whom such a lesion compressed the inferior vena cava and caused
      pronounced leg swelling. After drainage of the pseudocyst, the edema did not
      recur. Although the most well-known complications of pancreatic pseudocyst are
      pain, hemorrhage, rupture, infection, and obstruction of adjacent viscera,
      bilateral edema of the lower extremities can be the initial manifestation of this
      lesion.

PMID- 1434871
TI  - Dermatologic manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus infection.
AB  - Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and the acquired immunodeficiency
      syndrome (AIDS) have become major health problems in the United States, and
      patients with manifestations of these diseases are seen by physicians in all
      areas of medicine. Cutaneous manifestations develop in as many as 92% of HIV
      positive persons. Familiarity with these manifestations facilitates early
      diagnosis and enhances the care of HIV-infected patients. The spectrum of
      mucocutaneous disorders in these patients includes an acute exanthem, multiple
      infections, neoplastic processes, and miscellaneous disorders. Herein we review
      the most common and the most specific dermatologic manifestations associated with
      HIV infection, which often are atypical, more severe, or less responsive to
      treatment than the corresponding diseases encountered in non-HIV-infected
      persons.

PMID- 1434872
TI  - Surgical treatment of postinfarction rupture of a papillary muscle.

PMID- 1434873
TI  - The evolution of management of postoperative pain.

PMID- 1434874
TI  - To PEG or not to PEG--that is the costly question.

PMID- 1434875
TI  - Colonoscopy.

PMID- 1434876
TI  - 100th anniversary of Sister Mary Joseph Dempsey.

PMID- 1434877
TI  - Results of a randomized controlled trial of carotid endarterectomy for
      asymptomatic carotid stenosis. Mayo Asymptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Study
      Group.
AB  - We undertook a randomized controlled trial designed to compare the effects of
      carotid endarterectomy with medical treatment using low-dose aspirin in patients
      with asymptomatic carotid stenosis. During 30 months of recruitment, 71
      randomized and 87 eligible nonrandomized patients participated in a follow-up
      protocol. The total ipsilateral perioperative stroke and death rate was 0% among
      randomized patients and 3% among nonrandomized patients, and the major stroke and
      death rate was 0% for both groups. Too few cerebral ischemic events occurred to
      judge the comparative effectiveness of carotid endarterectomy versus low-dose
      aspirin for asymptomatic carotid stenosis. The trial was terminated early because
      of a significantly higher number of myocardial infarctions and transient cerebral
      ischemic events in the surgical group than in the medical group. Most of the
      events were not temporally related to the surgical procedure, but there was
      evidence that these events could have related to the absence of aspirin use in
      the surgical group. These observations reinforce the appropriateness of the use
      of aspirin throughout the perioperative period and beyond (unless
      contraindications exist) in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis who
      undergo carotid endarterectomy.

PMID- 1434878
TI  - Ischemic cholangitis in hepatic allografts.
AB  - In this report, our objectives are to introduce the term "ischemic cholangitis"
      as an etiologic designation and to describe its manifestations. Herein we use the
      label "ischemic cholangitis" as a collective term for ischemic bile duct
      necrosis, cholangitis caused by ischemia but without necrosis, and biliary
      fibrosis as a manifestation of ischemic damage. The condition was observed in 12
      allografts, either at the time of retransplantation (9 cases) or at autopsy (3
      cases). Ischemic cholangitis involved primarily perihilar extrahepatic and
      intrahepatic bile ducts. The findings included duct necroses (eight cases),
      strictures (four cases), and cholangiectases (four cases); some of these features
      coexisted. In addition, complicating ascending cholangitis and cholangitic
      abscesses were noted in three cases. Ischemic cholangitis was caused by hepatic
      artery thrombosis (in nine patients) or stenosis (in one) or by occlusion of
      parabiliary arteries by fibrointimal proliferations, probably attributable to old
      thromboses (in two, in conjunction with associated foam cell arteriopathy in
      one). Biopsy specimens before retransplantation or autopsy were obtained in 11
      patients, only 1 of whom had an infarct as direct evidence of ischemia. Nine
      patients had evidence of biliary obstruction or bile flow impairment; in two
      cases, specimens were normal or nondiagnostic relative to cholangitis. Features
      of cellular rejection associated with the manifestations of bile flow impairment
      and ischemia were noted in five cases. Thus, biopsy features that suggest biliary
      obstruction, with or without cellular rejection, may be a manifestation of
      ischemic cholangitis. We conclude that ischemic cholangitis is an important cause
      of cholestatic graft failure but that this type of cholangitis is difficult to
      diagnose because of its misleading biopsy manifestations.

PMID- 1434879
TI  - Health risk behaviors and medical sequelae of childhood sexual abuse.
AB  - The relationship between childhood sexual abuse and subsequent health risk
      behaviors and medical problems was examined in 511 women who had used a family
      practice clinic in a rural midwestern community during a 2-year period (1988 and
      1989). These women completed a questionnaire that assessed various health risk
      behaviors--smoking, drinking, drug abuse, number of sexual partners, and age at
      first intercourse--and a medical symptom checklist that assessed 38 medical
      problems related to major systems of body function, the somatization scale from
      the SCL-90, a screen for sexual abuse, and a brief measure of social support. The
      results indicated that sexually abused women, who represented 22.1% of the
      sample, reported significantly more medical problems, greater levels of
      somatization, and more health risk behaviors than did the nonabused women. More
      severe abuse (for example, penetration or multiple abusers) correlated with more
      severe problems. Extent of social support correlated inversely with the number of
      gynecologic problems reported in the sexually abused group. Fewer than 2% of the
      sexually abused women had discussed the abuse with a physician. To identify and
      assist victims of sexual abuse, physicians should become experienced with
      nonthreatening methods of eliciting such information when the medical history is
      obtained.

PMID- 1434880
TI  - Leiomyosarcoma of the stomach: determinants of long-term survival.
AB  - To determine factors associated with a favorable long-term prognosis in gastric
      leiomyosarcoma, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 93 Mayo Clinic
      patients with this biopsy-proven tumor diagnosed during the 25-year period from
      1964 through 1988. Six patients who had Carney's triad (gastric epithelioid
      leiomyosarcoma, pulmonary chondroma, and functioning extra-adrenal paraganglioma)
      were excluded from data analysis. The other 87 patients participated in follow-up
      until death or for a median duration of 5.8 years for those who were alive at the
      conclusion of the study. The most common symptoms at the time of initial
      assessment were abdominal pain (51%), melena (36%), and weight loss (16%). Most
      often, the tumor was located in the greater curvature (25%), fundus (20%), or
      lesser curvature (16%) of the stomach. Two percent of patients had tumors at
      multiple sites. All 87 gastric leiomyosarcomas were histologically confirmed; 38%
      were grade 1, 37% were grade 2, and 25% were either grade 3 or grade 4.
      Metastatic involvement was noted in 15% of patients at the time of diagnosis. The
      5- and 10-year survival rates were 45% and 34%, respectively, and the 5- and 10
      year tumor recurrence rates were 57% and 65%, respectively. Variables that were
      associated with long-term survival were low histologic grade of the tumor,
      absence of metastatic lesions, and small tumor size (P < 0.01); variables such as
      site of the tumor, initial symptoms, age, and sex provided no significant
      additional prognostic information.

PMID- 1434881
TI  - Conditions associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.
AB  - With use of a comprehensive medical records-linkage system, we identified the
      comorbid conditions and risk factors in the residents of Rochester, Minnesota,
      who had a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome during 1961 through 1980. In 43.2%
      of the 1,016 patients, no associated conditions were found on review of the
      medical records, whereas associated conditions were documented in 56.8%. The most
      frequent of these conditions were Colles' fracture, rheumatoid arthritis,
      hormonal agents or oophorectomy (or both), diabetes mellitus, and, among men,
      occupations that involved excessive use of the hands. Rheumatoid arthritis,
      diabetes mellitus, and pregnancy were significantly more frequent among the study
      patients with carpal tunnel syndrome than in the general population of Rochester,
      Minnesota. The standardized morbidity ratio was 3.6 for rheumatoid arthritis, 2.3
      for diabetes mellitus, and 2.5 for pregnancy. The population attributable risk
      for pregnancy among women 15 to 44 years old was 7.0%. The standardized morbidity
      ratio for polymyalgia rheumatica was not significantly increased.

PMID- 1434882
TI  - Tibia vara in a patient with Bardet-Biedl syndrome.
AB  - The Bardet-Biedl syndrome is characterized by polydactyly, hypogonadism, obesity,
      mental retardation, and retinitis pigmentosa. Several other skeletal findings
      include hip dysplasia, short stature, and skull deformities. The patient
      described in this report has the classic findings of Bardet-Biedl syndrome in
      conjunction with tibia vara and irregular physes of the lower extremities.

PMID- 1434883
TI  - Isolated antral narrowing associated with gastrointestinal cryptosporidiosis in
      acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
AB  - A 33-year-old man with human immunodeficiency virus infection had severe
      protracted diarrhea. Radiologic assessment disclosed narrowing of the gastric
      antrum. Biopsy specimens revealed diffuse Cryptosporidium infection of the antral
      mucosa. Isolated antral narrowing due to Cryptosporidium gastritis should be
      added to the list of gastrointestinal complications associated with acquired
      immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

PMID- 1434884
TI  - Intubation of critically ill patients.
AB  - Respiratory failure is one of the most common causes for admission to an
      intensive-care unit. Any patient with loss of central nervous system control of
      breathing, neuromuscular respiratory failure, or impairment of gas exchange may
      require tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Tracheal intubation
      provides a conduit for ventilatory support, maintains the patency of an airway
      that has potential for obstruction, protects the airway from the contents of the
      stomach, and allows access to the trachea for pulmonary hygiene. Although the
      mechanics of intubation are easily learned, many factors must be considered in
      critically ill patients. Herein we summarize the principles of tracheal
      intubation in acutely ill patients.

PMID- 1434885
TI  - Cardiac transplantation: surgical considerations and early postoperative
      management.
AB  - The limited availability of donor hearts is the major constraint to the expanded
      application of cardiac transplantation. As many as 25% of potential recipients
      will die before a donor becomes available. Since 1986, hospitals that receive
      Medicare and Medicaid funds have been required to ask family members of all brain
      dead patients who are potential donors whether they have considered organ
      donation. The United Network for Organ Sharing is responsible for the national
      organ procurement and transplantation network as well as the national organ
      transplantation scientific registry. The increasing occurrence of multiorgan
      donation is amplifying the demands for intensive-care management of donors. Donor
      and recipient are matched on the basis of ABO blood group and body size. The
      donor operation can be performed in any standard operating room. Although the
      maximal acceptable ischemic time for a donor heart is 4 to 6 hours, briefer
      preservation times result in better hemodynamic performance after transplantation
      and a significantly lower 30-day mortality. The technique of choice in most
      medical centers is orthotopic cardiac transplantation. Postoperatively, most
      patients remain in the intensive-care unit for 1 or 2 days and in the hospital
      for 1 to 2 weeks. Standard intensive-care procedures after transplantation,
      including nursing and cardiovascular management as well as the treatment of
      failure of the donor heart, are reviewed. A comprehensive educational program for
      patients and their families should optimize the outcome after heart
      transplantation. The overall charges for heart transplantation averaged $114,000
      in 1987, 80% of which were hospital charges.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434886
TI  - Techniques of immunosuppression after cardiac transplantation.
AB  - Modulation of the normal immune response is the major challenge for successful
      organ transplantation. Cardiac allograft rejection is primarily the result of
      activation of T cells. Most currently used immunosuppressive agents mainly affect
      the T-cell-mediated limb of the immune system. Immunosuppressive strategies can
      be considered to have three goals: (1) prophylaxis against rejection early after
      cardiac transplantation, (2) long-term maintenance prophylaxis, and (3) treatment
      of acute rejection. The extent of immunosuppression needed varies with the time
      after transplantation and the rejection profile of the individual patient. The
      goal is to provide sufficient immunosuppression to retard rejection without
      causing undesirable side effects, including infection and neoplasms.

PMID- 1434887
TI  - Wilder Penfield--contributor to the surgical treatment of epilepsy.

PMID- 1434888
TI  - Carotid endarterectomy: a little more light at the end of the tunnel.

PMID- 1434889
TI  - Ischemic cholangitis.

PMID- 1434890
TI  - Medical symptoms, health risk, and history of childhood sexual abuse.

PMID- 1434891
TI  - Barium enema study.

PMID- 1434892
TI  - National survey of use of mesna for the prevention of cyclophosphamide-induced
      hemorrhagic cystitis in recipients of bone marrow transplants.

PMID- 1434893
TI  - Dr. Arpad Gerster and the Mayo brothers.

PMID- 1434894
TI  - Pitfalls of "bench surgery" and autotransplantation for renal cell carcinoma.
AB  - Under certain circumstances, extracorporeal surgical treatment ("bench surgery")
      followed by autotransplantation is indicated for renal cell carcinoma. During a
      10-year period, 20 patients (16 men and 4 women) underwent bench surgery and
      attempted autotransplantation for renal cell carcinoma at our institution. The
      autotransplantation was successful in 16 patients but unsuccessful in 4 because
      of postoperative renal vascular thrombosis or extensive tumor involvement, which
      resulted in inadequate renal vein for anastomosis. Of the 16 patients who
      underwent successful autotransplantations, 4 (25%) subsequently had locally
      recurrent renal cell carcinoma (a mean of 35 months after initial
      autotransplantation). Only 6 of the 16 patients who underwent successful
      autotransplantation were ultimately free of both carcinoma and dialysis. Although
      an ex vivo surgical procedure can be beneficial for certain patients with renal
      cell carcinoma, computed tomographic scanning of the autotransplantation site
      should be performed every 3 to 6 months postoperatively for early detection of
      local tumor recurrence.

PMID- 1434895
TI  - Early-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx managed with radiation
      therapy.
AB  - Between January 1975 and December 1985, 45 patients with carcinoma in situ or
      invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx received radiation therapy
      at the Mayo Clinic. Local control in the entire group of 45 patients was 84% (in
      6 of 6 with carcinoma in situ and in 32 of 39 with invasive cancers). Three of
      seven patients (43%) with local recurrences underwent successful larynx
      preserving surgical procedures; thus, the rate of laryngeal preservation was 91%.
      In our study of several treatment factors, including the duration of treatment,
      type of treatment (continuous course versus split course), photon energy (60Co
      versus 4-MV photons versus 6-MV photons), total dose, and dose per fraction, we
      found that only total dose of 6,300 cGy or more was associated with significantly
      improved local control (in 35 of 38 patients [92%]). Two patients (4%) died of
      uncontrolled delayed nodal metastases, one of which was preceded by a local
      recurrence. Severe laryngeal edema developed in two patients, associated with
      recurrent glottic carcinoma in one of them. No larynx was lost because of
      complications. In our current treatment recommendations, patients receive a total
      dose of 6,300 cGy in 28 fractions of 225 cGy each, administered in a continuous
      course with use of 6-MV photons.

PMID- 1434896
TI  - Clinical performance of parathyroid hormone immunometric assays.
AB  - Three immunometric assays of parathyroid hormone (PTH)--a commercial
      immunoradiometric assay, an in-house immunoradiometric assay, and an
      immunochemiluminometric assay--were evaluated in 50 patients with surgically
      proven primary hyperparathyroidism. Of these patients, 43 had increased values
      with the commercial assay (sensitivity, 86%), whereas 45 patients had increased
      concentrations with both the in-house immunoradiometric and the in-house
      immunochemiluminometric assays (sensitivities, 90%). Because of the results of
      this comparison study, we confidently chose the immunochemiluminometric assay as
      our routine assay; this assay was evaluated retrospectively in 361 patients with
      surgically proven primary hyperparathyroidism. In 45 patients, PTH values were
      below the upper limit of normal (sensitivity, 88%). The results indicate that the
      sensitivities of current immunometric assays are approximately 90%. Twenty
      patients who had hypercalcemia associated with malignant involvement were
      assessed with the immunochemiluminometric assay. Of these 20 patients, 19 had
      subnormal PTH values, and 1 had a value within the normal range. In contrast, in
      the past, PTH values determined with radioimmunoassays have often been in the
      normal range for such patients. Thus, an immunometric PTH assay is superior to a
      radioimmunoassay in the differential diagnosis of hypercalcemia associated with
      malignant disease.

PMID- 1434897
TI  - Dirofilaria immitis: a rare, increasing cause of pulmonary nodules.
AB  - Dirofilariasis is an unusual but increasing cause of solitary pulmonary nodules.
      In this study, we reviewed the entire experience with dirofilariasis at our
      institution. Five such patients were identified. In all patients, the Dirofilaria
      immitis infection manifested as a solitary pulmonary nodule, and all patients
      underwent thoracotomy for diagnosis. None required systemic treatment. D. immitis
      is found in dog, cat, wolf, coyote, and fox populations throughout the United
      States, but the highest concentrations have been noted in the eastern,
      southeastern, and southern coastal states. The distribution of human cases of D.
      immitis infection has a similar pattern. Pulmonary dirofilariasis should be
      included in the differential diagnosis of peripheral noncalcified pulmonary
      nodules, especially in endemic areas.

PMID- 1434898
TI  - Medical mythology: Achilles.

PMID- 1434899
TI  - Weight change and serum lipoproteins in recipients of renal allografts.
AB  - Hyperlipoproteinemia is common in recipients of renal allografts. In this study,
      serum lipids and some possible contributing factors--weight gain, weight relative
      to ideal body weight, daily dose of prednisone, serum creatinine, 24-hour urinary
      protein, and diabetes mellitus--were assessed in 100 patients. At the end of the
      first year after transplantation, 57 of the 100 patients had total serum
      cholesterol concentrations of 240 mg/dl or more--40 of 75 patients without
      diabetes and 17 of 25 with diabetes. The mean values for weight gain (11.2 kg)
      and actual weight relative to ideal body weight (19.4 kg) were significantly
      greater (P = 0.029 and P = 0.01, respectively) in the subgroup of patients
      without diabetes who had total serum cholesterol values of 240 mg/dl or more at 1
      year after transplantation than in those with values of less than 240 mg/dl. The
      daily dose of prednisone and the serum creatinine levels were similar in these
      two subgroups. The 24-hour urinary protein measurements were greater at 1 month
      than at 1 year in both patients with and those without diabetes. Perhaps the
      initial dietary advice for patients who have undergone renal transplantation
      should emphasize control of total caloric intake; subsequently, intake of
      cholesterol and fat can be modified in those patients who have persistent
      hyperlipoproteinemia.

PMID- 1434900
TI  - Fluorescent in situ hybridization: use of whole chromosome paint probes to
      identify unbalanced chromosome translocations.
AB  - By identifying structural chromosome anomalies, the clinical cytogenetics
      laboratory can play a critical role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients
      with birth defects. Although many new staining techniques have been developed
      throughout the years to aid in the detection of anomalous chromosomes, some
      abnormalities still pose a special challenge to cytogeneticists. This difficulty
      is especially evident in patients with an abnormal chromosome that does not
      produce a recognizable banding pattern by conventional staining techniques. We
      describe a recently discovered method of identifying chromosomes by using whole
      chromosome-specific DNA probes and fluorescent in situ hybridization and provide
      examples of how this new procedure facilitated the identification of chromosome
      abnormalities in two patients with multiple birth defects.

PMID- 1434901
TI  - Fistulous pseudoaneurysm complicating surgical accessory pathway interruption for
      Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
AB  - Pseudoaneurysms of the left ventricle are unusual operative complications that
      have commonly been associated with replacement of the mitral valve. In this
      report, we describe a 31-year-old man who was referred to our institution because
      of atypical chest pain. He had previously undergone three operations for ablation
      of an accessory pathway because of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. A
      pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle was noted on transesophageal
      echocardiography, biplanar left ventriculography, and ultrafast cine computed
      tomography of the heart. Elective surgical repair was successful. Although rare,
      this case demonstrates an unusual but potentially serious complication of
      surgical treatment of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

PMID- 1434902
TI  - Occult cardiac tamponade detected by transesophageal echocardiography.
AB  - Transesophageal echocardiography is a safe, minimally invasive procedure that
      should be considered when the diagnosis of cardiac tamponade is a possibility and
      when conventional methods fail to provide conclusive diagnostic information. In
      this report, we describe a 74-year-old man in the intensive-care unit whose
      condition was unstable postoperatively because of an occult loculated pericardial
      effusion and cardiac tamponade. Routine noninvasive and invasive monitoring,
      including hemodynamic monitoring and transthoracic echocardiography, failed to
      confirm definitively the suspected diagnosis of cardiac tamponade. In addition,
      because of the hemodynamic instability of the patient, transporting him for
      definitive tests (such as fast computed tomographic scanning of the mediastinum,
      which could not be performed at the bedside) for assessment of cardiac tamponade
      was relatively contraindicated. In our patient, the diagnostic information
      obtained by transesophageal echocardiography may have been lifesaving.

PMID- 1434903
TI  - Efficacy and safety of total parenteral nutrition in pediatric patients.
AB  - Pediatric patients differ from adult patients because of active musculoskeletal
      growth and development of visceral organs and because they have a proportionately
      smaller nutritional reserve, especially premature infants. Measures of outcome of
      effective nutritional support in pediatric patients who have experienced trauma
      or medical disease or who have undergone surgical procedures include weight gain,
      increased height and circumference of the head, increased hepatic synthesis of
      plasma proteins, immunocompetence, decreased morbidity, improved survival, and
      fast recovery. If a pediatric patient cannot eat or be tube-fed enterally after 3
      days of recovery and support with fluids, parenteral nutrition is indicated.
      Examples in which this treatment has dramatically decreased morbidity include
      gastroschisis, short-bowel syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, and
      Hirschsprung's disease. Contraindications to its use include severe congenital
      (usually genetic) defects and terminal cancer, conditions in which life
      expectancy and quality of life are severely decreased. The team approach to
      parenteral and enteral nutrition in pediatric patients is preferred, and stable
      patients receiving long-term nutritional support, including infants, should be
      considered for home parenteral nutrition. When administered by protocol,
      parenteral nutrition is safe in pediatric patients. In properly selected
      pediatric patients, direct and indirect costs for such therapy may be
      significantly less than those in adults, and the cost-to-benefit ratio is
      appreciably higher when life expectancy, parental pleasure, and potential work
      productivity are considered. Ethical and social issues in initiating and
      discontinuing parenteral nutrition are best decided during thorough empathic
      discussions between physicians and parents.

PMID- 1434904
TI  - Strategies for prevention of infection after cardiac transplantation.
AB  - Infection remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality after cardiac
      transplantation. Most infections occur during the first few months after
      transplantation. Although late infection does occur, the risk of infection during
      maintenance immunosuppression is low in the absence of recurrent rejection that
      necessitates augmentation of suppression of the immune response. Before cardiac
      transplantation, the risk factors for infectious disease in potential candidates
      should be assessed. A detailed history of past infections should be elicited, and
      patients should be screened for the presence of active indolent infection. In
      addition, potential donors must be thoroughly assessed for organ-transmittable
      infection. Many common infections that may occur after cardiac transplantation
      can be prevented with the use of appropriate prophylactic regimens directed
      toward cytomegalovirus, Toxoplasma gondii, Pneumocystis carinii, and herpes
      simplex virus. Periodic surveillance serologic tests and cultures after cardiac
      transplantation facilitate early diagnosis and prompt institution of appropriate
      therapy.

PMID- 1434905
TI  - Pathology of cardiac transplantation: recipient hearts (chronic heart failure)
      and donor hearts (acute and chronic rejection).
AB  - Pathologic examination of both the recipient and the donor heart is critical to
      the success of cardiac transplantation. Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and end
      stage ischemic heart disease are still the most common diagnoses for which
      cardiac transplantation is performed in the United States. After transplantation,
      the donor heart is susceptible to immunologic (acute and chronic rejection),
      infectious, and ischemic injury. Other long-term changes, such as hypertrophy of
      the myocytes and interstitial fibrosis, may also affect the function of the
      transplanted heart. Periodic endomyocardial biopsies are important for monitoring
      the status of the transplanted heart. In patients treated with cyclosporine, the
      clinical signs of rejection may be minimal, and routine biopsy is the only means
      of detecting early rejection.

PMID- 1434906
TI  - "Bench surgery" for renal cell carcinoma: a proper niche.

PMID- 1434907
TI  - Management of T1 and T2 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx.

PMID- 1434908
TI  - High-altitude baking at Mayo.

PMID- 1434909
TI  - Increased plasma concentrations of endothelin in congestive heart failure in
      humans.
AB  - Congestive heart failure is characterized by decreased cardiac output and
      increased peripheral vascular resistance. Endothelin, a peptide found in plasma,
      is a potent vasoconstrictor. We hypothesized that plasma concentrations of
      endothelin are increased in humans with congestive heart failure. Plasma samples
      were obtained from 71 healthy control subjects and 56 patients with congestive
      heart failure. The mean plasma concentration of endothelin, measured by
      radioimmunoassay, was 7.1 +/- 0.1 pg/ml in the 71 normal control subjects but
      12.6 +/- 0.6 pg/ml in the 56 patients with heart failure (P = 0.001). To evaluate
      the relationship between circulating endothelin and clinical stage of congestive
      heart failure, we categorized patients into two groups--those with mild heart
      failure (New York Heart Association class I or II) and those with severe heart
      failure (class III or IV). Circulating endothelin in the 24 patients with mild
      disease was 11.1 +/- 0.7 pg/ml, significantly higher than in normal subjects (P <
      0.001). Endothelin in the 32 patients with severe heart failure was 13.8 +/- 0.9
      pg/ml, a level significantly higher than that in the group with mild disease (P =
      0.029). In the 56 patients with congestive heart failure, a negative correlation
      was found between plasma concentration of endothelin and left ventricular
      ejection fraction (r = -0.279; P = 0.037). These data demonstrate that the plasma
      concentration of endothelin is increased in humans with congestive heart failure
      and that the level correlates with the severity of disease. Endothelin may have a
      role in the increased vascular resistance in patients with chronic congestive
      heart failure.

PMID- 1434910
TI  - Colonic tone and motility in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
AB  - In this study, our aim was to test the hypothesis that colonic tone is abnormal
      in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We studied eight patients with
      IBS and eight age-matched asymptomatic control subjects, in whom tone and
      motility were measured by an electronic barostat and by pneumohydraulic perfusion
      manometry, respectively. Tone and motility were recorded from the descending
      colon for a 14-hour period--3 hours awake, 7 hours asleep, 2 hours fasting after
      awakening, and 2 hours postprandially. In patients with IBS and in healthy
      subjects, colonic tone decreased by up to 50% during sleep and increased promptly
      on awakening. Fasting colonic tone (as quantified by the volume in the barostat
      balloon) in the awake state was not significantly higher in patients with IBS
      than it was in healthy subjects (125 +/- 13 versus 152 +/- 15 ml; P = 0.19). Tone
      increased postprandially in both study groups, and the increase was greater in
      healthy subjects than it was in patients with IBS (P < 0.05). The motility index
      during fasting was greater in patients with IBS than it was in healthy control
      subjects (3.2 +/- 0.6 versus 1.6 +/- 0.4; P = 0.05), and the postprandial
      increase in motility index was greater in the healthy subjects. Preprandially and
      postprandially, we noted a trend for high-amplitude prolonged contractions to be
      more frequent in patients with IBS than in healthy subjects. We conclude that
      colonic tone in patients with IBS showed the same nocturnal and postprandial
      variations as it did in healthy subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434911
TI  - Selective 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor antagonism with ondansetron as
      treatment for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: a pilot study.
AB  - Serotoninergic innervation may contribute to the control of colonic motility and
      to visceral sensation from the large bowel. Indeed, ondansetron hydrochloride, a
      selective 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor antagonist, has been shown to slow
      colonic transit in healthy volunteers. Thus, we wished to determine whether 5
      hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor blockade slows colonic and small bowel transit
      in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and whether
      symptoms would be ameliorated with drug therapy. Of 14 patients with well
      established IBS who entered a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
      crossover pilot trial of 4 weeks of treatment with ondansetron, 16 mg three times
      daily, 11 completed the study. A minimal "washout period" of 4 weeks (median, 7
      weeks) separated the two phases of the trial because patients were required to
      have similar symptoms before both periods of the study. Colonic transit tended to
      be longer during drug therapy than during the placebo trial, but this difference
      was not significant. Small intestinal transit and orocecal transit were unchanged
      by the drug. The integrated and peak postprandial increases in neurotensin,
      peptide YY, and human pancreatic polypeptide in serum were not significantly
      different in the drug and placebo periods. After treatment with ondansetron,
      stool consistency improved significantly; however, stool frequency, stool weight,
      abdominal pain, and the symptom criteria for IBS were not significantly altered
      by the drug. The results of this pilot study suggest that the motor effects
      expected with 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor blockade (namely, slowed
      colonic transit) may be diminished in some patients with IBS. The subjective
      improvement in stool consistency may reflect changes in the perception of
      defecation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434912
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging of facial vascular anomalies.
AB  - In 36 patients, facial vascular anomalies were studied with 46 magnetic resonance
      (MR) examinations, 9 angiograms, and 5 computed tomographic scans. All lesions
      were categorized into classic pathologic groups on the basis of radiologic and
      pathologic studies, clinical examination, and behavior. Overall, 2 juvenile
      hemangiomas, 3 capillary malformations (port-wine stains), 18 venous
      malformations, 9 lymphatic malformations, and 4 arteriovenous malformations were
      found. MR imaging was superior to computed tomography and angiography for
      demonstrating the precise anatomic extent of the facial vascular anomalies and
      their relationship to the adjacent soft tissues but was inferior to computed
      tomography for demonstrating radiopaque structures such as trophic bone changes
      and phleboliths. MR imaging was also inferior to angiography in determining the
      nidus and the exact nature of collateral vascular structures in arteriovenous
      malformations. MR studies confirmed the clinically suspected diagnosis of facial
      vascular anomalies and demonstrated typical characteristics for each type of
      lesion. MR imaging is an ideal initial technique to triage patients with facial
      vascular anomalies for appropriate management, including observation,
      endovascular therapy, or surgical excision.

PMID- 1434913
TI  - Benign lymphocytic infiltrate of the skin: correlation of clinical and pathologic
      findings.
AB  - In a retrospective study of 137 biopsy specimens of skin from 137 patients (69
      men and 68 women) that had been obtained between 1972 and 1989 at our institution
      and that had perivascular and periappendageal lymphocytic infiltrates
      characteristic of those described as benign lymphocytic infiltrate (BLI), we
      determined the specificity of the histologic diagnosis and the correlation with
      clinical data. The final diagnoses, based on clinical and laboratory data and
      histologic findings, were BLI (59), possible BLI (7), lupus erythematosus (LE)
      (12), possible LE (7), procainamide-induced LE (1), insect bites (9), possible
      insect bites (3), polymorphous light eruption (4), lymphocytoma (4), urticaria
      (4), and indeterminate or miscellaneous diagnoses (27). BLI is a clinical and
      histologic syndrome that can be heterogeneous in origin. We recommend careful
      evaluation to exclude other disorders such as LE, polymorphous light eruption,
      lymphocytoma, and insect bites. Direct immunofluorescence microscopy and
      immunophenotypic studies may help distinguish BLI from LE.

PMID- 1434914
TI  - Balance studies and polymeric glucose solution to optimize therapy after massive
      intestinal resection.
AB  - The aim of this study was to determine whether fluid homeostasis could be
      maintained by using a hypo-osmolar (200 to 221 mosmol/kg), relatively low-sodium
      (50 to 52 mmol/liter) solution that contained a glucose polymer in a 54-year-old
      patient with high ileostomy output attributed to short-gut syndrome and resultant
      prerenal azotemia. Sequential balance studies were performed to assess stool and
      urinary output, stool fat, and urinary electrolytes initially during intravenous
      rehydration and subsequently during administration of the necessary fluids and
      nutrients exclusively by oral supplementation. The additional effects of high-fat
      and low-fat diet, loperamide hydrochloride, and octreotide acetate were
      evaluated. When the patient sipped a hypo-osmolar oral rehydration solution while
      she was awake during the day and received a high dose of loperamide and a 40-g
      fat, disaccharide-free diet, salt and water homeostasis was maintained. The
      addition of octreotide did not substantially enhance fluid balance; rather, it
      increased fecal fat and fluid losses from the small bowel. Thus, hypo-osmolar
      polymeric glucose solutions maintain fluid homeostasis in patients with the short
      gut syndrome. In such patients, simple balance studies are useful for assessing
      the absorptive capacity of the residual intestine, for developing an optimal
      individualized treatment, and for eliminating the need for costly, long-term home
      parenteral nutrition.

PMID- 1434915
TI  - Spontaneous coronary arterial dissection and isolated eosinophilic coronary
      arteritis: sudden cardiac death in a patient with a limited variant of Churg
      Strauss syndrome.
AB  - Isolated eosinophilic coronary arteritis expressed as a limited variant of the
      Churg-Strauss syndrome (allergic granulomatosis and angiitis) is a rare
      condition. Equally as rare is the entity of isolated spontaneous coronary
      arterial dissection associated with eosinophilic arteritis. A 57-year-old woman
      with a history of asthma and recurrent hypersensitivity (anaphylactoid) reactions
      to various exogenous allergens was found dead in her home; no premonitory
      complaints had been noted during the preceding days. Autopsy revealed focal
      occlusion of the left anterior descending and first diagonal coronary arteries by
      discrete dissecting hematomas of the media as the cause of sudden and unexpected
      death. Histologically, the affected arterial wall showed eosinophilic
      inflammation characteristic of this limited expression of the Churg-Strauss
      syndrome. To our knowledge, sudden cardiac death caused by arterial dissection in
      isolated eosinophilic coronary arteritis has not previously been reported.

PMID- 1434916
TI  - Mayo Medical Center Brain Injury Outpatient Program: treatment procedures and
      early outcome data.
AB  - The rehabilitation of persons with brain injuries has proved challenging;
      community reintegration is often unsuccessful. Herein we describe our intensive
      group-oriented outpatient treatment program for persons with brain injury and
      report outcome data for the graduates of the program thus far. This
      interdisciplinary program emphasizes the development of cognitive skills,
      compensation techniques, social skills, emotional adjustment, leisure skills,
      physical fitness, and health maintenance. Although goals are individually
      determined, independent living and employment are goals for most participants in
      the program. Before initial participation, all candidates undergo an extensive 2
      day assessment. Typically, a patient remains in the program for approximately 6
      months. The specific group treatment approaches used in the program are
      discussed. Outcome data are assessed with use of the Portland Adaptability
      Inventory and goal attainment scaling, as well as comparisons of preprogram and
      postprogram employment status and level of independent living. Our initial
      results support the conclusion that this comprehensive and integrated treatment
      program is efficacious in rehabilitating persons with mild to moderate sequelae
      of brain injury.

PMID- 1434917
TI  - Management of patients after cardiac transplantation.
AB  - During the past decade, the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiac
      transplantation have decreased dramatically. The current survival for patients
      who undergo orthotopic cardiac transplantation is 80 to 90% at 1 year and 70 to
      80% at 5 years; these results are attributed chiefly to improved
      immunosuppression and the consequent decrease in infectious illnesses and
      rejection. Because surgical mortality and technique have not changed appreciably
      during the past 20 years, improved survival can be ascribed to advances in the
      medical management of recipients of cardiac transplants. Medical problems
      frequently encountered in such patients include allograft rejection, allograft
      vasculopathy, hypertension, renal dysfunction, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia,
      malignant disorders, general surgical disease, and osteopenic bone disease.
      Hence, the expertise needed for management of patients who undergo cardiac
      transplantation is not confined to a particular specialty--optimal care
      necessitates the integrated efforts of a team, including transplant physicians
      and personnel to provide broad subspecialty and laboratory support. Meticulous
      management with proactive intervention and minimal effective immunosuppression
      will prevent or ameliorate many problems and contribute to increased survivorship
      and improved quality of life. For additional substantive improvement in long-term
      survival and quality of life for recipients of cardiac allografts, multicenter,
      prospective, and placebo-controlled clinical investigations will be necessary.

PMID- 1434918
TI  - Total lymphoid irradiation: a novel and successful therapy for resistant cardiac
      allograft rejection.
AB  - Total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) is a novel type of adjuvant immunosuppression
      for patients who undergo cardiac transplantation and have refractory allograft
      rejection during standard immunosuppressive therapy. TLI consists of 6 to 10
      fractions of 80 cGy (1 cGy = 1 rad) of irradiation to lymphatic tissues with use
      of the standard mantle and inverted Y fields. We have used TLI in six patients
      with biopsy-proven rejection that was refractory to standard treatments,
      including cyclosporine, azathioprine, antilymphocyte antibodies, and
      corticosteroids. In five patients, recalcitrant rejection was resolved after
      completion of TLI, and resolution persisted during long-term follow-up (17 to 30
      months; mean, 22.2 months). In each patient, a substantial increase in the CD8
      (suppressor T-lymphocyte) subset and elimination of B lymphocytes were
      demonstrated, findings that also persisted. Side effects were mild and primarily
      limited to transient leukopenia. In four patients, a readily treated
      cytomegalovirus reactivation was noted during TLI; thus, a causal relationship
      was suggested. In recipients of cardiac allografts who have refractory rejection,
      TLI provides long-lasting amelioration of the rejection profile. This result may
      be attributable to a relative enhancement of the suppressor T-cell subset and
      elimination of the B-lymphocyte line. Side effects are minimal, but monitoring
      for cytomegalovirus activation or reactivation is recommended.

PMID- 1434919
TI  - A genetic review of complete and partial hydatidiform moles and nonmolar
      triploidy.
AB  - Complete and partial hydatidiform moles are genetically aberrant conceptuses.
      Usually, complete moles have 46 chromosomes (diploidy), all of paternal origin.
      Most partial moles have 69 chromosomes (triploidy), including 23 of maternal
      origin and 46 of paternal origin. Triploidy that involves 23 paternal chromosomes
      and 46 maternal chromosomes is not associated with molar placental changes and,
      rarely, can result in a live-born infant with multiple birth defects. Herein we
      review the mechanisms of fertilization that may produce these unbalanced sets of
      parental chromosomes and the role of genomic imprinting as a possible explanation
      for these clinical conditions.

PMID- 1434920
TI  - Medical mythology: Hermes (Mercury).

PMID- 1434921
TI  - A potential role for endothelin in congestive heart failure.

PMID- 1434922
TI  - Understanding irritable bowel syndrome and gastrointestinal motility.

PMID- 1434923
TI  - Facial vascular anomalies: clarity with magnetic resonance imaging and biologic
      classification.

PMID- 1434924
TI  - Dr. Charles H. Mayo and Mayowood.

PMID- 1434925
TI  - Inpatient treatment of severe nicotine dependence.
AB  - The most severely nicotine-dependent patients who have tried traditional
      treatment programs without success may require maximal intervention to achieve
      abstinence. In the Clinical Research Center at the Mayo Clinic, we assessed the
      feasibility of an inpatient treatment program for 24 such subjects, who were
      hospitalized (in groups of 6) for 2 consecutive weeks. A combination of
      behavioral, chemical-dependence, and transdermal nicotine-replacement therapy was
      provided in a smoke-free, protected milieu. Components of the program included
      group therapy, management of stress, exercise, daily lectures, and supervised
      activities. The mean age of the 18 women and 6 men was 51.3 years (range, 29 to
      69 years). The mean duration of smoking was 33.7 years, and the number of
      cigarettes smoked per day at the time of admission averaged 33.2. The most
      frequent tobacco-related medical illnesses were chronic obstructive pulmonary
      disease, arteriosclerosis obliterans, and coronary artery disease. All subjects
      but two--each smoked part of a cigarette--remained abstinent from the use of
      cigarettes while in the Clinical Research Center, and all completed the 2-week
      inpatient program. The subjects underwent follow-up for 10 weeks after dismissal
      and were contacted periodically thereafter. At 1 year, 7 of the 24 subjects (29%)
      had maintained continuous abstinence from smoking, and their self-reported status
      at 1 year was verified biochemically.

PMID- 1434926
TI  - Coexpression of class I major histocompatibility antigen and viral RNA in central
      nervous system of mice infected with Theiler's virus: a model for multiple
      sclerosis.
AB  - Chronic infection of susceptible strains of mice with Theiler's murine
      encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) results in central nervous system (CNS)
      demyelination similar to multiple sclerosis. Demyelination induced by TMEV is
      mediated, in part, by class I-restricted CD8+ T lymphocytes. For these T cells to
      function, they must recognize virus-infected CNS targets in the presence of class
      I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen. Therefore, we studied in vivo
      expression of class I MHC antigen and viral antigen-RNA in prototypic mouse
      strains that are susceptible (SJL/J) or resistant (C57BL/10SNJ) to TMEV-induced
      demyelination. In brains of resistant mice, viral antigen-RNA expression peaked
      on day 3 after infection and was effectively diminished by day 5 such that few
      virus-infected cells were ever detected in the spinal cord. In contrast,
      susceptible mice demonstrated delay in clearance of TMEV from the brain and a
      subsequent increase and persistence of viral antigen-RNA in the spinal cord for
      as long as 277 days. Viral infection resulted in "upregulation" of class I MHC
      expression in the CNS. Class I MHC antigens were expressed as early as 1 day
      after infection in the choroid plexus of both strains of mice before detection of
      viral antigen or inflammation. In resistant mice, class I MHC expression
      predominated in the gray matter of the brain and spinal cord on day 7 after
      infection but returned to undetectable levels by day 28. In susceptible mice,
      class I MHC expression in the CNS persisted and was intense in the white matter
      of the spinal cord throughout chronic infection and demyelination. No class I MHC
      expression was detected in the CNS of uninfected mice. Coexpression of viral RNA
      and class I MHC antigen was demonstrated in CNS cells by using simultaneous in
      situ hybridization and immunoperoxidase technique. These results support the
      hypothesis that a class I-restricted immune response directed against virus
      infected cells may be important in the mechanism of demyelination.

PMID- 1434928
TI  - Spontaneous rupture of the spleen due to infectious mononucleosis.
AB  - Spontaneous splenic rupture is an extremely rare but life-threatening
      complication of infectious mononucleosis in young adults. Although splenectomy
      remains effective treatment, reports of successful nonoperative management have
      challenged the time-honored approach of emergent laparotomy. On retrospective
      analysis of our institutional experience with 8,116 patients who had this disease
      during a 40-year period, we found 5 substantiated cases of atraumatic splenic
      rupture due to infectious mononucleosis. Four additional cases of suspected
      splenic rupture were noted. All nine patients were hospitalized and treated
      (seven underwent splenectomy and two were treated with supportive measures only),
      and they remain alive and well. In patients with infectious mononucleosis
      suspected of having rupture of the spleen, a rapid but thorough assessment and
      prompt implementation of appropriate management should minimize the associated
      morbidity and mortality. On the basis of review of the medical literature and
      careful scrutiny of our own experience, we advocate emergent splenectomy for
      spontaneous splenic rupture in patients with infectious mononucleosis.

PMID- 1434927
TI  - Increasing incidence of pancreatic cancer among women in Olmsted County,
      Minnesota, 1940 through 1988.
AB  - To determine trends in the incidence of pancreatic cancer and associated
      survival, we conducted a population-based study in Olmsted County, Minnesota.
      From 1940 through 1988, 219 residents of Olmsted County (120 men and 99 women)
      were diagnosed as having exocrine pancreatic cancer. All patients were
      Caucasians, and 92% had a histologically confirmed diagnosis. The mean annual
      adjusted incidence of pancreatic cancer per 100,000 population was 8.5 overall
      (11.3 for men and 6.6 for women). During the course of the study, the incidence
      rates increased in women (P < 0.05) and in both genders combined (P = 0.06) but
      not in men (P = 0.4). The male:female ratio decreased from approximately 2:1 for
      1940 through 1949 to 1.5:1 for 1980 through 1988. The incidence was significantly
      associated with increasing age (P < 0.001) and male gender (P < 0.001) but not
      calendar period (P = 0.19). The overall median duration of survival was 2.8
      months. The 1-year survival rate was only 14%, and no patient lived for more than
      55 months after pancreatic cancer was diagnosed. Men and women had similar
      survival rates. The increased incidence of pancreatic cancer among women may be
      due in part to the increasing life span of women and the increasing occurrence of
      pancreatic cancer in the aged.

PMID- 1434929
TI  - Henry Jordan--pioneer in physical training.

PMID- 1434930
TI  - Low-dose, time-release nicotinic acid: effects in selected patients with low
      concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
AB  - In a retrospective analysis, 63 participants in a cardiac rehabilitation
      preventive cardiology program were identified as having low blood concentrations
      (mean, 34 mg/dl) of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and a mean total
      cholesterol level of 223 mg/dl after 3 months of hygienic measures (aerobic
      exercise, avoidance of tobacco, diet, and weight loss) designed to increase the
      HDL-C level. These patients (treatment group) were treated with low-dose, time
      release nicotinic acid (mean, 1,297 mg/day) for a mean duration of 7.4 months.
      All subjects were able to take the drug without intolerable side effects. Fifty
      four patients similar to those in the treatment group participated in the same
      program but were not treated with nicotinic acid (control group). Exercise, diet,
      body weight, and smoking remained stable throughout the period of observation.
      For the treatment group, HDL-C levels increased a mean of 18% (+6 mg/dl), total
      cholesterol concentrations decreased 9% (-20 mg/dl), the ratio of total
      cholesterol to HDL-C decreased 25% (from 6.8 to 5.1), low-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol levels decreased 13% (-20 mg/dl), and triglyceride levels decreased
      20% (from 165 mg/dl to 132 mg/dl). Aspartate aminotransferase and uric acid
      concentrations were minimally increased after treatment, and the blood glucose
      level was unchanged. In the control group, HDL-C levels increased a mean of 8%
      (+3 mg/dl) and the other blood lipid variables were not improved after a mean of
      8.3 additional months of diet and exercise.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1434931
TI  - Venous thromboembolism associated with hip and knee arthroplasty: current
      prophylactic practices and outcomes.
AB  - Joint registry and hospital data bases for 5,024 total hip and total knee
      arthroplasties done between 1986 and 1988 at the Mayo Clinic were used to study
      prophylactic measures and frequency of symptomatic deep venous thrombosis and
      pulmonary embolism. In virtually all patients, graduated compression stockings
      were used, with or without another type of prophylaxis. Only 44 of 3,115 patients
      who underwent hip arthroplasty (1.4%) and 32 of 1,909 patients who underwent knee
      arthroplasty (1.7%) had definite or probable deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary
      embolism. Death definitely or possibly attributable to pulmonary embolism
      occurred in 11 patients who underwent hip arthroplasty (0.35%) and 1 patient who
      underwent knee arthroplasty (0.05%). Although patients with a history of deep
      venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism were more likely to receive warfarin than
      were patients without such a history, the relative risk of symptomatic deep
      venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism in patients who underwent hip
      arthroplasty and received warfarin postoperatively was approximately half that in
      patients who received other types of prophylaxis. The risk of death from
      pulmonary embolism was similarly diminished in the group that received warfarin.
      The lower rates of these complications in the patients who received warfarin
      support the prophylactic use of this agent after total hip arthroplasty.

PMID- 1434933
TI  - Changes in the scope and responsibility of medicine.

PMID- 1434932
TI  - Reye's syndrome in Olmsted County, Minnesota: did it exist before 1963?
AB  - In this study, our goals were to determine whether Reye's syndrome existed before
      the first published report of this entity in 1963 and to describe the long-term
      incidence and trend of this syndrome. Medical and pathologic records and
      pathologic specimens for Mayo Clinic patients, including those who were residents
      of Olmsted County, Minnesota, were reviewed through the facilities of the
      Rochester Epidemiology Project. On review, 12 cases were identified for the
      period 1920 through 1962; 2 of these cases were in Olmsted County residents. Of
      the 12 cases identified before 1963, 10 were in patients younger than 5 years of
      age. In addition to the aforementioned two cases, five others in Olmsted County
      were diagnosed between 1963 and 1989. Incidence rates were computed for the
      Olmsted County population. The number of cases and rates per 100,000 persons
      younger than 18 years of age in that population were 2 cases (0.3) for 1920
      through 1962, 4 cases (0.7) for 1963 through 1980, and 1 case (0.4) for 1981
      through 1989. Although cases found during the earlier periods may have included
      disorders that mimic Reye's syndrome, the recommended criteria from the Centers
      for Disease Control were applied to review of medical records and supported by
      pathologic findings in the liver. The data showed an age distribution tending
      toward young patients and no seasonality of occurrence. The incidence rates in
      Olmsted County, Minnesota, showed an increase for 1963 through 1980 over previous
      decades, followed by a decrease. The small numbers preclude any conclusion about
      trends in the incidence rates.

PMID- 1434934
TI  - Detection of migratory silicone pseudotumor with use of magnetic resonance
      imaging.
AB  - A patient with silicone gel breast implants, who experienced capsular contracture
      of the left breast that was treated by closed capsulotomy, sought medical
      attention because of numbness and pain in the left medial forearm and hand.
      Inflammatory masses subsequently developed in the left anterior axillary and
      antecubital regions. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed silicone pseudotumors,
      and mammography confirmed implant rupture and gel extrusion along fascial planes
      into the axillary region.

PMID- 1434935
TI  - Optimizing nicotine-dependence treatment: a role for inpatient programs.

PMID- 1434936
TI  - Virus-induced demyelination: from animal models to human diseases.

PMID- 1434937
TI  - Pancreatic cancer in 1992: has any progress been noted?

PMID- 1434938
TI  - Spontaneous rupture of the spleen in patients with infectious mononucleosis.

PMID- 1434939
TI  - Problems associated with Medicare.

PMID- 1434940
TI  - Esophagopericardial fistulas.

PMID- 1434941
TI  - Effects of aging and food restriction on the trigeminal ganglion: a morphometric
      study.
AB  - A quantitative morphometric study of the rat trigeminal ganglion was conducted to
      determine the changes that occur with aging. All measurements were tracked from
      young to old age in two rat groups simultaneously. One group was fed ad libitum,
      the other was maintained on restricted food intake from 6 weeks on.
      Immunocytochemical and radioimmunoassay techniques were used to study the neuron
      group that produces the peptide, CGRP and to compare it with the CGRP-negative
      neuron group. We observed that in the trigeminal ganglion, soma diameters and
      nucleus diameters of all neurons, whether CGRP positive or negative, increased
      modestly with age; so did total ganglion weight. Food restriction delayed, but
      did not prevent the increases in neuron diameters. No significant changes
      occurred as a function of age in the total number of neurons per ganglion, the
      ratio of CGRP positive to CGRP negative neurons and ganglion content of CGRP.
      Food restriction did not affect the parameters that remained constant with age.
      These findings are in contrast to the marked inhibitory effect of food
      restriction on age-related increase in thyroid calcitonin, a hormone that is
      encoded by the same gene as CGRP.

PMID- 1434942
TI  - Age-related changes in concentrations of vasopressin in the central nervous
      system and plasma of the male Wistar rat.
AB  - The results of studies on the influence of age on concentrations of vasopressin
      (VP) in blood plasma and hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic brain sites have not
      been unequivocal. Studies on extrahypothalamic concentrations of VP in the aging
      rat have used two age groups only and have mainly provided semiquantitative data.
      For these reasons we determined, by radioimmunoassay, the concentrations of
      vasopressin in thirteen brain structures and in the plasma of 3-, 10-, 20- and 28
      month-old male Wistar rats. Age-related decreases in VP concentrations were found
      in the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, thalamus, midbrain, medulla oblongata,
      amygdala and pineal gland, while an increase was noted in plasma. Decreases in
      the concentration of VP in the amygdala and pineal gland occurred between 3 and
      10 months of age and probably represent developmental changes. In the pituitary,
      thalamus, midbrain, medulla oblongata and plasma, differences in the
      concentration of VP were also found between 10-month-old and older animals and
      are probably related to aging. The finding of increased plasma VP concentrations
      in aged animals agrees with the notion that neuronal function does not
      necessarily decline with age and suggests that neurons may even be activated. Age
      related changes in VP concentrations were not observed in the other structures
      examined. It has been reported that the VP innervation of a number of brain
      structures depends on testosterone. Despite reports to the contrary VP
      concentrations do not generally decline in these structures with aging.

PMID- 1434943
TI  - Dissociation kinetics of the uterine estrogen receptor-estradiol complex are
      unaltered in aging C57BL/6 mice.
AB  - Several, though not all, estrogen-dependent phenomena show reduced responsiveness
      to estradiol (E2) during aging. One factor contributing to this reduced
      sensitivity could be an increase in the dissociation rate of the estrogen
      receptor-hormone complex. We therefore studied the effect of aging on the
      dissociation rate of 3HE2 from the uterine cytosolic estrogen receptor (ER) of
      C57BL/6 mice that had been ovariectomized 48 h earlier. Measurements were made at
      28 degrees C at two concentrations of cytosol. In dilute cytosol ([ER] = 0.01 nM)
      the dissociation of ER-3HE2 displayed a single phase, first order profile which
      did not differ among young (4-6 month), middle-aged (15-18 month) and old (23-30
      month) mice. In more concentrated cytosol ([ER] = 2 or 6 nM) the dissociation of
      ER-3HE2 displayed a biphasic first order profile that consisted of an initial
      rapidly dissociating phase followed by a more slowly dissociating phase. There
      was no effect of age on the dissociation rate constant (K) of either the rapid (K
      1) or slow (K-2) phase. Shortening the time allotted for the concentrated cytosol
      to equilibrate with 3HE2 before measuring the dissociation rate reduced the
      fraction of the receptor hormone complex that dissociated in the slow phase, but,
      once again, the dissociation profiles did not differ between age groups. These
      results indicate that uterine ER dissociation kinetics remain unaltered in middle
      aged and old mice and are therefore unlikely to play a role in the attenuated
      responsiveness to estrogen during aging.

PMID- 1434944
TI  - Expression of c-fos, c-jun and jun B in peripheral blood lymphocytes from young
      and elderly adults.
AB  - The expression of c-fos, c-jun and jun B proto-oncogenes was studied in
      phytohemagglutinin (PHA) activated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from young
      and aged humans. Specific mRNAs for c-fos and c-jun were detectable within 30 min
      after cell activation and reached maximal levels within 2 h. Both c-fos and jun B
      mRNAs decreased to pre-activation levels within 6 h, while c-jun mRNA remained
      elevated. In PHA-activated PBL, no age-related differences were observed in c-fos
      or jun B mRNA expression. However, c-jun mRNA levels decreased significantly
      (1.73 +/- 0.08 vs. 1.16 +/- 0.09 arbitrary units, P < 0.01, young vs. old) in PBL
      from elderly individuals activated with PHA. Because previous work has
      demonstrated that T cells from elderly individuals may display normal
      proliferative responses when activated via the anti-CD2 pathway, c-jun and jun B
      mRNA expression was also studied in anti-CD2-activated purified T cells. No age
      related differences were found in the expression of either of these two proto
      oncogenes by anti-CD2 activated T cells. These results suggest that the decreased
      IL-2 production and proliferative response displayed by PHA-activated PBL from
      elderly adults may be related to age-related changes in c-jun mRNA expression and
      in the ratio of c-fos to c-jun mRNA.

PMID- 1434945
TI  - Effect of physical activity stress on the phagocytic process of peritoneal
      macrophages from old guinea pigs.
AB  - The different stages of the phagocytic function in peritoneal macrophages from
      old guinea pigs (27 +/- 3-months-old) were studied before, immediately after and
      24 h after being subjected to physical activity stress (swimming until
      exhaustion) which raised the blood levels of corticosterone. The phagocytosis of
      opsonized Candida albicans was stimulated immediately after physical activity. No
      modifications in adherence, chemotaxis, ingestion of inert particles, or
      microbicide capacity, measured by nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction, were
      found. At 24 h, when no stress could be shown by corticosterone analysis, the
      phagocytosis of opsonized C. albicans remained stimulated and chemotaxis was
      increased while ingestion of inert particles and microbicide capacity remained
      unchanged. The adherence, however, was at a smaller level. No correlations were
      found between the corticosterone levels and the status of the phagocytic process
      of peritoneal macrophages.

PMID- 1434946
TI  - Influence of age on stereoselective pharmacokinetics and metabolism of
      hexobarbital in the rat.
AB  - The influence of age on stereoselective pharmacokinetics and in vitro metabolism
      of R- and S-hexobarbital was studied in the rat. After intravenous administration
      of the racemate, the plasma concentrations of S-hexobarbital are markedly lower
      than those of R-hexobarbital. For S-hexobarbital the half-life is somewhat
      shorter and the volume of distribution and plasma clearance is higher than for
      its antipode. For both enantiomers an increase in AUC and half-life, and a
      decrease in clearance are observed with aging. These changes occur mainly between
      the 3rd and the 12th month and are slightly more pronounced for R- than for S
      hexobarbital, as appears from the S/R ratios. The volume of distribution shows no
      changes with aging. In vitro disappearance rate in 3-month-old rats is
      significantly higher for S- than for R-hexobarbital. There is for both
      enantiomers an increase in disappearance rate in 12-month-old rats as compared to
      younger or older rats, but this is significant only for the R-enantiomer. There
      are pronounced differences in the kinetics and metabolism of both hexobarbital
      enantiomers; changes with aging occur, but are only slightly and not always
      significantly more important for R- than for S-hexobarbital.

PMID- 1434947
TI  - Changes with aging and physical exercise in ascorbic acid content and
      proliferative response of murine lymphocytes.
AB  - Ascorbic acid content and lymphoproliferative response to phytohemagglutinin were
      measured in lymphocytes from axillary nodes, spleen and thymus of young (15 +/- 2
      weeks) and old (60 +/- 5 weeks) BALB/c mice. Ascorbic acid content in lymphocytes
      from spleen and thymus was found to be significantly higher and the
      lymphoproliferative response in the three immunocompetent organs significantly
      lower in old mice as compared to young mice. Moreover, young and old BALB/c mice
      were required to maintain a swimming activity until exhaustion (exhaustive
      exercise) or 90 min of swimming each day for a total of 20 days (continuous
      exercise). In both young and old mice the stress produced by exhaustive exercise
      and confirmed by the existence in serum of significantly increased levels of
      corticosterone compared to controls, caused a significant decrease in ascorbic
      acid content as well as in lymphoproliferative response. Continuous exercise,
      characterized by the presence in serum of significantly decreased levels of
      corticosterone compared to controls, produced the most significant decrease in
      ascorbic acid content from young and old murine lymphocytes. Moreover, this
      exercise resulted in a significant increase in lymphoproliferative response. Our
      results suggest that aging results in an increase in the ascorbic acid content of
      lymphocytes accompanied by a decline in the lymphoproliferative response in old
      BALB/c mice.

PMID- 1434948
TI  - Age-related changes in antioxidant enzyme activities are region and organ, as
      well as sex, selective in the rat.
AB  - Enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione
      peroxidase (GSH-Px) were determined in the liver as well as several specific
      brain regions of young and old Fischer-344 rats of both sexes. In the liver of
      male rats, activities of CAT as well as Mn-SOD were lower, while activities of Cu
      Zn-SOD were higher in old (30-month-old) rats than in young (7-month-old) ones.
      Activities of total SOD as well as GSH Px were comparable for young and old male
      rat livers. In contrast to male rats, in female rat livers, activities of CAT
      were significantly higher in old (28-months-old) rats, while activities of Mn-SOD
      were slightly (but significantly) higher in old rat livers. In old male rats,
      activities of Mn-SOD were significantly higher than in young males in several
      specific regions of the brain (the substantia nigra (s. nigra), striatum,
      hippocampus) but lower in the cerebellum. In particular, SOD activities in s.
      nigra, striatum and hippocampus in old male rats were several fold higher than
      corresponding values in young male rats. Activities of Cu Zn-SOD were generally
      unchanged with age. Activities of CAT as well as GSH-Px (both Se-dependent and
      non-Se-dependent forms) were also relatively unaffected by age. In female rat
      brains, activities of Mn-SOD as well as those of others all remained mostly
      unaffected by aging, although there was a general tendency of slightly higher
      activities in most cerebral regions for Mn-SOD in old female rats. Thus, age
      related changes of these antioxidant enzymes in the liver and brain are markedly
      sex dependent and some enzyme activities (such as CAT in the liver) change in an
      opposite direction with age. Changes of Mn-SOD in the brain were markedly region
      specific in male rats. Results suggest that the significance of the changes of
      these antioxidant enzyme activities during aging needs to be carefully
      interpreted, taking into consideration the fact that changes are markedly
      variable depending on sex as well as the organs and brain regions examined.

PMID- 1434950
TI  - Using the Gompertz-Strehler model of aging and mortality to explain mortality
      trends in industrialized countries.
AB  - Mortality trends in industrialized countries are characterized by declines in
      vascular disease (ischemic heart disease and stroke) and rises in cancers and
      degenerative diseases. These trends are typically analyzed by examining each
      disorder in isolation using the perspective of genetic and environmental
      influences. However, longitudinal Gompertzian analysis and the Gompertz-Strehler
      model of aging and mortality as modified by Lestienne suggest that age-specific
      mortality rates, for both general and disease-specific mortality, are an
      interrelated deterministic function of aggregate genetic, environmental and
      competitive influences. Consequently, evolving mortality trends and patterns
      appear to be influenced by three factors (with deterministic competition being
      the third factor), rather than just two factors (genetic and environmental) as
      commonly depicted.

PMID- 1434949
TI  - Digoxin cardiotoxicity in aging anesthetized F344 rats.
AB  - It is generally accepted that the sensitivity to toxic effects of digitalis
      increases with advancing age; however, the relative contribution of
      pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to this aging-related change is presently
      unknown. The current study was designed to determine if senescence affects
      digitalis tolerance in an animal model and if observed changes are mediated by
      altered cardiac or autonomic nervous system responsiveness. Male, F344 rats of
      three age groups (4, 14 and 25 months) were anesthetized and infused
      intravenously with digoxin at a rate of 880 micrograms/kg per min. Two separate
      anesthetic regimens were employed: (a) an age-adjusted dose of urethane in
      spontaneously breathing animals (AR1); and (b) a non-age-adjusted dose of alpha
      chloralose plus urethane in mechanically ventilated rats (AR2). Heart rate, EKG
      and arterial blood pressure were monitored continuously; baroreceptor reflex
      function was estimated before and 10 min following the start of digoxin infusion
      by examining the response to bilateral carotid occlusion. The infusion time
      required for digoxin-induced AV-dissociation was significantly reduced by
      senescence in rats anesthetized by AR1. However, doses of digoxin required to
      elicit ventricular extrasystoles and death were not significantly different among
      age groups in this anesthetized model and serum digoxin levels did not differ at
      the time of cardiac arrest. Similarly, AR2 animals showed a significant aging
      related decrease in the time to AV-dissociation. However, in contrast to AR1,
      animals in AR2 displayed an aging-associated increase in the doses of digoxin
      required to produce ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. Thus, results
      suggest that aging in the F344 rat may, by pharmacodynamic mechanisms, promote
      the sensitivity to digoxin-induced AV-dissociation but not to ventricular
      arrhythmias or cardiac arrest.

PMID- 1434951
TI  - Age related rejoining of broken chromosomes in human leukocytes following X
      irradiation.
AB  - One theory of aging is that the ability to repair DNA or chromosome damage
      decreases with age. This study made use of a method which allows the measurement
      of chromatid repair in interphase nuclei, the technique of premature chromosome
      condensation. The number of excess chromosome fragments per cell remaining after
      24 h of incubation at 37 degrees C was determined and used as a measure of the
      ability of leukocytes to repair. The leukocytes from male donors of several ages
      were used and the cells from older donors showed greater residual damage and,
      therefore, less repair.

PMID- 1434952
TI  - Age related alterations in the response of the pial arterioles to adenosine in
      the rat.
AB  - To evaluate the effects of aging on vasoreactivity of pial arterioles to
      adenosine and barium chloride, an hydraulically intact cranial window preparation
      was developed in the rat. The microvasculature of anesthetized 3- and 24-month
      old Fischer-344 rats was studied during superfusion with artificial cerebrospinal
      fluid with and without test agents and results determined by videomicroscopy
      techniques. In both cohorts, the response of pial arterioles to adenosine was
      both dose and vessel size dependent: arteriolar dilation increased with
      increasing concentrations of adenosine and at any given concentration the percent
      increase in diameter was greater in the smaller vessels. During adenosine
      superfusion the absolute changes and percent increase in vessel caliber were
      greater in the young rats. Arteriolar vasoconstriction due to barium chloride was
      vessel size dependent but there were no significant differences in response
      between young and aged rats. The results indicated an attenuated cerebrovascular
      response in aged rats to adenosine, but not to barium chloride. This may be due
      to a difference in the mode of action in these two compounds. Venules did not
      respond to adenosine at any concentration.

PMID- 1434953
TI  - Effects of phorbol myristate and ionomycin on in vitro growth of aged Peyer's
      patch T and B cells.
AB  - The proliferative responses of Peyer's patch (PP) T cells from aged BALB/c mice
      to concanavalin A (Con A) are considerably reduced, as compared to those of the
      young (P < 0.001). This reduced reactivity of aged T cells could be partly, but
      not entirely, corrected by interleukin 2 (IL-2) (P < 0.001). PP T cells from aged
      mice responded synergistically to a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, phorbol
      myristate acetate (PHA), plus a calcium ionophore, ionomycin, at much lower
      concentrations than to Con A (P < 0.001); however, the maximal proliferative
      response still remained nearly at 8/10th of the young (P < 0.01) and higher
      levels of PMA (but not of ionomycin) were required (P < 0.001). Addition of IL-2
      restored the diminished response to the levels of the young T cells (P < 0.05),
      but that of Con A did not (P > 0.05). The proliferative responses of PP B cells
      to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) do not differ from those of the young (P > 0.05), but
      the spontaneous proliferation of aged (unstimulated) B cells is enhanced nearly
      twofold versus that of the young (P < 0.001). Like the PP T cells, PP B cells
      from aged mice also responded synergistically to PMA plus ionomycin but to a
      lesser degree than those of the young under the same stimulation (P < 0.01).
      Their maximal proliferation required higher levels of PMA, but not of ionomycin
      and was also diminished (P < 0.01), compared to that of the young. B cell
      stimulatory co-factors, IL-4 and IL-6, failed to affect the response of aged and
      young B cells to PMA plus ionomycin (P > 0.05), whereas LPS remediates the
      reduced response of aged B cells to PMA plus ionomycin. Thus, T and B cells from
      senescent PP demonstrate an impaired proliferative responsiveness via the Ca
      dependent PKC pathway. A T cell mitogen and B cell stimulatory cytokines did not
      alter this activation pathway, once optimally stimulated. Whereas, T cell
      stimulatory cytokine IL-2 and B cell mitogen LPS could restore the age-associated
      decline of the corresponding lymphocyte subsets, T and B cells, in activation of
      the Ca-dependent pathway. The altered transmembrane signal transduction appears
      to be intrinsically defective in these aged PP T and B cells.

PMID- 1434954
TI  - Difference in response of hepatic glutathione S-transferase activities to protein
      free diet between young and old C57/BL male mice.
AB  - Responses of hepatic glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities to protein-free
      diet (PFD) and normal diet (ND) refeeding were compared for young (6-month-old)
      and old (22-month-old) C57/BL male mice. Enzyme activities toward 1-chloro-2,4
      dinitrobenzene (CDNB) were not significantly different between young and old rat
      livers in the basal condition without diet manipulation. When animals were fed
      PFD for 1 week, GST activities toward CDNB significantly declined in both age
      groups in comparison to respective basal values, but there was no significant
      difference in activities between the two age groups after a 7-day PFD. When they
      were refed with ND for 2 days (on day 2 of ND), the activities in young mice rose
      to a level significantly higher than the corresponding basal value. In contrast,
      in old animal livers, the activity slightly but further tended to decline on day
      2 of ND. Activities in old rat livers returned to the basal level on day 5 of ND,
      while activities in young animal livers that increased to levels higher than
      basal levels due to the overshoot returned to the basal level on day 7 of ND.
      Enzyme activities toward 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene (DCNB) were significantly
      higher in young rat livers than in old ones at the basal period. However, enzyme
      activities also overshot the basal level on day 2 of ND after 7-day PFD in young
      mouse livers, while in old mouse livers the activities were lowest on this day.
      Activities returned to the basal level on day 7 of ND in both age groups. Thus,
      the greatest difference in enzyme activities between young and old mouse livers
      for both substrates was observed on day 2 of ND after 7-day PFD, rather than at
      either the basal period or immediately after 7-day PFD. The results essentially
      agree with our previous findings on female C57/BL mice as well as female Fischer
      344 rats, suggesting that the age-induced changes in the GST system become
      clearly manifest after diet manipulation of PFD followed by ND refeeding, rather
      than in values during a basal period without diet manipulation, regardless of sex
      or species of animal.

PMID- 1434955
TI  - Assigning appropriateness ratings for diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy
      using two different approaches.
AB  - Methods that combine information in the medical literature with expert clinical
      judgment are needed to determine the appropriateness of use of a procedure. The
      purpose of this study is to better understand the reliability and construct
      validity of this process by comparing ratings of appropriateness for diagnostic
      upper gastrointestinal endoscopy that were developed using different approaches
      by two independent groups. Both the RAND/UCLA Health Services Utilization Study
      (HSUS) and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) combined
      scientific data with expert physician judgment to rate the appropriateness of
      specific clinical indications for the use of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
      This study applies the ratings developed by each group to a nationally
      representative sample of 1,585 endoscopies performed on people 65 years of age
      and older in 1981. HSUS developed indications that could be used to rate all
      1,585 procedures; ASGE indications were less comprehensive and applied to 70% (n
      = 1,115) of procedures. Of those rated by both groups, appropriateness category
      ratings agreed for 94% of the procedures. However, the procedures not rated by
      ASGE were unevenly distributed across HSUS appropriateness ratings. Twelve
      percent of procedures rated as appropriate by HSUS were not rated by ASGE, but
      80% of procedures rated as equivocal by HSUS and 73% rated as inappropriate by
      HSUS were not rated by ASGE, for those procedures rated by both approaches there
      was good agreement; however, a more explicit and comprehensive method may be
      required if equivocal and inappropriate use of a procedure is to be identified.

PMID- 1434956
TI  - Adherence to screening flexible sigmoidoscopy in asymptomatic patients.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to assess patient adherence to physician
      recommended screening flexible sigmoidoscopy. In the setting of a family practice
      residency program, adherence rates in asymptomatic patients (N = 333, age > or =
      50 years) were compared among a Usual Care Group; an Intervention Group that
      received educational materials and a phone reminder; and a Continuity Group,
      which had longstanding continuity with a single physician. Data from mailed
      questionnaires (N = 180) were used to examine the associations of demographic
      factors and attitudes with adherence. Adherence was 30.3% overall, with a
      nonsignificant increase in the Intervention Group compared with the Usual Care
      Group. In a pooled analysis of the Usual Care and Continuity Groups, the half of
      the sample with the highest continuity had a significantly higher adherence rate
      than the rest of the sample (45%; P < 0.001). In a discriminant analysis (78%
      correct classification, P < 0.001) two history variables (family history of
      cancer; family history of colon problems), one measure of continuity (number of
      physician visits), one demographic variable (lower household income), and two
      attitudinal factors (perception of how painful flexible sigmoidoscopy would be;
      perception of how well the physician explained its importance) made statistically
      significant contributions to the prediction of adherence. Results of the study
      show that screening flexible sigmoidoscopy is acceptable to asymptomatic
      patients, and that continuity is likely to have a positive impact on adherence.
      Because attitudes offer the potential for modification, we suggest that
      physicians reassure patients that flexible sigmoidoscopy is not unduly painful
      and discuss with patients individually its importance to their health.

PMID- 1434957
TI  - Utilization review savings at the micro level.
AB  - Utilization review (UR) programs have become an integral part of efforts to
      contain health care costs for private health insurers, employers, and health care
      organizations. While some studies have measured the overall performance of these
      programs, important information in the prior level of the health care utilization
      has not been used in estimating the effectiveness of the program for micro units
      (e.g., employer groups). In this article, the authors present a model to
      determine how the impact of the hospital UR program on health care utilization
      for specific groups varies with historical use patterns. The estimation approach
      used in this article can be used to determine the effect of UR for specific
      employer groups without having to rely on the average effectiveness measures for
      all. Claims obtained from Aetna Health Plans provided data for more than 5,300
      employer accounts covering approximately 580,000 employees, 44% of whom had the
      UR program sometime during the period 1987 to 1990. Because of regression to the
      mean, UR savings were greater for units with higher prior use and smaller for
      units with lower use. In addition to prior use, the size of the group also
      determined the extent of regression to the mean. Groups with smaller number of
      enrollees had greater potential to save from the UR because of UR's ability to
      reduce the outliers.

PMID- 1434958
TI  - State border crossing for Medicare hospital admissions.

PMID- 1434960
TI  - The risk of adjustment.

PMID- 1434959
TI  - Some methodological lessons for surveys of persons with AIDS.

PMID- 1434961
TI  - Analyzing communication in medical consultations. Do behavioral measures
      correspond to patients' perceptions?
AB  - When analyzing relationships between physician-patient communication and medical
      outcomes, researchers typically rely on quantitative measures of behavior (e.g.,
      frequencies or ratios) derived from observer-coding of transcripts, audiotapes,
      or videotapes. Interestingly, rarely have researchers assessed whether
      quantitative measures of communication (e.g., the physician's information giving)
      correspond to patients' perceptions of physicians' communication (e.g.,
      informative). This investigation of 115 pediatric consultations examined this
      issue and yielded several notable findings. First, less satisfied parents
      received more directives and proportionally less patient-centered utterances from
      physicians than did more satisfied parents. Second, findings were mixed regarding
      the degree to which behavioral measures related to analogue measures of parents'
      perceptions. For example, the doctors' use of patient-centered statements was
      predictive of parents' perceptions of physicians' interpersonal sensitivity and
      partnership building, but the amount of information physicians provided parents
      was unrelated to judgments of the doctors' informativeness. Third, with some
      important exceptions, relationships between behavioral measures and parents'
      evaluations did not vary for parents differing in education and anxiety about the
      child's health. Finally, behavioral measures in the form of frequencies tended to
      be better predictors of parents' perceptions than were measures in the form of
      proportions. Implications are discussed.

PMID- 1434962
TI  - The effects of consultation on over-the-counter medication purchasing decisions.
AB  - This article examines factors that predict changes in consumer purchasing
      decisions of nonprescription medications. Variables corresponding to factors in
      Andersen's behavioral model are measured, in addition to data regarding
      characteristics of the 17 pharmacy consultants who provided counseling services.
      One thousand seven hundred and thirteen consumers in five stores in southern
      California were provided consultation during a 6-month period, resulting in 25.4%
      of the patients purchasing a different drug than intended when entering the
      pharmacy, 1.3% being referred to a physician, and 13.4% not purchasing any over
      the-counter medication at all. Logistic regression techniques demonstrated that
      one enabling variable (availability of generic medications), and four need
      factors (the discussion of clinical issues, short encounters, cough and cold
      products, and vitamin products) were significant predictors of the consumer's
      decision to purchase a different product than intended. Consultant
      characteristics (introversion, external locus of control) were also important
      predictors, but opposite the expected direction. Consumers who received
      information from female consultants were more likely to change their purchasing
      decisions.

PMID- 1434963
TI  - An overview of the development and refinement of the Resource-Based Relative
      Value Scale. The foundation for reform of U.S. physician payment.
AB  - Responding to distortions in payment rates between services, policymakers in the
      United States have sought a systematic and rational foundation for determining
      physician fees. One such approach to paying physicians, the Resource-Based
      Relative Value Scale (RBRVS), determines fees by measuring the relative resource
      costs required to produce them. On January 1, 1992, the Medicare program
      implemented a new payment system for physician services based on the RBRVS. This
      article provides a brief history of the RBRVS and a summary of the methods and
      data used to derive it. This overview represents the culmination of 6 years of
      research by the Harvard RBRVS study team and provides a road map to the study's
      concepts and definitions. The overview also provides a context for the articles
      in this issue that describe five major studies undertaken since 1988. The study's
      overall results are presented in the last article of the series.

PMID- 1434964
TI  - Predicting the work of evaluation and management services.
AB  - Physicians, carefully adhering to the definitions of Physicians' Current
      Procedural Terminology (CPT) billing codes, used the same CPT codes to denote
      evaluation and management services that varied widely in work and used different
      codes for services whose work was the same. As payment shifted to the Medicare
      Fee Schedule, it was important that the coding system be redefined so that codes
      consistently reflect the resource costs of these services. Redefining these codes
      for a resource-based payment system required an understanding of how verifiable
      predictors relate to physician work. Using data obtained from the Resource-Based
      Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) study regarding 377 services surveyed among
      physicians in 31 specialties, multiple regression analyses of the relationship of
      different variables to the mean values of work were performed. Intraservice time,
      which accounted for 90% of the variance, was the most important predictor of
      intraservice work. Specification of time, which previously had not been an
      element in the definitions of CPT codes for evaluation and management services,
      was useful in refining these codes so that their value corresponds more closely
      to resource costs. Other predictors of work were site of service or visit type,
      patient status (new/initial, established/subsequent), and referral status
      (consultation, nonconsultation).

PMID- 1434965
TI  - Small-group judgment methods for determining resource-based relative values.
AB  - National telephone surveys used in the Resource-Based Relative Value Scale Study
      produce reliable and valid relative values of work, but phone surveys are
      expensive and time consuming. We evaluated three small-group processes as
      alternatives. We compared national survey work estimates for 38 surgical services
      to those generated by panels of 11 and 19 highly qualified general surgeons using
      1) single-round mail survey; 2) Delphi multiple-round ratings; and 3) modified
      Delphi with face-to-face discussion. Single-round mail-survey ratings were
      closest to the national survey; average differences were 11.0% and 12.6%. Delphi
      feedback led to increased differences: typical values differed by 14.6% and
      15.2%. Face-to-face discussion led to still further divergence (21.0%). Single
      round mail survey of a small number of experts provides relative work values that
      compare more favorably to those of the national survey than those obtained from
      Delphi multiple-round ratings or modified Delphi with face-to-face discussion.

PMID- 1434966
TI  - Physician and practice characteristics, frequency of performance, and the
      Resource-Based Relative Value Scale.
AB  - The Resource-Based Relative Value Scale is based in part on the ratings of the
      work of services obtained from a random sample of physicians in a specialty.
      Ratings are used without regard to board-certification or other characteristics
      of the physician, or to the physician's experience with the service. Critics have
      suggested that all physicians may not be equally qualified to rate the work of
      services. Using data obtained from the Resource-Based Relative Value Scale
      surveys and analyzed using multiple regression methods, the authors found that
      physician and practice characteristics explain, at most, a small fraction of the
      variation in ratings of work. Any increase in the precision of the work scale
      obtained by adjusting physicians' work ratings according to physicians'
      characteristics could be achieved at lower cost by a slight increase in sample
      size. Associations between frequency of performing a service and ratings of work
      are about as likely to be in one direction as another. Most of the differences
      between estimates of work, excluding and including physicians who have not
      performed a service, are less than 2% in absolute value, and all are less than
      10%. Estimates of work using ratings of physicians in the upper half in frequency
      of performance are usually within 10% of estimates using other ratings. Even if
      the observed associations are not due to chance, the potential improvement in
      accuracy of estimates of work appears too small to justify using data on
      frequency of performance.

PMID- 1434968
TI  - Results and impacts of the Resource-Based Relative Value Scale.
AB  - On January 1, 1992, the Health Care Financing Administration implemented the 1989
      legislation reforming the Medicare payment system for physicians' services. The
      cornerstone of the new payment reform is the Medicare Fee Schedule (MFS), which
      is based on the Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS). In this article, the
      major findings of the RBRVS study and its impacts on physician payment are
      summarized. The authors report the impacts of a RBRVS-based fee schedule on
      Medicare fees and physicians' income if it were fully implemented, assuming
      budget neutrality and absence of volume changes in services. Under this scenario,
      fees for evaluation and management services increase by 15% to 45%, while fees
      for invasive services and diagnostic tests decrease by 20% to 30%. These changes
      increase the Medicare income of family practitioners by more than 30% while
      decreasing the income of most surgical specialties by 10% to 20%.

PMID- 1434967
TI  - Incorporating practice costs into the Resource-Based Relative Value Scale.
AB  - Practice costs (not including liability insurance costs) account for
      approximately 41% of the payment for medical and surgical services in the
      Medicare Fee Schedule. Unlike the portion of the fee schedule that compensates
      physicians for their work, the practice cost portion of the Medicare Fee Schedule
      is not resource-based; it is based instead on historical charges. As a result,
      physicians can recover their practice costs in less time and with less effort
      (measured in work relative value units) by performing invasive procedures and
      tests than by providing evaluation and management services. The Physician Payment
      Review Commission has proposed, in some detail, a method for incorporating
      practice costs into the Medicare Fee Schedule. The method involves allocating
      indirect costs on the basis of physician work plus direct costs. We find, using
      their own analytical framework, that indirect costs should rather be allocated on
      the basis of time. But to better serve the goal of incentive neutrality, and to
      make practice cost payments more equitable, the payment a physician receives for
      practice costs should be based not on service mix and volume, but on
      characteristics of the physician's practice more closely related to practice
      costs: for example, whether the physician has an office, or whether the physician
      practices alone or in a group.

PMID- 1434969
TI  - Understanding the Medicare Fee Schedule and its impact on physicians under the
      final rule.
AB  - On January 1, 1992, the Medicare program unveiled a new method for paying
      physicians known as the Medicare Fee Schedule (MFS). The new fee schedule is a
      complex system of administrative pricing based on the resource inputs used in
      producing physician services. The MFS consists of three parts: 1) a Relative
      Value Scale, which assigns to each medical service a value relative to all other
      services; 2) a conversion factor, which converts the relative values into
      dollars; and 3) a geographic adjustment factor, which adjusts payments based on
      geographic differences in the cost of producing physician services. In this
      article, the following are addressed: how the relative values were determined;
      how the geographic adjustment factor was constructed; and how the conversion
      factor was calculated. In addition, balance billing limits and the Medicare
      Volume Performance Standards (MVPS) are described. Computer simulations of the
      impact of the MFS on payments to physicians are presented. The authors found that
      the MFS will 1) redistribute payments away from surgeons, radiologists, and other
      procedure-based specialties toward the primary care specialties; 2) redistribute
      payments away from urban areas toward rural areas; and 3) redistribute payments
      away from invasive procedures and diagnostic tests toward evaluation and
      management services. The authors conclude with a discussion of the future
      refinements of the MFS, its applicability to other payers, and whether it will
      accomplish its intended purposes.

PMID- 1434970
TI  - [Comparative study of the survival of gastric B-cell lymphoma of mucosal origin
      with respect to lymph node lymphoma of similar histology].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The differences in clinical presentation, morphology, phenotype and
      genetic changes between lymphomas originating in the gastrointestinal tract and
      the lymph nodes justified the proposal of a system of specific classification for
      lymphomas originating in lymphoid tissue associated to mucosa (MALT).
      Nevertheless, there is no conclusive evidence that the types of lymphoma defined
      as such have a different clinical evolution with respect to the lymph nodes
      lymphomas. METHODS: With the aim of analyzing this problem a clinical follow up
      of 33 patients with primary gastric lymphomas (high and low grade) was compared
      with the results of a group of 99 lymphomas of the lymph nodes was carried out
      with classification according to the criteria of Kiel classification and the
      proposal by Isaacson et al for MALT lymphomas. Survival obtained by the Kaplan
      Meier method was compared by the Mantel-Haenzel test. RESULTS: The results
      obtained showed that all gastric lymphomas have a less aggressive evolution than
      those of lymph node origin (p < 0.01). This significant statistical difference
      was also observed when lymphomas of similar histology were compared. Similarly,
      the subgroups of large cell lymphoma (p < 0.05) and small cells (p < 0.01) differ
      with respect to lymphomas of similar histology and of lymph node origin. In
      contrast with the results expected, no significant difference was observed
      between the two main groups of lymphomas of high and low grade mucosal origin.
      CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of the results supports the convenience of a system of
      specific classification for lymphomas of mucosal origin. Nevertheless, the
      specific existence of groups of high and low grade lymphomas is questioned since
      the probability of survival between both subgroups does not show statistically
      significant differences.

PMID- 1434971
TI  - [Primary gastrointestinal lymphoma: a study of 25 cases].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The digestive tract constitutes the most frequent localization of the
      extranodular non Hodgkin's lymphoma. The chief clinical and histological
      characteristics were analyzed as were the evolution and response to treatment of
      25 patients diagnosed with primary gastrointestinal lymphoma (PGIL) in one center
      over a period of eight years. METHODS: To establish the diagnosis of PGIL the
      Dawson criteria were used and the state was determined by the Ann-Arbor
      classification modified by Musshoff. To histologically classify of the PGIL the
      Working Formulation was followed. The influence of the clinical, histological
      characteristics and the state of the obtention of complete remission (CR), the
      survival free period of the disease (SFD) and global survival (GS) were analyzed.
      RESULTS: The mean age of the series was 56 years (standard deviation 15 years)
      (12 males). The most frequent localization was gastric followed by the small
      intestine and the large intestine. Abdominal pain and weight loss were the most
      frequent clinical manifestations in the PGIL, regardless of its site. In 12
      patients the PGIL was of an intermediate grade of malignancy, 8 were of low grade
      and 5 of high grade. The state was IE in 11 patients, IE1 in 9 and IIE2 in 5. The
      most used treatment was radical surgery followed by polychemotherapy. Complete
      remission was obtained in 15 patients and 2 recurred. The foreseen SFP at 7 years
      was 69% of the cases and GS was 53%. In IE state patients was most frequently
      obtained and GS was also more prolonged in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: In the
      present series the gastric localization of patients with primary gastrointestinal
      lymphoma was more frequent than intestinal localization. The HNL of intermediate
      and high grades of malignancy predominated those of low grade. The prognosis of
      patients with primary gastrointestinal lymphoma in a IE state was more favorable
      than the remaining patients. In turn, surgery constituted a good option in the
      initial treatment of patients with primary gastrointestinal lymphoma.

PMID- 1434972
TI  - [Sudden cardiac death in the counties of Girona].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Data on sudden cardiac death in Spain in scarce. Mortality rates from
      sudden cardiac death occurring in six counties of Girona (including urban,
      industrial, and rural areas) between October 1987 and September 1988 were
      assessed. METHODS: From a total of 1,573 deaths in residents of the studied area
      aged between 25 and 74 years, 222 cases with a suggestive diagnosis of sudden
      cardiac death were selected. Data that confirmed the diagnosis and the time
      elapsed from the initial clinical symptoms and death were obtained by inquiring
      physicians who signed the death certificates, relatives or witnesses and by
      reviewing the hospital records. RESULTS: Of a total of 137 deaths of cardiac
      origin, there were 107 cases of sudden cardiac death (which occurred within 24
      hours after the onset of symptoms). The mortality rate of sudden death of cardiac
      origin was 37.5 per 100,000 inhabitants, that was significantly higher among men
      (67.8 in men and 15.4 in women). The mortality rate showed a statistically
      significant increase in the older age groups (28.4 per 100,000 inhabitants in the
      age group of 45-54 years, 69 in the group of 55-64 years, and 129.7 in the group
      of 65-74 years). Death occurred within the first hour after the onset of symptoms
      in 59 patients, 17 of whom were admitted to a hospital. Only 35% of the total 107
      patients were treated in hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality rate of sudden cardiac
      death in Girona is low. Few patients dying from sudden cardiac death could have
      medical care.

PMID- 1434973
TI  - [Bacterial peritonitis in cirrhosis. Prospective study of 80 episodes].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The high incidence, recognition of the different variants and the
      important changes introduced in the methods of diagnosis of bacterial peritonitis
      of cirrhotic patients led the authors to study this entity according to the most
      up to date and standardized criteria. METHODS: The clinical-epidemiological,
      biological and bacteriological characteristics of 80 episodes of ascitic fluid
      infection (AFI) were studied. Diagnostic paracentesis was performed in all the
      patients and were evaluated according to a prospective study protocol. RESULTS:
      The patients with AFI were classified into three groups: 1) spontaneous bacterial
      peritonitis (SBP) (761 episodes); 2) secondary bacterial peritonitis (BP) (5
      cases); and 3) bacteriascitis (BA) (4 episodes). The clinical manifestations were
      not specific, with absence of abdominal pain and fever in 9% of the cases. There
      were no clinical differences between the variants of AFI. The ascitic fluid
      culture was positive in 80% of the cases of SBP while it was only so in 9% of the
      Gram stain. Most of the cases of peritonitis were caused by Gram negative bacilli
      (77%), predominantly E. coli (64%). The culture was positive in 100% of the cases
      of BP, generally being polymicrobian, and Gram stain was positive in 67% of the
      cases. The inflammatory response of the ascitic fluid in the different variants
      of AFI was gradual, being lower in BP and nul in BA. In 52 episodes of SBP
      (73.8%) the infection was cured. In the group of SBP all the patients died
      without having resolved the peritonitis (p < 0.001). Forty-four patients (62%)
      with BP were discharged from hospital. A multivariate logistic regression
      analysis demonstrated that from a total of 32 variables analyzed, only the
      absence of fever (p < 0.0001), the presence of advanced hepatic encephalopathy (p
      < 0.0001), the presence of leukocytosis, serum bilirubin higher than 137 mumol/l,
      urine sodium levels lower than 10 mmol/l, the level of LDH in ascitic fluid
      higher than 2 microKat/l and ascitic fluid culture positivity had independent
      prognostic value. CONCLUSIONS: Infection of ascitic is a frequent entity.
      Although its variants are clinically indifferentiable, there are clear
      biochemical, bacteriological and evolutive differences. The mortality of ascitic
      fluid infection remains high. Its prognosis fundamentally depends of the degree
      of evolution of the hepatopathy and the severity of the peritoneal infection.

PMID- 1434974
TI  - [Primary gastrointestinal lymphomas].

PMID- 1434975
TI  - [The hospital, a competitive and efficient health care organization].

PMID- 1434976
TI  - [Genetic markers in neuropsychiatric disorders: genetic mapping and diagnostic
      and therapeutic prospectives (I)].

PMID- 1434977
TI  - [Changes in the prevalence of anti-HCV in blood donors in Asturias].

PMID- 1434978
TI  - [Immunoblastic lymphoma associated with IgA paraproteinemia as a complication of
      a case of pediatric AIDS].

PMID- 1434979
TI  - [Cerebral infarction as the initial manifestation of mediterranean spotted
      fever].

PMID- 1434980
TI  - [Acute hepatitis from A virus in carriers of HBsAG superinfected by the hepatitis
      C virus and the human immunodeficiency virus].

PMID- 1434981
TI  - [Is the administration route of heroin changing?].

PMID- 1434982
TI  - [Cutaneous metastasis as a presenting form of lung carcinoma: 2 new cases].

PMID- 1434983
TI  - [Extrahepatic cholestasis in a patient with Kaposi sarcoma associated with the
      acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].

PMID- 1434984
TI  - [Immunologic prognostic parameters in infection by the human immunodeficiency
      virus].
AB  - BACKGROUND: To evaluate the use of quantitative and functional immunologic
      parameters as prognostic markers of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus
      (HIV). METHODS: The number of CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes, the CD4/CD8 ratio, the
      percentage of interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptors, the response to phytohemaglutinin
      (PHA) and the production of interferon tau (IFN-tau), were analyzed in 85
      patients with HIV infection: 14 with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
      (stage IV), 16 with persistent generalized adenopathies (stage III), and 55
      asymptomatic patients (stage II). Similarly, a control group of 35 blood donors
      with negative HIV serology was studied. RESULTS: Over a period of 30 months, 17
      patients (5 of stage III and 12 of stage II) evolved to stage IV. In a
      multivariate analysis the decrease in the number of CD4 lymphocytes in stage II
      and the decrease in the production of IFN-tau in stage II and III were the
      parameters associated with progression to stage IV. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in
      the production of interferon tau in patients with infection by the human
      immunodeficiency virus in stage II and III as well as the decrease in the number
      of CD4 lymphocytes in stage II are prognostic factors associated with the
      evolution to stage IV of the infection.

PMID- 1434985
TI  - [Comparative study of human cutaneous sensitivity to 2 and 5 international units
      of the PPD RT 23 tuberculin with Tween 80].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to know whether the human reaction to the
      Mantoux test with 5 UT of PPD RT 23 is similar to that achieved with the same
      test but with 2 UT of the same substance. METHODS: A simultaneous double Mantoux
      test was used at doses of 2 UT and another of 5 UT of the same trade mark of
      tuberculin PPD RT 23 with Tween 80 in 2,575 individuals. The subjects were
      distributed into two different groups of different ages, taking into
      consideration the possible presence of BCG vaccination. RESULTS: The doses of 5
      UT produced a greater number of tuberculin positive individuals and a greater
      diameter of induration of reaction than that of the doses of 2 UT in both groups
      and with significant statistical differences. One hundred ninety-six (7%)
      subjects were tuberculin positive with 5 UT and negative with 2 UT. CONCLUSIONS:
      The reactions produced by the Mantoux test with 5 and 5 UT PPD RT were different
      since the two doses are not bioequivalent.

PMID- 1434987
TI  - [Atherogenesis. The lipidic hypothesis updated].

PMID- 1434986
TI  - [Clinical application of the biological variability data of the thyroid
      hormones].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The selection of laboratory tests with greater effectiveness for
      identifying patients with thyroid disorders (sensitivity) from non affected
      subjects (specificity) is, at present, under discussion. The study of biological
      variation can contribute to point out the laboratory tests with greater
      effectiveness. METHODS: Total blood was collected daily for five consecutive days
      from 25 healthy volunteers, which maintaining their usual life style all over the
      period. RESULTS: The biological coefficients of variation--within and between-
      subject, the individuality indexes and the critical differences between
      consecutive results are estimated. The effect of pulsatility over the results
      obtained is also discussed. CONCLUSIONS: The most effective laboratory test for
      the diagnosis of thyroid disorders is TSH, with the precaution of doing a second
      analysis if the first result falls close to either the lower or higher reference
      range limits. The best laboratory tests for the monitoring of hypo- and
      hyperthyroidism are total T4 and free T4, in which a critical difference between
      consecutive results higher than 15% indicates a significant change in the patient
      status.

PMID- 1434988
TI  - [Progress in the treatment of auricular fibrillation. Cure is pending].

PMID- 1434989
TI  - [Can a prostatic adenocarcinoma simulate an acute myocardial infarction?].
AB  - The assay for the MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase is widely used in the diagnosis
      of acute myocardial infarction. Patients with metastatic carcinoma of the
      prostate may have an elevated serum creatine kinase BB fraction, which by
      immunoinhibition method may be read mistakenly as creatine kinase MB. We report
      the case of a patient with a history of myocardial injury, chest pain, total CK
      above of reference range and CK-MB isoenzyme, determinated with an
      immunoinhibition technique, larger than 100% of enzymatic activity of total CK,
      that was carrier of a prostatic adenocarcinoma in stage D2. We comment the
      diseases in which the CK-BB fraction may be elevated, discuss the laboratory
      methods for the determination of creatine kinase isoenzymes, and revised,
      briefly, the properties of the new immunoassays, that measure mass concentration
      of creatine kinase MB, in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1434990
TI  - [Serum lipoprotein (a) levels during treatment with LDL apheresis for homozygous
      familial hypercholesterolemia].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Due to the double atherogenic and antifibrinolytic action of
      lipoprotein (a) (Lp [a]) and its predictive value of cardiovascular disease in
      hypercholesterolemic patients, we document in the present work the changes in Lp
      (a) levels of a patient with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia after one
      year of LDL-apheresis treatment. METHODS: A child with LDL-receptor deficiency
      under weekly LDL-apheresis treatment with dextran-sulfate columns. Serum samples
      were taken in basal conditions (pre-apheresis) and post-apheresis, as well as
      from the perfusion system to evaluate the lipoprotein retention capacity of the
      columns. Samples were processed for Lp (a) determination by ELISA with polyclonal
      antibodies. RESULTS: When the treatment was initiated, the patient's Lp (a) serum
      levels were very high (997 mg/l), and they reduced progressively with the
      apheresis sessions. After one year of treatment, maximum Lp (a) concentration is
      only slightly higher than 400 mg/l, whereas minimum Lp (a) concentration is lower
      than 50 mg/l. Dextran-sulfate columns in the apheresis system retain every
      lipoprotein containing apo B, including LDL and Lp (a), with high affinity and
      high capacity in such a way that the treatment of three-fold the plasma volume of
      the patient results in an 85% decrease of Lp (a) levels. After each LDL-apheresis
      treatment, there is a progressive increase in Lp (a) concentration. The analysis
      of these data allowed the estimation of the fractional catabolic rate of Lp (a)
      in the patient, which was 0.08 pools/day. Simultaneous treatment with lovastatin
      (20 mg/day) did not alter this parameter or Lp (a) serum concentration.
      CONCLUSIONS: After one year of weekly LDL-apheresis treatment, the patient's
      average Lp (a) serum concentration is lower than 300 mg/l, which is below the
      risk threshold level. Therefore, apheresis with dextran-sulfate columns is a very
      effective treatment for the reduction of both LDL and Lp (a) serum concentrations
      in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

PMID- 1434991
TI  - [Thalidomide and graft verses host disease: basis for a new indication and side
      effects].

PMID- 1434992
TI  - [Stress ulcers: physiopathology, prophylaxis and treatment].

PMID- 1434993
TI  - [Neuralgia of the trigeminal secondary to lipoma of the pontocerebellar angle].

PMID- 1434994
TI  - [Eosinophilic pleuritis as the presenting form of sarcoidosis].

PMID- 1434995
TI  - [Treatment with a derivative of propamidine for keratitis in a user of soft
      lenses].

PMID- 1434996
TI  - [The Spanish translation of the 3rd edition of "Uniform requirements for
      manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals"].

PMID- 1434997
TI  - [Ferrokinetic studies in the initial evaluation of idiopathic myelofibrosis:
      results in 18 patients].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Since there is no effective treatment for idiopathic myelofibrosis
      (IM) the determination of possible factors which are involved in the appearance
      of anemia in this disease may be important from a practical point of view.
      METHODS: The results of the initial ferrokinetic study analyzed in 18 patients
      with IM included plasma clearance (T1/2) and globular incorporation (U max) of
      59Fe in addition to the uptake of 59Fe in the sacrum, spleen and liver in 16
      patients. The clinical-hematologic and histologic data of the different groups of
      patients identified according to the results of the study were compared. RESULTS:
      Three ferrokinetic patterns were observed: 1) normal or increased erythropoiesis
      (8 patient), 2) inefficient erythropoiesis (7 patients), and 3) aplastic pattern
      (3 patients). The only difference observed between the three groups was the
      existence of lower levels of Hb and reticulocytes in the subjects with aplastic
      type pattern. In contrast, although there was an inverse correlation between the
      medullar and extramedullar uptake of iron (p = 0.018) no relation was observed
      between the latter and the size of the spleen or liver. CONCLUSIONS: The results
      obtained in this study indicate that IM behaves heterogeneously from a
      ferrokinetic point of view.

PMID- 1434998
TI  - [Haemophilus influenzae pulmonary infection in patients infected with the human
      immunodeficiency virus].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Haemophilus influenzae has frequently been identified as the
      etiologic agent in pneumonias of patients with the human immunodeficiency virus
      (HIV) infection. The experience of the authors is reviewed and the significance
      of isolating this microorganism in respiratory samples commented upon. METHODS:
      The clinical, radiological and microbiological data of patients with HIV
      infection in whom H. influenzae was identified in blood, lung tissue, or samples
      of the lower respiratory tract obtained by fibrobronchoscopy were retrospectively
      evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty cases were diagnosed with 75% presenting bilateral
      lung infiltration. In 70% the isolation sample was that of bronchoalveolar
      lavage. In 40% of the total another microorganism was identified in coinfection
      with H. influenzae, of which Mycobacterium tuberculosis was the most frequent.
      Thirty-five percent of the cases presented antecedents of one or several previous
      pulmonary infections. H. influenzae infection was not observed with either
      concomitant or previous infections in 20% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: A high
      frequency of pneumonias by Haemophilus influenzae with bilateral radiologic
      presentation have been found. H. influenzae is frequently demonstrated as in
      coinfection with other agents. The role that this microorganism has in pulmonary
      infection of patients with HIV infection is not clearly defined.

PMID- 1434999
TI  - [Cost-effectiveness study of prevaccination screening tests in vaccination
      against hepatitis B in hospital health professionals].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to know the cost-effectiveness of a
      vaccination program of hospital personnel against hepatitis B as compared to
      vaccination strategy with previous screening tests versus vaccination without
      screening. METHODS: The costs of the process of vaccination with and without
      previous screening tests for hospital personnel (first year residents = MIR R1
      and staff doctors) was calculated taking, not only the cost of the vaccinations,
      but also the costs of withdrawal, injection, antibody determination and the
      displacement costs of the subject into account. RESULTS: In the case of a MIR-R1,
      the cost of vaccination without previous screening is 12,492 pesetas, with the
      cost for a staff doctor being 15,092 pesetas. The vaccination strategy with
      previous antibody screening tests is only profitable with prevalences of 28.77%
      of positivity in the case of MIR-R1 and 29.55% in staff doctors. CONCLUSIONS:
      This study defends the elimination of previous antibody screening tests in
      vaccination against hepatitis B since the legal obligation of previous screening
      tests is no longer applicable. Moreover, vaccination is practically innocuous and
      prevaccination screening tests are only profitable with prevalences os
      seropositivity higher than 28% in the case of MIR-R1 and 29.55% in the case of
      staff doctors which are ciphers much higher than those of the prevalence of
      seropositivity normally found among Spanish hospital personnel.

PMID- 1435000
TI  - [Contribution of magnetic resonance imaging in the early diagnosis of epidural
      metastasis].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Vertebral bone metastases represent the most frequently affected
      region within the skeleton. They are of important relevance because of the risk
      of medullar compression. The diagnosis of medullar canal invasion is of
      particular interest in order to prevent neurological dysfunction. A prospective
      study was carried out to detect the frequency and degree of invasion of the
      spine. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients were studied (13 males and 15 females),
      with a median age of 61 years (range 35-85), with cancer diagnosis and vertebral
      bone metastases, and local or radicular pain, without signs or symptoms
      suggesting myelopathy. Neurological, physical examination, radiological study
      (anteroposterior and lateral) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study was
      performed in all patients to detect medullar canal invasion. RESULTS: Local pain
      was present in 43% of patients (n = 12), and radicular in 57.1% (n = 16). The
      most frequent radiologic vertebral involvement was thoracic (46.4%), with 71% of
      vertebral body collapse. MRI showed epidural space invasion in 75% of patients (n
      = 21), with a degree superior to 50% in 43%. CONCLUSIONS: The beginning of
      vertebral pain in a patient with cancer diagnosis, with evidence of bone invasion
      after radiological study, represents a major indicator to perform a MRI study to
      detect epidural involvement.

PMID- 1435001
TI  - [Effects of captopril on left ventricular morphology and function in essential
      arterial hypertension].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The presence of diastolic dysfunction in a hypertensive patient is
      not necessarily associated to the existence of left ventricular hypertrophy. The
      aim of this study was to determine whether the reduction of the left ventricular
      mass in hypertensive patients treated with captopril is accompanied by an
      improvement of the diastolic filling indexes. METHODS: Nineteen patients with
      essential hypertension were studied before and after one year of treatment with
      captopril. Different morphological indexes and diastolic function of the left
      ventricle were evaluated by mode M and Doppler echography. RESULTS: The indexes
      of left ventricular mass diminished significantly with treatment with captopril.
      The thickness of the ventricular walls diminished with treatment although not
      significantly. No significant modification was observed in the indexes of
      diastolic function (quotient of speed of protodiastolic filling/speed of
      telediastolic filling and time of deceleration of transmitral fluid during
      diastole) following the treatment period. CONCLUSIONS: Diminution of the left
      ventricular mass induced by captopril in hypertensive patients is not accompanied
      by an improvement in ventricular filling. It is suggested that myocardial
      hypertrophy is not responsible for diastolic dysfunction of arterial
      hypertension.

PMID- 1435002
TI  - [Etiology of infantile cerebral paralysis].

PMID- 1435003
TI  - [Anovulatory agents and changes in hemostasis].

PMID- 1435004
TI  - [Acute transverse myelitis and primary antiphospholipid syndrome].
AB  - The case of a 39 years old woman with acute transverse myelitis manifested as a
      syndrome of the anterior spinal artery is presented. Etiologic investigation
      diagnosed a primary antiphospholipid syndrome because of the finding of
      significantly high titers of anticardiolipin antibodies discarding the presence
      of systemic lupus erythematosus for the lack of sufficient diagnostic criteria.
      The association between both clinical pictures is infrequent.

PMID- 1435005
TI  - [Multifocal motor neuropathy after administration of gangliosides].
AB  - A case of a 38 years-old male with motor neuropathy with multifocal conduction
      blocks following the administration of ganglioside therapy is reported. There was
      generalized weakness without areflexia and normal parameters of the spinal fluid,
      including protein values. Electrophysiological data showed multiple conduction
      blocks with normal nerve conduction velocities. Antibodies against asialo-GM1
      gangliosides were present in the cerebrospinal fluid. There could be a
      relationship between the ganglioside administration and the development of an
      immune-mediated neuropathy. Several cases of demyelinating polyradiculoneuritis
      after ganglioside treatment have been reported. If this association is confirmed,
      the apparent lack of toxicity of gangliosides should be reconsidered.

PMID- 1435006
TI  - [Perspectives in the treatment of cancer].

PMID- 1435008
TI  - [Are DNA probes useful for the diagnosis of Mycoplasma++ pneumoniae pneumonia?].

PMID- 1435007
TI  - [Genetic changes in carcinoma of the colon].

PMID- 1435009
TI  - [Auricular fibrillation in organophosphate poisoning].

PMID- 1435010
TI  - [Lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Evolution of the same problem].

PMID- 1435011
TI  - [Lymphoma and orbital involvement].

PMID- 1435012
TI  - [Prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus in HIV positive subjects from
      different risk groups].

PMID- 1435013
TI  - [Pleural empyema in Legionella pneumophila nosocomial pneumonia in a patient with
      systemic lupus erythematosus].

PMID- 1435014
TI  - [Arthritis reactive to Giardia lamblia].

PMID- 1435015
TI  - [Tuberculous infection in health personnel].

PMID- 1435016
TI  - Modulation of potassium channels by organic molecules.

PMID- 1435017
TI  - The role of cytokines in muscle wasting: its relation with cancer cachexia.

PMID- 1435018
TI  - Harvey's account of his "discovery".

PMID- 1435019
TI  - "An exodus of enthusiasm": G. Alder Blumer, eugenics, and US psychiatry, 1890
      1920.

PMID- 1435020
TI  - Smallpox inoculation and demographic trends in eighteenth-century Scotland.

PMID- 1435021
TI  - Extraordinary deaths of asylum inpatients during the 1914-1918 war.

PMID- 1435022
TI  - Choosing people: an aspect of the life of Lord Moran (1882-1977).

PMID- 1435023
TI  - Illustrations from the Wellcome Institute Library. The Moran papers.

PMID- 1435024
TI  - Dr John Radcliffe and his Trust. Essay review.

PMID- 1435025
TI  - [Step by step administrative education for physicians in Norway].

PMID- 1435026
TI  - [HIV and ethics--information and disinformation].

PMID- 1435027
TI  - [Conservative attitude is justified in septicemia after splenectomy].

PMID- 1435028
TI  - [Do not keep investigations of suspected scientific fraud secret].

PMID- 1435029
TI  - [Are the complaints caused by dental materials?].

PMID- 1435030
TI  - [Amalgam problems are not of psychological origin].

PMID- 1435031
TI  - [The motivation model--better utilization of time in alcohol detoxication].

PMID- 1435032
TI  - [A better measure for exposure levels to tobacco smoke is needed].

PMID- 1435033
TI  - [Consensus on treatment of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis].

PMID- 1435034
TI  - [The Solberga project--a new tool for spinal cord injuries].

PMID- 1435035
TI  - [Intensified Scandinavian cooperation for better care in myasthenia gravis].

PMID- 1435036
TI  - [Victims and perpetrators--abuse seen from the perspective of emergency care].

PMID- 1435037
TI  - [Determination of methyl malonate--a new way for indication of cobalamin
      deficiency].

PMID- 1435038
TI  - [Many mental disorders in adulthood have specific roots in childhood].

PMID- 1435039
TI  - [1992--a year of international cooperation for cardiopulmonary resuscitation].

PMID- 1435040
TI  - [Dissection of the internal carotid artery caused by energetic head turning
      during exercise].

PMID- 1435041
TI  - [Experiences with the new law on involuntary commitment: cultural shock for the
      physicians and more demanding emergency service contra increased legal security
      and more distinct lines].

PMID- 1435042
TI  - [The whole body is scrutinized].

PMID- 1435043
TI  - [Equality, needs, freedom of choice and efficiency should be considered when
      priorities are made in an equitable health care].

PMID- 1435044
TI  - [How to finance preventive care within the buy-sell system and house-physician
      organizations?].

PMID- 1435045
TI  - [Improve information to scientists when their grant applications are refused].

PMID- 1435046
TI  - [Difficult to evaluate quality in medical research].

PMID- 1435047
TI  - [Estrogen popular again in prostatic cancer?].

PMID- 1435048
TI  - [Are effects of continuous education of physicians measurable?].

PMID- 1435049
TI  - [How to achieve changes within health care services?].

PMID- 1435050
TI  - [The emotional capacity of humans--unexplored and unused possibility].

PMID- 1435051
TI  - [Considerably reduced number of abortions among teenagers].

PMID- 1435052
TI  - [Parenteral estrogen--a safe therapeutic alternative in prostatic cancer seen
      from the cardiovascular point of view?].

PMID- 1435053
TI  - [The woman behind the syndrome. Dorothy Hansine Andersen. A pathologist and a
      pediatrician in New York with roots in Bornholm].

PMID- 1435054
TI  - [Did the SBU report and the consensus conference clear the way for more
      restrictive preoperative investigation?].

PMID- 1435055
TI  - [A minor birth injury with an unexpected late effect].

PMID- 1435056
TI  - Spinally-mediated antinociception is induced in mice by an adenosine kinase-, but
      not by an adenosine deaminase-, inhibitor.
AB  - Relative involvement of adenosine deaminase and adenosine kinase in
      antinociception induced by endogenous adenosine was investigated. Antinociception
      induced by 5'-amino 5'-deoxyadenosine (5'-ADAdo; an adenosine kinase inhibitor)
      and deoxycoformycin (dCF; an adenosine deaminase inhibitor) administered i.t. was
      determined using the mouse tail-flick assay. Dose- and time-dependent
      antinociception was observed following i.t. administration of 5'-ADAdo, but not
      dCF. Antinociception induced by 5'-ADAdo was reversed by coadministration i.t. of
      theophylline, an adenosine receptor antagonist, in a dose-dependent manner. These
      data provide preliminary evidence that adenosine kinase plays a more significant
      physiological role than adenosine deaminase in the regulation of adenosine
      involved in spinally-mediated antinociception.

PMID- 1435057
TI  - Continuous light increases N-acetyltransferase activity in the optic lobe of the
      giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii de Man (Crustacea: Decapoda).
AB  - Giant freshwater prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii de Man, were reared under
      three different lighting conditions: continuous darkness (DD), 12 hr of light and
      12 hr of darkness (LD 12:12) and continuous light (LL). After one month, the
      prawns were sacrificed and optic lobes isolated from the eyestalks were
      determined for N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activities and melatonin concentrations.
      Gonads were weighed and examined under light microscopy. The optic lobes from LL
      prawns contained significantly higher activities of NAT than those from LD 12:12
      prawns. The melatonin concentrations and size and histological features of the
      gonads from the three groups of prawns did not differ. The results indicate that
      continuous light increases NAT activities in the optic lobe of M. rosenbergii but
      has no drastic effect on gonadal growth.

PMID- 1435058
TI  - D2 dopamine receptor involvement in spinal dopamine-produced antinociception.
AB  - Experiments were performed on 79 lightly pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Rats
      displayed a dose-dependent increase in tail-flick latencies following the
      injection of dopamine (DA) into the lumbar subarachnoid space through an
      intrathecal tube. Sulpiride, a D2-subtype receptor antagonist, antagonized the DA
      induced analgesia (antinociceptive) effect; while SCH-23390, a D1-subtype
      receptor antagonist, had no effect even in a higher dose. To further investigate
      whether the well-known spinal serotonergic, noradrenergic and opioidergic
      receptor systems were involved in DA-induced antinociception, their antagonists,
      methysergide, phentolamine, and naloxone were tested respectively. The results
      showed that phentolamine, but not methysergide or naloxone, could block the DA
      induced antinociception. The present data provide evidence that DA exerts
      antinociceptive effects through D2-subtype dopamine receptor(s) at the spinal
      level, and that spinal alpha-adrenergic receptors may mediate this effect.

PMID- 1435059
TI  - Urinary excretion of furosemide in rats with HgCl2-induced acute renal damage.
AB  - To examine the influence of mercuric chloride (HgCl2)-induced acute renal damage
      on urinary excretion of furosemide, HgCl2 (1 mg/kg) or its vehicle alone was
      given intraperitoneally to Wistar rats. The following two experiments were done.
      Study I: Three percent body weight (b.w.) of 1% NaCl solution or furosemide (30
      mg/kg) in 3% b.w. of 1% NaCl solution was given orally before and after HgCl2
      treatment, and an 8-hour urine was collected. Study II: Furosemide (30 mg/kg) was
      given orally, and blood samples were obtained at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 hours after
      administration. Urinary excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase increased,
      and urine volume and urinary excretions of furosemide and sodium decreased in the
      HgCl2-treated rats. There were significant correlations between the urinary
      furosemide and its diuretic effects. Regression lines after HgCl2 were
      significantly different from those before treatment. The values of absorption as
      well as elimination rate constant were smaller, while the time to maximum
      concentration and the elimination half-life were longer in the HgCl2-treated rats
      compared to vehicle-treated animals. These results suggest that the urinary
      excretion of furosemide and the responsiveness of renal tubular cells to this
      agent are impaired in rats with HgCl2-induced acute renal damage.

PMID- 1435060
TI  - Detection of glucocorticoid-receptor complex oligomers in nuclear extracts from
      cells exposed to hormone at physiological temperature.
AB  - When HeLa cells were incubated with tritiated dexamethasone mesylate at 2 degrees
      C, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of cytosolic and
      nuclear extracts revealed the presence of two monomeric receptor complex forms
      with estimated molecular masses of about 98 and 87 kDa. If cells were subjected
      to crosslinking with glutaraldehyde, a third form consisting of a 250 kDa
      oligomer was also detected. When HeLa cells were treated with dexamethasone
      mesylate at 37 degrees C, and were subjected to crosslinking, electrophoresis of
      cytosolic glucocorticoid-receptor complexes was drastically reduced, whereas
      their levels in nuclear extracts were not appreciably altered.

PMID- 1435061
TI  - The effects of metabolic stress on plasma progesterone in healthy volunteers and
      schizophrenic patients.
AB  - A number of preclinical studies suggest that progesterone may play an important
      role in the stress response, however, the effects of stress on progesterone in
      humans has not been established. Also, several lines of evidence indicate that
      schizophrenia may be associated with abnormal neurobiological responses to
      stress, but the effects of stress on progesterone in schizophrenia has not been
      investigated. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of
      stress on plasma progesterone and cortisol in healthy subjects and to determine
      if schizophrenic patients have altered stress-induced plasma progesterone levels
      compared to normal controls. Stress was induced through administration of 2
      deoxyglucose (2DG), a glucose analog that impairs glucose metabolism resulting in
      a clinical state comparable to hypoglycemia. There were significant increases in
      plasma progesterone and cortisol levels following 2DG-induced glucoprivic stress
      in healthy controls. There was no relationship between stress related
      progesterone and cortisol elevations. Schizophrenic patients, in comparison to
      controls, had significantly greater 2DG-induced elevations in progesterone levels
      but no differences in stress-related cortisol levels. There was evidence that
      basal progesterone and cortisol levels were elevated in the schizophrenic
      patients. The implications of these data are discussed.

PMID- 1435062
TI  - Hypotensive activity of TCV-116, a newly developed angiotensin II receptor
      antagonist, in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
AB  - TCV-116, a recently developed angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor antagonist, was
      administered orally (1 mg/kg per day) to 10-week-old spontaneously hypertensive
      rats (SHR) for 2 weeks. Blood pressure and plasma components of the renin
      angiotensin-aldosterone system were determined in these rats. TCV-116 produced a
      marked reduction in blood pressure without altering heart rate. Whereas plasma
      renin concentration (PRC), angiotensin I (Ang I) and angiotensin II (Ang II) all
      were significantly increased, plasma aldosterone was decreased by approximately
      70% compared with control animals. These results not only indicate therapeutic
      efficacy of this agent in the chronic treatment of human hypertension, but
      support also the concept that the renin-angiotensin system plays an important
      role in the control of blood pressure in this animal model of human essential
      hypertension.

PMID- 1435063
TI  - Cardiovascular abnormalities associated with human and rodent obesity.
AB  - Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, a direct link
      between these two states is difficult to establish, since obesity frequently
      occurs with other disease states such as diabetes, hypertension and
      atherosclerosis. Clinical studies have clearly shown that uncorrected obesity is
      associated with cardiac hypertrophy and compromised ventricular function. A
      number of rodent models of obesity have been studied in terms of cardiovascular
      adaptations. Cardiac function of the obese Zucker rat appears to be normal at a
      younger age. Only after several months is depression in cardiac function
      discernable. These animals are mildly hypertensive, but do not exhibit the
      characteristic increase in cardiac output associated with human obesity. A unique
      characteristic of JCR:LA-cp rat is that they develop atherosclerotic and
      myocardial lesions. Hearts from these animals will maintain normal function when
      perfused with physiological levels of calcium. At higher calcium concentrations,
      however, mechanical function becomes impaired. Dietary-induced obese rats exhibit
      many of the hemodynamic alterations associated with human obesity, but there is
      no evidence to-date that these animals will develop severe cardiac depression.
      Short-term weight reduction apparently has beneficial cardiovascular effects, but
      weight cycling may be harmful. Given the widespread occurrence of obesity,
      further studies are warranted to characterize the cardiac manifestations of this
      condition.

PMID- 1435064
TI  - Effect of lysophosphatidylcholine on renal hemodynamics and excretory function in
      anesthetized rats.
AB  - The effect of myristoyl-lysophosphatidylcholine (myristoyl-LPC) on renal
      hemodynamics, electrolyte and water excretion was examined over a 90 min period
      in sodium pentobarbital anesthetized male Sprague Dawley rats. Intravenous
      infusion of myristoyl-LPC at 13 +/- 3 pmol/min resulted in a small fall in
      systemic blood pressure, a 13% decrease in renal plasma flow without
      significantly altering glomerular filtration rate and produced a slightly greater
      excretion of sodium and water than vehicle controls. These results suggest that
      short term myristoyl-LPC administration can significantly alter renal function
      producing a weak natriuresis and diuresis which is not dependent on systemic
      blood pressure and renal hemodynamic changes.

PMID- 1435065
TI  - Effect of a peptide leukotriene antagonist, ONO-1078 on antigen-induced airway
      microvascular leakage in actively sensitized guinea pigs.
AB  - We examined the effect of ONO-1078, a peptide leukotriene antagonist, on antigen
      induced airway microvascular leakage in ovalbumin-sensitized guinea pigs. When
      guinea pigs were pretreated with mepyramine, ovalbumin challenge increased
      vascular permeability to Evans blue dye in trachea, main bronchi and
      intrapulmonary airways. Oral administration of ONO-1078 significantly reduced
      microvascular leakage in intrapulmonary airways at doses more than 3 mg/kg, but
      not in trachea. Moreover, oral administration of ONO-1078 significantly reduced
      SRS-A mediated microvascular leakage into all airway tissues and was more
      effective in intrapulmonary airways at 3 mg/kg. Simultaneously, ONO-1078 also
      inhibited SRS-A mediated bronchoconstriction. On the other hand, azelastine (10
      mg/kg, p.o.), an anti-asthma agent, failed to inhibit microvascular leakage into
      the airways. These results suggest that peptide leukotrienes may be important
      mediators of airway microvascular leakage, and that the inhibitory effect of ONO
      1078 on antigen-induced airway microvascular leakage in addition to the blockade
      of bronchoconstriction may have therapeutic implications for bronchial asthma.

PMID- 1435066
TI  - Collagen biosynthesis in cultured rat testicular Sertoli and peritubular myoid
      cells.
AB  - The incorporation of 3H-proline into protein was regarded as a measure of total
      protein synthesis and the incorporation into hydroxyproline as indicative of
      collagen synthesis. Relative collagen synthesis (expressed as percent of total
      protein synthesized) by Sertoli and peritubular myoid cells cultured from 20-22
      day old rat testis was estimated. In both secreted and cellular pools, relative
      collagen synthesis by Sertoli cells was significantly greater than by peritubular
      myoid cells. Coculture of Sertoli and myoid cells resulted in a significant
      increase in relative collagen synthesis when compared to monocultures of each
      cell type. Addition of serum to peritubular myoid cells resulted in a stronger
      stimulation of relative collagen production. Sertoli cell extracellular matrix
      inhibited relative collagen synthesis by peritubular myoid cells in the presence
      or absence of serum. Radioactivity into hydroxyproline as corrected per cellular
      DNA also showed similar results. Immunolocalization studies confirmed that both
      cell types synthesize type I and type IV collagens. These results indicate that
      stimulation of collagen synthesis observed in Sertoli-myoid cell cocultures is
      due to humoral interactions, rather than extracellular matrix, and Sertoli cell
      extracellular matrix regulates serum-induced increase in collagen synthesis by
      peritubular myoid cells.

PMID- 1435067
TI  - Caffeine potentiates the enhancement by choline of striatal acetylcholine
      release.
AB  - We investigated the effect of peripherally administered caffeine (50 mg/kg),
      choline (30, 60, or 120 mg/kg) or combinations of both drugs on the spontaneous
      release of acetylcholine (ACh) from the corpus striatum of anesthetized rats
      using in vivo microdialysis. Caffeine alone or choline in the 30 or 60 mg/kg dose
      failed to increase ACh in microdialysis samples; the 120 mg/kg choline dose
      significantly enhanced ACh during the 80 min following drug administration.
      Coadministration of caffeine with choline significantly increased ACh release
      after each of the choline doses tested. Peak microdialysate levels with the 120
      mg/kg dose were increased 112% when caffeine was additionally administered, as
      compared with 54% without caffeine. These results indicate that choline
      administration can enhance spontaneous ACh release from neurons, and that
      caffeine, a drug known to block adenosine receptors on these neurons, can amplify
      the choline effect.

PMID- 1435069
TI  - Transcriptional regulation of hexokinase I mRNA levels by TSH in cultured rat
      thyroid FRTL5 cells.
AB  - We investigated the effect of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) on the expression
      of hexokinase I mRNA by cultured rat thyroid FRTL5 cells. TSH stimulated
      hexokinase I gene expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner. An increase in
      hexokinase I mRNA was detected after 3 h of incubation with TSH, and a maximum
      was reached after 12 h showing about 2.5-fold increase at 1 mU/ml TSH. A nuclear
      run-on transcriptional assay showed that the effect of TSH on hexokinase I mRNA
      was due to an increase in the rate of gene transcription. (Bu)2cAMP and forskolin
      also increased hexokinase I mRNA expression to almost the same extent as TSH.
      These findings suggest that TSH stimulates hexokinase I gene expression at the
      transcriptional level via the cAMP-dependent pathway.

PMID- 1435068
TI  - A simple method for measurement of phosphoramidon-sensitive endothelin converting
      enzyme activity.
AB  - We have developed a rapid and convenient assay for measurement of the action of
      endothelin (ET) converting enzyme (ECE) using the scintillation proximity assay
      (SPA) principle. On incubation of [125I]big ET-1 at 37 degrees C for 0.5-6 hr
      with an enzyme preparation, the reaction was terminated by the addition of an ET
      1-specific antibody formulated in a buffer designed to shift the pH to alkaline.
      The antibody was allowed to come to equilibrium for 1 hr at room temperature and
      the amount of ET-1 produced, detected in a single step by the addition of protein
      A SPA beads. Using this assay, ECE activities of enzyme preparations obtained
      from porcine cultured endothelial cells and rat lung were clearly detected. These
      activities were inhibited by phosphoramidon in a concentration-dependent manner.
      The SPA based assay is homogeneous requiring no separation steps and takes a half
      day to complete. This method is therefore suitable for the high throughput
      screening of potential ECE inhibitors.

PMID- 1435070
TI  - A simplified method for the determination of nitric oxide in biological
      solutions.
AB  - A new simplified procedure for determination of nitric oxide (NO) in biological
      solutions is described utilizing a new reducing system of nitric oxide prior to
      chemiluminescence. Advantages of the new method makes heating of the reducing
      solution unnecessary and avoids cooling and condensation of generated vapors.
      Only traces of acid with a high boiling point are used. The method permits
      analysis of small sample volumes (200 microL). The basal production of nitric
      oxide by freshly harvested endothelial cells ranged from 100 to 880 picomoles.

PMID- 1435071
TI  - Colloidal bismuth subcitrate and omeprazole inhibit alcohol dehydrogenase
      mediated acetaldehyde production by Helicobacter pylori.
AB  - We have recently shown that Helicobacter pylori possesses marked alcohol
      dehydrogenase (ADH) activity and is capable--when incubated with an ethanol
      containing solution in vitro--of producing large amounts of acetaldehyde. In the
      present study we report that some drugs commonly used for the eradication of H.
      pylori and for the treatment of gastroduodenal diseases are potent ADH inhibitors
      and, consequently, effectively prevent bacterial oxidation of ethanol to
      acetaldehyde. Colloidal bismuth subcitrate (CBS), already at a concentration of
      0.01 mM, inhibited H. pylori ADH by 93% at 0.5 M ethanol and decreased oxidation
      of 22 mM ethanol to acetaldehyde to 82% of control. At concentrations above 5 mM,
      CBS almost totally inhibited acetaldehyde formation. Omeprazole, a drug also
      known to suppress growth of H. pylori, also inhibited H. pylori ADH and
      suppressed bacterial acetaldehyde formation significantly to 69% of control at a
      drug concentration of 0.1 mM. By contrast, the H2-receptor antagonists ranitidine
      and famotidine showed only modest effect on bacterial ADH and acetaldehyde
      production. We suggest that inhibition of bacterial ADH and a consequent
      suppression of acetaldehyde production from endogenous or exogenous ethanol may
      be a novel mechanism by which CBS and omeprazole exert their effect both on the
      growth of H. pylori as well as on H. pylori associated gastric injury.

PMID- 1435072
TI  - Pyridine and other coal tar constituents as inhibitors of potato polyphenol
      oxidase: a non-animal model for neurochemical studies.
AB  - Potato polyphenol oxidase activity was strongly and noncompetitively inhibited by
      the "Perov mixture" of coal tar components and by pyridine alone, while phenol
      competitively inhibited the enzyme. These two inhibitors are structural
      components of the parkinsonogenic neurotoxin N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6
      tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). By extension, dopamine and neuromelanin synthesis in
      the brain may be influenced by the inhibitory effects of such compounds upon the
      copper-dependent steps of tyrosine metabolism. The non-animal model used in this
      study may represent an alternative to the use of animal tissues in
      neurodegenerative disease research.

PMID- 1435073
TI  - Non-selectivity of new bradykinin antagonists for B1 receptors.

PMID- 1435074
TI  - Potassium permeability of fetal rat pancreatic islets: abnormal sensitivity to
      glucose.
AB  - Potassium channels of fetal rat islets have been recently reported to be
      inadequately regulated by stimulation with glucose when compared to islets of
      adult rats. Though in patch clamp experiments the properties of their KATP
      channels were shown to be comparable to those from adult rats, until now no
      closure could be demonstrated with the technique measuring the 86Rb+ efflux.
      Using this technique, in the presence of a basal (3 mM) glucose concentration the
      86Rb+ efflux was completely insensitive to a stimulation with glucose (5.6 mM) or
      tolbutamide. In contrast, in islets perifused in the absence of glucose the
      introduction of a low glucose concentration (3 mM) or stimulation with
      tolbutamide alone inhibited the 86Rb+ efflux, confirming the presence of
      functioning KATP-channels. The absolute value of the 86Rb+ efflux rate in the
      absence of glucose was, however, much lower in fetal rat islets as normally
      observed in adult rat islets. Apart from this, the ATP content of fetal rat
      islets remained unchanged at either glucose concentration tested. It is suggested
      that in islets of fetal rats a K+ permeability is present and can be inhibited by
      glucose and tolbutamide but in contrast to islets of adult rats the K+ efflux is
      already maximally inhibited in the presence of 3 mM glucose. This may be one
      reason why pancreatic islets of fetal rats do not respond to glucose-stimulation
      with an adequate calcium uptake and insulin release.

PMID- 1435075
TI  - Transfer of 3H-gossypol to neonatal rats via milk of nursing dams.
AB  - Gossypol is a naturally occurring toxin with potent antifertility action in both
      males and females. Transfer of gossypol via milk from lactating mother to
      neonates has not been documented. One theory for the lack of such a finding is
      that gossypol, once tightly bound to milk proteins, is not extractable by
      conventional extraction methods for HPLC analysis. This study was designed to
      examine the possibility and dynamics of transmammary transfer of radioactively
      labelled gossypol to neonates through nursing. Nursing rats were dosed with fifty
      microCi of 3H-gossypol in 0.5 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide via oral intubation on Day
      10 post-partum. Six hours after treatment, significant amounts of 3H-gossypol
      were detected in the coagulated milk collected from the stomachs of the neonates
      as well as in the blood, liver, lung, spleen and a number of other tissues of
      these pups. While most neonatal tissues showed a steady decline in 3H-gossypol
      retention over time regardless of neonatal gender, adrenal glands and gonads
      preferentially accumulated 3H-gossypol in a time- and sex-dependent manner during
      the 24-hour sampling period. The results demonstrate that 3H-gossypol is
      transferred via milk from the nursing dams to their neonates. Thus, the gossypol
      content of milk presents a conceivable threat to neonatal health, especially to
      the normal function of steroidogenic organs.

PMID- 1435076
TI  - Pulmonary biotransformation of insulin in rat and rabbit.
AB  - In vitro biodegradation of insulin in rabbit and rat lung homogenates was
      investigated. Insulin can be sequentially metabolized into two primary fragments
      in rabbit lung homogenate by an aminopeptidase. The amino acid sequences of the
      fragments were found to be the des-Phe-InsulinB1 (Metabolite I) and des-Phe-Val
      InsulinB1-2 (Metabolite II). However, only the former metabolite (Metabolite I)
      was identified in the rat lung homogenate. The km and Vm values associated with
      rabbit lung homogenate were 0.29 +/- 0.14 mM and 16.4 +/- 6.9 microM/hr/mg
      protein, respectively, whereas those for a rabbit lung preparation containing
      both microsomes and cytosol were 0.22 +/- 0.07 mM and 17.9 +/- 5.4 microM/hr/mg
      protein, respectively. The km and Vm associated with the cytosolic fraction of
      rabbit lung were 0.32 +/- 0.16 and 20.6 +/- 6.1 microM/hr/mg protein,
      respectively. The results indicate that the lung aminopeptidase may be a
      cytosolic enzyme. The degradation of dimeric insulin in the lung homogenate was
      faster than that of hexameric insulin due to the difference in collision
      frequency between the enzyme and insulin aggregates. The major metabolites in the
      lungs reportedly retain almost the same bioactivity of insulin, suggesting that
      the pulmonary route of insulin delivery will not adversely affect its
      hypoglycemic activity.

PMID- 1435077
TI  - Adaptation in synergistic muscles to soleus and plantaris muscle removal in the
      rat hindlimb.
AB  - Although the soleus muscle comprises only 6% of the ankle plantar flexor mass in
      the rat, a major role in stance and walking has been ascribed to it. The purpose
      of this study was to determine if removal of the soleus muscle would result in
      adaptations in the remaining gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles due to the new
      demands for force production imposed on them during stance or walking. A second
      purpose was to determine whether the mass or the fiber type of the muscle(s)
      removed was a more important determinant of compensatory adaptations. Male
      Sprague-Dawley rats underwent bilateral removal of soleus muscle, plantaris
      muscle, or both muscles. For comparison, compensatory hypertrophy was induced in
      soleus and plantaris muscles by gastrocnemius muscle ablation. After forty days,
      synergist muscles remaining intact were removed. Mass, and oxidative, glycolytic,
      and contractile enzyme activities were determined. Despite its role in stance and
      slow walking, removal of the soleus muscle did not elicit a measurable alteration
      in muscle mass, or in citrate synthase, lactate dehydrogenase, or myofibrillar
      ATPase activity in gastrocnemius or plantaris muscles. Similarly, removal of the
      plantaris muscle, or soleus and plantaris muscles, had no effect on the
      gastrocnemius muscle, suggesting that this muscle was able to easily meet the new
      demands placed on it. These results suggest that amount of muscle mass removed,
      rather than fiber type, is the most important stimulus for compensatory
      hypertrophy. They also suggest that slow-twitch motor units in the gastrocnemius
      muscle play an important role during stance and locomotion in the intact animal.

PMID- 1435078
TI  - Muscarinic and nicotinic activities of the novel acetylcholine analog
      acetylselenonium choline.
AB  - The present paper further characterizes the cholinergic properties of
      acetylselenonium choline (ASeCh, (CH3)2Se+CH2CH2OCOCH3). The data demonstrate
      that ASeCh possesses muscarinic receptor agonist properties as evidenced by
      vasodepressor and smooth muscle contractile activities which are enhanced by
      physostigmine and antagonized by atropine. ASeCh also possessed nicotinic agonist
      activity on frog rectus abdominis tissue which was potentiated by physostigmine,
      and blocked by d-tubocurarine. The relative potencies of ASeCh ranged from
      approximately 1% to approximately 6% of the potency of acetylcholine in the three
      types of preparations examined.

PMID- 1435079
TI  - Synthesis and release of acetylcholine in the rabbit kidney cortex.
AB  - Several cholinergic processes were demonstrated and partially characterized in
      rabbit kidney cortical minces: choline uptake, acetylcholine synthesis and
      calcium-dependent release. Minces took up labelled choline, acetylated it, and
      stored it in a pool that was not readily accessible to physostigmine-sensitive
      cholinesterase activity. [3H]Acetylcholine synthesis but not [3H]choline uptake
      was inhibited by the removal of sodium ions or incubation at 0 degrees C. The
      release of newly synthesized [3H]acetylcholine was increased by 300 mOsmol urea
      in a calcium-dependent manner, but not by potassium depolarization (300 mOsmol),
      vasopressin (10 microM), or bradykinin (10 microM). These results suggest that
      acetylcholine may be synthesized by non-neuronal rabbit kidney cortical cells and
      that this transmitter may be released in response to physiological levels of
      urea.

PMID- 1435080
TI  - Ontogeny of endothelin and its receptors in rat brain.
AB  - The ontogeny of endothelin (ET) system in rats was studied in preterm (18 days of
      gestation), term (21 days of gestation) and 1 week post term rats. Brains were
      dissected out and (1) processed for the estimation of endogenous ET-1 by RIA and
      (2) membranes were prepared for radioreceptor binding. Receptor characteristics,
      affinity (Kd) and density (Bmax) were determined using [125I] ET-1 and [125I] SRT
      6b (which is structurally similar to ET) and cold ET-1 or SRT 6b as displacer. ET
      levels were found to be 25.66 +/- 3.18 pg/g protein in preterm, 47.37 +/- 5.31
      pg/g protein in term and 48.30 +/- 1.90 pg/g protein in post term rats. ET levels
      were significantly lower in preterm as compared to term and post term rats.
      Preterm, term and post term rats showed single high affinity binding site for
      both [125I] ET-1 and [125I] SRT 6b. The Kd values for [125I] ET-1 and [125I] SRT
      6b binding were similar in preterm, term and post term rats. The Bmax values of
      both [125I] ET-1 and [125I] SRT 6b binding were found to be similar in preterm
      and term rats while they were significantly higher in post term rats. In adult (4
      month old) rats the Kd values were similar to neonatal rats while the Bmax values
      were significantly lower than the post term neonatal rats. It is concluded that
      ET and its receptors are developmentally regulated and there is a possibility
      that endogenous ET is involved in the regulation of ET receptor density.

PMID- 1435081
TI  - Inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation by liver arginase.
AB  - The activities of thymidine kinase and uridine kinase (enzymes for pyrimidine
      salvage pathway) in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)--prestimulated lymphocytes were
      inhibited by arginase in a similar pattern to the inhibition on thymidine
      incorporation. Further study revealed that arginase did not directly affect the
      activities of these enzymes in the cell-free system. Thymidine kinase and uridine
      kinase activities of PHA-prestimulated lymphocytes were inhibited by arginase
      making their activities as low as that cultured in arginine-free RPMI-1640
      medium. These results suggest that arginine-depletion in the culture medium is
      the primary mode of action of arginase on the inhibition of mitogen-stimulated
      lymphocyte proliferation.

PMID- 1435082
TI  - The presence of cocaine and benzoylecgonine in rat cerebrospinal fluid after the
      intravenous administration of cocaine.
AB  - Cocaine hydrochloride, in doses of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 mg/kg, iv, was
      administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected
      from the cisterna magna over a 20 min period and blood samples were obtained at
      20 min after cocaine administration. In addition, blood samples for the 1 mg/kg
      dose of cocaine were collected at 2, 10, 20 and 30 min following drug injection.
      Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used for the analysis of cocaine and its
      metabolites in plasma and CSF. The disappearance of cocaine (1 mg/kg) from the
      plasma exhibited first order kinetics with a half-life of 18.11 +/- 3.22 min.
      Cocaine and benzoylecgonine were found in CSF and the concentrations of cocaine
      and benzoylecgonine increased in CSF as the doses of cocaine were increased. CSF
      flow rates were not altered by the iv administration of cocaine or
      benzoylecgonine. The CSF-to-plasma ratios for cocaine were quite similar to each
      other over the dosage range of cocaine that was administered; however, the CSF-to
      plasma ratios for benzoylecgonine decreased as the concentrations of
      benzoylecgonine increased in plasma and CSF. When benzoylecgonine (2 mg/kg, iv)
      was given, the compound was detected in CSF indicating that benzoylecgonine can
      enter into the central nervous system from the peripheral blood. This
      investigation shows that cocaine and benzoylecgonine can be assayed in CSF and
      that the plasma levels of these compounds correlate with their concentrations in
      CSF.

PMID- 1435083
TI  - The protection against gentamicin nephrotoxicity in the streptozotocin-induced
      diabetic rat is not related to gender.
AB  - Since gender can influence the renal toxicity of a drug in a given species, the
      present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of sex in the protection
      against gentamicin (G)-induced nephrotoxicity afforded by diabetes mellitus (DM)
      in the rat. We have compared the effects of administration of G (40 mg/kg/day,
      for 14 days) on male and female DM Sprague-Dawley rats. Non-diabetic animals of
      both sexes receiving identical doses of G served as controls. At the end of the
      experiment on day 14, both female (F) and male (M) control groups had similar and
      marked evidence of nephrotoxicity: elevation of plasma creatinine (F 1.7 +/- 0.7;
      M 2.8 +/- 0.6 mg/dl), decrease in endogenous 24-h creatinine clearance (Ccr)
      (F0.3 +/- 0.1; M 0.2 +/- 0.1 ml/min/100 g BW), and histological evidence of
      severe acute tubular necrosis. In marked contrast, the DM rats showed no
      functional or morphological evidence of renal damage throughout the study
      regardless of their gender (day 14: plasma creatinine: F 0.2 +/- 0.03; M 0.2 +/-
      0.02; Ccr: F 1.2 +/- 0.1; M 1.6 +/- 0.1 ml/min/100 g BW), and they also
      accumulated less G in their kidney cortex than the C rats. The male controls
      exhibited higher renal cortex accumulation of G than the female controls (p <
      0.05), whereas the opposite occurred in the DM groups (p < 0.01). Because the
      validity of using Ccr for the evaluation of GFR changes in experimental
      nephrotoxicity has been questioned, we have compared, in a separate experiment,
      three different methods of estimation of GFR (simultaneous short clearances of
      inulin and Ccr, and 24-h Ccr) in conscious female Sprague-Dawley rats undergoing
      the same treatment with G described above. At no time during the study did the
      method used for estimation of the GFR influence the results. We conclude that
      male and female Sprague-Dawley rats with diabetes are functionally and
      morphologically equally protected against G. Furthermore, no gender-related
      differences in the magnitude of G-induced nephrotoxicity was demonstrated in the
      non-diabetic control animals.

PMID- 1435084
TI  - Repeated corticosterone treatment attenuates behavioural and neuroendocrine
      responses to 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin in rats.
AB  - The effects of 5 day corticosterone treatment (50 mg/kg s.c.; 2 x daily) are
      investigated on the behavioural and neuroendocrine responses to a 5-HT-1A
      selective agonist, 8-hydroxy -2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) in rats.
      Daily corticosterone treatment decreased body weight and food intake. After 5 day
      treatment a drug challenge of 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg 8-OH-DPAT given on the sixth day
      produced smaller forepaw treading but comparable head waeving, flat body posture
      and also hypothermia in 5 day corticosterone than 5 day saline injected rats.
      Hyperphagic effects of only 0.25 mg/kg 8-OH-DPAT were attenuated in 5 day
      corticosterone injected animals. The effects of 8-OH-DPAT on the increases of
      plasma corticosterone were markedly attenuated in the 5 day corticosterone
      injected animals. The findings may help towards an understanding of steroid
      induced affective changes and psychosis.

PMID- 1435085
TI  - Treatment parameters of desensitization to capsaicin.
AB  - Desensitization of sensory afferents with topical capsaicin has been employed to
      treat a variety of neuropathic disorders in humans, however, few studies have
      been undertaken to systematically evaluate treatment parameters to determine the
      optimal dose and frequency of treatment needed to achieve and maintain
      desensitization. The effects of several treatment parameters, including dose,
      number of exposures, interval between exposures and duration of exposure, on the
      development, magnitude and duration of desensitization following local treatment
      with capsaicin and related compounds are described.

PMID- 1435086
TI  - Therapeutic potential of capsaicin-like molecules: studies in animals and humans.
AB  - Capsaicin-sensitive primary afferent neurons in the peripheral nervous system are
      widely distributed to both the somatic and visceral territories: their
      inactivation following capsaicin "desensitization" is expected to produce
      analgesia and to be useful for a number of human diseases such as asthma, urinary
      incontinence, inflammatory diseases of the gut, arthritis and psoriasis. The
      present communication reviews the therapeutic potential of capsaicin-like drugs
      in the pathophysiology of the mammalian urinary bladder.

PMID- 1435087
TI  - Stimulation of myenteric plexus neurite outgrowth by insulin and insulin-like
      growth factors I and II.
AB  - A defined culture medium containing insulin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I)
      or insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) supported morphological development of
      myenteric plexus neurons derived from neonatal guinea pigs. Insulin increased
      neurite outgrowth 3-fold at concentrations as low as 0.2 nM. Similar significant
      and dose-dependent increases in neurite outgrowth were noted with IGF-I and IGF
      II. Stimulation of neurite outgrowth was abolished by exposure to cytosine
      arabinofuranoside, an agent toxic to non-neuronal cells, implying that trophic
      effects of insulin or insulin-like growth factors require the presence of non
      neuronal elements in culture.

PMID- 1435088
TI  - Interleukin-1 inhibits serotonin release from the hypothalamus in vitro.
AB  - During a 60-min incubation period, the in vitro release of serotonin (5-HT) from
      the hypothalami of control male rats decreased by 12.3 +/- 3.1%. In contrast, the
      presence of 25 ng of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) in the incubation medium more
      than doubled this decrease to 29.3 +/- 3.3% (P < 0.001), and the presence of 50
      ng of IL-1 beta more than quadrupled this decrease to 53.7 +/- 7.4% (P < 0.001).
      The decrease produced by the higher dose of IL-1 beta was significantly greater
      than that produced by the lower dose (P < 0.01), indicating a dose response.
      During the next two 60-min periods when the hypothalami of the control as well as
      treatment groups were incubated without IL-beta, 5-HT release continued to
      decrease and then became stabilized in the control group. In contrast, 5-HT
      release in the treatment groups rebounded before becoming stabilized at levels
      that were not significantly different from those in the control group. It is
      concluded that IL-1 beta inhibits the release of serotonin from the hypothalamus
      in vitro.

PMID- 1435089
TI  - Influence of renal denervation on chronopharmacology of furosemide in rats.
AB  - Our previous studies have suggested that the adrenergic nervous system is
      involved in the mechanism responsible for the time-dependent change in the
      urinary excretion of furosemide in rats. To examine a potential role of renal
      nerves in this phenomenon, renal denervation or sham operation was performed
      using unilaterally nephrectomized rats. Furosemide (30 mg/kg) was given orally at
      12 am or 12 pm. Urine was collected for 8 hours after furosemide dosing, and
      urinary excretions of furosemide and sodium were determined. Urinary furosemide
      excretion and diuretic effects of the agent (urine volume and urinary sodium)
      were significantly greater at 12 am than at 12 pm in the sham-operated group of
      rats. However these administration time-dependent changes in urinary furosemide
      and its diuretic effects disappeared in the renal-denervated group of animals.
      These results suggest that the renal nerves contribute to the time-dependent
      changes in the urinary excretion of furosemide and its subsequent diuretic
      effects.

PMID- 1435090
TI  - Centrally acting endogenous hypotensive substances in rats subjected to endotoxic
      shock.
AB  - Cerebroventricular perfusate (CVP) from rats subjected to endotoxic shock was
      infused into the lateral ventricle of the naive rat. This procedure produced a
      hypotensive response in the recipient rat which could be reversed by the
      intravenous injection of the opioid antagonist naltrexone. The degree of
      endotoxemic hypotension in the donor rat was attenuated by perfusing the
      cerebroventricular system with mock CSF. The results suggest the existence of
      endogenous hypotensive substances in rat central nervous system, possibly opioid
      in nature, which may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of endotoxic shock.

PMID- 1435091
TI  - The accumulation and disappearance of cocaine and benzoylecgonine in rat hair
      following prolonged administration of cocaine.
AB  - Hair samples were obtained at various time periods from male Sprague-Dawley rats
      following the injection of cocaine hydrochloride in doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg,
      ip, for 28 days. Hair samples were also taken continually after the dosing was
      stopped until the presence of cocaine and benzoylecgonine were no longer detected
      in hair. Cocaine and benzoylecgonine in hair and plasma were analyzed by gas
      chromatography/mass spectrometry. Both cocaine and benzoylecgonine were found in
      hair samples 4 days after the initiation of cocaine administration. When cocaine
      dosing was stopped after 28 days, approximately 25 to 30 days were required for
      cocaine and benzoylecgonine to disappear from rat hair in the group of animals
      that received the highest dose of cocaine. The disappearance of cocaine and
      benzoylecgonine followed first-order kinetics. The mean rate constant and mean
      half-life for cocaine disappearance from hair were 0.212 +/- 0.005 day-1 and 3.31
      +/- 0.09 days, respectively, and the mean rate constant and mean half-life for
      benzoylecgonine disappearance from hair were 0.098 +/- 0.006 day-1 and 6.90 +/-
      0.28 days, respectively. The mean plasma concentrations of cocaine on Day 25 for
      the 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg doses of cocaine were 508 +/- 42, 852 +/- 95, and 2027 +/
      75 ng/mL, respectively, and the mean plasma benzoylecgonine levels for the 5,
      10, and 20 mg/kg doses of cocaine were 49.9 +/- 7.0, 103.3 +/- 9.3, and 191.0 +/-
      16.0 ng/mL, respectively. There was a positive correlation between the doses of
      cocaine hydrochloride administered and the plasma levels of both cocaine and
      benzoylecgonine. This study showed that cocaine and benzoylecgonine can be
      measured in rat hair following the administration of cocaine and that it was
      possible to correlate the concentrations of cocaine and benzoylecgonine found in
      hair with the doses of cocaine that were administered.

PMID- 1435093
TI  - Effects of dietary linseed oil and marine oil on lipid peroxidation in monkey
      liver in vivo and in vitro.
AB  - Diets rich in linoleic acid (CO) from corn oil, or in linoleic acid and either
      alpha-linolenic acid (LO) based on linseed oil or n-3 fatty acids (MO) from
      menhaden oil were fed to male and female Cynomolgus monkeys for 15 wk. In the
      liver a 40% reduction of alpha-tocopherol occurred in the MO group relative to
      the CO and LO groups followed by increased formation of lipofuscin in vivo. A
      four-fold increase of alpha-tocopherol in the MO diet (MO + E) brought the level
      in the liver to that found with CO and LO. The increased peroxidation in the MO
      group in the liver phospholipids was associated with the replacement of 60% of
      the n-6 fatty acids by n-3 fatty acids from menhaden oil. Similar fatty acid
      profiles were found in groups fed MO and MO + E, respectively. Compared to the CO
      fed group, feeding alpha-linolenic acid only resulted in a slight incorporation
      of n-3 fatty acids in the liver membranes mainly due to a direct incorporation of
      alpha-linolenic acid. However, in monkeys fed menhaden oil more than 30% of the
      total fatty acids in the liver phospholipids were n-3 fatty acids. The various
      diets did not influence the activity of liver catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) nor
      superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1), but glutathione-peroxidase activity (EC
      1.11.1.9) was higher in monkeys fed the MO diet. The catalase activity in females
      was 20% higher than in males.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1435092
TI  - Comparison of the effect of the amount and degree of unsaturation of dietary fat
      on plasma low density lipoproteins in vervet monkeys.
AB  - The effects of the degree of unsaturation and of the amount of dietary fat on low
      density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration and composition were determined in vervet
      monkeys. Diets with fat contents of 41, 31 and 18% energy, each with a low and a
      high polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio (P/S; 0.27-0.38 and 1.13-1.47)
      were fed to six female vervet monkeys for two months. Another six females were
      given a low fat, high P/S diet for the same period of time, to serve as a
      reference. The cholesterol contents of the diets were low (21-33 mg per day) and
      relatively constant. LDL cholesterol concentrations decreased significantly (P <
      or = 0.01) when the dietary fat content decreased from 31 to 18% of energy. The
      dietary P/S ratio only affected LDL cholesterol concentrations during moderate
      (31% of energy) fat intake, where LDL cholesterol increased (P < or = 0.01) with
      a decrease in dietary P/S. Substantial individual variations were observed in LDL
      cholesterol concentration responses to dietary fat changes. The changes in LDL
      cholesterol concentrations were the result of changes in the concentration of LDL
      particles, as the molecular composition did not differ significantly between
      dietary periods. The high density lipoprotein cholesterol and the plasma
      triacylglycerol concentrations were not influenced by the dietary fat changes.
      During the high P/S diets, the percentage of 18:2 (linoleic acid) increased (P <
      or = 0.01) and that of 18:1 (oleic acid) decreased (P < or = 0.01) in LDL
      esterified cholesterol, as compared to the low P/S diets. In adipose tissue
      triacylglycerol the percentage of 18:2 was three times higher (P < or = 0.01)
      during the high P/S diets than during the low P/S diets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1435094
TI  - The effect of a histidine-excess diet on cholesterol synthesis and degradation in
      rats.
AB  - Feeding a diet high in excess histidine (5% L-histidine) resulted in
      hypercholesterolemia and enlargement of the liver in rats. To clarify the
      mechanism of the hypercholesterolemia, cholesterol synthesis and degradation were
      followed. We found that hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase
      activity in histidine-excess diet rats was significantly higher than in rats fed
      a basal diet. Incorporation of [3H] water into cholesterol of liver slices from
      rats fed the histidine-excess diet was higher than incorporation into liver
      slices from rats fed the basal diet (expressed per liver per 100 g body weight).
      In vivo incorporation of [3H] water into hepatic cholesterol was also higher, but
      the incorporation into cholesterol of the small intestine was lower in histidine
      fed rats than in rats fed the basal diet (expressed per liver per 100 g body
      weight). Hepatic cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity was similar in both
      groups. The data suggest that the hypercholesterolemia caused by histidine-excess
      diet appears to be due to the stimulation of cholesterol synthesis in the liver.

PMID- 1435095
TI  - trans fatty acids. 5. Fatty acid composition of lipids of the brain and other
      organs in suckling piglets.
AB  - The effects of dietary trans fatty acids on the fatty acid composition of the
      brain in comparison with other organs were studied in 3-wk-old suckling piglets.
      In Experiment (Expt.) 1 the piglets were delivered from sows fed partially
      hydrogenated fish oil (PHFO) (28% trans), partially hydrogenated soybean oil
      (PHSBO) (36% trans) or lard (0% trans). In Expt. 2 the piglets were delivered
      from sows fed PHFO, hydrogenated fish oil (HFO) (19% trans) or coconut fat (CF)
      (0% trans) with two levels of dietary linoleic acid (1 and 2.7%) according to
      factorial design. In both experiments the mother's milk was the piglets' only
      food. The level of incorporation of trans fatty acids in the organs was dependent
      on the levels in the diets and independent of fat source (i.e., PHSBO, PHFO or
      HFO). Incorporation of trans fatty acids into brain PE (phosphatidylethanolamine)
      was non-detectable in Expt. 1. In Expt. 2, small amounts (less than 0.5%) of 18:1
      trans isomers were found in the brain, the level being slightly more on the lower
      level of dietary linoleic acid compared to the higher. In the other organs the
      percentage of 18:1 trans increased in the following order: heart PE, liver
      mitochondria PE, plasma lipids and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Small amounts of
      20:1 trans were found in adipose tissue and plasma lipids. Other very long-chain
      fatty acids from PHFO or HFO (i.e., 20:1 cis and 22:1 cis + trans) were found in
      all organ lipids except for brain PE. Dietary trans fatty acids increased the
      percentage of 22:5n-6 in brain PE.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1435096
TI  - Lipids in cancer: an introduction.

PMID- 1435097
TI  - Dietary fat and breast cancer.
AB  - High-fat diets are thought to increase the risk of breast cancer because animals
      develop mammary cancer more readily when they are fed high-fat compared to low
      fat diets, and breast cancer incidence and mortality are higher in countries with
      high-fat as compared to those with low-fat diets. Prospective cohort studies and
      case-control studies have failed to provide much support for this theory, but
      such studies are less capable of showing the relationship because of smaller
      differences in dietary fat intakes of the study populations; difficulties in
      assessing the diets of individuals over a period of time; and possible
      differences in genetic susceptibility of cases and controls to breast cancer.
      Studies on migrants have shown that breast cancer incidence and mortality
      increase in populations who move from countries with low-fat to those with high
      fat diets, indicating that observed geographical differences in breast cancer are
      due to environmental rather than genetic factors. This is supported by time-trend
      studies showing that breast cancer increases in countries as the level of fat in
      the diet rises. Controlled, long-term dietary trials are needed to determine
      whether the converse is true: namely, that reduction of dietary fat can reduce
      the risk of breast cancer. Large groups are required to achieve statistical
      significance, but smaller numbers may be adequate for studies on high-risk
      individuals. Preliminary experiments already have demonstrated the feasibility of
      carrying out such dietary trials.

PMID- 1435099
TI  - Dietary fat and the development of pancreatic cancer.
AB  - Pancreatic cancer is the fifth most common cause of death due to cancer. Except
      for an association with cigarette smoking, its etiology is poorly understood.
      Because of the dearth of epidemiological clues as to causation, studies with
      experimental animal models assume greater importance. Rodent models of pancreatic
      cancer indicate that while dietary fat per se does not cause pancreatic cancer,
      it does enhance or promote tumor development. Subsequent to treatment with a
      pancreatic carcinogen, high intakes of dietary unsaturated fats of the n-6
      series, but not saturated fats, enhance or promote tumor development. A requisite
      level of linoleic acid is needed for this promotion. Fats of the n-3 series
      (e.g., certain fish oils) are inhibitory to tumor growth. Promotion by dietary
      fats appears only partly related to the high caloric content of fat.
      Mechanistically, certain dietary unsaturated fats appear to selectively enhance
      the growth rate of carcinogen-induced, pre-cancerous lesions. Irrespective of
      precise understanding of mechanisms of promotion, it appears possible to
      intervene in the process of cancer development and reduce the burden of cancer.
      Experimentally, this may be accomplished by decreasing total fat intake,
      decreasing caloric intake, increasing exercise or increasing the intake of n-3
      fatty acids.

PMID- 1435098
TI  - Dietary fat, fatty acids and prostate cancer.
AB  - International comparisons suggest a relationship between prostate cancer
      incidence and dietary fat, an inference supported by migration studies, the
      changing incidence rates and levels of animal fat consumption in Japan and the
      results from some case-control studies. Overall, however, epidemiological studies
      have been inconclusive, and although prostate cancer is one of the hormone
      dependent tumors, evidence of interactions between dietary fats and male
      endocrine function is incomplete. Laboratory experimentation has shown that n-6
      fatty acids stimulate and n-3 fatty acids inhibit human prostate cancer cells in
      culture; also, feeding diets rich in marine oils suppresses growth of these cells
      as solid tumors in athymic nude mice. These growth effects of polyunsaturated
      fatty acids appear to involve both prostaglandins and leukotrienes and to
      interconnect with autocrine regulation by epidermal growth factor-related
      polypeptides.

PMID- 1435100
TI  - Dietary fat and colon cancer: animal model studies.
AB  - Since it was first suggested that high dietary fat is a risk factor in colon
      cancer, there have been several studies to test this hypothesis. Epidemiologic
      studies suggested a positive association between dietary fat and colon cancer.
      Laboratory animal model studies demonstrated that not only the amount of fat, but
      also types of fat differing in fatty acid composition are important determining
      factors in colon tumor development. Chemically-induced colon tumor incidence was
      increased in rats fed the semipurified diets containing 23% corn oil, safflower
      oil, lard or beef tallow (high-fat) as compared to those fed 5% corn oil,
      safflower oil, lard or beef tallow diets (low-fat). Diets containing 23% coconut
      oil, olive oil or fish oil, or high-fat diets containing varying levels of trans
      fat, had no colon tumor-enhancing effect compared to their respective low fat
      diets. The stage at which the effect of dietary fat is exerted appears to be
      mostly during the post-initiation phase of colon carcinogenesis. Lack of a colon
      tumor enhancing effect of dietary fish oil is observed both during the initiation
      and postinitiation phases. The mechanisms by which various dietary fats increase
      colon carcinogenesis are not fully understood. In most instances, however, the
      high-fat diet appears to enhance tumorigenesis through elevation of agents, such
      as secondary bile acids, that act as promoters of tumor development. Lack of
      colon tumor promotion by dietary fish oil and trans fat appears to be mediated
      through their effect on mucosal ornithine decarboxylase activity, colonic
      secondary bile acids and/or prostaglandin synthesis.

PMID- 1435101
TI  - Humans, lipids and evolution.
AB  - The genetically ordered physiology of contemporary humans was selected over eons
      of evolutionary experience for a nutritional pattern affording much less fat,
      particularly less saturated fat. Current dietary recommendations do not accord
      exactly with those generated by an understanding of prior hominoid/hominid
      evolution. Similarly, widely advocated standards for serum cholesterol values
      fail to match those observed in recently studied hunter-gatherers, whose
      experience represents the closest living approximation of "natural" human lipid
      metabolism. The evolutionary paradigm suggests that fats should comprise 20-25%
      of total energy intake, that the ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fat should
      exceed 1.0, and that total serum cholesterol levels should be below 150 mg/dL
      (approximately 4 mM/L).

PMID- 1435103
TI  - Medicine and Law. Index 1982-1991.

PMID- 1435104
TI  - Neuroendocrine challenge tests: assessment of 5-HT function in anxiety and
      depression.

PMID- 1435102
TI  - Dietary fat and breast cancer risk: the feasibility of a clinical trial of breast
      cancer prevention.
AB  - Animal experimental evidence and human ecological data suggest that dietary fat
      intake is related to breast cancer risk. Epidemiological studies within countries
      have given inconsistent results but are limited by the restricted range of
      dietary intake found in Western populations and by error in the measurement of
      fat consumption. Experimental evidence, derived from controlled clinical trials
      in which the range of fat intake is increased beyond that seen in most Western
      populations, is capable of overcoming this limitation of observational
      epidemiology, and would provide the strongest evidence available concerning the
      relationship of dietary fat intake to breast cancer risk. Further, such trials
      are the only means likely to answer the question of whether breast cancer risk in
      high-risk subjects can be modified by changing dietary fat intake. We describe
      here several aspects of the feasibility of an experimental approach to this
      problem, including the identification of subjects at increased risk for breast
      cancer, and the demonstration that such subjects will enter a clinical trial of
      dietary fat reduction and comply with a low-fat diet. It is shown that subjects
      can be recruited and retained in such trials, that satisfactory dietary
      compliance can be achieved over at least 24 mon and that the subjects selected
      are at demonstrably increased risk of breast cancer. This finding indicates that
      it is feasible to test the dietary fat-breast cancer hypothesis experimentally by
      means of a clinical trial.

PMID- 1435105
TI  - The tyramine conjugation test as a trait marker for endogenous unipolar
      depression and a predictor of treatment response.

PMID- 1435106
TI  - John Archer, M.B.: one of the great medical pioneers of this state.

PMID- 1435107
TI  - On deaning and Hopkins: an interview with Richard S. Ross, M.D., dean emeritus of
      the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Interview by Janet Farrar
      Worthington.

PMID- 1435108
TI  - Papillary muscle rupture: a reversible cause of cardiogenic shock.

PMID- 1435109
TI  - Instrumental musicians showing technique impairment with painful overuse.

PMID- 1435110
TI  - Medical peer review, litigation, and the exercise of judgment.

PMID- 1435111
TI  - Selected communicable diseases in Maryland. October, 1992.

PMID- 1435112
TI  - Imaging case of the month. Neurosarcoidosis.

PMID- 1435113
TI  - Motor-sensory neuropathy.

PMID- 1435114
TI  - Nonnursing functions: put the problem in writing.

PMID- 1435115
TI  - Lamaze technique for pediatric pain.

PMID- 1435116
TI  - Tracheostomy care: preparing parents for discharge.

PMID- 1435117
TI  - EPSDT: The lawsuit.

PMID- 1435119
TI  - A ritual of remembrance.

PMID- 1435120
TI  - Pathophysiology and nursing management of persistent pulmonary hypertension of
      the newborn.

PMID- 1435121
TI  - Exploratory data analysis. Part I: Skepticism and openness.

PMID- 1435118
TI  - Critical care for the maternity patient.

PMID- 1435122
TI  - Preventing hepatitis B in infants.

PMID- 1435123
TI  - Presidential address: 'I am in blood...' (Macbeth act III scene IV).

PMID- 1435124
TI  - Trends in suicide (1983-1987).
AB  - From over 20,000 autopsies performed by the Department of Forensic Medicine of
      The London Hospital Medical College over a period of 5 years from 1983 to 1987,
      7.4 per cent were classified as unnatural deaths, and from these 659 (3.2 per
      cent) were suicides. The object of this paper is to study the different methods
      of self-destruction, the incidence of these methods by sex and age, and evidence
      left by the deceased.

PMID- 1435125
TI  - Poppy seeds: implications of consumption.
AB  - Three white poppy seed samples of Papaver somniferum L were found to contain
      total morphine (free and bound) in the range 58.4 to 62.2 micrograms/g seeds and
      total codeine (free and bound) in the range 28.4 to 54.1 micrograms/g seeds.
      Soaking seeds in water was found to remove 45.6 per cent of the free morphine and
      48.4 per cent of the free codeine. In ingesting a curry meal or two containing
      various amounts of washed seeds (morphine intake: 200.4 to 1002 micrograms;
      codeine intake: 95.9 to 479.5 micrograms), the urinary morphine levels were found
      to be in the range 0.12 to 1.27 micrograms/ml urine and urinary codeine levels in
      the range 0.04 to 0.73 micrograms/ml urine. In any large scale screening for
      abuse of opiate drugs, the possibility of urinary alkaloids arising from
      consuming food containing poppy seeds must be considered and, if possible,
      eliminated.

PMID- 1435126
TI  - The fatal paracetamol dosage--how low can you go?
AB  - Popular texts and forensic literature pertaining to paracetamol toxicology
      advocate an acceptable minimal dose or lower limit of the blood level 'normally'
      associated with a fatal single overdose. A case of fatal, acute paracetamol
      poisoning from a minimal single dose, within the recommended therapeutic daily
      total and associated with a zero blood paracetamol level, is reported. It also
      emphasizes the common knowledge that the toxicological tabulated reference data
      available on fatal levels of most drugs is merely a guide. The proper
      interpretation of the analytical results thus requires the full consideration of
      the circumstances surrounding the death in each case. The clinico-pathophysiology
      and toxicology of paracetamol poisoning is briefly reviewed in an attempt to
      establish how low a fatal paracetamol dosage can go. The phenomenon of fatal dose
      and blood level is in a paracetamol limbo.

PMID- 1435127
TI  - Medical uses of corpses and the 'no property' rule.

PMID- 1435128
TI  - Guardianship Orders: a review of their use under the 1983 Mental Health Act.
AB  - This article reviews what has been reported in literature about the use of
      Guardianship Orders under the Mental Health Act 1983. Guardianship Orders were
      used infrequently in comparison with Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Mental Health Act
      although the number of guardianship cases has increased three-fold since 1982.
      Elderly female patients with organic brain disease were the group on whom
      guardianship was most used either to support them in the community or to
      facilitate admission to residential care. Guardianship was rarely used to prevent
      hospitalization. Despite its many drawbacks, for a selected group of patients
      guardianship did appear to have advantages and was found to be worthy of
      consideration for practising clinicians and approved social workers.

PMID- 1435129
TI  - Reconviction following referral to a forensic clinic: the criminal justice
      outcome of diversion.
AB  - The criminal records of alleged offenders diverted from the normal process of
      prosecution were examined on average 31 months after assessment at a forensic
      clinic. Twenty-five per cent of those assessed reoffended. The apparent effect of
      treatment became statistically non-significant when other variables were
      controlled. It is argued that the case against the effectiveness of treatment
      remains 'non-proven' and that psychological benefits may accrue even in the
      absence of an effect on reconviction rate.

PMID- 1435130
TI  - Psychopathic disordered, mentally ill, and mentally handicapped sex offenders: a
      comparative study.
AB  - Although there currently exists a large amount of research on the characteristics
      and treatment of psychopathic disordered (PD) sex offenders, little if any
      empirical studies have addressed the mentally ill (MI) and mentally handicapped
      (MH) offender populations. A total of 106 PD, MI, and MH sex offender records
      from Rampton (Special) Hospital were reviewed for the study. Offender categories
      were compared by age of first documented sex offence, IQ at the time of
      admission, sex offence type, frequency of each offence type, history of violence
      during sex offences, age and gender of sex offence victims and number of victims
      for age and gender. Results revealed that 88 per cent of PD, 98 per cent of MI,
      and only 56 per cent of MH offenders' victims were female. Further analysis
      revealed that PD and MI offenders' victims were primarily female, with the
      largest proportion being pubescent and adult females. MH offender victims were
      primarily males and females under the age of 16. IQ correlated positively with
      history of violence during sexual assault and mean IQs were higher for 'violent'
      than 'non-violent' offenders in each offender category. A discussion of these and
      other significant findings, as well as implications for clinical treatment, is
      presented.

PMID- 1435131
TI  - Maximum-security hospital ward.

PMID- 1435132
TI  - Evaluation of therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy for 'non-sensical' shop
      lifters: a preliminary report.
AB  - There is a growing emphasis upon psychiatric involvement in management of 'non
      sensical' shop-lifters, those who steal items they neither want nor need. However
      there is very little description of, or research into, psychological treatment
      approaches for this group of clients. We report a preliminary study of the
      process of therapy in two out-patient psychotherapy groups for female 'non
      sensical' shop-lifters. Therapeutic factors in the group psychotherapy were
      evaluated using the method of Bloch et al. (1979) to assess the most important
      event in therapy. Results from nine subjects indicate that universality
      (realizing that one's problems are not unique) was rated as the most important
      aspect of therapy, with self-understanding the second most important. The
      implications of these findings for future provision and facilitation of therapy
      for this group of clients are discussed.

PMID- 1435133
TI  - Facial injuries due to criminal violence: a retrospective study of hospital
      attenders.
AB  - The material comprised 222 assault victims whose injuries required attention at
      the Departments of Oral Surgery and Ear, Nose, and Throat diseases, the Central
      Hospital in Falun or corresponding departments at the Karolinska Institutet,
      Stockholm or the University Hospital in Huddinge. Information was obtained from
      patient records. One hundred and thirty-eight patients had fractures and the
      remainder had flesh-wounds, haematomas or swellings. The most frequent fracture
      site was the nasal bone followed by the jaws. Forty-one per cent of the patients
      in Falun and 28 per cent in Stockholm reported the assaults to the police: in
      Falun the proportion of women victims who reported the assault was significantly
      higher than those who did not. The willingness to notify the police of the
      violence was not influenced by the use of drugs or the seriousness of the
      injuries. The study showed that violence in suburban Stockholm was aggravated:
      one-third of the patients in the study required hospitalization compared to a
      quarter in a rural area.

PMID- 1435134
TI  - The use of symptom validity testing in the diagnosis of functional sensory and
      memory deficits: a review.
AB  - This paper reviews the use of a modern psychophysical technique known as symptom
      validity testing. The technique employs a forced choice procedure providing an
      objective method for distinguishing between functional and organic aetiology in
      cases with sensory or memory deficit. The determination of functionality is by
      the objective demonstration that behaviour is controlled by stimuli in the sense
      modality in which the deficit is claimed. The data can be evaluated using
      conventional statistical techniques. The method is an advance on classical
      psychophysical methods as it does not depend upon the patient reporting whether
      he can or cannot perceive a single stimulus.

PMID- 1435135
TI  - A case of homicide by a psychiatric patient.

PMID- 1435136
TI  - [Use of pin spherical fixators in designing splint prostheses].

PMID- 1435137
TI  - [Antimicrobial x-ray contrast articles].
AB  - A procedure has been developed to prepare the radio-opaque polymer composition
      containing an antimicrobial substance that can be used in medicine. The findings
      of the antimicrobial activity of products made of the above composition are
      presented in the paper.

PMID- 1435138
TI  - [Improvement of metalloceramic dental prostheses].
AB  - The paper outlines the procedure for producing an oxide film on cobalt-chromium
      alloy via triple heat treatment in vacuo. As a result, the oxide film consists
      mainly of cobalt oxide. The compositions of the prime and dentin layers of
      ceramics for cement dentures are described.

PMID- 1435140
TI  - [Portable x-ray diagnosis devices].

PMID- 1435139
TI  - [Use of a universal ferro-probe pole locator PF-01 in medicine].
AB  - The versatile II phi-01 flux-gate magnetic pole locator is intended for detecting
      and locating ferromagnetic foreign bodies in human tissue. The sensitivity of the
      device to magnetic field gradient is 4 mOe/cm on a large scale. The device can be
      used to locate a hypodermic needle at a distance of 50-90 mm, a sewing needle at
      60-122 mm, a routine 7.62-mm bullet at 90 mm and a 5.6-mm bullet at 105 mm.

PMID- 1435141
TI  - [Improved technology for producing metalloceramic dental prostheses].

PMID- 1435142
TI  - [Quality of removable plate (dental) prostheses].

PMID- 1435143
TI  - [Development of a system controlling x-ray diagnostic devices].
AB  - The purpose and criteria for efficiency (errors of anode voltage holding, tube
      current, and exposure) of the system controlling X-ray diagnostic devices are
      considered from theoretical and practical points of view. A microprocessor
      controlled variant of the controlling system developed for numerous existing six
      pulsed generators of the -3 type is outlined. The design and operation of the key
      circuit diagram of X-ray tube filament in the PEHA 50-6 microprocessor-controlled
      feeding device are shown in detail.

PMID- 1435144
TI  - [Extracorporeal perfusion system for temporary replacement of liver and spleen
      functions].

PMID- 1435145
TI  - [A device for removal of curvilinear fixators].
AB  - Osteosynthesis designed by A. I. Seppo is the method of choice in the treatment
      of fracture of the neck of the femur. Extracting the fixative elements with a
      standard extractor requires an additional trepanation of the bone. The authors
      have proposed an instrument to remove crivilinear fixatives that assume the
      proper direction of the extracting force, thus reducing the traumatism of the
      intervention.

PMID- 1435146
TI  - [A stand for rotational therapy].

PMID- 1435147
TI  - [A BP-03 perfusion unit].

PMID- 1435148
TI  - [A DISK Doppler analyzer of blood flow velocity].

PMID- 1435149
TI  - [A "Geizer" device for prompt production of irrigation solutions and their use in
      surgery].

PMID- 1435150
TI  - [A device for preparing cotton corks].

PMID- 1435151
TI  - [A "Nadezhda 100" device for ultraviolet irradiation of blood].

PMID- 1435152
TI  - [Optimization of the performance of electric defibrillation of the heart].
AB  - The experimental study of 20 mongrel dogs has defined the values of threshold
      defibrillation (TDF) in 4 positions of voltage electrodes. Analysis of the
      findings by using the equivalent electric circuit has led to the conclusion that
      the increase of TDF values, even up to the absence of an effect produced by
      defibrillation, is due to the shunting of electromagnetic field lines, bypassing
      the myocardial component of the external circuit of an electrical pulse
      generator.

PMID- 1435153
TI  - [Systemic computerization of dialysis equipment].

PMID- 1435154
TI  - Exercise-induced proteinuria is attenuated by indomethacin.
AB  - The role of the prostaglandin (PG) and renin-angiotensin hormonal systems in
      exercise-induced proteinuria following 30 min of submaximal, steady-state
      exercise was evaluated. Eight healthy males performed cycle ergometry at 75% of
      VO2peak on three occasions after the administration of a placebo (PLACEBO), a
      prostaglandin inhibitor (indomethacin, INDO), and an angiotensin converting
      enzyme inhibitor (captopril, CAPTO). Urine and blood samples were collected prior
      to, immediately following exercise, and over 40-min recovery. Data were evaluated
      for differences among drug treatments and measurement phases. During PLACEBO,
      exercise increased total protein excretion from 64.9 +/- 9.5 to 408.6 +/- 160.8
      micrograms.min-1 (P < 0.05). PG inhibition with INDO significantly attenuated the
      increased proteinuria due to exercise (149.2 +/- 64.0 micrograms.min-1). The
      proteinuric response to exercise was not altered by CAPTO. Resting plasma renin
      activity (PRA) and aldosterone (ALDO) were significantly reduced during the INDO
      trial. Although the twofold increment in ALDO with exercise remained intact
      during the INDO trial, the PRA response to exercise was significantly blunted. No
      treatment differences were observed for mean arterial pressure, sodium excretion,
      urine flow, or creatinine clearance values during rest or exercise. These results
      suggest that the proteinuria associated with steady-state exercise is PG
      dependent and not related to hemodynamic influences.

PMID- 1435155
TI  - Musculoskeletal strength and serum lipid levels in men and women.
AB  - There currently is inconsistent information regarding the role that
      musculoskeletal strength (one component of musculoskeletal fitness) may have in
      lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, and consequently the risk of cardiovascular
      disease. Results of existing studies have been conflicting and have been
      influenced by several weaknesses. We provide cross-sectional analyses of the
      relation between muscular strength and serum lipid and lipoprotein status in a
      group of 1,193 women and 5,460 men. The large proportion of patients were not
      involved in formal weight training. As part of a preventive medical examination,
      patients were tested for maximal upper and lower body strength (one repetition
      maximum (1RM) bench and leg press). Fasting serum total cholesterol (TC), low
      density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), triglyceride (TG), and high density
      lipoprotein (HDLC) were evaluated for their relation to muscle strength, after
      adjusting for simultaneous associations with age, body composition, and
      cardiovascular fitness. Results showed no association between muscular strength
      and serum TC or LDLC for either men or women and a direct association between
      upper and lower body strength and TG in men. The direct association between
      strength and TG in women was not significant. A statistically significant inverse
      association was seen between muscular strength and HDLC in men only. These data
      suggest no beneficial effect, and perhaps an adverse association of muscular
      strength on lipid and lipoprotein status.

PMID- 1435156
TI  - Effect of pedal rate on cardiorespiratory responses during continuous exercise.
AB  - The role of cycle ergometer pedal rate on the gradual increase in ventilation
      (VE), heart rate (HR), and oxygen uptake (VO2) accompanying continuous submaximal
      exercise is unknown. To examine this problem, five trained males (VO2peak = 4.00
      +/- 0.27 l.min-1) performed 45 min of moderate intensity (MI, 127 W) and high
      moderate intensity (HMI, 166 W) cycle ergometry both at pedal rates of 60 rpm and
      90 rpm. Power output and pedal rate had an additive effect on the overall mean
      responses for VE, HR, and VO2, producing significantly higher values as power
      output and pedal rate increased. During continuous exercise, VE, HR, and VO2
      increased progressively from the 10th to the 45th minute for all tests. However,
      the rates of increase and factors modifying the VE, HR, and VO2 responses were
      different. HR increased during all exercise tests an average of 10.8% independent
      of power output and pedal rate. VE increased 7.4% during MI exercise and 10%
      during HMI exercise independent of pedal rate. Similar power output dependent
      responses were observed for rectal temperature (Tr) and blood lactate. VO2
      increased 4.4% for MI and HMI exercise at 60 rpm, and 8.2% for the same power
      outputs at 90 rpm, respectively. Increases in Tr, the oxygen cost of pulmonary
      ventilation and fat oxidation, and lactate removal were estimated to account for
      only 31-36% of the slow rise in VO2 for any single test. This suggests that 64
      69% of the rise in VO2 was due to factors related to muscle use.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1435157
TI  - Effect of varying levels of hypohydration on responses during submaximal cycling.
AB  - The effect of varying levels of hypohydration on hemodynamic, cardiorespiratory,
      and metabolic responses to progressive incremental submaximal cycling was
      examined in nine male subjects. Subjects cycled in a neutral (22 degrees C)
      environment under euhydration (EU), moderate hypohydration (MH), and severe
      hypohydration (SH). To achieve the desired level of hypohydration, subjects
      cycled at 50% VO2max for 1.5 h in a 38 degrees C environment on two separate
      occasions, 36 h prior to testing. Mean (+/- SE) percent losses in body weight
      from baseline during EU, MH, and SH were 0.6 +/- 0.3%, 3.3 +/- 0.1%, and 5.6 +/-
      0.4%, respectively. Ventilation, O2 uptake, respiratory exchange ratio, heart
      rate, plasma free fatty acids, plasma glycerol, blood lactate, and hematocrit
      were not significantly altered by hypohydration. During EU, hemoglobin
      concentration was significantly lower than during both MH and SH, but no
      significant difference was observed for plasma volume loss. Plasma glucose was
      significantly higher during SH compared with EU and MH. These results suggest
      that hypohydration of up to 5.6% caused by exercise and fluid manipulation over
      36 h does not alter cardiorespiratory or blood lactate responses during
      progressive incremental submaximal cycling in a neutral environment. However,
      hepatic metabolism may be altered during hypohydration as indicated by higher
      plasma glucose levels.

PMID- 1435158
TI  - Physiological response to cycling with both circular and noncircular chainrings.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to compare physiological variables of endurance
      trained cyclists riding with four different chainring designs: round, Shimano
      Biopace, and two engineered ellipse designs. The ellipse designated Eng10 had the
      crank arm oriented 10 degrees forward of the major (i.e. longer) axis. Eighty
      degrees further forward, along the minor axis, was the crank arm orientation for
      the second ellipse, Eng90. With the major to minor axis ratio of 22.9 cm/16.8 cm
      (1.36), both ellipses imposed a crank angular velocity variation of 27% relative
      to the highest velocity assuming constant chain velocity. Best described as a
      skewed ellipse (i.e., major and minor axes not perpendicular), the Biopace had a
      major to minor axis ratio of 1.09 thus giving a crank angular velocity variation
      of 8%. Eleven male cyclists rode at a high (80% of maximum VO2) and a low (60% of
      maximum VO2) workrate using each chainring. The study was conducted over four
      consecutive days with the presentation order of the chainrings randomized. Open
      circuit spirometry was used to collect continuous respiratory data. Heart rate,
      blood lactate, and cadence values also were measured. None of the physiological
      variables including rates of oxygen consumption showed significant differences
      among the chainrings. Thus, the gross efficiency of cycling was not improved by
      any of the noncircular chainrings. For cycling events where efficiency is a
      determinant of performance, the noncircular chainrings do not offer any advantage
      over round chainrings.

PMID- 1435159
TI  - Effect of cadence on the economy of uphill cycling.
AB  - Competitive cyclists generally climb hills at a low cadence despite the
      recognized advantage in level cycling of high cadences. To test whether a high
      cadence is more economical than a low cadence during uphill cycling, nine
      experienced cyclists performed steady-state bicycling exercise on a treadmill
      under three randomized trials. Subjects bicycled at 11.3 km.h-1 up a 10% grade
      while 1) pedalling at 84 rpm in a sitting position-84 Sit, 2) pedalling at 41 rpm
      in a standing position-41 Stand, and 3) pedalling at 41 rpm in a sitting position
      41 Sit. Heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (VO2), ventilation (VE), and
      respiratory exchange ratio were measured continuously during 5-min trials and
      averaged over the last 2 min. Additionally, rating of perceived exertion was
      recorded during the fifth minute of each trial, and blood lactate concentration
      was recorded immediately before and after each trial. Significantly lower values
      for HR, VO2 and VE were recorded during 84 Sit (164 +/- 3 bpm, 51.8 +/- 0.8
      ml.min-1 x kg-1, 94 +/- 5 l.min-1) than for either the 41 Stand (171 +/- 2 bpm,
      53.1 +/- 0.7 ml.min-1 x kg-1, 105 +/- 6 l.min-1) o 41 Sit (168 +/- 2 bpm, 53.1 +/
      0.8 ml.min-1 x kg-1, 101 +/- 6 l.min-1) trials. No other differences were noted
      between trials for any of the measured variables. We conclude that uphill cycling
      is more economical at a high versus a low cadence.

PMID- 1435160
TI  - Physiological, anthropometric, and training correlates of running economy.
AB  - Potential physiological, anthropometric, and training determinants of running
      economy (RE) were studied in a heterogeneous group of habitual distance runners
      (N = 188, 119 males, 69 females). RE was measured as VO2 (ml.kg-1.min-1) during
      level treadmill running at 161 m.min-1 (6 mph) (VO2-6). Examined as potential
      determinants of RE were heart rate and ventilation while running at 6 mph (HR6,
      VE6), VO2max (ml.kg-1 x min-1), % fat, age, gender, height, weight, estimated leg
      mass, typical training pace, training volume, and sit-and-reach test performance.
      RE was entered as the dependent variable and the potential determinants as
      independent variables in zero-order correlation and multiple regression analyses.
      Zero-order correlation analysis found VO2max, HR6, and VE6 to be significantly,
      positively correlated with VO2-6 (P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis, in
      which the independent effect of each predictor variable was examined, revealed
      VO2-6 to be positively correlated with VO2max (P < 0.001), HR6 (P < 0.001), VE6
      (P < 0.001), and age (P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with weight (P < 0.01).
      These findings indicate that, in a diverse group of runners, better RE (VO2-6) is
      associated with lower VO2max, lower submaximal exercise VE and HR, lower age, and
      greater weight.

PMID- 1435161
TI  - Transfer of tennis racket vibrations onto the human forearm.
AB  - One of several factors suspected in the development of lateral epicondylitis,
      often referred to as tennis elbow, is the impact-induced vibration of the racket
      and-arm system at ball contact. Using two miniature accelerometers at the wrist
      and the elbow of 24 tennis players, the effects of 23 different tennis racket
      constructions were evaluated in a simulated backhand stroke situation. The
      influences of body weight, skill level, and tennis racket construction onto the
      magnitude of vibrations at wrist and elbow were investigated. Amplitudes,
      integrals, and fourier components were used to characterize arm vibration. More
      than fourfold reductions in acceleration amplitude and integral were found
      between wrist and elbow. Off-center as compared with center ball impacts resulted
      in approximately three times increased acceleration values. Between subjects,
      body weight as well as skill level were found to influence arm vibration.
      Compared with proficient players, a group of less skilled subjects demonstrated
      increased vibration loads on the arm. Between different racket constructions,
      almost threefold differences in acceleration values could be observed. Increased
      racket head size as well as a higher resonance frequency of the racket were found
      to reduce arm vibration. The vibration at the arm after ball impact showed a
      strong inverse relationship (r = -0.88) with the resonance frequency of tennis
      rackets.

PMID- 1435162
TI  - Effects of taper on swim power, stroke distance, and performance.
AB  - Competitive swimmers progressively reduce training volume or "taper" prior to an
      important competition in an effort to improve performance capabilities. The
      purpose of the current study was to determine the effects of taper upon factors
      associated with swim performance. Twelve intercollegiate swimmers were tested
      before and after taper in preparation for their season-ending meet. Power during
      a tethered sprint swim increased significantly (P < 0.05) by approximately 5%
      with taper. No significant changes occurred in distance per stroke, oxygen
      consumption, and post-exercise blood lactate level during a 182.9-m submaximal
      swim with taper. Five swimmers were additionally tested after shaving exposed
      body hair upon completion of taper. Swim power did not increase further with hair
      removal. In contrast, shaving significantly increased distance per stroke (P <
      0.05) by approximately 5%. These data indicate that reduced training specifically
      improves swim power; however, removing exposed body hair after taper may
      additionally enhance performance capabilities by increasing distance per stroke.

PMID- 1435163
TI  - Effect of age and menopausal status on cardiorespiratory fitness in masters women
      runners.
AB  - Forty-nine trained masters women endurance runners (mean = 42 km.wk-1) between
      the ages of 35 and 70 yr (mean = 46.4 +/- 8.3) were tested on a treadmill to
      examine cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max and VO2 submax) in relation to age,
      training, and menopausal status. Although VO2max was lower with increasing age,
      no age group differences occurred in VO2 submax at 5.4 km.h-1, 8% treadmill
      grade. The younger runners (35-39 and 40-44 yr) had significantly higher VO2max
      than the other 5-yr competitive age groups (45-49, 50-55, 55-70 yr) (P < 0.01).
      HR max did not differ across age, but HR submax was higher with increasing age.
      Premenopausal, transitional, and post-menopausal women were not significantly
      different on any exercise variable when age and/or training differences among the
      groups were statistically controlled. A decrease in VO2max of 0.58 ml.kg-1 x min
      1 x yr-1 was determined (r = -0.62). It was concluded that 1) these highly
      trained women runners had higher cardiorespiratory fitness than previously
      reported for women of comparable age, 2) menopausal status did not effect
      cardiorespiratory fitness when age and training were accounted for, and 3)
      regular physical training seems to prevent age-related changes in HR max in
      women, but not age-related changes in maximal oxygen uptake.

PMID- 1435164
TI  - Running on land and in water: comparative exercise physiology.
AB  - The effect of water immersion on cardiorespiratory and blood lactate responses
      during running was investigated. Wearing a buoyant vest, 10 trained runners (mean
      age 26 yr) ran in water at four different and specified submaximal loads (target
      heart rates 115, 130, 145, and 155-160 beats.min-1) and at maximal exercise
      intensity. Oxygen uptakes (VO2), heart rates, perceived exertion, and blood
      lactate concentrations were measured. Values were compared with levels obtained
      during treadmill running. For a given VO2, heart rate was 8-11 beats.min-1 lower
      during water running than during treadmill running, irrespective of exercise
      intensity. Both the maximal oxygen uptake (4.03 vs 4.60 1 x min-1) and heart rate
      (172 vs 188 beats.min-1) were lower during water running. Perceived exertion
      (legs and breathing) and the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were higher during
      submaximal water running than during treadmill running, while ventilation (1 x
      min-1) was similar. The blood lactate concentrations were consistently higher in
      water than on the treadmill, both when related to VO2 and to %VO2max. Partly in
      conformity with earlier cycle ergometer studies, these data suggest that
      immersion induces acute cardiac adjustments that extend up to the maximal
      exercise level. Furthermore, both the external hydrostatic load and an altered
      running technique may add to an increased anaerobic metabolism during supported
      water running.

PMID- 1435165
TI  - The effect of salbutamol on performance in elite nonasthmatic athletes.
AB  - The effect of salbutamol on performance was studied in seven male nonasthmatic
      highly trained (VO2max > or = 60 ml.kg-1 x min-1) cyclists. Salbutamol (S = 2
      puffs = 200 micrograms) or placebo (P) was administered by metered-dose inhaler,
      through a spacer device, 20 min prior to testing in a double-blind, randomized
      cross-over design. Testing sessions on a cycle ergometer included the measurement
      of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), peak power, maximal heart rate, and pulmonary
      function. A timed sprint to exhaustion was performed after 45 min of exercise at
      70% of VO2max, and a Wingate anaerobic test was used to measure total work and
      peak power. There was a nonsignificant decrease in VO2max (P = 63.5 +/- 3.2; S =
      62.6 +/- 3.3 ml.kg-1 x min-1). No difference was found in peak power, maximum
      heart rate, endurance sprint time, Wingate peak power, or total work. After an
      anticipated baseline increase was taken into account, the pattern of change in
      FEV1 over time did not differ between salbutamol and placebo. It was concluded
      that a therapeutic dose of aerosol salbutamol does not have an ergogenic effect
      in elite nonasthmatic athletes, and it is therefore recommended that inhaled
      salbutamol continue to be permitted in international competition for individuals
      with exercise induced bronchospasm.

PMID- 1435166
TI  - Variability of some objective measures of physical activity.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine how many days subjects should be
      monitored to provide an estimate of habitual physical activity in employed men
      engaged in a wide range of occupations. Caloric intake, movement recorders
      (accelerometers and pedometers), and heart rate were the measurements studied in
      30 subjects who were monitored during their waking hours for 7 continuous days. A
      repeated measures ANOVA showed no significant difference between days (P > 0.05)
      for any of the measures when only weekdays were compared. However, when weekend
      days were included a majority of the measures showed a significant F-ratio (P <
      0.05). An estimate was made of the number of days required to measure a 7-d
      period with less than 5% error. The average for all the different measures was
      4.9 d. It appears that at least 5 or 6 d are needed to minimize the intra
      individual variance a reasonable degree. Weekdays as well as weekend days need to
      be included.

PMID- 1435167
TI  - Predictors of over- and underachievement of age-predicted maximal heart rate.
AB  - The age-predicted maximal heart rate (PMHR) formula, 220--age, is frequently used
      for identifying exercise training intensity, as well as determining endpoints for
      submaximal exercise testing. This study was designed to identify variables
      discriminating those with actual maximal heart rates considerably above or below
      that predicted from the 220--age equation. Subjects included 2010 men and women
      ranging in age from 14 to 77 yr. Stepwise discriminant analysis was performed
      using maximal heart rate error groups as the dependent variable, and selected
      preexercise test characteristics as predictors. The HR error groups were based on
      the difference between the measured and PMHR as follows: below (> or = 15
      beats.min-1 below PMHR), within (+/- 14 beats.min-1 of PMHR), and above (> or =
      15 beats.min-1 above PMHR). A contrast of the below and above groups identified
      age, resting HR, body weight, and smoking status as predictors of group
      membership (P < 0.01) for both men and women. The overall canonical correlation
      was 0.282 and 0.294 for the men and women, respectively. Older age, higher
      resting HR, lower weight, and non-smoking were related to the above group, while
      the inverse was related to the below group. Standardized coefficients suggest
      that age and resting heart rate for the men, and age and smoking status for the
      women were the most potent variables for discriminating extreme deviations
      between measured and PMHR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1435168
TI  - Cardiovascular benefits of physical activity.

PMID- 1435169
TI  - Case presentation: painless arm swelling in a high school football player.
AB  - Paget-Schroetter syndrome, more commonly called "effort thrombosis," has been
      well documented in the literature but is considered an uncommon cause of
      morbidity in the athletic population. We describe a case of axillary-subclavian
      vein thrombosis ("effort thrombosis") that presented as painless arm swelling in
      a high school football player. This case reviews the presentation, diagnosis, and
      management of this difficult problem in a young athlete.

PMID- 1435170
TI  - Bone density in postmenopausal women: high impact vs low impact exercise.
AB  - This 1 year study examined the effect of high impact and low impact activities on
      bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar vertebrae (L2-L4) in healthy, sedentary,
      early postmenopausal women. Fifteen subjects whose postmenopausal status was
      verified by the blood levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol
      were chosen. These subjects were tested on the following variables: BMD via dual
      photon absorptiometry, heart rate response to the Balke treadmill test, percent
      fat via skinfolds, and a 3-d dietary analysis. Subjects were matched and then
      assigned randomly to one of three groups: (a) a control nonexercising group, (b)
      a low impact exercise group, and (c) a high impact exercise group. The control
      nonexercising group experienced a significant linear decrease in BMD during the
      study (F = 12.63, P = 0.002). Both the low and high impact exercise groups
      maintained BMD during the study (F = 0.04, P = 0.85; F = 1.08, P = 0.31,
      respectively). The difference in BMD between the low impact and the high impact
      exercise groups was not significant (F = 0.36, P = 0.55). In conclusion, 20 min
      of moderate intensity low impact or high impact exercise 3 d.wk-1 for 1 yr is
      effective in maintaining BMD in early postmenopausal women.

PMID- 1435171
TI  - Cancer and the protective effect of physical activity: the epidemiological
      evidence.
AB  - Studies of activity and all-cancer mortality have inconsistent findings and are
      difficult to interpret, largely because cancer refers not to one disease but to
      many distinct, site-specific diseases. However, mounting evidence suggests that
      physical activity may be associated with decreased mortality from and incidence
      of certain types of cancers. In 15 of 18 studies, higher levels of occupational
      and/or recreational activity were inversely related to colon cancer incidence and
      mortality. One major study found activity to be negatively related to occurrence
      of breast cancer, and conflicting findings exist regarding the association
      between activity and prostatic cancer. Given the consistency in the direction and
      magnitude of the findings regarding activity and colon cancer, the presence of
      appropriate temporal relationships between measured exposure and outcome, the
      suggestion of dose-response relationships and the existence of plausible
      biological mechanisms, including increased transit time and gut motility, the
      evidence supports the conclusion that activity is protective against colon
      cancer. Although that protective effect may be small, the attributable risk of
      colon cancer associated with inactivity may be quite high given the prevalence of
      inactivity in Western societies.

PMID- 1435172
TI  - Effects of exercise training on plasminogen activator inhibitor activity.
AB  - Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity, an important regulator within the
      fibrinolytic system, has been shown to be a risk indicator for venous and
      arterial thrombosis. The present study aimed to test the effects of exercise
      training on PAI activity, and to link possible changes in PAI activity to changes
      in cardiovascular fitness, body composition, and the lipid profile. Four groups
      of previously sedentary subjects were studied thrice in an 8-month period. A long
      term training group (N = 11) trained during the entire 8-month period. A
      detraining group (N = 14) trained for 4 months and then reverted to sedentary
      habits. A postponed training group (N = 16) trained only during the second 4
      month period, and a no-training control group (N = 9) remained untrained
      throughout the entire 8-month period. PAI activity always decreased in response
      to training, but the training effects were small and spontaneous seasonal shifts
      in PAI activity of the control groups clouded their interpretation. Furthermore,
      detraining failed to influence PAI activity and training-induced changes in PAI
      activity were not related to simultaneous changes in maximal oxygen consumption,
      diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, or percentage body fat, and
      inconsistently related to the training-induced changes in LDL-cholesterol and HDL
      cholesterol. The occurrence of simultaneous changes in body fat, blood pressure,
      and the lipid profile underscores the potential of regular exercise to protect
      against cardiovascular disease. Whether these beneficial effects are accompanied
      by changes in the fibrinolytic system remains to be proven.

PMID- 1435174
TI  - Blood pressure responses to LBNP in nontrained and trained hypertensive rats.
AB  - To study the influences of 16 wk of endurance training on the reflex regulation
      of resting blood pressure, nontrained (NT) and trained (T) female hypertensive
      rats (SHR) were subjected to conditions of lower body negative pressure (LBNP).
      Measurements of muscle cytochrome oxidase activity and run time to exhaustion
      indicated that the animals were endurance trained. The rats (NT = 6, T = 7) were
      tranquilized with 300-600 micrograms.kg-1 diazepam (IV) before heart rates and
      blood pressures were measured over a range of 2.5-10.0 mm Hg of negative
      pressure. When subjected to conditions of LBNP, the reflex tachycardia of the T
      group was greater than the NT at the lower (-2.5 and -5.0 mm Hg) negative
      pressures. Although arterial pressure declines were similar in both groups, the T
      group experienced significantly less of a decline in central venous pressure than
      the NT animals. When chlorisondamine was used as a ganglionic blocker (2.5 mg.kg
      1, IV), the fall in CVP at 10 mm Hg negative pressure was greater for the NT
      group while the fall in the initial systemic arterial pressure was more for the T
      group. From these results we concluded that training had altered the interaction
      between cardiopulmonary and arterial baroreflexes in these hypertensive rats and
      a nonneural component had been altered such as cardiac function.

PMID- 1435173
TI  - Relative changes in maximal force, EMG, and muscle cross-sectional area after
      isometric training.
AB  - The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether training-induced
      increases in maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) can be completely accounted for
      by increases in muscle cross-sectional area. Fifteen female university students
      were randomly divided into a control (N = 7) and an experimental (N = 8) group.
      The experimental group underwent 8 wk of isometric resistance training of the
      knee extensors of one leg; the other leg was the untrained control. Training
      consisted of 30 MVC.d-1 x 3 d.wk-1 x 8 wk. Extensor cross-sectional area (CSA),
      assessed by computerized tomographic (CT) scanning of a cross-sectional slice at
      mid-thigh, was used as a measure of muscle hypertrophy. After 8 wk of training,
      MVC increased by 28% (P < 0.05), CSA increased by 14.6% (P < 0.05), and the
      amplitude of the electromyogram at MVC (EMGmax) was unchanged in the trained leg
      of the experimental subjects. The same measures in the untrained legs of the
      experimental subjects and in both legs of the control subjects were not changed
      after training. Although there was an apparent discrepancy between the increase
      in MCV (28%) and CSA (14.6%), the ratio between the two, the specific tension
      (N.cm-2), was not significantly different after training. As a result of these
      findings, we conclude that in these subjects there is no evidence of
      nonhypertrophic adaptations to resistance training of this type and magnitude,
      and that the increase in force-generating capacity of the muscle is due to the
      synthesis of additional contractile proteins.

PMID- 1435175
TI  - Reduction in LBNP tolerance following prolonged endurance exercise training.
AB  - Eight young men underwent an 8-month endurance exercise training program. Prior
      to and following the training program, the subjects' maximal oxygen uptake
      (VO2max), total blood volume (TBV) and plasma volume (PV), tolerance to lower
      body negative pressure (LBNP) assessed by the cumulative stress index (CSI) to
      presyncope, and their hemodynamic responses to 0 to -45 torr LBNP was determined.
      Hemodynamic measures included rebreathe carbon dioxide cardiac output (Qc), heart
      rate (HR), directly measured arterial blood pressures (ABP), and strain gauge
      determination of forearm blood flow (FBF) and leg volume changes (delta LgV).
      Calculated values of stroke volume (SV), forearm, vascular resistance (FVR), and
      peripheral vascular resistance (PVR) were made. Following training, each subject
      had an increased VO2max (mean = +27.4%, P < 0.001), TBV (mean = +15.8%, P <
      0.02), and PV (mean = +16.5%, P < 0.02) and each subject had a decreased
      tolerance to LBNP (mean CSI = -24%, P < 0.001). Stepwise linear regression
      identified that the major factors to significantly predict the decreased CSI pre-
      to post-training were a reduced response of PVR to LBNP from -15 to -45 torr
      (Model R2 = 0.853), the delta TBV (model R2 = 0.981), and the greater post
      training reduction in SBP to LBNP of 0 to -45 torr (model R2 = 1.0). These data
      suggest that physiologic adaptations associated with the increased VO2max and TBV
      resulting from a prolonged endurance exercise training program can alter the
      reflex control of vasomotion and cardiac output during LBNP and reduce the LBNP
      tolerance.

PMID- 1435176
TI  - Cardiac response to acute coronary artery occlusion in exercise-trained dogs.
AB  - Exercise training is thought to exert a beneficial effect on cardiovascular
      function, but its effect in the normal heart following acute coronary artery
      occlusion is still uncertain. Studies were performed in 12 untrained (UT) and 14
      endurance-trained (ET) pentobarbital anesthetized dogs. Left ventricular pressure
      (LVP), heart rate (HR), percent regional myocardial segmental shortening (%SL),
      and peripheral coronary pressure (PCP) distal to the occlusion were measured
      during control conditions and during a 2-min circumflex artery occlusion (CAO).
      During CAO, LVP, dP/dtmax, and %SL in the ischemic region were significantly
      reduced in both UT and ET dogs. There was no significant difference between the
      two groups. In addition, PCP decreased to 27 +/- 5 mm Hg and 26 +/- 9 mm Hg in
      the UT and ET groups, respectively, during CAO indicating no difference in
      coronary collateral perfusion between the groups. Regional myocardial blood flow
      was measured using tracer microspheres in eight of the UT and six of the ET dogs,
      and the decrease in blood flow to the ischemic zone during CAO was similar in
      both groups. These results indicate that 12-wk of endurance training does not
      exert a protective effect on myocardial contractile function or on myocardial
      perfusion in the central ischemic region during CAO in the anesthetized dog.

PMID- 1435177
TI  - EMG and mechanical changes during sprint starts at different front block
      obliquities.
AB  - The effect of decreased front block obliquity on start velocity was studied
      during sprint starts. The electromyographic (EMG) activity of the medial
      gastrocnemius (MG), the soleus (Sol), and the vastus medialis (VM) was recorded
      and analyzed at a 70 degrees, a 50 degrees, and a 30 degrees angle between the
      foot plate surface and the horizontal. Integrated EMGs (IEMG) were compared with
      muscle length changes in the MG and Sol in relation to foot and knee movements.
      The results indicate that decreasing front block obliquity significantly (P <
      0.05) increases the start velocity without any change to the total duration of
      the pushing phase and the overall EMG activity. This improvement in sprint start
      performance is associated with the enhanced contribution of the MG during
      eccentric and concentric phases of calf muscles contraction. In the "set
      position" the initial length of MG and Sol is increased at 50 degrees and 30
      degrees as compared with 70 degrees. The subsequent stretch-shortening cycle is
      improved and contributes more effectively to the speed of the muscle shortening.
      Moreover, lengthening these muscles during the eccentric phase stretches the
      muscle spindles, and the reflex activities that contribute to the observed
      increase in the MG IEMG, are present when the slope of the block is reduced. The
      results indicate that decreasing front block obliquity induces neural and
      mechanical modifications that contribute to increasing the sprint start velocity
      without any increase in the duration of the pushing phase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1435178
TI  - Metabolic and anthropometric changes with weight cycling in wrestlers.
AB  - Repeated cycles of weight loss and regain have come to be known as weight
      cycling. This phenomenon is frequently observed in athletes who must meet
      specific weight categories to qualify for competition. The purpose of this study
      was to determine the metabolic and anthropometric changes that occur with rapid
      weight loss/regain cycles in competitive wrestlers. Collegiate wrestlers were
      divided into two groups, "cyclers" (N = 8) and "noncyclers" (N = 6), based on
      their reported dieting history. Measurements included a 3-d diet record, resting
      energy expenditure (REE), skinfold and girth measures, and biochemical tests at
      three time points: preseason, peak season, and off-season. All anthropometric
      measures changed with time, and a diet group by time interaction was observed for
      the trunk to extremity skinfolds ratio (T/E) (P < 0.05), with greater fat loss
      and regain from the trunk area of the cyclers. There were no differences in REE
      within or between groups. Serum triiodothyronine (T3) values decreased over time
      (P < 0.01). Large weight losses appear to have occurred due to both dieting and
      short-term dehydration, and although physiological changes were observed, a
      training effect may have overridden any metabolic influence of weight cycling.

PMID- 1435179
TI  - Physiological aspects of swimming performance for persons with disabilities.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the various factors involved in the
      performances of three groups of swimmers with disabilities. These factors were
      average VO2max (Av-VO2max) measured during swimming and gliding factors measured
      by the passive drag. Thirty-four swimmers with disabilities were assigned into
      three groups ranging from more disabilities to fewer disabilities. The first
      group (G I) included 13 subjects in wheelchairs, the second group (G II) 10
      subjects walking with technical aids, and the third group (G III) 11 swimmers
      with disabilities walking without any help. For G I, the performances and Av
      VO2max were lower (P < 0.05) than for G II and G III while the passive drag was
      higher than for G III (P < 0.05). The performances, Av-VO2max, and passive drag
      were not statistically different between G II and G III. Some of the swimmers had
      a pronounced amyotrophia of the lower extremities (i.e., reduced volume of
      inactive muscles). The height from the top of the head to the beginning of the
      bilateral amyotrophia was called "height without amyotrophia" (HWA). In the whole
      group, passive drag was not related to the mass or the height but to the ratio
      mass/HWA (r = 0.71, P < 0.01). However, within each group, passive drag was
      mainly related to the mass (r = 0.63, 0.78, 0.62, P < 0.01, for G I, G II, and G
      III respectively). Performances of a 100-m and 400-m swim were mainly related to
      Av-VO2peak (r = 0.81 and 0.79, P < 0.01, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1435180
TI  - Endurance training enhances critical power.
AB  - The present investigation was conducted to determine whether critical power (CP)
      assesses the ability to perform continuous aerobic exercise and to determine
      whether training-induced changes in aerobic endurance are reflected by changes in
      the slope, but not the y-intercept of the CP function. Twelve healthy, active,
      but untrained male students (mean age +/- SD = 19.1 +/- 0.8 yr) undertook 8 wk of
      cycle ergometer endurance training (30-40 min a day, three times a week) at an
      intensity corresponding to their CP. Six control subjects of similar age and
      initial training status refrained from regular exercise for the same period.
      Before and immediately following the training period, each of the 18 participants
      completed three cycle ergometer tests to determine their CP function, an
      incremental exercise task to establish their maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), and
      40 min of continuous cycle ergometry at or near their calculated CP. CP was
      significantly correlated with endurance time at 270 W (r = 0.65, P < 0.05) and
      with the mean power that could be maintained for 40 min (r = 0.87-0.95, P <
      0.01), but overestimated the latter by less than 6%. In response to endurance
      training, CP increased from a mean of 196 +/- 40.9 W to 255 +/- 28.4 W (31%)
      (ANCOVA, P < 0.01), while the mean power output maintained for 40 min of exercise
      increased from 190 +/- 34.5 W to 242 +/- 34.9 W (28%). VO2max increased from 49.2
      +/- 7.8 ml.kg-1.min-1 to 53.4 +/- 6.4 ml.kg-1.min-1 (8.5%) (P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1435181
TI  - Serum sex hormones and endurance performance after a lacto-ovo vegetarian and a
      mixed diet.
AB  - Serum sex hormones and endurance performance after a lacto-ovo vegetarian and a
      mixed diet. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 24, No. 11, pp. 1290-1297, 1992. The
      effect of a lacto-ovo vegetarian (V) and a mixed, meat-rich (M) diet on the level
      of serum sex hormones, gonadotropins, and endurance performance of eight male
      endurance athletes was investigated in a 2 x 6 wk cross-over study. The energy
      contribution from carbohydrate, fat, and protein was 58%, 27%, and 15% on the V
      diet and 58%, 28%, and 14 E% on the M diet. For total fasting serum testosterone
      (T) there was a significant interaction between diet and time (P < 0.01). Thus,
      the V diet resulted in a lower total T level (13.7, 9.8-32.4 nmol.l-1) (median
      and range) compared with the M diet (17.4, 11.8-33.5 nmol.l-1). During exercise
      after 6 wk on the diets total T was also significantly lower on the V than on the
      M diet (P < 0.05). Serum free testosterone, however, did not differ significantly
      during the 6 wk dietary intervention periods and neither did serum concentrations
      of sex hormone binding globulin, dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone
      sulphate, 4-androstenedione, estrone, estradiol, estrone sulphate, or
      gonadotropins. Endurance performance time was higher for six and lower for two
      after the mixed diet compared with the vegetarian diet. This was not significant,
      however. In conclusion, 6 wk on a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet caused a minor
      decrease in total testosterone and no significant changes in physical performance
      in male endurance athletes compared with 6 wk on a mixed, meatrich diet.

PMID- 1435182
TI  - Validity of bioelectrical impedance equations for estimating fat-free weight in
      lean males.
AB  - The present study examined the validity of bioelectrical impedance (BIA)
      equations for estimating fat-free weight (FFW) in lean males (X +/- SD = 9.1 +/-
      2.2% fat) by comparing the estimates with values obtained from underwater
      weighing. Sixty-eight Caucasian male volunteers served as subjects. Cross
      validation analyses included examination of the constant error (CE), standard
      error of the estimate (SEE), r, and total error (TE). The results indicated that
      the equations of Oppliger et al. (16), which resulted in small TE (1.70 kg) and
      CE (-0.02 kg) values, most accurately estimated FFW. Simple linear regression
      showed that FFW was more highly correlated with body weight (BW) (r = 0.98, P <
      0.0001) and resulted in a lower SEE (1.68 kg) than either height2/resistance
      (Ht2/R) (r = 0.81, P < 0.0001; SEE = 5.12 kg) or the independent variable (weight
      x resistance)/height2 [WR/Ht2] utilized by the manufacturer of the BIA analyzer
      (r = 0.15, P > 0.05; SEE = 8.59 kg). Multiple regression showed that when WR/Ht2,
      Ht2/R, resistance, body mass index, Ht2, and/or Ht was added to the prediction
      equation, which utilized BW alone, they accounted for less than 1% additional
      variance and reduced the SEE by < or = 0.16 kg. The results indicated that BW
      alone estimated FFW as accurately as any of the BIA equations in lean males.

PMID- 1435183
TI  - Accuracy of RPE from graded exercise to establish exercise training intensity.
AB  - The purpose of this investigation was to examine the accuracy of an exercise
      intensity prescription based upon perceptual responses obtained during a graded
      exercise test. Fifteen physically active men completed a graded exercise test
      (GXT) on a motor driven treadmill. Heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake (VO2), and RPE
      were measured each minute. An RPE intensity prescription was calculated as 75% of
      heart rate reserve from the GXT heart rate and RPE data. A minimum of 48 h later
      the subjects completed 10 min of exercise (EXT) on a level treadmill at the
      prescribed RPE. The subjects set the treadmill speed to elicit an exercise
      intensity equal to the prescribed perception of effort. There were significant
      mean differences (P < 0.05) in heart rate between the GXT (161.8 +/- 1.3) and EXT
      (154.9 +/- 4.5). However, by minute 6 the subjects were within four beats.min-1
      of the target heart rate. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05)
      between GXT and EXT for VO2 (36.1 +/- 5.2, 33.1 +/- 6.4) and VE (64.1 +/- 10.8,
      58.4 +/- 13.5) respectively. The present investigation demonstrates that a
      subject's perceptual response to a GXT can be used to accurately prescribe
      exercise intensity during level treadmill running. The intensity selected was
      within a typical range used for exercise prescription. The advantage of RPE as a
      method of exercise prescription is that an individual does not need to stop
      during exercise and measure a heart rate, but can make pace adjustments while
      exercising based solely upon the perception of effort.

PMID- 1435184
TI  - [Infection by the human immunodeficiency virus and leprosy].
AB  - The author is reviewing the literature about the association HIV infection and
      leprosy. So he concludes: 1) there is no correlation between leprosy incidence
      and HIV infection incidence, despite similarity as far as immuno-system is
      concerned. 2) Effect of HIV infection on leprosy demands further studies of
      nervous leprosy pathology. 3) Tendency to increase of such and association is
      foreseeable, speaking of epidemiocity in developing countries as well as in
      leprosy foci in Southern Asia and India.

PMID- 1435186
TI  - [Vesicovaginal fistulas: etiopathogenic and therapeutic aspects in Senegal].
AB  - Obstetrical vesico-vaginal fistulas are still very common in developing
      countries, because of to the difficulties of medical facilities. From a series of
      123 cases recorded during 6 years, we analyse their epidemiological, anatomo
      clinical, and therapeutic aspects. A simplified classification is purposed.

PMID- 1435185
TI  - [Chronic hepatic cytolysis syndrome in southern Africa].
AB  - Accidental discovery of a moderate and durable increase of transaminases in an
      asymptomatic patient is a more frequent possibility thanks to the development of
      methodological case findings activities. Most of the time, it is an isolated
      anomaly of which import and consequences have been already reviewed and
      published. Steatosis and chronic hepatitis are, by far, the most frequent
      etiologies in Western Countries. But the right importance of that syndrome in
      tropical hepatology has not been yet described. If we want to transpose results
      and what has to be done namely liver biopsy, to African medical practice, we have
      to take into due consideration local pathology, diagnosis facilities and/or
      therapeutic possibilities. The present article reviews the present knowledge on
      chronic liver cytolysis syndrome and discusses its interest in tropical Medicine.

PMID- 1435187
TI  - [Acute periurethritis: 155 cases].
AB  - Severe complications of urethral stricture, acute peri-urethral phlegmon can be
      localized or diffuse. They are characterized by polymicrobial infections. The
      mortality rates about 7% is the privilege of diffuses forms. The treatment
      associates medical and surgical procedures, and consists in polyantibiotherapy
      and excision of suppurative lesions. From a series of 155 cases we analyse the
      pathogenical, clinical and therapeutical aspects.

PMID- 1435188
TI  - [Infectious endocarditis. Experience of a service in Brazzaville. 47 cases].
AB  - The aim of this study was to report the authors' experience of infective
      endocarditis (IE) from 47 cases collected between 1976 to 1991. Infective
      endocarditis (IE) was documented with surgical (n = 9), microbiological (n = 26),
      and echocardiographic (n = 30) criteria. There were 11 male, 36 female: mean age,
      26.2 +/- 10.3 years (extremes: 17 and 47). The authors noted a great importance
      of gynecological portal entry (13 cases), acute infective endocarditis (23 cases
      i.e. 48.9%), heart failure (39 cases i.e. 82.9%), and pulmonary (4 cases i.e.
      8.5%) and systemic (8 cases i.e. 17.0% embolism. Surgical treatment was
      impossible in Brazzaville. Trans-thoracic echocardiography was performed in 38
      cases and revealed vegetations in 30 cases i.e. 78.9%. Twenty patients died
      (42.5%) because heart failure. There was no significant difference in letality
      between infective endocarditis treated surgically or no, between native valve or
      prosthetic valve infective endocarditis, between culture negative or culture
      positive infective endocarditis (IE). This study corroborate that infective
      endocarditis is a heavy illness, characterized by high frequency of heart
      failure. The authors insist upon the prevention of infective endocarditis.

PMID- 1435189
TI  - [Measles control in the 1990s: perspectives of prevention and eradication with
      special reference to Africa].
AB  - A discussion of knowledge gained on measles during the 1980s leads to an outline
      of research priorities for the 1990s. Special emphasis is laid on the vaccine
      schedule, with particular emphasis on two dose schedules, on virus dissemination
      from town to country, and on two pronged strategies for town and country.

PMID- 1435190
TI  - [Scleroma and rhinoscleroma].
AB  - Scleroma is a specific granulomatous disease of bacterial origin, chronic
      evolution, with election in respiratory tracts; nose lesion is practically
      constant and so justifies the term Rhinoscleroma. Although they are many endemic
      foci throughout the world and in particular in Africa, it is an uncommon disease,
      often not recognized for polymorphic. The cases recorded out of already known
      foci concerned generally migrants; autochtonous cases in France are really
      infrequent. Within the evolutive lesions diagnosis is made out of the isolation
      of the responsible germ (Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis) and the presence of the
      specific Mikulicz' cell. To find out localizations in the same patient, we
      utilize X Rays and endoscopy. Antibiotic therapy is of long duration but treats
      the affection and prepares the way of surgery intervention to eliminate
      cicatricial deformities. Relapses are caused by shortness of therapy and some
      difficulty to monitor patients. Mortel in the past, scleroma should nowadays, be
      better recognized to be better treated and cured.

PMID- 1435191
TI  - [A new case report of omphalocele in a newborn (Kamenge University Hospital
      Center at Bujumbura, Burundi)].
AB  - A new case report of new born baby's omphalocele allows us to precise the
      embryological data indispensable to understand the genesis of this pathology. The
      future of the primitive intestinal loop and the explanation of the temporary
      physiological hernia, are the basis of such phenomenons rarely reported and they
      complete the three cases' report recently published.

PMID- 1435192
TI  - [Mycobacterium fortuitum in a patient with human immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
      in Benin)].
AB  - The authors report a case of Mycobacterium Fortuitum infection in one AIDS
      patient. This case underlines the interest for the clinicians to investigate
      systematically a possible infection by Mycobacterium fortuitum in all AIDS
      patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

PMID- 1435193
TI  - [Evaluation of an indirect hemagglutination test for the serodiagnosis of
      amebiasis].
AB  - 167 sera have been tested to appreciate the value of an indirect hemagglutination
      test (Amibiase HAI FUMOUZE) comparatively to an agglutination test of
      sensibilized particles of latex (Bichro latex Amibe Fumouze BLA) Amibiase HAI
      test comes out as sensitive and specific for the detection of antibodies in
      patients suffering from visceral amoebiasis. But some antibodies are also
      detected in patients with an antecedent of amoebiasis, as it is usually the case
      with some other techniques. A high positivity of the indirect hemagglutination
      test, and the concordance between the test HAI and the BLA one are in favour of a
      visceral amoebiasis. While lower rates or discrepancy between the two tests may
      evoke an hidden infestation in patients coming out or originated from endemic
      zones.

PMID- 1435194
TI  - [Variation of the parasite density of Plasmodium falciparum in asymptomatic
      carriers: consequences for malaria chemoresistance studies].
AB  - During the studies on malaria chemoresistance, we noted great variations in
      parasite density of Plasmodium falciparum between screening in the morning and
      final selection in the afternoon, in asymptomatic people. To better understand
      this phenomenon, we conducted a study in october 1987 on primary school children
      in a village near the city of Bobo-Dioulasso, at the peak malaria prevalence. We
      performed 3 blood-smears at 8 a.m., 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., on Day 0 and Day 4, to an
      initial number of 86 children, aged from 6 to 9 years. By the end of the study 44
      children remained who fulfilled the inclusion criteria Among them 35 showed a
      parasitaemia on Day 0 and 9 remained negative. On Day 4, 28 were positive and 16
      remained negative. Of the 35 children positive at entry to the study 16 remained
      continuously positive, the others were negative on at least one occasion. Of the
      28 children positive on Day 4, 14 remained continuously positive. For the 16
      people with a parasitaemia continuously positive on Day 0.7 (43.7 p. cent) became
      spontaneously negative on Day 4. But considering the small size of our sample,
      the analysis of the nycthemeral variation and of the variation between the two
      days did not show a significant difference. Further studies involving a greater
      number of blood-smears during a longer period and concerning more people, should
      be conducted. The possibility of spontaneous negativation of the parasitaemia
      without drug absorption shows that there are some cases of false malaria
      chemosensitivity that are declared when the in vivo tests are not coupled with in
      vitro tests.

PMID- 1435195
TI  - [Bibliographic notes. Medicine and tropical specialties].

PMID- 1435196
TI  - Effect of lithium on the double-quantum behavior of 23Na in normal human
      erythrocytes.
AB  - The double-quantum behavior of 23Na in the presence of different concentrations
      of Li in human erythrocytes was investigated. The 23Na double-quantum signal was
      quenched in both the extracellular and the intracellular compartments with
      increasing concentration of Li in each compartment, along with an increase in the
      23Na T1 both intra- and extracellularly. Some extracellular quenching could be
      observed at the near therapeutic concentration of 2 mM Li. The ratio of slow to
      fast spin-spin (T2) relaxation times, obtained from the dependence of the double
      quantum signal on creation time, approached unity at an overall Li concentration
      of 40 mM. These results provide evidence that Li and Na compete for both intra-
      and extracellular binding sites in erythrocytes.

PMID- 1435197
TI  - A novel method for fat suppression in RARE sequences.
AB  - Rapid acquisition relaxation-enhanced (RARE) sequences (Hennig et al., Magn.
      Reson. Med. 3, 823 (1986)) utilize one or several Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill
      (CPMG) echo trains to sample a number of k-space lines each repetition time TR.
      The technique can rapidly generate multislice T2-weighted images which, as a
      rule, are strikingly similar in contrast to conventional T2-weighted spin-echo
      (SE) images. An exception to this rule is the appearance of very bright signal
      from fat in T2-weighted RARE images as compared to conventional T2-weighted SE
      images. To reduce this fat signal, we introduce a time delay, tau c, between the
      90 degrees x and first 180 degrees y pulse of each echo train such that a phase
      angle of pi/2 develops between fat and the reference (water) line at echo maxima.
      The technique leads to single-acquisition fat suppression without the use of
      frequency-selective saturation pulses and concomitant loss of slices per TR. A
      Bloch equation analysis is used to identify two major mechanisms contributing to
      suppression of off-resonance spins such that w tau c = pi/2. Namely, the CPMG
      sequence becomes a CP sequence with no self-correction properties for imperfect
      180 degrees pulses leading to enhanced signal decay, and the raw k-space data
      matrix become segmented into blocks alternately multiplied by +/- i, leading to
      signal dispersion following Fourier transformation.

PMID- 1435198
TI  - Validation of 13C NMR measurement of human skeletal muscle glycogen by direct
      biochemical assay of needle biopsy samples.
AB  - Recent developments in 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy have
      permitted noninvasive assessment of glycogen concentration in human skeletal
      muscle. Before these indirect measurements could be accepted as accurate, it was
      essential that validation should be carried out by comparing the widely used
      method of muscle biopsy and direct biochemical assay for glycogen concentration
      with measurement by NMR. Eight normal subjects underwent six NMR scans of
      gastrocnemius and three biopsies of the same muscle on the same day. The overall
      mean for muscle glycogen concentration was 87.4 mM by NMR and 88.3 mM by biopsy.
      There was a close correlation between the pairs of observations on each subject
      (R = 0.95; P less than 0.0001). The mean coefficient of variation for NMR
      measurement was 4.3 +/- 2.1% and that for biopsy was 9.3 +/- 5.9%. The
      performance of the muscle biopsies was accompanied by a small but significant
      rise in plasma-free fatty acids (529 +/- 157 to 667 +/- 250; P less than 0.01),
      epinephrine (17 +/- 6 to 25 +/- 8 pg/ml; P less than 0.02), and norepinephrine
      (318 +/- 119 to 400 +/- 140 pg/ml; P less than 0.02) but no change in plasma
      glucose, plasma insulin, nor muscle glycogen concentration assessed by NMR. The
      study demonstrates that in vivo 13C NMR measurement of human muscle glycogen can
      be regarded as accurate, and the technique is associated with a higher precision
      that biopsy with direct biochemical assessment.

PMID- 1435199
TI  - Charge dependence of the distribution of contrast agents in rat cerebral
      ventricles.
AB  - Previous studies of MRI contrast resulting from the intracerebral administration
      of several contrast agents have suggested that the distribution of these agents
      may be dependent on the net charge. In order to further evaluate the significance
      of this parameter, the distribution of both aquo and CDTA-chelated lanthanide and
      transition metal ions in the cerebral ventricles of rats has been evaluated based
      on their enhancement of MRI contrast. The agents were injected directly into the
      lateral ventricles of Sprague-Dawley rats. Each of five different positively
      charged paramagnetic metal ions tested selectively enhanced the inner cellular
      layers of ventricular luminal wall of the rat brain, while such enhancement was
      absent using the corresponding negatively charged metal-CDTA complexes. The
      abundance of negatively charged residues on the cell surface of the inner luminal
      layers is suggested to be the source of the observed charge affinity. Differences
      in the distribution of Mn2+ ions administered intracerebrally compared with
      intraperitoneal (ip) injection suggest that while the first treatment may result
      primarily in uncomplexed aquo ions which then interact with the luminal surface,
      manganese ions administered ip behave more like chelated ions and are most
      probably complexed to transferrin.

PMID- 1435200
TI  - On the application of ultra-fast RARE experiments.
AB  - The ultra-fast application of the RARE experiment is described in detail, with
      special emphasis on its multifarious applications with preparation experiments
      that produce transverse magnetization. The factors affecting the temporal
      evolution of the magnetization during the experiment are described, and the
      implications for the slice profile when using a Gaussian refocusing pulse are
      experimentally examined. The choice of phase-encoding scheme for use with
      preparation experiments is discussed, as is the use of various phase-encoding
      schemes to reduce line broadening in the phase-encoding direction if a number of
      averages are acquired. An explanation for the decomposition of the echo are into
      two components if the read gradient is imbalanced is given, and the experimental
      conditions necessary for the coherent addition of these two echo groups are
      described. An alternative sequence that removes one of these groups from the
      acquisition window is proposed. The sensitivity of the sequence to flow and
      motion is investigated, and the drastic loss of signal in this situation
      explained. The in vivo and in vitro application of preparation experiments
      leading to the accurate measurement of T1, T2, diffusion constant, and
      magnetization transfer characteristics is presented. The implementation of zoom
      imaging using spin- and stimulated-echo preparation is described, and 3D in vivo
      spin-echo zoom images are presented. Simple phantom experiments demonstrating the
      feasibility of chemical-shift selective and spectroscopic imaging are also given.

PMID- 1435201
TI  - Breast coil design for low-field MRI.
AB  - Four double-breast coils were designed for the low-field resistive magnet MR
      imaging of female breasts at 0.02, 0.04, and 0.1 T. The signal-to-noise ratio is
      optimized by shaping the coils, by constructing two different size coils at 0.02
      T, and by using special wire for the turns of the solenoidal coils. The
      approximate linear dependence of the SNR on the Larmor frequency is estimated.

PMID- 1435202
TI  - The capillary network: a link between IVIM and classical perfusion.
AB  - MR measurements based on motion encoding gradients, such as intravoxel incoherent
      motion imaging, could provide, in principle, information on flowing blood volume
      and blood velocity. This note shows that, in addition, the knowledge of the
      capillary network organization may provide a link between these measurements and
      those obtained by conventional and MR perfusion techniques based on tracer uptake
      by tissues.

PMID- 1435203
TI  - T1 values of phosphomonoester and phosphocreatine of brain show no significant
      change during development.
AB  - Changes in apparent 31P spin-lattice relaxation times (T1) associated with brain
      development were investigated in rat pups. While analysis of variance showed
      strong age dependency in [PME]/[ATP] and [PCr]/[ATP], the T1 values of PME, PCr,
      and ATP did not show any age dependency. The studies indicate that in contrast to
      the data which indicated aging-related changes in the T1 values of PME, the
      observed changes in PME during neonatal development are likely to be quantitative
      in nature.

PMID- 1435204
TI  - Detection and assignment of the glucose signal in 1H NMR difference spectra of
      the human brain.
AB  - The difference between 1H NMR spectra obtained during eu- and hyperglycemia
      exhibited well-resolved glucose peaks between 3 and 4 ppm as demonstrated by
      comparison with solution spectra. Estimated increases were consistent with recent
      13C NMR quantitations of intracerebral glucose. Difference spectra were measured
      in 36-ml volumes from the human brain every 3 min.

PMID- 1435205
TI  - Evaluation of experimental early acute cerebral ischemia before the development
      of edema: use of dynamic, contrast-enhanced and diffusion-weighted MR scanning.
AB  - The ability of dynamic, contrast-enhanced, magnetic susceptibility-weighted
      scanning to delineate early experimental acute cerebral infarction was compared
      with that of heavily T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted spin echo scanning.
      Spontaneously hypertensive rats, which had undergone right middle cerebral artery
      occlusion, were studied from 15 min to 3 h post ligation on a 1.5-T clinical
      whole-body imager. In contrast to the diffusion- and T2-weighted spin echo scans,
      the dynamic, contrast-enhanced technique clearly and consistently delineated the
      nonperfused regions as early as 15 min post ligation.

PMID- 1435206
TI  - Monitoring the progression of spermatogenesis by 31P magnetic resonance
      spectroscopy.

PMID- 1435207
TI  - A nuclear magnetic resonance investigation of the upper airways in ferrets. I.
      Effects of histamine and methacholine.
AB  - Alterations induced in the upper airways of ferrets by intranasal provocation
      with methacholine (MC) and histamine (HS) were monitored using proton magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) and spin-spin relaxation rate (R2) measurements. Both MC
      and HS cause a significant increase in the MRI signal intensity and a decrease in
      R2 in the nasal turbinates. A dose-dependent response is observed for 20 to 315
      nmol of HS, with a maximum increase in intensity of ca. 50% occurring above 80
      nmol. A single unilateral challenge with MC yields a 62 +/- 3% increase in
      intensity. Control animals (saline-treated) show little change in image
      intensity. MC and HS cause decreases in the proton R2 by -27.0 +/- 5.5% and -17.2
      +/- 4.3%, respectively. These data are indicative of an accumulation of fluid in
      the nasal airways. MRI provides an effective means to monitor changes in the
      nasal airways which occur as a result of pharmacological treatment.

PMID- 1435208
TI  - A nuclear magnetic resonance investigation of the upper airways in ferrets. II.
      Contrast-enhanced imaging to distinguish vascular from other nasal fluids.
AB  - Proton magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), used in conjunction with the
      intravascular contrast agent albumin-(Gd-DTPA), provides a means to distinguish
      vascular fluids from other nasal fluids in the upper airways. Ferrets were given
      an intravenous dose of albumin-(Gd-DTPA) followed by an intranasal challenge with
      either histamine (HS) or methacholine (MC). An observed increase in image
      intensity indicates that HS and MC both cause an accumulation of fluids in the
      nasal turbinate region. The MRI data are also influenced by the presence of
      blood, which contains the contrast agent, and a clear distinction can be made
      between vascular fluids and other nasal fluids (i.e., cellular and glandular
      secretions). The results show that HS causes an increase in vascular fluids in
      the nasal turbinates while MC does not. This methodology represents a new means
      to investigate airway pharmacology and the pathophysiology associated with
      various pharmacological agents, allergens, or viral infections.

PMID- 1435209
TI  - The design of liposomal paramagnetic MR agents: effect of vesicle size upon the
      relaxivity of surface-incorporated lipophilic chelates.
AB  - The 1/T1 NMRD profiles of lipid vesicles with the paramagnetic ion Gd attached
      via a chelate covalently linked to the membrane surface show a peak at
      approximately 20 MHz indicating that fluctuations of approximately 10(-8) s
      contribute to the form of the dispersion profile. If the correlation time for
      fluctuations of the paramagnetic chelate on the membrane surface is much less
      than the correlation time for rotation of the lipid vesicle, it would be expected
      that the measured 1/T1 relaxation rate for solvent protons should be invariant
      with vesicle size above a certain minimum vesicle diameter. We show that this is
      indeed the case for vesicles in the size range 50 to 400 nm average diameter and
      discuss general design considerations for the preparation of vesicle-associated
      MR contrast agents based upon paramagnetic chelates either trapped within the
      vesicle interior or attached to the membrane surface.

PMID- 1435210
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging of myocardial kinematics. Technique to detect,
      localize, and quantify the strain rates of the active human myocardium.
AB  - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method is presented to detect, localize, and
      quantify myocardial kinematics by measuring the material rate-of-strain tensor at
      each pixel in gated NMR images of the heart. The immediate, local effect of
      muscular activity is self-deformation, and the strain tensor is the basic
      mathematical device by which such deformation may be quantified. The present
      method, called "strain-phase" MRI (SP-MRI), entails four steps: (1) the velocity
      of the myocardium is encoded by means of a set of motion-sensitive NMR image
      acquisitions, one image per velocity component; (2) the spatial derivatives of
      the velocity are computed at each pixel; (3) the velocity-derivative data are
      combined to compute an approximation of the strain-rate tensor of the myocardium
      at each pixel; and (4) the strain-rate tensor data are simplified to produce a
      color-coded functional image which represents strain-rate components which are of
      particular biomedical interest in the myocardium. We present a quantitative SP
      MRI methodology suited to conventional MRI, and in addition present an "echo
      planar" methodology, able to produce qualitative functional images of myocardial
      kinematics at almost real-time speeds. Two-dimensional strain-phase MRI data
      acquired in normal human subjects are presented. These data demonstrate the
      practicability of SP-MRI in vivo, that SP-MRI resolves myocardial kinematics at
      the single-pixel scale, having resolution comparable to that of conventional MRI,
      and that SP-MRI data may have a signal-to-noise ratio up to 50% as great as that
      of the conventional MRI data from which they are produced. SP-MRI measurements of
      the local instantaneous strain rates in the human left ventricular myocardium are
      quantitatively consistent with known transmural average values of myocardial
      strain.

PMID- 1435211
TI  - Measurement of blood-brain barrier permeability in a tumor model using magnetic
      resonance imaging with gadolinium-DTPA.
AB  - Sequential MR imaging with gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd
      DTPA) and sequential measurements of plasma Gd-DTPA concentration by inductively
      coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) were used to estimate the
      blood-to-tissue transport coefficient (Ki) in the 36B-10 rat glioma model. For
      these measurements, tissue Gd-DTPA concentration was estimated from tumor
      enhancement by correlation with calibration measurements obtained by ICP-AES
      analysis of tumor tissue. The 14 animals for which Ki was calculated can be
      grouped into those imaged at 11 days following tumor implantation, at 13-18 days,
      and at 20 days. The mean (+SEM) Ki values for these groups were 1.1 + 0.24, 9.2 +
      0.8, and 13.4 + 1.7 ml/kg-min, respectively. These results correspond well with
      published data obtained by quantitative autoradiography. It is concluded that
      frequent sequential imaging and a graphical approach to Ki calculation are
      promising methods for determining the blood-to-tissue transport coefficient
      noninvasively by contrast-enhanced MRI.

PMID- 1435212
TI  - Determination of concentrations by time domain fitting of proton NMR echo signals
      using prior knowledge.
AB  - A fast and flexible time domain iterative fitting procedure that can be used to
      fit free induction decays as well as echo-like signals is described. Damping
      constants of the first and second part of the echo do not have to be identical.
      Prior knowledge can be used to diminish the number of parameters to be fitted,
      which results in an improved accuracy. It is shown how prior knowledge is
      mathematically incorporated in the Gauss-Newton method. From proton NMR
      measurements of model solutions actual prior knowledge is extracted. With this
      knowledge relative concentrations are determined from a mixture of metabolites.
      The fitted results agree with the true values within the margins of the noise.
      After some minor changes the same prior knowledge was successfully used to
      analyze a series of in vivo rat brain measurements.

PMID- 1435213
TI  - Relationship between the degree of unsaturation of dietary fatty acids and
      adipose tissue fatty acids assessed by natural-abundance 13C magnetic resonance
      spectroscopy in man.
AB  - Natural-abundance 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used for determining
      noninvasively the relative concentration of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids
      of adipose tissue in two groups of volunteers. The first consisted of subjects
      who had followed a fat-reduced diet for at least half a year before the 13C
      measurements. The second were control subjects who were on a usual high-fat diet.
      The ratio of unsaturated to total fatty acids in adipose tissue determined by 13C
      MRS correlated significantly with the same ratio in fat of the diet composition
      estimated by a dietician according to food records. The results indicate that 13C
      MRS is capable of assessing the degree of unsaturation of dietary fatty acids
      consumed during the preceding months.

PMID- 1435214
TI  - Determination of absolute phosphate metabolite concentrations in RIF-1 tumors in
      vivo by 31P-1H-2H NMR spectroscopy using water as an internal intensity
      reference.
AB  - The absolute metabolite quantification method of Thulborn and Ackerman [J. Magn.
      Reson. 55, 357 (1983)] in which the tissue water proton signal is used as an
      internal intensity standard and its more recent variation in which NMR peak
      intensities are referenced to that of the natural abundance deuterium signal of
      water [Li et al., SMRM Abstr. 2, 825 (1988); Song et al., Magn. Reson. Med. 25,
      45 (1992) have been implemented to obtain absolute phosphate metabolite
      concentrations in subcutaneous RIF-1 tumors during untreated growth and following
      treatment with 5-fluorouracil. The equivalence of these two hydrogen isotopes as
      intensity standards and the validity of their use in the determination of
      absolute metabolite concentrations in vivo by NMR has been demonstrated. On
      matched in vivo and extract tumor samples (n = 5), excellent agreement has been
      obtained between nucleoside triphosphate concentrations determined by NMR and
      those derived by HPLC analysis for the control tumors. Following 3 days of
      untreated growth, absolute concentrations of phosphate metabolites in RIF-1
      tumors (n = 10) decreased significantly, except for the Pi concentration which
      did not vary. For the treated tumors (n = 10) there were no changes in metabolite
      concentrations except for a decrease in the PCr and, possibly, Pi concentrations.
      The PCr/Pi ratio in the latter tumors did not change. These observations suggest
      that changes in absolute metabolite concentrations may be more sensitive indices
      of response to therapy than changes in metabolite peak amplitude ratios, a
      parameter commonly used to express in vivo NMR data.

PMID- 1435215
TI  - Phasing spin-echo-acquired 31P spectroscopic images using complex conjugate data
      reversal.
AB  - A simple method has been developed for phasing 31P spectroscopic images acquired
      with short echo-time (1-2 ms) spin-echo sequences. The technique is based on
      reconstructing complete echoes in the time domain by the reversal of the complex
      conjugate of the data. After Fourier analysis, a magnitude reconstruction is
      used, which no longer broadens the lines. Advantages of the method compared to
      other phasing procedures are discussed.

PMID- 1435216
TI  - Feasibility of 19F imaging of perfluorochemical emulsions to measure myocardial
      vascular volume.
AB  - 19F magnetic resonance images were obtained of the ventricular walls of isolated
      rabbit hearts perfused with a perfluorochemical (PFC) emulsion. Since the PFC is
      known to stay within the vascular space in normal myocardial tissue, the 19F
      signal should reflect myocardial vascular volume. 19F MRI of PFC emulsions
      represents a new investigational tool for the study of coronary vascular volume.

PMID- 1435217
TI  - 13C and 1H NMR study of the metabolic degradation of 4-pentenoate in different
      dog nephron segments.
AB  - The metabolism of 4-pentenoate in isolated kidney tubules has been investigated
      by 1H and 13C NMR. The 4-pentenoate metabolite, 3-keto-4-pentenoyl-CoA,
      accumulated in proximal tubules only and its formation could be competitively
      inhibited by octanoate. 4-Pentenoate was metabolized in thick ascending limbs but
      not in papillary collecting ducts.

PMID- 1435218
TI  - Use of fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery pulse sequences for imaging the spinal
      cord.
AB  - Fourteen patients with disease of the spinal cord were imaged with fluid
      attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) sequences in which the inversion time was
      chosen to substantially reduce or null the signal from CSF. Lesions were seen
      with greater conspicuity than with conventional contrast-enhanced and -unenhanced
      T1- and T2-weighted sequences in 11 cases.

PMID- 1435219
TI  - NMR venography using the susceptibility effect produced by deoxyhemoglobin.
AB  - A new angiography technique using the susceptibility effect is proposed. Blood
      containing deoxyhemoglobin is more paramagnetic than surrounding tissue and
      thereby produces a susceptibility effect at blood-tissue interfaces. By use of a
      specially tailored RF pulse, signals from normal tissues are suppressed while the
      signals from blood interfaces, where strong susceptibility-induced fields are
      created, are enhanced. The design and characteristic behavior of the tailored RF
      pulse are discussed and experimental results obtained using both a phantom and a
      human volunteer with a 2.0-T whole-body NMR system are also presented.

PMID- 1435221
TI  - An NMR phased array for human cardiac 31P spectroscopy.
AB  - A four-coil phased-array 31P NMR receiver was designed and tested for human
      cardiac applications, to determine whether the combination of relatively high
      signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and large field of view produced in 1H imaging is
      also realized for in vivo 31P spectroscopy. Spectra were acquired in parallel
      from an array of four overlapping 6.5-cm surface coils using one- and two
      dimensional phase-encoding pulse sequences and were optimally combined to yield
      composite spectroscopic images. The phased array was found to generate useful 31P
      spectra from a 2.5-fold wider lateral region around the anterior myocardium than
      a single receiver of the same size as the array elements, with no increase in
      imaging time. In addition, the sensitive depth was increased by up to 2 cm over
      that of a single coil. Spectra could be acquired in roughly 15 min from a region
      extending to the middle of the heart, with voxel sizes of 2 x 2 x 4 cm3. For the
      average heart voxel, the SNR of the combined spectrum was higher than that of the
      best spectrum from any one coil in the array by 30%, with some voxels showing an
      increase as high as 60%.

PMID- 1435220
TI  - Atraumatic quantitation of cerebral perfusion in cats by 19F magnetic resonance
      imaging.
AB  - We have noninvasively produced low-resolution, quantitative nuclear magnetic
      resonance images of cerebral blood flow in 2-ml voxels in eight cats. Typical
      signal-to-noise of 4 to 1 was obtained in cerebral voxels in 16.5-s epochs. Mean
      flow during normocapnia (paCO2 = 39 +/- 4 mm Hg) and hypercapnia (paCO2 = 62 +/-
      4 mm Hg) was 53 +/- 20 ml/100 g-min and 140 +/- 36 ml/100 g-min, respectively.
      Fast flows in normocapnia were 94 +/- 13 and 182 +/- 39 ml/100 g-min in
      hypercapnia. These results suggest that an atraumatic quantitative imaging
      assessment of cerebral perfusion may be possible in humans using these
      techniques.

PMID- 1435222
TI  - Glycogen detection by in vivo 13C NMR: a comparison of proton decoupling and
      polarization transfer.
AB  - The performance of gated proton decoupling and polarization transfer with respect
      to glycogen detection by 13C NMR was investigated. Experiments were performed on
      a 1.5-T whole-body scanner using a 13C surface coil in combination with a proton
      head coil. Spectra were acquired from a glycogen phantom and from the lower leg
      of a healthy volunteer using proton decoupling and the polarization transfer
      method SINEPT. The signal strength of the C1 resonance of glycogen was determined
      and compared to a reference spectrum acquired without any form of sensitivity
      enhancement. In the phantom experiment both decoupling and SINEPT produced a
      signal gain of 3.5. Under in vivo conditions, the signal gain was approximately
      2.5 for both techniques. We conclude that decoupling and polarization transfer
      are equivalently useful techniques for glycogen detection.

PMID- 1435224
TI  - Quantitative MRI of the prostate and uterus in monkeys.
AB  - Quantitative MRI has been carried out in the prostate, seminal vesicles, uterus,
      and ovaries in the pig-tailed monkey, Macaca nemestrina. T2-weighted, fat
      suppressed, multislice experiments were performed at 2.35 T. Eight males, 14
      ovariectomized females, and 20 intact females were studied. In the prostate, the
      caudal and cranial lobe were readily distinguished since the latter had a longer
      T2 value. For all tissues and organs, interanimal variations were large (up to 12
      fold variation in volume), but reproducibility was excellent in the prostate and
      in the ovariectomized monkey uterus with coefficients of variation (CV) of 3 and
      5%, respectively. In the intact monkey uterus, cycle-cycle reproducibility was
      good with CVs of 6-10% in the myometrium and 14-18% in the endometrium. In the
      follicular phase, endometrial growth (+3.8% day-1, P < 0.001) was accompanied by
      myometrial shrinkage (-1.6% day-1, P < 0.001), while in the luteal phase, growth
      was seen in both tissues (+4.3% day-1, P < 0.001 and +1.4% day-1, P < 0.001,
      respectively). The great value of these MRI techniques in obtaining data in
      pharmacological efficacy studies of endocrine drugs, and in limiting the number
      of animals used, is discussed.

PMID- 1435223
TI  - Simultaneous MR acquisition of arterial and brain signal-time curves.
AB  - Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) provides important information about local
      neuronal functional and cerebrovascular status. Determination of rCBF requires
      sequential measurements of tracer concentration in arterial blood and brain
      tissue unless the tracer is trapped in the brain in proportion to rCBF. Since
      gadopentate dimeglumine is not trapped within brain tissue, we have developed the
      simultaneous dual FLASH pulse sequence (SDFLASH) which sequentially measures the
      MR signal change in both the internal carotid artery and brain parenchyma
      simultaneously during the passage of a bolus of paramagnetic contrast material.

PMID- 1435225
TI  - The loss of small objects in variable TE imaging: implications for FSE, RARE, and
      EPI.
AB  - The importance to MR image quality of the order of acquisition of different phase
      encoded views with sequences that have variable TR and TE has been recently
      reported. It has been shown that the effective point spread function (PSF) may be
      manipulated by varying TE or TR, or both, with each phase-encoding step. This
      paper explores the behavior of the PSF in a variable TE sequence and its
      dependence on both imaging and tissue parameters. It is shown that the PSF is
      different for each tissue type and that its effect on tissue contrast is a
      function of both the shape and size of the structure. The important problem of
      signal loss from small objects that arises when the effective PSF is broad and
      the difficulty in detecting this phenomenon in practical MR images is
      illustrated. It is shown that the PSF can produce significant blurring and loss
      of object contrast in fast spin-echo images but that this blurring may be not be
      obvious in practice because the noise is unaffected by the PSF. It is also shown
      that the signal from small lesions with short T2 can easily be lost through this
      blurring mechanism. The importance of signal loss from small objects and its
      implication for the clinical use of such sequences as fast spin-echo or rapid
      acquisition relaxation-enhanced and echo planar imaging is stressed.

PMID- 1435226
TI  - Direct observation of the magnetization exchange dynamics responsible for
      magnetization transfer contrast in human cartilage in vitro.
AB  - Saturating irradiation far off-resonance can lead to diminution in the water
      signal seen in MRI, giving rise to magnetization transfer contrast. This results
      from transfer of magnetization between "solid" protons with restricted motion,
      which give rise to a band some tens of kilohertz wide, and the narrow signal from
      mobile protons. In the work reported here a high-power pulse spectrometer, which
      can detect signals from both mobile and immobile protons, was used to investigate
      the dynamics of magnetization transfer in cartilage in vitro. Magnetization
      transfer in modified Hoffman-Forsen inversion transfer experiments was well
      described by a single rate constant model; full analytical solutions are offered
      for the resultant biexponential magnetization recovery curves. The use of pulsed
      methods to generate magnetization contrast may in some circumstances offer
      advantages over the steady-state saturation methods used hitherto.

PMID- 1435227
TI  - Purification and characterisation of an extracellular metalloprotease, serine
      protease and haemolysin of Aeromonas hydrophila strain B32: all are lethal for
      fish.
AB  - Three different lethal (for rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri) extracellular toxins
      were purified by HPLC from the culture supernatants of Aeromonas hydrophila
      strain B32 which had been isolated from rainbow trout. A metalloprotease, MW 38
      kDa, was stable at 56 degrees C for 10 min, had no cytotoxic activity and and
      LD50 of 150 ng/g fish. In narrow range isoelectric-focusing (IEF) the enzyme had
      11 isomers with (pls) between 4.12 and 4.8. A serine protease (22 kDa) was stable
      at 56 degrees C for 10 min, possessed cytotoxic activity and had an LD50 of 150
      ng/g fish. In IEF, multiple isomers possessed pls between 4.5-5.2. The haemolysin
      had alpha-haemolytic activity (68 kDa) multiple isomers in IEF with pl range 4.5
      5.1 and an LD50 of 2 micrograms/g fish. It was stable after heating to 56 degrees
      C for 20 min, 60 degrees C for 10 min and possessed esterase activity on beta
      naphthyl acetate. These latter properties suggest it may be a novel haemolysin
      distinct from alpha- and beta-haemolysin.

PMID- 1435228
TI  - The clinical and immunogenetic features of patients with autoantibodies to the
      nucleolar antigen PM-Scl.
AB  - The clinical and laboratory features of 32 patients with anti-PM-Scl were
      studied. Patients with this rare autoantibody suffered from a homogenous overlap
      connective tissue disease defined by Raynaud phenomenon (32/32), features of
      scleroderma (31/32), arthritis (31/32, erosive in 9/32), myositis (28/32), lung
      restriction (25/32), calcinosis (15/32), and sicca (11/32). Significant renal and
      neurologic involvement was uncommon. All patients examined (22/22) had HLA-DR3,
      and 50% of these patients were homozygous. Our patients responded favorably to
      moderate immunosuppression and, with therapy, the disease generally has a good
      prognosis; over 50% of our series (17/32) remained well on minimal or no
      immunosuppression after a median follow-up of 8 years.

PMID- 1435229
TI  - Gaucher disease. Clinical, laboratory, radiologic, and genetic features of 53
      patients.
AB  - We have reviewed our experiences with the clinical, laboratory, radiologic, and
      genetic features of 53 patients with Gaucher disease. Most were evaluated during
      early adult life, with a mean age of 33 years. Our patients were evaluated in a
      referral center, and therefore the data need to be interpreted with caution when
      applied to the general patient population, which includes a greater proportion of
      very mild cases. Thirty-nine patients were Ashkenazi Jews, 13 were non-Jewish and
      1 was half-Jewish. The most common presenting symptom was bleeding related to
      splenomegaly and thrombocytopenia. The chronic symptoms, evaluated an average of
      20 years after the diagnosis had been established, were mainly skeletal.
      Splenectomy had been performed in 43% of our patients and there was no evidence
      that this procedure accelerated the progression of liver and bone involvement.
      DNA from the patients was examined for 20 different mutations. The association
      between the 1226G/1226G genotype and a milder clinical course, and between the
      1226G/84GG and 1226/1448C genotypes with more severe clinical manifestations, was
      confirmed. Repeated follow-up examinations in 29 patients revealed that in the
      majority of the patients, progression of the disease occurs during childhood,
      adolescence, or early adulthood with a marked tendency for stabilization
      thereafter. This observation suggests that Gaucher disease in most of the
      patients is not a relentless progressive disorder but a rather stable disorder
      during adulthood. The indications for the newly introduced intravenous enzyme
      replacement therapy as well as of future experimental treatments should be
      examined in the light of the natural history of the disease.

PMID- 1435231
TI  - Sjogren's syndrome. A clinical, pathological, and serological study of sixty-two
      cases. 1965.

PMID- 1435230
TI  - Spontaneous hemothorax. Report of 6 cases and review of the literature.
AB  - We present 6 cases of spontaneous hemothorax and comprehensively review the
      medical literature on this subject. We categorize the reported causes and offer a
      rational diagnostic approach to patients with nontraumatic hemothorax. We
      recommend specific treatments for specific etiologies, and emphasize the
      importance of well-established surgical principles for the treatment of
      hemothorax. Our suggestions should enable physicians to accurately diagnose and
      expeditiously treat patients with spontaneous hemothorax.

PMID- 1435232
TI  - Mysticete (baleen whale) relationships based upon the sequence of the common
      cetacean DNA satellite.
AB  - The genomes of all extant cetaceans are characterized by the presence of the so
      called common cetacean DNA satellite. In the mysticetes (whalebone whales) the
      repeat length of the satellite is 1,760 bp. In the odontocetes (toothed whales),
      other than the family Delphinidae, the repeat length is usually approximately
      1,740 bp. The Delphinidae are characterized by a repeat length of approximately
      1,580 bp. It has been shown in odontocetes that the satellite evolves in concert
      and that differences between species, with respect to the sequence of the
      satellite, correspond reasonably well to their evolutionary distances. In the
      present study the sequence of the satellite was determined in three repeats in
      each of seven mysticete species, and a consensus for each species established.
      Parsimony and neighbor-joining analyses based upon sequences of all repeats
      showed that the primary evolutionary distinction among the mysticetes is between
      the Balaenidae sensu stricto (i.e., the bowhead whale and the right whale) and
      all remaining species, including the pygmy right whale, a species that usually
      has been included in the Balaenidae. The comparisons also showed that the
      humpback whale and the gray whale were approximately equidistant from the blue
      whale and the fin whale (genus Balaenoptera). Concerted evolution of the
      satellite was also demonstrated among the mysticetes, but it appeared to evolve
      more slowly in the mysticetes than in the odontocetes.

PMID- 1435233
TI  - Evolution of the expression of the Gld gene in the reproductive tract of
      Drosophila.
AB  - During the preadult development of Drosophila melanogaster, the GLD (glucose
      dehydrogenase) gene (Gld) is expressed in a variety of tissues, including the
      immature reproductive tract. At the adult stage the expression of Gld becomes
      largely restricted to the reproductive tract of males and females. We examined
      the expression of GLD in the adult reproductive tract of 50 species in the genus
      Drosophila, as well as in those of a few representative species from four other
      closely related genera. GLD exhibits considerable organ-specific diversity in the
      reproductive tract of males and females. Among these species, five male GLD
      phenotypes and six female GLD phenotypes were found. In contrast, the preadult
      expression of GLD in representative species from each distinct adult pattern type
      was determined and found to be highly conserved in both the immature reproductive
      tract and non-reproductive organs. Moreover, the set of reproductive organs that
      express GLD during preadult development is equivalent to the sum of the five male
      and six female adult GLD phenotypes. To initially define the contribution of cis-
      versus trans-acting factors responsible for differences in adult GLD expression
      between two of these species--D. melanogaster and D. pseudoobscura--we
      transferred the D. pseudoobscura Gld to the genome of D. melanogaster and
      investigated its expression. GLD expression patterns of these transformants
      displayed characteristics that are unique to both species, suggesting the
      presence of both cis- and trans-acting differences between these two species.

PMID- 1435234
TI  - Sequence evolution in mitochondrial ribosomal and ND-1 genes in lepidoptera:
      implications for phylogenetic analyses.
AB  - A 2,256-bp sequence of the mitochondrial genome of a lepidopteran (Spodoptera
      frugiperda) contains tRNAs for valine and leucine, the 16S rRNA, and three
      quarters of the ND-1 presumptive protein-coding gene. A 64-bp stretch of unknown
      function was located between the rRNA and leucine tRNA. Sequence divergence in
      the 16S rRNA obtained from alignment with published insect sequences is
      consistent with phylogenetic hypotheses, in that Diptera and Lepidoptera are more
      closely related to each other (24% sequence divergence) than either is to
      Hymenoptera (31%). Within the ND-1 gene, sequences for four additional
      Lepidoptera were generated for a 314-bp region and contrasted with published
      sequences for the locust and Drosophila. Sequence divergence in this region was
      consistent with accepted phylogenetic relationships, but results of parsimony
      analyses were not. Cladograms consistently recovered accepted higher level
      relationships (monophyly of Lepidoptera), despite high homoplasy, but were unable
      to resolve superfamily and family relationships within Lepidoptera, regardless of
      the outgroup or character subset analyzed. Character analysis indicated that
      homoplasy was decreased at higher levels when first- and second-codon sites were
      used exclusively. At the lowest level (families), resolution was enhanced by
      inclusion of third-codon sites. Inability of molecular data to recover a well
      established phylogeny may be rectified by additional characters or taxa, but it
      is clear that homoplasy is sufficiently high to caution against the acceptance of
      relationships generated with this molecular region that are not extremely robust.

PMID- 1435235
TI  - Complete congruence between morphological and rbcL-based molecular phylogenies in
      birches and related species (Betulaceae).
AB  - Estimations of phylogenies from morphological and molecular data often show
      contrasting results. We compared morphological and molecular phylogenies in an
      ancient family of woody dicots, the Betulaceae (birch family). The phylogeny of
      the family was estimated from parsimony analysis of morphological characters in
      the genera Alnus, Betula, Carpinus, Corylus, Ostrya, and Ostryopsis and from
      parsimony and distance-matrix analyses of DNA sequences of the chloroplast gene
      encoding the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase (rbcL) in the
      genera Alnus, Betula, Carpinus, Corylus, and Ostrya and in two outgroups, Quercus
      and Liquidambar. The topologies obtained by the different methods were completely
      congruent, and bootstrapping strongly supported the division of the family
      Betulaceae into two major clades, Betuleae (Alnus and Betula) and Coryleae (other
      members). Only slightly more homoplasy was present in the rbcL sequence data set
      than in the morphological set. Relative-rate tests indicated that the Coryleae
      clade had a faster rate of rbcL evolution than did the Betuleae clade.
      Heterogeneity of rates of morphological evolution also paralleled those for rbcL.

PMID- 1435236
TI  - The 5S ribosomal RNA gene in Pythium species: two different genomic locations.
AB  - The 5S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes in eukaryotes may occur either interspersed
      with the other rRNA genes in the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) repeat, or in separate
      tandem arrays, or dispersed throughout the genome. In Pythium species and in
      several related Oomycetes, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the
      nontranscribed spacer (NTS) region with one primer specific for the 5S gene
      revealed, with several exceptions, that the 5S rRNA gene was present in the rDNA
      repeat of those species with filamentous sporangia and was absent from the rDNA
      repeat of those with globose or unknown sporangia. When present, the gene was
      located approximately 1 kb downstream of the large-subunit rRNA gene and on the
      strand opposite that on which the other rRNA genes were located. This was
      confirmed in P. torulosum by sequencing of the gene and its flanking regions. The
      5S rRNA genes of P. ultimum were found in tandem arrays outside the rDNA repeat.
      Evidence of dispersed 5S rRNA sequences was also observed. For many of the
      species of Pythium having the 5S gene in the NTS, the region between the large
      subunit rRNA gene and the 5S gene was found to have length heterogeneity.
      Oomycetes related to Pythium were also found to have the 5S gene in the NTS,
      although sometimes in the opposite orientation. This may mean that the presence
      of the gene in the NTS is ancestral for the Oomycetes and that the absence of the
      gene in the NTS in those Pythiums with globose sporangia is due to loss of the
      gene from the rDNA repeat in an ancestor of this group of species. These results
      favor the view that 5S rRNA gene linkage to the rRNA cistron existed prior to the
      unlinked arrangement seen in most plants and animals.

PMID- 1435237
TI  - Group I introns within the nuclear-encoded small-subunit rRNA gene of three green
      algae.
AB  - Four group I introns from the nuclear-encoded (18S) rRNA genes of three
      chlorophycean green algae are described; two are in Dunaliella parva, and one
      each is in D. salina and Characium saccatum. The introns within the gene in the
      latter two organisms are located at the sites equivalent to the 5' and 3' introns
      of D. parva, respectively. All four introns lack open reading frames and are
      relatively small, 381-447 bp. Both primary- and secondary-structural features
      place these introns within subgroup IC1 described by Michel and Westhof.
      Phylogenetic relationships of the three intron-containing taxa and their
      relatives, as inferred from comparisons of 18S rDNA sequences, suggest that
      inheritance of the introns along with the gene can account for their present
      distribution. The discovery of these four introns, in addition to two others
      known to exist in other chlorophycean green algae, suggests that group I introns
      within the 18S rRNA gene may be relatively common in the green algae.

PMID- 1435238
TI  - Statistical properties of bootstrap estimation of phylogenetic variability from
      nucleotide sequences. I. Four taxa with a molecular clock.
AB  - The statistical properties of sample estimation and bootstrap estimation of
      phylogenetic variability from a sample of nucleotide sequences are studied by
      using model trees of three taxa with an outgroup and by assuming a constant rate
      of nucleotide substitution. The maximum-parsimony method of tree reconstruction
      is used. An analytic formula is derived for estimating the sequence length that
      is required if P, the probability of obtaining the true tree from the sampled
      sequences, is to be equal to or higher than a given value. Bootstrap estimation
      is formulated as a two-step sampling procedure: (1) sampling of sequences from
      the evolutionary process and (2) resampling of the original sequence sample. The
      probability that a bootstrap resampling of an original sequence sample will
      support the true tree is found to depend on the model tree, the sequence length,
      and the probability that a randomly chosen nucleotide site is an informative
      site. When a trifurcating tree is used as the model tree, the probability that
      one of the three bifurcating trees will appear in > or = 95% of the bootstrap
      replicates is < 5%, even if the number of bootstrap replicates is only 50;
      therefore, the probability of accepting an erroneous tree as the true tree is <
      5% if that tree appears in > or = 95% of the bootstrap replicates and if more
      than 50 bootstrap replications are conducted. However, if a particular
      bifurcating tree is observed in, say, < 75% of the bootstrap replicates, then it
      cannot be claimed to be better than the trifurcating tree even if > or = 1,000
      bootstrap replications are conducted. When a bifurcating tree is used as the
      model tree, the bootstrap approach tends to overestimate P when the sequences are
      very short, but it tends to underestimate that probability when the sequences are
      long. Moreover, simulation results show that, if a tree is accepted as the true
      tree only if it has appeared in > or = 95% of the bootstrap replicates, then the
      probability of failing to accept any bifurcating tree can be as large as 58% even
      when P = 95%, i.e., even when 95% of the samples from the evolutionary process
      will support the true tree. Thus, if the rate-constancy assumption holds,
      bootstrapping is a conservative approach for estimating the reliability of an
      inferred phylogeny for four taxa.

PMID- 1435239
TI  - Freeing phylogenies from artifacts of alignment.
AB  - Widely used methods for phylogenetic inference, both those that require and those
      that produce alignments, share certain weaknesses. These weaknesses are
      discussed, and a method that lacks them is introduced. For each pair of sequences
      in the data set, the method utilizes both insertion-deletion and amino acid
      replacement information to estimate a pairwise evolutionary distance. It is also
      possible to allow regional heterogeneity of replacement rates. Because a
      likelihood framework is adopted, the standard deviation of each pairwise distance
      can be estimated. The distance matrix and standard error estimates are used to
      infer a phylogenetic tree. As an example, this method is used on 10 widely
      diverged sequences of the second largest RNA polymerase subunit. A pseudo
      bootstrap technique is devised to assess the validity of the inferred
      phylogenetic tree.

PMID- 1435240
TI  - The effect of unequal transversion rates on the accuracy of evolutionary
      parsimony.
AB  - Evolutionary parsimony is an easy-to-use method of phylogenetic inference that is
      based on nucleic acid sequences and that does not require the assumption that
      evolutionary processes in the various sites on the molecule are identical. It
      does, however, require a parameter constraint, known as the "balanced
      transversion" assumption. We show that the accuracy of the procedure is fairly
      insensitive to moderate violations of this assumption--and that the procedure
      thus is applicable under more general conditions than previously thought.

PMID- 1435241
TI  - Age of the common ancestor of human mitochondrial DNA.

PMID- 1435242
TI  - A collagenous sequence in a prokaryotic hyaluronidase.

PMID- 1435243
TI  - Error introduced by the infinite-site model.

PMID- 1435244
TI  - [Pseudoneurotic syndromes in copper mine workers].
AB  - In 59 miners of mine front places and 50 workers who performed their work on the
      places situated outside of mine work places the neurological examination was
      carried out. The nervous over-excitability syndromes connected with suffering
      from disturbances of sleep, headache and over-excitement in 62% of mine front
      places miners and in 28% of the other workers were noted. The probable causes of
      the nervous over-excitability syndrome occurred in the miners of copper mine were
      discussed.

PMID- 1435245
TI  - [Evaluation of mental functions in workers exposed to metallic mercury, inorganic
      lead and carbon disulfide].
AB  - The aim of the study was to determine the similarities and differences between
      the groups of dysfunctions detectable using psychologic tests in workers exposed
      to metallic mercury, inorganic lead and carbon disulfide. The study groups
      included male workers examined in the Clinic of Occupational Diseases of the
      Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lodz. The subjects were supposed to the
      chronically intoxicated with Hg (27 persons), Pb (40 persons) and CS2 (40
      persons). A wide variety of tests was used to examine reference groups matched
      appropriately according to sex, age and level of education. The comparative
      analysis of results showed that the range and extend of a decrease in psychic
      functions depend on the type of a neurotoxic agent. The most serious disorders
      (frequently those of organic brain disease type) were found in subjects exposed
      to CS2. Exposure to metallic mercury resulted in functional disorders of the
      psychic sphere, while exposure to inorganic lead caused some minor functional
      changes. The results of the psychological examination of the subjects may be
      useful both for individual analysis and for screening.

PMID- 1435246
TI  - [Evaluation of the usefulness of enzyme tests for the diagnosis of the effects of
      various organic solvents in the conditions of occupational exposure].
AB  - The aim of the study was to evaluate the suitability of enzymatic tests for
      estimating the effects of organic solvents upon the organisms of daily exposed
      workers. The analysis was undertaken in 572 workers exposed to such solvents as
      toluene, xylene, cresols and benzine. Periodical examination was carried out for
      the purposes of the study. The level of excreting organic solvents' metabolites
      in urine and serum enzymes' activity were determined. Also, the activity of
      alanine and aspartate aminotransferases and of plasmatic cholinesterase was
      determined. The results of the study support the necessity of applying the
      enzymatic tests as a basic method of evaluating the toxic activity of organic
      solvents.

PMID- 1435247
TI  - [Exposure to organic solvent vapors during production of lacquers for automobile
      painting].
AB  - This study was aimed at the development and improvement of the methods for
      determining solvent vapours to estimate occupational exposure in paint and
      varnish shops. Gas chromatographic method and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were
      applied respectively for quantitative determination and identification of toxic
      substances in the work-room air in plants manufacturing carbamide car paints and
      commonly used phthalic paints. Particular attention was paid to aromatic
      hydrocarbon components of farbasol: ethyltoluenes, propylbenzene,
      isopropylbenzene, mesitylene, hemimelitene, pseudocumene, diethylbenzenes and
      cymene. These hydrocarbons constitute about 95% of farbasol. At present, the
      evaluation of exposure in paint and varnish factories and in paint shops in
      Poland is insufficient because of the lack of TLV values for the above solvents,
      as well as inadequate methods of determination used in majority of laboratories.

PMID- 1435248
TI  - [Bibliographic and documentary activities in the fields of occupational medicine
      and toxicology].
AB  - Great variety of world's medical literature demands elaborating specific
      bibliographic publications. The authors present a review of world's medical
      bibliographies with special stress put on occupational medicine and toxicology.
      The role of indexing languages in the preparation of bibliographies was
      emphasized. Also, the bibliographic publications edited at the Institute of
      Occupational Medicine in Lodz were presented. The usefulness of this literature
      for the specialists in toxicology and occupational medicine was discussed.

PMID- 1435249
TI  - [Principles of developing the register of chemical substances in Poland].
AB  - The author present the principles for establishing the register of chemical
      substances in Poland. After considering different world's registers of chemical
      compound it was observed that the rules of creating this sort of register in the
      USA are most suitable for the Polish demands. It was suggested that the criterion
      of classifying a given substance to the register should be the chemical's content
      100 kg. For the substances known as cancerogenic this threshold level is going to
      be 5 kg. Moreover, the principles and a schedule for preparing such a register
      are specified. One of the most important conditions that must be fulfilled in
      order to establish the register is applying the relevant legal regulations.

PMID- 1435250
TI  - [Etiopathogenetic factors of degenerative diseases of the spine and the effects
      of exertion and working conditions].
AB  - The work was based on literature concerning the etiopathogenesis of spondylosis
      and on communications estimating the effects of work conditions upon generating
      or intensification of degenerative disease syndromes. Traumas, micro-traumas,
      excessive static and dynamic workload are very important etiopathogenetic
      factors. The most frequently analysed occupational hazards comprise exercise body
      position at work, type of the movements performed, exposure to vibration.
      According to most authors, work conditions and ways of performing a given job may
      be listed among the factors that affect degenerative changes of the spinal cord.

PMID- 1435251
TI  - [Asbestos substitutes and their biological action. I. Types, use, exposure and
      MPEL].
AB  - Referring to literature, the authors present problems of exposure to asbestos,
      its production and MACs in Poland. In our country artificial mineral fibres are
      produced in seven plants employing about 2000 workers. These plants produce
      basalt wool, sag wool and glass fibres used in industrial and building insulating
      materials and in cement and mortar additives and as a free insulating material.
      Mean concentrations of total dust at the work-posts measured in 1986-1989 ranged
      between 1.06 mg/m3 and 3.10 mg/m3. Concentrations of respirable fibres ranged
      from 0.041 fibre/cm3 to 0.173 fibre/cm3. In Poland, the MAC for mineral fibres
      for total dust amounts to 4 mg/m3 and for respirable mineral fibres to 2
      fibres/cm3.

PMID- 1435252
TI  - [Reference values of selected parameters of lung functions in the population of
      Bogdanka coal miners].
AB  - The aim of the study was to construct and test new equations for calculating
      FEV1, ITGV and FVC predictive values. Our examined population consisted of 2058
      coal miners working underground in Bogdanka colliery (Lublin Basin). The
      following persons were excluded from out considerations: 1. smokers, 2. miners
      with pulmonary or allergic diseases history, 3. patients with chronic cough,
      sputum production or symptoms of chronic rhinitis, 4. persons with bronchial
      hyperreactivity. Finally, our standard group consisted of 353 coal miners. On the
      basis of our standard group data, new equations for calculating predictive values
      were formulated using the multiple regression model. According to these new
      equations and to equations elaborated by other authors, we calculated predictive
      values for FEV1, FVC and ITGV in our standard population and expressed results of
      measurements in percentages of different predictive values. Our predictive values
      in the standard population were significantly higher than the other authors'
      values. Percentages of predicted values were lower in the same comparison. We
      believe that observed differences are linked to a possible self-selection
      phenomenon in occupationally exposed population, relatively small maximum age of
      our standard group, possible differences in anthropometric features among
      examined populations and excluding hyperreactives. Our results seem to emphasize
      the need of greater attention to the paid on more restrictive use of the
      specially formulated equations in separate age compartments.

PMID- 1435253
TI  - The molecular basis for positive regulation of cys promoters in Salmonella
      typhimurium and Escherichia coli.
AB  - Most genes required for cysteine biosynthesis in Salmonella typhimurium and
      Escherichia coli are positively regulated by cysB, which encodes a
      transcriptional activator belonging to the LysR family of regulatory proteins.
      CysB protein binds just upstream of the -35 region of positively regulated
      promoters, where in the presence of inducer it facilitates formation of a
      transcription initiation complex. CysB protein also autoregulates its own
      synthesis by binding to the cysB promoter as a repressor. Cysteine down-regulates
      the pathway by inhibiting synthesis of O-acetylserine, a direct cysteine
      precursor and possibly an inducer of gene expression. O-Acetylserine
      spontaneously isomerizes to N-acetylserine, which is clearly an inducer. Sulphide
      and thiosulphate provide additional regulation by acting as anti-inducers.
      Inducer stimulates CysB protein binding to sites involved in positive regulation,
      and inhibits binding to the negatively autoregulated cysB promoter. For three
      sites with unknown function, binding is stimulated at one and inhibited at the
      other two.

PMID- 1435254
TI  - Biological roles of the Escherichia coli RuvA, RuvB and RuvC proteins revealed.
AB  - In Escherichia coli, the ruvA, ruvB and ruvC gene products are required for
      genetic recombination and the recombinational repair of DNA damage. New studies
      suggest that these three proteins function late in recombination and process
      Holliday junctions made by RecA protein-mediated strand exchange. In vitro, RuvA
      protein binds a Holliday junction with high affinity and, together with RuvB (an
      ATPase), promotes ATP-dependent branch migration of the junction leading to the
      formation of heteroduplex DNA. The third protein, RuvC, which acts independently
      of RuvA and RuvB, resolves recombination intermediates by specific
      endonucleolytic cleavage of the Holliday junction.

PMID- 1435255
TI  - In vitro phosphorylation of AlgR, a regulator of mucoidy in Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa, by a histidine protein kinase and effects of small phospho-donor
      molecules.
AB  - AlgR is a transcriptional regulator of mucoidy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a
      critical virulence factor expressed in cystic fibrosis. AlgR belongs to the
      superfamily of bacterial signal transduction systems, and has been shown to bind
      to the algD promoter, a critical point in the regulation of mucoidy. This
      protein, like other typical response regulators, contains highly conserved
      residues known to be critical for the phosphorylation and signal transduction
      processes. However, a typical second component interacting with AlgR has not been
      identified. Here we demonstrate that AlgR undergoes phosphorylation in vitro when
      interacting with the well-characterized histidine protein kinase CheA. These
      results indicate that AlgR is capable of undergoing phosphorylation typical of
      other two-component signal transduction systems. Moreover, the phosphotransfer
      reaction between CheA and AlgR was found to be affected by the presence of
      carbamoyl phosphate, acetyl phosphate, and salts of phosphoramidic acid, recently
      shown to act as small-molecular-weight phospho-donors in the process of
      phosphorylation of several response regulators. These findings suggest that AlgR
      may react with intermediary metabolites such as carbamoyl phosphate and acetyl
      phosphate, and that these processes may play a role in the control of mucoidy in
      P. aeruginosa.

PMID- 1435256
TI  - Frameshifting in the expression of the Escherichia coli trpR gene.
AB  - The trpR gene of Escherichia coli carries an open reading frame that encodes the
      trp repressor, 108 amino acids long. Here we show that translation of an
      additional (+1) reading frame of trpR occurs both in vivo and in vitro. This
      results in the synthesis of a stable +1 frame polypeptide. Using site-specific
      mutagenesis, immunological techniques and amino acid sequencing we have found
      that the N-terminus of the +1 frame product and that of the known 0 frame product
      are identical but that their C-termini differ. Our results are discussed in
      relation to the role of natural frameshifting as a regulatory mechanism of gene
      expression in general, and with respect to tryptophan biosynthesis in particular.

PMID- 1435257
TI  - Expression of the Opc protein correlates with invasion of epithelial and
      endothelial cells by Neisseria meningitidis.
AB  - Whereas capsulate strains of Neisseria meningitidis are dependent on pili for
      adhesion to human endothelial and epithelial cells, strains which lacked
      assembled pili and were partially capsule-deficient adhered to and invaded human
      endothelial and epithelial cells if they expressed the Opc protein. Bacteria
      expressing low or undetectable levels of Opc protein failed to adhere to or
      invade eukaryotic cells. In addition, the presence of OpaAC751 protein on the
      surface of bacteria did not increase bacterial interactions with host cells.
      Association of Opc-expressing bacteria was inhibited by antibodies against Opc.
      Invasion was dependent on the host-cell cytoskeletal activity and was inhibited
      by cytochalasin D. In some cells, infected at the apical surface, bacteria
      emerging from basal surface were detected by electron microscopy. Opc is found in
      diverse meningococci and may represent a common virulence factor which
      facilitates adherence and invasion by these bacteria.

PMID- 1435258
TI  - Transcriptional regulation of the redD transcriptional activator gene accounts
      for growth-phase-dependent production of the antibiotic undecylprodigiosin in
      Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2).
AB  - Transcription of redD, the activator gene required for production of the red
      pigmented antibiotic undecylprodigiosin by Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), showed
      a dramatic increase during the transition from exponential to stationary phase.
      The increase in redD expression was followed by transcription of redX, a
      biosynthetic structural gene, and the appearance of the antibiotic in the
      mycelium, and coincided with the intracellular appearance of ppGpp. However,
      ppGpp production elicited either by nutritional shift-down of, or addition of
      serine hydroxamate to, exponentially growing cultures had no stimulatory effect
      on redD transcription. The presence of redD on a multicopy plasmid resulted in
      elevated levels of the redD transcript and production of redX and
      undecylprodigiosin during exponential growth; the normal growth-phase-dependent
      production of undecylprodigiosin appeared to be mediated entirely through the
      redD promoter, which shows limited similarity to the consensus sequence for the
      major class of eubacterial promoters.

PMID- 1435259
TI  - Transcriptional control, translation and function of the products of the five
      open reading frames of the Escherichia coli nir operon.
AB  - Five open reading frames designated nirB, nirD, nirE, nirC and cysG have been
      identified from the DNA sequence of the Escherichia coli nir operon.
      Complementation experiments established that the NirB, NirD and CysG polypeptides
      are essential and sufficient for NADH-dependent nitrite reductase activity (EC
      1.6.6.4). A series of plasmids has been constructed in which each of the open
      reading frames has been fused in-phase with the beta-galactosidase gene, lacZ.
      Rates of beta-galactosidase synthesis during growth in different media revealed
      that nirB, -D, -E and -C are transcribed from the FNR-dependent promoter, p-nirB,
      located just upstream of the nirB gene: expression is co-ordinately repressed by
      oxygen and induced during anaerobic growth. Although the nirB, -D and -C open
      reading frames are translated into protein, no translation of nirE mRNA was
      detected. The cysG gene product is expressed from both p-nirB and a second, FNR
      independent promoter, p-cysG, located within the nirC gene. No NADH-dependent
      nitrite reductase activity was detected in extracts from bacteria lacking either
      NirB or NirD, but a mixture of the two was as active as an extract from wild-type
      bacteria. Reconstitution of enzyme activity in vitro required stoichiometric
      quantities of NirB and NirD and was rapid and independent of the temperature
      during mixing. NirD remained associated with NirB during the initial stages of
      purification of the active enzyme, suggesting that NirD is a second structural
      subunit of the enzyme.

PMID- 1435260
TI  - The glucose kinase gene of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2): its nucleotide
      sequence, transcriptional analysis and role in glucose repression.
AB  - Mutants (glk) of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) that are resistant to the non
      utilizable glucose analogue 2-deoxyglucose are deficient in glucose kinase
      activity, defective in glucose repression, and usually unable to utilize glucose.
      A 2.9 kb BclI fragment, previously shown to restore a wild-type phenotype to a
      glk deletion mutant that lacks the entire segment, contains two complete open
      reading frames that would encode proteins of 20.1 kDa (ORF2) and 33.1 kDa (ORF3).
      ORF3 is transcribed from its own promoter, and also from a promoter that
      initiates transcription upstream of ORF2. A derivative of the temperate phage phi
      C31 containing ORF3 alone restored a wild-type phenotype when used to lysogenize
      the deletion mutant. The product of ORF3 is homologous to members of a family of
      repressor proteins encoded by xylR in Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus
      pentosus, and by nagC in Escherichia coli. Although this might suggest that ORF3
      encodes a positive activator for glucose kinase, rather than the enzyme itself,
      ORF3 restored the ability to metabolize glucose to an E. coli glk mutant, and
      activity gels of cell extracts of E. coli containing ORF3 cloned in the pT7-7
      expression vector demonstrated that the ORF3 product has glucose kinase activity.

PMID- 1435261
TI  - Cloning and genetic characterization of a Helicobacter pylori flagellin gene.
AB  - Helicobacter pylori produces polar sheathed flagella, which are believed to be
      essential for the bacterial colonization of the human gastric mucosa. Here we
      report on the cloning and genetic characterization of a H. pylori gene encoding
      the subunit of the flagellar filament, the flagellin. Screening of a genomic
      library of H. pylori with an oligonucleotide probe derived from the N-terminal
      amino acid sequence of purified flagellin resulted in a recombinant plasmid clone
      carrying the flagellin-encoding gene flaA on a 9.3 kb Bg/II fragment. The
      nucleotide sequence of flaA revealed an open reading frame of 1530 nucleotides,
      encoding a protein with a predicted molecular mass of 53.2 kDa, which is similar
      in size with the purified flagellin protein in SDS-polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis. Sequence alignment of H. pylori flagellin (FlaA) with other
      bacterial flagellins demonstrates a high degree of similarity in the amino
      terminal and carboxy-terminal regions, including those of the closely related
      genus Campylobacter (56% overall identity with Campylobacter coli flaA), but
      little homology in the central domain. Southern hybridizations of chromosomal DNA
      with flaA-specific probes did not reveal the presence of additional homologous
      flagellin genes in H. pylori. Sequence analysis of the flaA flanking regions and
      mapping of the flaA mRNA start site by a primer extension experiment indicated
      that transcription of the gene is under the control of a sigma 28-specific
      promoter sequence in H. pylori. The region upstream of the flaA promoter is
      subject to local DNA modification, resulting in the masking of two out of three
      closely linked HindIII restriction sites in the chromosome of strain 898-1.
      Escherichia coli strains harbouring the recombinant plasmid did not produce full
      length flagellin and data obtained with FlaA fusion proteins using an E. coli
      plasmid expression system suggest that a distinct nucleotide sequence in the gene
      interferes with productive translation of this protein in E. coli.

PMID- 1435262
TI  - Cloning of mycobacterial histidine synthesis genes by complementation of a
      Mycobacterium smegmatis auxotroph.
AB  - Histidine-requiring auxotrophs of Mycobacterium smegmatis were isolated following
      N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine treatment. One of these mutants, his5, was
      transformed with an M. smegmatis shuttle cosmid library, and complementing clones
      were isolated at a frequency of approximately 1%. A 2.3 kb fragment was subcloned
      and sequenced, and found to contain the start of an operon including the hisD
      gene and part of the hisC gene. No hisG gene was detected upstream of hisD,
      suggesting that the regulation of histidine biosynthesis in mycobacteria may
      differ from that of Escherichia coli. The strategy used here will allow the
      molecular genetics of complex mycobacterial-specific biosynthetic pathways
      involved in the virulence of pathogenic species to be studied.

PMID- 1435263
TI  - A multinomial modeling analysis of the mnemonic benefits of bizarre imagery.
AB  - A series of experiments was conducted to explore the cognitive processes that
      mediate the bizarreness effect, that is, the finding that bizarre or unusual
      imagery is recalled better than common imagery. In all experiments, subjects were
      presented with noun pairs that were embedded within bizarre or common sentences
      in a mixed-list design. None of the experiments produced a bizarreness effect for
      cued recall; however, for two of the experiments, the bizarre noun pairs were
      remembered significantly better than the common pairs for free recall. To
      determine if these differences were due to the storage or retrieval of the items,
      a multinomial model for the analysis of imagery mediation in paired-associate
      learning was developed and applied to the data from the experiments. The model
      revealed that bizarre sentences benefited the retrieval of the noun pairs but not
      their storage within memory. The empirical and modeling results are discussed
      relative to previous findings and theories on the bizarreness effect.

PMID- 1435264
TI  - Concreteness effects in free recall: the roles of imaginal and relational
      processing.
AB  - Two experiments reevaluated the possible role of mental imagery in free recall of
      concrete and abstract words. In Experiment 1, the number and rate of list
      presentations were manipulated. Incidental recall following an imagery rating
      task yielded reliable concreteness effects after two presentations but not after
      a single presentation, regardless of presentation rate. In Experiment 2, we
      examined the effects of relational (categorization) and item-specific (imagery
      rating) processing tasks on memory for categorically related or unrelated
      concrete and abstract words. Concreteness effects were obtained when unrelated
      words were sorted into categories but not when they were rated on imagery.
      Related words failed to yield concreteness effects under any orienting condition.
      The results support the view that the presence or absence of concreteness effects
      in free recall depends on the relative salience of distinctive and relational
      information. This conclusion constrains theoretical explanations of the role of
      mental imagery in memory and cognition.

PMID- 1435265
TI  - Degree of learning, interpolated tests, and rate of forgetting.
AB  - The purpose of the two experiments reported here was to observe the effects of
      degree of learning, interpolated tests, and retention interval, primarily on the
      rate of forgetting of a list of words, and secondarily on hypermnesia for those
      words. In the first experiment, all the subjects had one study trial on a list of
      20 common words, followed by two tests of recall. Half of the subjects had
      further study and test trials until they had learned the words to a criterion of
      three correct consecutive recalls. Two days later, half of the subjects under
      each learning condition returned for four retention tests, and 16 days later, all
      the subjects returned for four tests. Experiment 2 was similar, except that all
      the subjects had at least three study trials followed by four recall tests on Day
      1, intermediate tests were given 2 or 7 days later, and they all had final tests
      14 days later. The results showed that rate of forgetting was attenuated by an
      additional intermediate set of tests but not by criterion learning. Hypermnesia
      was generally found over the tests that were given after a retention interval of
      2 or more days. The best predictor of the amount of hypermnesia over a set of
      tests was the difference between overall cumulative recall and net recall on the
      first test of the set.

PMID- 1435266
TI  - The influence of retrieval on retention.
AB  - Four experiments tested the hypothesis that successful retrieval of an item from
      memory affects retention only because the retrieval provides an additional
      presentation of the target item. Two methods of learning paired associates were
      compared. In the pure study trial (pure ST condition) method, both items of a
      pair were presented simultaneously for study. In the test trial/study trial (TTST
      condition) method, subjects attempted to retrieve the response term during a
      period in which only the stimulus term was present (and the response term of the
      pair was presented after a 5-sec delay). Final retention of target items was
      tested with cued-recall tests. In Experiment 1, there was a reliable advantage in
      final testing for nonsense-syllable/number pairs in the TTST condition over pairs
      in the pure ST condition. In Experiment 2, the same result was obtained with
      Eskimo/English word pairs. This benefit of the TTST condition was not apparently
      different for final retrieval after 5 min or after 24 h. Experiments 3 and 4
      ruled out two artifactual explanations of the TTST advantage observed in the
      first two experiments. Because performing a memory retrieval (TTST condition) led
      to better performance than pure study (pure ST condition), the results reject the
      hypothesis that a successful retrieval is beneficial only to the extent that it
      provides another study experience.

PMID- 1435267
TI  - Sentence encoding and implicitly activated memories.
AB  - Some words have fewer direct associates than others, and, when words varying in
      set size are studied in a list-learning task, those with smaller sets are more
      likely to be recalled. This set-size effect is found in cued recall when the
      words are studied in the absence of related words, but not when studied in the
      presence of related words. Related words provide context and theoretically
      inhibit irrelevant associates. The present research determined that set-size
      effects are found when words are encoded in sentence contexts. In contrast to
      list-learning experiments, the results of three experiments found such effects
      even when lexically related words were present in the sentences. Other findings
      indicated that target-set-size effects were determined by the proximity of
      related words in the sentence and the nature of the test cue. The results are
      discussed in relation to a model for explaining set-size effects and to selective
      findings from the sentence-comprehension literature.

PMID- 1435268
TI  - Supernatural beliefs, natural kinds, and conceptual structure.
AB  - This article presents cross-cultural evidence in support of the notion that
      adults' natural kind concepts are theory based but may be informed by
      knowledge/belief systems other than the biological. Three groups of subjects from
      western Nigeria--rural, urban, and elite--participated in the study. Subjects
      heard stories describing alterations of appearance; that is, one natural kind was
      made to resemble another in both ritual and nonritual contexts. Subjects then
      were required to judge the identity of the altered item and to give an
      explanation for the category judgment. It was predicted that subjects would make
      more nonpreservation-of-identity category judgments supported by supernatural
      explanations in the ritual contexts and that subjects' use of supernatural
      explanations would reflect the extent of their engagement with the supernatural.
      The first prediction was borne out; the second prediction was only partially
      supported. Discussion of the results emphasizes the importance of exploring the
      role of sociocultural factors in conceptual structure.

PMID- 1435269
TI  - The effects of syntactic structure on letter detection in adjacent function
      words.
AB  - In the present study, we examined letter detection in very frequent function-word
      sequences. It has been claimed that such sequences are processed in a unitized
      manner, thus preempting access to their constituent letters. In contrast, we
      showed that letter detection in the words for and the (1) was no more difficult
      when the words appeared in adjacent locations in a sentence (familiar) than when
      they appeared apart (less familiar sequence) and (2) was contingent upon the
      words' syntactic roles within the phrase. Thus, letter detection in for was
      easier when the sequence was separated by a clause boundary than when the words
      were part of the same clause. The advantage derived from clause separation was
      strongest when a comma divided clauses. These results challenge the unitization
      account of the "missing-letter" effect in common phrases and support a position
      where this phenomenon is seen to reflect the extraction of phrase structure
      during reading.

PMID- 1435270
TI  - The retrieval of controlled and automatic aspects of meaning on direct and
      indirect tests.
AB  - The literature concerning implicit memory presents conflicting evidence on the
      importance of meaning in recovering recently studied words. When the same cues
      are used during testing, indirect instructions reduce levels of processing
      effects relative to those obtained with direct instructions, suggesting that
      meaning is not as likely to be retrieved on indirect tests. However, with certain
      cues, meaning set size of the studied words affects performance even under
      indirect instructions, suggesting that meaning is retrieved on such tests. The
      purpose of the present experiments was to resolve this apparent inconsistency. In
      Experiment 1, the effects of levels of processing and meaning set size were
      evaluated under direct and indirect test instructions, with the use of stem and
      word-fragment cues. In other experiments, beginning and ending stem cues were
      compared, and levels, set size, and instructional effects were evaluated using
      meaning cues. The findings indicated that levels effects were determined more by
      test instructions than by test cues, and that set size effects were determined
      more by test cues than by test instructions. Implications are discussed for
      transfer-appropriate processing viewpoints and for a model in which it is assumed
      that performance is determined by searching either explicit or implicit memories.

PMID- 1435271
TI  - The word-superiority effect and phonological recoding.
AB  - Previous work indicates that the locus of the word-superiority effect in letter
      detection is nonvisual and that letter names, but not letter shapes, are more
      accessible in words than in nonwords, that is, scrambled collections of letters
      (e.g., Krueger & Shapiro, 1979; Krueger & Stadtlander, 1991; Massaro, 1979). The
      nonvisual (verbal or lexical) coding may be phonological, or it may be more
      abstract. In the present study, a word advantage in the speed of letter detection
      was found even when the target letter was silent in the six-letter test word
      (e.g., s in island). Other test words varied in their frequency of occurrence in
      English and number of syllables (1, 2, or 3). The word advantage was larger for
      higher frequency words but was not affected by syllable length. The presence of
      unpronounceable nonwords and silent letters in the words discouraged reliance
      upon the phonological code but did not thereby eliminate the word advantage.
      Thus, the word-superiority effect with free viewing is not based entirely upon
      phonological recoding.

PMID- 1435272
TI  - Process generalization and the prediction of performance on mental imagery tasks.
AB  - Kosslyn (1980, 1983) theorized that performance measures on imagery tasks may
      vary as a function of the existence of independent processes in imaging ability.
      The present study determined whether improvement can be made in performance on
      such tasks with practice. It also considered whether performance on such tasks
      improves with practice and whether this improvement generalizes. Experiment 1
      determined whether improvement in a mental rotation task generalizes to
      improvement in a geometric analogies task, with both tasks weighted in Kosslyn's
      find process, but not in a line drawing memory task weighted in Kosslyn's
      regenerate process. In Experiment 2, we examined generalization in improvement
      from a geometric analogies task to a mental rotation task. In Experiment 3, we
      tested whether improvement in an animal imagery task (Kosslyn, 1975) generalizes
      to improvement in a line drawing memory task, with both tasks weighted in
      Kosslyn's regenerate process, but not to improvement in a mental rotation task.
      Performance improved with practice on all tasks. Furthermore, performance
      improved from one task to another only if both tasks loaded on the same process.

PMID- 1435273
TI  - Age of acquisition, not word frequency, affects object naming, not object
      recognition.
AB  - Word frequency is widely believed to affect object naming speed, despite several
      studies in which it has been reported that frequency effects may be redundant
      upon age of acquisition. We report, first, a reanalysis of data from the study by
      Oldfield and Wingfield (1965), which is standardly cited as evidence for a word
      frequency effect in object naming; then we report two new experiments. The
      reanalysis of Oldfield and Wingfield shows that age of acquisition is the major
      determinant of naming speed, and that frequency plays no independent role when
      its correlation with other variables is taken into account. In Experiment 1, age
      of acquisition and phoneme length proved to be the primary determinants of object
      naming speed. Frequency, prototypicality, and imageability had no independent
      effect. In Experiment 2, subjects classified objects into two semantic categories
      (natural or man-made). Prototypicality and semantic category were the only
      variables to have a significant effect on reaction time, with no effect of age of
      acquisition, frequency, imageability, or word length. We conclude that age of
      acquisition, not word frequency, affects the retrieval and/or execution of object
      names, not the process of object recognition. The locus of this effect is
      discussed, along with the possibility that words learned in early childhood may
      be more resistant to the effects of brain injury in at least some adult aphasics
      than words learned somewhat later.

PMID- 1435274
TI  - The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon: blocking or partial activation?
AB  - Tip-of-the-tongue states may represent the momentary unavailability of an
      otherwise accessible word or the weak activation of an otherwise inaccessible
      word. In three experiments designed to address these alternative views, subjects
      attempted to retrieve rare target words from their definitions. The definitions
      were followed by cues that were related to the targets in sound, by cues that
      were related in meaning, and by cues that were not related to the targets.
      Experiment 1 found that compared with unrelated cues, related cue words that were
      presented immediately after target definitions helped rather than hindered
      lexical retrieval, and that sound cues were more effective retrieval aids than
      meaning cues. Experiment 2 replicated these results when cues were presented
      after an initial target-retrieval attempt. These findings reverse a previous one
      (Jones, 1989) that was reproduced in Experiment 3 and shown to stem from a small
      group of unusually difficult target definitions.

PMID- 1435276
TI  - Prospects for health care reform.

PMID- 1435275
TI  - Controlling Stroop effects by manipulating expectations for color words.
AB  - An important characteristic of automatic processing is its uncontrollability. The
      Stroop phenomenon is regarded as a prototypical example of this characteristic of
      automatic processing, hence, the Stroop effect should not change when the
      percentages of color words versus neutral stimuli are manipulated to induce
      controlled processing. We found that Stroop interference decreased as the
      percentage of color words increased. Furthermore, the magnitude of the inhibitory
      component of the Stroop effect was negatively correlated with the percentage of
      color words; the facilitatory component was insensitive to the manipulation.
      These results suggest that the Stroop effect is controllable (see Logan, 1980)
      and that the locus of control is postlexical. The results also suggest that
      facilitation and inhibition are produced by different mechanisms and challenge
      those models of the Stroop phenomenon (e.g., Cohen, Dunbar, & McClelland, 1990;
      Phaf, Van der Heijden, & Hudson, 1990) that assume that a single processing
      mechanism causes facilitation and inhibition and that control affects
      facilitation and inhibition alike (Logan, 1980).

PMID- 1435277
TI  - A professional and personal perspective on families.

PMID- 1435278
TI  - Imaginative play in children with mental retardation.
AB  - We examined the play behavior of 18 kindergarten children without mental
      retardation and 55 children with different levels of mental retardation, all with
      a developmental age of 4 to 5 years, and found few differences between the groups
      with regard to activity, types and quality of play, and play content. Qualitative
      differences as described in the literature were not confirmed. This may have been
      due to (a) the play situation, which was an individual contact with a stimulating
      adult and/or (b) the fact that MA and not CA was the standard of comparison.
      Consequently, mild to moderate mental retardation seems in itself insufficient
      reason to exclude children from play intervention programs.

PMID- 1435279
TI  - Courtesy stigma revisited.
AB  - Building upon Goffman's idea of a courtesy stigma (a stigma acquired as a result
      of being related to a person with a stigma), I examined how family members
      maintain community ties while coping with a child who clearly disvalues them. In
      the early 1970s, I reported that parents develop strategies to make an
      unmanageable problem manageable. In this paper the various responses to the
      courtesy stigma concept were examined with regard to the field of mental
      retardation in particular and disability in general. Also examined was how the
      social attribution of stigma serves to create distinctions, moral and otherwise,
      in our society.

PMID- 1435280
TI  - Developmental disabilities related education, technical assistance, and research
      activities in developing nations.
AB  - Few resources are available to identify principles, benefits, and pitfalls
      concerning international exchanges among professionals in the developmental
      disabilities field. In the present paper different models for international
      activities in mental retardation and developmental disabilities were described.
      Several principles were articulated that characterize successful international
      programs. These principles were illustrated in a descriptive case study of an
      international exchange and technical assistance project conducted between a
      University Affiliated Program and a developing nation.

PMID- 1435281
TI  - Repair behaviors of children with and without mental retardation.
AB  - Repair behaviors (a speaker's attempts to make a message understood when the
      listener indicates a breakdown in communication has occurred) of children with
      and without mental retardation, ages 8 to 13, were compared as they responded to
      stacked sequences of requests for clarification (the child's response to a
      request for clarification is followed by a second and then a third request for
      clarification). A picture description task with a barrier between the child and
      examiner was the repair-evoking context. Significant differences were observed in
      the use of repairs by the two groups. Children with mental retardation did not
      respond as often as did the children without mental retardation, who also more
      frequently used details to expand their utterances. Differences were also
      observed as the request sequence progressed. Evaluation of repair behaviors of
      children with mental retardation may provide direction for the development of
      conversational skills.

PMID- 1435282
TI  - Empirical approach to psychopharmacology for institutionalized individuals with
      severe or profound mental retardation.
AB  - There is at this time no conceptual model of psychopharmacology for individuals
      with severe or profound mental retardation who exhibit behavior disorders that
      unifies this area of psychopharmacology with general psychiatry practice while
      addressing the unique aspects of this population. The following article presents
      a 6-step program of diagnostic inquiry and treatment strategy that allows
      alternate etiological hypotheses to be tested in a clinical practice framework.
      This format unifies psychopharmacy practice in mental retardation with
      psychopharmacy practice in general psychiatry.

PMID- 1435283
TI  - Functional versus standardized assessment procedures: implications for
      educational programming.
AB  - Teacher perceptions of the educational value of two distinct assessment
      procedures for assessing an 8-year-old student with severe to profound multiple
      disabilities were compared. Direct service providers (N = 38) from a public
      school system, randomly distributed into three groups, were asked to use an 8
      item Likert-type survey to rate one of three assessment packages: standardized,
      functional-ecological, and a combined package. Results for four of the eight
      items were statistically significant. The functional-ecological approach was
      perceived to be most beneficial for educational intervention. Implications for
      greater emphasis on a functional-ecological assessment procedure versus
      standardized procedures were discussed.

PMID- 1435284
TI  - Increased receptor binding of low-density lipoprotein from individuals consuming
      a high-carbohydrate, low-saturated-fat diet.
AB  - The substitution of saturated fat by complex carbohydrate, according to current
      dietary recommendations, results in a decrease of plasma and low-density
      lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. To determine whether this decrease might
      result from structural and thus functional changes in LDL particles, the binding
      internalization and degradation of 125I-LDL were measured using TR715-19 cells, a
      mutant CHO line into which has been transfected the human LDL receptor, and in
      which measurements of binding are highly reproducible. Eleven nondiabetic
      subjects (35 +/- 4 years, 27% +/- 3% body fat) were studied after they had 15%
      protein, and 560 mg cholesterol/d and the other containing 21% fat (6%
      saturated), 65% carbohydrate, 14% protein, and 524 mg cholesterol/d.LDL
      cholesterol levels decreased form 125 +/- 6 to 108 +/- 5 mg/dl (P < .01) on the
      high-carbohydrate diet. There was an increase in the binding affinity of LDL (Kd
      6.6 +/- 2.6 v 7.3 +/- 2.7 micrograms/mL +/- SD; P < .02), and internalization (P
      < .10), and degradation (P < .05) were also higher. The data suggest that
      decreasing dietary saturated fat may cause alterations in LDL composition that
      result in increased receptor clearance; this may partially explain the LDL
      decreasing effect of this dietary change.

PMID- 1435285
TI  - Type I hyperlipoproteinemia caused by lipoprotein lipase defect in lipid
      interface recognition was relieved by administration of medium-chain
      triglyceride.
AB  - We have previously reported lipoprotein lipase with a defect of lipid-interface
      recognition in a patient with type I hyperlipoproteinemia. In this patient,
      lipoprotein lipase from post-heparin plasma (PHP) hydrolyzed monomeric substrate
      tributyrin, but scarcely hydrolyzed triolein emulsified with Triton X-100 and
      that in very-low-density lipoproteins ([VLDL] d < 1.006 g/mL), and did not bind
      to VLDL. The triglyceride (TG) level of this patient did not decrease to less
      than 1,000 mg/dL with a low-fat diet (1,400 kcal containing 10 g fat/d). When the
      patient took 30 g medium-chain TG (MCT) in addition to the 1,400-kcal diet, her
      serum TG level decreased to 250 mg/dL and her clinical signs improved. The low
      clearance rate of serum TG with heparin injection improved after intake of MCT.
      Caproic acid levels were maintained at 1.4% and 2.6% in chylomicrons and VLDL
      after MCT intake, respectively. The patient's lipoprotein lipase hydrolyzed
      triolein emulsified with 2% tricaprin at the same rate as that of control
      lipoprotein lipase. The patient's lipoprotein lipase-catalyzed hydrolyzing rate
      of triolein in chylomicrons obtained after MCT administration was also enhanced
      up to 70% of that of control lipoprotein lipase. These findings suggest that
      hypertriglyceridemia caused by lipoprotein lipase with a defect in lipid
      interface recognition could be relieved with the administration of medium-chain
      TG, and that one of the mechanisms of this effect might be a modification of TG
      rich lipoproteins by MCT.

PMID- 1435286
TI  - The influence of indomethacin, theophylline, and propranolol on ethanol
      augmentation of glucose-induced insulin secretion.
AB  - The effect of indomethacin, theophylline, and propranolol on ethanol augmentation
      of insulin secretion after intravenous glucose stimulation was studied.
      Intravenous glucose tolerance tests were performed with and without pretreatment
      with oral ethanol. The role of indomethacin was evaluated in six healthy
      subjects; the effect of theophylline and propranolol on ethanol augmentation in
      insulin secretion was studied in five and six subjects, respectively. Ethanol
      pretreatment was followed by increased insulin (P < .01) and C-peptide areas (P <
      .01) after intravenous glucose (Area, 0 to 20 minutes). Indomethacin suppressed
      the ability of ethanol to augment insulin (P < .01) and C-peptide (P < .01)
      responses. Neither theophylline nor propranolol affected ethanol augmentation of
      insulin secretion. In conclusion, indomethacin probably interferes with the
      mechanism for ethanol augmentation of glucose-induced insulin secretion. It is
      suggested that inositol phospholipids take part in the effect of ethanol to
      augment insulin secretion, and that indomethacin interferes with the metabolism
      of inositol phospholipids.

PMID- 1435287
TI  - In vivo assessment of the metabolic alterations in glucagonoma syndrome.
AB  - Stable-isotope methodology and indirect calorimetry were used to evaluate
      metabolic abnormalities in a patient with glucagonoma syndrome manifested by 17%
      body weight loss, hypoaminoacidemia, and hyperglycemia. Energy expenditure (26
      kcal/kg) was the same as that predicted by the Harris-Benedict equation. The rate
      of appearance (Ra) of intracellular leucine (2.70 mumol/kg/min), an index of
      protein breakdown, was normal, although the percentage of leucine flux oxidized
      (31%), an index of amino acid catabolism, was 50% greater than the normal mean
      value. Glucose Ra in plasma (12.9 mumol/kg/min), representing hepatic glucose
      production, and glycerol Ra in plasma (3.04 mumol/kg/min), a measurement of whole
      body lipolysis, were 15% and 25% greater, respectively, than mean values found in
      normal volunteers. These results suggest that long-term alterations in energy,
      leucine, glucose, and lipid metabolism in patients with glucagonoma are minimal.
      However, small long-term metabolic alterations caused by glucagon excess, in
      conjunction with chronic negative energy balance, could be responsible for the
      weight loss, hypoaminoacidemia, and hyperglycemia observed in this patient
      population.

PMID- 1435288
TI  - Effects of intralipid-induced hypertriglyceridemia on plasma high-density
      lipoprotein metabolism in the cynomolgus monkey.
AB  - Low plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and apolipoprotein (apo) A-I
      often accompany human hypertriglyceridemia. In an animal model of
      hypertriglyceridemia, the lipoprotein lipase (LPL)-inhibited cynomolgus monkey,
      we reported that plasma levels of apo A-I were decreased and the fractional
      catabolic rate (FCR) of HDL apo was increased. To explore whether
      hypertriglyceridemia alone would alter plasma apo A-I levels and catabolism,
      hypertriglyceridemia was produced by intravenous (IV) infusion of 20% Intralipid
      into female cynomolgus monkeys. Baseline plasma triglyceride (TG) levels averaged
      106 mg/dL. With infusion of 200 mg/kg/h Intralipid TG, plasma TG levels peaked at
      967 mg/dL (range, 413 to 1,069; n = 6). More prolonged or more severe
      hypertriglyceridemia caused serious complications in several monkeys. Despite the
      severe hypertriglyceridemia, HDL TG content, HDL apoproteins, and plasma apo A-I
      levels did not markedly change, suggesting that very little HDL remodeling had
      occurred. Kinetic studies of HDL protein and apo A-I were performed in four pairs
      of monkeys. The two tracers were removed from the plasma at identical rates. In
      five pairs of animals, apo A-I turnover during control and Intralipid-induced
      hypertriglyceridemia was not significantly different. We hypothesize that apo A-I
      FCR is a function of HDL composition. Because Intralipid infusion did not alter
      HDL composition to the same degree as did LPL inhibition, its effects on HDL apo
      catabolism were not apparent.

PMID- 1435289
TI  - Apolipoprotein E and lipoprotein lipase reduce macrophage degradation of oxidized
      very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), but increase cellular degradation of native
      VLDL.
AB  - Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) has been shown to be taken up by the
      macrophage-scavenger receptor at an enhanced rate in comparison to native LDL,
      with consequent cellular cholesterol accumulation. In the present study, we
      analyzed macrophage interaction with very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) from
      normolipidemic subjects (N-VLDL) that was oxidized in the presence of 10 mumol/L
      copper ions. Oxidized VLDL (Ox-VLDL) contained increased conjugated dienes and
      malondialdehyde (MDA) equivalents and showed increased electrophoretic mobility.
      Gradual fragmentation of VLDL apolipoproteins (apo) was noted, with apo B-100
      being the first to be fragmented, followed by apo E and apo C. Degradation of Ox
      VLDL by mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPM) was increased almost twofold in
      comparison to N-VLDL. Upon incubation of VLDL with lipoprotein lipase (LPL), the
      LPL-treated lipoprotein demonstrated up to 50% increased degradation by
      macrophages in comparison to control N-VLDL. However, the degradation of LPL
      treated Ox-VLDL was decreased by up to 20% in comparison to control Ox-VLDL.
      Similarly, the addition of apo E to VLDL enhanced its cellular degradation by
      56%, whereas a 20% reduction in the degradation of apo E-treated Ox-VLDL was
      demonstrated in comparison to nontreated Ox-VLDL. These results showed that LPL
      and apo E, two important regulatory substances in cellular metabolism of plasma
      lipoproteins, increased macrophage degradation of native VLDL, but reduced the
      degradation of Ox-VLDL. These inhibitory effects on macrophage uptake of Ox-VLDL
      suggest that apo E and LPL may possess antiatherogenic potential.

PMID- 1435290
TI  - Effects of estrogen replacement on plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in
      postmenopausal, dyslipidemic women.
AB  - The effects of oral estrogen replacement (ethinyl estradiol 0.02 mg/d) on plasma
      triglyceride, total cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol,
      low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
      cholesterol, and apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and B levels and LDL particle size were
      assessed in 20 postmenopausal women with a previous hysterectomy and various
      forms of dyslipidemia (LDL cholesterol > or = 4.14 mmol/L [160 mg/dL] and/or HDL
      cholesterol < or = 1.03 mmol/L [40 mg/dL]). All subjects were studied while on a
      standard cholesterol-lowering diet, and were sampled in the fasting state before
      beginning estrogen therapy and after a mean of 13 weeks of estrogen therapy.
      Lipids were measured by standardized enzymatic techniques, apos were measured by
      enzyme-linked immunoassays, and LDL particle size was measured by gradient gel
      electrophoresis. Mean values for plasma lipid parameters (mmol/L) at baseline and
      during estrogen replacement were as follows: triglyceride, 2.11 and 2.75 (30%
      increase); total cholesterol, 7.45 and 6.52 (13% decrease); VLDL cholesterol,
      1.09 and 1.22 (12% increase); LDL cholesterol, 5.09 and 3.70 (27% decrease); and
      HDL cholesterol, 1.27 and 1.58 (24% increase). Mean values for apo A-I were 163
      and 254 mg/dL (56% increase), and for apo B they were 170 and 148 mg/dL (13%
      decrease). The LDL particle score was 4.09 and 4.52 (11% smaller). Changes in all
      parameters were statistically significant (P = .05) except for VLDL cholesterol.
      These data indicate that estrogen replacement is effective in decreasing LDL
      cholesterol and apo B concentrations and increasing HDL cholesterol and apo A-I
      concentrations in dyslipidemic postmenopausal women, but it should not be used in
      patients with baseline fasting triglyceride levels higher than 2.82 mmol/L (250
      mg/dL) unless it is accompanied by a progestin. Our data indicate that this form
      of estrogen replacement could lower the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) by
      more than 50% in these women, based on favorable alterations in plasma
      lipoproteins.

PMID- 1435291
TI  - Placental transfer and uptake of 2-deoxyglucose in control and diabetic rats.
AB  - Placental glucose transfer and sequestration were investigated in anesthetized
      control and streptozotocin-diabetic rats by perfusing the fetal side of one
      placenta in situ while infusing a mixture of [3H]D-glucose (to measure net
      transfer after metabolism) and [14C]2-deoxyglucose (to estimate tissue
      sequestration) into the maternal circulation. No difference was found between
      transfer ratios (perfusate/simultaneous maternal plasma ratio) of [3H]D-glucose
      (0.35 +/- 0.06, mean +/- SD) and [14C]2-deoxyglucose (0.36 +/- 0.06) in control
      rats. Ratios were reduced (P < .001) to the same extent in diabetic rats ([3H]D
      glucose, 0.13 +/- 0.06; [14C]2-deoxyglucose, 0.15 +/- 0.07). Placental glucose
      utilization, estimated by the quantity of [14C]2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate
      present, was increased from 66 nmol.min-1.g-1 in control to 595 nmol.min-1.g-1 (P
      < .001) in diabetic rats. Transfer to the perfusion fluid of unlabeled D-glucose
      was increased (P < .001) in diabetic rats (2.32 mumol/mL) compared with control
      rats (0.77 mumol/mL) due to elevated (P < .001) maternal plasma glucose levels.
      Upon phosphorylation, 2-deoxyglucose becomes trapped within the placenta, and
      therefore these results indicate that all the glucose destined for direct
      transfer to the fetus is protected from phosphorylation while traversing the
      placenta, and that diabetes appears to increase placental glucose utilization,
      but does not induce futile cycling of glucose in an attempt to protect the fetus
      from an excessive influx of glucose from the mother in the rat.

PMID- 1435292
TI  - Altered tissue polyamine levels due to ornithine-alpha-ketoglutarate in
      traumatized growing rats.
AB  - All cells contain significant amounts of polyamines (PA), and their
      concentrations are highly regulated. Metabolic activity within a tissue may be
      reflected in the amount of intracellular PA. Since trauma involves accelerated
      death and regeneration of tissues, the related levels of PA in extracellular and
      intracellular fluids may reflect altered protein metabolism. Trauma induces an
      increased excretion of urinary PA, and the tissues responsible for this whole
      body activity are not known. During posttraumatic nutritional management,
      supplementation with ornithine-alpha-ketoglutarate (OKG) seems to improve
      nitrogen economy. The present study evaluates the significance of muscle, liver,
      and intestine PA responses in traumatized (bilateral femur fractures) rats to the
      feeding of an isonitrogenous liquid diet supplemented with or without OKG.
      Uninjured control rats were pair-fed with respective traumatized rats. After 2
      days of starvation and 4 days of feeding, the traumatized and control rats were
      killed and the tissues were excised and analyzed. Starvation decreases and
      refeeding increases urinary PA excretion. Trauma-induced PA response is
      predominantly seen in muscle tissues, and this may be responsible for parallel
      increases in PA excretion. Liver PA responses show a varying tendency confirming
      the increased protein synthetic activity due to trauma. Intestine has the highest
      intracellular PA levels, and there is a general smaller (statistically
      insignificant) increase in all the individual PA contents due to trauma. OKG
      supplementation augments tissue and urine PA responses in control rats; however,
      in trauma rats muscle PA levels show very little change, although nitrogen
      retention is significantly better (88% to 77%). Mechanistic studies are needed to
      evaluate the significances of the time-dependent, injury-induced, individual
      intracellular PA levels.

PMID- 1435293
TI  - An apparently anomalous relationship between insulin and C-peptide concentrations
      in their initial response to intravenous glucose.
AB  - Intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTTs) with determination of plasma
      glucose, insulin, and C-peptide concentrations were performed in 136 men and 154
      women. It was found that in 4% of men and 12% of women the plasma concentration
      of insulin exceeded that of C-peptide during the initial response to glucose.
      Subjects exhibiting this phenomenon had lower fasting and post-glucose C-peptide
      concentrations than those who did not; however, there were no statistically
      significant differences in glucose or insulin concentrations. The phenomenon was
      age-related, being absent from individuals aged 35 years and under, while in
      older age groups it appeared to be more prevalent in women than in men,
      suggesting an additional effect of menopause. However, in three follow-up IVGTTs
      performed in a subgroup of postmenopausal women over a period of 18 months, the
      phenomenon failed to recur in any of the individuals who first exhibited it,
      although it did occur in others. Our observations suggest the existence of an age
      related but intermittent decrease in pancreatic insulin secretion, which does not
      lead to any significant change in plasma insulin concentrations, possibly as a
      result of reduced hepatic uptake of insulin. One consequence appears to be an
      excess of insulin over C-peptide during the early part of the IVGTT, which is
      probably related to the different distributional kinetics of the two peptides.

PMID- 1435294
TI  - Oxidative modification of lipoprotein(a) and the effect of beta-carotene.
AB  - Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] particles isolated and purified from human plasma were
      found to be oxidatively modified when incubated in vitro with human mononuclear
      cells or Cu2+. This modification, which involved lipid peroxidation measured as
      thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), caused marked changes in the
      structure and biological properties of Lp(a). Relative to native Lp(a), oxidized
      particles showed decreases of free amino groups, protein fragmentation, increased
      negative charge, and high aggregation ability. They were taken up and degraded
      readily by macrophages in vitro, inducing cholesteryl ester accumulation. When
      apolipoprotein (a) [apo(a)] was clipped off by exposure to dithiothreitol (DTT),
      the remaining particle was degraded by macrophages at a significantly lower rate.
      This observation implies that oxidative modification of apo(a) may have an
      influence on Lp(a) recognition by scavenger receptors of macrophages. Under the
      same experimental conditions, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations equal
      to those of Lp(a) showed a lower susceptibility to oxidation. This was probably
      due to higher vitamin E (30% more) and beta-carotene (40% more) content compared
      with Lp(a), when expressed as a function of cholesterol concentration and
      measured in the same subject. The addition of beta-carotene to Lp(a) in vitro
      partially protected Lp(a) against oxidation and aggregation. As a result, uptake
      of oxidized Lp(a) by macrophages decreased markedly. We conclude that Lp(a)
      particles are prone to oxidation and that the increased risk of coronary artery
      disease associated with elevated Lp(a) levels may be related in part to their
      oxidative modification and uptake by macrophages, resulting in the formation of
      macrophage-derived foam cells.

PMID- 1435295
TI  - Probucol protects lipoprotein (a) against oxidative modification.
AB  - Probucol, which decreases cholesterol levels and has antioxidant properties, was
      administered orally to patients with familial combined hyperlipidemia and high
      plasma lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels. The drug had no effect on Lp(a)
      concentrations after 4 weeks, but was found to be distributed in both Lp(a) and
      low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Before treatment, in each case LDL and Lp(a)
      isolated from the same individual were readily oxidized by copper, resulting in
      increased electrophoretic mobility and enhanced uptake and degradation by
      macrophages of both lipoproteins. After probucol treatment, both lipoproteins
      acquired resistance to in vitro oxidation by copper. Furthermore, probucol
      prevented their enhanced uptake and degradation by the macrophages. It is
      surmised that oxidized Lp(a) may carry an atherogenic potential that could be
      opposed by probucol administration.

PMID- 1435296
TI  - Effect of hemodialysis on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant system in patients
      with chronic renal failure.
AB  - Plasma lipid peroxidation, activity of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and
      catalase, and serum antioxidant activity (AOA) in uremic patients were examined
      before and after hemodialysis. An increased level of lipid peroxidation, a
      decreased serum AOA level, and elevated SOD and normal catalase activity before
      hemodialysis were observed in uremic patients compared with controls.
      Hemodialysis was found to produce increased lipid peroxidation, a simultaneous
      decrease of SOD activity, and lack of any changes in serum AOA and erythrocyte
      catalase. It is suggested that intensification of lipid peroxidation during
      hemodialysis could account for accelerated progress of atherosclerosis in
      patients with renal insufficiency.

PMID- 1435297
TI  - Potentiation of the thermogenic antiobesity effects of ephedrine by dietary
      methylxanthines: adenosine antagonism or phosphodiesterase inhibition?
AB  - Current concepts about the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of
      dietary methylxanthines (caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine) favor their
      actions as antagonists of adenosine receptors, and attribute their other possible
      modes of action, namely those associated with translocation of intracellular
      calcium, inhibition of phosphodiesterase enzyme (PDE) activity, or the release of
      catecholamines, to high (near-toxic) doses. From studies measuring the
      respiration rate of brown adipose tissue (BAT), evidence is provided here that at
      concentrations compatible with therapeutic doses, the ability of methylxanthines
      (25 to 50 mumol/L) to potentiate the thermogenic effect of the sympathomimetic
      drug, ephedrine (0.25 mumol/L), particularly under conditions of caloric
      restriction, involves a minor contribution of adenosine antagonism, but could
      mainly be explained by the inhibition of PDE activity. In view of current
      interest in the pharmacological stimulation of metabolic rate to assist the
      management of obesity with low-calorie regimens, the targeting of PDE activity is
      therefore a rational approach in the search for drugs that could potentiate
      sympathomimetic stimulation of metabolic rate.

PMID- 1435299
TI  - Is body fat loss a determinant factor in the improvement of carbohydrate and
      lipid metabolism following aerobic exercise training in obese women?
AB  - Thirty-one obese, premenopausal women aged 35.4 +/- 5.1 (SD) years exercised for
      90 minutes at approximately 55% of maximal aerobic power (VO2max) four to five
      times a week for a period of 6 months. The training program induced a significant
      increase in VO2max (P < .001) and significant improvements in carbohydrate and
      lipid metabolism, as reflected by decreased plasma insulin (INS) concentrations
      measured in the fasting state and after glucose (GLU) ingestion (INS area, P <
      .001), by reduced plasma cholesterol (C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
      (LDL-C) levels (P < .001), and by increased ratios of high-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (HDL-C)/LDL-C and HDL2-C/HDL3-C (P < .05 and P < .001, respectively).
      Changes in body fat mass were positively associated with changes in the INS
      area/GLU area ratio (r = .49, P < .05) and with changes in very-low-density
      lipoprotein triglycerides ([VLDL-TG] r = .49, P < .05). Furthermore, changes in
      the INS area were positively associated with changes in VLDL-TG (r = .51, P <
      .05). Although no significant mean change in body composition was observed,
      important individual variation was noted. Twenty women showed a reduction in body
      fat mass (mean reduction, 2.63 +/- 2.2 kg), whereas 11 women showed an increase
      in adipose mass (mean increase, 2.79 +/- 2.36 kg). Comparable increases in VO2max
      were observed between the two groups. The group that showed a decrease in body
      fat mass with exercise also had significant improvements in carbohydrate and
      lipid metabolism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1435298
TI  - The morphology and metabolism of intraabdominal adipose tissue in men.
AB  - Mass, morphology, and metabolism of total adipose tissue and its subcutaneous,
      visceral, and retroperitoneal subcompartments were examined in 16 men with a wide
      variation of total body fat. Computerized tomography (CT) scans showed that the
      intraabdominal fat mass comprised approximately 20% of total fat mass. Visceral
      and retroperitoneal fat masses were approximately 80% and 20% of total
      intraabdominal fat mass, respectively. Enlargement of intraabdominal fat depots
      was due to a parallel adipocyte enlargement only. Direct significant correlations
      were found between these adipose tissue masses and blood glucose and plasma
      insulin levels, blood pressure, and liver function tests, while glucose disposal
      rate during euglycemic glucose clamp measurements at submaximal insulin
      concentrations (GDR), plasma testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin
      concentrations correlated negatively. The correlations for glucose, insulin, and
      GDR were strongest with visceral fat mass. Adipose tissue lipid uptake, measured
      after oral administration of labeled oleic acid in triglyceride, was
      approximately 50% higher in omental than in subcutaneous adipose tissues.
      Adipocytes from omental fat also showed a higher lipolytic sensitivity and
      responsiveness to catecholamines. Furthermore, these adipocytes were less
      sensitive to the antilipolytic effects of insulin. Both lipid uptake and
      lipolytic sensitivity and responsiveness showed strong correlations (r = 0.8 to
      0.9) to blood glucose and plasma insulin concentrations and also to the GDR
      (negative), while no such correlations were found with lipid uptake in
      subcutaneous or retroperitoneal abdominal adipose tissues. Taken together, these
      results suggest a higher turnover of lipids in visceral than in the other fat
      depots, which is closely correlated to systemic insulin resistance and glucose
      metabolism in men.

PMID- 1435300
TI  - Insulin hypersecretion: a distinctive feature between essential and secondary
      hypertension.
AB  - Several studies have demonstrated that patients with hypertension have greater
      plasma insulin levels than normotensive subjects. The aim of the present study
      was to clarify if hyperinsulinemia in hypertension is a consequence of either
      increased pancreatic secretion or decreased hepatic clearance, and to determine
      whether abnormalities of glucose metabolism are equally present in essential and
      secondary hypertension. In an observational cross-sectional study, fasting blood
      glucose, plasma insulin, and plasma C-peptide levels were measured in five
      patient groups: 34 lean normotensive, 19 overweight normotensive, 25 lean
      essential hypertensive, 27 overweight essential hypertensive, and 20 secondary
      hypertensive subjects. The blood glucose/plasma insulin and plasma insulin/plasma
      C-peptide ratios were calculated as indexes of insulin sensitivity and hepatic
      insulin clearance, respectively. Subjects with essential hypertension and, to a
      greater extent, those who were overweight, exhibited significantly higher fasting
      insulin and C-peptide levels and significantly lower glucose/insulin ratios as
      compared with lean normotensive subjects. In contrast, no differences were
      observed between secondary hypertensive and control subjects. Mean blood pressure
      was significantly and independently correlated to body mass index, plasma insulin
      and plasma C-peptide levels, and the glucose/insulin ratio. In lean essential
      hypertensive and secondary hypertensive subjects, the insulin/C-peptide ratios
      were comparable to controls, indicating normal hepatic insulin clearance. In both
      overweight groups, a trend to increased insulin/C-peptide ratios was observed.
      This study shows that in essential hypertensive subjects, hyperinsulinemia is
      caused by insulin hypersecretion, whereas in overweight subjects, both increased
      insulin secretion and decreased hepatic insulin clearance might be
      involved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1435301
TI  - Time-dependent regulation of rat adipose tissue glucose transporter (GLUT4) mRNA
      and protein by insulin in streptozocin-diabetic and normal rats.
AB  - Streptozocin (STZ) administration (125 mg/kg) to normal rats resulted in a rapid
      (24-hour) decrease in circulating insulin levels, marked hyperglycemia, and
      weight loss. Adipose tissue glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) mRNA levels decreased
      approximately eightfold, whereas GLUT4 protein levels were unchanged. However,
      GLUT4 protein levels decreased approximately 30% by 48 hours and fivefold by 72
      hours of insulin deficiency. Although GLUT4 mRNA levels were rapidly restored by
      insulin therapy (twofold above control levels within 12 hours), GLUT4 protein
      levels increased only gradually, reaching peak values of 1.5-fold control levels
      following 7 to 10 days of insulin treatment. Insulin treatment in normal rats
      increased adipose GLUT4 mRNA levels nearly 100% by 24 hours, while GLUT4 protein
      levels increased in a more gradual fashion. The delay in GLUT4 protein induction
      relative to its mRNA was shorter in normal rats treated with insulin than in
      insulin-treated diabetic rats. These data demonstrate that insulin-induced
      changes in adipose GLUT4 protein are considerably delayed relative to its mRNA,
      and that the diabetic state enhances this difference. The known in vivo time
      dependent effects of insulin treatment on adipocyte glucose transport activity
      can be at least partly explained by altered specific expression of GLUT4 protein.

PMID- 1435302
TI  - Carotenoid reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography methods:
      reference compendium.

PMID- 1435303
TI  - Separation and quantification of carotenoids in human plasma.

PMID- 1435304
TI  - Measurement of carotenoids in human and monkey retinas.

PMID- 1435305
TI  - Mammalian metabolism of carotenoids other than beta-carotene.

PMID- 1435306
TI  - Extraction and analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography of carotenoids
      in human serum.

PMID- 1435307
TI  - Analysis of apocarotenoids and retinoids by capillary gas chromatography-mass
      spectrometry.

PMID- 1435308
TI  - Surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy of photosynthetic membranes and
      complexes.

PMID- 1435309
TI  - High resolution analysis of carotenoids in human plasma by high-performance
      liquid chromatography.

PMID- 1435310
TI  - Separation and quantitation of carotenoids in foods.

PMID- 1435311
TI  - Distribution of macular pigment components, zeaxanthin and lutein, in human
      retina.

PMID- 1435312
TI  - Simultaneous quantitation and separation of carotenoids and retinol in human milk
      by high-performance liquid chromatography.

PMID- 1435313
TI  - Antioxidant effects of carotenoids in vivo and in vitro: an overview.

PMID- 1435314
TI  - Antioxidant radical-scavenging activity of carotenoids and retinoids compared to
      alpha-tocopherol.

PMID- 1435315
TI  - Epoxide products of beta-carotene antioxidant reactions.

PMID- 1435316
TI  - Techniques for studying photoprotective function of carotenoid pigments.

PMID- 1435317
TI  - Ultrastructural analysis of platelet contractile apparatus.
AB  - Methods for evaluating the organization, subcellular distribution, and
      rearrangements in specific constituents of the platelet contractile cytoskeleton
      are rapidly being developed. The procedures presented and discussed here have
      yielded useful information. However, a great deal more is required before the
      role of contractile elements of the cytoskeleton in platelet physiology will be
      fully understood. The new approaches employing better preservation of platelet
      structure and immunocytochemistry will undoubtedly provide this knowledge in the
      near future.

PMID- 1435318
TI  - Repertoire of platelet receptors.

PMID- 1435319
TI  - 2-Methylthioadenosine [beta-32P]diphosphate: synthesis and use as probe of
      platelet ADP receptors.

PMID- 1435320
TI  - Interaction of nucleotide affinity analog 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine
      with platelet ADP receptor: aggregin.

PMID- 1435321
TI  - 5-[3H]hydroxytryptamine and [3H]lysergic acid diethylamide binding to human
      platelets.

PMID- 1435322
TI  - Homogenization by nitrogen cavitation technique applied to platelet subcellular
      fractionation.

PMID- 1435323
TI  - Platelet serotonin transporter.

PMID- 1435324
TI  - Binding of fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor to platelet glycoprotein IIb-IIIa
      complex.

PMID- 1435325
TI  - Platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex: purification, characterization,
      and reconstitution into phospholipid vesicles.

PMID- 1435326
TI  - von Willebrand factor binding to platelet glycoprotein Ib complex.

PMID- 1435327
TI  - Isolation and characterization of glycoprotein Ib.

PMID- 1435328
TI  - Platelet glycocalicin.

PMID- 1435330
TI  - Introduction to platelet structural and functional organization.

PMID- 1435329
TI  - Preparation and functional characterization of monoclonal antibodies against
      glycoprotein Ib.

PMID- 1435332
TI  - Mathematical simulation of prothrombinase.

PMID- 1435331
TI  - Fibronectin binding to platelets.

PMID- 1435333
TI  - Isolation of human platelet plasma membranes by glycerol lysis.

PMID- 1435334
TI  - Isolation of dense granules from human platelets.

PMID- 1435335
TI  - Platelet insulin receptor.

PMID- 1435336
TI  - Membrane-impermeant cross-linking reagents for structural and functional analyses
      of platelet membrane glycoproteins.

PMID- 1435337
TI  - Surface labeling of platelet membrane glycoproteins.

PMID- 1435338
TI  - Studying the platelet cytoskeleton in Triton X-100 lysates.

PMID- 1435339
TI  - Evaluation of platelet surface antigens by fluorescence flow cytometry.

PMID- 1435340
TI  - Identification of platelet membrane target antigens for human antibodies by
      immunoblotting.

PMID- 1435341
TI  - Crossed immunoelectrophoresis of human platelet membranes.

PMID- 1435342
TI  - Use of correlative microscopy with colloidal gold labeling to demonstrate
      platelet receptor distribution and movement.

PMID- 1435343
TI  - Isolation and characterization of platelet membranes prepared by free flow
      electrophoresis.

PMID- 1435344
TI  - Purification and characterization of platelet actin, actin-binding protein, and
      alpha-actinin.

PMID- 1435345
TI  - Purification and characterization of platelet myosin.

PMID- 1435346
TI  - Purification and properties of human platelet P235: talin.

PMID- 1435347
TI  - Detection and identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. bovis/BCG, and M.
      avium by two-step polymerase chain reaction. Comparison with ELISA using A60
      antigen.
AB  - We propose a rapid two-step PCR to amplify a 767-bp sequence present in the gene
      coding for the 65-kD antigen of mycobacteria. The high G+C content (80%)
      permitted annealing to occur at 70 degrees C, enhancing the specificity. The
      amplified fragment contains a restriction site for differentiation between M.
      tuberculosis, M. bovis/BCG, and M. avium. Complete diagnosis can be achieved in
      less than four hours without labelled probe or nucleic acid transfer.

PMID- 1435348
TI  - Assisted evaluation of antibiotic resistance development in Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa from intensive care units.
AB  - 421 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated from patients admitted to
      intensive care units and tested with automated systems for sensitivity to 21
      antimicrobial agents. Data were collected in a database for evaluation and
      monitoring of resistance development. Results showed that assisted monitoring of
      antimicrobial resistance gives continuously updated information, with particular
      attention to the different local therapeutical schedules. It is therefore
      advisable that clinicians constantly exchange information with the microbiology
      laboratory through a hospital information system in which data from different
      laboratories are pooled in real time.

PMID- 1435349
TI  - Incidence and level of exotoxin A in proteolytic cell-free cultures of clinical
      isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa collected from hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi
      Arabia.
AB  - Mice lethality bioassay revealed that out of 102 proteolytic cell-free cultures
      of Pseudomonas aeruginosa only 17 (15%) were lethal with values of 19-48 LD50/ml.
      Antitoxin A antiserum neutralized the lethality providing evidence that the main
      lethal compound in the cell free cultures was exotoxin A. The neutralization also
      ruled out the lethal contribution of protease, elastase and phospholipase c. The
      presence of exotoxin A in a proteolytic environment may indicate less efficient
      proteolytic action at the stage of toxin production.

PMID- 1435350
TI  - Effect of ethylenediamine di-o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and transferrin on the
      growth of some bacterial strains in vitro.
AB  - The ability of some bacterial strains to obtain iron from ethylenediamine di-o
      hydroxyphenylacetic acid (EDDA) or iron-free transferrin, and accordingly grow in
      their presence, was studied. Growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Yersinia
      pseudotuberculosis was inhibited by EDDA or by iron-free transferrin. Growth of
      Streptococcus faecalis, however, was inhibited by iron-free transferrin, but not
      by EDDA. The other bacterial strains, i.e.; Escherichia coli, Salmonella
      typhimurium and Shigella dysenteriae were able to grow both in the presence of
      EDDA or iron-free transferrin. All of the above bacterial strains grow in the
      presence of iron-saturated transferrin which was not able to bind the iron of the
      medium and accordingly left the iron of the medium available to them.

PMID- 1435351
TI  - Extracellular phenoloxidase activity of micromycetes from various taxonomic
      groups.
AB  - The ability of Micromycetes strains to produce extracellular phenoloxidases was
      examined on solid malt agar medium using ten different reagents. We established a
      POx index summarizing the global activity given by the ten reagents used. The
      results indicated a wide variability depending on the taxonomic groups, the
      genera and the species. Some groups were relatively homogeneous, either no and
      low producers of phenoloxidases (Yeasts, Zygomycetes, genera Aspergillus and
      Penicillium) or medium and high producers of phenoloxidases (Basidiomycetes,
      Coelomycetes, Tuberculariales and Dematiaceae), while other groups were very
      heterogeneous (Ascomycetes, Mucedinaceae). The POx index was significantly higher
      for strains recently isolated than for strains kept in the fungi collection for a
      long time.

PMID- 1435353
TI  - Frequency of Mobiluncus spp. in bacterial vaginosis in Italy.
AB  - Eleven strains of Mobiluncus spp. were isolated from 35 vaginal secretions of
      patients with bacterial vaginosis (6 Mobiluncus curtisii and 5 Mobiluncus
      mulieris).

PMID- 1435352
TI  - Transfection of E. coli with lambda DNA by electroporation.
AB  - In the ambit of the B. subtilis genoma sequencing and mapping project, we have
      set up an electroporation method to transfect E. coli cells with lambda DNA. This
      methodology presents features that make it preferable to traditional in vitro
      packaging for some purposes. Here we will illustrate the experimental procedure
      and the possible applications.

PMID- 1435354
TI  - Serum cholesterol levels in axenic mice colonized with Enterococcus faecium and
      Lactobacillus acidophilus.
AB  - Hypocholesterolemic effect was shown in axenic, mono, bicolonized and
      conventional mice: the effect was different depending on probiotic properties of
      intestinal microorganisms. Contamination by Enterococcus faecium CX determined
      the highest effect: haematic cholesterol level decrease was 16.9% in females and
      7.8% in males. In mice contaminated by Lactobacillus acidophilus N5 the decrease
      of haematic cholesterol levels was less and not relevant in mice contaminated by
      conventional microflora. Enterococcus faecium CX and Lactobacillus acidophilus N5
      strains were able to grow in presence of bile salts, to colonize intestinal
      tract, to survive at gastric conditions and to assimilate cholesterol (E. faecium
      more than L. acidophilus). The authors consider the possibility to associate
      probiotic strains with these characteristics for the health of consumers.

PMID- 1435355
TI  - The epidemiology of Lyme borreliosis in Italy.
AB  - Erythema migrans was described in Italy only in 1971 although Italian
      dermatologists were familiar with it a long time before. In 1983, the first case
      of Lyme borreliosis with multisystem involvement was identified. The endemic
      areas in Italy are the Ligurian coast, the province of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and
      the region surrounding the town of Bologna. In Liguria, the incidence of Lyme
      disease is about 17/100,000 inhabitants per year. Serosurveys of the general
      population and of sentinel animals were useless in determining the diffusion of
      Lyme borreliosis whereas evaluation of people at risk of tick bites and patients
      with suggestive signs or symptoms was more effective. Among the clinical
      manifestations of Lyme borreliosis, cutaneous involvement is four times more
      frequent than neuroborreliosis and arthritis is less frequent in Italy than in
      the USA.

PMID- 1435356
TI  - [The antibiotic properties of macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxins].
AB  - Some trichotecenic mycotoxins (verrucarine A, roridines A and H, T-2-toxin) have
      been studied for their antibiotic effect on a wide spectrum of the yeast cultures
      (761 strains). The studied substances differ both in their activity and the
      action character. The yeast strains promising for development of microbiological
      methods of indication and detoxification of mycotoxins have been revealed.

PMID- 1435357
TI  - [The destruction of cyanides and their metal complexes by natural bacterial
      trains].
AB  - Natural strains of bacteria of Bacillus and Pseudomonas genera able to destroy
      cyanides are obtained. Natural strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens B-5040 has a
      property to destroy high concentration of cyanides (100-200 mg/l) and does not
      lose the destructive activity in the systems with sufficiently high concentration
      of mercury (Na3ASO4) compounds (500 mg/l).

PMID- 1435358
TI  - [Factors that affect transduction in microorganisms].
AB  - Data from literature concerning general and specialized transduction in
      microorganisms are given in the paper. The process of exogenic DNA penetration to
      the cells of bacteria and participation of protein products of separate phage
      genes in this process are described. The so-called E-proteins in a set with DNA
      penetrate through a cell membrane. In phage P22 they are protein products of
      phage genes 7, 16, 20. In P22 mutants with an altered transducing frequencies
      (HFT and LFT) the due functions are also coded by the phage genes. It is shown
      that the process of DNA packing in phages P22, phi 80, lambda and others is
      genetically determined. The gene transfer frequency depends on UV radiation and
      the very nature of transducing phages itself. In virulent phages the UV radiation
      up to inactivation level 95-99% evokes a decrease of their "killer" ability,
      which is accompanied by an increase of survivability of the formed transductants
      and, as a result, by enhancement of the transduction transfer frequency. An
      important role of the transduction analysis for fine mapping of a genome of
      microorganisms and its significance for practice are shown. A mathematical
      analysis of the data on cotransduction of linkage markers is presented as such
      that may be used when determining the value of transduced fragment of a
      chromosome.

PMID- 1435359
TI  - [The stability of plasmid pSG 1912 inheritance by the cells of Streptomyces
      globisporus 1912 and of heterologous streptomycete strains].
AB  - Streptomyces globisporus 1912 strain contains plasmid pSG1912 (11, 2kb)
      determining some phenotypic properties. The plasmid is able to exist and to
      provide for exhibition of these properties both in autonomous and integrated
      state. It is established that plasmid pSG1912 and constructed derivatives are
      stably inherited by cells of S. globisporus 1912 and heterologous hosts, and
      besides, molecular size and determined properties being retained.

PMID- 1435360
TI  - [Penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae strains].
AB  - In this study a total of 87 Streptococcus pneumoniae strains were tested for
      their susceptibility to penicillin with disk diffusion method by using 5
      micrograms methicillin disks. In 68 strains susceptibility to penicillin was also
      determined by using agar dilution method performed in Mueller-Hinton agar
      supplemented with 5% sheep blood. Of 63 adult isolates tested with disk-diffusion
      method 35 strains (55.6%) were susceptible to penicillin, 24 strains (38.1%) had
      low level resistance and 4 strains (6.3%) had high-level resistance to
      penicillin. Of 24 S. pneumoniae isolates recovered from children 5 (20.8%) were
      penicillin susceptible, while 11 (45.8%) had low level resistance and 8 (33.4%)
      had high level resistance to penicillin. These values were 40 (45.9%), 35 (40.3%)
      and 12 (13.8%) in total isolates respectively. Of 44 isolates in which MIC values
      of penicillin were determined by agar dilution method, 34 strains (77.3%) were
      penicillin susceptible and 10 strains (22.7%) had low level resistance while none
      of these strains had high level resistance to penicillin. Of 24 children isolates
      tested with agar dilution method 11 strains (45.8%) were susceptible to
      penicillin, 8 strains (33.4%) showed low level resistance and 5 strains (20.8%)
      showed high level resistance to penicillin. For total of 68 isolates these values
      were 45 (66.1%), 18 (26.4%) and 5 (7.3%) respectively. These findings indicate
      the need to perform antibiotic susceptibility testing of all pneumococcal
      isolates to avoid therapeutic failure.

PMID- 1435361
TI  - [Complement C3 and C4 levels in serum from acute viral hepatitis].
AB  - Serial measurements of C3 and C4 complement components were performed in 50
      patients with acute, uncomplicated viral hepatitis, in the beginning of the
      symptoms and in the peaks of serum transaminases. There were 17 patients
      diagnosed as having Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection and 33 patients diagnosed
      as having Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. There were 4 women and 46 men with a
      mean age of 22.1 years. In the sera of 50 healthy control subjects serum C3 and
      C4 complement components measured, this group was composed of 15 women and 35 men
      with a mean age of 26 years. The complement component levels were observed to be
      reduced in both viral infections, where the reduction in C3 serum concentration
      was found to be statistically significant but reduction in C4 serum concentration
      was not.

PMID- 1435362
TI  - [Diagnostic value of ELISA for determining the occurrence of antibodies to
      antigen A60 in active pulmonary tuberculosis].
AB  - IgG antibodies against the purified antigen 60 have been detected in the sera of
      48 active, 12 inactive pulmonary tuberculosis patients and 46 tuberculosis free
      controls with ELISA. Diagnostic value of this test has been evaluated in the
      conditions of our country. The detection of IgG antibodies against antigen 60 has
      67% sensitivity, 90% specificity and 81% positive predictive values. It has been
      decided that these values have no superiority compared to the sputum examination.
      It was also found out that sensitivity of antigen 60 ELISA IgG test is very low
      (22%) in the condition of primary pulmonary tuberculosis cases where direct
      sputum microscopy sensitivity is also very low.

PMID- 1435363
TI  - [Development of resistance in bacteria interacting with subinhibitory antibiotic
      concentrations].
AB  - In order to determine the role of subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics in
      resistance development, we performed an in vitro trial in which E. coli gained
      resistance after exposure to low concentrations of ampicillin in serial passages,
      while MIC values for amikacin and gentamicin increased 2 and 4 times,
      respectively. Pseudomonas also became resistant to ceftazidime whereas the MIC
      value for ciprofloxacin increased 10 times. There was not any significant change
      in susceptibility of S. aureus to vancomycin and amoxicillin + clavulanate.

PMID- 1435365
TI  - [Bacteriological examination of paper money].
AB  - Bacteriological survey of one hundred twenty currency notes was done. Aerobic
      spore-forming bacilli (91%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (63.3%), Staphylococcus
      aureus (4.2%), Enterococcus (24.1%), alpha-hem. streptococcus (4.1%),
      Streptococcus pneumoniae (1.7%), Corynebacterium (7.5%), Lactobacilli (10.8%),
      Klebsiella pneumoniae (31.7%), Enterobacter (19.2%), E. coli (17.5%), Proteus
      (1.7%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.8%), Shigella flexneri (0.8%) were isolated
      from paper money samples. Currency notes in general were bacteriologically
      contaminated especially with enteric pathogens and potentially pathogens, it was
      thought that some measures have to be taken to reduce these ill effects.

PMID- 1435364
TI  - [Importance of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the serologic
      diagnosis of tuberculosis].
AB  - Tuberculosis is still a major granulomatosis disease in developing countries. The
      diagnosis of tuberculosis infection frequently creates problems which is related
      to clinical, radiological and bacteriological investigations. Recently,
      immunoenzymatic assays provide hopeful results for the serodiagnosis of
      tuberculosis. In this study, ELISA was evaluated as a serodiagnostic test for
      tuberculosis. Sera were obtained from 40 pulmonary tuberculosis patients and 15
      healthy volunteer donors. The results showed that ELISA could be used in the
      serologic diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

PMID- 1435366
TI  - [Appropriate concentrations of antimicrobial agents in used cadaver pools].
AB  - Samples for microbiologic culture were taken from 17 cadaver and 4 cadaver pools
      in the Department of Anatomy of Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GMMA), Military
      Faculty of Medicine. Samples were inoculated on bacteriologic and mycologic media
      and were incubated in aerobic and 10% CO2 atmosphere conditions. From 3 of 4
      pools containing different concentration of phenol and formalin, pathogenic
      bacteria that might be present in normal flora and saprophytic fungi were
      isolated. In the guidance of these results, in order to keep the cadavers for a
      long time and laboratory safety, use of formalin and phenol not less than 5% and
      4% concentrations of the cadavers respectively and the pools should be taken into
      consideration.

PMID- 1435367
TI  - [The growth of some Bradyrhizobium strains in uremic conditions in the presence
      of antimicrobial substances].
AB  - The growth rate of Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110 and its STRR and AMPR mutant
      strains (resistant to streptomycin and ampicillin respectively), as well as TAL
      945 and TAL 946, TAL 947 (mutants of USDA 110 and USDa 138 respectively) on yeast
      extract mannitol agar (YEMA) containing different concentrations of Crystal
      Violet and Brilliant Green. According to our results only the growth of Bacillus
      megaterium B17 was effected from Crystal Violet while the others were not
      effected from both of dyes in any concentration.

PMID- 1435368
TI  - [Comparative evaluation of the isolation of dermatophytes by direct laboratory
      evidence and MSDA with MDTM culture media].
AB  - In this study, the hair, skin and nail examples taken from 225 patients suspected
      dermatophytoses clinically were investigated with direct microscopic examination
      and cultivated methods. Direct microscopic examination were positive in 135
      examples (60%) and dermatophytes were isolated from 109 samples (48.4%). In the
      isolation of dermatophytes, the effectiveness of modified Sabouraud Dextrose Agar
      (mSDA) was 93.5% (102/109) and the effectiveness of modified Dermatophyte Test
      Medium (mDTM) was 95.4% (104/109). It was detected that there were no significant
      difference between these media for the isolation rate.

PMID- 1435369
TI  - [Polymerase chain reaction].
AB  - The PCR is a method for obtaining millions of copies of a specific DNA sequence
      in vitro. It appears that this method will lead to several developments in the
      diagnosis and treatment of many disorders. Especially in genetics and infectious
      diseases successful results have been achieved. Abnormal gene or infectious
      agents' genes which may be in less amount in clinical specimens can be amplified
      with this method. In this way PCR can provide enough genetic material for further
      diagnostic analysis.

PMID- 1435370
TI  - [Antinuclear antibodies and disease specificity].
AB  - In this review article, the serum antinuclear autoantibody types which are
      characteristic especially for rheumatic diseases (ANAs, Anti-ss/ds DNA, Anti-sm,
      Anti-histone, Anti-RNP, Anti-Ro, Anti-La etc.) were discussed on the basis of
      their biologic properties, their major role in the diagnosis and monitoring
      disease activity and response to therapy as well as disease specificity.

PMID- 1435371
TI  - Selection interviewing for medical school admission.

PMID- 1435372
TI  - Reflections on possible virtues of European medical education.
AB  - Political and social development in Europe will lead to increased mobility of
      doctors between countries as well as opening up new possibilities and horizons
      for educational institutions. In this emerging process the charge that
      universities are too traditional to change may not be valid when the virtues of
      academic traditions in Europe are considered. When those virtues are taken into
      account, they are seen to facilitate the integration of more current goals for
      future development into undergraduate medical curricula. The use of external
      examiners between different countries in Europe will promote greater quality in
      European medical education.

PMID- 1435373
TI  - A conference on ethics for obstetric and gynaecological clerkship students.
AB  - Integrating the teaching of medical ethics into medical students' clinical
      education is challenging, given the competing demands on students' time and the
      need for teaching to be clinically relevant. This paper describes a model
      programme for incorporating ethics teaching into the obstetrics and gynaecology
      clerkship for third-year medical students. The programme is taught by two
      attending teachers and a medical ethicist with experience teaching in the
      clinical setting of obstetrics and gynaecology. Objective pretests and posttests
      showed substantial improvement in students' knowledge, and student feedback has
      been very positive.

PMID- 1435374
TI  - Attitudes of elderly patients to medical students.
AB  - The attitudes of elderly patients towards clinical teaching of medical students
      was assessed by a structured interview carried out by a doctor unknown to the
      patient immediately prior to discharge. One hundred and thirty alert patients
      were approached on three acute geriatric medicine wards in the Royal Liverpool
      (Teaching) Hospital. A total of 106 (81.5%) patients were suitable for inclusion
      in the study (mean age, 80.2 years). Twenty-nine per cent did not know what a
      medical student was despite having been interviewed and examined by one. Fifty
      nine per cent of patients had no prior knowledge that clinical teaching occurred.
      Fourteen patients (13 women, 1 man, P < 0.05) objected to being examined.
      Nineteen women patients were examined by a man student without a chaperone.
      Students usually (95%) asked permission to interview and examine the patients
      whereas doctors only asked patients in the context of bedside teaching (33%).
      Elderly patients were sympathetic towards ('They have to learn') and positive
      about ('It's good to have them') medical students. However, 29% of patients were
      not aware that a medical student was going to be a doctor despite being
      interviewed and examined. We suggest that the term should be used either with
      explanation or abandoned in favour of 'student doctor'. The level of awareness of
      clinical teaching was poor and examination of women patients without a chaperone
      caused distress and should be rectified.

PMID- 1435375
TI  - Can communication skills be assessed independently of their context?
AB  - In many examinations, communication skills tend to be treated as if they are a
      single attribute independent of the context of the communication. However, it is
      clear that such assessments are confounded by candidates' knowledge or lack of
      knowledge of the medical issues about which they are communicating. In the 1990
      Part One examination for Membership of the Royal New Zealand College of General
      Practitioners candidates were provided with all the essential knowledge relevant
      to the problem they were to communicate about. Despite this, performance was
      still seen to be context specific, demonstrating that such specificity is not
      purely knowledge related. Candidates completing the examination were observed to
      share information about the cases with candidates about to commerce. There was no
      evidence that performance was enhanced by such breaches in examination security.

PMID- 1435376
TI  - Community-based projects in rural internships: an alternative approach.
AB  - Supervision of medical interns posted to various primary health centres and rural
      health training centres by specialists in preventive and social medicine and
      other clinical disciplines is becoming less and less effective for a number of
      unavoidable reasons. Because of lack of proper and timely guidance, interns feel
      that during the 6-month rural internship they do not get enough experience of
      rural life. In order to provide them with learning experiences in community
      medicine and orient them in the social dynamics of the community, a new approach
      involving interns in small community-based projects, probably for the first time,
      was tried on a pilot basis at the Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC), Sirur, a
      field practice area of B.J. Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India. Interns
      working at RHTC Sirur completed these community-based projects successfully.
      Identification of problems, study design analysis and drawing conclusions, based
      on observation, were all undertaken by the interns under the guidance of the
      staff of the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, B.J. Medical College.
      The opinion poll at the end of the rural internship revealed that 76% of interns
      considered this experience valuable for improving their knowledge and skills, and
      56% though that interaction during these projects was beneficial to the community
      as well. This experience with community-based projects for interns during their
      rural posting provides them with an opportunity for interaction with the
      community.

PMID- 1435377
TI  - Priorities of undergraduate dental education: what do students think?
AB  - In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the teaching of
      behavioural sciences to dental undergraduates, but psychologists and sociologists
      can meet with resistance to their teaching from both staff and students. In an
      attempt to understand this resistance further, this paper provides the results of
      a cross-sectional survey conducted with undergraduate students at two UK dental
      schools. The results indicate that students believe that training in technical
      aspects of care (e.g. practice in manual skills, knowledge about anatomy) should
      assume a substantially higher priority than training in social aspects (e.g.
      practice in communication skills, knowledge about psychology). The students felt
      that they were increasingly prepared for both aspects of practice as they
      progressed through the course, and senior students were more likely to believe
      that their dental schools should give a higher priority to history-taking and
      psychological methods to control pain and anxiety than junior students. These
      results present a considerable challenge for psychologists and sociologists
      teaching at dental schools and suggest that appropriate curriculum design and
      integrated teaching may be the way forward.

PMID- 1435378
TI  - Continuing education for general dental practitioners using a printed distance
      learning programme.
AB  - This paper describes the development of a printed distance learning programme by
      a coordinated team approach. The programme has two components, a resource book
      and three patient management problem leaflets or challenges and is designed to
      update general dental practitioners on the management of fissure caries. It
      includes strategies to meet the educational needs of three groups of general
      dental practitioners with different educational requirements. It is concluded
      that the approach described meets the CRISIS criteria for effective continuing
      education and offers a useful approach to distance learning in dentistry.

PMID- 1435379
TI  - The market and educational principles in continuing medical education for general
      practice.
AB  - In an attempt to increase participation by established general practitioners
      (GPs) in continuing medical education (CME) the Department of Health in 1990
      created an allowance (the Postgraduate Education Allowance, PGEA) to be spent by
      GPs on the educational provision of their choice. Although the PGEA has increased
      attendance by established GPs at educational activities, the market created in
      CME provision has favoured low cost activity of questionable value. This paper
      examines criteria for the validation of general practice CME, based on the
      principles of adult learning, which could be used to manage this market. Failure
      to adopt an appropriate validating process could lead to the PGEA becoming
      discredited and the imposition of periodic reaccreditation as a means of
      enforcing participation by GPs in CME.

PMID- 1435380
TI  - Problem-based learning in distance education: a first exploration in continuing
      medical education.
AB  - The Wellcome Tropical Institute has assisted countries in the tropics to
      establish viable systems of continuing medical education, particularly for young
      doctors practising in rural areas. As part of this strategy the Institute has
      developed material for use in distance learning. The first attempt to apply the
      problem-based learning approach to written material for use by an individual
      learner in the absence of a tutor led to a trial in Ghana, Kenya and Pakistan to
      compare a conventionally designed module with a problem-based learning module on
      the same topic for their respective acceptability, effectiveness and efficiency.
      The design, implementation and results of these three comparative trials are
      presented.

PMID- 1435381
TI  - An assessment of vocational training.
AB  - A retrospective analysis of the opinions of vocationally trained doctors was
      obtained from a postal questionnaire. Ninety-eight doctors who had trained in the
      West of Scotland before the introduction of new criteria in 1985 for the
      appointment and reappointment of training practices were compared with 107
      doctors who had trained following the introduction of the criteria, looking at
      their rating of training, the frequency of tutorials, value of teaching and
      research encouragement. There was a significant improvement in the rating of
      training, frequency of tutorials, research encouragement and enjoyment of
      training in the group who trained after the new criteria were adopted. The study
      demonstrates the benefits of vocational training for general practice when
      criteria are set and followed. This training model may be applicable in other
      branches of medicine.

PMID- 1435382
TI  - Effective continuing education: the CRISIS criteria.
AB  - The need for continuing medical education (CME) is now well recognized. The
      challenge is to make it effective. CRISIS, an acronymn, stands for the criteria
      which must be met to produce effective CME programmes: convenience, relevance,
      individualization, self-assessment, interest, speculation and systematic. CRISIS
      is a practical tool, based on 15 years of experience in the production and
      evaluation of CME programmes at the Centre for Medical Education, University of
      Dundee. The application of the CRISIS criteria to a CME programme will highlight
      any areas needing improvement and will guide programme producers in the creation
      of new CME materials. It will also help those responsible for planning CME
      activities to choose from a range of existing programmes.

PMID- 1435384
TI  - Continuing education and medical schools.

PMID- 1435383
TI  - Culinary metaphors in Western medicine: a dilemma of medical students in Africa.
AB  - A study was conducted of African medical students in two schools to determine
      their level of understanding of some culinary metaphors in medicine, particularly
      those used in the description of certain paediatric conditions. The results
      showed that the vast majority of medical students and young resident doctors are
      not familiar with many of the European foods, fruits and beverages that are
      commonly used in medical textbooks to describe disease conditions. In describing
      disease, it is suggested that medical educators and authors in Europe should
      endeavour to use terms that are simple and universal. They should not assume
      universal knowledge of fruits and dishes available in their environment. Medical
      educators in Africa should also simplify the description by using appropriate
      terms.

PMID- 1435385
TI  - A model for extraction of both lipid and water soluble toxins using a procedure
      from Maharishi Ayurveda.
AB  - Environmental toxicity from xenobiotic compounds is a major health concern today.
      This paper presents a hypothetical model for the removal of toxins from the
      physiology employing procedures of Maharishi Ayurveda, a comprehensive system of
      natural medicine, which is undergoing renewal. This model combines the use of
      principles similar to those which are found in lipid extraction, dialysis and
      bulk flow. A means of testing the hypothesis is also presented.

PMID- 1435386
TI  - The origin and spread of human leukemia.
AB  - The human leukemias are a group of hematologic neoplasms characterized by
      uncontrolled proliferation of cells concerned with blood cell production. The
      cause(s) of human leukemia remains unknown. Bone marrow (BM) is believed to be
      the site of origin of human leukemias, although the specific locus(i) and/or
      cell(s) from which it arises have not been definitively identified. Generally,
      human leukemias and related proliferative diseases are thought to be clonal in
      nature; affecting a single hematopoietic stem cell, which then proliferates and
      replaces the marrow of normal hematopoietic stem cell systems. The condition is
      believed to be malignant in nature. Results of our current morphologic studies on
      well-fixed, ideally-stained thin sections of plastic-embedded bone marrow
      biopsies (BMB) from a large number of acute (AML, ALL) and chronic (CGL, CLL)
      leukemia patients suggest that human leukemias may not be clonal diseases.
      Instead, a large population of other resident cells--'endosteal cells'--appears
      to become involved in the process and it is possible that all members of this
      group enter the activity simultaneously. This change (transformation) in the
      endosteal cell population might be due to an abnormality (qualitative or
      quantitative) of diffusable, humoral factors (yet to be identified) that are
      responsible for the growth and proliferation of these hematopoietic precursor
      cells. In this context, the human leukemias may be considered not as malignant,
      but rather the result of an aberration of factor(s) that control hematopoiesis.
      In this respect, the human leukemias, particularly AML, ALL and CML, might be
      analogous to pernicious anemia (megaloblastic anemia) as it was understood 40-50
      years ago.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1435387
TI  - Human cancers and viruses: a hypothesis for immune destruction of tumours caused
      by certain enveloped viruses using modified viral antigens.
AB  - Certain viruses which have been identified as possible aetiological agents of
      human malignant tumours have 2 common characteristics: a) they persist in the
      human body for long periods despite the presence of antibodies to them and b)
      they all possess viral envelopes. The envelopes, consisting of phospho
      lipoproteins are derived from host cells viz nuclear envelope in the case of DNA
      viruses, and the cell membrane in the case of RNA viruses. These host cell
      elements on the viral envelope modify the antigenicity of the specific surface
      antigens which are now perceived by the host immune system as partly self. This
      in turn blackmails the immune system, if it is to avoid serious auto-immune
      disease, into producing compromise and ineffective antibodies. The hypothesis
      proposes the dissolution of the viral envelope in vitro and the re-introduction
      of the viral core into the host. This should provoke a new uncompromised immune
      response because it will be directed at the viral core only. This response should
      eliminate the viral core and with it, the whole enveloped virus, as well as the
      malignant tumour cells which carry the viral genome derived essentially from the
      viral core. This approach should introduce a new method for treating and
      preventing tumours caused by enveloped viruses and the chronic diseases caused by
      such viruses.

PMID- 1435388
TI  - Kaposi's sarcoma and HIV.
AB  - Recently published informed debate affords strong indication that in patients
      with the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, HIV cannot, directly or indirectly,
      be the cause of Kaposi's sarcoma. This paper provides reasons for disallowing a
      current alternative theory that Kaposi's sarcoma is due to an unidentified
      sexually transmitted infectious agent and proposes instead that Kaposi's sarcoma
      is the result of prolonged and repeated exposure to nitrites and/or semen. If
      this alternative hypothesis is strengthened by confirmation of its predictions
      then the relationship of HIV to Kaposi's sarcoma, one of the principal AIDS
      associated diseases, becomes somewhat remote. This may facilitate a shift of
      emphasis and encourage the development of alternative therapies.

PMID- 1435389
TI  - Ozonization of blood for the therapy of viral diseases and immunodeficiencies. A
      hypothesis.
AB  - In the last 3 decades major autohemotherapy after exposure to ozone has been used
      in Europe in uncontrolled trials carried out in patients with many illnesses,
      particularly chronic viral diseases and neoplasms. It appears that the treatment
      may activate the host's immune system by inducing the production of immunoactive
      cytokines and it may now be possible to rationalize the procedure, improve the
      regimen and assess the outcome. It is apparent, however, that such a therapeutic
      approach, in order to be acceptable, requires an investigative effort of
      biologists and clinicians. Once this is done, owing to the large range of medical
      applications and the simplicity of the procedure, autohemotherapy could become
      very valuable particularly in underdeveloped countries.

PMID- 1435390
TI  - Is syphilis an incurable disease?
AB  - Structures which morphologically resemble treponemes have been found in material
      from patients suffering from latent or late latent syphilis, many of whom have
      received treatment in the past. These structures were also found in the blood or
      spinal fluid (SF) of asymptomatic patients with both positive and negative
      serological tests for syphilis. They have been found in the eye in the presence
      of active disease as well as in cases without inflammation ('quiet eye'). In
      latent syphilis, the presence of treponemes after penicillin treatment raises the
      question of whether the patient is completely cured of syphilis after treatment.
      Experimental evidence indicates that continued specific antibody production
      following penicillin treatment depends on the persistence of the specific antigen
      in the body. This raised three questions: a) Are these stimuli living treponemes?
      b) Are they still virulent? c) Is syphilis completely curable following
      penicillin treatment? Our hypothesis is that slowly dividing treponemes are not
      killed by penicillin. The persistence of living treponemes somewhere in the body
      may be the proof of this hypothesis. Cases of relapsing neurosyphilis after
      penicillin treatment have recently been described. We return to the old dilemma:
      is it a scar-tissue injury or a reactivation of the disease? Since neurosyphilis
      is asymptomatic, the patient is usually examined because of seroconversion. Only
      repeated serological analyses and clinical observations of treated cases with
      immediate penicillin administration can prevent relapse and damage to the central
      nervous system (CNS) or to other parts of the body.

PMID- 1435391
TI  - Could cancer be a physiological phenomenon rather than a pathological misfortune?
AB  - The hypothesis presented here is that cancer is not a phenomenon where the normal
      functions of the human body break down (like diabetes mellitus or renal failure)
      but rather a well planned and well coordinated physiological response (similar to
      the inflammatory response). 'Cancer initiating genes' are presumed neoplastic DNA
      sequences involved in sensing genome deterioration, consequently enhancing
      preservation. This genetic trait, different from the concept of oncogenes,
      actively triggers the neoplastic transformation once genome deterioration is
      sensed. This self destructive, altruistic phenomenon, obviously devastating to
      the organism, is nevertheless shown to be a possible mechanism of natural
      selection. The survival advantage of cancer initiation is discussed using both
      the concepts of group selection and gene selection. Natural selection, the
      driving force of evolution, is believed to operate solely on the basis of
      phenotype differences among individuals. In this paper cancer is hypothesized to
      be a mechanism that directly scrutinizes the gene contents of the individual,
      therefore representing natural selection based on genotype differences.

PMID- 1435392
TI  - Hypothyroid induced hypometabolic state as a possible diagnostic and therapeutic
      maneuver.
AB  - Diseased cells possibly function autonomously without as much dependence upon
      metabolic cues such as thyroid hormone by comparison to normal cells. Therefore
      if reversible hypothyroidism can be induced briefly in euthyroid patients,
      conceivably normal cells can be induced into a hypometabolic state while the
      diseased cells continue at their baseline or near baseline metabolic level. This
      induced difference could be utilized to isolate and target abnormal cells better.

PMID- 1435393
TI  - Ascorbate status and xerostomia.
AB  - Xerostomia, the subjective feeling of dry mouth, affects millions of people
      particularly the elderly. It is invariably associated with hypofunction of the
      salivary glands. The amount, rate of secretion, and composition of saliva are
      regulated by both sympathetic and parasympathetic receptor systems whose
      stimulation transmits signals through intracellular messengers (cations,
      nucleotides, phospholipid derivatives) to structures and enzymes within the cell.
      Salivary glands express a variety of cell-surface receptors including adrenergic
      (alpha and beta), muscarinic-cholinergic, substance P, vasoactive intestinal
      peptide hormone, and ATP receptors. Ascorbate which is present in salivary acinar
      cells in relatively high concentrations, is closely involved in many cellular
      functions including the metabolism of pyrimidines, intracellular calcium, the
      catecholamines and other neurotransmitters which regulate salivary gland
      exocytosis. Ascorbate-dependent carboxyl-terminal peptide alpha-amidation enzyme
      similar to the pituitary peptidyl-glycine alpha-amidating monooxygase, is also
      present in salivary glands. It is therefore not fortuitous that the seemingly
      unrelated numerous factors like aging, drug ingestion, pregnancy, smoking,
      ionizing radiation, stress, and various pathological states such as cancer,
      autoimmune disorders, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension often implicated in the
      causation of xerostomia, all promote increased tissue requirement for and/or
      depletion of ascorbate.

PMID- 1435395
TI  - The technical feasibility of cryonics.
AB  - Cryonic suspension is a method of stabilizing the condition of someone who is
      terminally ill so that they can be transported to the medical care facilities
      that will be available in the late 21st or 22nd century. There is little dispute
      that the condition of a person stored at the temperature of liquid nitrogen is
      stable, but the process of freezing inflicts a level of damage which cannot be
      reversed by current medical technology. Could this damage be reversed by future
      technology? We consider the limits of what medical technology should eventually
      be able to achieve (based on currently understood chemistry and physics) and
      whether the repair of frozen tissue is within those limits.

PMID- 1435394
TI  - Relationship between dietary fatty acid, selenium, and degenerative
      cardiomyopathy.
AB  - With the finding of an increasing number of cases of degenerative cardiomyopathy
      (DCM) amongst patients in Chongqing, Sichuan, People's Republic of China, an
      attempt has been made to delineate possible etiological factors. In this province
      endemic for Keshan disease and with considerable consumption of oils high in
      erucic acid, the latter does not appear to be an operative noxious agent in DCM.
      Additionally, it does not appear to be caused by excessive oxygen radicals, low
      levels of antioxidants or low selenium levels. However, lower omega-3 fatty acid
      levels along with higher serum lipids may be the mechanism, via higher
      thromboxane levels, of the production of the myocardial degeneration seen in DCM.

PMID- 1435396
TI  - Beyond positivism: a metaphysical basis for clinical practice?
AB  - Medicine does not have its own unified body of scientific knowledge. Instead,
      physicians who are oriented to research make sporadic incursions into the basic
      sciences such as genetics, biochemistry, immunology, epidemiology, physiology,
      pharmacology and so on. These latter, taken together, comprise biomedicine which
      is said to have adopted the positivist epistemology or the Cartesian/Newtonian
      one that regards the scientist as an uninvolved observer of nature. In effect,
      medical science has come to rest on a theory of knowledge which links meaning to
      probability and considers prediction as the scientist's chief task. Like its
      predecessor, the probability theory of meaning rejects metaphysical speculation
      and remains connected to observations made, directly or indirectly, by means of
      the five senses. Despite some brilliant successes touching on relatively uncommon
      disorders, biomedicine cannot explain most day-to-day clinical activity. An
      understanding of what transpires between patient and doctor, of its diagnostic
      potential and therapeutic weight requires hermeneutic, or phenomenological,
      inquiry which brings about changes in both parties to it. Such a science, as
      ontological speculation has been called, cannot be deciphered by an epistemology
      couched in the imagery of physics and chemistry.

PMID- 1435397
TI  - Deterministic nonlinear chaos in brain function and borderline psychopathological
      phenomena.
AB  - There exists a fundamental overall property of the brain which monitors,
      modulates, and ensures a smoothness of function and which further determines
      elegance and grace in functioning. This property also imparts a quality of, or a
      sense of proportion among all other faculties of the brain. It is postulated in
      this paper that such a property/function, up to now almost taken for granted, is
      maintained/exercised by a nonlinear deterministic chaotic mode of brain function.
      If this is the case, borderline psychopathological phenomena, when they flare up,
      can be explained as resulting from sudden reduction of such a deterministic
      chaotic mode and the emergence of a pathological order, as the system becomes an
      oscillating one.

PMID- 1435398
TI  - Discontinuity in the competitive interaction of tumor cells with the tumor
      bearing host--a hypotheses.
AB  - The hypothesis put forward here is that during the growth of a primary tumor
      ending in metastasis formation, phases occur in which 'unfavourable' conditions
      arise for the tumor cells. It is proposed that, in order to overcome these
      'unfavourable' situations, the tumor cells subsequently secrete a substance
      designed to have a 'dysfunctional' effect on the normal cells. On the assumption
      of such a discontinuous secretion by the tumor cells, an investigation is made
      into the behaviour of certain tumors in humans, together with the findings of
      previously conducted tests. This leads to the formulation of possible concepts
      for prophylaxis and treatment. In conclusion, an attempt is made to locate what
      would be the precise target of such a hypothetical substance.

PMID- 1435399
TI  - An explanation for the rarity of extraaxial metastases in brain tumors.
AB  - Primary brain tumors invade and metastasize within the central nervous system
      (CNS), but rarely extraaxially. A model explaining this behavior is presented. In
      non-CNS tumors metastases occur since subpopulations of cells capable of invasion
      and metastases are selected by the tissular environment, and in particular by the
      connective stroma, which opposes invasion. The CNS lacks a connective stroma,
      therefore a primary tumor can grow easily in it, but subpopulations capable of
      metastasization are not selected. Implications of the explanation are: 1)
      metastasization is largely based on the ability to invade the connective stroma,
      2) paradoxically, a less favourable host tissue environment can result in a more
      aggressive tumoral behavior.

PMID- 1435400
TI  - Can free radicals induce coronary vasospasm and acute myocardial infarction?
AB  - Spontaneous acute occlusion of the coronary artery produces regional myocardial
      ischemia and infarction. This coronary occlusion could be due to rapid
      progression of atherosclerosis or vasospasm. The factors that can precipitate an
      acute attack of myocardial infarction or coronary spasm are not known. It is
      proposed that a stress-induced rise of unesterified arachidonic acid could
      trigger a leukocyte respiratory burst with the release of free radicals such as
      superoxide anion (O2-), hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, and singlet oxygen.
      These free radicals have the ability to inhibit prostacyclin (PGI2) formation and
      enhance the breakdown of endothelium-derived vascular relaxing factor (EDRF)
      which are potent vasodilators and platelet anti-aggregators. This may lead to
      rapid progression of atherosclerosis or coronary vasospasm leading to acute
      myocardial infarction. If this is true, free radical quenchers and inhibitors of
      leukocyte oxidative burst may be useful in the prevention of progression of
      atherosclerosis and coronary vasospasm.

PMID- 1435401
TI  - Metabolism of the malignant cell, the role of bacterial spores, and a pictorial
      presentation to substantiate the latter's presence as an etiological factor in
      carcinogenesis.
AB  - The respiration and metabolism of the malignant cell, while in vivo, is
      anaerobic. This is contrary to a normal animal (human) cell, whose respiration
      and metabolism is aerobic. There is a factor within the malignant cell which
      produces a reducing or 'deoxygenating' phenomenon, creating the metabolic
      anaerobiosis. An animal cell cannot survive without the ultimate oxygen molecule.
      Yet the malignant cell continues to grow and enlarge despite this oxygen absence.
      Even more surprising is the fact that the malignant cell requires the circulating
      flow of blood, otherwise that deficient site or area will ulcerate, slough, or
      necrotize. Investigative studies clearly indicate that there are present 'spores'
      of a specific group type of plant micro-organism within the malignant cell, and
      in the immediate and circumferential area to account for this abnormal
      physiology. In summarizing all the experimentally uncovered facts, it becomes
      apparent that the malignant cell, while in vivo, is the consequence of 3 factors
      of productivity. For the first factor there is the requirement of a tissue site
      whereby there is an accumulate number of the chronic defense cells as the
      reticuloendothelial group, squamous, and/or epithelial cells. The second factor
      requires the presence and phagocytosis of these specific plant bacterial spores
      that can survive genetically within a sac or cell, and third, for the adequate
      circulating flow of blood by the host. Because of this, 3 factor product
      activity, Koch's postulate cannot be fulfilled as a criterion for the etiology of
      the cancer cell. We have, however, a pictorial summary of the pertinent uncovered
      facts that, when added together, presents a credible, logical, and valid
      conclusion to support the concept that these specific bacterial spores contribute
      to the pathway of activity to associate them as the malefactor in carcinogenesis.

PMID- 1435402
TI  - Hysterectomy: a time of change.

PMID- 1435403
TI  - MS Contin: a new string to morphine's bow?

PMID- 1435404
TI  - Penicillin-resistant pneumococci: will the recent Olympics bring back more to
      Australia than gold?

PMID- 1435405
TI  - Radiofrequency catheter ablation as a definitive treatment for paroxysmal
      supraventricular tachycardia.

PMID- 1435406
TI  - Intrauterine intravascular transfusion for fetal haemolytic anaemia: the Western
      Australian experience.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To report the first four years' clinical experience with fetal
      intravascular blood transfusion for the treatment of fetal haemolytic anaemia in
      Western Australia. SETTING: King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, which is the
      sole tertiary level perinatal centre in Western Australia with a referral base of
      approximately 25,000 pregnancies each year. METHODS: Transfusion was by injection
      of packed cells from Rh-negative donors into the fetal umbilical vein near the
      site of insertion into the placenta. Fetal haemoglobin levels were measured
      before and after each transfusion. In most cases, the fetus was paralysed by
      intramuscular tubocurarine. RESULTS: Sixty intravenous transfusions were
      performed in 20 pregnancies. At the time of the initial transfusion, the mean
      haemoglobin level was 5.8 g/dL (range, 2.5-8.5 g/dL) and six fetuses had signs of
      hydrops. The case survival rate was 80% and the procedure survival rate was 93%.
      Three of the deaths occurred in the first five cases. Caesarean section was
      performed during two of the procedures, one because of bleeding from the cord
      puncture site and one because of tamponade of the umbilical vessels. CONCLUSION:
      Fetal intravascular transfusion is a highly effective treatment for fetal
      alloimmunisation and allows pregnancies to continue to term and to be delivered
      vaginally. However, the procedure may be difficult and requires a team approach
      with ready access to fetal monitoring and emergency caesarean section. Our
      results suggest that increasing experience of the team is a major factor in
      improved outcome.

PMID- 1435407
TI  - Systemic absorption of glycine irrigation solution during endometrial ablation by
      transcervical endometrial resection.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study systemic absorption of glycine irrigation solution and its
      consequences during transcervical endometrial resection (TCER). DESIGN, SETTING,
      PATIENTS: A prospective study of 20 consecutive female patients who underwent
      elective TCER in a teaching hospital. METHOD: During the operation, patients were
      monitored with electrocardiography, automated oscillotonometry, pulse oximetry,
      capnography and a central venous pressure recorder. Plasma sodium and potassium
      levels were measured at 15-minute intervals. Blood haemoglobin concentration,
      serum osmolality, and plasma sodium, potassium and glycine concentrations were
      measured before and after surgery. RESULTS: Plasma glycine concentration
      increased in all patients after TCER. The highest concentration recorded was 5575
      mumol/L. The increase correlated only with the maximum intraoperative decrease in
      plasma sodium, which was 7 mmol/L in two patients whose plasma glycine level
      increased by 3001 mumol/L and 5335 mumol/L. CONCLUSION: Systemic absorption of
      glycine irrigation solution occurred in all patients during TCER. Serial
      measurement of plasma sodium was necessary to detect this complication. A
      decrease in plasma sodium level by 7 mmol/L or more during surgery would indicate
      fluid absorption that could cause severe hyperglycinaemia and other potential
      complications.

PMID- 1435409
TI  - Patterns of elder abuse.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To establish the rate of occurrence and patterns of elder abuse, and
      outcomes of intervention, in an Australian population. DESIGN: Retrospective
      review of medical records over a 12-month period from July 1990 to June 1991.
      SETTING: An area-based geriatric and rehabilitation service attached to a
      district hospital. PATIENTS: Referred patients over 65 years of age, who lived in
      private homes and who met a predetermined definition of elder abuse. RESULTS: The
      rate of occurrence of elder abuse in the study population was 4.6%, with 29 cases
      of psychological abuse, 25 cases of physical abuse, 16 cases of neglect, and 13
      cases of material/financial abuse. Patterns of abuse were identified and related
      to dependency of the older person (42%), psychopathology of the abuser (37%),
      family violence (14%), and carer stress (5%). Interventions and outcomes varied
      according to the pattern of abuse. CONCLUSION: The rate of occurrence and
      patterns of abuse of the elderly have been established for the first time in an
      Australian population. Intervention aimed at reducing the impact of elder abuse
      is effective, and should be tailored to the pattern of abuse that is occurring.

PMID- 1435408
TI  - A mammographic screening pilot project in Victoria 1988-1990. The Essendon Breast
      X-ray Program Collaborative Group.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To pilot and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability to women of
      population based mammographic screening in Victoria. DESIGN: Pilot intervention
      study in a geographically and demographically defined population. SETTING: Area
      of contiguous postcodes surrounding the Breast X-ray Unit at the Essendon
      Hospital. TARGET POPULATION: Women aged 50 to 69 years living in the target area.
      MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Attendance rates, satisfaction, screening rates, surgical
      biopsy rates, breast cancer detection rates, and surgical treatment. RESULTS:
      Forty-one per cent of eligible women in the denominator population attended the
      Breast X-ray Unit in the two-year period; 16,424 women were screened, including
      141 women with previous breast cancer. Of every 1000 women screened, 74 were
      recalled because of mammograms that were suggestive of malignancy, 19 because of
      technically inadequate mammograms and 16 because of symptoms. All mammograms were
      read by two radiologists and consensus was required for 12% of films. Of every
      1000 asymptomatic women screened, 12.7 had biopsies performed and in 7.1 cancers
      were detected. In asymptomatic women, the positive predictive value of an
      abnormal mammogram was 9.4%, and the positive predictive value of a
      recommendation for biopsy was 55.9%. A total of 131 malignancies were detected,
      of which 24 (18%) were carcinoma-in-situ. The benign to malignant biopsy ratio
      was 1:1.31. In 82% of women in whom cancer was detected the breast was conserved.
      CONCLUSIONS: The Program achieved good standards with respect to mammographic
      detection, clinical assessment and treatment of women with breast cancer.

PMID- 1435410
TI  - Verbal interactions in general practice. Information, support and doctor
      satisfaction.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The general practice encounter can be seen as an exchange of
      information aimed at relief of the patient's presenting symptoms, and it is
      acknowledged that this goal can most effectively be achieved within the context
      of the professional's emotional support of the patient. We sought to describe the
      processes of information exchange and emotional support in detail, and to explore
      any differences in the speech pattern which were related to the doctors' lesser
      satisfaction with some consultations. DESIGN: Transcripts of general practice
      consultations (n = 143) from five medical practitioners were coded and analysed.
      MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The verbal interactions of the consultation were described
      in categories: for doctors, emotional support, informational support, and
      diagnostic activity; and for patients, relationship oriented and task oriented.
      Doctors also rated their satisfaction with each consultation. RESULTS: About two
      thirds of the speech by both parties was found to be devoted to information
      exchange in the forms of diagnosis and medical advice, and the rest to the
      relationship between the participants. Doctors' satisfaction ratings (extremely
      satisfactory or otherwise) could be predicted from speech and activity variables
      by means of logistic regression. CONCLUSIONS: This study describes the verbal
      interaction which is the vehicle for medical helping in general practice, and it
      forms a foundation for needed research on how certain features of the verbal
      interaction are related to quality of care.

PMID- 1435411
TI  - My practice in the Nepal Valley.

PMID- 1435412
TI  - How to help patients stop smoking.

PMID- 1435413
TI  - Students can learn medicine with computers. Evaluation of an interactive computer
      learning package in geriatric medicine.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a computer-aided learning program on
      dementia. DESIGN: Fourth year medical students were arbitrarily assigned to
      groups that used a computer-aided learning program (65) or had a tutorial
      covering similar material (73). These sessions were in addition to a base
      curriculum in a two-week course in geriatric medicine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The
      effectiveness of the teaching sessions was judged by the performance on a
      multiple choice questionnaire about dementia, given to the students on two
      occasions, one at the beginning and one at the end of the two-week course.
      RESULTS: Both groups of students scored significantly better on the second test
      (computer group, 66% [95% confidence interval, 64-69] to 81% [79-83] and tutorial
      group, 66% [63-67] to 74% [73-77]). The difference between the groups at the
      start of the course was not significant (F1,136 = 0.61, P = 0.61); however, there
      was a significant difference between the groups at the end of the course (F1,136
      = 21.83, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Both groups improved their knowledge of dementia
      during the two-week course. Students who used the computer-aided learning
      programs showed a greater improvement in score. Computer learning programs are
      effective learning tools and are a useful addition to traditional teaching
      methods. Further study is required to assess the effects of computer-aided
      learning programs in long-term studies of dementia knowledge.

PMID- 1435414
TI  - New vistas in the histopathological assessment of cancer.

PMID- 1435415
TI  - Active management of the dying patient.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To document the process of managing the dying patient in the intensive
      care unit (ICU) and thus to broaden community debate about an issue that is
      usually only discussed at a theoretical or philosophical level. SETTING: A six
      bed ICU in Liverpool Hospital, a 419-bed teaching institution in the southwestern
      area of Sydney. PATIENTS: Twenty-seven patients, seen over a nine-month period,
      who had curative treatment withdrawn or withheld. The mean age of the patients
      was 68 years and the severity of illness, by the APACHE II scoring system, ranged
      from 12 to 45. INTERVENTIONS: Twenty-three of the 27 patients were mechanically
      ventilated and 11 were receiving inotropic support. Medical staff usually
      initiated discussions and sought staff consensus that the patient should be
      allowed to die (on 23 of 27 occasions). Most relatives (25 of 27) accepted this
      decision. Support therapies and routine care were stopped according to policy
      guidelines. Sedatives and narcotics were used in some patients (18 of 27). Twenty
      one patients died in the ICU and six in the general ward areas. CONCLUSION:
      Introduction of a policy to guide management of dying patients in intensive care
      has been accepted by staff. Most dying patients are now managed in accordance
      with these guidelines. Further discussion and debate of this important issue, by
      health professionals and society as a whole, is required.

PMID- 1435416
TI  - Medical illustration: from Netter to computers.

PMID- 1435417
TI  - Hysterectomy.

PMID- 1435418
TI  - Demand for smoke-free dining.

PMID- 1435419
TI  - General practice financing: report of a "think tank".

PMID- 1435420
TI  - Epidural injection of depot corticosteroids.

PMID- 1435421
TI  - The management of terminally ill patients.

PMID- 1435422
TI  - The management of terminally ill patients.

PMID- 1435423
TI  - The management of terminally ill patients.

PMID- 1435424
TI  - The management of terminally ill patients.

PMID- 1435425
TI  - Detection of psychiatric illness with PET.

PMID- 1435426
TI  - Elderly patients in the emergency department.

PMID- 1435427
TI  - Male homosexuality.

PMID- 1435428
TI  - Autologous blood transfusion.

PMID- 1435429
TI  - Cardiovascular drugs in Australian hospitals.

PMID- 1435430
TI  - Sulphonylurea hypoglycaemic agents.

PMID- 1435431
TI  - Sudden death while lawnmowing.

PMID- 1435432
TI  - The perils of fragmented sleep.

PMID- 1435433
TI  - Total quality management: the challenge for hospitals in the 1990s.

PMID- 1435434
TI  - Epidural blockade in obstetrics--how safe?

PMID- 1435435
TI  - A College of Tropical Medicine for Australasia.

PMID- 1435436
TI  - Privacy and the computerised medical record.

PMID- 1435437
TI  - Elderly patients in the emergency department: a prospective study of
      characteristics and outcome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of elderly patients presenting to an
      emergency department and the outcome for these patients at 90 days. DESIGN:
      Prospective, descriptive study of all patients over 75 years of age presenting in
      a four week period. Follow-up data were obtained from the case notes, the
      Registry of Deaths, the Geriatric Assessment Team and, where necessary, contact
      with the family doctor. SETTING: The Department of Emergency Medicine at the
      Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania, in late 1989. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Death or
      increased dependence as defined by permanent institutionalisation, moving in with
      family, or more than 90 days inpatient care. RESULTS: There were 210
      presentations by 191 different patients; 116 were admitted to our hospital
      (55.2%), and three (1.4%) to other hospitals. Follow-up data were obtained for
      all but five patients. At 90 days from first presentation 23 had died (12.4%) and
      in a further 19 (10.2%) their dependence had increased. Risk factors for death
      were fractured neck of femur or cardiac failure. Risk factors for either death or
      increased dependence were referral by someone outside the immediate family,
      neurological disease, cardiac failure, an apparent social/placement problem, and
      being assessed as needing admission. The strongest predictor was a social
      problem. Age was not a risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: A predictive formula for poor
      outcome in this group can be derived. However, outcome may not be altered by
      admission, or intervention. In the elderly, it is quality rather than duration of
      life which should be paramount in considering the benefits of therapy.

PMID- 1435438
TI  - Clinical depression is associated with impaired recovery from stroke.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of clinical depression on recovery from stroke.
      METHOD: We examined a cohort of inpatients with stroke initially at two months
      after their stroke and again 14 months later. Patients were included if they: (i)
      provided informed consent; (ii) were able to understand the interview questions;
      and (iii) survived to follow-up without suffering another stroke or major medical
      illness. Of 61 consecutive patients, 49 met these criteria. Depression was
      diagnosed using a structured clinical interview. Three aspects of recovery were
      measured: (i) functional status; (ii) activities of daily living; and (iii)
      cognitive performance. RESULTS: Twenty (41%) of the 49 patients were depressed at
      initial assessment. There were no significant differences in demographic,
      clinical, stroke or lesion characteristics between the depressed and non
      depressed patients. At follow-up, depressed patients improved less than non
      depressed patients in functional status (mean change from baseline, 23% versus
      48%) (P = 0.001) and cognitive performance (-1% versus 11%) (P = 0.096). Mean
      recovery in activities of daily living was not different between the two groups
      (33% versus 32%) but more of the depressed patients deteriorated over time (20%
      versus 0%) (P = 0.047). CONCLUSION: Clinical depression occurring soon after
      stroke is associated with impaired recovery when patients are assessed 14 months
      later. Depression has a negative effect on recovery in functional status and
      cognitive performance and may produce deterioration in physical capacity in a
      number of patients. Physicians would be well advised to be alert for depression
      and intervene early. Effective treatment of depression may enhance stroke
      rehabilitation.

PMID- 1435439
TI  - Multiple medication use in the elderly. Use of prescription and non-prescription
      drugs in an Australian community setting.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To document the extent of polypharmacy or multiple medication use in
      the elderly. DESIGN: Cross-sectional examination of an age cohort of a community.
      SETTING: Community-based study in Dubbo, NSW, in 1988-1989. SUBJECTS: All non
      institutionalised residents aged 60 years and over, numbering 1237 men and 1568
      women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Assessment of use of prescription and non
      prescription drugs, recent hospitalisation, years of education, psychosocial
      variables. RESULTS: 18% of men and 25% of women were currently using three or
      more classes of prescription drugs. The corresponding values for two or more
      classes of non-prescription drugs were 29% and 44%. Of those who were using
      multiple prescription drugs 56% of men and 76% of women were also using multiple
      non-prescription drugs. In a multiple logistic model, the following possible
      predictors of multiple drug use were included: hospitalisation in the last six
      months, age, sex, depression, life satisfaction and education. Multiple
      prescription drug use was significantly predicted by recent hospitalisation (odds
      ratio [OR] = 2.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.63-3.56), increasing age (e.g.
      70-79 years versus 60-69 years; OR = 2.54; CI, 1.97-3.25), female sex (OR = 1.59;
      CI, 1.25-2.01) and increasing depression (e.g. highest tertile of depression
      scale versus lowest; OR = 2.52; CI, 1.84-3.42). Multiple non-prescription drug
      use was significantly predicted by female sex (OR = 2.38; CI, 1.95-2.92) and
      increasing depression (OR = 2.77; CI, 2.16-3.56). For prescription items, non
      prescription items, and both categories in combination levels of use 20% above
      the population average have been documented. CONCLUSIONS: Polypharmacy in the
      elderly population appears to be predicted by recent hospitalisation, increasing
      age, female sex and increasing depression. There is potential for drug-drug
      interaction to occur, but the findings suggest target areas for preventive
      action.

PMID- 1435440
TI  - Oestrogen and the breast. 2. The management of the menopausal woman with breast
      cancer.

PMID- 1435441
TI  - General practice as a scientific discipline.

PMID- 1435442
TI  - My Antarctic practice.

PMID- 1435443
TI  - Complications of immunosuppressive therapy in transplantation. 1: Neoplasia and
      infection.

PMID- 1435444
TI  - Complications of immunosuppressive therapy in transplantation. 2: Specific
      immunosuppressive agents.

PMID- 1435445
TI  - Intractable leg ulceration caused by cutaneous cholesterol embolism.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To present a case of chronic intractable leg ulceration caused by
      cholesterol crystal embolism. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 76-year-old Caucasian male
      with a history of ischaemic heart disease had repeated hospital admissions for
      diagnosis and treatment of recurrent leg ulceration of more than three years'
      duration. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: Definitive diagnosis was made after the third
      biopsy when the specimen obtained included subcutaneous arteries. Complete
      healing occurred within three weeks of excision and a skin graft, and subsequent
      treatment which included systemic steroids. CONCLUSION: Cholesterol crystal
      embolism is probably an underdiagnosed cause of intractable leg ulceration and
      can be identified by a biopsy specimen which includes vessels in subcutaneous
      fat. Systemic steroids may be helpful in its treatment.

PMID- 1435446
TI  - Severe botulism after eating home-preserved asparagus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To present a case of adult botulism acquired in Queensland. CLINICAL
      FEATURES: After eating home-preserved asparagus, a 33-year-old man presented with
      internal and external ophthalmoplegia, bilateral facial nerve palsies, and
      descending muscle weakness culminating in a sudden respiratory arrest.
      Electrophysiological testing demonstrated normal nerve conduction velocities and
      an incremental response of evoked motor potentials on repetitive stimulation,
      confirming the clinical diagnosis of botulism. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME:
      Treatment with trivalent antitoxin, oral treatment with vancomycin and supportive
      mechanical ventilation for four weeks resulted in complete clinical recovery.
      Plasmapheresis was also used but its contribution to the patient's improvement is
      dubious. CONCLUSIONS: Although botulism is rare in Australia, clinicians should
      be aware of the clinical presentation and the rapidity of confirmation of the
      diagnosis by electrophysiological testing. Patients should be nursed in an
      intensive care setting. Regular testing of vital capacity should be performed to
      determine the need for mechanical ventilation.

PMID- 1435448
TI  - The evolution of computer viruses. Part 2: Codetic diversification.

PMID- 1435447
TI  - Ellis-van Creveld syndrome in a Western Australian aboriginal community.
      Postaxial polydactyly as a heterozygous manifestation?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To report two children with Ellis-van Creveld syndrome in an extended
      kindred of Western Australian Aboriginal descent. Furthermore, to document two
      family members with isolated postaxial polydactyly of the feet as probable
      heterozygous manifestations of the Ellis-van Creveld gene. CLINICAL FEATURES:
      Male and female second cousins with short limbs, postaxial polydactyly and
      cardiac malformations are described. CONCLUSIONS: It is proposed that founder
      effect and random genetic drift resulted in a relatively high frequency of the
      Ellis-van Creveld gene in the Aboriginal people of Western Australia. In
      addition, further evidence is provided for the postulate that isolated postaxial
      polydactyly is a heterozygous manifestation of the gene.

PMID- 1435449
TI  - Some refusals of medical treatment which changed the law of Victoria.

PMID- 1435450
TI  - Gregg's rubella legacy 1941-1991.

PMID- 1435452
TI  - Effectiveness, efficiency and the use and misuse of radiology.

PMID- 1435451
TI  - HIV infection, confidentiality and discrimination.

PMID- 1435453
TI  - Are the PBS guidelines for lipid-lowering treatment appropriate for patients with
      CHD?

PMID- 1435454
TI  - Breast milk and cystic fibrosis.

PMID- 1435455
TI  - "Home bake" heroin use by injecting drug users.

PMID- 1435456
TI  - The Disability Support Pension and the "new maths".

PMID- 1435457
TI  - Glue ear and grommets.

PMID- 1435458
TI  - Glue ear and grommets.

PMID- 1435459
TI  - Glue ear and grommets.

PMID- 1435460
TI  - AIDS--beyond education.

PMID- 1435461
TI  - Very low energy diets and treating severe obesity.

PMID- 1435462
TI  - HTLV-I infection in selected populations in Australia and the western Pacific
      region.

PMID- 1435463
TI  - Atrophic rhinitis--an unusual complication of typhoid fever.

PMID- 1435464
TI  - Gastric polyposis: onset during long-term therapy with omeprazole.

PMID- 1435465
TI  - Skin disorders in Indo-Chinese immigrants.

PMID- 1435466
TI  - Targets matter, but so does the archery.

PMID- 1435467
TI  - Cardiovascular disease--how big a problem?

PMID- 1435468
TI  - Cyclosporin and calcium channel blockers: an exploitable drug interaction?

PMID- 1435469
TI  - Pet ownership and risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare risk factors for cardiovascular disease in pet owners and
      non-owners. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Accepted risk factors for cardiovascular disease
      were measured in 5741 participants attending a free, screening clinic at the
      Baker Medical Research Institute in Melbourne. Blood pressure, plasma cholesterol
      and triglyceride values were compared in pet owners (n = 784) and non-owners (n =
      4957). RESULTS: Pet owners had significantly lower systolic blood pressure and
      plasma triglycerides than non-owners. In men, pet owners had significantly lower
      systolic but not diastolic blood pressure than non-owners, and significantly
      lower plasma triglyceride levels, and plasma cholesterol levels. In women over 40
      years old, systolic but not diastolic pressure was significantly lower in pet
      owners and plasma triglycerides also tended to be lower. There were no
      differences in body mass index and self-reported smoking habits were similar, but
      pet owners reported that they took significantly more exercise than non-owners,
      and ate more meat and "take-away" foods. The socioeconomic profile of the pet
      owners and non-owners appeared to be comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Pet owners in our
      clinic population had lower levels of accepted risk factors for cardiovascular
      disease, and this was not explicable on the basis of cigarette smoking, diet,
      body mass index or socioeconomic profile. The possibility that pet ownership
      reduces cardiovascular risk factors should therefore be investigated.

PMID- 1435470
TI  - Prospective audit of an aminoglycoside consultative service in a general
      hospital.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of the introduction of a consultative
      service on the use, efficiency of dosing and clinical toxicology of the
      aminoglycoside antibiotics, gentamicin and tobramycin, in a general hospital.
      METHODS: Two audits were conducted six months and 18 months after the
      introduction of the consultative service. The audits reviewed the use of drug
      assay services, the adequacy of drug administration (as measured by serum
      antibiotic concentrations), indications for prescription, adverse outcomes (by
      noting markers of nephrotoxicity) and the antibiotic sensitivity of Gram-negative
      pathogens. The results were compared with the results of an audit conducted
      before the consultative service was instituted. RESULTS: There was a significant
      (P < 0.001 by chi 2 test) increase in the use of assays, with drug assays
      performed in 67% (first audit) and 77% (second audit) of aminoglycoside courses
      compared with 48.2% in the pre-intervention audit. Sample timing was greatly
      improved, with more than 70% of the samples collected at the appropriate times.
      Assay wastage in terms of uninterpretable assay results decreased significantly
      (P < 0.001) from 42.9% of total assays to 6.3% at the first audit and 3.8% at the
      second audit. The percentage of assay results in the desirable range increased
      significantly (P < 0.001) from 39.1% to 71.9% (first audit) and 75.4% (second
      audit). Pharmacokinetic recommendations were made in 39.1% and 64% of all
      aminoglycoside courses during the first and second audits respectively, with
      clinician acceptance of dosage recommendations at 83.1% and 82.8% respectively.
      For aminoglycoside courses prescribed for therapeutic reasons, 97.9% (first
      audit, n = 325) and 98.6% (second audit, n = 280) of indications for use were
      judged as clinically appropriate. The incidence of suspected aminoglycoside
      induced nephrotoxicity was reduced from 8.9% of patients to 1.6% (first audit, P
      < 0.001) and 2.4% (second audit). Bacterial sensitivity audits showed that the
      great majority of clinical isolates of target organisms (n = 3523, Year 1 and n =
      3385, Year 2) were sensitive to gentamicin (92.2% and 91.5% respectively) and
      tobramycin (98.1% and 98.8% respectively); these aminoglycosides exceeded all
      alternative agents in effectiveness, including first and third generation
      cephalosporins. CONCLUSIONS: The overall results indicate that introduction of
      the consultative service had a positive impact on the effective use of
      aminoglycosides, with a marked decrease in clinical toxicity. These influences
      were shown to persist for at least 18 months. The availability of reliable
      predictive techniques to reduce toxicity allows active promotion of
      aminoglycosides as the agents of choice on grounds of efficacy and economy.

PMID- 1435471
TI  - The use of a videotaped questionnaire for studying asthma prevalence. A pilot
      study among New Zealand adolescents.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the feasibility of measuring asthma prevalence by means of
      an audio-visual presentation of asthma symptoms and signs (video questionnaire)
      and to compare this technique with a standard written questionnaire for
      predicting bronchial hyperresponsiveness. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study
      comparing the ability of a video questionnaire and a written, interviewer
      administered questionnaire to predict bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Bronchial
      responsiveness was measured with hand held nebulisers. SETTING: Community survey
      of a New Zealand rural secondary school. SUBJECTS: A total of 456 adolescent
      school children aged 12-19 years (mean 15.5 years). OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison
      of the sensitivity and specificity of a standard questionnaire versus a video
      questionnaire for bronchial hyperresponsiveness. RESULTS: The technique was easy
      to administer in the community setting. Overall sensitivity and specificity for
      the prediction of bronchial hyperresponsiveness were similar for the video and
      interviewer administered questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: This new technique is
      easily used in the community setting, and gives predictions of bronchial
      hyperresponsiveness similar to those of a standard interviewer administered
      questionnaire. Further examination of the technique in comparisons of asthma
      prevalence among different populations is planned.

PMID- 1435472
TI  - Renal transplantation--an effective therapy in the 1990s.

PMID- 1435473
TI  - Acute gastrocnemius myositis. Another extraintestinal manifestation of Crohn's
      disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To present the first case in Australia of skeletal muscle inflammation
      as a manifestation of Crohn's disease. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 50-year-old man was
      admitted to hospital with a two-week history of bloody diarrhoea, weight loss of
      3 kg, soreness of his calf and thigh muscles, and night sweats. A clinical
      diagnosis of acute Crohn's gastrocnemius myositis was made. Muscle biopsy was not
      performed. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: He was prescribed hydrocortisone by the
      intravenous route, which was replaced by prednisone by mouth. The myositis
      resolved completely within 48 hours. CONCLUSION: Corticosteroids are an effective
      treatment for this rare extraintestinal manifestation of Crohn's disease.
      Invasive investigations can be reserved for those who fail to respond.

PMID- 1435474
TI  - Assessing health status in general practice.

PMID- 1435475
TI  - General practice as a caring discipline.

PMID- 1435476
TI  - Pulmonary oedema--prehospital treatment. Caution with morphine dosage.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To inform doctors of potential hazards if opioids are administered in
      excessive doses to patients with acute pulmonary oedema. CLINICAL FEATURES: Three
      elderly patients were unresponsive and hypotensive on arrival in the emergency
      department. All had received morphine parenterally as a component of prehospital
      treatment for acute pulmonary oedema. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOME: All were given
      naloxone intravenously, regained consciousness and had a rise in blood pressure.
      CONCLUSION: Parenteral administration of opioids should be used with caution in
      acute pulmonary oedema. The authors present a protocol for prehospital drug
      therapy.

PMID- 1435477
TI  - Eosinophilic fasciitis associated with L-tryptophan ingestion.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To present the first case of eosinophilic fasciitis associated with L
      tryptophan ingestion. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 23-year-old Australian man developed
      myalgia and weakness, and later the clinical features of eosinophilic fasciitis,
      while taking L-tryptophan. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: The amino acid
      supplementation was discontinued and he was treated with prednisone (30 mg/day)
      for six weeks with significant improvement. CONCLUSION: In sclerodermatous skin
      diseases, such as eosinophilic fasciitis, the possibility of ingestion of
      tryptophan-containing products should be considered.

PMID- 1435479
TI  - Information about side effects--how much to tell the patient.

PMID- 1435478
TI  - Successful treatment of disseminated strongyloidiasis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To report the successful treatment of Strongyloides stercoralis
      hyperinfection, which is usually lethal but in this case was diagnosed in its
      early stages. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 44-year-old woman, who had spent much of her
      life in Fiji and India, was treated with a high dose of prednisolone for
      rheumatoid arthritis complicated by gold lung. The onset of abdominal symptoms,
      an exacerbation of respiratory symptoms, and a persistent high eosinophil count
      and serum IgE level, led to the detection of numerous Strongyloides larvae in her
      faeces and sputum. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: She was treated with thiabendazole
      for five days, then mebendazole for one month, and the dose of prednisolone was
      reduced. Clinical symptoms and signs improved within days and after one week
      parasites could not be found in her faeces. After six months, enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay for Strongyloides infection gave a reading which was 40% of
      the initial level but still in the positive range. CONCLUSION: Steroid therapy in
      individuals with chronic, subclinical strongyloidiasis predisposes to the
      insidious development of hyperinfection syndrome, which has a high mortality
      rate. If detected early, this complication can be treated effectively. It can be
      prevented by actively seeking Strongyloides infection, by faecal microscopy and
      culture techniques and by serological tests, in high-risk individuals, such as
      immigrants from endemic areas.

PMID- 1435480
TI  - Informed consent in modern medical practice.

PMID- 1435482
TI  - Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists policy statement on sunglasses.

PMID- 1435481
TI  - Human albumin solutions: consensus statements for use in selected clinical
      situations. Subcommittee of the Victorian Drug Usage Advisory Committee.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To establish consensus statements for the use of human albumin
      solutions in clinical situations identified as responsible for the major use of
      human albumin products. DESIGN AND SETTING: Working parties comprised of
      specialists in intensive care, renal medicine, cardiothoracic anaesthesia,
      gastroenterology, haematology and transfusion medicine, were convened to develop
      consensus statements for the use of human albumin solutions. RESULTS: Specific
      statements have been formulated to guide the clinician in the use of human
      albumin solutions for hypovolaemia or hypoalbuminaemia (particularly in intensive
      care units), cardiothoracic surgery, therapeutic plasma exchange and patients
      with ascites or protein-losing states in gastroenterology. CONCLUSIONS: These
      statements, with wide dissemination, will promote consistency in the use of human
      albumin products in clinical practice and become a reference for future audits on
      the use of these products.

PMID- 1435483
TI  - Subdural haematoma presenting as an isolated speech disorder.

PMID- 1435484
TI  - Gastrointestinal endoscopy.

PMID- 1435485
TI  - The Papanicolaou smear histories of 237 patients with cervical cancer.

PMID- 1435486
TI  - The Papanicolaou smear histories of 237 patients with cervical cancer.

PMID- 1435487
TI  - Resort scuba diving.

PMID- 1435488
TI  - Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a plea to preserve the sphincter of Oddi.

PMID- 1435489
TI  - Rapid rise in serum theophylline concentration after overdose with sustained
      release theophylline.

PMID- 1435490
TI  - Euthanasia in Holland.

PMID- 1435491
TI  - Glutaraldehyde.

PMID- 1435492
TI  - Education is not enough to reduce the adverse consequences of pharmaceutical drug
      use.

PMID- 1435493
TI  - Rigid bronchoscopy during high-frequency jet ventilation in the emergency
      department.

PMID- 1435494
TI  - In search of the pathogenesis of refractory cervicobrachial pain syndrome.

PMID- 1435495
TI  - Compliance barriers and hidden needs in hypertension.

PMID- 1435496
TI  - [Tumor development and new therapeutic possibilities].

PMID- 1435497
TI  - [Gene probes in the detection of leukemia cells].

PMID- 1435498
TI  - [Fungal infections in man. Part 5: Mycoses of various mucous membranes].

PMID- 1435499
TI  - The psychology of shoplifting. 1954.

PMID- 1435500
TI  - Prosecuting serious fraud--the role of the Serious Fraud Office.

PMID- 1435501
TI  - Ethical dilemmas in fetal medicine.

PMID- 1435502
TI  - What is the patient's charter?

PMID- 1435503
TI  - Medical negligence litigation: the need for reform.

PMID- 1435504
TI  - Enoxacin--a new fluoroquinolone.

PMID- 1435505
TI  - Teniposide for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PMID- 1435506
TI  - Cefpodoxime proxetil--a new oral cephalosporin.

PMID- 1435507
TI  - Topical treatment for bacterial vaginosis.

PMID- 1435508
TI  - Origin of mineral crystal growth in collagen fibrils.
AB  - Collagen fibrils from young turkey-leg tendons, just beginning to mineralize,
      were stained with uranyl acetate and examined by electron microscopy. Small
      needle-like mineral crystals were observed and located, in relation to the
      collagen banding pattern, as originating at the e band in the gap region and near
      the surface of the fibrils. These are evidently the sites of crystal nucleation.
      They lie near binding locations on collagen fibrils of two glycosylated proteins
      believed to be implicated in the mineralization process, as well as the sites of
      early crystals in embryonic fowl bones.

PMID- 1435509
TI  - Self-assembly into fibrils of a homotrimer of type I collagen.
AB  - Type I collagen, the most abundant structural protein in vertebrates, is
      comprised of two alpha 1(I) chains and one alpha 2(I) chain. Fibroblasts from a
      proband with osteogenesis imperfecta, however, were shown to synthesize a type I
      procollagen that was a homotrimer of pro alpha 1(I) chains. The absence of pro
      alpha 2(I) chains in the procollagen provided a unique opportunity to assess the
      role of the alpha 2(I) chain in collagen fibrillogenesis by examining the self
      assembly de novo of the homotrimeric collagen generated in vitro. The results
      demonstrated that the fibrils formed by the homotrimeric collagen had an
      asymmetric banding pattern similar to fibrils of normal heterotrimeric type I
      collagen. However, the efficiency for self-assembly of the homotrimer into
      fibrils was markedly reduced in that the critical concentration at 37 degrees C
      was 40-fold greater than for self-assembly of the heterotrimeric molecule. A
      van't Hoff-type plot of the data was used to determine values for delta G, delta
      H and delta S. The values indicated the self-assembly of the homotrimer is
      similar to self-assembly of the heterotrimer in that the process is entropy
      driven. The process is, however, less favorable in that the delta G value was 10
      kJ/mol less negative. The results suggest that the presence of the alpha 2(I)
      chain in type I collagen helps drive the self-assembly process, probably because
      the alpha 2(I) chain is more hydrophobic than the alpha 1(I) chain and,
      therefore, smaller amounts of structured water may be lost during self-assembly
      of the homotrimer than during self-assembly of the heterotrimer.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1435510
TI  - Inhibition of calcification in vivo by acyl azide cross-linking of a collagen
      glycosaminoglycan sponge.
AB  - A collagen-glycosaminoglycan sponge composed of collagen (80%), chondroitin-4
      sulfate (13.3%) and heparan sulfate (6.6%) was cross-linked using the acyl azide
      method or glutaraldehyde (0.0075%). Under optimal conditions, the denaturation
      temperature (Td) was raised to 69 degrees C (+23 degrees C) for the sponge
      treated by the acyl azide method and to 68 degrees C (+22 degrees C) for that
      treated with glutaraldehyde. The biocompatibility of the treated and control
      sponges was studied up to 3 months after subcutaneous implantation in rats by
      analysing cellular responses and calcification by histological and
      ultrastructural methods. A control collagen-glycosaminoglycan sponge was rapidly
      invaded by mononuclear cells (8 days), with the formation of granulation tissue.
      Calcification was observed at the periphery of the implant after 8 days, and the
      implant was entirely calcified after 15 days; it was degraded progressively after
      30 days. Acyl azide treatment increased the persistence of the sponge in vivo up
      to 90 days and inhibited its calcification. A glutaraldehyde-treated sponge was
      completely calcified after 15 days, and calcified nodules persisted after 90
      days. Thus, acyl azide method efficiently cross-linked a collagen
      glycosaminoglycan sponge and inhibited calcification after subcutaneous
      implantation in rats (at least up to 90 days after implantation).

PMID- 1435511
TI  - Endochondral ossification and de novo collagen synthesis during repair of the rat
      Achilles tendon.
AB  - Ectopic endochondral ossification is the inevitable consequence of midpoint
      tenotomy of the rat Achilles tendon. After tenotomy, the tendon stumps retract
      and the intervening space fills with granulation tissue. The initiation of
      chondrogenesis is indicated by pre-chondrocytic cells forming a "whorled"
      pattern, both at the tendon stumps and within the granulation tissue and later
      clearly differentiating into cartilage nodules. The chondrocytes rapidly
      "hypertrophy" exhibiting an orientation similar to that in epiphyseal growth
      plates. The nodules of cartilage are then replaced, by bone. During this total
      process, a temporal and spatial pattern of new collagen synthesis can be
      demonstrated, both biochemically and immunocytochemically. Both the cartilage and
      the subsequent bone closely resemble the tissue in developing long bones enabling
      this model to be used to study the initial switching on of normal chondrogenesis
      and osteogenesis in a system not normally programmed to do so.

PMID- 1435512
TI  - Production of both 92- and 72-kDa gelatinases by bone cells.
AB  - We investigated the ability of murine bone organ cultures and osteoblast-like
      bone cells to produce 72- and 92-kDa gelatinase. 4-6 day newborn mouse calvaria
      cultures were found to release gelatinase activity into their conditioned medium
      (CM). This activity was increased by four stimulators of resorption, tumor
      necrosis factor alpha (TNF), interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1), parathyroid hormone
      (PTH) and the active phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA).
      Both the 72- and 92-kDa forms of gelatinase were produced by murine bone
      cultures. In unstimulated bones 72-kDa gelatinase activity was approximately
      equal to that of the 92-kDa enzyme. IL-1, TNF, PTH and TPA all increased 92-kDa
      gelatinase activity in the CM of the bone cultures by about 2- to 2.5-fold. In
      addition TPA and IL-1 also increased 72-kDa gelatinase activity. In unstimulated
      osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cell cultures 72-kDa gelatinase enzyme activity was much
      greater than 92-kDa activity and was not substantially regulated (less than 40%
      change) by IL-1, TNF or PTH. In contrast, these agents stimulated 92-kDa
      gelatinase activity by 2- to 5-fold. As with the MC3T3-E1 cells, primary cells
      constitutively produced both 72-kDa and 92-kDa gelatinase. This was true for
      cells with both the most differentiated osteoblast-like phenotype (populations 3
      and 4) and the least osteoblast-like phenotype (populations 1 and 2). In
      unstimulated cultures of all 4-primary populations, 92-kDa gelatinase production
      was less than 72-kDa and IL-1, TNF and PTH had only small effects on 72-kDa
      production in any of the populations (less than 60% change).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1435513
TI  - Age-related changes in the concentration of hydroxypyridinium crosslinks in
      functionally different skeletal muscles.
AB  - High-performance liquid chromatography methods were developed to measure the
      concentration of hydroxypyridinium crosslinks in the intramuscular collagen and
      tendinous parts of functionally different skeletal muscles at different ages. A
      significant increase in pyridinoline concentration took place during maturation
      reaching 0.32 +/- 0.07 (mol/mol collagen) in soleus (slow plantar flexor) and
      0.28 +/- 0.07 in plantaris (fast "mixed" plantar flexor) at the age of 4 months.
      In medial and lateral gastrocnemius (fast "mixed" plantar flexors) the
      pyridinoline concentrations (mol/mol collagen) reached 0.24 +/- 0.06 and 0.19 +/-
      0.04, respectively, similar to those in both the extensor digitorum longus (fast
      "mixed" dorsi flexor) and rectus femoris (fast "mixed" knee extensor) muscles,
      but higher than in the fast "mixed" dorsi flexor muscle, anterior tibialis (0.11
      +/- 0.05 mol/mol). By comparison, pyridinoline concentrations of 0.33 mol/mol
      collagen (+/- 0.10) was measured from longissimus dorsi, a slow-twitch back
      posture muscle. After maturation the most significant increase in pyridinoline
      concentration was measured in soleus and gastrocnemius muscles. No differences in
      the crosslinking between different parts of muscle belly were noticed at any time
      point. However, significantly fewer pyridinoline crosslinks were found in
      tendinous parts of soleus, extensor digitorum longus and anterior tibialis than
      in intramuscular collagen. The concentration of pyridinoline crosslinks tended to
      be highest in slow-twitch postural muscles, soleus and longissimus dorsi, and
      generally higher in plantar flexors which are exposed to higher stretch than
      dorsal flexors. The reasons for the unexpectedly low concentrations of
      pyridinoline crosslinks in the tendinous parts of muscles remain to be clarified.

PMID- 1435514
TI  - Studies of collagen in bone and dentin matrix of a Columbian mammoth (late
      Pleistocene) of central Utah.
AB  - A Columbian mammoth, Mammuthus columbi, was excavated at an elevation of 9000
      feet in Huntington Canyon, Emery County, Utah. Radiocarbon dates on the skeleton
      indicated death approximately 11,200 years ago. The skeleton was removed from
      postglacial, Late Quaternary, lake sediments deposited as glacial runoff
      approximately 9500 years ago. The bones and teeth were especially well preserved
      in a saturated lake bed. After excavation the bones and teeth were preserved by
      controlled desiccation, without hardeners, over a period of 9 months.
      Microradiography, light and electron microscopy, medium and high angle X-ray
      diffraction, amino acid analysis and cyanogen bromide peptide mapping were
      undertaken to evaluate the packing, organization, and preservation of collagen in
      bone and dentin of this mammoth. Microradiography and light microscopy showed
      that the bone consisted of especially well preserved compact and trabecular bone,
      and electron microscopy of demineralized bone and tusk showed that the matrix
      consisted of lamellae of densely packed cylindrical collagen fibrils. Cell
      remnants with intact nuclei, with or without a nucleolus, as well as variable
      lengths of plasma membrane were occasionally present on the surface of bony
      trabecula. Remnants of odontoblast processes were present in some dentin tubules.
      High and low angle X-ray diffraction demonstrated that the demineralized matrix
      contained native collagen molecules and amino acid analysis showed that the
      composition was comparable to that of type I collagen. Cyanogen bromide peptide
      mapping indicated that the major peptides of type I collagen were present and had
      the same electrophoretic mobility as that of type I collagen of demineralized
      Asian elephant bone and rat tail tendon.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1435515
TI  - Proteoglycan synthesis in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rat
      arteries in vitro.
AB  - Proteoglycans (PGs) were analyzed and compared in the media of the thoracic
      aorta, abdominal aorta, left carotid artery and superior mesenteric artery of age
      matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats. Two ages
      were examined; 10 week old, during the development of hypertension and 28 week
      old, when hypertension is well established in the SHR. Large chondroitin sulfate
      PG, large heparan sulfate PG and biglycan (PGI) and decorin (PGII) small PGs were
      identified. Biglycan was the predominant small PG found in all arteries. Newly
      synthesized PGs were labelled in vitro with 35SO4 for quantitation. The synthesis
      of large and small PGs was similar in the media of the thoracic aorta, abdominal
      aorta, left carotid artery, and superior mesenteric artery. The large to small
      ratio value, a measure of the artery PG composition, was also similar among the
      four arteries but was highest in the mesenteric artery. In both WKY and SHR
      arteries there was significantly decreased PG synthesis in the 28-week old
      compared to 10-week old animals. This was especially true for large PG.
      Hypertensive changes in PG synthesis were seen mainly in the carotid artery. In
      this artery, synthesis of both large and small PG was increased in the SHR, at
      both ages. The ratio of large to small PG was not significantly different between
      SHR and WKY arteries. We conclude that 28-week old WKY and SHR rat arteries
      synthesize less large and small PG than 10-week old arteries. The most prominent
      change seen in hypertensive rats is an increase in PG synthesis in the carotid
      artery.

PMID- 1435516
TI  - In-situ hybridization of tropoelastin mRNA during the development of the
      multilayered neonatal rat aortic smooth muscle cell culture.
AB  - Cultured neonatal rat aortic smooth muscle cells are active in synthesizing and
      depositing large amounts of elastin in their extracellular matrix, making this an
      ideal system for studying elastogenesis. In this study, the ability of individual
      cells to synthesize tropoelastin was examined by in-situ hybridization methods.
      One-micron semi-thin epoxy resin-embedded transverse sections of cells cultured
      1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks showed an increase with time in both the number of cells with
      hybridization signal and the signal intensity; tropoelastin mRNA hybridization
      signal intensity decreased thereafter up to 8 weeks in culture. In longitudinal
      sections through the early cultures (1-week), we observed mitotic cells with no
      detectable hybridization signal, and non-mitotic cells with either no, little or
      high signal intensity. These data suggest that mitotic cells do not synthesize
      tropoelastin, and that there is a strong correlation between the hybridization
      signal intensity and the rate of tropoelastin synthesis. These data also suggest
      in-situ hybridization methods can detect which cell(s) contain tropoelastin mRNA,
      their location in the multilayer, and variations in signal intensity. We conclude
      it is possible to correlate hybridization signal intensity with variations of
      tropoelastin mRNA levels within individual cells of the cultured smooth muscle
      cell multilayer.

PMID- 1435517
TI  - The group A streptococcal M-type 3 protein gene exhibits a C terminus typical for
      class I M proteins.
AB  - The M protein gene (emm gene) from a reference group A streptococcal strain of
      serotype M3 was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and partially
      sequenced. Hybridization assays using an oligonucleotide probe derived from the N
      terminal sequence revealed that this gene segment is highly homologous among M
      type 3 isolates. Of note, analysis of the nucleotide sequence data from the C
      terminus of the gene confirmed that the emm 3 gene exhibited all the features
      characteristic for group A streptococcal M-class I molecules. Recently published
      sequence data that were assigned to emm 3 resulted from a strain confusion and
      were shown to be the first one derived from an emm gene of an M-untypable
      isolate.

PMID- 1435518
TI  - Ubiquitous occurrence of virR and scpA genes in group A streptococci.
AB  - Until now a few serotypes of M-class I group A streptococci (GAS) have been shown
      to encode VirR, a positive regulatory factor for the coordinate expression of the
      M protein (emm) and C5a peptidase (scpA) genes. The polymerase chain reaction
      technique has been applied to the genomic template of 36 GAS serotypes to
      demonstrate the general presence of VirR (virR) genes and scpA in GAS of both M
      classes. A virR gene region conserved in size was demonstrated for every strain
      investigated. Differences between virR genes from GAS of the two M classes were
      mainly confined to the 3' end of the gene and a region upstream of the gene's
      promoter. Every M-class II strain and some M-class I isolates were shown to
      possess a scpA gene of 4.6 kb, the rest of the M-class I GAS harbors a 3.5-kb
      scpA gene. The additional segment of 1.1 kb in the large-size scpA genes was
      located within a region of direct repeats at the 3' end of the gene. Among the
      serotypes encoding a large-size scpA gene a minority exhibits additional sequence
      variation downstream of the region of direct repeats.

PMID- 1435519
TI  - Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in children
      with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.
AB  - Twenty children 1-17 (median, 5.5) years of age received GM-CSF during
      chemotherapy-induced neutropenia at the dose of 5 micrograms/kg/day, continued
      until the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) exceeded 500 x 10(6)/liter. Twelve
      children with solid tumors received GM-CSF after courses of conventional
      chemotherapy (VP-16 + ifosfamide or "6 in 1"). One course followed by GM-CSF was
      compared to identical courses without GM-CSF in the same patients. Eight children
      with recurrent/poor risk malignancies received GM-CSF after marrow-ablative
      therapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). Their engraftment data
      were compared to matched historical controls. In both groups GM-CSF accelerated
      myeloid recovery, which was preceded by the appearance of immature myeloid
      elements in bone marrow. The ANC levels of 200, 500, and 1,000 x 10(6)/liter were
      exceeded 2, 3 (P < 0.05), and 6 (P < 0.005) days earlier with GM-CSF in the
      conventional chemotherapy group, and 6, 10 (P < 0.05), and 9 days earlier in the
      ABMT group, as compared to the controls. All adverse effects observed were mild,
      including skin rashes, nasal stuffiness, general achiness, nausea, and fever. We
      conclude that GM-CSF is well tolerated in children and accelerates myeloid
      recovery in chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.

PMID- 1435520
TI  - Minimal requirements for the diagnosis, classification, and evaluation of the
      treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the "BFM Family"
      Cooperative Group.
AB  - Minimal requirements and their rationale for the diagnosis and the response to
      treatment in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were defined in the
      recently instituted "BFM-Family"-Group, in which the German, Austrian, Dutch,
      Italian, Belgian, French and Hungarian childhood leukemia study groups cooperate.
      ALL is defined as > or = 25% lymphoblasts in the bone marrow; for confirmation of
      the diagnosis and classification the criteria of the French-American-British
      (FAB) criteria are retained. For determination of the extent of the disease at
      diagnosis or relapse the criteria by the Rome Workshop [1986] are recommended: An
      obligatory panel of monoclonal antibodies for immunophenotyping was defined, as
      well as criteria for precursor B-ALL and T-ALL. Cytogenetic studies may support
      the diagnosis and subtyping, and are essential to identify certain patients with
      a high risk of treatment failure (f.i. t(9;22), t(4;11)). The role of molecular
      genetics for the diagnosis and the characterization of leukemia and the value of
      its clinical application needs further elucidation. Relapse was defined as
      recurrence of evident leukemia in the blood, bone marrow (> or = 25%
      lymphoblasts) or at any other site (to be confirmed by histological examination).
      Bone marrow involvement combined with extramedullary relapse was defined as > or
      = 5% lymphoblasts in the bone marrow.

PMID- 1435521
TI  - Primary skeletal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the pediatric age group.
AB  - The authors discuss rare primary skeletal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 16 patients
      treated from 1973 to 1989. The symptoms of these patients related to bone lesions
      in 95% of the cases. These bone lesions were monostotic or polyostotic, with or
      without regional and distant metastases. The locations of these lesions were long
      bones in 13 patients, pelvic bones in seven patients, and skull and vertebral
      bodies in two patients. The anatomical locations of these lesions in the bones
      were diaphysis alone in one patient, epiphysis in two patients, metaphysis in
      three patients, and a combination of diaphyseal, epiphyseal, and metaphyseal
      lesions in seven patients. Extraskeletal involvement was present in nine
      patients; extraskeletal sites included regional or distant lymph node involvement
      in seven cases, the mediastinum in two, lung nodules in two patients, the skin
      and subcutaneous regions in four patients; bone marrow in three patients, and
      peripheral nervous system (PNS) in one patient. Two patients had stage I disease,
      three had stage II disease, eight had stage III disease, and three had stage IV
      disease. The majority of patients had large noncleaved cell diffuse lymphomas or
      DHL by Rappaport classification. All patients were treated with the LSA2-L2
      protocol; six patients received radiation therapy to the affected bone, and ten
      patients received no radiation therapy. Three patients failed on treatment within
      the first 4 months of therapy. Two patients developed a second tumor, one in the
      radiation therapy field and the other in a patient who received no radiation
      therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1435522
TI  - Primary malignant cardiac tumors: update 1992.

PMID- 1435523
TI  - Recurrent cerebrovascular accident with L-asparaginase rechallenge.
AB  - We report a 15-year-old boy diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in
      1983. Induction therapy included L-asparaginase. After the second dose of L
      asparaginase, he had a left sided focal seizure and computed tomography (CT) scan
      of the head showed a right frontal infarct. No further L-asparaginase was given.
      Complete remission was achieved and he successfully completed therapy in 1986.
      Eight months later he had an isolated bone marrow relapse. Reinduction therapy
      included L-asparaginase. After the fourth dose of L-asparaginase, he presented
      with severe headache and a CT scan showed a right temporal infarct. Repeat
      infarction on rechallenge with L-asparaginase has not been previously reported.
      Prophylactic therapy, such as fresh frozen plasma, should be considered before
      patients, with a previous cerebral insult, are rechallenged with L-asparaginase.
      However the effectiveness of such therapy has not been established.

PMID- 1435524
TI  - [The characteristics of the intrathoracic complications of suppurating
      echinococcal liver cysts].
AB  - Using the material from 48 patients with intrathoracic complicated festered liver
      echinococcus cysts, the variations of break and the localization of connections
      between festered liver echinococcus cysts and thoracic organs were characterized.
      The pathological processes in the organs of the pleural cavity were described. A
      classification of intrathoracic complications proposed by the authors permits one
      to avoid diagnostical and tactical mistakes and to decrease human mortality.

PMID- 1435525
TI  - [The characteristics of the clinical course of hydatid pulmonary echinococcosis
      in the native inhabitants of Chukotka].
AB  - 23 patients with pulmonary hydatid disease were observed in Chukotka. The
      patients observed were divided into 2 groups (14 and 9 patients) matched for sex,
      age, invasion intensity and topography. The patients of the first group were
      operated after they had been diagnosed, and the patients of the second group were
      observed without operation. In the both groups, the symptoms of invasion were low
      expressive, its course was torpid, the complications were rare and the
      dissemination was not recorded. Two patients observed without operation recovered
      after the break of the cyst into the bronchus and its evacuation. Relapses of
      invasion after operation were not recorded in any case. The causes of the good
      clinical course of pulmonary hydatid disease in the aborigines of Chukotka and
      the necessity of revising the treatment course are discussed.

PMID- 1435526
TI  - [Natural foci of trichinelliasis in the Caspian Sea area].
AB  - The formation of natural foci of trichinelliasis was shown to depend on the
      established biocenotic relations between carnivorous animals. A highly intensive
      transmission of the invasion was recorded in continental areas where predators
      suffer from the lack of food in winter. Identification of the isolated
      Trichinella samples using single-pair cross hybridization and isoenzyme
      identification methods showed that the parasites of predators are T. spiralis
      nativa on the Northern Caspian coast and T. s. nelsoni on the Southern coast.

PMID- 1435527
TI  - [Trichinelliasis in the wild and domestic animals of Kamchatka Province].
AB  - The results of many years' observations and literature data allowed one to
      determine the species of wild and domestic mammalians, vectors of trichinelliasis
      in Kamchatka. The variability of trichinelliasis prevalence in individual
      mammalian species were found in relation to their habitation place. Significant
      fluctuations of the index are presented by years. Cases of trichinelliasis in
      wild American minks (acclimatized species) and in pigs were noted.

PMID- 1435528
TI  - [Trichinelliasis in southern Ukraine].
AB  - The analysis of literature data and the authors' own investigations showed that
      the southern part of the Ukraine is a trichinelliasis endemic territory where the
      synanthropic foci of the invasion are registered. The wide spreading of
      trichinelliasis among pigs and the nonobservance of the control measures provided
      by the veterinary legislation cause an increase in human prevalence.

PMID- 1435529
TI  - [A morphometric study of the bone marrow of mice infected with Trichinella
      spiralis and T. pseudospiralis].
AB  - The study of cytograms of the marrow of mice with experimental T. spiralis and T.
      pseudospiralis invasion of 1 to 60 days revealed the marked activation of
      granulocytes and lymphoid cell proliferation with the much lower response of
      erythroid cells. The maximal response occurred at 21-35 days of invasion with
      subsequent diminution. In mice experimentally invaded with T. pseudospiralis the
      response of the marrow was less pronounced, but the period of active cell
      proliferation was prolonged.

PMID- 1435530
TI  - [Intestinal trematodiases (metagonimiasis, nanophyetiasis): clinico
      parasitological research and the first trial of using Azinox in a focus of the
      lower Amur River valley].
AB  - A focus of metagonimiasis and nanophyetiasis is described with the average human
      prevalence of 66.7 and 4.2%, respectively and low intensity of invasions (less
      than 100 eggs per 1 g). Metagonimiasis and nanophyetiasis are clinically
      expressed as chronic enterocolitis. A high effect of a single dose 10 mg/kg of
      azinox against metagonimiasis (98%) and nanophyetiasis (100%) was shown. The
      treatment course was proved to be useful in the foci of the Amur basin.

PMID- 1435531
TI  - [The role of national meat dishes in infecting the population of Azerbaijan with
      taeniarhynchiasis].
AB  - The survival of taeniorhynchus cysticerci in 12 national meat dishes was studied
      in Azerbaijan. It was shown that in 7 dishes (sulu hinghal, suzma hinghal, kutab,
      gyurza, dushbara, dolma, tavah-kebob) the cysticerci died at suitable temperature
      and continuous cookery treatment. But in the mutton roasted on spits, lulah
      kabob, kyufta, kutaby and some other dishes 5.7 to 82% of cysticerci survive, and
      the dishes might be a danger as factors of transmission.

PMID- 1435532
TI  - [A sanitary helminthological assessment of different methods of salting fish in
      the Vyatka and Kama River basins].

PMID- 1435533
TI  - [The infectivity of the population with the tapeworm Diphyllobothrium
      klebanovskii in an area of infection drift in the Khabarovsk Territory].
AB  - Copro-ovoscopic survey of the human population in the Khabarovsk Territory and
      the analysis of data of account of territorial sanitary epidemiological station
      showed that people invaded with D. klebanovskii are registered only in areas
      whose rivers catadromous salmon come to spawn. Most of invaded people are
      recorded on the seashore. The risk of tapeworm invasion and the epidemiological
      characteristics of the carry-over zone are discussed.

PMID- 1435534
TI  - [The search for new antiparasitic agents. 11. The acute toxicity and anticestodal
      activity of the new anthelmintic Tizanox compared with Azinox].
AB  - A synthesis is described and the results of toxicological trial of the potential
      anthelmintic agent G-1587 are presented. The agent is 2-(cyclohexylcarbonyl)
      1,2,3,6,7,11b-hexahydro-2H-[1, 2,5] thiadiazino [3,2-a] isoquinoline-4,4-dioxide.
      The agent was shown to have a low toxicity, the maximal sublethal dose for mice
      being 4.0 g/kg when given per os.

PMID- 1435535
TI  - [The comparative efficacy of medamine and Vermox in enterobiasis].

PMID- 1435536
TI  - [An improved complex of measures to prevent enterobiasis].
AB  - Enterobiasis is the most common helminth in the USSR. Despite of its clinical
      manifestations in children, some parents do not see a doctor. 105 parents were
      interrogated by questionnaires. 71% of them called the reason why they had taken
      no medical advice and the rest evaded the question. The parents' questionnaire is
      an important measure for preventing and controlling enterobiasis with regard to
      better health education methods used in the work with parents and tutors from
      pediatric institutions.

PMID- 1435537
TI  - [The sanitary-epidemiological assessment of the enterobiasis situation and its
      prevention in children's institutions in new buildings].
AB  - A complex plan of enterobiasis control measures for a sharp and stable decrease
      of the prevalence level at nursery schools in new buildings is presented. This
      complex plan allows one to reduce the extent of investigations 3-4-fold. A trial
      of the complex plan proposed on territories with foci of different types should
      be expedient with its subsequent introduction into the practice.

PMID- 1435538
TI  - [The epidemiological efficacy of the chemoprophylaxis of zoonotic cutaneous
      leishmaniasis in rural inhabitants].

PMID- 1435539
TI  - [Enzymes of the peripheral blood leukocytes from the vertebrate host in an
      experimental Leishmania infection. 1. Neutrophil acid phosphatase].
AB  - The results of cytochemical identification of acid phosphatase in the neutrophils
      of mice, guinea pigs and golden hamsters inoculated with leishmanial
      promastigotes of different species and virulence and also of people vaccinated
      against zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis are presented. The reversible increase
      of the enzyme activity in host's blood neutrophils and its dependence on parasite
      species and virulence are shown.

PMID- 1435540
TI  - [The serological examination of the population for leishmaniasis and the
      detection of Leishmania in rodents in the Republic of Guinea].
AB  - A serological study on leishmaniasis in human population of Guinea revealed the
      percentage of seropositive persons varying in different parts of the country from
      0.84 to 4.76 (according to C-ELISA) and from 1.0 to 5.1 (according to IFAT). The
      majority of sera positively reacting in C-ELISA with the antigen of Leishmania
      major in dilutions of 1:800 and higher were received from Kundara District
      (northwestern part of the country), and with the antigen of L. donovani sensu
      lato from Sigiri and Kankan districts (northeastern part of the country). All the
      districts were situated in the savanna zone. The amastigotes of Leishmania were
      found in the liver and spleen of Tatera gambiana caught near Kindia. These data
      suggest the circulation of Leishmania over the territory of Guinea.

PMID- 1435541
TI  - [The surveillance of anthropogenic influence on the environment in intestinal
      parasitoses].
AB  - The necessity of anthropogenic influence control system as a component of the
      system of antiparasitic measures is proved. "System of anthropogenic influence
      control" proposed by the authors includes the complex of juridical and scientific
      methodological supply, the subsystem of sanitary parasitological monitoring, the
      subsystem of measures for environmental protection and sanitation and laboratory
      control. The use of the system in practice might allow one to increase the
      efficacy of environmental protection and parasitic disease prophylaxis measures.

PMID- 1435542
TI  - [Balantidiasis].

PMID- 1435543
TI  - [The localization of Trichinella antigens, their molecular biological
      characteristics and the methods for their isolation].

PMID- 1435544
TI  - [Grain itch].

PMID- 1435545
TI  - [The tasks of epidemiological health stations in organizing ecologically safe
      measures to control the vectors of transmissible diseases].

PMID- 1435546
TI  - [The clinico-immunological characteristics of the mixed pathology of tuberculosis
      and clonorchiasis in endemic areas of Khabarovsk Territory].

PMID- 1435547
TI  - [The division of the territory of Azerbaijan into districts by hydatid
      echinococcosis].
AB  - The epizootiological and epidemiological stratification of the territory of
      Azerbaijan on hydatid disease was made. Four zones were identified as low,
      moderately, highly and extremely endemic. These zones are differentiated from
      their climatic and social conditions for echinococcosis distribution, human
      incidence and prevalence, canine and ovine number and prevalence, and the time of
      survival of echinococcus eggs in the soil. The most intensive disease control
      measures are recommended in mountainous regions of the Small Caucasus.

PMID- 1435548
TI  - [Antibody detection in zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis by using the indirect
      immunofluorescence reaction and C-ELISA in different clinical manifestations of
      the disease].
AB  - 189 sera from patients with ZCL of different stages were studied by means of RNIF
      and C-ELISA. A high significant correlation between RNIF and C-ELISA indices was
      shown, but the latter test was proved to be more sensitive and therefore more
      effective. In patients with ZCL, a significant direct correlation between the
      duration of the process and the antibody titer was established by means of C
      ELISA. In patients with ZCL at the third (final) stage (reduction and granulation
      of lesions), the C-ELISA liter of specific antibodies was higher than at the
      second stage (rapidly progressing ulceration of lesions). The findings indicate
      the presence of clinical and serological parallels in ZCL and show it expedient
      to compare the dynamics of antibody genesis and cell immunity indices in further
      studies.

PMID- 1435549
TI  - [The variability of the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei De Geer (Acariformes,
      Sarcoptidae) in connection with the epidemiology of scabies. A rank system for
      the variability of the chaetoid integument in females].
AB  - The variability of the naked section of the chaetoid cover of itch mite Sarcoptes
      scabiei De Geer females was studied. The sample used was divided into 5 grades by
      the number of undeveloped chaetoids. The structures surrounding the naked
      section, its size and dimensions of the female body were analysed in each grade
      of specimens. Such grade scale for describing the chaetoid cover proved to be
      useful for comparative analysis of human and animal forms of itch mite.

PMID- 1435550
TI  - [The importation of malaria from Afghanistan into the USSR (a retrospective
      analysis of data from epidemiological surveys of cases and foci during 1981
      1990)].
AB  - A retrospective analysis of imported malaria due to military operations revealed
      the main regularities in the behaviour of Plasmodium vivax population and the
      relationships between the imported parasite and the native Anopheles species.
      High percentage of cases with protracted incubation was noted in soldiers after
      their home-coming; the clinical symptoms were often registered 7-12 months after
      return. No epidemic consequence of imported and introduced cases of tertian
      malaria in malariogenic areas was shown. The effect of mass drug administration
      in military contingents was proved to be low due to irregular use of drugs or
      their discontinuance. The import of carriers to malariogenic areas was found to
      cause a minimal risk of restoration and implantation of tertian malaria. The
      current epidemiological monitoring system was shown to be rather effective for
      maintaining the epidemiological prosperity in the country.

PMID- 1435551
TI  - [The feeding characteristics of mosquito larvae of the genus Anopheles].
AB  - Studies carried out on 6 species of malaria mosquitos revealed a relationship
      between the larval activity to scratch the substrate and their morphological and
      physiological features and also their development at different depth of feed
      immersion. The development of scratching capacity was compared in different
      species of Anopheles and Cellia subgenera.

PMID- 1435552
TI  - [Observations on malaria vectors in Mozambique. I. The status of Anopheles
      populations before the start of mosquito control].
AB  - The basic status parameters of populations of the main malaria vectors (Anopheles
      arabiensis and An. funestus) in the vicinity of the city of Maputo, Mozambique,
      were considered, such as mosquito density and its seasonal variation, female
      biting activity rate, degree of mosquito-man contact, degree of exophilia and
      endophagy, physiological age of females, duration of gonotrophic cycle,
      sporozoite index, vectorial capacity, entomological inoculation rate.

PMID- 1435553
TI  - [The relation between the mode of feeding of malarial mosquito larvae and their
      resistance to bacterial insecticides].

PMID- 1435554
TI  - [A trial of the possible joint use of mermithids and bacterial preparations for
      the control of mosquito larvae].
AB  - The action of bacterial insecticides based on Bacillus thuringiensis H-14 and B.
      sphaericus in a dose of 0.005-2 mg/l on the mermithids Romanomermis iyengari, R.
      culicivorax and R. jingdeensis was studied. It was shown that though bacterial
      agents suppressed mermithid preparasite larvae density about 30-40%, the
      survivors might invade 100% of mosquito larvae. The viability and fertility of
      adult mermithids did not change under the influence of bactoculicide in doses 5
      50 times higher than those used against mosquitoes in practice. In combined field
      trials of sphaerolarvicide (1.5 kg/ha) and R. iyengari mermithids the infectivity
      of Anopheles sacharovi larvae reached 96%. Mermithids in combination with
      bactoculicide and sphaerolarvicide might be useful in integrated control systems
      because these bacterial agents are harmless for mermithids of all stages in doses
      useful against mosquito larvae.

PMID- 1435555
TI  - [Insecticide resistance and irritability of Culex pipiens in Moscow].
AB  - Resistance and irritability to permethrin, deltamethrin, bendiocarb, propoxur,
      fenitrothion, malathion, dieldrin and DDT (WHO standard papers) were determined
      in Culex pipiens collected in the basements of big houses in the centre of
      Moscow. Mosquitos were found to be moderately resistant to fenitrothion (87%
      mortality), DDT (83%) and propoxur (80%), and susceptible to the remaining
      insecticides. The irritability was low to dieldrin but moderate to permethrin,
      propoxur and DDT, and high to the rest. The irritability to bendiocarb seems to
      be really caused by the repellent action of citric acid which the WHO standard
      paper is impregnated with. It is recommended to use pyrethroids against mosquito
      larvae and pyrethroid brickets against adults.

PMID- 1435556
TI  - [The point-scale assessment of the intensity of the possible contamination by
      helminth eggs of large reservoirs in the Volga basin].
AB  - Possibility for the contamination of man-made lakes by helminth eggs caused by
      superficial drain was estimated. The estimation allowed one to apply a
      differential approach to the organization of protection measures.

PMID- 1435557
TI  - [The clinico-immunological characteristics of hymenolepiasis].
AB  - Clinical manifestations were observed only 16 out of 61 patients aged 15-32 years
      who had hymenolepiasis. Despite their degree, there was impaired dexylose
      absorption, lower serum lysozyme activity and higher serum complement activity,
      depressed immunological reactivity parameters (the count of T- and B-lymphocytes,
      their functional activity), decreased IgA titer and increased IgE titer in the
      sera in all the patients observed. Six months after the effective
      dehelminthization, varying immunodepression still remained in all the
      convalescents. There types of restoration of immunological reactivity were
      identified: torpid, reactive and highly reactive. The torpid type was
      significantly more frequently observed in patients with subclinical
      (asymptomatic) hymenolepiasis course than in patients with its clinical
      manifestation.

PMID- 1435558
TI  - [Opisthorchiasis as a component in a mixed infection].
AB  - A survey of the same human contingents (children under 14 years and adults) in
      different zones of Ukraine revealed the opisthorchiasis foci of different
      intensity in the northeastern part of Polesye and in the forest-steppe zone. The
      affliction of adults ranged from 27.5 +/- 2.2% to 2.8 +/- 0.7%, that of children
      was from 14.5 +/- 2.3% to 0. In the foci of high and moderate tension, the
      trichocephaliasis prevalence was 10.2 +/- 0.7%, ascaridiasis 5.1 +/- 0.5%,
      amebiasis 2.4 +/- 0.7%, lambliasis 7.7 +/- 0.6%, and outside the foci these
      figures were lower (2.0 +/- 0.7%; 2.4 +/- 0.7%; 0.5 +/- 0.3%; 2.9 +/- 0.8%,
      respectively). In concurrent invasions and infections, the number of helminth
      eggs and protozoan cysts excreted by patients was significantly lower than in
      that in monoinvasion.

PMID- 1435559
TI  - [The epidemiological characteristics of diphyllobothriasis caused by
      Diphyllobothrium klebanovskii in the Amur River basin].
AB  - The diphyllobothriasis incidence in the workers of the Amur basin steamship
      company during 1980-1989 was studied. This rate was shown to be more than 6 times
      than that of other population (68.7 and 10.4 case per 100,000 person,
      respectively). The role of the workers of the company in the circulation of the
      invasion and prophylactic measures in the region were discussed.

PMID- 1435560
TI  - [The morphological changes in the organs of the lymphoid system in the
      experimental infection of mice with Trichinella spiralis].
AB  - The dynamics of morphological changes in central and peripheral organs of the
      lymphoid system of mice experimentally invaded with Trichinella spiralis was
      studied. The immune response of the host was shown to have two phases including
      two peaks and the suppression period. The activation of the lymphoid organs was
      observed in earlier intestinal and muscular phases, and the suppression was noted
      in migration phase of invasion.

PMID- 1435561
TI  - [Sanitary parasitocenology. The subject, goals and tasks].
AB  - The necessity for developing a new parasitological discipline, such as sanitary
      parasitocenology, is evidenced. Training of specialists with a wide range of
      parasitological knowledge and goal-oriented complexation of the investigations of
      parasitologists of different profile are shown to be required. The necessity for
      elaborating the measures for disinfection of environmental objects is shown
      taking into account the degree of pathogenicity of each parasitocenosis.

PMID- 1435562
TI  - [Group cryptosporidiosis morbidity in children].
AB  - The group morbidity with cryptosporidiosis (13 cases) was recorded in infants
      from a somatic hospital and a nursery school and also among unorganized groups.
      The factor of transmission was kefir prepared in the nursery milk kitchen.
      Cryptosporidian oocysts were not found in the personnel of the kitchen. It was
      supposed that the contamination of milk by oocysts occurred on milk farm. Single
      oocysts were found in milk sediments on the filter taken from a tank at a milk
      factory.

PMID- 1435563
TI  - [The transformation of the saprotrophic mycelial form of the fungus Paecilomyces
      variotii into the tissue parasitic form and its morphological characteristics].
AB  - The fungus Paecilomyces variotii is known to develop as a saprotrophic mycelial
      form in the soil. When penetrating into the human organism or placing into a
      medium containing cultured cells it transforms into a parasitic flesh form. This
      form of the fungus was shown to undergo 3 morphological stages: endospore,
      juvenile (intermediate) form and mature sphaerula. The transformation of the
      mycelial form into parasitic one occurs in the biological media containing cells
      of the host, inside or outside the cell. The morphological structure of mycelium
      of P. variotii developed from the flesh parasitic form is different in aerobic
      and anaerobic conditions. In the former case, the spore production takes place by
      means of phialides, and in the latter case it occurs inside the mycelium.

PMID- 1435564
TI  - [The characteristics of the economic loss from actinomycosis].

PMID- 1435565
TI  - [The efficacy of pyrantel in vulvovaginitis of enterobiasis etiology].

PMID- 1435566
TI  - [A case of pulmonary aspergillosis with the formation of mycetomas in a patient
      with acute leukemia].
AB  - The clinical and diagnostic features of fungal infection in hemoblastosis are
      discussed. It is shown that the adequate and early treatment allows the life
      threatening complication to be managed.

PMID- 1435567
TI  - [The sensitivity of malarial mosquitoes to DDT and malathion in the southern
      European part of Russia].

PMID- 1435568
TI  - [The morphological changes in the small intestine of cats with metagonimiasis].

PMID- 1435569
TI  - [The ascariasis and toxocariasis situation in the city of Rudnyi].

PMID- 1435570
TI  - [Cyclic changes in the population count of the taiga tick in the Stolby
      preserve].
AB  - A harmonic analysis was carried out of Ixodes persulcatus density dynamics over
      33 years and the analysis of small mammal density and some climatic factors. It
      was found that the chronological changes of all the three processes contained
      cyclic components with the period 5.5 and 11; 3-4; 5.5 and 14-16 years,
      respectively. A long-term prognosis of I. persulcatus density was made based on
      harmonic synthesis.

PMID- 1435571
TI  - [The clinico-parasitological examination of a focus of intestinal nematodiases in
      Ha-Shon-Bin Province in the People's Republic of Vietnam and an analysis of 5
      medamine treatment schemes].
AB  - An intensive focus of intestinal nematodiases in a foothill province of Vietnam
      is described; the incidence of ascaridiasis there was found to be 81.8%,
      trichuriasis 78.1%, and ankylostomiasis 12.3%. Polyinvasions were detected in
      more than 80% of the examinees. Analysis of five schemes of medamin therapy, used
      in three provinces in 595 patients with ascaridiasis, 490 ones with trichuriasis,
      and 323 ones with ankylostomiasis has shown that the treatment efficacy was
      reducing with the invasion intensity augmentation. In ascariasis the 3- and 5-day
      therapeutic schemes were the most effective, their efficacies being 68.4 and
      82.0%, respectively; in trichuriasis and ankylostomiasis a 3-day scheme was the
      best, its efficacies being 74.0 and 71.9%, respectively. Retrograde ascarid
      migration occurred in 1.2% of 595 ascaridiasis patients after medamin therapy.

PMID- 1435572
TI  - [A clinico-epidemiological study of opisthorchiasis in the Altai Territory].
AB  - Eighty-eight patients with opisthorchiasis were treated with biltricide in an
      anthropurgic and natural focus of opisthorchiasis in the Altai Territory. A one
      day course of drug therapy, in a total dose of 60 mg/kg, was administered. Forty
      two patients developed side effects in the course of therapy. Complete
      elimination of the helminths was achieved in 83 (94.3 +/- 2.3%; p less than 0.05)
      patients in 6 months after therapy.

PMID- 1435573
TI  - [The dynamics of the indices of opisthorchiasis invasion of the population of the
      Chulym River basin].
AB  - Based on the findings of a 20-year follow-up, the authors analyze the incidence
      of opisthorchiasis in one of the regions of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Chulym
      River region. They analyze the time course of the major parameters, i.e.
      incidence rate, absolute and relative increment of this value and the
      significance of a 1% increment as exemplified by this region. They emphasize that
      a complex of sanitary and hygienic measures should be implemented to control and
      prevent opisthorchiasis in this region.

PMID- 1435574
TI  - [The effect of specific therapy on the bone marrow reaction in experimental
      trichinelliasis].

PMID- 1435575
TI  - [Bloodsucking mosquitoes on the irrigated lands of Kara-Kalpakia. 2. The annual
      cycle of Anopheles pulcherrimus].
AB  - The authors characterize the annual cycle of An. pulcherrimus population,
      distinguish the stages of this cycle that differ by the population composition
      and number and by the size of its area. The spatial structure of the population
      depends on the site of water bodies for wintering and the conditions at different
      territories. High numbers of mosquitoes were found in the southern part of the
      oasis at villages of rice-growing farmers. Mosquito population densities in the
      central parts of the oasis are much lower and are increased nearby sandy islets.

PMID- 1435576
TI  - [The susceptibility of mosquitoes for Plasmodium gallinaceum in the joint use of
      biologically active substances].
AB  - Making use of a model pair Aedes aegypti--Plasmodium gallinaceum, the authors
      assess the susceptibility of mosquito female survivors to malaria agent after
      treatment of larvae with various bioactive substances. Eight binary combinations
      of 6 preparations have been tried: dimilin and uvemon, insect development
      regulators; fundosol and copper sulfate, fungicides; phytobacteriomicin (PBM), a
      larvicidal antibiotic; bactoculicide, a bacterial agent. Combinations of PBM with
      compounds differing by their mechanisms of action were found to inhibit the
      specific effect of PBM on the vector, PBM specific effect consisting in
      depression of mosquito susceptibility to P. gallinaceum. PBM combinations with
      some agents may alter other parameters of the vector potential: combinations of
      copper sulfate or uvemon with low concentrations of PBM potentiated the
      larvicidal effect, and PBM mixtures with fungicides reduces the activity of
      female attacks.

PMID- 1435577
TI  - [The spread of Phlebotomus papatasi Scop., 1786 through the territory of Central
      Asia and southern Kazakhstan].
AB  - The data on distribution of the main vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis
      (ZCL) Phlebotomus papatasi through Central Asia and southern Kazakhstan are
      presented. The highest indices of density of this species (100 and more specimen
      per stick trap) were observed only in the Tejen oasis, rather high ones (1-10, 10
      100) in the river valleys and at the foothill, and the lowest one (0.01-0.1)-
      over the desert territory where ZCL was not practically found. Using these data 2
      maps were prepared. The first map shows the pattern of Ph. papatasi geographical
      distribution with the use of a relative density index. This map can be useful for
      determining ZCL danger in areas where Ph. papatasi occurs. The second indicates
      sandfly distribution over Karshi steppe territory the where Ph. papatasi density
      depends on soil moisture. This map can serve as a model for forecasting Ph.
      papatasi density under anthropogenic influence.

PMID- 1435578
TI  - [Ixodid ticks in the mountainous part of the Crimea].
AB  - About a hundred of patients with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) were recorded over
      the latest decade in the Crimea, and 60 TBE virus strains were isolated from the
      ticks collected on the peninsula. The results of studies carried out in 1986-1990
      helped define the borders of 4 local natural foci of TBE, study their acarifauna,
      detect the principal TBE vector--Ixodes ricinus (with a mean virophority of
      0.6%), and distinguish two foci with a combination of TBE and Crimean-Congo
      hemorrhagic fever.

PMID- 1435579
TI  - [The participation of birds in the circulation of the tick-borne encephalitis
      virus in the Asian part of Russia. 1. Natural foci in the Far East].
AB  - Virologic examinations of 811 samples of 70 species and of 81 ova from layings of
      11 bird species, carried out in natural foci of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in
      the southern Maritime [correction of Primorye] Territory, yielded negative
      results; serologic examinations revealed a low level of the immune stratum to TBE
      virus even in the birds feeding on the soil or on grass and shrubberies, that is,
      belonging to the first and second ecologic groups (0.8 +/- 0.4%). A difference
      has been demonstrated between the shares of TBE immune samples in the first and
      second+third (birds feeding on trees but sometimes on soil) +fourth (feeding on
      trees, in air, out of forests, on animals) ecological groups of birds, as well as
      between the first+second and third+fourth groups.

PMID- 1435580
TI  - [The age-related structure of an Ixodes ricinus population studied by using a
      rapid anatomical method].
AB  - A rapid anatomic method for the assessment of the physiologic age of ticks and
      their virtual age was used in studies of the age structure of a natural
      population of I. ricinus in the Moscow region. The anatomic method was found
      quite fit for the purpose. The findings evidence that the age structure of I.
      ricinus (active imago) population is heterogeneous with variously directed
      seasonal fluctuations. In spring the structure is the youngest (up to 60% of
      imagoes are in the second age, 8 months) and in the fall the females are mainly
      old, just starting to get younger (up to 90% are in the third and fourth ages,
      that is, aged a year). The structure is liable to changes with seasons and years.
      Geographic differences in the age structures were revealed: in the fall the
      Moscow region population is generally older than that of the St. Petersburg
      region. The anatomic method widens the potentialities of studying the age
      structure of the populations of tick-borne encephalitis vectors.

PMID- 1435581
TI  - [The sensitivity of the tick Ornithodoros papillipes Bir. to Icon].
AB  - Laboratory trials have demonstrated a high and stable acaricidal activity of
      aikon towards O. papillipes ticks. The minimal dose (on filter paper) of aikon
      providing a 100% death of the ticks at all developmental phases, effective for at
      least 9-12 months, was 30 mg/m2. In exposure to this dose the ticks died within 1
      7 days; if impregnated filter paper was stored for a long time, within 15-30
      days. The lower the dose was, the slower the effect and lesser the total death
      rate of the ticks were.

PMID- 1435582
TI  - [Blastocystis infection and AIDS].

PMID- 1435583
TI  - [The characteristics of cryptosporidiosis prevalence in Nizhni Novgorod
      Province].
AB  - A total of 4070 patients with acute intestinal diseases were tested for
      cryptosporidiosis in 1989, 1806 of these without diarrhea (controls), 286 of them
      working at slaughter houses, milk-packing plants and dairy plants, 192 subjects
      with a history of contacts with cryptosporidiosis patients in the focus of the
      disease, and 7 animals. Cryptosporidiosis was responsible for 3.2% of acute
      intestinal conditions in children; cryptosporidia oocysts were not detected in
      adults or healthy subjects. The high risk group invasion has made up 2.7%. Two
      cases of the invasion were detected among subjects with a history of contacts
      with cryptosporidiosis patients, this making up 1.04%, none of them presenting
      with any clinical symptoms of the invasion.

PMID- 1435584
TI  - [The microstructure of trematodes studied by electron microscopy].
AB  - The main tendencies in the studies into the ultrastructure of trematodes
      (including species of medical importance) using scanning and transmission
      electron microscopy are considered. Attention was paid to disproportions in the
      studies into the different developmental stages of trematodes: maritae are better
      studied than parthenogenetic and larval stages and especially eggs and miracidia.
      During the last years the number of studies using the complex of histochemical,
      radioisotope and electron microscopic methods is increasing, among them the
      investigations on the changes caused by modern anthelmintic agents in the
      tegument and viscera of trematodes. These are mainly the trematodes of
      Schistosomatidae, Echinostomatidae, Fasciolidae and Paragonimidae families that
      were studied by electron microscopy, and the studies on Opisthorchidae are very
      scarce.

PMID- 1435585
TI  - [The optimization of a method for determining the insecticidal activity of
      bacterial preparations vis-a-vis mosquito larvae].

PMID- 1435586
TI  - [The efficacy of a new insecticide ethofenprox (Trebon) for controlling different
      types of insects].
AB  - The insecticidal action of the new compound ethofenprox (trebon) in the form of
      10 and 30% flow concentrate against house flies, cockroaches, bed bugs, rat
      fleas, mosquito imagines and larvae of Aedes and Culex genera was studied in the
      laboratory and in the field. The effective doses and the methods of spraying were
      established. 10% flow trebon is allowed by the USSR Ministry of Health to be
      useful in medical disinfection.

PMID- 1435587
TI  - [The dynamics of enterobiasis infection in children's collectives].

PMID- 1435588
TI  - [A negative result in infecting piglets with Enterobius vermicularis against a
      background of glucocorticoids].

PMID- 1435589
TI  - [F. Efremov--a Bukhara slave and traveler of the 18th century--author of a
      helminthological treatise on dracunculosis].

PMID- 1435590
TI  - [Clonorchiasis in the People's Republic of Vietnam. 2. The clinico
      parasitological examination of a focus and a trial of prazinquantel treatment].
AB  - Examinations of 1599 residents of a polyinvasion focus at a seaside province Ha
      Nam Nin, Vietnam, have revealed clonorchiasis in approximately 13.9% of the
      examinees; in subjects aged over 30 this value was 29.3%. Factors conducive to a
      lower incidence of clonorchiasis were detected, among them a moderate intensity
      of the invasion: the mean arithmetic was 1419 +/- 306 eggs/g, the mean geometric
      673 egg/g, as shown by the Kato-Kats' technique. Analysis of five therapeutic
      schemes used in clonorchiasis, making use of chloxilin, medamin or praziquantel,
      has demonstrated a low efficacy of all of them. Praziquantel therapy in a daily
      dose of 25 mg/kg for 2 days was found the most effective (52%), being conducive
      to a reduction of the invasion intensity by at least 90%. Such therapy was
      associated with a high incidence of side effects (91.2%), this ruling out a
      higher dosage.

PMID- 1435591
TI  - Backscatter coefficient imaging using a clinical scanner.
AB  - A clinical ultrasound scanner has been integrated with a digital data acquisition
      system to record echo signals for off-line processing of quantitative acoustic
      backscatter images. The method used to determine backscatter coefficients
      accounts for experimental factors related to the beam directivity function, the
      transmitting and receiving electronics, and the attenuation path of the beam.
      After characterization and calibration of the ultrasound scanner according to the
      data processing requirements, the quantitative backscatter coefficient for tissue
      mimicking phantoms are within 14% of a value predicted by scattering theory. On
      five normal volunteers, preliminary in vivo liver images of the acoustic
      backscatter coefficient are obtained. Results from this study are compared to
      previously published in vitro results.

PMID- 1435592
TI  - Image feature analysis and computer-aided diagnosis in digital radiography:
      automated detection of pneumothorax in chest images.
AB  - In order to aid radiologists in the diagnosis of pneumothorax from chest
      radiographs, an automated method for detection of subtle pneumothorax is being
      developed. The computerized method is based on the detection of a fine curved
      line pattern, which is a unique feature of radiographic findings of pneumothorax.
      Initially, regions of interest (ROIs) are determined in each upper lung area,
      where subtle pneumothoraces commonly appear. The pneumothorax pattern is enhanced
      by the selection of edge gradients within a limited range of orientations. Rib
      edges included in this edge-enhanced image are removed, based on the locations of
      posterior ribs that are determined separately. A subtle curved line due to
      pneumothorax is then detected by means of the Hough transform. The detected
      pneumothorax pattern is marked on the chest image displayed on a CRT monitor.
      With the present computer method applied to 50 chest images (28 normals and 22
      abnormals with pneumothorax), we were able to detect 77% of pneumothoraces, with
      0.44 false-positives per image.

PMID- 1435593
TI  - Highly stable solid-state x-ray detector array.
AB  - A detailed analysis of the effects of temperature changes, over time and between
      array elements, on the generation of circular artifacts in images produced by x
      ray computed tomography was reported. We give formulas for calculating--according
      to the x-ray energy, detector sensitivity, and observed image quality (contrast
      and spatial resolution)--the maximum offset temperature coefficient and maximum
      gain temperature coefficient that will allow circular-artifact-free imaging. A
      temperature-controlled and insulated solid-state x-ray detector array, consisting
      of Gd2O2S:Pr,Ce,F ceramic scintillators coupled to crystal Si pin-photodiodes and
      designed to meet the requirements for these coefficients, produced high
      resolution artifacts-free CT images of a phantom head.

PMID- 1435594
TI  - Contrast-detail curves for liver CT.
AB  - Contrast-detail curves were constructed for liver computed tomographic (CT)
      images using an objective method. Stimuli were created by superimposing disks at
      specified locations on sets of 92 normal liver CT images. Bright and dark disks
      of 9 sizes and 36 possible image contrasts were used. Sets of 92 stimuli were
      rendered on film at five window widths (64, 128, 256, 512, and 1024 HU). The
      contrast-detail (CD) curve flattened substantially for disks larger than 7-mm
      diameter, and its slope (on a log-log plot) was less than predicted from signal
      detection theory. Manipulation of display window manipulation had little impact
      on this disks' visibility. The results indicate that human observers have
      difficulty visualizing large, low-contrast details on liver CT scans, and suggest
      that narrowing the display window will have little effect on this limitation.

PMID- 1435595
TI  - Application of the EM algorithm to radiographic images.
AB  - The expectation maximization (EM) algorithm has received considerable attention
      in the area of positron emitted tomography (PET) as a restoration and
      reconstruction technique. In this paper, the restoration capabilities of the EM
      algorithm when applied to radiographic images is investigated. This application
      does not involve reconstruction. The performance of the EM algorithm is
      quantitatively evaluated using a "perceived" signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as the
      image quality metric. This perceived SNR is based on statistical decision theory
      and includes both the observer's visual response function and a noise component
      internal to the eye-brain system. For a variety of processing parameters, the
      relative SNR (ratio of the processed SNR to the original SNR) is calculated and
      used as a metric to compare quantitatively the effects of the EM algorithm with
      two other image enhancement techniques: global contrast enhancement (windowing)
      and unsharp mask filtering. The results suggest that the EM algorithm's
      performance is superior when compared to unsharp mask filtering and global
      contrast enhancement for radiographic images which contain objects smaller than 4
      mm.

PMID- 1435596
TI  - Region of interest fluoroscopy.
AB  - In some medical imaging applications, it is necessary to visualize only the
      center of the field of view with optimal quality. For example, often in
      interventional radiographic procedures only the region directly adjacent to the
      catheter tip must be well seen. A new imaging approach which reduces the number
      of photons exposing the patient outside a region of interest (ROI), while
      allowing the photon fluence to be maintained or increased in the ROI, may make
      more optimal use of the total integral radiation dose to the patient as well as
      enable increased contrast and reduced artifacts in the ROI. A demonstration is
      given with an angiographic phantom, for an ROI which is less than 10% of the
      total field of view and where the periphery receives 6% of the ROI exposure.
      Contrast is improved about 30% in the ROI, and yet the images are adequate in the
      periphery for visualizing high contrast reference features while there is a
      reduction in total integral patient dose. Details of the technique are discussed
      along with requirements for clinical implementation.

PMID- 1435597
TI  - Some noise properties of 2DFT MR images from asymmetrically sampled data.
AB  - This report describes noise statistics in 2DFT MR images, expanding the earlier
      work of Henkelman and others to include variably asymmetric sampling and
      conjugate synthesis reconstruction. The effects of low-order polynomial and
      Fourier phase correction used with conjugate synthesis are also explicitly
      considered. This analysis shows that complex images obtained by conjugate
      synthesis have an elliptical noise distribution, with the smaller axis
      corresponding to the imaginary image channel. Derivations and simulations predict
      a ratio of mean to standard deviation in the background of magnitude images
      varying from the known value of square root of pi/(4 - pi) (approximately 1.91)
      for full symmetry to square root of 2/(pi - 2) (approximately 1.32) at fully
      asymmetric or half-echo sampling; these predictions are validated over a range of
      asymmetry by experimental measurements. These results are important for
      predicting and interpreting image noise when using asymmetric sampling.

PMID- 1435598
TI  - Mammography screen-film selection: individual facility testing technique.
AB  - Variations in tube output, film processing, and radiologist's preferences affect
      the screen-film combination that is appropriate for any particular mammographic
      facility. A technique to test a variety of screen-film combinations for screening
      mammography is described. Films are selected for testing because of their
      densitometric characteristics. Dose and clinical reliability are established with
      phantoms before the screen-film combinations are used to image consecutive
      patients having bilateral examinations. The mammograms selected for evaluation
      are those with similar optical density ranges, and which also may be compared to
      available previous mammograms or which have unusual mammographic findings. All
      radiologists reading mammograms at a facility independently score the selected
      cases. Scores of "unacceptable," "acceptable," or "outstanding" are assigned to
      four basic imaging characteristics: sharpness, contrast, visibility of skin line,
      and noise. Interobserver variations by this method require normalization, unlike
      ROC analysis which is not applicable for this data because of the absence of
      proved pathologic diagnoses. The testing of 5 films and two screens using 42
      patient examinations required 2 h of time from each radiologist. It took 7 h of
      the physicist's time to pretest the 5 films, select the 42 acceptable
      examinations for testing by the radiologists, and summarize the data.

PMID- 1435599
TI  - Analysis of contributing factors to the occurrence of off-focus radiation (OFR).
AB  - Off-focus radiation (OFR) has previously been described by many investigators [R.
      Thoraeus, Acta Radiologica 18, 753 (1937); L. Mallet and R. Maurin, Radiology 48,
      628-632 (1947); J. F. Timmer, Medicamundi 19(2), 52-54 (1974); G. U. Rao, Appl.
      Radiol. 3(3), 45-49 (1974); R. Birch, Br. J. Radiol. 49, 951-955 (1976); W. W.
      Roeck, AAPM Symposium, 217-247 (1991)]. Off-focus radiation is frequently
      manifested on radiographs by the appearance of faint images of anatomical
      structures outside the collimated field of interest, i.e., soft tissues, ear
      lobes and hair, which we will refer to as "penumbral images." The observable
      small detail resolution within these penumbral images led to the assumption that
      minute sources of increased radiation intensity (secondary microfocal spots) must
      be present outside the area of the primary focal spot. The existence of these
      multiple secondary microfocal spots has been established and their locations
      within the area of the anode surface from which the general OFR originates was
      identified. The number, size, and distribution of the secondary focal spots vary
      over time and their magnitudes vary widely. The source of the well-focused
      electron beams creating the spots is attributed to the cold cathode emission
      principle.

PMID- 1435600
TI  - Performance characteristics of transmission imaging using a uniform sheet source
      with parallel-hole collimation.
AB  - Transmission imaging is receiving increasing attention in SPECT due to the need
      to compensate for nonuniform attenuation in cardiac-chest SPECT. The quality of a
      transmission image has an important effect on the measured attenuation
      distribution. To improve image quality, knowledge of the performance
      characteristics of a transmission imaging system is essential. The
      characteristics, spatial resolution, detection efficiency, photon flux, and
      exposure to the object, of a transmission imaging system consisting of a gamma
      camera and a uniform sheet source have been studied. The results demonstrate that
      spatial resolution of a transmission imaging system can be improved by use of a
      high-resolution source collimator at the price of a moderate decrease in
      detection efficiency, in comparison to the uncollimated case. Also, the source
      collimator significantly reduces the photon flux and exposure to the object. This
      investigation suggests that a high-resolution collimator be used with an intense
      sheet source to improve spatial resolution and reduce statistical noise with low
      exposure to the patient. This research further suggests that the amount of source
      activity is determined by the requirement of image quality, detection geometry,
      and allowed absorbed dose to the patient.

PMID- 1435601
TI  - Comparisons of sectioned micro-TLD dose measurements with predicted dose from
      131I-labeled antibody.
AB  - The dose distribution from radioimmunotherapy is very heterogeneous because of
      variability in antigen expression, antibody penetration, and tumor architecture.
      Many models of dose distribution have been constructed but it has been very
      difficult to confirm these predictions with actual measured doses. The purpose of
      this study was to determine what degree of resolution could be obtained using
      mini-thermoluminescent dosimeter(s) (TLD) in a micrometastasis model. TLDs were
      inserted into 1-mm-diam multicell tumor spheroids that had been treated with 131I
      labeled antibody. The spheroids were then sectioned at 30-microns intervals and
      the TLD sections (measuring 0.14 x 0.1 x 0.03 mm) were removed and read.
      Calibration of the TLDs was done with whole TLDs using external beam radiation
      and an 131I-containing gel, and with TLD sections using external beam radiation.
      Predicted doses were determined by measuring the activity in individual spheroids
      and the time the TLDs were in the spheroids and incorporating these numbers into
      a model that assumed either surface binding of 131I or some degree of
      penetration. There was a correlation between the measured TLD dose and the
      predicted absorbed dose when comparing the low- to high-dose regions. However,
      there was considerable variation within any particular dose range, probably due
      to heterogeneity in TLD grain size.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1435602
TI  - A technical analysis of an intraoperative radiation detection probe.
AB  - A technical evaluation was made of a commercial intraoperative radiation probe.
      This device utilizes a CsI (T1) scintillation detector and light pipe arrangement
      to count gamma radiation in vivo. After determining the optimal window and
      threshold setting, additional evaluations included linearity, distance response
      function, detector dead time, counter reproducibility, detector sensitivity,
      angular resolution, and energy resolution. Detector dead time (21.2 microseconds)
      was found to be characteristic of a nonparalysable system. Activity response for
      each radionuclide was linear (R = 0.99) both with and without collimation. Energy
      resolution, 25% at 210 keV, was not sufficient to separate the two photons (172
      and 247 keV) emitted by 111In. Detector sensitivity was 1136 and 626 counts per s
      per microcurie of 111In and 99mTc, respectively. The mean effective distance from
      the face of the uncollimated probe to the crystal was determined to be 2.03 cm in
      air.

PMID- 1435603
TI  - Acronyms in bone densitometry.

PMID- 1435604
TI  - The advantages of absorbed-dose calibration factors.
AB  - A formalism for clinical external beam dosimetry based on use of ion chamber
      absorbed-dose calibration factors is outlined in the context and notation of the
      AAPM TG-21 protocol. It is shown that basing clinical dosimetry on absorbed-dose
      calibration factors ND leads to considerable simplification and reduced
      uncertainty in dose measurement. In keeping with a protocol which is used in
      Germany, a quantity kQ is defined which relates an absorbed-dose calibration
      factor in a beam of quality Q0 to that in a beam of quality Q. For 38 cylindrical
      ion chambers, two sets of values are presented for ND/NX and Ngas/ND and for kQ
      for photon beams with beam quality specified by the TPR20(10) ratio. One set is
      based on TG-21's protocol to allow the new formalism to be used while maintaining
      equivalence to the TG-21 protocol. To demonstrate the magnitude of the overall
      error in the TG-21 protocol, the other set uses corrected versions of the TG-21
      equations and the more consistent physical data of the IAEA Code of Practice.
      Comparisons are made to procedures based on air-kerma or exposure calibration
      factors and it is shown that accuracy and simplicity are gained by avoiding the
      determination of Ngas from NX. It is also shown that the kQ approach simplifies
      the use of plastic phantoms in photon beams since kQ values change by less than
      0.6% compared to those in water although an overall correction factor of 0.973 is
      needed to go from absorbed dose in water calibration factors to those in PMMA or
      polystyrene. Values of kQ calculated using the IAEA Code of Practice are
      presented but are shown to be anomalous because of the way the effective point of
      measurement changes for 60Co beams. In photon beams the major difference between
      the IAEA Code of Practice and the corrected AAPM TG-21 protocol is shown to be
      the Prepl correction factor. Calculated kQ curves and three parameter equations
      for them are presented for each wall material and are shown to represent
      accurately the kQ curve for all ion chambers in this study with a wall of that
      specified material and a thickness less than 0.25 g/cm2. Values of kQ can be
      measured using the primary standards for absorbed dose in photon beams.

PMID- 1435605
TI  - Electron dose calculation using multiple-scattering theory: evaluation of a new
      model for inhomogeneities.
AB  - In this article, the fifth in a series on the calculation of electron dose using
      multiple-scattering theory, the predictions of a new model for dealing with
      localized inhomogeneities will be examined (Med. Phys. 18, 123-132, 1991). That
      model is in the form of a perturbation series, and for a thick half-slab
      configuration explicit formulas are worked out for the dose directly deposited by
      the primary electrons, for three reasonable cutoffs of the series. The
      predictions of this model with EGS4 Monte Carlo calculations for the half-slab
      configuration are compared, and they are found to be quite accurate in the region
      under the edge of the half-slab. On the other hand, the "Hogstrom algorithm,"
      which is currently the most advanced method in routine clinical use, is found to
      give poor accuracy for this configuration.

PMID- 1435606
TI  - Clinical dosimetry for implementation of a multileaf collimator.
AB  - In order to initiate the use of a multileaf collimator (MLC) in the clinic, a set
      of technical procedures needs to be available sufficient to create MLC leaf
      settings and to deliver an accurate dose of radiation through the MLC-shaped
      field. Dosimetry data for clinical use of the MLC were measured. Dosimetric
      characteristics included central axis percent depth dose, output factors, and
      penumbra. In this paper, it has been concluded that a dose control monitor unit
      calculation procedure that has been applied to the use of conventional secondary
      field-shaping blocks can be applied to the multileaf collimator dosimetry. The
      multileaf collimator penumbra (20% to 80%) is only slightly wider (1-3 mm) than
      the penumbra of the conventional collimator jaws. Beam's-eye-view comparisons
      made between the isodose curves in fields shaped by conventional Cerrobend blocks
      and isodose curves in fields shaped by the multileaf collimator demonstrated that
      the 50% isodose line at 10-cm depth exhibited the discrete steps of the multileaf
      collimator leaves, but that the 90% and 10% isodose curves of the multileaf were
      close to those shaped by Cerrobend blocks.

PMID- 1435607
TI  - Skin dose measurements for head and neck radiotherapy.
AB  - The use of immobilization plastic masks in head and neck radiotherapy can
      partially eliminate skin benefits derived from the utilization of megavoltage
      photon beams. Filters and blocks between the patient and the accelerator can
      further increase the skin dose value. In this study, the increase in surface dose
      due to 2 and 3.2 mm of plastic material utilized for patient immobilization was
      measured. Then, the effect of blocking trays, wedges, and blocks on skin dose in
      typical conditions for head and neck irradiation was evaluated. The measurements
      were obtained with a NE2534 chamber (Markus type) on a perspex phantom for 6 MeV
      x-rays from an accelerator.

PMID- 1435608
TI  - Missing tissue compensators: evaluation and optimization of a commercial system.
AB  - A commercial system for producing retracted compensators has been adapted to suit
      local needs, and is evaluated here. It comprises a magnetic field surface
      digitizer and computer-driven milling machine. Improvements in dose
      distributions, resulting in standard deviations of the mean dose between 2% and
      3%, have been achieved for treatment fields in wax phantoms simulating the head
      and neck regions. Optimization of compensator shape to allow for changes in the
      amount of scattered radiation has resulted in a further improvement in dose
      uniformity, particularly near the field borders; for these compensators the
      standard deviation was as low as 1.6%. The system using the basic algorithm has
      been in clinical use since July.

PMID- 1435609
TI  - Treatment planning for asymmetric jaws on a commercial TP system.
AB  - In this work, the accuracy of the asymmetric jaws planning feature in a
      commercial treatment planning (TP) system is assessed. In the latest version of
      this software, the off-axis beam quality variation is handled by a function
      g(d,r), which is derived from measured horizontal beam profiles at four different
      depths. The calculated and measured isodoses for a 6-MV linear accelerator with
      asymmetric jaws agree to +/- 0.5% along the central axis and to within 2 mm at
      the beam edge. Formulas for treatment time calculations using the output data
      reported by the computer program are described, as well as formulas for manual
      calculations based on pregenerated data tables. Doses calculated based on these
      formulas are compared to measurement and the accuracy is +/- 1% and +/- 2% for
      the computer and manual calculations, respectively. It is concluded that this
      version of the treatment planning system as well as the treatment time
      calculation formulas can be used adequately for asymmetric jaw computerized and
      manual treatment planning.

PMID- 1435610
TI  - Gadolinium neutron capture therapy for brain tumors: a computer study.
AB  - A Monte Carlo computer study of the total dose distribution from neutrons and
      prompt gamma emissions (but excluding the contribution from conversion and Auger
      electrons) for gadolinium neutron capture therapy of brain tumors has been
      carried out in order to test the theoretic feasibility of this modality using
      commercially available magnetic resonance contrast media. The three-dimensional
      dose distribution calculations were performed in a spherical head phantom with a
      spherical tumor at the center. Potentially achievable gadolinium concentrations
      of 150 micrograms/g of tissue in tumor and 3 micrograms/g in normal tissue were
      assumed with enrichment to 79.9% gadolinium-157, as supplied by Oak Ridge
      National Laboratory. Irradiation was assumed to be with a 2-keV monoenergetic
      cylindrical epithermal neutron beam having a radius of 4 cm. The three
      dimensional thermal neutron fluence resulting from the 2-keV beam propagation
      through the tissue was modeled. For a single neutron beam, the maximum dose is
      delivered within the tumor but the dose is very inhomogeneous across the tumor
      volume due to rapid decrease of thermal neutron fluence with depth. Two parallel
      opposed neutron beams deliver to the interface of normal and malignant tissue 70%
      80% of the maximum dose received at the center of the tumor. To deliver an
      average tumor dose of 500 cGy in 10 min would require a 2-keV source neutrons
      number of 8.0 x 10(11) per s within the geometry of the beam.

PMID- 1435611
TI  - Neutron fluence and kerma spectra of a p(66)/Be(40) clinical source.
AB  - High-resolution neutron fluence spectra have been measured in the National
      Accelerator Centre's p(66)/Be(40) neutron therapy beam by the pulsed-beam time-of
      flight method. ICRU muscle kerma spectra have been derived from the fluence
      spectra. Spectral changes resulting from different irradiation conditions have
      been quantified in terms of the average neutron energy and the fractional low
      energy (< 16 MeV) contribution. The changes observed with different thicknesses
      of polyethylene filtration are consistent with changes in quality parameters
      determined in biological and microdosimetric experiments. The dosimetry
      parameters (KtissueA150) N and (Wgas) N calculated for the measured spectra agree
      with the values recommended in the neutron dosimetry protocol. The shapes of the
      present fluence spectra differ from previous measurements of p(> 40)/Be spectra.
      In particular, they differ significantly from the spectrum measured by recoil
      techniques in an identical neutron therapy unit at the Clatterbridge Hospital,
      UK. The reasons for the difference are not known.

PMID- 1435612
TI  - Evaluation of the buildup effect of an 192Ir high dose-rate brachytherapy source.
AB  - The buildup effect of the 192Ir radioactive source employed as a gamma emitter of
      the Selectron high dose-rate (HDR) afterloader was evaluated by studying the
      ratio of exposure in water to exposure in air as a function of distance. In 1968,
      Meisberger et al. [Radiology 90, 953-957 (1968)] calculated a third-order
      polynomial fit to a selected average between measured and calculated values. The
      objective of this investigation, however, is to evaluate the factor for the 192Ir
      source configuration used in the HDR system, which was different from the source
      design used by Meisberger et al. This paper presents the measured ratio using an
      ionization chamber and the calculated ratio using a Monte Carlo simulation code.
      The experimental and theoretical results show only minor disagreement with the
      data of Meisberger et al. However, the results show significant disagreement when
      they are compared to the model developed by van Kleffens and Star [Int. J.
      Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 5 557-563 (1979)], which may indicate the need to
      reevaluate the algorithm presently employed in HDR treatment planning system. The
      comparison with other published data will be discussed.

PMID- 1435613
TI  - Dose distributions produced by shielded applicators using 241Am for intracavitary
      irradiation of tumors in the vagina.
AB  - Dosimetric characteristics of shielded vaginal applicators containing
      encapsulated 241Am sources are investigated in this work. Encapsulated 241Am
      sources emit primarily 60-keV photons which are more effectively shielded by thin
      layers of high atomic number materials than the 662-keV photons from 137Cs
      sources. With 241Am, it is possible to achieve almost unidirectional irradiation
      of localized vaginal tumors. The drastic decrease in irradiation volume on the
      contralateral side (uninvolved with tumor) is observed to decrease dose by up to
      20%, even in the forward direction (unshielded side toward the tumor) of the
      applicator. A possible explanation for the observed effects of shields in both
      the forward and backward directions is the reduction of scattered photon fluence
      due to absorption of photons in the lead shield via photoelectric effect. Current
      theoretical models do not include this perturbation effect caused by shields on
      brachytherapy applicators.

PMID- 1435614
TI  - Two-radiograph reconstruction using six geometrical solution sets and least
      squares method.
AB  - When two radiographic projections are available for reconstruction, it was found
      that six different combinations of equations could be used to obtain the
      geometrical solutions for the position of any point. No errors in the image
      coordinates read from the radiographs resulted in identical solutions for the six
      equations. Inaccuracies or errors present in the image coordinates generated
      differences among the six solutions. In this case, a least-squares method could
      be used to determine the optimum position. The utility of such a least-squares
      optimizing approach is presented in the context of a clinical example.

PMID- 1435615
TI  - Thermal and scatter effects on the radiation sensitivity of well chambers used
      for high dose rate Ir-192 calibrations.
AB  - High dose rate (HDR) iridium sources must be calibrated regularly because of the
      short half-life of Ir-192. High dose rate sources can now be calibrated using a
      new well-type chamber that allows easy, reproducible source calibrations. The
      chamber includes a styrofoam insulator that surrounds the source in the well. A
      study of the radiation sensitivity of the well chamber exposed to an HDR Ir-192
      source at two different activities (300 and 230 GBq) revealed that the
      sensitivity of the chamber varies by as much as 1.1% as the chamber is moved
      toward a scattering surface. Second, with the styrofoam insulator removed, the
      air temperature within the ion collecting volume increased during exposure,
      causing a gradual decrease in chamber sensitivity of 0.15% in 30 min. This
      temperature increase was caused by heat transfer from radiation emitted by the Ir
      192 source, and diminished as the source decayed. However, with the styrofoam
      insulator around the central aluminum tube in the well, the source cannot heat
      the collecting volume and thus thermal equilibrium between the ion collecting
      volume and its environment is maintained throughout an exposure. The radiation
      sensitivity of the commercial well chamber was found to be constant for exposure
      times of 30 min.

PMID- 1435616
TI  - Comments on: "Exact determination of the magnification factor for target lesions
      in a stereotactic frame".

PMID- 1435617
TI  - Green's function solution to the tissue bioheat equation.
AB  - A Green's function solution to the tissue bioheat equation including blood flow
      in cylindrical geometry is obtained. Numerical results for temperature variation
      in the bovine muscle are reported when the tissue is exposed to neodymium-yttrium
      aluminum garnett (Nd:YAG) lasers with Gaussian profile and a comparison with
      recent measurements is made. A strong dependence of the tissue temperature on the
      beam radius and pulse time is found.

PMID- 1435618
TI  - Thermocouples--the Arizona experience with in-house manufactured probes.
AB  - The performance of several different types of multisensor thermocouple probes
      have been tested to determine the feasibility of each type for use in the
      hyperthermia clinic. All of the probes tested were manufactured in-house, and a
      detailed description of the construction process will be presented. The overall
      performance of the probes in terms of robustness, calibration, conduction errors,
      and response time will be described. In particular, this study describes our
      experience with in-house manufactured thermocouples over the past several years.
      The results indicate that when strict quality assurance guidelines are followed,
      in-house manufactured thermocouples perform satisfactorily--thereby providing an
      alternative to purchasing probes and measurement systems from commercial vendors
      if the proper resources are available.

PMID- 1435619
TI  - Heat shock proteins in brain ischemia: role undefined as yet.

PMID- 1435621
TI  - Heat stroke during Hajj (Pilgrimage)--an update.

PMID- 1435620
TI  - Differential effects of metal ions on type A and type B monoamine oxidase
      activities in rat brain and liver mitochondria.
AB  - To investigate the hypothesis that neurotoxic metals can exert their toxicity
      through the direct inhibition of monoamine oxidases (MAOs), the effects of
      several neurotoxic metal ions on type A (MAO-A) and type B (MAO-B) monoamine
      oxidase activities in rat forebrain nonsynaptic mitochondria and rat liver
      mitochondria were studied. At pathophysiological levels (10-100 microM), Cu2+ and
      Cd2+ are good inhibitors of brain mitochondrial MAO-A and, to a lesser extent,
      liver mitochondrial MAO-A. The inhibition of MAO-B activities in brain and liver
      mitochondria by Cu2+ and Cd2+ is only detected at the higher end of the
      concentration range (i.e., 50-100 microM). At the pathophysiological level of 0.5
      mM, Al3+ only inhibits brain mitochondrial MAO-A but at the higher level of 2.5
      mM, it inhibits both forms of MAO in brain as well as liver mitochondria. Even at
      toxic levels (e.g., 5 mM), neither Mn2+ nor Li+ inhibits the activities of MAO-A
      and MAO-B in brain and liver mitochondria. Our results are consistent with the
      hypothesis that some neurotoxic metals can exert their toxicity through the
      direct inhibition of the isoforms of MAO. Our data also suggest that the
      selective inhibition of brain MAO-A by Cu2+ and Cd2+ may assume
      pathophysiological importance in the neurotoxicity of copper and cadmium.

PMID- 1435622
TI  - Postintubation tracheal damage. A four-year prospective study.
AB  - A 4-year prospective study was undertaken to estimate the incidence and identify
      the pathogenesis of cuff-induced major tracheal damage. All tracheal tubes were
      implantation tested and the cuffs were of the high-volume low-pressure type. The
      cuff pressure was continuously monitored and maintained below 3kPa. During the
      period of the study, 684 patients were intubated. Their average age was 33.6
      years (range 14-296). The average intubation period was 9.3 days (range 1-256).
      At first, the damage was diagnosed clinically, radiologically and then confirmed
      by computed tomography. Three patients (0.4%) developed lesions that were not
      related to excessive (CP). In this study CP control seems to have eliminated a
      known major cause of intubation-associated tracheal injury. To date, there is no
      alternative to tracheal intubation. However the laryngeal mask seems ideal if
      invasion of the trachea is to be avoided altogether.

PMID- 1435623
TI  - The hemodynamic effects of propofol on the isolated rabbit heart.

PMID- 1435624
TI  - Flumazenil reversal of midazolam sedation for dental procedures.
AB  - The efficacy of flumazenil in the reversal of midazolam sedation was assessed in
      double-blind placebo controlled study. Thirty patients undergoing oral surgical
      procedures were included. Flumazenil administration was followed by immediate
      rise of the CNS functions scores to almost the baseline awake values. Compared to
      control group, patients were significantly more oriented and had better
      comprehension up to 15 minutes, more alert for 30 minutes and had better memory
      function up to 60 minutes. Peripheral oxygen saturation was significantly higher
      up to 15 minutes. Flumazenil allows better utilization and higher turn over rate
      where space and nursing resources are scarce.

PMID- 1435625
TI  - Anesthesia for neurosurgical emergencies.

PMID- 1435626
TI  - Pulmonary complications following cardiopulmonary bypass--a retrospective study.

PMID- 1435627
TI  - A reallocation of rights in industries with reproductive health hazards.
AB  - The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in United Automobile Workers versus Johnson
      Controls prohibits hiring policies that exclude fertile women from industries
      posing reproductive health risks to workers and fetuses. Many toxic substances
      that threaten the developing fetus also pose risks to adult male and female
      workers. Exclusionary employment policies are socially undesirable for the
      following reasons: they may lead to worse reproductive outcomes if the indirect
      effects of lower wages and less adequate health insurance in the alternative
      available jobs are considered. Second, the effect of such policies could damage
      the individual woman's overall well-being through its economic impact and her
      potential loss in autonomy. Third, occupational segregation into less hazardous
      but lower-paying jobs reinforces gender stereotypes that are restrictive to
      women. The Supreme Court ruling in the Johnson Controls case reaffirms the
      importance of the Civil Rights Act as both a shield against unfair treatment for
      individual women and a commitment to eradicate sexist attitudes and economic
      inequality throughout society.

PMID- 1435628
TI  - The introduction of cystic fibrosis carrier screening into clinical practice:
      policy considerations.
AB  - Routine prenatal testing for cystic fibrosis (CF) should be halted until the
      detection rate reaches 95 percent. Pilot studies are needed in order to evaluate
      the feasibility of meeting education, consent, and counseling requirements in
      order to facilitate informed reproductive decisions by clients and to minimize
      the potential for confusion, stigmatization, and discrimination. Primary care
      physicians may not be trained adequately to provide appropriate information, and
      prenatal visits may not be an ideal setting. The public's interest in carrier
      testing, prenatal testing, and pregnancy termination is uncertain because CF
      patients have an increasing median survival, variable disability, and normal
      intelligence. Even with a goal that limits testing for the purpose of informed
      reproductive decision making, the considerable cost of screening per case
      prevented must be considered before it becomes public policy. Until these issues
      have been clarified, the duty of primary care physicians is to inform patients of
      the test's availability and to refer interested patients to qualified genetic
      counselors rather than to provide the test themselves.

PMID- 1435629
TI  - A critical analysis of "moderation" advertising sponsored by the beer industry:
      are "responsible drinking" commercials done responsibly?
AB  - This analysis reveals several important advertising trends by the U.S. beer
      industry, whose purported aim has been to promote "moderation" in drinking.
      First, the brewers' prevailing interest in promoting consumption has resulted in
      the use of slogans and messages that ignore the fact that certain people should
      not drink at all, and, in certain circumstances, that no one should drink.
      Second, these ads do not consistently make clear that the acts of drinking and
      driving should remain entirely separate. Third, several aspects of these
      commercials undermine whatever moderation message they may provide, in particular
      the use of themes and images that are similar to the beer companies' regular
      brand promotions. In order to present an acceptable public health message,
      moderation advertising must not be dominated by glamorous presentations of
      alcohol consumption. In short, it must be done more responsibly.

PMID- 1435630
TI  - The use and cost of health services prior to death: a comparison of the Medicare
      only and the Medicare-Medicaid elderly populations.
AB  - Lack of data has limited research into the high cost and ethical dilemmas
      associated with care of the dying elderly. This study is based on a five-year,
      person-specific file of Medicare and Medicaid use and cost data for residents of
      Monroe County, New York, over the age of 65. It examines and compares utilization
      and expenditure patterns of the Medicare-only and the Medicare-Medicaid (dually
      eligible) decedents in 1988. Examination of reimbursement for nonacute services,
      not covered by Medicare, reveals that services for the "older old" may be less
      costly immediately prior to death than for younger decedents. However, when
      expenses in the year prior to the year of death are also counted, services for
      the dually eligible, older old decedents appear to be neither more nor less
      costly than for younger decedents. Distribution of expenses does, however, vary
      considerably with age. The younger decedents, aged 65 to 74, use 55 percent of
      their medical resources on hospital care, paid for by Medicare; the older old use
      26 percent for hospital services and pay 67 percent for supportive care,
      reimbursed by Medicaid. The study suggests that medical intervention associated
      with dying is utilized more often and at a higher cost by younger decedents.

PMID- 1435631
TI  - The organized American medical profession's response to financial conflicts of
      interest: 1890-1992.
AB  - Recent issues of financial conflicts of interest for physicians are illuminated
      by the history of similar issues from 1890 to 1992 and the response of the
      organized medical profession to activities like payment of commissions, or "fee
      splitting," physical ownership of medical facilities, and dispensing of drugs.
      The medical profession tried to confront these and related conflicts early in the
      century, in some cases by adopting ethical codes, but was unable to enforce
      standards of conduct. Since the 1950s, substitutes for fee splitting emerged and
      were tolerated by the profession. Moreover, its stance became weaker as it
      abandoned its earlier clear ethical prohibitions and relied instead on subjective
      standards and, more recently, on disclosure to patients. The medical profession
      still favors voluntary codes of ethics, setting aspirational goals, promoting a
      patient-centered ethos, and relying on the good will of individual doctors-
      tactics for dealing with financial conflicts of interest that this review of
      recent history suggests are inadequate. Instead, public intervention is required
      to address these problems.

PMID- 1435632
TI  - Minnesota physicians and health care reform. After 'health right'.

PMID- 1435633
TI  - Will Minnesota's Health Care Reform Act assure fair access?

PMID- 1435634
TI  - Malpractice plaintiffs' attorneys. The mindset, the methods.

PMID- 1435635
TI  - What happens in a malpractice action?

PMID- 1435636
TI  - Health care reform and medical malpractice in Minnesota.

PMID- 1435637
TI  - Minnesota's Health Care Reform Act. Will the new law founder on antitrust fears?

PMID- 1435638
TI  - Searching for answers. Using computers to find the literature you need for
      patient care.
AB  - The medical journal literature is extensive and contains information that can
      help physicians care for patients. Minnesota physicians are able to tap into a
      variety of resources to help them locate relevant articles. Literature searches
      may be run by librarians in a local hospital library, a larger health sciences
      library, or via various professional associations. Physicians interested in
      conducting their own searches are able to use local systems or dial into national
      ones. Innovations in computers will allow easier and faster access to the medical
      literature in the future.

PMID- 1435639
TI  - Another abuse problem.

PMID- 1435640
TI  - CDC recommends routine HIV testing at some hospitals.

PMID- 1435641
TI  - In the wake of the Health Right Act.

PMID- 1435642
TI  - MMA's vision for 'health right'. Task force prepares strategy.

PMID- 1435643
TI  - The effects of childhood trauma upon adult recovery from injury and illness.
AB  - Many patients with chronic injury or illness suffer from childhood trauma
      syndrome. As a result, they do not take proper care of themselves and are at risk
      of developing long-term disabilities. Physicians who understand the dynamics of
      CTS can help these patients regain control over their own bodies and health. By
      building therapeutic relationships with these patients, physicians can restore
      trust and help them lead happier, healthier lives.

PMID- 1435644
TI  - Emergency medicine. The rural challenge.
AB  - Overcrowding, stress-related job burnout for emergency room physicians and other
      personnel, violence spilling over into the hospital with the surge in gang
      activity--it's the stuff of movies and, increasingly, real life in urban
      emergency departments, even in Minnesota. The trials and tribulations of
      providing emergency medical care in our metropolitan areas are well documented,
      both in professional journals and the conventional media. It's dramatic--lives
      hang in the balance--and it's important to everyone, since those who will one day
      require emergency medical care must entrust their well-being to this system. But
      it's only part of the story.

PMID- 1435645
TI  - A Minnesota perspective on childhood lead poisoning.

PMID- 1435646
TI  - Lead levels among pregnant women in Hennepin County.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine the blood lead levels (Pb-B) of urban
      pregnant women with low incomes and/or living in areas with heavily traveled
      roads, dilapidated housing, and industrial plants. We measured blood lead in
      1,055 pregnant Minneapolis-area women at entry to prenatal care and in one-third
      of the sample during the second half of pregnancy. The mean Pb-B level of the
      first sample (n = 1,055) was 1.83 +/- 1.83 micrograms/dL; of the second sample (n
      = 375), 1.99 +/- 1.92 micrograms/dL. Only one woman had a Pb-B level greater than
      12.0 micrograms/dL, which was the result of occupational exposure. The low lead
      levels found in this study indicate that it is not necessary to routinely screen
      pregnant women for elevated Pb-B levels in our geographic area. Rather, women
      should be screened via an environmental questionnaire to ascertain the risk of
      lead exposure.

PMID- 1435647
TI  - MnCare will likely face legal hurdles.

PMID- 1435648
TI  - The Minnesota Limited Liability Company Act. Physician groups likely to find new
      law beneficial.

PMID- 1435649
TI  - The three A's.

PMID- 1435650
TI  - FDA to collect fees from drug companies.

PMID- 1435651
TI  - Drug, alcohol use down among Minnesota students.

PMID- 1435652
TI  - U.S. children's health declining.

PMID- 1435653
TI  - Childhood lead poisoning. How serious a threat?

PMID- 1435654
TI  - Rural EMS: making it work in Minnesota.

PMID- 1435655
TI  - Mountain sickness.
AB  - This article outlines the fundamental physiology and pathology of high altitude.
      It covers the latest findings from the unique experiment Operation Everest II in
      which eight persons were gradually decompressed to the "summit" of Mt. Everest
      and extensive physiologic studies done. The article contains an examination of
      the various high altitude pathologies, including acute mountain sickness, high
      altitude pulmonary edema, high altitude cerebral edema, and high altitude retinal
      hemorrhage. Information on prevention and current approaches to treatment
      conclude the article.

PMID- 1435656
TI  - Neurologic injury from undersea diving.
AB  - Underwater diving may cause several unique neurologic injuries because of
      exposure to rapid changes in pressure and volume. DCS, which results from
      extended deep dives and too rapid ascent, is a systemic disease that frequently
      causes spinal cord injury but may involve other organs as well. AGE results from
      pulmonary overpressure on ascent, with extravasation of air into the arterial
      system, and causes stroke-like brain injury. Both conditions are of sudden onset,
      progress rapidly, and require urgent attention. Definitive treatment includes
      administration of oxygen and recompression in a chamber. Permanent neurologic
      injury may result.

PMID- 1435657
TI  - Lightning and electrical injuries.
AB  - Lightning and electrical injuries are similar in that both produce immediate
      tissue injury from burn and trauma induced by fall and both can arrest the heart
      and respiratory center. Immediate support of circulation and respiration is life
      saving. Subsequently the nervous system may show signs of injury, and seizures,
      cerebral edema, and muscle and nerve lesions should be handled as the indications
      arise. Prevention of the injury is more effective than any postinjury treatment.
      Outdoors hikers and campers must take shelter to minimize their exposure; indoors
      properly installed equipment and attention to the relation of the equipment user
      to the electrical ground are the key elements in avoiding electrocution.

PMID- 1435658
TI  - Neurologist as expert witness.
AB  - Prevailing liberal rules of evidence permit qualified medical and scientific
      experts to offer opinions designed to help courts decide issues to which their
      expertise relates. The opinions can be based on direct examinations, review of
      data assembled by others and data or inferences of a type relied on by other
      experts in the field. Application of these rules is illustrated through analysis
      of expert testimony in litigation involving a neurologic syndrome allegedly
      caused by an immunization and in a case involving controversy over the extent and
      outcome of major brain injury. Concerns about misuse of expert medical and
      scientific testimony in litigation are addressed. The article closes with a
      consideration of approaches designed to improve the reliability of expert
      testimony.

PMID- 1435659
TI  - The postconcussion syndrome and the sequelae of mild head injury.
AB  - The postconcussion syndrome refers to a large number of symptoms and signs that
      may occur alone or in combination following usually mild head injury. The most
      common complaints are headaches, dizziness, fatigue, irritability, anxiety,
      insomnia, loss of consciousness and memory, and noise sensitivity. Mild head
      injury is a major public health concern because the annual incidence is about 150
      per 100,000 population, accounting for 75% or more of all head injuries. The
      postconcussion syndrome has been recognized for at least the last few hundred
      years and has been the subject of intense controversy for more than 100 years.
      The Hollywood head injury myth has been an important contributor to persisting
      skepticism and might be countered by educational efforts and counter-examples
      from boxing. The organicity of the postconcussion syndrome has now become well
      documented. Abnormalities following mild head injury have been reported in
      neuropathologic, neurophysiologic, neuroimaging, and neuropsychologic studies.
      There are multiple sequelae of mild head injury, including headaches of multiple
      types, cranial nerve symptoms and signs, psychologic and somatic complaints, and
      cognitive impairment. Rare sequelae include hematomas, seizures, transient global
      amnesia, tremor, and dystonia. Neuroimaging and physiologic and psychologic
      testing should be used judiciously based on the problems of the particular
      patient rather than in a cookbook fashion. Prognostic studies clearly
      substantiate the existence of a postconcussion syndrome. Manifestations of the
      postconcussion syndrome are common, with resolution in most patients by 3 to 6
      months after the injury. Persistent symptoms and cognitive deficits are present
      in a distinct minority of patients for additional months or years. Risk factors
      for persisting sequelae include age over 40 years; lower educational,
      intellectual, and socioeconomic level; female gender; alcohol abuse; prior head
      injury; and multiple trauma. Although a small minority are malingerers, frauds,
      or have compensation neurosis, most patients have genuine complaints. Contrary to
      a popular perception, most patients with litigation or compensation claims are
      not cured by a verdict. Treatment is individualized depending on the specific
      complaints of the patient. Although a variety of medication and psychologic
      treatments are currently available, ongoing basic and clinical research of all
      aspects of mild head injury are crucial to provide more efficacious treatment in
      the future.

PMID- 1435660
TI  - Posttraumatic cranial neuropathies.
AB  - Injury to cranial nerves is a common sequela of blunt head trauma. The olfactory,
      facial, and audiovestibular nerves are damaged most often, followed by the optic
      and ocular motor nerves. The trigeminal and lower cranial nerves are rarely
      involved. Chances of recovery are greatest for the facial nerve, intermediate for
      the ocular motor nerves, and least likely for the olfactory, optic, and
      audiovestibular nerves. Treatment is usually symptomatic, although steroids or
      surgical decompression of the optic and facial nerves can lead to dramatic
      results in selected patients.

PMID- 1435661
TI  - Posttraumatic epilepsy.
AB  - The risk for development of posttraumatic epilepsy is generally related to the
      severity of injury or the brain trauma dose. This article discusses mechanisms
      and biomechanical effects of brain injury. Genetic factors, prevention and
      prophylaxis, and the use of antiepileptic drugs are discussed also.

PMID- 1435662
TI  - Cognitive impairment following closed head injury.
AB  - Cognitive impairments are usually the most disabling sequelae of CHI. The
      earliest stage of recovery from moderate to severe closed head injury is a period
      of PTA that typically includes memory loss for events preceding and surrounding
      the injury and memory loss for events occurring since the injury. Following
      resolution of PTA, deficits may be present in a number of cognitive domains.
      Memory and attention/information processing speed and efficiency are typically
      the cognitive domains most severely affected by head injury. Intellectual,
      language, and perceptual skills tend to be relatively preserved. Neurologic
      variables such as pupillary reactivity and worst GCS score are prognostic of
      cognitive impairment at 1 to 2 years postinjury. Following mild head injury,
      impairments of memory and information processing may be apparent within the first
      week of recovery. These deficits usually resolve in 1 to 3 months, although
      chronic complaints persist in a minority of individuals. The long-term cognitive
      effects of CHI are typically more severe for younger children than older
      children. Neuropsychologic assessment provides an objective way to measure the
      presence and severity of cognitive impairment.

PMID- 1435663
TI  - Psychiatric aspects of the neurology of trauma.
AB  - This article discusses posttraumatic stress disorders, their relationship to
      conversion and dissociation responses, and the role of neurologic examination in
      diagnosis. The concentration camp syndrome (CSS) and its organic and
      psychological components, the emotional impact of physical illness, and
      psychiatric syndromes related to brain lesions are presented also.

PMID- 1435664
TI  - Trauma and movement disorders.
AB  - Movement disorders have been linked to trauma; however, these cases are uncommon
      and best substantiated if the movement disorder occurs in close temporal
      association with the trauma, occurs in context of other clinical signs of
      neurologic damage, and if evidence of CNS lesions on neuroimaging scans is
      evident. The pathophysiology of movement disorders relates to basal ganglia
      dysfunction, and traumatic lesions of peripheral nervous system structures or
      cortical regions could theoretically alter basal ganglia function indirectly and
      influence movement disorders. Parkinson's disease, the prototype of movement
      disorders, does not appear to be caused by trauma.

PMID- 1435665
TI  - Reflex sympathetic dystrophy and causalgia.
AB  - Converging lines of research suggest that RSD is a form of reflex neurogenic
      inflammation. Early the sympathetic nervous system appears to have an initiating
      and sustaining role. In later states of the illness, structural changes at the DH
      level seem to correlate with centralization of the process. Neuropeptides and
      EAAs released from thin or unmyelinated nociceptive afferents may produce both
      the inflammation and the suspected central sensitization of DH neurons seen in
      later stages of the disease. Effective treatment will follow a clearer
      understanding of the physiology of each stage of the disease.

PMID- 1435666
TI  - Some observations on whiplash injuries.
AB  - Motor vehicle accidents with a whiplash mechanism of injury are one of the most
      common causes of neck injuries, with an incidence of perhaps 1 million per year
      in the United States. Proper adjustment of head restraints can reduce the
      incidence of neck pain in rear-end collisions by 24%. Persistent neck pain is
      more common in women by a ratio of 70:30. Whiplash injuries usually result in
      neck pain owing to myofascial trauma, which has been documented in both animal
      and human studies. Headaches, reported in 82% of patients acutely, are usually of
      the muscle contraction type, often associated with greater occipital neuralgia
      and less often temporomandibular joint syndrome. Occasionally migraine headaches
      can be precipitated. Dizziness often occurs and can result from vestibular,
      central, and cervical injury. More than one third of patients acutely complain of
      paresthesias, which frequently are caused by trigger points and thoracic outlet
      syndrome and less commonly by cervical radiculopathy. Some studies have indicated
      that a postconcussion syndrome can develop from a whiplash injury. Interscapular
      and low back pain are other frequent complaints. Although most patients recover
      within 3 months after the accident, persistent neck pain and headaches after 2
      years are reported by more than 30% and 10% of patients. Risk factors for a less
      favorable recovery include older age, the presence of interscapular or upper back
      pain, occipital headache, multiple symptoms or paresthesias at presentation,
      reduced range of movement of the cervical spine, the presence of an objective
      neurologic deficit, preexisting degenerative osteoarthritic changes; and the
      upper middle occupational category. There is only a minimal association of a poor
      prognosis with the speed or severity of the collision and the extent of vehicle
      damage. Whiplash injuries result in long-term disability with upward of 6% of
      patients not returning to work after 1 year. Although litigation is very common
      and always raises questions of secondary gain in patients with persistent
      symptoms, most patients are not cured by a verdict. Acute treatment of neck pain
      consists of ice for 24 hours followed by heat applications, pain pills, NSAIDs,
      and muscle relaxants. Trigger point injections can be beneficial in both the
      acute and the persistent phases. Use of cervical collars should probably be kept
      to a minimum during the first 2 to 3 weeks after the injury and then avoided.
      Early passive mobilization and range of motion exercises may accelerate recovery.
      Physical therapy and transcutaneous nerve stimulators may be helpful in reducing
      pain and improving movement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1435667
TI  - Neurology of microgravity and space travel.
AB  - Exposure to microgravity and space travel produce several neurologic changes,
      including SAS, ataxia, postural disturbances, perceptual illusions, neuromuscular
      weakness, and fatigue. Inflight SAS, perceptual illusions, and ocular changes are
      of more importance. After landing, however, ataxia, perceptual illusions,
      neuromuscular weakness, and fatigue play greater roles in astronaut health and
      readaptation to a terrestrial environment. Cardiovascular adjustments to
      microgravity, bone demineralization, and possible decompression sickness and
      excessive radiation exposure contribute further to medical problems of astronauts
      in space. A better understanding of the mechanisms by which microgravity
      adversely affects the nervous system and more effective treatments will provide
      healthier, happier, and longer stays in space on the space station Freedom and
      during the mission to Mars.

PMID- 1435668
TI  - The management of acute diarrhea in children: oral rehydration, maintenance, and
      nutritional therapy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
AB  - Worldwide, diarrhea remains one of the most common illnesses among children. In
      the United States, children < 5 years of age experience > 20 million episodes of
      diarrhea each year, leading to several million doctor visits, 200,000
      hospitalizations, and approximately 400 deaths. Much of this morbidity is due to
      the dehydration associated with acute watery diarrhea. Consequently, the proper
      management of children with acute diarrhea is important for all practitioners as
      well as for parents of small children. The development of oral therapy for the
      rehydration and maintenance of children with dehydrating diarrhea has become the
      worldwide mainstay of national diarrheal control programs. More recently, proper
      nutrition for children with diarrhea is viewed as an important adjunct to
      therapy, whereas antibiotics and other drugs play only a limited role.
      Intravenous therapy remains essential for diarrheal episodes associated with
      severe dehydration. This document reviews the proper management of diarrhea among
      children. Particular attention is given to the use of oral therapy for
      rehydration and maintenance therapy for the dehydrated child and nutritional
      management. In the United States, the improved management of children with
      diarrhea could lead to a noticeable decrease in the number of children who are
      hospitalized or die as a result of diarrheal illness. This report contains
      recommendations prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
      with input from a panel of pediatric and diarrheal management experts, which are
      consistent with recommendations endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

PMID- 1435669
TI  - Incidence of treatment for end-stage renal disease attributed to diabetes
      mellitus--United States, 1980-1989.
AB  - End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is defined as renal insufficiency requiring
      dialysis or kidney transplantation for survival. In the United States, diabetes
      mellitus is the major cause of ESRD. This report summarizes trends during the
      1980s in the incidence of treatment for ESRD attributable to diabetes mellitus
      (ESRD-DM).

PMID- 1435670
TI  - Hospitalizations for diabetic ketoacidosis--Washington State, 1987-1989.
AB  - Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute metabolic complication of diabetes
      mellitus that can be life threatening. Although DKA is often preventable,
      approximately 84,000 DKA-associated hospitalizations and 1800 DKA-associated
      deaths occurred in the United States during 1988. The Washington Department of
      Health (WDH) monitors DKA-associated hospitalizations to assist its chronic
      disease programs in preventing DKA-associated hospitalizations and deaths. This
      report summarizes surveillance of DKA hospitalizations among Washington state
      residents from 1987 through 1989.

PMID- 1435671
TI  - Incidence of treatment for end-stage renal disease attributed to diabetes
      mellitus, by race/ethnicity--Colorado, 1982-1989.
AB  - Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the principal known cause of end-stage renal disease
      (ESRD) (i.e., renal insufficiency requiring kidney dialysis or transplantation
      for survival) and accounts for one third of all incident cases of treated ESRD in
      the United States. Rates for initiating diabetes-related ESRD (ESRD-DM) treatment
      have been characterized for blacks and whites but have not been well
      characterized for Hispanics. To describe ESRD-DM treatment by race/ethnicity in
      Colorado for improved program planning for intervention services, the Colorado
      Diabetes Surveillance Project of the Colorado Department of Health investigated
      differences in the rates of initiating ESRD-DM treatment for non-Hispanic white,
      Hispanic, and black Colorado residents with diabetes. This report describes
      trends in the incidence of ESRD-DM treatment by race/ethnicity among persons with
      diabetes in Colorado from 1982 through 1989.

PMID- 1435672
TI  - The Great American Smokeout--November 19, 1992.

PMID- 1435673
TI  - Cigarette smoking among Southeast Asian immigrants--Washington state, 1989.
AB  - Since 1975, approximately one million Southeast Asians have immigrated to the
      United States. In general, the efforts of local public health agencies to meet
      the needs of these immigrants have focused on identifying and treating acute and
      chronic diseases rather than identifying and modifying health-risk behaviors
      (e.g., smoking) among these immigrants. However, efforts to determine the
      prevalence of smoking suggest that smoking rates are high, especially among men
      of Southeast Asian origin. During 1989, to characterize cigarette smoking among
      Southeast Asian immigrants, the Seattle-King County (Washington) Health
      Department surveyed newly arriving Southeast Asian immigrants who intended to
      reside in the county regarding their health problems and health-risk behaviors.
      This report summarizes survey findings regarding their smoking habits.

PMID- 1435674
TI  - Cigarette smoking among American Indians and Alaskan Natives--Behavioral Risk
      Factor Surveillance System, 1987-1991.
AB  - Cardiovascular disease and cancer are two of the leading causes of premature
      death among American Indians and Alaskan Natives. Although cigarette smoking
      contributes to these diseases, cigarette smoking behaviors among American Indians
      and Alaskan Natives have not been well characterized nationally. To better assess
      the impact of smoking on these populations, CDC analyzed data obtained from the
      Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) during 1987-1991. This report
      summarizes the findings from this study.

PMID- 1435675
TI  - World AIDS day--December 1, 1992.

PMID- 1435676
TI  - HIV instruction and selected HIV-risk behaviors among high school students-
      United States, 1989-1991.
AB  - Efforts to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired
      immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the United States must be targeted toward
      persons of all age groups at risk, including adolescents. Many high school
      students have reported engaging in behaviors that increase their risk for HIV
      infection (1,2). During April and May of 1989, 1990, and 1991, CDC conducted
      three national school-based surveys among high school students that addressed, in
      part, HIV-risk behavior and school-based instruction. This report summarizes
      findings from these surveys.

PMID- 1435677
TI  - AIDS Community Demonstration Projects: implementation of volunteer networks for
      HIV-prevention programs--selected sites, 1991-1992.
AB  - States and cities have effectively used community-level intervention projects to
      reduce cigarette smoking and other risk behaviors associated with chronic disease
      (1-3); similar strategies have been introduced to prevent human immunodeficiency
      virus (HIV) infection in men who have sex with men and who identify themselves as
      homosexual or bisexual (4,5). Many of these projects used community volunteers to
      deliver interventions (2,4,5). An important concern for community-level
      intervention projects that rely on volunteers is the need to address the
      recruitment and retention of these volunteers. CDC AIDS Community Demonstration
      Projects have developed and maintained volunteer networks among hard-to-reach
      populations for HIV prevention. This report summarizes methods used by
      demonstration projects in five cities to develop and maintain volunteer networks
      during 1991-1992.

PMID- 1435678
TI  - HIV infection and AIDS--Georgia, 1991.
AB  - Public health surveillance efforts for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
      in the United States have documented an increasing proportion of cases among
      persons who reside outside the largest metropolitan areas (1,2). These findings,
      coupled with results of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence studies,
      have led to the development of HIV-related prevention and treatment services in
      smaller cities and rural areas. This report presents results of HIV-infection and
      AIDS surveillance in Georgia (1990 population: 6.5 million) for 1991 and compares
      these findings for urban and rural areas.

PMID- 1435679
TI  - Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices update: report of PedvaxHIB lots
      with questionable immunogenicity.

PMID- 1435680
TI  - Trends in years of potential life lost before age 65 among whites and blacks-
      United States, 1979-1989.
AB  - The reduction of preventable deaths among minority populations in the United
      States is a national health objective for the year 2000 (1). One measure used to
      assess progress toward this objective is years of potential life lost before age
      65 (YPLL-65), which measures the impact of deaths occurring in years preceding 65
      years of age and emphasizes the effects of deaths among younger persons (2). This
      report compares trends in YPLL-65 among U.S. whites and blacks from 1979 through
      1989.

PMID- 1435681
TI  - National drunk and drugged driving prevention month--December 1992.

PMID- 1435682
TI  - Factors potentially associated with reductions in alcohol-related traffic
      fatalities--United States, 1990 and 1991.
AB  - Traffic crashes are the single greatest cause of death among persons aged 5-32
      years in the United States (1); almost half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol
      related (1,2). An estimated 40% of persons in the United States may be involved
      in an alcohol-related traffic crash sometime during their lives (1). In 1991, the
      number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities (ARTFs) declined almost 10% when
      compared with 1990 (3), and the total number of deaths during 1991 (19,900) is
      the lowest since more complete alcohol-related fatal crash data became available
      in 1982. This report summarizes data from the National Highway Traffic Safety
      Administration's (NHTSA) Fatal Accident Reporting System on trends in ARTFs in
      the United States from 1982 through 1991 and presents information regarding
      several factors potentially related to the decline in fatalities during 1991.

PMID- 1435683
TI  - Heterosexual transmission of HIV--Puerto Rico, 1981-1991.
AB  - Puerto Rico has the second highest overall rate of acquired immunodeficiency
      syndrome (AIDS) cases among states and territories of the United States and the
      second highest rate of cases among women (1,2). Although heterosexual
      transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among persons reported with
      AIDS has increased throughout the United States--accounting for 8% of all U.S.
      AIDS cases diagnosed in 1991 (2,3)--the proportion of cases attributed to
      heterosexual transmission is highest in Puerto Rico (18%). This report summarizes
      data collected through the Puerto Rico AIDS Surveillance Program to characterize
      AIDS cases associated with heterosexual transmission during 1981-1991.

PMID- 1435684
TI  - Cardiovascular disease control efforts among primary-care physicians--Missouri,
      1990.
AB  - Nearly half (43%) of all deaths in the United States each year are related to
      cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including coronary heart disease and
      cerebrovascular disease (1). CVD is linked to certain risk factors and behaviors,
      including high blood pressure, elevated total serum cholesterol, cigarette
      smoking, and physical inactivity (2). Because approximately 70% of the population
      has at least one contact with a physician each year (3), primary-care physicians
      are central to health promotion and disease-prevention efforts and early
      detection of CVD. In May and August 1990, the Missouri Department of Health (MDH)
      conducted a survey of practicing Missouri physicians to characterize their
      efforts to identify and control CVD risk factors among their patients.

PMID- 1435685
TI  - Quarterly table reporting alcohol involvement in fatal motor-vehicle crashes.

PMID- 1435686
TI  - Abortion surveillance--United States, 1989.
AB  - Since 1980, the number of legal induced abortions reported to CDC has remained
      stable, varying each year by < 5%. In 1989, 1,396,658 abortions were reported--a
      1.9% increase from 1988. The abortion ratio for 1989 was 346 legal induced
      abortions/1,000 live births, and the abortion rate was 24/1,000 women ages 15-44
      years. The abortion ratio was highest for black women and women of other minority
      racial groups and for women < 15 years of age. Overall, women undergoing
      abortions tended to be young, white, and unmarried; to have had no previous live
      births; and to be having the procedure for the first time. Approximately half of
      all abortions were performed before the eighth week of gestation, and 87% were
      before the thirteenth week of gestation. Younger women tended to obtain abortions
      later in pregnancy than older women. This report also includes newly reported
      abortion-related deaths for 1986 and 1987, as well as an update on abortion
      related deaths for the period 1978-1985. Ten deaths in 1986 and six deaths in
      1987 were associated with legal induced abortion. The case-fatality rate in 1986
      was 0.8 abortion-related deaths/100,000 legal induced abortions and 0.4/100,000
      in 1987.

PMID- 1435687
TI  - Influenza surveillance--United States, 1991-92.
AB  - During the 1991-92 influenza season, sustained regional influenza activity began
      to be reported by state and territorial epidemiologists in the United States in
      mid-October 1991. Sustained reporting of widespread influenza activity began in
      early November 1991, 5-10 weeks earlier than in any of the previous nine
      influenza seasons. Influenza caused substantial morbidity among school-age
      children and excess mortality among the elderly. Regional outbreaks of influenza
      ended 2-6 weeks earlier than in the previous nine influenza seasons, based on the
      last sustained state and territorial epidemiologists' reports. Nationally, > 99%
      of isolates were influenza A. Influenza A(H3N2) predominated in all regions of
      the country, but isolation of influenza A(H1N1) increased proportionally as the
      season progressed. Isolation of influenza B (< 1% of total isolates) clustered
      after February. The majority of isolates characterized were antigenically similar
      to components in the 1991-92 influenza vaccine. However, an influenza A(H1N1)
      strain that had undergone antigenic drift was detected in many regions of the
      country; this strain will be included in the 1992-93 influenza vaccine.

PMID- 1435688
TI  - [Innovative elastomeric bio-adhesive (pup-201) synthesized by urethane
      prepolymer].
AB  - Properties of PUP-201 for the application to vital organs were estimated. Basic
      properties of PUP-201 were compared with two kinds of commercial fibrin and
      synthetic adhesives. Its initial and wet adhesive strength was 40 and 150 times
      stronger than those of fibrin adhesives respectively. Its curing time was 50
      seconds, and elongating rate was 150% nearly as same as that of the intestine.
      This adhesive had not antimicrobial activities. The strength of adhesive bonded
      pig skin in shear by tension loading by way of JIS K6850 recorded 2.0-2.7kg/cm2
      five minutes after, and 2.0-2.8kg/cm2 after 24 hours. The results of the same
      test in small intestine defined 0.4-1.0kg/cm2 in sero-sero attachment. There was
      no toxicity on the pig skin. Practical examinations for application to hemostasis
      on the section of dog liver and sealing of the lung section were performed
      successfully. PUP-201 was demonstrated excellently useful material for the
      adhesive, hemostasis and sealant of vital tissue.

PMID- 1435689
TI  - [In vivo effect of interleukin-2 (IL-2) on immunopotentiation in irradiated
      mice].
AB  - This study's purpose was to evaluate the effect of IL-2 on the recovery from
      immunosuppressive state in vivo. Young adult mice (ddY) were rendered
      immunodeficient by whole body irradiation (300 rad). IL-2 (20000 u/head/day) was
      administered intraperitoneally for 5 days after irradiation. In the experiment
      (I) immunological parameters were investigated. In the IL-2-treated mice
      peripheral lymphocytes and neutrophils were increased, but there was no change in
      the T and B lymphocyte ratio. The proliferative responses of spleen cells to
      mitogens were improved in the IL-2-treated mice. A significant expansion of
      macrophages in the intraperitoneal cavity was demonstrated. In the experiment
      (II) irradiated mice were given peritonitis by 1 puncture with a 23 gauge needle
      through their ligated cecum. This peritonitis model was followed for 2 weeks
      after ligation and puncture of the cecum. In the mice with IL-2 pretreatment and
      antibiotic therapy, the survival rate was significantly improved, compared with
      mice that only received antibiotic therapy. Administration of carrageenan and
      anti-T cell monoclonal antibodies significantly decreased the survival rate.
      These results suggested macrophages as well as functional T cells were necessary
      to decrease the mortality rate. In conclusion, IL-2 may have a remarkably
      protective effect against infection in immunodeficient state.

PMID- 1435690
TI  - [Motility and mucosal hemodynamics of the lower esophagus after transabdominal
      esophageal transection for esophageal varices].
AB  - Lower esophageal motility and mucosal hemodynamics were investigated in 20
      patients who underwent transabdominal esophageal transection for esophageal
      varices (ET), to evaluate their association with reflux esophagitis and variceal
      recurrence. In the manometric study with microtransducer catheter, maximum
      swallowing pressure in the lower esophagus of the patients was significantly
      lower than that of the healthy controls (20 cases) (26.1 +/- 20.5mmHg vs. 80.0 +/
      10.0mmHg: p < 0.01), while high pressure zone pressure did not differ between
      the two groups. In comparison between patients with and without esophagitis (E(+)
      and E(-)), maximum swallowing pressure of E(+) was statistically lower than that
      of E(-) (12.4 +/- 18.7mmHg vs. 31.0 +/- 19.1mmHg: p < 0.05). In the hemodynamic
      study by reflectance spectrophotometry, the index of esophageal mucosal blood
      volume (IHb) and the index of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (ISo2) of E(+) and
      E(-) were no different from those in the patients with non-operated esophageal
      varices (10 cases). Although there was no correlation between the recurrence of
      RC-sign and mucosal microcirculation, the patients with larger varices tended to
      have a higher IHb and a patients with F1-varices had significantly lower ISo2
      than the patients without varices. This study indicated that the poor clearance
      ability after ET may lead to reflux esophagitis and the patients with variceal
      recurrence had the congested mucosal microcirculation, compared to those without
      variceal recurrence.

PMID- 1435691
TI  - [Histopathological features of the lymph node metastases in patients with
      thoracic esophageal cancer].
AB  - Histopathological features of the lymph node involvement were studied in 104
      patients with thoracic esophageal cancer who underwent subtotal esophagectomy
      combined with extended radical lymph adenectomy in cervicothoracoabdominal
      region. Metastatic involvement was found in a total number of 503 lymph nodes
      from 73 patients by histologic examination. The mean of long and short diameter
      was found to be less than 5mm in 125 (24.9%) of these 503 nodes. The involved
      area on the section was less than one third in 149 nodes (29.6%), and was
      significantly smaller in mediastinal lymph nodes than those in cervical or
      abdominal ones. Sixty-seven (13.3%) of 503 nodes were partially invaded by
      micrometastasis of 1mm or less in diameter. Micrometastasis also more frequently
      occurred in mediastinal nodes with a statistically significant difference.
      Extranodal proliferation (ENP) of cancer cells was found in 106 nodes (21.1%),
      and extranodal lymphatic and/or blood vessel invasion (ENly, v) was also
      recognized in 60 nodes (11.9%). Micrometastasis and ENP with or without ENly, v
      were found in 24 (32.9%) and 29 (39.7%) of 73 patients with positive lymph node
      metastasis, respectively. Postoperative survival rate in patients with
      micrometastasis and/or ENP with or without ENly, v was inferior to that in
      patients with neither of them.

PMID- 1435692
TI  - [Decision analysis in therapeutic strategies for small bowel obstructions].
AB  - Clinical decision analysis was applied in therapeutic decision-making regarding
      small bowel obstructions. For strangulation obstruction, the three strategies of
      immediate surgery, observation of clinical course, and decision according to
      ultrasonographic findings were analyzed. When mortality rate, morbidity rate, or
      duration of hospital stay was used as the utility value, decision on the basis of
      ultrasonographic findings was selected as the most effective strategy, while the
      strategy of immediate surgery was selected when the rate of intestinal necrosis
      was used as the utility value. For adhesive obstructions, the three strategies of
      immediate surgery, conservative treatment with long tube decompression, and long
      tube decompression with enteroclysis (infusion contrast radiography) were
      analyzed. The strategy of enteroclysis was selected when morbidity rate and
      duration of hospital stay were used as utility values, while immediate surgery
      was selected when recurrence rate of adhesive obstruction was used as the utility
      value. For obstruction caused by intraabdominal recurrent cancer, operative
      treatment and conservative treatment were analyzed. The strategy of surgery was
      selected when rate of obstruction resolved and number of months of survival were
      used as utility values. Clinical decision analysis is valuable in quantitatively
      assessing individual variables affecting therapeutic decision-making.

PMID- 1435693
TI  - [Lymphoid infiltration of colon cancer and clinical significance of the skin
      test].
AB  - It was reported that lymphoid infiltration (LI) of colon cancer tended to be
      found more commonly in patients with colonic cancer in an early stage than in an
      advanced stage. This time, the correlation among LI of colon cancer, cell
      mediated immunity and the cumulative 5-year survival rate was studied in 124
      patients with resected colon cancer. The results were as follows: 1) The
      cumulative 5-year survival rate in patients with positive LI was higher than that
      in the patients with negative LI. 2) There was correlation between the degree of
      LI of the cancer and Su-PS skin reaction. 3) Postoperative cell-mediated immunity
      was reduced in the cases of poor prognosis. Therefore we insist on paying
      attention to immunochemotherapy for 24 months after surgery.

PMID- 1435694
TI  - [Immunohistochemical detection of p53 in colorectal cancer and its relationship
      to prognosis].
AB  - The expression of p53 in colorectal tumors was studied immunohistochemically by
      monoclonal antibody (PAb1801). No nuclear staining was evident in the tumor cells
      of colorectal adenomas. p53 immunoreactivity was found in 59 (61.5%) of 96
      colorectal cancers. There was no significant correlation between the p53
      immunoreactivity and histologic type, tumor size, invasion of bowel wall,
      lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, lymph node metastasis, peritoneal
      dissemination, or liver metastasis. However, the p53 negative tumors showed a
      recurrence rate of 3.3%, while for the p53 positive tumors a recurrence rate of
      20.9%. p53 negative tumors were associated with favorable prognosis, whereas
      those with p53 positive tumors were related to poor prognosis. DNA polymerase
      alpha positive cells rate in p53 positive tumors was significantly higher than in
      p53 negative tumors. The results suggested that p53 immunoreactivity might
      possibly be a useful prognostic marker of colorectal cancers.

PMID- 1435695
TI  - [The effect of hyperthermia against pancreatic cancer cell--various examinations
      including flow cytometric bromodeoxyuridine/DNA analysis].
AB  - We investigated the effect of hyperthermia against pancreatic cancer cell in
      various aspects including of cytokinetics. The hyperthermia above 43 degrees C
      was thought to have strong effect for the studies on surviving cell number and
      morphological change of Capan-2 and RWP-1 cells after heating treatment. The cell
      inoculated to the nude mice subcutaneously after heating treatment at 43 degrees
      C was recognized the tumor forming at 3 weeks later, however, the growth speed
      was slower than that of control to which untreated Capan-2 cells were inoculated.
      As the case of 44 degrees C, the tumor forming was not recognized at all. The
      cytokinetics was measured by flow cytometric bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd)/DNA
      analysis. Up to 43 degrees C in accordance with increase in the heating
      temperature, the accumulation in G2M phase increased, and the amount of BrdUrd
      incorporated 5 phase decreased. At the temperature above 44 degrees C, BrdUrd was
      hardly incorporated into S phase cells and the cell cycle was almost stopped.
      These results suggested the usefulness of hyperthermia and strong effect of
      heating treatment above 44 degrees C against pancreatic cancer cell.

PMID- 1435696
TI  - [Preoperative diagnosis of internal mammary node metastases in patients with
      breast cancer by using ultrasonography].
AB  - US findings of 81 patients with breast cancer were analyzed respectively to
      evaluate the usefulness of US in the preoperative diagnosis of internal mammary
      mode metastases. The internal mammary area (I.M.A.) in which internal mammary
      nodes lie was shown as a hypoechoic stripe in a sagittal scan along the sternum
      and as a triangular or spindle-shaped hypoechoic area in a transverse scan in the
      intercostal space. The US features of each I.M.A. in the first three intercostal
      spaces were divided into three patterns: Pattern-A wad defined as widening of the
      ipsilateral side of the I.M.A. compared with the contralateral side; Pattern-C
      was defined as normal at both sides of the I.M.A. Pathological examination
      confirmed the node metastases in 85.7% of intercostal scans showing Pattern-A and
      in 35% of intercostal scans showing Pattern-B. Only one of 189 intercostal scans
      showing Pattern-C had nodal metastases. The overall accuracy was 88.1% in 243
      intercostal scans and 90.1% in 81 patients. We conclude that US is useful in the
      detection of internal mammary node metastases in patients with breast cancer.

PMID- 1435697
TI  - [Coronary artery bypass surgery in the elderly].
AB  - In recent years it has become apparent that the number of persons 70 years of age
      or older is increasing. Between June, 1980, and December, 1990, 75 patients 70
      years of age and older (range, 70-79 years; mean 73.1) underwent isolated
      coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). During this same interval, 507 patients
      less than 70 years old underwent isolated CABG. Preoperative status in the
      elderly showed a significantly greater prevalence of women, urgent or emergent
      operation, triple vessel disease and diabetes. Operative mortality was higher
      among the elderly compared with the younger patients (p < 0.05). The increased
      frequency of urgent or emergent operation in the elderly was associated with
      postoperative complications. Major complications related CABG in the elderly were
      serious cerebrovascular accidents and low cardiac output syndrome. In order to
      improve the results of CABG in the elderly, it is essential to perform the
      elective operation following careful evaluation of both cardiac function and
      central nervous system.

PMID- 1435698
TI  - [Experimental study of the prostacyclin production of autogeneous vein graft].
AB  - In order to investigate the blood compatibility of autogenous vein graft (AVG),
      changes in prostacyclin (PGI2) production following harvesting and arterial
      implantation were studied experimentally. Basal PGI2 production, which means the
      value obtained without stimulation by arachidonic acid (AA), decreased
      significantly 60 minutes after harvesting. At this time, no morphological changes
      in the endothelial cells were observed. Under stimulation by AA, a significant
      decrease in the PGI2 production of the specimens was seen 120 minutes after
      harvesting. Despite severe morphological changes in endothelial cells, the PGI2
      production of vein grafts was maintained until this time. The AVG in the canine
      abdominal aorta was completely reendothelialized 1 week after implantation, but
      another 2 weeks were needed to restore PGI2 production. It is concluded from
      these results: 1. It is rational to implant an AVG within 60 minutes after
      harvesting from the viewpoints of morphology and PGI2 production of the
      endothelial cells. 2. PGI2 production from sources other than endothelial cells
      is possible and may contribute to the compatibility of the AVG in the early
      period after implantation. 3. AVG in the aorta could restore PGI2 production 3
      weeks after implantation.

PMID- 1435699
TI  - [Oxidized cellulose occlusion of a peripheral bronchial fistula communicating to
      the left subphrenic abscess].
AB  - A 52-year-old man was complicated with a left subphrenic abscess after total
      pancreatectomy and gastrectomy for advanced pancreatic cancer. A left subphrenic
      silicon tube penetrated the diaphragm and the bottom of the left lung as well,
      causing a bronchial fistula with bilateral aspiration pneumonia. Then
      bronchoscopically, the fistula was successfully treated by packing a few pieces
      of oxidized cellulose into the affected bronchus. One month later the patient
      died of sepsis due to multiple liver abscess. On autopsy, the bronchial fistula
      and any active inflammation were not recognized in the left lower lung area.

PMID- 1435700
TI  - [Basic study on intraoperative radiofrequency ablation by needle electrode].

PMID- 1435701
TI  - [Effects of Ca2+ antagonists on the remaining liver after hepatectomy associated
      with ischemia: preliminary report].

PMID- 1435702
TI  - [A probable relevance of desmosome to lymph node metastasis in esophageal
      cancer].

PMID- 1435703
TI  - [The comparison of postoperative multiple organ failure with arterial disease to
      that with gastrointestinal cancer].
AB  - The clinical features of 22 postoperative multiple organ failure (MOF) patients,
      comprised of 8 with arterial disease (A-MOF) and 14 with gastrointestinal cancer
      (G-MOF), were investigated. Differences in the operative time, blood loss, and
      mortality were not significant. The initial organ impaired was the lungs in 78.6%
      of G-MOF patients and the heart or kidneys in all A-MOF patients. Infection
      developed in over 80% of both groups. In many A-MOF patients, the pneumonia or
      septicemia developed secondary to organ failure, while intraabdominal infection
      triggered respiratory failure in many G-MOF patients. Our organisms in infected
      specimens and their antibiotic sensitivities was valuable for the early
      administration of effective antibiotics. Upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding
      was important in the prognosis of both groups and occurred more frequently in A
      MOF than in G-MOF patients. Consumption coagulopathy in A-MOF patients and DIC
      induced by infection in G-MOF patients mainly caused such bleeding. Preoperative
      administration of heparin was effective in improving coagulopathy. Furthermore,
      measurement of intramural pH with tonometer in the stomach and gastric irrigation
      with oxygenated perfluorochemicals were effective in the prediction and
      prevention of gastrointestinal bleeding.

PMID- 1435704
TI  - [Principles of lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer according to depth of wall
      invasion, tumor site and regional lymphatic flow].
AB  - The principles of lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer are discussed based on the
      1010 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy with curative intent
      between 1970 and 1990. In 147 of these patients, regional lymphatic flow was
      examined by injecting activated carbon particles CH40. 1) One hundred and ninety
      patients (19.8%) with cancer invasion confined to the mucosa had lymph node
      metastases limited to the perigastric nodes (n1). 2) Two hundred and five
      patients (20.3%) had cancer invasion to the submucosa. For 99.0% of them the
      lymph node metastases were limited to compartment II (n2). 3) Three hundred and
      twenty-two patients (31.9%), with cancer invasion to the muscle layer or serosa
      and limited to the upper or middle third of the stomach, had lymph node
      metastases in compartment II and No. 12 (n 2 + No. 12). 4) Two hundred and ninety
      three patients (29.0%) with cancer invasion to the muscle layer or serosa and
      limited to lower third of the stomach or to its extension, had lymph nodes
      metastases in compartment III (n3). 5) Consequent to observations on the regional
      lymph flow of the stomach by CH40, we now perform paraaortic lymph node
      dissection, when gastric cancer patients with serosal invasion have metastases
      lymph nodes No. 2, 7, 8a, 9, 11, 12 or No. 14V.

PMID- 1435705
TI  - [Relationship between prolonged life span and changes of serum IAP and albumin
      induced by the therapy of lentinan plus tegafur in inoperable and recurrent
      gastric cancer].
AB  - Relationship between prolonged life span and changes of serum IAP and albumin
      induced by the therapy of lentinan plus tegafur were analysed on 43 cases with
      inoperable and recurrent gastric cancer. Antitumor effect was observed only in
      one case (2%). Other clinical effects such as improvement of performance status
      (PS), appetite or pain were observed in 18 cases (42%). Decrease of serum IAP was
      observed in 25 cases (58%) and increase of albumin was observed in 20 cases
      (47%). The changes of these two factors seemed to be reversely correlated. Among
      30 cases which didn't show decrease of albumin, we found no increase of serum-IAP
      in 22 cases (72%). In the cases which showed decrease of serum IAP from
      abnormally high level (more than 500 mu/ml) and increase of albumin from
      abnormally low level (less than 3.5g/dl), prolonged life span was observed by
      comparison with the other cases. The cases with any clinical effect contained 78%
      of the cases without increase of serum IAP, and 72% of the cases without decrease
      of albumin. These results suggested that life prolongation effect or improvement
      of clinical symptoms by our therapy was closely related to the change of these
      serum factors.

PMID- 1435706
TI  - [Experimental study on catheter-bypass between superior mesenteric and hepatic
      hilar portal veins (SMV-HPV bypass)].
AB  - Hepatic ischemia is a consequence of concomitant resection of the portal vein and
      the hepatic artery when it is necessitated in hepatobiliary or pancreatic
      surgery. We developed an antithrombogenic catheter with a balloon and
      experimentally evaluated the safety of construction of SMV-HPV bypass using this
      catheter to simultaneously prevent intestinal vascular congestion and hepatic
      ischemia. The main portal vein and the hepatic artery were blocked and SMV-HPV
      shunting was made in five dogs (bypass group); the main portal vein and the
      hepatic artery were blocked and the SMV was shunted to the femoral vein in others
      (ischemia group). In the ischemia group, 3 of the 5 dogs died within 5 days, but
      all animals of the bypass group survived for a long period. In the bypass group,
      the changes of adenine nucleotide levels, energy charge ratio, liver function,
      blood coagulation, and fibrinolysis were mild and within physiologic ranges, and
      none of changes of the hepatic tissue were observed histologically. This bypass
      procedure is simple and safe to simultaneously prevent hepatic ischemia and
      intestinal vascular congestion in cases requiring concomitant resection and
      reconstruction of the portal vein and the hepatic artery.

PMID- 1435707
TI  - [Establishment of an experimental model with a high frequency of liver metastasis
      and recurrence from gastric VX2 cancer: histological analysis of the
      developmental process of primary and metastatic cancer lesions].
AB  - An experimental model with a high frequency of liver metastases and recurrence
      was established by the non-resection and resection of gastric cancer lesions
      induced with implanting VX2 cancer cells into the stomach of 35 rabbits. The
      frequency of liver metastases was 0% on Days 7 and 14, 40% on Day 21 and 60% on
      Day 28 in the non-resection group. In the resection group, primary lesions were
      resected on Days 7, 10 and 14, and the metastases were found in all the animals
      14 days after the resection on Day 14, though they did not occur in every animal
      18 and 21 days after the resection on Days 10 and 7. The metastatic lesions were
      found in the peri-lobular area, accompanied by cancer emboli in the interlobular
      veins. Vascular invasion was found in almost all (90%) the primary lesions of
      animals with liver metastases or recurrence. These results suggest that hepatic
      micrometastases occur between 10 and 14 days after implantation, and that
      vascular invasion plays an important role in the formation and extension of liver
      metastases or recurrence. They also suggest that this model is utilized as a
      useful tool for studying many aspects of liver metastases or recurrence in
      gastric cancer.

PMID- 1435708
TI  - [Investigation of lipid peroxidation in regenerating rat liver].
AB  - The purpose of this study was to estimate the effects of lipid peroxidation in
      regenerating rat liver. Partial 70% hepatectomy was performed in rat according to
      Higgings and Anderson. EPC (alpha Toc: Ascorbic acid = 6:4, radical scavenger)
      was injected intravenously (5mg/kg weight) one hour before operation. Lipid
      peroxidation in regenerating liver reached a peak at 24 hours after operation.
      The administration of EPC markedly suppressed the increase of lipid peroxide in
      the plasma and remnant liver and that of GPT after hepatectomy, with subsequent
      good liver regeneration ratio. Moreover, the pretreatment with EPC remarkably
      elevated the activity of thymidine kinase (index of DAN synthesis). The EPC
      administration had not notable effects on the level of plasma ketone body ratio
      in animal but pathologically caused early advent of glycogen granule in the
      remnant liver tissue after partial hepatectomy, which reflected restoration of
      mitochondrial energy level. The results of the present study suggest that
      scavenger may be useful not only for impairment of liver dysfunction but also for
      recovery of mitochondrial energy level and DNA synthesis after liver resection.

PMID- 1435709
TI  - [Experimental study of hepatic inflow occlusion in extrahepatic obstructive
      jaundice--effects on systemic and hepatic hemodynamics and oxygen metabolism].
AB  - The effect of clamping both the hepatic artery and portal vein for 20 min in
      extrahepatic obstructive jaundice on systemic and hepatic hemodynamics and oxygen
      metabolism were studied in dogs, and the following results was obtained. 1) Dogs
      with obstructive jaundice were in a hyperdynamic state before hepatic inflow
      occlusion, showing an increased demand for oxygen in the liver. 2) After
      declamping, cardiac index and systemic oxygen delivery were decreased in normal
      dogs, but a further decrease was found in dogs with jaundice. 3) After
      declamping, hepatic arterial blood flow was increased in normal dogs. Portal
      blood flow was decreased just after declamping, but was soon restored. In dogs
      with jaundice, hepatic arterial blood flow increased to a lesser extent, and
      recovery of portal blood flow was delayed. 4) Hepatic oxygen consumption and
      oxygen extraction ratio were already increased markedly just after declamping in
      normal dogs, whereas the degree of the increase in these parameters was much
      smaller in dogs with jaundice. Thus, hepatic inflow occlusion in extrahepatic
      obstructive jaundice induces evident disorder of hepatic oxygen metabolism, and
      is suggested to be dangerous.

PMID- 1435710
TI  - [A study of phagocytic cell function in aspiration pneumonia induced by
      carrageenan].
AB  - To estimate the changes in phagocytic cell function associated with aspiration
      pneumonia, induced in mice by intra-tracheal injection of carrageenan. In
      inflammatory sites, the dominant increased cell component was polymorphonuclear
      leukocytes (PMNs). Intracellular 2'-7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCFH) oxidation of
      PMNs infiltrated into the lung tissue of the carrageenan-treated mice revealed a
      lower level of activity than that of a control group throughout a 120-hour
      period. The DCFH oxidative activity of alveolar macrophages (AMs) was lower in
      the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue of the carrageenan-treated mice
      than the control group. A decrease in the DCFH oxidative activity of AMs was
      observed after treatment with KCN or deferoxamine in the control group. In
      contrast, activity in the carrageenan-treated group was not decreased by KCN.
      Moreover, increased expression of Ia and F4/80 antigens was detected in the AMs
      of the carrageenan-treated group. These results show that increasing numbers of
      PMNs have a major role as phagocytic cells in inflammatory lung tissue, whereas
      AMs are reduced to their oxidative product and change into antigen-presenting
      cells, revealing a high ratio of Ia expression. The decrease in DCFH oxidation in
      the AMs of the carrageenan-treated mice may have been due to decreased
      mitochondrial oxidative metabolism.

PMID- 1435712
TI  - [The utility of new model Swan-Ganz catheter (REF-1) in postoperative fluid
      management of patients who underwent radical operation for esophageal cancer:
      preliminary report].

PMID- 1435711
TI  - [A case of minimal-sized adenocarcinoma in a fistula-in-ano].
AB  - The patient was 47 year-old man with a simple intermuscular fistula-in-ano.
      Fistulectomy revealed that there was a small mucinous adenocarcinoma. The tumor
      was small and localized in the wall of the fistula and the muscular invasion was
      not recognized. The mucin contained a little O-acylated sainomucin, and the
      origin of the tumor was considered as anal gland cell. This case appears as one
      evidence that the cancer in fistula-in-ano originates from the anal gland cell in
      the fistula.

PMID- 1435713
TI  - [Enhancement effect of fat emulsion for intravenous use (intralipos) on the
      growth of a human breast cancer cell line in culture: preliminary report].

PMID- 1435714
TI  - [Effect of local administration of 15-deoxyspergualin on liver allografts in the
      rat: preliminary report].

PMID- 1435715
TI  - [The modulation of intracellular folate level by leucovorin: preliminary report].

PMID- 1435716
TI  - [Effect of preoperative supplemental hyperalimentation on patients with upper
      gastrointestinal malignancies: preliminary report].

PMID- 1435717
TI  - [Measurement of the chemiluminescence from rat hepatocytes on reperfusion injury:
      preliminary report].

PMID- 1435718
TI  - [Type IV collagenase activities in human colorectal carcinomas and its role in
      hepatic metastasis: preliminary report].

PMID- 1435719
TI  - [A fundamental study on photodynamic therapy of pancreatic tumor in rabbit:
      preliminary report].

PMID- 1435720
TI  - [Tumor marker (CA19-9, DU-PAN 2, SPAN 1) levels in cystic fluid of benign liver
      cyst: preliminary report].

PMID- 1435721
TI  - Purification and properties of the RuvA and RuvB proteins of Escherichia coli.
AB  - The RuvA and RuvB proteins of Escherichia coli play important roles in the post
      replicational repair of damaged DNA, genetic recombination and cell division. In
      this paper, we describe the construction of over expression vectors for RuvA and
      RuvB and detail simple purification schemes for each protein. The purified 22 kDa
      RuvA polypeptide forms a tetrameric protein (M(r) ca. 100,000) as observed by gel
      filtration. The tetramer is stabilised by strong disulphide bridges that resist
      denaturation during SDS-PAGE (in the absence of boiling and beta
      mercaptoethanol). In contrast, purified RuvB polypeptides (37 kDa) weakly
      associate to form a dimeric protein (M(r) ca. 85,000). At low protein
      concentrations, the RuvB dimer dissociates into monomers. The multimeric forms of
      each protein may be covalently linked by the bifunctional cross-linking reagent
      dimethyl suberimidate. Addition of purified RuvA and RuvB to a RecA-mediated
      recombination reaction was found to stimulate the rate of strand exchange leading
      to the rapid formation of heteroduplex DNA.

PMID- 1435722
TI  - GEBF-I in Drosophila species and hybrids: the co-evolution of an enhancer and its
      cognate factor.
AB  - The activation of the Drosophila melanogaster salivary gland secretion protein
      gene Sgs-3 is marked by important changes in chromatin structure in the distal
      regulatory region at -600 bp from the Sgs-3 start site. A stage- and tissue
      specific glue enhancer binding factor, GEBF-I, binds in vitro to sequences from
      this region. Previous studies have revealed considerable variation in the DNA
      sequences of comparable regions in the related Drosophila species, D. simulans,
      D. erecta and D. yakuba. We detected GEBF-I-like proteins in these species, which
      appear to evolve as rapidly as the corresponding DNA sequences, and studied in
      detail the binding characteristics of the GEBF-I proteins of the two most closely
      related species, D. melanogaster and D. simulans. In crosses between these
      species, certain strains produce hybrid larvae which, unexpectedly, synthesised a
      single intermediate form of the protein. This suggests that the factor is subject
      to species-specific post-transcriptional modifications. In these hybrid larvae,
      which carry one D. melanogaster and one D. simulans Sgs-3 gene, the hybrid GEBF-I
      protein appears equally effective in the induction of both target genes.

PMID- 1435723
TI  - Functional conservation between Schizosaccharomyces pombe ste8 and Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae STE11 protein kinases in yeast signal transduction.
AB  - In fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe), the mat1-Pm gene, which is required
      for entry into meiosis, is expressed in response to a pheromone signal. Cells
      carrying a mutation in the ste8 gene are unable to induce transcription of mat1
      Pm in response to pheromone, suggesting that the ste8 gene product functions in
      the signal transduction pathway. The ste8+ gene encodes a 659 amino acid putative
      protein kinase, which is identical to the previously identified byr2 suppressor
      of the ras1 defect. Furthermore, ste8+ is highly homologous to the Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae STE11 gene, which functions in signal transduction in budding yeast.
      Expression of the S. cerevisiae STE11 gene in S. pombe ste8 mutants restores the
      ability to transcribe mat1-Pm in response to pheromone. Also, such cells become
      capable of conjugation and sporulation. When mat1-Pm is artifically expressed
      from a heterologous promoter, ste8 mutant cells will enter meiosis. This
      demonstrates that the meiotic defect of ste8 mutants is due to the absence of the
      mat1-Pm gene product.

PMID- 1435725
TI  - Serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 1 activity in patients with testicular germ
      cell tumors correlates with the total number of copies of the short arm of
      chromosome 12 in the tumor.
AB  - The aim of our study was to assess the relationship between the serum lactate
      dehydrogenase isoenzyme 1 (S-LDH-1) activity in patients with testicular germ
      cell tumors and the number of copies of the short arm of chromosome 12 (12p)
      present in tumor. Twenty-seven adult patients with measurable tumor lesions were
      studied. Twenty-five had three or more copies of chromosome 12 per cell in the
      tumors. Nineteen had one or more copies of a specific chromosomal abnormality, an
      isochromosome of the short arm of chromosome 12, i(12p). Fourteen had increased S
      LDH-1 levels. S-LDH-1 activity correlated significantly with the product of total
      tumor volume and the total number of copies of the short arm of chromosome 12
      present per cell (total tumor 12p). We conclude that the total number of copies
      of the short arm of chromosome 12 in the tumors is most probably a factor
      contributing to the LDH-1 activity released from the tumors.

PMID- 1435724
TI  - FinOP repression of the F plasmid involves extension of the half-life of FinP
      antisense RNA by FinO.
AB  - The transfer operon of the F plasmid is positively regulated by the traJ gene
      product, expression of which, in turn, is regulated by both an antisense RNA,
      FinP, and the FinO protein (the FinOP system). A finP- F plasmid, pSFL20, was
      constructed by site-directed mutagenesis and was found to produce wild-type
      levels of pili encoded by the transfer operon. Transcription of the traJ gene was
      decreased by a factor of 3-5 fold in the presence of FinOP with no accumulation
      of a stable RNA duplex between the FinP RNA and the portion of the traJ mRNA
      which is complementary to finP. Stabilization of FinP RNA by FinO occurs in the
      absence of traJ transcripts, suggesting that FinO may interact directly with FinP
      to prevent its degradation.

PMID- 1435726
TI  - Cloning and molecular characterization of the secY genes from Bacillus
      licheniformis and Staphylococcus carnosus: comparative analysis of nine members
      of the SecY family.
AB  - SecY is a central component of the export machinery that mediates the
      translocation of secretory proteins across the plasma membrane of Escherichia
      coli. We have cloned and sequenced the secY genes from Bacillus licheniformis and
      Staphylococcus carnosus. The deduced amino acid sequences are highly homologous
      to those of other known SecY polypeptides, all having the potential to form 10
      transmembrane segments. Comparative analysis of 9 SecY polypeptides, derived from
      different bacteria, revealed that 14 amino acid positions (2.7%) are identical in
      all SecY proteins and 89 (16.9%) show conservative changes. Clusters of conserved
      amino acid residues were found in 4 of the 10 transmembrane segments and 2 of the
      6 cytoplasmic domains. It is suggested that the conserved regions might be
      involved in the translocation activity of SecY or might be required for the
      correct interaction of SecY with other components of the secretion apparatus.

PMID- 1435727
TI  - Characterization of a chromosomally encoded, non-PTS metabolic pathway for
      sucrose utilization in Escherichia coli EC3132.
AB  - A wild-type isolate, EC3132, of Escherichia coli, that is able to grow on sucrose
      was isolated and its csc genes (mnemonic for chromosomally coded sucrose genes)
      transferred to strains of E. coli K12. EC3132 and all sucrose-positive
      exconjugants and transductants invariably showed a D-serine deaminase (Dsd)
      negative phenotype. The csc locus maps adjacent to dsdA, the structural gene for
      the D-serine deaminase, and contains an inducible regulon, controlled by a
      sucrose-specific repressor CscR, together with structural genes for a sucrose
      hydrolase (invertase) CscA, for a D-fructokinase CscK, and for a transport system
      CscB. Based on DNA sequencing studies, this last codes for a hydrophobic protein
      of 415 amino acids. CscB is closely related to the beta-galactoside transport
      system LacY (31.2% identical residues) and a raffinose transport system RafB
      (32.3% identical residues) of the enteric bacteria, both of the proton symport
      type. A two-dimensional model common to the three transport proteins, which is
      based on the integrated consensus sequence, will be discussed.

PMID- 1435728
TI  - Differential manifestation of seed mortality induced by seed-specific expression
      of the gene for diphtheria toxin A chain in Arabidopsis and tobacco.
AB  - A pea vicilin promoter-diphtheria toxin A (DTx-A) chain gene fusion was
      introduced into Arabidopsis and tobacco. The chimeric Dtx-A gene behaves as a
      dominant, seed-lethal, Mendelian factor, and the segregation ratios are
      consistent with the numbers of integrated copies as revealed by Southern
      blotting. Germination deficiency results from distinct developmental
      abnormalities, thus allowing genetic dissection of seed development. The
      endosperm is affected first in both species. In Arabidopsis, full cellularization
      of the initially syncytial endosperm does not take place, which results in
      shrinkage and a shriveled appearance of the mature dry seed. The embryo, which
      appears structurally normal and lacks visible lesions, ceases to develop at the
      partially recurved cotyledon stage and does not use the remaining endosperm. In
      tobacco, peripheral degeneration and premature termination of cellular endosperm
      development occurs at the cotyledon initiation stage. Lesions appear in the
      cotyledons at the advanced cotyledon stage, but the embryo continues to grow and
      attains nearly the same size and level of differentiation as mature wild-type
      embryos before degeneration and intracellular disintegration take place
      throughout. Accumulation of protein bodies and other cytoplasmic inclusions is
      very limited and occurs only in few cells. The timing and distribution of lesions
      follow a pattern typical for accumulation of protein bodies in wild-type seeds.
      These observations are consistent with expression of the vicilin promoter in the
      enlargement phase of cell differentiation. A novel tissue interaction arises,
      when the embryo uses up all the arrested endosperm: the embryo proves to be
      capable of absorbing the parenchyma layers of the integument, which are normally
      obliterated by, and incorporated into, the endosperm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1435729
TI  - Induction of a Streptomyces cacaoi beta-lactamase gene cloned in S. lividans.
AB  - The previously cloned class A beta-lactamase gene (bla) of Streptomyces cacaoi
      was shown to be inducible by beta-lactam compounds in the host organism S.
      lividans. A regulatory region of 2.75 kb was identified and the nucleotide
      sequence determined. It contained four open reading frames (ORFs) of which only
      two were complete and required for induction. ORF1-ORF2 exerted a positive
      regulatory effect on the expression of bla. Inactivation of ORF1 or of ORF2
      resulted not only in the loss of induction, but also in a 30- to 60-fold decrease
      in the basal (non-induced) level of beta-lactamase production. ORF1 codes for a
      DNA-binding protein related to the AmpR repressor/activator, which controls the
      expression of ampC (class C beta-lactamase) genes in several Enterobacteria.

PMID- 1435730
TI  - Modular structure of the FixL protein of Rhizobium meliloti.
AB  - FixL protein of Rhizobium meliloti is a haemo-protein kinase which activates the
      transcription of nifA and fixK genes via the transcriptional activator protein
      FixJ under microaerobic conditions. FixL and FixJ proteins belong to the family
      of two-component regulatory systems for which primary sequence data predicts a
      modular structure. We showed, using Escherichia coli as heterologous host, that
      FixL indeed has a modular structure. The amino-terminal hydrophobic domain is
      dispensable for the oxygen-regulated activity of FixL in vivo. The central
      cytoplasmic non-conserved domain is necessary for the oxygen-sensing function of
      FixL whereas it is not necessary for the activation of FixJ by FixL. We propose
      that, under aerobic conditions, the central domain represses the activating
      function associated with the carboxy-terminal conserved domain.

PMID- 1435731
TI  - The region essential for efficient autonomous replication of pSa in Escherichia
      coli.
AB  - Comparative analyses were made between plasmid pSa17, a deletion derivative of
      pSa that is capable of replicating efficiently in Escherichia coli and plasmid
      pSa3, a derivative that is defective for replication. By comparing the
      restriction maps of these two derivatives, the regions essential for replication
      and for stable maintenance of the plasmid were determined. A 2.5 kb DNA segment
      bearing the origin of DNA replication of pSa17 was sequenced. A 36 kDa RepA
      protein was encoded in the region essential for replication. Downstream of the
      RepA coding region was a characteristic sequence including six 17 bp direct
      repeats, the possible binding sites of RepA protein, followed by AT-rich and GC
      rich sequences. Furthermore, an 8 bp incomplete copy of the 17 bp repeat was
      found in the promoter region of the repA gene. Based on the hypothesis that RepA
      protein binds to this partial sequence as well as to intact 17 bp sequences, an
      autoregulatory system for the synthesis of RepA protein may be operative. Another
      open reading frame (ORF) was found in the region required for the stability of
      the plasmid. The putative protein encoded in this ORF showed significant homology
      to several site-specific recombination proteins. A possible role of this putative
      protein in stable maintenance of the plasmid is discussed.

PMID- 1435732
TI  - The PYR1 gene of the plant pathogenic fungus Colletotrichum graminicola:
      selection by intraspecific complementation and sequence analysis.
AB  - A spontaneous uridine-requiring auxotroph of Colletotrichum graminicola was
      recovered by selection for resistance to 5-fluoro-orotic acid. The auxotroph
      lacked orotate phosphoribosyl transferase (OPRTase) and was complemented with a
      clone from a cosmid library of C. graminicola DNA. A 3.1 kb HindIII-SalI fragment
      was subcloned from the cosmid and it could efficiently transform the auxotrophic
      strain to uridine prototrophy and integrate by site-specific recombination. This
      DNA fragment contains an open reading frame that is similar to OPRTase genes of
      the fungi Sordaria macrospora, Trichoderma reesei, Podospora anserina, and
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Based on the sequence similarities and the ability to
      restore uridine prototrophy, we conclude that the fragment contains the C.
      graminicola gene for OPRTase, which we have named PYR1. Our results demonstrate
      that cloning by complementation is feasible in C. graminicola, that the gene for
      OPRTase from C. graminicola can be useful as a selectable marker in
      transformation of the fungus, and that the OPRTase gene product is similar to
      OPRTase from other fungi.

PMID- 1435733
TI  - Analysis of the site of action of the amdR product for regulation of the amdS
      gene of Aspergillus nidulans.
AB  - The amdR gene of Aspergillus nidulans regulates a number of structural genes in
      response to omega amino acid inducers. The site of action of the amdR product on
      expression of the amdS gene was investigated by studying the effects of changes
      in the 5' region of amdS, generated in vitro, on the induction, and on responses
      of an amdS-lacZ fusion gene to an amdRc allele. A sequence was identified that is
      sufficient for amdR regulation and that shows identity with sequences involved in
      amdR regulation of the gatA and lam genes. This sequence includes a CCAAT
      sequence and it was shown that this sequence is an important element in setting
      the basal level of amdS expression.

PMID- 1435734
TI  - Suppression of the growth and export defects of an Escherichia coli secA(Ts)
      mutant by a gene cloned from Bacillus subtilis.
AB  - A gene library of Bacillus subtilis chromosomal DNA was screened for genes
      capable of reverting the growth defects of the Escherichia coli secA51(Ts) mutant
      at 42 degrees C. A B. subtilis gene, designated csaA, was found to phenotypically
      suppress not only the growth defects of the E. coli mutant, but also to relieve
      the detrimental accumulation of precursors of exported proteins. The csaA gene
      encoded a protein of 15 kDa (137 amino acids) and was likely to be the distalmost
      member of an operon. No similarity to csaA was found among DNA or protein
      sequences deposited in databases. In contrast to other homologous or heterologous
      suppressors of the E. coli secA51(Ts) mutation, the csaA gene did not exert
      pleiotropic effects on either the E. coli secY24(Ts) or lep9(Ts) mutations.
      However, it restored the ability of a SecB-deficient mutant to grow on complex
      medium. It is proposed that CsaA serves as a molecular chaperone for exported
      proteins or alternatively acts by stabilizing the SecA protein.

PMID- 1435735
TI  - Effect of donor copy number on the rate of gene conversion in the yeast
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - Nonreciprocal recombination (gene conversion) between homologous sequences at
      nonhomologous locations in the genome occurs readily in the yeast Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae. In order to test whether the rate of gene conversion is dependent on
      the number of homologous copies available in the cell to act as donors of
      information, the level of conversion of a defined allele was measured in strains
      carrying plasmids containing homologous sequences. The level of recombination was
      elevated in a strain carrying multiple copies of the plasmid, compared with the
      same strain carrying a single copy of the homologous sequences either on a
      plasmid or integrated in the genome. Thus, the level of conversion is
      proportional to the number of copies of donor sequences present in the cell. We
      discuss these results within the framework of currently favoured models of
      recombination.

PMID- 1435736
TI  - Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein: regulation of gene expression in vivo and
      in vitro by an insulin-sensitizing agent.
AB  - Pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione, is a novel antidiabetic compound that can
      lower blood glucose in diabetic rodents by increasing insulin sensitivity in
      target tissues. We have previously demonstrated that pioglitazone can enhance the
      insulin- or insulin-like growth factor-1-regulated differentiation of 3T3-L1
      cells, a cell line that undergoes morphological and biochemical differentiation
      to mature adipocytes [Mol. Pharmacol. 41:393-398 (1992)]. In this study, we have
      examined the effect of pioglitazone on the expression of the adipocyte fatty acid
      binding protein (aFABP) in ob/ob mice and 3T3-L1 cells. Administration of the
      drug to mice was observed to cause a dose-dependent increase in aFABP mRNA
      expression in epididymal fat, which was correlated with a decrease in blood
      glucose and insulin levels. Treatment of 3T3-L1 cells with pioglitazone enhanced
      aFABP expression in a time-dependent fashion. To explore a possible direct effect
      of pioglitazone on aFABP expression, a chimeric gene was constructed containing
      the aFABP promoter fused upstream of the bacterial reporter gene for
      chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. After transfection into 3T3-L1 cells and
      selection of stable transformants, regulation of the chimeric gene was studied.
      Pioglitazone, in combination with insulin or insulin-like growth factor-1, was
      observed to elicit a dose-dependent increase in expression, indicating a role for
      pioglitazone in regulating transcription of the aFABP gene. Several
      thiazolidinedione analogs were tested for their ability to induce the expression
      of the chimeric gene, and it was found that activity in this assay paralleled the
      structure-activity relationships observed for enhancement of 3T3-L1 cell
      differentiation. These observations on control of aFABP gene expression by
      pioglitazone suggest possible mechanisms by which cellular sensitivity to insulin
      may be regulated.

PMID- 1435737
TI  - Cloning and expression of a high affinity taurine transporter from rat brain.
AB  - A cDNA clone (designated rB16a) encoding a taurine transporter has been isolated
      from rat brain, and its functional properties have been examined in mammalian
      cells. The nucleotide sequence of the clone predicts a 621-amino acid protein
      with significant homology to other neurotransmitter transporters. Hydropathy
      analysis reveals stretches of hydrophobic amino acids indicative of 12
      transmembrane domains, similar to those proposed for other cloned
      neurotransmitter transporters. The transporter displays high affinity for taurine
      (Km approximately 40 microM) and is dependent on external sodium and chloride for
      transport activity. Specific transport is sensitive to inhibition by beta-alanine
      and gamma-aminobutyric acid, similar to taurine transporters in vivo.
      Localization studies demonstrate that the transporter mRNA is located in both the
      brain and peripheral tissues. The structural similarity of the taurine
      transporter to neurotransmitter transporters is consistent with a neuromodulatory
      role for taurine in the nervous system.

PMID- 1435738
TI  - Equilibrium and kinetic studies of the interactions of salmeterol with membrane
      bilayers.
AB  - The interaction of salmeterol with model membranes has been studied with regard
      to equilibrium and kinetic behavior, including determination of the membrane
      based partition coefficient, the rate of dissociation of salmeterol from
      membranes, and the rate of association. These data were obtained in various
      membrane preparations and under various conditions (e.g., temperature,
      cholesterol content). The compound is very lipophilic, compared with other beta 2
      agonists such as salbutamol, and has a rapid association rate and a moderate
      dissociation rate. The equilibrium data support the assertion that the salmeterol
      action measured in perfused tissue involves an exo-site for nonspecific binding
      that may be identified with or related to the lipid bilayer. The kinetic data in
      unilamellar and multilamellar liposomes of synthetic lipids further suggest that
      the approach to the exo-site and the active site may involve components in the
      native system other than the lipid bilayer in which the beta 2 receptor is
      located. These additional components may explain the slow onset and the
      extraordinarily long duration of action.

PMID- 1435739
TI  - Mono- and diglucuronide formation from chrysene and benzo(a)pyrene phenols by 3
      methylcholanthrene-inducible phenol UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1).
AB  - Mono- and diphenols of chrysene and benzo(a)pyrene are suspected substrates of a
      3-methylcholanthrene (MC)-inducible phenol UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1).
      Mono- and diglucuronide formation from these compounds was studied in two
      systems, (a) livers of MC-treated rats (homologous expression) and (b) a Chinese
      hamster lung fibroblast cell line (V79) containing rat UGT1A1 cDNA and stably
      expressing this isozyme (heterologous expression). In liver microsomes of MC
      treated rats, glucuronidation of 6-hydroxychrysene was stimulated 11-fold by MC
      treatment. With 3,6-dihydroxychrysene, formation of its 3-hydroxy-6
      monoglucuronide and of the diglucuronide was increased 24- and 310-fold,
      respectively. Induction factors obtained for monoglucuronide formation (but not
      for diglucuronide formation) were in line with published data on the increase of
      immunodetectable UGT1A1 protein and of its mRNA. It is suggested that the high
      induction factors for diglucuronide formation are the result of a combination of
      the induction of UGT1A1 and facilitated interaction of neighboring UGT1A1
      molecules in endoplasmic reticulum membranes. Glucuronidation of 6
      hydroxychrysene, 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene, and 3,6-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene to
      their mono- and diglucuronides was clearly detectable in V79 cells expressing
      UGT1A1. However, conjugation of 3,6-dihydroxychrysene to its monoglucuronides was
      low and diglucuronide formation was not detectable, suggesting that UGT isozymes
      other than UGT1A1 are responsible for these reactions.

PMID- 1435740
TI  - Identification of receptor domains that modify ligand binding to 5
      hydroxytryptamine2 and 5-hydroxytryptamine1c serotonin receptors.
AB  - Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] receptors are distinguished
      pharmacologically by their characteristic affinities for agonists and
      antagonists. Two serotonin receptors, the 5-HT2 and 5-HT1c, share a number of
      pharmacologic and structural properties while differing in their affinities for
      certain agonists and antagonists. To identify regions of the 5-HT2 and 5-HT1c
      receptors important for specifying their unique pharmacology, we constructed six
      chimeric 5-HT2/5-HT1c receptors in which domains of each receptor were exchanged.
      The abilities of several drugs to inhibit [3H]mesulergine bound to the chimeric
      and parent receptors transiently expressed in COS-7 cells were then examined. For
      spiperone and haloperidol (both butyrophenones), chimeras that exchanged
      transmembrane (TM) domains I and II or TMs I-III had the greatest effects on
      binding affinity. The binding affinity of cinanserin (a cinnamanilide) was
      significantly changed in all the chimeras studied. In contrast, the binding of
      ketanserin (a 4-fluorobenzoylpiperidine) was strongly influenced by chimeras that
      exchanged TMs I-III (but not I and II) and by chimeras that exchanged
      intracellular loop 3 to TM VII. 5-HT binding affinity was greatly altered for
      chimeras that exchanged domains of intracellular loop 3 to TM VII, with minor
      effects being noted for chimeras that exchanged TMs I and II and I-III. The
      affinities of the nonselective drugs mesulergine, mianserin, and m
      chlorophenylpiperazine were relatively unaffected when domains of the 5-HT2 and 5
      HT1c receptors were exchanged. Taken together, these results imply that
      structurally diverse 5-HT2 antagonists utilize distinct regions of the 5-HT2
      receptor for high affinity binding.

PMID- 1435741
TI  - Two allosteric modulators interact at a common site on cardiac muscarinic
      receptors.
AB  - The abilities of gallamine, obidoxime, tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA), and 8-(N,N
      diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8) to alter the rate of
      dissociation of N-[3H]methylscopolamine from rat cardiac muscarinic receptors
      were investigated. All four ligands monotonically slowed the dissociation, with
      the order of potency gallamine > TMB-8 > THA > obidoxime. There was a dramatic
      difference in the efficacy of these allosteric modulators. Gallamine, TMB-8, and
      THA slowed the dissociation of N-methylscopolamine by > 90% at maximally
      effective concentrations, whereas obidoxime was capable of slowing it by only
      about 50%. In a manner analogous to the action of a partial agonist, obidoxime
      was able to partially reverse the effects of the other three modulators.
      Furthermore, the concentration-dependent effects of combinations of obidoxime and
      gallamine were in good agreement with the model of competitive interaction
      between these two ligands. These results provide the first evidence that two
      muscarinic allosteric modulators interact competitively at a well defined site.

PMID- 1435742
TI  - Chronic lithium treatment inhibits basal and agonist-stimulated responses in rat
      cerebral cortex and GH3 pituitary cells.
AB  - Li+ is used clinically in the management of bipolar-disordered (manic-depressive)
      illness, but the mechanism of its clinical efficacy remains unclear. Li+ inhibits
      the metabolism of certain inositol phosphates, leading to a decreased cycling of
      inositol that may be sufficient to reduce phosphoinositide metabolism. We have
      tested this hypothesis in slices of rat cerebral cortex and in rat pituitary GH3
      cells grown in the presence of low extracellular inositol. We show that basal and
      stimulated mass levels of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate were reduced in rat
      cerebral cortex and in GH3 cells after chronic, but not acute, treatment with a
      therapeutic concentration of Li+. In GH3 cells chronic treatment with Li+ also
      decreased basal levels of intracellular Ca2+ and secretion of prolactin, effects
      that were prevented by the presence of myo-inositol. Agonist-stimulated
      mobilization of Ca2+ and prolactin release were also reduced in Li(+)-treated
      cells. These findings show that chronic perturbation of the phosphoinositide
      pathway by Li+ is sufficient to reduce basal and agonist-stimulated cellular
      responses, an action that may underlie its effectiveness in the alleviation of
      affective disorders.

PMID- 1435743
TI  - Effect of extracellular pH on the potency of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor
      competitive antagonists.
AB  - Structure-activity analysis reveals that acidic alpha-amino acids containing an
      omega-PO3H2 group are more potent antagonists at N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)
      receptors than are analogs with omega-COOH or omega-tetrazole groups. At
      physiological values of extra-cellular pH the omega-PO3H2 group is only partially
      deprotonated and the corresponding antagonists exist as ions with one or two
      negative charges. In contrast, competitive antagonists with omega-COOH and omega
      tetrazole groups are fully ionized at physiological pH but carry only a single
      negative charge. Dose-inhibition analysis was performed with (2R)-AP7 and its
      piperidine derivative LY 257883 to determine whether ionization of the omega
      PO3H2 group influences NMDA receptor antagonist potency; these experiments
      revealed a > 3-fold increase in potency on raising of the extracellular pH from
      7.3 to pH 8.2, consistent with the increase in the relative concentration of the
      ionic form of the antagonist in which the omega-PO3H2 group contains two negative
      charges. Experiments with the omega-COOH-containing analog of LY 257883 and with
      SDZ EAB 515, an omega-PO3H2-containing antagonist of novel structure, revealed
      only 1.5- and 1.3-fold increases in potency, respectively, over the same pH
      range. Analysis of the kinetics of block of NMDA-activated currents resulting
      from rapid application of LY 257883 suggests that the increase in potency on
      raising of the extracellular pH results largely from an increase in the
      antagonist association rate constant but also from a small decrease in the
      dissociation rate constant. Together, these results suggest that the fully
      ionized forms of the R-enantiomers of AP7 and LY 257883 act as the active
      antagonist species at NMDA receptors.

PMID- 1435744
TI  - Determinants of antifolate cytotoxicity: folylpolyglutamate synthetase activity
      during cellular proliferation and development.
AB  - Previous studies have documented the metabolism of a broad range of folate
      antimetabolites to polyglutamate derivatives by the enzyme folylpoly-gamma
      glutamate synthetase (FPGS). The activity of the more recently developed classes
      of antifolates directed against thymidylate synthase and de novo purine synthesis
      is sufficiently dependent on polyglutamation that these compounds should be
      specifically cytotoxic to any normal or malignant proliferating cell expressing
      this enzyme. We have studied the patterns of expression of FPGS in mammalian
      cells and tissues during rapid growth, growth arrest, differentiation, and
      embryonic development. During embryogenesis in the rat, FPGS levels in liver and
      brain were higher during the period of proliferative activity and then dropped to
      a level characteristic of the adult organs. However, the levels in liver were
      substantially higher than those in brain at any given time. This pattern was
      mimicked in mouse C3H 10T1/2 embryo fibroblast cells, in which FPGS activity
      decreased after cessation of growth but then remained at a lower steady state
      level during an extended period of postconfluent culture. Enzyme activity also
      dropped after the differentiation of human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. In
      a human homolog of these experimental systems, FPGS levels were below the limits
      of detection in circulating mature human hematopoietic cells of the granulocytic,
      lymphoblastic, and erythrocytic lineages. In striking contrast, substantial
      levels of FPGS were found in circulating lymphoblasts from eight patients with
      acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The levels of FPGS found in these transformed stem
      cells would help to explain the sensitivity of many acute lymphoblastic leukemias
      to folate antimetabolites. We concluded that expression of FPGS is regulated by
      at least two mechanisms, one of which is linked to proliferation and the other of
      which controls enzyme levels after differentiation and is tissue specific.

PMID- 1435745
TI  - Regiochemical differences in cytochrome P450 isozymes responsible for the
      oxidation of methylenedioxyphenyl groups by rabbit liver.
AB  - The cytochrome P450 isozymes catalyzing the oxidation of the methylenedioxyphenyl
      compounds methylenedioxybenzene (MDB) and methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) have
      been investigated in rabbit liver preparations. The aromatic ring in MDB
      undergoes both demethylenation to catechol and aromatic hydroxylation to sesamol,
      whereas that in MDA undergoes only demethylenation to dihydroxyamphetamine.
      Formation of catechol and sesamol from MDB in microsomal incubation mixtures was
      enhanced about 5- and 3-fold, respectively, by pretreatment of the rabbits with
      phenobarbital, which induced CYP2B4 and CYP4B1. The cytochrome P450 isozyme
      responsible for aromatic hydroxylation of MDB was induced by beta-naphthoflavone
      and was inhibited by alpha-naphthoflavone. Microsomal demethylenation of MDA was
      minimally sensitive to pretreatment of the rabbits with phenobarbital, beta
      naphthoflavone, pyrazole, or rifampicin. However, MDA competitively inhibited the
      N-demethylation of erythromycin. Antibodies against CYP2B4, but not those against
      CYP4B1, caused a marked inhibition of the demethylenation and aromatic
      hydroxylation of MDB. Antibodies against CYP2C3 did not inhibit the
      demethylenation of MDA, nor did substrates or inhibitors of the CYP2D family
      except for bufuralol. MDB and MDA were both capable of forming metabolic
      intermediate complexes, and the rate of complex formation was accelerated by
      phenobarbital induction. Reconstitution experiments with CYP2B4 suggested that
      phenobarbital-inducible complex formation from MDA was not due to the carbene
      pathway involving the methylenedioxy group but was due to oxidation of the amino
      group. These results indicate that CYP2B4 oxidizes different regions of
      methylenedioxyphenyl compounds depending on their structure. MDB undergoes
      oxidation at the methylenedioxy group (major) and the benzene ring (minor). MDA
      is oxidized at the alkylamino side chain at the nitrogen and alpha-carbon. The
      results suggested that one or more constitutive isoforms (probably unknown) of
      cytochrome P450 present in rabbit liver microsomes are primarily responsible for
      MDA demethylenation but that CYP3A6 contributes slightly.

PMID- 1435746
TI  - Cellular pool of transient ferric iron, chelatable by deferoxamine and distinct
      from ferritin, that is involved in oxidative cell injury.
AB  - A cellular pool of transient ferric iron that is chelatable by deferoxamine,
      distinct from ferritin, and required for oxidative cell injury has been
      identified in cultured rat hepatocytes labeled with 59FeCl3. Pretreatment of
      hepatocytes with deferoxamine depleted the cellular pool of chelatable iron and
      protected the cells from an oxidative injury. Incubation of deferoxamine
      pretreated hepatocytes in serum-free medium restored both the chelatable iron
      pool and the susceptibility to oxidative injury. Furthermore, inhibition of
      protein degradation with chymostatin prevented the restoration of both the
      chelatable pool and susceptibility to oxidative injury. The deferoxamine
      chelatable iron pool was distinguished kinetically and immunochemically from the
      larger cellular pool of ferritin iron. The labeled iron in the deferoxamine
      chelatable pool was transient, unlike either the total cellular uptake of 59Fe or
      its incorporation into ferritin, both of which increased with time of labeling.
      With pulse-chase labeling, the percentage of the total uptake of 59Fe that was
      represented by the deferoxamine-chelatable pool decreased. At the same time, the
      percentage represented by radioactivity immunoprecipitable as ferritin increased.
      Furthermore, immunoprecipitation of ferritin from the labeled lysates enriched
      the resulting immunosupernatants in deferoxamine-chelatable iron. The degree of
      enrichment for chelatable iron correlated with the percentage of the cellular
      label that was immunoprecipitable as ferritin. The deferoxamine-chelatable iron
      appears to represent a metabolically common pool of iron that is rapidly in
      transit through the cell. Extracellular iron entering the pool can be utilized
      for heme synthesis or stored in ferritin, whereas protein degradation releases
      storage iron into this pool.

PMID- 1435747
TI  - Hypersensitivity to acetaldehyde-protein adducts.
AB  - Acetaldehyde, the first product in the metabolism of ethanol, is known to
      condense with plasma proteins, forming stable adducts. We have previously shown
      that these adducts can be recognized as foreign by the immune system. In the
      present study the existence of type I hypersensitivity-mediating antibodies
      against these adducts was investigated in humans and in animals. Immunization of
      mice with acetaldehyde-protein condensates, followed by adoptive transfer of
      splenocytes, led to the production of IgE anti-acetaldehyde adducts. A monoclonal
      IgE antibody was obtained by the hybridization technique. This antibody
      recognized acetaldehyde adducts, independently of the carrier protein used,
      indicating that the acetaldehyde moiety behaves as a hapten. The affinity of the
      antibody for the acetaldehyde adduct of polylysine was 7 orders of magnitude
      higher than that for polylysine. Passive immunization by intradermal or
      intravenous administration of this monoclonal antibody to rats rendered the
      animals hypersensitive to acetaldehyde-protein conjugates, as shown by marked
      anaphylaxis. A study was conducted to determine the existence of naturally
      occurring hypersensitivity reactions to alcohol in > 1000 non-Oriental
      individuals. A prevalence of severe hypersensitivity reactions of 0.46% was
      found. The reactions were severe enough to deter these individuals from consuming
      all types of alcoholic beverages. Individuals presenting such reactions had
      significantly elevated levels of circulating anti-acetaldehyde-protein IgE
      antibodies.

PMID- 1435748
TI  - Correlations between the rate constant of singlet oxygen quenching by imidazole
      derivatives and anti-inflammatory activity in rats.
AB  - The second-order rate constants, k delta, for quenching of molecular singlet
      oxygen O2 (1 delta g) by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory imidazole drugs have been
      determined using time-resolved phosphorescence detection of singlet oxygen. A
      linear correlation was observed between log k delta (ranging from 7.90 to 8.50)
      and the anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds (ranging from ED50 = 15 to
      300 mg/kg), as measured in rats by Jorgensen and Dyrsting [United States Patent
      4,424,229 (1984)]. The correlation between this physico-chemical parameter
      measured in vitro and a biological activity measured in vivo might be useful in
      screening other types of candidate anti-inflammatory drugs. The rate constant (k
      delta) can be considered as a quantitative expression of the electron-donating
      power of the imidazole drug, as suggested by a correlation of log k deta (ranging
      from 6.02 to 7.45) with Hammett substituent parameters observed in the case of 2
      substituted imidazoles.

PMID- 1435749
TI  - Epidermal growth factor activates phospholipase C in rat hepatocytes via a
      different mechanism from that in A431 or rat1hER cells.
AB  - Epidermal growth factor (EGF) can stimulate inositol lipid hydrolysis in rat
      hepatocytes and can accelerate GTP/GDP exchange in hepatic membranes. Both of
      these responses can be abolished by pretreatment with pertussis toxin, suggesting
      that EGF may regulate phospholipase C (PLC) activity via a guanine nucleotide
      binding regulatory protein (G protein) in liver cells. In contrast, in A431 human
      epidermoid carcinoma cells EGF can induce a rapid phosphorylation of PLC-gamma on
      tyrosine residues that increases the activity of immunoprecipitated PLC-gamma,
      suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma may be the mechanism for
      EGF-stimulated inositol trisphosphate production in these cells. To determine the
      importance of the phosphorylation of PLC-gamma on tyrosine residues in a system
      where the EGF receptor apparently couples to a G protein, the effect of EGF on
      tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma was examined in rat hepatocytes. PLC-gamma
      was immunoprecipitated from cell lysates with a PLC-gamma antiserum and its
      tyrosine phosphorylation state was determined using both Western blot analysis
      with phosphotyrosine antibodies and direct measurement of phosphorylated amino
      acids. The results were compared with analogous experiments performed with A431
      cells and another cultured cell line expressing high levels of human EGF
      receptors, Rat1hER fibroblasts. Although the amount of PLC-gamma in rat
      hepatocytes is similar to that in A431 cells and slightly higher than that in
      Rat1hER cells, EGF causes a barely detectable increase in the phosphorylation of
      PLC-gamma on tyrosine in hepatocytes, whereas it stimulates a significant degree
      of phosphorylation of PLC-gamma on tyrosine in Rat1hER or A431 cells.
      Pretreatment of hepatocytes with pertussis toxin abolishes the ability of EGF to
      activate PLC, as determined by an increase in intracellular Ca2+, but has no
      effect on the small amount of phosphate incorporated into tyrosine residues on
      the PLC-gamma protein, demonstrating that this low level of PLC-gamma
      phosphorylation does not correlate with changes in PLC activity. The data suggest
      that phosphorylation of PLC-gamma on tyrosine is not important for EGF-enhanced
      PLC activity in hepatocytes. This conclusion implies that EGF may use a mechanism
      to regulate PLC activity in hepatocytes that is different from that used in
      cultured cells expressing high levels of EGF receptors.

PMID- 1435750
TI  - Peptide inhibitors of ADP-ribosylation by pertussis toxin are substrates with
      affinities comparable to those of the trimeric GTP-binding proteins.
AB  - Pertussis toxin (PTX) ADP-ribosylates alpha subunits of GTP-binding proteins (G
      proteins) when they are in association with beta gamma dimers, and free alpha
      subunits are thought not to be substrates under standard assay conditions. We now
      report the rather unexpected discovery that synthetic peptides encompassing the
      last 10-20 amino acids of alpha subunits of PTX-sensitive G proteins are
      substrates for PTX by themselves and in the absence of beta gamma dimers. As
      determined for G13, the Km of PTX for the 20-amino acid carboxyl-terminal peptide
      is 10-fold higher than that for the trimeric G protein. Interestingly, PTX ADP
      ribosylates the free full length alpha 13 subunit with a Km not different from
      that of the trimer but with a Vmax that is only 1% of that with which it ADP
      ribosylates the trimer. It follows that the primary role of beta gamma dimers in
      ADP-ribosylation of G proteins is one of increasing the Vmax of the reaction
      without affecting the Km of the substrate for the toxin. Mutant peptides lacking
      the ADP-ribose acceptor site act as competitive inhibitors.

PMID- 1435751
TI  - Indirect effect of guanine nucleotides on antagonist binding to A1 adenosine
      receptors: occupation of cryptic binding sites by endogenous vesicular adenosine.
AB  - Guanine nucleotides such as guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S)
      have been found to increase the binding of antagonists to adenosine A1 receptors.
      This response can be attributed either to a direct effect of GTP on receptors to
      increase antagonist affinity or to an indirect effect to decrease the affinity of
      receptors for a pool of endogenous adenosine that cannot be readily removed from
      membranes. In this study, adenosine content was measured in preparations of
      membranes and 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylamino]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS)
      solubilized receptors by a sensitive radioimmunoassay. In both preparations,
      pools of adenosine (2.5-10 pmol/mg of protein) were detected that were resistant
      to deamination by added adenosine deaminase (0.5-3 units/ml) unless membrane
      lipids were first dissolved in acetone. Electron microscopic examination of crude
      CHAPS-solubilized receptors revealed the existence of small vesicles (< 1 microns
      in diameter). Furthermore, most "solubilized" receptors were retained by a 0.1
      microns filter. The effects of GTP gamma S were evaluated on the binding of an
      antagonist, 3-(4-amino-3-125I-phenethyl)-1-propyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (125I-BW
      A844U), to A1 receptors of bovine brain membranes, receptors solubilized in CHAPS
      (crude solubilized), or receptors partially co-purified with G proteins by
      agonist affinity chromatography (partially purified). GTP gamma S (10 microM)
      increased antagonist binding to membranes (20-50%) and crude CHAPS-solubilized
      receptors (> 200%) but increased binding to partially purified receptors by only
      10-15%. GTP gamma S decreased agonist (125I-N6-aminobenzyladenosine) binding and
      increased antagonist Bmax, but did not significantly decrease (5%) the
      dissociation rate of the antagonist. Omission of Mg2+ mimicked the effects of GTP
      gamma S on agonist and antagonist binding and increased both the association and
      dissociation rates of 125I-BW-A844U. These data suggest that a Mg(2+)-dependent
      GTP gamma S-induced increase in antagonist binding to membranes and solubilized
      receptors is primarily due to unmasking of cryptic binding sites occupied by
      contaminating vesicular adenosine. These findings are consistent with the
      observation that adenosine receptor antagonists have been found to have little or
      no inverse agonist physiological effects in well oxygenated tissues.

PMID- 1435752
TI  - Isolation and characterization of imidazoline receptor protein from bovine
      adrenal chromaffin cells.
AB  - We sought to isolate and partially purify proteins corresponding to the binding
      element of the imidazoline receptor (IR) from adrenal chromaffin cell membranes.
      These cells express IRs of the I-2 subclass and not alpha 2-adrenergic receptors.
      Proteins were solubilized in 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1
      propanesulfonate-containing buffer and were assayed by binding of [3H]idazoxan,
      an imidazoline radioligand. Two ligand affinity resins, p-aminoclonidine
      Trisacryl GF-2000 (PAC-ReactiGel) and idazoxan-PharmaLink agarose (IDA-agarose),
      were synthesized. These allowed purification by single-step affinity
      chromatography of a major receptor binding protein component of 70 kDa, as
      assessed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis
      and [3H]idazoxan binding assay. The purified imidazoline-binding proteins from
      IDA-agarose and PAC-ReactiGel had similar affinities for the radioligand
      [3H]idazoxan (Kd = 3.7 and 4.9 nM, respectively) and a displacement profile,
      showing sensitivity to imidazoline agents (cirazoline > clonidine) and
      insensitivity to catecholamines and adrenergic agents (epinephrine approximately
      rauwolscine), that was similar to that of the intact membrane receptor. The
      imidazoline-binding protein did not bind to concanavalin A, suggesting that it
      may not be glycosylated or that the sugar moieties present are not recognized by
      this lectin. The results indicate that IR and alpha 2 receptor proteins may be
      biochemically distinct and that IDA-agarose and PAC-ReactiGel columns are useful
      for purification of sufficient quantities of imidazoline-binding proteins to
      allow for structural and functional studies of the IR.

PMID- 1435753
TI  - Prolonged D2 antidopaminergic activity of alkylating and nonalkylating
      derivatives of spiperone in rat brain.
AB  - Alkyl and arylalkyl derivatives of the dopamine (DA) D2 antagonist spiperone were
      prepared and characterized chemically and pharmacologically. They included the N
      methyl, N-phenethyl (NPS), and N-p-aminophenethyl (NAPS) derivatives, as well as
      the alkylating isothiocyanato (NIPS), bromacetamido, and ethylfumaramido p
      substituted N-phenethylspiperones. These compounds showed high lipophilicity (log
      P up to 6.0 with NIPS), as well as very high in vitro D2 affinity (Ki = 35-280
      pM) and D2 versus D1 selectivity (540-9000-fold) in radioreceptor assays with
      corpus striatum of rat brain. Of the alkylating series, NIPS showed the highest
      D2 affinity (57 pM) and D2 versus D1 selectivity (2040-fold) and so was selected
      for further evaluation. NPS, NAPS, and NIPS showed little or no affinity for 34
      non-DA binding sites defined by radioligand assays for monoamine, amino acid, and
      peptide neurotransmitters, ion channels, peptide growth factors, and transmission
      mediators but did show low alpha 2 and moderate alpha 1 and 5-hydroxytryptamine
      (5-HT2) affinity with rat forebrain tissue in vitro; NIPS showed a marked gain in
      D2 versus 5-HT2 selectivity, compared with spiperone (1520- versus 26-fold).
      Systemic injections of NIPS induced marked decreases in rat striatal D2 binding
      sites 24 hr later, with little effect on D1, 5-HT2, or alpha 1 sites; NIPS and
      NAPS lowered apparent Bmax values at D2 receptors with little change in ligand
      affinity, ex vivo as well as in vitro. NPS, NAPS, and NIPS all induced dose
      dependent lowering of D2 binding ex vivo (ID50 = 1-9 mumol/kg, intraperitoneally)
      and blocked the behavioral effects of the DA agonist apomorphine (0.9 mumol/kg)
      potently (ID50 = 0.3-0.5 mumol/kg) at 24 hr. Recovery from these anti-DA actions
      required about 1 week after equimolar (15 mumol/kg) and similarly effective doses
      of NPS and NAPS, as well as NIPS. Thus, highly selective and avidly bound
      lipophilic D2 affinity ligands with similarly avid in vitro and prolonged in vivo
      anti-DA activities can be derived from N-phenethylspiperones with or without an
      alkylating moiety present. Such affinity ligands may represent useful additions
      to previously used, generally less selective, D2 affinity ligands.

PMID- 1435754
TI  - Depletion of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate and 10-formyltetrahydrofolate by
      methotrexate in cultured hepatoma cells.
AB  - The effect of the inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase by methotrexate on the
      cellular folates involved in de novo purine and thymidylate biosynthesis has been
      measured in H35 hepatoma cells grown in 4 microM folic acid or 20 nM folinic
      acid. The major cellular folate species in cells from medium with folate or
      folinate is 10-formyltetrahydrofolate (approximately 5 microM), with lesser
      amounts of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate and tetrahydrofolate. Cultures were
      exposed to a pulse dose of methotrexate, resulting in the accumulation of nearly
      exclusively methotrexate polyglutamates (predominantly Glu3, Glu4, and Glu5), or
      a continuous exposure to the poorly glutamylated analog threo-4
      fluoromethotrexate, resulting in 93% intracellular monoglutamate. At 4 hr and 18
      hr after exposure to either compound there was extensive depletion of the reduced
      folate coenzymes, which generally corresponded to the extent of inhibition of
      glycine and deoxyuridine incorporation. This was accompanied by an increase of
      the cellular dihydrofolate and 10-formyldihydrofolate. In the H35 cells the
      effect of methotrexate polyglutamates on the reduced folate coenzyme pools was
      restricted to dividing cultures, because the reduced folate coenzymes were not
      depleted in confluent cultures. The results demonstrate that the methotrexate and
      methotrexate polyglutamates that initially accumulate within dividing H35 cells
      readily inhibit dihydrofolate reductase but are not adequate to inhibit
      thymidylate synthase and prevent the depletion of reduced folate coenzymes. Thus,
      inhibition of de novo glycine and deoxyuridine incorporation into DNA as a result
      of dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors appears to be closely related to a
      reduction in the intracellular concentration of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate and
      5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate, the respective folate coenzymes for de novo
      purine and thymidylate synthesis.

PMID- 1435755
TI  - Mechanism of inhibition of aldose reductase by menadione (vitamin K3).
AB  - Incubation of human placental aldose reductase (EC 1.1.1.21) with menadione (0.5
      3.0 mM) resulted in time-dependent loss of the catalytic activity of the enzyme.
      Kinetic analysis of the data suggests that the inactivation process follows a
      single apparent rate constant that displays hyperbolic dependence on menadione
      concentration, indicating that menadione forms a kinetically significant,
      dissociable complex with the enzyme before the formation of an inactive enzyme
      menadione complex. The inactivation of the enzyme with menadione was reversed
      upon dialysis of the inactivated enzyme against buffer containing 10 mM
      dithiothreitol suggesting that menadione reacts with enzyme sulfhydryl
      residue(s). Inactivation of the enzyme was significantly prevented by
      dithiothreitol (5 mM), NADPH (0.1 mM), and DL-glyceraldehyde (10 mM). Correlation
      of the fractional remaining activity with the extent of modification indicates
      that loss of catalytic activity corresponds to the modification of a single amino
      acid residue of the enzyme protein. Recombinant human aldose reductase, obtained
      by overexpression in Escherichia coli, and aldose reductase in which Cys-80 or
      Cys-303 was replaced by serine were also inactivated by menadione. However,
      enzyme in which Cys-298 was replaced by serine was insensitive to menadione. On
      the basis of these observations, it is suggested that menadione forms a thiodione
      like adduct with Cys-298, leading to inactivation of the enzyme.

PMID- 1435756
TI  - Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and pattern recognition analysis of the
      biochemical processes associated with the progression of and recovery from
      nephrotoxic lesions in the rat induced by mercury(II) chloride and 2
      bromoethanamine.
AB  - Nephrotoxic lesions were induced in Fischer 344 rats using HgCl2, a proximal
      tubular toxin, and 2-bromoethanamine (BEA), a medullary toxin. Biochemical
      effects of these toxins on urinary composition were observed by high resolution
      1H NMR spectroscopy over 9 days after dosing. The onset of, progression of, and
      recovery from the induced toxic lesions were also followed histopathologically
      and related to the perturbed urinary biochemistry. Urinary concentrations of 20
      endogenous substances were measured simultaneously by NMR at eight time points,
      to provide a time-related 20-dimensional description of the urinary biochemistry
      for each rat. Principal components analysis and nonlinear mapping were used to
      reduce the biochemical parameter spaces for each rat to two or three dimensions
      for display and classification purposes. An investigation of alternative data
      presentation methods was made, and taking interanimal means of the map
      coordinates at each time point yielded a novel type of metabolic trajectory
      diagram with which the biochemical abnormalities associated with the HgCl2 and
      BEA lesions could be related to the progression and recovery phases of the toxic
      lesions. The time-course trajectories showed characteristically different paths
      for each toxin. These trajectories allowed the time points at which there were
      maximum metabolic differences to be determined and provided the visualization of
      net movements of the treatment group populations in time in relation to
      interanimal variation. Control animal urine samples subjected to this analysis
      showed simple clustering, with no evidence of metabolic trajectory. The
      trajectory for BEA showed different routes for onset of and recovery from
      toxicity, whereas for HgCl2 the outward trajectory (onset) mapped a space similar
      to the inward trajectory (recovery phase). This suggests that the NMR-detectable
      biochemical abnormalities after mercury toxicity mainly reflect the proportions
      of functional cells lining the nephron, whereas the biochemical abnormalities
      associated with renal medullary insult probably relate to functional integrity.
      An examination has been made for those metabolites that are most responsible for
      defining the trajectories, i.e., the discrimination of renal cortical and
      medullary toxicity from each other and from controls. These discriminatory
      metabolites (using paired t test, p < 0.001) included valine, taurine,
      trimethylamine N-oxide, and glucose for HgCl2 and acetate, methylamine,
      dimethylamine, lactate, and creatine for BEA, whereas citrate, succinate, N
      acetyl resonances from as yet unidentified metabolites, hippurate, alanine, and 2
      oxoglutarate played an important role in defining the biochemically perturbed
      trajectory of both toxins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1435757
TI  - Metabolite intermediate complexation of microsomal cytochrome P450 2C11 in male
      rat liver by nortriptyline.
AB  - Antidepressant drugs that contain alkylaminoalkyl substituents have been
      associated with serious pharmacokinetic interactions in humans that may be
      related to the inhibition of cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes. In this study, the
      propensity of the tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline (NOR) to inhibit
      individual microsomal P450 enzymes in rat liver was investigated to provide a
      mechanistic explanation for these pharmacokinetic interactions. Enzyme kinetic
      studies revealed that NOR inhibited steroid 2 alpha-, 6 beta, 7 alpha-, and 16
      alpha-hydroxylation in untreated rat liver with Km/Ki ratios of 0.53, 0.59, 0.25,
      and 0.29, respectively. When the drug was preincubated with microsomes and NADPH
      before testosterone hydroxylation was conducted, marked increases in the Km/Ki
      ratios were observed (to 8.8, 3.9, 0.62, and 13, respectively). Thus, enzymic
      oxidation of NOR enhanced its inhibition capacity against P450 activities.
      Indeed, the altered Km/Ki ratios indicate 17-, 6.6-, 2.5-, and 47-fold increases
      in inhibition of the four pathways of testosterone hydroxylation after the
      biotransformation of NOR to its metabolites. From these experiments it was
      apparent that testosterone 2 alpha- and 16 alpha-hydroxylations, catalyzed
      predominantly by P450 2C11, were subject to the most pronounced increase in
      inhibition. Under these conditions, the apparent content of microsomal P450 was
      decreased, thus suggesting the formation of a NOR metabolite intermediate (MI)
      complex with the cytochrome. Further, optical difference spectroscopy of NADPH
      supported metabolism of NOR in microsomes and in a reconstituted system
      incorporating purified P450 2C11 indicated the appearance of an absorbance peak
      near 454 nm, similar to those produced by triacetyloleandomycin, SKF 525-A, and
      orphenadrine. Formation of this absorbance peak in microsomes was inhibited by an
      antibody raised against the male-specific P450 2C11. Because oxidative metabolism
      of NOR to inhibitory products would not necessarily involve MI complexation,
      additional experiments were undertaken in which NOR-related free metabolites
      produced in microsomal incubations were removed on Sep-Pak mini-C18 columns
      before estimation of testosterone hydroxylation. The principal finding from this
      experiment was that P450 3A2-dependent steroid 6 beta-hydroxylase activity was
      inhibited to a much lesser extent after removal of unbound NOR metabolites on Sep
      Pak columns (25% inhibition after Sep-Pak extraction, compared with 82%
      inhibition observed when all NOR metabolites were present during subsequent
      testosterone hydroxylation); inhibition of P450 2C11-mediated 2 alpha- and 16
      alpha-hydroxylation was not noticeably different after Sep-Pak
      treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1435758
TI  - Control analysis of rat liver glycolysis under different glucose concentrations.
      The substrate approach and the role of glucokinase.
AB  - Control Analysis has been carried out in the first steps of a rat liver
      glycolytic system. Attention has been focused on the effect of several glucose
      concentrations on the control, particularly regarding the role of glucokinase.
      From kinetic studies of the whole metabolic system we have obtained information
      on the flux variation under different glucose concentrations. This information
      together with the kinetics of glucokinase has allowed us to calculate Flux
      Control and Elasticity Coefficients for glucokinase and the Response Coefficient
      of the system with respect to glucose. The changes in of the value of Flux
      Control Coefficients demonstrates that in conditions of low glucose
      concentration, glucokinase is the main enzyme in controlling the flux through the
      pathway, but at high glucose concentration the control moves to
      phosphofructokinase. Next, we have compared our results with those obtained with
      the shortening and titration method, previously described (Torres, N.V., Mateo,
      F., Melendez-Hevia, E. and Kacser, H., (1986) Biochem. J. 234, 169-174; Torres,
      N.V. and Melendez-Hevia, E. 1991. Molec. Cell. Biochem. 101, 1-10). Furthermore,
      from knowledge of the enzyme kinetics of the system we have been able to build a
      model of the pathway that allows us computer similation of its behavior and
      calculation of the Flux Control Coefficient profile at different glucose
      concentrations. By the three methods the results correlate, supporting the use of
      the pathway substrate as external modulator of the metabolic system as a tool for
      practical application of Control Analysis.

PMID- 1435760
TI  - Release of anchored membrane enzymes by lipoamidase.
AB  - Lipoamidase is found to be able to release various membrane-anchored enzymes from
      the membrane compartment of pig brain. Released enzymes revealed their intact
      enzyme activities in the soluble fraction. Lipoamidase could release at least two
      types of anchored enzymes, i.e. glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-bonded and
      myristoylated enzymes, but not integral membrane bound enzymes. The reaction was
      competitively inhibited by lipoyllysine. This releasing mechanism found in the
      membranes may play important roles in the secretory mechanism of extracellular
      enzymes and also in the cellular signal-transduction system through topological
      changes in cellular enzymes.

PMID- 1435759
TI  - The association of the human epsilon-globin gene with the nuclear matrix: a
      reconsideration.
AB  - The association of the human epsilon-globin gene with the nuclear matrix was
      studied in erythroid and non-erythroid cell lines. Using a high salt method to
      prepare histone depleted nuclei we studied the association of variety of
      fragments covering a 7.8 kb region which contains the human epsilon-globin gene.
      We furthermore studied the association of a set of DNA fragments covering the 13
      kb human G gamma/A gamma-globin gene domain, the 16 kb psi beta/delta-globin gene
      domain and the 10 kb beta-globin gene domain with the nuclear matrix of K562 and
      Raji cells. The results show that all fragments studied are easily released from
      the nuclear matrix, indicating no specific association. Summarizing our results
      we could say that a region starting 5.7 kb 5' to the human epsilon-globin gene
      and ending 4 kb 3' to the human beta-globin gene seems to contain no attachment
      sites with the nuclear matrix of both erythroid and non-erythroid cells.

PMID- 1435761
TI  - Effect of spermine on peptide-bond formation, catalyzed by ribosomal
      peptidyltransferase.
AB  - The effect of spermine on the binding of AcPhe-tRNA to poly(U)-programmed
      ribosomes (step 1) and on the puromycin reaction (step 2) has been studied in a
      cell-free system, derived from E. coli. In the absence of ribosomal wash (FWR
      fraction) and at suboptimal concentration of Mg++ (6 mM), spermine stimulated the
      binding of AcPhe-tRNA at least five fold, while at 10 mM Mg++ there was a three
      fold stimulation. The above stimulatory effect was decreased at 6 mM Mg++, or was
      abolished at 10 mM Mg++ by the presence of FWR during the binding. Beside the
      stimulatory effect, spermine enhanced the stability of initiation complex AcPhe
      tRNA-poly(U)-ribosome. In step 2, spermine affected the final degree of puromycin
      reaction and the activity status of peptidyltransferase. Both stimulatory and
      inhibitory effects have been observed, depending on the experimental conditions
      followed during the binding of the donor and during the peptide bond formation.

PMID- 1435762
TI  - Transient elevation of aldose reductase mRNA in lens of rats developing galactose
      cataracts.
AB  - Aldose reductase (AR), a major enzyme in the polyol pathway, is thought to be
      responsible for accumulation of polyols in lenses exposed to high doses of
      galactose or glucose, and it may be linked to some of the complications found in
      diabetes. In this report we examined the level of expression of AR mRNA in lens
      epithelia undergoing development of galactose cataracts in vivo. The AR mRNA was
      quantitated by Northern blot hybridization with a [35S]-RNA transcript from a
      previously described AR cDNA clone. This was done on normal lens epithelia and on
      epithelia from lens of rats fed a diet of Purina Chow containing 50% galactose
      for periods of from 6 hr to 20 days. We found AR mRNA to elevate to about 5-fold
      the control levels by 12-24 hr on galactose, then decrease to the control levels
      by day 4. The increase in AR mRNA appears to be transitory. The high abundance in
      AR mRNA by 24 hr on galactose was confirmed by in situ hybridization. At later
      periods, from 8 to 20 days on galactose, a slow increase in AR mRNA took effect,
      as we have previously reported. Changes in the levels of galactose and dulcitol
      between 0 and 96 hr were also quantitated by gas chromatography, showing that
      there was a significant increase in both galactose and dulcitol occurring
      throughout the experimental period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1435763
TI  - Arachidonic and palmitic acid utilization in aged rat brain areas.
AB  - We have previously demonstrated that the arachidonic acid (20:4) incorporation
      into brain lipids differs according to the age of the animals used and the
      experimental conditions adopted. These differences led to a further investigation
      of arachidonic acid uptake in both aged and adult rat brains, its transformation
      into CoA derivatives, its incorporation into diacyl-glycerols and polar lipids,
      and finally its oxidation to CO2. These metabolic parameters were then compared
      with those obtained after using the saturated fatty acid palmitate (16:0). In
      both cases slices or mitochondria from different brain areas of 24-month-old and
      4-month-old rats were examined. The results obtained indicate that the uptake of
      the fatty acids into cells is not modified by age. However, the successive
      metabolic transformations of the acids are altered to a considerable extent. In
      particular, in 24-month-old animals (compared with 4-month-old rats) there is a
      significant decrease of 20:4 in its incorporation into lipids as well as its
      oxidation to CO2, while arachidonoyl-CoA content increases by about 50%. This
      increased amount of CoA derivative, which has a potent detergent effect, may
      interfere with membrane structure and affect membrane physiological functions.
      Furthermore, because the free arachidonate pool is maintained in a dynamic
      equilibrium with its esterified forms, the final result may be a perturbation of
      this equilibrium.

PMID- 1435764
TI  - A kinetic description of sequential, reversible, Michaelis-Menten reactions:
      practical application of theory to metabolic pathways.
AB  - Equations are presented which describe a linear coupled system of reactions that
      utilize a single substrate and convert it to product by way of several
      intermediate enzyme catalysed steps. The present analysis extends previous
      results by assuming that the enzymes obey reversible Michaelis-Menten kinetics.
      In order for the system to reach steady state one must assume that the initial
      substrate concentration and the final product concentration are buffered to a
      constant value. Using the present analysis it can be shown that the system will
      not enter a steady state if the maximal velocity of any forward reaction is less
      than the steady state flux through the system. This condition represents a
      practical test for determining if a system will enter steady state but is valid
      only when the rate of the primary enzyme is not affected allosterically be
      intermediates in the pathway. The equations are used to analyse a portion of the
      rat liver glycogenic pathway that catalyses the conversion of glucose to fructose
      1,6-bisphosphate.

PMID- 1435765
TI  - Detection of ischemia-reperfusion cardiac injury by cardiac muscle
      chemiluminescence.
AB  - Various methods have been used in the past to assess the implication of oxygen
      free radicals (OFR) in ischemia-reperfusion-induced cardiac injury. Luminol
      enhanced tert-butyl-initiated chemiluminescence in cardiac tissue reflects
      oxidative stress and is a very sensitive method. It was used to elucidate the
      role of OFR in cardiac injury due to ischemia and reperfusion. Studies were
      conducted on perfused isolated rabbit hearts in three groups (n = 8 in each): I,
      control; II, submitted to global ischemia for 30 min; III, submitted to ischemia
      for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 60 min. The heart tissue was then assayed
      for chemiluminescence (CL); content of malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of OFR
      induced cardiac injury; and activity of tissue levels of antioxidants [superoxide
      dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)]. The control values
      for left and right ventricular CL and malondialdehyde were 81.1 +/- 15.4 (S.E.)
      and 182.4 +/- 50.3 (S.E.), mv.min.mg protein-1; and 0.024 +/- 0.006 (S.E.) and
      0.324 +/- 0.005 (S.E.) nmoles.mg protein-1 respectively. Ischemia produced an
      increase in the cardiac CL (3.3 to 4.4 fold) and MDA content (2 to 2.6 fold).
      Reperfusion following ischemia also produced similar changes in CL and MDA
      content. The control values for activity of left ventricular SOD, catalase, and
      GSH-Px were 45.77 +/- 1.73 (S.E.) U.mg protein-1, 5.35 +/- 0.51 (S.E.) K.10(
      3).sec-1.mg protein-1, and 77.50 +/- 7.70 (S.E.) nmoles NADPH.min-1.mg protein-1
      respectively. Activities of SOD and catalase decreased during ischemia but were
      similar to control values in ischemic-reperfused hearts. The GSH-Px activity of
      left ventricle was unaffected by ischemia, and ischemia-reperfusion. GSH-Px
      activity of the right ventricle increased with ischemia, and ischemic
      reperfusion. These results indicate that cardiac tissue chemiluminescence would
      be a useful and sensitive tool for the detection of oxygen free radical-induced
      cardiac injury.

PMID- 1435766
TI  - Retardation of cell aging by lipid peroxidation.
AB  - Different concentrations of Fe2+/vitamin C mixtures were used as initiators of
      lipid peroxidation in diploid fibroblasts from cultured human embryonic lung.
      Malondialdehyde (MDA) formation in the cell cultures was correlated directly with
      the concentrations of Fe2+ and vitamin C. Lipid peroxidation was associated with
      an increase in life-span, decrease in the population doubling time and increase
      in cellular DNA synthesis. The effects of lipid peroxidation varied inversely
      with the MDA level. These data showed that low levels of lipid peroxidation
      retarded several biological properties of cultured cells that are associated with
      cell aging.

PMID- 1435767
TI  - Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin preferentially interacts with blood
      group A-active glycolipids from pig intestinal mucosa and A- and B-active
      glycolipids from human red cells compared to H-active glycolipids.
AB  - The capacity of cholera toxin (CT) and of the heat-labile enterotoxin produced by
      Escherichia coli isolated from humans (LTh) to interact with glycolipids bearing
      ABO(H) blood group determinants isolated from different sources and separated by
      thin layer chromatography was studied. Toxin binding to the ABO(H)-related
      glycolipids depends on the glycolipid source, the type of the blood group
      activity, and the toxin. LTh and CT were capable of interacting with several
      blood group-active glycolipids from pig intestinal mucosa and both toxins
      preferentially recognize glycolipids isolated from animals carrying A-blood group
      antigenic determinants compared to those isolated from animals lacking these
      antigens. In contrast, LTh but not CT was able to interact with ABO(H)-active
      glycolipids from human erythrocytes. LTh preferentially binds to glycolipids
      isolated from A, B, and AB compared to O red cells. Results from competition
      experiments between CT and LTh for binding to the blood group-active glycolipids
      suggest that the carbohydrate structure requirements for the interaction of each
      toxin are different. The present findings may help to understand the results of
      clinical studies indicating an association between ABO(H) blood groups and the
      severity of diarrheal diseases produced by some toxigenic enterobacteria.

PMID- 1435768
TI  - Identification of calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins (annexins) from
      guinea pig alveolar type II cells.
AB  - A new group of calcium-regulating proteins, called annexins or Ca(++)-dependent
      phospholipid-binding proteins (PLBP), have been detected in different species,
      organs and cell types. In the present study, we have identified and quantitated
      PLBP from guinea pig lung, lavage fluid and alveolar type II cells to elucidate
      the possible role of PLBP in lung surfactant biogenesis and secretion. Lungs were
      lavaged and type II cells from lavaged lung were isolated by elastase digestion
      and purified by centrifugal elutriation. For the quantitative identification of
      PLBP, we performed ELISA assays and Western blot analysis by using an antiserum
      raised in guinea pigs against a pure rabbit lung 36 kDa PLBP. The lavage fluid,
      cytosol from lung and type II cells contained 784, 167 and 435 ng per mg protein,
      respectively, of PLBP. The SDS-PAGE electrophoretic pattern and Western blot
      confirmed that all lung samples have band corresponding to a 36 kDa protein. This
      indicates that both alveolar type II cells and lavage fluid have higher levels of
      PLBP than whole lung cytosol.

PMID- 1435770
TI  - [Modified nucleosides and nucleotides inhibiting HIV replication: analysis of the
      situation and potential prospects].
AB  - The results of an eight year search of blockaders of human immunodeficiency virus
      (HIV) among groups of modified nucleosides and nucleotides are reviewed. The
      molecular mechanism of action of these compounds is based on the inhibition of
      DNA polymerases activity. Attempts of systematic analysis of structure--anti-HIV
      activity relationship for modified substrates of DNA biosynthesis are made. In
      this analysis attention is focused on the evaluation of general properties of
      enzymes of the phosphorylation cascade and DNA polymerases. Such properties are
      analyzed on the basis of empiric rules which summarize electronic, steric and
      conformational properties of substrate analogs. The ability of phosphorylating
      nucleosides to block HIV reproduction are analyzed. The interdependence of
      structure of several most known inhibitors with their action on nucleic acids
      components metabolism as well as the structure--therapeutic properties
      relationship are discussed.

PMID- 1435771
TI  - [Spatial organization and conformational mobility of DNA complexed with
      nucleoproteins].
AB  - The importance of spatial organization of DNA for the regulation of genome
      activity is discussed. The main problem reviewed in this paper includes
      cooperative interactions of proteins with DNA, formation of DNA loops in the
      regulatory domains of the genome and conformational mobility of DNA in chromatin.

PMID- 1435769
TI  - Vanadate-induced gene expression in mouse C127 cells: roles of oxygen derived
      active species.
AB  - An underinvestigated aspect of the mitogenic and cell regulatory actions of
      vanadium is the regulation of gene expression. Among the fifteen cellular genes
      studied in cultured mouse C127 cells, vanadium (as 10 microM sodium vanadate)
      increased levels of mRNA of the actin and c-Ha-ras to four times control values.
      These increases represented de novo synthesis of mRNA, since they were inhibited
      by actinomycin D. Vanadate did not increase mRNA corresponding to c-src, c-mos, c
      myc, p53, HSP70, pODC or RB genes, and expression of c-erb A, c-erb B, c-sis and
      c-fes genes was undetectable whether vanadium was present or not. Expression of a
      third gene affected by vanadium, c-jun, was augmented by addition of a reductant
      or oxidant together with the vanadate. Addition of NADH (marginally effective on
      its own) or H2O2 (effective alone) dramatically enhanced the effect of vanadate
      on c-jun gene expression. Catalase inhibited the effect of NADH partly. The
      vanadate-stimulated expression of actin and c-Ha-ras mRNA were unaffected by
      oxidants, reductants, metal chelators, or anti-oxidant enzymes. Evidently
      vanadate acts by two separate mechanisms on these two categories of genes. The
      alternate hypothesis that the actions of vanadate on actin and c-Ha-ras were
      mediated by a protein kinase cascade was inconsistent with the following
      observations. Neither insulin nor epidermal growth factor increased mRNA levels
      of c-Ha-ras or actin gene. Neither genistein (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor) nor
      pretreatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate blocked the actions of
      vanadate on these genes. Clearly the biological actions of vanadium depend in
      part on altered expression of genes. Since two of the genes are proto-oncogenes,
      this mechanism is potentially relevant to the mitogenic responses of cells to
      vanadium.

PMID- 1435772
TI  - [Expression of orthopoxvirus DNA sequences in Escherichia coli cells].
AB  - We observed the expression of recombinant plasmids genes containing ectromelia
      virus DNA fragments in E. coli minicells. Using plasmids with vaccinia or
      ectromelia viruses DNA fragments inserted upstream of lacZ gene we showed that
      certain orthopoxvirus genome fragments carry out a promoter-like function in
      bacterial cells.

PMID- 1435773
TI  - [Coding part of the son gene small transcript contains four areas of complete
      tandem repeats].
AB  - Overlapping cDNA clones for the smaller son gene transcript were isolated by
      several steps of human placenta cDNA library walking. Here we report the
      structure of repeats that exist at the long open reading, present in the
      structure of this smaller (5.6 kb) transcript of human gene son. We were able to
      identify in this transcript four areas of complete tandem repeats, formed by
      several steps of duplication. For three of them the extent of homology between
      amino acid sequences of repeated elements is higher than between their nucleic
      acid sequences. It means that amino acid sequences of repeated elements are
      conserved, that could reflect the structural significance for the function of
      hypothetical protein product of human gene son. On the basis of the results of
      analysis we proposed the model for the formation of repeats by processes of
      duplication, mutation and natural selection pressure at the expressed protein
      level.

PMID- 1435774
TI  - [The human son gene: the large and small transcripts contains various 5'-terminal
      sequences].
AB  - Human son gene was previously identified by cloning and hybridization to GC-rich
      rat genomic fragment. After several cycles of human placenta library walking we
      were able to identify and clone two alternative transcripts of this gene.
      Recently we have determined nucleotide sequence of small son gene transcript,
      coding region of which contains four areas of complete tandem repeats. Here we
      report the structure of the part (2.9 kb) of large transcript of son gene from
      close to its 5'-end to the end of sequence, unique for this transcript.
      Comparison of nucleotide sequences of two transcripts indicates that they have
      common 3'-ends and, probably, arise from alternative splicing. 5' proximal part
      of large transcript contains two areas of complete tandem repeats not present in
      small transcript. Results of analysis of this area support our model for forming
      son gene tandem repeats structure by duplication, mutation and natural selection
      at the protein level.

PMID- 1435775
TI  - [Affinity modification of 80S ribosomes from human placenta with mRNA analogs-
      derivatives of oligouridylates with alkylating groups at the 3'-end].
AB  - 2',3'-O-[4-(N-2-chloroethyl-N-methylamino)]benzylidene derivatives of
      oligoribonucleotides (Up)5U[32P]pC and (Up)11U[32P]pC were used for affinity
      labeling of 80S ribosomes from human placenta in the presence of cognate Phe
      tRNA(Phe). The derivatives retained the ability of tRNA(Phe)-dependent binding
      with 80S ribosomes and within the corresponding complexes were cross-linked to
      40S subunits (preferentially to 18S rRNA). Sites of the mRNA analogs attachment
      were identified by blot-hybridization of the modified rRNA with restriction
      fragments of corresponding rDNA. They are located within positions 1610-1747 and
      1748-1865 for both analogs. These fragments are situated at the 3'-end region of
      18S rRNA in a highly conserved part of eukaryotic small subunit rRNA secondary
      structure.

PMID- 1435776
TI  - [Crystals of free aspartate aminotransferase].
AB  - The crystals of free cytosolic chicken aspartate aminotransferase were subjected
      to X-ray investigation at 2.7 A. One subunit of the dimeric molecule crystalline
      enzyme is in the open conformation and the other is in the closed conformation.

PMID- 1435777
TI  - [Conformational stimulation in DNA type macromolecules].
AB  - A concept for the description of structural elements mobility of a DNA-type
      macromolecule is suggested. The possible existence of conformational excitations
      weakly sensitive to a macromolecule heterogeneity in DNA is shown. The dependence
      of the macromolecule low-energy excitation spectrum on the nucleotide content is
      found and its sensitivity to thermal action is predicted.

PMID- 1435778
TI  - [Localization of conserved and variable segments in amino acid sequences of
      homologous proteins using a personal computer].
AB  - A set of aligned homologous protein sequences is divided into two groups
      consisting of the most related sequences m and k. The value of the position
      variability of homologous protein sequences is defined as a number of failures to
      coincide in the intergroup comparison of all possible k x m pairs of amino acid
      residues in that position divided by k x m. The position variability value
      plotted vs the sequence position number with a window of 10 positions gives the
      intergroup local variability profile. The area S of the figure included between
      the local variability profile and the straight line corresponding to the mean
      local variability value is compared with the average area S(r) for 1000 random
      homologous protein families. If S is greater than S(r) by more than 2 standard
      deviation units sigma r the local variability profile is assumed to contain peaks
      and hollows corresponding to significant variable and conservative regions of the
      sequences. The profile extrema containing the area surplus delta S = S-(S(r) + 2
      sigma r) are cut off by two straight lines to locate significant regions. The
      numerical experiment on the family of homologous phospholipases A2 revealed the
      linear dependence of the values S(r) and sigma r upon the position variability
      standard deviation sigma v of the homologous sequences. Furthermore, it was shown
      for protein families of various length (rhodopsins, aspartate aminotransferases,
      cytochromes b, L- and M-subunits of photosynthetic bacteria photoreaction centre
      and alpha-subunits of Na, K-ATPase), that delta S = S - n(S'r + 2 sigma r), where
      S - the area of the local variability profile, n = L/l (L - the length of the
      given protein family and l - the length of the hypothetical protein domain). If l
      = 250 then S'r = -1.42 + 62.56 sigma v and sigma'r = -0.14 + 7.46 sigma v.

PMID- 1435779
TI  - [Molecular cloning of the gene for secreted beta-galactosidase of the filamentous
      fungus Penicillium canescens].
AB  - A secreted beta-galactosidase gene from P. canescens was cloned using synthetic
      oligonucleotide probes and its nucleotide sequence was partially determined. The
      gene was shown to be present in the genome as a single copy. The deduced primary
      structure of the signal peptide and the first 25 amino acid residues of the
      mature protein was established. The structure analysis of the beta-galactosidase
      gene revealed at least one short intron 64 bp long. The transcription start point
      was found to be located 89 bp upstream the initiation codon. Some peculiarities
      of the signal peptide cleavage mechanism are discussed.

PMID- 1435780
TI  - [Design of hybrid metalloproteinases from Bacillus].
AB  - Possibility of using recombination mechanisms for the construction of hybrids
      between relative proteins containing highly homologous regions has been
      demonstrated. In order to design hybrid neutral proteases (NPr) NPr B.
      amyloliquefaciens--NPr B. brevis genes encoding these enzymes have been cloned
      into the same plasmid in tandem orientation with subsequent recombination between
      them. With the help of sequential inactivation we have managed to ensure
      efficient selection at intermediate stages as well as at the completion stage of
      construction when the desirable hybrid forms exhibited proteolytic activity.
      Constructions containing expressed genes of the hybrid neutral proteases NPr B.
      amyloliquefaciens--NPr B. brevis were obtained. The presence of several regions
      of high homology between the genes of the two Bacilli neutral proteinases
      determines the possibility of obtaining of various variants of hybrid proteins
      with different properties.

PMID- 1435781
TI  - [Interaction of mRNA of the p53 protein gene with ribosomal RNA].
AB  - By blot hybridization we found that DNA fragments of eukaryotic 18 and 28S rRNAs
      bind specifically with mRNA. In these experiments the in vitro transcribed mRNA
      of mouse gene p53 was used. In addition we found that both 18 and 28S rRNAs were
      able to form intermolecular complexes with mRNAs of several genes 18S rRNA-mRNA;
      28S rRNA-mRNA, but fail to bind the antisense RNAs of the same genes. The
      experimental data allow to suppose that 18S and 28S rRNAs carry several fragments
      that are complementary to some fragments in the mRNA sequences.

PMID- 1435782
TI  - [Theoretical analysis of the amino acid sequence of receptors for growth hormones
      and prolactins. Prediction of ligand-binding segments].
AB  - At present the growth hormone and prolactin receptors were cloned along with
      their variant forms from human, rat, mouse, rabbit, bovine and sheep tissues. The
      functional topography of receptors is practically unknown. Because of the high
      price and difficulty of protein's total mutagenesis, it is reasonable to carry on
      a theoretical analysis of structures of receptors to predict the most probable
      ligand-binding sites. We studied the primary structures of known prolactin and
      growth hormone receptors using theoretical methods proved to be powerful in
      earlier structure--activity relationship investigations. We analyzed the
      secondary structure, conservative positions, hydrophilicity profiles of the
      growth hormone and prolactin receptors, and used the original method based on
      information theory to predict the sites which are promising for mutagenesis or
      peptide synthesis as probable ligand-binding sites. Three segments corresponding
      to the main conservative, hydrophilic and rare sites were predicted to form the
      ligand-binding determinant.

PMID- 1435783
TI  - [Comparison of the state of the area between B- and Z-segments of superhelical
      plasmids in vitro and in situ].
AB  - The structure of B-Z junction in a cloned plasmid pGC20 containing a (dG-dC)10
      insert at the SmaI site has been studied in vitro and in situ by modifying the
      DNA with O-beta-diethylaminoethylhydroxylamine (OHA). The latter is an analog of
      hydroxylamine possessing specificity with respect to unpaired cytidine.
      Experiments in vitro showed a complicated pattern of inhibiting the restriction
      hydrolysis of the OHA-modified DNA within the polylinker region of the plasmid.
      As the duration of the DNA reaction with OHA grows, a gradual increase in the
      inhibition of restriction is observed at the BamHI site neighboring the Z-insert
      and at the HindIII site at a distance of about 30 bp from the insert, while an
      intact segment (containing the SalGI site) is retained in the intermediate
      region. On passing to the cell level, only the region immediately adjacent to the
      Z-insert appears to be modified. According to estimates, about 30 to 40% of pGC20
      molecules have the (dG-dC)10 insert in the Z-form when modified in situ in 1M
      OHA, pH 5.0.

PMID- 1435784
TI  - [Regulation of the expression of the c-fos gene in cells, reverting from being
      transformed to the pseudonormal phenotype].
AB  - Regulation of c-fos expression in mice sarcoma cell lines CBA and C3H was
      investigated. Each of the cell lines was represented by a pair of clones: the
      tumorigenic and the one, which was produced from it by cloning. It was found,
      that c-fos expression in cells of the pseudonormal phenotype was similar to that
      in the normal fibroblasts. Experiments with cells reverted to pseudonormal
      phenotype transfected transiently or permanently with an indicator plasmid fos
      cat have shown, that a 600 bp sequence of the c-fos promotor including the TATA
      site, provides the expression level of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase,
      correlating with the level of the c-fos mRNA expression. In the tumorigenic
      cells, permanent high activity of the cat gene expression was observed which was
      comparable to that in the normal fibroblasts stimulated by the embrionic serum or
      TPA. Activity of the transcription factors interacting with regulatory elements
      SRE, DSE, TRE did not correlate with the c-fos expression level in all the cells.

PMID- 1435785
TI  - [Study of transcription of the human cytochrome P450IID6 gene by polymerase chain
      reaction].
AB  - Polymerase chain reaction was used to study the expression of the drug metabolism
      gene. Primers complementary to the 2070-2090 and 2912-2930 sites within exons 4
      and 6 of the gene CYP2D6 were synthesized. The amplification of the cDNA from
      total human liver mRNA was achieved. The length of the fragment obtained (238 bp)
      was in accordance with the distance between the primers binding sites in cDNA.
      The amplification of the DNA from the same source led to the longer fragment due
      to the presence of introns. The total RNA from the blood cells of the extensive
      metabolizers was shown to contain the mRNA transcribed from the CYP2D6 gene. The
      Taq polymerase reaction in the presence of cDNA derived from a poor metabolizer
      did not lead to the synthesis of the 238 bp fragment.

PMID- 1435786
TI  - [Affinity modification of the 40S subparticle from human placenta with
      derivatives of pAUG and pAUGU3].
AB  - Affinity labeling of 40S subunits from human placenta with 4-(N-2-chloroethyl-N
      methylamino)benzylmethyl-[32P]phosphoamide s of oligoribonucleotides pAUG and
      pAUGU3 was studied. Covalent attachment of these derivatives to 40S subunits
      within the complexes with 40S subunits, formed in the presence of Met-tRNAf.eIF
      2.GTP, was detected. Both rRNA and ribosomal proteins were modified. Fragments of
      18S rRNA, containing sites of the reagent attachment were identified: 1058-1164
      for pAUG derivative and 976-1057--for pAUG and pAUGU3 ones. The data obtained
      allowed to conclude that the presence of the neighbouring codon at the A-site,
      regardless of the presence of the tRNA in it, affects significantly the
      arrangement of the trinucleotide template in the codon-anticodon interaction
      region. The large subunit does not cause significant alterations in the
      structural organization of the codon-anticodon interaction region.

PMID- 1435787
TI  - Alanine-scanning mutagenesis of human prolactin: importance of the 58-74 region
      for bioactivity.
AB  - We have generated 10 alanine mutants of human PRL (hPRL), a member of the PRL/GH
      family, to investigate the involvement of the highly conserved 58-74 region in
      the biological behavior of the protein. When treated with polyclonal anti-hPRL
      antibodies, all mutants were immunologically indistinguishable from the
      unmodified hPRL, and circular dichroism analyses indicated that their alpha-helix
      content was similar to that of the unmodified hormone. Mutations C58A, K69A, and,
      to a lesser extent, P66A affected drastically the ability of hPRL first to bind
      to the lactogenic receptor and second to stimulate the proliferation of Nb2
      lymphoma cells, proving the importance of the 58-74 peptide segment for hPRL
      bioactivity. Binding affinities of these mutants to the Nb2 lactogenic receptor
      have been compared to lactogenic binding data previously obtained for several
      mutants of hGH. The comparison reveals that the residues involved in the
      biological properties of the two proteins are not at topologically equivalent
      positions. Hence, we suggest that the binding of these hormones to the lactogenic
      receptors occurs through a different molecular mechanism having distinct
      requirements at the residue level.

PMID- 1435788
TI  - Prohormone convertase-1 will process prorelaxin, a member of the insulin family
      of hormones.
AB  - Relaxin is a polypeptide hormone involved in remodeling of the birth canal during
      parturition. It is synthesized as a preprohormone precursor, which undergoes
      specific processing to form the mature two-chain disulfide-linked active species
      that is secreted by the cell. A major part of this processing requires
      endoproteolytic cleavage at specific pairs of basic amino acid residues, an event
      necessary for the maturation of a variety of important biologically active
      proteins, such as insulin and nerve growth factor. Human type 2 preprorelaxin was
      coexpressed in human kidney 293 cells with the candidate prohormone convertase
      processing enzymes mPC1 or mPC2, both cloned from the mouse pituitary tumor AtT
      20 cell line, or with the yeast kex2 alpha-mating factor-converting enzyme from
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Prorelaxin expressed alone in 293 cells was secreted
      into the culture medium unprocessed. Transient coexpression with mPC1 or kex2,
      but not with mPC2, resulted in the secretion of a low mol wt species with an
      electrophoretic mobility very similar, if not identical, to that of authentic
      mature relaxin purified from human placenta. This species was precipitable by
      monoclonal antibodies specific for relaxin and had a retention time on reverse
      phase HPLC comparable to that of relaxin. Its analysis by both electrospray and
      fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry generated mass data that were consistent
      only with mature relaxin. The basic residues required for mPC1-dependent cleavage
      of prorelaxin are defined by site-directed mutagenesis.

PMID- 1435789
TI  - Modulation of glucocorticoid receptor function by protein kinase A.
AB  - Protein kinase A (PKA) has been shown to modulate the pattern of gene expression
      via transcription factors such as cAMP response element binding protein. However,
      in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells which lack endogenous functional cAMP response
      element binding protein, we have found that PKA is still able to control gene
      transcription through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) by up-regulating its
      hormone-dependent trans-activation. Dose-response analysis indicates that PKA
      does not alter the ligand binding affinity of GR. PKA seems to act through the
      DNA binding domain of GR, since GR mutants which lack either the amino-terminal
      or the ligand binding domain are still able to be up-regulated by PKA. In support
      of this proposal, we demonstrate that PKA can enhance the DNA binding activity of
      GR. Our results suggest a novel mechanism by which PKA modulates the steroid
      sensitivity of a target cell by enhancing the DNA binding activity of GR for its
      cognate hormone response elements.

PMID- 1435790
TI  - Positive and negative thyroid hormone response elements are composed of strong
      and weak half-sites 10 nucleotides in length.
AB  - The steroid-thyroid hormone receptors bind to imperfect repeats of two or more
      half-sites. It is generally accepted that a T3 response element (TRE) half-site
      consists of a six-nucleotide core motif (5'-AGGT(C/A)A-3'). It is less widely
      appreciated that the nucleotides flanking this core motif also have a major
      influence on the affinity of T3 receptor (TR) for its response element. We
      analyzed TR-DNA interactions under conditions in which the affinity of receptor
      monomers for individual TRE half-sites of the rat GH (rGH) gene was measured.
      These studies avoided the effects of half-site spacing and orientation on
      receptor binding. Variations in the nucleotides flanking the core sequence can
      modulate receptor binding by more than 15-fold. Systematic mutational analysis of
      TRE half-site structure demonstrated that at least two nucleotides flanking
      either side of the half-site core motif strongly influence TR binding affinity
      and activity, indicating that half-sites are approximately 10 nucleotides long.
      Thus, the half-sites of most TREs overlap, and mutations in one half-site may
      affect the activity of its partner. The TRE half-site sequence 5'-CTGAGGTAACG-3'
      was bound with highest affinity by TRs. The negatively T3-responsive promoter of
      the rGH gene was used to investigate the functional significance of the
      nucleotides flanking the core motif in vivo. A promoter consisting of only 22 rGH
      nucleotides, containing two functional TRE half-sites which overlap the rGH TATA
      box, directed T3-inhibited transcription. Mutation of nucleotides flanking the
      core sequence of the weaker half-site dramatically reduced the activity of the
      element, demonstrating that the flanking sequences of the half-sites can
      profoundly affect TRE activity.

PMID- 1435792
TI  - [Milk feeding for healthy, mature infants].

PMID- 1435791
TI  - Expression and regulation of a proenkephalin beta-galactosidase fusion gene in
      the reproductive system of transgenic mice.
AB  - A fusion gene containing 3 kilobases of human proenkephalin 5'-flanking sequences
      and 1 kilobase of human proenkephalin 3'-flanking sequence and the easily
      visualized histochemical marker, Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase, was used to
      study the function of cis-regulatory elements within the human proenkephalin gene
      in transgenic mice. Here data are presented on expression and regulation of this
      fusion gene in the reproductive system of three independent lines of transgenic
      mice. Within the male reproductive system, the fusion gene is expressed in the
      proximal epididymis and in developing germinal cells but not in mature or
      elongating spermatids. In the female reproductive system, the transgene was
      expressed at low basal levels, but expression was dramatically stimulated in the
      ovary and oviduct by hormonal stimulation and pregnancy; additionally, expression
      was induced at the uteroplacental junction in pregnant mice. Taken together these
      observations suggest that critical sequences for expression and regulation of the
      proenkephalin gene within the reproductive system are contained within sequences
      of the construct.

PMID- 1435793
TI  - [Human genetics and transplantation].
AB  - Transplantations represent an important element of treatment in end-stage chronic
      disease both inborn (mostly genetic) and acquired (degenerative, neoplastic).
      They are supposed to establish durable coexistence of cells with different
      genetic origin (in most cases). This union is contradictory to immunological
      properties of the tissues involved and can only succeed in case of sufficient
      histocompatibility to be identified by the diagnostic tests of immunogenetics.
      This review discusses the current approach used in choosing the most appropriate
      donor for an individual patient, and in monitoring the maintenance of "chimerism"
      established by the transplantation focussing on bone marrow transplantation.
      Initially a general outline of indications for organ transplantation is given
      with emphasis laid on genetic disorders as the outlook of conservative treatments
      in inborn diseases is generally very poor.

PMID- 1435794
TI  - [Monoclonal hybrid antibodies. New perspectives for basic research and tumor
      therapy].
AB  - Monoclonal hybrid antibodies are bi-specific constructs of two monoclonal
      antibodies with defined specificity. Hybrid antibodies can be used to force
      interactions between cell populations that under normal circumstances would not
      react with one another. Applications include the field of basic research as well
      as employment in therapy of malignancies and infectious diseases. The first part
      of this review describes the characteristic properties of hybrid antibodies and
      gives a short introduction into basic techniques for the production of these
      molecules. In the second part we present our observations on T-lymphocyte
      development studied with hybrid antibodies in fetal thymic organ cultures.
      Finally, we show that hybrid antibodies encompassing a binding site to the T-cell
      receptor and a binding site to a surface marker on tumor cells can be used to
      recruit cytotoxic T-cells to eliminate efficiently the malignant cells. Our data
      demonstrate that monoclonal hybrid antibodies are useful in the future
      development of new therapeutical principles, through facilitation of the immune
      response.

PMID- 1435795
TI  - [Pertussis--an illness with typical clinical symptoms?].
AB  - There has been a noticeable increase in the incidence of pertussis in West
      Germany over the last decade. Since the availability of adequate bacteriological
      diagnosis a much broader clinical spectrum can be attributed to infections with
      B. pertussis. Three patients with an unusual clinical presentation of pertussis
      are presented. A three month old infant presented with severe apneic spells
      without cough as the sole clinical symptoms of the infection. B. pertussis was
      isolated in the nasopharyngeal swab. A nine month old premature infant with
      bronchopulmonary dysplasia after long time intubation and artificial ventilation
      presented with apneic spells, pulmonary and cardiac decompensation and required
      ventilatory support. The diagnosis was suggested by a massive leucocytosis with
      lymphocytosis. The diagnosis on the patient was established by serologic methods.
      Adult contacts of this patient developed longstanding cough and clinical signs of
      pertussis. The diagnosis of pertussis in these persons was established by
      nasopharyngeal culture. The third patient with trisomy 21 and a corrected AV
      canal suffered from nonspecific cough and gradually developed signs of congestive
      heart failure with pneumonia. B. pertussis was isolated from the nasopharynx.
      This patient showed neither the typical paroxysmal coughing spells nor disclosed
      the typical lymphocytosis in his white blood count. Microbiological
      investigations of patients with symptoms of respiratory tract infections should
      include the isolation of B. pertussis. Thus, additional cases of pertussis not
      suspected on the basis of their initial clinical presentation will be detected.

PMID- 1435796
TI  - [Embolism of the aortic bifurcation. Complication of bacterial endocarditis in
      childhood].
AB  - Acute occlusion of the aortic bifurcation by a sattle embolus, as a complication
      of infective Endocarditis, is a very rare, extremely serious event. The treatment
      of choice consist in an immediate simultaneous bilateral femoral embolectomy. The
      indication for operation must be realised without delay based on anamnesis and
      physical examination.

PMID- 1435797
TI  - [Hepatitis B virus DNA. Detection with polymerase chain reaction in liver tissue
      of children with chronic hepatitis B].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA is a reliable evidence of the
      presence of the viral agent and its replication. Conventional hybridization
      techniques are limited to detect about 30,000 virions. With the polymerase chain
      reaction it became possible to extend the sensitivity by amplification of viral
      sequences. In our study we intended to test whether viral sequences could be
      found in liver tissue specimens negative for hepatitis B virus DNA by
      conventional hybridization techniques. METHODS: Hepatitis B virus DNA was
      detected by PCR in liver tissue of 37 children with chronic hepatitis B, negative
      for hepatitis B virus DNA by Southern blot hybridization. PCR was performed in a
      thermal cycler using Taq-polymerase and oligonucleotide primers within the
      hepatitis B core region. Hepatitis B virus DNA was visualized by ethidium bromide
      staining and subsequent Southern blot hybridization. RESULTS: 20 patients were
      HBeAg- and 17 anti-HBe-seropositive. Viral sequences were present in each of the
      20 HBeAg positive HBsAg carriers and in 10 patients with anti-HBe. No hepatitis B
      virus DNA could be found in 7 children, all of them positive for anti-HBe.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm polymerase chain reaction to be a more sensitive
      method to detect hepatitis B virus DNA in the liver compared with conventional
      hybridization techniques. Every HBeAg positive carrier as well as the majority of
      anti-HBe positive patients present viral DNA in their liver. Polymerase chain
      reaction will be suitable to monitor viral replication in spontaneous course and
      treated patients.

PMID- 1435798
TI  - [Effects of passive smoking on the pediatric respiratory tract].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the risk of parental smoking to the respiratory health of
      their children data of a cross sectional study on fourth-grade schoolchildren in
      Munich and Southern Bavaria were analysed. METHODS: Allergic and asthmatic
      diseases and symptoms, risk factors like family history, indoor pollution and
      parental smoking were evaluated by a questionnaire. Pulmonary function tests were
      performed in 7284 school children aged (9-11 years). Lung function values were
      adjusted for height, weight, sex and other confounders. RESULTS: The children,
      whose parents smoke at home, had significantly lower levels of peak flow, MEF75,
      MEF50 and MEF25 compared to children from non-smoking families, with a dose
      response relationship. Smoking of more than 20 cigarettes at home is associated
      with a mean decrease in MEF75 of 5.7%, in MEF50 of 4.9% and in Peak Flow of 4.9%
      (p < 0.001). The prevalence of cough and wheezing increased with increasing
      smoking rates of the parents. CONCLUSIONS: Passive exposure to smoke has direct
      measurable dose-dependent effects on the respiratory system of children.

PMID- 1435799
TI  - [Does breast feeding prevent asthma and allergies? Results of the Munich asthma
      and allergy study].
AB  - The relationship of breast feeding to atopic diseases is studied in a population
      based cross sectional study in Munich and Bavaria 1989/1990 in 6,535 german ten
      year old children. According to the questionnaire answers 1914 (29.3%) children
      were not breast fed, 2,368 (36.2%) shorter than 2 months, 1,744 (26.7%) 2 to 6
      months and 509 (7.8%) more than 6 months. Compared to controls without any
      allergic disease the relative risk of later asthma, hayfever, atopic dermatitis
      and of allergic skin sensitization was not diminished by breast feeding. The same
      result pertained to high risk subgroups defined by positive family history of
      asthma or hayfever. It is concluded that breast feeding alone has no long term
      protective effect against atopic diseases.

PMID- 1435800
TI  - [Chronic hepatitis B. Treatment in childhood with alpha-interferon].
AB  - BACKGROUND: In adults several trials of successful therapy for chronic hepatitis
      B using alpha-interferon with rates of seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe of
      30-40% have been reported. Despite the experiences in children are limited, alpha
      interferon seems to be a promising drug in this age group as well. We report on
      our results in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus carrier using the
      recombination interferon alpha-2b. METHODS: 24 children aged 0.6-16 years with
      chronic active or chronic persistent hepatitis B were included in the study. 12
      children received 9 million units of alpha-interferon/m2 body surface area three
      times a week during four months. 12 control patients were not treated. The follow
      up period was 9-12 months after the beginning of therapy. HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti
      HBe and Hepatitis-B-Virus-DNA were assessed during this time on a regular basis.
      RESULTS: Only seroconversion of HBe-Ag to anti-HBe was considered as response to
      interferon treatment. During the follow-up period anti-HBe could be detected in 5
      (41.6%) of the treated and in one (8.3%) of the untreated children. In one case
      additional seroconversion of HBsAg to anti-HBs due to virus elimination was
      observed. In all children a marked reduction of viral replication could be shown.
      9 patients cleared Hepatitis-B-Virus-DNA at least for one time during therapy.
      Alpha-interferon was well tolerated and no severe side effects were observed.
      CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that alpha-interferon can be successfully
      applied to a considerable number of children with chronic hepatitis B. In
      patients responding to alpha-interferon usually serum transaminases become normal
      and infectivity of the disease is markedly reduced. alpha-Interferon treatment
      should be primarily recommended for children with chronic active inflammation.

PMID- 1435801
TI  - [Unnecessary public health measures in asymptomatic Salmonella carriers].

PMID- 1435802
TI  - [Diagnosis of lung function in general practice].

PMID- 1435803
TI  - [Idiopathic epilepsy with generalized seizures in early childhood].
AB  - Idiopathic epilepsies with generalized seizures of early childhood are based on a
      genetic predisposition. The onset takes place between the first and fifth years
      of age, boys are affected more often than girls. Dependent on the clinical
      symptomatology you have to distinguish: myoclonic seizures; atonic-astatic
      seizures; myoclonic-astatic seizures; absences; tonic-clonic seizures. In more
      than half of the cases a combination of these seizures can be observed. The
      differentiation of epilepsies with generalized seizures of multifocal origin
      (infantile spasms, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Pseudo-Lennox syndrome [atypical
      benign epilepsy]) may be difficult but is essential. Therapy of choice is
      valproate, often in combination with ethosuximide (in children with minor
      seizures) or with kaliumbromide or phenobarbital (in children with tonic-clonic
      seizures). Generally the prognosis is more unfavourable if epilepsy starts in the
      first year of life with afebrile and febrile generalized tonic-clonic or clonic
      seizures, if children are suffering from longlasting states of seizures and if
      development is disturbed before beginning of epilepsy.

PMID- 1435804
TI  - [Transient, prolonged, combined sicca syndrome of the eyes and mouth. Occurrence
      along with a common cold in an 8-year-old girl].
AB  - A girl of eight years fell ill with signs of common cold and bronchitis. Already
      on the second day of illness, before any treatment was started, she showed
      symptoms of a sicca-syndrome, beginning in the eyes, later the mouth.
      Ophthalmologic examination showed keratitis filiformis, histology of the salivary
      glands in the mucosa of the mouth was normal. Local substitution therapy led to
      subjective improvement. The disorder of secretion persisted for four months only,
      then rapid restitutio ad integrum of tears and saliva production occurred.
      Pathogenetically a parainfectious immunologic mechanism seems probable. During
      the observed period there were significant changes of antibody titers against RS
      virus and streptococci, but it is not possible to identify the cause of the
      illness really. We conclude that a sicca-syndrome with normal histology of mouth
      mucosa-glands is not necessarily prognostically infavorable.

PMID- 1435805
TI  - [Percutaneous Silastic catheters in newborn and premature infants. A report of
      experiences with 497 catheters in 5 years].
AB  - BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Central catheters are an important prerequisite for
      adequate parenteral nutrition in preterm infants. However, a variety of
      complications have been shown to be associated with central lines: septicemica,
      thrombotic complications, mechanical complications. In this retrospective
      analysis we summarize our recent experience with central silastic catheters.
      RESULTS: Within a five-year-period (1986-1990). 497 silastic-catheters were
      inserted in 366 high risk neonates (mean birthweight 1360 g; 1060-1740 g, 25.-75.
      percentile) treated at the NICU, Department of Pediatrics, University of
      Gottingen. 451 catheters which were placed in a central position, were removed
      after an average duration of 11 days (mean; 8-18 days, 25.-75. percentile).
      During the observation period, 62.8 percent of the catheters were purposely
      removed. Making use of the Kaplan-Meier-curve, we calculated how long the
      catheter could stay without complications; 50% of all catheters could be expected
      to be in place for 25 days. The incidence of septicemia was 1.9%, bacterial
      contamination of the catheters was evident in 22% of all central lines. The most
      predominant microorganisms responsible for catheter-contamination were coagulase
      negative staphylococci. In addition, catheters were removed because of signs of
      phlebitis or suspected thrombotic complications (11.1%), and mechanical
      complications (dislocation, occlusion; 11.7%). Due to malposition of the central
      catheter two preterm infants developed pericardial effusions. There was no
      correlation between the site where the catheter was inserted and these
      complications. CONCLUSION: Central silastic catheters wherever clinically
      indicated are a valuable adjunct in the parenteral nutrition on high risk
      neonates.

PMID- 1435806
TI  - [In vivo studies of residual allergen activity of hydrolysate feeding].
AB  - The capacity of food proteins to induce IgE-mediated reactions can be reduced by
      hydrolysis, heat treatment or ultrafiltration. It was the aim of our study to
      investigate the capacity of hydrolysates used for dietary purposes in cow's milk
      allergy to induce allergic symptoms in cow's milk sensitive children. Six
      different hydrolysates were tested by skin prick test and oral provocation test
      in 17 cow's milk sensitive children. Our data indicate that certain hydrolysates
      induce positive skin reactions as well as allergic symptoms after oral challenge.
      Casein hydrolysates were found to have the least residual allergenic activity.
      From our data we conclude that hydrolysates should be tested by titrated oral
      challenges before used in the diet of cow's milk sensitive children.

PMID- 1435807
TI  - [Intrapulmonary pressure measurements in high frequency ventilation of extremely
      small premature infants. The triggered airway occlusion method].
AB  - The interrupter technique is an established method for measuring the
      intrapulmonary pressure in mechanically ventilated patients. We have developed a
      computer controlled method enabling us to interrupt the respiratory flow at
      precisely reproducible occlusion times (triggered by the respirator). It is
      therefore possible to determine the intrapulmonary pressure course in inspiration
      and expiration and the time constant for the upper respiratory tract (including
      the intratracheal tube) even in high-frequency ventilation. In 16 premature
      infants (mean birth weight 741 +/- 138 g, gestational age 26.1 +/- 1.9 weeks) we
      measured time constants between 58 and 190 msec for the intrapulmonary pressure
      decrease in expiration. An inadvertent PEEP between 1 and 4.5 cmH2O was found in
      6 out of 23 examinations (ventilation frequency between 67 and 150/min,
      expiration times between 250 and 500 msec). The relation of expiration time to
      time constant was less than 4 in these cases only. The triggered interrupter
      technique is a useful, noninvasive method for monitoring the intrapulmonary
      pressure in neonates without disturbing the patient. Particularly in critically
      ill infants the measurements are the basis for optimal respirator settings.

PMID- 1435808
TI  - [Children with psychiatric disorders examined by established pediatricians].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Studies concerning children with psychological disorders presented in
      the paediatric practice are rare. We therefore investigated rates of attendance
      and rates of referral to other specialists from theses practices. METHOD: The
      data were collected by the paediatricians and recorded according to a list of
      psychosocial symptoms. Frequencies were compared with results of a similar study
      concerning general practitioners. The chi-square seemed to be appropriate as test
      of significance. RESULTS: 18 paediatricians were included in the study. 8.3% of
      children seen by these professionals were thought to show signs of psychological
      deviance. The accompanying physical disorders hereby were the more prominent
      presenting symptoms. Only in 1.3% of the cases were psychological disorders the
      sole reason for the visit. In 30% of the cases were psychological problems a
      follow up referral to another institution was recommended. Rates of attendance
      and of follow-up referral were more frequent in rural practices than in practices
      of a university town. In general practices, 20.3% of children were noted as
      psychologically disturbed. CONCLUSIONS: The study reveals the important role
      played by paediatric practices in the mental health care, especially in rural
      regions. The low rate of psychological disorders as the only reason for attending
      a paediatric practice indicates that there may be an attendance pattern in which
      physical symptoms are initially used as a vehicle for subsequently presenting
      psychological disturbance.

PMID- 1435809
TI  - [Epigastric colic after ceftriaxone therapy].
AB  - The following article describes a girl with right upper quadrant abdominal colic
      following Ceftriaxon therapy for purulent meningitis. Ultrasound made it possible
      to demonstrate sludge-balls, floating in the gallbladder, a follow up examination
      was normal. Moreover the features of gallbladder precipitations following
      Ceftriaxon therapy will be described, and the clinical consequences will be
      discussed.

PMID- 1435810
TI  - [Has post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis disappeared?].
AB  - We report on 21 children with poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN). The
      diagnosis was based on clinical and laboratory criteria. 19/21 had a clinically
      apparent throat infection initially, but only 6 received antibiotic treatment.
      Initial symptoms were: macrohematuria (20/21), edema (10/21), arterial
      hypertension (6/21), reduced creatinine-clearance (11/21), and proteinuria
      (18/21). No Patient was dialyzed. After an interval of 0.3 to 25 months 19
      children are asymptomatic. All patients have normal creatinine-clearances; none
      is hypertensive. The present data show that PSGN has not disappeared in Mid
      Europe. Remarkable acute disturbances occurred, which healed in almost all cases.
      The importance of accurate bacteriologic diagnosis and adequate therapy is
      emphasized.

PMID- 1435811
TI  - [Bacterial urinary tract infections].

PMID- 1435812
TI  - [Grand mal epilepsy in childhood].
AB  - Generalized tonic-clonic seizures are the most common type of convulsive
      disorders in children. They are always a sign of an epileptogenic cerebral
      dysfunction and present either acutely, predominantly as a single event with
      detectable origin, or chronically, recurring as an epileptic syndrome. In view of
      the etiology and classification of convulsions it is important to differentiate
      between primarily and secondarily generalized seizures. This distinction is first
      of all based on an exact description of the very beginning and of the course of
      the seizures, on the EEG findings and on any connection between the seizures and
      a particular time of day. Primarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures with and
      without associated petit mal seizures are manifestations of an idiopathic
      epilepsy and are most probably genetically determined, secondarily generalized
      seizures on the other hand are often signs of a central nervous lesion or of
      another symptomatic form of epilepsy. Benign idiopathic partial seizures,
      however, take the from of secondarily generalized convulsions during the morning
      sleep. Prolonged tonic-clonic seizures of any origin require vigorous treatment
      with anticonvulsants, if necessary in an intensive care unit. Recurrent seizures
      are treated with long-term anticonvulsant medication. The first-line treatment is
      valproic acid or phenobarbitone (or if necessary, a bromide) in primarily
      generalized seizures and carbamazepine or phenytoin in secondarily generalized
      convulsions. The recommended duration of this therapy and the risk of recurrence
      of seizures vary widely with the underlying etiology and the type of epilepsy.

PMID- 1435813
TI  - [Post-traumatic epilepsy].
AB  - There might be 3 different forms of epilepsy following head injury: earliest
      seizures with occasional characteristics, early seizures prompting considerations
      of differential diagnosis, and, late seizures which might have a chronic course =
      posttraumatic epilepsy proper. The risks to have posttraumatic epilepsy for a
      child suffering from head injury are: penetrating cranial trauma, early seizures,
      intracranial hemorrhage, unconsciousness > 24 hours, depressed fracture with
      dural laceration and unconsciousness > 24 hours, fractures on the base of the
      skull, focal synchronous activity in the EEG which is related to the site of
      brain injury. If a or > or = 2 of b-g are given we recommend prophylactic
      antiepileptic therapy: in the younger (< 5 years) with a low dose of
      phenobarbital and in the elder (> 5 years) carbamazepine for at least 2 years of
      treatment.

PMID- 1435814
TI  - [Rupture of a renal artery aneurysm. Fulminant course, fatal complication of type
      IV Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in childhood].
AB  - A 12 year old girl with joint laxity, hyperelastic and vulnerable skin and tall
      stature was labeled as "Marfan syndrome". She died unexpectedly from a ruptured
      aneurysm of the right renal artery. All these features are typical for Ehlers
      Danlos syndrome type IV. The diagnostic difficulties and the classification of
      connective tissue disorders are discussed and further possible complications are
      reviewed from the literature. The importance of an exact diagnosis is stressed in
      order to assess the prognosis and start possible therapeutic measures as early as
      possible.

PMID- 1435815
TI  - [Experiences with surfactant therapy of adult respiratory distress syndrome].
AB  - We report on 2 patients with ARDS, who underwent a therapy with surfactant. In
      both cases the underlying reason for the lung disease probably was a viral
      pneumonia. In both patients the gas exchange improved after tracheal instillation
      of surfactant. This improvement however was much less than we know it from
      therapy of the respiratory distress syndrome of the premature babies. Reasons for
      these differences in response to surfactant are discussed.

PMID- 1435816
TI  - [Candida infections in premature infants weighing less than 1,500 g.
      Mucocutaneous colonization and incidence of systemic infections].
AB  - BACKGROUND: An increasing incidence of systemic candidiasis has been reported in
      low birth weight infants requiring intensive care. We have retrospectively
      analyzed mucocutaneous Candida-colonization and infection rate in 422 preterm
      infants with a birthweight < 1,500 g. METHODS: All infants were treated at the
      NICU, University of Gottingen, from 1/1985-5/1991. 359 neonates (85%) were on
      mechanical ventilation, no prophylactic antimycotic regimen was applied.
      Mucocutaneous swabs and cultures from various anatomic sites were regularly
      obtained from all infants. RESULTS: 37/422 preterm infants (8.8%) had
      mucocutaneous colonization with candida, none of our patients developed systemic
      candidiasis. In 7 mechanically ventilated patients (1.9%) Candida albicans or
      Candida tropicalis was repeatedly detected in the bronchial secretions; 1 patient
      who had invasive Candida-pneumonia was effectively treated with 5-Fluocytosin and
      Fluconazol. 4/352 (1.1%) central silastic catheters were colonized with Candida
      albicans; none of these patients required specific treatment. CONCLUSION: The low
      rate of mucocutaneous Candida-colonization and invasive infection found in our
      patients may be explained--at least in part--by epidemiological and obstetrical
      factor as well as by the procedures of the neonatal management.

PMID- 1435817
TI  - [IgA endomysium antibodies. Detection in children with celiac disease].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Epidemiology of coeliac disease gives rise to the search for a non
      invasive, reliable screening test. METHODS: We looked for IgA anti-endomysial
      antibodies (IgA-EmA) in 103 sera of 90 children (age: 2 months-13.9 years) using
      an indirect immunofluorescence method on monkey oesophagus sections. In 44
      patients, the diagnosis of coeliac disease was confirmed fulfilling new criteria
      of the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. RESULTS: All
      24 coeliac disease patients with an initial flat mucosa had IgA-EmA (sensitivity
      100%). In 36% of coeliac disease patients adhering to a gluten-free diet we found
      IgA-EmA. None of 46 patients in whom coeliac disease had been excluded by jejunal
      biopsy had IgA-EmA (specificity 100%). The sera of 102 blood-donors were used as
      controls and showed a test specificity of 99%. In coeliac disease patients, the
      titer of IgA-EmA declined during gluten-free diet by 0.66 steps/month on average,
      and rose 1.76 steps/month during gluten challenge. CONCLUSIONS: These results
      confirm the diagnostic significance of IgA-EmA for patients with suspected
      coeliac disease and their value for monitoring treatment even in young children
      (below 2 years).

PMID- 1435818
TI  - [Experiences with triple antibiotic combination in neonatal infection].
AB  - BACKGROUND: In-vitro and clinical efficacy of a combination therapy consisting of
      3 antibiotic agents was to be assessed in neonatal septicemia. METHODS: From 1980
      to 1987, 152 newborns with septicemia as proven by blood culture were treated
      with an initial antibiotic regimen consisting of azlocillin (150 mg/kg bw),
      cefotaxime (100 mg/kg bw), and tobramycin (5 mg/kg bw). RESULTS: According to the
      microbiologic testing, antimicrobic therapy was effective in each of the 152
      organisms: 101/152 bacteria were susceptible to all 3 agents; resistance to 1 or
      2 of the antibiotics was evident in 33/152 and in 18/152 organisms, respectively.
      Mortality due to septicemia was 7.2%. CONCLUSION: As no difference was observed
      in the frequency in which one of the three antibiotic substances was the only
      effective drug, each of the 3 agents seemed to be necessary for clinical
      effectiveness of this antibiotic combination.

PMID- 1435819
TI  - [Prenatal diagnosis and therapy of adrenogenital syndrome with 21-hydroxylase
      deficiency. Position of the Pediatric Endocrinology Study Group of the German
      Society of Pediatrics and the Section of Pediatric Endocrinology of the German
      Society of Endocrinology].

PMID- 1435820
TI  - [Perinatal calcium metabolism. Physiology and pathophysiology].
AB  - During pregnancy, calcium is continuously transferred directly from the maternal
      intestine to the fetal bone, a transfer that is mainly induced by the
      interrelated actions of the calcium-regulating hormones parathyroid hormone
      (PTH), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) and calcitonin. It has recently been
      demonstrated in animals that PTH-related protein (PTHrP) is the fetal equivalent
      of PTH. Human PTHrP, originally described as a product of a human lung cancer
      cell line and implicated in the pathogenesis of humoral hypercalcemia of
      malignancy, is a protein with 141 amino acids, and it has biochemical actions
      similar to PTH. It is believed that fetal PTHrP is mainly derived from the
      placenta during early gestation and from the fetal parathyroid glands during
      further development and that this protein has the role of maintaining the
      maternal-fetal calcium gradient either alone or in concert with 1,25(OH)2D. With
      birth, the placental supply of calcium ceases abruptly, stimulating the increase
      of PTH and 1,25(OH)2D, which are the main regulators of postnatal calcium
      metabolism. Alterations in the placental calcium (and phosphate) gradient may be
      caused by maternal hypo- or hypercalcemia and placental insufficiency and may be
      followed by transient disorders of calcium metabolism in the newborn. Due to
      abrupt cessation of the calcium and phosphate supply after delivery at a time
      when mineral demands are the highest, preterm infants are especially prone to
      hypocalcemia and osteopathy. If bone disease of prematurity is to be prevented,
      the amounts of calcium and phosphate must be adequate, as demonstrated by
      laboratory tests, the most important being calcium and phosphate in urine and
      alkaline phosphatase activity in serum.

PMID- 1435821
TI  - [Calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D administration in infancy. Unsolved
      questions].
AB  - In premature infants calcium and phosphate supplementation should be continued
      until the infants weigh more than 2000 g, because osteopenia of prematurity has
      been described after discontinuation of the supplements at body weights of < 1800
      g. Premature infants generally receive substantially more vitamin D than their
      daily requirements (> 400 IU), but then are no studies on the side effects of
      high vitamin D intake (hypercalciuria?). The extremely high calzitriol
      concentrations in plasma of premature infants who receive Ca/P supplements
      indicate that maximal stimulation of Ca/P absorption is necessary and present
      supplementation could still be inadequate. The daily vitamin D requirements of
      term infants are between 100 and 400 IU and no supplements are necessary if the
      infants are fed vitamin-D-fortified formulas. The high prevalence of rickets in
      infants on macrobiotic or vegetarian diets indicates that those infants should
      receive calcium and vitamin D supplements.

PMID- 1435822
TI  - Mineral nutrition and bone mineralization in full-term infants.
AB  - Bone mineralization is an intricate and tightly regulated process. Calcium,
      magnesium and phosphorus are the main minerals and play a principal role in
      skeletal mineralization. The following conclusions can be derived from different
      clinical studies. The large differences in Ca/P ratio between different formulas
      and between formulas and human milk suggest that most healthy full-term infants
      can adjust to a wide range of Ca/P ratio in their diet. The differences in serum
      levels of mineral and of mineral-regulating hormones are rarely clinically
      significant and most probably reflect continued compensatory mechanisms activated
      in response to dietary differences to maintain these levels within clinically
      normal ranges. Thus in most cases, these compensatory mechanisms are sufficient
      to reverse both short-term and long-term consequences and to prevent clinical
      disease. In the case of neonatal tetany, the compensatory mechanisms are
      overwhelmed, resulting in clinical signs and disease. Vitamin D is known to play
      an essential role in bone mineralization. Our studies have shown significant
      differences in vitamin D status in breast-fed infants with and without vitamin D
      supplementation and in infants fed various "humanized" formulas, whether cow milk
      based or soy protein-based. The major variables affecting bone mineralization are
      Ca/P ratio and mineral-regulating hormones. However, factors such as season,
      geography (i.e. sun exposure), race and sex may have a significant long-term
      influence on bone mineralization and mineral metabolism. Some biological
      differences such as differences in serum vitamin D metabolite level may directly
      effect Ca/P absorption and retention and thus bone mineralization and
      growth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1435823
TI  - [A new method for determining mineral content of bones using ultrasound].
AB  - With conventional methods radiation exposure is relatively high, due to frequent
      examinations. For this reason an alternative method for measuring bone mineral
      content was sought. Like X-rays, sound waves are subject to an exponential law of
      attenuation. For this reason the attenuation coefficient of the sound waves was
      used to describe the sound-conducting medium. With the help of this transmission
      sonographic method thickness dependence and increase in attenuation were shown as
      a function of increasing calcium apatite concentration using a reference system
      and also femoral sections of varying thickness. Examination of the reflected
      portion indicated that for this type of measurement the reflection at the bone is
      negligible at least in the first approximation. In the case of bone specimens a
      linear dependence was demonstrated between half-value thickness and mineral
      content in the area of bone calcium concentrations of 50-300 mg/cm. For practical
      employment of the method, a number of patients were examined in whom bone-mineral
      content fluctuations were to be expected on the basis of their disease and
      therapy. As the examinations indicate, fluctuations in vivo can be detected with
      the help of this method.

PMID- 1435824
TI  - [The clinical relevance of phosphorus and calcium in infant nutrition].
AB  - This paper is an introduction to the clinical part of the symposium and deals
      with the question of whether and under which circumstances the calcium and
      phosphorus content in baby formula can provoke pathological conditions. In a
      healthy baby, high or low mineral intake is efficiently compensated for by Ca-P
      homeostasis. Both nutritional calcium deficiency and calcium excess are the
      exception with modern baby feeding practices. However, P-deficiency states
      resulting in phosphopenic rickets might occur in premature babies and in children
      with familial hypophosphatemic rickets. These two conditions should be treated
      and prevented by an alimentary P-supplement. On the other hand, formula with a
      rich P-content might be a cause of the late form of neonatal hypocalcemia.
      Therefore, a relatively low-phosphate formula preparation, similar to human milk,
      is recommended for the first 2 weeks of life of full-term newborns, as well for
      infants with hyperphosphatemic renal failure.

PMID- 1435825
TI  - Why is the phosphorus content of human milk exceptionally low?
AB  - The phosphorus supply of children and adults is adequate, and usually in excess.
      Therefore, it is surprising that in breast-fed infants phosphorus intake is very
      low. This is very rare among mammals. In infants three pathophysiological
      mechanisms argue in favour of a low, but adequate phosphorus intake in the
      presence of a balanced ratio of calcium to phosphorus. A low intestinal
      phosphorus concentration is an essential condition of an acid pH of the faeces,
      inhibiting the growth of potentially pathogenic germs. Owing to the
      characteristic renal physiology of the newborn, a small metabolic phosphorus
      surplus results in a high serum phosphorus level, a well-known risk factor for
      several disorders, e.g. hypocalcaemic tetany. During infections, impairment of
      intestinal calcium but not of phosphorus absorption results in an increased
      phosphorus and renal net acid excretion. Considering the low renal capacity for
      acid excretion in newborns, a high intake of calcium and phosphorus is a risk
      factor for the development of metabolic acidosis. It is thought that all three
      pathophysiologic mechanisms were effective in the biochemical evolution of
      humans, selecting women with a low phosphorus milk and infants with a constant
      high intestinal absorption rate of phosphorus.

PMID- 1435826
TI  - [Phosphate concentration. Does reduction in infant formula feeding modify the
      micro-ecology of the intestine?].
AB  - The potential influence of phosphates in formulas on intestinal microflora was
      studied in 25 infants, aged 8 days to 12 weeks. The babies were either fed an
      infant formula with the usual phosphate concentration (n = 10) or an infant
      formula with reduced phosphate and protein concentrations (n = 7). The
      microbiological findings were compared with those obtained from breastfed infants
      (n = 8). Low-phosphate concentrations did not correlate with a predominance of
      bifidobacteria or suppression of putrefactive bacteria in the feces. The fecal
      excretion of phosphates and fat was found to be significantly lower with mother's
      milk compared to formulas both rich and poor in phosphate. Protein synthesis and
      breakdown rates, as well as the net protein gain, did not have a significant
      correlation with protein intake.

PMID- 1435827
TI  - Evaluation of a low-phosphate cow's milk diet on growth and bone mineralization
      of full-term infants.
AB  - Growth, bone mineralization and intestinal absorption were studied in 16 infants
      fed low-phosphate cow's milk and compared with a group of 15 infants fed
      conventional cow's milk. In the low-phosphate-fed infants the intestinal calcium
      absorption was as high as in infants fed human milk, the main characteristics of
      growth and bone mineralization being similar to those of infants fed conventional
      cow's milk. Urinary calcium was elevated with a low cAMP excretion. The relative
      hypercalciuria might be the result of the amount absorbed in excess of that used
      for the bone accretion.

PMID- 1435828
TI  - Technical aspects of phosphorus reduction and mineral adaptation in infant
      formulae.
AB  - Adapted milk-based formulae are complex products which simulate the protein and
      mineral composition of breast milk. The desired casein-to-whey protein ratio
      (40:60) in these formulae could be obtained by mixing cow's milk and whey.
      Unfortunately, this would yield formulae with too high a mineral content and a
      very unfavourable Ca:P ratio. The adjustment of the mineral content and the Ca:P
      ratio is the most sophisticated step in manufacture of such formulae. For this
      purpose, whey is demineralized with ion-exchange resins, electrodialysis or a
      combination of both processes. The demineralized whey (DW) obtained must be
      standardized in minerals by the addition of well-selected salts. After the
      standardization, whey is pasteurized, concentrated and dried, to give finally,
      the demineralized and standardized whey powder (DWPS). Addition of this
      ingredient to whole milk or skim milk leads to the standard adapted milk-based
      formula. Partial replacement of milk in the standard formula by caseinate leads
      to a low-phosphate formula with a Ca/P ratio equivalent to that found in breast
      milk. Because DWPS is quantitatively the most important ingredient of adapted
      milk-based formulae, the second most important being cow's milk, the nutritional
      and processing quality of DWPS strongly affects the heat stability and the
      nutritional and final quality of such formulae.

PMID- 1435829
TI  - Calcium and phosphorus metabolism in full-term infants.
AB  - Appropriate intake of dietary calcium and phosphorus is essential for the
      maintenance of mineral homeostasis and support of adequate bone mineralization in
      growing infants. Disturbances of calcium homeostasis such as newborn
      hypocalcemia, have been shown to be secondary to high oral phosphate intake. The
      incidence of hypocalcemic tetany has changed from epidemic proportions in
      newborns, who were formerly fed evaporated cow's milk formula, to the present
      sporadic occurrence in newborns who are now fed humanized cow's milk formula,
      with a calcium concentration of about 50 mg/dl and a phosphorus concentration of
      about 35 mg/dl. Human milk, provided vitamin D intake is adequate, has been shown
      to maintain calcium-phosphorus homeostasis and support adequate bone
      mineralization at least in the first 6 months of life. After this, the phosphorus
      content of breast milk could limit mineral accretion in exclusively breast fed
      infants. The present concentration of calcium and phosphorus in the humanized
      cow's milk formulas support adequate mineral homeostasis and bone mineralization
      throughout the first year of life. As bone calcium content is proportional to
      calcium intake, feeding whole cow's milk from early infancy onward is associated
      with abnormal bone mineralization. The adequacy of bone mineralization in infants
      fed soy formula is still controversial.

PMID- 1435830
TI  - The interface of science and medicine.

PMID- 1435831
TI  - Cancer cures. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

PMID- 1435832
TI  - Protein kinase C: implications for cancer prevention and treatment.

PMID- 1435833
TI  - Enzymes of the thymidylate cycle as targets for chemotherapeutic agents:
      mechanisms of resistance.
AB  - This brief review should serve to indicate that it is possible to assess tumor
      sensitivity to antifolates using fresh human tissue in short-term culture. The
      assays described differ from general assays of tumor sensitivity, such as the
      clonogenic assay or assays that measure 3H-thymidine incorporation as an
      indicator of cell viability (32-34), in that the effect of a drug on a human
      specific target (dihydrofolate reductase) is measured. These specific assays also
      may prove to be extremely useful in the detection of acquired drug resistance and
      for new analog drug development. In a general sense, this type of assay may
      eventually also be useful for guiding and selecting treatment for individual
      patients with other drugs with known mechanisms of action. Knowledge of the basis
      of tumor resistance is essential to develop new approaches to treatment, such as
      the use of other folate analogs that may still be effective, and to devise ways
      in which to selectively inhibit tumor cell growth using new analogs
      (trimetrexate) and leucovorin.

PMID- 1435834
TI  - Impact of cytogenetics and molecular genetics on leukemia therapy.

PMID- 1435835
TI  - Consistent genetic abnormalities in human cancers as targets for selective
      therapies.

PMID- 1435836
TI  - Advances in treatment for Hodgkin's disease.

PMID- 1435837
TI  - The evolution of curative cancer therapy.

PMID- 1435838
TI  - The past--prelude to the future.

PMID- 1435839
TI  - Successful successive studies in leukemia and breast cancer.

PMID- 1435840
TI  - Tamoxifen and endometrial cancer.
AB  - Tamoxifen is a nonsteroidal antiestrogen employed frequently in the treatment of
      breast cancer. An association between this drug and endometrial neoplasia has
      been reported. We report on 11 postmenopausal women with breast cancer who
      developed endometrial cancer while undergoing tamoxifen therapy and recommend
      aggressive investigation of vaginal bleeding in all women being treated with this
      agent.

PMID- 1435841
TI  - N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (CB3717): inhibitory effects on human
      leukemia cell lines resistant to methotrexate or trimetrexate.
AB  - The inhibitory effects of N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (CB3717), a
      quinazoline antifolate and a potent thymidylate synthase inhibitor, were
      evaluated in human leukemia cell lines resistant to methotrexate (MTX) and
      trimetrexate (TMQ). MTX-resistant MOLT-3 cell lines, MOLT-3/MTX200 and MOLT
      3/MTX10,000, were cross-resistant to CB3717; however, the degree of resistance
      was only tenfold for both cell lines, and increased dihydrofolate reductase
      activity in MOLT-3/MTX10,000 had little influence on the degree of CB3717
      resistance. The MOLT-3 cell line made resistant to TMQ, MOLT-3/TMQ200, was as
      sensitive to CB3717 as the parent line. The cell growth inhibitory effect of
      CB3717 on MOLT-3 was reversed by the addition of thymidine. Leucovorin also
      partially reversed CB3717-induced growth inhibition. Cellular uptake of MTX and 5
      methyl-tetrahydrofolate was hindered by the presence of a high concentration of
      CB3717, whereas TMQ uptake was not influenced by CB3717. CB3717 appears to enter
      the cells not only through reduced folate transport system, but by other
      route(s). CB3717 does not share the transport pathway with TMQ. Our observations
      that MTX-resistant cells with increased dihydrofolate reductase are not more
      resistant than cells without increased enzyme activity, and that TMQ-resistant
      cells are not cross-resistant to CB3717, may have clinical relevance.

PMID- 1435842
TI  - Peripancreatic lymph node gastrinoma in a patient with Zollinger-Ellison
      syndrome.
AB  - The case of a patient who had Zollinger-Ellison syndrome caused by a primary
      peripancreatic lymph node gastrinoma is presented. Accompanying diffuse
      pancreatic islet cell hyperplasia, a well-documented occurrence in
      hypergastrinemia, was present. A perforated esophageal ulcer in a Barrett's
      esophagus led to right-sided necrotizing pleuritis, septicemia, and death. The
      diffuse parathyroid hyperplasia also noted in the patient is thought to be
      secondary to chronic hypertensive renal failure rather than MEN-I syndrome.

PMID- 1435843
TI  - Treatment of a large high-grade neurofibrosarcoma with concomitant vinblastine,
      doxorubicin, and radiotherapy.
AB  - A patient with neurofibromatosis developed a large inoperable malignant
      schwannoma on the posterior neck. The tumor underwent complete local regression
      following combined-modality treatment with radiotherapy, vinblastine, and
      doxorubicin. Vinblastine may be effective in combined-modality therapy.

PMID- 1435845
TI  - Organization battles fetal alcohol syndrome.

PMID- 1435844
TI  - Serotonin antagonists: treatment of chemotherapy-induced emesis.

PMID- 1435846
TI  - What is the mechanism of action for lasers that are being used to treat
      gynecologic conditions?

PMID- 1435847
TI  - A double-blind trial of 1% ketoconazole shampoo versus placebo in the treatment
      of dandruff.
AB  - The efficacy of 1% ketoconazole shampoo in the treatment of dandruff was tested
      in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 176 patients. The application of
      the shampoo twice weekly gave a good or excellent result in 74% of the patients
      treated with ketoconazole versus 20% of the patients treated with placebo after 2
      weeks. After 4 weeks these results were 80% versus 23%. The shampoo was well
      tolerated. Only one patient in the ketoconazole group stopped treatment because
      of greasy hair.

PMID- 1435848
TI  - Mycological aspects of inhalative mould allergies.

PMID- 1435849
TI  - Fatal haemoptysis associated with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis treated with
      high-dose amphotericin B and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM
      CSF).
AB  - Opportunistic pulmonary infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality
      in patients with chemotherapeutically treated neoplasias. With increasingly
      aggressive cytotoxic regimens causing prolonged neutropenia, the risk of systemic
      mycoses and in particular of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis has increased. We
      review the case of a 10-year-old child suffering from relapsed lymphoblastic
      leukaemia and from high-dose amphotericin B-treated invasive pulmonary
      aspergillosis acquired during long-standing neutropenia in the initial phase of
      remission induction chemotherapy. The patient died in remission after GM-CSF
      induced bone marrow recovery and clinical and radiological improvement with
      stable plasmatic coagulation and normal thrombocyte count. Peracute massive
      pulmonary bleeding caused by the simultaneous arrosion of a greater pulmonary
      artery and a lobar bronchus by a liquefactive fungal focus was responsible. In
      patients with chemotherapeutically induced neutropenia and invasive
      aspergillosis, bone marrow recovery may lead to the liquefaction of pulmonary
      foci, and, in view of the well-known vasotropic nature of the infection, to a
      potentially lethal arrosion bleeding. With the emerging use of colony-stimulating
      factors for shortening and overcoming neutropenia, this so far rare complication
      may become of increasing importance.

PMID- 1435850
TI  - Histopathology of human vaginal candidosis.
AB  - Histological changes of vaginal and ectocervical mucosa in women of reproductive
      age suffering from vaginal candidosis are described. The epithelial surface is
      covered with adherent masses composed of desquamated and destroyed epithelial
      cells and leucocytes impregnated with proteinaceous fluid and penetrated by
      pseudomycelium. The outer epithelial layers are characterized by dystrophic and
      necrobiotic changes, desquamation, formation of fissures and small cavities.
      Pseudomycelium penetrates 4 to 6 superficial epithelial layers. The barrier
      between the invading pseudomycelium and the blood vessels of the lamina propria
      papillae in some sites is only 5 to 6 flattened epithelial cells thick. In the
      basal epithelial layer, increased mitotic activity is noted. Lamina propria
      contains lympho-plasmocytic infiltrates. The problems of pathogenesis and
      diagnosis of vaginal candidosis are discussed in connection with the present
      findings.

PMID- 1435851
TI  - A modified method for experimental candidosis in mice avoiding lethality.
AB  - A model is presented which selected one out of 150 Candida albicans strains for
      the evaluation of antifungal agents. The mice were inoculated with 6 x 10(5) CFU
      of strain 352 into the tail vein. The strain has a moderate phospholipase B (PLB)
      activity in vitro and was originally isolated from a stool sample from a patient
      in an intensive care unit. This infection leads to very little suffering in the
      infected animals during the 6-day observation period. Kidney counts at day 5
      after infection can give a first indication for a possible fungistatic mechanism.
      Possible interesting drugs can then be evaluated by a second set of experiments
      using a longer observation time to investigate the compounds for fungicidal
      properties. The model suggests that screening for systemic antifungals by
      avoiding lethality of mice in the first place can be done.

PMID- 1435852
TI  - The lectin type of Candida albicans--an epidemiological marker relevant to
      pathogenesis.
AB  - Fifty Candida albicans strains isolated from the oral cavities of HIV-infected
      patients were typed with 14 different lectins by means of agglutination
      reactions. Sixteen different lectin types could be distinguished, the most
      frequent type representing 22% of strains. A change in the lectin type was found
      in about half of the Candida albicans strains representing control cultures from
      identical individuals. A simplified typing scheme based on three lectins seems to
      be almost as efficacious for epidemiological application.

PMID- 1435853
TI  - A selective technique for isolation of three species of Chrysosporium from soils.

PMID- 1435854
TI  - Eggshell precursor proteins of Fasciola hepatica, I. Structure and expression of
      vitelline protein B.
AB  - Antibody raised against the major eggshell protein of Fasciola hepatica
      (vitelline protein B, vpB) is employed to isolate cDNAs from an expression
      library and to localize the protein in whole worms. Two cDNAs corresponding to
      the protein are homologous through the N-terminal and C-terminal coding regions
      and widely divergent internally. No repeated regions are apparent and no
      significant sequence homology is seen with chorion proteins of other genera
      although the amino acid composition closely reflects that of other chorion
      proteins. Microheterogeneity observed in the vpB is due to the presence of
      multiple coding sequences, transcripts and a gradient of post-translational
      modification. Relative transcription of the vpB mRNA throughout the female
      reproductive tract is demonstrated.

PMID- 1435855
TI  - Eggshell precursor proteins of Fasciola hepatica, II. Microheterogeneity in
      vitelline protein B.
AB  - At least 3 structural protein precursors of the eggshell are synthesized and
      stockpiled in the extensive vitelline cells of the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica
      L. One of these, vitelline protein B, consists of a closely related family of
      proteins that owes its apparent electrophoretic heterogeneity to variations in
      the Tyr to DOPA conversion as well as to subtle variations in the primary
      sequence. The efficiency of the Tyr to DOPA conversion ranges from a maximum of
      about 90% to a minimum of 55% in the protein. Trypsin digestion in borate buffer
      at pH 8 was used to produce DOPA-peptides for sequencing. Notably, trypsin does
      not cleave Arg/Lys-DOPA sequences at borate concentrations greater than 0.15 M.
      Peptides with DOPA-containing sequences most frequently have flanking amino acids
      such as Lys, Ser, or Asp on the N-terminal side and Gly or Asp on the C-terminal
      side. All protein variants fall within a narrow molecular weight range (30-33
      kDa), a pI range of 6.9 to 8.3, and the collective majority would appear to share
      a common N-terminal sequence up to residue 28. The results suggest some
      combination of the following: variations in post-translational hydroxylation,
      alternative post-transcriptional splicing and/or the existence of multiple gene
      copies of eggshell precursors. The latter have been shown to occur in the blood
      fluke Schistosoma mansoni [15].

PMID- 1435856
TI  - Identification and purification of glucose phosphate isomerase of Plasmodium
      falciparum.
AB  - The multiplication of malaria parasites within red blood cells is energy
      dependent. Since these parasites lack a functional tricarboxylic acid cycle, the
      energy needs of the parasite are met by anaerobic glycolysis of exogenous
      glucose. High levels of glycolytic enzymes such as fructose-1,6-diphosphate
      aldolase, phosphoglycerate kinase and pyruvate kinase have been detected in
      infected erythrocytes. Here we report a 4-9 times increase in glucose phosphate
      isomerase (GPI) activity of infected erythrocytes over that of normal
      erythrocytes. This increase is of parasitic origin, as additional enzyme bands
      were observed in lysates of infected erythrocytes. The expression of GPI
      parallels parasite maturation and reaches a maximum at the trophozoite/schizont
      stage. Two distinct but closely related activity patterns consisting of 3-4 GPI
      isoenzymes (not shown in normal erythrocytes) with neutral to weakly acidic
      isoelectric points were observed in 6 P. falciparum isolates tested by
      isoelectric focusing. The purified P. falciparum GPI has an apparent size of 66
      kDa. No size variation was observed in the 6 P. falciparum isolates studied.
      Furthermore, antiserum raised against this protein in BALB/c mice specifically
      inhibits parasite encoded GPI activity while no effect was observed on host
      enzyme activity.

PMID- 1435857
TI  - Genetic variants within the genus Echinococcus identified by mitochondrial DNA
      sequencing.
AB  - The pattern of species and strain variation within the genus Echinococcus is
      complex and controversial. In an attempt to characterise objectively the various
      species and strains, the sequence of a region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c
      oxidase subunit I (CO1) gene was determined for 56 Echinococcus isolates. Eleven
      different genotypes were detected, including 7 within Echinococcus granulosus,
      and these were used to categorise the isolates. The 4 generally accepted
      Echinococcus species were clearly distinguishable using this approach. In
      addition, the consensus view of the strain pattern within E. granulosus, based on
      a variety of criteria of differentiation, was broadly upheld. Very little
      variation was detected within Echinococcus multilocularis. Remarkable intra
      strain homogeneity was found at the DNA sequence level. This region of the
      rapidly evolving mitochondrial genome is useful as a marker of species and strain
      identity and as a preliminary indication of evolutionary divergence within the
      genus Echinococcus.

PMID- 1435858
TI  - Humoral immune response against a 70-kilodalton heat shock protein of Entamoeba
      histolytica in a group of patients with invasive amoebiasis.
AB  - In order to investigate the humoral immune response against Entamoeba histolytica
      a lambda ZapII cDNA library was constructed from trophozoites of the pathogenic
      E. histolytica strain SFL-3. The library was screened with serum IgG from a
      patient with invasive amoebiasis. Forty-nine immunopositive lambda clones were
      isolated and partial sequences from the inserts were obtained. By comparison of
      the sequences with the merged database MIPSX from the Martinsried Institute for
      Protein Sequences we were able to identify homologous proteins for 36 of the
      clones. Twenty-six of the clones encoded intracellular proteins, among these, the
      major part (16 clones) were highly homologous to the eukaryotic 70-kDa heat shock
      proteins (Hsps). The open reading frame of one complete clone encodes a protein
      of 656 amino acid residues of 71.5 kDa which has 69.8% sequence identity with the
      human Hsp70 protein. In a larger screening experiment only 3 out of 12 patients
      detected with their IgG the phage which expressed the 70-kDa heat shock
      protein(s).

PMID- 1435859
TI  - Characterization of carbohydrate metabolism and demonstration of glycosomes in a
      Phytomonas sp. isolated from Euphorbia characias.
AB  - Phytomonas sp. isolated from Euphorbia characias was adapted to SDM-79 medium.
      Cells isolated in the early stationary phase of growth were analyzed for their
      capacity to utilize plant carbohydrates for their energy requirements. The
      cellulose-degrading enzymes amylase, amylomaltase, invertase,
      carboxymethylcellulase, and the pectin-degrading enzymes polygalacturonase and
      oligo-D-galactosiduronate lyase were present in Phytomonas sp. and were all,
      except for amylomaltase, excreted into the external medium. Glucose, fructose and
      mannose served as the major energy substrates. Catabolism of carbohydrates
      occurred mainly via aerobic glycolysis according to the Embden-Meyerhof pathway,
      of which all the enzymes were detected. Likewise, the end-products of glycolysis,
      acetate and pyruvate, glycerol, succinate and ethanol were detected in the
      culture medium, as were the enzymes responsible for their production.
      Mitochondria were incapable of oxidizing succinate, 2-oxoglutarate, pyruvate,
      malate and proline, but had a high capacity to oxidize glycerol 3-phosphate. This
      oxidation was completely inhibited by salicylhydroxamic acid. No cytochromes
      could be detected either in intact mitochondria or in sub-mitochondrial
      particles. Mitochondrial respiration was not inhibited by antimycin, azide or
      cyanide. The glycolytic enzymes, from hexokinase to phosphoglycerate kinase, and
      the enzymes glycerol kinase, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase,
      phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, malate dehydrogenase and adenylate kinase,
      were all associated with glycosomes that had a buoyant density of about 1.24 g cm
      1 in sucrose. Cytochemical staining revealed the presence of catalase in these
      organelles. The cytosolic enzyme pyruvate kinase was activated by fructose 2,6
      bisphosphate, typical of all other pyruvate kinases from Kinetoplastida. The
      energy metabolism of the plant parasite Phytomonas sp. isolated from E. characias
      resembled that of the bloodstream form of the mammalian parasite Trypanosoma
      brucei.

PMID- 1435860
TI  - Cloning and analysis of the RESA-2 gene: a DNA homologue of the ring-infected
      erythrocyte surface antigen gene of Plasmodium falciparum.
AB  - We have cloned and sequenced a homologue of the ring-infected erythrocyte surface
      antigen (RESA) gene from Plasmodium falciparum designated RESA-2. Two reading
      frames with high homology to exon 1 and exon 2 of RESA at both the nucleotide and
      amino acid levels were identified in the RESA-2 sequence. However, RESA-2 does
      not contain either of the blocks of tandem repeats present in RESA. The lack of
      an RNA transcript in either asexual or sexual stage parasites and the presence of
      an in-frame stop codon in the second reading frame suggests RESA-2 could be a
      pseudogene. Its lack of expression in asexual stages demonstrates that it does
      not complement the RESA deletion in isolate FCR3.

PMID- 1435861
TI  - The characterization of two monoclonal antibodies which react with high molecular
      weight antigens of asexual Plasmodium falciparum.
AB  - We prepared rat monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specific for very large Plasmodium
      falciparum proteins to assist in their characterization. Hybridomas prepared from
      rats immunized with parasitized erythrocyte (PE) proteins of greater than 200 kDa
      exhibited two patterns of Western blot reactivity with PE SDS extracts: one
      represented by clone 41E11 (IgM, kappa), the other by clone 12C11 (IgM, lambda).
      MAb 41E11 reacted by Western blotting with at least 15 antigens, most of which
      comigrated with antigens identified by the 33G2 human IgM mAb. The stage
      specificity of mAb 41E11 reactivity and indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) pattern
      closely resemble those previously described for antigens that share the EEXXEE
      sequence motif. Unlike mAb 33G2, MAb 41E11 immunoprecipitated a biosynthetically
      radiolabeled protein of 320 kDa. MAb 41E11 did not immunoprecipitate any cell
      surface 125I proteins. MAb 12C11 reacted on Western blotting with a different
      group of malarial antigens of approximately 44, 95, 117, 145, and 310 kDa, as
      well as with some low-molecular-weight, uninfected erythrocyte antigens. MAb
      12C11 did not immunoprecipitate any cell surface 125I or biosynthetically labeled
      proteins. The 310-kDa antigen recognized by mAb 12C11 (denoted Ag 12A) does not
      correspond to PfEMP2 or the 320-kDa antigen recognized by mAbs 33G2 or 41E11.
      With trophozoites and more mature stages, fixed IFA reactivity of mAb 12C11 was
      at the parasite and in antigen aggregates in the host cell cytoplasm that
      extended to the PE plasma membrane. Indirect results suggest that Ag 12A does not
      correspond to cell surface-exposed PfEMP1 and is most likely a hitherto
      unidentified malarial protein.

PMID- 1435862
TI  - Cloning and characterization of a repetitive DNA sequence specific for
      Trichomonas vaginalis.
AB  - A family of 650-bp-long repeats from the Trichomonas vaginalis genome, designated
      the Tv-E650 family, was cloned and sequenced. The nucleotide sequence is A+T-rich
      (73.3% A+T in the consensus sequence) and highly conserved among the 8 molecular
      clones analyzed. The differences among the clones are single-nucleotide and 2
      nucleotide substitutions and insertions or deletions. The sequence uniformity of
      the clones as well as the presence of identical mutations in different clones
      suggest that efficient sequence homogenization mechanisms, such as gene
      conversion or recurring unequal crossing-over, operate in T. vaginalis. The copy
      number of the Tv-E650 repeats was estimated to be about 10(2)-10(3) per genome.
      Based on the DNA hybridization results, the Tv-E650 repeat family is conserved in
      all T. vaginalis strains examined, regardless of their diverse geographical
      origin. No hybridization of the Tv-E650 probe was found with the DNA from
      Trichomonas tenax, Trichomonas gallinae and Pentatrichomonas hominis, indicating
      that the Tv-E650 repeated sequences are species-specific. A dot blot
      hybridization protocol was developed which does not require isolation of DNA. By
      using this protocol it was possible to detect the DNA released from approximately
      10(3) T. vaginalis cells per dot. These observations suggest that the Tv-E650
      probe is potentially applicable to the identification and detection of T.
      vaginalis.

PMID- 1435863
TI  - Invasion of hereditary ovalocytes by Plasmodium falciparum in vitro and its
      relation to intracellular ATP concentration.
AB  - Hereditary ovalocytes (stomatocytic ovalocytes), when examined within 1-2 days
      from the time that the blood sample is drawn, are invaded by Plasmodium
      falciparum in culture to the extent of at least 55% of normal control cells. The
      ovalocytes have extremely rigid membranes, characterised by a shear elastic
      modulus some 3-4 times greater than that of normal cells. The extent of invasion
      falls off very much more rapidly than that into normal cells on storage, and we
      surmise that this is the reason for earlier reports of resistance of ovalocytes
      to malarial invasion in vitro. The initial loss of susceptibility to invasion
      with time is not accompanied by any change in membrane rigidity, but is primarily
      a consequence of a rapid decline in intracellular ATP concentration: this falls
      to below the threshold level required for invasion (approx. 0.1 mM) over a period
      in which the ATP in normal cells remains almost constant. Incubation in a
      metabolic regenerating medium leads to a rise in the intracellular ATP
      concentration and invasion by P. falciparum is recovered, though to a much lower
      extent than in normal cells. The resistance of ovalocytes to invasion becomes
      irreversible, due possibly to degradative processes in the membrane, on further
      storage. The developing parasites in ovalocytes have a reduced number of
      merozoites and show distinct morphological abnormalities.

PMID- 1435864
TI  - Molecular analysis of the cytosolic and glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate
      dehydrogenase in Leishmania mexicana.
AB  - Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) activity was detected in two
      cell compartments of Leishmania mexicana promastigotes. These activities could be
      attributed to two different isoenzymes, one residing in glycosomes, the other in
      the cytosol. We have cloned and sequenced the genes for both isoenzymes. The
      glycosomal enzyme is encoded by two tandemly linked genes of identical sequence
      and contains features frequently found in glycosomal enzymes: the presence of
      peptide insertions, a small carboxy-terminal extension with a potential
      glycosomal targeting signal (-SKM) and an excess of positively charged residues
      (net charge +7). Only one open reading frame was detected for the cytosolic
      enzyme. The amino acid sequences of the two proteins are only 55% identical. We
      discuss some evolutionary aspects of the observed organization of the GAPDH genes
      in the Trypanosomatidae and the role of the two isoenzymes in the metabolism of
      these organisms. The possibility to develop GAPDH-specific inhibitors that will
      be effective against the enzyme of various parasitic members of this family is
      explored.

PMID- 1435865
TI  - A procyclin-associated gene in Trypanosoma brucei encodes a polypeptide related
      to ESAG 6 and 7 proteins.
AB  - The procyclin genes of Trypanosoma brucei encode a family of glycoproteins
      expressed on the surface of procyclic forms of the parasite. These genes are
      present at different loci in tandem arrays of two or three copies depending on
      the strain. It has previously been shown that procyclin genes are transcribed
      from a promotor immediately upstream of the first procyclin gene in each cluster
      by an RNA polymerase that is resistant to high levels of alpha-amanitin. Here we
      show that additional genes, which we term procyclin-associated genes (PAGs), are
      located downstream of the procyclin genes and belong to the same alpha-amanitin
      resistant polycistronic transcription units. A gene in the pro A locus, PAG 1,
      encodes a polypeptide that is related to the ESAG 6 and 7 proteins encoded in the
      VSG expression site. An unexpected feature of PAG 1 is that the major open
      reading frame of 405 amino acids only starts at position 1283 in the cDNA
      sequence and extends to the poly(A) tail. Sequences related to the 5'
      untranslated region of PAG 1 are also found downstream of procyclin genes in
      other loci, but the 3' coding region is unique to Pro A. This suggests that there
      are related PAGs which are coordinately transcribed with procyclin genes from
      different loci.

PMID- 1435866
TI  - DNA fingerprinting of Trypanosoma cruzi: a new tool for characterization of
      strains and clones.
AB  - Using nonradioactive hybridization, the human multilocus probe 33.15 was shown to
      recognize multiple minisatellite regions in nuclear DNA from Trypanosoma cruzi,
      producing complex banding patterns on Southern blots, typical of DNA
      fingerprints. The DNA fingerprints were stable and were capable of identifying
      different strains of the parasite. Individual clones of the Y strain showed
      different banding patterns, demonstrating that the strain is heterogeneous. In
      general, the sensitivity and specificity of DNA fingerprinting was similar to
      that obtained with kinetoplast DNA restriction analysis. However, it has the
      advantages of being technically simple and of studying nuclear rather than
      mitochondrial DNA. Thus, it is a useful new tool for the characterization and
      study of strains and clones of Trypanosoma cruzi.

PMID- 1435867
TI  - Identification and expression of a Fasciola hepatica gene encoding a gut antigen
      protein bearing repetitive sequences.
AB  - A Fasciola hepatica cDNA clone of about 2 kb was isolated from an expression
      library by immunological screening using blood serum from an experimentally
      infected calf. The cDNA clone hybridised to a RNA of about 3 kb in a Northern
      blot experiment. The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA revealed the presence of an
      open reading frame of 1636 bp which encoded 24 tandemly arranged 20-amino acid
      long repeats, followed by 65 non-repeated residues preceding the stop codon. This
      antigen was expressed in Escherichia coli as beta-galactosidase fusion proteins
      which were used for the production of specific antibodies. Immunofluorescence
      studies using specific antifusion sera revealed that the antigen was specifically
      expressed in the parasite intestine epithelial cells. Due to its early appearance
      it might be possible to design diagnostic assays based on this repeated antigen
      for identification of recently infected animals.

PMID- 1435868
TI  - Hycanthone resistance in schistosomes correlates with the lack of an enzymatic
      activity which produces the covalent binding of hycanthone to parasite
      macromolecules.
AB  - Crude extracts of hycanthone sensitive Schistosoma mansoni incubated at 37
      degrees C in the presence of ATP and Mg2+ induced the covalent binding of
      tritiated hycanthone (HC) to macromolecules. The same behavior was shown by the
      HC sensitive species, Schistosoma rodhaini, whereas two independently isolated HC
      resistant S. mansoni strains had no detectable activity. Sensitive male
      schistosomes had more activity than females or immature worms. Virtually no
      activity was present in mouse liver, in human liver, in HeLa cells or in the
      naturally resistant species Schistosoma japonicum. The activity was destroyed by
      boiling or by Proteinase K treatment. Covalent binding of tritiated HC to
      macromolecules could be inhibited by cold HC, oxamniquine or IA-4, while none of
      the in vitro ineffective analogs, like lucanthone, UK-3883 or 4-desmethyl
      lucanthone, were inhibitory. These results strongly support the previously
      advanced suggestion that HC is activated by enzymatic mechanisms which are
      present only in drug sensitive schistosomes.

PMID- 1435869
TI  - The actin genes of Onchocerca volvulus.
AB  - The genome of Onchocerca volvulus was found to contain 2 actin gene classes
      (called 1 and 2) of 2 genes each. The 4 genes are located in 2 clusters (called A
      and B), each containing a gene class member. Five short introns of 122-207 bp
      occur within each gene. The sequences of the fourth intron and the 5' and 3'
      untranslated regions of all the 2 gene classes are completely different even
      though their coding regions share 95% identity. Mature transcripts from the actin
      genes have the nematode spliced leader (SL) at their 5' ends. One actin cDNA was
      found to be derived from an actin pre-mRNA which locks both the 5 introns and the
      5' SL, suggesting that in at least some transcripts cis-splicing is completed
      before trans-splicing occurs.

PMID- 1435870
TI  - The electrochemical proton gradient in the bloodstream form of Trypanosoma brucei
      is dependent on the temperature.
AB  - The membrane potential and pH gradient over the plasma membrane of the protozoan
      parasite Trypanosoma brucei were measured with radioactive indicators in
      combination with the silicone oil centrifugation technique over a range of
      temperatures. At 37 degrees C a small membrane potential and pH gradient of
      similar magnitude, but of opposite polarity, were measured. The resulting
      electrochemical proton gradient was almost zero. However, when the temperature
      was lowered from 37 degrees C to 22 degrees C, the internal pH was kept constant
      independent of the external pH and a membrane potential of between -100 and -150
      mV was measured, depending on the external pH. Measurements at various
      temperatures between 15 degrees C and 37 degrees C revealed that above 26 degrees
      C the membrane potential collapsed and that this collapse correlated with a
      sudden increase in membrane fluidity. The uptake of 2-deoxy-D-glucose and of
      pyruvate, which are both mediated by facilitated diffusion carriers in the plasma
      membrane of the trypanosome, were also affected by this sudden increase in
      fluidity of the membrane. The overall rate of the conversion of glucose into its
      metabolites, which is independent of the plasma membrane, varied only gradually.
      We conclude (i) that major changes occur in the plasma membrane of T. brucei
      around 26 degrees C, that affect all membrane related processes; (ii) that the
      electrochemical proton gradient plays a minor role in the energy metabolism of T.
      brucei when it resides in the bloodstream of the mammalian host at 37 degrees C;
      and (iii) that below 26 degrees C an electrochemical proton gradient is
      maintained over the plasma membrane.

PMID- 1435871
TI  - Nucleotide sequence of a representative member of a Trypanosoma cruzi dispersed
      gene family.

PMID- 1435872
TI  - A Plasmodium falciparum gene coding for a 15-kilodalton antigen expressed in
      asexual stage parasites, gametocytes and gametes.

PMID- 1435873
TI  - Molecular cloning of cDNA and genomic sequences coding for the 35-kilodalton
      subunit of the galactose-inhibitable lectin of pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica.

PMID- 1435874
TI  - Cloning and characterisation of members of a family of Babesia bigemina antigen
      genes containing repeated sequences.
AB  - Bovine polyclonal antisera to Babesia bigemina antigens separated by phenyl
      Sepharose chromatography were used to screen a B. bigemina lambda gt11 cDNA
      expression library. Eleven B. bigemina-specific cDNA clones were studied in
      detail. DNA sequencing of 2 representative clones identified open reading frames
      encoding polypeptides representing the carboxy-termini of 2 different proteins.
      Both polypeptides contained a related central motif of tandem repeats flanked by
      a highly conserved carboxy-terminal region, but the sequences preceding the
      repeats were not related. Hybridisation and restriction enzyme analysis of the
      cDNA clones indicated that they were derived from a family of at least nine
      related, but not identical genes. Four different members of the gene family have
      been isolated from a B. bigemina lambda EMBL3 genomic library. The genes are not
      closely linked and they occur on the largest and smallest B. bigemina chromosomes
      resolved by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Antibodies raised against
      the native antigens and purified on recombinant fusion proteins bound to multiple
      proteins (50-70 kDa) in the original B. bigemina antigenic fractions.

PMID- 1435875
TI  - A multicopy, extrachromosomal DNA in Leishmania infantum contains two inverted
      repeats of the 27.5-kilobase LD1 sequence and encodes numerous transcripts.
AB  - Leishmania DNA 1 (LD1) is a 27.5-kb sequence that occurs as an inverted repeat in
      a 55-kb multicopy, circular DNA in Leishmania infantum ITMAP263. The sequence is
      also found with a different genomic organization, possibly a tandem array, within
      a 1.5-Mb chromosome in all Leishmania isolates. About 26 stable transcripts of
      LD1 sequence, ranging from 0.6 to 15 kb, are found in ITMAP263. Transcripts were
      detected from both strands of the entire LD1 sequence, but the inverted repeat
      nature of the circular molecule prevented determination of whether transcription
      proceeded in one or both directions. Nine abundant transcripts (0.6-8.4 kb) from
      adjacent regions on the same strand of the repeat unit may represent mature
      mRNAs. One of these transcripts was shown to contain the 39-nucleotide spliced
      leader sequence characteristic of the 5' termini of trypanosomatid mRNAs. Several
      transcripts from the other strand of the repeat unit are also abundant and
      contain sequence complementary to some of the putative mRNAs. Less abundant,
      larger transcripts that span sequences encoding abundant mRNAs are also present,
      suggesting that transcription of LD1 is polycistronic.

PMID- 1435876
TI  - Molecular characterization of two genes encoding members of the glucose
      transporter superfamily in the parasitic protozoan Leishmania donovani.
AB  - The polymerase chain reaction was used to clone two genes from Leishmania
      donovani, each of which encodes a member of a superfamily of membrane
      transporters which include the mammalian facilitative glucose transporters. One
      of these transporters, designated D2, is similar in sequence and overall
      structural features to a previously cloned Leishmania transporter Pro-1. Both D2
      and Pro-1 are developmentally regulated genes which are expressed primarily in
      the insect stage of the parasite life cycle. In contrast, the second novel
      transporter, D1, is structurally quite different from either D2 or Pro-1, and its
      expression is not regulated during the parasite life cycle. All three genes are
      located on different chromosomes in L. donovani.

PMID- 1435877
TI  - Dynamics and size polymorphisms of minichromosomes in Leishmania major LV-561
      cloned lines.
AB  - Various lines and cloned lines of Leishmania major of varying degrees of
      virulence in BALB/c mice possessed size polymorphic multicopy minichromosomes
      related to previously described LD1/CD1 and 715-class DNAs of Leishmania. The
      minichromosomes were not necessary for virulence. Two of these DNAs (M180 and
      M210), coexisting in a single cloned line, showed remarkable dynamics in terms of
      loss or gain when followed through multiple transfers during in vitro culture and
      in vivo passage in BALB/c mice. Although there was significant sequence
      heterogeneity among minichromosomes, M180 sequences were present within large
      (megabase) and in intermediate (550-760 kb) chromosomes in the L. major lines
      analysed. M180 related small DNAs were also detected in Leishmania mexicana and
      Leishmania donovani isolates, suggesting that the generation of these molecules
      involves a common, probably functional basic mechanism widespread in Leishmania.

PMID- 1435878
TI  - A transferrin-independent iron uptake activity in Plasmodium falciparum-infected
      and uninfected erythrocytes.
AB  - Non-heme iron is essential for the asexual growth of the human malaria parasite
      Plasmodium falciparum in mature erythrocytes. Utilization of iron bound to serum
      transferrin by the parasitized cells has been postulated, but direct evidence for
      its specific delivery has not been reported. Here we demonstrate that normal
      levels of transferrin in human serum are not required for intraerythrocytic P.
      falciparum growth: culture medium immunodepleted 500-1000 fold in human
      transferrin was capable of supporting parasitemias and rates of invasion
      comparable to those observed in non-depleted medium. 55Fe bound to transferrin
      was not taken up by infected cells. A transferrin-independent non-heme iron
      uptake activity was, however, detected in both infected and uninfected
      erythrocytes when iron was presented to the cells as 55Fe-NTA or 55Fe-citrate.
      Although the uptake activity was not parasite specific, the radiolabel was found
      in association with parasites mechanically released from the infected
      erythrocytes, indicating that it is delivered to the intracellular organism.
      Evidence is presented that the transferrin-independent iron uptake activity is
      time-, temperature- and concentration-dependent, but apparently not energy
      dependent.

PMID- 1435879
TI  - The translation initiation site of recombinant Trypanosoma brucei ornithine
      decarboxylase varies with different promoters.
AB  - Expression of the Trypanosoma brucei ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) gene in
      Escherichia coli behind the lambda phage PR promoter led to the production of a
      recombinant enzyme having the same subunit molecular weight as the native enzyme
      [4]. However, when the same gene is expressed behind the tac promoter or the phoA
      promoter, the ODCs produced by the transformed E. coli have subunit molecular
      weights approximately 2 kDa higher than that of the native enzyme. Amino terminal
      sequencing of the recombinant proteins indicates that the ODC synthesized under
      control of the lambda PR promoter actually starts at the second methionine
      (Met23) of the open reading frame, whereas those produced in the latter two cases
      begin at the first methionine (Met1). Analysis of the 5'-end of T. brucei ODC
      mRNA supports the conclusion that translation initiates at Met23. We postulate
      that, for the lambda PR promoter, translation initiates at Met23 instead of Met1
      because of the formation of a stable secondary structure in the region of the
      Met1 and the presence of a good E. coli consensus translation initiation site
      upstream of Met23. We have constructed a new plasmid using the pho A promoter to
      express recombinant T. brucei ODC starting at Met23 in large quantities.

PMID- 1435880
TI  - Unilateral transplantation of human fetal mesencephalic tissue into the caudate
      nucleus of patients with Parkinson's disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease is characterized by the loss of midbrain dopamine
      neurons that innervate the caudate and the putamen. Studies in animals suggest
      that fetal dopaminergic neurons can survive transplantation and restore
      neurologic function. This report compares the clinical results in four case
      patients with severe Parkinson's disease who underwent stereotaxic implantation
      of human fetal ventral mesencephalic tissue in one caudate nucleus with the
      results in a control group of similar subjects assigned at random to a one-year
      delay in surgery. METHODS: Each case patient received cryopreserved tissue from
      one fetal cadaver (gestational age, 7 to 11 weeks). Before implantation, adjacent
      midbrain tissue underwent microbiologic, biochemical, and viability testing.
      Cyclosporine was administered for six months postoperatively. RESULTS: The
      procedure was well tolerated. Three case patients showed bilateral improvement on
      motor tasks, as assessed on videotape, and were more functional in the activities
      of daily living, as assessed by themselves and neurologists, during both optimal
      drug therapy and "drug holiday" periods. One case patient, who died after four
      months from continued disease progression, had striatonigral degeneration at
      autopsy. In the patients who received transplants, optimal control was achieved
      with a lower dose of antiparkinsonian medications, whereas the controls required
      more medication. Positron-emission tomography with [18F]fluorodopa before and
      after surgery in one patient revealed a bilateral restoration of caudate dopamine
      synthesis to the range of normal controls, but continued bilateral deficits in
      the putamen. CONCLUSIONS: Although the case patients continued to be disabled by
      their disease, unilateral intracaudate grafts of fetal tissue containing dopamine
      diminished the symptoms and signs of parkinsonism during 18 months of evaluation.

PMID- 1435881
TI  - Survival of implanted fetal dopamine cells and neurologic improvement 12 to 46
      months after transplantation for Parkinson's disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Patients with Parkinson's disease tend to have a reduced
      response to levodopa after 5 to 20 years of therapy, with "on-off" fluctuations
      consisting of dyskinesia alternating with immobility. In an effort to modify the
      motor disability of advanced Parkinson's disease, we implanted embryonic
      mesencephalic tissue containing dopamine cells into the caudate and putamen of
      seven patients. Two patients received unilateral grafts in the caudate and the
      putamen on the side opposite the side with worse symptoms. Five patients received
      bilateral grafts implanted in the putamen only. In six of the seven patients, the
      fetal tissue was obtained from a single embryo with a gestational age of seven to
      eight weeks. The tissue was injected by means of 10 to 14 needle passes. There
      were no surgical complications. Four of the seven patients underwent
      immunosuppression with cyclosporine and prednisone. RESULTS: All patients
      reported improvement according to the Activities of Daily Living Scale when in
      the on state 3 to 12 months after surgery (P < 0.01). Neurologic examination
      according to the Unified Disease Rating Scale showed that five of the seven
      patients improved when in the on state six months after surgery. The mean group
      Hoehn-Yahr score improved from 3.71 to 2.50 (P < 0.01). Computer and videotape
      testing in the home supported these findings. Fluctuations in clinical state were
      moderated, and periods of dyskinesia and off episodes were shorter and less
      severe than before implantation. Drug doses were reduced by an average of 39
      percent (P < 0.01; maximum, 58 percent). The results of clinical evaluation and
      fluorodopa positron-emission tomography in one patient were compatible with
      transplant survival for as long as 46 months. Both immunosuppressed and
      nonimmunosuppressed patients improved. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal-tissue implants appear
      to offer long-term clinical benefit to some patients with advanced Parkinson's
      disease.

PMID- 1435882
TI  - Bilateral fetal mesencephalic grafting in two patients with parkinsonism induced
      by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intracerebral transplantation of fetal dopaminergic neurons is a
      promising new approach for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Patients with
      parkinsonism induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) have
      a relatively stable lesion limited to the nigrostriatal system, rendering them
      ideal candidates for transplantation. Improvement of motor function after neural
      grafting has previously been observed in nonhuman primates with MPTP-induced
      parkinsonism. METHODS: We grafted human fetal tissue from the ventral
      mesencephalon (obtained six to eight weeks after conception) bilaterally to the
      caudate and putamen in two immunosuppressed patients with severe MPTP-induced
      parkinsonism, using a stereotaxic technique. The patients were assessed regularly
      with clinical rating scales, timed tests of motor performance, and
      [18F]fluorodopa positron-emission tomography during the 18 months before the
      operation and the 22 to 24 months after the operation. RESULTS: Both patients had
      substantial, sustained improvement in motor function and became much more
      independent. Postoperatively, the second patient's maintenance dose of levodopa
      was decreased to 150 mg daily, which was 30 percent of the original dose.
      Striatal uptake of fluorodopa was unchanged 5 to 6 months postoperatively but was
      markedly and bilaterally increased at 12 to 13 and 22 to 24 months in both
      patients, closely paralleling the patients' clinical improvement. There were no
      serious complications. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral implantation of fetal mesencephalic
      tissue can induce substantial long-term functional improvement in patients with
      parkinsonism and severe dopamine depletion and is accompanied by increased uptake
      of fluorodopa by the striatum. The results in these patients resemble those
      obtained in MPTP-treated primates and suggest that this will be a useful model
      for the assessment of transplantation therapies in Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 1435884
TI  - Brief report: atrial systolic failure in primary amyloidosis.

PMID- 1435883
TI  - A controlled clinical trial of dichloroacetate for treatment of lactic acidosis
      in adults. The Dichloroacetate-Lactic Acidosis Study Group.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mortality is very high in lactic acidosis, and there is no
      satisfactory treatment other than treatment of the underlying cause. Uncontrolled
      studies have suggested that dichloroacetate, which stimulates the oxidation of
      lactate to acetyl-coenzyme A and carbon dioxide, might reduce morbidity and
      improve survival among patients with this condition. METHODS: We conducted a
      placebo-controlled, randomized trial of intravenous sodium dichloroacetate
      therapy in 252 patients with lactic acidosis; 126 were assigned to receive
      dichloroacetate and 126 to receive placebo. The entry criteria included an
      arterial-blood lactate concentration of > or = 5.0 mmol per liter and either an
      arterial-blood pH of < or = 7.35 or a base deficit of > or = 6 mmol per liter.
      The mean (+/- SD) arterial-blood lactate concentrations before treatment were
      11.6 +/- 7.0 mmol per liter in the dichloroacetate-treated patients and 10.4 +/-
      5.5 mmol per liter in the placebo group, and the mean initial arterial-blood pH
      values were 7.24 +/- 0.12 and 7.24 +/- 0.13, respectively. Eighty-six percent of
      the patients required mechanical ventilation, and 74 percent required pressor
      agents, inotropic drugs, or both because of hypotension. RESULTS: The arterial
      blood lactate concentration decreased 20 percent or more in 83 (66 percent) of
      the 126 patients who received dichloroacetate and 45 (36 percent) of the 126
      patients who received placebo (P = 0.001). The arterial-blood pH also increased
      more in the dichloroacetate-treated patients (P = 0.005). The absolute magnitude
      of the differences was small, however, and they were not associated with
      improvement in hemodynamics or survival. Only 12 percent of the dichloroacetate
      treated patients and 17 percent of the placebo patients survived to be discharged
      from the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Dichloroacetate treatment of patients with severe
      lactic acidosis results in statistically significant but clinically unimportant
      changes in arterial-blood lactate concentrations and pH and fails to alter either
      hemodynamics or survival.

PMID- 1435885
TI  - Misoprostol for the treatment of peptic ulcer and antiinflammatory-drug-induced
      gastroduodenal ulceration.

PMID- 1435886
TI  - Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Weekly clinicopathological
      exercises. Case 47-1992. A 25-year-old man with chronic intermittent coccygeal
      pain and mild bladder dysfunction.

PMID- 1435887
TI  - Fetal-tissue transplants in Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 1435888
TI  - Are there really alternatives to the use of fetal tissue from elective abortions
      in transplantation research?

PMID- 1435889
TI  - Should healthy women take tamoxifen?

PMID- 1435890
TI  - Prediction of survival in lung cancer.

PMID- 1435891
TI  - Continued zidovudine or didanosine for human immunodeficiency virus infection.

PMID- 1435892
TI  - Continued zidovudine or didanosine for human immunodeficiency virus infection.

PMID- 1435893
TI  - Continued zidovudine or didanosine for human immunodeficiency virus infection.

PMID- 1435894
TI  - Case 22-1992--pathogenesis of cat scratch disease.

PMID- 1435895
TI  - A bovine albumin peptide as a possible trigger of diabetes mellitus.

PMID- 1435896
TI  - Health care in Canada.

PMID- 1435897
TI  - Health warnings, smoking, and cancer. The Cipollone case.

PMID- 1435898
TI  - Host-specific interleukin-2-secreting donor T-cell precursors as predictors of
      acute graft-versus-host disease in bone marrow transplantation between HLA
      identical siblings.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a serious complication of
      allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from an HLA-identical sibling. There is no
      practical test before transplantation that gives sufficient information to
      predict the degree of allogeneic reactivity between HLA-identical siblings.
      METHODS: We determined the frequency with which host-specific interleukin-2
      secreting donor T-cell precursors occurred in 16 consecutive pairs of HLA
      identical siblings before they underwent marrow grafting. The results were
      correlated with the development of acute GVHD after transplantation. RESULTS:
      High frequencies of host-specific T-cell precursors (> or = 1 per 100,000) were
      detectable before transplantation in eight donors whose siblings later had severe
      (grade II or III) acute GVHD. Among the donors to eight patients with mild (grade
      0 or 1) acute GVHD, low frequencies (< 1 per 100,000) were found. CONCLUSIONS:
      Analysis of the frequency of such cells before transplantation may be a useful
      predictor of severe acute GVHD in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation between
      HLA-identical siblings. It is possible that the patients at risk for serious
      acute GVHD after marrow grafting may benefit from some alternative form of
      immunosuppressive therapy.

PMID- 1435899
TI  - Isolation of Rochalimaea species from cutaneous and osseous lesions of bacillary
      angiomatosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Bacillary angiomatosis is characterized by vascular lesions, which
      occur usually in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A
      newly described gram-negative organism, Rochalimaea henselae, has been associated
      with cutaneous bacillary angiomatosis, but no organism has been isolated and
      cultivated directly from cutaneous tissue. METHODS: We used two methods to
      isolate the infecting bacterium from four HIV-infected patients with cutaneous
      lesions suggestive of bacillary angiomatosis: cultivation with eukaryotic tissue
      culture monolayers and direct plating of homogenized tissue onto agar. The
      patients' blood was cultured with the lysis-centrifugation method. Isolates
      recovered from skin and blood were identified by sequencing all or part of the
      16S ribosomal RNA gene amplified with the polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: R.
      quintana, historically known as the agent of trench fever, was isolated from
      cutaneous lesions in three patients, after tissue homogenates were cultivated
      with endothelial-cell monolayers; R. henselae was isolated from a cutaneous
      lesion in one patient. In two patients, R. quintana was isolated from both
      cutaneous tissue and blood; in one patient it was also isolated from bone.
      CONCLUSIONS: In bacillary angiomatosis, either of two species of rochalimaea--R.
      quintana or R. henselae--can be isolated from cutaneous lesions or blood,
      providing an additional method of diagnosis.

PMID- 1435900
TI  - A less costly regimen of alglucerase to treat Gaucher's disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Alglucerase (Ceredase) provides effective enzyme-replacement
      treatment for patients with Gaucher's disease, but at the usually recommended
      dose of 60 U per kilogram of body weight every two weeks (130 U per kilogram per
      month), it costs $382,200 per year for a 70-kg patient. Theoretical
      considerations suggest that more frequent administration would be more efficient.
      METHODS: Fourteen patients with type 1 Gaucher's disease that was moderately
      severe to severe were given 30 U of alglucerase per kilogram per month, in
      divided doses given either daily or three times weekly, or 120 U given three
      times weekly. The effect of the treatment on the size of the liver and spleen and
      on blood counts was compared with published data on patients who received a total
      dose four to five times as large as the lower dose we used and who received
      treatment every two weeks. RESULTS: The response to 30 U of alglucerase per
      kilogram per month, fractionated into three or seven doses weekly, was
      approximately the same as that reported after the administration every two weeks
      of a dose four or five times as large, given in the large infusions usually
      recommended. A fourfold increase in the dose given three times weekly, from 2.3
      to 9.2 U per kilogram, did not substantially increase the rate of improvement.
      CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of Gaucher's disease with smaller total doses of
      alglucerase given more frequently yields satisfactory results. A dose of 2.3 U
      per kilogram three times weekly yields major financial benefits with no sacrifice
      of therapeutic effect. Even taking into account the increased ancillary costs of
      more frequent administration, this method of administering alglucerase reduces
      the annual cost of the drug for a 70-kg patient to about $100,000.

PMID- 1435901
TI  - Nonmelanoma cancers of the skin.

PMID- 1435902
TI  - Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Weekly clinicopathological
      exercises. Case 48-1992. An 82-year-old man with pulmonary densities and a mass
      in the left upper abdominal quadrant.

PMID- 1435903
TI  - No price too high?

PMID- 1435904
TI  - Problems with employer-provided health insurance--the Employee Retirement Income
      Security Act and health care reform.

PMID- 1435905
TI  - Pharmaceutical promotions.

PMID- 1435906
TI  - Pharmaceutical promotions.

PMID- 1435907
TI  - Pharmaceutical promotions.

PMID- 1435908
TI  - Pharmaceutical promotions.

PMID- 1435909
TI  - Pharmaceutical promotions.

PMID- 1435910
TI  - Pharmaceutical promotions.

PMID- 1435911
TI  - Pharmaceutical advertising in the Journal.

PMID- 1435912
TI  - Pharmaceutical advertising in the Journal.

PMID- 1435913
TI  - Abnormalities of the left temporal lobe in schizophrenia.

PMID- 1435914
TI  - Abnormalities of the left temporal lobe in schizophrenia.

PMID- 1435915
TI  - Intracoronary ultrasound imaging of graft thrombosis.

PMID- 1435916
TI  - A noninvasive method of predicting pulmonary-capillary wedge pressure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The noninvasive prediction of pulmonary-capillary wedge pressure
      (PCWP) is important for the recognition and treatment of a variety of
      cardiovascular disorders. The response of the arterial pressure to the Valsalva
      maneuver has been shown to correlate with the PCWP. We therefore devised a
      noninvasive method to measure this pressure response at the bedside and
      correlated these measurements with the PCWP measured directly with a pulmonary
      artery catheter. METHODS: Simultaneous, blinded, noninvasive measurements of the
      ratio of the final amplitude to the initial amplitude of the pulse wave form
      during the stress phase of the Valsalva maneuver (pulse-amplitude ratio) and
      direct measurements of the PCWP were obtained in 20 clinically stable patients
      and in 14 clinically unstable patients who were receiving vasoactive agents, 12
      of whom also had endotracheal tubes in place. RESULTS: Using linear regression
      analysis, we found that the pulse-amplitude ratio strongly correlated with the
      measured PCWP over a range of base-line values from 4 to 32 mm Hg for the 20
      clinically stable patients (R2 = 0.80) and the 14 clinically unstable patients
      (R2 = 0.85). The method also correctly predicted changes in the PCWP after the
      administration of nitroglycerin or furosemide and after expansion of the
      intravascular volume (R2 = 0.79). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary data indicate
      that a simple noninvasive method can accurately predict the PCWP and changes in
      the PCWP in response to medical therapy.

PMID- 1435918
TI  - Images in clinical medicine. Acute bacterial endocarditis.

PMID- 1435917
TI  - Brief report: complete deficiency of plasminogen-activator inhibitor type 1 due
      to a frame-shift mutation.

PMID- 1435919
TI  - Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Weekly clinicopathological
      exercises. Case 49-1992. A 70-year-old man with multisystem failure after a
      sextuple coronary-artery-bypass graft procedure.

PMID- 1435920
TI  - Breast cancer.

PMID- 1435921
TI  - Breast cancer.

PMID- 1435922
TI  - Breast cancer.

PMID- 1435923
TI  - Treatment of preterm labor with the beta-adrenergic agonist ritodrine.

PMID- 1435924
TI  - Treatment of preterm labor with the beta-adrenergic agonist ritodrine.

PMID- 1435925
TI  - Treatment of preterm labor with the beta-adrenergic agonist ritodrine.

PMID- 1435926
TI  - Treatment of preterm labor with the beta-adrenergic agonist ritodrine.

PMID- 1435927
TI  - The prognostic value of serum troponin T in unstable angina.

PMID- 1435928
TI  - Mitral annular calcification and the risk of stroke.

PMID- 1435929
TI  - Hypernyctohemeral syndrome after chronotherapy for delayed sleep phase syndrome.

PMID- 1435930
TI  - A controlled trial of antimicrobial prophylaxis for Lyme disease after deer-tick
      bites.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease, is transmitted by
      deer ticks (lxodes dammini) in the northeastern and midwestern United States.
      Although deer-tick bites are common in areas in which the disease is endemic,
      there is uncertainty about how to manage the care of persons who are bitten.
      METHODS: To assess the risk of infection with B. burgdorferi and the efficacy of
      prophylactic antimicrobial treatment after a deer-tick bite, we conducted a
      double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in an area of southeastern Connecticut in
      which Lyme disease is endemic. Children and adults who had been bitten by deer
      ticks were randomly assigned to receive either amoxicillin or placebo for 10
      days. Subjects were followed for one year for clinical manifestations of Lyme
      disease. Serum samples obtained at enrollment and six weeks and three months
      later were tested for antibodies against B. burgdorferi. RESULTS: Of the 387
      subjects, 205 (53 percent) were assigned to receive amoxicillin and 182 (47
      percent) to receive placebo. Of 344 deer ticks submitted and analyzed by the
      polymerase chain reaction, 15 percent were infected with B. burgdorferi. Erythema
      migrans developed in two subjects, both of whom had received placebo. There were
      no asymptomatic seroconversions and no late manifestations of Lyme disease. The
      risk of infection with B. burgdorferi in the placebo-treated subjects was 1.2
      percent (95 percent confidence interval, 0.1 to 4.1 percent), which was not
      significantly different (P = 0.22) from the risk in the amoxicillin-treated
      subjects (0 percent; 95 percent confidence interval, 0 to 1.5 percent).
      CONCLUSIONS: Even in an area in which Lyme disease is endemic, the risk of
      infection with B. burgdorferi after a recognized deer-tick bite is so low that
      prophylactic antimicrobial treatment is not routinely indicated.

PMID- 1435931
TI  - Plasma endothelin immunoreactivity in liver disease and the hepatorenal syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Severe renal vasoconstriction is central to the pathogenesis of renal
      failure in the hepatorenal syndrome. Endothelin-1 and endothelin-3 are potent,
      long-acting vasoconstrictors, and endothelin-1 has selective potency as a renal
      vasoconstrictor. These properties suggest a role for endothelins in the
      hepatorenal syndrome. METHODS: We measured plasma endothelin-1 and endothelin-3
      concentrations using specific radioimmunoassays in subjects with hepatorenal
      syndrome, liver disease but normal renal function, chronic renal failure, acute
      renal failure, liver dysfunction and renal impairment, or normal liver and kidney
      function. RESULTS: The patients with the hepatorenal syndrome had markedly
      elevated mean (+/- SE) plasma concentrations of endothelin-1 (36 +/- 5 ng per
      liter [14.5 +/- 1.8 pmol per liter]) and endothelin-3 (43 +/- 3 ng per liter
      [16.3 +/- 1.0 pmol per liter]) as compared with the normal subjects (endothelin
      1, 4 +/- 1 ng per liter [1.7 +/- 0.2 pmol per liter]; and endothelin-3, 18 +/- 1
      ng per liter [6.8 +/- 0.4 pmol per liter]; P < 0.001) and with the patients in
      the other four groups (P < 0.001 to P < 0.05). The plasma endothelin-1, but not
      endothelin-3, concentrations in these four patient groups were significantly
      higher than in the normal subjects (P < 0.001 to P < 0.05). The concentrations of
      endothelin-1 in renal arterial plasma and renal venous plasma, measured in five
      patients with the hepatorenal syndrome and three with chronic liver disease and
      normal renal function, were 20 +/- 4 ng per liter (7.9 +/- 1.8 pmol per liter)
      and 24 +/- 4 ng per liter (9.5 +/- 1.5 pmol per liter), respectively (P < 0.05).
      CONCLUSIONS: The increase in plasma endothelin-1 and endothelin-3 concentrations
      in patients with the hepatorenal syndrome is consistent with the hypothesis that
      these substances have a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

PMID- 1435932
TI  - Kinetic studies of the mechanism of thrombocytopenia in patients with human
      immunodeficiency virus infection.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Isolated thrombocytopenia accompanied by increased amounts of
      platelet-associated antibody is a common manifestation of human immunodeficiency
      virus (HIV) infection, and the thrombocytopenia often improves with zidovudine.
      It is not clear whether the mechanism of HIV-related thrombocytopenia primarily
      involves autoimmune destruction of platelets or reduced platelet production by
      megakaryocytes. METHODS: We studied the survival of 111In-labeled autologous
      platelets and performed platelet imaging in 24 men with isolated HIV-related
      thrombocytopenia (16 who received no treatment and 8 who received zidovudine). We
      also studied 20 HIV-infected men with normal platelet counts (10 who received no
      treatment and 10 who received zidovudine) and studied 12 healthy seronegative men
      as controls. RESULTS: Mean (+/- SD) platelet survival was significantly decreased
      in both the untreated and the zidovudine-treated patients with HIV-related
      thrombocytopenia (to 92 +/- 33 and 129 +/- 44 hours, respectively; both P <
      0.001), as compared with the normal controls (198 +/- 15 hours). Mean platelet
      survival was also significantly decreased in the HIV-infected patients with
      normal platelet counts (untreated, 162 +/- 23 hours, P < 0.01; zidovudine
      treated, 166 +/- 35 hours, P < 0.05). Imaging studies, however, revealed no
      evidence of increased clearance of autologous platelets in the liver or spleen in
      any of these groups. Mean platelet production was significantly depressed in the
      untreated patients with thrombocytopenia (23,000 +/- 11,000 platelets per cubic
      millimeter per day, P < 0.001) as compared with the healthy controls (45,000 +/-
      6,000 per cubic millimeter per day). Mean platelet production was significantly
      increased, however, in the men treated with zidovudine, both in those with
      thrombocytopenia (60,000 +/- 31,000 platelets per cubic millimeter per day, P <
      0.01 vs. controls) and in those without thrombocytopenia (68,000 +/- 22,000 per
      cubic millimeter per day, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Although there was a moderate
      reduction in platelet survival in HIV-infected persons, these patients,
      regardless of platelet counts, also had decreased production of platelets,
      possibly due to viral infection of the megakaryocytes. Zidovudine appears to
      improve platelet production.

PMID- 1435933
TI  - The prognostic value of exercise testing in patients with cystic fibrosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown female sex, impaired pulmonary function,
      older age, malnutrition, and colonization of the respiratory tract with
      Pseudomonas cepacia to be associated with a poor prognosis in patients with
      cystic fibrosis. We sought to determine the prognostic value of exercise testing
      in addition to the other prognostic factors. METHODS: A total of 109 patients
      with cystic fibrosis, 7 to 35 years old, underwent pulmonary-function and
      exercise testing in the late 1970s. They were followed for eight years to
      determine the factors associated with subsequent mortality. Survival rates were
      calculated with standard life-table methods. Cox proportional-hazards regression
      models were used to determine crude relative risks of mortality and relative
      risks adjusted for age, sex, body-mass index, forced expiratory volume in one
      second (FEV1) end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) at peak
      exercise, and oxygen consumption at peak exercise (VO2 peak). RESULTS: Patients
      with the highest levels of aerobic fitness (VO2 peak, > or = 82 percent of
      predicted) had a survival rate of 83 percent at eight years, as compared with
      rates of 51 percent and 28 percent for patients with middle (VO2 peak, 59 to 81
      percent of predicted) and lowest (VO2 peak, < or = 58 percent of predicted)
      levels of fitness, respectively. After adjustment for other risk factors,
      patients with higher levels of aerobic fitness were more than three times as
      likely to survive than patients with lower levels of fitness. Colonization with
      P. cepacia was associated with a risk of dying that was increased fivefold. Age,
      sex, body-mass index, FEV1, and end-tidal PCO2 at peak exercise were not
      independently correlated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of aerobic
      fitness in patients with cystic fibrosis are associated with a significantly
      lower risk of dying. Although better aerobic fitness may simply be a marker for
      less severe illness, measurement of VO2 peak appears to be valuable for
      predicting prognosis. Further research is warranted to determine whether
      improving aerobic fitness through exercise programs will result in a better
      prognosis.

PMID- 1435934
TI  - Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Weekly clinicopathological
      exercises. Case 50-1992. A 54-year-old man with fever of unknown origin four
      years after a diagnosis of lymphocytic lymphoma.

PMID- 1435935
TI  - The hepatorenal syndrome--newer perspectives.

PMID- 1435936
TI  - Thrombocytopenia and the neglected megakaryocyte.

PMID- 1435937
TI  - Anaphylactic reactions to food.

PMID- 1435938
TI  - Anaphylactic reactions to food.

PMID- 1435939
TI  - Undiagnosed HIV infection in acute care hospitals.

PMID- 1435940
TI  - Fatal hospital-acquired multidrug-resistant tuberculous pericarditis in two
      patients with AIDS.

PMID- 1435941
TI  - Malabsorption of antituberculosis medications by a patient with AIDS.

PMID- 1435942
TI  - Third heart sounds in patients with valvular heart disease.

PMID- 1435943
TI  - Isolation, identification and biological activity of chlamydosporol from Fusarium
      culmorum HM-8.
AB  - An isolate of Fusarium culmorum (W. G. Smith), Sacc. HM-8 from a scabby wheat
      kernel sample from England produced a novel toxin when grown in culture on rice.
      This toxin, which was given the trivial name of HM-8, was purified, its toxic
      properties demonstrated and its structure determined by spectroscopic methods.
      Subsequent to preliminary reports of our findings, two other laboratories have
      independently isolated the same substance from F. chlamydosporum and F.
      acuminatum, and demonstrated the same structure by spectroscopic methods and X
      ray crystallography. Identity of the metabolite from F. culmorum HM-8 with the
      published structure is based on (1) identical elemental composition derived from
      both elemental analysis and high resolution mass spectrometry in electron impact
      and fast atom bombardment modes, (2) comparable melting point and chromatographic
      properties, and (3) the presence of characteristic absorption bands in the
      infrared, ultraviolet, and nuclear magnetic resonance (proton and carbon-13)
      spectra. Because both laboratories which subsequently isolated this metabolite
      have used the name chlamydosporol, it is being adopted here. The mass spectral
      properties of chlamydosporol are described. The derivative 8-O
      acetylchlamydosporol was prepared and characterized. Chlamydosporol caused food
      refusal and weight loss in rats, cytotoxic effects to cultured mouse and human
      fibroblast cells at concentrations of 2.5 micrograms/ml and 7.5 micrograms/ml,
      respectively, and mortality to chick embryos (10 to 70%) over a concentration
      range from 0.5 mg to 4 mg per egg.

PMID- 1435944
TI  - Automatic antifungal activity analyzing system on the basis of dynamic growth
      process of a single hypha.
AB  - A system for the evaluation of antifungal activity of volatile compounds has been
      developed that is based on dynamic growth of a single hypha. The newly developed
      system is composed of a reaction vessel under a microscope, automatic stage,
      charge coupled device (CCD) camera, TV monitor, video tape recorder (VTR), and a
      microcomputer. A fungus was inoculated in the reaction vessel containing agar
      medium and then was treated with an antifungal reagent in the gas phase either in
      batch or flow reaction manner. The apex of a growing hypha displayed on a TV
      monitor was followed automatically. From the ratio of the growth rate under
      exposure of a reagent (UEXPO) to the growth rate before the exposure (UPRE), the
      antifungal activity was expressed quantitatively.

PMID- 1435946
TI  - Paronychia and black discoloration of a thumb nail caused by Curvularia lunata.
AB  - Chronic paronychia associated with black discoloration of the left thumb nail in
      a 51 year old female caused by Curvularia lunata is reported for the first time.
      The keratolytic activity of the fungus in the nail and its complete clearance by
      topical clotrimazole are reported.

PMID- 1435945
TI  - Evaluation of antifungal activity of antimycotics by automatic analyzing system.
AB  - Antifungal activity of several antimycotics has been evaluated using an automatic
      analyzing system (AAS), which is composed of a specially designed reaction
      vessel, microscopic observation system, image analyzing system, and computer
      program for automatic tracing of hypha growth. The agar plate was prepared on the
      ceiling of the reaction vessel, and spore mass of a fungus (Aspergillus niger)
      was inoculated onto it. After the preincubation at 28 degrees C for 24 h the
      reaction vessel was set on a microscope stage and connected to the liquid flow
      system. An appropriate hypha was selected for the measurement of growth process
      during the following steps: first contact with saline for 30 min for the
      adaptation, the second contact with same saline for 30 min, contact with saline
      containing an antimycotic substance for 60 min, and contact with flushing saline
      for 60 min. During a sequence of these steps, the apical tip of a growing hypha
      displayed on a TV monitor was followed automatically. The dynamic response of
      hypha to an agent was analyzed by several parameters. Morphological changes of
      the hypha caused by respective agents were recorded on VTR for further analysis.
      By using this system, the antifungal activity of antimycotics could be
      quantitatively determined within several hours.

PMID- 1435947
TI  - Properties of a partially purified acid phosphatase from pathogenic Nocardia
      brasiliensis.
AB  - Like many other bacteria, Nocardia sp. possess acid phosphatase activity. In N.
      brasiliensis, a human and animal pathogen, this activity was resolved into two
      enzyme forms by native gel electrophoresis. One (isozyme I) was partially
      purified and characterized. It exhibited an estimated molecular weight on SDS
      PAGE of 50 kDa, a pH optimum of 5.2, and a Km value of 1.25 mM for p
      nitrophenylphosphate. The N. brasiliensis enzyme was stable at 4 degrees C for at
      least 24 h, but readily inactivated at 60 degrees C. Ammonium molybdate, sodium
      fluoride and L-(+)-tartrate were found to be potent inhibitors of the enzyme.
      Although its function is presently unknown, by analogy to other bacterial systems
      it could be envisioned to play an important role in the physiology and
      pathogenicity of the microorganism.

PMID- 1435948
TI  - Light and electron microscopic studies on experimental nocardia-toxicosis in
      mice.
AB  - An exotoxin (HS-6) produced by Nocardia otitidiscaviarum isolated from certain
      lesions of cutaneous nocardiosis of a male 82-year-old patient induced severe
      injuries in the pancreas, liver, stomach, small intestine, heart, thymus and
      kidney of male ICR mice. Mice given Nocardia-free preparation of HS-6 at a dose
      of 1 mg/kg of body weight developed several autophagic vacuoles in the pancreas
      and liver within 20 min after the i.p. injection. Thereafter, the autophagic
      vacuoles increased in number and size with time. About 24 hr after the
      administration of HS-6, the liver showed marked accumulation of fat droplets in
      the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes. Although they contained abundant autophagic
      vacuoles in the regions of RER, there were no lipomatoses in the acinar cells of
      the pancreas, those of the chief cells and smooth muscle cells of the stomach,
      Paneth cells, goblet cells, smooth muscle cells of the small intestine, and
      plasma cells in the digestive tract. Biochemical examinations revealed that HS-6
      had no significant effect on the protein synthesis of reticulocytes. Inoculation
      of the Nocardia into the mouse peritoneal cavities caused marked granulomatoses
      in the pancreas, liver and regional lymph nodes, but did not develop autophagic
      vacuoles in RER regions of these organs.

PMID- 1435950
TI  - Partial suppression of cell mediated immunity in chromoblastomycosis.
AB  - The cellular immune response of 8 patients from the Brazilian Amazon region with
      chromoblastomycosis was analyzed. Primary immunological responses of patients
      were tested by contact sensitization to 2,4-dinitro-chlorobenzene (DNCB), or
      rejection of first set skin allografts. 2 of 8 patients were reactive to DNCB
      after sensitization, and skin allograft rejection occurred in an average of 14
      days. Capacity of patients to mount recall immunological responses was measured
      by skin testing with two fungal antigens and three bacterial antigens. Delayed
      skin reaction to trichophytin and candida antigens was negative in the majority
      of the patients. However, reactivity to mycobacterial (tuberculin), and bacterial
      (staphylococcal, streptococcal) antigen was high, or only slightly diminished
      respectively. The data suggest that patients with chromoblastomycosis have
      suppressed nonspecific, cell mediated immunity for some antigens (skin
      allografts, DNCB, fungal antigens), while reactivity to bacterial and
      mycobacterial antigens is not impaired.

PMID- 1435949
TI  - Immunosuppressive effect of paracoccidioidomycosis sera on the proliferative
      response of normal mononuclear cells. Identification of a Paracoccidioides
      brasiliensis 34-kDa polypeptide in circulating immune complexes.
AB  - In this paper we relate that sera from paracoccidioidomycosis patients inhibited
      the mitogen-induced proliferative responses of normal mononuclear cells.
      Treatment of these sera with 2.5% polyethyleneglycol (PEG), a method classically
      used to precipitate immune complexes, significantly reduced their inhibitory
      activity. Immunoblot analysis of the PEG precipitates identified a 34-kDa
      polypeptide, recognized by rabbit anti-P. brasiliensis IgG. Patient mononuclear
      cells showed partial restoration of their proliferative capacity after 24 h
      culture in medium alone, which suggests release of membrane-bound molecules in
      the culture medium. These findings indicate that circulating P. brasiliensis
      antigens, complexed or not with antibodies, may play a negative immunoregulatory
      effect in the mitogen-induced proliferative responses of paracoccidioidomycosis
      patients.

PMID- 1435951
TI  - Incidence and significance of opportunistic fungi in leukemia patients in India.
AB  - Twenty-four patients with acute leukemia were investigated for the incidence of
      opportunistic fungi. Culture isolations of the sputum and urine samples revealed
      significant levels of Candida in 14 patients; Candida albicans, C. tropicalis and
      C. pseudotropicalis were the predominant ones isolated. Aspergillus flavus was
      isolated from blood in two cases and C. albicans and a black yeast from the blood
      of another two. Serological studies showed fungal antibodies in seven patients;
      precipitins against Candida were detected in five and Aspergillus in two. Both of
      the Aspergillus positive cases and two patients who had rising antibodies against
      Candida died during the course of investigation. In this study 13 of 24 patients
      developed oral candidiasis.

PMID- 1435952
TI  - Evaluation of two vaccines for the treatment of pythiosis insidiosi in horses.
AB  - Two vaccines to treat phythiosis insidiosi in horses were evaluated in 71 Costa
      Rican horses between 1982 to 1988. One vaccine used a cell-mass (CMV) as antigen
      and the other a soluble concentrated antigen (SCAV). Both vaccines cured horses
      infected with Pythium insidiosum (p value approximately 14%). The age of lesions
      prior to vaccination was important in the response of the horses to
      immunotherapy. All horses with lesions 0.5 months or less in duration were cured
      regardless of the vaccine used. Horses with lesions two or more months old did
      not respond to either vaccine. The age of the horses did not have any influence
      on their response to the vaccinations. The CMV produced a prominent inflammatory
      reaction at the side of injection, while the SCAV gave a low inflammatory
      reaction. In addition, the CMV lost its effectiveness two to three weeks after
      its preparation. By contrast, the SCAV maintained its ability to cure horses even
      after 18 months. Immunotherapy using SCAV can thus be used as the vaccine of
      choice in early cases of equine cutaneous pythiosis insidiosi.

PMID- 1435953
TI  - Growth of Cryptococcus neoformans in a thiamine-free medium.
AB  - The growth of Cryptococcus neoformans in a minimal liquid synthetic medium with
      or without thiamine (10 micrograms/ml) was investigated. In these media the
      presence or absence of thiamine had no effect on the development of C.
      neoformans. To check these results, we performed a series of experiments on a
      solid form of the minimal synthetic medium. In this study a series of six serial
      transfers were carried out to starve the cells of nutrients that may have been
      carried over from their growth on rich media. In each of the transfers on the
      solid synthetic medium, C. neoformans showed a similar and scarce growth. This
      finding indicates that C. neoformans could be autotrophic in respect to thiamine.

PMID- 1435955
TI  - Disseminated Aspergillus terreus infection in a caged pigeon.
AB  - Disseminated aspergillosis due to Aspergillus terreus was diagnosed in a young
      pigeon kept by a bird fancier. The fungus was isolated in heavy growth from the
      infected tissues on Sabouraud medium at 37 degrees C. Microscopic examination of
      the squeeze preparation of the air sacs revealed the presence of typical
      conidiophores of an Aspergillus sp. Histologically, branched, septate hyphae
      morphologically indistinguishable from Aspergillus were detected in the air sacs
      and lungs. The clinical, mycological and pathological findings are discussed. The
      role of A. terreus as an opportunistic pathogen should be studied in various
      clinical conditions of mammals and avians.

PMID- 1435954
TI  - Cryptococcus neoformans varieties as agents of cryptococcosis in Brazil.
AB  - The study of the clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans from 83 Brazilian
      patients with disseminated cryptococcosis showed that 75 were C. neoformans var.
      neoformans and 8 were var. gattii. Twenty-seven isolates were serotyped; all 19
      var. neoformans were serotype A and all 8 var. gattii were serotype B. The
      correlation of the varieties of C. neoformans with the presence or not of hosts
      predisposing conditions to the mycosis showed that: (1) cryptococcosis caused by
      gattii variety occurred in 7 (58.3%) of the 12 nonimmunosuppressed patients, and
      (2) cryptococcosis caused by neoformans variety occurred in 65 (98.5%) of the 66
      AIDS patients and in all 5 patients with other immunosuppressive conditions. The
      comparison of the distribution of the gattii and neoformans varieties between the
      nonimmunosuppressed and immunosuppressed patients showed a significant
      statistical difference (p < 0.01).

PMID- 1435956
TI  - Studies on the relationship between the estrous cycle of BALB/c mice and their
      resistance to Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection.
AB  - A relationship between the estrous cycle and non-specific host resistance to
      Paracoccidiodes brasiliensis yeast cells was examined by using both sexes of
      adult BALB/c mice. They were divided into 6 groups, including a male group and
      females at proestrus, estrus, metestrus-I, metestrus-II and diestrus. The mice
      received yeast cells through three different inoculation routes; intravenous,
      intraperitoneal and intratracheal. In all of the inoculation routes, the
      clearance of the yeast cells was influenced by the estrous cycle. The female mice
      at estrus, which might have high blood estrogen levels, showed a marked clearance
      of the yeast cells from the blood, peritoneal cavity and lungs. These results
      suggested that non-specific host resistance to the yeast cells was enhanced by
      estrogen. All female groups inoculated by the three routes showed higher
      clearance of the yeast cells than the male group.

PMID- 1435957
TI  - Purification and partial characterization of two extracellular keratinases of
      Scopulariopsis brevicaulis.
AB  - Two extracellular keratinases of Scopulariopsis brevicaulis were purified and
      partially characterized. The enzymes were isolated by the techniques of gel
      filtration chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). These keratinases (K I & K II) were purified
      approximately 33 and 29 fold, respectively. SDS-PAGE of the products of gel
      filtration chromatography (K I & II) produced only one band each, suggesting
      homogeneity. The optimum pH for both keratinases was 7.8, while the optimum
      temperatures were 40 degrees C (K I) and 35 degrees C (K II). Estimated molecular
      weights were 40-45 KDa and 24-29 KDa for K I & K II respectively. Both
      keratinases were inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride which suggests a
      serine residue at or near an active site.

PMID- 1435958
TI  - A biological assay for the detection of Myrothecium spp. produced macrocyclic
      trichothecenes.
AB  - A rapid, inexpensive bioassay to detect Myrothecium spp.-produced macrocyclic
      trichothecenes was developed. Media containing Myrothecium isolates were
      inoculated with Chlorella vulgaris, Ustilago maydis and Trichoderma viride. Based
      on width of the inhibition zone, isolates could be classified as highly
      toxigenic, non-toxigenic and intermediate. Whereas, C. vulgaris and U. maydis
      showed significant differences in their response to toxigenic and non-toxigenic
      isolates, T. viride did not. Production of roridins and verrucarins by the
      toxigenic isolates (by bioassay) was confirmed by thin layer chromatography and
      high performance liquid chromatography. This bioassay system, combined with
      confirmation chemical analyses, increases our ability to detect toxigenic fungal
      isolates.

PMID- 1435959
TI  - Feeding differently processed soya bean. Part 1. Effect on performance, protein
      utilization, relative organ weights, carcass traits and economics of producing
      broiler-chickens.
AB  - The comparative utilization of differently processed (roasted, cooked and oil
      cake) soya bean base diets and groundnut cake diet were evaluated in a feeding
      trial using 100 day-old Anak broiler-chicks. The response criteria included
      performance, protein utilization, relative organ weights, carcass traits and
      economy of production. At the end of the feeding trial, the average weight gains
      of chicks fed processed soya bean diets were significantly (P less than 0.05)
      higher than those fed groundnut cake and raw soya bean diets. Both feed
      consumption and efficiency were significantly (P less than 0.05) enhanced by
      processing. For example, feed consumption was highest in the chicks fed soya bean
      oil cake and least in those fed raw bean. Feed efficiency was best in chicks fed
      roasted soya bean. The relative weights [g/100 g body wt.] of the liver, kidneys,
      lungs, heart, gizzard and bursa were not significantly affected by the
      differently processed soya bean while the raw bean (unprocessed) significantly (P
      less than 0.01) increased pancreas weight. The dressed weight [%], eviscerated
      weight [%] and the relative weight of the thigh, drumsticks, chest, back and head
      were not significantly influenced by the dietary treatments. However, the
      relative weights of the shank and belly fat were significantly (P less than 0.05)
      affected. Cost-benefit analysis showed that the processed soya bean gave higher
      profit than groundnut cake diet. Among the soya bean diets, profit was in the
      order: roasted greater than cooked greater than oil cake greater than raw bean.

PMID- 1435961
TI  - Problems of Drug Dependence 1991. Proceedings of the 53rd annual scientific
      meeting of the Committee on Problems of Drug Dependence, Inc. Richmond, Virginia,
      June 1991.

PMID- 1435960
TI  - Feeding differently processed soya bean. Part 2. An assessment of haematological
      responses in the chicken.
AB  - The use of differently processed soya bean as a major source of dietary protein
      was evaluated in a haematological study using broiler chickens in which groundnut
      cake (GNC), raw soya bean (RSB), roasted soya bean (RtSB), cooked soya bean (CSB)
      and soya bean oil cake (SBC) were fed on equi-protein basis. The results showed
      that: 1. Red blood cell (RBC) count and haemoglobin content of blood
      significantly (P less than 0.05) increased in chicks fed RSB relative to the
      other soya bean diets. Feeding differently processed soya bean significantly (P
      less than 0.05) influenced mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular
      volume (MCV) while the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was not
      significantly influenced. 2. Both the total white blood cell (WBC) count and the
      monocytes were significantly (P less than 0.05) influenced by the dietary
      treatments. Chicks fed processed soya bean generally had higher number of
      monocytes. 3. Physical properties determined were specific gravity and
      erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The latter was significantly (P less than 0.05)
      lower in all the processed soya bean-fed chicks. 4. Minerals determined in blood
      were Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu and P. Of all these, chicks fed RSB had significantly
      (P less than 0.01) lower levels of blood Mg and marked decrease in Ca.

PMID- 1435962
TI  - Biomedical research and scientific citizenship: the price of progress.

PMID- 1435963
TI  - DSM-IV substance use disorders: the view from DSM-III-R.

PMID- 1435964
TI  - Effects of drugs of abuse and treatment agents in women.

PMID- 1435965
TI  - Cardiovascular effects of cocaine in pregnancy and on the fetus.

PMID- 1435966
TI  - Effects of cocaine and other drugs on the infant.

PMID- 1435967
TI  - Fetal alcohol syndrome: early and long-term consequences.

PMID- 1435968
TI  - Hallucinogens and serotonergic mechanisms.
AB  - Classical hallucinogens possess 5-HT2 agonist activity; certain structurally
      related agents are antagonists, but there is no evidence that the antagonists are
      hallucinogenic. Both the discriminative stimulus and human hallucinogenic
      potencies of the agonists are significantly correlated with 5-HT2 receptor
      affinity when [3H]-ketanserin is used as radioligand (Glennon et al., 1984).
      These agents appear to bind with higher affinity when [3H]DOB, an agent that
      apparently labels the agonist high-affinity state of 5-HT2 receptors, is used as
      radioligand (Sadzot et al., 1989). For a series of DOB-related agents, 5-HT2(KET)
      affinity can be modeled by the lipophilicity of the 4-position substituent;
      lipophilicity alone does not completely account for the affinity of 5-HT2
      agonists. Using [3H]DOB as radioligand to minimize differences observed between
      agonists and antagonists, 5-HT2 affinity is related both to the lipophilicity and
      electron withdrawing nature of the 4-position substituents. The difference
      between 5-HT2(KET) and 5-HT2(DOB) binding may be related to the intrinsic
      activity of DOB-related agents. Serotonin, with an intrinsic activity of 1.0, is
      not hallucinogenic whereas hallucinogens may be hallucinogenic because they are
      high-affinity 5-HT2 partial agonists.

PMID- 1435969
TI  - Serotonin and alcohol drinking.

PMID- 1435970
TI  - Pharmacotherapy of substance abuse with serotonergic drugs.

PMID- 1435971
TI  - Behavioral strategies for the evaluation of new pharmacotherapies for drug abuse
      treatment.

PMID- 1435972
TI  - Preclinical methods for the development of pharmacotherapies for cocaine abuse.

PMID- 1435973
TI  - A laboratory model for evaluating potential treatment medications in humans.

PMID- 1435974
TI  - Clinical parallels of chronic drug self-administration models for treatment
      evaluation.

PMID- 1435975
TI  - Use of cocaine-discrimination techniques for preclinical evaluation of candidate
      therapeutics for cocaine dependence.

PMID- 1435976
TI  - The use of human drug discrimination studies in medication development.

PMID- 1435977
TI  - Effects of magnesium on cocaine-reinforced responding in mice, rats and squirrel
      monkeys.

PMID- 1435978
TI  - Access schedules of oral cocaine and ethanol in rats.

PMID- 1435979
TI  - The National Institute on Drug Abuse 1991: new faces, responsibilities, and
      opportunities.

PMID- 1435980
TI  - Effects of endogenous calcium regulating peptides on opiate actions.

PMID- 1435981
TI  - Effects of opiates, opioid antagonists and cocaine on the endogenous opioid
      system: clinical and laboratory studies.

PMID- 1435982
TI  - The continuing interrelationship of CPDD and NIDDK.

PMID- 1435983
TI  - Biological evaluation of compounds for their physical dependence potential and
      abuse liability, XIV. Animal Testing Committee of the Committee on Problems of
      Drug Dependence, Inc. (1991).

PMID- 1435984
TI  - Dependence studies of new compounds in the rhesus monkey and mouse (1991).

PMID- 1435985
TI  - Potent analgesia, respiratory depression, dependence, abuse liability-clue to
      separability.

PMID- 1435986
TI  - Evaluation of new compounds for opioid activity (1991).

PMID- 1435987
TI  - Three generations of electrophilic affinity ligands for the phencyclidine binding
      sites.

PMID- 1435988
TI  - The cannabinoid receptor-pharmacologic identification, anatomical localization
      and cloning.

PMID- 1435989
TI  - Overview of opioid medicinal chemistry.

PMID- 1435990
TI  - Progress in Case Management. Technical review. Bethesda, Maryland, February 4-5,
      1992.

PMID- 1435991
TI  - Transitional case management: a service model for AIDS outreach projects.

PMID- 1435992
TI  - Application of case management to drug abuse treatment: overview of models and
      research issues.

PMID- 1435993
TI  - Delivering case management using a community-based service model of drug
      intervention.

PMID- 1435994
TI  - Case management to enhance AIDS risk reduction for injection drug users and crack
      cocaine users: practical and philosophical considerations.
AB  - The AIDS intervention model described herein represents a new "mixed" model of
      case management, one that combines AIDS risk-reduction education with a modified
      version of the traditional broker of services model. The case management
      component of the model is designed to heed and address those immediate needs that
      may distract a person from attending to the AIDS risk-reduction messages. The
      educational component of the model can help a person develop interest in the case
      management services. The result is a model that, theoretically, can have a
      greater impact than either component alone would have. The advantages of the
      model are its flexibility, its ability to quickly assess and address clients'
      concerns, and its short duration that enhances the likelihood that drug users
      will complete the process.

PMID- 1435995
TI  - Case management services for HIV-seropositive IDUs.

PMID- 1435996
TI  - Case management models for homeless persons with alcohol and other drug problems:
      an overview of the NIAAA research demonstration program.

PMID- 1435997
TI  - Integrating qualitative and quantitative components in evaluation of case
      management.

PMID- 1435998
TI  - Case management systems represented in the NIDA-supported "Perinatal-20"
      treatment research demonstration projects.

PMID- 1435999
TI  - Case management: a telecommunication practice model.

PMID- 1436000
TI  - Intensive case management for youth with serious emotional disturbance and
      chemical abuse.

PMID- 1436001
TI  - Development and implementation of an interorganizational case management model
      for substance users.

PMID- 1436002
TI  - Managed care and case management of substance abuse treatment.
AB  - Managed care has become an important subject for health service research and is
      used increasingly by health care payers to control health care use and costs.
      Health services research on managed care has relevance to the evaluation of case
      management of persons with substance abuse problems. Two issues in managed care
      that are particularly relevant to case management are the lack of explicit,
      widely accepted criteria for managed care and the lack of demonstrated cost
      savings attributable to managed care. Thorough, systematic evaluative research
      needs to be done before these issues are well understood.

PMID- 1436003
TI  - Assertive community treatment with a parolee population: an extension of case
      management.

PMID- 1436004
TI  - TASC: case management models linking criminal justice and treatment.

PMID- 1436005
TI  - Case management community advocacy for substance abuse clients.

PMID- 1436006
TI  - Accessing additional community resources through case management to meet the
      needs of methadone clients.

PMID- 1436007
TI  - A strengths-based model of case management/advocacy: adapting a mental health
      model to practice work with persons who have substance abuse problems.

PMID- 1436008
TI  - Case management: an alternative approach to working with intravenous drug users.

PMID- 1436009
TI  - Statistical Issues in Clinical Trials for Treatment of Opiate Dependence.
      Technical review. Bethesda, Maryland, December 2-3, 1991.

PMID- 1436010
TI  - Analysis of clinical trials for treatment of opiate dependence: what are the
      possibilities?

PMID- 1436011
TI  - Toward a dynamic analysis of disease-state transition monitored by serial
      clinical laboratory tests.

PMID- 1436012
TI  - Background and design of a controlled clinical trial (ARC 090) for the treatment
      of opioid dependence.
AB  - This study represents the largest clinical trial reported to date that
      demonstrated the efficacy of buprenorphine for opioid dependence treatment
      (Johnson et al. 1992). Although the study design was adequate to demonstrate
      differences between treatment groups, there has not been a consensus regarding
      the most appropriate method for analyzing various outcome measures of this and
      similar studies. To present a comprehensive review of these methods, other
      chapters in this monograph focus on various analytical techniques for assessing
      one of these measures--urine toxicology screens--for illicit opioids.

PMID- 1436013
TI  - A Markov model for NIDA data on treatment of opiate dependence.

PMID- 1436014
TI  - Design of clinical trials for treatment of opiate dependence: what is missing?

PMID- 1436015
TI  - Efficacy of urinalysis in monitoring heroin and cocaine abuse patterns:
      implications in clinical trials for treatment of drug dependence.
AB  - Urinalysis can be used as an objective criterion for monitoring the outcome of a
      treatment program or a clinical trial. Important factors to consider when
      implementing a drug testing program include standardization of assay technology
      and cutoffs between participating centers and selection of identical testing
      schedules. Also, it is vitally important to minimize the amount of safe time
      (time that drug use can go undetected) occurring in a testing schedule. The
      detection times for cocaine and heroin have been shown to vary with selection of
      cutoff and with the drug dose. Obviously, the selection of cutoffs is under
      program control, whereas the amount of illicit drug use is under subject control.
      Fortunately, changes in the illicit drug dose by the subject demonstrate a log
      linear relationship to detection time. Hence, a higher drug dose by the subject
      only extends the detection time slightly (and improves the probability of
      detection) without greatly increasing the risks of drug carryover from one urine
      test to another. The most efficient testing schedule for judging the outcome of
      clinical trials for cocaine and heroin appears to be a 3-days-a-week schedule
      (Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday). When different
      schedules were challenged by simulating random times at which cocaine use might
      occur during the week, the 3-days-per-week schedule was the most efficient
      without the risk of carryover. The 3-days-per-week schedule also performed better
      than 1-day-per-week when multiple random drug use was simulated. Overall, the 3
      days-per-week testing schedule with specified assay technology and cutoffs was
      the best compromise for maximizing detection of drug use, minimizing carryover,
      and providing a standardized methodology for outcome comparison between programs.

PMID- 1436016
TI  - Drug dependence (addiction) and its treatment.

PMID- 1436017
TI  - A Bayesian nonparametric approach to analysis of treatment for drug-dependence
      data.

PMID- 1436018
TI  - Three estimators of the probability of opiate use from incomplete data.

PMID- 1436020
TI  - Infectious diseases are not banished.

PMID- 1436019
TI  - Issues in the analysis of clinical trials for opiate dependence.

PMID- 1436021
TI  - NHS opens meta-analysis centre.

PMID- 1436022
TI  - Racial tensions entangle NIH in dispute over AIDS drug.

PMID- 1436024
TI  - Consciousness.

PMID- 1436023
TI  - Mail-order notification would replace permits for US field tests.

PMID- 1436025
TI  - Struggles to correct published errors.

PMID- 1436026
TI  - G proteins. Visual differences.

PMID- 1436027
TI  - Drug ring bust.

PMID- 1436028
TI  - Palaeoanthropology. Second gorilla or third chimp?

PMID- 1436029
TI  - A rete in the right whale.

PMID- 1436030
TI  - Childhood thyroid cancer in Belarus.

PMID- 1436031
TI  - Childhood thyroid cancer in Belarus.

PMID- 1436032
TI  - DNA fingerprints of cell lines.

PMID- 1436033
TI  - Targeted disruption of the mouse transforming growth factor-beta 1 gene results
      in multifocal inflammatory disease.
AB  - Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is a multifunctional growth factor
      that has profound regulatory effects on many developmental and physiological
      processes. Disruption of the TGF-beta 1 gene by homologous recombination in
      murine embryonic stem cells enables mice to be generated that carry the disrupted
      allele. Animals homozygous for the mutated TGF-beta 1 allele show no gross
      developmental abnormalities, but about 20 days after birth they succumb to a
      wasting syndrome accompanied by a multifocal, mixed inflammatory cell response
      and tissue necrosis, leading to organ failure and death. TGF-beta 1-deficient
      mice may be valuable models for human immune and inflammatory disorders,
      including autoimmune diseases, transplant rejection and graft versus host
      reactions.

PMID- 1436034
TI  - Molecular structure of the acyl-enzyme intermediate in beta-lactam hydrolysis at
      1.7 A resolution.
AB  - The X-ray crystal structure of the molecular complex of penicillin G with a
      deacylation-defective mutant of the RTEM-1 beta-lactamase from Escherichia coli
      shows how these antibiotics are recognized and destroyed. Penicillin G is
      covalently bound to Ser 70 0 gamma as an acyl-enzyme intermediate. The deduced
      catalytic mechanism uses Ser 70 0 gamma as the attacking nucleophile during
      acylation. Lys 73 N zeta acts as a general base in abstracting a proton from Ser
      70 and transferring it to the thiazolidine ring nitrogen atom via Ser 130 0
      gamma. Deacylation is accomplished by nucleophilic attack on the penicilloyl
      carbonyl carbon by a water molecule assisted by the general base, Glu 166.

PMID- 1436035
TI  - Wing bone stresses in free flying bats and the evolution of skeletal design for
      flight.
AB  - The primary mechanical functions of limb bones are to resist deformation, and
      hence provide stiff levers against which muscles can act, and to be sufficiently
      strong to prevent breaking under static or dynamic loads which arise from normal
      and accidental activities. If bones perform these functions with a minimum amount
      of material, the energetic costs associated with building, maintaining and
      transporting the skeleton will be minimized. Appropriate skeletal architecture
      for minimizing mass while maximizing strength depends on forces imposed on
      structural elements. In the evolutionary acquisition of flight in the bat
      lineage, the forelimb skeleton must have come to experience locomotor-forces that
      differed from those engendered by the terrestrial locomotion of non-flying bat
      relatives. Here we successfully measure in vivo strain on the wing bones of
      flying mammals. Our data demonstrate that torsion and shear are unique and
      crucial features of skeletal biomechanics during flight, and suggest that the
      evolution of skeletal design in bats and other flying vertebrates may be driven
      by the need to resist these loads.

PMID- 1436036
TI  - Quantal transmitter secretion from myocytes loaded with acetylcholine.
AB  - It is well known that transmitter secretion requires specialized secretory
      organelles, the synaptic vesicles, for the packaging, storage and exocytotic
      release of the transmitter. Here we report that when acetylcholine (ACh) is
      loaded into an isolated Xenopus myocyte, there is spontaneous quantal release of
      ACh from the myocyte which results in activation of its own surface ACh channels
      and the appearance of membrane currents resembling miniature endplate currents.
      This myocyte secretion probably reflects Ca(2+)-regulated exocytosis of ACh
      filled cytoplasmic compartments. Furthermore, step depolarization of the myocyte
      membrane triggers evoked ACh release from the myocyte with a weak excitation
      secretion coupling. These findings suggest that quantal transmitter secretion
      does not require secretory pathways unique to neurons and that the essence of
      presynaptic differentiation may reside in the provision of transmitter supply and
      modification of the preexisting secretion pathway.

PMID- 1436037
TI  - Patterns of elevated free calcium and calmodulin activation in living cells.
AB  - The temporal and spatial dynamics of intracellular signals and protein effectors
      are being defined as a result of imaging using fluorescent reagents within living
      cells. We have described a new class of fluorescent analogues termed optical
      biosensors, which sense chemical or molecular events through their effects on
      protein transducers. One example of this new class of indicators is MeroCaM, an
      environmentally sensitive fluorophore which when it is attached to calmodulin
      reflects the activation of calmodulin by calcium in vitro. We report here that
      the rise in free calcium and MeroCaM activation occur in the same period during
      serum stimulation of quiescent fibroblasts. MeroCaM activation also correlates
      with the spatial pattern of increased free calcium and the contraction of
      transverse fibres during wound healing. Finally, migrating fibroblasts in the
      later stages of wound-healing exhibit an increasing gradient of free calcium and
      MeroCaM activation from the front to the rear.

PMID- 1436038
TI  - Pol of gag-pol fusion protein required for encapsidation of viral RNA of yeast L
      A virus.
AB  - Double-stranded RNA viruses have an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity
      associated with the viral particles which is indispensable for their replication
      cycle. Using the yeast L-A double-stranded RNA virus we have investigated the
      mechanism by which the virus encapsidates its genomic RNA and RNA polymerase. The
      L-A gag gene encodes the principal viral coat protein and the overlapping pol
      gene is expressed as a gag-pol fusion protein which is formed by a -1 ribosomal
      frameshift. Here we show that Gag alone is sufficient for virus particle
      formation, but that it fails to package the viral single-stranded RNA genome.
      Encapsidation of the viral RNA requires only a part of the Pol region (the N
      terminal quarter), which is presumably distinct from the RNA polymerase domain.
      Given that the Pol region has single-stranded RNA-binding activity, these results
      are consistent with our L-A virus encapsidation model: the Pol region of the
      fusion protein binds specifically to the viral genome (+) strand, and the N
      terminal gag-encoded region primes polymerization of Gag to form the capsid, thus
      ensuring the packaging of both the viral genome and the RNA polymerase.

PMID- 1436039
TI  - Lipid modification at the N terminus of photoreceptor G-protein alpha-subunit.
AB  - Myristate is a fatty acid (fourteen-carbon chain with no double bonds, C14:0)
      linked to the amino-terminal glycine of several proteins, including alpha
      subunits of heterotrimeric (alpha/beta gamma) G proteins. We report here a novel
      modification at the N terminus of the alpha-subunit of the photoreceptor G
      protein transducin, T alpha, with heterogeneous fatty acids composed of laurate
      (C12:0), unsaturated C14:2 and C14:1 fatty acids, and a small amount
      (approximately 5%) of myristate. Both the GTPase activity of T alpha/T beta gamma
      and the T beta gamma-dependent ADP-ribosylation of T alpha catalysed by pertussis
      toxin were inhibited by the lauroylated and myristoylated N-terminal peptide of T
      alpha. The myristoylated peptide gave 50% inhibition at a 3.5 to approximately
      4.5-fold lower concentration than the lauroylated peptide in each assay,
      indicating that the strength of the interaction between T alpha and T beta gamma
      is altered by heterogeneous fatty acids linked to T alpha. This suggests that a
      looser subunit interaction in transducin which is due to an abundance of N-linked
      fatty acids other than myristate would favour the rapid turnover and catalysis
      essential for the visual excitation in photoreceptor cells.

PMID- 1436040
TI  - Crystal structure of a streptococcal protein G domain bound to an Fab fragment.
AB  - Protein G is a cell-surface protein from Streptococcus which binds to IgG
      molecules from a wide range of species with an affinity comparable to that of
      antigen. The high affinity of protein G for the Fab portion of IgG poses a
      particular challenge in molecular recognition, given the variability of heavy
      chain subclass, light chain type and complementarity-determining regions. Here we
      report the crystal structure of a complex between a protein G domain and an
      immunoglobulin Fab fragment. An outer beta-strand in the protein G domain forms
      an antiparallel interaction with the last beta-strand in the constant heavy chain
      domain of the immunoglobulin, thus extending the beta-sheet into the protein G.
      The interaction between secondary structural elements in Fab and protein G
      provides an ingenious solution to the problem of maintaining a high affinity for
      many different IgG molecules. The structure also contrasts with Fab-antigen
      complexes, in which all contacts with antigen are mediated by the variable
      regions of the antibody, and to our knowledge provides the first details of
      interaction of the constant regions of Fab with another protein.

PMID- 1436041
TI  - France's blood scandal draws blood.
AB  - The trial in France of four government officials for complicity in the use of
      contaminated blood may have ended with the verdicts announced last Friday, but
      the recriminations will continue.

PMID- 1436042
TI  - Groups sue to end fetal tissue ban.

PMID- 1436043
TI  - NIH and Army meet on breast cancer windfall.

PMID- 1436044
TI  - Verdict in French blood trial shames science.

PMID- 1436045
TI  - US panel rejects hiding source of allegations of misconduct.

PMID- 1436046
TI  - Sizing-up the brain.

PMID- 1436047
TI  - Sizing-up the brain.

PMID- 1436048
TI  - Sizing-up the brain.

PMID- 1436049
TI  - Motive to sin.

PMID- 1436050
TI  - The 'far east' of biological ethics.
AB  - The ethics of biological research, and its general impact, are hotly debated in
      the West. Japanese silence on the issues is counterproductive. Will the Human
      Genome Project provide the catalyst for change?

PMID- 1436051
TI  - Cell biology. Progress by poisoning.

PMID- 1436052
TI  - Correct structure prediction?

PMID- 1436053
TI  - Correlations in intronless DNA.

PMID- 1436054
TI  - Antibodies from libraries.

PMID- 1436055
TI  - Sizing single DNA molecules.

PMID- 1436056
TI  - More on bear droppings.

PMID- 1436057
TI  - A second-generation linkage map of the human genome.
AB  - A linkage map of the human genome has been constructed based on the segregation
      analysis of 814 newly characterized polymorphic loci containing short tracts of
      (C-A)n repeats in a panel of DNAs from eight large families. Statistical linkage
      analysis placed 813 of the markers into 23 linkage groups corresponding to the 22
      autosomes and the X chromosome; 605 show a heterozygosity above 0.7 and 553 could
      be ordered with odds ratios above 1,000:1. The distance spanned corresponds to
      approximately 90% of the estimated length of the human genome.

PMID- 1436058
TI  - Crystal structure of staphylococcal enterotoxin B, a superantigen.
AB  - The three-dimensional structure of staphylococcal enterotoxin B, which is both a
      toxin and a super-antigen, has been determined to a resolution of 2.5 A. The
      unusual main-chain fold containing two domains may represent a general motif
      adopted by all staphylococcal enterotoxins. The T-cell receptor binding site
      encompasses a shallow cavity formed by both domains. The MHCII molecule binds to
      an adjacent site. Another cavity with possible biological activity was also
      identified.

PMID- 1436059
TI  - Connectivity of chemosensory neurons is controlled by the gene poxn in
      Drosophila.
AB  - The function of the nervous system depends on the formation of a net of
      appropriate connections, but little is known of the genetic program underlying
      this process. In Drosophila two genes that specify different types of sense
      organs have been identified: cut (ct), which specifies the formation of external
      sense organs as opposed to chordotonal organs, and pox-neuro (poxn), which
      specifies the formation of poly-innervated (chemosensory) organs as opposed to
      mono-innervated (mechanosensory) organs. Whether these genes are also involved in
      specifying the connectivity of the corresponding neurons is not known. The larval
      sense organs are unsuitable for analysis of the axonal pathway and connections
      and so we have investigated the effect of poxn on the adult. Here we show that
      overexpression of poxn induces the morphological transformation of mechanosensory
      into chemosensory bristles on the legs and that the neurons innervating the
      morphologically transformed bristles follow pathways and establish connections
      that are appropriate for chemosensory bristles.

PMID- 1436060
TI  - Enterotoxin residues determining T-cell receptor V beta binding specificity.
AB  - Superantigens such as the staphylococcal enterotoxins bind to major
      histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules and activate T cells through
      a specific interaction between the V beta region of the T-cell antigen receptor
      (TCR) and the toxin. The TCR beta-chain alone is sufficient to produce the
      interaction with the enterotoxin-class II complex. Identification of the regions
      of enterotoxins that interact with TCR has so far proved equivocal because of
      difficulties in distinguishing between direct effects on T-cell recognition and
      indirect effects resulting from alteration of binding to class II. For example,
      amino-terminal truncations of SEB abrogated T-cell stimulation whereas carboxy
      terminal truncation of SEA stopped its mitogenic activity. The most comprehensive
      study to date, accounting for both enterotoxin binding to class II and
      enterotoxin interactions with the TCR, identified two functionally important
      regions for SEB binding to TCR. Although the amino-acid sequences of
      staphylococcal enterotoxins A and E are 82% identical, they activate T cells
      bearing different V beta elements. We have assayed the binding of cells coated
      with these enterotoxins to soluble secreted TCR beta-chain protein and find that
      V beta 3 binds enterotoxin A but not E, whereas V beta 11 binds enterotoxin but
      not A. To map the amino-acid residues responsible for these different binding
      specificities, we prepared a series of hybrids between the two staphylococcal
      enterotoxins. We report that just two amino-acid residues near the carboxy
      terminus of the enterotoxins are responsible for the discrimination between these
      molecules by V beta 3 and V beta 11.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1436061
TI  - Structure of hisactophilin is similar to interleukin-1 beta and fibroblast growth
      factor.
AB  - The fast reaction of the actin-based cytoskeleton in motile cells after
      stimulation with a chemoattractant requires a signal-transduction chain that
      creates a very specific environment at distinct regions beneath the plasma
      membrane. Dictyostelium hisactophilin, a unique actin-binding protein, is a
      submembranous pH sensor that signals slight changes of the H+ concentration to
      actin by inducing actin polymerization and binding to microfilaments only at pH
      values below seven. It has a relative molecular mass of 13.5K and its most
      unusual feature is the presence of 31 histidine residues among its total of 118
      amino acids. The transduction of an external signal from the plasma membrane to
      the cytoskeleton is poorly understood. Here we report the protein's structure in
      solution determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The nuclear
      Overhauser effect intensities of the three-dimensional nuclear Overhauser spectra
      were used directly in the calculations. The overall folding of histactophilin is
      similar to that of interleukin-1 beta and fibroblast growth factor, but the
      primary amino-acid sequence of hisactophilin is unrelated to these two proteins.

PMID- 1436062
TI  - Stable dye-DNA intercalation complexes as reagents for high-sensitivity
      fluorescence detection.
AB  - Fluorescent intercalation complexes of certain polycationic ligands with double
      stranded DNA provide a new class of multichromophore labels for fluorescence
      assays.

PMID- 1436063
TI  - Sex education and AIDS.

PMID- 1436064
TI  - Sex education and AIDS.

PMID- 1436065
TI  - The infectiousness of pompous prose.
AB  - For centuries, scientists have been bombarded with pleas for plain language. Why
      have these pleas had no effect, when the problem of unreadable prose could be
      solved at a stroke?

PMID- 1436066
TI  - Disease-of-the-month alive and well.

PMID- 1436067
TI  - Transcription. Riding high on the TATA box.

PMID- 1436068
TI  - Chemical ecology. Rubbish birds are poisonous.

PMID- 1436069
TI  - Coley's toxins.

PMID- 1436070
TI  - French modify polio plant in India.

PMID- 1436071
TI  - Stabilization of sea urchin flagellar microtubules by histone H1.
AB  - Complex microtubule assemblies are essential components of eukaryotic cilia and
      flagella. They are extremely stable and are not affected by agents that normally
      induce polymer disassembly. The molecular basis of this microtubular stability is
      unknown, and it is not related to any feature of the constitutive tubulin. In sea
      urchin sperm flagella, axonemal microtubules are found to be stabilized by a
      protein identical to histone H1, a result that defines a new role for this
      histone and provides evidence for a concerted evolution of chromatin and
      microtubular structures.

PMID- 1436072
TI  - Opponents of US earmarks propose reviews to temper worst elements of growing
      practice.

PMID- 1436073
TI  - Crystal structure of TFIID TATA-box binding protein.
AB  - The structure of a central component of the eukaryotic transcriptional apparatus,
      a TATA-box binding protein (TBP or TFIID tau) from Arabidopsis thaliana, has been
      determined by X-ray crystallography at 2.6 A resolution. This highly symmetric
      alpha/beta structure contains a new DNA-binding fold, resembling a molecular
      'saddle' that sits astride the DNA. The DNA-binding surface is a curved,
      antiparallel beta-sheet. When bound to DNA, the convex surface of the saddle
      would be presented for interaction with other transcription initiation factors
      and regulatory proteins.

PMID- 1436074
TI  - US drug trials said to ignore gender differences.

PMID- 1436075
TI  - Absence of aluminium in neuritic plaque cores in Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - Controversy exists over whether aluminium has a role in the aetiology of
      Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is neuropathologically characterized by
      the occurrence of a minimum density of neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic
      plaques in the hippocampus and the association cortex of the brain. The purported
      association of aluminium with Alzheimer's disease is based on: (1) the
      experimental induction of fibrillary changes in the neurons of animals by the
      injection of aluminium salts into brain tissue; (2) reported detection of
      aluminium in neuritic plaques and tangle-bearing neurons; (3) epidemiological
      studies linking aluminium levels in the environment, notably water supplies, with
      an increased prevalence of dementia; and (4) a reported decrease in the rate of
      disease progression following the administration of desferroxamine, an aluminium
      chelator, to clinically diagnosed sufferers of Alzheimer's disease. Here we use
      nuclear microscopy, a new analytical technique involving million-volt nuclear
      particles, to identify and analyse plaques in postmortem tissue from patients
      with Alzheimer's disease without using chemical staining techniques and fail to
      demonstrate the presence of aluminium in plaque cores in untreated tissue.

PMID- 1436076
TI  - Real and optimal neural images in early vision.
AB  - It has been suggested that the first steps in visual processing strive to
      compress as much information as possible about the outside world into the limited
      dynamic range of the visual channels. Here I compare measured neural images with
      theoretical calculations based on maximizing information, taking into account the
      statistical structure of natural images. Neural images were obtained by scanning
      an image while recording from a second-order neuron in the fly visual system.
      Over a 5.5-log-units-wide range of mean intensities, experiment and theory
      correspond well. At high mean intensities, redundancy in the image is reduced by
      spatial and temporal antagonism. At low mean intensities, spatial and temporal
      low-pass filtering combat noise and increase signal reliability.

PMID- 1436077
TI  - New biology institute in Milan prizes quality above loyalty in effort to become
      world-class.

PMID- 1436078
TI  - Preserved figure-ground segregation and symmetry perception in visual neglect.
AB  - A central controversy in current research on visual attention is whether figures
      are segregated from their background preattentively, or whether attention is
      first directed to unstructured regions of the image. Here we present neurological
      evidence for the former view from studies of a brain-injured patient with visual
      neglect. His attentional impairment arises after normal segmentation of the image
      into figures and background has taken place. Our results indicate that
      information which is neglected and unavailable to higher levels of visual
      processing can nevertheless be processed by earlier stages in the visual system
      concerned with segmentation.

PMID- 1436079
TI  - NIH plans trials of controversial AIDS drug.

PMID- 1436080
TI  - A new tropomyosin essential for cytokinesis in the fission yeast S. pombe.
AB  - Mutations in the Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc8 gene impair cytokinesis. Here we
      clone cdc8+ and find that it encodes a novel tropomyosin. Gene disruption results
      in lethal arrest of the cell cycle, but spore germination, cell growth, DNA
      replication and mitosis are all unaffected. Haploid cdc8 gene disruptants are
      rescued by expression of a fibroblast tropomyosin complementary DNA.
      Immunofluorescence microscopy of wild type and cdc8 gene disruptants indicates
      that cdc8 tropomyosin is present in two distinct cellular distributions: in
      dispersed patches, and during cytokinesis as a transient medial band.
      Collectively these results indicate that cdc8 tropomyosin has a specialized role
      which, we suggest, is to form part of the F-actin contractile ring at
      cytokinesis. These results establish the basis for further genetic studies of
      cytokinesis and of contractile protein function in S. pombe.

PMID- 1436081
TI  - Zebrafish pax[b] is involved in the formation of the midbrain-hindbrain boundary.
AB  - Among the genes thought to be involved in patterning the nervous system are a
      family of developmentally regulated paired box-containing (Pax) genes. Mutations
      in some of these Pax genes lead to severe developmental abnormalities. Zebrafish
      pax[b](pax[zf-b]) is a member of the Pax gene family that is expressed in the
      presumptive posterior midbrain from the end of gastrulation and, at later stages,
      in other localized regions of the developing embryo. Here we show that injection
      of antibodies raised against the pax[b] protein causes a localized malformation
      at the midbrain-hindbrain boundary. In situ hybridizations demonstrate that
      antibody injection causes downregulation of pax[b] transcripts in the posterior
      midbrain and alteration of wnt-1 and eng-2 expression in this area. The data
      demonstrate an involvement of pax[b] in the formation of the midbrain-hindbrain
      junction.

PMID- 1436082
TI  - Coping with toxic pulses.

PMID- 1436083
TI  - Message in a bottle.
AB  - Insights from the classic work of Luria and Delbruck on bacterial mutation rates
      may be applied to tracking human gene defects prevalent in isolated populations.

PMID- 1436084
TI  - Too many reviews?

PMID- 1436085
TI  - Neural networks. Stitch in time saves design.

PMID- 1436086
TI  - Veterinary medicine. Molecular genetics arrives on the farm.

PMID- 1436087
TI  - Thyroid cancer incidence.

PMID- 1436088
TI  - Ice-crystal growth and lectins.

PMID- 1436089
TI  - Eradication of rabies in Europe.

PMID- 1436090
TI  - Structure of a C-type mannose-binding protein complexed with an oligosaccharide.
AB  - C-type (Ca(2+)-dependent) animal lectins such as mannose-binding proteins mediate
      many cell-surface carbohydrate-recognition events. The crystal structure at 1.7 A
      resolution of the carbohydrate-recognition domain of rat mannose-binding protein
      complexed with an oligomannose asparaginyl-oligosaccharide reveals that Ca2+
      forms coordination bonds with the carbohydrate ligand. Carbohydrate specificity
      is determined by a network of coordination and hydrogen bonds that stabilizes the
      ternary complex of protein, Ca2+ and sugar. Two branches of the oligosaccharide
      crosslink neighbouring carbohydrate-recognition domains in the crystal, enabling
      multivalent binding to a single oligosaccharide chain to be visualized directly.

PMID- 1436091
TI  - Motor learning in a recurrent network model based on the vestibulo-ocular reflex.
AB  - Most models of neural networks have assumed that neurons process information on a
      timescale of milliseconds and that the long-term modification of synaptic
      strengths underlies learning and memory. But neurons also have cellular
      mechanisms that operate on a timescale of tens or hundreds of milliseconds, such
      as a gradual rise in firing rate in response to injection of constant current or
      a rapid rise followed by a slower adaptation. These dynamic properties of
      neuronal responses are mediated by ion channels that are subject to modulation.
      We demonstrate here how a neural network with recurrent feedback connections can
      convert long-term modulation of neural responses that occur over these
      intermediate timescales into changes in the amplitude of the steady output from
      the system. This general principle may be relevant to many feedback systems in
      the brain. Here it is applied to the vestibulo-ocular reflex, whose amplitude is
      subject to long-term adaptive modification by visual inputs. The model reconciles
      apparently contradictory data on the neural locus of the cellular mechanisms that
      mediate this simple form of learning and memory.

PMID- 1436092
TI  - A single amino-acid difference confers major pharmacological variation between
      human and rodent 5-HT1B receptors.
AB  - Neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, migraine, vasospasm and
      epilepsy may involve different subtypes of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)
      receptor. The 1B subtype, which has a unique pharmacology, was first identified
      in rodent brain. But a similar receptor could not be detected in human brain,
      suggesting the absence in man of a receptor with equivalent function. Recently a
      human receptor gene was isolated (designated 5-HT1B receptor, 5-HT1D beta
      receptor, or S12 receptor) which shares 93% identity of the deduced protein
      sequence with rodent 5-HT1B receptors. Although this receptor is identical to
      rodent 5-HT1B receptors in binding to 5-HT, it differs profoundly in binding to
      many drugs. Here we show that replacement of a single amino acid in the human
      receptor (threonine at residue 355) with a corresponding asparagine found in
      rodent 5-HT1B receptors renders the pharmacology of the receptors essentially
      identical. This demonstrates that the human gene does indeed encode a 1B
      receptor, which is likely to have the same biological functions as the rodent 5
      HT1B receptor. In addition, these findings show that minute sequence differences
      between homologues of the same receptor from different species can cause large
      pharmacological variation. Thus, drug-receptor interactions should not be
      extrapolated from animal to human species without verification.

PMID- 1436093
TI  - Cell-free expression of functional Shaker potassium channels.
AB  - The functional activity of ion channels and other membrane proteins requires that
      the proteins be correctly assembled in a transmembrane configuration. Thus, the
      functional expression of ion channels, neurotransmitter receptors and complex
      membrane-limited signalling mechanisms from complementary DNA has required the
      injection of messenger RNA or transfection of DNA into Xenopus oocytes or other
      target cells that are capable of processing newly translated protein into the
      surface membrane. These approaches, combined with voltage-clamp analysis of ion
      channel currents, have been especially powerful in the identification of
      structure-function relationships in ion channels. But oocytes express endogenous
      ion channels, neurotransmitter receptors and receptor-channel subunits,
      complicating the interpretation of results in mRNA-injected eggs. Furthermore, it
      is difficult to control experimentally the membrane lipids and post-translational
      modifications that underlie the regulation and modulation of ion channels in
      intact cells. A cell-free system for ion channel expression is ideal for good
      experimental control of protein expression and modulatory processes. Here we
      combine cell-free protein translation, microsomal membrane processing of nascent
      channel proteins, and reconstitution of newly synthesized ion channels into
      planar lipid bilayers to synthesize, glycosylate, process into membranes, and
      record in vitro the activity of functional Shaker potassium channels.

PMID- 1436094
TI  - Proteasome subunits encoded in the MHC are not generally required for the
      processing of peptides bound by MHC class I molecules.
AB  - Antigen processing provides major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I
      molecules with short peptides, which they selectively bind and present to
      cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The proteolytic system generating these peptides in the
      cytosol is unidentified, but their delivery into the endoplasmic reticulum is
      mediated by the TAP1-TAP2 transporter encoded in the MHC class II region. Closely
      linked to TAP1 and TAP2 are genes for the LMP2 and LMP7 proteins, which resemble
      components of proteasomes, proteolytic complexes known to degrade cytosolic
      proteins. This association has led to the common assumption that proteasomes
      function in this immunological pathway (discussed in ref. 15). We now show that
      the expression of stably assembled class I molecules and apparently normal
      peptide processing can be completely restored in the absence of LMP2 and LMP7 in
      the human lymphoblastoid cell line mutant 721.174 (refs 16, 17). The identity of
      LMP7 is directly confirmed by reconstitution of a proteasomal subunit after gene
      transfer. These results therefore dispute the hypothetical involvement of
      proteasomes in antigen processing, although a more subtle effect of LMP2 and LMP7
      cannot be ruled out.

PMID- 1436095
TI  - Abrogation by c-myc of G1 phase arrest induced by RB protein but not by p53.
AB  - Inactivating mutations of the retinoblastoma gene (RB) are found in a wide
      variety of tumour cells. Replacement of wild-type RB can suppress the
      tumorigenicity of some of these cells, suggesting that the RB protein (Rb) may
      negatively regulate cell growth. As activation of c-myc expression promotes cell
      proliferation and blocks differentiation, it may positively regulate cell growth.
      The c-myc protein is localized in the nucleus and can physically associate with
      RB protein in vitro, hence c-myc may functionally antagonize RB function.
      Microinjection of Rb in G1 phase reversibly arrests cell-cycle progression. Here
      we co-inject RB protein with c-myc, EJ-ras, c-fos or c-jun protein. Co-injection
      of c-myc, but not EJ-ras, c-fos or c-jun, inhibits the ability of Rb to arrest
      the cell cycle. The c-myc does not inhibit the activity of another tumour
      supressor, p53 (ref. 12). Thus, c-myc and RB specifically antagonize one another
      in the cell.

PMID- 1436096
TI  - Actin cables and epidermal movement in embryonic wound healing.
AB  - Skin wounds in embryos heal rapidly and perfectly. Even though the epidermis
      appears to be stretched taut over the surface of a structure such as a growing
      limb bud, its response to wounding is to close over the lesion, rather than to
      gape more widely. In adult wounds, the epidermis seems to migrate by means of
      lamellipodia, crawling over the exposed connective tissue. But in embryonic
      wounds we do not see lamellipodia. The epidermis at the edge of the wound looks
      smooth, as though under a circumferential tension. Here we show that a cable of
      filamentous actin appears to run continuously around most of the wound margin. It
      is confined to the single row of basal cells at the free edge of the epidermis.
      We suggest that the actin cable acts as a contractile 'purse string' to close up
      the embryonic wound.

PMID- 1436098
TI  - Clinton on science.

PMID- 1436097
TI  - Detection of human DNA-carcinogen adducts.

PMID- 1436099
TI  - Researchers recommend US AIDS vaccine trials.

PMID- 1436100
TI  - French blood contamination.

PMID- 1436101
TI  - Biotechnology soared and fell in a roller-coaster 12 months.

PMID- 1436102
TI  - Hunterian Institute.

PMID- 1436103
TI  - Women in science.

PMID- 1436104
TI  - Conflicts of interest declared.

PMID- 1436105
TI  - Epidemiology. Molecular potential.

PMID- 1436106
TI  - Molecular and genetic damage in humans from environmental pollution in Poland.
AB  - Extreme environmental pollution such as that found in the highly industrialized
      Silesian region of Poland has been associated with increased risk of cancer and
      adverse reproductive outcomes. Among the most prevalent carcinogenic and
      mutagenic air pollutants in Silesia are the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
      (PAH) which are largely produced by industrial and residential combustion of
      coal. Molecular epidemiology aims to prevent disease by using biological markers
      to identify risks well before clinical onset to allow effective intervention.
      Here, we use a battery of biological markers to measure molecular and genetic
      damage in peripheral blood samples from residents of Silesia and from persons
      living in a rural, less polluted area of Poland. The results show that their
      exposure to environmental pollution is associated with significant increases in
      carcinogen-DNA adducts (PAH-DNA and aromatic adducts), in sister chromatid
      exchange including high-frequency cells, and in chromosomal aberrations as well
      as a doubling in the frequency of ras oncogene overexpression. We found that
      aromatic adducts on DNA were significantly correlated with chromosomal mutation,
      providing us with a molecular link between environmental exposure and a genetic
      alteration relevant to cancer and reproductive risk.

PMID- 1436107
TI  - Enhancing protein C interaction with thrombin results in a clot-activated
      anticoagulant.
AB  - Human protein C is a vitamin K-dependent plasma glycoprotein that circulates as
      an inactive zymogen. At the endothelial cell surface, thrombin in complex with
      the integral membrane protein thrombomodulin converts protein C to its active
      form by specific cleavage of an activation peptide. The activated form of protein
      C has potent anticoagulant activity as a feedback regulator of thrombin
      generation (reviewed in refs 4-6), and also has profibrinolytic, anti-ischaemic
      and anti-inflammatory properties. Protein C is effective in the treatment of
      model and human thrombotic diseases but, except when it has been used to treat
      genetic or acquired deficiencies and microvascular thrombosis, it is administered
      as the activated enzyme, which has a short biological half-life. We have altered
      two putative inhibitory acidic residues near the thrombin cleavage site, which
      results in a 30-fold increase in substrate utilization by alpha-thrombin. We
      combined these changes with a genetically altered glycoform to generate a zymogen
      protein C with a 60-fold increased cleavage rate by free alpha-thrombin,
      independent of its cofactor thrombomodulin. We show that this 'proform' of
      protein C, unlike the natural circulating zymogen, can be activated by thrombin
      generated in clotting human plasma, resulting in an inhibition of further clot
      formation. Our data therefore show that we have engineered a site-activated
      agent, which only has anticoagulant activity when significant amounts of thrombin
      are being generated.

PMID- 1436108
TI  - Lifespan of human lymphocyte subsets defined by CD45 isoforms.
AB  - The lifespan of thymic-derived or T lymphocytes is of particular interest because
      of their central role in immunological memory. Is the recall of a vaccination or
      early infection, which may be demonstrated clinically up to 50 years after
      antigen exposure, retained by a long-lived cell, or by its progeny? Using the
      observation that T lymphocyte expression of isoforms of CD45 corresponds with
      their ability to respond to recall antigens, we have investigated the lifespan of
      both CD45R0 (the subset containing responders, or 'memory' cells) and CD45RA (the
      unresponsive, or 'naive' subset) lymphocytes in a group of patients after
      radiotherapy. Here we report rapid loss of unstable chromosomes from the CD45R0
      but not the CD45RA pool. Immunological memory therefore apparently resides in a
      population with a more rapid rate of division. Differing survival curves for the
      two subsets are best described by a model in which there is also reversion in
      vivo from the CD45R0 to the CD45RA phenotype. Expression of CD45R0 in T cells may
      therefore be reversible.

PMID- 1436109
TI  - Rat liver protein linking chemical and immunological detoxification systems.
AB  - Mammals have separate enzymatic and cellularly mediated detoxification systems.
      Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) protect against xenobiotic chemicals which
      continuously enter the body, largely through mucous membranes. These enzymes
      catalyse the conjugation of glutathione with a wide variety of electrophilic
      compounds rendering them non-toxic. Mammals also mount a cellular immunological
      response on entry of foreign cells, viruses or macromolecules into the body. T
      lymphocytes mobilize at the site of foreign body entry and secrete protein
      messengers called lymphokines. Secondary to T lymphocytes, macrophages
      concentrate at the infection site and function in antigen processing and
      phagocytosis. In vitro, macrophage movement is arrested by one class of
      lymphokines known as macrophage migration inhibitory factors (MIFs). We report
      here the purification of milligram quantities of a unique multifunctional protein
      from rat liver which links enzymatic and immunological detoxification systems.
      This protein actuates both GST and MIF activity and matches the primary structure
      of a human MIF in 25 out of 26 amino-terminal amino acids. Primary structure
      comparisons revealed significant similarity between GSTs and MIF. The glutathione
      affinity chromatography purification described here yields a 100-fold increase in
      obtaining MIF and will aid understanding of its precise biological function.

PMID- 1436110
TI  - NMR study of parallel-stranded tetraplex formation by the hexadeoxynucleotide
      d(TG4T).
AB  - Multistranded DNA structures based upon guanine association have been proposed to
      be important in the structure of chromosome telomeres and in immunoglobulin class
      switching. Nucleic acids containing runs of guanine bases form a number of
      structures in vitro, including fold-back structures (Fig. 1a) and parallel
      stranded quadruplex structures in DNA and RNA. The features of fold-back
      structures have now been determined at high-resolution. The different structures
      are probably based on a tetrad of hydrogen-bonded guanine bases (Fig. 1b), with
      buffer conditions and sequence effects mediating isomerization between the
      different forms. Here we use NMR spectroscopy to investigate the solution
      structure of the complex formed by the hexadeoxynucleotide d(TG4T) in the
      presence of sodium ions. We have observed the formation of a parallel-stranded
      quadruplex containing hydrogen-bonded tetrads of guanine. The parallel-stranded
      form differs significantly from the fold-back form, with individual nucleotide
      conformations being closer to those of B-form DNA.

PMID- 1436111
TI  - The antiglucocorticoid RU 38486 reverses the wasting syndrome in newborn rats.

PMID- 1436113
TI  - A universal constant in temporal segmentation of human speech. A reply to
      Schleidt and Feldhutter (1989).

PMID- 1436112
TI  - Seasonal changes in adult mammalian brain weight.

PMID- 1436114
TI  - [Modeling in biology. Structured analysis of intracellular calcium oscillations
      in electrically non-excitable cells].
AB  - In this paper a systematic approach to the mathematical modeling of intracellular
      Ca2+ oscillations is introduced. After a structured analysis a stochastic model
      of the system is derived which is numerically tractable by means of a stochastic
      simulation. A critical discussion of theoretical models for Ca2+ oscillations
      reveals that not all of the proposed mechanisms are consistent with experimental
      data. In addition, a model for oscillatory calcium waves is presented. Uncovering
      these mechanisms facilitates the design of anti-mitotic drugs interfering with
      Ca2+ metabolism.

PMID- 1436115
TI  - [The phenomenon of hearing: an interdisciplinary discourse. I].
AB  - For the last century hearing has been considered a purely passive process. G. S.
      Ohm's and H. v. Helmholtz's resonance theory of hearing was widely accepted until
      Wien's fundamental objection led to G. v. Bekesy's and O. F. Ranke's travelling
      wave theory, the hydrodynamics of the inner ear that distributes the frequencies
      along the basilar membrane, which acts as the "first filter". Seebeck, Licklider,
      Schouten, and deBoer emphasized also the time domain and developed the concept of
      periodicity hearing and the "residue phenomenon". However, it was not until the
      concept of the "cochlear amplifier" and "active hearing" with energy generation
      during the transduction process within the ear itself was introduced that the
      "second filter" could be understood. Kemp's echo was the key to this
      revolutionary step in the theory of hearing.

PMID- 1436116
TI  - Isolation of the first crystalline D-penicillamine complex of iron and some
      remarks on relevant aspects of metal-chelating drugs as well as metabolism
      disorders.

PMID- 1436117
TI  - Transient increase in membrane permeability of L1210 cells upon exposure to
      lithotripter shock waves in vitro.

PMID- 1436118
TI  - Comparison of erythrocyte insulin receptors in different species of vertebrates.

PMID- 1436119
TI  - High-frequency two-tone distortions from the ear of the mustached bat, Pteronotus
      parnellii reflect enhanced cochlear tuning.

PMID- 1436120
TI  - Stimulus-dependent oscillatory activity in the lateral geniculate body of the
      cat.

PMID- 1436121
TI  - Differential coupling of 5-HT1A receptors occupied by 5-HT or 8-OH-DPAT to
      adenylyl cyclase.
AB  - Human serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT)-1A receptors have been transfected in
      NIH-3T3 cells, and their coupling to adenylyl cyclase was analysed depending on
      1) the number of receptor expressed, 2) the experimental conditions used, 3) the
      nature of the agonists. Two monoclonal cell lines were used, expressing low (45
      fmol/mg) and high (500 fmol/mg) levels of 5-HT1A receptor. Two methods were
      tested to study the negative coupling of the transfected 5-HT1A receptors to
      adenylyl cyclase: 1) measurement of cAMP production in intact cells, 2)
      measurement of adenylyl cyclase activity in vitro on membrane preparations.
      Studies on intact cells revealed that an increase in the receptor concentration
      was followed by 1) an increase in the efficacies of 5-HT, 5-CT (5
      carboxamidotryptamine) and 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), 2)
      a 2 to 3-fold increase in the potency of 5-CT and 8-OH-DPAT, but no change in the
      potency of 5-HT. In membrane preparations, 8-OH-DPAT dose-response curve was
      shifted leftwards when the receptor concentration became higher whereas the
      corresponding shift was smaller for 5-HT and absent for 5-CT. Surprisingly, on
      membrane preparations, 8-OH-DPAT was a partial agonist relative to 5-HT. The
      relative efficacy of 8-OH-DPAT was lower in the clone expressing the lowest level
      of receptor. This partial agonist behavior of 8-OH-DPAT could be modulated by the
      ionic conditions under which the adenylyl cyclase activity was measured.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1436122
TI  - Inhibitory and excitatory muscarinic receptors modulating the release of
      acetylcholine from the postganglionic parasympathetic neuron of the chicken
      heart.
AB  - The effects of muscarinic receptor antagonists on ACh release were studied in the
      absence or presence of cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition using the isolated
      perfused chicken heart. Presynaptic inhibitory muscarinic autoreceptor were
      characterized by determining the potency of various antagonists to enhance [3H]
      ACh release evoked by field stimulation (3 Hz, 1 min). The order of potencies
      was: (+/-)-telenzepine > atropine > 4-DAMP > silahexocyclium > pirenzepine >
      hexahydro-siladifenid-ol > AF-DX 116. The comparison with known pA2 values for M1
      , M2- and M3-receptors revealed that the presynaptic autoreceptor meets the
      criteria of an M1-receptor. Basal, not electrically evoked overflow of unlabelled
      ACh into the perfusate was caused by 'leakage' release (non-exocytotic), as it
      was independent of extracellular Ca2+. Muscarinic receptor antagonists failed to
      enhance basel overflow. In contrast, when ChE activity was inhibited by 10(-6) M
      tacrine or pretreatment with 10(-4) M DFP, the ACh overflow was partially Ca(2+)
      dependent and was reduced by tetrodotoxine. Moreover, block of the inhibitory
      muscarinic autoreceptors by (+/-)-telenzepine or pirenzepine caused a several
      fold enhancement of the ACh release. The potencies of these antagonists were
      identical to those found for the electrically evoked [3H]-ACh release. The rate
      of ACh release enhanced by ChE inhibition plus telenzepine corresponds to about
      12% of the total ACh pool per min, which is about the maximum amount of ACh that
      is available for any kind of stimuli. The release was dependent on the presence
      of exogenous choline. Hence elevation of ACh release led to a correspondingly
      enhanced ACh synthesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1436124
TI  - Evidence for M1 muscarinic cholinoceptors mediating facilitation of noradrenaline
      release in guinea-pig carotid artery.
AB  - The muscarinic agonists acetylcholine (1-50 mumol/l), carbachol (1-10 mumol/l)
      and McN-A-343 (1-50 mumol/l, selective for M1 receptors) increased, in a
      concentration-dependent manner, the electrically-evoked tritium overflow from
      guinea-pig carotid arteries preincubated with [3H]-noradrenaline. The increase
      caused by acetylcholine was not modified by hexamethonium (300 mumol/l) but was
      reduced by the muscarinic receptor antagonists methylatropinium (0.5 and 1
      nmol/l, non-selective), pirenzepine (1 and 5 nmol/l, M1-selective), methoctramine
      (1 and 5 mumol/l, M2-selective) and p-fluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol (0.1-1
      mumol/l, M3-selective). The order of potencies (expressed as negative logarithms
      of concentrations that reduced by 50% the facilitatory effect of acetylcholine)
      was: methyl-atropinium (9.93) > pirenzepine (8.83) > p-fluoro-hexahydro
      siladifenidol (6.81) > or = methoctramine (6.20). These results demonstrate the
      existence of facilitatory M1 receptors modulating noradrenaline release in blood
      vessels.

PMID- 1436123
TI  - Quest for agonist and antagonist selectivity at muscarinic receptors in guinea
      pig smooth muscles and cardiac atria.
AB  - Potencies of 11 muscarinic agonists in eliciting contraction of smooth muscle in
      guinea-pig ileum, trachea, urinary bladder and uterus and in inhibiting the rate
      of contractions of cardiac atria were compared. While acetylcholine (ACh) was the
      most potent agonist on the ileum, uterus and cardiac atria, cis-L(+)-dioxolane
      was equally as potent as ACh on the ileum and more potent on the urinary bladder
      and trachea. Compared to ACh, methylfurmethide, oxotremorine, acetoxybut-2-inyl
      trimethylammonium and cis-L(+)-dioxolane acted weakly on the atria. Aceclidine,
      arecoline and acetyl-beta-methylcholine displayed selectivity for the urinary
      bladder and pilocarpine for the tracheal and urinary bladder smooth muscles.
      Oxotremorine had very low activity on the uterus. The stereoselectivity of
      muscarinic ACh receptors (mAChRs) for cis-L(+)-and cis-D(-)-dioxolane was low in
      the urinary bladder and uterus and high in the ileum and trachea. Most
      antagonists showed little selectivity between different organs, but S(-)
      phenylcyclohexylglycoloyl choline was 6 times more active on the urinary bladder
      than on the ileum and AF-DX 116 was 12-30 times more active on the atria than on
      the smooth muscles. Among the N-alkyl derivatives of benzilylcholine, the octyl
      derivative as 400 times more active on the ileum than on the atria, while among
      the N-alkyl derivatives of QNB, the N-decyl derivative was 41 times more active
      on the ileum. The observed differences in the potency of various agonists and
      their stereoisomers on different smooth muscles cannot be explained by
      differences in the accessibility of receptors or in receptor reserve.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1436125
TI  - Nicotinic and muscarinic components of rat brain dopamine synthesis stimulation
      induced by physostigmine.
AB  - The role of a putative cholinergic control of ascending midbrain dopamine neurons
      was studied with biochemical methods in the unanaesthetized male albino rat. Post
      mortem catechols were measured with high performance liquid chromatography with
      electrochemical detection. The acetylcholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine (0.5
      mg/kg s.c.) enhanced L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and 3,4
      dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) levels in both the corpus striatum and limbic
      areas (nucleus accumbens) after inhibition of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase
      with NSD-1015, indicating an enhanced synthesis of dopamine in these brain
      regions. The effect of physostigmine was blocked both in the corpus striatum and
      in limbic areas by the centrally penetrating muscarinic antagonist scopolamine
      (1.0 mg/kg s.c.). In contrast, the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine (1.0 mg/kg
      s.c.) significantly reduced the stimulatory effect of physostigmine in limbic
      areas, but not in the corpus striatum. The present results suggest that ascending
      dopamine neurons are influenced by cholinergic synaptic transmission being
      mediated mainly by muscarinic receptors as regards the nigrostriatal system, and
      by both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors as regards the mesolimbic system. The
      nicotinic influence appears to primarily control phasic activity of the dopamine
      neurons.

PMID- 1436126
TI  - Effect of ageing on the number of neuronal noradrenaline uptake sites in the rat
      vas deferens.
AB  - Previous work has shown an age-related reduction in neuronal uptake of
      noradrenaline in the prostatic, but not in the epididymal portion of the rat vas
      deferens. In the present paper, the influence of ageing on the number of
      [3H]desipramine binding sites and on the effect of lithium on neuronal
      [3H]noradrenaline uptake were studied in the prostatic and epididymal portions of
      vasa deferentia from 4- and 20-month-old rats. The affinity for [3H]desipramine
      (Kd values) in the epididymal and prostatic portions did not change with age.
      However, ageing reduced the maximal number of [3H]desipramine binding sites (Bmax
      values) in the prostatic, but not in the epididymal portion. Lithium potentiated
      neuronal [3H]noradrenaline uptake only in the prostatic portion and this
      potentiation was not changed by ageing. The results showed differences in
      neuronal noradrenaline uptake between the two portions of the vas deferens.
      Furthermore, the data suggest that the age-related reduction in neuronal uptake
      in the prostatic portion is due to a reduction in the number of neuronal uptake
      sites for noradrenaline.

PMID- 1436127
TI  - Changes in cholecystokinin receptor binding in rat brain after selective damage
      of locus coeruleus projections by DSP-4 treatment.
AB  - Brain cholecystokinin (CCK)- and noradrenergic activities are two neurochemical
      systems implicated in anxiety and deficits in novelty-related behaviour. In order
      to clarify a possible interaction between CCK- and noradrenergic
      neurotransmission in the brain, DSP-4 [N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2
      bromobenzylamine], a neurotoxin that selectively destroys noradrenaline
      containing nerve terminals originating from the locus coeruleus, was administered
      to rats IP (10 and 50 mg/kg) seven days before decapitation. Noradrenaline uptake
      was very markedly reduced in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of the DSP-4
      treated animals, whereas the decrease in the hypothalamus was smaller but still
      statistically significant. Dopamine uptake in the corpus striatum, as well as
      serotonin uptake in the frontal cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus, were not
      influenced by DSP-4 treatment. Concomitantly, CCK receptor binding in certain
      brain regions was markedly affected. Thus, CCK receptor density was significantly
      higher in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of DSP-4-treated rats. If
      desipramine (25 mg/kg) was administered before DSP-4 treatment, the DSP-4-induced
      changes both in noradrenaline uptake and CCK receptor binding were not present,
      suggesting that both effects were exerted after uptake of the neurotoxin by the
      nerve terminals. The time-course of the development of changes in CCK-8 binding
      paralleled with some lag the development of changes in noradrenaline uptake.
      These findings demonstrate the denervation of noradrenergic input from the locus
      coeruleus induces certain alterations in the CCKergic neurotransmission. These
      alterations are similar to those seen in rats with deficits in response to novel
      stimuli, and may therefore mediate the neophobic responses observed in animals
      after lesions of noradrenergic innervation of the forebrain.

PMID- 1436128
TI  - Alcohol withdrawal reaction as a result of adaptive changes of excitatory amino
      acid receptors.
AB  - Recent electrophysiological and biochemical studies suggest that ethanol
      interferes with excitatory amino acid (EAA) neurotransmission. Here, we present
      electrophysiological evidence that, following cessation of a chronic ethanol
      treatment, noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) neurons display hyperactivity at
      the same time as a specifically enhanced sensitivity to microiontophoretically
      applied NMDA or quisqualate. Furthermore, after chronic ethanol treatment, but
      not before, the NMDA receptor antagonist MK 801 (0.3-2.4 mg/kg, i.v.) dose
      dependently inhibited the firing of the LC neurons. Our data indicate that an up
      regulation of EAA receptors located on LC neurons accounts for the changes in LC
      firing in ethanol-treated rats. We propose that activation of the LC contributes
      to the clinical signs of the ethanol abstinence reaction and that EAA antagonists
      may be beneficial therapeutically for its treatment.

PMID- 1436129
TI  - Studies on the effect of two angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, captopril
      and cilazapril, on platelet and vascular prostaglandin metabolism in vivo.
AB  - We have studied in 12 healthy volunteers the effects of two angiotensin
      converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, captopril and cilazapril, on vascular and
      platelet prostaglandin metabolism, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled,
      randomized cross-over study. Formation of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto
      PGF1 alpha) and thromboxane B2 (TxB2) was measured locally at the site of a
      microvascular injury. Similar amounts of TxB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha were
      generated following administration of either ACE inhibitor as compared to
      placebo. It is concluded that neither captopril nor cilazapril significantly
      influence vascular and platelet prostaglandin metabolism.

PMID- 1436130
TI  - Evaluation of the effects of felodipine, verapamil and hydralazine on the
      survival rate of rats subjected to lethal effects of oxygen free radicals.
AB  - Intravenous administration of xanthine (X: 0.225 mg/kg, i.v.) plus xanthine
      oxidase (XO: 3.0 units/kg, i.v.) to anesthetized rats resulted in a rapid fall in
      the arterial pressure and a mortality rate of over 80% during 120 min observation
      period. Pretreatment of the rats with superoxide dismutase (SOD) or SOD plus
      catalase significantly enhanced survival rate to 60% confirming that the toxicity
      after [X + XO] administration is due to the generation of oxygen free radicals.
      Pretreatment of the rats with either felodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium
      antagonist or verapamil, a structurally different Ca(2+)-channel blocker was most
      effective in promoting survival rate to 90%; in contrast, hydralazine, an
      arteriolar dilator but not a calcium antagonist, was ineffective in significantly
      enhancing survival. In the vehicle treated groups, mortality of the rats after [X
      + XO] administration was associated with significant increases in serum creatine
      phosphokinase (CPK) levels; both the calcium antagonists as well as hydralazine
      prevented any significant changes in CPK levels. Since only the calcium
      antagonists but not hydralazine were effective in providing significant
      protection against mortality, the data suggests that CPK may not be a reliable
      indicator to predict prevention of lethal toxicity induced by free radicals.
      Hence, the observation that calcium antagonists can promote survival would
      suggest that calcium overload may be the ultimate mediator of tissue toxicity.
      These observations can account for the remarkable efficacy of various calcium
      antagonists in preventing ischemia-reperfusion induced damage to organs, such as
      heart and kidneys, in which a role for free radicals has been postulated.

PMID- 1436132
TI  - Feeding but not salt loading is the dominant factor controlling urinary dopamine
      excretion in conscious rats.
AB  - We studied urinary dopamine excretion in three different groups of rats after the
      following treatment regimens: normal chow and tap water (controls, CON), normal
      chow and 1% NaCl as drinking water (high salt, HS), and chow with low sodium
      content plus tap water (low salt, LS). On days 5 and 7 of the respective dietary
      treatment, rats were placed in metabolic cages. Using a cross over design, chow
      was given (fed) or withheld (fasted). Urine was collected for 24 h and analyzed
      for sodium, creatinine, and dopamine. Urinary dopamine excretion did not change
      in proportion to large differences in sodium excretion in fasted animals. Sodium
      excretion was enhanced (45%) due to feeding only in the CON group but not in HS
      and LS rats. However, there was a striking increase in renal dopamine excretion
      in fed compared to fasted animals, irrespective of their sodium diet: 2.5-fold in
      CON, 2-fold in HS, and 1.8-fold in LS rats. Urinary creatinine excretion was
      significantly elevated during the feeding condition compared to fasted animals in
      all treatment groups. Our results demonstrate that urinary dopamine excretion is
      dominantly influenced by feeding but not by oral sodium intake in conscious rats.
      We conclude that 1) the dietary state of the animals should be controlled in
      experiments on renal dopamine production, 2) renally formed dopamine could be
      involved in the functional response of the kidney to oral food intake.

PMID- 1436131
TI  - The relaxant effects of cromakalim (BRL 34915) on human isolated airway smooth
      muscle.
AB  - Cromakalim (BRL 34915) is a potassium channel opener with therapeutic potential
      as a bronchodilator in asthma. Cromakalim (0.1-30 mumol/l) inhibited the
      spontaneous tone of human isolated bronchi in a concentration-related manner
      being nearly as effective as isoprenaline or theophylline. The order of relaxant
      potencies (expressed as -log10 IC50 mol/l; mean +/- SEM) was isoprenaline (7.29
      +/- 0.27; n = 8) > cromakalim (5.89 +/- 0.12; n = 7) > theophylline (4.07 +/-
      0.13; n = 10). In human bronchi where tone had been raised by addition of
      histamine (0.1 mmol/l), acetylcholine (0.1 mmol/l) or leukotriene D4 (LTD4, 0.1
      mumol/l), the relaxant effect of cromakalim was substantially reduced. Cromakalim
      suppressed the contraction produced by KCl (25 mmol/l) but not that produced by
      KCl (120 mmol/l). Tetraethylammonium (8 mmol/l) was without effect against the
      relaxant action of cromakalim but procaine (0.5-5 mmol/l) and glibenclamide (0.3
      mumol/l) antagonised it. Cromakalim (10 mumol/l) produced an upward displacement
      of concentration-effect curves for KCl (1-100 mmol/l), acetylcholine (1 nmol/l-1
      mmol/l) and histamine (1 nmol/l-1 mmol/l) but it did not alter the concentration
      effect curve for LTD4 (0.1 nmol/l-0.1 mumol/l). When tissues were challenged in
      the presence of cromakalim (10 mumol/l) with KCl (100 mmol/l), acetylcholine (1
      mmol/l) or histamine (1 mmol/l), an enhanced contraction was observed compared to
      control tissues. This enhancement by cromakalim was absent when tissues were
      challenged with acetylcholine or histamine in either a Ca(2+)-free medium (plus
      EGTA 0.1 mmol/l) or in the presence of verapamil (10 mumol/l).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1436134
TI  - Focus on smokeless tobacco.

PMID- 1436133
TI  - Depression by neuropeptide Y of noradrenergic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials
      of locus coeruleus neurones.
AB  - Intracellular recordings were performed in a pontine slice preparation of the rat
      brain containing the locus coeruleus (LC). The spontaneous firing of action
      potentials was prevented by passing continuous hyperpolarizing current via the
      recording electrode. Focal electrical stimulation evoked a synaptic
      depolarization (PSP) followed by a hyperpolarization (IPSP). Neuropeptide Y (NPY;
      0.1 mumol/l) inhibited the IPSP only. Pressure ejection of noradrenaline produced
      hyperpolarization which was potentiated in the presence of NPY (0.1 mumol/l).
      Hence, NPY appears to inhibit the release of noradrenaline from dendrites or
      recurrent axon collaterals of LC neurones.

PMID- 1436135
TI  - HIV-infected pediatric patients.

PMID- 1436136
TI  - The content of one doctor's practice. Preserving the biopsychosocial model.

PMID- 1436137
TI  - The content of one doctor's practice. The patient as the focus of the practice of
      medicine.

PMID- 1436138
TI  - The content of one doctor's practice. The importance of being an artist.

PMID- 1436139
TI  - The content of one doctor's practice. My clinical odyssey.

PMID- 1436140
TI  - A response to: "A woman with too much facial hair".

PMID- 1436141
TI  - Responses to: "Youth and tobacco". RJR's medical director and two family
      physicians discuss the issue of smoking among youth.

PMID- 1436142
TI  - Youth and tobacco.

PMID- 1436144
TI  - Politics and medicine. Interview by Edward C. Halperin.

PMID- 1436143
TI  - Was Hercules a stable person? Astemizole overdose.

PMID- 1436145
TI  - Outcome at one year in infants with chronic lung disease receiving comprehensive
      follow-up care. A regional experience in North Carolina, 1984-1990.

PMID- 1436146
TI  - Cushing's disease.

PMID- 1436147
TI  - Adrenal insufficiency after removal of an apparently non-functional adrenal mass.
      Cushing's diathesis without Cushing's syndrome.

PMID- 1436148
TI  - Pneumonia vaccine reaction.

PMID- 1436149
TI  - Microsurgical reversal of female sterilization. A community hospital experience.

PMID- 1436150
TI  - Enhancing adherence with mammography through patient letters and physician
      prompts. A pilot study.

PMID- 1436151
TI  - Mediation of medical malpractice claims.

PMID- 1436152
TI  - Prudent prescribing. Prescribing suggestions for physicians.
AB  - "A significant problem facing patients throughout the country is the rising cost
      of medical care. In addition to the physician's fees and laboratory charges of a
      routine office visit, patients may face an even greater bill from the pharmacy.
      There are several ways that physicians can help."

PMID- 1436153
TI  - Prescription medicines: did you know...?

PMID- 1436154
TI  - Successful laparoscopic management of perforated gallbladder associated with
      Salmonella javiana infection.

PMID- 1436155
TI  - The Medicare program. Exploring federal health care policy.

PMID- 1436156
TI  - Wilburt Cornell Davison, M.D. one hundredth anniversary: 1892-1992.

PMID- 1436157
TI  - Why do practitioners contribute to the medical literature? A survey of doctors'
      writing habits.

PMID- 1436158
TI  - [Me, tired? Impossible].

PMID- 1436159
TI  - [The third emancipation].

PMID- 1436160
TI  - [Contact hypersensitivity for corticosteroids].

PMID- 1436161
TI  - [The use of imaging techniques for the diagnosis and therapy in icterus with
      suspected malignant obstruction of the distal bile ducts].

PMID- 1436162
TI  - [Value and risks of percutaneous cytological puncture in the preoperative
      assessment of pancreas tumors].
AB  - In a period of a little over two years 34 preoperative fine needle aspiration
      biopsies were performed in 32 patients with a possible malignant lesion of the
      pancreas. A cytological diagnosis of cancer was obtained in 22 patients. On
      follow-up 27 patients, in whom 28 biopsies were performed, proved to have a
      malignant tumour. The overall sensitivity of fine needle aspiration cytology in
      diagnosing a malignancy was 77.8%. There were no false positive results
      (specificity: 100%). Three patients developed serious biopsy-related
      complications. This relatively low sensitivity and the fact that a biopsy is not
      without risk leads to the advice not to perform preoperative fine needle
      aspiration biopsies as a routine in patients in whom curative or palliative
      surgery is indicated. Percutaneous biopsy is advised and can be useful if no
      indication for surgery is present because of the patient's condition or the
      extent of the disease and non-surgical palliation is the treatment of choice.

PMID- 1436163
TI  - [Percutaneous bile duct drainage; experiences with a new type of endoprosthesis].
AB  - Self expandable stents were placed percutaneously in 105 patients with malignant
      biliary obstruction. Stent diameter was 1 cm; length, 3.5-10.5 cm. Of the 60
      patients with common bile duct obstruction, 50 died 0.2-12 months (median 3
      months) after stent insertion. Two patients developed recurrent jaundice and
      cholangitis after 6 and 12 months, respectively. One patient underwent
      reintervention. Ten patients, one after a successful reintervention, were alive
      without jaundice 1-8 months (median 5 months) after stent placement. Of the 45
      patients with hilar lesions, 26 died 0.7-18 months (median 5 months) after stent
      placement, five of them with signs of cholangitis. Nineteen are alive 1-21 months
      (median 7 months) afterwards. Reinterventions were carried out in 13 patients
      (29%). The most common cause of stent malfunction was tumour overgrowth. Stent
      related complications were seen in three patients.

PMID- 1436164
TI  - [Unnecessarily taxing treatment of congenital hip dislocation to be avoided by
      timely diagnosis at the well-child center].
AB  - In 79 children treated in the Sophia Children's Hospital in Rotterdam because of
      imminent limping due to congenital dislocation of the hip, the contribution of
      screening tests by physicians of Infant Health Centres to the timely discovery of
      this disease was examined. When both limitation of abduction of the hip and
      difference in length of the legs are examined 6 times in the period of 1-8 months
      of age, the following results in relation to children not or less well screened
      may be expected: The risk of discovery of the disease at an age when surgery is
      not excluded, is reduced to one-third. As a result of the shorter delay between
      discovery and treatment in practice the risk of having to undergo surgery is
      halved. The risk of discovery at an age when osteotomy according to Salter is
      required, is nil. In practice the risk of having to undergo osteotomy is reduced
      to one quarter. Lowering the frequency of the screening tests reduces the
      contribution. Examination of just limitation of abduction of the hip also appears
      to reduce the contribution.

PMID- 1436165
TI  - [Fatal course of acute appendicitis associated with infectious mononucleosis].
AB  - The case history is presented of a 10-year-old boy with a fatal combination of
      acute appendicitis and infectious mononucleosis, in the literature a particularly
      rare combination. The boy died of a perforative peritonitis. His appendicitis
      appeared not to be a complication of the infectious mononucleosis.

PMID- 1436166
TI  - [Neonatal withdrawal symptoms following the use of clomipramine during
      pregnancy].
AB  - The case is described of a neonate who suffered from withdrawal symptoms within
      24 hours after birth as a result of the use of clomipramine by the mother during
      pregnancy. The symptoms consisted of increased irritability, alternating hyper-
      en hypotonia, hyperreflexia, cyanosis and hypothermia. He was treated with
      clonazepam with good result. Prescription of clomipramine during pregnancy should
      be restricted to specific cases and the doses should be kept as low as possible.
      Because the symptoms are withdrawal symptoms, phenobarbital should not be used as
      treatment, as it increases drug metabolism by the liver causing an even faster
      decrease of plasma concentrations of clomipramine. Clonazepam is the drug of
      choice.

PMID- 1436167
TI  - [Postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy and the risk of atherosclerotic
      cardiovascular diseases].

PMID- 1436168
TI  - [The concealed pill with far-reaching consequences].

PMID- 1436169
TI  - ['What am I doing here?'; transient amnesia].

PMID- 1436170
TI  - [The significance of clinical trials for daily clinical practice].

PMID- 1436171
TI  - [Antioxidants and prevention of cardiovascular diseases].

PMID- 1436172
TI  - [Cerebral protection following cardiopulmonary arrest: reality, pipe dream or
      utopia?].

PMID- 1436173
TI  - [Quality of life of persons with HIV infection in an academic hospital].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Comparison of the quality of life of asymptomatic (n = 24) and
      symptomatic (n = 20) HIV-infected patients and description of the changes in
      quality of life during the symptomatic stage. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING:
      University Hospital Utrecht. METHOD: Every four months questionnaires on quality
      of life were completed by 44 of 55 consecutive HIV-infected patients. RESULTS:
      Physically, asymptomatic HIV-infected patients were better off than symptomatic
      HIV-infected patients; psychologically, however, both groups of patients showed
      similar responses. During the symptomatic stage the patients' physical
      functioning diminished further, but feelings of anxiety or depression showed no
      marked change; self-evaluations of health conditions became slightly more
      negative with time.

PMID- 1436174
TI  - [Perinatal registration: a pilot study of matching of data from the National
      Obstetrics Registration and the National Neonatology Registration].
AB  - The application of a statistical matching procedure was tested in a pilot study,
      linking data from the National Obstetrics Registration (hospital-based) with data
      from the pilot National Neonatology Registration. Linkage appeared feasible,
      maintaining anonymity of the registered mother-infant pairs. The perinatal
      database thus formed was suitable for perinatal epidemiological research.
      Consequently a continuous perinatal database may be formed from the operational
      home and hospital based National Obstetrics Registration and the National
      Neonatology Registration which has started on June 1, 1991, allowing ongoing
      surveillance of perinatal care in the Netherlands.

PMID- 1436175
TI  - [Radiofrequency energy as treatment for arrhythmias in patients with accessory
      atrioventricular pathways].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the use of radiofrequency energy to interrupt accessory
      atrioventricular pathways. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University
      Hospital Maastricht. METHOD: The outcome is presented of radiofrequency catheter
      ablation of accessory atrioventricular pathways in our first 50 consecutive
      patients, with a total of 54 accessory pathways. All but one patient suffered
      from symptomatic tachycardias. A catheter electrode was positioned next to the
      accessory pathway and 30 second pulses of 40 W radiofrequency energy were used to
      interrupt the connection. RESULTS: Complete block in conduction was accomplished
      in 44/54 (81%) of accessory pathways. No complications occurred. Success rate,
      procedure time and radiation dose were found to be related to the location of the
      accessory connection. The highest success rate was found in left free wall
      pathways (24/26; 92%), the lowest in right lateral pathways which seldom occur
      (1/4; 25%). The total procedure took 1-6 hours. The maximal duration of
      radiographic imaging was 2.5 hours. CONCLUSION: Although insufficient information
      on long-term efficacy is available, current results support the use of
      radiofrequency ablation of accessory pathways in institutions with expertise in
      the invasive management of cardiac arrhythmias. Technical improvements leading to
      reduction in procedure time and radiation dose will facilitate acceptance of this
      technique by patient and operator.

PMID- 1436176
TI  - [A patient with chronic mucormycosis].
AB  - Rhinocerebral mucormycosis was diagnosed in a 75-year-old woman with a history of
      type II diabetes mellitus. This rare opportunistic infection is caused by fungi
      belonging to the order of Mucorales. The patient had a severe osteomyelitis of
      the base of the skull, resulting in complaints of headache and diplopia. She was
      treated with intravenous colloidal amphotericin B, surgical excision, and later
      with liposomal amphotericin B. She died of respiratory failure. Mucormycosis is
      usually a rapidly fulminant infection. This patient showed a remarkably chronic
      course.

PMID- 1436177
TI  - [Theo van Gogh's medical record].

PMID- 1436178
TI  - [Theo van Gogh's medical record].

PMID- 1436179
TI  - [Expectant management in extrauterine pregnancy is possible].

PMID- 1436180
TI  - [Does a protein-poor diet delay loss of kidney function?].

PMID- 1436181
TI  - [Unrecognized hepatitis following a visit to Pakistan: a case of hepatitis E in
      The Netherlands].

PMID- 1436182
TI  - [Hepatitis E, a new letter in the hepatitis alphabet].

PMID- 1436183
TI  - [Risk of an unintentional pregnancy after only one unprotected coitus;
      observations concerning today's hormonal postcoital contraceptive agents].

PMID- 1436184
TI  - [Human aspecific gamma globulin labeled with Indium 111: a new radiopharmaceutic
      agents for the localization of inflammation and infection foci].

PMID- 1436185
TI  - [Oral lichen ruber planus: clinical and immunological aspects].

PMID- 1436186
TI  - [Revision of guidelines on endocarditis prophylaxis. Commission on Endocarditis
      Prophylaxis of the Dutch Heart Foundation].

PMID- 1436187
TI  - [Seroprevalence of hepatitis E in The Netherlands].
AB  - At serological testing of 269 blood samples from patients sent in for hepatitis
      diagnostics and of 275 randomly selected samples from blood donors from all over
      the Netherlands, eight and five samples, respectively, were found to contain a
      positive antibody titre against hepatitis E virus (HEV). Follow-up samples could
      be obtained from three patients: in one patient the anti-HEV IgG titre remained
      unchanged over a period of 6 months, in one other the titre fell below the limit
      of detection and in the third, the titre increased in a period of 2 weeks. This
      patient had developed jaundice after a stay in Bangladesh. It is possible that in
      some patients, hepatitis E is mistaken for hepatitis A.

PMID- 1436188
TI  - [Experience of sexuality in patients with psoriasis and constitutional eczema].
AB  - In order to determine the effect of chronic skin disorders on sexuality a cross
      sectional study was carried out in the Dermatological Outpatient Clinic of Leiden
      University Hospital. Fifty-two patients with psoriasis and 25 patients with
      atopic dermatitis filled in a questionnaire which included items on sexual
      responsiveness and satisfaction. The response rate was 84%. One-third of the
      patients, especially those with psoriasis, had problems with dating and starting
      sexual relationships, and were embarrassed in these relationships. The sexual
      responsiveness of both male and female patients was below that in the normal
      population. Women appeared to have more problems in this area then men. Their
      sexual satisfaction was lower than in the average Dutch population, whereas in
      men this trend was found to be reversed. Sexual responsiveness did not correlate
      with the extent of the skin disease or location around genital areas, but was
      associated with self-esteem and the number of emotional complaints. In the
      treatment of patients with chronic skin disorders attention should be paid to
      sexual problems that may arise. Groups that are especially affected are females
      and young psoriatics who have their first sexual relationship.

PMID- 1436189
TI  - [Anal dynamic plastic surgery of the gracilis muscle; a new surgical technique
      for the treatment of fecal incontinence].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical outcome of anal dynamic graciloplasty (gracilis
      muscle transposition and implantation of electric stimulation device) in a
      consecutive series of 12 patients. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Maastricht
      University Hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve patients with incapacitating
      faecal incontinence were treated using anal dynamic graciloplasty because they
      were not amenable to other medical management. The data were analysed with
      emphasis on the clinical outcome, anal manometry, and gracilis muscle composition
      before and after electric stimulation. Results were considered significant if p <
      or = 0.05, using the paired Student's t-test. RESULTS: Eight patients achieved
      complete faecal continence, one patient still has a previously constructed
      colostomy and in three patients no faecal incontinence could be achieved, due to
      infections. Median follow-up is now over 18 months (range 16 weeks-5 years). Anal
      manometry demonstrated an anal pressure increased from 39 mmHg (without
      stimulation) to 66 mmHg with electric stimulation (mean increase 27 mmHg (CI: 19
      35; n = 12, p < 0.01). Gracilis muscle composition showed an increase of type I
      relatively fatigue-resistant fibres, capable of prolonged contractions, from 45%
      before stimulation to 64% afterwards (mean increase 19% (CI: 14-21; n = 8, p <
      0.01). CONCLUSION: Dynamic graciloplasty is capable of replacing the function of
      damaged or absent anal sphincters. The construction of a colostomy in patients
      with incapacitating faecal incontinence can be avoided.

PMID- 1436190
TI  - [Hepatitis E now also in The Netherlands].
AB  - A case report of a male aged 31 who, after a journey to Bangladesh, returned with
      a disease resembling acute hepatitis A. Closer study revealed a hepatitis E
      infection. He recovered in slightly over two weeks.

PMID- 1436191
TI  - [The human Reproductive Programme; current family planning in international
      scientific perspective].

PMID- 1436192
TI  - [Letters from Washington. Health and politics in America; 3 November 1992].

PMID- 1436193
TI  - [Hypoglycemia in newborn infants: failing reagent strips].

PMID- 1436194
TI  - [Hysteroscopy].

PMID- 1436195
TI  - [Distinction between renal and nonrenal hematuria using immunoperoxidase staining
      of urinary erythrocytes for Tamm-Horsfall proteins].

PMID- 1436196
TI  - [Me tired? Impossible].

PMID- 1436197
TI  - [Mother knows best; diagnosis of prelingual deafness].

PMID- 1436198
TI  - [Unsuccessful exploration of the neck in hyperparathyroidism: how to proceed?].

PMID- 1436199
TI  - [Asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism: when is surgical treatment
      indicated?].

PMID- 1436200
TI  - [Secondary hyperparathyroidism and the role of surgical treatment].

PMID- 1436201
TI  - [Policy in brain metastasis].

PMID- 1436202
TI  - [Multi-infarct dementia in nursing home patients; more comorbidity and shorter
      life expectancy than in Alzheimer's disease].
AB  - A retrospective analysis of the medical charts of 117 patients (50 men and 67
      women) with multi-infarct dementia took place. All patients admitted to the
      psychogeriatric nursing home 'Joachim en Anna' in Nijmegen between 1980 and 1989
      were studied. The aim of the study was to obtain epidemiological information and
      to investigate the prevalence of comorbid conditions, prognosis and mortality.
      The results were compared with patients with Alzheimer's disease. The patients
      remained in the institute for 1.4 years and the mean total duration of the
      disease was 5.3 years. About twenty-five percent died in the first three months
      of admission. Life expectation, counted from time of admission, was 6 years
      shorter in comparison with Dutch mortality tables. Morbidity frequently seen at
      admission included circulatory system diseases and cerebrovascular accidents. The
      risk factor hypertension was seen in a smaller percentage of patients than
      expected. During the stay the diseases most frequently diagnosed were respiratory
      and urinary tract infections, adverse effects of drugs, constipation and chronic
      ulcers of the skin. About twenty percent of the patients were struck by a
      (recurrent) cerebrovascular accident or a transient ischaemic attack. Most
      patients died of dehydration or bronchopneumonia. There was, apart from the
      diagnosis of multi-infarct dementia, no single patient aspect that could predict
      a poor prognosis. Nursing home patients with multi-infarct dementia are clearly
      different from patients with Alzheimer's disease. Time spent in the nursing home
      and duration of disease are shorter. They have more comorbid conditions,
      especially of a cardiovascular nature, and they have a poor life expectation.

PMID- 1436203
TI  - [Diathermy excision using a metal loop in the treatment of cervical intra
      epithelial neoplasms; short-term results in 154 patients].
AB  - Intraepithelial neoplasia of the uterine cervix (CIN), proven in colposcopically
      guided biopsies, can be treated in several ways. With the destruction techniques
      the lesion is treated by laser evaporation or by cryocoagulation. With the
      excision methods the transformation zone is excised by cold knife conisation, by
      laser exconisation or by large loop excision (LLETZ). LLETZ was developed by
      Cartier in 1977 and can be performed under local anaesthesia on an outpatient
      basis. In the current investigation 154 women with CIN were treated by LLETZ. In
      four patients microinvasion was suspected after pathological examination and cold
      knife conisation was performed, so that 150 patients were available for
      cytological follow-up after three and six months. After 1989 larger loops and
      more loops of different sizes were used. Therefore the results in both groups are
      presented separately. In 22 women CIN residue was found. The treatment in the
      first period of the study (1985-1988) was effective in 36 of the 55 cases (65%),
      that in the second period (1989-1991) in 87 of the 95 cases (93%). In the first
      period the size and endocervical localisation of the lesion significantly
      affected predict the result of the LLETZ, in the second half of the study these
      were no longer relevant. Destruction methods lack the possibility of pathological
      investigation, which is possible with the excision methods. In this way
      underestimation by the colposcopist of a (micro)invasive carcinoma does not
      necessarily delay adequate treatment.

PMID- 1436204
TI  - [Health complaints in relation to quality of swimming water in participants of a
      triathlon].
AB  - Participants in a triathlon in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, reported
      gastrointestinal symptoms to the local health authority. A study was performed to
      establish the number of complaints and the relation with the microbiological
      water quality at the surface water swimming site, which met current standards. An
      epidemiological survey was carried out with a questionnaire among 629
      participants, with non-participating relatives as controls. Faecal samples of
      patients and water samples were investigated by conventional methods. 439
      participants and 217 controls completed the questionnaire. 140 participants had
      at least one gastro-intestinal symptom and 28 (6.4%) had highly credible
      gastroenteritis. Participants had an odds ratio for gastro-enteritis of 14.7 (95%
      CI: 2.39-604.45). Electron microscopic examination in six of 12 patients showed
      viruses able to cause such symptoms. Water samples showed considerable faecal
      pollution at the time of the triathlon (geometric mean counts: thermotolerant
      coliforms 725/100 ml; faecal streptococci 23/100 ml). The most likely source is
      the effluent discharge of the nearby waste water treatment plant. A surface water
      swimming site meeting current standards does not exclude health complaints among
      tri-athletes.

PMID- 1436205
TI  - [Repetitive firing in motor nerve endings: modulation by divalent cations,
      rhythmic activation and cholinergic agents].
AB  - The phenomenon of repetitive firing (RG) in motor nerve endings induced by 4
      aminopyridine (4-AP) was studied in cut sartorius frog muscle under the voltage
      clamp conditions. In the presence of 4-AP (1.10(-4) mol/l) one stimulus applied
      to the nerve induced two end plate currents (EPC) in half of cells studied (n =
      35). The elevation of calcium ion concentration up to 5.4 mmol/l or magnesium to
      5-9 mmol/l or rhythmic activity (0.05 Hz and above) abolished RF. Substitution of
      calcium by strontium or barium enhanced RF (the number of EPC during the burst of
      RF). EPC with very slow time course were observed in some cells in the presence
      of barium, that disrupted to the burst of RF by repetitive nerve stimulation.
      Neostigmine, an anticholinesterase agent, increased the number of EPC in the
      burst of RF, but alpha-bungarotoxin exerted no effect on the RF. The role of
      calcium and calcium-activated potassium currents in generation and termination of
      RF in motor nerve endings is discussed.

PMID- 1436206
TI  - [Effects of "non-quantal" acetylcholine on the sensitivity of the postsynaptic
      membrane: action of ouabain and imitation of these effects by exogenous
      acetylcholine].
AB  - Development of postsynaptic potentiation (PSP) and desensitization (DS) caused by
      "non-quantal" acetylcholine after acetylcholinesterase inhibition was studied by
      means of ouabain, an agent known to modulate (initially increase and then
      decrease) the level of non-quantal secretion of ACh. Ouabain had no effect on the
      MEPC parameters when AChE was active. After AChE inhibition ouabain initially
      increased the decay time constant of MEPC (tau), i.e. caused postsynaptic
      potentiation (PSP). This effect of ouabain grew with time between inhibition of
      AChE and application of ouabain. The PSP stage was followed by shortening of
      MEPCs decay, due to the development of desensitization (DS), and that process was
      more pronounced than in control. Applied before AChE inhibition, ouabain had no
      effect on tau. Thus neither PSP nor DS developed under those conditions.
      Exogenous ACh (20 nmol/l) applied simultaneously with inhibitor of AChE partially
      prevented the shortening of MEPCs decay, but decreased the amplitude of MEPC.
      Applied after MEPCs shortening, exogenous ACh (50 nmol/l) tended to return the
      initial value of tau. It is concluded that nonquantal ACh produces PSP and DS on
      the postsynaptic membrane after inhibition of ACh and that the DS persists after
      cessation of nonquantal secretion for a long time.

PMID- 1436207
TI  - [Effect of cat motor cortex on the formation of lateral geniculate nucleus
      responses evoked by contralateral superior colliculus stimulation].
AB  - It was shown in experiments on anesthetized cats that motor cortex (MC)
      stimulated by single current pulse caused formation of the lateral geniculate
      nucleus (LGN) response. It was established that changes in formation of LGN
      response evoked by contralateral superior colliculus (SC) stimulation were
      observed by condition of the precedence of LGN response evoked by stimulation of
      the MC. The expressiveness level of that decrease depended on intervals between
      conditioning cortical and testing tectal stimuli. At the same time the
      stimulation of the MC by single current pulse caused no changes in formation of
      the visual evoked potential of LGN. However, a significant decrease of the visual
      response of that part of the SC which stimulation caused formation of the LGN
      response was observed under the same conditions. The obtained data permit
      supposing that MC checks realization of the tectal influences on the LGN function
      on the tectal level. It is assumed that realization of the effect of the saccadic
      suppression of the LGN function in which accomplishment, as it was supposed
      earlier, the SC took part, was controlled by the MC phasic influence.

PMID- 1436208
TI  - [Extra-organ sources of parasympathetic innervation of small intestine in the
      region of ligament of Treitz].
AB  - Localization sites of neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of cat vagus
      innervating the duodenal-jejunal region and upper part of the jejunum were
      investigated using the technique of the retrograde axonal transport of
      horseradish peroxidase. Most part of the neurons was located within the
      ventrolateral area of the nucleus from +1.0 to +2.7 mm (according to obex).
      Morphological features of the ganglion nodosum neurons which organize afferent
      innervation of the intestine were analyzed. It has been shown that the maximal
      amount of such neurons is concentrated in the medium and caudal parts of the
      ganglion.

PMID- 1436209
TI  - [Dopamine effect on ionic conduction and adenyl cyclase activity in the central
      nervous system of the pond snail].
AB  - The mode of dopamine action (DA) was investigated both on identified neurons
      (growth hormone producing cells--GHC) and on the membrane fraction of the CNS
      tissue homogenate. Adenylate cyclase activity (ACA) in the Lymnaea membrane
      depended on the GTP, stimulated and inhibited by different well known mediators,
      dopamine action being one of them. DA produced a stimulatory and inhibitory
      action on ACA. Direction of the DA action depended on the GTP concentration: at
      lower concentration of the GTP DA was a stimulator of ACA, at higher--an
      inhibitor. It is shown that inhibitory influence of DA on ACA was prevented by
      treatment of the membrane of the catalytic subunit of the protein kinase A
      (cPKA). It is particularly noticeable that inhibitory influence of cPKA-dependent
      phosphorylation reduced the inhibitory action of ALF4-, a G-protein activator.
      Effect of DA application on the GHC induced appearance of inward and outward
      currents through the neuronal membrane.

PMID- 1436210
TI  - [GTP-dependent dopamine reception in central nervous system tissues in the pond
      snail].
AB  - Guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP)-dependent binding of the agonist D1 dopamine (DA)
      receptor ligand [H3]-SKF 38393 is described. It is shown that binding of [H3]-SKF
      38393 with two different populations takes place in the presence of guanylyl
      nucleotides, when they are absent--with one population. It is demonstrated using
      GDP-alpha-P33 binding analysis that the GDP in equilibrium with GTP exchange rate
      gets higher as a result of activation of DA receptors in the membrane from the
      mollusc nervous tissues. Influence of the catalytic subunit of the protein kinase
      A (cPKA) on the [H3]-SKF 38393 and GDP-alpha-P33 is investigated. Obvious
      influence of the cPKA on [H3]-SKF 38393 binding is not observed, while basal and
      DA-induced GDP in equilibrium with GTP exchange in membranes of the mollusc
      nervous tissues is considerably inhibited.

PMID- 1436211
TI  - [Switching effect in the system of equilibrium regulation in man].
AB  - Postural reactions evoked in human by bilateral vibration of calf muscles were
      studied under different conditions: sitting without the feet contact with a
      support; sitting in an unstable position on the edge of the chair; sitting under
      conditions of the foot contact with different types of supports (rotating disk,
      suspended platform, etc.); standing with an asymmetrical load applied to the
      trunk. It has been shown that local vibration of calf muscles can evoke
      activation not only of the vibrated muscle or of its antagonist (local effects),
      but also of extensors and flexors of the knee joint (non-local effects), or of
      the remote muscular groups, involved in different postural synergies. The
      concrete pattern of muscle activation is determined by several factors, the most
      important being the relative position of the body links and interaction of feet
      with a support. The mental image of the body configuration in the system of
      internal representation is also very significant.

PMID- 1436212
TI  - [Responses of medullary and spinal neurons to simultaneous stimulation of two
      locomotor points].
AB  - Responses of neurons in the medulla and cervical segments to simultaneous
      repetitive (50 pps) stimulation of two locomotor points (LPs) by currents in the
      range of 1 to 2 thresholds of locomotion were studied. In most cases a neuron
      responded to stimulation of only one LP. Stimulation of the second LP enhanced
      usually the firing index of that response, if it was low, diminished it, if it
      was high and did not influence it, if it was about 0.2. Part of neurons increased
      the background activity during stimulation of one of LPs though spikes were not
      locked to stimuli. A sign of influence of the second LP onto that elevation
      depended on its value. Data about the convergence of inputs from the ipsi- and
      contralateral midbrain and bulbar LPs on single neurons were obtained too.
      Possible mechanisms of summation of subthreshold excitation of two LPs during
      initiation of the locomotion are discussed.

PMID- 1436214
TI  - [Spatial similarity between crystal cells of various agonists of amino acid
      receptors and the biological effects of these substances].
AB  - Space likeness of crystal cells of GABA, glycine, muscimol and taurine has been
      estimated by special calculation. The relation between the likeness degree of
      crystal cells and their biological effect on amino acid receptors is marked.

PMID- 1436213
TI  - [Effect of monoamines on the responses of frog spinal motor neurons mediated by
      non-NMDA glutamate receptors].
AB  - Adrenaline, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine enhanced fast desensitizing
      responses of frog spinal motoneurons evoked by L-glutamic acid. Monoamines also
      enhanced late components of dorsal root EPSP's of motoneurons. These effects of
      monoamines were prevented by ketamine. Slow in desensitizing responses evoked by
      L-glutamic acid and EPSP's of motoneurons evoked by stimulation of the reticular
      formation were not influenced by monoamines.

PMID- 1436215
TI  - [Recruiting of motor units and changes of their firing rate as mechanisms of
      muscle contraction control].
AB  - Main mechanisms of muscle contraction control: recruiting of motor units and
      changes of their firing rate are discussed in the review. Relative contribution
      of these mechanisms at different types of muscular activity (tonic contraction,
      vibration reflex, locomotion) is considered.

PMID- 1436216
TI  - [Pain reception in the skin studied with chemical agents].
AB  - Cutaneous C-fibre polymodal mechano-heat (CMH) sensory units of narcotized cats
      have been studied for their responses to the close-arterial injection of
      potassium, acetylcholine and methacholine to the saphenous artery in subnoxious
      and noxious concentrations. Subnoxious chemical stimulation has induced low
      frequency excitation of CMH units. The parameters of CMH units firing during
      subnoxious and noxious chemical stimulation may be used for estimation of effects
      of local anesthetics. To achieve local anesthesia it is sufficient to inhibit
      only high frequency responses in CMH units without a complete block of these
      sensors. With that end in view the use-dependent blockers of nerve excitation are
      suggested. The use-dependent inhibition of CMH units was found during mechanical
      stimulation under the action of lidocaine or n-propylajmaline. The mathematical
      model of C-fibre has demonstrated the key role of slow changes of membrane ionic
      permeabilities in determining the firing rate elicited by chemical stimulation.

PMID- 1436217
TI  - [Focused ultrasound in research on somatic reception].
AB  - Focused ultrasound has been used to induce the following skin sensations: tactile
      and temperature ones; specific and unspecific pain, underskin or deep sensations:
      tactile sensations and some varieties of pain (muscle, periosteum and so on). It
      has been established that: somatic reception is attributed to mechanoreception;
      the same receptive structures are cold and warm ones; ultrasound has the
      sensibilized action. Sensation differences of corporal and auricular acupuncture
      points and some accidental skin underskin spots have been investigated.

PMID- 1436218
TI  - [The pain sensitivity of the skin in chronic psychoemotional stress in man].
AB  - The focused ultrasound has been used for the comparative study of skin
      sensitivity to pain in 51 healthy men and 64 patients with neurasthenia, natural
      model of the chronic psycho-emotional stress. The patients showed a distinct
      tendency to a decrease of the pain threshold, lowered adaptation to the repeated
      threshold stimulus, sensitization. With the presence of the above-mentioned
      factors the pain syndrome occurred relatively more often. Taking into account the
      fact that the focused ultrasound of rather high intensity affects, first of all,
      C-afferents which are not only cutaneous but visceral nociceptors as well, an
      assumption is made that changes in pain sensitivity in the neurasthenic patients
      are not limited by skin but develop also in the inner medium forming the pain
      syndrome.

PMID- 1436219
TI  - [The modulation of the functional properties of the skin thermoreceptors].
AB  - The characteristic property of skin cold receptors is the presence of static and
      dynamic activity with their maximum at any skin temperature. Parallel with the
      common properties there are some differences in the temperature range of
      receptors' functioning, frequency of static and dynamic activity, concentration
      of sensitive receptors on the skin. Mechanisms of these differences are unknown.
      It is found that the character of skin cold receptors functioning can be changed
      in individual life of the organism. Some parameters of static and dynamic
      activity as well as concentration of cold receptors functioning change both with
      adaptation of the organism to cold and with a rise of the noradrenaline
      concentration in blood. The reason of adaptive modifications of skin
      thermoreceptors may be an increase of their sensitivity to noradrenaline observed
      with adaptation to cold. It can be supposed that the modulating influence of
      biological active substances is very important in forming activity and
      sensitivity of skin thermoreceptors.

PMID- 1436220
TI  - [The mechanism of the effect of the sympathetic nervous system on skin
      receptors].
AB  - It has been found that smooth muscles play an important role in the mechanism of
      a sympathetic nervous system effect on the activity of skin receptors. Greater
      activity of the sympathetic nerve fibres induces higher tension of smooth muscles
      and thus changes mechanical state of the tissues around the receptors. The latter
      condition, in its turn, affects the response of receptors to mechanical
      stimulation. A change in the smooth muscles tension in skin vessels affects the
      response of receptors to cooling of skin.

PMID- 1436221
TI  - [The structure of the impulse activity of cold thermoreceptors at different
      levels].
AB  - Impulse activity of cold fibres (n. infraorbitalis) has been studied in acute
      experiments on anesthetized rabbits, with an uninterrupted fall of the skin
      temperature from 39 degrees to 7 degrees C with the rate of 0.8 +/- 0.05
      degrees/min. Analysis of interspike intervals (ISI) in a discharge of receptors
      has shown that histograms of ISI changed several times in the studied range of
      temperatures, which reflects a change of the discharge pattern. Each cold
      receptor possesses an individual mode of the response, which permits dwelling on
      perception of different characteristics of the temperature stimulus by a sum of
      thermoreceptors.

PMID- 1436222
TI  - [The activity of myelinated nerve fibers to heat and burn exposures of the skin].
AB  - Activity of myelinated fibres in the n. saphenus was investigated by the
      crosscorrelation method in the cat's skin stimulated by heat and burn. The
      decrease of the total nerve activity under the heat action is proved to be
      related mostly to a change in A beta-fibres. It is shown that pain caused by
      heating of the skin over 42 degrees C activated A delta-fibres. The results
      obtained permit solving the problem of the heat information code from the view
      point of the flow "pattern" theory.

PMID- 1436223
TI  - [Changes in the skin receptor responses to their repeated heat stimulation].
AB  - It is known that cooling of skin induces contraction of collagen fibres, which
      leads to deformation and excitation of mechanoreceptors. The action of moderate
      heat on the skin depresses or terminates its tonic activity. The collagen fibres
      in this case stretch out and the skin tension slackens. Yet, intense thermal
      stimulation up to 48 degrees C results in a greater afferent activity. This
      effect is associated with the so-called thermoreceptors. It is shown earlier that
      repeated stimulation by intense heat increases skin sensitivity to this stimulus.
      The paper reports the results of recording the time in which afferent activity
      increased under repeated stimulation of the skin at temperatures up to 48 degrees
      C and, simultaneously, of the skin tension variations. For each heating instance
      the skin stretched and contracted when its temperature approached the normal
      temperature, i. e. 30 degrees C. However, by the next heating (there was a 3-
      min. pause between them) the skin tension failed to restore completely. Multiple
      heating tests have shown a loss of the skin sensitivity, and the time in which
      increased afferent activity manifested itself has shortened. These two processes
      are simultaneous, which permits concluding that they are related.

PMID- 1436224
TI  - [The characteristics of the formation of temperature information in afferent
      units].
AB  - Impulse activity of single afferent fibres of the spinal cord dorsal roots of
      cats was investigated under local mechanical, heat and cold influence on
      receptive fields of their skin. These influences did not change the frequency of
      impulsation, but changed redistribution of interimpulse intervals. It is supposed
      that formation of polyfunctional properties of single afferent fibres is realized
      due to their polychannel information.

PMID- 1436225
TI  - [The regional nature of the temperature sensitivity of human skin].
AB  - Thermosensitive points of the man's body skin have been examined in 98 volunteers
      20-46 years old living in Alma-Ata in psychophysiological research using
      temperature and mechanical stimulation. According to thresholds of appearance and
      quality of sensation two groups of cold-sensitive points and 4 groups of heat
      sensitive ones were identified. Receptors of each group located in skin in zones
      of the greatest concentration. Temperature ranges and the number of sensitive
      points were compared, which revealed different significance of the skin plots in
      temperature perception.

PMID- 1436226
TI  - [The generator of locomotor activity as the probable modulator of the afferent
      flow from the thermoreceptors of the skin fields of the flexor and extensor
      muscles].
AB  - The excitability of flexors and extensors of the upper and low extremities was
      studied in healthy people and in patients with spasticity during local
      thermostimulation of their receptive fields using H-reflex (HR). In healthy
      people the HR was inhibited during cooling and was enhanced during warming.
      Thermostimulation of the contralateral side caused a contraverse reaction. In
      patients cooling of skin followed the rise of HR. The obtained data show that the
      condition of the thermoreceptive fields can influence reflex excitability of
      motoneurons. The character of this influence depends on the initial condition of
      the locomotor generator.

PMID- 1436227
TI  - [The interrelationship of pain and temperature reception in human skin].
AB  - Local cooling (14-16 degrees C) and warming (40-42 degrees C) of different crus
      areas or healthy volunteers have been studied for their effect on pain
      sensitivity. The latter was estimated by means of the tibialis anterior flexor
      reflex (FR) and EMC-recording. It was established that changes in FR parameters
      depended not on the thermostimulus modality, but on its position. The FR was
      enhanced when the warm or cold stimulus was applied over the ipsilateral tested
      flexor muscle, and it was mainly inhibited when the thermostimulus was over the
      extensor or contralateral flexor. An assumption is made that the loss of the
      temperature modality is caused by convergence of temperature and pain information
      to the spinal interneurons of the "bimodal type". These neurons change their
      impulse activity under the effect of both temperature modalities. Different
      reactions of FR on thermostimulation of different areas of the crus are explained
      by the locomotor generation control of afferent information.

PMID- 1436228
TI  - [The role of skin reception in controlling movements].
AB  - Skin receptors have been studied in the aspect of diverse phenomenology of their
      participation in organization of motor activity: from the protective flexor
      reflex to fine correcting effects from the skin which covers the muscle and the
      tendon. Analysis of the character of exteroceptive effects on reflector
      responses, cyclic motions and arbitrary activity has revealed a distinct
      determination of the effect, its dependence on localization and intensity of the
      exteroceptive stimulus, a moment of its application (state of motor centres) and
      so on. It is shown that the proprioceptive correction of the motion which
      underlies the ring control of the motion is inevitably added by exteroceptive
      effects incorporated into the same system due to their convergence to the same
      neuronal mechanisms. Basic moments of neuronal organization and basic mechanisms
      of sensory (exteroceptive) correction of motor activity are considered.
      Proceeding from the results of the author's investigations, the role of the
      premotor zone (the ventral horn, L6,7) interneurons which are not connected
      initially with afferents in the processes of sensomotor interaction in
      polysynaptic ways to the motoneuron is determined. It is supposed that these
      neurons integrate already selected information and form a discrete premise to
      output systems.

PMID- 1436229
TI  - Selective monocellular necrosis of Hodgkin's/Reed-Sternberg cells and their
      immunoreactivity to human serum antinuclear antibodies in NS- and MC-types of
      malignant lymphogranuloma.
AB  - The selective (apoptotic) necrosis of Hodgkin's cells in malignant
      lymphogranuloma appears to be etiologically quite different from focal one due to
      ischemic-vascular causes. The morphology and supposed etiopathogenesis of this
      cellular lesion, as well as the karyoclastic process-presumably apoptotic in
      nature-are briefly described and considered as a mechanism leading to cellular
      regression with subsequent destructuralization and release of DNA-reactive
      nucleoprotein material in form of free hematoxylin bodies. An original
      observation of the immunoreactivity of Hodgkin's cells with antinuclear
      antibodies of human serum in a case of collagenosis is also described.

PMID- 1436230
TI  - Studies on the release of interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and
      lysozyme from human non-adherent mononuclear cells (nMNC) in vitro after
      treatment with cisplatin and other biological response modifiers.
AB  - The supernatants collected from cisplatin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), muramyl
      dipeptide (MDP) or recombinant interferon gamma (rIFN-gamma) treated non-adherent
      mononuclear cells (with NK cell activity) enhanced thymocyte proliferation by a
      submitogenic concentration of concanavalin A as compared to untreated nMNC.
      Supernatants collected from cisplatin or rIFN-gamma treated nMNC also
      demonstrated enhanced cytotoxicity against actinomycin-D treated L929 cells,
      suggesting that cisplatin or rIFN-gamma treated nMNC release tumor necrosis
      factor (TNF) into the culture supernatant. On the other hand, supernatant
      collected from untreated nMNC showed little TNF activity. Treatment of nMNC with
      cisplatin, LPS, MDP or rIFN-gamma resulted in enhanced release of lysozyme into
      the culture medium as compared to untreated nMNC.

PMID- 1436231
TI  - T-lymphocyte subsets (CD4/CD8 ratio) in breast cancer patients.
AB  - T-lymphocyte subsets (CD4/CD8 antigen positive cells) were determined in
      peripheral lymphocytes from 48 patients with breast cancer of different stages by
      flow immunocytometry with the aid of anti-CD4 and CD8 monoclonal antibodies. A
      broad individual variability of the CD4/CD8 ratio among both healthy donors and
      breast cancer patients was observed. The average value of CD4/CD8 ratio decreased
      in groups as follows: Healthy donors and Stage I patients, Stage IIA, IIB and
      Stage IV breast cancer patients. These differences were generally statistically
      not significant. The difference between healthy donors and Stage IV breast cancer
      patients was statistically significant (p < 0.01), if one exceedingly elevated
      value of the CD4/CD8 ratio was excluded from statistical evaluation. The average
      CD4/CD8 value in the group of breast cancer patients with lymph node or distant
      metastases was lower than that of patients without metastases, but their
      difference was not statistically significant either.

PMID- 1436232
TI  - Effect of aldehydes on free sulfhydryl groups and glycolysis in extracts of
      Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and mouse liver.
AB  - Some saturated and unsaturated aldehydes decreased the content of total
      sulfhydryl (SH) groups and inhibited the aerobic glycolysis in the extract of
      Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EATC). These effects were not observed in normal
      mouse liver cells.

PMID- 1436233
TI  - Phosphorus-containing metabolites in anthracycline-resistant murine leukemia P388
      cells.
AB  - The method of 31P nuclear magnetic resonance was used to study in vivo the level
      of phosphorus-containing metabolites in P388 leukemia cells sensitive or
      resistant to rubomycin (daunomycin) and its nitroxyl analog-emoxyl. It was shown
      that decreased content of phosphomonoesters (PME) is characteristic of the
      resistant strains in comparison with the parent cells. Rubomycin and emoxyl were
      established not to affect practically the pool of phosphorus-containing
      metabolites in the cells of the resistant strains, but caused considerable
      increase of PME level in the cells of the parent strain.

PMID- 1436234
TI  - Utilization of determining lipid-bound sialic acid for the diagnosis and further
      prognosis of cancer.
AB  - In three types of tumors, rectal carcinoma, large intestine carcinoma and
      bronchogenic carcinoma, the level of lipid-bound sialic acid (LSA) was determined
      in blood serum before and after surgical operation. In all the cases, there was a
      significant increase of LSA content in comparison with healthy controls.
      Considerable increase in LSA values was observed in patients in relapse after
      surgical intervention. In contrast to this, in patients with regression the LSA
      levels were lower as compared with LSA levels prior to the surgical intervention.
      We believe that the method of determining LSA level could be used not only for
      the diagnosis of cancer, but also for the prognosis.

PMID- 1436235
TI  - Frequent involvement of Ig heavy chain carrier chromosome 12 in translocations in
      an Ehrlich-derived mouse tumor cell line.
AB  - Preferential involvement of chromosome 12, the carrier of Ig heavy chain, in
      structural rearrangements has been documented in an in vitro derivative of
      Ehrlich-Lettre mouse ascites tumor. Both copies of chromosome 12 have been found
      to be involved in Robertsonian and tandem translocations with certain other
      members of the tumor complement in this near-diploid ascites tumor cell line.

PMID- 1436236
TI  - The effect of partial hepatectomy on the genotoxicity of aflatoxin B1. II.
AB  - The influence of partial hepatectomy (PH) on the genotoxic effect of aflatoxin B1
      (AFB1) mycotoxin in male Chinese hamsters (Cricetulus griseus) in vivo was
      studied after a repeated i.p. application of small doses of AFB1 during 8 weeks.
      The frequency of aberrant cells did not increase after repeated application and
      persisted throughout the whole period on a relatively stable level. No cumulative
      genotoxic effect of repeated doses of AFB1 was observed. PH decreased the
      genotoxic effect of AFB1 only in week 4, while in weeks 6 and 8 no significant
      differences between hepatectomized and nonhepatectomized animals were recorded.

PMID- 1436237
TI  - Chromosomes in Hodgkin's disease--analysis of involved lymph nodes.
AB  - Chromosome studies carried out using lymph nodes of 47 patients with Hodgkin's
      disease gave analyzable metaphases in 22 patients of which 16 (72.7%) showed
      chromosome abnormalities. The modal chromosome number ranged from near-diploidy
      to near-tetraploidy. Chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,
      15, 16, 18, 21 and 22 were involved in trisomy and tetrasomy whereas chromosome
      17 was involved in monosomy. Structural abnormalities like deletions of
      chromosomes 1(p13), 6(q24) and addition of chromatin material to chromosomes
      11(q13) and 14(q32) were also detected. The involvement of chromosomes 2, 5, 12,
      18 and 21 in numerical abnormalities, and chromosome 14(14q+) in structural
      aberrations was found to be more frequent in Hodgkin's disease. No clinical
      correlation could be defined between the various chromosome abnormalities and
      prognosis of these patients.

PMID- 1436238
TI  - Glutathione S-transferase activity in human breast tumors.
AB  - The level of total glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity was examined in forty
      three breast carcinomas (forty tumors from previously untreated patients and
      three tumors from patients previously treated by chemotherapy), and thirteen
      benign breast tumors. Cytosolic GST activity was determined according to a
      spectrophotometric method. Using Student's t-test, significant differences were
      found between GST levels in these two groups of tumors (p < 0.01). The higher
      values were found in malignant tumors. The range of values in both malignant and
      benign tumors was very wide. The relationship between GST activity and hormone
      receptor status was examined in thirty-three cases for estrogen receptor (ER)
      status, and thirty-one cases for progesterone receptor (PR) status. The level of
      hormonal receptors was determined according to the dextran-charcoal technique. No
      significant difference between the mean levels of GST activity in ER+ and ER
      tumors was found (p > 0.4), but the difference corresponding to PR+ and PR-tumors
      approximated the 1% level of significance. The relationship between total GST
      activity and clinical or pathological parameters was also studied. Significant
      difference was found between the mean levels of GST activity corresponding to the
      groups of patients with non-involved nodes, and those having one or more involved
      nodes, respectively (p < 0.05). No correlation was found with respect to age (p >
      0.2), tumor size (p > 0.2), or tumor grade (p > 0.4). Increased levels of GST
      activity were found in PR-tumors and in tumors with involved axillary nodes. Both
      groups of tumors are known to have a poorer prognosis. It was concluded that the
      significance of GST activity as an additional marker of prognosis must be taken
      into consideration.

PMID- 1436239
TI  - A multivariant study of pituitary adenoma, obtainment of two logistic regression
      equations as an auxiliary support in the diagnosis of these tumors.
AB  - A multivariant analysis was carried out in 120 patients with pituitary adenoma
      (prolactinoma, HGH-secreting adenoma and nonfunctional adenoma) and an equation
      was obtained concerning the prolactinoma (whose independent variables were age,
      galactorrhea, impotence, stage, and pretreatment secretion of ACTH) and another
      one concerning the nonfunctional adenoma (with age evolution time, visual
      disturbance evolution and galactorrhea as independent variables). These equations
      are useful in the differential diagnosis. The internal validity of both equations
      was obtained by calculating the ROC curve and determining sensibility,
      specificity and predictive values at the "optimum point" of this curve.

PMID- 1436240
TI  - Sonography in the diagnosis and therapy monitoring of lymphomas.
AB  - Multiple ultrasonographic (USG) evaluations of abdomen were performed in 97
      patients: 30 with Hodgkin's disease (HD), 60 with non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) and
      7 with primary gastric lymphoma (PGL) before or during chemo- or X-ray therapy.
      In 33% of HD patients USG was normal, while in 63% splenomegaly, in 40%
      hepatomegaly and in 20% lymph node enlargement were observed. After therapy, in
      57% USG was improved and in only 3% of patients worsening was observed. In NHL
      patients splenomegaly was observed in 70%, hepatomegaly in 60% and lymph node
      enlargement in 35%. During follow-up, in 49% of patients improvement and in 3%
      worsening was observed. In 5 patients with PGL no changes were observed, in
      further 2 patients in Stage IV stomach wall and infiltration of nearest lymph
      nodes was observed. USG evaluation of abdomen may be useful in staging and
      therapy monitoring of malignant lymphomas.

PMID- 1436241
TI  - Cytokine (IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-1-alpha, TNF-alpha)-induced modulation of HLA
      cell surface expression in human breast cancer cell lines.
AB  - Cytokine-induced modulation of HLA expression on the cell surface of four human
      breast cancer cell lines was determined by continuous flow immunocytofluorometry
      with the aid of monoclonal antibodies directed to a non-polymorphic determinant
      of HLA class I and class II (DR) antigen. IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha were potent
      inducers of HLA class I in all examined cell lines, with decreasing inducibility
      as follows: BT-20, ZR-75-1, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 cells. HLA class II (DR) antigen
      was highly inducible by IFN-gamma in ZR-75-1 cells, followed by BT-20, MDA-MB-468
      and MCF-7 cells. IFN-alpha increased the cell surface expression of DR antigen
      only in ZR-75-1 cells. IL-1-alpha induced a moderate level of HLA class I antigen
      in ZR-75-1, BT-20 and MDA-MB-468 cells, and HLA class II (DR) expression only in
      ZR-75-1 cells. This pattern of cell line inducibility by IL-1-alpha was similar
      to that induced by TNF-alpha. Differences in inducibility of HLA antigens on
      human breast cancer cell lines induced by different cytokines may reflect the
      differences in cytokine inducibility of the original tumor cells.

PMID- 1436242
TI  - Amine oxidase-mediated cytotoxicity of spermine and epinephrine to human
      myelogenous leukemia K562 cells.
AB  - The effects of spermine and beta-adrenoceptor agonists (epinephrine, terbutaline
      and orciprenaline) in the presence and in the absence of fetal bovine serum (FBS)
      on human myelogenous leukemia K562 cells viability (V) and survival (N/Nc) were
      examined. Spermine-FBS significantly decreased both V and N/Nc of K562 cells.
      Aminoguanidine (AG), an amine oxidase inhibitor, and reduced form of glutathione
      abolished this effect demonstrating that the spermine-FBS action was amine
      oxidase-mediated. Epinephrine expressed a strong cytotoxicity to K562 cells which
      was abolished by pargyline, a specific monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, as well
      as by reduced form of glutathione. Terbutaline and orciprenaline exerted no
      cytotoxic activity to K562 cells cultured in FBS-supplemented medium,
      independently on the presence of spermine. However, terbutaline at concentrations
      of over 1 mmol strongly inhibited the cytotoxic effect on spermine-FBS. The
      relationship between cytotoxicity and chemical structure of beta-adrenoceptor
      agonists was discussed especially with respect to their stability toward
      oxidation.

PMID- 1436243
TI  - Cytochemical study of activated peritoneal macrophages in normal and tumor
      bearing rats.
AB  - Enzyme characteristics of in vitro activated peritoneal macrophages of normal and
      BP6-TU2 tumor-bearing rats were compared with those of nonactivated macrophages.
      The activating effect of LPS, IFN-gamma, IL-2, TPA, TNF and Zymosan was assessed
      by the determination of the activities of alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase
      (ANBE), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), beta glucuronidase (BG) and
      5'nucleotidase (5'NT). The used individual activators induced the macrophage
      enzyme activities in different degrees. LPS, TPA and TNF appeared to be the most
      effective activators of enzyme activities in macrophages of normal rats. IFN
      gamma, IL-2 and Zymosan were less effective. The macrophages of BP6-TU2 tumor
      bearing rats were less sensitive to the stimulatory effect of activators with
      respect to their enzyme activation capacity, except for TRAP activity. The
      results indicate that enzyme ANBE is an adequate marker of rat peritoneal
      macrophages. Enzyme TRAP determines the macrophage activation degree more
      expressively, in comparison with BG and 5'NT. The differences in enzyme
      activities could be a suitable marker of macrophage activation and might suggest
      the dependence on the pathway of macrophage stimulation by distinct activators.

PMID- 1436244
TI  - Estrogen dependence of primary breast cancer--correlation with histologic type
      and grade.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to investigate whether histologic type and grade of
      primary breast cancer are related to the estrogen and progesterone receptors. Our
      results showed that histologic type influenced the estrogen dependence through
      histologic grade. There was no difference in the estrogen and progesterone
      receptor content, when corresponding grades of different histologic types and
      estrogen dependence were confirmed by quantitative non-parametric analysis. It
      showed a direct relationship between estrogen and progesterone receptor content
      in all the three histologic grades and further that histologic grade defines
      three different groups in regard to progesterone receptor content.

PMID- 1436245
TI  - The diagnosis of breast cancer--experiences from the community of Kungsbacka,
      Sweden.
AB  - In Kungsbacka, Sweden, with about 48,000 inhabitants, the records of all subjects
      who had been diagnosed to have breast cancer during a 3-year period were studied.
      The incidence was 41 per 100,000 inhabitants per year. A palpable mass in the
      breasts was the most common initial sign (77%). Most patients first visited a
      physician working within the primary health care system. In 94% of the patients a
      palpable mass in their breasts had been found by the physician. In 16% of the
      cases a better or a more regular breast self-examination could have reduced the
      patients' delay. Mean doctor's delay was approximately five weeks. Subjects with
      no spread to the axillary lymph nodes had a favorable prognosis with a 5-year
      mortality rate of 12% during the follow-up study period as compared with patients
      who had distant metastases and/or axillary node involvement, in whom a mortality
      rate of 67% was observed during the same study period.

PMID- 1436246
TI  - Survival rates for childhood malignancies in Slovakia.
AB  - Survival rates (SR) for population-based series of 1564 cases of cancer in
      children aged 0-14, diagnosed during the decade 1978-1987 in Slovakia and derived
      from the National Cancer Registry, were examined. The overall 5-year SR (all
      types of childhood malignancies combined) was 49.8%. Different SR were
      ascertained for leukemias -43.8%, lymphomas -59.1%, CNS tumors -42.7% and for
      other remaining diagnostic groups and subgroups of childhood malignancies.
      Generally, the SR were slightly better for girls than for boys. Cancer patients
      being diagnosed during the first two years of age showed worse prognosis with a 5
      year survival rate of 36.8% as compared to 52.6% for children aged 2-14 at
      diagnosis. Differences in 5-year survival were also found between urban and rural
      areas: 56.8% and 48.8%, respectively. The 5-year SR increased during the study
      period from 48.5% for 1978-1982 to 50.0% for 1983-1987. Comparison of SR from
      Slovakia with the corresponding rates observed recently in some developed
      countries indicated possibilities to improve prognosis of childhood malignancies
      in this country.

PMID- 1436247
TI  - Influence of tobacco on laryngeal carcinoma in Spain.
AB  - Spain is one of the countries with the highest incidence of laryngeal cancer in
      the world. Many risk factors have been linked to this neoplasm, such as tobacco,
      alcohol and occupation. In order to evaluate the effect of tobacco, a case
      control study was performed. Cases included 85 patients with cancer of the larynx
      diagnosed in La Paz, Madrid, between 1983 and 1988, whereas a sample of 170
      patients from the same hospital was used as control. Our study revealed that
      tobacco was significantly associated with laryngeal cancer. Filter-tipped
      cigarette was shown to be a risk factor as well as consumption of non-filtered
      cigarettes at first followed by consumption of filter-tipped cigarettes. An
      association was found between laryngeal cancer and smoking more than 15
      cigarettes a day, as well as between cancer of the larynx and being in the habit
      of smoking for more than 15 years.

PMID- 1436248
TI  - [Results of the third survey of the structure of neurological inpatient services
      in former West German districts including West-Berlin].

PMID- 1436249
TI  - [Atypical facial pain--quality of IHS (International Headache Society) criteria
      and psychometric data].
AB  - Atypical facial pain is generally an unclearly defined pain syndrome. We tested
      in 35 patients (31 women, 4 men) with a mean age of 53.2 +/- 14.9 years and a
      chronic facial pain syndrome the quality of the new diagnostic criteria of the
      International Headache Society (IHS), at the same time using the SCL-90-R (Self
      Report Symptom Inventory), to identify any associated psychopathology. In
      accordance with the literature there is a marked female preponderance, an
      altogether vague description of symptoms and a long history of incorrect
      diagnoses. Of note is the high number of invasive procedures (3.5 +/- 3.0). In
      agreement with the IHS commentary, an operation or injury to the face was a
      suspected cause in 43%. In contrast to the IHS criteria, we found in our patient
      sample dysaesthesia (63%), bilateral occurrence (37%), remission periods (57%),
      pain attacks (23%) and presence of superficial as well as deep pain. Depression
      is by no means the only psychopathological abnormality in atypical facial pain; a
      broad spectrum of complaints is seen. The IHS classification appears insufficient
      to separate atypical facial pain from other primary headache and facial pain
      syndromes. We therefore suggest a modified version of the IHS criteria for
      atypical facial pain.

PMID- 1436250
TI  - [Diagnosis of dysarthria with the "Munich Intelligibility Profile"--construction
      of the procedure and its use].
AB  - No German-based methods for reliable assessment of the intelligibility of
      dysarthric speech have yet been described. The techniques usually applied in
      clinical diagnostics take no account of the various factors influencing the
      understanding of spoken language. They also fail to differentiate between
      individual patterns of impaired intelligibility. The intelligibility profile
      presented here controls for the most relevant influencing factors and allows us
      to discern therapeutically relevant patterns of disturbed intelligibility. The
      principles of its construction and some applications are presented.

PMID- 1436251
TI  - [Brain mapping for discriminating age related changes from dementia].
AB  - BM-EEG (Brain Mapping) and BM-P300 was studied for age related changes in 63
      healthy controls (17.1-87.9 years). Additionally the discriminative power of both
      functional measures was tested in 21 patients with the clinical diagnosis (NINCDS
      ADRDA) of probable dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT) of mild to moderate degree
      (Global Deterioration Scale, 4.2 +/- 2.6). For global and regional absolute and
      relative power values in the 4 frequency bands alpha, beta, theta and delta, the
      alpha-peak, P300 latency and amplitudes, quantitative and topographical aspects
      were analysed. Despite a broad variation of normal values both tests revealed age
      related changes. For separation between DAT and normal controls BM-EEG was
      superior to BM-P300. Relative global and regional theta power was the most
      sensitive parameter to discriminate both groups. BM data are compared with
      reported findings of traditional EEG and cognitive evoked potentials.

PMID- 1436252
TI  - [Correlation between neurologic disease and Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in
      800 paired serum/cerebrospinal fluid samples].
AB  - Paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 800 patients of a
      neurological clinic were tested for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. A
      flagellum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used for antibody screening. All
      serum/CSF pairs with any elevated antibody response were also tested by a Western
      blot, a method for confirmation. 65 patients (8.1%) had serum IgG antibodies on
      ELISA screening and 22 of these (2.8%) were confirmed by Western blot. 20
      patients (2.5%) had elevated antibody titers in CSF by ELISA and 12 of these
      (1.5%) reacted to the Western blot. Clinical features of Bannwarth's syndrome
      (BS) were present in 12 patients (1.5%) and four patients (0.5%) showed other
      manifestations of Lyme borreliosis. All patients with Bannwarth's syndrome were
      positive in serum by both methods and 10 had elevated antibody activity in the
      CSF proven by the two methods. The combination of a sensitive ELISA for screening
      and a sensitive and specific Western blot for confirmation reduces the number of
      positive results but is sensitive in detecting active disease.

PMID- 1436253
TI  - [Coma polyneuropathy after cardiopulmonary resuscitation].
AB  - A 60 year old female patient developed an acute polyneuropathy a few days after a
      successful cardiopulmonary reanimation followed by coma for several days.
      Recovery was good as demonstrated at one year follow-up. Residual damage
      consisted in very mild myoclonic jerks (abortive Lance-Adams syndrome).

PMID- 1436254
TI  - [Damage to the lateral cutaneous femoral nerve after transfemoral angiography].
AB  - We report on two patients with lesions of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the
      thigh after transfemoral angiography. Symptoms were hypesthesia, dysesthesia and
      hypalgesia of the right lateral thigh. One patient had no hematoma, the other a
      hematoma of the medial thigh which did not enlarge thigh circumference. Both
      patients had had a tight pressure bandage applied for 24 hours. There were no
      signs of a femoral nerve lesion. Both patients were severely distressed by
      paresthesia. The numbness subsided after three weeks in one patient, but pain
      persisted. The other patient had symptoms for over six months. The lateral
      cutaneous nerve of the thigh is located distinctly lateral to the puncture site
      in transfemoral angiography. Hence we suggest that the nerve lesion was caused
      neither by the puncture itself nor by a hemorrhage, but by the tight bandage.

PMID- 1436255
TI  - [Supranuclear, bilateral and distal-symmetric arm paralysis in central cervical
      spinal cord trauma].
AB  - A case of central spinal cord trauma following hyperextension of the cervical
      spine and with the finding on MRT of lesions at the level of C 2/3 to C 4/5 disks
      is reported. A supranuclear paralysis of the lower segments with complete
      paralysis of the hands and a transient atrophy of the intrinsic hand muscles
      could be demonstrated. In this connection we refer to the original clinical
      descriptions of O. Foerster, which have almost been forgotten in the mean time.

PMID- 1436256
TI  - [Extensive brain injury caused by attempted suicide with an airgun and ultrasound
      controlled removal of the deep intracranial projectile].
AB  - A 65-year-old man attempted suicide by shooting himself in the right temple with
      an air-gun. There was no loss of consciousness. He remained neurologically
      asymptomatic. On plain x-rays, the pellet was found in the left frontal lobe and
      CT-scans revealed a vast cerebral injury with a large hematoma in the right
      frontotemporal region and along the bullet track. The entry wound was opened and
      the hematoma was evacuated after removal of small bone fragments and limited
      osteoclastic enlargement of the bullet hole under the view of the microscope. No
      attempt was made to remove the pellet through the bullet track in order to avoid
      additional injury to delicate frontal midline structures. A left frontal burr
      hole was made and a thin silastic tube, as used for ventricular drainage, was
      placed with its tip at the projectile under ultrasonic guidance. Along the tube,
      the pellet was removed through a 5 mm cortical incision with the use of the
      microscope. The postoperative course was uneventful, the patient had no
      neurological deficit and early postoperative CT-scans showed complete removal of
      the hematoma and the bullet without additional brain injury.

PMID- 1436257
TI  - Effects of ACE inhibition on the course of nephropathy in type I diabetes
      mellitus.
AB  - Nephropathy is a severe complication of type I diabetes mellitus. About 25% of
      all new candidates for renal replacement therapy consist of diabetic patients.
      Glomerular hyperfiltration is an important causative factor in the development of
      this nephropathy. Microalbuminuria is the clinical first symptom of glomerular
      hypertension. New information stresses the importance of angiotensin II. Systemic
      as well as local reduction of angiotensin II formation can reduce glomerular
      hyperfiltration. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors should therefore be
      considered as first anti-hypertensive agents in type I diabetics with
      microalbuminuria.

PMID- 1436258
TI  - Betaxolol in obese hypertensive patients. Long-term effects on blood pressure and
      serum lipids.
AB  - The antihypertensive and metabolic effects of betaxolol (20 mg/day) were
      monitored in 40 patients (17 male), aged 54 +/- 2 yr (mean +/- SEM), with
      moderate essential hypertension. In a subgroup, consisting of 35 obese patients
      with a Quetelet index greater than 25.0, blood pressure, heart rate, side effects
      and biochemical variables were registered bi-monthly for a period of 6 months and
      after a placebo run-in and run-out period of 2 weeks. Betaxolol decreased blood
      pressure from 165 +/- 3/107 +/- 1 to 151 +/- 3/95 +/- 2 mmHg after 2 weeks and
      further to 151 +/- 3/93 +/- 2 mmHg after 6 months (p less than 0.001). Ninety
      percent of the patients responded to therapy with betaxolol. Heart rate fell from
      77 +/- 2 to 64 +/- 1 bpm (p less than 0.001). No significant changes were
      observed in levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol or HDL-cholesterol.
      Triglycerides tended to increase from 2.2 +/- 0.3 to 2.8 +/- 0.4 mmol/l after 4
      months of treatment (NS). Renal function was not influenced by betaxolol. Side
      effects, recorded on a standard questionnaire, did not differ between betaxolol
      and placebo. In conclusion, betaxolol in a fixed dose of 20 mg/day is an
      effective antihypertensive drug in the long-term treatment of obese, hypertensive
      patients, without adverse effects on lipoproteins.

PMID- 1436259
TI  - Lupus peritonitis presented as vague abdominal complaints in a SLE patient.
AB  - A 40-yr-old Caucasian woman who had been suffering from systemic lupus
      erythematosus (SLE) since five years developed vague abdominal complaints whilst
      under treatment with a low dose of steroids. She had been admitted because of
      vomiting and abdominal tenderness. The ESR and CRP levels were rising and the C4
      level had been persistently low in the preceding months. Normal non-invasive
      procedures did not allow a diagnosis to be made. Therefore exploratory laparotomy
      was performed and revealed a non-bacterial peritonitis and an oedematous jejunum.
      She responded well to a high dose of prednisone. Serositis of the peritoneum as
      well as bowel vasculitis may be a rare manifestation of SLE despite apparent
      control of other lupus manifestations. In this patient serositis flares were
      associated with a rise in CRP level.

PMID- 1436260
TI  - Familial nonparasitic splenic cysts.
AB  - Only three times the occurrence of splenic cysts in siblings has been reported.
      This is the first report of a nonparasitic splenic cyst in mother and daughter.
      This improbable coincidence may perhaps give a better insight in the histogenesis
      of splenic cysts. A practical classification of nonparasitic splenic cysts is
      presented.

PMID- 1436261
TI  - Octreotide for medullary thyroid carcinoma associated diarrhoea.
AB  - Medullary thyroid carcinoma associated diarrhoea can be disabling. A 75-yr-old
      man with metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma and refractory diarrhoea is
      described. Subcutaneous administration of the somatostatin analogue, octreotide,
      100 micrograms thrice daily, resulted in a sustained improvement in diarrhoea and
      disappearance of faecal incontinence without reducing calcitonin levels.
      Octreotide therapy should be considered as symptomatic treatment for otherwise
      refractory diarrhoea associated with medullary thyroid carcinoma.

PMID- 1436262
TI  - Recent aspects of pathogenesis and therapy of fulminant elapsing necrosis.

PMID- 1436263
TI  - Multiple myeloma: prognostic factors and treatment modalities.

PMID- 1436264
TI  - Successful treatment of a diffuse endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis.

PMID- 1436265
TI  - What is the role of adipsin in obesity?

PMID- 1436266
TI  - Glucagon-stimulated insulin secretion in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus:
      support for the concept of glucose toxicity.
AB  - Parameters of blood glucose control and insulin secretion were evaluated in 114
      patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, who were no longer controlled
      satisfactorily by maximal doses of oral hypoglycaemic agents, and compared with
      those obtained in 11 healthy control subjects, 32 patients with recently
      diagnosed type 2 diabetes, and 16 tablet-treated and 36 insulin-treated patients.
      Newly-diagnosed patients were slightly younger (60 +/- 13 yr) and had a slightly
      higher body mass index (29.4 +/- 6.5 kg/m2). Known duration of diabetes was 9 yr
      (range 1-37) in secondary failure, and 11 yr (range 1-31) in insulin-treated
      patients. Fasting blood glucose was the highest (13.8 +/- 2.8 mmol/l) in
      secondary failure and newly-diagnosed patients (12.6 +/- 3.8 mmol/l) compared to
      tablet-treated (8.7 +/- 3.3 mmol/l) and insulin-treated patients (9.6 +/- 3.2
      mmol/l, p less than 0.05). HbA1c levels were comparably elevated. In insulin
      treated patients, fasting plasma C-peptide levels were lower relative to the
      mutually comparable levels in the other 3 diabetic groups. Fasting plasma insulin
      levels did not differ between the 4 diabetic groups. C-peptide release after
      glucagon (C-peptide AUC) was comparable in all 4 diabetic groups, although in
      tablet-treated patients the ratio C-peptide AUC/fasting blood glucose was higher
      (p less than 0.05). We conclude that the clinical usefulness of determining
      residual insulin secretion in type 2 diabetic patients is limited, and that the
      similar reduction of insulin secretion in severely hyperglycaemic newly-diagnosed
      and secondary failure type 2 diabetic patients supports the concept of "glucose
      toxicity".

PMID- 1436267
TI  - Hand bone growth during puberty and in Turner's syndrome.
AB  - Measurements were made on hand radiographs of normal girls and patients with
      Turner's syndrome. Normal girls going through puberty display increases in hand
      bone dimensions which are highly correlated with height and bone age. We report
      such changes in length and total bone width of metacarpal II (MCII) and proximal
      phalanx II (PPII), and in combined cortical thickness and cortical area of MCII.
      For the relative cortical area, the correlations are less pronounced. In
      comparison with controls of similar height, MCII of patients with Turner's
      syndrome has greater length and total bone width and combined cortical thickness.
      Turner patients treated with sex steroids undergo skeletal maturation as well as
      a rise in MCII relative cortical area (a measure of bone density), but fail to
      show a commensurate increase in MCII length and in MCII cortical area (a measure
      of bone mass). It is concluded that in untreated Turner patients, bone density as
      well as bone mass are normal for the (retarded) bone age, and that sex steroids
      which promote skeletal maturity likewise raise bone density but not bone mass.
      The (relative) insensitivity of bone mass and the lack of accelerated statural
      growth in response to administered sex steroids may be inborn characteristics of
      the Turner skeleton.

PMID- 1436268
TI  - Paget's disease with osteolytic lesions: combining medical and surgical
      treatments.
AB  - A patient with extensive Paget's disease of bone presented with severe bone pain,
      hypercalcaemia and a large osteolytic lesion of the femur which developed during
      long-term therapy with etidronate. Treatment with pamidronate normalized serum
      calcium concentration and induced a complete biochemical remission. The
      osteolytic lesion was grafted with bone chips. A recurrence of the Paget's
      disease was associated with clear autonomous hypercalcaemic hyperparathyroidism.
      Five years after removal of 3 1/2 hyperplastic parathyroid glands, the patient
      remains in complete clinical and biochemical remission. These findings illustrate
      the pitfalls encountered in the management of Paget's disease and the value of
      combining medical and surgical interventions.

PMID- 1436269
TI  - Pneumatosis intestinalis in mixed connective tissue disease.
AB  - Two young female patients with established mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD)
      are described, in whom the disease course was complicated by intestinal pseudo
      obstruction and pneumoperitoneum due to pneumatosis intestinalis. Conservative
      management of this rare complication in MCTD, which included the use of high-flow
      normobaric oxygen by mask, led to a complete resolution of the abdominal symptoms
      in both patients.

PMID- 1436270
TI  - Glyburide-induced cholestatic hepatitis and liver failure. Case-report and review
      of the literature.
AB  - As sulphonylurea derivatives are used ubiquitously, the possibility that they may
      cause liver disease deserves attention. In contrast to the known pattern of
      reversible parenchymal liver disease due to sulphonylurea derivatives, we
      describe a fatal case of glyburide-induced cholestatic hepatitis with liver
      failure.

PMID- 1436271
TI  - Balkan endemic nephropathy: more questions than answers.

PMID- 1436272
TI  - Successful ultrasonically guided percutaneous ethanol injection for secondary
      hyperparathyroidism.
AB  - Ultrasonically guided percutaneous ethanol injection to all of four enlarged
      parathyroid glands, which were confirmed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy, was
      successfully performed in a hemodialysis patient with secondary
      hyperparathyroidism. In addition to marked reduction of serum parathyroid
      hormone, the size of parathyroid glands was significantly decreased after the
      procedure. As an adverse effect, the patient experienced a transient self
      limiting dysphonia due to right recurrent nerve palsy after the first injection.
      This procedure may be an effective alternative to surgical treatment or
      administration of high-dose 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 in uremic patients with
      sonographically verified multiple enlarged parathyroid glands.

PMID- 1436273
TI  - Fully enzymatic inulin determination in small volume samples without
      deproteinization.
AB  - A fully enzymatic method for the determination of inulin in serum or plasma
      without deproteinization is described. The assay is carried out by means of a
      fructose determination after hydrolysis of inulin via inulinase and simultaneous
      oxidation of the native glucose using glucose oxidase and H2O2. This time-saving
      procedure of high specificity, sensitivity and accuracy requires only small
      sample volumes. The usefulness of the method is shown by analysis of blood levels
      in humans and rabbits after an intravenous administration of Inutest.

PMID- 1436274
TI  - Drug interaction of chloroquine with ciclosporin.

PMID- 1436275
TI  - Phlebotomy for polycythemia associated with acquired cystic renal disease in a
      patient on hemodialysis.

PMID- 1436276
TI  - Treatment with erythropoietin increases intravascular volume contraction during a
      hemodialysis session.

PMID- 1436277
TI  - Effect of pyrazinamide on ciclosporin levels.

PMID- 1436278
TI  - Nonoliguric acute renal failure in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PMID- 1436279
TI  - Does nephritic factor relate to the disease activity in hypocomplementemic
      membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis?

PMID- 1436280
TI  - OKT3-induced sterile peritonitis: report of a case.

PMID- 1436281
TI  - Acute interstitial nephritis due to endosulfan.

PMID- 1436282
TI  - Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis occurring after very-short-term intermittent
      peritoneal dialysis.

PMID- 1436283
TI  - Immunohistochemical markers of renal tubular injury and cyclosporin
      nephrotoxicity in kidney allograft biopsies.

PMID- 1436284
TI  - Acute uric acid nephropathy following angiography and coronary artery bypass
      surgery.

PMID- 1436285
TI  - Amino-aciduria and enzymuria in patients with artificial heart valves.
AB  - Fifteen patients with artificial heart valves and evidence of chronic
      intravascular haemolysis were studied for proximal tubular dysfunction. Three
      patients had haemosiderinuria and haemoglobinuria; 2 had haemoglobinuria alone.
      Increased urinary amino acid nitrogen occurred in 8, raised fractional beta 2
      microglobulin excretion in 2, hypophosphataemia in 4, renal glycosuria in 1 and
      enhanced fractional urate excretion in 1. Urinary N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase
      (NAG) excretion increased in 7; the mean urinary NAG/creatinine ratio was raised
      to twice the upper limit of the normal range. Renal haemosiderosis due to chronic
      intravascular haemolysis could cause tubular injury.

PMID- 1436286
TI  - Plasma levels of the anaphylatoxins C3a and C4a in patients with IgA
      nephropathy/Henoch-Schonlein nephritis.
AB  - Measurements of plasma anaphylatoxins C3a and C4a were carried out as an
      indicator of in vivo complement activation in 46 patients suffering from IgA
      nephropathy/Henoch-Schonlein nephritis. There was a significant correlation
      between plasma levels of C4a and plasma creatinine and urea. We also found a
      significant correlation of plasma levels of C3a with plasma creatinine. We
      propose that the measurement of anaphylatoxin levels provides a sensitive
      indicator of in vivo complement activation and may serve as an additional method
      for monitoring the progress of disease in these patients.

PMID- 1436287
TI  - Inhibition of vascular permeability factor production by ciclosporin in minimal
      change nephrotic syndrome.
AB  - In order to ascertain whether ciclosporin (Cs) has an inhibitory effect on the
      vascular permeability factor (VPF) production, various quantities of Cs were
      added to T lymphocyte cultures from 8 children with minimal change nephrotic
      syndrome (MCNS) and the VPF activity of culture supernatants was assayed. As a
      result of the addition of Cs, a dose-dependent inhibition of VPF production was
      seen. VPF production was inhibited by a level of between 100 and 250 ng/ml of Cs
      in vitro. The reduction of proteinuria by Cs in MCNS might be due to the
      inhibition of VPF production.

PMID- 1436288
TI  - Lipids in the progression of chronic renal failure.
AB  - Lipid disturbances have been linked to the progression of chronic renal disease.
      We examined 52 patients with a creatinine clearance (CCr) of 38.5 +/- 7.9 ml/min
      due to various nephropathies, on free diet. Bimonthly, over a 12-month period, we
      assessed: serum creatinine (Cr); CCr; daily urinary urea excretion; urinary
      protein excretion per unit of residual renal function (UProt/CCr); total, HDL,
      VLDL and LDL cholesterol; triglycerides; Apo A, Apo B. Chronic renal failure was
      progressive in 22 patients with a slope of 1/Cr-0.00358 +/- 0.00247, stable in 30
      with a slope of 0.00420 +/- 0.00285. Lipid parameters did not differ
      significantly between the two groups but for the lower Apo A and Apo A/Apo B
      ratio values in the progressive group. Overall slope inversely correlated with
      basal CCr; in the progressive patients the slope correlated with the percentage
      variation of UProt/CCr and only partially with the altered Apo profile.

PMID- 1436289
TI  - Glycosaminoglycans in urolithiasis.
AB  - To determine if there are differences in urinary glycosaminoglycan (GAG)
      concentrations, 43 stone-forming patients and 37 healthy control subjects of both
      sexes were studied. Urinary concentrations of calcium, magnesium, creatinine,
      uric acid and GAGs were determined. GAGs were measured by the Di Ferrante
      precipitation procedure followed by the Bitter and Muir reaction. Urinary GAG
      concentration and daily output were significantly lower in stone-forming
      patients. The present study clearly demonstrates the decreased urinary GAG
      concentration and excretion in stone-forming patients and suggests an interaction
      between GAGs and urate that could modify the inhibitory potency of GAGs.

PMID- 1436290
TI  - Effect of simvastatin on qualitative and quantitative changes of lipoprotein
      metabolism in CAPD patients.
AB  - The efficacy of simvastatin, a competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl
      glutaryl coenzyme A reductase, was investigated in 12 patients treated with
      continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), displaying hypercholesterolemia
      and moderate hypertriglyceridemia. After a 4-week placebo period, simvastatin was
      administered in increasing doses over a period of 3 months (1st month 10 mg; 2nd
      month 20 mg and 3rd month 40 mg day-1). Simvastatin reduced total serum
      cholesterol (300.0 +/- 15.5 vs. 193.0 +/- 8.0; -35%), LDL cholesterol (203.8 +/-
      13.0 vs. 104.7 +/- 6.0; -48.0%) as well as apolipoprotein B (132.3 +/- 6.6 vs.
      77.8 +/- 2.7 mg/dl; -40%). Furthermore, the ratio of LDL apo B/LDL cholesterol
      increased significantly (0.55 +/- 0.016 vs. 0.64 +/- 0.027). Another remarkable
      effect was the reduction of cholesterol concentration in VLDL (47.8 +/- 5.6 vs.
      30.4 +/- 5.2; -35%). Therefore, the ratio of triglycerides/cholesterol in VLDL
      increased (3.57 +/- 0.3 vs. 4.28 +/- 0.29), indicating VLDL formation poor in
      cholesterol and rich in triglycerides. However, HDL cholesterol increased
      significantly from 48.6 +/- 4.4 to 57.9 +/- 5.3 mg/dl (23%). Lipoprotein(a)
      levels were increased as compared to controls (420 +/- 73 vs. 145 +/- 26 U/l),
      but were not influenced significantly by simvastatin treatment (539 +/- 99 U/l,
      3rd month). No evidence for notable clinical side effects and laboratory
      abnormalities were reported. Measurement of simvastatin plasma levels 12 h after
      drug administration (single dose 40 mg) showed no detectable plasma values. At
      present, it appears that CAPD patients with high serum cholesterol are good
      candidates for the treatment with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.

PMID- 1436291
TI  - A case of POEMS syndrome showing elevated serum interleukin 6 and abnormal
      expression of interleukin 6 in the kidney.
AB  - A 46-year-old female presented with POEMS syndrome. Hemodialysis was initiated to
      control severe anasarca and declining renal function. Corticosteroids were
      effective in treating renal insufficiency and other symptoms. Serum interleukin 6
      (IL-6) was elevated before the corticosteroid therapy but returned to the normal
      level under the therapy. Immunostaining for the kidney tissue obtained by a renal
      biopsy showed a diffuse distribution of IL-6 in the glomeruli; thus, in contrast
      to normal, IL-6 was detected not only in mesangial cells but also in endothelial
      cells. IL-6 was also distributed in capillaries in the interstitium. While these
      results suggest a pathogenic role of IL-6 in POEMS syndrome, other factors may be
      necessary for the full expression of symptoms. Furthermore, it is suggested that
      chronically stimulated glomerular endothelial cells are capable of producing IL
      6.

PMID- 1436292
TI  - Shape of the relationship between hypertension and the rate of progression of
      renal failure in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.
AB  - The effect of hypertension on the rate of progression of renal failure was
      analyzed in 26 patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
      relating the slopes of progression (linear regression of the reciprocal serum
      creatinine on time) with the average mean arterial pressure, systolic and
      diastolic pressure, derived over the entire follow-up period for each patient.
      Hypertension was found in 19 of the 26 patients. Using simple linear regression,
      there was no significant correlation between the two variables in any case. Using
      polynomial regression (quadratic and cubic), this relationship fits a sigmoid
      (for diastolic pressure) or a negative parabolic curve (for mean arterial
      pressure and systolic pressure); i.e. the lowest and the highest values of mean
      arterial pressure and systolic pressure were associated with faster rates of
      progression. Thus, an appropriate model to study this relationship is not the
      linear but the polynomial regression.

PMID- 1436293
TI  - Induction of interleukin 6 synthesis in mouse glomeruli and cultured mesangial
      cells.
AB  - Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is an autocrine growth factor of cultured mesangial cells
      (MC) and intraglomerular IL-6 production is suggested to be closely associated
      with the pathogenesis of human mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis
      (mesPGN). In this study, to elucidate the mechanisms regulating the
      intraglomerular production of IL-6, we examined what kinds of stimuli are
      significant in the induction of IL-6 synthesis in vitro and in vivo. Incubation
      of cultured mesangial cells with interleukin 1 (IL-1) or bacterial
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced significant IL-6 production, and intravenous
      injection of IL-1 or LPS into normal BALB/c mice induced significant
      intraglomerular IL-6 mRNA expression. Furthermore, we indicated in this study
      that IL-6 mRNA expression was augmented in the glomeruli of mice with immune
      complex-mediated glomerulonephritis.

PMID- 1436294
TI  - Cystic radiolucencies of carpal bones, distal radius and ulna as a marker for
      dialysis-associated amyloid osteoarthropathy.
AB  - Patients on long-term hemodialysis (HD) are known to develop amyloid
      osteoarthropathy, evidenced as cystic radiolucencies on X-rays of the affected
      joints. To study the relationship between cystic radiolucencies and amyloid
      osteoarthropathy in 394 patients, we classified the severity of the cystic
      radiolucencies seen in the wrist joint on a 4-point scale and evaluated the
      association between lesion severity (grade) and several parameters. Biopsy was
      performed in 8 patients with 11 bone cysts of the wrist joint who had been
      operated for carpal tunnel syndrome. HD for 10 years or longer, age 50 or older
      and the presence of carpal tunnel syndrome were associated with severe cyst
      rating. There was no association between lesion grade and serum level of PTH-C,
      aluminum or beta 2-microglobulin (B2M). Ten of the 11 biopsied bone cysts in 8
      patients with carpal tunnel syndrome demonstrated amyloid deposits which reacted
      with B2M. We conclude that a cystic radiolucency observed in the wrist joint of a
      patient undergoing HD indicates the deposition of amyloid. The cyst grade
      provides a useful marker for the severity of amyloid osteoarthropathy in HD
      patients.

PMID- 1436295
TI  - Verapamil increases the nephrotoxic potential of gentamicin in rats.
AB  - The effect of verapamil on the nephrotoxic potential of gentamicin was examined
      in rats. Rats were injected with one of the two or both drugs for 6 days and
      sacrificed 48 h after the last injection. In verapamil-treated rats (5
      mg/kg/day), no histological or biochemical evidence of renal injury was detected.
      In all gentamicin-treated rats (100 mg/kg/day), a significant increase in kidney
      weight was observed (p less than 0.001). The renal histopathologic lesions were
      more extensive in rats treated simultaneously with both gentamicin and verapamil.
      These rats exhibited a decline in body weight earlier (from day 4) than rats
      injected with gentamicin alone (from day 6). Serum urea nitrogen and creatinine
      in the latter group of rats were 24.9 +/- 3.7 and 1.1 +/- 0.1 versus 47.4 +/- 8.6
      and 1.6 +/- 0.2 mg/dl, respectively, in rats treated with the combined therapy (p
      less than 0.05). These results indicate that verapamil increases the severity of
      gentamicin nephrotoxicity. This interaction should be considered as a factor that
      can potentially increase the nephrotoxic risk associated with gentamicin
      administration.

PMID- 1436296
TI  - Effects of acyclovir on renal function.
AB  - The renal effects of acyclovir (100 mg/kg body weight i.p. for 7 days) were
      studied in rats. All animals became polyuric and presented an increase in blood
      urea nitrogen and fractional excretion of sodium and potassium. During hypotonic
      saline infusion, the acyclovir-treated rats showed higher distal fractional
      delivery compared to normal rats (27.8 +/- 4.7 vs. 11.3 +/- 0.9%, p less than
      0.01) and a lower ratio of free-water clearance to distal sodium delivery (33.5
      +/- 7.8 vs. 57.2 +/- 3.9%, p less than 0.02). Following hypertonic saline
      infusion, the ratio of osmolar to inulin clearance was higher in acyclovir rats
      (47.8 +/- 7.4%) than in normal rats (27.0 +/- 4.8%), whereas the ratio of free
      water reabsorption to osmolar clearance was lower in the acyclovir rats (13.6 +/-
      4.6 vs. 38.2 +/- 3.2%, p less than 0.01). These findings suggest an effect of
      acyclovir on the proximal tubule, thick ascending limb and/or inner medullary
      collecting duct (IMCD). In vitro measurements of 3H2O permeability of perfused
      IMCD of normal rats showed that vasopressin (50 microU/ml) added to the bath
      increased the diffusional water permeability (43.4 +/- 4.8 vs. 105.6 +/- 9.1 x
      10(-5) cm/s), while in acyclovir rats, the control value (58.8 +/- 9.1 x 10(-5)
      cm/s) did not increase significantly in the presence of vasopressin (71.3 +/-
      13.6 x 10(-5) cm/s). These results suggest that high doses of acyclovir produce
      azotemia and an abnormal function of the proximal tubule and thick ascending limb
      associated with resistance to vasopressin of the IMCD.

PMID- 1436297
TI  - L-arginine reduces glomerular basement membrane collagen N epsilon
      carboxymethyllysine in the diabetic db/db mouse.
AB  - The present study was carried out to examine the effect of L-arginine on advanced
      stage nonenzymatic glycosylation end products in glomerular basement membrane
      (GBM) as represented by carboxymethyllysine (CML). Twelve db/db mice were given a
      solution containing a daily dosage of L-arginine of 50 mg/kg body weight orally.
      Twelve db/db mice served as controls. At the end of the 4-months study period
      treated animals had significantly lower concentrations of CML (0.084 +/- 0.008,
      0.071-0.098 nmol/mumol OH-proline; mean +/- SD, range, p less than 0.01) compared
      to untreated controls (0.11 +/- 0.018, 0.095-0.152 nmol/mumol OH-proline). In
      addition, there was a significant positive correlation between GBM thickness and
      concentrations of CML (r = 0.86, p less than 0.001). We conclude that reduction
      of CML concentrations in treated db/db mice possibly reflects a beneficial effect
      of L-arginine on advanced stage nonenzymatic glycosylation end-products in GBM.
      In addition, measuring CML concentrations might have future clinical implications
      as a noninvasive parameter for basement membrane thickening.

PMID- 1436298
TI  - Glomerular epithelial cell endocytosis in puromycin-induced glomerulopathy.
AB  - Glomerulopathy and nephrotic syndrome were induced in rats by intravenous
      puromycin aminonucleoside. Ten days after the injection of puromycin, the animals
      have developed heavy proteinuria. During this phase, glomerular epithelial cell
      endocytosis was studied by injecting a conjugate of horseradish peroxidase and
      poly-L-lysine. This conjugate has been shown to be endocytosed by glomerular
      epithelial cells. The rats were serially sacrificed from 1 min to 24 h after this
      injection. Peroxidase was localised cytochemically and observed at light and
      electron microscopy. The early events of endocytosis in glomerulopathy (namely
      the binding to the plasma membrane, the membrane invagination and the formation
      of the early vesicles) were qualitatively similar to those in the normal. The
      later events (the fusion of the vesicles and their movement within the cells)
      were inhibited. The results show that puromycin aminonucleoside damages
      epithelial cell endocytotic activity and affects the later processing of the
      conjugate within the cells.

PMID- 1436299
TI  - Decreased aortic valve prosthesis-associated haemolysis after changing from
      haemodialysis to peritoneal dialysis.
AB  - We report here a chronic haemodialysis patient who had severe anaemia following
      replacement of his aortic valve. The investigations confirmed a traumatic valve
      effect. The surgeons were reluctant to replace the valve because of the high
      cardiothoracic risk and absence of significant leak or stenosis. Furthermore, the
      patient refused to consider additional surgery. We changed his modality of
      dialysis to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; subsequently, there was a
      dramatic decrease in his transfusion requirement, and the patient was
      symptomatically and functionally better. A literature search indicates that this
      therapeutic response has not been reported before.

PMID- 1436300
TI  - Severe tubulopathy and kidney graft rupture after coadministration of mannitol
      and ciclosporin.
AB  - Spontaneous allograft rupture after kidney transplantation is a rare complication
      usually due to an acute rejection of the interstitial type. In a 32-year-old man
      kidney transplantation was performed under immunosuppression with prednisolone
      and ciclosporin (CS). The dose of CS was 5 mg/kg body weight intravenously for
      the first 24 h, on the 2nd day 10 mg/kg/day orally, with gradually decreasing
      doses thereafter. The patient remained oliguric in the postoperative period and
      received additionally 600 ml mannitol solution intravenously for osmodiuresis
      within a period of 6 days. On the 8th postoperative day, 48 h after the last
      intravenous infusion of mannitol, spontaneous renal rupture occurred. The CS
      concentrations in the blood during the days before the rupture were within the
      upper normal range for effective immunosuppression (300-600 ng/ml).
      Intraoperatively the kidney appeared enlarged due to edematous swelling of the
      graft, but it showed no signs of rejection. The histological finding was a toxic
      tubulopathy with extensive isometric vacuolization and peritubular congestion, a
      known side effect of both of CS and of mannitol. The rupture was successfully
      repaired. Thirty-four days after the transplantation diuresis increased and
      hemodialysis therapy could be discontinued. In a second biopsy of the kidney the
      signs of toxic tubulopathy with isometric vacuolization were reduced. On the
      following days the serum creatinine dropped below 160 mumol/l. It can be assumed
      that the combination of CS therapy and administration of massive and continued
      doses of mannitol in an oliguric patient with allograft kidney may potentiate
      severe tubulopathy with concomitant edematous swelling of the graft. This can
      result in an increasing danger of spontaneous renal rupture.

PMID- 1436301
TI  - Marked eosinophilia induced by nafamostat mesilate, an anticoagulant in a
      hemodialysis patient.
AB  - A 61-year-old Japanese female on hemodialysis developed marked eosinophilia
      induced by nafamostat mesilate as an anticoagulant for hemodialysis. This is the
      first case of hypereosinophilic syndrome induced by nafamostat mesilate in a
      hemodialysis patient. The elevated eosinophil counts (51,900/mm3) are the highest
      for hemodialysis-associated eosinophilia. This eosinophilia was eliminated after
      cessation of nafamostat mesilate. We confirmed that the cause of this
      eosinophilia was nafamostat mesilate by using the challenge test.

PMID- 1436302
TI  - Treatment of hyperlipidemia in nephrotic syndrome: time for a change?

PMID- 1436303
TI  - Intraglomerular foam cells and human focal glomerulosclerosis.
AB  - Experimental evidence suggests a pathogenetic role for lipids in focal
      glomerulosclerosis (FGS) analogous to atherosclerosis. As foam cells (FC) are an
      important factor in atherosclerosis, a retrospective comparative study was done
      to evaluate the significance of intraglomerular FC in human FGS. Glomerular FC
      infiltration was evaluated in 115 biopsies of FGS, 120 biopsies of membranous
      glomerulonephritis (MGN) and 50 biopsies of minimal-change disease (MCD).
      Selected clinical and laboratory data collected at about the time of biopsy were
      reviewed. The proportion of biopsies showing glomerular FC was much higher in FGS
      (70%) than in either MGN (12%) or MCD (0%) p less than 0.001. The mean percent
      (+/- SD) of glomeruli with FC per biopsy was significantly greater in FGS (7.9 +/
      9.9) than in MGN (2.0 +/- 7.8; p less than 0.0001). Of the 14 MGN biopsies with
      FC, 13 showed superimposed FGS. Mean serum total cholesterol and triglyceride
      were not significantly higher in FGS than in either MGN or MCD. The results
      demonstrate a close association of glomerular FC infiltration with FGS.

PMID- 1436304
TI  - Decreased renal phosphate threshold in patients with gout.
AB  - Serum and 24-hour urinary phosphate levels in primary gout patients and control
      subjects were measured. About 45% of gouty patients showed mild hypophosphatemia.
      However, mean 24-hour urinary excretion of phosphate was significantly elevated
      as compared with that of controls. Gouty patients showed a significantly
      decreased tubular reabsorption of phosphate and renal phosphate threshold. It
      seems that tubular phosphate transport in gouty patients is impaired, and this is
      the major cause of hypophosphatemia.

PMID- 1436305
TI  - Evolution of serum prealbumin following hemodialysis: effect of different
      dialysis membranes.
AB  - The effects of hemodialysis on the levels of serum prealbumin (pA) were studied
      on a crossover basis in 17 uncomplicated patients. Bicarbonate dialysate was used
      exclusively, and two different membranes, cuprophane and polysulfone, were
      compared. We aimed to prove the induction of an acute-phase response during the
      procedure. Serum pA, corrected for hemoconcentration, decreased significantly 24
      h after the start of cuprophane hemodialysis and returned to the initial value
      within 48 h. No such change was observed using polysulfone membranes. These
      results were seemingly correlated with the effects of the membranes on complement
      activation. It is concluded that cuprophane hemodialysis is indeed associated
      with an acute-phase response, probably due to interleukin-1 release during the
      treatment, and that the membrane composition has some role in inducing it. Thus,
      serum pA analysis may prove useful as an indicator of the biocompatibility of the
      dialysis procedure.

PMID- 1436306
TI  - Circulating burst-forming-unit erythroid and the responsiveness to recombinant
      human erythropoietin in patients on regular hemodialytic treatment.
AB  - The dose of recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEpo) required to correct anemia
      of end-stage renal disease varies among patients. The possible factors that
      interfere with the responsiveness to r-HuEpo were not completely known. In 32
      patients on regular hemodialytic treatment with marked anemia (Hb 5.6 +/- 0.7
      g/dl), we evaluated circulating erythroid progenitor cells [burst-forming-unit
      erythroid (BFU-E)], erythropoietin, ferritin, folate and 1-84-parathormone levels
      before r-HuEpo therapy. In 12 patients, the aluminum levels after deferoxamine
      were also evaluated. The possible correlation between these factors and the
      response to r-HuEpo therapy was then evaluated. The number of circulating (c) BFU
      E was highly variable (521 +/- 447 colonies/ml of blood; normal level 742 +/-
      192) and does not correlate with erythropoietin, ferritin, folate, 1-84
      parathormone or aluminum levels. A direct correlation between basal cBFU-E and
      the responsiveness to r-HuEpo therapy was recorded while no correlation was found
      with the other analyzed parameters. We hypothesized that low basal cBFU-E
      (interleukin-3 deficiency?) could reduce the response to r-HUEpo because of
      failure of this hematopoietic stem cell compartment to replenish the pool of more
      mature erythropoietic progenitor cells during the phase of accelerated maturation
      induced by r-HuEpo.

PMID- 1436308
TI  - Effect of erythropoietin on ischemia tolerance in anemic hemodialysis patients
      with confirmed coronary artery disease.
AB  - From a total of 81 patients on maintenance hemodialysis who underwent coronary
      angiography, 8 patients fulfilled the criteria: significant coronary artery
      disease, hematocrit less than 27%, reproducible (ECG) positive treadmill test, no
      disturbance of repolarization in ECG at rest. Exercise stress testing was
      performed at a hematocrit of 25 +/- 2% and following erythropoietin therapy at a
      hematocrit of 34 +/- 0.5%. Symptom-limited exercise performance increased in all
      patients (1.10 +/- 0.3 W/kg b.w. vs. 1.44 +/- 0.31 W/kg b.w., p less than 0.01)
      as well as exercise duration (489 vs. 362 s, p +/- 0.01). ST segment depression
      during maximal exercise was reduced from a mean of 2.1 to 0.4 mm (p less than
      0.01). It is concluded that amelioration of renal anemia by erythropoietin in
      dialysis patients with significant coronary artery disease reduces exercise
      induced myocardial ischemia.

PMID- 1436307
TI  - Phosphate dialytic removal: enhancement of phosphate cellular clearance by
      biofiltration (with acetate-free buffer dialysate).
AB  - Phosphate dialytic removal (PDR) depends in part on the type (acetate or
      bicarbonate) and the concentration of the buffer dialysate. Plasma phosphate
      reduction or PDR during a dialysis treatment is the algebraic sum, of phosphate
      cellular flux (removal or captation) and of phosphate tissular precipitation.
      High bicarbonate levels induce an intracellular shift of phosphate, thus not
      available for dialytic removal. On the contrary, acidosis prevents P shifting
      into the intracellular space, thus more P is available for dialytic removal. In
      order to evaluate cellular phosphate sequestration (CPS) we tested PDR in a
      crossover study. Three children were dialyzed (18 sessions) successively using
      either biofiltration with free buffer dialysate and a constant bicarbonate fluid
      infusion rate (BF) or using sequential biofiltration (SBF) with an initial
      controlled acidosis period realized by bicarbonate reinjection fluid rate
      modelling. PDR was higher in SBF (32 +/- 4 mmol/session) than in BF (24 +/- 6
      mmol/session). SBF seemed to be efficient against CPS; it clearly demonstrates
      that bicarbonate modelling is a promising dialytic approach to enhance PDR. The
      real clinical relevance of these biological results needs clinical long-term
      evaluation.

PMID- 1436309
TI  - Intraglomerular expression of MHC class II and Ki-67 antigens and serum gamma
      interferon levels in IgA nephropathy.
AB  - In order to clarify intraglomerular cellular activation and cytokine involvement
      in IgA nephropathy, the glomerular expression of MHC class II antigens (HLA-DR
      and DQ) and cellular proliferative nuclear antigen (Ki-67), and serum gamma
      interferon (gamma-IFN) levels were evaluated in 49 patients with IgA nephropathy.
      HLA-DR was detected in all but 4 patients in whom glomerular sclerosis was
      present. HLA-DQ and Ki-67 were observed in 51 and 38% of the patients,
      respectively. Proteinuria, recent macroscopic hematuria, mesangial proliferation,
      and extracapillary and endocapillary lesions were more frequent and more severe
      in HLA-DQ-positive than in HLA-DQ-negative patients. In 10 patients with acute
      exacerbation, endocapillary lesions and HLA-DQ and Ki-67 expression were present
      in 70, 80 and 88%, respectively. Serum gamma-IFN levels were high in the patients
      (2.0 +/- 0.3 U/ml, n = 40), especially during acute exacerbation (3.4 +/- 1.1
      U/ml, n = 9). Glomerular HLA-DO and Ki-67 expression correlated with serum gamma
      IFN levels (r = 0.73, p less than 0.01 for HLA-DQ; r = 0.75, p less than 0.01 for
      Ki-67). Renal biopsy specimens taken before and after prednisolone and/or
      urokinase therapy were available from 4 patients. There was strong reactivity to
      HLA-DQ in the glomerular tufts of all 4 pretreatment samples. However, HLA-DQ
      reactivity disappeared after treatment in 3 samples, concomitant with
      normalization of serum gamma-IFN levels. We conclude that serum gamma-IFN levels
      are related to glomerular HLA-DQ and Ki-67 expression and acute exacerbation in
      patients with IgA nephropathy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1436310
TI  - A new kindred with hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets with hypercalciuria:
      implications for correct diagnosis and treatment.
AB  - Hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets with hypercalciuria (HHRH) is a new autosomal
      form of hypophosphatemic rickets, recently described. This disease is
      characterized, and differs from other forms of hereditary hypophosphatemic
      rickets and/or osteomalacia by increased serum levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D,
      hypercalciuria and complete remission of the disease on phosphate therapy alone.
      However, only another probable Israeli kindred, and seemingly a few sporadic
      cases from Europe, North America and Japan have been reported in the literature.
      We describe here a new kindred of Jewish Yemenite origin (unrelated to other
      Israeli families) with typical HHRH. Two additional members of this family suffer
      from a milder asymptomatic form of the disease, which presents as absorptive
      hypercalciuria without signs or symptoms of bone disease. It seems to us that
      HHRH is underdiagnosed, due to its similarity to other hypophosphatemic syndromes
      in clinical, radiological and most biochemical parameters. Therefore, it is
      recommended that urinary calcium excretion and serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D
      concentrations be measured in every patient with hypophosphatemic rickets/and or
      osteomalacia before the initiation of any therapy. The correct diagnosis of HHRN
      is of immense therapeutic implications. Phosphate therapy alone could cause a
      complete remission in HHRH, while the addition of active vitamin D metabolites,
      as is recommended in hypophosphatemic vitamin D resistant rickets, could cause
      deterioration in the patient's condition.

PMID- 1436311
TI  - Biosynthesis of methylguanidine in the hepatic microsomal fraction.
AB  - We have investigated various synthetic mechanisms for the production of
      methylguanidine, a potent uremic toxin, and reported a role for active oxygen in
      its biosynthesis from creatinine in studies using isolated hepatocytes. In this
      study, we turn our attention to the hepatic microsomes. Liver homogenates were
      made from rats, and various organelles were obtained by centrifugation and
      incubated with creatinine. The results show that methylguanidine synthesis occurs
      only in the microsomal fraction in the presence of nicotinamide adenine
      dinucleotide phosphate, reduced form. The microsomal activity is inhibited by the
      addition of methimazole, metyrapone, superoxide dismutase, catalase or
      dimethylsulfoxide. These results suggest that methylguanidine is synthesized from
      creatinine by microsomes, and at least 2 enzymes are involved, an FAD-containing
      monooxygenase and a P-450-dependent oxidase based on the inhibitory effect of
      methimazole and metyrapone, respectively. Moreover, the inhibition by various
      scavengers of active oxygen suggests that active oxygen plays a role in the
      intermediate steps of the enzymatic reaction.

PMID- 1436312
TI  - Quantitative relationships between body weight, kidney weight and nephron size in
      mongrel dogs.
AB  - Mammalian species of large stature have larger kidneys with larger nephrons than
      smaller animals, although this relationship is not linear. In order to
      investigate whether in animals of different sizes within the same species similar
      differences exist, a study in mongrel dogs was undertaken. In animals weighing
      between 9 and 42 kg with kidney weights from 25 to 79 g the area and perimeter of
      the glomeruli and the cortical width were measured. The number of glomeruli per
      unit area was counted and corrected for the size of the glomeruli. The results
      show that larger dogs have larger kidneys and that this enlargement is due to the
      increase in size of the nephrons and not in their number.

PMID- 1436313
TI  - Role of glutathione metabolism in the reduction of proteinuria by
      dimethylthiourea in adriamycin nephrosis.
AB  - Glutathione (GSH) metabolism, a tissue detoxification pathway, was evaluated in
      rats with adriamycin nephrosis (AN) treated with dimethylthiourea (DMTU), a free
      radical scavenger. After 7 days of DMTU, a significant reduction in proteinuria
      occurred as compared to AN controls (62.4 +/- 13.3 vs. 155.0 +/- 24.0 mg/24 h). A
      significant increase in renal cortical GSH content as well as glutathione
      peroxidase (GP) and transferase (GT) activities occurred in DMTU-treated rats as
      compared to controls. Glutathione monoethyl ester (GME) administration alone
      reduced proteinuria by 21% in AN, which was not significant despite a large
      increase in the renal GSH content, however, GP and GT activities were not
      increased by GME. We conclude that DMTU ameliorates glomerular injury in AN by
      stimulating GSH metabolism.

PMID- 1436314
TI  - Correlation between tubulointerstitial nephropathy and glomerular lesions induced
      by adriamycin.
AB  - This paper describes a morphometric study of the evolution of tubulointerstitial
      nephropathy in adriamycin-induced focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis in
      Wistar rats over 32 weeks old. The earliest changes were located in the
      glomeruli. In the 10 week of the study, tubulointerstitial nephropathy appeared
      and, although the interstitial space increased after the 2nd week, this increase
      only became statistically significant after the 10 week. Proteinuria showed the
      highest correlation with the interstitial space, however, the interstitial space
      showed the highest correlation indices with the total number of glomeruli
      affected and to a lesser extent with adhesions to and thickening of Bowman's
      capsule.

PMID- 1436315
TI  - Immune deposits in the glomerular extracellular matrix detected by the quick
      freezing and deep-etching method.
AB  - Chronic serum sickness nephritis was induced in rats by sensitization with egg
      albumin. The glomeruli were then examined by the quick-freezing and deep-etching
      method with immunohistochemical identification of immune complex deposits on
      replica membranes. In control rats, the glomerular basement membrane showed a
      three-layered structure. The middle layer was composed of a compact meshwork of
      fine fibrils that was connected to adjacent endothelial and epithelial cells by
      perpendicular fibrils in the inner and outer layers. The mesangial matrix
      contained a similar but looser meshwork structure. In the nephritic rats, small
      granular deposits were observed within the meshwork, distorting its fine
      structure. Larger nodular aggregates extended continuously from the middle layer
      to the epithelial side. Disruption of the connecting fibrils overlying these
      larger aggregates was noted. The deposits were stained by antiegg albumin or
      antirat IgG antibodies. Gold particles immunostaining for the sensitizing antigen
      were also localized within the deposits. These findings suggest that the
      deposition of immune complexes occurs in the fibrillary meshworks of the
      mesangium and lamina densa in this experimental model, with the resultant
      distortion of their meshwork structures and the formation of nodular aggregates.

PMID- 1436316
TI  - Role of plasminogen activator inhibitor on nephrotoxic nephritis and its
      modulation by tumor necrosis factor.
AB  - To evaluate the suggested imbalance between coagulation and fibrinolysis in the
      development of glomerulonephritis, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity
      was studied in the plasma of rats with nephrotoxic nephritis. PAI activity rose
      within 1 h of the injection of nephrotoxic globulin (NTG), peaked at 2 h and
      returned to the normal range within 24 h. PAI activity was dependent on the dose
      of NTG and increased significantly during passage through the kidney. PAI
      activity was also detected in the culture supernatant from isolated glomeruli
      with nephrotoxic nephritis. Intracapillary fibrin deposits were formed within 2
      h; their numbers increased gradually over 24 h. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) also
      induced a progressive increase in PAI activity in normal rats. The injection of
      TNF to rats with NTG synergistically accelerated both the increase in PAI
      activity and the prevalence of fibrin deposits. These results suggest that PAI
      may be released from the glomeruli affected by nephrotoxic nephritis and imply
      that PAI may play a role in the local coagulation in the capillaries of the
      nephritic kidneys, although this is probably not the only mechanism which
      explains the continued formation of the glomerular fibrin deposits.

PMID- 1436317
TI  - Glomerulonephritis associated with Robertsonian translocation t(13;14).
AB  - We report the first case of glomerulonephritis associated with Robertsonian
      translocation t(13;14) in a 18-year-old female. The renal biopsy revealed
      mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis with mesangial IgG and C3 deposits.
      The patient also has congenital absence of ovaries and an underdeveloped uterus.
      Our report suggests that renal abnormalities may be found in patients with
      Robertsonian translocation.

PMID- 1436318
TI  - Measurement of vascular access recirculation without contralateral venous
      puncture.
AB  - The rate of recirculation is an important variable in calculating the correct
      dose of dialysis delivered to a patient. Traditionally it is calculated using
      blood results obtained from the arterial and venous lines and from venous
      puncture of the opposite arm. To avoid this venipuncture, cessation of the blood
      pump for 1 or 2 min was attempted to mimic the systemic circulation. This
      technique underestimated recirculation but was statistically correlated with the
      result obtained by the classical method, thus it is possible to derive a formula
      to obtain the recirculation value without contralateral venipuncture.

PMID- 1436319
TI  - Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease complicated by glomerulonephritis.
AB  - Two patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and
      concurrent glomerulonephritis are described. Both developed nephrotic-range
      proteinuria and one showed a concomitant acceleration in the rate of decline of
      renal function. Subsequent open renal biopsy revealed membrano-proliferative type
      1 and mesangio-proliferative glomerulonephritis, respectively. Nephrotic-range
      proteinuria in the presence of ADPKD, with or without an accompanying decline in
      renal function, should prompt further investigation to exclude coexisting
      glomerular disease.

PMID- 1436320
TI  - Recombinant human erythropoietin for anemia of end-stage renal failure in beta
      thalassemia trait.

PMID- 1436321
TI  - A case with membranous glomerulonephritis and myelodysplastic syndrome.

PMID- 1436323
TI  - Systemic lupus erythematosus and vaccination against hepatitis B.

PMID- 1436322
TI  - Flow cytometry for crossmatch evaluation in renal transplantation.

PMID- 1436324
TI  - Persistent wedge-shaped low-density lesions on renal sonography.

PMID- 1436325
TI  - Scintigraphic evaluation of renal function in heart-beating brain death patients
      using technetium-99m diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid.

PMID- 1436326
TI  - Hypoprothrombinemia and cephalosporins in uremics.

PMID- 1436327
TI  - Acute renal failure secondary to acute bacterial pyelonephritis.

PMID- 1436328
TI  - Methemoglobinemia and intravascular hemolysis in a patient with G6PD deficiency.

PMID- 1436329
TI  - Paramecium colonizing urinary tract of a patient on dialysis: a rare entity.

PMID- 1436330
TI  - Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure as a consequence of heroin inhalation.

PMID- 1436331
TI  - Glucose-induced insulin secretion in uremia: role of anemia.

PMID- 1436332
TI  - Do hemodialysed patients contribute to the spread of HCV infection?

PMID- 1436333
TI  - Predicting glomerular function from adjusted serum creatinine.

PMID- 1436334
TI  - Dialysis efficacy and itching in renal failure.
AB  - Itching in nondialyzed uremic subjects and patients on dialysis remains
      incompletely explained and poorly treated. We evaluated our chronic hemo- and
      peritoneal dialysis patients for this symptom and synthetically reviewed previous
      reports on itching and renal failure. We found no biochemical correlates of
      itching but did find that itching was less with better dialysis as defined by
      urea kinetic modelling. We conclude that improved dialysis techniques will
      continue to reduce the prevalence of itching in end-stage renal disease patients.

PMID- 1436335
TI  - Evaluation of flowcytometric crossmatching in renal allograft recipients.
AB  - Forty-four cadaver renal allograft recipients who had flowcytometric cross-match
      (FCXM) testing and sequential quadruple immunosuppression were studied with
      respect to the number of rejection episodes and the functional viability of the
      graft in the first year after transplantation. Fourteen of these patients had
      antibodies to donor T cells by FCXM. All were negative by conventional
      crossmatch. Multiple-regression analysis with HLA mismatches, panel-reactive
      antibody (PRA) percentage, flowcytometric channel shifts and transplant number as
      independent variables revealed that transplant number and high PRA (> 50%)
      impacted (p < 0.05) on serum creatinine at 1 month and 1 year, and graft survival
      at 1 year. In first transplants, a positive FCXM had no impact on 1-year graft
      survival rates; however, in retransplants, a positive FCXM and/or high PRA had a
      significant negative impact on 1-year graft survival. This study indicates that
      the FCXM should be utilized for retransplant patients, and in patients with a
      high PRA, in an attempt to improve graft survival for these high-risk recipients.

PMID- 1436336
TI  - Hemodialysis intravascular hemolysis and kinked blood lines.
AB  - Between May 29 and September 13, 1991, 4 patients developed acute intravascular
      hemolysis during hemodialysis with Monitral-S delivery systems and Hospal BSM A77
      blood lines. All had malaise, nausea and headache; 3 had severe abdominal pain
      and 2 became very ill. Plasma hemoglobins were 3-21 g/l and LDH 542-3,300 IU in
      the 4 patients. Hepatoglobin became unmeasurable in 3 and was 0.09 g/l in the 4th
      patient. Soon afterwards, we found the arterial blood line tightly kinked at the
      dialyzer inlet port in the 4th patient and released it; he developed abdominal
      pain, hemolysis was present. We then found these lines had an extra long pump
      segment, and the rest was short and fitted poorly. When put in the first tubing
      organizer, severe kinking could occur just after the pump segment, causing back
      pressure but no alarm. We produced early visible hemolysis in a 1-liter
      circulating closed loop blood system with the blood line kinked either at the
      dialyzer inlet or just below the first arterial line tubing organizer with 40 g/l
      free plasma hemoglobin by 30 min. We excluded reported causes of intravascular
      hemolysis during hemodialysis. No hemolysis occurred before or during the 9
      months after we discarded BSM A77 lines. The evidence indicates that kinked blood
      lines caused the hemolysis.

PMID- 1436337
TI  - Causes of late renal allograft failure in the ciclosporin era.
AB  - A single center experience of 514 ciclosporin-treated renal allografts which
      survived longer than 1 year was reviewed in order to analyze the causes of renal
      allograft loss beyond the 1st year post-transplantation and the contribution of
      selected parameters to long-term survival. 83 grafts were lost between 1 and 5
      years with the most common causes of graft loss being chronic rejection (54%),
      death (14%), noncompliance (13%) and sepsis (11%). Actuarial 5-year graft
      survival rates, decaying from 100% at 1 year, of living related and cadaveric
      grafts were 88.6 and 79.5%, respectively. Parameters with a substantial influence
      on long-term survival included the quality of early graft function and incidence
      of acute rejection in the 1st year post-transplantation. A marker for long-term
      survival (> 5 years) was a significantly lower serum creatinine (177 mumol/l; <
      or = 2 mg/dl) at 1 year. We conclude that chronic rejection is responsible for
      the majority of late graft losses in the ciclosporin era as in the earlier
      azathioprine period.

PMID- 1436338
TI  - Neurotoxicity associated with oral acyclovir in patients undergoing dialysis.
AB  - Neurotoxicity associated with intravenous acyclovir therapy is well documented.
      We report 4 cases of acyclovir-induced neurotoxicity in dialysis patients
      receiving oral therapy at a reduced dose.

PMID- 1436339
TI  - Fibrinolytic capacity in hemodialysis patients treated with recombinant human
      erythropoietin.
AB  - A major adverse effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) in
      hemodialyzed patients are thrombotic events. Several reports on platelet function
      during r-HuEPO treatment have been published but less is known about
      fibrinolysis. In the present study, the fibrinolytic capacity was studied in 20
      patients on maintenance hemodialysis and treated with r-HuEPO. The patients were
      randomized into two groups and investigated in a crossover design. r-HuEPO was
      administered intravenously and subcutaneously in each group and was given for 3
      months, respectively. Plasma tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and released t
      PA remained unaffected by r-HuEPO in both groups throughout the study. Tissue
      plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) increased in a cyclic way reaching peak
      values 4-6 weeks after the start of investigation and again 4-6 weeks after
      changing therapy. The increase in PAI was significant in the two groups (0.025 >
      p > 0.01). Tissue plasminogen antigen was low in the uremic patients. The
      influence of r-HuEPO on this parameter was not investigated. Compensatory changes
      in plasma levels of factor XII procoagulant activity, activated protein C and of
      alpha 2-antiplasmin were not observed. Thrombotic events occurred in 4 patients
      at peak values of PAI. Six patients required an increase in heparin dose
      simultaneously with the increase in PAI. Thus, r-HuEPO seemed to affect the
      fibrinolytic capacity of uremic patients.

PMID- 1436340
TI  - Nodular diabetic glomerulosclerosis without diabetes mellitus.
AB  - A 66-year-old white man presented with severe chronic renal failure. He had no
      past or present symptomatic glucose intolerance nor a family history of diabetes
      mellitus. Several fasting plasma glucose determinations, hemoglobin Alc and an
      oral glucose tolerance test were normal. Funduscopic ophthalmoscopy and retinal
      fluorescein angiography did not demonstrate diabetic retinopathy. The kidney
      biopsy showed nodular diabetic nephropathy, with increased mesangial matrix,
      thickened glomerular basement membrane, and afferent and efferent glomerular
      arteriolar hyalinization. The diagnosis of nodular diabetic nephropathy was made
      in this patient in the absence of past or present or familial evidence of
      diabetes mellitus.

PMID- 1436341
TI  - Peritoneal hemosiderosis in pediatric patients with nephrogenic ascites.
AB  - Nephrogenic ascites associated with maintenance hemodialysis is a complex problem
      with poorly understood pathophysiology. We report 4 pediatric patients
      investigated between 1986 and 1990. All the patients treated with maintenance
      hemodialysis required multiple blood transfusions. Each patient was carefully
      evaluated for factors potentially relevant to ascites, and serum ferritin levels
      were found to be extremely high. Peritoneoscopy which was utilized in all
      patients led to a specific diagnosis of hemosiderosis in the peritoneum and liver
      biopsies. In 1 patient, lymph node biopsy also showed iron deposition. We believe
      that iron deposition played a role in changing the permeability of the peritoneum
      and is presumed to be a pathogenetic factor in nephrogenic ascites.

PMID- 1436342
TI  - Hypocomplementemia and leukocytosis in diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic
      syndrome.
AB  - Sixty-eight children with diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (D+HUS)
      were retrospectively examined to assess clinical variables associated with the
      combination of leukocytosis and hypocomplementemia. There was a statistically
      significant association between the white blood cell count (WBC) and the level of
      the third component of the complement system (C3). Children with both a low C3
      and a high WBC were significantly younger and required hospitalization for a
      significantly longer period of time. Although there were also trends to increases
      in the presence of anuria and central nervous system complications and in the
      duration of anuria, elevated WBC, thrombocytopenia, dialysis, and hemorrhagic
      colitis in children with both an elevated WBC and a low C3, these changes did not
      achieve statistical significance. The presence of a low C3 and an elevated WBC
      may indicate a subset of children with D+HUS with a more severe episode.

PMID- 1436343
TI  - Hemodynamic changes in the dog connected to a dialysis circuit: influence of the
      body temperature.
AB  - Eighteen sessions in 9 mongrel dogs were carried out to know the hemodynamic
      effects produced by body temperature variation, when blood passes through a
      dialysis circuit with a Cuprophan dialyzer, without dialysate contact. The
      decrease of 2 degrees C in body temperature caused a decrease in heart rate and
      cardiac index (-8.6 and -17.6%, respectively) without significant changes in
      blood pressure. The increase of 2 degrees C in body temperature increased the
      heart rate, the cardiac index and the first derivative of ventricular pressure
      (+14.8, +17.3 and +27.8%, respectively) with a decrease of 13.6% in the systemic
      vascular resistance. Blood pressure did not change significantly. We conclude
      that the dog maintains the hemodynamic stability by two different mechanisms:
      when body temperature rises, by increasing the cardiac index; when body
      temperature decreases, by increasing the systemic vascular resistance.

PMID- 1436344
TI  - Effects of oral adsorbent in the rat model of chronic renal failure.
AB  - The effects of oral adsorbent, AST-120 (Kureha Chemical Ind. Co., Tokyo), were
      studied in the rat model of subtotal nephrectomy. In 34 female Sprague-Dawley
      rats, three quarters of the renal mass were removed from the left kidney by
      ligation of 3 branches of the left renal artery. One week later, the right kidney
      was removed. Two days after right nephrectomy, control rats were fed standard rat
      chow ad libitum, while AST-120-treated rats were fed standard rat chow containing
      AST-120 ad libitum. The animals were observed for 9 weeks. Of the control rats,
      some became severely ill and appeared to be almost dying before 9 weeks, while
      paired AST-120-treated rats appeared well. Body weight was maintained better in
      AST-120-treated rats than in control rats. At completion of the study, levels of
      BUN and serum creatinine were lower and glomerular filtration rate and renal
      plasma flow rate were higher in AST-120-treated than in control rats (p < 0.05),
      although there was no statistically significant difference in proteinuria. Serum
      uremic peak 2a measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, which is
      considered to correspond to uremic toxins, was statistically lower in AST-120
      treated rats (p < 0.05). Finally, a marked reduction in the degree of glomerular
      sclerosis was noted in AST-120-treated versus control rats (p < 0.05). The
      results indicate that AST-120 is effective in the treatment of chronic renal
      failure in terms of reducing uremic symptoms as well as preserving renal function
      and glomerular architecture. The data also indicate that a reduction in uremic
      toxins could delay the progressive damage of renal function and glomerular
      architecture in chronic renal failure.

PMID- 1436345
TI  - Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition attenuates hypercholesterolemia and
      glomerular injury in hyperlipidemic Imai rats.
AB  - Hyperlipidemic Imai rats spontaneously develop hypercholesterolemia, proteinuria
      and glomerulosclerosis. We investigated the effect of enalapril, an angiotensin
      converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, on spontaneous hypercholesterolemia and the
      progressive renal injury in this rat strain. Male Imai rats (n = 7) were treated
      with enalapril at a dose of 50 mg/l in drinking water starting at 6 weeks of age.
      Body weight, blood pressure, urinary protein excretion and serum constituents
      were checked and compared with untreated controls (n = 5) up to 38 weeks of age.
      Enalapril treatment significantly reduced hypercholesterolemia (247 +/- 41 vs.
      102 +/- 13 mg/dl, p < 0.01, at 38 weeks) and proteinuria (766 +/- 290 vs. 206 +/-
      119 mg/kg/day, p < 0.01, at 38 weeks). The glomerulosclerosis index (SI) was
      significantly higher in untreated control rats than in the enalapril-treated
      group (227 +/- 57 vs. 27 +/- 9, p < 0.01). Although we could not clarify whether
      hypercholesterolemia is a primary event or secondary to the nephrotic syndrome,
      these results indicate that the ACE inhibitor has the property to protect remnant
      glomeruli from glomerulosclerosis in male Imai rats as well as in other animal
      models in which focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis is believed to represent a
      common pathologic pattern. This rat strain represents a unique model of a
      spontaneous proteinuria which can provide an important information on the
      pathogenesis of human focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis.

PMID- 1436346
TI  - Relationship between renin, angiotensinogen and histone H2b messenger ribonucleic
      acid in the maturing rat kidney.
AB  - Postnatal nephrogenesis and growth of the rat kidney is greatest during the first
      10 days of life. The renin-angiotensin system has important growth-promoting
      effects. To explore the relationship between postnatal renal development and the
      renin-angiotensin system, we examined the steady-state levels of messenger
      ribonucleic acid (mRNA) for renin, angiotensinogen, histone H2b (a marker of DNA
      synthesis) and the structural protein actin. The pattern of expression for renin
      and histone H2b were similar, with maximal levels of both mRNAs occurring during
      the first 10 days of life, the time of most marked postnatal nephrogenesis and
      kidney growth. A different pattern was seen for angiotensinogen mRNA, with low to
      undetectable levels during the first 15 days of life, and for actin mRNA, with
      fairly stable expression at the time points examined, providing evidence that the
      increase in renin and histone H2b mRNA was not due to a nonspecific increase in
      mRNA in the newborn kidney. In conclusion, the increase in renal histone H2b mRNA
      during the early postnatal period is consistent with this being a time of
      increased DNA synthesis. The similar time course for renin mRNA, histone H2b mRNA
      and previously defined changes in postnatal nephrogenesis suggests a role for the
      renin-angiotensin system in postnatal nephron formation.

PMID- 1436347
TI  - Retroviral envelope glycoprotein (gp 70) is not a prerequisite for pathogenesis
      of primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy in ddY mice.
AB  - Deposition of a major retroviral envelope glycoprotein, gp 70, in renal glomeruli
      of ddY mice, an animal model for primary IgA nephropathy, was examined by
      immunofluorescence. The positive staining of gp 70 was not observed in glomeruli
      of our substrain of ddY mice at any ages examined using two different anti-gp 70
      antisera and three different staining conditions, whereas deposition of IgA, IgG
      and IgM was manifest in mice aged over 40 weeks. As a control, NZB x NZW F1 mice
      from 4 months of age onwards showed severe glomerular deposition of gp 70, in
      keeping with previous reports. Thus, it appears that gp 70 deposition may not be
      sine qua non for the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy of all substrains of ddY
      mice.

PMID- 1436348
TI  - Renal involvement in leptospirosis: a pathophysiologic study.
AB  - The kidney involvement in leptospirosis appears to be a special form of acute
      renal failure due to a higher frequency of polyuric forms and the presence of
      hypokalemia with an elevated urinary fractional excretion of potassium. Using a
      clearance technique, we detected higher fractional urinary potassium excretion in
      leptospirotic guinea pigs (26.5 +/- 4.7%) than in normal animals (14.1 +/- 2.8%,
      p < 0.05). After blocking distal NaCl reabsorption with furosemide, it was
      observed that in leptospirotic animals both fractional sodium excretion (40.0 +/-
      7.4%) and fractional potassium excretion (136.3 +/- 32.7%) were higher than in
      normal animals (20.4 +/- 3.8%, p < 0.05, and 43.6 +/- 9.0%, p < 0.05,
      respectively). Microperfusion studies showed that the normal and leptospirotic
      medullary thick ascending limb had both identical transepithelial potential
      difference (+3.7 +/- 0.4 vs. 3.9 +/- 0.2 mV) and relative sodium-to-chloride
      permeability. The same technique showed that the osmotic water permeability
      (Posm; 0.9 +/- 0.4 x 10(-5) cm/s.atm) and diffusional permeability (34.7 +/- 6.6
      x 10(-5) cm/s) observed in the leptospirotic inner medullary collecting duct
      (IMCD) in the presence of vasopressin were unchanged, as was also the case for
      urea permeability (3.74 +/- 0.7 x 10(-5) cm/s). These data show that acute renal
      failure in leptospirosis is characterized by tubular changes leading to potassium
      secretion probably due to a decrease in proximal sodium reabsorption.
      Furthermore, the inability to concentrate urine evidenced by the low P(o)sm
      present in leptospirotic animals is due, at least in part, to IMCD resistance to
      vasopressin.

PMID- 1436349
TI  - Familial hypokalemia-hypomagnesemia or Gitelman's syndrome: a further case.
AB  - A woman aged 33 years presented hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia associated with
      renal potassium and magnesium wasting. Her mean 24-hour urinary calcium excretion
      was strikingly low despite normocalcemia, normal creatinine clearance, normal
      serum PTH and calcitriol. Normal distal fractional chloride reabsorption
      [CH2O/(CH2O + CCl)] was noted during water load but was reduced during hypotonic
      saline infusion. In response to intravenous furosemide (1 mg/kg), the patient
      showed significant increments in sodium, chloride and magnesium excretion as well
      as abolition of hypocalciuria. The association of renal calcium transport from
      magnesium transport together with exaggerated natriuresis after furosemide
      suggests the presence of a defect in the distal tubule rather than in the loop of
      Henle. We propose that our patient is affected by the syndrome of primary
      renotubular hypomagnesemia-hypokalemia with hypocalciuria, known as Gitelman's
      syndrome.

PMID- 1436350
TI  - Hyperreninemia and secondary hyperaldosteronism in a patient with
      pheochromocytoma and von Hippel-Lindau disease.
AB  - In a 21-year-old Caucasian women with von Hippel-Lindau disease, norepinephrine
      producing adrenal pheochromocytoma was identified as the underlying cause of
      severe hypertension. She was found to have extremely elevated levels of
      circulating renin and aldosterone, and she was markedly hypokalemic.
      Administration of captopril further enhanced renin secretion, while her blood
      pressure improved. The patient became normokalemic following tumor removal, and
      her blood pressure decreased to normal levels with reestablishment of normal
      circadian blood pressure rhythm. This case demonstrates that, in the absence of
      renovascular or malignant hypertension, pheochromocytoma can be the underlying
      cause for the clinical syndrome of hypertension associated with severe
      hypokalemia and hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism.

PMID- 1436351
TI  - Abuse of germanium associated with fatal lactic acidosis.
AB  - Germanium compounds are marketed as nonprescription drugs in Europe and are
      recommended by the suppliers for AIDS and metastatic cancer disease. We observed
      a patient with nonmetastatic breast cancer who died because of severe lactic
      acidosis (plasma lactate concentration = 27 mmol/l) after ingestion of 25 g of
      elemental germanium over a 2-months period. Renal failure and hepatotoxicity had
      newly developed during germanium intake. Postmortem examination revealed severe
      hydropic vacuolation of tubule cells and the presence of inclusion bodies
      predominantly in straight proximal tubule cells with normal appearance of renal
      interstitium and glomeruli. The liver showed panlobular steatosis. Urine, blood
      and tissue (kidney, liver, muscle, pancreas) levels of germanium were high.
      Lactic acidosis may have been caused by the combined, germanium-induced renal and
      hepatic failure (underutilization), but it remains to be seen whether germanium
      can affect lactate production and/or metabolism directly.

PMID- 1436352
TI  - Severe hypercalcemia indicating relapse of acute myelocytic leukemia after bone
      marrow transplantation.

PMID- 1436353
TI  - Obstructive renal failure due to therapy with sulfadiazine in an AIDS patient.

PMID- 1436354
TI  - Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure following methadone abuse.

PMID- 1436355
TI  - Galloping caseous pneumonia with miliary dissemination in a renal transplant
      recipient: emphasis on pretransplant detection and prophylaxis.

PMID- 1436356
TI  - Human immunodeficiency virus infection and the kidney.

PMID- 1436357
TI  - Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin on reticulocyte age in hemodialysis
      patients.

PMID- 1436358
TI  - Effect of low doses of L-carnitine on the response to recombinant human
      erythropoietin in hemodialyzed children: about two cases.

PMID- 1436359
TI  - Treatment of chronic renal failure anemia by recombinant erythropoietin and
      polycythemia following kidney transplantation.

PMID- 1436360
TI  - Which antihypertensive treatment in renal vasculitis?

PMID- 1436361
TI  - Assessment of quality of survival in patients with surgically treated meningioma.
AB  - A prospective study carried out between 1982 and 1991 encompassed 179 patients
      who had been operated upon for meningiomas (Neurosurgical University Clinic
      Heidelberg and Mannheim). History, neurological status, neuroradiological
      findings, surgical procedure and histology were documented. Within the framework
      of regular postoperative reexaminations, indices were recorded regarding life
      quality as standardized by Karnofsky and Spitzer. Following HRDP (Hamburg Rating
      Scale for Emotional Disturbances), a depression score was evaluated with 32
      patients pre and postoperatively. Psychosocial disturbances, which can develop a
      permanent character, were observed, particularly within the first 12 months after
      the operation. Depressive moods were noticed quite frequently. The age of the
      patients proved to be a decisive prognostic factor.

PMID- 1436362
TI  - [Legal evaluation of intervertebral disk surgery including post-discotomy
      syndrome].
AB  - Although lumbar disc surgery (discectomy) definitely improves the overall
      situation of the patient in most cases, it does create problems of a hitherto
      absent kund in about 6% of the patients. Expertising of uncomplicated cases
      should not be too difficult. However, modulated by individual disposition, a
      syndrome may develop known as "failed back surgery syndrome" caused by
      intersegmental loosening, crumbling or fusing and scarification. The pain it
      causes is decisive for its assessment, not so much any motor or other
      neurological deficits. In mild cases the loss in capacity for gainful employment
      may be assessed at between 20% to at the most 30%, but the severely handicapped
      are unable to cope with their daily life without assistance, their incapacitation
      amounting to as much as 100%. If the patient concerned is on a job that places
      stress on this spine, he may be unfit for work even if the affliction is
      relatively mild.

PMID- 1436363
TI  - Clinical features of intradural neurinomas in the cauda equina and around the
      conus medullaris.
AB  - In this contribution the clinical features of eleven patients suffering from a
      neurinoma in the cauda equina and around the conus medullaris are analysed.
      Because of the relative mobility of the roots and the wide space in the spinal
      canal, tumours arising in the cauda equina or around the conus medullaris can
      become larger than any other spinal tumours. Lumbago was the predominant symptom
      as the initial complaint. Nocturnal pain relieved by walking was noticed in one
      patient. Two cases showed spontaneous remission and relapse. Multiple tumours
      were found in 6 cases (55%). Macroscopic cyst formation was found in 5 cases
      (45%). Among the eleven patients, total removal of the tumour, including the
      involved root, was performed in ten. The numbers of the resected nerve roots were
      one root in 6 cases, two roots in 2, and three roots in 2. Only one patient
      showed postoperative slight weakness of the leg.

PMID- 1436364
TI  - Management of missile wounds of the cerebral dura mater: experience with 69
      cases.
AB  - Over the period of seven months: from July 1991 to January 1992 sixty-nine
      patients with penetrating head war-injuries, were admitted in our hospital.
      Missile wounds of the dura mater require in most cases urgent operative
      management: watertight closure of the dura defects. However, a dilemma still
      exists as to the best material to be used to restore the missile dural defects.
      There are several possibilities: an autologous substitute as periosteum
      (pericranium) from surrounding, fascia of the temporalis muscle, fascia lata, or
      allograft transplant as lyophilised cerebral dura mater (lyodura). In the group
      of 69 patients, 7 were treated conservatively, 13 were treated surgically, but
      without closing the dural wounds because of their critical condition, and in 45
      surgically treated patients the dural defects were covered with 53 transplants:
      with periosteum in 22 patients but 24 coverings, with fascia of temporalis muscle
      in 2 patients, with lyodura in 6 patients, with fascia lata in 15 patients but 21
      coverings. In 4 patients the dura wounds were sutured by interrupted sutures. The
      best results were obtained in the fascia lata group.

PMID- 1436366
TI  - [Intracerebral metastasis of a bronchial carcinoid tumor].
AB  - The authors report on a female patient of 45 years of age suffering from multiple
      intracerebral metastases of a bronchial carcinoid. Neurologically, intermittent
      short-term disturbances of word finding were noticeable. Multiple cerebral foci
      surrounded by pronounced concomitant oedemas were seen in MR and CT with
      inhomogeneous contrasts. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically by treatment
      concepts besides radiotherapy (1, 15, 17) are: intravenous administration of
      cisplatinum (14), interferon (16) and cyproheptadine (9). The treatment course
      adopted by the authors is based on an aetiopathogenetic approach, using
      somatostatin analogues. In the case under report, the somatostatin analogue SMS
      201-995 (Sandostatin Sandoz) was applied in doses of 3 x 100 micrograms for a
      period of eight weeks, in short-term combination with daily doses of methyl
      prednisolone 40 mg (Urbason Hochst). With this treatment course the patient
      became free from complaints. No increased growth of the cerebral foci of
      infection could be observed neuroradiologically during the follow-up period of up
      to now six months.

PMID- 1436365
TI  - Unique complications of cerebrospinal fluid shunts in children--a report of two
      cases.
AB  - The authors report on two cases with unusual CSF shunt complications. The first
      case had a peritoneal catheter which migrated down a patent processus vaginalis
      into a hydrocoele. The second case had an atrial catheter which perforated the
      atrial wall and came to lie in the pericardium causing an effusion. Clinicians
      should be aware of the frequent and occasionally bizarre complications of CSF
      shunting.

PMID- 1436367
TI  - Cervical intramedullary sarcoidosis.
AB  - Spinal cord involvement by sarcoid is quite rare. Only fourteen cases of
      histologically proven sarcoid without meningeal infiltration have been reported.
      We present the first CT scan description and the second description of the
      findings on MR imaging of intramedullary sarcoidosis. We also report successful
      surgical intervention in this case. In a review of surgical reports, we could
      find only 2 cases of improvement in symptoms after surgical intervention.
      Additionally, we stress the importance of early diagnosis using the various
      neuroradiological methods described. We feel that if surgery is performed at an
      early stage, it may be possible to obtain successful resection of the mass and a
      good clinical outcome.

PMID- 1436368
TI  - Recurrence of brain abscess associated with asymptomatic arteriovenous
      malformation of the lung.
AB  - On the basis of the data provided by literature the majority of patients with an
      arteriovenous malformation of the lung who develop a brain abscess suffer from
      hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, or Rendu-Osler-Weber disease. Only nine
      cases of brain abscesses in which the arteriovenous malformation of the lung was
      isolated have been described and in all of these, clinical signs and/or
      alterations in the laboratory data were detected which can be attributed to the
      arteriovenous malformation itself. The case taken in this article would seem to
      be the first case of a recurrent brain abscess in a patient not suffering from
      Rendu-Osler-Weber with a completely asymptomatic arteriovenous malformation of
      the lung, both from the clinical point of view and from laboratory data. The
      authors stress the appropriacy of an angiographic pulmonary study in cases of
      recurrent brain abscesses, even where the chest X-ray has been negative.

PMID- 1436369
TI  - A giant hyperostosing meningioma in a child.
AB  - A case of 15-year-old boy with a giant hyperostotic meningioma is presented. The
      patient had a huge prominence at the posterior parietal region. The CT scan
      showed a giant intracranial tumor in the left parieto-occipital region under the
      hyperostotic bone. The tumor and hyperostotic bone were totally resected with the
      involved portion of the sagittal sinus. Histological study revealed a meningioma.
      The presence of such a huge hyperostosis and some peculiarities of childhood
      meningiomas are discussed.

PMID- 1436370
TI  - Vasectomy modulates the local effect of intratesticular opioids on the gonad of
      immature rats.
AB  - Previous studies indicate that 7 days after testicular administration of
      naloxone, serum testosterone (T) concentration and basal T secretion in vitro
      decrease significantly. In neonatal rats, short-term (2 h) intratesticular
      treatment with 0.3 micrograms (D-Met2-Pro5)-enkephalinamide suppresses
      steroidogenesis. In the present study, testicular treatment with naloxone or
      enkephalinamide was combined with hemivasectomy (which also includes transection
      of the inferior spermatic nerve). When local treatment with naloxone was combined
      with vasectomy in 15-day-old rats, the opioid antagonist-induced increase in
      testicular weight, the decrease in basal T secretion of the treated gonad and the
      drop in serum T level could not be observed 7 days postsurgery, despite the fact
      that in immature rats, hemivasectomy, by itself, also reduces steroid secretion.
      Similarly, in 5-day-old animals, the short-term (2 h) effect of testicular
      enkephalinamide on T secretion was prevented by vasectomy. These data suggest
      that local testicular actions exerted by endogenous opioid peptides might be
      modulated by the inferior spermatic nerve.

PMID- 1436371
TI  - Development of pituitary pro-opiomelanocortin gene and peptide expression:
      characterization and effect of repeated intermittent maternal isolation.
AB  - The dynamics of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) biosynthesis in the adult rat are
      altered by demands imposed on the system, such that acute stress increases in the
      efficiency of anterior pituitary (AP) posttranslational events, while repeated
      stress increases pretranslational events. In contrast, the developing animal has
      a limited adrenocortical response to acute stress during the first 2 weeks of
      life (stress nonresponsive period). In this study, we investigated how the
      maturing AP and intermediate lobe (IL) POMC cells respond to repeated demand.
      Measurements of AP and IL POMC mRNA and POMC peptides were performed using
      Northern gels and radioimmunoassay, respectively. Plasma ACTH and corticosterone
      measurements were also performed. Maternal isolation, for 1 h on 3 consecutive
      days, was used as a repeated stress stimulus. The developing AP and IL exhibit an
      age-related increase in POMC mRNA and peptide levels. On the other hand, AP and
      IL do not respond to repeated intermittent maternal isolation during the first 2
      weeks of life. However, a significant corticosterone release is seen in the 14
      and 21-day-old animals. A change in POMC mRNA level is only detected in the 21
      day-old AP where levels decrease. Therefore, an adrenocortical response to
      repeated intermittent maternal isolation predates the appearance of
      glucocorticoid inhibition of POMC expression in the 21-day-old animal. We propose
      that an immature neuronal inhibitory circuit during the 3rd week of life causes a
      sustained corticosteroid response which may in turn trigger AP-delayed feedback.

PMID- 1436372
TI  - Effect of growth retardation on pituitary luteinizing hormone and hypothalamic
      neuropeptide Y in ovariectomized sheep.
AB  - The possible role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in mediating the relationship between
      pituitary LH secretion and growth retardation due to restricted feeding was
      examined in ovariectomized (OVX) prepubertal ewe lambs. One specific objective
      examined whether there was an inverse relationship between concentrations of NPY
      in four diencephalic brain regions and pituitary LH secretion in ewe lambs 29-30
      weeks old which had been growth retarded since 8 weeks and OVX at 24 weeks.
      Through dietary restriction, body weight was held constant at 20.7 +/- 0.5 kg in
      13 growth-retarded ewes as compared with 48.0 +/- 0.6 kg for 5 age-matched
      control ewes at 29-30 weeks of age. Episodic LH was quantified at 10-min
      intervals for 190 min/day on 3 of the 8 days immediately before euthanasia. Serum
      LH averaged 6.5 +/- 0.6 ng/ml in control ewes with a mean pulse frequency of 1.0
      +/- 0.1 pulses/h. Serum LH in growth-retarded ewes was much less episodic (0.2 +/
      0.05 pulses/h) and averaged only 1.2 +/- 0.2 ng/ml. All ewes were euthanized
      during week 30, and the following brain regions were dissected: basal forebrain,
      preoptic area, median eminence and remainder of hypothalamus. Following
      extraction, NPY concentrations (pg/mg of original tissue) were quantified by
      radioimmunoassay. In each brain region, NPY concentrations were greater (p <
      0.05) in 6 growth-retarded ewes than in 5 control ewes (median eminence: 5.2 vs.
      0.6; remainder of hypothalamus: 3.3 vs. 0.8; preoptic area: 3.1 vs. 0.8, and
      basal forebrain: 2.2 vs. 1.2). A secondary objective examined whether the LH and
      NPY parameters were rapidly altered by transient changes in feed
      consumption.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1436373
TI  - Effect of starvation and subsequent refeeding on thyroid function and release of
      hypothalamic thyrotropin-releasing hormone.
AB  - Effects of starvation on thyroid function were studied in 5- to 6-week-old (R x
      U) F1 rats. Starvation lowered plasma TSH in female, but not in male rats. Plasma
      T4 and T3 levels decreased, whereas the dialysable T4 fraction increased during
      starvation. Free T4 (FT4) levels decreased rapidly in females, but only after
      prolonged fasting in male rats. Glucose decreased, and free fatty acid levels
      increased during starvation. Peripheral TRH levels did not change during food
      deprivation. Since effects of starvation were most apparent in young female rats,
      such rats were used to study hypothalamic TRH release during starvation and
      subsequent refeeding. Basal in vitro hypothalamic TRH secretion was less in
      starved rats than in control or refed animals. In vitro hypothalamic TRH release
      in medium with 56 mM KCl increased 3-fold compared to basal release, and in these
      depolarization conditions TRH release was similar between hypothalami from
      control, starved and refed rats. In rats starved for 2 days, TRH level in
      hypophysial portal blood was lower than that of controls. Thus, diminished
      thyroid function during starvation may at least in part be caused by a reduced
      hypothalamic TRH release.

PMID- 1436374
TI  - Melatonin treatment delays reproductive aging of female rat via the opiatergic
      system.
AB  - In female rat age-related reproductive decline is accompanied by progressive
      impairment of the neuroendocrine mechanisms that regulate LH secretion. The
      biosynthetic activity of the pineal gland is markedly depressed and the nocturnal
      secretion of melatonin decreases significantly. The aim of the present study was
      to evaluate whether the nocturnal administration of melatonin via the drinking
      water (0.4 micrograms/ml) throughout the course of aging from 14 to 24 months of
      age could (1) influence the age-related changes that occur in basal serum levels
      of LH and in the LH response to GnRH or to naloxone stimulation at 16, 18 and 20
      months of age, and (2) delay the onset of the postreproductive constant estrous
      anovulatory state as evaluated by the daily recording of vaginal smears and by
      occurrence of polyfollicular ovaries at 24 months of age. Our results demonstrate
      that melatonin replacement delays the increase in LH serum levels and the
      decrease in LH response to GnRH that occur in 18-month-old control animals.
      Furthermore, they show that melatonin treatment prevents the loss of LH response
      to naloxone manifested in control rats between 16 and 20 months of age. Melatonin
      also appears to prevent the progressive increase in the monthly occurrence of
      estrus phases as well as to decrease the number of rats with polyfollicular
      ovaries at 24 months of age in comparison to control animals. These results
      suggest that the age-related decrease in circulating melatonin during the night
      may contribute to the reproductive decline of aging, and that this effect may
      involve the central opioid system.

PMID- 1436375
TI  - Effect of serotonin 5-HT1, 5-HT2, and 5-HT3 receptor antagonists on the prolactin
      response to restraint and ether stress.
AB  - Serotonin (5-HT) appears to be involved in the central control of the prolactin
      (PRL) response to suckling and estrogen. Furthermore, 5-HT may participate in the
      mediation of stress-induced PRL release. In order further to elucidate the role
      of 5-HT and the type of 5-HT receptor(s) involved in the PRL response to stress,
      we investigated the effect of blockade of 5-HT1, 5-HT2 or 5-HT3 receptors on the
      restraint or ether stress-induced release of PRL in male rats. Pretreatment with
      the 5-HT1 + 2 receptor antagonist methysergide (0.5 or 2.5 mg/kg i.p.) inhibited
      or prevented the PRL response to restraint or ether stress. Pretreatment with the
      5-HT2 receptor antagonists ketanserin or LY 53857 (0.5 or 2.5 mg/kg i.p.)
      inhibited the response to restraint or ether stress approximately 30 or 60%,
      respectively. Higher doses of both 5-HT2 receptor antagonists (10 mg/kg i.p.) had
      a minor inhibitory effect (5-30% for ketanserin and 50% for LY 53857). Prior
      intraperitoneal administration of the 5-HT3 receptor antagonists ICS 205-930 or
      GR 38032F (0.05-2.5 mg/kg i.p.) inhibited the restraint stress-induced PRL
      release dose-dependently. Both compounds inhibited the PRL response to ether
      stress, but only the effect of GR was dose-related. The maximal inhibitory effect
      (70% inhibition of the PRL response to restraint or ether stress) was obtained
      for both compounds at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg. We conclude that serotonergic neurons
      are involved in the mediation of the stress-induced PRL release by activation of
      5-HT1, 5-HT2 as well as 5-HT3 receptors.

PMID- 1436376
TI  - Activation of central D-1 dopamine receptors stimulates oxytocin release in the
      lactating rat: evidence for involvement of the hypothalamic paraventricular and
      supraoptic nuclei.
AB  - The stimulatory effect of dopamine (DA) on the release of oxytocin (OT) in
      lactating rats is exerted at the D-1 DA receptor subtype. Because the neural loci
      mediating this effect have not been identified, the objective of the present
      studies was to test whether OT release in the lactating rat would be elevated
      after central administration of a D-1 DA receptor agonist into the third
      ventricle (3V) or directly into either the rostral paraventricular/anterior
      commissural nucleus area (PVN/ACN), the central paraventricular nucleus area, or
      the supraoptic nucleus (SON), all of which contain OT neurosecretory cells.
      Lactating rats were implanted with a stainless steel cannula directed into one of
      the above areas or into the arcuate-ventromedial region of the medial basal
      hypothalamus (MBH), or sites dorsal to the PVN/ACN or SON, which served as
      anatomical controls. After 6-7 days of recovery, each animal received an intra
      atrial cannula for sequential blood sampling, and was used in experiments 24 h
      later. Animals were separated from their litters, and following a period of basal
      blood sampling, received central microinjections of either vehicle, the D-1 DA
      receptor agonist SKF-38393, or the D-2 DA receptor agonist quinpirole, and blood
      samples were removed periodically for 60 min. An injection of angiotensin II (Ang
      II, 100 ng) was made into each site as a positive control for OT
      release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1436377
TI  - Reflexive ovulation in the rat, induced by caesarean section, is blocked by
      pelvic and/or hypogastric nerve transection.
AB  - Reflexive ovulation in the rat, induced by caesarean section performed on day 22
      of pregnancy, was blocked by prior bilateral transection of the pelvic and/or
      hypogastric nerves, which convey afferent activity from the reproductive tract.
      Tubal ova and hemorrhagic ovarian follicles were counted 24 h after bilateral
      nerve transections or sham neurectomy. Whereas the median numbers of ova and
      hemorrhagic follicles in the sham neurectomy group were 4.5 and 3.5,
      respectively, these values in each of the neurectomy groups were 0. The present
      findings indicate that caesarean section activates the pelvic and hypogastric
      nerves to trigger ovulation. This suggests that normally the rat is a spontaneous
      ovulator during the estrous cycle (nonpregnancy) phase of its reproductive cycle,
      and may become a reflexive ovulator at the parturient phase of its reproductive
      cycle.

PMID- 1436378
TI  - Phenoxybenzamine selectively and irreversibly inactivates dopaminergic D2
      receptors on primary cultured rat lactotrophs.
AB  - Lactotrophs have several different kinds of receptors, such as dopaminergic D2,
      somatostatin, angiotensin II and thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptors, which
      stimulate or inhibit prolactin release. We have studied the specificity of
      phenoxybenzamine on receptors in lactotrophs. Phenoxybenzamine is a beta
      haloalkylamine which alkylates chemically active radicals such as hydroxy,
      sulfhydryl, and amino groups. This alkylation is an irreversible chemical
      reaction in contrast to the receptor-secretagogue complex which is present in a
      state of dynamic equilibrium. Primary cultured rat adenohypophyseal cells were
      used in this study. A dose-response relationship was examined between
      concentrations of phenoxybenzamine pretreatment and prolactin release using a
      monolayer cell culture system. The inhibitory action of dopamine (10 mumol/l) on
      the control group (13.0 +/- 0.1 ng/ml or 86% inhibition relative to the control)
      was significantly higher than on the 0.1-mumol/l phenoxybenzamine-pretreated
      group (39.0 +/- 0.2 ng/ml or 58% inhibition relative to the control), but the
      stimulatory effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on prolactin release was not
      significantly affected up to a 10-mumol/l phenoxybenzamine pretreatment as
      compared with the control group. We thus selected a phenoxybenzamine
      concentration of 0.1 mumol/l for the next series of perifusion experiments in
      order to examine dynamic changes in prolactin release. The basal prolactin
      release was decreased to almost half by phenoxybenzamine pretreatment. The
      inhibitory action of dopamine (0.1 mumol/l containing 0.1 mmol/l ascorbic acid)
      was significantly less in the phenoxybenzamine-pretreated group (68% of the basal
      prolactin concentration) than in the control group (31% of the basal
      concentration).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1436379
TI  - High concentrations of dopamine and epinephrine protect dopaminergic D2 receptors
      from inactivation by phenoxybenzamine on primary cultured rat lactotrophs.
AB  - The effect of a high concentration of catecholamines on phenoxybenzamine
      pretreatment was examined. The efficacy of the pretreatments was monitored by
      testing the inhibitory action of dopamine on prolactin release. Phenoxybenzamine
      is a beta-haloalkylamine which alkylates and irreversibly inactivates adrenergic
      alpha-receptors in smooth muscle. Dopaminergic D2 receptors share several common
      characteristics with the alpha-receptors. Primary cultured male rat pituitary
      cells were used. After phenoxybenzamine (0.1 mumol/l) pretreatment, the
      inhibitory action of dopamine on prolactin release was significantly reduced in a
      perifusion system. When the cells were pretreated with phenoxybenzamine in medium
      containing 0.1 or 1 mmol/l dopamine, the 0.1-mmol/l dopamine did not change the
      effect of phenoxybenzamine on inactivation of the receptors, but the 1-mmol/l
      dopamine eliminated the effect of phenoxybenzamine pretreatment. These
      observations were confirmed with a static monolayer culture system. The
      observations illustrate that a high concentration of dopamine forms a D2 receptor
      dopamine complex and protects the D2 from inactivation by phenoxybenzamine. When
      the cells were pretreated with 0.1 mumol/l phenoxybenzamine in a medium
      containing 1 mmol/l epinephrine, the effect of the phenoxybenzamine was also
      eliminated, suggesting that a sufficient amount of D2 receptor-epinephrine
      complex was formed to protect the receptor from inactivation. The hormone release
      in response to a secretagogue depends on its affinity and intrinsic activity. It
      is, therefore, suggested that the intrinsic activity of epinephrine is much lower
      than that of dopamine on prolactin release, since the D2 receptor-epinephrine
      complex is as stable as the D2 receptor-dopamine complex, and the inhibitory
      action of epinephrine on prolactin release is less than 10% of that of
      dopamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1436380
TI  - Effect of insulin on LHRH release by perifused hypothalamic fragments.
AB  - Insulin-deficient states are associated with an impaired function of the
      hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, but the mechanisms underlying hypothalamic
      alterations in experimental diabetes are still unknown. We investigated the
      effect of glucose concentrations, in the presence and absence of insulin, on LHRH
      release from perifused hypothalamic fragments from female adult ovariectomized
      rats. Glucose and insulin were added to the perifusion medium (Earle's, pH 7.4,
      gassed with 95% O2/5% CO2, flow rate 50 microliters/min). When glucose was absent
      (in the presence of insulin 10 mU/l), LHRH release was reduced, peak levels being
      < 5 pg/100 microliters. The addition of glucose (100 and 300 mg/dl), in the
      absence of insulin, resulted in peak LHRH levels fluctuating around 35 pg/100
      microliters (p < 0.05 vs. glucose 0 mg/dl). When glucose (100 or 300 mg/dl) and
      insulin (10 mU/l) were combined, an eightfold increase in peak LHRH values was
      observed, and peak levels reached 300 pg/100 microliters (p < 0.05 vs. glucose
      100 and 300 mg/dl alone). In conclusion, LHRH release by perifused hypothalamic
      fragments is dramatically increased by low concentrations of insulin; this occurs
      only when glucose is available. Acutely elevated glucose levels (from 100 to 300
      mg/dl) do not affect LHRH release.

PMID- 1436381
TI  - Distribution of beta-endorphin immunoreactivity in the arcuate nucleus and median
      eminence of postpartum anestrus and luteal phase cows.
AB  - Deficiency in the secretion of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) from
      the median eminence (ME) is one of the factors limiting reinitiation of estrous
      cycles following parturition in cows. In previous studies, administration of
      naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, to postpartum cows increased LH
      secretion, suggesting that endogenous opioids inhibit the secretion of LHRH. This
      study employs quantitative light microscopy to describe morphological changes in
      the distribution of immunoreactive beta-endorphin (ir-beta-END) neurons in the
      hypothalamus of anestrous early postpartum (EPP, days 10-16, n = 5),
      midpostpartum (MPP, days 33-43, n = 4) and multiparous cycling cows (CYC, months
      12-14, n = 4). Cryostat sections (60 microns) of perfusion-fixed ventral
      diencephalon and forebrain were immunostained with anti-beta-END serum via the
      biotin-avidin-peroxidase method or double stained sequentially with anti-LHRH
      serum, then anti-beta-END serum. In all cows, beta-END immunoreactive perikarya,
      mostly bipolar neurons, were located in the arcuate and periarcuate nucleus
      (ARC), with some perikarya in the ME. Within the ARC, the percentage area
      immunostained for ir-beta-END was greater (p < 0.01) for the CYC than EPP cows,
      with MPP intermediate but not significantly different from the other groups.
      Consistent for all cows, the percentage area of ir-beta-END in ventral ARC
      regions was greater (p < 0.05) than dorsal ARC regions. Fibers from these neurons
      coursed into the anterior hypothalamus, preoptic area and bed nucleus of stria
      terminalis. Ventrally projecting fibers entered the ME forming a densely staining
      band within the external layer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1436382
TI  - Involvement of excitatory amino acid mechanisms in gamma-hydroxybutyrate model of
      generalized absence seizures in rats.
AB  - gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), a naturally occurring compound which is
      synthesized from gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), induces bilaterally synchronous
      spike wave discharges, associated with behavioral changes, reminiscent of petit
      mal or generalized absence seizures in rats. In the present study, possible
      involvement of excitatory amino acids (EAAs) in GHB-induced spike wave discharges
      was investigated. The noncompetitive antagonist of NMDA receptors, MK-801,
      attenuated GHB-induced spike wave discharges at all doses tested (0.025-1.0
      mg/kg) but dose-dependently induced suppression of EEG bursts in GHB-treated
      animals. The suppression of bursts was never observed with GHB in control
      experiments. N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) had a similar effect on GHB-induced
      spike wave discharges, when it was administered prior to GHB. This effect of NMDA
      was partially reversed by MK-801. The competitive antagonists of NMDA receptors,
      (+/-)CPP and CGP 43487 and the antagonist at the strychnine-insensitive glycine
      site, HA-966, also suppressed GHB-induced spike wave discharges with the EEG
      progressing to suppression of bursts but were weaker in this regard than MK-801
      or NMDA. These data raise the possibility of involvement of excitatory amino
      acids in the GHB model of absence seizures.

PMID- 1436383
TI  - Antiparkinsonian drugs memantine and trihexyphenidyl potentiate the
      anticonvulsant activity of valproate against maximal electroshock-induced
      seizures.
AB  - Memantine increased the threshold for electroconvulsions, when administered at
      1.0-6.0 mg/kg (i.p.) and given in subthreshold doses of 0.0156, 0.0625, 0.125 and
      0.5 mg/kg (i.p.) potentiated the protective efficacy of valproate, against
      maximal electroshock (50 mA)-induced seizures in mice, lowering the ED50 from 235
      to 197, 172, 164 and 130 mg/kg, respectively. Trihexyphenidyl, applied in doses
      of 30 and 50 mg/kg (i.p.), did not influence the electroconvulsive threshold per
      se but when combined with valproate, strongly enhanced its anticonvulsant
      activity against maximal electroshock-induced seizures lowering the ED50 from 206
      to 103 and 46 mg/kg, respectively. The chimney test and retention testing in mice
      revealed that administration of memantine at 0.5 mg/kg (i.p.) or trihexyphenidyl
      at 30 mg/kg (i.p.) together with valproate in doses of 130 or 103 mg/kg (i.p.),
      respectively, resulted in motor impairment and caused impairment of long-term
      memory, similar to the effects of valproate alone, when applied at its ED50
      against maximal electroshock. Neither memantine nor trihexyphenidyl altered the
      total level of valproate in plasma. It may be concluded that the potentiation of
      the anticonvulsant activity of valproate, by memantine and trihexyphenidyl, is
      not associated with a pharmacokinetic interaction.

PMID- 1436384
TI  - Protection against amphetamine-induced neurotoxicity toward striatal dopamine
      neurons in rodents by LY274614, an excitatory amino acid antagonist.
AB  - LY274614, 3SR,4aRS,6SR,8aRS-6-[phosphonomethyl]decahydr oisoquinoline-3-
      carboxylic acid, has been described as a potent antagonist of the N-methyl-D
      aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptor. Here its ability to antagonize
      the prolonged depletion of dopamine in the striatum by amphetamine in iprindole
      treated rats is reported. A single 18.4 mg/kg (i.p.) dose of (+/-)-amphetamine
      hemisulfate, given to rats pretreated with iprindole, resulted in persistent
      depletion of dopamine in the striatum 1 week later. This prolonged depletion of
      dopamine in the striatum was antagonized by dizocilpine (MK-801, a non
      competitive antagonist of NMDA receptors) or by LY274614 (a competitive
      antagonist of NMDA receptors). The protective effect of LY274614 was dose
      dependent, being maximum at 10-40 mgkg (i.p.). A 10 mg/kg dose of LY274614 was
      effective in antagonizing the depletion of dopamine in the striatum, when given
      as long as 8 hr prior to amphetamine but not when given 24 hr prior to
      amphetamine. Depletion of dopamine in the striatum was also antagonized when
      LY274614 was given after the injection of amphetamine; LY274614 protected when
      given up to 4 hr after but not when given 8 or 24 hr after amphetamine. The
      prolonged depletion of dopamine in the striatum in mice, given multiple
      injections of methamphetamine, was also antagonized dose-dependently and
      completely by LY274614. The data strengthen the evidence that the neurotoxic
      effect of amphetamine and related compounds toward nigrostriatal dopamine neurons
      involves NMDA receptors and that LY274614 is an NMDA receptor antagonist with
      long-lasting in vivo effects in rats.

PMID- 1436385
TI  - Phencyclidine-induced desensitization of striatal dopamine release.
AB  - Increased release of dopamine (DA) and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) from
      slices of striatum of DBA/2J mouse in response to administration of phencyclidine
      (PCP) in vitro has been observed to be transient, despite continued exposure to
      PCP. To determine whether this transient response was a result of depletion of
      releasable pools, toxicity or an adaptive response (desensitization), the
      recovery of the response to PCP was evaluated. Slices in the control condition
      were exposed to PCP (300 microM) during test-exposure only. Slices in the PCP pre
      exposure condition, were exposed first to PCP (30 microM; pre-exposure) and
      subsequently to PCP (300 microM; test-exposure). During a washout period (0, 30,
      60 or 120 min) between exposures to PCP, the slices were superfused in the
      absence of PCP. Pre-exposure to PCP diminished the subsequent response to test
      exposure to PCP (49 and 37% of control for DA and DOPAC, respectively) after 0
      min washout. Overflow of DA evoked by PCP returned towards control values but
      remained decreased (66% of control) after up to 120 min washout. However,
      overflow of DOPAC did not return to control values after 60 min washout. Thus,
      the diminished dopaminergic response, resulting from continued exposure to PCP
      was not due to depletion of the releasable pool or cytotoxicity but rather to a
      dynamic adaptive response of the dopaminergic neuron to PCP.

PMID- 1436386
TI  - Phencyclidine and auditory sensory gating in the hippocampus of the rat.
AB  - The psychotomimetic drug 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) piperidine (PCP, phencyclidine)
      was found to cause a deficit in the gating of the response of the hippocampal
      neuron to repeated auditory stimuli, which is similar to a particular
      physiological feature observed in human psychosis. Other drugs, with sigma
      agonist and/or N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist effects, were administered
      and their ability to cause a loss of auditory gating was compared to that of PCP.
      The rank order of effectiveness was levoxodrol > PCP and (+)-5-methyl-10,11
      dihydro-5H-dibenzo(a,d)cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801) > N
      allylnormetazocine (SKF 10047) > dexoxodrol > 3-(+/-)2-carboxypiperazine-4-yl)
      propyl-1-phosphonate (CPP). Further studies of two of the drugs, PCP and MK-801,
      showed that selective lesioning of the noradrenergic input with the neurotoxin
      DSP4, as well as less selective depletion of monoamines with reserpine, blocked
      the loss of gating. Phencyclidine, and other drugs with the same spectrum of
      action, most likely disrupt gating by increasing noradrenergic activity through a
      sigma mechanism.

PMID- 1436387
TI  - Effects of halothane on membrane potential and discharge activity in pairs of
      bulbar respiratory neurons of decerebrate cats.
AB  - In aiming to test the possibility of synaptic interactions, the effect of
      inhalation of halothane (2% for 90 sec) was studied on 45 out of 88 pairs of
      respiratory neurons, simultaneously recorded with intracellular and extracellular
      microelectrodes, in both sides of the ventral respiratory group of decerebrate
      cats. Halothane produced various effects on these respiratory neurons; namely,
      depolarization (n = 30) or hyperpolarization (n = 15) of intracellularly recorded
      neurons, an increase (n = 7) or decrease (n = 38) in the firing of
      extracellularly recorded neurons. However, with repeated application, the agent
      produced a consistent effect in a given cell. Spike-triggered averaging of
      synaptic noise, using spikes of non-antidromically-activated respiratory units,
      did not reveal any unitary postsynaptic potential but a symmetric synaptic wave
      of medium-frequency-oscillation (35-50 Hz) in 7 pairs. In addition, power
      spectral analysis of the membrane potential and spike-interval histogram of the
      paired neuron, displayed no correlated activity suggestive of synaptic
      interactions. For all the neuronal pairs examined, halothane produced random
      effects on their patterns of firing and synaptic waves. The present results
      suggest that halothane exerts a selective effect on each respiratory neuron and
      that the lack of a correlated response to application of halothane reflects the
      lack of synaptic interaction between pairs of bilaterally sampled neurons of the
      ventral respiratory group.

PMID- 1436388
TI  - The pharmacological properties of CS-722, a newly synthesized centrally acting
      muscle relaxant.
AB  - The pharmacological properties of (R)-4-chloro-2-(2-hydroxy-3-morpholinopropyl)-5
      phenyl-4-isoxaz olin-3-one hydrochloride (CS-722), a newly synthesized, centrally
      acting muscle relaxant, were studied in rats. The drug CS-722 reduced the radio
      frequency decerebrate rigidity in a dose-dependent manner (25-100 mg/kg, p.o.);
      it inhibited the increase in discharges from Ia afferent fibers, gamma-motor
      activity, which was induced by stimulation of the reticular formation. The
      compound, however, showed no effect on the basal discharge of Ia afferent fibers.
      The polysynaptic reflex was depressed by CS-722, with less influence on the
      monosynaptic reflex in intact and spinal preparations and CS-722 did not prolong
      thiopental-induced sleeping time. In rats anesthetized with halothane, CS-722 did
      not affect the electroencephalogram (EEG) arousal response, which was elicited by
      stimulation of the reticular formation. The results of this study suggest that CS
      722 can exert a muscle relaxant action, at a dose range at which depression of
      the ascending reticular activating system was negligible. The results also
      suggest that depressions of the gamma-motor system and the polysynaptic reflex
      may contribute to the muscle relaxant action of CS-722.

PMID- 1436389
TI  - Characterization of the transcallosal response in aged rats and its
      susceptibility to nootropic drugs.
AB  - The transcallosal response in aged rats was recorded and its susceptibility to
      certain nootropic drugs was compared with adult animals, under urethane
      anesthesia. The transcallosal response in 24-month old rats was significantly
      reduced in the amplitude of both positive and negative waves, as compared with 5
      month old animals. In adult rats, intravenous administration of 100 mg/kg of
      calcium hopantenate augmented the amplitude of both the positive and the negative
      waves. Intraperitoneal administration of 300 mg/kg of calcium hopantenate or 10
      100 mg/kg of aniracetam increased the amplitude of the negative wave by 20-30%
      above the control level but had no effect on the positive one. In aged rats,
      these drugs, given intraperitoneally, also increased the negative wave without
      affecting the positive one and the degree of augmentation was more prominent;
      both drugs increased the amplitude of the negative wave by about 190% of the
      control. These results suggest that the susceptibility to the nootropic drugs
      became even more striking in older animals, the function in the brain of which
      are reduced by the natural ageing process.

PMID- 1436390
TI  - Desensitization of 5-HT1A autoreceptors by chronic administration of 8-OH-DPAT.
AB  - The function of 5-HT1A autoreceptors was examined by measuring the ability of the
      5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT to reduce 5-HT release in the striatum using in
      vivo microdialysis. 8-OH-DPAT reduced the release of 5-HT in the striatum.
      Chronic treatment with 8-OH-DPAT (1.0 mg/kg s.c.) for 7 days, but not 1 day,
      attenuated the effect of an acute challenge dose of 8-OH-DPAT. The results of the
      present study indicate that in vivo microdialysis can be used to study the
      effects of activation of 5-HT1A autoreceptors on 5-HT release and the regulation
      of 5-HT release by chronic administration of psychoactive drugs.

PMID- 1436391
TI  - Intracerebral actions of the 5-HT1A agonists, 8-OH-DPAT and buspirone and of the
      5-HT1A partial agonist/antagonist, NAN-190, on female sexual behavior.
AB  - Proestrous rats were infused intracerebrally with 50-1000 ng 8-OH-DPAT, 500 or
      2000 ng buspirone or 125-500 ng NAN-190. For each drug, bilateral infusions into
      the mediobasal hypothalamus inhibited female lordosis behavior and proceptivity
      and initiated resistive behavior. The effects of the drugs were evident within 5
      20 min of infusion and generally lasted for 1-2 hr. The effective sites for 5
      HT1A-mediated inhibition of sexual behavior were most concentrated in the
      ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus. Cannulae sites anterior, posterior or
      dorsal to the ventromedial nucleus or clearly within the IIIrd ventricle were
      less effective at disrupting lordosis behavior. The inhibition of sexual
      behavior, following 8-OH-DPAT occurred in a dose-dependent manner and appeared to
      include the loss of motivation of the female to mate. Buspirone produced similar,
      but quantitatively smaller, effects on lordosis behavior. NAN-190 slightly, but
      significantly, suppressed lordosis behavior after either intracerebral or
      intraperitoneal injection and substantially increased resistive behavior. These
      results suggest that the inhibition of lordosis behavior, following treatment
      with 5-HT1A agonists, include an action within the ventromedial nucleus.
      Moreover, 5-HT1A receptors in this area appear to play a functionally important
      role in the modulation of the female's "willingness" to mate.

PMID- 1436393
TI  - The effects of intravenous administration of cholecystokinin on feeding behaviour
      and release of pituitary hormones in pigs are not mediated by serotonergic (5
      HT3) receptors.
AB  - Two experiments were carried out using the serotonergic (5-HT3) antagonist
      ondansetron (GR 38032F) to investigate whether the actions of peripherally
      administered cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK) in the prepubertal pig might
      involve 5-HT3 receptors. In Experiment 1, it was shown that ondansetron (10 or 30
      mg, i.v.) did not affect the initial feeding response and did not modify the
      behavioural inhibition induced by a subsequent injection of CCK (1.3
      microgram/kg, i.v.). In Experiment 2, it was demonstrated that the nauseogenic
      action of CCK, indicated by its stimulatory effect on release of vasopressin and
      cortisol, was not markedly altered by ondansetron (30 mg, i.v.). These results
      suggest that 5-HT3 receptors play a negligible part in mediating the behavioural
      and endocrine responses induced by bolus intravenous injections of CCK in this
      species.

PMID- 1436394
TI  - 4-Bromo-6-nitroquipazine: a new ligand for studying 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake
      sites in vivo.
AB  - The present study was undertaken to evaluate 2 bromo-derivatives (4-bromo-6
      nitroquipazine and 6-bromoquipazine) of quipazine as potential ligands for
      studying 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; serotonin) uptake sites in the brain in vivo.
      The inhibition experiments of [3H]5-HT uptake into synaptosomes from rat brain
      and of the binding of [3H]6-nitroquipazine to membranes of rat brain showed that
      4-bromo-6-nitroquipazine and 6-bromoquipazine were very potent and selective
      inhibitors of 5-HT uptake in vitro, very close to that of 6-nitroquipazine.
      Furthermore, 4-bromo-6-nitroquipazine was about a 2-fold more potent inhibitor of
      specific binding of [3H]6-nitroquipazine in vivo in the hypothalamus of mouse
      brain than 6-bromoquipazine. Thus, 4-bromo-6-nitroquipazine seems to be superior
      to 6-bromoquipazine, as a potential ligand for in vivo imaging of 5-HT uptake
      sites in the brain.

PMID- 1436392
TI  - Influence of repeated treatment with buspirone on central 5-hydroxytryptamine and
      dopamine synthesis.
AB  - The anxiolytic agent buspirone was administered subcutaneously twice a day for 10
      days to Sprague-Dawley rats, at a dose of 3 mg kg-1. Controls were given saline.
      On the eleventh day, the rats were given an injection of NSD-1015, an aromatic L
      amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor, 30 min before decapitation. To another group
      of rats, only one injection of buspirone was given, followed 30 min later by NSD
      1015. After a further 30 min the animals were decapitated. The brains were
      rapidly removed and the raphe nuclei, striatum, hippocampus and cerebellum were
      dissected out on to dry ice. With the use of HPLC, the four regions of the brain
      were assayed for 5-hydroxytryptophan and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, reflecting
      the synthesis of 5-HT and dopamine, respectively. In those rats which had
      received an acute dose of buspirone, the synthesis of 5-HT was substantially
      reduced in all four regions of the brain. However, in those rats which had
      received buspirone for 10 days, no such alterations in the synthesis of 5-HT were
      observed. The synthesis of dopamine was unchanged in any of the regions of the
      brain, after the acute dose of buspirone. After 10 days of treatment with
      buspirone, however, the synthesis of dopamine in the striatum was significantly
      reduced. These findings suggest that repeated treatment with buspirone reduces
      the synthesis of dopamine in the striatum but that the synthesis of 5-HT is
      unaffected.

PMID- 1436395
TI  - Effect of escalating doses of d-fenfluramine on the content of indoles in brain.
AB  - The neurochemical effects of a large dose challenge (5 mg/kg, i.p.) of d
      fenfluramine (d-F) in rats, given saline or gradually escalating doses of d-F
      (0.1-2.5 mg/kg, i.p.), were examined with regard to regional sensitivity and the
      time-course of recovery. The indole-depleting effect after the large dose of d-F
      to saline-pretreated animals appeared to differ, depending on the areas of brain
      considered (cortex greater than hippocampus greater than striatum), despite the
      fact that the drug and its main metabolite, d-norfenfluramine (d-NF) distributed
      almost uniformly in the regions of brain examined. The depletion in all these
      regions of the brain was reversible within 6 weeks, serotonin (5-HT) and 5
      hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) being back to control levels in the hippocampus
      and striatum but not 5-HT in the cortex. However, when rats were exposed to
      gradually escalating doses of d-F the recovery of indoles in the brain, after
      injection of the large dose challenge, appeared to be faster. Indoles were
      markedly less reduced 1 week later in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum, with
      content of indole in the striatum showing complete recovery and the long-term
      depletion of 5-HT and 5-HIAA, by the subsequent large dose challenge was almost
      completely reversed in all regions. Analysis of the concentrations of d-F and its
      main metabolite d-fenfluramine (d-NF) in brain excluded any pharmacokinetic
      tolerance. These results suggest that during therapeutic treatment with d-F, the
      use of escalating doses may attenuate the potential for the long-lasting decrease
      of 5-HT in brain.

PMID- 1436396
TI  - Gliotoxic actions of excitatory amino acids.
AB  - Cultures of neonatal Type I astrocytes of the rat were exposed to a series of
      excitatory amino acid analogs to identify those compounds that were gliotoxic. In
      addition to L-alpha-aminoadipate, a previously identified gliotoxin, L
      homocysteate, L-serine-O-sulfate, L-alpha-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate and L-alpha
      amino-3-phosphono-propionate were also found to induce a sequence of degenerative
      events that led to the lysis of the astrocytes. Cellular injury was assessed by
      quantifying the activity of lactate dehydrogenase present in the surviving
      astrocytes. Prior to lysis, the cells went through a succession of distinctive
      morphological changes, the most prominent of which involved nuclear alterations.
      The nuclei appeared swollen, contained "pale" or "watery" nucleoplasm and
      exhibited a very prominent nuclear membrane and obvious nucleoli. These
      astrocytes appeared quite similar in appearance to the Alzheimer's Type II
      astrocytes, principally associated with the pathology of hepatic encephalopathy.
      The nuclear anomalies, which are thought to be indicative of cellular damage and
      compromised function, were also produced by the endogenous transmitters L
      glutamate and L-aspartate, although with time, the affected astrocytes appeared
      to recover and return to normal morphology, without lyzing. These findings
      suggest that excessive levels of excitatory amino acids may induce cellular
      damage to astrocytes, as well as neurons. Once damaged, the resulting reductions
      in astrocyte function may further contribute to CNS losses and the overall
      pathology attributed to the excitatory amino acids.

PMID- 1436397
TI  - Nicotine-induced depolarization of cerebral cortical synaptosomes is dependent
      upon sodium.
AB  - Earlier studies from this laboratory demonstrated that activation of nicotinic
      cholinergic receptors of cerebral cortical synaptosomes of the rat produced a
      decrease in the accumulation of [3H]tetraphenylphosphonium ([3H]TPP+) as a result
      of a decreased synaptosomal membrane potential. In the present study, the role of
      sodium in the effect of nicotine on the accumulation of [3H]TPP+ and the
      estimated potential difference was explored. Replacement of buffer sodium with
      either sucrose or N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG), attenuated the depolarization
      produced by the sodium channel activator, veratridine and had no effect on
      potassium-induced depolarization. The effect of nicotine on accumulation of
      [3H]TPP+ into cerebral cortical synaptosomes was abolished in sucrose buffer and
      attenuated in NMDG buffer. 1,1-Dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide (DMP; 30
      microM) produced a small increase in the influx of 22Na+ into cerebral cortical
      synaptosomes. The effect of DMPP on the influx of 22 Na+ was not blocked by
      tetrodotoxin. These results support the hypothesis that the nicotinic cholinergic
      receptor in the brain, functions as a sodium ionophore and further demonstrate
      that accumulation of synaptosomal [3H]TPP+ provides a simple tool with which to
      assess the effect of nicotine on sodium permeability through open nicotinic
      cholinergic receptor ionophores.

PMID- 1436398
TI  - Involvement of cholinergic mechanisms in impairment of working memory in rats
      following basolateral amygdaloid lesions.
AB  - In order to clarify the role of the amygdala in the working and reference memory
      of rats in the three-panel runway task, the effects of lesions of subnuclei of
      the amygdaloid complex on this behavior were studied. Rats that had been trained
      preoperatively, until they achieved the criterion of learning, were subjected to
      lesions of the amygdala. In the working memory task, lesions of the basolateral
      subdivision of the amygdala caused a significant increase in the number of errors
      (attempts to pass through two incorrect panels of the three panel-gates at four
      choice points), while lesions of the corticomedial amygdala had no effect on
      working memory errors. The increase in working errors, observed in basolateral
      amygdaloid-lesioned rats, declined gradually as retraining sessions were given
      once each day, reverting to control levels on and after the sixth session. In the
      reference memory task, the number of errors was not affected by lesions of the
      basolateral or corticomedial amygdala. The increase in working memory errors,
      induced by lesions of the basolateral amygdala was significantly reduced by
      intraperitoneal administration of the inhibitors of cholinesterase,
      tetrahydroaminoacridine (0.32-1.0 mg/kg) and physostigmine (0.032-0.1 mg/kg), and
      the muscarinic receptor agonist, oxotremorine (0.1 mg/kg), before the runway
      test. These findings suggest that the basolateral amygdala is selectively
      involved in working memory but not in reference memory and that the lowering of
      central cholinergic function may account for the impairment of working memory,
      induced by lesions of the basolateral amygdala.

PMID- 1436399
TI  - Central cardiovascular effects of physostigmine in anesthetized cats.
AB  - The central cardiovascular effects of a cholinesterase inhibitor, physostigmine,
      were studied in alpha-chloralose- and urethane-anesthetized cats, to determine
      the underlying site and mechanism of action. Intravenous injection of
      physostigmine produced a dose-dependent fall in blood pressure and heart rate.
      These responses were blocked by intravenous injection of atropine; however, the
      peripheral antimuscarinic agent, methscopolamine, failed to inhibit the depressor
      response. In decerebrated cats, physostigmine elicited similar responses in blood
      pressure and heart rate as in intact animals. In spinal cats, physostigmine
      failed to evoke any response. Physostigmine significantly reduced sympathetic
      nervous activity, as measured by renal sympathetic nerve discharges, indicating
      that the fall in blood pressure was due to a decrease in sympathetic tone. These
      results demonstrate that physostigmine, which crosses the blood-brain barrier,
      produces a depressor response through stimulation of muscarinic cholinergic
      receptors, located in the medullary region and that the effect is mediated by a
      decrease in sympathetic activity.

PMID- 1436400
TI  - Electrophysiological correlates for antinociceptive effects of histamine after
      intracerebral administration to the rat.
AB  - Data have been collected indicating possible functions for histamine in brain but
      there are only a very few data, collected exclusively with behavioural tests,
      about the effects of histamine on the perception of the pain, an important aspect
      in the homeostasis of the human body. The purpose of the present study was to
      investigate the effects of histamine, injected directly into the lateral cerebral
      ventriculi on the firing of nociceptive thalamic neurones, detected by
      electrophysiological techniques in rats rendered arthritic by injection of
      Freund's adjuvant into the left hindfoot. The noxious test stimuli used were
      either extension or flexion of the ankle or mild lateral pressure on the heel.
      With increasing doses of histamine (5, 10, 20, 40 micrograms) it was possible to
      observe an increasing inhibitory and long-lasting effects of the evoked activity,
      with a significant dose-effect linear regression. The inhibitory responses,
      induced by histamine, probably by a hyperpolarization phenomenon that decreased
      excitatory postsynaptic potentials, were clues for the presence of a
      histaminergic pathway in parallel with and/or in connection with other
      adrenergic, gabaergic, serotoninergic and opioidoergic pathways that regulate the
      transmission and the modulation of algogenic electrophysiological messages.

PMID- 1436401
TI  - Mechanisms of spinal reflex depressant effects of CS-722, a newly synthesized
      centrally acting muscle relaxant, in spinal rats.
AB  - The mechanisms of the depressant action of (R)-4-chloro-2-(2-hydroxy-3
      morpholinopropyl)-5-phenyl-4-isoxaz olin-3-one hydrochloride (CS-722), a newly
      synthesized centrally acting muscle relaxant, on spinal reflexes were
      investigated in spinal rats. The drug CS-722 (50 mg/kg, i.v.) depressed the
      polysynaptic reflex but was less effective on the monosynaptic reflex. Eperisone
      HCl (10 mg/kg, i.v.) and baclofen (2 mg/kg, i.v.) markedly decreased the
      monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflexes, with longer durations than CS-722; CS
      722, eperisone and baclofen depressed the dorsal root reflex. The excitability of
      the motoneurone was reduced by CS-722 and eperisone. Excitability of the primary
      afferent fibres was reduced by CS-722, while eperisone and baclofen had no
      effect. Both CS-722 and eperisone did not have a depressant influence on the
      focal synaptic potential. These results suggest that CS-722 and eperisone but not
      baclofen, have a common motoneurone-membrane-stabilizing action and that this
      action may contribute, in part, to the spinal reflex depressant effects of CS-722
      and eperisone.

PMID- 1436402
TI  - Current bibliographies of neuropeptides prepared by the University of Sheffield
      Biomedical Information Service.

PMID- 1436403
TI  - Behavioral effects of atriopeptin in rats.
AB  - High densities of atriopeptin-immunoreactive fibers and of highly specific and
      selective atriopeptin receptor sites are present in brain areas involved in
      animal behavior. The possible influence of these peptides on behavior was thus
      investigated in adult rats. The intracerebroventricular injection of atriopeptin
      II modified male sexual behavior (reduction in mount latency) at the dose of 5
      micrograms/animal; lower and higher doses were ineffective. Open-field behavior
      was also modified by i.c.v. atriopeptin II at the doses of 5 and 10
      micrograms/rat, which induced an increase in the number of external and internal
      crossings and of external rearings. Finally, in fasted rats, atriopeptin II, at
      the dose of 10 micrograms/rat, significantly increased the amount of food intake
      30 and 60 min after injection. These findings indicate that atriopeptins may
      modify different animal behaviors.

PMID- 1436404
TI  - Neurotensin increases extracellular striatal dopamine levels in vivo.
AB  - This study employed intracranial microdialysis to assess the effects of
      neurotensin (NT) infusion on extracellular dopamine (DA) and DA metabolite
      concentrations in the rat striatum and nucleus accumbens, and the effects of NT
      on alterations in extracellular DA levels induced by cocaine and the DA D-2
      receptor agonist, quinpirole. Direct NT infusion (.10, 1.0, 10.0 microM) did not
      significantly affect extracellular DA in the nucleus accumbens, but did produce a
      significant increase in the DA metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA). In contrast,
      direct NT infusion produced an increase in striatal DA levels, without altering
      DA metabolites. Neurotensin infusion (.10 microM) into the striatum significantly
      attenuated the peak DA increase induced by an intraperitoneal (IP) injection of a
      low dose (10.0 mg/kg) but not a high dose (30.0 mg/kg) of cocaine. Neurotensin
      infusion (.10 microM) did not affect the decrease in DA and its metabolites
      induced by an IP injection of a low dose of quinpirole (.03 mg/kg), but did alter
      the decrease in HVA induced by a high dose of quinpirole (.10 mg/kg). These
      results suggest that NT differentially affects in vivo DA release in the striatum
      and nucleus accumbens, and further strengthens the assertion that NT is an
      important modulator of dopaminergic function.

PMID- 1436405
TI  - Neuropeptide Y-containing interneurons in the hippocampus receive synaptic input
      from median raphe and GABAergic septal afferents.
AB  - Neuropeptide Y has been extensively studied in the central nervous system due to
      a possible involvement of neuropeptide Y-containing neurons in cognitive
      functions. In the hippocampus neuropeptide Y is present in a subpopulation of
      nonpyramidal cells, which control the firing of hippocampal output neurons. In
      the present study we examined whether septohippocampal and raphe-hippocampal
      afferents--known to have a powerful effect on hippocampal electrical activity
      patterns--innervate neuropeptide Y-containing neurons in the hippocampal
      formation of the rat. Using a combination of pre- and postembedding
      immunostaining and tracing with Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHAL) we
      showed that GABAergic afferents arising from the medial septal area extensively
      innervate neuropeptide Y-containing neurons. Afferents of median raphe origin,
      most of which are thought to be serotonergic, were also found to make multiple
      synaptic contacts with these cells. Thus, the neuropeptide Y-containing
      subpopulation of interneurons--which innervate distal dendrites of principal
      cells--are also among those through which different subcortical nuclei modulate
      information processing in the hippocampal formation.

PMID- 1436406
TI  - Microsurgical removal of petroclival meningiomas: a report of 33 patients.
AB  - This is a report of 33 consecutive cases of petroclival meningioma treated
      surgically at our institution over the last 10 years; there were 21 women and 12
      men between the ages of 27 and 68 (mean age, 52). All patients were assessed by
      computed tomographic scans including coronal sections and bone algorithm studies;
      in most cases, digital subtraction angiography and magnetic resonance imaging
      were also done. The largest tumor diameter was between 2 and 3.5 cm in 14 cases,
      3.5 to 6 cm in 15 cases, and over 6 cm in 4 cases. Dural attachment predominantly
      involved the clivus and apical petrous bone on one side only; in 14 cases,
      however, the tumor grew over the clivus midline or crossed the tentorial notch.
      Cranial nerve deficit was extant in all cases and was commensurate with tumor
      size. Cerebellar signs and somatic motor deficits were present in 60 and 30% of
      cases, respectively. The surgical approaches used were the retromastoid
      retrosigmoid in 23 cases, subtemporal in 5 cases, and combined retromastoid
      subtemporal presigmoid in the remaining 5. Total removal was achieved in 26 cases
      (79%); incomplete removal occurred in 7 cases (21%). The extent of tumor removal
      and operative morbidity were not significantly related to tumor size. Brain stem
      indentation, arterial and cranial nerve encasement, and epidural invasion were
      the main factors that prevented total tumor removal and influenced operative
      morbidity. There was no intraoperative mortality, but three patients (9%) died
      perioperatively. In the postoperative period, most patients went through
      momentary neurological deterioration, chiefly due to new cranial nerve deficits.
      The average follow-up was 4.3 years in 27 patients; of these 17 were unchanged
      and 10 were improved. Before surgery, only 13 patients were self-sufficient; at
      long-term follow-up, another 6 had achieved independence. Our experience suggests
      that, even though real petroclival meningiomas still represent a formidable
      surgical challenge, such tumors can in most cases be removed completely with low
      attendant mortality and acceptable morbidity.

PMID- 1436407
TI  - Tumor control after stereotactic radiosurgery in neurofibromatosis patients with
      bilateral acoustic tumors.
AB  - During a 4-year interval, 17 patients with bilateral acoustic tumors (vestibular
      schwannomas) underwent unilateral stereotactic radiosurgery using a multisource
      gamma unit; 2 patients underwent radiosurgery of both tumors in separate
      sessions. Eleven patients with unoperated contralateral tumors served as
      concurrent controls to compare the effects of radiosurgery with the natural
      history of acoustic tumors. After radiosurgery, the tumor control and regression
      rates were 89.5 and 21.1%, respectively (median neuroimaging follow-up, 1.4
      years; range, 0.3-3.9). The tumor regression rate increased to 40% for patients
      evaluated at least 12 months after radiosurgery. In comparison to the unoperated
      contralateral tumors, stereotactic radiosurgery achieved tumor control, as
      assessed by the ultimate change in tumor size at follow-up (P, 0.012), the change
      in tumor size over time (P, 0.006), and tumor growth rates (P, 0.003). This study
      provided convincing evidence that tumor stabilization after radiosurgery (as
      assessed by neuroimaging) truly represented tumor control. The incidence of
      delayed facial neuropathy after radiosurgery compared favorably with the
      incidence reported after microsurgical removal. Some hearing was preserved in one
      third of the patients who had preoperative hearing, including three patients who
      were contralaterally deaf. Stereotactic radiosurgery should be considered as a
      primary surgical modality for many patients with neurofibromatosis Type II.

PMID- 1436408
TI  - Flow cytometric analysis of deoxyribonucleic acid ploidy and proliferation in
      choroid plexus tumors.
AB  - The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content of 10 choroid plexus tumors, including 4
      malignant tumors and 3 normal choroid plexus controls, was analyzed by flow
      cytometry to determine whether a ploidy or proliferation rate is a better
      predictor of tumor behavior than histological features. Nine of 10 neoplasms had
      both diploid and aneuploid modal populations. One neoplasm and all three control
      cases had only a diploid peak. Among the tumors, the DNA indices of the aneuploid
      peaks ranged from 1.1 to 2.2. The percentage of aneuploid cells ranged from 7 to
      99, and no distinction was made between benign and malignant. Proliferation rates
      were estimated from the combined S-phase fractions (SPF). The mean SPF of the
      control group was 0.7% +/- 0.15% SD. The mean SPF of the benign tumors (1.1 +/-
      0.82% SD) was significantly different from the malignant group (7.0 +/- 1.25% SD;
      range, 5.3 to 8.6%) P = 0.0095. Low SPF fractions always correlated with
      favorable outcome. Higher proliferation rates were generally associated with an
      aggressive course. Evaluation of proliferation rates may help predict the
      behavior of choroid plexus tumors, particularly when histological features are
      equivocal. Measurement of DNA ploidy does not appear to have a role in the
      evaluation of choroid plexus tumors.

PMID- 1436409
TI  - Diffuse arteriovenous malformations: a clinical, radiological, and pathological
      description.
AB  - In a review of our series of patients with arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), a
      group with atypical angiographic and histopathological characteristics was
      discovered. Unlike the typical AVM, these lesions contained normal cerebral
      tissue between the abnormal vessels. We call these lesions diffuse AVMs, and
      think that this AVM represents one end of the AVM spectrum from a tight nidus to
      a diffuse lesion. The mean age of these patients was 18.1 years. Eight patients
      presented with an intracerebral hemorrhage, two with seizures, one with headache
      without hemorrhage, and one with ischemic symptoms compatible with vascular
      steal. Cerebral angiography revealed three AVMs to be 2 to 4 cm in diameter, four
      were 4 to 6 cm in diameter, and five were > 6 cm in diameter. Characteristic
      angiographic features included multiple small arterial feeders, small ectatic
      vessels in the malformation itself, multiple small draining veins, and a diffuse,
      puddling appearance of the contrast dye. Despite 16 operations in 11 patients,
      complete resection of the AVM was accomplished in only 8. The four patients with
      residual disease have received radiation therapy. Histopathology of the surgical
      specimens found AVM vessels interspersed among normal appearing neurons and white
      matter. Leptomeningeal angiodysplasia was noted when the cerebral cortex was
      involved. Gliosis was noted in some cases. Diffuse AVMs represent a difficult
      surgical challenge and recognition of the lesion aids in surgical planning.

PMID- 1436410
TI  - Children with cerebral venous thrombosis diagnosed with magnetic resonance
      imaging and magnetic resonance angiography.
AB  - From 1985 to 1991, 13 children were diagnosed at the University of Illinois
      College of Medicine at Peoria, Saint Francis Medical Center, with cerebral venous
      thrombosis (CVT) by magnetic resonance imaging scan. Ages ranged from newborn to
      5 years. Six children were premature neonates, five were term neonates and two
      were 5 years old. In the premature neonates, thrombosis was usually associated
      with other problems. All the term neonates had seizures. In all neonates,
      thrombosis resolved without any specific treatment. In the two older children,
      one presented with pseudotumor cerebri and one with coma. These children required
      neurosurgical intervention. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging scans were
      obtained in 9 of 13 children and showed thrombus resolution in each case. Three
      children were studied in the acute and convalescent stages by magnetic resonance
      angiography using time-of-flight techniques. Each follow-up magnetic resonance
      angiogram showed improvement in venous flow consistent with their clinical course
      and other imaging studies. We conclude that 1) CVT in children encompasses a
      range of clinical conditions which may or may not require neurosurgical
      intervention; 2) magnetic resonance imaging is superior to other modalities for
      the diagnosis of CVT; and 3) magnetic resonance angiography is an alternative
      means to monitor the evolution of CVT and efficacy of therapeutic intervention.

PMID- 1436411
TI  - Hemodynamic effects of preoperative embolization in cerebral arteriovenous
      malformations: evaluation with transcranial Doppler sonography.
AB  - A series of 83 patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations is presented.
      All patients were evaluated with transcranial Doppler sonography. Thirty-two
      patients were treated with staged embolization and surgery: 19 of these patients
      were operated on within 4 weeks of the last embolization, and the remaining 13
      patients underwent surgery 6 months or more from embolization. Transcranial
      Doppler sonography performed 1 day after embolization showed a significant (>
      60%) reduction of main feeder flow velocity in 72% of patients after the first
      embolization and in 45% of patients after the second embolization. In no case did
      such a significant reduction occur after the third embolization. A flow
      redistribution in the basal vessels (defined as an increase in flow velocity of
      at least 30% of the initial value) occurred only in patients after the first
      embolization (64%). On delayed post-embolization studies, complete recovery of
      flow velocity in the embolized vessel occurred in 46% of patients, and
      sonographic recruitment of new feeders occurred in the remaining 54%. When main
      feeder flow velocity (mean) was higher than 120 cm/s after embolization and
      before surgery, the incidence of postoperative hyperemic complications (cerebral
      edema and/or intracerebral hematoma) was significantly higher than in patients
      with a mean flow velocity under 120 cm/s. It is concluded that transcranial
      Doppler sonography is a valuable method for a noninvasive hemodynamic assessment
      of shunt flow in arteriovenous malformations, and it permits a physiological
      monitoring of hemodynamic changes after embolization and allows more precise
      indications regarding further stages of embolization and timing of surgery after
      embolization.

PMID- 1436412
TI  - The Maudsley Mentation test: a method for extended monitoring of mental status
      after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
AB  - A new scale for the repeated, rapid assessment of mental function in patients
      with subarachnoid hemorrhage is described. Its reproducibility is evaluated and
      early experience with its use in the intended clinical setting is reported. The
      test (Maudsley Mentation Test) proved to be more sensitive to fluctuations in
      cerebral functioning than existing measures of conscious level, and the results
      were reproducible among observers with different backgrounds (surgeons, nurses,
      and psychologists). The results suggest a relationship between performance on
      mentation testing and quality of outcome. The Maudsley Mentation Test is thought
      to offer a suitable measure with which to monitor patients during the acute phase
      of their illness to supplement clinical assessment and provide evidence of
      deterioration at an early stage. It is also potentially useful as an end point in
      acute protection and treatment studies.

PMID- 1436413
TI  - Total intravenous anesthesia for improvement of intraoperative monitoring of
      somatosensory evoked potentials during aneurysm surgery.
AB  - Two anesthetic regimens for monitoring somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs)
      during intracranial aneurysm surgery were compared. Eighty-four sequential cases
      of intracranial aneurysms were operated on employing SEP monitoring. The first
      group of 22 cases was anesthetized with "balanced anesthesia" and the second
      group of 62 cases received total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) consisting of
      propofol and alfentanil. In the TIVA group, the amplitude of early cortical SEP
      responses (N20-P25, or P40-N50) was significantly higher than that of responses
      in the balanced anesthesia group. In median nerve SEPs, the averaged amplitude of
      N20-P25 was 3.22 microV with TIVA and 1.69 microV with balanced anesthesia (P =
      0.006). Similarly, posterior tibial nerve SEPs showed a P40-N50 response of 1.85
      microV and 1.00 microV, respectively (P = 0.017). The superior signal-to-noise
      ratio obtained with TIVA allowed more frequent and reliable intraoperative SEP
      recordings than was possible with balanced anesthesia, resulting in rapid and
      reliable feedback for the surgeon. In 19% of median nerve SEPs recorded with
      TIVA, the cortical responses were over 5 microV in amplitude, so that
      reproducible N20-P25 responses were obtainable by averaging only 10 to 50 serial
      responses, that is, two to three recordings per minute. The higher amplitude of
      posterior tibial nerve SEPs recorded with TIVA made monitoring during surgery for
      anterior communicating artery aneurysms possible in all cases. This was not
      always the case with balanced anesthesia. The late deflection of median nerve
      SEPs (N30) was more frequently observed with TIVA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1436414
TI  - Continuous-pressure controlled, external ventricular drainage for treatment of
      acute hydrocephalus--evaluation of risk factors.
AB  - Experience with a continuous-pressure controlled, external ventricular drainage
      system (EVD) in 100 patients (n = 49 female, n = 51 male; mean age, 56.3 yr) with
      acute hydrocephalus is reported. Cerebrospinal fluid circulation disturbances
      resulted from hemorrhages caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage (n = 45), parenchymal
      hemorrhages from angioma (n = 4), anticoagulants (n = 7), or hypertension or
      other reasons (n = 30); in addition, hydrocephalus developed from infections (n =
      3), tumors (n = 2), infratentorial infarction (n = 5), or unknown reasons (n =
      4); 52 patients had ventricular hemorrhages. No patient died of system-associated
      morbidity. Mean time of EVD treatment was 9.5 days, with 40 patients being
      treated for 10 to 29 days; routine refobacin (5 mg) flushing of the system was
      performed three times a day. Patients without cerebrospinal fluid leakage had a
      2% rate of secondary infection compared with 13% in patients with cerebrospinal
      fluid leakage due to ventricular catheter placement (P < 0.05; overall infection
      rate, 5%). A clinical mortality rate of 29% during EVD treatment was observed in
      subarachnoid hemorrhage patients (Hunt and Hess Grades II, III, IV, and V; n = 9,
      9, 18, and 9, respectively); recurrent hemorrhages during EVD treatment occurred
      in 19 patients (26 hemorrhages), and of these, 10 patients died. System occlusion
      was seen in 19 cases (12 of 45 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage), requiring
      catheter and system renewal in 1 case; system extraction was seen in 3 cases,
      misplacement was seen in 11 cases, and disconnection was seen in 5
      cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1436415
TI  - Penetrating stab wounds to the brain: the timing of angiography in patients
      presenting with the weapon already removed.
AB  - Angiography is always necessary in patients with penetrating stab wounds to the
      head, to exclude unexpected vascular lesions. The most important, since they are
      seldom clinically evident, are traumatic aneurysms and arteriovenous fistulae. It
      has previously been proposed that carotid angiography should be delayed until the
      start of the second week, to allow for better visualization of these
      complications. However, traumatic aneurysms can rupture at any time after the
      injury, and the mortality resulting from a second hemorrhage is unacceptably
      high. A prospective study was undertaken in which 330 patients with penetrating
      stab wounds to the head underwent angiography as soon as possible after
      admission. In 250 of these patients (76%), the weapon had already been removed by
      the assailant, and there was radiological evidence of penetration of the dura. Of
      these 250, 130 patients underwent angiography within 7 days of the injury.
      Another 51 patients, who presented late, underwent angiography more than 7 days
      after the injury. The timing of angiography did not affect the identification of
      traumatic aneurysms, the incidence of which was 12% in both groups. Of the
      patients with cranial stabs and who required urgent evacuation of intracerebral
      hematomas, 10% had traumatic aneurysms that could be dealt with simultaneously.
      No patient in this series suffered a secondary hemorrhage. We conclude that it is
      neither necessary nor safe to delay angiography. In some patients, either because
      of vasospasm or "cut-off" of a vessel, a second angiogram may be necessary to
      further elucidate a vascular abnormality that might not have been evident
      originally.

PMID- 1436416
TI  - Syringomyelia in Chiari malformation: relation to extent of cerebellar tissue
      herniation.
AB  - In 47 patients with Chiari malformations (41 with Type I, 6 with Type II)
      diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging, syringomyelia was found significantly
      more frequently in those who had a herniation of 9 to 14 mm (9 of 16, 56%) than
      in those who had a smaller (2 of 15, 13%) or larger (2 of 16, 13%) herniation.
      Syringomyelia associated with the Chiari malformation is generally considered to
      be due to mechanical factors induced by altered cerebrospinal fluid
      hydrodynamics. On the basis of the present study, one may speculate whether these
      mechanical factors affect the cord most efficiently at an intermediate level of
      herniation, which may prove to be a risk factor for the development of
      syringomyelia.

PMID- 1436417
TI  - Monitoring of brain tissue pressure with a fiberoptic device.
AB  - Continuous monitoring of brain tissue pressure can now be achieved with
      intracerebral placement of fiberoptic microtransducers. This study was undertaken
      to test the safety, accuracy, and reliability of this relatively new type of
      intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring. Initially, the fiberoptic device was
      compared with a concurrently functioning intraventricular catheter in 18
      patients. The results from the two methods corresponded closely over a wide range
      of pressures, and the correlation coefficient approached 1.0. Subsequently, this
      monitor was used for routine measurement of ICP in a series of almost 200
      neurosurgical patients at risk of intracranial hypertension. The tracings showed
      good wave forms and consistent absolute values of ICP. No instances of
      hemorrhage, mechanical failure, or other complications were associated with this
      monitor, except one case of infection, which was not directly attributable to the
      device per se. When bilateral intraparenchymal pressures were recorded in
      patients with unilateral mass lesions, significant transitory pressure
      differentials between the ipsilateral and contralateral sides were documented. It
      is concluded that monitoring intraparenchymal pressure with the fiberoptic device
      offers safe and reliable ICP recordings for routine neurosurgical practice. In
      patients with unilateral masses, ICP should be measured in close proximity to the
      lesion.

PMID- 1436418
TI  - Protection of iodine-125 brachytherapy brain injury in the rat with the 21
      aminosteroid U-74389F.
AB  - Radiation protection was studied in a rat brachytherapy brain injury model.
      Radiation lesions were produced by stereotactic placement of high-activity iodine
      125 seeds on the frontal lobe of F-344 rats. A minimum dose of 80 Gy was
      delivered to a 5.5-mm-radius volume. Radiation damage was evaluated 24 h after
      removal of the seeds by T1-weighted gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance
      imaging on a 1.5-T unit. Computerized three-dimensional reconstruction of the
      lesions seen on magnetic resonance imaging was performed to calculate the volume
      of radiation injury. Two experiments were performed with rats of different
      weights (mean, 300 g; mean, 180 g). All animals underwent surgical placement of
      an indwelling internal jugular catheter before brachytherapy. Treated animals
      received the 21-aminosteroid U-74389F 5 mg/kg intravenously every 6 hours during
      the implant and for 24 hours after the removal of the iodine-125 seed. Control
      animals were administered vehicle only. In both experiments, a statistically
      significant reduction in volume of radiation damage was observed in the U-74389F
      treated group compared with the control group.

PMID- 1436419
TI  - The effect of the 21-aminosteroid U74006F in a rabbit model of thromboembolic
      stroke.
AB  - U74006F, a novel 21-aminosteroid, is an inhibitor of iron-dependent lipid
      peroxidation that is devoid of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid side effects.
      The efficacy of U74006F in reducing cerebral infarct size was investigated in a
      rabbit model of thromboembolic stroke. Each animal received either U74006F (3.0
      mg/kg immediately before and 2 hr after embolization, n = 8) or vehicle control
      (n = 10). Hematocrit, mean arterial pressure, PCO2, PO2, and pH were measured and
      controlled both before and after the administration of an autologous clot into
      one internal carotid artery. Regional cerebral blood flow (in ml/100 g/min, mean
      +/- SEM) measured by hydrogen clearance was similar in both groups, being reduced
      from 68.2 +/- 9.6 to 5.2 +/- 1.9 in the control group immediately after clot
      embolization and from 73.3 +/- 14.9 to 7.0 +/- 1.7 in the U74006F group. Four
      hours after embolization the brain was harvested and cerebral infarct size was
      determined using the triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride technique (% hemisphere, mean
      +/- SEM). In the U74006F-treated group, the infarct size was significantly
      reduced (P < 0.05) to 14.8 +/- 6.4 from a control value of 36.0 +/- 6.4.
      Additionally, cerebral blood flow values after embolization were consistently
      higher in the U74006F group, although the differences were not statistically
      significant. This data suggests that the 21-aminosteroid U74006F may have a
      protective effect in cerebral ischemia.

PMID- 1436420
TI  - Regional changes in central nervous system thyrotropin-releasing hormone after
      pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures in dogs.
AB  - We have recently shown that seizures induce significant and sustained elevations
      of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in specific extrahypothalamic rat brain
      regions associated with epileptic foci including amygdala, hippocampus, pyriform
      cortex, and anterior cortex. Seizures were induced in dogs to further study the
      effect on central nervous system TRH in a species known to show epileptiform
      seizures. Adult mongrel beagles were given pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) to induce
      generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Two groups of dogs were given either PTZ or
      saline every other day for four intravenous injections. Major motor seizures were
      observed visually and by electroencephalography with each PTZ injection, and
      these lasted from 3 to 10 minutes. Forty-eight hours after the fourth seizure,
      the dogs were killed and brains were removed, dissected, and stored at -90
      degrees. After acetic acid extraction, extracts were assayed for TRH content by
      specific radioimmunoassay. Significant (P < 0.05) postictal TRH increases were
      seen in frontal cortex (1.5-fold), dorsal hippocampus (2.2-fold), pyriform cortex
      (2.5-fold), and amygdala (2.1-fold). Cerebellum, medulla, thalamus, hypothalamus,
      and septum showed no postictal changes in TRH. This report is the first to
      demonstrate TRH elevations in specific central nervous system regions associated
      with epileptic foci in the dog. Our results continue to stress the importance of
      the pyriform/periamygdaloid region as a key limbic region of endogenous TRH
      action in response to seizures and provides further evidence that TRH is either
      directly or indirectly involved in seizure modulation. Additional recent data
      from our laboratory and others suggest that this modulation is intrinsic to the
      hippocampus and may be anticonvulsant in nature.

PMID- 1436421
TI  - Gender distribution and sidedness of middle fossa arachnoid cysts: a review of
      cases diagnosed with computed imaging.
AB  - According to earlier reports, arachnoid cysts seem to occur more frequently in
      males, and on the left side. The latter phenomenon could, however, be explained
      by a greater significance attributed to symptoms from the dominant hemisphere as
      a justification for invasive procedures in the pre-computed tomography era. The
      literature from the last third of the era of computed tomography is reviewed with
      respect to gender distribution and sidedness for middle fossa arachnoid cysts.
      Also included are a few cases of our own from the same period. It is evident from
      this survey of the literature, based on computed tomography studies, that there
      is a significant tendency for these cysts to occur in males, with a male/female
      ratio of nearly 3:1. This preponderance toward males could not be explained by
      the somewhat higher frequency of associated subdural hematomas that was found in
      male patients. The survey also showed that middle fossa arachnoid cysts occur or
      are detected significantly more frequently on the left side than on the right,
      with a ratio of 1.8:1.

PMID- 1436422
TI  - Meningeal melanocytoma: diagnostic criteria for a rare lesion.
AB  - A case of meningeal melanocytoma, the 14th in the literature, is presented.
      Neurodiagnostic imaging, with both computed tomographic scan and magnetic
      resonance imaging, is included. Pathological examination of the tumor consisted
      of light microscopy, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry. The
      literature is reviewed and pathological criteria are presented to distinguish
      meningeal melanocytoma from meningiomas containing melanin pigment and from
      malignant melanoma.

PMID- 1436423
TI  - Metastatic carcinoid tumor to the orbit and brain.
AB  - Carcinoid tumors constitute an uncommon source of metastatic lesions to the
      brain. We report the case of a 63-year-old man who initially sought treatment for
      proptosis 15 years before coming to our attention with a metastatic intracerebral
      left parietal carcinoid. The pathological features of the exenterated orbital
      mass were interpreted as undifferentiated carcinoma, and a lesion of the left
      lower lobe of the lung that had been removed 6 years earlier had been reported as
      metastatic malignant melanoma. The long duration between the initial diagnosis
      and the onset of neurological symptoms brought into question the original
      diagnosis, which, in retrospect, was most consistent with metastatic carcinoid.
      Staining for cytokeratin, neuron-specific enolase, and synaptophysin in the
      absence of staining for S-100 and HMB-45 supported the revised pathological
      diagnosis. Metastatic intracerebral carcinoid from an unrecognized bronchogenic
      source is a rare event, particularly after an orbital metastasis, but should be
      suspected when the clinical course is inconsistent with the more common causes of
      metastatic disease.

PMID- 1436424
TI  - Chondrosarcoma of the temporal bone in an infant: case report and review of the
      literature.
AB  - Cranial chondrosarcomas are rare. The majority of cases arise from the base of
      the skull and are most common in adult life. In this report, an infant with a
      chondrosarcoma of the temporal bone is discussed. We are not aware of a
      previously reported case of chondrosarcoma of the temporal bone in this age
      group.

PMID- 1436425
TI  - Meningeal melanocytoma of the C8 nerve root: case report.
AB  - A case of a meningeal melanocytoma involving the C8 nerve root is presented. The
      clinical symptoms and the radiological investigations resembled a neurinoma of
      the spinal nerve root. Intraoperatively the tumor was seen to be firmly attached
      to the dural covering of the dorsal nerve root. By using microsurgical technique,
      complete removal of the tumor with preservation of the ventral nerve root was
      accomplished. Histological examination revealed a typical meningeal melanocytoma
      as described by Limas and Tio in 1972. Ten additional cases of previously
      reported spinal meningeal melanocytomas are reviewed. The importance of
      differentiating this benign lesion from meningeal malignant pigmented tumors is
      stressed.

PMID- 1436426
TI  - Ependymoma of the spinal nerve root: case report.
AB  - Ependymomas are the most common intramedullary tumor of the spinal cord. They are
      most common at the region of the cauda equina, accounting for up to 90% of
      primary tumors in that area. Extraspinal ependymomas are rare. We describe a case
      of an ependymoma arising in a spinal peripheral nerve root.

PMID- 1436427
TI  - Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the spine causing cord compression: case report.
AB  - A case of Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the spine causing myeloradiculopathy
      is reported. Almost complete regression of symptoms and signs was observed in the
      patient after surgical treatment and radiotherapy. The clinical and histological
      features of the disease are discussed. The literature dealing with the previously
      reported cases of spinal histiocytosis involving neural structures is reviewed.

PMID- 1436428
TI  - Anomalous muscle belly of the flexor digitorum superficialis associated with
      carpal tunnel syndrome: case report.
AB  - A patient had a 10-year history of pain and swelling in the right wrist and palm.
      Carpal tunnel exploration showed anomalous muscle bellies of flexor digitorum
      superficialis II and III. The muscle bellies were excised. Postoperatively, the
      symptoms disappeared. Our case is compared with others in the literature.

PMID- 1436429
TI  - Outcome measures for clinical trials involving traumatically brain-injured
      patients: report of a conference.
AB  - A conference was held in Houston, Texas, on October 8-9, 1991, to develop
      recommendations for outcome measures for clinical trials in traumatic brain
      injury. Participants, all experts in this area, discussed and agreed on
      treatments for patients with severe brain injury (Glasgow Coma Score [GCS] < or =
      8) and moderate brain injury (GCS, 9-12). A parallel trial design was recommended
      rather than a factorial, sequential, or crossover design. It was agreed that
      stratifying randomization based on motor score alone or on a combination of motor
      score and age would result in increased power. Acute stage measurements, such as
      cerebral blood flow, cerebrospinal fluid biochemistry, and evoked potentials,
      were recommended only when they satisfied a specific hypothesis. Functional
      outcome measures were recommended as the primary outcome measure for severe brain
      injury (GCS, 3-8). Either the Glasgow Outcome Scale or Disability Rating Scale,
      measured at 6 months after injury, were recommended as the primary outcome
      measure for severe brain injury (GCS, < or = 8). For patients with moderately
      severe brain injury (GCS, 9-12), the Disability Rating Scale at 3 months after
      injury was recommended as the primary outcome measure. The Neurobehavioral Rating
      Scale appears to be a satisfactory instrument for measuring behavioral changes.
      Specific neuropsychological measures were recommended as supplementary outcome
      measures for both severe and moderate brain injury, consistent with a 1.5-hour
      period available for testing.

PMID- 1436430
TI  - Microvascular anatomy of the uncus and the parahippocampal gyrus.

PMID- 1436431
TI  - Partial callosal resection for pericallosal aneurysms.

PMID- 1436432
TI  - Skill learning and repetition priming in Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - While perceptual-motor learning occurs normally in Alzheimer's disease (AD)
      patients, their ability to acquire the skill of reading transformed text has not
      been well delineated. AD patients and matched controls were timed as they read
      two blocks of words presented in mirror image. Control subjects displayed both
      skill learning and repetition priming, whereas AD patients displayed only
      repetition priming. Skill learning in AD patients was associated with their
      ability to complete verbal analogies. They displayed the expected impairment in
      recognition for the words from the mirror reading task. The failure of AD
      patients to acquire the mirror reading skill can be understood through a task
      analysis and may reflect an underlying deficit in abstract reasoning that
      precludes the development of appropriate pattern analyzing strategies needed to
      transform rotated text.

PMID- 1436433
TI  - Effect of stimuli in right hemispace on left-sided neglect in a line cancellation
      task.
AB  - Twenty-seven patients with right cerebral infarcts resulting in left-sided
      neglect in a line cancellation task were also tested for line cancellation when
      the lines were confined to the left half of sheets. All but one patient (whose
      neglect in the former condition was minimal) were still impaired in the latter
      condition, a finding that indicates that hyperattraction to test stimuli in the
      unneglected (right) hemispace was not the crucial factor preventing them from
      completing the standard version of the cancellation task, although it may have
      played some role. The results are consistent with the conclusion that
      hyperattention to stimuli in the unneglected hemifield, and possibly to stimuli
      in the unneglected hemispace, together with other factors, could account for the
      patients' impairment in line cancellation.

PMID- 1436434
TI  - Judgements about numerosity by a commissurotomized subject.
AB  - A commissurotomized subject, L.B., was shown asterisks flashed at random
      locations, up to four in each field, and attempted either to compare the numbers
      in the two fields or to report the total number. The main results were: (a)
      Report was more accurate with unilateral than with bilateral presentation,
      suggesting that the difficulty integrating across fields was partly attentional;
      (b) in integrating across fields, attention was focused on one field, with only
      crude 'one-or-many' information from the other; (c) in cross-field comparisons,
      the focus was on the LVF, but in reporting the number it was on the RVF when
      report was oral or right-handed, and on the LVF when report was left-handed; (d)
      cross-field comparisons were improved when the locations were mirrored across the
      midline.

PMID- 1436435
TI  - Prehension movements directed to approaching objects: influence of stimulus
      velocity on the transport and the grasp components.
AB  - In this investigation we studied the influence of object velocity on the
      transport and on the grasp components of prehension movements directed to
      approaching objects. Three experiments were carried out. In the first experiment
      six subjects were required to reach and grasp a sphere that approached them with
      a constant velocity. The effects of four velocities were studied. The results
      showed that the end point of the arm movement changed with object velocity:
      nearer the body with higher than with lower object velocities. Transport velocity
      increased with movement amplitude and the deceleration phase decreased in
      duration with higher object velocities. On the contrary the grasp component was
      not affected by object velocity. The second experiment was a control experiment
      carried out in order to verify whether a possible influence of object velocity on
      the grasp could be revealed in an experimental condition in which grasp planning
      relies without doubt on visual computation of all object features. In this
      experiment object velocity and object size were randomly varied. The results
      showed that the grasp was not influenced by object velocity, whereas it was
      sensitive to changes of object size. The third experiment had the two-fold aim of
      establishing (1) whether transport velocity was influenced by object velocity
      once the location in space at which the object had to be grasped was fixed and
      (2) whether the grasp kinematics differed for prehension movements directed
      respectively to stationary or to moving objects. Results showed that the first
      part of the transport is affected only by distance, whereas the deceleration
      phase decreased with increasing object velocity. This last result suggests that
      subjects minimized object displacements in order to grasp the sphere correctly.
      The grasp component differed between the conditions of stationary and moving
      stimuli only in the relative timing between finger aperture and closure phases.
      The closure phase decreased in the condition of moving stimuli. The results of
      the three experiments indicate the dependence of transport parameters on object
      velocity, whereas grasp parameters appear to be unaffected.

PMID- 1436436
TI  - Acquisition and transfer of declarative and procedural knowledge by memory
      impaired patients: a computer data-entry task.
AB  - Previous research demonstrated that a single amnesic patient could acquire
      complex knowledge and processes required for the performance of a computer data
      entry task. The present study extends the earlier work to a larger group of brain
      damaged patients with memory disorders of varying severity and of various
      etiologies and with other accompanying cognitive deficits. All patients were able
      to learn both the data-entry procedures and the factual information associated
      with the task. Declarative knowledge was acquired by patients at a much slower
      rate than normal whereas procedural learning proceeded at approximately the same
      rate in patients and control subjects. Patients also showed evidence of transfer
      of declarative knowledge to the procedural task, as well as transfer of the data
      entry procedures across changes in materials.

PMID- 1436437
TI  - Assessment of attention and memory efficiency in persons with solvent
      neurotoxicity.
AB  - Memory and attention were evaluated in 40 persons with a history of organic
      solvent exposure and 40 demographically similar controls. Exposed subjects, in
      comparison to controls, had reduced digit spans, were deficient at learning new
      information, and recall on a Brown-Peterson distractor test was especially low
      following a 30-sec interference interval. If original learning was considered,
      long-term recall was similar for both groups. On a test of sustained attention,
      the Continuous Performance Test, exposed subjects became less accurate over
      successive blocks, a pattern opposite to that seen in control subjects. The data
      suggest that the memory impairment following solvent exposure may result from
      deficient allocation of attentional resources due to the inability to deal
      effectively with an increase in processing load.

PMID- 1436438
TI  - Interhemispheric interaction affected by computational complexity.
AB  - The present study investigated whether dividing information between the
      hemispheres becomes more advantageous to task performance as computational
      complexity increases. We hypothesized that interhemispheric processing would
      benefit performance especially for computationally complex tasks, whereas it
      would hinder performance for relatively simple ones. A letter-matching task was
      given to 23 subjects at three levels of computational complexity. Complexity was
      varied either by increasing the number of inputs to be processed or by the nature
      of the decision to be made. The results indicated that each of these
      manipulations of complexity influenced performance by making it more advantageous
      to have both hemispheres involved in processing rather than just one.
      Furthermore, the effects of each manipulation were separable.

PMID- 1436439
TI  - Intact implicit memory in patients with frontal lobe lesions.
AB  - Patients with frontal lobe lesions and control subjects were administered tests
      of word-stem completion priming. In this implicit memory test, subjects are first
      presented words (e.g. MOTEL, PARADE) in an incidental learning paradigm.
      Following word presentation, subjects are shown word stems (e.g. MOT, PAR) and
      asked to produce the first word that comes to mind. Patients with frontal lobe
      lesions exhibited normal levels of word-stem completion. These findings indicate
      that implicit memory can operate normally despite damage to the prefrontal
      cortex. The present results substantiate previous neuropsychological and positron
      emission tomography findings which indicate that word priming depends critically
      on posterior cortical areas.

PMID- 1436440
TI  - Peptidergic modulation of learning a motoric food-procuring conditioned reflex
      skill.
AB  - Experimental data are presented which were obtained during an investigation of
      the influence of various doses of a synthetic heptapeptide based on tafcine on
      the learning of a complex instrumental skill in dogs. The effectiveness of the
      intranasal application of the peptide in the early stages of learning was
      demonstrated, as was its capacity to restore the lost skill. The vegetative
      support of the motoric reactions during the modulation of the learning by the
      peptide was investigated.

PMID- 1436442
TI  - Active electrogenesis of command neurons of defense behavior of the snail during
      conditioning.
AB  - A change in the active electrogenesis of command neurons of the defensive closing
      of the spiracle of the edible snail during the development, extinction, and
      repeat development of a classical conditioned defense reflex in response to
      tactile stimulation is described in this study; the tactile stimulation of
      another point of the body served as the differential stimulus. As the biological
      significance of the conditional stimulus increased as the result of training, the
      excitability of the command neurons in response to this stimulus increased. At
      the same time, the neurons manifested reduced excitability in response to the
      differential stimulus. The possible mechanisms of the rapid reorganization of the
      excitability of the neurons and the functional significance of the change in the
      generation threshold of the AP are discussed.

PMID- 1436441
TI  - Dynamics of interstimulus intervals in the activity of neurons of the
      sensorimotor cortex during the development of a food-procuring reflex in the
      rabbit.
AB  - The impulse activity of neurons of the sensorimotor cortex (SMC) during the
      formation of a food-procuring reflex in the rabbit, as well as in trained animals
      if reinforcement is discontinued and substituted, was investigated. In the
      process of training the neurons of the SMC acquire the capacity for anticipatory
      reactions. The sudden abolition and substitution of reinforcement elicits the
      appearance of activity which is characteristic for the process of discordance in
      the acceptor of the result of the action. Repeated substitutions lead to the
      appearance of activity which is characterized by a coordination process at the
      moment of the "recognition" of the substitution, despite the absence of food
      reinforcement.

PMID- 1436443
TI  - Stimulated shift in the stability of heart rhythm as a condition of the
      activation of the CNS and perception of a stimulus.

PMID- 1436444
TI  - Irreversibility of disruptions of integrative activity induced by damage to the
      amygdala, with unilateral transplantation of embryonal amygdalar tissue.

PMID- 1436445
TI  - Structure and nature of macrophages participating in the wallerian degeneration
      of nerve fibers.
AB  - The posttraumatic processes of Wallerian degeneration of nerves have been
      illuminated in detail. The dynamics of the breakdown of axons and the myelin
      sheaths of nerve fibers has been established, as have been the periods of the
      changes in the composition of myelin, and the reactive changes in the Schwann
      cells and the connective tissue structures in the makeup of the nerve as well as
      the formation of "foam" cells have been described. The controversial questions
      which have been raised in these studies regarding the role of the cellular
      elements (the Schwann cells, the endoneurial fibroblasts, the cells of the epi-
      and perineurium) during Wallerian degeneration remain unresolved until the
      present time. In particular, the question as to which cells participate in the
      cleanup of the products of the breakdown of the myelin sheaths, and as to the
      character of the inflammatory infiltration in Wallerian degeneration and the
      degree of the participation of the various cellular elements in the destructive
      and reparative processes, has not been elucidated. Some investigators believe
      that the Schwann cells accomplish the cleanup of the products of the breakdown of
      the myelin sheaths. There are also data suggesting that the macrophages are of
      considerable significance in the cleanup of the products of the breakdown of
      nerve fibers of both the PNS and the CNS following their injury. It has been
      demonstrated by means of monoclonal antibodies to macrophages, radioautography,
      and immunocytochemical methods that these macrophages have a hematogenous
      origin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1436446
TI  - Features of the behavioral reactions of rats during exposure to constant
      electrical fields of varied intensities.
AB  - The dynamics of the spontaneous orienting-motoric activity and the character of
      the formation and of the extinction of conditioned reflex reactions during food
      and painful reinforcement in rats following exposure to a constant electrical
      field (CEF) with an intensity of from 30 to 160 kV/m were studied. It was
      established that as the result of the exposure to a CEF of relatively low
      intensity, orienting activity intensifies, and the formation and the extinction
      of the conditioned avoidance reaction slow down. In the presence of the effect of
      a CEF of medium intensity, an increase in activity in the vertical plane
      correlates with the rapid formation of the defense reflex and the prolonged
      maintenance of the conditioned reactions developed. In the presence of a high
      intensity field the number of both horizontal and vertical locomotions decreases
      due to an increase in the proportion of static elements and grooming. The rate of
      formation of the conditioned reflexes with food and painful reinforcement slows
      sharply.

PMID- 1436447
TI  - Influence of pulse stimulation of the visual cortex on the function of the
      superior colliculus of the awake rabbit.
AB  - It has been demonstrated in awake rabbits that stimulation of the visual cortex
      by a solitary pulse of electrical current leads to the formation of a short
      latency response in the superior colliculus. The formation of this response is
      suppressed when a light stimulus precedes it. At the same time, a conditioning
      solitary electrostimulation of the visual cortex induces a short inhibition of
      the formation of the response to the test light stimulus. This fact suggests that
      the influences of the visual cortex on the functioning of the superior colliculus
      may be biphasic in character. When the adrenergic apparatus of the reticular
      formation is blocked this inhibitory influence bears a more pronounced and
      prolonged character. The stimulation of the reticular formation, on the other
      hand, by means of anodic polarization leads to the diametrically opposite effect:
      the inhibitory character of the influence of the cortex is replaced by a
      facilitatory one. The inference is drawn that the character and the
      directionality of the influence of the visual cortex on the functioning of the
      superior colliculus is determined to a significant degree by the initial
      functional state of nonspecific brain systems.

PMID- 1436448
TI  - A microdialysis investigation of the release of norepinephrine in the
      hypothalamus induced by 2-deoxyglucose in awake rats.
AB  - The level of norepinephrine in the extracellular space of the lateral
      hypothalamus was measured by means of intracerebral microdialysis in awake rats.
      The introduction of desipramine (10 mumole) into the perfusing medium did not
      affect the basal level of norepinephrine, but increased the release of
      norepinephrine during local K(+)-stimulation. Neuroglycopenia created under the
      influence of 500 mg/kg of 2-deoxyglucose induced a threefold increase in the
      level of norepinephrine in the extracellular space of the hypothalamus, which
      achieved a maximal value in the first 40 min following the introduction of the
      substance, and thereafter gradually decreased to the basal level.

PMID- 1436449
TI  - Clinical-physiological characteristics of syncopal states in a prolonged Q-T
      interval syndrome (Ward-Romano syndrome).

PMID- 1436450
TI  - Some neurophysiological aspects of the investigation of children with Gilles de
      la Tourette syndrome.

PMID- 1436451
TI  - Specificity of the neuropsychological syndromes of the disturbance of higher
      mental functions in Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia.

PMID- 1436452
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology of cerebral gliomas.
AB  - The correlation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with histopathological
      findings was analysed in 26 patients with untreated cerebral gliomas. In low
      grade gliomas, T2-weighted images demonstrated relatively homogeneous high
      intensity lesions involving both the grey and the white matter. In high-grade
      gliomas, especially grade IV, T2-weighted images demonstrated prominent
      heterogeneity in signal intensity, which consisted of a hyperintense "core", less
      hyperintense or normal intensity "rim" and surrounding finger-like areas of high
      intensity. Marked and irregular contrast enhancement was evident in all but one
      case of these high-grade gliomas in which gadolinium-DTPA was used. Histological
      examination revealed tumour cells extending as far as the borders of the high
      intensity areas shown on T2-weighted images in both high- and low-grade gliomas,
      but in 5 of 8 low-grade and 4 of 18 high-grade gliomas, isolated tumour cells
      extended beyond the hyperintense areas shown on T2-weighted images.

PMID- 1436453
TI  - Volume measurement of multiple sclerosis lesions with magnetic resonance images.
      A preliminary study.
AB  - The ability to visualise multiple sclerosis lesions in vivo with magnetic
      resonance imaging suggests an important role in monitoring the course of the
      disease. In order to help the long-term assessment of prospective treatments, a
      semi-automated technique for measuring lesion volume has been developed to
      provide a quantitative index of disease progression. Results are presented from a
      preliminary study with a single patient and compared to measurements taken from
      lesion outlines traced by a neuroradiologist, two neurologists and a technician.
      The semi-automated technique achieved a precision of 6% compared to a range of 12
      33% for the manual tracing method. It also reduced the human interaction time
      from at least 60 min to 15 min.

PMID- 1436454
TI  - Marchiafava-Bignami disease: serial changes in corpus callosum on MRI.
AB  - Serial MRI findings of changes in corpus callosum lesions in two cases of
      Marchiafava-Bignami disease are presented. In both, MRI displayed diffuse
      swelling of the corpus callosum in the acute stage, thought to represent oedema
      and demyelination. In the chronic stage, in addition to atrophy of the corpus
      callosum with presumed focal necrosis, previously undescribed focal hypointensity
      on T2-weighted images, of unknown cause, was observed in the corpus callosum.

PMID- 1436455
TI  - Tay-Sachs disease: progression of changes on neuroimaging in four cases.
AB  - The neuroradiological findings in four patients with Tay-Sachs disease are
      described in three phases of the clinical course. The basal ganglia and cerebral
      white matter show low density on computed tomography and high signal intensity on
      T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the initial phase. The caudate nuclei
      are characteristically enlarged and protrude into the lateral ventricles in the
      first and second phases. The cerebral white matter shows low density on the CT
      which varies in extent from the second to third phases, and the whole brain
      becomes atrophic in the last phase. Thus, central nervous system involvement in
      the disease may begin in basal ganglia as well as in cerebral white matter.

PMID- 1436456
TI  - Neuropsychological correlates of brain atrophy in Huntington's disease: a
      magnetic resonance imaging study.
AB  - Magnetic resonance imaging and a comprehensive cognitive evaluation were carried
      out in a series of 29 patients with mild to moderate Huntington's disease (HD). A
      factor analysis of the neuropsychological test scores provided three factors: a
      memory/speed-of-processing factor, a "frontal" factor, and a response inhibition
      factor. The memory/speed factor correlated significantly with measures of caudate
      atrophy, frontal atrophy, and atrophy of the left (but not the right) sylvian
      cistern. There were no significant correlations between the "frontal" or response
      inhibition factors and measures of cortical or subcortical brain atrophy. Our
      findings confirm that subcortical atrophy is significantly correlated with
      specific cognitive deficits in HD, and demonstrate that cortical atrophy also has
      important association with the cognitive deficits of patients with HD.

PMID- 1436457
TI  - MRI of herpes simplex encephalitis.
AB  - The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in eight patients with herpes
      simplex meningoencephalitis were reviewed: 14 examinations were analysed. The
      most striking finding was high signal intensity in the temporal lobe(s) with the
      typical configuration known from CT. Meningeal enhancement after Gd-DTPA
      administration was clearly seen in four patients. Haemorrhagic changes are much
      better seen on MRI than on CT. When adequate motion control can be achieved, MRI
      becomes the examination of choice in the diagnosis and follow-up of herpes
      simplex encephalitis. Localized 1H MR spectroscopy also proved promising in the
      study of neuronal loss.

PMID- 1436458
TI  - Isodense subdural haematomas on CT:MRI findings.
AB  - MRI findings are described in two patients with subdural haematomas isodense on
      CT. In one patient, admitted 6 weeks after trauma, a chronic subdural haematoma
      showed extreme hypointensity on T2-weighted images, suggesting acute trauma, and
      therefore acute rebleeding. In the second patient with severe anaemia, an acute
      subdural haematoma was hyperintense on T2-weighted images, suggesting chronic
      trauma; this may be explained by the low haematocrit and a possible mixture of
      blood with cerebrospinal fluid. The MRI features of subdural haematomas and
      hygromas have to be kept in mind, in order not to misjudge the age of the
      haematoma.

PMID- 1436459
TI  - Infarction in the territory of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery: report of
      five cases.
AB  - The clinical and MRI features were correlated in five cases of infarction in the
      territory of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery. The lateral portion of the
      pons area was affected in four cases, the middle cerebellar peduncle in two, and
      the cerebellar hemisphere in three. The lesion was restricted to the cerebellar
      hemisphere in one patient. In no case did the clinical features conform to the
      classical description.

PMID- 1436460
TI  - Retrograde filling of the anterior choroidal artery: vertebral angiographic sign
      of obstruction in the carotid system.
AB  - Retrograde filling of seven anterior choroidal arteries from the posterior
      circulation was observed on a vertebral angiogram in six patients with occlusion
      of the proximal anterior choroidal artery or of the internal carotid artery. In
      one patient with thrombotic occlusion of the internal carotid artery, the
      enlarged anterior choroidal artery functioned as a major collateral pathway from
      the posterior circulation to the territory of the middle cerebral artery.
      Retrograde filling of the anterior choroidal artery is a sign of obstruction
      changes in the ipsilateral carotid artery at or proximal to the origin of the
      anterior choroidal artery.

PMID- 1436461
TI  - Safety of the adjustable pressure ventricular valve in magnetic resonance
      imaging: problems and solutions.
AB  - We performed magnetic resonance imaging in 30 patients with hydrocephalus with
      Sophy adjustable pressure valves (PAVS). A pressure check following the MRI study
      showed a significant proportion with pressure valve changes, which could easily
      be readjusted by percutaneous manipulation. The value of the PAVS and its safety
      during MRI examinations are discussed.

PMID- 1436462
TI  - Cortical region of interest definition on SPECT brain images using X-ray CT
      registration.
AB  - We present a method for brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
      analysis based on individual registration of anatomical (CT) and functional
      (133Xe regional cerebral blood flow) images and on the definition of three
      dimensional functional regions of interest. Registration of CT and SPECT is
      performed through adjustment of CT-defined cortex limits to the SPECT image.
      Regions are defined by sectioning a cortical ribbon on the CT images, copied over
      the SPECT images and pooled through slices to give 3D cortical regions of
      interest. The proposed method shows good intra- and interobserver reproducibility
      (regional intraclass correlation coefficient approximately 0.98), and good
      accuracy in terms of repositioning (approximately 3.5 mm) as compared to the
      SPECT image resolution (14 mm). The method should be particularly useful for
      analysing SPECT studies when variations in brain anatomy (normal or abnormal)
      must be accounted for.

PMID- 1436463
TI  - Effects of radiotherapy determined by 11C-methyl-L-methionine positron emission
      tomography in patients with primary cerebral malignant lymphoma.
AB  - Two cases of histologically proven primary cerebral malignant lymphoma were
      examined serially with positron emission tomography (PET) using 11C-methyl-L
      methionine (11C Met). Lesions delineated by 11C Met accumulation extended beyond
      enhancing areas on either X-ray computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance
      imaging. High uptake of 11C Met accurately showed biologically active and
      residual tumours, at a time when disappearance of a contrast-enhancing lesion on
      CT seemed to indicate involution. PET provides valuable information on the extent
      of tumour and assessment of radiotherapy in malignant lymphoma.

PMID- 1436464
TI  - Aspergillosis of the paranasal sinuses.
AB  - The CT appearances of 13 cases of pathologically proven aspergillosis involving
      paranasal sinuses were reviewed. Symptoms included rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction,
      headache, facial pain and foul smell from the nose. At operation, these lesions
      appeared yellowish, brownish, grey or black in colour, and contained dirty or
      muddy material. Microscopic examination of the tissue removed showed an
      Aspergillus ball with chronic inflammation but without invasion of the nasal or
      sinus mucosa in 6 cases, and tissue invasion with necrosis and inflammation in 7.
      The structures involved, in order of frequency, were: maxillary sinus, nasal
      cavity, ethmoid sinus, orbit and cavernous sinus. The orbit was involved in 2
      cases, therefore categorized as invasive; the other 11 cases were non-invasive as
      judged by CT. Calcification was seen in the lesions of 9 cases. In most cases the
      adjacent bony structures showed areas of erosion and sclerosis. Aspergillosis
      should be suspected in the presence of a mass in the paranasal sinuses or nasal
      cavity with calcification within it, which may not appear solid or dense and is
      separate from the walls of the sinus.

PMID- 1436465
TI  - Ascending pharyngeal artery-internal jugular vein fistula complicating radical
      neck dissection.
AB  - Arteriovenous fistulae of the ascending pharyngeal artery (AP) and internal
      jugular vein (IJ) are rare. Only two spontaneous AP-IJ fistulae have been
      described previously, both of which presented with pulsatile tinnitus. A unique
      case of an AP-IJ fistula developing after radical neck dissection is described in
      which the clinical presentation was identical to that of a carotid-cavernous
      fistula.

PMID- 1436466
TI  - Giant cell tumour of the skull base: MRI appearances. Case report.

PMID- 1436467
TI  - Chronic post-traumatic erosion of the skull base.
AB  - Delayed post-traumatic erosion of the skull base is reported in three patients
      who presented as adults with cerebrospinal fluid fistulae and a history of
      recurrent meningitis. These skull defects were associated with herniation of the
      subarachnoid space into the diploe of the skull base, the paranasal sinuses and
      the orbit. This rare complication of head injury is assumed to have occurred as
      the result of a dural tear at the time of trauma. Its site probably determines
      whether a resulting meningocele widens the intradiploic space or broaches the
      cranial floor.

PMID- 1436468
TI  - Double traumatic caroticocavernous fistula and its treatment by detachable
      balloons.

PMID- 1436469
TI  - Formation of an olfactory glomerulus: morphological aspects of development and
      organization.
AB  - We have studied the development of olfactory nerves in the rat from their first
      contact with the telencephalic vesicle until the formation of glomerular
      structures in the olfactory bulb at early postnatal period. The study is based on
      serial semithin and ultrathin sections of material prepared for electron
      microscopy and antibodies to label radial glial cells, glial fibrillary acidic
      protein and Rat-401. Beginning on embryonic day 12, developing olfactory axons
      from the olfactory placode are accompanied by migratory cells, also derived from
      the olfactory placode, that reach the prospective olfactory bulb by embryonic day
      13. The mass of migratory cells accumulate superficial to the telencephalic
      vesicle. The cells increase in number by mitotic divisions. The majority of these
      cells represent precursor elements that will later develop into the ensheathing
      cells of the olfactory nerves and olfactory nerve layer of the adult. Some
      migratory cells penetrate into the prospective olfactory bulb early during
      development. The first synaptic contacts of olfactory axons with dendritic
      processes in the olfactory bulb were observed at embryonic day 18. Glomerular
      formation is initiated by penetration of cells from the migratory mass into the
      prospective glomerular layer by embryonic day 20 to postnatal day 0. These cells
      form walls surrounding zones of high synaptic density forming protoglomeruli.
      Postnatally, the peripheral processes of radial glial cells branch profusely
      delimiting glomerular formations and transform into periglomerular astrocytes.
      Rat-401 stains radial glial cells from embryonic day 14. Immunoreactivity becomes
      restricted to the olfactory glomeruli during the first postnatal weeks and it
      virtually disappears by the end of the first postnatal month. We conclude that
      the early penetration of cells from the migratory mass into the prospective
      olfactory bulb, observed immediately after the first synaptic contacts were
      established, initiates the formation of olfactory glomeruli which becomes
      completed by the transformation of radial glial cells into periglomerular
      astrocytes.

PMID- 1436470
TI  - Mesostriatal and mesolimbic dopamine uptake binding sites are reduced in
      Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy: a quantitative
      autoradiographic study using [3H]mazindol.
AB  - It has been suggested that not only mesostriatal but also mesolimbic pathways are
      involved in the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease.
      Using quantitative ligand autoradiography we have investigated dopamine
      transporter sites in basal ganglia of patients affected by Huntington's chorea,
      Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. [3H]Mazindol, a ligand
      for catecholamine uptake, was used in the presence of desipramine to block the
      binding to norepinephrine uptake sites. Schizophrenic cases were entered in the
      study to take into account the effects of neuroleptics, commonly administered
      also to Huntington's disease patients, on dopamine uptake sites. In control cases
      high densities of [3H]mazindol binding sites were found in the caudate nucleus,
      putamen and nucleus accumbens, whereas very low densities were present in
      substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. In Huntington's chorea the density
      of [3H]mazindol binding sites was slightly decreased in the caudate nucleus, an
      area severely affected by the neurodegenerative process. In schizophrenic
      patients the density of dopamine uptake sites in the basal ganglia was slightly
      reduced, mainly in the middle third of putamen. Both Parkinson's disease and
      progressive supranuclear palsy populations were characterized by a marked loss of
      [3H]mazindol binding sites in the neostriatum (about 75%) and in the nucleus
      accumbens (about 65%). These results suggest that in Parkinson's disease and
      progressive supranuclear palsy severe decreases of dopamine uptake sites occur
      not only in the mesostriatal pathway but also in the mesolimbic tract.

PMID- 1436471
TI  - Mosaic distribution of phosphate-activated glutaminase-like immunoreactivity in
      the rat striatum.
AB  - The dorsal and ventral striatum of mammals has been known to be organized in a
      mosaic manner, referred to as "patches" and "matrix" of the caudatoputamen. The
      present study was primarily attempted in order to reveal the relationship of
      glutamatergic neuronal components to the mosaic organization in the rat striatum
      by using a monoclonal antibody to phosphate-activated glutaminase, a major
      synthetic enzyme of transmitter glutamate. Antibodies against glutamate
      decarboxylase and choline acetyltransferase were also used as the markers for
      GABAergic and cholinergic neuronal components, respectively. Glutaminase
      immunoreactivity was seen in a number of large- and a few medium-sized neurons in
      the caudatoputamen, nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercle. The large neurons
      with glutaminase immunoreactivity were observed in the neuropil of the
      caudatoputamen and nucleus accumbens; glutaminase immunoreactivity was
      particularly marked in the neuropil of island-like patchy areas although it was
      seen throughout the neuropil of the nuclei. In the caudatoputamen, island-like
      areas with marked glutaminase immunoreactivity exhibited less marked choline
      acetyltransferase immunoreactivity than the surrounding background region, and
      were thus considered to correspond to the patches. The mosaic distribution of
      glutamate decarboxylase immunoreactivity in the caudatoputamen seemed identical
      with that of glutaminase immunoreactivity. However, in the nucleus accumbens, the
      mosaic pattern of neuropil labeling for glutaminase was neither consistent with
      that for glutamate decarboxylase nor that for choline acetyltransferase,
      suggesting the presence of non-GABAergic glutaminase-containing nerve terminals
      in the nucleus. In an attempt to clarify the origin of neuropil labeling for
      glutaminase in the striatum, lesions were made in the regions sending projection
      fibers to the caudatoputamen and nucleus accumbens. After placing lesions in the
      cerebral cortex, glutaminase immunoreactivity was decreased in neuropil of the
      caudatoputamen, but the mosaic pattern remained. Lesions which were placed in the
      intralaminar thalamic nuclei, amygdaloid body, globus pallidus or substantia
      nigra produced no substantial change in glutaminase immunoreactivity in the
      caudatoputamen and nucleus accumbens. After injection of kainic acid into the
      caudatoputamen or nucleus accumbens, glutaminase immunoreactivity in the neuropil
      of the affected regions was decreased to lose the mosaic pattern, indicating that
      neuronal components with glutaminase immunoreactivity in the neuropil of the
      patches were mainly of intrinsic origin. In summary, possible axon terminals
      containing glutaminase were observed with mosaic patterns in the caudatoputamen
      and nucleus accumbens, in which large cholinergic and medium-sized non
      cholinergic neurons were immunoreactive for glutaminase. In the caudatoputamen,
      glutaminase immunoreactivity in neuropil was more marked in the patches than in
      the matrix.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1436472
TI  - The prolonged presence of glia-derived nexin, an endogenous protease inhibitor,
      in the hippocampus after ischemia-induced delayed neuronal death.
AB  - The presence of glia-derived nexin and glia fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was
      investigated in the hippocampus of Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)
      after transient forebrain ischemia. Bilateral clamping of the common carotid
      arteries for 7 min resulted in selective degeneration of CA1 pyramidal cells
      after a delay of three to four days, the so-called delayed neuronal death.
      Immunoreactivity for glia-derived nexin was found in astrocytes of all CA1 layers
      and was detectable until day 90 (the longest survival time studied). Astroglial
      reactivity was demonstrated in parallel by staining for GFAP. The co-localization
      of glia-derived nexin and GFAP was confirmed by double immunocytochemistry.
      Ultrastructural studies showed the exclusive presence of glia-derived nexin in
      astrocytes, in the vicinity of degenerating and preserved neuronal structures.
      Perivascular glia was intensely stained, but endothelial cells were devoid of
      immunoreactivity. Glia-derived nexin is a potent protease inhibitor with in vitro
      neurite-promoting activity. During adulthood, it is mainly present in the
      olfactory system, where receptor neurons are constantly being replaced. The
      ability of astrocytes to renew the expression of glia-derived nexin after
      selective delayed neuronal death and the prolonged presence of the protease
      inhibitor in a zone where degeneration occurs in the immediate neighborhood of
      preserved neuronal elements indicate that glia-derived nexin may play a role in
      structural rearrangements of the central nervous system.

PMID- 1436473
TI  - A monoclonal antibody to the interleukin-2 receptor enhances the survival of
      neural allografts: a time-course study.
AB  - A time-course study of the survival and immunological characteristics of rat
      neural allografts was undertaken in animals treated with a murine monoclonal
      antibody to the alpha-chain (p55) of the rat interleukin-2 receptor. This
      antibody, NDS 63, was administered for ten days following grafting beginning on
      the day of operation. Inbred rat strains differing at both major and minor
      histocompatibility loci were selected as donor and host. Furthermore, the
      recipient strain displayed a high responder major histocompatibility complex
      haplotype. All grafts were placed in the lateral ventricle. Comparison was drawn
      between NDS 63-treated recipients and two groups of controls; an untreated group
      and a second group treated with the monoclonal antibody NDS 66, directed at a
      second epitope on the alpha-chain of the interleukin-2 receptor, which has been
      shown to be ineffective in competing with interleukin-2 for binding.
      Immunocytochemical analysis of the transplants was performed at several time
      points up to 150 days following grafting. Grafts of NDS 63-treated recipients
      exhibited 100% survival with minimal induction of major histocompatibility
      complex antigens (both class I and class II) and negligible leukocyte
      infiltration at all time-points studied. In contrast grafts from both groups of
      controls showed evidence of a chronic immune response with most grafts undergoing
      rejection as shown by markedly elevated major histocompatibility complex antigen
      expression accompanied by specific immune cell infiltration. This was a
      protracted process with several grafts undergoing complete rejection by 60 days
      and a majority, but not all, by 150 days after transplantation. It is concluded
      that NDS 63, a monoclonal antibody to the interleukin-2 receptor, may diminish
      the immune response to transplanted allogeneic neural tissue and thereby enhance
      its prospects for long-term survival.

PMID- 1436474
TI  - Mapping of the distribution of polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule
      throughout the central nervous system of the adult rat: an immunohistochemical
      study.
AB  - In the nervous system, the neural cell adhesion molecule changes at the cell
      surface during development, from a form highly enriched in polysialic residues to
      several isoforms containing much less sialic acid, and is thought to participate
      in the structuring of neuronal groups and in the establishment of neuronal
      connections. Recent observations have indicated, however, that it may not be
      restricted to developing tissues since it is still present in certain adult
      neuronal centres which can undergo morphological reorganization. In this study,
      therefore, we examined systematically the distribution of polysialylated neural
      cell adhesion molecule immunoreactivity throughout the central nervous system of
      adult male and female rats, using light microscopic immunocytochemistry and
      immunoblot analysis with an antibody that specifically recognizes the polysialic
      residues of the molecule. Concomitantly, we compared this immunoreactivity to
      that due to all isoforms of the neural cell adhesion molecule, detected with a
      polyclonal serum raised against the NH2-terminal of the protein. Immunoreactivity
      due to the polysialylated isoform was consistently visualized in several discrete
      areas of the adult brain and spinal cord. An intercellular punctate
      immunolabelling characterized the staining in certain hypothalamic and thalamic
      nuclei, superficial laminae of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, ventral
      portion of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, lateral geniculate, parabrachial
      and habenular nuclei, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, mesencephalic central
      gray and olfactory bulb. In other areas, such as the piriform cortex, dorsal
      aspect of the dentate gyrus and fimbria and lamina X of the spinal cord, isolated
      neuronal-like cells were either completely filled with immunolabel or showed a
      surface reaction on their cell bodies and processes. Highly immunoreactive
      isolated glial-like cells were also noted within the ependymal layer of the
      central canal and lateral ventricles and at times in the peripheral white matter
      of the spinal cord. In contrast to this discrete localization, staining due to
      all isoforms of the neural cell adhesion molecule was widespread and diffuse
      throughout the brain and spinal cord. The expression of the polysialylated
      isoform in the supraoptic nucleus and hippocampus was confirmed by immunoblot
      analysis; it occurred together with weakly sialylated isoforms. No obvious
      differences were detected in the amount or distribution of immunoreactivity due
      to the polysialylated isoform in relation to the sex or age of the animals
      (between three and 12 months of age). Our study thus demonstrates that well
      defined areas of the central nervous system of the adult rat continue to express
      the polysialylated isoform of the neural cell adhesion molecule.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1436475
TI  - Cell-cell contact modulates expression of cell adhesion molecule L1 in PC12
      cells.
AB  - The effect of cell contact on the expression of cell adhesion molecule L1 was
      investigated. The rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12 cells were cultured at
      various densities in the presence or absence of the nerve growth factor. The
      addition of the nerve growth factor promoted the expression of L1. The expression
      of L1 was higher when the cells were cultured at high density than when done at
      low density both in the presence or absence of the nerve growth factor.
      Immunohistochemical staining of L1 showed that the expression of L1 was higher in
      the cells contacting each other. These results show that cell interaction affects
      the expression of cell adhesion molecule L1 in the PC12 cells.

PMID- 1436476
TI  - Effects of nerve growth factor on the biosynthesis of chromogranin A and B,
      secretogranin II and carboxypeptidase H in rat PC12 cells.
AB  - We investigated the biosynthesis of various constituents (chromogranins A and B,
      secretogranin II, carboxypeptidase H and synaptin/synaptophysin) of large dense
      core and small vesicles in PC12 cells. These cells were treated for up to 18 days
      with nerve growth factor. Peptide levels were determined by quantitative
      immunoblotting, their mRNAs by Northern blotting. Nerve growth factor treatment
      changed the levels of the various peptides investigated and their mRNAs in three
      patterns. Peptide and mRNA levels for chromogranin A and chromogranin B were
      increased on day 1 and then declined. Synaptin/synaptophysin levels slightly
      decreased from day 1 onwards. On the other hand secretogranin II increased
      steadily up to 217% for peptide levels and 257% for mRNA levels. For
      carboxypeptidase H for which only the mRNA could be determined an analogous
      behaviour was seen. Its mRNA after 14 days of nerve growth factor treatment was
      459% of controls. These results establish that the biosynthesis of the secretory
      proteins chromogranin A, chromogranin B and secretogranin II is regulated
      differentially during nerve growth factor treatment. We suggest that neuronal
      differentiation is accompanied by an increased biosynthesis of secretogranin II.
      For carboxypeptidase H, the marked increase in mRNA levels after nerve growth
      factor treatment is the first example that the biosynthesis of this peptide is
      significantly up-regulated. Synaptin/synaptophysin biosynthesis is not increased
      although this peptide is a major constituent of small vesicles which increase in
      number during nerve growth factor treatment.

PMID- 1436477
TI  - Differential cerebrovascular and metabolic responses in specific neural systems
      elicited from the centromedian-parafascicular complex.
AB  - The effect of electrical stimulation of the centromedian-parafascicular complex
      on local cerebral blood flow and local cerebral glucose utilization was
      investigated in anesthetized, paralysed and ventilated rats. Local cerebral blood
      flow and local cerebral glucose utilization were measured in separate groups of
      animals using the autoradiographic (14C)iodoantipyrine and (14C)2-deoxyglucose
      methods, respectively. Because of the well-established centromedian
      parafascicular complex neuroanatomical connections, three functional neuronal
      systems were analysed and compared: the extrapyramidal motor system the limbic
      system and the reticular formation, also known as the ascending activating
      system. Cortical regions not included in the limbic system were considered
      separately. The validity of comparisons between changes in local cerebral blood
      flow and local cerebral glucose utilization across the brain was verified by
      assessing the reactivity and stability of the cortical blood flow during long
      term centromedian-parafascicular complex stimulation. Centromedian-parafascicular
      complex stimulation elicited a marked but heterogeneous increase in local
      cerebral blood flow in 50 of the 52 cerebral structures measured. The most
      pronounced increases were seen in the lateral habenular nucleus (331 +/- 30% of
      control), the zona incerta (400 +/- 55%), the mesencephalic reticular formation
      (415 +/- 122%) and the parietal cortex (211 +/- 35%). In contrast, local cerebral
      glucose utilization remained statistically unchanged (P greater than 0.05) in 28
      of these 50 individual brain regions during centromedian-parafascicular complex
      stimulation. The most pronounced increases in local cerebral glucose utilization
      were seen in the zona incerta (123 +/- 28%) and the mesencephalic reticular
      formation (193 +/- 26%). Local cerebral blood flow and local cerebral glucose
      utilization were linearly related in unstimulated controls, considering either
      all brain regions taken as a whole or the three systems separately. The
      significant increase in the slopes of the regression line between local cerebral
      blood flow and local cerebral glucose utilization for the reticular formation and
      the limbic system during centromedian-parafascicular complex stimulation
      indicates, however, that the coupling mechanisms for these systems, but not for
      the extrapyramidal motor system, were reset. The local cerebral blood flow to
      local cerebral glucose utilization ratio was heterogeneous in controls and
      differentially increased during centromedian-parafascicular complex stimulation,
      being markedly pronounced in the parietal cortex and in the reticular formation.
      We conclude that these results, for the first time, provide evidence that, the
      functionally well-defined neural networks may have different mechanisms whereby
      changes in vascular and metabolic demands are regulated.

PMID- 1436478
TI  - A model for the generation of movements requiring endpoint precision.
AB  - A model is proposed in which movement accuracy is regulated by means of
      corrective actions taken at discrete intervals throughout the course of a
      movement. A movement, as represented by its tangential velocity profile, cna be
      decomposed into a series of one or more submovements. Each submovement consists
      of a prototype velocity profile which can be scaled in magnitude and duration.
      For planar two-joint movements, we demonstrate that these submovements can be
      mathematically represented either in terms of velocity profiles or in terms of
      the underlying joint torque profiles. In either case, the submovements
      superimpose linearly to produce the composite movement. The model provides a very
      good fit to tangential velocity profiles recorded from human subjects during
      three-dimensional arm movements with constraints on accuracy and speed. The model
      assumes that when a submovement is present, its onset is associated with a change
      in the direction of the hand path and/or a zero crossing or inflection in at
      least one of the components of the velocity vector. The model is consistent with
      a strategy in which precision is achieved by periodic discrete actions which
      redirect the moving arm in order to bring the hand closer to the target. Since
      submovements were also observed in slow movements where accuracy constraints had
      been relaxed, we hypothesize that the strategy of superimposing a series of
      submovements to make one composite movement may be a general one. We suggest that
      it would be particularly appropriate for the process of learning a new motor
      skill.

PMID- 1436479
TI  - Monoamine oxidase-B in motor cortex: changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
AB  - The occurrence of monoamine oxidase-B in cerebral cortex and white matter in
      brains from three patients with the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
      and three controls was quantified by means of an autoradiographical method. [3H]L
      Deprenyl, an irreversible and selective monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor, was used
      as ligand and the autoradiographs were analysed by computer-assisted
      densitometry. In both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and control cerebral cortex,
      lamina I showed the highest, laminae II and III intermediate, laminae IV, V and
      VI the lowest [3H]L-deprenyl binding. White matter showed about one-third of the
      binding in the cortex. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases showed significantly
      higher binding of [3H]L-deprenyl in all the cortex laminae of the pre- and
      postcentral gyri. There was no difference in the binding between the amyotrophic
      lateral sclerosis cases and the controls in area 7 of the occipital cortex, an
      area which is relatively spared in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

PMID- 1436480
TI  - Transient lesion-induced increase of basic fibroblast growth factor and its
      receptor in layer VIb (subplate cells) of the adult rat cerebral cortex.
AB  - Basic fibroblast growth factor is a potent trophic factor with a wide spectrum of
      activity at various stages of neuronal development. In our studies on the effects
      of select lesions on the expression of growth factors, we observed that neurons
      of layer VIb of the rat cerebral cortex developed immunoreactivity for basic
      fibroblast growth factor and its receptor following injury. Recent evidence
      indicates that layer VIb of the rat cerebral cortex contains the subplate cell
      population, a group of neurons shown to participate in the development of the
      cerebral cortex. In this article, we examined the nature and time-course of the
      response to injury of the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor and its
      receptor in these cells. We used an anti-basic fibroblast growth factor
      monoclonal antibody that recognizes the active form of basic fibroblast growth
      factor, and a polyclonal antibody that recognizes the extracellular domain of the
      basic fibroblast growth factor receptor. The induction of basic fibroblast growth
      factor and its receptor in layer VIb cells occurred after entorhinal cortex
      lesion, fimbria-formix transection or aspiration of small segment of the
      frontoparietal cortex. The lesion-induced effect was transient, appearing by
      postlesion day 2 and having disappeared by postlesion day 7. These findings
      suggest that endogenous basic fibroblast growth factor may have a neuroprotective
      role on layer VIb neurons after trauma and/or may participate in cortical
      plasticity during adulthood.

PMID- 1436481
TI  - Glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity following cortical
      devascularizing lesion.
AB  - Disruption of a restricted area of the pia-arachnoid compromises vascular
      irrigation of the underlying cortex, leading to infarction of the tissue. This
      study was undertaken to examine the effects of such brain injury on glial cells.
      Adult male Wistar rats were processed for glial fibrillary acidic protein
      immunoreactivity at 1, 4, 7, 15 and 30 days after undergoing cortical
      devascularization. One day post-lesion, glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive
      cells were observed only at the lesion site. Glial fibrillary acidic protein
      positive cells were present in the ipsilateral remaining cortex, distant from the
      wound, between days 4 and 15, and were also evident in the thalamus beginning 4
      days post-lesion. These diverse temporal patterns of GFAP immunoreactivity in
      different brain structures suggest that various mechanisms can mediate increased
      GFAP immunostaining following injury.

PMID- 1436482
TI  - Abnormal Ca2+ homeostasis before cell death revealed by whole cell recording of
      ischemic CA1 hippocampal neurons.
AB  - Slices were made from the hippocampus of gerbils following transient ischemia
      achieved by clamping the carotid arteries for 5 min, and changes in the
      electrophysiology of CA1 pyramidal neurons were studied by whole cell patch-clamp
      recording as well as conventional intracellular recording. The great majority of
      CA1 neurons in slices made 2.5-3 days after ischemia showed reduced resting
      potentials and were easily depolarized by prolonged low-frequency stimulation or
      by tetanic stimulation of the Schaffer collateral/commissural input. This
      stimulus-induced depolarization was accelerated by intracellular injection of D
      myo-inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate, which depolarized membrane potentials towards 0
      mV without synaptic input stimulation. Intracellular application of BAPTA, a Ca2+
      chelator, effectively blocked the stimulus-induced depolarization. When recording
      from ischemic neurons with patch pipettes containing both D-myo-inositol 1,4,5
      triphosphate and BAPTA, excitatory postsynaptic currents were transiently
      potentiated by stimulation, but the membrane potential did not show stimulus
      induced depolarization and remained steady for long periods. These results lend
      support to the view that the intracellular Ca2+ regulation system is severely
      disturbed following ischemia, and that input fiber stimulation leads to abnormal
      Ca2+ accumulation in ischemic neurons resulted in neuronal death. The reduction
      of free Ca2+ inside the ischemic neuron by BAPTA apparently saves neurons which
      are otherwise destined to delayed neuronal death.

PMID- 1436483
TI  - Postsynaptic then presynaptic protein kinase C activity may be necessary for long
      term potentiation.
AB  - Protein kinase C inhibitor was injected intracellularly by iontophoresis into CA1
      somata either before or after long-term potentiation in the hippocampal slice
      preparation. Two different protein kinase C inhibitors, polymyxin B (PMXB) or 1
      (5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), injected 10 min before long
      term potentiation induction caused potentiated responses to return to baseline 15
      35 min after induction without significantly affecting the initial magnitude of
      potentiation. There was no effect on long-term potentiation persistence when H-7
      or PMXB was injected intracellularly 5 min after long-term potentiation
      induction. In contrast, focal extracellular micro-pressure ejection of protein
      kinase C inhibitor in the stratum radiatum, 15 or 30 min, but not 60 min after
      long-term potentiation induction caused decay of long-term potentiation to
      baseline. This is probably a presynaptic action since intracellular inhibitors
      injected postsynaptically were ineffective 5 min after long-term potentiation
      induction. Focal application to stratum pyramidale produced a weaker decay than
      to stratum radiatum suggesting a Schaffer collateral presynaptic terminal site of
      action. We propose that activation of postsynaptic protein kinase C activity is
      necessary for long-term potentiation persistence but this activity persists for
      less than 5 min after induction. Presynaptic protein kinase C activity is also
      necessary for persistence and is time-limited to less than 60 min. It is
      attractive to think that these two events are sequentially activated and employ
      different protein kinase C subtypes differentially localized to presynaptic or
      postsynaptic elements.

PMID- 1436484
TI  - The low molecular weight guanosine triphosphate-binding protein Rab6p associates
      with distinct post-Golgi vesicles in Torpedo marmorata electrocytes.
AB  - The Rab genes have recently been cloned and sequenced in mammals, and their
      products represent good candidates for low molecular weight guanosine
      triphosphate-binding proteins involved in the regulation of intracellular
      transport of vesicles in higher eukaryotes. Remarkably, each of the Rab proteins
      appears to be associated with a distinct step of either the exocytic or endocytic
      pathway. In particular, Rab6p has been localized to the outermost Golgi cisternae
      in normal rat kidney cells, where its function remains unclear. In this work, we
      have carried out a series of immunocytochemical analyses of the subcellular
      distribution of Rab6p in a polarized cell, the electrocyte of Torpedo marmorata,
      to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the sorting and targeting of
      synaptic proteins. We report that, aside from its Golgi localization, the bulk of
      Rab6p associates with clusters of post-Golgi vesicles, primarily those located at
      the cytoplasmic face of the innervated membrane of the electrocyte. Consequently,
      Rab6p presents a polarized distribution in this cell. Furthermore, we show that
      this distribution is dependent upon the integrity of the microtubule network of
      the electrocyte. These data are coherent with the notion that Rab6p is involved
      in the regulation of membrane traffic from the trans-Golgi network to the
      innervated plasma membrane, delivering, by way of a microtubule-based organelle
      transport mechanism, synaptic proteins to their appropriate locations.

PMID- 1436485
TI  - Inhibitory effects of ventral tegmental area stimulation on the activity of
      prefrontal cortical neurons: evidence for the involvement of both dopaminergic
      and GABAergic components.
AB  - The medial prefrontal cortex of the rat receives dopamine and non-dopaminergic
      projections from the ventral tegmental area. Both electrical stimulation of the
      ventral tegmental area and local application of dopamine induce an inhibition of
      the spontaneous activity of most prefrontal cortical neurons, including efferent
      neurons. In the present study, the techniques of extracellular recording and
      microiontophoresis were used in anesthetized rats in order to determine whether
      these dopamine- and ventral tegmental area-induced inhibitory responses involve
      GABAergic components. Prefrontal cortex output neurons were identified by
      antidromic activation from subcortical structures. The inhibitory responses
      evoked by the local application of dopamine were blocked by the iontophoretic
      application of the D2 antagonist sulpiride, and the GABAA antagonist bicuculline
      in 89 and 57% of the cases, respectively. In addition, sulpiride and bicuculline
      abolished the inhibition induced by ventral tegmental area stimulation in 54 and
      51% of the prefrontal cortical cells tested, respectively. The implication of a
      non-dopaminergic mesocortical system in the ventral tegmental area-induced
      inhibition was further analysed using rats pre-treated with alpha
      methylparatyrosine to deplete dopamine stores. The proportion of prefrontal
      cortical cells inhibited by ventral tegmental area stimulation was markedly
      reduced (39%) in alpha-methylparatyrosine-treated rats, when compared to controls
      (86%). Remaining ventral tegmental area-induced inhibition was no longer affected
      by sulpiride, but in all cases blocked by the local microiontophoretic
      application of bicuculline. The present results suggest that: (1) the dopamine
      induced inhibition of prefrontal cortex neurons could involve cortical GABAergic
      interneurones; (2) the non-dopaminergic mesocortical system exerts also an
      inhibitory influence on prefrontal cortical cells and appears to be GABAergic.

PMID- 1436486
TI  - Pharmacological evidence for common mechanisms underlying the effects of
      neurotensin and neuroleptics on in vivo dopamine efflux in the rat nucleus
      accumbens.
AB  - The effects of the neuropeptide neurotensin and the typical neuroleptic
      haloperidol on dopamine efflux were compared in the posteromedial nucleus
      accumbens of the chloral hydrate-anesthetized rat using in vivo
      chronoamperometry. Both neurotensin and haloperidol administration elicited an
      immediate increase in dopamine efflux in the nucleus accumbens. Gamma
      hydroxybutyric acid lactone, an agent known to block impulse flow in dopamine
      neurons, either prevented when given before neurotensin or reversed neurotensin
      induced increases in accumbens dopamine efflux. Haloperidol-induced increases in
      accumbens dopamine efflux were similarly affected by gamma-hydroxybutyric acid
      lactone. The dopamine receptor agonist apomorphine reversed neurotensin- and
      haloperidol-induced increases in dopamine efflux. Amphetamine, administered
      during the peak dopamine stimulatory effects induced by neurotensin or
      haloperidol, resulted in increases above baseline which were significantly
      greater than the effects of amphetamine alone. These combined drug treatment
      effects on baseline dopamine efflux were additive, indicating that the effects of
      amphetamine were not potentiated by neurotensin or haloperidol pretreatments.
      These in vivo results suggest that neurotensin and haloperidol may augment
      dopamine efflux in the nucleus accumbens via common mechanisms of action which
      may involve activation of mesotelencephalic dopamine neuronal firing. The
      inability of neurotensin to block amphetamine-induced efflux in the nucleus
      accumbens further suggests that neurotensin blockade of amphetamine-elicited
      locomotor activity is mediated by an action of neurotensin postsynaptic to
      dopamine nerve terminals in the nucleus accumbens.

PMID- 1436487
TI  - Changes of rat striatal neuronal membrane morphology and steroid content during
      the estrous cycle.
AB  - It is well documented that sex steroids affect striatal dopamine systems.
      However, the mechanism(s) of these hormonal effects in the striatum is still not
      well understood. We now report that gonadal steroid hormones during the estrous
      cycle affect the morphology and steroid hormone content of the rat striatum. Rats
      displaying at least two consecutive estrous cycles were included in this study as
      well as a group of female rats ovariectomized two weeks before being killed. The
      striatum was dissected from one half of each brain and used for morphological
      studies. From the other half of each brain, the striatum was dissected and
      steroid hormone concentrations in striatum and the remainder of the brain were
      determined. Tissues and serum concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol, progesterone
      and prolactin were measured by specific radioimmunoassays. Serum 17 beta
      estradiol and prolactin concentrations peaked in proestrus, while progesterone
      was high in diestrus and proestrus. 17 beta-Estradiol levels were higher in the
      striatum than in the rest of the brain; both were also shown to fluctuate during
      the estrous cycle and with a pattern similar to that observed in serum.
      Progesterone serum levels showed a similar pattern of changes during the estrous
      cycle to progesterone concentrations in the striatum and the rest of the brain.
      The ultrastructure of the striatal dendritic membranes was studied by freeze
      fracture. A significant difference in the content of intramembranous particles in
      dendritic shafts, which are mainly contacted by dopaminergic synapses, was found
      during the estrous cycle. The numerical density of large (greater than 10 nm)
      intramembranous particles was increased in diestrus I and II and in the afternoon
      of proestrus compared to estrus, the morning of proestrus and ovariectomized
      rats. In contrast, the numerical density of small (less than 10 nm)
      intramembranous particles was decreased in cycling animals compared to
      ovariectomized rats and fell in the afternoon of proestrus and then progressively
      increased in the following days to peak in the morning of proestrus. A negative
      correlation between steroid concentrations and small intramembranous particle
      density was observed, while the correlation was positive for large particles. No
      changes were observed in the membranes of dendritic spines, the main postsynaptic
      target for cortical afferents. In summary, this is the first report that
      concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone in the striatum fluctuate
      during the estrous cycle. This is associated with estrous cycle-dependent changes
      of intramembranous particle density of striatal dendritic membranes. Our data
      therefore indicate that the striatum is a brain region hormonally modulated under
      physiological conditions.

PMID- 1436488
TI  - Diverse actions of 5-hydroxytryptamine on frog spinal dorsal horn neurons in
      vitro.
AB  - The effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine on the membrane potential and input resistance
      of 86 dorsal horn neurons were studied using intracellular recordings in
      isolated, hemisected spinal cords of adult frogs (Rana pipiens). Bath application
      of serotonin (5-100 microM) caused membrane depolarizations in 58 (67%) neurons,
      hyperpolarizations in 12 (14%) cells, biphasic responses in nine (11%) neurons,
      and no detectable change in seven (8%) cells. In some neurons depolarized by
      serotonin, the amine's responses could be mimicked by the selective 5-HT2 agonist
      (+/-)-1(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane hydrochloride and the 5-HT1C/2
      agonist alpha-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine, and blocked by the 5-HT1C/2 antagonists
      ketanserin and mianserin. In other neurons depolarized by serotonin, the 5-HT3
      agonist 2-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine mimicked, and the 5-HT3 antagonist, 3
      tropanyl-3,5-dichlorobenzoate, blocked the serotonin-induced responses.
      Depolarizing responses due to activation of 5-HT1C/2 receptors were generally
      accompanied by increases in the membrane input resistance, whereas
      depolarizations mediated by 5-HT3 receptors were associated with a decreased
      membrane input resistance. Superfusion with tetrodotoxin or low-Ca2+/high-Mg(2+)
      containing media abolished about half of the depolarizing responses.
      Hyperpolarizations caused by serotonin were associated with a decrease in
      membrane input resistance, and might have been due to activation of a potassium
      conductance. These responses persisted in bathing solutions containing
      tetrodotoxin or low-Ca2+/high-Mg2+. The 5-HT1A agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-N
      propylamine)tetralin hydrobromide mimicked, whereas the 5-HT1A antagonist
      spiroxatrine blocked, these hyperpolarizing responses. Other antagonists
      selective for 5-HT1C/2 or 5-HT3 receptors were without effect. Serotonin-produced
      biphasic responses consisted of either an initial depolarization followed by a
      hyperpolarization or the reverse. The selective 5-HT2 agonist (+/-)-1(2,5
      dimethyoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane hydrochloride could only mimic the
      depolarizations, whereas the 5-HT1A agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-N
      propylamine)tetralin hydrobromide produced only the hyperpolarizations.
      Spiroxatrine, a 5-HT1A antagonist, blocked only the hyperpolarizations without
      affecting the depolarizations, and methysergide, a non-specific 5-HT receptor
      antagonist, depressed both the depolarizations and hyperpolarizations. Serotonin
      also appeared to affect spinal dorsal horn neurons indirectly because it produced
      excitatory postsynaptic potentials, inhibitory postsynaptic potentials, and a
      mixture of both.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1436489
TI  - Choline blockage of currents through Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels in bovine
      chromaffin cells.
AB  - The action of choline on "maxi" Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels was studied in
      excised patches of bovine chromaffin cell membranes. Choline (20-70 mM) applied
      to the internal surface of the membrane reduced the single channel current
      amplitudes, which can be explained by a fast channel block. The block is
      concentration- and voltage-dependent and is rapidly and completely reversed upon
      washout. The block becomes progressively greater with depolarization. The
      estimates of blocking parameters vary from channel to channel but appear to fall
      in two groups. A larger group (two-thirds of cases) with moderate affinity [KD(0)
      = 88.5 mM] and low voltage dependence (delta = 0.26) and a smaller group (one
      third of cases) with very low affinity (KD = 306 mM) and moderate voltage
      dependence (delta = 0.59). The open state probability appears not to be affected
      at any choline concentration (up to 70 mM) or membrane potential (from -20 to +60
      mV) studied, suggesting that choline does not affect the channel gating kinetics.
      Since the affinity of the choline block is low to moderate, the intracellular
      choline is not expected to alter the current flow through "maxi" Ca(2+)-activated
      K+ channels unless the choline concentration close to the protoplasmic membrane
      is much higher than the mean cellular concentration.

PMID- 1436490
TI  - Termination pattern and fine structural characteristics of GABA- and
      [Met]enkephalin-containing nerve fibers and synapses in the superior cervical
      ganglion of adult rat.
AB  - Morphological features of nerve fibers and synapses containing GABA and
      [Met]enkephalin were studied at the light and electron microscopic levels in the
      superior cervical ganglia of rats by pre- and postembedding immunohistochemistry.
      Both GABA and [Met]enkephalin immunoreactivities were found in varicose nerve
      fibers, forming diffuse networks which were denser in the rostral than in the
      caudal part of each ganglion. For both antigens rich and basket-like innervation
      was observed around some of the principal neurons. The GABA-immunoreactive fibers
      were evenly stained, while in case of [Met]enkephalin-positive nerve fibers the
      varicosities showed intensive immunopositivity only. Postembedding
      immunochemistry revealed that both inhibitory substances were located in axon
      varicosities which established asymmetric synapses of Gray I type. Fine
      structural investigation revealed that GABA-like immunoreactivity was confined in
      the nerve endings to the clear synaptic vesicles of 40 nm diameter, whereas the
      immunogold particles, indicating the occurrence of [Met]enkephalin, were located
      over the large dense-cored vesicles of 120 nm diameter. The clear and dense-cored
      vesicles were, however, mixed in the nerve endings labeled by either
      neurotransmitter substance. Interestingly, the [Met]enkephalin-immunopositive
      axon terminals were found, consequently, in synaptic contacts with dendrites
      containing dense bodies in a row underlying the postsynaptic membrane thickening.
      Since nerve terminals with GABA-like immunoreactivity established synapses of
      Gray I type without such subjunctional bodies, one can reasonably assume that, in
      spite of similarities in termination pattern, there is no co-existence of GABA
      and enkephalin in the axons in the superior cervical ganglion.

PMID- 1436491
TI  - Ankle joint (artc. intertarsalis) receptors in the domestic fowl.
AB  - The physiological responses of joint capsule sensory receptors in the ankle joint
      of the chicken were studied by recording the electrical activity from single
      sensory afferent nerve fibres dissected from the parafibular nerve. All units
      included in this study were sensitive to mechanical stimulation of the joint
      capsule and were classified with respect to nerve conduction velocity, receptive
      field size and response threshold. Rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors formed 23%
      of the receptors present in the sample and responded to the mechanical probe by
      giving a single response or a short burst of activity at the onset of
      stimulation. The majority of units identified showed a slowly adapting response
      and on the basis of conduction velocity were divided into group IV (CV 2.5 m/s),
      group III (CV 2.5-20 m/s) and those units conducting over 20 m/s. Group IV units
      had single spot-like receptive fields and mechanical thresholds ranging from 0.6
      to 60 g. Group III units could be divided into two groups based on receptive
      field size. One group had spot-like receptive fields 1-2 mm in diameter, whereas
      in the other group the receptive fields were larger (over 2 x 3 mm). The large
      receptive field units had significantly faster conduction velocities, lower
      mechanical thresholds and steeper stimulus-response curves than small receptive
      field units. In response to movement of the joint very few of the receptors,
      whether rapidly or slowly adapting, were found to be excited by moving the joint
      by hand in the middle of its physiological range. The physiological properties of
      these avian mechanoreceptive fine afferent units suggest that while some are
      activated by normal joint movement and non-noxious local mechanical stimulation
      of the joint capsule, others have nociceptive functions. The receptors present in
      the ankle joint were correlated with the anatomical structures found in the avian
      joints and their physiological properties compared and contrasted to the joint
      receptors found in mammals.

PMID- 1436493
TI  - Presence of calbindin and lack of parvalbumin in progesterone receptor-containing
      neurons of the monkey mediobasal hypothalamus.
AB  - All of the progesterone receptor-containing cells of the monkey hypothalamus are
      GABAergic. The aim of this study was to further characterize these GABAergic
      progesterone receptor-containing neurons based on their calbindin or parvalbumin
      content. These calcium-binding proteins are characteristic markers of different
      populations of GABAergic neurons in the central nervous system. Double
      immunolabeling for progesterone receptor and either calbindin or parvalbumin was
      performed on hypothalamic Vibratome sections of estrogen primed African green
      monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops). Progesterone receptor-containing calbindin
      immunoreactive neurons were observed in the ventromedial and periventricular
      areas of the hypothalamus. Forty-one per cent of the progesterone receptor
      containing cells in this area were calbindin immunopositive. No double
      immunolabeled neurons could be detected in the infundibular (arcuate) nucleus. In
      tissue double-immunolabeled for progesterone receptor and parvalbumin, none of
      the progesterone receptor-containing neurons exhibited immunoreactivity for
      parvalbumin. Electron microscopic double-immunostaining for progesterone receptor
      and calbindin confirmed the light microscopic results. Furthermore, a large
      number of asymmetric synaptic contacts were observed on the calbindin
      immunoreactive neurons. These observations demonstrate that progesterone receptor
      containing cells in the monkey mediobasal hypothalamus consist of at least two
      different types of GABA neurons, and indicate that progesterone receptor
      containing calbindin cells may be postsynaptic targets of excitatory fibers.

PMID- 1436492
TI  - Cloning of human neurotensin/neuromedin N genomic sequences and expression in the
      ventral mesencephalon of schizophrenics and age/sex matched controls.
AB  - A human genomic clone encompassing exons 1-3 of the neurotensin/neuromedin N gene
      was identified using a canine neurotensin complementary DNA probe. Sequence
      comparisons revealed that the 120-amino acid portion of the precursor sequence
      encoded by exons 1-3 is 89% identical to previously determined cow and dog
      sequences and that the proximal 250 bp of 5' flanking sequences are strikingly
      conserved between rat and human. The 5' flanking sequence contains cis-regulatory
      sites required for the induction of neurotensin/neuromedin N gene expression in
      PC12 cells, including AP1 sites and two cyclic adenosine-5'-monophosphate
      response elements. Oligonucleotide probes based on the human sequence were used
      to examine the distribution of neurotensin/neuromedin N messenger RNA in the
      ventral mesencephalon of schizophrenics and age- and sex-matched controls.
      Neurotensin/neuromedin N messenger RNA was observed in ventral mesencephalic
      cells some of which also contained melanin pigment or tyrosine hydroxylase
      messenger RNA. Neurons expressing neurotensin/neuromedin N messenger RNA were
      observed in the ventral mesencephalon of both schizophrenic and non-schizophrenic
      humans.

PMID- 1436494
TI  - A comparison of the electrophysiological properties of morphologically identified
      cells in layers 5B and 6 of the rat neocortex.
AB  - In vitro studies performed in mammalian brain slices have shown that cortical
      neurons differ in their intrinsic membrane properties. In the rodent cortex these
      properties are related to a specific cell morphology and synaptic connectivity in
      some cells but not in others. Due to their small size, little is known about the
      intrinsic membrane properties of layer 6 cells, however, and it is not clear
      whether cell morphology is related to electrophysiological properties in this
      layer. We used a combination of intracellular recording and dye-filling to study
      the electrophysiological and morphological characteristics of layer 6 cells of
      the rat sensorimotor cortex in vitro and compared their properties to those of
      large layer 5B pyramidal cells. Our sample of 24 filled and anatomically
      reconstructed cells in layer 6 confirms previous Golgi studies that showed them
      to be a morphologically diverse group consisting of regularly and irregularly
      oriented pyramidal cells and spiny nonpyramidal cells. Regular layer 6 pyramidal
      cells differed with respect to the length of their apical dendrites and extent of
      their axonal arborizations, while irregularly oriented pyramidal cells consisted
      of sideways or inverted pyramidal cells of variable size and morphology. Spiny
      nonpyramidal cells included bi-tufted and multi-polar cell types that differed in
      size and extent of dendritic trees. Many layer 6 cells showed long horizontal
      axon collaterals in layer 6, and an oblique or vertical projection to layer 4.
      Stimulation with intracellular constant current pulses revealed that the
      morphological diversity was mirrored by a similar electrophysiological diversity.
      Most layer 6 cells were capable of firing trains of action potentials
      characterized by an initial doublet or triplet followed by a train of single
      spikes (phasic-tonic mode). The majority of layer 6 cells could fire in either a
      tonic (single spikes only) mode with low strength current input and a phasic
      tonic pattern with higher current strengths. A minority fired either always
      phasic-tonic or tonic-only spike trains. The size and sequence of spike
      afterpotentials during low-rate repetitive firing was highly variable in layer 6
      cells suggesting that the relative importance of ionic currents responsible for
      spike repolarization and afterpotentials varied from cell to cell. Subthreshold
      responses showed prominent inward rectification, while hyperpolarizing "sag" was
      present in most cells tested. In comparison, large layer 5B pyramidal cells fired
      either phasic-tonic only or both phasic-tonic and tonic patterns. A minority of
      cells were capable of firing repetitive bursts, while the remainder fired
      repetitive single spikes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1436495
TI  - Ketamine blocks cortical epileptic afterdischarges but not paired-pulse and
      frequency potentiation.
AB  - Cortical epileptiform afterdischarges (spike-and-wave rhythm) induced by low
      frequency stimulation of the sensorimotor cortex were dose-dependently shortened
      by ketamine (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, i.p.). Myoclonic jerking during stimulation was
      unaffected by ketamine whereas the same motor pattern accompanying
      afterdischarges was markedly suppressed by this drug. Paired-pulse as well as
      frequency potentiation of the cortical interhemispheric (transcallosal) responses
      were not significantly altered by the 40 mg/kg dose of ketamine. The two simple
      potentiation phenomena studied probably did not play a role in initiation of
      cortical epileptic afterdischarges.

PMID- 1436496
TI  - Spontaneous and evoked activity of the caudate neurons to central and peripheral
      stimuli after brain lesions.
AB  - The involvement of the cerebral cortex, commissural fibers and thalamus on
      caudate-caudate relations was studied in locally anesthetized, paralysed and
      artificially ventilated cats. This type of experimental preparation was necessary
      since a complete suppression of spontaneous and evoked activity is produced by
      subanesthetic doses of general anesthesia. Two types of caudate action potentials
      were encountered on the basis of their waveform characteristics: biphasic and
      triphasic spikes, the former being the largest population (80%). These waveforms
      were independent of the microelectrode resistance and the distance to recorded
      neurons. However, their responses were very similar to both central and
      peripheral stimuli. Caudate stimulation depressed the spontaneous discharges of
      the majority of the responsive units recorded within the opposite nucleus, while
      striatal neurons were activated by stimulation of the contralateral cortex.
      Decortication, thalamic lesion (motor nuclei and massa intermedia) and section of
      the corpus callosum decrease the firing rates of caudate neurons with biphasic
      spikes, while the discharges of the neurons with triphasic action potentials
      remained unchanged. Bilateral ablation of the cerebral cortex decreased the
      responsiveness of striatal neurons to contralateral nucleus and sciatic nerve and
      reduced the number of spontaneously active cells per recording tract. Section of
      the commissural fibers also depressed the caudate responses to the contralateral
      nucleus, and to the opposite precruciate cortex, although thalamic lesion did not
      affect the responsiveness of caudate cells to both central and peripheral
      stimuli.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1436497
TI  - Peripheral vibration causes an adenosine-mediated postsynaptic inhibitory
      potential in dorsal horn neurons of the cat spinal cord.
AB  - We have previously reported a vibration-induced, adenosine-mediated inhibition of
      nociceptive dorsal horn neurons in the cat spinal cord. The present study was
      conducted to investigate the mechanisms of this inhibition. In vivo intracellular
      recording was obtained from dorsal horn neurons in the lower lumbar segments of
      the anaesthetized cat. Vibration (80-250 Hz for 2-3 s every 15-20 s) was applied
      to the glabrous skin of the toes of the hind foot using a feedback-controlled
      mechanical stimulator. In 32 of 43 neurons tested, vibration produced a
      pronounced hyperpolarization of the membrane potential. This hyperpolarization
      peaked at -10 mV and decayed throughout the period of the application of
      vibration. It was associated with a decrease in membrane resistance, had a
      reversal potential negative to the resting membrane potential and was Cl(-)
      independent, suggesting that it was due to an increase in a K+ conductance,
      properties typical of the response to adenosine. This inhibitory postsynaptic
      potential was unaffected by intravenous administration of bicuculline, strychnine
      and naloxone but was blocked by iontophoretic administration of 8
      sulphophenyltheophylline, a P1-purinergic receptor antagonist. These results
      confirm our previous finding that vibration-induced inhibition of nociceptive
      dorsal horn neurons is mediated via the release of an endogenous purine compound
      and further suggests that this inhibition involves a postsynaptic inhibitory
      mechanism.

PMID- 1436498
TI  - Histamine modulates heat stress-induced changes in blood-brain barrier
      permeability, cerebral blood flow, brain oedema and serotonin levels: an
      experimental study in conscious young rats.
AB  - The possibility that endogenous histamine plays an important role in modulating
      the pathophysiology of heat stress was examined in young rats using a
      pharmacological approach. Subjection of young animals (six to seven weeks old) to
      heat stress at 38 degrees C for 4 h in a biological oxygen demand incubator
      (relative humidity 47-50%, wind velocity 20-25 cm/s) resulted in a profound
      increase in blood-brain barrier permeability to Evans Blue albumin (whole brain
      375%) and [131I]sodium (whole brain 478%) along with a significant reduction in
      the cerebral blood flow (mean 34%). The water content of the whole brain was
      elevated by 4.5% (about 19% volume swelling) from the control. At this time
      period, the plasma and whole brain 5-hydroxytryptamine levels were elevated by
      656% and 328%, respectively, from the control group. Pretreatment with cimetidine
      (a histamine H2 receptor antagonist) significantly thwarted the increases in the
      brain water content and the blood-brain barrier permeability. In cimetidine
      pretreated animals, the cerebral blood flow was significantly elevated and the
      plasma and brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) levels were slightly but
      significantly reduced as compared with the untreated stressed group. However,
      prior treatment with mepyramine (a histamine H1 receptor antagonist) neither
      attenuated the changes in water content and the blood-brain barrier permeability
      nor altered the cerebral blood flow and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels. In fact,
      there was a significantly higher permeation of the tracers across the cerebral
      vessels in these drug-treated animals along with a greater accumulation of the
      brain water content as compared with the untreated stressed group. The cerebral
      blood flow and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels showed only minor changes from the
      untreated stressed group. These results show, probably for the first time, that
      (i) the endogenous histamine plays an important role in the pathophysiology of
      heat stress, and (ii) this effect appears to be mediated via specific histamine
      H2 receptors.

PMID- 1436499
TI  - Developmental pattern and distribution of nerve growth factor low-affinity
      receptor immunoreactivity in human spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia:
      comparison with synaptophysin, neurofilament and neuropeptide immunoreactivities.
AB  - Immunocytochemical expression of the low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor
      was studied in human fetal and adult tissues using the monoclonal antibody
      ME20.4. In dorsal root ganglia, a few immunoreactive neurons were first detected
      in nine-week-old fetuses and many more were found in the following weeks of
      gestation. However, none was present in adult ganglia. The ME20.4-positive cells
      were larger than neurons immunostained by substance P, calcitonin gene-related
      peptide or galanin antibodies. In the spinal cord, fibres immunostained by ME20.4
      appeared in a characteristic pattern that differed from the spatial and temporal
      distributions of synaptophysin- and neurofilament-immunoreactive fibres. Those
      expressing the low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor were only detected in
      regions containing collaterals of primary sensory axons: (i) in the dorsal
      funiculus between seven and 18 weeks of gestation; (ii) in a ventrodorsal bundle
      reaching the ventral horn from weeks 12-14; (iii) in the medial region of the
      dorsal horn between weeks 12 and 20; (iv) in the superficial layers and lateral
      portion of the dorsal horn after the 14th week of gestation and also in adult
      spinal cord. During the fetal period, ME20.4 immunoreactivity was also found in
      motoneurons and peripheral nerve fibres in the skin, myotomes and gut. Sheaths of
      peripheral nerves and the adventitia of blood vessels were stained both in fetal
      and adult tissues. Thus, the low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor is: (i)
      strongly expressed in the developing human nervous system; (ii) transiently
      associated with a subset of large primary sensory neurons and with motoneurons;
      (iii) transiently and sequentially expressed by various groups of sensory
      afferents to the spinal cord; (iv) permanently expressed by fibres in the
      superficial layers of the dorsal horn, Clarke's column, nerve sheaths and the
      adventitia of blood vessels.

PMID- 1436500
TI  - Solubilization and fractionation of paired helical filaments.
AB  - Paired helical filaments isolated from brains of two different patients with
      Alzheimer's disease were extensively treated with the ionic detergent, sodium
      dodecyl sulphate. Filaments were solubilized at different extents, depending on
      the brain examined, thus suggesting the existence of two types of paired helical
      filaments: sodium dodecyl sulphate-soluble and insoluble filaments. In the first
      case, the number of structures resembling paired helical filaments greatly
      decreased after the detergent treatment, as observed by electron microscopy.
      Simultaneously, a decrease in the amount of sedimentable protein was also
      observed upon centrifugation of the sodium dodecyl sulfate-treated paired helical
      filaments. A sodium dodecyl sulphate-soluble fraction was isolated as a
      supernatant after low-speed centrifugation of the sodium dodecyl sulphate-treated
      paired helical filaments. The addition of the non-ionic detergent Nonidet-P40 to
      this fraction resulted in the formation of paired helical filament-like
      structures. When the sodium dodecyl sulphate-soluble fraction was further
      fractionated by high-speed centrifugation, three subfractions were observed: a
      supernatant, a pellet and a thin layer between these two subfractions. No paired
      helical filaments were observed in any of these subfractions, even after addition
      of Nonidet P-40. However, when they were mixed back together, the treatment with
      Nonidet P-40 resulted in the visualization of paired helical filament-like
      structures. These results suggest that at least two different components are
      needed for the reconstitution of paired helical filaments as determined by
      electron microscopy. The method described here may allow the study of the
      components involved in the formation of paired helical filaments and the
      identification of possible factors capable of blocking this process.

PMID- 1436501
TI  - The integrative properties of spiny distal dendrites.

PMID- 1436502
TI  - Immuno-electron microscopic evidence for two different types of partial somatic
      repair of the mutant Brattleboro vasopressin gene.
AB  - In homozygous Brattleboro rats a frame-shift mutation in the vasopressin gene
      prevents secretion of vasopressin by magnocellular neurosecretory neurons and
      thus causes diabetes insipidus. Whereas most "vasopressin" neurons in Brattleboro
      homozygotes apparently lack vasopressin and its associated neurophysin and
      glycopeptide, some isolated cells overcome the mutation and "revert" to producing
      readily detectable amounts of vasopressin. We describe here two morphologically
      and immunocytochemically distinct subsets of such "revertant" cells. One subset
      contain, in their rough endoplasmic reticulum cisterns, electron-dense aggregates
      immunoreactive for vasopressin, for parts of oxytocin-neurophysin, and for CP14
      (a peptide with a sequence deduced from the mutated precursor), but not for
      vasopressin-associated glycopeptide ("glycopeptide") or vasopressin-neurophysin.
      In Brattleboro heterozygotes, which have one mutant and one normal copy of the
      vasopressin gene, morphologically similar revertant cells exist; the aggregates
      in the rough endoplasmic reticulum of these cells do not immuno-label for CP14,
      but the cells do produce 160-nm neurosecretory granules immunoreactive for
      vasopressin, vasopressin-neurophysin and glycopeptide. In Brattleboro
      homozygotes, the second, more abundant subset of neurons which recover
      vasopressin immunoreactivity also express vasopressin-associated glycopeptide and
      CP14 but not oxytocin-neurophysin; both glycopeptide and CP14 are restricted to
      the rough endoplasmic reticulum but do not form aggregates. We conclude that two
      different somatic repairs of the Brattleboro mutation can occur. We propose that,
      in aggregate-containing neurons, exons B and C have been exchanged between the
      vasopressin and oxytocin genes; glycopeptide-immunoreactive neurons have either
      undergone mismatch repair or exchanged exon B.

PMID- 1436503
TI  - Distribution of cells expressing vasoactive intestinal peptide/peptide histidine
      isoleucine-amide precursor messenger RNA in the rat brain.
AB  - The distribution of cells expressing vasoactive intestinal peptide/peptide
      histidine isoleucine-amide precursor messenger RNA was investigated in the rat
      brain and pituitary by in situ hybridization using a synthetic 35S-labeled
      oligonucleotide probe. Detection of labeled neurons by light-microscopic
      radioautography revealed a selective repartition of the messenger RNA-expressing
      cells. Several major vasoactive intestinal peptide/peptide histidine isoleucine
      amide messenger RNA-containing cell groups were demonstrated including layers II
      VI of the cerebral cortex, the suprachiasmatic nucleus and various thalamic
      structures such as the ventrolateral, posterior, lateral reticular, paracentralis
      and gelatinosus nuclei. Positive cells, to a lesser extent, were also found in
      the limbic system, medial preoptic area, superior and inferior colliculi as well
      as in the central gray matter. They were totally absent in the pituitary and the
      pineal gland of normal rats. The results of the present study provide a detailed
      mapping of neurons expressing vasoactive intestinal peptide/peptide histidine
      isoleucine-amide messenger RNA in the adult rat brain. The predominance of
      vasoactive intestinal peptide/peptide histidine isoleucine-amide messenger RNA
      containing neurons in the cerebral cortex, suprachiasmatic nucleus and thalamus
      suggest that vasoactive intestinal peptide is mainly involved in the control of
      cortical informations, circadian rhythms and sensory perception in agreement with
      several physiological data.

PMID- 1436504
TI  - Lesion of the nigrostriatal pathway induces cholecystokinin messenger RNA
      expression in the rat striatum. An in situ hybridization histochemistry study.
AB  - In situ hybridization histochemistry was used to investigate the putative
      regulation of cholecystokinin messenger RNA expression by dopamine in the rat
      striatum. Using this method, cholecystokinin messenger RNA was undetectable in
      the normal rat striatum. Dopamine depletion caused by a 6-hydroxydopamine
      injection in the medical forebrain bundle induced, two and four weeks after the
      injection, an increase of cholecystokinin messenger RNA expression in the
      ipsilateral striatum. The labeling was mostly restricted to the dorsolateral
      quadrant. At the cellular level, this corresponded to a slight but significant
      labeling of a moderate density of striatal neurons which most probably represent
      a subpopulation of medium-sized spiny neurons. Conversely, treatment with either
      haloperidol or SCH23390 for two weeks did not induce any detectable changes in
      cholecystokinin messenger RNA expression in the striatum while, as expected, an
      increase in the striatal enkephalin messenger RNA content was observed. These
      results suggest that the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway directly, or
      indirectly, regulates the expression of cholecystokinin messenger RNA in the
      striatum.

PMID- 1436505
TI  - Kainic acid-mediated increase of preprotachykinin-A messenger RNA expression in
      the rat hippocampus and a region-selective attenuation by dexamethasone.
AB  - The hippocampus contains the highest number of glucocorticoid-sensitive neurons
      in the rat brain and excessive exposure to glucocorticoids can cause damage to
      hippocampal neurons and impair the capacity of the hippocampus to survive
      neuronal insults. In this study in situ hybridization combined with quantitative
      image analysis was used to study preprotachykinin-A mRNA levels after
      administration of a toxic dose of kainic acid in animals pretreated with
      glucocorticoids. Kainic acid was injected into dorsal hippocampus CA3 region in
      animals pretreated with the synthetic glucocorticoid receptor agonist
      dexamethasone and in control animals. Preprotachykinin-A mRNA was not detected in
      the hippocampus of untreated animals or in animals analysed 30 min after a kainic
      acid injection. However, 4 h after injection of kainic acid, the level of
      preprotachykinin-A mRNA increased to 20-times above the detection limit both in
      the dentate gyrus and the CA3 region of the hippocampus. Treatment of kainic acid
      injected animals with dexamethasone 30 min before and 2 h after the injection
      attenuated the increase in the granule cells of the dentate gyrus by 50%. In
      contrast, dexamethasone pretreatment had no significant effect on the kainic acid
      induced increase of preprotachykinin-A mRNA in pyramidal cells in regions CA3 or
      CA1. These results show that an excitatory stimulus within the hippocampus causes
      a substantial increase in the level of preprotachykinin-A mRNA in hippocampal
      granule and pyramidal cells and suggest that in granule cells of the dentate
      gyrus this increase can be modulated by glucocorticoids.

PMID- 1436506
TI  - A single optical fiber fluorometric device for measurement of intracellular Ca2+
      concentration: its application to hippocampal neurons in vitro and in vivo.
AB  - We developed a new system to measure the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in the
      deep region of the central nervous system with a single optical fiber (300
      microns in diameter), used for both excitation and detection of the fluorescence
      of previously loaded fura-2. With this system, a brain region loaded with fura-2
      was illuminated by a rotating disc bearing three different interference filters
      of 340, 360 and 380 nm at a rate of 600 rpm. The emitted fluorescence was
      collected by the same fiber connected to a photomultiplier whose output was fed
      into a computer which regulates the timing of illumination and detection. The
      time course of the change in the fluorescence due to 340, 360 or 380 nm
      excitation was measured simultaneously at the maximum sampling rate of 10
      points/s. Ratios of fluorescence intensities were obtained after the experiment.
      After confirming that this system was sensitive enough to detect the change of
      intracellular Ca2+ concentration in cultured hippocampal neurons and hippocampal
      slices during depolarization by high potassium medium (50 mM), we applied this
      system to anesthetized rats. In the hippocampus preloaded with fura-2,
      characteristic changes in fluorescence intensities ascribed to an increase in
      intracellular Ca2+ concentration were detected after asphyxia. The system is
      potentially useful for investigating the physiological and pathological roles of
      Ca2+ in the brain.

PMID- 1436507
TI  - Increased expression of c-fos in the medial preoptic area after mating in male
      rats: role of afferent inputs from the medial amygdala and midbrain central
      tegmental field.
AB  - Immunocytochemical methods were used to localize the protein product of the
      immediate-early gene, c-fos, in male rats after exposure to, or direct physical
      interaction with, oestrous females. Increasing amounts of physical contact with a
      female, with resultant olfactory-vomeronasal and/or genital-somatosensory inputs,
      caused corresponding increments in c-fos expression in the medial preoptic area,
      the caudal part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the medial amygdala,
      and the midbrain central tegmental field. Males bearing unilateral electrothermal
      lesions of the olfactory peduncle showed a significant reduction in c-fos
      expression in the ipsilateral medial amygdala, but not in other structures,
      provided their coital interaction with oestrous females was restricted to mount
      thrust and occasional intromissive patterns due to repeated application of
      lidocaine anaesthetic to the penis. No such lateralization of c-fos expression
      occurred in other males with unilateral olfactory lesions which were allowed to
      intromit and ejaculate with a female. These results suggest that olfactory
      inputs, possibly of vomeronasal origin, contribute to the activation of c-fos in
      the medial amygdala. However, lesion-induced deficits in this type of afferent
      input to the nervous system appear to be readily compensated for by the genital
      somatosensory input derived from repeated intromissions. Unilateral excitotoxic
      lesions of the medial preoptic area, made by infusing quinolinic acid, failed to
      reduce c-fos expression in the ipsilateral or contralateral medial amygdala or
      central tegmental field following ejaculation. By contrast, combined, unilateral
      excitotoxic lesions of the medial amygdala and the central tegmental field
      significantly reduced c-fos expression in the ipsilateral bed nucleus of the
      stria terminalis and medial preoptic area after mating; no such asymmetry in c
      fos expression occurred when lesions were restricted to either the medial
      amygdala or central tegmental field. This suggests that afferent inputs from the
      central tegmental field (probably of genital-somatosensory origin) and from the
      medial amygdala (probably of olfactory-vomeronasal origin) interact to promote
      cellular activity, and the resultant induction of c-fos, in the ipsilateral bed
      nucleus of the stria terminalis and medial preoptic area. The monitoring of
      neuronal c-fos expression provides an effective means of studying the role of
      sensory factors in governing the activity of integrated neural structures which
      control the expression of a complex social behaviour.

PMID- 1436508
TI  - Narine occlusion decreases basal levels of Fos protein in the cerebral cortex of
      the lizard Podarcis hispanica.
AB  - Immunocytochemical study of cerebral cortex of the lizard Podarcis hispanica
      using an antibody directed to the M peptide of the rat c-Fos protein showed a
      distinct pattern of Fos distribution. Abundant Fos-immunoreactive neuronal nuclei
      were detected in the cell layers of the medial, the dorsal and the lateral
      cortices, whereas only a few nuclei were found in the cell layer of the
      dorsomedial cortex. The Fos immunoreactivity was characterized by Western blot
      analysis of nuclear extracts from lizard brain and showed a distinct band with an
      apparent molecular weight of 30,000. In band-shift assays, nuclear extracts from
      lizard brain were shown to contain AP-1 complexes. The basal expression of Fos
      immunoreactivity is related to sensory olfactory input in the cerebral cortex of
      the lizard since experiments with olfactory-deprived animals resulted in a
      complete absence of Fos immunoreactivity in the cortical areas.

PMID- 1436509
TI  - Sympathetic and metabolic mechanisms of the cerebrovasomotor function of the
      caudal ventrolateral medulla in rats.
AB  - We attempted to elucidate the cerebrovasomotor function of the caudal
      ventrolateral medulla. Sixty-one rats were anaesthetized, paralysed and
      artificially ventilated. The microsphere method was employed for the measurement
      of blood flow. Microinjection of an antagonist of excitatory amino acids,
      kynurenate (2 nmol), into functionally identified depressor sites within the
      caudal ventrolateral medulla produced arterial hypertension of about 140 mmHg. We
      found that the cerebral blood flow was substantially increased, but was
      maintained at the same level (17 rats) as that observed under phenylephrine
      induced hypertension (26 rats). Bilateral severing of the cervical sympathetic
      trunks resulted in a further increase in blood flow in all brain regions studied
      (18 rats). The response was most significant in the cerebral parasagittal cortex
      (164 +/- 31% of baseline without, and 211 +/- 43% with sympathectomy; mean +/-
      S.D.; P < 0.001). The contributions of the cerebral metabolic mechanism to this
      flow increase under denervation was minimal, as evidenced by the observation of
      disproportionately smaller changes in cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen during
      any type of hypertension. We conclude that the cerebrovasomotor functions of the
      caudal ventrolateral medulla may operate to keep an equilibrium between
      simultaneously working tonic inhibitions against sympathetic vasoconstriction as
      well as against vasodilatation. This dual effect is mediated by excitatory amino
      acid receptors located within this particular brain area. The vasodilator
      mechanism may be of neurogenic origin. When the function of the brain area is
      suppressed, the subsequently disinhibited vasodilator mechanism dominates the
      cerebrovascular autoregulatory function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1436510
TI  - Mastoparan blockade of currents through Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels in bovine
      chromaffin cells.
AB  - The action of mastoparan (a wasp venom peptide) on "maxi" Ca(2+)-activated K+
      channels was studied in excised inside-out patch recordings from cultured bovine
      chromaffin cells, under normal conditions (160 mM K+ inside, 154 mM Na+ outside).
      Mastoparan, when applied on the intracellular side of the membrane reduced the
      open channel probability in a concentration dependent manner. Changes in the
      channel kinetics were complex. The histograms of the open dwell times were all
      described by either one or two exponentials. Mastoparan shortened the mean
      duration of the major (long) component and to a lesser extent the minor (short)
      component. Closed dwell times, were described by three exponentials. While the
      short (major) component was prolonged by mastoparan, and the intermediate
      component was unaffected, the long component was shortened. Overall mean closed
      times were prolonged. The changes in channel kinetics could only partly be
      explained by a channel-blocking mechanism, even when assuming that mastoparan
      acts as both an intermediate and a slow channel blocker suggesting that it
      affects gating mechanism. The fact that mastoparan is a calmodulin inhibitor and
      a G-protein activator raises the possibility that in bovine chromaffin cells,
      either the membrane-bound calmodulin or a G-protein, plays a role in the
      modulation of Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels.

PMID- 1436511
TI  - In vivo release of calcitonin gene-related peptide-like material from the
      cervicotrigeminal area in the rat. Effects of electrical and noxious stimulations
      of the muzzle.
AB  - The continuous perfusion with an artificial cerebrospinal fluid of the
      cervicotrigeminal area of the spinal cord in halothane-anaesthetized rats allowed
      the collection of calcitonin gene-related peptide-like material with the same
      immunological and chromatographic characteristics as authentic rat alpha
      calcitonin gene-related peptide. The spinal release of calcitonin gene-related
      peptide-like material could be significantly increased by the local application
      of 60 mM K+ (approximately +100%), high-intensity percutaneous electrical
      stimulation (approximately +200%) and noxious heat (by immersion in water at 52
      degrees C; approximately +150%) applied to the muzzle. By contrast, noxious
      mechanical (pinches) and chemical (subcutaneous formalin injection) stimulations
      and deep cooling (by immersion in water at 0 degrees C) of the muzzle did not
      alter the spinal release of calcitonin gene-related peptide-like material. In
      addition, low-intensity electrical stimulation, recruiting only the A alpha/beta
      primary afferent fibres, significantly reduced (approximately -30%) the release
      of calcitonin gene-related peptide-like material from the cervicotrigeminal area.
      These data suggest that among the various types of natural noxious stimuli,
      noxious heat may selectively excite calcitonin gene-related peptide-containing A
      delta and C primary afferent fibres projecting within the dorsal horn of the
      spinal cord, and that activation of A alpha/beta fibres reduces spontaneous
      calcitonin gene-related peptide-like material release possibly through an
      inhibitory presynaptic control of calcitonin gene-related peptide-containing A
      delta/C fibres.

PMID- 1436512
TI  - Rules of combination that generate climbing fiber tactile receptive fields.
AB  - Climbing fiber tactile receptive fields in the anterior lobe of the cat's
      cerebellum are found to have regularities of shape, independent of their relative
      position on the cerebellar cortex. The shape regularities can be expressed as
      rules of combination that generate the receptive field shapes. Both face and paw
      receptive fields are unions of a certain set of skin areas called compartments.
      Face receptive fields are generated by taking the union of a seed compartment and
      another compartment in a binary relation to it, called CF-contiguity. Paw
      receptive fields are formed in a similar iterative fashion, with the constraint
      that anatomically equivalent areas be included on all toes involved in the
      receptive field. This paper specifies rules of combination that both reproduce
      observed receptive fields and also predict receptive fields that have not yet
      been observed. Because of the regularities of shape among the climbing fiber
      tactile receptive fields, the rules of combination can be used to predict
      ensemble activation in response to tactile stimulation.

PMID- 1436513
TI  - Lack of association between Alzheimer's disease and education, occupation,
      marital status, or living arrangement.
AB  - Using the resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project, we conducted a case
      control study of sociodemographic characteristics using the incidence cohort of
      patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). During the conduct of ongoing studies of
      AD in Rochester, we identified new cases of AD as they occurred during 1975-1979
      (N = 241). We selected one age- and sex-matched control from among all
      registrations for care in this community during the year of onset for each case.
      There was little difference between cases and controls for educational
      attainment, marital status, type of dwelling, living arrangement, or occupation.
      We were unable to confirm low educational level as a risk factor for AD in this
      population. Future attempts to identify etiologic risk factors for dementing
      illness should probably move toward other areas of research.

PMID- 1436514
TI  - A dynamic posturography study of balance in healthy elderly.
AB  - Using dynamic posturography, we studied the balance of 234 community-dwelling
      elderly subjects (mean age, 76 +/- 5 years) as well as 34 young controls (mean
      age, 34 +/- 12 years). Almost all measures of balance were worse in elderly
      subjects compared with young controls. The decrements in older persons indicate a
      diminished capacity to process conflicting sensory input as well as a possible
      narrowing of the limit of stability (or, alternatively, an increase in sway). We
      propose that this occurs most likely as a result of biomechanical or central
      processing changes as opposed to diminished sensory or vestibular input.
      Furthermore, with difficult tasks sequentially presented, the performance of the
      older subjects improved, suggesting that balance, at least in the short term,
      adapts to stressful conditions. In these elderly subjects screened for age
      related diseases affecting balance, only small decrements of balance occurred
      between the ages of 70 and 85 years. This nominal decrease over a 15-year span
      suggests that clinically significant balance impairment is the result of age
      related disease rather than an inevitable consequence of aging and is therefore
      potentially treatable.

PMID- 1436515
TI  - Influence of additional information on interrater reliability in the neurologic
      examination.
AB  - We performed a routine neurologic examination on 200 patients who were reexamined
      by a second physician under three different conditions: (1) reexamination of only
      one item, (2) complete reexamination without knowledge of the patient's history
      and complaints, and (3) complete reexamination with such knowledge. We used
      changes in reliability as an index of the effect of additional information on
      basic data collection. Additional information increased reliability, indicating
      that diagnostic hypotheses obtained mainly from the history improve the
      examiner's precision. When a complete reexamination was performed with knowledge
      of the patient's history, reliability was substantial (kappa > 0.6). More
      experienced examiners do not perform the examination more reliably, but do
      utilize the patient's history differently.

PMID- 1436516
TI  - Acute quadriplegic myopathy: a complication of treatment with steroids,
      nondepolarizing blocking agents, or both.
AB  - We studied two patients who were given high-dose intravenous steroid therapy and
      were intubated for status asthmaticus. Both became quadriplegic and wasted within
      2 weeks. EMG had myopathic abnormalities. Muscle biopsy revealed severe atrophy
      of most muscle fibers, with disorganization of myofibrils and selective loss of
      thick (myosin) filaments. Immunohistologic stains for myosin isoforms confirmed
      the decrease or absence of this protein. Both patients clinically improved over
      several months.

PMID- 1436517
TI  - Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy presenting with carpal tunnel syndrome and a
      new transthyretin mutation, asparagine 70.
AB  - We report familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy in a pedigree of German ancestry
      residing in New Jersey. Eight affected subjects presented in the third to seventh
      decade with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and one subject presented with vitreous
      opacification. Transmission was autosomal dominant and survival was prolonged.
      Affected subjects were heterozygous for a novel mutation in serum transthyretin
      (TTR), resulting in an asparagine for lysine substitution at residue 70 of the
      TTR monomer. We report two methods for rapid identification of the mutation based
      on the polymerase chain reaction. This pedigree further emphasizes the evolving
      phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity of the transthyretinopathies. Familial or
      sporadic CTS or unexplained vitreous opacification suggest the possibility of TTR
      amyloidosis and should prompt a search for TTR mutations.

PMID- 1436518
TI  - Mononeuritis multiplex associated with cryoglobulinemia in HIV infection.
AB  - We describe a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection who
      developed mononeuritis multiplex associated with polyclonal (type III)
      cryoglobulinemia. The patient's symptoms stabilized following treatment with
      plasmapheresis and removal of the cryoglobulin. Our case represents the first
      report of polyclonal cryoglobulinemia in HIV disease and suggests that
      cryoglobulinemia may play an etiologic role in some patients with HIV-associated
      neuropathy.

PMID- 1436519
TI  - Age-related loss of dorsal vagal neurons in Parkinson's disease.
AB  - Older patients who die with Parkinson's disease (PD) have fewer pigmented neurons
      in the locus coeruleus and fewer substance P-containing neurons in mesopontine
      tegmental nuclei. We analyzed two other medullary nuclei, the dorsal vagal
      nucleus and the hypoglossal nucleus, in eight PD patients and six normal controls
      by counting neurons in serial Nissl stained sections to determine the
      relationship between age at death and cell loss in these nuclei. PD-related
      neurodegenerative changes (Lewy bodies and neuronal loss) were present only in
      the dorsal vagal nucleus (13,637 +/- 1,323 neurons in PD, 24,885 +/- 1,157 in
      normal controls). Cells in the intermediate rostrocaudal part of the nucleus were
      most severely affected. There was a significant correlation between loss of vagal
      neurons and age at death in PD patients. No age-related cell loss was present in
      the dorsal vagal nucleus of normal brains, or in the hypoglossal nucleus in
      either PD or normal brains. These results confirm that age-related cell death
      depends on whether or not there is coexistent PD.

PMID- 1436520
TI  - Markers of dopamine metabolism in Parkinson's disease. The Parkinson Study Group.
AB  - We used two analytic methods (a multichannel coulometric electrode array with
      high-performance liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass
      spectrophotometry) to measure CSF dopamine (DA) and its metabolites in mildly
      affected, unmedicated subjects with Parkinson's disease (PD). The mean (+/- SD)
      concentration of homovanillic acid (HVA), the most abundant product of DA
      turnover, was 164.57 +/- 95.05 nM. As sequential aliquots of CSF were collected
      from the first to 23rd ml, CSF HVA concentration almost doubled. After HVA, 3-O
      methyldopa (3-O-MD) was the next most abundant compound. The summed
      concentrations of 3-O-MD, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-methoxytyramine, DA,
      DA-3-sulfate, homovanillol, and levodopa (LD) amounted to 12.6% of HVA.
      Concentrations of the DA metabolites did not correlate to a variety of indices of
      PD severity. The presence of LD and 3-O-MD may be indicators of DA synthesis and
      possibly could reflect compensatory processes among surviving dopaminergic
      neurons of the PD brain.

PMID- 1436521
TI  - A 17th-century founder gives rise to a large north American pedigree of autosomal
      dominant spinocerebellar ataxia not linked to the SCA1 locus on chromosome 6.
AB  - There have been three reports since 1969 of members of a "W" family with
      autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), and various conclusions have
      been drawn about the nosology. This pedigree has been traced back over 300 years
      through 11 generations. Although phenotypically similar to the disorder in the
      Schut-Swier, Nino, and other kindreds, the disorder in the W family is not linked
      to the SCA1 locus on chromosome 6, as reported in those hereditary ataxia
      pedigrees. The W family represents the largest such North American kindred yet
      reported. We examined 33 family members of a distantly related branch of the W
      family, determined the cumulative age of onset, and projected the number of
      present-day gene carriers. Two cases illustrate the spectrum of symptoms among
      family members. Age of onset and presenting symptom, however, seem to correlate
      both in our patients and in those previously reported. Between 2,000 and 5,000
      individuals are estimated to be at risk of developing the disorder within this
      pedigree alone. The pedigree reported here will be valuable in the identification
      and cloning of a gene for hereditary ataxia, designated "SCA2" at the Eleventh
      International Workshop on Human Gene Mapping.

PMID- 1436522
TI  - Patterns of cerebral atrophy in HIV-1-infected individuals: results of a
      quantitative MRI analysis.
AB  - Cerebral atrophy is a common radiologic manifestation of HIV dementia. To
      evaluate the relationship between cognitive impairment and cerebral atrophy,
      adjusting for age and immune status, we used standardized planimetry to measure
      the ventricle-brain ratio (VBR) and the bifrontal (BFR) and bicaudate (BCR)
      ratios, three measures of cerebral atrophy. We analyzed cranial MRIs of 23 HIV-1
      seronegative controls (SN) and 116 HIV-1-infected individuals. Of the HIV-1
      seropositive individuals, 37 had HIV dementia (DM group), 40 had neurologic or
      neuropsychological abnormalities insufficient for HIV dementia (NP+ group), and
      39 were neurologically normal (NML group). We performed comparisons using
      analysis of covariance with correction for multiple comparisons. Both the VBR, a
      general measure of overall cerebral atrophy, and the BCR, a measure of atrophy in
      the region of the caudate nucleus, are significantly associated with dementia.
      The association is stronger for BCR enlargement than for VBR enlargement,
      suggesting that selective caudate region atrophy is associated with HIV dementia.
      These results indicate that overall cerebral atrophy and prominent caudate region
      atrophy are important radiographic features of HIV dementia.

PMID- 1436523
TI  - Amyloid angiopathy in diffuse Lewy body disease.
AB  - We determined the frequency of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in 135
      consecutive cases of diffuse Lewy body disease (DLBD) (N = 67), Alzheimer's
      disease (AD) (N = 34), and normal elderly controls (NECs) (N = 34). DLBD cases
      were subdivided into those with pathologic changes compatible with coexistent AD
      (DLBD/AD) and those without sufficient AD-type changes to warrant that diagnosis.
      In each case, we assessed the frequency, severity, and distribution of CAA on
      multiple thioflavin-S-stained sections of cerebral cortex examined with
      fluorescent microscopy. Based on immunocytochemistry with beta-amyloid
      antibodies, amyloid in all the brains was composed of beta/A4. CAA was present in
      the leptomeningeal vessels in 50% of the NECs and in 100% of AD cases. In DLBD
      without coexisting AD, the frequency of leptomeningeal CAA was 58%, whereas in
      DLBD/AD, the frequency was 85%. The frequency of CAA in parenchymal vessels was
      38% for NECs, 97% for AD, 43% for DLBD, and 85% for DLBD/AD. There was no
      significant difference in the frequency or severity of CAA between NECs and DLBD,
      but CAA was significantly more severe, and comparable with CAA in AD, in the
      cases of DLBD/AD. Ten NECs had focal CAA without senile plaques (SPs), whereas
      all other cases with CAA had at least some SPs. Neither CAA nor SPs were present
      in 14 cases, including seven NECs and seven DLBD cases. We found cerebrovascular
      accidents in 50 cases (including nine without CAA) and leukoencephalopathy in 24
      cases. These results suggest that CAA and other AD-type changes are not
      concomitant with DLBD but are related to coexisting AD or pathologic aging.

PMID- 1436524
TI  - Intracranial EEG study of brain structures affected by internal carotid injection
      of amobarbital.
AB  - Hippocampal function, considered critical in memory processing, is supposedly
      tested in the intracarotid sodium amobarbital (ISA) procedure; however, since the
      hippocampus is not completely irrigated by the internal carotid artery, some
      believe the procedure may be invalid for memory testing. We quantified delta
      activity in intracerebral EEGs during ISA tests. There was increased delta in
      ipsilateral structures as follows: amygdala (6.4 minutes), anterior hippocampus
      (7.2), middle hippocampus (7.4), temporal neocortex (9.1), frontal lobe (8.4),
      central/parietal area (11.0), and occipital lobe (9.7). Contralateral structures
      usually (> 64%) showed increased delta lasting 4 to 5 minutes. The ipsilateral
      hippocampus had delta waves in over 90% of injections. We conclude that the
      hippocampus is clearly affected by the ISA injection. We argue that the slow
      waves may not be caused by a direct effect of the drug, but rather by a
      functional deafferentation due to the profound inactivation of structures
      surrounding the hippocampus. Similarly, slow waves contralateral to injection may
      be caused by sudden removal of neuronal input from the regions receiving the
      amobarbital.

PMID- 1436525
TI  - Rapid postanoxic calcification of the basal ganglia.
AB  - A 22-year-old male diabetic on hemodialysis suffered a cerebral anoxic event.
      Serial CT showed the development of basal ganglia calcification over a period of
      no more than 17 days. It appears that the basal ganglia may develop petechial
      hemorrhage, necrosis, calcification, or combinations of these following an anoxic
      insult. The neuropathologic substrate and mechanism of rapid postanoxic
      calcification are unknown.

PMID- 1436526
TI  - MELAS syndrome with mitochondrial tRNA(Leu)(UUR) mutation: correlation of
      clinical state, nerve conduction, and muscle 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy
      during treatment with nicotinamide and riboflavin.
AB  - We report a patient with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and
      strokelike episodes treated with riboflavin and nicotinamide for 18 months,
      during which time previously frequent encephalopathic spells ceased. To confirm
      clinical benefit, we withdrew treatment and monitored response with muscle 31P
      magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and sural nerve conduction studies. Of
      three prospectively chosen MRS variables, two changed coincidentally with
      clinical end points; phosphocreatine (PCr)/adenosine triphosphate recovery rates
      fell in parallel with sural nerve sensory amplitudes, and a drop in muscle
      bioenergetic efficiency (relationship of inorganic phosphate/PCr to the
      accelerating force of contracting muscle) coincided with development of
      encephalopathy. Investigations revealed a deficiency of respiratory complex I and
      mutation of the mitochondrial tRNA(Leu)(UUR). We suggest that a defective
      cellular energy state in mitochondrial disease may be partially treatable and
      that changes seen in appropriate muscle spectroscopy studies may parallel
      improvement in brain and peripheral nerve function.

PMID- 1436527
TI  - Changes in lymphocyte subsets in myasthenia gravis: correlation with level of
      antibodies to acetylcholine receptor and age of patient.
AB  - We report a detailed analysis of the subsets of lymphocytes in patients with
      myasthenia gravis (MG). There was a slight, nonsignificant increase in the level
      of CD5+ B lymphocytes among MG patients as compared with normal controls. The
      proportion of CD5+ T cells in MG was similar to that in controls. However,
      whereas age had no effect on the level of these cells in normal individuals, a
      significant age-related decrease of these cells was present in MG patients. The
      proportion of double-positive CD4+CD8+ T cells was significantly increased in MG.
      The level of the CD29+CD4+ (helper-inducer) subset was significantly higher in MG
      patients than in controls. There was no correlation between the titer of
      autoantibodies to acetylcholine receptor and the level of either CD29+CD4+ T
      cells or CD5+ B cells among MG patients. The only T-cell subset that correlated
      with the autoantibody titer was the CD45RA+CD4+ (suppressor-inducer) subset of
      CD4+ T cells.

PMID- 1436528
TI  - Diagnosis of familial hypokalemic periodic paralysis: role of the potassium
      exercise test.
AB  - Familial hypokalemic periodic paralysis (FHOPP) is a rare, dominantly inherited
      disease, the diagnosis of which may require the induction of paralysis. We
      studied whether the increase in plasma potassium concentration during exercise
      can be used in the diagnosis of FHOPP. Potassium concentration increased 0.3 +/-
      0.1 mEq/l in patients with FHOPP and 0.6 +/- 0.1 mEq/l in healthy controls (p <
      0.001) during a 10-minute bicycle exercise test, and 0.3 +/- 0.1 mEq/l in
      patients with FHOPP and 0.8 +/- 0.2 mEq/l in healthy controls (p < 0.001) during
      a 30-minute bicycle exercise test. We conclude that the potassium exercise test
      may be useful in the diagnosis of FHOPP.

PMID- 1436529
TI  - Recurrent inhibition is increased in patients with spinal cord injury.
AB  - Mechanisms underlying the development of spasticity after spinal cord injury are
      not understood. One spinal interneuron likely to be affected is the Renshaw cell,
      which acts to produce recurrent inhibition in motor neurons as well as inhibiting
      Ia interneurons. Descending pathways exert both excitatory and inhibitory control
      over Renshaw cell activity. We studied Renshaw cell activity in normal subjects
      and in patients with varying levels of spasticity after spinal cord injury using
      the conditioned H-reflex technique of Pierrot-Deseilligny and Bussel. A
      submaximal stimulus to the tibial nerve is presented prior to a supramaximal
      stimulus so that action potential collision permits an H reflex (H') to be
      elicited in response to the supramaximal stimulus. The amplitude of this H'
      reflex is affected by activity in recurrent inhibitory pathways. Patients with
      both complete and partial spinal cord lesions were studied; date of injury ranged
      from 1 month to 216 months prior to evaluation. In the 18 patients in whom H
      reflexes could be recorded, H' reflexes were absent in 13, in contrast to their
      uniform presence in normal subjects. We conclude that recurrent inhibition via
      Renshaw cell activity is increased in spinal cord injury, and that measures of
      recurrent inhibition may correlate well with some clinical measures of
      spasticity.

PMID- 1436530
TI  - Subacute necrotizing encephalopathy: oxidative phosphorylation defects and the
      ATPase 6 point mutation.
AB  - Subacute necrotizing encephalopathy (SNE) or Leigh's disease is associated with
      various defects in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). However, the relationships
      between these OXPHOS defects and nuclear DNA or mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
      mutations is still unclear. We evaluated three SNE pedigrees (two singleton cases
      and a pedigree) biochemically for OXPHOS abnormalities and genetically for four
      mtDNA point mutations. There was a complex I defect in all three pedigrees that
      was associated with a complex III defect in two individuals. An mtDNA mutation in
      the ATPase, subunit 6 gene (np 8993) was present in one SNE pedigree. This
      mutation was maternally inherited, heteroplasmic, produced marked clinical and
      biochemical heterogeneity between pedigree members, and varied along the maternal
      lineage at levels ranging from 0% to > 95% of the total mtDNAs. These mtDNA
      mutations were not present in the other two pedigrees. These observations
      emphasize the importance of screening for OXPHOS defects and mtDNA mutations in
      SNE cases.

PMID- 1436531
TI  - Long-term neuromuscular dysfunction produced by passive transfer of amyotrophic
      lateral sclerosis immunoglobulins.
AB  - We investigated the role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic
      lateral sclerosis (ALS) by studying the long-term consequences of ALS
      immunoglobulin (Ig) application on the levator auris muscle of the mouse. We
      applied Ig from seven ALS patients, four disease controls, and a pool of normal
      Ig (6 mg of Ig in 2 weeks) by subcutaneous injection; removed the muscles 4 to 12
      weeks after the beginning of treatment; and recorded both spontaneous and evoked
      release of transmitter. None of the control Ig induced changes in transmitter,
      whereas five of seven ALS Ig induced a significant increase in the rate of
      spontaneous release, and all ALS Ig produced significant changes in the quantal
      content of evoked release. In muscles treated with one of the ALS Igs, synaptic
      activity was completely absent. Cholinesterase and silver staining demonstrated
      intact neuromuscular junctions in the control Ig-treated muscles and also in many
      areas of ALS Ig-treated muscles. Axonal degeneration and denervation were present
      in most muscles treated with ALS Ig. There was complete denervation when no
      synaptic activity could be recorded. Thus, ALS Ig appears to lead to long-lasting
      effects at the neuromuscular junction, and such effects may be an early stage in
      the immune-mediated pathogenesis of ALS.

PMID- 1436532
TI  - X-linked spinomuscular atrophy: a kindred with associated abnormal androgen
      receptor binding.
AB  - We studied androgen receptor function in cultured scrotal skin fibroblasts from
      eight subjects with X-linked spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) (Kennedy's
      syndrome) from four families. The neuromuscular and endocrine features were
      similar in all patients. High-affinity dihydrotestosterone binding (Bmax) was
      decreased in three patients from one family (average, 11.1 fmol/mg) similar to
      values in subjects with androgen resistance syndromes. Bmax was normal in five
      SBMA patients from three other families (average, 26.0 fmol/mg). This finding
      provides direct evidence for abnormal androgen receptor function in some patients
      with SBMA. There was some correlation between severity of neuromuscular and
      endocrine dysfunction, providing further evidence that the two types of
      manifestations are related.

PMID- 1436533
TI  - Western blotting in evaluating Lyme seropositivity and the utility of a gel
      densitometric approach.
AB  - The antibody response to Borrelia burgdorferi is widely used in the diagnosis of
      Lyme neuroborreliosis and other manifestations of Lyme disease. However, a
      problem with immunoassays has been a significant number of false positives. The
      Western blotting technique is a useful adjunct in the serodiagnosis of other
      infections, but its use in Lyme borreliosis has been limited because of a lack of
      definition of what constitutes a positive assay. Using a gel densitometric
      analysis, we devised quantitative criteria for positivity and tested our criteria
      by matching blot results with clinical characteristics in a retrospectively
      studied group of 20 patients with Lyme disease, 23 healthy controls, and 18
      patients with other neurologic and rheumatologic diseases. We then evaluated
      these criteria prospectively in serum from 35 ELISA-positive patients, and found
      that the serum from the majority of patients with positive serologies by ELISA
      were negative by Western blot. The Western blot-negative seropositive patients
      usually had other inflammatory or infectious diseases. We conclude that
      quantitative Western blotting is a helpful test in the serodiagnosis of Lyme
      neuroborreliosis and other manifestations of Lyme disease.

PMID- 1436534
TI  - Ataxia in epidural spinal cord compression.
AB  - Nine patients presented with ataxia as the primary manifestation of epidural
      spinal cord compression. Eight had known cancer, the ninth an epidural abscess.
      Lower-extremity dysmetria, gait ataxia, or both, were the only neurologic signs
      in five patients. An incorrect initial diagnosis led to delay in treatment and
      subsequent neurologic deterioration in six patients. Failure to recognize
      isolated, painless ataxia as the initial manifestation of spinal cord compression
      and appropriately treat the disorder can result in irreversible spinal cord
      deterioration.

PMID- 1436535
TI  - Aphasia in multiple sclerosis: clinical and radiologic correlations.
AB  - Aphasia is not commonly reported in multiple sclerosis (MS). We report on two
      clinically definite MS patients, with a remitting-relapsing course, who presented
      with acute onset of aphasia. MRI demonstrated giant plaques in the left frontal
      region in one and in the left centrum semiovale in the other. These lesions were
      not evident in MRI performed several months previously, and may account for the
      aphasia. In both patients, language functions markedly improved within several
      weeks. In one patient, follow-up MRI 3 months later revealed a moderate reduction
      in the size of the plaque.

PMID- 1436536
TI  - Prolonged absence status epilepticus associated with carbamazepine therapy,
      increased intracranial pressure, and transient MRI abnormalities.
AB  - We describe an adolescent epileptic patient who presented in nonconvulsive status
      epilepticus that appeared to be related to treatment with carbamazepine. The
      absence status, which was resistant to multiple anticonvulsants, produced
      increased intracranial pressure and transient abnormalities observed on MRI.

PMID- 1436537
TI  - HMSN III phenotype due to homozygous expression of a dominant HMSN II gene.
AB  - We describe two siblings with hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN) type
      III. Their parents were both affected with autosomal dominant axonal HMSN. The
      neuropathy in the siblings probably resulted from homozygous expression of the
      HMSN II gene. Together with other reports of homozygous HMSN I, this family
      suggests that HMSN III is heterogenous and encompasses the most severe homozygous
      expression of neuropathic genes.

PMID- 1436538
TI  - Failure of high-dose heparin to prevent recurrent cardioembolic strokes in a
      pregnant patient with a mechanical heart valve.
AB  - A 27-year-old woman with a mechanical heart valve suffered multiple
      thromboembolic events while pregnant despite anticoagulation with high-dose
      heparin. Warfarin, the anti-coagulant of choice for patients with prosthetic
      heart valves, is teratogenic and can cause hemorrhagic complications at delivery.
      Heparin reduces thromboembolic complications, but is of uncertain efficacy. We
      discuss alternatives for the prevention of thromboembolic complications in
      pregnant women with mechanical heart valves.

PMID- 1436539
TI  - Aphasic seizure caused by focal epilepsy in the left fusiform gyrus.
AB  - We report a patient with paroxysmal aphasia evoked by ictal epileptiform
      discharges localized to the left fusiform gyrus, where a small brain tumor
      existed. The intracranial EEG recordings during other seizures demonstrated a
      close functional link between the left fusiform gyrus and Wernicke's area. The
      patient also showed transient aphasia with electrical stimulation of the left
      fusiform gyrus.

PMID- 1436540
TI  - Neutralizing antibodies against HTLV-I in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical
      spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) patients and asymptomatic carriers.
AB  - We tested serum specimens from patients with HAM/TSP and asymptomatic HTLV-I
      carriers from endemic areas of Japan, Jamaica, Colombia, and Chile for
      neutralizing antibodies against HTLV-I. The data suggest a trend for neutralizing
      activity to be found more frequently in the sera from HAM/TSP patients than in
      sera from asymptomatic carriers. The result of this study emphasizes the
      importance of determining biologic properties of the envelope glycoprotein of
      HTLV-I.

PMID- 1436541
TI  - Needle muscle biopsy with the automatic Biopty instrument.
AB  - Needle muscle biopsies are less traumatic and easier to do than open biopsies,
      but their main disadvantage is the small specimen size. One hundred and five
      patients underwent needle biopsies with a 14-gauge spring-loaded device that
      guillotines the muscle automatically (Bard Radiology). Fifty patients had more
      than one muscle biopsy. One hundred and forty-six of 155 specimens contained over
      200 muscle fibers, some as many as 500 fibers. Having evaluated various needles,
      we found the Bard Biopty instrument more efficient than manual needles and open
      biopsy techniques, and it provides muscle specimens for pathologic interpretation
      that are comparable with open surgical procedures.

PMID- 1436542
TI  - Racial hygiene, active euthanasia, and Julius Hallervorden.

PMID- 1436543
TI  - Temporary reversal of cord compression with hyperosmolar glucose.

PMID- 1436544
TI  - Giant axonal neuropathy: progressive clinical and radiologic CNS involvement.

PMID- 1436545
TI  - Ictal bradycardia with syncope: a case report.

PMID- 1436546
TI  - Neurologic sequelae of thinking: compression neuropathies caused by a specific
      posture.

PMID- 1436547
TI  - Neuralgia preceding recurrent herpes simplex virus type 2 whitlow.

PMID- 1436548
TI  - High frequency of hemorrhagic strokes in Jerusalem during the Persian Gulf War.

PMID- 1436549
TI  - Isolated abducens nerve palsy from pontine infarction in a diabetic patient.

PMID- 1436550
TI  - Thymus, antibodies, and myasthenia.

PMID- 1436551
TI  - Secondary torticollis.

PMID- 1436552
TI  - Lead exposure and ALS.

PMID- 1436553
TI  - Reversible motor neuron disease.

PMID- 1436554
TI  - Multifocal motor neuropathy.

PMID- 1436555
TI  - HTLV-I myelopathy.

PMID- 1436556
TI  - Vascular dementia.

PMID- 1436557
TI  - [Respiratory function tests and operative risk in thoracic surgery].
AB  - In a retrospective study on 145 patients who underwent anesthesia for thoracic
      surgery, perioperative variables and preoperative pulmonary function tests
      influencing mortality and morbidity were evaluated. 3 patients (2.07%) died and 6
      (4.14%) had cardiac, respiratory and other complications in postoperative 48
      hours. Clinical-statistic analysis has shown the perioperative variables
      predictive on mortality and morbidity and operative risk: the operation type,
      FEV1, MVV (% theoretical), postexclusion gas analysis, Motley index (TLC/RV),
      intraoperative PaCO2, muscle-relaxant dose, preoperative myocardial infarction,
      weight, ASA, abnormal ECG, hypercreatininemia and loss of blood. MVV, FEV1,
      Motley index and residual FEV1 are the useful preoperative pulmonary function
      tests for evaluation of operative risk and surgical resection. Evaluation of
      operative risk in thoracic surgery shows the necessity of preoperative pulmonary
      function tests.

PMID- 1436559
TI  - [Problems related to resuscitation in studies with contrast media].
AB  - This study has the purpose of describing indications and legal implications
      related to the intravascular use of contrast media (ICM) in order to provide
      useful guidelines to the intensivist, often involved in the treatment of adverse
      reactions. The structure of modern contrast media (CM), is a benzenic ring
      carrying steadily three iodine ions. Adverse reactions due to the use of ICM, are
      local or systemic ranging from skin rashes or flushes (urticaria et al.), to
      cardiovascular, respiratory and neurologic symptoms. The prevention of these
      reactions is mandatory in patients reporting a history of allergy or atopia
      disease. From a legal point of view, the contraindication to procedures involving
      i.v. use of CM are not clearly pointed out therefore several concerns have been
      expressed. The intensivist is not required to physically attend the procedure, in
      agreement with the circular #64 edited in 1979; on the other hand his prompt
      intervention should be granted if necessary. Furthermore every therapeutic supply
      suitable for any resuscitational intervention should be available in the area
      where the test is performed. In conclusion we would like to stress the financial
      and ethic implications related to the choice of ICM (ionic versus non-ionic). The
      use of non-ionic CM offers several advantages: among them the better tolerance
      for the patient and the lower incidence of adverse reactions. However non-ionic
      CM have a cost ten-fold higher and both groups of drugs have same incidence of
      fatal reactions, therefore the use of non-ionic ICM is recommended for high risk
      patients.

PMID- 1436558
TI  - [Determination of the best amino acid input after orthotopic liver
      transplantation].
AB  - Ten-three patients were investigated during the early postoperative phase after
      orthotopic liver transplantation to assess the adequacy of the amino acid (AA)
      supply during both parenteral (days 1-5) and enteral (days 6-9) nutrition. Plasma
      AA profile was determined preoperatively, on day 4 and 5 during TPN and on day 8
      and 9 during EN, urea production rate was measured every day. Calories input was
      28 kcal.kg-.day as glucose, nitrogen intake was 0.25 g.kg- day, supplying
      individual AA on the basis of previous studies. Urea nitrogen production during
      TPN (9-11 gN/m2.day) outlines the ability of the transplanted liver to manage the
      overall nitrogen load. Individual AA plasma profile was considered the expression
      of an adequate input when comprised between 1 and 1.5 times the normal value, in
      this respect we obtained adequate levels of all essential AAs. Particularly
      phenylalanine, methionine and branched chain AA, critical during liver failure,
      were kept in this range by supplying 68, 48 and 500 mg.kg-1.day. According to AA
      profile the supply of cystine and tyrosine (conditionally essential AAs), and of
      histidine, taurine, proline and serine could be safely increased. Not given
      dispensable AAs (glutamine, asparagine, citrulline and alfa amino butyric) showed
      a plasma level below the norm and should be added to the diet.

PMID- 1436560
TI  - [Sleep disorders in patients in recovery. Preliminary results in 20 patients].
AB  - Various aspects of the critically ill patient sharing pain, physical distress,
      anxiety, environmental components, predispose him to develop some sleep disorders
      (SD). We studied 20 conscious patients, age 16-80 (mean 48.15 SD of mean +/- 25),
      undergoing ICU mean 14.3 days (SD of mean +/- 7.5), to evaluate SD rate and their
      possible leading causes. Through Spearman Rank test SD was related to Apache II
      score, admission state anxiety, satisfactory sedation, days of ICU stay and age
      respectively. Conclusive results showed SD rate in all our patients. Excepted a
      statistical trend to significativity of SD versus satisfactory sedation: RS 0.311
      (threshold value for 20 patients: 0.377), no relation was found between SD and
      data recorded. These preliminary results emphasize the importance of looking for
      SD in ICU patients though many factors may play a role to develop them.

PMID- 1436561
TI  - [Neuropsychologic effects of anesthesia in the elderly].
AB  - Two anaesthetic techniques, the general balanced anaesthesia and the spinal one,
      have been compared in relation to their effects on neuropsychological functions
      as assessed by a neuropsychological test battery. Seventeen patients, who
      underwent different kinds of operations, have been kept under observation and
      checked up from a neuropsychological point of view 3 days before (time A) and 7
      and 30 days after the operation (respectively time B and time C). No statistical
      significant differences in relation to the two anaesthetic techniques were found
      when comparing A, B and C assessment times. A decrease in cognitive performance
      at time B and a gradual return to basal condition were observed in patients who
      underwent general anaesthesia. Nevertheless the lack of statistical significance
      of the observed data leads to the need for further investigation.

PMID- 1436562
TI  - [New duties for anesthetists in blood transfusion].
AB  - The Authors discuss new duties assigned to anaesthetist-resuscitators by Italian
      transfusional law (107/90, D.M. 27.12.90, Technical Directions). Preoperative
      hemodilution is the main task, and the need for the anaesthetist to perform it
      autonomously has important medical-legal consequences.

PMID- 1436563
TI  - [The use of nefopam in the prophylaxis and treatment of postoperative shivering].
AB  - Chlorhydrate nefopam was used in the prophylaxis and treatment of postoperative
      shivering in 54 patients undergoing general anesthesia for radical cystectomy
      with trans-intestinal anastomosis. Postoperative shivering was not observed in
      any of the patients treated with nefopam before coming round, whereas it occurred
      in 55% of patients treated with placebo. Chlorhydrate nefopam subsequently
      stopped shivering in all these patients. The main side effects observed took the
      form of delayed awakening in 11% of patients receiving prophylactic treatment and
      somnolence lasting 5-10 minutes in all other patients.

PMID- 1436564
TI  - [The use of propofol in status epilepticus].
AB  - Three cases of status epilepticus not responsive to an aggressive treatment are
      described. The seizures and EEG activity were rapidly brought under control with
      a continuous infusion of propofol (3-6 mg/kg/hour), maintained between 21 hours
      and 7 days. Patient awakening at the end of the infusion period was rapid and
      without sequelae.

PMID- 1436565
TI  - [Resistance to non-depolarizing myorelaxants. Our experience with 3 clinical
      cases].
AB  - The Authors report their own experience in three patients that showed reduced
      sensitivity to atracurium or vecuronium. Two patients were affected by neoplastic
      diseases and one by hand trauma. Doses of 0.5 mg/kg of atracurium and 0.08 mg/kg
      of vecuronium were unable to establish a complete neuromuscular blockade. The
      Authors review the main clinical situations in which resistance to non
      depolarizing muscle relaxants is known: burns, hepatic diseases, chronic therapy
      with anticonvulsant drugs. Possibly, such events are due to fast elimination of
      the drug, or to an increased number of acetylcholine nicotinic receptors, or to
      an unknown acutely acting circulating factor, or to increased binding of the drug
      to plasma proteins. Up to date, no well-established explanation is available.

PMID- 1436566
TI  - [Hepatocystic ducts: anatomic curiosity or surgical challenge?].
AB  - The Authors report two cases of cysto-hepatic ducts. Clinical and therapeutic
      patterns of this rare biliary disease are stressed, underlining the surgical
      hazard related to iatrogenic damage of bile ducts during operative manoeuvres.

PMID- 1436567
TI  - [Paradigmatic endoscopic features of diverticular disease of the colon].

PMID- 1436568
TI  - [Costo-clavicular outlet syndrome].
AB  - Syndromes caused by the compression of the neurovascular bundle are not a rare
      pathology, though their exact frequency cannot be assessed. Neurovascular bundle
      in the upper limbs may be compressed at the costo-clavicular space, interscalene
      triangle or at the insertion of the minor pectoralis muscle into the coracoid
      process. More than 90% of patients present neurological symptoms and 10% also
      have vascular problems. Diagnosis depends on a careful clinical and instrumental
      study of the patients. Arteriography, phlebography and Doppler tests were of
      value in the diagnostic approach, showing the compression of the subclavian
      artery and vein using the arm abduction manoeuvre. Electromyography is of value
      in differential diagnosis of the carpal tunnel syndrome showing the entity and
      site of nerve compression. The best form of surgical treatment is resection of
      the first rib according to Roos, using an extrapleural and transaxillary route.

PMID- 1436569
TI  - [Leiomyoma associated with esophageal diverticulosis].
AB  - The Authors report a case of leiomyoma located in an epi-phrenic diverticulum.
      The development of the leiomyoma may have weakened the esophageal wall and caused
      the diverticulum to appear. Surgical treatment consisted of diverticulectomy with
      myotomy and a Belsey MK IV antireflux procedure.

PMID- 1436570
TI  - [Local recurrence after gastrectomy for cancer. Presentation of 2 clinical
      cases].
AB  - The Authors report two cases with local recurrence after partial gastrectomy for
      advanced gastric carcinoma. The Authors suggest that chemo and/or radiotherapy
      associated with surgical treatment can improve the prognosis in some patients
      with recurrence. Response to chemotherapy and time elapsing before recurrence
      appears may select this group of patients.

PMID- 1436571
TI  - [Peritonitis caused by jejunal perforation resulting from metastasis of pulmonary
      carcinoma].
AB  - The Authors report a case of peritonitis due to perforation of a single small
      bowel metastasis in a woman affected by right upper lobar lung carcinoma still
      with neck's lymphnodes and cerebellar metastasis. They underline the rarity of
      the finding and analyze its clinical, therapeutic, prognostic problems.

PMID- 1436572
TI  - [Diverticulitis of the right colon. Presentation of a clinical case].
AB  - The recent observation of one case of diverticulitis of the right colon led to an
      evaluation of clinical diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this comparatively
      rare condition, on the basis of reported data. Preoperative diagnosis is very
      difficult because it clinically resembles acute appendicitis in many ways, or
      because of the objective observation of a mass in the right iliac fossa.
      Instrumental examinations require preparation times that are often incompatible
      with the degree of surgical urgency. In the reported case, the inflammatory
      process was modest and treatment was straightforward, there being no diagnostic
      doubts. This confirms the fact that in so-called "usual" cases, the idea surgical
      approach must be as conservative as possible. In so-called "hidden" cases, on the
      other hand, the doubt as to the nature of the pathology often leads to extensive
      surgery, such as right hemicolectomy.

PMID- 1436573
TI  - [Postoperative extrapleural pneumothorax. Presentation of a case].
AB  - The authors discuss a case of pneumomediastinum observed in the course of acute
      bronchitis and after an operation performed with general anesthesia and
      orotracheal intubation.

PMID- 1436574
TI  - [Pseudocyst of the adrenal gland: diagnosis and treatment. Description of a
      clinical case].
AB  - A case of pseudocyst of the suprarenal gland in a 32-years-old woman is reported.
      Stress is laid on the description of the clinical case and the diagnostic and
      therapeutic problems involved are reviewed.

PMID- 1436575
TI  - [A case of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma. Considerations].
AB  - A case of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma is reported. The retroperitoneal
      localization is quite unusual and early diagnosis is really difficult. Only
      operation can offer any chance for cure of this neoplasm and radiotherapy and
      chemotherapy can be very useful. Tumor size and location are the major prognostic
      factors.

PMID- 1436576
TI  - [Primary malignant lymphoma of the parotid gland. Report of a case].
AB  - Primary malignant lymphoma of the parotid gland is often correlated, in
      literature data, with inflammatory autoimmunological disease of the salivary
      gland. Finding of blasticlymphoid cells in myoepithelial scialoadenitic areas in
      a case of parotid disease is described by the Authors. Needle may be useful in
      detecting these high radio-chemosensitive neoplasms to reduce the occurrence of
      complications of total parotidectomy.

PMID- 1436577
TI  - [Choledocholithotomy and papillosphincterotomy in surgery of the bile ducts].
AB  - The Authors argue about the different surgical choices feasible in case of CBD
      stones. They consider a case-record of 74 patients that underwent, from January
      1988 to June 1990, choledocholithotomy or transduodenal sphincterotomy for non
      neoplastic pathology of the CBD in the I Divisione di Chirurgia Generale OO.RR.
      Bergamo. Analysis of the data shows a significant pre-operative alteration of the
      gamma-GT plasmatic levels. That represent a risk-index useful to suspect a silent
      CBD lithiasis. The good results attained with the choledocholithotomy and with
      the transduodenal sphincterotomy show the efficacy of both methods, that keep up
      different indications. The Authors point out the efficacy of the antibiotic
      prophylaxis in the prevention of the operative infections.

PMID- 1436578
TI  - [Reconstruction of the abdominal wall for "major" hernia. Conventional methods vs
      the use of prosthesis].
AB  - The result of using traditional techniques in the treatment of large hernias of
      the abdominal wall (recurrent inguinal hernia and incisional hernia) are compared
      with those obtained by using prosthetic material. In most cases of incisional
      hernia the reconstruction was carried out by traditional techniques. Instead, the
      Authors' preference is for the use of prosthetic material in the treatment of
      recurrent inguinal hernia.

PMID- 1436579
TI  - [Local and regional recurrence of cancer of the breast].
AB  - The Authors, through the study of their patients, and comparing it to other
      reports, help to further define the meaning, prognosis and type of treatment of
      local recurrences (LR) in breast cancer. They study 25 cases of LR after 238
      operations on which regular clinical follow-up was carried out. They consider the
      various prognostic indicators for LR, the types of treatment and the results
      which are reached. Median survival after LR treatment was significantly better in
      patients N- (49 months vs 7 months in N+: p = 0.004). LR was more frequent when
      primary tumor was situated in inner quadrants; only 36% of their cases depend on
      primaries of the upper outer quadrant. An aggressive treatment (surgery,
      radiotherapy, chemotherapy) insures a better survival even if primary cancer is
      N+ greater than 3. The importance for prognosis of lymphnodal status is
      confirmed. Possible explanations are presented regarding the relatively lower
      incidence in upper outer quadrant cancers. An aggressive treatment of LR is
      suggested, specially when prognostic indicators are unfavourable: LR is very
      often a sign of systemic relapse of illness, particularly when it occurs after a
      short disease-free interval.

PMID- 1436580
TI  - [The use of Sorbsan in the treatment of the donor site of skin transplantations].
AB  - Sorbsan is a new dressing composed of alginate fibers extracted from seaweed. It
      is claimed to have important hydrophilic, haemostatic and biocompatible
      qualities. Sorbsan was used in the treatment of the donor site of split skin
      grafts in 52 patients operated in this department from 1988 to 1990. The patients
      of this series required a skin graft for various reasons as detailed below: a)
      skin burns in 24 cases; 2) covering of a muscle flap used in the treatment of
      sacral pressure sores in 15 cases; c) 13 cases of loss of substance from other
      various causes. Healing time averaged 16.8-13.4 and 9.3 days respectively in the
      three groups reported above. In 85% of cases, healing was achieved in a period
      variable between one and two weeks and a half, varying in accordance with patient
      age and general conditions. The speed of healing, particularly where thin grafts
      were taken, allowed multiple split skin grafts to be taken from the same donor
      site, facilitating the treatment of extensive skin burns. The dressing can be
      removed with ease with only minimal discomfort to the patient. The incidence of
      side effects such as itching and scar hypertrophy or pigmentation is low. We
      haven't noticed any allergic reaction in this series. We found the use of this
      dressing satisfying in the treatment of donor sites of split skin grafts,
      particularly in terms of patient comfort and speed or healing.

PMID- 1436581
TI  - [The application of microanastomoses in the surgical treatment of varicocele].
AB  - We operated on 50 patients with varicocele employing microsurgical anastomosis.
      Clinical results were satisfactory with varicocele disappearing 49 times out of
      34 cases. The shunt between a high regimen pressure with a lower one improve the
      venous drainage of the testis. These new techniques must be selected according to
      the pathogenic mechanism of varicocele.

PMID- 1436582
TI  - [Progressive pneumoperitoneum in the preparation for surgical intervention for
      voluminous ventral hernias].
AB  - The paper report three patients suffering from voluminous ventral hernias who
      were treated using progressive pneumoperitoneum as a preparative method prior to
      reparative surgery. On the basis of the results obtained, the authors sustain the
      rationality, safety and efficacy of the procedure, in particular given its
      ability to reestablish good respiratory and circulatory function in those cases
      where the latter were severely affected by hernia. Since this method needs a
      longer application time and therefore involves a greater economic burden,
      pneumoperitoneum should probably be reserved for selected cases, and alternative
      techniques should be used in patients where hernia is more easily resolved.

PMID- 1436583
TI  - [MTBE perfusion via nasobiliary drainage followed by endoscopic lithotripsy in
      cases of complicated lithiasis of the common bile duct].
AB  - Pernasal catheter perfusion with MTBE and subsequent endoscopic lithotripsy is an
      effective treatment of complicated common bile duct lithiasis in which a first
      endoscopic attempt has failed. The authors analyzed their experience in 1990.

PMID- 1436584
TI  - [Merkel's tumor. Some comments and the authors' personal cases].
AB  - The clinical features of 7 cases of primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin
      (Merkel cell tumor) are reported. This cancer arises in the dermis and
      subcutaneous tissues of elderly individuals. Natural history is characterized by
      local recurrences (30%), regional lymph node metastases (65%) and distant
      metastases (40%). Surgery is the elective treatment, chemotherapy and
      radiotherapy resulted in only short-term palliative response.

PMID- 1436585
TI  - [Carotid-subclavian bypass. Our experience with locoregional anesthesia].
AB  - Carotid-subclavian bypass has been adopted since 1956. The commonest indication
      is to abolish arterial occlusion or stenosis in patients with subclavian steal
      syndrome. Ten patients were submitted to carotid-subclavian bypass under regional
      anaesthesia: block of anterior rami of spinal nerves C3-C4 and block of cervico
      brachial plexus by injection into the continuous perineural connective tissue
      space at the level of C6. The surgical procedure required carotid occlusion and
      cerebral function monitoring. The advantages of regional anaesthesia are the
      ability to monitor the patient's cerebral perfusion and function, to detect
      intraoperative ischaemia and embolisation and minimal interference with the
      cardiovascular and respiratory function.

PMID- 1436586
TI  - [Acute diaphragmatic lesions due to closed thoracic-abdominal trauma].
AB  - Diaphragmatic injuries due to blunt trauma are steadily related to a high
      mortality. Their diagnosis may be difficult, due to the lack of specific symptoms
      and, more frequently to the high incidence of coexisting lesions which can mask
      the clinical appearance. This work presents the main aspects of ten cases
      admitted to the Emergency Surgery Division of Cagliari (USL 21), during the last
      seven years, with a review of the literature.

PMID- 1436587
TI  - [Drainage of the pleural cavity].
AB  - The authors, from their personal experience, demonstrate the goals, the
      indications, the techniques and complications of performing a drain of the
      pleural cavity (DCP). DCP has an important role as a single operation or at the
      end of every thoracic operation. For this reason it is mandatory to respect the
      principles and the concepts reported by the authors.

PMID- 1436588
TI  - ["The difficult nose". Notes on the surgical technic in selected cases of
      septorhinoplasty].
AB  - The authors present a series of 20 patients who have undergone a complex
      septorhinoplasty. Its complexity is due to the presence of a serious deviation of
      the nasal septum, with an altered anatomy and position, and to the
      contemporaneous malformation of the nasal profile, laterally displaced in respect
      to the facial axis and with accentuated hump of the nasal bones. The aim of this
      presentation is to indicate the resolution of both problems with a single
      surgical operation.

PMID- 1436589
TI  - [The prevention of DVT after general surgical interventions for cancer
      pathology].
AB  - The efficacy of postoperative DVT prophylaxis of defibrotide and heparin calcium
      was evaluated in a group of 47 patients undergoing general surgery for
      oncological pathologies. A sub-group (24 patients) received defibrotide
      treatment, 400 mg b.i.d. i.m.; the second subgroup (23 patients) was treated with
      heparin calcium, 5000 IU b.i.d. s.c., from the day before operation until the 7th
      postoperative day. No postoperative thrombotic symptoms were observed in either
      group of patients.

PMID- 1436590
TI  - [Atypical metastases from gastric carcinoma. A primary and isolated case
      localized in the abdominal wall].
AB  - The authors report a rare case of gastric carcinoma metastasis localised in the
      anterior abdominal wall which was an isolated and primary sign of disease. After
      having underlined the rarity of the case, there is a brief discussion of aspects
      related to the spread of primary tumours in relation to other cases reported over
      the past decade; the most important reports of atypical secondary localisations
      are listed.

PMID- 1436591
TI  - [A case of ileal perforation due to a leiomyoma].

PMID- 1436592
TI  - [A rare tumor: desmoid of the musculus rectus abdominis. Apropos a clinical
      case].
AB  - The authors report a case of left abdominal rectum muscle desmoid tumor which has
      been surgically treated. After some considerations of the particular
      pathogenetic, anatomopathological and clinical characteristics of this neoplasm,
      they state that a precise preoperative diagnosis is always difficult, in spite of
      modern diagnostic means. They conclude that, nowadays, surgical extirpation is
      the most reliable therapeutical method, although it is burdened by a consistent
      incidence of local recidives (over 30%).

PMID- 1436593
TI  - [Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma of the abdominal wall. A clinical,
      histological, ultrastructural and cytofluorimetric case study].
AB  - The authors present a case of extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma of the
      abdominal wall, an unusual localization and specific presentation. According to
      the literature, the clinical characters of this kind of tumor, the diagnostic
      iter and the therapeutic indications are being examined. The actual
      anatomopathological patterns used for the diagnosis of this neoplasm are being
      underlined.

PMID- 1436594
TI  - [A strangulated obturator hernia. Comments on 2 cases].

PMID- 1436595
TI  - [A case of transareolar mastocele (tuberous breast) following an early lateral
      thoracotomy].
AB  - The paper reports a rare case of breast anomaly, classified as "tuberous breast",
      which was of a specific nature since it was the result of a lateral thoracotomy
      performed at the age of 7 days old to esophageal atresia. The paper analyses the
      possible etiopathogenetic mechanisms. The use of an original reparative technique
      enable an adequately shaped and protruding breast to be obtained without the use
      of prosthesis and without leaving additional scars.

PMID- 1436596
TI  - [Angioma of a finger: the usefulness of a graft from the hypothenar eminence for
      covering the defect].
AB  - Skin grafting remains the simplest option when bone is not exposed in soft tissue
      losses of the digits of the hand. As opposed to traditional donor sites, a split
      thickness skin graft from the hypothenar eminence provides specialized skin
      similar to the one to be replaced. The graft remains elastic and soft in follow
      up, without hyperpigmentation, hyperkeratosis, fissuring and hypertrophic
      scarring at the margins. As well as in acute trauma situations, the use of split
      thickness skin grafting from the hypothenar eminence can also be extended to
      resurfacing defects in elective hand surgery. As an example, we describe a case
      of an ulcerated capillary hemangioma on the dorsal surface of the fifth digit at
      the distal interphalangeal joint.

PMID- 1436597
TI  - [Transcutaneous oximetry in symptomatic diabetics].
AB  - In a group of 33 patients affected by diabetes mellitus transcutaneous oxygen
      tension (PtcO2) was measured by means of a Clark polarographic electrode.
      Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the symptoms and/or to the
      clinical findings: group A: paresthesia (22 limbs); group B: claudication (6
      limbs); group C: rest pain and/or necrosis (13 limbs). Moreover, group C was
      divided into: C1 trophic neuropathy lesion (7 limbs) and C2 trophic ischemic
      lesion (6 limbs). Our data point out that there is a statistically significant
      difference between mean PtcO2 values in limbs with trophic ischemic lesions
      versus the other 3 groups. Therefore, PtcO2 is particularly indicated and useful
      in the study of diabetic patients with peripheral vascular disease where
      integrates the other instrumental noninvasive techniques.

PMID- 1436598
TI  - [Nutrients, anthropometric characteristics and osteoporosis in women in the
      recent and late postmenopausal period].
AB  - Bone mineral content (BMC) at two different radial sites (mid-diaphysis and ultra
      distal epiphysis), anthropometric measurements (Body Mass Index, Lipidic Area,
      and Muscular Area) and nutrients intake were measured in two populations of women
      selected on the basis of early (< 9 years) or remote (> 15 years) menopause. The
      results show the presence of positive relationships between BMC, and protein and
      lipid intakes in the population of women in early menopause; in the other
      population no relationships were found. Glucid, fibre and calcium intakes were
      not related to the BMC of both populations. The positive relationships between
      BMC, and protein and lipid intakes in the population of women in early menopause
      is likely mediated by anthropometric characteristics as Body Mass Index and
      Muscular Area.

PMID- 1436599
TI  - [Zymogenic cell mass and serum pepsinogen I: the cell secretory correlations in
      patients with gastric intestinal-type cancer of the corpus-fundus].
AB  - The chief cell mass and serum pepsinogen I (PGI) have been evaluated in 18
      patients with gastric cancer of intestinal type of the body-fundus. Moreover, a
      correlation with the parietal cell mass and the maximal acid output it has been
      effected. The patients have been subdivided in relation to histologic condition
      of the fundic mucosa. In case of gastric cancer with preatrophic fundic gastritis
      it has been revealed hypozymogenism with normoPGI and hypoparietalism with
      hypochlorhydria, in case of gastric cancer with atrophic fundic gastritis it has
      been revealed hypozymogenism with hypoPGI and hypoparietalism with
      hypochlorhydria. From this experience it emerges a similar anatomic-functional
      profile between gastric cancer of the body-fundus and chronic fundic gastritis
      without cancer. In particular, it emerges that serum PGI is a good marker of
      atrophic fundic gastritis, but it is not discriminant between atrophic fundic
      gastritis and atrophic fundic gastritis associated to gastric cancer.

PMID- 1436600
TI  - [Transient cerebral ischemia and the risk factors].
AB  - A retrospective study was carried out in a general medicine ward of 100 male
      patients suffering from their first transient ischemic attack (TIA) in order to
      evaluate the incidence of different cerebrovascular risk factors. The results
      were then compared with those from another group of 100 patients suffering from
      initial cerebral ischemic softening (CIS) in order to identify a cerebrovascular
      risk population taking into account clinical similarities and common and
      divergent features. The study revealed that age is the prime risk factor in the
      genesis of TIA, followed by arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. From
      a comparison with the group of patients affected by initial CIS it was clear that
      TIA is typical of senility and is more closer correlated to age than other risk
      factors; therefore, che TIA population is an expression of those who have
      "survived" cerebrovascular death due to the lesser exposure to risk factors.

PMID- 1436601
TI  - [Ticlopidine and platelet function].
AB  - In macular degeneration disease of the eye, we have studied the behaviour of
      vitro thrombocyte aggregation/deaggregation and ex vivo plasma beta
      thromboglobulin level (Born aggregometer, RIA kit) during administration of an
      antiaggregant platelet drug (ticlopidine). We have observed the presence of a
      prothrombotic state that improves after 15 days of administration of drug. In
      fact platelet aggregation and beta-thromboglobulin level significantly decrease
      while thrombocyte deaggregation significantly increase. The correlations between
      deaggregation, aggregation and beta-thromboglobulin level suggest that the
      antiaggregant action of the ticlopidine is linked to the inhibition of platelet
      release reaction.

PMID- 1436602
TI  - [The possible effects of galactosaminoglucuronoglycan sulfate on blood
      coagulation processes].
AB  - Ten patients with osteoarthritis were treated in an open study with
      galactosaminoglucuronoglycan sulphate for 60 days (800 mg b.i.d. per os). The
      following haemostatic indices were measured before and after treatment: platelet
      count, adhesion and aggregation; prothrombin time and activity; partial
      thromboplastin time and antithrombin III. Total and HDL cholesterolemia,
      triglycerides, arterial pressure and heart rate were also measured. No blood
      coagulation index was found to be significantly altered in treated patients. In
      addition, neither variations from the normal limits of lipidemic and
      cardiocirculatory values nor adverse effects related to treatment were reported.
      Although the study was carried out in a limited population, these findings show
      that GGG does not interfere with the coagulation process and, from a more general
      point of view, they confirm its excellent tolerance.

PMID- 1436603
TI  - [Heparan sulfate: its kinetic effects on fibrinolytic-coagulative parameters
      after oral administration].
AB  - The effects of the oral administration of 100 or 200 mg of heparan sulphate or
      placebo over time were assessed in nine healthy volunteers. Blood samples were
      collected at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 hours after administration to assay prothrombin
      activity, partially activated thromboplastin time, and the activation to tPA and
      PAI-1. A significant increase (P < 0.001) of tPA activity and a reduced
      inhibition of fibrinolytic systems by PAI-1 were observed. These effects, which
      were clearly dose-dependent, appeared 2 hours after administration and persisted
      for 6-8 hours. On the contrary, no changes were recorded in coagulative tests at
      the doses used.

PMID- 1436604
TI  - [Ursodeoxycholic hemisuccinate in the treatment of chronic active hepatitis. A
      controlled clinico-therapeutic study].
AB  - This controlled study was performed on 36 patients affected by HBV and/or HCV
      correlated chronic hepatitis (CAH). Eighteen of them received 300 mg of UDCA
      hemisuccinate orally twice a day for six months; the other 18 received 200 mg of
      S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) twice a day for six months. The two groups were
      determined randomly. Treatment with UDCA-hemi-succinate produced a statistically
      significant reduction in ALT (from 167 +/- 17 to 119 +/- 15 U/l; p < 0.0001), AST
      (from 122 +/- 14 to 86 +/- 11 U/l; p < 0.0001) and y-GT (from 81 +/- 10 to 53 +/-
      6 U/l, p < 0.0001). The results obtained suggest that UDCA-hemi-succinate may be
      useful in the long-term treatment of chronic liver diseases of viral aetiology
      because it improves the biochemical parameters of hepatocellular necrosis and/or
      increased liver cell permeability.

PMID- 1436606
TI  - [Why a gynecological consultation service in a hematology day hospital. Our
      experience].
AB  - The paper described the role of a gynaecological advisory service in an
      hematological day hospital. The main gynaecological problems which arose during
      anti-cancer and immunosuppressive therapy were classified according to patients'
      symptoms. The paper stresses the need for close collaboration between
      hematologists and gynaecologists and underlines the psychological importance of
      this aspect from the patient's point of view.

PMID- 1436605
TI  - [The use of thymopentin in preventing acute infectious relapses in elderly
      subjects with COPD].
AB  - In this study the authors considered the effectiveness of thymus hormone in the
      prevention of acute infections within a group of elderly subjects affected by
      COPD. Ten subjects were considered, nine males and one female in the age included
      between 65 and 89 years (medium age = 70.2 +/- 6.96 years), with clinical
      evaluation and altered functional respiratory tests (FEV1 < 70%). The patients
      were treated with timopentina 50 mg s c three times a week for a month. The
      following parameters were considered: leucocytes/mm3; lymphocytes/mm3 in standard
      conditions, in the first and in the second month after the therapy start,
      contagious episodes two months before and two months after the beginning of
      therapy. The Authors noticed a real reduction in the relapses of the infectious
      episodes (11 relapses in the months before therapy and 2 relapses after therapy
      had begun). Leucocytes/mm3 rates were reduced (8.070 +/- 3.414 in standard
      conditions, 6.420 +/- 1.041 after 60 days; 0.2 < P < 0.1). Lymphocytes/mm3 rates
      were increased, 1.579 +/- 752 in standard conditions, 2103 +/- 491 after 60 days
      0.2 < P < 0.1). These preliminary data seem to show in the small number of cases
      considered, the effectiveness of the thymus hormone (thymopentina) in elderly
      subjects affected by COPD.

PMID- 1436607
TI  - [Physician immunity and privileges during the Roman Empire].

PMID- 1436608
TI  - [Systemic mastocytosis with portal hypertension and hepatocellular failure].
AB  - Systemic mastocytosis is a rare disease of mast cell proliferation with cutaneous
      and multi-visceral involvement. Portal hypertension and ascites are rare
      manifestations of systemic mastocytosis. We report a case of systemic
      mastocytosis presenting with extensive nodular cutaneous lesions and hepatic
      dysfunction, manifested by portal hypertension (ascites, splenomegaly) and
      derangement of metabolic function (hyperammonemia, hypoalbuminemia,
      hypocholesterolemia), a picture resembling that of a common cirrhotic form. The
      correct diagnosis was established only after tissue sections were appropriately
      stained for mast cells. On the basis of our and other observations we suggest
      that systemic mastocytosis be added to the list of infiltrative diseases of the
      liver with potential evolution to portal hypertension and compromise of
      biochemical functions.

PMID- 1436609
TI  - [Ischemic colitis manifested as Crohn's disease. A case report].
AB  - Ischaemic colitis has many and different clinical features as it is often linked
      to the severity of ischaemic injury. In this paper two patients with clinical
      features of Crohn's disease are reported. In both patients the diagnosis has been
      confirmed with endoscopy and biopsy. They have been treated with specific therapy
      until they developed bowel obstruction in one case and peritonitis in the other.
      Both patients underwent laparotomy and the histological specimen showed a picture
      of ischaemic colitis. In one case a Dixon's resection was done, in the other
      Hartmann's operation.

PMID- 1436610
TI  - [The infusion of high-dose immunoglobulins in a case of idiopathic
      thrombocytopenic purpura].
AB  - Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a disease characterized by the
      presence of circulating antiplatelet antibodies, which can cause platelet
      destruction, through the mediation of the reticuloendothelial system (RES). We
      report on a patient affected with ITP insensible to first line steroid therapy,
      who achieved a complete response following the administration of high-dose
      immunoglobulins (HDIgG, 400 mg/kg/die for 5 days), in association with decreasing
      doses of steroids. At the end of the treatment with immunoglobulins, the patient
      presented a normal platelet count and, up to date, 5 moths from the end of
      therapy, he is in good shape and presents normal platelets values.

PMID- 1436611
TI  - [Unilateral gynecomastia induced by the use of anabolic steroids. A clinical case
      report].
AB  - The authors studied a case of left unilateral gynecomastia occurring in a 26-year
      old body-builder after anabolic steroids assumption. The mammal features were
      found by echography and mammography and they showed the presence of a 3 cm
      diameter retroareolar area of gland tissue surrounded by fibrotic tissue. After
      excluding every likely cause giving gynecomastia through laboratory tests, it was
      clear a relationship with the assumption of high doses of anabolic hormones, with
      particular regard to methyltestosterone. Therefore, also this substance which on
      its own is not aromatized by extrasplanchnic tissues, can be responsible for
      man's mammal hypertrophy, if joined to a slight iatrogenic liver cytolysis.

PMID- 1436612
TI  - [Non-sexual transmission of sexually transmissible diseases].
AB  - Sexually transmitted diseases can be transmitted through nonsexual transmission.
      Neonatal contamination has been proven at parturition from mothers with
      anogenital diseases. Another example is transmission through exchange of
      underwear, towels, bed sharing, etc. It is possible that contamination may occur
      with use of the contaminated speculum and forceps. Use of laser may release
      viruses during treatment for viral diseases. Candidiasis, trichomoniasis and
      genitalis condilomatosis, which should not be considered an exclusively sexually
      transmitted diseases are considered.

PMID- 1436613
TI  - [Synchronous associations of tumors in the pelvic organs of the female genital
      tract].
AB  - The Authors report their findings concerning the synchronous associations of
      tumours involving pelvic organs in the female genital tract observed at the
      Gynecological Clinic, Aquila. From January 1980 to December 1991, 9 cases (4.28%)
      of synchronous tumours were found in a total of 210 cases of womb, ovary and
      vagina tumours. The paper examines the clinical problems and questions of
      anatomopathological characterisation raised by these associations.

PMID- 1436614
TI  - [Clinical evaluation of an immunological test for premature rupture of the fetal
      membranes (ROM check test)].
AB  - Commonly used methods for detecting amniotic fluid in the vagina include research
      LA cells, ferning, nitrazina paper, ultrasound and dye injection. These methods
      are difficult to interpret or invasive. We have tested a new method which detects
      a fetal isoform of fibronectin in vaginal secretion when amniotic fluid is
      present. Clinical trials demonstrate the sufficient reliability in detecting
      amniotic fluid in the vagina of women with rupture of amniotic membranes.

PMID- 1436615
TI  - [Collagenase IV and laminin receptors in cultured trophoblast cells].
AB  - Human trophoblast cells were obtained from a term placenta and cultured through
      several stages. Using specific antibodies marked using an avidin biotin system
      and given the characteristic "invasiveness" of placental tissue, the Authors
      investigated the possible presence of those markers which have been found to be
      correlated with invasive and metastatic tumour cells. The positivity shown by
      cultured trophoblast cells towards laminin receptors and collagenase IV may have
      important implications which might explain the strange formation and maintenance
      of the human uteroplacental circulation in which embryonal tissue is in direct
      contact with maternal blood.

PMID- 1436616
TI  - [Hysteroscopy in the early diagnosis of endometrial neoplasia. Personal
      experience with 200 consecutive cases].

PMID- 1436617
TI  - [Hysteroscopy as a diagnostic method in postmenopausal metrorrhagia].
AB  - We performed 215 hysteroscopies for post-menopausal bleeding. The most common
      abnormalities found were endometrial hypoatrophy and low-risk hyperplasia, the
      less common high-risk hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma of the endometrium. The
      correlation between hysteroscopic view and endometrial sampling was always very
      high. Hysteroscopy seems to be a very accurate method for evaluating patients
      with post-menopausal bleeding especially if associated with endometrial sampling.

PMID- 1436618
TI  - [Radiologic types in mammography in the 90-s. New classification].
AB  - The Authors present a critical review of the classification of radiological types
      in mammography proposed in 1986. On the basis of their personal experience over
      the past years, and in the light of the changed indications given by screening
      the asymptomatic population, a series of 6,072 mammographies performed over a 12
      month period were included in the study. These were non-selected cases undergoing
      X-ray examination for a variety of reasons, ranging from periodical control to
      carcinophobia. No clinical or epidemiological data were taken into account in
      order to limit analysis to radiological factors alone. The analysis of results
      allows a few comments to be made and suggests an interpretation which differs
      from that in vogue in the 80s. First of all, the steady rise in mammographic
      controls calls for an uniformity of technique with interchanges of information
      between the various centres of breast cancer in order to encourage increasingly
      accurate diagnostic evaluations. The higher incidence of the trabecular type
      (33.7%), typical of women in their 40s, underlines the greater diffusion of
      mammography which now starts at an increasingly early age. Current control
      programmes (in spite of some recent controversy) include 40-year-old women who
      undergo basic mammography in spite of the absence of symptoms. On the other hand,
      the irreplaceable diagnostic value of mammography during the asymptomatic years
      is now widely recognised, even in those women who undergo a regular clinical
      examination. The fibroadipose type has dropped to second place (26.8%) not due to
      a reduction in the number of these cases, but rather on account of the lower age
      at which women first undergo mammography.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1436619
TI  - [Sampling devices for the Papanicolaou test].
AB  - Smear quality is related to the experience of the sample taker and also to the
      screening instrument used. Most Authors concur that both an endocervical and an
      ectocervical specimen must be collected to assure adequate sampling of the
      transitional zone. The cytobrush alone is effective mainly for endocervical
      sampling while the Ayre spatula alone is effective mainly for ectocervical
      sampling; the cotton swab is ineffective for both endocervical and ectocervical
      sampling. Values and failure of the sampling devices are described.

PMID- 1436620
TI  - [Trends in our approach to the therapy of urinary stress incontinence].

PMID- 1436621
TI  - [Experience with ceftriaxone in the antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis in obstetric
      gynecologic surgery].

PMID- 1436622
TI  - [Obstetric-gynecologic problems in the developing countries].
AB  - The integrated health programmes in the developing countries give priority to the
      improvement of women's living conditions and of maternal and child health medical
      attention. The Authors, as specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology active in an
      African country, present the most frequent pathological situations which, in
      their experience, can lead to the death of the pregnant woman. The social reality
      of the underdeveloped world and the high Total Fertility rates, due partly to the
      absence of a contraceptive culture, too often see the woman of reproductive age
      threatened by the complication deriving from abortion, ectopic pregnancy and
      labour. The obstetrician needs to know how to solve these emergencies and how to
      train the local personnel in order to guarantee as much as he can the essential
      obstetrical functions.

PMID- 1436623
TI  - [Cervico-vaginal screening in some Local Sanitary Units of the Emilia-Romagna
      region].
AB  - Some Local Sanitary Units (USL) of the Emilia-Romagna region were contacted to
      define cervical screening variables, such as adequacy of smear technique, data
      collection and evaluation, laboratory quality control modalities of invitations
      to screening. Our data show there are a lot of deficiencies in the present
      management of the cervical program in Romagna. The most serious inadequacies
      concern data evaluation, follow-up, cytologic quality control, modalities of
      active invitations of women to screening. The survey has confirmed the need for
      launching organized programs of cervical screening to promote their efficacy of
      diagnosis and therapy.

PMID- 1436624
TI  - [Brenner tumor of the ovary. Report of a case in a pregnant women].
AB  - The Authors, after a short review on the histopathological, histogenetic and
      prognostic aspects, report a clinical case observed by them, in a pregnant woman.
      They emphasize the asymptomatic obstetric course and the accidental discovery
      during surgical treatment.

PMID- 1436625
TI  - Murine BC1 RNA in dendritic fields of the retinal inner plexiform layer.
AB  - Rodent BC1 RNA is a non-messenger RNA polymerase III transcript that is almost
      exclusively expressed in nerve cells. BC1 RNA has been localised in somatic and
      dendritic domains of neurons, and its location has been interpreted to indicate a
      functional role in extrasomatic postsynaptic protein synthesis. In previous in
      situ hybridisation experiments, it has been demonstrated that in the retina most
      of the BC1 labelling signal was confined to the ganglion cell layer and the inner
      plexiform layer. Dendritic processes of several types of neurons form the
      neuritic plexus of the inner plexiform layer, and in order to determine the
      contribution of ganglion cells to the BC1 labelling signal, we eliminated this
      cell type by transecting the optic nerve unilaterally in newborn mice. Deletion
      of the ganglion cells resulted in a significant reduction although not a complete
      elimination of the BC1 signal in the inner plexiform layer. These data indicate
      that dendritic processes of both ganglion cells and amacrine cells contain BC1
      RNA.

PMID- 1436626
TI  - Histological study on ouabain immunoreactivities in the mammalian hypothalamus.
AB  - The endogenous digitalis-like factor (EDLF) which has recently been purified from
      human plasma and identified as 'ouabain', a cis-trans-cis steroid of plant
      origin, is thought to be similar to the hypothetical humoral factor, 'endogenous
      digitalis-like substance (EDLS)'. In order to examine the hypothesis that EDLS is
      produced in the hypothalamus, we prepared an ouabain-specific antibody, and
      applied it to rat and macaque brains. Ouabain immunoreactivities were observed in
      the hypothalamus of both species. The immunopositive neurons were distributed in
      paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, and some other hypothalamic regions. Their
      nerve fibers were seen abundantly in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial regions.
      These results strongly support the possibility of existence of cis-trans-cis
      steroid including EDLF in mammalian brain.

PMID- 1436627
TI  - Inhibitory effects of endothelin-3 on vasopressin release from rat supraoptic
      nucleus in vitro.
AB  - Endothelin (ET) is thought to be involved in the central regulation of body water
      metabolism. A recent perfusion study of rat hypothalamus showed that ET has a
      direct stimulatory action on arginine-vasopressin (AVP) release. This study was
      undertaken to investigate whether ET acts directly on AVP release for supraoptic
      nucleus (SON) neurons, using brain slices containing only the SON. It was
      demonstrated that ET inhibited the AVP release dose-dependently from 10(-11) M to
      10(-6) M. No difference of the effects of ET-1 and ET-3 on AVP release was
      observed. These results suggest that ET directly inhibits SON neurons through the
      ETB receptor.

PMID- 1436628
TI  - Y-29794--a non-peptide prolyl endopeptidase inhibitor that can penetrate into the
      brain.
AB  - A novel non-peptide prolyl endopeptidase (PPCE) inhibitor, Y-29794, has been
      identified. Y-29794 selectively and competitively inhibited rat brain PPCE (Ki =
      0.95 nM) in a reversible manner. Ex vivo study demonstrated that Y-29794 could
      penetrate into brain to exhibit dose-dependent and long-lasting inhibition.
      Furthermore, Y-29794 was found to potentiate the effect of TRH on the release of
      ACh in the rat hippocampus. These results indicate that Y-29794 is an orally
      active, potent and specific PPCE inhibitor and should be of value in studies on
      the physiological role of the enzyme in neuropeptide metabolism especially in
      memory process.

PMID- 1436629
TI  - Protective effect of NGF atelocollagen mini-pellet on the hippocampal delayed
      neuronal death in gerbils.
AB  - Very recently, contradictory results were presented as to the effects of
      exogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) on the hippocampal delayed neuronal necrosis
      following transient ischemia. In the present study, we administered a large
      amount of NGF with the atelocollagen mini-pellet system, measured the local NGF
      contents, and evaluated the effect of this neurotrophic factor on the
      postischemic hippocampal pyramidal cells in gerbils. We concluded that the
      exogenous NGF, when given continuously at sufficient concentrations, prevents
      pyramidal cell damage. The possible cause of discrepancy in previous studies is
      discussed.

PMID- 1436630
TI  - Time-dependent effects of oral morphine on autotomy following brachial nerve
      section in the rat.
AB  - In this study, the effects of morphine in drinking water on autotomy in male F344
      rats having undergone brachial nerve sections were assessed during a 3-week
      period. Morphine was self-administered orally in tap water by the rats. Rats
      administered morphine just after the nerve section or 1 week after the nerve
      section showed a significant increase in the severity of autotomy when compared
      to the rats administered distilled water. Morphine had no effect on autotomy when
      it was administered 2 weeks after the nerve section. These results suggested that
      the effect of oral morphine on autotomy changes in a time-dependent manner.

PMID- 1436631
TI  - Vasodilator flare due to activation of superficial cutaneous afferents in humans:
      heat-sensitive versus histamine-sensitive fibers.
AB  - Histamine-sensitive nerve endings are assumed to terminate in the superficial
      epidermis. Heat-sensitive nociceptors that are excited by brief carbondioxide
      laser pulses must also terminate within the epidermis, because this infrared
      radiation has an extinction length of about 10 microns. We now compared laser
      heat stimuli (10 W, 50 ms, 20 mm2) with intradermal injections of histamine (10(
      10) to 10(-8) mol) in their capacity to cause cutaneous vasodilatation (flare) in
      awake human subjects. Cutaneous blood flow was measured with a two-channel laser
      Doppler device. The radiant heat pulses caused a transient cutaneous
      vasodilatation that spread at least 15 mm from the stimulus site. There was no
      visible flare and vasodilatation could only be detected by laser Doppler
      measurements. Although the heat pulses elicited enough nociceptor activity to be
      perceived as moderately painful, the magnitude of the vasodilatation was smaller
      and its duration shorter than after the smallest dose of histamine. In contrast,
      nociceptor activation by heat is usually stronger than by histamine. These data
      indicate that flare and pain are two different aspects of cutaneous small fiber
      function.

PMID- 1436632
TI  - Spontaneous hemorrhage in the cerebral cortex of immature rats.
AB  - We report the presence of spontaneous hemorrhages in the brain of normal neonatal
      rats. The quantitative evaluation showed that the hemorrhaging was most frequent
      in 4- to 5-day-old rats. Nearly all the lesions were found in the cerebral cortex
      of the lateral part of the forebrain hemisphere, particularly in the middle
      cortical layers. Their average incidence amounted to 6.71 +/- 2.95 per six 5
      microns sections from 5-day-old rats. The lesions were nearly absent in the
      newborn and 7-day-old animals. We suggest that vascular wall immaturity and some
      extravascular factors, like developmental increase of blood pressure, may account
      for the perinatal hemorrhaging.

PMID- 1436633
TI  - Partial protective effect of MK-801 on MPTP-induced reduction of striatal
      dopamine in mice.
AB  - The protective effect of MK-801, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor
      antagonist on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced
      reduction of striatal dopamine (DA) was examined in C57 BL/6 mice. Striatal DA
      levels were significantly higher in animals receiving parenteral MK-801 before
      and for 48 h following MPTP administration after 28 days than in animals
      receiving MPTP alone. The effect was not due to inhibition of monoamine oxidase-B
      (MAO-B) by MK-801. These data suggest that NMDA receptors may be involved in some
      of the neurotoxicity produced by MPTP.

PMID- 1436634
TI  - Nilvadipine as a neuroprotective calcium entry blocker in a rat model of global
      cerebral ischemia. A comparative study with nicardipine hydrochloride.
AB  - The effects of two dihydropyridine type calcium entry blockers, nilvadipine and
      nicardipine hydrochloride (nicardipine), on the liberation of free fatty acids
      (FFAs) were investigated using an experimental model of global cerebral ischemia
      in rats, and were compared with their pharmacokinetic properties. Nilvadipine,
      but not nicardipine, at a dose of 100 micrograms/kg i.v., significantly
      attenuated the liberation of FFAs, particularly docosahexaenoic and arachidonic
      acid. Furthermore, the brain concentration of nilvadipine was higher than that of
      nicardipine after equivalent dosing. The results of the present study demonstrate
      that pharmacokinetic differences between these two calcium entry blockers might
      explain the difference in their pharmacological efficacy.

PMID- 1436635
TI  - Neurochemical lesioning in the rat brain with iontophoretic injection of the 1
      methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+).
AB  - Iontophoretic injections of the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) were made
      in the dopaminergic part of the substantia nigra to see whether this injection
      technique could be used for inducing localized neurochemical lesions in
      dopaminergic cell groups and to assess the effects of MPP+ on non-dopaminergic
      neurons. Three days after the iontophoretic injection of MPP+, a gliosis or
      necrotic hole was found in the dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic target areas.
      This effect depended on the injection parameters that were used; iontophoretic
      injections of short duration (less than or equal to 3 minutes) and low current
      strength (1.5 microA) caused the gliosis, higher injection parameters gave
      lesions. The estimated injected amount of MPP+ was between 0.5 and 10.8 nmol.
      Control injections, with sodium iodide, sodium chloride or N-methylpyridinium
      iodide showed that the neurodegeneration is not a side-effect of the
      iontophoretic injection procedure. It is concluded that iontophoretically
      injected MPP+ is toxic for all neurons, irrespective of the neurotransmitter
      used, and also for glia cells and fibers of passage. Excessive formation of free
      radicals, causing induction of lipid peroxidation, may be involved in the
      neurodegenerative process observed.

PMID- 1436636
TI  - Lack of evidence for coupling of the dopamine D2 receptor to an adenosine
      triphosphate-sensitive potassium (ATP-K+) channel in dopaminergic neurones of the
      rat substantia nigra.
AB  - Whole-cell patch clamp recordings were made from neurones in slices of rat
      substantia nigra zona compacta. The majority exhibited electrophysiological
      characteristics seen previously with intracellular recordings and were
      hyperpolarised by dopamine in a sulpiride-reversible manner. The sulphonylureas,
      tolbutamide and glibenclamide, did not reverse the response to dopamine and had
      no effect when applied alone. The potassium channel opener, cromakalim, was also
      without effect on dopaminergic neurones. Under our recording conditions, the
      potassium conductance activated by dopamine acting through the D2 receptor does
      not show the pharmacological characteristics of an ATP-sensitive potassium
      conductance.

PMID- 1436637
TI  - Reinnervation of denervated extensor digitorum longus of the rat by the nerve of
      the soleus does not induce the type I myosin synthesis directly but through a
      sequential transition of type II myosin isoforms.
AB  - The fast-contracting extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle of 1-month-old rats
      was denervated and reinnervated by the nerve innervating the slow-contracting
      soleus muscle. After variable periods of time, the myosin isoform content of the
      EDL was analyzed by sensitive electrophoretic techniques, which allowed to
      discriminate between the slow-type I and the three, IIA, (IID or IIX) and IIB,
      fast-type II myosin isoforms. Compared to the control EDL, which contains
      predominantly the IIB isoform, the operated muscles contained variable
      proportions of all the isoforms. Analysis of the results leads us to conclude
      that reinnervation of EDL induces a sequential transition of myosin isoforms: IIB
      ---(IID or IIX)----IIA----I.

PMID- 1436638
TI  - Effects of exogenous GM1 ganglioside on LTP in rat hippocampal slices perfused
      with different concentrations of calcium.
AB  - Combined actions of GM1 ganglioside molecules and Ca2+ ions on long-term
      potentiation (LTP) of the hippocampal CA1 synapses were examined in slice
      preparations. Application of exogenous GM1 ganglioside significantly enhanced
      LTP. Antigenic blocking of endogenous GM1 ganglioside by applying anti-GM1
      antiserum appeared to attenuate LTP. Exogenous GM1 treatment not only antagonized
      LTP suppression caused by low Ca2+ (1.0 microM) in the perfusion medium, but also
      amplified LTP at high Ca2+ (5.0 microM) condition. Thus, GM1 may stabilize
      intracellular calcium levels to enhance synaptic potentiation.

PMID- 1436639
TI  - Dual capsaicin-sensitive afferent pathways mediate inhibition of gastric emptying
      in rat induced by intestinal carbohydrate.
AB  - The role of the vagal and spinal afferent innervation in the inhibition of
      gastric emptying induced by duodenal perfusion with a disaccharide (maltose 300
      mM) was investigated in awake rats fitted with gastric and duodenal cannulas.
      Perfusion of the duodenum with maltose inhibited gastric emptying by 44%. Maltose
      induced inhibition of gastric emptying was reversed by 46% and 100% by functional
      ablation of the vagal or spinal capsaicin-sensitive afferent innervation,
      respectively. Pretreatment with the specific CCK 'A' receptor antagonist, MK329,
      completely abolished the effects of maltose on gastric emptying. These results
      suggest that disaccharides inhibit gastric emptying via activation of capsaicin
      sensitive afferents in the duodenal mucosa via a mechanism involving an action of
      CCK at type 'A' receptors, possibly located on afferent fibers.

PMID- 1436640
TI  - Tris inhibits (+)-[3H]SKF-10,047 binding to sigma receptors.
AB  - Tris-HCl is the most commonly used buffer in studies of radioligand binding to
      sigma receptors, with concentrations as high as 50 or 100 mM often used. We
      report here that these concentrations of Tris substantially inhibit (+)-[3H]SKF
      10,047 binding to sigma receptors. The well-established inhibitory effect of Tris
      HCl on ligand binding to PCP receptors did not contribute to the presently
      reported inhibition of (+)-[3H]SKF-10,047 binding. The IC50 of Tris, determined
      in the presence of 10 mM potassium phosphate buffer, was 15.4 +/- 1.2 mM (n = 3,
      pH 8.0, 25 degrees C, 1 nM radioligand). Equilibrium saturation studies revealed
      an apparent competitive inhibition of binding.

PMID- 1436641
TI  - Methionine enkephalin accumulates in plasma but not in brain or cerebrospinal
      fluid of rats with acute toxic hepatitis.
AB  - In order to determine whether acute toxic hepatitis in the rat is associated with
      an accumulation of methionine enkephalin in plasma and increased blood-to-brain
      transfer of methionine enkephalin, immunoreactive methionine enkephalin levels
      were determined by radioimmunoassay in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid and whole
      brain samples from rats with thioacetamide induced acute toxic hepatitis.
      Thioacetamide treatment was associated with an 8.7-fold increase in plasma
      immunoreactive methionine enkephalin levels (P less than or equal to 0.005) 24 h
      after treatment. However, this marked elevation in plasma immunoreactive
      methionine enkephalin levels was not associated with an increase in whole brain
      or cerebrospinal fluid immunoreactive methionine enkephalin levels. These data
      suggest that increased plasma-to-brain transfer of methionine enkephalin does not
      occur in this model of acute toxic hepatitis.

PMID- 1436642
TI  - The A2-selective adenosine analog, CGS 21680, depresses locomotor activity but
      does not block amygdala kindled seizures in rats.
AB  - The actions of the highly selective A2 adenosine agonist, CGS 21680, in
      modulating kindled seizures and locomotor activity were examined. I.c.v.
      injections of CGS 21680 into the lateral cerebral ventricle in fully kindled rats
      were found to prolong the period of postictal EEG depression and reduce postictal
      spiking in a dose-dependent manner, while not affecting the behavioral seizure
      stage or afterdischarge duration. CGS 21680 injections also lead to a dose
      related inhibition of locomotor activity in rats exposed to an open field
      apparatus compared to rats receiving control injections of saline. These
      observations implicate the involvement of the A2 adenosine receptor in postictal
      phenomena and the locomotor depressant actions of adenosine, but do not indicate
      a direct anticonvulsant activity following A2 activation.

PMID- 1436643
TI  - Intracortical grafts of purified astrocytes ameliorate memory deficits in rat
      induced by chronic treatment with ethanol.
AB  - Chronic intake of ethanol in rat results in a substantial and permanent
      impairment in memory function which can be ameliorated by intracortical grafting
      of fetal tissue derived from the primordial basal forebrain. The present study
      demonstrates that grafting of purified astrocytes is equally effective in
      improving the performance in the eight-arm radial maze. In comparison, the rate
      of behavioral recovery is even more accelerated after grafting of astrocytes than
      after fetal basal forebrain transplants. The improvement in memory function can
      be detected as early as 2 weeks after operation and is accompanied by an increase
      in the activity of choline acetyltransferase in the basal forebrain previously
      reduced after ethanol treatment. Graft-induced behavioral recovery in the present
      paradigm is most likely due to a neurotrophic influence of astrocytes mediated
      via the cholinergic basal forebrain system.

PMID- 1436644
TI  - Unilateral hippocampal lesions prevent recall of a passive avoidance task in day
      old chicks.
AB  - The role of the hippocampal system in learning and memory processes in the chick
      was investigated. A series of experiments examined the effects of lesions in the
      hippocampal system on the acquisition and retention of a passive avoidance task.
      Chicks given pretraining bilateral hippocampal lesions showed a decrease of
      retention of the avoidance response evaluated 3 h posttraining. When given
      unilaterally, left, but not right lesions, resulted in reduced avoidance.
      However, bilateral posttraining lesions, made 1 h after training, did not
      interfere with retention of the task. These results suggest an involvement of the
      hippocampal system in learning processes in the chick.

PMID- 1436645
TI  - Differences in the axon composition of nerves supplying the rat knee joint
      following intra-articular injection of capsaicin.
AB  - This study was used to examine the ultrastructure of articular nerves supplying
      the medial aspect of the rat knee joint following injection of capsaicin into the
      synovial cavity. One week after the intra-articular injection of 0.2 ml of 1%
      capsaicin solution there was significant reduction in the number of unmyelinated
      fibres. Two weeks post-injection this appeared to recover and by 4 weeks post
      injection no further changes were observed. Myelinated fibres were unaffected by
      capsaicin injection. This procedure provides an effective means of producing
      short-term degeneration of unmyelinated fibres innervating the knee joint.

PMID- 1436646
TI  - Development of long-term potentiation in the somatosensory cortex of rats of
      different ages.
AB  - The age dependence of possible long-term potentiation (LTP) induction in rat
      somatosensory cortex was studied in in vitro slice experiments. Coronal slices
      were prepared from the somatosensory cortex of rats of different ages, and
      excitatory postsynaptic potentials evoked by stimulation of the white matter (0.1
      Hz, subthreshold for spike) were recorded intracellularly. In 70% of the slices
      taken from 2-week-old rats, a moderate potentiation (20-30%) could be induced by
      either 5 or 100 Hz stimulation. No LTP was observed in younger (1 week) or older
      (3 weeks) cortex. On the basis of our experiments an important ontogenetic role
      of increased synaptic efficacy is suggested in a critical developmental period of
      rats after birth.

PMID- 1436647
TI  - The excitation site of the trigeminal nerve to transcranial magnetic stimulation
      varies and lies proximal or distal to the foramen ovale: an intraoperative
      electrophysiological study in man.
AB  - The excitation site of the trigeminal nerve using transcranial magnetic
      stimulation (magStim) was analyzed in 5 patients in whom the trigeminal nerve was
      surgically exposed in the posterior fossa during microvascular decompression of
      the facial nerve for hemifacial spasm. The trigeminal nerve was stimulated (1)
      magnetically immediately prior to craniotomy, and (2) electrically near the root
      exit zone (elREZ) of the nerve from the brainstem. Mean latency differences
      (delta) of masseter compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) (delta elREZ minus
      magStim) were 0.7 (range: +0.3 to +1.3) ms (P less than or equal to 0.05,
      Wilcoxon-test). From these results, an analysis of anatomical data, and using a
      trigeminal nerve conduction velocity (NCV) of 50 m/s as reported in the
      literature, the following conclusions were drawn: the excitation site to magStim
      (1) is variable among individuals, (2) is located 3.4 (1.6-6.5) cm distal to the
      trigeminal REZ, and (3) which corresponds to segments of the nerve that are
      located either within or outside the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), either proximal
      or distal to the foramen ovale. These findings are in contrast to those we
      obtained in a previous study of the facial nerve in which the excitation site was
      found to be constant among subjects and restricted to the location on the nerve
      where it exists the high conductivity CSF to enter the high-resistance petrous
      bone.

PMID- 1436648
TI  - Extracellular changes of inorganic phosphate are different during spreading
      depression and global cerebral ischemia of rats.
AB  - Tissue levels of inorganic phosphate (iP-) and lactate (lac) increase during
      cerebral ischemia and cortical spreading depression (SD). Since cell membranes
      become leaky during these insults, iP- and lac were expected to leak into the
      extracellular space (ECS). In order to find out whether this occurs or does not,
      a microdialysis (MD) fiber was implanted into the cortex of anesthetized rats and
      extracellular lactate (lac(e)) and extracellular iP- (iPe-) were determined
      during various insults. Extracellular lactate increased to about the same extent
      during ischemia and SD. In contrast, iPe- increased during ischemia but not
      during SD. Instead, iPe- started to rise after SD and reached its maximum about
      45 min later. The distinct pattern of iPe- in comparison to lac(e) during the
      above mentioned insults points to a qualitative difference of the underlying
      mechanisms: whereas lac appears within the ECS at any stressful situation,
      elevation of iP- within the ECS indicates depletion of energy stores in parallel
      to the lack of control of ion homeostasis.

PMID- 1436649
TI  - Dimensional analysis of the human EEG and intelligence.
AB  - The purpose of this study was the determination of the relationship between the
      dimensional complexity of the electroencephalogam (EEG) and the level of
      intelligence in humans. In two experiments 34 male subjects were divided into two
      groups, with high and low levels of intelligence (as measured by the intelligence
      quotient (IQ)). During a resting phase and various mental imagery conditions the
      EEG was recorded from several scalp sites. Nonlinear analysis, based on the
      theory of deterministic chaos, revealed that subjects with high IQs demonstrate
      higher dimensional complexity of the EEG attractors than subjects with low IQs
      only during resting conditions. During performance of the imagery tasks the less
      intelligent subjects increase the complexity of electrical brain dynamics such
      that IQ-dependency vanishes. The gross (mass) neuronal manifestation of general
      intelligence seems to depend on task conditions and may be related to the
      individual brain dynamics only when no specific task is present.

PMID- 1436650
TI  - Hippocampal nerve growth factor receptor immunoreactivity in patients with
      Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
AB  - Using the monoclonal antibody, ME 20.4, against the p75 nerve growth factor (NGF)
      receptor, NGF receptor-like immunoreactivity has been identified in axonal
      processes innervating the human hippocampus, where previously a loss of
      reactivity has been reported in a preliminary study of Alzheimer's disease [10].
      In an extended analysis of 15 cases of Alzheimer's disease, the number of NGF
      receptor positive fibres in the fimbria and alveus was generally decreased
      compared with age-matched normal groups, in presenile but not senile cases
      (differentiated by age of onset before or after 65 years). By contrast, in 5
      demented Parkinson's disease cases (aged 61-86 years at death)
      immunohistochemically reactive fibres were consistently minimal or absent. This
      pattern of NGF receptor loss in the hippocampus most closely reflects the loss of
      basal forebrain cholinergic neurones, previously reported within the different
      clinical groups but not by biochemical measures of cholinergic function. It is
      concluded that even at moderately advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease with
      onset in the senium, axonal processes and NGF receptor mechanisms may be
      structurally intact in areas of cholinergic innervation from the basal forebrain,
      despite evidence of cholinergic dysfunction (decreased choline acetyltransferase
      (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase), but that in presenile Alzheimer's and in
      demented Parkinson's disease cases the receptor declines in conjunction with the
      loss of subcortical neurones and their processes. The loss of ChAT activity may
      therefore reflect a dysfunction of the NGF system, in its normal maintenance of
      the cholinergic phenotype in basal forebrain neurones.

PMID- 1436651
TI  - N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated muscle relaxant action of memantine in rats.
AB  - The present study examined in vivo whether memantine exerts muscle relaxant
      activity via an antagonistic action at N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors.
      Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of memantine, 50-100 mumol/kg, reduced the
      tonic activity in the electromyogram recorded from the gastrocnemius muscle of
      spastic mutant rats. This effect was prevented by coadministration of NMDA.
      Memantine, while not affecting monosynaptic Hoffmann (H)-reflexes, depressed
      polysynaptic flexor reflexes in anaesthetized rats following i.p. (6.25-100
      mumol/kg) or intrathecal (i.t., 10-500 nmol) administration. The latter effect
      was prevented by i.t. coadministration of NMDA, but not of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy
      5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA). These observations suggest that NMDA
      receptors might be involved in the mediation of the muscle relaxant activity of
      memantine.

PMID- 1436652
TI  - Interleukin-6 and leukemia inhibitory factor promote the survival of
      acetylcholinesterase-positive neurons in culture from embryonic rat spinal cord.
AB  - Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) promoted the survival
      of acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-positive neurons in culture from embryonic E15 rat
      spinal cord. Half of the AChE-positive neurons died during 3-7 days in culture in
      the absence of IL-6 and LIF. However, IL-6 at a concentration of 5 ng/ml
      completely prevented the death of AChE-positive neurons. LIF at a concentration
      of 5 U/ml also stimulated the survival of neurons, although to a lesser extent
      than IL-6. IL-6 and LIF also increased the numbers of process-bearing neuron-like
      cells in culture. The dose-dependencies of IL-6 and LIF with regard to the
      survival of total neuron-like cells were different from those for AChE-positive
      neurons.

PMID- 1436653
TI  - Monensin can transport calcium across cell membranes in a sodium independent
      fashion in the crayfish Procambarus clarkii.
AB  - Monensin, a Na(+)-selective ionophore, enhances transmitter release when applied
      to crustacean and frog neuromuscular junctions. Monensin is believed to raise
      intracellular sodium ([Na+]i) which in turn elevates intracellular calcium
      ([Ca2+]i). Using the fluorescent indicator fura-2, we measured [Ca2+]i in
      crayfish Procambarus clarkii presynaptic terminals during monensin application in
      normal Ringer, zero-calcium Ringer and zero-sodium Ringer to determine if [Ca2+]i
      increases with monensin application and if so by what mechanism. In normal
      Ringer, monensin, 10 microM and 100 microM, elevated [Ca2+]i by 440 nM and 7
      microM respectively. This rise in [Ca2+]i was dependent on external calcium, as
      [Ca2+]i did not increase in zero-calcium Ringer. However, in a zero-sodium
      Ringer, monensin (10 microM) elevated [Ca2+]i by 370 nM. It is important to
      recognize that monensin, thought to be a sodium-selective ionophore, can
      transport calcium across the cytoplasmic membrane in a sodium-independent manner.

PMID- 1436654
TI  - A postsynaptic GABA transporter in rat spinal motor neurones.
AB  - The plasma membrane uptake system for gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) is
      conventionally assumed to be presynaptic, so that after release GABA could be
      taken up and incorporated into synaptic vesicles for re-use. Using in situ
      hybridization histochemistry we find that rat spinal motor neurones express GAT
      1, a transporter protein for GABA, but that they do not express glutamic acid
      decarboxylase, the synthetic enzyme for GABA. We conclude that the uptake system
      is located postsynaptically in these cells. Our observation may explain previous
      reports where GABA has been detected immunocytochemically in motor neurones.

PMID- 1436655
TI  - A novel inositol phosphate selectively inhibits vasoconstriction evoked by the
      sympathetic co-transmitters neuropeptide Y (NPY) and adenosine triphosphate
      (ATP).
AB  - Postganglionic sympathetic nerves release norepinephrine (NE) as their primary
      neurotransmitter at vascular and other targets. However, much evidence supports
      involvement of additional messengers, co-transmitters, which are co-released with
      NE upon sympathetic nerve stimulation and thereby contribute to their actions,
      e.g., vasoconstriction. Two such putative co-transmitters, neuropeptide Y (NPY)
      and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) have been of particular interest since they
      fulfill several neurotransmitter criteria. Importantly, hitherto it has been
      difficult to antagonize vasoconstriction evoked by either NPY or ATP with agents
      that are devoid of intrinsic activity. The present study describes the ability of
      a novel inositol phosphate, D-myo-inositol 1,2,6-trisphosphate (Ins[1,2,6]P3; PP
      56) to in vitro potently block vasoconstrictor responses elicited by NPY and ATP,
      but not by NE, as studied in guinea-pig isolated basilar artery. The action of
      Ins[1,2,6]P3 does not seem to occur through antagonism at NPY- or ATP-receptor
      recognition sites, labeled by 125I-peptide YY and 35S-gamma-ATP, respectively, in
      membranes of rat cultured vena cava vascular smooth muscle cells. However, it
      does involve inhibition of the influx of Ca2+ induced by either co-transmitter in
      these same vena cava cells. It is proposed that Ins[1,2,6]P3 may be a useful
      functional antagonist of non-adrenergic component(s) of the vasoconstrictor
      response to sympathetic nerve stimulation.

PMID- 1436656
TI  - Oxiracetam prevents the hippocampal cholinergic hypofunction induced by the NMDA
      receptor blocker AP7.
AB  - The intracerebroventricular injection of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor
      antagonist D,L-2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (AP7) induces an increase of the
      hippocampal levels of acetylcholine (ACh) which is dose-dependent in the range
      1.5-10 micrograms. Similar doses of AP7 failed to affect the ACh content of the
      striatum. The effect of the i.c.v. administration of 3.5 micrograms AP7 on
      hippocampal ACh levels was prevented by pretreatment with oxiracetam 100 mg/kg
      i.p. In the passive avoidance test the i.c.v. administration of 3.5 micrograms of
      AP7 caused severe amnesia which was antagonized in a dose-dependent manner by the
      pretreatment with oxiracetam. These results show that oxiracetam prevents the
      imbalance of cholinergic activity and the amnesia caused by blockade of NMDA
      receptors. The present study suggests that the hippocampal cholinergic activity
      is modulated by glutamatergic neuronal pathways and that the functional integrity
      of both systems is essential for learning and memory processes.

PMID- 1436657
TI  - Uneven distribution of intracellular Cl- in rat hippocampal neurons.
AB  - Electrophysiological observations of neurons suggest that perikarya and dendrites
      differ in local intracellular Cl- concentration ([Cl-]i), that has not been
      demonstrated yet. Regional [Cl-]i in cultured hippocampal neurons was estimated
      using a Cl(-)-sensitive fluorescent dye. Calibration showed that perikaryonic [Cl
      ]i was lower than dendritic [Cl-]i. Ethacrynic acid, an inhibitor of the
      outwardly directed Cl(-)-pump, increased the perikaryonic but not dendritic [Cl
      ]i. A decrease in [Cl-]i induced by furosemide or bumetanide, inhibitors of
      Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransporters, was more prominent in dendrites than in perikarya.
      These findings suggest that uneven distribution of Cl- is generated by the region
      specific localization of these transporters.

PMID- 1436658
TI  - In vitro quantitative autoradiography of [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin binding at the
      motor end-plates of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis.
AB  - A quantitative evaluation was made of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChR) at
      the motor end-plates in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). Female
      Lewis rats were immunized with AChR protein purified from electric organs of
      Narke japonica. The forelimb digit extensor muscle obtained in the chronic stage
      of the controls and EAMG were studied using [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin, in vitro
      and autoradiographically. The maximum binding capacity (Bmax) values of the
      controls and EAMG were calculated to be 237.7 +/- 13.0 fmol/mg (n = 4) and 42.0
      +/- 4.1 fmol/mg (n = 4), respectively (P less than 0.001), and the dissociation
      constant (Kd) values were 11.7 +/- 1.6 nM and 7.6 +/- 0.9 nM, respectively. This
      in vitro autoradiographic method revealed a quantitative reduction of AChR at the
      motor end-plates in EAMG.

PMID- 1436659
TI  - Differential subcellular distribution of PC1, PC2 and furin in bovine adrenal
      medulla and secretion of PC1 and PC2 from this tissue.
AB  - The subcellular distribution of PC1, PC2 and furin was determined in bovine
      adrenal medulla by immunoblotting of fractions obtained by density gradient
      centrifugation. PC1 and PC2 were found to be confined to chromaffin granules
      whereas furin (C-terminal-peptide) was absent from these organelles. Stimulation
      of bovine adrenal medulla by carbamoylcholine chloride induced the secretion of
      PC1 and PC2. The secreted enzymes had the same molecular size as PC1 and PC2
      present in chromaffin granules.

PMID- 1436661
TI  - Convergence of excitatory inputs from the chorda tympani, glossopharyngeal, and
      vagus nerves onto inferior salivatory nucleus neurons in the cat.
AB  - Inferior salivatory nucleus (ISN) neurons were identified by their antidromic
      spike responses to tympanic nerve stimulation, and their responses to stimulation
      of the ipsilateral chorda tympani, glossopharyngeal, and vagus nerves were
      investigated in urethane-chloralose-anesthetized cats. Of the 53 ISN neurons
      identified, stimulation of at least one of these nerves evoked spike responses in
      35 (66%), and 25 (47%) were excited by inputs from more than two stimulated
      nerves. The mean latencies of the reflex responses evoked by stimulation of the
      chorda tympani, glossopharyngeal, and vagus nerves were 10.4, 13.7, and 18.9 ms,
      respectively.

PMID- 1436660
TI  - Responses of regional cerebral blood flow to intravenous administration of
      thyrotropin releasing hormone in aged rats.
AB  - The effects of i.v. administration of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) on
      regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were examined in both healthy adult (3-5
      months old) and healthy aged (24-25 months old) male Wistar rats under halothane
      anesthesia. The rCBFs in 9 different brain regions-cerebral cortex, caudate
      putamen, hippocampus, thalamus + hypothalamus, superior colliculus, inferior
      colliculus, cerebellum, pons, and medulla-were measured by [14C]iodoantipyrine
      method. In the adult rats, i.v. administration of TRH (300 micrograms/kg)
      produced significant increases in rCBFs in cerebral cortex, caudate putamen,
      hippocampus, thalamus + hypothalamus and superior colliculus. In the aged rats,
      the rCBFs in all brain regions measured did not change significantly by TRH
      administration. From these results, it is suggested that the system involved in
      TRH-induced vasodilatation of cerebral blood vessels was impaired with aging.

PMID- 1436662
TI  - Long-term serotonin reinnervation of the suprachiasmatic nucleus after 5,7
      dihydroxytryptamine axotomy in the adult rat.
AB  - We present here immunohistochemical evidence that serotonin (5-HT) reinnervation
      in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of adult rats, after intraventricular
      administration of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine, is more extensive than formerly
      believed. The first fibers appeared at 4 months and developed until more than 7
      months. However, comparison with age-matched controls showed that, even 24 months
      post-lesion, the density of 5-HT innervation remained abnormally low. At the
      electron microscopic level, many synaptic contacts were found to have been re
      established. The cellular mechanisms possibly responsible for incomplete 5-HT
      reinnervation in the SCN are discussed.

PMID- 1436663
TI  - Modulation of neonatal rat hypoglossal motoneuron excitability by serotonin.
AB  - The effects of 5-HT on neonatal rat hypoglossal motoneurons (HMs) were studied in
      two in vitro slice preparations. Serotonin caused either reversible
      depolarization or the generation of an inward current (I5-HT) in every cell
      tested. I5-HT persisted after synaptic blockade. In most of the cells tested, the
      magnitude of I5-HT was independent of membrane potential (-50 to -120 mV), and 5
      HT had little effect on input resistance or slope conductance. In addition, 5-HT
      significantly reduced the amplitude of the post-spike medium-duration
      afterhyperpolarization. This reduction probably contributed to the resulting
      increase in the slope of the relationship describing the steady-state firing
      frequency response to injected current (f-I) observed in the presence of 5-HT.
      Thus, 5-HT increases the excitability of neonatal HMs via at least two different
      postsynaptic mechanisms.

PMID- 1436664
TI  - Stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert increases cortical cerebral blood
      flow without influencing diameter of the pial artery in rats.
AB  - The effects of focal electrical stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert
      (NBM) and hypercapnia on diameter of the pial artery and regional cerebral blood
      flow (CBF) in the parietal cortex were examined in urethane-anesthetized rats.
      The diameter of pial artery was measured using the video microscope and cortical
      CBF was measured using the laser Doppler flowmetry. Hypercapnia at 10% of end
      tidal CO2 concentration caused significant increases in diameter of the pial
      artery and cortical CBF. Electrical stimulation of the NBM (with parameters of
      200 microA, 50 Hz, 0.5 ms, for 1 min) produced a significant increase in cortical
      CBF, but did not influence the diameter of pial artery. The results suggest that
      cholinergic fibers originating in the NBM do not contribute to neural
      vasodilatation of the pial artery, although they induce neural vasodilation of
      parenchymal blood vessels which results in an increase in CBF in the parietal
      cortex.

PMID- 1436665
TI  - Hypoglycemia-activated K+ channels in hippocampal neurons.
AB  - Channels linking the electrical and metabolic activities of cells (KATP channels)
      have been described in various tissues, including some brain areas (hypothalamus,
      cerebral cortex and substantia nigra). Here we report the existence in
      hippocampal neurons of K+ permeant channels whose activity is regulated by
      extracellular glucose. They are open at the cell resting potential and respond to
      transient hypoglycemia with a reversible increase in activity. The one type so
      far characterized has a conductance of approximately 100 pS in isotonic K+, is
      inhibited by the sulphonylurea glibenclamide (1 microM), and is activated by the
      potassium channel opener lemakalim (0.1-1 microM). These data provide a direct
      demonstration of the presence, in hippocampal neurons, of glucose-sensitive
      channels that could belong to the KATP family.

PMID- 1436666
TI  - Volume regulation of single astroglial cells in primary culture.
AB  - Relative volume variations in cultured astrocytes were examined by
      microspectrofluorimetry after loading the cells with the highly fluorescent
      intracellular probes 2,7-bis(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF/AM) or
      fura-2/AM. At their isosbestic points, 450 nm and 358 nm, respectively, the
      probes were ion-insensitive and the fluorescent signals emitted related only to
      the intracellular dye concentration. By varying the excitation wavelengths,
      changes in intracellular pH or Ca2+ transients could be recorded simultaneously
      with the relative volume variations of the individual cells. After exposure to a
      hypotonic buffer, type 1 astrocytes swelled within 30 s and subsequently
      underwent regulatory volume decrease (RVD). When exposed to a hypertonic buffer,
      the astrocytes shrunk and exhibited regulatory volume increase (RVI). One mM
      glutamate induced an increase in astrocyte volume in 60 sec and evoked cytosolic
      Ca2+ transients but did not change intracellular pH.

PMID- 1436667
TI  - Distribution of cannabinoid receptor messenger RNA in the human brain: an in situ
      hybridization histochemistry with oligonucleotides.
AB  - The distribution of the messenger RNA coding for the recently cloned cannabinoid
      receptor was studied for the first time in the human brain using in situ
      hybridization histochemistry and oligonucleotides probes. Microscopically,
      positive neurons were observed in the layers II-III and V-VI of the cerebral
      cortex, and in the hilus and the different dendritic layers of the dentate gyrus
      and Ammon's horn of the hippocampus. No additional microscopic signal could be
      detected. Macroscopically, a slight hybridization signal, visible on the films
      after 2 months exposure and which disappears after RNAse treatment, was also
      found throughout all layers of the cortex, in the pyramidal cell layer of the
      hippocampus, in the caudate and putamen, and in the granular and molecular layers
      of the cerebellum. No signal was detected in the brainstem, spinal cord and white
      matter. In conclusion, the cannabinoid receptor mRNA neuronal localizations here
      demonstrated in the human brain confirm our previous report in the rat, taking
      into account that the levels of the transcripts found in the human were lower
      than in the rat brain.

PMID- 1436668
TI  - Interconnections between the pretectum and visual thalamus in reptiles, Caiman
      crocodilus.
AB  - Interconnections between the visual thalamus and the pretectum were investigated
      in one species of reptiles, Caiman crocodilus, by injections of horseradish
      peroxidase into nucleus rotundus. Nucleus pretectalis was identified as a major
      target of rotundal efferents as well as a significant input to nucleus rotundus.
      The presence of a pretectal nucleus with neural connections and topographic
      location similar to nucleus pretectalis of Caiman has been described in lizards
      and pigeons. Taken together, these observations suggest that this pretectal
      nuclear group and its associated fiber path may be a feature common to all non
      mammalian amniotes.

PMID- 1436669
TI  - Quantification of D-aspartate in normal and Alzheimer brains.
AB  - Using a new procedure to hydrolyze proteins without provoking racemization of the
      amino acids and using enzymatic methods to determine D- and L-aspartate (Asp), we
      have quantified the content of protein-bound D-aspartate (both D-aspartic acid
      and D-asparagine) of human brain white and gray matter proteins from normal and
      Alzheimer subjects. The D-enantiomer is present in brain proteins at mean
      concentrations between 0.48 and 0.90 mumol/g of wet tissue, corresponding to
      concentrations 34-82 times lower than that of L-aspartate. The highest levels of
      D-aspartate were found in Alzheimer gray matter (0.60-0.90, mean 0.69 mumol/g of
      wet tissue). When expressed as the percentage of total (i.e. D- plus L-)
      aspartate, %D = [D/(D + L)] x 100, the Alzheimer brains show a significantly
      higher content of D-aspartate in both gray matter (2.08%) and white matter
      (1.80%) than in the corresponding tissues of normal brains (1.65% in gray, 1.58%
      in white).

PMID- 1436670
TI  - Mating behavior induces selective expression of Fos protein within the
      chemosensory pathways of the male Syrian hamster brain.
AB  - The effect of mating behavior on the expression of Fos protein was analyzed
      within the chemosensory pathways of the male Syrian hamster brain. Following a
      single mating test, the number of Fos-immunoreactive (Fos-ir) neurons increased
      within the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and medial preoptic
      area. The mating-induced pattern of Fos expression within these brain regions
      shows a strong correlation with the sites of lesions that eliminate or alter
      mating behavior. In addition, Fos expression was increased within the
      paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. These results provide the first
      demonstration of a dynamic and selective pattern of neuronal activity within
      specific nuclei known to be essential for mating behavior in the male Syrian
      hamster.

PMID- 1436671
TI  - Quantification of plaque types in sulci and gyri of the medial frontal lobe in
      patients with Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - beta-Amyloid protein (beta A4) deposition was characterised in the sulci and gyri
      of frontal cortex in 14 cases of Alzheimer's disease. A quantitative study was
      made of two distinct plaque sub-types (diffuse and classic) using
      immunocytochemistry and image analysis using a discriminant function design. As
      reported previously more beta A4 was observed in sulci than gyri. Diffuse plaques
      were more numerous than classic plaques in sulci and gyri (P less than 0.01).
      Classic plaques were more abundant in the sulci (P less than 0.01). Increased
      beta A4 deposition in the sulci is accounted for by increased numbers of classic
      plaques. No correlation was observed between the numbers of diffuse and classic
      plaques in either region. Our data suggest that the two plaque types form
      discrete populations and that their evolution is governed by distinct
      pathophysiological parameters.

PMID- 1436672
TI  - Expression of neurofibromin, the neurofibromatosis 1 gene product: studies in
      human neuroblastoma cells and rat brain.
AB  - Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is one of the most frequent Mendelian disorders in
      man and one of the most common autosomal dominant disorders affecting the nervous
      system. The NF1 gene has recently been cloned, and shows homology to the GTPase
      activating protein. In order to characterize the NF1 gene product, now called
      neurofibromin, we raised polyclonal antibodies against C- and N-terminal regions
      of neurofibromin and analyzed the protein by Western blot analysis and
      immunohistochemical studies of rat brain.

PMID- 1436673
TI  - Thalamocortical connections of rat posterior parietal cortex.
AB  - The neuronal connections of rat posterior parietal cortex (PPC) have been
      examined using retrograde fluorescent axonal tracers. We have found that PPC
      receives thalamic input predominantly from the lateral posterior and lateral
      dorsal nuclei, and not from the ventrobasal nucleus, which projects to the
      rostrally adjacent hindlimb cortex, or from the dorsal lateral geniculate
      nucleus, which projects to the caudally adjacent visual association area. PPC has
      reciprocal corticocortical connections with medial agranular cortex and orbital
      cortex; together, these three cortical areas may function as a network for
      directed attention in rats.

PMID- 1436674
TI  - Spinal locomotor activity in acutely spinalized cats induced by intrathecal
      application of noradrenaline.
AB  - In this study we present a method of intrathecal drug administration in the acute
      spinal cat. A thin tube introduced into the subarachnoid space below the spinal
      cord was used for local drug administration. Noradrenaline reduced short-latency
      and provoked long-latency reflexes following high threshold afferent stimulation.
      Topical application of noradrenaline to the spinal cord was also able to induce
      and maintain locomotion. Our results strengthen the notion that noradrenergic
      systems play an important role in motor control. In addition, the present report
      introduces a protocol in the acute spinal cat, which combine the benefits
      associated with direct application of drugs as used in vitro experiments with the
      advantages of using the well investigated in vivo cat spinal cord preparation.

PMID- 1436676
TI  - Enriched environment primes forebrain choline acetyltransferase activity to
      respond to learning experience.
AB  - Weanling rats were raised in an enriched or an impoverished environment. The
      enriched rats subsequently learned the Morris water maze faster than their
      impoverished counterparts. The enriched rats, both maze-trained and untrained,
      showed higher choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in the caudate than did
      the impoverished, untrained rats. Maze training increased caudate ChAT in
      impoverished rats. Enriched but not impoverished rats showed increased
      hippocampal and anterior cortical ChAT activity after maze training. Thus,
      enrichment causes a long-lasting increase in caudate acetylcholine (Ach)
      synthesis and it also primes cortex and hippocampus to respond to a training
      experience with increased Ach synthesis.

PMID- 1436675
TI  - Effect of furosemide treatment on the central and peripheral pressor responses to
      cholinergic and adrenergic agonists, angiotensin II, hypertonic solution and
      vasopressin.
AB  - The present study was performed to investigate the effect of treatment with
      furosemide on the pressor response induced by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.)
      injections of cholinergic (carbachol) and adrenergic (norepinephrine) agonists,
      angiotensin II (ANGII) and hypertonic saline (HS, 2 M NaCl). The changes induced
      by furosemide treatment on the pressor response to intravenous (i.v.)
      norepinephrine, ANGII and arginine vasopressin (AVP) were also studied. Rats with
      a stainless-steel cannula implanted into the lateral ventricle (LV) were used.
      Two injections of furosemide (30 mg/kg b.wt. each) were performed 12 and 1 h
      before the experiments. Treatment with furosemide reduced the pressor response
      induced by carbachol, norepinephrine and ANGII i.c.v., but no change was observed
      in the pressor response to i.c.v. 2 M NaCl. The pressor response to i.v. ANGII
      and norepinephrine, but not AVP, was also reduced after treatment with
      furosemide. These results show that the treatment with furosemide impairs the
      pressor responses induced by central or peripheral administration of adrenergic
      agonist or ANGII, as well as those induced by central cholinergic activation. The
      results suggest that the treatment with furosemide impairs central and peripheral
      pressor responses mediated by sympathetic activation and ANGII, but not those
      produced by AVP.

PMID- 1436677
TI  - Unilateral EEG activation during sleep in the Cape fur seal, Arctocephalus
      pusillus.
AB  - Sleep and wakefulness on the land were studied electrophysiologically in one
      adult female Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus). In two 24-h sessions, slow
      wave sleep and paradoxical sleep averaged 27.4% and 4.6% of the total recording
      time. Almost 40% of the total slow-wave sleep time was accounted for episodes
      with well-defined interhemispheric ECoG asymmetry.

PMID- 1436678
TI  - Eyeblinks evoke potentials in the occipital brain region.
AB  - The subjects performed voluntary eyeblinks under illuminated and dark laboratory
      conditions. 32-channel EEG recordings were averaged in relation to the eyeblinks
      and a brain electric source analysis (BESA) was performed. Two dipoles located
      near the eyeballs and a third dipole in the occipital region of the brain were
      found to explain the scalp potentials. The frontally located potentials described
      electromechanical potentials associated with lid movements and simultaneous eye
      movements. The occipitally located dipole explained a visually evoked potential
      with a first peak at about 180 ms after the maximum of the frontal blink
      potential. The visually evoked potential was observed only under illumination and
      was probably caused by changes in luminance during the eyeblinks.

PMID- 1436679
TI  - Glial fibrillary tangles with straight tubules in the brains of patients with
      progressive supranuclear palsy.
AB  - A recent report has described the appearance of silver positive, tau
      immunoreactive astrocytes in the brains of patients with progressive supranuclear
      palsy (PSP) (Neurosci. Lett., 135 (1992) 99-102). In this study we confirmed this
      finding in two cases of PSP by using Bodian silver staining and
      immunohistochemistry with antibody to human tau protein. By electron microscopy
      we demonstrated that fibrillary masses present in these unique astrocytes were
      made up of straight tubules that were indistinguishable from those of
      neurofibrillary tangles of PSP. The term 'glial fibrillary tangle' was proposed
      for these structures.

PMID- 1436680
TI  - Protease 'Clipsin' extract activity reflects demographic characteristics of human
      brain.
AB  - 'Clipsin' and other peptide bond hydrolase activities that appear to be integral
      membrane proteins, including two implicated in the formation of the histological
      hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, were assayed in the frontal and parietal cortex
      from a large (n = 45) series of postmortem human brains. Tissues were extracted
      sequentially with detergent-containing and low ionic strength buffers. The final
      extracts obtained with detergent-high ionic strength buffer were assayed for
      peptide-bond hydrolase activity using radiolabelled casein and four chromophore
      linked peptide substrates. Hydrolysis of N-succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-p
      nitroanilide and alpha-casein showed evidence of sensitivity to the presence of
      Alzheimer's disease (n = 22) and some of the seven other demographic features
      (postmortem delay; mode of death in the case of one substrate) of the brain
      samples considered. By contrast, activity towards carbobenzoxy(Z)-Leu-Leu-Glu-2
      naphthylamide, Z-Val-Lys-Met-4-methyl-coumaryl-7-amide and Z-Val-Lys-Lys-Arg-4
      methoxy-2-naphthylamide were independent of all factors. The results are
      discussed in terms of damage to a sub-population of protease-containing
      membranes.

PMID- 1436681
TI  - Oestrogen infusions into the amygdala potentiate excitatory transmission from the
      accessory olfactory bulb to tuberoinfundibular arcuate neurones in the mouse.
AB  - We have previously shown that oestrogen increases the percentage of
      tuberoinfundibular (TI) arcuate neurones that respond to electrical stimulation
      of the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). This study focuses on the amygdala as a
      possible site for the hormonal modulation of AOB input to TI arcuate neurones.
      Local infusions of 17 beta-oestradiol (30 pmol) into the amygdala of
      ovariectomized female mice significantly potentiated excitatory responses of TI
      arcuate neurones to AOB stimulation. This effect appeared rapidly (less than 10
      min) after infusion. The inactive oestrogen isomer, 17 alpha-oestradiol, infused
      in the same manner, was without effect. These results suggest that oestrogen acts
      directly on amygdala neurones, thereby modulating olfactory information relayed
      along the vomeronasal pathway to TI arcuate neurones.

PMID- 1436682
TI  - Two populations of cells that express preprocholecystokinin mRNA in ventral
      periaqueductal grey.
AB  - Cells expressing preprocholecystokinin (CCK) mRNA in the rat midbrain
      periaqueductal grey area and Edinger-Westphal nucleus were analysed using in situ
      hybridization combined with liquid emulsion techniques. Semi-quantitative image
      analysis revealed that there were two populations of cells which expressed CCK
      mRNA. The first group of cells were large and heavily labelled and were confined
      to the Edinger-Westphal nucleus. The second group of cells were small and lightly
      labelled and were found scattered throughout ventral parts of the anterior
      periaqueductal grey.

PMID- 1436683
TI  - A possible neural source of nitric oxide in the rat penis.
AB  - NADPH diaphorase staining was used to indicate the presence of nitric oxide
      synthase (NOS) in whole mounts of rat major pelvic ganglion (MPG) and sections of
      rat penis. Many stained neurons were observed in the MPG and were distributed in
      a manner identical to that of retrogradely labelled penile neurons described
      previously. Staining was also observed within many axons of the penile
      (cavernous) nerve and in varicose terminals associated with various tissues of
      the penis. The results suggest that many, if not all, penile neurons of the MPG
      contain NOS and that a neural source of NO within the penis is likely.

PMID- 1436684
TI  - Post-training medial septal stimulation improves spatial information processing
      in BALB/c mice.
AB  - The experiment reported here was designed to highlight the effects of medial
      septal nucleus electrical stimulation on memory processes. To that end, we have
      used a learning task carried out in a 4-hole board in which animals were
      successively presented with the location of 2 baited holes. Under these
      conditions, the consequence of a weak stimulation (30 microA peak to peak, 80 s
      in duration) applied 30 s after acquisition of these 2 separate spatial
      informations was assessed on a retention test 24 h later. The results indicated
      that performance of stimulated animals was improved by medial septal stimulation
      as shown by an increase in the time duration of exploration of the second
      previously baited hole. However, post-training stimulation also produced a
      significant avoidance of the first previously baited hole not observed in the
      control groups. These results suggest that medial septal stimulation improves
      retroactive inhibition involved in working memory processes, thus leading to
      better retention of this kind of learning situation.

PMID- 1436686
TI  - Strong immunoreactivity of beta-amyloid precursor protein, including the beta
      amyloid protein sequence, at human neuromuscular junctions.
AB  - At the postsynaptic domain of the human neuromuscular junction (NMJ), we have
      demonstrated strong concentrations of the N-terminus 45-62, C-terminus 676-695
      and beta-amyloid protein sequences of beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta APP).
      We used well-characterized monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies for co
      localization with three other postsynaptic proteins, applying double and triple
      fluorescence labeling. Strong immunoreactivity of all three beta APP sequences
      was found at all NMJs identified by bound alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha BT), where
      they co-localized with alpha BT and with immunoreactive desmin and dystrophin,
      which are postsynaptic proteins of human NMJs. This appears to be the first
      demonstration of beta APP sequences concentrated postsynaptically at human NMJs.
      beta APP may have a role in normal junction biology and possibly in some diseases
      affecting NMJs.

PMID- 1436685
TI  - Serotonergic modulation of the respiratory rhythm generator at birth: an in vitro
      study in the rat.
AB  - In order to investigate the mechanisms through which serotonin (5-HT) modulates
      the activity of the respiratory rhythm generator, respiratory activity was
      recorded from cervical ventral roots of the superfused isolated brainstem-spinal
      cord preparation of the newborn rat. Replacing the normal bathing medium by a
      medium containing 5-HT (30 microM) increased the respiratory frequency by 70% of
      the control value. Intact pontomedullary structures are necessary for this effect
      to take place, however, since the 5-HT-induced increases in respiratory frequency
      were no longer observed after elimination (section and electrolytic lesion) of
      the caudal ventro-lateral pons containing the A5 areas. Local applications of 5
      HT (dual bath, microdialysis and microinjection experiments) revealed, however,
      that 5-HT acts at the medullary level and that its effects are not due to a
      diffuse action on all the neurons of the medullary respiratory centers but to a
      specific action focusing on structures located in the rostral ventro-lateral
      medulla.

PMID- 1436687
TI  - Allopurinol preserves cerebral energy metabolism during perinatal hypoxia
      ischemia: a 31P NMR study in unanesthetized immature rats.
AB  - The effects of high dose allopurinol (ALLOP) pretreatment on the cerebral energy
      metabolism of unanesthetized 7-day-postnatal rats during exposure to 3 h of
      cerebral hypoxia-ischemia were serially quantitated using non-invasive 31P NMR
      spectroscopy. Adenosine triphosphate, integrated over the last 2 h of hypoxia and
      expressed as a fraction of baseline, was 0.73 +/- 0.16 with ALLOP pretreatment
      (200 mg/kg s.c.) compared to 0.52 +/- 0.05 for saline pretreatment (P = 0.001).
      Inorganic phosphate/phosphocreatine (Pi/PCr), integrated over the same time
      interval, was 2.63 +/- 1.23 relative to baseline with ALLOP versus 5.13 +/- 1.45
      for saline-treated pups (P less than 0.0005). We suggest that the neuroprotection
      achieved with high dose ALLOP pretreatment may be attributed in part to
      preservation of energy metabolites.

PMID- 1436688
TI  - Metallothionein immunoreactivity is increased in the spinal cord of patients with
      amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
AB  - Sections of the spinal cord from 10 patients with classic amyotrophic lateral
      sclerosis and from 10 control cases were examined by immunocytochemical methods
      to localize metallothionein. Metallothionein immunoreactivity was seen in the
      nucleus and cytoplasm of a subset of astrocytes, largely confined to the gray
      matter. Also, diffuse gray matter staining was observed, probably representing
      small glial fibers. Astrocytic metallothionein immunoreactivity (P less than
      0.01) and strong gray matter matrix staining (P less than 0.03) was increased in
      the spinal cords from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Although
      compatible with induction by metals, increased metallothionein expression in the
      spinal cords from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may also have
      resulted from inflammation or gliosis.

PMID- 1436689
TI  - Comparison of spontaneous motor pattern generation in non-hemisected and
      hemisected mouse spinal cord.
AB  - Spontaneous electromyogram (EMG) patterns in the gastrocnemius (G) and tibialis
      anterior (TA) muscles of spinal cord-hindlimb explants from neonatal mice were
      investigated. Compared to non-hemisected explants, neither longitudinal
      hemisection of the spinal cord nor hemisection plus transection at L1
      significantly altered the incidence of spontaneous motor rhythm. Therefore, not
      only does each half of the neonatal spinal cord contain sufficient circuitry to
      generate motor rhythm, but the more reduced preparations were just as likely to
      produce such activity. Hemisected preparations, however, exhibited slower rhythm,
      perhaps due to the loss of excitatory commissural connections. No correlation was
      found between the number of cycles in a rhythmic sequence and cycle period. In
      hemisected as well as non-hemisected explants, sequences of spontaneous EMG
      rhythm occurred in either the G or TA muscle, but not in both muscles
      simultaneously. Consequently, cycle-to-cycle alternation between rhythmic
      bursting in the G and TA muscles was not observed. The excitability in such
      preparations was apparently insufficient for maintained activations of both
      muscles (either for cycle-to-cycle alternation or for co-contraction).

PMID- 1436690
TI  - Insulin protects brain tissue against focal ischemia in rats.
AB  - The influence of insulin on the infarct volume due to middle cerebral artery
      (MCA) occlusion was investigated in rats. A small dose of insulin (1 unit/kg) was
      injected i.p. just after MCA occlusion. The infarct areas were measured by
      planimetry from brains perfused with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium-chloride (TTC) 48
      h after the occlusion. Systemic variables were measured before and at various
      times after ischemia. The comparison between insulin-treated (n = 14) and control
      (n = 13) rats provided evidence that insulin significantly reduced the infarct
      volume due to MCA occlusion. As insulin minimally and transiently decreased blood
      glucose, the present results suggest that insulin exerts a beneficial effect
      directly on the central nervous system.

PMID- 1436691
TI  - Retinal ischemia induced by occlusion of both common carotid arteries in rats as
      demonstrated by electroretinography.
AB  - In 2 models of reduced cerebral blood flow-permanent occlusion of the vertebral
      arteries plus transient occlusion of the common carotid arteries (4VO) and
      transient clamping of the common carotid arteries (BCCA)-the acute effects on the
      electrical function of the retina were monitored by recording the photopic
      electroretinogram. During both 4VO and BCCA the amplitude of the b-wave was
      reduced. Within 30 min of reperfusion after 4VO and after BCCA the b-wave had
      fully recovered. In contrast, the a-wave was not affected by either treatment.
      The data suggest that occlusion of common carotid arteries leads to retinal
      ischemia and might represent a useful model of amaurosis fugax.

PMID- 1436692
TI  - Acetylcholine synthesis is modulated by acetylcholine content of cytosolic
      fraction but not by that of releasable fraction.
AB  - Synthesis and release of acetylcholine (ACh) in the rat hippocampal slices were
      examined to clarify the mechanism of modulation of ACh synthesis. Treatment with
      2-(4-phenylpiperidino)cyclohexanol (AH5183, 50 microM), an inhibitor of ACh
      transport from cytosol to synaptic vesicles, inhibited the increase in ACh
      content of the membrane-bound fraction which is readily releasable, but did not
      affect the cytosolic ACh content. Under these conditions, the total ACh content
      reached a plateau value. These results indicate that ACh synthesis is modulated
      by cytosolic ACh content but not by the vesicular fraction.

PMID- 1436693
TI  - Axonal sprouting induced in the sciatic nerve by the amyloid precursor protein
      (APP) and other antiproteases.
AB  - Protease inhibition is the mechanism by which some trophic factors promote the
      extension of neurites. In the rat sciatic nerve, we assessed the ability to
      induce sprouts of the APP isoform that embodies the Kunitz antiprotease domain
      and other antiproteases. With the electron microscope, axonal sprouts were found
      when antiproteases were supplied but not after administration of inactive
      substances. We conclude that axons have a drive to sprout which can be released
      by the unbalance of an extracellular protease-antiprotease system. We propose
      that this system is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 1436694
TI  - Presence of abnormally phosphorylated Tau proteins in the entorhinal cortex of
      aged non-demented subjects.
AB  - An immunoblot study was performed in several cortical samples from non-demented
      aged controls and compared with those from Alzheimer patients, using antibodies
      against Tau 55, 64 and 69, which are specific and reliable markers of the
      neurofibrillary degeneration of the Alzheimer type. The immunodetection of Tau
      55, 64 and 69 was positive in all cortical areas from Alzheimer patients, in the
      entorhinal cortex from each control aged more than 65 but not in cortical samples
      from younger controls. We demonstrate that the entorhinal cortex is the most
      vulnerable neuronal population in aging and that the biochemical dysfunctions
      observed in this area are typically of the 'Alzheimer-type'.

PMID- 1436695
TI  - Denervation of dopaminergic neurons with 6-hydroxydopamine increases nerve growth
      factor content in rat brain.
AB  - Denervation of dopaminergic neurons by intra nigral injection of 6
      hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) increased nerve growth factor (NGF) content in the
      cortex and hippocampus, both of which are innervated by cholinergic neurons. The
      increase continued during an observation period of 0.5-28 days after the lesion.
      The time course of changes in NGF content was quite different from that of
      cholinergic neuron denervation. The decreased dopamine content produced in the
      striatum by 6-OHDA injection was not recovered during the observation period.
      These results suggest that dopaminergic neuron damage may affect NGF synthesis.

PMID- 1436696
TI  - Low calcium/high magnesium medium increases activities of hypothalamic arcuate
      and suprachiasmatic neurons in brain tissue slices.
AB  - Extracellular single-unit recording was conducted in hypothalamic arcuate (ARC)
      and suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in rat brain slices. The perifusion medium was
      switched from normal artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) to ACSF containing low
      Ca2+ and high Mg2+ to test the effect of extracellular calcium on the spontaneous
      activities of these neurons and their responses to some test agents. It was found
      that almost all of the ARC and SCN units tested increased their firing rates in
      low Ca2+, high Mg2+ ACSF, and exhibited more significant responses to excitatory
      test agents. The effects of low Ca2+, high Mg2+ ACSF were repeatable and
      reversible. The results suggest that extracellular Ca2+ is essential in
      maintaining the membrane stability of most hypothalamic neurons and most agents
      tested are acting postsynaptically on the unit recorded.

PMID- 1436697
TI  - The type III calcium/calmodulin-sensitive adenylyl cyclase is not specific to
      olfactory sensory neurons.
AB  - A cDNA clone for type III adenylyl cyclase was originally isolated from a rat
      olfactory cDNA library and Northern analysis using total RNA suggested that the
      expression of the type III mRNA may be limited to the olfactory epithelium
      (Bakalyar and Reed, Science, 250 (1990) 1403-1406). In this study, the
      distribution of type III adenylyl cyclase mRNA in a number of bovine tissues and
      cultured cells was examined by Northern analysis using poly(A)+ RNA. Type III
      adenylyl cyclase mRNA was expressed in brain, spinal cord, adrenal medulla,
      adrenal cortex, heart atrium, aorta, lung, retina, 293 cells and PC-12 cells.
      Furthermore, the Ca2+ sensitivity of adenylyl cyclase activity in 293 cells
      indicated the presence of type III adenylyl cyclase. These data indicate that
      expression of the type III adenylyl cyclase is not limited to olfactory tissues,
      and that this enzyme probably has a number of physiological functions in addition
      to olfactory signal transduction.

PMID- 1436698
TI  - Local radiolabeling of the 68 kDa neurofilament protein in rat sciatic nerves.
AB  - Rat sciatic nerve segments, 4.5 cm distal to the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), were
      incubated in vivo with [35S]methionine. Fluorography of 2-D polyacrylamide gels
      of the nerve proteins demonstrated the labeling of the 68-kDa neurofilament
      protein, which was identified by immunoblotting. This experimental design
      excludes the dorsal root ganglion as the source of the radiolabeled neurofilament
      protein and suggests that this neuron-specific protein may be synthesized in
      axons.

PMID- 1436699
TI  - Delayed degeneration of the optic tract and neurons in the superior colliculus
      after forebrain ischemia.
AB  - Neuronal damage induced by 15-min forebrain ischemia was investigated in adult
      rats 1-5 days (short-term group) and 1-5 months (long-term group) after the
      initial ischemic attack. In addition to the vulnerable areas reported previously,
      we observed that the optic tract was also very susceptible. Degeneration of the
      optic tract and subsequent transsynaptic cell death in the superior colliculus
      developed slowly and was observed only in the long-term group. The delayed,
      progressive neuronal damage in this sensory system may serve as a suitable model
      to investigate the mechanisms of long-term changes in the injured brain.

PMID- 1436700
TI  - Tedisamil blocks a calcium-dependent potassium channel in cultured motoneurons.
AB  - A calcium-dependent potassium channel K(Ca) has been isolated in mouse
      motoneurons. With physiological concentrations of potassium across inside-out
      patches, a 100 pS K(Ca) channel was activated when the bath solution of Ca2+ was
      in excess of 1 microM. Introduction of the drug tedisamil, a blocker of
      repolarizing potassium channels in cardiac cells, at concentrations in the range
      0.2-10 microM, caused a dose-dependent decrease in the mean open times for K(Ca).
      The drug action was consistent with open channel block of K(Ca) with an onward
      (blocking) rate constant of 6 x 10(7) M-1 s-1. Tedisamil, at concentrations of 1
      microM and 5 microM, also blocked the K(Ca) channel when applied to outside-out
      patches with a similar potency as found with internal application. A large
      conductance K(Ca) channel in hippocampal neurons is also blocked by a number of
      putative Class III antiarrhythmic drugs, including tedisamil; thus, these agents
      may have utility in the characterization of the properties of K(Ca) channels in
      various cells.

PMID- 1436701
TI  - GABAergic afferents modulate proenkephalin mRNA expression in the guinea pig
      hypothalamic magnocellular dorsal nucleus.
AB  - The proenkephalin (PE) gene expression within Met-enkephalin (ME) neurons of the
      guinea pig magnocellular dorsal nucleus (MDN) was measured following activation
      of GABAergic transmission by aminooxyacetic acid treatment (AOAA). A combination
      of preembedding ME immunocytochemistry and PE in situ hybridization was used to
      investigate PE mRNA and enkephalin immunoreactivity levels. In perikarya of the
      MDN, chronic AOAA-treatment resulted in an important decline in PE mRNA signal (
      128%). In double-labeled neurons, the PE mRNA decrease was associated to an
      increase in ME immunoreactivity. These results indicate that the increase in ME
      immunoreactivity in the MDN following AOAA-treatment is not due to a rise in PE
      gene transcription. This study provides additional morphological evidence
      supporting a role for GABA in modulating the enkephalinergic hypothalamoseptal
      tract of the guinea pig.

PMID- 1436702
TI  - Mapping of c-fos expression elicited by pure tones stimulation in the auditory
      pathways of the rat, with emphasis on the cochlear nucleus.
AB  - C-fos expression was mapped in the auditory pathways of rats, stimulated
      acoustically with pure tones. In the cochlear nucleus, two clusters of c-fos-like
      immunoreactive neurons, located respectively in the caudal part of the dorsal
      cochlear nucleus and in the granular cell region, did not show clear systematic
      shift in their position as a function of the tones frequency. On the other hand,
      more rostrally in the dorsal cochlear nucleus, a cluster of c-fos-like positive
      neurons moved progressively from dorsal to ventral for decreasing tones
      frequency. In the posteroventral cochlear nucleus, another cluster of c-fos-like
      positive neurons was observed, whose position also varied with tones frequency.
      Surprisingly, no or very rare c-fos-like immunoreactive neurons were present in
      the anteroventral cochlear nucleus and in the superior olivary complex. In the
      inferior colliculus, however, c-fos-like immunoreactive neurons formed clear
      isofrequency contours, shifting from dorsolateral to ventromedial for increasing
      tones frequency. In the medial geniculate body c-fos-like immunostaining was
      restricted to the medial and dorsal divisions while the ventral division was free
      of labeling. The cause of this differential labeling along the auditory pathways
      is at present unknown but may eventually provide clues as to physiological
      differences in parallel auditory pathways.

PMID- 1436703
TI  - Increased brain concentrations of a neurotoxin, 3-hydroxykynurenine, in
      Huntington's disease.
AB  - Concentrations of the neurotoxic tryptophan metabolite, 3-hydroxykynurenine, were
      determined in brain tissue taken post-mortem from patients with Huntington's
      disease and Alzheimer's disease. 3-Hydroxykynurenine was substantially and
      significantly increased in all three brain areas studied in Huntington's disease,
      but not significantly increased in the cortex in Alzheimer's disease, when
      compared to matched controls. These results demonstrate a possible dysfunction of
      tryptophan metabolism, via the kynurenine pathway, in Huntington's disease.

PMID- 1436704
TI  - Histamine stimulates exocytosis in a sub-population of bovine adrenal chromaffin
      cells.
AB  - Both nicotinic stimulation and histamine are able to raise cytosolic free calcium
      concentration in the majority of cells in a population of bovine adrenal
      medullary chromaffin cells to comparable levels. Nevertheless, histamine induces
      much less catecholamine secretion than does nicotine. In order to test whether
      this is due to heterogeneity in the responses of chromaffin cells to histamine we
      examined exocytosis in response to nicotine and histamine using an
      immunofluorescence method based on staining with anti-DBH to detect inserted
      secretory vesicle membrane. The results show that while up to 98% of the
      chromaffin cells in culture undergo exocytosis in response to nicotine, histamine
      stimulates exocytosis in only a sub-population of cells.

PMID- 1436705
TI  - D2 dopamine receptor localization on striatonigral neurons.
AB  - Two major pharmacological classes of dopamine receptors exist in the central
      nervous system. These receptors have been designated as D1 or D2 based upon their
      differing pharmacology and influence on the cyclic AMP second messenger system.
      Different genes for the D1 and D2 dopamine receptors have been isolated and are
      found to be expressed in high abundance. Within the neostriatum, however the
      cellular distribution of the dopamine receptors is equivocal. Dopamine receptors
      are the targets for drugs used to treat neurological dysfunctions such as
      Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia, and thus knowledge of their specific
      cellular location is important for devising future therapeutic manipulations.
      Using retrograde labeling methods combined with immunofluorescence of various
      receptor amino acid sequences, this study has examined the postsynaptic
      distribution of striatal D2 dopamine receptors. We have found that the D2
      dopamine receptor can be visualized on a minimum of 60% of the neurons projecting
      from the neostriatum to the substantia nigra. However, some 65% of all D2
      receptor positive cells are represented by other intrinsic neurons of this basal
      ganglia nucleus.

PMID- 1436706
TI  - Cell adhesion molecule L1 guides cell migration in primary reaggregation cultures
      of mouse cerebellar cells.
AB  - We demonstrate a new assay in vitro using reaggregated cerebellar neurons in
      order to test the role of the L1 molecule in migration events. Cells other than
      neurons were eliminated in these cultures. Cerebellar neuron reaggregates plated
      on L1 molecule substrates migrated at rates similar to those observed in vivo.
      This migration was blocked by anti-L1 antibody. These findings suggest that this
      culture could provide a useful system with which to directly study relationships
      between neuron migration and adhesion molecules.

PMID- 1436707
TI  - Expression of the mRNA for the rat NMDA receptor (NMDAR1) in the sensory and
      autonomic ganglion neurons.
AB  - The distribution of NMDA receptor (NMDAR1) on neurons in the peripheral ganglia
      was examined in the adult rat by in situ hybridization. NMDAR1 mRNA was expressed
      in all neurons in the sensory and autonomic ganglia examined; in the dorsal root,
      trigeminal, nodose, superior cervical, and sphenopalatine ganglia. Possible roles
      of the NMDA receptor on the sensory and autonomic ganglion neurons are discussed.

PMID- 1436708
TI  - Glutathione prevents 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanine excitotoxicity by maintaining
      it in a reduced, non-active form.
AB  - 2,4,5-Trihydroxyphenylalanine (TOPA) in aqueous solution has been shown to form
      an non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (non-NMDA) agonist and neurotoxin, TOPA quinone. We
      examined whether the endogenous chemical reductant glutathione (GSH) could
      abolish the agonist properties of TOPA and block its excitotoxicity in rat
      cortical neurons in culture by preventing the formation of TOPA quinone. The
      oxidative formation of TOPA quinone from TOPA (30-500 microM) at pH 7.2 was
      measured spectrophotometrically. Using glutathione (0.05-3 mM) as the reducing
      agent, we found that the optimal [GSH]:[TOPA] ratio which significantly retarded
      TOPA quinone formation was 10:1. Thus, 3 mM GSH prevented whole-cell currents
      induced by a solution of 300 microM TOPA but did not affect currents elicited by
      300 microM kainate. In addition, 2 mM GSH protected neurons from the toxic
      effects of 200 microM TOPA, but was not effective against 200 microM NMDA. These
      results suggest that the presence of endogenous reductants may limit the toxicity
      of TOPA.

PMID- 1436709
TI  - IGF-II mRNA expression in LI human glioblastoma cell line parallels cell growth.
AB  - A human glioblastoma cell line was found to express in vitro mRNA transcripts
      specific for insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) and growth-hormone releasing
      hormone (GHRH). In the absence of gross morphological changes, retinoic acid
      reduced the growth rate without major change of IGF-II mRNA expression, while
      alpha-difluoromethylornithine produced a complete growth arrest and a sharp
      decrease of IGF-II mRNA expression. Both reagents increased the expression of
      GHRH mRNA. Also in this glioblastoma cell line, like other neuroectodermal
      tumours, IGF-II mRNA is expressed independently from GHRH and seems to be
      parallel to growth rate.

PMID- 1436710
TI  - Sexual differences and seasonal variations in vasoactive intestinal peptide
      immunoreactivity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of jerboa (Jaculus orientalis).
AB  - The sexual differences and the seasonal variation in the vasoactive intestinal
      peptide (VIP) content of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of a desert rodent,
      the jerboa (Jaculus orientalis) were studied using immunocytochemical techniques.
      During the period of sexual activity (spring-early summer), the VIP
      immunoreactivity in the SCN was higher in females than in males. In the period of
      sexual quiescence (autumn), both males and females exhibited an even more intense
      VIP immunoreaction in the SCN as compared to spring. However, during this period,
      the sex-related differences in the VIP content of the SCN observed in spring were
      no longer detectable. The direct possible influence of sex hormones on the VIP
      content in the SCN, and the physiological significance of the seasonal variation
      observed in the VIP immunoreactivity in the SCN in this species remains to be
      determined.

PMID- 1436711
TI  - Characterization of amyloid fibril protein from a case of cerebral amyloid
      angiopathy showing immunohistochemical reactivity for both beta protein and
      cystatin C.
AB  - We isolated and carried out a chemical analysis of the amyloid fibril protein
      from the leptomeningeal vessels of a case with non-hereditary cerebral amyloid
      angiopathy (CAA) showing dual immunohistochemical reactivity with antibodies to
      both beta-protein and cystatin C. A crude amyloid fibril fraction reacted only
      with anti-beta-protein antibody, and cystatin C immunoreactivity was observed in
      the first PBS supernatant. Complete amino acid sequence of this cystatin C
      immunoreactive protein showed a homologous structure to that of normal cystatin
      C. It is concluded that cystatin C is not an intrinsic component of the amyloid
      fibril in this type of CAA.

PMID- 1436712
TI  - Secretory pathway of beta/A4 amyloid protein precursor in familial Alzheimer's
      disease with Val717 to Ile mutation.
AB  - To determine whether the secretory pathway of beta/A4 amyloid protein precursor
      (APP) was altered in familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) with a mutation of Val717
      to Ile, cerebrospinal fluid was studied by Western blotting. The ratio of the
      density of the bands labeled with the antibody against the amino-terminal part of
      beta/A4 protein to that with the antibody against amino-terminal part of beta/A4
      protein to that with the antibody against amino-terminal part of APP was not
      decreased. The present result suggests that the secretory pathway is not altered
      by the mutation in such a way that amyloidogenic full-length beta/A4 protein is
      generated.

PMID- 1436713
TI  - A novel but non-pathogenic mutation in exon 4 of the human amyloid precursor
      protein (APP) gene.
AB  - Mutations in the beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene have been associated
      with both familial Alzheimer disease (FAD) and with hereditary cerebral
      haemorrhage. The polymerase chain reaction was used to both amplify and sequence
      exon 4 of the APP gene from genomic DNA of subjects with FAD and normal control
      subjects. A novel, rare, conservative DNA sequence variant was discovered at
      nucleotide 459 of codon 153 (valine) in exon 4 of the APP gene in an affected
      member of a large FAD pedigree. Segregation studies indicate that this mutation
      is likely to be non-pathogenic, but must be recognized and discriminated from
      pathogenic mutations during sequencing studies of the APP gene in patients with
      FAD.

PMID- 1436714
TI  - Development of speed of repetitive movements in children is determined by
      structural changes in corticospinal efferents.
AB  - This study was aimed to determine the relationship between the maturation of
      corticospinal efferents, determined by transcranial stimulation of motor cortex,
      and the development of fastest repetitive voluntary motor activity in children.
      The development of fastest repetitive voluntary motor activity was assessed for 3
      different types of movements including fastest repetitive tapping movements,
      aiming movements and a pegboard transportation task. These 3 motor activities
      were chosen as they were different as to their dependence on detailed sensory
      guidance. Despite these differences the speed of all 3 movements showed a very
      similar developmental profile, which was matched, however, by the developmental
      slope of the fastest cortico-motoneuronal efferents. Hence the development of
      central conduction times determines the speed of repetitive movements in
      children. In contrast, we could not observe significant effects of repetitive
      training on speed of these movements. We show for the first time that the
      development of fastest voluntary movements is a structure-bound phenomenon, being
      independent from learning.

PMID- 1436715
TI  - Thyrotropin-releasing hormone analogue and serotonin interact within the dorsal
      vagal complex to augment gastric acid secretion.
AB  - The effects of serotonin (5HT) and a thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
      analogue, RX77368, on vagal control of gastric acid secretion were studied.
      Microinjection of RX77368 (0.66 pmol in 10 nl), but not 5HT (8 pmol in 10 nl),
      into the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) evoked a significant increase in acid output.
      When the same doses of RX77368 and 5HT were co-injected, the amount of acid
      secreted was significantly greater than that due to RX77368 alone. Thus, 5HT and
      the TRH analogue interact within the DVC to enhance vagal stimulation of acid
      secretion. The study suggests a possible functional significance of raphe
      TRH/serotonergic tracts projecting to the DVC.

PMID- 1436716
TI  - The long-acting cholinesterase inhibitor heptyl-physostigmine attenuates the
      scopolamine-induced learning impairment of rats in a 14-unit T-maze.
AB  - Heptyl-physostigmine (heptyl-Phy), a new carbamate derivative of physostigmine
      (Phy), has been assessed for potential clinical value by evaluating its in vitro
      activity against human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and plasma
      butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), its duration of in vivo activity against rat plasma
      AChE, and its effects on attenuating a scopolamine-induced impairment in learning
      performance of young rats in a 14-unit T-maze. Heptyl-Phy demonstrated potent
      cholinesterase inhibition, with activity similar to that of Phy against AChE,
      IC50 values 21.7 +/- 2.0 nM and 27.9 +/- 2.4 nM, respectively, and significantly
      greater than that of Phy against BChE, IC50 values 5.0 +/- 0.1 nM and 16.0 +/-
      2.9 nM, respectively. Heptyl-Phy achieved maximum AChE inhibition of 92.5% at 60
      min and maintained a high and relatively constant inhibition for more than 8 h.
      For analysis of effects on learning performance, heptyl-Phy at 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 or
      3.0 mg/kg, or vehicle was administered i.p. to 52 3-month-old male Fischer-344
      rats 60 min prior to maze training. Thirty minutes prior to training, each animal
      received either 0.9% NaCl or scopolamine hydrochloride (0.75 mg/kg). Only a 2.0
      mg/kg dose of heptyl-Phy significantly reduced the number of errors in
      scopolamine-treated rats. The other doses did not improve any aspect of maze
      performance. Although the therapeutic window of heptyl-Phy did not appear wide
      enough for clinical use, the longer duration of action of heptyl-Phy would appear
      beneficial.

PMID- 1436717
TI  - L-aspartate-beta-hydroxamate exhibits mixed agonist/antagonist activity at the
      glutamate metabotropic receptor in rat neonatal cerebrocortial slices.
AB  - L-aspartate-beta-hydroxamate, a glutamate uptake inhibitor, was investigated for
      activity at a glutamate metabotropic receptor (mGluR) in neonatal rat cerebral
      cortical slices. Stimulation of phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis by 100 microM
      (1S,3R)-ACPD was inhibited only very weakly, to a maximal extent of 28%, L
      aspartate-beta-hydroxamate did however exhibit agonist activity (EC50 = 760
      microM) and, although much less potent than (1S,3R)-ACPD (EC50 = 20 microM), its
      efficacy was approximately 70% of the latter. These results indicate that, at
      least in this preparation, offspartate-beta-hydroxamate is of little value as an
      antagonist at the mGluR receptor.

PMID- 1436718
TI  - Localization of mRNA for beta-adrenergic receptor kinase in the brain of adult
      rats.
AB  - A cDNA encoding rat beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (beta-ARK) was cloned and
      sequenced. By in situ hybridization histochemistry of adult brain, beta-ARK mRNA
      was expressed intensely in the cerebellar granule cell layer and moderately in
      the hippocampal pyramidal cells and dentate granule cells. The neocortex and
      piriform cortex expressed it moderately to weakly, whereas the thalamus and
      hypothalamus expressed it weakly to faintly. No significant expression of the
      mRNA was detected in the caudate-putamen. Weak expression of beta-ARK mRNA was
      detected in several nuclei of the brainstem and in the spinal gray matter.

PMID- 1436719
TI  - Neuronal responses of the anterior commissural nucleus to osmotic stimulation and
      angiotensin II in hypothalamic slices in the rat.
AB  - The firing rate and pattern of activity of neurons in the anterior commissural
      nucleus (ACN), which was rich in oxytocin-containing neurons, were studied
      electrophysiologically in hypothalamic slices. Extracellular recording showed
      that most ACN neurons exhibited irregular or regular continuous spontaneous unit
      activity. Other neurons showed short burst patterns of activity or were silent.
      The majority of ACN neurons were activated by bath application of angiotensin II,
      and a substantial number of them showed inhibitory or excitatory responses to
      hypertonic bathing medium. These results indicate that magnocellular
      neurosecretory neurons in the ACN may participate in the regulation of water
      balance.

PMID- 1436720
TI  - Non-independent quantum bumps in Limulus ventral nerve photoreceptors--a new
      insight in the light transduction mechanism.
AB  - Single photon-induced transient currents, called quantum bumps were stimulated by
      short flashes in dark-adapted ventral nerve photoreceptors of Limulus. Flash
      intensities were set to activate 3 or more bumps. In most cases, current bumps
      were activated with a constant rate. The frequency of bump occurrence was between
      9 and 17 Hz. Results show that consecutive bumps are not independent and that
      some of them are not activated by a photon. The periodic bump activation
      indicates a molecular mechanism which quantifies the transmitter release not only
      by a light quantum, but also by a late phase of the transduction cascade. A model
      is proposed, in which Ca2+ ions released from intracellular stores transiently
      block the further Ca2+ release by inositol trisphosphate in an all-or-none
      manner.

PMID- 1436722
TI  - Cuts in funding expected for nursing education.

PMID- 1436721
TI  - Remembrance of things past--present.

PMID- 1436723
TI  - Ways of teaching, learning, and knowing about violence against women.

PMID- 1436724
TI  - Substance abuse during pregnancy. Legal & health policy issues.

PMID- 1436725
TI  - Shortage as shorthand for the crisis in caring.

PMID- 1436726
TI  - A nursing center in Brooklyn.

PMID- 1436727
TI  - Revisiting nursing's media image.

PMID- 1436728
TI  - Sudden infant death syndrome in 1992: the known and unknown.
AB  - Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) continues to be the leading cause of death in
      infants from one month to one year of age. We present the results to the Fifth
      Annual Perspectives on SIDS. This program is one component of the educational
      services of the New Jersey SIDS Resource Center.

PMID- 1436729
TI  - Sudden infant death syndrome in New Jersey: 1991.
AB  - Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death in infants one
      month to one year of age. The New Jersey Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Resource
      Center gathers epidemiological data on all SIDS deaths in New Jersey, noting
      differences in population and countries.

PMID- 1436730
TI  - Medium chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency.
AB  - Medium chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) was the first
      metabolic disorder found to be associated with sudden infant death syndrome. This
      review covers recent advances in the biochemical and molecular understanding of
      MCADD.

PMID- 1436731
TI  - Sudden infant death syndrome: loss and bereavement.
AB  - Clinical perspectives of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and family responses
      to loss and bereavement are addressed. The author discusses factors such as
      family stage, parental dyad issues, and the needs of young children, friends, and
      caregivers.

PMID- 1436732
TI  - Sudden infant death syndrome and subsequent siblings.
AB  - Studies indicate that at least 98 (SIDS) in subsequent siblings, summarizes the
      results of percent of all subsequent SIDS siblings will have a normal outcome.
      While the data regarding a single SIDS occurrence can be viewed as encouraging, 2
      percent mortality is not trivial. Parents of SIDS siblings are in need of
      appropriate counseling and support. In the unfortunate case of subsequent sibling
      SIDS deaths, the mortality rate may be as high as 18 percent. Regretably, all
      attempts at prospective identification of infants destined to die of SIDS have
      proved futile. The development of a prospective screening test has been hindered
      by insufficient understanding of the specific cause or causes of SIDS. Attention,
      thus, has been directed at the development of effective home intervention.
      Cardiorespiratory monitoring has been identified as one means of home
      intervention, and a comprehensive support program has resulted in the successful
      home monitoring of many infants at high risk for SIDS. Studies aimed at making
      prospective identification a clinical reality continue. Accordingly, we must
      persist in our efforts to provide support to parents who have experienced one of
      life's worst tragedies.

PMID- 1436733
TI  - Neurodevelopmental outcome in infants with apnea.
AB  - The neurodevelopmental outcome of term infants with acute life-threatening events
      (ALTE) and preterm infants with persistent apnea of prematurity were compared to
      matched control populations. No differences in developmental outcomes were seen
      between the study and control populations.

PMID- 1436734
TI  - NJ SIDS Resource Center: program for bereaved families.
AB  - The New Jersey Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Resource Center counsels
      approximately 120 bereaved families each year, conducts l medical and community
      education programs, and manages the sudden infant death syndrome database for New
      Jersey.

PMID- 1436735
TI  - Sudden infant death syndrome: an overview.
AB  - The diagnosis of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) depends on a thorough and
      complete autopsy. Many of the infants who die of SIDS have common findings. There
      are certain steps to be taken for prevention and diagnosis of SIDS. Further
      investigation of this syndrome still is necessary.

PMID- 1436736
TI  - Intracellular steps of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan biosynthesis:
      enzymology, antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance.

PMID- 1436737
TI  - Natural sesquiterpenoids.

PMID- 1436738
TI  - Clerodane diterpenoids.

PMID- 1436740
TI  - Transformational leadership.

PMID- 1436739
TI  - Biosynthesis of polyketide metabolites.

PMID- 1436741
TI  - Transformational leadership.

PMID- 1436742
TI  - Stimulate the interest of professional nurses in cultural diversity in this
      global community.

PMID- 1436743
TI  - Structures, strategies, and synthesis: the nurse executive as social architect.

PMID- 1436744
TI  - Transformational leadership in an age of chaos.

PMID- 1436745
TI  - Educational experiences of transformational nurse leaders.

PMID- 1436746
TI  - Friends of nursing: a strategy for transforming the community-nursing
      relationship.

PMID- 1436747
TI  - Transformational leadership in action: an interview with a health care executive.
      Interview by Gloria E. Bader.

PMID- 1436748
TI  - Professional practice partnerships: a new approach to creating high performance
      nursing organizations.

PMID- 1436749
TI  - Shared governance: the leadership challenge.

PMID- 1436750
TI  - Leadership strategies for organizational change: applications in community
      nursing centers.

PMID- 1436751
TI  - Using cooperative decision-making strategies in nursing practice.

PMID- 1436752
TI  - Characteristics of nurse managers in community and metropolitan teaching
      hospitals: a comparative study.

PMID- 1436753
TI  - High dose refractoriness to the neuromuscular toxicity of dithiobiuret in rats.
AB  - Increasing the daily dose of dithiobiuret (DTB) given to rats from 0.5 to 1 to 5
      mg/kg shortened the latency to onset of treadmill failure and associated flaccid
      muscle tone from 7 to 5 to 3 days, respectively. Death generally did not follow
      treadmill failure for at least 2-3 days. After 3 consecutive days of treatment
      with 5 mg/kg, gastrocnemius muscle contractions elicited by high frequency trains
      of nerve stimulation were lower in peak tension and more susceptible to tetanic
      fade (rapid tension decline in tetanus) than were contractions from control rats.
      Conversely, rats given 12 mg/kg of DTB for 3 days did not exhibit treadmill
      failure, flaccid skeletal muscle tone, or tetanic contractile abnormalities.
      Additional treatment with this dose for 2-3 days was required to produce
      treadmill failure which was not accompanied by flaccid muscle tone.
      Refractoriness to development of toxicity with DTB was limited in its spectrum;
      decreased feed and water intake, weight loss, diuresis, dehydration,
      chromodacryorrhea, and production of mucoid feces occurred even in the absence of
      flaccid muscle tone. Tissue distribution of DTB-derived [14C] determined 3 hr
      after injection of [14C]-DTB (12 mg/kg) was largely unaffected by prior treatment
      with unlabeled DTB (12 mg/kg/day x 2 days). Conventional microelectrode recording
      studies using end-plates of extensor digitorum longus muscles indicated that
      abnormalities occurred in quantal release of acetylcholine (ACh) after 5mg/kg/day
      but not 12 mg/kg/day of DTB. Specifically, reduced quantal content, increased
      amplitude and prolonged decay of miniature end-plate potentials were observed.
      The mechanism by which large daily doses overcome or prevent the expected
      development of flaccid muscle tone and depressed release of ACh typically
      associated with treatment with DTB does not involve compensatory increases in
      quantal release of ACh, or altered distribution of the compound.

PMID- 1436754
TI  - Delayed neurotoxicity of trixylenyl phosphate and a trialkyl/aryl phosphate
      mixture, and the modulating effect of atropine on tri-o-tolyl phosphate-induced
      neurotoxicity.
AB  - Two hydraulic fluids, Fyrquel EHC (trixylenyl phosphate) and Reofos 65
      (trialkyl/aryl phosphate mixture), were examined for effects of organophosphorus
      induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN) in hens using the OECD Test Guideline
      (1984). Furthermore, the influence of atropine and the concentration of tri-o
      tolyl phosphate (TOTP) in the oil vehicle on the development of OPIDN were
      investigated. For Fyrquel EHC a neurotoxic effect was demonstrated with single
      oral doses of 5, 10 and 15 g/kg. Reofos 65 caused no clinical neurotoxic effect
      after single oral doses of 5, 10 and 15 g/kg. Redosing at day 22 with Reofos 65
      did not result in clinical delayed neurotoxicity, but minor histopathological
      changes were found in the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Atropine 10 mg/kg im
      delayed the onset of OPIDN caused by TOTP 1 g/kg po without affecting the final
      neurotoxic effect. Dilution of TOTP in large amounts of soybean oil vehicle
      reduced its neurotoxic effect. In conclusion, the neurotoxic potential of the
      hydraulic fluids was very low. The effect of atropine and the concentration of
      the test compound in oil vehicle should be taken into consideration when
      designing experiments on OPIDN.

PMID- 1436755
TI  - Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride alters sensitivity to organophosphorus-induced
      delayed neurotoxicity in developing animals.
AB  - The serine/cysteine hydrolase inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF)
      markedly intensifies the clinical expression of organophosphorus-induced delayed
      neurotoxicity (OPIDN) in adult chickens when administered after organophosphate
      exposure. In this study, we have examined the ability of PMSF post-treatment to
      affect sensitivity to OPIDN in developing animals at ages normally showing
      resistance. Chickens (35, 49 or 70 days of age) were treated with
      diisopropylphosphorofluoridate (DFP, 2 mg/kg, sc) and then treated four hours
      later with PMSF (90 mg/kg, sc) or vehicle only and examined for clinical signs of
      ataxia and incoordination. Chickens treated with DFP alone showed a marked age
      related increase in the severity of motor deficits. Birds treated with DFP
      followed by PMSF showed more extensive clinical deficits relative to those
      treated with DFP only, but relatively similar degrees of motor dysfunction among
      the age groups. Cervical spinal cord samples processed by the Fink-Heimer
      degeneration method indicated that PMSF post-treatment induced more extensive
      axonal degeneration in all age groups relative to treatment with DFP only. As the
      DFP treatment alone caused greater than or equal to 90% inhibition of neurotoxic
      esterase activity (NTE, the putative molecular target site for OPIDN),
      interaction with NTE by PMSF does not appear to be involved in potentiation. We
      hypothesize that PMSF potentiates OPIDN through impairment of a physiological
      process which normally imparts resistance to young animals and which regresses
      during development.

PMID- 1436756
TI  - Functional/metabolic modulation of the brain stem lesions caused by 1,3
      dinitrobenzene in the rat.
AB  - To determine whether neuronal activity plays a role in the localisation of brain
      stem lesions in 1,3-dinitrobenzene intoxication we produced asymmetrical changes
      in auditory input by rupturing the left tympanic membrane in Fischer rats. This
      raised the auditory threshold on that side from 57-63 dB to 104-122 dB. It also
      decreased glucose utilisation in the ipsilateral cochlear nucleus and
      significantly increased utilisation in the contralateral nucleus, resulting in a
      relative deficit of 72 +/- 6%. Similarly, tympanic membrane rupture led to
      decreased glucose utilisation in the contralateral and increased utilisation in
      the ipsilateral inferior colliculus. Additional exposure to "white noise"
      prevented the decrease in glucose utilisation in the contralateral inferior
      colliculus. Dosing with dinitrobenzene (10 mg/kg in 4 doses over 48 hr) to
      otherwise normal rats produces symmetrical vasculonecrotic lesions in these
      regions, but in animals with left tympanic membrane rupture the severity of
      morphological changes in the ipsilateral cochlear nucleus and the contralateral
      inferior colliculus were substantially reduced. Additional exposure to "white
      noise" increased the degree of damage in the ipsilateral cochlear nucleus and
      contralateral inferior colliculus. These findings indicate that altered auditory
      function in rats, with its associated metabolic consequences exercises a
      significant role in the development of brain stem damage in auditory pathways
      following dinitrobenzene intoxication.

PMID- 1436757
TI  - Mitochondrial glutathione and methyl iodide-induced neurotoxicity in primary
      neural cell cultures.
AB  - The status of both cytosolic and mitochondrial glutathione was studied in primary
      cultured cerebrocortical cells from fetal mice using the selective membrane
      solubilizing properties of digitonin and after exposure to the monohalomethane
      methyl iodide. A correlation was found between cell injury (assessed by lactate
      dehydrogenase leakage 24 hr after exposure) and early loss of mitochondrial
      glutathione (2 hr after exposure), while cell death did not appear directly
      dependent on cytosolic glutathione depletion. The antioxidants BW 755C (3-amino-1
      [m-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2-pyrazoline) and DPPD (N,N'-diphenyl-p
      phenylenediamine), and the glutathione precursor N-acetyl-L-cysteine were used to
      modify cellular responses to methyl iodide. Prevention of cell injury by these
      reagents was obtained only under conditions where at least 50% of the normal
      level of mitochondrial glutathione was preserved after methyl iodide exposure.
      Mitochondrial metabolic activity (reduction of 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5
      diphenyltetrazolium bromide, MTT) was affected by exposure to methyl iodide and
      correlated with mitochondrial glutathione depletion and cytotoxicity. These
      findings indicate that the mitochondrial glutathione pool and mitochondrial
      functions may be the most significant intracellular targets of methyl iodide in
      neural cultures. Moreover, the present work exemplifies the dependence of neural
      cell viability on the status of mitochondrial functions and suggests that, as in
      the liver, mitochondrial glutathione is an important component of cellular
      homeostasis in nervous tissue.

PMID- 1436758
TI  - Corticosterone hypersecretion in preweanling rats exposed neonatally to
      trimethyltin.
AB  - Developmental neurotoxicity may be influenced by effects of a compound on
      endocrine function. Here we report that developmental exposure to TMT increases
      the corticosterone (CS) response to stress in developing rat pups. Long-Evans rat
      pups were injected i.p. with either 6 mg/kg TMT hydroxide (in 10 microliters/g BW
      NaCl) or vehicle on Postnatal Day 5 (PND5) or 10 and were then tested for their
      CS response to restraint stress on PND12, 16, or 20. In the stress test, pups
      were maternally deprived in individual compartments of an incubator for 24 hr,
      and then blood sampled by decapitation either immediately (basal), or 30, 60 or
      90 min after the onset of a 15-min period of restraint in a wire-mesh holder.
      Regardless of TMT exposure or age of testing, this procedure produced a peak in
      plasma CS at 30 min which then recovered to basal levels by 90 min. TMT exposure
      on PND5 (Experiment 1) resulted in CS hypersecretion relative to vehicle-injected
      controls on PND12 and 16 but not PND20. TMT exposure on PND10 (Experiment 2) had
      no effect at PND12 but elevated CS over vehicle controls at PND16 and 20. PND15
      exposure to TMT resulted in CS hypersecretion in pups tested on PND20. Neonatal
      organotin exposure appears to alter CS secretion in a manner that is influenced
      by age of exposure and age of testing.

PMID- 1436759
TI  - Effects of trimethyltin on repeated acquisition (learning) in the radial-arm
      maze.
AB  - Trimethyltin (TMT) was used as a positive control neurotoxicant to evaluate a
      repeated acquisition procedure for the 8-arm radial maze. Ten male Long-Evans
      rats were trained to collect a single food pellet at the end of each baited arm
      on each trial of a daily 12-trial test session. Four of the eight arms were
      baited on all trials of a given session. The set of four baited arms was changed
      each day: thus the rats were required to learn a new set of baited arms in each
      session. In trained rats, error frequencies (entries into unbaited arms) declined
      from about 4 on Trial 1 to less than 1 on Trials 4-12 in each session: this
      within-session error reduction thus defined an acquisition baseline which was
      evaluated for its sensitivity to TMT. Learning was impaired after 7 mg/kg (iv)
      TMT, as shown by a slower decline in within-session error frequencies in all
      treated rats. Errors and response times were elevated for 5 weeks after TMT but
      returned to control levels thereafter. Histological examination of hippocampi
      showed damage in all treated rats 18 weeks after treatment; however, no
      significant relationship between degree of damage and behavioral effect was
      observed. Analysis of errors showed that TMT more strongly impaired the rats'
      ability to avoid arms in the current unbaited set than those baited arms already
      entered on a given trial (i.e., working memory). These dissociations between
      behavior and hippocampal morphology in terms of time course, magnitude of effect
      across animals, and error type suggest that performance of this task does not
      depend upon hippocampal integrity, as do other tasks involving spatial working
      memory. Recovery of function in this kind of task may shed light on processes of
      neural plasticity after exposure to neurotoxic compounds.

PMID- 1436760
TI  - Effects of pre- plus postnatal exposure to methylmercury in the monkey on fixed
      interval and discrimination reversal performance.
AB  - Female monkeys were dosed with 0, 10, 25 or 50 micrograms/kg/day of mercury as
      methylmercuric chloride. When blood levels reached equilibrium, females were bred
      to untreated males. A total of 5, 1, 2, and 5 live infants were born in the four
      dose groups, respectively. Infants were separated from their mothers at birth,
      and dosed with the same dose their mothers had received. Maternal blood mercury
      levels averaged 0.33, 0.78, or 1.41 ppm for the three dosed groups respectively.
      Infant blood mercury levels averaged 0.46, 0.93, or 2.66 ppm at birth, and
      decreased slowly to steady state levels of 0.20, 0.25, or 0.60 ppm. Behavior was
      assessed during infancy on a nonspatial discrimination reversal task and fixed
      interval performance, and when monkeys were juveniles on a series of nonspatial
      discrimination reversal tasks. During infancy monkeys were tested 7 days per
      week, 16-21 hr per day in a home-cage environment. As juveniles, they were tested
      five days per week in a standard operant test environment. For the discrimination
      reversal tasks, there were no strong indications of differences between treated
      and control monkeys either as infants or juveniles. Treated monkeys tended to
      perform transiently better than controls when first introduced to the task both
      as infants and juveniles. On the Fl, treated monkeys received more
      reinforcements, and had shorter pauses and lower quarter-life values than control
      monkeys. Analysis of feeding behavior over the session during infancy revealed
      marginally longer periods of feeding in methylmercury-treated infants. These
      results suggest that pre-plus postnatal exposure to methylmercury did not result
      in gross intellectual impairment in these monkeys, but may have interfered with
      temporal discrimination.

PMID- 1436761
TI  - Effects of complexed iron and aluminium on brain calcium.
AB  - Ferric lactate increases Ca(2+)-uptake by Ehrlich carcinoma ascites cells as well
      as in vitro and in vivo Ca(2+)-uptake by the liver. Iron and aluminium are
      increased in the substantia nigra of patients with Parkinson's disease and
      aluminium is suspected to be involved in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's
      disease. This study was conducted to determine if there is any relationship
      between iron and aluminium uptake and a possible calcium influx into brain
      tissue. Groups of Swiss mice were injected in the tail vein with 100 microliters
      of 0.05 M ferric lactate plus 2 microCi45CaCl2, or 100 microliters of 0.05 M
      aluminium lactate plus 2 microCi45CaCl2, or 100 microliters of saline plus 2
      microCi45CaCl2. Twenty-four hr later they were sacrificed by decapitation.
      Samples of blood and the total brain were weighed and ashed. The ashes were
      dissolved and the solution transferred to counting vials evaporated to dryness. A
      scintillation solution was added to the vials and the radioactivity was counted.
      To accurately assess brain uptake in each animal the value of brain specific
      activity was related to blood specific activity. When compared to those of
      control animals, these values gave the 24 hr increase of 45Ca-uptake by brain of
      ferric lactate or aluminium lactate-treated animals. A significant increase of
      45Ca-uptake was observed for ferric lactate (136% of control value, p less than
      0.005), which is more important for aluminium lactate (163% of control value, p
      less than 0.001). The nature of the complexed metal-brain tissue interaction is
      not known, several mechanisms are discussed.

PMID- 1436762
TI  - New dimensions of lead neurotoxicity, redefining mechanisms and effects. 9th
      International Neurotoxicology Conference. Little Rock, Arkansas, October 28-31,
      1991. Abstracts.

PMID- 1436763
TI  - The influence of dietary fat on food intake and body weight.
AB  - Excessive intake of dietary fat is associated with a number of nutrition-related
      disorders, including obesity, heart disease, and cancer. The over-consumption of
      fat may be related to its palatability, high energy density, or physiological
      effects. This article reviews possible reasons why fat intake is high, examines
      the relationship between diet composition and body weight, and explores potential
      fat reduction strategies. It is concluded that low-fat or fat-free products could
      be useful in reducing the percentage of calories derived from fat, although this
      assertion needs to be further tested in controlled laboratory experiments and
      validated on a population basis.

PMID- 1436764
TI  - Low serum retinol is associated with increased severity of measles in New York
      City children.
AB  - Children with no known prior vitamin A deficiency exhibited a significant decline
      in their serum retinol levels during the acute phase of measles. This decline in
      circulating retinol was associated with increased duration of fever, higher
      hospitalization rates, and decreased antibody titers.

PMID- 1436765
TI  - What is the physiological origin of free D-amino acids in mammals?
AB  - A previously unknown metabolite of vitamin B6, tentatively identified as
      adenosine-N6-diethylthioether-N1-pyridoximine-5'-phosphate, accounts for up to
      30% of the total intracellular vitamin B6 observed in tumor cells cultured in the
      presence of radiolabeled pyridoxine. When various animal and human tumor cells
      were incubated with radiolabeled pyridoxine, the formation of this metabolite was
      greatest in rapidly growing cells that were the least differentiated. If
      analytical methods are verified, the presence of the compound in serum may
      provide an indicator of in vivo tumor growth.

PMID- 1436766
TI  - A novel vitamin B6 metabolite may be a circulating marker of cancer.
AB  - A previously unknown metabolite of vitamin B6, tentatively identified as
      adenosine-N6-diethylthioether-N1-pyridoximine-5'- phosphate, accounts for up to
      30% of the total intracellular vitamin B6 observed in tumor cells cultured in the
      presence of radiolabeled pyridoxine. When various animal and human tumor cells
      were incubated with radiolabeled pyridoxine, the formation of this metabolite was
      greatest in rapidly growing cells that were the least differentiated. If
      analytical methods are verified, the presence of the compound in serum may
      provide an indicator of in vivo tumor growth.

PMID- 1436767
TI  - Could food labels be dangerous to health?

PMID- 1436768
TI  - Cooperative relationships between professional societies and the food industry:
      opportunities or problems?
AB  - A variety of cooperative relationships may potentially exist between professional
      or voluntary organizations and food companies: endorsements of food products,
      health messages, or educational and informational materials; certification of
      nutrient components of food products that meet a certain standard of a society;
      and acceptance of food advertising in society publications and the display of
      food products at society meetings. We queried the American Heart Association, the
      Society for Nutrition Education, the American Cancer Society, the American
      Diabetes Association, and the American Dietetic Association about past and
      present policies on these various relationships. Specific examples of cooperative
      relationships are discussed, weighing risks and benefits to the food company, the
      professional or voluntary organization, and the public. Guidelines are suggested
      for professional societies in evaluating different cooperative relationships,
      with the public's health and nutritional well-being as the primary consideration.

PMID- 1436769
TI  - Enterostatin: the pancreatic procolipase activation peptide--a signal for
      regulation of fat intake.

PMID- 1436770
TI  - Food irradiation.

PMID- 1436771
TI  - Alcohol abuse not a proven risk factor for violent behavior.

PMID- 1436772
TI  - Nursing protocol on domestic violence.

PMID- 1436773
TI  - Taking the "cef" out of cephalosporins.

PMID- 1436774
TI  - A case study of radiation-induced coronary disease.

PMID- 1436775
TI  - NP unity and minimum education requirements promote credibility.

PMID- 1436776
TI  - HIV-infected pregnant women and their infants. Primary health care implications.
AB  - Human immunodeficiency virus infection in women and infants is a significant and
      growing health care problem in the United States. Young adult black or Hispanic
      women are at particular risk, especially if they use intravenous drugs or are the
      sexual partner of someone who does. However, acquired immunodeficiency
      syndrome/HIV infection is a significant cause of mortality in women of
      reproductive age (i.e., 15 to 44 years). In addition, the incidence of AIDS in
      infants directly correlates to the incidence of AIDS in childbearing women. HIV
      infected pregnant women need on-going comprehensive prenatal care with a special
      focus on HIV management. Antepartum care should include an HIV-focused history
      and physical examination, as well as additional laboratory assessments to screen
      for viral and bacterial infections. Intrapartum care should focus on avoiding
      contact with infected or potentially infected secretions and body fluids.
      Postpartum care should emphasize development of a comprehensive and integrative
      plan of care for mother, baby and family unit prior to discharge. Avoidance of
      breastfeeding and strategies to prevent further HIV transmission must be
      stressed.

PMID- 1436777
TI  - A guide to primary care of iron-deficiency anemia.
AB  - Iron deficiency, the most common cause of anemia, is prevalent in 10 percent to
      30 percent of the world's population. Inadequate intake of iron may be an
      important causative factor, particularly when the body requires more iron than
      usual (e.g., during infancy, early childhood, adolescence, pregnancy and periods
      of blood loss). The popular increase of fiber in diets may increase the incidence
      of iron-deficiency anemia because too much fiber in the diet renders available
      iron unabsorbable. Symptoms in children include skin or conjunctival pallor,
      excessive sleepiness, learning disabilities, diminished attention span,
      tiredness, irritability or inappropriate behavior, and pica. Adults may have
      shortness of breath, decrease in exercise tolerance, palpitations, tachycardia,
      angina, congestive heart failure, orthopnea and edema. Iron deficiency occurs in
      sequential states and is measured by many laboratory tests. The levels of
      hemoglobin and hematocrit are both decreased, while the red blood cell count may
      be normal initially, but will decrease as the iron-deficiency state continues.
      The steps of treatment include correction of the underlying disorder,
      administration of the amount of iron needed and observation of the response to
      treatment.

PMID- 1436778
TI  - Caring for the patient in pain, Part II.

PMID- 1436779
TI  - Coaching nurses effectively.

PMID- 1436780
TI  - How to take multiple-choice tests.

PMID- 1436782
TI  - The costume party.

PMID- 1436781
TI  - Going for your goals.

PMID- 1436783
TI  - Filling out an incident report.

PMID- 1436784
TI  - Should you be tested for H.I.V.?

PMID- 1436785
TI  - Interpreting white blood cell counts.

PMID- 1436786
TI  - Removing an esophageal obturator airway.

PMID- 1436788
TI  - Chemotherapy certification.

PMID- 1436787
TI  - Helping your patient cope with mitral valve prolapse syndrome.

PMID- 1436789
TI  - Extra tip for discharge planning.

PMID- 1436790
TI  - Assessing complications of P.T.C.A.

PMID- 1436791
TI  - Close-up on Colles' fracture.

PMID- 1436792
TI  - Do you know the value of a non narcotic?

PMID- 1436793
TI  - Mr. Webb had a few reasonable requests ....

PMID- 1436794
TI  - P.I.C.C. & M.L.C. lines. Options worth exploring.

PMID- 1436795
TI  - Would you divulge confidential information about a patient's H.I.V. status?

PMID- 1436796
TI  - Comfort and companionship.

PMID- 1436797
TI  - Tom was a big challenge.

PMID- 1436798
TI  - Tips on teaching the elderly.

PMID- 1436799
TI  - Helping your patient overcome loneliness.

PMID- 1436801
TI  - The many faces of room E-212.

PMID- 1436800
TI  - Using a stationary walker.

PMID- 1436802
TI  - Keeping the faith.

PMID- 1436803
TI  - Guarding against aspiration pneumonia.

PMID- 1436804
TI  - Clotrimazole for vaginal yeast infections.

PMID- 1436805
TI  - Abstracts of the 16th annual meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society. Osaka,
      Japan, December 8-10, 1992.

PMID- 1436806
TI  - The immunization crisis in New York.

PMID- 1436807
TI  - Transesophageal echo: defining the indications.

PMID- 1436808
TI  - Esophageal perforation.

PMID- 1436810
TI  - Extracranial carotid arterial disease: a prognostic factor for atherothrombotic
      brain infarction and cerebral transient ischemic attack.
AB  - A prospective study investigated the prevalence of extracranial carotid arterial
      disease by carotid duplex ultrasonography, and evaluated its correlation with the
      incidence of atherothrombotic brain infarction or cerebral transient ischemic
      attack in 949 patients, mean age 82 +/- 8 years. The mean follow-up period was 45
      months. Of 949 patients, 37 (4%) had 80%-100% extracranial carotid disease (mean
      follow-up, 24 +/- 15 months), 113 (12%) had 40%-80% extracranial carotid disease
      (40 +/- 19 months follow-up), and 799 (84%) had 0%-40% extracranial carotid
      disease (47 +/- 14 months follow-up). The average annual incidence of
      atherothrombotic brain infarction was 37% in patients with 80%-100% extracranial
      carotid disease, 9% in patients with 40%-80% extracranial carotid disease, and 4%
      in patients with 0%-40% extracranial carotid disease. The average annual
      incidence of transient ischemic attack was 3% in patients with 80%-100%
      extracranial carotid disease, 2% in patients with 40%-80% extracranial carotid
      disease, and 1% in patients with 0%-40% extracranial carotid disease. The Cox
      proportional hazard model showed that among the variables evaluated, the severity
      of extracranial carotid disease correlated with the highest relative risk of
      developing atherothrombotic brain infarction (2.5x higher relative risk) or
      transient ischemic attack (2.8x higher relative risk). Patients with an earlier
      atherothrombotic brain infarction had a 2.1x higher probability of developing
      atherothrombotic brain infarction and a 1.9x higher chance of developing
      transient ischemic attack than those without an earlier atherothrombotic brain
      infarction. Age was a prognostic variable for new atherothrombotic brain
      infarction, and male sex was a prognostic variable for new transient ischemic
      attack.

PMID- 1436809
TI  - Pap smear histories in a medical clinic: accuracy of patients' self-reports.
AB  - Women using the medical clinic of a public hospital were interviewed about their
      Pap smear histories to assess the accuracy of self-reported smears and to
      identify groups in need of further screening. Interview data from 263 women were
      compared with cytology files and hospital records. In spite of considerable
      agreement between patient report and record, patients reported significantly more
      recent smears than were documented. Accuracy of recall was not dependent on age
      or birthplace, but on the length of time since the last smear. About half the
      women had been screened within the past two years, whereas one tenth had never
      been screened. Women aged 65 years or older had fewer recent smears than younger
      women, while foreign born women were more likely never to have had a Pap smear
      than were United States born women. We conclude that self-reported information is
      useful in assessing Pap smear histories, but the screening rates that result
      should be treated as high estimates. Significant opportunities for screening
      exist in ambulatory care sites in low-income communities.

PMID- 1436811
TI  - AIDS prevention by needle exchange.

PMID- 1436812
TI  - The experience of an American medical student with an aboriginal community in
      central Australia.

PMID- 1436813
TI  - Leonardo da Vinci's anatomical drawings.

PMID- 1436814
TI  - The story of Lassa fever. Part III: The disease in the community.

PMID- 1436816
TI  - Cervical esophageal perforation--a unique presentation.

PMID- 1436815
TI  - Acute tricuspid valve incompetence secondary to blunt trauma [see comment].

PMID- 1436817
TI  - Diltiazem-induced myoclonus.

PMID- 1436818
TI  - The changing winds.

PMID- 1436819
TI  - The role of third party payors in medical care.

PMID- 1436820
TI  - Pseudoleukemia in a patient with Hodgkin's disease.

PMID- 1436821
TI  - [Request for inquiry into the competence of a nurse].

PMID- 1436822
TI  - [Prenatal diagnosis. Better understanding for better performance].

PMID- 1436823
TI  - [A baccalaureate program conceived for nurses].

PMID- 1436824
TI  - [On the topic of midwives--where do we stand?].

PMID- 1436825
TI  - [The feminist approach and nursing science--a promising alliance].

PMID- 1436826
TI  - From hospital to community: a follow up of community placement of the long term
      mentally ill.
AB  - AIM: To evaluate the planned movement of long stay patients with chronic mental
      disorders from Sunnyside Hospital into staffed residential accommodation in the
      community. METHOD: Sixty-nine long stay psychiatric patients were followed up
      over 18 months to assess their social functioning, psychiatric symptomatology,
      resource use, relapse rate, satisfaction with their care, and impact on the
      community. RESULTS: Social functioning and psychiatric symptomatology scores on
      the social behaviour schedule remained stable overall. Relapse rates were low,
      and rehospitalisation rare. Use of community and area health board resources
      tended to decrease. Over 90% of patient responses indicated satisfaction with
      their new living arrangements. Over 50% reported no contact with outside friends,
      though over the follow up period about 70% maintained at least monthly contact
      with relatives. CONCLUSION: Careful community placement of the long term mentally
      ill, with ongoing supervision, can have a successful outcome from clinical,
      patient and community perspectives.

PMID- 1436827
TI  - Nutritional hassles.

PMID- 1436828
TI  - Consensus on acute asthma management in children. Ad Hoc Paediatric Group.

PMID- 1436829
TI  - The quality of a laboratory test in general practice: the throat swab example.
AB  - AIM: To measure the repeatability, the flow of information, and the data entry
      error of the throat swab test from a suburban general practice. METHOD: A
      prospective study of consecutive patients seen in routine consultation for a sore
      throat as their primary complaint. Repeated throat swabs were taken for each
      patient. Carbon copies of routine laboratory forms were collected. RESULTS: The
      kappa statistic for reproducibility of the throat swab test was 0.63 (95% CI 0.50
      0.77). In 5.8% of patients, one swab was positive and the other negative.
      Information took one day or less to travel to and from the laboratory for 25.7%
      of patients with a beta-haemolytic streptococcal growth compared to the 9.9% of
      patients with no growth (chi 2 = 6.17, p < 0.02). The laboratory received 53% of
      the swabs on the day they were taken. Delays in getting the swabs to the
      laboratory occurred when swabs were taken in the afternoon session or on
      weekends. Monday morning gave the quickest return. Data entry errors were found
      on 15.9% of patient forms. CONCLUSION: The quality of the throat swab test needs
      improvement in the suburban general practice context.

PMID- 1436830
TI  - Clozapine protocol: a collective approach to use of an unregistered medicine.
AB  - We describe a protocol for the use of an unregistered antipsychotic medicine,
      clozapine, in a mental health service. Traditionally, prescribing of unregistered
      medicines has been a matter between prescriber and patient alone. However,
      clozapine carries a high risk of agranulocytosis and its use requires strict
      adherence to monitoring procedures. Persons most likely to benefit from it
      include many who, because of their psychosis, may be unable to give truly
      informed consent or to react appropriately to adverse reactions. We have designed
      a protocol which seeks to ensure that this medicine is given only to those whose
      severity of illness and lack of response to all other reasonable treatment
      outweighs the risk of agranulocytosis, that it is used with maximum safety and
      that only persons who have been shown to benefit from the medicine continue to
      receive it after an initial trial. Although this protocol has been accepted by
      the medical staff, questions of clinical autonomy and liability in the event of
      medical misadventure remain.

PMID- 1436831
TI  - Adult measles in Auckland Hospital, 1991.

PMID- 1436832
TI  - Venesection responsive cardiomyopathy in a patient with idiopathic
      haemochromatosis.

PMID- 1436833
TI  - The portable hyperbaric chamber for the treatment of high altitude illness.

PMID- 1436834
TI  - Vitamin K administration in the newborn: statement by Fetus and Newborn Committee
      of Paediatric Society of New Zealand.

PMID- 1436835
TI  - National Women's and Cherry Farm Hospitals.

PMID- 1436836
TI  - Fenoterol: enough is enough.

PMID- 1436837
TI  - Ondansetron antiemetic therapy for chemotherapy and radiotherapy induced vomiting
      in children.
AB  - AIM: To evaluate ondansetron as the sole antiemetic in children treated with
      emetogenic chemotherapy and irradiation. METHODS: Fifteen children aged 3-11
      years were studied. Seven had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, two acute myeloid
      leukaemia, two lymphoma and four had other tumours. Ondansetron 5 mg/m2 IV or 4
      mg by mouth was given immediately before chemotherapy or radiation treatment and
      continued eight hourly for 24 hours. Nausea and vomiting was assessed during
      treatment and for the next 48 hours, and graded using WHO criteria. RESULTS:
      Thirty-eight courses of chemotherapy were assessed, 27 severely emetogenic and 11
      moderately emetogenic. Two included total body irradiation. The most severe
      nausea and vomiting was grade 2 (transient vomiting) reported in six children.
      Nausea and vomiting was abolished on subsequent courses in four of these children
      by increasing the ondansetron dose frequency to six hourly. The remaining
      children experienced no nausea or vomiting (n = 7) or only nausea (n = 2). Nausea
      and vomiting were each completely controlled in 27 courses. CONCLUSIONS:
      Ondansetron is a cost effective and safe antiemetic in children receiving
      chemotherapy and total body irradiation, minimises weight loss on treatment and
      enables outpatient chemotherapy in some cases.

PMID- 1436838
TI  - Residential care for the long term mentally ill in Canterbury: options, costs and
      funding sources.
AB  - AIMS: To obtain estimates of the costs of the main options of care for the long
      term mentally ill and to compare different approaches to costing. METHOD:
      Resources used by samples of residents in extended hospital care (EC, n = 43),
      community staffed houses (SH, n = 30), boarding houses (BH, n = 43) and group
      homes (GH, n = 100) were identified and costed using both the expenditure and
      total resource concepts of cost estimation. RESULTS: Using the expenditure
      concept of cost SH was the most expensive at $773 per person per week, compared
      to $700 for EC, $189 for BH and $155 for GH. Using the resource cost approach,
      valuing all resources used, SH and EC were similar at $790, compared to $184 and
      $169 for BH and GH care. Nursing was the most costly input with striking
      differences between nursing costs in the four modes of care. CONCLUSIONS: The
      results indicate a gap in the spectrum of residential care options, between high
      and low cost care. Future funding arrangements will require improved linkage
      between needs assessment and resource provision.

PMID- 1436839
TI  - The Cancer Registry: 1991 review report and recent progress.

PMID- 1436840
TI  - Viral hepatitis in the Christchurch community.
AB  - AIM: To determine the relative frequency of known causes of viral hepatitis in
      the Christchurch community. METHODS: Serum samples were collected at a private
      laboratory from patients aged 15-75 years who had an elevated transaminase of at
      least twice normal. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-three subjects entered the
      study of whom 32 were positive for Epstein Barr virus, three for cytomegalovirus,
      nine for hepatitis A virus, and eight for hepatitis B virus. Paired convalescent
      samples were obtained from 64 of the remaining 81 subjects (17 lost or declined)
      and seven of these were positive for hepatitis C. Assuming a similar percentage
      in the lost/declined group this corrects to nine. CONCLUSION: The relative
      frequency of viral agents causing hepatitis was Epstein Barr virus 52%,
      cytomegalovirus 5%, hepatitis A virus 15%, hepatitis B virus 13% and hepatitis C
      virus 15%. Hepatitis C virus is a common cause of viral hepatitis in the
      Christchurch community.

PMID- 1436841
TI  - Immunisation status of children in the eastern Bay of Plenty.
AB  - AIM: To assess the status of immunisation of children in the eastern Bay of
      Plenty. METHOD: Survey of general practitioner records and case notes of all
      resident children born over a period of two years and aged from five to 29
      months. Immunisation was considered up to date if received within a reasonable
      period of the expected time. RESULTS: One thousand five hundred and ninety-three
      children were studied (97% of those known to be resident). The six week
      immunisations were received by 91%, 88% received the three month, and 81% the
      five month vaccines. Delivery of second year immunisation was much less
      successful, only 72% receiving measles or MMR vaccine despite publicity about a
      current measles epidemic and 61% the eighteen month vaccines. CONCLUSION: Forty
      three percent children of two years of age had not received the full recommended
      immunisation schedule. Some of the contributing factors were identified and
      measures that could improve immunisation uptake are discussed.

PMID- 1436842
TI  - The effect of emergency department policy change on Hutt district general
      practices.
AB  - AIM: To determine the impact of the new Hutt Hospital emergency care policy as
      perceived by general practitioners and measure the level of general practitioner
      emergency services provided. METHOD: Postal survey one year after policy
      instituted of Hutt district general practitioners. RESULTS: Sixty-three general
      practitioners replied (93% response). Eighty-one percent of general practitioners
      were in favour of the new policy or wanted it extended further, although 79% had
      noticed a slight increase in patient numbers. Most surgeries were less than 10 km
      from the hospital, 44% had one general practitioner, 38% had no practice nurse,
      84% were staffed between 40-59 hours a week. No practice had staff on the
      premises between the night time hours of 8 pm and 8 am but all had after hours
      cover by telephone. Most practices were equipped to manage at least some
      emergency conditions: all had peak flow meters, 94% had nebulisers, 69% oxygen
      cylinders, and 47% had an ECG machine. Only two practices had slit lamps and
      plaster of paris facilities, and one a defibrillation machine. Almost all general
      practitioners suture wounds, strap ankles, and most treat fractures and pack
      noses. Seventy-five percent of general practitioners expressed a need for better
      communication with the Hutt Hospital emergency department. CONCLUSION: A general
      acceptance of the policy change by Hutt general practitioners although more
      research is needed to determine the impact of this change on patients.

PMID- 1436843
TI  - Management of unstable angina by the general practitioner, II. Issues in
      management.

PMID- 1436844
TI  - Anaesthesia in small hospitals.

PMID- 1436846
TI  - Mandatory reporting of child abuse.

PMID- 1436845
TI  - Laryngeal cancer in New Zealand.

PMID- 1436847
TI  - Screening for noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose
      tolerance in a Dunedin general practice--is it worth it?

PMID- 1436848
TI  - The Drug Tariff and crime.

PMID- 1436849
TI  - Diabetes-inpatient utilisation, costs and data validity, Dunedin 1985-9.

PMID- 1436850
TI  - Group Against Liquor Advertising (GALA)

PMID- 1436851
TI  - Sexual orientation versus sexual behaviour.

PMID- 1436852
TI  - Core health services.

PMID- 1436853
TI  - Meningococcal disease 1992.

PMID- 1436854
TI  - Pamidronate use in two cases of hypercalcaemia secondary to hyperparathyroidism.

PMID- 1436855
TI  - Ceftriaxone for paediatric bacterial meningitis: a report of 62 children and a
      review of the literature.
AB  - AIM: The purpose of this prospective study was to document the efficacy of
      ceftriaxone in the treatment of childhood bacterial meningitis in a general
      paediatric unit. METHODS: All children presenting with bacterial meningitis to
      Christchurch Hospital between January 1987 and June 1991 were enrolled in this
      prospective study and received ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg/d for seven days. Outcome
      was defined by parameters including mean time to fever defervescence, prolonged
      fever, days in hospital, seizures, and other acute neurological sequelae,
      requirement for ventilation, mortality and morbidity. Audiology was performed at
      six weeks and again at three months if abnormal. Neurodevelopmental assessment
      was performed at three months. Side effects were recorded. RESULTS: There were 62
      evaluable children. The mortality rate was 4.8% (3 children). Two children (3.4%)
      had clinically detectable neurological sequelae at the three month assessment.
      The mean duration of stay was 8.7 nights. Five children (8%) required
      ventilation. Mild self limiting diarrhoea occurred in 29%. CONCLUSIONS:
      Ceftriaxone is an effective, safe and well tolerated antimicrobial for the
      treatment of childhood meningitis. It compares favourably with other equipotent
      antimicrobials. With a relatively long half life once daily administration is
      possible with a cost advantage.

PMID- 1436856
TI  - Sexually transmitted diseases amongst a sample of people seeking HIV testing.
AB  - AIMS: To examine the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases according to
      gender, age, sexual orientation, sexual behaviour and drug use. METHODS: Data
      were collected from 814 clients attending anonymously for HIV testing at the
      Burnett Centre in Auckland. During pretest counselling clients were asked
      questions designed to assess their risk of HIV infection including a detailed
      history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). RESULTS: Amongst attenders 44%
      reported at least one lifetime STD including 16% reporting more than one.
      Multiple STDs were not associated with gender or sexual orientation but they were
      associated with the practice of anal sex and with a history of multiple sex
      partners. Alcohol and drug use were also related to multiple STDs. For men the
      most common STD was NSU with 20% of them reporting it whereas for women genital
      warts was the most common reported by 18%. Amongst those under 20 years 9%
      reported genital warts, 7% NSU and 6% chlamydia. CONCLUSIONS: The findings
      confirm that it is sexual practices which put people at risk of infection from
      STDs rather than their sexual orientation. They also draw attention to the role
      that drugs and alcohol play in the practice of unsafe sex and the consequent
      transmission of STDs. Finally they suggest that screening for STDs as well as HIV
      in AIDS clinics should be encouraged.

PMID- 1436857
TI  - New inflammatory mediators and therapeutic agents: cytokines in rheumatoid
      arthritis.

PMID- 1436858
TI  - Child passenger fatalities and restraint use in Auckland.
AB  - AIMS: To determine the proportion of children killed as passengers in car crashes
      who were unrestrained and to estimate the reduction in mortality that might
      result from increasing child restraint utilisation. METHODS: All children killed
      as passengers in car crashes, over the period 1980-90, were identified from the
      Auckland coroners records. Data were recorded on sex, age, use and type of
      restraint, position within the motor vehicle, pattern of injuries and place of
      death. RESULTS: There were 49 children (25 male, 24 female) killed as passengers
      in car crashes over the study period (2.14/100,000/year). The median age was
      eight years (range 0-14 years). Of the 38 children for whom restraint use could
      be determined, 31 (81.6%) were unrestrained and seven (18.4%) were restrained.
      None of the children aged 0-2 years were restrained. Thirty-five children (71.4%)
      died at the scene of the crash, three (6.2%) died during transport to hospital,
      and 11 (22.4%) died in hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Based on overseas reports of the
      efficacy of child restraints, close to half (49%) of all child passenger deaths
      in Auckland could have been prevented with appropriate child restraint use.

PMID- 1436859
TI  - Elderly people referred for institutional care--is prior assessment necessary?
AB  - AIMS: To determine whether requests for placement of an elderly person into rest
      home or hospital care accurately predicted the final outcome and to identify
      factors influencing a move to institutional care. METHODS: Three month audit of
      all referrals to an assessment and rehabilitation unit for the elderly requesting
      rest home or hospital placement. Requests for medical advice or rehabilitation
      were excluded. RESULTS: Two hundred patients were studied (24.6% of all
      referrals). Placement was requested in a rest home in 132 and hospital in 68.
      Seventy-one (54%) patients referred for rest home placement were able to return
      to their own home and 64 remained there at six month follow-up. Hospital level
      care was assessed as appropriate in 62% of requests for this initially and at six
      month follow up. Age and diagnosis were not significant predictors of patients
      requiring placement. Overall, of 158 patients living at home referred for rest
      home or hospital care, 67 (42%) were managing at home six months later.
      CONCLUSION: Accurate assessment and treatment/management of elderly patients is
      necessary before recommending higher levels of care. Patients can be maintained
      in their current environment for longer than perceived by the referring doctor.
      This has important social and financial benefits.

PMID- 1436860
TI  - Do access factors affect utilisation of general practitioner services in south
      Auckland?
AB  - AIMS: To describe basic features of access to general practitioner services in
      south Auckland, and to examine the effect of different factors on utilisation of
      general practitioner services with particular attention to access issues.
      METHODS: A random population survey of relatively established residents was
      undertaken with the sample drawn from electoral rolls. A questionnaire was
      administered face-to-face by trained interviewers. RESULTS: Ninety-eight percent
      of respondents claimed to have a regular family doctor. The median travelling
      time to a respondent's general practitioner was 10 minutes. Ninety-five percent
      of respondents' general practitioners operated appointment systems. The median
      waiting time was 20 minutes, 30% felt the doctors fees stopped them going to the
      doctor sometimes. The average reported visiting rate was 6.9 visits per year.
      Poor perceived health, longer times with a given doctor and long waiting times
      were associated with decreased utilisation. Demographic factors were not
      associated with utilisation. Patient fees were not associated with utilisation in
      the sample. Only 23% of the variation in utilisation could be explained by the
      model. CONCLUSIONS: Long waiting times are associated with decreased utilisation
      in this population. Although there is significant dissatisfaction with general
      practitioner fees, this does not manifest itself in decreased utilisation. Only a
      small proportion of the variation in utilisation can be explained by linear
      models of the variables studied.

PMID- 1436861
TI  - Air cushion mower foot injuries.
AB  - AIMS: This study was undertaken to identify significant physical, social and
      psychological problems resulting from injuries caused to the feet by air cushion
      mowers. METHODS: Thirty-four patients seen with air cushion mower injuries were
      reviewed, either by personal assessment, or by questionnaire. RESULTS: A large
      number of patients had significant symptoms relating to their soft tissue or bone
      injuries, the majority experiencing some pain, and those who had amputations
      difficulty in some aspects of walking. CONCLUSIONS: Better education of the
      dangers of the misuse of these mowers may reduce the incidence of significant
      forefoot injuries.

PMID- 1436863
TI  - Health expenditure and the health reforms--a comment.

PMID- 1436862
TI  - Unknown immunodeficiency state: case report.

PMID- 1436864
TI  - Acute otitis media and facial palsy.

PMID- 1436865
TI  - Blood stored in operating theatres.

PMID- 1436866
TI  - Late haemothorax after oral vitamin K.

PMID- 1436867
TI  - Triazolam.

PMID- 1436869
TI  - Glutaraldehyde in general practice.

PMID- 1436868
TI  - Accountability and the health reforms.

PMID- 1436870
TI  - Reporting of child abuse and neglect.

PMID- 1436872
TI  - Increase in selenium status of Christchurch adults associated with deregulation
      of the wheat market.
AB  - AIMS: to determine whether there have been changes in the plasma selenium status
      of Christchurch adults between 1981 and 1992, and likely causes of any such
      changes. METHOD: selenium analyses were performed on plasma samples collected
      during the period. Changes in agricultural practices and importation policies
      were also examined. RESULTS: mean plasma selenium levels ranged between 46 and 54
      micrograms/L (0.59-0.69 mumol/L) until 1987, after which there was a dramatic and
      sustained increase to between 66 and 70 micrograms/L (0.84-0.88 mumol/L) for 1988
      91, with a 1992 mean of 80 micrograms/L (1.01 mumol/L). This increase closely
      follows the deregulation of the New Zealand wheat market and greater South Island
      consumption of wheat imported from Australia and the United States. Whereas flour
      was made from South Island wheat prior to 1988 and contained about 15
      micrograms/kg selenium, flour manufactured by Christchurch mills in 1991
      contained between 80 and 140 micrograms/kg. CONCLUSIONS: these results imply that
      as a result of current government policy, the population of Christchurch no
      longer has particularly low selenium levels. It follows that if there is an
      association between low selenium and any form of ill health, a declining
      incidence or severity in this population might be expected.

PMID- 1436871
TI  - Incidence of cancer among Pacific Island people in New Zealand.
AB  - AIM: to describe the epidemiology of new cancer registrations among Pacific
      Island people in New Zealand with a view to identifying important cancers for
      preventive activities. METHODS: new cancer cases registered with the New Zealand
      Cancer Registry of the Health Statistical Services for the decade 1979-88 were
      analysed. Cancer cases among Pacific Island people were compared with cancer
      cases among Maori and the remainder of the New Zealand population (other).
      RESULTS: while the number of cases reported among Pacific Island people was
      relatively small (1884), age standardised rates for cancer of all sites were much
      higher than age standardised rates for Maori and other populations. The age
      standardised rate (per 100,000 person years) for cancer of all sites among males
      in all age groups was 400 for Pacific Island, 308.8 for Maori and 295.3 for
      others. The age standardised rate for cancer of all sites among women in all age
      groups was 373.3 for Pacific Island women, 324.2 for Maori and 313.4 for other
      women. Liver cancer was more common among Pacific Island men than could be
      explained by temporary migration from the Pacific Islands for treatment. The age
      standardised rate for liver cancer was 28.2 for Pacific Island men, 11.4 for
      Maori and 1.9 for other men. Cancer of the cervix was the leading site among
      Pacific Island women as in Maori women, compared with breast cancer among women
      in the rest of the population. The age standardised rate for cervical cancer was
      61.8 for Pacific Island, 69.0 for Maori and 59.3 for other women. CONCLUSION: in
      the decade 1979-88 there was an excess number of new registrations for some
      cancers described among Pacific Island people compared with Maori and other
      ethnic groups. Temporary migration from the Pacific Islands for treatment may
      explain some of the excess cases.

PMID- 1436873
TI  - Asthma in Maori people.

PMID- 1436874
TI  - Autologous blood transfusion in Auckland.
AB  - AIMS: To review autologous blood collection and transfusion practice in Auckland
      over the last five years. METHOD: Records of autologous blood collections were
      obtained from blood collection centre records and results of transfusions on
      patients from hospital notes. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-four units of blood
      were collected from 77 patients. Seventy-five percent of the units collected were
      transfused. Most autologous blood was transfused to private hospital patients.
      Only 8% of patients required homologous blood. CONCLUSIONS: There has been a slow
      increase of autologous blood collection and transfusion in the Auckland area, as
      well as in the rest of New Zealand. The present risks of homologous transfusion,
      particularly since the introduction of hepatitis C testing, appear very low. A
      further expansion of the present autologous blood programme would entail
      increased expenditure and it is suggested that a critical cost benefit analysis
      would be useful before the programme is expanded.

PMID- 1436875
TI  - The bequest of human bodies for dissection: a case study in the Otago Medical
      School.
AB  - AIMS: To explore why and by whom body bequests to the Otago Medical School have
      been made since the 1960s. METHODS: We sent out a questionnaire to people who
      have bequeathed their bodies to the medical school, the people being randomly
      selected on the basis of the inclusion of the initial J in a forename. The
      questionnaire sought information on sex, marital status, age, occupation at the
      time of bequest and bequest information source, as well as reasons for the
      bequest, expectations of cadaver use and attitudes towards organ donation.
      RESULTS: The most common reasons for making a bequest were--to aid medical
      science, and gratitude to the medical profession. There was, however, widespread
      confusion between cadaver use for medical teaching and for research. CONCLUSIONS:
      These center around the ethical implications of our findings for organ donation
      and attitudes towards usage of the dead body.

PMID- 1436876
TI  - Severe Guillain-Barre syndrome during childhood responding to intravenous
      gammaglobulin.

PMID- 1436877
TI  - Initial warfarin treatment in hospital--room for less caution? A twelve month
      prospective audit.

PMID- 1436878
TI  - Sunscreens--a guide to their use.

PMID- 1436879
TI  - Dietary selenium.

PMID- 1436880
TI  - Dietary selenium.

PMID- 1436881
TI  - Health reforms.

PMID- 1436882
TI  - Streptokinase and low back pain.

PMID- 1436883
TI  - That blood pressure reading--a general practitioner who became a patient.

PMID- 1436884
TI  - Fats and melanoma.

PMID- 1436885
TI  - Isoprenaline infusion and right ventricular pacing in severe diltiazem poisoning.

PMID- 1436886
TI  - Medical residency in the USA.

PMID- 1436887
TI  - Planning is key to successful retirement.

PMID- 1436888
TI  - Council on Dental Care Programs forms committees to help resolve third-party
      problems.

PMID- 1436889
TI  - Financing oral health care. Can dentistry diversify the portfolio?
AB  - One of the easiest ways to measure socioeconomic status in 20th-century America
      is to look in the mouth. Socioeconomic status is directly related to access to
      oral health care. And access to oral health care is directly related to financing
      oral health care.

PMID- 1436890
TI  - Dental practices in New York State counties in the 1980s.
AB  - The number of dental practices, population per dental practice, dental employees
      and employee salaries in New York State counties changed during the 1980s. The
      following is a review of these developments.

PMID- 1436891
TI  - Galvanic corrosion of Class II amalgam restorations in contact with orthodontic
      brackets/bands.

PMID- 1436892
TI  - Fathers and sons. Practices not necessarily made in heaven.
AB  - Partnerships result in many pluses to a dental practice. Interpersonal
      relationships result in many minuses to the partners' rapport. This is magnified
      manyfold when the relationship is father and son. This article attempts to
      resolve some of the problems.

PMID- 1436893
TI  - Dental fellowships in developmental disabilities help broaden care of disabled.
AB  - Continuation of the national trend toward deinstitutionalization and community
      placement for persons with developmental disabilities, physical handicaps and
      other medical problems will mean increased demand for dentists trained to care
      for this segment of the population. The New York State Office of Mental
      Retardation and Developmental Disabilities now offers dental fellowships in
      developmental disabilities to help fill the learning gap.

PMID- 1436894
TI  - Clarification offered.

PMID- 1436895
TI  - The single compartment model applied to the large renal pelvis: a preliminary
      study.
AB  - Diuresis renography should exclude or confirm pelvi-ureteric junction
      obstruction. Numerous equivocal cases seen here had large renal pelves with slow
      emptying on frusemide diuresis. An attempt was made to relate the rate of
      emptying to the volume of the renal pelvis. The fully distended renal pelvis
      during frusemide diuresis appears to satisfy the criteria of the single
      compartmental model which predicts a linear relationship between volume and flow
      rate, i.e. F = [0.693 V0]/t1/2 where F is the flow rate, V0 is the volume and
      t1/2 the time at which half the tracer has disappeared. Clearance half-time was
      measured from the diuresis renogram curve. Volume was estimated from a
      longitudinal ultrasound image at the end of the procedure, using a volumetric
      version of Simpson's rule as a sequential slice technique, given a roughly
      circular transverse image. Of 18 kidneys in 14 adult patients, three had large
      volume pelves and short emptying times. The remaining 15 showed a roughly linear
      relationship between volume as estimated and clearance half-time. This appears to
      validate both the theory and the method and permits calculation of the pelvic
      outflow rate. An hypothesis to explain the large unobstructed renal pelvis is
      advanced.

PMID- 1436896
TI  - The effect of captopril on glucoheptonate uptake in experimental renal artery
      stenosis.
AB  - This study attempted to evaluate the role of glucoheptonate (GHA) in captopril
      renography in an in vivo laboratory investigation in which postcaptopril
      glucoheptonate uptake was analysed in awake 2KlC hypertensive rats. Clamped
      kidney uptake in a previous study was greater in the poststenotic kidney than in
      the normal kidney (P = 0.01) in rats with mild renal artery stenosis. A
      glucoheptonate renogram protocol was developed for use in rats anaesthetized with
      sodium pentobarbital. An 123I-hippuran scan was performed to determine the
      relative renal function, followed by a control 99Tcm-GHA scan. Five minutes after
      administering captopril, another 99Tcm-GHA scan was performed. Relative renal
      uptake was determined between 30 and 90 s postinjection. 99Tcm-GHA uptake in the
      clamped kidney was more than 50% of total uptake in 3/9 of the abnormal rats'
      control scans. No abnormal rats clamped kidney 99Tcm-GHA uptake was greater than
      50% in the postcaptopril scans. Captopril reduced GHA uptake in all nine of the
      animals with baseline scans. These findings suggest that the laboratory
      observation of captopril induced paradoxically increased 99Tcm-GHA uptake in
      renal artery stenosis may not be observed scintirenographically. Moreover, the
      data support a potential value of glucoheptonate in captopril renography.

PMID- 1436897
TI  - Further characterization of iodide-induced hyperthyroidism based on the direct
      measurement of intrathyroidal iodine stores.
AB  - Clinical, scintigraphic and laboratory findings in a group of 23 hyperthyroid
      patients with inappropriate total intrathyroidal iodine pool (ITI), measured by X
      ray fluorescence, were compared to those of 25 hyperthyroid patients with low
      ITI. Differences are discussed which may be useful in the diagnosis of this
      clinical entity.

PMID- 1436898
TI  - A reconstitution protocol for Ceretec.

PMID- 1436899
TI  - Radionuclides and the investigation of peripheral vascular disease.

PMID- 1436900
TI  - Challenges for nuclear medicine in the 1990s.
AB  - This article discusses the problems facing nuclear medicine in the coming decade
      and outlines the areas in which new developments or expansion can be expected.
      The questions considered include legislative requirements, the need to educate
      the public and the medical profession on the strengths of nuclear medicine,
      approaches to cost-benefit analysis, and development of new technologies and new
      radiopharmaceuticals. There is also an evaluation of expansion in nuclear
      medicine using both existing methodology and new methodologies.

PMID- 1436901
TI  - The use of a new radiopharmaceutical, 97Ru-DISIDA, and of 99Tcm-sulphur colloid
      for the simultaneous evaluation of duodenogastric reflux and gastric emptying.
AB  - There is no consensus or a uniform technique for measuring gastric emptying and
      numerous modalities have been reported. We report here the results obtained using
      a modification of the published techniques for the simultaneous measurement of
      duodenogastric reflux and gastric emptying utilizing simultaneously the recently
      developed radiopharmaceutical 97Ru-DISIDA, intravenously, and the oral
      administration of 99Tcm-sulphur colloid incorporated in a 'solid' test meal.

PMID- 1436902
TI  - Venous thrombosis: a controlled study on the performance of scintigraphy with
      99Tcm-HMPAO-labelled platelets versus venography.
AB  - Thirty-three patients with symptoms and signs of a deep venous thrombosis (DVT)
      were examined by contrast venography and radionuclide imaging with 99Tcm
      hexamethylpropyleneamineoxime (99Tcm-HMPAO)-labelled autologous platelets. There
      were 13 patients on heparin therapy and 20 without anticoagulation during the
      scintigraphy. Scintigraphy consisted of blood pool imaging at 5 to 20 min and
      accumulation imaging at 2, 4-6 and 18-24 h. In scintigraphy a positive finding
      was either a defect of radioactivity in the immediate blood pool phase or a hot
      spot indicative of accumulation of platelets in later phases. Fifteen out of 23
      patients positive by venography were also positive by scintigraphy. Five of the
      eight false negative patients were on heparin treatment, two probably had DVT
      which were not quite fresh. The venography negative patients were also negative
      on scintigraphy. Nine out of 12 patients without anticoagulation had positive
      platelet accumulation compared with two out of 11 patients on heparin therapy.
      This difference was statistically significant (P less than 0.025). The
      sensitivity and specificity of platelet scintigraphy were 65 and 100%,
      respectively, in all patients and 83 and 100% in patients without
      anticoagulation. Our results suggest that scintigraphy with 99Tcm-HMPAO-labelled
      platelets is a useful alternative in diagnosing DVT in patients in whom a
      standard contrast X-ray venograph is contraindicated or otherwise unsuccessful.

PMID- 1436903
TI  - Diagnosis of venous thrombosis in the legs using 81Krm venography.
AB  - Contrast venography, the accepted gold standard for the diagnosis of venous
      thrombosis of the leg, is a painful and invasive procedure with late side
      effects. There is controversy in literature reports about the sensitivity of
      99Tcm-macroaggregated albumin (MAA) phlebography: indeed, using 99Tcm-MAA, poor
      results are obtained when one has to detect calf vein thrombosis. As with other
      isotopic procedures requiring a pedal injection of the tracer, the use of an
      injectable solution of 81Krm is a nonspecific method, based upon the abnormality
      in flow in the deep venous system which results from a deep venous thrombosis.
      However, when compared with 99Tcm-MAA, 81Krm offers theoretical advantages for
      phlebographic studies of the lower limbs. In this work 24 patients were studied
      both with contrast phlebography and with 81Krm. Although 81Krm provided images of
      high quality, there was a lack of sensitivity below the knee, where false
      negative results were observed. This could be explained by the fact that the
      radionuclide venographic procedures usually visualize only one or, in some cases,
      two of the three deep veins of the calf. Moreover, accurate differentiation
      between superficial and deep veins in the calf often appears difficult, even
      using a tourniquet.

PMID- 1436904
TI  - Fate of isopropyl-iodoamphetamine (IMP) in rat liver microsomes.
AB  - Para-iodoamphetamines are currently used in nuclear medicine to detect brain
      perfusion abnormalities with tomoscintigraphy. Little is known about their
      metabolism pathways in rat and humans. N-isopropyl-125I-iodoamphetamine (IMP)
      interactions were studied with rat liver microsomes. The first dealkylated
      metabolite (IAMP) at low concentration gave a type I binding complex then, with a
      high concentration, a very stable type II complex with oxidized cytochrome P-450
      FeIII. In contrast, IMP only gave a type I binding complex in the absence of
      NADPH. In the presence of NADPH, IAMP and IMP produced 455 nm absorbing
      complexes, which were enhanced when phenobarbital-treated rat liver microsomes
      were used. During in vitro metabolic activation, covalent binding of IMP and IAMP
      on rat liver microsomal proteins was observed. This process was mixed function
      oxidase (MFO) dependent. The covalent binding level was higher with IAMP and was
      not affected by flavine oxidase inhibitors. These results confirm the interaction
      of IMP and IAMP with microsome proteins and cytochrome P-450 and suggest that an
      N-oxidation of IMP occurs after N-dealkylation. As cytochrome P-450 and
      dealkylated IMP (IAMP) were found in brain, cerebral metabolism in brain and
      evolution of activity biodistribution with the course of time can be suggested.

PMID- 1436905
TI  - A review of the literature on nonsurgical treatment in tubal pregnancies.
AB  - In some cases tubal pregnancy resolves spontaneously. The risk of subsequent
      surgical intervention due to either tubal rupture or the entry criteria of the
      study varies from 0 per cent to 31 per cent. The major problem in nonsurgical
      treatment of tubal pregnancy is the absence of a parameter that reveals the
      threat of tubal rupture. In addition, data on the functional recovery of the
      fallopian tube are controversial. The scarcity of data on medical treatment with
      RU486, glucose 50 per cent, KCL, and actinomycin-D make proper evaluation
      impossible. Both MTX and prostaglandin treatment should be investigated further.
      Compiled data on prostaglandin treatment in cases of unruptured tubal pregnancy
      do not show better results than data on expectant management only. If, however,
      patients with initial serum hCG levels greater than 1000 mIU/ml or greater than
      2500 mIU/ml are excluded from this therapy, the risk of tubal rupture diminishes.
      Side effects are minimal, especially if injection into the corpus luteum is
      omitted. Compiled data on MTX treatment in cases of unruptured tubal pregnancy
      show a crude risk of subsequent surgical intervention of 5 per cent. If patients
      with an initial serum hCG level exceeding 10,000 mIU/ml are excluded, the risk of
      tubal rupture is limited to 3 per cent. (The estimated risk of persistent
      trophoblastic activity after conservative surgical therapy is also 5 per cent.)
      Studies on the optimum MTX dosage, treatment scheme, and method of administration
      are still going on. Side effects are reversible and minimal. Theoretically, the
      local injection of MTX is more effective. Although often used to propagate a new
      way of treatment, fertility in the future is a questionable parameter in the
      evaluation of therapy. Fertility is influenced by so many factors other than the
      method of treatment that it can only be used for treatment evaluation in a case
      control or a randomized prospective study. Such a study has yet to be published.
      Besides the influence on future fertility, other results of treatment, such as
      morbidity, cost, and length of hospital stay should be taken into account.

PMID- 1436906
TI  - The new era in oral contraception: pills containing gestodene, norgestimate, and
      desogestrel.
AB  - The latest advance in the 30-year evolution of oral contraceptives (OCs) is the
      development of three new progestogens: desogestrel, norgestimate, and gestodene.
      These three new agents are derivatives of levonorgestrel, a gonane hormone, and
      have been used to develop pills that provide effective pregnancy prevention at
      lower doses than oral contraceptives using the older steroids. Desogestrel is a
      prohormone that must first be metabolized into its biologically active form.
      Norgestimate is already active, but it will be metabolized in part to
      levonorgestrel. Gestodene is biologically active in its native form. Among the
      improvements in metabolic parameters seen with this new generation of
      progestogens are a lack of impact on blood pressure, a balanced effect on
      coagulation, and a reduced impact on carbohydrate metabolism compared with
      earlier, higher-dose formulations. The new pills also seem to produce no negative
      effects on lipid and lipoprotein biosynthesis, and perhaps even improve the ratio
      of low-density lipoprotein to high-density lipoprotein. Cycle control with all
      three progestogens is improved, with much lower incidence of intermenstrual
      bleeding (IMB). Efficacy is as good as with other OCs. Another benefit of the new
      low-dose progestogens, however, is the low incidence of minor side effects
      observed in women using these contraceptives. Low incidences of weight gain,
      headache, and nausea were reported, and the dropout rate because of side effects
      was low in both international and US trials. Serious side effects are rarely seen
      with pills containing the new progestogens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1436907
TI  - Cumulative Subject and Author Index. 1988-1992.

PMID- 1436908
TI  - Assessment of the fallopian tube.

PMID- 1436909
TI  - Review of the endometrial effects of estrogens and progestins.
AB  - Several controversial areas have been reviewed. It would seem from the evidence
      at hand that progression from endometrial hyperplasia to endometrial carcinoma
      does occur in a significant percentage of women and that endometrial hyperplasia,
      particularly adenomatous hyperplasia and atypical hyperplasia, must be regarded
      as premalignant changes. Gambrell believes that all stages of hyperplasia should
      be regarded as premalignant. Previous and retrospective studies provide evidence
      implicating estrogens in the causation of both endometrial hyperplasia and
      endometrial carcinoma. Although some of these studies may have design flaws, the
      amount of data is substantial. Prospective studies have demonstrated an increased
      risk of hyperplasia in women treated with estrogens. An increased risk of
      endometrial carcinoma in estrogen users compared with nonusers has been suggested
      even more recently. Reviewed as a whole, the cumulative evidence provided by
      these studies clearly supports this association, and it would appear the only
      issue left to resolve may be the magnitude of the association. Cyclic
      administration of estrogens may decrease the risk of development of endometrial
      carcinoma. It would seem, however, that such administration does not totally
      eliminate risk under any circumstances, and in fact, a dose-related relationship
      appears to persist. It seems well established that progestogens do decrease the
      risk of both endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma associated with
      the administration of estrogen to peri- and postmenopausal women. Such reduction
      in risk is significant and lower relative risks in estrogen/progestogen treated
      women have been reported compared to untreated women. This reduction in risk has
      been reported in a variety of studies. Whitehead and co-workers have provided a
      clear biochemical mechanism for progestogen protection of the endometrium in the
      antagonism of estrogen at the endometrial cellular level. The evidence at hand in
      the literature would suggest that progestogens should be administered for at
      least 10 days per cycle. In summary, there is good evidence that the addition of
      a progestin to estrogen therapy prescribed for the symptoms of menopause provides
      protection from endometrial hyperplasia and related carcinoma. The protection
      conferred is greater than that afforded by cyclical estrogen-alone therapy, and
      allows for continuous therapy, hereby providing greater symptomatic relief. There
      is little evidence for adverse effects caused by the added progestins, but
      further studies of women on combined therapy will undoubtedly be warranted.

PMID- 1436910
TI  - Back to school with computers.

PMID- 1436912
TI  - Designing a computer-display shoot-out.

PMID- 1436911
TI  - Students and faculty benefit from interactive audio.

PMID- 1436913
TI  - Repurposing IVD to teach quality improvement.

PMID- 1436914
TI  - Labor and industry should cooperate to reduce the ergonomic injury rate.

PMID- 1436915
TI  - Health industry adjusts to specifics of bloodborne pathogens exposure rule.

PMID- 1436916
TI  - Body at work.

PMID- 1436917
TI  - Ergonomics: diagnosis and treatment for ailing workplace performance.

PMID- 1436918
TI  - Comprehensive eyewear programs maintain worker vision protection.

PMID- 1436919
TI  - Successful noise abatement program relies on engineering controls.

PMID- 1436920
TI  - Responders: levels and logic of respirators.

PMID- 1436921
TI  - Host defenses and bacterial resistance.
AB  - The amount of knowledge and understanding about the human immune system has
      expanded rapidly in the past several decades. The ability of the physician to
      care for pregnant women, specifically those with infectious diseases, can be
      enhanced through a basic understanding of host defenses and the normal
      alterations of these defenses encountered during pregnancy. A general
      understanding of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents will also aid the
      practitioner in selecting the appropriate setting and agent when prescribing
      these drugs.

PMID- 1436922
TI  - The penicillins.
AB  - The penicillins have played a major role in the treatment of many obstetric and
      gynecologic infections. The advent of the newer broad-spectrum penicillins has
      allowed their use as single-agent therapy for certain infections. Although
      toxicity is extremely low, disadvantages of their use include superinfection and
      induction of resistance. The cost of therapy is comparable with other antibiotics
      with similar coverage.

PMID- 1436923
TI  - Limited-spectrum (first-generation) cephalosporins.
AB  - Except in the treatment of pyelonephritis, the first-generation cephalosporins
      are rarely the first line drug of choice for any suspected infection in
      obstetrics. Other antibiotics have a narrower spectrum of antimicrobial coverage
      and are cheaper. Unless culture dictates the use of cephalosporins for main-line
      therapy, the use of first-generation cephalosporins should be limited to the
      treatment of pyelonephritis in pregnancy and for prophylaxis at the time of
      surgery.

PMID- 1436924
TI  - Extended-spectrum (second- and third-generation) cephalosporins.
AB  - The extended-spectrum cephalosporins provide better activity against gram
      negative bacilli and anaerobes than first-generation agents. Cefoxitin and
      cefotetan (second-generation) and ceftriaxone (third-generation) have excellent
      activity against B. fragilis and are useful in the treatment of postoperative
      infections and pelvic inflammatory disease. The extended-spectrum cephalosporins
      are as efficacious as first-generation agents for prophylaxis of cesarean section
      and hysterectomy. The first-generation drugs, such as cefazolin, are considerably
      less expensive than these newer compounds, however, making first-generation
      agents the drugs of choice when used for prophylaxis. The majority of the third
      generation agents should be reserved for the treatment of meningitis and
      resistant nosocomial infections.

PMID- 1436925
TI  - Imipenem-cilastatin.
AB  - Imipenem-cilastatin, with its broad spectrum of activity and relative safety,
      offers an excellent alternative for the treatment of many obstetric and
      gynecologic infections. In addition, the possibilities for intramuscular
      administration give clinicians additional treatment options. Because of the
      relatively high cost of imipenem-cilastatin, it should not be considered "first
      line" therapy for most obstetric and gynecologic infections at present. Misuse
      and overuse of imipenem-cilastatin will result in the further development of
      resistant organisms, as has already been seen with many other antibiotics, and
      continued monitoring of susceptibility patterns is necessary.

PMID- 1436926
TI  - Clindamycin.
AB  - Clindamycin has been extensively used in the therapy of obstetric and gynecologic
      infections for over 20 years. This antibiotic is well known for it activity
      against anaerobic bacteria, particularly beta-lactamase-producing strains of the
      Bacteroides species. Clinicians should also recognize its very good activity
      against aerobic gram-positive cocci, such as the group B streptococci, but be
      aware of its absence of activity against aerobic gram-negative rods, such as E.
      coli. In combination with an aminoglycoside, clindamycin has become the standard
      by which other antimicrobials have been judged in the treatment of pelvic
      infections. A dose of 900 mg administered intravenously every 8 hours is
      recommended when treating the serious infections discussed. Although concern
      about the potential side effect of pseudomembranous colitis is valid, in
      practice, this is an uncommon problem that responds well to the discontinuation
      of clindamycin and to the treatment of the C. difficile-induced condition with
      vancomycin or metronidazole.

PMID- 1436927
TI  - Metronidazole.
AB  - Metronidazole has proven to be a useful and inexpensive antibiotic for the
      treatment of T. vaginalis and bacterial vaginosis. Few alternatives exist for
      these two specific indications, and metronidazole will continue to play a primary
      role in therapy. Oral metronidazole continues to be a very inexpensive
      alternative to oral vancomycin for the treatment of C. difficile-induced
      pseudomembranous colitis. For the treatment of moderate to severe mixed
      aerobic/anaerobic pelvic infections, metronidazole should be considered
      secondarily in patients who have failed other multiple- or single-drug regimens
      or in patients who are infected. with anaerobic organisms resistant to other
      commonly used agents including clindamycin, cefoxitin, cefotetan, or
      ampicillin/sulbactam. Metronidazole is not a first line drug of choice for
      antibiotic prophylaxis in obstetric and gynecologic patients.

PMID- 1436928
TI  - The aminoglycosides.
AB  - The three most commonly used aminoglycosides in obstetrics and gynecology are
      gentamicin, tobramycin, and amikacin. These drugs bind to subunits of the
      ribosome and inhibit bacterial protein synthesis. They are primarily active
      against aerobic gram-negative bacilli. Their principal adverse effects are
      nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, and neuromuscular blockage. They may be administered
      intramuscularly or intravenously and usually are used in combination with other
      drugs for treatment of disorders such as pyelonephritis, chorioamnionitis,
      puerperal endometritis, and pelvic inflammatory disease.

PMID- 1436929
TI  - Aztreonam.
AB  - Aztreonam is a synthetic monobactam antibiotic that has excellent activity
      against aerobic gram-negative bacilli. It can be used as a single agent for the
      treatment of upper urinary tract infections caused by organisms resistant to the
      cephalosporins and ampicillin. It also can be administered in combination with a
      drug such as clindamycin for treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease or
      postoperative pelvic infections.

PMID- 1436930
TI  - The quinolone antibiotics.
AB  - The fluorinated quinolones are synthetic derivatives of nalidixic acid. They are
      well absorbed when administered orally and have an extended duration of action.
      They are of primary value in treating gonorrhea and complicated urinary tract
      infections in nonpregnant women.

PMID- 1436931
TI  - Erythromycin.
AB  - Even with the continuing emergence of new antibiotics, erythromycin continues to
      be used extensively in obstetrics and gynecology. It is inexpensive, with a long
      history of usage and proven safety. When oral erythromycin preparations are given
      in the correct dose and with proper timing in relation to meals, no individual
      preparation offers a significant therapeutic advantage. Its uses include the
      treatment of respiratory tract infections, chlamydial and other genital tract
      infections in pregnancy, puerperal mastitis, and acute conjunctivitis of the
      newborn.

PMID- 1436932
TI  - The tetracyclines.
AB  - The tetracyclines are inexpensive drugs that are of primary value in treating
      nonpregnant women who have acute urethral syndrome or endocervicitis due to
      Chlamydia trachomatis. They are contraindicated in pregnancy because they are
      injurious to fetal teeth and bone.

PMID- 1436934
TI  - Topical antifungal agents.
AB  - Current knowledge of fungal cell architecture and biochemistry allows limited
      understanding of the mode of action of presently available topical antifungal
      agents. Nystatin, first introduced in the 1950s for treatment of vulvovaginal
      candidiasis, has been surpassed by the imidazoles and triazoles as the first
      choice of treatment for vulvovaginal candidiasis. The lack of clear superiority
      of any one azole agent or dosing regimen leads some authors to recommend a short
      course of therapy (1-3 days) for acute uncomplicated candidal vaginitis using
      factors including anatomic distribution of inflammation and patient preference
      (such as previous hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to the agent, the cost of
      the agent, and the preferred vehicle for administration of the agent) to choose
      the specific antifungal agent (see Table 1). Recurrent cases or treatment during
      pregnancy may require longer therapy (6-14 days), again using an agent chosen
      because of these factors. Although theoretic risks may exist, actual harm to the
      fetus or pregnancy has not been demonstrated with the use of the topical azoles
      during any trimester of pregnancy. The development of antimycotic resistance need
      not be considered in infrequent and occasional episodes of candidal vaginitis,
      and it is rarely a cause of treatment failure even in chronic or recurrent cases.

PMID- 1436933
TI  - Antiviral agents.
AB  - Antiviral agents are less numerous and often more toxic than antibacterial
      agents. Acyclovir is commonly used for suppression and treatment of recurrent
      genital herpes simplex virus and may be indicated for pregnant women with
      disseminated herpes. Zidovudine is indicated for pregnant women with human
      immunodeficiency virus infection who have low CD4 lymphocyte counts. Ganciclovir,
      vidarabine, ribavirin, amantadine, didanosine, and foscarnet are rarely indicated
      in gynecology and are not recommended for use in pregnancy.

PMID- 1436935
TI  - Evaluation and management of orofacial sensory nerve injuries.
AB  - Sensory disturbances can occur as a result of a number of dental procedures,
      maxillofacial injuries and pathology. The dentist is expected to inform patients
      of the likelihood of nerve injury prior to conducting invasive procedures. If a
      patient develops a sensory deficit after treatment, the practitioner should be
      aware of objective means of assessment of the deficit and techniques available
      for management. Our understanding of nerve injury, regeneration and treatment has
      markedly progressed in recent years. This paper provides current information on
      the prevention and management of neurosensory disturbances likely to be
      encountered in dental practice.

PMID- 1436936
TI  - Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry: a brief history.

PMID- 1436937
TI  - Asian Americans: an increasing reality in the population and the dental
      profession.
AB  - Asian Americans are one of the fastest growing minorities in the United States.
      The use of services by this diverse population can and is affected by a host of
      demographic, cultural and language factors. But little to no data on the oral
      conditions of this minority group are available.

PMID- 1436938
TI  - Temporal arteritis mimics TMJ/myofascial pain syndrome.
AB  - Dental pathology is definitely the most common cause of orofacial pain. Dentists
      astutely diagnose and treat the various pathologic dental conditions. The
      restoration of the masticatory system is usually achieved in a proficient,
      straightforward and predictable manner. Certain patients' orofacial pains do not
      have a dental etiology and are refractory to treatment. The protean
      manifestations of temporal arteritis may present with major pain complaints
      mimicking dental pathology. A case report of such a patient is presented.

PMID- 1436939
TI  - A reddish-blue gingival nodule.

PMID- 1436940
TI  - Low grade pain and mandibular expansion associated with a radiopaque lesion.

PMID- 1436941
TI  - Communicating costs and methods of infection control to your patients.

PMID- 1436942
TI  - Current trends in periodontal regeneration: a review and case report.

PMID- 1436943
TI  - Should we or shouldn't we treat condensing osteitis with root canal therapy?
AB  - The intent of this article is to review with the dental clinician the literature
      concerning a lesion labeled condensing osteitis. A radiographic and histologic
      picture is presented along with etiology and diagnosis. A conclusion is drawn
      from the available literature to treat these lesions with endodontic therapy.

PMID- 1436944
TI  - Is there a shortage of dental hygienists?
AB  - Dental hygiene faculty from the Ohio State University, working under a grant from
      the Ohio Dental Association, surveyed licensed dentists and dental hygienists in
      Ohio in order to determine work-related concerns and possible solutions to
      perceived shortages of hygienists. There were 585 respondents from those selected
      through stratified systematic sampling based on state dental district for a 69%
      rate of dentist return and a 73% rate of hygienist return. The joint surveys
      assessed attitudes and documented experiences in several categories: practice
      background, opinion about hygiene employment shortage, compensation, aspects of
      hygiene satisfaction, reasons for ever terminating hygiene practice and future
      conditions persuading a return to hygiene practice. This article, the first in a
      series, presents findings from the survey of dentists relative to a perceived
      shortage of clinical dental hygienists. Forty-eight percent of dentist
      respondents believe that there is a shortage, while 52% are either not sure or
      believe there is no shortage. Those sensing a shortage have either tried to find
      a hygienist and could not believe there is a smaller pool to choose from, or have
      heard that colleagues have been unable to find a hygienist. Solutions to the
      shortage focus on better recruitment of qualified students, encouraging reentry
      of non-practicing hygienists, and promoting retention of hygienists in existing
      practices. Less frequently, dentists suggest starting new hygiene programs or
      training hygienists by preceptorship.

PMID- 1436945
TI  - Results of the Ohio non-patient Dental Board examination for 1990-91.

PMID- 1436946
TI  - Comparison of infection control procedures in states with and without infection
      control rules.

PMID- 1436947
TI  - Skeletal variations of the seventh cervical vertebrae in the mouse with special
      reference to the foramina transversaria and the accessory foramina.
AB  - The formation of foramina transversaria in the seventh cervical vertebra of CBA
      and C57BL mice and their offspring is found to behave as if it is determined by a
      single semi-dominant gene. The accessory foramina of Weber (1950) are
      investigated in the same material. These foramina are classified into two types
      and their heredity is evaluated.

PMID- 1436948
TI  - A transmission electron microscopic study of macromelanosomes in sporadic
      dysplastic naevi.
AB  - Melanosomes in sporadic dysplastic nevi were examined by transmission electron
      microscope. In particular the structure of macromelansomes was observed.
      Macromelanosomes were present in both nevus cells and keratinocytes. They were
      round and consisted of a core structure and a cortex structure. The core was
      composed of electron-dense amorphous material and electron-lucent microvesicles.
      The cortex contained grains of different sizes and electron densities.
      Occasionally small melanosomes were observed in the cortex. Electron-lucent
      microvesicles were also present in small spherical and ellipsoid melanosomes.
      Melanosome complexes observed in nevus cells contained degrading melanosomes with
      electronlucent microvesicles, dispersed microvesicles and grains. Melanosome
      complexes with structures resembling those found in macromelanosomes were also
      present. The result of the investigation suggests that melanosome complexes found
      in nevus cells might become macromelanosomes through autophagy.

PMID- 1436950
TI  - Stereo architecture of the lamina propria in the mouse laryngopharynx in scanning
      electron microscopy.
AB  - In the ventral wall of the mouse laryngopharynx, a fairly large number of the
      epithelial papillae containing taste bud (provisionally denominated the
      pharyngeal papillae) were observed. The NaOH cellmaceration method was applied in
      order to demonstrate the stereo architecture of the connective tissue papillae
      (CTP) of the pharyngeal papillae. The CTP appeared as a cylindrical wall
      surrounding a round depression, and consisted of a delicate meshwork of collagen
      fibrils. It is suggested that the CTP constitute the skeletal framework of the
      pharyngeal papillae and that the round depression corresponds to the site of
      taste bud. Furthermore, the collagen fibrillar architecture in the extrapapillary
      region appeared to be arranged to meet specific functional needs. That is, in the
      rostral end of the laryngopharynx, the collagen fibrils ran solitarily to form a
      coarse meshwork and seemed to allow the epithelium a certain degree of freedom of
      motion in swallowing. On the other hand, in the caudal part the fibrils
      concentrated into the thick bundles of the fibers running side by side along the
      long axis of the laryngopharynx and, therefore, appeared to play an important
      role in resisting the excessive stretching force.

PMID- 1436949
TI  - Fine structure of developed human tongue muscle.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship myofibrils,
      mitochondoria and other cytoplasmic organella in the developed lingual muscle
      (vertical, transverse, and longitudinal) by using various microscopic levels:
      light, scanning electron, and transmission electron. The tongue muscles were
      examined in seventeen autopsy specimens: eight, 12-32 weeks gestation and ten
      adults (five male, five female; 54-93 years). The muscle fiber rapidly developed.
      A large number of mitochondoria and glycogen granules increased and the size of
      myofibrils in the middle stage also increased, ranging from 24 to 28 weeks
      gestations. The developed myofibrils were differentiated, the VL and TL at first
      are developed before the LL developed. These results suggest that the lingual
      intrinsic muscle have differences in properties during development.

PMID- 1436951
TI  - Scanning electron microscopic study on the lingual papillae in the Manchurian
      chipmunk, Tamias sibiricus asiaticus.
AB  - The superfacial structures of the tongues in the Manchurian Chipmunk, Tamias
      sibiricus asiaticus, were observed by scanning electron microscope. The tongues
      were long, tapering, narrow and thick with a long apical free portion and a small
      lingual prominence in the posterior half. In this animal, three circumvallate
      papillae were present in an inverted triangle, a minority of conical papillae on
      the pharyngeal part and parallel large conical papillae on the lateral border.
      The fungiform papillae were scanty on the dorsal surface. These characters
      suggested this animal was more primitive than the others in rodents.

PMID- 1436952
TI  - Insertions of the lumbrical and interosseous muscles in the human foot.
AB  - The lumbrical and interosseous muscles in twenty-five feet of Japanese adult
      cadavers were dissected. The lumbrical muscles mainly continued into the dorsal
      aponeuroses or the terminal tendons of the extensor digitorum longus muscle,
      though they occasionally issued some accessory and slender tendons inserting into
      the bases of the proximal phalanges. Rarely, the lumbrical muscle showed an
      atavistic anomaly. In this anomaly, the lumbrical muscle was divided into two
      tails which continued into the bases of the proximal phalanges of the contiguous
      toes. The plantar and dorsal interosseous muscles were mainly attached to the
      bases of the proximal phalanges. Frequently, the plantar and dorsal interosseous
      muscles issued some accessory and small tendons continuing into the dorsal
      aponeuroses. This fact suggests that the plantar and dorsal interosseous muscles
      in the foot, like the palmar and dorsal interosseous muscles in the hand, are
      composite muscles derived from the flexor brevis, contrahens and other muscles.

PMID- 1436953
TI  - Anatomical study of the accessory mental foramen and the distribution of its
      nerve.
AB  - We examined the range of the accessory mental foramen [AMF] and its accessory
      mental nerve in three Japanese cadavers. The diameters of the AMF were relatively
      small: 0.74 mm, 0.80 mm and 0.89 mm. The distances between the mental foramen and
      AMF were: 0.67 mm, 2.1 mm and 5.74 mm. The distribution of the accessory mental
      nerve was different in the three cases. These nerves communicated with the
      branches of the facial and buccal nerves.

PMID- 1436954
TI  - A supernumerary muscle between the adductors brevis and minimus in humans.
AB  - In order to elucidate the nerve supply of a supernumerary muscle observed between
      the adductors brevis and minimus in humans and to investigate its true nature and
      mechanism of formation, 100 body halves from 50 adult Japanese cadavers were
      subjected to gross anatomical examination. A supernumerary muscle was noted in 33
      (33.0%) out of the 100 thighs. In each of these thighs, it arose from the upper
      part of the inferior ramus of the pubis and ran obliquely downwards and
      laterally. It was inserted into the anterior surface of the insertion aponeurosis
      of the adductor minimus (17/33 thighs, 51.5%), the upper part of the pectineal
      line (9/33 thighs, 27.3%), or the posterior side of the base of the lesser
      trochanter (7/33 thighs, 21.2%). It was supplied, from its posterior aspect, by a
      filament from the twig originating from the posterior branch of the obturator
      nerve and being distributed to the superficial fasciculus of the obturator
      externus (18/33 thighs, 54.5%) or by a twig directly originating from the
      posterior branch (15/33 thighs, 45.5%). The obturator nerve received fibers from
      L1234 (4/33 thighs), L234 (25/33 thighs), L2345 (2/33 thighs) or L34 (2/33
      thighs) and, moreover, its posterior branch ran through (25/33 thighs, 75.8%) or
      over (8/33 thighs, 24.3%) the obturator externus to emerge into the thigh. Based
      on the topographical-anatomical relationships of this muscle to its nerve supply,
      it seems probable that it is formed by separation from the superficial layer of
      the obturator externus and changes into an independent structure during the
      process of ontogeny. Furthermore, from a statistical standpoint, the segmental
      composition or course of the obturator nerve is not related to either the
      formation or incidence of this muscle.

PMID- 1436955
TI  - Morphological study of parafollicular cells and the parathyroid gland in the
      house shrew (Suncus murinus).
AB  - A morphological study of parafollicular cells in the thyroid gland and
      parathyroid gland of the house shrew (Suncus murinus) was made. The results
      indicated that (1) there were two pairs of parathyroid glands which were located
      in the upper part of the house shrew thyroid gland, (2) the volumes of the house
      shrew parathyroid glands ranged from 0.014 to 0.079 mm3, (3) the number of
      parafollicular cells along the follicles was largest in the upper part of the
      thyroid lobe, while no parafollicular cells were present in the isthmus, and (4)
      there were about 20 parafollicular cells per 100 follicular cells and 1.519
      parafollicular cells per follicle. The number of parafollicular cells per 100
      follicular cells was thus about 5 times larger than that in rats and the number
      of parafollicular cells per follicle about 2.5 times larger than that in rats.

PMID- 1436956
TI  - Development of collagen fibers and vasculature of the fetal TMJ.
AB  - Using 12 human fetuses, histological development and changes in connective fiber
      structure and fine vascular patterns have been investigated in various fetal
      gestational stages by light and scanning electron microscopy. The main arterial
      supply of the articular disc was from the bilaminar region and pterygoideus
      lateralis muscle. The vascular network on the disc surface was related with fluid
      secretion. When the bilaminar region was compressed, it caused ischemia and
      fibrosis as the main pathological changes in TMJ derangement. A decrease in fluid
      from blood vessels might occur in TMJ degeneration. Collagen fibers in the disc
      passed mainly anteroposteriorly. In the anterior and posterior bands, muscular
      tendon fibers came from the pterygoideus lateralis muscle and superior stratum of
      the bilaminar region. In the posterior band three-dimensional structures of
      collagen fibers suitable for load bearing were observed. The compass network and
      process on the disc showed the normal structure that is formed gradually and has
      functions including dispersion, pressure bearing, friction-proofing and storage
      of the synovial fluid. Attachments of the disc were suitable for disc function.
      Large elastic fibers in the posterolateral part of the superior stratum of the
      bilaminar region may be antagonistic to the upper head of the pterygoideus
      lateralis muscle fibers passing medioanteriorly, indicating that this antagonism
      is available for disc function.

PMID- 1436957
TI  - Arterial supply of the masseter muscle in the lion (Panthera leo).
AB  - There are few reports on the vascular system of the lion or Panthera leo except
      for that on the facial artery investigated by Lin and Takemura (1990).
      Morphological analysis of the masseter muscle of the lion according to the muscle
      tendon theory has been performed only by Takemura et al. (1991). The present
      authors attempted to elucidate the blood supply of the masseter, using 3 lion
      heads injected with acryl plastic into the carotid system by the plastic vascular
      injection method. This description is based on examination of the detailed
      laminar formation of the masseter. The findings are discussed in comparison with
      those of the felid family in carnivorae. Masseteric branches of the superficial
      temporal, buccal and facial arteries were distributed to the primary sublayer of
      the superficial layer, those of the above arteries and the masseteric artery to
      its secondary sublayer, the intermediate layer and the anterior and posterior
      portions of the deep layer, and those of the superficial temporal and masseteric
      arteries to the primary sublayer of the posterior portion of the deep layer. The
      maxillomandibularis muscle was supplied by the buccal and masseteric arteries and
      the zygomaticomandibularis by the superficial temporal and posterior auricular
      arteries as well. No gross differences between the lion and cat were observed in
      arterial supply of the masseter proper and improper, although the superficial
      temporal artery was distributed only to the superficial and intermediate layers
      in the cat but to all the deep layers in the lion.

PMID- 1436958
TI  - Case of an abductor pollicis longus muscle: variation or differentiation?
AB  - A variation of the abductor pollicis longus muscle in a 65 year old cadaver was
      encountered during routine dissection in our department. The muscle was found to
      split into two bellies and give off two tendons, one of which inserted to the
      abductor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis and flexor pollicis brevis muscles.
      The other tendon inserted to the first metacarpal bone which is considered a
      normal insertion site for the abductor pollicis longus muscle.

PMID- 1436959
TI  - A variation of a coeliac trunk.
AB  - The coeliac trunk is a wide branch of the abdominal aorta which arises from just
      below the aortic hiatus. It is about 1.25 cm. long (5). In our cadaver the length
      of the coeliac trunk was observed to be 4.5 cm. Additionally the inferior phrenic
      arteries which normally arise from the abdominal aorta were derived from the
      coeliac artery.

PMID- 1436960
TI  - Age estimation from second metacarpals in children.
AB  - On the basis of cross-sectional data of 630 boys and 611 girls aged 0 to 19 years
      investigated during 1959-60, the present study attempts to estimate age from
      skeletal maturity and measurements (length, width and cortical thickness) of an
      isolated second metacarpal. A combination of the maturity score with the bone
      length gives a better estimate of age than either one of the bone measurements or
      a combination of them. However, the maturity score alone does not necessarily
      provide a better estimate of age than the bone length. In skeletal remains of
      immature children, the epiphysis is not usually available to estimate age. Age
      could be estimated by means of multiple linear equations from the diaphyseal
      length and width of the second metacarpal with a standard error of 1.26 years in
      immature children aged 6 to 17 years, regardless of sex. Although, this method
      certainly seems to be useful for age estimation of a population, it is not
      necessarily applicable to individuals. In addition, the equation obtained from
      the variables in this series is not universally applicable to other populations
      or to Japanese of earlier eras, with the same degree of certainty.

PMID- 1436961
TI  - Microvascular architecture of the lingual papillae in the Japanese monkey (Macaca
      fuscata fuscata).
AB  - The microvascular architecture of all kinds of lingual papillae in the Japanese
      monkey was investigated on plastic corrosion casts and epithelium-separated
      specimens under a scanning electron microscope. Three kinds of the filiform
      papillae were observed; the circularly-arranged papillae with a small papilla in
      the center on the lingual apex, a simple large conical papilla with a bilateral
      pair of spines on the lingual body and the aggregated filiform papillae on the
      top of an epithelial projection on the lingual radix. Five to eight capillary
      loops were arranged in a circle of the above filiform papillae on the lingual
      apex. Arterioles ascended in the filiform center on the lingual body to form an
      intrapapillary network in the shape of a large cone, from which capillary loops
      were observed only on the top surface of the papilla. Capillary loops arising
      from the subepithelial capillary network in the epithelial projection were
      distributed to each filiform papilla on the lingual radix. Globular fungiform
      papilla on the lingual apex were supplied by capillary loops radiating from the
      intrapapillary capillary network. Cylindrical fungiform papillae on the lingual
      body were supplied by capillary loops only on the top surface of each fungiform
      papilla without any loop formation on the lateral surface. Four vallate papillae,
      a medial and lateral pair, were supplied by arterioles ascending in the papillary
      center to form an intrapapillary capillary network, from which capillary loops
      were sent off on the top surface of the papilla and formed a network in the
      lateral surface. Each foliate papilla was supplied by an arteriole passing
      through each papillary center along the long axis and 5 or 6 capillary loops from
      the arteriole on the frontal section. Every lingual papilla was supplied by a
      characteristic microvascular pattern, which correlated closely with the location
      of the papillae and areas reflecting the regional role of the tongue movement,
      especially in the filiform and fungiform papillae.

PMID- 1436962
TI  - Informed choice, not informed consent.

PMID- 1436963
TI  - Outcome of treatment for bilateral congenital cataracts.
AB  - The outcome of treatment for bilateral congenital cataracts was studied
      retrospectively in a group of 51 patients. Two major categories of lens opacities
      were identified. In the first category, the opacities were extensive and visual
      impairment was evident early in the first year. These cataracts often occurred in
      eyes with small corneal diameters and poorly dilating pupils. Postoperative
      strabismus was nearly universal; nystagmus developed in over 50%; and late onset
      open-angle glaucoma developed in 8 of the 29 patients studied. Early surgery did
      not seem to abort the development of nystagmus in this group of patients. In the
      second category, the lens opacities were partial, often lamellar in
      configuration, and visual impairment was less severe. Surgery was usually
      performed after 3 years of age, with good visual results if the opacities were
      symmetrical and there was no nystagmus. No deprivation amblyopia developed in
      this group, even when surgery was delayed into the second decade. Strabismus
      developed postoperatively in about a third, but so far, no delayed open-angle
      glaucoma has been identified.

PMID- 1436964
TI  - Peribulbar anesthesia for primary vitreoretinal surgery.
AB  - We prospectively studied the efficacy of peribulbar anesthesia in 76 consecutive
      patients who underwent vitreoretinal surgery. The mean duration of anesthesia was
      124.74 +/- 50.17 minutes, and the mean duration of akinesia, 151.5 +/- 54.45
      minutes. Adequate anesthesia and akinesia, independent of the duration of
      surgery, was obtained in 26 of 33 (78.8%) patients who underwent vitrectomy; 9 of
      32 (28.1%) who underwent scleral buckling; and 2 of 11 (18.2%) who underwent
      vitrectomy combined with scleral buckling. In all, topical and systemic
      supplementation of drugs for inadequate anesthesia or akinesia allowed 32 of the
      33 (97%) vitrectomies, 30 of the 32 (94%) scleral buckling procedures, and all 11
      of the combined surgeries to be completed as planned. Three (4%) patients
      vomited, moved, or were restless, resulting in an operative complication or
      postponement of surgery. Fifty-eight (76%) said they would desire similar
      anesthesia if subsequent surgery was needed in the same or fellow eye. We
      conclude that peribulbar anesthesia should be considered primarily for patients
      requiring vitreous surgery alone, and as an alternative for patients requiring
      scleral buckling or combined surgery for whom general anesthesia is
      contraindicated.

PMID- 1436965
TI  - Intraoperative application of 5-fluorouracil during trabeculectomy.
AB  - We report the preliminary results of the first 20 consecutive cases in which the
      antimetabolite 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was applied directly beneath the
      conjunctival flap during trabeculectomy in high-risk patients. Seventeen were
      considered early successes, with 3-month postoperative intraocular pressures less
      than 21 mmHg, representing at least a 20% decrease from preoperative values.
      Successful blebs were pale, with conjunctival microcysts and without significant
      vascularization over the trabeculectomy site, similar to the appearance of blebs
      in eyes administered postoperative subconjunctival injections of 5-FU. There were
      no cases of corneal epithelial defects, and no eyes had lost more than one line
      of preoperative vision at the time of last follow up. Although the longer term
      efficacy of this method is unknown, these results suggest that it may represent a
      safe and effective alternative for administering 5-FU.

PMID- 1436966
TI  - Measurement of progressive disc change in glaucoma.
AB  - We describe a videographic procedure for detecting minute changes in disc
      topography of glaucomatous eyes that involves measuring the displacement of
      selected circumlinear vessels. The problem of recognizing the difference between
      parallactic errors and true changes in topography is emphasized.

PMID- 1436967
TI  - The early cell kinetic response during healing of corneal epithelial wounds.
AB  - The labeling index and the mitotic rate were measured at 4-hour intervals during
      the first 24 hours after a central abrasion had been made in the corneal
      epithelium of six groups of four rats each. The proliferative response was noted
      in the conjunctival, the limbal, and the corneal epithelium. After 24 hours, the
      density of epithelial cells was equal throughout the corneal epithelium, but
      there was only half the normal number of cells. Physiological mechanisms seem
      strongly to regulate the total number of cells per square unit throughout the
      healing corneal epithelium, but the nature of these mechanisms is unknown.

PMID- 1436968
TI  - Posterior relaxing retinotomies: analysis of anatomic and visual results.
AB  - Fifteen eyes with complicated retinal detachments--11 with proliferative
      vitreoretinopathy (C3 D3), 2 with posterior segment trauma, and 2 with
      inflammatory retinopathy--were treated with vitrectomy, membrane peeling, and
      large posterior retinotomy. All posterior relaxing retinotomies were
      circumferential, including temporal quadrants in all cases. With a minimum follow
      up of 6 months, 12 eyes (80%) were attached posterior to the retinotomy.
      Reproliferation resulted in redetachment in 3 eyes (20%). Visual acuity improved
      in 53%, remained unchanged in 20%, and decreased in 27%. Of the 11 eyes that
      achieved stable or improved visual acuity, 5 (45%) achieved 20/400 to 20/25
      vision, 5 achieved counts fingers perception, and 1 patient remained stable at
      hand motion perception. Of all the eyes undergoing surgery, hypotony (intraocular
      pressure < 5 mm Hg) occurred in 6 eyes (40%); 3 of these were among the 12 eyes
      with attached retinas.

PMID- 1436969
TI  - The use of fibrin glue in mucous membrane grafting of the fornix.
AB  - We report using a fibrin-glue tissue adhesive in place of sutures to place a full
      thickness mucosal graft into a defect created in a scarred fornix of an
      ophthalmic socket. This technique minimizes tissue trauma and aids hemostasis and
      healing.

PMID- 1436970
TI  - Beheading the pterygium.
AB  - I describe a safe, easily learned, accessible, and inexpensive method for
      excision of the pterygium head using the tip of a 23-gauge needle as a cutting
      tool. The incision is controlled precisely, and excision of unaffected tissue,
      particularly at the limbus, is minimized by using point cutting edge techniques
      and by varying tissue tension to control tissue sectility ("cuttability").

PMID- 1436971
TI  - Comparison between B-scan ultrasound and MRI in the detection of diabetic
      vitreous hemorrhage.
AB  - The efficacy of proton magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was evaluated and
      compared with that of B-scan ultrasound in the detection and differentiation of
      diabetic vitreous hemorrhage. Although conventional spin-echo MRI could not
      locate vitreous hemorrhages, gradient-recalled-echo (GRE) MRI readily did so. The
      aberrant signals appeared to originate from the interfacing between hemorrhages
      and the vitreous, and possibly also from the paramagnetic effect of the ferrous
      ion. The information provided by boundary/susceptibility detection, unique to the
      GRE sequence, is useful in delineating the extent of vitreous hemorrhage and
      hemolysis. However, for the diagnosis and follow up of diabetic vitreous
      hemorrhages, MRI appears no more informative than B-scan ultrasonography.

PMID- 1436972
TI  - Combined cataract-glaucoma surgery using the THC:YAG (holmium) laser ab interno
      without gonioscopy.
AB  - We describe a simple method of combined cataract-glaucoma surgery, involving use
      of the THC:YAG (holmium) laser ab interno, without gonioscopy, in which the
      initial cataract incision remains small and the glaucoma filtering procedure can
      be completed relatively quickly, with minimal surgical manipulation of the
      conjunctiva. In a series of 15 eyes (13 patients) with visually significant
      cataracts and medically uncontrolled glaucoma, followed for an average of 14
      weeks (range, 1 to 26 weeks), 13 of the 15 eyes had decreased IOP. Visual acuity
      was improved in 9 eyes, remained the same in 4 eyes (with age-related macular
      degeneration), and was worse in 2 eyes (with opacification of the posterior
      capsule sufficient to account for the decrease in acuity).

PMID- 1436973
TI  - Small-incision manual extracapsular cataract extraction using selective
      hydrodissection.
AB  - Hydrodissection is a technique in which balanced salt solution is injected
      through a cannula into various layers of a cataractous lens to separate the lens
      lamella in a nonspecific location. Selective hydrodissection allows separation of
      the lens lamella at different desired anatomical layers. The technique allows the
      smallest possible nucleus, ie, the hard-core nucleus, to be hydroexpressed as a
      separate entity, requiring, correspondingly, a relatively small capsulorhexis and
      limbal incision. Then, in a second maneuver, the epinucleus, which engulfs the
      hardcore nucleus to form the adult nucleus, also can be aspirated or
      hydroexpressed as a whole. Selective hydrodissection permits scleral incision and
      stitchless surgery in planned extracapsular cataract extraction and also may
      serve as an intermediate step for surgeons who wish to convert to or learn
      phacoemulsification techniques.

PMID- 1436974
TI  - Filtering seton implant for glaucoma: initial animal trial.
AB  - A newly developed silicone filtering seton device was implanted in each of five
      eyes of four rhesus monkeys after they had undergone extensive argon-laser
      trabeculoplasty to raise their intraocular pressure (IOP). One animal (one
      implant eye) was killed at 6 weeks. The other three animals (four implant eyes)
      were observed for 17 to 24 months following implantation surgery. Mild to
      moderate postoperative inflammation subsided during the first postoperative week.
      The eyes remained quiet throughout the remainder of follow up. The postoperative
      IOPs varied between 18% and 70% of the IOPs at the time of implant surgery. In
      the three monkeys that had unilateral surgery, the IOP at the final follow-up
      measurement was equal to or lower than the IOP in the unoperated fellow eye. In
      the monkey that had bilateral surgery, both of the final IOPs were lower than the
      preoperative ones.

PMID- 1436975
TI  - Healon Yellow as a surgical tool in maneuvering intraocular tissues.
AB  - Tinted sodium hyaluronate (Healon Yellow) was used during posterior segment
      surgery mainly for the dissection of epiretinal membranes in cases of
      proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular pucker. The yellow color
      facilitated injecting the viscoelastic substance under the membranes and
      simplified its removal at the end of surgery.

PMID- 1436976
TI  - A new tantalum clip for securing a silicone encircling band.

PMID- 1436977
TI  - The decline of medicine.

PMID- 1436978
TI  - Visual acuity recovery in cystoid macular edema.

PMID- 1436979
TI  - Subconjunctival gentamicin induction of extraocular toxic muscle myopathy.
AB  - Subconjunctival injection of commercially available gentamicin, delivered in one
      of several protocols, caused an acute toxic reaction myopathy of the extraocular
      muscles. The response began as a small focal infiltrate of polymorphonuclear
      leukocytes, and as the lesion progressed it assumed a mononuclear cell
      predominance accompanied by muscle fiber degeneration. The injection of
      individual components of the commercial preparation (gentamicin, methylparaben,
      ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and sodium bisulfite), each at the same
      concentration as in the parent solution, gave no response except for gentamicin
      alone. Gentamicin caused acute toxic myopathy when injected away from the muscles
      and when given as an isotonic solution in saline compared to the hypotonic
      commercial solution. Solutions at acidic pH not containing gentamicin did not
      initiate myopathy. Several factors that have been inferred as participating in
      the toxic response to gentamicin have been eliminated. Gentamicin alone is
      responsible for the induction of the extraocular muscle myopathy.

PMID- 1436980
TI  - Ibudilast may improve retinal circulation in patients with diabetes mellitus.
AB  - Ibudilast selectively vasodilates cerebral vessels without reducing blood
      pressure. We investigated the effect of the drug on retinal circulation in 8
      patients with diabetes mellitus, using the video-densitometric image analysis of
      fluorescein angiography. We compared the build up time, the time constant of
      washout rate and the mean circulation time (MCT) before and after oral therapy
      with ibudilast. After 2 weeks of daily administration (30 mg), MCT was shortened
      significantly (4.2 +/- 2.8 vs. 3.0 +/- 1.6 s, p = 0.0215). Since retinal
      circulation in patients with diabetes mellitus was improved by ibudilast, the
      drug may be useful to treat disorders such as diabetic retinopathy.

PMID- 1436981
TI  - Retinal pigment epithelial cells secrete urokinase-type plasminogen activator and
      its inhibitor PAI-1.
AB  - Secretion of plasminogen activators and their inhibitors was examined in cultures
      of human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. The methods employed were
      zymography and reverse zymography, solid-phase immunocapture assay, metabolic
      labeling followed by immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence. The results
      showed that these cells produce urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and a
      plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) which is immunologically and biochemically
      similar to PAI-1. Tissue-type plasminogen activator activity (t-PA) was not
      detected, but we detected small amounts of t-PA in an inactive complex with
      inhibitor in RPE cell-conditioned media. We conclude that RPE cells have the
      potential to utilize u-PA-catalyzed plasminogen activation which is subject to
      regulation by PAI-1. These results may have a bearing on the pathogenesis of
      proliferative retinal diseases.

PMID- 1436982
TI  - X-ray induced DNA strand break induction and rejoining in cultured bovine lens
      epithelial cells.
AB  - DNA strand break induction and rejoining in cultured bovine lens epithelial cells
      were measured by the alkaline unwinding technique followed by hydroxyapatite
      chromatography. DNA damage is described in terms of dose effect curves for
      unwinding immediately after irradiation (0 min) and for unwinding after a
      recovery period (30 min). The dose effect curves obtained are purely exponential
      with D0 values of 29.3 Gy (0 min) and 138 Gy (30 min), respectively. Rejoining
      data are given in terms of rejoining enhancement curves with half-times for
      overall rejoining being in the range from 4 to 10 min, independent of the dose.
      Kinetics of strand breaks are also presented in terms of decay curves, which are
      best described by the sum of three exponential components. The half-times of
      these components have been determined as tau(I) approximately 2 min, tau(II)
      approximately 15 min and tau(III) approximately 500 min. These components of
      damage decay curves are discussed in relation to cell killing.

PMID- 1436983
TI  - Distribution of glucose and lactate in the interphotoreceptor matrix.
AB  - The photoreceptor cells of the retina derive their nourishment from the choroidal
      blood supply behind the retina. If the extracellular interphotoreceptor matrix
      (IPM) mediates this retinal nutrition, then gradients in concentrations of
      nutrients such as glucose and waste products such as lactic acid would be
      expected across the IPM, from the neural retina to the retinal pigment epithelium
      (RPE); this hypothesis is examined here. Gentle methods were employed to prepare
      IPM from the retinal surface (IPM-R) and apical RPE surface (IPM-P) of bovine
      eyes, and contamination from adjacent tissues was very low. The actual intrinsic
      volumes of the IPM-R (180 microliters) and IPM-P (87 microliters) compartments
      were estimated from dilution of trypan blue dye added to the wash buffer used for
      sample preparation; these measurements were required for calculation of
      concentrations. In the IPM-R samples glucose was virtually undetectable and the
      lactate concentration was very high (13 mM). Near the RPE surface (IPM-P) both
      compounds were present at levels (glucose 0.9 mM, lactate 3.8 mM) more comparable
      to those in blood serum. Similar results were obtained with fresh rabbit eyes.
      This difference in distribution (nutrient more concentrated near RPE, waste
      product near retina) indicates gradients consistent with the utilization of the
      IPM as a pathway for outer-retinal nutrition.

PMID- 1436984
TI  - Laser trabeculostimulation in open-angle glaucoma: a new trial. Part I.
AB  - We describe herein a new trial to stimulate trabecular meshwork tissue and
      thereby increase outflow facility. The efficacy of our laser trabeculostimulation
      (LTS) was compared with that of conventional laser trabeculoplasty (LTP), since
      LTP causes shrinkage and cicatrization of the meshwork tissue, thus limiting the
      reduction of postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP). The mean preoperative IOP
      of 40 eyes was 24.9 +/- 6.8 mm Hg (mean +/- SD). LTS was applied with a 50
      microns spot, a power setting of 50 mW and an exposure time of 1 s. With LTS, the
      IOP decreased but then increased afterward. Results indicate that low power (50
      mW) is effective if used for a longer duration. Our LTS can be applied repeatedly
      and used in addition to conventional LTP. Although our LTS was less effective
      than LTP, the trial may lead to the development of another useful treatment
      modality.

PMID- 1436985
TI  - Bilateral metastatic sclerochoroidal calcification in a patient with
      hyperparathyroidism.
AB  - We present the case of a 39-year-old man with bilateral sclerochoroidal
      calcification with primary hyperparathyroidism. Both the calcium and parathyroid
      hormone levels were elevated. Funduscopic examination revealed slightly elevated,
      multiple yellow lesions in both eyes. Fluorescein angiography showed filling
      defects of the choroid. Ultrasonography showed elevated, highly reflective
      lesions, and a computed tomography scan of the globe disclosed sclerochoroidal
      lesions with high density. We discuss the mechanism of sclerochoroidal
      calcification.

PMID- 1436986
TI  - Argon laser photocoagulation for the treatment of diabetic macular oedema.
      Comparative study of efficacy between focal extramacular treatment and focal
      macular perifoveolar treatment.
AB  - In this paper a comparative study of efficacy between focal extramacular and
      focal macular perifoveolar argon laser photocoagulation for the treatment of
      diabetic macular oedema is presented. The follow-up period was 12 months and was
      based on fluorescein angiograms. After focal extramacular treatment, diabetic
      macular oedema was resorbed in 54.6% of the cases, remained unchanged in 28.4%
      and deteriorated in 17.0%. After focal macular perifoveolar treatment resorption
      of diabetic macular oedema was achieved in 73.7% of the cases, remained unchanged
      in 17.1% and deteriorated in 9.2%. Focal macular perifoveolar treatment gives
      statistically significantly better clinical results than focal extramacular
      treatment (p < 0.05).

PMID- 1436987
TI  - [Semiconducting lasers for the treatment of vascular retinopathy].
AB  - Clinical photocoagulation was performed successfully in 18 eyes with retinal
      vascular disease. In all cases semiconductor laser was used emitting wave lengths
      from 780 to 840 nm. Energy for visible coagulation edema was 400 up to 1,200 mW,
      time between 0.2 and 1 s. In 3 cases using endolaser, acute retinal traction
      during light exposition was seen; retinal hemorrhages occurred in no patient.
      Four patients complained of moderate to marked pain compared to argon laser
      treatment. In all cases visible marked retinal scars of therapeutical range were
      observed.

PMID- 1436988
TI  - Monozygotic twin brothers with age-related macular degeneration.
AB  - We report the simultaneous development of exudative macular degeneration in
      monozygotic twin brothers. This report supports the hypothesis that genetic
      factors may be implicated in the pathogenesis of age-related macular
      degeneration.

PMID- 1436989
TI  - Extraocular muscles in congenital strabismus: muscle fiber and nerve ending
      ultrastructure according to different regions.
AB  - The ultrastructure of the extraocular muscles of patients affected by congenital
      strabismus is not completely known, and the structures responsible of the
      pathogenesis of this condition are still to be determined. Specimens obtained
      from patients suffering from congenital strabismus were studied and compared with
      specimens obtained from patients enucleated for various pathologies and not
      affected by any disorder in the oculomotor system. The scleral myotendinous
      junction, where the occurrence of an altered proprioceptive innervation was
      already reported, was examined, and findings obtained were compared with those
      observed in the muscle body (venter), where motor innervation is prominent and
      usually described as normal. Only a small number of damaged muscle fibers was
      found everywhere. The damage consisted in alterations of both contractile
      structures and mitochondria and resulted in severer lesions in the scleral
      myotendinous junction rather than in the muscle body. The normal muscle fibers
      were innervated by motor nerve endings with normal features and by few altered
      proprioceptors. The less damaged muscle fibers were innervated by normal motor
      nerve endings and severely damaged proprioceptors. The most severely damaged
      muscle fibers did not receive any type of innervation. These data seem to imply
      that the most important functional alteration in strabismus regards the scleral
      myotendinous junction. It is the authors' opinion that these findings might have
      a clinical importance in choosing the treatment to be pursued in patients with a
      squint.

PMID- 1436990
TI  - Orbital involvement in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia: ultrasound, computed
      tomography and magnetic resonance findings.
AB  - A case of orbital involvement in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia is presented.
      Orbital echography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
      were performed and revealed a retrobulbar mass of the right orbit.
      Ultrasonography suggested a lymphoid orbital tumor. A CT scan was nonspecific,
      but helpful in exactly locating the tumor and excluding bony lesions. Signal
      intensity patterns of MRI were characterized by a low intensity on T1- and T2
      weighted images. A marked enhancement of the tumor was evident after intravenous
      injection of a paramagnetic contrast agent (gadolinium-DTPA). Although the
      definite diagnosis could only be established by means of an ultrasound-guided
      fine-needle aspiration biopsy, MRI in connection with the history of our patient
      strongly suggested a diagnosis of orbital lymphoma in Waldenstrom's disease.

PMID- 1436991
TI  - Waardenburg syndrome in Japanese patients. Case reports and literature review.
AB  - A 3-year-old girl (case 1) had a blue iris and albinotic fundus in the right eye
      and bilateral deafness. Her 6-month-old sister (case 2) had hypopigmented irides
      and fundi in both eyes and bilateral deafness. We found that the ratios of
      interinner canthal distance to interpupillary distance were less than 0.65 in
      normal Japanese controls. In our patients, these ratios were within the normal
      range, indicating the absence of dystopia canthorum. After reviewing the recent
      Japanese literature, we found that the hypopigmented iris and deafness seen in
      our patients are common in Japanese patients with Waardenburg syndrome.

PMID- 1436992
TI  - Laser flare-cell meter.

PMID- 1436993
TI  - Human lens transparence in high-myopic subjects.
AB  - The possibility of a relation between high myopia and lens opacity was studied.
      For this research, the Lens Opacity Meter 701 was used. The lens opacity values
      measured in 91 high-myopic eyes were compared with those measured in a control
      group of 106 emmetropic eyes. This comparison showed that myopic had always
      higher lens opacity values than emmetropic ones, and this result was
      statistically significant after the age of 20.

PMID- 1436994
TI  - Efficacy and stability of amblyopia therapy.
AB  - To determine the efficacy and stability of therapy, we reviewed the charts of 64
      amblyopes with strabismus and/or anisometropia who had been treated by direct
      occlusion. For patients aged 7 years or less (N = 39), 90% (35/39) showed some
      acuity gain, with 69% (27/39) achieving at least a doubling of acuity (0.3 log
      units). Fifty-four percent obtained 20/40 (6/12) or better after an average
      treatment period of 3.8 months. Some reduction in visual acuity (VA) subsequently
      occurred for 75% (24/32) of those patients followed. For patients aged 8 years or
      more (N = 26), 77% (20/26) showed some acuity gain with 31% (8/26) improving at
      least 0.3 log units. Twenty-seven percent (7/26) obtained 20/40 (6/12) or better
      after an average treatment period of 4.2 months, although no patients older than
      10 years (N = 13) achieved 20/40 (6/12). Loss of some of the acuity gain
      subsequently occurred for 67% (12/18) of those followed. These findings indicate
      that VA can be improved by patching therapy in most patients older than 7 years,
      but the acuity improvement is somewhat less than in younger patients. At least
      67% of all amblyopes followed for 1 year lost some of the acuity gain after
      cessation of therapy, regardless of the age when treated. As a reduction of the
      acuity gain is likely to occur within the first year after cessation of therapy,
      it is recommended that amblyopic patients of all ages be followed at regular
      intervals.

PMID- 1436995
TI  - Short-term, low-contrast visual acuity reduction associated with in vivo contact
      lens drying.
AB  - Hydrogel contact lens surfaces partially desiccate during extended interblink
      intervals, producing a microscopically rough and irregular surface that scatters
      light. Such light scattering could reduce retinal image contrast, elevating
      thresholds for target perception. To test this idea, we measured low (7%)
      contrast visual acuity of subjects who wore: (1) hydrogel contact lenses, (2)
      rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, and (3) no contact lenses when the subjects
      blinked normally and when they suppressed blinking. Acuity thresholds were
      determined using computer-generated acuity stimuli and a staircase psychophysical
      procedure. Cessation of blinking resulted in small reductions in low-contrast
      acuity for subjects wearing RGP lenses (mean loss: 0.1 line) or no lenses (mean
      loss: 0.3 lines). Subjects wearing hydrogel lenses, however, generally exhibited
      substantial reduction of acuity (mean loss: 4.1 lines) when blinking was
      suppressed.

PMID- 1436996
TI  - Role of visual acuity, stereoacuity, and ocular dominance in monovision patient
      success.
AB  - Monovision (MV) contact lens correction of presbyopia induces substantial
      reductions in stereoacuity and small reductions in binocular visual acuity (VA).
      This study examined those effects in a group of successful and a group of
      unsuccessful MV patients. Compared to performance with a full binocular
      correction, the unsuccessful group demonstrated significant losses in both
      functions. These reductions were smaller in the successful group and of marginal
      statistical significance only for stereoacuity. Laterality of sighting dominance
      and laterality of distance/near correction had minimal effect on the results.

PMID- 1436997
TI  - Set shot shooting performance and visual acuity in basketball.
AB  - Common sense suggests that decreasing visual acuity will have a negative effect
      on basketball shooting performance. To test the hypothesis that basketball
      shooting performance monotonically decreases with decreasing acuity, 19 subjects
      attempted 25 set shots from a fixed location at each of 5 different acuity
      levels: 6/6 or better and vision blurred (by optical defocus) to visual acuities
      of 6/12, 6/24, 6/48, and 6/75. Our results revealed a small but statistically
      nonsignificant decrease in shooting performance between the 6/6+ and 6/12
      conditions. For visual acuities between 6/12 and 6/75, the number of baskets made
      remained constant. We conclude that decreases in visual acuity over the range of
      6/6+ to 6/75 resulting from defocus do not significantly reduce set shot shooting
      performance.

PMID- 1436998
TI  - To use or not to use the refractive correction along with hand-held magnifiers.
AB  - Equivalent viewing power (EVP), field of view, and working distance (WD) were
      calculated for 4 different magnifier equivalent powers, four magnifier-to-eye
      distances, and for uncorrected spherical ametropias varying from +20.00 to -20.00
      D in 0.25 D steps. Results show that the various viewing conditions which arise
      (depending on whether or not the refractive correction is worn) can differ
      considerably. The uncorrected unaccommodating myope has a greater EVP than the
      equivalent power of the magnifier if he chooses a magnifier-to-eye distance
      shorter than the focal length of the magnifier. In this situation, field of view
      is also enhanced. The uncorrected unaccommodating hyperope using a magnifier-to
      eye distance longer than the focal length of the magnifier achieves a stronger
      EVP than the equivalent power of the magnifier. However, field of view is then
      reduced. For the uncorrected unaccommodating spherical ametrope, the use of a
      magnifier-to-eye distance corresponding to the focal length of the magnifier
      seems to be a good compromise between EVP, field of view, and working distance.

PMID- 1436999
TI  - Re-evaluation of the four prism diopter base-out test.
AB  - The four prism diopter base-out (4 delta BO) test is often recommended for use as
      an objective assessment of binocular visual function in patients with suspected
      microstrabismus or central suppression; however, many aspects of the test are
      unknown. In this series of investigations we evaluated: (1) inter-observer
      agreement between 2 examiners, using 15 subjects; (2) types of eye movements made
      and prevalence of the various response types demonstrated in 212 children and 116
      adults with normal binocular vision, and 10 children and 4 adults with abnormal
      binocular vision; and (3) repeatability of test results for 22 subjects evaluated
      on two separate occasions. In addition, using an SRI Eye-tracker, we documented
      the eye movements made while testing 2 subjects with small angle strabismus and 4
      subjects with normal binocular vision. We found the following results: (1) inter
      observer agreement is high; (2) both children and adults exhibit many atypical
      responses, whether or not they have normal binocular vision; (3) diplopia
      awareness does not differentiate between subjects with normal and abnormal
      binocular vision; and (4) 4 delta BO test results are not repeatable. Due to
      frequent atypical and variable responses in subjects with or without normal
      binocular vision, we suggest the examiner use caution when making a diagnosis
      based solely on the 4 delta BO test.

PMID- 1437000
TI  - Joint distribution of sphere, cylinder, and axis.
AB  - A mathematical expression for the joint probability density function of sphere,
      cylinder, and axis is presented for the first time. It holds under certain
      circumstances. A relation is derived which may be useful in obtaining the joint
      probability function when that expression does not hold. The joint probability
      density function is of fundamental importance in all quantitative studies of
      dioptric power in the form sphere, cylinder, and axis. Some of its properties are
      described. It represents a hypersurface in a four-dimensional space with a
      maximum, a saddle point, and variety of ridges.

PMID- 1437001
TI  - Eye position and head size in the Chinese population: a comparison of the Chinese
      from Hong Kong with the Chinese from Guangdong Province.
AB  - Measurements obtained in this study include facial and head dimensions. From our
      findings, it would appear that the Chinese population in Hong Kong have not
      become different in the two or three generations that separate them from those
      living in Guangdong province of China.

PMID- 1437002
TI  - Chromatic aberration and optical power of a diffractive bifocal contact lens.
AB  - Although diffractive contact lenses have been well documented in theory, no
      definitive experimental data have been reported which confirm that the near image
      is in fact created by diffraction rather than by refraction. We have tested the
      diffraction hypothesis for one type of diffractive contact lens (the Hydron
      Echelon bifocal) experimentally by measuring its longitudinal chromatic
      aberration in isolation and when worn on the eye. The basis of this test is that,
      according to theory, diffractive lenses should have chromatic aberration which is
      opposite in sign to that measured for the eye. Objective measurements of
      chromatic aberration were made with a focimeter when the lens was in a wet cell.
      Subjective measurements were made with a Badal optometer when the lens was worn
      on the eye. Four control experiments were conducted to provide baseline
      measurements of the eye's chromatic aberration, against which we compared the
      results obtained for the diffractive contact lens. The data were also compared
      with conventional measurements of refractive error obtained by standard
      subjective techniques and by an automated infrared refractor. Our results showed
      that the longitudinal chromatic aberration of the diffraction image of the
      Echelon bifocal lens was about one-half that obtained under the four control
      conditions: for the naked eye, for the nondiffraction image of the Echelon lens,
      or for either image of a refractive bifocal contact lens (CIBA Bisoft). These
      results are consistent with the theoretical prediction that the negative
      chromatic aberration of a diffractive contact lens should partially cancel the
      positive chromatic aberration of the human eye.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437003
TI  - Equivalent oxygen percentage as a function of hydration in hydrogel lenses: an in
      vivo study.
AB  - Although many investigations have examined the parameters of hydrogel lens
      hydration loss, the in vivo effect (in humans) on lens oxygen behavior has not
      been characterized previously. Human subjects wore 2 different lenses (a thin,
      38% water polymacon lens and a thin, 55% water bufilcon lens) for 5-min periods
      under either fully hydrated (i.e., with saline regularly applied to the lens) or
      partially hydrated (i.e., with "normal" wear of 1 blink every 5 s) conditions. An
      equivalent oxygen percentage (EOP) technique and a gravimetric method were used
      to determine lens oxygen behavior and hydration, respectively. The hydration
      results demonstrate that significant lens dehydration occurs during the partially
      hydrated (normal blink rate) condition compared to the in situ, fully hydrated
      situation. A corresponding, statistically significant diminution in oxygen
      equivalency was also observed.

PMID- 1437004
TI  - Ocular manifestations of chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome.
AB  - Chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) is a disease presenting
      with systemic, sensory, cognitive, and psychological manifestations. Ocular
      symptomatology is reported in the visual, functional, perceptual, and
      pathological aspects of the visual system. The purpose of the research was to
      evaluate ocular symptoms in patients with CFIDS. One hundred and ninety CFIDS
      patients [155 females, 35 males; mean age of 41 years (range 15 to 72)] and 198
      healthy controls [133 females, 65 males; mean age of 42 years (range 8 to 89)]
      were surveyed via written questionnaire. Evaluation of data showed statistical
      significance at levels ranging from 0.0001 to 0.007 for all but one symptom
      surveyed. It appears that the ocular symptoms of CFIDS are genuine. Further
      research is needed to determine the etiology and appropriate treatment of this
      disease.

PMID- 1437005
TI  - Optometry research. Part 2: Grants received.
AB  - Part 1 showed that the dominant provider of ophthalmic research funding (85%) was
      the National Eye Institute (NEI) and that on the average optometry faculty
      members had received about 3% of that funding over the years. Part 2 shows how
      this 3% of NEI funding has been distributed among the 16 U.S. schools in
      existence during the period studied and why 3% is a rational result under current
      conditions.

PMID- 1437006
TI  - Protanomals and deuteranomals.

PMID- 1437007
TI  - Effect of storage time with different lens care systems on in-office hydrogel
      trial lens disinfection efficacy: a multi-center study.
AB  - A combined prospective and retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the
      efficacy of in-office disinfection methods for hydrogel trial contact lenses. Two
      hundred and twenty-one trial contact lenses, disinfected by four different
      disinfection methods, were collected from seven Study Centers and cultured for
      microbial contamination after various storage periods. Negative and positive
      control lenses were included as an additional Center in this double-masked study.
      There was a significant difference in the incidence of microbial contamination
      among the Centers for all storage times (chi 2 p < 0.001). Contamination of trial
      lenses in Centers using thermal disinfection with preserved saline (SoftWear
      Saline) was negative and thermal disinfection with nonpreserved saline (LensPlus
      Saline) was 8.7%. Lens contamination in Centers using chemical disinfection was
      13.6% with ReNu and 40.7% with OptiFree. The degree of contamination ranged from
      90 colony forming units (CFU)/ml to over 10 million CFU/ml. Among the
      microorganisms isolated after the different disinfection methods were Alcaligenes
      xylosoxidans, Serratia marcescens, Moraxella phenylpyruvica, Enterobacter
      agglomerans, Pseudomonas stutzeri, and various gram-positive organisms. This
      study suggests that practitioners should redisinfect all inventory trial lenses
      at least once a month to minimize the risk of patient infection.

PMID- 1437008
TI  - True and apparent oxygen permeabilities of contact lenses.
AB  - We studied the passage of oxygen through some commercially available contact
      lenses. Oxygen diffusion coefficients were determined by the time-lag method and
      a 201T Redher permeometer was used to measure the oxygen permeability and
      transmissibility by the polarographic method. The measurements were carried out
      at room temperature with 0.09% sodium chloride physiologic solution. The
      following types of lenses were tested: (1) 12 lenses of cellulose acetate
      butyrate (CAB) of a mean thickness of 0.194 mm (observed Dk approximately 6.3
      barrers) (1 barrier is equivalent to 10(-11) cm3 of O2 (STP).cm2/cm3.s.mm Hg).
      (2) 13 lenses of a cross-linked polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA),
      manufactured by Lenticon and Bausch & Lomb, with 40 and 38.6% water content,
      respectively. The mean thicknesses were 0.160 and 0.148 mm, respectively
      (observed Dk approximately 12 to 13.5 barrers). (3) Finally 10 lenses of a
      copolymer of 2 HEMA with N-2-vinylpyrrolidone (2-HEMA/VP), manufactured by Bausch
      & Lomb under the name Hydrocurve II, with 55% water content and a mean thickness
      of 0.138 mm (observed Dk approximately 24.5 barrers). For a given lens thickness,
      the transmissibility and permeability of lenses whose main material is 2-HEMA are
      found to be equivalent. This fact suggests the use of such material as a standard
      in the study of diffusion processes in contact lenses of low oxygen permeability
      (Dk approximately 12 to 13.5 barrers). We studied the boundary layer effects and
      found significant discrepancies between true and apparent oxygen permeabilities.
      The apparent transmissibility decreased with increasing lens thickness, this
      effect being more apparent for lenses with low water content. Oxygen permeability
      is found to be exponentially dependent on water content rather than on the
      chemical composition of the hydrogel.

PMID- 1437009
TI  - Influence of power changes in single cut rigid contact lenses on tear pump
      efficiency.
AB  - Differences between corneal oxygen uptake rates measured after 5 min of static
      (without blinking) and 5 min of dynamic (with blinking once every 5 s) non-gas
      permeable (polymethyl methacrylate) contact lens wear, referenced to the oxygen
      uptake rates of the normal open eye, were used as indications of tear pump
      efficiencies associated with each of seven contact lens back vertex powers (-9.00
      to +9.00 D, in 3.00 D steps). Measurements were made in vivo on six human corneas
      showing with-the-rule (0.25 to 0.87 D) toricity. Lens overall diameter was 8.8
      mm, optic zone diameter was 7.4 mm, and base curve radius was fitted "on K." Lens
      center thickness was 0.14 mm for all minus-powered lenses, and 0.19, 0.26, 0.34,
      and 0.41 mm for the plano, +3.00, +6.00, and +9.00 D lenses, respectively,
      maintaining an edge thickness of 0.11 mm. Under both static and dynamic wearing
      conditions, no significant differences were found among the corneal oxygen uptake
      rates associated with the various contact lens back vertex powers; however, the
      difference between the static and dynamic condition data, an indication of tear
      pump efficiency, was greatest for the -3.00 D lens. The difference values
      associated with the +9.00 and +6.00 D lenses were significantly lower than those
      associated with the minus power lenses.

PMID- 1437010
TI  - Shape of the myopic eye as seen with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging.
AB  - We have obtained multislice magnetic resonance (MR) images of the eye and
      calculated ocular dimensions along the three cardinal axes: antero-posterior (A
      P), equatorial, and vertical. We found no difference in the shape of hyperopic
      (average refractive error: +3.72 D) and emmetropic eyes, both of which had an
      equatorial diameter longer than the A-P and vertical diameters. Myopic eyes
      (average refractive error: -6.54 D) were larger than hyperopic eyes, and most had
      the same spheroelliptical shape as that of the emmetropic and hyperopic eyes. The
      results suggest that during myopic progression an overall enlargement or a radial
      volume expansion has occurred.

PMID- 1437011
TI  - An innovative solution to continuing misuse of red light on automobiles.
AB  - A novel approach [referred to as the RLMS (Red Light Means Stop) approach] to
      automotive rear lighting has recently been suggested as a means to enhance
      perceptibility of the rear lights. In the RLMS approach, only red colored light
      is displayed during braking, and only amber colored light is displayed at other
      times. Color per se then provides, for most drivers, an immediately perceptible
      visual stimulus by which brake lights are distinguished from tail lights. In
      earlier testing, simultaneous display of nonred tail lights and red brake lights
      confronted test subjects with antagonistic visual stimuli, thereby compromising,
      and underutilizing, the value of color. It is suggested that the potential safety
      value of the RLMS approach is significant, and that comprehensive testing should
      be conducted in a timely manner.

PMID- 1437012
TI  - Evaluation of intraocular pressure in a pediatric population.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to examine the intraocular pressure (IOP) in a
      pediatric population without general anesthesia, and compare it to the IOP in a
      normal adult population. Little information is available on the normal IOP in a
      pediatric population. IOP was measured in a sample of 212 eyes (111 patients)
      using the Keeler Pulsair Hand Held Non-Contact Tonometer to determine the range
      of IOP in this population. Patients ranged in age from 7 months to 5 years, 10
      months. The mean IOP of each eye was based on three readings. These IOP values
      were grouped by the chronological age of the children. The results support the
      conclusion that infant/toddler patients have lower mean IOP than adults and that
      as age increases, IOP increases.

PMID- 1437013
TI  - Asthenopia induced by computer-generated fusional vergence targets.
AB  - A questionnaire was used to evaluate asthenopia in 30 normal subjects (Ss). Then,
      each S experienced 3 min of continuous alternating convergent and divergent
      fusional vergence or a control condition which was identical to the experimental
      condition, but without any vergence demand, i.e., version. The stimulus was a
      computer-generated flat fusion red-blue anaglyph picture of a horse. The order of
      vergence and version conditions were randomized. Asthenopia measures and maximal
      fusional vergence ranges measures were repeated immediately after each condition.
      Results indicated a significantly higher rating of asthenopia after induced
      vergence than version. There were no differences in maximal fusional vergence
      ranges or recovery values after the two conditions. Correlations between
      pretreatment asthenopia scores and asthenopia scores after either induced
      vergence or version were also not significant. Post hoc analyses of Ss grouped as
      having either high or low asthenopia, according to baseline ratings, revealed no
      significant differences in vergence or version conditions. Alternative hypotheses
      for these results are presented.

PMID- 1437014
TI  - Determination of the true size of an object on the fundus of the living eye. By
      H. Littmann from the original article, "Zur Bestimmung der wahren Grosse eines
      Objektes auf dem Hintergrund des lebenden Auges," which originally appeared in
      Klinisches Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde 1982; 180:286-9. Translated by TD
      Williams.

PMID- 1437015
TI  - Traumatic avulsion of the optic nerve.
AB  - Avulsion of the optic nerve is an infrequent traumatic event which results in a
      permanent and usually devastating loss of vision. We present two cases which
      highlight the salient features of partial and complete optic nerve avulsion. The
      clinical findings, including the results of B-scan ultrasonography, fluorescein
      angiography, and computed tomography (CT) are discussed. In addition, the past
      two decades of literature pertaining to optic nerve avulsion are reviewed and
      summarized.

PMID- 1437016
TI  - Optometry research. Part 1: Funding sources.
AB  - Part 1 of this report presents an overview of U.S. ophthalmic research in general
      and of optometry research in particular and identifies the National Eye Institute
      (NEI) as the dominant funder of both types of research. Part 2 examines how NEI
      funding has been distributed among the U.S. schools and colleges of optometry in
      the past, whereas Part 3 examines the production of published research from the
      schools and colleges and the Department of Veterans Affairs Optometry Service.
      Information is presented to indicate that the schools of optometry account for
      about 3% of all NEI funding and produce about 3% of all published ophthalmic
      research. Published optometry research results mainly from the activities of four
      schools and the VA Optometry Service, which has rapidly become the leading source
      of articles published in The Journal of the American Optometric Association and
      presenter of continuing education at the Academy's annual Ellerbrock Lectures.
      This study suggests optometry needs to husband its relatively small research base
      and, in the author's opinion, concentrate on the support of clinical trials and
      research directly relevant to primary eye care rather than basic biologic or
      physiologic research.

PMID- 1437017
TI  - Factors influencing hand/eye synchronicity in the computer age.
AB  - In using a computer, the relation of vision to hand/finger actuated keyboard
      usage in performing fine motor-coordinated functions is influenced by the
      physical location, size, and collective placement of the keys. Traditional
      nonprehensile flat/rectangular keyboard applications usually require a high and
      nearly constant level of visual attention. Biometrically shaped keyboards would
      allow for prehensile hand-posturing, thus affording better tactile familiarity
      with the keys, requiring less intense and less constant level of visual attention
      to the task, and providing a greater measure of freedom from having to visualize
      the key(s). Workpace and related physiological changes, aging, onset of
      monocularization (intermittent lapsing of binocularity for near vision) that
      accompanies presbyopia, tool colors, and background contrast are factors
      affecting constancy of visual attention to task performance. Capitas extension,
      excessive excyclotorsion, and repetitive strain injuries (such as carpal tunnel
      syndrome) are common and debilitating concomitants to computer usage. These
      problems can be remedied by improved keyboard design. The salutary role of
      mnemonics in minimizing visual dependency is discussed.

PMID- 1437018
TI  - Scanning electron microscopy of the mucosal surface of the forestomachs and
      abomasa of grey, white and black Karakul lambs.
AB  - Homozygous grey and white Karakul lambs suffer from a lethal genetic factor
      causing death after weaning. Previous studies revealed large milk-filled rumens
      in the grey and white lambs which was attributed to a significant decrease in the
      number of myenteric ganglia and neurons in the rumen wall. This study was
      undertaken to determine the effect of milk on the epithelial lining of the
      forestomachs of affected grey and white lambs. In the forestomachs of the black
      lambs the polygonal epithelial cells were tightly packed, seemed to overlie one
      another and cytoplasmic projections occurred on the cell surfaces. In the grey
      and white lambs the epithelium had an eroded appearance due to sloughing of the
      surface cells and the cytoplasmic projections were lower and had a weathered
      appearance compared to the black lambs. No obvious differences could be detected
      in the abomasa of grey, white and black lambs. It is concluded that the milk in
      the forestomachs of the grey and white lambs is responsible for the epithelial
      changes.

PMID- 1437019
TI  - Parasites of South African wildlife. XIII. Helminths of grey rhebuck, Pelea
      capreolus, and of bontebok, Damaliscus dorcas dorcas, in the Bontebok National
      Park.
AB  - A total of 25 grey rhebuck, Pelea capreolus, and 16 bontebok, Damaliscus dorcas
      dorcas, were shot for parasite recovery at bi-monthly intervals in the Bontebok
      National Park, south-western Cape Province, from February 1983 to December 1983
      and February 1983 to February 1984, respectively. The grey rhebuck and the
      bontebok each harboured 9 nematode species and the latter animals 1 cestode
      species. Ostertagia hamata was most abundant and most prevalent in the grey
      rhebuck and Longistrongylus curvispiculum and Nematodirus spathiger in the
      bontebok. Longistrongylus schrenki is recorded for the first time in grey
      rhebuck, and Trichostrongylus falculatus and Moniezia expansa in bontebok. The
      total nematode burdens of the bontebok were considerably larger than those of the
      grey rhebuck. No clear pattern of seasonal abundance for the helminths of either
      host species was evident.

PMID- 1437020
TI  - Subsampling of large light trap catches of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).
AB  - Analyses of 2 light trap catches comprising 6,041 and 1,598 Culicoides showed
      that the reliability of subsampling such catches increased with subsample size,
      while the subsampling error decreased with an increase in the number of
      individuals per species present in a subsample. Subsamples comprising
      approximately 500 Culicoides are deemed sufficient for comparing population
      densities between sites and sampling occasions and also give an acceptable
      indication of relative species abundance at a site. It is recommended that
      species for which the mean number of specimens in subsamples originating from 3
      catches at a site is less than 7, should not be included in biometric analyses
      aimed at comparisons of population densities. For all other species a test level
      of 1% rather than 5% should be used for such comparisons. When species ratios
      obtained from subsampled catches are employed as indicators of abundance, the chi
      squared test should be utilized at a 1% level if the ratios originate from 3
      catches at a site and at a 0.1% level if only one catch per site is made. Due to
      poor representativeness of small catches, it is suggested that species for which
      fewer than 7 individuals are present in a single subsample, be excluded from chi
      squared tests. A 5-point procedure for subsampling a large light trap collection
      of Culicoides is given.

PMID- 1437021
TI  - Evaluation of the efficacy of d-penicillamine and trientine as copper chelators
      using an in vitro technique involving ovine red blood cells.
AB  - An in vitro technique for haemolysing ovine red blood cells with copper sulphate
      was standardized to induce c 50% haemolysis with 0.5 mM CuSO4 after incubation
      for 14 h at 38 degrees C. This technique was then applied to test the efficacy of
      trientine and d-penicillamine in preventing haemolysis. Trientine concentrations
      of 0.5; 1.0 and 1.5 mM were found to be the most effective (P < 0.05) in reducing
      copper-induced haemolysis. One and 1.5 mM concentrations of d-penicillamine were
      also effective (P < 0.05), but in this experiment a 0.5 mM concentration failed
      to protect the erythrocytes.

PMID- 1437022
TI  - A survey of small stock tick control practices in the eastern Cape Province of
      South Africa.
AB  - Current small stock tick control practices and producer attitudes towards tick
      control in the eastern Cape Province of South Africa are discussed. These were
      ascertained from returns to a questionnaire survey to which 31.2% of farmers
      polled, responded. In general, producers did not favour an intensive tick control
      policy for small stock. Angora, mutton and wool farmers had a definite preference
      for synthetic pyrethroid acaricides, the majority treating either less than 6
      times p.a. or between 11-15 times p.a. Most producers changed acaricides because
      of price. All small stock producers favoured plunge dip application of acaricides
      while the majority of wool sheep and Angora producers utilized footbath
      application as a second preference. Mutton producers favoured pour-on and hand
      spray application as a second choice. Producers who used plunge dip application
      techniques experienced the highest percentage of confirmed acaricide resistance
      which is in accordance with application preference. The general incidence of
      confirmed acaricide resistance, however, was of a low order but highest amongst
      mutton farmers. An average cost for acaricide treatment of R1.65 per small stock
      unit p.a. was calculated from data gained in this survey. Only a small number of
      producers used the available heartwater vaccine. Small stock mortalities
      experienced by producers per production unit indicated higher mortalities at high
      acaricidal treatment frequencies. Farmers allowing a small number of ticks to
      infest their sheep experienced fewer mortalities due to heartwater than those
      than kept their sheep free of ticks. Angora goat farmers experienced the same,
      but with higher mortalities, probably due to the apparently high susceptibility
      of Angora goats to heartwater.

PMID- 1437023
TI  - A survey of cattle tick control practices in the eastern Cape Province of South
      Africa.
AB  - Current cattle tick control practices and producer attitudes towards tick control
      in the eastern Cape Province of South Africa are discussed. These were
      ascertained from answers to a questionnaire survey to which 31.2% of farmers
      responded. In general, producers favoured intensive tick control. Beef and dairy
      farmers had a definite preference for synthetic pyrethroid acaricides, the
      majority followed a 25 times p.a. treatment frequency and most changed acaricides
      because of price. Beef producers favoured pour-on application of acaricides while
      the majority of dairy producers utilized plunge dipping. Producers who used hand
      spray techniques experienced the highest percentage of confirmed acaricide
      resistance. A costs of R11.27 for acaricide treatment per bovine per annum was
      calculated from data gained in this survey. A cost index of 2,496 was calculated
      by relating acaricide cost to the prevailing price of beef in the region. Only a
      small number of producers used heartwater, babesiosis and anaplasmosis vaccines.
      Relative tick borne disease mortality ratios indicated higher heartwater
      mortalities at high acaricide treatment frequencies. These results are discussed
      in relation to the tick control regimes practised.

PMID- 1437024
TI  - Deep dissections of the veins of the bovine head: unpublished work by Prof. J. M.
      W. Le Roux (1926-1991).

PMID- 1437025
TI  - The transovarial transmission of Babesia trautmanni by Rhipicephalus simus to
      domestic pigs.
AB  - Rhipicephalus simus was, for the first time, experimentally proven to be a
      transovarial vector of Babesia trautmanni of domestic pigs. The nymphal and adult
      progeny of experimentally infected female ticks transmitted the infection to 2
      susceptible splenectomized pigs. Features of the infection included a prepatent
      period of 6-8 days post-tick infestation, a febrile reaction for 3 days and a
      maximum parasitaemia score of 15 (more than 6 parasites per 300 red blood cells).
      Other clinical signs in both pigs were mild inappetence and listlessness. Both
      pigs recovered without any antibabesial therapy.

PMID- 1437026
TI  - No serological evidence for the presence of swine vesicular disease virus in
      South Africa.
AB  - An indirect ELISA incorporating a protein A-peroxidase conjugate was developed
      for detecting antibodies to swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV) in pig sera.
      This test and a conventional virus neutralization test were found to be equally
      sensitive. A total of 2846 pig sera collected from various abattoirs in South
      Africa were tested using the indirect ELISA. No serological evidence of infection
      with SVDV in pigs in South Africa was found.

PMID- 1437027
TI  - A comparative study of the thickness of the tunica muscularis in the forestomach
      and abomasum of grey, white and black Karakul lambs.
AB  - Homozygous grey Karakul lambs are born with a lethal genetic factor responsible
      for death and weaning age. When put on a high roughage diet under field
      conditions they develop distended, thin-walled rumens and sand impacted abomasa.
      Homozygous white Karakul lambs have a similar factor but survive for a longer
      period. Black Karakul lambs are not affected. The present study was undertaken to
      compare by image analysis the thickness of the tunica muscularis of the
      forestomach and abomasum of 24-hour old grey, white and black Karakul lambs. One
      square centimetre samples were taken from equivalent areas in each case of the
      rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum of 38 embalmed Karakul lambs. Haematoxylin
      and eosin stained histological sections of each sample were studied with a Vids 2
      Image Analyzer and the thickness of the circular and longitudinal muscle layers
      was measured. An analysis of variance indicated a significant difference between
      the groups in the thickness of the tunica muscularis of the rumen, reticulum and
      abomasum; the grey group displaying the thinnest and the black group the
      thickest. The omasa were not affected. The study indicates a reduction in
      thickness of the tunica muscularis of the homozygous grey and white lambs when
      compared to normal black lambs.

PMID- 1437028
TI  - Temporomandibular joint: surgically created disk displacement causes arthrosis in
      the rabbit.
AB  - To document a causal relationship between temporomandibular joint disk
      displacement and arthrosis, the disk was surgically displaced in one
      temporomandibular joint in each of three rabbits. The rabbits were sacrificed
      after 4 weeks and the mandibular condyles were studied radiographically and
      histologically. All three joints that underwent disk displacement had
      radiographic and histologic evidence of arthrosis, which included erosion of the
      bone, irregularity and fissure formation of the articular soft tissue cover,
      disruption of the subchondral layer of cartilage cells, and chondrocyte
      proliferation. No radiographic or histologic changes occurred in the joints that
      were untouched. The results suggest that surgically created disk displacement can
      cause arthrosis in the temporomandibular joint of the rabbit.

PMID- 1437029
TI  - Cryosurgical treatment of hemangiomas of the lip.
AB  - Removal of hemangiomas presents difficult management problems. This article
      describes the treatment of hemangiomas of the lip by cryosurgery and, in
      particular, evaluates the effectiveness of freezing in nitrous oxide cryosurgery
      on these lesions. Four women and two men, ages 40 to 76 years and manifesting
      angiomatous lesions on the vermillion of the lower or upper lips, were treated.
      Each site was directly exposed to two consecutive freeze-thaw cycles of 40
      seconds freezing time at -30 degrees C to -40 degrees C. No anesthesia was
      required. Healing was uneventful. Superficial necrotic tissue covered the lesion
      at 1 week and necrotic slough was separated after 2 to 4 weeks, leaving a fully
      epithelialized surface. In all cases, there was no scarring and no recurrence was
      noted during the 2.5 year follow-up.

PMID- 1437030
TI  - Temporomandibular joint disk displacement without reduction. Treatment with flat
      occlusal splint versus no treatment.
AB  - A flat occlusal splint has been extensively used in the treatment of patients
      with temporomandibular joint disk displacement without reduction, but no studies
      with untreated controls have assessed its effect. We randomly assigned 51
      patients with temporomandibular joint pain and arthrographically verified disk
      displacement without reduction to be treated with a flat occlusal splint or to
      serve as untreated control subjects in a 12-month clinical trial. Pain symptoms
      disappeared in about one third of the patients in each group. Another third of
      the patients in the control group improved. Sixteen percent of the patients in
      the control group and 40% of the patients treated with a flat occlusal splint
      were worse at the end than at the beginning of the study. Joint pain and muscle
      tenderness decreased more frequently in the nontreatment controls than in the
      treatment group. A statistically significant benefit of a flat occlusal splint
      over nontreatment control subjects could not be identified in this study of
      patients with painful disk displacement without reduction. The use of a flat
      occlusal splint in this patient group should therefore be reconsidered.

PMID- 1437031
TI  - The morbidity associated with fifty maxillary fractures treated by closed
      reduction.
AB  - Fifty patients with maxillary fractures treated by closed reduction over an 85
      month period at a Level I trauma center were reviewed. Thirty patients (60%)
      experienced forty-one midfacial complications. The most frequent problems were
      infraorbital nerve paresthesia (12), enophthalmus (5), septal deviation (3), and
      altered vision (3). No relationship could be established between complications
      and age, sex, cause of injury, or the method of suspension used. Most
      complications were related to concomitant injury or the concurrent management of
      fractures of other facial bones. Only eight problems (16%) were directly
      attributed to the closed reduction of maxillary fractures. Patients treated by
      closed reduction and maxillomandibular fixation without suspension experienced no
      surgical complications.

PMID- 1437032
TI  - Maxillary osteomyelitis and spontaneous tooth exfoliation after herpes zoster.
AB  - Reports of spontaneous tooth exfoliation and osteonecrosis trigeminal herpes
      zoster are extremely rare and have been sporadic. This article reports a
      pertinent case of a 50-year-old man who exhibited prodromal odontalgia before the
      appearance of vesicular mucocutaneous lesions, together with severe destruction
      of the maxillary bone and exfoliation of multiple teeth. This patient was
      successfully treated using a unique closed nasal-vestibular drainage system for
      the ultimate control of maxillary bone viability. A review and analysis of the
      clinical aspects and the pathogenesis of herpes zoster and bone necrosis are
      discussed.

PMID- 1437033
TI  - Traumatically induced peripheral osteoma. Report of a case.
AB  - Osteomas of the jaws are well-defined lesions that can present as an isolated
      finding or as part of a syndrome (e.g., Gardner's syndrome). The etiology of
      peripheral osteomas is somewhat controversial. Trauma has been implicated by
      several authors, and osteoma is presented here as a rather striking lesion with
      well-defined traumatic origins.

PMID- 1437034
TI  - Effects of total body irradiation on salivary gland function and caries
      associated oral microflora in bone marrow transplant patients.
AB  - Forty-one cancer patients who received chemoradiotherapy conditioning with bone
      marrow transplantation were examined for changes in salivary gland function and
      caries-associated oral microflora. Salivary flow rates (stimulated and
      unstimulated) and Streptococcus mutans levels decreased after pretransplant
      cytoreductive therapy and posttransplant prophylactic antibiotic therapy. Normal
      levels returned with time after the patients left the protected environment.
      Lactobacillus counts were not affected. Chronic graft-versus-host disease did not
      significantly influence saliva production. Results indicate that irradiation is
      probably the major factor responsible for the transient xerostomia.

PMID- 1437035
TI  - Blood pressure response to routine restorative dental treatment with and without
      local anesthesia. Continuous noninvasive blood pressure registration with a
      finger manometer.
AB  - A continuous noninvasive blood pressure registration with the Finapres finger
      manometer was carried out during routine dental treatment, with and without local
      anesthesia. Forty patients (21 male), 21 to 64 years of age, were studied. Blood
      pressure was recorded continuously from 10 minutes before dental treatment to 10
      minutes after treatment was completed. No local anesthetic was used in 25
      patients. In 15 patients (seven men) local anesthetic was used. All patients
      showed a considerable blood pressure variation. During treatment a significant
      mean blood pressure increase was registered in the patients treated without local
      anesthesia. In the patients treated with local anesthesia no significant mean
      blood pressure changes during dental treatment could be established. However,
      during the actual administration of the local anesthetic solution a transient
      blood pressure increase was found, followed by a decrease shortly after removal
      of the needle from the mouth. After treatment of both groups of patients, a mean
      blood pressure decrease was established.

PMID- 1437037
TI  - Plasma cell gingivitis. Report of two cases.
AB  - Plasma cell gingivitis is a disorder first described in the 1960s and was
      believed to be caused by an allergic reaction to flavored chewing gum and
      toothpaste. The lesion was believed to have been largely eliminated by removing
      the allergens from the products. We report two additional cases, not related to a
      known allergen. One patient was allergy tested thoroughly and given a strict
      elimination diet without resolution. Immunofluorescence study suggests a reactive
      rather than a neoplastic process.

PMID- 1437036
TI  - Efficacy of chlorhexidine and nystatin rinses in prevention of oral complications
      in leukemia and bone marrow transplantation.
AB  - The goal of reducing oral complications during chemotherapy and bone marrow
      transplantation has received attention at several centers. The current randomized
      study of 86 adults with leukemia treated with chemotherapy or bone marrow
      transplantation assessed the potential role of chlorhexidine, nystatin, and
      saline solution rinses to reduce the findings of oral mucositis, gingivitis, and
      oral infection. The results of this study did not show a reduction in mucositis
      with the use of these rinses. However, potential bacterial and fungal pathogens
      were identified less frequently in the patients using chlorhexidine rinse.

PMID- 1437038
TI  - Immediate biopsy versus a therapeutic trial in the diagnosis and treatment of
      vesiculobullous/vesiculoerosive oral lesions. Opposing viewpoints presented.
AB  - There are at least two treatment strategies in the diagnosis and treatment of
      oral vesiculobullous/vesiculoerosive disease. The relative merits of immediate
      biopsy and initial therapeutic trial regimens are debated.

PMID- 1437039
TI  - Lichenoid lesions of oral mucosa. Diagnostic criteria and their importance in the
      alleged relationship to oral cancer.
AB  - Lichen planus and other lichenoid disorders of oral mucosa occur commonly, and
      yet they are poorly understood. Further, the question of the premalignant
      potential of oral lichen planus remains deeply mired in controversy. The object
      of this article is to delineate these problems, clarify the issues, and present
      evidence to support the position that true lichen planus of oral mucosa is not
      only less common than generally appreciated but also has no inherent
      predisposition to become malignant. Rationale and data from the literature are
      offered in support of this position.

PMID- 1437040
TI  - The controversy of a premalignant potential of oral lichen planus is over.

PMID- 1437041
TI  - Diseases should not be considered entities unto themselves.

PMID- 1437042
TI  - Cinnamon-induced stomatitis venenata, Clinical and characteristic histopathologic
      features.
AB  - Fourteen new cases of cinnamon-induced stomatitis are reported. Ten of these
      fourteen cases were first detected on the basis of histopathologic changes, which
      included hyperkeratosis, chronic lichenoid mucositis with plasmacytic
      infiltration, and marked chronic perivasculitis. Six cases of false-positive
      histopathologic findings are presented for comparison. It is recommended that
      when the histopathologic features described are recognized, cinnamon stomatitis
      should be considered.

PMID- 1437043
TI  - Survey of tissue diagnostic services in U.S. dental schools - 1990.
AB  - Tissue diagnostic services in U.S. dental schools were surveyed to determine
      activities during 1990. Results were compared with those of similar surveys
      conducted in 1953, 1958, 1969, 1975, 1980, and 1985. The information gathered
      from this survey reveals a progressive growth and development of tissue
      diagnostic services. This is seen not only in the increased numbers of biopsy
      accessions, which increased by 37% since the last survey, but is also reflected
      in the diversity of services now offered by oral pathologists.

PMID- 1437044
TI  - Oral Geotrichum candidum infection associated with HIV infection. A case report.
AB  - Infections with Geotrichum species, although rare, are sometimes seen in
      immunocompromised hosts. We report a case of oral geotrichosis in a patient
      seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus who had erythematous mandibular and
      maxillary gingiva but was otherwise free of any active systemic disease.
      Geotrichum candidum was shown by both culture and histopathology to be present in
      the lesion and was deduced to be the causative organism. The patient responded
      well to several weeks of treatment involving oral topical administration of
      nystatin vaginal tablets.

PMID- 1437045
TI  - Biologic properties of eugenol and zinc oxide-eugenol. A clinically oriented
      review.
AB  - Eugenol-containing dental materials are frequently used in clinical dentistry.
      When zinc oxide-eugenol (ZOE) is applied to a dentinal cavity, small quantities
      of eugenol diffuse through the dentin to the pulp. Low concentrations of eugenol
      exert anti-inflammatory and local anesthetic effects on the dental pulp. Thus use
      of ZOE temporary filling may facilitate pulpal healing; on the other hand, high
      eugenol concentrations are cytotoxic. Direct application of eugenol to pulp
      tissue may result in extensive tissue damage. The ability of ZOE-based endodontic
      sealers to influence periapical tissue healing is considered in view of eugenol's
      anti-inflammatory and toxic properties.

PMID- 1437046
TI  - Biocompatibility of retrograde filling materials in the ferret canine. Amalgam
      and IRM.
AB  - Periapical tissue response to retrograde fillings of amalgam and IRM were
      compared in the mandibular canine of the adult male ferret. Teeth were cleaned
      and shaped with a standard technique and obturated with gutta-percha. The root
      apex was then exposed and retrofillings were placed. The animals were grouped
      according to observation periods of 5, 10, and 15 weeks. At the proper time the
      animals were killed and the lower canine tooth along with the surrounding bone
      was removed. The tissue blocks were examined clinically, radiographed, and
      prepared for histologic examination. The clinical and radiographic examination
      indicated both materials to be well tolerated by periapical tissues. Microscopic
      examination of amalgam specimens showed a decrease in inflammation and the
      formation of a fibrous capsule over the 15-week period. IRM specimens showed
      persistent inflammation and slower healing potential.

PMID- 1437047
TI  - Diagnosing periapical bone lesions on radiographs by means of texture analysis.
AB  - Trabecular pattern, the radiographic projection of trabecular bone, is a repeated
      structure that appears in a dental radiograph. Texture analysis, the computer
      image analysis of repeated patterns, is a technique that can be used to automate
      the diagnosis of periapical lesions with the detection of the absence of the
      texture that corresponds to the trabecular bone. The purpose of this study was to
      determine whether it is feasible to use texture analysis to identify the presence
      of the trabecular pattern in radiographs and to detect a periapical bone lesion
      based on a local absence of this pattern. Thirty-two mandibular periapical films,
      16 with and 16 without periapical lesions, were used in this study. Texture
      analysis was carried out on the digital images of these radiographs. In the 16
      films with lesions, they were all correctly identified, and no lesions were found
      in the 16 films without lesions. This result is based on the a prior knowledge of
      the user about the localization of the disease. Locating periapical regions
      without user interaction is a goal for future research.

PMID- 1437048
TI  - Quantitative features of digitized radiographic bone profiles.
AB  - The purpose of this investigation was to examine the use of four image features
      in describing digitized radiographic bony scan lines, or profiles. These features
      include the mean pixel intensity, I (x); pixel intensity variance, var I (x);
      mean absolute Fourier transform coefficient, magnitude of F(u); and mean spatial
      first moment of the absolute Fourier coefficients, M1. In an animal model I (x)
      and M1 differed significantly while magnitude of F(u) tended to differ
      significantly between digitized radiographic profiles of osteoporotic (n = 6) and
      control (n = 6) rabbit humeri. Case examples illustrating the application of this
      technique to digitized radiographs of human interproximal alveolar bone are
      presented.

PMID- 1437049
TI  - Cementoblastoma in Hong Kong Chinese. A report of four cases.
AB  - Four cases of cementoblastomas in Hong Kong Chinese are presented, two are
      classic lesions and two are clinically and radiologically atypical. A summary of
      the literature is presented in tabular form.

PMID- 1437050
TI  - Root resorption associated with impacted maxillary third molar.

PMID- 1437051
TI  - Fusion of third and fourth mandibular molars?

PMID- 1437052
TI  - Tooth in the sigmoid notch.

PMID- 1437053
TI  - Infected cyst in the coronoid process.

PMID- 1437054
TI  - Pulse oximetry during minor oral surgery with and without intravenous sedation.
AB  - This study investigated the levels of oxygen saturation and pulse rates of
      patients undergoing minor oral surgery under local analgesia, with (20 patients)
      or without (20 patients) intravenous sedation with midazolam. The results
      indicated that a statistically significant fall in arterial blood oxygenation of
      1% to 2%, as measured by pulse oximetry, followed midazolam administration;
      however, this was physiologically insignificant. Both groups showed a similar
      postoperative small fall in oxygen saturation. Transient episodes (24 to 36
      seconds) of physiologically significant mild hypoxia occurred during breath
      holding, but this condition was readily corrected by encouraging patients to
      breathe deeply. Midazolam had a small but significant calming effect on the
      higher preoperative pulse rates exhibited by anxious patients, but this effect
      was not sustained during the operating period. Both sedated and unsedated
      patients showed episodes of tachycardia that could have significance for patients
      with cardiac disease.

PMID- 1437055
TI  - Hypoglycemia as a possible factor in the induction of vasovagal syncope.
AB  - Glucose level was estimated in capillary blood of 16 patients, who had vasovagal
      syncope during exodontia with local anaesthesia. One consistent finding was the
      low blood sugar level in all patients during syncope, as compared with the level
      1 hour after recovery. Hypoglycemia can be induced by parasympathetic activation;
      this may be the product of reflex conditioning. Modest lowering of blood sugar
      levels can also act in synergy with hypotension and hypocapnea to induce loss of
      consciousness. Psychogenic syncope may be mediated through a mechanism involving
      hypoglycemia. Reflex conditioning perhaps accounts for the small but consistent
      fraction of the adult population who have repeated fainting episodes.

PMID- 1437056
TI  - Recurrence of a solitary bone cyst of the mandibular condyle in a bone graft. A
      case report.
AB  - The recurrence of a solitary bone cyst of the mandibular condyle in a
      costochondral bone graft is reported. A solitary bone cyst of the right condylar
      head and neck of a 10-year-old boy was treated by total resection and immediate
      reconstruction with a costochondral bone graft. Two years after the first
      operation, a recurrence of the solitary bone cyst within the bone graft was
      noted. An open treatment was performed. A review of the literature on solitary
      bone cysts and recurrences of solitary bone cysts shows that the case reported is
      unique. Possible reasons for the recurrence are discussed.

PMID- 1437057
TI  - Diffuse sclerosing osteomyelitis (chronic tendoperiostitis) of the mandible. An
      11-year follow-up report.
AB  - Diffuse sclerosing osteomyelitis of the mandible is a disease that is
      characterized by a protracted course of recurrent pain, swelling of the cheek,
      and trismus. The cause of the lesion has been obscure for a long period of time.
      Recent research, however, pointed out that this disease is likely to be caused by
      overuse of the jaw musculature (chronic tendoperiostitis) and can be treated
      accordingly. The protracted course of the disease and the difficulty of treatment
      with an eventual positive outcome are illustrated by a case report of a 65-year
      old man with an 11-year history of diffuse sclerosing osteomyelitis (chronic
      tendoperiostitis) of the mandible.

PMID- 1437058
TI  - Bronchogenic metastasis to the gingiva.
AB  - We report a rare case of a bronchogenic adenocarcinoma metastatic to the lower
      gingiva as the first clinical sign of metastatic disease. The following safe
      approach is recommended: a tumor in the oral cavity should be regarded as
      malignant or as a metastasis until the hypothesis can be abandoned.

PMID- 1437059
TI  - Comparative trial of oral clotrimazole and nystatin for oropharyngeal candidiasis
      prophylaxis in orthotopic liver transplant patients.
AB  - A prospective randomized study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of
      clotrimazole troches and nystatin suspension to prevent oral candidiasis in
      immunosuppressed orthotopic liver transplant patients. Thirty-four patients
      received either clotrimazole troches, 10 mg, five times daily, or nystatin
      suspension, 500,000 units, four times daily. Prophylaxis was initiated after
      extubation after transplantation and continued throughout the hospitalization.
      One of 17 patients in each treatment group developed clinical and microscopic
      evidence of an oropharyngeal Candida infection. This gave an intragroup and an
      overall infection rate of 5.9%. It appears that either nystatin or clotrimazole
      may be used for candidiasis prophylaxis in orthotopic liver transplant patients.

PMID- 1437060
TI  - Clinical evaluation of fifty-six patients referred with symptoms tentatively
      related to allergic contact stomatitis.
AB  - During a 7-year period, 56 patients were referred to the Department of General
      Pathology and Internal Medicine and the Department of Dental Materials,
      University of Amsterdam, to determine whether contact allergic reactions to
      dental materials were the cause of their complaints. On the first consultation
      with the patient a detailed history focusing on the complaints themselves,
      general medical history, and special clinical history of allergic skin reaction
      was obtained. Oral examinations were performed, and all patients were referred to
      the allergy clinic at the department of dermatology for skin tests. There was a
      strong female predominance in the referred group. Most of the patients with
      allergic contact stomatitis mentioned a burning sensation in the mouth. In only
      16 of the 56 patients could the diagnosis of allergic contact stomatitis be
      established. From this study it can also be concluded that the combination of a
      positive allergic history and positive allergic skin reactions with or without
      visible oral signs are important for the diagnosis of allergic contact
      stomatitis.

PMID- 1437061
TI  - Familial ogee roots, tooth mobility, oligodontia, and microdontia.
AB  - The term ogee is proposed to describe dome or onion-shaped incisor roots as
      presented in a family study. A case of ogee permanent upper incisor teeth
      associated with microdontia, oligodontia, and tooth mobility is described. Forty
      seven members of the proband's family were examined. The dental abnormalities
      were found to be of an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance.

PMID- 1437062
TI  - Necrosis of the tongue in a patient with intestinal infarction.
AB  - A patient with a rare combination of bilateral lingual necrosis and intestinal
      infarction, caused by giant cell arteritis, is described and the literature
      reviewed.

PMID- 1437063
TI  - Orofacial manifestations of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. A study of 42 patients
      and review of 220 cases from the literature.
AB  - We investigated orofacial manifestations in 42 patients with Melkersson-Rosenthal
      syndrome who were examined at our institution between 1965 and 1990. Patient
      histories and histologic and clinical findings were reviewed in detail. These
      data were compared with the oral findings in 220 cases that were reported in the
      literature between 1965 and 1990. There were 28 females in our study. The age at
      onset of signs and symptoms varied widely with a mean of 33.8 years. Most
      frequent initial signs were labial edema, facial swelling, and Bell's palsy.
      During the course of the disease, 75% of all patients had labial swelling, 50%
      had facial edema, and 33% had Bell's palsy. Swelling, erythema, or painful
      erosions that affected the gingiva, buccal mucosa, palate, or tongue were common
      intraoral symptoms. A comparison with patients reported in the literature
      revealed a similar frequency of extraoral symptoms but more prevalent intraoral
      symptoms in our patients.

PMID- 1437064
TI  - Oral congenital dermoid cyst in the floor of the mouth of a newborn. The
      significance of gastrointestinal-type epithelium.
AB  - A case of congenital dermoid cyst in the floor of the mouth in a newborn is
      presented. The presence of microcyst formation with intestinal-type epithelial
      lining and mucin histochemistry are discussed.

PMID- 1437065
TI  - Oral caliber-persistent artery. Unusual presentations of unusual lesions.
AB  - Two cases of oral caliber-persistent artery are reported. Both cases were
      different from the five previously reported oral examples of this unusual entity.
      One case is the first reported instance of a caliber-persistent artery not
      associated with spontaneous hemorrhage, inflammation, or ulceration. The clinical
      importance of this entity to the patient and the treating practitioner is
      stressed.

PMID- 1437066
TI  - Bacterial microleakage of Cavit, IRM, and TERM.
AB  - In this in vitro study, a model system was developed and tested to evaluate the
      sealing ability of temporary restorative materials used in endodontic access
      preparations. The materials studied, Cavit, IRM, and TERM, were tested on 40
      premolars against a known bacterial species, Streptococcus sanguis. The leakage
      of bacterial cells was checked 4 and 8 days after initial immersion in the
      culture. Thermocycling was introduced on the fourth day. After 8 days the cement
      thicknesses were measured after the teeth had been longitudinally sectioned.
      Before and after thermocycling, IRM was less leakproof than Cavit (p < 0.05) and
      TERM (p < 0.05). Thermocycling aggravated percolation in the case of IRM, and
      decreased the tightness of Cavit, whereas TERM remained leakproof. The
      thicknesses were as follows: Cavit, 3.73 mm; IRM, 3.45 mm; and TERM, 5.49 mm.
      There was no statistically significant relationship between thickness and
      tightness.

PMID- 1437067
TI  - Coronal dye penetration of the apical filling materials after post space
      preparation.
AB  - Forty canals of palatal and distal roots of molars were cleaned and shaped with
      the use of a step-back technique. Thirty canals were obturated, 10 each with
      lateral, vertical, and thermafil techniques. Five root canals were obturated
      without a root canal sealer and served as positive controls. Another five root
      canals were obturated, and their coronal half was sealed with sticky wax and
      served as negative controls. The apical 5 to 6 mm of the filling materials were
      exposed to india ink for 48 hours. The depth of dye penetration was measured in
      all groups and statistically analyzed. The apical plugs in the thermafil group
      had the highest degree of coronal leakage. The ANOVA test showed a significant
      statistical difference between coronal dye leakage between this group and those
      found in canals filled by lateral or vertical condensation techniques. The
      results indicate that the apical filling materials obtained by lateral or
      vertical condensation leak less than those obtained by thermafil.

PMID- 1437068
TI  - Complement activation by lipopolysaccharides purified from gram-negative bacteria
      isolated from infected root canals.
AB  - The purpose of the present study was to investigate the complement activation by
      lipopolysaccharides purified from Porphyromonas (Bacteroides) endodontalis,
      Veillonella parvula, and Fusobacterium nucleatum isolated from infected root
      canals. The rate of consumption of the C3T component of the complement increased
      remarkably when lipopolysaccharides of more than 10 micrograms were added.

PMID- 1437069
TI  - Direct digital radiography for the detection of periodontal bone lesions.
AB  - In this study the diagnostic accuracy of D-speed and E-speed film in the
      detection of simulated periodontal bone lesions was compared with that of an
      electronic direct digital image receptor. Lesions of increasing depth were
      created in 11 human hemimandibles at the buccal cortical plate in the
      interproximal marginal bone area by means of 1.4 mm diameter round bursa.
      Specimens were imaged at each lesion stage with the use of all three receptors.
      Nine viewers used a 5-point rating scale to evaluate whether lesions were present
      or absent in the resulting images. Receiver operating characteristic curves were
      generated, and maximum-likelihood curve areas were calculated. The area under the
      curve was used as the index of diagnostic accuracy. The mean receiver operating
      characteristic areas for D-speed film, E-speed film, and the direct digital
      system were 0.745 +/- 0.038, 0.740 +/- 0.038, and 0.741 +/- 0.037, respectively.
      Critical ratio analysis was used to compare the means. No statistical difference
      was found between any of the three image receptors (p > 0.05) for the detection
      of simulated periodontal lesions 1.0 to 3.0 mm in depth, which suggested that the
      digital system performed comparably with conventional film systems.

PMID- 1437070
TI  - Radiographic demonstration of oronasal fistulas in patients with cleft palate
      with the use of barium sulfate contrast.
AB  - The purpose of this investigation was to determine the overlapping and unique
      contributions that radiographic techniques might provide for accurate
      characterization of hard palate fistulas associated with cleft palate. Five
      subjects with oronasal fistulas were selected for radiographic imaging, and their
      informed consent was obtained. Results indicated that radiographs with contrast
      can provide important supplemental and unique information. Qualitative
      descriptions of the inferior-superior course and location, and the size of the
      narrowest aperture could be obtained from the combination of maxillary occlusal,
      posteroanterior tomographic, and lateral tomographic projections. This
      information could not be obtained from the common clinical methods in use to
      describe fistulas. This technique can provide valuable information to all members
      of a multidisciplinary cleft palate team to document palatal fistulas for both
      clinical and research purposes.

PMID- 1437071
TI  - Winchester syndrome. A case report and literature review.
AB  - The mucopolysaccharidoses are a group of inherited lysosomal storage diseases
      that are caused by a deficiency of specific enzymes. The acid mucopolysaccharides
      are stored in tissue and excreted in large quantities in the urine. The storage
      of this material leads to effects on a wide variety of tissues and to remarkable
      changes in morphologic features. Winchester syndrome is a rare disorder in the
      group of mucopolysaccharidoses. This article is a report of a case with classic
      clinical, radiologic, and biochemical characteristics of the Winchester syndrome.

PMID- 1437072
TI  - Root malformation.

PMID- 1437073
TI  - Contraindications to vasoconstrictors in dentistry: Part I. Cardiovascular
      diseases.
AB  - This article reviews the main contraindications of vasoconstrictors in cardiac
      patients, notably unstable angina, recent myocardial infarction, recent coronary
      artery bypass surgery, refractory arrhythmias, untreated or uncontrolled
      hypertension, and untreated or uncontrolled congestive heart failure. Extensive
      survey of the literature has been completed, giving specific guidelines for a
      rational use of vasoconstrictors in this category of medically compromised
      patients.

PMID- 1437074
TI  - Contraindications to vasoconstrictors in dentistry: Part II. Hyperthyroidism,
      diabetes, sulfite sensitivity, cortico-dependent asthma, and pheochromocytoma.
AB  - Dentists are aware of contraindications to the use of vasoconstrictors in
      patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, there are some other noncardiac
      conditions we should know. This article discusses the absolute contraindications
      to the use of vasoconstrictors in patients with a history of hyperthyroidism,
      diabetes, allergy to sulfites, asthma, and pheochromocytoma.

PMID- 1437075
TI  - Intraoral vesicles occurring after alginate impressions.
AB  - In 47 of 227 dental students intraoral vesicles developed after multiple alginate
      impressions. The lesions were generally solitary and clear, and appeared within
      24 to 48 hours after the impression. They were most frequently located inside the
      vermilion border of the lips and resolved spontaneously in 2 to 5 days. The
      purpose of this study was to determine the cause of these reactions.
      Histopathologically one lesion was suggestive of a contact allergy. Cutaneous
      patch tests, which proved negative, were performed on 14 students to determine
      whether an allergy to the alginate flavoring existed. The surface of three
      lesions were cultured and the organisms identified. Contamination studies were
      carried out on seven unopened containers of the alginate powder and resulted in
      the isolation of some organisms similar to the mucosal cultures; however, no
      relationship can be proved. These findings indicate that the cause of the
      vesicles remains unknown, and further studies are necessary to establish the
      cause.

PMID- 1437076
TI  - Appropriate effectiveness: a tale of carts and horses.

PMID- 1437077
TI  - An initial assessment of the Veterans Affairs occurrence screening program.
AB  - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established a computerized occurrence
      screening program in its medical centers in October 1988. Data collected from
      these hospitals suggest that occurrence screening has been a useful component of
      the VA's overall quality assurance effort; opportunities for improvement were
      found in 4.2% of all occurrences. When asked to name the three most effective
      criteria, there was strong agreement among participating hospitals--50% or more
      of the facilities ranked readmissions, death, and admission within three days of
      an unscheduled outpatient visit as the most effective. A majority of facilities
      (56%) named occurrence screening as one of the more effective elements in
      identifying quality-of-care issues. These findings must be balanced against
      important limitations of the occurrence screening process; however, guided by the
      data it collected, the VA has recently made several changes in its occurrence
      screening program to address these limitations.

PMID- 1437078
TI  - Lessons learned from an early attempt to implement CQI principles in a regulatory
      system.
AB  - This article describes the Quality Assurance Project (1978-1982), which was
      developed as a demonstration project by a Wisconsin research team and was
      intended to implement and evaluate new methods for carrying out the regulatory
      roles of facility and resident assessment in Wisconsin nursing homes. The new
      method included (1) a screening process to distribute efforts between sanctioning
      and process improvement, (2) role changes that would move surveyors beyond
      problem identification toward education and consultation, and (3) a resident
      review process based on efforts to find systems-level problems. For the first
      three years of the project (reported here) certain principles were followed, many
      of which were similar to those of continuous quality improvement (CQI). Although
      this is an imperfect example of CQI implementation in a regulatory organization,
      it contains important lessons that may be helpful in integrating the CQI
      philosophy into other external review efforts.

PMID- 1437079
TI  - New methods for evaluating utilization management programs.
AB  - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc (BCBS), has developed two new
      methods for measuring the effect of utilization management (UM) in reducing
      unnecessary hospital use. The "program component" method measures the separate
      effect of preadmission review, concurrent review, and discharge planning. The
      "savable days" method produces a composite measure of the effectiveness of the
      program as a whole. The use of these two methods is illustrated with five years
      of utilization review data from the BCBS nongroup insurance product. The results
      can be used by operations managers and policymakers to measure the performance of
      individual UM components and the program as a whole, to establish goals and
      monitor program performance, to modify the program in response to changing
      utilization patterns, to assist in developing premiums, to establish risk-sharing
      agreements with employers or providers, and to demonstrate the effectiveness of
      the program for use in marketing.

PMID- 1437080
TI  - Strategies for health care reform highlight managed care meeting.

PMID- 1437081
TI  - Audit for undertransfusion as well as for overuse of blood components.

PMID- 1437082
TI  - A patient transport pilot quality improvement team.
AB  - The transportation of inpatients within the hospital is a critical component of
      the patient care process. A quality improvement (QI) team at Massachusetts
      General Hospital (Boston) convened to improve this process and to pilot the QI
      approach there. Pilot QI projects have the burden of intense scrutiny by senior
      management at a point when the fundamentals needed for a successful QI project
      are scarce or not yet available. The authors, who were participants in this
      project, describe the methodology and outcomes of this pilot QI process as well
      as the lessons learned. The results confirm that, although difficult, it is
      possible to succeed in pilot projects and gain the support needed to move on to
      the next step in the QI journey.

PMID- 1437083
TI  - Review of medical care in cited nursing homes: key areas of deficiency.
AB  - This article identifies key areas of physician performance in nursing homes (NHs)
      cited by state regulators. Six faculty members of the University of Maryland
      Department of Family Medicine reviewed medical care in ten Maryland NHs, which
      constituted 6.7% of Maryland's Comprehensive-level beds, with a sample of 547
      charts and 81 physicians. The reviewers recorded the absence of expected minimum
      standards of performance in patient care. Nine of the NHs had been cited and one
      was anticipating an audit by state regulators. Citation by regulators
      corresponded with inadequate documentation of patient history and physical
      examinations, especially of neurologic conditions; with inadequate health care
      maintenance; with mismanagement of laboratory findings such as bacteriuria; and
      with lack of medical administrative leadership and quality management. These key
      areas of physician performance should be regularly assessed or systematically
      changed in all NHs to maintain at least minimum standards of care.

PMID- 1437084
TI  - Continuous quality improvement of Pap smears in an ambulatory care facility.
AB  - This article describes how the H. Claude Hudson Comprehensive Health Center (Los
      Angeles) implemented a continuous quality improvement program to reduce the
      unacceptably high rate of nonrepresentative Papanicolaou (Pap) smears (those
      lacking endocervical component). A review of the literature and telephone surveys
      indicated that the optimal Pap smear technique includes the use of a cervical
      cytobrush. Several cytobrushes were evaluated and one was chosen to be used
      facilitywide. Clinicians were given in-services on the proper cervical sampling
      techniques using the cytobrush. The rate of nonrepresentative Pap smears
      decreased approximately 12% during a five-month period; this has been attributed
      to uniform implementation of the cytobrush technique in nonpregnant patients, in
      service education, and cooperative teamwork.

PMID- 1437085
TI  - "National Quality of Care Forum" explores feasibility issues in quality
      management.

PMID- 1437086
TI  - Integrating total quality management and quality assurance at the University of
      Michigan Medical Center.
AB  - Staff members from the University of Michigan Medical Center (UMMC), 1990 winner
      of the Commitment to Quality Award, describe how they integrated its quality
      assurance (QA) program into its total quality management (TQM) strategy. The QA
      program has changed in recent years to establish quality as a central priority,
      to educate staff in the importance of quality, and to disseminate information
      more effectively. While these initiatives were underway, UMMC began to embrace
      TQM as an operating philosophy. Recognizing both the strengths and weaknesses of
      QA, staff members have worked to apply TQM principles (eg, focus on processes) to
      QA while using the ongoing monitoring of QA to identify opportunities for
      improvement within the organization's TQM management system.

PMID- 1437087
TI  - The financial benefits of an effective hospitalwide quality assurance/utilization
      management program.
AB  - This article describes the organizational structure and functions of the quality
      assurance/utilization management (QA/UM) department at The Johns Hopkins Hospital
      (Baltimore), which has developed a proactive QA/UM program for identifying
      opportunities to control inappropriate inpatient admissions, shorten a patient's
      length of stay, monitor the use of ancillary services, and improve physician
      documentation in patient medical records. In addition, the QA/UM department has
      developed and implemented an aggressive third-party appeal mechanism to ensure
      that the institution has an effective UM program. The QA/UM department annually
      recovers more than 3 million dollars for the hospital by aggressively appealing
      third-party payer denials. Specific chart-review variables are outlined.

PMID- 1437088
TI  - The development of quality assurance in the German health care system.
AB  - Quality assurance efforts in the German health care system have primarily been a
      responsibility of the medical profession. The Federal and State Physician
      Chambers coordinated early quality assurance studies, which conformed to the
      guidelines of voluntary participation by physicians, confidentiality of data, and
      no imposition of sanctions for poor performance. These guidelines were challenged
      by the Health Reform Act of 1989, which made the legal regulations for quality
      assurance the same for hospitals as for out-patient care. Some current draft
      implementation plans conform to the principle of anonymity, requiring no
      disclosure of patient-specific, physician-specific, or hospital-specific data to
      third parties; others allow release of data to individual insurers or their
      associations. Although no consensus has been reached as to how quality assurance
      will be performed in the future in Germany, it will clearly become an integral
      part of the system.

PMID- 1437089
TI  - Reforming health care from experience.

PMID- 1437090
TI  - A transformation in health care decision making.

PMID- 1437091
TI  - Understanding the dynamics of hospital quality measurement.

PMID- 1437092
TI  - The physician and employee judgment system: reliability and validity of a
      hospital quality measurement method.
AB  - Hospitals engaged in quality improvement must measure and assess customer
      perceptions of hospital services. Hospital customers are either "external"-
      patients, their families, and payers--or "internal"--physicians and hospital
      employees. This article describes two measurement systems designed to gather
      information from internal customers about the quality of hospital services. One
      system targets physicians, the other hospital employees. This article describes
      how these systems were developed and pilot-tested, and how the results were
      analyzed. Analysis of results showed the systems to be reliable, valid, and
      representative. The article also addresses limitations of the research (focus on
      general acute-care hospitals), interesting findings and implications (the
      correlation between physicians' and employees' ratings of hospital quality), and
      uses of these measures in corporate-level and hospital-level quality improvement
      (measuring trends and identifying specific opportunities for improvement).

PMID- 1437093
TI  - Total quality management in a 300-bed community hospital: the quality improvement
      process translated to health care.
AB  - Winter Park Memorial Hospital (Winter Park, Florida) began implementation of a
      well-strategized plan for total quality management (TQM) in 1987. Having no
      guidelines for applying TQM to health care but using the industrial quality
      management techniques of Philip Crosby Associates, Inc, the hospital made the
      transition and saved thousands of dollars in the process. This article describes
      the transition, especially the integral part played by the Medical Staff Quality
      Council in changing the hospital's culture.

PMID- 1437094
TI  - Integrating external clinical information with the ten-step monitoring and
      evaluation process: from theory to practice.
AB  - Traditionally, Sisters of Mercy Health System (SMHS)-St Louis hospitals have had
      difficulty integrating quality information from external sources into their own
      monitoring and evaluation activities. This difficulty became apparent at the 14
      hospitals of the SMHS when the system headquarters began providing its hospitals
      with comparative clinical outcome information. Although the hospitals found value
      in the comparative studies, the information was not fully used in individual
      hospitals' quality improvement efforts. As a result, SMHS developed a model for
      integrating external quality information into the local hospitals' ten-step
      monitoring and evaluation process. This article explains the integration model
      and shows how it has worked in several clinical scenarios.

PMID- 1437095
TI  - Health services researchers again focus on policy, management, and clinical
      practice implications.

PMID- 1437096
TI  - [Transcranial Doppler sonographic study of the effect of electroconvulsive
      therapy on the circulation in the median cerebral artery].
AB  - The authors monitored the circulation of middle cerebral artery in subdominant
      hemisphere using the transcranial Doppler sonographic method during
      electroconvulsive treatment. They intravenously administered the patient 500 mg
      propanididum to put him/her to sleep and 150 mg of suxamethonium for muscle
      relaxation. The phasis of narcosis and awakening were continuously recorded under
      the treatment. After the administration of propanididum a sudden brief rise in
      flow velocity was measured with transient bradycardia followed by tachycardia.
      After the muscle relaxation the peak flow velocity diminished long lasting and
      the mean flow velocity fell from 60 cm per second to 30 cm per second average. At
      the beginning of the electroconvulsive treatment the velocity suddenly rose. The
      flow velocity increased significantly during the clonic phase of convulsive jerks
      with the pulsatility indices falling rapidly. Very low pulsatility indices lasted
      for long period of time during and following clonic convulsions.

PMID- 1437097
TI  - [Significance of leukocytes and bacteria in the gastric aspirate from neonates].
AB  - The cytological pictures of the gastric aspirates of 2582 newborns were evaluated
      by a semiquantitative method. A high number of germs was found in the majority of
      the early onset sepsis and pneumonia (19/22). In the late onset and local
      connatal infections were found no significant cytological abnormalities. A high
      number of germs was a rare finding in the healthy newborn population (11/2456).

PMID- 1437098
TI  - [Duplex ultrasound scanning of the carotid arteries in patients with obliterative
      diseases of the lower extremities].
AB  - The authors practiced carotis duplex scanning examinations on 60 patients having
      lower limb artery disease. The patients were grouped according to, having
      cervical bruit or not. In the first group 100% had stenosis while in the second
      group had only 13.3%. Furthermore the stenosis--plack were analysed according to
      the severity of the lower limb artery disease. The severity of stenosis can be
      found in group "A" (bruit exists) and group "B" (no bruit) accordingly to the
      Fontaine stages. Stenosis higher then 50% was found in group "A" 3 in Fontaine
      stage II, and 10 in Fontaine stage III. While in group "B" there were no stenosis
      in Fontaine stage II, and 4 in Fontaine stage III. Out of thet not exceeded 3,
      50%, and 1 was subtotal. Likewise, difference can be found of the presence of
      placks partly in the two groups, partly in the point of view of the stages of
      Fontaine. There are in group "A" 23 cases with 48 placks, in group "B" 14 cases
      with 23 placks. Among the patients of group "A" in 10 cases with were in Fontaine
      II, and 13 in Fontaine III stage. In group "B" 5 were in Fontaine II, and 9 in
      Fontaine III stage. Authors are calling the attention, that according to their
      own data, and the sensitivity of duplex scanning this is the most proper
      examination for recognising the carotid artery sclerosis which is associated with
      lower limb artery disease.

PMID- 1437099
TI  - [The use of multivariate mathematical methods in medical diagnostic systems--a
      model for the evaluation of cytological smears].
AB  - The methods of the multivariate mathematics have been applied in several studies
      to increase the diagnostic reliability of medical decision support system. In the
      recent years some new algorithms for decision support (fuzzy logic) and for
      pattern recognition (neural nets), both specified by nonlinearity, were
      developed. This paper provides results for the application of this methods in the
      area of quantitative cytology and the comparison with the traditional
      classifiers. 21 normal, 15 dysplastic, 23 malignant, Feulgen stained gastric
      imprint smears were analysed on a Leitz Miamed DNA equipment. The determination
      of mean DNA content, the 2c deviation index (2cDI), 5c Exceeding rate (RcER),
      G1,S,G2 phase fraction ratios, cell nucleus area, form factor was performed. The
      discriminant analysis classified correctly the 95.6% of malignant cases, 86.7% of
      dysplasias, and 80.7% normal cases. Our diagnostic system using fuzzy logic made
      the diagnostic borders fine tuneable, and reliable. The back propagation neural
      net could classify all three diagnostic groups above 95% correctly. The
      application of nonlinear computational methods made the diagnostic system more
      reliable. The application of these algorithms are encouraged.

PMID- 1437100
TI  - [Family-centered obstetrics].
AB  - Family centralised delivery model program in the Department of Obstetrics of
      Borsod County Hospital in Miskolc is reviewed. This program has been started
      since 1986. Significance and positive emotional effects are emphasized.
      Preparation for the birth, the presence of the husband in the labour ward, the
      alternative delivery position and the rooming-in system are discussed in detail.
      The natural birth's behaviour, which is very important in the life of the family,
      would be realized with this program.

PMID- 1437101
TI  - [Albert Schweitzer on Hungarian coins].

PMID- 1437102
TI  - [Constantine Prphyrogenetos and the medical sciences].

PMID- 1437103
TI  - [Cholesterol intake].

PMID- 1437104
TI  - [Medical treatment of arteriosclerosis obliterans].
AB  - The author gives an overview on former and recent ways of medical therapy in
      peripheral arterial occlusive disease. The importance of possible elimination of
      the risk factors is emphasized. The author summarizes the mechanism and clinical
      effects of drugs affecting vasodynamic as well as thrombolytic processes. The
      conclusion of the review indicates that although presently there is no ideal
      therapy for the disease, yet in a remarkable part of cases a marked clinical
      improvement and inhibition of the basic pathologic processes can be produced even
      by the available preventive and therapeutical methods.

PMID- 1437105
TI  - [Bilateral exploration in unilateral inguinal hernia (cost-benefit)].
AB  - The authors performed simultaneous inguinal exploration of the right side on 100
      girls operated on for the left sided inguinal hernia and hernial sac was found in
      73 cases on the right asymptomatic side too. Though the simultaneous bilateral
      exploration has been proposed by several authors in the case of unilateral
      inguinal hernia of infants and children, the controversy continues among the
      pediatric surgeons in this respect at present too. The great number of the
      hernial sac found on the asymptomatic side according to the authors opinion must
      be enough to be agreeable with the routine bilateral exploration on girls. There
      has not been found any publication in the Hungarian literature about this topic.

PMID- 1437106
TI  - [D-penicillamine: old drug, new indication? D-penicillamine reduced pulmonary
      hypertension induced by free radicals].
AB  - Pulmonary hypertension is one of the major problems in the neonatal period. Free
      oxygen radicals play important role in the activation of pulmonary
      vasoconstriction. Since D-penicillamine has proved to be a strong antioxidant in
      newborns it was of interest to investigate the effect of the drug in the oxygen
      radical induced pulmonary hypertension. According to our animal experiments D
      penicillamine inhibits the xanthine oxidase induced pulmonary hypertension in
      piglets. The same inhibitory effect was observed in the prostanoid metabolism.
      Could D-penicillamine be used in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension in the
      newborn?

PMID- 1437107
TI  - [Spontaneous pneumoperitoneum localized in the left posterior pararenal space in
      acute pancreatitis].
AB  - The authors have analysed the 220 native, erect and supine abdominal X-ray views
      of 65 males and 45 females with the acute pancreatitis. The localized spontaneous
      pneumoretroperitoneum inside the left posterior pararenal space was observed in
      3.8% of patients (4 cases). The extraperitoneal gas paralleled laterally and
      inferiorly the margins of kidney and medially the lateral margin of the iliopsoas
      muscle. Superiorly the gas collection overlay the suprarenal area and outlined
      the medial crus of the diaphragm, occasionally. The plain-film roentgenogram
      depended on the quantity of the extraperitoneal gas and of the perirenal fat,
      besides the subdiaphragmatic adhesions. The pathognostic pneumoretroperitoneum
      evolved within the initial stage of acute pancreatitis. Afterwards the
      extraperitoneal gas was hidden by the intraluminal gas bubbles and fluid levels
      of the dilated small and large bowels.

PMID- 1437108
TI  - [Increased use of pancreas transplantation in the management of diabetics].
AB  - The surgery looking for new ways takes part in the treatment of the type I
      diabetic patients. The development of pancreatic transplantation in the last
      decades is discussed. Nowadays the procedure has become accomplished and widely
      used in the transplantation practice. According to the results of the clinical
      trials the pancreatic transplantation can normalize the metabolism and improve
      the quality of life. By improving also the survival of the simultaneously
      transplanted kidney the procedure has become increasingly indispensable
      complement of the kidney transplantation in the treatment of type I diabetic
      patients with end stage kidney disease.

PMID- 1437109
TI  - [Hospital on Round Hill. (Historical notes on the hospital of the Diosgyor steel
      mill].

PMID- 1437110
TI  - [Public health in Budapest at the turn of the century].

PMID- 1437111
TI  - [The intrauterine contraceptive device].

PMID- 1437112
TI  - [New trends in the treatment of exocrine pancreas deficiency].
AB  - Economic function of the exocrine pancreas is based on non-parallel synthesis,
      transport and secretion of pancreatic enzymes during basal state and
      postprandially. Reserve capacity of acinar cells is also augmented by adaptation
      to the diet as well as by regeneration. In mild pancreatic insufficiency complex
      dietetic considerations help to maintain the necessary secretory capacity of the
      pancreas. In severe cases effective substitution therapy is mandatory and
      increasing lipase survival by dietetic maneuvers, by optimizing trypsin and
      chymotrypsin levels as well as acid and bile secretion can significantly
      ameliorate results of replacement therapy of steatorrhea. However, in painful
      chronic pancreatitis high protease activities seem to be beneficial. Individual
      replacement therapy with pancreatin preparations adapted to the requirements of
      the patient has to be chosen in difficult cases.

PMID- 1437113
TI  - [Acute childhood hemiplegia ].
AB  - Stroke in children has been considered to be the most important cause of acute
      infantile hemiplegia. The author studied 32 patients with childhood stroke. Of
      the patients 20 had ischemic stroke, and 12 had hemorrhagic stroke. There is an
      increase of ischemic stroke cases without known predisposing factors in spring.
      The possibility of nasopharyngeal infection of ischemic stroke in childhood is
      emphasized.

PMID- 1437114
TI  - [Significance of phenotypical properties in extra-intestinal E. coli infections].
AB  - Virulence factors (serogroup, haemolysis, haemagglutination, antigens K1, K5,
      colicinogenicity) and their association with diseases of 3334 Escherichia coli
      strains isolated from different clinical specimens between 1979-1990 were
      analysed. Strains, that were isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of newborns under
      one month were characterized by certain serogroups (O7, O18, O45, O78, O83),
      possession of antigen K1 and production of colicin. On the basis of their LD50
      they belonged to the pathogenic group (i.e. < 10 10(6)) significantly more
      frequently than those isolated from other materials. Strains originating from
      blood cultures belonged frequently to serogroup O4, O6, O18 and were haemolytic.
      Their pathogenicity was proved by mouse lung toxicity test. Properties of strains
      isolated from wound and throat swabs, urinary samples resembled to that of
      strains originating from blood cultures in many respects, expressing the fact
      that bacteria settle in different organs before sepsis is developing. Frequent
      occurrence of strains with antigen K1, haemolysin and haemagglutination
      positivity in vaginal swabs expose newborns to danger. Knowledge of virulence
      markers and prevention of infections are associated.

PMID- 1437115
TI  - [New concepts in the care of the elderly].

PMID- 1437116
TI  - [The colours of serotypes].

PMID- 1437117
TI  - [Why cavernous tuberculosis was a fatal disease before the invention of
      tuberculostatic drugs].

PMID- 1437118
TI  - [Diagnosis of chronic myeloproliferative diseases].

PMID- 1437119
TI  - [Usefulness of exercise test in combination with ECG].
AB  - The author gives an overview on usefulness of exercise ECG in cardiology. There
      is a summary of indications and contraindications of the test and of the personal
      requirements. The exercise ECG do not recommended to screen asymptomatic
      individuals. The test is very important in the diagnosis and the prognostic
      evaluation of patients with ischemic heart disease. The exercise ECG and coronary
      arteriography are equally important prognostic determinants of future cardiac
      events. The exercise ECG has been proved an objective tool in the evaluation of
      functional impairment of patients with congenital and acquired heart disease. The
      author summarizes the work of exercise laboratories in Hungary, points out the
      necessity of it's technical improvement and suggests to increase their
      productivity.

PMID- 1437120
TI  - [Esophageal dilatation using the Savary-Gilliard sound set].
AB  - Authors present a method of esophageal dilatation and report their experiences.
      The place of esophageal dilatation among other therapeutic approaches of
      esophageal stricture is discussed. The advantage of Savary-Gilliard bougies and
      guide wire and its applications are presented. During one and a half year 218
      esophageal dilatations were performed at 82 patients. 11 patients were intubated
      endoscopically. Esophageal perforation occurred in 2 cases (0.93%). Dilatation of
      the esophagus with Savary-Gilliard bougies and using of the guide wire are
      considered a safe and many-sided method in the diagnosis and treatment of
      esophageal strictures.

PMID- 1437121
TI  - [Otoacoustic emission audiometry in neonates and adults].
AB  - The authors discuss the clinical use of the otoacoustic emission audiometry.
      During the physiological process of sound amplification in the cochlea vibration
      energy escapes from the inner ear. By the analysis of this sound it is possible
      to gain information about the function of the cochlea. According to the
      experiences of the authors the method is extremely useful for screening
      audiometry in pathological and normal neonates. In adults it can be used for
      monitoring the cochlear function during ototoxic therapy or noise exposure.

PMID- 1437122
TI  - [Osteoblastoma in the iliac crest].
AB  - An 18 year old male patient is reported with a five year history of mild pain in
      his right hip. Radiological investigation showed a typical feature for
      osteoblastoma of iliac bone, with two niduses. En bloc excision was performed.
      The histological examination's result was also osteoblastoma.

PMID- 1437123
TI  - [A life in the service of health policy and history of medicine. Gyorgy Gortvay
      (1892-1966) remembered].

PMID- 1437124
TI  - [The role of anatomy in the representation of suffering].

PMID- 1437125
TI  - [Labor ending in triple tragedy].

PMID- 1437126
TI  - [Dilemma of pediatric surgery. Ethical problems in surgery on neonates].

PMID- 1437127
TI  - [Experience with surgical treatment of ascendant varicophlebitis].
AB  - In ascendant varicophlebitis, the authors suggest not only crossectomy, but also
      radical removal of the dilated part of the great saphenous vein and of all
      thrombosed and non-thrombosed varicose veins in one session. They consider it
      important to clear the extension of the thrombosis by using an ultrasonic doppler
      flowmeter or the duplex scan technique; phlebography is needed only if deep
      venous affection is suspected. Cardinal questions of the operative technique are
      discussed. In cases of deep venous affection, thrombectomy is performed with
      Fogarty catheter. Antibiotics are generally held to be unnecessary, but early
      mobilisation and postoperative low-dose heparin prophylaxis are of great
      importance. No significant complications were detected after 37 interventions.
      Every patient was controlled one year after surgery. Residual complaints were
      found more rarely in the radically treated group. As concerns the quick and
      definitive recovery, mention is made of favourable economic consequences of the
      active surgical treatment.

PMID- 1437128
TI  - [Pseudoaneurysm in a pancreatic pseudocyst].
AB  - Four cases with pseudoaneurysm developed on the basis of pancreatic pseudocyst
      are reported. Regarding data obtained from literature diagnostic and therapeutic
      possibilities and their success rates are analysed. Authors summarize both
      specific and non-specific signs of the pancreatic pseudoaneurysm obtained from
      duplex scan. All of their patients were successfully treated by operation. They
      call attention to the benefit of the selective feeding artery ligature.
      Importance of ultrasound follow up of patients suffering from pancreatitis is
      pointed out, as a prevention of the massive hemorrhage which is the most serious
      complication of the pancreatic pseudoaneurysm.

PMID- 1437129
TI  - [Mortality among mature neonates requiring intensive care].
AB  - Causes of mortality among term infants hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care
      Unit during a period of five years were investigated. Among the 107 fatal cases
      analyzed, congenital malformation was the cause of death in 63 and
      hypoxia/asphyxia in 35 cases, whereas 9 newborns died primarily of infection.
      Though congenital malformation is the leading cause of mortality, nevertheless,
      also perinatal asphyxia and primary and secondary infections play an important
      role. The utmost importance of prevention and proper medical care is emphasized.

PMID- 1437130
TI  - [Etiological diagnosis of pneumonia].

PMID- 1437131
TI  - [Etiological diagnosis of pneumonia].

PMID- 1437132
TI  - [Etiological diagnosis of pneumonia].

PMID- 1437133
TI  - [Satisfaction in the work place...].

PMID- 1437134
TI  - [Work under different conditions! Interview with Jasmin Hadas, RN, a colleague
      who came to Austria from Slowenia. Interview by Karl Ertler].

PMID- 1437135
TI  - [European Nursing Group and Standing Committee of Nurses of the EC].

PMID- 1437136
TI  - [Diabetes consultant].

PMID- 1437137
TI  - [Nursing of patients with diabetes].

PMID- 1437138
TI  - [My life--thanks to insulin].

PMID- 1437139
TI  - [Smoke gets in your eyes...].

PMID- 1437140
TI  - [Planned change in nursing legislation].

PMID- 1437141
TI  - Identification of complex formation between two intracellular tyrosine kinase
      substrates: human c-Rel and the p105 precursor of p50 NF-kappa B.
AB  - Immune complexes of the product of the c-rel protooncogene and of p105, the p50
      NF-kappa B precursor, isolated from human T-lymphoblastoid cell lines are
      comprised of multiple proteins. Only p105 and human c-Rel (hc-Rel) are common to
      complexes precipitated with antiserum directed against either p105 or hc-Rel.
      Both proteins are inducible by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and phorbol 12-myristate
      13-acetate (PMA) and their subcellular distribution is affected by this
      induction. We demonstrate that the Rel immune complex contains a protein with a
      molecular weight in the 40 kDa range (p40) which apparently is exclusively
      cytoplasmic. We were not able to detect p40 in the p105 immune complex, though hc
      Rel is present. This indicates that hc-Rel exists in different multi-protein
      complexes and fits a model of functional regulation mediated by differential
      protein-protein interaction. We also demonstrate considerable isoform diversity
      of both hc-Rel and p105. We show that this heterogeneity is, in part, the result
      of phosphorylation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that p105 and hc-Rel are tyrosine
      kinase substrates. This finding indicates a role for both proteins in
      intracellular signal transduction pathways which are modulated by modification of
      their phosphorylation status.

PMID- 1437142
TI  - Multiple intragenic elements regulate the expression of the murine N-ras gene.
AB  - We have identified two separate regions within the murine N-ras transcription
      unit which may participate in the regulation of N-ras gene expression. One of
      these regions, localized to the first half of intron 1, contains a site of
      premature transcriptional arrest. We propose that premature transcription
      termination, which has been identified as an important control mechanism for
      several genes, may also play a role in the regulation of the N-ras gene. In
      addition, we have identified a positively acting region within the N-ras
      transcription unit. This region, localized to the end of intron 1/beginning of
      exon 1, was found to greatly increase expression from the N-ras promoter.

PMID- 1437143
TI  - Catalytic properties, tissue and intracellular distribution of neurofibromin.
AB  - The neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) gene encodes a protein, neurofibromin, that
      shows homology with members of the GTPase-activating protein (GAP) family. To
      study neurofibromin, rabbit polyclonal antisera were raised against two synthetic
      peptides. These antisera immunoprecipitated a specific protein of about 240 kDa
      in lysates of adult murine and rat tissues both in the soluble (S100) and to a
      lesser degree in the particulate (P100) fractions. The neurofibromin
      immunoprecipitated from the lysates of several murine organs stimulated the
      intrinsic GTPase activity of p21 c-Ha-ras protein. Based on immunoblotting,
      immunoprecipitation and GTPase assays, neurofibromin appears to be at least 10
      fold more abundant in the brain than in the other murine organs. The GTPase
      stimulatory activity of full-length neurofibromin, like the catalytic GAP-related
      domain, is inhibited by arachidonic acid and the detergent dodecyl maltoside,
      while phosphatidic acid, containing arachidonic and stearic acid, is non
      inhibitory. Immunofluorescence analysis with anti-neurofibromin sera in NIH3T3
      cells suggests that at least some of the cellular protein associates with
      cytoplasmic structures that are distinct from actin or tubulin filaments.

PMID- 1437144
TI  - p53 mutations in Raji cells: characterization and localization relative to other
      Burkitt's lymphomas.
AB  - The nuclear phosphoprotein p53 is an important regulator of cell proliferation in
      normal cells. Interestingly, the gene encoding p53 has usually undergone
      mutations in a wide range of tumor types. Recent studies of the p53 gene in
      Burkitt's lymphomas have demonstrated that mutations are extremely common, and in
      fact it is rare that both alleles of the p53 gene in these tumors are not
      inactivated by mutation or deletion. We present here genetic data regarding the
      status of the p53 gene in the Burkitt lymphoma cell line, Raji. As is typical for
      this type of tumor, both alleles have undergone point mutations. Further,
      statistical analysis of available data from a large number of Burkitt's lymphomas
      indicates an apparent tumor-specific distribution of p53 mutations. The
      possibility that specific mutations of the p53 gene may be important for
      different tumor types is discussed.

PMID- 1437145
TI  - Identification of the product of two oncogenic rearranged forms of the RET proto
      oncogene in papillary thyroid carcinomas.
AB  - In papillary thyroid carcinomas, we have identified two tumor-specific
      rearrangements of the RET proto-oncogene leading to the formation of different
      transforming fusion products sharing the tyrosine kinase (tk) domain of the proto
      oncogene and designated ptc-1 and ptc-2. We have analysed ptc-1 and ptc-2
      products by immunoprecipitation with specific anti-RET antibodies followed by
      immunoblotting with the same reagent or with antibodies specific for
      phosphotyrosine (P-tyr) residues. The anti-RET antibodies were reactive with 64
      kDa (p64ptc-1) and 81-kDa (p81ptc-2) proteins from lysates of ptc-1 and ptc-2
      transformed cells, respectively, and identified two proteins of 140 kDa and 160
      kDa from extracts of SK-N-SH, a neuroblastoma cell line previously shown to
      express two differently glycosylated forms of the normal RET product. The anti P
      tyr antibodies, while detecting the same p64ptc-1 and p81ptc-2 proteins from ptc
      1 and ptc-2 extracts, did not show any specific band in the neuroblastoma
      lysates. An additional set of experiments led us to conclude that, whereas the
      normal product of the RET proto-oncogene is a membrane-associated receptor-like
      molecule not intrinsically phosphorylated on tyrosine, both oncogenic forms of
      RET, ptc-1 and ptc-2, are constitutively phosphorylated on tyrosine, display an
      'in vitro' autophosphorylation activity, are translocated from the membrane to
      the cytoplasm and are apparently unaffected by protein kinase C modulation.

PMID- 1437146
TI  - Both myeloproliferative disease and leukemia are induced by transplantation of
      bone marrow cells expressing v-myc.
AB  - An in vivo system has been established to investigate v-myc-induced hematopoietic
      neoplasia in mice. A Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MLV)-derived recombinant
      retrovirus containing v-myc was used to infect immature bone marrow cells, and
      these cells were then transplanted into lethally irradiated recipients. All
      provirus-positive reconstituted mice were found to develop hematopoietic
      proliferative disorders and, in certain cases, overt leukemia--myeloblastic,
      myelomonocytic and T lymphocytic. In all cases expression of v-myc was high and
      the disease type did not correlate with the level of expression. We have isolated
      immortalized monocytes, myeloid progenitors and T lymphocytes from several of
      these mice and shown tumorigenicity in secondary syngeneic recipients. This
      system provides a model for investigating the progression from a pre-leukemic
      disease to malignancy. In addition, we describe a recombinant v-myc-containing
      retrovirus that directs high-level v-myc expression from the Mo-MLV promoter in
      all the hematopoietic cell types examined.

PMID- 1437147
TI  - PCTAIRE-1 and PCTAIRE-3, two members of a novel cdc2/CDC28-related protein kinase
      gene family.
AB  - We have isolated two murine cDNAs designated PCTAIRE-1 and -3 which encode
      putative serine/threonine-specific protein kinases. The predicted products of
      PCTAIRE-1 and -3 are 65% homologous and are organized into a core 295-residue
      kinase domain flanked by unique 161 and 117 amino acid N-terminal and 40 and 39
      amino acid C-terminal domains respectively. The kinase domains are approximately
      50-55% homologous to members of the cdc2/CDC28 kinase gene family, and each
      contains a cysteine-for-serine substitution within the conserved PSTAIRE motif.
      PCTAIRE-1 was ubiquitously expressed as a predominant 3.0-kb transcript and a
      minor 2.2-kb mRNA resulting from differential polyadenylation. In contrast,
      PCTAIRE-3 exhibited a more restricted pattern of expression with a single 3.0-kb
      mRNA detected in brain, kidney and intestine. The PCTAIRE-1 and -3 products
      produced by in vitro transcription-translation failed to bind to p13suc1 but were
      precipitated by antibodies directed to Schizosaccharomyces pombe p34cdc2 or to
      the human PSTAIRE motif. Thus, PCTAIRE-1 and -3 are members of a novel subfamily
      of cdc2/CDC28-related protein kinases.

PMID- 1437148
TI  - Activation of the c-Raf protein kinase by protein kinase C phosphorylation.
AB  - The product of the c-raf-1 proto-oncogene is a cytoplasmic serine/threonine
      protein kinase that appears to be activated in signal transduction from a variety
      of cell-surface receptors. The mechanism of c-Raf activation upon stimulation of
      cell-surface receptors is not clear, but there seem to exist multiple pathways of
      activation which involve tyrosine and/or serine phosphorylation of the c-Raf
      protein in vivo. The activated state of Raf is reflected in an increased apparent
      molecular weight of the Raf protein in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels
      owing to hyperphosphorylation. The tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13
      acetate (TPA) is one of the agents able to induce this hyperphosphorylation of
      Raf in vivo, suggesting that protein kinase C (PKC) may be involved in the
      activation of c-Raf in particular situations. Using recombinant baculoviruses
      expressing PKC and Raf polypeptides, we show here that conventional PKC types
      (alpha, beta, gamma) but not novel types (delta, zeta, eta) or the unrelated Mos
      kinase are able to activate c-Raf in a TPA-dependent manner upon coexpression in
      insect cells. Direct phosphorylation of the Raf protein with PKC in vitro also
      enhanced the kinase activity of c-Raf, suggesting that c-Raf acts immediately
      downstream of PKC in a protein kinase cascade which is triggered by TPA and may
      lead to transcriptional activation of TPA-inducible genes and tumor promotion.

PMID- 1437149
TI  - AP-1 (Fos-Jun) regulation by IP-1: effect of signal transduction pathways and
      cell growth.
AB  - Transcription factor AP-1 is constituted by the various products of the fos and
      jun proto-oncogene family members, which associate as dimers to bind with
      variable efficiency to 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA)-responsive
      promoter elements (TREs). We have recently shown that DNA binding of AP-1 is
      regulated by an inhibitory protein, IP-1, whose activity is modulated by
      phosphorylation. Here it is shown that although AP-1 has a very high affinity for
      its recognition sequence, its binding to the TRE can be quickly inhibited by the
      addition of IP-1. IP-1 is more active on AP-1 complexes formed during a shorter
      period of time. IP-1 activity is blocked by stimulation of the protein kinase C
      (PKC) signal transduction pathway, achieved by treating HeLa cells with phorbol
      esters or with a diacylglycerol analog. We observed an increase in AP-1-DNA
      binding after treatment of the cells with either the calcium ionophore A-23187 or
      dibutyryl cAMP; this could be ascribed to inhibition of IP-1 activity. A
      decreased IP-1 activity also correlates with the increase in AP-1-DNA binding
      after stimulating cells with serum. This suggests that IP-1 is an important
      target of the various signal transduction pathways. No effect on AP-1 and IP-1
      was detected in cells transformed by Ki-ras or v-raf; nor could an effect of
      inhibition of protein synthesis be observed. We also analysed IP-1 regulation
      upon differentiation of P19 embryonal carcinoma cells by retinoic acid. We
      conclude that IP-1 regulation has a pivotal role in the final modulation of Fos
      Jun by signal transduction pathways.

PMID- 1437150
TI  - Differential induction of c-fos and c-jun proto-oncogenes and AP-1 activity by
      tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate in cells at different stages
      of tumor promotion in vitro.
AB  - A two-stage (initiation and promotion) model of chemical transformation of mouse
      embryonic fibroblasts was used to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of tumor
      promotion in vitro. C3H10T1/2 cells which had been initiated with a
      subcarcinogenic dose (0.5 micrograms ml-1) of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) were
      isolated after 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) treatment lasting 12,
      24 or 36 days. These series of partially promoted cells were designated T-12, T
      24 and T-36 cells. T-12 and T-24 cells exhibited higher anchorage-independent
      growth on soft agar in the presence of TPA than did the initiated or T-36 cells.
      Cytosolic protein kinase C (PKC) in the resting state was slightly depleted in T
      24 and T-36 cells. Proteolytic down-regulation of membrane-bound PKC was enhanced
      in T-12 cells compared with the initiated cells after 3 h of TPA treatment.
      Induction of c-fos and c-jun proto-oncogene expression increased two- to
      threefold in T-12 cells. Moreover, the basal level of c-fos mRNA progressively
      increased in T-12, T-24 and T-36 cells. As compared with other cell types, T-12
      cells had the highest AP-1 DNA-binding activity at both the basal level and at 30
      min after TPA treatment. These results indicate that deregulation of the TPA
      induced cellular responses occurs in the cells at various stages of tumor
      promotion, and might be associated with transforming processes.

PMID- 1437151
TI  - Identification and quantification of a carcinogen-induced molecular initiation
      event in cell transformation.
AB  - All transformed foci of Balb/c 3T3 clone A31-1-1 cells induced by 7,12
      dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) (42 out of 42 examined) contained an A to T
      transversion at codon 61 (A182 to T) of the Ki-ras gene. The transformants
      induced by other carcinogens tested did not contain such a mutation, except one
      out of nine 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA)-induced transformed foci.
      Thus, we hypothesized that this mutation is a specific DMBA-induced initiating
      event in Balb/c 3T3 cell transformation and we have measured its frequency of
      induction before transformation occurs, employing our recently developed method.
      Such mutations can be detected in the cell population as early as 3 days after
      exposure to DMBA. The same mutation was also detected in the Ha-ras gene. No
      detectable level (< 10(-6) of these mutations was induced by other carcinogens
      tested. The mutation frequency of the Ha-ras gene reached a plateau after 1
      week's exposure, but that of the Ki-ras gene continued to increase. These results
      suggest that the A182 to T mutation of the Ki-ras gene, but not that of the Ha
      ras gene, contributes to morphological transformation of Balb/c 3T3 cells. We
      have demonstrated that the level of expression of ras genes determines the rate
      of recruitment of cells into transformation. Quantitative analysis of the
      frequencies of ras gene mutations (initiation) and of transformation suggests
      that about 25% of those cells with the Ki-ras mutation were recruited into the
      full transformation process and that, in the presence of the tumor promoter TPA,
      about 56% of them completed morphological cell transformation.

PMID- 1437152
TI  - Inhibition of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR-1) gene in human
      melanocytes and malignant melanomas leads to inhibition of proliferation and
      signs indicative of differentiation.
AB  - Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR-1) is expressed as a single 3.5-kb mRNA
      transcript in normal human melanocytes and in malignant melanomas as determined
      upon Northern hybridization to a cDNA clone encoding the membrane-spanning form
      of the human FGFR-1. Polyclonal antisera directed against the chicken FGFR
      recognized a 145-kDa protein in primary and metastatic melanomas. Antisense
      oligodeoxynucleotides targeted against the translation start site and a splice
      donor-acceptor site of human FGFR-1, in addition to inhibiting the proliferation
      of normal human melanocytes and malignant melanomas, caused extensive dendrite
      formation and severe disruption of cell-cell contact--morphological changes that
      were not observed upon inhibition of the genes encoding basic fibroblast growth
      factor (bFGF) and retinoic acid-alpha receptor. Thus, unlike in the case of the
      ligand bFGF, expression of the FGFR-1 may represent a requisite to prevent human
      melanocytes and malignant melanomas from undergoing (terminal) differentiation.

PMID- 1437153
TI  - Malignant transformation of human melanocytes: induction of a complete melanoma
      phenotype and genotype.
AB  - Human melanoma provides a model to study malignant transformation and tumor
      progression. Expression of ras oncogenes in cultured normal human diploid
      melanocytes has induced a subset of phenotypic traits that are characteristic of
      malignant melanoma cells, including altered morphology, anchorage independence,
      induction of class II MHC antigens, up-regulation of the ganglioside GD3, and
      chromosomal abnormalities. However, other characteristics of melanoma, such as
      loss of expression of adenosine deaminase-binding protein and tumorigenicity,
      were not observed. We report here that melanocytes infected with a retrovirus
      containing the viral Ha-ras oncogene underwent complete transformation, acquiring
      all phenotypic characteristics of malignant melanomas observed in vivo.
      Transformation occurred in a sequential manner and was associated with
      spontaneous chromosomal instability. Cytogenetic analysis of transformed
      melanocytes indicated that the earliest structural chromosomal abnormalities were
      isochromosomes 6p and 9q followed by complete loss of chromosome 1p, all common
      karyotypic abnormalities described in human melanomas. The findings suggest that
      these chromosome regions which are deleted or relatively deficient may contain
      genes that are critical for the initiation and progression of the melanoma
      phenotype.

PMID- 1437154
TI  - Bone marrow-transforming activity of linker insertion mutants of Abelson murine
      leukemia virus.
AB  - Two sets of mutants of the Abelson murine leukemia virus, generated by linker
      insertion mutagenesis of a cloned proviral DNA, were tested for their ability to
      transform bone marrow cultures in vitro. All the viruses retained an intact
      tyrosine kinase domain and were competent for transformation of NIH3T3
      fibroblasts in culture. One series contained 12-bp linker insertions in the
      regions flanking the kinase domain, and the other contained frameshift mutations
      that truncated the gene product downstream of the kinase domain. The majority of
      the 12-bp insertion mutants retained full bone marrow-transforming activity; only
      one insertion in the SH2 domain showed reduced activity. This mutant suggests
      that some aspect of the SH2 domain may be more important in transformation of
      lymphocytes than fibroblasts. In contrast to the first set of mutants, the bone
      marrow-transforming activity of the majority of the truncation mutants was
      significantly reduced or completely lost. We conclude that there is a broad
      requirement for an intact C-terminal domain of the v-abl protein for the
      transformation of pre-B cells, but that no single part of this domain is
      critical.

PMID- 1437155
TI  - The human tpr gene encodes a protein of 2094 amino acids that has extensive
      coiled-coil regions and an acidic C-terminal domain.
AB  - We recently provided evidence that the human tpr gene encodes a 726 amino acid
      protein (designated tpr-S) and identified an alternatively spliced transcript
      that encodes a larger tpr protein with an extended C-terminal domain. In this
      study, through isolation and sequencing of tpr cDNA clones, we have established
      that this alternatively spliced transcript encodes a protein of 2094 amino acids
      (designated tpr-L). The larger tpr protein is predicted to have extensive regions
      of alpha-helix and several stretches of a heptad repeat that is characteristic of
      proteins adopting a coiled-coil conformation. Furthermore the carboxy domain of
      this protein is very rich in acidic residues and exhibits homology (58-80%) to
      the acidic regions of several nuclear proteins, including the Drosophila
      engrailed protein, Escherichia coli RNA polymerase sigma subunit and nucleolin.
      To gain additional insight into the function of tpr we examined the expression of
      tpr transcripts in tissues from adult rat. The highest levels of tpr transcripts
      were observed in testis, lung, thymus and spleen.

PMID- 1437156
TI  - elk-1 domains responsible for autonomous DNA binding, SRE:SRF interaction and
      negative regulation of DNA binding.
AB  - The ets oncogene superfamily consists of a family of sequence-specific DNA
      binding transcriptional activator proteins. We have previously identified, cloned
      and characterized one of the divergent ets-related members elk-1 and shown that
      it codes for a sequence-specific DNA-binding transcriptional activator. We have
      also shown that elk-1 forms SRF (Serum Response Factor) dependent ternary complex
      with SRE (Serum Response Element), similar to p62TCF. In this report, we have
      mapped the DNA-binding domain of the elk-1 protein (EDB, elk-1 DNA Binding
      domain) to the 76 amino acid ets homology region. We have also mapped the SRF
      interaction domain of the elk-1 protein (ESI, elk-1 SRF Interaction domain) to
      the carboxy-terminal region of the EDB domain. Ternary complex formation by elk-1
      requires both EDB and ESI domains of the elk-1 protein. Our results also show
      that the EDB domain of the elk-1 protein (residues 1-89) binds SRE autonomously,
      unlike full-length elk-1 protein, suggesting the presence of a potential Negative
      Regulatory DNA binding domain (NRD) which prevents the binding of elk-1 protein
      to SRE. Interaction of SRF with the ESI domain allows the elk-1 protein to bind
      to SRE. Thus elk-1 belongs to a class of transcriptional factors that are
      involved in gene regulation not only by autonomous DNA binding but also by
      indirect DNA binding through recruitment by cellular factors.

PMID- 1437157
TI  - c-fos mRNA constitutive expression by mature human megakaryocytes.
AB  - By in situ hybridization with a c-fos probe, we have shown that human bone marrow
      megakaryocytes cultured in the presence of 20% aplastic anemia plasma
      constitutively express c-fos mRNA. At day 0, megakaryocytes are mostly immature
      and only 3% of them are labeled. The number of labeled cells reached 23% after 12
      days of culture. Interleukin 3 (IL-3) and IL-6 added together at day 10 further
      increased this number to 31% 2 days later. Mature labeled megakaryocytes were
      more numerous and more strongly labeled than immature ones. These results suggest
      that c-fos could play a role in megakaryocytic terminal differentiation, either
      in the polyploidization or in the thrombopoietic function unique to these cells.

PMID- 1437158
TI  - Structural organization of a src gene from Xenopus laevis.
AB  - By sequence analysis of genomic clones, the exon-intron structure of one of the
      two src genes from Xenopus laevis has been determined. The coding region of the
      gene is interrupted by 10 introns whose locations are identical to the introns in
      the coding regions of the src genes of human and chicken. The 5' untranslated
      region is contained on a separate exon with no sequence conservation relative to
      the corresponding region of the chicken gene. The 5' untranslated region of the
      Xenopus gene contains a G + C-rich stem-loop sequence and two ATG triplets. A 1.4
      kb fragment containing the 5' untranslated region and sequences upstream of it
      acts as a promoter when introduced in the correct orientation into X. laevis cell
      lines. The DNA sequence of this fragment lacks the typical arrangement of TATA
      and CCAAT sequences but contains the ATGCAAAT octamer sequence and a (TA)39
      sequence.

PMID- 1437159
TI  - In situ dephosphorylation of p53 protein by calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase
      treatment.
AB  - The monoclonal antibody (mAb) 1801 has been reported to identify an N-terminal
      determinant within the tumor-suppressor protein p53 located between amino acids
      32 and 79. This region contains two potential sites for serine phosphorylation at
      amino acids 33 and 46. Using a novel technique which dephosphorylates proteins in
      situ in fixed permeabilized cells, we have unmasked determinants in p53
      recognized by mAb 1801, allowing additional sites of p53 protein to be detected
      in immunohistochemically reacted cells. This result indicates that
      phosphorylation at one or both sites within the determinant recognized by mAb
      1801 previously blocked antibody-ligand interaction. It further suggests that in
      situ dephosphorylation may be of more general use in identifying antibodies which
      can only bind to epitopes in a particular phosphorylation state.

PMID- 1437160
TI  - A possible role for c-Myc oncoproteins in post-transcriptional regulation of
      ribosomal RNA.
AB  - Overexpression of members of the myc family of oncogenes contributes to the
      development of many vertebrate malignancies. Although several functions for myc
      gene products have been proposed, the targets for Myc activity during oncogenesis
      or normal development remain to be identified. Oocytes of Xenopus laevis, which
      are non-dividing cells that accumulate abundant c-Myc protein, provide an unusual
      opportunity to examine c-Myc function. We have investigated whether the
      accumulation of massive amounts of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) by Xenopus laevis oocytes
      may be related to their elevated expression of myc proto-oncogenes. Our data show
      that anti-Myc antibodies and some (but not all) c-Myc peptides from conserved
      regions of the c-Myc protein enhance the turnover of rRNA synthesized in
      homogenates of oocyte nuclei. These results suggest that one or more members of
      the Myc protein family may be involved in post-transcriptional regulation of rRNA
      metabolism. The regulation by c-Myc of rRNA could account, in part, for the
      generalized stimulation of cells during tumorigenesis.

PMID- 1437161
TI  - [Tumors of the larynx in Poland in the years 1963-1989].

PMID- 1437162
TI  - [Tumors of the larynx in Poland compared to other European countries. Etiologic
      hypothesis].

PMID- 1437164
TI  - [Reinke's edema].
AB  - The authors present a theoretical discussion about the histological and
      anatomical structure of Reinke's space as well as the etiology, clinical features
      and treatment of Reinke's edema.

PMID- 1437163
TI  - [Otorhinolaryngologic problems of Wegener's granulomatosis of three months
      duration].
AB  - A case of Wegener's granulomatosis in a 30 years old female was described. The
      authors have presented the diagnostic difficulties and treatment this rare
      disease.

PMID- 1437165
TI  - [Complex method of treating chronic, irreversible peripheral facial palsy
      particularly considering rehabilitation postoperatively].
AB  - Authors described the scheme of the functional reconstruction of the face in
      patients with protracted, irreversible, peripheral facial palsy and the
      subsequent rehabilitation. A new, own method of treatment has been introduced
      considering anatomical and functional relations.

PMID- 1437166
TI  - [Ultrasonic examination of the larynx].
AB  - The aim of our work was the application of sonographic method of the larynx.
      Aloka Hellige type SSD 280 'LS was used on the examination in real time.
      Sonographic images of the larynx were obtained in 25 healthy human and 25 healthy
      children. Sonography may probe to be a potentially useful technique for the
      examination of the larynx.

PMID- 1437167
TI  - [Evaluation of surgical techniques used in treating microtia for 35 years].
AB  - The author presents an evaluation of the results of surgical treatment in 346
      patients with microtia, treated in the previous 35 years, by using different
      materials to reconstruct the auricle. The reasons for giving-up the application
      of xenogenic and allogenic cartilage as well as polyester-polypropylene implants
      to reconstruct the auricular skeleton are explained. A 17-year experience of
      using autogenic costal-cartilage to reconstruct the auricular skeleton helps to
      state that early and late complications have been reduced and satisfactory
      esthetic results have been obtained. To meet their need, the patients were
      treated for the associated malformations by means of plastic and reconstructive
      procedures and were referred to other specialists--orthodontic, otologic and
      prosthetic.

PMID- 1437168
TI  - [Metastatic tumors of the orbit].
AB  - The authors described patients with metastatic tumors, treatment in 1985-1990
      year in Otolaryngologist Department Medical Academy in Krakow and dealing with
      the diagnosis and treatment. It is usually easy treatment the patients with
      orbital tumors but is very difficult when the orbital tumors are metastatic
      neoplasms of the orbita.

PMID- 1437169
TI  - [Stellectomy in the treatment of patients with long QT syndrome].
AB  - The authors present the surgical technique of stellate ganglion excision as a
      therapeutic method in patients with the long QT syndrome. The operations were
      performed through an anterior supraclavicular approach. Discussing the anatomic
      considerations, the possibilities of complications and side effects, both
      temporary and permanent, including Horner's syndrome are reviewed. On the base of
      the review of present literature and the postoperative results in patients
      treated in the Otolaryngological Department of the Medical Academy in Bydgoszcz,
      the authors confirm that the results of stellate ganglion excision in patients
      with the long QT syndrome are encouraging, but the possibilities of
      complications, including sudden death after stellectomy, must be taken into
      consideration.

PMID- 1437171
TI  - [Fine needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of head and neck tumors].
AB  - The results of 3039 fine needle aspiration biopsies of the head and neck tumors
      were presented. The comparison of cytological and histological examinations in
      1141 patients showed that correct cytological diagnosis was established in 84.2%
      of cases.

PMID- 1437170
TI  - [Retrospective analysis of mortality due to neoplasms of the larynx in Jelenia
      Gora district (1982-1989)].
AB  - The authors presents a retrospective analysis of mortality from laryngeal cancer
      in the population of Jelenia Gora in the years 1982-1989. The analysis was based
      on the death register books and cards.

PMID- 1437172
TI  - [Determination of oxidative activity of ceruloplasmin using Ravin's method in
      patients with laryngeal carcinoma].
AB  - According to Ravin's method an oxidative activity of ceruloplasmin was determined
      in the group of patients with carcinoma of the larynx before and after a surgical
      treatment, in the group of patients with inflammatory lesions in the upper
      respiratory tract and in the control group of healthy individuals. As a result of
      this assay the significantly increased of oxidative activity ceruloplasmin was
      obtained in the individuals with the carcinoma of the larynx (before surgical
      treatment) in comparison to the group of patients suffering due to inflammatory
      diseases of the upper respiratory tract and to the group of healthy subjects.
      Simultaneously a significant decrease of the oxidative activity of serum
      ceruloplasmin in the individuals with carcinoma of the larynx after a previous
      surgical treatment was observed.

PMID- 1437173
TI  - [Evaluation of the ear and vestibular apparatus depending on the anatomy of the
      cervical spine].
AB  - Function of the acoustic organ and the vestibular organ in correlation from
      radiograph of cervical spinal column was examined in 102 patients aged 20-68
      years, of both sexes. The obtained results of audiometric and
      electronystagmographic investigations have shown that the greatest disorders of
      function of the acoustic organ and the vestibular organ was at the patients with
      osteophytes and discopathy in cervical spinal column. Impaired hearing and
      vestibular disorders was observed also at the patients with normal radiograph of
      cervical spinal column. The authors have thought that the above deviations can be
      caused by irritation even the discreet degeneration of cervical spinal column,
      which ones conduct to increased tension of sympathetic system.

PMID- 1437174
TI  - Komputerwa analiza, identyfikacja i graficzna prezentacja badan ABR--system
      audiometrii klinicznej. [Computer analysis, identification and graphic
      representation of ABR research--clinical audiometric system].
AB  - A microcomputer-based system for auditory evoked potentials and tonal audiometry.
      The software which directs stimulus generation, data recording, displaying and
      analysis is written in Pascal 5.5. The system hardware is commercially available
      and of own components.

PMID- 1437175
TI  - Wplyw rodzaju bodzca dzwiekowego na oznaczanie progu slichowego metoda ABR. [The
      effect of brief tone envelopes on ABR and behavioral thresholds].
AB  - The present study examines the effect of brief tone envelopes on ABR and
      behavioral thresholds in small groups of normal and hearing-impaired subjects.
      The hearing-impaired subjects had very steep high-frequency hearing loss in 2-6
      kHz region. The stimuli for both ABR and behavioural estimates were 2 and 4 kHz
      tone burst with linear and nonlinear envelopes. Behavioural thresholds were
      estimated using a computer controlled, modified block up-down method. The ABR
      thresholds were evaluated from the recordings collected in automatic acquisition
      process. Results of our experiments showed that for different stimulus envelopes
      both behavioural and ABR thresholds were similar in normal range of hearing.
      However, for impaired ears at high frequencies, both psychoacoustic and ABR
      thresholds differ, sometimes quite significantly, depending on stimulus envelope.

PMID- 1437176
TI  - Badania wywolanej otoemisji akustycznej. [Tuning properties of the evoked
      otoacoustic emission].
AB  - The authors present the investigation of evoked otoacoustic emission (EOAE) as a
      part of the studies of the inner ear function. The EOAE was obtained in 10 normal
      hearing subjects during the routine recording conditions. In the investigation
      was used the adjustment of masking tone to obtain a reduction in the (EOAE) most
      stable component amplitude and suppression of the (EOAE) frequency components
      (FFT--derived).

PMID- 1437177
TI  - [Mucociliary transport in the upper airways].
AB  - The current views of the ciliary function of the respiratory epithelium are
      presented. Mucociliary transport in the nose, maxillary atrium, frontal sinus,
      middle ear and the eustachian tube are discussed.

PMID- 1437178
TI  - [A case of csf collection under the skin of the cheek].

PMID- 1437179
TI  - [Investigations of causes and consequences of head and neck injuries due to
      circular saws].

PMID- 1437180
TI  - [Obituary notice of Prof. Dr. Hab. Med. Hannie Brzezinska].

PMID- 1437181
TI  - Kanamycin inhibits cochlear-renal ODC in neonatal rats.
AB  - Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a key enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis, is
      important in development and regeneration. We hypothesize that aminoglycoside
      inhibition of ODC mediates developmental hypersensitivity to aminoglycoside
      ototoxicity. Kanamycin effects on ODC activity (decarboxylation of ornithine) in
      vitro were determined in the postmitochondrial fraction of cochlear and renal
      homogenates from 11-day-old rats. Kanamycin inhibited cochlear and renal ODC by
      an uncompetitive mechanism. For the cochlear enzyme, the inhibitor constant (Ki)
      for kanamycin was 99 +/- 25 mumol/L; for the renal enzyme, the Ki = 1.5 +/- 0.1
      mmol/L. In vivo effects of kanamycin on cochlear, renal, brain ODC activity were
      determined in rats treated with kanamycin (400 mg/kg/day, intramuscularly) or
      saline during postnatal days 11 through 20, the hypersensitive period for
      ototoxicity. Rats were killed on postnatal days 12, 14, 16, and 20 and ODC was
      assayed. Kanamycin significantly inhibited ODC in the lateral wall-organ of Corti
      and kidney (ANOVA alpha = 0.05), but had no effect on cochlear nerve and no
      consistent inhibitory effect in the brain. These results suggest that ODC is a
      potential target of kanamycin in susceptible tissues and may be a contributing
      factor in developmental sensitivity to the drug by inhibiting repair and
      developmental processes mediated by ODC.

PMID- 1437182
TI  - Pseudomonas otitis media after eustachian tube obstruction.
AB  - Previous experiments have shown that Pseudomonas aeruginosa may infect the middle
      ears of chinchillas by way of the eustachian tube and that chinchillas with acute
      otitis media (AOM) are more susceptible to pseudomonas infection than animals
      without AOM. The purpose of this experiment was to examine the effects of otitis
      media with effusion (OME), induced by means of eustachian tube obstruction, on
      middle ear susceptibility to nasal inoculation of P. aeruginosa. Chinchilla
      eustachian tubes were obstructed with silicone rubber sponge bilaterally; OME
      developed in eight animals (11 ears)--three bilaterally and five unilaterally-
      and persisted for 6 months. Ten chinchillas with normal eustachian tube function
      served as controls. All animals were nasally inoculated with 5 x 10(6) colony
      forming units of P. aeruginosa. Pseudomonas otitis media developed in eight of 11
      OME ears with effusion, none of five ears without OME, and four of 20 control
      ears (chi 2 = 11.782, p = 0.003). Therefore, P. aeruginosa can infect the middle
      ear by way of the eustachian tube. Tubal dysfunction may lead to the development
      of chronic suppurative otitis media by increasing tubotympanic susceptibility to
      opportunistic pathogens.

PMID- 1437183
TI  - Effect of asymmetric vocal fold stiffness on traveling wave velocity in the
      canine larynx.
AB  - The vocal fold (VF) traveling wave is essential to normal voice production. The
      present investigation describes a new method to determine traveling wave velocity
      (TWV) in the in vivo canine phonatory model. This method synchronizes
      photoglottographic and electroglottographic waveforms with videostroboscopic
      images to determine the duration of time the traveling wave moves between two
      tattoos placed a known distance apart between the upper and lower margins of each
      VF. Using this method, we compared the TWV of a paralyzed VF with the TWV of the
      contralateral, electrically stimulated VF during phonation in two canines. In
      addition, the presumed VF stiffness asymmetry in the simulated acute recurrent
      laryngeal nerve paralysis state was confirmed by measuring Young's modulus of
      each VF. The results indicated that the TWV of the paralyzed VF averaged 55% of
      the TWV of the normal, stiffer VF when the glottal gap was small and entrainment
      occurred. This study demonstrated the feasibility of quantifying traveling wave
      motion in asymmetric VF stiffness disorders. The potential use of TWV in human
      beings as a target to optimize the phonosurgical results in asymmetric VF
      stiffness disorders is discussed.

PMID- 1437184
TI  - Is human galvanically induced triceps surae electromyogram a vestibulospinal
      reflex response?
AB  - Interest in understanding the human vestibulospinal reflex has increased
      enormously over the past three decades, because this reflex is the primary
      effector of maintenance of posture and balance. On a posture platform, forces
      exerted by the triceps surae (TS) and tibialis anterior muscles are measured to
      calculate center of mass sway. We wished to determine whether the TS response is
      a direct component of the vestibulospinal reflex. Ten healthy human beings were
      stimulated with sinusoidal galvanic currents delivered over their mastoid
      processes. Sway response on a posture platform and TS electromyogram (EMG) were
      recorded for the following conditions: (1) standing unrestrained; (2) standing
      completely restrained above the leg; and (3) sitting unrestrained. Results were
      similar for all subjects. Computer-aided analysis for case 1 reveals that TS EMG
      and horizontal body sway responses are generated at the same frequency as the
      stimulating current, with a phase lag of 90 degrees. For case 2, body sway
      response and any component of the TS EMG over the unstimulated condition were
      absent in all subjects. For case 3, body sway persisted, but no TS EMG above the
      unstimulated condition was recorded. As the TS EMG disappears when the standing
      subject is restrained from swaying or in the unrestrained seated subject, we
      conclude that the TS EMG response is compensatory to motion of more superior
      portions of the musculoskeletal system; it is not part of the vestibulospinal
      reflex.

PMID- 1437185
TI  - Early mucosal changes in experimental sinusitis.
AB  - Normal mucociliary flow is a significant defense mechanism in the prevention of
      acute sinusitis. We have undertaken a study to examine the early sinus mucosal
      and mucociliary changes that occur in response to acute infection. Twenty rabbits
      were evaluated for 5 days after an obstructed maxillary sinus was inoculated with
      either Streptococcus pneumoniae, Hemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
      or a sterile saline solution. Data collected included measurements of sinus
      mucosal ciliary beat frequency, quantitation of ciliated cell losses, and
      electron microscopic observations. Results demonstrate statistically significant
      (p < 0.05) changes in mucosal ciliary beat frequency that were either excitatory
      or inhibitory, depending both on the length of the infection and the specific
      organism. No changes in ciliary beat frequency were observed in the control
      animals (p > 0.55). Control animals likewise demonstrated no loss of ciliated
      cells from mucosal epithelium; however, dramatic losses of ciliated cells from
      the sinus mucosa of the experimental groups were observed. These losses occurred
      at different rates, depending on the infecting organism, but all infected groups
      demonstrated a > 86% decrease in the number of viable ciliated cells from the
      sinus mucosa after sinusitis of 5 days duration. We conclude that a significant
      loss of ciliated cells from sinus mucosa and a corresponding disruption of normal
      mucociliary flow occurs early after exposure to pathogenic organisms and is a
      significant predisposing factor in the development of acute sinusitis.

PMID- 1437186
TI  - Preconditioning: a new technique for improved muscle flap survival.
AB  - Musculocutaneous regional and distal flaps have become an important tool
      available to the head and neck surgeon. Vascularized autogenous muscle
      transplants allow single-stage reconstruction of complex defects. Ischemic muscle
      necrosis is a well-recognized complication with serious potential morbidity. It
      has been shown that myocardial muscle is protected from ischemic damage by brief
      periods of coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion subsequent to prolonged
      ischemia. This is called preconditioning. To our knowledge, this technique has
      never been extrapolated to skeletal muscle. This article presents a discussion of
      preconditioning and the potential benefits of this new technique as a means to
      enhance skeletal muscle survival to sustained normothermic global ischemia.
      Theories behind ischemic muscle injury are presented. A review of the development
      of preconditioning in myocardial muscle is discussed. Experimental models used to
      investigate this phenomenon are also presented. In addition, results of our
      laboratory investigations using the latissimus dorsi porcine model are discussed.
      Preconditioning is a new, nonpharmacologic means to improve muscle flap survival.
      This simple technique may have great clinical application in reducing ischemic
      muscle necrosis in regional and distal muscle transplantation.

PMID- 1437187
TI  - Acoustic characteristics of post-thyroplasty patients.
AB  - This study investigated changes in voice quality after thyroplasty type I in
      eight adults with unilateral vocal fold paralysis. A silicone rubber implant was
      inserted through a window in the thyroid ala and placed between the inner and
      outer perichondrium to externally medialize the abducted vocal fold. Measures of
      fundamental frequency (vocal pitch), pitch range, maximum phonation time, s/z
      ratio, pitch perturbation (vocal jitter), and amplitude perturbation (vocal
      shimmer) were made 1 to 2 weeks preoperatively and 1 month postoperatively.
      Postoperative voice quality was characterized by an improved pitch range,
      phonation time, s/z ratio, and pitch and amplitude perturbation. No change was
      noted in fundamental frequency. Changes in postoperative voice quality were
      unrelated to the subjects' preoperative age, sex, etiology, and duration of the
      paralysis.

PMID- 1437188
TI  - Complications of lumbar spinal fluid drainage.
AB  - Cerebrospinal fluid fistula is an unfortunate, yet well-recognized, complication
      of basilar skull fracture, skull base surgery, and neurotologic procedures.
      Treatment commonly involves the use of continuous lumbar drainage. A
      retrospective chart review of 32 consecutive patients who required placement of
      lumbar drain by the otorhinolaryngology and neurosurgical services from March
      1988 through July 1991 was undertaken to assess possible complications. The
      complications found were readily separated into minor and major categories on the
      basis of the possibility of permanent morbidity or mortality. Minor
      complications, including subjective complaints of headache, nausea, vomiting,
      etc., were noted in 59% of patients. Major complications were observed in four of
      32 patients (12.5%), including unilateral occlusion of the posterior cerebral
      artery and unilateral true vocal cord paralysis. Alleviation of all complications
      was achieved by cessation of lumbar drainage. These cases are presented with
      discussion of pathogenesis. These findings demonstrate the possibility of
      potentially serious complications that mandate close monitoring of patients who
      require continuous lumbar drainage.

PMID- 1437189
TI  - Head-upright tilt-table testing: a useful tool in the evaluation and management
      of recurrent vertigo of unknown origin associated with near-syncope or syncope.
AB  - Recurrent idiopathic vertigo associated with near-syncope and syncope is a common
      perplexing problem, some cases of which are considered autonomically mediated
      (vasovagal). Upright-tilt-table testing has emerged as a potential method to test
      for vasovagal episodes. This study evaluated the use of this technique in the
      evaluation and management of patients with recurrent idiopathic vertigo
      associated with near-syncope or syncope. Twenty-one patients with recurrent
      unexplained vertigo and syncope/near-syncope and 11 control subjects were
      evaluated by use of an upright-tilt-table test for 30 minutes, with or without a
      graded isoproterenol infusion (1 to 4 micrograms/min given intravenously), in an
      attempt to provoke hypotension, bradycardia, or both, which reproduced the
      patient's symptoms. The patients included 10 men and 11 women (mean age, 51 +/-
      16 years). Eleven controls with no history of vertigo were also studied.
      Transcranial Doppler sonography was used to assess cerebral arteriolar blood flow
      during tilt. All tilt-positive patients were placed on therapy with either beta
      blockers, disopyramide, or transdermal scopolamine, the effectiveness of which
      was determined with another tilt-table study. Symptoms occurred in seven patients
      (33%) during the baseline tilt and in eight patients (38%) during isoproterenol
      infusion (total positives, 71%). Transcranial Doppler sonography demonstrated a
      225% +/- 192% increase in pulsatility index and a 70% +/- 29% increase in
      resistance index (indicative of cerebral arteriolar vasoconstriction) at the time
      of vertigo. No control subject experienced syncope during this test. Each tilt
      positive patient eventually became tilt-negative with therapy, and over a mean
      follow-up period of 26 months, no further episodes have occurred.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437191
TI  - Distal tracheal stenosis in neonates and infants.

PMID- 1437190
TI  - Risk factors of cancer of the larynx: results of the Heidelberg case-control
      study.
AB  - Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx is a multifactorial disease. It is firmly
      linked to several environmental risk factors. In the meanwhile, a considerable
      amount of epidemiologic evidence has been built up to implicate chronic
      consumption of alcohol and tobacco, occupation, diet, and social status in the
      etiology of the laryngeal cancer. Herein is a report from the first case-control
      study on the role of these risk factors conducted in a German population of
      patients with laryngeal cancer.

PMID- 1437192
TI  - Riedel's thyroiditis: report of a lethal case and review of the literature.

PMID- 1437193
TI  - Odontogenic cervical necrotizing fasciitis with intrathoracic extension.

PMID- 1437194
TI  - Evaluation of a new ceramic endotracheal tube for laser airway surgery.

PMID- 1437195
TI  - The laryngeal mask: a new type of airway in anesthesia for direct laryngoscopy.

PMID- 1437196
TI  - Endoscopic identification of the maxillary sinus osteum.

PMID- 1437197
TI  - Herniation of temporomandibular joint contents into the external ear canal.

PMID- 1437198
TI  - The myth of spontaneous perilymph fistula.

PMID- 1437199
TI  - Comparison of electroglottographic and acoustic analysis of pitch perturbation.
AB  - Pitch perturbation is a measure of the cycle-to-cycle variation in vocal fold
      vibration. Perturbation can be assessed by means of electroglottographic or
      acoustic signals. The purpose of this study was to determine if these two
      analysis techniques are equivalent measures. The Laryngograph, an
      electroglottograph, and the Visi-Pitch, an acoustic analyzer, were used to
      measure pitch perturbation in 80 dysphonic subjects. Both instruments use Koike's
      formula to calculate relative average perturbation. While intra-subject
      variability appeared erratic, statistical analysis of intersubject data indicated
      that the two instruments provided an equivalent measure of pitch perturbation.

PMID- 1437200
TI  - Nasal reconstruction using split calvarial grafts.
AB  - The reconstruction of nasal deformities after trauma or surgical procedures
      presents an arduous task for the reconstructive surgeon. The anatomic alteration
      of supporting cartilage and nasal bones, as well as scar formation, compound the
      difficult nature of this type of reconstruction. In the past, multiple autogenous
      and alloplastic implants have been used in nasal reconstruction. Autogenous
      implants include auricular and septal cartilage as well as rib and iliac crest
      bone grafts. Alloplastic materials include acrylic, supramid mesh, Gortex, and
      silicone rubber. Autogenous grafts have been shown to provide excellent long-term
      reliable results in nasal reconstruction. In our study, autogenous split
      calvarial bone grafts were used in the nasal reconstruction of 17 patients. Among
      the corrective procedures were dorsal augmentation for saddle-nose deformities,
      insertion of columella struts for nasal tip ptosis, and insertion of nasal
      battens for nasal valve collapse. Patient followup has been from 1 to 5 years,
      with no significant resorption noted during that time. Complications were limited
      to one seroma at the donor site before wound drains were routinely used. No major
      complications, including hematoma formation, CSF leak, or infection, have been
      observed.

PMID- 1437201
TI  - Vestibular rehabilitation reduces functional disability.
AB  - Vertigo caused by vestibular disorder may be successfully treated with a physical
      therapy program of graded exercises to habituate the patient to the vertiginous
      stimulus and to increase the range of motion through which the patient can
      tolerate moving. Performance on daily self-care tasks is an important indicator
      of the patient's tolerance for head movement and the success of treatment. In
      this study, self-care skill in subjects with labyrinthine and brainstem lesions
      before and after receiving vestibular rehabilitation was examined. Subjects
      improved significantly after physical therapy, demonstrating greater independence
      in their abilities to care for themselves. These data provide further support for
      the value of vestibular rehabilitation procedures.

PMID- 1437202
TI  - Tympanosclerosis of the stapes: hearing results for various surgical treatments.
AB  - When tympanosclerosis involves the tympanic membrane or the lateral ossicles,
      treatment is usually straightforward and uncomplicated. When the stapes is
      involved, therapy is more controversial and may be more difficult. We report our
      results in 154 patients who underwent different surgical procedures for
      tympanosclerosis of the stapes. Followup was up to 10 years. Pure-tone average
      threshold was significantly improved (p < 0.05) in patients who underwent
      mobilization procedures or stapedectomy for definitive treatment. The air-bone
      gap was less than 20 dB at 6 months postoperative in 72% of patients and less
      than 30 dB in 90%. At 6 months, 2 years, and 5 years there were no statistically
      significant differences in hearing results between stapedectomy and mobilization
      patients, some of whom were followed for up to 10 years. No patient had a
      profound hearing loss after surgery. Surgical treatment for tympanosclerosis of
      the stapes is a safe procedure, with hearing results similar to those of surgery
      for other chronic ear diseases involving the ossicular chain.

PMID- 1437203
TI  - A multisensor solid-state pressure manometer to identify the level of collapse in
      obstructive sleep apnea.
AB  - The cause of failure after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) in idiopathic
      obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is poorly understood, but has been speculated to be
      due, in part, to persistent collapse in the lower oropharynx. In order to
      determine the specific level of upper airway obstruction during sleep, a
      multisensor pressure catheter has been developed with five solid-state
      ultraminiature sensors. Four sensors in the pharynx simultaneously measure
      multiple pressure levels, with no need to move the catheter during sleep. One
      distal esophageal port measures the respiratory effort. To evaluate the use of
      this catheter, manometry in twelve patients was reviewed and compared the use of
      this catheter, manometry in twelve patients was reviewed and compared to
      simultaneous videoendoscopy. The initial site of obstruction was the palate in
      nine patients (75%) and the tongue base in three (25%). Three patients with
      initial obstruction at the palate manometrically demonstrated distal obstruction
      on subsequent occluded breaths. Furthermore, simultaneous videoendoscopy in four
      patients with a palatal level of obstruction also identified marked near-total
      visual collapse without obstruction of the lower oropharynx that was not
      identified by pharyngeal manometry. The endoscopy revealed that at the initial
      site of obstruction, collapse appeared to have occurred passively during
      expiration and not on inspiration. Inferior to the site of manometric
      obstruction, collapse occurred during inspiration associated with increased
      negative inspiratory pressures. These results demonstrate that a multisensor
      pressure catheter can objectively identify the level of obstruction during
      sleep.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437204
TI  - Bilateral thyroarytenoid denervation: a new treatment for laryngeal
      hyperadduction disorders studied in the canine.
AB  - Adductor spasmodic dysphonia is a vocal disorder of uncertain etiology with no
      satisfactory long-term treatment. Recently, injection of botulinum toxin (Botax)
      into the thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle has been used as an effective temporary
      treatment. A surgical counterpart to bilateral TA Botox injection is described in
      this article. Bilateral thyroarytenoid denervation was performed through a window
      in the thyroid cartilage in seven canines, including four that were studied 3
      months after the procedure. No serious complications occurred in the animals,
      each maintaining full vocal fold abduction and adduction. In all cases,
      anticipated physiologic changes in laryngeal function were observed, including
      the inability to generate high subglottic pressures during high levels of
      laryngeal nerve (RLN) stimulation. In two of the surviving animals, the ansa
      cervicalis was used to reinnervate the TA muscle, thereby preventing the
      possibility of reinnervation from the proximal RLN stump while limiting TA
      atrophy and fibrosis. Bilateral TA denervation represents a hopeful new long-term
      approach to spasmodic dysphonia treatment.

PMID- 1437205
TI  - Repair of chronic tympanic membrane perforations using epidermal growth factor.
AB  - Perforation of the tympanic membrane (TM) is a frequent cause of conductive
      hearing loss. Persistent TM perforations often require surgical repair with an
      autologous tissue graft to restore hearing and prevent recurrent infection. While
      highly efficacious, this method of closure requires a relatively complex and
      expensive microsurgical procedure. We have recently developed a chronic TM
      perforation model in the chinchilla for use in the exploration of novel methods
      of TM repair.

PMID- 1437206
TI  - An evaluation of laryngeal muscle activation in patients with voice tremor.
AB  - Eight patients with voice tremor were studied to characterize laryngeal muscle
      involvement. Electromyographic (EMG) recordings were made from intrinsic
      laryngeal muscles, simultaneously with some extrinsic laryngeal muscles,
      respiratory movement, and voice recordings during respiration, whisper, and
      phonation. Spectral measures were used to determine the tremor frequency and the
      prominence of spectral peaks in the EMG, respiratory and acoustic signals, while
      correlation coefficients were computed between pairs of tremulous EMG signals to
      measure the synchrony of tremor between muscles. The intrinsic laryngeal muscles
      were tremulous during respiration and speech, with the thyroarytenoid most often
      involved. Tremor was also detected in some of the extrinsic muscle recordings and
      the percentage of muscles with tremor was higher during phonation than during
      whisper or respiration. Time delays were found between tremor oscillations in
      laryngeal muscles. Because the thyroarytenoid was affected in all the patients
      studied, botulinum toxin injections may be beneficial in treatment of this voice
      disorder.

PMID- 1437207
TI  - Incidence of otitis media in vitamin A-deficient guinea pigs.
AB  - After observing an association between vitamin A deficiency and otitis media
      among children in Micronesia, we sought to develop an animal model for vitamin A
      deficiency-induced otitis media. Thirty juvenile guinea pigs were screened for
      absence for otitis and then divided into two groups. The experimental group was
      placed on a vitamin A-free diet, whereas control animals were fed a standard
      formula. The animals were followed by means of otologic examination and serum
      retinol determinations. When experimental animals demonstrated vitamin A
      deficiency, they were killed along with one control and temporal bones were
      harvested and prepared for histologic examination. None of the 15 controls
      demonstrated middle ear abnormalities. In the experimental group, 77% of temporal
      bones showed middle ear pathology consisting of either of subepithelial edema
      (27%) or frank otitis media (50%). These results indicate that the guinea pig is
      a suitable species for study of otitis media in association with vitamin A
      deficiency. We postulate that eustachian tube dysfunction is the primary
      mechanism for inducing middle ear inflammation in this animal model.

PMID- 1437208
TI  - Pemphigus vulgaris.

PMID- 1437209
TI  - Natural history of mammalian spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract.

PMID- 1437211
TI  - The gonadotrophin receptors: insights from the cloning of their cDNAs.
AB  - The cloning and expression of the cDNA's for the gonadotrophin hormone receptors
      has confirmed that these receptors are each composed of a single polypeptide
      which can both bind hormone and activate adenylyl cyclase when occupied with
      agonist. Although some studies by others have suggested that the LH/CG receptor
      and the FSH receptor are composed of multiple subunits (Ascoli and Segaloff 1989;
      Reichert and Dattatreyamurty 1989; Shin and Ji 1985a, b, and c; Smith et al.
      1985; Smith et al. 1986), biochemical studies on the LH/CG receptor have shown
      that it is composed of a single polypeptide with a molecular weight of 93,000
      when analyzed on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels in the presence or absence of
      disulfide reducing agents (Ascoli and Segaloff 1989). As the LH/CG receptor has
      been shown to be readily proteolyzed into smaller-sized fragments (Ascoli and
      Segaloff 1986; Ascoli and Segaloff 1989), it is reasonable to postulate that the
      FSH receptor may be similarly susceptible to proteolysis, and that this may
      account for the discrepant reports on its structure. Clearly, the molecular
      cloning and functional expression of the cDNA's for the rat ovarian LH/CG
      receptor (McFarland et al. 1989) and the rat testicular receptor (Sprengel et al.
      1990) demonstrate conclusively that the gonadotrophin receptors are indeed single
      polypeptides. As shown schematically in Fig. 5.12, the gonadotrophin hormone
      receptors (together with the thyrotrophin receptor, see Frazier et al. 1990;
      Libert et al. 1989; Nagayami et al. 1989; Parmentier et al. 1989) define a unique
      subclass of G protein-coupled receptors. Thus, in addition to the seven membrane
      spanning domains which appear to be the hallmark of G protein-coupled receptors,
      the gonadotrophin receptors (and thyrotrophin receptor) also contain large
      extracellular domains. These extracellular domains are composed of a repeating
      leucine-rich motif which is found in a number of widely-diverse proteins,
      collectively termed leucine-rich glycoproteins. We have shown that the
      extracellular domain of the LH/CG receptor is entirely responsible for binding
      hormone with high affinity. This is in contrast to the rhodopsin-like G protein
      coupled receptors which have relatively small amino-terminal extracellular
      domains and in which the ligands interact directly with amino acids within the
      transmembrane helices. As with other G protein-coupled receptors, however, it is
      thought that the gonadotrophin receptors interact with and activate Gs through
      residues located within the cytoplasmic loops and the amino-terminal region of
      the cytoplasmic tail.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1437210
TI  - Vaccination against pregnancy.

PMID- 1437212
TI  - Differentiation processes of granulosa cells.

PMID- 1437213
TI  - Olfaction and reproduction in ungulates.

PMID- 1437214
TI  - Behavioural endocrinology and reproduction: an evolutionary perspective.
AB  - It is a fact that those interested in immediate causation tend to be unaware of
      the great advances in evolutionary biology. Similarly, most scientists interested
      in ecological and evolutionary questions ignore advances in neurobiology and
      molecular biology. Quite simply, 'reductionists see little to be gained from
      holistic studies, and whole organism biologists do not recognize the value of
      molecular analysis' (Prosser 1986). This philosophical gap and lack of
      communication between molecular and physiological biologists with organismal and
      evolutionary biologists makes it difficult to be a generalist. Yet if we are to
      understand past, present, and perhaps even future behaviour, we must study how
      the different levels of biological organization are integrated. If done with
      foresight, it can lead to new discoveries not only in evolution and ecology, but
      also in physiology and even molecular biology. One of the first things we are
      impressed by is the great variety of animals, particularly their behaviours and
      their physiologies. With so many differences, are there any generalities? With
      the establishment of evolutionary theory, evidence that there is 'unity in
      diversity' has come with discoveries of common anatomical features, the cell
      cycle, conservation of intermediary metabolism, and the genetic code, to name but
      a few. While in vertebrates there appears to be a conservation of the neural
      circuits underlying sex behaviour, it is still too early to state the extent to
      which this concept can be extended to the hormonal mechanisms underlying
      behaviour. This chapter has documented how some widely-held assumptions are
      generalities only in a very restricted sense. I have tried to show how much of
      our conceptual understanding of the behavioural endocrinology stems from
      extensive studies on relatively few species. According to (Beach 1979), there are
      '... two cardinal rules that should govern not only the construction of animal
      models for human behaviour, but for all interspecific comparisons regardless of
      the behaviour and the species involved. The first rule is that meaningful
      comparisons are based not upon the formal characteristics of behaviour, but upon
      its causal mechanisms and functional outcomes.... The second rule is that the
      validity of interspecific generalization cannot exceed the reliability of
      intraspecific analysis. Significant comparison of a particular type of behaviour
      in two different species is impossible unless and until the behaviour has been
      adequately analyzed in each species by itself.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1437215
TI  - The chromosome complement of human gametes.
AB  - The comparisons of observed and predicted rates of chromosomally abnormal gametes
      for two major classes of abnormality and for three specific trisomies are
      summarized in Table 2.10. As can be seen there is not very good agreement between
      the two sets of data. For sperm the observed abnormality rates are, with the
      exception of polyploidy, all in excess of those predicted. For structural
      abnormalities the excess is absurd and suggests that most structural
      abnormalities seen in sperm chromosomes may be preparation artefacts. On the
      other hand, it could be argued that the excess of hyperhaploidy among sperm is
      real and represents those trisomic conceptuses lost in the early stages of
      pregnancy. However, both chromosome 21 and the sex chromosomes are represented
      more often than any other chromosomes. Recent observations among all clinically
      recognized pregnancies do not suggest an excess of trisomy 21 conceptions arising
      from non-disjunction in spermatogenesis. As can be seen from Table 2.10, the
      observed frequencies of trisomy 21 is 10 times greater than that predicted, a
      difference that seems too great to be accounted for by early pregnancy wastage.
      While the X chromosome does appear to undergo non-disjunction much more
      frequently than the autosomes during spermatogenesis, the increase is restricted
      to non-disjunction of the XY bivalent at the first male meiotic division. In this
      class the observed and predicted frequencies are rather similar and it is even
      possible that the observed excess in sperm is accounted for by early post-zygotic
      loss. However, with the exception of the 24, XY class, the distribution of
      individual chromosomes among the hyperhaploid sperm bears little relation to that
      predicted. The most likely explanation for this is that banding of sperm
      chromosomes is of such poor quality that there are many errors in the
      identification of individual chromosomes. Most authors use some form of Q banding
      and this technique should give unequivocal identification of the highly
      fluorescent Y chromosome even when other chromosomes are not clearly
      distinguishable. An increased accuracy of Y-chromosome identification may account
      for the relative concordance between observed and predicted rates of 24, XY
      sperm. By the same argument, 24, YY sperm might be expected to be accurately
      enumerated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1437216
TI  - Cooling, cryoprotectants, and the cytoskeleton of the mammalian oocyte.

PMID- 1437217
TI  - Reader troubled by "refreshing view".

PMID- 1437218
TI  - DER revises waste management rules.
AB  - A number of improvements were made in new regulations designed to help physicians
      manage their infectious and chemotherapeutic wastes more easily. This article
      summarizes those improvements.

PMID- 1437220
TI  - HIV procedures opposed by society.

PMID- 1437219
TI  - Restrictive covenants in physician employment agreements.
AB  - Virtually all physician employment relationships are governed by employment
      agreements in which the physician and employer exchange promises. When embodied
      in contracts, promises are also known as "covenants." Certain covenants are
      restrictive in nature, including, most notably, covenants which prohibit
      competition ("non-competes"). Legal considerations regarding non-competes in
      particular center around the law of restrictive covenants in general. This
      article identifies legal issues which exist with respect to restrictive covenants
      under Pennsylvania law and offers certain caveats with respect to the negotiation
      of the non-competition components of the physician employment agreements.

PMID- 1437222
TI  - Assessing the impact of RBRVS on revenues.

PMID- 1437221
TI  - Estate planning: some first steps.
AB  - After you've worked a lifetime to build an estate, it's possible for the federal
      government to snatch up to 55 percent of it away from your heirs, and this could
      happen even if you've made a will. Clearly, an estate not carefully and
      professionally planned is one destined for lawyers' pockets, the courts, and both
      federal and state taxes.

PMID- 1437223
TI  - PRO myths vs. facts.
AB  - One thing of which the Keystone Peer Review Organization may be rightfully
      accused is that we are boastful about our efforts to communicate with physicians
      and providers. We think we do as good a job of education as can be done, and we
      don't mind saying so. However, certain myths have formed in the minds of some of
      our fellow physicians which seem impossible to dispel.

PMID- 1437224
TI  - Is anyone out there?

PMID- 1437225
TI  - [Scoliosis and spondylolisthesis in children and adolescents].
AB  - The genuine structural scoliosis is characterized by a rotation of the vertebral
      bodies. Clinically suspect cases require an exact radiographic assessment.
      Treatment is based on the radiographically found COBB-angle: physiotherapy, brace
      and different types of surgical instrumentation are the most common therapeutic
      procedures. Early diagnosis is essential for the final therapeutic result!
      Spondylolisthesis can only be diagnosed by X-ray. Surgical stabilization is
      necessary if pain, instability or progressive gliding are found. The extent of
      surgical procedures depends on the stage of the gliding process. Therefore early
      diagnosis is desirable.

PMID- 1437226
TI  - [The Nutrition Commission of the Austrian Society of Pediatrics and Adolescent
      Medicine. Prevention of caries].
AB  - Effective preventive programs must be instituted early in the life of a child.
      The pediatrician plays an important role in preventive oral health care, because
      most children do not visit a dentist before 3 years of age. Fluoride therapy
      decreases the caries vulnerability of the tooth, oral hygiene measures are
      important to remove bacterial plaque, and dietary modifications reduce the number
      of carbohydrate exposures per day. Community water fluoridation is proposed in
      Austrian cities, because it continues to be the most cost-effective caries
      prevention measure available. As long as the population does not have access to
      optimally fluoridated water, dietary fluoride supplementation offers an effective
      alternative. The recommended dosage of fluoride supplements for children depends
      on the amount of fluoride present in their drinking water and on the child's age.
      Liquid fluoride supplements and chewable tablets are proposed for children
      between 0.5 and 3 years and children between 3 and 13 years, respectively. Home
      use topical fluorides and professionally applied topical fluorides are useful
      beyond 3 years of age. Teaching of oral hygiene measures should be continued in
      kindergarten and school. The 3-6 year-old children require parental assistance to
      achieve effective plaque removal. Semiannual dental visits should begin at the
      age of three and continue throughout childhood and adolescence. As far as the
      diet is concerned, the frequency of exposure to sugar appears to be the most
      important factor in the development of dental caries. It now appears that most
      sugars are nearly equally cariogenic in a pure form.

PMID- 1437228
TI  - [Transverse fetal position syndrome--a combination of congenital skeletal
      deformities in the newborn infant].
AB  - We describe a pattern of connatal postural deformities observed in approximately
      0.6% of otherwise healthy, mature newborn infants. It comprises unilateral
      flattening of the skull (dolichocephalus), ipsalateral mandibular hypoplasia and
      torticollis, deviation of the septum nasi, pes calcaneovalgus on one and pes
      adductus supinatus on the other side. The deformities occur in four distinct
      combinations attributable to the prenatal lie of the fetus: dorsoanterior or
      dorsoposterior, left or right oblique lie. The deformities respond well to
      manipulative therapy.

PMID- 1437230
TI  - Brugia pahangi infections in immune-compromised rats demonstrate that separate
      mechanisms control adult worm and microfilarial numbers.
AB  - The immunological basis of resistance to Brugia pahangi infection in rats was
      studied. Infections were investigated in athymic rnu/rnu rats and in rats treated
      with the immuno-suppressive agents cyclosporin A (CsA) or cyclophosphamide (Cy).
      The recovery of adult worms in normal rats was 1-2% in comparison to 12.2%
      recovery in athymic rats. CsA and Cy treated rats did not have increased adult
      worm burdens. Microfilarial (Mf) levels (expressed as Mf per ml per adult worm)
      were highly elevated in both athymic and Cy treated rats but not in CsA treated
      rats. IgG and IgM levels to B. pahangi antigens were severely depressed in both
      athymic and Cy treated rats. IgG levels but not IgM levels were abrogated in CsA
      treated rats. These results implied that control of larval establishment or adult
      killing, and regulation of Mf levels are separate T-cell dependent mechanisms and
      act independently of IgG antibody. Control of Mf levels is associated with a
      specific IgM response which is Cy sensitive but CsA resistant.

PMID- 1437227
TI  - [The mid-growth spurt--a pre-puberty growth spurt. Review of its significance and
      biological correlations].
AB  - The MGS is a growth phenomenon during early childhood, expressed by a mild
      transitory acceleration of growth velocity between five and eight years of age.
      It appears to be more pronounced in boys than in girls. It is probably caused by
      the functional maturation of the adrenals ("adrenarche") which leads to an
      increased androgen production during this age. Interactions with the pituitary
      growth hormone, also presenting with increased secretion rates at this particular
      period, are very probable. A hypothesis is offered for the explanation of
      individual differences and distinctness of the MGS. Although the MGS cannot be
      interpreted as a very first step of puberty, some additional biochemical facts
      suggest fundamental changes in the organism. Therefore, the MGS could be regarded
      as a "marker" within the biological development of the child.

PMID- 1437232
TI  - In vivo activation of macrophages by IFN-gamma to kill Entamoeba histolytica
      trophozoites in vitro.
AB  - To determine the role of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the activation of
      macrophages to kill Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites in vitro, C57BL/6 mice
      were injected with various doses of recombinant IFN-gamma (rIFN-gamma) by either
      the intravenous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular routes. Mice were treated with
      doses of rIFN-gamma ranging from 10(1) to 10(5) units. Twenty hours later,
      peritoneal macrophages were harvested from the treated animals. Macrophage
      monolayers were prepared and their in vitro cytotoxic activity against a virulent
      strain of E. hystolytica (IP:0682:1) was determined. Amoebicidal activity was
      determined by counting the number of dead trophozoites by Trypan Blue exclusion
      in cultures containing macrophages and amoebic trophozoites which were incubated
      together for 4 h. Both intravenous and intraperitoneal treatment resulted in the
      recovery of macrophages from the peritoneal cavity which exhibited amoebicidal
      activity in vitro. Peritoneal macrophages harvested from mice that had been
      treated intraperitoneally or intravenously with rIFN-gamma, however, showed
      significantly more amoebicidal activity in comparison to macrophages harvested
      from animals treated intramuscularly. There was a dose dependent relationship
      between the concentration of rIFN-gamma used to activate macrophages in vivo and
      the number of dead trophozoites in vitro. In addition, these results confirm our
      previous observations that treatment in vitro with rIFN-gamma can activate murine
      peritoneal macrophages to kill amoebic trophozoites.

PMID- 1437229
TI  - On the interaction between macrophages and developmental stages of Schistosoma
      mansoni: effect of muramyl tripeptide phosphatidyl ethanolamine (MTP-PE)
      treatment on mice survival and the generation of schistosomulicidal macrophages.
AB  - Schistosomiasis is a chronic disease afflicting hundreds of millions of people
      throughout the world against which there is as yet no effective vaccine. In the
      present study we tested the effect of the immunomodulator muramyl tripeptide
      phosphatidyl ethanolamine (MTP-PE) on the survival of Schistosoma mansoni
      infected mice and on the induction in them of schistosomulicidal macrophages.
      Mice exposed to 80 cercariae each and then treated with MTP-PE showed prolonged
      survival following either single or repeat infection. The treatment with MTP-PE,
      when initiated 70 days post the schistosome infection, diminished significantly
      the mortality of infected mice over an observed period of 110 days. In terms of
      treatment efficacy there was no evident difference between the intravenous and
      intraperitoneal mode of administration of the drug. MTP-PE treatment
      significantly reduced granuloma size and markedly diminished liver damaged as
      judged by the lower levels of alkaline phosphatase in the serum. Such treatment
      exerted no significant effect on the spleen or liver weight in infected mice nor
      on the worm burden resulting from either a single or double infection. In
      infected and non-treated mice, schistosomulicidal macrophages appeared after 8-10
      weeks of infection. In infected mice treated with MTP-PE there was an accelerated
      appearance of such macrophages and these exhibited a greater cidal effect on the
      schistosomula. These immunostimulatory and life-prolonging effects of MTP-PE on
      S. mansoni-infected mice might indicate an effect of this reagent on cells
      involved in the granulomatous process.

PMID- 1437231
TI  - Transmission blocking immunity to human Plasmodium vivax malaria in an endemic
      population in Kataragama, Sri Lanka.
AB  - Serum effects on gametocyte infectivity, that is, transmission blocking/enhancing
      immunity, were measured in the sera of 196 acute Plasmodium vivax patients who
      were residents of a malaria region in Kataragama, southern Sri Lanka. Direct
      mosquito feedings were also performed on 170 of these patients. Sera of about 48%
      of patients suppressed gametocyte infectivity significantly (by more than 75%)
      and of a smaller proportion (12%) had pronounced infectivity enhancing effects.
      Transmission immunity did not increase with age of patients, rather, immunity
      tended to be higher in younger patients. Data suggest that immunity levels are
      boosted by reinfections only if they occur within a period of 4 months from the
      previous infection, i.e., that immune memory for boosting does not last beyond 4
      months. Enhancing effects in the sera of patients correlated with the absence of
      gametocytes at the time of investigation suggesting that enhancement occurs early
      during the course of a blood infection, and blocking later, when serum antibodies
      reach higher levels. The blocking and enhancing effects of serum appears to
      depend not only on the antibody concentration in serum, but also on the intrinsic
      infectivity of the parasite isolate against which it is tested: thus, infectivity
      enhancing effects were potentiated by low intrinsic infectivities of the parasite
      isolate. The direct infectivity of patients to mosquitoes correlated with
      transmission immunity indicating that transmission immunity is an influential
      factor determining infectivity of malaria patients.

PMID- 1437233
TI  - Detection of cytokine mRNA in the brains of mice with toxoplasmic encephalitis.
AB  - C57Bl/10 ScSn mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii developed a
      meningoencephalitis, characterized by areas of tissue destruction and cellular
      infiltration including foci of neutrophils. Large numbers of cyst stages were
      found throughout the brain but were not always associated with inflammation. The
      use of immunocytochemistry to detect glial fibrillary acidic protein, an
      astrocyte specific marker, showed a widespread astrocyte activation. This was
      particularly prominent in areas of intense inflammation but cysts were negative
      for glial fibrillary acidic protein, indicating that astrocytes were not host
      cells for the bradyzoites. The use of the polymerase chain reaction to assist in
      the amplification of total brain RNA allowed the characterization of the
      cytokines being produced locally within the brains of infected animals. beta
      actin transcripts were detected in all of the uninfected and infected mice. In
      only one of the seven uninfected control mice were other transcripts found.
      Transcripts for tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 alpha and beta,
      interleukin-6, macrophage inflammatory protein-1 and interferon-gamma as well as
      the CD4 marker were detected in all of the infected mice. However, transcripts
      for IL-2 and IL-4 were not present. Several of the cytokines present are capable
      of initiating meningeal inflammation and may play a role in the
      immunopathogenesis of toxoplasmic encephalitis.

PMID- 1437234
TI  - Changes in the protein profile and antigenicity of different Borrelia burgdorferi
      strains after reintroduction to Ixodes ricinus ticks.
AB  - Eight Swiss strains of Borrelia burgdorferi, with various protein profiles and
      the North-American strain B31 were artificially introduced into Ixodes ricinus
      ticks and reisolated 10 days later. All isolates were subsequently examined by
      SDS-PAGE analysis. Comparing initial isolates with the reisolates, we observed
      that 7 out of 9 strains changed their protein pattern with respect to the major
      proteins OspA, OspB and the 22 kDa protein after passage in the tick. The strains
      NE2, NE4 and NE83 with the initial phenotype of OspA and 22 kDa proteins changed
      to the phenotype of OspA and OspB, the strains B2 and NE202 with the initial
      phenotype of OspA acquired an additional protein of 22 kDa and the strain NE58
      with the initial phenotype of OspA also acquired a protein of 22 kDa. Examination
      of these isolates by Western blot analysis demonstrated that the reaction with
      the monoclonal antibody H5332 and a monospecific polyclonal antibody PoAb/anti-22
      kDa differed between the initial isolates and the reisolates.

PMID- 1437235
TI  - The influence of challenge dose, duration of immunity, or steroid treatment on
      mucosal mast cells and on the distribution of sheep mast cell proteinase in
      Haemonchus-infected sheep.
AB  - The distribution of granule-specific sheep mast cell proteinase (SMCP), was
      assayed by immunocytochemistry and quantified by immunoassay in sheep immune to
      Haemonchus contortus. Repeated infection with Haemonchus larvae over 10-12 weeks
      induced a pronounced mucosal mastocytosis, including intraepithelial globule
      leukocytes (GL), which, 7 days after ceasing this dosing regime, was associated
      with the inability of incoming larvae to establish within the abomasal mucosa.
      Loss of this resistance, due to the cessation of stimulation with Haemonchus
      larvae 84 days previously or to treatment of sheep with corticosteroid, was
      associated with a marked decline in mast cell density and concentrations of SMCP
      in abomasal mucosal tissues. Nevertheless, larvae also failed to establish in
      immune sheep rested from challenge 42 days previously and in which mast cell
      counts were not significantly different from those of control sheep. A small, but
      significant, release of SMCP was demonstrated in gastric mucus from immune sheep
      following larval challenge, whereas little or no SMCP was detected in mucus from
      naive animals.

PMID- 1437236
TI  - Modulation of cytokine production and response phenotypes in murine trichuriasis.
AB  - BALB/K mice are usually resistant to infection with the intestinal nematode
      parasite Trichuris muris and exhibit a Th2 dominated (IL-5, IL-9) response.
      Conversely in B10.BR mice, which are unable to expel T. muris, Th1 type (IFN
      gamma producing) cells predominate. We have manipulated the course of infection
      in these two strains of mice such that the period of host-parasite contact is
      extended in the former and curtailed in the latter. Extension of host-parasite
      contact in BALB/K mice beyond normal (day 21) resulted in the modulation of
      cytokines produced by in vitro concanavalin A (Con-A) stimulated MLNC away from
      IL-5 and IL-9 (Th2-type cytokines) in favour of the Th1-type cytokine IFN-gamma.
      Curtailment of host parasite contact in B10.BR mice to less than 21 days resulted
      in elevated production of IL-5 and IL-9 by MLNC in the absence of elevated IFN
      gamma levels. Thus modulation of expulsion phenotype also modulates cytokine
      production by T-cells in the MLN draining the site of infection, with a Th2
      response being associated with resistance and a Th1 type response with the
      inability to expel the parasite. Mechanisms by which the modulated cytokine
      profiles arise are discussed.

PMID- 1437237
TI  - Transmission blocking antibody of the Plasmodium falciparum zygote/ookinete
      surface protein Pfs25 also influences sporozoite development.
AB  - The Plasmodium falciparum zygote/ookinete surface protein, Pfs25, persists in the
      oocyst wall throughout its development. Anti-25 kD transmission blocking
      antibody, given to infected Anopheles stephensi or A. gambiae mosquitoes in an
      additional bloodmeal, 3-6 days after being fed gametocyte infected blood,
      penetrated the oocyst and reacted with the 25 kD protein within it. This reaction
      caused a significant reduction in the number of developing sporozoites. Mouse
      serum containing antibodies raised by immunization with a recombinant 25 kD yeast
      product showed a similar effect.

PMID- 1437238
TI  - An immunocytochemical test for the diagnosis of antibodies to Plasmodium vivax.
AB  - An immunocytochemical peroxidase test (ICPT) has been developed to allow
      serological measurement of the antibody response to Plasmodium vivax by light
      microscopy. Acetone fixed P. vivax erythrocyte stages were used as source of
      antigen. The immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used as reference test.
      In testing sera from individuals infected with P. vivax in southeastern Venezuela
      a high correlation (100%) was obtained between the ICPT and the IFAT. There were
      cross reactions with sera from patients with malaria by P. falciparum but not
      with those from patients with other parasitic diseases. Antibody titres as
      measured by the ICPT showed a positive correlation with past P. vivax malarial
      experiences.

PMID- 1437239
TI  - Occurrence and characteristics of hypodense eosinophils in rats infected with
      Trichinella spiralis.
AB  - Hypodense eosinophils are observed in peripheral blood and tissue from patients
      with eosinophilia due to helminthic infections. In this study, the variation in
      eosinophil density was examined in rats during Trichinella spiralis infection.
      Hypodense eosinophils were observed in the peripheral blood in association with
      Trichinella infection. In peritoneal fluid, which was representative of tissue
      fluid, a majority of eosinophils were hypodense regardless of the infection.
      During the course of tissue eosinophilia after the infection, there was a
      particular increase in the lowest dense cells in the population of hypodense
      eosinophils. Eosinophils with lower density, demonstrated larger diameters and
      had more potent cytotoxic activity.

PMID- 1437240
TI  - Inhibition of protein synthesis in irradiated larvae of Schistosoma mansoni.
AB  - UV-irradiated and gamma-irradiated schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni induce
      high levels of resistance to challenge infection in experimental hosts. It was
      observed that both types of irradiation severely inhibited protein synthesis by
      the parasite larvae. Schistosomula were treated with the metabolic inhibitor
      actinomycin D to simulate this effect of irradiation. The ability of these drug
      treated larvae to induce immunity was tested in animal protection experiments.
      Our results suggest that inhibition of protein synthesis may help to generate the
      enhanced immunogenicity of irradiated schistosomula. In explanation, we propose
      that irradiated schistosomula may be such potent immunogens because they express
      antigens in disrupted, abnormal conformations. Inhibition of protein synthesis
      may both directly create such modified antigens, and also ensure that they
      persist and accumulate for presentation to the host immune system.

PMID- 1437241
TI  - Demonstration of Leishmania specific cell mediated and humoral immunity in
      asymptomatic dogs.
AB  - An ELISA and a lymphocyte proliferation assay were used for the detection of anti
      Leishmania antibodies and parasite specific cellular immunity respectively in a
      preliminary study of canine leishmaniasis in Oporto, Portugal. A high rate of
      infection was found considering the comparatively small group sampled. Of 34 dogs
      examined two had anti-leishmanial antibodies but their lymphocytes did not
      proliferate in the presence of Leishmania infantum. Conversely two dogs
      demonstrated antigen specific lymphocyte proliferation in the absence of any
      detectable anti-parasite antibodies. To our knowledge this is the first time that
      cellular immunity and presumably resistance of dogs to leishmanial infection has
      been demonstrated. These results suggest that there may be a spectrum of canine
      leishmaniasis similar to that observed in the human disease.

PMID- 1437242
TI  - Antibody-dependent cell-mediated immune reactions to Loa loa microfilariae in
      amicrofilaraemic subjects.
AB  - Antibody-mediated mechanisms that could be important in controlling
      microfilaraemia in Loa loa infected amicrofilaraemic adults (mf-ve) were studied.
      These subjects were selected as having a verified ocular passage of an adult L.
      loa but being amicrofilaraemic and without recent diethylcarbamazine treatment.
      Sera from 37 mf-ve subjects were compared to 14 sera from heavily (greater than
      4000 mf/ml) infected subjects (mf+ve) and 9 sera from Caucasian control subjects
      for their reactions with L. loa mf (mf). Many mf-ve sera (22/37) were strongly
      positive in immunofluorescence (IFAT) on living mf. Mf+ve sera were negative, or
      only weakly positive, and Caucasian sera were negative. Clinical signs were not
      significantly different between IFAT reactive and non-reactive mf-ve subjects.
      Approximately half of the IFAT positive, mf-ve sera were also able to agglutinate
      mf; no other sera were active in this test. Titres ranged from log2 3-6 and in
      most cases, 9/11, the agglutination reaction was mercaptoethanol-sensitive.
      Antibody-dependent cellular adherence was studied using mf and leukocytes from
      uninfected donors. Using cryopreserved mf many heat-inactivated mf-ve sera gave
      strong reactions with obvious adherence by 4 h and few motile mf remained by 16 h
      but when fresh mf were employed these reactions were weak. However, addition of
      complement to many (10/11) mf-ve sera considerably enhanced adherence to fresh
      mf. The effect of various treatments on the complement source indicated a role
      for both the classical and alternative pathways. The cells attached to mf were
      mainly neutrophils (83%) with some eosinophils (15%) and few mononuclear cells
      (2%). The common occurrence of antibodies able to mediate complement-dependent
      adherence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to L. loa mf in the sera of mf-ve
      subjects may indicate that such a mechanism is important in controlling
      microfilaraemia in vivo.

PMID- 1437243
TI  - The influence of adjuvant on humoral responses to glutathione-S-transferase
      fusion proteins.
AB  - Mice were immunized with one of two Schistosoma mansoni antigens, Sm20 and Sm50,
      expressed as fusion proteins with Schistosoma japonicum 26,000 Dalton glutathione
      S-transferase (GST) or with GST alone. Antibody responses to GST were shown to be
      critically dependent on the adjuvant used. In Sm20-GST immunized mice, we noted a
      striking bias to respond either to Sm20 or to GST according to the adjuvant used
      and responses to both in the same individual were rare. Fusion with Sm50, which
      is relatively non-immunogenic, appeared to down-regulate responses to GST.

PMID- 1437244
TI  - The operative treatment of scoliosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

PMID- 1437245
TI  - The Thurstan-Holland fragment.

PMID- 1437246
TI  - Management of open fractures.
AB  - An open fracture is an orthopaedic emergency that can lead to devastating
      complications and prolonged rehabilitation. The goals of treatment are to prevent
      infection, achieve bone union, and restore function. The treatment should involve
      the use of antibiotics, repeated thorough irrigation and debridement, early
      fracture stabilization, early wound closure, and aggressive rehabilitation. The
      result of treatment is largely affected by the initial soft-tissue loss, wound
      contamination, fracture stability, and neurovascular status.

PMID- 1437247
TI  - 2-D and 3-D computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in developmental
      dysplasia of the hip.
AB  - Clinical examination and plain roentgenograms have been the main methods of
      diagnosis and treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip. Occasionally,
      concentric reduction cannot be achieved, or the reduction is questionable. A
      dynamic arthrogram can add more information but is usually performed under
      general anesthesia. "Mini" computed tomographic imaging demonstrates the femoral
      head-acetabulum relationship more accurately and produces minimal radiation.
      Three-dimensional computed tomography is useful in older children, in whom all
      sections are ossified. Magnetic resonance imaging, particularly 3-D magnetic
      resonance imaging, demonstrates the nonossified structures. It is the best method
      of visualization in developmental dysplasia of the hip. The disadvantages of this
      method include its cost and the lack of dynamic imaging. In the future, new
      software will overcome these shortcomings.

PMID- 1437249
TI  - Clinical experience with unreamed locked nails for open tibial fractures.
AB  - Open fractures of the tibia remain a formidable injury. External fixation has
      been the mainstay of treatment for the more severe fractures. This treatment
      option, however, is not without significant complications. Of particular
      importance is the rate of infection once the fixator is converted to a reamed
      intramedullary nail in cases of delayed union or nonunion. A retrospective review
      of the records of 20 patients who underwent unreamed, interlocked, intramedullary
      nailing for tibial fracture has shown that unreamed tibial rodding offers an
      excellent alternative to external fixation for the management of Grades I and II
      open tibial fractures. Additionally, for Grade III open fractures, this serves as
      an excellent form of preliminary stabilization, allowing the soft-tissue injury
      to heal.

PMID- 1437248
TI  - Plaster cast versus Clyburn external fixation for fractures of the distal radius
      in patients under 45 years of age.
AB  - In this prospective study, 70 patients between the ages of 20 and 45 years with
      comminuted intra-articular fractures of the distal radius of types III to VIII
      (graded according to Frykman) were treated either by closed reduction and forearm
      plaster (35 patients) or by application of a Clyburn dynamic external fixator (35
      patients). The external fixator was more effective at holding the manipulated
      position, and the roentgenographic loss of position during fracture union was
      minimal compared with that seen in patients treated in plaster. Functional
      results in the fixator group were 18 excellent, 10 good, 6 fair, and 1 poor. The
      plaster group showed the following functional results: 12 excellent, 8 good, 10
      fair, and 5 poor. The external fixator generated significantly better anatomical
      and functional results than did treatment with forearm plaster. A good anatomic
      position combined with early rehabilitation of the wrist function produced very
      favorable functional results in patients less than 45 years of age.

PMID- 1437250
TI  - Compartment pressures of the leg following intramedullary fixation of the tibia.
AB  - A prospective study was performed to determine whether compartment pressures of
      the leg were affected by intramedullary fixation of the tibia. Ten of the 11
      patients studied had surgery for acute diaphyseal fractures and 1 for tibial
      nonunion. Compartment pressures were measured immediately prior to the procedure
      and at 12 hours after the procedure. There was no difference between the
      preoperative and postoperative compartment pressures. Our data suggest that
      intramedullary stabilization of the tibia does not predictably increase
      compartment pressures.

PMID- 1437251
TI  - Scaphoid enchondroma.
AB  - Enchondromas are rarely found in carpal bones. This paper reports a case with
      scaphoid enchondroma and reviews three cases from previous literature. Three of
      the patients with scaphoid enchondromas presented with pathologic fractures after
      traumatic events. Each enchondroma had characteristic histopathologic findings.
      It is important to realize that although enchondroma is usually a painless
      lesion, it weakens the cortex of the involved bone, facilitating fracture. Thus,
      when cystic scaphoid fractures are encountered, enchondroma must be part of the
      differential diagnosis.

PMID- 1437252
TI  - Technical tips for the fixation of supracondylar femur fractures with the sliding
      screw-plate device.
AB  - Supracondylar fractures of the femur are common injuries. When open reduction and
      internal fixation are required, these fractures become challenging problems. We
      present four technical tips that help the surgeon obtain good results when open
      reduction and internal fixation with the screw- and side-plate device are chosen.

PMID- 1437253
TI  - A 35-year-old man with right wrist pain.
AB  - The following is presented to illustrate the roentgenographic and clinical
      findings of a condition of interest to the orthopaedic surgeon. The initial
      history, physical findings, and roentgenographic examinations are found on this
      page. The final clinical and roentgenographic differential diagnoses are
      presented on the following pages.

PMID- 1437254
TI  - The role of calcitonin treatment in postmenopausal osteoporosis.
AB  - Synthetic salmon calcitonin (SCT) is a potent antiosteoclastic hormone with
      adjunctive stimulatory effects on osteoblastic function. It is capable of
      increasing or stabilizing bone mass in osteoporosis and thereby can lessen the
      risk of fractures. Treatment doses vary from 100 IU daily to 50 IU three times a
      week, and the duration of treatment is 2 to 5 years. SCT also exerts an analgesic
      effect on the skeleton that increases its beneficial effect. Side effects, which
      do not involve organ toxicity, are common but are usually mild and transient.
      More severe side effects can be managed by maneuvers such as bedtime dosing,
      premedication, and temporary dose reduction. Primary resistance occurs in
      approximately 25% of patients and secondary resistance, usually due to
      neutralizing antibody formation, in 10% to 20% of patients. SCT is indicated in
      both early and late osteoporosis and is the treatment of choice in the latter.

PMID- 1437255
TI  - Elbow arthroscopy.
AB  - Elbow arthroscopy has made rapid advances in recent years. The improvement in the
      arthroscopic technique, as well as the development of technically advanced
      equipment, has made elbow arthroscopy very attractive to orthopaedic surgeons. It
      is important to realize that elbow arthroscopy is a modality that should be
      respected. This demanding procedure requires keen awareness of the elbow's
      anatomy and the technical arthroscopic approach to the elbow joint. With this
      careful approach in mind, the orthopaedist will find that elbow arthroscopy can
      be a valuable tool.

PMID- 1437256
TI  - Femoral allograft reconstruction in revision total hip arthroplasty.
AB  - Rigid graft fixation with cortical loading through the graft to protect from
      stress shielding is an important goal during femoral allograft reconstruction in
      revision total hip arthroplasty. Total proximal femur allografts require
      intramedullary prosthetic splinting and a step-cut osteotomy or extended lateral
      allograft plate for the most secure fixation and ultimate union. Nonunion and
      dislocation are the most critical complications, and infection rates are similar
      to other reconstruction procedures. This review discusses the principles and
      application of allografts in femoral revision total hip arthroplasty.

PMID- 1437257
TI  - The current status of acetabular fixation in total hip replacement.
AB  - Aseptic loosening of the acetabular component is the major long-term complication
      of cemented total hip replacement. In this article, the improvements in cementing
      technique and cemented acetabular component design, as well as the evolution of
      noncemented acetabular cups, are reviewed. The porous-coated acetabular component
      has emerged as the state of the art in both primary and revision hip
      arthroplasty. Current trends in porous cup design and implantation are presented.
      The ultimate fate of the porous ingrowth cup will be based on long-term clinical
      and roentgenographic follow-up studies.

PMID- 1437258
TI  - Laser arthroscopy.
AB  - Lasers have become widely used in several medical and surgical disciplines. In
      ophthalmology and plastic surgery, their use has permitted the development of
      therapeutic modalities that would have been otherwise impossible. In such
      specialties as gynecology and general surgery, lasers provide advantages that
      make certain procedures more convenient and easier to perform. In contrast,
      orthopaedic surgeons have, to date, been slow to accept these devices into the
      therapeutic armamentarium. The purpose of this paper is to describe the status of
      laser use in the orthopaedic subspecialty of arthroscopy.

PMID- 1437259
TI  - Transient osteoporosis of the hip misdiagnosed as osteonecrosis on magnetic
      resonance imaging.
AB  - A 34-year-old man developed idiopathic, bilateral, asynchronous transient
      osteoporosis of the hip. The symptoms included hip pain with activity, and
      roentgenography revealed osteoporosis of the femoral head and neck. Radionuclide
      bone scans showed increased uptake of the involved femoral head. Magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) early after the onset of right-side symptoms was
      characterized by decreased signal intensity on T1-weighted images and patchy
      areas of increased and decreased signal intensity on T2-weighted images; this was
      initially interpreted as being consistent with osteonecrosis. Despite evaluation
      by multiple physicians and imaging methods, including MRI, the correct diagnosis
      of transient osteoporosis of the hip was delayed until after resolution of the
      syndrome. Transient osteoporosis of the hip should be included in the
      differential diagnosis of hip pain.

PMID- 1437260
TI  - Long-term follow-up of a total articular resurfacing arthroplasty and a cup
      arthroplasty in Gaucher's disease.
AB  - Patients with Gaucher's disease, a well-described lipid storage disorder with
      many systemic manifestations, often present to the orthopaedic surgeon with
      osteonecrosis of the femoral head. This can be a difficult orthopaedic problem
      because of the patient's young age at presentation and abnormal bone stock.
      Review of the literature leaves uncertainty as to the ideal treatment of femoral
      head avascular necrosis in this disease. This article reports the long-term
      results of a cup arthroplasty and a total articular resurfacing arthroplasty
      procedure for bilateral hip involvement. In light of the less-than-satisfactory
      results of total hip arthroplasty for young patients with Gaucher's disease,
      resurfacing arthroplasty may warrant more serious consideration. For the older
      patient with Gaucher's disease, total hip arthroplasty may be preferable.

PMID- 1437261
TI  - An 80-year-old man with symptoms of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

PMID- 1437262
TI  - Removal of broken distal interlocking screws.
AB  - Existing techniques for removing broken distal interlocking screws can involve
      trephine over-cutting of the screws, which requires bone exposure and creates
      larger stress risers by enlarging the original screw hole. We present a technique
      for removal of these screws that takes advantage of both the design of
      interlocking screws and the bone quality in the area of their placement. In this
      technique, a guide-wire "punch" is used to drive the screws through the medial
      cortex and soft tissue for removal through a small medial incision.

PMID- 1437263
TI  - Significance of osteoporosis: a growing national health care problem.

PMID- 1437264
TI  - Negative extension sign in a patient with a herniated lumbar disc.

PMID- 1437265
TI  - Evidence for the existence of ganglioside molecules on Pneumocystis carinii from
      human lungs.
AB  - This study was undertaken to assess whether glycolipid antigens (particularly
      gangliosides) are associated with Pneumocystis carinii obtained from human lungs.
      Gangliosides were extracted, purified in high performance thin-layer
      chromatography and stained with resorcinol. Two resorcinol-positive bands, co
      migrating with GM1 and GD1a were demonstrated, suggesting the existence of
      ganglioside molecules on P. carinii. No resorcinol-positive bands were revealed
      in the pulmonary control tissue. In addition, an antiserum obtained from rabbits
      immunized with P. carinii antigen reacted with gangliosides GM1 and GD1a, as
      revealed by a dot immunobinding assay. This reactivity was inhibited by first
      incubating the antiserum with ganglioside micelles. Furthermore, anti
      glycosphingolipid antibodies (aGM1) reacted with the bands of 200 and 55 kDa of
      P. carinii antigen. These results suggest that ganglioside antigens expressed on
      P. carinii can trigger specific immune responses.

PMID- 1437266
TI  - Vegetation structure influences the burden of immature Ixodes dammini on its main
      host, Peromyscus leucopus.
AB  - To determine whether the relative abundance of immature Ixodes dammini (the
      vector of Lyme disease and human babesiosis) is related to habitat structure, we
      examined tick burdens on their main host, the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus
      leucopus), in 4 structurally diverse sites on Great Island, Massachusetts, USA.
      Vegetation structure at each site was quantified with respect to 25 habitat
      variables. Principal components analysis was used to reduce this set of habitat
      variables to seven new and orthogonal variables. Immature tick abundance varied
      widely among grids. Regression analysis of tick burdens on the habitat principal
      components showed that larval burdens were related strongly to the density of
      woody vegetation and negatively to herbaceous vegetation. Nymphal burdens were
      related negatively to herbaceous vegetation, but the relationship was not as
      strong as in the case of larvae. An experimental reduction in the abundance of
      white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), the main host of adult ticks,
      substantially reduced tick burdens and altered their relationships to habitat
      structure. Nymphal burdens were unrelated to habitat structure following deer
      removal. Manipulating habitat structure may have utility as a control strategy
      against this important vector.

PMID- 1437267
TI  - Trichinella strain, pig race and other parasitic infections as factors in the
      reliability of ELISA for the detection of swine trichinellosis.
AB  - An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using crude worm extracts (CWE) and
      mixtures of these as antigens of five Spanish isolates (P, C, B1, B2 and W) was
      developed for detecting homologous and heterologous experimental infections with
      these isolates between-14 and 82 days post-infection (p.i.) in white and Iberian
      pigs. A total of 243 pigs (Iberian or cross-bred with this race) with numerous
      parasitic infections were also screened for the presence of antibodies to a
      mixture of CWE of C, B1 and B2 isolate. The test showed a specificity of 93.1
      98.9% depending on the cut-off values and a maximum sensitivity of 92.8-100%
      between days 34 and 82 p.i. A low grade of infectivity was shown in the T3
      isolates compared to the T1 isolates (P, C, B1 and B2) but high cross-reactions
      were observed between all the isolates with minor differences between P and W
      isolates. The highest antibody response was found in P infections and the lowest
      in pigs infected with the W isolate. A clear association between the presence of
      several parasitic infections and false positive reactions was not found, but an
      important relation was shown between high background levels and the Iberian race
      in experimentally and conventionally raised pigs.

PMID- 1437268
TI  - Genetic influences upon eosinophilia and resistance in mice infected with
      Trichinella spiralis.
AB  - Genetic influences upon host variation in eosinophilia and resistance to helminth
      infection, and the relationship between these parameters, were investigated in 7
      inbred and 1 hybrid strains of mice infected with Trichinella spiralis. Clear
      strain-dependent variations were observed in the maximum peripheral blood, bone
      marrow and spleen eosinophilia attained in infected animals. SWR, NIH and SJL
      strains of mice all gave high responses to infection; four congenic strains
      sharing the B10 background (C57BL10 [B10], B10.S, B10.G and B10.BR) were low
      responders. Some of the genes for high responsiveness appeared to be dominant, as
      F1 hybrids from high- and low-response phenotype parental strains showed
      intermediate to high responses to infection. Intestinal eosinophilia showed no
      correlation with either peripheral blood or bone marrow responses (NIH and B10
      strains having similar levels of eosinophil response in gut tissue) and was
      unrelated to the level of resistance to infection. Whereas NIH were highly
      resistant, with adult worm burdens at 13 days post-infection and muscle larval
      burdens at 35 days post-infection significantly lower than all other strains, B10
      were quite susceptible, retaining substantial worm burdens at day 13 and
      harbouring large numbers of muscle larvae. Measurements of the level of the
      eosinophilopoietic cytokine IL-5 in sera during infection showed that the two
      strains differed in the kinetics of release but not in their absolute capacity to
      produce this cytokine. NIH mice released high levels during a primary infection,
      B10 released high levels during a secondary infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1437269
TI  - Variation in responsiveness to Trichinella spiralis infection in inbred rat
      strains.
AB  - An analysis of interstrain variation between 12 inbred and 4 congenic rat strains
      in the expression of immunity against Trichinella spiralis is reported. All rat
      strains expressed strong rapid expulsion which resulted in the elimination of 88
      98% of a challenge infection of muscle larvae. In contrast, substantial
      interstrain variation in the rate of adult worm expulsion in the primary
      infection was evident. By day 10 after infection, BUF and YO strains had less
      than 50 worms left in the intestine whereas BI and WKA strain rats had barely
      begun rejection, with approximately 1000 worms present in the gut for both
      strains. All other rat strains fell within these extremes in a continuous
      gradation. There was no clustering of rat strains into phenotypic groups with
      comparable worm burdens as seen with mice. The number of muscle larvae that
      established after the primary infection showed less variation than had adult worm
      burden in the primary infection and there was only a weak correlation of muscle
      larvae burden with numbers of intestinal adults present at 10 days. Comparison of
      MHC-matched or MHC-disparate rat strains on a PVG background suggested that non
      MHC genes determined the principal adult worm rejection characteristics of a
      given strain. The absence of phenotypic variation in the expression of rapid
      expulsion in rats reinforces the biological distinction between rat rapid
      expulsion and the 'rapid expulsion' defined for mice.

PMID- 1437270
TI  - The effects of age, temperature, light quantity and wavelength on the swimming
      behaviour of the cercariae of Cryptocotyle lingua (Digenea: Heterophyidae).
AB  - Laboratory experiments indicated that the active life-span of the cercariae of
      Cryptocotyle lingua was temperature-dependent. An increase in water temperature
      and population age both correlated with a tendency for the organisms to become
      decaudate. The larvae were strongly photoresponsive to lateral light but with
      time, horizontal swimming rates (HSRs) from release point to light source
      progressively declined. When measured over a range of light quantities, HSRs
      peaked at 30 microM/m2/s. HSRs were also influenced by water temperature. A rapid
      increase occurred up to 15 degrees C after which there was a precipitous decline.
      HSRs to coloured light were negatively correlated with increasing wavelength.
      When offered a choice between colours, cercariae favoured the shorter
      wavelengths. The implications of these responses for successful transmission are
      discussed.

PMID- 1437271
TI  - Protein content of CBA/Ca mouse diet: relationship with host antibody responses
      and the population dynamics of Trichuris muris (Nematoda) in repeated infection.
AB  - The influence of host dietary protein on acquired immunity and intestinal
      helminth population dynamics during repeated infection was studied using the
      mouse-Trichuris muris experimental model. CBA/Ca mice fed a 2% (by mass) protein
      diet ad libitum maintained body weight during the experiment, but when fed diets
      containing either 4% or 16% (by mass) protein gained weight steadily. Infection
      with T. muris did not affect the growth of the latter mice but significantly
      reduced the growth of animals fed on the 2% protein diet. When repeatedly
      infected with either 5 or 50 eggs every 10 days, the mice fed the 2% or 4%
      protein diet accumulated adults in proportion to infection dose. The results show
      that this is due to both the establishment of larvae at each repeated infection
      and the survival of established adults. In contrast, very few worms were
      recovered from animals fed the 16% protein diet, principally as a result of the
      development of strong acquired immunity to reinfection. T. muris egg output/mouse
      increased with infection dose in animals fed the low protein diets, but no
      parasite eggs were detected in the faeces of hosts fed the 16% protein diet.
      Mouse antibody responses to adult worm excretory/secretory antigen were time- and
      infection dose-dependent in all 3 dietary groups. The major finding was that the
      specific antibody response was more intense, both quantitatively (serum OD
      levels) and qualitatively (antigen recognition by IgG1), in mice fed the low
      protein diets, even though they remained susceptible to infection. This study
      shows that host dietary protein deficiency, even at levels irrelevant to normal
      growth, can markedly potentiate the transmission of T. muris via alterations in
      host resistance. The high levels of antibody in susceptible animals suggest that
      this defect in resistance is unlikely to be due to nutrient deficiency-associated
      defects in humoral immunity.

PMID- 1437272
TI  - Effect of intra-erythrocytic magnesium ions on invasion by Plasmodium falciparum.
AB  - Exclusion of magnesium ions from resealed ghosts or their extraction from intact
      human red cells by means of an ionophore results in a reversible drop in
      susceptibility to invasion by Plasmodium falciparum merozoites in vitro. Resealed
      ghosts, containing magnesium-ATP and diluted cytosol, are invaded with high
      efficiency only when the original hypotonic lysis is carried out in the presence
      of magnesium ions. This effect is not related to the loss of membrane-associated
      constituents when magnesium ions are absent. Ghosts containing calcium ions,
      together with the protective agent, flunarizine, were essentially resistant to
      invasion; this effect is again at least partially reversible. A possible
      explanation of these phenomena is that entry of the merozoite may be inhibited by
      breakdown of the host cell phospholipid asymmetry, with the appearance of
      aminophospholipids at the outer cell surface.

PMID- 1437273
TI  - Comparative prevalences of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm
      infections and the prospects for combined control.
AB  - Programmes to control Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm
      infections have often been targeted at each infection separately, but the advent
      of benign and broad-spectrum anthelmintics suggests that combined control may be
      feasible. The extent to which the infections co-occur in communities will
      determine the need for, and potential benefits of, such a combined approach. This
      paper examines the comparative distribution of the three geohelminths in
      different geographical areas and shows that A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura have
      closely related distributions, while hookworm infection is largely independent of
      the other two. These results indicate that many communities are at risk of
      disease from infection by more than one species of helminth. The similar
      distributions and epidemiological characteristics of A. lumbricoides and T.
      trichiura suggest that simultaneous control of these two parasites by the same
      strategy would be feasible and highly beneficial to communities. Multiple species
      control strategies which aim to control hookworm infection may require a more
      complicated protocol with more precise locality targeting.

PMID- 1437274
TI  - Epidemiology of canine leishmaniasis: prevalence, incidence and basic
      reproduction number calculated from a cross-sectional serological survey on the
      island of Gozo, Malta.
AB  - Assessment of the resilience of canine leishmaniasis to control or, more
      ambitiously, the effort needed to eradicate infection, requires an estimate of
      the basic case reproduction number (R0). This paper applies the theoretical
      results of Hasibeder, Dye & Carpenter (1992) to data from a cross-sectional
      survey on the Maltese island of Gozo in which dogs of known age, sex and
      occupation (pet, guard etc) were subjected to three different serological tests
      for the presence of specific antibody (IFAT, DAT and ELISA). Difficulties in
      interpreting these test results, and hence of determining the proportion of dogs
      infected, present the main obstacle to estimating R0: estimates are critically
      dependent on the choice of threshold separating seropositives from seronegatives.
      The data do, however, allow a robust comparative analysis of risk which shows
      that the force of infection experienced by working dogs is about three times
      higher than that of pet dogs, a degree of non-homogeneous contact which actually
      has little effect on estimates of R0. We suggest a cautious point estimate of R0
      congruent to 11, and comment briefly on its significance for leishmaniasis
      control.

PMID- 1437275
TI  - Mathematical modelling and theory for estimating the basic reproduction number of
      canine leishmaniasis.
AB  - The paper describes a mathematical model for canine leishmaniasis and presents
      formulae which can be used to estimate the basic reproduction number, R0. The
      primary concern has been to devise methods of estimation which make best use of
      those data most easily obtained by fieldwork, e.g. surveys of prevalence in dog
      (by age) and sandfly populations. A range of formulae are offered which are more
      or less demanding of data, and which consequently give more or less precise
      estimates of R0. They include methods for assessing the influence on R0 of
      heterogeneous biting rates of sandflies on dogs, in which the essence of
      heterogeneous transmission can be captured merely by measuring relative rather
      than absolute contact rates.

PMID- 1437276
TI  - Adhesion of Trichomonas vaginalis to plastic surfaces: requirement for energy and
      serum constituents.
AB  - The ability of Trichomonas vaginalis to adhere to plastic surfaces in the
      presence of various agents and under different growth conditions was examined in
      wells of microtitre plates containing unsupplemented TYI medium or the same, with
      various supplements. Following incubation, the wells were thoroughly washed and
      adhesion was determined by microscopic counting of the adherent organisms. There
      was no detectable adhesion in the absence of both serum and carbohydrate. Optimal
      adhesion (about 10-20% of the total number of parasites) was obtained throughout
      the growth curve in culture media supplemented with either serum or serum Cohn
      fractions IV-I (rich in alpha-globulin) or IV-4 (rich in alpha + beta-globulin)
      and 25 mM glucose, maltose or fructose, but not in plates pre-coated with the
      Cohn fractions. Cohn fraction II + III (rich in beta + gamma-globulin) moderately
      enhanced adhesion while Cohn fractions II (rich in gamma-globulin) or V
      (albumin), fibronectin, Tamm-Horsfall glycoproteins and polylysine were without
      effect. Non-metabolizable sugars (methyl derivatives of glucose, mannose or
      fucose) did not support growth, but, surprisingly, enhanced adhesion. At 4
      degrees C, the trichomonads were not able to adhere and pre-adherent organisms
      detached from the plastic surface. Optimal adhesion was obtained at a pH range of
      6.5-7.5 but was already detectable at pH 5.5. Cytochalasin E markedly suppressed
      adhesion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437277
TI  - Schistosoma mansoni: adult males and females differentially express antigens
      encoded by repetitive genomic DNA.
AB  - Two repetitive DNA sequences have been characterized from Schistosoma mansoni
      which were transcribed into mRNAs and translated to give two families of cross
      reactive proteins. One DNA element, which was present as a 230 bp Pst I fragment
      was arranged in tandem arrays of at least 17 copies in the genome. The second
      element, which could be localized to a 1800 bp Pst I fragment, was dispersed in
      the genome. The 1800 bp repeat was found on the mRNA encoding the 45 kDa
      polypeptide precursor of a potential surface antigen. This precursor was post
      translationally modified to give a 50 kDa antigen (Sm50) which was expressed from
      the cercaria to the adult worm and in the egg. However, a proportion of this
      antigen was differentially modified in females and eggs to give a 60 kDa form.
      Two copies of the 230 bp repeat and one copy of the 1800 bp repeat were found on
      a second cDNA clone. The antiserum raised against the fusion protein of this
      clone recognized a family of cross-reactive proteins ranging from 14 to 70 kDa in
      size. The members of this family were also differentially expressed between the
      sexes. Consequently, two families of antigens have been identified which were
      both encoded by repetitive DNA elements and whose members were both
      differentially expressed in adult male and female worms.

PMID- 1437278
TI  - Immunization against cerebral pathology in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice.
AB  - The development of cerebral lesions in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice was
      dependent on the strain of mice and the size of the infectious inoculum. In
      particular, C57Bl/6J mice develop cerebral lesions when infected with low numbers
      of parasitized erythrocytes. By increasing the number of parasites in the
      infectious inoculum, the percentage of animals that develop cerebral malaria is
      decreased. Varying degrees of protection against the development of cerebral
      malaria can be obtained by several methods of immunization. (1) Injection of mice
      with large numbers of disrupted parasitized erythrocytes 1 or 2 weeks before the
      challenge infection (protection up to 70%). (2) A 2-day immunizing infection
      given 9 or 14 days before the challenge infection (protection up to 85%). (3)
      Injection of mice with plasmodial exoantigen preparations 1 week before the
      challenge infection (variable protection-rate, up to 100%). In all mice protected
      against cerebral malaria, parasitaemia is not affected by the immunizing
      treatment, indicating that protective mechanisms against cerebral malaria and
      parasitaemia are independent.

PMID- 1437279
TI  - Fluorescent lipid uptake and transport in adult Schistosoma mansoni.
AB  - Fluorescent lipophilic compounds can be used to label the surface membrane of
      Schistosoma mansoni by adding the compound in small amounts of organic solvents
      to aqueous medium in vitro. Under these conditions it is difficult to follow
      routes of distribution of the label. Here we have absorbed
      nitrobenzoxadiazolamine methylamino-(NBD)-ceramides to positively charged Dowex
      beads, and incubated the labelled beads with living parasites. The NBD-ceramide
      transfers to the surface membrane as a patch 50-100 microns in diameter, after
      which the label can be seen localized in the gut and in a very concentrated form
      in organelles within the oesophageal gland cells. Subsequently the labelled
      compound can be found in organelles within other body cells, including
      subtegumental cells. We show that the labelled ceramide has been transported from
      the patch in the surface membrane through internal membrane systems to the
      destination in the gut and oesophageal gland and not transported through the gut
      via the external medium. A different pattern was observed when NBD-cholesterol
      was used. The pharynx was rapidly labelled when NBD-cholesterol was added in
      medium with or without serum or attached to red blood cells only. Diffuse
      labelling of the surface membrane and oesophageal gland occurred. We have
      demonstrated a novel route of lipid transport within the parasite. The route
      requires the surface membrane to have very specialized regions to facilitate such
      transport.

PMID- 1437280
TI  - Kinetic modelling of isometamidium chloride (Samorin) uptake by Trypanosoma
      congolense.
AB  - Clones of Trypanosoma congolense which express resistance to the widely used
      trypanocide isometamidium chloride accumulate less of the drug than clones which
      are sensitive to drug treatment. A mathematical model has been developed which
      was able to predict theoretical lines representing the uptake kinetics in
      trypanosomes which were sensitive to isometamidium, as well as for resistant
      trypanosomes in which reduced accumulation was a result of either reduced uptake
      or enhanced efflux of the drug. Data from drug uptake experiments were then
      fitted to these theoretical lines. While the value for drug efflux could not be
      separated from the dissociation constant of the trypanosomes for isometamidium,
      it was demonstrated that reduced accumulation is not a result of reduced uptake
      of isometamidium by drug-resistant trypanosomes.

PMID- 1437281
TI  - Sequence differences between histones of procyclic Trypanosoma brucei brucei and
      higher eukaryotes.
AB  - Four histones, a, b, c, d from procyclic Trypanosoma brucei brucei, which show
      similarities with the amino acid composition of the core histones H3, H2A, H2B
      and H4, were isolated and cleaved with Endoproteinase Glu-C. The fragments were
      separated by FPLC reversed phase chromatography and a subset of the fragments
      (a5, a9, b6, c8, d3, d9, d11) was subjected to sequence analysis. A 54-71%
      identity was found in the sequences of the fragment c8 and the C-terminal half of
      H2B and of three fragments of protein d covering the N-terminal half as well as
      the C-terminal region of H4. The amino acid sequence of the fragment a9 showed a
      57 and 54% identity with H3 sequences of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Xenopus
      laevis. Neither the a5 nor the b6 sequence could be aligned with histone
      sequences of other eukaryotes. The significant differences of 21-48% between the
      T.b. brucei histone sequences and those of calf thymus histones, which are more
      pronounced than the differences of Tetrahymena pyriformis and the higher
      eukaryote, resulted partially from replacements of amino acids with different
      properties and indicate specific patterns of histone-histone and/or histone-DNA
      contact sites in the nucleosome of T.b. brucei. These differences, together with
      the lack of a functional histone H1, may be sufficient to explain the lack of a
      salt-dependent formation of the nucleosome filament into the 30 nm fibre, which
      reflects alternative methods of organizing and processing the genetic information
      in the nucleus of the protozoan parasite and which may be of chemotherapeutic
      significance.

PMID- 1437282
TI  - The spectrum of presentation at autopsy of myocarditis in infancy and childhood.
AB  - To characterize the clinicopathological presentation of patients with myocarditis
      coming to autopsy in childhood, 32 cases of histologically-proven myocarditis
      were obtained from the files of the Adelaide Children's Hospital. In 16 of the
      cases (Group A), myocarditis was the only significant finding and death was
      ascribed to this condition. In the remaining 16 (Group B) myocarditis was found
      in association with other severe disease processes. Clinical histories of the 2
      groups showed sudden death to be a feature in 5 out of 16 cases in Group A, 3 of
      whom had no prodromal symptoms. Five patients in Group B also suffered sudden
      death, but this was associated with a variety of causes, including
      bronchopneumonia, and asphyxia. These cases demonstrate the variability in
      clinicopathological presentation of myocarditis in infancy and childhood and
      suggest that myocarditis should always be considered a possible diagnosis at
      autopsy in the pediatric age group, even in the presence of coincident lethal
      disease.

PMID- 1437283
TI  - Parosteal lipomas: a new perspective.
AB  - Parosteal lipomas, benign adipose tissue tumors situated directly on bone cortex,
      are unusual neoplasms that appear to emerge from multidirectional mesenchymal
      "modulation" within the periosteum. These tumors have been described as
      "periosteal lipomas", "chondrolipomas of soft tissue" and "lipomas of nerves" but
      they are most commonly believed to originate from the periosteum. Although over
      100 of such tumors have been described in the literature, they have not been the
      subject of a comprehensive review, nor their potential for chondroid modulation
      and enchondral ossification emphasized. A review of 14 parosteal lipomas from the
      Bone Tumor Registry, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, indicates these tumors
      are frequently associated with chondroid and/or osseous modulation, which permits
      subclassification into 4 distinct variants. Each of the 4 subtypes (I: No
      Ossification; II: Pedunculated Exostosis; III: Sessile Exostosis; IV: Patchy
      Chondro-Osseous Modulation) is illustrated to demonstrate the morphologic basis
      for radiologic/pathologic correlation and subclassification. A brief overview of
      the literature and pathogenesis of this unusual lesion is presented and
      discussed.

PMID- 1437285
TI  - Delayed rupture of spontaneous tear of the ascending aorta--report of two
      fatalities.
AB  - A spontaneous tear of the ascending aorta, with or without medial dissection, can
      cause sudden death from hemorrhage due to aortic rupture. Two representative
      cases are described. Review of the clinical history and pathological changes
      showed that the terminal event was delayed allowing healing and reactive changes
      to occur in the aortic wall. A pathologist confronted with a fatal case of aortic
      rupture should be aware that death is not always immediate. Recognition of this
      has medicolegal importance, particularly if medical management is questioned
      because of a missed clinical diagnosis.

PMID- 1437284
TI  - Combined pathological and radiological study of the effect of atherosclerosis on
      the ostia of segmental branches of the abdominal aorta.
AB  - A combined pathological and radiological study of descending aortae from 15
      subjects from 2 to 80 yrs of age was conducted to investigate changes in the
      segmental vessels with advancing aortic atherosclerosis. There were (i) small
      hillocks of musculo-elastic intimal thickening adjacent to the apex (centre of
      the flow divider) in the ostia of the segmental vessels in young subjects, (ii)
      progressive intimal thickening, distortion and narrowing of the ostia of the
      segmental vessels (iii) obliteration or loss of some ostia in advanced
      atherosclerosis of the distal abdominal aorta and (iv) gross discrepancy in
      severity of atherosclerosis between the aorta and its branches, the intimal
      proliferation tapering rapidly in the branches and often being minimal in the
      outer part of their intramural courses. Distal ramifications exhibited occlusions
      which radiographically were probably embolic or possibly artifactual.
      Atherosclerosis was rarely of significant degree histologically within the
      proximal 2 cm of the segmental branches.

PMID- 1437286
TI  - A prospective study of the morphological aspects of tumor involvement of the
      pulmonary vessels.
AB  - A prospective morphological study of tumor involvement of the pulmonary vessels
      (TIPV) was undertaken on 203 consecutive autopsy cases of malignancies. The lungs
      were removed as a block and 15 sections (3 from each lobe) were analyzed. Site of
      origin, histological type and staging of the tumor, topographic distribution of
      the tumor emboli in the lungs, right ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation,
      pulmonary infarct, pulmonary vascular sclerosis and lung metastases were recorded
      in each case. TIPV was detected in 84 (41.4%) cases, the highest frequency
      reported until now. In 28 cases, TIPV was considered to be the main cause of
      death. The breast, liver, and pancreas were primary sites in more than 50% of the
      cases in which TIPV was observed. TIPV was more prevalent in epithelial neoplasms
      and showed a strong correlation with advanced disease. There was no significant
      difference among topographic regions of the lungs. The cases with TIPV were
      correlated with a high frequency of right ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation,
      vascular sclerosis and pulmonary metastases but not with pulmonary infarcts.

PMID- 1437287
TI  - Glomerulosclerosis and hyalinosis in rabbits.
AB  - Histological appearances of remnant kidney in female New Zealand white rabbits
      undergoing left nephrectomy at 6 mths were studied. All 20 rabbits had evidence
      of previous Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi) infection. Half of the 10
      uninephrectomized and 10 control animals completed 3 pregnancies before sacrifice
      (15 mths). Twelve of 30 kidneys at sacrifice showed focal and segmental
      hyalinosis and sclerosis (FSHS), a lesion not previously reported in rabbits.
      Four of 5 kidneys in both uninephrectomized pregnant and uninephrectomized virgin
      animals showed FSHS compared with 2 of 10 in both control pregnant and non
      pregnant rabbits (p = 0.0026). More glomeruli were sclerosed in control pregnant
      (median 3.5%) than non pregnant animals (median 0.4%) (p < 0.005). Median right
      kidney weights per kilogram body weight were greater in previously nephrectomized
      animals (3.9 gm/kg) than controls (2.6 gm/kg), (p < 0.001). Absolute glomerular
      area was increased in hypertrophied kidneys, however, after correction for kidney
      weight, glomerular area was smaller in previously uninephrectomized animals than
      controls (p < 0.0001).

PMID- 1437288
TI  - Test and teach. Number 69. Diagnosis: Tubo-ovarian actinomycosis.

PMID- 1437289
TI  - Peanut agglutinin (lectin from Arachis hypogaea) binding to hemopoietic cells: an
      immunophenotypic study using a biotin streptavidin technique.
AB  - The lectin peanut agglutinin (PNA) was used to study the surface carbohydrate
      expression of galactose beta 1, 3, N-acetylgalactosamine by normal and malignant
      hemopoietic cells. Immunostaining was performed using biotinylated PNA and a
      streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase staining technique on 78 patients. The study
      was undertaken to enlarge on previous reports of lectin binding to cells of
      hemopoietic origin and to establish the potential role of biotinylated PNA as a
      component of an immunotoxin for in vitro purging of bone marrow in patients with
      multiple myeloma. In normals only monocytes, macrophages, centroblasts and plasma
      cells showed reactivity. Of the hematological malignancies, all cases of multiple
      myeloma were positive and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cases with a large cell
      component had positive centroblasts. Two of 5 cases of acute myelomonocytic
      leukemia, one case of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and one case of pleomorphic
      T cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma showed PNA positive neoplastic cells. The
      reactivity of biotinylated PNA with centroblasts and plasma cells suggests that
      it may be of potential value when linked to a streptavidin-ricin conjugate in the
      in vitro purging of bone marrow of patients with multiple myeloma prior to
      autologous bone marrow transplantation.

PMID- 1437290
TI  - Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: laboratory investigation and confirmation of
      diagnosis.
AB  - We report here on the usefulness of the 14C-serotonin release assay for the
      laboratory confirmation of the clinical diagnosis of heparin-induced
      thrombocytopenia syndrome (HITS). Over the past 3 yrs, some 140 individual serum
      samples have been tested in our laboratory for heparin-associated anti-platelet
      activity ('heparin antibodies'). These included sera from 54 selected (4
      positive, 50 negative) controls and a group of 86 patients where the test was
      requested on clinical grounds. Of 20 patients derived from within our
      institution, 7 out of 8 patients (88%) with good clinical probability of HITS
      were confirmed to have heparin platelet antibodies by the serotonin release
      assay. In contrast, only 2 out of 9 patients (22%) with a low clinical
      probability of HITS were shown to be positive by this procedure, as were 2 out of
      3 patients (66%) deemed to have an 'intermediate' clinical probability of HITS.
      In addition, screening of 50 serum samples forming a 'negative-control non-HITS'
      group (either patients on heparin therapy without thrombocytopenia, patients with
      non-heparin associated thrombocytopenia [eg. ITP*, other drug related], or normal
      laboratory volunteers), consistently failed to display heparin associated anti
      platelet activity by the 14C-serotonin release assay. In addition to the good
      specificity and sensitivity described above, the 14C-serotonin release assay was
      found to be nearly twice as sensitive when compared to the platelet aggregation
      procedure, and it is therefore a useful diagnostic test for the confirmation of
      clinically suspected HITS.

PMID- 1437291
TI  - Acceptance of class II major histocompatibility complex disparate skin grafts
      associated with suppressor cells and elevated Langerhans cell numbers.
AB  - Class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules are only present on
      Langerhans cells (LC) in normal murine epidermis. Depletion of this antigen with
      the chemical carcinogen dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) causes I-E disparate
      B10.A(2R) congenic tail skin to be accepted permanently when grafted onto
      B10.A(4R) recipients. Adoptive transfer of spleen cells from these recipients
      into naive syngeneic hosts inhibited the ability of the host mice to reject
      untreated B10.A(2R) tail skin grafts. Hence DMBA-treated LC depleted I-E
      disparate skin grafts activate suppressor cells which did not inhibit BALB/c mice
      from rejecting a B10.A(2R) tail skin graft. In contrast, the tobacco derived
      carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene (BP) increased the number of epidermal LC but had no
      effect on either class I or class II MHC disparate skin graft survival time. This
      confirms that the number of class II MHC-positive LC is critical for the
      initiation of skin graft rejection; when the threshold level is attained graft
      rejection proceeds at a maximal rate that cannot be enhanced by raising the
      number of LC. The tolerant skin grafts had increased numbers of LC; this was not
      observed in syngeneic grafts and therefore may be related to the active
      suppression of immunity.

PMID- 1437292
TI  - Development of trimethoprim-resistance in Salmonella typhi during therapy.
AB  - A typhoid patient was infected with a fully-sensitive, plasmidless strain of
      Salmonella typhi which acquired resistance to kanamycin, sulfamethoxazole and
      trimethoprim during cotrimoxazole therapy. The resistant post-treatment strain
      harboured 4 plasmids of 62, 4.1, 3.8 and 3.0 Md in size. Kanamycin-,
      sulfamethoxazole- and trimethoprim-resistance were borne on a transferable 62 Md
      plasmid which was compatible with groups FI, FIme, FII, FIV, H1, H2, B, I1, I2,
      J, K, M, N, T, X, W and P. Sulfamethoxazole-resistance was also borne on the 4.1
      Md plasmid. The 3.8 Md plasmid was not transferable; the 3.0 Md plasmid was
      transferable but did not confer antibiotic resistance. Excluding the strain
      described here, only 5 out of 35 other S typhi isolates contained plasmids. This
      is the first report of trimethoprim-resistant S typhi in Hong Kong.

PMID- 1437293
TI  - Capnocytophaga canimorsus septicemia associated with cat scratch.
AB  - A case is reported of Capnocytophaga canimorsus (formerly CDC group DF-2)
      septicemia following cat scratch in a patient with congenital asplenia. The case
      is of interest in that (1) the clinical presentation provided no indication as to
      the cause of the patient's illness. (2) C. canimorsus infection following cat
      bite or scratch has been reported far less frequently than following dog bite.
      (3) The clinical course of the illness may have been modified by previous and
      concurrent warfarin therapy.

PMID- 1437294
TI  - Mycobacterium fortuitum endocarditis in a patient with chronic renal failure on
      hemodialysis.
AB  - A case of infective endocarditis due to M. fortuitum in a 54 yr old female with
      chronic renal failure on hemodialysis is presented. Clinical, microbiological and
      autopsy findings are discussed.

PMID- 1437295
TI  - Beta-lactamase induction by imipenem in Yersinia enterocolitica.
AB  - Five strains of Yersinia enterocolitica belonging to 5 different biotypes were
      induced to beta-lactamase production with imipenem in broth culture at 28 degrees
      C. Strains belonging to biotypes 1A, 1B, 2 and 3 showed a 26 to 73 fold increase
      in beta-lactamase activity after 180 min in the presence of 0.5 mg/L imipenem.
      Biotype 4 strain, by contrast, did not show obvious enhancement of its beta
      lactamase activity in the same experiments. Enzyme B in biotypes 1B, 2 and 3 and
      enzyme "B-like" in biotype 1A were shown to be responsible for the increase of
      the beta-lactamase activity, but neither enzyme nor any similar enzyme was found
      to be present in biotype 4 strain.

PMID- 1437296
TI  - Implications of rDNA technology in the microbiology laboratory.
AB  - The present and potential future roles in service and research microbiological
      laboratories of recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques (nucleic acid hybridization,
      nucleic acid amplification, in situ hybridization, pulsed field gel
      electrophoresis) are described. Applications rDNA technology include the
      detection of micro-organisms; an approach to the understanding of their role in
      disease pathogenesis and provision of alternative strategies for studying the
      epidemiology of infectious diseases.

PMID- 1437297
TI  - Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation of the hand in a young man.
AB  - We report a case of a solitary osteochondromatous tumor on the hand of a 38 yr
      old man. This had radiological and histological features distinct from an
      osteochondroma and demonstrated the features first described as bizarre parosteal
      osteochondromatous proliferation. These lesions have a tendency for local
      recurrence but no metastatic behaviour has yet been reported. We highlight 2
      histological features which have not been previously described.

PMID- 1437298
TI  - Papillary carcinoma arising in ectopic thyroid tissue within a branchial cyst.
AB  - The first case of a papillary carcinoma arising in ectopic thyroid tissue within
      a branchial cyst in a 34 yr old woman is presented. This also adds to the
      existing list of unusual sites where ectopic thyroid tissue has been described.
      All histological types of carcinoma have been reported in ectopic thyroid tissue,
      papillary carcinoma being the most common histological type, accounting for 85%
      of these tumors. The criteria for establishing this diagnosis of carcinoma
      arising in ectopic thyroid tissue within branchial cyst is discussed.

PMID- 1437300
TI  - Mesocolonic lymphangioma: a case report with immunoperoxidase and electron
      microscopic studies.
AB  - A 14 yr old girl presented with a large cystic mass in the transverse mesocolon
      which was completely excised. Cystic lymphangioma was diagnosed, based on the
      specific histologic, immunoperoxidase and ultrastructural findings.

PMID- 1437299
TI  - Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein and skin change (POEMS)
      syndrome with IgG kappa paraproteinemia.
AB  - The POEMS syndrome is an infrequently reported multisystem disorder which
      presents usually as an obscure polyneuropathy, with almost all cases reported in
      Japan. A 64 yr old caucasian man presented with a 12 mth history of a severe
      sensorimotor neuropathy in association with dermato-endocrine features. Detection
      of a monoclonal IgG kappa paraprotein and mixed osteosclerotic/lytic bone lesions
      consistent with a plasma cell dyscrasia led to diagnosis of the POEMS syndrome.
      Unique ultrastructural features were present on sural nerve biopsy in addition to
      the unusual association with monoclonal kappa-light chain. This case illustrates
      that the POEMS syndrome may also occur in caucasian subjects.

PMID- 1437301
TI  - Nephrotic syndrome associated with angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia, and
      subsequent amyloidosis.

PMID- 1437302
TI  - Immunological assessment in the treatment of HIV infection.

PMID- 1437303
TI  - A case for revival.

PMID- 1437304
TI  - Ki67 immunohistochemical evaluation in colorectal cancer and normal colonic
      mucosa. Possible clinical applications.
AB  - Cell proliferation was evaluated by Ki67 monoclonal antibody in 33 colorectal
      adenocarcinomas and in the normal colonic mucosa. Immunoreactivity was assessed
      independently by two observers in two subsequent evaluations with a
      semiquantitative method, by counting at least 2000 cells in two distinct
      neoplastic specimens (central and peripheric section). There was an excellent
      intra-inter observer agreement in Ki67 score for each specimen. The tumor score
      range from 7 to 70% (median 48.8), without any significant correlation with sex
      and age of the patient and location, size, staging and grading of the neoplasm.
      Tumor Ki67 score was almost identical in central (46.96%) and in peripheral
      section (49.24%), and always higher than in normal mucosa. There was no
      distinction in Ki67 score in normal mucosa at various distances from the tumor.
      In our experience, Ki67 provides a reliable and reproducible method for
      assessment of proliferative activity; its clinical applications need further
      studies.

PMID- 1437305
TI  - [Prognostic value of cellular ploidy in adenocarcinoma of the middle rectum].
AB  - A retrospective study of DNA content in 38 medium-rectal adenocarcinomas (a
      rectal part between 8 and 12 cm. from anus) was performed using flow cytometry in
      order to find probable correlations among ploidy, grading, staging and survival
      in patients who had undergone a surgical operation from January 1975 to December
      1989. At the beginning of the work, 21 patients were alive and 17 were dead.
      Histologically 15 carcinomas (39.4%) were G1, 22 (57.8%) were G2 and only 1
      (2.6%) was G3. Moreover 1 case (2.6%) was pT1, 7 (18.4%) were pT2 and 30 (78.9%)
      were pT3. 11 adenocarcinomas (29%) were euploid and 27 (71%) were aneuploid.
      These percentages agree with literature data. 11 of dead patients (64.7%) had
      aneuploid neoplasias and 6 (35.3%) diploid; 16 of alive patients (72.2%) had
      aneuploid carcinomas and 5 (23.8%) diploid. The difference of survival between
      aneuploid and diploid carcinomas isn't statistically significative (X2 = 0.168
      ns). No correlation was found among aneuploidy, grading and staging, probably on
      account of small number of analyzed cases, owing to particular and little rectal
      part included in the study. Likely, having a larger case number we'll be able to
      obtain more incisive informations from this type of analysis in the next future.

PMID- 1437307
TI  - Morphology of non A-non B hepatitis (HNANB). A study of 104 cases.
AB  - A series of 104 liver biopsies from patients with clinical HNANB were classified
      under code into established histologic groups. Activity and basic features were
      semiquantitatively assessed using a score system. In 23/104 cases non viral
      lesions were diagnosed. After breaking the code the remaining 81 hepatic biopsies
      were ranged into three groups: post-transfusional cases (PT) (n. 20), sporadic
      cases with clinically documented initial "acute hepatitis" (SP1) (n. 44),
      sporadic cases without determined onset of disease (SP2) (n. 17). There were no
      statistically significant features discriminating histologically PT group from SP
      1 + 2 group. However, aggressive forms of hepatitis (acute hepatitis with
      piecemeal necrosis [AVH+PMN] and chronic aggressive hepatitis [CAH]) were more
      frequent in PT group (11/20 = 55% in PT versus 28/61 = 45.9% in SP 1+2 groups).
      No statistical significant differences were detected for the scored basic pattern
      (i.e. acidophilic body type, mononucleosis-like bead file pattern, etc.). Bile
      duct lesions were observed approximately with the same frequency in PT and SP1
      groups. Prevalence of fatty change was striking: 55% in PT group and 54.1% in SP1
      group.

PMID- 1437306
TI  - [Chronic calculous cholecystitis: elementary and dysplastic lesions, echographic
      correlations and immunohistochemical approach].
AB  - The morphological analysis of 223 cases of chronic calculous cholecystitis has
      drawn attention to the following outstanding facts: (a) elementary lesions are
      numerous (above all ulceration, mucosal erosion, antral and intestinal
      metaplasia) and put together a complex sight; (b) mild, moderate and severe
      dysplasias have a surprising high incidence (67%), even in the age-group under
      40; (c) dysplasia is more common in the gallbladders bearing parallel
      hyperplastic and metaplastic mucosal changes, if compared with gallbladders where
      these changes are lacking; (d) thickness of gallbladder's wall and incidence of
      dysplasia are in direct relation; (e) echographic preoperative assessment of
      wall's thickness has predictive value for presence of dysplasia; (f) CEA and CA
      19-9 have a progressively increasing expression in the various degrees of
      dysplasia.

PMID- 1437308
TI  - [Pheochromocytoma and catecholamine cardiomyopathy].
AB  - We describe a 40 years old patient deceased of pheochromocytoma-caused heart
      failure, with no previous specific symptomatology. At autopsy the heart was
      characterised by thin cardiac walls and cavity dilatation. Histologic pattern
      showed extensive myocardial fibrosis and some acute myocytolytic areas. This
      pattern is equal to that of prolonged and decompensated stress cardiomyopathy.
      These pathologic pictures are both caused by catecholamines cardiotoxicity.

PMID- 1437309
TI  - Immunocytochemical detection of megakaryocytes by endothelial markers: a
      comparative study.
AB  - By endothelial markers such as FVIII, UEA-I, CD31 and QBEND/10, the Authors have
      investigated the immunohistochemical pattern of bone marrow megakaryocytes in
      myelodysplastic (8 cases) and myeloproliferative (35 cases) disorders as well as
      in control biopsies (8 cases). An evident cytoplasmic positivity with FVIII and
      UEA-I was encountered in all normal and pathological specimens, whereas the
      immunolocalization of CD31 was limited to megakaryocytes present in normal bone
      marrow biopsies or in cases of myelofibrosis. No immunostaining with QBEND/10 was
      observed in any case, although the most selective staining of endothelial cells
      of bone marrow vessels was noted with this antibody. The usefulness to utilize
      endothelial markers in order to identify atypical and immature forms of
      megakaryocytes as well as micromegakaryocytes, especially in myelofibrosis by the
      aid of CD31, was also discussed.

PMID- 1437310
TI  - [Chondrosarcoma of the hyoid bone. Follow-up and cytological study of a case].
AB  - The follow-up study of one chondrosarcoma of the hyoid bone is reported; the
      tumor was a well differentiated grade II chondrosarcoma that relapsed after 10
      months and metastasized after 6 years. Fine needle aspiration cytologic method
      was utilized for the diagnosis of the lung metastases. Cytologic criteria in the
      differential diagnosis of the chondrosarcoma are discussed. Follow-up of the
      extra-skeleton chondrosarcoma has to be continued for a long time independently
      from the grade of differentiation.

PMID- 1437311
TI  - The general pediatrician's role in managing asthma and allergies.

PMID- 1437312
TI  - A step-wise approach to the changing drug therapy of asthma.

PMID- 1437313
TI  - Smoking cessation for parents of children with asthma.

PMID- 1437314
TI  - Anaphylaxis in children.

PMID- 1437315
TI  - Risk factors for developing wheezing and asthma in childhood.
AB  - Wheezing lower respiratory tract illness in infancy and asthma share the clinical
      findings of wheezing and respiratory distress. Although the link between wheezing
      lower respiratory tract illness in infancy and the subsequent development of
      asthma is a limited one, both conditions do share some common risk factors,
      including exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, difficult living conditions
      (low socioeconomic class, crowding, allergen exposure), and increased risk in
      males. The impact of baseline lung function on wheezing lower respiratory tract
      illness risk is substantial and may be independent of airway reactivity. In
      contrast, the development of chronic airway inflammation mediated by allergic
      sensitization plays a central role in the development of persistent asthma.
      Although the endogenous risks for these two outcomes may be fixed, it is clear
      that caregivers may help to reduce or eliminate the exogenous risks listed
      earlier by parental education and improvement of the living conditions of young
      children.

PMID- 1437316
TI  - Asthma pathogenesis and the implications for therapy in children.
AB  - Gaining greater insight into the pathogenesis of asthma has redefined the
      approach to treatment of children with asthma. Clearly, the Expert Panel of the
      National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Education Program has played a
      major role in taking the message to a wide audience of health care providers.
      Although only early trends are evident at this point in time, within several
      years therapeutic trends underway currently will be more commonplace, and we may
      observe how asthma continues to impact society and our health care system. The
      approach to therapy will continue to evolve and most likely be controversial for
      years to come.

PMID- 1437317
TI  - Crisis in asthma care.
AB  - Reports of increases in both hospitalizations and deaths due to asthma have
      provided a sense of crisis in asthma care. This article examines issues
      concerning this sense of crisis. The authors review current trends in prevalence,
      morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality from asthma and examine possible
      reasons for changes that have occurred. A review of data suggesting that asthma
      can result in irreversible, chronic airway obstruction is presented. Finally, the
      authors discuss the role of the primary care physician in the management of
      asthma.

PMID- 1437318
TI  - Pediatric pulmonary function testing in asthma.
AB  - Pulmonary function testing is an important tool in the management of asthma. Lung
      function can be readily assessed in both the office and patient's home. This
      article reviews spirometry, peak flow meters, and bronchial challenge testing.
      Their interpretation and clinical use are presented as well.

PMID- 1437320
TI  - Allergens and asthma.
AB  - This article presents the studies that show that asthma in children is strongly
      associated with sensitization to dust mite and other indoor allergens. In
      addition, the recent evidence that this association reflects a causal
      relationship between allergen exposure and asthma is reviewed. The relevance of
      quantitative measurements of the major indoor allergens (dust mite, cockroach,
      and cat) in the houses of children with asthma is discussed. Finally, the
      increasing evidence that avoidance measures can be an effective treatment for
      asthma is considered together with the details about avoidance protocol for dust
      mite and cat allergen.

PMID- 1437319
TI  - The impact of respiratory infections on asthma.
AB  - It is apparent that the effects of viral respiratory infections on the
      development of airway hyperresponsiveness are multiple and interrelated and
      involved the production of viral specific IgE, upregulation of leukocyte
      inflammatory activity, enhancement of the factors involved in the generation of
      late phase allergic responses, altered beta-adrenergic and cholinergic nervous
      system activity, and damage to the airway epithelium. The summation of these
      effects is the development of airway inflammation rather than a direct effect on
      bronchial smooth muscle, per se. An understanding of this pathogenesis
      underscores the relative importance of anti-inflammatory rather than
      antimicrobial therapy in viral-induced exacerbations in asthma symptoms.

PMID- 1437321
TI  - Management of acute asthma.
AB  - Patients with acute asthma experience increased airway obstruction, increased
      work of breathing, and ventilation-perfusion mismatch. Careful observation and
      assessment of the patient are fundamental for successful treatment. Therapy is
      dictated by the severity of the acute episode. Prevention of subsequent flares of
      asthma needs to be initiated as the patient convalesces.

PMID- 1437322
TI  - Complicating features of asthma.
AB  - The recognition of factors other than asthma that make asthma worse, are confused
      with asthma, or occur concurrently with asthma and may or may not interact with
      asthma is as important as dealing with the asthma itself. In this article I have
      tried to give an overview of some of these factors: what they are, how they
      affect patients with asthma, and what to do about them. The recognition of a
      covert chronic sinusitis, for example, is often key to controlling a person's
      disease when it appears that everything is being done appropriately. Close
      attention to these factors will increase the success of treatment of asthma and
      improve the quality of life of patients.

PMID- 1437323
TI  - Patient education.
AB  - Only recently has it been appreciated that the considerable morbidity of asthma
      can be reduced with tools readily available to every physician who treats
      children. The pharmacotherapeutic armamentarium has been strengthened by better
      understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma, the impact of inflammation, and the
      role of preventive therapy. The task remains to put this expanded knowledge to
      use to help a larger number of children with asthma and their families to
      diminish the impact that the disease has on their lives. Concomitant with
      increased understanding of the pathophysiology of asthma and the medications used
      to control the process has been a greater appreciation of the role of co
      management or self-management. Several programs have been developed to help
      parents and children with asthma gain better control over the disease, thus
      decreasing morbidity and significantly improving quality of life. These programs
      are available to physicians and health care organizations, and it is strongly
      recommended that asthma education, both as a formal course and in the physician's
      office, be regularly incorporated into the care plan for every child with asthma.

PMID- 1437324
TI  - Is asthma curable?
AB  - The information reviewed here supports the concept that asthma is potentially
      curable. Reports of complete, durable remission of asthma can no longer be
      regarded as fortuitous occurrences, unrepresentative of asthma in general.
      Systematic studies of anti-inflammatory drug therapy designed to explore possible
      induction or remission of asthma clearly are warranted. Studies of aggressive
      anti-inflammatory drug therapy of asthma at the onset, to avoid establishment of
      chronic asthma, also are desirable. The current goals of therapy of asthma have
      been revised to include reduction of airway hyperreactivity with topical anti
      inflammatory drugs, in addition to relief of current symptoms. This approach may
      provide valuable resistance to exacerbations in response to antigen exposures,
      infections, exercise, or irritants. Pathophysiologic mechanisms apparently
      essential to the establishment and perpetuation of chronic asthma have been
      identified. These processes may be vulnerable to eradication by combination
      therapy with existing pharmacologic agents such as cyclosporin A or FK-506 (to
      suppress cytokine production), gold, methotrexate, and other anti-inflammatory
      drugs, alone or in combination. Equally important, the vigorous anti-inflammatory
      therapy may be necessary only long enough to achieve a resolution of the chronic
      pulmonary inflammation. Systematic studies of the use of these agents to induce
      partial, or complete, stable remissions of asthma should be performed. In the
      past, remissions of asthma in children with neoplasia and the other patients
      presented herein were complete, durable, and welcome, but they were largely
      unexpected and unpredictable. For the future, there is increasing reason to
      believe that predictable pharmacologically induced remission of asthma will be
      feasible.

PMID- 1437325
TI  - Branhamella catarrhalis colonization in preschool asthmatics.
AB  - Branhamella catarrhalis has been associated with exacerbations of chronic
      bronchitis and asthma in adults. To investigate the possible role of B.
      catarrhalis in asthma of early childhood, we took posterior pharyngeal swabs from
      24 normal children, 20 well asthmatics, and 20 acutely wheezy asthmatics, all
      between 1 and 4 years of age. On culture, 33% of the normal children were
      colonized with B. catarrhalis; colonization rates in the well asthmatics (70%)
      and in the wheezy asthmatics (75%) were significantly higher than in normals. The
      nature of this association requires further study.

PMID- 1437326
TI  - Spontaneous desaturations in intubated very low birth weight infants with acute
      and chronic lung disease.
AB  - Patients with chronic lung disease (CLD) have frequent episodes of spontaneous
      desaturations. Utilizing computerized pulse oximetry (CPO) we quantified the
      frequency and severity of spontaneous desaturations in very low birth weight
      (VLBW) infants with CLD. Thirty-four studies by CPO were performed in intubated
      infants for 4 hours; 17 patients (birth weight, 550-980 g; postnatal age 28-85
      days) had CLD, and 17 (birth weight, 520-980 g; postnatal age, 1-7 days) had
      acute lung disease. Oxygen saturation (SaO2) was measured with the Nellcor N-200
      oximeter, its serial output (updated once a second) captured by a computer. Pulse
      rate, pulse amplitude, and heart rate were also monitored continuously. We
      measured respiratory system mechanics in 23 patients. Tidal volume (VT),
      respiratory system compliance (Crs), and resistance (Rrs) were obtained by the
      PeDS system. Spontaneous desaturation to SaO2 less than 90% occurred for 4.5% of
      the time in acute patients vs. 27.1% of the time in chronic patients (P less than
      0.0001); to SaO2 less than 85%, 0.7% vs. 7.6% of the time in acute vs. chronic
      patients (P less than 0.002); and to SaO2 less than 80%, 0.4% vs. 2.6% of the
      time in acute vs. CLD patients (P less than 0.05). Rrs was significantly higher
      in the ventilated patients with CLD (174 cmH2O/L/s) than in the ventilated
      patients with acute lung disease (94 cmH2O/L/s, P less than 0.0001). The mean Crs
      values of the two groups were comparable. Our preliminary data indicate that VLBW
      infants with CLD receiving assisted ventilation have a greater number of
      spontaneous desaturation episodes, as compared to patients with acute lung
      disease.

PMID- 1437327
TI  - Intensive care course and outcome of patients infected with respiratory syncytial
      virus.
AB  - PICU admissions of 97 children positive for respiratory syncytial virus on
      fluorescent antibody screening were reviewed; 68% of 44 patients without history
      of preceding disease (Group I) and 79% of 53 patients with preceding pulmonary,
      cardiac, or other disease (Group II) required ventilation. In Group I ventilated
      children weighted significantly less (P = 0.001) and were of lower chronological
      (P = 0.02) and post-conceptional ages (P = 0.02) than those not ventilated.
      Eighteen infants ventilated for apnea weighted significantly less (P = 0.003),
      were more often born at less than or equal to 37 weeks gestation (P = 0.001) and
      were at lower post-conceptional age than 11 infants ventilated for progressive
      respiratory deterioration. There was no significant difference in mean weight,
      chronological age, post-conceptional age, CO2, or pH between 12 admissions with
      BPD who required ventilation for RSV infection and 5 who did not require
      ventilation. Ribavirin administration to five ventilated patients with BPD did
      not significantly alter the duration of intubation of PICU stay. Six patients
      with cardiac disease required longer periods of ventilation than others (Group I,
      P = 0.001; all others in Group II, P = 0.04). No deaths occurred in Group I,
      while 6 of 53 (11%) patients in Group II died. In this series immuno compromise
      placed patients at greatest risk of dying. Mechanical ventilation can be safely
      managed in previously healthy, RSV infected infants and should be initiated
      before significant cardiorespiratory compromise arises.

PMID- 1437328
TI  - Prolonged apnea and oxyhemoglobin desaturation in asymptomatic premature infants.
AB  - Seventy-eight longitudinal four-channel recordings of heart rate, thoracic
      impedance, nasal thermistry, and pulse oximetry were performed on 26 asymptomatic
      premature infants (gestational age, 29.9 +/- 1.58 weeks; birth weight, 1,753 +/-
      226 grams; postconceptional age, 34.3 +/- 2.0 weeks; postnatal age, 4.41 +/- 2.40
      weeks; all values mean +/- SD). Tracings were scored for central and obstructive
      apnea, bradycardia, periodic breathing, apnea density, and prolonged apnea. The
      studies demonstrated 585 episodes (7.41/recording) of oxyhemoglobin desaturation
      with less than 90%. Recordings had a mean of 16.1 episodes of central apnea, 3.04
      episodes of obstructive apnea, and 2.34 episodes of bradycardia. Periodic
      breathing and short obstructive apneas correlated significantly with the total
      number of oxyhemoglobin desaturations of less than 80% and 90%. Episodes of
      prolonged apnea were seen in 20 of 78 recordings. In the latter a significantly
      higher number of total desaturations (less than 90%), desaturations less than 80%
      and 90% in association with apnea and with bradycardia, longer desaturations,
      desaturations during sleep, and isolated bradycardia were observed. Variations in
      heart rate, thoracic impedance, nasal air flow, and pulse oximetry are associated
      with episodes of oxyhemoglobin desaturation in asymptomatic premature infants.
      These infants, although asymptomatic, may be at risk for impaired tissue
      oxygenation.

PMID- 1437329
TI  - Gas exchange during exercise in diabetic children.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cardiorespiratory and metabolic
      response to exercise in 33 children, aged 9 to 15 years, affected by type I
      diabetes mellitus, in comparison with 47 age-, sex-, weight-, and height-matched
      healthy children. All diabetic children were on a mixed split-dose insulin
      regimen, consisting of both regular and long-acting insulin in the morning and
      evening. The last insulin injection was administered on average 6 hours before
      the test. The mean duration of diabetes mellitus was 5.0 +/- 3.1 years. The
      metabolic control was evaluated on the basis of HbA1 levels (mean, 8.9 +/- 1.8%).
      Pulmonary function tests and progressive exercise tests on the treadmill were
      performed. Gas exchange, ventilation, and heart rate (HR) were monitored during
      the tests. The O2 pulse (VO2/HR) was calculated. There was no difference in the
      baseline oxygen uptake (VO2) between the diabetic children and the control group.
      VO2 peak was significantly lower (P less than 0.01) in the diabetic adolescents
      (41.2 +/- 5.9 mL/min/kg) compared to control subjects (46.3 +/- 9.6 mL/min/kg)
      and it was achieved at an earlier (P less than 0.01) time of run (7.5 +/- 1.8 vs.
      9.1 +/- 2.8 min). Anaerobic threshold and minute ventilation were similar in the
      two groups. The O2 pulse throughout the test was significantly lower (ANOVA, P
      less than 0.001) in the diabetic group compared to the controls. No differences
      were found in resting and post-exercise spirometric values. In conclusion, our
      study shows that well-controlled diabetic adolescents have a reduced working
      capacity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437330
TI  - Evaluation of the multiple linear regression method to monitor respiratory
      mechanics in ventilated neonates and young children.
AB  - A potentially useful method to monitor respiratory mechanics in artificially
      ventilated patients consists of analyzing the relationship between tracheal
      pressure (P), lung volume (V), and gas flow (V) by multiple linear regression
      (MLR) using a suitable model. Contrary to other methods, it does not require any
      particular flow waveform and, therefore, may be used with any ventilator. This
      approach was evaluated in three neonates and seven young children admitted into
      an intensive care unit for respiratory disorders of various etiologies. P and V
      were measured and digitized at a sampling rate of 40 Hz for periods of 20-48 s.
      After correction of P for the non-linear resistance of the endotracheal tube, the
      data were first analyzed with the usual linear monoalveolar model: P = PO + E.V +
      R.V where E and R are total respiratory elastance and resistance, and PO is the
      static recoil pressure at end-expiration. A good fit of the model to the data was
      seen in five of ten children. PO, E, and R were reproducible within cycles, and
      consistent with the patient's age and condition; the data obtained with two
      ventilatory modes were highly correlated. In the five instances in which the
      simple model did not fit the data well, they were reanalyzed with more
      sophisticated models allowing for mechanical non-homogeneity or for non-linearity
      of R or E. While several models substantially improved the fit, physiologically
      meaningful results were only obtained when R was allowed to change with lung
      volume. We conclude that the MLR method is adequate to monitor respiratory
      mechanics, even when the usual model is inadequate.

PMID- 1437331
TI  - Apnea and periodic breathing in healthy full-term infants, 12-18 months of age.
AB  - Many children older than 12 months of age are now on home monitors. Home
      pneumograms performed on normal infants have established standards, and have been
      used to evaluate infants during their first year. However, no standards have been
      described for infants older than 12 months. We, therefore, recorded the standard
      pneumogram on 88 full-term healthy infants who were 12-18 months of age. We
      analyzed the recordings for average respiratory and heart rates, apnea (greater
      than or equal to 6 seconds) density, longest apnea, periodic breathing, and
      bradycardia for 12 hours. We compared the values in males vs. females and in
      infants 12-14.9 months vs. 15.0-18.0 months of age. Since there was no difference
      in any parameter measured in any group, we combined the values to determine the
      normal values for this population.

PMID- 1437332
TI  - Delivery of micronized budesonide suspension by metered dose inhaler and jet
      nebulizer into a neonatal ventilator circuit.
AB  - We compared the delivery of a micronized suspension of budesonide by a metered
      dose inhaler (MDI) with two different spacers (Aerochamber and Aerovent) and by
      two jet nebulizers (MAD2 and Ultravent) to a ventilated neonatal test-lung using
      a standard neonatal ventilator circuit. The combination of MDI and Aerochamber
      was significantly better at delivering budesonide to a filter in front of the
      test lung (14.2% of aerosolized dose) than were either the MDI and Aerovent
      (3.6%) or the Ultravent or MAD2 jet nebulizers (0.02% and 0.68% of initial
      reservoir dose). Of the droplets emerging from the MDI, Aerochamber, and ET tube,
      18% of the initial dose was in droplets less than 4.7 microns. Assuming that the
      test-lung model accurately reflects in vivo deposition, the combination of MDI
      and Aerochamber appears to be an extremely effective way of delivering budesonide
      aerosol to ventilated newborn infants.

PMID- 1437333
TI  - Long-term prednisone and azathioprine treatment of a patient with idiopathic
      pulmonary hemosiderosis.

PMID- 1437334
TI  - Diaphragmatic hypoplasia in association with hypoplastic lungs.

PMID- 1437335
TI  - Lipoid pneumonia in association with gastroesophageal reflux.

PMID- 1437336
TI  - On exogenous surfactant therapy.

PMID- 1437337
TI  - Lung mechanics and gas exchange in ventilated preterm infants during treatment of
      hyaline membrane disease with multiple doses of artificial surfactant (Exosurf)
AB  - Eight premature infants ventilated for hyaline membrane disease and enrolled in
      the OSIRIS surfactant trial were studied. Lung mechanics, gas exchange [PaCO2,
      arterial/alveolar PO2 ratio (a/A ratio)], and ventilator settings were determined
      20 minutes before and 20 minutes after the end of Exosurf instillation, and
      subsequently at 12-24 hour intervals. Respiratory system compliance (Crs) and
      resistance (Rrs) were measured by means of the single breath occlusion method.
      After surfactant instillation there were no significant immediate changes in
      PaCO2 (36 vs. 37 mmHg), a/A ratio (0.23 vs. 0.20), Crs (0.32 vs. 0.31 mL/cm
      H2O/kg), and Rrs (0.11 vs. 0.16 cmH2O/mL/s) (pooled data of 18 measurement
      pairs). During the clinical course, mean a/A ratio improved significantly each
      time from 0.17 (time 0) to 0.29 (time 12-13 hours), to 0.39 (time 24-36 hours)
      and to 0.60 (time 48-61 hours), although mean airway pressure was reduced
      substantially. Mean Crs increased significantly from 0.28 mL/cmH2O/kg (time 0) to
      0.38 (time 12-13 hours), to 0.37 (time 24-38 hours), and to 0.52 (time 48-61
      hours), whereas mean Rrs increased from 0.10 cm H2O/mL/s (time 0) to 0.11 (time
      12-13 hours), to 0.13 (time 24-36 hours) and to (time 48-61 hours) with no
      overall significance. A highly significant correlation was found between Crs and
      a/A ratio (r = 0.698, P less than 0.001). We conclude that Exosurf does not
      induce immediate changes in oxygenation as does the instillation of (modified)
      natural surfactant preparations. However, after 12 and 24 hours of treatment
      oxygenation and Crs improve significantly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437338
TI  - Exosurf treatment investigational new drug phase: effect of an individualized
      third dose in infants with respiratory distress syndrome.
AB  - Of 95 infants treated with the synthetic surfactant, Exosurf, under a Treatment
      Investigational New Drug protocol, 17 received one dose, 40 received two, and 38
      received three doses. Seventy-six (80%) of the infants were treated by rescue
      protocol. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical course of the 67 surviving
      rescue infants. We found that, compared to one- and two-dose infants, those
      treated with three doses of Exosurf were more premature, smaller, required a
      longer ventilator course, and had more frequent complications, including patent
      ductus arteriosus (PDA), intraventricular hemorrhage, nosocomial pneumonia, and
      apnea. They required higher oxygen concentrations starting 8 hr after their first
      dose and higher mean airway pressure (MAP) from the time of their second dose.
      These trends continued during all subsequent time points, as compared to infants
      treated with two doses. The third dose was administered an average of 17 hr after
      the second, resulting in little change of MAP, but some reduction in oxygen
      requirements. By 24 hr after the last dose, only 4% of three-dose infants were
      extubated compared with 30% of the two-dose and 71% of one-dose infants. In
      conclusion, repeated administration of Exosurf is not equally effective in every
      treated infant with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and complications of
      prematurity may affect or accompany poor response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1437339
TI  - Spirometric and endoscopic evaluation of airway collapse in infants with
      bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
AB  - We evaluated eight infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) at ages from 2
      to 13 months who had repeated episodes of clinical respiratory deterioration
      associated with agitation. These episodes limited further weaning from
      ventilation or necessitated recurrent intubation and reinstitution of
      ventilation. All infants underwent spirometric evaluation and six also had
      endoscopic examination during simulated agitation episodes (elicited by toe
      pinching). All babies were found to have a very prolonged near zero expiratory
      airflow pattern, accompanied by vigorous diaphragmatic and abdominal muscle
      activity and rapid development of hypoxia. Six patients had endoscopically
      documented tracheal collapse under the same simulated circumstances. The episodes
      ceased with calming or sedation of the infants.

PMID- 1437340
TI  - The in vitro effect of triamcinolone acetonide on branching morphogenesis in the
      fetal rat lung.
AB  - We have studied the effect of triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) on airway
      morphogenesis of the Sprague-Dawley fetal rat in whole organ lung cultures from
      day 15 to day 21 of equivalent gestational age (6 days in culture). TAC produced
      an increased number of peripheral buds from day 18 onward and the airway and
      airspaces had larger lumens. Airway branching was increased compared to controls,
      and there was a higher proportion of airway epithelium and a lower proportion of
      mesenchyme. Cell height was significantly lower in TAC treated lungs except on
      day 17. This was due to accumulation of glycogen prior to the increased branching
      activity. In both controls and TAC-treated lungs, peripheral bud number and
      volume proportion of epithelium increased with time in culture, whereas volume
      proportion of mesenchyme, mean chord length of airways and airspaces, and
      epithelial cell height decreased. These changes were more pronounced in the TAC
      treated group and were significant. However, TAC-treated lungs were
      morphologically irregular. We conclude that TAC has a direct effect on airway
      morphogenesis and it promotes growth of morphologically abnormal lungs. TAC also
      appears to enhance airway branching and morphologic changes interpreted as
      increased epithelial maturation.

PMID- 1437341
TI  - A prospective trial using salivary-theophylline levels to guide asthma therapy.
AB  - In three prospectively designed studies, first saliva (SA) samples were collected
      simultaneously with serum (SE) from 86 children who received slow-release
      theophylline (Th) b.i.d. for treatment of bronchial asthma. SA was collected with
      a standardized sampling procedure. Regression analysis revealed a close
      correlation between SE and SA-Th levels (r = 0.959; SE = 1.87 x SA + 0.05) and
      yielded a "therapeutic SA-Th range" of 5.8 to 10.7 mg/L. In 16 children the
      diurnal variation was then assessed by measuring 6 SA-Th levels within 24 hr,
      using the same sampling method. At 0, 9, and 24 hr SE-Th levels were also
      measured. The levels of SE-Th and SA-Th were again closely correlated (0.914 less
      than or equal to r less than or equal to 0.949) and both remained constant over
      the 24-hr period. In the third prospective trial only SA levels were used to
      monitor Th therapy in 50 asthmatic children. Seven days after starting therapy SA
      Th levels were measured and then the Th dose was increased weekly until SA-Th
      levels above 5.8 mg/L were reached. The following day SE and SA samples were
      collected simultaneously and their Th levels compared. In 36 of the 47 children
      who completed the study therapeutic SE-Th levels (greater than or equal to 10 and
      less than or equal to 20 mg/L) were measured; in one patient it was greater than
      or equal to 20 mg/L, in 6 it was between 8.0 and 10 mg/L, and only 4 had SE
      levels less than 8.0 mg/L.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437342
TI  - Early treatment of respiratory distress syndrome with bovine surfactant in very
      preterm infants: a multicenter controlled clinical trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of bovine surfactant (SF-RI 1, Alveofact)
      administered during the first hour following birth to very premature infants
      [gestational age (GA), 25-30 weeks] in a multicenter, controlled trial.
      HYPOTHESIS: Survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD; definition:
      ventilator dependency or FiO2 greater than 0.3 during spontaneous respiration) at
      day 28 is increased in surfactant-treated infants (sequential analysis). PATIENTS
      AND METHODS: Thirty-four infants [GA 28.0 +/- 1.5 SD weeks, birth weight (BW),
      1,048 +/- 299 g] received 50 mg/kg BW surfactant, whereas 35 infants (GA, 27.6 +/
      1.5 weeks, BW 969 +/- 269 g) served as controls. Retreatment with surfactant (up
      to three identical doses) 12-24 hours after the previous dose was permitted if
      FiO2 was greater than 0.5. RESULTS: Survival without BPD was significantly higher
      in surfactant treated infants (26/34) compared to controls (14/35; P = 0.003),
      but in the incidence of pulmonary air leaks, patent ductus arteriosus,
      intracranial hemorrhage, and nosocomial infections they were not different.
      CONCLUSION: Bovine surfactant treatment improves survival without BPD in very
      premature infants at risk for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

PMID- 1437343
TI  - IgG subclass antibody responses to alginate from Pseudomonas aeruginosa in
      patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic P. aeruginosa infection.
AB  - Chronic bronchopulmonary infection with alginate-producing, mucoid Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa is characteristically associated with cystic fibrosis (CF). A
      significant correlation between the antibody response to alginate and poor lung
      function has been reported. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were developed for
      the quantitation of human IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 antibodies to P. aeruginosa
      alginate. We investigated the pattern of IgG subclass antibodies against P.
      aeruginosa alginate in serum of patients with CF, others with chronic P.
      aeruginosa infection, and healthy controls. Healthy controls and patients with
      CF, before they acquired P. aeruginosa infection, had no or very low titers of
      antibodies against P. aeruginosa alginate. The latter with chronic infection had
      significantly higher antibody levels than all others groups, including patients
      with chronic P. aeruginosa infection but no CF. CF with chronic P. aeruginosa
      infection led to an inverse correlation between lung function parameters and
      levels of IgG3 and IgG4. Fifty-seven patients with CF have been followed for an
      average of 12 years with multiple antibody assays covering the preinfection,
      early, and late stage of chronic infection. All of them developed IgG1 and IgG3
      antibodies to alginate at the start of infection. IgG2 antibodies developed later
      and showed only a slow increase during the chronic infection. Patients who died
      had significantly higher IgG2 anti-alginate antibody levels than other
      investigated groups. Elevated levels of IgG2 and IgG3 antibodies to P. aeruginosa
      alginate are a sign of poor prognosis in CF.

PMID- 1437344
TI  - Response to inhaled bronchodilators and nonspecific airway hyperreactivity in
      children with cystic fibrosis.
AB  - We tested the hypothesis that children with CF who have a significant response to
      bronchodilator (BD) would respond positively to standard methacholine (Mch)
      challenge. Our objective was to correlate the response to BD with the
      concentration that produced a 20% fall (PC20) in forced expiratory volume in 1
      second (FEV1). We studied 22 patients (12 males), aged 10.5 +/- 0.7 years (mean
      +/- SE), with a Shwachman-Kulczycki score 82 +/- 2.6 and baseline FEV1 of 80 +/-
      4.5% predicted. Baseline expiratory flows, static lung volumes, and airway
      resistance were measured before and 30 min after inhaled salbutamol. On a
      separate day, within 2 weeks, a Mch challenge was given, with doubling
      concentrations from 0.03 to 8.0 mg/mL. A positive challenge was defined as a PC20
      less than or equal to 2.0 mg/mL, and a positive response to BD as a greater than
      6% of FEV1 increase. Mch challenge yielded 17 responders (R) with a PC20 of 0.5
      +/- 0.1 mg/mL, and 5 nonresponders (NR) with a PC20 of 8.8 +/- 2.9 mg/mL.
      Baseline FEV1 was 77 +/- 5.3% predicted in R compared to 89 +/- 6.3% in NR (P =
      less than 0.001). History of springtime rhinitis was positive in 9/17 R and 2/5
      NR. No significant correlation was found between baseline FEV1 and PC20, or
      between change in FEV1 post-BD and PC20. A greater than 6% increase in FEV1 was
      seen in 14/17 R (83% sensitivity) and in none of the 5 NR (100% specificity). In
      R, 8/17 patients had baseline FEV1 less than 80% predicted, compared to 1/5 in
      NR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437345
TI  - Soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
AB  - Soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL2R) in plasma have been identified as a
      marker of lymphocyte activation. Lymphocyte activation as a manifestation of
      inflammation may be important in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia
      (BPD). To test the hypothesis that infants with BPD have higher sIL2R levels, 12
      infants with or at risk of developing BPD (GA +/- SD, 27 +/- 5 weeks; BW +/- SD
      1,053 +/- 733 g) had plasma sIL2R levels determined and were compared to 20
      infants being ventilated for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (GA +/- SD, 28
      +/- 3.5 weeks; BW +/- SD, 1,133 +/- 390 g: P = NS for both GA and BW, t test).
      Tracheal aspirates in both groups were also analyzed for sIL2R levels. To control
      for the effects of postnatal age (PNA) and study weight (SW) on the sIL2R levels,
      another group of 16 nonventilated babies (NVB) had plasma analyzed for sIL2R (PNA
      +/- SD: 39 +/- 40 days NVB vs. 48 +/- 36 days BPD; P = NS); (SW +/- SD: 1391 +/-
      250 g NVB vs. 1212 +/- 700 g BPD; P = NS). The following data were obtained for
      the plasma sIL2R levels (mean +/- SEM U/mL): RDS controls, 1,231 +/- 80; BPD
      infants, 1,790 +/- 120; NVB controls, 1,319 +/- 76; P = 0.0005 RDS vs. BPD and P
      = 0.002 BPD vs. NVB. There was no significant difference in the sIL2R levels for
      the infants at risk of developing BPD vs. the infants with established BPD. Also,
      when analyzed separately, infants at risk of BPD and the infants with established
      BPD had higher sIL2R levels than the RDS and NVB controls. No differences were
      noted in the tracheal sIL2R levels in the BPD vs. RDS groups. These data indicate
      that infants with BPD had significantly higher sIL2R levels in plasma than either
      RDS or NVB controls. Therefore, lymphocyte activation may play a role in the
      pathogenesis of BPD.

PMID- 1437346
TI  - On nebulized intranasal glucocorticoids.

PMID- 1437347
TI  - Liquid ventilation.

PMID- 1437348
TI  - Adaptive control of inspired oxygen delivery to the neonate.
AB  - Adaptive adjustment of inspired oxygen (FIO2), based on a desired percent
      arterial hemoglobin saturation (SO2) was achieved by on-line bedside control of
      the oxygen concentration delivered to the neonate. Fourteen infants with
      bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BW, 860 +/- 80 g; GA, 26 +/- 1 weeks; study age, 41
      +/- 8 days) receiving oxygen-air mixtures by hood were studied. The desired range
      of SO2 from 92 to 96% with a target value of 95% was determined by pulse oximetry
      and maintained with adjustment of FIO2 using three modes: 1) standard neonatal
      intensive care protocol with oxygen delivery evaluated at 20 minutes intervals;
      2) bedside manual control with FIO2 manipulation every 2 to 5 minutes; and 3)
      adaptive control with on-line adjustment of FIO2 according to a specifically
      designed adaptive program. Each study period was of 40 minute duration. SO2
      values within a steady 94 to 96% range was achieved for 54% of the time with
      standard protocol, compared to 69% (P less than 0.01) with bedside manual control
      and 81% (P less than 0.01) with adaptive control. In addition, fluctuations in
      SO2 values and overshoots were less apparent with adaptive control of oxygen
      delivery. These data describe adaptive FIO2 control as an efficient alternative
      technique for achieving a stable desired range of oxygenation in neonates.

PMID- 1437349
TI  - Respiratory compliance in infants--a preliminary evaluation of the multiple
      interrupter technique.
AB  - Measurements of total respiratory system compliance (Crs) using the multiple
      occlusion technique (MOT) in spontaneously breathing infants can be difficult to
      interpret in the presence of an unstable end-expiratory level. Similarly,
      measurements using the passive flow volume technique (PFV) are invalidated if
      there is alinearity of the expiratory time constant (Trs), irrespective of
      respiratory effort. For possibly overcoming these problems, we assessed the
      feasibility of a technique using multiple interruptions of of a single expiration
      (MIT), obtaining several pairs of volume-pressure data, from one expiration,
      which relate to a single end-expiratory level. Crs was measured in 16 infants
      aged 0.5 to 20 months using the MOT, MIT, and PFV technique. The MOT and the MIT
      each failed in one (different) infant, both succeeding where the other failed.
      The PFV technique failed in five infants in whom no acceptable plateau of airway
      pressure during occlusion and no Trs could be obtained from a single breath.
      Failure to obtain a linear Trs was accompanied by failure of the MIT in only one
      infant. Individual differences between the MIT and the MOT were less than 9%.
      However, the PFV measurements varied from -16.3% and +25.7% of the values from
      MIT or MOT. The greatest differences between Crs values coincided with the
      greatest differences between volume intercepts of the extrapolated volume
      pressure (MOT, MIT) and flow-volume (PFV) data. From this preliminary study, the
      MIT proved as successful as the MOT, requiring fewer occluded breaths to measure
      Crs. In infants with a rapid respiratory rate, the data from several expirations
      can be merged and analyzed as for the MOT.

PMID- 1437350
TI  - Generalized lymphangiomatosis and chylothorax in the pediatric age group.
AB  - Four patients with generalized lymphangiomatosis presenting with chylothoraces
      are described. All four had bone involvement, two had involvement of the spleen,
      and one of the pericardium. The diagnosis was confirmed by typical radiology,
      histology, and in three patients by immunohistochemistry. Treatment was mainly
      palliative. Three patients died within 1/2 to three years of presentation.

PMID- 1437351
TI  - Pulmonary hyperplasia in Fraser syndrome.

PMID- 1437352
TI  - Diagnostic criteria for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children.

PMID- 1437353
TI  - Transcutaneous blood gas monitoring during salbutamol inhalations in young
      children with acute asthmatic symptoms.
AB  - The effect of salbutamol inhalations on transcutaneous blood gases was
      investigated in 23 children (aged 11 months-2.5 years) with asthmatic symptoms.
      After one salbutamol inhalation there was a mean increase in transcutaneous PO2
      (tcPO2) of 0.5 kPa (P less than 0.01); after a second dose given 30 minutes
      later, the mean increase was 1.2 kPa (P less than 0.001). The increase in tcPO2
      after only one dose of salbutamol was significantly correlated to age (P less
      than 0.01). No such correlation was observed after a second dose. The overall
      increase in tcPO2 after two salbutamol inhalations showed a negative correlation
      to the duration of the current symptomatic period (P less than 0.05). We conclude
      that salbutamol inhalations have beneficial effects in young children with acute
      asthmatic symptoms, even below the age of 18 months, provided that an adequate
      dose reaches the lung and preferably at an early stage of obstruction.

PMID- 1437354
TI  - Transcutaneous and arterial blood gas monitoring during acute asthmatic symptoms
      in older children.
AB  - The relationship between transcutaneous and arterial blood gases was investigated
      in 14 children with asthmatic symptoms, aged 7-15 years, before and after the
      inhalation of salbutamol. The degree of bronchial obstruction was assessed by
      forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and maximum expiratory flow when
      25% of FVC remained to be expelled (MEF25). On average the transcutaneous PO2
      (tcPO2) was 1.3 kPa (range, 2.6-0 kPa) lower and the transcutaneous PCO2 was 0.6
      kPa (range, 0-1.5 kPa) higher than the corresponding arterial values (P less than
      0.01). The difference between arterial and transcutaneous PO2 was the same over
      the whole range of values studied (7.5-14 kPa). After the inhalation of
      salbutamol, the relationship between transcutaneous and arterial blood gases was
      not significantly changed. Changes in transcutaneous PO2 correlated to changes in
      MEF25 (P less than 0.05), indicating a common denominator, probably the
      conditions in the peripheral airways. We conclude that the close relationship
      between transcutaneous and arterial blood gases, even after the inhalation of a
      beta-2 agonist, indicates that the transcutaneous technique can be used for
      monitoring acute bronchial obstruction and for evaluating the effects of
      treatment in children of different ages.

PMID- 1437355
TI  - Intratracheal administration of pulmonary vasodilator agents.
AB  - We compared intravenous and intratracheal administration of histamine (0.4 and
      1.6 micrograms/kg, respectively) and nitroglycerin (5.0 and 20.0 micrograms/kg,
      respectively) in seven hypoxemic 2 week old lambs, during right lung only
      perfusion, to see if intratracheal administration could limit their vasodilator
      action to the pulmonary vessels. The hemodynamic variables: pulmonary artery
      pressure (Ppa), left atrial pressure (Pla), pulmonary blood flow per kilogram
      (Q/kg), and aortic pressure (Pao) were measured at baseline and in each
      experimental state, then pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and systemic
      vascular input resistance (SVR) were determined. We found that intravenous
      histamine showed some pulmonary vasodilator selectivity in that it caused a 19%
      decrease of Ppa from baseline (P less than 0.002), a 23% decrease of PVR from
      baseline (P less than 0.002), and an 8% decrease of SVR from baseline (P less
      than 0.05). Intratracheal histamine produced smaller effects, decreasing Ppa by
      11% from baseline (P less than 0.02), and PVR by 14% from baseline (P less than
      0.02), while SVR was unaffected. Intravenous nitroglycerin decreased cardiac
      output by 16% from baseline (P less than 0.02), and also decreased SVR by 8%
      while producing a small increase in PVR. Intratracheal nitroglycerin caused a
      similar 17% (P less than 0.01) decrease in cardiac output, and again an increased
      PVR but a decreased SVR. This study confirms that histamine has some intrinsic
      pulmonary vasodilator selectivity. Furthermore, the data suggest that
      intratracheal administration may accentuate pulmonary selectivity by lessening
      systemic effects. Nitroglycerin, on the other hand, had untoward hemodynamic
      effects in the presence of hypoxia.

PMID- 1437356
TI  - The relationship of nasal disorders to lower respiratory tract symptoms and
      illness in a random sample of children.
AB  - We examined the relationship of nasal disorders, defined as frequent colds and
      sinus trouble, to lower respiratory tract symptoms in a random population of 718
      children aged 4 to 11 years in East Boston, Massachusetts. Frequent colds were
      significantly associated with maternal smoking (odds ratio (OR) = 3.00; 95%
      confidence interval (CI) = 1.97, 4.58), and so was sinus trouble (OR = 4.73; 95%
      CI = 1.78, 12.51). After adjustment for maternal smoking, age and sex, frequent
      colds (OR = 2.88; 95% CI = 1.87, 4.42) and sinus trouble (OR = 4.95, 95% CI =
      1.83, 13.39) remained significant predictors of lower respiratory tract symptoms
      in separate logistic regressions. If one restricted the cohort to the 513
      children who also had personal smoking information and adjusted for this variable
      as well, the results for colds were unchanged (OR = 2.94; 95% CI = 1.78, 4.84)
      but the results for sinus trouble were now not statistically significant (OR =
      2.30, 95% CI = 0.67, 7.94). We conclude that nasal disorders are associated with
      lower respiratory tract symptoms in children.

PMID- 1437357
TI  - Collagen degradation during postnatal lung growth in rats.
AB  - Postnatal lung growth involves remodeling of the structure seen at birth as new
      alveoli are formed. To determine the role of collagen degradation in this
      process, in particular of the basement membrane component, we studied the
      synthesis of total collagen and the degradation of collagen types I or IV in a
      series of rats from birth to 29 days of age. During the period of rapid cell
      proliferation to day 11, the collagen level per mg lung did not change though the
      rate of synthesis increased. Up to 40% of new collagen was rapidly degraded. At
      the end of the growth phase, the interstitium became thinner and less cellular.
      Collagen synthesis slowly decreased as the total collagen content increased in
      the lung, and less than 20% of newly synthesized collagen was degraded. Type I
      collagenase activity was highest during the cell proliferation phase, though less
      than 20% was due to active enzyme. In contrast, type IV collagen breakdown, also
      maximal in the first 11 days, was almost all due to enzymes present in the active
      form. The results demonstrate that rapid degradation of collagen, particularly
      the type IV form present in basement membranes, occurs during the early phase of
      postnatal lung growth.

PMID- 1437358
TI  - Ovarian cysts in the fetus and neonate--changes in sonographic pattern in the
      follow-up and their management.
AB  - In a multicenter trial we retrospectively evaluated the clinical and sonographic
      data of 49 neonatal ovarian cysts, 44 of which were detected prenatally and 5 on
      the first day after delivery. Of the 44 prenatally detected cysts 39 were purely
      cystic, 5 echogenic or had a mixed pattern. In 20 patients the cystic appearance
      changed during delivery from purely cystic to a mixed pattern being independent
      on the size of the cyst. 26 of the 44 cysts were treated surgically.
      Salpingotorsion was found in 8 and was independent on the size of the cyst. In 15
      a salpingo-oophorectomy or oophorectomy was performed, in 11 the ovary was saved.
      23 patients were followed sonographically: 15 cysts showed complete resolution
      within 14 months without correlation to the sonographic pattern. The volume of
      these cysts varied between 5 and 71 ml. Neonatal ovarian cysts disappear
      spontaneously frequently and rarely cause severe symptoms. The authors recommend
      follow-up by ultrasound as the primary modality. Surgical intervention is
      recommended only if the cyst is space-occupying and percutaneous puncture can not
      be performed or in the case of emergency.

PMID- 1437360
TI  - Literature in pediatric radiology.

PMID- 1437359
TI  - Urinary tract infection in infants in spite of prenatal diagnosis of
      hydronephrosis.
AB  - The efficacy of preventing neonatal urinary infection in infants by diagnosing
      hydronephrosis in the fetus on obstetrical ultrasonography was studied. 426
      infants had uroradiologic evaluation between 1984 and June 1991 because they had
      hydronephrosis detected in utero. Thirteen with posterior urethral valves were
      excluded. Of the remaining 413, 13 (3.1%) presented with urinary infection in the
      first 6 months of life. Ten of the 13 were boys and 7 were not circumcised.
      Eleven of the 13 infants less than 2 months old were formula-fed. The causes of
      hydronephrosis were reflux alone in 6, ureteropelvic junction obstruction in 6
      (with coexisting ipsilateral reflux in 4), and primary megaureter in 1.
      Ultrasonography alone was insufficient to exclude reflux. Amoxicillin-resistant
      bacteria were the causative organisms in all 10 for whom bacteriology data was
      available. Four categories of management failure were identified: 1) failure of
      communication of the prenatal findings, 2) antibiotics not prescribed, 3)
      antibiotics prescribed but not administered, and 4) infection in spite of
      continuous antibiotic prophylaxis. Uncircumcised formula-fed male infants with
      reflux seemed to be at special risk for infection.

PMID- 1437361
TI  - Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of very low birth weight infants at one
      year of corrected age.
AB  - Cerebral MRI was performed at 1.5 T in 27 infants with birth weight below 1500
      grams at 1 year of corrected age. The images were compared to those reported on
      normal development at the same age. On T1 weighted images, 20 (74.1%) of the 27
      infants showed myelin deposition different from what has been reported to be
      normal. Areas most affected were the central occipital white matter and the
      centrum semiovale. Both correspond to "watershed areas" known to be at risk for
      periventricular leukomalacia in preterm infants. T2-weighted images showed
      delayed myelination in the same areas as described for T1. In addition, two
      infants showed delayed myelination in the central occipital white matter and one
      in the centrum semiovale. Patchy focal abnormalities involving the white matter
      were seen in seven (25.9%) infants. Mild cerebral atrophy, mainly of the cortex
      was found in 10 (37.0%) infants. Irregular shape of the lateral ventricles,
      especially of the occipital horns was present in 12 infants (44.4%). 11 of these
      infants also had deviating changes in myelination. Only 2 infants (7.4%) had a
      normal MRI examination. Follow-up MRI examinations are needed to determine
      whether the high percentage of changes in myelination represent delayed
      development or brain damage in preterm infants.

PMID- 1437362
TI  - Choroid plexus cysts: a normal finding on ultrasound.
AB  - Within a period of 2.5 years, cystic structures in the choroid plexus were
      encountered at cerebral sonography in 70 neonates and babies (45 male, 25 female;
      18 premature babies). Their prevalence in patients examined during the first 4
      weeks of life (n = 55) was 3%. The size of the cysts ranged from 1-4 and, rarely,
      up to 7 mm. They were mostly solitary and unilateral. Follow-up sonograms over
      periods up to 13 months showed that most of the cysts persisted unchanged. A few
      disappeared (n = 7), while distinct increase in size was observed in 1 case.
      Since no additional sonographic changes were observed and none of the patients
      displayed any neurological abnormalities and no association existed with any
      other, particularly chromosomal, disease, such plexus cysts are postulated to
      represent a normal sonographic finding and do not require follow-up.

PMID- 1437363
TI  - Symptomatic third ventricular choroid plexus cysts.
AB  - We describe the imaging findings in 3 children with choroid plexus cysts (CPC) at
      the foramen of Monro. All CPC measured less than 2 cm and produced symptoms of
      raised intracranial pressure when located at the foramen of Monro where there was
      obstruction to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow. Among the imaging studies done
      on our patients, CPC were depicted best by cranial sonography and CT
      ventriculography and missed by standard CT and MRI. Misdiagnosis can lead to
      inappropriate shunting with adverse effects. Two of our patients had relief of
      symptoms after resection of the cyst. One patient with inoperable cardiac defects
      died and had no surgery performed. Serial CT and sonographic studies in this
      patient showed progression in the size of the cyst and ventriculomegaly. Cranial
      sonography and CT-ventriculography are the modalities of choice in evaluating
      ventriculomegaly when the diagnosis of occult obstructive CPC is entertained in
      children. Cranial sonography is indicated in infants with an open fontanelle and
      CT-ventriculography is reserved for older children with hydrocephalus which is
      not responding to shunting.

PMID- 1437364
TI  - Leptomeningeal cyst: early diagnosis by color Doppler imaging.
AB  - A newborn with a leptomeningeal cyst over the anterior fontanelle due to birth
      trauma is described. Color Doppler flow sonograms were helpful to diagnose the
      leptomeningocele in its early stages and to differentiate it from a
      cephalhematoma or subgaleal haemorrhage by demonstrating cerebro-fugal flow in an
      arterial connection between the extracranial fluid collection and the dural
      space.

PMID- 1437365
TI  - Exuberant blood flow in enlarged lymph nodes: findings on color flow Doppler.
AB  - Ten cases of adenopathy, 7 inflammatory and 3 lymphomatous in origin, with
      visible increased blood flow on color flow Doppler examination are presented.
      Although the ultrasonic demonstration of blood vessels in enlarged lymph nodes,
      both inflammatory and tumoral, is not new [1-5], we believe that this is the 1st
      definitive documentation with color flow Doppler. In some cases the degree of
      flow was striking, reflecting high velocity flow. This occurred both with
      inflammatory and lymphomatous nodes and we present our findings 1st to bring
      attention to them and 2nd to stimulate further investigation of the phenomenon.

PMID- 1437366
TI  - Sonographically demonstrated thickening of the renal pelvis in children.
AB  - Thickening of the wall of the renal pelvis has been attributed to infection, to
      rejection in allografts and to non-specific causes by different authors. We
      reviewed the clinical data, imaging studies and pathology of 35 patients with
      sonographically demonstrable thickening in 41 renal pelves of native kidneys. Our
      findings are that less than 50% of the patients had infection. The others had a
      wide variety of apparent causes for the thickening which include obstruction,
      surgery, edema induced by chemicals and other processes. Vesicoureteral reflux
      was demonstrated in 50% of the patients studied by cystography. We concluded that
      renal pelvic thickening is a non-specific finding.

PMID- 1437367
TI  - Ultrasound in the early diagnosis of congenital dislocation of the hip: the
      significance of hip stability versus acetabular morphology.
AB  - Recent studies have suggested that ultrasound examinations may improve diagnostic
      accuracy in congenital dislocation of the hip, but there is differing opinion
      whether ultrasound diagnosis should be based on morphology or stability.
      Ultrasound was added to the routine clinical screening in 1503 newborns (1291
      girls and 212 boys). Hip morphology was classified according to Graf (type 1-4),
      while sonographic stability was based on a modified Barlow maneuver, and
      classified as stable, elastic deflection (normal finding), unstable (provocating
      a gap between the femoral head and the acetabulum) and dislocated. Among 80
      morphologically dysplastic hips, 73 (91%) were sonographically unstable or
      dislocated, while seven dysplastic hips were stable. On the other hand, in 49% of
      the sonographic unstable hips (69 out of 142) the acetabulum was either normal or
      just physiologically immature. 38 of these hips were left untreated and
      normalized spontaneously. There was a close correlation between sonographically
      and clinically determined hip stability (gamma = 0.95). Our study shows that the
      majority of morphologically dysplastic hips is sonographically unstable or
      dislocated, but also that morphologically dysplastic hips may be stable.
      Morphologically normal hips showing minor sonographic instability do probably not
      require treatment, and thus morphology seems to be an important diagnostic
      criterion.

PMID- 1437368
TI  - Skeletal growth in cartilage-hair hypoplasia. A radiological study of 82
      patients.
AB  - Cartilage-hair hypoplasia is a metaphyseal chondrodysplasia with short-limbed
      short stature. In childhood radiographs the metaphyseal regions of the tubular
      bones are widened, scalloped and irregularly sclerotic. We have analyzed
      radiological characteristics and skeletal growth in 149 radiographic surveys of
      82 Finnish patients. All extremity long bones were affected and short for age.
      The growth failure was progressive. In the adults the median relative lengths
      were for the humerus -6.3 SD, radius -8.6 SD, ulna -6.7 SD, femur -9.7 SD, tibia 
      8.7 SD, and fibula -6.8 SD. the severity of the metaphyseal changes correlated
      with the degree of the growth failure. The skeletal age was markedly retarded in
      14% of the patients. Caudal widening of the interpediculate distance in the
      lumbar spine was observed in 90% of the patients, but it tended to be less than
      normal. The sagittal diameter of the spinal canal was normal in the cervical
      region but decreased in the lumbar region. Mild scoliosis was observed in one
      fourth of the patients, and its incidence increased with age. Lumbar lordosis was
      moderately increased. Thoracic deformity was observed in 82% of the patients. The
      relative interorbital distance was increased with the median of +2.2 SD in the
      adults.

PMID- 1437369
TI  - Desbuquois syndrome presenting with severe neonatal dwarfism, spondylo-epiphyseal
      dysplasia and advanced carpal bone age.

PMID- 1437370
TI  - Value of MRI and MIBG-I123 scintigraphy in the diagnosis of spinal bone marrow
      involvement in neuroblastoma in children.
AB  - The results of MRI and MIBG scintigraphy performed on the spine of 14 children
      with neuroblastoma are reported. In 6 cases of diffuse spinal bone marrow tumor
      infiltration, diagnosis is easier with MIBG scintigraphy than with MRI. In 5
      cases, MRI detected hyposignal of the vertebral body without any spinal
      abnormality on MIBG scintigraphy. A discussion of the reasons for negative MIBG
      scintigraphy is presented and in these 5 cases, it is suggested that a lateral
      view of MIBG scintigraphy and HMDP-Tc99m scintigraphy may be performed, even
      vertebral body biopsy in order to assess bone marrow tumoral infiltration.

PMID- 1437371
TI  - Eosinophilic granuloma simulating an aggressive rib neoplasm: CT evaluation.
AB  - Eosinophilic granuloma of bone can pose difficulties in diagnosis. We report a
      case of eosinophilic granuloma of rib origin in a child presenting with an
      enlarging chest mass whose appearance on computed tomography suggested Ewing
      sarcoma. Eosinophilic granuloma should be included in the differential diagnosis
      of an aggressive rib mass on CT in the pediatric patient.

PMID- 1437372
TI  - Primary endodermal sinus tumor of the liver detected by CT.
AB  - We report a case of primary endodermal sinus tumor of the liver. Endodermal sinus
      tumors are rare neoplasms which usually arise in the testis or ovary.
      Extragonadal endodermal sinus tumors are uncommon and primary tumors of the liver
      are very rare. The tumor was detected using CT and the diagnosis was made by
      percutaneous biopsy.

PMID- 1437373
TI  - Radiological assessment of duodenal calibre in congenital duodenal obstruction.
AB  - A review of barium meal studies in 32 cases of congenital intrinsic duodenal
      obstruction (CDO) from the Adelaide Children's Hospital was performed to assess
      and measure pre and post operative duodenal dilatation. Comparisons were made
      with a group of 153 normal barium studies from the same Hospital with a view to
      quantifying normal and abnormal proximal duodenal calibre. Duodenal size was
      expressed as a ratio D1/L1, (diameter of 1st part of duodenum/height of first
      lumbar vertebra). In this study a normal range of duodenal diameter was found to
      be 0.90 to 1.62 (+/- 2 SD from mean), with a mean of 1.26. The CDO patients
      recorded a range of postoperative ratios on first follow-up barium studies of
      between 1.2 and 4.5 with a mean of 2.28. Where serial studies had been performed,
      duodenal diameter was found to show some decrease in size postoperatively. In
      patients who underwent surgery for membrane obstruction there was a trend towards
      normalisation of duodenal diameter over time, compared with the atresia group.
      However, this difference did not reach statistical significance.

PMID- 1437374
TI  - Pelvic injuries in child abuse.
AB  - Three cases of child abuse are described in which pelvic injuries were prominent
      findings on radiologic examination: Two patients had pelvic fractures, and one
      was found to have heterotopic ossification of the soft tissues of the pelvis and
      thighs corresponding to extensive bruising in the pubic, genital, buttock, and
      thigh areas, resulting from physical and sexual abuse. These represent uncommon
      radiographic findings. Skeletal survey in cases of suspected child abuse should
      include the entire pelvis, and special attention should be paid to the
      ischiopubic rami the most common site of these rare pelvic injuries.

PMID- 1437375
TI  - Pediatric craniofacial surgery: comparison of milling and stereolithography for
      3D model manufacturing.
AB  - To improve the planning phase for pediatric craniofacial surgery, 3D
      reconstructions of CT image series were performed on a personal computer. For
      construction of true models of the surgical site, two concepts were pursued. CT
      image data of six patients were used for model manufacturing by a conventional 2
      1/2 axis milling system. The material used was polyurethane foam. Alternatively,
      in one patient a stereolithography was produced on the basis of the 3D
      reconstructed CT data. This new manufacturing device uses a photocurable monomer,
      hardened by a UV-laser. The spatial resolution of the system is about 0.1 mm. 3D
      reconstructions were performed on a personal computer. Data were then transferred
      into a surface oriented structure to control a stereolithographic modeling
      device. Time for transfer was 70 min. The production of the modelled cranium took
      a total time of 59 h. Accuracy was found to be much higher in stereolithography
      than in milled models. The model served for surgical planning. The long time for
      production was caused by inadequate computer capacities, which are configured for
      much less complex objects in computer aided design. Furthermore the programs for
      the machine control are optimized for technical purposes. If these conditions are
      improved, stereolithography could be an attractive alternative to milling of
      medical models.

PMID- 1437376
TI  - The fibrous metaphyseal defect in early stage. Differential diagnosis to
      metaphysitis.
AB  - In a 22-month-old boy a fibrous metaphyseal defect (FMD) was diagnosed by
      radiological follow-up examinations. The initial radiological finding could not
      be differentiated from metaphysitis because of its early manifestation and stage.
      Eleven months later, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with Gadolinium (Gd)-DTPA
      demonstrated a small central area of increased signal intensity. Based on known
      angiographic findings with fibrous metaphyseal defects, one may hypothesize that
      this is best explained by a hypervascularized area.

PMID- 1437378
TI  - Asymptomatic myelolipoma of the adrenal.
AB  - Myelolipoma of the adrenal gland is a rare benign tumour which seldom produces
      symptoms unless it attains considerable size or hemorrhages into itself.
      Histologically the tumor is composed of varying proportions of fat and bone
      marrow elements. We present a case of a male child, with homozygous beta
      thalassemia and asymptomatic myelolipoma.

PMID- 1437377
TI  - MR imaging of breast hemangioma in female infants.
AB  - Breast hemangioma in female infants is a rare benign lesion, prone to spontaneous
      regression. But when the lesion regresses there is a risk of breast atrophy if
      the breast bud is included in or very close to the hemangioma. A trial of
      corticosteroid therapy could be proposed to prevent this risk, but one must be
      sure that the breast bud is included in or very close to the hemangioma before
      treatment. We studied 4 children with breast hemangioma to evaluate the ability
      of MR Imaging in the diagnosis of breast bud inclusion. 0.5 Tesla axial Spin Echo
      T2-weighted images (TR = 2000 ms; TE = 120 ms) clearly depicted interface between
      high signal appearance of hemangioma and hypo-intensity of the breast bud: in our
      four patients we were able to determine whether or not the hemangioma involved
      the breast bud. Our preliminary study seems to demonstrate that MR imaging is a
      valuable imaging technique to determine which patients could be eligible for a
      trial of corticosteroid therapy.

PMID- 1437379
TI  - Inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung manifesting as a posterior mediastinal mass.
AB  - A case of inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung in a 6-year-old boy is presented.
      The respiratory illness presented as a mycoplasma pneumonia and there had been a
      similar episode of mycoplasma pneumonia one and a half years previously. Computed
      tomography revealed a large, calcified right posterior mediastinal mass and
      exploratory thoracotomy revealed a large posterior mediastinal mass that had an
      endobronchial component and grew exophytically from the lung. The present case
      suggests that inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung can manifest as a mediastinal
      mass and could be associated with mycoplasma pneumonia infection.

PMID- 1437380
TI  - Ultrasound diagnosis of an atypical pneumomediastinum.
AB  - The diagnosis of an atypical pneumomediastinum in a newborn was confirmed by
      ultrasound where an echogenic rim of air was noted around the heart. Ultrasound
      is suggested as an alternative to a decubitus film in differentiating between a
      pneumomediastinum (which usually resolves spontaneously) and a medial
      pneumothorax (which requires drainage).

PMID- 1437381
TI  - Two unusual cases of nephrocalcinosis in infancy.
AB  - Nephrocalcinosis is uncommon in childhood, the main causes are renal tubular
      acidosis, hyperparathyroidism and medullary sponge kidney. It is also seen where
      there is hypercalcaemia or hypercalciuria of any aetiology; We report
      nephrocalcinosis in an 18-month-old infant with metaphyseal chondrodysplasia type
      Jansen and also in a neonate with McCune Albright syndrome who displayed atypical
      skeletal appearances and had multiple ovarian cysts.

PMID- 1437382
TI  - MR imaging and sonography of Gartner's duct cyst and single ectopic ureter with
      ipsilateral renal dysplasia.
AB  - An 8-year-old girl with a rare anomaly of a single ectopic ureter to the
      Gartner's duct cyst and ipsilateral renal dysplasia is presented. MR imaging and
      ultrasound were utilized to make the diagnosis.

PMID- 1437383
TI  - Radiographic findings in Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch syndrome.
AB  - We describe a girl who presents the features of Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch syndrome.
      This autosomal recessive condition has characteristic radiographic findings which
      can be considered manifestations of the syndrome.

PMID- 1437384
TI  - Cephalo-skeletal dysplasia and microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism.

PMID- 1437385
TI  - American Pediatric Society presidential address 1992: genetics--the science and
      medicine of the future.

PMID- 1437386
TI  - Rational design of conjugate vaccines.
AB  - Whereas bacterial polysaccharides, classified as T-cell-independent antigens,
      elicit protective antibodies in adults, booster injections fail to produce an
      augmented response or promote antibody class switching. Because T-cell-dependent
      antigens, typically proteins, both produce boosted antibody levels and promote
      antibody class switching, it has been considered highly desirable to attempt to
      convert the T-cell-independent polysaccharide antigens into T-cell-dependent
      antigens, particularly for use in high-risk groups. A number of clinical trials
      now report the efficacy of conjugate vaccines in inducing the production of
      antibody in response to a number of previously poorly immunogenic--mainly T-cell
      independent--antigens. In addition to conjugate vaccines containing bacterial
      polysaccharides, vaccines containing relevant peptides from a variety of
      pathogens are also being formulated and investigated. Questions remain, however,
      regarding their synthesis, use, and efficacy. The best ages for vaccine
      administration and selection of the optimal protein carrier are still under
      investigation, as are questions regarding the use of adjuvants, which can greatly
      affect the vaccine's potency. Spacing and size of epitope and size and
      composition of the final structure also must be considered; the importance of
      molecular size and aggregation of antigen in increasing immunogenicity have been
      well documented. These questions must be addressed for the much-needed
      development of conjugate vaccines against some common infections worldwide,
      including malaria, bacterial meningitis, and infections from Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa and Neisseria gonorrhoeae because of increasing susceptibility to
      these infections and resistance of the pathogens to chemotherapeutic agents
      and/or antibiotics.

PMID- 1437387
TI  - In situ morphology of the ductus venosus and related vessels in the fetal and
      neonatal rat.
AB  - In situ cross-sectional morphology of the ductus venosus and related vessels was
      studied after rapid whole-body freezing of the fetal and neonatal rat. In the
      fetus, the ductus venosus was open widely, connecting the umbilical sinus and the
      inferior vena cava. The diameter of the ductus venosus was 50% of the diameter of
      the umbilical sinus. The ductus venous joined the left dorsal side of the
      inferior vena cava. A thin, short, membrane-like edge was present at the inner
      junction of the ductus venosus and the inferior vena cava, presumably effecting
      laminar flow of the ductus venosus blood to the left side of the thoracic
      inferior vena cava. A very prominent eustachian valve was present at the junction
      of the inferior vena cava and the right atrium, presumably directing its flow to
      the opening of the foramen ovale. After birth, the ductus venosus narrowed
      rapidly and closed completely in 2 d. The closing ductus venosus was tubular,
      with the cranial end slightly wider than the caudal portion. Localized
      constriction was not present. These observations showed the structural substrate
      for preferential flow from the ductus venosus to the foramen ovale and left
      atrium in the fetus and did not support localized sphincter mechanism in
      postnatal closure of the ductus venosus.

PMID- 1437388
TI  - Fate of the atrioventricular endocardial cushions in the developing chick heart.
AB  - To determine the fate of the atrioventricular endocardial cushions in cardiac
      development, we used staining methods for extracellular fibronectin, which is
      abundant in the endocardial cushions, and actin, which is abundant in the
      myocytes. White Leghorn chick embryo hearts were harvested at Hamburger and
      Hamilton stages 26 to 36, and serial sections of the atrioventricular valve
      region were stained. Before atrioventricular valve formation, fibronectin and
      actin staining reveal separation between the fibronectin-rich endocardial
      cushions and the actin-rich myocardial layer. The developing mitral valve
      leaflets at all of the observed stages contain a fibronectin-rich matrix but no
      actin-rich myocytes. In contrast, the tricuspid band includes both fibronectin
      matrix and actin-rich cells. We conclude that the mitral valve leaflets in the
      chick form predominantly from the endocardial cushion tissue, and the tricuspid
      band receives contributions from both the endocardial cushions and surrounding
      myocardium.

PMID- 1437389
TI  - Nitrofen-induced diaphragmatic hernias in rats: pulmonary antioxidant enzyme
      activities.
AB  - We developed an experimental rat model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)
      to elucidate the etiology and pathogenesis of this serious congenital anomaly in
      humans and in particular to study the effects of a short period of artificial
      ventilation on the CDH lung in relation to antioxidant defense mechanisms. CDH
      was induced in about 60% of the offspring by maternal exposure to 2,4
      dichlorophenyl-p-nitrophenylether (Nitrofen) during pregnancy. This herbicide
      resembles thyroid hormone in chemical structure. The lungs of fetal rats (d 19,
      20, 21, and 22) were examined for protein and DNA content and activity of
      superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX). The same
      parameters were assessed in tracheotomized newborn rats after pressure-controlled
      artificial ventilation with either room air or pure oxygen during a short period
      of 5 h. In both CDH rats and controls, wet lung weight increased during
      gestation. At term, CDH rats had significantly lower mean lung weights than
      controls. Neither group differed in protein and DNA content per mg lung or
      superoxide dismutase, catalase, and GPX activity before and at birth. After
      artificial ventilation of neonates with air and pure oxygen, superoxide dismutase
      activity tended to decrease, whereas catalase activity remained virtually
      unchanged in the CDH lung. However, GPX activity in the CDH lung was reduced to
      80% of initial activity at term after ventilation with air and to 70% with pure
      oxygen. The present finding of a decline in GPX activity in this animal model
      after a short period of artificial ventilation may indicate that the CDH rat
      neonate is at risk to develop oxygen-related lung damage.

PMID- 1437390
TI  - Recycling of glutathione during oxidative stress in erythrocytes of the newborn.
AB  - The ability of erythrocytes from newborn babies and adults to maintain reduced
      glutathione levels during oxidative stress was studied. In vitro incubation of
      erythrocytes with H2O2, with or without inactivation of catalase, caused a rapid
      depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) and concomitant accumulation of oxidized
      glutathione followed by recovery of GSH and fall of oxidized glutathione to
      initial values in all subjects. Inactivation of catalase resulted in a 50% loss
      of intracellular glutathione (p less than 0.005), a larger maximum GSH depletion
      (p less than 0.05), and a longer GSH recovery time (p less than 0.005).
      Erythrocytes from newborn babies showed a smaller maximum GSH depletion (p less
      than 0.05) and a shorter GSH recovery time (p less than 0.005) compared with
      those from adults. These differences between the newborn and adult groups
      persisted after inactivation of catalase. An increase in maximum GSH depletion
      and GSH recovery time (p less than 0.005) was observed when a lower hematocrit
      was used for these GSH recovery studies. Effective glutathione recycling in
      erythrocytes may protect immature tissues of the newborn baby from peroxidative
      damage.

PMID- 1437391
TI  - Small preterm infants (less than or equal to 1500 g) have only a sustained
      decrease in ventilation in response to hypoxia.
AB  - The classic "biphasic" ventilatory response to 15% O2 was previously observed in
      preterm infants who were large compared with those in the intensive care nursery
      today. We hypothesized that in the smaller infant (less than or equal to 1500 g)
      the response might be closer to that of the fetus, with no initial increase in
      ventilation. Thus, we studied 14 healthy preterm infants less than or equal to
      1500 g [birth weight 1200 +/- 63 g (mean +/- SEM); gestational age 29 +/- 0.4 wk;
      postnatal age 17 +/- 3 d] during rapid eye movement and quiet sleep. Ventilation
      was measured using a nosepiece and a flow-through system. Sleep states were
      defined using EEG, electro-oculogram, and body movements. After a control period
      in 21% O2 (3 min), infants breathed 15% O2 for 5 min. In rapid eye movement
      sleep, minute ventilation decreased from 0.186 +/- 0.020 (control) to 0.178 +/-
      0.021 (30 s), to 0.171 +/- 0.017 (1 min; p = 0.03), to 0.145 +/- 0.016 (3 min; p
      = 0.002), and to 0.129 +/- 0.011 l.min-1.kg-1 (5 min; p = 0.004). In quiet sleep,
      it decreased from 0.173 +/- 0.019 (control) to 0.164 +/- 0.019 (30 s), to 0.166
      +/- 0.019 (1 min), to 0.148 +/- 0.013 (3 min; p = 0.03), and to 0.146 +/- 0.012
      l.min-1.kg-1 (5 min; p = 0.04).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437392
TI  - Prenatal thyroid releasing hormone and thyroid releasing hormone plus
      dexamethasone lessen the survival of newborn rats during prolonged high O2
      exposure.
AB  - Newborn rats prenatally treated with TRH or the combination of TRH + DEX have
      lower lung antioxidant enzyme activities at birth than control newborns but are
      able to induce an adaptive antioxidant enzyme response to hyperoxic exposure of
      similar or even greater magnitude compared to O2 control offspring. Because of
      this greater antioxidant enzyme response, we hypothesized that the hormonally
      pretreated newborns might demonstrate superior tolerance to prolonged high O2
      exposure. However, when placed in greater than 95% O2 at birth, the survival
      rates were consistently lower in the TRH- and TRH + DEX-treated pups at all time
      periods in hyperoxia from 9 d [control = 74 of 92 (80%); TRH + DEX = 32 of 47
      (68%); TRH = 29 of 48 (60%); p less than 0.05] to 14 d [control = 43 of 92 (47%);
      TRH + DEX = 11 of 47 (23%); TRH = nine of 48 (19%); (p less than 0.05)]. Other
      evidence of poorer O2 tolerance in the prenatal hormone-treated pups included a
      greater incidence of intraalveolar edema and elevated lung conjugated dienes, an
      index of lipid peroxidation, at 3, 5, and 7 d of O2 exposure. There was also a
      persistent elevation in 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine and thyroxine serum levels in
      the 10-d-old TRH-treated offspring. We conclude that prenatal TRH treatment,
      possibly working through the secretion of 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine and
      thyroxine, has some important lasting postnatal effect (not completely reversed
      by dexamethasone) that predisposes newborn rats to greater O2 radical-induced
      lung sequelae of prolonged hyperoxic exposure.

PMID- 1437393
TI  - Neonatal pattern of breathing during active and quiet sleep after maternal
      administration of meperidine.
AB  - The aim of this study was to reappraise the effects of maternal meperidine
      administration on breathing pattern during the first hours of life taking into
      account the state of alertness. Because breathing instability is more pronounced
      during active sleep, we hypothesized that meperidine administration might create
      a greater risk for respiratory instability during active sleep, the prominent
      sleep state in newborns. We studied eight full-term, healthy newborns whose
      mothers had received a continuous i.v. infusion of meperidine (81 +/- 9 mg) that
      was terminated 5.5 +/- 2.1 h before delivery. These infants were compared with a
      control group of eight full-term newborns whose mothers did not receive any
      opioids. In both groups, all babies were delivered vaginally after a normal labor
      and had Apgar scores of 9 or 10 at 1 and 5 min. Neonatal gastric secretion and
      maternal venous and umbilical venous blood were sampled at delivery for
      determination of meperidine concentration. From 60 to 300 min after delivery,
      behavioral sleep states and thoracic and abdominal movement as well as
      transcutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) were monitored continuously. The
      number of apneic spells lasting more than 3 s during 100 min of recording and the
      percentage of time with SaO2 below 90% in each sleep state were recorded. During
      quiet sleep, all respiratory variables were similar in both groups. During active
      sleep, there were significantly more apneic episodes (37.1 +/- 25.1 versus 11.2
      +/- 13.9) and a higher percentage of time with SaO2 less than 90% (14.3 +/- 16.7%
      versus 1.3 +/- 1.5%) in the meperidine group than in the control group (p less
      than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437394
TI  - The relationship between environmental temperature, metabolic rate, sleep state,
      and evaporative water loss in infants from birth to three months.
AB  - We have investigated the effect of changing environmental temperature on
      metabolic rate, sleep state, and water loss in a longitudinal study of 22 lightly
      clothed babies from 2 d to 3 mo of age. Studies were performed in a modified
      barometric plethysmograph while recording sleep state, oxygen consumption, and
      skin and axillary temperatures. Oxygen consumption was higher in rapid eye
      movement sleep than in quiet sleep at all ages and varied widely between infants
      at each temperature. Within the first week, there was a 19% rise in oxygen
      consumption on cooling to 19-22 degrees C during rapid eye movement sleep and a
      6% rise during quiet sleep. The median duration of quiet sleep periods was
      reduced from 17 to 12 min on cooling within the first week. No such change was
      seen at 1, 2, and 3 mo. Axillary temperature was reduced at 3 mo during cooling.
      This may be a part of normal patterns of change in temperature during sleep,
      unrelated to cooling. At each age, total evaporative water loss fell linearly
      with falling environmental temperature both within and below the temperature
      range at which metabolic rate was minimal. The evaporative water losses were
      greater than expected and suggested that sweating was occurring, both at
      temperatures at which metabolic rate was minimal and at those at which it was
      increased. The metabolic response to cooling and the process of sweating appear
      to be in dynamic equilibrium across this temperature range. Thus, it was not
      possible to define a temperature range over which both metabolic rate and
      evaporative water loss were at minimum values.

PMID- 1437395
TI  - Expression of pulmonary metallothionein genes in late gestational lambs.
AB  - Metallothioneins (MT) are low molecular weight proteins that are important in
      providing protection against heavy metals such as cadmium. Other precise
      physiologic roles for this family of proteins are less clear, but fetal hepatic
      cell proliferation and differentiation may be regulated through changes in MT
      levels and attendant MT-mediated regulation of zinc levels. The role of MT in
      other developing tissue, most notably lung, is far less clear. Although
      expression of MT has been reported to be extremely low in early postnatal and
      mature lung, we hypothesized that MT has a more ubiquitous role in organ
      development and that pulmonary MT levels may be elevated during periods of rapid
      lung growth. Thus, we studied expression of MT in late-gestation fetal lambs.
      Sheep are particularly useful because alveolarization of lung parenchyma occurs
      before birth (by d 120 of a normal 147-d gestation). Immunoreactive MT was
      localized to bronchial epithelium of fetal, newborn, and mature sheep. The
      intensity of staining was greatest in the 130-d gestational age (saccular) lung,
      where positive reaction product was noted in the cytoplasm and nucleus of
      alveolar epithelial and interstitial cells. We next evaluated MT expression in
      developing lung tissue using Northern blot analysis and 32P-cDNA probes against
      the 3'-untranslated regions of mRNA encoding each of four known functional sheep
      MT (sMT) isoforms. Expression of sMT-II, sMT-Ia, and sMT-Ib was restricted to the
      saccular stage (120-132 d gestational age), and sMT-Ic mRNA was not detected in
      pulmonary samples from any stage of development.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437396
TI  - Activation of the plasma kallikrein-kinin system in respiratory distress
      syndrome.
AB  - Components of the plasma kallikrein-kinin and fibrinolytic systems together with
      antithrombin III were measured the first days postpartum in 13 premature babies
      with severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Seven of the patients received a
      single dose of porcine surfactant (Curosurf) as rescue treatment. Nine premature
      babies without lung disease or any other complicating disease served as controls.
      There were no differences in prekallikrein values between surfactant treated and
      non-treated RDS babies during the first 4 d postpartum. The controls had,
      however, significantly higher prekallikrein values than the RDS babies already at
      the first day of age (mean +/- SD 32 +/- 8% in controls versus 22 +/- 6 and 21.5
      +/- 5% in the treated and nontreated RDS groups, respectively). Plasma kallikrein
      activities did not differ between RDS and control patients. Plasma kallikrein
      inhibition values, which increased steadily in all groups, were lower in the RDS
      babies treated with surfactant than in controls at d 2 and 4. The degree of
      degradation of plasma high molecular weight kininogen was measured in RDS
      patients treated with surfactant and was significantly higher when compared with
      controls at d 1, demonstrating an increased proteolysis of kininogen to kinin
      early in RDS. There were no differences in plasminogen and plasmin values between
      RDS and control babies. This study shows that the plasma kallikrein-kinin system
      is activated in RDS. This system as well as the fibrinolytic system does not seem
      to be influenced by rescue instillation of a single dose of porcine surfactant
      into the lungs of premature babies with RDS.

PMID- 1437397
TI  - Differential effects of short and long durations of insulin-induced maternal
      hypoglycemia upon fetal rat tissue growth and glucose utilization.
AB  - We studied the effects of short and long durations of insulin-induced maternal
      hypoglycemia upon in vivo glucose utilization of several fetal tissues in the
      rat. Osmotic minipumps filled with insulin were implanted in pregnant rats on d
      15 or 18 of gestation (term 21.5 d), and radiolabeled 2-deoxyglucose was used to
      measure relative glucose utilization rates (rGU) of fetal liver, lung, muscle,
      kidney, heart, placenta, and brain on d 20 of gestation after 2 or 5 d of
      hypoglycemia. Maternal plasma glucose concentrations decreased within 24 h of
      pump placement and remained less than controls throughout gestation. Fetal plasma
      glucose and insulin concentrations on d 20 were equally reduced after 2 and 5 d
      of hypoglycemia. Both 2 and 5 d of hypoglycemia were associated with significant
      reductions in the rGU of fetal liver, lung, and muscle. Reductions in fetal
      kidney rGU also occurred after 2 and 5 d of hypoglycemia but to a smaller degree.
      rGU of fetal heart was reduced after 2 d of hypoglycemia, but was normal after 5
      d of hypoglycemia. Both 2 and 5 d of hypoglycemia were associated with increased
      rGU of fetal brain. Five d, but not 2 d of hypoglycemia resulted in decreased
      fetal weight on d 20 of gestation. However, at term, newborn pups delivered of
      hypoglycemic mothers weighed significantly less than controls regardless of the
      timing of minipump placement. Liver, lung, and carcass of these growth-retarded
      pups weighed less than control tissues, whereas kidney, heart, and brain weights
      were not affected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437398
TI  - The metabolism of free fatty acids and triacylglycerols by the fetal liver in a
      guinea pig model of intrauterine growth retardation.
AB  - The aim of this study was to determine whether intrauterine growth retardation
      (IUGR) is associated with an alteration in hepatic lipid metabolism. IUGR was
      induced in 25 guinea pigs by uterine artery ligation on gestational d 30. On d
      62, after anesthesia, an infusion of [1-14C]-palmitic acid was given. Fetuses
      were exposed at 15, 30, and 45 min, and simultaneous maternal and umbilical
      venous blood samples were taken. Livers were divided into right lobe, right and
      left sublobes of the quadrate lobe, and left lobe. In control fetuses, plasma
      radiolipids rose in parallel with, but were about half the value of, maternal
      levels. In IUGR fetuses, plasma radiolipids were lower than in controls at 15 and
      30 min but were comparable at 45 min. Most of the radiolipid in the maternal
      plasma was FFA, with only 6% incorporated into triglycerides at 45 min. In
      control and IUGR fetal plasmas, 36-37% of the radiolipid was triglycerides by 45
      min. Radiolabel incorporation into the right lobe was less than into the left
      lobe and left half of the quadrate lobe in control and IUGR fetuses. Compared
      with controls, radiolabel incorporation in IUGR fetuses was less in some or all
      liver lobes at each time point. The proportion of label associated with FFA and
      triglycerides did not vary with time, between lobes, or between control and IUGR
      fetuses. The difference in uptake between lobes reflects their blood supply,
      implying that most FFA is extracted during the first passage of the umbilical
      venous blood. Growth retardation was not associated with compromised hepatic FFA
      metabolism.

PMID- 1437399
TI  - Changes in protein turnover after the introduction of parenteral nutrition in
      premature infants: comparison of breast milk and egg protein-based amino acid
      solutions.
AB  - Rates of protein turnover were measured in 20 infants receiving either Vamin
      Infant (group A) or Vamin 9 glucose (group B) as the amino acid source in total
      parenteral nutrition. A constant infusion of L-[1-13C]leucine was used to measure
      whole body leucine flux, and leucine oxidation rates were derived from
      measurements of total urinary nitrogen excretion. Infants were first studied when
      receiving only i.v. glucose and again on each of the next 4 d as total parenteral
      nutrition was gradually increased to a maximum of 430 mg nitrogen/kg/d and 90
      nonprotein kcal/kg/d. Net protein gain and protein synthesis and breakdown rates
      increased progressively for all infants taken together over the study period as
      i.v. nutrition was increasing (p less than 0.001). There were no differences
      between groups in the changes in net protein gain and rates of protein synthesis
      and breakdown throughout the study period. Nitrogen retention on d 5 for the two
      groups was similar (60 +/- 16% and 67 +/- 11% in groups A and B, respectively).
      In a subgroup of infants, measurements were repeated on d 8, when the intake had
      been constant for 3 d. Protein retention was the same as on d 5, but both
      synthesis and breakdown were increased. It is concluded that rates of protein
      turnover increase significantly in response to increasing i.v. nutrition and that
      this elevation was not influenced by the composition of the amino acid mixture
      given.

PMID- 1437400
TI  - Low prevalence of autoantibodies to the insulin-like growth factor I receptor in
      children with short stature.
AB  - Inhibition of IGF-I action by circulating IGF-I receptor autoantibodies is a
      potential mechanism of IGF-I resistance in growing children. To define the
      prevalence of IGF-I receptor antibodies in short-statured children, we have
      examined serum and plasma samples from a well-characterized group of 34 short,
      prepubertal, growth hormone-sufficient children and three growth hormone
      deficient children. IGF-I receptor purified from human placental membranes was
      radioiodinated by the solid phase radioiodination method. Serum from a patient
      with severe insulin resistance immunoprecipitated 28.9-44.7% of the 125I-labeled
      IGF-I receptor. The ranges (mean +/- 3 SD) of 125I-labeled IGF-I receptor
      immunoprecipitated by 1:10 diluted and by undiluted nonimmune human serum were
      1.99 +/- 0.63% and 4.42 +/- 1.32%, respectively. Immunoprecipitation of the 125I
      labeled IGF-I receptor by eight samples from six children was greater than 3 SD
      above the mean when assayed at a 1:10 dilution. Nevertheless, when assayed
      undiluted, only one of these samples immunoprecipitated slightly more 125I
      labeled IGF-I receptor than nonimmune serum. We conclude from these data that
      immunoprecipitating autoantibodies to the IGF-I receptor are not commonly present
      in short-statured children.

PMID- 1437401
TI  - Role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma in newborn host defense
      against Listeria monocytogenes infection.
AB  - The fetus and newborn are particularly susceptible to Listeria monocytogenes
      infection. We used a newborn rat animal model to investigate neonatal host
      defense against Listeria. In this animal model, newborn (3-d-old) rats are more
      susceptible to L. monocytogenes than older animals. Juvenile (23-d-old) L.
      monocytogenes-infected rats pretreated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) had a lower
      bacterial load in blood than control animals, whereas LPS pretreated newborn rats
      had a higher bacterial load. Because LPS is a potent inducer of tumor necrosis
      factor (TNF) and TNF enhances host defense against this organism in adult
      animals, we assessed TNF content in splenic homogenates for animals of different
      ages. The age at which TNF was detectable in L. monocytogenes-Infected rats
      corresponded to the age at which LPS became active in preventing severe
      bacteremia. TNF was less than 1 unit/mL in splenic homogenates taken from rats
      less than 8 d of age, whereas 16-d-old rats infected with L. monocytogenes 1 d
      earlier had greater than 80 units/mL (p less than 0.0001 for 3-d-old versus 16-d
      old rats). We also assessed the responsiveness of rats to exogenous TNF-alpha.
      Juvenile rats pretreated with TNF-alpha before L. monocytogenes infection had
      decreased bacterial load in spleen (p less than 0.02 versus controls) and better
      survival at 7 d (p less than 0.05 versus controls), whereas newborn rats did not
      improve with TNF-alpha pretreatment (p greater than 0.05 treated versus controls
      for splenic bacterial load and 7-d survival).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437402
TI  - Characteristics of L-citrulline transport across rat small intestine in vitro.
AB  - The amino acid L-citrulline is an important intermediate of urea cycle and a key
      precursor for arginine biosynthesis. We have examined the characteristics of
      citrulline transport across the everted sacs of the rat small intestine. Our
      studies suggest that the optimal site of citrulline absorption is middle to lower
      ileum. It shows active transport, and this transport is predominantly Na+
      dependent. Its uptake is significantly inhibited by ouabain, dinitrophenol,
      sodium azide, and sodium cyanide. Kinetic estimation reveal an apparent substrate
      concentration at 1/2 maximum velocity of 4.10 +/- 0.86 mM and a Vmax of 18.7 +/-
      1.66 mumol/g wet weight tissue/30 min. Analog inhibition studies suggest that
      citrulline may share the neutral brush border system described for the mucosal
      brush border membranes of the rabbit jejunum or a system analogous to system ASC
      described for nonepithelial cells and for basolateral membranes of certain
      epithelia. In conclusion, the rat small intestine has developed a specific
      carrier-mediated, Na(+)-dependent pathway for citrulline absorption.

PMID- 1437403
TI  - Prolidase deficiency in cultured human fibroblasts: biochemical pathology and
      iminodipeptide-enhanced growth.
AB  - Prolidase deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by
      iminodipeptiduria, severe skin ulcers, recurrent infections, and mental
      retardation. The enzyme prolidase hydrolyzes dipeptides containing C-terminal
      proline or hydroxyproline. We investigated the metabolic abnormality caused by
      prolidase deficiency in human cultured skin fibroblasts. These studies were
      undertaken to test biochemical hypotheses regarding the metabolic origins of the
      skin lesion occurring in this disease. Our results indicate that prolidase plays
      a major role in the recycling of dipeptide-bound proline. Control fibroblasts
      were able to use iminodipeptides in lieu of proline to sustain normal growth,
      whereas cells homozygous for the prolidase deficiency mutation were not. Proline
      derived from iminodipeptides diluted incorporation of radiolabeled extracellular
      proline into cellular protein in normal cells but not in mutant cells.
      Substitution of a prolidase-free medium for FCS did not affect the growth rate of
      control cell lines but increased the doubling time of prolidase-deficient cells
      by 19% (28% in the presence of iminodipeptides). Iminodipeptides added to control
      and mutant cells maintained in serum-free medium showed no adverse effects on
      protein synthesis. These results are consistent with a mechanism of biochemical
      pathology in which proline deprivation caused by the enzyme deficit is a primary
      cause of damage to skin cells. Prolidase regulation by product and substrate was
      studied. A 44% decrease in activity was observed in fibroblasts grown for 3 wk in
      proline-containing medium relative to proline-free medium. However, cells grown
      in medium in which iminodipeptides replaced proline showed no significant
      difference in prolidase activity.

PMID- 1437404
TI  - Postischemic hyperglycemia is not protective to the neonatal rat brain.
AB  - Brain glucose concentration during and after hypoxia-ischemia may be one of the
      variables affecting outcome of asphyxial insults. Glucose given before global
      ischemic forebrain injury to adult rats increases morphologic brain damage, and
      postischemic insulin administration reduces selective neuronal necrosis and
      cortical infarction. Because glucose infusions are routinely used in the clinical
      management of perinatal asphyxia, we evaluated the role of glucose administration
      after ischemic neuronal damage to neonatal rat brain. Sprague-Dawley rat pups
      (postnatal d 7) were subjected to left common carotid artery ligation followed by
      2.5 h of 8% oxygen (Levine procedure). The experimental group was subdivided so
      that pups received either systemic injections of glucose or saline immediately
      after the hypoxic insult. Animals were killed on postnatal d 12 and brain areas
      of ipsi- and contralateral cortex and caudate were calculated from camera lucida
      tracings. There was no significant difference in size of brain infarction between
      postischemic glucose-treated and post-ischemic saline-treated pups. However,
      hypoxic-ischemic brains did show more severe neuronal damage when hyperglycemia
      was induced after asphyxia. Because post-ischemic hyperglycemia does not
      attenuate and may exacerbate injury, we recommend careful monitoring of blood
      glucose so that hyperglycemia does not occur during resuscitation of asphyxiated
      infants.

PMID- 1437405
TI  - Gaucher disease in the neonate: a distinct Gaucher phenotype is analogous to a
      mouse model created by targeted disruption of the glucocerebrosidase gene.
AB  - A group of neonates with Gaucher disease with a particularly devastating clinical
      course is described. The phenotype of these infants is analogous to that of a
      Gaucher mouse, which was created by targeted disruption of the mouse
      glucocerebroside gene. Similar to the homozygous mutant mice with
      glucocerebrosidase deficiency, these infants present at or shortly after birth,
      have rapidly progressing fulminant disease, and many have associated ichthyotic
      skin and/or hydrops fetalis. This transgenetic mouse model of Gaucher disease has
      helped us to appreciate a distinct Gaucher phenotype. Potentially, as this
      technology is applied to create other animal models of metabolic diseases, it may
      enable the recognition of other, as yet unappreciated presentations of inherited
      disorders.

PMID- 1437406
TI  - Howland Award presentation to Gilbert B. Forbes.

PMID- 1437407
TI  - Acceptance of the Howland Award.

PMID- 1437408
TI  - Research in behavioral-developmental pediatrics: new frontiers and elusive
      boundaries.

PMID- 1437409
TI  - The biobehavioral interface in behavioral pediatrics.

PMID- 1437410
TI  - Health consequences of behaviors: injury as a model.
AB  - Injury is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading
      cause for children, adolescents, and young adults. Injury results from multiple
      factors and so may its prevention. The first and simplest approach toward
      preventing injuries has been to innovatively and aggressively apply a traditional
      public health model. Strategically, the goal has been to remove harmful agents of
      injury and to make the environment safer. Tactics such as public information,
      product regulation, legislative action, and the like have been credited with
      reductions in mortality and morbidity. To expand our understanding and our
      prevention strategies across multiple injuries, other scientific knowledge bases
      and intervention models from fields such as psychology and child development are
      being used to study childhood injury. These approaches show that in addition to
      environmental determinants, psychosocial factors involving both the care giver
      and the child are related to injury. The research programs described here
      illustrate the advantage of investigating psychosocial factors at both molar and
      molecular levels. General characteristics of mothers and children related to
      injury help define families at risk, as well as suggesting vehicles for
      intervention. Behavioral factors influencing risk perception highlight the
      etiology of increased risk in adolescence. Injury episodes, even slight, as well
      as "near injuries" and dangerous and risky behavior can be quantified and
      analyzed by retrospective ("postmortem") approaches yielding data on commonly
      occurring consequences (and the lack thereof) for minor injury. Finally,
      approaches that simulate dangerous situations can identify interaction patterns
      that result in childhood injury. Based on such research, we are coming to view
      injuries as the result of patterns of behaviors that develop and persist over
      time, and as such these patterns can be detected and, one hopes, altered before a
      serious medical event occurs. The role of the pediatrician after injury occurs is
      clear. With regard to prevention of injuries, pediatricians' roles are being
      defined by those individuals who have begun to investigate causes, educate
      families, and advocate for regulation and prevention. However, like the causes
      and methods for prevention, the disciplines involved in the study and prevention
      of injury are multiple. Such a multidisciplinary approach that considers multiple
      factors, theories, models, and interventions to prevent injury may be the
      approach that is as simple as possible.

PMID- 1437411
TI  - Behavioral consequences of illness: childhood asthma as a model.
AB  - Several areas of research on childhood asthma are discussed within a
      transactional model of asthma. The model emphasizes the multidirectional
      influences that affect the severity of asthma and associated behavioral
      disability. The initial focus is on how the clinical presentation and morbidity
      of asthma are affected both by somatic predisposition and by interactions with
      multiple internal and external elements. Specific elements include emotional
      factors, neuroimmunology, temperament, and medication side effects. Second, the
      impact of asthma on the child, his or her family, and segments of the community
      are described, as are consequences of the disorder on quality of life. Third,
      there is a synopsis of preventative interventions for reducing the medical and
      behavioral impact of childhood asthma. The motif is that the interaction of
      medical and behavioral procedures can improve the management of asthma while
      consequences of the disorder are mollified. Finally, as examples of a
      transactional model of asthma, self-management programs for teaching children to
      become partners with their physicians in establishing and maintaining control
      over the disorder are described. A representative of self-management--the ACT
      (Asthma Care Training) program--is described, along with the impact such programs
      have on children, their families, and institutions. The conclusion emphasizes
      that asthma is a complicated and unpredictable disorder that puzzles physicians,
      behavioral scientists, and patients. Although new treatments may be over the
      horizon, controlling childhood asthma and its consequences currently rests on the
      cooperation and increased interaction of medical and behavioral scientists.

PMID- 1437412
TI  - Pediatric pain: interacting behavioral and physical factors.
AB  - Pain in infants, children, and adolescents warrants study from a developmental,
      behavioral, and physiological perspective because maturation of physical,
      emotional, and cognitive systems influences the way in which pain is experienced
      and expressed. Pediatric pain is an underdeveloped area ripe for study within the
      realm of developmental and behavioral pediatrics, as noted by documentation of
      its undertreatment in children. The focus of this paper is to present issues
      relevant to the study of pain in children, using the example of the recurrent
      abdominal pain syndrome to illustrate points regarding epidemiology, assessment,
      and intervention. It is the opinion of these authors that pediatric pain must be
      understood from a developmental perspective in both clinical and nonclinical
      populations of children. Multidisciplinary approaches to research in pain aids in
      understanding the development of nociceptive transmission and inhibitory systems,
      the development of pain expression, and the influence of context on pain
      experience and behavior. The goal of research in pediatric pain is to understand
      these systems within a developmental context so that preventive and therapeutic
      intervention strategies can be developed to reduce children's distress and pain
      related disability.

PMID- 1437413
TI  - Conceptual and methodological issues for behavioral pediatrics research.
AB  - Three prescriptions are made to improve behavioral pediatrics research: (1) Focus
      behavioral pediatrics on preventive research from environmental and social
      perspectives. (2) Ground research questions more extensively within a conceptual
      framework. (3) Enhance research quality with reliable, valid measurement.
      Conceptual and methodological improvements in research will facilitate
      integration of the multidisciplinary, multimethodological, and multitheoretical
      scope of behavioral pediatrics and further its contributions to science.

PMID- 1437414
TI  - The future of behavioral pediatrics research: moving right along.

PMID- 1437415
TI  - American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness.
      Fitness, activity, and sports participation in the preschool child.

PMID- 1437416
TI  - Earrings: a source of bloodborne infections?

PMID- 1437417
TI  - Gastric juice, drugs, and end-tidal carbon dioxide detectors.

PMID- 1437418
TI  - Money alone won't do it.

PMID- 1437419
TI  - Is ear pulling associated with ear infection?

PMID- 1437420
TI  - Lack of money--barrier to immunization.

PMID- 1437421
TI  - Lead ingestion and x-rays.

PMID- 1437422
TI  - Annual summary of vital statistics--1991.
AB  - Between 1990 and 1991, provisional data show that the infant mortality rate
      decreased again, from 9.1 to 8.9, a decline of 2% in contrast to the 7% decline
      from 1989 to 1990. Birth, death, and marriage rates were also lower, but the
      divorce rate stayed at about the same level as in 1990. Natural increase in the
      population, excess of births over deaths, was less than 2 million, 4% less than
      the increase in 1990. Detailed analysis of changes and of the influence of
      factors like age and race requires final data; at the time of preparation of this
      report final birth and death data were available only through 1989. For a variety
      of reasons, including staff shortages and delays in receipt of state data by the
      National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), final data for 1990, which would
      usually have been available in late August 1992, are not expected before early
      1993. Unlike recent years, the decline in the infant mortality rate was only in
      the neonatal component, which decreased 3.6%. Postneonatal mortality increased,
      for the first time in many years, by 1.6%, suggesting that the decline in the
      total is related more to therapeutic advances in neonatology than to improved
      prevention. Internationally, newly independent Latvia was added to the list of
      countries with rates less than 15, but Costa Rica was deleted. With the
      reunification of Germany the list shrank to 28 and, by default, the United States
      moved up from 21st to 20th. Some 12.5 million births, less than 9% of the world
      total, took place in countries with under-5 mortality rates of less than 20 per
      1000. At the other end of the scale, 42% of the world's births occurred in
      countries with under-5 mortality rates of more than 140 per 1000. The median
      under-5 mortality rate for those countries in 1990 was 189 per 1000, meaning that
      almost 20% of the infants born alive in these countries died before their fifth
      birthday.

PMID- 1437423
TI  - Fever revisited.

PMID- 1437424
TI  - Fever phobia: the pediatrician's contribution.
AB  - Fever phobia, the exaggerated fear of fever, is found among parents of all
      socioeconomic classes. Pediatricians may inadvertently contribute to fever phobia
      if their practice and educational message are incongruent. To determine how
      pediatricians treat fever in their practice, the authors sent a self-administered
      questionnaire to a sample of members of the American Academy of Pediatrics who
      lived in Massachusetts. Pediatricians were asked (1) how dangerous they believed
      fever to be, (2) how they treated fever in their practice, and (3) what types of
      educational information they gave families regarding fever. One-hundred seventy
      two of the 234 (74%) eligible pediatricians returned the survey; 151 were
      completed. Sixty percent of the respondents were male, and 75% practiced some
      form of primary or episodic care. Ninety-eight (65%) believed that fever itself
      could be dangerous to a child, with 58 (60%) of the original 98 citing that a
      temperature of 104 degrees F or greater could lead to complications such as
      seizures, brain damage, or death. In practice, 108 (72%) always or often
      recommended treatment to reduce fever and 96 (89%) of the 108 did so at
      temperatures between 101 degrees and 102 degrees F. One hundred thirty-one (88%)
      respondents agreed that a sleeping child with fever should be left undisturbed.
      One hundred twenty-one (80%) pediatricians always or often tried to educate
      families about fever during sick-child visits, yet only 38% addressed the dangers
      of fever.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437425
TI  - Low-level lead exposure, intelligence and academic achievement: a long-term
      follow-up study.
AB  - The implications of low-level lead exposure for children's intellectual and
      academic performance at school age are uncertain. This issue was investigated in
      a prospective study of middle-class and upper-middle-class children with low
      lifetime exposures to lead. A battery of neuropsychological tests was
      administered at age 10 years to 148 children whose lead exposure and cognitive
      function had been previously assessed at ages 6, 12, 18, 24, and 57 months.
      Primary endpoints were Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R)
      and the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement (K-TEA). Higher levels of blood
      lead at age 24 months, but not at other ages, were significantly associated with
      lower global scores on both the WISC-R and the K-TEA after adjustment for
      potential confounders. Over the range of approximately 0 to 25 micrograms/dL, a
      0.48-mumol/L (10 micrograms/dL) increase in blood lead at 24 months was
      associated with a 5.8-point decline in WISC-R Full-Scale IQ (95% confidence
      interval: 1.7 to 9.9, P = .007) and an 8.9-point decline in K-TEA Battery
      Composite score (95% confidence interval: 4.2 to 13.6, P = .0003). Mean blood
      lead level at age 24 months was 0.31 mumol/L (6.5 micrograms/dL; SD: 4.9, 90%
      percentile: 12.5). Slightly elevated blood lead levels around the age of 24
      months are associated with intellectual and academic performance deficits at age
      10 years.

PMID- 1437426
TI  - Poisoning prevention knowledge and practices of parents after a childhood
      poisoning incident.
AB  - This study investigated the effectiveness of a poison center-initiated mailed
      intervention on improving the preventive practices of families whose preschool
      child had recently experienced a poisoning incident. A low-cost, mailed poisoning
      prevention packet consisting of telephone stickers, a +f41 coupon for syrup of
      ipecac, one slide-style cabinet lock, a nine-step checklist for "poison-proofing"
      the home, pamphlets, and a cover letter was tested prospectively on a population
      of parents calling a poison center for advice about possible poisoning exposures
      involving their preschool children. Parents without ipecac 1 week after the
      incident were randomized so that half received the mailed intervention. A "blind"
      follow-up telephone interview was conducted 3 months later. Of the 336 original
      families enrolled in the study, 301 (90% retention) completed the follow-up
      interview. Those who had received the intervention were more likely to have a
      telephone sticker than control families (78% vs 39%; P < .0001) and were more
      likely to be using at least one slide lock in the home (59% vs 40%; P < .001).
      However, intervention families were no more likely to have ipecac on hand than
      control families (57% vs 52%; P = not significant) and did not indicate a higher
      rate of compliance with suggested changes in other behaviors and practices to
      prevent poisonings. A poisoning recurrence rate of 3.7% was seen in the total
      sample during the 3-month period of surveillance; there was no difference between
      groups in recurrence rate. Even after a poisoning event, parents may not be
      sufficiently motivated to take poisoning prevention measures on their
      own.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437428
TI  - Pediatric residency training: ten years after the Task Force report.
AB  - A sample of 3000 pediatricians who had completed their residency training in 1978
      or later were surveyed regarding the perception of the adequacy of their
      residency training in specific aspects of pediatric practice and in a number of
      subspecialty areas. The survey was almost identical with the one that formed the
      basis for the American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Pediatric Education
      report in 1978. The results revealed relatively little change in the high rates
      of perceived "insufficient training" in all the areas of pediatrics described as
      "underemphasized" in the Task Force report. However, those residents who received
      their training during the second half of the 10 years since the Task Force survey
      reported significant improvement in the previously underemphasized areas of
      developmental and behavioral pediatrics and adolescent medicine. Results also
      revealed a significant increase in the number of pediatricians who identify
      either a subspecialty interest or subspecialty practice in developmental or
      behavioral pediatrics. The increase in pediatric subspecialists and the improved
      training experience since 1984 indicate that the Task Force report may have had a
      positive impact on residency training in developmental and behavioral pediatrics.

PMID- 1437427
TI  - Improving influenza vaccination rates in children with asthma: a test of a
      computerized reminder system and an analysis of factors predicting vaccination
      compliance.
AB  - Fewer than 10% of children with moderate or severe asthma receive an annual
      influenza vaccination despite their heightened susceptibility to severe
      infections and recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the
      Immunization Practices Advisory Committee that all such children be vaccinated
      annually. Patient, provider, and system factors leading to this poor vaccination
      rate are not well understood. This study tested the effectiveness of a
      computerized reminder system in improving influenza vaccination rates in children
      with asthma and examined patient barriers to vaccination at one pediatric clinic
      in an urban teaching hospital. A computer database identified 124 children with
      moderate or severe asthma. Patients were randomly assigned either to study group
      (n = 63), who were sent a personalized letter reminder about the need for an
      influenza vaccination, or to a control group (n = 61), who received no reminder.
      Study group mothers were interviewed 2 months after the letter was sent to assess
      factors associated with receipt of vaccination, including demographic features,
      parental worry about asthma and vaccine side effects, the four dimensions of the
      Health Belief Model, and health locus of control beliefs. Nineteen study group
      patients (30%) received an influenza vaccination, compared with only 4 control
      patients (7%) (P < .01). Forty-three mothers of children in the study group were
      interviewed; 14 (33%) of these children had received the vaccination. Of the
      characteristics investigated, two significantly correlated with vaccination
      compliance: high levels of parental worry about asthma (positively correlated:
      odds ratio = 23.3, P < .01) and high levels of parental worry about vaccine side
      effects (negatively correlated: odds ratio = 0.087, P = .025).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437429
TI  - Relationship of intraventricular hemorrhage or death with the level of umbilical
      artery catheter placement: a multicenter randomized clinical trial. Umbilical
      Artery Catheter Trial Study Group.
AB  - Umbilical artery catheters are frequently used in the care of very low birth
      weight neonates to monitor arterial blood gas values. Historically, catheters
      with the tip placed low, in the abdominal aorta, have been associated with an
      increased risk of peripheral vascular complications. Recently, a report suggested
      that catheters placed high, in the thoracic aorta, were associated with an
      increased risk of intraventricular hemorrhage. To determine whether there is an
      association between the placement of an umbilical artery catheter high, in the
      thoracic aorta, and the occurrence of intraventricular hemorrhage (grades II
      through IV) or death within the first 5 days of life, a multicenter randomized
      trial was conducted. Nine hundred seventy neonates weighing 500 through 1499 g
      were randomly assigned to receive either high catheters, in the thoracic aorta
      closest to the sixth to eight thoracic vertebra, or low catheters, in the
      abdominal aorta closest to the third to fifth lumbar vertebra. The incidence of
      the primary outcome (intraventricular hemorrhage grades II through IV and/or
      death) was 25.8% among newborns with high catheters and 23.1% in those with low
      catheters (relative risk = 1.12, 95% confidence interval = 0.89, 1.39). However,
      a significant interaction was observed between the level of catheter placement
      and birth weight for neonates weighing 750 through 999 g and those weighing 1000
      through 1499 g. The subgroup of neonates weighing 750 to 1000 g had a relative
      risk of the primary outcome of 0.72 (95% confidence interval = 0.49, 1.07), while
      those weighing 1000 through 1499 g had a relative risk of 2.02 (1.21,
      2.36).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437430
TI  - Excess morbidity associated with interhospital transport.
AB  - A prospective study was performed to determine whether excess morbidity occurred
      in critically ill and injured pediatric patients during interhospital transport
      compared with morbidity in a control group. Control observations were made during
      the first 2 hours of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) care of patients
      emergently admitted from within the same institution and not requiring
      interhospital transport. The first 2 PICU hours of control patients corresponded
      to the interval of transport in those who required interhospital transfer.
      Transport care was provided by nonspecialized teams from referring hospitals.
      Morbidity occurred in 20.9% of 177 transported patients, exceeding the morbidity
      rate of 11.3% in 195 control patients (P < .05). The difference in morbidity was
      due to intensive care-related adverse events (eg, plugged or dislodged
      endotracheal tubes, loss of intravenous access) in 15.3% and 3.6% of transported
      and control patients, respectively (P < .05). Physiologic deterioration occurred
      at similar rates of 7.9% and 8.7% in transported and control patients,
      respectively (P > .05). Slightly greater pre-ICU severity of illness in
      transported than control patients (median Pediatric Risk of Mortality Score = 10
      and 7, respectively, P < .05) and greater pre-ICU therapy relative to severity (P
      < .05) in control patients are potential confounding sources of the morbidity
      differences. If patients are stratified into subgroups of similar pre-ICU
      severity, an excess of intensive care-related adverse events in transported
      patients remains evident in the severe subgroup (P < .05). Further investigation
      is warranted to determine whether specialized transport teams can reduce the
      excess morbidity associated with interhospital transport of critically ill and
      injured pediatric patients.

PMID- 1437431
TI  - Persistent pulmonary hypertension in premature neonates with severe respiratory
      distress syndrome.
AB  - Cardiac catheterization studies have demonstrated that Doppler-derived flow
      velocities in the ductal flow jet and the left pulmonary artery accurately
      predict the aortopulmonary pressure difference and left-to-right shunt size in
      newborns. To assess the presence of persistent pulmonary hypertension in
      premature newborns with various degrees of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)
      severity, we estimated pulmonary artery pressure from the aortopulmonary pressure
      difference and pulmonary blood flow from the left pulmonary artery flow velocity
      with color-flow-directed, pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Seventy-nine premature
      neonates were divided into three groups--no or mild RDS (n = 27), severe RDS (n =
      38), and fatal RDS (n = 14)--and compared with a group of healthy term neonates
      (n = 34). In premature and term neonates with no/mild RDS the mean +/- SEM
      aortopulmonary pressure difference increased from 7.3 +/- 0.4 and 6.6 +/- 0.5 mm
      Hg to 22.8 +/- 1.4 and 21.4 +/- 1.1 mm Hg over the first 24 hours (P < .001). The
      mean aortopulmonary pressure difference was 0.9 +/- 0.3 mm Hg during the first 72
      hours in neonates with fatal RDS, but increased from 1.5 +/- 0.3 mm Hg at 4 hours
      to 7.4 +/- 0.6 at 24 hours and 21.5 +/- 0.7 mm Hg at 72 hours of age in neonates
      with severe RDS. Left pulmonary artery velocity time integrals were 18.3 +/- 0.5
      cm in premature and 18.8 +/- 0.5 cm in term neonates with no/mild RDS at 12 hours
      vs 11.2 +/- 0.4 cm in neonates with severe and 9.9 +/- 0.5 cm in neonates with
      fatal RDS (P < .001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437432
TI  - Relationship of sudden infant death syndrome to maternal smoking during and after
      pregnancy.
AB  - Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is associated with maternal smoking during
      pregnancy. However, the relationship between tobacco exposure during infancy and
      SIDS is unknown. The examination of infants whose mothers smoked only after
      pregnancy will help determine the relationship between passive cigarette exposure
      during infancy and SIDS risk. This case-control analysis used data on normal
      birth weight (> or = 2500 g) infants included in the National Maternal and Infant
      Health Survey, a nationally representative sample of approximately 10,000 births
      and 6000 infant deaths. Infants were assigned to one of three exposure groups:
      maternal smoking during both pregnancy and infancy (combined exposure), maternal
      smoking only during infancy (passive exposure), and no maternal smoking. SIDS
      death was determined from death certificate coding. Logistic regression was used
      to adjust for potentially confounding variables. Infants who died of SIDS were
      more likely to be exposed to maternal cigarette smoke than were surviving
      infants. Among black infants the odds ratio was 2.4 for passive exposure and 2.9
      for combined exposure. Among white infants the odds ratio was 2.2 for passive
      exposure and 4.1 for combined exposure. After adjustment for demographic risk
      factors, the odds ratio for SIDS among normal birth weight infants was
      approximately 2 for passive exposure and 3 for combined exposure for both races.
      These data suggest that both intrauterine and passive tobacco exposure are
      associated with an increased risk of SIDS and are further inducement to encourage
      smoking cessation among pregnant women and families with children.

PMID- 1437433
TI  - Pediatric submersions: prehospital predictors of outcome.
AB  - This retrospective cohort study was conducted to test prehospital prognostic
      indicators in pediatric submersion victims. The authors studied all less than 20
      years old victims submerged in the non-icy waters of King County, WA who were
      treated by Seattle or King County Emergency Medical Services between 1985 and
      1989 and were hospitalized or died. Seventy-seven victims were identified from
      emergency medical services incident logs, hospital discharge records, and medical
      examiner's registries. Outcome predictors were correlated with the victim's
      condition at hospital discharge. Of 29 victims in cardiac arrest, 13 had return
      of spontaneous circulation following field resuscitation. Of these, 6 (21%)
      survived, with mild (n = 2) and severe (n = 4) neurologic impairment at hospital
      discharge. The best outcome predictors were obtained in the field. These were,
      for death or severe neurologic impairment, submersion durations > 10 minutes
      (6/6) and resuscitation durations > 25 minutes (17/17), and for good outcome,
      sinus rhythm (37/37), reactive pupils (43/43), and neurologic responsiveness
      (40/40) at the scene. Field-determined factors were reproducibly good outcome
      predictors. Aggressive emergency medical services may save the lives of pediatric
      victims in cardiac arrest following short submersion durations. The data support
      pronouncing dead in the field those pediatric victims of non-icy submersions who
      do not respond to advanced life support within 25 minutes.

PMID- 1437434
TI  - Outlook for the child with a cephalocele.
AB  - Specific information on the outcome for a child with a cephalocele can be
      difficult to find and interpret. To update outcome information for the child with
      a cephalocele, the investigators compared outcome of 34 infants from their
      institution with that of those in previously published series. For the infants
      from the investigators' institution, overall mortality was 29% and was confined
      to infants with posterior defects, which was consistent with other published
      series. Additional major congenital abnormalities were present in nearly half the
      infants, and these were an important factor in contributing to a poorer prognosis
      as well as whether the defect could be operatively reduced. Seizures and
      hydrocephalus were often secondary problems in those infants who did worse. In
      addressing outlook for the infant with the cephalocele, primary factors to be
      considered are operability and the presence of additional major abnormalities,
      both intracranial and extracranial.

PMID- 1437435
TI  - Efficacy of adding nebulized ipratropium bromide to nebulized albuterol therapy
      in acute bronchiolitis.
AB  - Nebulized ipratropium bromide is though to be synergistic with albuterol in
      therapy for acute childhood asthma. Because the efficacy of ipratropium in
      bronchiolitis is uncertain and some infants with bronchiolitis do not respond to
      nebulized albuterol alone, the following study was undertaken. In this double
      blind, placebo-controlled trial, 69 infants between 6 weeks and 24 months of age
      who exhibited the first episode of acute bronchiolitis were randomly assigned to
      receive either nebulized albuterol (0.15 mg/kg per dose) and ipratropium bromide
      (250 micrograms per dose) (group A, n = 36) or nebulized albuterol and normal
      saline (placebo) (group B, n = 33) for two doses, 1 hour apart. The two groups
      were comparable at baseline. Both therapies resulted in clinically significant
      improvement. However, the addition of ipratropium resulted in no additional
      benefit with respect to decrease in the respiratory rate (mean decreases 10.6/min
      vs decreases 8.6/min, P = .86), accessory muscle score (range 0 through 3)
      (decreases 0.92 vs decreases 0.82, z = -0.44), wheeze score (range 0 through 3)
      (decreases 0.94 vs 0.85, z = -0.20), oxygen saturation (increases 0.25% vs
      increases -0.33%, P = .86), or hospitalization rate (17 vs 10). The number of
      "nonresponders" and "clear responders" was also very similar in both groups. No
      toxicity was noted. The increase in heart rate was mild and similar in both
      groups (increases 6.7 vs increases 11.1). The power of the study to detect a
      difference between the two treatment groups in the respiratory rate change > or =
      8/min is greater than 90%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437436
TI  - Systemic infections due to Streptococcus pneumoniae relatively resistant to
      penicillin in a children's hospital: clinical management and outcome.
AB  - Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates relatively (0.1 microgram/mL < minimum
      inhibitory concentration < or = 1.0 microgram/mL) resistant to penicillin (RRP)
      have been recovered worldwide, but reports of therapy and outcome of systemic
      infections due to these strains are limited. This retrospective study of
      prospectively identified patients reviews the clinical features, management, and
      outcome of 19 children with systemic infections due to S pneumoniae. From January
      1, 1989 to December 31, 1991, 13 of 244 blood (5.3%) and 4 of 32 cerebrospinal
      fluid (12.5%) pneumococcal isolates were relatively resistant to penicillin. The
      serotypes were as follows: 14 (12 isolates), 6 (4 isolates), 19 (2 isolates), 23
      (1 isolates). One peritoneal fluid isolate and one joint fluid isolate were also
      relatively resistant to penicillin. The mean age of the 19 patients was 30 months
      (range 5 to 104 months), and five children had underlying disorders. Eleven
      children (nine inpatients) were treated initially with a parenteral
      cephalosporin. Six patients were treated as outpatients, and all had (occult)
      bacteremia. Three of these patients received ceftriaxone intramuscularly in the
      emergency department; five were treated with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and one
      received amoxicillin. Seven of 13 children treated in the hospital became
      afebrile in 48 hours. Three others were afebrile from the time of admission.
      Repeat blood cultures obtained within 24 to 48 hours after therapy was initiated
      were sterile in 10 children. All but one child responded to initial therapy. The
      recovery of S pneumoniae isolates relatively resistant to penicillin has
      increased in our hospital during the last 3 years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1437437
TI  - Milk production by mothers of premature infants: influence of cigarette smoking.
AB  - The volume of milk produced by mothers who smoked cigarettes (n = 11) and control
      subjects who did not smoke (n = 29) was compared after the delivery of their
      preterm infants (28 to 32 weeks gestation). Milk production was significantly
      less among those who smoked, with or without adjusting for age, race, parity,
      gravidity, weight-for-height, prior nursing experience, customary alcohol and
      caffeine intake, infant birth weight, and pumping frequency. Each mother
      maintained her milk production using an electrical breast pump and without the
      stimulus of her infant suckling at the breast. Daily frequency and duration of
      breast pump usage were similar in the two groups. At 2 weeks postpartum, 24-hour
      milk volumes were 406 +/- 262 mL for mothers who smoked and 514 +/- 338 mL for
      control subjects. Between 2 to 4 weeks postpartum, the mean change in 24-hour
      milk volume (milliliters per 24 hours) of control subjects increased (+113 +/-
      179 mL, P < .005), whereas milk volume of mothers who smoked cigarettes remained
      unchanged (-47 +/- 122 mL, P = .25). The percentage change in milk volume between
      2 and 4 weeks for the combined groups was significantly related to four factors:
      pumping frequency, change in daily pumping frequency, day of initiation of
      pumping, and smoking status. Total and protein nitrogen, lactose, calcium, and
      phosphorous concentrations did not differ in milks from mothers who smoked
      cigarettes and mothers who did not smoke.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437438
TI  - School functioning of US children with asthma.
AB  - Data from the 1988 US National Health Interview Survey on Child Health, a
      nationally representative cross-sectional survey, were used to determine national
      estimates of school outcomes (grade failure, learning disabilities, and
      suspension/expulsion) and mean number of absences for children with asthma (CWA)
      compared to well children without current health conditions. Families indicated
      that 536 (4.9%) of the 10,362 survey children in grades 1 through 12 had had
      asthma in the previous 12 months. Families reported 18% of CWA vs 15% of well
      children had grade failure, 9% of CWA vs 5% of well children had learning
      disabilities, and 5% of CWA vs 6% of well children had been expelled or
      suspended. Children with asthma averaged 7.6 school days absent compared with 2.5
      days for the well group. Multiple logistic regression was used to compare the
      odds of grade failure, learning disabilities, and suspension/expulsion among CWA
      and well children, overall and stratified by income. Similar methods were used to
      assess the role of health status among asthmatic children. After adjustment for
      demographic factors, CWA had similar risks of grade failure and
      suspension/expulsion, but 1.7 times the risk of learning disability compared with
      well children. Also, among families with incomes below $20,000, CWA had twice the
      odds of grade failure compared with well children. For asthmatic children,
      reported health status was an important predictor of learning disability. Ten
      percent of CWA were reported to be in fair-poor health. After adjustment for
      demographic factors, those in fair-poor health were twice as likely to have a
      reported learning disability compared with those in good-excellent
      health.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437439
TI  - Detection of IgM rheumatoid factors by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in
      children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: correlation with articular disease
      and laboratory abnormalities.
AB  - This study was undertaken to determine the clinical relevance of IgM rheumatoid
      factors (RFs) detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in children
      with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) by examining their association with
      severity of acute articular disease. ELISAs for IgM-RF were performed on serum
      specimens from 65 children with JRA. Activity of articular disease was estimated
      by an arbitrary scoring system. Significant differences were seen in articular
      disease activity between the group of children with polyarticular disease who
      were IgM-RF-positive by ELISA compared with those who were IgM-RF-negative (P =
      .0003). When a small group of individual children with polyarticular disease were
      followed longitudinally, similar correlations were found between severity of
      acute disease and the presence of IgM-RFs detected by ELISA. In children with
      pauciarticular JRA, expression of IgM-RFs appeared to be a transient phenomenon
      with no correlation with either articular disease or laboratory abnormalities.

PMID- 1437440
TI  - Epidemiology of juvenile chronic arthritis in southwestern Sweden: a 5-year
      prospective population study.
AB  - Previous epidemiological studies of juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) report
      divergent results owing to differences in diagnostic criteria, patient retrieval,
      and study designs. To investigate incidence and prevalence of JCA in a total
      population, this prospective survey was performed in southwestern Sweden between
      1984 and 1988. Cases were identified using the European League Against Rheumatism
      criteria for JCA and were reported annually from eight pediatric departments and
      local pediatricians in the studied area. During the 5 years, 213 new cases of JCA
      were found, corresponding to an incidence of 54.6 per 100,000 children younger
      than 16 years of age. The average annual incidence was 10.9 per 100,000. The peak
      incidence rate, 18.3 per 100,000 was found in girls 0 through 3 years old. The
      lowest incidence rate, 6.4 per 100,000, was found among boys 12 through 15 years
      old. In December 1988, 334 cases of JCA were recorded, giving a prevalence of
      86.3 per 100,000. When patients in remission were omitted the prevalence was 64.1
      per 100,000. The monoarticular+pauciarticular onset type constituted 68.3% of the
      prevalence cases, while 21.9 were polyarticular and 6.6% had systemic onset. To
      avoid underestimation of incidence and prevalence, and to get a correct picture
      of disease patterns, epidemiological surveys of JCA should be population-based
      rather than referral center-based. Further descriptive studies of JCA in
      different well-defined geographic areas are important to make valid comparisons.
      Such comparisons could give clues to etiological factors, both genetic and
      environmental.

PMID- 1437441
TI  - Database use in neonatal intensive care units: success or failure.
AB  - The purpose of this national survey was to define the extent and features of
      database use by 445 tertiary level neonatal intensive care nurseries in the
      United States. Of the 305 centers responding to our survey, 78% had a database in
      use in 1989 and 15% planned to develop one in the future. Nurseries varied
      remarkably in the volume of data collected, the amount of time devoted to
      completing data collection forms, and the personnel involved in data collection.
      Although data were used primarily for statistical reports (93% of nurseries),
      quality assurance (73%) and research activities (61%) were also enhanced by
      database information. Neonatal databases were used to generate reports for the
      permanent medical record in 38% of centers. Satisfaction with the database was
      dependent on how useful the database information was to centers which collected
      and actually used a large volume of information. Overall, nurseries expressed a
      high degree of confidence in the data they collected, and 65% felt their neonatal
      database information could be used directly in publication of research. It was
      disturbing that accuracy of data was not monitored formally by the majority of
      nurseries. Only 27% of centers followed a routine schedule of data quality
      assurance, and only 53% had built in error messages for data entry. We caution
      all who receive database information in the form of morbidity and mortality
      statistics, clinical reports on patients cared for in neonatal units, and
      published manuscripts to be attentive to the quality of the data they consume. We
      feel that future database design efforts need to better address data quality
      control. Our findings stress the importance and need for immediate efforts to
      better address database quality control.

PMID- 1437442
TI  - Pyogenic granulomas of infancy masquerading as strawberry hemangiomas.

PMID- 1437443
TI  - Tocopherol levels in infants < or = 1000 grams receiving MVI pediatric.

PMID- 1437444
TI  - Even advantaged children show cognitive deficits from low-level lead toxicity.

PMID- 1437445
TI  - How much resuscitation is enough resuscitation?

PMID- 1437446
TI  - Pediatrics and the Patient Self-Determination Act.

PMID- 1437447
TI  - Is science good for the soul?

PMID- 1437448
TI  - Stimulus mislocalization depends on spatial frequency.
AB  - It was previously reported that briefly presented peripheral stimuli are
      perceived closer to fixation than continuously presented stimuli at the same
      eccentricity; this effect has, however, not proved consistently replicable. In
      this study it was investigated whether the misperception of location might depend
      upon the spatial frequency content of the stimulus. Spatial-frequency-filtered
      vertical bars were displayed briefly and their locations were judged relative to
      continuously visible comparison spots. For monocular stimuli, a significant
      foveopetal mislocalization of the bar was obtained that increased in size as
      spatial frequency was lowered. Even larger mislocalizations were obtained for
      dichoptically presented horizontally disparate pairs of bars, and this effect
      also increased at low spatial frequencies. Possible underlying mechanisms are
      discussed, and spatial frequency is suggested to have been the confounding factor
      in previous studies.

PMID- 1437449
TI  - Asymmetric interactions in the processing of the visual dimensions of position,
      width, and contrast of bar stimuli.
AB  - The processing of different dimensions of a single stimulus may be either
      integral or separable. Dimensions are called integral if correlated variation of
      one improves discrimination on the basis of the other and random variation of one
      interferes with discrimination on the basis of the other. For separable
      dimensions on the other hand, subjects can attend to one dimension and disregard
      variations in the other. These discrimination tests were used to find the
      interactions between the processing of the visual dimensions of position, width,
      and contrast of a light bar stimulus. The relations between these dimensions were
      found to be asymmetric: judgments of position and width are independent of
      contrast variations, but variations in these dimensions influence contrast
      discriminations. Furthermore, position variations influence width judgements more
      than vice versa. The data were analyzed for repetition effects, and it was found
      that this model is not sufficient to explain all the interaction phenomena. The
      asymmetries found may be related to the different ways these dimensions are
      mapped onto cortical neuron responses.

PMID- 1437450
TI  - Neon flank and illusory contour: interaction between the two processes leads to
      color filling-in.
AB  - Two aspects of neon color spreading, local color spreading (neon flank) and
      illusory contour, were investigated by dichoptic viewing. Neon flank was not
      observed under appropriate dichoptic stimulation, suggesting that input to the
      process for local color spreading is based on monocular configuration. However,
      illusory contours were formed according to the interocularly combined
      configuration rather than according to each monocular configuration, suggesting
      that input to the process responsible for illusory contours should be ocularly
      nonselective and binocular, rather than monocular. The possibilities of artifacts
      such as those arising from interocular rivalry were appropriately eliminated, and
      thus, it is tentatively concluded that the process underlying local color
      spreading is monocularly driven, whereas the process underlying illusory contours
      is binocularly driven. Furthermore, a new demonstration is presented that
      indicates that interocularly-induced illusory contours 'capture' and extend the
      monocularly-induced local color spreading, resulting in global color spreading
      (neon color spreading). These results support our hypotheses that neon color
      spreading involves two separable processes in the early visual processing, the
      feature detection process (for local color spreading) and the illusory contour
      process, and that these two processes interact with each other at later stages of
      cortical processing. The relation of local color spreading and illusory contours
      to surface separation is also discussed.

PMID- 1437451
TI  - Amodal completion, depth stratification, and illusory figures: a test of
      Kanizsa's explanation.
AB  - Subjective contours have been explained by Kanizsa as being a consequence of
      amodal completion of incomplete figures. According to the theory of amodal
      completion, figural incompleteness triggers the emergence of an illusory object
      superimposed on the gaps in the inducers, which in turn hide parts of the
      pattern, thus suggesting that the plane of the illusory object must always be
      seen to be above the plane of the inducers. A figure was created in which
      subjective contours are seen despite the fact that the perceived depth
      relationships run counter to that required by the theory of amodal completion. In
      four experiments, this depth relationship is confirmed by using direct and
      indirect measures which assess both registered and apprehended depth. By
      emphasizing a logical inconsistency in the explanation based on amodal
      completion, the results show that amodal completion, at least in Kanizsa-like
      patterns, cannot be considered as a causal factor for subjective contour figures.

PMID- 1437452
TI  - Linear vection in the central visual field facilitated by kinetic depth cues.
AB  - Illusory self-motion (vection) is thought to be determined by motion in the
      peripheral visual field, whereas stimulation of more central retinal areas
      results in object-motion perception. Recent data suggest that vection can be
      produced by stimulation of the central visual field provided it is configured as
      a more distant surface. In this study vection strength (tracking speed, onset
      latency, and the percentage of trials where vection was experienced) and the
      direction of self-motion produced by displays moving in the central visual field
      were investigated. Apparent depth, introduced by using kinetic occlusion
      information, influenced vection strength. Central displays perceived to be in the
      background elicited stronger vection than identical displays appearing in the
      foreground. Further, increasing the eccentricity of these displays from the
      central retina diminished vection strength. If the central and peripheral
      displays were moved in opposite directions, vection strength was unaffected, and
      the direction of vection was determined by motion of the central display on
      almost half of the trials when the centre was far. Near centres produced fewer
      centre-consistent responses. A complete understanding of linear vection requires
      that factors such as display size, retinal locus, and apparent depth plane are
      considered.

PMID- 1437453
TI  - Orientation selectivity in infancy: behavioural evidence for temporal
      sensitivity.
AB  - One-month-old infants were tested with a habituation-recovery paradigm to
      determine whether they could discriminate phase-shifting grating patterns that
      switched between two orientations, three or eight times a second, from grating
      patterns that only shifted in phase. The infants were found to discriminate
      patterns switching orientation at the lower temporal rate of 3 reversals s-1, but
      not 8 reversals s-1. This finding supports the idea that orientation-selective
      mechanisms improve in their temporal sensitivity during early infancy. Where they
      can be compared, the results from behavioural and electrophysiological studies
      agree as to the course of this development.

PMID- 1437454
TI  - Gaze angle explanations of the induced effect.
AB  - Mayhew and Longuet-Higgins formulated a computational explanation of the induced
      effect which successfully predicts the conditions under which the induced effect
      will occur. Underlying their theories are the assumptions that disparity
      information is separated into horizontal and vertical components and that the
      vertical disparities are used to calculate the gaze angles. An implementation of
      the fusional explanation introduced by Petrov makes similar predictions for the
      induced effect, but does not depend on these two assumptions.

PMID- 1437455
TI  - The effect of defocusing the image on the perception of the temporal order of
      flashing lights.
AB  - The temporal interval between flashing lights that is required to perceive
      nonsimultaneity decreases as the refractive error increases from 0 to +2
      diopters. The interval then remains constant with further increases to 3 and 4
      diopters. The results are discussed in terms of the relative increase of
      transient to sustained visual channels and of the increase in apparent movement.

PMID- 1437456
TI  - Recognising faces: effects of lighting direction, inversion, and brightness
      reversal.
AB  - When information about three-dimensional shape obtained from shading and shadows
      is ambiguous, the visual system favours an interpretation of surface geometry
      which is consistent with illumination from above. If pictures of top-lit faces
      are rotated the resulting stimulus is both figurally inverted and illuminated
      from below. In this study the question of whether the effects of figural
      inversion and lighting orientation on face recognition are independent or
      interactive is addressed. Although there was a clear inversion effect for faces
      illuminated from the front and above, the inversion effect was found to be
      reduced or eliminated for faces illuminated from below. A strong inversion effect
      for photographic negatives was also found but in this case the effect was not
      dependent on the direction of illumination. These findings are interpreted as
      evidence to suggest that lighting faces from below disrupts the formation of
      surface-based representations of facial shape.

PMID- 1437457
TI  - A case of a dual frame of reference.
AB  - It is demonstrated that observers may relate to two parts of the same object by
      using two different frames of reference. Subjects were asked to indicate
      directions within a model of a hallway in which signs were posted on a single
      prism. The majority of subjects interpreted a sign frontally facing them as
      indicating the direction which is ahead of them, yet they interpreted an adjacent
      sign that was slanted with respect to the frontal plane as indicating a direction
      which is at the same side of the line of sight as the sign is. This manifests a
      mixture of an egocentric and an object-centred frame of reference, that is
      reminiscent of the mixture of local spatial interpretations in impossible
      pictures. It is suggested that frames of reference are not necessarily unique in
      a given percept, and that they are not derived from a global computation.

PMID- 1437458
TI  - Sighting-down and the Poggendorff illusion: a mystery within a mystery.
AB  - As reported before, sighting-down one of the diagonal lines on a typical
      Poggendorff pattern will reduce the illusion even if that situation is only
      pictorial. But here it is also argued that sighting-down itself requires further
      understanding.

PMID- 1437459
TI  - The first pictures: perceptual foundations of Paleolithic art.
AB  - Paleolithic representational art has a number of consistent characteristics: the
      subjects are almost always animals, depicted without scenic background, usually
      in profile, and mostly in outline; the means of representation are extremely
      economical, often consisting of only a few strokes that indicate the salient
      features of the animal which are sufficient to suggest the whole form; and it is
      naturalistic to a degree, but lacks anything like photographic realism. Two
      elementary questions are raised in this essay: (i) why did the earliest known
      attempts at depiction have just these characteristics and not others? and (ii)
      how are objects so minimally represented recognizable? The answers seem to lie
      with certain fundamental features of visual perception, especially figure-ground
      distinction, Gestalt principles of closure and good continuation, line surrogacy,
      component feature analysis, and canonical imaging. In the earliest pictures the
      graphic means used are such that they evoke the same visual responses as those
      involved in the perception of real-world forms, but eschew redundancies of color,
      texture, linear perspective, and completeness of representation.

PMID- 1437460
TI  - Spectral content as a cue to perceived auditory distance.
AB  - Changes in the spectral content of wide-band auditory stimuli have been
      repeatedly implicated as a possible cue to the distance of a sound source. Few of
      the previous studies of this factor, however, have considered whether the cue
      provided by spectral content serves as an absolute or a relative cue. That is,
      can differences in spectral content indicate systematic differences in distance
      even on their first presentation to a listener, or must the listener be able to
      compare sounds with one another in order to perceive some change in their
      distances? An attempt to answer this question and simultaneously to evaluate the
      possibly confounding influence of changes in the sound level and/or the loudness
      of the stimuli are described in this paper. The results indicate that a decrease
      in high-frequency content (as might physically be produced by passage through a
      greater amount of air) can lead to increases in perceived auditory distance, but
      only when compared with similar sounds having a somewhat different high-frequency
      content, ie spectral information can serve as a relative cue for auditory
      distance, independent of changes in overall sound level.

PMID- 1437461
TI  - Traffic lights.

PMID- 1437462
TI  - Perspective, orientation disparity, and anisotropy in stereoscopic slant
      perception.
AB  - Stereoscopic depth estimates are not predictable from the geometry of point
      disparities. The configural properties of surfaces (surface contours) may play an
      important role in determining, for example, slant responses to a disparity
      gradient, and the marked anisotropy in favour of slant around a horizontal axis.
      It has been argued that variation in slant magnitude are attributable to the
      degree of perspective conflict present and that anisotropy is attributable to
      orientation disparity, which varies with the axis of slant. Three experiments
      were conducted in which configural properties were varied to try and tease apart
      the respective roles of orientation disparity and conflicting perspective in
      determining stereoscopic slant perception and slant axis anisotropy. The results
      could not be accounted for by the magnitude of the orientation disparities
      present. Conflicting perspective cues appeared to play a role but only for slant
      around a vertical axis. It was concluded that there are important configural
      effects in stereopsis attributable neither to orientation disparity nor to
      perspective.

PMID- 1437463
TI  - Convergent and divergent perspective.
AB  - Use of divergent (or inverse) perspective in pictures is often regarded as
      arbitrary or even as erroneous in spite of the fact that entire schools of art
      exist in which this kind of perspective is regularly used. An experiment is
      reported which shows that a significant trend towards divergent perspective is
      experienced by subjects viewing laterally displaced three-dimensional arrays.
      Centrally viewed arrays show the expected perceptual convergence. It is therefore
      argued that divergent perspective, under appropriate conditions, is as
      perceptually legitimate an experience as convergent perspective.

PMID- 1437464
TI  - Spatial gating effects on judged motion of gratings in apertures.
AB  - Wallach has described in qualitative terms the movement of lines behind
      apertures. We related the data he obtained to the aperture problem, constructed a
      model of movement perception, and carried out tests of the model. Experiment 1
      was a parametric study, and showed the conditions under which a reliable illusion
      (the barber pole illusion) of diagonal movement of lines along an aperture could
      be obtained, and when fluctuating judgements or veridical percepts were obtained.
      On the basis of this study a dipole model was constructed. The model was further
      developed and tested. In experiment 2 the effects of total area of stimulation
      were examined: diagonal gratings were viewed behind multiple apertures. In
      experiment 3 the effects of local signs were examined: diagonal gratings were
      viewed in an aperture which had edges cut in small steps and stairs, with the
      risers parallel to the grating, and the treads parallel to the direction of
      motion of the grating. Experiment 4 was designed to test a prediction about the
      motion aftereffect of dots near and far from the point of fixation, and the
      results confirmed the model. It was concluded that the model accounts for the
      barber pole illusion and, generally, for the movement of gratings in apertures.

PMID- 1437465
TI  - Curvature is a basic feature for visual search tasks.
AB  - A curved target can be found efficiently among straight distractors in a visual
      search task. This could reflect the status of curvature as a basic feature for
      visual search. Alternatively, curvature could be detected as a locus of high
      variation in orientation. In a series of experiments it is shown that efficient
      search for curvature is possible even if local variation in orientation is
      eliminated as a cue. This suggests that curvature is part of the set of basic
      features for visual search and that this set is derived relatively late in the
      course of visual processing.

PMID- 1437466
TI  - Seeing lumps, sticks, and slabs in silhouettes.
AB  - Marr has suggested that we see three-dimensional (3-D) shapes in silhouettes
      because we make the implicit assumption that the viewed shapes are generalized
      cones. One difficulty with this suggestion is that it cannot deal with
      silhouettes of irregular 3-D shapes like clouds and trees; another is that it
      only applies to generalized cones with a relatively high length:width ratio. An
      alternative explanation, suggested by evidence from cross-cultural studies of
      language, from children's early speech, and from children's early drawings, is
      that the scene primitives actually used by humans are not generalized cones but
      'lumps', 'sticks', and 'slabs', that is, primitives whose only shape properties
      are their relative extensions in 3-D space. In this paper it is proposed that the
      implicit assumption we make in interpreting silhouettes is that the extendedness
      of the silhouette reflects the extendedness of the viewed shape, so that a round
      region is seen as a lump and a long region is seen as a stick; and that such
      views seem "natural" because they are the views most likely to be encountered in
      normal environments. This account is more general than that of Marr because it
      explains how we interpret silhouettes of all kinds of 3-D shapes, even very
      irregular ones. Unlike Marr's account, it also deals with flat shapes like slabs
      and discs, and shows why it is difficult to see these shapes in silhouettes.

PMID- 1437467
TI  - Use of preferential inspection to define the viewing sphere and characteristic
      views of an arbitrary machined tool part.
AB  - Measurements were made of the way human subjects visually inspected an idealized
      machined tool part (a 'widget') while learning the three-dimensional shape of the
      object. Subjects were free to rotate the object about any axis. Inspection was
      not evenly distributed across all views. Subjects focused on views where the
      faces of the object were orthogonal to the line of sight and the edges of the
      object were aligned parallel or at right angles to the gravitational axis. These
      'face' or 'plan' views were also the easiest for subjects to bring to mind in a
      mental imagery task. By contrast, when subjects were instructed to imagine the
      views displaying the most structural information they visualized views lying
      midway between face views.

PMID- 1437468
TI  - Serial pattern complexity: irregularity and hierarchy.
AB  - In perception research, various models have been designed for the encoding of,
      for example, visual patterns, in order to predict the human interpretation of
      such patterns. Each of these encoding models provides a few coding rules to
      obtain codes for a pattern, each code expressing regularity and hierarchy in that
      pattern. Some of these models employ the minimum principle which states that the
      human interpretation of a pattern is reflected by the simplest code for that
      pattern, ie the simplest code according to a given complexity metric. In this
      paper a new complexity metric is proposed. This metric is based on a formal
      analysis of the concept of regularity. Some conclusions of this analysis are
      sketched. The new metric does not depend on artifacts of the coding rules. It
      accounts for the amounts of irregularity and hierarchy as represented in a code
      of a pattern, such that these two amounts can be added to determine the
      complexity of a code. An experiment is discussed that shows that the new metric
      performs significantly better than the metrics used previously. In particular,
      the new metric predicts more local pattern organizations than the old metrics.
      This implies that various local pattern organizations do not falsify the minimum
      principle anymore.

PMID- 1437469
TI  - Attention and interference in prospective and retrospective timing.
AB  - Subjects listened to a series of musical selections and then judged the duration
      of each selection. Some subjects were informed beforehand that timing was
      involved (prospective timing) whereas others were informed afterwards
      (retrospective timing). Half the groups performed a concurrent proofreading task
      during stimulus presentation. The results showed a trade-off between temporal and
      nontemporal task performance: prospective-timing groups were more accurate in
      judging time and were worse at proofreading, whereas retrospective-timing groups
      were relatively poor at judging time but better at proofreading. This pattern is
      consistent with Michon's notion of an essential equivalence between temporal and
      nontemporal processing, and supports the predictions of an attentional allocation
      model of timing. The proofreading task interfered both with prospective and with
      retrospective timing, and both types of time judgments were influenced in the
      same way by effects of stimulus context. These results imply that similar timing
      processes operate under prospective and retrospective conditions.

PMID- 1437470
TI  - Feature analysis and the role of similarity in preattentive vision.
AB  - Texture arrays of line elements at various orientations were used to study three
      phenomena of preattentive vision. Subjects were asked (1) to discriminate texture
      areas and to distinguish their form (experiments on texture segmentation); (2) to
      detect salient or vertical line elements (experiments on pop-out); and (3) to
      identify configurations of similar or or dissimilar targets (experiments on
      grouping). Within the patterns, line orientation was systematically varied to
      distinguish the effect of differences between areas from the effect of similarity
      within areas. In all of the experiments, performance was found to depend on local
      orientation contrast at texture borders rather than on the analysis of line
      orientation itself. Texture areas were correctly identified only when the
      orientation contrast at the border well exceeded the overall variation of line
      orientation in the pattern. Similarly, only target elements with high local
      orientation contrast were detected fast and "in parallel". Targets with an
      orientation contrast lower than background variation required serial search.
      Preattentive grouping was found to depend on saliency, as defined by local
      orientation contrast, but not on the similarity of line elements. In addition to
      local orientation contrast, which played an important role in all of the visual
      phenomena studied, influences from the alignment of line elements with the
      outline of a figure were also seen.

PMID- 1437471
TI  - The effects of experimental variables on the perception of American English /r/
      and /l/ by Japanese listeners.
AB  - The effects of variations in response categories, subjects' perception of natural
      speech, and stimulus range on the identification of American English /r/ and /l/
      by native speakers of Japanese were investigated. Three experiments using a
      synthesized /rait/-/lait/ series showed that all these variables affected
      identification and discrimination performance by Japanese subjects. Furthermore,
      some of the perceptual characteristics of /r/ and /l/ for Japanese listeners were
      clarified: (1) Japanese listeners identified some of the stimuli of the series as
      /w/. (2) A positive correlation between the perception of synthesized stimuli and
      naturally spoken stimuli was found. Japanese listeners who were able to easily
      identify naturally spoken stimuli perceived the synthetic series categorically
      but still perceived a /w/ category on the series. (3) The stimulus range showed a
      striking effect on identification consistency; identification of /r/ and /l/ was
      strongly affected by the stimulus range, the /w/ identification less so. This
      indicates that Japanese listeners tend to make relative judgments between /r/ and
      /l/.

PMID- 1437472
TI  - On the relation between auditory spatial attention and auditory perceptual
      asymmetries.
AB  - Laterality investigators have typically interpreted any perceptual asymmetry as a
      direct expression of the functional organization of the brain. However, many
      other confounding factors, including the asymmetric distribution of attention,
      may also contribute to either the magnitude or the direction of any of these
      advantages. In two experiments, attention was manipulated in a dichotic listening
      paradigm by presenting a preexposural tone cue to the ear from which the subject
      was required to report. The time available to orient attention was manipulated by
      varying the time period between the onset of the cue and the onset of the trial
      (stimulus onset asynchrony, or SOA). Results indicated that a right ear advantage
      for the identification of verbal material obtained at a 150-msec SOA was almost
      completely eliminated at an SOA of 450 msec. In addition, the direction of the
      ear advantage for emotion identification was found to depend on task difficulty.
      A left ear advantage, apparent when task difficulty was minimal, was reversed to
      a right ear advantage when difficulty was increased. These data are taken as
      evidence that, when subjects are faced with a difficult dichotic task, there is a
      general tendency for right-handed subjects to bias their attention toward the
      right ear. Such a tendency is shown not only to have likely seriously compromised
      the results of past investigations of functional perceptual asymmetries but also
      to be inconsistent with previously proposed theories of dichotic listening
      performance.

PMID- 1437473
TI  - Coherence and transparency of moving plaids composed of Fourier and non-Fourier
      gratings.
AB  - We examined the perceptual coherence of two-component moving plaids. The gratings
      that constituted the plaids were either standard Fourier gratings (F), in which
      luminance was determined by a drifting sinusoid, or non-Fourier gratings (NF), in
      which the contrast of a random background was modulated by a drifting sinusoid.
      These NF gratings are examples of stimuli that generate a compelling percept of
      motion, even though they fail to elicit a motion signal from motion analyzers
      based on standard cross-correlation (Chubb & Sperling, 1988). Naive observers
      viewed three types of stimuli consisting of superpositions of these two
      components: (1) two standard drifting gratings (F/F), (2) two non-Fourier
      drifting gratings (NF/NF), and (3) one standard and one non-Fourier drifting
      grating (F/NF). As expected, the F/F stimulus yielded a compelling percept of
      coherent motion. The dominant percept of all the observers for the NF/NF stimulus
      was one of coherent motion, provided that both gratings were visible and of
      approximately equal contrast. None of the observers reported a dominant percept
      of coherent motion for the F/NF condition, over a wide range of contrasts for the
      two grating components and across two varieties of NF gratings. In view of the
      results of Albright (1992) and Albright and Chaudhuri (1989), that show that
      single cells in macaque V1 and MT respond to both F and NF motion, one cannot
      interpret our findings as evidence that F and NF motion are processed
      independently. Alternative, "higher level" interpretations based on the
      intrinsically ambiguous nature of the stimuli and physical laws governing the
      appearance of transparent objects are discussed.

PMID- 1437475
TI  - Information tradeoffs in complex stimulus structure: local and global levels in
      naturalistic scenes.
AB  - An information tradeoff is an increased processing or utilization of information
      from one stimulus source at the expense of processing or utilization of
      information from a different source. An experiment was conducted to determine
      whether information tradeoffs occurred when subjects attended selectively to one
      of two different structural levels of naturalistic scenes. The subjects'
      attentional focus was directed to either the global or local structure of a scene
      (i.e., the scene or an object in the scene, respectively) either before or after
      presentation of a scene. They then had to use the information obtained from a 100
      msec exposure of the scene to choose between two forced-choice alternatives that
      described one of the levels. The nature of the alternatives was such that both
      alternatives adequately characterized one of the structural levels on the basis
      of physical and semantic relations within the scene. Results showed that the
      subjects were significantly slower and less accurate when their attentional focus
      and the forced-choice alternatives were at different levels of stimulus structure
      than when they were at the same level, providing evidence of an information
      tradeoff when different types of information from a scene were used. When
      processing information from a particular structural level, information from the
      other level either was less available or was not used efficiently. Furthermore,
      the information tradeoffs were more severe in the precue than in the postcue
      condition, indicating differences in the efficiency of the selectivity process.
      The results are interpreted with respect to the role of selective attention in
      processing complex stimuli such as naturalistic scenes.

PMID- 1437474
TI  - Properties of the recombination of one-dimensional motion signals into a pattern
      motion signal.
AB  - We have examined the human ability to determine the direction of movement of a
      variety of plaid patterns. The plaids were composed of two orthogonal sine-wave
      gratings. When the plaid components are of unequal spatial frequency or sometimes
      of unequal contrast, observers judge the direction of movement incorrectly. In
      terms of the two-stage model of Adelson and Movshon (1982), these errors may
      result from either a misjudgment in the perceived speeds of each of the
      components or a failure in the combination of one-dimensional component movements
      into a coherent direction of motion of the two-dimensional plaid pattern, or
      both. A comparison of the perceived direction of motion of plaids with the
      relative perceived speeds of the plaid component gratings suggest that both
      failures occur, but in different circumstances. The relative perceived speed of
      the plaid components was measured with a spatial and a temporal forced-choice
      technique, the former leading to larger differences. Our results support the
      notion that the visual system decomposes a moving plaid into oriented components
      and subsequently recombines the component motions.

PMID- 1437477
TI  - Visual and nonvisual information disambiguate surfaces specified by motion
      parallax.
AB  - Motion parallax has been shown to be an effective and unambiguous source of
      information about the structure of three-dimensional (3-D) surfaces, both when an
      observer makes lateral movements with respect to a stationary surface and when
      the surface translates with respect to a stationary observer (Rogers & Graham,
      1979). When the same pattern of relative motions among parts of the simulated
      surface is presented to a stationary observer on an unmoving monitor, the
      perceived corrugations are unstable with respect to the direction of the peaks
      and troughs. The lack of ambiguity in the original demonstrations could be due to
      the presence of (1) non-visual information (proprioceptive and vestibular
      signals) produced when the observer moves or tracks a moving surface, and/or (2)
      additional optic flow information available in the whole array. To distinguish
      between these two possibilities, we measured perceived ambiguity in simulated 3-D
      surfaces in situations where either nonvisual information or one of four kinds of
      visual information was present. Both visual and nonvisual information were
      effective in disambiguating the direction of depth within the simulated surface.
      Real perspective shape transformations affecting the elements of the display were
      most effective in disambiguating the display.

PMID- 1437476
TI  - The effect of amplitude comodulation on auditory object formation in sentence
      perception.
AB  - To comprehend speech in most environments, listeners must combine some but not
      all sounds from across a wide range of frequencies. Three experiments were
      conducted to examine the role of amplitude comodulation in performing an
      essential part of this function: the grouping together of the simultaneous
      components of a speech signal. Each of the experiments used time-varying
      sinusoidal (TVS) sentences (Remez, Rubin, Pisoni, & Carrell, 1981) as base
      stimuli because their component tones are acoustically unrelated. The
      independence of the three tones reduced the number of confounding grouping cues
      available compared with those found in natural or computer-synthesized speech
      (e.g., fundamental frequency and simultaneity of harmonic onset). In each of the
      experiments, the TVS base stimuli were amplitude modulated to determine whether
      this modulation would lead to appropriate grouping of the three tones as
      reflected by sentence intelligibility. Experiment 1 demonstrated that amplitude
      comodulation at 100 Hz did improve the intelligibility of TVS sentences.
      Experiment 2 showed that the component tones of a TVS sentence must be
      comodulated (as opposed to independently modulated) for improvements in
      intelligibility to be found. Experiment 3 showed that the comodulation rates that
      led to intelligibility improvements were consistent with the effective rates
      found in experiments that examined the grouping of complex nonspeech sounds by
      common temporal envelopes (e.g., comodulation masking release; Hall, Haggard, &
      Fernandes, 1984). The results of these experiments support the claim that certain
      basic temporal-envelope processing capabilities of the human auditory system
      contribute to the perception of fluent speech.

PMID- 1437478
TI  - Salience of stimulus and response features in choice-reaction tasks.
AB  - A pattern of differential reaction time (RT) benefits obtained in spatial
      precuing tasks has been attributed to translation processes that operate on
      mental codes formed to represent the stimulus and response sets. According to the
      salient-features coding principle, the codes are based on the salient stimulus
      and response features, with RTs being fastest when the two sets of features
      correspond. Three experiments are reported in which the stimulus and response
      sets were manipulated using Gestalt grouping principles. In the first two
      experiments, stimuli and responses were grouped according to spatial proximity,
      whereas in the last experiment, they were grouped according to similarity. With
      both types of manipulations, the grouping of the stimulus set systematically
      affected the pattern of precuing benefits. Thus, in these experiments, the
      organization of the stimulus set was the primary determinant of the features
      selected for coding the stimulus and response sets in the translation process.

PMID- 1437479
TI  - Discrimination tests of visually influenced syllables.
AB  - In the McGurk effect, perception of audiovisually discrepant syllables can depend
      on auditory, visual, or a combination of audiovisual information. Under some
      conditions, visual information can override auditory information to the extent
      that identification judgments of a visually influenced syllable can be as
      consistent as for an analogous audiovisually compatible syllable. This might
      indicate that visually influenced and analogous audiovisually compatible
      syllables are phonetically equivalent. Experiments were designed to test this
      issue using a compelling visually influenced syllable in an AXB matching
      paradigm. Subjects were asked to match an audio syllable/va/either to an
      audiovisually consistent syllable (audio/va/-video/fa/) or an audiovisually
      discrepant syllable (audio/ba/-video/fa/). It was hypothesized that if the two
      audiovisual syllables were phonetically equivalent, then subjects should choose
      them equally often in the matching task. Results show, however, that subjects are
      more likely to match the audio/va/ to the audiovisually consistent/va/,
      suggesting differences in phonetic convincingness. Additional experiments further
      suggest that this preference is not based on a phonetically extraneous dimension
      or on noticeable relative audiovisual discrepancies.

PMID- 1437480
TI  - Effects of context on sweet and bitter tastes: unrelated to sensitivity to PROP
      (6-n-propylthiouracil).
AB  - In a double-shifting context paradigm, subjects gave magnitude estimates of the
      perceived intensity of qualitatively dissimilar taste substances (saccharin and
      quinine, sucrose and quinine) or qualitatively similar ones (saccharin and
      sucrose), with each pair of substances taking on different contextual sets of
      concentrations in different sessions. The dissimilar pairs produced substantial
      differential effects of context (e.g., a particular concentration of saccharin or
      sucrose was judged more intense than a particular quinine in one contextual
      setting, less intense in another), but the similar pair did not. This result
      accords with the hypothesis that differential context effects depend on
      qualitative similarity. Contrary to expectations, however, the magnitude of the
      context effect did not differ in tasters and nontasters of the bitter substance 6
      n-propylthiouracil (PROP), groups previously shown to differ in sensitivity to
      bitterness in saccharin. Similarity judgments suggest that saccharin and sucrose
      were qualitatively alike for all subjects, regardless of sensitivity to PROP.

PMID- 1437481
TI  - Surface perception in pictures.
AB  - Subjects adjusted a local gauge figure such as to perceptually "fit" the apparent
      surfaces of objects depicted in photographs. We obtained a few hundred data
      points per session, covering the picture according to a uniform lattice. Settings
      were repeated 3 times for each of 3 subjects. Almost all of the variability
      resided in the slant; the relative spread in the slant was about 25% (Weber
      fraction). The tilt was reproduced with a typical spread of about 10 degrees. The
      rank correlation of the slant settings of different observers was high, thus the
      slant settings of different subjects were monotonically related. The variability
      could be predicted from the scatter in repeated settings by the individual
      observers. Although repeated settings by a single observer agreed within 5%,
      observers did not agree on the value of the slant, even on the average. Scaling
      factors of a doubling in the depth dimension were encountered between different
      subjects. The data conformed quite well to some hypothetical fiducial global
      surface, the orientation of which was "probed" by the subject's local settings.
      The variability was completely accounted for by single-observer scatter. These
      conclusions are based upon an analysis of the internal structure of the local
      settings. We did not address the problem of veridicality, that is, conformity to
      some "real object."

PMID- 1437482
TI  - The differentiation of rhythmic structure.
AB  - Listeners judged whether two five-tone nonmetric rhythms were the same or
      different. Each rhythm was presented one, two, or four times to study the process
      of perceptual differentiation. The results indicated that the listeners perceived
      these rhythms in terms of the grouping of the tones, and not in terms of the
      timing between the groups. Two rhythms that had the same perceptual grouping were
      judged as being identical, even if the timing between the groups was different.
      The perception of the groupings of tones developed gradually. If each rhythm was
      presented only once, then the listeners had only a global percept, focused on
      groups (runs) of three elements, and often judged two different rhythms as being
      identical. If the rhythms were presented two or four times, then the grouping of
      the tones became more differentiated and the listeners were less likely to judge
      different patterns as being identical. Thus, perception of auditory rhythmic
      structure appears to follow the same developmental process as the perception of
      visual spatial structure.

PMID- 1437483
TI  - Temporal factors in the discrimination of coherent motion.
AB  - When observers view the relative movements of a pair of bars defined by the
      difference of spatial Gaussian functions (DOGs), they can accurately discriminate
      coherent movements over a range of temporal frequencies and temporal
      asynchronies. Of particular interest is the fact that performance accuracy is
      maintained even when the two bars differ in spatial-frequency content and
      contrast. On each trial, observers viewed two brief presentation intervals in
      which a pair of vertically oriented DOGs moved randomly back and forth within a
      restricted range. During one observation interval, both elements moved in the
      same direction and by the same magnitude (correlated), and in the other interval,
      the movements were independent (uncorrelated). Temporal asynchronies were
      introduced by delaying the displacement of the right bar relative to that of the
      left bar in each interval. Observers were able to discriminate correlated versus
      uncorrelated movements up to a 45-60-msec temporal delay between the two
      elements' relative displacements. If motion processing is accomplished by
      mechanisms operating over multiple spatial and temporal scales, the visual
      system's tolerance of temporal delays among correlated signals may facilitate
      their space-time integration, thereby capitalizing on the perceptual utility of
      coherent-motion information for image segmentation and interpolating surface
      structure from the movements of spatially separated features.

PMID- 1437484
TI  - Infants' responsiveness to the auditory and visual attributes of a
      sounding/moving stimulus.
AB  - Responses to unimodal and multimodal attributes of a compound auditory/visual
      stimulus were investigated in 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-month-old infants. First,
      infants were habituated to a compound stimulus consisting of a visual stimulus
      that moved up and down on a video monitor and a sound that occurred each time the
      visual stimulus reversed direction at the bottom. Once each infant met a
      habituation criterion, a series of test trials was administered to assess
      responsiveness to the components of the compound stimulus. Response was defined
      as the total duration of visual fixation in each trial. In the two unimodal test
      trials, the rate at which the component was presented was changed while the rate
      of the other component remained the same, whereas in the bimodal test trial the
      rate of both components was changed simultaneously. Results indicated that
      infants at each age successfully discriminated the bimodal and the two unimodal
      changes and that regression to the mean did not account for the results. Results
      also showed that disruption of the temporal relationship that accompanied the
      change in rate in the two unimodal test trials was also discriminable, but rate
      changes appeared to play a greater role in responsiveness than did synchrony
      changes. Considered together with results from similar prior studies, the current
      results are consistent with the modality appropriateness hypothesis in showing
      that discrimination of temporal changes in the auditory and visual modalities is
      dependent on the specialization of the sensory modalities.

PMID- 1437485
TI  - Differential thresholds for limb movement measured using adaptive techniques.
AB  - Differential thresholds for limb movement were measured in 10 subjects, using the
      transformed up-down procedure. Subjects were required to indicate which of two
      random displacement perturbations delivered to their forearms had the larger
      standard deviation (SD). The SD of the reference signal was fixed for each
      experimental condition at one of seven values ranging from 0.05 to 3.2 mm. THe SD
      of the other signal varied depending on the subject's response. Using this
      procedure, the differential threshold for limb movement was calculated to be 8%,
      which is very similar to the thresholds estimated previously for changes in limb
      position (9%) and force (7%). The sensitivity of the human proprioceptive system
      to changes in limb displacement was much greater than anticipated, with subjects
      being able to resolve a 5-microns difference between two perturbations delivered
      to their arms.

PMID- 1437486
TI  - The linkage between stimulus frequency and covert peak areas as it relates to
      monaural localization.
AB  - Head-related transfer functions for differently centered narrow noise bands were
      obtained on 6 subjects. Derived from these measurements were covert peak areas
      (CPAs), defined as the spatial constellation of loudspeakers that generates
      maximal sound pressure at the entrance of the ear canal for specific bands of
      frequency. On the basis of previous data, we proposed that different frequency
      bands served as important spectral cues for monaural localization of sounds from
      different loci and that location judgments were directed toward the CPAs
      associated with the different bands. In the first study, the stimuli were
      bandpass filtered so that they contained only those frequencies whose associated
      CPAs occupied either the monaural listener's "upper" or "lower" spatial regions.
      Loudspeakers, separated by 15 degrees, were stationed in the left hemifield,
      ranging from 0 degree to 180 degrees azimuth and -45 degrees to 60 degrees
      elevation. Subjects reported the loudspeaker from which the sound appeared to
      originate. Judgments of the sound's elevation were in general accord with the
      CPAs associated with the different frequency segments. In the second study,
      monaural localization tests were administered in which different 2.0-kHz-wide
      frequency bands linked with specific CPAs were notch filtered from a 3.5-kHz
      highpass noise band. For the control condition, the highpass noise was
      unfiltered. The data demonstrated that filtering a frequency segment linked with
      specific CPAs resulted in significantly fewer location responses directed toward
      that particular spatial region. These results demonstrate in greater detail the
      relation between the directional filtering properties of the pinna and monaural
      localization of sound.

PMID- 1437487
TI  - Intrusion patterns in rapid serial visual presentation tasks with two response
      dimensions.
AB  - A rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) paradigm using both one and two
      response dimensions was used to test parallel processing models of stimulus
      dimensions. Fifty subjects were asked to report the identity and/or color of a
      target uppercase word inserted in a series of lowercase words. The results
      produced a predominance of posttarget intrusions for color responses and a
      predominance of pretarget intrusions for identity responses. The requirement of a
      response to a second dimension impaired hit rates but did not change the pattern
      of intrusions. An examination of the distributions of intrusions in each response
      dimension as a function of the response given to the other dimension showed an
      unexpectedly high percentage of simultaneous hits, a moderate covariation between
      both responses, and the same patterns of intrusions when compared with the
      general distributions. While these results seem to be compatible with parallel
      models of processing for stimulus dimensions, two modifications to this model are
      suggested. First, the processing of response dimension(s) needs some attentional
      resources. Second, provision for a mixed model is indicated, which would include
      trials where no illusory conjunctions are formed.

PMID- 1437488
TI  - Episodic effects on the visual comparison of letters in words.
AB  - In two experiments, subjects compared the identity of either the first letters of
      displays or all the letters in displays. Words yielded faster decisions than did
      pseudowords (pronounceable items derived by changing a vowel in a word) only when
      entire displays were compared. In a training phase run before the comparison
      task, subjects had written down either the first letters or entire displays.
      Relative to items that had not appeared in the training phase, prior experience
      at writing entire displays facilitated same decisions about entire displays and
      interfered with different decisions about entire displays. Prior experiences did
      not moderate the processing of first-letter identities. It was concluded that
      episodic effects arise from the interaction of higher order information
      underlying lexical encoding. Prelexical processing of letters is not sensitive to
      episodic effects.

PMID- 1437489
TI  - Local brightness mechanisms sketch out surfaces but do not fill them in:
      psychophysical evidence in the Kanizsa square.
AB  - In two experiments, brightness enhancement of the illusory surface in the Kanizsa
      square was investigated by means of a brightness matching procedure. The results
      show that specific properties of the inducing elements such as size, spacing, and
      luminance have effects on the matching threshold that are similar to those
      previously obtained in experiments on simultaneous contrast. The data from a
      third experiment demonstrate that increment thresholds measured within the
      Kanizsa square are elevated when the target is flashed on a position close to the
      inducing elements. The thresholds decrease considerably in the center of both
      test and control figures (representing or not representing an illusory square).
      These observations suggest that low-level mechanisms are likely to explain local
      brightness differences within the configurations but not global figure
      brightness. In other words, local contrast seems to generate brightness
      information that "sketches out" surfaces at their surrounds but does not "fill"
      them "in."

PMID- 1437490
TI  - Perceptual processing of adjacent and nonadjacent tactile nontargets.
AB  - Previous research has shown that subjects appear unable to restrict processing to
      a single finger and ignore a stimulus presented to an adjacent finger.
      Furthermore, the evidence suggests that, at least for moving stimuli, an adjacent
      nontarget is fully processed to the level of incipient response activation. The
      present study replicated and expanded upon these original findings. The results
      of Experiment 1 showed that an equally large response-competition effect occurred
      when the nontarget was presented to adjacent and nonadjacent fingers (on the same
      hand). The results of Experiment 2 showed that the effects observed in Experiment
      1 (and in previous studies) were also obtained with stationary stimuli. Although
      small, there was some indication in the results of Experiment 2 that interference
      may dissipate more rapidly with distance with stationary stimuli. An additional
      finding was that interference effects were observed in both experiments with
      temporal separations between the target and nontarget of up to 100 msec. In
      Experiment 3, target and nontarget stimuli were presented to opposite hands.
      Although reduced, interference was still evident with target and nontarget
      stimuli presented to opposite hands. Varying the physical distance between hands
      did not produce any change in the amount of interference. The results suggest
      that the focus of attention on the skin extends nearly undiminished across the
      fingers of one hand and is not dependent upon the physical distance between sites
      of stimulation.

PMID- 1437491
TI  - Improvement in line orientation discrimination is retinally local but dependent
      on cognitive set.
AB  - The ability of human observers to discriminate the orientation of a pair of
      straight lines differing by 3 degrees improved with practice. The improvement did
      not transfer across hemifield or across quadrants within the same hemifield. The
      practice effect occurred whether or not observers were given feedback. However,
      orientation discrimination did not improve when observers attended to brightness
      rather than orientation of the lines. This suggests that cognitive set affects
      tuning in retinally local orientation channels (perhaps by guiding some form of
      unsupervised learning mechanism) and that retinotopic feature extraction may not
      be wholly preattentive.

PMID- 1437492
TI  - Testing models of the redundant-signals effect: a warning concerning the
      combination-rule regression analysis.
AB  - The redundant-signals effect is the observed RT advantage for trials presenting
      two or more targets, as compared with trials with only one target. Two general
      classes of parallel-processing model have been proposed to explain this effect:
      race models (e.g., Raab, 1962) and coactivation models (e.g., Miller, 1982).
      Various distributional analyses have been used in work aimed at discriminating
      between these two model classes. The present study reexamined one of these tests-
      the combination-rule regression analysis based on variable-criterion theory
      (Grice, Canham, & Boroughs, 1984)--by applying it to the data from two sets of
      simulated experiments. One set of simulations assumed coactivation; the other set
      assumed an independent race on redundant-target trials. Nearly identical
      combination-rule values were observed in the two sets of simulations. This
      finding shows that the combination rule of variable-criterion theory does not
      discriminate between models capable of explaining the redundant-signals effect.
      The implications of this finding are briefly discussed.

PMID- 1437493
TI  - Putative therapeutic applications of calmodulin antagonists.
AB  - Calmodulin is the most important intracellular receptor protein for the second
      messenger calcium. The calcium-calmodulin complex regulates a number of
      physiological processes. An increasing number of pharmaceutical products is
      reported to interfere with the calcium-calmodulin complex. Despite the fact that
      the precise mechanisms of action of these so-called calmodulin antagonists await
      further clarification, reports accumulate in the literature indicating a
      broadening spectrum of putative therapeutic applications of calmodulin
      antagonists. Some of these applications, such as in cell proliferation,
      hypertension, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia and gastro-intestinal
      disorders, are discussed in the present review.

PMID- 1437494
TI  - Current status of interferon alpha in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.
AB  - Interferon alpha is the only available therapy for patients with chronic
      hepatitis B. With interferon alpha 3-15 MU thrice weekly or 5 MU daily during 3-6
      months one-third of the patients achieve seroconversion of HBeAg and HBV-DNA
      together with normalization of aminotransferases and slight improvement of
      histology. Loss of HBsAg is reported in a minority of responders during
      treatment, but increases during follow-up. Patients with baseline alanine
      aminotransferase of at least twice the upper limit of normal and low HBV-DNA
      concentration achieve the best response rates. HIV-positive patients with low CD4
      counts and Asians are poor responders. As side-effects influenza-like symptoms
      are experienced by almost all patients. Mild leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and
      decreased hairgrowth are frequently reported. Severe depression,
      depersonalization and psychosis are reported in a small number of patients but
      tend to be poorly recognized in some studies. The decision whether dose reduction
      is indicated seems strongly related to the opinion of the investigator. Although
      long-term effects on the occurrence of cirrhosis and the development of
      hepatocellular carcinoma are not available yet, the achieved results are
      promising.

PMID- 1437495
TI  - Knowledge of medication in hospitalized chronic respiratory patients.
AB  - Object of the study was to assess educative needs in the field of drug therapy
      among 99 chronic patients with advanced chronic lung disease admitted to the
      Respiratory Service of the Hospital Sta. Creu i Sant Pau (Barcelona, Spain). The
      knowledge of the patients about their previous drug treatment, sources of
      information as well as patients' conception of side-effects, was gathered from
      medical records and by means of a questionnaire. The majority of patients studied
      were male (63%), aged over 60 years (average 63 +/- 12), illiterate or with basic
      education (88%), had a chronic obstructive, pulmonary disease (76%) and with an
      important degree of chronicity. They had been treated for their condition during
      a mean of 8.4 years and took an average of 4.6 drugs. 31% Of patients did not
      answer any question about their medication properly and only 17% gave a correct
      answer to all the questions. The lower the age and the higher the educational
      level, the higher the proportion of correct answers to knowledge questions. 35%
      Of the patients stated not to have been informed about their medication and 55%
      stated that they had read the patient package inserts.

PMID- 1437496
TI  - Comparative study on protective gloves for handling cytotoxic medicines: a model
      study with carmustine.
AB  - The quality of protective gloves was studied. Protective gloves are part of the
      personal safety equipment for staff handling cytotoxic drugs. A study using
      raster electron microscopic photography, measurement of thickness by micrometer
      screw and permeability of carmustine by high pressure liquid chromatographic
      assay was carried out. The results show differences between different types of
      gloves.

PMID- 1437497
TI  - Disposition of quinine in rats with induced renal failure.
AB  - Aetiologically different models of experimental acute renal failure were induced
      in rats by the administration of glycerol, mercuric chloride and gentamicin,
      respectively, to different groups. Quinine levels in plasma and urine of the rats
      with induced renal failure were determined and pharmacokinetic parameters
      (elimination t1/2, CLp, V, CLR AUC0-infinity) of the drug were derived and
      compared with values obtained from control rats following intraperitoneal
      administration of a 10 mg/kg body-weight dose of quinine. Results showed that
      each of the three compounds caused an up to 25-fold increase in the plasma levels
      of the drug and a marked decrease in the levels of the metabolite 3
      hydroxyquinine. All the pharmacokinetic parameters determined for the rats with
      renal impairment were markedly different when compared to control. The high
      plasma quinine levels observed in the rats with renal failure could be largely
      due to the marked decrease in V and reduced metabolism. Also, in the rats with
      renal impairment, no correlation was observed between the increased plasma urea
      levels and plasma quinine levels or disposition of the drug. The results of the
      study suggest that quinine should be used with caution in patients with renal
      impairment. The plasma urea levels, as a measure of renal function, might not
      provide a suitable index for determining quinine dosage.

PMID- 1437498
TI  - Clearance of indomethacin occurs predominantly by renal glucuronidation.
AB  - In this report we describe the conditions of collection, storage and handling of
      urine samples, collected after oral dosing with indomethacin in man, in order to
      maintain the integrity of the labile glucuronide formed. We found that the body
      clearance occurs predominantly by renal metabolism, due to glucuronidation in the
      human kidney. These glucuronides may be converted to isomeric glucuronides and/or
      the parent compound indomethacin during the residence time in the bladder.

PMID- 1437499
TI  - Stability of sufentanil citrate in a portable pump reservoir, a glass container
      and a polyethylene container.
AB  - The stability of sufentanil citrate (100 ml, 5 micrograms/ml) in an admixture
      with sodium chloride 0.9% injection was investigated when filled in a portable
      pump reservoir with PVC wall, a glass container and a polyethylene container, at
      32 degrees C, 4 degrees C and -20 degrees C for up to 21 days. No change in
      colour was visually observed in any of the samples during the 21-day storage
      period. A slight precipitation was noticed in three out of nine portable pump
      reservoirs, one at each storage temperature. There was a slight rise in pH at
      each storage temperature in all samples. There was approximately 13% loss of
      sufentanil citrate in the portable pump reservoirs stored at 32 degrees C during
      2 days and 60% loss after 21 days, due to absorption of sufentanil citrate in the
      reservoir wall. No loss of sufentanil citrate could be detected in the portable
      pump reservoirs when stored at -20 degrees C and 4 degrees C. However, a serious
      inhomogeneity of the sufentanil citrate solution occurred after thawing at room
      temperature in the portable pump reservoirs which had been kept at -20 degrees C.
      The homogeneity could be restored by shaking for approximately 10 min. There was
      no change in the sufentanil citrate concentrations in the glass containers and
      polyethylene containers stored at the three temperatures. The portable pump
      reservoirs stored at 32 degrees C also showed a significant loss of vehicle due
      to evaporation (1.0 +/- 0.1 ml a week). This could not be detected in any of the
      other samples.

PMID- 1437500
TI  - Omeprazole and its use in a university hospital: a comment.

PMID- 1437501
TI  - Drugs in the pipeline. Proceedings of the scientific meeting of the Dutch
      Association of Hospital Pharmacists. Valkenburg, 13-14 September 1991.

PMID- 1437502
TI  - Dealing with sadness, madness and hostility. New psychotropic drug remedies for
      the future.
AB  - The objective of this article is to present an overview of new forms of
      psychotropic drug therapy that may be expected to play a role in psychiatric
      practice in the 1990s. In predicting these future developments, three lines of
      approach have been followed. Firstly, progress in elucidating basic neuronal
      mechanisms is described. The radioligand receptor binding technique has proved to
      be an especially powerful tool in the search for novel psychoactive compounds.
      Secondly, those mental health problems most likely to undergo intensive study are
      discussed. It is likely that special attention will be devoted to organic mental
      disorders related to aging (dementia) or chronic exposure to toxic substances. In
      addition, research will be aimed at explaining and reducing the occurrence of
      auto-aggressive and hetero-aggressive behaviour. Thirdly, the types of newly
      designed agents and treatment strategies currently under investigation are
      outlined. In particular, the development of pharmacological agents that interfere
      with serotonergic molecular mechanisms has opened the way to improving existing
      psychotropic drugs, to inventing drugs that achieve known clinical effects via
      different mechanisms of action, and even to discovering entirely new categories
      of psychotropic drugs.

PMID- 1437503
TI  - Future developments in the pharmacotherapy of lung disease.
AB  - Future advances in the pharmacotherapy of lung disease will occur mainly in the
      treatment of asthma, and will include the development of new long-acting beta 2
      agonists, long-acting parasympatholytics, phosphodiesterase inhibitors,
      corticosteroids with fewer systemic side-effects, and other antiinflammatory
      drugs. Free radicals play an important role in most lung diseases, including
      asthma, emphysema, fibrosis, and adult respiratory distress syndrome. The search
      for free radical scavengers is now in progress. Replacement therapy with alpha 1
      antitrypsin and surfactant is now possible. Progress in this area stems
      principally from a better understanding of the pathogenesis of lung disease.

PMID- 1437504
TI  - Cardiovascular drugs.
AB  - Since the category of cardiovascular drugs comprises a considerable number of
      pharmacotherapeutic groups, an overview of future developments must necessarily
      be limited to those areas in which innovations are most likely to occur. Further
      extension of our knowledge of thrombolytic therapy may eventually lead to new
      choices of primary drugs. In the area of antiarrhythmic therapy, the clinical use
      of a number of drugs has been hampered by the pro-arrhythmogenic actions of these
      agents. The development of new class III anti-arrhythmics will continue, probably
      giving rise to new therapeutic options. In the vascular area a new group of
      drugs, the renin inhibitors, is likely to emerge for the treatment of
      hypertension. Moreover, exciting discoveries in vascular pharmacology should
      eventually translate into new pharmacotherapeutic approaches. Finally, the large
      scale availability of blood fractions (coagulation factors) prepared by
      recombinant technology may help solve current shortages of products derived from
      donated blood.

PMID- 1437505
TI  - Future directions in antimicrobial chemotherapy.
AB  - New developments in the treatment of bacterial infections are discussed. The most
      important developments include oral broad-spectrum cephalosporin derivatives and
      extended-spectrum injectable cephalosporins with improved activity against Gram
      positive bacteria. Meropenem is a new carbapenem agent with markedly improved
      activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Many fluoroquinolones are in various
      phases of development. The most interesting new compound is sparfloxacin.
      Azithromycin is a new macrolide which, because of its very long half-life,
      attains very high levels in most tissues. Potential uses of the newer agents are
      discussed.

PMID- 1437506
TI  - Immunomodulators. Future prospects.
AB  - The future role of the immunomodulators in medical practice is yet to be defined.
      The key question is whether these new substances will bring remarkable progress
      in transplantation or in the treatment of such conditions as cancer, AIDS, and
      autoimmune diseases, or whether they will be of only minor adjunctive importance.
      As background to the discussion of immunomodulating agents, the immune system is
      explained, with emphasis on the roles of T and B lymphocytes, macrophages,
      phagocytes, human leukocyte antigen and the complement system. Special attention
      is given to the cytokines, particularly the lymphokines. The immunomodulators can
      be divided into three main groups: immunosuppressive agents, such as FK 506 and
      rapamycin; immunostimulating agents, of which BCG vaccine is most important; and
      the remaining immunomodulators, which include the biological response modifiers.
      The last group, which encompasses the colony-stimulating factors (GM-CSF, G-CSF,
      and M-CSF), the interleukins, the interferons, and the tumour necrosis factors,
      is described in detail. Innovative research and medical applications of these
      cytokines, including indications, contraindications, and adverse reactions, are
      discussed. The role of monoclonal antibodies against endotoxins is also
      described.

PMID- 1437507
TI  - Delivery of hormones: some new concepts.
AB  - Some new concepts in the delivery of hormones are described. Transmucosal or
      transdermal penetration of hormones can be facilitated, often by the use of
      absorption enhancers. Studies of nasal insulin delivery are described. Recently
      developed iontophoretic delivery devices can be useful for pulsatile transdermal
      administration of peptide hormones. A self-regulating delivery system releasing
      insulin in response to glucose levels is described. A vaginal ring releasing
      ethinylestradiol and 3-ketodesogestrel is a new concept in long-acting
      contraception. A nasal estradiol formulation, containing the absorption enhancer
      dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin, is an interesting alternative to oral and transdermal
      delivery of female sex hormones.

PMID- 1437508
TI  - New cytotoxic drugs and targets in oncology.
AB  - New agents in the preclinical and early clinical pipeline (phases I and II) are
      described and some of the problems associated with their development are
      reviewed. The article focuses on tubulin poisons such as taxol, topoisomerase
      inhibitors, such as topotecan, and drugs such as bryostatin 1 and miltefosin,
      which interfere with specific signal transduction pathways involved in malignant
      cell growth.

PMID- 1437509
TI  - Future prospects in antiviral therapy.
AB  - Two important stumbling blocks to the development of effective and nontoxic
      antiviral drugs are the intracellular localization of the virus and the fact that
      a virus uses host cell functions to multiply. Therefore, new antiviral drugs must
      act on a virus-specific function. Most currently available useful antiviral drugs
      are the result of compound screening of large numbers of possible agents.
      Advances in our understanding of the molecular biology and biochemistry of the
      viral multiplication cycle and new laboratory techniques for determining the
      molecular sites of action have now made it possible to develop and screen new
      antiviral drugs in a more purposeful manner. Another possible option in antiviral
      therapy is combination therapy using drugs that enhance the therapeutic effect or
      diminish side-effects. The most promising new antiviral drugs are discussed
      according to the different steps they affect in the viral multiplication process.
      Combination therapy is also reviewed.

PMID- 1437510
TI  - New developments in the pharmacotherapy of inflammatory bowel disease.
AB  - In this article the clinical features and aetiology of inflammatory bowel
      diseases are described and current pharmacotherapeutic possibilities are
      explored. Also reviewed are recent developments and future prospects for the
      pharmacotherapy of inflammatory bowel diseases, including aminosalicylates,
      corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, lipoxygenase inhibitors, fish oil,
      sucralfate, bismuth compounds, free radical scavengers, (hydroxy)chloroquine,
      sodium cromoglycate and methotrexate.

PMID- 1437511
TI  - Dideoxynucleoside therapy for HIV infection.

PMID- 1437512
TI  - Catecholamines in critical care. The commonly used catecholamines: receptor and
      clinical profile, indications and dosages.
AB  - The pharmacology, pattern of receptor activation and resulting clinical impact of
      the currently most widely used intravenous catecholamines are reviewed. A brief
      physiological description of the alpha, beta and dopaminergic receptors is used
      in order to explain the clinical effects of norepinephrine, epinephrine,
      isoproterenol, dopamine, dobutamine and dopexamine. Each drug is discussed
      separately according to receptor profile, indications, dosages and current
      application in critical care. Tables are provided for comparison of relative
      strengths of these drugs regarding receptor activation, haemodynamic effects,
      organ perfusion and recommended dosages. The use of combinations of
      catecholamines to meet a variety of circulatory demands is commented upon.

PMID- 1437513
TI  - Didanosine, a new antiretroviral drug. A review.
AB  - In this article the literature about didanosine, an antiretroviral drug, is
      reviewed. The mechanism of action, biochemical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics,
      and clinical results of phase-I trials are discussed. Serious adverse effects
      such as pancreatitis and peripheral neuropathy have occurred in these trials. An
      antiretroviral effect was observed in terms of an increase in CD4+ lymphocytes
      and a decrease in p24 antigen levels in HIV-infected individuals. Didanosine
      seems to be a promising drug against HIV infection, but knowledge about its
      clinical efficacy is scanty.

PMID- 1437514
TI  - Drug transport across the blood--brain barrier. I. Anatomical and physiological
      aspects.
AB  - This review describes various aspects of the transport of drugs across the blood
      brain barrier and comprises three parts. In this first part, the anatomical and
      physiological aspects of blood-brain transport are discussed. It appears that the
      blood-brain barrier has an anatomical basis at the endothelium of the capillary
      wall. This endothelium is characterized by the presence of very tight junctions.
      As a result, the transport by passive diffusion of drugs with a low
      lipophilicity, is restricted. For certain classes of closely related relatively
      hydrophilic compounds, however, the presence of specialized carrier systems has
      been demonstrated which may facilitate transport. Also evidence is presently
      available, that the permeability of the blood-brain barrier may be under active
      regulatory control. It is expected that improved knowledge of the anatomical and
      physiological aspects of the blood-brain barrier and its regulation will provide
      a scientific basis for the development of strategies to improve the transport of
      drugs into the central nervous system.

PMID- 1437515
TI  - The comprehensiveness of Medline and Embase computer searches. Searches for
      controlled trials of homoeopathy, ascorbic acid for common cold and ginkgo biloba
      for cerebral insufficiency and intermittent claudication.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the comprehensiveness of Medline and Embase computer
      searches for controlled trials. DESIGN: Comparison of articles found after an
      exhaustive search of the literature with the yield of a Medline or Embase search.
      This was performed for controlled clinical trials on the efficacy of three
      interventions: homoeopathy, ascorbic acid for common cold, and ginkgo biloba for
      intermittent claudication and cerebral insufficiency. The number of controlled
      trials found by exhaustive search of the literature was 107, 61 and 45,
      respectively. RESULTS: For homoeopathy, ascorbic acid and ginkgo the proportion
      of all trials found by Medline was 17%, 36% and 31% respectively and for Embase
      13%, 25% and 58% respectively. After checking of the references in the Medline
      articles 44%, 79% and 76% of all trials were identified. After checking of the
      references in the Embase articles 42%, 72% and 93% of all trials were identified.
      About 20% of the articles was not correctly indexed. Of the best trials 68%, 91%
      and 83% could be found with Medline and 55%, 82% and 92% of the best trials were
      identified through Embase. CONCLUSIONS: For the topics mentioned, Medline and
      Embase searches are sufficient to get an impression of the evidence from
      controlled trials, but only if references in the articles are followed for
      further evidence. If one wants to get a more complete picture, additional search
      strategies make sense. Of course, this picture may be different for other topics.

PMID- 1437516
TI  - Assessment of trace element compatibility in total parenteral nutrition
      infusions.
AB  - The application of X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy to detect elements
      collected from TPN mixtures on membrane filters has been investigated. Many
      simple total parenteral nutrition mixtures prepared aseptically in large bags can
      be stored for extended periods. Trace elements are normally excluded from such
      bags, because not enough is known about their long-term stability and
      compatibility in total parenteral nutrition mixtures. Assessing the compatibility
      of many trace elements by conventional methods that rely on detecting
      concentration changes is extremely difficult. Analysis of precipitates from total
      parenteral nutrition mixtures confirmed that the proposed method was capable of
      identifying a number of elements from the mixture in complex precipitates,
      including calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper and selenium.

PMID- 1437517
TI  - Capacity-limited renal glucuronidation of probenecid by humans. A pilot Vmax
      finding study.
AB  - Probenecid shows dose-dependent pharmacokinetics. When in one volunteer the dose
      is increased from 250 to 1,500 mg orally, the t1/2 increased from 3 to 6 h. The
      Cmax was 14 micrograms/ml with a dosage of 250 mg, 31 micrograms/ml with 500 mg,
      70 micrograms/ml with 1,000 mg and 120 micrograms/ml with 1,500 mg. The tmax
      remained 1 h for all four dosages. The AUC/dose ratio increased with the dose,
      indicating nonlinear elimination. The total body clearance declined from 64.5
      ml/min for 250 mg to 26.0 ml/min for 1,500 mg. The renal clearance of probenecid
      remained constant, 0.6-0.8 ml/min. Protein binding of probenecid is high (91%)
      and independent of the dose. The phase I metabolites show lower protein binding
      values (34-59%). The protein binding of probenecid glucuronide in vitro (spiked
      plasma) is 75%. Probenecid is metabolized by cytochrome P-450 to three phase I
      metabolites. Each of the metabolites accounts for less than 10% of the dose
      administered; the percentage recovered in the urine is independent of the dose.
      The main metabolite probenecid glucuronide is only present in urine and not in
      plasma. The renal excretion rate--time profile of probenecid glucuronide shows a
      plateau value of approximately 700 micrograms/min (46 mg/h) with acidic urine pH.
      The duration of this plateau value depends on the dose: 2 h at 500 mg, 10 h at
      1,000 mg and 20 h at 1,500 mg. It is demonstrated that probenecid glucuronide
      must be formed in the kidney during its passage of the tubule. The plateau value
      in the renal excretion rate of probenecid value reflects its Vmax of formation.

PMID- 1437518
TI  - Intramembrane charge movement in developing skeletal muscle cells from fetal
      mice.
AB  - The development of intramembrane charge movement was studied in freshly isolated
      skeletal muscle cells from 13- to 19-day-old mouse fetuses. Charge movement was
      present in myotubes from 13-day-old fetuses. The relationship between charge
      movement and membrane potential could be described by a two-state Boltzmann
      equation. The amount of maximum charge movement (Qmax) increased substantially
      with the age of the fetuses from 2.84 +/- 0.39 nC/microF (n = 10) at day 13 to
      10.01 +/- 0.97 nC/microF (n = 15) at day 19. Nifedipine (1 microM) consistently
      reduced Qmax by 33 +/- 2% (n = 37) of the control value at each age studied.
      Increasing the concentration of nifedipine to 20 microM had no further effect,
      suggesting that the charge movement in developing myotubes consists of at least
      two components: a nifedipine-sensitive charge movement (Qns) and a nifedipine
      resistant one (Qnr). Both Qns and Qnr increased exponentially with a distinct
      enhancement of rate at day 16.

PMID- 1437519
TI  - Estimating transit time for capillary blood in selected muscles of exercising
      animals.
AB  - The mean minimal capillary transit time was estimated in muscles of various
      animals using a combination of physiological and morphometric methods.
      Radioactive microspheres were injected intravascularly in various animals running
      on a treadmill at maximum oxygen consumption rate (VO2,max) to label blood flow
      to individual muscles. The muscles were then removed and preserved by standard
      methods for electron microscopy. The volume density of mitochondria was measured
      to assess muscle oxidative capacity. Capillary densities in muscle cross
      sections, capillary diameters and tortuosities were incorporated into an estimate
      of capillary volume per unit muscle mass. Mean capillary transit time (tc) in the
      exercising muscles was estimated by dividing mass-specific capillary volume by
      mass-specific blood flow. Estimates of tc ranged from values near 1 s in horse
      heart and thigh muscles to 0.2 s in duck gastrocnemius. The relationship between
      muscle blood flow and tc was hyperbolic. The experimental data indicate a
      limiting value of 0.2 s for transit times at very high blood flows. There was no
      correlation between tc and body-mass-specific VO2,max.

PMID- 1437520
TI  - The reflex effect of changes in renal perfusion on hindlimb vascular resistance
      in anaesthetized rabbits.
AB  - This study was designed to characterise the response of the hindlimb vasculature
      to reduced renal perfusion in the anaesthetized rabbit and to elucidate whether
      the stimulus was dependent upon reduced renal perfusion pressure (RPP) or blood
      flow (RBF). Acute decreases in renal perfusion resulted in rapid and reversible
      increases in femoral perfusion (FPP). This vascular response was completely
      abolished following renal denervation indicating that the afferent components of
      the reflex is neurally mediated. Acute hindlimb responses to changes in renal
      perfusion pressure were present whether the limb was perfused with homologous
      blood or cross-perfused with blood from a donor rabbit, demonstrating that the
      efferent component of the response is also neurally mediated. There was a 28-s
      latency for initiation of the hindlimb vasoconstriction, which is consistent with
      recent evidence for renal autocoid stimulation of the afferent renal nerve
      receptors. Decreasing RPP indirectly, by altering flow, resulted in a hindlimb
      vasoconstriction below approximately 55 mm Hg (7.3 kPa) RPP or 15 ml/min RBF.
      However, decreasing RPP by directly reducing pressure in graded steps resulted in
      increases in FPP, which reflected the changes in renal flow; thus during the
      autoregulatory phase, where flow did not change as pressure fell, FPP also
      remained stable. The results of these protocols suggest that a neurally mediated
      hindlimb vascular reflex is stimulated by decreased renal flow rather than
      pressure.

PMID- 1437521
TI  - Membrane conductance and cell volume changes evoked by vasoactive intestinal
      polypeptide and carbachol in small intestinal crypts.
AB  - We have used the perforated-patch whole-cell recording mode of the patch-clamp
      technique to monitor membrane potential and measured cell volume changes by image
      analysis, to determine the nature of the response to secretagogues of isolated
      whole guinea-pig small-intestinal crypts. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)
      produced a dose-dependent depolarisation (EC50 = 30 nM) and an increase in
      membrane conductance that could be potentiated by carbachol. Similar
      depolarisations were observed with forskolin. The depolarisation induced by 100
      nM VIP was smaller when pipette [Cl-] was 60 mM than when it was 145 mM,
      suggesting an effect through Cl- conductance activation. Carbachol alone produced
      a hyperpolarisation (EC50 = 2 microM). The Cl- channel blocker 5-nitro-2-(3
      phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid (NPPB) produced a small hyperpolarization. When
      VIP was added in the presence of NPPB, the depolarisation was observed instead,
      consistent with the parallel activation of a K+ conductance. Both carbachol (100
      microM) and VIP (100 nM) induced a 25%-30% shrinkage of crypts, which was maximal
      8 min after addition of the secretagogue. The induced shrinkage was sustained in
      the continued presence of agonist and was reversed upon washout. Shrinkage
      induced by the agonists was abolished by increasing extracellular K+ from 6 mM to
      20 mM and was inhibited partially in the presence of 100 microM anthracene-9
      carboxylic acid in the bath. The decrease in volume induced by 100 nM VIP was
      totally abolished in the presence of 100 microM NPPB. The results are consistent
      with the view that both VIP and carbachol induce secretion in small-intestinal
      crypts.

PMID- 1437522
TI  - Contractile activation properties of ventricular myocardium from hypothyroid,
      euthyroid and juvenile rats.
AB  - Contractile activation properties of intact and chemically skinned ventricular
      myocardium preparations were studied in juvenile (3-4 weeks old), adult euthyroid
      and adult hypothyroid rats. The rats were made hyperthyroid by treatment with
      iodine-131 and propylthiouracil. The ventricular muscle of euthyroid rats
      contains a mixture of isozymes of myosin while the myocardium of juvenile and
      hypothyroid rats are relatively pure in regard to V1 and V3 types of myosin
      respectively. No significant differences were found in either the maximum Ca2+
      activated or rigor force developed by "chemically skinned" preparations in either
      the juvenile or hypothyroid groups compared with euthyroid adults, suggesting
      that there is no difference between myocardia with different isozymes of myosin
      in the intrinsic capacity to generate force. In the hypothyroid (V3) preparations
      there was a significant shift in the force/pCa relation to the left compared with
      the euthyroid adult (mixture of V1 and V3 isozymes). The force/pCa relation for
      the juvenile lay in between that for the hypothyroid and euthyroid adults. The
      greater apparent Ca2+ sensitivity to activation in the hypothyroid group may
      relate to a slower cross-bridge cycling rate or altered Ca2+ kinetics in
      ventricular myocardium with exclusively V3 isozyme. In intact papillary muscles
      differences were found in the dependence of force on extracellular [Ca2+] such
      that a higher extracellular [Ca2+] was required for muscles from hypothyroid
      animals to attain maximum twitch force than those from juveniles. The
      force/frequency relations also differed, with the hypothyroid group being better
      able to sustain force as stimulation frequency increased than the juvenile
      group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437523
TI  - The effects of intracellular and extracellular alkalinization on contractions of
      the isolated rat uterus.
AB  - The effects of changing pH on a spontaneously active smooth muscle, the
      myometrium, is examined. We show, for the first time in any smooth muscle, that
      the frequency of contraction is greatly increased when intracellular pH is
      raised. Three weak bases, trimethylamine, diethylamine and ammonium, were used to
      raise intracellular pH (pHi), at constant external pH, in isolated uteri of
      pregnant and non-pregnant rats. Each base increased spontaneous uterine
      contractile activity, particularly by raising the frequency, in a concentration
      dependent manner. At the highest concentrations (40-50 mM) frequency was so
      increased that a maintained contraction resulted. Intracellular alkalinization
      during a high-K-maintained uterine contraction produced a small, but significant,
      fall in force. When external pH was increased, the results were greatly
      influenced by gestational state; in uteri from non-pregnant animals there was no
      effect whereas uteri from pregnant rats were found to be extremely sensitive to a
      raised external pH above 7.4; spontaneous contractions were reduced. In pregnant
      uteri, when both internal and external pH were elevated, spontaneous contractions
      were immediately reduced, thus the effects of external pH predominated. These
      findings may have significance in labour.

PMID- 1437525
TI  - Acetazolamide inhibition of basolateral Cl-/HCO3- exchange in rabbit renal
      proximal tubule S3 segment.
AB  - Cell pH (pH(i)) and cell membrane potential (Vb) were measured in isolated S3
      segments of rabbit renal proximal tubule with double-barrelled microelectrodes to
      search for a possible effect of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, acetazolamide
      (ACZ), on Cl-/HCO3- exchange in the basolateral cell membrane. ACZ was found to
      retard and reduce the pH(i) response to bath Cl- removal reversibly with half
      maximal inhibition at 0.42 mmol/l and a rather flat concentration dependence
      (Hill coefficient approximately 0.36). To determine whether the retardation
      resulted from inhibition of cytoplasmic carbonic anhydrase, which might have
      delayed the attainment of HCO3-/CO2 equilibrium, we have measured the response of
      pH(i) to step changes in PCO2 in the presence and absence of ACZ. ACZ greatly
      retarded the pH(i) response to CO2 steps; however, the concentration dependence
      differed (half-maximal inhibition at 18 mumol/l) and even at maximal ACZ
      concentrations the response to CO2 steps was more than twice as fast as the
      response to Cl- replacement. Since, in addition, the ACZ inhibition of Cl-/HCO3-
      exchange could not be overcome by increasing PCO2 we conclude that the ACZ effect
      on Cl-/HCO3- exchange in rabbit proximal tubule S3 segments does not result from
      inhibition of cytosolic or membrane-bound carbonic anhydrase, but from a direct
      interaction with the exchanger molecule.

PMID- 1437526
TI  - Acetazolamide inhibition of basolateral base exit in rabbit renal proximal tubule
      S2 segment.
AB  - The influence of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide (ACZ) was
      investigated on HCO3- transport mechanisms in the basolateral cell membrane of
      rabbit renal proximal tubule. Experiments were performed on isolated S2 segments
      using double-barrelled microelectrodes to measure cell membrane potential (Vb)
      and cell pH (pH(i)) during step changes in bath perfusate ion concentrations.
      Peritubular application of ACZ (1 mmol/l) reduced the initial Vb response to 10:1
      reduction of bath HCO3- concentration only slightly, from +53.8 +/- 4.2 mV to
      +49.1 +/- 0.3 mV (n = 5), but caused an intermittent overshooting repolarization
      in the secondary Vb response. In conjunction with these effects it left the
      initial pH(i)) response virtually unchanged but induced a secondary slow
      acidification. These observation indicate that--under the present experimental
      conditions--ACZ does not block the Na(+)-HCO3- cotransporter but acts via
      inhibition of cytosolic carbonic anhydrase. This was confirmed by studying the
      effect of elevated intracellular HCO3- concentrations under reduced flux
      conditions and by comparing the concentration dependence of the Vb response with
      the inhibition kinetics of cytosolic carbonic anhydrase. In contrast, peritubular
      ACZ inhibited Na(+)-independent Cl-/HCO3- exchange in the basolateral cell
      membrane of S2 segments directly in a similar way to that described in the
      preceding publication for S3 segments.

PMID- 1437524
TI  - Intracellular Ca2+ signalling is modulated by K+ channel blockers in colonic
      epithelial cells (HT-29/B6).
AB  - We investigated the inhibitory action of K+ channel blockers on carbachol
      stimulated Ca2+ entry into human Cl(-)-secretory colonic epithelial cells (HT
      29/B6). Digital imaging of the fluorescent calcium indicator dye fura-2 was
      performed to monitor effects of K+ channel blockers on cytosolic calcium in
      resting and carbachol-stimulated HT-29/B6 cells. Stimulation with the muscarinic
      agonist carbachol (100 microM) caused a clearly biphasic intracellular calcium
      (Cai) response: Cai was stimulated from resting levels (85 +/- 3 nM, n = 100) to
      a sudden transient peak (821 +/- 44 nM) followed by a sustained plateau (317 +/-
      12 nM). The maintained elevation was dependent on external Ca2+ and represented a
      new steady state between Ca2+ entry and exit across the plasma membrane. A
      monophasic Ca2+ response was induced in the absence of external Ca2+ and after
      the initial peak Cai returned to baseline. The Cai plateau was reduced to resting
      levels by either the muscarinic antagonist atropine (1 microM) or the inorganic
      Ca2+ channel blocker lanthanum (effective concentration for 50% inhibition of Cai
      plateau EC50 = 68 +/- 18 nM), but it was unaffected by the organic Ca2+ channel
      blockers verapamil and nifedipine. Barium, lidocaine and 4-nitro- 2-(3
      phenylpropylamino)benzoate (NPPB), well-known blockers of basolateral K+ channels
      of HT-29/B6 cells, rapidly and reversibly reduced carbachol-stimulated Ca2+
      entry.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437527
TI  - G-protein-mediated regulation of a Ca(2+)-dependent K+ channel in cultured
      vascular endothelial cells.
AB  - The purpose of the present study was to determine the mechanism by which
      bradykinin activates the small conductance, inwardly rectifying, Ca(2+)-activated
      K+ channel (KCa) found in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells. Channel
      activity was studied using the patch-clamp technique in whole-cell, cell
      attached, inside-out and outside-out configurations. Channel conductance at
      potentials positive to 0 mV was 10 +/- 2 pS and at potentials negative to 0 mV 30
      +/- 3 pS (n = 7) when examined in symmetrical K+ (150 mmol/l) solutions. The
      channel open probability (P(o)) was only weakly voltage dependent changing
      approximately 0.2 units over 160 mV. In contrast, raising the intracellular Ca2+
      concentration from 100 nmol/l to 10 mumol/l at -60 mV produced a graded increase
      in channel P(o) from 0.15 to 0.96; the concentration required for half-maximum
      response (apparent K0.5) was 719 nmol/l. At a constant Ca2+ concentration,
      application of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) to the cytoplasmic surface of the
      patch increased channel P(o). This effect was dependent upon the simultaneous
      presence of both GTP and Mg2+, and was reversed by the subsequent application of
      the guanosine diphosphate (GDP) analogue, guanosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP
      beta S). The hydrolysis-resistant GTP analogue, guanosine-5'-O-(3
      thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S), induced a long-lasting increase in channel P(o).
      In the presence of Mg(2+)-GTP, the apparent K0.5 for Ca2+ decreased from a
      control value of 722 nmol/l to 231 nmol/l. Addition of bradykinin to outside-out
      patches previously exposed to intracellular Mg(2+)-GTP further enhanced KCa
      activity, shifting the apparent K0.5 for Ca2+ from 228 nmol/l to 107
      nmol/l.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437528
TI  - Activation of cationic amino acid transport through system y+ correlates with
      expression of the T-cell early antigen gene in human lymphocytes.
AB  - Lysine influx (2 microM) into activated human B and T lymphocytes through
      transport systems y+ and y+L was measured. In activated T cells very substantial
      activation of system y+ was detected; system y+L was also activated in these
      cells but with a slower time course and to a smaller extent. No stimulation of
      either system was found in activated B cells. The time course of activation of
      system y+ precisely matched the expression of the T cell early antigen gene
      described by MacLeod et al, 1990. The functional significance of these
      observations with respect to L-arginine transport and nitric oxide synthesis in
      activated T lymphocytes is discussed.

PMID- 1437529
TI  - [Adverse reactions to low osmolar iodine contrast media (second report)].
AB  - From January to December 1990, we performed a prospective survey of adverse
      reactions to contrast media at two different institutes of Juntendo University.
      We collected a total of 4555 case sheets during the period. The radiological
      procedures we investigated were computed tomography, intravenous urography,
      arteriography, venography and myelography. Low osmolar iodine contrast medium was
      used almost exclusively (except for five cases). The overall incidence of adverse
      reactions was 7.0%, and there were no severe or fatal reactions. The incidence of
      adverse reactions was higher in females (8.5%) than in males (6.1%). The
      incidence of adverse reactions increased according to the dose of contrast
      medium, especially when more than 101 ml was injected. Intra-arterial injection
      caused adverse reactions most often, followed by regular intravenous injections,
      followed by bolus intravenous injections. Adverse reactions occurred most often
      during injection. The next occurred in 5 minutes after injection, and then, 5-10
      minutes after the injection of contrast medium. The incidence of adverse
      reactions was higher in patients with a history of allergy or previous reactions.
      Allergic adverse reactions were observed at a higher frequency. Pretesting was
      performed in 56.7% of the cases.

PMID- 1437530
TI  - [Pseudodynamic MR imaging of temporomandibular joint disorders].
AB  - Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) has now been
      established as a procedure of choice in the evaluation of TMJ disorders. In this
      study, we evaluated the dynamics of TMJ motion on MR imaging, which resembles
      arthrography. Sixty-eight TMJs in 38 symptomatic patients and one healthy
      volunteer were examined using pseudodynamic images with gradient echo sequences
      using a 0.5 Tesla MR unit and 8 cm circular planar surface coil. For depiction of
      each compartment of the meniscus, the optimum sequence was 200/15/2
      (TR/TE/excitations) with 50 degrees or 60 degrees flip angle in gradient
      refocused acquisition in steady-state (GRASS) sequences. Three contiguous slices
      on sagittal MR images were routinely obtained at 14-18 different phases of the
      opening cycle and displayed in closed-loop cine fashion. Internal derangement was
      observed in 57% of 68 joints. The most common type was anterior meniscal
      displacement without reduction. Sideway and rotational displacements, observed in
      10% each, were noted on both sagittal multislice images and axial reference
      images. As a pseudodynamic MR technique, jaw movement specifically designed to
      check bite procedure to adjust splints is useful for detecting the exact time of
      meniscal redisplacement on the second click. After conservative therapy for
      arthrosis, pseudodynamic MR provided information on changes in the meniscus and
      condylar relationship. Pseudodynamic MR with multiple phases is suitable for
      evaluating subtle motion abnormality of the meniscus and for post-therapeutic
      monitoring.

PMID- 1437531
TI  - [Hemodynamics in the territory of balloon occluded internal iliac artery-
      problems of balloon occluded arterial infusion therapy for urinary bladder
      cancer].
AB  - Balloon occluded arterial infusion therapy (BOAI) with anticancer drugs has been
      performed widely for urinary bladder cancer. It is expected that a dense
      anticancer drug would perfuse the territory of the vesical arteries under
      occlusion of the bilateral internal iliac arteries. In balloon occluded internal
      iliac arteriography, however, contrast media are gradually washed out in spite of
      complete occlusion of the bilateral internal iliac arteries. This washout process
      takes place via collateral flow to the acute occlusion and varies according to
      the position of occlusion and arterial variations in branching. We wondered
      whether anticancer drug administered by BOAI would perfuse the territory of the
      vesical arteries as expected. We analyzed the washout process of balloon occluded
      internal iliac arteriography in 41 patients with urinary bladder cancer in whom
      preoperative BOAI had been performed. We estimated the hemodynamics and perfusion
      of the anticancer drug to the urinary bladder on the basis of analysis of balloon
      occluded internal iliac arteriography in each case. Perfusion scintigraphy and
      histological examination of surgical specimens of urinary bladder cancer (21
      cases) confirmed the validity of our estimates. In some cases it was presumed
      that the anticancer drug did not reach the territory of the vesical arteries.

PMID- 1437532
TI  - [CT of pulmonary dirofilariasis--differential diagnosis from lung cancer].
AB  - We present here four cases of pulmonary dirofilariasis in which histological
      examination of the surgical specimen showed occlusion of the peripheral pulmonary
      artery by filariae and formation of a necrotic mass surrounded by reactive
      inflammation and hemorrhage. Radiological examination showed a solitary pulmonary
      nodule in three cases and a wedge-shaped consolidation in one case. Although
      pulmonary nodules in dirofilariasis closely mimic bronchogenic carcinoma on
      radiographs , it is possible to distinguish them from bronchogenic carcinoma on
      the basis of the following findings: (1) coexistence of subtle satellite lesions,
      (2) absence of pleural involvement, (3) fine marginal speculations, and (4) lack
      of concentric marginal speculations (eccentric speculation). In each case of
      dirofilariasis, CT showed the peripheral pulmonary artery entering the mass. This
      finding differentiates this disease from metastatic lung tumor, because in tumor
      metastasis via the pulmonary arteries, visible vessels are not usually involved.

PMID- 1437533
TI  - [CT assessment of gallbladder opacification 12-24 hours after angiography].
AB  - After the injection of conventional contrast agents that are largely excreted in
      urine, gallbladder opacification is observed in patients with renal dysfunction.
      However, some reports have noted that gallbladder opacification on plain
      radiographs occurs frequently in patients without renal impairment after the
      intravenous administration of Ioxaglate, one of the new low-osmolality agents. We
      carried out CT examination 12-24 hours after angiography with various kinds of
      contrast media in 437 patients to examine the incidence of gallbladder
      opacification. The influence of hepatobiliary and renal function on the excretion
      of contrast medium is discussed. Gallbladder opacification was observed in more
      than 60% of the patients. This result indicates that gallbladder opacification is
      not a rare phenomenon, and is even common in delayed CT examinations of patients
      with normal renal function. The high frequency of gallbladder opacification was
      recognized not only in the renal dysfunction group but also in the normal liver
      function group. Gallbladder opacification in delayed CT examination shows that
      the hepatobiliary tract is important in the excretion of contrast medium.

PMID- 1437534
TI  - [Preclinical evaluation of iotrolan as a contrast medium for angiography and
      urography].
AB  - Efficacy and tolerability of iotrolan, a nonionic isotonic dimer, as a contrast
      medium for angiography and urography were investigated in animals. In the
      arteriography of rabbit femur, the efficacy of iotrolan 280 mgI/ml was as good as
      iopamidol 300 mgI/ml and better than meglumine diatrizoate 306 mgI/ml. In rat
      urography, the efficacy of iotrolan 280 mgI/ml was better than both iopamidol 370
      mgI/ml and iohexol 350 mgI/ml. Vascular pain was less with iotrolan 280 mgI/ml
      than with iohexol 300 mgI/ml in rats. Effect of iotrolan on the pulmo
      cardiovascular parameters, arterial pO2, hematocrit and plasma osmolality was
      less than iopamidol and diatrizoate in rabbits. Iotrolan induced no renal
      dysfunction and diuresis where iopamidol induced diuresis in rats. Effect of
      iotrolan on the blood coagulation was similar to nonionic monomers and less than
      diatrizoate in rabbits. Because of its isotonicity, iotrolan induced little water
      shift in the blood vessel and urinary tract, which would result in good efficacy
      and tolerability. These results suggest that iotrolan is superior to ionic and
      nonionic monomers for angiography and urography.

PMID- 1437535
TI  - [Clinical evaluation of lumbosacral nerve root and lateral stenosis using coronal
      MR imaging].
AB  - MR imaging is being used more frequently to study the lumbar spine and is
      becoming the modality of choice in the assessment of patient with low back pain.
      Using a new technique of coronal and half coronal scan with MR imaging, it was
      possible to visualize L4, L5 and S1 nerve roots accurately. We described the MR
      findings of lateral stenosis using this technique. Several characteristic MR
      findings were identified, and the most important one was nerve root impingement
      in the intervertebral foramen. We consider that coronal and half coronal scan
      with MR imaging is useful in diagnosis of lateral stenosis.

PMID- 1437536
TI  - [The value of frequent positioning of treatment field in radiotherapy of
      esophageal cancer].
AB  - Since 1983 a clinical trial of proton beam radiotherapy has been conducted at the
      Proton Medical Research Center (PMRC) of the University of Tsukuba. We have made
      it a rule to do field localization by X-ray pictures before each treatment. For
      this purpose we have developed a localize-verify system consisting of a
      fluoroscopic unit and a real time digital image processing device. By using this
      system as well as X-ray films, field placement errors or corrected distance at
      field localization were measured in 11 patients with esophageal cancers.
      Measurements of corrected distances on a total of 177 localization attempts
      disclosed that correction by > 5 mm was necessary in 30.6% and by > 10 mm in
      10.2% of all localization attempts. Corrected distances appeared to increase with
      age, possibly because the skin becomes looser and ambulatory status tends to be
      more limited in older patients. Field placement corrections of more than 5 mm
      were required in 66.7% of 60 localizations in patients > 80 years old. Two
      patients in whom the anatomical positions of the esophagus were easily movable
      are presented. The following common characteristics of these patients were
      considered high risk factors: they were more than 80 years old; lesions were
      located in the lower esophagus; and they had T1 tumors. These findings suggested
      that frequent positioning and verification of treatment fields are necessary in
      the accurate treatment of esophageal cancers, especially those in high-risk
      patients.

PMID- 1437537
TI  - [Detectability of diagonal branch disease by 201TlCl exercised myocardial
      scintigraphy].
AB  - The detectability of diagonal branch disease in 10 patients (five with angina
      pectoris, five with myocardial infarction) with isolated diagonal branch lesions
      (more than 75% luminal stenosis in coronary angiography) was reviewed. In
      exercised 201TlCl myocardial scintigraphy, chest pain occurred in four of 10
      patients, electrocardiographic change indicating myocardial ischemia was seen in
      four, and diagonal branch lesion was detected in only four patients by planar
      images. In contrast, diagonal branch lesions were detected in 10 of 10 patients
      by SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography). In planar images,
      perfusion defects appeared high in the anterolateral, posterolateral, and
      anterior walls of the left ventricle. In SPECT images they appeared high in the
      anterior to anterolateral wall. The extent of diagonal branch lesions could be
      quantitatively evaluated by coronary territory maps developed from unfolded maps
      of exercised SPECT. The mean ratio of the extent of diagonal branch lesion to
      left anterior descending branch territory was 24.7%, and the extent of myocardial
      infarction was significantly larger than that of angina pectoris (p < 0.05). In
      conclusion, SPECT is useful for detecting diagonal branch lesions and can
      quantitatively show the extent of these lesions by coronary territory map.

PMID- 1437538
TI  - [Utility of helical CT for the secondary mass screening of lung cancer].
AB  - From December 1991 to 1992, helical CT scan was performed in 55 patients with
      having abnormal shadow in the chest X-ray on the secondary screening for lung
      cancer. In all patients with suspected pulmonary lesions at first screening,
      helical CT scan was performed with 10 mm slice thickness for 300 mm. The moving
      speed of the patients table is 20 mm/l rot./1.5 sec for 300 mm in a single breath
      hold. Helical CT allowed shortening of examination time and providing both better
      data continuity and resolution than conventional CT. In conclusion, helical CT
      can be useful for secondary screening of lung cancer but it was considered that
      there are some problems such as method of final pathological diagnosis and
      treatment for small nodular lesion.

PMID- 1437539
TI  - [MR imaging during arterio-portography (MR-AP) in the detection of hepatic
      cancer].
AB  - Magnetic resonance imaging during arterio-portography (MR-AP) was performed in 2
      patients of hepatic cancer. Low dose of meglumine gadopentetate (4 ml of a 0.5
      mmol/L solution) was injected into a superior mesenteric artery during
      acquisition of a Turbo-FLASH sequence. An increase in liver to lesion contrast
      was obtained with MR-AP and it is also useful in the late phase to distinguish a
      flow defect lesion due to portal obstruction from the tumor.

PMID- 1437540
TI  - [Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: a case report].
AB  - Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was performed in one patient
      with refractory esophageal varices due to portal hypertension by liver cirrhosis.
      Rosch modified Z-stent was placed to keep the lumen. The shunt lowered average
      portal pressure from 45 to 24 mmHg, and then decompressed the esophageal varices.
      The shunt was patent still for three months after the creation. No significant
      complication was observed. This initial success of TIPS in Japan encouragingly
      support the safeness and effectiveness of this therapy.

PMID- 1437541
TI  - New Jersey State Nurses' Association history: what is past is prologue.

PMID- 1437542
TI  - Organ referrals: would nurses do more if they knew more?

PMID- 1437543
TI  - Impairment: to report or not to report--is there a choice?

PMID- 1437544
TI  - The writer's workbook: health professionals guide to getting published.

PMID- 1437545
TI  - State-approved schools of nursing L.P.N./L.V.N. 1992.

PMID- 1437547
TI  - Oligonucleotide-directed triple helix formation at adjacent oligopurine and
      oligopyrimidine DNA tracts by alternate strand recognition.
AB  - A significant limitation to the practical application of triplex DNA is its
      requirement for oligopurine tracts in target DNA sequences. The repertoire of
      triplex-forming sequences can potentially be expanded to adjacent blocks of
      purines and pyrimidines by allowing the third strand to pair with purines on
      alternate strands, while maintaining the required strand polarities by combining
      the two major classes of base triplets, Py.PuPy and Pu.PuPy. The formation of
      triplex DNA in this fashion requires no unusual bases or backbone linkages on the
      third strand. This approach has previously been demonstrated for target sequences
      of the type 5'-(Pu)n(Py)n-3' in intramolecular complexes. Using affinity cleaving
      and DNase I footprinting, we show here that intermolecular triplexes can also be
      formed at both 5'-(Pu)n(Py)n-3' and 5'-(Py)n(Pu)n-3' target sequences. However,
      triplex formation at a 5'-(Py)n(Pu)n-3' sequence occurs with lower yield. Triplex
      formation is disfavored, even at acid pH, when a number of contiguous C+.GC base
      triplets are required. These results suggest that triplex formation via alternate
      strand recognition at sequences made up of blocks of purines and pyrimidines may
      be generally feasible.

PMID- 1437546
TI  - Yeast SKO1 gene encodes a bZIP protein that binds to the CRE motif and acts as a
      repressor of transcription.
AB  - We have cloned a yeast gene, SKO1, which in high copy number suppresses lethal
      overexpression of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. SKO1 encodes a bZIP protein that
      binds to the CRE motif, TGACGTCA. We found that SKO1 also binds to a CRE-like
      site in SUC2, a yeast gene encoding invertase which is under positive control by
      cAMP. A disruption of the SKO1 gene causes a partial derepression of SUC2,
      indicating that SKO1 is a negative regulator of the SUC2 gene. SKO1 interacts
      positively with MIG1, a zinc finger protein that mediates glucose repression of
      SUC2. A kinetic analysis revealed a complex regulation of the SUC2 mRNA in
      response to glucose. First, MIG1 mediates a rapid and strong repression of SUC2,
      which is complete within 10 minutes. Second, a MIG1-independent process causes a
      further slow reduction in the mRNA. Third, in the absence of MIG1, there is also
      a rapid but transient glucose induction of the SUC2 mRNA. This induction is
      correlated with a transient loss of SKO1-dependent repression.

PMID- 1437548
TI  - Evolution of codon usage patterns: the extent and nature of divergence between
      Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - Codon usage in a sample of 28 genes from the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans
      has been analysed using multivariate statistical analysis. A major trend among
      genes, correlated with gene expression level, was identified. We have focussed on
      the extent and nature of divergence between C.albicans and the closely related
      yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It was recently suggested that significant
      differences exist between the subsets of preferred codons in these two species
      [Brown et al. (1991) Nucleic Acids Res. 19, 4293]. Overall, the genes of
      C.albicans are more A + T-rich, reflecting the lower genomic G + C content of
      that species, and presumably resulting from a different pattern of mutational
      bias. However, in both species highly expressed genes preferentially use the same
      subset of 'optimal' codons. A suggestion that the low frequency of NCG codons in
      both yeast species results from selection against the presence of codons that are
      potentially highly mutable is discounted. Codon usage in C.albicans, as in other
      unicellular species, can be interpreted as the result of a balance between the
      processes of mutational bias and translational selection. Codon usage in two
      related Candida species, C.maltosa and C.tropicalis, is briefly discussed.

PMID- 1437549
TI  - RFP is a DNA binding protein associated with the nuclear matrix.
AB  - We reported that the RFP gene encodes a protein with putative zinc finger domains
      and was involved in the activation of the ret proto-oncogene. To further
      characterize the RFP protein, we developed a polyclonal antibody against the
      product synthesized from a fragment of the RFP cDNA expressed in Escherichia
      coli. Western blot analysis showed that RFP was identified as a 58 kDa protein in
      cell lysates from four human and rodent cell lines and from mouse testis. In
      addition, a unique 68 kDa protein was detected in the testis. Using AH7974 (rat
      ascites hepatoma) and Raji (human Burkitt lymphoma) cells, we demonstrated strong
      association of RFP with the nuclear matrix. Furthermore, RFP solubilized from the
      nuclear matrix had DNA-binding activity although it appears to bind more
      preferentially to double-stranded DNA than to single-stranded DNA. These results
      thus suggest that RFP may play a role in molecular processes which occur in the
      nuclear matrix.

PMID- 1437550
TI  - Random mutagenesis of the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 trans-activator of
      transcription (HIV-1 Tat).
AB  - A new method is described for the direct construction of randomly mutagenized
      genes by applying the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to an oligonucleotide
      synthesized using doped nucleotide reservoirs. We have demonstrated the utility
      of this method by generating a library of mutant HIV-1 tat genes. Several
      arbitrarily selected, inactive tat clones were sequenced to evaluate the extent
      of the mutagenesis. Moreover, fourteen recombinants encoding varying levels of
      transcriptional trans-activator activity were isolated by transient transfection
      of sub-library pools into a HeLa cell line bearing an HIV-LTR-chloramphenicol
      acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. Sequence data revealed a spectrum of
      alterations including nucleotide substitutions, insertions, and deletions,
      suggesting that mutations arose from both the doped DNA synthesis and the
      subsequent PCR 'rescue' of full-length product. Sequence comparison between
      inactive and active Tat clones revealed a selection pressure against amino-acid
      substitutions within the N-terminal domains of Tat, indicating the importance of
      this region to trans-activation competence. In addition, single and double
      missense mutations within the basic-rich, TAR RNA-binding domain were seen to be
      tolerated within active Tat clones.

PMID- 1437551
TI  - A spliced intron accumulates as a lariat in the nucleus of T cells.
AB  - The vast majority of mammalian genes are interrupted by non-coding segments of
      DNA termed introns. Introns are spliced out of RNA transcripts as lariat
      structures, and then are typically debranched and rapidly degraded. Here, we
      described an unusual spliced intron from the constant region of the T cell
      receptor-beta (TCR-beta) locus that is relatively stable in mammalian cells. This
      intron, IVS1C beta 1, accumulates as a set of lariat RNA structures with
      different length tails in the nucleus of T cells. The accumulation of this
      spliced intron is developmentally regulated during murine thymocyte ontogeny. The
      property of stability appears to be evolutionarily conserved since the human
      version of this intron also accumulates in T cells. The stability is selective
      since other spliced TCR-beta introns do not detectably accumulate in T cells. The
      unusual stability of this intron does not depend on T cell specific factors since
      non-T cells transfected with TCR-beta gene constructs also accumulate spliced
      IVS1C beta 1. The discovery of a mammalian intron that accumulates as a lariat in
      vivo provides an opportunity to elucidate mechanisms that regulate intron
      debranching, stability, and nuclear localization.

PMID- 1437552
TI  - Characterization of Chlorella virus PBCV-1 CviAII restriction and modification
      system.
AB  - A second DNA site-specific (restriction) endonuclease (R.CviAII) and its cognate
      adenine DNA methyltransferase (M.CviAII) were isolated from virus PBCV-1 infected
      Chlorella strain NC64A cells. R.CviAII, a heteroschizomer of the bacterial
      restriction endonuclease NlaIII, recognizes the sequence CATG, and does not
      cleave CmATG sequences. However, unlike NlaIII, which cleaves after the G and
      does not cleave either CmATG or mCATG sequences, CviAII cleaves between the C and
      A and is unaffected by mCATG methylation. The M.CviAII and R.CviAII genes were
      cloned and their DNA sequences were determined. These genes are tandemly arranged
      head-to-tail such that the TAA termination codon of the M.CviAII
      methyltransferase gene overlaps the ATG translational start site of R.CviAII
      endonuclease. R.CviAII is the first chlorella virus site-specific endonuclease
      gene to be cloned and sequenced.

PMID- 1437553
TI  - Analysis of chimeric mRNAs derived from the STE3 mRNA identifies multiple regions
      within yeast mRNAs that modulate mRNA decay.
AB  - In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae unstable mRNAs decay 10-20 fold more
      rapidly than stable mRNAs. In order to examine the basis for the differences in
      decay rate of the unstable STE3 mRNA and the stable PGK1 and ACT1 mRNAs we have
      constructed and measured the decay rates of numerous chimeric mRNAs. These
      experiments indicate that multiple regions within yeast mRNAs are involved in
      modulating mRNA decay rates. Our results suggest that at least two regions within
      the STE3 mRNA are involved in stimulating rapid decay. One region is located
      within the coding region and requires sequences between codons 13 and 179. In
      addition, the STE3 3' UT can also function to stimulate decay. Surprisingly, the
      STE3 3' UT is not sufficient to accelerate the turnover of the stable PGK1
      transcript unless portions of the PGK1 coding region are first deleted. These
      results not only identify sequences that function within yeast to stimulate mRNA
      turnover but also have important implications for an understanding of the basis
      of differences in eukaryotic mRNA decay rates.

PMID- 1437554
TI  - A new interaction between the mouse 5' external transcribed spacer of pre-rRNA
      and U3 snRNA detected by psoralen crosslinking.
AB  - The first cleavage in mammalian pre-rRNA processing occurs within the 5' external
      transcribed spacer (ETS). We have recently shown that the U3 snRNP is required
      for this cleavage reaction, binds to the rRNA precursor, and remains complexed
      with the downstream processing product after the reaction has been completed (1).
      Using psoralen crosslinking in mouse cell extract we have detected a new
      interaction between U3 RNA and the mouse ETS processing substrate and its
      processed product. The crosslinked sites on both U3 and ETS RNAs have been mapped
      by RNase H cleavage and primer extension analyses. The crosslinked sites in U3
      RNA map to C5, U6, and U8. U8 lies within and C5 and U6 are adjacent to an
      evolutionarily conserved U3 sequence termed box A'. In the ETS the crosslinked
      sites are U1012 and U1013, 362 nucleotides downstream from the processing site.
      Although the crosslinked site is dispensable for the primary processing reaction
      in vitro, a short conserved sequence just 3' to the cleavage site (nucleotides
      650-668) is absolutely required for crosslink formation. We conclude that the
      interaction between U3 RNA and the 5' ETS detected by psoralen crosslinking may
      play a role in subsequent step(s) of pre-rRNA processing.

PMID- 1437555
TI  - Cytosine nucleoside inhibition of the ATPase of Escherichia coli termination
      factor rho: evidence for a base specific interaction between rho and RNA.
AB  - The function of rho factor in transcription termination depends on interactions
      with nascent RNA molecules that contain unpaired cytidylate residues. We show
      that cytidine, as a free nucleoside, inhibits the binding of rho to lambda cro
      mRNA and is a competitive inhibitor of rho-ATPase activity with lambda cro mRNA
      as cofactor. The relative ability of various cytidine analogs and other
      nucleosides to inhibit the rho-RNA interaction was used to probe features
      responsible for the base specificity of rho action. The results suggest that rho
      has a specificity pocket in its polynucleotide-binding site that apparently can
      make H-bond interactions with the side of the cytosine ring that normally faces
      away from the sugar ring and that may involve a relatively close fit along the
      edge of the ribose ring at the C2' carbon. The nature of the complex of rho with
      cytidine nucleotides was analyzed further by determining whether incubation with
      BrCMP caused inactivation of rho ATPase. Although BrCMP could form Michaelis
      inhibition complexes, it did not activate rho. Rho thus lacks a diagnostic
      property of enzymes that make specific covalent addition complexes with
      pyrimidines.

PMID- 1437556
TI  - Molecular characterisation of a DNA ligase gene of the extremely thermophilic
      archaeon Desulfurolobus ambivalens shows close phylogenetic relationship to
      eukaryotic ligases.
AB  - A 3382 bp fragment containing a gene for a DNA ligase from the extremely
      thermophilic, acidophilic, and facultatively anaerobic archaeon (archaebacterium)
      Desulfurolobus ambivalens was cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid
      sequence (600 amino acids, 67619 molecular weight) showed 30-34% sequence
      identity with the ATP-dependent eucaryal (eukaryotic) DNA ligases of
      Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the human DNA ligase I, and
      with the Vaccinia DNA ligase. Distant similarity to the DNA ligases from the
      bacteriophages T3, T4, T6, T7 and the African swine fever virus was found,
      whereas no similarities were detectable to the NAD-dependent DNA ligases from the
      bacteria (eubacteria) Escherichia coli and Thermus thermophilus, to the ATP
      dependent RNA-ligase of bacteriophage T4, and to the tRNA-Ligase from
      S.cerevisiae. A detailed comparison of the phylogenetic relationship of the amino
      acid sequences of all known DNA and RNA ligases is presented including a complete
      alignment of the ATP-dependent DNA ligases. The in vivo-transcription initiation
      and termination sites of the D.ambivalens gene were mapped. The calculated
      transcript length was 1904-1911 nt.

PMID- 1437557
TI  - A repetitive DNA sequence in Paramecium macronuclei is related to the beta
      subunit of G proteins.
AB  - A repeated DNA sequence has been identified in the macronucleus of several
      Paramecium species. In P.tetraurelia the repeat was identified in the
      subtelomeric region of four randomly selected telomere clones, as well as
      downstream of the A type variable surface protein gene. The complete sequence of
      the A gene linked repeat consists of 15 tandem repeats of exactly 126 nucleotides
      that contain an open reading frame with significant similarity to the beta
      subunits of trimeric G proteins. The most striking consensus feature is the amino
      acid sequence DX omega WD where X is any amino acid and omega is I, L, or V
      spaced at precise 42 amino acids intervals. This sequence and spacing are found
      in G-protein beta subunits and other members of this protein motif family.
      Analysis of the five cloned telomeric restriction fragments showed the repeats
      can be found in either orientation with respect to the telomere. Poly(A) RNA
      transcripts containing this sequence have been identified in Paramecium
      tetraurelia. The conserved presence of this sequence in several species of
      Paramecium suggests an important physiological function, and the study of this
      repeat may reveal information about the evolution of this common protein motif.

PMID- 1437558
TI  - DeoR repression at-a-distance only weakly responds to changes in interoperator
      separation and DNA topology.
AB  - The interoperator distance between a synthetic operator Os and the deoP2O2-galK
      fusion was varied between 46 and 176 bp. The repression of the deoP2 directed
      galK expression as a function of the interoperator distance (center-to-center)
      was measured in vivo in a single-copy system. The results show that the DeoR
      repressor efficiently can repress transcription at all the interoperator
      distances tested. The degree of repression depends very little on the spacing
      between the operators, however, a weak periodic dependency of 8-11 bp may exist.

PMID- 1437559
TI  - In vivo stage- and tissue-specific DNA-protein interactions at the D.
      melanogaster alcohol dehydrogenase distal promoter and adult enhancer.
AB  - We performed a high resolution analysis of the chromatin structure within the
      regions required for distal transcription of the Drosophila melanogaster alcohol
      dehydrogenase gene (Adh). Using dimethyl sulfate, DNase I, and micrococcal
      nuclease as structural probes, and comparing chromatin structure in tissues
      isolated from several developmental stages, we have identified several sites of
      stage- and tissue-specific DNA-protein interactions that correlate with distal
      transcription initiation. Most were within previously identified cis-acting
      elements and/or in vitro protein binding sites of the adult enhancer (AAE) and
      distal promoter, including the TATA box. We also detected a novel stage-specific
      DNA-protein interaction at the Adf-2a binding site where a non-histone protein
      was bound to the DNA on the surface of a positioned nucleosome previously
      identified between the distal promoter and adult enhancer. In addition to
      footprints, we have also revealed stage- and tissue-specific DNA helix
      deformations between many of the non-histone protein binding sites. These helix
      distortions suggest there are interactions among the adjacently bound proteins
      that result in bending or kinking of the intervening DNA. The distal promoter and
      AAE have an accessible chromatin conformation in fat body prior to the third
      larval instar and many of the regulatory proteins that bind in these regions are
      also available before distal transcription begins. Nevertheless, the timing of
      DNA-protein interactions in the distal promoter and AAE suggest these proteins do
      not bind individually or assemble progressively as they and their binding sites
      become available. Instead, there appears to be a coordinated assembly of a large
      cooperative complex of proteins interacting with the distal promoter, the
      positioned nucleosome, the enhancer of the distal promoter (the AAE), and each
      other.

PMID- 1437560
TI  - Characterization of a novel T lymphocyte protein which binds to a site related to
      steroid/thyroid hormone receptor response elements in the negative regulatory
      sequence of the human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat.
AB  - We have previously identified a T lymphocyte protein which binds to a site within
      the LTR of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and exerts an
      inhibitory effect on virus gene expression. The palindromic site (site B)
      recognized by this protein is related to the palindromic binding sites of members
      of the steroid/thyroid hormone receptor family. Here we characterize the T cell
      protein binding to this site as a 100 kD protein which is most abundant in T
      cells and which binds to site B as a 200 kD complex. This protein is distinct
      from other members of the steroid/thyroid hormone receptor family including the
      COUP protein which has a closely related DNA binding specificity.

PMID- 1437561
TI  - Genes for Xenopus laevis U3 small nuclear RNA.
AB  - Genomic Southern blots showed there are only 14 to 20 copies of U3 snRNA genes
      per somatic genome in Xenopus laevis, unlike the highly repetitive, tandem
      arrangement of other snRNA genes in this organism. Sequencing of two U3 snRNA
      genes from lambda clones of a genomic library revealed striking similarity
      upstream, but much more divergence downstream. Consensus motifs common to other U
      snRNA genes were also found: a distal sequence element (DSE, octamer motif at 
      222 to -215), a proximal sequence element (PSE, at -62 to -52) and a 3' Box (15
      or 16 bp downstream of the U3 genes). The DSE of mammals also has an inverted
      CCAAT motif specific for U3 snRNA genes, and we find this is conserved in the
      amphibian U3 snRNA genes. The Xenopus inverted CCAAT motif is exactly one helical
      turn further upstream of the octamer motif than its mammalian counterpart,
      suggesting interaction of putative transcription factors bound to these motifs.
      Mutation of the inverted CCAAT motif and part of an adjacent Sp1 site greatly
      depresses transcription of the mutant U3 snRNA gene in Xenopus oocytes, implying
      a role in transcriptional efficiency. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays
      implicate transcription factor binding to this region.

PMID- 1437563
TI  - Crystal structure of a B-DNA dodecamer containing inosine, d(CGCIAATTCGCG), at
      2.4 A resolution and its comparison with other B-DNA dodecamers.
AB  - The crystal structure of the dodecamer, d(CGCIAATTCGCG), has been determined at
      2.4 A resolution by molecular replacement, and refined to an R-factor of 0.174.
      The structure is isomorphous with that of the B-DNA dodecamer, d(CGCGAATTCGCG),
      in space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with cell dimensions of a = 24.9, b = 40.4, and c =
      66.4 A. The initial difference Fourier maps clearly indicated the presence of
      inosine instead of guanine. The structure was refined with 44 water molecules,
      and compared to the parent dodecamer. Overall the two structures are very
      similar, and the I:C forms Watson-Crick base pairs with similar hydrogen bond
      geometry to the G:C base pairs. The propeller twist angle is low for I4:C21 and
      relatively high for the I16:C9 base pair (-3.2 degrees compared to -23.0
      degrees), and the buckle angles alter, probably due to differences in the
      contacts with symmetry related molecules in the crystal lattice. The central base
      pairs of d(CGCIAATTCGCG) show the large propeller twist angles, and the narrow
      minor groove that characterize A-tract DNA, although I:C base pairs cannot form
      the major groove bifurcated hydrogen bonds that are possible for A:T base pairs.

PMID- 1437562
TI  - The Crithidia fasciculata CRK gene encodes a novel cdc2-related protein
      containing large inserts between highly conserved domains.
AB  - A gene (CRK) encoding a cdc2-related protein has been identified in the
      trypanosomatid Crithidia fasciculata. CRK has a high degree of sequence identity
      with the human cdc2 gene and contains the sixteen amino acid PSTAIR motif,
      characteristic of p34cdc2 protein-serine/threonine kinases, with four amino acid
      substitutions in the motif. In addition, two inserts of more than sixty amino
      acids have been found between conserved domains of this putative protein
      serine/threonine kinase. CRK is a single copy gene and is expressed on a 3.8 kb
      mRNA. Anti-CRK antibodies detect a 53kDa protein in extracts of C.fasciculata in
      agreement with the size predicted from the nucleotide sequence of the cloned
      gene. These antibodies also recognize proteins of 48 and 60 kDa in extracts of
      the trypanosomatid Leishmania tarentolae. Antibodies against the human PSTAIR
      peptide detect the p34cdc2 protein in human nuclear extracts but fail to detect a
      34 kDa protein in C.fasciculata extracts. These results suggest that novel higher
      molecular weight forms of the cdc2 protein family may be involved in cell cycle
      control in trypanosomes.

PMID- 1437564
TI  - The basic RNA-binding domain of HIV-2 Tat contributes to preferential trans
      activation of a TAR2-containing LTR.
AB  - Human immunodeficiency viruses HIV-1 and HIV-2 encode a Tat protein that trans
      activates the respective viral genome through RNA targets (TAR1 and TAR2). Tat-1
      and Tat-2 have considerable homology. However, an interesting biological
      observation has been that Tat-1 activates the HIV-1 and HIV-2 LTRs equally while
      Tat-2 activates the former, in comparison to the latter, poorly. Here, we present
      evidence that it is the TAR2 RNA target together with the basic RNA-binding
      protein domain of Tat-2 that dictate this non-reciprocity in trans-activation.

PMID- 1437565
TI  - Structure of a gene in the dipteran Chironomus tentans encoding a yeast ribosomal
      YL10 protein homologue.

PMID- 1437566
TI  - Nucleotide sequence of cDNA of the tobacco mosaic virus RNA isolated in Korea.

PMID- 1437567
TI  - Primary sequence of the human ribosomal protein L37a.

PMID- 1437568
TI  - Streptomyces contain a 7.0 kDa cold shock like protein.

PMID- 1437569
TI  - DNA base sequence variability in katF (putative sigma factor) gene of Escherichia
      coli.

PMID- 1437570
TI  - The common bean chloroplast trnH (GUG) gene and its eukaryotic putative promoter
      elements.

PMID- 1437571
TI  - ASF alternative transcripts are highly conserved between mouse and man.

PMID- 1437572
TI  - VDE endonuclease cleaves Saccharomyces cerevisiae genomic DNA at a single site:
      physical mapping of the VMA1 gene.

PMID- 1437573
TI  - E1a-responsive mammalian host/vector system for the stable high-level expression
      of secreted proteins.

PMID- 1437574
TI  - Extension product capture improves genomic sequencing and DNase I footprinting by
      ligation-mediated PCR.

PMID- 1437575
TI  - Genetic analysis using fingernail DNA.

PMID- 1437576
TI  - Simplified DGGE in a horizontal electrophoresis system.

PMID- 1437577
TI  - Parentage analysis using RAPD PCR.

PMID- 1437579
TI  - Persistence.

PMID- 1437580
TI  - Challenging misperceptions about nurses' moral reasoning.
AB  - Discussions in the nursing literature about the usefulness of Kohlberg's theory
      of moral reasoning for women and nurses, and assertions about the level of moral
      reasoning scores of nurses have been clouded by inaccuracies and misperceptions.
      In this article, theoretical and measurement issues related to moral reasoning
      are clarified and a critical review of the literature is provided about the moral
      reasoning of nursing students and nurses as measured by the Defining Issues Test
      (DIT). The review indicates the need for greater rigor in studies of moral
      reasoning among nurses and the need for accuracy in interpreting and reporting
      moral reasoning scores. The data show that the moral reasoning of nurses, like
      that of other groups, tends to increase with formal education. Nurses' scores are
      usually comparable to, and sometimes higher than, scores of their academic peers.

PMID- 1437581
TI  - Validation of the PRQ85 social support measure for adolescents.
AB  - The purposes of this study were to factor analyze the 25-item Personal Resource
      Questionnaire (PRQ) 85-Part II, a social support measure, and to establish
      construct validity for the instrument among adolescents by testing two hypotheses
      derived from theoretical propositions by Weiss (1974) concerning the relational
      provisions of social support. The purposes were accomplished using a sample of
      325 adolescents, aged 12 to 21. According to the criteria used in this study, a
      four-factor structure, resulting from a principal components analysis with an
      oblique rotation, best represented the multidimensionality of the PRQ85-Part II
      in adolescents. A second-order factor analysis indicated that the four first
      order factors correlated to form one factor, which consisted of 17 items and was
      labeled Perceived Social Support. Evidence in support of construct validity for
      both the 17-item and 25-item PRQ85-Part II was provided by statistically
      significant correlations found between the two scales and the theoretically
      relevant variables of perceived health status and symptom patterns. The
      contributions of this study to the psychometric properties of the PRQ85-Part II
      can be used in future research concerning social support in adolescents.

PMID- 1437582
TI  - The HOME scale: the influence of socioeconomic status on the evaluation of the
      home environment.
AB  - Caldwell's Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) was
      developed to provide specific and sensitive information about the home and
      maternal environment as a stimulus to infant learning and development. The use of
      the HOME scale was examined in a sample of 118 middle- and lower-income mothers
      and their low-birth-weight (LBW) or very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. The
      analysis of data demonstrated limited variability in the HOME scale total scores
      within each income group, and income alone was found to account for 41% of the
      variance in the sample. These findings raise questions about the effectiveness of
      the HOME scale in making useful discriminations about family functioning within
      an income group.

PMID- 1437578
TI  - New nucleotide sequence data on the EMBL File Server.

PMID- 1437583
TI  - Concurrent validity of a new instrument for measuring nutritive sucking in
      preterm infants.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to examine the concurrent validity of the Whitney
      strain gage for the measurement of nutritive sucking in preterm infants. Ten
      preterm infants were studied continuously during at least one entire bottle
      feeding per week, from admission into the study until discharge from the nursery.
      Sucking was measured simultaneously by an adapted nipple and the Whitney gage.
      The two instruments were compared on the following measures: number of sucking
      bursts, number of sucks per burst, and duration of bursts and pauses between
      bursts. Total percent agreement for the occurrence of a sucking burst was 99.3%
      (K = .99). Sucks per burst varied from 2 to 113, with 89.3% of the pairs of
      sucking bursts differing by < or = 1 suck per burst. The mean absolute difference
      between the two instruments for the duration of sucking bursts and pauses was .64
      s and .72 s, respectively. These results demonstrate the concurrent validity of
      the Whitney gage for measurement of sucking events in preterm infants.

PMID- 1437584
TI  - Instrument development: cardiac diet and exercise self-efficacy.
AB  - Self-efficacy has been documented as a strong predictor of health behaviors.
      Unfortunately, availability of reliable and valid measures of self-efficacy for a
      range of health behaviors is still limited. This study validated two measures of
      cardiac risk factor self-efficacy: the Cardiac Diet Self-Efficacy Instrument
      (CDSEI) and the Cardiac Exercise Self-Efficacy Instrument (CESEI). A sample of
      370 cardiac rehabilitation participants provided data for principal factor
      analyses showing the unidimensionality of each instrument. Known groups construct
      validity was supported by a comparison of CDSEI and CESEI scores for cardiac
      rehabilitation participants and marathon runners. The value of CDSEI and CESEI
      scores in predicting subsequent exercise and diet performance was demonstrated
      with a third group of cardiac rehabilitation participants. Stability and internal
      consistency estimates in the .80s and .90s, respectively, support the scales'
      reliabilities.

PMID- 1437585
TI  - Finishing first grade: a study of school achievement in very-low-birth-weight
      children.
AB  - Factors that influence school achievement in very-low-birth-weight (< 1,500 g)
      children were investigated at the completion of first grade. The subjects were 71
      children and their primary caregivers. Thirty-nine children were very low birth
      weight (VLBW) and 32 were normal birth weight (NBW). After controlling for birth
      weight status, over one third of the variance in children's school achievement
      was accounted for by the age of the child's mother when she began childbearing.
      Birth weight status accounted for significant amounts of variance in information
      processing skills. Significantly more children in the VLBW group required special
      services and fewer were promoted to second grade, although the difference was not
      significant.

PMID- 1437586
TI  - Patients' reactions to completion of adjuvant breast cancer therapy.
AB  - Thirty-eight women with breast cancer were studied to determine the psychological
      distress they experienced at the completion of adjuvant treatment. Measures were
      completed at the start of adjuvant chemotherapy, one week after chemotherapy was
      completed, and following completion of radiotherapy. Approximately 30% of the
      women reported the termination of treatment was upsetting. For the group as a
      whole, depression scores decreased significantly from the first to the last
      measurement. Those who were most upset by termination of treatment had been more
      depressed since the onset of treatment, tended to view their illness as chronic
      rather than acute, and had more side effects during their last cycle of
      chemotherapy. Some women stated they were upset by the termination of treatment
      per se, but many other problems were reported including side effects that had
      continued after treatment ended.

PMID- 1437588
TI  - Re: 'More than skin deep' (July/August editorial)

PMID- 1437587
TI  - Symptoms of preterm labor and self-diagnostic confusion.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to learn how women experiencing preterm labor come
      to know a health deviation exists, and what they do when faced with such a
      problem. Grounded theory methodology was used as the research approach. Extensive
      interviews were conducted with 28 women about their care-seeking experiences with
      preterm labor. Ambiguous symptoms, absence of a meaningful label to attach to
      symptoms, and the context of pregnancy with its expected discomforts come
      together to create a situation of diagnostic confusion. Appropriate action to
      take in response to the diagnostic confusion is not self-evident. Deliberate and
      protracted efforts to make sense of and deal with symptoms of preterm labor are
      attempted. Making sense consists of three subprocesses: comparing, gathering
      data, and seeking information. Strategies used to deal with the symptoms include
      self-treating, ignoring, positive thinking, and waiting. Recourse to a
      professional is used as the strategy of last resort when symptoms can no longer
      be contained.

PMID- 1437589
TI  - Re: 'The role of nursing research committees'.

PMID- 1437590
TI  - Perinatal factors and infant temperament: a collaborative approach.

PMID- 1437592
TI  - Edith Cavell: traitor or savior?

PMID- 1437591
TI  - Standardization of the visual analogue scale.

PMID- 1437593
TI  - Research module R4: the real world of research. Part (i): Funding and organising
      research.

PMID- 1437594
TI  - The joys of working in a climate of innovation and enthusiasm.

PMID- 1437595
TI  - A will to choose.

PMID- 1437596
TI  - Healthy states?

PMID- 1437597
TI  - Private worries.

PMID- 1437598
TI  - A lousy plan?

PMID- 1437599
TI  - Abuse of trust.

PMID- 1437600
TI  - Life on Easy Street--rehabilitation.

PMID- 1437601
TI  - Unconditional discharge?

PMID- 1437602
TI  - Plugging the gap--diabetes.

PMID- 1437603
TI  - Handling patients--mind your back.

PMID- 1437604
TI  - Polio's still lethal punch--care study.

PMID- 1437605
TI  - Accredit where it's due--nursing development units.

PMID- 1437606
TI  - Strategies for closure.

PMID- 1437607
TI  - United front.

PMID- 1437608
TI  - Post-registration education in three fields of clinical practice.
AB  - This paper describes some empirical findings about the take-up of post
      registration education by a substantial sample of clinical practitioners in three
      fields of practice--mental illness nursing, mental handicap nursing and
      midwifery. Some implications of the results are discussed in the context of the
      UKCC PREPP Report recommendations, as a contribution to the current debate about
      their implementation.

PMID- 1437609
TI  - Spirituality needs more attention.

PMID- 1437610
TI  - Computer takes note of shift preferences.

PMID- 1437612
TI  - Health visitors. Assistants for the future.

PMID- 1437611
TI  - Drug compliance after leaving hospital.

PMID- 1437613
TI  - Health visitors. Preventing postnatal illness.

PMID- 1437614
TI  - Health visitors. In a class of their own.

PMID- 1437615
TI  - Professional development module. P10: Delivery of care. Part (i): The
      nurse/client relationship.

PMID- 1437616
TI  - Government rules are penalising Project 2000 students financially.

PMID- 1437618
TI  - Quality care.

PMID- 1437617
TI  - Prisoner in Baghdad. Interview by Amanda Tattam.

PMID- 1437619
TI  - Gagging guidelines?

PMID- 1437620
TI  - Nipped in the bud?

PMID- 1437621
TI  - Cutting the cake.

PMID- 1437622
TI  - The right of refusal?

PMID- 1437623
TI  - Promoting prevention.

PMID- 1437625
TI  - A time to live or a time to die? Euthanasia.

PMID- 1437624
TI  - Making sense of electrosurgery.

PMID- 1437626
TI  - Passive taboos. Euthanasia.

PMID- 1437627
TI  - Making a point of contact. Mental health.

PMID- 1437628
TI  - A way with words--nursing narrative.

PMID- 1437629
TI  - 'Look after me'--nursing narrative.

PMID- 1437630
TI  - A broken promise--nursing narrative.

PMID- 1437631
TI  - Computers: the CARM approach (Computer Assisted Relapse Management Program).

PMID- 1437632
TI  - Informing potential donors' families.

PMID- 1437633
TI  - Asian women and the health service.

PMID- 1437634
TI  - Infections control--for safety's sake.

PMID- 1437635
TI  - Infection control--lessons to be learnt.

PMID- 1437636
TI  - Infection control--a pivotal role.

PMID- 1437637
TI  - Children with HIV often survive.

PMID- 1437638
TI  - Pioneer AIDS campaigner reveals he has illness and wins ovation.

PMID- 1437639
TI  - Women with AIDS die early as symptoms are ignored.

PMID- 1437640
TI  - Natural dietary ingredients (oats and alfalfa) induce covalent DNA modifications
      (I-compounds) in rat liver and kidney.
AB  - Mammalian tissue DNA has recently been found, via 32P postlabeling, to contain
      complex profiles of age-dependent bulky carcinogen adductlike covalent
      modifications, which have been termed I-compounds, referring to their apparent
      indigenous origin without exposure to exogenous carcinogens. I-compound patterns
      are highly species, sex, tissue, and diet specific. As shown here, the presence
      of certain plant ingredients in diet, i.e., ground oats and alfalfa meal,
      significantly contributed to the formation of these DNA derivatives. Six groups
      of weanling female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed one of the following diets for
      three months: a natural ingredient diet containing neither oats nor alfalfa
      (Wayne MRH 22/5 Rodent Blox), Wayne diet supplemented with oats or alfalfa or
      both, a purified semisynthetic diet (AIN-76A), and AIN diet supplemented with
      oats. The natural ingredient diet produced more complex patterns and higher
      levels of I-compounds than purified diet in both liver and kidney DNA.
      Supplementation of either diet with oats elicited the formation of four
      additional oats-specific I-compounds in liver DNA. Oats and alfalfa, individually
      and in combination, tended to significantly raise nonpolar and diminish polar I
      compound levels. To determine whether the oats-related extra spots were derived
      from mycotoxin contamination, two groups of rats were fed either Wayne diet or
      Wayne diet containing zearalenone (0.05 mg/kg) for three weeks. Zearalenone
      significantly increased the uterine weight but did not induce any DNA adduct
      formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437641
TI  - Prolongation of survival in retrovirally induced T cell lymphoma by dietary omega
      6 fatty acid.
AB  - C57BL/Ka mice were fed diets rich in omega 3 or omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty
      acids and inoculated with the thymic lymphoma-inducing retrovirus RadLV. Mice
      receiving the omega 3 diet died significantly sooner than those receiving the
      omega 6 diet. Of the three known mechanisms by which fatty acids can exert
      antiviral activity, namely, modification of membrane fluidity, modulation of
      immune response, and synthesis of metabolites with antiviral activity, the first
      two can be eliminated in the model under study. It is therefore concluded that
      differences in survival are due to fatty acid metabolites with distinct antiviral
      activities.

PMID- 1437642
TI  - Vitamin E inhibition of lipid peroxidation and ethanol-mediated promotion of
      esophageal tumorigenesis.
AB  - Promotion of chemically induced esophageal cancer by ethanol may include the
      generation of highly reactive free radicals and thus may be preventable by the
      antioxidant vitamin E. In the present study, female C57BL/6 mice received N
      nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBzA, 0.2 mg/kg ig) three times a week for three
      weeks. After this esophageal carcinogenic treatment, mice were fed a
      nutritionally adequate liquid diet with 30% of the calories supplied by ethanol
      or an isocaloric carbohydrate with or without supplemental alpha-tocopherol (142
      mg/kg diet). As a marker of in vivo lipid peroxidation, exhaled ethane was
      collected and measured 24 hours "before" the mice were killed after 20 weeks of
      dietary treatment. Hepatic malondialdehyde, lipid fluorescence, and conjugated
      dienes were determined as markers of products of lipid peroxidation and serum
      aminotransferases as indexes of liver toxicity. Hepatic liver concentrations of
      vitamins A and E and the size and frequency of esophageal tumors were also
      assessed. Ethanol consumption after NMBzA administration significantly increased
      (p less than 0.05) the size and frequency of esophageal tumors. These ethanol
      promoted effects were accompanied by increases in indexes of in vivo and
      accumulated products of lipid peroxidation. Similarly treated animals that
      received supplemental dietary vitamin E showed significant reductions (p less
      than 0.05) in mean tumor size and frequency of tumors as well as a decrease in
      the indexes of hepatic lipid peroxidation. The results suggest that promotion of
      NMBzA-induced esophageal tumors by ethanol may in part result from increased
      lipid peroxidation and that vitamin E reduces carcinogenicity of NMBzA or ethanol
      promoter effects by inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

PMID- 1437643
TI  - Effects of a long-chain fatty amine on mammary carcinogenesis induced in female
      Sprague-Dawley rats by DMBA.
AB  - Reports that protein kinase C is inhibited by sphingosine and other long-chain
      amines and the suggestion that promotion of mammary carcinogenesis by dietary fat
      is mediated by protein kinase C prompted us to investigate the effects of a long
      chain amine, 1-octadecylamine, on mammary carcinogenesis induced by 7,12
      dimethylbenz[a]anthracene in rats fed a high-fat diet. Rats fed the amine sulfate
      at a level of 0.01% in a semipurified diet containing 20% corn oil developed more
      tumors than those fed the high-fat diet alone, although body weight gain was
      inhibited slightly. Rats fed the amine sulfate at 0.1% of the diet developed very
      few tumors compared with those fed either the high-fat diet or a low-fat diet
      containing 5% corn oil. At the higher level, the C18 amine also caused a marked
      inhibition of body weight gain.

PMID- 1437644
TI  - Dietary intake and risk of lung cancer in women who never smoked.
AB  - A case-control study was conducted to examine the influence of dietary factors on
      the risk of developing lung cancer among women who have never smoked cigarettes.
      This study included 124 cases of histologically confirmed carcinoma of the lung
      and 263 community-based controls. Dietary data were collected utilizing the
      reduced version of the National Cancer Institute (Block) food frequency
      questionnaire. The results of this analysis, adjusted for age, education, and
      total calories, indicated a strong protective effect associated with total
      vegetable consumption and intake of carotene. Individuals in the highest quartile
      of vegetable consumption experienced the greatest decreased risk with an odds
      ratio (OR) of 0.2, [confidence interval (CI) 0.1-0.5]. The effect of all
      vegetables combined was greater than that of green and yellow vegetables alone
      (highest quartile OR 0.4, CI 0.2-0.7). Similarly, the protective effect of total
      carotene (highest quartile OR 0.3, CI 0.1-0.6) was somewhat greater than that of
      beta-carotene alone (highest quartile OR 0.4, CI 0.2-0.8). Retinol intake was not
      associated with a decreased risk of lung cancer in our population. There was an
      inverse association between lung cancer risk and vitamin C intake, which was not
      significant, although a statistically significant trend was noted.

PMID- 1437645
TI  - Diet and prognosis of breast cancer.
AB  - The relationship between the occurrence of breast cancer and dietary intake, in
      particular a high-fat diet, has attracted much attention in recent years. In
      addition, the prognosis of breast cancer patients on the basis of dietary intake
      is also an interesting subject. The present study utilized breast cancer patients
      whose dietary intake was carefully assessed about one decade previously in a case
      control study to determine whether dietary intake was indeed related to the
      patients' prognosis. The study included 212 patients who underwent a surgical
      operation between 1975 and 1978. They were followed-up until 1987, and a total of
      47 breast cancer deaths were certified. The 5- and 10-year relative survival
      rates were 78.5% and 75.3%, respectively. The older patients tended to ingest
      smaller amounts of all nutrients, except animal fat from fish. Height was
      significantly correlated with total animal protein intake, whereas there was no
      significant correlation between body mass index and intake of any nutrient.
      Although the age-adjusted mean values of the nutrient intakes, other than
      vegetable fat, decreased with advancing stage, the differences were statistically
      insignificant. The results of multivariate analyses, in which some confounding
      factors (e.g., clinical stage) were adjusted using a proportional hazards model,
      showed that all hazards ratios in each nutrient were close to unity, and no dose
      response relationship was seen. The present investigation did not provide any
      support for the hypothesis that a high-fat diet is a survival determinant for
      breast cancer patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437646
TI  - Mammary cancer prevention by regular garlic and selenium-enriched garlic.
AB  - The anticarcinogenic activities of regular (soil-grown) garlic and selenium
      enriched garlic (cultivated in the greenhouse) were evaluated using the 7,12
      dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-(DMBA) induced mammary tumor model in rats. In
      Experiment 1, milled regular garlic powder was added to the basal AIN-76A diet at
      20 g/kg. The results from different schedules of supplementation suggested that a
      continuous treatment, which started before DMBA and persisted for the entire
      duration of the study, was most effective in tumor suppression. In Experiment 2,
      selected allyl group-containing sulfides that are normal constituents of garlic
      extract were given by gavage in three single doses immediately before DMBA.
      Several structurally related compounds were found to be protective during the
      initiation phase in the mammary cancer model. Although the present study was not
      designed specifically to elucidate the structure-activity relationship with
      respect to sulfur chain length or alkyl versus alkenyl substitution, our data
      showed that diallyl disulfide was more active than diallyl sulfide or allyl
      methyl sulfide. In Experiment 3, the anticarcinogenic activity of selenium
      enriched garlic (containing 150 ppm Se dry weight from growth in a selenium
      fertilized medium) was compared with that of regular garlic as well as selenite.
      Animals given the selenium-enriched garlic (final concentration 3 ppm Se in the
      diet) developed the fewest mammary tumors. Tissue selenium levels, however, were
      lower in these animals than in those fed the same amount of selenium from
      selenite. Our study demonstrated the feasibility of achieving cancer prevention
      with the use of a selenium-rich food system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437647
TI  - Antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic effects of carotenoids and dietary palm oil.
AB  - Four carotenoids, canthaxanthin, beta-carotene, 8H-apo-beta-carotenal, and 8'-apo
      beta-carotene methylester were tested for their ability to suppress the
      mutagenicity of 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine and benzo[a]pyrene (BP) in
      Salmonella typhimurium tester strain TA 100. The anticarcinogenic efficacy of the
      four carotenoids was further assessed in the BP-induced forestomach tumor model
      in female Swiss mice. The effect of dietary palm oil was also examined in BP
      induced neoplasia in the female Haffkine Swiss mouse strain. Canthaxanthin, beta
      carotene, 8'-apo-beta-carotenal, and 8'-apo-beta-carotene methylester showed a
      dose-dependent decrease in the mutagenicity compared with 1-methyl-3-nitro-1
      nitrosoguanidine and BP in strain TA 100. In the BP-induced forestomach tumor
      model, all four carotenoids showed a similar significant anticarcinogenic effect.
      Dietary administration of palm oil showed a dose-dependent antitumor activity in
      the animals. Our results show that the intrinsic antimutagenic and
      anticarcinogenic properties of the carotenoids are not significantly influenced
      by their conversion to vitamin A.

PMID- 1437648
TI  - Differences in dietary intake with smoking, alcohol, and education.
AB  - Differences in the frequency of consumption of 30 selected foods and in the
      estimated intake of total calories and selected nutrients in relation to alcohol
      drinking, tobacco smoking, and education were described using information
      obtained from 1,774 controls of a case-control study of digestive tract cancers
      conducted in northern Italy. Heavy alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, and
      lower level of education were associated with a diet poorer in several aspects,
      including lower consumption of fresh fruit and green vegetables and higher intake
      of specific indicator foods, such as sausages and canned meat. For instance, the
      mean number of portions of fresh fruit per week was 10.5 among male nondrinkers
      vs. 9.0 among heavy drinkers, 10.4 among male nonsmokers vs. 8.1 among heavy
      smokers, and 8.8 in less educated individuals vs. 10.7 among those more educated.
      Consequently, intake of beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, and calcium tended to be
      inversely related to alcohol and tobacco and directly related to education. Most
      associations were stronger in males, for whom alcohol consumption was also more
      common in less educated individuals. Calorie intake was directly related to
      alcohol consumption, largely reflecting calories provided by alcohol itself.
      However, alcohol drinking was also directly related to fat consumption. In both
      sexes, there was a strong positive correlation between cigarette smoking and
      coffee drinking. These results provide quantitative documentation that alcohol
      drinking, tobacco smoking, and education, three of the major determinants of
      cancer risks, were also correlates of dietary patterns and, hence, may exert an
      important confounding or modifying effect on the diet and cancer relationship.

PMID- 1437649
TI  - Influence of dietary fat intake on local recurrence and progression of metastases
      arising from MDA-MB-435 human breast cancer cells in nude mice after excision of
      the primary tumor.
AB  - This study was performed to evaluate the effect of dietary fat on the recurrence
      and metastasis of human breast cancer solid tumors growing in nude mice after
      surgical excision of the primary tumor. Female nude mice were fed either a high-
      (23% corn oil) or a low-fat (5% corn oil) diet, and 7 days later 1 x 10(6) MDA-MB
      435 human breast cancer cells were injected into a thoracic mammary fat pad.
      Tumors at the injection site grew more rapidly in the animals fed the high-fat
      diet. Nineteen of 30 animals in each dietary group had tumors with a surface are
      > or = 1 cm2 within 10 weeks of injection, at which point the tumors were excised
      and the animals were followed for another eight weeks. Tumors recurred at the
      excision site in 8 of 19 animals fed the high-fat diet and in 9 of 19 animals fed
      the low-fat diet; however, the growth rate was more rapid in the group fed the
      high-fat diet. Lung metastases occurred with similar frequency in the two groups
      with local recurrences, but with a positive correlation between recurrent tumor
      weight (greater in the animals fed the high-fat diet) and the severity of lung
      metastatic involvement. In the mice without recurrence, 4 of 11 (36%) animals in
      the group fed the high-fat diet had macroscopic lung metastases compared with
      only one mouse, with minimal involvement, in the group fed the low-fat diet.

PMID- 1437650
TI  - Reliability of dietary information from surrogate respondents.
AB  - A self-administered food frequency questionnaire was included as part of a case
      control study of breast cancer in 1980-82. In 1986-87, a second food frequency
      questionnaire was sent to surviving cases and husbands of deceased cases; 30
      spouses (86% response rate) and 263 surviving cases (88% response rate) returned
      questionnaires. The dietary questions concerned consumption of specific food
      items by the case before diagnosis of breast cancer. Missing values were less
      common in the second questionnaire; there was no significant difference in
      missing values between surviving cases and spouses of deceased cases. Kappa
      statistics comparing responses in the first and second questionnaires were
      significantly lower for spouses of deceased cases than for surviving cases.
      Reported level of confidence by the husbands regarding knowledge about their
      wives' eating habits did not influence the kappa statistics or the frequencies of
      missing values. The lack of good agreement has important implications for the use
      of proxy interviews from husbands in retrospective dietary studies.

PMID- 1437651
TI  - The reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire among controls
      participating in a case-control study on cancer.
AB  - This study was designed to test the reproducibility of a food frequency
      questionnaire used in a population-based case-control study on diet and
      pancreatic cancer. Repeat questionnaires covering the same time period were
      obtained using 63 male and female population controls, 35-79 years of age. For
      selected food items included in the case-control study, the attenuation of the
      odds ratios due to random error was estimated. Using 54 male and female
      population controls, 35-79 years of age, we conducted a second study to examine
      the agreement between original and repeat interviews when the time interval
      between interview and the period of interest was constant. In the first study,
      the median correlation coefficient was 0.72 for foods (ranging from 0.36 and 0.59
      for subgroups of vegetables to 0.96 for alcoholic beverages) and 0.77 for
      nutrients (ranging from 0.62 for beta-carotene to 0.85 for energy and 0.91 for
      ethanol). In the second study, the median correlation coefficient was 0.68 for
      foods (ranging from 0.28 for eggs to 0.87 for alcoholic beverages) and 0.75 for
      nutrients (ranging from 0.48 for beta-carotene to 0.76 for energy). We conclude
      that for most items the agreement between original and repeat estimates was
      moderate (r > 0.50) to high (r > 0.70). Moderate agreement was found for 28 of 33
      food items (85%) and for all 21 nutrient items (100%) and high agreement for 19
      of 33 of food items (56%) and 15 of 21 nutrient items (71%). In the second study,
      agreement was somewhat lower but closely paralleled the results of the first
      study. On average, random error presumably attenuated most of the observed diet
      cancer relationships only moderately; i.e., an observed odds ratio of 1.5 and a
      correlation coefficient of 0.70 yield an unattenuated odds ratio of 2.1.

PMID- 1437652
TI  - Bile salt/acid induction of DNA damage in bacterial cells: effect of taurine
      conjugation.
AB  - Bile salts and acids have been implicated in the etiology of colon cancer,
      possibly through their ability to cause DNA damage. Taurine-conjugated and
      nonconjugated forms of three bile salts and one bile acid were tested for DNA
      repair-inducing potential and for cellular toxicity in a recently developed
      Escherichia coli chromotest system. The taurine-conjugated forms of sodium
      deoxycholate and lithocholic acid had reduced ability to induce DNA repair. Also
      the taurine-conjugated form of lithocholic acid had a reduced lethal effect.
      These observations suggest that the biotransformation step, whereby bacteria in
      the intestine remove the taurine added to bile salts in the liver, may be
      significant in the etiology of colon cancer.

PMID- 1437653
TI  - Humoral and cellular immune functions are not compromised by the anticarcinogenic
      Bowman-Birk inhibitor.
AB  - Previous studies have demonstrated that the soybean-derived Bowman-Birk protease
      inhibitor (BBI) is effective as a cancer chemopreventive agent in several animal
      model systems. Proteases represent a key component of several aspects of immune
      function; therefore the immune system is a primary target for potential toxicity.
      The present investigation examines the effect of dietary and intraperitoneally
      administered BBI on antibody response to keyhole limpet hemocyanin and delayed
      type hypersensitivity response to dinitrochlorobenzene. Primary antibody response
      was not altered by BBI treatment; however, an elevated secondary response was
      observed in animals receiving dietary BBI at two weeks of age. This effect was
      not observed at later time points. No change in delayed-type hypersensitivity
      response was observed in any of the treatment groups.

PMID- 1437654
TI  - Fecal ammonia in patients with adenomatous polyps and cancer of the colon.
AB  - The correlation between high intakes of protein and high incidence of human
      colonic cancer is unexplained. Appreciable amounts of ammonia are generated in
      the large bowel through bacterial degradation of proteins and peptides, and
      experimental studies indicate that ammonia may select for neoplastic growth.
      Fecal concentrations of ammonia did not differ among 17 patients with former
      colonic adenomas [40.6 +/- 4.5 (SE) mM], 17 patients with former colonic cancer
      (51.4 +/- 3.9 mM), and 16 healthy controls (46.4 +/- 6.1 mM). By use of an in
      vitro fecal incubation system, possible alterations in bacterial fermentation and
      formation of ammonia were investigated. Fecal suspensions were incubated for 6
      and 24 hours with and without addition of fermentable substrates (ispaghula husk,
      wheat bran, albumin, and glucose; 10 mg/ml). The in vitro production of ammonia
      in unsupplemented fecal homogenates from both groups of patients was comparable
      with the production found in homogenates from healthy controls, and the response
      to fermentable substrates was similar in all three groups. Addition of albumin
      caused a marked increase in the production of ammonia, and addition of glucose
      increased bacterial assimilation of ammonia considerably. These well-known
      characteristics of bacterial metabolism of ammonia apparently did not differ
      between healthy individuals and patients investigated more than three months
      after colonoscopic polypectomy or colonic cancer resection.

PMID- 1437655
TI  - Biodistribution of ellagic acid and dose-related inhibition of lung tumorigenesis
      in A/J mice.
AB  - Ellagic acid (EA), derived from fruit ellagitannins, is known to be antimutagenic
      and anticarcinogenic in various animal tumor models. In this study, EA at a dose
      of 4 g/kg diet inhibited multiplicity of tumors induced by 4-(methylnitrosamino)
      1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in A/J mice by 54%. This inhibition was dose
      related between 0.06 and 4.0 g/kg diet. In contrast, two related compounds,
      esculin and esculetin, had no effect on lung tumorigenesis. The biodistribution
      of EA was studied as a function of dose and time after gavage of EA. The levels
      of EA in the lung were directly proportional to the dose of EA between 0.2 and
      2.0 mmol. The maximum level of EA, corresponding to 21.3 nmol/g, was observed 30
      minutes after gavage with 2.0 mmol of EA/kg body wt, which corresponds to only 70
      ppm of the administered dose. The levels in liver tissues were 10-fold lower and
      reached a maximum 30 minutes after gavage. At this interval, the blood level of
      EA was 1 nmol/ml. The inclusion of EA in cyclodextrin doubles the level of EA in
      lung tissues. These results demonstrate that EA localizes preferentially in lung
      tissues and confirm that EA administered orally can inhibit lung tumorigenesis.

PMID- 1437656
TI  - The carcinogenicity of some antimalarial drugs using the Egyptian toad Bufo
      regularis as a biological test animal.
AB  - Feeding Egyptian toads (Bufo regularis) with chloroquine and primaquine
      separately induced tumor formation in 14% and 19% of the animals, respectively.
      When chloroquine and primaquine were given in combination, the tumor incidence
      increased to 23.5%. Chloroquine feeding resulted in tumors located in the liver
      (lymphosarcomas) and primaquine in tumors in the kidney (histiocytic sarcomas).
      Toads fed chloroquine plus primaquine developed tumors in the liver, kidney,
      lung, and urinary bladder, and all the tumors were diagnosed as histiocytic
      sarcomas. It is speculated that one or more metabolites of chloroquine and
      primaquine (e.g., quinone) may be responsible for tumor induction in the toads.

PMID- 1437657
TI  - Alcohol consumption and the etiology of colorectal cancer: a review of the
      scientific evidence from 1957 to 1991.
AB  - The relationship between alcohol consumption and colorectal cancer in humans has
      been examined in 52 major studies in the past 35 years. An association was found
      in five of the seven correlational studies. An elevated risk was found in about
      half of the 31 case-control studies and, of these, in 9 of the 10 studies using
      community controls but in only 5 of the 17 studies using hospital controls (p =
      0.008), suggesting that the absence of association when hospital controls are
      used is due to a high prevalence of alcohol consumption/alcohol-related illness
      in the hospital controls. Of the 14 cohort studies, an association with alcohol
      was found in 10, while in 3 of the 4 cohort studies in which an association was
      not found the alcohol data obtained were somewhat restricted. A positive dose
      response effect was found in two of three cohort studies and in all four case
      control studies with community controls in which this effect was examined. In
      both case-control and cohort studies, the association was found for females and
      males and for colon and rectal cancer. When the type of alcohol consumed was
      examined separately, beer was the principal type of at-risk alcoholic beverage,
      with much less risk for spirits and least risk for wine. Statistically
      significant elevations of risk were more often found in males than in females and
      slightly more frequently for rectal than for colon cancer and were related almost
      entirely to beer, rather than to wine or spirit, consumption. The alcohol risk
      was independent of the dietary risk in those studies that controlled for this
      factor. There was some confirmatory evidence for alcohol augmentation in rodent
      models of chemically induced carcinogenesis in six of nine studies. The
      hypotheses of alcohol as a direct and specific colorectal carcinogen include
      increased mucosal cell proliferation, the activation of intestinal
      procarcinogens, and the role of unabsorbed carcinogens, particularly in beer.
      Also, five of six other human studies showed an association between alcohol/beer
      consumption and adenomatous polyps, consistent with the hypothesis that alcohol
      stimulates the colorectal mucosa. General or indirect carcinogenic effects of
      alcohol include immunodepression, activation of liver procarcinogens, and changes
      in bile composition, as well as nitrosamine content of alcoholic beverages and
      increased tissue nitrosamine levels. With alcohol/beer consumption, the overall
      conclusion on present evidence is that alcohol, particularly beer consumption, is
      an etiologic factor for colon and rectal cancer for females and males.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1437658
TI  - Factors to be considered for assignment in inservice education.

PMID- 1437660
TI  - Family physician.

PMID- 1437659
TI  - The WHO golden rules for safe food preparation.

PMID- 1437661
TI  - Women, health and development.

PMID- 1437662
TI  - Management skills in nursing. VIII. A.C.E. programme of TNAI--a report.

PMID- 1437663
TI  - Health status of nurses and yoga. IV. Experiment and results.

PMID- 1437664
TI  - Consumers' participation to promote health.

PMID- 1437665
TI  - Use of a new fallback function to prevent endless-loop tachycardias: first
      clinical results. The Investigators of the Multicenter Study.
AB  - The methods used for preventing endless-loop tachycardias (ELTs) most often
      consist of initiating a long postventricular atrial refractory period (PVARP)
      with the sensing of every event likely to induce ELTs, such as sensed premature
      ventricular contractions (PVCs). A new fallback function may be useful to prevent
      the initiation of ELTs. A window of atrial rate acceleration detection (WARAD) is
      initiated with the sensing of every sinus event and equals 75% of the preceding
      PP interval. If an atrial event is sensed during this period, as are premature
      atrial contractions (PACs), no atrioventricular (AV) delay is initiated, but an
      atrial pulse output is delivered and a subsequent 31-msec AV delay is started.
      Theoretically retrograde P waves are premature compared to sinus rhythm. They are
      therefore detected as PACs, and do not initiate AV delay, thus prohibiting the
      induction of ELTs. This function was tested in six patients, using external or
      implanted Chorus 2 pacemakers. Short PVARP (203 msec) and high atrial sensibility
      were programmed. Retrograde conduction was induced either by inefficient atrial
      pacing or a long programmed AV delay. Two different dual chamber settings were
      tested: dual chamber pacing with the fallback function On or Off. In every
      situation, the function proved effective in preventing ELTs: the number of
      tachycardia episodes went from 124 with the function programmed Off to 5 with the
      function programmed On for comparable durations. More than 75 ELTs effectively
      prevented by fallback have been recorded.

PMID- 1437666
TI  - Traveling medicine shows: a modern update?

PMID- 1437667
TI  - Acute renal failure in bone marrow transplantation.
AB  - Acute renal failure (ARF) is a serious complication in clients who have undergone
      bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The majority of cases develop as a result of
      intrarenal damage. Renal ischemia or nephrotoxic drugs, free hemoglobin, and free
      myoglobin contribute to acute tubular necrosis (ATN), which is the most likely
      cause of ARF in BMT clients. Nursing care of hospitalized BMT clients is directed
      toward the prevention of ARF by identifying clients who are at risk, the early
      diagnosis of renal impairment, and the administration of comprehensive treatment.
      Nurses play a vital role in the early diagnosis of renal impairment by assessing
      the client's fluid status, serum and urine electrolyte levels, and daily weights.
      The nursing role in managing clients with ARF includes preventing drug
      nephrotoxicity, maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance, preventing infection,
      and providing emotional support.

PMID- 1437668
TI  - Management of neutropenic enterocolitis in the patient with cancer.
AB  - Neutropenic enterocolitis is a life-threatening condition often seen in patients
      experiencing prolonged periods of neutropenia from conditions such as leukemia
      and lymphoma and from aggressive chemotherapy regimens. Its exact pathologic
      process remains unclear; however, it has been proposed that direct cytotoxic
      damage occurs to the bowel mucosa with subsequent microbial invasion complicated
      by the lack of adequate neutrophil response. The damage may progress to bowel
      perforation and septic shock. Early recognition and management by healthcare team
      members are crucial for the improved prognosis of these individuals. Controversy
      continues to exist concerning management options and the timing of these
      interventions. This article outlines nursing and medical management of the
      patient with neutropenic enterocolitis.

PMID- 1437669
TI  - Unconventional cancer treatments: professional, legal, and ethical issues.
AB  - A significant number of patients with cancer use or seriously consider using
      unconventional treatments. When patients or their families seek or use unproven
      treatment methods, the oncology nurse may face complex professional, legal, and
      ethical issues. This article addresses the possible reasons why patients and
      families may choose unconventional treatments. Oncology nurses are challenged to
      become aware of their many and varied nursing responsibilities. These
      responsibilities are examined in light of applicable codes and nursing practice
      standards, the clinical situation, and the values that are unique to each patient
      and family. Guidelines are offered for the oncology nurse to assist patients and
      families in choosing among treatment options.

PMID- 1437670
TI  - Diagnosis, treatment, and nursing management of the patient with hemochromatosis.
AB  - Hemochromatosis results when the body's iron stores progressively increase.
      Surplus iron stored in body tissues leads to organ dysfunction and death.
      Warnings that elevated iron stores increase the risk of cancer development
      necessitate a review of this condition. Two types of hemochromatosis, hereditary
      and secondary, are diagnosed in today's hematology-oncology practices.
      Distinguishing the differences with respect to etiology and management is
      essential to the risk assessment and long-term nursing management of this patient
      population.

PMID- 1437671
TI  - The relationship of visual acuity, tactile sensitivity, and mobility of the upper
      extremities to proficient breast self-examination in women 65 and older.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship of visual acuity,
      tactile sensitivity, and mobility of the upper extremities to the performance of
      proficient breast self-examination (BSE) in women 65 and older. A convenience
      sample of 32 women, ages 66-89, met with the investigator to have their visual
      acuity, tactile sensitivity, and upper extremity mobility tested. Their ability
      to perform the visual, tactile, and upper extremity components of proficient BSE
      also was tested by using simulated breast models (SBMs). Thirty of the women had
      adequate visual acuity (< or = 20/40 Snellen equivalent) but were unable to
      visually detect the abnormalities on the SBM. Thirty of the women had tactile
      sensitivity of 10 mm (1 cm) or better on the static two-point discrimination test
      of the second, third, and fourth digits of each hand. Yet, only 13 of these women
      were able to locate the 1 cm lump; only 12 were able to locate the 5 mm lumps;
      and none were able to locate the 3 mm lump. The subjects' ability to pass the
      upper extremity mobility component of proficient BSE was significantly related to
      their ability to pass the upper extremity range of motion criteria. Limitations
      and deficits, mostly of the hands and shoulders, were revealed. When teaching BSE
      to older women, nurses are responsible for assessing limitations and deficits in
      their ability to perform proficient BSE and, if necessary, for intervening with
      alternatives. The need for further research in this area is indicated to improve
      assessment and education of older women regarding the use of proficient BSE for
      early detection of breast cancer.

PMID- 1437672
TI  - Breast biopsy support program: collaboration between the oncology clinical nurse
      specialist and the ambulatory surgery nurse.
AB  - Nurses play a vital role in the care of women admitted to an ambulatory unit for
      a breast biopsy. This paper offers one aspect of a psychosocial model that the
      oncology clinical nurse specialist and the ambulatory surgery nurse can use
      collaboratively to meet each woman's needs during this critical period. Goal
      directed communications are the focus of this paper. Five specific techniques are
      described and can be used before biopsy reports are known, after women are
      informed that results are either negative or pending, and after reports are
      confirmed as positive. Psychosocial support is recognized as an important aspect
      of nursing care provided to women diagnosed with breast cancer. Although only 10%
      of women undergoing breast biopsies are diagnosed with malignant lesions, nurses
      must provide optimal support and guidance to every woman admitted for this
      surgical procedure.

PMID- 1437673
TI  - The development and testing of a nursing model of morbidity in patients with
      cancer.
AB  - Although oncology nurses are concerned about patient morbidity associated with
      cancer and its treatment, a comprehensive morbidity model from the perspective of
      nursing has yet to be developed. The purpose of this study was to begin to
      develop a morbidity model relevant to patients with cancer receiving treatment in
      the ambulatory care setting. The model was empirically tested with a sample of
      100 patients with cancer beginning chemotherapy. Three domains emerged from the
      model: physiologic/pathophysiologic, functional, and psychological. Indices of
      morbidity within each domain were tested to establish beginning reliability and
      validity of the model. The results that were obtained indicate significant
      correlations among many of the indices within each domain (e.g., performance
      status, mood disturbance, patients' ratings of their current health); other
      indices did not contribute significantly to the model (e.g., type of cancer,
      history of recurrent disease, and patients' assessments of their health prior to
      developing cancer). Although further testing and refinement of the model is
      indicated, these preliminary findings reflect the model's potential for
      significant clinical relevance. By using this model, nurses could more readily
      profile patients at risk for increased morbidity and target their interventions
      accordingly.

PMID- 1437674
TI  - Gastrointestinal tract cancer: current knowledge, medical treatment, and nursing
      management.
AB  - Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer includes primary cancers of the esophagus, stomach,
      small intestine, large intestine, and rectum. This article presents an overview
      of the current knowledge, medical treatment, and nursing management for each of
      the identified sites, with a focus on surgical interventions and subsequent
      nursing care. Acute and long-term postoperative sequelae are addressed in
      addition to current state-of-the-art chemotherapeutic and radiation treatment
      modalities. This compilation of information regarding GI malignancies is useful
      for nursing as a current reference as well as for specific patient care issues.

PMID- 1437675
TI  - Assessing master's programs in oncology nursing.

PMID- 1437676
TI  - Process implemented for using nursing research in practice.

PMID- 1437677
TI  - Cryotherapy used to reduce stomatitis.

PMID- 1437678
TI  - Standards being developed for assessing and managing stomatitis.

PMID- 1437679
TI  - Checking vital signs unnecessary with IVIG administration.

PMID- 1437680
TI  - Dentin permeability: sealing the dentin in crown preparations.
AB  - Provisional restorations of full crown preparations may permit more microleakage
      of bacteria and their products than the final castings do. However, most
      investigations of the sealing qualities of cemented castings have reported that
      they too permit dye leakage. One approach to the problem is to seal the dentin
      with dentin bonding agents at the completion of the crown preparation. This study
      evaluated the ability of six different dentin bonding agents to seal the dentin
      of crown preparations of human teeth in vitro using two independent techniques.
      The first technique quantitated fluid filtration across dentin before and after
      treatment with dentin bonding agents at one hour, one day, one week, and one
      month and after thermocycling. The second method measured silver nitrate
      penetration of the thin veneers of dentin bonding agents into the dentin. Both
      methods correlated well with each other. The best seals were obtained with Prisma
      Universal Bond 2 or Superbond powder plus liquid. The worst seals were found
      using Gluma and Superbond liquid only. Clearfil PhotoBond, Amalgambond, and
      Scotchbond 2 gave intermediate results. Although the dentin bonding agents tend
      to accumulate on chamfers, thereby increasing their thickness to 200-300 microns,
      the method looks promising as a simple way to protect the pulp from the
      consequences of microleakage.

PMID- 1437681
TI  - Explorer sharpness as related to margin evaluations.
AB  - Nine experienced operative dentistry faculty each used six different explorers of
      varying degrees of sharpness ranging from new to well-used to evaluate marginal
      acceptability on a device used to simulate gradations of vertical opening. In
      this study, the standard for the sharpest explorer point was determined to be 68
      microns in diameter measured 40 microns from the tip. There was a positive
      correlation between the diameter of the explorer tip at 40 microns and the mean
      amount of opening that could be detected until the margin was declared
      unacceptable. Increased explorer dullness significantly handicapped even
      experienced graders when the explorer alone was used to evaluate visually
      inaccessible margins.

PMID- 1437682
TI  - Leakage patterns associated with glass-ionomer-based resin restorations.
AB  - This study compared microleakage patterns for glass-ionomer-cement-based resin
      systems with and without a separating agent placed between the glass ionomer and
      resin. Results indicated significant leakage (100%) at the dentin glass-ionomer
      interface for specimens without a separating agent. Those with a separating agent
      showed almost no leakage between the dentin and glass ionomer (10%) and some
      leakage at the resin/glass ionomer interface (40%). These results suggest that
      the forces of polymerization shrinkage are stronger than the chemical bond
      between glass-ionomer cement and dentin. This bond fails during resin
      polymerization, eliminating any supplementary retention gained through chemical
      adhesion to dentin and opening a pathway for microleakage.

PMID- 1437683
TI  - Rubber dam with washed field evacuation: a new approach.

PMID- 1437684
TI  - Retention grooves for the Class 2 amalgam restoration: necessity or hazard?

PMID- 1437685
TI  - In vitro marginal leakage of cervical composite restorations lined with a light
      cured glass ionomer.
AB  - The purpose of this research effort was to investigate the microleakage of
      cervical restorations lined with a light-cured glass-ionomer liner. Wedge-shaped
      cervical cavities were cut on extracted teeth with the gingival cavosurface
      margin involving dentin. The cavities were randomly assigned to each of each of
      three groups: (1) restored with a microfilled composite resin, (2) restored with
      a light-cured glass-ionomer liner and microfilled resin as in the "sandwich"
      technique, and (3) restored entirely with the light-cured glass-ionomer liner.
      Half of the specimens in each group were thermocycled. Microleakage of these
      restorations was assessed by dye penetration. The results showed that differences
      were more pronounced at the gingival margin. Composite restorations inserted over
      the glass-ionomer liner demonstrated significantly less leakage than when the
      liner was not used.

PMID- 1437686
TI  - The effect of multiple layers of die-spacer on crown retention.
AB  - The application of die-spacer to crown preparation dies prior to the fabrication
      of the cast crown is an acceptable procedure to improve the fit of the
      restoration. Previous studies have shown that the retention of the restoration
      will be improved, unchanged, or reduced when an appropriate thickness of die
      spacer is used. No studies have determined the effect on retention if excessive
      die-spacer is used. This study evaluated the effect of increasing die-spacer
      thickness on the retention of cast full crowns. Cast copings were fabricated on
      dies coated with either 0, 4, 8, 12, or 16 coats of die-spacer, cemented on the
      respective teeth, and removed using an Instron Universal Testing Machine. There
      were no statistically significant differences (P < or = 0.05) between the mean
      force required to remove the cemented copings. It appears that increasing the
      application of die-spacer up to 16 coats (151 micrometers) does not adversely
      affect the retention of cemented cast copings.

PMID- 1437687
TI  - Effect of grooves on resistance form of conservative Class 2 amalgams.
AB  - This study evaluated several means of providing retention for the approximal box
      in very conservative class 2 preparations (occlusal isthmus width 0.7 mm). Sixty
      class 2 mesio-occlusal cavities were prepared in sound human maxillary premolar
      teeth. Four types of retention grooves, 0.3-0.5 mm deep, were prepared at the
      axiofacial and axiolingual line angles and/or occlusal to those line angles.
      Specimens were loaded at an angle of 13.5 degrees from vertical in an Instron
      Universal Testing Machine until the restoration failed. Results indicate that
      grooves located occlusal to the axiopulpal line angle provided more resistance
      than conventional grooves (gingival to the axiopulpal line angle) or no grooves.
      The use of a short retention groove or retention point located occlusal to the
      axiopulpal line angle, but not extending to the occlusal cavosurface margin,
      provided greater retention while removing minimal tooth structure.

PMID- 1437688
TI  - Effect of coating materials on restorative glass-ionomer cement surface.
AB  - Historically glass-ionomer samples have been coated with a varnish to protect the
      material from the effect of water on the surface. However, varnishes have been
      shown to peel from this surface. The set cement matrix may become chalky and can
      erode rapidly. Light-cured glazing agents may demonstrate the ability to limit
      water movement across the setting-cement surface. In this in vitro study samples
      were investigated colorimetrically to evaluate the effect of water contamination.
      Perceivable differences were not found, particularly when a coating of light
      cured bonding or glazing agents was applied. We conclude that the color stability
      of glass-ionomer cements is enhanced with the use of a protective coating of
      light-cured bonding or glazing agents.

PMID- 1437689
TI  - Microleakage of Class 2 glass-ionomer-silver restorations in primary molars.
AB  - The aims of this study were to assess microleakage at the cervical margins of
      class 2 "sandwich" restorations placed with two glass-ionomer-silver cements in
      primary molars, to compare the quality of the occlusal margins of these
      restorations to those prepared with Miracle Mix and Ketac Silver, and to assess
      by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) the marginal micromorphology of those
      restorations. Fifty-two class 2 restorations were prepared in extracted primary
      molars and were restored as follows: 1) Ketac Silver + Estilux Posterior
      (sandwich), 2) Miracle Mix + Estilux Posterior (sandwich), 3) Ketac Silver only,
      and 4) Miracle Mix only. No or minimal leakage was evident in most of the
      occlusal margins, whereas severe leakage was observed in almost 70% of the
      cervical margins of the Ketac Silver groups. Scanning electron microscopy
      evaluation demonstrated good adaptation at the buccal and lingual margins of all
      the restorations. Sixty-seven percent of the Miracle Mix restorations had no
      defects at the cervical margins, as opposed to only 17% of those with Ketac
      Silver.

PMID- 1437690
TI  - Placement and replacement of amalgam restorations in Italy.
AB  - The reasons for placement and replacement and the longevity of amalgam
      restorations were recorded by 62 Italian private practitioners. The survey
      compiled 1935 amalgam restorations inserted due to primary caries (59%) and
      failed restorations (41%). The clinical diagnosis of secondary caries constituted
      59% of failures of amalgam restorations. The age of 46% of the restorations
      needing replacement was noted. The median longevity was 4.7 years.

PMID- 1437691
TI  - Enhanced prosthetics using the gingival mask.
AB  - The removal and trimming of working model dies destroys important soft tissue
      information. Features such as the gingival sulcus, interdental papilla, and ridge
      form are often destroyed. The loss of these features makes the fabrication of
      correct restoration contours difficult. Using the gingival mask will restore
      vital soft tissue as well as hard tissue information. This paper discusses the
      gingival mask, its advantages and disadvantages, and describes the direct and
      indirect methods of fabrication. Whatever method is employed, the gingival mask
      will prove to be a valuable adjunct for improving the quality and esthetic values
      of the fixed prosthesis.

PMID- 1437692
TI  - Permeability of root dentin to epinephrine released from gingival retraction
      cord.
AB  - The permeation of racemic epinephrine across roots of human molar crown segments
      was studied in vitro. Permeation was measured in the presence of cementum, with
      cementum removed (dentin exposed), and with and without dentin smear layers.
      Epinephrine was initially detected at 10 minutes and reached a steady state in 70
      minutes. Epinephrine flux (the product of concentration and the flow rate per
      unit of dentin surface area) significantly increased when both the cementum and
      dentin smear layers were removed. The T1/2 (half-time in minutes necessary to
      reach steady-state diffusion) was zero with intact cementum and increased to
      approximately 40 minutes in dentin with and without smear layers. This study
      suggests that the permeation of epinephrine across root surfaces is prevented by
      the presence of cementum and retarded by the presence of dentin smear layers.
      Also, the data suggest that root dentin is another source of absorption when
      epinephrine-impregnated retraction cord is applied to the gingival sulcus.

PMID- 1437693
TI  - In vitro evaluation of the use of resin liners to reduce microleakage and improve
      retention of amalgam restorations.
AB  - This in vitro study evaluated the ability of three commercially available
      adhesive resins to reduce microleakage and provide retention between amalgam
      restorations and tooth structure. Results indicated that Amalgambond reduced
      leakage significantly more than Panavia EX, Prisma Universal Bond 2, and
      Copalite. In addition Amalgambond and Panavia EX exhibited the ability to bond
      amalgam to tooth structure. These results suggest that Amalgambond has the
      potential for serving successfully as a cavity liner with amalgam.

PMID- 1437694
TI  - Independent practice for hygienists and laboratory technicians.

PMID- 1437695
TI  - Placement and replacement of resin-based composite restorations in Italy.
AB  - The use of resin-based composite restorations, the reasons for failure, and the
      longevity of these restorations have been surveyed in 62 Italian private
      practices. Almost two-thirds of the 1025 restorations inserted were class 3 and 5
      restorations, while 18% were class 1 and 2 restorations. Secondary caries was the
      most common reason reported for replacement of resin-based composite restorations
      (44%), followed by discoloration (21%), and bulk and margin fracture (14%). The
      age of restorations needing replacement was reported for 53% of the sample. The
      median longevity in this sample was calculated to be 3.3 years.

PMID- 1437696
TI  - Stress analysis of five prefabricated endodontic dowel designs: a photoelastic
      study.
AB  - The stress generated by five prefabricated endodontic dowel designs was evaluated
      using a two-dimensional photoelastic model. Cemented posts caused the least
      stress. Of the threaded posts, Flexi-post and Radix Anker produced the least
      stress; Kurer Crown Anchor produced the most.

PMID- 1437697
TI  - Regional variation in permeability of young dentin.
AB  - Variation in the permeability of dentin in people 19 years and less in age was
      evaluated. The regions compared were the occlusal third versus the middle third
      versus the cervical third of approximal surfaces. Also compared were the mesial
      approximal surface versus the distal. The comparison was done by obtaining 1 mm
      thick dentin discs from the area of dentin close to the dentinoenamel junction.
      It was seen that the cervical area was significantly more permeable than the
      occlusal area. The middle third, though not statistically significant, had mean
      values almost twice those in the occlusal third and almost half of the values in
      the cervical third. No difference was seen in permeability between the mesial and
      distal surfaces. The reasons for these regional variations and their clinical
      implications are presented.

PMID- 1437698
TI  - Drug development and women: an overview.

PMID- 1437699
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of low-dose methotrexate in adult asthmatics.
AB  - Several reports have been published on the disposition of methotrexate (MTX) when
      given in low dosages, but none in asthmatic patients. To address this matter,
      pharmacokinetic studies were performed in nine patients with severe, steroid
      requiring asthma (ages 18-76 yrs) after the sixth weekly intramuscular dose of
      MTX. Theophylline pharmacokinetic studies were also performed at baseline prior
      to the start of MTX treatment and at the time of the MTX studies. Total systemic
      clearance of MTX, given as mean (SD), was 122.6 (25.1) ml/minute, volume of
      distribution at steady state 0.49 (0.2) L/kg, half-life 3.1 (0.3) hours, mean
      residence time 5.0 (0.6) hours, and renal clearance 89.1 (36.3) ml/minute. These
      values are similar to those previously reported for other patient populations
      receiving low-dose MTX. Eight of these patients were evaluated for changes in
      theophylline pharmacokinetics. Theophylline clearance at week 6 decreased an
      average of 19% from baseline and correlated inversely with total MTX clearance.
      Percentage change in theophylline clearance from baseline was inversely
      correlated with MTX nonrenal clearance, but was not statistically significant.
      This finding may indicate competition for clearance pathways between MTX and
      theophylline.

PMID- 1437700
TI  - Bacterial resistance to beta-lactams, and its prevention with combination
      antimicrobial therapy.
AB  - The clinical and economic impacts of bacterial resistance are substantial. The
      development of bacterial resistance during a course of therapy often leads to
      clinical failure, prolonged hospitalization, increased morbidity, mortality, and
      increased health care costs. Resistance has been reported to occur most
      frequently with aminoglycosides, quinolones, and beta-lactam antimicrobials, and
      often occurs during the course of treatment of gram-negative bacillary infection.
      Resistance is most commonly due to enzymatic inactivation, permeability changes,
      or receptor mutation. Strategies for the prevention of resistance include
      appropriate infection-control practices, judicious use of antimicrobials,
      enhancement of host defenses, and the use of antimicrobial combinations. Despite
      success in vitro and in experimental animal models of infection, clinical trials
      in humans of antimicrobial combinations for the prevention of resistance have
      yielded mixed results. Use of the most potent agents available, preferably in
      bactericidal synergistic combinations, may be effective in preventing in vivo
      emergence of bacterial resistance.

PMID- 1437701
TI  - Nonprescription ibuprofen: side effect profile.
AB  - Single doses of nonprescription analgesics are commonly used to treat self
      diagnosed conditions. To evaluate the safety of single doses of nonprescription
      strength ibuprofen, we examined reported side effects from 15 double-blind,
      randomized, controlled trials we conducted of the drug to treat various common
      painful conditions (e.g., headache, sore throat). All studies included placebo
      and another nonprescription analgesic, acetaminophen. A total of 878 subjects
      received ibuprofen 200 or 400 mg, 849 acetaminophen 650 or 1000 mg, and 852
      placebo. The overall frequency of side effects was comparable: ibuprofen 2.4%,
      acetaminophen 3.2%, and placebo 2.1%. The frequency of central nervous system
      symptoms was 0.8%, 2.1%, and 0.9%, respectively. Upper gastro-intestinal upset
      ranged from 0.8-0.9% of subjects in all groups. We conclude that single doses of
      nonprescription ibuprofen are well tolerated and demonstrate a side effect
      profile indistinguishable from that of acetaminophen and placebo.

PMID- 1437702
TI  - Exacerbation of congestive heart failure secondary to moricizine.
AB  - Moricizine, a recently approved phenothiazine antiarrhythmic agent, is reported
      to be associated with a low frequency of congestive heart failure. A 61-year-old
      man with a history of congestive heart failure and ischemic heart disease began
      taking moricizine 250 mg every 8 hours to suppress his monomorphic sustained
      ventricular tachycardia. After five doses he became progressively short of breath
      and was in pulmonary edema. Moricizine was discontinued, intravenous diuretics
      were administered, and the patient's clinical status stabilized. Twelve hours
      later, however, he developed polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and was not
      successfully resuscitated. Despite claims as to its safety, limited data strongly
      suggest that moricizine, like other antiarrhythmics, may be detrimental in
      patients with preexisting ventricular dysfunction, and should be prescribed with
      caution.

PMID- 1437703
TI  - Theophylline-mexiletine interaction: a case report.
AB  - Theophylline and mexiletine can be prescribed in patients with chronic
      obstructive pulmonary disease with coexistent arrhythmias. The drugs have common
      metabolic pathways that may result in an interaction. A patient who was taking
      theophylline became toxic after the initiation of mexiletine. Discontinuation of
      mexiletine led to an improvement in theophylline clearance.

PMID- 1437704
TI  - Pharmaceutical education. A commentary from the American College of Clinical
      Pharmacy.

PMID- 1437705
TI  - Structural and functional characterization of neuropeptides involved in the
      control of male mating behavior of Lymnaea stagnalis.
AB  - Mating as a male in the simultaneous hermaphrodite freshwater snail, Lymnaea
      stagnalis, comprises a series of complex behaviors that are a prelude to
      copulation. Copulatory behavior itself is assumed to be controlled by various
      types of peptidergic neurons as well as serotonergic cells. Here we report the
      primary structure of two peptides that were extracted from a cluster of neurons
      that innervates the penial complex and that is located in the anterior lobe of
      the right cerebral ganglion. The sequences of the peptides were determined as:
      Ala-Pro-Gly-Trp-amide and Ser-Gly-Ser-Asp-Tyr-Cys-Glu-Thr-Leu-Lys-Glu-Val-Ala-Asp
      Glu-Tyr-Ile-Leu- Leu- Ser-Tyr-Lys-Ile-Glu-Glu-Gln-Arg-Ala-Ala-Asp-Cys-Gly-Gly-Glu
      Pro-Pro-Asn- Ser- Gln(amide), respectively. The longer peptide is a homodimer.
      Both peptides are processed from the recently identified Ala-Pro-Gly-Trp-amide
      prohormone, which is expressed in the neurons of the anterior lobe of the right
      cerebral ganglion. Ala-Pro-Gly-Trp-amide could also be recovered from the penial
      complex. This peptide, when applied in vitro, inhibits the contractions of the
      penis retractor muscles evoked by serotonin in a dose-dependent fashion.

PMID- 1437707
TI  - Immunohistochemical localization of delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) in the
      brain and pituitary of the cartilaginous fish Scyliorhinus canicula.
AB  - The distribution of delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) in the brain and
      pituitary of the cartilaginous fish Scyliorhinus canicula was investigated using
      the indirect immunofluorescence technique. Delta sleep-inducing peptide-like
      immunoreactive cell bodies were mainly observed in the nucleus lateralis tuberis
      of the hypothalamus. Immunolabeled perikarya were also distributed in the nucleus
      lobi lateralis hypothalami and in the dorso-lateral wall of the recessus
      posterioris. Most of these cells, located in the subependymal layers of the
      infundibulum and lateral lobes, had the typical aspect of cerebrospinal fluid
      contacting elements. The DSIP-like immunoreactive fibers were localized in the
      basal telencephalon, within the regions of the nucleus interstitialis commissurae
      anterioris and the nucleus entopeduncularis. A dense network of DSIP-positive
      fibers was seen throughout the midcaudal hypothalamus, the lateral lobes, and the
      posterior lobe. In the pituitary, numerous DSIP-like immunoreactive cells were
      detected in the median lobe of the pars distalis. In particular, a high
      concentration of cells was seen in the dorsal wall of the median lobe, an area
      which is known to contain melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH)-producing cells.
      Comparison of the distribution of DSIP- and MCH-like immunoreactive cells
      revealed that the two neuropeptides are stored in the same cells of the median
      lobe of the pituitary. These findings provide the first evidence for the presence
      of a DSIP-related peptide in fish. The distribution of the immunoreactive
      material supports the view that DSIP may act as a neuromodulator and/or a
      hypophysiotropic factor. Moreover, the presence of DSIP-like immunoreactive cells
      in the pars distalis suggests that this peptide may exert autocrine or paracrine
      effect in the pituitary.

PMID- 1437706
TI  - Isolation of peptides arising from the specific posttranslational processing of
      chromogranin A and chromogranin B from human pheochromocytoma tissue.
AB  - An extract of human adrenal medullary pheochromocytoma tissue was fractionated by
      gel permeation chromatography, and peptides of major abundance in the approximate
      molecular mass range 1000-4000 were purified to apparent homogeneity by reverse
      phase HPLC. Determination of the primary structures of four such peptides
      demonstrated that they were fragments of either chromogranin A or chromogranin B.
      The peptide WSKMDQLAKELTAE represents chromogranin A(324-337), the peptide
      LGELFNPYYDPLQWKSSHFE represents chromogranin B(498-517), the peptide NLARVPKLDL
      represents chromogranin B(568-577), and the peptide QYDRVAQLDQLLHY (isolated as
      the N-terminal pyroglutamyl derivative) represents chromogranin B(580-593).
      Analysis of the nucleotide sequences of cDNAs complementary to human chromogranin
      A and B messenger RNAs indicates that each of these peptide sequences is flanked
      by pairs or groups of basic residues, suggesting that these fragments are the
      products of specific posttranslational processing. In addition, a peptide
      identified as chromogranin B(496-517) was isolated from extract. This component
      represents the product of incomplete proteolytic cleavage at the Lys494-Arg495
      Lys496-Arg497 processing site in chromogranin B. A minor component in the extract
      was identified as chromogranin B(508-517), but this component probably represents
      an artifact of the extraction procedure arising from the hydrolysis of the acid
      labile Asp507-Pro508 bond. The study has shown that chromogranin A and B in
      pheochromocytoma tissue function as the precursors of several small peptides that
      may have a regulatory role.

PMID- 1437708
TI  - Bombyxin-II and its disulfide bond isomers: synthesis and activity.
AB  - Bombyxin-II, an insulin superfamily peptide of the silkmoth Bombyx mori, and its
      disulfide bond isomers have been synthesized by two ways of stepwise, semi
      regioselective disulfide bond formation. The disulfide bond CysA20-CysB22 or
      CysA7-CysB10 was formed first, and then the two other disulfide bonds were formed
      by iodine oxidation. The conditions for the iodine oxidation were improved to
      suppress oxidative degradation of unprotected Trp residues. With these
      conditions, bombyxin-II was synthesized in high yields (26% and 32%). Its
      disulfide bond isomers were also obtained. Specific activity of the products
      indicates that the disulfide bond CysA20-CysB22 is important to the bombyxin
      activity.

PMID- 1437709
TI  - Fluorescent N-methylanthranilyl (Mantyl) tag for peptides: its application in
      subpicomole determination of kinins.
AB  - Highly fluorescent N-methylanthranilyl (Mantyl) peptide derivatives were prepared
      by a one-step reaction with N-methylisatoic anhydride (MIA) for quantitative
      detection in HPLC. Reactions were carried out in an organic medium of
      acetonitrile-triethylamine, in aqueous alkaline sodium carbonate and sodium
      phosphate buffers. 4-Dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) catalyzed specific mantylation
      of -NH2 groups of peptides in the organic reaction medium. The DMAP had no effect
      in the aqueous buffered reaction systems. Proline amino-terminal peptides reacted
      equally well with MIA. Mantyl-bradykinin had excitation and fluorescence maxima
      at 350 nm and 426 nm in water and water/acetonitrile (ACN)/trifluoroacetic acid
      (TFA) solvent mixtures, respectively. Fluorescence intensity increased with an
      increase in ACN concentration and decreased with an increase in acid content.
      Mantyl kinins were completely resolved on a C18 reversed phase HPLC column using
      an ACN-0.1% TFA gradient and their behavior on the column was similar to having
      an extra amino acid. Di-Mantyl derivatives obtained with Lys-BK and Met-Lys-BK
      did not exhibit fluorescence appreciably higher than Mantyl-BK. Fluorescence
      detection of Mantyl kinins was about 50-100 times more sensitive (lower limits of
      0.1 to 0.5 picomole) than UV detection of the phenylisothiocyanate-derivatized
      kinins under typical HPLC conditions.

PMID- 1437710
TI  - Insulin in the vitreous of the normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat.
AB  - Insulin has been detected by ELISA in the vitreous of the normal and
      streptozotocin-diabetic rat at levels for both about 1% of those in serum. 131I
      labeled insulin, administered to conscious rats via an indwelling cannula in the
      right atrium, was found to cross the blood-ocular barrier into the vitreous.
      Autoradiographic gel analysis showed the peptide was transferred as an intact
      molecule. Vitreous insulin levels reflected serum levels as seen in relatively
      constant vitreous-to-serum insulin ratios over a wide range of serum insulin
      concentrations. The rate of blood-to-vitreous passage of insulin was about the
      same in normal as in diabetic rats (fasting serum glucose greater than or equal
      to 21 mM). At least a portion of vitreous insulin is therefore of pancreatic
      origin, and retinal tissue in the normal and diabetic animal is thus accessible
      to circulating hormone. The blood-ocular barrier is unaltered in streptozotocin
      diabetes with regard to insulin passage.

PMID- 1437712
TI  - Distribution and coexistence of urotensin I and urotensin II peptides in the
      cerebral ganglia of Aplysia californica.
AB  - Urotensin I (UI) and urotensin II (UII) were demonstrated in the cerebral ganglia
      of Aplysia californica by applying immunocytochemical and radioimmunoassay
      procedures. Sequential analysis of adjacent sections of the cerebral ganglia of
      Aplysia demonstrated that the UI-immunoreactive (UI-IR) neurons of the F cluster
      of the cerebral ganglia also contained UII immunoreactivity (UII-IR). Both UI-IR
      and UII-IR were also observed in a cuff-like arrangement of fibers surrounding
      the proximal portion of the supralabial nerve, as well as in a few fibers in the
      anterior tentacular nerves. The UI-IR perikarya of the cerebral ganglia appeared
      to project to the entire CNS of Aplysia, but the UII-IR fibers appeared only in
      the neuropile and commissure of the cerebral ganglia. The UI-IR staining was
      abolished by previous immunoabsorption of the UI antiserum with sucker
      (Catastomus commersoni) UI, but not with ovine corticotropin-releasing factor
      (CRF), rat/human CRF, or goby (Gillichthys mirabilis) UII. Immunostaining with
      UII antiserum was quenched by goby UII, but not by sucker UII-A, UII-B, UII-A(6
      12), or carp (Cyprinus carpio) UII-alpha and UII-gamma. The UII staining was not
      abolished by UI or somatostatin. The F cluster was not stained when a
      somatostatin antiserum was applied. Radioimmunoassay of dilutions of cerebral
      ganglia extract, using UII antiserum, revealed a parallel displacement curve to
      synthetic goby UII.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437711
TI  - Catabolism of rat growth hormone-releasing factor(1-29) amide in rat serum and
      liver.
AB  - Clinical and veterinary uses of growth hormone-releasing factor [GRF(1- 29)NH2]
      require the design of analogs that are resistant to proteolysis by serum and
      liver degrading enzymes. This study investigated rat GRF(1-29)NH2 processing in
      serum and liver homogenate by means of high pressure liquid chromatography
      (HPLC). Synthetic rGRF(1-29)NH2 (30 microM) was incubated (0-120 min, 37 degrees
      C) in serum (49 +/- 8 mg prot./ml). The rGRF(1-29)NH2 (10 microM) was also
      incubated (0-120 min, 37 degrees C) with liver homogenate (200 +/- 6 micrograms
      prot./ml). Time course studies of rGRF(1-29)NH2 disappearance showed apparent
      half-lives of 18 +/- 4 min and 13 +/- 3 min in serum and liver homogenate,
      respectively. This was accompanied by the appearance of degradation products that
      were all less hydrophobic than the native peptide. In the serum, two major
      metabolites were detected and isolated by preparative HPLC. Combined results of
      amino acid analysis, sequencing, and chromatography with synthetic homologs
      revealed the presence of rGRF(1-20)OH and (3-20)OH. A small amount of rGRF(12
      29)NH2, coeluting with rGRF(3-20)OH, was also found by sequencing. In the liver,
      rGRF(1-18)OH, (3-18)OH, and (1-10)OH were identified. The peptide bond Ala2-Asp3
      (DPP IV cleavage site) was hydrolyzed in both serum and liver. Other tissue
      specific cleavage sites were Arg11-Arg12 and Arg20-Lys21 (trypsin-like cleavage
      site) in the serum, and Tyr10-Arg11 and Tyr18-Ala19 (chymotrypsin-like cleavage
      site) in the liver.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437713
TI  - A comparison of the effects of mesencephalic injections of neurotensin(1-13) and
      neuromedin N on brain electrical self-stimulation.
AB  - Neuromedin N (NM-N), a hexapeptide that shares a four amino acid C-terminal
      homology with the tridecapeptide, neurotensin (NT), has been suggested as a
      potential neurotransmitter or neuromodulator that could interact with the NT
      sensitive receptors. In this experiment, we compared the effects of an equimolar
      concentration of NM-N and NT(1-13) injected in the ventral tegmental area (VTA)
      on brain electrical self-stimulation (SS), a behavior previously shown to be
      potentiated by VTA injections of NT(1-13). Rats implanted with a stimulating
      electrode in the mesencephalic central gray and a guide cannula in the VTA were
      trained to lever press to obtain rewarding electrical stimulations. Functions
      relating the rate of lever pressing to the stimulation frequency were determined,
      on separate daily tests, before and after the injection of 3 nmol of NM-N, NT(1
      13), or an equal volume of saline vehicle. At this concentration, both NM-N and
      NT(1-13) produced a significant facilitation of SS when compared to saline
      vehicle, an effect that was not seen when the peptides were injected outside the
      VTA. The facilitation of SS by NM-N, however, was much weaker and of a shorter
      duration than the one produced by NT(1-13). The shorter time course and the
      weaker behavioral effect of NM-N compared to NT(1-13) are consistent with its
      lower potency at the NT receptor and its faster rate of enzymatic degradation in
      the VTA, and suggest that NM-N potentiated the reward-relevant neural signal by
      acting on mesencephalic NT receptors.

PMID- 1437714
TI  - Insulin deficiency is a specific stimulus to hypothalamic neuropeptide Y: a
      comparison of the effects of insulin replacement and food restriction in
      streptozocin-diabetic rats.
AB  - Untreated insulin-deficient diabetes causes hyperphagia and neuroendocrine
      disturbances that may be partly mediated by increased hypothalamic activity of
      neuropeptide Y (NPY), a potent central appetite stimulant. The metabolic signal
      that stimulates hypothalamic NPY is unknown. This study aimed to determine
      whether insulin deficiency or hyperglycemia was responsible. Regional
      hypothalamic NPY concentrations were compared in streptozocin-diabetic (STZ-D)
      rats rendered nearly normoglycemic by either insulin replacement or food
      restriction. Untreated STZ-D rats were hyperphagic and showed significantly
      increased (p less than 0.01) hypothalamic NPY concentrations in the arcuate
      nucleus and lateral hypothalamic area. Once-daily ultralente insulin injections
      corrected hypoinsulinemia and hyperglycemia, abolished hyperphagia, and
      normalized NPY concentrations in all hypothalamic regions. By contrast, food
      restriction effectively lowered glycemia without raising insulin levels. In these
      underfed diabetic rats, NPY concentrations rose further and were significantly
      higher than nondiabetic and untreated diabetic levels in most hypothalamic
      regions. We conclude that insulin deficiency is a major stimulus to hypothalamic
      NPY in STZ-D, whereas hyperglycemia may exert an inhibitory influence. These
      findings support the hypothesis that hypothalamic NPY responds to specific
      metabolic cues and is involved in regulating energy balance and conserving body
      weight.

PMID- 1437715
TI  - Endorphins do not affect behavioral stress responses in mice.
AB  - Effects of endorphins on behavioral stress responses were investigated in mice.
      For this purpose, we used environment-induced conditioned suppression of motility
      and forced swimming-induced immobility. The cerebral ventricular administration
      of alpha-endorphin (2.5-10 nmol), beta-endorphin (0.38-1.5 nmol), or gamma
      endorphin (2.5-10 nmol) failed to affect either the environment-induced
      conditioned suppression of motility or the forced swimming-induced immobility. We
      have indicated previously that enkephalins attenuate both stress responses and,
      in contrast, dynorphin potentiates them. These findings indicate that the
      endorphinergic systems are not responsible for behavioral stress responses and
      that the role played by endorphins in the present stressful situations may be
      different from that of enkephalin and dynorphin.

PMID- 1437716
TI  - Expression of angiotensin II AT2 receptors in the rat skin during experimental
      wound healing.
AB  - We localized and characterized angiotensin II AT1 and AT2 receptors in the skin
      of 2-week-old rats during experimental wound healing. Both AT1 and AT2 were
      present in the skin. Three days after wounding, the expression of angiotensin II
      receptors was significantly enhanced in the dermis as well as in a localized band
      within the superficial dermis of the skin surrounding the wound. The major
      proportion of this increase was due to angiotensin II AT2 receptors. Our results
      suggest a physiological role for AT2 receptors in the process of tissue repair.

PMID- 1437717
TI  - Synthesis and biological activity of novel C-terminal-extended and biotinylated
      growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) analogs.
AB  - A series of novel hGRF(1-29)-NH2 analogs were synthesized and biotinylated. The
      immunological and biological activities of these analogs were then characterized.
      To distance the biotin moiety from the putative bioactive core, a C-terminal
      spacer arm consisting of -Gly-Gly-Cys-NH2 (-GGC) was added to hGRF(1-29)-NH2
      (hGRF29) and analogs, with subsequent biotinylation performed at the cysteine
      residue. Neither addition of the C-terminal spacer arm nor biotinylation affected
      affinity of these analogs for GRF antibody. Relative to hGRF(1-44)-NH2 (hGRF44:
      potency = 1.0), the biotinylated analogs were equipotent in vitro to their
      nonbiotinylated, parent compounds: [desNH2Tyr1,D-Ala2,Ala15]hGRF29-GGC-(tpBiocyt
      in)-NH2 (4.7) = [Ala15]hGRF29-GGC-(tpBiocytin)-NH2 (3.9) greater than hGRF29-GGC
      (tpBiocytin)-NH2 (0.8). Based upon cumulative GH release data in vivo (0-60 min
      postinjection), [desNH2Tyr1,D-Ala2,Ala15]hGRF29-GGC-(tpBiocyt in)-NH2,
      [Ala15]hGRF29-GGC-(tpBiocytin)-NH2, and hGRF29-GGC-(tpBiocytin)-NH2 displayed
      8.6, 5.5, and 0.8 times, respectively, the potency of hGRF44. These in vivo
      potency values were not significantly different from the corresponding parent
      compounds (i.e., with or without the C-terminal spacer arm). In summary,
      biotinylated hGRF analogs have been developed that retain full immunoreactivity
      and potent bioactivity (in vitro and in vivo), thus permitting their use in GRF
      receptor isolation, ELISA, and histochemical procedures.

PMID- 1437718
TI  - Role of tyrosine kinases in bombesin regulation of gastric mucosal proliferative
      activity in young and aged rats.
AB  - In vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to examine the responsiveness of
      the gastric mucosa to the growth-promoting action of bombesin in young (4 months)
      and aged (22 months) Fischer 344 rats. In addition, the role of tyrosine kinase
      (Tyr-K) in regulating this action of bombesin was also examined. In young rats,
      infusion of bombesin (300 ng/kg/h) by osmotic minipump for 2 weeks resulted in a
      significant 100% increase in mucosal DNA synthesis and ornithine decarboxylase
      (ODC) activity. These increases were accompanied by a 32% (p less than 0.025)
      rise in gastric mucosal overall Tyr-K activity and a 71% (p less than 0.001)
      increase in Tyr-k activity associated with pp60c-src, when compared with the
      corresponding controls. The bombesin-induced stimulation of pp60c-src Tyr-k
      activity was also associated with a 25% increase in phosphorylation of this
      protein. In contrast, in aged rats, none of these parameters were affected by
      bombesin. A similar phenomenon was also observed when mucosal explants from young
      and aged rats were exposed to bombesin in an organ culture system. Exposure of
      gastric mucosal explants from young, but not from aged, rats to 10(-8) M bombesin
      for 8 h resulted in a 300% (p less than 0.001) increase in ODC activity, a 150%
      (p less than 0.001) rise in Tyr-k activity, and a marked increase (400-600%) in
      tyrosine-specific phosphorylation of three membrane proteins with M(r) of 55, 44,
      and 41 kDa, when compared with the corresponding controls. However, these
      increases were totally abolished by genistein, a specific irreversible inhibitor
      of Tyr-k.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437720
TI  - Localization of neurokinin B in the central nervous system of the rat.
AB  - The distribution of neurokinin B (NKB) was determined by immunocytochemistry with
      antisera directed toward its amino terminus. Immunoreactive perikarya were
      detected in the main and accessory olfactory bulbs, cortical regions, the
      olfactory tubercle, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the diagonal band of
      Broca, the nucleus accumbens, the septum, the neostriatum, several hypothalamic
      nuclei, the superior colliculus, the central gray, the substantia nigra, the
      medullary reticular formation, and the external cuneate nucleus. The distribution
      of NKB-containing perikarya revealed by immunocytochemistry was similar to the
      distribution of protachykinin B-containing cells previously visualized by in situ
      hybridization. Immunoreactive nerve fibers and terminals were detected in all
      major subdivisions of the brain. The levels of NKB measured by radioimmunoassay
      were highest in the hypothalamus. The distribution of NKB in the rat brain was
      similar to the distribution of substance P; however, there were several regions
      where the two distributions were clearly different.

PMID- 1437719
TI  - Neuropeptide Y, peptide YY, and pancreatic polypeptide modulate duodenal and
      colonic motility at a thoracic spinal site in rats.
AB  - Neuropeptide Y, PYY, and PP (200 pmol) alter intraluminal pressure in the
      duodenum and colon of rats following their administration into the thoracic (T8
      T10) region of the spinal cord. Neuropeptide Y decreases the tone of the duodenum
      and the colon following intrathecal (T8-T10) administration prior to an increase
      in tone to baseline or greater. There is no effect on intraluminal pressure of
      either the duodenum or the colon following intrathecal administration of NPY or
      PP into the lumbar (L4-L5) region of the spinal cord. Following intrathecal (T8
      T10) administration of PYY and PP, increases in intraduodenal pressures are
      observed (+2.1 and +3.0 mmHg from saline baseline). Phasic contractions of the
      duodenum are increased following intrathecal administration of PYY into the
      thoracic spinal cord of rats. Neuropeptide Y, PYY, and PP increase intracolonic
      pressure +2.2, +3.3, and +3.7 mmHg from saline baseline, respectively. Phasic
      contractions of the colon are increased following PP intrathecal thoracic
      administration. Responsiveness of the duodenum or colon to the different ligands
      of the PP-fold peptide family in the absence of alpha-adrenergic blockade did not
      vary. The increases in intraluminal pressure of the duodenum and colon following
      intrathecal administration of the PP-fold peptides are attenuated by both alpha-1
      adrenergic (prazosin) and alpha-2 adrenergic (yohimbine) blockade. There is a
      difference in responsiveness of the colon between the ligands of the PP-fold
      family in the presence of the alpha-2 adrenergic blockade. The findings of this
      study indicate that duodenal and colonic motility are modulated by the PP-fold
      peptides at thoracic spinal sites via alteration of sympathetic outflow.

PMID- 1437721
TI  - Behavioral responses elicited by intraperitoneal neurotensin in guinea pigs.
AB  - The potential behavioral responses to single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of
      neurotensin (NT) were examined in conscious, freely moving guinea pigs. Most
      animals injected with NT solvent (i.e., controls) or NT solution with low NT
      concentration (i.e., 5.4 nM) exhibited little or no particular behavioral
      reaction. On the other hand, 50 to 75% of the animals given IP injection of NT
      with 54, 540, or 5400 nM of NT exhibited motor responses characterized by a
      transient episode of clonic body jerks. Vocalization responses were observed in
      less than 25% of the animals given IP NT. Animal pretreatment with morphine
      reduced the incidence of motor and vocalization responses. The results were
      interpreted as an indication that IP injection of moderately concentrated NT
      solution (i.e., greater than or equal to 54 nM) is probably a weak noxious
      stimulus in conscious guinea pigs.

PMID- 1437722
TI  - [Infection with hepatitis delta virus among drug addicts].

PMID- 1437723
TI  - [Hepatitis B among drug addicts].
AB  - In the years 1980-1988 twenty five drug addicts were identified among 1841
      patients hospitalized for acute hepatitis in the Dep. of Hepatology at the
      Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in Warsaw. 15 drug addicts had
      hepatitis B and 10 had hepatitis A. It was found, that the course of acute type B
      hepatitis was milder in drug addicts, than among control group consisting of non
      addicts.

PMID- 1437724
TI  - [Epidemic focus of non-A, non-B viral hepatitis in a plasmapheresis unit].
AB  - Non-A, non-B hepatitis has been diagnosed in 12 blood donors in a plasmapheresis
      unit. The course of the disease has been symptomatic, accompanied by jaundice,
      fatigue, and nausea in 8 cases, and subclinical in the remaining 4 patients. Nine
      patients were followed-up to 2 years and only 2 patients liver biochemical tests
      were normalized permanently. The biopsies performed, a year after the acute phase
      of hepatitis period revealed chronic active disease in patients, chronic
      persistent hepatitis in 2 patients, acute hepatitis in one, and normal liver in
      one patient. Repeated liver biopsies, performed one year later, have basically
      shown similar lesions except one patient in whom chronic active hepatitis
      progressed to incipient liver cirrhosis. No symptoms of the disease have been
      usually noted in patients with chronic form of the disease, and liver function
      tests have occasionally been normal.

PMID- 1437725
TI  - [Plasmapheresis in the treatment of hepatic coma].
AB  - Fourteen patients, including 6 with viral hepatitis B and 8 with liver cirrhosis
      were treated with plasmapheresis for hepatic coma. Altogether 29 plasmaphereses
      were carried out. Complete recovery was achieved in one patient with viral
      hepatitis B and in 3 patients with liver cirrhosis. Plasmapheresis should be
      performed in patients with severe lesions to the liver. Classification of
      patients to the treatment should include clinical examination, biochemical and
      enzymatic tests, and evaluation of liver reserve with isotope hepatography. In
      case of the acute poisoning with hepatotoxic agents indications to plasmapheresis
      should be evaluated from the toxicologic point of view.

PMID- 1437726
TI  - [Plasmapheresis in the treatment of hepatic coma complicating viral hepatitis].
AB  - Therapeutic plasmaphereses using CS 3000 Fenwal Cell Separator were performed in
      4 women and 2 men, aged between 17 and 44 years, with hepatic coma complicating
      acute viral hepatitis type B. One to four plasma exchanges per patient were
      performed, usually at the volume of 3000 ml per procedure. Two patients at II and
      IVa period of the coma, according to Aboun classification, survived. Four
      patients at II, III and two at III/IV period of the coma died. The authors
      suggest that in some cases exchange of large volumes of plasma in the treatment
      of hepatic coma complicating acute viral hepatitis may be a lifesaving procedure.

PMID- 1437727
TI  - [Use of the analysis of chromosomal changes in the prognosis of "fulminant
      hepatitis"].

PMID- 1437728
TI  - [Phenazon metabolism in children with liver diseases].

PMID- 1437729
TI  - [Evaluation of cellular and humoral immunity in men after occupational exposure].
AB  - Hundred twenty seven adult men have been examined to determine an effect of the
      occupational exposure to lead on the immunity. A group of 77 men occupationally
      exposed to lead absorbed by respiratory has been selected on the basis of the
      determination of exposure to lead in their working places, detection of lead
      deposits and its metabolites in the body. Fifty men constituted a control group.
      They were exposed to lead corresponding to an exposure of general population.
      Immunological studies have shown that high lead levels in the occupational
      environment produced significant disorders in all stages of both types of
      immunological response--a decrease in the cellular and humoral immunity.

PMID- 1437730
TI  - [Multi-component preparations in present-day drug therapy].

PMID- 1437731
TI  - [Hepatitis B virus infection in alcoholics].
AB  - Chromosomal analysis has been carried out in 4 patients with the symptoms of
      hepatic coma. An analysis included lymphocytes cultured from peripheral blood.
      Chromosomal disorders have been assessed with two techniques: structural
      chromosomal aberrations test, and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) test. It has
      been shown that the extend of chromosomal damage in the form of the gaps, breaks,
      acentric chromosomes as well as the presence of ring and dicentric chromosomes,
      and micronuclear cells have been higher in the examined patients. Such changes
      may evidence DNA repair disorders, and the presence of micronuclear forms may
      seem an unfavourable prognosis.

PMID- 1437732
TI  - [Meta-analysis of the effectiveness of therapeutic methods].

PMID- 1437733
TI  - [Problems of occupational poisoning with chemical substances and the functions of
      various endocrine and reproductive glands].

PMID- 1437734
TI  - [Cerebral infarction--a general-medical problem].
AB  - A knowledge of events accompanying the acute coronary failure may help
      understanding the acute cerebral blood flow insufficiency leading to brain
      infarction. Cerebral blood flow should be treated as an integral part of the
      systemic blood circulation. It is of importance when the disease produces lesions
      to the vascular wall, and the brain looses its autoregulation functions. In such
      a situation every extracerebral disorders--even slight--may produce extensive
      lesions to nervous tissue. Therefore, the treatment of the acute cerebral
      circulation failure requires proper functioning of all factors which may affect
      hemodynamics and tissue metabolism. Duration of cerebral flow disorders plays an
      important role in the avoidance of unfavourable complications such as brain
      infarction. Therefore, every physician is obliged to undertake any possible
      actions preventing such complications.

PMID- 1437735
TI  - [Brain stem insufficiency in acute ischemia and cerebral hemorrhage].
AB  - Consciousness disorders are closely related to the general dysfunction of the
      brain stem, and called by some authors brain stem insufficiency. To evaluate the
      degree of brain stem dysfunction, an original scale has been elaborated. Each
      group of brain stem functions are scored. Consciousness being the most important
      symptom of the brain stem insufficiency is scored about 50% in a 63-score scale.
      Scores are used to achieve the most objectivity in the clinical monitoring of the
      brain stem insufficiency. Its utility was examined in 75 patients with either
      ischemia or cerebral hemorrhage. Patients of both groups with severe
      insufficiency below 33 scores and persisting over 24 hours had no chance to
      survive. The authors suggest that the scores may successfully be used in the
      clinical monitoring of all disorders producing consciousness disturbances.
      Survival of patients with brain stem insufficiency in the course of cerebral
      ischemia or hemorrhage depends on the degree and duration of the brain stem
      insufficiency.

PMID- 1437737
TI  - [The number and affinity of fibrinogen receptors in blood platelets of patients
      with ischemic stroke].
AB  - Parameters of fibrinogen binding with blood platelets (number of receptors and
      their affinity) have been studied in patients with ischemic stroke. Due to the
      increased platelet ability to aggregate in the ischemic diseases such studies
      seem helpful. The studies involved 13 patients with ischemic stroke. Blood
      platelets collected from younger patients (under 50 years) possessed
      significantly higher number of receptors binding fibrinogen than blood platelets
      of healthy individuals (p less than 0.02). These receptors significantly more
      strongly bound ligand than those in the control group (p less than 0.05), and in
      the group of older patients with stroke (less than 0.05). Fibrinogen binding to
      blood platelets in patients over 50 years of age did not differ significantly
      from that in the control group. These results may indicate, that the increased
      platelet aggregation might be a significant pathogenic factor of the stroke in
      younger patients.

PMID- 1437736
TI  - [Physical activity in acute cerebrovascular insufficiency].
AB  - It was noted that physical activity of 1052 patients hospitalized for the acute
      cerebral flow failure due to atheromatosis is an important indicator of the
      cerebral ischemia. Extension of ischemia evaluated on the basis of physical
      activity enables to foresee possible improvement and survival. Authors' own
      classification of physical activity may be helpful in the monitoring of cerebral
      flow failure therapy.

PMID- 1437738
TI  - [Rheological properties of blood in patients with ischemic stroke in selected
      clinical groups].
AB  - Hemorheological parameters have been analysed in 34 patients with the acute
      ischemic stroke. The patients have been divided into two clinical subgroups: with
      accompanying arterial hypertension (group HA), and free of other diseases (group
      NHA). Comparative studies have not revealed the significant differences between
      both groups. However, blood viscosity has been significantly higher in the
      hypertensive patients. It was related to the decrease in the erythrocyte ability
      to elastic deformation Group NHA has been characterized by the high fibrinogen
      levels and by the decrease of the cerebral blood flow.

PMID- 1437739
TI  - [Calcitonin level in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with amyotrophic lateral
      sclerosis].
AB  - Several data indicate that the dysfunction of some neuropeptide function may play
      a role in the pathogenesis of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Therefore, the
      authors decide to determine a concentration of one of them in CSF, namely
      calcitonin. Calcitonin is widely distributed in CNS, including both anterior and
      posterior horns of the spinal cord. It was confirmed with immunohistochemical
      assays and an examination of the human CSF. Calcitonin concentration in CSF has
      been assayed in 12 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and in 12 patients
      of the control group. Calcitonin concentrations in CSF have been measured with
      RIA technique, using appropriate kits manufactured by Mallinckrodt Dgn. Mean
      calcitonin CSF concentration in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was
      448. +/- 74.3 pg/ml, and was lowered in comparison with that in the control
      group, i.e. 613.9 +/- 147.2 pg/ml. The results confirm the authors' previous
      reports on the reduced content of some neuropeptides in CSF of patients with
      amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and suggest a possible calcitonin role in the
      pathogenesis of this disease.

PMID- 1437740
TI  - [Diagnosis of progressive open internal hydrocephalus in patients after cranio
      cerebral injuries and subarachnoid hemorrhage].
AB  - Late internal hydrocephalus has been diagnosed in 68 (44%) out of 154 patients
      treated for the ruptured cerebral aneurysms, and in 37 (31%) out of 120 patients,
      who underwent cranio-cerebral trauma. To establish the indications for shunts, CT
      scans of the skull, tomoventriculography, and infusion tests have been carried
      out in 38 patients. It has been found, that increased transparency of the areas
      below cerebral ependyma, the lack of cerebral cortex sulci, and imaging of the
      temporal horns together with internal hydrocephalus in CT scans indicate an
      active process and are indications to shunting. If there are no signs of active
      process in CT scans despite of the presence of hydrocephalus,
      tomoventriculography should be performed to establish more fully the indications
      to shunting.

PMID- 1437741
TI  - [Relation between resorption resistance of cerebrospinal fluid and the degree of
      intracranial pressure].
AB  - Changes in the CSF resorption resistance in relation to the value of the
      intracranial pressure have been assessed in 44 cats. Changes in the intracranial
      pressure have been produced with fluid infusions. Between 1 to 5 infusion tests
      with the rate 0.012-1.8 ml/min have been performed in each animal. A relationship
      between CSF resorption resistance and intracranial pressure has been found. With
      an increase in the intracranial pressure CSF resorption resistance increased to
      maximum value of 34 kPa/ml per minute (255.6 mm Hg/ml per minute) at pressure
      2.96 +/- 0.69 kPa (22.2 +/- 5.2 mm Hg). At the intracranial pressure about 6.7
      kPa (50 mm Hg) CSF resorption resistance rapidly decreased to the value of 13.9
      kPa/ml per minute (104 mm Hg/ml per minute). Later, changes have been rather
      slight. It is possible, that the breaking point at 6.7 kPa corresponds to the
      mobilisation of all ways of CSF evacuation.

PMID- 1437743
TI  - [A new model of computerized encephalovolumeter for monitoring of acute
      cerebrovascular insufficiency].
AB  - A new model of the computerized encephalovolumeter (EVM.IR) is presented.
      Infrared light is used as an information carrier enabling to follow the dynamics
      of intracerebral equilibrium and blood flow disorders. The authors suggest that
      this model would help clinical examination in the acute cerebral flow failure,
      and increase better evaluation of the efficiency of drugs improving cerebral
      blood flow. It should also help to foresee the outcome and prognosis. A new model
      of EVM.IR and its programs require further constructional and experimental
      studies before the routine use at ICUs.

PMID- 1437742
TI  - [Accidental fatal poisoning with ethyl fluoroacetate].
AB  - Fluoroacetic salts belong to the most toxic chemicals. They are used for various
      purposes, and form stable compounds in some plants. A case of poisoning with
      ethyl fluoroacetate is presented in detail. Diagnostic problems and therapy which
      failed due to the late diagnosis and dramatic progress in the symptoms of
      poisoning are also discussed. Fluoroacetic ion alone is non-toxic but in vivo
      forms fluorotricarboxylic acid, which blocks cellular metabolism at the citrate
      stage. Symptoms occur with a delay but lethal synthesis of fluorotricarboxylic
      acid leads to the irreversible cellular dysfunction, especially in CNS and
      circulatory system. Poisoning may be treated with monoacetin and acetamide. An
      emphasis is on health hazards resulting from the exposure to fluoroacetate and
      necessity to observe strictly safety regulations.

PMID- 1437744
TI  - [Activities of the Stanislaw Konopka Main Medical Library].

PMID- 1437745
TI  - [Extra-intracranial arterial anastomosis in the treatment of cerebral ischemia--
      our present knowledge and conclusions for the future].

PMID- 1437746
TI  - [Cost of the treatment of acute cerebrovascular insufficiency causing cerebral
      infarction].
AB  - Many countries are interested in the cost of therapy of the acute cerebral flow
      insufficiency leading to brain infarction. Total costs include: drugs, laboratory
      tests, nursing care, the cost of patients' food, equipment, amortization,
      hospital administration etc. The total expenditure for a 10-15-day treatment of
      the acute neurological incident depended on the severity of the disease and was 8
      million ++ zloty in case of mildly ill patient, 9 million in case of moderately
      severe disease, and 21 million zloty in case of severely ill patient. If the
      costs of such tests as CT and TCD-scanning will be added, total cost will
      increase significantly.

PMID- 1437747
TI  - [Computerized tomography in the diagnosis of hemorrhage caused by ruptured
      intracranial aneurysm].
AB  - The authors presented current views on usefulness of computed tomography (CT) for
      diagnosing the bleeding from a ruptured intracranial aneurysm. CT should be done
      in every such case, whereas the lumbar puncture remains the diagnostic method of
      choice, when CT is not available or in those patients in whom CT shows no
      haemorrhage. Sensitivity of CT decreases with time that elapsed from the stroke;
      false negative results are the least likely to occur within the first 48 hours
      after bleeding episode to subarachnoid space.

PMID- 1437748
TI  - [Mathematical analysis of relations between dose, level or volume of bupivacaine
      and various hemodynamic parameters in epidural anesthesia].
AB  - Changes in the basic, hemodynamic parameters during the first 30 minutes of
      epidural anesthesia in relation of the dose, concentration, and volume of
      bupivacaine used are discussed. It was found, that in a proper epidural
      anesthesia a significant effect on the value of basic hemodynamic parameters was
      exerted only by a volume of administered bupivacaine solution, whereas its
      concentration or dose do not play any significant role. However, further
      prospective studies are necessary to extend this observation on the wider
      population.

PMID- 1437749
TI  - [Outline of the history of the treatment of cerebral aneurysms].

PMID- 1437750
TI  - [Compression fractures of the vertebrae in children with acute lymphoblastic
      leukemia].
AB  - Compression fractures of vertebrae were noted in 20 out of 1,700 children with
      the acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Usually prognosis in these cases has been
      favourable (70% of patients are alive from 5 months to 19 years). Percentage of
      recovery from compression fractures has been relatively high. Lymphoblastic
      leukemia with infiltrations localized in the spine is relatively non-aggressive,
      develops slowly, and despite extensive lesions to the bones its outcome results
      are favourable. Main symptom of spinal involvement include severe and persisting
      back aches which make walking impossible. Such symptoms should indicate the
      diagnosis of leukemia and advocate proper hematological examinations.

PMID- 1437751
TI  - [Hybrid leukemia among acute childhood leukemias].
AB  - Four children with the acute leukemia are presented. Their blasts shown the
      presence of 2 cellular lines markers. Coexistence of markers in the blasts was
      detected with the technique of double staining the blasts from the bone marrow
      with: alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase, and peroxidase with the use
      of monoclonal antibodies series. Analysis of blasts phenotype with monoclonal
      antibodies confirm the occurrence of leukemias different from the normally
      programmed cellular line. Deviations of leukemic cells phenotype may be explained
      with the fact that leukemogenesis is not an absolute block of cells
      differentiation but combines maturation disorders and proliferation enabling
      expression normally absent antigens. It confirms the concept of line preservation
      and presentation of "earlier frozen" phenotype, and explains the occurrence of
      leukemias in which blasts present phenotype of one line which does not comply
      with cell differentiation pattern. Further genotypic studies are necessary to
      clarify pathogenesis and origin of such blasts. Consequently examination of the
      larger group of patients with hybrid leukemias will enable conclusions concerning
      prognostic value of such findings and necessity of introduction of the special
      therapies.

PMID- 1437752
TI  - [Recurrences after completion of the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in
      children].
AB  - Within the past 16 years, 2004 children with the acute lymphoblastic leukemia
      were treated at the Centres of the Polish Pediatric Study Group. The treatment
      was completed in 887 patients (44.3%) with the first remission. Recurrence was
      noted in 180 children (20.3%). This group was analysed in view of the type of
      therapy and its effect on the survival rate, significance of recurrence following
      therapy, character and localization of recurrent disease, and further fate of
      patients. It was found, that patients with isolated late nuclear recurrence have
      greatest chances to achieve subsequent remission. Most frequent and severe is
      recurrent bone marrow involvement which requires intensive chemotherapy combined
      with bone marrow transplantation due to unfavourable prognosis. Patients with the
      first recurrence of the acute lymphoblastic leukemia have a chance to achieve
      subsequent remission and long-term survival.

PMID- 1437753
TI  - [Activity of natural cytotoxic cells in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].
AB  - Cytotoxic activity of NK cells in the peripheral blood has been determined in 30
      patients with malignant non-Hodgkin lymphomas prior to and following therapy. In
      the whole group as well as in subgroups classified according to the criteria of
      Working Formulation as lymphomas of the low, moderate and high degree of
      malignancy, activity of NK cells has been statistically significantly lower than
      that in healthy individuals. Marked increase in this activity has been noted in
      19 patients in the state of clinical remission after the treatment with cytotoxic
      agents, and sometimes radiotherapy. The value of mean cytotoxic activity reached
      normal limits in the lymphoma of high degree of malignancy, and exceeded these
      limits in the lymphomas of moderate and low malignancy.

PMID- 1437754
TI  - [Prognostic value of the reaction to steroids in the treatment of acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia in children].
AB  - Relationship between the result of therapy in 48 cases of the acute lymphoblastic
      leukemia in childhood and character of response to corticosteroids, classified
      according to BMF group, has been assessed. Follow up period ranged from 13 to 75
      months (mean 36 months, median 39 months). In was found, that the probability of
      survival free from any events, probability of complete remission persistence, and
      probability of survival after diagnosis have been statistically significantly
      higher in the group of patients with positive response to corticosteroids in
      comparison with patients non-responding to these agents. However, there was no
      significant difference in the number of recurrencies with the involvement of CNS.
      Authors share the opinion that their results confirm an opinion of Riehm et al.
      that the response to corticosteroids is of prognostic value in the acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood.

PMID- 1437756
TI  - [Chromosome aberrations as a prognostic factor in children with acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia].

PMID- 1437755
TI  - [Spastic paralysis of the lower extremities as the first symptom of acute
      myeloblastic leukemia].
AB  - A case of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) with spastic paralysis of the lower
      extremities caused by a tumor of the spinal cord as the first symptoms of the
      disease is presented. The tumor consisted of leukaemic cells. A diagnosis of AML
      type M2, according to FAB classification, was established. A complete remission
      was achieved after 2 courses of chemotherapy. Patient started to walk after
      intensive rehabilitation. After 14 months of complete remission, recurrence was
      observed despite an intensified therapy.

PMID- 1437757
TI  - [Prognostic factors in chronic lymphocytic leukemia].

PMID- 1437758
TI  - [Natural factors inhibiting blood coagulation (antithrombin III, protein C and
      protein S)].

PMID- 1437759
TI  - [Physician's talks with patients and their relatives].

PMID- 1437760
TI  - [The venous and lymphatic systems of human brain].

PMID- 1437761
TI  - [Hyponatremia after subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by ruptured intracranial
      aneurysm].
AB  - Hyponatremia developed both prior to and after surgery in 30.5% and 23.4% out of
      164 patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms. It was more frequent
      postoperatively in those patients in whom baseline serum sodium levels were
      lower. Hyponatremic patients were older than normonatremic. The mean difference
      in age was about 7 years. The authors, basing on CT scans, have found that
      hyponatremia development has been more likely in patients with blood visible in
      subarachnoid space, specially chiasmatic cistern, and patients with ventricular
      bleeding or hydrocephalus. Hyponatremia following subarachnoid hemorrhage seems
      to result from the ischemic lesions to hypothalamus i may, therefore, be
      considered as vegetative equivalent of so-called cerebrovascular spasm.

PMID- 1437762
TI  - [Experience with nimodipine treatment of vascular spasm after subarachnoid
      hemorrhage].
AB  - Pathogenesis of vasospasms following subarachnoid haemorrhage and possible
      therapeutic efficacy of nimodipine (calcium channel blocking agent) are
      discussed. The authors present their own experience in the treatment of 209
      patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage with nimodipine. Collected clinical
      results suggest the necessity of the combined treatment of vasospasm following
      subarachnoid haemorrhage with nimodipine, hypervolemia, and hypertensive agents.

PMID- 1437763
TI  - [Health resort treatment of eye diseases caused by ischemia].
AB  - The authors discuss the results of ophthalmodynamometric tests used for the
      assessment of cerebro-retinal vessels reactivity following carbon dioxide baths
      and "peat collars". An analysis of systemic and local blood pressure in the
      ophthalmic artery measured with Weigelin and Lobstein technique enables to assess
      changes in blood pressures following a/m balneologic procedures. It was found
      that blood pressure does not change parallelly due to the mechanism of cerebral
      autoregulation. Transient decrease in blood pressure in the ophthalmic artery is
      produced by the dilatation of the internal carotid artery indicating a potent
      vasodilating action of carbon dioxide.

PMID- 1437764
TI  - [Study of etiopathogenesis of keratoconus with special reference to intraocular
      pressure].

PMID- 1437765
TI  - [Treatment of patients with lysosomal storage diseases].
AB  - A problem of management of patients with lysosomal storage diseases in own
      experience with over 100 children with such diseases has been discussed.
      Symptomatic therapy of carpal tunnel syndrome, Pudenz valves, splenectomies,
      plasty of hernia, locomotive rehabilitation and various forms of cooperation with
      patients' families have been used in the treatment. An attempt of the treatment
      of the storage diseases with implantation of fetal membranes has been undertaken
      in view of the fact, that such membranes are the source of deficit enzyme.

PMID- 1437766
TI  - [Nutrition of patients after cranial injuries].

PMID- 1437767
TI  - [Results of the treatment of Wilson's disease with zinc sulfate and d
      penicillamine].
AB  - Nine patients with newly diagnosed Wilson's disease were treated with zinc
      sulphate for 12 months. Polish preparation Zincteral was administered in doses of
      200 mg 4 times daily. The neurological status has improved in five cases. No
      adverse reactions of zinc sulphate were observed. The results were compared with
      the therapeutic effect, obtained in the group of 10 patients who received d
      penicillamine (Cuprenil-Polfa) 1.0-1.5 g daily from the very beginning. In three
      cases drug was discontinued due to adverse reactions. In remaining seven cases,
      in five evidence of the clinical improvement of the neurological status was
      observed, but in one case during 12 months of observation progressing
      deterioration was noticed. Neurological state of one patient remained unchanged.

PMID- 1437768
TI  - [Use of the transcranial Doppler ultrasonographic diagnosis in neurology and
      surgery].

PMID- 1437770
TI  - [Computer-assisted analysis of patients' medical records].

PMID- 1437769
TI  - [A few remarks regarding 421 cases of trigeminal neuralgia].
AB  - Referring to the treatment of 421 patients with trigeminal neuralgia, the authors
      indicate an early alcoholization or exheyresis in case of therapeutical failure
      of systemic conservative treatment. Such a management prevents transformation of
      the peripheral into central neuralgia. Emphasis is on more frequent treatment of
      neuralgia by dental surgeons.

PMID- 1437771
TI  - [The QT interval--its clinical significance].

PMID- 1437772
TI  - [Usefulness of the measurement of corrected QT (QTc) for the diagnosis of
      diabetic neuropathy of the autonomic cardiovascular system].
AB  - Corrected QT interval was determined in diabetic patients and in a group of obese
      individuals with glucose intolerance. It was shown that the measurements of
      corrected QT (QTc) interval may be a reliable test in the diagnosis of the
      autonomic diabetic neuropathy. Its simplicity enables routine measurements in
      diabetic patients treated in out-patients clinics.

PMID- 1437773
TI  - [Time of regression of the Q wave in patients with myocardial infarction].
AB  - A rate of Q wave regression was assessed in 72 patients with ischaemic heart
      disease, including 46 patients after the infarction of the inferior wall and 26
      patients after anterior wall infarction. All patients were followed-up for two
      years. Complete regression of Q wave was noted in 19 patients (41.3%) after
      inferior wall infarction and in one patient (3.8%) after anterior wall myocardial
      infarction. Partial regression of Q wave was seen in 9 patients (19.6%) after
      inferior wall, and in 2 patients (7.6%) of patients with anterior wall myocardial
      infarction. It seems that the regression of Q wave in ECG does not improve
      prognosis in these patients. Six out of 10 deaths which occurred in the followed
      up group of patients involved those in whom no electrographic features of the
      past myocardial infarction were seen.

PMID- 1437774
TI  - [Programmed atrial and ventricular stimulation in patients with mitral valve
      prolapse--a personal experience].
AB  - Electrophysiological tests were performed in 60 patients aged between 18 and 63
      years (mean age 38 years), and divided into two groups: with mitral valve leaves
      prolapse syndrome, and without this abnormality, in whom no other heart disease
      was diagnosed. Refraction of the right atrium, atrio-ventricular node, and right
      ventricle was evaluated together with cardiac response to different types of
      electrostimulation. A supraventricular dysrhythmia (most frequently atrial
      fibrillation) has been produced in 17 patients (42.5%) with mitral valve leaves
      prolapse syndrome whereas in the control group the same was produced in 2
      patients (10%). Programmed stimulation of the ventricles did not produce
      ventricular tachycardia in none patient of both groups. Multiple ventricular
      beats have been produced in 3 patients with mitral valve prolapse syndrome and
      pairs of ventricular beats in other 3 patients of this group. Results suggest
      that "arrhythmogenic tendency", especially supraventricular dysrhythmia is more
      frequent in patients with mitral valve prolapse syndrome than in the general
      population.

PMID- 1437775
TI  - [Magnesium and potassium levels in the blood serum and lymphocytes and the rate
      of sodium outflow through lymphocyte membranes in patients with chronic heart
      failure].

PMID- 1437776
TI  - [Analysis of the causes and clinical course of anemia in elderly patients].
AB  - Anamnesis of patients treated for anemia at the Department of Internal and
      Occupational Diseases in Zabrze in 1984-1988 were analysed. It was found that the
      incidence of anemia in patients over 60 years of age was significantly higher.
      Decreased function of hematopoietic system, more frequent deficits of factors
      indispensable for the normal erythropoiesis, i.e. iron and vitamin B12, and
      coexisting diseases, especially neoplasms and uremia, predispose to anemia in
      this age group. Anemia seen in the group of patients with diabetes mellitus type
      2 was most probably a result of the chronic treatment with sulfonylurea
      derivatives.

PMID- 1437777
TI  - [Propionibacterium acnes in the etiology of endocarditis].
AB  - Propionibacterium acnes is the gram positive anaerobic bacteria belongs to the
      normal skin and oral microbial flora. The participation of this microorganism in
      the infective endocarditis is still controversial. The aim of the study was to
      perform the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties in 5 patients with infective
      endocarditis caused by Propionibacterium acnes. In 3 out of 5 patients the
      infective endocarditis developed after prosthesis valve replacement, in 2 others
      on the native valves. The inserted prostheses were mechanical ones,
      propionibacterium acnes was identified as causative organisms in all of the
      causes (two positive blood and/or valve culture). The bacterial strains were
      sensitive to the antibiotics as: penicillins, cephalosporins, clindamycin, and
      vancomycin, however cephalosporins used at the beginning of the treatment in 3
      patients and clindamycin in 1 patient had limited clinical efficacy. Later
      treatment with timentin, augmentin and tienamycin was successful in 3 patients;
      one patient was cured with vancomycin. One patient died because of septic,
      embolic complication in early stage of illness. We conclude the effectiveness of
      penicillins in combination with clavulanic acid and tienamycin in therapy of
      infective endocarditis due to Propionibacterium acnes. The treatment should be
      lasted during 4-6 weeks.

PMID- 1437778
TI  - [Emergency epicardial dissection of the accessory pathway in a patient with
      atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia].
AB  - Diagnostic and therapeutic problems in 14 year old patient with concealed WPW
      syndrome were presented. Paroxysms of atrio-ventricular reentrant tachycardia 180
      220/min were frequently recurring, usually with normal QRS pattern. Tachycardias
      often had to be terminated by intravenous administration of antiarrhythmic drugs.
      Long term treatment with various antiarrhythmic agents did not prevent recurrence
      of tachycardias but they became sustained and were recurring more often. Their
      other side effects manifested with sinus node disfunction and depression of the
      heart muscle. The electrophysiologic study revealed right anterior septal
      accessory pathway. Epicardial dissection of the accessory pathway was urgently
      performed. The control electrophysiologic study revealed no evidence of
      conduction through the accessory pathway. The patient did not require
      antiarrhythmic treatment. During the 12 months follow up no tachycardia occurred.

PMID- 1437779
TI  - [Cardiological and endocrinological complications after bone marrow
      transplantation].

PMID- 1437780
TI  - [Endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF)].

PMID- 1437781
TI  - [Dioxins].

PMID- 1437782
TI  - [Daily fat consumption by the population of Warsaw].
AB  - Fat intake with the diet has been assessed within screening Pol-MONICA--Warsaw
      Project in randomly selected sample of Warsaw inhabitants aged between 35 and 64
      years. Altogether 2571 individuals have been screened. Fat intake in daily diet
      has been estimated by the 24-hour recall technique. In men, fat intake covered
      38.4% of the total energy supply with the diet whereas in female population -
      37.7%. Mean contribution of SFA and P/S ratio in both sex groups have been 15.8%
      and 0.285, respectively. Daily cholesterol intake has been 641 mg (224 mg/1000
      kcal) in male and 456 mg (227/1000 kcal) in female population. These values did
      not change significantly with the age of the screened individuals. Such a diet
      may be considered atherogenic.

PMID- 1437783
TI  - [Cardiological problems in Warsaw in the first half of the 19th century].

PMID- 1437784
TI  - [Evaluation of the activity of ulcerative colitis].

PMID- 1437785
TI  - [General practice as the basis of health care in the society. General concepts of
      primary health care].

PMID- 1437786
TI  - [In memory of an unusual physician (on the 50th anniversary of death of
      pediatrician Tadeusz Zelenski].

PMID- 1437787
TI  - [The first gastroenterologic society in Europe].

PMID- 1437788
TI  - [Biliary scintigraphy].

PMID- 1437789
TI  - [Anatomic changes in the biliary tract and pancreas in patients with diabetes
      mellitus diagnosed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography].
AB  - Structural changes in both biliary tract and pancreas have been assessed with
      endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in 100 diabetic patients divided
      into subgroups depending on the type of diabetes mellitus, i.e. type I, type II
      and III-pancreatic. Control group included 100 randomly selected patients without
      diabetes mellitus in whom endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography has been
      performed for various indications. Structural changes in the biliary tract and
      pancreas have been more frequent in diabetic patients than in the control group
      (47 and 75% vs 32 and 30%, respectively). Cholelithiasis has been noted in 27.8%
      of patients with type II diabetes mellitus and in 11.3% of patients with type I
      diabetes mellitus; obesity has been found in 57 and 12% of patients,
      respectively. Other biliary tract disorders, mainly in the form of segmental
      stenosis or dilatation of the common bile duct, have been more frequent in
      patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Pancreatic disorders, assessed with the
      aid of Cambridge classification, have been noted in all patients with pancreatic
      diabetes and in 80.7% of patients with diabetes mellitus type I. Incidence of so
      called doubtful and mild disorders has been more frequent (22.2 and 24.1%,
      respectively) in patients with diabetes mellitus type II whereas "moderate" and
      "severe" disorders have been significantly less frequent (7.4 and 1.9% of
      patients). The results indicate, that endoscopic retrograde
      cholangiopancreatography is useful in the assessment of bile ducts structure and
      pancreatic exocrine activity in diabetic patients in whom disorders are more
      frequent.

PMID- 1437790
TI  - [Effect of colloid bismuth treatment on Campylobacter pylori infection of the
      gastric mucosa and the clinical course of non-ulcer dyspepsia].
AB  - There are suggestions, that the idiopathic non-ulcer dyspepsia is related to the
      chronic gastritis type B coexisting with C. pylori infection. Presented studies
      were aimed at the assessing of an effect of the treatment with De-Nol on the
      course of the idiopathic non-ulcer dyspepsia of C. pylori infection. Gastroscopic
      examination was performed in 52 patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia before and
      after the treatment with De-Nol administered for 4-8 weeks. Campylobacter pylori
      was isolated from 71% of patients with idiopathic non-ulcer dyspepsia. An
      infection was eradicated in 97.4% of patients treated with De-Nol. The number of
      dyspeptic episodes decreased in by 96% of patients, including 33% of patients in
      whom total recovery was noted. De-Nol was well tolerated. De-Nol is highly
      effective in the eradication of C. pylori and produces clinical improvement in
      the majority of patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia.

PMID- 1437791
TI  - [Inflammatory changes in the gastric mucosa of patients with idiopathic non-ulcer
      dyspepsia and the effect of colloid bismuth treatment on the course of
      inflammation].
AB  - The studies were aimed at the assessment of the coexistence of non-ulcer
      dyspepsia with chronic gastritis and Campylobacter pylori infection, and of the
      effect of therapy with De-Nol on the course of such disease. The studies involved
      50 patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia. Prior to and after the treatment with De
      Nol samples of the mucosa collected from the antrum and corpus of the stomach
      have been examined histologically with urease test indicating C. pylori
      infection. Chronic gastritis of the antral mucosa membrane and/or mucosa of the
      corpus of the stomach has been found in 36 patients, and normal mucosa in 14
      patients. Therapy with De-Nol produced statistically significant improvement.
      Totally histological improvement has been noted in 77.1% of patients with
      inflammation of the antral mucous membrane and in 64.3% of patients with
      inflammation of the corporeal gastric mucosa. Campylobacter pylori has been
      eradicated in all patients with chronic gastritis. De Nol eliminates or
      significantly lowers an inflammation in the antrum and/or corpus of the stomach.
      Its action is related to the eradication of Campylobacter pylori infection.

PMID- 1437792
TI  - [Effect of the Warren operation on hypersplenism].
AB  - The authors present their own comments on the effect of Warren shunt on
      hypersplenism. Hypersplenism is frequent complication in portal hypertension. The
      authors estimate its frequency on 64.7% of patients. Spleen size, thrombocyte
      count, WBC count, and esophageal endoscopy have been carried out prior to and
      following distal spleno-renal shunt. Surgery produced favourable effect in 70% of
      patients, i.e. a decrease of hypersplenism symptoms. An increase in blood
      platelet count may serve as a screening marker of anastomosis patency.

PMID- 1437793
TI  - [Serum triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels in children with celiac disease].
AB  - The study was aimed at determining relationship between thyroid function and the
      type and degree of malabsorption. Serum triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)
      levels were determined in children with celiac disease and the secondary
      malabsorption. Hundred fifty five children aged between 6 months and 7 years were
      followed up 3 years. Coeliac disease was diagnosed with classic Interlaken
      criteria. All children were divided into three groups: group I--57 children aged
      between 6 months and 3 years with suspected celiac disease; group II--55 children
      aged between 2.5 and 6 years after gluten-free diet therapy; group III--52
      children aged between 3 and 7 years after gluten provocation test. Serum T3 and
      T4 levels for each group were compared with those in children with normal gut
      mucous membrane. Blood serum T3 and T4 were assayed with OPIDI kit (manufactured
      in Swierk). Serum T4 levels were significantly lower in children with mucous
      membrane atrophy in comparison with dystrophic children and normal gut mucous
      membrane. Both serum T3 and T4 were significantly lowered in the youngest
      children upto 12 months of life with mucous membranes atrophy. Serum T3 and T4
      concentrations were below the normal values in 4 youngest children. Blood serum
      T3 and T4 levels did not depend on the morphology of the intestinal villi in
      children treated with gluten-free diet (some children did not observe the diet
      and had atrophic lesions to the mucous membrane of the small intestine). Blood
      serum T3 level was relatively increased in children of group II with mucous
      membrane regeneration; in comparison with the value determined in the period of
      active disease.

PMID- 1437794
TI  - [Patient monitoring after surgical treatment of cancer of the large intestine].

PMID- 1437795
TI  - [Alpha 1-antitrypsin as an endogenous marker of protein-losing enteropathies].
AB  - A novelty of the present studies is the use of alpha 1-antitrypsin (A-1--AT) as
      an endogenous marker of enteric protein loss. Enteric clearance of alpha 1
      antitrypsin was determined in 10 patients with the symptoms of PLE, and in 6
      healthy individuals. Alpha 1-Antitrypsin concentration has been assayed in
      single, random samples of feces collected from 42 patients and 12 healthy
      individuals (normal values: 1.31 +/- 0.72 mg/g of feces). Markedly increased
      enteric clearance and A-1-AT concentrations in single, random samples of feces
      have been found in patients with enteric lymphangiectasis, Crohn's disease,
      ulcerative colitis, and constrictive pericarditis, slightly lower in coeliac,
      chronic diarrhoea, nonspecific hemorrhagic colitis, esophagitis, lambliasis,
      hypogammaglobulinemia, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome,
      hepatitis in newborn, and Gilbert's disease. Statistically significant positive
      clearance has been noted (r = 0.997; p less than .001). A single assay of A-1-AT
      in feces is simple, repeatable, and sensitive technique in the diagnosis and
      evaluation of these diseases in which the symptoms of enteric protein loss are
      seen.

PMID- 1437796
TI  - [Intra-systemic inhibitors of the hematopoietic system].
AB  - Physiological, experimental and theoretical aspects concerning haemopoietic
      inhibitors are reviewed. In the paper there are also discussed future research
      directions of this branch of haematology.

PMID- 1437797
TI  - [Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in blood donors after plasmapheresis].
AB  - Authors were interested in blood coagulation proteins and fibrinolysis in blood
      donors following several plasmaphereses. This interest was related to the
      occurrence of thrombo-embolic and hemorrhagic complications in these subjects.
      Blood morphology, serum protein, blood coagulation and fibrinolysis have been
      examined in 40 healthy blood donors, aged between 19 and 46 years, who gave blood
      plasma by plasmapheresis technique for 1-59 times. Results did not show any
      significant changes in blood morphology and serum protein levels prior to and
      after consecutive plasmaphereses. No significant decrease in blood coagulation
      proteins and fibrinolysis has been noted. However, a significant increase in
      factors VIII and IX activities was noted in several blood donors, who underwent
      the largest number of plasmaphereses. It may predispose these donors to thrombo
      embolic complications.

PMID- 1437798
TI  - [Evaluation of loss of active heparin in the peritoneal cavity during
      intermittent peritoneal dialysis].
AB  - Our studies aimed at determining a loss of active heparin from the peritoneal
      cavity after its intraperitoneal administration (250 JU/l of dialysis fluid) in
      16 patients treated because of the end-stage renal failure with intermittent
      peritoneal dialysis and at comparing heparin influx clearance with that of
      glucose. It has been shown that heparin used in this dose loses 60-70% of its
      activity after 20-minute equilibration of dialysis fluid in the peritoneal
      cavity. Heparin influx clearance is higher than that of glucose but it depends on
      utilization of heparin in peritoneal cavity rather than on its penetration to the
      blood circulation.

PMID- 1437799
TI  - [Effect of ethyl alcohol on selected parameters of the hemostasis system in
      vitro].
AB  - Alcohol produces several disorders in all components of hemostasis system.
      However, its mechanism of action is not clear. Therefore, an effect of ethyl
      alcohol on the selected parameters of both platelet and plasma hemostasis has
      been examined in vitro. Blood aggregation induced by ADP and PAF and platelet
      leucocytic aggregates have been determined in vitro in the group of 45 healthy
      volunteers. Out of plasma parameters the selected factors of blood coagulation
      and fibrinolysis have been examined. Results suggest that the examined
      concentrations of ethyl alcohol mainly affect platelet function decreasing
      platelet aggregation. Alcohol does not affect significantly blood coagulation and
      fibrinolysis occurring in vitro.

PMID- 1437800
TI  - [Diarrhea caused by Campylobacter in patients with hematologic diseases].
AB  - Diarrhoea caused by Campylobacter infection in two adult patients was observed:
      one with erythroleukemia, and another with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. An infection
      developed in both cases during the period of agranulocytosis and decreased
      specific immunologic response to cytostatics. In case of the second patient, it
      has also been due to the underlying disease. The course of the disease has been
      different in both patient. It was dramatic with high fever and multiple fetid
      stools in one patient, and mild, successfully treated within a few days, in the
      second.

PMID- 1437801
TI  - [Pancytopenia as a complication of the treatment of toxoplasmosis].
AB  - Therapeutical doses of pyrimethamine are very close to toxic ones. Pyrimethamine
      is widely used in toxoplasmosis therapy. Hematological complications following
      pyrimethamine administration were seen in 4 patients treated for toxoplasmosis at
      our hospital in the last year. Pancytopenic syndrome was diagnosed in all four
      cases. Three patients recovered completely whereas ITP is persisting in one
      patient.

PMID- 1437803
TI  - [8 cases of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura].
AB  - Eight cases of the thrombocytopenic thrombosis are presented. Etiological
      factors, prognosis, and actual therapy are discussed. An emphasis is on the
      significance of freshly frozen plasma administration in the treatment of this
      disease.

PMID- 1437802
TI  - [Familial occurrence of Glanzmann thrombasthenia].
AB  - Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, known also as Glanzmann's disease, is an autosomally
      inherited hemorrhagic disease with unique abnormalities of platelet functions.
      Authors present a large family in which Glanzmann's disease was diagnosed in the
      father and two sons. An analysis of platelet membranes enabled diagnosis of
      Glanzmann's thrombasthenia type II. A decrease in clot contractibility,
      fibrinogen binding to blood platelets, and decreased glycoprotein IIb and IIIa
      levels with marked impairment of GP IIb and IIIa complexes formation were
      characteristic for affected family members. One daughter died 8 days after birth
      with the symptoms of hemorrhagic diathesis. Mother and remaining three sons are
      healthy without the signs of Glanzmann's disease.

PMID- 1437804
TI  - [Current views on the pathogenesis and treatment of spontaneous (primary)
      myelofibrosis].

PMID- 1437805
TI  - [Lupus anticoagulant--its role and significance in the pathogenesis of
      thrombosis].

PMID- 1437806
TI  - [Lupus anticoagulant as a risk factor of thrombosis].

PMID- 1437807
TI  - [The place of empathy in the undergraduate training of physicians].

PMID- 1437808
TI  - [Current status and advances in present-day radiology].

PMID- 1437809
TI  - [Embolization of the branches of the external carotid artery].
AB  - Authors present their own experience with the embolization of the external
      carotid artery branches. The main indications to embolization included well
      vascularized and hemorrhagic brain tumors in facial part of the skull, mainly
      meningiomas, juvenile angiofibromas, and angioneuromyomas. Embolization of
      external carotid artery was performed in 15 patients. Complete impatience of
      blood vessel supplying the tumor was achieved in 12 cases, but it was incomplete
      in 3 cases. Single serious complication in the form of hemiplegia was noted.
      There were also mild complications in 5 patients, which did not require any
      intervention.

PMID- 1437810
TI  - [Use of high resolution algorithm in computerized tomography of disseminated lung
      diseases].
AB  - Lobule of the lung is a principal anatomical structure of the respiratory zone in
      the lungs. Secondary lobule of the lung consists of about fifty primary lobules
      and is delineated by fibrous interlobular septa. Each lobule is delineated by
      interlobular septa and blood is supplied by small arterioles of pulmonary artery
      system. Its shape is conical and size ranges from 10 to 22 mm. The author used
      algorithm of high resolution in HR CT to present normal distal generations of
      respiratory area of the lungs and the same in 32 patients with disseminated
      lesions to the lungs. It is known, that lobule of the lung may be involved in
      very important pathologies. The author shown that significant architectural
      rearrangement takes place in pulmonary lobules and adjacent areas in the course
      of disseminated pulmonary diseases. The process include thickening of
      interlobular septa, consolidation of lobular area, changes in the shape of
      lobuli, and appearance of small cysts. The use of HR CT enables imaging in such
      pathologies which normally are inaccessible to conventional radiologic
      examinations.

PMID- 1437811
TI  - [Filling of the lower segment of the large intestine with fluid to facilitate
      ultrasonic examination in diseases of the small pelvis].
AB  - Small pelvis space is difficult to examine ultrasonographically as several
      important organs are localized in relatively small area. The most difficult is
      the interpretation of the standard USG examination of the abdomen in case of
      pathologies of the end of large intestine, when filled with feces. In such cases
      repeated ultrasonographic examination is recommended. Authors propose, that this
      segment of the colon should previously be filled with fluid. Such a technique
      improves the level of diagnosis or exclusion of any pathology. Forty two patients
      were examined with the above technique. Authors think, that it is a progress in
      ultrasonography of pelvic organs.

PMID- 1437812
TI  - [Usefulness of biliary scintigraphy using technetium Tc 99m mebrofenin for
      detection of disorders of patency of the bile ducts].
AB  - The value of the dynamic 99mTc-mebrofenin liver scintigraphy in the diagnosis of
      extrahepatic bile ducts patency has been assessed. The study included 176
      patients in whom an occlusion of bile ducts of any degree was excluded in 111
      cases, and bile ducts patency disorders were diagnosed in 65 patients. Time of
      the appearance of radiolabelled mebrofenin was measured in the selected segments
      of bile ducts. Time of appearance of radioactivity in the intestines was also
      noted. Another diagnostic criterion was persistent stasis of radioactivity in the
      choledochus. Basing on these criteria, patients were classified as "sick" or
      "healthy". It was possible to exclude the disease in case of negative result with
      the probability level of 91%. Positive result of scintigraphy points to the
      impaired patency diagnosis with 96% probability. Technique is simple, free of
      complications and contraindications. It is also of high predictive value. These
      features make the procedure particularly useful in the diagnosis of bile ducts
      patency.

PMID- 1437813
TI  - [Recanalization of occlusion of the peripheral segment of the femoral artery by
      the Kensey method].
AB  - The aim of the presented study was to analyse the surgical technique and results
      of recanalization of the peripheral segment of iliac artery with Kensey's
      technique. Altogether 16 patients were operated. Arterial patency was observed in
      14 patients immediately after surgery. This number decreased to 11 after a 3
      month follow-up. Complications in the form of perforation of the arterial wall,
      hemorrhage at the site of puncture and thrombotic lesions in the reconstructed
      arterial channel were seen in 4 cases. Authors' own experience suggests that
      Kensey's technique together with laser surgery are the treatment of choice in
      case of iliac arterial occlusion in patients, in whom classic surgery is
      contraindicated.

PMID- 1437814
TI  - [Quantitative computerized tomography as a method of estimating calcium level in
      the bones].

PMID- 1437815
TI  - [Radioisotope functional studies of the central nervous system].

PMID- 1437816
TI  - [Immunoscintigraphy--its value in the radioisotope diagnosis].

PMID- 1437817
TI  - [Radioisotope examination of myocardial blood supply using Tl-201 in the
      diagnosis of coronary disease].

PMID- 1437818
TI  - [Diagnosis of choledochal cysts in children with special reference to
      ultrasonographic examination].
AB  - Early diagnosis of the choledochal cysts in childhood, especially obstructing
      bile outflow to the duodenum, is an important clinical problem; often leading to
      serious complications--if not treated. Authors treated 5 children with
      choledochal cysts. Three out of them have been treated surgically. Ultrasound
      examination is sufficient to diagnose the disease, if the cyst is connected with
      intrahepatic bile ducts. If such a case is not possible to be imaged,
      cholescintigraphy and thin-needle biopsy with contrast filling are necessary to
      confirm the diagnosis.

PMID- 1437819
TI  - [Quo vadis, ultrasonography?].

PMID- 1437820
TI  - [Bone marrow transplantation in the treatment of various genetically determined
      diseases].

PMID- 1437821
TI  - [Cytogenetic studies in fragile X syndrome].
AB  - The main purpose of this work has been to find a method which would enable the
      diagnosis of FXS at the cytogenetic level. The studies are based on the analysis
      of chromosomes from 24 cultures on RPMI-1640 base with an addition of 5-fluoro-2'
      deoxyuridine (FUdR) as inhibitor of thymidylate synthetase. The results indicate,
      that the cultures with the addition of FUdR could considerably improve the
      expression of fragile X chromosome. It is of great importance, particularly un
      the cases in which the presence of this marker is very low. It was possibly to
      specify the significant percentage and the exact position of breaks, gaps and
      fragile sites, mostly present in autosomes. It could mean, that such factors may
      play a significant role, apart of X chromosome, in the pathogenesis of FXS. The
      results of work prove, that this kind of method could be used as a screening for
      cases with fragile X syndrome.

PMID- 1437822
TI  - [Evaluation of the phenylalanine tolerance test in detection of heterozygote
      carriers of phenylketonuria gene].
AB  - The study aimed at identifying heterozygotic phenylketonuria gene carriers with
      phenylalanine tolerance test performed in Lublin region. Serum phenylalanine
      concentration has been assayed during fasting and 1 and 2 hours following oral
      phenylalanine load in the dose of 0.1 g per 1 kg body weight. The study involved
      203 individuals of the general population and 29 heterozygotes with
      phenylketonuria gene. Blood serum phenylalanine was assayed with Guthrie'
      technique. Statistical analysis has shown that hyperphenylalaninemia is
      relatively frequent in fasting individuals of the general population (59.1%). The
      same was demonstrated in 5 heterozygotes. Phenylalanine tolerance test did not
      allow to identify heterozygotic carries of phenylketonuria gene in the general
      population though fasting and after phenylalanine load increased blood serum
      levels of this amino acid are a criterium of hyperphenylalaninemia in the group
      of tested individuals (29%).

PMID- 1437823
TI  - [Minutiae of skin ridges in Down's syndrome].
AB  - Minutiae of the epidermal ridges were examined in 16 children with Down's
      syndrome and 50 children without genetic and familial abnormalities. Minutiae in
      standard areas on the hand palms (according to Grzeszyk's concept) were examined.
      Comparative analysis confirmed by the statistical analysis showed significant
      differences in the incidence of particular minutiae types on the hand palms of
      children with Down's syndrome and control group.

PMID- 1437824
TI  - [Correctness of diagnosis of celiac disease based on personal data].
AB  - A way of coeliac disease diagnosis was assessed in 348 children, Only 14% of
      patients has been examined according to ESPGAN recommendations and in the proper
      time. Diagnosis has been completed in 123 patients, and coeliac disease has been
      diagnosed only in 38 of them. The I biopsy has not been performed in 96 children,
      the II biopsy--in 136 children, gluten-free diet has not been observed in 105
      children after the I biopsy. Other causes of diagnostic failures included:
      prolongation of the consecutive stages and improper histological evaluation,
      change of biopsies order, erroneous clinical evaluation. Diagnosis according to
      ESPGAN recommendations is practically very difficult and time consuming.
      Immunological markers of coeliac disease (IgA EmA, ARA) should lead to
      simplification and adjustment of those recommendations in Poland.

PMID- 1437825
TI  - [Clinical course of congenital toxoplasmosis in children].
AB  - Hundred eleven children with the congenital toxoplasmosis were treated at the
      Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in Childhood in 1979-1988. Multi
      symptomatic toxoplasmosis has been diagnosed in 35 cases, ocular form in 65,
      oligosymptomatic in 6, and asymptomatic in 5 cases. Clinical symptoms suggesting
      congenital toxoplasmosis was seen in the majority of children (63 cases) in the
      first year of life and the disease was diagnosed in 50% of cases (33 children) at
      this age. Congenital toxoplasmosis in the group of 78 children has been diagnosed
      later. The majority of cases was ocular form. Diagnosis of the oligo- and
      asymptomatic congenital toxoplasmosis is possible in the first year of life,
      only. A titre of antibodies is exclusively an indicator of the immunologic
      response, not a severity of infection and does not contribute to the prognosis.
      Antitoxoplasma drugs were administered to 102 children including 33 under the
      first year of life. Pyrimethamine, sulphonamides, and spiramycin were used in the
      treatment. Dosage, duration of therapy, and way of administration have been
      established individually in dependence of patients age and clinical form of the
      congenital toxoplasmosis. Two out of 35 children with multi-symptomatic
      congenital toxoplasmosis died whereas 13 demonstrate psychomotor retardation of
      significant degree despite the fact that 11 of them were treated in the first
      year of life.

PMID- 1437826
TI  - [Observations of children with chorioretinitis in congenital toxoplasmosis].
AB  - Hundred eleven children with congenital toxoplasmosis were followed up in the
      Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in Childhood, Medical Academy in
      Warsaw, within 1979-1988. Ocular changes found in 91 children including
      chorioretinitis in 86 microphthalmia in 7, ophthalmic nerve atrophy in 15,
      vitreous body inflammation in 5, and cataract in 4. Only in 16 children the
      diagnosis was performed in the first year of life. In 15 children the recurrence
      of inflammatory process, most frequently in the time of puberty, was noted; twice
      in 5 of them. It was independent on the treatment which was previously
      administrated. Serological tests in ocular form of congenital toxoplasmosis do
      not indicate the dynamic changes in the inflammatory process. It is very
      important that small children are examined early and the treatment is started in
      the first year of life.

PMID- 1437827
TI  - [Ullrich-Feichtiger syndrome in a 3-year-old boy].
AB  - A case of a 3 year old boy with Ullrich-Feichtiger syndrome is presented, because
      of the rarity of this syndrome. Ullrich-Feichtiger syndrome diagnosis was based
      on the following clinical signs and symptoms: a) micrognathia with several teeth
      developmental abnormalities; b) polydactyly (six toes); c) varied genital
      malformations; d) multiple ocular abnormalities. Cause of these multiple
      malformations remains unclear.

PMID- 1437828
TI  - [Atypical form of phenylketonuria caused by lack of dihydrobiopterin synthetase
      activity].
AB  - A case of non-typical phenylketonuria produced by the inactivity of
      dihydrobiopterin synthetases is presented. Dihydrobiopterin synthetases are
      enzymes converting neopterin to biopterin. Presented case indicates a possibility
      of erroneous classification of hyperphenylalaninemia due to BH4 deficit, if the
      complete differential diagnosis is not performed. A complete differential
      diagnosis is necessary in all cases of hyperphenylalaninemia distinguished in
      neonates during screening tests.

PMID- 1437830
TI  - Primitive neuroepithelial tumors with vermiform processes (filiform
      neuroepithelial tumors). Immunocytochemical and ultrastructural study of 2 cases.
AB  - Two unique, poorly-differentiated neuroepithelial tumors are described, one in a
      35-year-old woman with an anterior mediastinal tumor and one in a 71-year-old
      woman with a left femoral mass. Immunocytochemical stains demonstrated Neuron
      specific enolase in both tumors and Chromogranin in one. Electron microscopy
      showed the cells of both neoplasms to contain abundant, thick, vermiform,
      organelle-free processes, previously described solely in large cell lymphomas.
      Rare dense-core granules were present, and very few processes were suggestive of
      neurites. These observations enlarge the spectrum of poorly differentiated
      neuroepithelial tumors.

PMID- 1437829
TI  - [Students' views on the need to humanize medical studies].

PMID- 1437831
TI  - Distribution of tissue markers in acinic cell carcinomas of salivary gland.
AB  - Eight cases of acinic cell carcinoma of the salivary glands were histologically
      reclassified and their immunohistochemical expression and distribution for
      various tissue antigens were examined. The epithelial elements were divided into
      tubuloglandular components, microcystic patterns and solid nests. The authors'
      results indicated the following: 1) The duct luminal cells of tubuloglandular
      components have distinct epithelial features with cytokeratin (KL 1), alpha 1
      antichymotrypsin (alpha 1-ACT), transferrin, lactoferrin, IgA, and
      carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) positivity. 2) The cyst-lining cells of
      microcystic pattern expressed immunophenotypes similar to those of the duct
      luminal cells. 3) The acinic cells in solid nests had positive results for KL 1,
      alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT), transferrin, lactoferrin and vasoactive
      intestinal polypeptide (VIP). 4) The clear cells in solid areas had positive
      results for KL 1, alpha 1-AT, transferrin and VIP. Both the clear cells and the
      neoplastic acinic cells showed a rather similar pattern of immunoreactivity.
      Therefore, the clear cells may transform from the neoplastic acinic cells. 5)
      Secretory products in tubuloglandular and microcystic patterns had positive
      results for alpha 1-ACT, lactoferrin, IgA and CEA. 6) The basement membrane-like
      material between the neoplastic islands has distinct positivity for alpha 1-AT.
      The result suggests that alpha 1-AT is a useful marker of basement membrane-like
      material.

PMID- 1437832
TI  - Immunohistochemical examination of routinely processed bone marrow biopsies.
AB  - Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin sections of 169 bone marrow
      biopsies fixed in a buffered methanol-formalin solution and decalcified with
      EDTA. The biopsies included specimens with normal hematopoiesis, and specimens
      that were affected by various hematological disorders as well as some metastatic
      carcinomas. The results demonstrate that a wide spectrum of antigens was
      preserved in routinely processed bone marrow biopsies, even after long-term
      fixation up to 12 days. Markers for granulopoietic cells were lysozyme, elastase,
      DAKO-M 1, and MT 1. Megakaryopoiesis was stained with glycoprotein IIIa, von
      Willebrand factor, and Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA), and erythropoiesis with
      LN 1. Normal lymphocytes as well as lymphoma cells of all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas
      tested were positive for leukocyte common antigen (LCA), and at variable degree,
      for MB 1, 4 KB 5, LN 1, LN 2, UCHL 1, or MT 1. Reed-Sternberg and Hodgkin's cells
      in Hodgkin's lymphomas were reactive with Ber-H 2, LN 2 and Dako-M 1. In plasma
      cell disorders, staining for immunoglobulin light chains gave best results.
      Metastatic carcinomas showed predominantly staining with EMA, and KL 1. A
      selected panel of specific cell markers is proposed, which proved to be helpful
      in routine bone marrow diagnosis in most cases.

PMID- 1437833
TI  - Cryopreservation of cytological specimens for immunocytochemistry.
AB  - A method has been established for storage and preservation of cytological
      specimens in liquid nitrogen and further processing for immunocytochemistry as
      smears prepared from thawed cells or cryo-sections of frozen cell pellets. For
      the experiments cultured cells of a T-lymphoblastic leukemia cell line (ATCC CCL
      119) and blood cells of the buffy coat of healthy humans were treated with a cryo
      solution (fetal calf serum +5% dimethylsulfoxid) and after freezing stored in
      liquid nitrogen. Alternatively, cells preincubated with cryo-solution followed by
      suspension in fetal calf serum without cryo-additive were frozen and stored in
      liquid nitrogen for the production of cryo-sections. Indirect immunofluorescence
      and alkaline phosphatase--antialkaline phosphatase based immunoreactions were
      performed for the decoration of various surface antigens with a panel of
      monoclonal antibodies. All immunoreactions were repeated at least three times and
      the stored cell preparations were investigated after different periods of storage
      (up to four months). The immunoreactions of fresh cells in suspension (which were
      used as controls) were comparable with those of cryopreserved cells, e.g. cells
      on smears after thawing and on cryo-sections of cell pellets. The strongest
      immunoreactions were achieved on fixed cryo-sections. The maintenance of cell
      morphology of smears from cryopreserved cells was slightly better than of cells
      from cryo-sections. In our hands the preparation of cell pellets, which are
      suitable for the storage in liquid nitrogen and the production of cryosections,
      is a very useful method for immunocytochemical investigations of cytological
      specimens especially in situations where immunoreactions cannot be performed on
      fresh material.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437834
TI  - Megakaryocytopoiesis in bone marrow biopsies of patients with acquired
      immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). An immunohistochemical and morphometric
      evaluation with special emphasis on myelodysplastic features and precursor cells.
AB  - In 25 patients (22 males, 3 females--median age 39 years) with AIDS (CDC stages
      IV A-D) and no preceding myelotoxic therapy, morphometry and immunohistochemistry
      (CD 61-Y 2/51) was performed on trephine biopsies of the bone marrow to evaluate
      the megakaryocytic lineage. In comparison with megakaryocytes in the
      myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) significant differences were evident. In AIDS
      this cell population revealed a size distribution within the normal range
      (control group) and no predominance of micromegakaryocytes characteristic for
      MDS. Furthermore, by determination of the form factors more irregular shapes of
      cell and nuclear perimeters could be shown. Finally, a not-evaluated number of
      precursors (promegakaryoblasts) was calculable. Particularly in those patients (n
      = 15) with AIDS-related severe thrombocytopenia the missing increase in the
      relative amount of promegakaryoblasts was conspicuous. This result was strikingly
      different from findings in idiopathic (autoimmune) thrombocytopenia and suggested
      an impairment of progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation in the
      acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. In conclusion, morphometry in combination
      with immunohistochemistry failed to establish characteristic myelodysplastic
      aspects of the megakaryocytic lineage in AIDS. For this reason, bone marrow
      lesions in this disorder should be properly termed HIV-myelopathy and not
      myelodysplasia.

PMID- 1437835
TI  - Superficial extending carcinoma (SEC) of the larynx and hypopharynx.
AB  - In this study the histopathological features of an underestimated architectural
      variety of infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx,
      operationally termed as "superficial extending carcinoma", are described.
      Pathologically, the superficial extending carcinoma is a poorly/moderately
      differentiated infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma showing an entirely or
      predominant superficial type of growth; deep infiltration was confined to the
      mucosa or limited to a few underlying glandular and/or muscular laryngopharyngeal
      structures, regardless of the presence of lymph node metastasis or lymph vessel
      invasion. As defined above, the superficial extending carcinoma may be regarded,
      from a pathologic point of view, as a laryngopharyngeal counterpart to
      "superficial esophageal carcinoma". Studying a series of 88 whole organs serially
      sectioned laryngopharyngectomy specimens, we found that 6 out of 61 primary
      laryngeal carcinomas (9.8%) and 6 out of 26 primary hypopharyngeal carcinomas
      (23%) showed the peculiar architectural features of the superficial extending
      carcinoma. In 6 cases (2 laryngeal and 4 hypopharyngeal) the tumor was entirely
      intramucosal or early infiltrated the underlying muscle or gland structures. In
      the remaining 6 cases (4 laryngeal and 2 hypopharyngeal tumor) a superficial
      extending carcinoma was found to be associated with a deeply infiltrating
      squamous cell carcinoma of the "classic" type. Features useful to histopathologic
      diagnosis of superficial extending carcinoma and to its differentiation from
      preneoplastic and other neoplastic lesions of the laryngopharyngeal mucosa are
      emphasized. The possible association of superficial extending carcinoma with
      multiple synchronous and metachronous neoplastic lesions in the upper
      aerodigestive tract and the frequent underestimation of its real extension may
      have important clinical implications.

PMID- 1437836
TI  - Myxoid liposarcoma with t (12; 16)(q 13; p 11). Possible usefulness of chromosome
      analysis in a poorly differentiated sarcoma.
AB  - A chromosomal study was used to establish diagnosis of a poorly differentiated
      soft-tissue sarcoma occurring in the right thigh of a 57-year-old Japanese
      female. Histopathologically the excised tumor consisted of a poorly
      differentiated myxoid neoplasm, without specific features to enable the
      identification of neoplastic cells. Although a tentative diagnosis of poorly
      differentiated myxoid liposarcoma was made, ultrastructural examination and Oil
      Red O fat stain failed to demonstrate the evidence of lipoblastic
      differentiation, except that occasional cells possessed a small number of fine
      fat droplets. The diagnosis of liposarcoma was suggested by chromosome analysis
      of the fresh tumor tissue after short time culture and trypsin-Giemsa banding
      technique. The tumor cells demonstrated a clonal abnormality characterized by a
      reciprocal translocation, t(12; 16)(q 13; p 11), which is known as a specific
      aberration in myxoid liposarcoma. Thus, chromosome study seems to be useful for
      identifying undifferentiated mesenchymal tumors, which lack morphologic evidence
      of any specific differentiation, as in the present case.

PMID- 1437837
TI  - Relationship between quantity of silver stained nucleolar organizer regions
      associated proteins (Ag-NORs) and population doubling time in ten breast cancer
      cell lines.
AB  - Using a one-step silver staining technique ten human breast cancer cell lines
      were investigated, determining by means of automated image analysis the mean area
      of Ag-NORs per nucleus, the total number of Ag-NORs, and the so-called
      "scattered" and "clustered" Ag-NORs. These parameters were statistically
      correlated with the population doubling time (PDT) of the various carcinoma cell
      lines of this series. Our results show that the mean area of Ag-NORs per nucleus
      (p less than 0.001) is highly significantly correlated to the PDT, whereas all
      other parameters were less or not significant. It is concluded that the
      assessment of the area of Ag-NORs by automated image analysis is a simple and
      reliable method for the determination of cell duplication rates.

PMID- 1437838
TI  - Latent thyroid carcinoma in Iceland at autopsy.
AB  - The annual incidence rate of thyroid carcinoma in Iceland is high, 4.4 pr.
      100,000 men, and 11.7 pr. 100,000 women, as published by the Icelandic Cancer
      Registry for the period 1955-1984. This rate is more than twice that in the other
      Nordic countries and one of the highest incidence rates reported anywhere. This
      led us to investigate the prevalence rate of latent thyroid carcinoma in Iceland.
      We serially sectioned and examined thyroid glands from 201 consecutive forensic
      autopsies. Altogether, sixteen carcinomas were identified in fourteen glands:
      fourteen papillary, one follicular and one medullary carcinoma. We conclude that
      the prevalence rate of latent thyroid carcinoma in each sex does not follow the
      frequency distribution of clinical disease, being 7.5% in males and 5.1% in
      females. Comparisons between populations show the same lack of consistency.
      Further, most, but not all, latent carcinomas of the thyroid gland are of the
      papillary type. These findings suggest that promoting factors might be of
      particular importance where incidence and mortality rates are high, but further
      research is needed into the role of host resistance.

PMID- 1437839
TI  - Cystic pancreatic glucagonoma in contact with insulinoma found in a hypoglycemic
      patient.
AB  - Cystic glucagonoma in contact with insulinoma was found in the pancreas of a 28
      year-old female patient with characteristic hypoglycemic syndrome. Among six
      tumors in total detected in the tail of the resected pancreas, the largest solid
      tumor (2.5 cm in diameter) consisted mostly of insulin-containing cells with
      conspicuous amyloid deposition. Contiguous to this tumor, the second largest
      nodule, measuring 1.8 cm in diameter, showed cystic changes and consisted of
      glucagon-containing cells. High concentration of immunoreactive glucagon was
      demonstrated in the cystic fluid. In addition to the cystic changes of endocrine
      pancreatic tumors, simultaneous occurrence of glucagonoma in contact with
      insulinoma appears to be extremely rare and repeated episodes of hypoglycemia may
      contribute to its pathogenesis.

PMID- 1437840
TI  - Malignant schwannoma with rhabdomyoblastic and melanocytic differentiation.
AB  - This is the first case report of an unusual malignant tumor with components of
      malignant schwannoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and melanoma, occurring in an adult. The
      tumor was observed in the left temple in a 35-year-old man without von
      Recklinghausen's disease. The possible derivation of this tumor from primitive
      neuroectodermal cells is discussed.

PMID- 1437841
TI  - "Medullary ray glomerular counting" as a method of assessment of human
      nephrogenesis.
AB  - Renal weight (left-right combined), as a parameter of renal development, is
      required to be less than half the normal value for age for a statistically
      confident diagnosis of hypoplasia. "Medullary ray glomerular counting" (MRGC),
      counting cortical glomerular generations, has been proposed as a simple technique
      of possibly greater sensitivity. Recent development of the Disector method for
      the unbiased stereological estimation of total glomerular number has provided a,
      hitherto unavailable, "golden standard" with which to determine the diagnostic
      potential of MRCG. Both "true" (actual number of generations seen) and "assumed"
      (a subjective "guess" of the total number of generations) MRGC counts were
      determined in 11 pairs of kidneys from spontaneously aborted, normally developed,
      non-malformed fetuses (gestational age: 15-40 weeks). Each kidney was randomly
      analysed blind and on two separate occasions by two paediatric pathologists using
      a written protocol. Results were compared with unbiased stereological estimates
      of glomerular number. Intra- and inter-observer and intra- and inter-(left
      right)renal reproducibility were analysed. In conclusion, MRGC, using "real"
      counts, is a highly reproducible parameter of renal development from 15-36 weeks'
      gestation. Sensitivity for detection of both hypoplasia and maturation delay
      increase with gestational age and generally exceeds that of renal weight.

PMID- 1437842
TI  - The conduction system in human cardiac allografts. A histological and
      immunopathological study.
AB  - Twenty-five hearts were lost in the first 103 orthotopic human cardiac allografts
      in 100 recipients. Twenty-two patients died. The first nine recipients were
      treated with Cyclosporin A and high dose Prednisolone and the subsequent
      recipients were immunosuppressed with a triple regimen consisting of Azathioprine
      in addition to Cyclosporin A and low dose Prednisolone. Twenty grafts were
      examined at autopsy and three after retransplantation. Fourteen hearts with acute
      rejection and vascular pathology were investigated regarding the histological and
      immunopathological alterations due to cellular and vascular rejection. The
      recipient sinoatrial node was available for examination in 10, the donor node in
      13 and the atrioventricular conductive tissue in all 14 grafts. The conduction
      system was involved in 8 out of 11 allografts attacked by acute cellular
      rejection. In one allograft in which the patient developed AV block, the cellular
      infiltrates were almost exclusively observed in the atrioventricular tissue. Most
      of the cells were T lymphocytes, while macrophages and B cells were present to a
      lesser extent. There was little evidence of permanent structural damage to the
      atrioventricular tissue after recurrent mild or moderate episodes of acute
      cellular rejection. In the sinus nodes, however, risk of traumatic damage to the
      recipient and donor sinus node was about half and a quarter respectively. Acute
      and chronic vascular rejection seemed to be equally distributed in the sinus
      node, atrioventricular arteries and in the intramural branches of the coronaries.
      No morphological differences were established between the two types of
      immunosuppressive regimes.

PMID- 1437843
TI  - "Solid" variant of aneurysmal bone cyst.
AB  - A case of the so-called "solid" variant of aneurysmal bone cyst is reported. A 12
      year-old girl with a few weeks' history of backache presented with a tender
      palpable mass located thoraco-spinal in the back at Th 3. Radiologically, the
      lesion was consistent with conventional aneurysmal bone cyst. Morphologically, it
      showed fibroblastic, fibrohistiocytic, fibromyxoid, osteoclastic and osteoblastic
      components as well as small aneurysmal sinusoids. Based on four other well
      documented cases, the clinico-pathological features and the differential
      diagnostical problems are discussed.

PMID- 1437844
TI  - "Lipoleiomyoma with metaplastic cartilage" (benign mesenchymoma) of the uterine
      cervix.
AB  - Benign mesenchymoma (BM) is an uncommon tumor containing two or more
      differentiated mesenchymal elements in addition to fibrous tissue. A case of BM
      of the uterine cervix in a 51-year-old woman is reported. This tumor, which we
      designated "lipoleiomyoma with metaplastic cartilage" because of its
      morphological features, apparently represents the first documented example of BM
      of the cervix.

PMID- 1437845
TI  - The genetic basis of multidrug resistance.
AB  - Cellular multidrug resistance, a common side-effect of anticancer chemotherapy
      frequently leading to failure of the treatment, has been characterized as an
      acquired resistance to several antimitotic drugs simultaneously. Multidrug
      resistance could mainly be attributed to the overexpression of the P-170
      glycoprotein, considered as a drug-efflux pump encoded by the mdr 1 gene.
      Overexpression of this protein can be induced either by an accidental
      amplification or activation or both of the mdr 1 gene. Recent investigations
      focused on these mechanisms, aiming at a better understanding of the appearance
      of multidrug resistance during a chemotherapy. P-glycoprotein mediated drug
      resistance, however, is only one, albeit quite an important detoxification
      pathway, and some observations revealed genetic interactions with other systems.
      On the basis of this new knowledge, the development of novel therapeutic
      strategies to circumvent this clinical side-effect of cancer treatment has
      already begun.

PMID- 1437846
TI  - Sidero-elastosis pulmonum--M. Ceelen of the adult.

PMID- 1437847
TI  - Mycosis fungoides of erythematous stage.

PMID- 1437848
TI  - Aplastic crisis in haemolytic anaemia due to infection parvovirus B19.

PMID- 1437849
TI  - Professor Jerzy Gieldanowski, M.D. (1925-1991).

PMID- 1437850
TI  - On pharmacokinetic evaluation of model drugs distribution into rat central lymph.
AB  - Numerous experimental data obtained in the studies of factors influencing the
      transfer of model drugs (diazepam, inulin, hippurate) into the lymphatic system
      were evaluated using compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis. The selection of
      kinetic equations for lymphatic data analysis in respect to blood ones is
      specific. Lymphatic kinetic equations correspond in every case tested with those
      used generally in blood kinetic analysis of drugs administered perorally. The lag
      time parameter is useful in this lymphatic analysis, too.

PMID- 1437851
TI  - Reserpine ulcers in morphine dependent and withdrawal rats.
AB  - Reserpine ulcers were produced in dependent and withdrawal rats. The reactivity
      of isolated duodenum and colon to morphine and papaverine was tested in both
      groups of animals. Chronic administration of morphine decreases the development
      of post reserpine gastric ulcers, while in withdrawal rats it increases their
      occurrence. Relaxation and contraction responses of duodenum taken from the
      dependent rats showed tolerance. On the other hand, withdrawal rats displayed
      increased responses as compared with placebo group. Colon of dependent rats
      showed stronger responses to morphine and papaverine which indicates the lack of
      tolerance to morphine or enhanced receptors sensitivity. Stronger responses of
      colon in both dependent and withdrawal rats suggest the lack of tolerance in this
      segment of the gut. In withdrawal rats which obtained reserpine and placebo
      responses to papaverine were similar. It is suggested that reserpine decreased
      the sensitivity of mu receptor to morphine.

PMID- 1437852
TI  - Cytotoxic effect of xanthotoxol (8-hydroxypsoralen) on TCTC cells in vitro.
AB  - The effect of xanthotoxol (8-hydroxypsoralen) on proliferation of TCTC cells in
      vitro has been studied. Xanthotoxol at concentrations of 5 to 50 micrograms/ml
      inhibited the growth of cells. In cultures with xanthotoxol, decreased amount of
      cell protein, mitotic index, and decreased ability to form a colony, were
      observed. Moreover, xanthotoxol disturbed mitoses elevating the number of mitotic
      cells in the telophase stage. An increase of giant and multinuclear cells was
      also found. On the basis of these results it can be concluded, that 8
      hydroxypsoralen which in comparison with other psoralens is not sensitive to
      photostimulation, inhibits the cell proliferation anyway. This fact shows that
      the mechanism of the psoralens activity is to some extent independent from the
      photostimulation.

PMID- 1437854
TI  - Amino acid concentrations in serum and urine after intravenous infusion of 1.5%
      glycine in prostatectomy patients.
AB  - Glycine 1.5% was given by intravenous infusion at a rate of 50 mg/min over 20 min
      to 10 patients (aged 57-79 years) scheduled for transurethral prostatectomy. The
      concentrations of amino acids in serum and urine were measured at 0, 10, 20, 50,
      80, and 140 min in the experiments in order to study how elderly men handle a
      glycine load. The results show an increase in the serum concentrations of
      alanine, proline, glutamine, glycine, serine, and threonine. The apparent
      distribution volume for the excess glycine was 33 +/- 9 L, the half-life was 41
      +/- 7 min, and the total body clearance was 0.56 +/- 0.08 L/min, while the renal
      clearance for glycine was 36 +/- 14 ml/min (mean +/- SD). There was an increase
      in the excretion of all amino acids that could be detected in the urine. The
      renal clearances of urea and creatinine was reduced in some of the patients. The
      absence of toxic symptoms is consistent with unchanged serum concentrations of
      ammonia and glutamate.

PMID- 1437853
TI  - Synthesis and some central pharmacological properties of new derivatives of 2,3
      dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine-6-carboxylic acid.
AB  - Twenty one derivatives of 2,3-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine-6-carboxylic acid
      (6 n-butyl amides and 15 free acids) bearing the aromatic ring in position 1 or 2
      were obtained. They were synthesized by aminolysis or hydrolysis of respective
      ethyl esters. Pharmacological studies on the central action of eight compounds 1,
      2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 were carried out on mice and rats. The most active
      compounds, producing sedation and hypothermia, and 1, 2 and 5. The compounds
      decreased amphetamine-induced hyperactivity. Besides, compound 2 exerted
      analgesic effect in mice.

PMID- 1437855
TI  - Estrogen-induced morphological and immunohistochemical changes in stroma and
      epithelium of rat ventral prostate.
AB  - Prostatic smooth muscle cells have been regarded to play a major pathogenetic
      role during the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in elderly men.
      Altered hormonal signals (increased estrogen) have been made responsible for the
      "metabolic" transformation of prostatic smooth muscle cells, which were thought
      to produce increased amounts of connective tissue fibers observed in BPH. In
      order to find out the role of metabolically "activated" smooth muscle cells,
      hormone stimulation experiments were performed in male rats. The effects of
      androgen deprivation and estrogen stimulation were recorded by semiquantitative
      analysis of intermediate and myofilament proteins in stromal smooth muscle cells.
      In castrated or estrogen-treated or estrogen-treated and castrated animals, the
      reduction of the glandular lumen is the most obvious morphological alteration,
      accompanied by an increase in connective tissue. Regressive changes occurred most
      rapidly in castrated animals (already within the first week), slower in castrated
      estrogen-treated animals and still slower in normal estrogen-treated animals.
      Regression of the epithelium was accompanied by a marked decrease in
      immunoreactivity for prostatic binding protein (PBP) in castrated animals, while
      PBP immunoreactivity in estrogenized animals was retained for up to 6 weeks.
      Smooth muscle cells became atrophic in castrated animals. This effect was
      attenuated in estrogen-treated animals. There was no indication for enhanced
      collagen synthesis by smooth muscle cells. Actin and desmin-immunoreactivity were
      only slightly altered in experimental animals and showed a changed distribution
      pattern. Prostatic smooth muscle cells respond less markedly to hormonal
      alterations than do the fibroblasts.

PMID- 1437856
TI  - The prostatic epithelial cell in dysplasia: an ultrastructural perspective.
AB  - The histologic features of prostatic duct-acinar dysplasia have been difficult to
      analyze ultrastructurally, because of the difficulty in properly selecting and
      processing such small, randomly situated grossly invisible lesions. We have
      succeeded in identifying dysplastic foci by examination of the cut surfaces of
      tissue slices under low magnification. Dysplasia foci were excised from the
      slices and were compared to adjacent normal tissue by both light and electron
      microscopy. By electron microscopy (EM), normal secretory cells were filled with
      myriad tiny clear vacuoles, which were markedly diminished to absent in the
      cytoplasm of dysplastic cells. Both apocrine and eccrine secretion characterized
      normal epithelium and were diminished in dysplasia. EM showed striking features
      of nuclear abnormality more prominently than light microscopy, and qualitative
      basement membrane abnormalities were revealed. By EM analysis, dysplastic
      epithelium resembled that of invasive carcinoma more than normal epithelial
      cells.

PMID- 1437857
TI  - Isolation and characterization of transforming growth factor beta response
      variants from human prostatic tumor cell lines.
AB  - In this study we examined the relation between the response to transforming
      growth factor beta (TGF beta 1) in vitro and the growth in vivo of 1-LN-PC3-1A (1
      LN) human prostatic carcinoma cells. 1-LN cells resistant to the growth
      inhibitory effects of TGF beta 1 were isolated after exposure to 2 ng/ml TGF beta
      1 in an anchorage-independent growth assay. Cloning of TGF beta 1-resistant and 
      sensitive populations produced 2 clones (R2-6 and 1-LN clone 4), which maintained
      relatively stable resistance or sensitivity, respectively, in the absence of TGF
      beta 1 for up to 12 passages. Colony formation by the R2-6 cells in the presence
      of TGF beta 1 was 2-10 times greater than that of 1-LN clone 4, depending upon
      the TGF beta 1 concentration. Injection of 1 x 10(5) R2-6 cells into athymic nude
      mice produced tumors with a significantly shorter latency interval as compared
      with 1-LN clone 4 tumors (P < 0.0001). Western immunoblotting showed that higher
      levels of latent TGF beta 1 protein were secreted into the culture medium by 1-LN
      clone 4 cells. Acidified conditioned media from both clones inhibited mink lung
      epithelial cell DNA synthesis. Neutralizing monoclonal antibody to TGF beta 1 but
      not TGF beta 2 abrogated this inhibitory effect. Comparison of the different
      sensitive and resistant clones showed that in vitro sensitivity to TGF beta 1 and
      in vivo tumor latency interval were not invariably correlated. Thus, the TGF beta
      1 response phenotype in vitro was not always predictive of growth delay in vivo.

PMID- 1437858
TI  - Dose-dependent induction of ornithine decarboxylase and S-adenosyl-methionine
      decarboxylase activity by testosterone in the accessory sex organs of male rats.
AB  - The dose-dependent induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and
      adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AMDC) activity in the different lobes of the
      prostate and the seminal vesicles (SV), 24 hours after administration of
      testosterone to castrated Wistar rats, has been studied. ODC and AMDC activities
      were low in all lobes 10 days after castration. A dose of approximately 300
      micrograms testosterone/100 g body weight (B.W.) gave an ODC activity of 50
      percent of maximum response, and at 600 micrograms/100 g B.W. maximum activity
      was reached in all the prostatic lobes and the SV. In the lateral and dorsal
      prostate, and the coagulating gland, the dose of testosterone giving 50% of
      maximum AMDC activity was reached after administration of between 450 and 600
      micrograms/100 g B.W. In the ventral prostate and SV, the dose giving a 50%
      response was approximately 700 micrograms/100 g B.W. In conclusion, all prostatic
      lobes showed a clear dose-response relationship concerning the activity of ODC
      and AMDC following administration of different doses of testosterone. We have
      found minor differences in androgen responsiveness between the lobes when looking
      at the dose requirements for induction of AMDC activity. The dose-response curves
      could possibly be useful as a rapid in vivo bioassay for compounds with anti
      androgenic properties in the prostate.

PMID- 1437859
TI  - The next 2 to 4 years in health care financing: a prediction.

PMID- 1437860
TI  - Both-bone forearm fractures in children.
AB  - Treatment of both-bone forearm fractures remains a difficult dilemma for the
      orthopedist. We assessed the results of 33 children treated with closed reduction
      and a long-arm cast using traction with finger traps in neutral rotation.
      Patients were grouped according to age and analyzed for residual angulation and
      range of motion (ROM). Despite some residual angulation and loss of rotation, all
      patients were fully active with no functional restriction at follow up. For
      patients 10 years old or younger with less than 30 degrees of post-casting
      angulation, full ROM and minimal residual angulation on radiograph can be
      expected. For patients ages 11 to 15 years (the oldest patient in this series was
      15), residual angulation is likely and approximately 60% of patients will have
      residual loss of less than or equal to 30 degrees of rotation. In spite of this,
      we found no evidence of functional loss at follow up. Our series supports the
      continued use of closed manipulation as an effective treatment in children with
      both-bone forearm fractures.

PMID- 1437861
TI  - Evaluation of the degree of effectiveness of biobeam low level narrow band light
      on the treatment of skin ulcers and delayed postoperative wound healing.
AB  - Twenty-one patients with 31 postoperative delayed open wounds resistant to
      conventional therapy were randomly allocated to three groups. Group 1 was treated
      with red low level narrow band (LLNB) light (660 nm); group 2 was treated with
      infrared LLNB light (940 nm); and group 3 was treated with a placebo such as the
      Biobeam machine (no light irradiation). Group 1 showed a significant improvement
      compared to groups 2 and 3 (t-test).

PMID- 1437862
TI  - Energy demands for walking in dysvascular amputees as related to the level of
      amputation.
AB  - Cardiac function and oxygen consumption were measured in 25 patients who
      underwent amputation for peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and in five similarly
      aged control patients with PVD. Five patients at each of the midfoot, Syme's,
      below-, through-, and above-knee amputation levels and the five controls were
      measured at rest, normal walking speed, and maximum walking speed on a treadmill.
      At normal walking speed, all of the patients functioned at approximately 80% of
      their cardiac capacity. Normal walking speed and cadence decreased and oxygen
      consumption per meter walked increased with more proximal amputation. The ratio
      of cardiac function and oxygen consumption at normal walking speed as compared
      with at rest increased with more proximal amputation, and the capacity to
      increase walking speed and oxygen consumption lessened. Our results suggest that
      peripheral vascular insufficiency amputees function at a level approaching their
      maximum functional capacity. At more proximal amputation levels, the capacity to
      walk short or long distances is greatly impaired.

PMID- 1437863
TI  - Current method of treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocations.

PMID- 1437864
TI  - Cumulative trauma disorders.
AB  - Cumulative trauma disorders have increased five-fold since 1979 and now account
      for up to 47% of workplace injuries. Nerve entrapment, tendonitis, and other soft
      tissue injuries are the most common diagnostic groups. Both occupational and non
      occupational factors contribute to the etiology of these disorders. Epidemiology,
      differential diagnosis, and interventions for treatment are reviewed.

PMID- 1437865
TI  - The "genuflex" skin closure for total knee arthroplasty.

PMID- 1437866
TI  - Lateral compartment arthritis of the knee accelerated by medial displacement
      osteotomy of hip fractures.

PMID- 1437867
TI  - Cryptococcus neoformans osteomyelitis of the clavicle.

PMID- 1437868
TI  - Legg-Calve-Perthes disease and slipping of the capital femoral epiphysis in the
      same child.

PMID- 1437869
TI  - A helpful radiographic sign in CDH.

PMID- 1437870
TI  - Quadricepsplasty: the Judet technique and results of 21 posttraumatic cases.
AB  - Twenty-one quadricepsplasty procedures were carried out on 21 patients over a 14
      year period due to posttraumatic stiffness of the knee joint. Three patients
      (14.2%) required mobilization under anesthesia in the early postoperative period.
      The average interval between injury and quadricepsplasty was 18 months (range: 5
      to 49 months). Preoperatively, all cases showed less than 90 degrees knee
      flexion. At follow up, 12 cases (57.2%) achieved more than 90 degrees flexion,
      while nine patients (42.8%) exhibited under 90 degrees flexion. Flexion gain was
      between 60 degrees and 90 degrees in six cases (28.5%) and less than 60 degrees
      in 15 cases (71.5%). Results were assessed according to Judet et al. There were
      14 excellent and good (66.6%) and seven fair (33.3%) results. No poor results
      were found in this series.

PMID- 1437871
TI  - Rehabilitative techniques in the treatment of medial and lateral epicondylitis.

PMID- 1437872
TI  - Open anterior acromioplasty vs arthroscopic anterior acromioplasty.

PMID- 1437873
TI  - Tibial tuberosity fracture associated with a compartment syndrome.

PMID- 1437874
TI  - Answer please. Femoral head and acetabulum fractures associated with a posterior
      hip dislocation--Pipken 4.

PMID- 1437875
TI  - The value of a case report--a case study.

PMID- 1437876
TI  - Dermatoglyphics in sudden infant death syndrome.
AB  - An analysis of digital and palmar dermatoglyphic patterns was conducted in 173
      victims of the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The results expose four
      dermatoglyphic regions with pattern frequencies differing from those in a control
      population. These are an excess of Sydney creases, hypothenar patterns, open
      fields (with fewer vestiges) in interdigital region IV, and arches on all digits
      (females only). These findings indicate a genetic or early intrauterine
      environmental influence in SIDS infants. An increased incidence of dysmorphism
      and anomalies including recognition of specific syndromes support this
      contention. One could speculate that these dermatoglyphic deviations reflect
      specific genotypes and/or phenotypes particularly vulnerable to postnatal
      challenges. Differences in multiple dermatoglyphic categories support the concept
      of heterogeneity of the SIDS population and multicausality of SIDS.

PMID- 1437877
TI  - Morphometric study on pulmonary arterial thickness in pulmonary hypoplasia.
AB  - This study addresses the question of whether pulmonary hypoplasia is associated
      with structural changes of the pulmonary arteries. Quantitative (medial
      thickness, external radius) and qualitative (airway level) parameters of
      pulmonary arteries were assessed in eight hypoplastic lungs and eight lungs from
      age-matched fetuses without underlying primary pulmonary disease. The gestational
      ages ranged from 16 to 40 weeks. Relative medial thickness of the pulmonary
      arteries was related to the external radius and to the type of accompanying
      airway. Medial thickness was significantly higher in pulmonary hypoplasia than in
      normal fetal lungs. In contrast to normal fetal lungs, muscular arteries extended
      to the intra-acinar level in pulmonary hypoplasia. These arteries had medial
      thickness values up to a maximum of 80%.

PMID- 1437878
TI  - Fetal listeriosis during the second trimester of gestation.
AB  - Listeriosis is common and is implicated in about 3% of second-term abortions
      examined in our laboratory. Maternal fever was followed rapidly in all instances
      by the expulsion of a nonmacerated fetus. Chorioamnionitis was always present and
      was associated with placental microabscesses. Leukocytic infiltrates were
      frequent in fetal tissues, being present in adrenal, lung, and skin. Listeria
      monocytogenes was isolated from 8 of the 205 abortions that had microbiological
      cultures (3.9%). The clinical features and morphological lesions were so
      characteristic that the diagnosis of listeriosis could be made in 5 of the 217
      fixed abortuses received during the same period, but without culture. In contrast
      to the third trimester of pregnancy, there were no inflammatory lesions in the
      central nervous system in our small series.

PMID- 1437879
TI  - Association of Down syndrome and segmental tracheal stenosis with ring tracheal
      cartilages: a review of nine cases.
AB  - Four patients with Down syndrome and midtracheal stenosis, three with proven
      absence of the midtracheal pars membranacea ("hourglass trachea"), are reported.
      Five previously reported patients who had Down syndrome and tracheal stenosis of
      this type are summarized. Respiratory difficulty and stridor were the reported
      clinical features of all but one of the patients whose clinical story is
      available. That approximately half the patients with tracheal stenosis with
      hourglass trachea and midtracheal absence of the tracheal pars membranacea
      reported had Down syndrome suggests that the association of this pattern of
      congenital tracheal stenosis with Down syndrome is, although infrequent,
      significant.

PMID- 1437880
TI  - Juxtagonadal mesonephric glomeruli in fetuses of 11 to 21 weeks of gestation.
AB  - Mesonephric glomeruli and tubules were found in the juxtagonadal region in 11
      fetuses ranging in age from 11 to 21 postmenstrual weeks. Although mesonephric
      excretory function into the fourth month of gestation has been postulated,
      mesonephric glomeruli have been previously acknowledged anatomically only during
      embryonal and early fetal life. The present observations indicate that
      mesonephric glomeruli persist as anatomical structures into the midtrimester of
      gestation. The conclusion that the observed glomeruli are mesonephric is based on
      their location and the known strong anatomical and functional ties that bind
      mesonephros and gonad during development.

PMID- 1437881
TI  - Poorly organized parasitic conjoined twins: report of four cases.
AB  - We report four examples of parasitic conjoined twins (PCT) that created
      difficulties in diagnosis and treatment because of their unusual presentation and
      poor internal organization. Case 1 appeared as a tumor on the back containing an
      adrenal gland and part of the small bowel and stomach; two spines with spinal
      cords were present. Case 2 was similar, but mature and immature renal tissue were
      included and a meningocele with Arnold-Chiari type II malformation was recognized
      in the autosite spine. Retrospective interpretation of both cases suggested that
      the left lower limb and pelvis were part of the parasites. In case 3 the parasite
      was attached at the perineum and lower abdomen, contained a rudimentary spine in
      continuity with the coccyx of the autosite, and was partially covered by scalp.
      Case 4 presented as a limblike tumor attached at the suprapubic region. All cases
      were complicated by disruptions in the autosites. Surgical treatment was
      successful in cases 1, 2, and 3. These four anatomically poorly organized PCT are
      best categorized as intermediate between teratomas and the more common types of
      PCT.

PMID- 1437882
TI  - Web-like malformation of the carotid artery and multicystic encephalomalacia.
AB  - Multicystic encephalomalacia and hydranencephaly lie within a spectrum of brain
      lesions linked to ischemic cerebral damage. Causes include vascular malformation,
      thrombosis, embolism, infection, and toxins. We describe an infant with
      multicystic encephalomalacia associated with a peculiar web-like malformation of
      the right common carotid and left subclavian arteries. We postulate that this
      luminal bridging is a congenital malformation resulting from defective
      canalization of the medium-sized blood vessels but could represent organized and
      recanalized thrombi, the etiology of which remains unknown.

PMID- 1437883
TI  - Perinatally acquired neonatal tuberculosis: report of two cases.
AB  - Perinatally acquired neonatal tuberculosis occurs rarely, is difficult to
      diagnose, may be the indicator of untreated tuberculosis in the mother, and could
      result in nosocomial transmission to neonatal patients, visitors to neonatal
      intensive care units, and health care workers. The disease may be more common in
      certain ethnic and social groups. Neonatal mortality approaches 30%. We report
      two cases with different outcomes. A neonate was treated for clinical miliary
      tuberculosis and survived; Mycobacterium tuberculosis was cultured from
      bronchoscopic washings, maternal genital fluids, and tissues. A second infant
      died at age 46 days, and autopsy disclosed miliary tuberculosis of lungs,
      mediastinal and mesenteric nodes, liver, spleen, and bone marrow. The lungs were
      most severely affected, but the placenta and central nervous system were not
      involved. The histopathology was not granulomatous. After the diagnosis in the
      infant, the mother was ascertained to have pulmonary and genital tuberculosis.
      Fetal and neonatal tuberculosis could be acquired transplacentally as prenatal
      tuberculous chorioamnionitis, perinatally through aspiration and ingestion of
      infected maternal genital tissues and fluid, or postnatally through droplet
      spread from cases of active tuberculosis. These two neonates probably acquired
      the disease perinatally from maternal genital tuberculosis.

PMID- 1437884
TI  - Maxillo-mandibular development in cerebrocostomandibular syndrome.
AB  - Cerebrocostomandibular syndrome is a potentially lethal developmental disorder
      characterized by mental handicap, palatal defects, micrognathia, and severe
      costovertebral defects. We report a 3-day-old male neonate who died of
      respiratory difficulty that began at birth. Micrognathia, glossoptosis, high
      arched palate, and hypoplasia of the lower half of the face were present.
      Multiple posterior rib defects and a narrow rib cage were associated with
      pulmonary hypoplasia. The rib gaps were filled with fibrovascular tissue. A
      facial bone study showed multifocal growth retardation involving the septal
      cartilage, vomer, and mandibular condyle, indicative of maxillomandibular growth
      arrest. The tongue had an abnormal genioglossus muscle and papillae.

PMID- 1437885
TI  - Pigmented villonodular synovitis in the sacral joint with extensive bone
      destruction in a child.
AB  - We report a 12-year-old girl who had pigmented villonodular synovitis with
      extensive bony erosion around the left sacroiliac joint. The lesion mimicked a
      primary bone tumor clinically and radiologically, but was a typical pigmented
      villonodular synovitis (PVNS). The sacroiliac joint is an unusual site for PVNS,
      especially in the pediatric age group.

PMID- 1437886
TI  - Rhabdomyomatous mesenchymal hamartoma of skin.
AB  - A distinctive dermal and subcutaneous hamartoma composed primarily of
      disorganized skeletal muscle and mature adipose tissue, designated
      rhabdomyomatous mesenchymal hamartoma of skin, was recently reported. We have
      observed two histologically similar though less polypoid lesions in boys aged 4
      years. Both were also on the chin and present since birth, suggesting that site
      and age, as well as histology, may be characteristic. The location on the chin in
      three of the four neonates may reflect an etiology of aberrant embryologic
      development of the platysma muscle as it inserts superficially into the dermis
      over the mandible.

PMID- 1437887
TI  - Reactive follicular hyperplasia of intraparotid lymphoid tissue presenting as a
      recurrent parotid enlargement.
AB  - A patient who had reactive lymphoid hyperplasia of intraparotid lymphoid tissue,
      clinically presenting as a recurrent parotitis, is described. The case offers a
      new etiologic mechanism for recurrent parotitis.

PMID- 1437888
TI  - Axonal dystrophy presenting as the megacystis-microcolon-intestinal
      hypoperistalsis syndrome.
AB  - Megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS) is a neonatal
      intestinal syndrome, characterized by defective peristalsis and bladder
      dilatation, refractory to pharmacological treatment. Examinations of bowel and
      bladder have failed to demonstrate a pathological explanation for this syndrome.
      We describe a 7-month-old female infant with MMIHS who had generalized axonal
      dystrophy of her central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, which may
      provide a neuropathological explanation for some cases of MMIHS.

PMID- 1437889
TI  - Sudden death in supravalvular aortic stenosis: fusion of a coronary leaflet to
      the sinus ridge, dysplasia and stenosis of aortic and pulmonic valves.
AB  - Supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) is an uncommon congenital cardiac anomaly.
      We report sudden death, occurring during exercise, of a child who had SVAS with
      fusion of the right coronary aortic leaflet to the supravalvular aortic ridge,
      resulting in a closed sinus of Valsalva except for a few pinpoint fenestrations
      in the dysplastic leaflet. In addition, both aortic and pulmonic valves were
      dysplastic and stenotic. We postulate that near total isolation of the right
      coronary artery ostium from the aortic lumen compromised the blood supply to the
      hypertrophied ventricles. We emphasize the importance of other cardiac anomalies
      associated with SVAS as well as the development of coronary insufficiency.

PMID- 1437890
TI  - Massive perinatal hepatic necrosis from maternal oxytocin overdose.
AB  - Review of clinical records regarding administration of oxytocin may provide clues
      to the etiology of hepatic infarction in the neonate. The authors present a case
      in which a large and rapid maternal overdose of oxytocin (17,300 mU over 20 min)
      during end-stage labor was associated with neonatal death and extensive hepatic
      infarction. These findings represent novel complications of oxytocin
      administration.

PMID- 1437891
TI  - Case 1. Acute torsion of the testis.

PMID- 1437892
TI  - Case 2. Carbon monoxide poisoning.

PMID- 1437893
TI  - Diagnosis in pediatrics.

PMID- 1437894
TI  - Decision making and the child with febrile seizures.

PMID- 1437895
TI  - Decision making and the child with afebrile seizures.

PMID- 1437896
TI  - Behavior and allergy: myth or reality?

PMID- 1437897
TI  - The pediatrician's role in the diagnosis and treatment of substance abuse.
AB  - Abuse of drugs and alcohol is pervasive in our society. The role of the
      pediatrician as a health-care provider from birth through young adulthood
      includes recognizing the stigmata in newborns of prenatally ingested drugs as
      well as being able to treat neonatal drug withdrawal syndromes. Questioning about
      drug use and other closely related topics should be incorporated into all health
      care maintenance visits, starting at the age of 10 y, with parental participation
      and anticipatory guidance being offered. Physical examination and laboratory
      testing are not as helpful in confirming an impression of substance abuse as a
      comprehensive interview and a full appreciation of the warning signs of substance
      abuse. Treatment of the problematic user with a multidisciplinary team that
      understands adolescent development and behavior as well as the problem of
      substance abuse is crucial. The decision to treat the teen in an ambulatory or
      inpatient setting is determined by the extent of abuse, underlying medical
      problems and psychopathology, and the degree of family dysfunction. The
      pediatrician must not avoid addressing these issues with patients. If, however,
      upon identifying an adolescent or a newborn with a drug problem, the pediatrician
      feels uncomfortable or ill-prepared to manage the patient, appropriate
      professional referrals are warranted. Despite exercising the referral option for
      treatment, as advocate for child and family, the pediatrician remains
      professionally bound to track all drug abuse-related referrals while continuing
      to participate in the general ongoing care of the patient and family. Finally,
      the pediatrician should retain a public advocacy role in the community by
      offering educational, preventive, and supportive efforts in the continuing
      struggle against drug abuse.

PMID- 1437898
TI  - Acute and chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Disorders that differ in more
      than duration.
AB  - Immune thrombocytopenic purpura is a relatively common disease that occurs in
      both pediatric and adult populations. The acute form predominates in children and
      the chronic form is seen much more often in adults. The diagnosis is one of
      exclusion but often can be made on the basis of thorough history taking and
      physical examination and a limited number of laboratory studies. More intensive
      diagnostic studies, including bone marrow examination, may be needed to rule out
      other causes of thrombocytopenia. For patients in whom spontaneous remission does
      not occur, effective treatments are available, and morbidity and mortality rates
      are quite low.

PMID- 1437899
TI  - Control of type II diabetes. Reaping the rewards of exercise and weight loss.
AB  - After a complete physical examination to identify possible complications,
      patients with non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetes mellitus should be placed
      on an exercise program and a weight-control diet. Individualizing these regimens
      according to patients' health goals and personal interests enhances the chance of
      success. Exercise guidelines must be followed to ensure the patient's safety.
      Weight loss, however moderate, should be encouraged, and once a reasonable weight
      is obtained, a balanced maintenance diet should be recommended. Patience and
      persistence by physicians and patients can bring success in management of type II
      diabetes with nonpharmacologic means.

PMID- 1437900
TI  - Hats and beds. Ralph Nader thinks 'it's already working'.

PMID- 1437901
TI  - Vocal cord dysfunction mimicking bronchial asthma.
AB  - Vocal cord dysfunction is a possible cause of wheezing and dyspnea in patients
      who do not respond to conventional asthma therapy. A carefully taken history,
      pulmonary function testing, and, most important, direct visualization with a
      flexible laryngoscope during an acute attack allow physicians to differentiate
      vocal cord dysfunction from asthma. Speech therapy, inhalation of helium and
      oxygen, and psychiatric counseling play a role in management.

PMID- 1437902
TI  - Acute urinary tract infection in women. What kind of antibiotic therapy is
      optimal?
AB  - Urinary tract infections continue to be a major health problem for women.
      Understanding of the pathogenesis of urinary tract infections has improved;
      Staphylococcus saprophyticus has been recognized as a common causative agent, and
      low-colony-count infections are misdiagnosed less often. Traditional therapy with
      10 days of amoxicillin (Amoxil, Wymox) or ampicillin (Omnipen, Totacillin) is no
      longer considered optimal. For women who fulfill certain clinical criteria, short
      course therapy is recommended--preferably 3 days of trimethoprim
      sulfamethoxazole, or trimethoprim alone (Proloprim, Trimpex) if the woman is
      allergic to sulfonamides. Longer therapy is indicated for women with complicated,
      prolonged, or recurrent infections. To appropriately treat patients and avoid
      overtreatment that would increase both costs and the incidence of side effects,
      physicians need to stay abreast of information about pathogens, mechanisms of
      disease, new drugs, and common resistance patterns.

PMID- 1437904
TI  - In Indian country.

PMID- 1437903
TI  - Retinoid therapy for aging skin and acne.
AB  - Primary care physicians should be familiar with the effects and appropriate uses
      of retinoids. Topical tretinoin (Retin-A) can reverse photoaging of the skin,
      although some transient, undesirable side effects usually occur. In patients with
      acne vulgaris, topical tretinoin and systemic isotretinoin (Accutane) are the
      only agents that act upon the apparent underlying causes. Recurrence is unlikely
      after successful results are achieved. Chronic hypervitaminosis A presents
      insidiously, and physicians must maintain a high index of suspicion. Complete
      history taking should always include questions about the patient's use of vitamin
      supplements.

PMID- 1437905
TI  - The wrong side of the bed.

PMID- 1437907
TI  - Medical care in France.

PMID- 1437906
TI  - Predicting outcome after brain injury.

PMID- 1437908
TI  - Polyps in the colon. Answers to key questions.
AB  - Adenomatous polyps in the adult colon and rectum are of great clinical importance
      because they can undergo malignant degeneration. Size and histologic type are
      useful in predicting the likelihood of malignancy. In most cases, biopsy is
      required to distinguish small adenomas (< 1 cm) from hyperplastic polyps, which
      do not undergo malignant degeneration. An adenomatous polyp found during
      proctosigmoidoscopy warrants total colonoscopy with polypectomy, because of the
      possibility of a synchronous adenoma or cancer. Periodic colonoscopic follow-up
      is advised, because of the high rate of recurrent ("metachronous") adenomas. The
      optimal screening technique for colorectal polyps and early cancer in the general
      population remains to be defined. The most commonly used program at present
      entails periodic fecal occult blood testing and flexible proctosigmoidoscopy.
      Diets high in fiber and low in fat may have protective effects against the
      development of colonic neoplasms.

PMID- 1437909
TI  - Nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging in acute myocardial infarction. Which
      technique is best?
AB  - Although diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction is usually based on the patient
      history and electrocardiographic findings, nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging
      has an important role in assessing myocardial damage and predicting patient
      prognosis. In this article, Dr Umfrid discusses the unique characteristics of
      technetium Tc 99m sestamibi that make it especially useful in managing acute
      myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1437910
TI  - Dysphagia. A practical approach to diagnosis.
AB  - Our diagnostic approach to a patient with dysphagia begins with detailed history
      taking and physical examination. On the basis of findings, a radiographic and/or
      endoscopic study of the esophagus is done. We usually have barium-swallow
      radiography done initially, and if the radiographs are equivocal, upper
      gastrointestinal endoscopy is performed. Manometric studies are reserved for
      patients with suspected motility disorders.

PMID- 1437911
TI  - Sideroblastic anemia. A diagnosis to consider in alcoholic patients.
AB  - Alcoholic patients who present with anemia can pose a diagnostic challenge.
      Although deficiencies of iron, vitamin B12, and folate commonly result in anemia,
      bone marrow suppression of red blood cell production related to the direct toxic
      effects of alcohol can cause a form called sideroblastic anemia. This case report
      describes a patient presenting with acute alcohol intoxication and anemia in whom
      extensive evaluation revealed a hematologic picture compatible with acquired
      sideroblastic anemia.

PMID- 1437912
TI  - OSHA breaks a rule.

PMID- 1437913
TI  - Benefits and risks of oral contraceptive use.
AB  - As a general rule, the lowest-dose oral contraceptive should be prescribed that
      minimizes side effects while maintaining contraceptive protection. A woman who
      experiences mild side effects should be encouraged to tolerate symptoms for three
      menstrual cycles before a decision is made to change the prescription. Compliance
      may also be improved by informing women of the noncontraceptive health benefits
      of oral contraceptives: less menstrual blood loss and a lower incidence of
      menorrhagia, irregular bleeding, benign breast disease, endometrial cancer,
      dysmenorrhea, ovarian cysts or tumors, and salpingitis. Adequate patient
      education and supportive counseling are key factors in patient satisfaction and
      hence compliance.

PMID- 1437914
TI  - OSHA's 'phantom accuser'.

PMID- 1437915
TI  - Tetanus. A threat to elderly patients.
AB  - Tetanus rarely occurs in young persons now that childhood immunization programs
      are widespread. Many older patients, however, are not completely immunized, and
      mortality in this group is high. Since many of the wounds from which tetanus
      arises are minor, patients may not bring them to medical attention. Thus,
      physicians should include assessment of immunization status during routine office
      visits in all age-groups and provide immunization against tetanus and against
      diphtheria if indicated.

PMID- 1437916
TI  - HIV infection in athletes. What are the risks? Who can compete?
AB  - The activities of athletes and personnel who provide their medical care may place
      them at slightly greater risk for infection with human immunodeficiency virus
      (HIV) than their nonathletic peers. At this point, there is no reason to disallow
      participation of athletes who are HIV-infected. Thus, sports physicians need to
      assume that they are at risk for accidental exposure to HIV and use appropriate
      precautions. Most important, physicians can educate athletes, coaches, and
      trainers to practice "safe" athletics and medical care to minimize the risks of
      exposure to and transmission of HIV. Testing for HIV can be encouraged for
      athletes who may be at risk and should be done for any athlete who specifically
      requests it. Physicians should encourage further study to clarify the specific
      issues and risks of HIV infection created by athletic competition and prepare to
      deal with the changing knowledge about HIV and AIDS.

PMID- 1437917
TI  - Cardiac enzymes. How to use serial determinations to confirm acute myocardial
      infarction.
AB  - Although acute myocardial infarction can be diagnosed on the basis of clinical
      history, electrocardiographic (ECG) findings, and abnormalities of creatine
      kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme levels, measurement of cardiac
      enzyme levels is the most reliable way to confirm or exclude the diagnosis. If
      the MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB) remains normal during the 48 hours
      after the suspected clinical event, acute myocardial infarction can be reliably
      ruled out; if CK-MB values become elevated and the LDH isoenzyme pattern
      (LDH2:LDH1 ratio) becomes "flipped," the diagnosis can reliably be made. However,
      if CK-MB values become elevated but the LDH isoenzyme pattern remains normal, the
      diagnosis is less firm and ECG and myocardial imaging techniques may be needed to
      confirm or exclude myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1437918
TI  - Echocardiography. Using its many capabilities to evaluate myocardial infarction.
AB  - How can the suspicion of myocardial ischemia be confirmed without putting the
      patient through an invasive procedure? In patients who have had myocardial
      infarction, how can those at risk for pump failure and other complications and
      future cardiac events be identified? How are such complications detected? The
      answer to all these questions is echocardiography. The authors review how to use
      the technique and provide illustrative images.

PMID- 1437919
TI  - Treatment options for colorectal liver metastases.

PMID- 1437920
TI  - Diagnosis and management of ventricular tachycardia.

PMID- 1437921
TI  - Infectious diseases and AIDS.

PMID- 1437922
TI  - Infusion rate and pharmacokinetics of intravenous pamidronate in the treatment of
      tumour-induced hypercalcaemia.
AB  - We report the results of two consecutive randomized studies in the treatment of
      malignant hypercalcaemia with intravenous pamidronate. Overall normocalcaemia was
      achieved in greater than 90% of patients and a single infusion of 60 mg
      pamidronate given over 2 hours was as effective in restoring normocalcaemia as
      infusions given over 4, 8 or 24 hours. Similarly duration of normocalcemia after
      treatment with pamidronate and the control of the symptoms of hypercalcaemia were
      independent of infusion rate. Study of the pharmacokinetics of pamidronate in the
      treatment of hypercalcaemia show this drug to have a very high clearance due to
      calcified tissue retention and renal excretion. The initial half life of the drug
      in plasma is very short and most of the drug is cleared before distribution
      equilibrium is achieved. Short infusions of pamidronate are as safe and effective
      as infusions given over a longer time and are therefore to be preferred because
      of their greater convenience.

PMID- 1437923
TI  - Systemic lupus erythematosus in 50 year olds.
AB  - We compared the clinical and serological characteristics of 15 patients with
      onset of systemic lupus erythematosus after the age of 50 with those of 232
      younger patients. The sex distribution was similar in both groups. All 15
      patients were Caucasian. Autoimmune thyroiditis was found in 20% of the elderly
      patients. Initial manifestations, which presented more frequently in the older
      group, included thrombocytopenia (P < 0.05), sicca syndrome (P < 0.01) and
      cardiomyopathy (P < 0.005), whereas butterfly rash (P < 0.05) presented more
      frequently in the younger group. Analysis of cumulative clinical symptoms showed
      that butterfly rash (P < 0.05) and livedo reticularis (P < 0.05) were less
      frequent in the elderly. However, this group presented a significantly increased
      incidence of sicca syndrome (P < 0.005) and cardiomyopathy (P < 0.005).
      Antibodies to double-stranded DNA tended to occur less frequently in older
      patients (P < 0.05).

PMID- 1437924
TI  - The late presentation of postero-lateral congenital diaphragmatic hernias.
AB  - Four patients presenting after the neonatal period with a combination of
      respiratory and gastro-intestinal symptoms and signs which point to the diagnosis
      of congenital postero-lateral diaphragmatic hernias are discussed. Late
      presentation is more common than previously acknowledged. Early correct diagnosis
      and treatment are associated with an excellent clinical outcome.

PMID- 1437925
TI  - Intussusception in the adult: clinical, radiological and histological features.
AB  - Intussusception in the adult is an unusual cause of bowel obstruction. Unlike in
      childhood the clinical presentation is not clear cut and there are no distinct
      pathognomonic features. The radiological features are variable. Five patients
      presented to Frenchay Hospital over a five month period. The patients' clinical
      courses demonstrate the differing presenting features. Ultrasound investigation
      and CT scanning may show characteristic signs. Surgical treatment is mandatory as
      there is nearly always an underlying pathological abnormality which may be
      malignant.

PMID- 1437926
TI  - The role of faecal Candida albicans in the pathogenesis of food-intolerant
      irritable bowel syndrome.
AB  - Candida albicans was sought in stool samples from 38 patients with irritable
      bowel syndrome and 20 healthy controls. In only three patients with irritable
      bowel syndrome was C. albicans discovered and these patients had either recently
      received antibiotics or the stool sample had been delayed more than 24 hours in
      transit. C. albicans was isolated from none of the control stool samples. We
      conclude that C. albicans is not involved in the aetiology of the irritable bowel
      syndrome.

PMID- 1437927
TI  - Lipomatosis of the ileocaecal valve simulating Crohn's disease.

PMID- 1437928
TI  - Endoscopic therapy for bile duct stones in a geriatric population.
AB  - During the 5 year period to May 1988, 137 consecutive patients (age range, 65-102
      years; median 84 years) with a diagnosis of choledocholithiasis, were referred to
      The Middlesex Hospital Geriatric Department. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was
      successful in 96.2% of cases and immediate biliary drainage was achieved in all
      but one of these patients. Stones were cleared endoscopically in 73.3% and
      surgically in 4.7% of cases. Long-term stenting was employed in 14.3% of
      patients. The 30 day mortality after endoscopic or surgical treatment was 4.7%
      (six deaths), although death was probably unrelated to therapy in half the cases.
      Deaths were due to procedural cardiorespiratory arrest (1), pancreatitis (1),
      pneumonia (2) and cerebrovascular accident (2). Endoscopic treatment is effective
      even in a high-risk geriatric population. After sphincterotomy patients with
      intact gall bladders should be managed expectantly.

PMID- 1437929
TI  - Tumours of the accessory lobe of the parotid gland.
AB  - Three cases of tumour of the accessory lobe of the parotid gland are reported and
      the surgical aspects discussed. An approach through a routine parotidectomy
      incision is preferred to direct incision over the mass.

PMID- 1437930
TI  - Carotid sinus syndrome after carotid artery surgery.
AB  - A 63 year old woman had been intensively treated for recurrent carcinoma of the
      neck. Following acute vascular surgery of the carotid artery, she developed the
      vasodilatory type of the carotid sinus syndrome. The presentation of this type of
      the syndrome was remarkable, since it is usually associated with primary or
      metastatic carcinoma in the neck region. Previous cancer treatment may have
      modified the course of disease in this patient, which ultimately had a lethal
      outcome.

PMID- 1437931
TI  - Addisonian crisis presenting with a normal short tetracosactrin stimulation test.
AB  - We report the case of a 70 year old man who presented with physical and
      biochemical features suggestive of Addison's disease, but had a normal short
      tetracosactrin (Synacthen) test. Six months later he re-presented with similar
      clinical features but with an abnormal response to tetracosactrin confirming the
      diagnosis of Addison's disease. We recommend that if adrenal insufficiency is
      strongly suggested further investigation should be performed to exclude this
      diagnosis.

PMID- 1437932
TI  - Suprasellar ectopic pituitary adenoma presenting as cranial diabetes insipidus.
AB  - We describe the occurrence of a supracellar ectopic pituitary adenoma in a 34
      year old woman who presented with cranial diabetes insipidus and subsequently
      developed galactorrhoea-amenorrhoea. The tumour was demonstrated by both contrast
      computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium
      enhancement and was confirmed at operation. Histological examination showed that
      the suprasellar lesion consisted of a pituitary adenoma while the pituitary
      biopsy revealed an unrelated pituitary microadenoma embedded in normal pituitary
      tissues. A review is made of the reported cases of ectopic pituitary adenomas.

PMID- 1437933
TI  - Non-secretory multiple myeloma presenting as primary plasma cell leukaemia.
AB  - A case of non-secretory multiple myeloma presenting as primary plasma cell
      leukaemia in a 65 year old woman is presented. Bone pain was the initial clinical
      manifestation. Laboratory analysis showed 20% of circulating immature plasma
      cells. Despite the presence of osteolytic lesions, no M-component could be
      demonstrated in serum protein electrophoresis, and serum and urine
      immunoelectrophoresis. Bone marrow aspirate demonstrated an 83% infiltration of
      plasma cells showing various degrees of immaturity. Immunofluorescence with
      monoclonal antisera demonstrated intracytoplasmic kappa light chains in a high
      percentage of plasma cells. Immature plasma cells without cellular capacity to
      synthesize and excrete complete immunoglobulins could be more aggressive, leading
      to an initial leukaemic process. Previous work regarding possible pathogenetic
      mechanisms, clinical and laboratory features, and response to treatment of this
      extremely rare association are reviewed.

PMID- 1437934
TI  - A late complication of pectus excavatum repair.
AB  - We report a late complication of pectus excavatum repair which highlights the
      importance of a chest X-ray in evaluating chest pain in patients who have had
      previous chest surgery. It also raises the question of whether or not implanted
      wires should be electively removed following bony union.

PMID- 1437935
TI  - Sub-clinical systemic lupus erythematosus presenting with acute myocarditis.
AB  - A 46 year old woman presented with fever and normochromic anaemia followed
      rapidly by severe myocardial failure, unresponsive to maximum inotropic support
      and broad spectrum antibiotics. There were no classical clinical stigmata of
      systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but a possible immunological cause was looked
      for, and on the basis of her immuno-serology a diagnosis of SLE-like disease was
      made. She responded rapidly to high dose steroids. The importance of considering
      the possibility of SLE or 'lupus overlap' in an acutely ill 'undiagnosed' patient
      is emphasized. The relevance of instigating appropriate immuno-serological tests
      in the course of such an illness is discussed.

PMID- 1437936
TI  - Acute intermittent porphyria treated by testosterone implant.
AB  - The hereditary disorder acute intermittent porphyria is potentially fatal. Many
      more females present with active disease than males and some have attacks related
      to their menstrual cycle and pregnancy. We present a female patient who was
      diagnosed while pregnant at 19 years. She subsequently developed life-threatening
      attacks pre-menstrually at 24 years; these were associated with weight loss.
      Initial treatment was with high calorie feeding via a naso-gastric tube, followed
      by a gastrostomy. Subsequent gonadotrophin suppression with intranasal
      luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (buserelin) thrice daily met with
      limited success. We implanted 100 mg of testosterone subcutaneously in November
      1989. The buserelin was discontinued in January 1990 and menses returned 3 months
      later. There have been no serious attacks since then. Repeat implantation was
      performed at 6 monthly intervals until her present pregnancy. Baseline
      biochemical parameters have remained high and unaltered despite treatment
      although the testosterone has clearly had a marked clinical benefit, without side
      effects.

PMID- 1437937
TI  - Thyroid register audit: a district general hospital experience.

PMID- 1437938
TI  - Cauda equina syndrome associated with ankylosing spondylitis in a female.

PMID- 1437939
TI  - Worsening neurological status in late pregnancy: consider meningioma.

PMID- 1437940
TI  - Carcinoma of the splenic flexure--a case for extended right hemicolectomy?

PMID- 1437942
TI  - Festschrift for Lord Walton of Detchant.

PMID- 1437941
TI  - Intracranial tuberculoma: paradoxical expansion during medical treatment.

PMID- 1437943
TI  - Lord Walton of Detchant.

PMID- 1437944
TI  - The muscular dystrophies.

PMID- 1437945
TI  - Reviewing multiple sclerosis.

PMID- 1437946
TI  - Cluster headache and its variants.

PMID- 1437947
TI  - Epilepsy.

PMID- 1437948
TI  - Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 1437949
TI  - Motor neuron disease.

PMID- 1437950
TI  - Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 1437951
TI  - The role of the speech and language therapist in the assessment and management of
      dysphagia in neurologically impaired patients.

PMID- 1437952
TI  - Eradication of Helicobacter pylori: therapies and clinical implications.
AB  - This review presents a critical evaluation of the role of Helicobacter pylori
      eradication in the management of peptic ulcer disease and non-ulcer dyspepsia. On
      current evidence, H. pylori eradication therapy seems likely to emerge as the
      most rational and cost-effective treatment for duodenal ulcer. The role of H.
      pylori eradication in the treatment of gastric ulcer and non-ulcer dyspepsia is
      unclear and requires further study. The emerging problem of antibiotic resistance
      in H. pylori is of major clinical importance and a prime cause of treatment
      failure. There is increasing evidence of a link between H. pylori and gastric
      cancer but it is premature to recommend large-scale eradication of H. pylori as a
      valid strategy for the primary prevention of gastric cancer. The search continues
      for the ideal H. pylori eradication regimen.

PMID- 1437953
TI  - The evaluation of dizziness in elderly patients.
AB  - Twenty-one elderly patients with dizziness underwent a comprehensive medical and
      otoneurological evaluation. The majority had vertigo, limited mobility and
      restricted neck movements. Poor visual acuity, postural hypotension and
      presbyacusis were also frequent findings. Electronystagmography revealed
      positional nystagmus in 12, disordered smooth pursuit in 18, and abnormal caloric
      responses in nine. Magnetic resonance imaging showed ischaemic changes in six out
      of eight patients. Although dizziness in the elderly is clearly multifactorial,
      the suggested importance of vertebrobasilar ischaemia warrants further
      consideration as vertigo has been shown to be a risk factor for stroke.

PMID- 1437954
TI  - Influence of cigarette smoking on the outcome of coronary care unit admissions
      with chest pain.
AB  - We studied the effect of current smoking habits in the period immediately before
      admission to hospital in 90 consecutive patients presenting with chest pain, 50
      of whom were shown to have myocardial infarction. Urine cotinine/creatinine
      (cot/creat) ratio measured within 4 hours of admission was used as an objective
      marker of cigarette smoking in the preceding 18 hours. Fifty-seven patients had
      urine cot/creat ratios suggesting recent smoking, although four of these denied
      smoking. Patients with myocardial infarction had higher median cot/creat ratios
      (3.31 micrograms/mg, range 0-17.8) compared with patients with non-infarct chest
      pain (0.5 microgram/mg, range 0-37.2). Sixteen patients with cardiac rhythm
      disturbances following infarction had significantly higher cot/creat ratios than
      the 34 infarct patients without this complication (median and range 8.34
      micrograms/mg; 0-17.8 V. 1.87 micrograms/mg; 0-16.4, P < 0.01). Tobacco use in
      the 24 hours before myocardial infarction may predispose to cardiac rhythm
      disturbance, irrespective of infarct size.

PMID- 1437955
TI  - Behcet's syndrome in Scotland.
AB  - We present the clinical details and HLA typing of 15 Celtic Caucasian patients
      (four male, 11 female) with Behcet's syndrome (International Study Group
      criteria). The males affected were younger than the affected females, and three
      of these males had severe uveal involvement. Two of the 15 patients had the A2
      Bw6 Dr4 haplotype but this did not confer family penetrance. Eight had
      gastrointestinal involvement: two females required ileostomy, two females had
      chronic diarrhoea, one female had severe ileitis and oesophageal lesions, two
      males had peptic ulcers, and one female had a peptic ulcer and primary biliary
      cirrhosis. All of those who developed gastrointestinal symptoms had either the
      Dr4 or the Dr7 antigens. This study is the largest HLA survey of Celtic
      Caucasians with Behcet's syndrome. The clinical features and HLA haplotypes are
      markedly different from 'Arab' and 'Japanese' varieties of Behcet's syndrome. The
      expression of the Dr4 and Dr7 antigens in those with gastrointestinal involvement
      possibly implicates class II antigens (Dr) in the pathogenesis of the
      manifestations of Behcet's disease in the bowel.

PMID- 1437956
TI  - Peptic oesophageal stricture: an age-related problem?
AB  - A one year retrospective study of 76 patients with peptic oesophageal stricture
      was performed. Analysis of results showed a significant age-related risk of
      developing peptic oesophageal stricture. Possible age-related risk factors are
      discussed. Pitfalls in diagnosis and management are highlighted and the role of
      H2 receptor antagonists, antacids and omeprazole are discussed.

PMID- 1437957
TI  - One year experience in the treatment of familial hypercholesterolaemia with
      simvastatin.
AB  - Patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) have a
      substantially increased risk of atherosclerosis due to very high plasma levels of
      cholesterol. Recent evidence has shown that coronary heart disease in these
      patients may regress with lipid-lowering therapy. In this study the efficacy and
      safety of simvastatin, an inhibitor of the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl
      coenzyme A, was investigated in 30 patients with FH over a period of one year.
      Substantial reductions in the plasma concentrations of total cholesterol (-28%),
      low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (-32%), intermediate-density
      lipoprotein (IDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein (apo) B (-33%) were achieved
      with 20 mg/day of simvastatin; there were no significant changes in triglycerides
      high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or apo A. In contrast to previous studies,
      40 mg/day of simvastatin did not result in a further statistically significant
      fall in LDL cholesterol, IDL cholesterol or apo B in the group as a whole. The
      drug was well tolerated and no adverse clinical or laboratory events were
      recorded. In particular, no ophthalmological, hepatic or renal disorders were
      observed and there were no sleep disturbances. We conclude that simvastatin is an
      efficacious and safe drug to treat patients with heterozygous FH and that rarely
      will the dose need to be increased above 20 mg/day.

PMID- 1437958
TI  - Is bed rest useful after diagnostic lumbar puncture?
AB  - A randomized study of 110 patients undergoing their first diagnostic lumbar
      puncture was performed to compare the effect of immediate mobilization with 4
      hours bed rest on the incidence of post lumbar puncture headache. There was no
      difference between the mobile (n = 54) and bed rest (n = 56) groups in the
      incidence of post lumbar puncture headache (32% versus 31%, respectively). We
      conclude that bed rest following lumbar puncture may be an unnecessary imposition
      on the patient, as well as on nursing staff.

PMID- 1437959
TI  - Cerebellar manifestations of prostatic carcinoma.
AB  - We present two patients known to have prostate cancer who presented with acute
      cerebellar signs. The neurological deficit of the first patient was due to a
      paraneoplastic cerebellar manifestation and progressed, despite evidence of
      response of the primary prostate tumour to hormonal manipulation. The second
      case, resulting from a solitary cerebellar metastasis, was amenable to surgical
      intervention and subsequent hormonal manipulation. This latter patient has
      experienced no recurrent neurological signs after a period of 7 years follow-up.
      This is the first report of a paraneoplastic cerebellar deficit and, to our
      knowledge, only the sixth case of parenchymatous cerebellar metastasis of
      prostatic origin to appear in the literature.

PMID- 1437960
TI  - Bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome associated with interleukin 2 therapy.
AB  - We report the development of synchronous bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome in a
      woman with metastatic colorectal cancer, undergoing treatment with recombinant
      interleukin 2. A carpal tunnel decompression was carried out on the hand which
      was more severely affected, with a gradual recovery in median nerve function. To
      the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of carpal tunnel
      syndrome in association with recombinant interleukin 2.

PMID- 1437961
TI  - Empty sella developing during thyroxine therapy in a patient with primary
      hypothyroidism and hyperprolactinaemia.
AB  - A 35 year old woman presented with severe primary hypothyroidism and
      galactorrhea. A very high prolactin level was also detected and computerized
      tomography scan of the sellar region demonstrated an enlarged pituitary gland
      associated with contrast enhancement. Replacement therapy with thyroxine
      corrected both biochemical and clinical abnormalities but empty sella developed
      during this therapy. It is concluded that empty sella may be related to thyroxine
      induced shrinkage of lactotroph and/or thyrotroph cell hyperplasia.

PMID- 1437962
TI  - Suppurative thyroiditis with oesophageal carcinoma.
AB  - A 68 year old, previously well woman presented with dysphagia, weight loss and a
      neck swelling. Investigations revealed a right-sided thyroid abscess with
      fistulous connection to the upper of two oesophageal carcinomas, a previously
      unreported association. The resistance of the thyroid to infection and the
      mechanisms of thyroid abscess formation in this patient are discussed.

PMID- 1437963
TI  - Doppler echocardiography in elderly patients with ejection systolic murmurs.

PMID- 1437964
TI  - The genes for Noonan's syndrome, woolly hair and ulerythema ophryogenes.

PMID- 1437965
TI  - Primary malignant neoplasms associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

PMID- 1437967
TI  - The effect of meal feeding on small intestine weight.
AB  - Two trials were conducted using feed forms of pellets and mash to determine
      whether parts of the digestive tract (small intestine) were enlarged by meal
      feeding. Results obtained show that meal feeding of broilers significantly
      increases small intestine weight for both mash and pellet broiler groups when
      compared with continuously fed broilers. The body weight, feed conversion, and
      mortality did not differ between the continuous-fed versus meal-fed groups.
      Pelleting the diet during the growing period (3 to 6 wk of age) significantly
      improved both growth rate and feed conversion of broilers.

PMID- 1437966
TI  - Antibody responses to combinations of antigens in white Leghorn chickens of
      different background genomes and major histocompatibility complex genotypes.
AB  - Antibody responses in chickens to SRBC, Newcastle disease (NDV), and Brucella
      abortus (BA) were compared when given singly or in combination. Chickens used in
      the present experiment originated from a cross and then backcrossing of White
      Leghorn populations that had been selected for high (HA) or low (LA) antibody
      response to SRBC antigens. The populations used in the current study were
      segregating for MHC haplotypes B13 and B21. The experiment had a 2 x 3 x 6
      factorial arrangement of treatments (two background genomes: HA and LA; three MHC
      haplotypes: B13B13, B13B21, and B21B21; and six antigen treatments: SRBC, NDV, or
      BA only, SRBC plus NDV, SRBC plus BA, and NDV plus BA). Antigens were
      administered either i.v. (SRBC) or i.m. (NDV and BA) when chicks were 42 days of
      age. Blood was obtained 27 days later (69 days of age) for antibody
      determinations. A significant background genome by MHC haplotype interaction for
      BA antibodies was due to relatively high titers in Line HA chickens of MHC
      genotypes B13B13 and B13B21. Background genome by MHC genotype interactions were
      not significant for SRBC or NDV antibodies. Antibody titers to SRBC were higher
      in background genome HA than LA, and similar among MHC genotypes. Antibodies to
      NDV were lower in chickens of MHC genotype B21B21, but there were no differences
      due to background genome. For each of the three antigens, antibody responses were
      highest when administered singly rather than in combination. Antibody titers were
      lower for SRBC when given with BA, and for BA titers when given with
      NDV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437968
TI  - Yolk sac absorption and initiation of growth in broilers.
AB  - A series of three experiments was conducted to determine the role of the yolk sac
      in initiation of growth in broilers. In Experiment 1, absorption of the yolk sac
      was found to precede initiation of growth in newly hatched broilers by
      approximately 24 h. Because the yolk sac is essential for early initiation of
      growth, in Experiments 2 and 3 it was removed and diets with incremental fat
      levels of 3, 6, and 10% were fed to assess whether fat was essential for optimal
      growth during the neonatal period. Results suggest that dietary fat has its
      greatest effect on growth after 10 days of age. Therefore, initiation of growth
      may be more closely dependent upon other nutrients.

PMID- 1437969
TI  - Effects of light sources and the presence or absence of males on reproduction of
      female breeder turkeys.
AB  - The effects of sodium vapor (SV), daylight fluorescent (DF), and incandescent
      (IN) light sources and the influence of the presence or absence of males on
      reproduction of female turkeys were evaluated. Hens under SV and DF lights
      consistently laid more eggs than those under IN lights. There were no significant
      differences in hen-day egg production among hens in the physical presence of
      males and hens allowed visual and vocal contact with males. However, hen-day egg
      production was significantly lower for females in pens in which males were
      absent. Fertility, hatchability, days to first egg, egg weight, and egg specific
      gravity were unaffected by light source treatments or by the presence or absence
      of males in pens of females.

PMID- 1437970
TI  - Beak trimming effects on beak length and feed usage for growth and egg
      production.
AB  - Two experiments were conducted to compare beak treatment effects on pullets of
      three genetic stocks. Within each stock, equal numbers were assigned to three
      treatments: no beak trimming (IN), beak trimming once (1X), and beak trimming
      twice (2X). Beak treatment, genetic stock, and age effects along with
      interactions among main effects were examined for production-associated traits
      during rearing and brief periods of early egg production. Beaks of 1X and 2X
      pullets remained shorter than those of IN pullets through final measurements at
      36 and 32 wk of age in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. However, differences in
      beak length decreased as age increased. Upper beaks of 2X pullets remained
      shorter than those of 1X pullets, but lower beaks of 1X and 2X pullets did not
      differ by 20 wk in Experiment 2. Weight gains, feed usage, and efficiency of
      growth were affected by beak treatments. Beak trimming reduced gains, feed eaten,
      feed wasted, and total feed used, and 2X pullets used their feed more efficiently
      for weight gain and egg production. A general decrease occurred in differences
      among beak treatments for weight gains, feed eaten, feed wasted, and efficiency
      of gains with increasing age during rearing. Nevertheless, significant
      differences in feed consumed, feed wasted, and efficiency of feed used for egg
      production indicated an economic advantage in favor of beak trimming.

PMID- 1437971
TI  - Effect of induced molting on the course of infection and transmission of
      Salmonella enteritidis in white Leghorn hens of different ages.
AB  - Previous work in the authors' laboratory had shown that inducing molt using a 2
      wk feed removal protocol in 58- to 84-wk-old White Leghorn hens increased the
      severity of intestinal infection by Salmonella enteritidis (SE). As
      susceptibility to infection can be influenced by age, a study was conducted to
      compare the effect of the feed removal on infection by SE in 20-, 40-, and 74-wk
      old hens. Birds were orally infected with 5 to 10 x 10(6) SE on Day 4 of fast and
      were sampled for SE shedding 3, 10, 17, and 24 days later. Significantly higher
      numbers of SE were shed in fasted birds on Day 3 (20 and 40 wk of age), Day 10
      (40 and 74 wk of age), and Day 17 (74 wk of age). Transmission of SE to
      uninfected, contact-exposed birds was observed in all three trials for both the
      fed and fasted groups. However, significantly more fasted contact-exposed birds
      became positive for SE on Day 3 (20-wk-old), Day 10 (74-wk-old), and Day 17 (74
      wk-old). Significantly more SE was also shed in these fasted contact-exposed
      birds on Day 3 (20-wk-old), Day 10 (all age groups), and Day 17 (74-wk-old). The
      current results indicate that the fasting conditions used to induce a molt in
      hens increase the shedding of SE in direct-infected and contact-exposed hens and
      this effect does not appear to be affected by age.

PMID- 1437972
TI  - Multivariate epidemiological approach to coccidiosis in broilers.
AB  - A retrospective, case-control study into risk factors of coccidiosis was
      undertaken using data from 189 broiler flocks. A case flock was defined as a
      flock in which at least one bird had intestinal lesions on 1 of 6 wk in a 42-day
      cycle. Flocks wherein such birds could not be detected were defined as controls.
      There were 187 variables, measured or derived. These were assigned to subsets of
      data, each subset being a group of variables representing related information.
      Uni- and bivariate analyses were performed in each subset. Variables and
      interactions that were significant in these analyses were entered into a
      multivariate model across subsets. In the final model, seven variables appeared
      to be significantly associated with detecting lesions in birds of a flock.
      Differences among breeds covered a range of about an 80-fold change in risk of
      being a case. At intermittent lighting, the risk of being a case increased about
      sevenfold compared with continuous lighting. A higher initial (Week 1)
      environmental temperature decreased the risk of finding lesions in a flock (about
      .8-fold per degree Celsius). This risk was also lower at a lower average aerial
      ammonia content (below versus above 14 ppm) and higher maximum carbon dioxide
      content (above versus below .4 vol%) changing the risk about .3- and .4-fold,
      respectively. The risk of being among cases increased with more litter (about
      twofold per kilogram of litter per square meter). Flocks in houses of 600 to 800
      m2 were about 9.8 times more at risk of being scored as lesion-positive than
      those in smaller houses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437973
TI  - Differential resistance to Staphylococcus aureus challenge in major
      histocompatibility (B) complex congenic lines.
AB  - Ten inbred B-congenic Leghorn lines were challenged with two isolates of
      Staphylococcus aureus at 3 days and 6 wk of age. Significant differences in
      mortality were observed among such lines when challenged at 3 days with either S.
      aureus Isolate P4L (moderately pathogenic) or S. aureus Isolate 3727 (highly
      pathogenic). Line 331 (B2/B2 genotype) had lower mortality than either Line 004
      (B17/B17, chi 2 = 4.13, P < .05) or Line 253 (B18/B18, chi 2 = 4.23, P < .05)
      challenged with Isolate P4L. The use of a susceptibility index allowed for the
      detection of additional differences among the various lines challenged by Isolate
      3727. Line 336 (BQ/BQ) was more resistant than either Line 335 (B19/B19, P < .01)
      or Line 330 (B21/B21, P < .01). No significant differences were found among the
      lines challenged at 6 wk by either isolate. The results provide additional
      evidence for the importance of the B complex in genetically determined disease
      resistance, and further demonstrate the usefulness of congenic lines in such
      investigations.

PMID- 1437974
TI  - Valine deficiency. 1. The effect of feeding a valine-deficient diet during the
      starter period on performance and feather structure of male broiler chicks.
AB  - Experiments were designed to investigate the effect of feeding diets deficient in
      one or more of the three branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) on the performance of
      3-wk-old male broilers. In the first experiment, levels of .96 and 1.46% Leu, .52
      and .82% Ile, and .65 and .95% Val were used. Feeding the lowest combination of
      the three BCAA resulted in weight gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FC) of 344
      g and 1.59 g:g, respectively. These parameters were not improved by adding
      dietary increments of the three BCAA individually. The greatest response,
      however, for both WG (435 g) and FC (1.41 g:g) was obtained by the addition of
      the three BCAA simultaneously. Chicks fed the low-Val diets in combinations with
      added levels of Ile and Leu exhibited feather and leg abnormalities. A second
      experiment was designed to investigate the effect of Val deficiency on feather
      protein, feather amino acids, and calcium content of the bone. Three treatments
      were used: a BCAA-deficient diet with .96% Leu, .52% Ile, and .63% Val; a Val
      deficient diet, which contained 1.37, .82, and .63% of Leu, Ile, and Val,
      respectively; and a Val-supplemented diet, which was the same as the previous
      diets except that the Val content was .83%. Valine deficiency significantly
      decreased WG (243 g), FC (1.69 g:g), bone calcium (134 mg/g dry bone), and
      feather protein (82.7% of wet weight). Valine deficiency also decreased the level
      of Cys in feathers, but increased those of Asp, Glu, Met, Tyr, His, and
      Lys.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1437975
TI  - Valine deficiency. 2. The effect of feeding a valine-deficient diet during the
      starter period on performance and leg abnormality of male broiler chicks.
AB  - Using force-feeding and pair-feeding techniques, two experiments were conducted
      to investigate the problem of leg abnormality associated with feeding a Val
      deficient diet as compared with a diet deficient in all the branched chain amino
      acids (BCAA) or a Val-supplemented diet. The BCAA-deficient diet contained .96,
      .52, and .63% of Leu, Ile, and Val, respectively. The Val-deficient diet
      contained 1.37 Leu, .82 Ile, and .63% Val. The Val-supplemented diet contained
      1.37 Leu, .82 Ile, and .83% Val. In both studies birds fed the Val-supplemented
      gained more weight than birds in the other two groups. Although birds on Val
      deficient and BCAA-deficient diets had similar weight gain, the former were
      lethargic and showed feather and leg abnormalities. Bone ash and bone calcium for
      Val-deficient birds were the lowest among the three groups studied (P < .05). The
      levels of the BCAA in plasma reflected those of the treatment diets. Plasma
      hydroxyproline was lowest in birds fed the Val-deficient diet (P < .05),
      indicating a reduction in bone collagen breakdown. Kidney function measurements
      were the same for birds on the Val-supplemented and Val-deficient diets.
      Fractional excretion of calcium in Val-deficient birds (.13%), however, was three
      times higher than that of Val-supplemented birds (P < .05). The results indicated
      that Val deficiency per se increased calcium excretion in urine and induced leg
      abnormality in young chickens.

PMID- 1437976
TI  - Response of male turkeys hatched from first-cycle and force-molted breeder hens
      to a regimen providing progressive feeds by weight and the value of increased
      lysine prior to marketing.
AB  - Male poults originating from 41- and 85-wk-old Nicholas Large White breeder
      turkey hens were compared using a six-feed system provided on the basis of
      weight. Each source of poult was compared further in its response to lysine at
      .65 and .80% in the final feed (14.5% CP and 3.40 kcal AMEn/g) before marketing
      at 18 wk of age. Poults from 85-wk-old hens were heavier at placement than those
      from 41-wk-old hens. Equalization of body weights occurred once the allotment of
      starting feed had been consumed and for the most part remained similar
      thereafter. Increasing lysine content of the final feed did not improve body
      weight of both sources of birds at marketing (P < .13). Feed conversions included
      accrued mortality, and treatment differences were not apparent. Commercial
      processing of the flock and measurements on sample birds indicated no ready
      differences in chilled carcass yield nor proportions of parts occurred among
      treatments. The overall effects of breeder age with the progeny were negligible,
      and the .65% level of lysine that presently serves as the 1984 National Research
      Council minimum requirement when associated with 14% CP and 3.30 kcal/g appears
      to be adequate for the Nicholas strain of turkey from 16 to 18 wk of age.

PMID- 1437977
TI  - Effect of heat stress on 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid and DL-methionine
      absorption measured in vitro.
AB  - The objective of the present experiments was to determine the biochemical basis
      for preliminary chick performance data, which indicate an ameliorative effect of
      2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid (HMB) when compared with DL-methionine
      (DLM) fed during hot conditions. In vitro passage of HMB or DLM across intact
      segments of small intestine from either control (thermoneutral, TN) or heat
      stressed (HS) birds was used as a model for intestinal absorption. For DLM placed
      in the lumen, appearance in the outside buffer was reduced when using intestine
      from HS birds compared with tissue from TN birds. In contrast, the appearance of
      HMB in the outside buffer was greater using HS intestine, resulting in a
      substrate by environment interaction (P < .01). Slices of everted small intestine
      from TN and HS birds were used to study epithelial uptake of methyl labeled 14C
      DLM by three transport pathways: diffusion, carrier-specific energy- and sodium
      independent uptake (ESI), and carrier-specific energy- and sodium-dependent
      uptake (ESD). Correcting for extracellular volume, total epithelial uptake of 14C
      DLM (diffusion plus ESI plus ESD) was reduced by 34% in HS intestine (P < .05).
      Energy-dependent uptake was observed to decrease by 87% in HS (P < .05). Energy
      independent uptake was increased (136%, HS versus TN, P < .05), but not enough to
      compensate for the decrease in ESD uptake. Intestinal transport systems for
      glucose and leucine were also observed to change during HS, suggesting a role for
      cellular transport changes in the performance reduction associated with HS.

PMID- 1437978
TI  - Identifying genes involved in the variability of genetic fatness in the growing
      chicken.
AB  - A precise knowledge of the genome involved in the expression of a quantitative
      trait could provide a useful tool in breeding programs; molecular genetic methods
      are capable of yielding this kind of information. An experimental procedure is
      presented here for identifying genes whose expression is related to weight
      variability of abdominal adipose tissue in the growing chicken. Quantitative
      traits are the result of metabolic pathways exhibiting some major regulation
      stages that are controlled genetically. These steps involve genes that may act as
      "major genes". With regard to chicken fat metabolism, most fatty acids are
      synthesized in the liver and incorporated into very low density lipoprotein
      (VLDL) particles before their secretion into the plasma. Accordingly, the present
      study focused on the expression of liver genes. The mRNA of lipogenic enzymes
      (acetyl-coenzyme-A carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, malic enzyme, and delta 9
      desaturase) were analyzed. Also studied were apoprotein (apo)A1, apoVLDL-II, and
      apoB mRNA from 9-wk-old male chickens from two lines selected for high and low
      abdominal fat pads. Significant differences for apoA1 mRNA levels occurred
      between fat and lean birds. Moreover, the total quantity of mRNA provided an
      accurate estimation of the abdominal fat pad (r = .74 with P < .05).

PMID- 1437979
TI  - The effect of testosterone propionate on growth of broiler chickens.
AB  - The effects of testosterone propionate (TP) on body weight, tissue percentages of
      body weight, serum IgM, and rectal temperature (2 h postinjection) of male and
      female broiler chickens were investigated at 28 and 48 days posthatching.
      Testosterone propionate was dissolved in sesame oil and was injected at 2 mg/kg
      of body weight every other day, and controls were treated with sesame oil at
      similar volume, starting Day 7 posthatching. Administration of TP reduced (P <
      .05) body weight and percentages of liver, testes, and bursa of Fabricius at 28
      and 48 days of age. At 28 and 48 days of age, muscle percentage and comb growth
      of TP-treated birds increased (P < .05) but ovarian weight was unaffected.
      Concentrations of IgM in serum of TP-injected birds was unchanged at Day 28, but
      increased (P < .05) at Day 48. Testosterone propionate did not affect percentages
      of bone or abdominal fat in either sex. Rectal temperature was depressed (P <
      .05) by TP treatment in both sexes at both ages.

PMID- 1437980
TI  - Cross-reactivity of sperm-binding proteins from chicken, turkey, and duck
      oocytes.
AB  - Binding and penetration of spermatozoa through the perivitelline layer (PL)
      overlying the hen's ovum have been studied more frequently in the chicken than in
      other domesticated avian species. Species-specific action of the binding process
      was tested using an in vitro competition assay in which spermatozoa from the
      cock, tom, and drake were pretreated with solubilized PL protein (PL-P) from the
      chicken, turkey, and duck ovum. Spermatozoa were pretreated with PL-P for 20 min
      at 39 C and co-incubated in vitro with a .5 cm2 section of intact PL from the
      homologous sperm donor species for an additional 10 min at 39 C. Effectiveness of
      PL-P pretreatment was assessed quantitatively by the number of spermatozoa bound
      to the PL, and was expressed as a percentage of the control [minimum essential
      medium (MEM) pretreated sperm = 100%] binding. Pretreatment of cock spermatozoa
      with chicken, turkey, or duck PL-P resulted in 21, 40, and 48% binding,
      respectively. Similarly, pretreatment of tom spermatozoa with PL-P from chicken,
      turkey, or duck resulted in 45, 51, and 39% binding, and that of drake
      spermatozoa resulted in 38, 32, and 21% binding, respectively. Incubation of
      spermatozoa with PL-P from chicken, turkey, and duck ova indicated cross
      reactivity and suppression of binding between avian spermatozoa and PL that was
      not species-specific.

PMID- 1437981
TI  - Sex differences in incubation length and hatching weights of broiler chicks.
AB  - Two experiments were run using broiler eggs (Peterson x Arbor Acres) to determine
      whether sex differences exist in incubation time required to hatch males and
      females and in various measures of chick weight (CW). Relationships between
      measures of CW and incubation time and between CW and egg weight (EW) were
      determined. Chicks that had emerged from eggs were removed from the hatcher at
      approximately 6- (5 to 8) h intervals between 490.5 and 527.5 h of incubation in
      Experiment 1 and at about 2-h intervals between 483 and 524 h of incubation in
      Experiment 2. Chicks were weighed before and after removal of the residual yolk
      sac immediately upon removal from the hatcher. In both experiments, a
      preponderance of early-hatching chicks were female. The time at which 50% of the
      females had hatched was significantly (P = .05) earlier than the 50% hatch time
      for males (2.68 and 3.32 h in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively). About 71% of
      the females had hatched by 504 and 509 h in Experiments 1 and 2, whereas only 57
      and 52% of the males had hatched at comparable times. In Experiment 2, the yolk
      free CW (YFCW) of males tended to be greater than that of females (P = .07) and
      the YFCW expressed as a percentage of EW was significantly (P = .007) greater.
      The regression of CW and YFCW on EW were highly significant and positive in both
      experiments. There was a significant relationship between EW and time required to
      hatch for males in Experiment 1 only.

PMID- 1437982
TI  - Analysis of the combined effect of the spermatozoal degeneration allele (Sd) and
      homozygosity of the rose comb allele (R) on the duration of fertility of roosters
      (Gallus domesticus).
AB  - Roosters homozygous for the rose comb allele (R/R) are subfertile. Likewise,
      roosters bearing the dominant spermatozoal degeneration allele (Sd) are
      subfertile. The objective of the present research was to see whether these
      effects were cumulative. Domestic fowl were bred in order to obtain males
      representing the following genotypes: R/r+ sd+/sd+, R/r+ Sd/sd+, R/R sd+/sd+, and
      R/R Sd/sd+. Duplicate fertility trials were conducted with Single Comb White
      Leghorn hens. In each trial, ejaculates were pooled according to genotype. The
      insemination dose was 1 x 10(8) viable spermatozoa per hen, and eggs were
      collected over a 21-day interval following a single intravaginal insemination.
      Fertility over the 21-day period was 53 +/- 2.1 (SEM), 36 +/- 1.6, 21 +/- 2.1,
      and 11 +/- 1.2%, respectively. Therefore, the effect of homozygosity for the R
      allele and the presence of the Sd allele were cumulative in the depression of
      fertility.

PMID- 1437983
TI  - Research note: effect of in ovo 17-beta-estradiol or tamoxifen administration on
      sexual differentiation of the external genitalia.
AB  - The effect of in ovo administration of tamoxifen or 17 beta-estradiol on external
      sexual dimorphism in chickens was investigated. In two trials, fertile eggs were
      injected with either tamoxifen (200 micrograms per egg) or vehicle (100 microL
      corn oil) on Day 1 of incubation, or with 17 beta-estradiol (20 micrograms per
      egg) or vehicle on Day 11 of incubation. Sexes were determined by visual
      inspection of the external genitalia and by gonadal identification at Day 1
      posthatch. Tamoxifen injection resulted in a significantly greater number of
      phenotypic male identifications, with male:female ratios of 76:24 (Trial 1) and
      62:38 (Trial 2) based on external genitalia phenotype. Gonadal sexing corrected
      these ratios to 46:54 and 44:56, resulting in genital sexing errors of 27% (Trial
      1) and 18% (Trial 2). These errors were significantly higher than genital sexing
      errors of the chicks treated with vehicle (2 and .6% for Trials 1 and 2,
      respectively). In ovo administration of 17 beta-estradiol resulted in an
      increased number of female identifications based on genital sex determination,
      with male:female ratios of 37:63 (Trial 1) and 46:54 (Trial 2). Gonadal sexing
      corrected these ratios to 54:46 and 51:49, resulting in genital sexing errors of
      10 and 6% for Trials 1 and 2, respectively. These errors were significantly
      higher than genital sexing errors of vehicle-treated chicks (4 and .9% for Trials
      1 and 2, respectively). The results of the present study indicate that early
      embryonic administration of estrogen or an estrogen antagonist alters chicken
      external sexual dimorphism near the time of hatch.

PMID- 1437984
TI  - Research note: a lack of response to pantothenic acid supplementation to a corn
      and soybean meal broiler diet.
AB  - Two 21-day battery studies were conducted to determine whether a corn and soybean
      meal diet without pantothenic acid supplementation was adequate for growth and
      feed efficiency of broilers. In each experiment, 64 1-day-old broiler chicks (32
      male and 32 female) were assigned to each of six dietary treatments. The basal
      diet was supplemented with 0, .3, .6, 2.4, 4.8, and 14.4 mg of supplemental
      pantothenic acid/kg of diet. Each diet in both experiments was fed to eight pens
      containing four females and four male day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks. The
      basal diet contained 22.3% protein and 4.74 mg/kg pantothenic acid by analysis.
      No improvement in growth or feed efficiency was obtained from any level of
      pantothenic acid supplementation.

PMID- 1437985
TI  - Research note: the reactivity of anti-chondroitin sulfate antibody to comb and
      wattle galactosaminoglycans.
AB  - The current study was undertaken to examine the reactivity of anti-chondroitin
      sulfate monoclonal antibody, CS-56, to the comb and wattle galactosaminoglycans
      containing varying proportions of L-iduronic acid. Galactosaminoglycans were
      isolated from mature rooster comb and wattle tissues and were separated into four
      fractions (I, II, III, and IV), which were precipitable with 18, 25, 40, and 50%
      ethanol, respectively. Each fraction was examined using an ELISA technique. The
      results demonstrated presence of CS-56 epitope in galactosaminoglycans from both
      tissues. Most (> 99%) of the epitope were found in Fractions III and IV, which
      were galactosaminoglycans rich in D-glucuronic acid. Fractions I and II, which
      were dermatan sulfates rich in L-iduronic acid, showed little or very weak
      antigenicities.

PMID- 1437986
TI  - Research note: effects of beak trimming and genetic stock on rate of mash
      consumption and feeding-related behavior in egg-strain pullets.
AB  - Pullets whose beaks were trimmed once (at 9 days) and twice (at 9 days and 9 wk)
      were able to ingest feed, in the form of mash, more rapidly under competitive
      feeding conditions and at least as rapidly in the absence of competition as
      pullets with intact beaks. Tests of feeding rate, when pullets fed in groups,
      were carried out after a feed deprivation period of 7 h at ages of 10 through 16
      wk. Similar tests were done at 18 wk, when pullets fed without competition.
      Genetic stock and age had significant effects on frequency of agonistic acts at
      the feeder and displacements from the feeder during 5-min tests under competitive
      feeding conditions. Age influenced the number of pullets feeding simultaneously
      and amount of feed eaten per pullet during the same feeding tests. No
      interactions were detected among beak treatment, stock, and age for feeding
      related behaviors or rate of feed consumption during competitive feeding. In
      noncompetitive feeding tests, genetic stock affected feeding rate but no stock by
      beak treatment interaction was present.

PMID- 1437987
TI  - Developmental toxicity of antiepileptic drugs: relationship to postnatal
      dysfunction.

PMID- 1437988
TI  - Vasoactive mediators released by endothelins.

PMID- 1437989
TI  - Tolerability of fibric acids. Comparative data and biochemical bases.
AB  - Fibric acids are an established class of drugs for the treatment of
      hyperlipoproteinaemias. Although they have been in use for 30 years or longer,
      some doubts remain as to their relative tolerability, both as a class and as
      single agents. Some side effects, e.g. lithogenicity, may be related to their
      mode of action, while others, e.g. the acute muscular syndrome, may be linked to
      the spatial conformation of the molecule. These disadvantages should, however, be
      weighed against the additional, potentially therapeutic properties shown by these
      compounds. In particular, effects on maturity onset diabetes and hyperuricaemia,
      as well as a very interesting fibrinolytic potential, have been described for
      some of them. A painstaking comparative analysis of the major literature data
      pertaining to the clinical toxicological profile of these agents allow to
      conclude that, while belonging to a chemical class, fibric acids show dramatic
      differences from one another, in terms of side effects and of additional
      pharmacodynamic activities. Moreover, in the case of lithogenicity for example,
      considerable differences exist between normo- and hyperlipidaemic subjects.
      Overall, newer molecules of more sophisticated design have a significantly
      improved tolerability profile vs the old clofibrate.

PMID- 1437990
TI  - Polymorphonuclear leucocyte-dependent modulation of platelet function: relevance
      to the pathogenesis of thrombosis.

PMID- 1437991
TI  - Platelet-dependent modulation of neutrophil function.

PMID- 1437992
TI  - Cognitive and noncognitive stress.

PMID- 1437993
TI  - Presence of tobramycin in kidneys and placentae of Sprague-Dawley rat fetuses and
      newborns following in utero exposure.
AB  - The maternal-fetal transfer of tobramycin (TBM) was investigated in the rat by
      means of a microbiological assay, to assess the presence and amount in the
      kidneys and placentae of fetuses at gestational day (GD) 20, in the kidneys of
      newborns 6 and 11 days after the end of treatment and in the kidneys of the dams.
      In the qualitative assay, pregnant rats were injected i.p. with 0, 30, 60 mg/kg
      b.w. of TBM on GD 10-19. A group of dams treated in parallel with 30 mg/kg b.w.
      was utilized for a microbiological semiquantitative assay. All litters contained
      some fetuses showing no detectable TBM accumulation in either kidney or in
      placentae: at 30 mg/kg/b.w. accumulation appeared more prevalent in placenta than
      in the kidneys of the corresponding fetuses, as confirmed also by the
      semiquantitative assay. Some newborns (about 6%) of both groups showed detectable
      renal TBM residues on the 6th and on the 11th day after the end of treatment. The
      frequency of newborns showing residues was not obviously related to the dose or
      the day of sampling, and the concentrations of TBM found were comparable to those
      observed in fetuses. It is possible that they represent a particularly sensitive
      subgroup.

PMID- 1437994
TI  - Biosensor development.
AB  - This article reviews the recent biosensor developments for medical applications,
      focusing on the various biological recognition elements used in biosensors and
      the systems transduction mechanisms. Available instruments utilizing biosensor
      technology are also examined from a commercial perspective.

PMID- 1437995
TI  - The enantiomers of the valproic acid analogue 2-n-propyl-4-pentynoic acid (4-yn
      VPA): asymmetric synthesis and highly stereoselective teratogenicity in mice.
AB  - The teratogenic activities of R(+)- and S(-)-2-n-propyl-4-pentynoic acid (R and S
      4-yn-VPA), the enantiomers of the highly teratogenic valproic acid (VPA)
      analogues (+/-)-4-yn-VPA, were investigated in mice. The enantiomers were
      prepared via asymmetric synthesis, each in three steps employing the chiral
      auxiliaries (4R,5S)-4-methyl-5-phenyl-2-oxazolidinone and S-4-benzyl-2
      oxazolidinone. The determination of the absolute configurations and the optical
      purities is described. R(+)-4-yn-VPA contained 7%, and S(-)-4-yn-VPA 8%, of the
      respective antipodes. The aqueous solutions of the sodium salts of R- and S-4-yn
      VPA were administered as single i.p. injections during early organogenesis in the
      mouse (day 8 of gestation) using the induction of exencephaly as the
      teratological end point. Dose/exencephaly curves indicated that S-4-yn-VPA is 7.5
      times more teratogenic than its antipode, 1.9 times more teratogenic than (+/-)-4
      yn-VPA and 3.9 times more teratogenic than the parent drug VPA. In contrast, the
      neurotoxicity (maternal toxicity) of the 4-yn-VPA enantiomers was found to be
      independent of the stereo-chemical configuration and lower than achieved after
      VPA administration. Due to its low neurotoxicity and highly stereoselective
      neural tube-inducing activity, S-4-yn-VPA should prove an important tool for the
      investigation of molecular mechanism of the teratogenic action in this class of
      compounds; R-4-yn-VPA could act as the negative control in these studies.

PMID- 1437996
TI  - Microscopic characterization of particle size and shape: an inexpensive and
      versatile method.
AB  - A variety of methods exists for measuring individual particle dimensions as a
      means of characterizing particle size, size distribution, and shape. The
      equipment described in this report belongs to the class of semiautomatic non-TV
      interfaced analyzers. Unlike many existing image analysis systems, three
      dimensional form measurements and texture data for the calculation of particle
      size and shape parameters can be determined easily and directly from each
      particle profile using this system. Essentially all data are collected directly
      from the particle and recorded by the computer with no intermediate steps. Much
      of the system consists of general-purpose and relatively inexpensive,
      commercially available hardware and software. Using this method, particle size,
      size distribution, and qualitative or quantitative shape information can easily
      and rapidly be obtained simultaneously. Particle length and width
      characterization, for example, can take less than 15 min. The equipment is
      versatile and flexible in measurements and calculations. The size and shape
      parameters to be measured are determined by the researcher and not the
      instrument. The ease with which this information can be obtained from small
      samples early in the development process makes it a valuable tool for the
      formulator.

PMID- 1437997
TI  - Sterile filtration of a parenteral emulsion.
AB  - The Syntex adjuvant formulation (SAF) containing [thr1]-muramyldipeptide in an
      oil-in-water emulsion has proven to be an effective adjuvant eliciting both cell
      mediated and humoral immune response. As a parenteral emulsion, sterility of the
      final product was a concern, and various methods of achieving sterility were
      considered. For emulsions, most conventional sterilization methods are not
      viable, requiring the more cumbersome technique of sterilizing individual
      components and assembling/manufacturing under sterile conditions. Emulsion
      vehicles were manufactured with various models in the Microfluidizer M110 series.
      All equipment examined was capable of reducing the average dispersed oil droplet
      size to approximately 160 nm, with varying size ranges. Operating at an internal
      equipment pressure of greater than 16,000 psi, with at least five cycles through
      the interaction chamber, the resulting emulsion had a narrow droplet size range
      distribution, with the largest droplets being small enough to enable sterile
      filtration. Under specific-manufacturing conditions, the adjuvant emulsion
      becomes easily filtered through a 0.22-micron cartridge filter, thus yielding a
      sterile end product. This is the first published example of emulsion
      sterilization being achieved by terminal filtration.

PMID- 1437998
TI  - Dissociation of insulin oligomers by bile salt micelles and its effect on alpha
      chymotrypsin-mediated proteolytic degradation.
AB  - Bile salts have been found to be effective absorption promoters of insulin across
      mucosal barriers, i.e., nasal and gastrointestinal. One of the mechanisms
      proposed for absorption enhancement is the dissociation of insulin oligomers to
      monomers, rendering a higher insulin diffusivity. alpha-Chymotryptic degradation
      and circular dichroism studies were used to characterize such a transition. When
      zinc insulin (hexamers) and sodium insulin (dimers) were subjected to alpha
      chymotryptic degradation, a 3.2-fold difference in the apparent first-order rate
      constants was observed (zinc insulin being slower than sodium insulin),
      representing the intrinsic difference in the concentration of total associated
      species in solution (three times). In the presence of a bile salt, sodium
      glycocholate (NaGC), the rate of degradation of both zinc and sodium insulin
      increased in an asymptotic manner. A maximum increase of 5.4-fold was observed
      for zinc insulin at a 30 mM NaGC concentration and a 2.1-fold increase was noted
      for sodium insulin at 10 mM NaGC, both values being close to the theoretical
      numbers of 6- and 2-fold as predicted by the complete dissociation of hexamers
      and dimers to monomers. The result indicates dissociation of insulin oligomers to
      monomers by bile salt micelles, probably by hydrophobic micellar incorporation of
      monomeric units. Circular dichroism studies also revealed progressive attenuation
      of molecular ellipticities at negative maxima of 276, 222, and 212 nm for zinc
      insulin solution in the presence of NaGC. Therefore, both alpha-chymotryptic
      degradation and circular dichroism studies have consistently demonstrated that
      the bile salts may be capable of dissociating insulin oligomers to monomers, a
      fact which may play an important role in enhancing insulin bioavailability.

PMID- 1437999
TI  - Effect of zinc binding on the structure and stability of fibrolase, a
      fibrinolytic protein from snake venom.
AB  - Fibrolase is a metalloprotease with potential use as a fibrinolytic agent. Loss
      of the intrinsic zinc atom leads to a rapid decrease in enzymatic activity.
      Circular dichroism measurements indicate that there is a partial unfolding of an
      alpha-helical section of the protein concomitant with the loss of zinc. Removal
      of zinc can be affected by elevated temperatures, acidic pH values, and addition
      of chelating agents. At low molar concentrations, both ethylenediaminetetraacetic
      acid (EDTA) and dithiothreitol (DTT) were found to remove zinc efficiently.
      Analysis of the sequence of fibrolase identified a segment which possessed a high
      degree of homology with the metal binding site of other zinc proteases, such as
      thermolysin and the collagenases. However, the putative zinc binding site in
      fibrolase lacks the additional glutamate ligand found in thermolysin and
      subtilisin. This sequence is also predicted to adopt an alpha-helical
      conformation. Together, these data indicate that there is a well-defined metal
      binding site in fibrolase and that metal binding is the most important factor
      governing the stability of this protein.

PMID- 1438000
TI  - Vaginal absorption of insulin in the rat: effect of penetration enhancers on
      insulin uptake and mucosal histology.
AB  - The absorption of insulin across the vaginal mucosa into the systemic circulation
      was studied in ovariectomized rats given subsequent estrogen treatment. Blood
      glucose levels were determined as an indirect measure of insulin absorption, and
      the effect of various enhancers on the hypoglycemic response was investigated. In
      the absence of any enhancer, no decrease in blood glucose levels was observed
      after vaginal administration of insulin. However, the coadministration of sodium
      taurodihydrofusidate, polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether, lysophosphatidylcholine,
      palmitoylcarnitine chloride, and lysophosphatidylglycerol significantly increased
      hypoglycemia, whereas citric acid had little effect. The histological changes in
      the vaginal epithelium after treatment with the enhancer systems were variable
      and often severe. While the efficacy of these compounds in promoting the vaginal
      absorption of insulin is encouraging, their mechanisms of action and long-term
      histological effects are yet to be defined.

PMID- 1438001
TI  - The influence of different strains and age on in vitro rat skin permeability to
      water and mannitol.
AB  - Water and mannitol were used as test penetrants to study the effect of age on the
      skin permeability of the Wistar-derived Alderley Park (AP) rat and Sprague-Dawley
      (SD) rat. Whole-skin membranes were prepared from rats aged 10 to 120 days, while
      epidermal membranes were prepared from rats aged 24 to 32 days. The results
      indicated that the skin permeabilities of the two strains were very similar for
      either whole-skin or epidermal membranes. The influence of age on skin
      permeability was found to be negligible for the AP rat, and a small decrease in
      whole-skin permeability was observed for SD rats above 80 days of age. A
      statistically derived expression ("the separation efficiency factor") was used to
      determine the optimum age for preparing intact epidermal membranes; these were 26
      days for AP rats and 28 days for SD rats. Histological examination of whole-skin
      membranes for both strains revealed that the stratum corneum and epidermal
      thickness did not alter significantly with age (10 to 120 days old). Dermal
      thickness, hair follicle depth, and, to a lesser extent, the surface area
      occupied by hair follicles all appeared to be influenced by age, although these
      changes had no detectable effect on skin permeability.

PMID- 1438002
TI  - Oral delivery of a renin inhibitor compound using emulsion formulations.
AB  - The oral delivery of O-(N-morpholino-carbonyl-3-L-phenylaspartyl-L- leucinamide
      of (2S,3R,4S)-2-amino-1-cyclohexyl-3,4-dihydroxy-6-methylhetane (I), a new renin
      inhibitor, was studied in the in vivo rat model using emulsion formulations. The
      components of the emulsion formulations were chosen based on their proposed
      effects on membrane structure, membrane fluidity, and solute transport. The
      percent absolute bioavailability (%AB) of I was increased from 0.3% (water
      suspension) to 5.1% when long-chain unsaturated fatty acid (oleic acid, linoleic
      acid, etc.)- and mono- and diglyceride (monolein, dilaurin, etc.)-containing
      emulsion formulations were used. Considering very high first-pass liver
      extraction of the compound (80%), it is suggested that emulsion formulations
      increased the intestinal transport of the compound significantly. The solubility
      of I in aqueous media with and without bile salt (20 mM) was found to be low
      (approximately 1 micrograms/ml). Incubation in 0.01 N HCl did not affect the
      particle size of the emulsion. The titration of oleic acid/monoolein emulsion in
      a pH 6.5 medium with a mixed bile salt system indicated reduction in the particle
      size of the emulsion. Drug precipitation was observed above 30 mM bile salt
      concentrations. No drug crystals could be detected in the intestinal contents of
      the rats when emulsion formulations were ingested. These results suggest that in
      the intestine of the animals, the particle size of the emulsions is reduced in
      the presence of bile fluid while the drug resides primarily in the oil phase. The
      mechanism of enhanced transport of I from the emulsion formulations is discussed
      along with the possibility of cotransport for the drug and oil. Emulsion
      formulations can be a potential delivery form for low-bioavailable lipid-soluble
      drugs.

PMID- 1438003
TI  - Intestinal water and solute absorption studies: comparison of in situ perfusion
      with chronic isolated loops in rats.
AB  - The effects of lumenal glucose on jejunal water transport and the influence of
      glucose-induced water absorption on solute uptake from single-pass perfusions are
      compared in anesthetized rats in situ and isolated chronic loops in
      unanesthetized rats in vivo. While the magnitudes of solute membrane
      permeabilities are consistently higher in the chronic loop system, the effects on
      water transport and its promotion of jejunal solute uptake are comparable between
      the two experimental systems. The effect of glucose-induced water absorption on
      the enhanced/baseline jejunal uptake ratio of the hydrophilic drug,
      acetaminophen, is greater than that for the lipophilic drug, phenytoin, in both
      experimental systems. The fact that chronic loop effective solute permeabilities
      were equivalent to solute membrane permeabilities in situ is consistent with
      greater lumenal fluid mixing in vivo. In addition, in situ body temperature
      affects the uptake of phenytoin but not acetaminophen, water, or glucose. This
      suggests that active and paracellular solute transport is not compromised in
      situ, while membrane partitioning and diffusion of lipophilic species are more
      sensitive to experimental conditions.

PMID- 1438004
TI  - Absorption of flurbiprofen in the fed and fasted states.
AB  - The oral absorption of flurbiprofen, an antiinflammatory nonsteroidal compound,
      was compared in the fasted vs the fed state. When ingested as an aqueous solution
      of the sodium salt, absorption kinetics followed a monoexponential pattern in
      half of the subjects and a bimodal pattern with a lag time before the onset of
      the second phase of absorption in the other half of the subjects. When ingested
      in the free acid form as a tablet either with water (fasted state) or with water
      15 min after 330 ml of apple juice (fed state), flurbiprofen absorption was
      always bimodal, and the lag time before the onset of the second phase was shown
      to be dependent on the gastric emptying time (r = 0.623, P less than 0.01). The
      gastric emptying times were significantly longer when the drug was administered
      in the fed state (average GET = 57 min in the fasted state and 102 min in the fed
      state; P less than 0.01). These results suggest that gastric emptying effects are
      one important way in which absorption of drugs can be affected by meal intake.

PMID- 1438005
TI  - Effect of chronic administration of phenobarbital on the hepatobiliary transport
      of phenol red: assessment by statistical moment analysis.
AB  - The effect of enzyme induction on the hepatobiliary transport of phenol red (PR)
      in rats was investigated by application of a new analytical system to determine
      local drug disposition based on statistical moment theory (T. Kakutani et al., J.
      Pharmacokin. Biopharm. 13:609-631, 1985). Employing the moment parameters
      obtained from the time courses of plasma and biliary concentrations of PR and its
      metabolite after intravenous injection, the hepatobiliary transport of PR was
      theoretically assessed by separating it into component subprocesses such as
      hepatic uptake, hepatobiliary transfer, and intrahepatic metabolism. The results
      demonstrated that the acceleration of plasma disappearance of PR caused by
      pretreatment with phenobarbital (PB), known to induce hepatic enzyme systems,
      could be attributed to elevation of both hepatic and extrahepatic clearances.
      While PB did cause bile flow elevation (choleresis) and increased metabolism,
      these effects were shown to make little contribution to accelerated plasma
      disappearance of PR, since it was shown that the hepatobiliary excretion of PR
      was rate-limited by the intrahepatic transfer process, which was unaffected by PB
      treatment. From the results of this study, this experimental/analysis methodology
      seems to be useful in obtaining detailed information about hepatobiliary
      transport of the drug from in vivo data.

PMID- 1438006
TI  - An in vitro pharmacodynamic model to simulate antibiotic behavior of acute otitis
      media with effusion.
AB  - The purpose of this investigation was to develop an in vitro pharmacodynamic
      model (IVPM) that would simultaneously simulate in vivo serum and middle ear
      amoxicillin pharmacokinetic characteristics of acute (purulent) otitis media and
      then utilize the IVPM to assess amoxicillin-mediated killing of a type 7F
      Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC = 0.002 mg/L). The IVPM consisted of a sterile
      central compartment and a membrane-bound "infected" peripheral compartment. Peak
      peripheral compartment amoxicillin concentrations occurred within 2 hr after its
      introduction into the central compartment and were approximately 30% of peak
      central compartment concentrations. Amoxicillin elimination from the central
      compartment was designed to provide a 1-hr t 1/2. Amoxicillin elimination from
      the peripheral compartment was slower than from the central compartment, with an
      average half-life of 2.3 hr. Significant concentration-related differences in
      maximal bacterial kill rates were not detected over the range of amoxicillin
      concentrations studied (0.26 to 14.6 mg/L). However, at peak central compartment
      amoxicillin concentrations of less than or equal to 2 mg/L, a lag phase in
      killing was observed. In general, the in vitro pharmacokinetic data derived from
      this model compare well with published in vivo data.

PMID- 1438007
TI  - Bioequivalence.
AB  - The bioequivalence of two formulations of the same drug may be determined by
      evaluating the similarity of their respective plasma concentration curves. The
      similarity of two plasma concentration functions can be measured by an index
      called the bioequivalence index. This paper shows how such an index may be
      defined and calculated.

PMID- 1438008
TI  - Method for the determination of diphenhydramine in rabbit whole blood by high
      performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) detection in
      conjunction with gas chromatography (GC) with mass selective detection (MSD).
AB  - An HPLC/GC-MSD method for the determination of diphenhydramine in rabbit whole
      blood has been developed and validated. This method is based on a liquid-liquid
      extraction and reversed-phase chromatography with ultraviolet absorbance
      detection monitored at 258 nm. HPLC eluant fractions containing diphenhydramine
      and the internal standard, orphenadrine, were collected, reextracted, then
      subjected to GC-MSD analysis. Whole blood was utilized, thereby decreasing the
      required sample volume and increasing the sensitivity of the assay.
      Diphenhydramine concentrations can be quantitated over a range of 1 to 1000 ng/ml
      whole blood.

PMID- 1438009
TI  - Investigation of the degradation mechanism of 5-aminosalicylic acid in aqueous
      solution.
AB  - The solution degradation of the antiinflammatory agent 5-aminosalicylic acid (5
      ASA) was investigated in order to elucidate a mechanism for degradation. Two
      degradation pathways were considered: decarboxylation by analogy to 4
      aminosalicylic acid (4-ASA) decomposition and oxidation from consideration of 5
      ASA's aromatic ring substitution pattern (i.e., relation to p-aminophenol). The
      oxidation of 5-ASA was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and flow
      electrolysis. These studies showed that 5-ASA is more easily oxidized than is 4
      ASA and that 5-ASA undergoes a two-electron, two-proton oxidation consistent with
      formation of 5-ASA-quinoneimine (5-ASA-QI). This oxidation is followed by
      subsequent complex chemistry. The decomposition of 5-ASA in solution was examined
      under a variety of conditions. 5-ASA decomposes most rapidly under conditions
      promoting oxidation and is most stable under conditions tending to inhibit
      oxidation. Decarboxylation was not found to be a significant degradation pathway.

PMID- 1438010
TI  - Solid-state stability testing of drugs by isothermal calorimetry.
AB  - A new technique has been developed to calculate rapidly the solid-state room
      temperature degradation rate of drugs and drug candidates. The technique utilizes
      measurements of the initial rate of heat output at several elevated temperatures
      by isothermal calorimetry and the degradation rate of the compound determined at
      a single elevated temperature by chromatography. The activation energies and
      degradation rates at 25 degrees C calculated by conventional methods and by
      isothermal calorimetry are compared and discussed. The compounds studied were
      phenytoin, triamterene, digoxin, tetracycline, theophylline, diltiazem, and
      several proprietary ICI compounds.

PMID- 1438011
TI  - Application of electrospray mass spectrometry (ES-MS) for the analysis of
      monoclonal antibody Fc subunits.

PMID- 1438012
TI  - Transdermal delivery of insulin to alloxan-diabetic rabbits by ultrasound
      exposure.

PMID- 1438013
TI  - Electric current-sensitive drug delivery systems using sodium
      alginate/polyacrylic acid composites.

PMID- 1438014
TI  - Ideal solubility of a solid solute: effect of heat capacity assumptions.

PMID- 1438015
TI  - Physical properties of fast-release nonreverting hydrochlorothiazide solid
      dispersions.

PMID- 1438017
TI  - Effect of phosphamidon and obidoxime on the QT-RR relationship of isolated rat
      heart.
AB  - We studied the effects of phosphamidon (an organophosphate compound), obidoxime
      (a cholinesterase reactivator), and their combination, phosphamidon/obidoxime
      (PD/OB) on cardiac cycle length (RR), QT interval, and on QT-RR relationship of
      isolated rat heart. Cardiac cycle length did not change significantly following
      perfusion with phosphamidon or obidoxime alone; however, following perfusion with
      PD/OB, RR significantly increased at high concentrations (10(-3) M) of both
      drugs. The QT interval lengthened by 5% following perfusion with phosphamidon,
      did not change following perfusion with obidoxime, and increased by 10% following
      perfusion with PD/OB. The QT-RR relationship without drugs was positive and
      linear. Following perfusion with phosphamidon alone, the slope of the
      relationship decreased significantly, while perfusion with obidoxime alone did
      not change the QT-RR relationship. Perfusion with PD/OB at low concentrations
      decreased the slope of the relationship; however, at the highest concentration
      (10(-3) M) the QT-RR relationship was inverted and became negative. Ventricular
      arrhythmias as premature ventricular beats, or bigeminies, were noted with
      increasing frequency following perfusion with increasing doses of phosphamidon.
      Perfusion with obidoxime did not cause arrhythmias, whereas perfusion with PD/OB
      caused premature ventricular beats, bigeminies, and ventricular tachycardias at
      high doses. We suggest that obidoxime modulates the direct effects of
      phosphamidon on the cardiac repolarization process. PD/OB at high concentrations
      invert the normal depolarization-repolarization coupling and may therefore
      potentiate arrhythmias.

PMID- 1438016
TI  - Etorphine is an opiate analgesic physicochemically suited to transdermal
      delivery.

PMID- 1438018
TI  - Inhibition of cumene hydroperoxide-induced lipid peroxidation by a novel
      pyridoindole antioxidant in rat liver microsomes.
AB  - The ability of stobadine, a novel pyridoindole antioxidant, to inhibit lipid
      peroxidation induced by cumene hydroperoxide was investigated in rat liver
      microsomes. In the micromolar range stobadine effectively inhibited lipid
      peroxidation as measured by the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive
      products. The peroxidation-related degradation of microsomal cytochrome P-450 was
      prevented by stobadine in the same pattern. Another line of evidence in support
      of the antioxidant action of stobadine was given by its inhibition of cumene
      hydroperoxide-induced oxygen consumption in microsomal incubations. Inhibition of
      lipid peroxidation was not a function of decreased bioactivation of cumene
      hydroperoxide, as stobadine did not affect the rate of cytochrome P-450 dependent
      cleavage of cumene hydroperoxide. Neither had stobadine any effect on cytochrome
      P-450 peroxidase function characterized by the rate of cumene hydroperoxide
      dependent oxidation of TMPD, and no direct spectral interaction with microsomal
      cytochrome P-450 was observed in the micromolar region. We suggest that it is the
      ability of stobadine to scavenge alkoxyl and peroxyl radicals that is
      predominantly responsible for the observed antioxidant effect.

PMID- 1438019
TI  - Gentamicin nephrotoxicity in rat: some biochemical correlates.
AB  - The present work examines the effect of treatment of rats with graded doses of
      the aminoglycoside antibiotic gentamicin on the concentration of reduced
      glutathione (GSH) and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity in the kidney, and DAO
      activity, creatinine and magnesium (Mg) in the plasma. The animals were given the
      antibiotic intramuscularly in doses of 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg/day for 6 days, and
      were killed 24 hr after the last injection. In another experiment rats were
      injected intramuscularly with gentamicin at a dose of 80 mg/kg/day for 6 days and
      were killed 1, 7 or 14 days after the last injection, and the above parameters
      were measured. Gentamicin reduced the body weights of rats in a dose-dependent
      manner. The weight reductions were most marked on days 4, 5 and 6 of the
      treatment. The body weights gradually recovered on withdrawing of the drug, and
      by day 14, they were not significantly different from those of the controls.
      Gentamicin produced significant and dose-dependent decreases in the renal
      concentration of GSH. Seven and 14 days after withdrawing the drug, the GSH
      concentrations were still significantly below that of the controls. Plasma Mg
      concentrations were significantly decreased, and plasma creatinine concentrations
      significantly increased by gentamicin. These effects persisted 7 and 14 days
      after cessation of treatment. Plasma DAO activity was not detectable in the
      control or gentamicin-treated rats. In the renal cortex, the activity of the
      enzyme, measured 1, 7 and 14 days after the treatment, was not significantly
      different from that of the control. Histopathologically, the drug produced dose
      dependent proximal renal tubular necrosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1438020
TI  - Pharmacokinetics in rat of 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone
      (MX), a drinking water mutagen, after a single dose.
AB  - The pharmacokinetics of 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX)
      was evaluated after a single oral or intravenous administration in the rats using
      14C-labelled compound. Twenty to 35% of the dose was absorbed into circulation
      from the gastrointestinal tract as assessed from the excretion in urine. The mean
      elimination half-life of the radioactivity in blood (T1/2 k10) was 3.8 hr. Traces
      of radioactivity remained in the blood for several days. The tissues lining the
      gastrointestinal and urinary tract, kidneys, stomach, small intestines and
      urinary bladder contained the highest radioactivity. The activity declined
      slowest in the kidneys. Urine was the main excretion route. Seventy-seven % of
      the total amount excreted appeared in urine in 12 hr and 90% in 24 hr. No
      radioactivity was exhaled in air suggesting that elimination through respiration
      did not occur. After an intravenous administration of 14C-MX, the T1/2 k10, was
      much longer, 22.9 hr, and the total elimination half-life (T1/2 beta), 42.1 hr.
      The results indicate that MX is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract to a
      considerable degree and it is excreted in urine very rapidly. A fraction of MX or
      its metabolites is retained in blood for a longer period of time. The
      pharmacokinetics of MX does not suggest extensive cumulation of MX in tissues
      after continuous exposure.

PMID- 1438021
TI  - Local antinociceptive and hyperalgesic effects in the formalin test after
      peripheral administration of adenosine analogues in mice.
AB  - Adenosine administered to humans has been reported to induce pain after
      intravenous administration. On the other hand adenosine analogues have been shown
      to possess antinociceptive effects after peripheral and intrathecal
      administration in animals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the
      effect of peripheral administration of adenosine agonists with different
      affinities for the A1 and A2 adenosine receptors on a persistent pain stimulus
      using the formalin test. The drugs chosen were, R-phenylisopropyl-adenosine (R
      PIA) with high affinity for the A1 receptor, N-ethylcarboxamide-adenosine (NECA)
      with almost equal affinity for the A1 and A2 receptor and 2-(2-aminoethylamino)
      carbonylethylphenylethylamino-adenosin e (APEC) with high affinity for the A2
      receptor. The drugs were mixed with formalin and administered subcutaneously into
      the dorsal hind paw in mice to study the local effects. They were also injected
      separately from the formalin solution in different paws to evaluate the systemic
      effect. The total time of licking the injected paw during the first 5 min. was
      recorded. In high doses all compounds reduced the licking activity, but a low
      dose of APEC (1 microM) injected together with the formalin solution had an
      algesic effect. All effects were antagonized by theophylline. These results
      suggests that A1 adenosine receptors mediate a local peripheral antinociceptive
      effect and the involvement of local peripheral A2 receptors in the enhancement of
      the algesic response.

PMID- 1438022
TI  - Class III antiarrhythmic action and inotropy: effects of almokalant in acute
      ischaemic heart failure in dogs.
AB  - We studied the haemodynamic and metabolic effects of the novel class III
      antiarrhythmic agent almokalant (H 234/09) in acute ischaemic heart failure at a
      dose prolonging ventricular repolarization. In pentobarbital anaesthetized dogs,
      heart failure was induced by microembolization of the area supplied by the main
      left coronary artery until a stable left ventricular end-diastolic pressure
      (LVEDP) of 32 +/- 2 mmHg was achieved. Embolization depressed LV dP/dt(max), LV
      dP/dt(min), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and cardiac output. After
      intravenous infusion of almokalant (0.35 micrograms/kg) LV dP/dt(max) and LV
      dP/dt(min) were not significantly changed at paced cycle length of 300 msec.,
      whereas LVSP and aortic pressure decreased both at spontaneous and paced cycle
      length of 300 msec. LVEDP remained unchanged. Heart rate decreased from 185 +/- 7
      to 167 +/- 5 beats/min., and corrected QT-time (QTc) increased from 9.5 +/- 0.3
      to 10.4 +/- 0.5 msec. Arterial concentration and net myocardial uptake of
      glucose, lactate and free fatty acids were not significantly influenced by
      almokalant. In conclusion, almokalant at a dose prolonging ventricular
      repolarization had no negative inotropic effect in acute ischaemic heart failure.

PMID- 1438023
TI  - Antithrombotic activity of a new pyrazine derivative determined by the mouse
      antithrombotic assay.
AB  - A model of pulmonary microembolization in the mouse induced by infusion of
      epinephrine and collagen was used to determine antithrombotic activity of
      indomethacin and acetylsalicylic acid and of two newly synthesized pyrazine
      derivatives. One of the new agents provided marked protection of mice from
      thrombotic challenge with epinephrine and collagen. Its effectiveness was higher
      than acetylsalicylic acid (especially at small doses) but smaller than that of
      indomethacin. The same compound was similar to acetylsalicyclic acid with respect
      to the inhibition of in vitro human blood platelet aggregation. The new class of
      pyrazine derivatives (the so-called pyrazine CH- and NH-acids) appears
      interesting from the view-point of the studies of platelet aggregation and may
      yield potential antithrombotic drugs.

PMID- 1438024
TI  - Evidence for cytochrome P450 2E1-mediated toxicity of N-nitrosodimethylamine in
      cultured perivenous hepatocytes from ethanol treated rats.
AB  - The involvement of cytochrome P450 in the liver toxicity of the potent
      carcinogen, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) was investigated in hepatocytes
      isolated from the periportal or perivenous region by digitonin-collagenase
      perfusion. Exposure of hepatocytes in culture to NDMA (0.5 or 5 mM) for up to 18
      hrs caused little damage, but after 42 hr loss of cell viability became evident,
      and the extent of cell death was higher in perivenous cells than in periportal
      cells. Pretreatment of rats with ethanol caused a dramatically enhanced cell
      damage in perivenous cells (80%) compared to periportal cells (45%). This ethanol
      pretreatment caused a several-fold induction of cytochrome P450 2E1, as
      determined both with Western blot and as NDMA demethylase activity, and the
      effect was observed almost exclusively in perivenous cells. Isoniazid, an
      inhibitor of cytochrome P450 2E1, completely protected against NDMA toxicity.
      Glutathione dependent cytoprotective mechanisms and lipid peroxidation did not
      appear to be critical in NDMA toxicity, as evidence by lack of potentiation of
      toxicity by buthionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of glutathione synthesis, and by
      the absence of increased lipid peroxidation. Instead, the higher expression of
      cytochrome P450 2E1 in the perivenous cells seems to be the main determinant for
      the regiospecific toxicity of NDMA, and, consequently, probably also for the
      associated genotoxicity.

PMID- 1438025
TI  - Drug metabolism in rats with cancer induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine and
      phenobarbital.
AB  - The metabolism of R- and S-warfarin in vivo and in vitro, bufuralol in vitro, and
      antipyrine and debrisoquine in vivo were studied in rats with cancer induced by N
      nitrosodiethylamine and phenobarbital treatment. Microsomal cytochrome P-450
      content was greatly reduced in both healthy and cancerous parts of the livers of
      tumour-bearing animals. The specific activities of R-warfarin and bufuralol 1'
      hydroxylases were significantly elevated in rats with cancer. The activities of S
      warfarin hydroxylases expressed per mg microsomal protein were reduced in animals
      with cancer, whereas those of R-warfarin and bufuralol 1'-hydroxylases were not.
      The urinary excretion of R-7-hydroxywarfarin was increased and those of S-6- and
      S-4'-hydroxywarfarin decreased in rats with cancer. The correlations between
      microsomal formation and urinary excretion of all warfarin metabolites were poor,
      except for R-7-hydroxywarfarin. Antipyrine oxidation was increased in the
      cancerous state but the urinary metabolic profiles were similar in rats with
      cancer and in controls. The metabolism of debrisoquine was decreased in tumour
      bearing animals. Antipyrine metabolism did not show any correlation with either
      warfarin or debrisoquine metabolism, whereas several relationships were observed
      between warfarin and debrisoquine metabolism and between warfarin and bufuralol
      metabolism.

PMID- 1438026
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of imipenem/cilastatin sodium in children with peritonitis.
AB  - Fifteen children (3-12 years) with peritonitis were given imipenem/cilastatin
      intravenously (15 or 25 mg/kg) every six hours for 3-14 days. One day during
      treatment days 2-8, multiple blood and urine samples were collected from each
      individual over a six hour dosing interval. Twelve children completed the study.
      The urinary recovery of imipenem and cilastatin averaged 50-70% of the
      administered dose. The plasma t1/2 for imipenem averaged 55 min. while that for
      cilastatin was even more rapid (approximately 38 min.). Little or no accumulation
      of either imipenem or cilastatin was observed for this regimen in this age group
      of paediatric patients. Steady state conditions prevailed within 2 days of
      initiation of therapy. The pharmacokinetics of imipenem and cilastatin in
      paediatric patients 3-12 years of age appear similar to those observed for
      adults.

PMID- 1438027
TI  - GEA 857, a putative blocker of potassium conductance, enhances muscarinic agonist
      evoked responses: dissociation from an action on 5-HT mechanisms.
AB  - GEA 857 [2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylethyl 2-amino-3-methylbutanoate], a
      structural analogue of the 5-HT uptake blocker alaproclate, was tested for its
      ability to modify tremor and salivation induced by muscarinic agonists
      (oxotremorine, arecoline) and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (physostigmine,
      THA) in the male rat. These agents were employed at submaximal doses. GEA 857,
      similarly to alaproclate (Ogren et al. 1985a & b), produced a dose-dependent,
      statistically significant (in the 5-20 mg/kg dose range) enhancement of the
      tremor response induced by all four cholinergic stimulants. However, unlike
      alaproclate, GEA 857 failed to enhance salivation in a consistent manner. GEA 857
      itself did not produce tremor in the absence of the muscarinic agonists or the
      acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. The potentiation of oxotremorine tremor by GEA
      857 could be fully blocked by atropine (1 mg/kg intraperitoneally). Unlike
      alaproclate, GEA 857 failed to affect 5-HT uptake or 5-HT metabolism in the 10-20
      mg/kg dose range. However, similarly to the action of alaproclate, the
      potentiating effect of GEA 857 on muscarinic responses could be explained neither
      by actions on serotonergic mechanisms nor by actions on muscarinic receptor
      mechanisms in the striatum. Evidence is presented suggesting that the ability of
      GEA 857 to enhance responses evoked by muscarinic agonists involves inhibitory
      properties of GEA 857 at certain membranal Ca(2+)-dependent K+ channels, the
      blockade of which can potentiate or prolong muscarinic cholinergic actions.

PMID- 1438028
TI  - Obidoxime augments the positive inotropic effect of phosphamidon on the isolated
      working rat heart.
AB  - The present study was designed to determine modulation of the direct inotropic
      effect of an anticholinesterase organophosphorus compound, phosphamidon, by the
      reactivator obidoxime. We investigated the effects of phosphamidon (n = 9),
      obidoxime (n = 5), and their combination (n = 5) on the mechanical and energetic
      indices of left ventricular function, in the isolated working rat heart model.
      Phosphamidon at a concentration range of 10(-6)-10(-3) M had a positive inotropic
      effect. Obidoxime at a concentration range of 10(-6)-10(-3) M had no significant
      effect on heart rate, but did have a statistically significant positive inotropic
      effect on end-systolic pressure, cardiac output, mean left ventricular pressure,
      and maximal time derivative of left ventricular pressure (dP/dtmax) (P less than
      0.01). Perfusion with 10(-3) M obidoxime caused a 19% increase in left
      ventricular stroke work and a 31% increase in total pressure-volume area.
      Perfusion with phosphamidon and obidoxime at concentrations ranging from 10(-6)
      to 10(-3) M resulted in a more intense inotropic response than the separate drug
      effects. At the highest combined concentrations tested, cardiac output increased
      by 60%, left ventricular stroke work increased by 100%, and left ventricular
      total pressure volume area increased by 111% of their control values (P less than
      0.001). We conclude that obidoxime augments the positive inotropic effect of
      phosphamidon on the isolated working rat heart.

PMID- 1438029
TI  - Elimination of PCB congeners via milk in rabbits administered Fenclor 64.
AB  - A single dose of 100 mg per kg body weight of a commercial mixture of
      polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), Fenclor 64 was given intraperitoneally to
      pregnant rabbits. The distribution in dams and foetuses and excretion in milk was
      investigated for six of the congeners by quantifying them in fat from maternal
      adipose tissue, from whole foetuses and newborn bodies and from newborn gastric
      contents. The cytochrome-P-450 induction after Fenclor 64 in foetuses and
      suckling off-spring was followed by measuring the following hepatic mixed
      function oxidase (MFO) activities: p-nitroanisole-demethylase, ethoxyresorufin
      deethylase, ethoxycoumarin-deethylase and NADPH cytochrome-C reductase. At the
      28th day of pregnancy PCB fat concentrations in foetuses were similar to those in
      mothers (126.4 +/- 7.1 and 152.6 +/- 28.1 micrograms/g of fat, respectively). By
      the 5th day of life fat concentrations in the youngs were double those of
      foetuses (216.81 +/- 8.12 micrograms/g) and remained high until weaning (142.2 +/
      15.5 micrograms/g at the 20th day). PCB concentrations in mothers' fat decreased
      during lactation (104.1 micrograms/g at the 20th day) but at the end of the
      experiment they were still high (95.5 micrograms/g). The cytochrome-P-450
      concentration and MFO activities in young rabbits' livers from treated dams were
      significantly higher than controls from the 5th (P less than 0.01) to the 10th (P
      less than 0.01) day of life, with the exception of NADPH-cyt-C-reductase (P less
      than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1438030
TI  - Inhalation kinetics of C6 to C10 aliphatic, aromatic and naphthenic hydrocarbons
      in rat after repeated exposures.
AB  - The toxicokinetic properties of C6 to C10 n-alkanes, aromates and naphthenes have
      been investigated in rats during inhalation of 100 p.p.m. of the single
      hydrocarbons for 3 days, 12 hr/day. The concentration of hydrocarbon was measured
      by head space gas chromatography in blood, brain, liver, kidneys and perirenal
      fat at days 1, 2 and 3, immediately after termination of exposure and 12 hr after
      exposure on day 3. The main conclusions drawn from the study were: a) Aromatic
      hydrocarbons show high concentrations in blood and low concentrations in organs.
      b) Naphthenic hydrocarbons show low concentrations in blood and high
      concentrations in organs. c) n-Alkanes show very low concentrations in blood,
      relatively high concentrations in brain and a high potential for accumulation in
      fat with repeated exposures. d) Biological concentrations of hydrocarbons within
      one class increase in general with increasing molecular weight, though with
      specific exceptions. e) Accumulation is obviously influenced by differences in
      metabolism and enzyme induction potential. f) Lipid solubility is not the only
      parameter relevant for the evaluation of hydrocarbon accumulation.

PMID- 1438031
TI  - Single dose pharmacokinetics of trazodone in healthy subjects.
AB  - Eight healthy subjects were administered trazodone-HCl orally (100 mg) with and
      without food and by infusion in a three way cross-over study. Unchanged trazodone
      was determined in serum and urine by high performance liquid chromatography after
      an alkaline extraction. Absorption of trazodone was irregular in fasting subjects
      and improved after food intake. Food intake significantly decreased the maximum
      serum concentrations of trazodone from 1.88 +/- 0.42 to 1.47 +/- 0.16
      micrograms/ml, and increased the time for reaching maximum concentration from 1.3
      +/- 0.8 hr to 2.0 +/- 1.5 hr. No differences were observed in the total amount of
      trazodone absorbed with or without food with bioavailability values of 65 +/- 6
      and 63 +/- 4 per cent, respectively. The apparent volume of distribution and
      total body clearance for trazodone were estimated to 0.84 +/- 0.16 l/kg and 5.3
      +/- 0.9 l/hr, respectively. The terminal elimination half-life of 7.3 +/- 0.8 hr
      showed no significant differences between the different ways of administration.
      Urinary excretion of unchanged trazodone during 26 hr was less than 0.13 per cent
      of the administered dose, suggesting a high degree of trazodone metabolism.
      Earlier statements of enterohepatic circulation of trazodone and pharmacokinetic
      differences between males and females were not confirmed by the present study.
      Due to the irregular absorption in fasting subjects, trazodone should preferably
      be administered after food.

PMID- 1438032
TI  - In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the genotoxicity of N-nitrosooxprenolol.
AB  - N-nitrosooxprenolol (NO-oxprenolol) might be formed in the stomach of patients
      taking the beta-adrenergic blocking drug, oxprenolol. This nitroso derivative has
      previously been shown to induce DNA damage and repair in both rat and human
      cultured hepatocytes. The results of the present study show that in the presence
      of co-cultured rat hepatocytes, 0.03 mM NO-oxprenolol produced a significant
      increase in the frequency of 6-thioguanine-resistant but not of ouabain-resistant
      mutants. No mutagenic activity was detected in the absence of metabolic
      activation. In mice, NO-oxprenolol (1 g/kg) increased the incidence of
      micronucleated cells in the liver but not in the bone marrow and the spleen.
      These results suggest that NO-oxprenolol, consistent with its chemical nature of
      nitrosamine, is biotransformed into short-lived reactive species.

PMID- 1438033
TI  - The effects of mercury compounds and p,p'-DDE on platelet aggregation.

PMID- 1438034
TI  - Reward and abuse of opiates.
AB  - The dependence creating properties of drugs are mediated by structures in the
      brain. The mesolimbic system seems to play a crucial role in the behaviourally
      reinforcing effects of opiates and other drugs of abuse. The significance of
      dopamine in opiate reinforcement is still a matter of debate, in spite of the
      large number of studies on this subject. Dopamine appears to be involved in
      conditioning processes and in drug self-administration behaviour only once it has
      been established. Neuropeptides, centrally active fragments of hormones, may play
      a role in the individual vulnerability for the development of drug dependence.
      Administration of a number of wellknown neuropeptides attenuates the acquisition
      of drug self-administration behaviour. The virtues and flaws of some widely used
      animal models for drug dependence are discussed.

PMID- 1438035
TI  - Amiloride derivatives as blockers of Na+/Ca2+ exchange: effects on mechanical and
      electrical function of guinea-pig myocardium.
AB  - The amiloride derivatives, 2',3'-benzobenzamil (BB), 3',4'-dichlorobenzamil
      (DCB), and 5-(N-4-chlorobenzyl)-2',4'-dimethylbenzamil (CBDB) are known as
      inhibitors of the Na+/Ca2+ exchange. This kind of drug action was recently
      suggested to be a new inotropic mechanism. In guinea-pig myocardium, we have
      studied the inotropic and the accompanying electrophysiological effects of the
      three compounds in order to assess their selectivity of action. In left atria and
      in papillary muscle, force of contraction increased with DCB and CBDB (atria
      only) at a high concentration (5 x 10(-5)-10(-4) mol/l) and after long exposure
      time, whereas BB produced a negative inotropic effect. In the isolated perfused
      Langendorff heart, the amiloride derivatives tested decreased spontaneous heart
      rate and force of contraction and prolonged the duration of contraction. In
      isolated cardiac myocytes, sodium current, calcium current and the delayed
      rectifier were reduced by concentrations of BB, DCB and CBDB similar to the IC50
      values reported for the inhibition of the Na+/Ca2+ exchange. Our results
      demonstrate that the amiloride derivatives have multiple sites of action. It is
      concluded that more specific modulators of the Na+/Ca2+ exchange are required in
      order to define their contribution to the regulation of contractile activation of
      the heart.

PMID- 1438036
TI  - Effect of chloroquine on some carbohydrate metabolic pathways: contents of GHS,
      ascorbate and lipid peroxidation in the rat.
AB  - Adult male rats were treated intraperitoneally with chloroquine (5 mg/kg/day) for
      9 days. A reduction in the fasting plasma glucose level by 17.6% and ascorbic
      acid by 45% were discernable. The treatment caused significant increase in liver
      lactate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities and
      reduced the activity of succinate dehydrogenase enzyme. Chloroquine also caused
      significant reductions in the contents of reduced glutathione and ascorbic acid
      in the brain and erythrocytes with a significant increase in lipid peroxidation.

PMID- 1438037
TI  - Mutagenicity of crude senna and senna glycosides in Salmonella typhimurium.
AB  - The mutagenicity of senna glycosides and extracts of senna folium and senna
      fructus was investigated in the Salmonella typhimurium reversion assay. Senna
      glycosides were inactive in all strains, except for a slight, but significant
      increase in mutant frequency in TA102 in the absence and presence of liver
      microsomes. Extracts of senna fructus and senna folium demonstrated weak activity
      in TA97a, TA100 and TA102 in the presence of liver microsomes, and in TA97a and
      TA102 in the absence of liver microsomes. A strong increase in mutant frequency
      (3- to 5-fold above background frequency) was observed with all extracts in TA98
      in the presence of liver microsomes. This activity increased further following
      enzymatic hydrolysis with hesperidinase of extracts of senna fructus from one
      source, and could be correlated to the release of the flavonol aglycones
      kaempferol and quercetin. The weak or lacking activity of anthraquinone aglycones
      in the tested strains of Salmonella typhimurium indicates that mutagenicity can
      not be attributed solely to the anthraquinone content of these plant materials.
      The chemical nature of other mutagenic components has not been elucidated.

PMID- 1438038
TI  - Enhancement of morphine-induced analgesia and attenuation of morphine-induced
      side-effects by cocaine in rats.
AB  - Effect of cocaine on morphine-induced analgesia and the accompanying respiratory
      depression, bradycardia and hypolocomotion/sedation was studied in rats.
      Cardiovascular and respiratory effects were studied under pentobarbitone-induced
      anaesthesia. Cocaine enhanced morphine-induced analgesia in the formalin test,
      hot plate test and heat-induced tail withdrawal test in intact rats. However, in
      spinal rats a similar combination of cocaine with morphine did not produce
      increased latencies in the tail withdrawal test. Of the three analgesic tests
      used, the formalin test was the most sensitive to the enhancement, as well as to
      the effects of morphine or cocaine alone. Morphine at the dose of 6 mg/kg
      produced complete analgesia in the formalin test, significant
      hypolocomotion/sedation, significant bradycardia and significant decrease in the
      respiratory rate. At an equianalgesic dose (complete analgesia in the formalin
      test) of morphine (3 mg/kg)-cocaine (5 mg/kg)-combination no significant changes
      in heart rate, respiratory rate or locomotion(/alertness) were observed. Changes
      in skin blood flow determined by the laser Doppler flow method were not
      significant in any of the experimental conditions. The results indicate that
      cocaine enhances morphine-induced analgesia, mainly due to supraspinal
      mechanisms. In contrast, the morphine-induced bradypnoea, bradycardia and
      hypolocomotion/sedation are attenuated by cocaine.

PMID- 1438039
TI  - Changes in concentration of essential metals in kidneys and urine as indices of
      gentamicin nephrotoxicity in female Wistar rats.
AB  - Wistar rats were treated with gentamicin in single (80 mg/kg) or repeated doses
      (7 x 40 mg/kg) subcutaneously. Total protein as well as excretion of essential
      metals (Cu, Zn) with the urine were determined 24 hr after 1, 3 and 7 dosages as
      well as 3 and 7 days after the termination of administration. At the same time
      kidneys were examined histopathologically by light microscopy. Simultaneously,
      Cu, Zn and metallothionein levels in kidneys and liver were determined. Rats
      receiving gentamicin demonstrated progressive renal proximal tubular necrosis at
      the end of 7 days administration. At the same time elevated copper and zinc
      levels were observed in urine. These essential metals seem to be an indicator of
      gentamicin nephrotoxicity.

PMID- 1438040
TI  - Tri-n-butyltin increases intracellular Ca2+ in mouse thymocytes: a flow
      cytometric study using fluorescent dyes for membrane potential and intracellular
      Ca2+.
AB  - Effects of tri-n-butyltin (TBT) on mouse thymocytes were examined using a flow
      cytometer and fluorescent dyes for membrane potential and intracellular Ca2+
      ([Ca2+]i). TBT at concentrations from 1 x 10(-7) M to 3 x 10(-7) M caused
      hyperpolarization in thymocytes during 30 min. after drug application in a time-
      and dose-dependent manner. Further increase in TBT concentration (to 1 x 10(-6)
      M) made hyperpolarization of thymocytes more profound within 5 min. after
      application, thereafter gradually depolarized them during the next 25 min. TBT at
      3 x 10(-8) M or more (up to 1 x 10(-6) M) increased the [Ca2+]i of thymocytes.
      After reaching maximum [Ca2+]i at the various TBT concentrations used within 5
      min. after drug application, the [Ca2+]i slightly decreased in a time-dependent
      manner. Effects of TBT on membrane potential and the [Ca2+]i were greatly reduced
      under nominal external Ca(2+)-free condition. Results suggest that TBT can
      promote Ca(2+)-influx to thymocytes, resulting in hyperpolarization by activation
      of Ca(2+)-dependent K+ current. The increase in [Ca2+]i by TBT may be related to
      its cytotoxic action on thymocytes.

PMID- 1438041
TI  - The effect of chloral hydrate and its metabolites, trichloroethanol and
      trichloroacetic acid, on bilirubin-albumin binding.
AB  - Chloral hydrate is used as a sedative in infants requiring ventilatory support.
      The metabolites, trichloroethanol and trichloroacetic acid, accumulate in the
      serum and are protein bound. The possibility that these chemicals might compete
      with bilirubin for albumin binding was tested using the peroxidase method and a
      dialysis rate method. Chloral hydrate and trichloroethanol had no effect on
      bilirubin-albumin binding. Trichloroacetic acid affects bilirubin-albumin binding
      but to a degree that would be dangerous only in infants with an unusual
      accumulation of this metabolite.

PMID- 1438042
TI  - Breathing zone concentrations of methylmethacrylate monomer during joint
      replacement operations.
AB  - By use of a methylmethacrylate (MMA) Drager tube and bellow bump, the breathing
      zone concentrations of MMA monomer were measured for the operating surgeon during
      cementation of the components of hip and knee joint prostheses. The highest
      recordings (50-100 p.p.m.) were encountered during cementation of the acetabular
      cups with conventional polymethylmethacrylate cement. Such exposure could be
      eliminated by the use of personal protection equipment, local punctual field
      suction or change to a MMA/n-decylmethacrylate/isobornylmethacrylate bone cement.

PMID- 1438043
TI  - Sensory irritation effects of methyl ethyl ketone and its receptor activation
      mechanism.
AB  - The burning and painful effect in nose and eyes, termed sensory irritation, of
      methyl ethyl ketone vapours was investigated in a mouse bioassay. Sensory
      irritation is mediated via the trigeminal nerves and results in a reflexively
      induced decrease in respiratory rate in mice. Methyl ethyl ketone was used as a
      model substance for ketones. At the lower exposure concentrations a partial
      fading (desensitization) of the response was seen. Little desensitization was
      seen at higher concentrations. n-Propanol, a model substance for alcohols,
      desensitized the receptor at all exposure levels. Preexposure to propanol did not
      influence the response at high methylethyl ketone concentrations. This suggests
      that the two substances bind to different receptive sites with different
      properties, if the ketone response is due to a high exposure concentration. A
      decrease in tidal volume was also mediated from the upper respiratory tract. The
      tidal volume effect is mediated by nerves different from those mediating the
      frequency response, as the time-response relationship, the desensitization
      pattern, the maximum response and the apparent dissociation constants were
      different for the two types of effect. Neither the location nor the perceived
      response related to the volume response is known.

PMID- 1438044
TI  - Enzyme activities in the term human placenta: in vitro effect of cadmium.
AB  - The effect of cadmium (Cd) as CdCl2 on some placental enzyme activities were
      studied after explants had been incubated with the salt for 6 or 24 hr. The
      results indicated that, for both incubation periods, Cd at low doses had a
      stimulatory effect on aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) (a phase I enzyme) and
      on quinone reductase and catecholamine-O-methyltransferase (COMT) (both phase II
      enzymes). This effect was dose- and time-dependent. Only the activities of AHH
      and COMT showed a biphasic response, (i.e., increases at the lower dose levels
      and decreases with the higher ones), whereas that of quinone reductase
      continually increased with all the dose levels of the metal administered. Glucose
      6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) activity was found to be inhibited at all the
      dose levels of Cd tested, the effect also being time- and dose-dependent. In
      conclusion, it appears that the use of placental explants can serve as a valuable
      means for studying the toxic effects of certain xenobiotics, as reflected in the
      activity of various important enzymes.

PMID- 1438045
TI  - Characterisation of dopamine and serotonin uptake inhibitory effects of
      tetrahydroaminoacridine in rat brain.
AB  - The effects of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-aminoacridine (THA) on uptake rates of
      radioactive 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine were investigated in rat
      diencephalon and striatal homogenates, respectively. Six and eight microM of THA
      were needed to inhibit 50% of dopamine and 5-HT uptake rates. Kinetic parameters,
      Km and Vmax, using six different concentrations of dopamine and 5-HT were
      estimated in the presence or absence of THA. A significant decrease in Vmax
      without any change in Km values was observed for both dopamine and 5-HT in the
      presence of THA. The results show that THA is a non-competitive uptake inhibitor
      of dopamine and 5-HT in the nerve terminals. The re-uptake blocking effect of THA
      on dopaminergic and serotonergic neurones, following THA treatment, might lead to
      increased levels of these monoamines in brains of Alzheimer patients and
      contribute in the therapeutic effects of the drug.

PMID- 1438046
TI  - Relationship between histamine, lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase products in
      antigen-induced contraction in guinea-pig tracheal tube preparations.
AB  - We have used a tracheal tube preparation to study antigen-induced contraction in
      sensitized guinea pig airways. Treatment with both the cyclooxygenase inhibitor
      indomethacin and the lipoxygenase inhibitor MK-886 (L-663,536) affected this
      contraction in preparations with intact epithelium. Indomethacin potentiated and
      MK-886 inhibited part of the contraction. Leukotriene release from tracheal tubes
      was measured after antigen challenge, and was found to be significant in
      preparations with an intact epithelium. When the epithelium was removed, the
      histamine receptor antagonist mepyramine reduced antigen-induced contraction by
      90%. Our results show that when the epithelium is absent, histamine is the most
      important mediator in the contraction. With the epithelium left intact, the
      contraction is more complex: both the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways
      are involved, and our findings indicate that eicosanoid production is associated
      with the airway epithelium.

PMID- 1438047
TI  - Dose dependent induction of the microsomal monooxygenase aryl hydrocarbon
      hydroxylase in isolated peripheral blood monocytes: the influence of age.
AB  - The induction of the microsomal monooxygenase benzo(alpha)pyrene hydroxylase was
      investigated in isolated peripheral blood monocytes from young and old donors,
      after exposure to different concentrations of benzanthracene as an inducing
      agent. The sensitivity of the cells to the inducing stimulus was not dependent on
      the age of the donor. The mechanisms underlying impaired monooxygenase induction
      in the elderly remain to be clarified.

PMID- 1438048
TI  - Naloxone counteracts the fast development of tolerance to morphine in guinea-pig
      ileum.
AB  - The ability of naloxone to inhibit the fast development of tolerance to morphine
      was examined in the guinea-pig ileum preparation. Dose-response curves were
      obtained either non-cumulatively with morphine alone or cumulatively with
      morphine alone and in combination with different concentrations of naloxone. We
      present some theoretical considerations concerning the competitive interaction
      between agonist and antagonist on a receptor. According to these theories, it is
      possible to perform dose-response experiments for an agonist in combination with
      different concentrations of antagonist and extrapolate to the dose-response curve
      for agonist alone and to the dissociation constant for the antagonist. EC50
      values for morphine alone obtained either non-cumulatively or by extrapolation
      are almost identical and are significantly lower than those obtained
      cumulatively. The results indicate that tolerance develops very quickly when dose
      response curves are obtained cumulatively with morphine alone and that low
      concentrations of naloxone counteract the development of tolerance.

PMID- 1438049
TI  - Frequency- and potential-dependency of the negative inotropic action of various
      dihydropyridine and non-dihydropyridine calcium antagonists.
AB  - Transmembrane voltage and beat frequency are important determinants of the action
      of several organic calcium antagonists. This is well-known for the cationic
      amphiphilic calcium antagonists. We intended to assess the functional impact of
      these phenomena in cardiac muscle with special regard to dihydropyridines.
      Therefore, concentration-response curves were constructed in isolated guinea-pig
      left atria for the negative inotropic effect of various compounds. The
      dihydropyridines nifedipine, racemic nitrendipine, nisoldipine, and felodipine,
      and the enantiomers of isradipine were investigated at different stimulation
      frequencies (1 Hz, 2.5 Hz, 4.5 Hz), and at different extracellular K+
      concentrations (2.7 mM, 5.4 mM, 10.8 mM). These drugs were compared with the
      cationic amphiphilic compounds gallopamil, verapamil and diltiazem. The potency
      of some dihydropyridines, particularly nitrendipine, could be modulated to a
      remarkable extent, covering several orders of magnitude. The potential-dependency
      of the drugs depended on stimulus frequency and ranged from less than a half to
      two orders of magnitude. At 2.5 Hz, the rank order of extent of potential
      dependency was gallopamil greater than nitrendipine greater than diltiazem
      greater than verapamil = (+)-isradipine greater than (-)-isradipine greater than
      or equal to nisoldipine greater than or equal to felodipine = nifedipine. Based
      on data obtained from binding studies in intact atria and from patch-clamp
      measurements of calcium current blockade, a mathematical model was used which
      describes the observed potency changes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1438050
TI  - Metrifonate and tacrine: a comparative study on their effect on acetylcholine
      dynamics in mouse brain.
AB  - Tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA) and metrifonate are cholinesterase inhibitors used
      in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In experimental animals they inhibit
      acetylcholinesterase activity and have been reported to increase levels of brain
      acetylcholine. This paper presents results from studies of their effect at two
      dose levels on the dynamics of acetylcholine in mouse brain. Metrifonate at two
      doses (10 and 30 mg/kg intraperitoneally), known to cause cholinesterase
      inhibition, had no effect on levels of acetylcholine or choline or on the rate of
      synthesis of acetylcholine. THA (3 mg/kg intraperitoneally) had no effect on
      levels of acetylcholine and choline but had a shortlasting decreasing effect on
      the synthesis rate of acetylcholine. THA (10 mg/kg intraperitoneally) increased
      levels of acetylcholine and choline and markedly decreased the synthesis rate of
      acetylcholine. At this dose, the animals showed severe cholinergic effects, e.g.
      tremor and salivation. It is suggested that a moderate cholinesterase inhibition
      in brain facilitates cholinergic nerve transmission which is obtained at a
      broader dose range for metrifonate than for THA.

PMID- 1438051
TI  - [The psychosocial questionnaire for pediatric oncology].
AB  - A concept based on empirical data is needed for psychological support of children
      with cancer and their families. A number of concepts are already available, but a
      psychological assessment is needed, which controls the feasibility of these
      concepts. The psychosocial questionnaire is such an assessment, which transforms
      individual data into the practical psychosocial work during the entire course of
      cancer treatment. The diagnostical procedure includes aspects of coping with
      cancer, such as stress, protective and risk factors and health behavior. Data are
      collected before, during and after the intensive cancer treatment and in a follow
      up after 6 or 12 months respectively. The questionnaire has four parts. Each
      contains a "handbook for parents", which informs the parent in detail on each
      part. Thus, we enforce the potential of each parent to help him-/herself.

PMID- 1438052
TI  - [Involuntary childlessness: a family problem].
AB  - Infertility--the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to live birth--will
      be experienced by 10% of the population of childbearing age. Infertility is known
      as a global problem through ages and has different cultural consequences. The
      infertile couples represent one neglected and silent minority group. Medical
      treatment have made great strides in discovering and curing infertility problems
      in recent years. These cures are not achieved without cost. A couple may incur
      tremendous physical, emotional and financial expose during the medical treatment
      phase. The author refers the most common psychic reactions to the emotional
      crisis that arise when couples experience infertility problems. She assumes that
      individuals or couples often will benefit from professional help and support when
      working through their emotional crisis.

PMID- 1438053
TI  - [Family therapy in divorce].
AB  - A multi-generational approach to family therapy with divorce families is
      presented. Parents and children of such families are faced--with special problems
      during the phases of ambivalence, divorce and post-divorce. Their problems
      require varying focal points during therapeutic treatment. It focuses on arriving
      at a decision, finding constructive solutions for practical and emotional
      problems caused by the divorce ("psychic divorce" and parental cooperation
      concerning custody and education of the children) as well as supporting
      individuation and re-orientations. The main aim of therapeutic treatment is to
      alter the underlying pathogenic patterns of relationships and conflict-solving in
      order to prevent its repetition in a new partnership or in the next generation.
      Family therapy with divorce families is complicated to a high degree by
      aggressiveness, destructivity and resistance against working on central conflicts
      which serve to avoid feelings of anxiety, shame, guilt, anger and mourning.

PMID- 1438054
TI  - [Coping with individuation problems of epileptic adolescents and young adults
      using a multidisciplinary counseling team].
AB  - Adolescence is a phase of development in which independence and a self-controlled
      life are being struggled for. Both the adolescents and their parents have the
      chance to reduce dependencies and become more and more autonomous. Epilepsy and
      its concomitants prevent patients from having the same lifestyle as healthy
      adolescents without such restrictions. Every seizure means a loss of control and
      is an impediment in the development towards autonomy and independence. Strategies
      for coping with these difficulties are dependent upon several factors: the time
      when the first seizures began, frequency of seizures, possible accompanying brain
      damage, effects of anti-epileptical drugs on behaviour, family structure and the
      personality of the adolescent. Highly complicated situations often arise when
      there is a combination of both uncleared medical questions as well as difficult
      psychosocial conditions. The development of more autonomy is obstructed by the
      fear of further seizures and this fear coincides with the process of separation
      from the parents at this stage of life. Epileptological and psychotherapeutic
      competence is needed for counseling families in these serious situations.
      Multidisciplinary cooperation is needed for analysing the problems of adolescents
      with epilepsy and their families. Only in this way can adequate strategies of
      intervention be developed. Two typical examples of such separation crises in
      adolescents with epilepsy and the supportive management of these crises through
      multi-disciplinary counseling shall be demonstrated.

PMID- 1438055
TI  - [A brief psychotherapeutic synergistic approach in child and adolescent
      psychiatry].
AB  - The controversy between the concepts of family therapy and systemic therapy is
      one issue to design a synergetic concept of brief therapy in the psychiatric
      treatment of children and adolescents. Some principles of the radical
      constructivism, systemic theory an the psychology of narratives will be discussed
      and related to concepts of solution-oriented brief therapy. A case example
      demonstrates the perspectives of this approach in the ambulant psychiatric
      treatment.

PMID- 1438056
TI  - [Music therapy in a child and adolescent psychiatry department].
AB  - Psychotherapy with children and adolescents makes use of methods focusing on the
      non-verbal area, including music therapy. The following article presents music
      therapy focus and techniques as practiced in an children's and adolescents'
      psychiatric department. A case study provides illustration, and in the final
      section theses on the use of music therapy in this field are presented.

PMID- 1438057
TI  - [Mythodrama--a group psychotherapy model for work with children and adolescents].
AB  - This article discusses group psychotherapy as a possible crisis intervention
      technique for children and juveniles with behavioral problems at school or whose
      families are going through divorce, or as an intervention technique in trouble
      some school classes. The therapeutic group work at the Children and Juvenile
      Educational Counselling Centre in Bern, Switzerland, is described - "mythodrama"
      or the "tales, fiction and horror technique", a therapeutic approach which was
      developed during the last couple of years. The tale at the beginning of the
      article serves as an introduction and is followed by a description of the
      different phases of mythodrama. Finally, the main elements of this approach are
      summarized.

PMID- 1438058
TI  - Meconium peritonitis: extrusion of meconium and different sonographical
      appearances in relation to the stage of the disease.
AB  - By chance, we had the opportunity to make serial sonographic observations of the
      extrusion of meconium in a case of meconium peritonitis. Inflammation leads to
      exudative processes and production of fluid (ascites) in the fetal abdomen.
      Sonography at that stage of the disease may lead to a misdiagnosis such as 'fetal
      ascites' or 'non-immune hydrops'. After bowel perforation and extrusion of
      meconium, the latter appears as a solitary mass inside fetal ascites or as
      disseminated echogenic masses distributed subdiaphragmatically or
      perihepatically. Within a couple of days, in most cases the echogenicity of the
      masses increases. Calcifications lead to distinct shadowing. These calcifications
      are often the only visible signs of a previous meconium peritonitis. Serial
      sonograms are essential for the management of pregnancies with meconium
      peritonitis. If the amount of fetal ascites does not increase and no signs of
      cardiovascular stagnation appear, no invasive intrauterine diagnostic and
      therapeutic steps are required. In none out of the nine cases was a cause found.

PMID- 1438059
TI  - Introduction of early amniocentesis to routine prenatal diagnosis.
AB  - With growing awareness of the problems associated with prenatal cytogenetic
      diagnoses after CVS, attempts have been made to provide early amniocentesis as an
      alternative to CVS. Since 1990, at our clinic the gestational age limit for
      routine diagnostic amniocentesis has been successively lowered, first to 14 and
      then to 13 weeks of gestation. Thus, 811 prenatal diagnoses were performed after
      early amniocentesis at 13 weeks (n = 217) and at 14 weeks of gestation (n = 594).
      No problems were encountered. Culture failure was never observed in the early
      samples. Using the criteria 'number of colonies' and 'culture duration until
      harvest', early samples taken at 14 weeks did not differ significantly from the
      controls after standard amniocentesis performed at 15 and 16 weeks, respectively,
      whereas a minority of samples taken at 13 weeks experienced some delay in
      culturing. However, in each group at least 85 per cent of samples led to a
      diagnosis fulfilling our standard criteria of a safe diagnosis (at least 20
      metaphases of at least five colonies from at least one primary culture after
      trypsinization) within 15 days. Some differences between the different groups can
      be recognized: culture duration of less than 11 days tends to be increasing after
      standard amniocentesis, whereas long culture duration (more than 20 days) is more
      often associated with early amniocentesis. However, this trend is only minimal
      and did not result in an increased risk of missing a diagnosis.

PMID- 1438060
TI  - Pseudomosaicism, true mosaicism, and maternal cell contamination in amniotic
      fluid processed with in situ culture and robotic harvesting.
AB  - This study was designed to test the usefulness of the common definitions for
      maternal cell contamination, true mosaicism, and pseudomosaicism for amniotic
      fluid specimens processed by in situ culture and robotic harvesting. We
      prospectively studied 4309 consecutive amniotic fluid specimens processed with
      these methods and found that 0.84 per cent had maternal cell contamination, 0.28
      per cent had true mosaicism, and 5.4 per cent had pseudomosaicism. Although the
      frequencies of maternal cell contamination and true mosaicism were comparable to
      those in similar published studies, the frequency of pseudomosaicism was more
      than twice as high as that in previous reports. This finding is most likely not
      due to the method, but rather to a more accurate estimate of the actual frequency
      of pseudomosaicism in amniotic fluid cultures than reported heretofore. Follow-up
      clinical information was available on 72 per cent of the cases. In three cases of
      true mosaicism involving structural anomalies, the results of cytogenetic follow
      up studies on the neonates were normal. None of the pseudomosaic cases involving
      trisomy 8, 13, 18, or 21; triple X; or monosomy X were associated with newborns
      who had birth defects.

PMID- 1438061
TI  - The significance of choroid plexus cysts in fetuses at 18-20 weeks. An indication
      for amniocentesis?
AB  - Over a period of 25 months, all antenatal patients were offered a detailed
      ultrasound scan at 18-20 weeks' gestation. The lateral cerebral ventricles were
      scanned for the presence of choroid plexus cysts. Fifty-one patients found to
      have choroid plexus cysts were offered amniocentesis to exclude chromosomal
      abnormalities. One pregnancy, in which the only abnormality found was bilateral
      choroid plexus cysts, was terminated after trisomy 18 was detected on
      amniocentesis at 19 weeks. The other 50 pregnancies had normal fetal outcomes.
      The significance of the isolated finding of choroid plexus cysts is reviewed.

PMID- 1438062
TI  - Early second-trimester sonographic appearance of occipital haemangioma simulating
      encephalocele.
AB  - Encephalocele is the most common cause of occipital midline extracranial mass
      associated with hydrocephalus. A case is presented where an occipital
      extracranial mass associated with hydrocephalus which was detected on second
      trimester ultrasound examination turned out to be a haemangioma, a relatively
      benign lesion. We suggest that haemangioma should be considered in the
      differential diagnosis of extracranial masses detected prenatally.

PMID- 1438063
TI  - Morphological features of a case of retinoic acid embryopathy.
AB  - A case of retinoic acid embryopathy which was retrospectively diagnosed after
      delivery is presented. The affected fetus was exposed to the drug during the
      first month of pregnancy and second-trimester sonographic examination showed
      hydrocephalus and cardiac malformation. The diagnosis was made on the basis of
      autopsy findings and genetic enquiry.

PMID- 1438064
TI  - Shift of the fetal sex ratio in hCG selected pregnancies at risk for Down
      syndrome.

PMID- 1438065
TI  - Prenatal application of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) for
      identification of a mosaic Y-chromosome marker, idic(Yp).
AB  - An amniocentesis was performed at 13.3 weeks' gestation for advanced maternal
      age. A mosaic sex chromosome pattern was found: of 50 cells examined, 34 had a
      45,X karyotype. In 14 cells with a modal number of 46, a recognizable Y was
      substituted by a small non-fluorescent marker. C-banding identified the marker as
      an isodicentric in 12 cells. In two cells, the non-fluorescent marker appeared to
      be monocentric and looked like a non-fluorescent del (Yq), but could have been an
      isodicentric Y with inactivation of one of the centromeres. Two cells with a
      modal number of 47 showed two copies of the monocentric marker. Fluorescent in
      situ hybridization with an alpha satellite Y-specific centromeric probe confirmed
      the Y-chromosome origin of the markers and allowed for more accurate prenatal
      diagnostic information.

PMID- 1438066
TI  - Neonatal form of the hyperornithinaemia, hyperammonaemia, and homocitrullinuria
      (HHH) syndrome and prenatal diagnosis.

PMID- 1438067
TI  - Diagnosis and prenatal diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa herpetiformis (Dowling
      Meara) in a mother, two affected children, and an affected fetus.
AB  - In utero skin biopsy was performed on a fetus at risk of an uncertain form of
      epidermolysis bullosa (EB). The mother had produced two affected offspring
      diagnosed variously as having junctional or dystrophic EB. The two offspring and
      the fetus were products of different fathers. The mother claimed to have no
      disease and on clinical examination was without blisters. Examination of the
      fetal skin biopsy by light and electron microscopy revealed separation of the
      epidermal sheet from the majority of the biopsy sample, although occasional
      remnants of basal cells remained associated with the basement membrane.
      Aggregations of keratin filaments were observed within basal cells of the
      detached epidermis and in the attached basal cell remnants. The diagnosis was
      thus suggested to be epidermolysis bullosa Dowling-Meara. Re-review of the
      clinical and laboratory data from the affected infants revealed a clinical and
      histological pattern consistent with this diagnosis. Further discussion with the
      mother revealed that her skin had blistered as a child and that she presently had
      hyperkeratotic palms and soles. This history is consistent with the autosomal
      dominantly inherited epidermolysis bullosa herpetiformis (Dowling-Meara). This is
      the first reported prenatal diagnosis of EB Dowling-Meara. The morphological
      criteria of intraepidermal blistering and clumped keratin filaments within basal
      and immediately suprabasal cells characteristic of an affected individual
      postnatally also identified an affected fetus. There is, however, insufficient
      experience to be certain that these findings will hold from region to region in
      the body or among all affected fetuses, and thus prenatal diagnosis on a
      morphological basis should still be made with caution.

PMID- 1438068
TI  - Fetal nuchal fluid--physiological or pathological?--In pregnancies less than 17
      menstrual weeks.
AB  - For pregnancies less than 17 menstrual weeks, increasing amounts of nuchal fluid
      increase the risks of chromosome abnormalities with localized nuchal fluid,
      diffuse nuchal fluid, cystic hygroma, and fetal hydrops having chromosomal risks
      of 12, 23, 50, and 78 per cent, respectively. The ultrasound appearance of
      localized or diffuse nuchal fluid is not a specific discriminator, but a fluid
      depth of greater than or equal to 5 mm may be an indicator of increased risk of
      fetal chromosomal abnormalities. If the fluid depth is less than 5 mm, there is a
      stronger negative predictive value and negative likelihood risk of a fetal
      chromosome abnormality. Gestational age did not improve the fluid depth
      predictive value. Differentiation of physiological from pathological requires
      chromosome analysis, serial ultrasound evaluation, and good clinical examination
      as a newborn and possibly as a young child. Long-term follow-up of those cases
      identified with resolving nuchal fluid abnormalities is not available and is
      required for a complete understanding of physiological and pathological
      aetiologies. Genetic counselling for fetal nuchal fluid would be recommended.

PMID- 1438069
TI  - Prenatal diagnosis in a family with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease with
      the use of the polymerase chain reaction.
AB  - In the X-linked form of chronic granulomatous disease (X91 degrees CGD), the
      genetic defect is linked to the CYBB locus on the X chromosome. We studied a
      family with a genetic defect in this gene, consisting of a G----A substitution at
      the fifth base of the 5' donor splice site of intron 3. This mutation leads to
      skipping of exon 3 after transcription of the gene. The expectant mother was
      diagnosed as a carrier. Analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified
      genomic DNA from a chorionic villus biopsy (CVB) showed the same mutation in the
      male fetus. After termination of the pregnancy, the diagnosis was confirmed by
      conventional methods. This is the first time that PCR has been used for prenatal
      diagnosis of CGD.

PMID- 1438070
TI  - Maternal serum CA 125 for aneuploidy detection in early pregnancy.
AB  - Maternal serum CA 125 levels were determined at 9-11 menstrual weeks for 26 cases
      of trisomy 13 (n = 4), trisomy 18 (n = 7), trisomy 21 (n = 15), and appropriate
      controls. There were no statistically significant differences between groups.

PMID- 1438071
TI  - The chemical composition and nutritional potential of the tribal pulse, Abrus
      precatorius L.
AB  - The boiled seeds of Abrus precatorius L. are eaten by the residents of the
      Andaman Islands in India. The seeds were analysed for proximate composition,
      total (true) protein, seed protein fractions, amino acid profile of seed
      proteins, minerals and certain antinutritional factors. The seed proteins are
      rich in most of the essential amino acids, and they are deficient only in cystine
      and threonine, when compared to the WHO/FAO requirement pattern. The
      antinutritional factors (total free phenols, tannins, trypsin inhibitor activity
      and haemagglutinating activity) were also investigated.

PMID- 1438072
TI  - Sensory evaluation of and acceptability trials on biscuits prepared from raw and
      malted wheat (Triticum aestivum)-Bengal gram (Cicer arietinum) mixes with or
      without a green leafy vegetable.
AB  - Biscuits were prepared by varying the amounts of the basic ingredients to arrive
      at the most acceptable recipe. The final recipe contained 40 g of mix, 40 g of
      jaggery and 20 g of ghee. Sensory evaluation of biscuits containing 5 or 10%
      colocasia leaf powder by composite scoring test and hedonic scale showed that the
      former type of biscuit was preferred over the latter. The acceptability trial
      conducted on 42, 3 to 6 year old children showed that biscuits from either malted
      mix with or without 7.5% colocasia leaf powder and raw mix were equally
      acceptable as shown by the analysis of variance.

PMID- 1438073
TI  - Microorganisms associated with natural fermentation of Prosopis africana seeds
      for the production of okpiye.
AB  - Okpiye is a food condiment prepared by the fermentation of Prosopis africana
      seeds. The traditional process for the production and microbiological
      characteristics of the condiment were investigated. During laboratory
      fermentation that lasted 96 h, the mesquite seeds underwent a natural
      fermentation that was characterised by the growth of microorganisms to 10(6)
      10(8) cfu/g. Several species of bacteria especially B. subtilis, B.
      licheniformis, B. megaterium, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Micrococcus spp were
      found to be the most actively involved organisms. However, significant
      contributions to the microbial ecology were made by Enterobacter cloacae and
      Klebsiella pneumoniae. Lactobacillus spp were present in low numbers towards the
      end of the fermentation. The presence of Proteus and Pseudomonas spp in
      traditional fermented samples demonstrate the variability which may exist in the
      microflora of individual fermented samples. Variations in the important microbial
      groups show that Bacillus spp were the most prevalent species and occurred until
      the end of fermentation. Temperature, pH and titratable acidity varied with time
      and were influenced by the metabolic activities of the microorganisms.

PMID- 1438074
TI  - Radiation effect on ascorbic acid and riboflavin biosynthesis in germinating
      soybean.
AB  - The influence of irradiation on biosynthesis of ascorbic acid and riboflavin in
      germinating soybean seeds in tap and distilled water at ambient (25-35 degrees C)
      conditions was investigated. Ascorbic acid was not detectable in the original
      seeds and the initial level of riboflavin was 3.3 micrograms/g. The rate of
      synthesis of these vitamins increased with increasing germination time up to 72
      96 hr followed by a decreasing pattern depending upon the treatment. The effect
      of irradiation and germination on the synthesis of these vitamins was
      statistically significant (P less than 0.01). Maximum amounts of ascorbic acid
      16.2 and 15.0 mg/100g (fresh weight basis) were found in the 0.10 kGy sample
      after 72 hr of germination in tap and distilled water, respectively. However, a
      radiation dose of 0.20 kGy resulted in the development of maximum values of
      riboflavin, 30.0 and 27.0 micrograms/g (dry weight basis) on germination in tap
      and distilled water respectively.

PMID- 1438075
TI  - Bio-availability of iron from spinach (Spanicia oleracea) cultivated in soil
      fortified with graded levels of iron.
AB  - In vitro availability of iron along with ascorbic acid, oxalic acid and
      phosphorus contents of two varieties of spinach (Pusa Jyoti and Allgreen)
      cultivated in soil with different levels of added iron was determined. Addition
      of graded levels of iron to soil markedly increased the total iron and phosphorus
      contents and significantly decreased the bio-availability of iron, ascorbic acid
      and oxalic acid contents of spinach. Ascorbic acid and oxalic acid contents
      markedly exerted a positive influence while phosphorus exerted a negative
      influence on the bio-availability of iron.

PMID- 1438076
TI  - The effects of sprouting times on nutritive value of two varieties of African yam
      bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa).
AB  - Forty-eight rats (80-125 g) were used to determine the nutritive value of two
      sprouted varieties of African yam bean. The cream and brown varieties were each
      sprouted for 36, 48 and 72 h and blended with corn in a 70:30 ratio (protein
      basis) to provide 1.6 g N/100 g diet for the entire study period. Sprouting for
      48 h caused an increase in most of the parameters tested for both varieties.
      Sprouting increased natural enhancement of nutrients.

PMID- 1438077
TI  - Nutritional and chemical evaluation of raw seeds of Canavalia gladiata (Jacq) DC.
      and C. ensiformis DC: the under utilized food and fodder crops in India.
AB  - In India, the seeds of Canavalia gladiata and C. ensiformis have traditionally
      been eaten by the aborigines, but they are less popular among the civilized
      people. The data on the chemical composition and nutritional quality of these
      seeds are not readily available. The proximate composition, mineral composition,
      the contents of total (true) proteins, seed protein fractions, profile of seed
      protein amino acids and certain antinutritional factors were analysed and
      reported in the present study. The seeds of C. ensiformis contain more crude
      protein, crude lipid and minerals like Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, Fe and Mn than does C.
      gladiata. Both albumins and globulins together constitute the major bulk of seed
      proteins. In both the species of Canavalia investigated, glutamic acid, aspartic
      acid, isoleucine + leucine, tyrosine + phenylalanine and lysine are the major
      amino acids of seed proteins. The presence of certain antinutritional factors
      (total free phenols, tannins, lectins, L-DOPA, trypsin inhibitor activity) is
      also reported for both species of Canavalia.

PMID- 1438078
TI  - Influence of dietary soybean trypsin inhibitors and DL-ethionine on sulfur amino
      acid adequacy of diets for young rats.
AB  - Weanling male Wistar rats were fed 20% protein diets based on casein or either of
      two combinations of soy protein isolate and ground raw soy providing three levels
      of soybean trypsin inhibitors (SBTI; 0, 448 and 808 mg of trypsin inhibited per
      100 g of diet respectively). DL-ethionine was included at three levels (0, 0.05%
      and 0.10%) with each level of SBTI. After 4, 8 and 12 weeks of ad libitum
      feeding, diets containing SBTI without DL-ethionine were associated with
      decreases in weight gain, feed efficiency, serum cholesterol and serum urea
      nitrogen. Higher levels of triglycerides, glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT)
      and altered serum free amino acid levels were also found. Increased dietary
      levels of DL-ethionine also resulted in deficits in growth and feed efficiency,
      decreased serum cholesterol, increased SGPT and similar alterations in serum free
      amino acids. Combination of dietary SBTI with DL-ethionine resulted in even
      greater growth deficits and serum cholesterol decreases as well as increases in
      SGPT and serum triglycerides and changes in serum free amino acid levels.
      Methionine deficiency in the young rats fed SBTI and DL-ethionine was indicated
      by the changes in serum amino acids and growth deficits. Moderation of some
      effects over the 12 week test period suggested decreased methionine requirements
      in the older rats.

PMID- 1438079
TI  - Preparation nutritional value and acceptability of barley rabadi--an indigenous
      fermented food of India.
AB  - Rabadi fermentation of barley flour-buttermilk mixture (fresh and autoclaved) at
      30, 35 and 40 degrees C for 6, 12, 18, 24 and 48 h lowered pH, enhanced
      titratable acidity and did not change fat and total mineral (Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn
      and P) content. Protein content of fermented fresh as well as autoclaved barley
      flour-buttermilk mixture either decreased or remained unchanges. Rabadi prepared
      from both types of barley flour at different temperatures and time periods was
      acceptable; but that which was fermented at 40 degrees C for 48 h was less
      acceptable in terms of taste.

PMID- 1438080
TI  - Changes in ascorbic acid and carbohydrate contents in tomato fruits infected with
      pathogens.
AB  - Tomato fruits Var Romer VFN, inoculated with Fusarium equiseti, F.
      chlamydosporium, Geotrichum candidum, Acremonium recifei, Aspergilus flavus and
      A. niger showed decline in ascorbic acid content with days of incubation when
      compared with control (uninoculated) fruits. The total soluble sugars of the
      inoculated fruits also showed a reduction trend as the storage period was
      prolonged, but slight increase was observed on the 6th day after inoculation.

PMID- 1438081
TI  - Control of vascular resistance in the human placenta.

PMID- 1438082
TI  - ATP-dependent protease in human placenta.
AB  - We have found that human placental mitochondria contain ATP-dependent protease in
      a soluble form. The molecular weight of the protease have been up to 108,000,
      which is the same as ATP-dependent protease in bovine adrenal cortex. Since this
      protease has been distributed among steroid hormone-producing tissues such as
      testis and adrenal cortex and ATP-dependent protease can degrade cytochrome P
      450scc, a key enzyme in steroid hormone biosynthesis, we suggest that the
      protease may have an important role in the regulation of steroid hormone
      metabolism.

PMID- 1438083
TI  - Cellular localization of metallothionein in human term placenta.
AB  - Cellular localization of metallothionein (MT) in placenta may provide information
      on its function as a metal binding protein. Rabbit antibodies to rat liver MT
      cross-reacted with human MT and were used to localize MT in human term placenta
      by avidin-biotin peroxidase technique. Serial sections (5 microns) were cut from
      paraffin-embedded placentae obtained at term from five normal women and incubated
      with rabbit antibodies to MT. Normal rabbit serum was used as a negative control.
      The slides were incubated with biotinylated swine anti-rabbit IgG (linking
      antibody) then with avidin-biotin horseradish peroxidase complex and developed
      with diaminobenzidine in hydrogen peroxide (0.03 per cent) substrate. The optimum
      staining of MT was obtained at a 1:800 antibody dilution. MT was identified in
      fetal amniotic cells, syncytial trophoblasts and villous interstitial cells, and
      in maternal decidual cells. The presence of MT at specific cellular sites
      suggests that it may regulate the transplacental transport of metals such as
      zinc, copper and cadmium. Since the level of cadmium is lower and that of zinc
      and copper higher in fetal than in maternal blood, this may suggest that
      placental MT may restrict cadmium while enhancing zinc and copper transport.

PMID- 1438084
TI  - Quantitative description of the elaboration and maturation of villi from 10 weeks
      of gestation to term.
AB  - Stereological methods have been applied to a cross-sectional sample of human
      placentae collected at 10-41 weeks of gestation in order to provide a
      quantitative description of the growth and maturation of villi. Random tissue
      sections were analysed to derive volumes, surface areas, lengths, diameters and
      membrane thicknesses for villi and their fetal capillaries. Expansion of the
      total volume and surface area of villi can be explained by a dramatic linear
      growth of terminal villi which begins at about the middle of the second
      trimester. Growth of intermediate villi also occurs but to a more limited extent.
      Linear growth is accompanied by villous maturation which involves increases in
      the relative volume of capillaries and in villous capillarization coupled with
      decreases in villous diameter, capillary diameter and harmonic thickness of the
      villous membrane. These findings confirm that placental growth and development
      depend greatly on growth and maturation of terminal villi. They do not confirm
      sinusoidal dilation of fetal vessels as a generalized phenomenon. They also
      support the contention that changes in effective diffusion distances across the
      villous membrane have real adaptive significance.

PMID- 1438085
TI  - Chorionic gonadotrophin and c-myc expression in growing and growth-inhibited
      (intermediate) trophoblasts.
AB  - FEG-3 cells are a clonal line of human choriocarcinoma and resemble villous
      cytotrophoblasts which are the stem cells for the syncytiotrophoblast in the
      placenta. FEG-3 cells synthesize and secrete the alpha subunit of human chorionic
      gonadotrophin (hCG). Treatment of FEG-3 cells with the chemotherapeutic drug (1
      microM) methotrexate (MTX) results in an increase in nuclear diameter. Cell
      division is blocked and a decrease in c-myc mRNA levels in observed. The effects
      on cell growth and c-myc mRNA expression are reversible, and cells treated with
      MTX for 48 h retain their proliferative potential. Assessment of placental
      hormone gene expression reveals that a member of the human growth hormone gene
      family is expressed at extremely low levels and is unaffected by MTX treatment.
      Alpha and beta chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) levels are increased by MTX
      treatment, but levels decrease following removal of MTX. In contrast to hCG in
      FEG-3 cells, non-trophoblastic or ectopic production of alpha hCG in human
      cervical carcinoma cells is inhibited by MTX treatment. These data indicate that
      MTX will induce morphological and biochemical changes in FEG-3 cells. They reveal
      an inverse relationship between c-myc and hCG RNA expression, and suggest
      different mechanisms govern trophoblast versus non-trophoblast production of
      alpha hCG.

PMID- 1438086
TI  - Serial enzymatic digestion method for isolation of human placental trophoblasts.

PMID- 1438087
TI  - [Non steroidal anti-inflammatory agents marketed as analgesics].

PMID- 1438088
TI  - [A battery of neuropsychological tests for severe dementia. An evaluation study].
AB  - All patients with Alzheimer's disease progress, more or less rapidly, to a stage
      where they can no longer be tested with the standard neuropsychological tools.
      The Severe Impairment Battery (SIB) is a neuropsychological tool used to evaluate
      patients with severe dementia. Its maximum score is 133. The purpose of this
      study was to assess the reliability of a French version of SIB. Fifty-four
      patients with Alzheimer's disease (mean Mini Mental State examination [MMS] 10.11
      +/- 6.38) entered the study. Their mean SIB score was 88.4 +/- 33.3. The patients
      who were most affected (MMS below 5) were distributed by SIB from 7 to 80 points.
      An inter-examinator study of 36 patients yielded a correlation coefficient r =
      0.9957 (P = 0.0001). In an inter-test study of 17 patients the correlation
      coefficient was also very high (r = 0.874, P = 0.0001). Thus, SIB seems to be a
      reliable tool to evaluate cognitive functions in cases of severe dementia. The
      distribution of scores obtained by SIB in patients with an MMS below 10
      demonstrates that even within groups of subjects with severe dementia
      distinctions can be made between their remaining capabilities. Using SIB in these
      patients should improve our knowledge of the natural course of the disease and
      give better correlation between clinical data and neuropathological and
      neurobiochemical tests on the one hand, and enable us to adjust to their
      condition the departments where these patients are treated on the other hand.

PMID- 1438089
TI  - [Microalbuminuria and left ventricular hypertrophy in essential arterial
      hypertension. A study in non-diabetic patients].
AB  - To evaluate the relationship between urinary albumin excretion and left
      ventricular hypertrophy in essential hypertension, we studied, cross-sectionally,
      64 subjects with essential hypertension and no diabetes. Urinary albumin
      excretion and Sokolow index correlated significantly (r = 0.483; P = 0.0001).
      Five subjects were positive for microalbuminuria (> 30 mg/24 h) and Sokolow index
      (> 35 mm); 43 were negative for both, with a concordance rate of 77 percent (chi
      squared test 11.1; P = 0.0009). Stepwise multivariate regression analysis
      indicated two independent determinants for urinary albumin excretion: Sokolow
      index (F = 18.29), and diastolic blood pressure (F = 12.23). The relationships
      between urinary albumin excretion, Sokolow index, and blood pressure were not
      different in the 18 subjects taking angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitors
      and in the 46 others. The close relationship between urinary albumin excretion
      and Sokolow index observed in this study suggests that left ventricular
      hypertrophy due to hypertension may account for the increased cardiovascular
      mortality observed in non diabetic subjects with microalbuminuria.

PMID- 1438090
TI  - [Mitochondrial disorder secondary to inflammation in polymyositis. Two cases].
AB  - Two cases of polymyositis were followed using phosphorus nuclear magnetic
      resonance spectroscopy. The spectra recorded during remission were normal, but
      those collected from the gastrocnemius muscle during the active phase of the
      diseases showed an increased inorganic phosphate level or a decreased
      phosphocreatine content. The intracellular pH was normal. These findings may be
      related to an impairement in mitochondrial metabolism secondary to the
      inflammatory process. Moreover, the fact that the abnormalities observed
      disappeared after treatment suggests that phosphorus NMR spectroscopy could be
      used as a non-invasive method in the follow-up of polymyositis, but this must be
      confirmed by further studies.

PMID- 1438091
TI  - [Serum ferritin assay. Value and limitations].
AB  - There is a good correlation between serum ferritin and the amount of iron stored
      in the body. Reduced levels of serum ferritin are always found in iron deficiency
      but elevation of serum ferritin can occur without any iron overload. According to
      pathological situations, red cell ferritin, glycosylated ferritin or acidic
      ferritin measurements are useful tests for the differential diagnosis of
      increased serum ferritin concentration.

PMID- 1438092
TI  - [Ascariasis: an unusual cause of cholangitis after choledochoduodenal
      anastomosis].

PMID- 1438093
TI  - [Pregnancy after in vitro fertilization in a case of ejaculation deficiency
      (emission failure)].

PMID- 1438094
TI  - [Markers of HIV and hepatis B and C viruses in programmed autotransfusion].

PMID- 1438095
TI  - [Simultaneous pulmonary toxoplasmosis and primary Toxoplasma infection in AIDS].

PMID- 1438096
TI  - [Spontaneously regressive hematoma of the liver after external heart massage].

PMID- 1438097
TI  - [Incidentally discovered adrenal gland tumors].

PMID- 1438098
TI  - [Horton's disease with normal blood sedimentation rate].

PMID- 1438099
TI  - [Pathogenic role of hyperinsulinism in macroangiopathy. Epidemiological data].
AB  - The hypothesis of the atherogenic role of endogenous insulin was based on a
      series of epidemiological studies. Several large-scale prospective studies have
      demonstrated that diabetes constitutes an independent risk factor for
      cardiovascular disease. However, neither the duration of diabetes nor the blood
      glucose level appear to be predictive of the incidence of a cardiovascular
      accident. More recent prospective studies (Finland, Australia, Paris) in non
      diabetic men have shown that hyperinsulinemia, while fasting or after glucose
      stimulation, constitutes a risk factor for fatal myocardial infarction, but they
      failed to show whether diabetes or the blood glucose level constituted a risk
      factor for the disease. Cross-sectional studies have provided similar results.
      Insulin resistance affects the majority of non-insulin-dependent diabetics and
      glucose-intolerant patients. It has also been observed in 25 percent of non-obese
      subjects with a normal glucose tolerance test. Associated hyperinsulinemia
      prevents the development of diabetes, but diabetes appears when the beta-cell
      function is altered and can no longer maintain this hyperinsulinemia. However,
      hyperinsulinemia is not devoid of cardiovascular consequences. Insulin resistance
      and hyperinsulinemia are also observed in patients with essential hypertension: a
      correlation between plasma insulin and blood pressure has been reported. These
      data, together with other experimental arguments, suggest that excessive
      endogenous insulin may participate in the rise in blood pressure. Furthermore,
      hypertensive patients have a high risk of coronary heart disease and this risk is
      not significantly decreased by anti-hypertensive treatments. This is probably
      related to the presence of other metabolic risk factors associated with insulin
      resistance: hyperinsulinemia, glucose intolerance, hypertriglyceridemia,
      decreased HDL cholesterol. These metabolic disorders have been grouped together
      under the term "syndrome X". All of these risk factors are probably also involved
      in the development of coronary heart disease in general population. In
      conclusion, epidemiological studies now suggest that insulin resistance and
      hyperinsulinemia increase the risk of hypertension and coronary heart disease. A
      great many experimental studies support this hypothesis. Lastly, it can be
      proposed that the increased cardiovascular risk in non-insulin-dependent
      diabetics is related to the fact that they belong to a larger group of insulin
      resistant subjects. The management of diabetes, hypertension, and all of the
      metabolic abnormalities would appear to be the only way of reducing the incidence
      of cardiovascular disease.

PMID- 1438100
TI  - [Arterial hypertension, hyperinsulinism and insulin resistance].
AB  - The incidence of hypertension is increased in obesity, a state associated with an
      insulin resistance syndrome. By using an euglycemic clamp method, Ferrannini et
      al. demonstrated the existence of an insulin resistance state in patients with
      essential hypertension. However, the body mass index of the subjects studied
      appeared to be slightly excessive. This abnormality has not been observed in
      patients with secondary hypertension. Insulin resistance is probably localized to
      peripheral tissues such as muscles and may be associated with other cellular
      abnormalities. Can insulin resistance, characterized by a raised circulating
      insulin concentration in the presence of normal blood glucose, be responsible for
      certain "modifications" associated with essential hypertension? Insulin induces
      sodium retention and increases the aldosterone-secreting effect of angiotensin
      II. These effects are likely to promote a rise in blood pressure and an increase
      in the sensitivity of vessels to endogenous substances. Moreover, insulin is a
      known growth factor and is involved in lipoprotein metabolism. If insulin
      resistance plays an important role in the maintenance of complications of
      essential hypertension, it is important that the treatments used tend to correct
      this anomaly. Thiazide diuretics and beta-blockers aggravate insulin resistance
      while angiotensin converting-enzyme inhibitors correct this condition.

PMID- 1438101
TI  - [Theoretical aspects of the relationship between diabetic macroangiopathy and
      hyperinsulinism].
AB  - Epidemiological and clinical data suggest a relationship between hyperinsulinism
      and macroangiopathy in non insulin-dependent diabetes. On the other hand, a
      relationship between the plasma free insulin level and macroangiopathy has not
      been documented in insulin-dependent diabetes. Other abnormalities in addition to
      hyperinsulinism and glucose intolerance are frequently associated in the presence
      of insulin resistance and have been grouped by Reaven under the term syndrome X:
      raised VLDL triglycerides, decreased HDL, and raised blood pressure. Iatrogenic
      hyperinsulinism appears to be an arterial risk factor, but by what mechanism may
      it also constitute an independent risk factor? The following theoretical aspects
      of a possible atherogenic role of hyperinsulinism are currently being
      investigated: a) insulin stimulates the proliferation and migration of smooth
      muscle cells either directly or via a rise in IGF1; b) insulin induces
      lipogenesis in the intima-media, but it has not been demonstrated that this in
      situ lipogenesis is atherogenic; c) insulin raises the VLDL production, decreases
      HDL and modifies the clearance of LDL; d) insulin increases blood pressure by
      stimulating both the renal reabsorption of sodium and the sympathetic nervous
      system; insulin resistance may also be expressed at the level of the Na-K-ATPase
      of vascular smooth muscle cells by decreasing the vasodilator effect of the
      hormone; e) lastly, insulin induces a defect of fibrinolysis mediated by an
      increase in the level of plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI1). In conclusion,
      the combination of hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinism is probably damaging to the
      artery. Therapeutic intervention studies are necessary to confirm and define the
      role of hyperinsulinism in macroangiopathy and to answer the unresolved
      questions: direct or indirect role? effect of endogenous and/or exogenous
      hyperinsulinism?

PMID- 1438102
TI  - [Mode of action of benfluorex. Recent data].
AB  - An increased risk of developing premature atherosclerosis is associated with
      stress, diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. These conditions are associated with
      insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia.
      An alternative way of interpreting insulin resistance is to consider that
      metabolism in this condition would be regulated to a greater extent by stress
      hormones and in particular by cortisol. Glucocorticoids and fatty acids (which
      are produced in response to stress) antagonise the actions of insulin in
      promoting glucose uptake and protein synthesis, in decreasing gluconeogenesis and
      protein catabolism, and promoting the clearance of intermediate density
      lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein from the circulation by the liver. They
      also promote the secretion of very low density lipoprotein thus producing
      hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia. By contrast to this antagonism,
      cortisol can also facilitate the action of insulin in stimulating the storage of
      energy via glycogen and fatty acid synthesis and through lipoprotein lipase in
      adipose tissue. These effects are significant in relation to obesity and to
      weight gain. An increased control of metabolism by cortisol therefore produces
      changes in metabolism that are potentially atherogenic and it is associated with
      insulin resistance and the other risk factors for atherosclerosis. Benfluorex
      treatment improves insulin sensitivity and has antihyperglycemic and
      hypolipidemic effects in human beings and in experimental animals. These effects
      can be observed independently of weight loss, but lowering food intake also
      produces a metabolic benefit. Long-term treatment with benfluorex can also
      decrease stress responses in terms of glucocorticoid release and the stimulation
      of lipolysis probably by its serotoninergic control of the hypothalamic-pituitary
      adrenal axis. Such an action provides for an integrated treatment of the obese
      diabetic-hyperlipidemic syndrome. Benfluorex produces overall changes in
      metabolism that tend to normalise the major risk factors associated with
      premature atherosclerosis. This provides a potential advantage over other
      therapies for atherosclerosis which may ameliorate a symptom (e.g.,
      hyperlipidemia) without treating the underlying metabolic disturbance that
      predisposes to atherogenesis.

PMID- 1438103
TI  - [Effects of chronic administration of benfluorex on the pharmacokinetics of
      iodine 123 labelled insulin in Zucker obese rats (fa/fa)].
AB  - Zucker obese rats (fa/fa), aged 8 to 10 weeks, were treated orally by benfluorex
      (2 x 25 mg.kg-1, day-1) for 2 weeks and were compared with a control group of the
      same age treated with placebo. Benfluorex induced a break in the weight curve, a
      significant fall in serum triglycerides, blood glucose and plasma insulin and in
      the insulin content of the pancreas. Following intrajugular injection of iodine
      123 labelled insulin, the liver of the treated animals bound 25 percent more
      insulin than the liver of control animals. Conversely, the renal clearance of
      insulin of the treated animals was reduced in comparison to the placebo group.
      These studies confirm that, in an animal model of obesity associated with insulin
      resistance, benfluorex exerts a marked hypolipidemic effect and improves insulin
      resistance. They also demonstrate an increased targeting of insulin towards
      hepatic receptors either due to an increase in the hepatic blood flow or to an
      increase in the number of hepatic receptors or to an increase in the affinity of
      these receptors. However, speculative considerations make this last mechanistic
      hypothesis somewhat improbable.

PMID- 1438104
TI  - [Mechanisms of hypoglycemic action of benfluorex].
AB  - Benfluorex is a hypolipidemic agent with biguanide-like properties. Its action on
      glucose metabolism was evaluated in 6 NIDDM patients previously treated with diet
      alone. Before and after 1 month of benfluorex therapy (450 mg/day p.o.), an
      euglycemic (100 mg/dl) insulin (40 mU/m2/min) clamp was performed along with 3-3H
      glucose infusion and indirect calorimetry. Benfluorex did not affect body weight,
      while it reduced fasting plasma glucose (144 +/- 16 vs 119 +/- 8 mg/dl; P <
      0.05), glycosylated hemoglobin (6.8 +/- 0.8 vs 6.4 +/- 0.4 percent) and
      fructosamine (2.9 +/- 0.6 vs 2.4 +/- 0.2 mmol/l; P < 0.05). Both triglycerides
      (2.3 +/- 0.6 vs 1.9 +/- 0.5 mmol/l) and total cholesterol (5.7 +/- 0.7 vs 5.2 +/-
      0.6 mmol/l) declined. No changes occurred in plasma fatty acid, insulin, and C
      peptide. Basal hepatic glucose production did not change and it was completely
      suppressed during the clamp studies both before and after benfluorex. Basal
      oxidation rates of carbohydrates and lipids did not change significantly. During
      the insulin clamp study, insulin-mediated glucose disposal increased after
      benfluorex (5.7 +/- 0.3 vs 4.8 +/- 0.2 mg/kg/min; P < 0.01). Lipid oxidation was
      equally suppressed before and after therapy with benfluorex. Glucose oxidation
      was not enhanced after benfluorex while non-oxidative glucose metabolism was
      significantly improved (2.2 +/- 0.7 vs 3.4 +/- 0.4 mg/kg/min; P < 0.05).
      CONCLUSION: short-term benfluorex administration a) improves glucose and lipid
      control, b) improves insulin action by enhancing non-oxidative glucose
      metabolism, c) does not affect basal insulin secretion. The long-term effect of
      benfluorex treatment remains to be evaluated.

PMID- 1438105
TI  - [Antidiabetic efficacy of benfluorex. Clinical data].
AB  - We compared the effect of 3 months of treatment by either benfluorex (B) or
      metformin (M) on hyperinsulinism and high blood glucose levels in overweight
      patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). All patients had
      previously complied with a low-calorie diet that had resulted in loss of more
      than 1.5 kg in one month, but had failed to ensure metabolic control. Weight
      changes under treatment were identical in both groups (B and M). Both treatments
      had a comparable effect on blood glucose levels, and this effect was more marked
      following an oral glucose load. However, a decrease in serum insulin levels and
      in the fasting serum insulin/fasting serum glucose ratio was seen with benfluorex
      only. The differences between the two treatment groups were especially marked
      among the subgroup of patients who responded poorly to the trial diet (fasting
      I/fasting G: + 1.82 under M., -3.37 under B, P interaction = 0.029). Clinical
      tolerance was comparable for both drugs. However, a significant rise in serum
      lactic acid was seen with metformin. The effect of benfluorex on hyperinsulinism
      in overweight patients with glucose intolerance or mildly increased fasting blood
      glucose levels is valuable in these high vascular risk patients. The results of
      this study open the way to a new approach to the treatment of diabetes which
      should be confirmed by a longer term study currently underway. However, already,
      these results encourage the evaluation of the benefit provided by benfluorex in
      combination with classical hypoglycemic drugs.

PMID- 1438106
TI  - Patient characteristics and the effect of three physician-delivered smoking
      interventions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This paper investigates individual patient characteristics predicting
      differential response to each of three physician-delivered smoking interventions
      after 6 months. METHODS: Participants were 1,286 currently smoking patients seen
      by 196 medical and family practice residents in five primary care clinics
      affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Of the
      participants, 57% were female, 92% were white, their average age was 35 years,
      and they smoked an average of 23 cigarettes per day. Physicians were trained to
      provide the following interventions: advice only (AO), a brief (< 10 min) patient
      centered counseling intervention (CI), and counseling plus prescription of the
      nicotine-containing gum Nicorette (CI+NCG). The CI+NCG condition included NCG
      only when appropriate and if acceptable to the patient. Patients were randomized
      to one of these three physician-delivered intervention conditions. RESULTS:
      Overall, stratified univariate analyses revealed that AO produced consistently
      lower cessation rates across most subgroups (generally 9-13%) but was somewhat
      more effective for certain groups of lighter smokers. Relative to AO, CI was
      somewhat more effective (about 20-24%) for less addicted smokers, for those with
      more previous quit attempts, and for those with fewer close associates who smoke,
      but generally failed to produce higher quit rates for harder core smokers or for
      women. CI+NCG had an overall pattern of greater effectiveness for both more
      addicted and less addicted smokers, with the highest absolute levels of cessation
      (about 27-30%) among less dependent smokers. Women in this group had cessation
      rates (20.6%) comparable to those of men (23.6%). Condition-stratified logistic
      regression analyses, controlling for a wide range of covariates, revealed
      associations similar to those observed in the univariate analyses: An overall
      logistic model in which intervention conditions were fitted as dummy variables
      produced the following significant main effects: sex, years smoked, contact with
      other smokers, symptoms, and CI+NCG condition. Significant interactions were
      observed for both CI and CI+NCG and smoking when feeling too ill to continue
      normal activities and CI+NCG and amount smoked. CONCLUSIONS: We observed
      significant main effects on cessation of variables related to addiction, sex,
      social factors, and physician counseling interventions. Specific interactions
      were observed between reported smoking when feeling ill and each of the
      counseling interventions as well as by amount smoked in the CI+NCG condition.

PMID- 1438107
TI  - Views of a general population on mass screening for colorectal cancer: the
      Burgundy Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The success of a screening program depends on a number of factors,
      including the validity of the test, its efficacy, its feasibility, and the rate
      of compliance. Thus, it is important to determine the factors influencing
      compliance to the screening test in order to obtain a high participation rate.
      METHODS: A mass screening campaign for colorectal cancer using the Hemoccult test
      was conducted in Burgundy, France. One year later, a questionnaire was mailed to
      a random sample of the population to assess the views of the general public (870
      persons who had not completed the Hemoccult test, 750 persons who had a negative
      test, and 100 persons who had a positive test). The compliance rate of this
      survey was 32.2% among persons who had not completed the screening test, 88.2%
      among persons with a negative result, and 98.0% among persons with a positive
      result. RESULTS: The main reason for not participating was not wanting to know
      more about their health status (34.3%). Of the factors credited with encouraging
      persons to perform the test, the most important ones were the practitioner's
      explanations (55.7%) and the leaflet sent by mail (42.5%). The impact of the
      media campaign was weak. A small portion of the population (4.3%) said that they
      were very anxious while waiting for the results. Among persons with a positive
      screening test, only 1.2% regretted having taken it. Among those who took the
      test, 94.2% said they were ready to do it again; and among those who did not take
      it, 36.7% would accept it at a second screening. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest
      that overall the Hemoccult is well accepted, that the campaign did not upset the
      population, and that it is worthwhile at the second screening to include those
      who did not participate in the first screening test.

PMID- 1438108
TI  - Comparison of recruitment strategies and associated disease prevalence for health
      promotion in rural elderly.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although interest in health promotion for the elderly is increasing,
      the issues of recruitment into such programs and self-selection have not been
      well explored. While clinical studies require high participation levels and
      expensive recruitment, community efforts are satisfied with recruiting small
      numbers of volunteers from poorly defined populations. These small samples may
      not be representative of the populations at risk. METHODS: As part of the Rural
      Health Promotion Project, a Medicare demonstration, community-based recruitment
      methods were evaluated and participant characteristics were compared. A total of
      3,884 individuals ages 65-79 were recruited in northwestern Pennsylvania, using
      four sequential recruitment strategies, varying in aggressiveness. The methods
      were: (A) mail only, (B) mail with phone recruitment follow-up, (C) mail with
      phone recruitment and scheduling, and (D) mail with aggressive phone recruitment
      and scheduling. RESULTS: Recruitment yields were Method A, 13.5%; B, 21.1%; and
      C, 31.6%. The most aggressive Method (D) yielded 37.0% participation. More
      aggressive methods (C and D) recruited more educated individuals. No other
      demographic or health status differences were noted. CONCLUSION: These data show
      that large numbers of the elderly can be recruited into a health promotion
      program using aggressive methods and professional interviewers.

PMID- 1438109
TI  - Trends in cardiovascular disease risk factors by educational level: the Stanford
      Five-City Project.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Trends in blood pressure, smoking, and cholesterol were examined from
      1979-1980 through 1985-1986 in four cities in California by level of education (<
      high school, high school graduate, some college, college or postgraduate).
      METHODS: Four biennial cross-sectional surveys (n = 6,580) were conducted in two
      treatment and two control cities to evaluate a 6-year community health education
      intervention, conducted as part of the Stanford Five-City Project. RESULTS: Over
      the 8-year study period, men and women ages 25-74 from each educational group in
      the treatment cities showed significant declines in smoking prevalence and levels
      of blood pressure and cholesterol (with the exception of cholesterol in women).
      In general, declines in the least educated group (< high school) were stronger
      than declines in the most educated group (college or postgraduate). Similar
      declines occurred in each educational group in control cities. CONCLUSIONS: These
      results illustrate that persons from all educational levels can modify their risk
      for CVD and are of particular importance because of the higher prevalence of CVD
      risk factors among those with less education. The similarity of time trends in
      treatment as well as control cities suggests that the broad-based, multisource
      health education efforts in the United States are succeeding across the
      educational spectrum.

PMID- 1438110
TI  - Reduction of ischemic heart disease risk markers in the teenage children of heart
      attack patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Families of people with ischemic heart disease (IHD) are likely to
      share high levels of risk markers and to have similar lifestyle patterns. Teenage
      children in such families were the focus of a behavioral intervention program.
      METHODS: Families were randomly allocated to either an "early" or a "late" advice
      group. The late group and a third "control" group (consisting of families with no
      cardiovascular disease) received the intervention only after baseline
      measurements were repeated in all three groups at the end of 12 months. Pedigree
      analysis was used to compare changes across groups. RESULTS: The decrease in self
      reported total fat intake was greater among teenagers in the early group (mean = 
      3.38, SE = 1.00) than among those in the late group (mean = -0.58, SE = 1.06), as
      was the decrease in saturated fat intake (mean = -2.46, SE = 0.56; mean = -0.54,
      SE = 0.60, respectively). These differences were statistically significant (P <
      0.05). There were no differences between these groups for changes in total or
      high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. There was a statistically
      significant difference between the change in total cholesterol levels in the
      control group (mean = +0.08, SE = 0.07) and that in the late group (mean = -0.14,
      SE = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: The intervention program appears to have made the
      teenagers aware of high-fat foods, as stated fat intake was significantly
      lowered, but it was not successful in decreasing blood cholesterol levels. Having
      a parent with IHD did, however, influence the teenagers' risk-related behavior,
      leading to a significant reduction in blood cholesterol levels.

PMID- 1438111
TI  - A survey of physicians' attitudes and practices related to exercise promotion.
AB  - METHODS: One hundred sixty-eight physicians responded to a survey to determine
      their attitudes and practices related to exercise and the development of exercise
      prescriptions. The mean age was 45.5 +/- 10.8 years, with the majority being male
      (86.7%). RESULTS: The survey found that 48% of the physicians required an
      exercise history as part of their initial examination and 91% encouraged their
      patients to participate in regular exercise programs. Seventy percent of the
      physicians did not develop exercise prescriptions and only 23% were familiar with
      the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines related to the development of
      exercise prescriptions. Only a small number of physicians (3%) had ever taken a
      college-level course related to exercise physiology and the development of
      exercise programs. The majority (78%) felt that there was a definite need in
      medical school for a course related to the medical aspects of exercise.
      CONCLUSIONS: Results of this investigation indicate that while physicians support
      exercise for health promotion and rehabilitation, greater emphasis needs to be
      placed on physician involvement in promoting and/or prescribing exercise.

PMID- 1438112
TI  - Melanoma prevention: behavioral and nonbehavioral factors in sunburn among an
      Australian urban population.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To determine the independent contribution of behavioral factors to
      the occurrence of sunburn, sun protection behavior was assessed over 13
      successive summer weekends in a total of 1,655 adults in Melbourne, Australia.
      METHODS: Telephone survey respondents provided detailed accounts of activities
      engaged in, time spent outside, and hat, clothing, and sunscreen coverage in the
      4 hr around the solar midday on both weekend days, as well as skin type,
      sociodemographic descriptors, and degree of sunburn experienced. Independent
      measures of atmospheric temperature and ambient ultraviolet radiation (UVR) were
      added to individual records. RESULTS: The (mostly recreational) weekend sunburn
      in this urban sample was strongly associated with UVR, as expected. Temperature
      at 3 PM, sensitive skin type, youthfulness, and being male were also
      independently associated with sunburn. After all other predictors were controlled
      for, the body exposure index (which took into account time outside and hat,
      clothing, and sunscreen coverage) made a strong independent contribution to the
      explanation of sunburn (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that behavior
      change strategies to prevent malignant melanoma of the skin are warranted.

PMID- 1438113
TI  - Total indoor smoking ban and smoker behavior.
AB  - METHODS: To assess smoking policy support and effects, 1,083 hospital employees
      (203 smokers) were surveyed by anonymous questionnaire 1 year after the
      announcement (5 months after implementation) of a new total indoor smoking ban. A
      second follow-up, limited to smoker respondents only, was conducted 2 years
      postannouncement. RESULTS: A total indoor smoking ban was supported by the vast
      majority of nonsmokers (89%) and ex-smokers (86%) and by nearly half of the then
      smoking population (45%). Consistent with previous reports, the smoking ban was
      associated with a significant decrease in cigarette use during work hours,
      particularly among moderate to heavy smokers. However, the ban did not result in
      increased institutional quit rates. Light smokers (< 10 cig/day), compared with
      heavy smokers (> or = 30 cig/day), were more likely to support the no-smoking
      policy and had fewer problems observing the ban. They were also less apt to
      report a decrease in work productivity. CONCLUSION: A total indoor smoking ban
      had little effect on overall institutional quit rates. Heavy smokers will,
      predictably, experience the greatest difficulty complying with a total indoor
      nonsmoking policy.

PMID- 1438114
TI  - Motivational characteristics of smokers at the workplace: a public health
      challenge.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Few studies have focused on the motivational characteristics of
      smokers who do not volunteer for cessation. This study examined the relationship
      between demographic and selected psychosocial factors and motivation and
      intention to quit smoking among employed smokers at five worksites. In addition,
      the distributions of smokers who are at different stages of readiness to change
      their smoking behavior are presented. RESULTS: Results indicate that, overall,
      less than 8% of employed smokers are currently ready to quit smoking and that
      blue-collar workers are lower in motivation than white-collar workers. Predictors
      of higher levels of motivation to quit smoking included higher socio-economic
      status, maleness, lower levels of self-reported nicotine dependence, and stronger
      perceptions that smoking was against the social norms of the workplace.
      CONCLUSION: Implications for intervention, evaluation, and policy are discussed
      in the context of the challenge of making a public health impact on reducing
      overall smoking prevalence.

PMID- 1438116
TI  - Public objections to environmental tobacco smoke.
AB  - METHODS. A randomly selected sample of Californian adults was surveyed by
      telephone to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors with respect to
      tobacco use and its control. The questions asked of this sample were whether they
      had recently (in the past 12 months) asked someone not to smoke in certain
      situations and whether they would ever consider doing such a thing. RESULTS.
      Results of the survey indicated that 59.1% of nonsmokers and 44.4% of smokers had
      asserted themselves within the past 12 months, while another 28.2 and 29.1% of
      the nonsmokers and smokers, respectively, indicated that they would consider
      asking someone not to smoke. Only 12.7% of the nonsmokers and 26.4% of the
      smokers indicated that they would not consider doing such a thing. Those more
      likely to object publicly to tobacco smoke are generally younger, are more
      educated, and have anti-tobacco attitudes related to either a specific health
      belief or social influence.

PMID- 1438115
TI  - Worksite smoking control activities: prevalence and related worksite
      characteristics from the COMMIT Study, 1990.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is a pressing need for current information on worksite smoking
      policies and stop-smoking activities. To address these needs and identify
      worksite characteristics associated with such activities, a computer-assisted
      telephone interview was administered to 793 worksites having at least 50
      employees. METHODS: Within each of the 11 COMMIT intervention communities,
      attempts were made to survey 30 worksites within each of three size strata: 50-99
      employees, 100-249 employees, and 250+ employees. Response to the survey was
      good, with a screening rate of 95% and a response rate of 90%. RESULTS: Overall,
      69% of responding worksites reported having written smoking policies, but only
      15% banned all indoor smoking. Smaller worksites and manufacturing and
      wholesale/retail companies were less likely than other organizations to be smoke
      free or have representatives attend smoking policy workshops. Thirty-five percent
      of worksites reported offering smoking cessation resources or assistance for
      employees, but only 20% offered both cessation resources and restrictive or smoke
      free policies. Smaller worksites as well as wholesale/retail sales and
      manufacturing worksites were less likely to offer cessation resources or to
      participate in community wide stop-smoking events. CONCLUSION: Although the level
      of worksite smoking control activities was higher than that reported in earlier
      surveys, there is still a substantial need to increase the level of such
      activities, especially at smaller worksites and in manufacturing and sales
      organizations.

PMID- 1438117
TI  - Factors associated with hypertension in Nigerian civil servants.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Study of hypertension in segments of West African populations in
      transition toward Westernization may lead to better understanding of the high
      risk for hypertension among Westernized blacks. METHODS: Five hundred fifty-nine
      urban civil servants, ages 25-54, were recruited from six ministries of Bendel
      State, Nigeria. Blood pressure, physical measurements, urinary protein and
      glucose, fasting blood glucose, and demographic data were collected at the
      workplace. Subjects were classified as senior staff (professionals or
      administrators) or junior staff (non-administrators). RESULTS: Among 172 male
      senior staff, the age-adjusted rate of hypertension (diastolic blood pressure >
      or = 90 mm Hg, systolic blood pressure > or = 140 mm Hg, or on an
      antihypertensive medication) was 43% and occurrence rose dramatically from 21 to
      63% across age groups 25-34 to 45-54, respectively. Among 266 male junior staff,
      the age-adjusted rate of hypertension was 23%, and occurrence did not rise with
      age. Logistic regression showed that body mass index (kg/m2), age, alcohol
      drinking, and being senior staff were all independently related to hypertension
      in men. On the other hand, the age-adjusted rate of hypertension in 121 women was
      20% and was significantly related only to body mass index. CONCLUSION: Male urban
      civil servants appeared to have a risk for hypertension similar to that of U.S.
      black males. Age, body mass index, alcohol drinking, and other unidentified
      factors related to higher socioeconomic status were strong determinants of
      hypertension in this population.

PMID- 1438118
TI  - Smoking, exercise, and physical fitness.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Research on smoking and physical activity provides strong evidence of
      smoking's negative impact and physical activity's positive impact on long-term
      health. However, evidence regarding the association between smoking and exercise
      activity and the independent effects of these factors on fitness is lacking.
      METHODS: The associations among exercise activity, smoking behavior, and physical
      fitness were examined in 3,045 Navy personnel. Exercise and smoking behaviors
      were measured using a lifestyle survey. Physical fitness was assessed using
      scores on the Navy's Physical Readiness Test. Analyses of variance were conducted
      to examine the relationships among smoking status, exercise activity, and PRT
      performance. Multiple regression procedures were used to examine the relationship
      between smoking and physical fitness after statistically controlling for the
      effects of exercise. RESULTS: Smoking was associated with lower exercise levels
      and lower physical endurance--both cardiorespiratory (1.5-mile run) and muscular
      (sit-ups). After controlling for exercise activity, smoking remained
      significantly associated with lower physical endurance but was not related to
      overall body strength (lean body mass) or percentage body fat. CONCLUSION:
      Smoking is a detriment to physical fitness even among relatively young, fit
      individuals. Study findings suggest that smokers will have lower physical
      endurance than nonsmokers, even after differences in the average exercise levels
      of smokers and nonsmokers are taken into account. Cigarette smokers should be
      given strong encouragement to stop smoking as part of any effort to improve
      physical fitness.

PMID- 1438119
TI  - Cholesterol-related counseling by registered dietitians in northern California.
AB  - BACKGROUND: An estimated 40 million Americans have serum cholesterol levels that
      warrant medically supervised dietary intervention. Although registered dietitians
      are expected to play an important role in treating these patients, current
      treatment practices in the community are largely unknown. METHODS: A
      questionnaire concerning treatment practices was mailed to all 377 registered
      dietitians listed in the directories of the American Dietetic Association for two
      large California districts. Number of patients seen and length and content of
      dietary counseling were ascertained for three types of patients: (a)
      hypercholesterolemic outpatients without heart disease, (b) hypercholesterolemic
      outpatients who have heart disease, and (c) inpatients with myocardial
      infarction. RESULTS: A return rate of 59% (n = 252) was obtained for the
      questionnaire. A total of 44% of the registered dietitians counseled
      hypercholesterolemic patients in any of the categories surveyed. About 30% of the
      respondents counseled hypercholesterolemic outpatients without heart disease.
      They saw an average of 4.9 such patients a week, spent an average of 53 min in an
      initial session, and usually did not see the patient again in follow-up. Fewer
      than 10% of patients had as many as four sessions. About 27% of the respondents
      saw hypercholesterolemic outpatients with heart disease, averaging 3.5 such
      contacts per week. The reported practices were similar to those provided to
      noncardiac outpatients. About 22% of registered dietitians worked with
      hospitalized myocardial infarction patients. They spent an average of a total of
      41 min over 2.5 visits with each patient. CONCLUSION: Currently, outpatient
      registered dietitian counseling for hypercholesterolemia appears to be limited in
      both the number of patients reached and the duration of the counseling. Further
      research into the impact of, barriers to, and efficacy of alternative delivery
      methods of dietary counseling is needed.

PMID- 1438120
TI  - Compensation strategies in sun protection behaviors by a population with
      nonmelanoma skin cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Initiation of sun protection strategies can be promoted, to some
      extent, by educational efforts, but little is known about the merit of continuing
      education interventions in sustaining the desired behaviors or adding new
      behaviors. This prospective study clarifies the choices individuals make among
      the four strategies that allow them to maintain lifestyle changes. METHODS: From
      1983 to 1987, the population received education about sun protection coupled with
      the removal of a nonmelanoma skin cancer. One year later, their choice of sun
      protection methods was determined. Then annually from 1985 to 1989, they received
      written recommendations about sun protection for a period of 2-6 years after the
      initial education. The maintenance, cessation, and addition to the initial sun
      protection behaviors were ascertained by a questionnaire, as was the intention to
      change. Frequency of physician visits and development of subsequent nonmelanoma
      skin cancer were evaluated by medical chart review for the 2-6 year phase of
      continued education. RESULTS: One percent of the population consisting mostly of
      women described ceasing tanning after 2-6 years of education. The population
      related a greater use of protective clothing and/or sunscreen with an SPF of 15
      or greater as their reported restrictions on outdoor activities ceased. An
      emerging new strategy of some of the population (n = 185) was the use of
      sunscreens with an SPF less than 15 in association with attempts to deliberately
      tan and longer daily outdoor exposure. Neither frequency of physician visits nor
      numbers of subsequent nonmelanoma skin cancers influenced continuation or
      addition of sun protection behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: While the greatest reported
      change in behavior was temporarily associated with educational intervention
      linked to removal of the skin cancer, continued educational efforts may have
      recruited some individuals to cease tanning and encouraged others to adopt the
      use of protective clothing or more frequent sunscreen use as they were unable to
      maintain the limitations on outdoor activities. It is not possible to structure a
      control group restricted from mass media education; therefore, the effectiveness
      of specific behavior-directed education cannot be precisely determined.
      Nonetheless, the population described using knowledge to develop compensation sun
      protection strategies that preserved lifestyle.

PMID- 1438121
TI  - The importance of physician encouragement in breast cancer screening of older
      women.
AB  - METHODS: The relationship between physician encouragement and breast cancer
      screening is examined with a population-based survey of 630 women between the
      ages of 45 and 75. Although the women interviewed were selected on the basis of
      their noncompliance with mammography guidelines, nearly half had previously had
      at least one mammogram. RESULTS: Women reported having received more physician
      encouragement of breast self-examination than of mammography. Older women
      reported less encouragement of both screening modalities than younger women.
      Multivariate analyses revealed physician encouragement to be more strongly
      associated with screening mammography than with health status, health care
      utilization, attitudes, and sociodemographic characteristics: those who reported
      having received physician encouragement were nearly four times more likely to
      have ever had screening mammography. CONCLUSIONS: These and related findings are
      used to highlight the critical importance of physician behavior in the secondary
      prevention of breast cancer in older women and to identify types of patients
      whose needs for screening are most likely to be overlooked by physicians.

PMID- 1438122
TI  - [Isolated lung transplantation. I. Indications and criteria for patient
      selection].

PMID- 1438123
TI  - [Isolated lung transplantation. II. Surgical procedure, complications and
      results].

PMID- 1438124
TI  - [Current pattern of anthracosilicosis, its complications and correlation with
      other diseases (evaluation of 300 legal autopsies 1977-1988)].
AB  - The spectrum of silicosis of coal miners has changed during the past decades. The
      life expectancy of the miners suffering from silicosis has been successfully
      adapted to that of the non-miners as a result of a consistent therapy.
      Morphologically, the processes involving large callosities have receded markedly;
      in their place, there has been an increased incidence of generalised focal dust
      emphysema that are difficult to differentiate clinically from the common chronic
      obstructive pulmonary diseases. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the most
      important concomitant pulmonary diseases; the incidence of tuberculosis is still
      enhanced and carcinomas of the lung are only rarely to be acknowledged as so
      called carcinomas in scar tissue. Other major diseases that coincide with
      silicosis are seen in p.m. statistics with customary frequency of incidence
      (cardiovascular diseases almost 50%, malignant tumours including those of the
      lung about 25%, other major diseases without respiratory organs about 10%). The
      main problem in expertising is to differentiate the influence of these diseases
      from those of silicosis; expertising must employ the legally prescribed
      terminology. In our own investigations based on 300 postmortem expertises, death
      as a result of a professionally acquired disease was acknowledged in 48% of all
      cases of silicosis of severity grades I to III, silicosis being the sole major
      disease in only half of the cases and in the other cases an essential partial
      contributor to the cause of death. The significance of the extended generalised
      dust emphysema as a special type of pneumoconioses that must be classified as
      grave, is emphasised in contrast to previously compiled statistics.

PMID- 1438125
TI  - [Public patient education in pneumology].
AB  - Since February 1990 public information evenings pertaining to respiratory tract
      diseases have been held every month in the cities of Fellbach, Backnang and at
      times in Waiblingen. These sessions have met with a great show of interest from
      patients, doctors and the public in general, as indicated by the consistently
      large number of over 100 participants. This continual educational work with its
      accompanying measures, such as, asthma-sport, breathing exercises, and books and
      videos on loan, represents an effective alternative to the formally structured,
      patient training programs limited to a specific time period. A broad range of
      effectiveness is attained by engaging public media in the informative process.

PMID- 1438126
TI  - [The antioxidative and inflammation inhibiting properties of ambroxol].

PMID- 1438127
TI  - [Pulmonary infiltrations with eosinophilia (pulmonary eosinophilia)].
AB  - The pulmonary eosinophilias are characterised by radiographic lung shadows with
      either a peripheral blood eosinophilia of more than 450/microliter or histologic
      abnormalities consisting of both interstitial and intraalveolar accumulations of
      eosinophils and macrophages. We describe the clinical features, radiographic
      changes, results of bronchoscopy and follow-up studies of three women with
      chronic eosinophilic pneumonia of unknown aetiology. In all patients the illness
      resolved rapidly after treatment with corticosteroids, however one patient
      experienced a second episode after treatment withdrawal. We demonstrate the wide
      differential diagnosis of the syndrome of pulmonary eosinophilia.

PMID- 1438128
TI  - [Bronchiectasis with bronchopleural fistula].
AB  - We report on a female patient who is now 56 years of age suffering from
      bronchiectasis disease. Due to the bronchopleural fistula in the middle lobe we
      decided to perform an operation despite left-sided bronchiectases and in spite of
      the obstructive airways disease.

PMID- 1438129
TI  - [Case report published by V. Schlegel, G. Liebetrau, W. D. Pohl, "Swine breeder's
      lung--a form of exogenous allergic alveolitis"].

PMID- 1438130
TI  - A comparative ultrastructural and histochemical study of the metacercarial cyst
      walls of four species of Paragonimus (Troglotrematidae: Trematoda).
AB  - The metacercarial cyst walls of Paragonimus westermani, P. miyazakii, P. ohirai,
      and P. iloktsuenensis were examined using ultrastructural and histochemical
      techniques. The cyst walls of P. westermani, P. miyazakii, and P. ohirai were
      found to have five distinct layers, whereas the wall of P. iloktsuenensis had
      only two. The so-called outer cyst wall recognized on light microscopy by
      Miyazaki (1961) was composed of layers I-III and the so-called inner cyst wall
      comprised layers IV and V. The outermost layer (I) consisted of collagen fibers
      and probably originated from the host. Layer III detached easily from layer IV on
      removal of the cysts from the host tissues. Layer IV was composed of
      proteoglycans, and layer V consisted of protein alone. A regular hexagonal
      pattern in layer V appeared to be characteristic of P. westermani. Although the
      basic morphological patterns observed in the layers constituting the cyst walls
      were similar in all species examined, the thickness of each layer was apparently
      different. This characteristic seems to be a suitable criterion for the
      identification of metacercarial cysts of Paragonimus species.

PMID- 1438131
TI  - Electrophoretic analysis of a natural population of the Thai Paragonimus
      heterotremus and its genetic relationship to the three Japanese species P.
      miyazaki, P. ohirai and P. westermani.
AB  - A total of 18 enzymes (encoded by 20 loci) from Paragonimus heterotremus
      collected at a local area in Saraburi, Thailand, were electrophoretically
      compared with those from the three Japanese species P. ohirai, P. miyazaki and P.
      westermani using horizontal starch-gel electrophoresis. Relative genetic
      distances between these species were quantified. The Thai P. heterotremus was
      found to be most closely related to P. miyazaki and rather distantly related to
      P. westermani. On the other hand, among the three Japanese species, the closest
      relationship was observed between P. miyazaki and P. ohirai.

PMID- 1438132
TI  - Scanning electron microscopy of cercariae, metacercariae and adults of
      Pygidiopsis ardeae Koie, 1990 (Digenea, Heterophyidae).
AB  - The penetration apparatus of the cercaria of Pygidiopsis ardeae Koie, 1990
      (Heterophyidae) is provided with five large preoral hooklets. Various types of
      presumably sensory structures surround the small oral aperture. Small, pointed
      spines protrude throughout the cercarial body. After parasite penetration and
      encystment in the fish intermediate host, the metacercarial tegument increases
      its absorptive area by developing irregular projections. Concurrently the pointed
      spines become scale-like and serrated. The tegumental outgrowths appear to have
      regressed in infective metacercariae. The external surface of mature worms
      removed from the intestine of domestic chickens does not differ from that of
      infective excysted metacercariae. Adults taken from experimentally infected
      chickens were identical to specimens obtained from naturally infected herons.

PMID- 1438133
TI  - High osmotic pressure for Pneumocystis carinii London Resin White embedding
      enables fine immunocytochemistry studies: I. Golgi complex and cell-wall
      synthesis.
AB  - A method for embedding Pneumocystis carinii in hydrophilic resin (London Resin
      White) has been developed for immunocytochemistry studies. Using high osmotic
      pressure (about 850 mosmol) from fixation to embedding, this method improved the
      preservation of the fine structure as well as the antigenicity of rabbit- and
      SCID mouse-derived P. carinii. Cytochemistry studies were performed using
      colloidal gold-conjugated lectins (concanavalin A, glycine max, Ulex europaeus)
      that reacted with the cytoplasmic components (endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi
      vesicles). Colloidal gold-conjugated streptavidin was also tested and was found
      to be reactive with the parasite cell wall and cytoplasmic components, which
      precludes its indiscriminate use in P. carinii immunocytochemistry studies.

PMID- 1438134
TI  - Effects of calcium channel blockers on the contractility of the filariid
      Acanthocheilonema viteae.
AB  - The role of calcium in muscle contractility was explored in the filarial nematode
      Acanthocheilonema viteae (Dipetalonema viteae). The parasite was slit open
      longitudinally and mounted in a smooth-muscle chamber that had been filled with
      aerated (95% N2/5% CO2) physiological solution at 37 degrees C. Nifedipine (10(
      6) M) and cadmium (3 x 10(-5) M) reduced the spontaneous isotonic contractions of
      A. viteae, whereas verapamil (10(-5) M) and diltiazem (10(-5) M) enhanced them.
      The effects of nifedipine and verapamil did not appear to be due to the solvent
      ethanol. All of the drugs reduced the maximal contraction induced by
      acetylcholine (ACh, 10(-5) M), although nifedipine was the most potent. After the
      exposure of worm preparations to a calcium-free medium containing ethyleneglycol
      bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA, 10(-4) M) for 1 h,
      application of ACh (10(-5) M) induced a small, transient contraction. Subsequent
      applications of ACh in this medium had no effect. Thus, the nematode muscle
      contraction appears to depend on extracellular calcium. Nifedipine, diltiazem,
      and verapamil could act by reducing the calcium influx across the muscle
      membrane.

PMID- 1438135
TI  - Histone-DNA interactions in the chromatin of procyclic Trypanosoma brucei brucei.
AB  - The dissociation of histone proteins a-d from the chromatin of Trypanosoma brucei
      brucei procyclic culture forms was investigated by removing the proteins from the
      DNA by centrifugation of soluble chromatin through isokinetic sucrose gradients
      in the presence of NaCl. The dissociation of the T. b. brucei histones was
      compared with that of their higher-eukaryote counterparts H3, H2A, H2B and H4.
      All four histones of T. b. brucei remained bound to the DNA at 500 mM NaCl, were
      partially released at 750 mM NaCl and were completely dissociated from the DNA at
      1 M NaCl. These interactions of histones a-d with the DNA were comparable with
      those of the H2 histones in the chromatin of higher eukaryotes, and histones a
      and d interacted with the DNA more weakly than did their higher-eukaryote
      counterparts H3 and H4. Substoichiometric amounts of an additional protein were
      recovered in the top fractions of the gradients under all dissociation
      conditions. This protein migrated in the H1 region of rat-liver chromatin in
      various gel systems. Its early release from the DNA also indicated a resemblance
      to histone H1. The presence of only small amounts of this protein and the
      relatively weak interactions of histones a and d with the DNA suggest that the
      mechanisms involved in chromatin compaction in T. b. brucei are different from
      those in higher eukaryotes.

PMID- 1438136
TI  - Litomosoides carinii: extraction of the microfilarial sheath components and
      antigenicity of the sheath fractions.
AB  - Microfilarial sheaths of Litomosoides carinii were isolated and extracted with 2%
      sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 5% 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME). Extraction with SDS
      alone did not alter the ultrastructure of the sheaths and yielded five
      polypeptides (27-67 kDa) that were not recognized by antibodies of infected hosts
      but reacted with antibodies to host-serum proteins. 2ME treatment caused partial
      solubilization of the sheaths (45% as determined by amino acid analysis), which
      could be further improved by combining 2ME with SDS. The remainder showed
      filamentous/threadlike structures on electron microscopic examination. As
      compared with whole sheaths, the insoluble proportion was markedly enriched in
      alanine and cysteine but contained less galactosamine, serine, and threonine. SDS
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of 2ME/SDS-extractable components
      showed 12-16 bands of 14- greater than 120 kDa. A predominant component had an
      apparent molecular mass of 22 kDa. Two bands (42 and 120 kDa) could be stained
      with Coomassie blue but showed "negative" staining when gels were stained with
      silver. Several components (but not the 22-kDa polypeptide) bore phosphocholine
      epitopes. Apart from the negatively staining bands, most of the 2ME-soluble
      sheath components were recognized by antibodies of L. carinii-infected Mastomys
      coucha. Except for several polypeptides that had been unspecifically recognized
      by IgM, the antibody response to sheath components started at the end of the
      prepatent period.

PMID- 1438137
TI  - Studies on the developmental cycle of Trichospirura leptostoma (Nematoda:
      Thelaziidae). Experimental infection of the intermediate hosts Blatella germanica
      and Supella longipalpa and the definitive host Callithrix jacchus and development
      in the intermediate hosts.
AB  - The cockroaches Blatella germanica and Supella longipalpa can act as intermediate
      hosts of Trichospirura leptostoma as demonstrated by experimental infestation.
      The parasite developed from the embryonated egg into the infective larval stage
      (L3) in cockroaches within 5-6 weeks. After experimental infection of marmosets
      (Callithrix jacchus), eggs were first found in faecal samples (prepatency) at 8-9
      weeks post-infection. Patency lasts about 2 years. Despite the presence of living
      adult worms in the marmosets' pancreas, no additional eggs were observed in their
      faeces after the patent period.

PMID- 1438138
TI  - Experimental infection of pigs with a Taenia species from Korea: parasitological
      and serological aspects.
AB  - Belgian Landrace piglets were experimentally infected with eggs of a Taenia sp.
      of Korean origin. At autopsy, metacestodes were present only in the livers. The
      proportion of degenerated metacestodes increased from 12%-39% at 5 weeks to 94%
      100% at 10 weeks after infection. A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
      (ELISA) using monoclonal antibodies raised against the excretory-secretory
      products of T. saginata metacestodes detected circulating antigen in the sera of
      the pigs at 1 week post-infection. A good correlation was found between the
      presence of viable metacestodes and the detection of circulating antigen; the
      latter disappeared as the metacestodes died off. However, the antibodies were
      detected only after 3 weeks of infection and onwards until the necropsy of the
      pigs.

PMID- 1438139
TI  - Ultrastructure of sperm and spermatogenesis of Rugogaster hydrolagi, Schell 1973
      (Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Aspidogastrea, Rugogastridae).
AB  - Mature sperm of Rugogaster hydrolagi exhibit the structure typical of Trematoda,
      with 2 axonemes of the 9+ "1" pattern being incorporated into the sperm body,
      dorsal and ventral microtubules occurring in the principal region that contains
      the nucleus and mitochondrion, and a complete row of peripheral microtubules
      lying in the proximal region surrounding the two axonemes. During spermiogenesis,
      a zone of differentiation develops that comprises a row of microtubules along the
      cell membrane and an adjacent dense region along the nuclear membrane. The
      intercentriolar body and centrioles appear between the microtubules and the
      nucleus. Free flagella with striated rootlets grow out in opposite directions,
      the cell membrane protrudes and lengthens into a median cytoplasmic process
      (MCP), the nucleus and mitochondrion move into the MCP and the flagella rotate
      and eventually fuse with the process. A dense region develops in the spermatid
      shaft some distance from the proximal end, but it is not present in the mature
      sperm. The spermatid elongates and is eventually pinched off from the residual
      body at the level of the arching membranes after the rootlets and intercentriolar
      body have disappeared. Thus, spermatogenesis and sperm in the aspidogastrean
      Rugogaster hydrolagi correspond to those in digenean Trematoda.

PMID- 1438140
TI  - Interaction between Ascaris suum and Pasteurella multocida in the lungs of mice.
AB  - In an experiment including 8 groups of 15 mice, the effect of migrating Ascaris
      suum larvae in the lungs on the establishment and pathogenicity of aerosol
      exposure to Pasteurella multocida was investigated. Following aerosol exposure to
      P. multocida, mice with migrating A. suum in their lungs developed more severe
      pneumonia and septicaemia than did parasite-free mice. The parasite-induced
      effect on bacterial pathogenicity was more marked for a non-toxin-producing P.
      multocida as compared with a toxin-producing strain of P. multocida, possibly due
      to the higher spontaneous pathogenicity of the non-toxigenic strain of P.
      multocida. The present results should encourage controlled experiments on
      possible interactions between A. suum and various airborne microbial infections
      in pigs.

PMID- 1438141
TI  - Detection and quantitation of cell-surface sugar receptor(s) of Leishmania
      donovani by application of neoglycoenzymes.
AB  - Promastigote culture forms of the log growth phase of Leishmania donovani stock
      LRC L 51 were investigated for expression of cell-surface carbohydrate-binding
      sites using 15 types of a chemically glycosylated enzyme termed neoglycoenzyme.
      Carbohydrate conjugation and coupling yield were kept constant to ensure that the
      type of carbohydrate moiety was the only variable feature of the applied tools.
      Para-aminophenyl derivatives of the following carbohydrate residues were used for
      the glycosylation of beta-galactosidase from Escherichia coli: beta-D-lactose,
      beta-D-thiogalactose, alpha-D-mannose, alpha-L-rhamnose, alpha-D-N
      acetylgalactosamine, beta-D-N-acetylgalactosamine, beta-D-N-acetylglucosamine,
      the alpha- and beta-glucosides maltose and cellobiose, beta-D-xylose, alpha-D
      mannose-6-phosphate, the alpha-galactoside melibiose, alpha-L-fucose, and beta-D
      glucuronic acid as well as sialic acid. Only melibiose, fucose, and glucuronic
      acid showed no binding affinity for the cultured flagellates; this served as an
      internal control reaction to exclude any binding to the linker group. This result
      demonstrates that many but not all sugar types can be recognized by appropriate
      receptor structure(s) on the surface of the promastigote Leishmania.
      Transformation of the binding data for neoglycoenzymes exposing lactose, mannose,
      rhamnose, and N-acetylated hexose residues, which was carried out to obtain the
      dissociation constants and to estimate the number of binding sites at saturation,
      revealed KD values of around 100 mM and around 10(4) binding sites for the
      polyvalent ligands.

PMID- 1438142
TI  - Electrophoretic evidence of a hybrid origin for tetraploid Paragonimus westermani
      discovered in northeastern China.

PMID- 1438143
TI  - Phosphorylation of Toxoplasma gondii major surface antigens.
AB  - The phosphorylation of the major surface proteins of Toxoplasma gondii
      tachyzoites was investigated. Metabolic labeling of intracellular tachyzoites
      with [32P]-orthophosphate followed by immunoprecipitation with specific
      monoclonal antibodies showed that all five major surface proteins were labeled as
      expected for GPI-anchored proteins. More detailed analysis of the phosphorylated
      sites revealed that surface proteins P30 and P22 contained phosphoserine residues
      in addition to the phosphorylated molecules that are presumably localized in the
      GPI-membrane anchors.

PMID- 1438144
TI  - A cytochemical study of the interaction between Tritrichomonas foetus and mouse
      macrophages.
AB  - Light and electron microscopy were used to analyse the process of interaction of
      normal and antibody-coated Tritrichomonas foetus with resident and activated
      mouse peritoneal macrophages. Activated macrophages ingest more parasites than do
      resident macrophages. Previous incubation of the parasites in the presence of sub
      agglutinating concentrations of a polyclonal anti-T. foetus antibody
      significantly increased their ingestion by the macrophages. Adherence of the
      parasites to the surface of activated macrophages triggers the respiratory
      oxidative burst as revealed by reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium. This process
      was more evident in antibody-coated parasites. Transmission electron microscopy
      showed the presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate)
      [NAD(P)H]-oxidase in the portions of the macrophage plasma membrane that were in
      contact with the parasites as well as in the phagocytic vacuoles. Fusion of
      macrophage lysosomes with parasite-containing phagocytic vacuoles was observed in
      macrophages labeled with Lucifer yellow and gold-labeled peroxidase as well as by
      localisation of acid phosphatase.

PMID- 1438145
TI  - Changes in atrial natriuretic factor and plasma renin activity in dogs infected
      with Trypanosoma brucei.
AB  - When beagle dogs were infected with Trypanosoma brucei, a marked reduction in the
      plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) occurred in the terminal
      stage of the disease during weeks 3 and 4. At the same time there was an increase
      in plasma renin activity (PRA) after infection. Ultrastructural studies of the
      atria of these dogs demonstrated a reduction in ANF granules. The changes in ANF
      and PRA occurred in association with severe pancarditis and the development of
      heart failure. By impairing the ability of the heart and kidneys to regulate
      blood volume, the alterations in ANF and PRA could be involved in the
      pathogenesis of heart failure in T. brucei-infected dogs.

PMID- 1438146
TI  - Sarcocystis jorrini sp. nov. from the fallow deer Cervus dama.
AB  - Sarcocystis jorrini sp. nov. isolated from the muscle of naturally infected
      fallow deer (Cervus dama) from the Donana National Park (Spain) is described by
      light and electron microscopy. Sarcocysts were macroscopic (2.7 x 1.4 mm) and
      were found in all striated muscle, including that of the esophagus and the heart.
      As visualized by light microscopy, the cyst walls were formed by mammilated
      protrusions surrounded by a coating of connective tissue measuring 10-35 mm in
      thickness. Electron microscopy revealed that the parasitophorous vacuole was
      serrated in appearance, with numerous pinocytic vesicles running along its whole
      length. Villar protrusions were of varying shape and were square, rectangular, or
      linguiform in cross section. The core of the villi contained small dense granules
      and microfilaments, which were more abundant in peripheral areas. Ground
      substance contained larger dense granules clustered around the base of villi. The
      sarcocyst was surrounded by a secondary cyst wall composed of collagen fibrils
      and fibrocytes. S. jorrini is the first macroscopically visible sarcocyst of the
      genus Cervus reported to have a secondary cyst wall.

PMID- 1438147
TI  - Plasmodium falciparum and P. berghei: detection of sporozoites and the
      circumsporozoite proteins in the saliva of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes.
AB  - Sporozoites and free circumsporozoite (CS) protein were stained
      immunoenzymatically in 1-min saliva samples collected from Anopheles stephensi
      mosquitoes infected with either Plasmodium berghei or P. falciparum. The number
      of sporozoites in 1-min saliva-streak samples significantly increased as the
      salivary gland index rose from 3+ to 4+. For P. berghei-infected mosquitoes from
      which saliva had been collected before 30 days postfeed, the median sporozoite
      counts for 3+ and 4+ gland indexes were 4.5 and 116, respectively. For P.
      falciparum-infected mosquitoes, the median counts obtained in two experiments
      were 4.5 and 14.5 (3+) and 97 and 107 (4+), respectively. The frequency of
      sporozoite detection in the saliva of mosquitoes containing < 100 salivary-gland
      sporozoites was low (0.1), whereas that in the saliva of mosquitoes with > 100
      sporozoites was high (0.96). In highly infected 4+ P. berghei-infected mosquitoes
      from which saliva had been collected after 30 days postinfection, both the volume
      of saliva collected and the median number of sporozoites recovered decreased
      significantly.

PMID- 1438148
TI  - Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of host cell pathology associated
      with penetration by Eimeria papillata sporozoites.
AB  - Scanning and electron microscopy was used to study the pathogenesis that occurred
      in mouse epithelial cells that had been penetrated by Eimeria papillata
      sporozoites. Optimal penetration of parasites injected into nonligated and
      ligated mouse intestine was found to occur at 4-15 min post-inoculation. During
      initial penetration, the parasite caused disruption of the microvilli of the
      intestinal cells, which led to detachment of the microvilli from the plasma
      membrane of the penetrated cell. Host cells penetrated by the parasite showed
      extensive destruction of the internal cellular organization together with
      blebbing of host-cell cytoplasm and release of internal organelles such as
      mitochondria. Ultimately, the penetrated cells completely broke down, leaving
      vacuolated areas next to ultrastructurally normal epithelial cells.

PMID- 1438149
TI  - Immunocytochemical localization of a cysteine protease in adult worms of the
      liver fluke Fasciola sp.
AB  - The intracellular localization of a cysteine protease from Fasciola sp. that
      hydrolyzes host hemoglobin as a nutritional source was examined by light and
      electron microscopic immunocytochemistry using a monoclonal antibody specific to
      the enzyme. Immunoperoxidase staining was predominantly restricted to large
      numbers of granules in the parasite intestinal epithelial cells and to host
      erythrocytes present in the intestinal lumens. In immunogold electron microscopy,
      the gold particles were consistently deposited on the electron-dense secretory
      granules in intestinal epithelial cells and on the intestinal contents. These
      findings suggest that the Fasciola cysteine protease in the secretory granules is
      secreted as a digestive enzyme into the intestinal lumen, where it may play an
      important role in the extracellular degradation of host proteins, including
      hemoglobin.

PMID- 1438150
TI  - Neuroanatomy of Cysticercus cellulosae (Cestoda) as revealed by
      acetylcholinesterase and nonspecific esterase histochemistry.
AB  - The nervous system of Cysticercus cellulosae, the metacestode stage of the
      tapeworm Taenia solium, was delineated using histochemical methods for the
      localization of the enzyme markers; nonspecific esterase and
      acetylcholinesterase. The main features of the nervous system include a pair of
      cerebral ganglia, a circumcerebral nerve ring, a rostellar nerve ring, and
      anterior and posterior nerves and their branches. The posterior nerves form a
      subtegumental network in the strobila and the bladder wall. A nerve network
      around excretory tubules could also be demonstrated, suggesting neuronal control
      of excretion in the metacestode. No sheath was observed around the nervous
      system. The morphological features described suggest "cephalization" of the
      nervous system in this parasite.

PMID- 1438151
TI  - Summer-arrested development of abomasal trichostrongylids in Awassi sheep in semi
      arid areas of north-west Syria.
AB  - Inhibition in trichostrongylids was studied in Awassi sheep in North-west Syria,
      which has cold winters and hot summers. On six occasions during a 1-year period,
      five ewes with natural helminth infections were slaughtered after being held in
      pens for 3 weeks. The percentage of inhibited larvae was lowest in January (6%);
      it increased during the spring to 76.7% in April and to 84.6% in June and then
      decreased during the autumn (57.1% in September, 26.1% in December). Inhibition
      occurred mainly during the early fourth stage in mucosa but was also observed
      during the late fourth stage in digesta. Teladorsagia circumcincta was the main
      species involved, but it seemed that this phenomenon also occurred in
      Marshallagia marshalli.

PMID- 1438152
TI  - Transmission electron microscopy of sensory receptors of Echinostoma revolutum
      (Froelich 1802) cercaria (Digenea: Echinostomatidae).
AB  - Nonciliate, uniciliate, and multiciliate receptors were shown by transmission
      electron microscopy to occur in the body tegument of Echinostoma revolutum
      (Froelich 1802) cercariae. Detailed studies revealed three types of nonciliate,
      four types of uniciliate, and one type of multiciliate sensory endings. Most
      receptors were singly distributed. Only a few of them formed paired receptor
      complexes in three regions of the cercarial body. These receptor complexes were
      found to possess nonciliate, uniciliate, and multiciliate sensory endings.

PMID- 1438153
TI  - In vitro culture of the strobilar stage of Echinococcus granulosus of sheep and
      donkey origin from Jordan.
AB  - Protoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus isolated from hydatid cysts of sheep and
      donkeys in Jordan were cultured in vitro using a modified diphasic culture
      system. Protoscolices from these two sources manifested differences in the mode
      of development, evagination and growth rates. Protoscolices isolated from sheep
      cysts grew in vitro in the polyzoic direction up to the three- to four-segmented
      mature worms, reaching a length of 2.9 mm. In contrast, donkey protoscolices
      failed to develop beyond the early stages, even after 67 days of culturing. On
      prolonged culturing, few worms of donkey origin reached the banding and
      segmentation stages, attaining a maximal length of 1.6 mm at periods ranging
      between 81 and 114 days of culturing. None of these segmented worms showed
      genital differentiation or analgen. The evagination and growth rates of
      protoscolices isolated from donkey liver cysts were compared with those obtained
      from sheep liver or lung cysts. The most significant difference in these rates
      occurred at the commencement of the segmentation stage. Differences in the
      development, growth and evagination rates observed between the donkey and sheep
      forms may reflect the strain variation of E. granulosus in this country.

PMID- 1438154
TI  - Detection of oocysts of Cryptosporidium in several species of monkeys and in one
      prosimian species at the Barcelona Zoo.

PMID- 1438155
TI  - Host specificity of Giardia muris isolates from mouse and golden hamster.
AB  - One isolate of Giardia muris from a naturally infected laboratory mouse (Mus
      musculus) and one from a naturally infected golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)
      were passaged three times by the inoculation of ten cysts (the minimal infectious
      dose) into barrier-maintained homologous hosts. Both of the resultant isolates
      were tested for infectivity by intragastric inoculation of 3-5 x 10(5) cysts into
      40 mice (2 inbred strains), 40 rats (2 inbred strains), and 19 golden hamsters (1
      outbred strain). Rats were not susceptible to infection with either isolate. Mice
      and golden hamsters did develop infections following their inoculation with the
      heterologous isolates. The mean intensity of heterologous infections with the
      hamster isolates was significantly lower than that of homologous infections. The
      mouse isolate induced a higher mean intensity of infection in hamsters as
      compared with homologous recipients. The mean intensity of infections induced by
      both isolates was greater in male hamsters than in females.

PMID- 1438156
TI  - Epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)lysine cross-links in Litomosoides carinii microfilarial
      sheaths.

PMID- 1438157
TI  - The solution structure of echistatin: evidence for disulphide bond rearrangement
      in homologous snake toxins.
AB  - The solution structure of the fibrinogen antagonist, echistatin, has been
      determined by a combination of NMR and simulated annealing methods. While the
      structure of the disulphide-linked core is well-defined by the NMR data, the N-
      and C-termini and the loop bearing the RGD sequence (which is responsible for the
      fibrinogen antagonist properties) are poorly defined. The pattern of disulphide
      bridges, which could not be determined by classical methods, was predicted by a
      statistical analysis of the simulated annealing structures. This pattern is
      distinct from that for the homologous protein kistrin, leading to the novel
      suggestion that homologous proteins possess non-conserved patterns of disulphide
      bridges.

PMID- 1438158
TI  - Construction of a dictionary of sequence motifs that characterize groups of
      related proteins.
AB  - An automatic procedure is proposed to identify, from the protein sequence
      database, conserved amino acid patterns (or sequence motifs) that are exclusive
      to a group of functionally related proteins. This procedure is applied to the PIR
      database and a dictionary of sequence motifs that relate to specific
      superfamilies constructed. The motifs have a practical relevance in identifying
      the membership of specific superfamilies without the need to perform sequence
      database searches in 20% of newly determined sequences. The sequence motifs
      identified represent functionally important sites on protein molecules. When
      multiple blocks exist in a single motif they are often close together in the 3-D
      structure. Furthermore, occasionally these motif blocks were found to be split by
      introns when the correlation with exon structures was examined.

PMID- 1438159
TI  - Ligand requirements for Ca2+ binding to EGF-like domains.
AB  - Site-specific mutagenesis studies of the first epidermal growth factor-like (EGF
      like) domain of human clotting factor IX suggest that the calcium-binding site
      present in this domain (dissociation constant Kd = 1.8 mM at pH 7.5 and ionic
      strength I = 0.15) involved the carboxylate residues Asp47, Asp49 and Asp64. To
      further characterize the ligands required for calcium binding to EGF-like
      domains, two new mutations, Asp47----Asn and Asp49----Asn, were introduced into
      the domain by peptide synthesis. 1H-NMR spectroscopy was used to obtain the
      dissociation constants for calcium binding to these mutations. Calcium binding to
      the Asp49----Asn modified domain is only mildly affected (Kd = 6 mM, I = 0.15),
      whereas binding to the Asp47----Asn modified domain is severely reduced (Kd = 42
      mM, I = 0.15). From these data, it is proposed that the anionic oxygen atoms of
      the side chains of residues 47 and 64 are essential for calcium binding, whereas
      the side chain ligand for calcium at residue 49 can be a carboxyamide oxygen. As
      a control, the introduction of the modification Glu78----Asp in a region of the
      domain not believed to be involved in calcium binding had very little effect on
      the Kd for calcium (Kd = 2.6 mM, I = 0.15). Finally, the effect of an Asp47---
      Gly substitution found in the natural haemophilia B mutant, factor IXAlabama, was
      investigated. This peptide has a markedly reduced affinity for calcium (Kd = 37
      mM, I = 0.15), suggesting that the defect in factor IXAlabama is due to impaired
      calcium binding to its first EGF-like domain.

PMID- 1438160
TI  - Comparison of the modelled thyroxine binding site in TBG with the experimentally
      determined site in transthyretin.
AB  - The structure of cleaved thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) has been modelled on
      the crystal structure of cleaved alpha 1-antitrypsin (a member of the serine
      proteinase inhibitor, serpin, superfamily) based on the high sequence homology
      exhibited by the two proteins. Particular attention was paid to the
      identification and modelled characteristics of the thyroxine binding site. The
      primary aim of the study was to compare the site qualitatively with the
      crystallographically determined binding site of transthyretin, the other major
      transporter of thyroxine, in an attempt to explain the higher binding affinity of
      the site compared with the known thyroxine binding site in transthyretin (10(10)
      versus 10(8) M-1). The proposed binding site shares some similar characteristics
      with the transthyretin binding site but also includes a cluster of aromatic
      residues which are entirely absent in transthyretin. It is proposed that this
      might account for the substantial difference in binding affinities.

PMID- 1438161
TI  - Effects of signal peptide changes on the secretion of bovine somatotropin (bST)
      from Escherichia coli.
AB  - Bovine somatotropin (bST) was secreted from Escherichia coli at moderate levels
      of 1-2 micrograms/ml/OD using expression vectors in which the bST gene was fused
      to the lamB secretion signal. To study the secretion properties of bST in E.coli
      further, two approaches for modifying the secretion signal were employed. In the
      first case, fusion proteins were constructed with six alternative bacterial
      secretion signals: three from E.coli proteins (HisJ, MalE and OmpA), two from
      bacteriophage proteins (M13 coat protein and PA-2 Lc) and one from the chitinase
      A protein of Serratia marcescens. The results, as monitored by Western blot
      analysis of both total cell protein and the periplasmic fraction, showed that
      these changes in the secretion signal did not significantly affect the secretion
      properties of bST. In the second approach, a library of random mutations was
      created in the lamB secretion signal and 200 independent clones were screened.
      The level of secreted bST was determined by growing individual clones in
      duplicate in microtiter wells, inducing protein expression and measuring the bST
      released by osmotic shock using a particle concentration fluorescent immunoassay.
      The secretion properties of several novel variants in the LamB signal peptide are
      presented.

PMID- 1438162
TI  - Improved insulin stability through amino acid substitution.
AB  - Insulin analogs designed to decrease self-association and increase absorption
      rates from subcutaneous tissue were found to have altered stability. Replacement
      of HB10 with aspartic acid increased stability while substitutions at B28 and/or
      B29 were either comparable to insulin or had decreased stability. The principal
      chemical degradation product of accelerated storage conditions was a disulfide
      linked multimer that was formed through a disulfide interchange reaction which
      resulted from beta-elimination of the disulfides. The maintenance of the native
      state of insulin was shown to be important in protecting the disulfides from
      reduction by dithiothreitol and implicitly from the disulfide interchange
      reaction that occurs during storage. To understand how these amino acid changes
      alter chemical stability, the intramolecular conformational equilibria of each
      analog was assessed by equilibrium denaturation. The Gibbs free energy of
      unfolding was compared with the chemical stability during storage for over 20
      analogs. A significant positive correlation (R2 = 0.8 and P less than 0.0005)
      exists between the conformational stability and chemical stability of these
      analogs, indicating that the chemical stability of insulin's disulfides is under
      the thermodynamic control of the conformational equilibria.

PMID- 1438163
TI  - Altering the association properties of insulin by amino acid replacement.
AB  - The importance of ProB28 and LysB29 on the self-association of insulin was
      established by systematically truncating the C terminus of the B chain. The
      relationship between structure and association was further explored by making
      numerous amino acid replacements at B28 and B29. Association was studied by
      circular dichroism, size-exclusion chromatography and ultracentrifugation. Our
      results show that the location of a prolyl residue at B28 is critical for high
      affinity self-association. Removal of ProB28 in a series of C-terminal truncated
      insulins, or amino acid replacement of ProB28, greatly reduced association. The
      largest disruption to association was achieved by replacing LysB29 with Pro and
      varying the amino acid at B28. Several of the analogs were predominantly monomers
      in solutions up to 3 mg/ml. These amino acid substitutions decreased association
      by primarily disrupting the formation of dimers. Such amino acid substitutions
      also substantially reduced the Zn-induced insulin hexamer formation. The
      formation of monomeric insulins through amino acid replacements was accompanied
      by conformational changes that may be the cause for decreased association. It is
      demonstrated that self-association of insulin can be drastically altered by
      substitution of one or two key amino acids.

PMID- 1438164
TI  - Selection of a thermostable variant of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (Cat
      86).
AB  - The moderate thermophile Bacillus stearothermophilus was used as a host in which
      to detect more thermostable variants of the B.pumilus chloramphenicol
      acetyltransferase (Cat-86) protein. Seventeen mutants were isolated and detected
      by their ability to grow in the presence of chloramphenicol at a previously
      restrictive temperature (58 degrees C). The genes encoding these proteins were
      sequenced; all 17 mutants carried the same C to T transition that conferred an
      amino acid substitution of alanine by valine at position 203 of the protein
      sequence. The wild-type and one mutant Cat-86 protein were purified to
      homogeneity using affinity chromatography, and kinetic and thermal stability
      studies were undertaken. Both enzymes had similar sp. act. in the region of 215
      U/mg, with Km values for chloramphenicol in the range 13.8-15.4 microM and for
      acetyl CoA in the range 13.6-15.5 microM. The A203V mutant shows greater
      stability than the wild-type Cat-86 protein at temperatures above 50 degrees C
      and appears to pass through a transition state between 48 and 50 degrees C.

PMID- 1438165
TI  - Cumulative stabilizing effects of glycine to alanine substitutions in Bacillus
      subtilis neutral protease.
AB  - Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis has been used to replace glycine residues by
      alanine in neutral protease from Bacillus subtilis. One Gly to Ala substitution
      (G147A) was located in a helical region of the protein, while the other (G189A)
      was in a loop. The effects of mutational substitutions on the functional,
      conformational and stability properties of the enzyme have been investigated
      using enzymatic assays and spectroscopic measurements. Single substitutions of
      both Gly147 and Gly189 with Ala residues affect the enzyme kinetic properties
      using synthetic peptides as substrates. When Gly replacements were concurrently
      introduced at both positions, the kinetic characteristics of the double mutant
      were roughly intermediate between those of the two single mutants, and similar to
      those of the wild-type protease. Both mutants G147A and G189A were found to be
      more stable towards irreversible thermal inactivation/unfolding than the wild
      type species. Moreover, the stabilizing effect of the Gly to Ala substitution was
      roughly additive in the double mutant G147A/G189A, which shows a 3.2 degrees C
      increase in Tm with respect to the wild-type protein. These findings indicate
      that the Gly to Ala substitution can be used as a strategy to stabilize globular
      proteins. The possible mechanisms of protein stabilization are also discussed.

PMID- 1438166
TI  - A structural role of histidine 15 in human glutathione transferase M1-1, an amino
      acid residue conserved in class Mu enzymes.
AB  - His15 is a conserved amino acid residue in all known class Mu glutathione
      transferases. This His residue in human glutathione transferase M1-1 has been
      mutated into 17 different amino acid residues by means of site-directed random
      mutagenesis to determine if any substitutions are compatible with catalytic
      activity. The majority of the mutant proteins appeared unstable and could not be
      isolated in reasonable quantities by heterologous expression in Escherichia coli.
      Five mutant enzymes, H15C, H15K, H15N, H15Q and H15S were purified and more
      extensively characterized. The mutant proteins shared the same size as that of
      the wild-type enzyme but could be separated from the parental enzyme by reverse
      phase HPLC. For all the mutant forms except H15N, the sp. act. with 1-chloro-2,4
      dinitrobenzene was less than 3% of the wild-type value--the H15N mutant enzyme
      displayed 29% of the wild-type activity. None of the catalytically active mutant
      enzymes showed any major alteration of the binding affinity for the substrate
      analog S-hexylglutathione, suggesting that His15 is not part of the active site
      of the enzyme. The high activity of the mutant H15N, also reflected in the
      kcat/Km, V and S0.5 values, rules out the possibility that His15 in the native
      enzyme contributes to catalysis by serving as a base. The role of His15, largely
      replaceable by Asn in the same position, appears to be structural, probably
      involving hydrogen bonds that maintain the protein in a stable and catalytically
      active conformation. A critical structural role of His15 in a buried position may
      explain the evolutionary conservation of this residue in the class Mu glutathione
      transferases.

PMID- 1438167
TI  - Analysis of disulphide bridge function in recombinant bovine prolactin using site
      specific mutagenesis and renaturation under mild alkaline conditions: a crucial
      role for the central disulphide bridge in the mitogenic activity of the hormone.
AB  - We have previously described a method for isolating Escherichia coli-produced
      methionyl bovine prolactin (Met-bPRL) and its renaturation using thioredoxin.
      This report describes an alternative renaturation procedure in which extracted
      Met-bPRL is incubated in air at pH 10 and 20 degrees C. Within 1 h of such
      treatment essentially all of the reduced Met-bPRL was converted to the oxidized
      form; this was accompanied by an increase to full mitogenic activity in the Nb2
      cell bioassay. It was also found that, to minimize contamination by high mol. wt
      Met-bPRL derivatives, it is essential to have a reducing agent (dithiothreitol)
      present during disruption of the bacteria and to extract the protein at neutral
      pH. The contribution of each of the three disulphide bridges in bPRL to its
      bioactivity was studied with Met-bPRL variants, prepared via site-specific
      mutagenesis, in which cysteines were replaced by serines to prevent disulphide
      bond formation. Variants lacking the C4-C11 bridge, the C191-C199 bridge or both
      these terminal bridges were as mitogenic as authentic bPRL. (Variants lacking the
      C191-C199 bridge had markedly increased solubility in the presence of
      deoxycholate.) In contrast, variants lacking the C58-C174 bridge had greatly
      reduced bioactivity, indicating that integrity of the large disulphide loop is
      crucial to the hormone's mitogenic activity.

PMID- 1438168
TI  - Specificity determinants of rat tissue kallikrein probed by site-directed
      mutagenesis.
AB  - Site-specific mutagenesis was employed to study structure-function relationships
      at the substrate binding site of rat tissue kallikrein. Four kallikrein mutants,
      the Pro219 deletion (P219del), the 34-38 loop Tyr-Tyr-Phe-Gly to Ile-Asn mutation
      [YYFG(34-38)IN], the Trp215----Gly exchange (W215G) and the double mutant with
      Tyr99----His and Trp215----Gly exchange (Y99H:W215G) were created by site
      directed mutagenesis to probe their function in substrate binding. The mutant
      proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli at high levels and analyzed by
      Western blot. These mutant enzymes were purified to apparent homogeneity. Each
      migrated as a single band on SDS-PAGE, with slightly lower molecular mass (36
      kDa) than that of the native enzyme, (38 kDa) because of their lack of
      glycosylation. The recombinant kallikreins are immunologically identical to the
      native enzyme, displaying parallelism with the native enzyme in a direct
      radioimmunoassay for rat tissue kallikrein. Kinetic analyses of Km and kcat using
      fluorogenic peptide substrates support the hypothesis that the Tyr99-Trp215
      interaction is a major determinant for hydrophobic P2 specificity. The results
      suggest an important role for the 34-38 loop in hydrophobic P3 affinity and
      further show that Pro219 is essential to substrate binding and efficient
      catalysis of tissue kallikrein.

PMID- 1438169
TI  - pH-sensitive interactions between IgG and a mutated IgG-binding protein based
      upon two B domains of protein A from Staphylococcus aureus.
AB  - A fusion protein, consisting of the N-terminal 81 amino acids from an inactive
      bovine DNase I (Q38,E39-E38,Q39) and two sequential synthetic IgG-binding domains
      based upon domain B of Protein A from Staphylococcus aureus has been shown to
      bind to porcine IgG with a similar affinity and pH profile to Protein A. The same
      residue in each B domain (Tyr111 and Tyr169) has been mutated by cassette
      mutagenesis to Ser, Glu, His, Lys or Arg and the effect of the mutation on
      binding interactions with porcine IgG investigated. The evidence presented
      suggests that the interactions at the B domain are highly sensitive to the
      presence of a charged residue.

PMID- 1438170
TI  - Overexpression and structure--function analysis of a bioengineered IL-2/IL-6
      chimeric lymphokine.
AB  - A synthetic chimeric IL-2/IL-6 gene was synthesized to engineer a bifunctional
      lymphokine which was overproduced in Escherichia coli. Following denaturation of
      the inclusion bodies in 6 M guanidine and refolding and reoxidation in the
      presence of a redox system, the fusion protein (rIL-2/IL-6) was purified to
      homogeneity and shown to react with both monospecific anti-IL-2 and anti-IL-6
      antisera. A collagen-like spacer was introduced between the two cytokine moieties
      to generate IL-2 and IL-6 molecules upon collagenase digestion. After cleavage,
      the two subunits, purified in a single-step procedure, were found to be correctly
      reoxidized and functionally as active as their native counterparts. Circular
      dichroism studies of rIL-2/IL-6 revealed that both cytokine subunits refolded
      independently and exhibited the alpha-helical structures characteristic of the
      corresponding wild-type lymphokines. The chimera displayed full IL-2 activity in
      the CTLL-2 cell proliferation assay. It also retained the IL-6 property to
      enhance IgM synthesis in SKW6.4 cells, induce the proliferation of B-cell
      hybridomas and stimulate the production of fibrinogen in hepatocytes. Because IL
      2 amplifies the cellular immune response and IL-6 up-regulates the humoral
      response, this bifunctional lymphokine represents a potentially useful
      therapeutic adduct and may serve as an immunomodulator to enhance the host's
      response to vaccination.

PMID- 1438171
TI  - A novel sequential procedure to enhance the renaturation of recombinant protein
      from Escherichia coli inclusion bodies.

PMID- 1438172
TI  - The structure of the complex between influenza virus neuraminidase and sialic
      acid, the viral receptor.
AB  - Crystallographic studies of neuraminidase-sialic acid complexes indicate that
      sialic acid is distorted on binding the enzyme. Three arginine residues on the
      enzyme interact with the carboxylate group of the sugar which is observed to be
      equatorial to the saccharide ring as a consequence of its distorted geometry. The
      glycosidic oxygen is positioned within hydrogen-bonding distance of Asp-151,
      implicating this residue in catalysis.

PMID- 1438173
TI  - Mutagenic dissection of hemoglobin cooperativity: effects of amino acid
      alteration on subunit assembly of oxy and deoxy tetramers.
AB  - Free energies of oxygen-linked subunit assembly and cooperative interaction have
      been determined for 34 molecular species of human hemoglobin, which differ by
      amino acid alterations as a result of mutation or chemical modification at
      specific sites. These studies required the development of extensions to our
      earlier methodology. In combination with previous results they comprise a data
      base of 60 hemoglobin species, characterized under the same conditions. The data
      base was analyzed in terms of the five following issues. (1) Range and
      sensitivity to site modifications. Deoxy tetramers showed greater average
      energetic response to structural modifications than the oxy species, but the
      ranges are similar for the two ligation forms. (2) Structural localization of
      cooperative free energy. Difference free energies of dimer-tetramer assembly (oxy
      minus deoxy) yielded delta Gc for each hemoglobin, i.e., the free energy used for
      modulation of oxygen affinity over all four binding steps. A structure-energy map
      constructed from these results shows that the alpha 1 beta 2 interface is a
      unique structural location of the noncovalent bonding interactions that are
      energetically coupled to cooperativity. (3) Relationship of cooperativity to
      intrinsic binding. Oxygen binding energetics for dissociated dimers of mutants
      strongly indicates that cooperativity and intrinsic binding are completely
      decoupled by tetramer to dimer dissociation. (4) Additivity, site-site coupling
      and adventitious perturbations. All these are exhibited by individual-site
      modifications of this study. Large nonadditivity may be correlated with global
      (quaternary) structure change. (5) Residue position vs. chemical nature.
      Functional response is solely dictated by structural location for a subset of the
      sites, but varies with side-chain type at other sites. The current data base
      provides a unique framework for further analyses and modeling of fundamental
      issues in the structural chemistry of proteins and allosteric mechanisms.

PMID- 1438174
TI  - Regulation of oxygen affinity by quaternary enhancement: does hemoglobin
      Ypsilanti represent an allosteric intermediate?
AB  - Recent crystallographic studies on the mutant human hemoglobin Ypsilanti (beta 99
      Asp-->Tyr) have revealed a previously unknown quaternary structure called
      "quaternary Y" and suggested that the new structure may represent an important
      intermediate in the cooperative oxygenation pathway of normal hemoglobin. Here we
      measure the oxygenation and subunit assembly properties of hemoglobin Ypsilanti
      and five additional beta 99 mutants (Asp beta 99-->Val, Gly, Asn, Ala, His) to
      test for consistency between their energetics and those of the intermediate
      species of normal hemoglobin. Overall regulation of oxygen affinity in hemoglobin
      Ypsilanti is found to originate entirely from 2.6 kcal of quaternary enhancement,
      such that the tetramer oxygenation affinity is 85-fold higher than for binding to
      the dissociated dimers. Equal partitioning of this regulatory energy among the
      four tetrameric binding steps (0.65 kcal per oxygen) leads to a noncooperative
      isotherm with extremely high affinity (pmedian = .14 torr). Temperature and pH
      studies of dimer-tetramer assembly and sulfhydryl reaction kinetics suggest that
      oxygenation-dependent structural changes in hemoglobin Ypsilanti are small. These
      properties are quite different from the recently characterized allosteric
      intermediate, which has two ligands bound on the same side of the alpha 1 beta 2
      interface (see ref. 1 for review). The combined results do, however, support the
      view that quaternary Y may represent the intermediate cooperativity state of
      normal hemoglobin that binds the last oxygen.

PMID- 1438175
TI  - Crystal structure of human immunoglobulin fragment Fab New refined at 2.0 A
      resolution.
AB  - The three-dimensional structure of the human immunoglobulin fragment Fab New
      (IgG1, lambda) has been refined to a crystallographic R-factor of 16.9% to 2 A
      resolution. Rms deviations of the final model from ideal geometry are 0.014 A for
      bond distances and 3.03 degrees for bond angles. Refinement was based on a new X
      ray data set including 28,301 reflections with F > 2.5 sigma(F) from 6.0 to 2.0 A
      resolution. The starting model for the refinement procedure reported here is from
      the Brookhaven Protein Data Bank entry 3FAB (rev. 1981). Differences between the
      initial and final models include modified polypeptide-chain folding in the third
      complementarity-determining region (CDR3) and the third framework region (FR3) of
      VH and in some exposed loops of CL and CH1. Amino acid sequence changes were
      determined at a number of positions by inspection of difference electron density
      maps. The incorporation of amino acid sequence changes results in an improved VH
      framework model for the "humanization" of monoclonal antibodies.

PMID- 1438176
TI  - Limits on alpha-helix prediction with neural network models.
AB  - Using a backpropagation neural network model we have found a limit for secondary
      structure prediction from local sequence. By including only sequences from whole
      alpha-helix and non-alpha-helix structures in our training and test sets-
      sequences spanning boundaries between these two structures were excluded--it was
      possible to investigate directly the relationship between sequence and structure
      for alpha-helix. A group of non-alpha-helix sequences, that was disrupting
      overall prediction success, was indistinguishable to the network from alpha-helix
      sequences. These sequences were found to occur at regions adjacent to the termini
      of alpha-helices with statistical significance, suggesting that potentially
      longer alpha-helices are disrupted by global constraints. Some of these regions
      spanned more than 20 residues. On these whole structure sequences, 10 residues in
      length, a comparatively high prediction success of 78% with a correlation
      coefficient of 0.52 was achieved. In addition, the structure of the input space,
      the distribution of beta-sheet in this space, and the effect of segment length
      were also investigated.

PMID- 1438177
TI  - Comparative molecular modeling and crystallization of P-30 protein: a novel
      antitumor protein of Rana pipiens oocytes and early embryos.
AB  - The P-30 protein (Onconase) of Rana pipiens oocytes and early embryos is
      homologous to members of the pancreatic ribonuclease superfamily and exhibits an
      antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. It appears that the ribonucleolytic
      activity of P-30 protein may be required for its antitumor effects. A comparative
      molecular model of P-30 protein has been constructed based upon the known three
      dimensional structure of bovine pancreatic RNase A in order to provide structural
      information. Functionally, these enzymes hydrolyze oligoribonucleotides to
      pyrimidine-3'-phosphate monoesters and 5'-OH ribonucleotides. In the modeling
      procedure, automated sequence alignments were revised based upon the inspection
      of the RNase A structure before the amino acids of the P-30 protein were assigned
      the coordinates of the RNase A template. The inevitable intermolecular steric
      clashes that result were relieved on an interactive graphics device through the
      adjustment of side chain torsion angles. This process was followed by energy
      minimization of the model, which served to optimize stereochemical geometry and
      to relieve any remaining unacceptably close contacts. The resulting model retains
      the essential features of RNase A as sequence insertions and deletions are almost
      exclusively found in exposed surface loops. The all atom superposition of active
      site residues of the P-30 protein model and an identically minimized RNase A
      structure has a root mean square deviation of 0.52 A. Though tentative, the model
      is consistent with a pyrimidine specificity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1438178
TI  - Structure of a rhombohedral R6 insulin/phenol complex.
AB  - Hexameric insulin has been crystallized from different conditions in a variety of
      crystalline modifications. In the presence of approximately 1% phenol and at a pH
      of 8.5, a new rhombohedral form is produced, space group R3, a = 79.92A and c =
      40.39A, in which the asymmetric unit consists of a dimer. The structure has been
      solved and refined, using data between 8.0 and 2.5A resolution, to a residual of
      0.157. The two monomers in the asymmetric unit have nearly identical R
      conformations, that is, residues B1 through B8 are alpha-helical, producing a
      continuous alpha-helix from B1 through B19. A phenol molecule is hydrogen bonded
      to the carbonyl oxygen of A6 Cys of each monomer. Small differences in
      conformation and the final (2Fo-Fc) and difference electron density maps suggest
      that an additional phenol molecule is coordinated to one of the two zinc ions.

PMID- 1438179
TI  - Folding protein alpha-carbon chains into compact forms by Monte Carlo methods.
AB  - A method is presented for generating folded chains of specific amino acid
      sequences on a simple cubic lattice. Monte Carlo simulations are used to
      transform extended geometries of simplified alpha-carbon chains for eight small
      monomeric globular proteins into folded states. Permitted chain transitions are
      limited to a few types of moves, all restricted to occur on the lattice. Crude
      residue-residue potentials derived from statistical structure data are used to
      describe the energies for each conformer. The low resolution structures obtained
      by this procedure contain many of the correct gross features of the native folded
      architectures with respect to average residue energy per nonbonded contact,
      segment density, and location of surface loops and disulfide pairs. Rms
      deviations between these and the native X-ray structures and percentage of native
      long-range contacts found in these final folded structures are 7.6 +/- 0.7 A and
      48 +/- 3%, respectively. This procedure can be useful for predicting approximate
      tertiary interactions from amino acid sequence.

PMID- 1438180
TI  - What is the pitch of the alpha-helical coiled coil?
AB  - The alpha-helical, coiled-coil protein motif is increasingly recognized in a
      variety of functional classes of proteins. The pitch of a coiled coil, or rate of
      winding of the alpha-helices around each other, is a key determinant of both
      intra- and intermolecular interactions. Experimental measurements of the pitch of
      parallel two-stranded coiled coils of muscle proteins, and examination of the
      recently determined structure of another two-stranded coiled coil, the GCN4
      transcription factor protein, suggest that the pitch has an average value of
      about 140 A. This value is consistent with the observed number of residues per
      turn in alpha-helices of globular proteins, the determinant of the interhelical
      packing within the coiled-coil motif. An understanding of the structural
      determinants of this value for the pitch and possible variations will be
      important in defining the interactions of coiled-coil proteins with other
      macromolecules.

PMID- 1438181
TI  - Generation of a substructure library for the description and classification of
      protein secondary structure. I. Overview of the methods and results.
AB  - Protein secondary structure has been typically classified into four major classes
      -alpha-helices, extended strands, reverse turns, and loops. Available methods for
      secondary structure analysis utilize predefined structure templates to search for
      structural matches among proteins. By this approach a significant portion of a
      proteins backbone conformation is assigned to one of a limited number of
      conformations or, if unassigned, to random coil. To expand our ability to
      describe protein secondary structure, we have developed an algorithm that
      operates independently of a predefined structure template. The procedure uses two
      geometric descriptors, the linear distance and the backbone dihedral angle, to
      represent the conformation form the alpha-carbon coordinates. The algorithm
      functions by searching for conformationally equivalent, contiguous fragments
      without regard to secondary structural classification and is thus independent of
      the complexity of the backbone fold. The result is a library of conformationally
      equivalent structure fragments that exhibit some novel characteristics. The
      library contains features that reproduce the major secondary structure classes as
      well as defining conformations previously described only as random or undefined
      conformations. Additionally, the library defines several subclassifications of
      beta-strands. We present here a validation of this method and a presentation and
      discussion of the most significant results. In a second study, we report the
      results of application of this method to spectra-structure correlations in
      Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

PMID- 1438182
TI  - Generation of a substructure library for the description and classification of
      protein secondary structure. II. Application to spectra-structure correlations in
      Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
AB  - Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has become well known as a sensitive and
      informative tool for studying secondary structure in proteins. Present analysis
      of the conformation-sensitive amide I region in protein infrared spectra, when
      combined with band narrowing techniques, provides more information concerning
      protein secondary structure than can be meaningfully interpreted. This is due in
      part to limited models for secondary structure. Using the algorithm described in
      the previous paper of this series, we have generated a library of substructures
      for several trypsin-like serine proteases. This library was used as a basis for
      spectra-structure correlations with infrared spectra in the amide I' region, for
      five homologous proteins for which spectra were collected. Use of the
      substructure library has allowed correlations not previously possible with
      template-based methods of protein conformational analysis.

PMID- 1438183
TI  - MD simulation of subtilisin BPN' in a crystal environment.
AB  - In this paper we present a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of subtilisin BPN'
      in a crystalline environment containing four protein molecules and solvent.
      Conformational and dynamic properties of the molecules are compared with each
      other and with respect to the X-ray structure to test the validity of the force
      field. The agreement between simulated and experimental structure using the
      GROMOS force field is better than that obtained in the literature using other
      force fields for protein crystals. The overall shape of the molecule is well
      preserved, as is the conformation of alpha-helices and beta-strands. Structural
      differences are mainly found in loop regions. Solvent networks found in the X-ray
      structure were reproduced by the simulation, which was unbiased with respect to
      the crystalline hydration structure. These networks seem to play an important
      role in the stability of the protein; evidence of this is found in the structure
      of the active site. The weak ion binding site in the X-ray structure of
      subtilisin BPN' is occupied by a monovalent ion. When a calcium ion is placed in
      the initial structure, three peptide ligands are replaced by 5 water ligands,
      whereas a potassium ion retains (in part) its original ligands. Existing force
      fields yield a reliable method to probe local structure and short-time dynamics
      of proteins, providing an accuracy of about 0.1 nm.

PMID- 1438184
TI  - Application of a directed conformational search for generating 3-D coordinates
      for protein structures from alpha-carbon coordinates.
AB  - A directed conformational search algorithm using the program CONGEN (ref. 3),
      which samples backbone conformers, is described. The search technique uses
      information from the partially built structures to direct the search process and
      is tested on the problem of generating a full set of backbone Cartesian
      coordinates given only alpha-carbon coordinates. The method has been tested on
      six proteins of known structure, varying in size and classification, and was able
      to generate the original backbone coordinates with RMSs ranging from 0.30-0.87A
      for the alpha-carbons and 0.5-0.99A RMSs for the backbone atoms. Cis peptide
      linkages were also correctly identified. The procedure was also applied to two
      proteins available with only alpha-carbon coordinates in the Brookhaven Protein
      Data Bank; thioredoxin (SRX) and triacylglycerol acylhydrolase (TGL). All-atom
      models are proposed for the backbone of both these proteins. In addition, the
      technique was applied to randomized coordinates of flavodoxin to assess the
      effects of irregularities in the data on the final RMS. This study represents the
      first time a deterministic conformational search was used on such a large scale.

PMID- 1438185
TI  - Investigation of the function of mutated cellulose-binding domains of Trichoderma
      reesei cellobiohydrolase I.
AB  - The function of the cellulose-binding domain (CBD) of the cellobiohydrolase I of
      Trichoderma reesei was studied by site-directed mutagenesis of two amino acid
      residues identified by analyzing the 3D structure of this domain. The mutant
      enzymes were produced in yeast and tested for binding and activity on crystalline
      cellulose. Mutagenesis of the tyrosine residue (Y492) located at the tip of the
      wedge-shaped domain to alanine or aspartate reduced the binding and activity on
      crystalline cellulose to the level of the core protein lacking the CBD. However,
      there was no effect on the activity toward small oligosaccharide (4
      methylumbelliferyl beta-D-lactoside). The mutation tyrosine to histidine (Y492H)
      lowered but did not destroy the cellulose binding, suggesting that the
      interaction of the pyranose ring of the substrate with an aromatic side chain is
      important. However, the catalytic activity of this mutant on crystalline
      cellulose was identical to the other two mutants. The mutation P477R on the edge
      of the other face of the domain reduces both binding and activity of CBHI. These
      results support the hypothesis that both surfaces of the CBD are involved in the
      interaction of the binding domain with crystalline cellulose.

PMID- 1438186
TI  - Modeling the anti-CEA antibody combining site by homology and conformational
      search.
AB  - A model for an antibody specific for the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has been
      constructed using a method which combines the concept of canonical structures
      with conformational search. A conformational search technique is introduced which
      couples random generation of backbone loop conformations to a simulated annealing
      method for assigning side chain conformations. This technique was used both to
      verify conformations selected from the set of known canonical structures and to
      explore conformations available to the H3 loop in CEA ab initio. Canonical
      structures are not available for H3 due to its variability in length, sequence,
      and observed conformation in known antibody structures. Analysis of the results
      of conformational search resulted in three equally probable conformations for H3
      loop in CEA. Force field energies, solvation free energies, exposure of charged
      residues and burial of hydrophobic residues, and packing of hydrophobic residues
      at the base of the loop were used as selection criteria. The existence of three
      equally plausible structures may reflect the high degree of flexibility expected
      for an exposed loop of this length. The nature of the combining site and features
      which could be important to interaction with antigen are discussed.

PMID- 1438187
TI  - Crystallization, sequence, and preliminary crystallographic data for an
      antipeptide Fab 50.1 and peptide complexes with the principal neutralizing
      determinant of HIV-1 gp120.
AB  - X-ray quality crystals of an Fab fragment from an antipeptide monoclonal antibody
      (R/V3-50.1) that recognizes the principal neutralizing determinant (PND) of the
      gp120 glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) (MN isolate)
      were grown as uncomplexed and peptide complexed forms. Crystals of the free Fab
      grew from high salt in orthorhombic space groups P2(1)2(1)2(1) and I222 and from
      polyethylene glycol in space groups P1 and P2(1). Seeds from either the P1 and
      P2(1) native (uncomplexed) Fab crystals induced nucleation of crystals of the Fab
      complexed to a 16-residue synthetic peptide corresponding to the PND when streak
      seeded into preequilibrated solutions of this complex. Data were collected from
      these complex crystals and from each of the four native Fab forms to at least 2.8
      A resolution. The genes for the variable domain of the Fab were cloned and
      sequenced and the primary amino acid sequence was deduced from this information.
      Knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of this Fab-peptide complex will be
      important in the understanding of the PND of HIV-1 and its recognition by
      neutralizing monoclonal antibodies.

PMID- 1438188
TI  - Identification of novel peptide antagonists for GPIIb/IIIa from a
      conformationally constrained phage peptide library.
AB  - Methods have recently been developed to present vast libraries of random peptides
      on the surface of filamentous phage. To introduce a degree of conformational
      constraint into random peptides, a library of hexapeptides flanked by cysteine
      residues (capable of forming cyclic disulfides) was constructed. This library was
      screened using the platelet glycoprotein, IIb/IIIa, which mediates the
      aggregation of platelets through binding of fibrinogen. A variety of peptides
      containing the sequence Arg-Gly-Asp or Lys-Gly-Asp were discovered and
      synthesized. The cyclic, disulfide-bonded forms of the peptides bound IIb/IIIa
      with dissociation constants in the nanomolar range, while reduced forms or an
      analogue in which Ser replaced the Cys residues bound considerably less tightly.
      These results demonstrate the feasibility for introducing conformational
      constraints into random peptide libraries and also demonstrates the potential for
      using phage peptide libraries to discover pharmacologically active lead
      compounds.

PMID- 1438189
TI  - Binding of sequence-specific proteins to the adenosine- plus uridine-rich
      sequences of the murine granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor mRNA.
AB  - Adenosine+uridine (AU)-rich sequences in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of
      the mRNA of many cytokines and oncogenes play an important role in mediating RNA
      degradation. Among the cytokines containing such AU-rich sequences in their 3'UTR
      is the hematopoietic growth factor granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating
      factor (GM-CSF). GM-CSF gene expression in T cells is regulated by modulation of
      mRNA half-life. Transfection studies using murine EL-4 thymoma cells have
      demonstrated that degradation depends on the presence of specific elements in the
      3'UTR, including the AU-rich sequences. A number of AU-binding factors have
      recently been discovered, suggesting that specific regulation may occur through
      specific protein-mRNA interaction(s). We present evidence from gel-shift analyses
      and label-transfer experiments that murine cells contain proteins that bind
      specifically to AU-rich sequences. Three major proteins of 33, 39.5, and 42 kDa
      are detected. Phorbol ester treatment of cells does not alter the abundance or
      apparent binding affinity of the proteins. The 33-kDa protein is present in the
      cytoplasm of murine and human cells, whereas the 39.5- and 42-kDa proteins are
      present in murine extracts only. Constitutively expressed AU-binding proteins of
      the type that we describe may function by directing mRNA degradation in the
      absence of a stimulus to the contrary.

PMID- 1438190
TI  - Phenotypic and functional immaturity of human umbilical cord blood T lymphocytes.
AB  - Successful implementation of bone marrow transplantation for hematopoietic
      reconstitution is limited by the lack of suitably HLA-matched donors and by the
      occurrence of graft-versus-host disease that frequently accompanies this
      procedure. Recent clinical reports have implied that the use of umbilical cord
      blood as a source of transplantable stem cells may solve these problems. To date,
      definitive experiments have not been performed to assess the immunological
      potential of T cells found in umbilical cord blood, which could mediate graft
      versus-host disease. In the present study we have observed that umbilical cord
      blood contains T lymphocytes that appear to be phenotypically immature. In
      addition, umbilical cord blood lymphocytes appeared to be functionally immature
      as shown by minimal responses to stimulation with interleukin 2,
      phytohemagglutinin, or alloantigens. Thus, umbilical cord blood may be more
      suitable for allogeneic transplantation than bone marrow in that these cord blood
      cells may not be as capable of mediating graft-versus-host disease.

PMID- 1438191
TI  - Complement activation by beta-amyloid in Alzheimer disease.
AB  - Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by excessive deposition of the beta
      amyloid peptide (beta-AP) in the central nervous system. Although several lines
      of evidence suggest that beta-AP is neurotoxic, a mechanism for beta-AP toxicity
      in AD brain remains unclear. In this paper we provide both direct in vitro
      evidence that beta-AP can bind and activate the classical complement cytolytic
      pathway in the absence of antibody and indirect in situ evidence that such
      actions occur in the AD brain in association with areas of AD pathology.

PMID- 1438192
TI  - A binary plasmid system for shuffling combinatorial antibody libraries.
AB  - We have used a binary system of replicon-compatible plasmids to test the
      potential for promiscuous recombination of heavy and light chains within sets of
      human Fab fragments isolated from combinatorial antibody libraries. Antibody
      molecules showed a surprising amount of promiscuity in that a particular heavy
      chain could recombine with multiple light chains with retention of binding to a
      protein antigen. The degree to which a given heavy chain productively paired with
      any light chain to bind antigen varied from 43% to 100% and depended strongly on
      the heavy-chain sequence. Such productive crosses resulted in a set of Fab
      fragments of similar apparent binding constants, which seemed to differ mainly in
      the amount of active Fab fragment produced in the bacterial cell. The dominance
      of the heavy chain in the antibody-antigen interaction was further explored in a
      set of directed crosses, in which heavy and light chains derived from antigen
      specific clones were crossed with nonrelated heavy and light chains. In these
      crosses, an Fab fragment retained antigen binding only if it contained a heavy
      chain from an antigen-specific clone. In no case did the light chain confer
      detectable affinity when paired with indifferent heavy chains. The surprising
      promiscuity of heavy chains has ramifications for the evaluation of the diversity
      of combinatorial libraries made against protein antigens and should allow the
      combination of one such promiscuous heavy chain with an engineered light chain to
      form an Fab fragment carrying synthetic cofactors to assist in antibody
      catalysis.

PMID- 1438193
TI  - Hepatitis B virus capsid particles are assembled from core-protein dimer
      precursors.
AB  - Our studies on the assembly of hepatitis B virus capsids or core particles in
      Xenopus oocytes have demonstrated that unassembled p21.5 core proteins ("free
      p21.5") provide a pool of low-molecular-mass precursors for core-particle
      assembly. Here we have characterized this material. Free p21.5 sedimented through
      gradients of 3-25% sucrose (wt/vol) as a single protein species of approximately
      40 kDa, corresponding to a p21.5 dimer. On nonreducing SDS/polyacrylamide gels,
      free p21.5 migrated as disulfide-linked p21.5 dimeric species of 35 and 37 kDa.
      Truncated core proteins lacking most or all of the 36-amino acid protamine region
      at the p21.5 carboxyl terminus were also found to behave as disulfide-linked
      dimers with appropriately reduced molecular masses. Our experiments failed to
      reveal monomeric core proteins or stable intermediates between dimers and capsids
      along the assembly pathway. We conclude that hepatitis B virus core particles are
      most likely assembled by aggregating 90 (or possibly 180) disulfide-linked p21.5
      dimers. We discuss similarities between the assembly of hepatitis B virus capsids
      and simple T = 3 plant virus and bacteriophage structures.

PMID- 1438194
TI  - Retinoic acid is enriched in Hensen's node and is developmentally regulated in
      the early chicken embryo.
AB  - Retinoic acid (RA) has been considered as a potential morphogen in the chicken
      limb and has also been suggested to be involved in early embryonic development.
      On the basis of biological activity, previous reports suggest that Hensen's node,
      the anatomical equivalent in the chicken of the Spemann's organizer, may contain
      RA. Here, by using a molecular assay system, we demonstrate that Hensen's node
      contains retinoids in a concentration approximately 20 times more than that in
      the neighboring tissues. Furthermore, stage 6 Hensen's node contains
      approximately 3 times more retinoid than that of stage 4 embryos. These
      endogenous retinoids may establish a concentration gradient from Hensen's node to
      adjacent tissues and play a role in establishing the primary embryonic axis in
      the vertebrate. The results also suggest that the retinoid concentration in
      Hensen's node is developmentally regulated.

PMID- 1438195
TI  - Large, identical, tandem repeating units in the C protein alpha antigen gene,
      bca, of group B streptococci.
AB  - Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of neonatal sepsis and
      meningitis in the United States. The surface-associated C protein alpha antigen
      of GBS is thought to have a role in both virulence and immunity. We previously
      cloned the C protein alpha antigen structural gene (named bca for group B, C
      protein, alpha) into Escherichia coli. Western blots of both the native alpha
      antigen and the cloned gene product demonstrate a regularly laddered pattern of
      heterogeneous polypeptides. The nucleotide sequence of the bca locus reveals an
      open reading frame of 3060 nucleotides encoding a precursor protein of 108,705
      Da. Cleavage of a putative signal sequence of 41 amino acids yields a mature
      protein of 104,106 Da. The 20,417-Da N-terminal region of the alpha antigen shows
      no homology to previously described protein sequences and is followed by a series
      of nine tandem repeating units that make up 74% of the mature protein. Each
      repeating unit is identical and consists of 82 amino acids with a molecular mass
      of 8665 Da, which is encoded by 246 nucleotides. The size of the repeating units
      corresponds to the observed size differences in the heterogeneous ladder of alpha
      C proteins expressed by GBS. The C-terminal region of the alpha antigen contains
      a membrane anchor domain motif that is shared by a number of Gram-positive
      surface proteins. The large region of identical repeating units in bca defines
      protective epitopes and may play a role in generating phenotypic and genotypic
      diversity of the alpha antigen.

PMID- 1438196
TI  - Salmonella typhimurium activates virulence gene transcription within acidified
      macrophage phagosomes.
AB  - Survival of Salmonella typhimurium within macrophage phagosomes requires the
      coordinate expression of bacterial gene products. This report examines the
      contribution of phagosomal pH as a signal for expression of genes positively
      regulated by the S. typhimurium virulence regulators PhoP and PhoQ. Several hours
      after bacterial phagocytosis by murine bone marrow-derived macrophages, PhoP
      activated gene transcription increased 50- to 77-fold. In contrast, no difference
      in PhoP-activated gene expression was observed after infection of cultured
      epithelial cells, suggesting that the membrane sensor PhoQ recognized signals
      unique to macrophage phagosomes. The increase in PhoP-regulated gene expression
      was abolished when macrophage culture medium contained NH4Cl or chloroquine, weak
      bases that raise the pH of acidic compartments. Measurements of pH documented
      that S. typhimurium delayed and attenuated acidification of its intracellular
      compartment. Phagosomes containing S. typhimurium required 4-5 hr to reach pH <
      5.0. In contrast, within 1 hr vacuoles containing heat-killed bacteria were
      measured at pH < 4.5. The eventual acidification of phagosomes to pH < 5.0
      correlated with the period of maximal PhoP-dependent gene expression. These
      observations implicate phagosome acidification as an intracellular inducer of
      PhoP-regulated gene expression and suggest that Salmonella survival is dependent
      on its ability to attenuate phagosome acidification.

PMID- 1438197
TI  - Retention of habituation in PC12 cells.
AB  - The time course of habituation and recovery of neurotransmitter release was
      measured in neuronally differentiated PC12 cells stimulated with either
      acetylcholine or ATP. The release of norepinephrine in response to either
      stimulant declined exponentially with repeated presentation of that stimulant.
      When the stimulus was withheld, the cells' ability to respond recovered to
      initial levels with an exponential time course. The rate of response recovery
      depended on the stimulant used and, in the case of stimulation with
      acetylcholine, on the number of previous stimuli. After habituation and recovery,
      or partial recovery, of norepinephrine release, the response to a second series
      of repetitive stimuli declined more rapidly than in the naive case. This increase
      in habituation rate was dependent on the number of previous stimuli and, in the
      case of stimulation with acetylcholine, was stable with time for at least 90 min
      after stimulation. These phenomena are analogous to characteristics of short- and
      long-term memories of habituative learning observed in behavioral studies.
      Kinetic equations based on a putative reversible stimulation-dependent
      inactivation of the cellular response mechanism were used to analyze the rates of
      habituation and response recovery.

PMID- 1438198
TI  - Structural analysis of ternary complexes of vaccinia RNA polymerase.
AB  - The structure of the elongation complex of vaccinia RNA polymerase halted at
      discrete template positions was examined by DNase I footprinting. The leading
      edge of the footprint bore a constant relationship to the catalytic template
      position, being 22-24 nucleotides (nt) in advance on the nontemplate strand and
      17 nt on the template strand. DNase hypersensitivity of the nontemplate strand at
      the leading edge suggested that the DNA might be distorted as it entered the
      polymerase molecule. The region of DNA unwinding at the transcription bubble
      extended at least 12 nt 5' from the catalytic center, as indicated by the
      reactivity of adenosine residues to diethylpyrocarbonate. Cu-phenanthroline
      hypersensitive sites located 13 nt 5' and 4 nt 3' of the growing point appeared
      to demarcate the margins of the bubble. Strand asymmetry of chemical modification
      within the bubble was consistent with an RNA-DNA hybrid of no more than 10 base
      pairs.

PMID- 1438199
TI  - Telomere length predicts replicative capacity of human fibroblasts.
AB  - When human fibroblasts from different donors are grown in vitro, only a small
      fraction of the variation in their finite replicative capacity is explained by
      the chronological age of the donor. Because we had previously shown that
      telomeres, the terminal guanine-rich sequences of chromosomes, shorten throughout
      the life-span of cultured cells, we wished to determine whether variation in
      initial telomere length would account for the unexplained variation in
      replicative capacity. Analysis of cells from 31 donors (aged 0-93 yr) indicated
      relatively weak correlations between proliferative ability and donor age (m = 
      0.2 doubling per yr; r = -0.42; P = 0.02) and between telomeric DNA and donor age
      (m = -15 base pairs per yr; r = -0.43; P = 0.02). However, there was a striking
      correlation, valid over the entire age range of the donors, between replicative
      capacity and initial telomere length (m = 10 doublings per kilobase pair; r =
      0.76; P = 0.004), indicating that cell strains with shorter telomeres underwent
      significantly fewer doublings than those with longer telomeres. These
      observations suggest that telomere length is a biomarker of somatic cell aging in
      humans and are consistent with a causal role for telomere loss in this process.
      We also found that fibroblasts from Hutchinson-Gilford progeria donors had short
      telomeres, consistent with their reduced division potential in vitro. In
      contrast, telomeres from sperm DNA did not decrease with age of the donor,
      suggesting that a mechanism for maintaining telomere length, such as telomerase
      expression, may be active in germ-line tissue.

PMID- 1438200
TI  - Comparison of the NMR solution structure and the x-ray crystal structure of rat
      metallothionein-2.
AB  - Metallothioneins are small cysteine-rich proteins capable of binding heavy metal
      ions such as Zn2+ and Cd2+. They are ubiquitous tissue components in higher
      organisms, which tentatively have been attributed both unspecific protective
      functions against toxic metal ions and highly specific roles in fundamental zinc
      regulated cellular processes. In this paper a detailed comparison of the NMR
      solution structure [Schultze, P., Worgotter, E., Braun, W., Wagner, G., Vasak,
      M., Kagi, J. H. R. & Wuthrich, K. (1988) J. Mol. Biol. 203, 251-268] and a recent
      x-ray crystal structure [Robbins, A. H., McRee, D. E., Williamson, M., Collett,
      S. A., Xoung, N. H., Furey, W. F., Wang, B. C. & Stout, C. D. (1991) J. Mol.
      Biol. 221, 1269-1293] of rat metallothionein-2 shows that the metallothionein
      structures in crystals and in solution have identical molecular architectures.
      The structures obtained with both techniques now present a reliable basis for
      discussions on structure-function correlations in this class of metalloproteins.

PMID- 1438201
TI  - Immobilization of DNA for scanning probe microscopy.
AB  - Reproducible scanning tunneling microscope and atomic force microscope images of
      entire molecules of uncoated plasmid DNA chemically bound to surfaces are
      presented. The chemically mediated immobilization of DNA to surfaces and
      subsequent scanning tunneling microscope imaging of DNA molecules demonstrate
      that the problem of molecular instability to forces exerted by the probe tip,
      inherent with scanning probe microscopes, can be prevented.

PMID- 1438202
TI  - The same exhaustible multilineage precursor produces both myeloid and lymphoid
      cells as early as 3-4 weeks after marrow transplantation.
AB  - Hemopoietic precursors with the ability to differentiate into wide varieties of
      cell types are considered primitive, as are precursors with long-term
      repopulating ability. Here we study the populations of marrow precursors from
      which both myeloid and lymphoid lineages are descended shortly after
      transplantation. Surprisingly, few or none of these precursors show long-term
      repopulating ability. Equal portions of a mixture of marrow cells from C57BL/6J
      (B6) and congenic B6-Hbbd Gpi-1a mice are transplanted into a group of
      recipients. Three weeks later, highly significant correlations between
      percentages of B6 type T cells, B cells, granulocytes, and platelets in each
      recipient indicate that many lymphoid and myeloid cells are descended from common
      precursors. After 4-6 weeks, most correlations between lymphoid and myeloid cells
      improve, indicating that most or all differentiated cells are descended from
      common precursors. The more differentiated myeloid-specific precursors found in
      spleen colony-forming cell assays apparently fail to contribute significantly to
      the differentiated myeloid cell populations tested. By using the binomial model,
      in which variability of the data among the recipients is inversely related to the
      number of precursors in the mixture, donor precursor concentrations are estimated
      as approximately 21 per 10(5) marrow cells after 3 weeks, falling 3-fold to 6.6
      per 10(5) after 4-6 weeks. This trend continues, with higher correlations,
      greater variabilities, and donor precursor concentrations of 1.9 per 10(5) marrow
      cells after 12-14 weeks and 1.4 per 10(5) after 24 weeks. Strong increases in
      variances between 3 and 12 weeks after transplantation suggest that most or all
      of the initially active multilineage precursors are exhausted during this time
      period. The fact that the ability of a hemopoietic stem cell to differentiate
      into widely disparate lineages is not associated with long-term repopulating
      ability requires a change in stem cell definitions, since primitive hemopoietic
      stem cells have traditionally been defined by both these abilities.

PMID- 1438203
TI  - Structure of the ColE1 DNA molecule before segregation to daughter molecules.
AB  - The segregation of daughter DNA molecules at the end stage of replication of
      plasmid ColE1 was examined. When circular ColE1 DNA replicates in a cell extract
      at a high KCl concentration (140 mM), a unique class of molecules accumulates.
      When the molecule is cleaved by a restriction enzyme that cuts the ColE1 DNA at a
      single site, an X-shaped molecule in which two linear components are held
      together around the origin of DNA replication is made. For a large fraction of
      these molecules, the 5' end of the leading strand remains at the origin and the
      3' end of the strand is about 30 nucleotides upstream of the origin. The 3' end
      of the lagging strand is located at the terH site (17 nucleotides upstream of the
      origin) and the 5' end of the strand is a few hundred nucleotides upstream of the
      terH site. Thus the parental strands of the molecule intertwine with each other
      only once. When the KCl concentration is lowered to 70 mM, practically all of
      these molecules are converted to daughter circular monomers or to catenanes
      consisting of two singly interlocked circular units.

PMID- 1438204
TI  - Time-resolved circularly polarized protein phosphorescence.
AB  - The existence of circular polarization in room-temperature protein
      phosphorescence is demonstrated, and time-resolved circularly polarized
      phosphorescence (TR-CPP) is used to characterize unique tryptophan environments
      in multitryptophan proteins. Circularly polarized luminescence studies provide
      information regarding the excited state chirality of a lumiphore which can be
      used to extract sensitive structural information. It is shown by time resolving
      the circular polarization that it is possible to correlate the excited state
      chirality with unique decay components in a multiexponential phosphorescence
      decay profile. The present study presents a concurrent analysis of room
      temperature time-resolved phosphorescence and TR-CPP of bacterial glucose-6
      phosphate dehydrogenase as well as those of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase.
      Only one of the two tryptophan residues per subunit of dimeric alcohol
      dehydrogenase is believed to phosphorescence, while the dimeric glucose-6
      phosphate dehydrogenase has eight tryptophan residues per subunit and shows a
      corresponding complexity in its phosphorescence decay profile. The anisotropy
      factor [g(em) = delta I/(Itotal/2); delta I = Ileft circular-Iright circular] for
      alcohol dehydrogenase is time independent, suggesting a unique excited state
      chirality. The phosphorescence decay of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase can be
      well fitted with four exponential terms of 4, 23, 76, and 142 msec, and the TR
      CPP of this enzyme shows a strong time dependence that can be resolved into four
      individual time-independent anisotropy factors of -4.0, -2.1, +6.5, and +6.9
      (x10(-3)), each respectively associated with one of the four lifetime components.
      These results demonstrate how the use of TR-CPP can facilitate the study of
      proteins with multiple lumiphores.

PMID- 1438205
TI  - Cell division arrest induced by phorbol ester in CHO cells overexpressing protein
      kinase C-delta subspecies.
AB  - Several lines of CHO cells stably overexpressing protein kinase C (PKC)
      subspecies to various extents were established by the DNA-mediated transfer. Upon
      treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, the growth of the cells
      expressing the PKC-delta subspecies was markedly inhibited, whereas cell lines
      expressing PKC-alpha, PKC-beta II, and PKC-zeta subspecies were not significantly
      affected. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that all cell lines overexpressing
      PKC-delta subspecies accumulated in G2/M phase in response to phorbol 12
      myristate 13-acetate. In these arrested cells, dikaryons were predominant,
      implying that phorbol ester-induced inhibition of cell division is specific to
      telophase. These results suggest PKC-delta subspecies may play a role in the
      normal cell cycle progression.

PMID- 1438206
TI  - Ser-752-->Pro mutation in the cytoplasmic domain of integrin beta 3 subunit and
      defective activation of platelet integrin alpha IIb beta 3 (glycoprotein IIb
      IIIa) in a variant of Glanzmann thrombasthenia.
AB  - Integrins are membrane receptors which mediate cell-cell or cell-matrix adhesion.
      Integrin alpha IIb beta 3 (glycoprotein IIb-IIIa) acts as a fibrinogen receptor
      of platelets and mediates platelet aggregation. Platelet activation is required
      for alpha IIb beta 3 to shift from noncompetent to competent for binding soluble
      fibrinogen. The steps involved in this transition are poorly understood. We have
      studied a variant of Glanzmann thrombasthenia, a congenital bleeding disorder
      characterized by absence of platelet aggregation and fibrinogen binding. The
      patient's platelets did not bind fibrinogen after platelet activation by ADP or
      thrombin, though his platelets contained alpha IIb beta 3. However, isolated
      alpha IIb beta 3 was able to bind to an Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser affinity column, and
      binding of soluble fibrinogen to the patient's platelets could be triggered by
      modulators of alpha IIb beta 3 conformation such as the Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser peptide
      and alpha-chymotrypsin. These data suggested that a functional Arg-Gly-Asp
      binding site was present within alpha IIb beta 3 and that the patient's defect
      was not secondary to a blockade of alpha IIb beta 3 in a noncompetent
      conformational state. This was evocative of a defect in the coupling between
      platelet activation and alpha IIb beta 3 up-regulation. We therefore sequenced
      the cytoplasmic domain of beta 3, following polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on
      platelet RNA, and found a T-->C mutation at nucleotide 2259, corresponding to a
      Ser-752-->Pro substitution. This mutation is likely to be responsible for the
      uncoupling of alpha IIb beta 3 from cellular activation because (i) it is not a
      polymorphism, (ii) it is the only mutation in the entire alpha IIb beta 3
      sequence, and (iii) genetic analysis of the family showed that absence of the Pro
      752 beta 3 allele was associated with the normal phenotype. Our data thus
      identify the C-terminal portion of the cytoplasmic domain of beta 3 as an
      intrinsic element in the coupling between alpha IIb beta 3 and platelet
      activation.

PMID- 1438207
TI  - Isolation of a wheat cDNA clone for an abscisic acid-inducible transcript with
      homology to protein kinases.
AB  - Increases in the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) initiate water-stress
      responses in plants. We present evidence that a transcript with homology to
      protein kinases is induced by ABA and dehydration in wheat. A 1.2-kilobase cDNA
      clone (PKABA1) was isolated from an ABA-treated wheat embryo cDNA library by
      screening the library with a probe developed by polymerase chain reaction
      amplification of serine/threonine protein kinase subdomains VIb to VIII. The
      deduced amino acid sequence of the PKABA1 clone contains the features of
      serine/threonine protein kinases, including homology with all 12 conserved
      regions of the catalytic domain. PKABA1 transcript levels are barely detectable
      in growing seedlings but are induced dramatically when plants are subjected to
      dehydration stress. The PKABA1 transcript can also be induced by supplying low
      concentrations of ABA, and coordinate increases in ABA levels and PKABA1 mRNA
      occur when seedlings are water-stressed. Identification of this ABA-inducible
      transcript with homology to protein kinases provides a basis for examining the
      role of protein phosphorylation in plant responses to dehydration.

PMID- 1438208
TI  - Cloning and expression of an NADP(+)-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase gene of
      Entamoeba histolytica.
AB  - Ethanol is the major metabolic product of glucose fermentation by the protozoan
      parasite Entamoeba histolytica under the anaerobic conditions found in the lumen
      of the colon. Here an internal peptide sequence determined from a major 39-kDa
      amoeba protein isolated by isoelectric focusing followed by SDS/PAGE was used to
      clone the gene for the E. histolytica NADP(+)-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase
      (EhADH1; EC 1.1.1.2). The EhADH1 clone had an open reading frame that was 360
      amino acids long and encoded a protein of approximately 39 kDa (calculated size).
      EhADH1 showed a 62% amino acid identity with the tetrameric NADP(+)-dependent
      alcohol dehydrogenase of Thermoanaerobium brockii. In contrast, EhADH1 showed a
      15% amino acid identity with the closest human alcohol dehydrogenase. EhADH1
      contained 18 of the 22 amino acids conserved in other alcohol dehydrogenases,
      including glycines involved in binding NAD(P)+ as well as histidine and cysteine
      residues involved in binding the catalytic zinc ion. Like the T. brockii alcohol
      dehydrogenase, EhADH1 lacked a 23-amino acid stretch present in other alcohol
      dehydrogenases that includes four cysteines that bind a second noncatalytic zinc
      ion. An EhADH1-glutathione-S-transferase fusion protein showed the expected
      NADP(+)-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase and NADPH-dependent acetaldehyde
      reductase activities. The enzymatic activities of the EhADH1 fusion protein were
      inhibited by pyrazole and 4-methylpyrazole.

PMID- 1438209
TI  - Homocysteine and other sulfhydryl compounds enhance the binding of lipoprotein(a)
      to fibrin: a potential biochemical link between thrombosis, atherogenesis, and
      sulfhydryl compound metabolism.
AB  - We have previously shown that lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], an atherogenic lipoprotein
      that contains apolipoprotein(a), which shares partial structural homology to
      plasminogen, binds to a plasmin-modified fibrin surface, and we have postulated
      that this interaction may be atherogenic. Moderate elevations in blood
      homocysteine, a relatively common condition, predispose to premature
      atherosclerosis. The reasons for this are not established. We now report that
      homocysteine, at concentrations as low as 8 microM, significantly increases the
      affinity of Lp(a) for fibrin. Homocysteine induces a 20-fold increase in the
      affinity between Lp(a) and plasmin-treated fibrin and a 4-fold increase with
      unmodified fibrin. Lp(a) binding is inhibited by epsilon-aminocaproic acid,
      indicating lysine binding site specificity. Homocysteine does not enhance the
      binding of Lp(a) to other surface-bound proteins. Cysteine, glutathione, and N
      acetylcysteine also increase the affinity between Lp(a) and fibrin. Homocysteine
      does not affect the binding of low density lipoprotein or plasminogen to fibrin,
      nor does it alter the gel-filtration elution pattern of Lp(a). Immunoblot
      analysis documents the fact that homocysteine partially reduces Lp(a). These
      results suggest that homocysteine alters the intact Lp(a) particle so as to
      increase the reactivity of the plasminogen-like apolipoprotein(a) portion of the
      molecule. The observation that sulfhydryl amino acids increase Lp(a) binding to
      fibrin suggests a biochemical relationship between sulfhydryl compound
      metabolism, thrombosis, and atherogenesis.

PMID- 1438210
TI  - Tagging of plant potyvirus replication and movement by insertion of beta
      glucuronidase into the viral polyprotein.
AB  - Infectious RNA transcripts were generated from full-length cDNA clones of the
      tobacco etch potyvirus genome containing an insertion of the bacterial beta
      glucuronidase (GUS) gene between the polyprotein-coding sequences for the N
      terminal 35-kDa proteinase and the helper component-proteinase. The recombinant
      virus was able to spread systemically in plants and accumulated to a level
      comparable with wild-type tobacco etch potyvirus. Proteolytic processing mediated
      by the 35-kDa proteinase and helper component-proteinase resulted in production
      of an enzymatically active GUS-helper component-proteinase fusion protein. A
      virus passage line that retained the GUS insert after numerous plant-to-plant
      transfers, as well as a line that sustained a deletion of the GUS sequence, was
      recovered. Use of an in situ histochemical GUS assay in time-course experiments
      allowed the visualization of virus activity in single, mechanically inoculated
      leaf epidermal cells, in neighboring epidermal and mesophyll cells, in phloem
      associated cells after long-distance transport, and in cells surrounding vascular
      tissues of organs above and below the site of inoculation. This system represents
      a powerful tool to study plant virus replication, short- and long-distance virus
      movement, and virus-host interactions. Additionally, we show that potyviruses may
      serve as highly efficient, autonomously replicating vectors for the expression of
      foreign genes in plants.

PMID- 1438211
TI  - CD22-mediated stimulation of T cells regulates T-cell receptor/CD3-induced
      signaling.
AB  - Interaction between B lymphocytes and other cell types is mediated in part by the
      B-cell adhesion molecule CD22. Recent work has suggested one of the T-cell
      ligands of B cells to be CD45RO, an isoform of the receptor-linked
      phosphotyrosine phosphatase CD45. Here we demonstrate direct interaction between
      CD22 and several isoforms of CD45, including CD45RO, and propose that the
      interaction may participate in regulation of lymphocyte signaling. Cross-linking
      of CD3 and CD22 T-cell ligands with anti-CD3 antibody and soluble CD22 is shown
      to block anti-CD3-induced intracellular calcium increase and to inhibit tyrosine
      phosphorylation of phospholipase C gamma 1. These effects are consistent with
      those observed upon coligation of CD3 and CD45 with antibody, providing support
      to the possibility that ligand-mediated stimulation of CD45 may result in
      modulation of substrate phosphorylation and lymphocyte activation.

PMID- 1438212
TI  - Relationship of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 sequence heterogeneity to
      stage of disease.
AB  - V3 envelope sequences were determined from amplified human immunodeficiency virus
      type 1 (HIV-1) sequences of uncultivated leukocytes obtained sequentially from
      four infected adults over the course of infection. Lower levels of sequence
      heterogeneity were noted in samples obtained early in HIV-1 infection, prior to
      CD4 depletion, than in samples obtained at later times during disease. The
      pattern of amino acid sequence divergence included nonrandom changes, with
      evidence of sequence variants arising from HIV-1 quasi-species present earlier in
      infection. Consensus sequences for isolates obtained early after infection from
      different patients demonstrated a high level of conservation with one another and
      a consensus sequence for macrophage-tropic HIV-1 isolates. These findings suggest
      that a highly restricted subset of HIV-1 quasi-species can be transmitted and can
      establish infection.

PMID- 1438213
TI  - A periplasmic protein disulfide oxidoreductase is required for transformation of
      Haemophilus influenzae Rd.
AB  - The mutated gene in JG16, a Haemophilus influenzae strain deficient in competence
      induced DNA binding and uptake, was cloned and the wild-type allele was
      sequenced. The gene was shown by Northern analysis to be constitutively expressed
      on a 1.7-kilobase transcript. The gene product was identified as a 20.6-kDa
      protein targeted to the periplasm. The protein contains the sequence Cys-Pro-His
      Cys (CPHC) and is highly similar to two other periplasmic CPHC motif-containing
      proteins: DsbA, an Escherichia coli protein (45% identity, 87% homology) and
      TcpG, a Vibrio cholerae protein (32% identity, 74% homology). Both DsbA and TcpG
      promote disulfide bond formation in periplasmic proteins, are required for pilus
      biogenesis, and, like thioredoxin, are capable of reducing insulin in vitro. The
      Haemophilus protein was shown to complement an E. coli mutation in DsbA and was
      named Por (periplasmic oxidoreductase). In JG16 the competence-dependent
      redistribution of inner membrane proteins did not occur. These findings suggest
      that Por is required for the correct assembly and/or folding of one or more
      disulfide-containing cell envelope protein involved either in competence
      development or in the DNA-binding and -uptake machinery.

PMID- 1438214
TI  - Anthrax toxin protective antigen is activated by a cell surface protease with the
      sequence specificity and catalytic properties of furin.
AB  - Proteolytic cleavage of the protective antigen (PA) protein of anthrax toxin at
      residues 164-167 is necessary for toxic activity. Cleavage by a cellular protease
      at this sequence, Arg-Lys-Lys-Arg, normally follows binding of PA to a cell
      surface receptor. We attempted to identify this protease by determining its
      sequence specificity and catalytic properties. Semi-random cassette mutagenesis
      was used to generate mutants with replacements of residues 164-167 by Arg, Lys,
      Ser, or Asn. Analysis of 19 mutant proteins suggested that lethal factor
      dependent toxicity required the sequence Arg-Xaa-Xaa-Arg. Based on these data,
      three additional mutants were constructed with the sequences Ala-Lys-Lys-Arg, Arg
      Lys-Lys-Ala, and Arg-Ala-Ala-Arg. Of these mutant proteins, Arg-Ala-Ala-Arg was
      toxic, confirming that the cellular protease can recognize the sequence Arg-Xaa
      Xaa-Arg. The mutant containing the sequence Ala-Lys-Lys-Arg was also toxic but
      required > 13 times more protein to produce equivalent toxicity. This sequence
      specificity is similar to that of the ubiquitous subtilisin-like protease furin,
      which is involved in processing of precursors of certain receptors and growth
      factors. Therefore we tested whether a recombinant soluble furin would cleave PA.
      This furin derivative efficiently cleaved native PA and the Arg-Ala-Ala-Arg
      mutant but not the nontoxic PA mutants. In addition, previously identified
      inhibitors of furin blocked cleavage of receptor-bound PA. These data imply that
      furin is the cellular protease that activates PA, and that nearly all cell types
      contain at least a small amount of furin exposed on their cell surface.

PMID- 1438215
TI  - A histidine protein kinase homologue required for regulation of bacterial cell
      division and differentiation.
AB  - Differentiation in the dimorphic bacterium Caulobacter crescentus results from a
      sequence of discontinuous, stage-specific events that leads to the production of
      a stalked cell and a new motile swarmer cell after each asymmetric cell division.
      As reported previously, pseudoreversion analysis of mutations in the pleiotropic
      developmental gene pleC identified three cell division genes: divJ, divK, and
      divL. We show here that one of these genes, divJ, encodes a predicted protein of
      596 residues with an extensive hydrophobic N-terminal region and a C-terminal
      domain containing all of the invariant residues found in the family of bacterial
      histidine protein kinases. Our results also show that divJ is discontinuously
      transcribed early in the swarmer cell cycle during a period that coincides with
      the G1 to S transition. We propose that the DivJ protein is one member of a
      signal transduction pathway regulating the cell cycle and differentiation in
      Caulobacter and that protein modification by phosphorylation may play a central
      role in coupling developmental events to progress through the cell division
      cycle.

PMID- 1438216
TI  - Somatic recombination of heavy chain variable region transgenes with the
      endogenous immunoglobulin heavy chain locus in mice.
AB  - Transgenic lines of mice were derived by using plasmid constructs containing DNA
      encoding an antibody heavy chain variable-diversity-joining region (VH-D-JH) and
      various amounts of 5' and 3' flanking DNA but lacking any repetitive isotype
      switch (S) or constant (C) region DNA. Unexpectedly, many of the antibody VH
      regions expressed by B-cell hybridomas generated from immunized transgenic mice
      were found to be of transgenic origin. Further analyses showed that somatic
      events had generated hybrid genomic loci in the mice containing the transgenic VH
      D-JH gene and plasmid sequences 5' of endogenous heavy chain C region genes.
      Thus, VH-D-JH transgenes lacking S and C region DNA can recombine with endogenous
      Igh DNA, leading to the expression of transgene-encoded antibody.

PMID- 1438217
TI  - Induction of the neural cell adhesion molecule and neuronal aggregation by
      osteogenic protein 1.
AB  - The neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) plays a fundamental role in nervous
      system development and regeneration, yet the regulation of the expression of N
      CAM in different brain regions has remained poorly understood. Osteogenic protein
      1 (OP-1) is a member of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily that is
      expressed in the nervous system. Treatment of the neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid
      cell line NG108-15 for 1-4 days with recombinant human OP-1 (hOP-1) induced
      alterations in cell shape, formation of epithelioid sheets, and aggregation of
      cells into multilayered clusters. Immunofluorescence studies and Western blots
      demonstrated a striking differential induction of the three N-CAM isoforms in hOP
      1-treated cells. hOP-1 caused a 6-fold up-regulation of the 140-kDa N-CAM, the
      isoform showing the highest constitutive expression, and a 29-fold up-regulation
      of the 180-kDa isoform. The 120-kDa isoform was not detected in control NG108-15
      cells but was readily identified in hOP-1-treated cells. Incubation of NG108-15
      cells with an antisense N-CAM oligonucleotide reduced the induction of N-CAM by
      hOP-1 and decreased the formation of multilayered cell aggregates. Anti-N-CAM
      monoclonal antibodies also diminished the formation of multilayered cell
      aggregates by hOP-1 and decreased cell-cell adhesion when hOP-1-treated NG108-15
      cells were dispersed and replated. Thus, hOP-1 produces morphologic changes in
      NG108-15 cells, at least in part, by inducing N-CAM. These observations suggest
      that OP-1 or a homologue may participate in the regulation of N-CAM during
      nervous system development and regeneration.

PMID- 1438219
TI  - Quadruplex structure of d(G3T4G3) stabilized by K+ or Na+ is an asymmetric
      hairpin dimer.
AB  - The ends of chromosomes contain repeats of guanine-rich sequences that can assume
      highly compact conformations and are presumed necessary for their biological role
      in chromosomal stabilization and association. We have investigated the
      conformational behavior of d(G3T4G3) as a function of the addition of either KCl
      or NaCl, in the concentration range of 50-200 mM, by using a spectrum of physical
      techniques and conclude that these salts induce a quadruplex species composed of
      two strands, each in a hairpin conformation. When salt is added, a large positive
      signal appears near 290 nm in the CD spectra. UV thermal denaturation curves show
      a single concentration-dependent transition and provide data for quantitating the
      thermodynamics of quadruplex formation. In electrophoresis experiments, the
      quadruplex structure migrates as a single species and more rapidly than the
      unstructured single strand. NMR spectra in the presence of KCl or NaCl indicate
      that the structure formed is asymmetric. Equilibrium ultracentrifugation studies
      confirm that these quadruplexes are composed of two strands of d(G3T4G3).
      Possible models for this structure are discussed.

PMID- 1438218
TI  - Alternative splicing generates metabotropic glutamate receptors inducing
      different patterns of calcium release in Xenopus oocytes.
AB  - A splice variant of the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) 1a, named
      mGluR1c, was isolated. Compared to mGluR1a, the predicted mGluR1c protein is 302
      amino acids shorter at its C-terminal end. Despite this difference, mGluR1c
      activates phospholipase C in Xenopus oocytes with a pharmacological profile
      identical to that of mGluR1a. However, in contrast to the large fast transient
      responses induced by mGluR1a, mGluR1c receptors elicit a small more slowly
      generated long-lasting oscillatory current, suggesting that these two receptors
      do not generate the same pattern of Ca2+ release in Xenopus oocytes. In situ
      hybridization data show that mGluR1c mRNA is expressed at a lower level than the
      other splice variants of mGluR1. Some differences in the regional distribution of
      these transcripts were observed in the cerebellum, the olfactory bulb, and the
      striatum.

PMID- 1438220
TI  - DnaJ, DnaK, and GrpE heat shock proteins are required in oriP1 DNA replication
      solely at the RepA monomerization step.
AB  - We have found that three Escherichia coli heat shock proteins, DnaK (the hsp70
      homolog), DnaJ, and GrpE, function in oriP1 DNA replication in vitro solely to
      activate DNA binding by the replication initiator protein RepA. Activation
      results from the conversion of P1 or P7 RepA dimers to monomers that bind with
      high affinity to the origin of replication of plasmid P1. Thus, the essential
      role of these three heat shock proteins in this replication system is to change
      the quaternary structure of a single protein, RepA.

PMID- 1438221
TI  - Adaptive cellular interactions in the immune system: the tunable activation
      threshold and the significance of subthreshold responses.
AB  - A major challenge for immunologists is to explain how the immune system adjusts
      its responses to the microenvironmental context in which antigens are recognized.
      We propose that lymphocytes achieve this by tuning and updating their
      responsiveness to recurrent signals. In particular, cellular anergy in vivo is a
      dynamic state in which the threshold for a stereotypic mode of activation has
      been elevated. Anergy is associated with other forms of cellular activity, not
      paralysis. Cells engaged in such subthreshold interactions mediate functions such
      as maintenance of immunological memory and control of infections. In such
      interactions, patterns of signals are recognized and classified and evoke
      selective responses. The robust mechanism proposed for segregation of
      suprathreshold and subthreshold immune responses allows lymphocytes to use
      recognition of self-antigens in executing physiological functions. Autoreactivity
      is allowed where it is dissociated from uncontrolled aggression.

PMID- 1438222
TI  - Uptake of exogenous free cholesterol induces upregulation of tissue factor
      expression in human monocyte-derived macrophages.
AB  - Lipid-laden macrophages present as foam cells may contribute to the
      hyperthrombotic state of human atherosclerotic lesions by the production of
      tissue factor (TF). We investigated the effect of exogenous nonlipoprotein
      cholesterol on the expression of TF by human monocyte-derived macrophages in
      culture. Nonlipoprotein cholesterol at 50 micrograms/ml increased TF activity 4
      fold; TF induction was dose- and time-dependent. Expression of TF activity was
      positively correlated with the free cholesterol content of monocyte-derived
      macrophages, was increased upon inhibition of cholesterol esterification, and
      reflected de novo synthesis of TF protein. TF expression in cholesterol-loaded
      macrophages remained sensitive to stimulation (approximately 12-fold) by
      bacterial lipopolysaccharide, indicating that intracellular free cholesterol and
      lipopolysaccharide act by distinct mechanisms in inducing TF procoagulant
      activity. Our results suggest that loading human monocyte-derived macrophages
      with free cholesterol induces upregulation of TF expression, thereby contributing
      to thrombus formation at sites of plaque rupture.

PMID- 1438223
TI  - Macrophages in Drosophila embryos and L2 cells exhibit scavenger receptor
      mediated endocytosis.
AB  - Mammalian macrophage scavenger receptors exhibit unusually broad binding
      specificity and are implicated in atherosclerosis and host defense. Scavenger
      receptor-like endocytosis was observed in Drosophila melanogaster embryos and in
      primary embryonic cell cultures. This receptor activity was expressed primarily
      by macrophages. The Drosophila Schneider L2, but not the Kc, cell line also
      exhibited a scavenger receptor-mediated endocytic pathway similar to its
      mammalian counterpart. L2 receptors mediated high-affinity internalization and
      subsequent temperature- and chloroquine-sensitive degradation of 125I-labeled
      acetylated low density lipoprotein and displayed characteristic ligand
      specificity. These findings suggest that scavenger receptors mediate important,
      well-conserved functions and raise the possibility that they may be pattern
      recognition receptors that arose early in the evolution of host defense
      mechanisms. They also establish additional systems for the investigation of
      endocytosis in Drosophila and scavenger receptor function in disease, host
      defense, and development.

PMID- 1438224
TI  - Identification of the gene for an Escherichia coli poly(A) polymerase.
AB  - Many bacterial mRNAs, like those of eukaryotes, carry a polyadenylate sequence at
      their 3' termini, but neither the function of the bacterial poly(A) moieties nor
      their biosynthesis have been elucidated. To develop a genetic tool to approach
      the problem of bacterial poly(A) RNA, we have sought to identify the genes
      responsible for mRNA polyadenylylation. A poly(A) polymerase was purified to
      homogeneity from extracts of Escherichia coli and subjected to N-terminal
      sequence analysis. The 25-residue amino acid sequence obtained was used to design
      primers for the amplification of the corresponding coding region by the PCR from
      an E. coli DNA template. A 74-base-pair DNA segment was obtained that matched a
      region in the pcnB locus of E. coli, a gene that had originally been identified
      as controlling plasmid copy number [J. Lopilato, S. Bortner & J. Beckwith (1986)
      Mol. Gen. Genet. 205, 285-290] and was subsequently cloned and sequenced [J. Liu
      & J. S. Parkinson (1989) J. Bacteriol. 171, 1254-1261]. Direct evidence that the
      pcnB locus encodes poly(A) polymerase was provided by the observation that a
      bacterial strain transformed with an inducible expression vector carrying pcnB as
      a translational fusion produced 100-fold elevated levels of poly(A) polymerase
      upon induction. No increased poly(A) polymerase activity was observed in cells
      transformed with expression vectors carrying truncated forms of the pcnB gene.
      The identification of a gene encoding bacterial poly(A) polymerase opens the way
      for the study of the biosynthesis and function of bacterial polyadenylylated
      mRNA.

PMID- 1438226
TI  - Depth, motion, and static-flow perception at metaisoluminant color contrast.
AB  - Many experiments concerned with the role of color in depth and motion perception
      have applied isoluminant random-dot stereograms and cinematograms. The poor
      performance in the absence of luminance contrast has been associated with color
      blindness of stereopsis and motion perception (Livingstone, M.S. & Hubel, D.H.
      (1987) J. Neurosci. 7, 3416-3468). Nevertheless, isoluminant stimuli are not
      fully accepted as appropriate tools in isolating central mechanisms (Logothetis,
      N.K., Schiller, P.H., Charles, E.R. & Hurlbert, A.C. (1990) Science 247, 214
      217). In our experiments we use a broad luminance range to test whether color can
      contribute to a given mechanism when luminance contrast is present but has a
      strong "veto" effect from opposite luminance contrast, a condition we named
      "metaisoluminance." There is no fusion in stereopsis under polarity reversal,
      when only luminance information is given, and reversed-phi phenomenon is
      experienced for motion. As a third "matching" task, we included polarity-reversed
      random-dot Glass-patterns, which exhibit "static flow" and also show pattern
      reversal. We found that color can counteract the effects of polarity reversal by
      restoring stereoscopic fusion and reversed phi motion and does it with increased
      efficiency as the hue contrast increases. We found no such effect of color in
      Glass-patterns. Thus, we showed that the visual system for binocular depth and
      motion perception is not color-blind, although correlated hue information under
      metaisoluminance does not appear to yield shape perception.

PMID- 1438225
TI  - Obliterative bronchiolitis after lung transplantation: a fibroproliferative
      disorder associated with platelet-derived growth factor.
AB  - Fibroproliferative disorders are characterized by accumulations of mesenchymal
      cells and connective tissue in critical locations, leading to organ dysfunction.
      We examined the role of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in the pathogenesis
      of obliterative bronchiolitis, a fibroproliferative process that occurs after
      lung transplantation and results in small airway occlusion. Bronchoalveolar
      lavage fluid from obliterative bronchiolitis patients significantly stimulated
      fibroblast migration, whereas fluid from patient controls did not. Quantitation
      by radioligand binding assay demonstrated increased concentrations of PDGF in
      lavage fluid from obliterative bronchiolitis patients (patients, 104 +/- 26.9 pM;
      controls, 8.4 +/- 6.9 pM; P < 0.01). Heparin affinity, gel filtration, and
      Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of PDGF in lavage fluid.
      Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization studies of histologic sections and
      bronchoalveolar lavage cells suggest that alveolar macrophages are one cellular
      source. Prospective evaluation of sequential bronchoalveolar lavage samples from
      a patient who developed obliterative bronchiolitis demonstrated markedly
      increased PDGF concentrations before the onset of irreversible airflow
      obstruction. These findings are consistent with a role for PDGF in the
      fibroproliferative changes observed in obliterative bronchiolitis.

PMID- 1438227
TI  - Regulation of BALB/c 3T3 fibroblast proliferation by B-myb is accompanied by
      selective activation of cdc2 and cyclin D1 expression.
AB  - The B-myb gene is expressed in many cell types at the G1/S transition of the cell
      cycle. Inhibition of B-myb expression in BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts by introduction
      of a B-myb antisense construct greatly diminished cell proliferation, whereas
      constitutive expression of a human B-myb cDNA in these cells reduced their growth
      factor requirements and induced a transformed phenotype. Constitutive expression
      of B-myb cDNA was accompanied by activation of cyclin D1 and cdc2 expression but
      not of cyclin A and cyclin B. Transfection of BALB/B-myb cells (a cell line
      expressing high levels of exogenous human B-myb) with a cyclin D1 antisense
      construct drastically reduced cloning efficiency of these cells. These results
      suggest that the B-myb-encoded product regulates fibroblast proliferation by
      activating cdc2 and cyclin D1 gene expression and that abnormal expression of
      cyclin D1 might be a step in the process of transformation.

PMID- 1438228
TI  - Transplantation tolerance is unrelated to superantigen-dependent deletion and
      anergy.
AB  - C57BL/6 (B6; I-E-, Mls-2b) nude mice, reconstituted at birth with thymic
      epithelium (TE) from BALB/c (BA; I-E+, Mls-2a) day 10 embryos (E10), permanently
      accepted BALB/c skin, when grafted as adults. T-cell receptor repertoire analyses
      in the periphery of these mice revealed no difference in frequencies of I
      E/superantigen-reactive T-cell receptor V beta families, as compared to chimeras
      constructed with syngeneic B6 E10 TE. T lymphocytes bearing V beta 3, V beta 5,
      and V beta 11 T-cell receptors, from either allogeneic or syngeneic TE chimeras,
      responded equally well to in vitro receptor-dependent stimulation. Similar
      results were obtained with nude mice reconstituted at birth with E14 thymuses,
      already colonized by hemopoietic cells. These observations indicate that neither
      TE cells nor the progenies of hemopoietic precursors that colonize the thymus up
      to E14 express or functionally present the superantigens addressed here; it
      follows that tolerance to skin grafts and superantigen-related T-cell deletions
      are unrelated phenomena.

PMID- 1438229
TI  - Cloning and sequencing of a trophoblast-endothelial-activated lymphocyte surface
      protein: cDNA sequence and genomic structure.
AB  - We have previously described the distribution of a surface glycoprotein
      recognized by monoclonal antibody B721. We now report the molecular
      characterization of this molecule at the protein, cDNA, and genomic level. A 75
      kDa glycoprotein can be immunoprecipitated from B721+ tissues. We have isolated a
      near full-length cDNA containing the complete coding region and a full-length
      genomic clone. We present evidence that this protein has similarity to several
      classes of nuclear transcription factors, particularly the myc family of
      proteins. The 721P protein was found to have a leucine zipper-like structure, a
      possible basic region immediately upstream from the leucine zipper, and a protein
      kinase A phosphorylation site. 721P protein is encoded by a gene distinct from
      any deposited in existing data bases, and displays several features associated
      with proteins involved in signal transduction and gene regulation.

PMID- 1438230
TI  - Chromosomal organization of the heavy chain variable region gene segments
      comprising the human fetal antibody repertoire.
AB  - The adult repertoire of antibody specificities is acquired in a developmentally
      programmed fashion that, in mouse and man, parallels the ordered rearrangement of
      a limited number of germ-line heavy chain variable region (VH) gene segments
      during development. It has been hypothesized that this developmental bias is a
      consequence of gene organization. In the mouse, rearrangement of VH gene segments
      proximal to the heavy chain joining region (JH) locus precedes rearrangement of
      genes located more distal to the JH locus. Similarly, in man, two VH elements
      located proximal to JH are expressed during fetal development. To test further
      this hypothesis in man, we have determined in a single individual the positions
      of an additional eight distinct VH elements known to comprise a significant
      fraction of the human developmental repertoire. These developmentally expressed
      VH elements were found to be dispersed over a region of 890 kilobases of the VH
      locus and were interspersed with other VH elements that are not known to be
      developmentally expressed. Thus, the ordered developmental expression of VH gene
      segments in man must involve mechanisms beyond physical proximity to the JH
      locus. Further, these results support the notion that fetal expression of VH gene
      segments is a regulated process and suggest that this regulation is important in
      the acquisition of immunocompetence.

PMID- 1438231
TI  - Functional erythroid promoters created by interaction of the transcription factor
      GATA-1 with CACCC and AP-1/NFE-2 elements.
AB  - We have investigated interactions between the erythroid transcription factor GATA
      1 and factors binding two cis-acting elements commonly linked to GATA sites in
      erythroid control elements. GATA-1 is present at all stages of erythroid
      differentiation, is necessary for erythropoiesis, and binds sites in all
      erythroid control elements. However, minimal promoters containing GATA-1 sites
      are inactive when tested in erythroid cells. Based on this observation, two
      erythroid cis elements, here termed CACCC and AP-1/NFE-2, were linked to GATA
      sites in minimal promoters. None of the elements linked only to a TATA box
      created an active promoter, but GATA sites linked to either CACCC or AP-1/NFE-2
      elements formed strong erythroid promoters. A mutation of T to C at position -175
      in the gamma-globin promoter GATA site, associated with hereditary persistence of
      fetal hemoglobin (HPFH), increased expression of these promoters in both fetal
      and adult cells. A construct bearing the beta-globin CACCC element was more
      active in adult and less active in fetal erythroid cells, when compared with the
      gamma-globin CACCC element. These studies suggest that erythroid control elements
      are formed by the interactions of at least three transcription factors, none of
      which functions alone.

PMID- 1438232
TI  - Alpha-crystallin can function as a molecular chaperone.
AB  - The alpha-crystallins (alpha A and alpha B) are major lens structural proteins of
      the vertebrate eye that are related to the small heat shock protein family. In
      addition, crystallins (especially alpha B) are found in many cells and organs
      outside the lens, and alpha B is overexpressed in several neurological disorders
      and in cell lines under stress conditions. Here I show that alpha-crystallin can
      function as a molecular chaperone. Stoichiometric amounts of alpha A and alpha B
      suppress thermally induced aggregation of various enzymes. In particular, alpha
      crystallin is very efficient in suppressing the thermally induced aggregation of
      beta- and gamma-crystallins, the two other major mammalian structural lens
      proteins. alpha-Crystallin was also effective in preventing aggregation and in
      refolding guanidine hydrochloride-denatured gamma-crystallin, as judged by
      circular dichroism spectroscopy. My results thus indicate that alpha-crystallin
      refracts light and protects proteins from aggregation in the transparent eye lens
      and that in nonlens cells alpha-crystallin may have other functions in addition
      to its capacity to suppress aggregation of proteins.

PMID- 1438233
TI  - ATPase activity of transcription-termination factor rho: functional dimer model.
AB  - Transcription-termination factor rho of Escherichia coli functions as an RNA
      dependent ATPase that causes transcript release at specific rho-dependent
      termination sites on the DNA template. Rho exists as a hexagon of identical
      subunits, physically organized as a trimer of dimers with D3 symmetry. The
      structural asymmetry of the dimer is reflected in the binding properties of rho;
      each dimer has a strong and a weak binding site for both the ATP substrate and
      the RNA cofactor. Here we use homopolynucleotides in competition and
      complementation experiments to characterize the ATPase activation properties of
      the cofactor binding sites of the functional rho dimer. We show that (i) no
      ATPase activity is observed unless both the high- and the low-affinity cofactor
      binding sites of the functional rho dimer are occupied; (ii) saturating levels of
      poly(rC), poly(rC) in combination with poly(rU), or poly(rU) alone can fully
      activate the ATPase of rho; and (iii) poly(dC) can serve as a fully competitive
      inhibitor of half of the ATPase activity of rho when one of the cofactor sites is
      filled with poly(rC). These observations lead to a set of phenomenological rules
      that describe the cofactor dependence of the ATPase activation of the functional
      dimer of rho and help to define a mechanistic basis for interpreting rho function
      in termination.

PMID- 1438234
TI  - CDC46/MCM5, a yeast protein whose subcellular localization is cell cycle
      regulated, is involved in DNA replication at autonomously replicating sequences.
AB  - Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells containing mutations in the cell-division-cycle
      gene CDC46 arrest with a large bud and a single nucleus with unreplicated DNA at
      the non-permissive temperature. This G1/S arrest, together with the increased
      rates of mitotic chromosome loss and recombination phenotype, suggests that these
      mutants are defective in DNA replication. The subcellular localization of the
      CDC46 protein changes with the cell cycle; it is nuclear between the end of M
      phase and the G1/S transition but is cytoplasmic in other phases of the cell
      cycle. Here we show that CDC46 is identical to MCM5, based on complementation
      analysis of the mcm5-1 and cdc46-1 alleles, complementation of the minichromosome
      maintenance defect of mcm5-1 by CDC46, and the genetic linkage of these two
      genes. Like mcm5-1, cdc46-1 and cdc46-5 also show a minichromosome maintenance
      defect thought to be associated with DNA replication initiation at autonomously
      replicating sequences. Taken together, these observations suggest that CDC46/MCM5
      acts during a very narrow window at the G1/S transition or the beginning of S
      phase by virtue of its nuclear localization to effect the initiation of DNA
      replication at autonomously replicating sequences.

PMID- 1438235
TI  - The (4;11)(q21;q23) chromosome translocations in acute leukemias involve the VDJ
      recombinase.
AB  - Chromosomal region 11q23 is frequently rearranged in acute lymphocytic leukemias
      (ALLs) and in acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs), mostly in reciprocal exchanges with
      various translocation partners. The most common of these translocations is
      t(4;11)(q21;q23). It is present in approximately 10% of ALL patients, most
      frequently in very young children. We have recently cloned a region of chromosome
      11, the ALL-1 locus, found to be rearranged in malignant cells from patients with
      the t(4;11), t(9;11), t(11;19), t(1;11), t(6;11), t(10;11), and del(11q23)
      chromosomal abnormalities. Here we report the cloning and characterization of
      chromosomal breakpoints from leukemic cells with t(4;11) aberrations. The
      breakpoints cluster in regions of 7-8 kilobases on both chromosomes 4 and 11. The
      presence of heptamer- and nonamer-like sequences at the sites of breakage
      suggests that the VDJ recombinase utilized for immunoglobulin gene rearrangement
      is also directly involved in these translocations. We also show that leukemic
      cells with t(4;11) express altered RNAs transcribed from the derivative
      chromosomes 11 and 4.

PMID- 1438236
TI  - Variations in patterns of DNA damage induced in human colorectal tumor cells by 5
      fluorodeoxyuridine: implications for mechanisms of resistance and cytotoxicity.
AB  - We have previously shown that treatment of the HT29 human colorectal tumor (HCT)
      cell line with 100 nM 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (FdUrd) induces DNA fragments ranging
      from 50 kilobases to 5 megabases. The studies reported here were conducted to
      characterize the kinetics, concentration dependence, and pharmacologic
      specificity of this process and to determine if such fragmentation varies among
      HCT cell lines. HT29 and SW620 cells yielded similar fragment size distributions
      upon treatment with either FdUrd or CB3717 [a folate analog inhibitor of
      thymidylate synthase (TS)]. With either of these agents the SW620 line required
      higher drug concentrations or longer incubation times than HT29 cells to achieve
      a given level of fragmentation or cytotoxicity, even though the two cell lines
      are equally sensitive to FdUrd-induced TS inhibition. These data indicate that
      SW620 resistance is not due to a lesion in the events leading up to TS inhibition
      but it may be due to a difference in the steps following TS inhibition.
      Aphidicolin, a DNA polymerase inhibitor, did not cause substantial fragmentation
      or cytotoxicity in these two cell lines, demonstrating that the fragmentation
      response to the other two drugs is not a general consequence of DNA synthesis
      inhibition. A third HCT line, HuTu80, gave rise only to a smaller and more
      discrete population of DNA fragments, ranging from approximately 50 to 200
      kilobases, following exposure to FdUrd. Similar patterns were seen in this line
      upon treatment with CB3717 or aphidicolin, indicating that this fragmentation
      pattern is not specific to TS inhibition and may be characteristic of a more
      general response than that seen in the other two cell lines. DNA fragments
      induced by FdUrd in HuTu80 cells did not degrade into smaller pieces,
      demonstrating that the process by which they are formed is distinct from
      apoptosis. We conclude that the responses of HCT cells to FdUrd-induced TS
      inhibition vary significantly, that these differences may reflect heterogeneity
      in the mechanism of DNA damage formation, and that, in some cases, FdUrd
      resistance may be due to alterations in the fragmentation process.

PMID- 1438237
TI  - Supercoiled DNA wraps around the bacteriophage phi 29 head-tail connector.
AB  - Supercoiled pBR322 DNA wraps around the outside of the isolated Bacillus subtilis
      bacteriophage phi 29 head-tail connector, the crux of the DNA packaging machine
      of the viral precursor capsid or prohead. The contour length of the supercoiled
      DNA, determined by EM, decreased by approximately 180 base pairs for each
      connector bound. Mass and radial density determinations by scanning transmission
      EM showed that the increased mass of the connector-DNA complex relative to the
      connector alone was equivalent to approximately 170 base pairs of DNA and was
      located around the outside of the connector. Topoisomerase I treatment of the
      complexes followed by deproteinization suggested that supercoils were restrained
      by the connectors. Connectors bound linear and open-circular plasmid DNAs
      inefficiently but were not wrapped by these DNAs. The wrapping of supercoiled DNA
      around the isolated phi 29 connector is hypothesized to reflect the initiation
      phase of the normal process of DNA packaging. Packaging substrates would be
      supercoiled, wrapped by the connector, linearized, and translocated by rotation
      of the connector relative to the viral capsid with the aid of ATP hydrolysis.

PMID- 1438238
TI  - Differential regulation of neuropeptide mRNA expression in intrastriatal striatal
      transplants by host dopaminergic afferents.
AB  - The effects of dopamine-specific manipulations on neuropeptide gene expression in
      intrastriatal grafts of fetal striatal tissue were studied by quantitative in
      situ hybridization histochemistry, using 35S-labeled oligonucleotide probes.
      Messenger RNA transcripts for the striatal neuropeptides preproenkephalin (PPE)
      and preprotachykinin (PPT) were detected in neurons forming discrete patches in
      the striatal grafts. The relative abundance of PPE and PPT mRNA-expressing
      neurons within the graft patches (51-54%) was similar to that found in normal
      caudate-putamen. In specimens with intact dopamine afferents the expression of
      PPE mRNA in grafted neurons was similar to that found in normal caudate putamen,
      whereas the hybridization signal for PPT mRNA was 27% higher in the graft neurons
      than in the normal caudate-putamen. Removal of host dopaminergic afferents by 6
      hydroxydopamine lesions of the ipsilateral mesostriatal dopamine pathway
      increased the hybridization signal for PPE mRNA both in the grafts (+84%) and in
      the spared ipsilateral host caudate-putamen (+125%), whereas the PPT signal was
      reduced by 53% in the grafts and by 51% in the remaining host caudate-putamen.
      Similarly, chronic treatment of grafted animals with the dopamine receptor
      antagonist haloperidol (2 mg/kg per day for 10 days) produced a 146% increase in
      the PPE signal in the grafts and a 175% increase in the intact contralateral
      caudate-putamen, whereas the signal for PPT mRNA was again decreased by 52% and
      51% in the grafts and host caudate-putamen, respectively. These results show that
      the host nigrostriatal dopamine pathway differentially regulates enkephalin and
      substance P gene expression within striatal grafts and thereby exerts a tonic
      functional influence over grafted striatal neurons.

PMID- 1438239
TI  - Switch in glutamate receptor subunit gene expression in CA1 subfield of
      hippocampus following global ischemia in rats.
AB  - Severe, transient global ischemia of the brain induces delayed damage to specific
      neuronal populations. Sustained Ca2+ influx through glutamate receptor channels
      is thought to play a critical role in postischemic cell death. Although most
      kainate-type glutamate receptors are Ca(2+)-impermeable, Ca(2+)-permeable kainate
      receptors have been reported in specific kinds of neurons and glia. Recombinant
      receptors assembled from GluR1 and/or GluR3 subunits in exogenous expression
      systems are permeable to Ca2+; heteromeric channels containing GluR2 subunits are
      Ca(2+)-impermeable. Thus, altered expression of GluR2 in development or following
      a neurological insult or injury to the brain can act as a switch to modify Ca2+
      permeability. To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying delayed
      postischemic cell death, GluR1, GluR2, and GluR3 gene expression was examined by
      in situ hybridization in postischemic rats. Following severe, transient forebrain
      ischemia GluR2 gene expression was preferentially reduced in CA1 hippocampal
      neurons at a time point that preceded their degeneration. The switch in
      expression of kainate/AMPA receptor subunits coincided with the previously
      reported increase in Ca2+ influx into CA1 cells. Timing of the switch indicates
      that it may play a causal role in postischemic cell death.

PMID- 1438240
TI  - Analogs of palmitoyl-CoA that are substrates for myristoyl-CoA:protein N
      myristoyltransferase.
AB  - Saccharomyces cerevisiae myristoyl-CoA:protein N-myristoyltransferase (Nmt1p; EC
      2.3.1.97) is an essential enzyme that is highly selective for myristoyl-CoA in
      vivo. It is unclear why myristate (C14:0), a rare cellular fatty acid, has been
      selected for this covalent protein modification over more abundant fatty acids
      such as palmitate (C16:0), nor is it obvious how the enzyme's acyl-CoA binding
      site is able to discriminate between these two fatty acids. Introduction of a cis
      double bond between C5 and C6 of palmitate [(Z)-5-hexadecenoic acid] or a triple
      bond between C4 and C5 or C6 and C7 (Y4- and Y6-hexadecenoic acids) yields
      compounds that, when converted to their CoA derivatives, approach the activity of
      myristoyl-CoA as Nmt1p substrates in vitro. Kinetic studies of 42 C12-C18 fatty
      acids containing triple bonds, para-phenylene, or a 2,5-furyl group, as well as
      cis and trans double bonds, suggest that the geometry of the enzyme's acyl-CoA
      binding site requires that the acyl chain of active substrates assume a bent
      conformation in the vicinity of C5. Moreover, the distance between C1 and the
      bend appears to be a critical determinant for optimal positioning of the acyl-CoA
      in this binding site so that peptide substrates can subsequently bind in the
      sequential ordered bi-bi reaction mechanism. Identification of active,
      conformationally restricted analogs of palmitate offers an opportunity to
      "convert" wild-type or mutant Nmts to palmitoyltransferases so that they can
      deliver these C16 fatty acids to critical N-myristoylproteins in vivo. nmt181p
      contains a Gly-451-->Asp mutation, which causes a marked reduction in the
      enzyme's affinity for myristoyl-CoA. Strains of S. cerevisiae containing nmt1-181
      exhibit temperature-sensitive myristic acid auxotrophy: their complete growth
      arrest at 37 degrees C is relieved when the medium is supplemented with 500
      microM C14:0 but not with C16:0. The CoA derivatives of (Z)-5-hexadecenoic and Y6
      hexadecynoic acids are as active substrates for the mutant enzyme as myristoyl
      CoA at 24 degrees C. However, unlike C16:0, they produce growth arrest of nmt181p
      producing cells at this "permissive" temperature, suggesting that these C16 fatty
      acids do not allow expression of the biological functions of essential S.
      cerevisiae N-myristoylproteins.

PMID- 1438241
TI  - Chimeric gag-V3 virus-like particles of human immunodeficiency virus induce virus
      neutralizing antibodies.
AB  - A 41-kDa unprocessed human immunodeficiency virus 2 (HIV-2) gag precursor protein
      that has a deletion of a portion of the viral protease assembles as virus-like
      particles by budding through the cytoplasmic membrane of recombinant baculovirus
      infected insect cells. We have constructed six different combinations of chimeric
      genes by coupling the truncated HIV-2 gag gene to the neutralizing domain (V3) or
      the neutralizing and the CD4 binding domains (V3+CD4BD) of gp120 env gene
      sequences from HIV-1 or HIV-2. The env gene sequences were inserted either into
      the middle of the gag gene or at the 3' terminus of the gag gene. Virus-like
      particles were formed by chimeric gene products only when the env gene sequences
      were linked to the 3' terminus of the gag gene. Insertion of env gene sequence in
      the middle of the gag gene resulted in high-level chimeric gene expression but
      without the formation of virus-like particles. Three different chimeric genes
      [gag gene with HIV-1 V3 (1V3), gag gene with HIV-2 V3 (2V3), and gag gene with
      HIV-2 V3+CD4BD (2V3+CD4BD)] formed virus-like particles that were secreted into
      the cell culture medium. In contrast, the HIV-1 V3+CD4BD/HIV-2 gag construct did
      not form virus-like particles. The chimeric gag-env particles had spherical
      morphology and the size was slightly larger than that of the gag particles, but
      the chimeric particles were similar to the mature HIV particles. Western blot
      analysis showed that the gag-env chimeric proteins were recognized by antibodies
      in HIV-positive human serum and rabbit anti-gp120 serum. Rabbit anti-gag 1V3 and
      anti-gag 2V3 sera reacted with authentic gp120 of HIV-1 and HIV-2, respectively,
      and neutralized homologous HIV infectivity. Our results show that precursor gag
      protein has potential as a carrier for the presentation of foreign epitopes in
      good immunological context. The gag protein is highly immunogenic and has the
      ability to carry large foreign inserts; as such, it offers an attractive approach
      for HIV vaccine development.

PMID- 1438242
TI  - Construction and characterization of chimeric tick-borne encephalitis/dengue type
      4 viruses.
AB  - Dengue type 4 virus (DEN4) cDNA was used as a vector to express genes of the
      distantly related tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). Full-length chimeric
      TBEV/DEN4 cDNAs were constructed by substituting TBEV genes coding for proteins
      such as capsid (C); pre-membrane, which is the precursor of membrane (M);
      envelope (E); or nonstructural protein NS1 for the corresponding DEN4 sequences.
      RNA transcripts prepared from cDNAs were used to transfect permissive simian
      cells. Two viable chimeric viruses that contained TBEV CME or ME genes were
      recovered. Compared with DEN4, chimeric TBE(ME)/DEN4 virus [designated
      vTBE(ME)/DEN4] produced larger plaques and grew to higher titer in simian cells.
      In contrast, vTBE(ME)/DEN4 produced smaller plaques on mosquito cells and grew to
      lower titer than DEN4. Analysis of viral RNA and proteins produced in
      vTBE(ME)/DEN4- and DEN4-infected mosquito or simian cells revealed that the
      chimera was restricted in its ability to enter and replicate in mosquito cells.
      In contrast, vTBE(ME)/DEN4 entered simian cells efficiently and its RNA was
      replicated more rapidly in these cells than was parental DEN4 RNA. Following
      intracerebral inoculation, vTBE(ME)/DEN4 caused fatal encephalitis in both
      suckling and adult mice, while nearly all mice inoculated by the same route with
      DEN4 did not develop disease. Unlike wild-type TBEV, vTBE(ME)/DEN4 did not cause
      encephalitis when adult mice were inoculated by a peripheral route. Adult mice
      previously inoculated with the chimera by a peripheral route were completely
      resistant to subsequent intraperitoneal challenge with 10(3) times the median
      lethal dose of TBEV, whereas mice previously inoculated with DEN4 were not
      protected. These findings indicate that (i) the TBEV M and E genes of the
      chimeric virus are major protective antigens and induce resistance to lethal TBEV
      challenge and (ii) other regions of the TBEV genome are essential for the ability
      of this virus to spread from a peripheral site to the brain. Success in
      constructing a viable TBEV/DEN4 chimera that retains the protective antigens of
      TBEV but lacks its peripheral invasiveness provides a strategy for the
      development of live attenuated TBEV vaccines.

PMID- 1438243
TI  - A synthetic peptide inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus replication:
      correlation between solution structure and viral inhibition.
AB  - A peptide designated DP-107 was synthesized containing amino acid residues 558
      595 of the envelope glycoprotein gp160 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1
      strain LAI (HIV-1LAI). Algorithms for secondary structure have predicted that
      this region of the envelope transmembrane protein should form an extended alpha
      helix. Consistent with this prediction, analysis by circular dichroism (CD)
      indicated that, under physiological conditions, DP-107 is approximately 85%
      helical. The high degree of stable secondary structure in a synthetic peptide of
      this size suggests self-association typical of a coiled coil or leucine zipper.
      In biological assays, the peptide efficiently blocked virus-mediated cell-cell
      fusion processes as well as infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells by
      both prototypic and primary isolates of HIV-1. A single amino acid substitution
      in the peptide greatly destabilized its solution structure as measured by CD and
      abrogated its antiviral activity. An analogue containing a terminal cysteine was
      oxidized to form a dimer, and this modification lowered the dose required for
      antiviral effect from 5 to about 1 microgram/ml. These results suggest that both
      oligomerization and ordered structure are necessary for biological activity. They
      provide insights also into the role of this region in HIV infection and the
      potential for development of a new class of antiviral agents.

PMID- 1438244
TI  - High- and low-affinity binding of GRO alpha and neutrophil-activating peptide 2
      to interleukin 8 receptors on human neutrophils.
AB  - GRO alpha and neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (NAP-2), like their analog
      interleukin 8 (IL-8), are considered to be inflammatory mediators since they
      recruit and activate neutrophil leukocytes. After introduction of tyrosines by
      substitution for other residues at the C terminus, GRO alpha and NAP-2 were
      labeled with 125I and used for binding studies. A total of 60,000-90,000
      receptors per neutrophil were found for either ligand. Of these 30-45% were of
      high affinity with a mean Kd value of 0.3 and 0.7 nM for GRO alpha and NAP-2,
      respectively, and 55-70% of low affinity (Kd = 30 nM). Two proteins of
      approximately 70 kDa and 44 kDa (p70 and p44) were specifically cross-linked with
      labeled GRO alpha, NAP-2, and IL-8. Unlabeled IL-8 fully inhibited this cross
      linking and the binding of labeled GRO alpha or NAP-2 to the high-affinity sites
      on neutrophils or neutrophil membranes. Treatment of membranes with digitonin
      resulted in the preferential solubilization of a single receptor species,
      corresponding to p44, that bound GRO alpha and NAP-2 with low affinity (Kd = 30
      nM) and IL-8 with high affinity (Kd = 0.4 nM). Exposure of neutrophil membranes
      to 100 microM guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate led to a 75-fold increase of
      the Kd in approximately 60% of the IL-8 receptors. High-affinity receptors for
      GRO alpha and NAP-2 were similarly affected. In contrast, guanosine 5'-[gamma
      thio]triphosphate had no effect on the binding of IL-8 to p44 solubilized by
      digitonin. These results demonstrate that human neutrophils bear two classes of
      receptors for GRO alpha, NAP-2, and IL-8 (p70 and p44) that may differ in their
      mode of interaction with GTP regulatory proteins.

PMID- 1438245
TI  - Functional interactions between putative intramembrane charged residues in the
      lactose permease of Escherichia coli.
AB  - Using a lactose permease mutant devoid of Cys residue ("C-less permease"), we
      systematically replaced putative intramembrane charged residues with Cys.
      Individual replacements for Asp-237, Asp-240, Glu-269, Arg-302, Lys-319, His-322,
      Glu-325, or Lys-358 abolish active lactose transport. When Asp-237 and Lys-358
      are simultaneously replaced with Cys and/or Ala, however, high activity is
      observed. Therefore, when either Asp-237 or Lys-358 is replaced with a neutral
      residue, leaving an unpaired charge, the permease is inactivated, but neutral
      replacement of both residues yields active permease [King, S. C., Hansen, C. L. &
      Wilson, T. H. (1991) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1062, 177-186]. Remarkably, moreover,
      when Asp-237 is interchanged with Lys-358, high activity is observed. The
      observations provide a strong indication that Asp-237 and Lys-358 interact to
      form a salt bridge. In addition, the data demonstrate that neither residue nor
      the salt bridge plays an important role in the transport mechanism. Thirteen
      additional double mutants were constructed in which a negative and a positively
      charged residue were replaced with Cys. Only Asp-240-->Cys/Lys-319-->Cys exhibits
      significant activity, accumulating lactose to 25-30% of the steady state observed
      with C-less permease. Replacing either Asp-240 or Lys-319 individually with Ala
      also inactivates the permease, but double mutants with neutral substitutions (Cys
      and/or Ala) at both positions exhibit essentially the same activity as Asp-240-
      >Cys/Lys-319-->Cys. In marked contrast to Asp-237 and Lys-358, interchanging Asp
      240 and Lys-319 abolishes active lactose transport. The results demonstrate that
      Asp-240 and Lys-319, like Asp-237 and Lys-358, interact functionally and may form
      a salt bridge. However, the interaction between Asp-240 and Lys-319 is clearly
      more complex than the interaction between Asp-237 and Lys-358. In any event, the
      findings suggest that putative transmembrane helix VII lies next to helices X and
      XI in the tertiary structure of lactose permease.

PMID- 1438246
TI  - Homozygous deletions within human chromosome band 9p21 in melanoma.
AB  - Genetic studies have implicated the early involvement of a gene on chromosome arm
      9p in the development of cutaneous melanoma. We have performed loss-of
      heterozygosity studies to confirm these original findings and identify the most
      frequently rearranged or deleted region of 9p. Eight markers were analyzed,
      including (from 9pter to proximal 9q) D9S33, the beta-interferon (IFNB1) locus,
      the alpha-interferon (IFNA) gene cluster, D9S126, D9S3, D9S19, the glycoprotein 4
      beta-galactosyltransferase (GGTB2) gene, and the argininosuccinate synthetase
      pseudogene 3 (ASSP3). Two or more of these loci were found to be hemizygously
      reduced in 12 of 14 (86%) informative metastatic melanoma tumor and cell line
      DNAs, and homozygous deletions of the marker D9S126 were observed in 2 of 20
      (10%) melanoma cell lines. These findings have resulted in the identification of
      a small critical region of 2-3 megabases on 9p21 in which a putative melanoma
      tumor-suppressor gene appears likely to reside. Several 9p candidate genes,
      including IFNB1, the IFNA gene cluster, GGTB2, and the tyrosinase-related protein
      (TYRP) locus, have all been eliminated as potential targets because they are
      located outside of the homozygously deleted regions.

PMID- 1438247
TI  - Construction of chimeric vaccinia viruses by molecular cloning and packaging.
AB  - Foreign DNA was inserted into unique restriction endonuclease cleavage sites (Sma
      I or Not I) of the 200,000-base-pair vaccinia virus genome by direct molecular
      cloning. The modified vaccinia virus DNA was packaged in fowlpox virus-infected
      avian cells, and chimeric vaccinia virus was isolated from mammalian cells not
      supporting the growth of the fowlpox helper virus. In contrast to the classical
      "in vivo" recombination technique, chimeric viruses with inserts in both possible
      orientations and families of chimeras with multiple inserts were obtained. The
      different genomic configurations of chimeric viruses provide a broader basis for
      screening of optimal viruses. In addition to packaging in avian cells, a second
      packaging procedure for vaccinia DNA, based on the abortive infection of
      mammalian cells with the fowlpox helper virus, was developed. This procedure
      permits simultaneous packaging and host-range selection for the packaged virus.
      The cloning/packaging procedure allows the direct insertion of foreign DNA
      without the need for plasmids having flanking regions homologous to viral
      nonessential regions and is independent of inefficient in vivo recombination
      events. By direct cloning and packaging, about 5-10% of the total vaccinia virus
      yield consisted of chimeras. The procedure is, therefore, a useful tool in
      molecular virology.

PMID- 1438248
TI  - Distribution of mRNA of a Na(+)-independent neutral amino acid transporter cloned
      from rat kidney and its expression in mammalian tissues and Xenopus laevis
      oocytes.
AB  - The Na(+)-independent neutral amino acid transporter (NAA-Tr) that we had
      previously cloned from rat kidney has been investigated with respect to its
      distribution in mammalian tissues and cells. By Northern blot analysis and RNase
      protection assay, a 2.4-kilobase (kb) mRNA in rat intestine was found to be
      identical to that in rat kidney. Of the other rat tissues examined, only brain
      and heart were found to contain mRNAs related to kidney NAA-Tr by Northern assay.
      However, these were larger (approximately 5 and approximately 7 kb). Mouse and
      rabbit kidney also contain mRNAs of 2.4 kb that exhibited a high degree of
      homology with rat kidney NAA-Tr. Of the several cultured cells investigated that
      demonstrated considerable Na(+)-independent neutral amino acid transport
      activity, only human colon carcinoma (Caco) cells were positive by Northern
      assay. The failure to detect NAA-Tr mRNA in many cells and tissues that carry out
      Na(+)-independent transport indicates that unrelated transporters must also
      exist. Cells and tissues that were negative with respect to rat kidney NAA-Tr as
      well as those that were positive transported leucine and tryptophan equally well.
      However, when mRNA from the same cells and tissues was expressed in oocytes, in
      all cases tryptophan was transported far less efficiently than leucine. This
      defect in tryptophan transport is apparently due to aberrant expression of
      neutral amino acid transporters in general in Xenopus oocytes.

PMID- 1438249
TI  - Persistence of Ha-ras-induced metastatic potential of SP1 mouse mammary tumors
      despite loss of the Ha-ras shuttle vector.
AB  - Previous studies have shown that the SP1 mouse mammary adenocarcinoma cell line,
      which is tumorigenic but nonmetastatic, acquires metastatic potential when
      transfected with the activated human Ha-ras gene. In addition, the process of
      calcium phosphate-mediated DNA transfection, as well as treatment with the
      calcium ionophore A23187 or with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, can also result
      in heritable changes in the malignant behavior of SP1 cells. It was of interest,
      therefore, to determine whether the metastatic consequences of Ha-ras oncogene
      expression in SP1 cells are a primary effect of the transfected gene or whether
      heritable secondary changes are induced by Ha-ras oncogene expression. In the
      latter case, continued expression of the Ha-ras oncogene would not be required to
      maintain the metastatic phenotype. To test this hypothesis we introduced the Ha
      ras oncogene into SP1 cells on a shuttle vector in which maintenance of the
      vector was dependent on selection for resistance to the antibiotic G418.
      Subclones which had lost the transfected Ha-ras gene were subsequently isolated
      following growth in nonselective medium. The Ha-ras-transfected clones and the
      revertant subclones were found to be equally metastatic, indicating that
      transfection with the Ha-ras gene does induce stable secondary changes in the
      metastatic phenotype of SP1 cells.

PMID- 1438250
TI  - Productive nonlytic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication in a newly
      established human leukemia cell line.
AB  - We have isolated a lymphoid cell line, MDS, from the pleural exudate of a patient
      with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. The cells are biphenotypic, containing
      various T-cell and myeloid markers, and are surface negative for CD4 and CD8 but
      have low CD4 mRNA. The cells grow in suspension with a doubling time of 15 hr,
      have been karyotyped as trisomy 21, are negative for human immunodeficiency virus
      type 1 (HIV-1), and are tumorigenic in the nude mouse. We have isolated two
      stable HIV-1-producing cell lines, MDS-T, by transfecting MDS cells with pHXBc2,
      and MDS-I, by infecting MDS cells with HIV-1IIIB. In 24 hr, 1 x 10(5) MDS-T or
      MDS-I cells produce 46 ng of p24 per ml and reverse transcriptase that is capable
      of incorporating 0.2 pmol of [32P]TTP into oligo(dT).poly(A). Ultrastructural
      studies showed numerous mature viral particles in MDS-T and MDS-I cells that are
      capable of infecting T cells. HIV-1 infection could be inhibited by 25% in the
      MDS cells with the anti-CD4 antibody Leu 3a. For over a year MDS-T and MDS-I
      cells have been producing high concentrations of HIV-1 in culture. A subclone
      derived from the MDS cells behaves like the parent cells when transfected or
      infected with HIV-1. In contrast to other T-cell lines, neither phorbol 12
      myristate 13-acetate nor tumor necrosis factor alpha stimulated the replication
      of HIV-1, whereas bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate or interferon alpha
      caused 50% and 80% inhibition of reverse transcriptase production, respectively.
      These chronically infected T-cell lines are a useful model system to study the
      effect of anti-HIV agents and cellular factors required for HIV-1 replication.

PMID- 1438251
TI  - Identification of a negative regulatory function for steroid receptors.
AB  - This report describes the identification of a negative regulator of estrogen and
      progesterone receptor function. Using a reconstituted estrogen-responsive
      transcription system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we have identified a "repressor
      function," which when mutated, increases the transcriptional activity of the
      estrogen and progesterone receptors. In the case of the estrogen receptor this
      mutation increases the sensitivity of estrogen-mediated activation by at least
      four orders of magnitude. Analysis of derivatives of the estrogen receptor
      indicated that this repressor specifically affects the transcription activity of
      the TAF1 activation domain of the estrogen receptor. The repressor was cloned by
      complementation and identified as SSN6, a previously described mediator of
      glucose repression in yeast. Our results indicate that SSN6 is likely to be
      involved also in the repression of other cellular activators. Interestingly,
      deletion of the SSN6 protein allows the antiestrogens ICI 164384 and nafoxidine
      to behave as more potent agonists of estrogen receptor function, while RU486 also
      becomes a more potent activator of progesterone receptor function. These data
      suggest that in wild-type cells the role of hormone is twofold: it promotes DNA
      binding of the receptor and it also induces a conformational change in the
      receptor which overcomes the effects of this repressor function.

PMID- 1438252
TI  - SpCOUP-TF: a sea urchin member of the steroid/thyroid hormone receptor family.
AB  - Embryonic nuclear proteins from the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus bind
      in vitro to a cis-acting element that lies upstream of the actin gene CyIIIb and
      consists of two direct repeats homologous to steroid hormone response elements.
      This sea urchin element is specifically recognized by transcription factor COUP
      TF from HeLa cell nuclear extracts as well. A sea urchin gene homologous to the
      human COUP-TF1 gene was detected by blot hybridization to S. purpuratus genomic
      DNA. Screening of a genomic DNA library with a human COUP-TF1 cDNA probe produced
      overlapping genomic clones that carry the S. purpuratus gene. Our results
      indicate that the sea urchin homologue has a structure similar to the human COUP
      TF1 gene, i.e., conserved intron positions characteristic of this subgroup of
      steroid hormone receptors. Sequencing of the exons that encode the DNA- and
      ligand-binding domains of the sea urchin protein revealed 96% and 92% amino acid
      identity to the domains of the human protein, respectively. Transcripts derived
      from the S. purpuratus COUP-TF homologous gene were detected in ovarian and
      embryonic RNAs from various stages.

PMID- 1438253
TI  - Phosphatic shell plate of the barnacle Ibla (Cirripedia): a bone-like structure.
AB  - The carbonate apatite crystals and the segmented structure of the shell plates of
      the barnacles in the genus Ibla distinguish them from the shell plates of all
      other barnacles, which are coherent calcitic structures. A detailed study of the
      hierarchical organization of one of the two shell plate types, the tergum,
      reveals a remarkably complex structure. Cylinders composed of a chitin-protein
      complex and nodes of plate-shaped crystals constitute the basic building blocks.
      The crystals are organized into layered stacks in which the c crystallographic
      axes are all aligned perpendicular to a 25-nm banded structure. The cylinders
      are, in turn, ordered in arrays such that parts of each cylinder are aligned in a
      plane, and parts form arcuate out-of-plane structures. The overall result is a
      lamellar structure, with a plywood-like motif, that is present throughout an
      individual segment. A series of segments forms an interlocking mineralized core,
      which is enclosed within a thick organic envelope. The flexible and complex
      skeletal structure of the tergum shows some marked similarities to the structure
      of lamellar bone. Although this is undoubtably a product of convergent evolution,
      the iblid tergum provides a unique perspective on bone structure, which was
      heretofore unavailable.

PMID- 1438254
TI  - Genetic differences at four DNA typing loci in Finnish, Italian, and mixed
      Caucasian populations.
AB  - Highly polymorphic segments of the human genome containing variable numbers of
      tandem repeats (VNTRs) have been widely used to establish DNA profiles of
      individuals for use in forensics. Methods of estimating the probability of
      occurrence of matching DNA profiles between two randomly selected individuals
      have been subject to extensive debate regarding the possibility of significant
      substructure occurring within the major races. We have sampled two Caucasian
      subpopulations, Finns and Italians, at four commonly used VNTR loci to determine
      the extent to which the subgroups differ from each other and from a mixed
      Caucasian database. The data were also analyzed for the occurrence of linkage
      disequilibrium among the loci. The allele frequency distributions of some loci
      were found to differ significantly among the subpopulations in a manner
      consistent with population substructure. Major differences were also found in the
      probability of occurrence of matching DNA profiles between two individuals chosen
      at random from the same subpopulation. With respect to the Finnish and Italian
      subpopulations, the conventional product rule for estimating the probability of a
      multilocus VNTR match using a mixed Caucasian database consistently yields
      estimates that are artificially small. Systematic errors of this type were not
      found using the interim ceiling principle recently advocated in the National
      Research Council's report [National Research Council (1992) DNA Technology in
      Forensic Science (Natl. Acad. Sci., Washington)]. The interim ceiling principle
      is based on currently available racial or ethnic databases and sets an arbitrary
      lower limit on each VNTR allele frequency. In the future the ceiling frequencies
      are expected to be established from more adequate data acquired for relevant VNTR
      loci from multiple subpopulations.

PMID- 1438255
TI  - Eggs, enzymes, and evolution: natural genetic variants change insect fecundity.
AB  - Phosphoglucose isomerase genotypes in the butterfly Colias differ dramatically in
      biochemical properties. These differences were evaluated earlier, using metabolic
      network theory, to predict, successfully, their effects on glycolytic metabolism
      and hence on Colias flight capacity and several consequent fitness components in
      the wild. Female egg-laying, not previously studied, also depends on flight, so
      female fecundity is now predicted to differ among these genotypes. An
      experimental design incorporating the thermal ecology of Colias confirms these
      predictions in a cool habitat. Thus female fecundity differences among animal
      enzyme polymorphs have now been found. Quantitative reconstruction of the
      selection regime for phosphoglucose isomerase genotypes in Colias can now begin.
      The most heat-stable genotypes are the least fecund, suggesting that global
      warming, if it occurs, may have severe impacts, through population genetics, on
      demography of thermally sensitive creatures.

PMID- 1438256
TI  - Calyculin A induces contractile ring-like apparatus formation and condensation of
      chromosomes in unfertilized sea urchin eggs.
AB  - Calyculin A, a protein phosphatase inhibitor, induced cleavage-like morphological
      change in unfertilized sea urchin eggs. A contractile ring-like apparatus
      containing both filamentous actin and myosin was formed in the cleavage furrow.
      Wheat germ agglutinin receptors were also found in the same region. The eggs did
      not develop further after constriction of the ring. No aster-like microtubular
      structure was found in the calyculin A-treated eggs. The cleavage was not
      inhibited by the antimicrotubule drug griseofulvin. Calyculin A also increased
      histone H1 kinase activity and induced chromosome condensation. These changes
      also occurred in the presence of emetine (an inhibitor of protein synthesis) and
      aphidicolin (an inhibitor of DNA synthesis). It is suggested that calyculin A
      induced these changes in the sea urchin eggs by inhibiting the activity of
      protein phosphatase 1.

PMID- 1438257
TI  - Activation of the beta-globin locus control region precedes commitment to the
      erythroid lineage.
AB  - The beta-globin locus control region (LCR) is characterized by erythroid-specific
      DNase I hypersensitive sites and is involved in the chromatin organization,
      transcriptional potentiation, developmental regulation, and replication timing of
      the entire beta-globin gene cluster. When and how the LCR is first activated
      during erythropoiesis is not known. Here we analyze the chromatin structure of
      the LCR during early hematopoietic differentiation using nontransformed,
      multipotential, growth factor-dependent, murine hematopoietic progenitor cells.
      We show that LCR hypersensitive sites characteristic of erythroid cells are
      present in three independent multilineage progenitors [FDCP (factor-dependent
      cell, Paterson)-mix A4, B6SUtA, and LyD9] under conditions of self-renewal.
      Induction of differentiation down a nonerythroid pathway causes a progressive
      loss of hypersensitivity in the LCR. These results show that the beta-globin LCR
      is in an active chromatin configuration prior to erythroid commitment and
      indicate a significant role for selective gene repression in lineage
      specification.

PMID- 1438258
TI  - Activation of kappa B-specific proteins by estradiol.
AB  - The kappa B enhancer serves as a recognition site for the nuclear transcription
      factor NF-kappa B and other kappa B-specific proteins which are activated in many
      cell types in response to a variety of extracellular signals. But a steroid
      dependent activation of NF-kappa B or any other kappa B-specific protein has not
      previously been reported, to our knowledge. In this report we demonstrate that
      estrogen can activate kappa B-specific protein in its target tissue, uterus. We
      have done this by analyzing the interaction of nuclear extracts with kappa B
      enhancers, using DNA mobility shift assays. The activation by estradiol was time
      dependent, reaching a maximum at approximately 2 hr after steroid treatment, and
      was not inhibited by prior cycloheximide treatment. The protein-DNA complexes
      formed in response to estradiol did not contain NF-kappa B and, when compared
      with other kappa B enhancer motifs, had a higher affinity to the kappa B enhancer
      corresponding to the PRDII element present in duplicate motifs. These protein-DNA
      complexes also did not appear to contain estrogen receptor, since antibodies to
      estrogen receptor were without any effect on either their formation or their
      mobility. The protein-DNA complexes formed in response to estradiol, however,
      exhibited a high affinity for the estrogen-responsive element, suggesting the
      participation of an estrogen-receptor-like molecule in the DNA binding. In
      contrast, the protein-DNA complexes formed constitutively contained NF-kappa B,
      had equivalent affinities to various kappa B enhancers, and did not have a high
      affinity for the estrogen-responsive element. On the basis of these findings, we
      propose that estrogen-dependent activation of the as-yet-unidentified kappa B
      specific protein involves the association of this protein with an estrogen
      receptor-related molecule and binding of the resulting complex to PRDII. The high
      affinity and specificity of this binding to PRDII suggests that this may serve as
      a composite regulatory element in mediating estrogen-dependent gene expression.
      The potential significance of such a mechanism for steroid hormone action is
      discussed.

PMID- 1438259
TI  - Roles of bacteriophage T7 gene 4 proteins in providing primase and helicase
      functions in vivo.
AB  - The helicase and primase activities of bacteriophage T7 are distributed between
      the 56- and 63-kDa gene 4 proteins. The 56-kDa gene 4 protein lacks 63 amino
      acids found at the N terminus of the colinear 63-kDa protein and catalyzes
      helicase activity. The 63-kDa gene 4 protein catalyzes both primase and helicase
      activities. A bacteriophage deleted for gene 4, T7 delta 4-1, has been tested for
      growth by complementation on Escherichia coli strains that contain plasmids
      expressing either one or both of the gene 4 proteins. T7 delta 4-1 cannot grow
      (efficiency of plating, 10(-7)) on E. coli cells that express only 56-kDa gene 4
      protein. In contrast, T7 delta 4-1 has an efficiency of plating of 0.1 on an E.
      coli strain that expresses only 63-kDa gene 4 protein in which glycine is
      substituted for methionine at position 64. A bacteriophage, T7 4B-, in which
      methionine at residue 64 is replaced by glycine, expresses only 63-kDa gene 4
      protein. The burst sizes, latency periods, and Okazaki fragment sizes of T7 4B-
      are similar in the presence and absence of the 56-kDa gene 4 protein; however, T7
      4B- has a reduced rate of DNA synthesis when compared with a phage that
      synthesizes both gene 4 proteins.

PMID- 1438260
TI  - Extreme clonal diversity and divergence in populations of a selfing
      hermaphroditic fish.
AB  - Recombination is unknown in natural populations of Rivulus marmoratus, a selfing
      hermaphrodite, and genetic variation is likely due to mutation alone. DNA
      fingerprinting with an array of microsatellite [e.g., (CT)9] and minisatellite
      (e.g., the 33.15 core sequence) probes reveals very high clonal diversity within
      samples of seven Floridian populations, of which five contain about as many
      clones as there are individuals. There are 42 clones among 58 individuals
      surveyed (mean, 1.4 individuals per clone), a level of genetic diversity
      unprecedented among clonal animals. Moreover, all of the probes recognize the
      same clones even though, at high hybridization stringencies, there is little
      overlap in the fingerprint patterns they generate. This suggests that most
      sympatric clones differ by multiple and independent mutational steps. In one
      population studied in detail, the average number of mutational steps separating
      two clones is estimated at 9 or 10 and may be substantially higher. The
      mutational discontinuities among sympatric clones make it unlikely that they
      evolved by accumulation of neutral mutations in populations that are otherwise
      genetically uniform. The data argue that the mixing of unrelated individuals from
      different local populations occurs to an extent previously unappreciated and/or
      that divergence of clones is mediated by natural selection. If confirmed, the
      latter would be a serious challenge to current ideas on the predominant role of
      recombination in promoting the evolution of biological novelty.

PMID- 1438261
TI  - Shared HLA class II-associated genetic susceptibility and resistance, related to
      the HLA-DQB1 gene, in IgA deficiency and common variable immunodeficiency.
AB  - Most cases of selective IgA deficiency (IgA-D) and common variable
      immunodeficiency (CVID) occur sporadically. However, familial clustering is not
      uncommon, and the two disorders can occur within the same family. We have
      previously described positive associations with three DR-DQ haplotypes as well as
      a strong negative association with DRw15,DQw6,Dw2 in IgA-D. Different amino acids
      at position 57 of the HLA-DQ beta chain were found to be related to
      susceptibility and resistance to IgA-D. Now we have found identical, although
      somewhat weaker, positive and negative DR-DQ associations in a large group of
      CVID patients (n = 86), as well as the same associations with codon 57 of the
      DQB1 gene. In addition, we have confirmed our earlier observations in an
      independent group of IgA-D individuals (n = 69), and in sib-pair analysis we have
      found linkage of the genetic susceptibility to IgA-D to the HLA class II region.
      In IgA-D individuals not carrying the three overrepresented DR-DQ haplotypes, the
      same positive association with a non-aspartic acid residue at position 57 of the
      HLA-DQ beta chain was seen. The previously reported associations with deletions
      of the HLA class III genes C4A (fourth component of complement) and CYP21P
      (steroid 21-hydroxylase pseudogene) were, in our groups of immunodeficient
      individuals, statistically secondary to the association with the DQB1 allele
      0201. The shared HLA class II associations in the two humoral immunodeficiencies
      support the hypothesis that IgA-D and CVID are related disorders. Disease
      susceptibility and resistance are most closely associated with a gene(s) within
      the DR-DQ region, alleles of the DQB1 locus being candidate genes.

PMID- 1438262
TI  - A recombinant, soluble, single-chain class I major histocompatibility complex
      molecule with biological activity.
AB  - Heterodimeric class I major histocompatibility complex molecules, which consist
      of a 45-kDa heavy-chain and a 12-kDa beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) light chain,
      bind endogenously synthesized peptides for presentation to antigen-specific T
      cells. We have synthesized a gene encoding a single-chain, soluble class I
      molecule derived from mouse H-2Dd, in which the carboxyl terminus of beta 2m is
      linked via a peptide spacer to the amino terminus of the heavy chain. The
      chimeric protein is secreted efficiently from transfected L cells, is
      thermostable, and when loaded with an appropriate antigenic peptide, stimulates
      an H-2Dd-restricted antigen-specific T-cell hybridoma. Thus, functional binding
      of peptide does not require the complete dissociation of beta 2m, implying that a
      heavy chain/peptide complex is not an obligate intermediate in the assembly of
      the heavy-chain/beta 2m/peptide heterotrimer. Single-chain major
      histocompatibility complex molecules uniformly loaded with peptide have potential
      uses for structural studies, toxin or fluor conjugates, and vaccines.

PMID- 1438263
TI  - Intrahypothalamic injection of a cell line secreting gonadotropin-releasing
      hormone results in cellular differentiation and reversal of hypogonadism in
      mutant mice.
AB  - GT1 is an immortalized cell line that synthesizes and secretes the neurohormone
      gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). We have placed these cells into the brains
      of adult mutant hypogonadal (hpg) mice, which lack a functional GnRH gene, to
      determine whether such cells could differentiate in situ and support gonadal
      development. Immunocytochemical detection of GnRH revealed that these cells
      migrated widely in the central nervous system and elaborated axonal processes
      which on rare occasion projected to the normal target, the median eminence. Using
      a battery of antibodies, we demonstrated that these cells could cleave the GnRH
      precursor and that the amidated decapeptide as well as other cleavage products
      were present. The presence of biologically active material and its appropriate
      secretion were further documented by gonadal growth in both males and females.
      The morphological differentiation of the GT1 cells correlated with the density of
      cells injected. Those remaining within the injection site and/or forming a tumor
      retained a simple, rounded or fibroblastic appearance. Those cells that migrated
      into the host away from such tumors assumed the simple fusiform shape of normal
      GnRH neurons with dendrites extending from one or both poles. When cell density
      was drastically reduced a much more complex dendritic arbor was elaborated. These
      data suggest that such cell lines can be useful in reversing genetic defects and
      in studying such processes as GnRH neuronal migration, axonal targeting, and
      cytological differentiation.

PMID- 1438264
TI  - Role of the 21-kDa protein TIMP-3 in oncogenic transformation of cultured chicken
      embryo fibroblasts.
AB  - The 21-kDa protein is an extracellular matrix (ECM) component whose synthesis is
      stimulated transiently during oncogenic transformation of chicken embryo
      fibroblasts (CEF) or after treatment of normal cells with the tumor promoter
      phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Biochemical characterization indicates that the
      protein is related, but not identical, to two members of the family of tissue
      inhibitors of metalloproteinases, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. The cDNA of the 21-kDa
      protein was recently cloned, and based upon its deduced amino acid sequence and
      other supporting data we propose that it is another member of this family, a TIMP
      3. We now report electrophoretic purification of sufficient quantities of this
      protein to determine its function. The protein promotes the detachment of
      transforming cells from the ECM. Although its presence in the matrix may be
      necessary for cell release it is not the only factor involved because it does not
      influence the adhesive properties of nontransformed cells. It also appears to
      accelerate the morphological changes associated with cell transformation and
      stimulates the proliferation of growth-retarded, nontransformed cells maintained
      under low serum conditions. Based on these data we hypothesize that the 21-kDa
      protein promotes the development of the transformed phenotype in cultured cells.

PMID- 1438265
TI  - Analysis of Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase expression in transgenic mice by
      flow cytometry of sperm.
AB  - Alterations to the mammalian genome that occur during the development of germ
      cells, in particular during meiosis, can be introduced into the population upon
      fertilization. These alterations can occur through homologous recombination,
      genome rearrangement, or mutagenesis. Such events usually occur infrequently for
      any particular sequence. Because of the difficulty in analyzing a large number of
      offspring in a mammalian cross, we have developed a marker to detect these events
      in sperm, since a large number of these meiotic progeny are produced during male
      gametogenesis. We have expressed the Escherichia coli lacZ gene during
      spermatogenesis in transgenic mice and quantitated the levels of beta
      galactosidase activity in single sperm with the fluorescence-activated cell
      sorter and a fluorogenic substrate, 5-dodecanoylaminofluorescein di-beta-D
      galactopyranoside. Detection of rare positives was demonstrated in mixed sperm
      populations with as few as 0.01% positive sperm. Although the distribution of
      beta-galactosidase activity in caudal epididymal sperm populations is bimodal, it
      appears that beta-galactosidase, like other proteins that have been expressed
      postmeiotically, is distributed between transgene-positive and transgene-negative
      sperm.

PMID- 1438266
TI  - Preferential repair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in the transcribed strand of
      a gene in yeast chromosomes and plasmids is dependent on transcription.
AB  - While preferential repair of the transcribed strands within active genes has been
      demonstrated in organisms as diverse as humans and Escherichia coli, it has not
      previously been shown to occur in chromosomal genes in the yeast Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae. We found that repair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in the
      transcribed strand of the expressed RPB2 gene in the chromosome of a repair
      proficient strain is much more rapid than that in the nontranscribed strand.
      Furthermore, a copy of the RPB2 gene borne on a centromeric ARS1 plasmid showed
      the same strand bias in repair. To investigate the relation of this strand bias
      to transcription, we studied repair in a yeast strain with the temperature
      sensitive mutation, rpb1-1, in the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II. When
      exponentially growing rpb1-1 cells are shifted to the nonpermissive temperature,
      they rapidly cease mRNA synthesis. At the permissive temperature, both rpb1-1 and
      the wild-type, parental cells exhibited rapid, proficient repair in the
      transcribed strand of chromosomal and plasmid-borne copies of the RPB2 gene. At
      the nonpermissive temperature, the rate of repair in the transcribed strand in
      rpb1-1 cells was reduced to that in the nontranscribed strand. These findings
      establish the dependence of strand bias in repair on transcription by RNA
      polymerase II in the chromosomes and in plasmids, and they validate the use of
      plasmids for analysis of the relation of repair to transcription in yeast.

PMID- 1438267
TI  - Slp is an essential component of an EDTA-resistant activation pathway of mouse
      complement.
AB  - Slp (sex-limited protein) is a mouse serum protein encoded by a major
      histocompatibility complex class III gene. It is considered to be a product of a
      duplicated complement component C4 gene, but without functional activity.
      Originally it has been found expressed only in adult males with the S region of
      the H-2d or H-2s haplotype. In this report we present evidence that Slp is
      involved in a form of mouse complement activation that occurs after fractionation
      of serum by polyethylene glycol precipitation. This activation pathway is EDTA
      resistant (i.e., independent of classical and alternative pathway activation), is
      regulated by C1 inhibitor, and leads to the generation of hemolytically active
      membrane attack complexes. A positive correlation between this EDTA-resistant
      mouse complement activity and reported Slp levels was found. Direct evidence for
      a functional role of Slp came from substitution experiments in which purified Slp
      induced hemolytic activity in polyethylene glycol-fractionated, Slp-deficient
      mouse serum. Selective depletion of other complement components suggested a role
      for C1s-, C2, and C5, but not C3, in the Slp-dependent complement activation. A
      model for this type of mouse complement activation is presented.

PMID- 1438268
TI  - Non-cyclooxygenase-derived prostanoids (F2-isoprostanes) are formed in situ on
      phospholipids.
AB  - We recently reported the discovery of a series of bioactive prostaglandin F2-like
      compounds (F2-isoprostanes) that are produced in vivo by free radical-catalyzed
      peroxidation of arachidonic acid independent of the cyclooxygenase enzyme.
      Inasmuch as phospholipids readily undergo peroxidation, we examined the
      possibility that F2-isoprostanes may be formed in situ on phospholipids. Initial
      support for this hypothesis was obtained by the finding that levels of free F2
      isoprostanes measured after hydrolysis of lipids extracted from livers of rats
      treated with CCl4 to induce lipid peroxidation were more than 100-fold higher
      than levels in untreated animals. Further, increased levels of lipid-associated
      F2-isoprostanes in livers of CCl4-treated rats preceded the appearance of free
      compounds in the circulation, suggesting that the free compounds arose from
      hydrolysis of peroxidized lipids. This concept was supported by demonstrating
      that free F2-isoprostanes were released after incubation of lipid extracts with
      bee venom phospholipase A2 in vitro. When these lipid extracts were analyzed by
      HPLC, fractions that yielded large quantities of free F2-isoprostanes after
      hydrolysis eluted at a much more polar retention volume than nonoxidized
      phosphatidylcholine. Analysis of these polar lipids by fast atom bombardment mass
      spectrometry established that they were F2-isoprostane-containing species of
      phosphatidylcholine. Thus, unlike cyclooxygenase-derived prostanoids, F2
      isoprostanes are initially formed in situ on phospholipids, from which they are
      subsequently released preformed, presumably by phospholipases. Molecular modeling
      of F2-isoprostane-containing phospholipids reveals them to be remarkably
      distorted molecules. Thus, the formation of these phospholipid species in lipid
      bilayers may contribute in an important way to alterations in fluidity and
      integrity of cellular membranes, well-known sequelae of oxidant injury.

PMID- 1438269
TI  - Role of fibrinogen alpha and gamma chain sites in platelet aggregation.
AB  - Fibrinogen (Fbg) mediates platelet aggregation by its interaction with the
      platelet glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (integrin alpha IIb beta 3). Peptides containing
      the amino acid sequence RGD derived from the alpha chain (residues alpha 95-97
      and residues alpha 572-574) and the sequence HHLGGAKQAGDV derived from the
      carboxyl terminus of the gamma chain of Fbg (residues gamma 400-411) inhibit
      these interactions. To determine the role of these sequences in intact Fbg,
      recombinant human Fbg (rFbg), mutant rFbgs with an RGD-->RGE substitution at
      either position alpha 97 or alpha 574, and a rFbg gamma'-containing variant that
      has a carboxyl-terminal interruption in the HHLGGAKQAGDV sequence have been
      expressed in transfected BHK cells. Purified rFbg and the two RGE mutant Fbgs
      were similar to plasma Fbg in platelet aggregation assays. In contrast, the
      gamma' variant Fbg was markedly defective in platelet aggregation. These data
      support the proposals that the carboxyl-terminal region of the gamma chain of Fbg
      is essential for optimal platelet aggregation and that the alpha-chain RGD
      sequences are neither necessary nor sufficient for platelet aggregation.

PMID- 1438270
TI  - Phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of high-affinity IgE receptors: a mechanism for
      coupling/uncoupling a large signaling complex.
AB  - Engagement of high-affinity IgE receptors leads to activation of tyrosine and
      serine/threonine kinases and the immediate phosphorylation of receptor beta
      (serine and tyrosine) and gamma (threonine and tyrosine) chains. Receptor
      disengagement leads to dephosphorylation of beta and gamma chains via the action
      of undefined phosphatases. Here we have identified five distinct polypeptides
      associated with the high-affinity IgE-receptor tetrameric complex, which
      apparently become phosphorylated and dephosphorylated in sequence with the beta
      and gamma chains. Like beta chain, polypeptides pp180, pp48, pp42, and pp28 are
      phosphorylated on serine and tyrosine, whereas pp125 is only phosphorylated on
      serine. The phosphorylation of each of these receptor-associated polypeptides is
      antigen-dose dependent and is restricted to activated receptor complexes.
      Furthermore the physical association between pp125 and the receptor is
      quantitatively affected by receptor phosphorylation and dephosphorylation,
      indicating a coupling-uncoupling mechanism. Finally, in vitro kinase experiments
      show that activated receptor complexes are also physically associated with
      tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases as part of a larger complex containing the
      phosphorylated polypeptides.

PMID- 1438271
TI  - Diversity in the early tertiary anthropoidean radiation in Africa.
AB  - Between 1987 and 1991 recent field seasons in the Fayum Depression of Egypt have
      yielded five species and genera of primates that were earlier unknown. Three of
      these species and genera are described below. All these genera and species are
      known only from Fayum site L-41, which has been dated as of late Eocene age. In
      the Fayum, these 5 species from L-41 are added to 3 kinds of prosimians (1
      species formally described) and 11 earlier named species of Anthropoidea. When
      certain undescribed species are added, the total of known Fayum primate species
      comes to 21, belonging to at least 10 genera, genera that, in turn, could belong
      to as many as seven families. This arguably represents more taxonomic diversity
      of primates, especially higher primates, than has been demonstrated before in one
      so spatially and temporally limited area. These facts argue that an important,
      perhaps primary, radiation of anthropoideans took place in the African Eocene.

PMID- 1438272
TI  - Inhibition of astroglia-induced endothelial differentiation by inorganic lead: a
      role for protein kinase C.
AB  - Microvascular endothelial function in developing brain is particularly sensitive
      to lead toxicity, and it has been hypothesized that this results from the
      modulation of protein kinase C (PKC) by lead. We examined the effects of
      inorganic lead on an in vitro model of central nervous system endothelial
      differentiation in which astroglial cells induce central nervous system
      endothelial cells to form capillary-like structures. Capillary-like structure
      formation within C6 astroglial-endothelial cocultures was inhibited by lead
      acetate with 50% maximal inhibition at 0.5 microM total lead. Inhibition was
      independent of effects on cell viability or growth. Under conditions that
      inhibited capillary-like structure formation, we found that lead increased
      membrane-associated PKC in both C6 astroglial and endothelial cells. Prolonged
      exposure of C6 cells to 5 microM lead for up to 16 h resulted in a time-dependent
      increase in membranous PKC as determined by immunoblot analysis. Membranous PKC
      increased after 5-h exposures to as little as 50 nM lead and was maximal at
      approximately 1 microM. Phorbol esters were used to determine whether PKC
      modulation was causally related to the inhibition of endothelial differentiation
      by lead. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (10 nM) inhibited capillary-like
      structure formation by 65 +/- 5%, whereas 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate was
      without effect. These findings suggest that inorganic lead induces cerebral
      microvessel dysfunction by interfering with PKC modulation in microvascular
      endothelial or perivascular astroglial cells.

PMID- 1438273
TI  - The anticodon triplet is not sufficient to confer methionine acceptance to a
      transfer RNA.
AB  - Previous work suggested that the presence of the anticodon CAU alone was enough
      to confer methionine acceptance to a tRNA. Conversions of Escherichia coli
      nonmethionine tRNAs to a methionine-accepting species were obtained by
      substitutions reconstructing the whole methionine anticodon loop together with
      preservation (or introduction) of the acceptor stem base A73. We show here that
      the CAU triplet alone is unable to confer methionine acceptance when transplanted
      into a yeast aspartic tRNA. Both non-anticodon bases of the anticodon loop of
      yeast tRNA(Met) and A73 are required in addition to CAU for methionine
      acceptance. The importance of these non-anticodon bases in other CAU-containing
      tRNA frameworks was also established. These specific non-anticodon base
      interactions make a substantial thermodynamic contribution to the methionine
      acceptance of a transfer RNA.

PMID- 1438274
TI  - An intrastrand d(GpG) platinum crosslink in duplex M13 DNA is refractory to
      repair by human cell extracts.
AB  - We have examined the ability of human cell extracts to repair the most frequent
      DNA adduct caused by the cancer chemotherapeutic agent cis
      diamminedichloroplatinum(II). A circular DNA duplex with an intrastrand d(GpG)
      crosslink positioned at a specific site was synthesized. Human cell extracts were
      unable to induce repair synthesis in a 29-base-pair region encompassing the
      adduct or in adjacent regions. The same extracts could repair a single defined 2
      acetylaminofluorene lesion in a similar location. When molecules containing the
      platinum adduct were cleaved by Escherichia coli UvrABC enzyme, human cell
      extracts could perform repair synthesis at the damaged site, suggesting that
      human enzymes fail to make incisions near the d(GpG) crosslink but can complete
      repair once incisions are made. This result indicates that most repair synthesis
      in DNA damaged with multiple cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) adducts takes place
      at lesions other than the predominant d(GpG) crosslink. These data support the
      idea that the clinical effectiveness of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) may be
      explained by the inefficient repair of the major DNA adduct caused by this drug.

PMID- 1438275
TI  - Activity of the purified mutagenesis proteins UmuC, UmuD', and RecA in
      replicative bypass of an abasic DNA lesion by DNA polymerase III.
AB  - The introduction of a replication-inhibiting lesion into the DNA of Escherichia
      coli generates the induced, multigene SOS response. One component of the SOS
      response is a marked increase in mutation rate, dependent on RecA protein and the
      induced mutagenesis proteins UmuC and UmuD. A variety of previous indirect
      approaches have indicated that SOS mutagenesis results from replicative bypass of
      the DNA lesion by DNA polymerase III (pol III) holoenzyme in a reaction mediated
      by RecA, UmuC, and a processed form of UmuD termed UmuD'. To study the
      biochemistry of SOS mutagenesis, we have reconstituted replicative bypass with a
      defined in vitro system containing purified protein and a DNA substrate with a
      single abasic DNA lesion. The replicative bypass reaction requires pol III, UmuC,
      UmuD', and RecA. The nonprocessed UmuD protein does not replace UmuD' but
      inhibits the bypass activity of UmuD', perhaps by sequestering UmuD' in a
      heterodimer. Our experiments demonstrate directly that the UmuC-UmuD' complex and
      RecA act to rescue an otherwise stalled pol III holoenzyme at a replication
      blocking DNA lesion.

PMID- 1438276
TI  - Evolutionary conservation pattern of zinc-finger domains of Drosophila
      segmentation genes.
AB  - A number of genes of the developmental gene hierarchy in Drosophila encode
      transcription factors containing Cys2His2 zinc finger domains as DNA-binding
      motifs. To learn more about the evolution of these genes, it is necessary to
      clone the homologs, or more correctly the orthologs, from different species.
      Using PCR, we were able to obtain apparently orthologous fragments of hunchback
      (hb), Kruppel (Kr), and snail (sna) from a variety of arthropods and partly also
      from other animal phyla. Sequence alignments of these fragments show that the
      amino acid differences can normally not be correlated with the evolutionary
      distances of the respective species. This is due to an apparent saturation of
      potential replacements within the finger domains, which is also evident from the
      frequent occurrence of convergent replacements. Another recurrent feature of
      these alignments is that those amino acids that are directly involved in
      determining the DNA-binding specificity of the fingers are most conserved. Using
      in vitro bandshift experiments we can indeed show that the binding specificity of
      a hunchback finger fragment from different species is not changed. This implies
      that there is a high selective pressure to maintain the regulatory target
      elements of these genes during evolution.

PMID- 1438277
TI  - Identification and selective inhibition of an isozyme of steroid 5 alpha
      reductase in human scalp.
AB  - Steroid 5 alpha-reductase (EC 1.3.1.22) catalyzes the reduction of testosterone
      to dihydrotestosterone. The 5 alpha-reductase found in human scalp has been
      compared with the enzyme found in prostate. The scalp reductase has a broad pH
      optimum centered at pH 7.0. This is distinctly different from the pH optimum of
      5.5 observed with the prostatic form of the enzyme. These enzymes also differ in
      the Km for testosterone, which is 25-fold higher for the scalp reductase. The
      most significant difference between the two enzymes is their affinity for
      inhibitors. Two 4-azasteroids and a 3-carboxyandrostadiene are potent inhibitors
      of the prostatic reductase but are weak inhibitors of the scalp reductase. In
      contrast, several N-4-methylazasteroids are good inhibitors of the scalp
      reductase. These findings support a proposal that different isozymes of 5 alpha
      reductase may exist in scalp and prostate. The scalp reductase was also compared
      to 5 alpha-reductase 1, one of the two enzymes recently cloned from human
      prostate [Andersson, S. & Russell, D. W. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87,
      3640-3644; and Andersson, S., Berman, D. M., Jenkins, E. P. & Russell, D. W.
      (1991) Nature (London) 354, 159-161]. The characteristics of the cloned reductase
      1 are comparable to those of the scalp reductase.

PMID- 1438278
TI  - The monoclonal CD4 antibody M-T413 inhibits cellular infection with human
      immunodeficiency virus after viral attachment to the cell membrane: an approach
      to postexposure prophylaxis.
AB  - Infectious cellular uptake of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is initiated by
      a complex sequence of interactions between the viral envelope gp120/gp41 complex
      and the cellular CD4 receptor resulting in the exposure of a hydrophobic region
      of gp41 that mediates the irreversible fusion of the virus with the cell
      membrane. Here we show that viral penetration into a susceptible cell can be
      inhibited by the high-affinity monoclonal CD4 antibody (CD4 mAb) M-T413 even when
      it is added as late as 30-120 min after the initial contact of virus with the
      cell membrane. Inhibition of infection was assessed by monitoring cultures for 34
      days after exposure to virus using four different methods simultaneously,
      including detection of viral DNA by PCR. The interval during which HIV remains
      sensitive to postbinding neutralization by CD4 mAb depends on strain of virus and
      type of target cell. Preparations of recombinant soluble CD4 (and the
      immunoadhesin CD4-IgG1) were much less efficient when compared with mAb M-T413,
      particularly in blocking infection by fresh HIV-1 isolates. Also cellular
      transmission of HIV, as determined by syncytia formation within 24 hr, was
      prevented by mAb M-T413 when added within 45 min of contact of infected H9 cells
      with uninfected C8166 cells. Together with the favorable clinical experience
      obtained with CD4 mAbs as immunomodulatory drugs, these data suggest that
      infusion of CD4 mAb M-T413 may be a therapeutic modus for immediate prophylactic
      intervention after occupational exposure to HIV and for prevention of intrapartum
      mother-to-infant HIV transmission.

PMID- 1438279
TI  - Fatty acids regulate hepatic low density lipoprotein receptor activity through
      redistribution of intracellular cholesterol pools.
AB  - When the intake of dietary cholesterol in the hamster is constant, feeding the
      saturated 14:0 fatty acid (n-tetradecanoic acid) elevates the plasma low density
      lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration from 72 to 204 mg/dl, while the
      monounsaturated 18:1 fatty acid (cis-9-octadecenoic acid) lowers this level to 28
      mg/dl. The 14:0 fatty acid lowers the hepatic cholesteryl ester concentration
      from 12 to 5 mg/g, while the abundance of this fatty acid in the ester fraction
      is increased 13-fold. Hepatic LDL receptor activity is depressed to 41% of
      control, while the LDL cholesterol production rate is increased to 132%. These
      changes account for the 3-fold increase in the plasma LDL cholesterol
      concentration. In contrast, feeding the 18:1 fatty acid increases hepatic
      cholesteryl ester concentration to 21 mg/g, and the abundance of this acid in the
      esters is increased 1.4-fold. Hepatic receptor activity is increased to 145%,
      while the production rate is suppressed to 68% of control. These changes account
      for the decrease in plasma LDL cholesterol level to 28 mg/dl. Despite these
      marked changes in LDL metabolism, however, the 14:0 and 18:1 fatty acids cause no
      change in net cholesterol balance across the liver. These results suggest that
      there are two fundamentally different mechanisms regulating hepatic LDL
      metabolism. One involves changes in net sterol balance across the liver brought
      about by alterations in the rate of cholesterol or bile acid absorption across
      the intestine, while the second is articulated through a redistribution of the
      putative sterol regulatory pool within the hepatocyte that is dictated by the
      type of long-chain fatty acid that reaches the liver.

PMID- 1438280
TI  - Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 expression by a hairpin
      ribozyme.
AB  - Ribozymes are RNAs that possess the dual properties of RNA sequence-specific
      recognition, analogous to conventional antisense molecules, and RNA substrate
      destruction via site-specific cleavage. The cleavage reaction is catalytic in
      that more than one substrate molecule is processed per ribozyme molecule. We have
      designed a hairpin ribozyme that cleaves human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV
      1) RNA in the leader sequence (at nucleotides +111/112 relative to the
      transcription initiation site). The ribozyme was tested in vitro and gave
      efficient and specific cleavage of RNA containing the leader sequence. To test
      the antiviral efficacy of this ribozyme, we have cotransfected into HeLa cells
      HIV-1 proviral DNA and a plasmid expressing the ribozyme from the human beta
      actin promoter. HIV-1 expression was inhibited as measured by p24 antigen levels
      and reduced Tat activity. The antiviral effect of the ribozyme appears to be
      specific and results from directed RNA cleavage; activity requires both a target
      sequence and a functional RNA catalytic center. These results suggest that this
      HIV-1-directed hairpin ribozyme may be useful as a therapeutic agent.

PMID- 1438281
TI  - Covalent modification of proteins by ligands of steroid hormone receptors.
AB  - Retinoylation, acylation with retinoic acid (RA), is a covalent modification of
      proteins occurring in a variety of eukaryotic cell lines. In this study, we found
      that proteins in HL-60 cells were labeled by 17 beta-[3H]estradiol (E2),
      [3H]progesterone (Pg), 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy[3H]vitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3],
      [125I]triiodothyronine (T3), [125I]thyroxine (T4), and [3H]prostaglandin E2
      (PGE2). All of these hormones, except PGE2, are ligands of the steroid hormone
      receptor family. Addition to the growth medium of 5 microM ketoconazole, an
      inhibitor of cytochrome P450-dependent enzymes, increased about 2-fold the
      labeling of proteins by T3, T4, 1,25(OH)2D3, and PGE2. In contrast, ketoconazole
      did not change markedly the extent of labeling by RA, E2, or Pg. Alkaline
      methanolysis, which cleaves ester bonds, released variable percentages of the
      radioactive ligands bound to protein. These values were about 80% for RA and
      PGE2; 50% for T3, T4, and Pg; and 20% for E2 and 1,25(OH)2D3. Treatment with
      thioether-cleavage reagents, iodomethane or Raney nickel catalyst, released < 2%
      of the covalently bound ligands. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis patterns of labeled proteins were unique for each ligand.
      Proteins of M(r) 47,000 and 51,000 were labeled by RA, E2, T3, and T4. These
      proteins had the same mobilities as RI and RII, the cAMP-binding regulatory
      subunits of type I and type II cAMP-dependent protein kinases. 1,25(OH)2D3 also
      bound to proteins of M(r) 47,000 and 51,000. However, these proteins had pI
      values different from those of RI or RII. These results suggest that some
      activities of ligands of the steroid hormone receptor family and of PGE2 may be
      mediated by their covalent modification of proteins.

PMID- 1438282
TI  - High-level expression in Escherichia coli of enzymatically active fusion proteins
      containing the domains of mammalian cytochromes P450 and NADPH-P450 reductase
      flavoprotein.
AB  - This report describes the properties of two mammalian cytochromes P450 that have
      been expressed at high levels in Escherichia coli as enzymatically active fusion
      proteins containing the flavoprotein domain of rat NADPH-cytochrome P450
      reductase (EC 1.6.2.4). Fusion proteins were prepared by engineering the cDNAs
      for the steroid-metabolizing bovine adrenal P450 17A with the cDNA for rat liver
      NADPH-P450 reductase with the introduction of a Ser-Thr linker to give a protein
      we have named rF450[mBov17A/mRatOR]L1. Similarly, the cDNA for the omega
      hydroxylase of rat liver (P450 4A1) was linked with the cDNA for rat liver NADPH
      P450 reductase to give rF450[mRat4A1/mRatOR]L1. A procedure involving disruption
      of transformed E. coli by sonication, isolation of membranes by differential
      centrifugation, solubilization with detergent, and affinity chromatography
      provided significant amounts of purified fusion proteins of approximately 118
      kDa. The purified fusion proteins had turnover numbers for the metabolism of
      steroids (rF450[mBov17A/mRatOR]L1) or fatty acids (rF450[mRat4A1/mRatOR]L1)
      ranging from 10/min to 30/min in the absence of added phospholipid. Addition of
      purified rat liver cytochrome b5 stimulated the 17,20-lyase reaction for the
      conversion of 17-hydroxypregnenolone to dehydroepiandrosterone, and addition of
      purified rat NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase enhanced the formation of omega--1
      metabolites from lauric and arachidonic acids. NADPH oxidation was tightly
      coupled to substrate hydroxylation with the purified fusion proteins.

PMID- 1438283
TI  - Definition of the binding sites of individual zinc fingers in the transcription
      factor IIIA-5S RNA gene complex.
AB  - A series of polypeptides containing increasing numbers of zinc fingers of Xenopus
      transcription factor IIIA has been generated and binding to the 5S RNA gene
      internal control region has been studied in order to elucidate the mode of
      interaction of the individual fingers with DNA. By using a combination of DNase I
      footprinting, methylation interference, and differential binding to mixtures of
      DNA fragments differing in length by single base pairs, the binding sites for
      individual fingers have been defined. These results have led to a model for the
      interaction of transcription factor IIIA with the internal control region in
      which fingers 1-3 bind in the major groove of the promoter C block, fingers 7-9
      bind in the major groove of the A block, and finger 5 binds in the major groove
      of the intermediate element. Fingers 4 and 6 each bind across the minor groove,
      spanning these promoter elements.

PMID- 1438284
TI  - Conversion of acetylcholinesterase to butyrylcholinesterase: modeling and
      mutagenesis.
AB  - Torpedo acetylcholinesterase (AcChoEase, EC 3.1.1.7) and human
      butyrylcholinesterase (BtChoEase, EC 3.1.1.8), while clearly differing in
      substrate specificity and sensitivity to inhibitors, possess 53% sequence
      homology; this permitted modeling human BtChoEase on the basis of the three
      dimensional structure of Torpedo AcChoEase. The modeled BtChoEase structure
      closely resembled that of AcChoEase in overall features. However, six conserved
      aromatic residues that line the active-site gorge, which is a prominent feature
      of the AcChoEase structure, are absent in BtChoEase. Modeling showed that two
      such residues, Phe-288 and Phe-290, replaced by leucine and valine, respectively,
      in BtChoEase, may prevent entrance of butyrylcholine into the acyl-binding
      pocket. Their mutation to leucine and valine in AcChoEase, by site-directed
      mutagenesis, produced a double mutant that hydrolyzed butyrylthiocholine almost
      as well as acetylthiocholine. The mutated enzyme was also inhibited well by the
      bulky, BtChoEase-selective organophosphate inhibitor
      (tetraisopropylpyrophosphoramide, iso-OMPA). Trp-279, at the entrance of the
      active-site gorge in AcChoEase, is absent in BtChoEase. Modeling designated it as
      part of the "peripheral" anionic site, which is lacking in BtChoEase. The mutant
      W279A displayed strongly reduced inhibition by the peripheral site-specific
      ligand propidium relative to wild-type Torpedo AcChoEase, whereas inhibition by
      the catalytic-site inhibitor edrophonium was unaffected.

PMID- 1438285
TI  - Identification of endosialin, a cell surface glycoprotein of vascular endothelial
      cells in human cancer.
AB  - Cell surface antigens of transformed cells are the traditional targets for
      antibody-guided detection and therapy of solid neoplasms. Alternative targets may
      be found in the tumor stroma, which contains newly formed blood vessels, reactive
      fibroblasts, and extracellular matrix proteins. The F19 cell surface glycoprotein
      of reactive fibroblasts is a prototypic stromal antigen since it is found in the
      stroma of > 90% of common epithelial cancers but is absent or expressed at low
      levels in normal tissues and benign epithelial tumors. In the present study, we
      define an additional tumor stromal antigen, FB5, that is selectively expressed in
      vascular endothelial cells of malignant tumors. Immunohistochemical analysis of
      128 tumors identified FB5 in endothelial cells in 67% of the samples (including
      41 of 61 sarcomas, 26 of 37 carcinomas, and 18 of 25 neuroectodermal tumors)
      whereas normal blood vessels and other adult tissues tested lacked FB5
      expression. In vitro studies showed that FB5 is a M(r) 165,000 cell surface
      glycoprotein, comprised of a M(r) 95,000 core polypeptide and highly sialyated O
      linked oligosaccharides but few if any N-linked sugars, and that the FB5 gene is
      located on chromosome 11q13-qter. The restricted tissue distribution of the FB5
      protein, which we refer to as endosialin, suggests strategies for tumor imaging
      and therapy that are aimed primarily at the tumor vasculature.

PMID- 1438286
TI  - Arabidopsis alternative oxidase sustains Escherichia coli respiration.
AB  - Glutamyl-tRNA reductase, encoded by the hemA gene, is the first enzyme in
      porphyrin biosynthesis in many organisms. Hemes, important porphyrin derivatives,
      are essential components of redox enzymes, such as cytochromes. Thus a hemA
      Escherichia coli strain (SASX41B) is deficient in cytochrome-mediated aerobic
      respiration. Upon complementation of this strain with an Arabidopsis thaliana
      cDNA library, we isolated a clone which permitted the SASX41B strain to grow
      aerobically. The clone encodes the gene for Arabidopsis alternative oxidase,
      whose deduced amino acid sequence was found to have 71% identity with that of the
      enzyme from the voodoo lily, Sauromatum guttatum. The Arabidopsis protein is
      expressed as a 31-kDa protein in E. coli and confers on this organism cyanide
      resistant growth, which in turn is sensitive to salicylhydroxamate. This implies
      that a single polypeptide is sufficient for alternative oxidase activity. Based
      on these observations we propose that a cyanide-insensitive respiratory pathway
      operates in the transformed E. coli hemA strain. Introduction of this pathway now
      opens the way to genetic/molecular biological investigations of alternative
      oxidase and its cofactor.

PMID- 1438287
TI  - Nonreplicating vaccinia vector efficiently expresses recombinant genes.
AB  - Modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA), a highly attenuated vaccinia virus strain that
      has been safety tested in humans, was evaluated for use as an expression vector.
      MVA has multiple genomic deletions and is severely host cell restricted: it grows
      well in avian cells but is unable to multiply in human and most other mammalian
      cells tested. Nevertheless, we found that replication of viral DNA appeared
      normal and that both early and late viral proteins were synthesized in human
      cells. Proteolytic processing of viral structural proteins was inhibited,
      however, and only immature virus particles were detected by electron microscopy.
      We constructed an insertion plasmid with the Escherichia coli lacZ gene under the
      control of the vaccinia virus late promoter P11, flanked by sequences of MVA DNA,
      to allow homologous recombination at the site of a naturally occurring 3500-base
      pair deletion within the MVA genome. MVA recombinants were isolated and
      propagated in permissive avian cells and shown to express the enzyme beta
      galactosidase upon infection of nonpermissive human cells. The amount of enzyme
      made was similar to that produced by a recombinant of vaccinia virus strain
      Western Reserve, which also had the lacZ gene under control of the P11 promoter,
      but multiplied to high titers. Since recombinant gene expression is unimpaired in
      nonpermissive human cells, MVA may serve as a highly efficient and exceptionally
      safe vector.

PMID- 1438288
TI  - Assembly of a hetero-oligomeric membrane protein complex.
AB  - The maltose transporter of Escherichia coli is a hetero-oligomeric complex
      located in the cytoplasmic membrane of the cell. The in vivo assembly of this
      complex has been examined by using an assay based on the proteolytic sensitivity
      of one of its components, MalF. Immediately after synthesis and insertion into
      the membrane, MalF is sensitive to exogenously added proteases. In a time- and
      complex assembly-dependent fashion, MalF becomes protease resistant. Using this
      assay, we show that MalF is inserted into the membrane independently of other
      components of the transport complex. The assembly of the maltose transport
      complex occurs subsequently from a pool of freely diffusing protein in the
      membrane. This assembly process is efficient and occurs with rapid kinetics.

PMID- 1438289
TI  - Deposition of beta/A4 immunoreactivity and neuronal pathology in transgenic mice
      expressing the carboxyl-terminal fragment of the Alzheimer amyloid precursor in
      the brain.
AB  - The deposition of amyloid in senile plaques and along the walls of the cerebral
      vasculature is a characteristic feature of Alzheimer disease. The peptide
      comprising the carboxyl-terminal 100 amino acids of the beta-amyloid precursor
      protein (beta APP) has been shown to aggregate into amyloid-like fibrils in vitro
      and to be neurotoxic, suggesting that this fragment may play a role in the
      etiology of Alzheimer disease. To address this question, we expressed this
      carboxyl-terminal 100-amino acid peptide of beta APP in transgenic mice under the
      control of the brain dystrophin promoter. We used an antibody to the principal
      component of amyloid, beta/A4, to demonstrate cell-body and neuropil accumulation
      of beta/A4 immunoreactivity in the brains of 4- and 6-month-old transgenic mice.
      Only light cytoplasmic staining with this antibody was visible in control mice.
      In addition, immunocytochemical analysis of the brains with an antibody to the
      carboxyl terminus of beta APP revealed abnormal aggregation of this epitope of
      beta APP within vesicular structures in the cytoplasm and in abnormal-appearing
      neurites in the CA2/3 region of the hippocampus in transgenic mice, similar to
      its aggregation in the cells of Alzheimer disease brains. Thioflavin S
      histochemistry suggested accumulations of amyloid in the cerebrovasculature of
      transgenic mice with the highest expression of the beta APP-C100 transgene. These
      observations suggest that expression of abnormal carboxyl-terminal subfragments
      of beta APP in vivo may cause amyloidogenesis and specific neuropathology.

PMID- 1438290
TI  - Stopping the circadian pacemaker with inhibitors of protein synthesis.
AB  - The requirement for protein synthesis in the mechanism of a circadian pacemaker
      was investigated by using inhibitors of protein synthesis. Continuous treatment
      of the ocular circadian pacemaker of the mollusc Bulla gouldiana with anisomycin
      or cycloheximide substantially lengthened (up to 39 and 52 hr, respectively) the
      free-running period of the rhythm. To determine whether high concentrations of
      inhibitor could stop the pacemaker, long pulse treatments of various durations
      (up to 44 hr) were applied and the subsequent phase of the rhythm was assayed.
      The observed phases of the rhythm after the treatments were a function of the
      time of the end of the treatment pulse, but only for treatments which spanned
      subjective dawn. The results provide evidence that protein synthesis is required
      in a phase-dependent manner for motion of the circadian pacemaker to continue.

PMID- 1438291
TI  - Intact and amino-terminally shortened forms of insulin-like growth factor I
      induce mammary gland differentiation and development.
AB  - Growth hormone (GH) plays a role in regulating growth and differentiation of
      immature glandular structures in the mammary gland, but the mechanisms by which
      the hormone exerts these effects are unknown. We have previously found that GH
      stimulates insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) I mRNA production within the
      mammary glands of hypophysectomized rats. In this study we set out to determine
      if IGF-I administration could mimic the action of GH in initiating mammary gland
      differentiation and development. Two forms of IGF-I, intact and amino-terminally
      shortened [des-(1-3)-IGF-I], were found to induce the development of terminal end
      buds and the formation of alveolar structures in the mammary glands of
      hypophysectomized, castrated, and estradiol-treated sexually immature male rats.
      The effect of both forms of IGF-I was similar to that obtained with human GH, but
      the truncated form was at least 5 times more potent than intact IGF-I. These
      findings suggest that the inductive effect of GH on glandular differentiation is
      mediated by the GH-induced production of IGF-I or a related molecule within the
      mammary gland itself.

PMID- 1438292
TI  - Definition of a tumor suppressor locus within human chromosome 3p21-p22.
AB  - Cytogenetic abnormalities and high-frequency allele losses involving the short
      arm of human chromosome 3 have been identified in a variety of histologically
      different neoplasms. These findings suggest that a tumor-suppressor gene or genes
      may be located in the region of 3p14-p25, although there has been no definitive
      functional proof for the involvement of a particular region of 3p. We report a
      rapid genetic assay system that has allowed functional analysis of defined
      regions of 3p in the suppression of tumorigenicity in vivo. Interspecific
      microcell hybrids containing fragments of chromosome 3p were constructed and
      screened for tumorigenicity in athymic nude mice. Hybrid clones were obtained
      that showed a dramatic tumor suppression and contained a 2-megabase fragment of
      human chromosomal material encompassing the region 3p21 near the interface with
      3p22. With these hybrid clones, we have defined a genetic locus at 3p21-p22
      intimately involved in tumor suppression.

PMID- 1438293
TI  - Retinal rods and cones have distinct G protein beta and gamma subunits.
AB  - Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) involved in transmembrane signal
      transduction processes are heterotrimers composed of alpha, beta, and gamma
      subunits. The alpha subunit shows great diversity and is thought to confer
      functional specificity to a particular G protein. By contrast, the beta and gamma
      subunits appear much less diverse; in particular, the beta subunit is believed to
      have no role in G protein specificity. Using immunocytochemistry, we found
      distinct distribution patterns for different beta and gamma subunits in the
      retina. In particular, rod and cone photoreceptors, which both subserve
      phototransduction but differ in light-response properties, have different beta
      and gamma subunits in their outer segments. Thus, the G protein mediating
      phototransduction shows cell-specific forms of the beta and gamma subunits in
      addition to the alpha subunit. This surprising finding supports the hypothesis
      that these subunits may also contribute to functional specificity of a G protein.

PMID- 1438294
TI  - Cloning of a human galactokinase gene (GK2) on chromosome 15 by complementation
      in yeast.
AB  - A human cDNA encoding a galactokinase (EC 2.7.1.6) was isolated by
      complementation of a galactokinase-deficient (gal1-) strain of Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae. This cDNA encodes a predicted protein of 458 amino acids with 29%
      identity to galactokinase of Saccharomyces carlsbergensis. Previous studies have
      mapped a human galactokinase gene (GK1) to chromosome 17q23-25, closely linked to
      thymidine kinase. The galactokinase gene that we have isolated (GK2) is located
      on chromosome 15. The relationship between the disease locus for galactokinase
      deficiency galactosemia, which is responsible for cataracts in newborns and
      possibly presenile cataracts in adults, and the two galactokinase loci is
      unknown.

PMID- 1438295
TI  - The optimal number of major histocompatibility complex molecules in an
      individual.
AB  - A straightforward argument is presented to calculate the number of different
      major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules in an individual that maximizes
      the probability of mounting immune responses against a large number of foreign
      peptides. It is assumed that increasing the number of MHC molecules per
      individual, n, has three different effects: (i) it increases the number of
      foreign peptides that can be presented; (ii) it increases the number of different
      T-cell receptors (TCRs) positively selected in the thymus; but (iii) it reduces
      the number of TCRs by negative selection. The mathematical analysis shows that n
      = 1/f maximizes the number of different TCRs that pass through positive and
      negative selection and that n = 2/f maximizes the probability to mount immune
      responses against a large fraction of foreign peptides. Here f is the fraction of
      TCRs deleted by one MHC molecule. Both results depend on approximations that are
      discussed in the paper. The model presented has implications for our
      understanding of the evolutionary forces acting on the MHC.

PMID- 1438296
TI  - Association of efferent neurons to the compartmental architecture of the superior
      colliculus.
AB  - The superior colliculus is a layered structure in the mammalian midbrain serving
      multimodal sensorimotor integration. Its intermediate layers are characterized by
      a compartmental architecture. These compartments are apparent through the
      clustering of terminals of major collicular afferents, which in many instances
      match the heterogeneous distribution of tissue components such as
      acetylcholinesterase, choline acetyltransferase, substance P, and parvalbumin.
      The present study was undertaken to determine whether efferent cells observe this
      compartmental architecture. It was found that subpopulations of both descending
      and ascending collicular efferents originate from perikarya situated in
      characteristic positions relative to the collicular compartments defined by
      elevated acetylcholinesterase activity and that their dendrites appear to be
      specifically coordinated with the heterogeneous environment. With the specific
      interlocking of afferent and efferent neurons through spatially distinguished
      neural networks, the compartmental architecture apparently constitutes an
      essential element for the determination of information flow in the superior
      colliculus.

PMID- 1438297
TI  - Amino acid substitution matrices from protein blocks.
AB  - Methods for alignment of protein sequences typically measure similarity by using
      a substitution matrix with scores for all possible exchanges of one amino acid
      with another. The most widely used matrices are based on the Dayhoff model of
      evolutionary rates. Using a different approach, we have derived substitution
      matrices from about 2000 blocks of aligned sequence segments characterizing more
      than 500 groups of related proteins. This led to marked improvements in
      alignments and in searches using queries from each of the groups.

PMID- 1438298
TI  - Molecular cloning and primary structure of the human blood group RhD polypeptide.
AB  - The RH (rhesus) blood group locus from RhD-positive donors is composed of two
      homologous structural genes, one of which encodes the Cc and Ee polypeptides,
      whereas the other, which is missing in the RhD-negative condition, encodes the D
      protein that carries the major antigen of the RH system. Recently, different
      splicing isoforms transcribed from the CcEe gene were isolated. We report now the
      characterization of two other Rh clones, RhII and RhXIII, generated by
      alternative choices for poly(A) addition sites that were identified as the RhD
      gene transcripts. That these cDNAs represented the RhD messenger and that the
      previously described Rh clones were derived from the CcEe gene was demonstrated
      by amplification of RhII/XIII sequences only from D-positive genomes and by
      cloning and sequencing of D- and CcEe-specific gene fragments. The predicted
      translation product of the RhD mRNA is a 417-amino acid protein (M(r) = 45,500)
      that exhibited a similar membrane organization with 13 bilayer-spanning domains
      compared with the polypeptide encoded by the CcEe gene. The D and Cc/Ee
      polypeptides differ by 36 amino acid substitutions (8.4% divergence), but the NH2
      and COOH-terminal regions of the two proteins are well conserved. Similarly,
      five of the six cysteine residues of the Cc/Ee proteins were conserved in the D
      protein, including the unique exofacial cysteine, which is critical for antigenic
      reactivity. The sequence homology between the Cc/Ee and D proteins supports the
      concept that the genes encoding these polypeptides have evolved by duplication of
      a common ancestor gene.

PMID- 1438299
TI  - Induction of aP2 gene expression by nonmetabolized long-chain fatty acids.
AB  - Long-chain fatty acids (FA) have been shown to regulate expression of the gene
      for the adipocyte FA-binding protein aP2. We examined whether this effect was
      exerted by FA themselves or by a FA metabolite. The alpha-bromo derivative of
      palmitate, an inhibitor of FA oxidation, was synthesized in the radioactive form,
      and its metabolism was investigated and correlated with its ability to induce aP2
      in Ob1771 preadipocytes. alpha-Bromopalmitate was not utilized by preadipocytes.
      It was not cleared from the medium over a 24-hr period and was not incorporated
      into cellular lipids. Short incubations indicated that alpha-bromopalmitate
      exchanged across the preadipocyte membrane but remained in the free form inside
      the cell. In line with this, preadipocyte homogenates did not activate alpha
      bromopalmitate to the acyl form. However, although it was not metabolized,
      bromopalmitate was much more potent than native FA in inducing aP2 gene
      expression. Induction exhibited the characteristics previously described for
      native FA, indicating that a similar if not identical mechanism was involved. The
      data indicated that induction of aP2 was exerted by unprocessed FA. Finally, in
      contrast to preadipocytes, adipocytes metabolized bromopalmitate. This reflected
      increased activity with cell differentiation of a palmitoyl-CoA synthase that
      could activate palmitate and bromopalmitate at about one-fifth the rate for
      palmitate. In preadipocytes, the predominant fatty-acyl-CoA synthase, arachidonyl
      CoA synthase, had very low affinity for both FA. Increased activity of the
      palmitoyl-CoA synthase, which has a wider substrate range, is likely to be
      important for initiation of lipid deposition.

PMID- 1438300
TI  - Predicted alpha-helical regions of the prion protein when synthesized as peptides
      form amyloid.
AB  - By comparing the amino acid sequences of 11 mammalian and 1 avian prion proteins
      (PrP), structural analyses predicted four alpha-helical regions. Peptides
      corresponding to these regions of Syrian hamster PrP were synthesized, and,
      contrary to predictions, three of the four spontaneously formed amyloids as shown
      by electron microscopy and Congo red staining. By IR spectroscopy, these amyloid
      peptides exhibited secondary structures composed largely of beta-sheets. The
      first of the predicted helices is the 14-amino acid peptide corresponding to
      residues 109-122; this peptide and the overlapping 15-residue sequence 113-127
      both form amyloid. The most highly amyloidogenic peptide is AGAAAAGA, which
      corresponds to Syrian hamster PrP residues 113-120 and is conserved across all
      species for which the PrP sequence has been determined. Two other predicted alpha
      helices corresponding to residues 178-191 and 202-218 form amyloids and exhibit
      considerable beta-sheet structure when synthesized as peptides. These findings
      suggest the possibility that the conversion of the cellular isoform of PrP to the
      scrapie isoform of PrP involves the transition of one or more putative PrP alpha
      helices into beta-sheets and that prion diseases are disorders of protein
      conformation.

PMID- 1438301
TI  - Frog secretions and hunting magic in the upper Amazon: identification of a
      peptide that interacts with an adenosine receptor.
AB  - A frog used for "hunting magic" by several groups of Panoan-speaking Indians in
      the borderline between Brazil and Peru is identified as Phyllomedusa bicolor.
      This frog's skin secretion, which the Indians introduce into the body through
      fresh burns, is rich in peptides. These include vasoactive peptides, opioid
      peptides, and a peptide that we have named adenoregulin, with the sequence
      GLWSKIKEVGKEAAKAAAKAAGKAALGAVSEAV as determined from mass spectrometry and Edman
      degradation. The natural peptide may contain a D amino acid residue, since it is
      not identical in chromatographic properties to the synthetic peptide.
      Adenoregulin enhances binding of agonists to A1 adenosine receptors; it is
      accompanied in the skin secretion by peptides that inhibit binding. The
      vasoactive peptide sauvagine, the opioid peptides, and adenoregulin and related
      peptides affect behavior in mice and presumably contribute to the behavioral
      sequelae observed in humans.

PMID- 1438302
TI  - A conserved double-stranded RNA-binding domain.
AB  - We have identified a double-stranded (ds)RNA-binding domain in each of two
      proteins: the product of the Drosophila gene staufen, which is required for the
      localization of maternal mRNAs, and a protein of unknown function, Xlrbpa, from
      Xenopus. The amino acid sequences of the binding domains are similar to each
      other and to additional domains in each protein. Database searches identified
      similar domains in several other proteins known or thought to bind dsRNA,
      including human dsRNA-activated inhibitor (DAI), human trans-activating region
      (TAR)-binding protein, and Escherichia coli RNase III. By analyzing in detail one
      domain in staufen and one in Xlrbpa, we delimited the minimal region that binds
      dsRNA. On the basis of the binding studies and computer analysis, we have derived
      a consensus sequence that defines a 65- to 68-amino acid dsRNA-binding domain.

PMID- 1438303
TI  - An Arabidopsis serine/threonine kinase homologue with an epidermal growth factor
      repeat selected in yeast for its specificity for a thylakoid membrane protein.
AB  - A number of molecules have recently been described that effect the correct
      transport and assembly of cytoplasmically synthesized proteins to cellular
      membranes. To identify proteins that bind or modify other proteins during the
      process of membrane translocation, we developed a yeast selection scheme that
      employs the yeast transcriptional activator GAL4. This selection facilitates the
      isolation of cDNAs that encode proteases and binding proteins for known target
      peptide sequences. We report the isolation of an Arabidopsis cDNA encoding a
      polypeptide that can interact with the amino terminus of a ligh-harvesting
      chlorophyll a/b-binding protein (LHCP), a cytoplasmically synthesized protein
      that is integral to the chloroplast thylakoid membrane. The cDNA was selected in
      yeast from an Arabidopsis expression library for its ability to inhibit a
      transcriptional activator GAL4-LHCP fusion protein, but not inhibit native GAL4
      protein. The LHCP amino-terminal sequences included in the fusion protein are
      known to regulate LHCP biogenesis and function. The Arabidopsis cDNA encodes a
      595-amino acid protein with at least two functional domains, one with similarity
      to the family of protein-serine/threonine kinases and another that contains an
      epidermal growth factor repeat. The identification of an EGF repeat in
      Arabidopsis indicates that the motif is conserved between the plant and animal
      kingdoms. Hybridization studies indicate that this gene is likely to be present
      in other genera of plants. Its mRNA is detected in green leaves but not in other
      plant tissues or in etiolated plants. The specificity in yeast and the expression
      pattern in plants together are suggestive of a role for this protein kinase in
      the assembly or regulation of LHCP.

PMID- 1438304
TI  - Expression cloning of a reserpine-sensitive vesicular monoamine transporter.
AB  - A cDNA for a rat vesicular monoamine transporter, designated MAT, was isolated by
      expression cloning in a mammalian cell line (CV-1). The cDNA sequence predicts a
      protein of 515 amino acids with 12 putative membrane-spanning domains. The
      characteristics of [3H]serotonin accumulation by CV-1 cells expressing the cDNA
      clone suggested sequestration by an intracellular compartment. In cells
      permeabilized with digitonin, uptake was ATP dependent with an apparent Km of 1.3
      microM. Uptake was abolished by the proton-translocating ionophore
      carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone and with tri-(n-butyl)tin, an
      inhibitor of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase. The rank order of potency to inhibit
      uptake was reserpine > tetrabenazine > serotonin > dopamine > norepinephrine >
      epinephrine. Direct comparison of [3H]monoamine uptake indicated that serotonin
      was the preferred substrate. Photolabeling of membranes prepared from CV-1 cells
      expressing MAT with 7-azido-8-[125I]iodoketanserin revealed a predominant
      tetrabenazine-sensitive photolabeled glycoprotein with an apparent molecular mass
      of approximately 75 kDa. The mRNA that encodes MAT was present specifically in
      monoamine-containing cells of the locus coeruleus, substantia nigra, and raphe
      nucleus of rat brain, each of which expresses a unique plasma membrane reuptake
      transporter. The MAT cDNA clone defines a vesicular monoamine transporter
      representing a distinct class of neurotransmitter transport molecules.

PMID- 1438305
TI  - Functional inhibition of hematopoietic and neurotrophic cytokines by blocking the
      interleukin 6 signal transducer gp130.
AB  - Functional pleiotropy and redundancy are characteristic features of cytokines. To
      understand the signaling mechanisms of such cytokines, we have proposed a two
      chain interleukin (IL) 6 receptor model: IL-6 triggers the association of a
      ligand-binding chain (IL-6 receptor) and a nonbinding signal transducer (gp130)
      to form a high-affinity receptor complex, resulting in transmission of the signal
      by the cytoplasmic portion of gp130. This model would explain the functional
      redundancy of cytokines if we were to assume that gp130 interacts with several
      different receptor chains. Here we present data indicating that gp130 functions
      as a common signal transducer for IL-6, oncostatin M, leukemia inhibitory factor,
      and ciliary neurotrophic factor. We show that anti-gp130 monoclonal antibodies
      completely block the biological responses induced by all of these factors. Since
      leukemia inhibitory factor functions as a cholinergic differentiation factor in
      nerve cells, as does ciliary neurotrophic factor, these results suggest that
      gp130 may also play a role in the nervous system.

PMID- 1438306
TI  - Regulation of N-region diversity in antigen receptors through thymocyte
      differentiation and thymus ontogeny.
AB  - The random addition of "N nucleotides" by terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase
      (TdT) is an important component of the diversity of T-cell receptor genes. We
      have investigated the expression of TdT during thymocyte differentiation and
      thymus ontogeny. TdT gene transcripts are confined to immature thymocytes of the
      cortex, being down-regulated concomitantly with recombination-activating gene
      transcripts after positive selection of mature medullary T cells. According to in
      situ hybridization, TdT RNA is absent from the neonatal thymus, but it appears 3
      to 5 days after birth, just before the appearance of significant N-region
      diversity in T-cell receptor junctional sequences but clearly after the thymus
      attains competence at clonal deletion.

PMID- 1438307
TI  - XY sex reversal associated with a deletion 5' to the SRY "HMG box" in the testis
      determining region.
AB  - The human testis-determining factor resides within a 35-kilobase (kb) region of
      the Y chromosome immediately adjacent to the pseudoautosomal boundary. A
      candidate gene for human sex determination (SRY) was isolated in this region.
      Here, we describe a study of 25 cases of XY females with pure gonadal dysgenesis
      for mutations on the Y chromosome short arm, including SRY. Southern blotting
      revealed a sex-reversed female harboring a deletion extending from approximately
      8 kb from the pseudoautosomal boundary of the Y chromosome to at least 33 kb and
      no more than 60 kb upstream, toward the centromere. The deletion begins no more
      than 1.8 kb upstream from the first ATG of the SRY open reading frame present in
      the clone pY53.3. To our knowledge, no mutation has been described previously
      outside the SRY "HMG box" on the short arm of the Y chromosome, which is
      associated with sex reversal. Since the 5' extent of the SRY transcriptional unit
      has not been defined, the deletion may remove upstream exons of SRY and/or
      transcriptional regulatory motifs, either situation resulting in lack of
      testicular development. It cannot be formally excluded that the mutation removes
      a second locus, independent of SRY, that is critical for sex determination.
      Denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of the SRY open reading frame in
      the remaining 24 cases revealed de novo single base-pair transitions in the SRY
      conserved domain in 4 cases.

PMID- 1438308
TI  - Cornifin, a cross-linked envelope precursor in keratinocytes that is down
      regulated by retinoids.
AB  - In this study, we have characterized the cDNA clone SQ37 that was isolated
      previously from a rabbit squamous cell library. The gene encodes a 14-kDa protein
      that appears to function as a component of the cross-linked envelope in squamous
      differentiating cells. The protein, which has been named cornifin, has a high
      content of proline (31%), glutamine (20%), and cysteine (11%) and contains 13
      repeats of an octapeptide (consensus sequence, EPCQPKVP) at its C terminus. SQ37
      mRNA and protein are induced during squamous differentiation of rabbit tracheal
      (RbTE) cells and human epidermal keratinocytes. This induction is repressed by
      retinoids. Immunohistochemical studies reveal SQ37 immunoreactivity in fragmented
      cross-linked envelopes from squamous-differentiated RbTE cells and in the
      suprabasal layers of the epidermis. In situ hybridization analysis showed that
      the presence of SQ37 mRNA is restricted to the suprabasal layers. Treatment of
      RbTE cells with a Ca2+ ionophore induces cross-linking of the SQ37 protein into
      higher molecular weight complexes. This cross-linking reaction appears to be
      mediated by transglutaminase type I. Our observations suggest that the protein
      encoded by SQ37 participates in the assembly of the cross-linked envelope.

PMID- 1438309
TI  - Excision repair at individual bases of the Escherichia coli lacI gene: relation
      to mutation hot spots and transcription coupling activity.
AB  - To determine whether base-to-base variations in the rate of excision repair
      influence the distribution of mutations, we have developed a method to measure UV
      photoproducts at individual nucleotides in the Escherichia coli chromosome.
      Specific gene fragments are 3' end-labeled using a sequence-specific
      oligonucleotide to direct the site of labeling, and photoproducts are identified
      by enzymatic incision. On the nontranscribed strand of the E. coli lacI gene, the
      cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer frequency was 2- to 8-fold higher in chromosomal DNA
      than in a cloned DNA fragment. The chromosomal lesion frequency corresponded to
      the frequency of UV-induced mutations at mutation hot spots reported in the
      literature. Only 0-30% of cyclobutane dimers at various sites on this strand were
      excised in 20 min. In contrast, repair on the transcribed strand was 80-90%
      complete in 20 min. However, the transcribed strand contained an excision repair
      "slow spot" at the site of its single mutation hot spot: At this site, no repair
      occurred for the first 10 min, after which repair proceeded more slowly than
      typical of that strand. In an mfd strain, deficient in a factor that couples
      repair to transcription in cell extracts, the excision rate at individual
      nucleotides on the transcribed strand was minimal at most sites for at least 30
      min. Wild-type E. coli's bias for producing mutations at photoproducts on the
      nontranscribed strand, reported to require the mfd gene, therefore appears to be
      due to an excision repair system specific for the transcribed strand of
      chromosomal DNA.

PMID- 1438310
TI  - Transcription-repair coupling determines the strandedness of ultraviolet
      mutagenesis in Escherichia coli.
AB  - We have analyzed the spectra of UV-induced mutations in the lacI gene of a wild
      type and an mfd strain of Escherichia coli. mfd strains have been recently
      proposed to be deficient in a factor coupling DNA repair and transcription.
      Analysis of UV-induced mutations occurring at adjacent pyrimidines showed that
      mutations in the wild-type strain arose largely from the nontranscribed strand
      but arose predominantly from the transcribed strand in the mfd strain. The
      overall strand switch was 14-fold. One mutation, G.C-->A.T in the lacI initiation
      codon, showed a > 300-fold shift. No effect was observed for mutations at non
      pyrimidine-pyrimidine sequences. These results provide in vivo evidence for a key
      role of the mfd gene in controlling the strandedness of mutagenesis and support
      the proposed role of the mfd gene product in directing DNA excision repair to the
      transcribed strand of a damaged gene.

PMID- 1438311
TI  - Adoptive transfer of skin-selective autoimmunity induced by Skn alloantigenic
      disparities.
AB  - Two unlinked genes of the mouse, Skn-1 and Skn-2, each with alterative alleles,
      specify alternative cell-surface Skn alloantigens expressed only by epidermal and
      neural cells. C57BL/6 (B6) and A/J (A) strain mice differ at both Skn loci. Thus
      lethally irradiated B6 mice restored with (B6 x A)F1 hybrid hematopoietic cells
      [(B6 x A)/B6 chimeras] reject A strain (Skn-incompatible) skin grafts. Our
      studies were designed primarily to test the inference that (B6 x A)F1 lymphoid
      cells, after differentiating in B6 recipients, which lack the Skn alloantigens of
      A strain mice, may make an Skn-related, skin-selective autoimmune response when
      returned to their native (B6 x A)F1 habitat. Severe cutaneous lesions did,
      indeed, ensue after spleen cells of (B6 x A)/B6 chimeras were transferred to (B6
      x A)F1 recipients, provided that three conditions were met--namely, (i) priming
      of the (B6 x A)/B6 chimeric donor by grafting and rejection of Skn-incompatible A
      strain skin grafts, (ii) stimulation of the recipient's skin as from shaving, at
      which sites the lesions were mainly located, and (iii) pretreatment of the (B6 x
      A)F1 recipients with cyclophosphamide or sublethal irradiation. Spleen cells of
      control female chimeras primed by grafting and rejection of H-Y (Skn-compatible)
      B6 male skin failed to incite the Skn-typical cutaneous lesions in (B6 x A)F1
      recipients, indicating that these lesions were Skn-specific and not a nonspecific
      consequence of incompatible skin grafting per se. Normally compatible A strain
      skin grafts, but not Skn-compatible B6 skin grafts, were rejected by
      cyclophosphamide-treated (B6 x A)F1 recipients of (B6 x A)/B6 spleen cells from
      Skn-primed chimera donors. Treatment of primed chimeras' spleen cells with
      antiserum to H-2a (A strain) specifically abolished their capacity to adoptively
      incite the Skn-related autoimmune syndrome, confirming that the immune cells
      responsible are of (B6 x A)F1 origin and are not residual B6 derivatives. These
      findings add weight to the status of Skn systems as agents of tissue-selective
      histoincompatibility and, perhaps, of clinical disorders with a known or
      suspected autoimmune basis affecting the skin.

PMID- 1438312
TI  - The 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase gene family of Arabidopsis
      thaliana.
AB  - Genomic sequences encoding five divergent 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid
      (ACC) synthase polypeptides (ACC1, ACC2, ACC3, ACC4, and ACC5) have been isolated
      from Arabidopsis thaliana by using heterologous cDNAs and PCR fragments amplified
      from genomic DNA with degenerate oligonucleotide primers. Each gene is located on
      a different chromosome in the Arabidopsis genome. The genes are differentially
      expressed during development and in response to environmental stimuli. Protein
      synthesis inhibition derepresses the expression of all genes but most
      dramatically derepresses that of ACC2, suggesting that their expression may be
      under negative control. The sequence of ACC2 was determined, and its
      transcription initiation site was defined. Authenticity of the polypeptide
      encoded by the gene was confirmed by expression experiments in Escherichia coli.
      The predicted size of the protein is 55,623 Da, and it contains the 11 invariant
      amino acid residues conserved between aminotransferases and ACC synthases from
      various plant species. Comparative analysis of structural and expression
      characteristics of ACC synthase genes from Arabidopsis and other plant species
      suggests that the sequence divergence of the ACC synthase genes and possibly the
      distinct regulatory networks governing the expression of ACC synthase subfamilies
      arose early in plant evolution and before the divergence of monocots and dicots.

PMID- 1438313
TI  - Stimulatory and inhibitory regulation of calcium-activated potassium channels by
      guanine nucleotide-binding proteins.
AB  - The regulation of membrane ion channels by guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G
      proteins) has been described in numerous tissues. This regulation has been shown
      to involve the membrane-delimited stimulatory action of G proteins on ion
      channels. We now show that single calcium-activated potassium channels (KCa
      channels) in airway smooth muscle cells are both stimulated and inhibited by G
      proteins in membrane patches. We demonstrate that the beta-adrenergic agonist
      isoproterenol stimulates channel activity via the alpha subunit of the
      stimulatory G protein of adenylyl cyclase, Gs, and that channel opening is
      inhibited by the action of the muscarinic agonist methacholine, acting via a
      pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein. Isoproterenol stimulated and methacholine
      inhibited channel activity in the same outside-out patches when GTP was present
      at the cytosolic surface of the patch. In inside-out patches, addition of GTP and
      guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[gamma S]) augmented channel activity
      when isoproterenol was included in the patch pipette, and inhibited channel
      activity when methacholine was included in the pipette. Consistent with these
      results, in the presence of GTP[gamma S], the alpha subunit of Gs (alpha
      s.GTP[gamma S] complex) opened KCa channels in a dose-dependent manner, whereas
      in the presence of guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate, alpha s had no effect. By
      contrast, application of activated alpha i or alpha o proteins did not inhibit
      channel activity in inside-out patches, indicating that channel inhibition is
      more complex than a simple alpha subunit/channel interaction, similar to the
      complex inhibitory regulation of adenylyl cyclase. These results suggest that
      hormonal regulation of KCa channels shares substantial features with the
      regulation of adenylyl cyclase and demonstrate that a single ion channel may
      serve as the regulatory target for the membrane-delimited action of stimulatory
      and inhibitory G proteins. Moreover, they demonstrate a potentially important
      functional pathway by which beta-adrenergic and other Gs-linked receptors
      stimulate relaxation of smooth muscle, independent of cAMP-dependent protein
      phosphorylation.

PMID- 1438314
TI  - Antithrombotic effect of beta,beta'-monochloromethylene diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4
      tetraphosphate.
AB  - The feasibility of using beta,beta'-monochloromethylene diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4
      tetraphosphate (AppCHCl-ppA) as an antithrombotic agent was studied in a rabbit
      intracarotid cannula thrombosis model previously shown to be sensitive to
      antiplatelet agents. This analogue, having a P-C-P bridge in place of a P-O-P
      internucleoside linkage, has been found resistant to phosphodiesterase activity.
      Rabbits were infused with the dinucleotide at a dose of 50 mg per kg over a 2-hr
      period, at a controlled rate by pump. A 1-cm length of polyethylene cannula (1 mm
      i.d.) was tied into the carotid artery. Animals were stable under general
      anesthesia during the entire period of the experiment. In the control group, 16
      of 20 animals formed clots, an incidence of 80%, whereas in the test animals, 6
      of the 20 formed clots (30% incidence, P < 0.05). After preincubation of whole
      blood with 50 microM AppCHClppA at 37 degrees C for up to 3 hr, a consistent
      suppression of ADP-induced platelet aggregation was observed. The present study
      suggests that AppCHClppA may be useful as an antithrombotic agent in certain
      clinical situations, such as hemodialysis, arteriovenous shunts, and introduction
      of artificial heart valves. It may also possibly prevent extension of recent
      clots. The toxicity and metabolism of AppCHClppA have, however, yet to be
      explored.

PMID- 1438316
TI  - Uranium-loaded apoferritin with antibodies attached: molecular design for uranium
      neutron-capture therapy.
AB  - A method is described to deliver 235U to tumors; the isotope would then be
      fissioned by incident neutrons, producing localized lethal radiation sufficient
      for therapy. Apoferritin was loaded with an average of approximately 800 238U
      atoms per molecule. Stability of the loaded apoferritin in solution was improved,
      so that only 8% loss of uranium occurred after 8 days at pH 7. Fab' antibody
      fragments were covalently attached to the uranium-loaded apoferritin, and the
      immunoreactivity of the conjugate was 92% of that for antibody alone. Such bio
      uranium constructions should provide significant advantages over boronated
      antibodies to meet the requirements for clinical neutron-capture therapy.

PMID- 1438315
TI  - Preferential elevation of protein kinase C isoform beta II and diacylglycerol
      levels in the aorta and heart of diabetic rats: differential reversibility to
      glycemic control by islet cell transplantation.
AB  - In the present study, we have measured protein kinase C (PKC) specific activities
      and total diacylglycerol (DAG) level in the aorta and heart of rats, which showed
      that after 2 weeks of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes, membranous PKC
      specific activity and total DAG content were increased significantly by 88% and
      40% in the aorta and by 21% and 72% in the heart, respectively. Hyperglycemia was
      identified as being a causal factor since elevated glucose levels increased DAG
      levels in cultured aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Analysis by
      immunoblotting revealed that only alpha and beta II PKC isoenzymes are detected
      in these two tissues and vascular cells among those studied. In STZ-induced
      diabetic rats, beta II isoenzyme is preferentially increased in both aorta and
      heart, whereas PKC alpha did not change significantly. The increases in
      membranous PKC specific activity and DAG level are observed in both spontaneous
      diabetes-prone diabetic BB rats as well as in STZ-induced diabetic BB and Sprague
      Dawley rats, which persisted for up to 5 weeks. After 2 weeks of diabetes without
      treatment, the normalization of blood glucose levels for up to 3 weeks with islet
      cell transplants in STZ-induced diabetic BB rats reversed the biochemical changes
      only in the heart, but not in the aorta. These results suggest that PKC activity
      and DAG level may be persistently activated in the macrovascular tissues from
      diabetic animals and indicate a possible role for these biochemical parameters in
      the development of diabetic chronic vascular complications.

PMID- 1438317
TI  - Dynamic mapping of the human visual cortex by high-speed magnetic resonance
      imaging.
AB  - We report the use of high-speed magnetic resonance imaging to follow the changes
      in image intensity in the human visual cortex during stimulation by a flashing
      checkerboard stimulus. Measurements were made in a 2.1-T, 1-m-diameter magnet,
      part of a Bruker Biospec spectrometer that we had programmed to do echo-planar
      imaging. A 15-cm-diameter surface coil was used to transmit and receive signals.
      Images were acquired during periods of stimulation from 2 s to 180 s. Images were
      acquired in 65.5 ms in a 10-mm slice with in-plane voxel size of 6 x 3 mm.
      Repetition time (TR) was generally 2 s, although for the long flashing periods,
      TR = 8 s was used. Voxels were located onto an inversion recovery image taken
      with 2 x 2 mm in-plane resolution. Image intensity increased after onset of the
      stimulus. The mean change in signal relative to the prestimulation level (delta
      S/S) was 9.7% (SD = 2.8%, n = 20) with an echo time of 70 ms. Irrespective of the
      period of stimulation, the increase in magnetic resonance signal intensity was
      delayed relative to the stimulus. The mean delay measured from the start of
      stimulation for each protocol was as follows: 2-s stimulation, delay = 3.5 s (SD
      = 0.5 s, n = 10) (the delay exceeds stimulus duration); 20- to 24-s stimulation,
      delay = 5 s (SD = 2 s, n = 20).

PMID- 1438319
TI  - Gene family for an elicitor-induced sesquiterpene cyclase in tobacco.
AB  - The initial step in the conversion of the isoprenoid intermediate farnesyl
      diphosphate to the sesquiterpenoid phytoalexin capsidiol in elicitor-treated
      tobacco tissues is catalyzed by an inducible sesquiterpene cyclase [5-epi
      aristolochene synthase (EAS)]. Two independent cDNA clones (cEAS1 and cEAS2)
      encoding EAS were isolated from an elicitor-induced tobacco cDNA library by
      differential hybridization and subsequently were characterized by hybrid
      selection--in vitro translation. Insertion of cEAS1, a partial cDNA clone
      encoding 175 C-terminal amino acids, into an Escherichia coli expression vector
      resulted in accumulation of a fusion protein immunodetectable with EAS-specific
      polyclonal antibodies. The cDNA clones were used to isolate two full-length EAS
      genes that mapped 5 kilobases (kb) apart on one 15-kb genomic clone. The
      nucleotide sequences of the structural gene components were identical from 388
      base pairs (bp) upstream of the transcription initiation site to 40 bp downstream
      of the translation termination codon, suggesting a relatively recent duplication
      event. The genes consist of 1479-bp open reading frames, each containing five
      introns and specifying 56,828-Da proteins. The N-terminal amino acid sequence
      deduced from the genomic clones was identical to the first 16 amino acids of the
      EAS protein identifiable by Edman degradation. RNA blot hybridization with cEAS1
      demonstrated a mRNA induction time course consistent with the induction of the
      EAS mRNA translational activity with maximum levels 4-6 h after elicitation. EAS
      mRNA was not detected in control cells. DNA blot-hybridization analysis of
      genomic DNA revealed a copy number of approximately 12-15 for EAS-like genes in
      the tetraploid tobacco genome. The conservation of a putative allelic prenyl
      diphosphate binding motif is also discussed.

PMID- 1438318
TI  - Possible mechanism by which stress accelerates growth of virally derived tumors.
AB  - Stress accelerates the growth of certain types of tumors. Here we report a
      possible metabolic mechanism underlying this phenomenon. Some early features of
      transformation include increased number of glucose transporters and greatly
      enhanced rates of glucose uptake; this adaptation accommodates the vast energy
      demands needed for neoplastic growth. In contrast, glucocorticoids, a class of
      steroid hormones secreted during stress, inhibit glucose transport in various
      tissues; this is one route by which circulating glucose concentrations are raised
      during stress. We reasoned that should transformed cells become resistant to this
      inhibitory action of glucocorticoids, such cells would gain preferential access
      to these elevated concentrations of glucose. In agreement with this, we observed
      that Fujinami sarcoma virus-transformed fibroblasts became resistant to this
      glucocorticoid action both in vitro and in the rat. As a result, under conditions
      where glucocorticoids exerted catabolic effects upon nontransformed fibroblasts
      (inhibition of metabolism and ATP concentrations), the opposite occurred in the
      virally transformed cells. We observe that this glucocorticoid resistance upon
      transformation cannot be explained by depletion of glucocorticoid receptors;
      previous studies have suggested that transformation causes an alteration in
      trafficking of such receptors. Because of this resistance of transformed
      fibroblasts to the inhibitory effects of glucocorticoids upon glucose transport,
      glucose stores throughout the body are, in effect, preferentially shunted to such
      tumors during stress.

PMID- 1438320
TI  - Saving the "library of life".
AB  - A broad program of freezing species in threatened ecospheres could preserve
      biodiversity for eventual use by future generations. Sampling without studying
      can lower costs dramatically. Local labor can do most of the gathering. Plausible
      costs of collecting and cryogenically suspending the tropical rain forest
      species, at a sampling fraction of 10(-6), are about 2 billion dollars for a full
      century. Much more information than species DNA will be saved, allowing future
      biotechnology to derive high information content and perhaps even resurrect then
      extinct species. Parallel programs of in situ and other ex situ preservation are
      essential to allow later expression of frozen genomes in members of the same
      genus. This is a broad proposal that should be debated throughout the entire
      scientific community.

PMID- 1438321
TI  - The effect of nutrition of the fetus and neonate on cardiovascular disease in
      adult life.

PMID- 1438322
TI  - Food and biological clocks.

PMID- 1438323
TI  - Breast and gut: the relationship between lactating mammary function and neonatal
      gastrointestinal function.

PMID- 1438324
TI  - Maternal and environmental influences on thermoregulation in the neonate.

PMID- 1438326
TI  - Tocopherol transport and absorption.

PMID- 1438325
TI  - Diet effects on enterocyte development.

PMID- 1438327
TI  - The transport of vitamin C and effects of disease.

PMID- 1438329
TI  - Dose dependence of zinc and manganese absorption in man.

PMID- 1438328
TI  - The transport of iron and copper across the cell membrane: different mechanisms
      for different metals?

PMID- 1438330
TI  - Folate-vitamin B12 interrelationships in the central nervous system.

PMID- 1438331
TI  - Nutrition in cystic fibrosis: a historical overview.

PMID- 1438332
TI  - Energy metabolism in cystic fibrosis.

PMID- 1438333
TI  - Fat-soluble vitamins in cystic fibrosis.

PMID- 1438334
TI  - The Sir David Cuthbertson Medal Lecture 1991. The mechanisms and treatment of
      weight loss in cancer.

PMID- 1438335
TI  - Modulating the metabolic response to injury and infection.

PMID- 1438336
TI  - The metabolic response to cancer.

PMID- 1438337
TI  - Dietary manipulation of the inflammatory response.

PMID- 1438338
TI  - Society for Experimental Biology & Medicine. 1993. Constitution and bylaws.
      Membership directory.

PMID- 1438339
TI  - Eicosanoids: their function in renal epithelia ion transport.

PMID- 1438340
TI  - Intracellular localization of corticosteroid receptors in brain: potential
      interactions with signal transduction pathways.

PMID- 1438341
TI  - Chloride transport across rat ileal basolateral membrane vesicles.
AB  - The present study was designed to investigate Cl- transport across rat ileal
      basolateral membranes. Basolateral membrane vesicles were prepared by a well
      validated technique. The purity of the basolateral membrane vesicles was verified
      by marker enzyme studies and by studies of d-glucose and calcium uptake. Cl-
      uptake was studied by a rapid filtration technique. Neither an outwardly directed
      pH gradient, nor a HCO3- gradient, or their combination could elicit any
      stimulation of Cl- transport when compared with no gradient. 4,4
      Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid at 5 mM concentration did not inhibit
      Cl- uptake under gradient condition. Similarly, the presence of the combination
      of outwardly directed Na+ and HCO3- gradients did not stimulate Cl- uptake
      compared with the combination of K+ and HCO3- gradients or no HCO3- gradient.
      This is in contrast to our results in the brush border membranes, where an
      outwardly directed pH gradient caused an increase in Cl- uptake. Cl- uptake was
      stimulated in the presence of combined Na+ and K+ gradient. Bumetanide at 0.1 mM
      concentration inhibited the initial rate of Cl- uptake in the presence of
      combined Na+ and K+ gradients. Kinetic studies of bumetanide-sensitive Cl- uptake
      showed a Vmax of 5.6 +/- 0.7 nmol/mg protein/5 sec and a Km of 30 +/- 8.7 mM. Cl-
      uptake was stimulated by an inside positive membrane potential induced by the
      ionophore valinomycin in the setting of inwardly directed K+ gradient compared
      with voltage clamp condition. These studies demonstrate two processes for Cl-
      transport across the rat ileal basolateral membrane: one is driven by an
      electrogenic diffusive process and the second is a bumetanide-sensitive Na+/K+/2
      Cl- process. Cl- uptake is not enhanced by pH gradient, HCO3- gradient, their
      combination, or outwardly directed HCO3- and Na+ gradients.

PMID- 1438342
TI  - Effect of atrial natriuretic peptide and other vasoactive compounds on the
      uterine vascular bed of the nonpregnant sheep.
AB  - It has been reported that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentrations are
      elevated in pregnancy and further elevated in pregnancy-induced hypertension.
      Atrial stretch and volume expansion appear to be important stimuli for ANP
      release. During normal pregnancy, a striking change in hemodynamics occurs that
      may increase plasma ANP concentrations. ANP has potent natriuretic, diuretic, and
      smooth muscle relaxant activities. The biological effects of ANP during pregnancy
      may play an important role in the physiology and pathophysiology of pregnancy.
      Because of possible interactions during pregnancy due to secondary effects of
      maternal cardiovascular changes and physiological adaptation, the present study
      sought to evaluate and characterize the local effects of atriopeptin II on the
      uterine vascular bed of the nonpregnant sheep. Ewes with catheters in the femoral
      artery, femoral vein, and uterine artery and electromagnetic flow probes on the
      middle uterine arteries were monitored for blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR),
      and uterine blood flow before and after the administration into the uterine
      artery of bolus injections of 2, 4, 20, and 40 x 10(-9) M (5, 10, 50, and 100
      micrograms) of the synthetic ANP (atriopeptin II). For comparison purposes, the
      effects of prostaglandin I2 in doses of 1.2, 2.5, 12, and 25 x 10(-8) M (5, 10,
      50, and 100 micrograms), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in doses of 3, 9, 30,
      90, 300, and 900 x 10(-11) M (0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10, and 30 micrograms), and
      bradykinin in doses of 9.4, 28, 94, 280, 940, and 2800 x 10(-11) M (0.1, 0.3, 1,
      3, 10, and 30 micrograms) were also tested. Appropriate vehicles were tested and
      found to be without effect. All four compounds were found to be vasodilators of
      the nonpregnant uterine vasculature. ANP administered into the uterine artery
      decreased BP (87 +/- 4 mm Hg to 79 +/- 4 mm Hg with 50 micrograms [20 x 10(-9)
      M]), increased HR (90 +/- 5 bpm to 105 +/- 4 bpm), and significantly increased
      uterine blood flow (from 14 +/- 3 to 37 +/- 4 ml/min with a dose of 100
      micrograms [40 x 10(-8) M, P < 0.05]). Prostaglandin I2 failed to alter BP, but
      caused significant increases on HR (100 +/- 4 to 124 +/- 13 bpm, P < 0.05) and
      uterine blood flow (17 +/- 4 to 73 +/- 10 ml/min, P < 0.05). Vasoactive
      intestinal polypeptide caused a significant tachycardia (97 +/- 10 to 158 +/- 9
      bpm, P < 0.05) at the highest dose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1438343
TI  - Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is not endothelium dependent.
AB  - Feline intrapulmonary arteries (mean diameter, 0.9 mm) were equilibrated in
      Earle's solution at constant tension in a chamber bubbled with an hyperoxic gas
      mixture (30% oxygen, 5% carbon dioxide, balance nitrogen). The endothelium was
      removed from half the vessels by gentle rubbing. The isometric response to the
      addition of acetylcholine (1*10(-6) M) was dilator in the vessels with
      endothelium and constrictor in those without endothelium. Intermittent exposure
      to a hypoxic gas mixture (0% oxygen, 5% carbon dioxide, balance nitrogen) for 20
      min with five repetitions demonstrated sustained constrictor responses in the
      presence or absence of endothelium. Endothelial cells are, therefore, not
      required for the mediation of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.

PMID- 1438344
TI  - Thyroxine suppresses thrombocytopoiesis and stimulates erythropoiesis in mice.
AB  - Thyroxine has been shown in vitro to stimulate erythropoiesis by two mechanisms:
      a direct, beta 2-adrenergic receptor-mediated stimulation of red cell precursors,
      and an indirect, erythropoietin-mediated mechanism. Clinical reports have
      suggested that excess thyroxine also exerts depressive effects on
      thrombocytopoiesis, but the most sensitive methods of assessing platelet
      production, i.e., percentage of 35S incorporation into platelets and
      determination of megakaryocyte size and number, are not appropriate for analysis
      of platelet production in human patients. The purpose of this study was to use a
      mouse model to investigate the effects of the hyperthyroid state on
      erythropoiesis and thrombocytopoiesis, and to assess in vivo the two mechanisms
      by which thyroxine has been described to stimulate erythropoiesis in vitro. We
      found that thyroxine administration significantly depressed platelet production
      and stimulated erythropoiesis in mice. Both the D- and L-isomers of thyroxine in
      appropriate doses produced this depression of thrombocytopoiesis, and the effect
      was dose dependent for both isomers. Daily administration of thyroxine:increased
      blood volume; decreased the peripheral platelet count, total circulating platelet
      count and mass, percentage of 35S incorporation into platelets, and megakaryocyte
      number and size; and concurrently increased indices of red cell production
      (packed cell volume, red blood cell count, total circulating red blood cell count
      and mass, and reticulocyte count). Additionally, propranolol, a nonspecific beta
      blocker, partially reversed the suppression of platelet production by L
      thyroxine, lending credence to the assertion that the direct, beta 2-adrenergic
      receptor-mediated stimulation of the erythroid cell line by thyroxine reported to
      exist in vitro may also be important in vivo.

PMID- 1438345
TI  - Cytochrome P-450 pathway in renal function of normal rats and rats with bilateral
      ureteral obstruction.
AB  - Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) are
      decreased and mean arterial pressure (MAP) and renal vascular resistance (RVR)
      are increased after unilateral release of bilateral ureteral obstruction (BUO) of
      24 hr duration. An imbalance between vasoconstrictor and vasodilator substances
      may explain these hemodynamic changes. We examined the role of the cytochrome P
      450 pathway in this setting. After unilateral release of BUO, GFR and ERPF
      (ml/min/kg body wt) were significantly lower in these rats than in sham-operated
      rats (SOR) 1.14 +/- 0.09 vs 6.7 +/- 0.5 and 3.09 +/- 0.2 vs 23.5 +/- 3.4,
      respectively). BUO rats had significantly higher MAP (mm Hg) and RVR (mm
      Hg/ml/min/kg body wt) than SOR (155 +/- 5 vs 120 +/- 1 and 29.1 +/- 1.7 vs 3.2 +/
      0.4, respectively). SOR given 3-methylcholanthrene and beta-naphthoflavone to
      induce the cytochrome P-450 system had no significant changes in renal function,
      RVR, or MAP. SOR given ketoconazole to inhibit the cytochrome P-450 system had
      significantly lower GFR (4.8 +/- 0.5) than temporal control rats without
      significant changes in ERPF (21.2 +/- 4.6), MAP (127 +/- 6), or RVR (4.2 +/-
      0.9). Rats with BUO given ketoconazole had lower but not significantly different
      GFR (0.84 +/- .1) and ERPF (2.61 +/- .4) than BUO controls. Values for MAP did
      not differ in BUO rats given ketoconazole versus BUO temporal controls. BUO rats
      given 3-methylcholanthrene and beta-naphthoflavone had significantly higher GFR
      and ERPF (2.01 +/- 0.24 and 6.66 +/- 1.36, respectively) and significantly lower
      RVR (14.7 +/- 3.9) than control rats with BUO; MAP was unchanged. Microsomal
      preparations from indomethacin-treated isolated kidneys obtained from BUO rats
      when compared with preparations obtained from SOR had significantly less activity
      of the P-450 cytochrome-dependent omega/omega-1 hydroxylase (103 +/- 6 vs 130 +/-
      7 pmol hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids produced per mg of protein/min, P < 0.02)
      and the P-450 cytochrome-dependent epoxygenase (11 +/- 0.3 vs 30 +/- 4 pmol
      lipoxyeicosatrienoic acids produced per mg of protein/min, P < 0.04).
      Indomethacin-treated microsomes prepared from kidneys of BUO rats converted
      significantly less 14C-arachidonic acid through the P-450-dependent hydroxylases
      (13.5 +/- 0.8 vs 17.0 +/- 0.1% of 14C-arachidonic acid converted to 19- and 20
      hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids, P < 0.02), and significantly less through the
      epoxygenases (1.4 +/- 0.4 vs. 3.8 +/- 0.5% of 14C-arachidonic acid converted to
      epoxyeicosatrienoic acids).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1438346
TI  - Serum growth hormone levels in hypothyroid and GH-treated thyroidectomized rats
      and their progenies.
AB  - Growth hormone (GH) was measured in the sera of control, hypothyroid
      (thyroidectomized [Tx]) and GH-treated Tx rats and their fetuses on Days 19, 20,
      21, and 22 of gestation and in their progenies on postnatal Days 1, 5, 30, and
      75. Maternal endogenous serum GH increased dramatically between the 19th and 20th
      days of gestation and remained elevated through the 22nd day in control rats, but
      was depressed significantly in Tx and GH-treated Tx rats during this period. GH
      was not always detected in the sera of 19-day-old fetuses. On Day 20, GH was
      depressed in fetuses of Tx mothers as compared with those form controls or GH
      treated Tx mothers. GH was elevated in sera of fetuses from GH-treated Tx rats
      over fetuses of control and Tx only rats on the 22nd day of gestation. In
      postnatal rats, those from GH-treated mothers continued to show elevated serum GH
      on Day 1 as compared with those from Tx only mothers. On postnatal Days 5 and 30,
      progenies of Tx mothers had significantly elevated GH as compared with progenies
      of control mothers. At 75 days of age, the GH levels of these progenies had
      normalized. We have shown previously that the hormonal secretions of the
      pituitary-thyroid axis are badly disrupted in the progenies of Tx and GH-treated
      Tx mothers and that even as adults these animals have tissue (brain and liver)
      deficits of active thyroid hormones. Although the onset of GH secretion is mildly
      delayed in fetuses of Tx but not GH-treated Tx mothers, the serum GH levels of
      both groups of progenies are elevated during most of the neonatal period through
      the time of puberty. It is, therefore, concluded that GH in the absence of
      adequate levels of thyroid hormones is ineffective in preventing many of the
      learning and memory deficits induced in the progenies of Tx mothers.

PMID- 1438347
TI  - [Nursing care and the infection risk].

PMID- 1438348
TI  - [Nursing service at the level of the local health unit. Organizing models].

PMID- 1438349
TI  - [The working and living conditions in the nephrology and dialysis centers of the
      Abruzzi Region].

PMID- 1438351
TI  - [World AIDS Day].

PMID- 1438350
TI  - [Care for the child undergoing bronchoscopy].

PMID- 1438352
TI  - [The Red Cross and the Red Crescent. The portrait of an international movement].

PMID- 1438353
TI  - [Nursing education in regional Italian legal regulations, with special reference
      to the Lazio Region].

PMID- 1438354
TI  - Protein import by yeast mitochondria.

PMID- 1438355
TI  - The three dimensional structure of acyl-CoA dehydrogenases.

PMID- 1438356
TI  - Alpha, beta-dehydrogenation by acyl-CoA dehydrogenases: role of functional groups
      at the active center.

PMID- 1438357
TI  - Identification and characterization of the 5' regulatory region of the human
      medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) gene.

PMID- 1438358
TI  - Molecular studies of mouse medium and long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase genes for
      site-directed mutagenesis of embryonic stem cells.

PMID- 1438359
TI  - Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of cDNAs encoding human long chain acyl
      CoA dehydrogenase and assignment of its gene to chromosome 2.

PMID- 1438360
TI  - Pork and human cDNAs encoding glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase.

PMID- 1438361
TI  - Multiple regulatory elements characterize the promoter region of the 68 kDa
      carnitine palmitoyltransferase in the rat and the human.

PMID- 1438362
TI  - The fadBA operon of Escherichia coli and evidence for the endosymbiont origin of
      peroxisomes.

PMID- 1438363
TI  - Fatty acid binding proteins: recent concepts of regulation and function.

PMID- 1438364
TI  - Peroxisomal and mitochondrial enzymes.

PMID- 1438365
TI  - The fatty acid-binding protein content and fatty acid oxidation capacity of rat
      tissues.

PMID- 1438366
TI  - Peroxisomal activation, transport and oxidation of fatty acids: implications to
      peroxisomal disorders.

PMID- 1438367
TI  - Latency of peroxisomal palmitoyl-CoA beta-oxidation in digitonin permeabilized
      fibroblasts: the effect of ATP on peroxisomal permeability.

PMID- 1438368
TI  - Resolution of the subcellular site of very long-chain fatty acid beta-oxidation
      in human skin fibroblasts using a novel approach.

PMID- 1438369
TI  - Involvement of both peroxisomes and mitochondria in the alpha-oxidation of
      phytanic acid.

PMID- 1438370
TI  - Activation and oxidation of pristanic acid in rat liver: identification of a
      distinct, clofibrate non-inducible pristanoyl-CoA oxidase.

PMID- 1438371
TI  - Role of peroxisomes in the degradation of prostaglandins.

PMID- 1438372
TI  - A revised pathway for the oxidation of oleic acid and odd-numbered double bond
      unsaturated fatty acids.

PMID- 1438373
TI  - Approach to the patient with a fatty acid oxidation disorder.

PMID- 1438375
TI  - Pathophysiological approach to carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiencies.

PMID- 1438374
TI  - Plasma and mitochondrial membrane carnitine transport defects.

PMID- 1438376
TI  - Neonatal carnitine palmitoyltransferase deficiency: a case with a muscular
      presentation.

PMID- 1438377
TI  - Multiple acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenation disorders (MAD) responsive to
      riboflavin: biochemical studies in fibroblasts.

PMID- 1438378
TI  - Combined defect of long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, 2-enoyl-CoA
      hydratase and 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase.

PMID- 1438379
TI  - Isoenzymes of delta 3,delta 2-enoyl-CoA isomerase in rat liver.

PMID- 1438380
TI  - The role of tandem mass spectrometry in the diagnosis of fatty acid oxidation
      disorders.

PMID- 1438381
TI  - Detection and quantitation of acylcarnitines in plasma and blood spots from
      patients with inborn errors of fatty acid oxidation.
AB  - Acylcarnitine profiling in plasma and dried blood spots by radioisotopic
      exchange/HPLC demonstrates that MCAD deficiency can be reliably detected in the
      asymptomatic state without L-carnitine therapy. The OC/AcC ratio differentiates
      MCAD deficiency from normal controls. A longer chain acylcarnitine (r.t. 43 min.)
      was detected in all 3 patients with a defect in long chain fatty acid oxidation.
      Detection of C4- and C5-acylcarnitine isomers in plasma helped characterize a
      metabolic defect affecting branched chain acyl-CoA oxidation in 3 patients.
      Quantitative data in 2 patients with MCAD deficiency showed that plasma
      concentrations of OC and AcC are dependent on both the availability of free
      carnitine and the severity of metabolic decompensation.

PMID- 1438382
TI  - Analysis of acylcarnitines as their N-demethylated ester derivatives by gas
      chromatography-chemical ionization mass spectrometry: clinical applications.

PMID- 1438383
TI  - Treatment with docosahexaenoic acid favorably modifies the fatty acid composition
      of erythrocytes in peroxisomal patients.

PMID- 1438384
TI  - Diagnosis of inborn errors of phytanic acid oxidation using tritiated phytanic
      acid.

PMID- 1438385
TI  - Historical perspective of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency: a
      decade of discovery.

PMID- 1438386
TI  - Peroxisomal multifunctional delta 3,delta 2-enoyl-CoA isomerase, 2-enoyl-CoA
      hydratase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase enzyme from rat liver. Identity with
      peroxisomal bifunctional protein and proposed domain structure.

PMID- 1438387
TI  - Molecular analysis of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency: a
      diagnostic approach.

PMID- 1438388
TI  - Molecular characterization of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency
      causing sudden death.

PMID- 1438389
TI  - Insights into the topography of mitochondrial carnitine palmitoyltransferase
      gained from the use of proteases.

PMID- 1438390
TI  - Characterization of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) with a point
      mutation associated with MCAD deficiency.

PMID- 1438391
TI  - Genetic heterogeneity in MCAD deficiency: frequency of K329E allele and
      identification of three additional mutant alleles.

PMID- 1438392
TI  - Medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency in the United Kingdom.

PMID- 1438393
TI  - Frequency of G-985 mutation in medium chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (MCAD)
      deficiency in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

PMID- 1438394
TI  - Mutations causing medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency: a collaborative
      compilation of the data from 172 patients. Workshop on Molecular Aspects of MCAD
      Deficiency.

PMID- 1438395
TI  - Molecular analysis of disorders of peroxisomal beta-oxidation.

PMID- 1438396
TI  - Biochemical and molecular studies of carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency
      with hepatocardiomyopathic presentation.

PMID- 1438397
TI  - Identification of the molecular defects responsible for the various genotypes of
      isovaleric acidemia.

PMID- 1438398
TI  - Molecular characterization of variant alpha-subunit of electron transfer
      flavoprotein in three patients with glutaric acidemia type II, and identification
      of glycine substitution for valine 157, producing an unstable mature protein in a
      patient.

PMID- 1438399
TI  - Molecular heterogeneity of beta-ETF deficiency in glutaric aciduria type II.

PMID- 1438400
TI  - Human cDNA encoding ETF dehydrogenase (ETF:ubiquinone oxido-reductase), and
      mutations in glutaric acidemia type II.

PMID- 1438401
TI  - Molecular basis of 3-ketothiolase deficiency.

PMID- 1438402
TI  - Thermodynamic studies of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase complexed to
      thioether-CoA ligands.

PMID- 1438403
TI  - Purification of long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase from human infant
      liver.

PMID- 1438404
TI  - Peroxisomal biogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PMID- 1438405
TI  - Evolution of the acyl-CoA dehydrogenase/oxidase superfamily.

PMID- 1438406
TI  - Purging with 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide combinations.

PMID- 1438407
TI  - Graft-versus-leukemia reactions following bone marrow transplantation for chronic
      myeloid leukemia.

PMID- 1438408
TI  - Prevention of graft-versus-host disease by using immunotoxins.

PMID- 1438409
TI  - Purging multidrug resistant cells from bone marrow.

PMID- 1438411
TI  - Neuroblastoma purging by immunorosette depletion.

PMID- 1438410
TI  - Peanut agglutinin purging and magnetic microspheres.

PMID- 1438412
TI  - Autologous bone marrow transplantation after in vitro purging with monoclonal
      antibodies and complement in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PMID- 1438413
TI  - Factors limiting the efficiency of immunomagnetic cell separation.

PMID- 1438414
TI  - Large-scale immunomagnetic separation system for the removal of tumor cells from
      bone marrow.

PMID- 1438415
TI  - Successful autologous transplantation of immunomagnetic bead purged bone marrow
      in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PMID- 1438416
TI  - Autologous bone marrow transplantation for acute leukemia using ferromagnetic
      microparticles and monoclonal antibody-purged marrows: demonstration of
      effectiveness by polymerase chain reaction.

PMID- 1438417
TI  - Purging of acute lymphoblastic leukemia by long-term marrow culture.

PMID- 1438418
TI  - Bone marrow purging with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides.

PMID- 1438419
TI  - Molecular approaches to purging of chronic myelogenous leukemia marrow in
      autologous transplantation.

PMID- 1438420
TI  - Positive selection of cell subpopulations using a high gradient magnetic field
      system.

PMID- 1438421
TI  - Colloidal magnetite-bound blood cells: their potential in separation technology.

PMID- 1438422
TI  - Use of etoposide in combination with cyclosporine for purging multidrug resistant
      leukemic cells from bone marrow in a mouse model.

PMID- 1438423
TI  - Marrow purging: present status and future perspectives--efficacy in AML.

PMID- 1438424
TI  - Autologous bone marrow transplantation for advanced neuroblastoma.

PMID- 1438425
TI  - Autologous bone marrow transplantation with in vitro chemotherapy purge in first
      remission of acute myeloid leukemia.

PMID- 1438426
TI  - Bone marrow purging in patients with refractory cancer.

PMID- 1438427
TI  - Immunomagnetic purging in autologous bone marrow transplantation: experience in
      fourteen patients.

PMID- 1438428
TI  - GM-CSF administration enhances granulocytic recovery in purged autologous bone
      marrow transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PMID- 1438429
TI  - Salvage and transfusion of autologous red blood cells from bone marrow harvest.

PMID- 1438430
TI  - A simple method to detect immature hemopoietic progenitors after in vitro
      treatment with ASTA-Z 7654.

PMID- 1438431
TI  - Use of licensed electrolyte solutions and anticoagulant citrate dextrose for bone
      marrow collection.

PMID- 1438432
TI  - Analysis of variations in cryomedium and methods of freezing on human bone marrow
      stem cells.

PMID- 1438433
TI  - Expanding role of the bone marrow processing laboratory.

PMID- 1438434
TI  - Incidence of bacterial contamination of bone marrow grafts.

PMID- 1438435
TI  - Selective depletion of CD8-positive T-lymphocytes for allogeneic bone marrow
      transplantation: engraftment, graft-versus-host disease and graft-versus
      leukemia.

PMID- 1438436
TI  - Campath-1M antibodies for T cell depletion of haploidentical marrow transplanted
      to children with malignant osteopetrosis.

PMID- 1438437
TI  - Immunomagnetic depletion of CD8+ lymphocytes from marrow grafts.

PMID- 1438438
TI  - Effects of mafosfamide on the clonogenic cells in precursor B acute lymphoblastic
      leukemia: significance for ex vivo purging of bone marrow.

PMID- 1438439
TI  - The combined use of elutriation and CD8/magnetic bead separation to engineer the
      bone marrow allograft.

PMID- 1438440
TI  - Graft versus host tolerance in dogs across one DLA-haplotype by depletion of CD6
      positive cells.

PMID- 1438441
TI  - New technology for the depletion of T cells from soybean lectin agglutinated, HLA
      matched bone marrow grafts for leukemia: initial laboratory and clinical results.

PMID- 1438442
TI  - CD48 monoclonal antibody K31 for bone marrow transplantation.

PMID- 1438443
TI  - Effects of ex vivo treatment with methylprednisolone and vincristine on bone
      marrow lymphohematopoietic cells.

PMID- 1438444
TI  - Detection of occult lymphoma cells in bone marrow aspirates by multi-dimensional
      flow cytometry.

PMID- 1438446
TI  - Detection of minimal residual breast cancer in bone marrow.

PMID- 1438445
TI  - In vitro effects of Ilmofosine on acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells and on
      normal hemopoietic cells.

PMID- 1438447
TI  - Deferoxamine as a purging agent for autologous bone marrow grafts in
      neuroblastoma.

PMID- 1438448
TI  - Alkyl-lysophospholipid purging for autologous bone marrow transplantation in
      acute leukemia in second or subsequent remission after extramedullary relapse.

PMID- 1438449
TI  - Efficacy of purging clonogenic leukemia cells using ether lipid and hyperthermia
      for autologous bone marrow transplantation.

PMID- 1438450
TI  - Autologous bone marrow transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia using
      monoclonal antibody-purged bone marrow.

PMID- 1438451
TI  - Search for new antiviral agents of plant origin.

PMID- 1438452
TI  - Antimicrobial activity of naphtoquinones and Allium extracts combined with
      antibiotics.
AB  - Combinations of antibiotics and known antimicrobial natural products,
      naphtoquinones and Allium extracts, were investigated. The chessboard broth
      method was applied to assess the activity of these combinations against aerobic
      and anaerobic bacteria. If no antagonism was observed, the combinations studied
      lead from partial to total synergism, mainly against aerobic bacteria.

PMID- 1438453
TI  - Antioxidants in some pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food from the European
      market.
AB  - A specific and sensitive reverse phase HPLC method (AO-1) for the quantitative
      determination of ten phenolic antioxidants and propyl paraben in fatty products
      (food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics) has been developed. Extraction with
      acetonitrile from a hexane dilution of the products; acetic acid-water
      acetonitrile-methanol solvent system and detection at 280 nm and quantification
      by internal standard procedure (reference compound: DMP, dimethylphenol) were
      used. Good resolutions for all peaks, especially BHT and DG, and no interferences
      with others common additives were achieved. Mean recoveries, by addition of
      standards to sample at 20, 50 and 100 micrograms/g, were 96-101% (BHT, 84-86%);
      minimal quantifiable levels were 0.5-1.6 micrograms/g. Two simple isocratic
      methods for the confirmation of data obtained by AO-1 were also developed: AO-2
      for seven phenolic antioxidants and propyl paraben with DMP as internal standard,
      AO-3 for four lipophilic antioxidants with di-tert-butylphenol (DTBP) as internal
      standard.

PMID- 1438454
TI  - Parasympathomimetic activity of salpantiol. A new cyclitol from Salpianthus
      arenarius.
AB  - A new cyclitol was isolated using the flowers of the Salpianthus arenarius, and
      its chemical structure was determined (2-methoxy-5hydroxymethyl cyclopentane
      1,3,4-triol). The contractile effects of acetylcholine (Ach), Atropine,
      Pilocarpine, Adrenaline and Cyclitol were studied in rat ileum. Such cyclitol
      proves to have parasympathomimetic activity.

PMID- 1438455
TI  - [Optimization of liberation of theophylline derivatives from Gelucire matrix
      tablets].
AB  - Matrix tablets containing theophylline, etofylline, dyphylline and proxyphylline
      were prepared with saturated polyglycolysed glycerides whose melting point was 50
      degrees C and HLB were 2 and 13 (Gelucires 50/02 and 50/13), in order to
      eliminate the melting point influence and to have extreme values of HLB. The
      influence of two parameters was studied: HLB of the mixtures of Gelucires and
      drug solubility. Drug release was found to increase as these two parameters rose,
      the main factor being HLB value. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate
      their influence. The mathematical model obtained was employed to optimize the
      release of each active ingredient from the tablets made of mixtures of the two
      Gelucires with HLB ranging from 3 to 4 depending on drug solubility.

PMID- 1438456
TI  - [Synthesis and pharmacology of structural analogs of tienilic acids].
AB  - Three structural analogs of tienilic acid were synthetized and evaluated for
      their diuretic activity in the rat. Two compounds are alpha substituted tienilic
      acid derivatives by an alkylated group. The third one is a conformationally
      restricted derivative through a cyclization process. All compounds fall to
      increase the urinary flow in the pharmacological assay.

PMID- 1438457
TI  - [The adverse effects of local anesthetics on the eye in the development of ocular
      irritation test].
AB  - Referring to the ocular damage produced by local anaesthetics applied to the eye,
      the authors suggest the use of a test, to reveal the danger that some ophthalmic
      preparations may represent for patients. They review the studies devoted to the
      evaluation of ocular damage, particularly those which resulted into tests based
      on the methodology of Draize. A test scaled down to the mouse eye is described,
      in which the subjective appreciation is completed by an objective measurement.
      The test is based on the increased permeability of injured cornea for
      fluorescein. The fluorescence emitted by this tracer depends on the extent of the
      micro-lesions and is measured with an optical electronic device. The
      possibilities and limitations of this test are determined by the relationship
      between dose and extent of ocular damage. Such a relationship has been
      established for oxybuprocain. An appropriate concentration of this local
      anaesthetic allows to investigate the influence of adjuvants, preservatives and
      viscosifiers on the effect of oxybuprocain on the cornea. The authors conclude
      that it is possible to apply this test to the development of well-tolerated
      ophthalmic preparations.

PMID- 1438458
TI  - [Microbial contamination of twenty drugs of plant origin].
AB  - Twenty drugs of plant origin were analysed in order to determine the microbial
      contamination level. A light homogenizing method was used to avoid an increase in
      the antimicrobial capacity of certain drugs, which would falsify the analytical
      results. The total viable aerobic count (TVC) varied from 10(1) to 10(7) CFU/g
      and in 11 samples out of 21 was equal to or higher than 10(5) CFU/g. The number
      of fungi varied from one drug to another, but was generally lower than the
      aerobic TVC to the power of 10. No cases containing Aspergillus flavus were
      found. The total viable anaerobic count consisted mainly of facultative anaerobic
      germs. Aerobic spores and facultative anaerobic bacteria were abundant. They
      often represented more than 50% of the aerobic TVC and among them, Bacillus
      cereus was found. Concerning specified micro-organisms, Escherichia coli was
      found 3 times, Staphylococcus aureus 2 times and Pseudomonas (not aeruginosa) a
      few times. Salmonella was never found. The Enterobacteriaceae, on the other hand,
      were often found and in some cases their number can be greater than 10(4) CFU/g.
      The typed bacteria corresponded to Enterobacter spp. Some drug samples in bags
      were analysed. The level of contamination was identical to that found in the bulk
      drugs. The analysis in parallel of a black tea sample showed an aerobic TVC of
      4.10(3) CFU/g. Specified micro-organisms were not found in the infusions. In
      comparison with non-boiled drugs, the survivors can represent up to 30% of the
      aerobic TVC.

PMID- 1438459
TI  - [Adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to human buccal epithelia cells and the
      effect of protamine on their attachment].

PMID- 1438460
TI  - Isolation and mass spectrometric identification of cyclosporin A isomeric
      dihydrodiol precursors from erythromycin-induced rabbit liver microsomes.

PMID- 1438461
TI  - Improvement of clonazepam release from a Carbopol hydrogel.
AB  - The performance of Tween 80, Tween 60, oleic acid, oleyl alcohol and Azone as
      enhancers of clonazepam permeation from a Carbopol hydrogel through a cellulose
      nitrate membrane was investigated. The effect of incorporating methyl beta
      cyclodextrin (DS 1.8) in combination with clonazepam as a solid phase into some
      vehicles was also tested. In vitro release studies were carried out with a
      Sartorius apparatus and the following parameters were evaluated: drug solubility
      in the vehicle; partition coefficient of the drug between lauryl alcohol (the
      solvent which impregnates the membrane) and the vehicle; steady state flux;
      permeability constant; diffusion coefficient; lag time. The release kinetics
      followed a nearly zero-order pattern, although the diffusion-controlled mechanism
      might also have been operative. Maximum drug release (2.5 times that of the gel
      base) was achieved for the formulation containing clonazepam and methyl beta
      cyclodextrin in a 1:1 (mol/mol) ratio as a solid phase, in a vehicle composed of
      water, propylene glycol, Tween 80 and Azone at a mass fraction of 43%, 50%, 2%
      and 5%, respectively.

PMID- 1438462
TI  - Biological activities and mechanisms of action of PGJ2 and related compounds: an
      update.

PMID- 1438463
TI  - Modifications of platelet phospholipid fatty acid composition in streptozocin
      induced diabetic rats.
AB  - Increased thromboxane A2 (TXA2) generation by platelets has been reported both in
      diabetic patients and streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. This increase is in
      contrast to the decreased prostacyclin (PGI2) synthesis by endothelial cells in
      diabetes. An imbalance in the ratio of TXA2/PGI2 has been implicated in increased
      platelet aggregation and a high incidence of vascular disease in human diabetes.
      The mechanism for this imbalance, however, remains elusive. In a previous study
      from our laboratory, we reported unchanged arachidonic acid levels in platelet
      membrane phospholipids of 3-week diabetic rats, but a decreased arachidonic acid
      level in platelet membrane phospholipids of 6-week diabetic rats. In the present
      communication, we report the role of enzymes that are involved in remodeling
      arachidonic acid levels of platelet membrane phospholipids in both 3- and 6-week
      diabetic rats. No alterations were observed in the activities of arachidonoyl-CoA
      synthetase, acyl-CoA: lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase, or phospholipase
      A2 in platelets from both 3- and 6-week diabetic rats. However, both increased
      uptake and incorporation of [14C]arachidonic acid into platelets were observed in
      the diabetic platelet-rich plasma. In conclusion, increased TXA2 formation in
      diabetic platelets is not due to alterations in the activities of enzymes
      involved in the incorporation into or release of arachidonate from the diabetic
      platelet membrane phospholipid, but may be due to increased efficiency of uptake,
      incorporation or possibly redistribution of this fatty acid among phospholipid
      classes in diabetic platelets.

PMID- 1438464
TI  - Peritoneal macrophages from patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
      show a differential secretion of prostanoids and interleukin-1 beta.
AB  - In vitro secretion of the prostanoids PGE2 and PGI2 and of the cytokine IL-1 beta
      by peritoneal macrophages obtained from CAPD patients during episodes of
      peritonitis and infection free periods, was determined, after culturing with or
      without 5 micrograms/ml of LPS. The release of PGE2 and PGI2 as measured by its
      stable metabolite 6-keto-PGF alpha was determined in 10 episodes of peritonitis
      and 10 infection free periods. IL-1 beta release was determined in 14 episodes of
      peritonitis and 20 infection free periods. PGI2 release from macrophages declined
      sharply during peritonitis both in the absence and presence of LPS in the culture
      medium (p less than 0.005). A tendency to decreased PGE2 release was found during
      peritonitis, when macrophages were cultured in the absence of LPS. In the
      presence of LPS, the same amounts of PGE2 were released during peritonitis and
      during an infection free period. On the other hand, peritoneal macrophages
      released significantly more IL-1 beta during peritonitis as compared to an
      infection free period, provided that the cells were in vitro stimulated with LPS.
      In view of the interregulatory effects between prostanoids and macrophage
      cytokines in their production, these findings may indicate that the impaired
      release of PGI2 during peritonitis has allowed the macrophages to secrete more IL
      1 beta after in vitro stimulation with LPS. This implies that PGI2 and PGE2 may
      play a distinct role in the regulation of cytokine secretion by these cells.

PMID- 1438465
TI  - Bradykinin and not cholecystokinin stimulates exaggerated prostanoid release from
      the inflamed rabbit gallbladder.
AB  - The relationship of bradykinin and cholecystokinin (CCK) to inflamed gallbladder
      prostanoid synthesis and release was examined in rabbits treated with common bile
      duct ligation (BDL) for 24 or 72 h. Gallbladders removed from control and BDL
      groups were incubated in oxygenated Krebs buffer at 37 degrees C (pH 7.4) for 60
      min. The slices were then placed every 20 min in vials containing increasing
      doses of bradykinin (30-3000 ng) or CCK (30-1000 ng). Incubation fluid was
      analyzed by RIA for 6-keto-prostaglandin (PG)F1 alpha (PGI2 metabolite), PGE2 and
      thromboxane (TX) B2. Bradykinin stimulated control gallbladder 6-keto-PGF1 alpha
      and PGE2 release was modest. Gallbladders from 24- and 72-h BDL groups released 3
      to 10-fold higher levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGE2 (not TXB2) following
      bradykinin stimulation when compared to controls, which was abolished with
      indomethacin pretreatment. CCK did not stimulate gallbladder prostanoid release
      in the control or BDL groups. These data show that bradykinin and not CCK
      stimulated PGI2 and PGE2 release from inflamed rabbit gallbladder. Increased BDL
      gallbladder PGI2 release may be prolonged or augmented by bradykinin as
      gallbladder distention and progressive acute inflammation stimulate local
      bradykinin formation.

PMID- 1438466
TI  - Effect of a newly synthesized leukotriene antagonist, (E)-2,2-diethyl-3'-2-2-(4
      isopropyl) thiazolyl ethenyl succinanilic acid (MCI-826), on immunological liver
      injury and nephritis in mice.
AB  - The effect of a newly synthesized leukotriene antagonist, (E)-2,2-diethyl-3'-2-2
      (4-isopropyl) thiazolyl ethenyl succinanilic acid (MCI-826), on liver injury and
      nephritis in mice was studied. In order to confirm the anti-leukotriene activity
      of MCI-826, the effect of MCI-826 on leukotriene C4(LTC4)- and leukotriene
      D4(LTD4)-induced vasculitis, liver and kidney injury was studied. MCI-826 was
      found to clearly inhibit LTC4- and LTD4-induced vasculitis, as well as liver and
      kidney injury. In addition to LT-induced reactions, MCI-826 inhibited liver
      injury induced by injection of either an anti-basic liver protein antibody into
      DBA/2 mice that had been previously immunized with rabbit IgG or of a bacterial
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into Corynebacterium parvum pretreated DDY mice.
      Moreover, MCI-826 inhibited nephritis, caused by injecting antiglomerular
      basement membrane antibody into C57BL/6 mice. These results suggest that MCI-826
      can be applied to the treatment of certain tissue inflammatory diseases.

PMID- 1438467
TI  - Prostaglandin E production by uteri of ovariectomized pregnant rats receiving
      antiprogesterone steroid or in which progesterone has been withdrawn.
AB  - Antiprogesterone steroid, ZK98299 (Schering, Germany) or RU38486 (Roussel Uclaf,
      France), has been administered to ovariectomized early pregnant rats receiving
      continuous steroid replacement. At 24 h later, uterine explants of rats treated
      with ZK98299 produced significantly greater amounts of prostaglandin E (PGE) than
      did controls or animals treated with RU38486. The PGE/PGF2 alpha production ratio
      for uteri of rats treated with ZK98299 or RU38486 was markedly lowered compared
      to controls, and a significant decrease occurred in the PGE/6-keto PGF1 alpha
      production ratio for rats treated with RU38486. For ovariectomized early pregnant
      rats in which progesterone has been withdrawn, a significant reduction in uterine
      PGE production occurred when compared to control animals. There was also a marked
      decrease in PGE/PGF2 alpha production ratio, and the PGE/6-keto PGF1 alpha
      production ratio tended to be lowered relative to controls. The stimulated
      production (as by ZK98299) or unchanged production of PGE (as by RU38486)
      indicates a selective action on uterine PGE synthesis among the antiprogesterone
      steroids, and these findings cannot be explained simply in terms of a blockage of
      progesterone receptors.

PMID- 1438468
TI  - Suppression of hepatic prostaglandin F2 alpha in rats by dietary alpha-tocopherol
      acetate is independent of total hepatic alpha-tocopherol.
AB  - Groups of eight weanling female F344/N rats were fed semipurified diets that
      supplied 0, 50, 500, 5000, or 15,000 mg alpha-tocopherol acetate/kg diet, with
      and without 0.05% phenobarbital (PB) for 9 weeks. Both plasma and hepatic alpha
      tocopherol levels, measured by HPLC, strongly correlated with alpha-tocopherol
      intake (r greater than 0.73, p less than 0.0001). Phenobarbital both depleted
      hepatic alpha-tocopherol and increased plasma alpha-tocopherol significantly.
      Although treatment with PB for 9 weeks significantly increased GST activity, PB
      did not affect hepatic prostaglandin (PG)F2 alpha status, as determined by
      radioimmunoassay. PGF2 alpha was significantly greater (by 52%) in rats fed no
      alpha-tocopherol than in rats fed 15,000 mg alpha-tocopherol acetate/kg diet.
      Hepatic PGF2 alpha status was correlated inversely but weakly with dietary alpha
      tocopherol (r = -0.24, p less than 0.05). Hepatic PGF2 alpha status was not
      correlated with hepatic or plasma alpha-tocopherol status. This finding suggests
      either that there is a small depletion-resistant subcellular alpha-tocopherol
      pool which regulates PGF2 alpha production or that alpha-tocopherol alters PGF2
      alpha production in vivo by an indirect mechanism.

PMID- 1438469
TI  - The regulation of prostaglandin biosynthesis in cells derived from human
      gestational tissues: effects of fetal calf serum.
AB  - We have evaluated the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and its regulation in
      amnion, chorion, and decidual cells in the presence and absence of fetal calf
      serum (FCS), and in the absence of FCS but with supplementation with substrate
      arachidonic acid (AA). Basal rates of PGE2 biosynthesis in amnion, chorion and
      decidual cell cultures were significantly reduced in the absence of FCS. The
      magnitudes of the responses to various stimulatory agents were different between
      cells from different tissues and the different culture media. We conclude that
      these different experimental conditions must be taken into account when
      interpreting the results of such in vitro experiments.

PMID- 1438470
TI  - The role of eicosanoids in the kidney damage induced by Candida albicans.
AB  - A major target organ in generalized candidiasis is the kidney. The purpose of
      this study was to investigate the role of eicosanoids in the kidney infected by
      proteinase-positive and proteinase-negative Candida albicans. Prostaglandin (PG)
      E2-like activity was found to be significantly decreased while leukotriene (LT)
      C4-like activity increased within 10 days in the kidneys of mice infected with C.
      albicans. These results indicate that arachidonic acid metabolism is shifted to
      the lipoxygenase pathway and lipid peroxides, produced via this enzyme system may
      play an important role in the kidney damage induced by C. albicans.

PMID- 1438471
TI  - Some secondary plant metabolites in Desmodium adscendens and their effects on
      arachidonic acid metabolism.
AB  - The effects of three chemically different groups of compounds, (triterpenoid
      saponins, beta-phenylethylamines and tetrahydroisoquinolines), known to be
      present in Desmodium adscendens, on plasma membrane ion channel, cytochrome P450
      NADPH-dependent oxygenation of arachidonic acid, and production of prostaglandins
      by the cyclooxygenase enzyme system, are described. The very high-conductance
      calcium-activated potassium ion channel, which is responsible for the maintenance
      of tone in smooth muscles, was activated by the saponins. The cytochrome P450
      NADPH-dependent monooxygenase reaction, which produces epoxy- and hydroxylated
      eicosanoids from arachidonic acid metabolism, was inhibited by an analogue of the
      tetrahydroisoquinoline present in the plant. This analogue also acted as a
      reductant in the prostaglandin synthesizing system using microsomes from ram
      seminal vesicles. The same system was activated by the beta-phenylethylamines
      found in the plant material, with the formation of more prostaglandins, the type
      being dependent on the amount of cyclooxygenase enzyme used and the presence or
      absence of coenzyme.

PMID- 1438472
TI  - [The color of alkyl-diammonium-rhodizonate].

PMID- 1438473
TI  - [Phytoalexins and their significance for the resistance of higher plants to
      harmful organisms].

PMID- 1438475
TI  - Effects of neonatal monosodium glutamate and aging on morphine dependence
      development.
AB  - Administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) to neonatal rats has been reported
      to destroy aspartatergic (ASPergic) and glutamatergic (GLUergic) neurons. Ageing
      has been shown to induce cell loss, a rather general CNS atrophy, and slowness in
      the CNS functions. On the other hand, it has been hypothesized that two of the
      main reasons for opiate dependence development are the blockade by opiates of the
      NMDA receptors and their associated upregulation and supersensitivity.
      Accordingly, the abstinence syndrome precipitating effect of naloxone (NL) has
      been assumed to be the consequences of the removal by NL of opiate from NMDA
      receptors without being able to prevent upregulated and supersensitive NMDA
      receptors from being stimulated stronger than normal. To investigate the role of
      the decrease in the number of NMDA receptors in the development of morphine (M)
      physical dependence, 4 g/kg MSG was SC injected into neonatal rats on days 2, 4,
      6, 8 and 10 after birth. Their littermate controls SC received equimolar NaCl
      solution. Three or 14 months later, three pellets containing 75 mg base M were SC
      implanted into male rats treated neonatally with MSG or equimolar NaCl solution.
      Seventy-two hours after pellet implantation, all rats were injected with 2 mg/kg
      NL intraperitoneally. Some abstinence syndrome signs were counted or rated for 15
      min immediately after NL injection and then statistically evaluated. The NL
      precipitated abstinence syndrome was less intense in 3-month-old MSG-treated rats
      than in controls, most probably due to the decrease in the number of NMDA
      receptors in MSG-treated rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1438474
TI  - Behavioural responses to amphetamine and apomorphine in pigs.
AB  - The effects of different doses of amphetamine (0-1.5 mg/kg) and apomorphine (0
      1.0 mg/kg) on behaviour of pigs were compared. Amphetamine induced an increase in
      levels of nosing and rooting and of locomotion. These increases were, however,
      related to increased levels of standing. At higher doses (1.0-1.5 mg/kg),
      amphetamine specifically induced a rigid standing posture with jerking head and
      limb movements. Apomorphine at 0.1-1.0 mg/kg increased locomotion. In contrast to
      amphetamine, this effect was specific as it was not explained by increased levels
      of standing. At 1.0 mg/kg, apomorphine specifically induced "locomotion while the
      pigs maintained snout contact with the floor or trough." In addition, at this
      dose it induced drinking in one test, while licking in another. These differences
      may in part be due to differences in the test environment. Apomorphine exerted a
      strong conditioning effect, as indicated by the lack of behavioural variability
      in the postinjection period. This effect may explain the large interindividual
      variation in apomorphine response. Amphetamine and apomorphine elicit different
      behavioural syndromes in pigs, suggesting that they act on different neural
      systems. In addition, neither amphetamine nor apomorphine elicited behaviour that
      closely resembles environmentally induced stereotypies.

PMID- 1438476
TI  - Relationship between amphetamine and environmentally induced stereotypies in
      pigs.
AB  - The study investigated the relationship between the behavioural response to a
      standard dose of amphetamine and environmentally induced stereotypies in pigs.
      There were large individual differences in the frequency of amphetamine-induced
      stereotypies and time spent in locomotion. In addition, these two measures tended
      to be negatively correlated to each other, indicating that they were competitive.
      Levels of amphetamine stereotypies were negatively correlated with those of chain
      manipulation and drinking after a period of 50 and 100 days of physical restraint
      and food restriction; levels of locomotion were positively correlated with levels
      of chain manipulation after 100 days of restraint and restrictive feeding. These
      results suggest that pigs differ in their predisposition to develop
      environmentally induced stereotypies, and that this is related to
      catecholaminergic systems in the brain. In an amphetamine test performed after
      the period of restraint and restrictive feeding, amphetamine stereotypies were
      generally higher than in the first test but behaviour was no longer correlated to
      previous levels of environmentally induced stereotypies. The qualitative
      differences between the two forms of stereotypy, their negative rather than
      positive correlation, and the lack of correlation between environment-dependent
      stereotypies and stereotypies in the second amphetamine test suggests a complex
      relationship between these two forms of stereotypies. The increased amphetamine
      sensitivity in the second amphetamine test may reflect the effect of stress on
      central catecholaminergic systems.

PMID- 1438477
TI  - Prevention of learned helplessness: in vivo correlation with cortical serotonin.
AB  - Learned helplessness (LH) is prevented by pretreatment with acute benzodiazepines
      (BDZs), subchronic tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), or escapable stress (ES). We
      have investigated the role of serotonin (5-HT) in LH prevention by these three
      prevention paradigms, using microdialysis to measure in vivo 5-HT release in
      frontal cortex (FC) after LH testing. Rats receiving pretreatment before
      inescapable stress with any of the three methods of prevention--BDZs, TCAs, or ES
      -showed escape behavior in the shuttle-box test for LH comparable to naive
      unstressed controls. K(+)-stimulated 5-HT release in all three groups receiving
      pretreatment was also similar to naive unstressed controls. Rats receiving saline
      before inescapable stress showed significantly more LH behavior in the shuttle
      box task and had significantly lower 5-HT release as well. This suggests that LH
      correlates with a significant decrease in intracellular releasable 5-HT in FC,
      and that three different techniques for LH prevention, acute BDZs, subchronic
      TCAs, and ES all similarly prevent this 5-HT depletion.

PMID- 1438478
TI  - Genetic differences in the development of physical dependence upon diazepam in
      Lewis and Fischer 344 inbred rat strains.
AB  - The purpose of the present study was to investigate physical dependence upon
      diazepam systematically in two inbred strains of rats, Lewis (LEW) and Fischer
      344 (F344). Rats were chronically fed food containing diazepam on an escalating
      drug dosage schedule, from 1 and 2 to 12 mg/g of food, over a period of 30 days.
      During treatment, the growth curve in LEW and F344 rats was suppressed compared
      with the respective controls. Motor incoordination was evaluated by a rotarod
      performance test. The ranking of the motor incoordination during the final
      concentration of diazepam was as follows: F344 greater than LEW. After
      substitution of normal food for the diazepam-admixed food, various signs of
      diazepam withdrawal occurred 16-120 h later. These signs included vocalization,
      irritability, muscle rigidity, ear-twitching, Straub's tail, piloerection,
      fascicular twitch, tremor, convulsion, and death. The incidences of vocalization,
      ear-twitching, piloerection, and tremor in F344 were significantly higher than
      those in LEW rats. Furthermore, two of six F344 rats showed spontaneous
      convulsions and one rat died of convulsions. Overall withdrawal scores were
      significantly greater in F344 (16.0) than in LEW (6.3) rats. These results
      suggest that diazepam withdrawal severity is strongly influenced by genetic
      factors, and F344 rats are highly susceptible to dependence upon benzodiazepines.

PMID- 1438479
TI  - Cocaine and regional brain monoamines in mice.
AB  - Cocaine HCl (0, 10, or 50 mg/kg) was injected into adult male ICR mice IP. Thirty
      minutes later, brains were removed and nine regions were isolated: olfactory
      bulbs (OB), olfactory tubercles (OT), prefrontal cortex (PC), septum (SP),
      striatum (ST), amygdala (AMY), hypothalamus (HT), hippocampus (HC), and thalamus
      (TH). Using high-performance liquid chromatography, concentrations of
      norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and their major metabolites
      were determined. At 10 mg/kg cocaine, NE levels were increased in the AMY and its
      metabolite, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), was decreased in the PC, AMY,
      and HT. DA levels were also increased in the AMY, while its intracellular
      metabolite, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), was decreased in the ST and its
      extracellular metabolite, homovanillic acid (HVA), was decreased in the PC. 3
      Methoxytyramine (3-MT) levels were not altered in any tissue. 5-HT levels were
      increased in the AMY, HT, and TH, while its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid
      (5-HIAA) was decreased in the OB and ST. MHPG/NE ratios were decreased in the PC,
      AMY, and HT as were those for HVA/DA. DOPAC/DA ratios were decreased in the ST
      and AMY and increased in the SP while those for 3-MT/DA were decreased in the TH
      and increased in the PC. 5-HIAA/5-HT ratios were decreased in the AMY, HC and TH.
      At 50 mg/kg cocaine, there was an increase in DA in the TH. There was a decrease
      in DOPAC, HVA, and 3-MT, as well as the DOPAC/DA ratio in the ST. In the OT,
      there was a decrease in DOPAC, the DOPAC/DA ratio, 3-MT, and the 3-MT/DA
      ratio.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1438480
TI  - Indomethacin and sodium carbonate effects on conditioned fever and NK cell
      activity.
AB  - The augmentation of natural killer (NK) cell activity and elevation of body
      temperature (fever) can both be conditioned using camphor odor as the conditioned
      stimulus (CS) and poly I:C as the unconditioned stimulus (US). While both
      responses can be conditioned in parallel fashion as shown previously, our results
      indicate the conditioned learning of these responses may not follow along a
      common path. We found that injection of a 1% solution of sodium carbonate was
      able to consistently block the CS/US learning of the NK cell response but did not
      block conditioning of the fever response. In contrary fashion, mice treated with
      indomethacin (which inhibits prostaglandin-induced fever) dissolved in the sodium
      carbonate solution did not learn in consistent fashion the fever response.
      However, indomethacin-treated animals were able to recall the NK cell response.
      These results support the view that although the same mediator, IFN-beta, is
      responsible for the conditioned learning of the NK cell and fever responses both
      the learning and recall of the responses are initiated along separate pathways.

PMID- 1438481
TI  - Effect of yohimbine on the reproductive behavior of the male Nile crocodile
      Crocodylus niloticus.
AB  - The effect of yohimbine, an alpha 2-adrenergic blocker, on the reproductive
      activity of 12-year-old male, captive Nile crocodiles was tested on 18 animals
      equally divided into 3 ponds. In each pond, there were 6 males and 30 females. In
      the first group, six of six males received yohimbine capsules of 30 mg, twice a
      day, for 1 week. In the second group, two males of a group of six were
      administered a similar dose of yohimbine. Another group of six males in a
      separate pond were used as a control group. The yohimbine treatment had a
      significant (p less than 0.05) effect on the frequency of headslap display (the
      main behavioral pattern of reproductive activity) in all treated animals but did
      not result in a significant increase in copulation frequency. In the two treated
      groups, the reproductive period was prolonged by 3 weeks, 8-11 weeks. We found a
      significant increase in the fertility percentage of eggs laid by females in the
      male-treated groups (30.5% in control group females, 34.1% in the partly treated,
      and 39.0% in the pond where all six males were treated), even though no increase
      in mating frequencies was noted. This might be due to more successful
      copulations. During the treatment period, the daily activity peak, when the
      male's headslap performance was the most frequent, was shifted from 5:00-6:00
      p.m. in the control to 4:00-5:00 p.m. in the treated group. This effect caused
      females to enter the water earlier than in the control group.

PMID- 1438482
TI  - Effects of lesions of the central nucleus of the amygdala on anxiety-like
      behaviors in the rat.
AB  - The effects of lesions of the central nucleus of the amygdala on anxiety-like
      behaviors in the rat were determined using two animal models, the conditioned
      suppression of drinking (CSD) and defensive burying paradigms. For CSD conflict
      testing, water-restricted rats were trained to drink water from a tube that was
      occasionally electrified (0.25 mA); electrification was signaled by a tone. CSD
      test sessions were 10 min in duration and were conducted 4 days per week. After
      at least 3 weeks of conflict testing, both punished (30-40 shocks per session)
      and unpunished (10-12 ml water per session) responding had stabilized. Subjects
      then received bilateral electrolytic lesions of the central nucleus of the
      amygdala or sham lesions. After a 1-week recovery period, CSD conflict testing
      was reinstated and continued for 20 weeks. Amygdaloid-lesioned subjects accepted
      significantly more shocks than did sham controls. In addition, acute challenges
      with the benzodiazepine chlordiazepoxide (2.5-10 mg/kg, IP, 30-min pretreatment),
      the barbiturate phenobarbital (20 mg/kg, IP, 10-min pretreatment), and
      carbamazepine (10 mg/kg, IP, 10-min pretreatment) produced an increase in
      punished responding in both amygdaloid-lesioned and sham-treated subjects.
      Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)-based adjusted means for the change in shocks
      received were not significantly different between the two groups. Following
      completion of the CSD studies, subjects were tested in the defensive burying
      paradigm. Although there was no significant difference between lesioned and sham
      treated subjects on the percent of animals that exhibited burying, subjects with
      lesions of the central nucleus of the amygdala exhibited a significantly greater
      latency to initiate defensive burying.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1438483
TI  - Lack of effect of social context on the reinforcing effects of diazepam in
      humans.
AB  - The reinforcing effects of diazepam (DZP) were compared under two conditions in
      human volunteers using a cumulative dose procedure. Under the social (SOC)
      condition, groups of two to four subjects participated concurrently whereas in
      the solitary (SOL) condition subjects participated individually. During the first
      four sessions of each condition, subjects received 20 mg DZP in five divided
      doses (4 mg) in two of the sessions and placebo (PL) in the other two sessions.
      Each drug (DZP or PL) was administered in a distinctively colored capsule and
      labeled by letter code. During the last three choice sessions, subjects chose
      which capsule they wished to self-administer and were allowed to choose up to a
      maximum of seven capsules (28 mg DZP) during each session. Subjects also filled
      out questionnaires that assessed momentary mood. Overall, DZP was chosen on 33%
      of choice sessions and there were no differences across conditions. There was a
      tendency for choice to be correlated with levels of weekly alcohol consumption
      and liking scores, and as well the latter two measures were correlated. DZP
      produced sedative-like subjective effects that did not appear to be related to
      setting, choice of drug in the study, or alcohol drinking history. These results
      partially confirm previous reports of a relationship between DZP preference and
      alcohol consumption, but differ from previously reported studies in the overall
      lower level of DZP choice.

PMID- 1438484
TI  - Age-dependent changes in serotonergic modulation of yawning in the rat.
AB  - Serotonin (5-HT) effects on physostigmine (PHY)-induced yawning were studied in
      LY Sprague-Dawley rats by injecting Lu 10 171 (citalopram), a specific 5-HT
      uptake blocker, and two antagonists--methiothepine and ritanserin--which differ
      slightly in the selectivity of their actions on different 5-HT receptor subtypes.
      Infant and young rats show significant increases in PHY-induced yawning when
      preinjected with citalopram (5-10 mg/kg). Two-month-old animals show this effect
      only with 10 mg/kg. With adult animals (3-5 months old), the effect is the
      opposite: Yawning decreases. The facilitory effect in infant and young rats was
      counteracted by methiothepine but not by ritanserin, suggesting that it is
      mediated through 5-HT1A or 5-HT1B receptor subtypes. The inhibitory effect of
      citalopram in adult rats was unmodified by the two antagonists used, leaving open
      the possibility that it is mediated by 5-HT3 receptors.

PMID- 1438485
TI  - Effects of MK 801 on morphine physical dependence: attenuation and
      intensification.
AB  - It has previously been reported that the noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists
      ketamine and dextromethorphan suppressed the naloxone-induced morphine abstinence
      syndrome. In addition, the previous blockade by ketamine and dextromethorphan of
      NMDA receptors has been shown to intensify the naloxone-elicited morphine
      abstinence syndrome. On the basis of this information, another noncompetitive
      NMDA receptor antagonist, (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo-a,d-cyclohepten
      5,10-imine maleate (MK 801), was administered to rats in which two morphine
      containing (75 x 2 morphine base) pellets had been implanted. The naloxone
      precipitated abstinence syndrome in rats injected with 0.3 mg/kg MK 801 36 h
      after pellet implantation was found significantly more intense than controls
      whereas the abstinence syndrome in rats that received 0.1 mg/kg MK 801 before
      naloxone injection was less intense. The intensification by MK 801 given 36 h
      following pellet implantation was attributed to the further increase in
      upregulation and supersensitivity of NMDA receptors caused by morphine. The
      attenuation was explained by the blockade by MK 801 of NMDA receptors as occurred
      in the case of ketamine and dextromethorphan.

PMID- 1438486
TI  - Opposite actions of oxytocin and vasopressin in the development of cocaine
      induced behavioral sensitization in mice.
AB  - Subchronic administration of cocaine induces behavioral sensitization (increasing
      hypermotility) to a challenge dose of the drug administered 72 h after the
      cessation of treatment. The effects of repeated administration of the
      neurohypophyseal hormones oxytocin (OXT) and arginine8-vasopressin (AVP) on the
      development of behavioral sensitization induced by subchronic treatment with
      cocaine were investigated in mice. Repeated treatment of OXT and AVP did not
      modify the locomotor stimulatory effect of the challenge dose of cocaine in
      cocaine-naive control animals. OXT in a dose of 0.5 microgram (sc) augmented the
      cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization. In contrast, AVP (0.005-0.5
      microgram/mouse, sc) dose dependently attenuated the development of sensitization
      to the hypermotility-inducing effect of cocaine. The results suggest that the
      behavioral sensitization induced by cocaine can be modulated in opposite
      directions by neurohypophyseal hormones.

PMID- 1438487
TI  - Effects of the preferential dopamine autoreceptor antagonist (+)-AJ76 in the
      intracranial self-stimulation paradigm.
AB  - As revealed by locomotor activity experiments in rodents, cis-(1S,2R)-5-methoxy-1
      methyl-(2-n-propylamino)tetralin [(+)-AJ76] is a preferential dopamine
      autoreceptor antagonist that produces stimulatory or weak inhibitory behavioral
      effects in animals that display low or high baseline activity, respectively. In
      the present study, the possible positive reinforcing properties of (+)-AJ76 were
      studied by means of the intracranial (median forebrain bundle) self-stimulation
      (ICSS) technique in rats. The current intensity of the electrical stimuli was
      used as the independent variable. The resulting rate/intensity curves were
      analyzed by computer, and the half-maximal response (called EC50) was calculated
      for each animal. When starting on a suprathreshold current intensity, (+)-AJ76
      dose dependently (3.1-52.0 microM/kg, SC) increased the EC50 without producing
      any apparent motor deficits like muscular rigidity or catalepsy. A clear-cut and
      more potent inhibitory action was also noted for haloperidol (0.033-0.133
      microM/kg, SC) and the di-N-methyl analog of (+)-AJ76 called (+)-AJ118 (0.8-3.5
      microM/kg, SC), while d-amphetamine (1.4 or 5.4 microM/kg, SC) decreased the EC50
      values. In the second experiment, animals were subjected to a subthreshold
      current intensity for 30 min. The intensity was set to produce a response of 15%
      or less of maximal, shaping response rate for the respective animals. Of these 22
      animals, 10 responded with a stimulation, while the ICSS response was inhibited
      in the others. We did not, however, get consistent results in all rats tested. In
      summary, this study shows that (+)-AJ76 appears to lack positive reinforcing
      properties comparable to those produced by classical stimulants such as d
      amphetamine.

PMID- 1438488
TI  - Effects of cocaine and ethylcocaine on schedule-controlled responding in rats.
AB  - The effects of cocaine and benzoylecognine ethyl ester (ethylcocaine), its
      metabolite found only in simultaneous users of cocaine and ethanol, were studied
      in rats responding for food under a multiple fixed-ratio fixed-interval schedule
      of food presentation. Both cocaine and ethylcocaine increased rates of responding
      under the fixed-interval component and decreased the quarter life. Both drugs
      only decreased rates of responding under the fixed-ratio component. Cocaine was
      approximately equipotent to ethylcocaine. Ethylcocaine may contribute to
      interactions between cocaine and ethanol by exerting cocaine-like effects not
      seen with other cocaine metabolites.

PMID- 1438489
TI  - Relationships between ingestion and gustatory perception of caffeine.
AB  - We observed that taste detection thresholds for caffeine (CAF) are elevated in
      habitual CAF users relative to nonusers. A series of experiments were carried out
      to explore that relationship and assess the influences of salivary CAF and acute
      vs. chronic CAF ingestion. A significant correlation between CAF ingestion and
      taste threshold was noted in two studies of U.S. adults, although this was not
      observed in a parallel study involving an Argentinean population. Acute CAF
      ingestion (5.5 mg/kg) had no appreciable effect on taste thresholds. Threshold
      values greatly exceeded even peak salivary CAF levels, indicating that classical
      taste adaptation was an unlikely influence. Chronic CAF ingestion (450 mg/day for
      3 weeks) also had no consistent effect on taste thresholds for CAF or other taste
      stimuli. Although a number of explanations are considered, we suggest that the
      sensory phenomenon may reflect preexisting differences between CAF users and
      nonusers or perhaps an effect of exposure to other bitter and/or CAF-containing
      foods and beverages.

PMID- 1438490
TI  - Steroid levels in tadpole (Rana catesbeiana) brain at the loss and return of the
      righting response.
AB  - Steroid levels were determined at the onset of anesthesia (tLRR) and at the
      recovery from anesthesia (tRRR). When 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one (3
      alpha) was the administered agent, 3 alpha levels were similar at tLRR and tRRR1.
      The net rate of uptake of 3 alpha by the brain was approximately eight times the
      rate of loss of 3 alpha. Levels of 3 alpha were twice as high as tLRR when
      progesterone (PG) was the administered agent as when 3 alpha was used. The
      presence and absence of 0.1% ethanol in the incubation bath had no detectable
      effect on steroid levels. A model for the actions of 3 alpha is described. It is
      argued that interactions between 3 alpha and the target site are specific with
      respect to chemical structure and that the amount of 3 alpha in the compartment
      that contains the target sites is always small compared to that in whole brain.

PMID- 1438491
TI  - Influence of prenatal maternal stress on the immunocompetence of the offspring.
AB  - To evaluate the effects of prenatal maternal stress on the development of humoral
      immunocompetence in the offspring and on their hormonal and immunologic responses
      to postnatal stress, gravid Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed daily on gestational
      days 15-21 to prenatal environmental stress [(PES) 15 unsignaled, inescapable
      electric foot-shocks (0.05 mA for 0.5 s)] or prenatal psychological stress [(PPS)
      pregnant rats were placed in the nonelectrified section of the apparatus and
      allowed to see, hear, and smell a nonpregnant partner being environmentally
      stressed]. Pregnant controls (PC) were placed in the apparatus for 30 min. Serum
      corticosterone (CCS) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were measured in the
      offspring every 7 days from birth to postnatal day (PND) 28. On PND 29-33,
      offspring were environmentally stressed; hormonal and immune status were
      determined on PND 34. Levels of IgG were reduced in PES and PPS offspring on PND
      0 and in PES offspring on PND 7 and 28. These changes were unrelated to
      differences in CCS and did not reflect altered maternal-pup interactions or
      nutritional factors. Postnatal stress was immunosuppressive in PC pups but did
      not alter immune parameters in PPS offspring. In PES females, postnatal stress
      was also immunosuppressive. However, in PES males with already reduced IgG levels
      postnatal stress enhanced immune function. These data provide the first
      experimental evidence that prenatal maternal stress can alter immune parameters
      in the rat offspring.

PMID- 1438492
TI  - Effects of chronic administration and withdrawal of antidepressant agents on
      circadian activity rhythms in rats.
AB  - Experimental and clinical studies indicate that clinical depression may be
      associated with disturbances of circadian rhythms. To explore the interaction
      between circadian rhythmicity, behavioral state, and monoaminergic systems, the
      present study investigated the effects of chronic administration and withdrawal
      of the following antidepressant agents on circadian wheel-running rhythms of
      laboratory rats: a) moclobemide, a reversible and selective monoamine oxidase
      (MAO) type A inhibitor; b) Ro 19-6327, a selective MAO type B inhibitor; c)
      desipramine, a preferential norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor; d) clomipramine
      and e) fluoxetine, both serotonin reuptake inhibitors; and f) levoprotiline, an
      atypical antidepressant whose biochemical mechanism is still unknown. Wheel
      running activity rhythms were studied in three inbred strains of laboratory rats
      (ACI, BH, LEW) under constant darkness (DD). Two of these inbred strains (BH and
      LEW) show profound abnormalities in their circadian activity rhythms, namely, a
      reduced overall level of activity and bimodal or multimodal activity patterns.
      Chronic treatment with moclobemide and desipramine consistently increased the
      overall level, as well as the circadian amplitude, of the activity rhythm.
      Furthermore, the abnormal activity pattern of the LEW strain was changed into a
      unimodal activity pattern like that of other laboratory rats. The free-running
      period tau was slightly shortened by moclobemide and dramatically shortened by
      desipramine. Effects of moclobemide and desipramine treatment on overall activity
      level and duration were reversed shortly after termination of treatment, whereas
      long aftereffects were observed for the free-running period. All other substances
      tested had no systematic effects on the activity rhythms of any of the strains.
      The fact that moclobemide and desipramine altered the period, amplitude, and
      pattern of circadian activity rhythms is consistent with the hypothesis that
      monoaminergic transmitters play a significant role in the neuronal control of
      behavioral state and circadian rhythmicity. Although the present study found that
      some antidepressives affect parameters of circadian rhythmicity, it could not
      demonstrate a common effect of all classes of antidepressives.

PMID- 1438493
TI  - Self-administration of pentobarbital in light and moderate alcohol drinkers.
AB  - Preference for a moderate dose of pentobarbital was assessed in light and
      moderate alcohol drinkers using a double-blind, placebo-controlled laboratory
      choice procedure. Sixteen light drinkers (less than six alcoholic drinks per
      week) and 13 moderate drinkers (six or more drinks per week) participated in a
      seven-session study in which they first sampled capsules containing pentobarbital
      (150 mg) or placebo and then chose and ingested the capsule they preferred.
      Subjective and behavioral measures were obtained at regular intervals during each
      session to characterize the drug's effects. Both groups chose pentobarbital less
      often than placebo: Mean pentobarbital choice in light drinkers was 20.8% and in
      moderate drinkers was 38.5%. Pentobarbital choice and drug liking ratings were
      highest among male moderate drinkers but still did not exceed placebo levels. The
      drug did not increase scores on standardized measures of drug euphoria, even
      among the most frequent choosers or the heaviest alcohol consumers. The results
      extend previous reports showing that individuals without histories of drug abuse,
      even those who are moderate consumers of alcohol, do not self-administer
      sedative/anxiolytic drugs or experience their effects as euphorigenic.

PMID- 1438494
TI  - Pharmacological properties of ceruletide in the vertical and horizontal locomotor
      activities of mice.
AB  - To clarify the pharmacological properties of ceruletide (CER) and cholecystokinin
      octapeptide (CCK-8) with respect to vertical (VLA) and horizontal (HLA) locomotor
      activities of mice, effects of pretreatment with CER (0.5, 5, and 50
      micrograms/kg, IP) and CCK-8 (5, 50, and 500 micrograms/kg, IP) on apomorphine
      (0.1 mg/kg, SC)- and clonidine (0.1 mg/kg, SC)-induced hypo-VLA and -HLA and on
      apomorphine (1 mg/kg, SC)-induced hyper-VLA and -HLA were examined. CER and CCK-8
      had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on VLA and HLA in intact mice.
      Pretreatment with CER had a biphasic effect (increase and decrease) on
      apomorphine- and clonidine-induced hypo-VLA, as well as an effect on apomorphine
      induced hypo-HLA, a decreased effect on clonidine-induced hypo-HLA, and a
      decreased effect on apomorphine-induced hyper-VLA and -HLA. On the other hand,
      pretreatment with CCK-8 had no effect on apomorphine- and clonidine-induced hypo
      VLA and -HLA and a decreased effect on apomorphine-induced hyper-HLA but not on
      hyper-VLA. These results suggest that for apomorphine- and clonidine-induced
      locomotion in mice CER has pharmacological properties different from those of CCK
      8.

PMID- 1438495
TI  - Effect of ambient temperature on the paradoxical metabolic responses to
      norepinephrine.
AB  - Four experiments were conducted to examine the effect of ambient temperature (Ta)
      on norepinephrine (NE)-induced metabolism. NE increased oxygen consumption at
      ambient temperatures above and at acclimation temperature and decreased oxygen
      consumption at ambient temperatures below acclimation temperature in both
      nonacclimated (25 degrees C) and cold-acclimated (5 degrees C) rats. Varying the
      Ta between -5 degrees and 25 degrees C at a fixed dose of NE (250 micrograms/kg,
      IP) resulted in a temperature-dependent decrease in metabolism in nonacclimated
      rats as a function of Ta. A similar effect was demonstrated in cold-acclimated
      rats tested at -15, 5, and 25 degrees C. Varying the dose of NE between 100 and
      1,000 micrograms/kg at a Ta of 25 degrees C resulted in a maximal thermogenic
      response at a dose of 250 micrograms/kg with diminished responsiveness at higher
      and lower doses. At 5 degrees C, NE inhibited metabolism maximally at a dose of
      250 micrograms/kg. Propranolol, a nonspecific beta-antagonist, attenuated the
      hypometabolic effect of NE in the cold, while the alpha 2-antagonist yohimbine
      completely blocked this effect. These results suggest that the metabolic
      suppressive effect of NE may be mediated by the presynaptic alpha 2-receptor and
      that beta-adrenoceptors may also contribute to this effect.

PMID- 1438496
TI  - Effects of oral ethanol self-administration on the inhibition of the lever-press
      response in rats.
AB  - The effects of ethanol on the inhibition of a learned response were examined in
      adult, male Wistar rats from two treatment groups: oral self-administration of
      alcoholic solution (10% ethanol and 10% glucose in distilled water) and oral self
      administration of sweet solution (10% glucose in distilled water). Subjects were
      food deprived and alcoholic or control solutions were available 1 h per day
      during 15 days. After this period, rats were tested in a two-bottle paradigm
      during 1 h per day and placed in the operant chambers immediately afterward. This
      phase went on for 19 days. Subjects were trained to lever press for food and were
      tested in a continuous reinforcement schedule, operant extinction, successive
      discrimination, and two-stimuli tests. Alcohol impaired the ability to inhibit
      previously reinforced responses but only in situations indicated by exteroceptive
      stimuli. Ethanol intake did not impair the lever-press behavior neither in the
      acquisition of the response nor in the continuous reinforcement schedule. These
      data suggest that the sedative effects of alcohol at this dose were not apparent
      in reinforcement situations, in contrast with extinction situations.

PMID- 1438497
TI  - Glycinergic interventions potentiate the ability of MK 801 to raise the threshold
      voltage for tonic hindlimb extension in mice.
AB  - Milacemide, an acylated prodrug of glycine, was able to increase the efficacy
      with which [+]-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5h-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine
      meleate (MK 801) antagonized the electrical precipitation of seizures in mice.
      The mechanism of milacemide's potentiation of MK 801's antiseizure efficacy in
      intact mice is unclear; however, a glycine agonist selective for the strychnine
      insensitive site on the NMDA receptor complex was also able to potentiate MK 801.
      The exciting possibility exists that an exogenous glycinergic intervention can
      potentiate NMDA-mediated neural transmission in intact animals.

PMID- 1438498
TI  - Failure of cholecystokinin antagonists to modify the discriminative stimulus
      effects of cocaine.
AB  - Enhancement of brain dopamine (DA) activity is believed to be an important
      mechanism underlying the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine in animals
      and the subjective effects of cocaine in people. Cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors,
      which are colocalized with DA receptors in several brain regions, have been
      implicated as modulators of DA activity, leading to speculation that CCK-based
      drugs might be developed as therapeutics for cocaine abuse. In the present study,
      the effects of cocaine alone and after pretreatment with the selective CCKA
      antagonist devazepide and the selective CCKB antagonist CI 988 were determined in
      squirrel monkeys trained to discriminate cocaine (1.0 mg/kg) from saline. When
      tested alone, cocaine engendered dose-related increases in the percentage of
      cocaine-appropriate responses, reaching virtually exclusive responding on the
      cocaine-associated lever after doses of 1.0 mg/kg or greater. Pretreatment with a
      wide range of doses of either devazepide (0.01-3.0 mg/kg) or CI 988 (0.3-30
      mg/kg) did not systematically alter the discriminative stimulus effects of any
      dose of cocaine. The results do not support a role for CCK antagonists in the
      pharmacotherapy of cocaine abuse.

PMID- 1438499
TI  - Long-term suppression of the development of complementary memory storage sites in
      mice: functional interdependence of acetylcholine and dopamine.
AB  - Bitemporal injections of puromycin consistently induce amnesia of aversive maze
      learning in mice when given within 3 days after training. These injections
      consistently fail to induce amnesia when given 6 or more days after training.
      Consistent with the evidence from other laboratories, we interpret these results
      to indicate that the initial, temporal memory storage sites are supplemented 6
      days after training by the development of complementary storage sites in other
      cerebral areas. Previous experiments have shown that this process is suppressed
      for 30-60 days by a single SC injection of scopolamine, a muscarinic antagonist.
      We now find that this suppressive action of scopolamine can be completely
      nullified by haloperidol, a dopaminergic antagonist. This finding supports the
      view that there may be a therapeutic role for dopamine antagonists in the
      treatment of cognitive dysfunction associated with cholinergic loss.

PMID- 1438500
TI  - Potential pharmacodynamic effect of charcoal on theophylline neurotoxicity in
      normal rats.
AB  - Previously, it has been found that repeated oral administration of activated
      charcoal (AC) to rats with renal failure markedly decreased the sensitivity of
      the CNS to the neurotoxic-convulsant effect of theophylline. The present study
      was designed to investigate whether this effect also occurs in normal rats.
      Normal rats received AC per os in either a single dose or in six doses every 8 h.
      Control animals received equal volumes of water. Two hours following the last AC
      dose, animals were infused IV with theophylline until the onset of maximal
      seizures. Although rats pretreated with repeated administrations of activated
      charcoal required a larger total theophylline dose to induce convulsions, the
      theophylline concentrations in the serum and brain at the onset of the neurotoxic
      episode were not affected by the charcoal pretreatment. It is, therefore,
      concluded that the gastrointestinal dialysis produced by the activated charcoal
      had no apparent effect on theophylline-induced neurotoxicity in normal rats.

PMID- 1438501
TI  - Comparative effects of ethanol on motor activity and operant behavior.
AB  - Ethanol effects on two types of motor activity and on lever responding for food
      delivered on a fixed-ratio 20 (FR 20) reinforcement schedule were compared using
      C57BL/6 (C57) mice. Low doses of ethanol (1-2 g/kg) transiently elevated
      horizontal activity and high doses (2.5 and 3.0 g/kg) reduced this behavior
      throughout testing with a slight recovery toward the end of a 16-min test period.
      In contrast, similar ethanol doses produced a monotonic reduction in both
      vertical activity and lever responding for food under the FR 20 schedule. The
      ethanol-induced reduction in FR 20 lever responding was less prolonged than the
      reduction in vertical activity but was more prolonged than the reduction in
      horizontal activity. Because vertical activity and lever responding for food
      delivered on the FR 20 schedule were never elevated, were reduced at ethanol
      doses that either stimulated or depressed horizontal activity, and were
      unaffected by low ethanol doses that did not affect horizontal activity, it is
      unlikely that either are sensitive to the stimulatory effects of ethanol.
      Accountable mechanisms for the different effects of ethanol on the three
      behaviors are unknown; however, the present study eliminates ethanol dose,
      postinjection time, testing time, and food deprivation condition as possible
      reasons for the differences.

PMID- 1438502
TI  - Anxiogenic properties of cocaine in the rat evaluated with the elevated plus
      maze.
AB  - In previous work, we reported that cocaine (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) failed to induce
      significant responses in naive rats in the elevated plus-maze test of anxiety.
      This study investigates the putative anxiogenic properties of cocaine in rats
      selected as "anxious" or "nonanxious" on the basis of their behavior in the plus
      maze prior to drug treatment. In nonanxious rats, cocaine (10 mg/kg) increased
      the latency to the first entry into the open arms and reduced the number of
      entries into and time spent on the open arms. All these measures are indicative
      of an anxiogenic action of cocaine. In contrast, cocaine failed to modify the
      behavior of anxious rats. These findings demonstrate that rats with high
      exploratory activity in the plus-maze and regarded as nonanxious are more
      sensitive to cocaine's anxiogenic effects. Further, the present manipulation
      provides a useful procedure for investigating the anxiogenic effects of cocaine
      in rats.

PMID- 1438503
TI  - Vitamin B12 improves cognitive disturbance in rodents fed a choline-deficient
      diet.
AB  - The effect of vitamin B12 on learning disturbance was tested in rats. Rats were
      fed a choline-enriched, choline-deficient, and choline-deficient diet with
      vitamin B12. Concentrations of acetylcholine in the brain were significantly
      lower in rats fed a choline-deficient diet than rats fed a choline-enriched diet.
      Passive avoidance learning shows that rats on a choline-deficient diet showed
      significantly impaired learning compared to rats on a choline-enriched diet.
      However, there was no significant difference of acetylcholine in the brain or in
      the passive avoidance learning between rats fed a choline-enriched and a choline
      deficient with vitamin B12 diet. We, therefore, suggest that vitamin B12
      potentiates learning in an acetylcholine-deprived brain.

PMID- 1438504
TI  - Acute alcohol intoxication, body composition, and pharmacokinetics.
AB  - The present study compared alcohol pharmacokinetics associated with body weight,
      anthropometrically estimated total body water, and body mass index in men and
      women in two experimental sessions, single dose and double dose. All subjects
      were given the same amount of alcohol (2.3 and 4.6 oz. 86 proof vodka for single
      dose and double dose, respectively). Data analyses found a significant
      correlation between body mass index and peak blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
      Weight and total body water were not significantly correlated with peak BAC. The
      findings suggested that body mass index may be considered a better criterion than
      body weight for equating alcohol doses.

PMID- 1438505
TI  - Differential effects of scopolamine on working and reference memory depend upon
      level of training.
AB  - Controversy exists whether the cholinergic system in the brain is involved in
      working memory (WM) selectively or in both WM and reference memory (RM). Rats
      were trained to obtain food from four baited arms of an eight-arm radial maze.
      The remaining arms were never baited. Three types of errors were recorded: entry
      into unbaited arms (RM errors), reentry into baited arms (WM errors), and reentry
      into unbaited arms (WRM errors). There were no differences among three control
      conditions: methyl scopolamine, physiological saline, and uninjected. Scopolamine
      increased WM but not RM errors. When rats were trained to a higher criterion of
      learning, however, both WM and RM were impaired. It appears that when baseline
      error rate is sufficiently low RM errors under scopolamine become observable. The
      results suggest that the cholinergic system is involved in both WM and RM, and
      the selective involvement of WM is the result of insufficient training. The
      controversy in the literature over the involvement of the cholinergic system in
      WM and RM was addressed.

PMID- 1438506
TI  - Inhibitory influence of morphinans on ictal and interictal EEG changes induced by
      cortical application of penicillin in rabbits: a comparative study with NMDA
      antagonists and pentobarbitone.
AB  - The effects of dextrorphan (DX) and dextromethorphan (DM) were tested using the
      electroencephalogram (EEG) and behavioral effects induced by topical cortical
      application of penicillin in rabbits. For comparison, the influence of the NMDA
      antagonists, dizocilpine (MK 801) and 3-((+-(-)2-carboxypiperazine-4-yl)propyl-1
      phosphonic acid (CPP), and of pentobarbitone was investigated. Intracortical
      injection of 500 IU of penicillin produced an EEG spiking followed by a repeated
      generalization of the electrical and behavioral symptoms. Within a few minutes,
      DX (5-15 mg/kg, IV) or pentobarbitone (5-10 mg/kg, IV) reduced dose dependently
      and significantly (p less than 0.01) the interictal and ictal EEG and behavioral
      effects elicited by cortical injection of 500 IU of penicillin. Higher doses of
      pentobarbitone (20 mg/kg, IV) but not of DX (20 mg/kg, IV) completely blocked the
      ictal behavioral and EEG effects elicited by cortical injection of 500 IU of
      penicillin. Within a few minutes, MK 801 (0.1-0.2 mg/kg, IV) or CPP (10-20 mg/kg,
      IV) reduced dose dependently and significantly (p less than 0.01) the ictal EEG
      and behavioral effects elicited by cortical injection of 500 IU of penicillin,
      while they did not affect the penicillin-induced interictal EEG changes. Higher
      doses of MK 801 (0.3 mg/kg, IV) completely blocked the ictal behavioral and EEG
      effects elicited by cortical injection of 500 IU of penicillin. Within a few
      minutes, DM (10-20 mg/kg, IV) blocked the behavioral effects, but failed to
      affect either the interictal or the ictal EEG effects induced by cortical
      injection of 500 IU of penicillin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1438507
TI  - Scopolamine increases nonreinforced behavior in an intracranial self-stimulation
      discrimination paradigm.
AB  - The effects of several doses of systemic scopolamine administration on brain
      stimulation reward from the A10 nucleus of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) were
      evaluated. The intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) task involved a two-hole nose
      poke procedure allowing for the assessment of both reinforced (correct) and
      nonreinforced (incorrect) performance levels as a function of varying current
      intensities. Scopolamine (0.75, 1.5, and 3.0 mg/kg) was found not to alter the
      rate-intensity functions derived from descending and ascending presentation of
      seven current levels. However, when nonreinforced behavior was considered
      significant increases in error responding were evident following scopolamine
      injection. These results are consistent with the known disinhibitory and
      perseverative properties of scopolamine, and indicate that the previously
      reported positive actions of peripheral administration of anticholinergic drugs
      on ICSS likely involved a drug-induced rate-enhancement of reward-unrelated
      performance variables.

PMID- 1438509
TI  - [Synthesis of thieno(3,3-d)- and -(3,4-d)pyrimidines by alternative ring closure
      reactions].
AB  - 3-Acetylamino-substituted thiophene with cyano and carboxylic acid methylester
      group in 2- and 4-position react with primary amines to give thieno(3,2-d)- or
      thieno(3,4)-dpyrimidines. Furthermore thieno(3,4-d)-pyrimidines were prepared
      from non-acetylated thiophene derivatives. Some thienopyrimidines showed
      antiulcer antiallergic effects, respectively.

PMID- 1438508
TI  - Synthesis, hypotensive and diuretic activities of several 3-hydrazino-5,6
      dihydrobenzo[h]cinnolines. Part 10: Pyridazine derivatives.

PMID- 1438510
TI  - Oxidation of brefeldin A.
AB  - Oxidation of the macrolide antibiotic brefeldin A with pyridinium chlorochromate
      adsorbed on alumina afforded [6S, 10E, 11aS, 14E]-6-methyl-2,3,6,7,8,9,11a,12
      octahydro-4 H-cyclopent[f]oxacyclotridecin-1,4,13-trione together with 13
      oxobrefeldin. These compounds showed higher cytotoxic activity on P388 leukemia
      cells than brefeldin A, brefeldin A-1,13-diacetate, brefeldin A-13-acetate,
      tetrahydrobrefeldin or tetrahydrobrefeldin-1,13-dione. 13-Oxobrefeldin exceeded
      brefeldin A in antifungal activity on Candida albicans.

PMID- 1438511
TI  - Partitioning behaviour of local anesthetic fomocaine derivatives.
AB  - The octanol/water partitioning behaviour of local anesthetic fomocaine
      derivatives has been investigated. The true partition coefficients obtained from
      log P(app) values reflect well the high lipophilicity of these aminoalkylaryl
      ether type compounds. A consequence of this is that the partitioning of the
      protonated form is not negligible as was proved by the log P(i) values of the
      ionized molecule measured at pH 4.0. The effect of ionization on partitioning was
      studied and characterized by the pQ values. This ionization influence on
      lipophilicity was found quite constant (pQ approximately 4) among the
      hydroxypiperidine analogs. A parabolic relationship was obtained between the
      acute toxicity and the log P values of several of the examined compounds.

PMID- 1438512
TI  - Bioavailability of two formulations of acetylsalicylic acid gums.
AB  - Bioavailability studies have been performed with ten healthy volunteers on
      different dosage forms of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in order to assess the
      bioavailability of two different ASA gums compared with commercial ASA tablets.
      The results of this study show that ASA is more readily absorbed and eliminated
      after administration of gum formulations than after administration of tablets,
      but the bioavailability obtained from the gums was lower than that observed from
      the tablets.

PMID- 1438513
TI  - [Mucus models for investigation of intestinal absorption mechanisms. 2.
      Mechanisms of drug interactions with intestinal mucus].
AB  - Using in vitro models previously described [1] mucus retention and mucus
      diffusion of polar and non-polar drugs were measured. It could be shown that drug
      interaction with pig intestinal mucus was based on non-specific binding. The pH
      dependence of retention by mucus does not confirm electrostatic interaction of
      drugs with mucus but favour drug distribution to hydrophobic areas within the
      mucus. High lipophilicity and retention by mucus correlate with low diffusion of
      drugs through mucus.

PMID- 1438514
TI  - Effects of the nootropic AWD 52-39 on the blood-brain transfer of leucine,
      choline and glucose in rats after 14-d exposure to ethanol.
AB  - The transport of the neutral amino acid L-leucine as well as of choline and D
      glucose across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) of male Wistar rats was studied
      after 14-day exposure to ethanol and treatment with the nootropic drug AWD 52-39
      (1). After ethanol exposure the half-saturation constant (Km) and the maximum
      velocity of transport (Vmax) declined in the majority of the investigated brain
      regions. Also, the treatment elicited a regionally different increase of the
      permeability-surface area (PS) product of choline (between 10% and 33%) and
      glucose (between 12% and 27%). The changes in the blood-brain transfer of the
      three compounds were diminished or prevented by additional application of 1. The
      cerebral blood flow was increased by the exposure to ethanol by maximally 44%.
      After additional administration of 1 the changes were reversed and the blood flow
      reached control values. In addition, the activity of the enzyme acetylcholine
      esterase was determined in the striatum and the hippocampus. After ethanol
      exposure the enzyme activity declined by 32%. It was less diminished after
      treatment with 1. The latter effects let assume that the changes of the BBB
      permeability elicited by ethanol and 1 are related to alterations of brain
      metabolism.

PMID- 1438515
TI  - [Effects of valerian root oil, borneol, isoborneol, bornyl acetate and isobornyl
      acetate on the motility of laboratory animals (mice) after inhalation].
AB  - The aromatherapeutical use of commercial valerian root oil (Chinese origin) and
      of pure fragrance compounds--borneol, isoborneol, bornyl acetate (main
      constituent of the proved valerian root oil) and isobornyl acetate--as
      potentially drugs with sedative effects after inhalation was investigated in an
      animal experiment (mice). In additional analyses the mice were treated i.p. by
      caffeine and distinct sedative effects were observed only by inhalation of the
      cited substances.

PMID- 1438517
TI  - [Kentjur--a little-known asiatic spice and medicinal plant].
AB  - Detailed description of the morphological and anatomic characteristics of Indian
      originating Kentjur plant (Kaempferia galanga L., Zingiberaceae family) which is
      cultivated in Java and the Sudan. In case of suspected falsification of the
      Kentjur powder by other Zingiberaceae rhizome powders or their starches it is
      difficult to differentiate. The quality determining components are described as
      well as the utilization as spice and medicinal herb.

PMID- 1438516
TI  - [Activity of new iminium compounds against bacteria and fungi. 28. Synthesis of 1
      ethyl-, 1-n-dodecyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-alkylthiomethyl)- and 1-ethyl-, 1-n-dodecyl-2
      phenyl-3-(n-alkoxymethyl)imidazolium chlorides].
AB  - The synthesis of quaternary imidazolium compounds was performed by reaction of 1
      ethyl- or 1-n-dodecyl-2-phenylimidazole with chloromethyl-n-alkyl ether or
      chloromethyl-n-alkyl sulfid. The antibacterial properties of the compounds
      obtained were tested on 13 strains of bacteria and fungi. 1-Ethyl-2-phenyl-3-(n
      decylthiomethyl)-, 1-ethyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-dodecylthiomethyl)imidazolium chloride
      and 1-n-dodecyl-2-phenyl-3-(n-butylthiomethyl)-, 1-n-dodecyl-2-phenyl-3-(n
      hexylthiomethyl)imidazolium chloride indicated the best antibacterial activity.

PMID- 1438518
TI  - [Solid phase extraction for GC detection analysis of isosorbide dinitrate and
      glycerol nitrate in human plasma].

PMID- 1438519
TI  - Analysis of clotrimazole in ointments by high-performance liquid chromatography.

PMID- 1438520
TI  - The determination of ofloxacin in tablets by potentiometry and conductometry.

PMID- 1438521
TI  - Definition of pharmacological receptors.

PMID- 1438522
TI  - In vivo evidence that ethosuximide is a substrate for cytochrome P450IIIA.
AB  - The role of various subfamilies of rat hepatic cytochrome P450 in the oxidation
      of ethosuximide was evaluated by comparing ethosuximide clearance in control rats
      and those pretreated with relatively selective P450 inducers and/or inhibitors.
      Clotrimazole pretreatment increased ethosuximide clearance threefold (p less than
      0.005). Dexamethasone increased ethosuximide clearance twofold (p less than
      0.001), and the dexamethasone effect was completely abolished by a single dose of
      triacetyloleandomycin. These results suggest a prominent role for cytochrome
      P450IIIA in ethosuximide metabolism in the rat. Isoniazid increased ethosuximide
      clearance twofold (p less than 0.001), and this effect was abolished by a single
      dose of diallylsulfide, suggesting that ethosuximide is also processed by
      cytochrome P450IIE1 in rats. Phenobarbital pretreatment increased ethosuximide
      clearance 2-2.7 fold (p less than 0.001); an effect that was only partially
      reversed by orphenadrine, an inhibitor of cytochrome P450IIB/IIC enzymes. This
      suggests a quantitatively less important role for the IIB/IIC subfamilies in
      processing ethosuximide, since phenobarbital is an inducer of P450 subfamilies
      IIB, IIC, IIE, and IIIA. Neither the cytochrome P450IA inducer, beta
      naphthoflavone, nor the inhibitor, alpha-naphthoflavone altered ethosuximide
      clearance. Ajmaline, an inhibitor of cytochrome P450IID, had no effect on
      ethosuximide clearance. Together, these findings suggest that ethosuximide is
      principally oxidized by cytochrome P450IIIA, and that cytochrome P450IIE may play
      an important role. Cytochromes P450IIB/C play less prominent roles in
      ethosuximide oxidation, and neither cytochrome P450IA nor cytochrome P450IID is
      involved.

PMID- 1438523
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of pyrazinoyl-guanidine, 3-aminopyrazinoyl-guanidine and their
      corresponding pyrazinoic acid metabolites in humans and dogs.
AB  - Pyrazinoylguanidine (PZG), 3-aminopyrazinoylguanidine (NH2PZG) and their
      pyrazinoic acid metabolites were measured by a new reverse-phase HPLC method in
      the serum of dogs and humans after administration of PZG, NH2PZG or 2-pyrazinoic
      acid (PZA). Kinetic properties of PZG and its principal metabolite, PZA, were
      studied in normal humans and also in azotemic patients, since PZG acts on renal
      tubules of patients with kidney failure to increase urea elimination. In humans
      and dogs, PZG was rapidly hydrolyzed to PZA. The serum half-life (t1/2) of PZG
      was 1 h. In turn, PZA was metabolized to 5-hydroxy-PZA, but no evidence appeared
      for conjugation of PZA with glycine. The apparent volume of distribution of PZG
      and its 3-amino analog, NH2PZG, exceeded that of total body water. In the dog the
      serum t1/2 for NH2PZG was twice that of PZG. Compared to PZG, NH2PZG and its
      metabolite, 3-aminopyrazinoic acid, were much stabler in vitro in serum and
      water.

PMID- 1438524
TI  - Activated astrocytes, but not pyramidal cells, increase glucose utilization in
      rat hippocampal CA1 subfield after ischemia.
AB  - The local cerebral glucose utilization (CMRglc) in the damaged rat hippocampal
      CA1 subfield increases 7 days after 10 min of cerebral ischemia. We have used the
      N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist (NMDA antagonist) ketamine in rats 7 days after
      sham operation or cerebral ischemia to determine whether the elevated
      postischemic CMRglc of the CA1 subfield is due to long-lasting hyperexcitation of
      surviving or injured neurons, or, alternatively, to the metabolism of other cell
      types. The autoradiographic data were interpreted with the aid of histochemical
      analysis of the postischemic hippocampal cell changes. Anesthetic doses of
      ketamine significantly reduced the CMRglc in the CA1 strata oriens, pyramidale
      and radiatum of sham-operated rats, while the postischemic increases in CMRglc in
      these hippocampal CA1 strata were not affected by ketamine. In addition, there
      were ketamine-induced increases in the CMRglc of the CA1 stratum lacunosum
      moleculare of both sham-operated and postischemic rats. The immunoreactivity of
      the microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), a postsynaptic protein marker, was
      decreased markedly in the CA1 subfield in postischemic rats, while the
      presynaptic protein marker, synaptophysin, remained the same in sham-operated and
      postischemic rats. The glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity of
      astrocytes raised markedly in the ischemically damaged CA1 subfield. Although it
      could be demonstrated that presynaptic terminals remain intact in the
      postischemic damaged CA1 subfield, the lacking ketamine effect on CA1 pyramidal
      neurons indicated that the increase in CMRglc in this brain area is not due to
      postsynaptic neural hyperexcitation, but probably has to be attributed to
      astrocytes activated by neuronal damage.

PMID- 1438525
TI  - Sulphydryl-containing agents stimulate the healing of duodenal ulceration in man.
AB  - This prospective randomized double-blind study examined whether sulphydryl
      containing agents stimulate the healing and prevent the recurrence of duodenal
      ulceration in man. To this end, DL-methionine methyl sulphonium chloride (MMSC,
      500 mg four times daily) or DL-cysteine (200 mg four times daily) were orally
      administered with cimetidine. Symptomatic endoscopy-proven duodenal ulcer
      patients who were smokers and social drinkers were randomized to receive for 8
      weeks cimetidine (400 mg b.d.), cimetidine (400 mg b.d.) with MMSC, or cimetidine
      (400 mg b.d.) with cysteine. These patients were then kept on their respective
      oral regimens (except for cimetidine which was changed to 400 mg at bedtime) for
      1 year (maintenance) and followed up for another. After 8 weeks of treatment, the
      ulceration healed in 65 patients (74%) given cimetidine alone but in all the
      patients given MMSC (n = 87) or cysteine (n = 86) with cimetidine (p less than
      0.01). During the maintenance year, 15 patients (29%) given cimetidine at night
      relapsed. Addition of MMSC or cysteine to cimetidine incurred a significantly (p
      less than 0.001) lower relapse rate. During the year following maintenance
      therapy, the relapse rate in the group that had been previously treated with
      cimetidine alone (63%, n = 51) was significantly (p less than 0.001) higher than
      that in the groups previously treated with MMSC and cimetidine (6%, n = 67) or
      cysteine with cimetidine (6%, n = 64). The results suggest that sulphydryl
      containing agents stimulate the healing and protect against the recurrence of
      duodenal ulceration.

PMID- 1438526
TI  - Antitumor activity of siwenmycin: a novel anthracycline antibiotic.
AB  - A novel anthracycline antibiotic, siwenmycin, isolated from the culture of
      Streptomyces galilaeus var. siwenesis, was examined for its antitumor activities
      against P388, K562, B16-F10, HeLa, HEp-2 and Lewis lung carcinoma cell lines. The
      results showed that siwenmycin was effective against P388, K562, HeLa and HEp-2
      tumor cell lines in vitro, and significantly inhibited the growth of the Lewis
      lung carcinoma cell line in vivo. Siwenmycin could also suppress spontaneous and
      artificial pulmonary metastases of B16-F10 and Lewis lung carcinoma cell lines in
      C57BL/6 mice. The inhibitory effect of siwenmycin on spontaneous pulmonary
      metastasis of Lewis lung carcinoma in C57BL/6 mice was even stronger than that of
      adriamycin (ADM), which is, at present, commonly used in clinical practice.
      Furthermore, the double-labeling test used in this study has verified that
      siwenmycin can inhibit cellular RNA synthesis at about one tenth the
      concentration required to inhibit DNA synthesis to the same degree, indicating
      that the antitumor mechanism of siwenmycin also differs from that of ADM. The
      acute toxicity of siwenmycin was very low, and it was as effective in vivo as in
      vitro, suggesting that this newly found antibiotic should be studied for possible
      clinical antitumor applications.

PMID- 1438527
TI  - Relationships between ondansetron systemic exposure and antiemetic efficacy and
      safety in cancer patients receiving cisplatin.
AB  - Single concentration estimators of systemic exposure to the serotonin type 3
      receptor antagonist and antiemetic, ondansetron, were established in 55 cancer
      patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy plus a daily regimen of
      ondansetron given every 4 h for 3 doses on each day of chemotherapy. Ondansetron
      plasma concentration measured 4 h after the first daily dose of ondansetron
      (C[4h]) proved to be a reliable index of AUC and hence of systemic exposure. In
      patients receiving dosages of cisplatin < 95 mg/m2, the risk of emesis was
      greatest among those with the lowest systemic exposure to ondansetron. Most
      patients (64%) experienced emesis if C[4h] was < 20 ng/ml, whereas emesis did not
      occur in any patient with C[4h] > 80 ng/ml. Among patients receiving very high
      dosages of cisplatin (> 95 mg/m2), comparable levels of systemic exposure were
      not totally effective in preventing emesis. For these patients, more ondansetron
      was required to block the greater emetic stimulus produced by higher doses of
      cisplatin. This difference reflects a shift in the log exposure versus response
      relationship, and is consistent with serotonin antagonism at a receptor. In
      contrast, reported side effects of ondansetron were not related to exposure.

PMID- 1438528
TI  - Comparison of the in vitro effects of K+ channel modulators on detrusor and
      portal vein strips from guinea pigs.
AB  - The effects of K+ channel openers and blockers on smooth muscles of vascular and
      nonvascular origin from guinea pigs have been investigated. Cromakalim,
      pinacidil, nicorandil and minoxidil sulfate all abolished the spontaneous
      myogenic activity of the guinea pig portal vein and the KCl-evoked activity of
      detrusor strips with the same rank order of ptoency. Whereas both apamin and
      charybdotoxin stimulated myogenic activity of the detrusor strips, they produced
      insignificant effects on spontaneously active portal vein strips and failed to
      antagonize the mechanoinhibitory effects of cromakalim in the two tissues.
      Glibenclamide, on the other hand, only stimulated the myogenic activity of portal
      vein strips but antagonized the mechanoinhibitory effects of cromakalim,
      pinacidil, nicorandil and minoxidil sulfate in both tissues. Rubidium, at
      millimolar concentrations, stimulated the myogenic activity, and antagonized the
      actions of cromakalim in both tissues. The data indicate that there are definite
      functional dissimilarities as exhibited by the differential response of the two
      tissues to K+ channel modulators. These findings may be exploited in the design
      of new drugs with tissue selectivity.

PMID- 1438529
TI  - Transport of cimetidine across the basolateral membrane of rabbit kidney proximal
      tubules: interaction with organic anions.
AB  - Since in whole animal studies and in man the renal clearance of cimetidine was
      prolonged by the coadministration of probenecid, the aim of the present study was
      to examine the interaction of the organic base cimetidine with the organic anion
      transport system at the basolateral membrane of isolated non-perfused rabbit
      proximal tubules. S2 segments of proximal tubules were incubated at 37.5 degrees
      C with 3H-cimetidine (2 x 10(-7) mol/l) or 3H-PAH (4 x 10(-6) mol/l, as a marker
      for the organic anion transport system) and 14C-inulin (marker for the
      extracellular space) for 25 min to achieve a steady state. Afterwards, a
      nonradiolabelled substance was added to the bath, and the change of the
      cellularly stored radioactivity was measured at 5-min intervals. Probenecid (5 x
      10(-5) mol/l) decreased the cellular amount of 3H-cimetidine to 26% of the
      control value. At this concentration, furosemide and Na2SO4 had no effect. At a
      concentration of 10(-3) mol/l, these substances reduced the cellular 3H
      cimetidine uptake to 33% (furosemide) and 57% (Na2SO4) of the control value. 10(
      4) and 10(-3) mol/l succinate diminished the steady-state uptake of cimetidine to
      77% and 53% of the control value, respectively. On the other hand, cimetidine
      (10(-3) mol/l) decreased the cellular uptake of 3H-PAH to 52% of the control
      value. N1-methylnicotinamide (5 x 10(-5) mol/l and 10(-3)mol/l) had no effect on
      the steady-state uptake of 3H-PAH. These results indicate that the organic base
      cimetidine, besides its high affinity for the cation transporter, also interacts
      with the organic anion transport system at the basolateral membrane of rabbit
      proximal tubules.

PMID- 1438530
TI  - Endothelins and sarafotoxins: physiological regulation, receptor subtypes and
      transmembrane signaling.
AB  - The endothelins and sarafotoxins are two structurally related families of potent
      vasoactive peptides. Although the physiological functions of these peptides are
      not entirely clear, the endothelins are probably involved in pathophysiological
      conditions such as hypertension and heart failure. This review summarizes the
      state of the art in some areas of this intensively studied subject, including:
      (1) structure-function relationships of ET/SRTX, (2) ET concentrations in plasma,
      (3) ET/SRTX receptor subtypes and (4) signaling events mediated by the activation
      of ET/SRTX receptors.

PMID- 1438531
TI  - Aldose reductase inhibitors and diabetic complications.
AB  - Aldose reductase inhibitors impede flux of glucose through the sorbitol pathway
      in diabetes mellitus. They therefore reduce the accumulation of the pathway
      metabolites, sorbitol and fructose, reduce the impact of the flux on the
      cofactors used by the pathway and reduce other derived phenomena, such as osmotic
      stress and myo-inositol depletion. As drugs, their targets are the chronic
      complications of diabetes--neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy and vasculopathy.
      In experimental models there is proof of activity against biochemical, functional
      and structural defects in all of the involved tissues, but we await full clinical
      verification of this potential.

PMID- 1438532
TI  - Ornithine decarboxylase as an enzyme target for therapy.
AB  - Interest in ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and the therapeutic effects of its
      inhibition with the consequent depletion of polyamine biosynthesis has been
      widespread since the late 1970s and 1980s. This review covers new information
      about the properties of ODC, recent findings with ODC inhibitors and a discussion
      of the mechanism of inactivation of ODC by eflornithine. Recent in vivo
      therapeutic approaches of ODC inhibition are also discussed including: cancer and
      cancer chemoprevention; autoimmune diseases; polyamines and the blood-brain
      barrier, ischemia and hyperplasia; the NMDA receptor and modulation by
      polyamines; hearing loss; African trypanosomiasis; Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
      and Cryptosporidium in AIDS; and other infectious diseases/organisms.

PMID- 1438533
TI  - Mitochondrial DNA damage by anticancer agents.
AB  - Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is susceptible to damage by a number of anticancer
      agents either directly or indirectly. This damage is of little consequence if
      only a few of the mtDNA molecules are damaged. However, multiple drug treatments
      could result in a significant effect on a cell's ability to survive. The
      differential effect of anticancer agents on either organ specific toxicities or
      selective tumor kill can be partially accounted for by differential mtDNA content
      of cells and on the basis of differential protective mechanisms within
      mitochondria of various organs or tumor tissue. The concept of damage to
      mitochondria, especially its genome, is a subject of active investigation in
      various laboratories. This area of research may provide mechanism(s) by which
      organ specific toxicities or tumor specific toxicities may be elaborated. Also,
      the concept of targeting tumor specific mitochondria and/or mtDNA by anticancer
      agents is very attractive but has not come to fruition due to a lack of
      understanding of the regulation of the genome in tumor cells. Future
      investigations in this arena will enhance our knowledge on the interaction
      between anticancer agents and extranuclear DNA.

PMID- 1438534
TI  - The shoteh: a discussion of the Jewish rabbinic view of insanity.

PMID- 1438535
TI  - Inborn basis for the healing doctor-patient relationship.

PMID- 1438536
TI  - Multidisciplinary madness: the trials and tribulations of the MD-PhD.

PMID- 1438537
TI  - Ms. Thompson's murmur.

PMID- 1438538
TI  - Hans Zinsser: as I remember him.

PMID- 1438539
TI  - Mentors and role models.

PMID- 1438540
TI  - Of fire and ash.

PMID- 1438541
TI  - Teaching internal medicine.

PMID- 1438543
TI  - Situation ethics.

PMID- 1438542
TI  - Teaching internal medicine.

PMID- 1438544
TI  - Teaching internal medicine.

PMID- 1438545
TI  - About Europa Europa.

PMID- 1438546
TI  - About Europa Europa.

PMID- 1438547
TI  - Past and present. Alice Freeman Palmer, nineteenth-century feminist.

PMID- 1438548
TI  - "Lies, damn lies, and statistics" in clinical research.

PMID- 1438549
TI  - Feasibility study of an electret dosimetry technique.
AB  - Characteristics of a radiation charged electret dosimeter are described. The
      dosimeter is based on a parallel-plate ionization chamber with the exception that
      the collecting electrode is covered by a thin polymer, Teflon or Mylar. During
      the charging of the dosimeter, ions produced in the sensitive volume by an
      external radiation source drift in the externally applied electric field and
      become trapped on the polymer surface forming an electret. Once the external
      supply is removed, a field across the sensitive volume is produced by the
      electret charge, such that during any subsequent irradiation, ions opposite in
      sign to those on the electret surface are attracted to the electret and deplete
      the charge layer in an amount proportional to the air kerma. The remaining charge
      on the electret is read by an electrometer, through further irradiation. This
      technique allows the dosimeter to be simultaneously charged and calibrated, used
      in the field, simultaneously discharged and read, and reused again in situ
      without dismantling the dosimeter. Various parameters, however, were considered
      by direct discharge, rather than by initial exposure and subsequent measurement.
      Calibration, energy dependence, air kerma range, and reproducibility are
      discussed, and guard-ring effects on the linearity of the chamber are presented.
      Measurements of natural charge decay on the electrets are introduced.

PMID- 1438550
TI  - Optimization of the electric field distribution in a large volume tissue
      equivalent proportional counter.
AB  - Large volume tissue-equivalent proportional counters are of interest in radiation
      protection metrology, as the sensitivity in terms of counts per unit absorbed
      dose in these devices increases as the square of the counter diameter.
      Conventional solutions to the problem of maintaining a uniform electric field
      within a counter result in sensitive volume to total volume ratios which are
      unacceptably low when counter dimensions of the order of 15 cm diameter are
      considered and when overall compactness is an important design criterion. This
      work describes the design and optimization of an arrangement of field discs set
      at different potentials which enable sensitive volume to total volume ratios to
      approach unity. The method has been used to construct a 12.7 cm diameter right
      cylindrical tissue-equivalent proportional counter in which the sensitive volume
      accounts for over 95% of the total device volume and the gas gain uniformity is
      maintained to within 3% along the entire length of the anode wire.

PMID- 1438551
TI  - Precision of mean transit time measurements in 99Tcm-DTPA renal scintigraphy: a
      Monte Carlo study.
AB  - The precision of renal mean transit time (MTT) measurements by 99Tcm-DTPA
      scintigraphy was studied by a Monte Carlo procedure. Data were obtained from
      twenty mild essential hypertensives with normal renal function. An ensemble of
      equivalent data sequences was constructed for each renal time-activity curve
      (TAC), assuming the dominant noise in the data to be Poisson in character. TACS
      were deconvolved by the matrix method and MTT was inferred from retention
      functions by a procedure entailing a nonlinear least-squares minimization. For
      every ensemble of data sequences a distribution of MTTs was generated. The
      population-averaged coefficients of variation for these distributions were 1.6%
      and 2.6%, for whole-kidney and cortical data, respectively. We conclude that the
      precision of MTT determination from clinical data is comparable to that from
      simulated data. MTT measurements may be useful for detecting functional changes
      in individual kidneys following an intervention such as angiotensin-converting
      enzyme inhibition.

PMID- 1438552
TI  - Dose rate distributions around 60Co, 137Cs, 198Au, 192Ir, 241Am, 125I (models
      6702 and 6711) brachytherapy sources and the nuclide 99Tcm.
AB  - Simple analytical functions derived from our point source Monte Carlo
      calculations on the combined attenuation and scatter factor, B exp(-mu r), for
      60Co, 137Cs, 198Au, 192Ir, 241Am, 125I (models 6702 and 6711) brachytherapy
      sources and the nuclide 99Tcm, for water spherical geometries of radii R = 15 and
      20 cm, are presented. Our results for the broadly used 60Co, 137Cs, 198Au and
      192Ir brachytherapy sources can be compared directly and found in excellent
      agreement with the widely accepted data of Meisberger et al in the limited
      distance range for which the latter are valid. Our data, however, can be used
      with high accuracy outside this distance range. Many discrepancies observed among
      different data sets available in recent literature are attributable to
      differences in geometries used. The results for the recently introduced 241Am
      source are very dissimilar to those produced by any other currently used
      brachytherapy source. Dose rate distributions, based on the above simple
      functions, are proposed in accordance with the recommendations for calibration of
      the brachytherapy sources in terms of reference air kerma rate and were found to
      be in good agreement with data available in the literature. Our calculations for
      125I sources (models 6702 and 6711), provided that the characteristic x-rays from
      titanium encapsulation are taken into account, support recent experimental and
      theoretical dose rate distributions indicating that currently accepted values for
      125I may be overestimated.

PMID- 1438553
TI  - Photon absorption measurements of bone density in the presence of scattered
      radiation.
AB  - Bone density measurements are frequently carried out using photon absorptiometry
      techniques. The analysis of data collected in this way depends upon scatter-free
      detector signals. In practice the detector and source collimation lead to high
      levels of scattered radiation being detected. An analysis of the problem using
      photon transport computer models has shown that the current systems are
      reasonably insensitive to the scatter contribution except where patient changes
      occur over a long series of measurements or where new results taken with DEXA are
      compared with those taken on older systems such as DPA. This is frequently the
      case since the major body of data related to serial bone density measurements has
      been achieved with DPA. Inclusion of scattered radiation in the bone density
      calculations can lead to a 0.5-3.5% reduction between system types. Patient size
      changes could lead to a reduction in bone density of 0.5% (femoral neck
      measurement) to 1% (lumbar spine measurement).

PMID- 1438554
TI  - Water-equivalent plastic scintillation detectors for high-energy beam dosimetry:
      I. Physical characteristics and theoretical consideration.
AB  - A minimally perturbing plastic scintillation detector has been developed for the
      dosimetry of high-energy beams in radiotherapy. The detector system consists of
      two identical parallel sets of radiation-resistant optical fibre bundles, each
      connected to independent photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). One fibre bundle is
      connected to a miniature water equivalent plastic scintillator and so
      scintillation as well as Cerenkov light generated in the fibres is detected at
      its PMT. The other 'background' bundle is not connected to the scintillator and
      so only Cerenkov light is detected by its PMT. The background signal is
      subtracted to yield only the signal from the scintillator. The water-equivalence
      of plastic scintillation detectors is studied for photon and electron beams in
      the radiotherapy range. Application of Burlin cavity theory shows that the energy
      dependence of such detectors is expected to be better than the commonly used
      systems (ionization chambers, LiF thermoluminescent dosimeters, film and Si
      diodes). It is also shown that they are not affected by temperature variations
      and exhibit much less radiation damage than either photon or electron diode
      detectors.

PMID- 1438555
TI  - Water-equivalent plastic scintillation detectors for high-energy beam dosimetry:
      II. Properties and measurements.
AB  - The properties of a new scintillation detector system for use in dosimetry of
      high-energy beams in radiotherapy have been measured. The most important
      properties of these detectors are their hgh spatial resolution and their nearly
      water-equivalence. Measurements have shown that they have excellent
      reproducibility and stability, and a linear response versus dose-rate. It is also
      shown that they have better spatial resolution than ionization chambers and have
      much less energy or depth dependence in electron fields due to the removal of the
      influence of the polarization effect. Dose distributions in water, using
      miniature plastic scintillation detectors, have been measured for different high
      energy photon and electron beams.

PMID- 1438556
TI  - The mass angular scattering power method for determining the kinetic energies of
      clinical electron beams.
AB  - A method for determining the kinetic energy of clinical electron beams is
      described. The method is based on the measurement in air of the spatial spread of
      a pencil electron beam which is produced from the broad clinical electron beam.
      As predicted by the Fermi-Eyges theory, the dose distribution measured in air on
      a plane, perpendicular to the incident direction of the initial pencil electron
      beam, is Gaussian. The square of its spatial spread is related to the mass
      angular scattering power which in turn is related to the kinetic energy of the
      electron beam. The measured spatial spread may thus be used to determine the mass
      angular scattering power, which is then used to determine the kinetic energy of
      the electron beam from the known relationship between mass angular scattering
      power and kinetic energy. Energies obtained with the mass angular scattering
      power method agree with those obtained with the electron range method. The
      angular scattering power method is relatively cumbersome, but allows us to
      determine the kinetic energies of electron beams from first principles, in
      contrast to the empirical methods based on range measurements in water.

PMID- 1438557
TI  - Tissue maximum ratios (and other parameters) of small circular 4, 6, 10, 15 and
      24 MV x-ray beams for radiosurgery.
AB  - Small, circular, x-ray beams are commonly used for radiosurgery applications.
      Dosimetric characteristics of 4, 6, 10, 15 and 24 MV circular x-ray beams ranging
      in size from 10 to 40 mm are reported. These characteristics include the
      measurement of TMR, beam profiles and relative output factors. Measurements of
      these parameters were performed in a solid water phantom using film, a small
      diode, small parallel-plate and cylindrical ionization chambers and TLD.
      Comparison of relative dose measurements of small, circular beams performed using
      these detectors showed that the small diode, film and TLD results consistently
      agreed for circular beams as small as 10 mm diameter. Beam profiles were measured
      using film dosimetry. Comparison of TMR values of a 10 mm diameter beam measured
      using film and a small parallel-plate ionization chamber showed no significant
      differences. Tertiary collimators designed with tapered, divergence-matching
      holes, and straight-drilled holes have been used for radiosurgery applications.
      Measurement of beam penumbra produced with either of these types of tertiary
      collimators showed minimal differences between them.

PMID- 1438558
TI  - A megavoltage CT scanner for radiotherapy verification.
AB  - We have further developed a system for generating megavoltage CT images
      immediately prior to the administration of external beam radiotherapy. The
      detector is based on the scanner of Simpson (Simpson et al 1982)--the major
      differences being a significant reduction in dose required for image formation,
      faster image formation and greater convenience of use in the clinical setting.
      Attention has been paid to the problem of ring artefacts in the images.
      Specifically, a Fourier-space filter has been applied to the sinogram data. After
      suitable detector calibration, it has been shown that the device operates close
      to its theoretical specification of 3 mm spatial resolution and a few percent
      contrast resolution. Ring artefacts continue to be a major source of image
      degradation. A number of clinical images have been presented. The next stage of
      this work is to use the system to make clinical measurements of patient set-up
      inaccuracies building on our work making such measurements from digital portal
      images (Evans et al 1992).

PMID- 1438559
TI  - Comments on phantoms for hyperthermia and impedance tomography.

PMID- 1438560
TI  - Ultrasound scattering from spherical tumours.
AB  - The interaction of biomedical ultrasound with spherical tumours in the human body
      is investigated using analytic methods which predict the angular distribution of
      the ultrasound scattered by the tumour. Both the tumour and the surrounding
      tissue are considered to be lossy elastic media, which support shear-wave modes
      in addition to the familiar compressional-wave acoustic modes. Exact expressions
      for the angular distribution of the ultrasonic energy scattered by the tumour are
      used to illustrate graphically the behaviour of plane ultrasound wave
      interactions.

PMID- 1438561
TI  - The dielectric parameters of excised EMT-6 tumours and their change during
      hyperthermia.
AB  - The electrical impedance from 100 Hz to 40 MHz of freshly excised EMT-6 tumours
      was measured periodically while the tumours were exposed to typical hyperthermia
      heating regimens. During hyperthermia, the EMT-6 tumour displays a characteristic
      response sequence which includes cellular swelling, progressive membrane damage,
      cellular shrinking and subsequent progressive histolysis. It was found that the
      changes in the tumour tissue dielectric properties reflected these hyperthermia
      induced histological changes. In particular the parameters delta epsilon, sigma s
      and fc progressed to, reached, and retreated from extrema as the cells swelled to
      a maximum and then contracted. These parameters continued retreating beyond their
      original values as the beta-dispersion progressively collapsed during the period
      of progressive histolysis. The Cole-Cole parameter alpha increased during most of
      these histological changes, indicating a broadening of the dispersion, which
      suggests differential cell response during this period. Differences in the time
      course between dielectric components may reflect the combined effects of cellular
      swelling and concurrent progressive membrane changes. Changes in rate and shape
      of the dielectric response with hyperthermia temperature are discussed in terms
      of possible cellular responses during hyperthermia.

PMID- 1438562
TI  - Calculation of body transport function.
AB  - A new model for simulation of recirculation has been developed which describes
      the measured concentration-time course of a drug in the aorta. It is based on
      repetitive convolution of the injected input dilution curve with a body transport
      function plus the input dilution curve. If the basic shape of a body transport
      function, i.e. such as log-normal distribution, is known, it is possible to
      calculate the parameters of this function with a non-linear least-squares
      procedure from measured tracer dilution data. In the present investigation this
      algorithm is used to estimate the body transport function for experimental data,
      obtained in two experiments with sheep. Once the body transport function is
      known, the formula can be used to describe the dispersion of a drug.
      Intravascular concentration time curves at different places in the body can also
      be predicted or the blood volume can be estimated.

PMID- 1438563
TI  - Conversion of ionization measurements to radiation absorbed dose in non-water
      density material.
AB  - The radiation absorbed dose to non-water equivalent materials of interest in
      radiotherapy is the dose to lung and the dose to bone. The measurement and
      calculation of dose to the lung has been of great interest and much effort has
      gone into the development of accurate lung dose calculation methods. The
      radiation absorbed dose to the bone is usually not calculated and most absorbed
      dose calculations have been done without correcting for the presence of bone. For
      the lower megavoltage photon beams this may be appropriate, however, as the
      energy of the photon beam increases, the region of electronic disequilibrium
      becomes larger and pair production which depends on the atomic number of the
      material becomes significant. Therefore the bone will produce greater
      perturbations of the dose distribution. The dose to lung-equivalent material is
      uniquely obtained from ionization measurements. However, in bone-equivalent
      materials two different calculations of absorbed dose are possible: the absorbed
      dose to soft tissue plastic (polystyrene) within bone-equivalent material and the
      dose to the bone-equivalent material itself. Both can be calculated from
      ionization measurements in phantoms. These two calculations result in
      significantly different doses in a heterogeneous phantom composed of polystyrene
      and aluminium (a bone substitute). The dose to a thin slab of polystyrene in
      aluminium is much higher than the dose to the aluminium itself at the same depth
      in the aluminium. Monte Carlo calculations confirm that the calculation of dose
      to polystyrene in aluminium can be accurately carried out using existing
      dosimetry protocols. However, the conversion of ionization measurements to
      absorbed dose to high atomic number materials cannot be accurately carried out
      with existing protocols and appropriate conversion factors need to be determined.

PMID- 1438564
TI  - Estimation of effective dose to the patient during medical x-ray examinations
      from measurements of the dose-area product.
AB  - Effective dose is likely to be used as a dose index for patient exposures in
      diagnostic radiology. Calculation of effective dose requires estimates of doses
      to many organs. In the absence of such dose data it would be useful to be able to
      directly estimate effective dose from a quantity that can be easily measured in
      the x-ray room. Relationships between effective dose and each of entrance surface
      dose, entrance air kerma and dose-area product were studied for common
      radiographic projections using the organ dose data from Monte Carlo modelling
      performed at the National Radiological Protection Board, UK. Dose-area product
      proved to be the best quantity for estimating effective dose and these data are
      presented. For typical peak generating potentials, estimates of effective dose
      can be made from dose-area product using a small number of conversion
      coefficients. For cervical spine, chest, kidneys, abdomen, lumbar spine and
      pelvis AP projections, the conversion coefficient 0.21 mSv per Gy cm2 will
      estimate effective dose within 30% of the value obtained using specific organ
      doses. Conversion coefficients for lateral and PA projections of the trunk are
      approximately half this value. These coefficients allow the direct estimation of
      effective dose with sufficient accuracy for most purposes.

PMID- 1438565
TI  - Flavin-sensitized photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization detection
      of pyrimidine dimer radicals.
AB  - A photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (photo-CIDNP) study of
      carboxymethyllumiflavin-sensitized splitting of pyrimidine dimers has been
      carried out. In aqueous solution at high pH, an emission signal (delta 3.9 ppm)
      was observed from the dimer C(6)- and C(6')-protons of an N(1), N(1')
      trimethylene-bridged thymine dimer (1). The dimer photo-CIDNP signal was seen
      only above pD 11.6 and was most intense at pD 12.9. Also observed were weak
      enhanced absorption signals from the product of splitting,
      trimethylenebis(thymine) (delta 1.7 and 7.2 ppm). In contrast, cis, syn-thymine
      dimer (3) gave no photo-CIDNP signals from the dimer. An enhanced absorption at
      1.8 ppm, however, due to the product of splitting (thymine) was observed. It was
      found that dimer 1 and, to a lesser extent, dimer 3 quenched flavin fluorescence.
      An N(3),N(3')-dimethylated derivative of 1, however, failed to quench flavin
      fluorescence. Comparison of the pD profile of the dimer photo-CIDNP signal to the
      pKa values for thymidine dimer suggested that principally the dideprotonated
      dimer undergoes electron abstraction by the excited flavin.

PMID- 1438566
TI  - Photophysical property of sanguinarine in the excited singlet state.
AB  - The photophysical property of the alkanolamine form of sanguinarine has been
      studied in aqueous and organic medium under various environmental conditions from
      the measurement of absorption, fluorescence and NMR spectroscopy. Alkanolamine
      fluorescence shows an excitation time dependent fluorescence quenching and the
      rate of quenching increases significantly with increasing pH and concentration of
      the species, while it decreases with increasing temperature. This phenomenon is
      explained by excited state intramolecular proton transfer from a 6-OH group to
      the lone pair of nitrogen through the formation of zwitterion.

PMID- 1438567
TI  - Laser mediated release of dye from liposomes.
AB  - Liposomes made from phospholipids and containing sulforhodamine dye (1-50 mM)
      have been irradiated with nanosecond and picosecond laser pulses. Individual
      liposomes were locally heated by laser absorption of dye dimers during a single
      laser pulse, and heating was sufficient to release the liposome contents. The
      extent of dye release produced by a single laser pulse was shown to be
      quantitatively dependent on several interdependent variables, including dye
      concentration, liposome size, laser excitation parameters and initial temperature
      of the dye-liposome system. Fluorescence lifetime data having three components
      have been obtained and analyzed in terms of three dye environments. Quantitative
      estimates support a photo-induced thermal mechanism for liposome lysis and
      release of its contents. These results may be useful for laser induced delivery
      of therapeutic agents or other applications of lasers in biological systems.

PMID- 1438568
TI  - Mitotic inhibition by phenylporphines and tetrasulfonated aluminium
      phthalocyanine in combination with light.
AB  - This work relates to studies on modes of phototoxicity by tetrasulfonated
      aluminium phthalocyanine (AlPcS4), tetrahydroxy- and monosulfonated meso
      tetraphenylporphines (3-THPP and TPPS1) on culture cells. Toxicity at moderate
      light exposures appears to be related to inhibition of microtubule function.
      Treatment of human cervix carcinoma cells of the line NHIK 3025 incubated for 18
      h with the sensitizers and exposed to light inhibits multiplication for the first
      hours after light exposure, a significant fraction of the cells accumulating in
      mitosis. For the first hours after treatment, the mitotic cells were always
      mainly found in metaphase; generally seen as c-metaphases and three-group
      metaphases. During this time, anaphase and telophase cells were absent or greatly
      reduced in number. Indirect immunofluorescence staining of beta-tubulin showed
      that the spindle apparatus of mitotic cells was perturbed in all cases. The
      accumulation in mitosis was more extensive after treatment with AlPcS4 and light
      than after treatment with 3-THPP or TPPS1 and light. This may be related to the
      great difference in the lipophilic properties of these sensitizers; i.e. AlPcS4
      being highly water soluble while TPPS1 and 3-THPP are lipophilic sensitizers. The
      lipophilicity of several sensitizers has been measured by two different methods,
      the partition between an aqueous and a lipophilic phase (Triton X-114) and the
      binding strength to a reverse phase column. The results show that the measured
      relative lipophilicity of the sensitizers may be influenced by the method of
      analysis.

PMID- 1438569
TI  - The phototoxicity of 8-methoxythionepsoralen and 6-methylthionecoumarin.
AB  - The phototoxicity of 8-methoxythionepsoralen (8-MOTP) and 6-methylthione coumarin
      (6-MTC) when activated by UV-A has been investigated using a variety of
      Escherichia coli strains, Haemophilus influenzae transforming DNA and Escherichia
      coli pBR322 plasmid DNA. The results demonstrate that 8-MOTP is a strictly oxygen
      independent photosensitizer that is about 500-fold less efficient in forming
      lesions leading to equivalent lethality than is the parent compound from which it
      is derived (8-MOP). As is true for 8-MOP, 8-MOTP is capable of inducing histidine
      independent mutations in E. coli and inactivating transforming DNA consistent
      with DNA being a target for lesions induced by this molecule in the presence of
      UV-A. 6-MTC is a strongly oxygen dependent photosensitizer activated by UV-A when
      tested with either E. coli cells or transforming DNA in contrast to the parent
      compound (6-methylcoumarin; 6-MC) which is not phototoxic when treated with UV-A.
      These results imply that the membrane may be an important target leading to
      lethality. 6-MTC in the presence of UV-A can inactivate pBR322 plasmid and
      Haemophilus influenzae transforming DNA activity in vitro suggesting that DNA is
      a potential target for this molecule when activated by UV-A.

PMID- 1438570
TI  - Potentiation of oxidative damage to proteins by ultraviolet-A and protection by
      antioxidants.
AB  - We have studied the damage of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and glyceraldehyde 3
      phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPD) induced by Fe++/EDTA + H2O2 in combination with UV
      A (main output at 365 nm). Enzyme inactivation, formation of hydroxyl radicals
      (measured in the absence of enzymes), increase in protein carbonyls, oxidation of
      sulfhydryl (SH) groups, loss of native protein fluorescence, and enhanced
      protease degradation were used to determine protein damage. Hydroxyl radical
      production was greatly enhanced by the combination of UV-A with Fe++/EDTA + H2O2.
      The combined treatment increased protein carbonyls but decreased native protein
      fluorescence and SH groups. The combined treatment caused turbidity in GAPD but
      not in ADH, whereas trypsin susceptibility was increased more in ADH than in
      GAPD. These measurements of protein oxidation correlated well with enzyme
      activities. Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and dithiothreitol were most
      protective against such damage, while hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen
      scavengers were partially effective. Superoxide dismutase had no effect. Thus, UV
      A potentiation of protein damage induced by FE++/EDTA + H2O2 appeared to involve
      hydroxyl radicals and perhaps singlet oxygen but not superoxide radicals. The
      damage to proteins induced by combination of UV-A with physiological oxidants,
      iron ions and H2O2 may be relevant to UV-A-induced skin and tissue damage.

PMID- 1438571
TI  - Repair of thymine dimers and (6-4) photoproducts in group A xeroderma pigmentosum
      cell lines harboring a transferred normal chromosome 9.
AB  - Transfer of a normal chromosome 9 into a xeroderma pigmentosum (XP)-A cell line
      partially restored its DNA repair activity. XP-A cell lines harboring a
      transferred chromosome were much more UV-resistant than parental XP-A cells but
      still more UV-sensitive than normal cells. The amount of UV-induced unscheduled
      DNA synthesis was only one-third of that in normal cells. The repair of thymine
      dimers and (6-4) photoproducts in these cell lines was analyzed by using
      monoclonal antibodies raised against them. Although these XP-A cell lines
      carrying a normal chromosome 9 could repair (6-4) photoproduct with a little
      lower efficiency than normal cells, the repair of thymine dimers was completely
      absent in these cells. The present results suggest a gene-dosage effect in DNA
      excision repair mechanisms in human cells or a rather complicated mechanism which
      involves two or more pathways.

PMID- 1438572
TI  - Base release from DNA and polynucleotides upon 193 nm laser excitation.
AB  - Release of bases form calf thymus DNA and three polynucleotides, induced by 20 ns
      excitation at 193 nm in aqueous solution at pH 7, was detected by HPLC. The
      quantum yields of formation of free bases (phi B) from double-stranded DNA (0.4
      mM) are independent of intensity, indicating a one-quantum mechanism of N
      glycosidic bond cleavage. The phi B values increase in the order guanine,
      thymine, adenine, cytosine, the latter being phi C approximately 7 x 10(-4) for
      double-stranded DNA under Ar and O2. The larger phi B values in N2O-saturated
      solution, e.g., phi C = 1.2 x 10(-3), are ascribed to additional base release via
      OH-adduct radicals. The phi B values of homopolynucleotides increase in the order
      poly(G), poly(A) and poly(C), e.g. phi C = 7 x 10(-3) under Ar, as do the
      efficiencies for base release per radical cation (eta B). A comparison of the eta
      B values with the efficiencies of single-strand breakage for poly(C), poly(A) and
      DNA shows a similar trend; both are markedly larger for pyrimidines than for
      purines. Pathways to undamaged bases, initiated from base radical cations, are
      proposed.

PMID- 1438573
TI  - Effects of light beam size on fluence distribution and depth of necrosis in
      superficially applied photodynamic therapy of normal rat brain.
AB  - The light fluence distributions of 632.8 nm light incident on the exposed surface
      of normal rat brain in vivo have been measured using an interstitial,
      stereotactically-mounted optical fiber detector with isotropic response. The
      dependence of the relative fluence rate on depth and the spatial distribution of
      fluence were compared for incident beam diameters of 3 and 5 mm. The fluence rate
      at depth of 1-6 mm along the optical axis within the brain tissue was
      approximately 70% greater for a 5 mm diameter beam than for a 3 mm beam, at the
      same incident fluence rate, although the plots of the relative fluence rate vs
      depth were parallel over the depth range 1-6 mm. The depths of necrosis resulting
      from photodynamic treatment of brain tissue using the photosensitizer Photofrin
      and irradiation by 632 nm light with 3 and 5 mm incident beams were also
      measured. The observed difference in necrosis depths was consistent with the
      measured difference in fluence. The importance of beam size in photodynamic
      treatment with small diameter incident light fields is discussed.

PMID- 1438574
TI  - Improved survival from intracavitary photodynamic therapy of rat glioma.
AB  - The effectiveness of intratumoral photoradiation in photodynamic therapy (PDT)
      using a polyporphyrin photosensitizer was studied in the RT-2 rat glioma model.
      One week after intracerebral implantation of RT-2 cells, experimental rats
      received a single i.p. injection of 2 mg/kg of Photofrin. After administration of
      the photosensitizer (48 h), the tumors were partially resected and the exposed
      cavity was irradiated with 15 J of laser light at a wavelength of 630 nm. Further
      treatment with a large craniectomy significantly enhanced rat survival. Control
      rats which received no photosensitizer but were treated with surgery, alone or in
      combination with laser irradiation, succumbed from early tumor recurrence.
      Photodynamic therapy without decompressive surgery resulted in hemorrhagic
      infarction of residual tumor and adjacent brain with focal cerebral edema which
      resulted in cerebral herniation and early death. Our results indicate that
      photodynamic therapy is effective in treating residual brain tumor but at the
      expense of brain tissue surrounding the tumor. Unless relieved, intracranial
      pressure from photodynamic therapy-associated cerebral edema in this animal model
      resulted in shortened survival.

PMID- 1438575
TI  - Cellular delivery and retention of photofrin: II. The effects of human versus
      mouse and bovine serum.
AB  - The effects of human serum (HS), mouse serum (MS) and fetal bovine serum (FBS) on
      cellular delivery and retention of Photofrin were examined using human lung tumor
      cells (A549) cultured in vitro. The results show that these three kinds of sera
      exhibit substantial differences in: (i) degree of inhibition of Photofrin
      cellular uptake, (ii) retention capacity of Photofrin delivered to the cells in
      their presence and (iii) efficacy of promoting the clearance of Photofrin from
      the cells. It is suggested that these differences originate from unequal
      interaction of each of the sera with Photofrin material, which in turn is the
      consequence of variability in composition and in the levels of serum proteins in
      HS, MS and FBS. The highest degree of Photofrin disaggregation and and
      competitive binding of its constituents was attributed to HS. The lowest degree
      of Photofrin disaggregation, and the competitive binding limited mostly to
      monomeric porphyrin forms was implicated for FBS. For MS, the spectroscopic and
      cellular data indicated a lesser degree of Photofrin disaggregation than with HS,
      with little if any consequence in Photofrin retention characteristics. The
      implication of this comparative analysis is that in vitro studies using FBS may
      underestimate the extent of interaction of Photofrin with serum proteins in
      humans, and overestimate the retention capacity of the photosensitizer in human
      tissues. Studies in vivo using a mouse model may also underestimate the degree of
      disaggregation of Photofrin in human circulation, and give different
      photosensitizer tissue retention levels than in humans.

PMID- 1438576
TI  - Singlet oxygen quantum yield of sulfur and selenium analogs of psoralen.
AB  - The quantum yield of singlet oxygen production by eight newly synthesized sulfur
      and selenium analogs of psoralen irradiated with UV-A (366 nm) has been
      determined in CCl4 with the help of the steady state luminescence technique. The
      new psoralen derivatives are generally better singlet oxygen producers than
      psoralen itself. In particular, the replacement of selenophene for furan and/or
      of thiopyrone for pyrone induces an important enhancement of the singlet oxygen
      quantum yield.

PMID- 1438577
TI  - Dihydroxy-carotenoid liposomes inhibit phototoxicity in Paramecium caudatum.
AB  - The phototoxic effects of hematoporphyrin derivative, using Paramecium caudatum
      as a model system, are significantly reduced in the presence of carotenoid
      containing liposomes. Multilammelar large or small unilammelar vesicles,
      containing specific carotenoids, were effective in protecting the organism,
      whether administered exogenously in the bathing solution, or via incubation of
      paramecia in starved culture media containing carotenoid liposomes. The
      effectiveness of the carotenoids as inhibitors of phototoxic effects was found to
      depend on the mode of administration, with small unilammelar being more effective
      than multilammelar large vesicles for all carotenoids tested. Small unilammelar
      vesicles containing the dihydroxy-carotenoids zeaxanthin or astaxanthin afforded
      the greatest protection in both exogenous and endogenous studies. The results of
      this study suggest that carotenoid efficacy may be determined, in part, by the
      environment of the carotenoid molecules.

PMID- 1438578
TI  - Pathways of glycogen repletion.

PMID- 1438579
TI  - Mammalian stress response: cell physiology, structure/function of stress
      proteins, and implications for medicine and disease.

PMID- 1438580
TI  - Molecular and cellular basis of immune protection of mucosal surfaces.

PMID- 1438581
TI  - Fatty acid homeostasis in the normoxic and ischemic heart.

PMID- 1438582
TI  - Blood oxygen transport in the early avian embryo.

PMID- 1438583
TI  - Role of the cerebellum in visual guidance of movement.

PMID- 1438584
TI  - A time integral of membrane currents.

PMID- 1438585
TI  - Matching dendritic neuron models to experimental data.

PMID- 1438586
TI  - Voltage-dependent potassium channels since Hodgkin and Huxley.

PMID- 1438587
TI  - Molecular biology of voltage-dependent potassium channels.

PMID- 1438588
TI  - Metabolism of garlic constituents in the isolated perfused rat liver.
AB  - The metabolic and kinetic behaviour of different garlic (Allium sativum L.,
      Alliaceae) constituents were investigated in the isolated perfused rat liver,
      using aqueous extracts of garlic powder as well as isolated allicin, the main
      product of the enzymatic degradation of alliin. Allicin (allyl thiosulfinate)
      showed a remarkable first pass effect and passed the liver unmetabolized only at
      high concentrations which caused considerable cell injuries. Diallyl disulfide
      and allyl mercaptan were identified as metabolites of allicin, whereby diallyl
      disulfide probably is the metabolic precursor of allyl mercaptan as shown by
      perfusion with diallyl disulfide alone. The metabolites diallyl disulfide and
      allyl mercaptan could be determined in the perfusion medium as well as in the
      bile and the liver tissue. Other degradation products of garlic were also
      investigated in this model. Ajoenes and vinyldithiins were detected in perfusion
      medium after liver passage but no metabolites of them could be identified up to
      now.

PMID- 1438589
TI  - Effects of Calaguala and an active principle, adenosine, on platelet activating
      factor.
AB  - Calaguala, an extract from the fern Polypodium decumanum, has been used to treat
      psoriasis and related immunological disorders. In an effort to explain
      Calaguala's medicinal effects the inhibitory activity of the extract in two
      platelet activating factor (PAF) related models has been investigated. In the
      first model, PAF was used to induce release of the proteolytic enzyme elastase in
      human neutrophils. Calaguala inhibited this effect with an IC50 of 0.1 mg/ml. The
      known PAF antagonist ginkgolide BN 52021 was used as a positive control and had
      an IC50 of 0.034 mg/ml. In the second model the inhibition of biosynthesis of PAF
      in neutrophils using lyso-PAF and labeled acetyl-CoA was studied. Also in this
      assay Calaguala showed a dose-dependent activity, the IC50 being 0.2 mg/ml. Since
      recent findings have indicated that PAF might be involved in the pathogenesis of
      psoriasis, it is possible that the activity shown by Calaguala in these PAF
      assays may contribute to the clinical efficacy of the extract. The PAF induced
      exocytosis assay was further used to guide the fractionation of the crude
      extract. From the acetone supernatant the nucleoside adenosine was isolated as an
      active principle. Pure adenosine dose-dependently inhibited the exocytosis
      induced by PAF (IC50 = 0.024 micrograms/ml) but was inactive in the biosynthesis
      assay. Adenosine is most probably one of the bioactive compounds of Calaguala
      responsible for its therapeutic properties.

PMID- 1438590
TI  - Effects of genistein, an isoflavone isolated from Genista tridentata, on isolated
      guinea-pig ileum and guinea-pig ileal myenteric plexus.
AB  - The inhibitory action of the major constituent of Genista tridentata L.
      (Papilionaceae), 4',5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone (genistein), on contractions induced
      by agonists and electrical field stimulation of smooth muscle was analysed.
      Genistein inhibited twitches evoked by electrical-stimulation of strips of guinea
      pig ileum with an IC50 value of 34 microM. Genistein (34 microM) inhibited
      contractions of the guinea-pig ileum by several agonists in a non-selective,
      antispasmodic action and had no effect on inhibition of 3H-ACh release from ileal
      myenteric plexus. Genistein (34 microM) produces an increase in cAMP levels of
      guinea-pig ileum which resulted in a smooth muscle relaxation which leads us to
      think that there must be a blockade of its phosphodiesterase.

PMID- 1438591
TI  - Antisickling activity of hydroxybenzoic acids in Cajanus cajan.
AB  - The amounts of phenylalanine and hydroxybenzoic acid in a Cajanus cajan
      methanolic extract were estimated. Results showed that the amount of
      phenylalanine and hydroxybenzoic acid per gram weight of bean was 4.92 mg +/-
      0.13 mg and 21.0 mg +/- 3.0 micrograms, respectively. Sickling inhibition was
      observed to be efficient with the extract which contains a mixture of
      phenylalanine (0.69 mg/ml) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (10.5 micrograms/ml),
      equivalent to those found in bean extract. The additive antisickling effect of
      both compounds can be therapeutically exploited for the treatment of sickle cell
      anemia.

PMID- 1438592
TI  - Activation of PC12 cells by lipophilic components of Panax ginseng.
AB  - The lipid soluble fraction of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer has been found to possess
      a stimulatory effect on a para-neuronal culture cell line, namely PC12 cells.
      Addition of the diethyl ether extract (0.025-0.1 mg/ml) of Ginseng radix to a
      culture medium promoted the outgrowth of neurites from cells dose-dependently as
      well as their ready differentiation to respond to carbachol and high KCl-evoked
      membrane depolarization to induce free Ca2+ accumulation in the cells within a
      week of culture. Effective constituents of the extract were confined to four
      major substances detected in the extremely lipophilic front area on silica gel
      TLC.

PMID- 1438593
TI  - The molluscicidal activity of coumarins from Ethulia conyzoides and of dicumarol.
AB  - The molluscicidal principles of Ethulia conyzoides were identified as
      ethuliacoumarin A (1) and isoethuliacoumarin A (2). Ethuliacoumarin A possessed
      an LC90 between 19 and 23.5 ppm depending on the age of the snail against
      Biomphalaria glabrata, and between 12 and 15 ppm against Bulinus truncatus. In
      addition, ethuliacoumarin A was found to be cercaricidal at 25 ppm and ovicidal.
      Ethuliacoumarin has the structural requirements considered essential for
      anticoagulant activity. Consequently the anticoagulant dicumarol (4) was tested
      and found to be molluscicidal in the range from 2.5 to 10 ppm. In contrast, the
      coumarin anticoagulant warfarin (3) did not show molluscicidal activity.

PMID- 1438594
TI  - Anethofuran, carvone, and limonene: potential cancer chemopreventive agents from
      dill weed oil and caraway oil.
AB  - Bioassay-directed fractionation of dill weed oil and caraway oil, respectively,
      from the plants Anethum graveolens L. and Carum carvi L. (Umbelliferae) has led
      to the isolation of three monoterpenes, anethofuran (1), carvone (2), and
      limonene (3). Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis.
      These compounds induced the detoxifying enzyme glutathione S-transferase in
      several mouse target tissues. The alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone system in carvone
      appeared to be critical for the high enzyme-inducing activity.

PMID- 1438595
TI  - Analysis and stability of Hyperici oleum.
AB  - Hyperici Oleum (St. John's wort oil) used in wound healing contains no hypericin.
      By using the sunlight maceration method described in the supplement to DAB 6 (EB
      6), lipophilic breakdown products of this compound are obtained which lend the
      oil its red colour. Hyperforin, which is responsible for the oil's therapeutic
      activity could, for the first time, be identified and quantitatively determined
      by TLC and HPLC after solid-phase extraction. The stability of hyperforin is
      limited; sufficient shelf-life could only be achieved by hot maceration of dried
      flowers with eutanol G and storage in the absence of air. By gradient HPLC
      further polar hyperforin analogues were detected in those St. John's wort oils in
      which hyperforin had decomposed. At the same time flavonoids and xanthones could
      be identified. A procedure for the quantitative determination of flavonoids in
      St. John's wort was validated. The action of light during preparation of the oil
      led to a rise in the content of flavonoids.

PMID- 1438596
TI  - Free amino acids and toxins in Lathyrus sativus seedlings.

PMID- 1438597
TI  - [Phenomenological study of the visual perception metamorphosis in schizophrenia].

PMID- 1438598
TI  - [Neurotic symptoms of borderline patients: a case review study].
AB  - The author investigated neurotic symptoms of borderline patients by reviewing the
      clinical charts of twenty-six patients of longer than one year treatment period
      (8 men, 18 women; 23 patients with DSM III-R borderline personality disorder
      (BPD), 14 with schizotypal personality disorder (SPD), (11 BPD-SPD overlaps); age
      at the first contact: mean = 24.3 y. o., SD = 6.7 y. o.; treatment period: mean =
      51 months, SD = 35 months). The diagnoses of the comorbid neurotic disorders were
      obsessive compulsive disorder: 5 cases (19% (BPD: 22%, SPD: 7%)), somatoform
      disorder: 5 (19% (BPD: 22%, SPD: 21%)), panic disorder: 4 (15% (BPD: 17%, SPD:
      14%)), social phobia: 2 (8% (BPD: 9%, SPD: 7%)), dissociative disorder: 2 (8%
      (BPD: 9%, SPD: 0%)), and generalized anxiety disorder: 1 (4% (BPD: 4%, SPD: 7%)).
      The neurotic symptoms identified in the charts of the subjects were as follows;
      symptoms of social phobia: 11 cases (42% (BPD: 43%, SPD: 43%)) including 6 with
      anthropophobic symptoms (23% (BPD: 26%, SPD: 36%)), obsessive compulsive symptoms
      and diffuse and floating anxiety: 9 (35% (BPD: 39%, SPD: 38%)), panic attacks: 8
      (31% (BPD: 35%, SPD: 36%)), conversion symptoms: 7 (27% (BPD: 30%, SPD: 21%)),
      dissociative episodes: 6 (23% (BPD: 26%, SPD: 7%)), depersonalization: 5 (19%
      (BPD: 22%, SPD: 14%)), multiple apprehensive expectations: 4 (15% (BPD: 17%, SPD:
      14%)), derealization: 3 (12% (BPD: 13%, SPD: 14%)), hyperventilation attacks: 3
      (12% (BPD: 13%, SPD: 7%)), and somatization: 1 (4% (BPD: 4%, SPD: 7%)). In short,
      54% (BPD: 61%, SPD: 43%) of the subjects had comorbid neurotic disorders, and 92%
      (BPD: 91%, SPD: 93%) reported at least one, and 54% (BPD: 61%, SPD: 50%), more
      than two kinds of neurotic symptoms, though no specific symptom correlating with
      BPD or SPD diagnosis was found. These findings suggest that neurotic symptoms and
      neurotic disorders cannot be ignored as peripheral in the borderline
      symptomatology. By analyzing in detail the neurotic experiences, the author
      pointed out as their characteristics, ego syntonicity, deterioration of reality
      sense and symptomatic polymorphism, ambiguity and multiplicity (panneurosis). In
      the symptoms the author observed signs of defective personality functioning such
      as disavowal of reality, low anxiety tolerance, various forms of identity
      disturbances. The findings counted above, suggest that the borderline neurotic
      symptoms are more severe in nature than those of neurotics, and could be situated
      in between neurotic and psychotic levels of symptomatic severity. The results
      indicate that the neurotic experiences of borderline patients are, as a whole,
      deeply ingrained in the borderline psychopathology.

PMID- 1438599
TI  - [Conceptual vs. indexical symptomatologies of schizophrenia].
AB  - We discussed the difference of conceptual and indexical symptomatologies of
      schizophrenia through critics upon the theory of Eugen Bleuler, the diagnostic
      schema of Kurt Schneider and several recent theories of negative symptoms of
      schizophrenia. The notion of the group of schizophrenia of Bleuler, which is a
      descriptive expression of the phenomenon originally grasped in the inter-human
      relationships, is of conceptual value but confusing when used indexically for the
      definition of the illness. In the diagnostic concept of Schizophrenia by
      Schneider, although he explicitly sought for indexical value without any
      conceptual prejudice, Jaspers' notion of the psychoses defined by
      understandability is implicitly included. Schizophrenia is regarded as a form of
      psychosis which is, following Jaspers, a synonym of madness. Since then, the
      value of Schneider's 1st rank symptoms has been generally acknowledged and they
      have contributed to the development of operational diagnostic criteria of
      schizophrenia. However, the general neglect of unproductive symptoms has caused a
      new stream of operational symptomatology, namely negative symptoms. This stream
      includes not only biological researches but also ideological investigations of
      the essential disturbance of schizophrenia, which have been totally ignored in
      the operational symptomatology. The discussion of negative symptoms of
      schizophrenia is complexed because it contains both indexical and conceptual
      symptomatologies: this very complexity also contains the possibility of the
      integration of these two apparently distant methods.

PMID- 1438600
TI  - [Gonadal function in young female affective illness associated with the menstrual
      cycle--in relation to the polycystic ovary syndrome].
AB  - The hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis was studied in 10 young manic-depressive
      or psychotic women whose symptoms obviously fluctuated in association with the
      menstrual cycle. The common clinical features of these cases were (1) young
      female aged between 15 and 25, (2) the symptoms fluctuated obviously in
      association with the menstrual cycle, and (3) severe manic-depressive, or
      psychotic symptoms. While, in two cases, the depressive or psychotic phases had
      repeated many times for several years, the rest eight cases did not have a long
      psychiatric past history. The common hormonal features among these 10 cases were
      elevated basal LH (7 of 10 cases), decreased basal FSH (6 of 10), greater
      response of LH and normal response of FSH to LHRH (8 of 8), lack of or
      insufficient increase of progesterone in the luteal phase (7 of 8), and elevated
      serum testosterone (5 of 10), androstenedione (4 of 10) and DHEA-S (3 of 9).
      These abnormalities resemble those of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Five of
      the 10 cases showed mild hirsute signs such as mustache, acne, and/or well
      developed musculo-skeletal system. An ultrasonographical study revealed
      polycystic changes in 7 of 10 cases. Ordinary psychotropic pharmacotherapy was
      not effective sufficiently and hormonal therapy was tried in these 10 cases.
      Clomiphene citrate was administered on Day 5-9 of the menstrual cycle at a daily
      dose of 50mg orally in 9 cases, and it was effective to prevent recurrence of
      manic episode in one case, and to improve manic-depressive or psychotic symptoms
      in 6 cases. In these 6 cases, the effects were commonly observed within 1 or 2
      weeks subsequent to the administration being completed. Daily dexamethasone
      administration was effective in one case with high serum DHEA-S level in whom
      clomiphene citrate worsened the psychotic symptoms, and thyroid hormone was
      effective in one case. In comparison with the pathophysiology of PCOS, a possible
      relationship was suggested between psychiatric problems and the PCOS-like
      hormonal abnormalities in these cases.

PMID- 1438601
TI  - [Informed consent in psychiatric treatment--a study on ECT].

PMID- 1438602
TI  - A clinical approach to help psychiatric patients with smoking cessation.
AB  - In this paper we briefly review the dynamics of smoking and nicotine dependence,
      discuss the evaluation of the addicted smoker, and describe interventions to
      facilitate the attempt to quit smoking. We also discuss the interface of
      psychiatric illness and smoking, particularly among those chronically
      hospitalized in psychiatric institutions, and suggest a rational approach to help
      patients with psychiatric illness stop smoking.

PMID- 1438603
TI  - Integrated services for treatment of schizophrenic substance abusers:
      demographics, symptoms, and substance abuse patterns.
AB  - We have previously described a model of outpatient integrated treatment for
      patients with comorbid psychoactive substance use disorders and schizophrenia
      (PSUD/S)(1). Here we review relevant literature on comorbidity and outline the
      rationale for integrated services. Further, we describe results from 3 related
      studies: First, we document the approximate incidence of PSUD among a
      heterogeneous group of 602 schizophrenic inpatient admissions to our hospital.
      Second, we describe in greater detail the psychiatric symptoms and patterns of
      substance abuse among a subsample of 106 inpatients with PSUD/S, contrasting them
      with 112 patients with PSUD and mixed psychotic disorders, but who are not
      schizophrenic. Third, we present a prospective research project and describe a
      sample of 30 patients with PSUD/S, detailing demographic characteristics,
      psychiatric symptoms and substance abuse history. Attention is given to current
      issues in the differential diagnosis of patients with PSUD/S using standardized
      instruments.

PMID- 1438604
TI  - Evaluating recent research on the homeless mentally ill.

PMID- 1438605
TI  - Clinical profile of clozapine: adverse reactions and agranulocytosis.
AB  - The arrival of clozapine has been one of the most significant developments in
      antipsychotic drug treatment since the advent of chlorpromazine ushered in the
      psychopharmacologic era. However, its utilization has been significantly limited
      and complicated by its potential to cause adverse effects and agranulocytosis in
      particular. It must be emphasized that clozapine has a side effect profile that
      is in many ways distinct from standard typical antipsychotic drugs. Side effects
      with clozapine are common and range from the benign to the potentially lethal.
      The most common side effects include sedation, dizziness, and sialorrhea during
      sleep; the most serious are agranulocytosis, seizures and respiratory depression.
      Although side effects from clozapine are not necessarily preventable, they are
      for the most part manageable. Even with the most serious adverse effects, proper
      knowledge of the medication's actions, clinical vigilance, and prompt
      intervention can prevent the occurrence of significant morbidity and mortality as
      a consequence of clozapine treatment.

PMID- 1438606
TI  - Neuropsychiatric rehabilitation for persistent mental illness.
AB  - The benefits of new knowledge on the psychobiology and neuropsychology of serious
      mental illnesses have been slow to impact on psychiatric rehabilitation
      technology. A literature review reveals that, at least in the case of
      schizophrenia, enough is known about neurobiological deficits and their impact on
      neurocognitive functioning to justify a more informed approach to psychiatric
      rehabilitation. Essential elements for a program of research are presented and
      preliminary data are reported examining the prevalence of executive deficits,
      correlations between neuropsychological deficits and social adjustment, and the
      nature of socially stigmatizing neuromotor deficits and their reliable
      assessment. In addition, early experience with the remediation of executive
      deficits is described and suggestions are made for future developments in this
      area. The authors conclude that barriers to the integration of knowledge from
      biological psychiatry and psychiatric rehabilitation have been largely related to
      academic "cultural" isolation, and that active cross fertilization of ideas is
      clearly justified by the present state of knowledge.

PMID- 1438607
TI  - The neuropsychiatric manifestations of Lyme borreliosis.
AB  - Lyme borreliosis (Lyme disease), a tick-borne spirochetal illness, has
      multisystemic involvement and is rapidly increasing in certain areas of the
      United States. Although its neurologic manifestations are becoming increasingly
      well recognized, its psychiatric presentations are not well known. The first
      section of this paper will provide an overview of Lyme borreliosis and a review
      of the relevant neuropsychiatric literature. The second section will provide
      clinical descriptions of some common neuropsychiatric symptoms as well as a
      discussion of the problems typically faced by patients with this illness.
      Guidelines to assist the clinician in working with these patients will be
      presented.

PMID- 1438608
TI  - [Epidemiology of alcoholism in Voralberg. Comparison of administrative incidence
      1967, 1977 and 1987 in a regional psychiatric hospital].
AB  - We report on the administrative incidence of alcoholism as registered by
      admissions for treatment in the regional psychiatric hospital, in Vorarlberg,
      caring for approximately 330,000 inhabitants. 1967, 1977 and 1987 were chosen as
      years of observation, thus describing the regional development of alcoholism in
      the last 20 years. Selected epidemiological data are compared to those of local
      population. Over the years a vast increase in admissions and treatments was
      registered--a result of changes in information on the addiction itself and
      improvement in facilities, staff and medical care in general. Whereas female
      involvement has sharply risen as compared to earlier decades, it now appears to
      have studied at a rate of 3:1 (m:f). In 1987 juvenile alcoholism as rated by
      hospital-admissions had comparatively declined. A greater number of married
      alcoholics in more qualified positions decided on treatment. Concordant somatic
      and psychiatric diseases are discussed. The results stress the importance of
      different approaches to motivation and treatment in this complex phenomenon.

PMID- 1438609
TI  - ["Endogeniform" affective psychoses and normal pressure hydrocephalus].
AB  - Four patients with neuroradiological evidence of normal pressure hydrocephalus
      and psychiatric diagnosis of affective psychoses with major depression--like
      characteristics are presented. Three patients underwent shunting operations
      following an observation period of 2 to 6 years. During the post-operative follow
      up of 3 to 7 years, resp., no clinical changes were noted. In our opinion, and
      following critical evaluation of the available literature, major depression--like
      affective disorders in normal-pressure hydrocephalus are not influenced by
      shunting operations, unless they occur simultaneously as an additional symptom in
      an Adams-Hakim syndrome with definite progression.

PMID- 1438610
TI  - [Myasthenia gravis in the frontier of psychiatric diagnosis].
AB  - Retrospectively 20% of more than 200 patients with myasthenia gravis reported
      being initially diagnosed as having a psychiatric disorder. Younger women are
      significantly most at risk of a psychiatric misdiagnosis whereas men are more
      often subject to somatic misdiagnoses. The sample's mean duration of the disease
      was 10 years. Nevertheless misdiagnoses still coincide with higher depression
      scores. Depression is also related to the dosage of anticholinesteratic
      medication as well as to the self-reported muscular weakness. Personality
      assessment through an inventory reveals only slight emotional instabilities and
      no illness specific profiles.

PMID- 1438611
TI  - [Diagnostic inquiries in patients with a theta ground rhythm variant in the EEG].
AB  - Basing on the examination of 82.767 EEGs, 118 patients with theta rhythm variant
      (GRV) were found out. From their case-histories all particulars taken to be
      important were gathered by means of a questionnaire. In addition to this 70 of
      these patients were interviewed, mostly in the course of a visit at home, in
      order to supplement the data by catamnestic informations. Moreover, attending
      family doctors were asked for informations, and from 14 patients elsewhere
      recorded EEGs were evaluated. RESULTS: With regard to its cycles per second, the
      GRV proved to be stable even for long periods, but as to its coming to the fore a
      slight changeability revealed. Concerning physical complaints, the patients
      primarily suffered from headache, giddiness, and liability to fainting fits,
      secondary they frequently were affected with vegetative disorders and stomach
      complaints. In view of the psychic aspect striking often came to light unrest,
      lack of vitality, disturbed social contacts, sexual problems, anxiety fits,
      depressive reactions, and suicidal thoughts. High sensitiveness and insufficient
      self-sureness in many cases were conspicuous attributes. In particular men often
      failed in establishing or maintaining intimate human relations, so that many of
      them remained single, made at best only few friends, and easily became outsiders.
      Inability to enforce own desires against opposition, liability of mood, ill
      humor, discontent, or even jealousy frequently made their appearance. As to
      gainful employment and professional status several of them were less successful
      than their siblings and their parents.

PMID- 1438612
TI  - [Undetected physical diseases in new psychiatric admission].
AB  - We report on clinical observations from a 10-bed psychiatric acute ward where
      predominantly patients with concurrent physical diseases are treated. Of 287
      patients admitted within 18 months we detected serious physical illness
      previously unrecognized or at least not sufficiently diagnosed in 15 cases (5.2%;
      age 17-88 years; 4 m, 11 f). Six patients suffered from acute neurological
      disease. One or more extracerebral disorders were found in nine cases. 14 of the
      15 patients presented with organic mental syndromes classified according to ICD-9
      (acute organic psychosis: n = 8, chronic organic psychosis: n = 6). The physical
      diseases unknown at admission were the only cause of the acute organic psychoses
      while they were contributing to the development of psychiatric symptoms in the
      majority of the other patients. In 14 patients the diagnosis of the previously
      unrecognized illnesses led to a significant change of therapy. At discharge 10
      patients had improved with regard to their somatic and mental state while in two
      cases only the physical symptoms had remitted. One patient remained completely
      unchanged and two patients died from their serious diseases. Our case studies
      illustrate the fact that a relevant proportion of newly admitted psychiatric
      patients suffers from life-threatening medical illnesses. These require prompt
      and specific interventions and can only be detected by early and thorough
      physical examination.

PMID- 1438613
TI  - [Comment on: Psychiatric diseases in HIV infected patients by J. F. Gruner].

PMID- 1438614
TI  - Plasma cholinesterase isozymes and REM latency in schizophrenia.
AB  - The relation between electroencephalographic sleep parameters and plasma
      cholinesterase isozymes was examined in a group of 19 unmedicated schizophrenic
      patients. Rapid eye movement (REM) latency was found to be significantly
      inversely correlated with isozyme 3 (mainly acetylcholinesterase). The results
      are discussed in relation to cholinergic involvement in the regulation of REM
      sleep and in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

PMID- 1438615
TI  - Urinary catecholamines and cortisol in parasuicide.
AB  - A relationship of urinary catecholamines and of urinary free cortisol with
      violent suicide attempts has been reported. We have reexamined this issue in
      patients within 24 hours of hospital admission. Suicide attempters had
      significantly higher norepinephrine (NE: mean +/- SD = 58.3 +/- 27.0
      micrograms/24 hours; n = 27) than did control patients with suicidal ideation
      (mean +/- SD = 37.1 +/- 21.3; n = 10). Among suicide attempters, those who used
      physical means had the highest NE levels (mean +/- SD = 69.7 +/- 21.3) and those
      who took overdoses of antidepressants (mean +/- SD = 51.9 +/- 17.3; n = 6),
      benzodiazepines (mean +/- SD = 65.1 +/- 29.7; n = 5), or miscellaneous drugs
      (mean +/- SD = 59.1 +/- 36.5; n = 11) had lower NE values. In contrast to NE,
      urinary dopamine (mean +/- SD = 402.6 +/- 392 micrograms/24 hours, epinephrine
      (EPI: mean +/- SD = 14.3 +/- 4.0 micrograms/24 hours), the NE/EPI ratio (mean +/-
      SD = 8.3 +/- 0.9), urinary free cortisol (mean +/- SD = 157.9 +/- 11.5
      micrograms/24 hours) and serum cortisol (mean +/- SD = 35.0 +/- 13.1 nM/l) did
      not differ between groups. There were no group differences in age (mean +/- SD =
      36.3 +/- 16.5 years), Beck Depression Inventory score (mean +/- SD = 26.3 +/-
      12.9), Beck Hopelessness Scale score (mean +/- SD = 10.0 +/- 5.6), Beck Scale for
      Suicidal Ideation score (mean +/- SD = 13.6 +/- 9.3), or Hamilton Rating Scale
      for Depression score (mean +/- SD = 19.5 +/- 9.8). In the four parasuicide
      groups, there was no difference in suicide intent (mean +/- SD = 13.3 +/- 7.9).
      These findings indicate that there is increased NE output shortly after suicide
      attempts. Previous reports of a low NE/EPI ratio in suicidal patients may reflect
      adaptive changes rather than the acute state of the patient at the time of the
      attempt.

PMID- 1438616
TI  - Sleep in spousally bereaved elders with subsyndromal depressive symptoms.
AB  - Spousal bereavement in late life frequently leads to major depression. However,
      many people suffer from "minor" depressive symptoms that entail considerable
      suffering even in the absence of syndromal major depression. We describe
      longitudinal electroencephalographic (EEG) sleep and clinical evaluations in 14
      elderly, recently spousally bereaved subjects who were experiencing subsyndromal
      depressive symptoms. While subjects did not meet diagnostic criteria for
      syndromal major depression, they did have mildly elevated scores on the Hamilton
      Rating Scale for Depression (mean = 10.6, range = 8-16) at the time of initial
      sleep studies (T1), which were carried out, on average, 5.5 months after loss of
      the spouse. Entry into the study was limited to volunteers who did not have a
      personal history of major depression or psychiatric disorder. Twelve subjects
      underwent followup clinical and EEG sleep evaluations (T2), 9.9 months after
      spousal loss. Fifty percent continued to show depressive symptoms at 6-month
      followup. Test-retest comparisons of sleep and clinical measures were made with a
      group of sex- and age-matched control subjects who were neither bereaved nor
      depressed. EEG sleep measures did not significantly correlate with time from loss
      of spouse, severity of depressive symptoms, or subjective sleep quality. Analysis
      of variance with repeated measures detected a significant group X time
      interaction effect for delta sleep ratio (decreasing in controls but increasing
      in the bereaved).

PMID- 1438617
TI  - Electroretinography in seasonal affective disorder.
AB  - Retinal mechanisms have been hypothesized in the pathophysiology of seasonal
      affective disorder (SAD). Electroretinography (ERG) is a noninvasive
      electrophysiologic test that provides an objective measure of photoreceptor and
      retinal function. We conducted dark-adapted ERG examinations with a bright white
      light stimulus in a group of depressed, drug-free patients with seasonal
      affective disorder (6 men, 18 women) diagnosed by DSM-III-R criteria, and a group
      of sex- and age-matched control subjects (6 men, 16 women) during the winter. A
      significant difference was found between SAD patients and controls, but female
      SAD patients had lower ERG b-wave amplitudes than female controls, while male SAD
      patients had higher amplitudes than the matched controls. The ERG b-wave implicit
      times (times from onset of stimulus to peak of b-wave) were significantly longer
      in the left eyes of the male control subjects. These data may indicate subtle
      retinal changes in patients with SAD, but the results must be considered
      preliminary because of the small number of subjects studied and the large
      intersubject variability in the ERG procedure.

PMID- 1438618
TI  - Functional interrelationship of serotonin and norepinephrine: cortisol response
      to MCPP and DMI in patients with panic disorder, patients with depression, and
      normal control subjects.
AB  - The relationship between norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine;
      5HT) functioning was explored in a neuroendocrine challenge paradigm. Ten normal
      control subjects, 17 patients with major depression, and 22 patients with panic
      disorder volunteered to participate in this study. Each subject received a
      challenge with meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (MCPP; 0.25 mg/kg, p.o.), a 5HT
      agonist, and desmethylimipramine (DMI; 75 mg, i.m.), an indirect NE agonist, in
      randomized order. The peak-minus-baseline cortisol response to MCPP was used as
      an indicator of 5HT function, and cortisol response at 75 minutes-minus-baseline
      to DMI was used as an indicator of NE function. The cortisol responses to DMI and
      MCPP were found to be highly negatively correlated in the total sample, in
      particular in the patients with major depression and panic disorder. This finding
      suggests that the functions (or dysfunctions) of the NE and 5HT systems may not
      be separate as is usually believed, and that the NE and 5HT disturbances observed
      in major depression and panic disorder may not be independent. Rather, there may
      be a joint disturbance of NE-5HT in these disorders.

PMID- 1438619
TI  - Disengagement of attention in chronic schizophrenia.
AB  - Posner et al. (1988) recently found a lateralized impairment in the shift of
      covert visual attention to the right visual field in acute schizophrenic
      patients. Strauss et al. (1991) did not find this lateralized attentional deficit
      in remitted neuroleptic-treated chronic schizophrenic outpatients. The present
      study examined the covert shifting of visuospatial attention in clinically ill
      inpatients with chronic schizophrenia and in nonpsychotic control subjects.
      Although patients with schizophrenia were slower in all conditions, no
      lateralized attentional abnormalities were found. Taken together, these studies
      suggest that neuroleptic treatment may affect a lateralized attentional
      impairment in chronic schizophrenia.

PMID- 1438620
TI  - Disruption of saccade production during oculomotor tracking in schizophrenia and
      the use of its changes across target velocity as a discriminator of the disorder.
AB  - A clear measure of eye movement disorder (EMD) that reliably separated
      schizophrenic individuals from others would both give insight into the brain
      control of the disorder and provide an aid in diagnosis. In the present study, a
      detailed analysis was carried out of the interactions between the pursuit and
      saccadic components of eye movements at different target velocities. The subjects
      comprised schizophrenic patients, unipolar depressed patients, and normal
      controls. The speed of the slow pursuit component did not differ among the
      groups, but schizophrenic subjects made more saccadic movements at low target
      velocities, though they started further away from the target at high target
      velocities. On the basis of these differences, a slope was computed of the linear
      function that related the number of saccadic eye movements to the velocity of a
      ramp visual target. Slope direction was negative for schizophrenic subjects but
      positive for unipolar depressive and normal subjects, and the correct
      classification rate for subjects was 84%.

PMID- 1438621
TI  - Negative symptoms and the early course of schizophrenia.
AB  - To determine the usefulness of including a duration criterion in the definition
      of "negative" symptoms, the prognostic significance of a longitudinally obtained
      measure of negative symptoms was compared with a cross-sectionally obtained
      measure. As predicted, the presence of negative symptoms based on longitudinal
      observation was associated with most aspects of 18-month course in a group of
      "first-episode" schizophrenic individuals, whereas cross-sectional levels of
      negative symptoms were not. The findings suggest that negative symptoms, when
      operationalized as a trait-like phenomenon, help to portend a poor course of
      illness.

PMID- 1438622
TI  - Dysphoria: a major symptom factor in persons with disability or chronic illness.
AB  - Depression frequently is diagnosed in persons with chronic illness or following
      the onset of disability. The overlap of symptoms of many chronic illnesses and
      disabling conditions with depression may lead to an overestimation of depression
      in such populations. Some investigators have proposed revised criteria for
      diagnosing depression in these conditions without an understanding of the
      contribution of diagnostic criteria in disabling conditions. This study
      investigated the nature of depressive symptom criteria constellations by
      individually factor analyzing the Inventory to Diagnose Depression (based on DSM
      III diagnostic criteria) in spinal cord injury (n = 134), rheumatoid arthritis (n
      = 78), student (n = 140), and community (n = 150) groups. A four-factor solution
      emerged, with the first factor labeled "dysphoria" being represented by symptoms
      of negative self-evaluations, depressed affect, and suicidal ideation. The
      results indicate that a core element of the syndrome of depression is dysphoria,
      which suggests that the contribution of somatic items may be less important to
      the identification of the depressive syndrome in chronic illness.

PMID- 1438623
TI  - Smoking in patients with panic disorder.
AB  - We compared smoking prevalence in 217 patients with panic disorder with that in
      217 age- and sex-matched control subjects who were obtained by telephone survey
      from the same neighborhoods. Data were obtained for current smoking habits and
      smoking status at either the onset of illness (patients) or 10 years previously
      (control subjects). Patients had been ill for 10.6 (SD = 10.0) years. Female
      patients with panic disorder had a significantly higher smoking prevalence at the
      onset of their illness than did control subjects 10 years previously (54% vs.
      35%). The current smoking prevalence for female patients was also significantly
      higher than that of control subjects (40% vs. 25%). Male smoking rates did not
      differ between patients and control subjects. Caffeine use did not appear to
      explain these findings. These data suggest a link between smoking behavior and
      panic disorder in women.

PMID- 1438624
TI  - Neuroendocrine responses to challenge with dl-fenfluramine and aggression in
      disruptive behavior disorders of children and adolescents.
AB  - Prolactin (PRL) and cortisol (CORT) responses to a single oral administration
      (1.0 mg/kg) of the indirect serotonin agonist dl-fenfluramine were assessed in
      unmedicated prepubertal and adolescent males with disruptive behavior disorders
      (DBD). Neuroendocrine responses were correlated with scores on aggression rating
      scales in prepubertal and adolescent DBD patients and compared with those of
      matched adolescent normal control subjects. Net dl-fenfluramine-induced PRL and
      CORT release was not correlated with aggression rating scores in prepubertal and
      adolescent DBD patients and did not differ significantly between adolescent DBD
      patients and normal control subjects. Although the present study does not
      demonstrate a serotonergic abnormality in aggression or DBD, this may be more a
      reflection of limitations of the neuroendocrine challenge test procedures or the
      methods used than evidence that serotonergic function in the central nervous
      system is normal in aggression.

PMID- 1438625
TI  - Pupillary constriction during haloperidol treatment as a predictor of relapse
      following drug withdrawal in schizophrenic patients.
AB  - It has been proposed that the autonomic nervous system is dysregulated in
      schizophrenia. We hypothesized that measures of autonomic function, even during
      neuroleptic stabilization, might predict relapse following withdrawal of
      medication. Previously, shorter latencies to maximum pupillary constriction have
      been reported to differentiate acutely hospitalized schizophrenic patients from
      control subjects. Pupillary light reactions were recorded weekly from 19 chronic
      schizophrenic inpatients who were initially maintained on haloperidol and
      subsequently were withdrawn from medication under double-blind, placebo
      controlled conditions. Patients were then classified as either relapsed or
      nonrelapsed (clinically stable) during the drug-free period. During the treatment
      phase, a shorter latency to maximum pupillary constriction significantly
      distinguished patients who were later to relapse from the nonrelapsers. The
      potential use of autonomic activity as an indicator of prodromal sensitivity was
      supported. In addition, these findings emphasize the need for classification of
      drug-free patients according to clinical status.

PMID- 1438627
TI  - An interview with Ernest Wolf. Part I: The early years. Interview by Virginia
      Hunter.

PMID- 1438626
TI  - Pupillometry in identical twins.

PMID- 1438628
TI  - Sublimation: Winnicottian reflections.

PMID- 1438629
TI  - Psychoanalytic science: from Oedipus to culture.

PMID- 1438630
TI  - Sadomasochism and complementarity in the interaction of the narcissistic and
      borderline personality type.
AB  - The narcissist and borderline personality types complement one another's
      defensive style providing needed defensive externalization of disavowed and split
      off feelings. One is exploitative, grandiose, and dominant, forever seeking
      admiration and exhibiting an aggrandized self; the other experiences humiliation,
      neediness, helplessness, and terror of aloneness. They form a powerful
      complementary dyad wherein each identifies with disavowed emotional experiences
      displayed in the other. They can coexist for lengths of time, defensively
      discharging unwanted feelings. In the first case presented above, the
      transference was split initially, with the masoborderline patient being
      victimized and humiliated by her sadonarcissistic lover. In the second case, a
      male sadonarcissist enacted disavowed feelings through relationships with
      masoborderline women. In both cases, defensive enactment was fed by a
      complementary, intense, and symbiotic relationship. Complementary dynamics can be
      subtle and difficult to analyze. They involve defensive identification that draws
      on projection, enactment, and externalization--all difficult defenses to analyze.
      Enactment rather than remembering is inimical to the development of insight into
      transference and genetic connections and must be worked through for the analysis
      to progress. More than the usual analytic patience and resolve is needed to work
      through the difficult entrapments caused by these dynamics.

PMID- 1438631
TI  - The aging analyst.

PMID- 1438632
TI  - The limbic system: emotion, laterality, and unconscious mind.

PMID- 1438633
TI  - The Silence of the Lambs: Clarice Starling's analysis?

PMID- 1438634
TI  - Frustration theory--many years later.
AB  - The role of frustration in learning theory, in the invigoration of behavior and
      in the development of learned persistence and discrimination learning, is
      conceptualized. This and other phenomena are facets of the larger explanatory
      domain of what has come to be known as frustration theory, a theory that has
      guided the author's own research--from behavioral to developmental to
      psychobiological --until the present time and has had some influence on the
      research of other investigators. This is a commentary on the 1st of several
      published theoretical papers on frustration theory.

PMID- 1438635
TI  - On the fit of models to covariances and methodology to the Bulletin.
AB  - It is noted that 7 of the 10 top-cited articles in the Psychological Bulletin
      deal with methodological topics. One of these is the Bentler-Bonett (1980)
      article on the assessment of fit in covariance structure models. Some context is
      provided on the popularity of this article. In addition, a citation study of
      methodology articles appearing in the Bulletin since 1978 was carried out. It
      verified that publications in design, evaluation, measurement, and statistics
      continue to be important to psychological research. Some thoughts are offered on
      the role of the journal in making developments in these areas more accessible to
      psychologists.

PMID- 1438636
TI  - The generation of visual images: a review of neuropsychological research and
      theory.
AB  - Since the advent of the view that mental imagery is a subdividable process,
      claims have been made that the generation of images is the domain of the left
      posterior hemisphere. This article examines theory and data about the
      neuropsychology of image generation by focusing on the main contributors to the
      debate. An attempt is made to make the theory and beliefs associated with each of
      the key figures explicit, because these have influenced the structure of research
      and the development of new theories. Support is found for the involvement of the
      left hemisphere, although many researchers claim that the posterior regions of
      both hemispheres contribute to image generation but that they do so in different
      ways. The nature of this difference remains the subject of ongoing research.

PMID- 1438637
TI  - Forgetting of stimulus attributes: methodological implications for assessing
      associative phenomena.
AB  - Differential responding to changes in the stimulus situation, long central to the
      concept of stimulus control, also provides the implicit conceptual basis for
      assessing the nature of a variety of associative relationships. However, there is
      substantial evidence that the perception of stimulus similarity is not a static
      property. Generalization gradients to contextual as well as discriminative
      stimuli flatten over time, and this increase in perceived similarity presumably
      reflects forgetting of the detailed characteristics or attributes of stimuli.
      Methodologically, the flattening of the gradient imposes an important constraint:
      The effect of a stimulus shift will be highly sensitive to the length of the
      delay interval between training and testing. Conceptually, the loss of memory for
      stimulus attributes also implies that the sources of interference in retention
      can increase over time.

PMID- 1438638
TI  - Social blushing.
AB  - This article reviews theory and research regarding the physiology, situational
      and dispositional antecedents, behavioral concomitants, and interpersonal
      consequences of social blushing and offers a new theoretical account of blushing.
      This model posits that people blush when they experience undesired social
      attention. Puzzling questions involving blushing in solitude, the phenomenology
      of blushing, types of blushing, and blushing in dark-skinned people are
      discussed.

PMID- 1438639
TI  - Depressed mothers as informants about their children: a critical review of the
      evidence for distortion.
AB  - The claim that depressed mothers have distorted, inflated, perceptions of their
      children's problems has been made with increasing frequency in recent years. This
      review explicates the significance of the depression-->distortion controversy,
      introduces a set of standards for evaluating distortion claims, and uses these
      standards to evaluate the key characteristics of 22 studies that have published
      data directly relevant to the distortion question. None of the studies that
      claimed evidence for a depression-->distortion influence on mothers' ratings of
      their children met the necessary and sufficient criteria for establishing
      distortion. This review challenges the empirical foundation for the widely held
      assumption that depressed mothers have distorted perceptions of their children's
      problems. Issues that will require reckoning in future efforts to explore the
      depression-->distortion question are considered.

PMID- 1438640
TI  - Noradrenergic mediation of the memory-enhancing effect of corticotropin-releasing
      factor in the locus coeruleus of rats.
AB  - A role for the locus coeruleus (LC) in attention and behavioral arousal has been
      suggested. The present study examined the effect of corticotropin-releasing
      factor (CRF) in the LC on memory retention of a passive-avoidance task in rats.
      Our results indicate that intra-LC CRF injection significantly improved retention
      performance. Decreases of norepinephrine (NE) levels in the hippocampus and the
      amygdala occurred in these animals. Intra-hippocampal 6-hydroxydopamine
      pretreatment did not affect memory alone, while it antagonized the memory
      enhancing effect of CRF in the LC. This finding suggests that the dorsal NE
      pathway is involved in the memory consolidation process. Similar to the effect of
      CRF, application of the alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist yohimbine to the LC also
      dose-dependently enhanced memory, suggesting that CRF improved memory through
      activation of NE neurons in the LC. Finally, the anxiolytic chlordiazepoxide, at
      a concentration that did not alter memory by itself, prevented the memory
      facilitating effect of CRF in the LC. Our findings suggest that the LC is an
      important structure in modulating learning and memory processes of passive
      avoidance learning in rats. CRF may enhance memory through activation of NE
      neurons in the LC and, at least in part, through the dorsal NE pathway.
      Furthermore, the LC is probably an anatomical substrate for anxiety and intra-LC
      CRF may enhance memory through its anxiogenic actions.

PMID- 1438642
TI  - Menstrual synchrony in female couples.
AB  - The menstrual cycles of cohabitating women have been found to synchronize,
      possibly through social and pheromonal mechanisms. The extent of this phenomenon,
      menstrual synchrony, was examined in 20 couples of lesbian women. Synchrony was
      very frequent, with half the subjects menstruating within 2 days of their
      partner. Factors related to the degree of synchrony included mutual activities,
      friendship and menstrual regularity.

PMID- 1438641
TI  - Sexual behavior in adolescent and adult females with congenital adrenal
      hyperplasia.
AB  - As part of a comprehensive interview study, 34 female patients with congenital
      adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) plus 14 control sisters (ages 11-41 yr.) reported on
      their psychosexual development and sexual orientation (90 items). Fewer patients
      than sisters had ever experienced love relationships and sexual activities with
      male partners (p < 0.05 to 0.001). Twenty percent of the patients and none of the
      sisters wished for and/or had had homosexual relationships; in the patients > 21
      yr 44% expressed this interest (p < 0.07). For most items, patients with the salt
      wasting variant of CAH (SW) differed more clearly from the sisters than the
      simple-virilizing patients (SV). For two scales "indicating" homosexual (HOM) and
      heterosexual orientation (HET) and for two indices of HOM/HET differences), the
      patients also revealed relatively stronger homosexual and/or weaker heterosexual
      interests than the sisters (p < 0.05 to 0.001). Here, too, the SW/sister
      differences were more clear-cut. These results corroborate earlier reports on
      both delays in reaching psychosexual milestones and increased rates of
      bisexual/homosexual fantasies and experiences in CAH women.

PMID- 1438643
TI  - Psychological aspects of premenstrual syndrome. I: Cognition and memory.
AB  - Fourteen women with PMS and ten without PMS were evaluated with a battery of
      neuropsychological tests during the follicular and late luteal phases of two
      consecutive menstrual cycles. Classification was determined with NIMH diagnostic
      criteria and prospective record keeping. The results indicated that (1) the PMS
      women had significant difficulty in learning new material and this problem was
      not phase-dependent, (2) both groups performed better on a test of frontal lobe
      function during the follicular phase, and (3) mood did not account for any of the
      differences in cognitive functioning.

PMID- 1438644
TI  - Psychological aspects of premenstrual syndrome. II: Utility of standardized
      measures.
AB  - Depressed mood is a salient feature of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). Fourteen
      women with prospectively documented PMS and ten without PMS completed the short
      form of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Zung Self-Rating Scale for
      Depression (Zung-D) during the follicular and late luteal phases of two
      consecutive menstrual cycles. The short form of the BDI assesses the more
      cognitive symptoms of depression, while the Zung-D identifies primarily
      vegetative symptoms. The short form of the BDI was sensitive to cyclic changes in
      the PMS women, while the Zung-D was not. The BDI items uniquely endorsed by the
      PMS women during the late luteal phase were pessimism, sense of failure,
      dissatisfaction, guilt, self-dislike, and indecision. The premenstrual dysphoria
      experienced by PMS women thus appears to be more cognitive than vegetative in
      nature. Finally, differential utility of standardized mood measures to detect
      premenstrual depression is suggested. The BDI proved to be the more sensitive
      measure.

PMID- 1438646
TI  - Major depression and subclinical (grade 2) hypothyroidism.
AB  - Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) has been reported to occur in patients with a
      variety of affective syndromes. However, the clinical correlates of SCH in
      patients with major depression have received limited attention. We therefore
      examined demographic, clinical and treatment response variables in a cohort of
      patients with unipolar, nonpsychotic major depression with and without SCH. Of
      139 subjects, 19 had SCH defined as an elevated basal TSH with normal circulating
      levels of T3 and T4. Major depression with SCH differed from that without SCH by
      the presence of a concurrent panic disorder and a poorer antidepressant response.

PMID- 1438645
TI  - Serum levels of androgens are higher in women with premenstrual irritability and
      dysphoria than in controls.
AB  - Serum levels of progesterone, total testosterone, free testosterone,
      androstenedione (A2), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone
      sulphate (DHEAS), 17-OH-progesterone (17-OHP), and sex hormone binding globulin
      (SHBG) were measured in the follicular phase, around ovulation, and in the luteal
      phase of 11 women with severe premenstrual irritability and dysphoria and in 11
      age-matched controls with no premenstrual complaints. Serum levels of free
      testosterone were significantly higher in the subjects with premenstrual syndrome
      (PMS) than in the controls in the luteal phase (p < 0.01), the follicular phase
      (p < 0.05), and around ovulation (p < 0.01). DHEA levels were significantly
      higher in the PMS subjects, as compared to controls, around ovulation (p < 0.05),
      while 17-OHP levels were higher in the PMS women in the luteal phase (p < 0.05).
      With respect to the other steroids measured, as well as SHBG, no differences
      between PMS subjects and controls were found. These results indicate a possible
      involvement of androgens in the pathophysiology of premenstrual irritability and
      dysphoria.

PMID- 1438647
TI  - A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effect of imipramine on TRH
      induced urinary urgency in healthy men.
AB  - We studied the effect of imipramine (IMI) on thyroid releasing hormone (TRH)
      induced urinary urgency as a way of investigating the mechanism of the beneficial
      effect of IMI on enuresis. In a double-blind study, 12 normal, healthy men
      between 21 and 39 yr of age ranked their urge to urinate at 30-sec intervals
      following IV injection of TRH (500 micrograms) or saline. The subjects then were
      randomly assigned to either IMI (1 mg/kg) or placebo groups for 10 days, and the
      procedure was repeated. Compared to saline, TRH produced a significant elevation
      in urinary urgency in all subjects. IMI did not significantly blunt TRH-induced
      urinary urgency. Thus, the mechanism by which IMI affects enuresis is likely not
      mediated at the level of the urinary urgency induced by TRH.

PMID- 1438648
TI  - Clinical evidence for thyroid dysfunction in patients with seasonal affective
      disorder.
AB  - Of 49 consecutive patients over a 21-mo period satisfying conservative criteria
      for seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a well-characterized syndrome involving
      seasonal neurovegetative dysregulation, 17 (35%) were found to have elevated
      serum TSH compatible with mild primary hypothyroidism (TSH > 4.6 microIU/ml). An
      additional eight patients (16%) met criteria for "conjectural" hypothyroidism
      (TSH > 3.5 microIU/ml or exaggerated TSH response to TRH). The frequency of cases
      with supranormal TSH within the SAD group, both with and without inclusion of the
      "conjectural" cases, proved statistically significant when compared to that
      within psychiatric patients not satisfying criteria for SAD (N = 381) or to that
      within the population at large. The author suggests that SAD may in part
      represent a reformulation in modern neuropsychiatric terms of a previously noted
      fall-winter decrement, both biochemical and clinical, among hypothyroid patients.

PMID- 1438649
TI  - Melatonin, cortisol and prolactin response to acute nocturnal light exposure in
      healthy volunteers.
AB  - An investigation of the cortisol and prolactin responses accompanying acute
      melatonin suppression by light (600 lux) in humans is described. Light given from
      midnight to 0300h suppressed nocturnal plasma melatonin concentrations by 65%.
      Despite this significant suppression of melatonin, no significant effect on
      plasma cortisol or prolactin concentrations was observed. These data support
      recent studies which argue that, if there is a relationship between melatonin,
      the hypothalamo-pituitary, and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in humans,
      it is neither direct nor simple.

PMID- 1438650
TI  - Failure to stimulate melatonin synthesis in the rat pineal gland with an
      adenosine analog.
AB  - Recent studies indicate the presence of adenosine binding sites in rat
      pinealocytes and an effect of their activation on pineal serotonin metabolism.
      However, controversial data exist, and reports suggest that the role of adenosine
      in pineal physiology is complex. On this basis, we evaluated the effects of an
      adenosine analog (N-ethyl-carboxamido-adenosine: NECA) on in vitro and in vivo
      melatonin production in the rat pineal gland. In the in vitro protocol, pineals
      were incubated with NECA (0.5 mM, 1 mM, or 2.5 mM) or isoproterenol (ISO: 10(
      6)M) for 4 hr. In the in vivo experiments, animals were given NECA (1 mg/kg IP),
      ISO (0.5 mg/kg IP) or 1 ml saline diluent and sacrificed 2 hr later. The samples
      were assayed for pineal N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity and melatonin
      concentrations. ISO caused the expected marked rise in NAT activity and melatonin
      levels in both protocols. NECA was ineffective in causing any modification of the
      parameters measured. We conclude that the adenosine analog NECA may not be
      involved in the activation of melatonin production. These data contrast with
      others in which NECA administration resulted in an increase in melatonin levels.
      The participation, if any, of the purinergic system in the physiology of the
      pineal gland is still far from being characterized.

PMID- 1438651
TI  - Adrenal activity does not mediate alarm substance reaction in the forced swim
      test.
AB  - Rats tested in the forced swim test were more immobile in fresh water than in
      water soiled by other rats, which presumably contained an alarm substance.
      Adrenalectomy did not affect the behavior of the rats in fresh or soiled water,
      nor did it affect production of or response to the putative alarm substance. The
      results of this study indicate that the adrenals do not mediate the response to,
      or production of the alarm substance.

PMID- 1438652
TI  - Oxytocin and vasopressin hexapeptide fragments have opposing influences on
      conditioned freezing behavior.
AB  - We investigated the influence of C-terminal fragments of oxytocin (OT) and
      arginine vasopressin (AVP) on conditioned freezing behavior. Subcutaneous
      injections of 0.3 microgram AVP(4-9) or OT(4-9) given to rats after shock
      training or before behavioral observation significantly altered fear-induced
      freezing behavior. Animals treated with OT hexapeptide froze less than controls,
      while animals treated with AVP hexapeptide froze more. These results support the
      concept that the hexapeptide metabolites of oxytocin and vasopressin can
      selectively modulate certain behavioral processes, and that these peptides have
      opposite effects on performance in behavioral tests designed to evaluate memory
      consolidation and retrieval.

PMID- 1438653
TI  - Growth hormone therapy in the elderly: implications for the aging brain.
AB  - Growth hormone (GH) secretion declines during normal aging, resulting in lower
      serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I levels. It has been proposed that many
      of the catabolic changes seen in normal aging, including osteoporosis and muscle
      atrophy, are in part caused by the decreased action of the GH-IGF-I axis. In
      addition, patients with GH deficiency have increased overall cardiovascular
      mortality. Several investigators have initiated GH treatment for elderly patients
      with relative hyposomatotropinemia. Initial reports suggest that GH can increase
      muscle mass, improve exercise tolerance, increase REM sleep and cause an enhanced
      sense of well-being. The basis for neuropsychiatric changes during GH therapy may
      be due to a direct CNS action of GH itself, to the increased IGF-I secretion
      which GH elicits, or to enhanced functioning of peripheral organ systems. Long
      term studies will determine whether GH or IGF-I can exert a neurotrophic action
      in the aging brain.

PMID- 1438654
TI  - Effects of thyroid hormones on central nervous system in aging.
AB  - Support for the many relationships between thyroid hormones and brain function
      comes from both laboratory and clinical studies. Studies in laboratory animals
      provide convincing evidence for a neuroregulatory role of thyroid hormones in the
      brain, suggesting that they may affect behavior. This notion is supported by
      human studies which have revealed that the effects of thyroid hormones on brain
      function are most important during the development and maturation of the brain;
      thereafter, age does not seem to critically affect brain-thyroid hormone
      relationships.

PMID- 1438655
TI  - Effects of peripheral hormones on memory and ingestive behaviors.
AB  - This article explores the mechanisms by which peripheral gastrointestinal
      hormones produce central nervous system effects on memory and feeding.
      Cholecystokinin produces its satiety effects and memory-enhancing effects by
      stimulating ascending vagal fibers. Hyperglycemia has been demonstrated to be a
      cause of memory dysfunction in persons with diabetes mellitus. A number of other
      hormones, such as amylin and bombesin, modulate both memory processing and
      feeding. The causes of the anorexia of aging are briefly reviewed.

PMID- 1438657
TI  - Anniversaries--the biopsychosocial complementarity of keeping count and not
      keeping count.

PMID- 1438656
TI  - The birthday: lifeline or deadline?
AB  - This study of deaths from natural causes examined adult mortality around the
      birthday for two samples, totalling 2,745,149 people. Women are more likely to
      die in the week following their birthdays than in any other week of the year. In
      addition, the frequency of female deaths dips below normal just before the
      birthday. The results do not seem to be due to seasonal fluctuations,
      misreporting on the death certificate, deferment of life-threatening surgery, or
      behavioral changes associated with the birthday. At present, the best available
      explanation of these findings is that females are able to prolong life briefly
      until they have reached a positive, symbolically meaningful occasion. Thus, the
      birthday seems to function as a 'lifeline' for some females. In contrast, male
      mortality peaks shortly before the birthday, suggesting that the birthday
      functions as a 'deadline' for males.

PMID- 1438658
TI  - Culture and somatic experience: the social course of illness in neurasthenia and
      chronic fatigue syndrome.
AB  - An anthropological view of culture and somatic experience is presented through
      elaboration of the notion that illness has a social course. Contemporary
      anthropology locates culture in local worlds of interpersonal experience. The
      flow of events and processes in these local worlds influences the waxing and
      waning of symptoms in a dialetic involving body and society over time.
      Conversely, symptoms serve as a medium for the negotiation of interpersonal
      experience, forming a series of illness-related changes in sufferers' local
      worlds. Thus, somatic experience is both created by and creates culture
      throughout the social course of illness. Findings from empirical research on
      neurasthenia in China, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in the United States,
      corroborate this formulation. Attributions of illness onset to social sources,
      the symbolic linking of symptoms to life context, and the alleviation of distress
      with improvement in circumstances point to the sociosomatic mediation of
      sickness. Transformations occasioned by illness in the lives of neurasthenic and
      CFS patients confirm the significance of bodily distress as a vehicle for the
      negotiation of change in interpersonal worlds. An indication of some of the
      challenges anthropological thinking poses for psychosomatic medicine concludes
      the discussion.

PMID- 1438659
TI  - Culture and the psychosomatic tradition.

PMID- 1438660
TI  - Specificity and specification: two continuing problems in psychosomatic research.

PMID- 1438661
TI  - Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in early stages of HIV infection.
AB  - As part of a military universal HIV screening program, 442 men were assessed for
      the presence of DSM-III-R defined psychiatric disorders and symptoms of anxiety
      and depression after notification of HIV seroconversion. Of them, 84.4% were in
      the earliest, asymptomatic stages of disease at the time of interview (96% did
      not have AIDS). The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R and Structured
      Interview Guide for the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scales were used.
      Relevant comparisons were made to Epidemiologic Catchment Area prevalence data.
      HIV seropositive men were more likely than age-matched men in the community to
      have current diagnoses of major depression (ages 18-44) and anxiety disorders
      (ages 25-44). Higher lifetime rates of major depression and alcohol use disorder,
      and high current prevalence of sexual dysfunction (21.7%) were noted. We conclude
      that men who become HIV seropositive have high rates of mood and substance use
      disorders prior to knowledge of seroconversion, and that early in the course of
      HIV infection men are at risk for developing major depression, anxiety disorders,
      and disorders of sexual desire.

PMID- 1438662
TI  - Similarity of depression in diabetic and psychiatric patients.
AB  - Diabetic and psychiatric out-patients were studied to determine whether the
      symptom profile of depression was similar in medically ill and medically well
      subjects. The diagnosis of major depression was determined using psychiatric
      interviews and DSM-IIIR criteria. The 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was
      used to characterize the prevalence and severity of depression symptoms, and the
      measure was divided into cognitive (13 symptoms) and somatic (eight symptoms)
      subsets. Seventeen (81%) of 21 symptoms (including 12/13 cognitive and 5/8
      somatic symptoms) were not statistically different in prevalence or severity
      between the depressed diabetic patients (N = 41) and the depressed psychiatric
      patients (N = 68). Both of these depressed groups were significantly different
      from a nondepressed diabetic comparison group (N = 58) in the prevalence and
      severity of every BDI symptom except weight loss. These data show that the
      symptom profile of depression in diabetic patients (in particular the cognitive
      symptoms) is similar to that in depressed psychiatric patients and is readily
      differentiated from the symptom profile in nondepressed diabetic patients. Our
      observations support the diagnostic validity of the DSM-IIIR criteria for major
      depression in this medically-ill outpatient sample.

PMID- 1438663
TI  - Effects of stress and blood type on cortisol and VLDL toxicity preventing
      activity.
AB  - Past research has associated ABO blood type and mental stress with cardiovascular
      risk. We studied the effects of blood type (A vs. O) coupled with a mirror
      drawing stressor on very low density lipoprotein toxicity-preventing activity
      (TxPA) and plasma cortisol levels. Exposure to the stressor significantly
      decreased TxPA and increased cortisol for the total group of 25 older adult
      males. However, the stress response patterns of the 15 blood type A males were
      different from those of the 10 type O subjects. The blood type A group had higher
      initial levels of TxPA and cortisol as well as quicker stress recovery rates than
      the type O group. ABO blood type may be an important behavioral hematologic
      variable to assess in studies concerning biochemical stress response or
      cardiovascular risk.

PMID- 1438664
TI  - Autoimmunity in the thyroid--can the molecular revolution contribute to our
      understanding?

PMID- 1438665
TI  - Bronchoscopy and tuberculostearic acid assay in the diagnosis of sputum smear
      negative pulmonary tuberculosis: a prospective study with the addition of
      transbronchial biopsy.
AB  - A prospective study of the efficacy of bronchoscopy and tuberculostearic acid
      assay in the diagnosis of sputum smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) was
      carried out in 39 patients with symptoms and radiographic changes suggestive of
      active pulmonary TB. The diagnosis of TB was confirmed in 15 patients, probable
      TB was diagnosed in eight and 16 patients did not have TB. An early diagnosis of
      TB was made by bronchoscopy in six patients (40 per cent). Culture of sputum
      obtained before bronchoscopy was positive in nine patients (60 per cent) while
      combined with bronchoscopy specimens, a positive mycobacterial culture was
      obtained in 12 patients (80 per cent). Mycobacteria were cultured from
      transbronchial biopsy specimens from five patients (33 per cent) but none of
      these was exclusively positive. Histological examination of transbronchial biopsy
      tissue was diagnostic of TB in four patients and it was the exclusive means of
      early diagnosis in two. Transbronchial biopsy also provided an alternative
      diagnosis in four other patients. Tuberculostearic acid assay had a sensitivity
      of 0.40 in bronchial aspirate, 0.80 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and 0.27 in
      transbronchial biopsy specimens: the combined result was 0.87. In nine patients
      with pulmonary TB in whom an early diagnosis could not be made, the
      tuberculostearic acid assay was positive in seven (78 per cent). We conclude that
      bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsy is helpful in
      providing early diagnosis and positive culture results. Assay of tuberculostearic
      acid in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid is a useful adjunct to early diagnosis.
      However, mycobacterial culture and assay of tuberculostearic acid in
      transbronchial biopsy specimens have little diagnostic value.

PMID- 1438667
TI  - Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in recipients of human growth hormone in the United
      Kingdom: a clinical and radiographic study.
AB  - In the past 3 years there have been five further cases, in addition to one case
      reported in 1985, of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in recipients of human growth
      hormone in the United Kingdom. The clinical findings of two of these cases are
      described, demonstrating a typical presentation with a predominantly cerebellar
      syndrome at onset which is not commonly a presenting feature of sporadic
      Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. In one case a 99mTc hexamethylpropylenamine single
      photon emission tomographic scan showed marked impairment of tracer uptake in the
      basal ganglia and cerebral cortex at a time when the clinical picture was
      predominantly cerebellar. This technique may be useful in early diagnosis. In the
      other case post mortem examination of the brain showed prominent amyloid
      deposition in the cerebellum, which has not been described previously in
      pituitary-hormone related Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The previously published
      cases of growth hormone-related Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are reviewed and
      reasons for the particular clinical pattern seen are discussed.

PMID- 1438666
TI  - The presentation and outcome of HIV-related disease in Nairobi.
AB  - The range of clinical presentations of HIV-related disease in Africa has not been
      adequately described, despite the fact that many hospitals have to rely heavily
      on clinical diagnosis. Six hundred adult medical patients seen in the Casualty
      Department of the main Government hospital in Nairobi were enrolled in a study of
      the presentation and outcome of HIV-related disease: 506 of these patients were
      admitted, of whom 19 per cent (95) were HIV seropositive. The remaining 94 were
      dealt with as outpatients: 11 percent (10) of these were seropositive. A history
      of prior treatment for sexually transmitted disease and, if male, being
      uncircumcised, were associated with being seropositive. Three presentations were
      strongly associated with HIV infection: acute fever with no focus except the
      gastrointestinal tract (enteric fever-like illness), acute cough with fever
      (community-acquired pneumonia) and chronic diarrhoea with wasting. The WHO
      clinical case definition (CCD) for AIDS missed a substantial amount of HIV
      related morbidity (sensitivity 39 per cent) and misidentified many seronegative
      patients (positive predictive value 59 per cent). In comparison with the Centers
      for Disease Control surveillance definition for AIDS, the CCD was specific (91
      per cent) and sensitive (79 per cent) but only had a positive predictive values
      of 30 per cent: the CCD may therefore be a poor surveillance tool for AIDS.
      Seropositive patients were much more likely to die than were seronegative
      patients (39 per cent vs. 15 per cent mortality). Enteric fever-like illness was
      the presentation which most commonly proved fatal. A wider spectrum of disease is
      associated with underlying HIV immunosuppression than has previously been
      described in Africa.

PMID- 1438668
TI  - The relationship between long-term glycaemic control and diabetic nephropathy.
AB  - Urine albumin excretion was studied by two widely accepted methods in 210
      patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and related to the mean of
      serial glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1) measurements made every 3 months during
      the previous 6 years. Microalbuminuria (albumin excretion rate > 20
      micrograms/min) was present in 9.5 per cent of patients when defined by a 24-hour
      collection and 8.1 per cent of patients when defined by a timed overnight urine
      sample. Those with microalbuminuria, as estimated from a timed overnight urine
      sample, had a longer duration of diabetes but otherwise did not differ in age,
      duration of diabetes or arterial blood pressure from patients whose albumin
      excretion rate was 20 micrograms/min or less irrespective of the method of urine
      collection. The mean and the most recent HbA1 levels differed significantly
      between the normal and the microalbuminuric groups when defined by the 24-hour
      albumin excretion rate (p < 0.001, p < 0.01), but no significant difference
      between these groups was found when albumin excretion rates were calculated from
      the timed overnight urine sample. Albumin excretion rate, examined in relation to
      mean HbA1, increased significantly with worsening glycaemic control whether
      measured over 24 hours or overnight (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). These findings support
      an association between glycaemic control and microalbuminuria, but the
      correlation is weak, dependent on the method of urine collection and is just as
      good for a relatively short-term as for a long-term measure of average blood
      glucose.

PMID- 1438669
TI  - Bilateral paramedian thalamic infarction: a distinct but poorly recognized stroke
      syndrome.
AB  - Six patients with bilateral paramedian thalamic infarction were seen in a general
      hospital over a 4 year period. This distinct stroke syndrome was recognized by
      the features of disturbed vigilance, often episodic, with vertical gaze disorder.
      Other signs included an amnesic syndrome, convergence difficulty, third nerve
      palsies, eyelid retraction, dysarthria, ataxia and involuntary limb movements.
      Diagnosis was confirmed by CT brain scan or magnetic resonance imaging. A variety
      of risk factors for stroke were present. All patients improved but two had
      significant residual disabilities.

PMID- 1438670
TI  - Mechanisms of abnormal glucose metabolism during the treatment of acute severe
      asthma.
AB  - Twenty-five patients with acute severe asthma were treated with oxygen,
      corticosteroids and either salbutamol or aminophylline by intravenous infusion.
      Blood glucose, plasma insulin and glucagon were measured during the first 24
      hours of treatment. Salbutamol and aminophylline rapidly caused hyperglycaemia,
      accompanied by a rise in insulin and a fall in plasma glucagon. At first the
      increase in plasma insulin was insufficient to restore normoglycaemia, but by 24
      hours homeostasis was restored. The early submaximal insulin response was
      attributed to the fasting caused by breathlessness. There was no evidence of an
      increase in hormone secretion caused by direct beta 2-adrenergic stimulation of
      the pancreatic islets. The effect of corticosteroids on blood glucose over the
      period of study was considerably less than the contribution of either salbutamol,
      or aminophylline.

PMID- 1438671
TI  - The spectrum of chronic liver disease in renal transplant recipients.
AB  - Chronic liver disease has been reported to be an important cause of late
      morbidity and mortality in renal transplant recipients. We have examined the
      prevalence and nature of chronic liver disease among 538 patients with
      functioning renal allografts managed at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, between
      1980 and 1989. Thirty-seven patients (7 per cent) satisfied biochemical criteria
      for chronic liver dysfunction. Liver biopsies were obtained from 24 of these, and
      autopsy tissue was available from three other patients. Chronic hepatitis of
      variable severity was present in 15 patients, haemosiderosis in 12 patients and
      nodular regenerative hyperplasia in five patients. Nineteen patients (51 per
      cent) had serological evidence of infection with the hepatitis C virus, and one
      of these developed chronic hepatitis B and D infection as well. Although a
      variety of chronic liver diseases occurred in our transplant population, the
      frequency of serious sequelae from liver dysfunction was much lower than that
      reported from transplant centres in other countries.

PMID- 1438672
TI  - Laboratory investigation in the diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism.
AB  - Laboratory findings were compared with lung scans in a prospective study of 260
      patients undergoing ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) lung scanning for suspected
      pulmonary thromboembolism. The best discrimination between different lung scan
      results was obtained from the level of plasma cross-linked fibrin degradation
      products, every patient with a scan indicating a high probability of
      thromboembolism having detectable levels. An acute phase response was
      demonstrated in patients with pulmonary thromboembolism by a raised neutrophil
      count and elevated levels of plasma fibrinogen and serum C-reactive protein. A
      normal level of serum C-reactive protein and/or plasma cross-linked fibrin
      degradation productions in blood taken within 4 days of onset of symptoms
      virtually excluded the diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism. Detection of free
      plasma DNA was not helpful in discriminating between groups with different lung
      scan results. Discriminant analysis was used to assess the variables examined and
      to derive diagnostic models. An accuracy of 78 per cent was obtained with one
      model for classifying test patients according to the three lung scan classes of
      low, intermediate and high probability. A second model, for distinguishing
      patients with a low and a high probability of pulmonary thromboembolism on the
      basis of lung scans, and a third for predicting those with a low probability on
      lung scan, were accurate in 94.6 per cent and 83.5 per cent of patients
      respectively. Discriminant models could be used in the diagnosis of pulmonary
      thromboembolism, especially when diagnostic imaging is not available.

PMID- 1438673
TI  - Fulminant community acquired infections admitted to an intensive care unit.
AB  - Disease progression, support required, prognostic indicators and survival in
      hospital and after discharge were studied in 53 patients with community acquired
      infections who required admission to the intensive care unit from the Department
      of Infectious Diseases between January, 1985 and August, 1991. The median age was
      37 years and over two-thirds of patients were previously fully fit; 38 per cent
      of patients required intensive care within 6 hours of admission with rapidly
      progressive disease. Both APACHE II scores and number of organ systems failed
      were good indicators of prognosis: mortality was 85 per cent in those with three
      or more organ failures and 86 per cent in those with APACHE II scores of > or =
      25. No deaths were observed in those with scores of < 10. Some organ failures
      (cardiovascular, renal and respiratory) occurred more frequently in those who
      died. Mechanical ventilation was required by 60 per cent of patients, inotropic
      drugs by 42 per cent and renal dialysis by 17 per cent. Mortality in hospital was
      25 per cent with no further deaths at 6 months to 2 years. As a group these
      patients were young and previously fit. Deterioration was rapid, necessitating
      admission to the intensive care unit at short notice. Our results highlight the
      importance of having intensive care facilities in close proximity to infectious
      disease units. In contrast to many other groups of patients admitted to the
      intensive care unit, the overall outlook for patients with community acquired
      life-threatening infections is good, and long-term monitoring suggests that these
      patients remain well once recovery has occurred.

PMID- 1438674
TI  - Clinical features, complications and mortality in type 1 (insulin-dependent)
      diabetic patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 1976-1990.
AB  - Clinical features, complications and prognosis of 431 consecutively registered
      Ethiopian Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients seen in the Diabetic
      Clinic in Yekatit 12 Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 1976-1990 are
      reported. Male:female ratio was 1.4:1; mean age at diagnosis was 18.1 years
      (confidence interval (CI) 1.6) in women and 21.4 (CI 1.2) in men. A history of
      ketoacidosis at some time was present in 38 per cent, in 11 per cent at diagnosis
      of diabetes. Tuberculosis was the most common complicating illness, occurring at
      some time in 16.5 per cent of patients. In addition, 9.5 per cent (CI 4 per cent)
      were known to have diabetic retinopathy, 6.0 per cent (CI 2 per cent) nephropathy
      and 7.9 per cent (CI 2 per cent) neuropathy at their last clinic visit. During
      the 15 years of the study, 9.7 per cent of the patients have died, with a mean
      duration of diabetes at death of 9.2 years (CI 1.8), and an overall mortality
      rate of 15.5/1000 person-years of diabetes. Five-year survival was 96 per cent
      (CI 3 per cent), 15-year survival 82 per cent (CI 9 per cent), and 20-year
      survival 63 per cent (CI 17 per cent), calculated using the Cox proportional
      hazards model; prognosis was better in those diagnosed at a younger age (p =
      0.029) and in those with a body mass index of > 19 kg/m2 on treatment (p =
      0.096).

PMID- 1438675
TI  - Spontaneous peritonitis in cirrhotic hospital in-patients: retrospective analysis
      of 101 cases.
AB  - One hundred and one patients with cirrhosis resulting from alcohol abuse,
      admitted to Broussais University Hospital, Paris, between January, 1986 and
      December, 1989 were assessed for infection of the ascitic fluid using clinical
      and cytobacteriological criteria. All of 46 patients (45.5%) with clinical signs
      and symptoms of peritonitis had an ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear (PMN) count >
      250 cells/mm3. Bacteria could be isolated from the ascitic fluid of 23 patients
      (50%). Twenty-six bacterial strains were isolated (there was more than one strain
      in two samples). Escherichia coli was found in 14 cases. It is noteworthy that no
      anaerobes were grown. Mortality, biochemical parameters and clinical features
      correlated significantly with an ascitic fluid PMN count > 250 cells/mm3. High
      mortality correlated with a PMN count > 1000 cells/mm3 (70% vs. 33%).

PMID- 1438676
TI  - Primary glomerulonephritis and hydrocarbon exposure: a case-control study and
      literature review.
AB  - A case-control study was undertaken to investigate the possible role of chronic
      hydrocarbon exposure and tobacco and alcohol consumption in the causation of
      primary glomerulonephritis. Exposure to hydrocarbons and the consumption of
      tobacco and alcohol were assessed blindly by telephone interview and
      questionnaire in 55 patients with end-stage renal disease due to biopsy-proven
      primary glomerulonephritis in whom there had been no evidence of systemic
      disease. This was compared with 55 normal subjects matched for age, sex, social
      class and residential area and a comparable internal control group of 45 patients
      with end-stage renal disease secondary to systemic disease, diabetic nephropathy
      or chronic pyelonephritis. Hydrocarbon exposure scores derived from the results
      of the questionnaires were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the patients with
      primary glomerulonephritis than in the normal subjects and the internal control
      group. Moreover, more detailed assessment of the type of hydrocarbon exposure
      showed significantly greater exposure of patients with glomerulonephritis to
      petroleum products (p < 0.001), greasing/degreasing agents (p < 0.01) and
      paints/glue (p < 0.05), and a resulting estimated relative risk of developing
      glomerulonephritis with each type of hydrocarbon exposure of 15.5, 5.3 and 2.0.
      Those patients with heavy hydrocarbon exposure (hydrocarbon score > 25,000) had a
      significantly higher serum creatinine at presentation than those with mild to
      moderate exposure, suggestive of more advanced renal disease. However, there was
      no significant difference in tobacco and alcohol consumption among subjects in
      different groups. We conclude that occupational exposure to hydrocarbon is likely
      to play a role in the pathogenesis of primary glomerulonephritis and that the
      risk of developing glomerulonephritis is greatest in those subjects exposed to
      petroleum products.

PMID- 1438677
TI  - Damage to cellular DNA from particulate radiations, the efficacy of its
      processing and the radiosensitivity of mammalian cells. Emphasis on DNA double
      strand breaks and chromatin breaks.
AB  - For several years, it has been evident that cellular radiation biology is in a
      necessary period of consolidation and transition (Lett 1987, 1990; Lett et al.
      1986, 1987). Both changes are moving apace, and have been stimulated by studies
      with heavy charged particles. From the standpoint of radiation chemistry, there
      is now a consensus of opinion that the DNA hydration shell must be distinguished
      from bulk water in the cell nucleus and treated as an integral part of DNA
      (chromatin) (Lett 1987). Concomitantly, sentiment is strengthening for the
      abandonment of the classical notions of "direct" and "indirect" action (Fielden
      and O'Neill 1991; O'Neill 1991; O'Neill et al. 1991; Schulte-Frohlinde and Bothe
      1991 and references therein). A layer of water molecules outside, or in the outer
      edge of, the DNA (chromatin) hydration shell influences cellular radiosensitivity
      in ways not fully understood. Charge and energy transfer processes facilitated
      by, or involving, DNA hydration must be considered in rigorous theories of
      radiation action on cells. The induction and processing of double stand breaks
      (DSBs) in DNA (chromatin) seem to be the predominant determinants of the
      radiotoxicity of normally radioresistant mammalian cells, the survival curves of
      which reflect the patterns of damage induced and the damage present after
      processing ceases, and can be modelled in formal terms by the use of reaction
      (enzyme) kinetics. Incongruities such as sublethal damage are neither
      scientifically sound nor relevant to cellular radiation biology (Calkins 1991;
      Lett 1990; Lett et al. 1987a). Increases in linear energy transfer (LET infinity)
      up to 100-200 keV micron-1 cause increases in the extents of neighboring chemical
      and physical damage in DNA denoted by the general term DSB. Those changes are
      accompanied by decreasing abilities of cells normally radioresistant to sparsely
      ionizing radiations to process DSBs in DNA and chromatin and to recover from
      radiation exposure, so they make significant contributions to the relative
      biological effectiveness (RBE) of a given radiation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400
      WORDS)

PMID- 1438678
TI  - Heavy ion effects on cells: chromosomal aberrations, mutations and neoplastic
      transformations.
AB  - The quantification of chromosomal aberrations, mutations and neoplastic
      transformations induced by heavy charged particles meets with considerable
      experimental and conceptual difficulties which are related to the specific
      pattern of energy deposition. These problems are discussed on the background of
      current ideas on track structure, and some new experimental results are analysed.

PMID- 1438679
TI  - Protection of early cellular damage in 1 Gy-irradiated mice by the elevation of
      extracellular adenosine.
AB  - In whole-body 1Gy-irradiated mice a modification of early cellular damage by
      means of preirradiation dipyridamole and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) treatment
      was investigated. Both drugs were given either alone or in combination, AMP being
      administered i.p. at doses of 5, 10 and 15 mg, dipyridamole s.c. at the dose of 2
      mg, 20 min before AMP. The thymidine level in plasma and the amount of free
      polynucleotides in the thymus and spleen, both estimated at the interval of 4 h
      after irradiation, were used as indices of early cellular damage in vivo. The
      elevated level of thymidine observed in the plasma of irradiated controls
      decreased significantly after the administration of AMP (5 mg) alone to 71%,
      after the combination of dipyridamole and AMP a still deeper significant fall to
      60% was observed. Such a protective effect was observed when injecting AMP 15 min
      before irradiation. Using the interval of 65 min between AMP administration and
      irradiation, no protection was detected. The higher doses of AMP (10, 15 mg)
      enhanced the protective effect manifested in plasma thymidine level only
      moderately. The amount of free polynucleotides, elevated in the thymus and spleen
      of irradiated mice, was significantly decreased in the thymus of mice pretreated
      with the combination of dipyridamole and AMP. The results suggest that the
      treatment used decreases the radiation damage of the sensitive thymocyte
      population. It is proposed that the joint use of AMP, an adenosine prodrug, and
      dipyridamole, a drug inhibiting adenosine uptake by cells, leads to an elevation
      in extracellular adenosine which activates cell surface adenosine
      receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1438680
TI  - Damage at two levels of DNA folding measured by fluorescent halo technique in X
      irradiated L5178Y-R and L5178Y-S cells. I. Initial lesions.
AB  - We examined, by the fluorescent halo assay, alterations in the nucleoid structure
      (structure formed from cells under mild lysis conditions: in non-ionic detergent
      Triton X-100, 0.0005% and 1.5 mol/l NaCl) of L5178Y (LY) cell sublines which had
      been untreated, treated with reducing/chelating agents (beta-mercaptoethanol or
      sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate (DDTC(Na))) or X-irradiated. These sublines differ
      in radiation sensitivity: LY-R is more resistant (D0 = 1.1 Gy) and LY-S more
      sensitive (D0 = 0.5 Gy). Halo diameters were measured after cell lysis in the
      presence of propidium iodide (PI) (0.5 to 50 micrograms/ml) at pH 6.9 or 9. The
      maximal DNA unwinding in PI was obtained at 7.5 micrograms/ml PI, at both pH 6.9
      and 9 in both sublines; the maximal halo diameter was larger in LY-S than in LY-R
      cells. In nucleoids from both sublines DNA could be rewound at higher (10-50
      micrograms/ml) PI concentrations both at pH 6.9 and 9. This ability was impaired
      by mercaptoethanol or DDTC(Na) (at pH 9) or by X-irradiation, indicating damage
      and/or alteration in the DNA superhelical structure. The susceptibility to
      reducing/chelating agents was greater in LY-S than in LY-R nucleoids, pointing to
      differences in chromatin structure between these sublines. The amount of X-ray
      inflicted damage was higher, when measured at pH 9 than at pH 6.9 and was about
      twice larger in LY-S than in LY-R nucleoids, when the cells were irradiated with
      the same X-ray dose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1438682
TI  - Induction of SOS repair by ionizing radiation. Results from experiments at
      accelerators.
AB  - beta-galactosidase and alkaline phosphatase activities of Escherichia coli strain
      PQ37 carrying the fusion gene of sulA and lacZ treated with different types of
      ionizing radiation were examined. The induction factor (ratio of beta
      galactosidase to alkaline phosphatase activity), reflecting the SOS-induction
      potency, increases significantly with radiation dose. Maximum effectiveness to
      induce SOS-response has been found for deuterium and helium ions in comparison to
      gamma-rays, carbon or krypton ions. Increased energy of helium ions leads to
      greater SOS-induction potency of radiation.

PMID- 1438681
TI  - Thermosensitization, heat shock protein synthesis and development of
      thermotolerance in M-14 human tumor cells subjected to step-down heating.
AB  - M-14 human tumor cells have been subjected to two regimens of step-down heating
      (SDH) consisting of a conditioning treatment at 42 degrees C for 1 h or at 44.5
      degrees C for 20 min, immediately followed by heating at 40 degrees C. Both
      conditioning treatments thermosensitize the cells towards the subsequent heating
      at 40 degrees C; the thermosensitization ratio is 6.4 for cells conditioned at 42
      degrees C for 1 h and 32.3 for cells conditioned at 44.5 degrees C for 20 min.
      The overall protein synthetic activity is reduced to 32.7% or 18.4% of control
      values following 1 h at 42 degrees C and 20 min at 44.5 degrees C, respectively;
      this inhibition is followed by a full recovery of the synthetic activity during
      the subsequent exposure at 40 degrees C. SDH-treated cells synthetize four heat
      shock proteins, with approximate molecular weights of 28, 64, 70 and 90 kDa. The
      pattern of HSPs induction observed in SDH-treated cells is similar to that found
      in cells subjected to single hyperthermic exposures. Cells subjected to the SDH
      sequence 42 degrees C/1 h-->40 degrees C/4 h develop thermotolerance, as
      indicated by a reduced sensitivity to further hyperthermic challenges.

PMID- 1438683
TI  - Assessment of ideal neutron beams for neutron capture therapy.
AB  - The discrete-ordinates transport computer code DORT has been used to develop a
      two-dimensional cylindrical phantom model for use as a tool to assess beam design
      and dose distributions for boron neutron capture therapy. The model uses an S8
      approximation for angular fluxes and a P3 Legendre approximation for scattering
      cross sections. A one-dimensional discrete-ordinates model utilizing the computer
      code ANISN was used to validate the energy-group structure used in the two
      dimensional calculations. In the two-dimensional model the effects of varying
      basic parameters such as aperture width, neutron source energy, and tissue
      composition have been studied. Identical results were obtained when comparing
      narrow beam calculations to fine-mesh higher-order Sn treatments (up to S32), and
      with P5 cross sections. It is shown that, when the correct assessment volume is
      used, narrow beams will give little or no advantage for therapy even with an
      optimum-energy ideal neutron beam.

PMID- 1438684
TI  - Dosimetry of 252Cf sources for neutron radiotherapy with and without augmentation
      by boron neutron capture therapy.
AB  - Interstitial and intracavity 252Cf sources have been used to treat a number of
      tumor types with encouraging results. In particular these tumors include a
      variety of cervical, head-and-neck, and oral-cavity cancers and possible
      malignant gliomas. As a neutron source, 252Cf offers certain theoretical
      advantages over photon therapy (i.e., in treating tumors with significant hypoxic
      or necrotic components). With the recent availability of 10B-labeled tumor
      seeking compounds, the usefulness of 252Cf may be further improved by augmenting
      the 252Cf dose to the tumor with an additional dose due to the fission (following
      thermal neutron capture) of 10B located in the tumor itself. While the high mean
      neutron energy permits 252Cf to deliver a high-LET, low-OER dose to the tumor on
      a macroscopic scale, thermalization of neutrons followed by 10B capture may
      augment this dose at the cellular level if adequate loading of tumor cells with
      10B is possible. This paper presents results of a Monte Carlo simulation study
      investigating the dosimetric characteristics of linear 252Cf sources both with
      and without the quantitative increase in tumor dose possible with the addition of
      10B. Results are displayed in the form of "along and away" tables and dose
      profiles in a water phantom. Comparisons of Monte Carlo results with experimental
      and analytical dosimetry data available in the literature are also presented.

PMID- 1438686
TI  - High resistance of cultured Mongolian gerbil cells to X-ray-induced killing and
      chromosome aberrations.
AB  - The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) is known to be one of the most
      radioresistant animals. We have examined the X-ray sensitivity of normal diploid
      fibroblasts from Mongolian gerbil embryos compared with those of cultured embryo
      cells obtained from various laboratory animals and a normal human. There was a
      wide difference in X-ray sensitivity for cell killing among different mammalian
      species. The D0 values for Mongolian gerbil cells ranged from 2.08 to 2.28 Gy,
      values which are twice as high as those for human cells. The mean D0 value for
      human cells was 1.06 Gy. Mouse, rat, Chinese hamster, and Syrian/golden hamster
      cells showed similar D0 values ranging from 1.30 to 1.56 Gy. When cells were
      irradiated with X rays, ten times more chromosome aberrations were detected in
      human cells than in Mongolian gerbil cells. The frequencies of chromosome
      aberrations in other rodent cells were between the values for cells from humans
      and those from gerbils. These data indicate that the Mongolian gerbil cells are
      resistant to X-ray-induced cell killing and chromosome aberrations, and that the
      radiation sensitivity of mammalian cells in primary culture may be reflected by
      their radioresistance in vivo.

PMID- 1438685
TI  - 5-Nitro-4-(N,N-dimethylaminopropylamino)quinoline (5-nitraquine), a new DNA
      affinic hypoxic cell radiosensitizer and bioreductive agent: comparison with
      nitracrine.
AB  - Targeting of electron-affinic radiosensitizers to DNA via noncovalent binding
      (e.g., intercalation) may offer the potential for increasing sensitizing
      efficiency. However, it has been suggested that high-affinity DNA binding may
      compromise sensitization by restricting the mobility of sensitizers along the
      DNA, and by decreasing rates of extravascular diffusion in tumors. The weak DNA
      intercalator nitracrine (1-NC) is a more efficient radiosensitizer than related
      nitroacridines with higher DNA-binding affinities (Roberts et al., Radiat. Res.
      123, 153-164, 1990). The present study investigates whether electron-affinic
      agents of even lower DNA-binding affinity may be superior to nitroacridines. The
      quinoline analog of 1-NC, 5-nitraquine (5-NO), was shown to have an intrinsic
      association constant for calf thymus DNA in 20 mM phosphate buffer which was 12
      fold lower than that of 1-NC. 5-Nitraquine was not accumulated as efficiently as
      1-NC by AA8 cells, but, despite a similar one-electron reduction potential, was 2
      to 3-fold more potent than 1-NC as a hypoxia-selective radiosensitizer in vitro
      when compared on the basis of average intracellular concentration. Thus the
      radiosensitizing potency of 5-NQ appears not to be compromised by its low DNA
      binding affinity. The cytotoxic mechanisms of 5-NQ and 1-NC appear to be similar
      (hypoxia-selective formation of DNA monoadducts), but 5-NQ is 1200-fold less
      potent than 1-NC as a cytotoxin. Despite this advantage, 5-NQ was not active in
      vivo as a radiosensitizer in SCCVII tumors. This lack of activity appears to be
      due to its relatively high toxicity in vivo (intraperitoneal LD50 of 105 mumol kg
      1 in C3H/HeN mice), high one-electron reduction potential (-286 mV), and rapid
      metabolism to the corresponding amine in mice. The in vitro therapeutic index
      (hypoxic radiosensitizing potency/aerobic cytotoxic potency) of this weak DNA
      binder was lower than that of the non-DNA targeted radiosensitizer misonidazole,
      suggesting that DNA targeting enhances cytotoxicity more than radiosensitization.
      Development of useful DNA-targeted radiosensitizers may require the exploitation
      of DNA binding modes different from those of the nitroacridines and
      nitroquinolines.

PMID- 1438687
TI  - Amplification of the c-myc oncogene in radiation-induced rat skin tumors as a
      function of linear energy transfer and dose.
AB  - The c-myc oncogene was previously shown to be amplified in large, later-stage
      carcinomas of the rat skin induced by 0.8-MeV electrons. In a panel of 70 tumors
      induced by neon ions (45 keV/microns), c-myc amplification was rare, and in
      contrast to the data for tumors induced by low-linear-energy transfer (LET) (0.3
      keV/microns) radiation, showed no correlation with tumor size, growth period, or
      time, but was associated with radiation dose. The tissue specificity for c-myc
      amplification seen in tumors induced by electrons was not seen in tumors induced
      by neon ions. These results suggest that quite distinct molecular mechanisms
      operate even in late stages of carcinogenesis that depend on the LET of the
      inducing radiation. Furthermore, the results suggest that c-myc amplification
      observed in tumors induced by low-LET radiation is not a general property of rat
      skin carcinomas, but is linked mechanistically to the inducing radiation, even
      though it is not detectable until many months after exposure and tumor
      appearance.

PMID- 1438688
TI  - The effects of graded doses of 1 MeV fission neutrons or X rays on the murine
      hematopoietic stroma.
AB  - The acute radiosensitivity in vivo of the murine hematopoietic stroma for 1 MeV
      fission neutrons or 300 kVp X rays was determined. Two different assays were
      used: (1) an in vitro clonogenic assay for fibroblast precursor cells (CFU-F) and
      (2) subcutaneous grafting of femora or spleens. The number of stem cells (CFU-S)
      or precursor cells (CFU-C), which repopulated the subcutaneous implants, was used
      to measure the ability of the stroma to support hemopoiesis. The CFU-F were the
      most radiosensitive, and the survival curves after neutron and X irradiation were
      characterized by D0 values of 0.75 and 2.45 Gy, respectively. For regeneration of
      CFU-S and CFU-C in subcutaneously implanted femora, D0 values of 0.92 and 0.84 Gy
      after neutron irradiation and 2.78 and 2.61 Gy after X irradiation were found.
      The regeneration of CFU-S and CFU-C in subcutaneously implanted spleens was
      highly radioresistant as evidenced by D0 values of 2.29 and 1.49 Gy for survival
      curves obtained after neutron irradiation, and D0 values of 6.34 and 4.85 Gy
      after X irradiation. The fission-neutron RBE for all the cell populations was
      close to 3 and varied from 2.77 to 3.28. The higher RBE values observed for
      stromal cells, compared to the RBE of 2.1 reported previously for hemopoietic
      stem cells, indicate that stromal cells are relatively more sensitive than
      hemopoietic cells to neutron irradiation.

PMID- 1438689
TI  - A fourth complementation group among ionizing radiation-sensitive Chinese hamster
      cell mutants defective in DNA double-strand break repair.
AB  - The XR-V9B mutant of Chinese hamster V79 cells which exhibits hypersensitivity to
      ionizing radiation was isolated by the replica plating technique. The increased
      sensitivity of XR-V9B cells to X rays (approximately 4-fold, as judged by the
      D10) was accompanied by increased sensitivity to other DNA-damaging agents such
      as bleomycin (approximately 17-fold), VP16 (approximately 6-fold), and adriamycin
      (approximately 5-fold). Only a slightly increased sensitivity was observed after
      exposure to UV radiation, MMS, or mitomycin C (1.4-, 1.7-, and 2-fold,
      respectively). As measured by neutral elution after exposure to X rays, XR-V9B
      cells showed a defect in the rejoining of double-strand breaks (DSBs); after 4 h
      of repair more than 50% of DSBs remained in comparison to 5% in wild-type cells.
      No difference was observed in the kinetics of single-strand break rejoining
      between XR-V9B and wild-type cells, as measured by alkaline elution. To determine
      whether XR-V9B represents a new complementation group among ionizing radiation
      sensitive Chinese hamster cell mutants defective in DSB repair, XR-V9B cells were
      fused with XR-V15B, XR-1, and V-3 cells, which have impaired DSB rejoining and
      belong to three different complementation groups. In all cases, the derived
      hybrids regained the sensitivity of wild-type cells when exposed to X rays,
      indicating that the XR-V9B mutant represents a new fourth complementation group
      among X-ray-sensitive Chinese hamster cell mutants defective in DSB repair.

PMID- 1438690
TI  - Radiation-related ophthalmological changes and aging among Hiroshima and Nagasaki
      A-bomb survivors: a reanalysis.
AB  - The relationship of ionizing radiation to the age-related ophthalmological
      findings of the 1978-1980 ophthalmological examination of A-bomb survivors of
      Hiroshima and Nagasaki has been reanalyzed using DS86 eye organ dose estimates.
      The main purpose of this reevaluation was to determine whether age and radiation
      exposure, as measured using the recently revised dosimetry information (DS86),
      have an additive, synergistic, or antagonistic effect. The data in this study are
      limited to axial opacities and posterior subcapsular changes, for which a
      definite radiation-induced effect has been observed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki A
      bomb survivors. The best model fitting for axial opacities gives a significant
      positive effect for both linear dose and linear age-related regression
      coefficients and a significant negative effect for an interaction between
      radiation dose and age. Such a negative interaction implies an antagonistic
      effect in that the relative risks in relation to radiation exposure doses become
      smaller with an increase in age. On the other hand, the best-fitting relationship
      for posterior subcapsular changes suggested a linear-quadratic dose and linear
      age-related effect. The estimate of the quadratic dose coefficient shows a highly
      negative correlation with age, but the negative quadratic dose term is extremely
      small and is of little biological significance.

PMID- 1438691
TI  - Replication of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA in X-ray-damaged cells: evidence for
      a nuclear-specific mechanism that down-regulates replication.
AB  - The mechanism by which X rays inhibit DNA replication has been investigated in
      three distinct populations of DNA molecules in human cells: (a) large chromosomal
      DNA, (b) a population of 50-100 10.3-kb nuclear episomal plasmids per cell, and
      (c) a population of about 500 16-kb cytoplasmic mitochondrial DNA molecules per
      cell. DNA replication was inhibited by X rays in nuclear chromosomal and plasmid
      DNA, but not in mitochondrial DNA. The mechanism by which ionizing radiation
      inhibits DNA replication must therefore be nuclear-specific and is unlikely to
      involve diffusible low-molecular-weight substances. Since mitochondrial DNA
      exists in the cell as independent 16-kb circular molecules and responds to
      radiation as would be expected for small targets, the implication for nuclear
      plasmids is that their replication is regulated by a large target. A current
      model for DNA replication involves the movement of DNA through replication
      centers made up of polymerases, helicases, and associated replication enzymes
      that are attached to a matrix. The difference in the response to X rays between
      mitochondrial DNA and nuclear plasmid DNA can be explained if nuclear plasmids
      are tightly associated with chromosomal DNA and attached to the matrix, and are
      coordinately replicated.

PMID- 1438692
TI  - Possible closure of the JANUS reactor at Argonne National Laboratory.

PMID- 1438693
TI  - Failla Memorial Lecture. Redox, radiation, and reductive bioactivation.
AB  - A brief review is presented of the background to, and the principles involved in,
      the development of redox-sensitive drugs for use in cancer therapy. The role of
      redox processes in the action of various types of radiosensitizers and in the
      activation of bioreductive drugs is described. The mechanisms by which many
      simple hypoxic cell radiosensitizers act are believed to involve fast electron
      transfer processes involving DNA. Some of these agents can also function as
      hypoxic cell cytotoxins, although the mechanisms involved are different. These
      "bioreductive drugs" are activated by intracellular metabolic reduction mediated
      through various cellular reductases. Usually, though not always, bioreduction is
      favored under hypoxic conditions, and this is why many of these compounds display
      differential cytotoxicity to hypoxic cells. This is one of the rationales for
      selectivity in solid tumors. The potencies of both hypoxic cell radiosensitizers
      and bioreductive drugs are strongly correlated with their electron affinities.
      Classes of bioreductive agents of current interest are described briefly. These
      include simple and dual-function nitroheterocycles including the highly potent
      compound RB-6145, quinone-based drugs including analogues of mitomycin C, and
      heterocyclic compounds containing N-oxide functions. The study of bioreductive
      agents for potential use as adjuncts for various approaches to cancer treatment
      is described.

PMID- 1438694
TI  - Dual cell cycle checkpoints sensitive to chromosome replication and DNA damage in
      the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - In eucaryotic cells chromosomes must be fully replicated and repaired before
      mitosis begins. Genetic studies indicate that this dependence of mitosis on
      completion of DNA replication and DNA repair derives from a negative control
      called a checkpoint which somehow checks for replication and DNA damage and
      blocks cell entry into mitosis. Here we summarize our current understanding of
      the genetic components of the cell cycle checkpoint in budding yeast. Mutants
      were identified and their phase and signal specificity tested primarily through
      interactions of the arrest-defective mutants with cell division cycle mutants.
      The results indicate that dual checkpoint controls exist in budding yeast, one
      control sensitive to inhibition of DNA replication (S-phase checkpoint), and a
      distinct but overlapping control sensitive to DNA repair (G2 checkpoint). Six
      genes are required for arrest in G2 phase after DNA damage (RAD9, RAD17, RAD24,
      MEC1, MEC2, and MEC3), and two of these are also essential for arrest in S phase
      when DNA replication is blocked (MEC1 and MEC2).

PMID- 1438695
TI  - Radiation-induced mitotic delay: a genetic characterization in the fission yeast.
AB  - Radiation-induced mitotic delay is under investigation in the fission yeast,
      Schizosaccharomyces pombe. A large range of cell cycle- and radiation-sensitive
      mutants of this yeast is available to facilitate this effort. Through an
      examination of such mutants it has been shown that the X-ray transition point and
      the p34cdc2 execution point are coincident; wee1- strains are not delayed by
      irradiation; and the radiation-sensitive mutants rad1-1, rad3-136, rad9-192, and
      rad17-W are not delayed by radiation or by inhibitors of DNA synthesis, including
      hydroxyurea. A model is proposed: Damaged DNA generates a signal to delay mitosis
      which is carried by the products of the rad genes to activate the tyrosine kinase
      p110wee1. This in turn inactivates the serine/threonine kinase p34cdc2, thereby
      blocking entry to mitosis. Unreplicated DNA also initiates a signal to delay
      mitosis which is carried by these same rad genes but, as indicated in the
      literature, transmission to p34cdc2 does not require p110wee1. The delay
      deficient rad mutants may possess some properties of tumor suppressor genes, with
      implications for mutagenesis and oncogenesis.

PMID- 1438696
TI  - Effects of ionizing radiation on cyclin expression in HeLa cells.
AB  - The levels of cyclin B mRNA and protein rise rapidly in G2 + M phase, and fall at
      the end of mitosis. The studies described here were initiated to determine the
      effects of ionizing radiation on the level of cyclin B bearing in mind that the
      division delay induced by ionizing radiation might be influenced by the
      expression of cyclin B. After irradiation in S phase, the cyclin B mRNA in HeLa
      cells was measured as the cells proceeded through the cell cycle. Instead of the
      usual rise, after irradiation cyclin B mRNA levels remained low during the G2
      delay. After irradiation in G2 phase, cyclin B mRNA was readily detectable
      although at slightly lower levels than in the controls. However, cyclin B protein
      was markedly decreased in amount.

PMID- 1438697
TI  - A radiation-induced inhibitor of chromosome condensation and nuclear envelope
      breakdown in HeLa cells.
AB  - An in vitro microscopic assay for mitosis-inducing activity in mitotic HeLa cells
      was developed and used to demonstrate that cells irradiated and arrested in G2
      phase of the cell cycle contain an inhibitor of mitosis. This assay system has a
      number of advantages over other assays including the use of autologous components
      (HeLa nuclei and mitotic cell extracts) in contrast to the microinjection method
      with Xenopus oocytes and without the requirements for microinjection expertise
      and Xenopus oocytes. The radiation-inducible inhibitor was detected at the lowest
      radiation dose tested (2 Gy) with maximal activity achieved within 30 min after
      radiation. Inhibitor activity decayed with time after radiation (2 Gy) with no
      activity detected at 6 h even though the cells remained in G2 phase, suggesting
      that either synthesis or activation of additional components is necessary for
      recovery from G2 arrest. The inhibitor activity was not detected in irradiated
      cells treated with caffeine to induce premature recovery from G2 arrest.

PMID- 1438698
TI  - Diffusion of low-energy electrons in tissue-like liquids.
AB  - The spatial-energetic distribution of low-energy electrons was studied for a
      source located in a liquid medium simulating biological tissue. A time
      independent Boltzmann equation was used to model this distribution
      microscopically. Ionization was treated as a perturbation to a quasi-elastic
      collision process between the electron and the medium. A diffusion limit was
      obtained by using a scale parameter, leading to a sequence of recursive partial
      differential equations whose solutions, associated with a macroscopic scale, were
      obtained by numerical approximations. As an application, electron ranges were
      estimated based on these solutions and then compared with values reported in the
      open literature based on experimental results and on Monte Carlo calculation.
      Local dosimetry, i.e., the energy imparted to a volume of a sphere with radius
      equal to the range of low-energy electrons, of low-energy electrons from internal
      emitters can benefit by the knowledge of the ranges estimated for biological
      tissue. Auger electron emitters, for example, have been the object of a number of
      investigations because of their radiobiological significance.

PMID- 1438699
TI  - Compound dual radiation action. I. General aspects.
AB  - The theory of dual radiation action (A. M. Kellerer and H. H. Rossi, Curr. Top.
      Radiat. Res. Q. 8, 85-158, 1972) has attributed the effects of ionizing radiation
      on eukaryotes to the production of molecular changes (sublesions) that combine
      pairwise to produce injury (lesions) responsible for radiation effects. If the
      yield of sublesions is independent of radiation quality (as is currently
      assumed), dual radiation action results in the well-known proportionality between
      the average yield of lesions and alpha D+beta D2, where beta is a radiation
      independent quantity. It has, however, been observed that beta changes with
      radiation type. In this paper we propose an explanation of this discrepancy.
      Specifically, we suggest that dual radiation action-type processes where beta is
      variable are the result of a mechanism--termed compound dual radiation action-
      which consists of a sequence of simple dual radiation action processes, each
      process being the causative agent for the next one. The sequence, single-strand
      DNA breaks, double-strand DNA breaks (chromosome breaks), and exchange-type
      chromosomal aberrations, is one such example examined in the paper.

PMID- 1438701
TI  - Oncogene amplification detected by in situ hybridization in radiation-induced
      skin cancers in rats.
AB  - Amplification of the c-myc oncogene has been detected by Southern blotting in the
      DNA of radiation-induced skin cancers in the rat. In the current work the
      localization of oncogene amplification within specific cells in the different
      cancers and in multiple biopsies of the same cancer was studied by in situ
      hybridization. The amount of amplification was measured by counting grains on
      tissue sections hybridized in situ to biotin-labeled human c-myc third exon, rat
      v-H-ras, and rat v-Ki-ras probes. The in situ estimates of c-myc amplification
      were generally correlated with previous findings using the Southern blot method,
      but within each cancer only a fraction of cells exhibited amplification. Multiple
      biopsies of a squamous carcinoma showed amplification of v-H-ras and c-myc but
      not v-Ki-ras during tumor growth, but none of these oncogenes were amplified
      during tumor regression. The c-myc-positive cells were distributed uniformly
      within the cancers and exhibited a more uniform nuclear structure in comparison
      to the more vacuolated c-myc-negative cells. A high [3H]thymidine labeling index
      was found in irradiated epidermal cells on Day 7 after exposure, and yet no
      evidence of c-myc oncogene amplification was found in situ. No c-myc
      amplification was found in unirradiated normal epidermis or in irradiated
      epidermal cells in the vicinity of radiation-induced cancers. The data indicate
      that c-myc amplification is cell-specific within radiation-induced carcinomas and
      does not occur in epidermal cells proliferating in response to radiation
      exposure.

PMID- 1438700
TI  - The RBE-LET relationship for rodent intestinal crypt cell survival, testes weight
      loss, and multicellular spheroid cell survival after heavy-ion irradiation.
AB  - This report presents data for survival of mouse intestinal crypt cells, mouse
      testes weight loss as an indicator of survival of spermatogonial stem cells, and
      survival of rat 9L spheroid cells after irradiation in the plateau region of
      unmodified particle beams ranging in mass from 4He to 139La. The LET values range
      from 1.6 to 953 keV/microns. These studies examine the RBE-LET relationship for
      two normal tissues and for an in vitro tissue model, multicellular spheroids.
      When the RBE values are plotted as a function of LET, the resulting curve is
      characterized by a region in which RBE increases with LET, a peak RBE at an LET
      value of 100 keV/microns, and a region of decreasing RBE at LETs greater than 100
      keV/microns. Inactivation cross sections (sigma) for these three biological
      systems have been calculated from the exponential terminal slope of the dose
      response relationship for each ion. For this determination the dose is expressed
      as particle fluence and the parameter sigma indicates effect per particle. A plot
      of sigma versus LET shows that the curve for testes weight loss is shifted to the
      left, indicating greater radiosensitivity at lower LETs than for crypt cell and
      spheroid cell survival. The curves for cross section versus LET for all three
      model systems show similar characteristics with a relatively linear portion below
      100 keV/microns and a region of lessened slope in the LET range above 100
      keV/microns for testes and spheroids. The data indicate that the effectiveness
      per particle increases as a function of LET and, to a limited extent, Z, at LET
      values greater than 100 keV/microns. Previously published results for spread
      Bragg peaks are also summarized, and they suggest that RBE is dependent on both
      the LET and the Z of the particle.

PMID- 1438702
TI  - Radiation-induced DNA single-strand breaks in freshly isolated human leukocytes.
AB  - Single-strand breaks are a major form of DNA damage caused by ionizing radiation,
      and measurement of strand breaks has long been used as an index of overall
      cellular DNA damage. Most assays for DNA single-strand breaks in cells rely on
      measuring fractionated DNA samples following alkali denaturation. Quantification
      is usually achieved by prelabeling cells with radioactive DNA precursors;
      however, this is not possible in the situation of nondividing cells or freshly
      isolated tissue. It has previously been demonstrated that the alkali unwinding
      assay of DNA strand breaks can be quantified by blotting the recovered DNA on
      nylon membranes and hybridizing with radiolabeled sequence-specific probes. We
      report here improvements to the technique, which include hot alkali denaturation
      of DNA samples prior to blotting and the use of carrier DNA that is non
      complementary to the radiolabeled probe. Our method allows both single- and
      double-stranded DNA to be quantified with the same efficiency, thereby improving
      the sensitivity and reproducibility of the assay, and allows calibration for
      determination of absolute levels of DNA strand breaks in cells. We also used this
      method to assay radiation-induced DNA strand breaks in freshly isolated human
      leukocytes and found them to have a strand break induction rate of 1815 strand
      breaks/cell/Gy.

PMID- 1438703
TI  - Fitting the Armitage-Doll model to radiation-exposed cohorts and implications for
      population cancer risks.
AB  - The Armitage-Doll model of carcinogenesis is fitted to Japanese bomb survivors
      with the DS86 dosimetry and to three other radiation-exposed cohorts. The model
      is found to provide an adequate description of solid cancer incidence and also,
      to a lesser extent, of that of leukemia as a function of radiation dose when up
      to two radiation-affected stages are assumed. For non-leukemias the optimal model
      is one in which there are two radiation-affected stages separated by two
      additional stages. In the case of leukemia one radiation-affected stage or two
      adjacent stages provide suitable fits. There appear to be significant differences
      between the optimal models fitted to each cohort, although there is no
      heterogeneity within the Japanese data set by sex, by cancer type, or by age at
      exposure. Low-dose and low-dose-rate population risks for a population having the
      cancer and overall mortality rates of the current UK population are calculated on
      the basis of the optimal models fitted to the Japanese data to be about 8.3 x 10(
      2) excess cancer deaths person-1 Sv-1, 10.1 x 10(-2) radiation-induced cancer
      deaths person-1 Sv-1, or 1.40 years of life lost person-1 Sv-1. Risks for a
      population having the mortality rates of the current Japanese population are
      about 6.5 x 10(-2) excess cancer deaths person-1 Sv-1, 7.8 x 10(-2) radiation
      induced cancer deaths person-1 Sv-1, or 0.89 years of life lost person-1 Sv-1. It
      is a feature of the Armitage-Doll model, and other multistage models of
      carcinogenesis, that if radiation acts at more than one stage then (inverse) dose
      rate effects may arise as a result of interactions between the effects of a
      protracted dose at the various radiation-affected stages. However, it is shown in
      this paper that these three measures of cancer risk in general display fairly
      slight dependence on administered dose in the range 0.001 to 1.0 Sv and on the
      length of the time over which the dose is administered in the range 1 to 100
      years. Dose-rate effects resulting from the protraction of a radiation exposure
      over many years acting on (the same) cells at various stages of a multistep
      process of carcinogenesis are therefore expected to be slight. Dose-rate effects
      which have been observed in epidemiological studies and cellular radiobiology may
      thus find their explanation in other phenomena such as short-term intracellular
      repair.

PMID- 1438705
TI  - Developmental changes induced by gamma irradiation in Ipomoea batatas L. Lam
      (sweet potato).
AB  - Storage roots of Ipomoea batatas L. Lam were exposed to gamma irradiation at 90,
      180, and 240 Gy. The two highest doses caused a delay in the initiation of
      rooting and especially of shooting; they also caused formation of rosette-like,
      stemless shoots without apical meristems. The storage roots irradiated with 90 Gy
      did form stems, but 50% of them had no apical meristem. The irradiated storage
      roots produced absorbent roots which developed shoots after 70 days of growth.
      Nonirradiated storage roots did not differentiate shoots from the absorbent
      roots. When grown in vitro, phytomers, stem segments with leaves and an axillary
      meristem, separated from the shoots of irradiated storage roots and exhibited
      growth aberrations, very intense rooting, and a delay in shooting. Phytomers from
      nonirradiated normal plants were irradiated with 10, 20, 30, 40, and 90 Gy and
      grown in a hormone-free medium. The 40- and 90-Gy doses delayed shooting as well
      as rooting. Only phytomers exposed to 40 and 90 Gy differentiated shoots from the
      absorbent roots. A stimulation of growth revealed in the accumulation of dry mass
      was found in the shoots of phytomers irradiated with 10 to 30 Gy. The long after
      effects of irradiation as well as possible causes of growth stimulation are
      discussed.

PMID- 1438704
TI  - Low pH does not affect the dose response for 5'-amino-5'-deoxythymidine
      modulation of IdUrd DNA incorporation and radiosensitization in a human bladder
      cancer cell line.
AB  - We report that coincubation of 647V cells for one cell cycle with low
      concentrations (30 microM) of 5'-amino-5'-deoxythymidine increased IdUrd DNA
      incorporation and radiosensitivity at low extracellular pH (pHe 6.8) in a fashion
      similar to treatment at normal pHe. IdUrd DNA incorporation is inhibited by high
      (300 microM) 5'-AdThd concentrations at both normal and low pHe (7.4 and 6.8),
      resulting in no significant radiosensitization. These results at low pHe were not
      anticipated based on previously published studies of 5'-AdThd modulation of
      thymidine kinase (TK) activity and nucleoside cellular uptake. Our results
      suggest that regulation of intracellular pH (pHi) during the course of one cell
      cycle negates the 5'-AdThd dose-dependent modulation of TK activity demonstrated
      previously. Flow cytometric measurement of pHi in 647V cells showed that normal
      pHi (pH 7.4) was maintained in 647V cells over a 12- to 24-h exposure to low pHe
      (pH 6.8). Thus the concomitant use of IdUrd and high concentrations of 5'-AdThd
      (> 30 microM) is unlikely to result in selective in vivo radiosensitization of
      human tumors under conditions which are intermittently or chronically acidic.
      However, low concentrations of 5'-AdThd may prove to be an effective in vivo
      modulator of IdUrd radiosensitization of human tumors under both normal and
      acidic conditions.

PMID- 1438706
TI  - Neutral filter elution detects differences in chromatin organization which can
      influence cellular radiosensitivity.
AB  - We have shown previously that the neutral filter elution assay is dependent not
      only on the number of DNA double-strand breaks present in a mammalian cell but
      also on the way in which DNA expands on the filter following lysis. Results in
      this study indicate that the rate of DNA elution appears to be dependent upon the
      proximity of the DNA in relation to the replication complex. The rate of elution
      for DNA analyzed immediately after a 30-min labeling period with [14C]thymidine
      was about five times slower than the rate of elution for bulk-labeled DNA.
      However, the rate was increased a few hours later when the recently replicated
      DNA had matured and was likely to be farther from replication-associated
      attachment sites on the nuclear protein matrix. About one cell cycle after pulse
      labeling, when the labeled DNA was replicated again, DNA underwent similar
      changes in elution rate. For the four cell lines examined here, the elution rate
      3-4 h after pulse labeling correlated with cellular radiosensitivity. Changes in
      rate of elution caused by altering EDTA concentration or pH may also be explained
      by DNA structural changes which occur during lysis. We conclude that the neutral
      filter elution method is sensitive to differences in chromatin organization which
      may also play a role in cell sensitivity to ionizing radiation.

PMID- 1438707
TI  - Killing of EMT-6 cells by decays from isotopes incorporated on sensitizer
      adducts.
AB  - EMT-6 tumor cell killing by decays from 3H and 125I incorporated by adduct
      formation of radiolabeled sensitizers was studied in vitro. Hypoxic
      radiosensitizers become covalently bound to cellular molecules after metabolic
      reduction, and EMT-6 tumor cells can tolerate over 10(9) adducts/cell of
      misonidazole without loss of colony-forming ability. Cells were incubated under
      hypoxic conditions in the presence of [3H]misonidazole or
      [125I]iodoazomycinriboside for various times and the amounts of bound 3H and 125I
      were determined. Cells were stored as monolayers at 22 degrees C, in suspension
      culture at 4 degrees C, and frozen in complete medium plus 8% DMSO at -196
      degrees C for various times to facilitate the accumulation of radioactive decays
      before plating in vitro for colony-forming assays at 37 degrees C. At 22 degrees
      C in monolayer culture, EMT-6 tumor cells tolerated 950 and 1720 decays/cell of
      3H and 125I, respectively, without evidence of radiotoxicity. This number of
      decays/cell over the exposure times used represents 1.54 x 10(6) 3H/cell and 8.4
      x 10(4) 125I/cell, respectively. Significant cell killing was detected after
      similar amounts of isotope decay when cells were held at 4 degrees C. When cells
      were frozen in the presence of 8% DMSO, they were more resistant to inactivation
      by isotope decays or by gamma rays than cells in liquid phase at 4 degrees C.
      These data suggest that selective hypoxic tumor cell suicide by 3H or 125I decays
      from bound sensitizer at 37 degrees C will be an inefficient process, at least
      for drugs with specific activities as tested. These data are consistent with data
      on cell inactivation by isotopes incorporated into cells by other procedures.

PMID- 1438708
TI  - Decreased repair of radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks with cellular
      differentiation.
AB  - Although the majority of mammalian cells in situ are terminally differentiated,
      most DNA repair studies have used proliferating cells. In an attempt to
      understand better the relationship between differentiation and DNA repair, we
      have used the murine 3T3-T proadipocyte cell line. In this model system,
      proliferating (stem) cells undergo growth arrest (GD cells) and subsequently
      terminally differentiate into adipocytes when exposed to media containing
      platelet-depleted human plasma. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was used to
      evaluate the induction and repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) after
      ionizing radiation. The levels of radiation-induced DSBs in GD and terminally
      differentiated cells were similar, but in both cases greater than those found in
      stem cells at each radiation dose tested (0 to 40 Gy); these differences appear
      to be due to growth arrest in G1 phase. DNA DSBs were repaired with biphasic
      kinetics for each cell type. For terminally differentiated cells 25% of DNA DSBs
      remained unrejoined compared with < 10% for GD and stem cells after a repair time
      of 4 h. These data indicate that terminal differentiation of 3T3-T cells is
      associated with a reduction in the repair of ionizing radiation-induced DNA DSBs.

PMID- 1438709
TI  - Protection against metastasis of radiation-induced thymic lymphosarcoma and
      weight loss in C57Bl/6NCr1BR mice by an autoclave-resistant factor present in
      soybeans.
AB  - We have investigated the ability of Bowman-Birk inhibitor, a protease (trypsin
      and chymotrypsin) inhibitor, to protect against radiation-induced thymic
      lymphosarcoma in C57Bl/6NCr1BR mice. Fifty-five 7-week-old male mice were
      randomized into 11 groups and gavaged 5 days per week with purified Bowman-Birk
      inhibitor, Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate, and autoclaved Bowman-Birk
      inhibitor concentrate. Following 7 days of gavage, those mice undergoing total
      body or sham total-body irradiation received 1.7 Gy weekly for 4 weeks. At 6
      months following the radiation exposure, all mice were sacrificed and examined
      histopathologically. Samples of Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate, purified
      Bowman-Birk inhibitor, and autoclaved Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate were
      evaluated with thin-layer chromatography. The mice treated with total-body
      irradiation and autoclaved Bowman-Birk inhibitor had significantly (P < 0.05)
      fewer deaths, lower average grade of lymphosarcoma, and larger fat stores
      compared to those treated with total-body irradiation and water gavage. The
      results for the total-body-irradiated mice receiving Bowman-Birk inhibitor
      concentrate suggested an effect midway between these two groups. Thin-layer
      chromatography analysis indicated that sterols and the phospholipids varied in
      the three different samples in a way that approximately corresponded with the
      observed effects. We have observed that an autoclave-resistant factor in soybeans
      is capable of reducing metastasis of radiation-induced lymphosarcoma and weight
      loss in C57Bl/6NCr1BR mice, presumably by preventing the extension and metastasis
      of cancer cells. Thus, in addition to the anticarcinogenic Bowman-Birk inhibitor,
      there appears to be another anticarcinogenic agent in soybeans which is capable
      of inhibiting the later stages of cancer cell development.

PMID- 1438710
TI  - Effects of partial hepatectomy on the growth characteristics and hypoxic
      fractions of xenografted DLD-2 human colon cancers.
AB  - A recent publication by Leith et al. (Cancer Res. 51, 4111-4113, 1991) showed
      that administration of epidermal growth factor (EGF) (0.25 mg/kg; q.i.d. x 7) to
      mice bearing xenografted A431 human epidermoid cancers produced increased tumor
      growth and a reduction of the percentage of hypoxic cells within neoplasms. In
      contrast, sialoadenectomy, which removes the majority of circulating EGF in the
      mouse, resulted in slower tumor growth and increased hypoxic percentages. To
      investigate such homeostatic mechanisms further, we investigated the growth
      characteristics and hypoxic fractions of xenografted DLD-2 human colon tumors
      when tumor-bearing mice received partial hepatectomy (about 65%), unilateral
      nephrectomy, or nonspecific surgical trauma (laparotomy). Surgical procedures
      were performed when tumor volumes were about 375 mm3, and hypoxic percentages
      within tumors were measured by clonogenic excision assay procedures 72 h later.
      We found that partial hepatectomy increased the growth rates of the transplanted
      DLD-2 cancers by about a factor of 2.4. This increased growth rate was
      accompanied by an increase in the mitotic index from about 1.5 to 3.0%. Also,
      hypoxic fractions were decreased from 0.561 in control tumors to 0.235 in tumors
      from mice receiving partial hepatectomies. Unilateral nephrectomy and nonspecific
      surgery manipulations did not alter tumor growth rates, mitotic indices, or
      hypoxic percentages. These results indicate that partial hepatectomy produces
      significant alterations in tumor physiology. Results are consistent with a growth
      factor-mediated mechanism.

PMID- 1438711
TI  - Technique to improve lateral cervico-thoracic radiographs.
AB  - Lateral radiographs taken during radiotherapy simulation of the upper thoracic
      and lower cervical region are often of poor quality because of the difference in
      separation seen by the incident beam. A simple method of compensating for this is
      the application of a thin foil of lead on the simulator that obscures the light
      field in the superior portion of the field. This technique has the advantage of
      being simple, fast and easily reproducible.

PMID- 1438712
TI  - Standing up to cancer's challenge.

PMID- 1438713
TI  - Radiotherapy technique integrates MRI into CT.
AB  - The 1970s saw the introduction of computed tomography, which enabled soft tissue
      anatomy to be seen. Today simulation of therapeutic fields by x-ray is augmented
      by radiotherapy treatment planning using CT data. The 1980s brought magnetic
      resonance imaging with superior soft tissue contrast. This article describes a
      technique correlating three-dimensional MRI/CT data sets used routinely in
      treatment planning of tumors in the head.

PMID- 1438714
TI  - The profession's future: leadership development.

PMID- 1438715
TI  - Identification of stressors in radiologic technology.
AB  - Much is written about stress in the workplace, but until the causes of stress are
      identified, little can be done to address the problem. This article reports
      results of a survey of 198 randomly selected radiologic technologists who were
      asked to assess the relative stressfulness of 35 stressors. Disrespectful
      physicians, inadequate pay, unnecessary exams and lack of staff topped the list.

PMID- 1438716
TI  - [The importance of bone marrow examination for hemoblastoses].
AB  - Morphological bone marrow evaluation is an integral component in staging patients
      with hematological malignancies. In acute leukemias or myelodysplastic syndromes
      cytologic examination is crucial since it allows precise analysis on the
      individual cell level. Histological examination of an iliac crest trephine biopsy
      is mandatory in malignant lymphomas because of the frequent nodular involvement
      of bone marrow in these diseases. In recent years magnetic resonance tomography
      (MRT) has been shown to be a sensitive method for detecting marrow infiltration
      in a variety of marrow diseases. In malignancies with focal marrow involvement,
      such as malignant lymphoma, MRT is today a useful complement to morphological
      bone marrow evaluation.

PMID- 1438717
TI  - [Bone marrow scintigraphy. Principles, clinical results and indications].
AB  - After consideration of the anatomical and physiological principles, the
      radiopharmaceuticals for scintigraphy of the erythropoietic, reticuloendothelial
      and-as a new development-of the granulopoietic bone marrow are introduced and
      compared. The data on performing and evaluating bone marrow scans are followed by
      the presentation of the clinical results. Staging and re-staging of malignant
      lymphomas, multiple myeloma, breast and lung cancer are considered to be the main
      indications. 99mTc-labelled monoclonal anti-NCA-95-antibodies are regarded as the
      radiopharmaceutical of choice.

PMID- 1438718
TI  - [MR tomography of the bone marrow in malignant systemic diseases. Diagnosis and
      therapeutic follow-up control].
AB  - This paper presents a short survey of the current status of bone marrow diagnosis
      in systemic neoplastic disease by means of MR imaging. The different patterns of
      bone marrow infiltration from lymphomas and leukaemias are presented and the
      differential diagnoses are discussed. Apart from the primary diagnosis the
      relevance of conventional MRI and chemical shift imaging for therapy follow up
      and after-care is discussed.

PMID- 1438719
TI  - [Bone marrow edema in MRT].
AB  - Like other vascularized organs, bone can react with increasing interstitial fluid
      to disturbances in permeability caused by various noxae. Signs of bone marrow
      edema recognizable in magnetic resonance imaging are described for conditions
      such as trauma, stress, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, ischemia, and infection. A
      bone marrow edema may be an early or the only sign of a disease entity visible
      solely on MR images. We made a retrospective study of musculoskeletal MR
      examinations conducted over a period of 3 months to estimate the incidence of
      bone marrow edema.

PMID- 1438720
TI  - [Bone marrow changes following radiotherapy. Results of MR tomography].
AB  - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a new approach in the morphologic
      evaluation of the bone marrow. Physiologic and pathologic changes can be assessed
      with very high sensitivity. Radiotherapy induces acute depletion of the
      hematopoietic bone marrow, resulting in fatty degeneration. With MRI it is
      possible to evaluate the changes during irradiation and it also discloses the
      long-term fatty degeneration after radiotherapy. The irradiated bone marrow
      mostly exhibits a homogeneous hyperintense pattern on T1-weighted images. This
      allows clear recognition of the former target volumes. Our quantitative studies
      based on chemical shift imaging data reveal a lack of recovery of hematopoiesis
      after radiotherapy with 30 Gy or more. These results are independent of patients'
      age and of the interval after radiotherapy.

PMID- 1438721
TI  - [Diagnosis of pneumatosis intestinalis coli in CT].
AB  - Pneumatosis intestinalis coli seldom causes symptoms of an acute abdomen and is
      rarely diagnosed in CT. The origin of the gas collections in the wall of the
      bowel often remains unclear. As shown in our case, pneumatosis may involve any
      portion of the bowel, but usually spares the rectum. Due to extreme meteorism and
      coprostasis it can be difficult to recognize pneumatosis radiographically. In CT
      the gas collections beneath the serosa are well defined, discrete, oval or round.

PMID- 1438722
TI  - [An unclear abdominal tumor. A pseudocyst in the mid abdomen caused by a retained
      abdominal towel from a previous cesarean section].

PMID- 1438723
TI  - [Digitization of conventional x-ray films].
AB  - The diagnostic value of a digitization system for analogue films based on a
      charge-coupled-device (CCD) scanner with adjustable resolution of 2.5 or 5 lp/mm
      was assessed. Some 110 skeletal radiographs, 50 contrast studies, including 25 of
      patients with Crohn's disease, and 70 abdominal plain films before and after
      successful lithotripsy for renal stones were digitized. Receiver operating
      characteristic (ROC) studies showed improved detection of cortical and trabecular
      defects with contrast-optimized digitized films. Edge enhancement algorithms
      yielded no additional information. Inflammatory lesions of Crohn's disease were
      detected equally well by conventional films and digitized images. A statistically
      significant improvement (p less than 0.05) in the recognition of disintegration
      after lithotripsy was found for the processed digitized images. On the basis of
      this initial investigation, the digitization system tested appears to be useful
      for diagnostic purposes, especially when contrast resolution plays an important
      part, as with stone fragmentation or cortical defects.

PMID- 1438724
TI  - [New developments in the computer-assisted diagnosis of focal bone lesions].
AB  - Since the 1960s there have been numerous reports in the literature about computer
      aided medical diagnosis and therapy. However, so far computer-aided diagnosis has
      not become important in the clinical routine or in the field of radiology. This
      paper describes the hitherto existing proposals for expert systems to evaluate
      focal bone lesions and presents a new concept. The basic ideas of this program
      are: (1) a PC-based interactive dialogue along on the basis of a defined
      questionnaire; (2) the use of certainty factors to handle uncertainty and
      vagueness in evaluating the different radiological findings and their correlation
      with diagnoses; (3) the link between visual information and the questionnaire.
      The aims of such expert systems are (a) a complete and systematic analysis of the
      films, (b) independency of association with previously diagnosed cases in
      reporting the films, (c) the procurement and use of radiological descriptive
      terms, and (d) aid in the radiological evaluation of focal bone lesions.

PMID- 1438725
TI  - [Computer-assisted literature searching in radiology].

PMID- 1438726
TI  - [Product of the month: scientific text processing using the MS-DOS computer].
AB  - A new German word processing system, "Starwriter 6.0" for MS-DOS computers is
      introduced and important functions are described. The possibility of using
      different fonts, creating complex formulas, footnotes and endnotes, and using
      various functions for importing and exporting text and data files make this
      program highly suitable for scientific texts.

PMID- 1438727
TI  - [Recurrence paralysis: computed tomographic analysis of intrathoracic findings].
AB  - The long and singular course of the inferior (recurrent) laryngeal nerve makes it
      very vulnerable to infiltration by tumors of various locations. In particular,
      mediastinal and pulmonary lesions must be considered in the case of left vocal
      chord palsy. Recurrent nerve paralysis caused by a tumor indicates advanced
      disease. We retrospectively reviewed the computed tomography (CT) findings in 29
      patients with bronchogenic carcinoma or mediastinal tumors and recurrent nerve
      paralysis with respect to the site, size and extent of the tumor and the lymph
      node status. The review revealed a marked predominance of left upper lobe tumors
      with extensive lymph node metastases to the anterior mediastinum and the
      aortopulmonary window. The extent of mediastinal involvement exceeded the average
      involvement in a control group of 30 randomly selected patients with bronchogenic
      carcinoma at the time of presentation. In all patients CT demonstrated tumor
      tissue which could have caused the paralysis at one or more sites along the
      anatomical course of the recurrent nerve. In most cases the tumor was located at
      the aortic arch. The left paratracheal region, right paratracheal region and
      right pulmonary apex were affected in one case each. We conclude that in patients
      with cancer, CT is a suitable method for localizing a recurrent nerve lesion.

PMID- 1438728
TI  - [Measurements and variations in the region of the optic canal. CT and anatomy].
AB  - This investigation of the optic canal is based on measurements of 60 macerated
      adult European skulls from the Alexander-Ecker Collection at the Anatomy
      Department of the University of Freiburg. An indian skull is also described, in
      which the cranial end of the left optic canal is closed by a bony plate. Computer
      tomographical and anatomical measurements were compared in order to assess the
      correlation of the two methods of investigation and the accuracy of the CT
      representation of osseous structures. The coronal projection of the optic canal
      proved to be optimal for CT examination--the sections meet the optic canal at an
      angle of 85.5 degrees. The measurements of transverse diameters correlate poorly,
      whereas vertical diameters and distances correlate well. The extent to which
      anatomical variations can be assessed by CT was also investigated. All anatomical
      variants could be observed in coronal sections, except the bony lamina in the
      Indian skull, which could not be seen until a contrast medium was used. The so
      called "keyhole anomaly" appeared in 3.3% in our material, the "figure-of-eight"
      variant in 2.5%, and a carotid clinoid canal in 13.3%.

PMID- 1438729
TI  - [An unusual bone scintigram in osteomyelitis. A case report].
AB  - Despite hyperemia in the blood-pool phase of bone scintigraphy with 99mTc-MDP
      there was an decreased concentration of the nuclide in a 7-year-old boy with
      acute osteomyelitis of the femur. In addition to inflammatory destruction of the
      bone tissue, the other reason for this surprising scintigraphic finding might be
      a reduced blood flow because of thrombotic occlusion or compression of bone
      supplying vessels.

PMID- 1438730
TI  - ["Metastasizing" Echinococcus alveolar of the liver].
AB  - We report a case of metastatic alveolar echinococcosis of the liver. There were
      calcifications of the liver parenchyma, and a large tumour adjacent to the porta
      hepatis infiltrated neighbouring structures. In addition, haematogenous
      metastases to the spine and foot were found. This extensive haematogenous
      "metastasis" is rare and may complicate diagnosis, but the typical findings in
      the liver should permit the correct conclusion.

PMID- 1438731
TI  - [Fistula formation and purulent pericarditis as late complications after
      replacement of the esophagus by retrosternal pull-up of the stomach].

PMID- 1438732
TI  - [A hepatic space-occupying lesion. Liver abscess due to a retained surgical
      towel].

PMID- 1438733
TI  - Patient monitoring during clinical MR imaging.
AB  - The impressive growth in the number of patients imaged with magnetic resonance
      (MR) technology has been accompanied by technical advances that have permitted
      more acutely ill patients to be studied with this diagnostic tool. Such patients,
      however, might require monitoring of vital functions during the examination.
      Unfortunately, the present construction of most MR imaging systems makes direct
      visualization of the patient difficult, if not impossible. Furthermore, the
      static and time-varying magnetic (and electric) fields associated with MR imaging
      systems may be incompatible with most physiologic monitoring devices, either
      because of safety or function. The authors review herein the data regarding
      presently available monitoring devices for various physiologic parameters and
      provide recommendations regarding what--and whom--to monitor during clinical MR
      examinations.

PMID- 1438734
TI  - Modern concepts of brain motion and cerebrospinal fluid flow.

PMID- 1438735
TI  - Self-referral for diagnostic imaging.

PMID- 1438736
TI  - Closed-loop and strangulating obstruction of the small intestine: a new twist.

PMID- 1438737
TI  - The role of the radiologist in long-term central-vein access.

PMID- 1438738
TI  - Core breast biopsy, research, and what not to do.

PMID- 1438739
TI  - When is core biopsy really core?

PMID- 1438740
TI  - Brain parenchyma motion: measurement with cine echo-planar MR imaging.
AB  - With echo-planar magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the authors measured the
      intrinsic pulsatile motion of brain parenchyma. Phase-sensitive,
      electrocardiography-gated, two-dimensional cine images were acquired throughout
      the cardiac cycle by using a spin-echo, blipped echo-planar MR pulse sequence.
      Transverse and coronal planes were obtained in 14 healthy volunteers. Corrections
      were made for gross head motion. Brain motion consisted of a rapid displacement
      in systole, with a slow diastolic recovery. The motion occurred chiefly in the
      cephalocaudal and lateral directions; the anteroposterior motions were relatively
      small. Cephalocaudal velocities increase with proximity to the foramen magnum.
      The lateral motion is mainly a compressive motion of the thalami. Brain
      parenchymal velocities were as high as 2 mm/sec caudally in the brain stem and
      1.5 mm/sec medially in the thalami. Net parenchymal excursions were at most 0.5
      mm. Phase-based echo-planar velocity measurements agreed well with echo-planar
      Fourier velocity zeugmatography measurements and were consistent with reported
      values. Velocity mapping with echo-planar imaging offers a rapid and flexible
      method of assessing the pulsation velocities of the human brain.

PMID- 1438741
TI  - Brain motion: measurement with phase-contrast MR imaging.
AB  - Brain motion during the cardiac cycle was measured prospectively in 10 healthy
      volunteers by using a phase-contrast cine magnetic resonance (MR) pulse sequence.
      The major cerebral lobes, diencephalon, brain stem, cerebellum, cerebellar
      tonsils, and spinal cord were studied. The overall pattern of brain motion showed
      caudal motion of the central structures (diencephalon, brain stem, and cerebellar
      tonsils) shortly after carotid systole, with concurrent cephalic motion of the
      major cerebral lobes and posterior cerebellar hemisphere. Peak brain displacement
      was in the range of 0.1-0.5 mm for all the structures except the cerebellar
      tonsils, which had greater displacement (0.4 mm +/- 0.16 [mean +/- standard error
      of mean]). Caudal motion of the central structures did not occur simultaneously
      but progressed in a caudal-to-rostral and posterior-to-anterior sequence, being
      seen first in the cerebellar tonsils and then later in the diencephalon
      (hypothalamus). Caudal motion of the low brain stem and cerebellar tonsil was
      simultaneous with caudal motion of cerebrospinal fluid in the cervical
      subarachnoid space. Oscillatory flow in the aqueduct was delayed compared with
      brain stem motion.

PMID- 1438742
TI  - Intracerebral lesion contrast with spin-echo and fast spin-echo pulse sequences.
AB  - Fast spin-echo (FSE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was compared with
      conventional, peripherally gated T2-weighted spin-echo (SE) imaging in the
      detection of high- and low-signal-intensity lesions in the central nervous
      system. Lesion detectability was determined with percentage of contrast
      measurements and contrast-to-noise ratios with two different measurements for
      noise. All three measures of lesion detectability were similar. FSE and SE
      sequences were quantitatively equivalent in the detection of high-signal
      intensity lesions. The SE sequence, however, was superior to the FSE sequence in
      the detection of small, low-signal-intensity lesions in the central nervous
      system caused by magnetic susceptibility effects.

PMID- 1438743
TI  - Intracranial vascular stenosis and occlusion: evaluation with three-dimensional
      time-of-flight MR angiography.
AB  - To assess the usefulness of magnetic resonance (MR) angiography in the
      characterization of intracranial arterial stenosis and occlusion, a three
      dimensional time-of-flight method was compared with conventional angiography in
      214 vessels in 29 patients. Studies were independently interpreted by two
      neuroradiologists who scored each vessel as normal, narrowed, or occluded.
      Overall, 97% of normal vessels and 100% of occlusions were correctly graded.
      Sixty-one percent of stenoses were graded correctly; the remainder were graded as
      normal. The portions of the intracranial vessels near the skull base and
      especially the paracavernous and supraclinoid segments of the internal carotid
      arteries were areas of frequent over- and underestimation of stenosis due to the
      presence of dephasing artifacts. In patients with stenosis or occlusion, MR
      angiography also provided information regarding the presence of collateral flow
      in the circle of Willis. When used in conjunction with MR imaging of the brain
      and MR angiography of the extracranial carotid arteries, intracranial MR
      angiography allows a more complete evaluation of the patient with symptoms of
      cerebral ischemia or infarction.

PMID- 1438744
TI  - Mapping of brain tumor metabolites with proton MR spectroscopic imaging: clinical
      relevance.
AB  - Brain tumor metabolism was studied with hydrogen-1 magnetic resonance
      spectroscopy and positron emission tomography with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose
      in 50 patients. N-acetylaspartate (NAA) was generally decreased in tumors and
      radiation necrosis but was somewhat preserved at neoplasm margins. Choline was
      increased in most solid tumors. Solid high-grade gliomas had higher normalized
      choline values than did solid low-grade gliomas (P < .02), but the normalized
      choline value was not a discriminator of tumor grade, since necrotic high-grade
      lesions had reduced choline values. Serial studies in one case showed an increase
      in choline as the glioma underwent malignant degeneration. Choline values were
      lower in chronic radiation necrosis than in solid anaplastic tumors (P < .001).
      In two cases studied before and after treatment, clinical improvement and a
      reduction in choline followed therapy. Lactate is more likely to be found in high
      grade gliomas, but its presence is not a reliable indicator of malignancy.

PMID- 1438745
TI  - Cytotoxic brain edema: assessment with diffusion-weighted MR imaging.
AB  - To determine whether cytotoxic brain edema is associated with a decrease in
      diffusion, it was induced in rats, in the absence of ischemia, with an
      established model of acute hyponatremic encephalopathy. Cytotoxic brain edema
      secondary to acute hyponatremia was induced with intraperitoneal injections of
      2.5% dextrose in water and subcutaneous injection of arginine-vasopressin.
      Coronal spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) images were obtained with and without
      strong diffusion-sensitizing gradients before and after induction of acute
      hyponatremia. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was measured at two
      coronal section locations. In hyponatremic rats, the brain ADC was significantly
      reduced (P = .0153 and .0001) and was positively correlated with increased total
      brain water content (P = .0011). Plots of ADC versus total brain water showed a
      statistically significant inverse linear relationship between ADC and increasing
      brain water at the anterior coronal section location. The results indicate that
      the ADC may be a sensitive indicator of cytotoxic brain edema and thus may enable
      quantitative evaluation of such edema with diffusion-weighted MR imaging.

PMID- 1438746
TI  - Malignant parotid tumors: clinical use of MR imaging and histologic correlation.
AB  - Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed in 116 patients in whom a parotid
      mass lesion was clinically suspected. Eighty-six patients had benign disease. The
      30 patients in whom a malignant tumor was found were further evaluated. To
      determine which features are characteristic of malignant parotid tumors, spin
      echo T1- and T2-weighted images of malignant lesions in the parotid gland were
      compared with those of benign disease. In our series, tumor margins, homogeneity,
      or signal intensity were not discriminative factors to correctly predict benign
      or malignant disease. Infiltration into deep structures (eg, the parapharyngeal
      space, muscles, and bone) was observed only in malignant tumors. Infiltration
      into subcutaneous fat was noticed in malignant as well as in inflammatory
      disease. No statistically significant correlation was found between tumor grade
      and MR imaging features in malignant disease. MR imaging is useful in delineating
      malignant tumors but is unreliable in correctly predicting the histologic nature
      of a mass lesion in the parotid gland.

PMID- 1438747
TI  - Increased corneal temperature caused by MR imaging of the eye with a dedicated
      local coil.
AB  - To determine the existence of tissue heating-associated risks to the eye with
      magnetic resonance (MR) imaging performed at high specific absorption rates
      (SARs), corneal temperature was measured in 14 patients immediately before and
      after MR imaging performed with a 1.5-T, 64-MHz unit and a quadrature-driven body
      coil for radio-frequency transmission and a receive-only local coil designed for
      eye imaging. Fast spin-echo pulse sequences were used predominantly. Estimated
      peak SARs ranged from 3.3 to 8.4 W/kg. A statistically significant (P < .001)
      increase in average corneal temperature (32.2 degrees C +/- 0.7 before imaging,
      33.1 degrees C +/- 0.6 after) was associated with MR imaging of the eye. The
      changes in corneal temperature ranged from 0.2 degrees to 1.8 degrees C (average,
      0.9 degrees C). The highest corneal temperature measured after MR imaging was
      35.1 degrees C. MR imaging performed with a dedicated local coil at the SARs
      studied produced elevations in corneal temperature that were physiologically
      inconsequential and below the temperature threshold (41 degrees to 55 degrees C)
      for radio-frequency radiation-induced cataractogenesis.

PMID- 1438748
TI  - Disparities in reimbursement to radiologists and nonradiologists for 65 common
      outpatient imaging studies.
AB  - The authors examined global charges (incorporating both technical and
      professional components) and global reimbursement allowances for all radiographic
      and ultrasound (US) examinations performed on Pennsylvania Blue Shield
      subscribers in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania during 1990. Data for
      radiologists and nonradiologists were compared with respect to all procedure
      codes for which at least 25 claims were submitted, yielding a sample of 40,619
      radiographic examinations (54 procedure codes) and 9,761 US examinations (11
      procedure codes). Radiologists' mean charges were higher than those of
      nonradiologists for 38 of the 54 radiographic codes. However, nonradiologists
      received higher mean reimbursement allowances for 39 of the 54 codes. Among the
      11 US codes, nonradiologists' mean charges were higher for 10 and they received
      higher mean reimbursement allowances for seven. The averages of the mean
      reimbursement allowances for individual codes were higher for nonradiologists in
      both the radiographic and US categories. Pennsylvania Blue Shield has begun steps
      to eliminate disparities in reimbursements to providers who submit claims for
      imaging examinations.

PMID- 1438749
TI  - Mammographic features of 455 invasive lobular carcinomas.
AB  - Of 6,009 cases of breast cancer studied, 455 (7.6%) were invasive lobular
      carcinoma (ILC); 341 of these (75%) were pure ILC and 114 (25%) were ILC mixed
      with ductal forms. The mammographic features were compared with those of the
      5,554 other breast carcinomas. Pure ILCs were less frequently round (1% vs 11%)
      and more frequently spicular (28% vs 23%) or with architectural distortion (18%
      vs 6%) than the other breast carcinomas. Microcalcifications were less common
      (24% vs 41%) and retraction of the skin (25% vs 21%) and nipple (26% vs 17%) was
      more common in pure ILC than in the other breast carcinomas. When complementary
      magnification views were obtained, only 50% were helpful in diagnosis of ILC
      while 75% were helpful in diagnosis of other breast carcinomas. Malignancy was
      less frequently diagnosed in ILC (57%) than in the other breast carcinomas (64%).
      The results were intermediate in the mixed ILC group.

PMID- 1438750
TI  - Effects of fine-needle aspiration on the US appearance of the breast.
AB  - Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of normal breast tissue or benign lesions can cause
      changes that suggest malignancy at ultrasound (US) examination. Serial US studies
      showed that three of 17 patients developed signs mimicking malignancy following
      FNA of palpable breast lumps. A second group of 14 patients had US signs of
      malignancy in palpable lumps following recent FNA. Nine patients with benign
      lesions were unnecessarily worried, since the appearance was probably due to FNA.
      Diagnosis of malignancy was delayed in one of five patients because the US
      appearance was attributed to the FNA in the presence of false-negative cytologic
      findings. FNA of normal breast tissue or benign masses produced tissue changes in
      18% of cases that altered the US appearance from normal or benign to possibly
      malignant. The changes took up to 4 months to subside. If US is clinically
      indicated, it should be performed before FNA.

PMID- 1438751
TI  - Shifting pneumothorax after heart-lung transplantation.
AB  - Heart-lung transplantation involves the total replacement of two of the most
      complex organs of the thoracic cavity. This procedure is usually reserved for
      patients with failure of both systems, such as in primary pulmonary hypertension
      or chronic Eisenmenger physiology. The en bloc replacement of the heart and lungs
      leaves an open communication between the two sides of the thorax that may allow
      air or fluid to shift from one side to the other. To evaluate this possibility,
      the authors reviewed the chest radiographs of 25 heart-lung transplant recipients
      for signs of rapidly changing pneumothoraces that could not be explained by the
      conventional dynamics of pleural physiology. A series of postoperative
      radiographs showed unusual shifting or apparently rapid disappearance of
      pneumothoraces in eight patients. Decompression of a pneumothorax with a
      contralateral chest tube was a phenomenon observed in six of these patients.

PMID- 1438752
TI  - AMBER and conventional chest radiography: comparison of radiation dose and image
      quality.
AB  - The authors compared the radiation dose to the patient and the image quality in
      advanced multiple-beam equalization radiography (AMBER) with those in
      conventional chest radiography. Organ doses were estimated for an anthropomorphic
      phantom from measurements with thermoluminescence dosimeters. These measurements
      were supplemented with area-air kerma products obtained during chest examinations
      of 223 patients. Image quality was determined by means of a contrast-detail image
      evaluation test. An improvement in image quality in regions of high absorption
      and an increased dose to the patient were found for the AMBER technique compared
      with the conventional technique. However, for both techniques, the radiation
      exposure was relatively low compared with other reported values of patient dose
      during chest radiography. The estimated effective dose for an average-size
      patient during chest radiography with posteroanterior and lateral projections is
      0.085 mSv for the conventional and 0.14 mSv for the AMBER technique.

PMID- 1438753
TI  - Junctional parenchyma: revised definition of hypertrophic column of Bertin.
AB  - The so-called hypertrophic column of Bertin is a normal variation and simply
      represents unresorbed polar parenchyma of one or both of the two subkidneys that
      fuse to form a normal kidney. It contains renal cortex, pyramids, and columns
      (septa) of Bertin. (Since all elements of the tissue are normal, that is, neither
      hypertrophic nor a displaced or embryonic rest, it is referred to as "junctional
      parenchyma.") When a masslike lesion is suspected at sonography or excretory
      urography, diagnosis of junctional parenchyma can be made with a high degree of
      certainty when sonography shows that the structure (a) is located between the
      overlapping portion of two renal sinus systems, (b) is bordered by a junctional
      parenchymal line and defect, (c) contains renal cortex, pyramids, and columns of
      Bertin, and (d) contains renal cortex that is continuous with the adjacent renal
      cortex of the same subkidney.

PMID- 1438754
TI  - Testicular tumors: findings with color Doppler US.
AB  - A study of 28 patients with surgically proved testicular tumors was performed to
      determine the appearance at color Doppler ultrasound (US) scanning. There was a
      general correlation of tumor size and vascularity. Twenty of 21 (95%) tumors
      larger than 1.6 cm were hypervascular. Six of seven (86%) tumors smaller than 1.6
      cm were hypovascular. One small, 1.1-cm-diameter seminoma was hypervascular, and
      one 2.8-cm-diameter seminoma was hypovascular. The histologic findings of the
      tumor did not correlate with the vascularity of the lesion as seen at color
      Doppler US. Resistive indexes ranged from .476 to 1.0 (mean, 0.70). Peak systolic
      velocities ranged from 8.4 cm/sec to 64.9 cm/sec (mean, 9.8 cm/sec). Venous flow
      was detected in eight tumors. The gray-scale findings, as well as history and
      physical examination findings, correctly suggested a neoplasm in all cases. The
      findings at color Doppler US were prospectively interpreted as indicative of
      neoplasm in 27 cases and as indicative of inflammation in one case. The authors
      conclude that color Doppler US scanning has only a limited role in the evaluation
      of testicular tumors.

PMID- 1438755
TI  - Renal US findings in sulfadiazine-induced crystalluria.
AB  - The authors report two cases of sulfadiazine-induced obstructive nephropathy that
      were diagnosed with ultrasound (US). Renal US demonstrated layered clusters of
      echogenic shadowing material--presumed to be sulfa crystals--which cleared when
      the crystalluria resolved. The authors conclude that renal US is helpful in
      diagnosing sulfa calculi and subsequent obstructive nephropathy.

PMID- 1438756
TI  - Bladder tumor staging: comparison of conventional and gadolinium-enhanced dynamic
      MR imaging and CT.
AB  - With computed tomography (CT) and unenhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging,
      stage pT3b extravesical extension and beyond can be diagnosed, but tumors
      confined to the bladder wall (stages pT1-pT3a) are poorly delineated. To
      determine whether visualization of such tumors could be improved with gadolinium
      enhanced MR imaging, dynamic breath-hold T1-weighted MR images were obtained
      after intravenous infusion of 0.1 mmol/kg gadopentetate dimeglumine in 79
      patients (86 tumors). Conventional MR images, CT scans, and histologic
      correlation were available in all cases. With dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR
      imaging, the mucosa could be distinguished from the muscular layers of the
      bladder wall. Staging accuracy with this technique was 85% (73 of 86), which was
      significantly better than with CT (55%; 47 of 86) (P < .005) or conventional MR
      imaging (58%; 50 of 86) (P < .05). The accuracy of staging the intramural extent
      (pT1-pT3a) of bladder tumors was thus improved with gadolinium-enhanced dynamic
      MR imaging.

PMID- 1438757
TI  - Dandy-Walker variant: prenatal sonographic features and clinical outcome.
AB  - The Dandy-Walker variant is a less severe posterior fossa anomaly than the
      classic Dandy-Walker malformation. In 17 consecutive fetuses, the Dandy-Walker
      variant was diagnosed at sonography, and associated defects, karyotypic
      anomalies, and outcomes were evaluated. Four of the 17 fetuses (24%) had mild
      ventriculomegaly. Eight of the 17 (47%) had concurrent non-central nervous system
      (CNS) anomalies. Five fetuses (29%) had an abnormal karyotype (two with trisomy
      18, one each with trisomy 13, 21, and 11q+) and associated sonographic anomalies.
      Six of the 17 fetuses (35%) died in utero or during the neonatal period, two are
      severely handicapped, and the other nine are developing normally at ages 4 months
      to 4 years. Six of the nine normally developing infants (53%) lacked non-CNS
      sonographic findings. Because the prognosis is uncertain for an infant born with
      the prenatal diagnosis of Dandy-Walker variant, prenatal recognition of the
      anomaly allows for the option of fetal karyotyping and for arrangement for
      postnatal follow-up.

PMID- 1438758
TI  - Twin pregnancies: accuracy of first-trimester abdominal US in predicting
      chorionicity and amnionicity.
AB  - A first-trimester transabdominal ultrasound (US) study was performed on twin
      pregnancies to determine the utility of US in predicting chorionicity and
      amnionicity. Among 85 dichorionic-diamniotic (DC-DA) twin pairs, a thick membrane
      was present in 78 (92%). Four of the DC-DA cases without a thick membrane had two
      distinct placental sites, allowing 82 DC-DA pregnancies (96%) to be predicted.
      Among 16 monochorionic-diamniotic (MC-DA) twin pairs, a thin membrane was present
      in 14 (88%). None of the four monochorionic-monoamniotic (MC-MA) cases had an
      identifiable membrane. The lambda sign had no value in this evaluation and was
      actually misleading, while a thick membrane or the identification of two separate
      placentas was always predictive of DC-DA twinning. However, a thin membrane,
      while usually predictive of an MC-DA pregnancy, did not exclude a DC-DA
      gestation. When no membrane is present, an MC-MA gestation is probable; however,
      a diamniotic pregnancy may still be present, and further evaluation is suggested.

PMID- 1438759
TI  - Effect of scanning pressure on intracranial hemodynamics during transfontanellar
      duplex US.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of transducer scanning
      pressure during duplex ultrasonographic evaluation of intracranial hemodynamics
      in newborns. Doppler spectra were obtained from the anterior cerebral artery with
      use of light and firm scanning pressure over the anterior fontanelle in 23
      healthy infants and 20 infants with reduced cranial compliance due to ventricular
      dilatation, intracranial hemorrhage, diffuse cerebral edema, and extraaxial
      fluid. In healthy infants, the mean resistive index (RI) increased from 69.9 +/-
      3 to 74.8 +/- 3 (P < .005), and mean time average velocity (TAV) decreased from
      11.1 cm/sec +/- 1.3 to 8.6 cm/sec +/- 1.3 (P < .0001) with firm scanning
      pressure. In infants with decreased cranial compliance, mean RI increased from
      67.8 +/- 4 to 85 +/- 5, and mean TAV decreased from 16.3 cm/sec +/- 2 to 10.7
      cm/sec +/- 2 (P < .0001 for both comparisons). A significant alteration in RI
      with firm technique (> or = 20% increase in RI, or reversal of diastolic flow)
      was observed in 12 of 28 examinations in infants with decreased cranial
      compliance and in only one of 23 healthy infants (P < .005). These data show that
      scanning pressures during duplex ultrasonography can significantly affect
      intracranial hemodynamics, especially in infants with altered cranial compliance.

PMID- 1438760
TI  - Urethral stones: US for identification in boys with hematuria and dysuria.
AB  - There are multiple causes for hematuria in infants and children. When hematuria
      is accompanied by dysuria, however, one should focus attention on the lower
      urinary tract. Although ultrasound (US) is a well-established method for
      assessing the kidneys and bladder, little attention has been focused on its use
      for evaluating urethral abnormalities, since voiding cystourethrography or
      retrograde urethrography usually is used. In the cases of two young boys,
      sonography aided in the identification of clinically unsuspected urethral stones.
      US evaluation of the urethra is now included as an integral part of urinary tract
      sonography in male patients with hematuria accompanied by dysuria.

PMID- 1438761
TI  - Closed-loop and strangulating intestinal obstruction: CT signs.
AB  - In 19 patients with closed-loop intestinal obstruction, including 16 patients
      with strangulating obstruction, the findings at examination with computed
      tomography (CT) were retrospectively correlated with the surgical and pathologic
      findings and evaluated by two radiologists. Signs of closed-loop obstruction,
      present in 15 patients, were associated with the configuration of the
      incarcerated loop of small bowel, abnormalities detected at the site of
      obstruction, or both. These abnormalities were the following: a U-shaped,
      distended, fluid-filled bowel loop; the whirl sign; the beak sign; a triangular
      loop; two adjacent collapsed loops of bowel at the site of obstruction; or all of
      these. CT signs of strangulation, seen in 10 of the 16 patients with ischemic or
      infarcted bowel, were associated with the appearance of the bowel wall
      (thickening, high attenuation, and the target sign), abnormalities in the
      attached mesentery, or both. In mechanical obstruction of the small bowel,
      detection of ischemic changes in the bowel wall or mesentery with CT indicates
      strangulation. Absence of CT findings of ischemia or infarction does not rule out
      strangulation.

PMID- 1438762
TI  - High-attenuation lymphadenopathy in AIDS patients: significance of findings at
      CT.
AB  - A retrospective evaluation was performed of the location and attenuation
      characteristics of abdominal and pelvic lymphadenopathy, identified at dynamic
      sequential bolus computed tomography (CT) in 69 patients with acquired
      immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Lymph node appearance at CT was characterized
      as hyperattenuating, isoattenuating, or hypoattenuating relative to the iliopsoas
      muscle. The significance of finding hyperattenuating adenopathy in the patient
      population was evaluated. Thirty-three patients had hyperattenuating adenopathy,
      including 26 with the epidemic form of Kaposi sarcoma (KS). Of 38 patients with
      epidemic KS, 26 had hyperattenuating, 11 had isoattenuating, and one had
      hypoattenuating lymphadenopathy. The positive predictive value of
      hyperattenuating adenopathy for epidemic KS was 79%. These findings were
      statistically significant at the 95% confidence interval (P < .005).
      Hyperattenuating lymphadenopathy, identified on dynamic sequential bolus CT scans
      in AIDS patients, was seen with disseminated KS in approximately 80% of cases.

PMID- 1438763
TI  - Cellulose as a gastrointestinal US contrast agent.
AB  - Ultrasound (US) imaging of the abdomen often is compromised by artifacts due to
      adjacent bowel gas. In an attempt to decrease gas artifacts and improve US image
      quality, the authors evaluated the use of cellulose preparations as
      gastrointestinal US contrast agents. Optimal homogeneity and reflectivity were
      evaluated in phantom solutions, and two suitable agents were selected for
      clinical trial. Ten volunteers underwent abdominal US imaging before and after
      contrast agent administration on three separate occasions. The volunteers drank
      800 mL of freshly degassed water and two different gastrointestinal US contrast
      agents. US images obtained before and after administration of contrast material
      were evaluated by five radiologists and scored for bowel marking, visualization
      of abdominal anatomy, and image degradation by bowel gas. Compared with water,
      the orally administered US contrast agents improved visualization of bowel and
      abdominal anatomy, with diminished gas artifact.

PMID- 1438764
TI  - Intestinal anisakiasis: US in diagnosis.
AB  - Eighteen consecutive patients with intestinal anisakiasis were studied with high
      resolution ultrasound (US) and barium studies. US showed markedly thickened bowel
      loops associated with luminal narrowing, swelling of Kerckring folds, and
      decreased peristalsis. A small amount of ascitic fluid around the bowel loops was
      found, and cytologic examinations of the ascites revealed a dense infiltration of
      eosinophils. Barium studies demonstrated segmental mucosal edema of the small
      intestine: The most common site was the distal ileum, and the mean length of the
      edematous lesion was 19 cm. All patients underwent treatment of symptoms without
      laparotomy, and their symptoms disappeared by the eighth day after onset.
      Patients with acute abdominal symptoms should be asked about the intake of raw or
      undercooked fish. If the above US features are found, the diagnosis of intestinal
      anisakiasis must be seriously considered to avoid unnecessary surgical treatment.

PMID- 1438765
TI  - Evaluation of myocardial perfusion abnormalities with gadolinium-enhanced
      snapshot MR imaging in humans. Work in progress.
AB  - To determine whether myocardial perfusion abnormalities could be detected in
      patients with coronary artery disease by means of contrast material-enhanced
      magnetic resonance (MR) images, a snapshot imaging technique was used in six
      patients with coronary artery disease and four healthy subjects in conjunction
      with pharmacologic stress (dipyridamole infusion) and bolus injection of
      gadopentetate dimeglumine. MR images from all patients and healthy subjects were
      quantitatively analyzed to define spatial changes in signal intensity after
      administration of dipyridamole and gadopentetate dimeglumine. The resultant
      findings were compared with findings on thallium-201 scintigrams obtained after
      administration of dipyridamole and on coronary arteriograms in all patients. Nine
      myocardial regions supplied by stenosed arteries showed diminished levels of
      signal intensity after infusion of the contrast agent compared with those of
      normally perfused regions. These findings were in agreement with those obtained
      with T1-201 scintigraphy (in eight of nine regions) and arteriography. Thus,
      contrast-enhanced high-speed MR imaging with use of dipyridamole enabled
      detection of regional perfusion abnormalities in humans.

PMID- 1438766
TI  - The Groshong catheter: initial experience and early results of imaging-guided
      placement.
AB  - Fifty Groshong catheters were placed in 50 patients with use of ultrasound (US)
      and fluoroscopic guidance in the radiology suite: 49 were placed via the
      subclavian vein and one was placed via the left internal jugular vein. All (100%)
      attempts at catheter placement were successful. Imaging guidance affected the
      placement of catheters in 12 cases (24%), including four patients (8%) in whom
      vascular access would not have been possible with blinded percutaneous
      venipuncture or surgical cutdown. After a four-case learning curve period, during
      which one pneumothorax (2%) and two arterial punctures (4%) occurred, there were
      no further venipuncture-related complications. One catheter was removed because
      of infection (2%) and one because of allergic reaction (2%) to the antimicrobial
      cuff. Four patients with cutaneous infections and one with catheter-related
      sepsis were successfully treated with antibiotics. Results demonstrate the
      initial promise of imaging-guided placement of central venous access catheters
      when performed in the radiology suite.

PMID- 1438767
TI  - Arterial and venous blood flow: noninvasive quantitation with MR imaging.
AB  - Quantitative measurements of arterial and venous blood flow were obtained with
      phase-contrast cine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and compared with such
      measurements obtained by means of implanted ultrasound (US) blood flow probes in
      anesthetized dogs. The US flowmeter was enabled during a portion of each MR
      imaging sequence to allow virtually simultaneous data acquisition with the two
      techniques. MR imaging data were gated by means of electrocardiography and
      divided into 16 phases per cardiac cycle. The rates of portal venous blood flow
      measured with MR imaging and averaged across the cardiac cycle (710 mL/min +/-
      230 [standard deviation]) correlated well with those measured with the flowmeter
      and averaged in like fashion (751 mL/min +/- 238) (r = .995, slope = 1.053). The
      correspondence in arterial blood flow was almost as good. No statistically
      significant difference existed between the paired measurements of blood flow
      obtained with MR imaging and the implanted probe. It is concluded that, as a
      noninvasive means of accurate quantification of blood flow, phase-contrast MR
      imaging may be especially useful in deep blood vessels in humans.

PMID- 1438768
TI  - Role of parallel transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in patients with
      persistent portal hypertension.
AB  - Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) were placed in 93 patients
      between June 1990 and January 1992 for treatment of variceal hemorrhage. In each
      case, a Wallstent (Schneider USA, Minneapolis) was used to support the hepatic
      parenchymal tract between the hepatic and portal veins. Currently, these stents
      have a maximal diameter of 10 mm. In eight of 93 patients, major portal
      hypertension persisted after placement of a 10-mm-diameter shunt, manifested by
      continued rapid variceal filling and elevated portosystemic gradients. A second
      TIPS was placed parallel to the first in these patients to allow further portal
      decompression. In two other patients, a second TIPS was placed because the
      initial shunt functioned suboptimally. The mean postprocedural portosystemic
      gradient in the patients who received one TIPS was 10.2 mm Hg +/- 3.7. In
      patients who received two TIPS, the mean postprocedural gradient was 19.1 mm Hg
      +/- 3.8 after placement of the first TIPS and 12.5 mm Hg +/- 3.5 after placement
      of the second. Two patients developed their first episode of encephalopathy after
      placement of two TIPS. The methods and indications for placing two TIPS in this
      select population are discussed.

PMID- 1438769
TI  - Fine-needle aspiration biopsy for cytopathologic analysis: utility of syringe
      handles, automated guns, and the nonsuction method.
AB  - The performances of seven techniques and devices used with 22-gauge needles to
      obtain biopsy specimens for cytologic analysis were compared by means of single
      blinded evaluation with an objective, previously published grading scheme. A
      total of 420 specimens were obtained from 10 fresh human cadavers (42 specimens
      per cadaver), including 30 hepatic, 20 renal, and 10 pancreatic specimens per
      technique or device. No statistical differences existed in the liver, kidney, or
      pancreas or in the combined data in the performance of the aspirator gun, syringe
      holders, vacuum needle, and end-cut gun versus the manual aspiration biopsy
      technique performed with a 22-gauge Chiba needle. However, nonaspiration, fine
      needle capillary biopsy (FNCB) performed statistically significantly worse than
      any other technique or device in the kidney and pancreas and in comparison with
      the overall combined data. In the liver, no statistically significant difference
      existed in the overall performance of FNCB versus conventional aspiration biopsy,
      but the amount of cellular material obtained with FNCB was statistically
      significantly less.

PMID- 1438770
TI  - Deep pelvic abscesses: transrectal drainage with radiologic guidance.
AB  - Transrectal catheter drainage was performed under radiologic guidance in eight
      patients with deep pelvic abscesses during a 7-month period. One patient
      underwent two procedures. In five patients, the abscess could not be palpated at
      rectal examination. Seven procedures were performed with fluoroscopic guidance.
      Transrectal ultrasound was performed in conjunction with fluoroscopy for two
      procedures. Medium to large (8-14-F) locking catheters were used in seven
      procedures, and small (5-F) nonlocking pigtail catheters were used in two. The
      catheter was left in place for 3 days or less in all but one patient, in whom the
      catheter was left in place for 20 days. Five abscesses were drained through the
      anterior or anterolateral rectal wall and four, including one repeat drainage,
      through the posterior rectal wall. No complications occurred as a direct result
      of transrectal drainage. Successful initial drainage was established with
      clinical improvement in all cases. Two patients eventually required surgery, one
      for continued bleeding into an infected hematoma and one for abscess recurrence
      after tube dislodgment. Transrectal drainage performed with radiologic guidance
      is a safe, feasible procedure; is well tolerated by patients; and is relatively
      easy to perform with the techniques described.

PMID- 1438771
TI  - Percutaneous recanalization of a renal artery in aortic dissection.
AB  - Chronic renal failure acutely worsened in a patient with a type B aortic
      dissection. Aortography revealed an occlusion of the left renal artery without
      renal intimal tear. Percutaneous recanalization, performed with a self-expandable
      stent, resulted in improvement in the renal function. This technique offers a new
      therapeutic choice in patients with visceral complications of aortic dissection.

PMID- 1438772
TI  - Multiple myeloma: spinal MR imaging in patients with untreated newly diagnosed
      disease.
AB  - Spinal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed in 29 patients with newly
      diagnosed, untreated multiple myeloma. Nineteen (66%) patients were asymptomatic.
      Sagittal pre- and postcontrast T1-weighted spin-echo images and gradient-recalled
      echo images of the thoracic and lumbosacral spine were obtained. Marrow
      involvement was identified in 20 (69%) patients. There were three MR patterns:
      focal lesions in nine patients (31%), diffuse involvement in seven (24%), and an
      inhomogeneous pattern of tiny lesions on a background of normal marrow in four
      (14%). A statistically significant correlation between MR imaging patterns of
      marrow involvement and serum hemoglobin values (one-way, P = .0899; Kruskal
      Wallis, P = .0620) and between MR imaging patterns and percentage of marrow
      plasmacytosis (Kruskal-Wallis, P = .0314) was noted, with patterns of diffuse and
      focal marrow involvement associated with more abnormal values. Spinal MR imaging
      in patients with early myeloma may reveal marrow involvement in both symptomatic
      and asymptomatic patients. Some correlation was found between MR imaging patterns
      and laboratory indexes of disease.

PMID- 1438773
TI  - Quantitative imaging of Gaucher disease.
AB  - Twenty-three patients with type 1 Gaucher disease were evaluated with a battery
      of quantitative imaging techniques. Plain radiographs were used to measure
      cortical thickness and Erlenmeyer flask deformity. Xenon-133 uptake was measured
      in scans of the lower extremities. Dual-energy quantitative computed tomography
      was used for calculation of trabecular bone and bone marrow fat content in the
      spine and long bones. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed to evaluate
      disease extent and three-dimensional splenic volume. MR images were also used to
      provide quantitative measurements of each vertebral fat fraction. Each imaging
      modality was correlated with the others as well as with the clinical history of
      skeletal complications and the hematocrit and acid phosphatase activity. There
      was a strong relationship between splenic volume and disease severity as measured
      clinically and with laboratory testing. The spinal fat fraction also correlated
      with these measures of disease severity and with the femoral fat fraction and
      xenon uptake. No measurement allowed discrimination of patients with from those
      without skeletal complications.

PMID- 1438774
TI  - Hill-Sachs lesion: comparison of detection with MR imaging, radiography, and
      arthroscopy.
AB  - Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has proved to be a valuable method for
      documenting Hill-Sachs lesions. The authors retrospectively analyzed the
      diagnostic interpretations at plain film radiography, arthroscopy, and MR imaging
      in 76 patients. The analysis revealed that neither radiography nor arthroscopy
      displayed the lesion with sufficient accuracy to represent a true standard of
      reference for the evaluation of MR imaging in the diagnosis of the Hill-Sachs
      lesion. The data from the diagnostic interpretations were analyzed in three ways,
      each of which revealed that findings at MR imaging were more helpful than
      findings at radiography and/or arthroscopy in the diagnosis of the Hill-Sachs
      lesion. When the agreement of findings in two or three methods was used to assign
      a final diagnosis, MR imaging resulted in sensitivity of 97%, specificity of 91%,
      and accuracy of 94% in the detection of Hill-Sachs lesions.

PMID- 1438775
TI  - Osgood-Schlatter lesion: fracture or tendinitis? Scintigraphic, CT, and MR
      imaging features.
AB  - To determine whether the Osgood-Schlatter lesion (OS) is produced by avulsion
      fracture or injury to the patellar tendon, all images obtained in 28 cases of OS
      in 20 patients (16 scintigrams, 34 computed tomographic [CT] scans, and 27
      magnetic resonance [MR] images) were retrospectively analyzed. In 21 cases,
      imaging was performed before and after treatment; in 20 cases, relief from pain
      was complete at the time of repeat examination. In all patients (100%), abnormal
      size of the tendon, decreased attenuation, and increase in signal intensity were
      compatible with the CT and MR imaging appearance of tendinitis. Distended deep
      infrapatellar bursa was a frequent finding, particularly on MR studies. These
      abnormalities had partially disappeared at follow-up examination. An ossicle was
      seen in only nine of 28 cases (32%); in three of seven cases with follow-up, the
      ossicle remained nonunited to the tibial tuberosity on follow-up studies despite
      relief from symptoms. This implies that healing of fracture is not essential for
      relief from symptoms. These results strengthen the argument that in most cases of
      OS, insult to the tendon and associated soft tissues, rather than avulsion
      fracture, causes OS.

PMID- 1438776
TI  - Long patellar tendon: radiographic sign of patellofemoral pain syndrome--a
      prospective study.
AB  - The position of the patella was studied prospectively in both knees of 45
      consecutive patients (21 male and 24 female patients aged 16-48 years who were
      competitive [n = 17] or recreational [n = 28] athletes) who had unilateral
      patellofemoral pain syndrome without symptoms or signs of patellar instability at
      initial examination. In each knee, standardized anteroposterior, lateral, and
      tangential radiographs were obtained and six indexes of patellar position (the
      ratio of the patellar tendon to the greatest diagonal length of the patella,
      sulcus angles, lateral patellofemoral angle, lateral patellar displacement,
      patellofemoral index, and knee angle) were measured. When healthy and affected
      knees were compared, high riding of the patella due to long patellar tendon
      (patella alta) was the only definite finding in the affected knees. The shape of
      the intercondylar sulcus and the mediolateral position of the patella were
      identical in both knees, providing no evidence for patellofemoral incongruence or
      lateral patellar tilt. Results of this study strongly suggest that idiopathic
      retropatellar pain is closely associated with patella alta.

PMID- 1438777
TI  - Comparison of helical and serial CT with regard to three-dimensional imaging of
      musculoskeletal anatomy.
AB  - To test the hypothesis that helical computed tomographic (CT) scans provide three
      dimensional images as good as or better than those provided by serial CT, two
      objects were used to study the effects of helical CT: an angled cylindrical bone
      phantom and a human cadaveric femur specimen with a simulated fracture 1 mm wide.
      Both objects were immersed in a water bath, and a series of helical and serial CT
      scans were obtained with various parameters. Volumetric rendering was applied to
      the resultant data sets to create three-dimensional images, which three
      radiologists reviewed in a blinded manner to rate their fidelity, accuracy, and
      diagnostic usefulness. As expected, the images obtained with thin collimation and
      small intersection spacing or slow table movement were considered superior.
      Helical and serial CT data acquired with similar parameters were similar in
      quality, but helical CT is approximately five times faster than serial CT; hence,
      it is possible to use thinner collimation and obtain more sectional data with
      helical CT.

PMID- 1438778
TI  - Temperature changes induced in human muscle by radio-frequency H-1 decoupling:
      measurement with an MR imaging diffusion technique. Work in progress.
AB  - To investigate temperature increases in tissues during magnetic resonance (MR)
      imaging or spectroscopy, the authors measured temperature changes in vitro and in
      vivo (leg of a volunteer) in a condition simulating hydrogen-1 decoupling in MR
      spectroscopy. Noninvasive measurements were obtained by using the temperature
      dependence of the translational diffusion coefficient of water. Temperature was
      measured at 0.5 T (86 MHz) by using a stimulated-echo sequence that included
      intense gradient pulses and a procedure reducing sensitivity to bulk tissue
      motion. Calibration curves of the diffusion coefficient against thermocouple
      measured temperature were obtained for a gelatin phantom and bovine muscle.
      Temperature changes were 5.3 degrees C +/- 0.5 at 2.5 cm from the coil in gelatin
      and 7.7 degrees C +/- 0.5 at 0.7 cm in bovine muscle. The temperature changed by
      4.9 degrees C +/- 1.9 at 2.2 cm from the coil in the calf muscle of a volunteer.
      The H-1 decoupling protocol can be adapted (modifications in transmission power,
      duty cycle) to reduce heating effects to below safety recommendations.

PMID- 1438779
TI  - Proceedings of a National Cancer Institute workshop: MR spectroscopy and tumor
      cell biology.
AB  - In December 1991, the National Cancer Institute held a workshop to evaluate the
      role of magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy in human cancer biology. The
      clinical and basic cancer research issues requiring use of MR spectroscopy, the
      advantages and limitations of MR spectroscopy, and future directions in MR
      spectroscopy of cancer were discussed. Consensus-building panels were formed on
      the following four topics: cell membrane biochemistry, tumor therapeutic response
      or drug resistance, appropriate model systems, and potential clinical
      applications of MR spectroscopy. The workshop members concluded that large
      prospective clinical studies as well as in vivo animal and human studies to
      define prognostic variables should be performed, with correlation between MR
      spectroscopic results and biochemical and physiologic features. Studies of
      phospholipid metabolism, the pharmacokinetics of anticancer agents, and effects
      of new cancer treatments on the tumor vasculature and normal tissues are needed.

PMID- 1438780
TI  - Prostate cancer: arterial infusion chemotherapy and alteration of intrapelvic
      blood flow.
AB  - Twenty-one patients with prostate cancer underwent intermittent arterial infusion
      chemotherapy with an implanted reservoir and alteration of the intrapelvic blood
      flow. One internal iliac artery was embolized with steel coils so that the drugs
      would perfuse throughout the tumor through a single tube. Angiography performed
      after embolization showed distinct tumor vessels. Intensive radioisotope
      accumulation was demonstrated in the prostate gland at scintigraphy performed
      with technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin. Ten milligrams each of cisplatin and
      doxorubicin were injected once a week by means of puncture of the implanted
      reservoir. All patients had more than a 50% reduction in tumor size. The response
      rate to this treatment was good; six patients experienced complete response, and
      13 had partial response. Two patients had progressive disease. With this
      technique, small doses of the anticancer agents reached the tumor in high
      concentrations. Results were good, with few side effects.

PMID- 1438781
TI  - Adjustable automated biopsy device.
AB  - The authors describe a device for soft-tissue core biopsy with core length of 3
      19 mm. Excellent results were obtained in combination with a new needle design in
      a series of 119 renal biopsies in pediatric and adolescent patients. With
      ultrasound guidance and adjustment of the core length in relation to kidney size,
      renal biopsy in pediatric patients can be safely performed with this device.

PMID- 1438782
TI  - Impact of section doubling on MR angiography.
AB  - To improve the quality of projection angiograms generated from three-dimensional
      magnetic resonance (MR) angiography data, the authors applied voxel shifting to
      create intermediate sections ("section doubling") prior to maximum intensity
      projection. To date, the authors have processed MR angiography studies with and
      without section doubling in 20 cases. Section doubling resulted in improved
      vessel contrast and delineation of continuity (especially of small vessels) in
      all cases.

PMID- 1438783
TI  - Intraparenchymal anesthesia infiltration during transjugular intrahepatic
      portosystemic shunting.
AB  - The authors describe a technique for administration of anesthetic to the area of
      the transparenchymal tract during transjugular percutaneous transhepatic
      portosystemic shunting. Seven of the eight patients in whom the technique was
      used did not experience pain during balloon dilation of the tract, and one
      patient experienced only minimal pain. The technique allows good pain control in
      patients with severe liver failure and resultant inability of the liver to
      metabolize pharmaceuticals.

PMID- 1438784
TI  - Radiation-induced optic neuropathy: correlation of MR imaging and radiation
      dosimetry.
AB  - The authors performed topographic correlation of dosimetric measurements with
      contrast medium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging signal aberration in two
      cases of radiation optic neuropathy. The region of pathologic contrast
      enhancement in the optic nerve and chiasm had received 55-62 Gy, which supports
      the theory that the risk of injury to the optic nerve and chiasm increases
      steeply with radiation doses above the tolerance level of 50-55 Gy.

PMID- 1438785
TI  - Complication rates of DSA and conventional film cerebral angiography.

PMID- 1438786
TI  - Balloon angioplasty versus surgery.

PMID- 1438787
TI  - Radiologists, communication, and resolution 5.

PMID- 1438788
TI  - US evaluation of renal colic.

PMID- 1438789
TI  - Principles and signal processing techniques of the high-resolution
      electrocardiogram.

PMID- 1438791
TI  - Effects of vasodilator therapy on survival in patients with chronic heart
      failure.

PMID- 1438790
TI  - Contributions of frequency analysis to the identification of the spectral,
      temporal, and spatial features in signal-averaged electrocardiograms that
      distinguish patients prone to sustained ventricular arrhythmias.

PMID- 1438792
TI  - Principles and clinical uses of diuretic therapy.

PMID- 1438793
TI  - Synthesis of hexadecylphosphocholine (miltefosine).

PMID- 1438794
TI  - Experimental therapeutic studies with miltefosine in rats and mice.

PMID- 1438795
TI  - Hexadecylphosphocholine in liposomal dispersions.

PMID- 1438796
TI  - Hexadecylphosphocholine and octadecyl-methyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine: a
      comparison of hemolytic activity, serum binding and tissue distribution.

PMID- 1438797
TI  - Comparison of the tissue distribution of hexadecylphosphocholine and
      erucylphosphocholine.

PMID- 1438798
TI  - Hexadecylphosphocholine in the topical treatment of skin metastases in breast
      cancer patients.

PMID- 1438799
TI  - Topical application of hexadecylphosphocholine in patients with cutaneous
      lymphomas.

PMID- 1438801
TI  - Cellular uptake and metabolic fate of hexadecylphosphocholine.

PMID- 1438800
TI  - Antitumoral activity of alkylphosphocholines and analogues in human leukemia cell
      lines.

PMID- 1438802
TI  - Morphological changes of adherent and nonadherent cells by treatment with
      hexadecylphosphocholine and 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine
      observed by scanning electron microscopy.

PMID- 1438803
TI  - Effects of hexadecylphosphocholine on cellular function.

PMID- 1438804
TI  - Determination of alkylphosphocholines and of alkyl-glycero-phosphocholines in
      biological fluids and tissues.

PMID- 1438805
TI  - Early effects of hexadecylphosphocholine on gene expression in leukemia cell
      lines.

PMID- 1438806
TI  - Induction of tumor cell differentiation by alkylphosphocholines: a new approach
      for in vitro screening.

PMID- 1438807
TI  - Antitumor activity of alkylphosphocholines and analogues in methylnitrosourea
      induced rat mammary carcinomas.

PMID- 1438808
TI  - Marine oils as a source of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet: how to optimize the
      health benefits.
AB  - Marine oils are receiving increasing attention as a source of C 20 and C 22
      carbon omega-3 polyenoic fatty acids. The provision of preformed EPA and DHA from
      marine oils has profound implications for health and disease. Their role as
      precursors for the synthesis of eicosanoids and docosanoids explains many of the
      multisystemic effects observed when they are administered. Furthermore under some
      physiologic conditions such as preterm birth the evidence suggests that C 18
      omega-3 fatty acids are not sufficiently converted to DHA to allow for
      biochemical and functional normalcy, thus DHA may be considered a conditionally
      essential nutrient for normal eye and brain development. Under disease conditions
      EPA plays a major role in modifying the balance between omega-6 and omega-3
      derived eicosanoids thus modulating related functions. The use of marine oils has
      some potential risks that can be circumvented by careful processing, storing and
      preserving the unsaturated fatty acids. Technological procedures based on
      chemical and physical separation of the unsaturated fatty acids has permitted the
      elaboration of concentrated EPA and DHA for clinical testing. The development of
      structured lipids has allowed the synthesis of novel forms of EPA and DHA
      delivery. Further uses of marine oil to optimize health and prevent disease are
      predicted based on recent knowledge and technological developments.

PMID- 1438810
TI  - [The frontiers of molecular virology].

PMID- 1438809
TI  - Recent advances in methodology for analysis of phytate and inositol phosphates in
      foods.
AB  - This review summarises the methods available for the analysis of phytate and
      structurally related molecules, i.e., inositol polyphosphates. Phytate has been
      determined by colorimetry, low pressure ion exchange column chromatography,
      phosphorus-31 fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P FT
      NMR), near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy and high performance liquid
      chromatography (HPLC). Among these techniques anion exchange column
      chromatography and HPLC were shown to be best suited for separation of inositol
      phosphates. Since inositol phosphates do not have a characteristic absorption
      spectrum, their detection in HPLC analysis is limited to methods employing
      monitoring of refractive index, post column reaction products, conductivity or
      indirect detection although other detection methods may be feasible. As
      refractive index detection under isocratic eluent conditions is relatively easy
      to manipulate, anion-exchange HPLC methods using a low capacity column or ion
      pair HPLC methods are recommended for the analysis of inositol phosphates in
      nutritional studies.

PMID- 1438811
TI  - [Genome structure and gene products of parvoviruses].

PMID- 1438812
TI  - [Genome structure of adenoviruses].

PMID- 1438813
TI  - [The genome structure of herpesviruses].

PMID- 1438814
TI  - [Processing of vaccinia genome terminal: initiation of DNA synthesis and
      concatemer resolution].

PMID- 1438815
TI  - [The function and the structure of plant DNA virus genomes].

PMID- 1438816
TI  - [The structure of DNA bacteriophage genome].

PMID- 1438817
TI  - [Structure and function of the picornavirus genome].

PMID- 1438819
TI  - [Structure and function of the influenza virus genome].

PMID- 1438818
TI  - [Genetic structures of paramyxovirus and rhabdovirus].

PMID- 1438820
TI  - [Gene structures of arenaviruses and bunyaviruses--ambisense RNA viruses].

PMID- 1438822
TI  - [The genome structure of plant viruses with single-stranded positive sense RNA].

PMID- 1438821
TI  - [Structure of retroviral genome].

PMID- 1438823
TI  - [Genome structure of plant reoviruses].

PMID- 1438825
TI  - [Structure of RNA coliphage genomes].

PMID- 1438824
TI  - [Viruses and ambisense RNA genomes of tenuivirus].

PMID- 1438826
TI  - [Genome structure of viroid].

PMID- 1438827
TI  - [Morphology of genome and genome-protein complex of viruses].

PMID- 1438829
TI  - [Replication and gene expression of hepatitis B virus].

PMID- 1438828
TI  - [Regulation of DNA replication and gene expression of adenovirus].

PMID- 1438830
TI  - [Replication and gene expression of bacteriophages T3 and T7 (or phages T3 and
      T7)].

PMID- 1438831
TI  - [Replication and gene expression of T4 phage DNA].

PMID- 1438832
TI  - [Replication and gene expression of lambda phage].

PMID- 1438833
TI  - [Filamentous bacteriophage of E. coli].

PMID- 1438834
TI  - [Protein-priming DNA replication of bacteriophages phi 29 and M2].

PMID- 1438835
TI  - [Replication and gene expression of picornavirus RNA].

PMID- 1438836
TI  - [Transcription and replication of paramyxoviruses].

PMID- 1438837
TI  - [Transcription and replication of the influenza virus genome].

PMID- 1438838
TI  - [Regulation of the replication of human retrovirus].

PMID- 1438839
TI  - [Replication and gene expression of HIV--a question posed by HIV].

PMID- 1438840
TI  - [Plant RNA virus--TMV replication].

PMID- 1438841
TI  - [Gene expression and RNA replication of RNA coliphages].

PMID- 1438842
TI  - [Gene expression using adenovirus vector].

PMID- 1438843
TI  - [Improvement and application of vaccinia virus vector].

PMID- 1438844
TI  - [A baculovirus expression vector].

PMID- 1438845
TI  - [Development of expression vector using influenza virus].

PMID- 1438846
TI  - [Genetic engineering of paramyxovirus and rhabdovirus].

PMID- 1438847
TI  - [Plant virus vector and recombinant virus].

PMID- 1438848
TI  - [Picornavirus receptor].

PMID- 1438849
TI  - [Recognition of sialo-sugar chains by influenza virus].

PMID- 1438850
TI  - [Penetration of paramyxoviruses and their receptors].

PMID- 1438851
TI  - [Interaction of HIV envelope protein gp120 with receptor CD4].

PMID- 1438852
TI  - [Protease-dependent tropism, a conceptually old but newly established mechanism
      of viral infection].

PMID- 1438853
TI  - [Host range of influenza virus].

PMID- 1438855
TI  - [Host factors affecting retrovirus replication].

PMID- 1438856
TI  - [Host factors required for the replication of RNA phage genomes].

PMID- 1438857
TI  - [Involvement of positive (IRF-1) and negative (IRF-2) transcription factors in
      the gene regulation of the type I interferon system].

PMID- 1438854
TI  - [Host cell proteins involved in paramyxovirus transcription and replication].

PMID- 1438858
TI  - [Structure and function of mouse Mx 1 protein].

PMID- 1438859
TI  - [Mechanism of cellular transformation by DNA tumor viruses].

PMID- 1438861
TI  - [Processing and T cell recognition of viral antigens].

PMID- 1438860
TI  - [Cell transformation by retroviruses].

PMID- 1438862
TI  - [Immune response to viral infection].

PMID- 1438863
TI  - [Mutation of virus genome].

PMID- 1438864
TI  - [Molecular evolution of viruses].

PMID- 1438865
TI  - [Past and future of vaccine development].

PMID- 1438867
TI  - [Plant virus, yesterday and today].

PMID- 1438866
TI  - [A brief history of the research on human tumor viruses].

PMID- 1438868
TI  - [Function of E. coli chromosomal protein HU].

PMID- 1438869
TI  - [p53 tumor suppressor gene and its clinical significance].

PMID- 1438870
TI  - [Man's place in nature and its evolutionary molecular biology].

PMID- 1438871
TI  - [Mechanism of stabilization of proteins by additives in freezing].

PMID- 1438872
TI  - [A mushroom lectin: structure and function of Aleuria aurantia lectin].

PMID- 1438873
TI  - [Analysis of DNA in interphase nuclei by fluorescence in situ hybridization].

PMID- 1438874
TI  - Release of arachidonic acid metabolites from isolated human alveolar type II
      cells.
AB  - Human alveolar type II cells are thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of
      lung injury. Patterns of mediator release of arachidonic acid metabolism by type
      II cells were therefore studied after challenge with calcium ionophore A23187,
      opsonized zymosan and hydrogen peroxide. A time- and concentration dependent
      release of cyclooxygenase products was observed, with release of PGE2 greater
      than 6-keto-PGF1 alpha greater than TxB2. Addition of glutathione or bicarbonate
      further increased the production of PGE2. N-ethylmaleimide, a sulfhydryl (SH)
      reactant, induced a dose-dependent increase in the release of TxB2 and 6-keto
      PGF1 alpha, but not of PGE2. This relates most likely to the SH-dependency and
      glutathione requirement of the PGE2 isomerase and SH-independence of thromboxane
      and prostacyclin isomerase.

PMID- 1438875
TI  - Lack of prostaglandin effect on sodium balance and hyperreninemia in
      adrenalectomized rats.
AB  - Glucocorticoids are known inhibitors of prostaglandin production. Prostaglandin
      E2 (PGE2) and prostacyclin (PGI2) are promoters of natriuresis and renin release.
      Excessive prostaglandin production, therefore, might contribute to the altered
      sodium balance and renin release observed in primary adrenal insufficiency. To
      test this hypothesis, sodium balance and prostaglandin production were measured
      in adrenalectomized rats and in animals receiving prostaglandin inhibitors or
      replacement dexamethasone. Compared to sham-operated controls, adrenalectomized
      rats had decreased two-day sodium balance and elevated plasma renin concentration
      (PRC), renal PGE2 production, and renal 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6kPGF1
      alpha, the nonenzymatic metabolite of PGI2); however, no appreciable change in
      aortic 6kPGF1 alpha production was observed. Dexamethasone given to
      adrenalectomized rats normalized PRC but had no effect on sodium balance or
      prostaglandin production. Likewise, prostaglandin inhibitors did not alter the
      sodium balance or decrease the PRC post adrenalectomy. These data confirm renal
      prostaglandin production is increased in adrenalectomized rats, but suggest that
      the elevation is not due directly to glucocorticoid deficiency. Further, PRC
      levels in adrenal insufficiency do not appear to be prostaglandin mediated. In
      conclusion, excessive renal prostaglandin production does not contribute to
      altered sodium balance or increased PRC in adrenalectomized rats.

PMID- 1438876
TI  - Fetal viability does not affect the onset of stretch-induced labor and the
      increase in amniotic fluid prostaglandin F2 alpha and plasma prostaglandin F2
      alpha metabolite levels.
AB  - The role of the fetus in the onset and progress of stretch-induced labor and in
      the change in amniotic fluid prostaglandin F2 alpha and plasma prostaglandin F2
      alpha metabolite levels was evaluated in six normal pregnant women (group 1) and
      six women whose fetuses had been dead for more than one week (group 2). The
      uterus was distended by a balloon inflated with physiologic saline. Regular
      uterine contractions occurred, and increased in all patients. Within 21 hours,
      all patients delivered a normal baby in group 1 and a macerated fetus in group 2.
      There was no significant difference in induction-delivery interval between the
      two groups. Both groups showed a significant and similar range of increases in
      the levels of amniotic fluid prostaglandin F2 alpha and plasma prostaglandin F2
      alpha metabolite during treatment (P less than 0.001). Thus, the fetus has no
      functional role in the onset and progress of stretch-induced labor or in the rise
      of amniotic fluid prostaglandin F2 alpha and plasma prostaglandin F2 alpha
      metabolite levels.

PMID- 1438877
TI  - Incorporation of [14C] arachidonic acid into ovine conceptus and endometrial
      lipids.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to quantitate conceptus and endometrial
      incorporation of [14C]arachidonic acid (AA) into individual neutral and polar
      lipids. Endometrium and conceptuses from pregnant ewes and endometrium from
      nonbred ewes were collected 14 and 16 d after onset of estrus (d 0). Tissues were
      incubated for 8 h at 37 degrees C in medium containing 1 microCi of [14C]AA. Thin
      layer chromatographic procedures were used to separate 12 lipids. Radioactivity
      was measured in each lipid, and the amount (ng) of [14C]AA incorporated into each
      lipid was calculated. Conceptuses and endometrium incorporated more [14C]AA into
      triacylglycerols than into any other lipid. Day and tissue type affected
      differentially (i.e., day X tissue interaction) the incorporation of [14C]AA into
      several lipids; d-14 conceptuses incorporated [14C]AA more actively than did any
      other day-tissue combination. Results indicate that triacylglycerols may be an
      important reservoir for conceptus and endometrial AA. The remarkable ability of d
      14 conceptuses to incorporate [14C]AA into various lipids may be important for
      their accelerated elongation and active prostaglandin synthetic system.

PMID- 1438878
TI  - Receptor-mediated effect of a synthetic thromboxane-analogue on cytosolic calcium
      in isolated proximal tubules.
AB  - The aims of this study were to measure cytosolic calcium concentration -[Ca2+]i-
      under resting conditions in isolated renal proximal tubules and to analyze the
      effect of U-46619 (stable analogue of thromboxane A2/PGH2 on [Ca2+]i in a
      mammalian epithelium. Proximal tubules were dissected out from male New Zealand
      rabbits (2.5 to 3.0 kg). After isolation they were washed twice and resuspended
      in 2 ml phosphate buffer solution (PBS). Tubules were loaded with Quin 2-AM (25
      microM) for 15 min. After washing with PBS to eliminate the excess of
      extracellular Quin 2, fluorescence was measured at 340 nm excitation and 490
      emission, under resting conditions and after stimulation. U 46619 (from 10 nm to
      10 mM) increased [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent pattern. Exposure to an
      antagonist of the thromboxane receptor (S-145) blocked the response to U-46619.
      Removal of external calcium abolished the response to U-46619. Change of PBS for
      Ringer-choline blunted the response to thromboxane analogue. Our results indicate
      that U-46619 increases cytosolic calcium through a receptor-mediated mechanism
      that requires external calcium to operate. Blockade of the response in the
      absence of external sodium suggests that Na+/Ca2+ exchanger participates in this
      response.

PMID- 1438879
TI  - The F2-isoprostane, 8-epi-prostaglandin F2 alpha, a potent agonist of the
      vascular thromboxane/endoperoxide receptor, is a platelet
      thromboxane/endoperoxide receptor antagonist.
AB  - F2-isoprostanes are a recently discovered series of prostaglandin (PG)F2-like
      compounds that are produced in vivo in humans by nonenzymatic free radical
      catalyzed peroxidation of arachidonic acid. One of the compounds that can be
      produced in abundance by this mechanism is 8-epi-PGF2 alpha. 8-epi-PGF2 alpha is
      a potent vasoconstrictor in the rat, an effect that has been shown to be mediated
      via interaction with vascular thromboxane (TxA2)/endoperoxide (PGH2) receptors.
      In an effort to further understand the biological properties of this prostanoid
      in relation to its ability to interact with TxA2/PGH2 receptors, we examined its
      effects on human and rat platelets. At concentrations of 10(-6) M and 10(-5) M, 8
      epi-PGF2 alpha induced only a shape change in human platelets and at higher
      concentrations (10(-4) M) induced reversible but not irreversible aggregation.
      Both the shape change and reversible aggregation were unaffected by indomethacin
      but were inhibited by the TxA2/PGH2 receptor antagonist SQ29548. Conversely, 8
      epi-PGF2 alpha inhibited platelet aggregation induced by the TxA2/PGH2 receptor
      agonists U46619 (10(-6) M) and IBOP (3.3 x 10(-7) M) with an IC50 of 1.6 x 10(-6)
      M and 1.8 x 10(-6) M, respectively. 8-epi-PGF2 alpha also inhibited platelet
      aggregation induced by arachidonic acid. Similarly, in rat platelets, 8-epi-PGF2
      alpha alone induced only modest reversible aggregation but completely inhibited
      U46619-induced aggregation.

PMID- 1438880
TI  - DuP 753, the selective angiotensin II receptor blocker, is a competitive
      antagonist to human platelet thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 (TP) receptors.
AB  - DuP 753 is a potent, selective angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist.
      The possibility was investigated that DuP 753 may crossreact with thromboxane
      A2/prostaglandin H2 (TP) receptors. DuP 753 inhibited the specific binding of the
      TP receptor antagonist [3H]SQ 29,548 (5 nM) in human platelets with kd/slope
      factor values of 9.6 +/- 1.4 microM/1.1 +/- 0.02. The AT2-selective angiotensin
      receptor ligand, PD 123,177 was a very weak inhibitor of specific [3H]SQ 29,548
      binding in platelets (Kd/slope factor:200 microM/0.86). [3H]SQ 29,548 saturation
      binding in the absence and presence of DuP 753 resulted in an increase in
      equilibrium affinity constant (Kd: 9.3, 22, 33 nM, respectively) without a
      concentration-dependent reduction in binding site maxima (Bmax: 3597, 4597, 3109
      fmol/mg protein, respectively). Platelet aggregation induced by the TP receptor
      agonist U 46,619 was concentration-dependently inhibited by DuP 753 (IC50 = 46
      microM). These data indicate for the first time that DuP 753 is a weak but
      competitive antagonist at human platelet TP receptors.

PMID- 1438881
TI  - A possible role of prostaglandin E2 in reproduction of the male water frog, Rana
      esculenta. In vivo and in vitro studies.
AB  - Plasma prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), androgens
      and estradiol-17 beta were measured in the male water frog, Rana esculenta,
      during the annual sexual cycle. In vivo experiments were carried out to study the
      effects of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha on plasma sex steroids during the following
      periods: prereproduction (April), reproduction (May), postreproduction (June) and
      recovery (October). In the same months, in vitro experiments were performed to
      evaluate the effects of these two prostaglandins (PGs) on testicular release of
      sex steroids. The PGE2 plasma levels peaked in April. PGE2 treatment in vivo
      increased androgens in April and October, while PGF2 alpha increased estradiol-17
      beta in June and October. In in vitro experiments, PGE2 increased androgens in
      April, while PGF2 alpha increased estradiol-17 beta in October. These results
      suggest that PGE2 could induce the breeding activity, probably through androgens
      synthesis. PGF2 alpha could interrupt the breeding, through estradiol-17 beta
      secretion.

PMID- 1438882
TI  - Molecular evolution of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase.
AB  - Four oxygenases of the arachidonic acid cascade (cyclooxygenase, 5-lipoxygenase,
      12-lipoxygenase and 15-lipoxygenase) were investigated by the method of computer
      assisted sequence comparison. From the calculations, some aspects of evolution
      and function of these enzymes were revealed. (1) The evolutionary origin of
      cyclooxygenase was different from that of lipoxygenases. (2) Cyclooxygenase was a
      distantly related member of a peroxidase family. (3) Enzymes with 12-lipoxygenase
      activity were created independently twice by gene duplication.

PMID- 1438883
TI  - Analysis of the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) metabolite delta 17-6-keto-PGF1 alpha
      in human plasma by GC/SIM using [18O] delta 17-6-keto-PGF1 alpha.
AB  - A method of the microdetermination of delta 17-6-keto-PGF1 alpha, a hydrolyzed
      metabolite of PGI3, is described. An authentic delta 17-6-keto-PGF1 alpha (120
      mg) was prepared from eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) incubated with homogenate of
      bovine aortic intima. [18O]delta 17-6-Keto-PGF1 alpha was synthesized by
      repeating base-catalyzed hydrolysis of methyl ester derivatives in [18O]water, to
      obtain an internal standard in gas chromatography/selected ion monitoring
      (GC/SIM) of delta 17-6-keto-PGF1 alpha. Good linear response over the range of 10
      pg-10ng was demonstrated. Chromatographic conditions using a MP-65HT column
      presented nearly baseline separation of delta 17-6-keto-PGF1 alpha and 6-keto
      PGF1 alpha. We were able to detect delta 17-6-keto-PGF1 alpha in the range from 6
      to 26 pg/ml of the human plasma. The present method can be applied to the
      determination of delta 17-6-keto-PGF1 alpha in the human urine and plasma.

PMID- 1438884
TI  - Pharmacological modulation of prostacyclin and thromboxane production of rat and
      cat venous tissue slices.
AB  - To reveal a potential modulating effect of vasoactive pharmacological agents on
      the prostanoid production of the venous wall, prostacyclin and thromboxane
      release from venous tissue slices was studied. Aortic and caval vein samples from
      20 rats as well as from 21 cats were studied. Prostacyclin and thromboxane
      productions were determined by radioimmunoassay as 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TxB2
      released into the incubation medium. Venous tissue produced significantly less
      prostacyclin per unit weight than arterial tissue in rats (30.7 +/- 4.6 vs. 52.1
      +/- 8.2 pg/mg/min), while in cats an opposite situation was found (16.6 +/- 3.2
      vs. 7.06 +/- 1.9 pg/mg/min). Thromboxane production of venous tissue was
      consequently higher than corresponding values for aortic tissue (3.72 +/- 0.46
      vs. 1.54 +/- 0.14 in rats and 3.4 +/- 0.6 vs. 1.33 +/- 0.19 in cats, all values
      in pg/mg/min). Norepinephrine and dopamine significantly increased both the
      prostacyclin and the thromboxane release from venous tissue, while isoproterenol
      had no effect. Vasopressin significantly increased thromboxane release and
      decreased the ratio of prostacyclin vs. thromboxane production (from 10.4 +/- 1.6
      to 7.5 +/- 1.6, in acetylsalicylic acid pretreated cats). Angiotensin and
      thrombin had no significant effects. Bradykinin (0.5 microgram/ml) significantly
      augmented prostacyclin release from venous tissue (14.4 +/- 2.6 from 10.9 +/- 2.4
      pg/mg/min) and decreased thromboxane release (0.65 +/- 0.18 from 1.35 +/- 0.22
      pg/mg/min). Methionine-enkephalin (5 micrograms/ml) significantly reduced the
      thromboxane release from venous tissue slices. The presented material
      demonstrates that several vasoactive agents modulate the vasoactive prostanoid
      release of the venous wall. In some cases, the prostacyclin and the thromboxane
      productions are influenced separately, which in turn will have its impact on
      smooth muscle activity and thrombocyte aggregation.

PMID- 1438886
TI  - Serum concentrations of secretory IgA in pregnancies delivering at term or
      preterm.
AB  - Secretory component (SC) is a phospholipase A2 inhibitor possibly associated with
      pregnancy maintenance and in serum is bound either to IgA (sIgA) or IgM (sIgM).
      To determine if serum secretory component levels a) increase during pregnancy, b)
      fall as term approaches, c) are low in women who will deliver prematurely, serum
      sIgA was measured at "booking in" and related to weeks of gestation and length of
      gestation at subsequent noninduced delivery. Levels of sIgA increased during
      pregnancy; sIgA increased from a non-pregnant value of 1.6 nM +/- 0.2 (mean +/-
      SEM) to 2.8 nM +/- 0.3 at the end of the second trimester, then fell
      significantly between 31-34 weeks. Delivery before 37 weeks was associated with
      significantly reduced serum sIgA levels, particularly in women who delivered
      before 32 weeks and in whom sIgA concentrations were similar to those of
      nonpregnant women.

PMID- 1438885
TI  - Stimulated release of arachidonate and prostaglandins is vectorial in MDCK
      epithelial cells.
AB  - The receptor mediated activation of phospholipase A2 by appropriate ligands
      results in the synthesis and release of eicosanoids, a class of potent
      bioregulatory molecules. Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK) are polarized
      epithelial cells, with structurally and functionally distinct plasma membrane
      domains separated by tight junctions. Using MDCK cells grown in dual sided
      chambers, we show in this report, that a) the receptor mediated release of
      prostaglandins and arachidonate into the extracellular medium is predominantly
      unidirectional, b) the direction of release is agonist specific, and c) the
      magnitude of the response due to a given agonist is cell-domain specific. These
      characteristics, if operative in vivo, would contribute towards the optimal
      function of trans-cellular metabolism of eicosanoids already demonstrated.

PMID- 1438887
TI  - [Archaeology of childhood. Psychoanalytic conditions for realizing childhood
      daydreams exemplified by Heinrich Schliemann].
AB  - The biographical value of Heinrich Schliemann's memories of his childhood has
      always been disrupted. Following W.G. Niederland, the author characterises the
      famous archaeologist's powers of recall as instances of hypermnesia and not as
      retrospective constructs. In addition he shows that ontogenetically the
      conditions governing the realisation of infant ambitions are bound up with
      original experiences of happiness, traumatic losses without destruction of
      psychic substance, attempts at reparation and the preservation of the balance
      between the reality principle and the pleasure principle. A further factor shown
      to be involved is the dialectic tension between eros and thanatos. With reference
      to Freud's concept of the archaic heritage, the phylogenetic conditions and their
      links with ontogenesis are then identified with a view to elucidating why
      Schliemann, whose childhood ambition it was to excavate Troy, was later able to
      realise this boyhood dream.

PMID- 1438888
TI  - [Communicating literary aspects by non-literary means: references to the
      unconscious in William Wordsworth].

PMID- 1438889
TI  - Enterprise bargaining.

PMID- 1438890
TI  - Theatre for health.

PMID- 1438891
TI  - Draft Australian code of ethics for nurses.

PMID- 1438892
TI  - Defining the role and function of enrolled nurses.

PMID- 1438893
TI  - Women's experience of crimes of personal violence: a gender analysis of the 1991
      Queensland crime victims' survey.

PMID- 1438894
TI  - Enrolled nurse wage increases.

PMID- 1438895
TI  - Aged care--'the poor relation' ... the campaign continues.

PMID- 1438896
TI  - [Disparity of the bone marrow involvement in a 5-year-old boy with primary non
      Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma of the bone].

PMID- 1438897
TI  - [Late complications in patients cured of neoplasms in childhood].
AB  - Various late complications of the chemotherapy or radiotherapy have been
      discussed with special reference to rare life-threatening side-effects. The long
      term strategy of patient's care and preliminary principles of prevention of above
      complications have also been presented. It has been emphasized that life
      threatening complications occurring in a small percentage of patients are not
      indications for limited or ineffective therapy giving no chance of saving of
      numerous children.

PMID- 1438898
TI  - [Subendocardial blood flow index in relation to selected parameters of left
      ventricular function in patients with aortic valve stenosis].
AB  - The aim of our studies was to estimate the relation between the reduction of the
      subendocardial blood flow, expressed by DPTI/TTI ratio and the grade of aortic
      stenosis determined by the maximal systolic aortic gradient. Additionally the
      influence of subendocardial blood flow reduction of left ventricular function and
      ECG alterations was assessed. The analyzed data were obtained during the cardiac
      catheterizations in a group of 30 patients (average age 32 years). The mean value
      of DPTI/TTI ratio was decreased (0.49 +/- 0.2) and associated with the elevated
      mean value of AGmax (72.2 +/- 38.1 mmHg). Negative correlation between DPTI/TTI
      and AGmax (r = -0.73; p less than 0.003), DPTI/TTI and LVEDP (r = -0.53; p less
      than 0.005) occurred. Depression of ST-T segment in EEG and episodes of anginal
      pain accompanied the reduction of subendocardial blood flow. We concluded that
      reduction in subendocardial blood flow in patients with SA-may lead
      subendocardial ischaemia of the left ventricular wall with subsequent of its
      function.

PMID- 1438899
TI  - [Status of pulmonary circulation and the presence of regurgitant wave from the
      left ventricle in primary dilated cardiomyopathy].
AB  - The purpose of the study was to analyse relationships between the presence and
      magnitude of a regurgitant wave from the left ventricle to the left atrium and
      the state of the pulmonary circulation in patients with primary dilated
      cardiomyopathy. The study population consisted of 97 patients divided into three
      subgroups I--41 patients without the regurgitant wave, II--31 patients with the
      first-degree regurgitant wave, III--25 patients with the second-degree
      regurgitant wave. Diagnosis was based upon non invasive studies, cardiac
      catheterization and left ventriculography. Average values of the left ventricular
      systolic and end-diastolic pressures were similar in all subgroups, whereas the
      cardiac index was the lowest in the subgroup of patients with a large regurgitant
      wave to the left atrium. There were no differences in mean values of the
      pulmonary artery pressures, total pulmonary resistance and pulmonary vascular
      resistance between the patients without the regurgitant wave (subgroup II). In
      contrast the patients with a large regurgitant wave (subgroup III) showed
      statistically significantly higher pulmonary artery pressures, higher total
      pulmonary resistance and pulmonary vascular resistance. In 64% of the patients of
      this subgroup the left atrium was said to be large. The results of the present
      study indicate that even not a large regurgitant wave (second-degree) from the
      left ventricle to the left atrium leads to secondary pulmonary hypertension in
      patients with primary dilated cardiomyopathy.

PMID- 1438900
TI  - [Results of the treatment of acute renal failure in 3 selected dialysis units in
      southern Poland 1981-1990].
AB  - The results of the treatment of patients with acute renal failure (ARF) in
      dialysis units of Krakow, Nowy Sacz and Tarnow were estimated on the basis of
      prepared questionnaire. The increased number of patients treated because of ARF
      was demonstrated in the successive years of the study. The mortality rate in the
      tested group of patients remained about 27%. It depended on the cause of ARF and
      equalled to 26.7% in medical, 36.7% in surgical, 8% in obstetrical and 6.7 in
      urological patients, respectively.

PMID- 1438901
TI  - [Comparison of the value of echocardiographic examination in relation to
      hemodynamic studies in atrial septal defect of the ostium secundum type].
AB  - The aim of the study was in comparative analysis of the results obtained using
      the cardiac catheterization and the echocardiographic parameters in patients with
      atrial septal defect of the ostium secundum type. The studies have been performed
      in the group of 31 patients aged 16 to 58 years (mean = 31.9) in whom the right
      heart catheterization of the two-dimensional or Doppler's echocardiography has
      been performed. The following parameters have been analysed: pulmonary flow (Qp),
      systemic flow (Qs), shunt size (S), the Qp/Qs ratio, the systolic gradient via
      tricuspidal valve (TPG). The highest correlation in the invasive and the not
      invasive examination has been shown for TPG (r = 0.93). Other parameters showed
      no statistically significant differences.

PMID- 1438902
TI  - [Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin on the bone marrow picture in
      patients with chronic renal failure treated by hemodialysis].
AB  - The influence of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO) on anaemia and bone
      marrow cells was investigated in 7 patients with terminal renal failure on
      maintenance haemodialysis. The examination was performed immediately prior to rHu
      EPO treatment (mean hematocrit 20.3%) and after increase of hematocrit to 33%. An
      increased number of cells from the erythroblastic series and rejuvenation of this
      population were observed during the treatment. There was no significant influence
      of the treatment on the myeloblastic cells series. An increase in megakaryocyte
      activity was observed in 2 studied patients.

PMID- 1438903
TI  - [Evaluation of worldwide diagnosis and treatment of cancer of the uterine
      cervix].

PMID- 1438904
TI  - [Macrophages: functional heterogeneity of the mononuclear phagocytes].

PMID- 1438905
TI  - [Efficiency of the autonomic nervous system in patients with acute leukemia].
AB  - Autonomic nervous system function was examined by simple tests in 10 patients
      with acute myeloblastic leukemia and 10 patients with acute lymphoblastic
      leukemia. The results in both groups were related to the stage of the disease,
      clinical and hematological status and mode of chemotherapy. It was found that the
      functional capacity of the autonomic nervous system was significantly lower in
      patients with leukemias than in healthy subjects (control group). Functional
      abnormalities were most prominent in patients in poor clinical condition with
      marked anemia and during the acute phase of the disease.

PMID- 1438906
TI  - [Selenium and malondialdehyde levels in the blood serum of men with normo- and
      hypercholesterolemia].
AB  - Lipid peroxidation is a free radical-mediated process. Malonaldehyde (MDA) is one
      of the products of reduction in this process. Selenium (Se) is a physiological
      free radical scavenger. In this paper the research on serum selenium (Se), serum
      MDA (MDAp) and MDA in low density lipoprotein (MDA1) in 52 men (age 38-52 years)
      will be presented. Plasma total cholesterol (T-chol), free cholesterol (F-chol),
      esterified cholesterol (E-chol) and triglyceride (Tg) concentrations were
      estimated also. It was found a significant negative correlation between MDA1 and
      T-chol (r = -0.4140, p = 0.0023), E-chol (r = -0.3947, p = 0.0038), F-chol (r =
      0.4104, p = 0025). The patients were divided according to T-chol level (group I:
      T-chol greater than 5.2 mmol/l, group II: T-chol less than 5.2 mmol/l).
      Statistically significant negative correlation were found between: Se and MDAp in
      both groups (I: r = -0.7734, p = 0.0002, II: r = -0.6695, p = 0.0012), Se and
      MDA1 only in II group (r = -0.4693, p = 00368). There was no apparent relation
      between MDAp and T-chol, E-chol, F-chol and Tg.

PMID- 1438907
TI  - [Complications of liver biopsy in ultrasonic evaluation].
AB  - Ultrasound of the right upper quadrant was performed in 261 patients just before
      and 2-4 h after liver biopsy (Menghini needle 1.4 mm). Serious complications were
      not seen. 9 patients had ultrasound-detected small hepatic hematomas (1 x 1 cm -
      4 x 3 cm) 2-4 h after liver puncture, clinically however irrelevant. Follow-up
      ultrasound at 24 h and 48 h showed complete resolution of hematomas that had been
      detected previously (5 patients and 4 patients resp.). The results of our study
      indicate that intrahepatic hematomas are uncommon after liver biopsy; lesions
      disappear spontaneously within 24-48 h and that is why ultrasound detection of
      all post-biopsy intrahepatic hematomas should be performed at 2-4 h. If major
      complications are not seen a 4 h length of post-biopsy bed rest seems us as
      sufficiently for all the patients.

PMID- 1438908
TI  - [Effect of diabetes mellitus type 1 on electric resistance of the skin and
      galvanic skin response].
AB  - Basal electrical resistance of the skin and the galvanic skin response were
      determined in 102 patients with type I (insulin-dependent) controlled diabetes
      mellitus. The control group consisted of 121 healthy subjects of the same age and
      sex distribution. The results obtained imply that diabetes mellitus causes an
      increase of electrical resistance of the skin, a prolongation of the latency time
      and or even lacking of the galvanic skin response.

PMID- 1438910
TI  - [Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL)--principles of the procedure,
      indications, results and complications].

PMID- 1438909
TI  - [Response of the cardiovascular system in elderly patients to intravenous
      infusion of isoproterenol and adrenaline].
AB  - The effect of gradually increasing doses of catecholamines on the heart rate,
      arterial pressure and the left heart ventricle systolic time intervals has been
      studied in the group of 30 aged subjects (70 to 95 years old) and the control
      group aged 23 to 30 years. The initial resting QS2I, LVETI, PEPI, heart rate and
      diastolic pressure were similar in both groups studied whereas the chronotropic
      and inotropic response as well as the vasodilatation were weaker in the aged. The
      disturbed mechanisms of adaptation in the aged could be caused by limited
      response of the circulatory system to adrenalin secreted during the stress
      states.

PMID- 1438913
TI  - [Percutaneous removal of kidney calculi in children].

PMID- 1438911
TI  - [Percutaneous nephrolithotripsy--indications for the procedure and its
      technique].

PMID- 1438912
TI  - [Percutaneous removal of kidney calculi].

PMID- 1438914
TI  - [Endoscopic treatment of urinary calculi coexistent with developmental anomalies
      of the urinary system].

PMID- 1438915
TI  - [Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the urogenital system in our clinical
      experience].
AB  - The increased number of the genitourinary system infection caused by Chlamydia
      trachomatis (Ch. Tr.), increased number of patients with dysuria or sterile
      leukocyturia gave stimulus to studies of 615 patients from Department of
      Nephrology and District Outpatient Nephrological Care Unit with regard to
      infections with that microbes. Material for investigations derived from urethra.
      Diagnostic examinations were performed using the Mc Coy cell culture and the
      immunofluorescence method. The infection was noted in 176 patients (119 women and
      57 men) that is in 28.6% of cases studied. The mean age of patients was 42.7 +/-
      12 years. Clinical symptoms such as dysuria or frequency were typical for that
      kind of infection. The most frequent abnormality was leukocyturia or leukocyturia
      accompanied by erythrocyturia noted in 66% of patients. Isolated erythrocyturia
      was observed in 24.4% of cases. It has been stated that anamnesis or routine
      laboratory examinations were not able to the identification of infection. In face
      of poorly characteristics of clinical picture of infection the infection with
      Ch.Tr. could be the cause of unsuccessful therapy in patients with signs of
      genitourinary tract infections.

PMID- 1438916
TI  - [Estimation of the dialysis time based on a simplified algorithm for urea
      kinetics].
AB  - A simplified method of calculating the dialysis time based upon urea kinetic
      modeling equation: Ct = C0 e exp - (Kt/V) is presented together with a table of
      urea clearance values for most commonly used dialyzers. The method is handy and
      helpful to prescribe dialysis time either in chronic uraemics or in patients with
      acute renal failure on hemodialysis. Estimation of a patient's urea distribution
      volume equal to the total body water and blood flow through the dialyzer are the
      key points in the described calculations.

PMID- 1438917
TI  - [Sensitivity of multiresistant bacterial strains to imipenem (Tienam)].
AB  - The susceptibility to imipenem of 213 clinical strains of Gram-negative rods
      resistant to six cephalosporins (cephradine, cefamandole, cefuroxime, cefotaxime,
      cefoperazone and ceftriaxone) has been studied. It was found that 93.9% of the
      strains were sensitive and 6.1% were resistant to imipenem. In the examined group
      64 (30%) out of 213 strains were simultaneously resistant to four aminoglycosides
      (gentamycin, tobramycin, netilmicin and amikacin); among them 5 (7.8%) strains
      were resistant to imipenem. Sensitivity to imipenem 157 out of 213 examined
      strains as compared to that of ceftazidime was as follows: 29.3% of the strains
      were sensitive and 3.8% resistant to both of the antibiotics, whilst 64.3% were
      imipenem-sensitive and ceftazidime-resistant. In vitro imipenem proved to be very
      active antibiotic against over 90% of multiresistant Gram-negative rods.

PMID- 1438918
TI  - [Gastric secretion in chronic erosive gastritis].
AB  - In 50 patients with erosive gastritis the basic and the post-pentagastrin
      secretion of hydrochloric acid or glycoproteids has been studied. The results
      obtained have been compared with that in healthy subjects. No significant
      differences between the both groups investigated have been noted. It has been
      stated that chronic erosive gastritis could be associated with normal, elevated
      or lowered hydrochloric acid secretion. The results are of value with regard to
      the choice of treatment but remain without significance for diagnostics.

PMID- 1438919
TI  - [Effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) pressure on minute ventilation, parameters of gas
      exchange and blood gases during hemodialysis using fluid containing acetate and
      bicarbonate buffers].
AB  - In 20 patients with chronic renal failure on a hemodialysis with acetate
      containing dialysing fluid gasometric, ventilation and breathing patterns
      disturbances were determined. The loss of CO2 in the dialysate is attributed the
      major cause of hypoxemia due to alveolar hypoventilation. Hemodialysis with
      bicarbonate-containing dialysate can be performed in the absence of any change in
      ventilation and PaO2 despite a systemic alkalosis. Hyperventilation during HD
      with high concentration of bicarbonate indicate that changes in CO2 tension in
      the pulmonary circulation can lead to a change in minute ventilation due to the
      presence of slowly adapting pulmonary chemoreceptors. In patients with low
      respiratory response, respiratory muscle weakness intensified additionally by
      hypercapnia may explain this phenomenon.

PMID- 1438920
TI  - [Pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis--review of the literature].

PMID- 1438922
TI  - [Menstruation as a cause of hemoperitoneum during peritoneal dialysis. Case
      report].

PMID- 1438921
TI  - [Biological and clinical aspects of chronic granulomatous disease].

PMID- 1438923
TI  - [Glomerulonephritis in Schoenlein-Henoch purpura. Report of 9 cases].

PMID- 1438924
TI  - Electrolyte disturbances caused by intravenous contrast media.
AB  - The changes in serum electrolytes (sodium, potassium, ionized calcium, and total
      calcium) produced by high-dose (3 ml/kg) intravenous contrast media were
      investigated in Japanese white rabbits. The test solutions included
      sodium/meglumine diatrizoate (370 mgI/ml), sodium/meglumine ioxaglate (320
      mgI/ml), iohexol (350 mgI/ml), iopamidol (370 mgI/ml), 20% mannitol, and isotonic
      saline. The alterations in serum ionized calcium were relatively small and
      transient, and correlated with changes in the hematocrit. Diatrizoate caused a
      significant decrease in ionized calcium in comparison with other contrast media
      and mannitol. The ratio of ionized calcium to total calcium showed no significant
      decrease in any group. The changes in potassium did not correlate with those in
      hematocrit. Diatrizoate caused a smaller decrease in potassium than low
      osmolality contrast media, which may suggest that diatrizoate caused a shift in
      potassium from extravascular space to intravascular space. In conclusion,
      intravenous infusion of high doses of low-osmolality contrast media did not cause
      clinically significant alterations in serum electrolytes.

PMID- 1438925
TI  - MRI of anterior mediastinal tumors.
AB  - To compare the abilities of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT to provide
      information about anterior mediastinal tumors, we retrospectively evaluated the
      MR (n = 28) and CT images (n = 25) of patients with anterior mediastinal tumors.
      T1-weighted and T2-weighted images were obtained with spin echo sequences using
      cardiac gating. Six of 12 thymomas and seven of nine teratomas showed
      characteristic findings by MRI, while four of the 10 thymomas and five of the
      eight teratomas were correctly diagnosed by CT. The other tumors did not show a
      characteristic MR appearance. All nine malignant tumors were correctly diagnosed
      as malignant lesions on MR images, while one false positive case and one false
      negative case were recorded on CT images. We conclude that MRI and CT provide
      nearly the same information for the evaluation of anterior mediastinal tumors.
      However, in some cases, only MRI can provide information about malignancy or a
      specific diagnosis.

PMID- 1438926
TI  - Quantitation of cerebral blood volume by 99mTc-DTPA-HSA SPECT.
AB  - The characteristics of technetium-99m diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid human
      serum albumin (99mTc-DTPA-HSA) as an agent for quantitation of cerebral blood
      volume (CBV) were examined. The radioactivity after decay correction as a
      percentage of the activity at 10 minutes was 84.3 +/- 1.3% at 120 minutes after
      the injection of 99mTc-DTPA-HSA. Radioactivity was found exclusively in plasma,
      with little in blood cells. The blood retention of 99mTc-DTPA-HSA is sufficient,
      and its use in the quantitation of CBV omits the need for centrifugation of the
      blood sample. CBV quantified using the tracer and a SPECT system with a single
      head rotating gamma camera was 4.09 +/- 0.60 ml/100 g brain, similar to values
      reported previously. Two serial SPECT scans provided similar images, and the CBV
      values determined by the two scans were closely correlated (p < 0.001). The high
      reproducibility suggests that the method may be used to monitor the
      cerebrovascular response to drugs. It was concluded that 99mTc-DTPA-HSA has
      useful properties for quantitative CBV measurement and that quantitation of CBV
      by 99mTc-DTPA-HSA SPECT is feasible using a system with a single-head rotating
      gamma camera.

PMID- 1438929
TI  - High dose rate gynecological applications--radiobiological considerations based
      on the alpha-beta model.
AB  - We compare the relative efficacy of high dose rate (HDR) and low dose rate (LDR)
      irradiation in gynecological implants, using formulations based on the linear
      quadratic (alpha-beta) model. We consider both acute reaction and late effect as
      endpoints in evaluating equivalence for HDR and LDR treatments, at Point A (as
      defined in the text) and at other locations. We define a therapeutic factor gamma
      as an index for relative efficacy, with gamma > 1 indicating a gain in
      substituting HDR for LDR. It is found that gamma < 1 for most clinical
      situations, although a modest decrease (of about 15%) in dose to critical organs
      for HDR would raise gamma above unity.

PMID- 1438928
TI  - Multilocular cystic hemangioma: CT and MR appearance.
AB  - An atypical case of multilocular cystic hemangioma is presented. A 4.5 cm
      multilocular cystic mass was incidentally found in a 66-year-old healthy woman on
      ultrasound screening. CT, MR imaging, and angiography were performed: however,
      the features that are characteristic of cavernous hemangioma were not obtained.
      The final diagnosis could not be made until surgery.

PMID- 1438930
TI  - In vivo dosimetry during pelvic treatment.
AB  - High precision in vivo entrance and exit dose measurements have been performed
      with p-type diodes on patients during 8 MV X-ray irradiation of the pelvis, to
      investigate the accuracy of dose calculations in this region. Based on phantom
      measurements the accuracy of the p-type diode measuring system itself, i.e. the
      agreement with ionisation chamber dose measurements, was shown to be better than
      0.7% while the reproducibility in the dose determination was 1.1%, 1.5% and 1.6%
      (1 S.D.) at the entrance point, isocentre and exit point, respectively, for the
      wedged lateral fields. Patient movement and the uncertainty in the diode position
      increased these values to 1.7%, 1.5% and 3.1% (1 S.D.) for dose determinations on
      patients. From the entrance and exit in vivo dose values the dose actually
      delivered to the isocentre was determined. For the anterior-posterior beams a
      good correspondence for most patients was observed at the entrance and exit point
      and at the isocentre between the in vivo and calculated dose values. For the
      wedged lateral beams a systematic deviation of about 3% was observed. In addition
      to the in vivo dose measurements phantom dose measurements have been performed to
      quantify the accuracy of the dose calculation algorithms including the
      computation of the number of monitor units. These measurements also served to
      quantify the effects of the actual patient on the dose delivery. The measurements
      showed that accurate calculation of the dose requires a separation of the head
      and phantom scatter contribution of the output of the treatment machine. The
      dependence of the wedge factor on field size, depth and source-skin-distance has
      also to be considered for accurate dose calculations. The effect of the patient
      on the dose calculation is mainly related to the actual electron densities of fat
      and bone structures compared to water: neglecting these densities in the dose
      computation could yield deviations up to 8.5% for the exit point in wedged beams.
      Based on these results, improvements in the dose calculation algorithms and
      monitor unit calculation including the use of the actual electron densities will
      be implemented in the treatment planning procedure.

PMID- 1438927
TI  - Radiation therapy for stage I and II laryngeal cancer using 10 MV X-rays or
      cobalt-60 gamma-rays.
AB  - From 1970 to 1985, 117 patients with stage I and stage II carcinoma of the larynx
      (98 with glottic, 15 with supraglottic, and 4 with subglottic cancer) received
      radiation therapy. The patients were treated with (1) a 60Co machine equipped
      with 45-degree wedge filters, at a total dose of 6,000-7,000 cGy, 300 cGy per
      fraction, 3 days a week in the period from 1970-1974; (2) 10 MeV linear
      accelerator X-rays from 1975-1980, and (3) 10 MeV linear accelerator X-rays
      and/or the 60Co machine in the period from 1981-1985, at a total dose of 6,000
      7,000 cGy, 5 days a week by parallel opposing portals without wedge filters. The
      5-year local control rates by radiotherapy alone were 66%, 78%, and 83%,
      respectively, in the three periods, and the 5-year survival rates were 77%, 97%,
      and 96% following salvage surgery for recurrent disease. In the 1970-1974 period,
      four patients developed severe laryngeal edema, and two patients had total
      laryngectomy without local residual tumor. In the 1975-1985 period, 16 patients
      had local recurrence in five years, and in five of them the tumor exhibited
      verrucous-like histopathological findings. In the 1975-1980 period, local
      recurrence was considered to result from underdosing of lesions with 10 MV X-ray
      beams and split-course irradiation. In the last five years of the period, the 5
      year local control rate for stage I and II carcinoma of the glottis, excluding
      verrucous-like carcinoma, reached 90% with 10 MV X-rays combined with 60Co gamma
      rays.

PMID- 1438931
TI  - Glass yttrium-90 microspheres for patients with colorectal liver metastases.
AB  - Total calculated uniform liver doses of up to 150 Gy were achieved using glass
      yttrium-90 microspheres administered via the hepatic artery and targeted to
      tumour using angiotensin II in seven patients with colorectal liver metastases.
      No toxicity was observed. Hepatic metastatic progression was delayed in six
      patients. Median survival was 11 months (range 5-25 + months).

PMID- 1438932
TI  - Tandem-vaginal cylinder applicator for radiation therapy of uterine
      adenocarcinoma.
AB  - Preoperative radiotherapy for stage II adenocarcinoma of the endometrium was
      studied in 74 patients using the University of Kentucky tandem-vaginal cylinder
      applicator. The intrauterine tandem and vaginal cylinder were inserted and loaded
      at the same time or sequentially. Forty to 45 Gy of fractionated whole pelvis
      photon radiotherapy was combined with the single intracavitary insertion which
      gave 20 Gy to a parauterine isodose at 2 cm and to the vaginal surface. Treatment
      with this system gave a 5 year survival rate of 88% with a 4% complication rate
      for stage II corpus adenocarcinomas.

PMID- 1438933
TI  - No clinical evidence for the influence of overall treatment time on TCD50 of head
      and neck tumours.

PMID- 1438934
TI  - Overall treatment time and tumor control dose for head and neck tumors: the dog
      leg revisited.

PMID- 1438935
TI  - My experience in low dose-rate radiotherapy.

PMID- 1438936
TI  - Quality control at the patient level: action or retrospective introspection.

PMID- 1438937
TI  - Reirradiation by interstitial brachytherapy alone of cancers of the oropharynx in
      previously irradiated areas.

PMID- 1438938
TI  - Nodal treatment for patients with early stage breast cancer: guilty or innocent?

PMID- 1438939
TI  - Selective avoidance of lymphatic radiotherapy in the conservative management of
      early breast cancer.
AB  - In view of the morbidity and potential mortality associated with routine post
      operative lymph node radiotherapy in women with early stage breast cancer, an
      attempt has been made to select patients in whom radiotherapy can be withheld.
      Three hundred and forty-seven consecutive patients treated wide local excision
      plus or minus axillary surgery have been evaluated. Only 20% were subsequently
      given radiotherapy to regional nodes. Relapse in the axilla, the supraclavicular
      fossa or at both these sites have occurred in 16 patients so far, 12 of whom were
      successfully treated. Systemic relapse was seen in eight of these patients
      occurring with one exception before or within 3 months of node relapse. Only four
      have persisting symptoms as a result of nodal relapse. So far, a policy involving
      selective lymphatic radiotherapy in women treated for early breast cancer appears
      justified.

PMID- 1438941
TI  - Orchidectomy followed by radiotherapy in 176 stage I and II testicular seminoma
      patients: benefits of a 10-year follow-up study.
AB  - Results are presented for 176 patients with stage I and II primary testicular
      seminoma treated at the Dr. Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center (DDHCC) between 1975
      and 1985. The median follow-up time was 7 years and 4 months. One-hundred and
      seventy-four (99%) of these patients were treated primarily with radiotherapy
      after extensive staging. According to the Royal Marsden Staging Classification,
      132 patients (75%) were stage I, 8 (5%) were stage IIA, 21 (12%) were stage IIB,
      9 (5%) were stage IIC and for 6 stage II patients a further subdivision was not
      possible. At 5 years the actuarial relapse-free survival and the actuarial
      survival were 95 and 99%, respectively, for stage I, and 77 and 91% for stage II.
      Prophylactic irradiation of the mediastinum has not been performed for stage II
      patients. Five stage II patients relapsed in the mediastinum. Four out of these
      five relapses were cured with chemotherapy, and in one case, in combination with
      radiotherapy, at the time of relapse. These results indicated that prophylactic
      irradiation of the mediastinum appeared to be unnecessary for stage II patients.
      Tumour markers were not useful in the discovery of metastases. Five years after
      treatment no relapses were seen. Therefore, it is proposed that a maximum follow
      up of 5 years is sufficient to measure disease-free survival.

PMID- 1438940
TI  - Prostate cancer treated by radiotherapy: a multivariate study.
AB  - According to respective proportions of evolutive status groups, results of
      multivariate studies are difficult to interpret. Among the 1099 cases of local
      form of prostate cancer, treated by radiotherapy from 1975 to 1982 in 16 French
      Anticancer Institutes, we can observe two homogeneous status groups of patients:
      disease-free survivors (285 cases) and patients who died of prostate cancer (278
      cases). These correspond to 51% of the whole population. Among other things, they
      are comparable in size, for age at the beginning of radiotherapy and for delay
      between histologic diagnostic and radiotherapy. We chose to analyse them using
      multivariate analysis. To take survival into account, we used a Cox model and
      Kaplan-Meier curves; the group deceased of prostate cancer was further analyzed
      by a tree-structured regression method. The Cox model and the Kaplan-Meier curves
      confirmed two main explicative factors: Stage (p < 0.0001) and tumor grade (p <
      0.001). Poorer evolution occurs in extracapsular forms and grade I has better
      survival than others. The tree-structured regression method indicates two other
      pejorative factors: hormonotherapy prior to radiotherapy and the presence of
      cardiovascular pathology. Though the pelvic dose does not appear to be a main
      explicative factor, it seems to improve survival and delay between radiotherapy
      and recurrence or metastasis in some categories of cases. Other factors such as
      tumor dose, age and delay between diagnosis and radiotherapy were not found to be
      significant. These results cannot be extended to the whole population for which
      they do not constitute a predictive study. We consider them as "baseline
      data".(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1438943
TI  - Gonadotrophin-induced oestrus and ovulation in the polyovulatory marsupial
      Sminthopsis crassicaudata.
AB  - Sminthopsis crassicaudata is a small (approximately 16 g) polyovulatory dasyurid
      marsupial which has the potential to become an important model species. This
      study examined the use of exogenous hormone treatment to manipulate the breeding
      of S. crassicaudata and as a means to obtain timed developmental stages for
      further study. Two thirds (21/32) of the females treated with 1.0 or 5.0 I.U. of
      pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) had ovulated when the contents of their
      reproductive tracts were examined 5 or 6 days later. Only one of eight females
      treated with 0.2 I.U. PMSG had ovulated in the same period. Although a similar
      proportion of animals treated with 1.0 I.U. and 5.0 I.U. ovulated, the ovulation
      rate was significantly lower when the higher dose was administered (mean of 10.5
      ovulations per female v. 3.8 ovulations per female). In addition, the ovaries of
      6/8 of the animals treated with 5.0 I.U. PMSG had luteinized follicles with
      degenerating oocytes, evidence of over-stimulation. Follicular luteinization also
      occurred in 4/8 animals treated with 1 I.U. PMSG. Oocyte maturation and ovulation
      occurred following PMSG stimulation without injection of synthetic gonadotrophin
      releasing hormone (GnRH). Treatment with a 10-micrograms dose of GnRH following
      PMSG seemed to have no effect on the outcome. Of the females that had ovulated by
      Day 6, three quarters had mated and some had fertilized eggs and two-cell embryos
      in the oviducts and uteri. In a further series of experiments the subsequent
      development of embryos conceived after PMSG treatment was assessed. Two thirds of
      treated females mated within 7 days of treatment and 60% of these matings yielded
      embryos when examined 11 days after PMSG. However, full-term development was only
      achieved in one animal. Gonadotrophin treatment of S. crassicaudata thus may have
      application as a means to obtain mature or maturing oocytes, cleavage stage
      embryos and blastocysts, but at this stage it appears not to offer promise as a
      method to achieve full-term development.

PMID- 1438942
TI  - Some effects of feeding Tribulus terrestris, Ipomoea lonchophylla and the seed of
      Abelmoschus ficulneus on fetal development and the outcome of pregnancy in sheep.
AB  - Pregnant ewes and their fetuses were chronically catheterized using aseptic
      procedures under general anaesthesia, and the ewes were then fed either lucerne
      chaff alone, or lucerne mixed with dried plant material obtained from one of
      three forb species, Tribulus terrestris (caltrop), Abelmoschus ficulneus (native
      rosella) or Ipomoea lonchophylla (cowvine), from 103-112 days gestation until
      term. Ingestion of the forb material was not associated with changes in maternal
      blood gases, plasma glucose concentrations, or the length of gestation. However,
      ingestion of rosella seed was associated with a significantly greater fall of
      fetal arterial pO2 with advancing gestation, and ingestion of either rosella or
      cowvine was associated with significantly lower fetal mean arterial pressure at
      127-131 days, compared with the Tribulus and lucerne groups. Also, the incidence
      of fetal breathing movements was significantly lower, and did not show a normal
      day-night variation, in each of the forb-fed groups compared with the lucerne-fed
      group. The results indicate that these forb plants may contain substances that
      affect the functional development of the fetal brain. Although ingestion of these
      plants did not appear to affect the outcome of pregnancy in this study, the
      possibility that these forbs have a greater impact in sheep populations with poor
      nutrition and in more extreme environmental conditions is discussed.

PMID- 1438944
TI  - Comparison of a swim-up technique with the Hamilton Thorn Motility Analyser for
      measurement of sperm velocity and motility.
AB  - A colorimeter-based swim-up (SU) technique was developed and compared with a
      Hamilton Thorn Motility Analyser (HTM) for the evaluation of ram semen. SU
      parameters (sperm velocity in microns s-1, proportion of rapidly moving
      spermatozoa, and motility index) were significantly correlated (r from 0.47 to
      0.98, P from < 0.05 to < 0.001) with most HTM parameters in semen containing
      known proportions of motile and immotile spermatozoa and in semen that was cold
      shocked, aged, diluted-stored and frozen-thawed. There were, however, no
      significant correlations between sperm velocity and HTM parameters in the fresh
      semen studied, possibly because of the small number of observations (n = 21) and
      narrow range of semen quality (83 +/- 2% subjectively scored motility) available.
      It is concluded that the swim-up technique is a simple, cheap, objective and
      reliable means of measuring sperm velocity and motility in ram semen.

PMID- 1438945
TI  - Effects of the progesterone antagonist RU486 on myometrial activity in vivo in
      early pregnant and pseudopregnant rats.
AB  - Myometrial activity in vivo was quantified by video-laparoscopy in early pregnant
      rats given doses of RU486 which caused embryo abortion and blocked the action of
      progesterone on the vagina. All treatments diminished the frequency of circular
      contractions and abolished the curling movements of the uterus which are
      characteristic of pregnant, pseudopregnant and progestin-treated rats. The
      effects of RU486 on circular contractions were similar in pseudopregnant rats,
      i.e. they were not a consequence of embryo abortion. These results support the
      thesis that increased myometrial circular contractions in early pregnancy and
      pseudopregnancy are induced by increasing levels of progesterone. Effects of
      RU486 on longitudinal contractions were more complex: the highest dose inhibited
      longitudinal contractions on Day 5 of pregnancy and pseudopregnancy, but
      increased their frequency on Day 6. The acute inhibition of longitudinal
      contractions by RU486 was unexpected and the mechanism remains to be elucidated.
      The later increase in the frequency of longitudinal contractions appears to be
      due to antagonism of progesterone by RU486. The frequency of caudal longitudinal
      contractions on Day 6 in mated rats given RU486 was similar to that in unmated
      oestrous rats, but the frequency of cranial longitudinal contractions was
      significantly higher. These results support the hypothesis that stimuli received
      during copulation may have long-term effects on myometrial activity, by
      increasing pacemaker activity at the cervix.

PMID- 1438946
TI  - Addition of superoxide dismutase and catalase does not necessarily overcome
      developmental retardation of one-cell mouse embryos during in-vitro culture.
AB  - There is evidence that developmental blocks observed in mouse embryos during
      culture in vitro may be the result of free radical-induced cellular dysfunction.
      We have further investigated this possibility by examining the effects of 5% O2
      and the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), on
      mouse 1-cell embryo development. The results demonstrate that development of CF-1
      strain embryos is enhanced by incubating in 5% CO2, 5% O2, 90% N2 (5/5/90)
      compared with 5% CO2 in air (5/air) (P < 0.01) and by culturing in the presence
      of other embryos. Superoxide dismutase significantly improved embryonic
      development (35 +/- 5% v. 17 +/- 4% morulae/blastocysts, P < 0.001) at a
      concentration of 100 units mL-1 when embryos were gassed under 5/5/90. At a
      concentration of 1000 units mL-1, SOD was detrimental to development (P < 0.001).
      Injection of SOD and/or CAT into embryos had not effect on development.
      Development has also been examined in four strains of mice (CF-1, Quackenbush
      (random-bred strains), Balb-C (inbred) and the F1 hybrid of CBA x C57B1) in the
      presence or absence of 100 units SOD mL-1 and 1000 units CAT mL-1. Embryonic
      development was markedly different among the four strains examined, with F1
      hybrid > Balb-C (P < 0.001), Balb-C > CF-1 (P < 0.05) and Quackenbush embryos
      performing very poorly compared with the embryos of the other three strains (P <
      0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1438947
TI  - Comparison of the SpermMar test with currently accepted procedures for detecting
      human sperm antibodies.
AB  - To eliminate the possibility of immunological infertility in spontaneously
      infertile and re-anastomosed men, a screening test that can be applied directly
      to semen is desirable. The SpermMar test is one such possibility. In this study,
      indirect tests for sperm antibodies using the commercial SpermMar test have been
      applied to a panel of sera whose reactions in the tube slide agglutination test
      (TSAT), gelatin agglutination test (GAT) and sperm immobilization test (SIT) for
      sperm antibodies are well characterized. The results from the SpermMar tests are
      compared directly with those obtained from Immunobead tests carried out at the
      same time. Results from screening tests performed on 30 sera confirmed complete
      correspondence between the GAT, SpermMar and Immunobead tests. When sera were
      titrated, the Immunobead test proved slightly more sensitive than the GAT and the
      SpermMar test was slightly more sensitive than the Immunobead test. The SpermMar
      test proved easier to use and to assess than the Immunobead test and it is
      recommended for consideration as a screening procedure for sperm antibodies
      despite the fact that at this stage only IgG antibodies can be detected.

PMID- 1438948
TI  - Characterization and autoradiographic localization of the epidermal growth factor
      receptor in the jejunum of neonatal and weaned pigs.
AB  - Receptors for epidermal growth factor (EGF) were characterized on the intestinal
      membranes of newborn, sucking and weaned pigs. 125I-labelled EGF (125I-EGF)
      binding to membrane homogenates was time-dependent, saturable, linearly
      correlated to membrane protein and reversible. Analysis of saturation curve data
      revealed a single class of 125I-EGF binding sites in both newborn and weaned
      pigs. Receptor levels tended to be higher in weaned than in newborn pigs; the
      converse was true for the receptor affinity. In contrast, virtually no binding
      sites were found on the intestinal membranes of sucking pigs. Autoradiography in
      vitro of jejunal sections of newborn and weaned pigs demonstrated 125I-EGF
      receptors on both microvillar and basolateral surfaces of enterocytes, suggesting
      that luminal EGF could influence developmental processes in the intestine either
      directly or indirectly following transcytosis of the ligand.

PMID- 1438949
TI  - Differential mRNA expression of the phosphoprotein p19/SCG10 gene family in mouse
      preimplantation embryos, uterus, and placenta.
AB  - The p19/SCG10 gene family encodes two structurally related cellular proteins that
      are implicated in signal transduction during differentiation of mammalian cells.
      Previous evidence suggests that both genes are expressed in a stage-specific
      manner but that expression of p19 is widespread, whereas that of SCG10 is
      restricted to developing neurons. To determine at which developmental stage these
      two genes are first expressed, we have probed for mRNA transcripts in
      preimplantation embryos and the utero-placental unit of the mouse. As determined
      by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify reverse-transcribed RNA, expression
      of both genes was detected in preimplantation embryos, although the temporal
      pattern was distinct. p19 mRNA appeared transiently in 2-cell embryos, was
      undetectable in morulae and early blastocysts and reappeared in expanded
      blastocysts. In contrast, embryonic expression of SCG10 mRNA commenced in morulae
      and was maintained through to the blastocyst stage. Interestingly, only SCG10
      expression could be detected in blastocysts derived from cultures of 2-cell
      embryos. During the post-implantation period, SCG10 transcripts were only
      detected in the uterus and placenta by reverse transcriptase-PCR, whereas p19
      mRNA could be detected by Northern blotting and showed stage-specific expression
      in both tissues. The data confirm that, at later developmental stages, expression
      of p19 is widespread while that of SCG10 is more restricted. The expression of
      both genes in preimplantation embryos suggests distinct but possibly overlapping
      roles for p19 and SCG10 in early mammalian development.

PMID- 1438950
TI  - Duration of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium and quantitative histology
      of the testis of the South American white-belly opossum (Didelphis albiventris),
      Marsupialia.
AB  - The duration of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium of the South American
      white-belly opossum, as obtained by autoradiography after intratesticular
      injection of tritiated thymidine, was estimated to be 17.3 +/- 0.1 days (mean +/-
      s.d.). Quantitative histological analysis was performed on testes from animals
      caught both in mating and non-mating periods of the annual reproductive cycle.
      Significant differences were found in the volumetric proportion of Leydig cells,
      but the spermatogenic yield remained constant throughout the year. The numerical
      ratio between type A spermatogonia and zygotene primary spermatocytes (1:12.0),
      as well as daily sperm production (4.8 x 10(6) sperm cells per g of testis
      parenchyma per day), were found to be lower than those reported in most eutherian
      mammals.

PMID- 1438951
TI  - Monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody to progesterone with internal image
      properties.
AB  - An auto-anti-idiotypic approach was used to generate mouse monoclonal anti
      idiotypic antibody E9F11F6 (Ab2) to progesterone. A conjugate of 4-pregnane 3,20
      dione and bovine serum albumin was used as the immunogen. E9F11F6 bound to a
      rabbit anti-progesterone antibody in a linear concentration-dependent manner. It
      inhibited the binding of [3H]progesterone to a monoclonal anti-progesterone
      antibody, E9D5 (Ab1); this inhibition was concentration dependent. Results from
      chase experiments showed that this inhibitory activity of Ab2 was not due to
      steric hindrance but was a result of direct binding to the ligand combining site.
      Indirect immunofluorescence studies also showed that Ab2 and progesterone bound
      to similar binding sites on Ab1. Overall, the results suggest that E9F11F6
      contains an internal image of at least part of the progesterone molecule, and
      that it can be classified as an Ab2 beta antibody. This anti-idiotypic antibody
      may be of value in further studies of endocrine and reproductive physiology.

PMID- 1438953
TI  - Effect of ovariectomy on blastocyst expansion and survival in ferrets (Mustela
      putorius furo).
AB  - The initial objective was to investigate whether progesterone alone can support
      full blastocyst expansion in ferrets ovariectomized on Day 5 post coitum (p.c.).
      By Day 11 p.c. blastocysts from control animals had expanded to approximately
      2000 microns in diameter, whereas by Days 11 or 14 p.c. blastocysts from
      ovariectomized animals given progesterone had diameters of < 1000 microns. Thus,
      ovarian factors in addition to progesterone are apparently required for normal
      blastocyst expansion in this species. Subsequent experiments indicated that an
      initial stage of expansion (from approximately 200 microns to approximately 400
      microns) occurred regardless of whether ovariectomy was performed on Day 2 or 3
      p.c. A second stage of expansion resulted in blastocysts of approximately 700
      microns in diameter and it occurred in ovariectomized animals if progesterone was
      given or if ovariectomy was delayed until Day 5 p.c. A third phase of expansion
      resulted in blastocysts of approximately 2000 microns in diameter and occurred
      only if ovariectomy was delayed until Day 8 p.c. Although blastocyst expansion
      appeared normal in these animals, implantation did not occur in the absence of
      progesterone replacement. In addition, blastocysts retained in the oviduct by
      ligation of the uterotubal junction failed to expand beyond approximately 400
      microns in diameter. These results suggest that progesterone acts upon the uterus
      to promote blastocyst expansion up to a diameter of approximately 1000 microns
      and that additional ovarian factors are required for further blastocyst
      expansion.

PMID- 1438952
TI  - Differential pituitary response to GnRH in pregnant Booroola-Assaf and Assaf
      ewes.
AB  - Pituitary response to exogenous gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was
      examined at a late stage of pregnancy in 10 Booroola-Assaf ewes heterozygous at
      the FecB locus (FecBFec+) and in 11 Assaf ewes that were non-carriers (Fec+Fec+).
      Basal plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
      concentrations were similar in the two genotypes. Administration of 100
      micrograms of GnRH resulted in a significant increase (P < 0.05) in plasma LH and
      FSH concentrations in most of the ewes treated. Maximal responses were observed
      105-135 min after GnRH treatment. Pituitary responses to GnRH were significantly
      lower (P < 0.05) in Booroola-Assaf than in Assaf ewes. The decreased pituitary
      responsiveness observed in FecB gene carriers compared with Fec+Fec+ ewes might
      be due to differences in the concentrations of ovarian or uterine hormones
      modulating the release of gonadotrophin. The results suggest that FecB-specific
      differences can be observed at the pituitary level.

PMID- 1438954
TI  - Oviductal fluid protein patterns in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) during the
      menstrual cycle.
AB  - Oviducts were obtained from monkeys on Days 8, 14, 19 and 25 of the menstrual
      cycle and changes in the pattern of luminal fluid proteins were examined by
      sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).
      Densitometric analysis after periodic acid Schiff's reagent (PAS) and coomassie
      blue staining of the gels revealed 85 and 95 kDa proteins only up to Day 14
      whereas a 130 kDa glycoprotein persisted up to Day 19 and reached a nadir at mid
      menstrual cycle (Day 14). The absence of the 130 kDa glycoprotein in the serum
      and its presence in cytosolic preparations up to Day 19 suggest that it is of
      oviductal origin. The 130 kDa glycoprotein is of particular interest since it was
      present in the oviductal fluid during mid cycle, a period when the oviduct
      participates in gamete transport, fertilization and embryo development. The
      conclusion drawn from this study is that the protein profile of monkey oviductal
      fluid changes during the menstrual cycle.

PMID- 1438955
TI  - Early endometrial microvascular response during implantation in the rat.
AB  - The endometrial microvasculature becomes intimately involved in the events of
      early implantation. This paper reviews aspects of this microvascular involvement
      during implantation in the rat. There is a major increase in vascular
      permeability surrounding the implanting embryo, leading to significant local
      changes in microvascular architecture. This is followed by a shutdown of the
      capillaries closest to the embryo as the primary decidual zone develops. At this
      time, endometrial capillaries adjacent to the primary decidual zone become
      dilated, with over twice the average diameter of intersite capillaries.
      Endometrial neutrophils are reduced around the implanting blastocyst, mitigating
      against a role for these inflammatory mediators in vascular aspects of the
      implantation process. Angiogenesis does not appear to increase at the
      implantation site, although there is an increase in production of endometrial
      endothelial cell migratory signal a few hours prior to the commencement of
      implantation.

PMID- 1438956
TI  - Morphometric and freeze fracture studies of human endometrium during the peri
      implantation period.
AB  - This paper reviews recent morphological work on peri-implantation endometrium
      collected from the Monash University In vitro Fertilization (IVF) Programme.
      Comparisons of endometrial tissue collected from women who had undergone
      different superovulation regimens demonstrated that significant structural
      differences could be detected by morphometry and ultrasound, but not by routine
      histopathology. Morphometric studies on endometrium from agonadal women receiving
      hormone replacement therapy demonstrated major differences between women with
      identical endocrine profiles. A biopsy inadvertently taken from one of these
      patients at the time of implantation was not of the appearance classically
      believed to be associated with receptivity for implantation. Studies have shown
      that the tight junction structure of endometrial epithelium is regulated during
      the menstrual cycle, suggesting that the integrity of the epithelial barrier may
      be important in the preparation of the endometrium for implantation.

PMID- 1438957
TI  - Glycoconjugates as positive and negative modulators of embryo implantation.
AB  - A variety of studies indicate that complex glycoproteins participate in or
      modulate adhesive interactions occurring during embryo implantation. In
      particular, proteoglycans and proteins that bind proteoglycans are involved at
      multiple stages of this process. Identification of these binding proteins and the
      molecular controls over glycoconjugate expression are required to develop a
      comprehensive understanding of the implantation process.

PMID- 1438958
TI  - Studies in vitro of effects of steroid hormones and the blastocyst on endometrial
      function in the sheep.
AB  - Normal endometrial function is a result of regulation by the combination of
      ovarian steroids and local agents arising from within the embryo-maternal unit.
      We have used in vitro techniques to examine the role of steroid hormones and
      ovine trophoblast interferon on endometrial function in the ewe.
      Immunolocalization of oestrogen receptors in endometrial tissue demonstrated
      marked changes throughout the cycle and in early pregnancy with maximal
      concentrations during the follicular and very early luteal phases. Protein
      secretion from highly purified cultured ovine stromal and epithelial endometrial
      cells, and the direction of secretion from polarized epithelial cells, has been
      examined by incorporation of [35S]methionine and by one- and two-dimensional gel
      electrophoresis. Protein synthesis is greater in stromal than in epithelial cells
      and more protein is secreted apically than basally from epithelial cells. A
      number of common and some different proteins are secreted by the two cell types.
      One secreted protein is matrix metalloproteinase-3 (stromelysin) which degrades
      components of basement membranes. Ovine trophoblast interferon attenuates the
      production of prostaglandins from ovine endometrial cells but its action is not
      by an effect on localization or concentration of the enzyme prostaglandin
      synthase or on expression of the gene for prostaglandin synthase. Such studies in
      vitro contribute to our understanding of how the endometrium is prepared for
      implantation.

PMID- 1438959
TI  - Embryo-derived platelet activating factor.
AB  - Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is secreted by the preimplantation embryo of a
      number of species. The role of this secretion is yet to be fully elucidated.
      Evidence to date indicates that it has an important function as an autocrine
      stimulant of embryonic metabolism, growth and viability. Production of PAF by
      embryos appears to be severely compromised in vitro. This may be a major cause of
      reduced embryo viability following embryo culture and it may also help to explain
      the controversy in the literature regarding the production of PAF by embryos. PAF
      also alters several aspects of maternal physiology during early pregnancy
      including endometrial prostaglandin secretion. The significance of these changes
      remains to be defined.

PMID- 1438960
TI  - Roles of prostaglandins (PG) F2 alpha, E1, E2, adenosine, oestradiol-17 beta,
      histone-H2A and progesterone of conceptus, uterine or ovarian origin during early
      and mid pregnancy in the ewe.
AB  - Pregnancy does not prevent the local transfer or accumulation of prostaglandin F2
      alpha (PGF2 alpha) by the corpus luteum (CL), the number of receptors for PGF2
      alpha or the binding of PGF2 alpha to the CL. However, the conceptus does depress
      the response of the CL to PGF2 alpha during early pregnancy. PGE1 and PGE2 appear
      to be blood-borne antiluteolysins that are delivered locally to prevent the
      actions of PGF2 alpha during early pregnancy, since they prevent luteolysis only
      when given by chronic intrauterine infusion adjacent to the ovary with the CL.
      The concentrations of PGE1 and PGE2 in the endometrium and PGE2 in uterine venous
      plasma increase during early pregnancy. A Day 10 embryo transferred to a Day 6
      progestagen-primed recipient ewe advances the time at which PGE2 is secreted. The
      uterine venous PGE/PGF2 alpha ratio is 12:1 at midgestation, and exogenous PGF2
      alpha increases the placental secretion of oestradiol-17 beta. This is followed
      by increases in PGE secretion when endogenous PGF2 alpha increases. Both
      oestradiol-17 beta and PGE may protect placental secretion of progesterone from
      PGF2 alpha, since PGF2 alpha causes the CL to regress but does not affect
      placental progesterone or pregnancy in the presence or absence of the ovary.

PMID- 1438961
TI  - Nutrition-progesterone interactions during early pregnancy in sheep.
AB  - A series of studies was undertaken to determine the relationship between level of
      feed intake during early pregnancy, concentrations of peripheral progesterone and
      embryo survival in sheep. Ewes fed twice maintenance (2M) rations after joining
      had a pregnancy rate of 48%. Ewes fed 2M rations and given exogenous progesterone
      between 8 and 14 days after mating had a pregnancy rate of 76%. Ewes fed rations
      calculated to maintain live weight (maintenance, M) or fed restricted rations
      during this same time had pregnancy rates ranging from 60 to 68%, with no
      beneficial effect of progesterone supplement. Concentrations of peripheral plasma
      progesterone on Day 12 after mating were inversely related to the level of feed
      intake; this relationship reflected an increase in the metabolic clearance rate
      of progesterone with increased feed intake (1/2M, M and 2M) without concomitant
      changes in the entry rate of the hormone. Injection of epostane, an inhibitor of
      the enzyme 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, caused 'windows' of progesterone
      reduction for 48-h periods over Days 9-13 after mating. The sheep embryo was
      sensitive to low peripheral plasma progesterone concentrations only on Days 11
      and 12 after mating. Blood flow rates in the portal vein of ewes fed either 1/2M,
      M or 2M rations for 7 days were directly related to the level of feed
      intake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1438962
TI  - Endocrine events associated with endometrial function and conceptus development
      in cattle.
AB  - Regulation and timing of luteolysis during the bovine oestrous cycle is
      controlled by the initiation and length of progesterone stimulation. Results have
      demonstrated that early administration of progesterone shortens the interoestrous
      interval in the ewe and cow, and removal of progesterone stimulation through a
      progesterone receptor antagonist delays luteolysis in sheep. Current data suggest
      that down-regulation of progesterone receptors in the uterine epithelium may
      initiate events involved in the synthesis and release of prostaglandin F2 alpha
      (PGF2 alpha) for luteolysis. Progesterone is also involved in the stimulation of
      the uterine secretions that regulate conceptus growth and the release of the
      bovine trophoblast protein-1 (bTP-1) necessary for inhibiting endometrial PGF2
      alpha release. Conceptus secretion of bTP-1, a Type I trophoblast interferon,
      increases the concentration of the cellular enzyme 2',5'-oligoadenylate
      synthetase within the endometrium. The biological role of 2',5'-oligoadenylate
      synthetase in the establishment of pregnancy is discussed.

PMID- 1438963
TI  - Uterine secretion of prostaglandin F2 alpha in the ewe: regulation at the
      cellular level by ovarian hormones and the conceptus.
AB  - Changes in the ability of the uterus to secrete prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2
      alpha) in response to oxytocin may play a critical role in determining when
      endogenous secretion of PGF2 alpha begins. The cellular mechanisms that regulate
      uterine secretion of PGF2 alpha in response to oxytocin have not been completely
      defined. Several intracellular components that may contribute to this regulation
      have been studied, including phospholipase C (PLC), prostaglandin H endoperoxide
      synthase (PGS) and receptors for oxytocin. All of these components change during
      the oestrous cycle and are associated with the development of uterine secretory
      responsiveness to oxytocin. Progesterone appears to play the principal role in
      regulating oxytocin receptors, PLC and PGS. The conceptus appears to suppress the
      increase in receptors for oxytocin and PLC activity that typically occurs around
      the time of luteal regression.

PMID- 1438964
TI  - Regulation of bovine endometrial prostaglandin secretion and the role of bovine
      trophoblast protein-1 complex.

PMID- 1438965
TI  - Roles of ovine trophoblast protein-1 and oestradiol/prolactin in the
      establishment of pregnancy in sheep and pigs.

PMID- 1438966
TI  - Cellular regulation of corpus luteum function during maternal recognition of
      pregnancy.

PMID- 1438967
TI  - Genes for the trophoblast interferons and their distribution among mammals.
AB  - The trophoblast interferons (IFN), ovine and bovine trophoblast protein-1 (oTP-1
      and bTP-1 respectively), possess many properties in common with other Type I IFN,
      including antiviral and antiproliferative activities. However, they differ from
      other IFN subtypes in terms of their specific pattern of expression and poor
      responsiveness to viral stimulation. We describe here data that suggest that the
      trophoblast IFN genes are also distinct from other Type I IFN genes with respect
      to species distribution, promoter organization and transcriptional regulation.
      These results have important implications in terms of trophoblast IFN gene
      evolution and add credence to the concept that the trophoblast IFN genes are a
      distinct IFN gene subtype well suited for their role in early pregnancy.

PMID- 1438968
TI  - Neutral endopeptidase modulates endothelin-1-induced airway smooth muscle
      contraction in guinea-pig trachea.
AB  - This study was designed to evaluate the role of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) in
      modulating the airway smooth muscle contraction induced by endothelin-1 in
      isolated segments of guinea-pig trachea. Endothelin-1 (10(-9)-10(-6) M) produced
      a concentration-dependent contraction that reached a maximum by 30 min. The NEP
      inhibitor leucine-thiorphan (10(-5) M) significantly increased the contractile
      response to endothelin-1. The addition of leucine-thiorphan to tracheal segments
      precontracted by 10(-9) and 10(-8) M endothelin-1 increased isometric tension by
      181 +/- 65% (mean +/- 1 S.E.M.; P less than 0.05) and by 138 +/- 49% (P less than
      0.05), respectively. In contrast, the kininase II inhibitor captopril and the
      peptidase inhibitors leupeptin and bestatin had no effect. Preincubation of
      endothelin-1 with 1 microgram recombinant human NEP decreased the contractile
      activity of endothelin-1 by 72 +/- 9%, whereas no effect was observed using heat
      inactivated NEP. We conclude that NEP modulates endothelin-induced contraction of
      airway smooth muscle in the guinea-pig trachea.

PMID- 1438969
TI  - Different relative abundance of neurotensin and neuromedin N in bovine ocular
      tissues.
AB  - Neurotensin (NT) and neuromedin N (NN) are regulatory peptides encoded by the
      same gene and located in tandem within a common precursor. Using specific
      radioimmunoassays for both peptides, their relative abundance in extracts of
      bovine ocular tissues has been examined. Within the retina, the molar
      concentration of NN was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) than that of NT.
      In contrast, within both choroid/sclera and iris/ciliary bodies, the molar
      concentration of NT was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) than that of NN.
      These data demonstrate that the theoretical molar ratio of 1:1, which would
      result from complete processing of both peptides from the common precursor, does
      not occur in any of the ocular tissues examined. Reverse phase HPLC of extracts
      of each ocular tissue confirmed the differential abundance of NT and NN. These
      data would suggest that the common NT/NN precursor is differentially-processed
      within bovine ocular tissues, a finding which may be of physiological
      significance.

PMID- 1438970
TI  - The effect of TGF alpha on intestinal solute transport.
AB  - The effect of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) and epidermal growth
      factor (EGF) on 3-O-methylglucose transport was examined in vitro under short
      circuited conditions in stripped rabbit jejunum. Mucosal EGF, 60 ng/ml,
      stimulated a significant increase in net 3-O-methylglucose transport (Jnet 0.67
      +/- 0.15 vs. 0.90 +/- 0.15 microEq/cm2/h; P less than 0.03; n = 6) due to an
      increased mucosal to serosal flux (Jms 1.2 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.2 microEq/cm2/h;
      P less than 0.03). In contrast, TGF alpha, when applied to both mucosal and
      serosal surfaces at concentrations of either 60 (n = 6) or 150 (n = 9) ng/ml had
      no effect on either mucosal to serosal (Jms) or net transport (Jnet) of 3-O
      methylglucose. TGF alpha did induce a significant increase in the serosal to
      mucosal flux (Jsm 60 ng/ml 0.44 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.51 +/- 0.03, 150 ng/ml 0.55 +/-
      0.03 vs. 0.64 +/- 0.05 microEq/cm2/h; P less than 0.05). When brush border
      surface area was examined after exposure to either 60 ng/ml TGF alpha or saline
      vehicle for 2 h in in vivo isolated jejunal loops no significant difference was
      found (control 53 +/- 1.9; n = 35 vs. TGF alpha 52 +/- 1.9 microns 2; n = 29).
      Bioactivity of transforming growth factor alpha was assessed by an gastric acid
      secretion bioassay and found to be intact. These data provide further evidence
      for separate and distinct functional roles for these peptides in some biological
      systems.

PMID- 1438971
TI  - Influence of VIP on the number of enterochromaffin and mucosal mast cells in the
      colon of the rat.
AB  - The possibility that VIP (Vasoactive intestinal peptide) could influence the
      enterochromaffin (EC) cell secretion of serotonin (5HT) and the action of VIP on
      the mast cell population of lamina propria were investigated in Wistar rat colon
      infused with a short chain fatty acid solution (sodium acetate), during a 1 h
      period. Under the action of an intravenous injection of synthetic porcine VIP, 14
      micrograms/kg/h), the number of EC cells diminished significantly in the cecum
      and left colon, when compared to non-injected animals, both infused with a sodium
      acetate solution. At the same time, the number of mucosal mast cells in the
      crypts and lamina propria decreased significantly in the cecum. The postulate we
      put forward is that these VIP-induced changes are exerted through the stimulation
      of 5HT released from EC cells not only under normal physiological conditions but
      probably also under pathological conditions.

PMID- 1438972
TI  - Immunodetection of secretogranin II in animal and human tissues by new monoclonal
      antibodies.
AB  - Secretogranin II (chromogranin C) is an acidic tyrosine-sulfated secretory
      protein, known to be a marker of neuroendocrine secretory products and of
      specific neuroendocrine tumours. In order to obtain anti-secretogranin II
      monoclonal antibodies for cell biology studies and, in particular, for clinical
      applications, we immunized mice with a secretogranin II-enriched fraction
      prepared from homogenates of bovine anterior pituitaries. Hybridoma supernatants
      obtained from the splenocytes of a hyperimmune mouse, screened with an enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay, were analyzed by both immunocytochemistry and two
      dimensional immunoblotting. By using this experimental approach, we were able to
      identify two monoclonal antibodies (8G1 and 5A7) which recognize bovine
      secretogranin II. Both immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting revealed that one
      of them, the 5A7 antibody, cross-reacts with the human antigen. The distribution
      patterns of the immunoreactivity, obtained by immunocytochemistry with the 5A7
      antibody in animal and human tissues, partially overlap those, obtained by using
      a polyclonal antiserum elicited against bovine secretogranin II, previously
      described. Moreover, the 5A7, but not the polyclonal antibody, reacts with some
      duodeno-jejunal cells. In conclusion, both the 5A7 and 8G1 antibodies can be
      useful for cell biology studies. The 5A7 antibody can be used for the detection
      of secretogranin II in human tissues and should be of help in clinical and
      pathological practices.

PMID- 1438973
TI  - Neuropeptide Y 16-36 inhibits mucociliary activity but does not affect blood flow
      in the rabbit maxillary sinus in vivo.
AB  - Recent investigations have shown neuropeptide Y (NPY) to be present in the rabbit
      maxillary sinus, and NPY is known to be released upon sympathetic nerve
      stimulation. To study, in vivo, the effect on mucociliary activity and blood
      flow, NPY 1-36 and some of its analogues were injected intra-arterially. The
      effects of the Y1/Y2 agonist NPY 1-36 was compared with the ones of the Y2
      agonist NPY 16-36, the Y1-agonist [Leu31,Pro34]NPY and the Y1/Y2 agonist peptide
      YY. Mucociliary response was recorded photoelectrically and expressed as a
      percentage of the basal mucociliary activity immediately prior to challenge. The
      effect on blood flow was measured with laser Doppler flowmetry and expressed as a
      percentage of the mean blood flow during the 60 s preceding challenge. NPY 1-36
      and NPY 16-36 both reduced mucociliary activity dose-dependently at equimolar
      dosages (0.024-1.2 nmol/kg). The greatest effect was seen after the highest
      dosage tested. NPY 1-36 reduced mucociliary activity by 14.6 +/- 1.8%, and NPY 16
      36 by 13.2 +/- 1.4%. At the highest dosage tested the Y1 receptor agonist
      [Leu31,Pro34]NPY did not significantly reduce mucociliary activity, whereas PYY
      reduced mucociliary activity by 15.0 +/- 1.8%. Injections of NPY 16-36 had no
      effect on blood flow whereas NPY 1-36, [Leu31,Pro34]NPY and PYY all reduced blood
      flow dose-dependently. Maximal decrease was seen at the highest dosage tested and
      was 47.1 +/- 5.4%, 70.4 +/- 7.4% and 58.2 +/- 8.4%, respectively. These findings
      suggest the mucociliary effects to be mediated via Y2 receptors whereas blood
      flow is regulated via Y1 receptors.

PMID- 1438974
TI  - Effect of chymotrypsin on human cholecystokinin release: use of clostripain in
      the validation of a new radioimmunoassay.
AB  - We have developed and validated a new radioimmunoassay for cholecystokinin. In
      order to establish that the antiserum binds large and small forms of CCK to an
      equal extent, we used the microbial enzyme clostripain, which cleaves large forms
      of CCK yielding CCK 8. Cleavage by clostripain of synthetic and purified forms of
      CCK, and CCK extracted at from human jejunum and CCK in human plasma was found
      not to affect immunoactivity, indicating that the antiserum reacts similarly with
      all forms of CCK. There is controversy over whether intraduodenal trypsin
      inhibits release of CCK in man. We used our radioimmunoassay to investigate
      whether chymotrypsin, rather than trypsin, could be the major mediator of
      negative feedback control of CCK release. Six normal subjects received an
      intraduodenal infusion of L-phenylalanine and L-tryptophan on two occasions, with
      the addition of either 1 g/l bovine chymotrypsin or 1 g/l albumin. Plasma CCK
      concentrations rose in response to the amino acid infusion, but were not affected
      by the addition of chymotrypsin, indicating that this enzyme is not a mediator of
      CCK feedback regulation in man.

PMID- 1438975
TI  - Cardiovascular and respiratory actions of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating
      polypeptides.
AB  - Effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP38) and
      PACAP27 on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems were examined and compared
      to those of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in anesthetized beagle dogs.
      Intravenous PACAP27 and PACAP38 produced a decrease in mean arterial blood
      pressure (MBP), and an increase in both femoral arterial blood flow (ABF) and in
      frequency of respiration (FR) with a dose-dependent relationship between 10 and
      300 pmol/kg. PACAP27 produced a dose-dependent increase in heart rate (HR)
      between 10 and 300 pmol/kg while PACAP38 induced tachycardia which was not dose
      dependent. Administration of 300 pmol/kg PACAP38 and PACAP27 produced extreme
      hypertension after transient hypotension. PACAP38 produced severe bradycardia
      after transient tachycardia. The cardiovascular actions of PACAP38 were
      persistent compared to those of PACAP27. Intravenous injection of 10-300 pmol/kg
      VIP brought about hypotension, tachycardia and an increase in ABF and FR with a
      dose-dependent relationship. VIP, at 2000 pmol/kg, did not produce the biphasic
      response obtained by a large dose of PACAP38. The present studies demonstrate
      that PACAP partially possesses VIP-like cardiovascular and respiratory actions
      and that the C-terminal 11 amino acid residues of PACAP38 are presumably
      responsible for a prolongation of its actions.

PMID- 1438976
TI  - Functional control of chromogranin A and B concentrations in the body of the rat
      stomach.
AB  - The chromogranins are soluble, acidic, proteins which are frequently co-stored in
      neuroendocrine cells with biogenic amines. In the gastric mucosa chromogranin A
      is localized to enterochromaffin-like cells which are the main source of
      histamine, and which are known to be regulated by circulating gastrin. We have
      used radioimmunoassays selective for the extreme C-terminal regions of
      chromogranin A and B to examine changes in gastric extracts following modulation
      of the gastric luminal contents. There were decreased concentrations of the two
      chromogranins in tissue extracts of rats after food withdrawal (which lowered
      plasma gastrin concentrations); inhibition of acid secretion with the H+/K(+)
      ATPase inhibitor, omeprazole (which increased plasma gastrin concentrations)
      raised chromogranin A and B concentrations both in fasted rats, and in rats fed
      ad libitum. There was no evidence for altered patterns of posttranslational
      cleavage of chromogranin A or B with these treatments. The data indicate that
      chromogranin A and B concentrations in gastric ECL cells are regulated in
      parallel with histamine production, and are consistent with the idea that the
      chromogranins play a role in the formation and stabilization of the secretory
      granule involved in amine storage.

PMID- 1438977
TI  - Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) inhibits rat alveolar macrophage
      phagocytosis and chemotaxis in vitro.
AB  - Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) has been shown to inhibit lymphocyte
      function and is believed to modulate the immune response. We explored the
      possible immunomodulatory effects of VIP on alveolar macrophage (AM) function by
      examining its influence on AM phagocytosis and chemotaxis. Rat AMs were collected
      by bronchoalveolar lavage and incubated for 90 min with polystyrene beads in the
      presence or absence of VIP in concentrations from 10(-11) M to 10(-5) M. VIP
      significantly (P less than 0.0001) inhibited AM phagocytosis of polystyrene beads
      at concentrations of 10(-11) to 10(-6) M, with a maximal inhibition of 35% at 10(
      6) M (but no inhibition at 10(-5) M). AMs were also incubated for 90 min in a
      chemotaxis chamber with endotoxin-activated rat serum (EARS) as a
      chemoattractant, with or without VIP in concentrations from 10(-9) to 10(-6) M.
      VIP significantly (P less than 0.0001) inhibited AM chemotaxis by at least 30% at
      concentrations of 10(-9) to 10(-6) M, with a maximal inhibition of 46% at 10(-7)
      M. These results indicate that VIP, in concentrations from 10(-11) to 10(-6) M,
      inhibits rat AM function as assessed by phagocytosis of polystyrene beads and
      chemotaxis to EARS. The inhibition of alveolar macrophage function is another
      mechanism by which VIP may modulate the immune response in the lung.

PMID- 1438978
TI  - Unlike VIP, the VIP-related peptides PACAP, helodermin and helospectin suppress
      electrically evoked contractions of rat vas deferens.
AB  - We have compared the effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and of the
      VIP-related peptides pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) 1-27
      and 1-38, helodermin, helospectin I and helospectin II, on the electrically
      evoked twitches in the isolated vas deferens of the rat. While VIP was virtually
      without effect, PACAP 1-38 suppressed the electrically evoked twitches
      effectively and in a concentration-dependent manner (pIC50 value 7.5). The
      naturally occurring N-terminal fragment PACAP 1-27 was less effective than PACAP
      1-38 (Imax values 37.2% suppression compared to 76.5%) and less potent. The C
      terminal fragment PACAP 16-38 was virtually inactive. Also helodermin and
      helospectin I+II suppressed the electrically evoked twitches effectively and in a
      concentration-dependent manner (pIC50 values 6.9; 7.2; 6.8, respectively). The
      three peptides produced similar maximum reduction of the twitches (74-80%). The
      findings suggest that PACAP, helodermin and helospectin suppress the electrically
      evoked contractions in the rat vas deferens via receptors distinct from VIP
      receptors.

PMID- 1438979
TI  - Difference between the antisecretory mechanisms of opioids and the somatostatin
      analogue octreotide in cholera toxin-induced small intestinal secretion in the
      rat.
AB  - The antisecretory effect of morphine and the somatostatin analogue octreotide was
      studied on cholera toxin-induced secretion in anaesthetized rats. Small
      intestinal secretion was induced with cholera toxin. Morphine (6 mg/kg b.wt.) and
      the somatostatin analogue octreotide (3 micrograms/kg b.wt.) reduced the cholera
      secretion in rats whose intestines had been subjected to sympathetic denervation.
      This was in contrast to the secretion elicited by helodermin which was unaffected
      by octreotide and morphine in the presence of nicotinic ganglionic blockade. The
      alpha-adrenergic receptor blocker phentolamine (1-2 mg/kg b.wt. i.v.) and the
      inhibitor of sympathetic transmitter release guanethidine (5 mg/kg b.wt. i.v.)
      abolished the antisecretory effect of morphine on the cholera secretion in
      contrast to the antisecretory effect of somatostatin which was unaffected by the
      alpha-blockade. It is proposed that the antisecretory effect of morphine and
      octreotide on cholera toxin-induced secretion was conducted at a step prior to
      the activation of the secretory epithelium and that the antisecretory effect of
      morphine was mediated indirectly by interaction with sympathetic nerve terminals
      in the intestine. The findings are consistent with a model where octreotide and
      morphine inhibit the nervous secreto-motor reflex activated by the cholera toxin.

PMID- 1438980
TI  - Helospectin-like immunoreactivity in the esophagus.
AB  - Helospectin I and II are two non-amidated, VIP-like peptides, isolated from the
      salivary gland venom of the lizard Heloderma horridum. The lower esophagus of
      cat, sheep and man was analyzed for helospectin-like immunoreactivity.
      Immunocytochemistry revealed helospectin-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the
      muscle layers, submucosa and mucosa of all species studied. In myenteric ganglia
      helospectin-immunoreactive nerve fibers and nerve cell bodies could be seen.
      Double immunostaining for helospectin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)
      revealed their coexistence in nerve fibers and cell bodies throughout the lower
      esophagus of all species tested. Double immunostaining for helospectin and
      neuropeptide Y revealed their coexistence in nerve fibres surrounding vascular
      and non-vascular smooth muscle. In the cat and sheep (but not in man) a
      subpopulation of the helospectin/VIP-containing fibers stored, in addition,
      substance P. The helospectin-immunoreactive material in the esophagus probably
      constitutes a novel neuropeptide. The distribution of the VIP/helospectin
      immunoreactive neurons and fibers indicates their possible involvement in the
      regulation of motor and secretory activities.

PMID- 1438981
TI  - Bivariate assay for cleaved atrial natriuretic factor (ANF(101-105/106-126)) in
      sheep plasma.
AB  - A bivariate assay has been developed to measure both ANF, and cleaved ANF
      (ANF(101-105/106-126)) the primary product of endopeptidase-24.11 action on rat
      ANF(101-126). The assay employed two different antisera directed to the carboxy
      terminal and ring regions of ANF to enable discrimination and measurement of
      intact endogenous ANF(99-126) and infused cleaved ANF (rat ANF(101-105/106-126))
      in sheep plasma extracts. The assay which was validated by HPLC analysis of
      plasma extracts, had sufficient accuracy and precision to measure the metabolic
      clearance rate and half-life of cleaved ANF when infused in normal sheep.

PMID- 1438982
TI  - Molecular cloning, sequence analysis and translation of proenkephalin mRNA from
      rat heart.
AB  - Proenkephalin mRNA is abundant in rat cardiac ventricles but surprisingly low
      levels of opioid peptides or precursor forms derived from proenkephalin are
      present in tissue extracts. Proenkephalin mRNA in rat heart was characterized at
      the molecular level with the use of cDNA sequencing, in vitro translation, and
      primer extension. Two positive proenkephalin cDNA clones were obtained by
      screening approx. 20,000 recombinant phages from a heart cDNA library. Sequence
      analysis of the cDNA clones indicated that the heart transcript was the same form
      as in rat brain, but differed from the germ cell-specific testis transcript that
      utilizes a different transcriptional start site. Heart proenkephalin cRNA
      translated efficiently, resulting in the synthesis of a 35 kDa protein that was
      immunoprecipitated by an antibody specific to the protein. The transcriptional
      initiation sites utilized in the heart were the same as in the brain, based on
      primer extension studies. These data suggest that the proenkephalin transcript
      found in abundance in rat heart is the same form as found in the brain, and
      differs from the testis-type transcript. We conclude that the scant level of
      proenkephalin-derived peptides in the heart is not due to an intrinsic inability
      of the proenkephalin transcript to translate.

PMID- 1438983
TI  - Discovery of a distinct binding site for angiotensin II (3-8), a putative
      angiotensin IV receptor.
AB  - We report here the discovery of a unique and novel angiotensin binding site and
      peptide system based upon the C-terminal 3-8 hexapeptide fragment of angiotensin
      II (NH3(+)-Val-Tyr-Ile-His-Pro-Phe-COO-) (AII(3-8) (AIV)). This fragment binds
      saturably, reversibly, specifically, and with high affinity to membrane-binding
      sites in a variety of tissues and from many species. The binding site is
      pharmacologically distinct from the classic angiotensin receptors (AT1 or AT2)
      displaying low affinity for the known agonists (AII and AIII) and antagonist
      (Sar1,Ile8-AII). Although a definitive function has not been assigned to this
      system in many of the tissues in which it resides, AIV's interaction with
      endothelial cells may involve a role in endothelial cell-dependent vasodilation.
      Consequent to this action, AIV is a potent stimulator of renal cortical blood
      flow.

PMID- 1438984
TI  - Role of cholecystokinin in mediating GRP-stimulated gastric, biliary and
      pancreatic functions in man.
AB  - To explore the mechanisms of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP)-induced gut
      functions in man, we investigated the effect on gallbladder contraction, exocrine
      pancreatic secretion and gastric acid secretion of a recently developed CCK
      receptor antagonist, loxiglumide, on GRP-stimulated effects in six healthy human
      subjects. Intravenous infusion of graded doses of synthetic human GRP (1-27
      pmol/kg per h) caused significant and dose-dependent increases in pancreatic
      enzyme and gastric acid secretions and in gallbladder contraction. Intravenous
      administration of loxiglumide (10 mg/kg per h) abolished GRP-stimulated
      gallbladder contraction, augmented gastric acid secretion, but did not affect
      exocrine pancreatic secretion. The results suggest that endogenously released CCK
      is (1) responsible for GRP-stimulated gallbladder contraction, and (2) involved
      in regulating gastric acid secretion. The results further suggest that GRP
      stimulated pancreatic secretion is not mediated by CCK, but has a direct response
      of GRP on the exocrine pancreas.

PMID- 1438985
TI  - Measurement of T-kinin in rat plasma using a specific radioimmunoassay.
AB  - T-kinin (Ile-Ser-Bradykinin) has been isolated only from the plasma of the rat
      and it is unclear whether the peptide, or its biosynthetic precursor, T
      kininogen, circulates in the human. An NH2-terminally directed antiserum to T
      kinin was raised in rabbits using an immunogen prepared by coupling the free -SH
      group of T-kinin extended from its COOH-terminus by a cysteinyl residue to an 
      NH2 group on human serum albumin. A radioimmunoassay was developed using this
      antiserum and 125I-labelled [Tyr10]T-kinin as tracer that was sensitive (least
      detectable concentration 3 fmol/tube) and relatively specific for T-kinin (cross
      reactivity with bradykinin and kallidin less than 1%). Treatment of rat plasma
      with an excess of trypsin in the presence of a kininase inhibitor generated T
      kinin immunoreactivity equivalent to 455 +/- 71 pmol/ml (mean +/- S.E.M.; n = 9)
      and this immunoreactivity was eluted from a reversed-phase HPLC column as a
      single peak with the same retention time as synthetic T-kinin. In contrast,
      treatment of plasma from healthy human subjects (n = 8) and from patients (n = 8)
      with inflammation due to acute or chronic gastrointestinal disease under the same
      conditions did not generate any detectable T-kinin immunoreactivity. It is
      concluded, therefore, that T-kininogen, the biosynthetic precursor of T-kinin in
      the rat, is either absent from the plasma of human subjects or is present in a
      concentration less than 30 fmol/ml. Similarly, T-kininogen is probably not an
      acute phase reactant in humans.

PMID- 1438986
TI  - Direct effect of bombesin on pancreatic and gastric growth in suckling rats.
AB  - Bombesin stimulates growth of the stomach and pancreas in adult rats. Part of
      this effect is thought to be through the release of CCK following bombesin
      treatment. We studied the effect of long term administration of bombesin on the
      pancreas and stomach in suckling rats and examined the action of bombesin using
      specific CCK antagonist (CR-1409) and bombesin antagonists (GRP19-26, D-Phe19,
      Leu26CH2NHCOCH3 = cpd 17; L-686,095-001C002 = cpd 23). Rat pups (7-days-old) were
      given bombesin (20 micrograms/kg body wt. twice a day) or vehicle (1% gelatin)
      for 9 days. Bombesin stimulated pancreatic and gastric growth (tissue weight,
      total protein and DNA content all increased). Pancreatic trypsinogen
      concentration and content showed a 2-3-fold increase. CR-1409 at 6 mg/kg body
      wt., a dose that blocked the trophic action of CCK-33 when given to pups at
      similar ages, did not affect the bombesin-stimulated growth of the pancreas or
      the increase in trypsinogen level. At 2.4 mg/kg body wt., cpd 17 partially
      blocked and cpd 23 completely blocked the trophic effect of bombesin on the
      pancreas and stomach and the increase in trypsinogen level in the pancreas. RU
      486, a type II glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, given at a dose sufficient to
      block the physiological action of glucocorticoid, had no effect on bombesin
      stimulated growth of the pancreas. Thus, in vivo, bombesin acts directly on the
      neonatal pancreas and stomach.

PMID- 1438987
TI  - Effects of atrial natriuretic factor on norepinephrine release in the rat
      hypothalamus.
AB  - The effects of atrial natriuretic factor on the mechanisms involved in
      norepinephrine release were studied 'in vitro' in slices of Wistar rat
      hypothalamus. Atrial natriuretic factor (10, 50 and 100 nM) decreased spontaneous
      [3H]norepinephrine secretion in a concentration dependent way. In addition, the
      peptide (10 nM) also reduced acetylcholine induced output of norepinephrine. The
      atrial factor (10 nM) was unable to alter the amine secretion when the incubation
      medium was deprived of calcium or when a calcium channel blocker such as
      diltiazem (100 microM) was added. In conclusion, atrial natriuretic factor
      reduced both spontaneous and acetylcholine evoked [3H]norepinephrine release in
      the rat hypothalamus. These findings suggest that the atrial natriuretic factor
      may alter catecholamine secretion by modifying the calcium available for the
      exocytotic process of catecholamine output.

PMID- 1438988
TI  - High potency of a new bombesin antagonist (RC-3095) in inhibiting serum gastrin
      levels; comparison of different routes of administration.
AB  - This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and duration of action of a new
      bombesin antagonist D-Tpi6,Leu13 psi (CH2NH)Leu14-bombesin (6-14) (RC-3095),
      given by different routes of administration, in suppressing gastrin releasing
      peptide (GRP(14-27))-stimulated gastrin release in rats. First, we showed that
      GRP(14-27) itself was highly active when administered by different routes. GRP(14
      27), given to rats at a dose of 25 micrograms/100 g b.w. significantly increased
      serum gastrin levels 3 and 6 min after intravenous and for more than 30 min after
      subcutaneous administration or pulmonary inhalation. RC-3095 was then injected
      subcutaneously, intravenously and also delivered by pulmonary inhalation at a
      dose of 10 micrograms/100 g b.w. in each case to seven male rats 2, 30, 60 or 120
      min prior to i.v. administration of 5 micrograms GRP(14-27). RC-3095 administered
      2 min prior to GRP(14-27) decreased the gastrin response to GRP(14-27), measured
      as area under the curve, by 81% in the intravenously injected group and 64% in
      the pulmonary inhalation group in the first 6 min. When GRP(14-27), was given 30
      min after administration of RC-3095, the gastrin response was decreased by 52% in
      the subcutaneous group, 49% in the pulmonary inhalation group and 11% in the
      intravenous group during the first 6 min. RC-3095 delivered subcutaneously or by
      pulmonary inhalation 1 h before GRP(14-27) was also able to significantly inhibit
      gastrin release. Analysis of the data revealed that the bioavailability of RC
      3095 given by the pulmonary inhalation route was about 69% of the s.c.
      route.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1438989
TI  - Localization of calbindin D28K-like immunoreactivity in fish gill: a light
      microscopic and immunoelectron histochemical study.
AB  - The presence of calbindin D28K in fish (Heteropneustes fossilis) gill was studied
      by use of specific antibodies raised against chick duodenal 28 kDa calbindin in
      immunoperoxidase and electron-microscopic labelling experiments. Immunoreactivity
      for calbindin D28K, which has been observed in the intestine of a number of avian
      and mammalian species, is reported for the first time in the gill. It was
      primarily located in neuroendocrine (NE) cells. Some immunoreactivity was also
      located in the glycocalyx of the non-endocrine cells, i.e., the pavement cells,
      which have ultrastructural characteristics quite different from those of
      endocrine cells. The calbindin-immunopositive NE cells were ascertained in both
      gill filamental and lamellar epithelium. All the NE cells contained secretory
      granules as the most distinctive feature of these cells. Ultrastructurally, two
      types of NE cells were distinguished according to the morphology of their
      secretory granules. The calbindin immunoreactivity in the NE cells was stimulated
      when the calcium concentration of the ambient water was reduced. The present
      findings suggest that NE cells exert some as yet unidentified function related to
      calcium-mediated processes involving the expression of calbindin.

PMID- 1438990
TI  - Desmethylimipramine pretreatment prevents 6-hydroxydopamine induced somatostatin
      receptor reduction in the rat hippocampus.
AB  - Several studies have shown anatomical and functional interconnections between
      catecholaminergic and somatostatinergic systems. To assess whether somatostatin
      (SS) may act presynaptically on catecholamine neurons, SS receptors were measured
      using radioligand test-tube binding assays on synaptosomes from hippocampus and
      frontoparietal cortex--areas that are innervated by catecholaminergic neurons
      with different densities and that have a high number of SS receptors--from
      control and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-treated rats. Intracerebroventricular
      (i.c.v.) injection of the catecholamine neurotoxin 6-OHDA (0.78 mg free base/kg
      of body weight in saline with 0.1% ascorbic acid) lowered hippocampal and
      frontoparietal cortical noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) levels at 1 week
      following the injection. Pretreatment of rats with desmethylimipramine (DMI) (40
      mg/kg, intraperitoneal) prevented the drop in NA levels, but was not effective in
      attenuating DA depletion in the two brain areas studied. Treatment with 6-OHDA
      lowered the number of 125I-Tyr11-SS receptors in the hippocampus (130 +/- 19 vs.
      266 +/- 16 fmol/mg protein, P < 0.001), whereas in the frontoparietal cortex a
      non significant 20% reduction in receptor number was found. The dissociation
      constants of 125I-Tyr11-SS binding to synaptosomes from frontoparietal cortex
      (0.65 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.60 +/- 0.04, P not significant) and hippocampus (0.44 +/-
      0.04 vs. 0.63 +/- 0.14, P not significant) were similar in control and treated
      groups. Pretreatment with DMI reversed up to 80% of the effect of 6-OHDA on
      hippocampus SS receptors. DMI alone had no observable effect on the number and
      affinity of SS receptors. The 6-OHDA and the DMI treatment did not affect SLI
      levels in the brain areas studied. These results suggest that a portion of the
      hippocampal SS receptors may be localized presynaptically on the noradrenergic
      and dopaminergic nerve terminals.

PMID- 1438991
TI  - Adrenalectomy does not change CRF secretion induced by interleukin-1 from rat
      perifused hypothalami.
AB  - Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a potent hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (H-P-A) axis
      activator. The hypothalamus is considered one of the main sites of action of IL-1
      on the H-P-A axis, inducing CRF secretion, which is modulated by glucocorticoids.
      Glucocorticoids, which modulate CRF release by a negative feedback inhibition,
      have been postulated to exert a permissive action on the IL-1 effect on CRF
      secretion. Using a continuous perifusion system of rat hypothalami, the results
      of the present study indicate that at the same concentrations, IL-1 beta exerted
      a more potent effect than IL-1 alpha stimulating CRF secretion. The increase in
      hypothalamic CRF release induced by IL-1 was rapidly inhibited by both
      dexamethasone and corticosterone. However, adrenalectomy 2 or 8 days before did
      not modify CRF secretion induced by IL-1 from the in vitro perifused hypothalami.
      These data indicate that IL-1 does not seem to induce CRF secretion by
      interfering with an impeding action of glucocorticoids, although the cytokine
      effect is negatively modulated by corticosteroids.

PMID- 1438992
TI  - Endogenous CCK is not involved in the regulation of interdigestive
      gastrointestinal and gallbladder motility in conscious dogs.
AB  - In this study, we assessed whether endogenous CCK is involved in the regulation
      of interdigestive gastrointestinal and gallbladder motility in conscious dogs
      with force transducers chronically implanted in the gastric antrum, duodenum,
      jejunum and gallbladder. L364718 at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg was used as a specific
      and potent CCK receptor blocker, and its effect on spontaneous interdigestive
      motility and plasma motilin release were examined. Additionally, the contractile
      activity of exogenous synthetic canine motilin (20-100 ng/kg) with or without
      pretreatment with L364718 at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg was assessed. Whether the
      blocking effect of L364718 on CCK receptors was sufficient or not was verified by
      giving CCK-OP at a bolus dose of 10 ng/kg. As a result, cyclic changes in
      interdigestive motor activity and the plasma motilin concentration were not
      affected by pretreatment with L364718. L364718 also did not affect motilin
      induced interdigestive contractile activity in the gastrointestinal tract and
      gallbladder. On the other hand, the effect of CCK-OP was completely abolished by
      pretreatment with L364718. It is concluded that endogenous CCK is not involved in
      the regulation of spontaneous and motilin-induced interdigestive contractions in
      the canine gastrointestinal tract and gallbladder.

PMID- 1438993
TI  - Mechanistic data in scientific public health decisions.

PMID- 1438994
TI  - Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues--a plan for improved participation by
      governments.
AB  - The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR), which is responsible for
      establishing maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides on food, has a vital
      role in protecting the public health and facilitating international trade. Codex
      MRLs are based on scientific evaluations by expert panels that constitute the
      Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR). These panelists estimate an
      acceptable daily intake for a pesticide and expected level of residue remaining
      in food when the pesticide is used according to good agricultural practice. The
      goals of the CCPR are not being fully achieved. Governments are generally not
      accepting Codex MRLs; instead, technical and procedural aspects of the JMPR and
      CCPR process are being criticized. The CCPR is responding to valid criticisms of
      the process; however, governments may still lack the will to seek harmonization
      of pesticide limits for food in international trade. Overcoming this problem will
      be difficult, but not impossible. A plan of action is proposed that allows
      countries to selectively accept Codex MRLs, increase the number of chemicals in
      the JMPR/CCPR system for evaluation, and be responsive to both their consumers
      and their food producers without compromising national health and safety
      standards and competitive trade advantages.

PMID- 1438995
TI  - Perspectives on formaldehyde toxicity: separating fact from fantasy.
AB  - Formaldehyde (IUPAC name, methanal) is one of the simplest, most ubiquitous
      molecules in our environment and troposphere. Exposure to large amounts of
      formaldehyde can produce a variety of respiratory and dermatologic problems in
      humans, in both the home and the workplace. However, in spite of anecdotal
      reports on formaldehyde-induced illness over the past 20 years there is a paucity
      of data regarding its potential as either an allergen or an antigen in humans. In
      addition, many of our current impressions about formaldehyde are based on studies
      of dubious scientific validity. In this review, we discuss the biological and
      chemical properties of formaldehyde and its presence in materials which we come
      in contact with, and finally attempt to put in perspective our current
      understanding of the detrimental effects of formaldehyde on our health, or lack
      thereof. There is no evidence at present that formaldehyde causes immunological
      diseases. Finally, and unfortunately, many of the studies have drawn invalid
      conclusions and are based on poorly controlled anecdotal observations.

PMID- 1438996
TI  - An alternative to the USEPA's proposed inhalation reference concentrations for
      hexavalent and trivalent chromium.
AB  - The passage of the Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990 reflects a growing public
      concern over human exposure to air toxics. The EPA is currently identifying
      inhalation reference concentrations (RfCs) to be used as risk criteria for
      determining whether existing or predicted ambient levels of chemicals are above
      acceptable concentrations. This paper evaluates the risk assessment methods used
      by the EPA to develop the recently proposed RfC (0.002 micrograms/m3) for both
      trivalent chromium [Cr(III)] and hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)]. Based on our
      evaluation, these RfC values do not appear to have been developed in accordance
      with standard Agency procedures or classic toxicology methods for setting RfCs.
      In particular, the "key" study used by the EPA [E. Lindberg and G. Hedenstierna
      (1983) Arch. Environ. Health 38, 367-374] as the basis for their proposal is not
      appropriate because it examined only the effects of exposure to chromic acid mist
      [Cr(VI)], even though most environmental exposure is to Cr(VI) and Cr(III) as a
      dust. The health hazards of Cr(VI) as an acid mist are significantly different
      from those associated with Cr(VI) as a dust. Further, the EPA's key study did not
      evaluate exposure to Cr(III), the toxicity of which is significantly different
      from both particulate Cr(VI) and chromic acid mist. Finally, the uncertainty
      factors used to account for data gaps were unusually high, thus providing RfC
      values equal to or below most naturally occurring environmental levels and
      standard analytical limits of detection. In this paper, we propose alternative
      RfCs for Cr(VI) as chromic acid mist and for Cr(VI) as a dust. Based on the
      Lindberg and Hedenstierna study, we derived an RfC of approximately 0.12
      micrograms/m3 for chromic acid mist. An RfC of 1.2 micrograms/m3 is recommended
      for particulate Cr(VI) based on animal studies that evaluate long-term inhalation
      exposure to Cr(VI) dust. Due to its low toxicity, an RfC for Cr(III) is not
      warranted.

PMID- 1438997
TI  - Thyroid follicular cell carcinogenesis: results from 343 2-year carcinogenicity
      studies conducted by the NCI/NTP.
AB  - The National Toxicology Program data base on 343 mouse and rat carcinogenesis
      studies was reviewed to determine the frequency of and relationship between
      hyperplastic and neoplastic follicular lesions of the thyroid gland. The
      frequency of chemically related lesions in the thyroid was also compared to
      neoplastic lesions in the liver to investigate a possible correlation. The
      percentage of studies observed to have positive or equivocal chemically related
      thyroid proliferative lesions was rats: male, 14%, female, 11%; mice; male, 8%;
      female, 9%. When positive in one sex for a given chemical, there was a 60-80%
      chance of it being positive in the other sex of the same species, although
      interspecies correlation was not as strong. Thyroid follicular cell neoplasia
      without hyperplasia was uncommon in mice but was common in rats. Chemicals that
      caused thyroid proliferative changes were more likely (P less than 0.05) to
      produce liver neoplasms (both within and between species) than were chemicals
      causing no thyroid changes. However, this correlation was far from perfect, with
      many chemicals producing thyroid proliferative lesions, but not liver neoplasms
      and vice versa. This suggests that universal correlations are not supportable by
      the data and that individual chemicals should be evaluated on a case-by-case
      basis.

PMID- 1438998
TI  - Role of maternal toxicity in assessing developmental toxicity in animals: a
      discussion.
AB  - The belief that any drug or chemical, when administered at a high enough dose,
      can be expected to produce fetal malformations is not consistent with the facts.
      However, the stress associated with maternally toxic doses can be expected to
      result in associated, often transient, fetal abnormalities that may not be the
      result of deviant organogenesis. Sometimes the toxicity toward the pregnant
      animal, including her embryos/fetuses since they are hardly in a sanctuary, is
      severe enough to result in resorption of the embryo or abortion of the fetus.
      Thus, it is possible that the embryolethality and other indications of
      developmental toxicity, produced by some drugs and chemicals, may be the result
      of a mechanism(s) other than selective toxicity toward the embryo. Also, some
      test materials have been shown to affect maternal homeostasis, thereby disrupting
      support to the embryo, without causing significant overt toxicity to the embryo
      or dam; e.g., the endocrine system of the dam is altered. Routine testing has
      thus far revealed a relatively limited number of true teratogens, although a
      large number of drugs and chemicals have resulted in fetal effects such as
      developmental variations when administered at doses that approach lethal levels.
      Such effects on the fetus should be expected when the maternal animals are
      stressed by the high dosages usually employed. A better understanding of the
      etiology and biological relevance of the embryo/fetal deviations often seen in
      developmental toxicology studies might help to avoid the sometimes unjustified
      withholding of potentially useful drugs and chemicals from the marketplace.

PMID- 1438999
TI  - An analysis of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency neurotoxicity testing
      guidelines.
AB  - Few of the more than 65,000 chemicals listed in the Environmental Protection
      Agency (EPA) inventory have been tested for neurotoxicity. The nervous system may
      be especially vulnerable to toxicants because many compounds can cross the blood
      brain barrier and induce irreversible damage. Additionally, the young, the
      elderly, and other sensitive populations may be particularly susceptible to
      neurotoxic injury. The EPA has developed guidelines including neurobehavioral,
      neuropathological, and neurochemical tests for the identification of possible
      neurotoxicants. In the present review, tests included in the current EPA
      guidelines for neurotoxicity testing are described and evaluated. The main
      benefit of the tests is that regulators are familiar with them, thus facilitating
      interpretation. Additionally, validation data on these tests are available for
      many known neurotoxicants. These factors make it difficult to introduce new
      methods that may include in vitro and other techniques. The current in vivo tests
      can be costly and prolonged and can involve the use of many laboratory animals,
      making them inappropriate for generalized use on existing chemicals. It is
      suggested that alternative tests be incorporated for screening of large numbers
      of chemicals and that testing priority be given to chemicals on the basis of
      structure/activity relationships, lipophilicity, bioaccumulation, and extent of
      exposure.

PMID- 1439000
TI  - [The significance of the AMES and the NTM systems to determine the prognosis in
      patients with differentiated cancer of the thyroid].
AB  - The author considers that the AMES and TNM systems are reliable in determining
      the prognosis in patients with well differentiated thyroid carcinoma. In low risk
      patients with tumors less than 2 cm in diameter, total lobectomy and hormonal
      suppression are sufficient therapy. In other patients, total or subtotal
      thyroidectomy are advisable to facilitate further control and therapy. Total or
      subtotal thyroidectomy should always be done in high risk patients. Metastases to
      the regional lymph nodes are not an important risk factor, but they should always
      be excised. Radioactive iodine therapy is not useful for low risk patients.

PMID- 1439001
TI  - [Cloning of kDNA minicircles in different species of Leishmania and its use as
      probes for diagnosis].
AB  - The present study describes the cloning procedure for fragments of kinetoplast
      DNA minicircles from different Leishmania species and its use for detecting the
      presence of these parasites. Our methodology was as follow: the DNA of the
      kinetoplast from Leishmania mexicana amazonensis and Leishmania braziliensis
      panamensis was extracted, purified and digested with the enzyme Dra I. These
      fragments were cloned in the site for Hinc II in the plasmid pKS. E. coli was the
      bacterial strain used for transforming and amplifying the cloned fragments; the
      selection was carried out in LB medium supplemented with ampicillin. With the
      clones suspected to be positives we run a Southern blot and total kDNA, from each
      Leishmania species, was used as hybridization probe. Finally, the cloned purified
      fragments were tested as diagnostic probes against kDNA from eleven different
      species of Leishmania and one of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites. After cloning,
      transforming, amplifying and selecting, we obtained two probes of fragments of
      kDNA minicircles: one from L. m. amazonensis and the other from L. b. panamensis.
      Both probes showed high sensitivity for diagnosing cutaneous Leishmania complexes
      (Mexicana or Braziliensis); however, we observed a low grade crossreaction
      between some species belonging to the same complex. It is necessary to continue
      studies in order to obtain subfragments of these probes with a higher grade of
      specificity at the level of species and subspecies.

PMID- 1439002
TI  - [Fetal cardiocirculatory physiology].
AB  - The authors analyzed the physiology of fetal circulation and its variations
      during hypoxia. They propose a systematic approach which would allow early
      diagnosis of hypoxia during its initial phases, as a contribution in order to
      reduce perinatal morbidity and mortality.

PMID- 1439003
TI  - ["Cholos de Cocle": determination of their racial mixture and genetic origins].
AB  - We have found, in this first genetic study of a supposedly admixed Panamanian
      population, that the cultural group known as "cholos of Cocle" constitute a
      trihybrid mixture, whose genetic pool has the following composition: 44%
      Amerindian, 38% Caucasoid and 18% Negroid. Similarly, we have detected Amerindian
      genes, such as LDHB--Gua and TFchi, in proportions that relate this population
      with the extant Ngawbe (Guaymi). Nevertheless, the very high frequency of variant
      PEPA--KUN seems to indicate the genetic contribution of Amerindian populations
      from Eastern Panama, possibly from the extinct indigenous group cueva. This
      variant is frequently found among the present-day Kuna, but has not been detected
      among Nagawbe and Bugle.

PMID- 1439004
TI  - [Laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy in patients with cancer of the prostate].
AB  - Laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy is a new procedure to determine the
      propagation grade of Prostatic adenoma and the treatment to recommend. It is a
      satisfactory procedure for the diagnosis, with minimal morbidity. It is described
      our early experience in Panama, 6 patients and 51 lymph nodes removed.

PMID- 1439005
TI  - [Acute epiglottitis in adults].
AB  - The author presents the clinical history of 14 patients, from 21 to 48 years of
      age, 10 men and 4 women, with a final diagnosis of acute epiglottitis who were
      hospitalized at Gorgas Army Hospital or at the San Fernando Clinic. All the
      patients had pharyngitis and dysphagia, a few with nasal voice, stridor and
      difficulty breathing, as the chief complaint. All the patients were initially
      intubated orally for diagnostic purposes and immediately after nasotracheal
      intubation was done until the patient improved in 2 or 3 days (one patient
      remained intubated for 5 days). All patients were kept in the Intensive Care Unit
      and were treated with Ampicillin and Chloramphenicol IV and lately with a second
      generation cephalosporin (Cefamandole). The patients allergic to Penicillin were
      treated with Clindamycin and Chloramphenicol. Corticosteroids were not used in
      any of the patients. There were no sequelae and none of the patients expired.

PMID- 1439006
TI  - [Changes in the pain produced by the peripheral venous injection of propofol when
      it is combined with lidocaine or fentanyl].
AB  - The author studied the use of intravenous Propofol for the relief of pain. He
      demonstrated that Propofol and 10 mg of Lidocaine intravenously decreased
      moderate or severe pain from 31.6% to 9% and that increasing the dose of
      Lidocaine did not significantly decrease the pain further. Fentanyl did not
      produce a statistically significant further diminution of the pain from the level
      of relief obtained with Propofol.

PMID- 1439007
TI  - [Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in patients with gastric cancer in Panama].
AB  - Cancer of the stomach is the second in incidence in Panama after the cancer of
      the prostata. It is studied now the incidence of infection due to Helicobacter
      pylori in patients with gastric carcinoma. It seems to be a significative
      relationship between the prevalence of gastric carcinoma and H. pylori
      infections. This observation is important because by the similar therapeutic
      implications in virus DNA hepatitis type B and hepatoma.

PMID- 1439008
TI  - [Isolation and identification of Gardnerella vaginalis in women with symptoms of
      bacterial vaginosis].
AB  - 70 samples of vaginal secretions were collected from women with bacterial
      vaginosis syndrome, that were attended in Nuevo Veranillo' Health Center. All
      samples were tested in order to determinate the presence of amine and to
      Gram'methods stain to observe the morphologic characteristics of the "Clue" cells
      (epithelial cells with adhered bacteria). Samples were cultured in a selective
      media of blood agar in Columbia base with colistine and nalidixic acid, and
      incubated in an environment of CO2 at 37 degrees C. Tests of oxidase, catalase,
      glucid fermentation, hippurate hydrolysis and starch hydrolysis were made on the
      grown colonies. 27 out of 70 samples resulted in positive cultures for
      Gardnerella vaginalis, 11 to pregnant women and 16 to nonpregnant women; among
      these, 14 women used some kind of contraceptive methods as DIU or pill.

PMID- 1439009
TI  - [The propedeutic course given at the School of Medicine and the academic
      performance of the students that passed it].
AB  - A report of the results of the Propedeutic Course in the Medical School of the
      University of Panama is informed. This course was established by the Academic
      Council, at the request of the Medical School, to diminish the registration form
      280 to 180 students, taking into account the low academic performance of the
      students with the lowest grades in the Admission Process. The study showed that
      the correlation indices of the students in the Propedeutic Course and in the
      first regular semester was low. The study also showed that the number of students
      from the Propedeutic Course who repeated or were separated from the school, was
      higher than those from the regular semester.

PMID- 1439010
TI  - [Rosa Maria Britton and Jose Guillermo Ros-Zanet: outstanding people of the
      Panamenian literature].

PMID- 1439011
TI  - Neoplastic and inflammatory processes of the peritoneum, omentum, and mesentery:
      diagnosis with CT.
AB  - Disease processes in the peritoneum, omentum, and mesentery occasionally are not
      recognized at radiologic examination. The authors have used computed tomography
      (CT) to categorize the radiologic appearances of the more common abnormalities
      into three basic patterns: (a) solid but relatively well-defined masses, (b)
      cystic-appearing masses, and (c) ill-defined or infiltrative processes. The most
      common solid masses to affect these anatomic regions are secondary neoplasms,
      which are associated with enhancement of the peritoneum on contrast material
      enhanced CT scans and, typically, ascites. The various cystic-appearing masses
      (including cystic lymphangioma, cystic mesothelioma, teratoma, and loculated
      ascites) and infiltrating masses (such as peritoneal mesothelioma, retractile
      mesenteritis, desmoid, and carcinoid) must be differentiated on the basis of
      clinical findings and additional imaging findings (eg, CT depiction of fat and
      calcium in teratomas and the radiating appearance of carcinoids). Although the CT
      appearances of some of the abnormalities overlap, classifying them by pattern is
      helpful in narrowing the range of the differential diagnosis.

PMID- 1439012
TI  - Clinical significance of pneumatosis of the bowel wall.
AB  - The presence of gas within the bowel wall is an uncommon condition that is
      typically first diagnosed by the radiologist. Although it is often seen on
      abdominal radiographs, computed tomography is more sensitive in demonstrating
      pneumatosis and its complications. There is a spectrum of disease states that
      produce this abnormality, ranging from the innocuous to the fatal. Its
      radiographic appearance is variable, particularly the location, extent, severity,
      and presence of pneumoperitoneum or portal venous gas. None of these imaging
      characteristics can be considered pathognomonic for the underlying cause of the
      pneumatosis. The radiologist must be aware of the different conditions associated
      with this entity, as well as their variable appearances.

PMID- 1439013
TI  - MR imaging of posterior fossa infarctions: vascular territories and clinical
      correlates.
AB  - Ischemic infarctions in certain vascular territories of the cerebellum and brain
      stem can produce some characteristic radiologic and clinical patterns. The
      cerebellum serves as a coordination center for the maintenance of equilibrium and
      muscle tone and refines the movements of the somatic muscles. The anatomy of the
      brain stem is extremely complex, and small infarcts can potentially be
      disastrous. MR imaging depicts the anatomy of the posterior fossa and infarcts in
      this region with greater accuracy than was previously possible. Familiarity with
      the vascular territories and patterns of infarction of the posterior fossa
      depicted with MR imaging and familiarity with the associated clinical symptoms of
      stroke in this region can help the radiologist recognize these infarcts and
      correlate clinical and radiologic findings. When patients are referred for MR
      imaging of the brain because of clinical findings suggestive of infarction, it
      may be useful to obtain coronal or sagittal views in addition to axial images to
      better depict the vascular distribution of a suspected ischemic lesion.

PMID- 1439014
TI  - Gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging of renal masses.
AB  - Preliminary reports indicate that gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR)
      imaging is highly accurate for diagnosis of renal masses. The authors demonstrate
      the clinical utility of MR imaging for evaluating renal masses in 26 patients for
      whom contrast material-enhanced computed tomography (CT) was contraindicated or
      inadequate for diagnosis or staging. Nine patients had complex cysts, one had a
      perinephric hematoma, and 16 had a solid mass (three of which were benign). All
      patients underwent MR imaging before and after administration of gadopentetate
      dimeglumine. Multiple imaging techniques and sequences were used. All tumors and
      no cysts enhanced with gadolinium. Even though the three benign tumors enhanced,
      two were differentiated from renal carcinoma on the basis of other imaging
      features. Unenhanced MR imaging was accurate in staging of renal carcinomas, and
      use of gadolinium did not improve staging accuracy. Gadolinium-enhanced MR
      imaging is indicated when results of CT and sonography are indeterminate for
      malignancy and when contrast-enhanced CT is contraindicated because of renal
      failure or adverse reaction to iodinated contrast material. In this latter
      instance, MR imaging is useful for both diagnosis and staging.

PMID- 1439015
TI  - Misleading aggressive MR imaging appearance of some benign musculoskeletal
      lesions.
AB  - After plain radiography has been performed, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is
      considered the modality of choice for the evaluation of suspected musculoskeletal
      lesions because of its exquisite sensitivity to changes in the signal intensity
      of marrow and soft tissue. That sensitivity, however, may lead to an
      overestimation of the aggressiveness and extent of some benign bone lesions,
      particularly in children. Such lesions include chondroblastoma, osteoid osteoma,
      eosinophilic granuloma, and stress fractures. Potentially misleading MR features
      commonly seen include prominent marrow edema, soft-tissue edema, and apparent
      mass effect adjacent to the bone lesion. Features that these lesions have in
      common that may explain the MR findings include associated inflammatory reactions
      caused by the lesions and their occurrence in childhood, when the periosteum is
      more loosely attached. Knowledge of the potential pitfalls encountered with MR
      imaging may help explain the discrepancy between the radiographic and MR
      appearances of these benign lesions and avoid misplaced reliance on MR imaging
      for a diagnosis. Radiography remains the single most valuable modality in
      determining a differential diagnosis for bone lesions.

PMID- 1439016
TI  - Effect of poor control of film processors on mammographic image quality.
AB  - With the increasingly stringent standards of image quality in mammography, film
      processor quality control is especially important. Current methods are not
      sufficient for ensuring good processing. The authors used a sensitometer and
      densitometer system to evaluate the performance of 22 processors at 16
      mammographic facilities. Standard sensitometric values of two films were
      established, and processor performance was assessed for variations from these
      standards. Developer chemistry of each processor was analyzed and correlated with
      its sensitometric values. Ten processors were retested, and nine were found to be
      out of calibration. The developer components of hydroquinone, sulfites, bromide,
      and alkalinity varied the most, and low concentrations of hydroquinone were
      associated with lower average gradients at two facilities. Use of the
      sensitometer and densitometer system helps identify out-of-calibration
      processors, but further study is needed to correlate sensitometric values with
      developer component values. The authors believe that present quality control
      would be improved if sensitometric or other tests could be used to identify
      developer components that are out of calibration.

PMID- 1439017
TI  - Receiver operating characteristic curves: a basic understanding.
AB  - Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) is one form of an objective measurement
      that can be used to compare newer imaging technologies against human observer
      performance (the ability of the expert radiologist). Use of ROC curves allows one
      to account for a continuum of radiologic interpretations when calculating
      sensitivity and specificity for an imaging modality and avoids the inaccuracies
      that arise from assuming that imaging findings are absolutely normal or abnormal.
      An ROC curve is generated by plotting sensitivity on the y axis as a function of
      [1-specificity] on the x axis for a continuum of diagnostic criteria. ROC curves
      allow visual analysis of the trade offs between the sensitivity and the
      specificity of a test with regard to the variable diagnostic criteria used by
      radiologists. Because ROC curve analysis is gaining wide acceptance in medical
      literature, an explanation of ROC methods with the use of simple examples is
      necessary to increase the knowledge and understanding of practicing radiologists.

PMID- 1439018
TI  - Congenital and acquired orthopedic abnormalities in patients with
      myelomeningocele.
AB  - This article presents a radiologic review of the spectrum of acquired and
      congenital orthopedic abnormalities found in patients with myelomeningocele.
      These abnormalities are caused predominantly by muscle imbalance, paralysis, and
      decreased sensation in the lower extremity. Iatrogenic injury, such as a
      postoperative tethered cord, may also cause bone abnormalities. Selected images
      were obtained from more than 800 children. Important entities presented include
      spinal curvatures such as kyphosis, scoliosis, and lordosis; subluxation and
      dislocation of the hip, coxa valga, contractures of the hip, and femoral torsion;
      knee deformities; rotational abnormalities of the lower extremity and external
      and internal torsion; ankle and foot abnormalities such as ankle valgus,
      calcaneus foot, congenital vertical talus (rocker-bottom deformity), and talipes
      equinovarus; and metaphyseal, diaphyseal, and physeal fractures. Familiarity with
      congenital abnormalities and an understanding of the pathogenesis of acquired
      disorders in patients with myelomeningocele are essential for proper radiologic
      interpretation and timely therapy.

PMID- 1439019
TI  - Confidence levels in diagnosis: what can we afford?

PMID- 1439020
TI  - Congenital malformations of the cervicothoracic lymphatic system: embryology and
      pathogenesis.
AB  - Familiarity with the embryology of the lymphatic system is helpful in
      understanding the pathogenesis and radiologic appearance of lymphangiomas of the
      cervicothoracic region. By considering anatomic location and radiologic
      appearance, one can predict the type of lymphangioma present, the primordial
      lymph sac from which the malformation arose, and when it formed in embryonic
      life. Cystic hygromas are composed of large, dilated lymphatic spaces. They form
      when a primordial lymph sac fails to reestablish communication with the central
      venous system from which it arose. These lesions may also result from an aberrant
      bud arising from a primordial lymph sac. Cavernous and capillary lymphangiomas
      are composed of smaller lymphatic channels. They form from abnormally sequestered
      buds of the developing lymphatic mesenchyme responsible for the fine meshwork of
      terminal branches in the periphery of the embryo. Their growth may be inhibited
      by the relatively tougher tissues in the periphery (eg, skin and muscle) compared
      with the relatively loose fatty connective tissue in which cystic hygromas form.
      Not only can all types of lymphangioma occur in one lesion, but lymphatic and
      vascular malformations may also coexist.

PMID- 1439021
TI  - Imaging manifestations of pleural tumors.
AB  - Although radiologic assessment of pleural tumors may be accomplished with several
      imaging modalities, the standard noninvasive techniques include chest radiography
      and computed tomography (CT). These examinations may be supplemented with
      magnetic resonance imaging and occasionally with ultrasound. Depending on the
      location, size, and underlying histologic features, pleural tumors may produce a
      spectrum of findings. CT is particularly useful in defining the location and
      extent of these masses. The authors present a review of basic pleural anatomy and
      imaging features of both benign and malignant pleural neoplasms. The pleural may
      be involved by one of several primary or metastatic tumors. Specific cell types
      are diffuse malignant mesothelioma (the most common plain radiographic findings
      are unilateral pleural effusion and pleural thickening), localized fibrous tumor
      (circumscribed, spherical or ovoid, noncalcified lesions arising in the pleural
      surface), metastatic disease (radiographic findings may mimic those of malignant
      mesothelioma), and uncommon neoplasms including thymoma and lymphoma. Among these
      various pleural tumors, metastatic disease represents the most common neoplasm.

PMID- 1439022
TI  - From the archives of the AFIP. Leiomyosarcoma of the retroperitoneum and inferior
      vena cava: radiologic-pathologic correlation.
AB  - Leiomyosarcoma is the second most common primary retroperitoneal tumor in adults.
      Retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma exhibits three major growth patterns: (a)
      completely extravascular (extraluminal) (62% of cases), (b) completely
      intravascular (intraluminal) (5% of cases), and (c) extra- and intraluminal (33%
      of cases). The usual clinical manifestation is a large abdominal mass.
      Intraluminal leiomyosarcoma may be accompanied by symptoms referable to venous
      thrombosis. The variable gross features and potential for intravascular extension
      result in various radiologic appearances, the most common being a large,
      partially necrotic soft-tissue mass in the retroperitoneum with or without
      extension into the inferior vena cava. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance
      imaging typically show a nonfatty, necrotic retroperitoneal mass and a vascular
      component when it is present. Ultrasound and angiography may also be useful,
      especially if vascular involvement is suspected from other imaging studies.
      Treatment of choice is surgical excision, which is frequently impossible due to
      the invasiveness of the tumor. Prognosis is related to extent of invasion and the
      adequacy of resection. Long-term prognosis is poor, and most patients die of
      local recurrence or distant metastasis.

PMID- 1439023
TI  - Radiation dose in CT.
AB  - The energy deposited in the patient by the rotating x-ray beam in computed
      tomography produces more uniform absorbed dose values within the section of
      imaged tissue than those produced in conventional radiologic procedures. The dose
      values within a specific section are determined by factors such as voltage,
      current, scan time, scan field, rotation angle, filtration, collimation, and
      section thickness and spacing. For routine dose determinations, a pencil
      ionization chamber is usually employed with a plastic phantom. Dose for a
      specific patient can be determined with thermoluminescent dosimeters placed on
      the patient. Multiple-scan procedures normally increase the dose in a specific
      section by less than a factor of two. Typical multiple-scan average doses are in
      the range of 40-60 mGy for head scans and 10-40 mGy for body scans. Integral
      dose, however, is directly proportional to the number of sections in an
      examination. When examination factors are changed to reduce dose, the image noise
      increases. An optimum protocol is one that results in a balance between dose and
      image quality.

PMID- 1439024
TI  - Ultrasound case of the day. Mucocele of the appendix.

PMID- 1439025
TI  - General case of the day. Thymolipoma.

PMID- 1439026
TI  - Pediatric case of the day. Neurenteric cyst without associated vertebral
      anomalies.

PMID- 1439027
TI  - [Coxa vara in children. Apropos of 28 cases].
AB  - Infantile coxa-vara is an infrequent lesion and two etiologic factors have been
      recognised: mechanical and genetic. As in Blount's disease, the same populations
      (black and scandinavian people) are usually affected. Twenty eight patients with
      42 infantile coxa vara were reviewed. The diagnosis was often late. The
      radiographs showed the decrease of the neck-shaft angle and the signs of cervical
      dystrophy. The aggravation of the coxa vara is usual and pseudarthrosis or osteo
      arthritis can be observed. Thirty six femoral valgus sub-trochanteric osteotomies
      were done. The results were best when the surgery was done before the age of 9
      years. When the surgery was done later, an epiphysiodesis of the greater
      trochanter was associated to the femoral osteotomy if the epiphyseal cartilage
      was fused. Langenskiold's osteotomy was used only when the neck-shaft angle was
      lower than 80 degrees. The results were evaluated according to the neck shaft
      angle and the morphology of the femoral head: 22 very good and good, 11 fair and
      3 bad results were noted.

PMID- 1439028
TI  - [Arthroscopic internal meniscectomy in patients over 55 years of age. Results
      over more than 4 years].
AB  - Fifty-one meniscectomies by arthroscopy were realised on patients of more than 55
      years of age between 1981 and 1986. Twenty-four patients were reviewed after at
      least 4 years of follow up, 12 of them after a 7.5 years follow up. 21 results
      were noted as functionally very good or good, 3 were poor. The radiological
      analysis of femoro-tibial compartments in comparison with the non operative side
      showed a clear pejorative difference in one case, moderate in 5 without
      incriminating the morphological type. If the quality of result does'nt correlate
      with age, it was'nt the same for the type of lesion seen during arthroscopy, the
      best results after arthroscopic meniscectomies were seen in traumatic lesions
      occurring on normal menisci or on degenerative ones. The authors concluded that
      medial meniscectomy in patients older than 55 years is justified in precise
      indications: a known traumatism or also acute medial pain, or speedy with normal
      or subnormal X-ray and after a positive arthrography.

PMID- 1439029
TI  - [Hallux valgus: the McBride procedure or subcapital osteotomy?].
AB  - The authors compared the long term follow-up (mean duration 19 years) of 96
      patients operated on for hallux valgus, 52 by the McBride procedure, 46 by a
      Hohmann procedure. Clinical results considered 4 criteria: deformity, pain,
      mobility and satisfaction. Dorsoplantar weight bearing X-ray compared anatomical
      results. This study showed that patients were subjectively more satisfied after
      McBride operation (p = 0.0001) even if the deformity was radiologically better
      reduced by osteotomy (p = 0.006). This discrepancy between subjective and
      radiologic results was related to the fact that X-rays represent only the static
      morphologic reflect of a more complex pathologic entity: radiology can only
      partly explain the functional discomfort of the patients. The modified McBride
      procedure was better suited to patients presenting a painful HV. Osteotomy was
      more suited to bunions causing little pain. Indications for each of these
      procedures should be based more on patient's history and clinical examination
      than on X-rays.

PMID- 1439030
TI  - [Ulnar translocation of the carpus after surgery of the rheumatic wrist. Review
      of 54 cases].
AB  - Fifty-four rheumatoid wrists, on which synovectomy and caput ulnar resection had
      been performed, were re-examined 1 to 8 years after the operation (average follow
      up: 3.8 years). The clinical results were good, and the wrists pain-free in 91
      per cent of cases, with a low rate of synovitis recurrence (4 per cent), and 88
      per cent of the mobility in the sagittal plane was preserved. Radiological
      examination revealed a moderate aggravation of carpite over the years. This
      evolution was not linked, however, to the fact that no intracarpal synovectomy
      was performed in our series since a similar evolution has been reported by
      authors who carry out this synovectomy. Ulnar translocation of the carpus was
      commonly measured in relation to the ulna axis, but as the latter tends to get
      into a more medial position after the surgery this analysis was incorrect. Ulnar
      translocation should be measured in relation to the axis of the radius, which
      remains in the same position. Studied in this way, the average translocation in
      this whole series was 2 mm. A comparative study of the operated wrist and the non
      operated wrist in 27 patients revealed a significant aggravation (p < 0.2) of
      ulnar translocation of the carpus at radiological stages 2 and 3. This
      translocation remained however minimal. A combined transfer of the extensor carpi
      radialis brevis or longus onto the extensor carpi ulnaris did not slow down ulnar
      translocation of the carpus, but the other hand it improved the correction of
      radial deviation of the carpus and ulnar deviation of the fingers.

PMID- 1439031
TI  - [Total denervation of the wrist. Apropos of 50 cases].
AB  - Fifty patients who underwent a total denervation of the wrist were reviewed after
      an average of 5 years post-operatively. The main aetiology was diffuse osteo
      arthritis secondary to scaphoid nonunion (44 per cent) and Kienbock's disease,
      stage IV (22 per cent). This resulted in pain and functional disability. Another
      surgical procedure was carried out in 40 per cent of patients. Post-operative
      complications included one painful neuroma and 3 patients complained of radial
      nerve paraesthesia. Pain was improved in 36 of the 50 patients with an average
      score of 72 over a scale of 100. There was no significant change in power or
      range of movement.

PMID- 1439032
TI  - [Bipolar endoprosthesis in fractures of the femoral neck. Apropos of 201 cases,
      116 after a 6-year follow-up].
AB  - We report our experience with 201 SEM bipolar prostheses used to treat femoral
      neck fractures in patients with a mean age of 70 years and a mean follow-up of 57
      months (median 75 months). Clinical outcome was favorable with 94 per cent
      satisfactory results (very good and good). Femoral complications requiring
      reoperation (conversion to total hip replacement) occurred in 2.2 per cent of
      cases. Among the 163 patients for whom roentgenographic data were available, 5
      (3.6 per cent) developed evidence of acetabular wear but remained symptom-free
      and did not require reoperation. As compared with Moore's prosthesis, the SEM
      bipolar prosthesis seems to provide substantially better clinical and
      roentgenographic results. For the treatment of femoral neck fractures, total hip
      replacement seems to provide results comparable to those reported here but
      requires a more sophisticated operative technique and carries a greater risk of
      subsequent dislocation. Two factors prevent the widespread use of the bipolar
      prosthesis at present: the need for femoral grouting which carries a well
      documented risk of hemodynamic complications, and the higher cost of the device.

PMID- 1439033
TI  - [Embolization of the circumflex femoral artery for recurrent hemorrhage after
      total hip arthroplasty. Apropos of a case].
AB  - Reoperation of an haemorrhagic complication after total hip arthroplasty may be
      not efficacious when, as in the case report, bleeding's origin is not found. The
      vital prognosis can be quickly set in action and then the arterial embolization
      be the swift and efficacious solution. The selective arteriography that precedes
      it allows to locate the bleeding's origin, to estimate gravity of leak and to set
      indication of embolization. So it is fitting to think of this therapeutic
      solution that may avoid new operation and new failure.

PMID- 1439034
TI  - [Necrotizing fasciitis of the upper limb: a case].
AB  - Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare form of anaerobic infection, quite different from
      gas forming gangrene: it affects the skin, the cellular tissue, the fascia; it
      doesn't diffuse in depth to the muscles and doesn't produce gas. Its microbic
      agents vary from haemolytic streptococcus to anaerobic bacteria in synergy. It
      rapidly spreads into a massive necrosis and can in a week's time lead to death by
      toxic shock. It spreads locally to large cutaneous areas eventually leading to
      the necessity of amputations. A joint treatment must be started with extreme
      urgency: extensive surgical excisions of all necrotic teguments, and medical
      treatment consisting of correcting metabolic troubles and antibiotherapy. This
      difficult treatment can save the patient, but it involves great loss of cutaneous
      and subcutaneous substance leading to local problems which are similar to serious
      burns, then to problems of reconstruction. An open fracture of the elbow led to
      an observation. A review of the literature sets out the different forms and
      complications.

PMID- 1439035
TI  - [Fatigue fracture below the internal tibial plateau after locked intramedullary
      nailing].
AB  - The authors present a case of stress fracture of the medial condyle of the tibia
      following intramedullary nailing with distal locking. This complication, which
      appeared two years after the surgical procedure and one year after the removal of
      the nail, has not yet been described in the literature. The patient was a young
      man without any excessive physical load. The presence of the intramedullary nail
      was accompanied by a bone clearness in the medial part of the superior epiphyseo
      metaphyseal level of the tibia.

PMID- 1439036
TI  - [Immunomodulation in oncology].

PMID- 1439037
TI  - [Systemic amyloidosis: clinico-pathologic study of 69 cases].
AB  - A series of 69 cases of systemic amyloidosis is discussed (12 primaries; 7 due to
      myeloma; 44 reactive; 5 due to familiar mediterranean fever and 1 portuguese
      familiar polyneuropathy) in which their clinical aspects, topographical
      distribution of the deposit and histochemical characteristics are studied using
      the potassium permanganate technique. According to sings and symptoms of
      presentation and topography there is a remarkable overlapping in the five types
      of amyloidosis. Only macroglossia was more frequent in primary amyloidosis (p
      less than 0.001). However the potassium permanganate technique can help in the
      classification. Considering the first clinical diagnosis. 83% of primary
      amyloidosis and 100% of amyloidosis due to myeloma, were resistant to
      permanganate. 84% of reactive amyloidosis and 100% of familiar mediterranean
      fever, were sensitive. The only case of portuguese familiar polyneuropathy showed
      resistance.

PMID- 1439038
TI  - [Clinical experience with zidovudine in patients with acquired immunodeficiency
      syndrome. Analysis of 117 cases. Grupo Andaluz para el Estudio de las
      Enfermedades Infecciosas].
AB  - In order to assess the efficacy and the toxicity of zidovudine in AIDS patients,
      we have studied, prospectively, 117 patients that were treated with this drug, in
      several andalusian hospitals between January 1988 and June 1990. Initial dose of
      the drug was 200 mg every 4 hours. Mean survival was 100% at 6 months and 66.5%
      at 23 months. Survival at 19 months was higher in ADVP (77%) than in non-ADVP
      (48%). A positive influence on weight. Karnofsky index and number of
      opportunistic infections during the six first months of treatment was recorded,
      benefit that was lost progressively from that moment onwards. Main adverse
      effects were hematological, 10.1% of the patients requiring transfusions due to
      hemoglobin lower than 6.5 gr%. The more frequent cause to stop therapy was severe
      neutropenia (less than 500 neutrophils per mm). We consider that the beneficial
      effect of zidovudine is only transient, diminishing gradually when the treatment
      is prolonged. At present doses adverse effects are moderate not being present in
      most of the patients.

PMID- 1439039
TI  - [Primary pulmonary hypertension. Clinico-pathologic analysis].
AB  - We present a case of primary pulmonary hypertension, confirmed by open lung
      biopsy. The interest of the case resides in the microscopic study of the
      specimen, and the patient's prognosis is discussed. The physiopathology of the
      disease is reviewed and the palliative therapeutic measures that can be adopted.

PMID- 1439040
TI  - [Atypical radiologic manifestations of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia].
AB  - Pneumonia due to Pneumocystis carinii (PC) is characterized, in most cases, by
      the existence of infiltrates of interstitium or bilateral interstitium-alveolar
      type on the thorax radiography. However atypical radiological findings associated
      with this type of opportunistic infection are being described more and more
      frequently. We present two patients with Acquire Immune Deficiency Syndrome
      (AIDS) and pulmonary infection due to PC, with very unusual radiological
      findings. First patient showed multiple pulmonary cavitated nodules; the other a
      cavitated infiltrate in superior right lobule. Clinicians dealing with AIDS
      patients must be familiar with this unusual radiologic findings associated with
      PC in order to avoid diagnostic mistakes.

PMID- 1439041
TI  - [Autoimmune hemolytic anemia and carcinoma of the larynx: an exceptional
      association].
AB  - The purpose of this annotation is to review the serological data to diagnosis,
      severity of the disease, treatment and prognosis of the autoimmune haemolytic
      anemia (AIHA) associated with carcinoma. A patient with AIHA and larynx carcinoma
      is presented.

PMID- 1439042
TI  - [A 19-year-old woman with pleural mass and effusion in left hemithorax].

PMID- 1439043
TI  - [Convulsions and rapidly progressive neurologic deterioration].

PMID- 1439044
TI  - [Protein nutrition and physical activity].
AB  - The relationship between physical exercise and diet in order to optimize
      performance is getting growing interest. This review examines protein needs and
      protein intakes as well as the role of protein in the body and the metabolic
      changes occurring at the synthesis and catabolic levels during exercise. Protein
      synthesis in muscle or liver, amino acids oxidation, glucose production via
      gluconeogenesis from amino acids, etc., are modified, and consequently plasma and
      urinary nitrogen metabolites are affected. A brief comment on the advantages,
      disadvantages and forms of different protein supplements for sportsmen is given.

PMID- 1439045
TI  - [Magnesium. The fourth drug in the treatment of asthma?].

PMID- 1439046
TI  - [Primary antiphospholipid syndrome associated with Sneddon syndrome].

PMID- 1439047
TI  - [The use of antidigoxin antibodies].

PMID- 1439048
TI  - [Cushing's syndrome caused by black adrenal gland adenoma].

PMID- 1439049
TI  - [In vitro T-cell response against HBsAg (p25)].

PMID- 1439050
TI  - [Asymptomatic rhabdomyolysis in a hunting day].

PMID- 1439051
TI  - [Intrathoracic hemangioma of the intercostal muscles].

PMID- 1439052
TI  - [Anaphylactoid Schoenlein-Henoch purpura caused by midecamycin?].

PMID- 1439053
TI  - [Severe adverse reaction during treatment with rifampicin].

PMID- 1439054
TI  - [Meningococcemia and human immunodeficiency virus infection].

PMID- 1439055
TI  - [Acute post-varicella++ cerebellar ataxia].

PMID- 1439056
TI  - The cholera epidemic in Ecuador: towards an endemic in Latin America.
AB  - We present an epidemiological study of the first wave of cholera in Ecuador in
      1991. One month after the 7th cholera pandemic hit the Pacific coast of Peru, the
      disease reached the coast of Ecuador and spread to the rest of the country within
      a few weeks. One year later, 46,320 cases have been notified, giving an incidence
      of 481 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The overall mortality rate has been low
      (697 deaths, i.e. 1.50%), although there have been large differences between the
      various provinces: in the Andes (Sierra), for example, rates above 8% have been
      recorded. The first wave peaked about eight weeks after the first case, with 3400
      new cases per week throughout the country. This was followed by a gradual
      decrease towards a baseline of 250-500 new cases per week. A resurgence was
      observed in most coastal and Andean provinces from November 1991 onwards. The
      kinetics of the epidemic are compatible with an endemic implantation of the
      disease in Ecuador, as is probably the case in the entire intertropical Pacific
      coast region of Latin America. From the data presented, the latin-american
      episode of the 7th pandemic starting on the Pacific coast, is characterized by a
      very high attack rate and a low mortality rate as compared to Africa, and the
      unexpected involvement of populations living on the high Andean plateaux. It is
      probable from the results collected in Ecuador that cholera will become endemic
      in Latin America.

PMID- 1439057
TI  - [Case control studies in investigation of food-borne infection outbreaks. Study
      of their utilization in France].
AB  - Among the 251 foodborne outbreaks investigated by public health officers in
      France in 1989, 62 (25%) used a case-control study to identify the responsible
      food. This survey aims to analyse the results of these 62 investigations. Thirty
      eight (61%) investigations found the responsible food(s); 10 investigations (16%)
      lacked power because of the small size of the population studied, but allowed to
      suspect the food with the highest odds ratio; 13 investigations (21%) gave
      results inconsistent with bacteriological studies or with hypothesis generated by
      the descriptive study: in 5 of it, food origin is questionable and in 8
      investigations, methodological errors are likely. We could not conclude for one
      study. Among the surveys with case-control studies, 74% identified the food
      responsible with bacteriological or epidemiological confirmation, as opposed to
      17% of other surveys which had only bacteriological confirmation. This study
      allowed us to give recommendations on the management of investigation and the
      interpretation of results to improve the efficiency of this practice.

PMID- 1439058
TI  - [Trends in mortality characteristics in Aids in France 1983-1990].
AB  - From 1983 to 1990, the number of AIDS deaths in France (8119 deaths overall),
      increased substnatially but the annual rate of progression has fallen since 1987
      (+35% in 1990). The socio-demographic characteristics of the deaths remained
      quite steady with the exception of the proportion of subjects living in Paris
      which decreased. The proportion of AIDS deaths out of all deaths is still low for
      the entire population (5 deaths out of 1000 in 1990) but appears important in
      some sub-groups. In 1990, AIDS represents for the 25-34 years old group, 12
      deaths out of 100 for males and 7 deaths out of 100 for females and for the 25-44
      years old group, 15 deaths out of 100 for nonmarried males and 4 deaths out of 10
      for males working in an information or artistic profession. Furthermore, it
      accounts, in 1989, for the third of the deaths of males between 25 and 44 years
      living in Paris. The analyse tends to show that there is not an important under
      declaration of AIDS deaths in France.

PMID- 1439059
TI  - [Estimate of seroprevalence of HIV infection in Belgium using the back
      calculation method].
AB  - An estimation of HIV seroprevalence in Belgium in June 1990 was made by the "back
      calculation method". The theoretical calculation of the number of virus carriers
      gave a range of values from 5,750 to 16,800 carriers. The upper part of this
      range seems to be more consistent with data from epidemiologic monitoring (range
      of values from 8,900 to 16,800 carriers). HIV prevalence rate in Belgium in June
      1990 would is estimated between 0.9/1000 and 1.7/1000. The detection rate of the
      infection among HIV positives individuals should be at least 34%.

PMID- 1439060
TI  - A randomised 2 x 2 factorial design to evaluate different smoking cessation
      methods.
AB  - A study with a 2 x 2 factorial design was performed to evaluate the effectiveness
      of acupuncture, of nicotine gum and the effect of the association on smoking
      cessation. After a one-year follow-up period, the success rates were in the same
      order of magnitude for nicotine gum (active treatment: 10%, placebo: 8%) group
      and for acupuncture (active treatment: 8%, placebo: 10%) group.

PMID- 1439061
TI  - [French-language adaptation of an evaluation test of knowledge meant for insulin
      dependent children: methodology and value for research in clinical practice].
AB  - A measure of knowledge level of diabetic patients is useful in evaluating their
      educational needs as well as the impact of the educational programs specifically
      designed for them. The lack of such scales in French, led us to translate and
      validate an existing knowledge scale for diabetic children, the Test of Diabetes
      Knowledge (TDK) (Johnson et al.). After several translations and back
      translations, the 33 item scale was submitted to the staff members of a pediatric
      diabetology unit, to establish its content validity. An assessment the
      questionnaire was performed in a group of 49 children, aged 7.9 to 12.8 years.
      The mean duration of diabetes was 4.6 +/- 2.9 years and their scholastic level
      varied from 1st to 6th grades. Time spent in filling out the questionnaires was
      12 to 25 minutes. Few missing values were noted. The reliability of the scale was
      excellent as shown by Cronbach's alpha coefficient: 0.83 for the overall scale,
      0.72 for the general knowledge subscale (20 items) and 0.70 for the problem
      solving subscale (13 items). The level of correct responses was correlated with
      age and scholastic level (p < 0.0001), but not with sex, duration of diabetes, or
      HbA1c levels. This study shows that the French version of the TDK is a valid and
      reliable tool for measuring the level of knowledge in children and adolescents
      with diabetes. This scale provides the researcher and clinician with a tool that
      facilitates the performance of an educational diagnosis and the evaluation of
      educational programs based on the transmission knowledge.

PMID- 1439062
TI  - Mass sociogenic illness in a youth center.
AB  - In July, 1989, 63 (42%) of 150 children ages 4-14 years attending an outreach
      program at a youth center in Florida, but no employees, developed acute and
      rapidly resolving upper gastrointestinal symptoms 2 to 40 minutes after a
      prepackaged lunch. All ill children were sent to 3 local hospital emergency
      departments for evaluation. However, clinical evaluation was normal for all. Of
      102 children who ate any prepackaged foods, 48 (47%) became ill compared to 1/19
      (5%) for children who did not eat (rate ratio [RR] = 8.9; 95% confidence interval
      [CI]: 1.3-60.9). No employees ate any of the food items served. Consumption of
      sandwiches was associated with a moderate increased risk of illness (RR = 1.7,
      95% CI: 1.0-2.9). The attack rate did not differ by age, but was greater for
      girls (39/56, 70%) than for boys (9/46, 20%; [RR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.9-6.6]). Over
      3,000 similar prepackaged meals from the same caterer were served in the same
      area of Florida that day. An inquiry in the area documented absence of similar
      symptoms elsewhere. Unopened meal samples tested negative for pesticide residues,
      heavy metals, staphylococcal toxin, or Bacillus cereus. We diagnosed the outbreak
      as mass sociogenic illness. Complaints of a bad tasting sandwich by the index
      case and possible staff anxiety about food poisoning may have contributed to the
      development of the outbreak.

PMID- 1439063
TI  - [Jackknife and bootstrap].
AB  - The jackknife and the bootstrap are two non parametric methods which provide
      estimates- of the bias and the variance of an estimator, without any assumption
      about its statistical distribution. The jackknife is based on the observation of
      the estimator for subsamples, generally of size n-1, obtained from the original
      sample. The bootstrap is based on the observation of the estimator on size n
      samples drawn from the original sample. The two methods are presented, their
      principle is illustrated through their application to simple examples and to more
      complex epidemiological problems.

PMID- 1439065
TI  - [The Swedish system of epidemiological surveillance of congenital malformations].

PMID- 1439064
TI  - [Evaluation of a screening program for breast cancer].

PMID- 1439066
TI  - [Prevalence of coronary disease in patients with aortic stenosis].
AB  - We analyzed a consecutive series of 188 patients, older than 44 years, with
      significant aortic stenosis, who underwent coronary arteriography (73 women and
      115 men). There were 38 patients (20.2%) with coronary artery disease ( or = 50%
      reduction in the luminal diameter). Sixty-eight patients had typical angina
      pectoris, 52 atypical angina, and 68 did not have chest pain. We found to have
      coronary disease in 29.4%, 23.1% and 8.8% respectively. Sensitivity of typical
      angina to detect coronary disease was 52.6%, with an specificity of 68%, and a
      negative predictive value of 85%. Inclusion of atypical angina improved the
      sensitivity to 84.2%, and the negative predictive value to 91.2%, but lessened
      the specificity to 41.4%. Six patients among the 38 with coronary disease
      (15.7%), did not have chest pain, and 3 of them were younger than 60 years. We
      conclude that absence of angina is not enough to exclude coronary artery disease
      in patients 50 years old with aortic stenosis being considered for aortic valve
      replacement.

PMID- 1439067
TI  - [Captopril + hydrochlorothiazide versus captopril + nifedipine in the treatment
      of arterial hypertension in diabetes mellitus type II].
AB  - Captopril is a suitable drug to treat high blood pressure in diabetic patients.
      This Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor (ACEI) is a vasodilator without
      tachycardia and saline retention. Furthermore, captopril is one of
      antihypertensive drugs with less adverse effects. It does not induce metabolic
      changes, improves glucose tolerance and brake the evolution of renal
      insufficiency. About 50-60% of patients are under control (DBP < 90 mmHg) with
      captopril monotherapy. In the present paper, were included 64 women and 16 men
      with diabetes mellitus and mild-moderate hypertension, I-II phase WHO. The
      average age (mean +/- S.D.) was 66.6 +/- 9.2 years. All patients were treated
      with 25 mg/12 h of captopril, for one month. If blood pressure was not under
      control, captopril treatment enhanced to 50 mg/12 h during second month. After
      this period of two months, patients under control were got out of this study. 37
      patients (46.25%) needed a second drug. In randomized form, 20 patients
      associated 25 mg HCTZ one time a day (CAP + HCTZ); and 17 patients associated 20
      mg/12 h of nifedipine retard (CAP + NIF). The study continued for 4 months more.
      Both treatments reduced blood pressure in significant form without changes
      statistical significant in the heart rate, weight, glycemia, cholesterol,
      triglycerides, c-HDL, uric acid, creatinine, Na+ and K+ blood levels. CAP + HCTZ
      controlled (DBP < 90 mHg) 85% and CAP + NIF 81.25% of patients.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439068
TI  - [Determining factors of acceleration in sustained monomorphic ventricular
      tachycardias in response to bursts of stimuli].
AB  - To analyse the determinants of acceleration of sustained monomorphic ventricular
      tachycardias in response to bursts of rapid ventricular pacing, we studied 46
      consecutive patients with 90 distinct ventricular tachycardias during which one
      or more burst of rapid pacing were delivered. Tachycardia acceleration was
      observed in 11 tachycardias in 8 patients. The highest incidence of acceleration
      was observed in patients with left ventricular dysfunction of non coronary
      origin. There was a non significant trend towards lower values of left
      ventricular ejection fraction in patients with acceleration. There were no
      significant differences between ventricular tachycardias with of without
      acceleration in respect to: clinical presentation, QRS morphology, tachycardia
      cycle length and treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs. The shortest cycle of
      bursts of rapid pacing, was lower in tachycardias with acceleration than in those
      without it (229 +/- 57 ms vs 283 +/- 67 ms; p = 0.006) and tachycardias with
      acceleration showed a lower relation between burst cycle length and tachycardia
      cycle length (69 +/- 9% vs 84 +/- 8%; p < 0.001). The negative predictive value
      of acceleration was 75% for bursts of rapid pacing with a cycle length > or = 250
      ms, and 96% for values of the relation between the burst cycle length and the
      tachycardia cycle length > or = 70%. This parameter show a very high
      discriminating value with of without antiarrhythmic drugs effect. Acceleration of
      sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardias in response to bursts of rapid
      pacing depends on, the pacing rate and the relation between pacing rate and
      tachycardia rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439069
TI  - [Transesophageal echocardiography study of the left atrium and the mitral valve
      plane after heart transplantation].
AB  - To assess the anatomy of the left atrium and mitral plane after heart
      transplantation, we performed a transesophageal echocardiographic study to 37
      consecutive transplant patients. After heart transplantation no patient was under
      anticoagulant treatment and no case of atrial fibrillation was documented. The
      transesophageal approach allowed us to measure the left atrial free wall suture
      which was: less than 15 mm in 14 patients, between 15 and 25 mm in 16 patients,
      and more than 25 mm in 7 patients. In those patients with a left atrial free wall
      suture greater than 15 mm, blood flow turbulences within the "niche" underneath
      the protruding suture as well as blood flow acceleration at the rim of that
      suture were noted. In 4 patients a "pseudoaneurysm" of the interatrial septum was
      observed. Two patients had mitral valve prolapse. Mitral regurgitation was noted
      in 17 patients (46%) by color Doppler transesophageal echocardiography and graded
      as mild in 15 patients and moderate in 2 cases. In 16 patients (43%) spontaneous
      echo contrast within the left atrium was detected by transesophageal
      echocardiography. Both major and minor axis as well as left atrial area in
      patients with and without dynamic echoes were, respectively: 72.5 +/- 12.2 mm vs
      56.9 +/- 5.9 mm (p < 0.001), 48.3 +/- 7.1 mm vs 39 +/- 7.9 mm (p < 0.001), and
      35.4 +/- 7.1 cm2 vs 24.4 +/- 5.2 cm2 (p < 0.001). Atrial thrombi were not
      detected. After a mean follow-up of 15 +/- 10.7 months there was no arterial
      thromboembolism in patients with spontaneous contrast.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1439070
TI  - [Isosorbide 5-mononitrate (delayed release) in stable effort angina].
AB  - This work has been carried out to evaluate over a short and medium space of time
      (100 days) the efficacy, tolerance and haemodynamic repercussion of 50 mg of
      sustained release Isosorbide 5-Mononitrate administered once day to patients with
      stable effort angina in a random and prospective study, which was double blind
      crossover and placebo-controlled. In this study we included 10 patients who
      showed positive exercise test using clinical (angina) and electrocardiographic
      (ischemic drop of the ST greater than 1 mm) criteria. The assessment was done
      with cycloergometry starting with 30W and increasing by 20W every 2 minutes until
      angina appeared accompanied by an ischemic drop of the ST. The effort tests were
      done basally and at intervals of 4, 12 and 24 hours after the dose. The
      parameters studied were obtained on the 1st, 25th and 100th days of the study and
      were compared with those of the placebo. The time taken for the ST to 1 mm to
      fall (seconds) increased when evaluated after 4 and 12 hours on the 1st, 25th and
      100th days in comparison with placebo (p < 0.05). The time taken for angina
      (seconds) to appear lengthened considerably when evaluated 4 and 12 hours after
      the dose not only on the 1st day but also on the 25th and 100th days in
      comparison with placebo (p < 0.05). The duration of the effort (seconds) was
      significantly greater after 4 and 12 hours on the 1st, 25th and 100th days when
      compared to that of the placebo (p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439071
TI  - [Effect of the inhalation ++ anesthetic isoflurane on heart electrophysiology].
AB  - In two groups, A and B, both composed of 10 mongrel dogs, we studied the cardiac
      electrophysiologic effects of 1 and 1.5 MAC isoflurane administered by liquid
      injection in a closed circuit. In group B the study was done under
      pharmacological autonomic blockade (AB). With electrode catheters for programmed
      pacing and endocavitary potential recordings, we determined during the anesthesia
      with 1 and 1.5 MAC isoflurane: RR, spontaneous and paced AH, and HV intervals,
      corrected sinus recovery time (CSRT), Wenckebach point (WP), functional and
      effective refractory periods of atria (AFRP, AERP) and AV node (AVNFRP, AVNERP),
      and ventricular effective refractory period (VERP), these were compared to the
      ones obtained with a previous thiopental control. In group A, 1 MAC isoflurane
      increased over control: AERP and AH interval (p < 0.05), AFRP (p < 0.005), RR and
      AH paced intervals, WP, AVNFRP and VERP (p < 0.001), adding to these CSRT (p <
      0.01) in 1.5 CAM. This level did not show differences with 1 MAC. In group B, 1
      MAC isoflurane increased over control: AH (p < 0.05), RR, paced AH intervals, WP
      and AVNFRP (p < 0.001), adding to these AFRP and AERP (p < 0.05) in 1.5 MAC. This
      level increased with regard to 1 MAC: AFRP, AERP, AH paced interval and AVNERP (p
      < 0.05), and AVNFRP (p < 0.005). Isoflurane alone or with AB increased parameters
      of sinusal automaticity, atrial refractoriness, AV nodal conduction and
      refractoriness, increasing only without AB ventricular refractoriness and CSRT.
      With AB atrial and AV nodal refractoriness increased in an anesthetic depth
      dependent way.

PMID- 1439072
TI  - [Chronic heart insufficiency (XI). Molecular biology of heart insufficiency].

PMID- 1439073
TI  - [Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interauricular septum: diagnosis with
      transesophageal echocardiography and computerized tomography].
AB  - Transesophageal echocardiographic and computed tomographic imaging in a patient
      with lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum and advanced left bundle
      branch block are presented. Transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a
      thickening of the atrial septum sparing the fossa ovalis region. Computed
      tomographic scan at the level of the interatrial septum showed a mass of fat
      density, and the HIS bundle electrogram showed an advanced infra-his block after
      intravenous ajmaline. We stress the utility of transesophageal echocardiography
      in this disorder, and the possible relationship between lipomatous hypertrophy of
      the interatrial septum and conduction disturbances.

PMID- 1439074
TI  - [Listeria monocytogenes endocarditis in a patient with mitral prosthesis, left
      auricular thrombus and adenocarcinoma of the colon].
AB  - A case of Listeria monocytogenes endocarditis in a patient with mitral prosthetic
      valve, left atrial thrombus and colonic adenocarcinoma is reported. Vegetations
      were not demonstrated by transesophageal echocardiography and the clinical course
      was benign and without complications. Cure was achieved with antibiotic therapy,
      and surgery was not required. These features suggest that atrial thrombus could
      be the source of infection.

PMID- 1439075
TI  - [Ultrasonic decalcification of the aortic valve. Initial experience].
AB  - We report our initial experience in 2 patients with degenerative calcific aortic
      stenosis who underwent ultrasonic debridement of the aortic valve. Compared with
      preoperative studies, doppler echocardiographic and hemodynamic evaluation before
      hospital discharge revealed a reduction in the mean aortic valve pressure
      gradient (80 and 65 mmHg to less than 10 mmHg). There was no change in aortic
      regurgitation grade. Follow-up doppler echocardiographic evaluation at four and
      six months showed no changes in gradient or regurgitation in the comparison to
      the postoperative data. Long-term results will show the convenience to attempt or
      not ultrasonic salvage of the native aortic valve in severe calcific stenosis.

PMID- 1439076
TI  - [Bullet embolism of the right ventricle following gunshot wound].
AB  - Bullet embolism to the right ventricle after a gunshot wound is exceptional. We
      describe a patient in whom the bullet after entering through the superior vena
      cava migrated for the venous system with further embolism to the right ventricle.
      Clinical history, diagnosis and treatment are discussed.

PMID- 1439077
TI  - Relationship between erythropoietic rate and iron donating capacity of the
      Fe/transferrin complex in mouse.
AB  - The transfer of iron from the Fe/transferrin complex to the erythroid cells was
      studied in in vitro system in mice in which a drastic and opposite change in
      their erythropoietic activity was produced by bleeding or actinomycin D
      administration. A reduction of iron donation in the serum of bled animals was
      found, whereas the aplastic condition induce in the donors of the serum by
      actinomycin D did not produce any change in the transfer process. It was also
      found that in spite of the normalization of the saturation in the serum of bled
      animals, the diminished donation remained unchanged. The possibility that
      conditions other than quantitative could produce this behavior is discussed.

PMID- 1439078
TI  - Effects of methylpalmoxirate on isolated rat atria.
AB  - The aim of the investigation was to assess whether endogenous triacylglycerol
      contributes to the maintenance of the contractile and pacemaker activities of the
      isolated atria from fed and fasted rats. To attain this information, the atria
      were treated with methylpalmoxirate which is a potent inhibitor of carnitine
      palmitoyltransferase I. In the presence of glucose, methylpalmoxirate abolished
      the lipolysis without affecting peak developed tension or the atrial rate. When
      exposed to a substrate-free medium containing 2-deoxyglucose, the atria displayed
      a progressive fall of the pacemaker frequency, a pronounced decay of contractile
      strength and the appearance of contracture. These derangements appeared faster in
      the atria from fed rats coinciding with a smaller triacylglycerol mobilization.
      Methylpalmoxirate suppressed triacylglycerol breakdown, increased the contracture
      strength, accelerated the fall of the atrial rate and in a significant number of
      fasted atria it led to a complete cessation of the spontaneous contractions. The
      decline of the peak tension was not altered by the inhibitor, probably because
      the contractile strength was too weak in the glucose-free medium, so that
      additional negative inotropic effects were not detectable. These data suggest
      that exogenous glucose in addition to that derived from glycogen meet the atrial
      energy requirements when the fatty acid oxidation is hindered. The deleterious
      effects exerted by methylpalmoxirate after the glucose metabolism was eliminated
      indicate that endogenous triacylglycerol supports, at least partly, the atrial
      functions.

PMID- 1439079
TI  - [Effect of brain serotonin on the arterial pressure and plasma renin in normal
      and hypertensive rats].
AB  - The effects of changes in brain serotonin content after injections of p
      chlorophenylalanine (p-CPA), L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-5HTP) and 5-6
      dihydroxytryptamine (5-6DHT) on the mean arterial pressure (MAP), plasma renin
      activity (PRA) and peripheral levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) have
      been studied in normal and hypertensive (2K:1C model) male Wistar rats. The p-CPA
      (250 mg/kg) and L-5HTP (200 mg/kg) were injected i.p., while 5-6 DHT (15
      micrograms/animal in 10 mu/animal vehicle) was injected into lateral brain
      ventricles. The effects were studied 24 h after the p-CPA injection, 2 h after L
      5HTP and 10 or 20 days after 5-6DHT administration. The fall in brain serotonin
      produced by p-CPA and 5-6DHT did not modify the MAP values in the normal and
      hypertensive rat model, whereas the increase induced after L-5HTP injection only
      caused a slight decrease in arterial pressure in normotensive animals. The ARP
      experimented remarkable rises in the normal and hypertensive rats, these values
      increasing after L-5HTP and falling after p-CPA and 5-6 DHT injections. Similar
      changes are detected in the normal group after administration of these substances
      related to serotoninergic brain activity. The ANP levels rose after renal artery
      constriction, and they are not affected by the above mentioned substances. Only p
      CPA and 5-6DHT reduced a low decrease in the ANP levels 10 days after their
      administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439080
TI  - Muscle cell growth in protein deficient rats following administration of sheep
      red blood cells.
AB  - In order to observe the effects of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) administration on
      the muscle cell growth in malnourished states, adult male Wistar rats (135 +/- 10
      g 10 animals per group) subjected during 30 days to 1% and 10% protein diets,
      were injected (i.v.) either 15.5 x 10(8) sheep red blood cells or 0.5 ml
      saline/100 g b.w. after 20 days of experiment. On the 10th day after injection
      the animals were sacrificed and the gastrocnemius muscle was removed, weighed and
      homogenized. The supernatant fluids were used to evaluate muscle protein, DNA and
      RNA rates and acid DNase activity. All parameters were depleted in malnourished
      rats, indicating a muscle cellular atrophy as well as a decrease in muscle
      protein synthesis per DNA-unit. Muscle hyperplasia and hypertrophy were found in
      antigenically stimulated rats fed 10% protein against non-stimulated control. In
      contrast, muscle growth in protein-deficient rats SRBC-treated was unmodified
      when compared to non-stimulated malnourished muscle, although RNA functionality
      seems to be enhanced (RNA/DNA). These data suggest that a redistribution of
      essential nutrients occurred for muscle growth adaptation rather than for
      defensive mechanism.

PMID- 1439081
TI  - Role of -SH groups in rat sugar intestinal transport in vivo.
AB  - The effect of p-chloromercuribenzoic acid (pCMB), either alone or in the presence
      of 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), on the 1 mM galactose absorption
      by in vivo perfused rat intestine has been studied. At 0.25 mM concentration,
      pCMB inhibits galactose absorption in about 32% but it does not modify the
      absorption of this sugar when the transport is blocked by 0.5 mM phlorizin, or
      that of the non-transportable monosaccharide derivative 2-deoxy-D-glucose. This
      shows that only the active transport component of galactose absorption is
      inhibited. A 2 min preexposure period is required for the inhibition to appear.
      The inhibition was not reversed by washing with saline solution even when it
      contained 0.5 mM dithioerythritol, 10 mM cysteine or 5 and 10 mM EDTA. The
      simultaneous exposure to 0.25 pCMB and 0.25 mM DTNB inhibits the total galactose
      entry in about 50%, an effect higher than the one exerted by each reagent
      separately and close to the one obtained with 0.5 mM phlorizin. Our results, in
      vivo, confirm the importance of the thiol groups in the cotransport of Na+ and
      sugar. As DTNB is an SH-reagent of lesser liposolubility than pCMB, the existence
      of two populations of sulfhydryl groups related to sugar transport which differ
      in their location within the brushborder membrane and in accessibility from the
      intestinal lumen, is suggested.

PMID- 1439082
TI  - Chloroplast polypeptides synthesized by leaf segments and isolated chloroplasts
      during senescence in barley.
AB  - Starting from senescent barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv Hassan) leaf segments
      receiving light and hormone treatments affecting senescence, the plastid
      polypeptides synthesized by isolated chloroplasts and by leaf segments were
      analyzed by radiolabelling followed SDS-PAGE and fluorography. Among 20 to 30
      polypeptides detected, a few were specifically synthesized (by chloroplasts
      and/or leaf segments) after each senescence treatment. Apparently, the
      polypeptides labelled in assays with isolated chloroplasts are truly synthesized
      in vivo, because most of them were also labelled in assays with leaf segments.
      The comparison of polypeptide profiles, for every senescence treatment, after
      labelling with isolated chloroplasts or leaf segments, suggests that most plastid
      polypeptides synthesized during senescence are coded in plastid DNA.

PMID- 1439083
TI  - [Effect of the corpora allata on the development of the male accessory sex glands
      in Blatta orientalis].
AB  - The volumetric changes of the corpora allata (CA) during the first 15 days of
      imaginal life of Blatta orientalis L. (Dictyoptera, Blattidae) are studied in
      connection with the growth of the accessory reproductive glands (GSAM). Both, the
      CA and the GSAM, grow in parallel during the first 3-4 days of imaginal life,
      which suggests a possible functional link between both organs. If the CA are
      explained on freshly ecdysed adults, then GSAM protein accumulation is reduced
      (by 35%) when checked on day 5, and administration of juvenile hormone (JH)
      restores normal development. However, when the effects of allatectomy are studied
      on day 12, no significant differences with respect to the controls are observed.
      These results suggest that JH is not strictly necessary for protein synthesis in
      the GSAM of B. orientalis although it has a stimulatory effect on this synthesis.

PMID- 1439084
TI  - [Comparison of homologous and heterologous standard curves using TR-FIA for the
      determination of total T4 in the rat].
AB  - A homologous standard curve for rat T4 measurement has been compared to
      heterologous standard curves, by a time resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA).
      Homologous standard curves have been carried out starting from rat serum in the
      absence of thyroid hormone by using Samuel's technique. The security criteria
      (sensitivity, inter and intraassay precision, and accuracy), were measured and
      compared between the homologous and heterologous test. Analysis of variance and
      slopes between homologous and heterologous standard curves showed homogeneous
      variances, the differences in the slopes being not significant.

PMID- 1439085
TI  - Acute alcoholic intoxication and naloxone. Effects on visual evoked potential.
AB  - Experimental assays analyzing visual evoked potential (VEP) changes during an
      acute alcoholic intoxication were carried out in two groups of cats: One with
      continuous ethanol (0.06 g/kg.min) i.v. perfusion. Another one with a naloxone
      (400 micrograms/kg) i.v. injection 10 min before ethylic perfusion. Naloxone
      potentiates alcohol effects on VEP parameters, and on the appearance of
      isoelectric postpotential and flat VEP.

PMID- 1439086
TI  - Normal puberty onset in female rats treated with antiprogesterone RU486 during
      juvenile period.
AB  - The significance of the increased progesterone plasma levels after day 21 on the
      onset of puberty in female rats is unclear. To analyze this question, female rats
      were injected from day 21 to 32 with the potent antiprogestagen RU486 (1 mg/day)
      or vehicle. Treatment with RU486 did not modify either the age at which vaginal
      opening or first estrus occurs. Vaginal cycles were regular. Animals sacrificed
      on day 40 or 50 showed reduced uterus weight, whereas body, pituitary, adrenal
      and ovaries were not affected. These results evidence that antagonization of
      progesterone action during the juvenile phase did not affect the onset of
      puberty.

PMID- 1439087
TI  - Glucose tolerance tests during gestation in the unanesthetized rat.
AB  - To establish the temporal stages at which changes in insulin/glucose interactions
      may appear during gestation in the rat, unanesthetized animals were subjected to
      oral glucose tolerance tests (2 g glucose/kg) at days 15 and 21 of gestation and
      were compared to virgin female controls. On day 15 glucose tolerance is enhanced
      in the pregnant rat whereas plasma insulin levels are like those in control
      animals. On day 21 glucose tolerance does not differ between the two groups
      although insulin is higher in the pregnant animals. Results show 2 differentiated
      stages of insulin/glucose relationships throughout gestation in the rat with
      enhanced insulin sensitivity on day 15 and enhanced insulin resistance during
      late gestation. It is suggested that these changes contribute to the anabolic
      tendencies of the mother during mid gestation and her catabolic condition during
      late gestation.

PMID- 1439088
TI  - [Loop diuretics and the treatment of asthma].
AB  - Current data in the literature show a protective effect of loop diuretics in
      relation to certain types of experimental bronchospasm. This action has sometimes
      been observed after the administration of diuretics as aerosols in less severe
      cases of asthma. The initial observations on bronchospasm induced by physical
      stimuli (exercise, distilled water and hyperventilation), have been extended to
      bronchospasm provoked by allergens or certain chemical stimuli (metabisulphide,
      adenosine 5'-monophosphate, and salicylic acid). On the other hand provocation
      tests using histamine or acetylcholine are modified, either a little or not at
      all by diuretics. The proposed mechanisms of action are multiple, but are still
      very hypothetical: an action on ionic fluxes in the epithelial cells, in
      mastocytes, in nerve cells and in muscle cells inducing the secretion of
      prostaglandin. Diuretics certainly have opened some interesting patho
      physiological approaches, but current data concerning their efficacy in
      asthmatics are still fragmentary and do not, at the current time, allow them to
      take a significant place in the therapeutic arsenal of asthma drugs.

PMID- 1439089
TI  - [Mortality related to asthma. Trends in France from 1970 to 1987].
AB  - An increase in mortality related to asthma has been observed in a great number of
      countries during the last decade. The purpose of this work is to study this
      evolution in France from 1970 to 1987. Numbers of deaths were obtained from
      INSERM, by sex and age groups and the corresponding populations from INSEE. Data
      were interpreted from crude rates and with the computation of age adjusted and
      age specific rates. In men, we observed a decrease in mortality from 1972 to
      1979, then an increase from 1980 to 1987. In women, the decrease stopped as early
      as 1974 and we observed an increase from 1975 to 1987. On the other hand their
      crude and age-adjusted rates become higher than men's rates as early as 1977.

PMID- 1439090
TI  - [The influence of a new beta agonist: formoterol on mucociliary function].
AB  - The muco-ciliary apparatus has an essential role in the cleansing of the tracheo
      bronchial tree of particulate matter. Disturbances linked to muco-ciliary
      function are well known in respiratory pathology and in cases of chronic
      bronchitis and asthma and lead to a reduced capacity for cleansing. In addition
      there are numerous pharmacological agents including sympathomimetics which are
      capable of altering the ciliary activity and the rheological properties of
      mucous. The role of Formoterol, administered as an aerosol has been assessed in
      vivo in 10 bronchitic patients who were in a stable state. After 6 days of
      treatment using the Formoterol aerosol the muco-ciliary clearance had
      significantly increased to 46% and was a real gain when compared to the muco
      ciliary clearance measured on placebo. This gain was linked to a better function
      of the muco-ciliary carpet and not due to the bronchodilatation which was induced
      by Formoterol, because the penetration index did not change. At the same time the
      airway resistance was slightly reduced in a none significant fashion.

PMID- 1439091
TI  - [Bronchogenic cysts in the carina].
AB  - Between 1977 and 1990, 11 children with carinal bronchogenic cysts were operated
      in our institution: 8 girls and 3 boys, ranging in age from 1 month to 5 years.
      All were symptomatic (acute respiratory distress and recurrent bronchiolitis).
      Chest X-ray showed an unilateral over distension in 10/11 cases. Barium
      oesophagogram showed a compression in 6/10 cases. Bronchoscopy noticed an
      extrinsic compression in 10/11 cases and a tracheal and/or bronchial diskinesia
      in 5/11 cases. The computed tomography showed a low density mass in 4/4 cases. 9
      cysts were left-sided and 2 right-sided. Both children underwent a second surgery
      for a second cyst. 2 pneumonectomies for complete parenchyma destruction were
      realised. 1 left pulmonary hypoplasia was noticed. A tracheal and/or bronchial
      diskinesia in post-operative was noticed in 5/6 cases. The clinical and
      functional respiratory following was good in 10/11 cases. An early surgery
      treatment is necessary before definitive sequelae.

PMID- 1439092
TI  - [Evolution of bronchial hyperreactivity during post-exercise asthma].
AB  - The occurrence of a late reaction following exercise induced asthma is
      questionable and its relationship with the non specific bronchial hyperreactivity
      is poorly known. In this study, nine patients (age 15-21 years) underwent an
      exercise challenge in order to (a) determine the incidence of immediate and late
      phase reaction and (b) analyse the modifications of non specific bronchial
      hyperreactivity. Study design was a follow; day-3: determination of bronchial
      responsiveness to metacholine; day 0: control day with FEV1 measurements every
      hour for 11 hours; day 1: exercise challenge followed by a careful observation of
      change in FEV1; day 2: new determination of bronchial responsiveness to
      metacholine. An immediate exercise induced bronchial obstruction was observed in
      5 patients. A late phase reaction (6th hour) with a fall of FEV1 equal to or more
      than 20% has been demonstrated in two patients. For the former, the change in
      FEV1 did not differ from the value of the control day. For the second, the FEV1
      changed spontaneously during the control day so that decreases of FEV1 during
      control and challenge days were parallel. Thus, no late phase reaction were
      observed (F = 0.46; ns). There was no modification of bronchial responsiveness to
      metacholine (pre-exercise: 1,784 +/- 1,970 [SD]; post-exercise 1,827 +/- 2,231
      micrograms [SD]). The lack of true late phase reaction when the post-exercise
      change in FEV1 is compared to the one of a control day and the absence of
      modification of non specific bronchial hyperreactivity weaken the hypothesis of
      an inflammatory mechanism of exercise induced asthma.

PMID- 1439093
TI  - [Bronchial cancers invading the chest wall].
AB  - One hundred and twenty five patients, considered as having a bronchial carcinoma
      invading the chest wall, suffered from a thoracic pain in 40 cases. They were
      operated on by pneumonectomy (23), bilobectomy (5), lobectomy (83) and atypical
      resection (1). Resection was impossible in 13 cases (10.4%), for anatomical (10)
      or functional reasons (3). Considering the chest wall, an extra-pleural resection
      was performed in 49 cases, a muscular resection in 25 cases and a skeletal
      resection in 38 cases. Parietal invasion was microscopically confirmed for 78
      tumours out of 112 resections specimens and for 10 tumours out of 13 which were
      not resected: 65 T3 N0, 8 T3 N1, 15 T3 N2. Operative mortality was 12.5%. Global
      survival was 62.8% at 1 year, 14.2% at 3 years, 11.1% at 5 years. Median
      survivals were 393 days after resections dating back to more than 5 years and 158
      days when the tumours were not resected. Thoracic pain is a symptom of chest wall
      invasion in 87.5% of cases, but the invasion is symptomless in 24% of cases.
      Sensitiveness, specificity and predicting values of imaging modalities are
      discussed: on the whole the negative predictive values are feeble (0.23 to 0.42).
      The operative estimation is also uncertain, especially considering invasion
      limited to the extra-pleural space. Practically, a fixed tumour with broad and
      firm adhesion to the chest wall is an indication for chest wall resection which
      gives better results, although this advantage is not statistically significant.
      Surgical prognosis of T3 cancers is, in this series, much worse than the
      prognosis of T2 tumours. Mortality is analyzed according to its causes.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439094
TI  - [High school students and tobacco. A survey of 630 students in Poitiers].
AB  - A survey of high school pupils and their attitudes to tobacco was carried out by
      an anonymous auto questionnaire by 630 pupils at the Alienor Aquitaine Lycee in
      Poitiers in April 1991. The population study had the following characteristics:
      30% were boys, 70% were girls. The mean age was 18 +/- 1.31 years. The proportion
      of regular smokers (at least one cigarette per day, every day) was 33.9% in boys
      and 34.9% in girls. The boys had smoked on average 10.7 cigarettes per day for
      3.5 years and the girls 9.1 cigarettes per day for 2.9 years. The smoker above
      all, used light colour tobacco (with filters 98%) but 29% only bought mild
      cigarettes. On the other hand 55% of the subjects wished to stop smoking. There
      was no statistically significant relationship between the smoking habits of the
      pupils and that of their parents on the one hand or on the regular participation
      in a sport, on the other. However, boarders smoked a lot more than the other
      pupils. The knowledge of the dangers of smoking were imperfectly understood, in
      particular, for chronic bronchitis, myocardial infarction, small birth weight of
      the newborn and cancer of the bladder. The changers of passive smoking were known
      by 91.6% of the pupils. Finally this study explored the opinion of the lycee
      pupils as regards to the six measures in the propaganda against smoking and on
      seven methods of information relating to the dangers of tobacco.

PMID- 1439095
TI  - [Expiratory capnography in asthma. Perspectives in the use and monitoring in
      children].
AB  - The shape of the capnogram, which is related to uneven ventilation, is modified
      in obstructive diseases and especially during crisis of asthma. The most
      significant change is a rise in the slope of the "alveolar plateau". In this
      study, we measured the end-tidal slope (ETS) of the capnogram, calculated on 0.36
      s before the end of expiration, and we compared this indice to usual spirometric
      measurements (FEV 1) in 21 control subjects and in 24 asthmatic subjects. The
      mean ETS in control subject was 0.08 +/- 0.06%/s, it was 0.3 +/- 0.23% in
      asthmatic subjects (p < 0.001). In the latter, we found a very significant
      correlation between ETS and FEV 1 (r = 0.83, p < 0.001). Thirteen asthmatic
      subjects were tested for a second time, immediately after inhalation of a beta 2
      mimetic drug. They exhibit a very strong correlation between the rise of FEV 1
      and the loss of ETS (r = 0.96, p < 0.001). These results show that the analysis
      of the capnogram's shape is a quantitative method for evaluating the severity of
      the bronchospasm. This ability, added to specific advantages (non-invasiveness,
      effort-independence) opens new fields of application to capnography: measurement
      of the bronchospasm in children, computerized monitoring of asthma.

PMID- 1439096
TI  - [Idiopathic subacute pulmonary eosinophilia].
AB  - We report a case of pneumonia with hypoxaemia and a swinging fever which was
      resistant to antibiotics, but was associated with a hypereosinophilia (44%) noted
      in the bronchoalveolar lavage. Investigations as to the cause of the eosinophilic
      pneumonia were negative; a lung biopsy confirmed the eosinophilic infiltration
      and the absence of any angiitis. There was a rapid and favourable clinical
      outcome following steroid therapy, which was maintained for three months. No
      relapse has been noted in the ten months of follow up since ceasing the cortico
      steroids. The diagnosis appears to be that of a sub-acute, idiopathic
      eosinophilic pneumonia. The similarities and differences between this case and
      the chronic idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonia of Carrington were discussed.

PMID- 1439097
TI  - [A rare and curable cause of acute respiratory insufficiency after a
      pneumonectomy. The platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome by the reopening of the foramen
      ovale].
AB  - We describe a case of a 54 year old patient who had developed a right to left
      shunt due to a patent foramen ovale as a late consequence of a pneumonectomy;
      this was responsible for acute respiratory insufficiency and respiratory failure.
      This is a rare complication, but its clinical presentation as platypnea
      orthodeoxia should lead to the correct diagnosis. The diagnosis can be rapidly
      confirmed by a non-invasive examination, namely contrast echocardiography,
      coupled with color doppler. The treatment is surgical with excellent results. The
      pathophysiological mechanism is also discussed.

PMID- 1439098
TI  - [Generalized histoplasmosis due to Histoplasma duboisii with mediastino-pulmonary
      infection. Cure after 15 months of treatment with ketoconazole].
AB  - We report a case of a young burkinabian, who presented with the disseminated
      african form of histoplasmosis, Histoplasma duboisii. There was pulmonary
      mediastinal disease with superficial lymphadenopathy and also hepatic
      involvement. The diagnosis was achieved by a histological examination of the
      peripheral glands and micrological examination of the expectorate. A clinical
      cure (despite the radiological persistence of enlarged but stable left hilar
      glands) with the follow up 10 months was achieved after 15 months of treatment
      with ketoconazole in a dose which was increased to 10 mg/kg/day.

PMID- 1439099
TI  - [A unilateral hyperlucent lung...].
AB  - The occurrence in a young patient of a chronic cough with dyspnoea and
      restrictive ventilatory failure as shown by respiratory function tests suggested
      the possibility of a Mac Leod syndrome. However, other aetiologies could be
      considered such as vascular malformations, bronchial malformations and also
      tumours. If the chest X-ray sometimes enables an aetiological slant, bronchoscopy
      remains a first line investigation.

PMID- 1439100
TI  - [Late diagnosis of mucoviscidosis based on the association of bronchiectasis and
      sterility].
AB  - We report a case of a man aged 36, in whom a diagnosis of mucoviscidosis was
      diagnosed based on the association of diffuse bronchiectasis and obstructive
      azoospermia. We discussed some clinical and biological aspects leading to the
      diagnosis of mucoviscidosis in the adult.

PMID- 1439101
TI  - [Purulent pleurisy revealing an esophageal diverticulum].
AB  - We report a very rare case of a purulent pleurisy which was revealed to be caused
      by an oesophageal diverticulum. The pleuro-pulmonary infection probably followed
      the inhalation of septic material which refluxed from an oesophageal diverticulum
      into the trachea. This was suggested by a barium swallow which showed the transit
      of the barium into the trachea during swallowing movements.

PMID- 1439102
TI  - [Pneumology in the French language. Actions for countries having a common usage
      of French].

PMID- 1439103
TI  - [Maximum pressures in the mouth: how variable are the measurements?].

PMID- 1439104
TI  - [Wilson's disease].
AB  - Wilson's disease, also called hepatolenticular degeneration, is a serious
      inherited disorder of copper metabolism. The disease needs a particular attention
      because it is estimated that about half of the patients are never diagnosed.
      Beside, once the diagnosis is made, Wilson's disease can be effectively treated.
      After the epidemiological, pathogenetical and clinical data, authors present the
      diagnostical aspects of the disease, and the various approaches to the treatment
      of the symptomatic or presymptomatic patients and of the pregnant patients. Also
      reported are two cases of Wilson's disease.

PMID- 1439106
TI  - [A 24-hour blood pressure and heart rate pattern in healthy persons over 70 years
      of age. A Campodimele study].
AB  - The present report is aimed at studying the 24-h pattern of blood pressure in
      elderly subjects (45 men and 47 women, aged from 76 to 102 years), recruited in
      Campodimele, a small city where the population of ultra septuagenaries is very
      dense. The investigation has been performed by mean of ambulatory non-invasive
      monitoring combined with chronobiometric estimates. The computation has been
      performed on raw data, rhythmic series and integral profiles. The analysis has
      been stratified according to sex. The tabulated estimates constitute an index of
      reference for blood pressure 24-h pattern in aged people.

PMID- 1439105
TI  - [Insulin-like growth factors in human pathology].
AB  - IGFs-I and -II are single chain polypeptides (70 ad 67 aa respectively)
      structurally similar to proinsulin, synthesized ubiquitously and circulating
      carried by specific binding proteins. The IGFs act through two types of specific
      membrane receptors: the so called "type 1" or IGF-I receptor, and the "type 2" or
      IGF-II receptor. In physiological conditions IGF-I is correlated with GH
      secretion. However it is also influenced by other hormonal and non-hormonal
      factors. Little is known about the physiological significance of IGF-II, whose
      concentration, at variance with IGF-I, is not increased in acromegalic subjects.
      It has been recently postulated that IGF-II has a critical role in prenatal
      growth, while IGF-I exerts its action after birth. IGF-I is important in the
      clinical evaluation of growth defects and of acromegalic patients. As to growth
      defects an overlapping of values is reported between normal and hypopituitary
      subjects under 5-6 years of life. However, although it is possible that a normal
      subject presents with a reduced IGF-I concentration, it never happens to find a
      hypopituitary subject with normal values. It is, therefore, possible to establish
      a cut-off value (100 micrograms/l in our experience) over which the occurrence of
      hypopituitarism is excluded. On the contrary IGF-I concentration is extremely
      useful in the evaluation of acromegaly, in particular to evidence the disease
      activity status. Moreover the IGF-I concentration seems to be useful to evaluate
      the nutritional status, particularly in association with serum transferrin, in
      subclinical conditions and in the monitoring of the nutritional therapy.

PMID- 1439107
TI  - [Prosopagnosia. Description and discussion of a clinical case].
AB  - Prosopagnosia was due to a right occipito-temporal infarct, but clinical and
      computed tomographic features emphasized a previous symmetrical damage in the
      left side. The case reported, and especially elaboration of literature data
      relative to this peculiar type of visual agnosia, suggest that bilaterality of
      cerebral lesions in the determining factor of prosopagnosia.

PMID- 1439108
TI  - [Pheochromocytoma and homolateral stenosis of the renal artery. A rare
      association?].
AB  - A case of association between pheochromocytoma and homolateral stenosis of renal
      artery is discussed. Until now, this is the first notification of such an
      association. The authors examine the possibility of a link between the two
      pathologies on the basis of congenital or physical factors. This association
      could have been so rarely just only due to the difficulty to prove it.

PMID- 1439109
TI  - [Diagnosis of cardiocirculatory autonomic failure by the tilting method].
AB  - The variation of SBP, DBP and HR is evaluated on tilting in a group of 34
      patients affected by orthostatic hypotension versus a group of 54 healthy
      subjects, age and sex cross-matched. The patients affected by cardiovascular
      autonomic failure showed: 1) a fall of SBP greater than -19 mmHg in the 1st min;
      2) a fall of the SBP average value (for 10 minutes) greater than -22 mmHg.
      Contrarily, the healthy subjects showed: 1) no variations of SBP values during
      the 1st minute and 2) a growing of SBP between the 2nd and the 10th minute; 3) a
      SBP average value (for 10 minutes) with a positive trend. The DBP and HR showed
      not differences between the groups. We suggest that the measure of SBP on
      standing may be considered an easy and fast method to perform a diagnosis of
      autonomic cardiovascular failure.

PMID- 1439110
TI  - False positivity of tumor markers in pleural fluid of traumatic hemothorax.
AB  - Various biochemical parameters of pleural fluid have been employed to identify
      malignant effusions. However, many of them are also elevated in patients with
      nonmalignant conditions. We report on a patient with traumatic hemothorax,
      showing high pleural fluid concentrations of ferritin, tissue polypeptide
      antigen, and cancer antigen 125. This patient's pleural fluid also contained high
      levels of bilirubin and many macrophages containing phagocytized red blood cells,
      suggesting a local metabolism of hemoglobin. Our case confirms that some tumoral
      markers can give false positive results and suggests that their significance must
      be evaluated differently in bloody pleural effusions as compared with non-bloody
      pleural effusions.

PMID- 1439112
TI  - [Controlled trial of thymostimulin treatment of patients with primary carcinoma
      of the larynx resected surgically. Immunological and clinical evaluation and
      therapeutic prospects].
AB  - The study aim was that of evaluate the effect of thymostimulin (Tp-1, Serono),
      either in vitro or in vivo, in patients with primary laryngeal carcinoma, treated
      only with surgery without any other complementary therapy. Nineteen patients have
      been studied: nine (mean age 62.5 years, range 48-70) have been treated with Tp-1
      and ten patients (mean age 63.4 years, range 56-75) served as "controls". Tp-1
      has been administered as follows: 60 mg/m2/daily i.m. days 1-15; 60 mg/m2 twice
      weekly i.m. days 16-30; 60 mg/m2 once weekly i.m. days 31-60. The treatment was
      stopped days 61-90. The same cycle was repeated until day 180. The treatment was
      stopped days 181-365. The following parameters have been assessed: clinical (at
      the protocol entry and after one year): Performance Status (PF, Karnofsky), local
      status, presence of relapses, incidence of chronic infections of the upper
      respiratory tract; immunological in vitro: 1) response to polyclonal mitogens,
      PHA, Con A and PWM, response to human recombinant Interleukin 2 (rIL 2) of PHA
      prestimulated and non prestimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes. The
      immunological parameters also have been assessed at the protocol entry and after
      one year. Our results have shown that, in the group of patients treated with Tp
      1, 5/9 patients (55.56%) exhibited a significant increase of the PHA response at
      the end of treatment as compared to pretreatment values, 3/9 (33.34%) showed a
      decrease and 1/9 (11.10%) an almost unchanged response. In the group of controls,
      5/10 (50%) have shown a significant decrease of the response after one year, 3/10
      (30%) an increase, 1/10 (10%) were unchanged and 1/10 (10%) exhibited a non
      univocal response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439111
TI  - [Factors influencing the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid therapy in chronic
      hypertransaminasemia].
AB  - The aim of this work was to detect, in patients with chronic hypertransaminasemia
      (CH), the factors associated with the changes of ALT serum levels after one year
      of 10 mg/Kg/die ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). One hundred and twenty two
      consecutive patients with ALT values more than twice the normal upper limit for
      at least six months were admitted to the study. At the liver biopsy 82 patients
      were affected by liver cirrhosis (LC), 7 by chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH),
      and 14 by chronic active hepatitis (CAH). Nineteen patients were classified as
      unspecified chronic liver disease (UCLD) due to biopsy refusal. Five patients (4
      LC and 1 UCLD) did not finish the study. Before and after the beginning of the
      treatment ALT and the other routine tests of liver function were determined in
      serum by routine laboratory methods. In all the diagnosis a decrease of ALT was
      observed after one year UDCA therapy. Particularly, in cirrhotic patients a
      reduction of 40% in the ALT serum levels was detected (baseline m +/- ds 98 +/-
      55 UI, one year transaminase decrease -39 UI with 95% C.I. -27 UI to -52 UI).
      Furthermore in liver cirrhosis there was an increase of serum albumin (baseline m
      +/- ds 3.5 +/- 0.6, one year albumin increase +0.2 gr with 95% I.C. +0.1 gr to
      +0.3 gr). The decrease of ALT showed an inverse association (p < 0.05) with the
      presence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus and with diagnosis of CAH, and a
      direct one with the basal values of ALT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439113
TI  - [Chronic reduction of the capillary circle and neoplastic promotion].

PMID- 1439114
TI  - [Prevalence and risk factors of carotid and femoral atherosclerosis in a sample
      of the city of Turin].
AB  - Presence and severity of carotid and femoral atherosclerosis, in relation to the
      principal cardiovascular risk factors, have been non invasively evaluated using
      echodoppler in a sample of 457 subjects (average age 55.4 +/- 18.7 years) of the
      metropolitan area of Turin. Data of prevalence have been standardized for age and
      gender in order to obtain an estimate of prevalence representative of the city.
      In both districts, prevalence of lesions, echo structural characteristics of the
      plaques and related degree of stenosis have been considered. Results indicate a
      high prevalence of carotid and femoral atherosclerosis (38.5% and 39.4%
      respectively), and, particularly, of concomitant involvement of both districts
      (30%). Prevalence of the lesions and degree of stenosis rise with advancing age;
      nevertheless stenosis > 75% were not found among the oldest patients.
      Bifurcations were the most frequent site of lesion and the "hard" echo structure
      was the most commonly represented, especially in subjects over 45 years. After
      multiple logistic regression model both carotid and femoral atherosclerosis were
      strongly and independently associated with age, male sex, smoke of cigarette and
      plasma cholesterol concentration.

PMID- 1439115
TI  - [Chronic alcoholism and arterial hypertension. Contribution to the comprehension
      of the phenomenon and practical implications].
AB  - Alcohol abuse is a frequent contributor to elevated blood pressure. 710 chronic
      alcoholics, aged 26-60 years, admitted for detoxification were studied. We
      compared hypertension prevalence in alcoholics with that in a similar group of
      non-alcoholics matched for age, sex, and miscellaneous diseases. The prevalence
      of hypertension was higher in heavy drinkers (11.4%) than in non drinker subjects
      (3.4%). Abstinence from alcohol during hospitalization was followed by
      normalization of hypertensive status in a high percentage of patients (70%). The
      majority of hypertensive alcoholics (75%) developed target organ damage ranging
      from retinopathy to hypertensive cardiomyopathy and renal lesion. In a 4.6 +/-
      2.8 years follow-up study of 42 hypertensive alcoholic subjects, we observed that
      hypertension was 26% in those who abstained alcohol ingestion versus 84% in those
      who remained actively alcoholics. Four patients died of liver failure and two of
      stroke.

PMID- 1439116
TI  - Inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion in a patient with systemic
      sarcoidosis.
AB  - A 59 year old man presenting fever, serum hyponatremia and hypoosmolality in
      association with hyperosmotic urine was hospitalized in our unit in February
      1988. We demonstrated evidence of systemic sarcoidosis and inappropriate
      secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). The patient was treated with
      corticosteroid therapy for a period of about 1 year, with regression of signs of
      the inappropriate vasopressin secretion as well as the symptomatology related to
      systemic sarcoidosis. This study identified systemic sarcoidosis as a definite
      cause of "syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion".

PMID- 1439117
TI  - [Clinical methodology employed to solve a case of probable sarcoidosis].
AB  - A case of interstitial lung disease with fever and arthralgia is described.
      Sarcoidosis was very probable, but the patient refused the invasive
      investigations that were needed in order to obtain a histological diagnosis of
      certainty. We discuss the clinical methodology employed to solve the case.

PMID- 1439118
TI  - [Sarcoid arthritis: diagnosis by biopsy of a scar].

PMID- 1439119
TI  - [Sublingual captopril in hypertensive crises].
AB  - Captopril is widely used in severe hypertension. Oral administration takes one
      two hours to achieve a maximum effect and is not useful in hypertensive crisis.
      Few reports describe a more rapid effect on blood pressure following sublingual
      administration. We evaluated the effect of sublingual captopril 50 mg, in 26
      patients with hypertensive crisis. Blood pressure levels started to decrease
      within 10 minutes and the maximum effect was observed 30 minutes after
      administration of the tablet. In all patients mean (CI 95%) systolic blood
      pressure dropped from 202.5 (199-206) mmHg to 160.6 (156-165) mmHg and diastolic
      blood pressure from 105.6 (102-109) mmHg to 86.9 (83-7-90.1) mmHg. This effect
      was maintained over two hours. There were no side effects. Sublingual captopril
      is highly effective in hypertensive crisis and its gradual hypotensive action
      avoid dangerous abrupt fall in blood pressure.

PMID- 1439120
TI  - [Evaluation of the thyroid function in healthy aged patients residing in 2
      geriatric institutions].
AB  - Thyroid function assessment in elderly inpatients. It is not well known whether
      normal ageing might lead to an impairment of thyroid function. We evaluated 297
      elderly inmates in two geriatric institutions. After having excluded from the
      study those who were affected by chronic hepatic or renal disease, were under
      pharmacologic treatment or had suffered from acute ailments during the previous
      two months, we assessed thyroid function by determining circulating T4, T3, rT3,
      FT4, FT3 and TSH in 130 apparently healthy subjects. They could be divided into
      three groups composed of patients mentally competent, affected by either vascular
      or senile dementia, or affected by chronic psychosis. Results were also assessed
      with reference to three different age ranges (65-74, 75-84 and over 85 years).
      Two patients had subnormal thyroid hormone levels with elevated basal
      thyrotropin, while other two demonstrated only elevated thyrotropin levels,
      qualifying respectively for a diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism and subclinical
      hypothyroidism. In the remaining 126 patients thyroid function was normal, and no
      differences in thyroid hormone levels could be noticed among the various groups
      of patients, divided for sex, age range and mental condition. The results of our
      study confirm the presence of a high percentage of subclinical thyroid
      dysfunction in old age. They also suggest that in healthy aged subjects thyroid
      function parameters are not significantly different in reference to sex, age
      range and mental condition.

PMID- 1439121
TI  - [Hypertension: when to consider it a risk factor?].
AB  - The results of a good deal of large epidemiological studies carried out in the
      last 3 decades clearly showed that moderate and severe arterial hypertension is a
      mayor risk factor for cardiovascular disease. At variance, mild hypertension was
      generally regarded as a more benign condition, if not associated with other risk
      factors. Recently, the attention of several investigators was focussed to
      identifying possible additional risk factors, which are related to high blood
      pressure, and might increase substantially the risk of mild blood pressure
      elevation. Left ventricular hypertrophy, activation of the renin-angiotensin
      system and a generalized increase in the Na+/Li+ countertransport are some of the
      factors that are implicated in hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Since not all
      available antihypertensive agents positively influence these factors, these
      observations could have not only pathophysiological and clinical, but also
      therapeutic consequences.

PMID- 1439122
TI  - [Recent biological and therapeutic advances in multiple myeloma].
AB  - Multiple myeloma still remains a fatal disease. However, in the last months new
      biological and clinical informations have been provided about this disease. In
      particular, the immunophenotype of myeloma cells seems indicate, in some
      patients, a clonal involvement of a stem cell in the pathogenesis of mieloma.
      Moreover, new biological insights concerning the cytokine network, have revealed
      a probable effect of some cytokines, such as IL6, IL3, IL4. Finally, new insights
      in the biology of multiple myeloma have been provided by studies of molecular
      biology and flow cytometry. As for therapy, the best conventional induction
      treatment still remains to be defined. In the last years, the increased use of
      alpha Interferon and new therapeutic modalities, such as transplantation
      procedures in multiple myeloma, open new hopes toward a cure of this disease.
      Therefore, in the future a better knowledge of the multiple myeloma biology,
      associated with a wider use of new effective therapeutic approaches will
      certainly improve the natural course of this disease.

PMID- 1439123
TI  - Immunotherapeutic approaches with monoclonal antibodies to immunological
      diseases.
AB  - The molecular events triggered by the interaction of the immune system with an
      antigen and leading to an immune response have been characterized in recent
      years. This information has provided the background to develop immunotherapeutic
      approaches to allograft rejection and to autoimmune diseases utilizing monoclonal
      antibodies to molecules which play a role in the immune response. The clinical
      trials performed thus far are described. The significance of the results obtained
      in these trials and the future potential developments are discussed.

PMID- 1439124
TI  - Characteristics and practical use of new-generation adjuvants as an acceptable
      alternative to Freund's complete adjuvant.

PMID- 1439125
TI  - Characteristics and practical use of new-generation adjuvants as an acceptable
      alternative to Freund's complete adjuvant.

PMID- 1439126
TI  - Freund's complete adjuvant: an effective but disagreeable formula.

PMID- 1439127
TI  - Bacterial cell wall products as adjuvants: early interferon gamma as a marker for
      adjuvants that enhance protective immunity.

PMID- 1439128
TI  - Aluminum salts.

PMID- 1439129
TI  - DDA as an immunological adjuvant.
AB  - As compared to other adjuvants, DDA is a moderate or strong adjuvant for humoral
      responses and a strong adjuvant for CMI, especially DTH responses, against
      different types of antigens and in both laboratory animals and larger animals.
      DDA can collaborate with other immunomodulating compounds resulting in further
      enhanced responses. Mechanisms include interactions with both antigen and
      components of the host immune system and possibly, multiple beneficial effects
      contribute to the relatively strong adjuvanticity of DDA. Toxicity of DDA is not
      known but severe detrimental side effects were not seen. This adjuvant can be
      applied in experimental vaccines and in commercial vaccines for veterinary
      purposes, especially if cell-mediated immunity is considered to be important. In
      immunology, DDA can be of use to study T helper cells responsible for DTH
      responses (T helper cells type 1) and to characterize T helper cell epitopes on
      antigens (Snijder et al., 1992).

PMID- 1439130
TI  - Adjuvant properties of stable water-in-oil emulsions: evaluation of the
      experience with Specol.

PMID- 1439131
TI  - Non-ionic block polymer surfactants as immunological adjuvants.

PMID- 1439132
TI  - Syntex adjuvant formulation.

PMID- 1439133
TI  - Saponin.

PMID- 1439134
TI  - The iscom structure as an immune-enhancing moiety: experience with viral systems.

PMID- 1439135
TI  - Liposomes as antigen carriers and adjuvants in vivo.

PMID- 1439136
TI  - Synthetic lipopeptides as novel adjuvants.
AB  - Lipopeptides constitute potent novel immunoadjuvants in mice, rabbits and other
      species, enhancing markedly the immune response when given in mixture with
      antigens. Lipopeptides are non-toxic, non-pyrogenic and do not induce tissue
      damage when injected. They are thus well suited to replace Freund's adjuvant
      avoiding its side effects; the antibody titres obtained using lipopeptide
      analogues are in most cases comparable to the titres obtained by administering
      Freund's adjuvant. Lipopeptides also improve the efficiency of vaccines, which is
      important in decreasing the amount of vaccine required. Lipopeptides covalently
      coupled to low molecular weight haptens, e.g. peptides or toxins, are able to
      elicit high antigen-specific antibody titres in mice and rabbits. Conjugates
      containing B or T helper cell epitopes constitute novel synthetic vaccines which
      protect against viral infections by inducing virus-specific antibodies. When
      coupled to CTL epitopes, the conjugates are able to induce cytotoxic T
      lymphocytes in vivo which eliminate virus-infected cells. Thus, due to their
      efficacy and their lack of side effects, these novel lipopeptide adjuvants
      provide a substitute for many conventional adjuvants.

PMID- 1439137
TI  - Inert carriers for immunization.

PMID- 1439139
TI  - Non-inflammatory peptide fragments of IL1 as safe new-generation adjuvants.

PMID- 1439138
TI  - Biodegradable poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres.

PMID- 1439140
TI  - Adjuvant-independent induction of immune responses by antibody-mediated targeting
      of protein and peptide antigens.

PMID- 1439141
TI  - Mouse T-lymphocyte activation by Urtica dioica agglutinin. I.--Delineation of two
      lymphocyte subsets.
AB  - Urtica dioica agglutinin (UDA) is a mouse T-lymphocyte-specific mitogen endowed
      with proliferative characteristics different from ConA, the prototypic T
      lymphocyte mitogen. In particular, UDA induces 2-3-fold-reduced thymidine
      incorporation as compared to ConA. In an attempt to define the basis of this
      reduced proliferation, we analysed whether UDA binds to a unique subset of T
      lymphocytes or whether it activates only a T-cell subset. Cytofluorimetric
      analysis showed that this lectin binds uniformly to all T lymphocytes and does
      not, on this criterion, distinguish a particular T-cell subset. We next analysed
      whether UDA provokes the activation of all T lymphocytes. This was carried out by
      measuring the increase in cell size and the induction of the p55 chain of the IL2
      receptor. The analysis showed that, throughout the kinetics of cell activation,
      only one subset of T lymphocytes increased in size and expressed the p55 chain of
      the IL2 receptor, suggesting that UDA activates only a subpopulation of T cells.
      This conclusion was strengthened by the analysis of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU)
      incorporation into the DNA of UDA-activated cells. Two populations were easily
      identifiable: a BrdU-negative subset consisting of all the small p55-negative
      lymphocytes, and a BrdU-labelled subset including all the large p55-positive
      cells. BrdU was incorporated in both CD4+ and CD8+ cells, indicating that UDA did
      not distinguish helper from cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In addition to the p55 chain
      of the IL2R, all cycling cells expressed the Pgp-1 activation marker. The T
      lymphocytes, which bound UDA but did not proliferate, remained fully susceptible
      to subsequent stimulation by ConA. In conclusion, the capacity to proliferate
      upon UDA binding differentiates a UDA-sensitive from a UDA-refractory subset
      among splenic mouse T lymphocytes.

PMID- 1439142
TI  - Mouse T-lymphocyte activation by Urtica dioica agglutinin. II.--Original pattern
      of cell activation and cytokine production induced by UDA.
AB  - Urtica dioica agglutinin (UDA) is a T-lymphocyte-specific polyclonal activator
      that differs from ConA, the classical mouse T-cell mitogen, by inducing a late
      and limited proliferation of a distinct T-cell subset recruited among both CD4+
      and CD8+ lymphocytes. We investigated the possibility that the particular
      kinetics may originate from UDA-specific activation processes in which the known
      early mandatory signals were completed only after an extended delay. We report
      that the time of contact required between lectin and the cell membrane to acquire
      the capacity to proceed into cell cycle was much longer (36-40 h) for UDA than
      for ConA (8-10 h). Addition of phorbol ester, which artificially induces PKC
      translocation, or ionomycin, which provokes Ca2+ mobilization, did not accelerate
      the proliferative kinetics, suggesting that these early mandatory signals are not
      the limiting factors in the delayed proliferation. The induction of c-myc was
      retarded in the UDA group, and there was a good correlation between the kinetics
      of c-myc induction and the kinetics of cell proliferation. The comparison of the
      level of transcription of the genes encoding different cytokines revealed
      additional differences between the two mitogens: the whole wave of cytokine gene
      expression was delayed with UDA. In particular, IL2, IL3 and IFN gamma gene
      expression was retarded compared to the ConA-induced single wave. An even later
      transcriptional wave took place at around 72 h for IL4 and IL5. Finally, this
      particular kinetics corresponded to an unusually high level of IL3 and IFN gamma
      and a low level of IL4 and IL5 gene transcripts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439143
TI  - Analysis of heavy and light chain use of lupus-associated anti-La/SS-B and anti
      Sm autoantibodies reveals two distinct underlying immunoregulatory mechanisms.
AB  - The immunoregulatory mechanisms involved in autoimmune diseases are still
      unclear. One approach to elucidating these mechanisms involves evaluation of the
      clonality of the lymphocytes involved in autoimmunity. Molecular analysis of the
      rearrangement patterns of antigen receptor genes in T cells and B cells has
      produced ambiguous results. The present study focuses on the analysis of the
      autoantibodies themselves, being the end products of autoimmune reactivity. Heavy
      and light chain use of autoantibodies and of total IgG was determined in sera
      containing anti-La/SS-B and/or anti-Sm antibodies, two autoantibody specificities
      associated with rheumatic diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and
      Sjogren's syndrome. From our experiments, the anti-La/SS-B response emerges as an
      oligoclonal, IgG1-restricted B-cell response associated with sharply elevated
      levels of total serum IgG1-kappa. These characteristics are in sharp contrast to
      the polyclonal, IgG-subclass-unrestricted anti-Sm response which is accompanied
      by normal or slightly elevated total serum IgG levels. These findings suggest
      that anti-La/SS-B autoantibodies, in contrast to anti-Sm autoantibodies, are the
      product of a restricted oligoclonal B-cell response and thus may be the
      consequence of a (virally triggered) benign B-cell lymphoma.

PMID- 1439144
TI  - Molecular biology and immunology of interleukin-6.

PMID- 1439145
TI  - Regulation of IL6 gene expression.

PMID- 1439146
TI  - IL6 signalling through IL6 receptor and receptor-associated signal transducer,
      gp130.

PMID- 1439147
TI  - IL6 and the T-cell response.

PMID- 1439148
TI  - Effects of IL6 on B cells in mucosal immune response and inflammation.
AB  - Freshly isolated surface IgA+ (sIgA+) B cells from human gut-associated
      lymphoreticular tissues (GALT), e.g. the appendix, express high levels of IL6
      receptor (IL6R) and respond to IL6 with significant increases in the number of
      IgA-secreting cells. On the other hand, neither sIgM+ nor sIgG+ B cells from
      appendix express IL6R. When the effect of IL6 on IgA subclass antibody synthesis
      was examined, the numbers of both IgA1- and IgA2-producing cells were increased
      upon incubation of GALT B cells with IL6; however, 60-70% of IgA-secreting cells
      were IgA2 subclass. Aberrant local production of IL6 can contribute to increased
      B-cell responses that occur in mucosal inflammation such as gingiva of patients
      with adult periodontitis (AP). When gingival mononuclear cells (GMC) isolated
      from AP patients were cultured without any stimulus, GMC spontaneously produced
      biologically active IL6 which induced peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
      from the same patients to become IgG- and IgA-producing cells. Further, mRNA
      extracted from GMC possessed high message for IL6. When the expression of IL6R
      was compared between GMC and PBMC isolated from AP patients, IL6R-bearing cells
      were only seen in the former population. Thus, a high production of IL6, which
      have the ability to regulate later stages of IL6R+ B-cell development and to
      induce them to become Ig-secreting plasma cells and to support plasmacytoma
      growth, are important immunopathological elements for the induction of the
      increased B-cell response region in inflamed mucosal tissues.

PMID- 1439149
TI  - IL6 and haematopoietic stem cells.

PMID- 1439150
TI  - IL6 and thrombocytopoiesis.

PMID- 1439151
TI  - IL6 and the acute phase reaction.

PMID- 1439152
TI  - Interleukin 6 and autoimmunity and plasma cell neoplasias.

PMID- 1439153
TI  - IL6 and AIDS.

PMID- 1439154
TI  - Growth regulatory functions of IL6 and antitumour effects.

PMID- 1439155
TI  - Clinical applications of IL6 inhibitors.

PMID- 1439156
TI  - Clinical application of IL6 in cancer therapy.

PMID- 1439157
TI  - Parental and peer influences on leisure-time physical activity in young
      adolescents.
AB  - Influence from parents and friends on adolescents' self-reported level of leisure
      time physical activity was examined through measures of (a) perceived leisure
      time physical activity of parents and best friend, (b) perceived direct support
      for physical activity from parents and friends, (c) direct help from parents in
      exercising vigorously, and (d) perceived value of physical activity of parents
      and friends. The present analysis included 904 students in western Norway (M age
      13.3 years, SD 0.3) who took part in a health behavior survey, which included
      questions regarding physical activity. Students completed a confidential
      questionnaire at school. All four measures of influence were positively related
      to students' activity levels. None of the examined measures was clearly stronger
      than the other. Parental and peer physical activity level and parental and peer
      support for physical activity seem to influence the reported physical activity
      level of the respondents. The findings indicate that, by serving as models and
      supporters, significant others have an important impact in promoting physical
      activity in young adolescents.

PMID- 1439158
TI  - Children's one-hand catching as a function of age, gender, and ball location.
AB  - A sizable body of literature exists on the product characteristics and
      developmental sequence for two-hand catching, but to date there is no description
      of the developmental characteristics of simple one-hand catching in young
      children. This study investigated the influence of age, gender, and ball location
      on children's one-hand catching. Boys and girls (N = 240) ranging in age from 5
      to 12 years attempted to catch a total of 24 tennis balls, tossed from a 9-ft
      distance. Tosses were directed to four locations: (a) Waist, (b) Shoulder, (c)
      Above-the-Head, and (d) Out-to-the-Side. Descriptive data consisted of the
      percentage of successful catches at each ball location, and the hand-arm
      orientation selected by the child as a function of ball location. Results
      revealed that catching performance improved with age, boys caught more balls than
      girls, ball location influenced catching success, and, in general, the location
      of the toss constrained the child's selection of an appropriate hand-arm
      orientation. With the possible exception of the Shoulder location for girls, even
      very young children are sensitive to the perceptual aspects of the toss and
      respond with an appropriate orientation.

PMID- 1439159
TI  - Effects of violating local independence on IRT parameter estimation for the
      Binomial Trials Model.
AB  - The appropriateness of the Binomial Trials Model for test data that consist of
      multiple attempts of the same item needs to be determined because the presence of
      learning or fatigue effects may violate the model's assumption of local
      independence. The purpose of this study was to determine what effect the severity
      of the violation of local independence (VLI), coupled with different sample size
      (SS), test length (TL), and test difficulty (TD) had on the estimation of the
      model difficulty parameter, b, using computer simulation techniques. Each of the
      following conditions was replicated 100 times under a completely crossed design:
      SS (100, 200, 500, 2,000); TL (5, 10, 20, 25 attempts); TD (-1.2, 0.0, 1.2); and
      VLI (from no violation to complete violation). Examinee ability or latent trait
      was pseudorandomly drawn from a standard normal distribution, and the b-parameter
      was estimated using a maximum likelihood procedure on generated test scores.
      Regardless of SS, TL, and TD, the b-parameter tended to be overestimated for
      situations in which the VLI condition simulated fatigue and underestimated when
      the VLI condition simulated late-test learning or practice effect. The findings
      suggest that violations of local independence, at least as simulated in this
      study, could seriously bias the difficulty parameter estimates if all examinees
      tested exhibited the dependency.

PMID- 1439160
TI  - The reliability and validity of the 20-meter shuttle test in American students 12
      to 15 years old.
AB  - The purpose of this study was threefold: to determine (a) the test-retest
      reliability of the 20-m shuttle test (20 MST) (number of laps), (b) the
      concurrent validity of the 20 MST (number of laps), and (c) the validity of the
      prediction equation for VO2max developed by Leger, Mercier, Gadoury, and Lambert
      (1988) on Canadian children for use with American children 12-15 years old. An
      intraclass coefficient of .93 was obtained on 20 students (12 males; R = .91 and
      8 females; R = .87) who completed the test twice, 1 week apart (MT1 = 47.80 +/-
      20.29 vs. MT2 = 50.55 +/- 22.39 laps; p > or = .13). VO2peak was obtained by a
      treadmill test to volitional fatigue on 48 subjects. The number of laps run
      correlated significantly with VO2peak in males (n = 22; r = .65; F [1, 20] =
      14.30 p < or = .001), females (n = 26; r = .51; F [1, 24] = 8.34; p < or = .01),
      and males and females = (r = .69; F [1, 46] = 42.54, p < or = .001). When the
      measured VO2peak (M = 49.97 +/- 7.59 ml.kg-1.min-1) was compared with the
      estimated VO2max (M = 48.72 +/- 5.72 ml.kg-1.min-1) predicted from age and
      maximal speed of the 20 MST (Leger et al., 1988) no significant difference was
      found, t (47) = -1.631; p > or = .11, between the means; the r was .72 and SEE
      was 5.26 ml.kg-1.min-1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439161
TI  - Age-related differences in the control of spatial aiming movements.
AB  - The experiment was designed to (a) examine age-related differences in the control
      of aiming movements, and (b) determine the locus of slowing in movement execution
      of older adults. Fitts's (1954) index of difficulty (ID) was used to manipulate
      movement execution demands, and kinematics were used to examine the response
      characteristics. Twelve young and 12 older adults performed simple aiming
      movements 10 cm or 20 cm in amplitude to targets of 0.5 cm, 1.0 cm, or 2.0 cm in
      width, resulting in IDs ranging from 3.32 to 6.32. The results for both young and
      older subjects support the prediction that movement time (MT) increases as a
      function of ID and that older adults are significantly slower and more affected
      by increases in ID than the young adults. Velocity and acceleration profiles of
      the older adults' movements displayed very different response characteristics
      than those of the young adults. The results suggest that older adults emphasize
      accuracy of response and are concerned with the latter phase of the movement in
      order to contact a target accurately.

PMID- 1439162
TI  - A comparison of modeling modalities in the observational learning of an
      externally paced skill.
AB  - This study contrasted prepractice modeling with either the perceptual component
      (perceptual modeling) or the motor component (movement pattern) of a coincident
      timing task to determine whether experiencing the modalities singly or in
      combination enhanced timing performance on initiation of active practice. The
      motor component was a 60-cm right-to-left arm movement coincident with the
      illumination of lights on a Bassin timer runway to displace a barrier as the
      final runway light was illuminated. Four groups were compared (n = 12 per group).
      A perceptual modeling group passively viewed stimulus runway lights prior to
      attempting the task. A motoric modeling group viewed a videotape prior to
      practice of a model performing the motor component of the skill with zero timing
      error. A perceptual modeling plus motoric modeling group experienced both
      modeling modalities prior to performance. Finally, a no modeling group simply
      initiated practice on the task without modeling. Results indicated that the
      groups experiencing perceptual modeling initiated practice with significantly
      less average timing error and variability. Thus, perceptual modeling appeared to
      be at least as important as motoric modeling as a source of prepractice
      information to make available to a learner to optimize coincident-timing skill
      acquisition.

PMID- 1439163
TI  - What undergraduate physical education majors learn during a field experience.
AB  - Early field experiences and student teaching have a significant impact on the
      development of prospective teachers' perceptions of teaching and themselves as
      teachers (Dodds, 1989). The purpose of this study was to describe what happened
      to physical education majors during a secondary physical education methodology
      course that included two field experiences in which the undergraduates taught at
      least one lesson a day. The four research questions that guided the study were
      (a) What issues did the majors attend to as significant incidents from their
      teaching, and did these issues change during their field experiences? (b) What
      were the characteristics of field experience lessons they perceived as
      successful? (c) What were the characteristics of field experience lessons they
      perceived as unsuccessful? and (d) What were the physical education majors'
      conceptions of teaching? Participants in the study were 39 junior-year physical
      education teacher education majors. Data were collected using the critical
      incident technique (Flanagan, 1954) and an open-ended, written questionnaire that
      was designed to encourage the majors to reflect on various aspects of their
      teaching experience. The questionnaire and critical incidents were analyzed using
      an inductive analytical procedure and a series of categories developed from
      several readings of students' writings. The teacher preparation program affected
      how these trainees defined and evaluated their teaching experiences. In contrast
      to some of the earlier work in physical education, the results indicated pupil
      learning, quality lesson planning to ensure pupil learning, and efficient lesson
      management were major characteristics of successful lessons for these trainees.
      The trainees presented "theories of knowledge" that emphasized technical concepts
      of teaching with little attention to the social or ethical dimensions of their
      work or the content knowledge of their field. Additional research is needed to
      examine appropriate programmatic efforts to help preservice teachers reflect not
      only on teaching, learning, and schooling as a technical enterprise but also as a
      moral and ethical enterprise.

PMID- 1439164
TI  - Cardiac structure and function in women basketball athletes: seasonal variation
      and comparisons with nonathletic controls.
AB  - To characterize hypertrophy and quantify seasonal changes in cardiac structure
      and function of women collegiate basketball (BB) athletes (n = 15),
      echocardiographic (echo) measurements were made in the fall (FALL1), winter
      (WIN), and spring (SPR), then again during the subsequent fall (FALL2; n = 10).
      Comparisons were made to age-matched nonathletes (NA) measured during FALL1 (n =
      22) and SPR (n = 5). Left ventricular (LV) internal dimension-diastole (LVIDd),
      LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), stroke volume (SV), LV mass (LVM), septal
      thickness (IVS), LV posterior wall thickness (LVPW), right ventricular (RV)
      internal dimension-diastole (RVIDd), and aortic root diameter (AOD) were
      significantly larger (12-70%) in the athletes; RVIDd-, LVEDV-, SV-, and LVM-index
      were also significantly greater (8-46%). From FALL1 to SPR measurement periods,
      LVIDd, RVIDd, LVEDV, SV, IVS, and LVM-index increased significantly (7-18%) in
      the athletes. Over the same period of time, LVIDd, LAD, AOD, LVEDV, and SV
      measured in the five NA subjects increased significantly. In the athletes, LVIDs,
      RVIDd, IVS, LVPW, and LVM decreased significantly (5-30%) from the SPR to FALL2
      measurement period. These data characterize the general nature of the cardiac
      hypertrophy noted in women BB athletes compared to NA controls and show that
      distinct changes in heart structure corresponding to different periods of the
      competitive season can occur in these athletes.

PMID- 1439165
TI  - Relationship of optical density and skinfold measurements: effects of age and
      level of body fatness.
AB  - We examined relationships between skinfold (SKF) and optical density (delta OD)
      measurements across age and levels of body fatness (%BF) for 151 women, 20 to 72
      years. There were significant (p < .05) relationships between delta ODs and SKFs
      at all sites, except the thigh. The interaction (SKF x Age) was significant (p <
      .05) for pectoral and biceps delta ODs. Slope comparisons indicated the
      relationships for younger (29 years) and older (59 years) women differed
      significantly from zero and each other (p < .05). Analysis of SKF x %BF
      interactions revealed that relationships between SKFs and delta ODs at the
      pectoral and biceps sites for leaner (22% BF) women differed significantly from
      zero (p < .05) and were larger than those for obese (39% BF) women (p < or =
      .05). Thus, the relationship between SKFs and delta ODs is stronger for younger
      and leaner women compared to older and fatter women. These findings may reflect
      differences in fat layering due to age or body fatness and provide insight as to
      why the manufacturer's near-infrared (NIR) equation significantly underestimates
      the %BF of obese women.

PMID- 1439166
TI  - Coping by individuals with physical disabilities with perceived challenge in
      physical activity: are people consistent?
AB  - This study examined coping and affective experience to perceived challenge in
      physical activity settings in 30 individuals with physical disabilities in three
      separate situations over 6 months. On every occasion, each individual was asked
      to report the most challenging physical activity of the preceding week and
      indicate how he or she coped with the challenge and what affective states were
      experienced. Coping was measured using a modification of Carver, Scheier, and
      Weintraub's (1989) COPE inventory. Self-reported mood was assessed using the
      Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988). The
      data indicated that perceived challenge was characterized by high levels of
      positive affect. Generalizability theory, used to determine the relative
      stability of coping strategies, indicated that individuals with physical
      disabilities did not consistently use the same coping skill strategies across
      settings.

PMID- 1439167
TI  - The role of sports as a social status determinant for children.
AB  - This study was designed to examine children's attitudes toward the role of sports
      in determining social status, as well as the activities in which children prefer
      to participate. A total of 227 boys and 251 girls in Grades 4, 5, and 6 completed
      a questionnaire to determine which criteria were most important in determining
      personal, female, and male popularity. Personal popularity was answered by the
      girls and boys according to "what would make you well liked by your classmates."
      Female and male popularity was determined by asking both girls and boys to decide
      "what would make (girls, for female subjects, and boys, for male subjects) well
      liked by your classmates." A comparison of results from the Buchanan,
      Blankenbaker, and Cotten (1976) investigation and the present study indicated
      that, in the last 15 years, appearance has become more important and academic
      achievement less important in determining personal popularity for girls. For
      boys, the comparison revealed that sports have become more important and academic
      achievement less important in determining personal popularity. Boys reported
      sports to be the most important determinant of personal and male popularity and
      appearance as the most important determinant of female popularity. Sports and
      appearance became more important for boys with each higher grade level. Girls
      reported appearance to be the most important determinant of personal, male, and
      female popularity. For girls, appearance became more important with each higher
      grade level. A comparison of results from the Buchanan et al. (1976) and the
      present study indicated that the activities in which girls and boys preferred to
      participate have changed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439168
TI  - Correlates of change in walking for exercise: an exploratory analysis.
AB  - This study was designed to identify correlates of change in walking for exercise.
      Respondents to a random sample mailed exercise survey were asked to complete a
      follow-up questionnaire 24 months after the first. Responses were obtained from
      1,739 adults, reflecting an 86.6% return rate. Nonrespondents did not differ from
      respondents for baseline level of walking for exercise. Respondents
      overrepresented Caucasian and middle to high education (or income) adults.
      Residualized measures of change in walking for exercise served as the dependent
      variable, adjusted for baseline walking. Similarly, key independent variables,
      subject to change over time, were included after residualization. At both
      baseline and 24 months follow-up, adults walked for exercise an average of just
      under 1 hour per week, and 23.5% of the initially active adults ceased walking
      for exercise at 2 years. Multiple regression analyses explained more variance in
      walking for exercise among women than men. Change in dynamic variables such as
      friend's support and vigorous physical activity accounted for most of the
      explained variance. Results suggest that dynamic variables may need to be
      sustained to maintain walking for exercise. The limited explained variance
      suggests that more precise measures and additional determinants of walking for
      exercise need to be identified.

PMID- 1439169
TI  - Energy costs of self-paced walking with handheld weights.

PMID- 1439170
TI  - Efficacy of skinfold training clinics: a comparison between clinic trained and
      experienced testers.

PMID- 1439171
TI  - The role of pedagogical content knowledge in motor skill instruction: comments
      and questions on Walkwitz & Lee, 1992.

PMID- 1439172
TI  - Are American children and youth fit? Some international perspectives.

PMID- 1439173
TI  - Are American children and youth fit? Some international perspectives. Fitness of
      10-year-old youth: a cross-cultural perspective.

PMID- 1439174
TI  - Formation of multicellular spheroids composed of rat hepatocytes.
AB  - A novel method for the preparation of spheroids containing two types of cells
      (hetero-spheroid) has been successfully developed by using a collagen-conjugated
      thermo-responsive polymer, poly-N-isopropyl acrylamide, as a cell substratum. The
      hetero-spheroid was prepared by detaching the confluent monolayer composed of
      parenchymal and non-parenchymal rat liver cells at a temperature below lower
      critical solution temperature and culturing it on the non-adhesive substratum.
      The hetero-spheroid had activity in albumin secretion and PNPA hydrolase activity
      over a period of 60 days in dishes. These findings suggest that this spheroid
      formation system is a useful model of an alternative to animal tests of
      hepatotoxicity.

PMID- 1439175
TI  - Elevation of the level of lipid peroxidation associated with hepatic injury in
      LEC mutant rat.
AB  - Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) mutant rat, which spontaneously develops a chronically
      necrotizing hepatic injury at 4-5 months of age, exhibits an excess hepatic
      copper accumulation. The hepatic injury was completely correlated to the excess
      hepatic copper accumulation in backcross progenies, supporting the previous
      hypothesis that the copper cytotoxicity causes the hepatic injury in LEC rat
      liver. The levels of the lipid peroxidation in symptomatic LEC rats at 4 months
      of age were significantly higher than those of age-matched asymptomatic LEC and
      normal rats. These results suggest that excessively accumulated copper provokes
      hepatic injury through initiating the lipid peroxidation.

PMID- 1439176
TI  - Effect of the synthetic N-homocysteine thiolactonyl derivatives, thioretinaco,
      thioretinamide, and thioco on growth and lactate production by malignant cells.

PMID- 1439177
TI  - Metabolic effects of diltiazem in the perfused rat liver.
AB  - The effects of diltiazem on oxygen uptake, glucose release, lactate production
      and pyruvate production in the perfused liver from fed rats were investigated.
      Diltiazem inhibits oxygen uptake and glycolysis. Glucose release from endogenous
      glycogen is increased after cessation of diltiazem infusion. The reversion of the
      inhibitory effects of diltiazem after cessation of infusion takes place very
      slowly. The compound also abolishes glucose release activation by norepinephrine,
      methotrexate and atractyloside. These effects seem to be the consequence of a
      more general effect of the drug on metabolism. It can be concluded that 0.5 mM
      diltiazem is highly toxic to the liver and that it should not be considered a
      specific agent against Ca(2+)-dependent hormones.

PMID- 1439178
TI  - pNiXa, a Ni(2+)-binding protein in Xenopus oocytes and embryos, shows identity to
      Ep45, an estrogen-regulated hepatic serpin.
AB  - A Ni(2+)-binding protein (pNiXa, 45 kD, pI 8.5) discovered in Xenopus embryos,
      was isolated from oocytes. Based on amino acid sequences, pNiXa belongs to the
      serpin superfamily and shows identity to the cDNA sequence of Ep45, an estrogen
      regulated hepatic serpin that contains an (HX)n-motif found in eukaryotic
      transcription factors. Nondenatured pNiXa, purified by Ni-affinity
      chromatography, inhibited bovine alpha-chymotrypsin. The presence of pNiXa in
      embryos when they are susceptible to Ni2+, the high avidity of pNiXa for Ni2+,
      and the (HX)n-motif point to pNiXa as a molecular target of Ni(2+)-teratogenesis.

PMID- 1439179
TI  - Formation of reductive metabolite, 2-sulfamoylacetylphenol, from zonisamide in
      rat liver microsomes.
AB  - Zonisamide (1,2-benzisoxazole-3-methanesulfonamide) was metabolized to its
      reductive product, 2-sulfamoylacetylphenol, in rat liver microsomes under
      anaerobic conditions. The rate of NADPH-dependent reaction was much more rapid
      than that of NADH-dependent reaction. Furthermore, synergistic effect of NADH on
      NADPH-dependent reaction was not observed. The optimal formation of 2
      sulfamoylacetylphenol from zonisamide in the presence of NADPH was observed
      around pH 7.0. Cimetidine showed an inhibitory effect on the formation of 2
      sulfamoylacetylphenol in a dose-dependent manner. The reductive metabolism of
      zonisamide was almost completely inhibited by carbon monoxide, and was increased
      by pretreatment of rats with phenobarbital and pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile
      but not by pretreatment with ethanol, 3-methylcholanthrene and imidazole. These
      results suggest that phenobarbital- and pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile
      inducible form(s) of cytochrome P-450 is responsible for the reductive metabolism
      of zonisamide to 2-sulfamoylacetylphenol in rat liver microsomes.

PMID- 1439180
TI  - Serum amino acid levels and hepatic protein synthesis during liver regeneration
      after partial hepatectomy in rats.
AB  - The time courses of changes in serum concentrations of free amino acids and in
      hepatic protein synthesis during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy
      were studied in rats. Hepatic protein synthesis was significantly higher 3, 5 and
      7 days after partial hepatectomy than it was in sham-operated control rats, but
      there was no such difference 14 days after surgery. Serum total amino acid level
      was significantly higher in partially-hepatectomized rats than in control rats 3
      days after surgery, and thereafter decreased slowly. By 7 days after surgery
      there was no significant difference between the two groups. Serum concentrations
      of threonine, serine, proline, histidine, tyrosine, methionine, ornithine and
      citrulline were significantly higher than in the control group 3 days after
      partial hepatectomy, and the concentrations of proline, histidine, tyrosine,
      methionine and ornithine were still high 5 days after surgery. In contrast,
      concentrations of branched-chain amino acids did not change.

PMID- 1439181
TI  - Relationship among cardiac sympathetic nerve activity, blood pressure and heart
      rate during infusion of carperitide in rats.
AB  - The effect of the infusion of carperitide (alpha-human atrial natriuretic
      peptide; alpha-hANP) on cardiac sympathetic nerve activity, blood pressure and
      heart rate was studied in anesthetized rats. Intravenous infusion of carperitide
      (0.1 and 1.0 micrograms/kg/min) produced mild and dose-related decreases in mean
      arterial pressure without significant changes in cardiac sympathetic nerve
      activity or heart rate. In debuffered rats, carperitide (1.0 micrograms/kg/min)
      also produced a mild decrease in mean arterial pressure. No significant changes
      in cardiac sympathetic nerve activity or heart rate were observed. A significant
      correlation between changes in heart rate and cardiac sympathetic nerve activity
      was noted during infusion of carperitide and deafferentation did not alter this
      relationship. In contrast, no significant correlation was observed between
      changes in cardiac sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure during infusion
      of carperitide in either buffer nerve intact or debuffered rats. These results
      suggest that the reduction of blood pressure induced by intravenous infusion of
      carperitide may not trigger the baroreceptor-mediated cardiac sympathoexcitation
      and this inhibition of baroreflex may be responsible for the anti-tachycardic
      effect of carperitide.

PMID- 1439182
TI  - The anti-asthmatic agent KC 404 inhibits sodium absorption by canine tracheal
      epithelium.
AB  - To elucidate the effect of KC 404, an anti-asthmatic agent, on electrolyte
      transport across airway mucosa, we studied electrical properties of canine
      tracheal epithelium under isometric conditions in vitro. Addition of KC 404
      decreased short-circuit current, transepithelial potential difference and cell
      conductance, accompanied by the decrease in 22Na flux from submucosa to mucosa.
      The KC 404-induced decrease in short-circuit current was inhibited by amiloride
      but not by diphenylamine-2-carboxylate. These results suggest that KC 404
      selectively inhibits Na absorption by airway epithelium, thereby leading to the
      increase in water content in the respiratory lumen.

PMID- 1439183
TI  - An evaluation of 2-benzyl-1-naphthol (DuP 654) analogs as systemic anti
      inflammatory agents.
AB  - DuP 654 (2-benzyl-1-naphthol) is a topically active anti-inflammatory agent that
      was evaluated in phase II clinical trials as an anti-psoriatic agent. The
      compound is a potent 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor and exhibits inhibitory activity
      against lipopolysaccharide-stimulated release of interleukin-1 from human
      monocytes. DuP 654 cannot be used as a systemic anti-inflammatory compound due to
      its rapid and extensive metabolism. Fifteen analogs were synthesized in an
      attempt to block the systemic route(s) of metabolism. The compounds were
      evaluated (IP and PO) in the rat carrageenan paw edema inflammation model with
      plasma samples taken at 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours post-dose. Substitutions at the 4-
      and/or 8-positions on the naphthol, and/or on the benzyl group of the DuP 654
      molecule were unsuccessful in achieving an analog which displayed both oral
      activity in the inflammatory model and high plasma levels without manifesting
      toxicity. The low plasma levels of some analogs may indicate poor absorption,
      high volume of distribution, or that the substitution did not inhibit the high
      hepatic "first-pass" metabolism observed with DuP 654. Other compounds not
      studied but similar in structure to DuP 654 may exhibit rapid and extensive
      metabolism.

PMID- 1439184
TI  - Concurrent ingestion of lactate and aluminum can result in developmental toxicity
      in mice.
AB  - The influence of lactate on the potential developmental toxicity of high doses of
      aluminum (57.5 mg/kg/day) was evaluated. Three groups of pregnant Swiss mice were
      given by gavage daily doses of Al(OH)3 (166 mg/kg), aluminum lactate (627 mg/kg),
      or Al(OH)3 (166 mg/kg) concurrent with lactic acid (570 mg/kg) on gestational
      days 6-15. An additional group of pregnant mice received lactic acid (570 mg/kg)
      during the same period. Cesarean sections were performed on gestation day 18, and
      live fetuses were sexed, weighed and examined for morphological defects. Maternal
      toxicity was observed in the groups treated with aluminum lactate, and Al(OH)3
      concurrent with lactic acid. The reproductive data did not show embryotoxic
      effects in any group, whereas fetal body weight was significantly reduced in the
      aluminum lactate group. In this group, morphological changes included cleft
      palate and an increased incidence of parietals with delayed ossification.
      Although not statistically significant, the incidence of skeletal variations was
      also increased in the group given Al(OH)3 concurrent with lactic acid. Taken
      together the present data, as well as the results of previous studies strongly
      suggest that the consumption of high doses of aluminum-containing compounds
      should be avoided during pregnancy.

PMID- 1439185
TI  - Cell-to-cell communication in cultured rat thyroid monolayer cells is inhibited
      dose-dependently by methimazole.
AB  - We performed monolayer culture of rat thyrocytes and studied gap junctional
      communication by measuring intercellular fluorescence redistribution after
      photobleaching. Cell-to-cell communication among thyrocytes gradually developed
      during the culture. This communication was demonstrated in approximately 60
      percent of the cells cultured for 8 days, while it could not be detected in the
      remaining 40 percent of the cells even after longer culture. When thyrocytes were
      cultured in the presence of methimazole, the fluorescence recovery after
      photobleaching was inhibited dose-dependently. Thyroid-stimulating hormone did
      not affect the fluorescence recovery. We provided, for the first time, that
      methimazole inhibited the development of cell-to-cell communication of thyrocytes
      dose-dependently.

PMID- 1439186
TI  - Influence of a stable prostacyclin analogue, Cicaprost, on the response to
      prostaglandin F2 alpha in the perfused human placenta.
AB  - Because a balance between the vasodilator effect of Prostacyclin and the
      vasoconstrictor effect of Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) may be necessary
      for the regulation of utero-placental-fetal blood flow, a study was designed to
      assess the influence of a stable prostacyclin analogue, Cicaprost, on the
      response to Prostaglandin F2 alpha in the perfused human placenta. Cicaprost
      produced a dose-dependent inhibition of the pressor response of 50 mcg of PGF2
      alpha. The decrease in PGF2 alpha-induced pressor response by 0.1 mcg of
      Cicaprost was not significant, only 6.95 +/- 8.2%. However, 0.5 mcg and 1.0 mcg
      of Cicaprost significantly attenuated the pressor response of PGF2 alpha by 36.6
      +/- 9.5% and 46.8 +/- 8.3%, respectively (MEAN +/- S.E.).

PMID- 1439187
TI  - Quantitative determination of 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone in cellular
      fractions of term placentae of normal and hypertensive patients.
AB  - During pregnancy the placenta is both the source and target for the actions of
      steroid hormones. In fact, an intact feto-placental unit is capable of
      elaborating increasing levels of a wide variety of steroid hormones and many
      other substances. The falling levels of steroid hormones, like estrogens and
      progesterone in serum and urine have been reported during pregnancy induced
      hypertension and/or preeclampsia. The purpose of this study was to determine the
      concentration of 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone in cytosol, nucleic fraction
      and particulate fraction of term placentae of normal and hypertensive patients by
      radioimmunoassay. Data from this study reveal the concentrations of 17 beta
      estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) in various cellular fractions from six
      placentae of normal patients (NP) and five placentae of hypertensive patients
      (HP). In HP overall concentrations of E2 (75.8 ng/gm) and P(46.5 micrograms/gm)
      is greater than those in NP, 32.6 ng/gm and 25.0 micrograms/gm respectively. The
      concentration of E2 in nuclear fraction of NP and HP remains unchanged while P
      concentration of nuclear fraction of HP (25.4 micrograms/gm) is much greater than
      those of NP (8.8 micrograms/gm). Moreover, the E2 concentration (55.5 ng/gm) in
      cytosol of HP is much greater than those of NP (12.3 ng/gm). Therefore, this
      study indicates that the abnormal concentrations of E2 and P of placentae are
      associated with pregnancy induced hypertension.

PMID- 1439188
TI  - Inhibition of [3H]-MK801 binding and protection against NMDA-induced lethality in
      mice by a series of imipramine analogs.
AB  - A series of imipramine analogs were tested for inhibition of [3H]-MK801 binding
      and for their ability to protect against NMDA-induced lethality in mice. The
      structure-activity relationship (SAR) for the inhibition of [3H]-MK801 binding
      found primary amines on short linkers to be optimum. For protection against NMDA
      lethality, compounds containing an unsaturated link to a cyclic amine were the
      most potent analogs tested. Possible explanations for the lack of correlation
      observed are briefly discussed.

PMID- 1439189
TI  - Serum and organ indices of the mdx dystrophic mouse.
AB  - Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal disease for which there is no
      effective treatment. The cause of death in patients with DMD is often
      cardiovascular and pulmonary dysfunction. This clinical observation, combined
      with experimental findings, suggests that other non-muscle organ systems may be
      affected in the dystrophic disease state. To test this hypothesis, the present
      study investigated liver and kidney function in the mdx mouse. Serum chemistries
      and the hepatic cytochrome P-450 system in normal and dystrophic mdx mice were
      investigated at two different ages. Increases in serum lactate dehydrogenase
      (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (AP), aspartate transaminase (AST), and cholesterol
      levels, combined with an increase in liver weight and a decrease in cytochrome P
      450, suggests the possibility of hepatic dysfunction. Increases in serum uric
      acid and phosphorus, and decreased kidney weight suggest hepatic dysfunction.

PMID- 1439190
TI  - Plasma concentration of furosemide versus specific gravity of urine in predicting
      dose of administration in race horses.
AB  - This study was undertaken to determine the applicability of plasma concentration
      of furosemide and specific gravity (SG) of urine in regulating the use of
      furosemide administered 4 hours prior to race time in Exercise-Induced Pulmonary
      Hemorrhage (EIPH) race horses. Nonbleeders (CTL) and certified bleeders (FUR)
      actively racing in Illinois (IL) and Pennsylvania (PA) were used in the study.
      Various doses (less than 250, 250, 300, 350, 400 and 500 mg) were administered
      either as a single intravenous (IV) dose or as a combination (IV-IM) of IV and
      intramuscular (IM) administrations 4 hours before race time. Plasma and urine
      samples were obtained post race for determination of furosemide concentration in
      plasma and measurement of SG of the urine in both CTL and FUR groups. Plasma
      samples were analyzed for furosemide using High Performance Liquid Chromatography
      with Fluorescence Detection. SG was measured using a digital refractometer. The
      results indicate a significant difference (p less than 0.0001) in the SG of the
      urine samples between the CTL and FUR groups irrespective of the route of
      administration (IV versus IV-IM). However, SG values of the urine in some CTL
      samples were lower than those in some FUR samples and vice versa. Thus, the use
      of SG alone is not reliable for predicting either the dose or the administration
      of furosemide to race horses. The plasma concentrations of furosemide following
      the administration (IV) of 250 mg or 500 mg 4 hours prior to race time were
      indistinguishable (25.91 +/- 4.45 versus 28.12 +/- 6.99 ng/ml, respectively); the
      majority of the horses in the groups had a plasma concentration of less than 40
      ng/ml. When taken in total, plasma concentration of furosemide can only be used
      as a guide in regulating the administration of furosemide to race horses.

PMID- 1439191
TI  - The effects of xanthoangelol E on arachidonic acid metabolism in the gastric
      antral mucosa and platelet of the rabbit.
AB  - The effects of a new chalcone derivative, xanthoangelol E, isolated from Angelica
      keiskei Koidzumi, on arachidonic acid metabolism in the gastric antral mucosa and
      platelet of the rabbit were examined. When gastric antral mucosal slices were
      incubated with xanthoangelol E (0.05-1.0 mM), there was no significant effect on
      the production of prostaglandin (PG) E2, PGF2 alpha and their metabolites. On the
      other hand, this compound inhibited effectively the production of thromboxane B2
      and 12-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid from exogenous arachidonic acid in
      platelets, and the concentration required for 50% inhibition (IC50) was
      approximately 5 microM. The formation of 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic
      acid was also reduced by this drug (IC50, 50 microM). These results suggest that
      xanthoangelol E has the potential to modulate arachidonic acid metabolism in
      platelets and that this action may participate in some pharmacological effect of
      the plant.

PMID- 1439193
TI  - Direct membrane damage and miconazole lethality.
AB  - Physicochemical membrane damage is presumably the cause of growth phase-dependent
      lethal miconazole action. In support of this, we showed that as stationary phase
      inoculum cells of Candida albicans progress into early logarithmic phase,
      susceptibilities to lethal action and to miconazole-induced release of K+
      increase together.

PMID- 1439192
TI  - Toxic response of linoleic acid anilide in female rats.
AB  - The toxicity of linoleic acid anilide (LAA) and heated linoleic acid anilide
      (HLAA) was studied in female rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were given 250
      mg/kg of LAA or HLAA in mineral oil, by gavage, on alternate days for two weeks.
      Control rats received an equal volume of mineral oil. The animals were sacrificed
      at day 1, 7 and 28 following the last dose. Organ-to-body weight ratio was
      increased for spleen in both LAA and HLAA treated rats at day 1. Lung, kidney and
      brain showed increases in this ratio at some time point, whereas, thymus in the
      HLAA group showed a decrease at day 28. Among blood parameters, red blood cells
      and hemoglobin content decreased in both LAA and HLAA treated groups at day 1 and
      in the LAA group at day 7. Serum IgA levels increased throughout the study in
      both treatment groups and were more pronounced in HLAA treated rats. Splenic T
      helper lymphocyte numbers decreased in the HLAA group at day 1, whereas, other
      cell types were not affected. The changes observed in female rats are comparable
      to our previous findings in male rats and relatively minor in relation to sex
      differences. These results further support that hemopoietic system is an early
      target of fatty acid anilide toxicity.

PMID- 1439194
TI  - Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange influences halothane and caffeine contractures of malignant
      hyperthermic skeletal muscle.
AB  - These experiments sought to determine the influence of sarcolemmal Na(+)-Ca2+
      exchange on halothane and on caffeine contractures of malignant hyperthermic (MH)
      skeletal muscle. Fiber bundles excised from MH susceptible pigs (Pietrain) were
      exposed to halothane (3%) and caffeine (0.5-8.0mM) while Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange was
      inhibited by reducing extracellular Na+ from 100% to 50, 25 and 0% of control.
      Halothane contracture magnitude was not altered by 50 or 25% Na+ whereas 0% Na+
      increased the contractures by 51%. 0 and 25% Na+ increased the magnitude of
      caffeine contractures (2-8mM) by 53-176%. These results suggest that external Na+
      and the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange mechanism influences contractures of MH skeletal
      muscle.

PMID- 1439195
TI  - Bioartificial endocrine pancreas: foreign-body reaction and effectiveness of
      diffusional transport of insulin and oxygen after long-term implantation of
      hollow fibers into rats.
AB  - Foreign body reaction of the liver, kidney, and subcutaneous tissue of rats after
      implantation of hollow fibers (HF) for 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and its influence
      on the effectiveness of diffusional transport of insulin and oxygen were
      investigated. The highest degree of fibrosis was observed after subcutaneous
      implantation of HF and the lowest degree after implantation into the kidney.
      Histochemical staining of the fibrous capsule showed a tissue-dependent
      domination of the collagenous fibrils. After 90 min of perfusion 33% of the
      insulin contained in HF diffused out of the nonimplanted fiber, after 120 min,
      73% and after 180 min, 100%. Hollow fibers, which were removed with a surrounding
      connective capsule after an implantation period of 1 year, showed even better
      permeability for insulin than nonimplanted HF. The tension of oxygen in the lumen
      of the implanted hollow fibers was 42 mm Hg after implantation into the kidney
      and 30 mmHg after implantation into the liver. The oxygen present inside an HF
      that is implanted into a kidney and liver was consumed by 100 islets in 3.9 and
      2.8 min, respectively. It was concluded that to achieve acceptable results in the
      construction of bioartificial pancreas more research activities should be
      performed on the diffusion and consumption of oxygen in the bioreactor.

PMID- 1439196
TI  - beta-Alanyl-L-histidinato zinc prevents hydrocortisone-induced disorder of bone
      metabolism in rats.
AB  - The preventive effect of beta-alanyl-L-histidinato zinc (AHZ) on osteopenia was
      investigated in rats treated with hydrocortisone. Rats received hydrocortisone
      (75 mg/kg body weight per day) s.c. for 30 days. The steroid treatment caused a
      significant increase in serum alkaline phosphatase activity and parathyroid
      hormone (PTH-c) level, while serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus, and zinc
      concentrations were not significantly altered. The femoral-diaphyseal alkaline
      phosphatase activity, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and calcium contents were
      significantly decreased by the treatment of steroid, although the bone zinc
      content was not appreciably altered. When AHZ (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg per day) was
      administered p.o. for 30 days to rats giving the steroid, the dose of AHZ (30 and
      100 mg/kg) completely prevented the increases in serum alkaline phosphatase
      activity and PTH-c level and the decreases in femoral-diaphyseal alkaline
      phosphatase activity, DNA, and calcium contents caused by the steroid treatment.
      The dose of AHZ (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg) significantly increased zinc content in
      the femoral diaphysis. Present results indicate that the dose of AHZ can prevent
      the disorder of bone metabolism caused by hydrocortisone treatment. AHZ may have
      a therapeutic role in the steroid-induced osteopenia.

PMID- 1439197
TI  - Effect of isoproterenol on regional myocardial segment work, O2 consumption, and
      oxygen balance.
AB  - We tested the hypothesis that positive inotropic stimulation by isoproterenol
      alters the relationship between regional segment work and regional myocardial
      oxygen consumption. Regional parameters were compared with external cardiac work
      and global LV oxygen consumption. In anesthetized open-chest dogs, regional
      myocardial segment length (ultrasonic dimension crystals) and force development
      (miniature force transducer) were measured. The integrated multiples of
      myocardial shortening by corresponding force during an averaged beat expressed
      segment work (area under the systolic portion of the length-force loop). External
      cardiac work was calculated from aortic blood pressure and cardiac output. Global
      and regional myocardial MVO2 were evaluated at baseline and during intravenous
      infusion of isoproterenol (0.5 and 1.0 micrograms/kg per min). Regional coronary
      blood flow was measured with radioactive microspheres, and microspectrophotometry
      of frozen myocardial biopsies was used to evaluate O2 saturation in small
      arteries and veins. These parameters were used to calculate regional MVO2.
      Arterial and coronary sinus O2 saturation was used to calculate global LV O2
      consumption. Regional myocardial O2 balance was estimated by measurement of NADH
      redox level using surface fluorometry. It was found that 0.5 micrograms/kg per
      min isoproterenol increased regional segment work/minute from 4650 +/- 495 to
      6750 +/- 750 mm.g/min. Corresponding regional oxygen consumption was
      disproportionately increased from 5.43 +/- 0.61 to 15.24 +/- 1.37 ml/min per 100
      g. External cardiac work was found to decrease from 728 +/- 13 to 562 +/- 25
      mmHg.1/min (due to decreased aortic blood pressure), whereas global myocardial O2
      consumption increased. Regional myocardial O2 extraction and NADH fluorescence
      were elevated, indicating impaired tissue oxygenation. Regional MVO2 was
      increased by 153 +/- 56%, but regional work by only 45.3 +/- 33% (P < 0.05).
      These results indicate that regional contraction efficiency was markedly reduced
      by isoproterenol.

PMID- 1439198
TI  - Cardiac glycosides in the treatment of experimental overdose with calcium
      blocking agents.
AB  - The ability of digitalis compounds to counteract calcium antagonist overdose was
      studied in anesthetized dogs (n = 6, 13.5 +/- 0.7 kg) and isolated trabeculae
      from human hearts (n = 7). Digitalis caused by increasing intracellular cytosolic
      Ca2+ concentration through Na+/Ca(2+)-exchange across the cell membrane, was
      postulated to overcome the detrimental effects of excessive slow calcium-channel
      blockade. In anesthetized dogs, an infusion of verapamil (40 mg/30 min, i.v.)
      decreased mean arterial pressure from 88 +/- 6 to 66 +/- 6 mm Hg (P < 0.05),
      reduced systemic vascular resistance (SVR) from 3838 +/- 916 to 2200 +/- 669
      dyne.s/cm5 (P < 0.05), and induced total atrio-ventricular (A-V) block in three
      animals. Stroke volume (SV) remained unchanged. Administration (i.v.) of NaCl
      (0.9%, 200 ml) and calcium gluconate (100 mg)--to increase the availability of
      Na+ and Ca(2+)--together with atropine (0.2 mg)--to block the parasympathetic
      effects of digoxin on A-V conduction--increased left ventricular contractility
      (15%) but had no significant effects on blood pressure, SV, or A-V block. Digoxin
      (0.125 mg) returned sinus rhythm in all dogs and, by increasing SVR (P < 0.05)
      and left ventricular contractility (P < 0.05), returned arterial pressures to
      baseline. Because of increased afterload, SV decreased slightly (15%) despite
      increased cardiac contractility. In experiments with isolated trabeculae from
      diseased human hearts, TA 3090 (Clentiazem) depressed contractile force and
      ouabain, another glycoside, restored contractile force within 30 min.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439199
TI  - Simulated weightlessness and bone metabolism: gravitational stimulation enhances
      insulin sensitivity.
AB  - The effect of simulated weightlessness on bone metabolism was investigated in
      skeletal unloading for 4 days. Skeletal unloading was designed using the model of
      hindlimb hang in rats. Skeletal unloading with hindlimb hang cased a significant
      decrease of alkaline phosphatase activity, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content,
      and glucose consumption in the femoral diaphysis, but not in the calvaria. When
      femoral-diaphyseal tissues were cultured in the presence of insulin (10(-8) M),
      the hormone produced a significant increase of alkaline phosphatase activity and
      decrease of glucose consumption in the femoral-diaphyseal tissues obtained from
      normal rats. This hormonal effect was not seen in the femoral diaphysis, but in
      the calvaria, of rats with skeletal unloading. However, insulin effect was seen
      in the femoral diaphysis obtained at 3 days after the removal of skeletal
      unloading. Meanwhile, the presence of other bone-regulating factors (10(-8) M
      parathyroid hormone [1-34] and 10(-4) M zinc sulfate) revealed an appreciable
      effect on alkaline phosphatase activity in the femoral diaphysis from rats with
      skeletal unloading. These results suggest that gravitational stimulation can
      directly enhance a specific insulin sensitivity in the regulation of bone
      metabolism.

PMID- 1439200
TI  - Gastric mucosal blood flow distribution in the CCl4-induced cirrhotic rat--a
      model of portal hypertensive gastropathy?
AB  - Because the carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhotic rat model is considered to be
      the closest to the clinical situation of the cirrhotic patient, the discovery of
      congestive gastropathy in such rats would enable the development of a useful
      research model. By the use of laser-Doppler technology, gastric mucosal blood
      flow was assessed on 14 defined points of the stomach in 16 cirrhotic and 16
      matched healthy rats, in an effort at in vivo mapping of the gastric mucosal
      microcirculation. Our findings of mucosal congestion in the cirrhotic stomach
      (reduced mucosal blood flow in the gastric corpus) are well matched with the
      distribution of gastric mucosal blood flow in the cirrhotic patient. These
      findings suggest that a rat's gastric mucosa could be used for studies of portal
      hypertensive gastropathy.

PMID- 1439201
TI  - Genetic variation in resistance to parasitic infection: experimental approaches
      and practical applications.
AB  - Parasitic infections remain a major threat to the successful maintenance of
      domestic livestock. Control is still centered around management and husbandry,
      and the use of chemotherapeutic compounds. However, the spread of drug resistance
      in many important protozoal and helminth infections is placing an increasing
      emphasis on the development of alternative forms of control. At the present time
      vaccination is available for only a limited number of parasites, and may never be
      practical or cost-effective for some of the most important infections. This
      review examines current views of the mechanisms, control and likely value of
      genetically determined differences in resistance to parasitic infection. There is
      an extensive literature dealing with experimental analyses of genetic variation
      to parasitic infection in both laboratory and domestic species, and a growing
      interest in the application of this information in the field of practical
      parasite control.

PMID- 1439202
TI  - Transdiaphragmatic pressure measurement in cattle: technical data.
AB  - Techniques and methods required for accurate and reproducible measurements of
      transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi), were studied in seven-week and five-month-old
      calves. Since reliable pleural pressure measurement in cattle has already been
      described, separate experiments were conducted to compare retrodiaphragmatic
      pressures measured (i) with balloon-catheters and needle catheters, (ii) before
      and after eructation and (iii) in the ruminal and in the peritoneal cavities.
      Whereas respiratory-induced pressure changes were equally transmitted throughout
      the rumen content, a marked anteroposterior damping was observed as the recording
      site in the abdominal cavity was moved away from the diaphragm (P < 0.0001). It
      was concluded that the most appropriate and accurate way to measure Pdi changes
      in polygastric animals is to measure the pressure changes existing in the mid
      thoracic portion of the oesophagus and in the liquid content of the rumen with
      balloon-tubing units. Neither growth- and diet-related rumen enlargement nor
      eructation, which are two typical characteristics of ruminants, altered the
      reliability of retrodiaphragmatic pressure measurements in the two age groups
      studied.

PMID- 1439203
TI  - Application of a diagnostic DNA probe for the differentiation of the two types of
      Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides.
AB  - Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), which is caused by Mycoplasma mycoides
      subspecies mycoides, is still a serious disease in some parts of the world. There
      is also a commonly occurring mycoplasma which is sufficiently related to the CBPP
      organism to bear the same name, even though this organism does not cause CBPP.
      Thus it is very important to be able to distinguish between these organisms and
      identify either with certainty. Fragments derived from M mycoides subspecies
      capri by restriction enzyme digestion of genomic DNA were cloned into the vector
      M13mp8. One resulting clone CAP-21, with a 1.5 kb insert was used as a probe in
      Southern hybridisation assays where genomic DNA was digested with the restriction
      endonuclease TaqI. This probe could differentiate a strain of M mycoides
      subspecies mycoides which does not cause CBPP. Subsequent tests on 14 other
      strains from cattle and goats showed that although they were isolated from
      diverse geographical areas, CAP-21 could clearly differentiate between these two
      types of M mycoides subspecies mycoides.

PMID- 1439204
TI  - Interspecies variations in plasma half-life of ampicillin, amoxycillin,
      sulphadimidine and sulphacetamide related to variations in body mass.
AB  - The relationships between the half-lives during the elimination phase (t1/2
      minutes) of ampicillin, amoxycillin, sulphadimidine and sulphacetamide and body
      mass (W, kg) between species of mammals and birds were examined using data from
      the authors' experiments and collected from the literature. Linear regression of
      the log half-lives of ampicillin, amoxycillin and sulphadimidine following
      intravenous injection on the log body mass for a variety of species of mammals
      and birds revealed significant correlations (r = 0.7709, n = 8, r = 0.7712, n =
      8, r = 0.7749, n = 10). The interspecies relationships were described by the
      allometric equations t1/2 = 31.3 W0.16, t1/2 = 32.7 W0.12 and t1/2 = 129.2 W0.28,
      respectively. These equations may be of value for estimating dose intervals in
      species for which no relevant pharmacokinetic data are available.

PMID- 1439205
TI  - Validation of the monofrequency forced oscillation technique for pulmonary
      function investigation in calves: an in vitro and in vivo study.
AB  - This study was to investigate whether the monofrequency forced oscillation (MFO)
      technique could be accurately used for pulmonary function testing in calves. The
      airflow resistance measured by this technique was compared to the resistance
      measured by the classical reference method by an in vitro study, using an
      artificial lung model, and by an in vivo study, using 11 healthy calves. The
      effect of the reference impedance of this oscillation equipment was also
      investigated. The results show linear relationships (r2 > 0.924, P < 0.001) in
      the resistance ranges 0 to 0.7 kPa litre-1 s and 0 to 1.0 kPa litre-1 s with a
      reference impedance of 1.0 kPa litre-1 s and 2.0 kPa litre-1 s, respectively. The
      MFO resistance values lower and higher than 0.4 kPa litre-1 s are slightly
      overestimated and underestimated, respectively. It was shown that, if some
      technical requirements are met, the MFO technique is a simple, reproducible, fast
      and accurate method which allows measurement of airflow resistance even in field
      conditions.

PMID- 1439206
TI  - Effects of oral sunflower oil and olive oil on serum and cutaneous fatty acid
      concentrations in dogs.
AB  - The effects of dietary fatty acids on serum and cutaneous fatty acids of healthy
      dogs were evaluated under controlled conditions. Beagle puppies (n = 12) were fed
      a standard diet supplemented with sunflower oil (group A), olive oil (group B) or
      no supplementation (group C) for 12 weeks. There were no significant differences
      in food intake or growth rates between the three groups. Dogs in group A had
      significant increases (P < 0.05) in serum 18:2n6 (linoleic acid) and 20:3n6
      (dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid), and cutaneous 18:2n6 with significant decreases in
      serum 20:4n6 (arachidonic acid) and cutaneous 18:1n9 (oleic acid) and 18:3n3
      (alpha-linolenic acid). Dogs in group B had significant increases in serum
      18:1n9, 20:3n6 and cutaneous 18:1n9 with decreases in serum 20:4n6, 22:4n6,
      22:5n3 and 22:5n6, and cutaneous 18:2n6, 18:3n3 and 20:4n6. There were no
      significant changes in serum or cutaneous fatty acids for the dogs in group C.
      This study demonstrates that fatty acid supplements can be used to alter the
      serum and cutaneous fatty acid compositions of dogs.

PMID- 1439207
TI  - Comparative behaviour of Brucella abortus strains 19 and RB51 in the pregnant
      mouse.
AB  - Pregnant BALB/c mice received various doses of either Brucella abortus strain 19,
      a smooth vaccine strain, or B abortus strain RB51, a stable rough organism,
      intraperitoneally on day 9 of gestation to compare the relative pathogenicity of
      the two attenuated strains. Nine days after inoculation, spleens and placentas
      were collected for bacteriological and histopathological examination. A dose of
      10(7.5) and strain 19 organisms produced a severe necrosuppurative placentitis
      occasionally accompanied by fetal death. This dose resulted in a 10-fold higher
      level of splenic infection than did a dose of 10(9.5) strain RB51 organisms,
      which produced only mild to minimal placentitis not associated with fetal death.
      Strain 19 infected mice showed seroconversion in the standard tube agglutination
      test in contrast to the seronegative titre of strain RB51 infected mice. The
      results of this study corroborate previous investigations on the relative
      pathogenicity and the serological response of the non-pregnant mouse to strain
      RB51.

PMID- 1439208
TI  - In vitro production of specific antibody by equine peripheral blood mononuclear
      cells using tetanus toxoid as a recall antigen.
AB  - Anti-tetanus toxoid (TT) antibody (Ig) levels in the supernatant of cultured, pre
      immunised equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured by an
      indirect enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Optimal anti-TT Ig
      production occurred at concentrations of stimulating, purified TT of between
      0.001 and 0.1 micrograms ml-1, which varied depending on the cell concentration.
      Optimal anti-TT Ig production was most consistently produced when the cell
      concentration was 5 x 10(6) ml-1. At this cell concentration maximal anti-TT Ig
      was induced using 0.1 micrograms ml-1 TT. At a cell concentration of 5 x 10(6) ml
      1 and a TT concentration of 0.1 micrograms ml-1 anti-TT Ig was first detectable
      in supernatant on day 5 of stimulation. Maximal levels of anti-TT Ig were present
      in the supernatant by day 10. No anti-TT Ig was produced in cultures of PBMC from
      non-immune animals.

PMID- 1439209
TI  - Antipyrine, erythromycin and oxytetracycline disposition in experimental
      fasciolosis.
AB  - The effects of fasciolosis on drug disposition were studied by administration of
      antipyrine, erythromycin and oxytetracycline to sheep and cattle. Fasciolosis was
      produced by administration of 200 or 400 metacercariae (MC) of Fasciola hepatica
      to sheep and 500 MC to cattle. The disease was subsequently confirmed by
      determination of plasma glutamate dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyl transferase
      and identification and quantitation of mature flukes in the liver at necropsy.
      Acute or subacute fasciolosis in sheep was accompanied by a significant decrease
      in the elimination rate constant (beta) and increase in the elimination half-time
      (t 1/2) for antipyrine and erythromycin when compared with controls or infected
      sheep which had been treated with the anthelmintic luxabendazole. An increase in
      apparent volume of distribution (Vd) was seen only for erythromycin in sheep
      given 400 MC. There were no changes in the disposition of oxytetracycline in
      sheep with either acute or subacute infection and no effects on disposition of
      the three test drugs in chronically infected sheep. With early chronic disease in
      calves, only the disposition of oxytetracycline was affected; not that of
      antipyrine or erythromycin.

PMID- 1439210
TI  - Analysis of complex cytogenetic alterations in three canine mammary sarcomas.
AB  - Cells of mammary sarcomas in three dogs were analysed cytogenetically. In an
      osteoidsarcoma, hyperdiploidy with a range of 92 to 98 chromosomes, and several
      structural aberrations (for example, a derivative chromosome 1, isochromosome 13
      and several bi-armed markers) were observed. Isochromosome 13 was also present in
      a case of an osteoidchondrosarcoma. In a case of chondro-osteosarcoma both
      hypodiploidy with a chromosome range of 60 to 66 and hyperdiploidy with a range
      of 115 to 128 and several centric fusions were observed.

PMID- 1439211
TI  - Pathophysiology of the periparturient egg rise in sheep: a possible role for IgA.
AB  - The relationship between anti-parasite IgA antibody levels in plasma and the
      periparturient egg rise in sheep was investigated. Ostertagia circumcincta larvae
      (5000 third stage larvae three times weekly) were administered to three groups of
      seven adult immune ewes from 12 weeks before until three weeks after lambing
      (group 1) or from six (group 2) or 14 (group 3) weeks before until three weeks
      before lambing. Seven additional ewes were not challenged (group 4 controls).
      Ewes in groups 1, 2 and 4 received anthelmintics 14 weeks before lambing.
      Challenge of the pregnant ewes with O circumcincta larvae resulted in substantial
      increases in faecal egg counts only during the periparturient period regardless
      of the larval dosing regimen. Furthermore, the periparturient rise in faecal egg
      counts was closely associated with a significant increase in anti-parasite IgA
      antibody levels in plasma. This rise in IgA antibody levels occurred at a time
      when IgA is transported from the gut to milk during early lactation. It is
      postulated that this may lead to a temporary reduction in abomasal antibody
      levels of ewes and hence permit the establishment of larvae and, or, the
      emergence and development of inhibited larvae and thereby lead to the
      periparturient rise in faecal egg count.

PMID- 1439212
TI  - Effect of colostrum intake on alpha-lactalbumin concentrations in serum of
      calves.
AB  - Seven Friesian calves were fed colostrum for four days beginning within 24 hours
      of birth, and milk thereafter. The concentration of alpha-lactalbumin in serum
      was measured by specific radioimmunoassay and compared to IgG assayed by
      electroimmunodiffusion. Serum concentrations of alpha-lactalbumin peaked at 387
      +/- 85 ng ml-1 within eight hours of initial intake of colostrum, declining to 12
      +/- 3 ng ml-1 by day 6. IgG rose steadily to 17 mg ml-1 by 48 hours of birth and
      remained relatively constant thereafter. The temporal pattern of alpha
      lactalbumin in serum following colostrum intake confirms previous studies
      suggesting reduced absorption of colostral proteins between 24 and 36 hours. The
      presence of variable amounts of alpha-lactalbumin in serum even after 17 days,
      however, indicates limited transfer of milk-derived proteins across the gut at
      this time. The data further show that cessation of maximal gut transfer does not
      relate to molecular weight of transferred protein.

PMID- 1439213
TI  - Tropical theileriosis in Bos taurus and Bos taurus cross Bos indicus calves:
      response to infection with graded doses of sporozoites of Theileria annulata.
AB  - This work extends basic knowledge of tropical theileriosis in taurine and
      crossbred cattle. Infection of Bos taurus and Bos taurus cross Bos indicus
      (Sahiwal) calves with graded doses of sporozoites of Theileria annulata (Hissar),
      an Indian stock of the parasite, showed the following to be dose dependent in
      both cattle types: the time to appearance and population size of macroschizonts,
      microschizonts and piroplasms, time and severity of pyrexia, anaemia manifested
      by erythrocyte counts and haematocrit. All infections were accompanied by a
      prompt and severe panleucopenia. This effect was dose related in both the taurine
      and the Sahiwal crossbred calves. Lymphocyte counts returned to preinfection
      levels in the blood of animals which recovered, but death from theileriosis was
      characteristically accompanied by a persistent and severe lymphocytopenia. Flow
      cytometry using monoclonal antibodies to bovine mononuclear cells was used to
      identify the lymphocyte subsets involved in lymphocytopenia. The outcome of
      infection was dose dependent in the crossbred calves but not in taurine calves.
      Although the results obtained did not differ qualitatively between the two cattle
      types, they provided some preliminary evidence for resistance to tropical
      theileriosis in Sahiwal crossbred calves.

PMID- 1439214
TI  - Testing meningeal strains of Streptococcus suis to detect M protein genes.
AB  - Previous reports have suggested that the surface proteins found in meningeal
      strains of Streptococcus suis might be similar to the M protein of group A
      streptococci. Fifty-five strains of S suis, including human and swine meningeal
      and pneumonic isolates, were tested for M protein genes by DNA probes
      representing the constant domain of the 3' end of the group A, M protein gene.
      None of the S suis strains examined was positive, indicating that these organisms
      either lack M protein genes or harbour different genes, not expressing the
      constant domains of protein M from group A.

PMID- 1439215
TI  - Effect of wetting a chicken's feathers on the effectiveness of electrical
      stunning.
AB  - Chickens were electrically stunned either when their bodies and feathers were wet
      or when they were dry. The time to recovery of muscular activity following
      stunning with 81 mA was assessed, and it was found that it was quicker in the wet
      birds. When hens which had previously been implanted with electroencephalogram
      electrodes were stunned with 119 mA it was found that the prevalence of
      somatosensory evoked responses during the first 60 seconds after applying the
      current was not significantly influenced by the wetness of the birds. It was
      concluded that electrical stunning with low currents in wet birds leads to a
      lower prevalence of ventricular fibrillation at stunning and a shorter lasting
      stun in the non-fibrillated birds. This effect is possibly due to some of the
      current tracking over the bird's wet body rather than through the brain.

PMID- 1439216
TI  - Identification of the surface components of Trypanosoma evansi.
AB  - 125I-labelling was used to characterise the surface components of five stocks of
      Trypanosoma evansi. Two components of 67 and 60.5 kD were labelled in two of the
      stocks, a single 60.5 kD component in two other stocks and no components in the
      remaining stock. These differences are probably related to the labelling method
      and biochemical differences between the stocks.

PMID- 1439217
TI  - Quantifying by monoclonal antibodies of specific IgG, IgM and IgA in the serum of
      minipigs experimentally infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.
AB  - Fifteen minipigs were infected intratracheally with three different doses (10(8),
      10(5) or 5 x 10(3) colony forming units) of the reference strains of serotypes 2
      or 4 of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, and three remained as controls. The
      titre of specific IgG, IgM and IgA in the serum was measured weekly for 15 weeks
      with an indirect ELISA using monoclonal antibodies specific for each isotype. IgG
      attained the highest titres, IgM lower and IgA the lowest, being only detected in
      four animals. Serotype 4 evoked significantly higher titres than serotype 2 (P <
      or = 0.01). In general the highest IgG titres were attained at four to six weeks
      after infection. Some of the minipigs were reinfected after seven weeks but this
      evoked an increased titre in only two instances.

PMID- 1439218
TI  - Erythrocyte protoporphyrin concentrations in clinically normal cats and cats with
      lead toxicity.
AB  - Erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EPP) and blood lead concentrations were determined in
      91 clinically healthy cats living in the inner suburban area of Sydney,
      Australia. The mean EPP concentration was 223.4 +/- 186.1 micrograms litre-1
      whole blood and the mean blood lead concentration 0.62 +/- 0.25 mumol litre-1.
      EPP concentrations were also monitored in three cats with confirmed lead toxicity
      -at the time of diagnosis and one week and one month after chelation therapy with
      calcium EDTA. EPP concentrations were elevated in two cats and within the normal
      range in the third cat at the time of diagnosis. EPP concentration were higher in
      two cats one week after treatment than at the time of diagnosis. One month after
      chelation therapy, EPP concentrations were normal in two cats but still
      substantially elevated in the third cat although its blood lead concentration had
      returned to normal and all clinical signs of lead toxicity had resolved. It was
      determined that the predominant form of protoporphyrin present in cats with lead
      toxicity was zinc protoporphyrin. The EPP assay may have limited value in the
      diagnosis of acute lead toxicity and in monitoring the success of chelation
      therapy in cats.

PMID- 1439219
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of carprofen administered intravenously to sheep.
AB  - Carprofen was administered intravenously to sheep at two dose rates (0.7 and 4.0
      mg kg-1), and the pharmacokinetics of the drug studied. Plasma concentrations of
      the drug were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Carprofen had a
      small volume of distribution (Vd[area], 95.5 and 118.4 ml kg-1), a prolonged
      elimination half-life (t1/2 beta, 26.1 and 33.7 hours) and a slow body clearance
      rate (Clb, 2.5 ml kg-1 h-1) in sheep.

PMID- 1439220
TI  - Culture of sheep Chlamydia in a sheep fibroblast cell culture.
AB  - Abortion and enteric isolates of Chlamydia psittaci from sheep differed in their
      growth in a fibroblastic cell culture derived from the small intestine of a lamb.
      Twenty abortion isolates, each from a different farm, produced large inclusions
      which could be passaged several times whereas 10 enteric isolates each from
      different farms (but from some of the farms of origin of the abortion isolates)
      produced sparse inclusions which could not be passaged. This appears to be a
      rapid method of distinguishing abortion and enteric isolates and may indicate
      different nutritional requirements or be related to the invasiveness of the
      isolates.

PMID- 1439221
TI  - Effect of incomplete immersion of the head in waterbath stunners on the
      effectiveness of electrical stunning in ducks.
AB  - Ten ducks were subjected to electrical stunning with their heads completely
      immersed in the water of a waterbath, and 10 ducks received the same current
      while only the bill and skin over the crop made contact with the water. The
      effect on visual evoked responses in the brain was examined. A higher proportion
      of birds had lost their visual evoked responses immediately following the current
      with whole head immersion. It is suggested that crop and bill immersion is less
      effective in disturbing brain function than whole head immersion.

PMID- 1439222
TI  - Plasma and extracellular volume in calves: comparison between isotopic and 'cold'
      techniques.
AB  - While isotopic techniques have largely superseded traditional markers for the
      determination of the volume of fluid compartments in vivo, they are not always
      convenient, especially with diarrhoeic animals. A direct comparison was therefore
      made in week-old calves between Evans blue and radio-iodinated serum albumin as
      measures of plasma volume and thiocyanate or 24sodium as measures of
      extracellular fluid space. The correlation coefficients were excellent (1.00,
      0.96; P < 0.001) and the calves had plasma and extracellular fluid volumes of 72
      +/- 2 and 438 +/- 2 ml kg-1, respectively. The latter value is, though high,
      typical of young animals and comparable with other data in calves.

PMID- 1439223
TI  - Diagnosis and prognostic factors in malignant pleural mesothelioma: a
      retrospective analysis of sixty-five patients.
AB  - This report is an analysis of the medical records of 83 patients registered
      between 1960 and 1980 at Helsinki University Central Hospital as having malignant
      pleural mesothelioma. 65 of 83 patients had histologically confirmed malignant
      mesothelioma, and are the focus of this analysis. The remaining 18 (22%) patients
      were excluded because malignant mesothelioma was only confirmed cytologically, or
      because the primary tumor was not a mesothelioma. The ratio of men to women was
      2:1.30 of 65 (46%) patients were not known or not likely to have been exposed to
      asbestos. The main symptoms at presentation were dyspnea, cough, chest pain,
      fatigue and weight loss. The median survival from diagnosis was 12 months, and
      from the onset of symptoms 18 months. Clinical stage and performance status were
      significant prognostic factors. Hematogenous metastases were present at autopsy
      in most cases. Disease and performance status therefore need to be well
      established and documented in clinical trials involving mesothelioma.

PMID- 1439224
TI  - Structural characterization of the bronchial epithelium of subjects with chronic
      bronchitis and in asymptomatic smokers.
AB  - A morphometric study was carried out on biopsy specimens taken from 40 smokers
      (27 with chronic bronchitis and 13 asymptomatic) submitted to bronchoscopy to
      identify and quantify the possible structural differences between the two groups.
      The chronic bronchitic group had a mean age of 65.67 years and 57.04 pack-years
      of smoking, the asymptomatic group had a mean age of 44.69 years and 22.62 pack
      years of smoking. 70 biopsy specimens (45 from chronic bronchitics and 25 from
      asymptomatic smokers), in which large areas of best-preserved and perpendicularly
      cut epithelium were present, were considered suitable for the study and examined
      by light and transmission electron microscopy. The mean thickness of surface
      epithelium (p < 0.001), the number of layers of basal cells (p < 0.001), the
      intercellular space of the superficial zone of the epithelium (p < 0.05) and the
      percentage of abnormal bronchial cilia (p < 0.05) were significantly greater in
      patients with chronic bronchitis than in asymptomatic smokers. No significant
      difference between the two groups was observed in the thickness of the lamina
      reticularis of the basement membrane. Goblet cell hyperplasia was more marked in
      chronic bronchitics than in the asymptomatic smokers (p < 0.001), whereas the
      frequency of epidermoid metaplasia did not show a significant difference. The
      morphological study of the bronchial epithelium has allowed the identification of
      transitional cells, which gives rise to the concept that epidermoid metaplasia
      may result from conversion of mucous cells. This finding suggests that the
      different histologic types appearing in lung tumours may originate from one
      undifferentiated pluripotential stem cell, which is able to differentiate into
      different histogenetic types.

PMID- 1439225
TI  - Immediate effects of ethanol on mucociliary clearance in healthy men.
AB  - A recent experimental study has shown that ethanol concentrations below 1%
      increase ciliary beat frequency in preparations of sheep trachea. This study was
      designed to investigate whether low ethanol concentrations also increase
      mucociliary clearance in man. Mucociliary clearance was measured using inhaled,
      radiolabelled particles. Clearance was measured in normal men for 30 min under
      baseline conditions. The subjects then ingested 28 g of ethanol, and clearance
      was measured for a further 40 min. The subjects reached a mean plasma
      concentration of 0.04% 30 min after ethanol intake. The mean half-life of the
      radioactive particles in the lung was 160 min under basal conditions and 257 min
      after ethanol ingestion. The difference was not statistically significant. We
      conclude that low ethanol concentrations do not increase mucociliary clearance in
      man.

PMID- 1439226
TI  - Comparative assessment of a new breath-actuated inhaler in patients with
      reversible airways obstruction.
AB  - Twenty-five patients with reversible airways obstruction inhaled salbutamol (200
      micrograms) from the standard press and breathe-metered dose inhaler or a new
      breath-actuated metered dose inhaler (Aerolin in the Autohaler inhalation device;
      3M Health Care Ltd.) in a single dose, double-blind, double-dummy, 2-period,
      cross-over study. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s, forced vital capacity and peak
      expiratory flow rate were measured in the 4-hour period after inhalation. The
      equivalence of the two inhaler devices was determined by analysis of the peak
      change and time to peak, with reference to the initial recorded baselines of the
      measured parameters. The efficacy of the two devices was very similar. The breath
      actuated device is likely to benefit inhaler users who suffer from poor co
      ordination of actuation and inhalation with a standard inhaler.

PMID- 1439227
TI  - Nalbuphine analgesia preserves ventilation after thoracotomy despite a reduction
      in inspiratory drive.
AB  - The respiratory effects of analgesia with nalbuphine were studied in 9 patients
      after thoracotomy. The pain score was measured by a visual analogue scale.
      Ventilatory pattern and occlusion pressure (P0.1) were studied during spontaneous
      breathing and during CO2 rebreathing, before and 0.5, 1, 2.5, 3.5 and 6 h after a
      0.3-mg.kg-1 dose of intravenous nalbuphine. Compared to baseline values obtained
      before the injection, nalbuphine produced a decrease in the pain score (p <
      0.001) during the 6-hour experiment period. In spontaneous breathing, P.01 was
      reduced by 15% in 1 h and remained decreased during 3.5 h (p < 0.05), whilst
      PaCO2 and ventilation (VE) remained unchanged. The P0.1 responsiveness to CO2 was
      decreased from 0.5 to 2.5 h after the nalbuphine injection (p < 0.05), but the VE
      responsiveness to CO2 was reduced only after 1 h (p < 0.01). This study shows
      that, while post-thoracotomy pain was reduced by analgesia, neuromuscular
      inspiratory drive and chemosensitivity to CO2 were weakened, without any change
      in spontaneous ventilation. A partial improvement in the thoracopulmonary
      mechanics induced by the reduction in chest pain could explain the maintenance of
      ventilatory level in spite of a decreased neuromuscular inspiratory drive.

PMID- 1439228
TI  - Changes of circulating atrial natriuretic peptide and antidiuretic hormone in
      obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
AB  - Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome are known to exhibit
      nocturnal natriuresis/diuresis. We studied plasma and urinary levels of atrial
      natriuretic peptide (ANP), a potent natriuretic hormone released from the heart,
      and plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) levels in patients with OSA during awake
      and sleeping periods, to compare with those of normal subjects. Seven patients
      with OSA and 6 normal subjects were studied. Arterial blood samples were drawn
      during the awake and the sleeping period, while in patients with OSA, blood
      samples were obtained during the apneic period. Urine samples were collected over
      two 12-hour periods (9 a.m.-9 p.m. and 9 p.m.-9 a.m.) In patients with OSA,
      plasma ANP as well as urinary ANP excretion increased during the apneic period
      compared with the awake period. There was a significant negative correlation
      between plasma levels of ANP and ADH in patients with OSA. On the other hand,
      normal subjects had no apparent differences in plasma and urinary ANP levels
      between the two periods. It is suggested that nocturnal increase in ANP and
      decrease in ADH are responsible for the nocturnal diuresis and natriuresis
      associated with OSA.

PMID- 1439229
TI  - Associations between atopy, asthma history, respiratory function and non-specific
      bronchial hyperresponsiveness in unselected young asthmatics.
AB  - We evaluated the relationship between bronchial hyperresponsiveness and atopic
      status, clinical symptoms and airway calibre in a group of Italian conscripts who
      reported having bronchial asthma. 126 subjects were studied. Bronchial
      responsiveness was measured by the methacholine test, and atopic status was
      assessed by skin tests. A measurable PC20 was detected in 106 subjects. On the
      basis of the methacholine threshold concentration the sample was divided into
      four categories. Subjects with a low threshold response had an earlier onset of
      the disease and tended to take more drugs. The four categories also differed in
      lung function and skin reactivity towards Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus whereas
      no difference was found in skin reactivity towards grasses or the overall panel
      of tested allergen extracts. In conclusion, we found that bronchial
      hyperresponsiveness is related to both clinical history and lung function,
      whereas the relationship with atopic status seems to be allergen specific.

PMID- 1439230
TI  - Massive bilateral pleural effusion as the only first presentation of systemic
      lupus erythematosus.
AB  - A rare case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with massive bilateral pleural
      effusions as the first manifestation, is described. The patient was a previously
      healthy 20-year-old soldier. Initial investigations were unrevealing, but after 3
      months the patient developed the full-blown syndrome. He responded well to
      corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide with resolution of the pleural effusions and
      improvement of the clinical picture. SLE should always be considered in cases of
      massive pleural effusions, even in the absence of other overt stigmata of the
      disease.

PMID- 1439231
TI  - Obstruction of upper airways complicating tracheostomy and use of neodymium Yag
      laser.
AB  - Mucoid impaction of tracheobronchial tree is a common condition which may
      complicate tracheostomy. Here we describe a case of a 72-year-old man, status
      after tracheostomy, who presented to the hospital with an acute upper airways
      obstruction and respiratory arrest due to a tracheal cast. The cast was
      successfully dislodged by the Nd-Yag laser.

PMID- 1439232
TI  - Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis: report of a case and review of the
      literature.
AB  - We describe a case of pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis in a 60-year-old woman
      with a 1-year history of progressive exertional dyspnea. Four years before
      admission a diagnosis of breast cancer was made, and she underwent mastectomy
      plus radiation therapy and treatment with oral antiestrogens. The chest X-ray
      showed bilateral interstitial infiltrates. Pulmonary function studies revealed a
      severe restrictive pattern. Abundant red blood cells were found in the
      bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. On the basis of open lung biopsy, interstitial
      fibrosis was diagnosed. Cardiac catheterization revealed pulmonary hypertension.
      Steroids were prescribed, but the patient's condition continued to deteriorate
      and she died approximately 3 years after presentation. The identification of
      proliferating and invasive capillaries, which are unique to pulmonary capillary
      hemangiomatosis, led to the correct diagnosis at autopsy.

PMID- 1439233
TI  - Mediastinal fibrosis and radiofrequency radiation exposure: is there an
      association?
AB  - A 45-year-old officer, working for a period of 18 years at a military radar base,
      presented with progressive exertional dyspnea, dry cough, and hemoptysis.
      Subsequent evaluation demonstrated a left pulmonary artery occlusion as well as a
      left upper lobe bronchus stenosis, due to a dense fibrotic mediastinal mass.
      Histologically, this proved to be idiopathic mediastinal fibrosis (IMF). The
      development of IMF in a man exposed for a long period to radio-frequency
      radiation (RFR) is unique in the literature in English. The possible association
      of radiation exposure with IMF is discussed.

PMID- 1439234
TI  - A localized pleuropulmonary lesion induced by long-term therapy with amiodarone.
AB  - Pulmonary toxicity is an important adverse effect of amiodarone therapy that
      usually manifests as an acute or chronic diffuse lung disease; in rare cases
      localized lesions have also been described. We observed a solitary mass localized
      in the left lung base and involving the adjacent pleura in a 69-year-old man who
      had been treated for 1 year with amiodarone (cumulative dose 52 g). Cytological
      and histological examination showed that the lesion consisted of fibrotic tissue
      and a massive macrophagic infiltration. Following suspension of amiodarone and
      surgical excision, there was a complete recovery and the mass did not relapse. We
      confirm that respiratory complaints can occur in patients treated by long-term
      amiodarone therapy and that lung involvement can manifest with a solitary
      localized (fibrotic) lesion.

PMID- 1439235
TI  - Influence of OM-85 BV on different humoral and cellular immune defense mechanisms
      of the respiratory tract.
AB  - To clarify the mode of action of an oral bacterial extract (OM-85 BV) on local
      airway immunity pre- and posttherapeutic washings from bronchoalveolar lavage
      (BAL) fluid of 28 adult patients with nonobstructive chronic bronchitis were
      analysed. In comparison to healthy controls, an elevation of total cell count due
      to an increased number of PMN leukocytes, and an impaired activity of the
      alveolar macrophages measured by the chemiluminescence response to opsonized
      zymosan was observed in patients with chronic bronchitis. After treatment with OM
      85 BV, the BAL CD4+/CD8+ lymphocyte ratio and BAL interferon-gamma levels were
      increased. The alveolar macrophage activity was normalized and the BAL IgA was
      regulated from a reduced or hyperelevated to a moderately increased level.

PMID- 1439236
TI  - Adhesion molecules in antibacterial defenses: effects of bacterial extracts.
AB  - Adhesion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) to vascular endothelium is one of
      the first events in their response against local bacterial infection. Different
      adhesion molecules sequentially mediate PMN adherence to endothelium and
      extravasation into inflamed tissues. We show that bacterial extracts OM-85 BV and
      OM-89 increase the expression of adhesion molecules at the surface of PMN and we
      suggest that this upregulation could be linked to the beneficial effect of
      bacterial extracts in the prevention of respiratory tract infections.

PMID- 1439237
TI  - Clinical experience with OM-85 BV in upper and lower respiratory tract
      infections.
AB  - The preventive effect of OM-85 BV on recurrent ENT and respiratory tract
      infections has been documented in a series of clinical trials. This article
      reviews the more significant controlled clinical trials investigating the
      efficacy and safety of OM-85 BV in airway infections. The literature reviewed
      covers all age groups. In summary, the administration of OM-85 BV was associated
      with a decrease in the number of acute exacerbations, with an increase in the
      number of patients remaining free from infections and with a decrease in
      antibiotic consumption. These results indicate the efficacy of oral
      immunostimulation with the bacterial extract OM-85 BV in all age groups and
      demonstrate its protective effect against recurrent airway infections.

PMID- 1439238
TI  - Mucosal immunology of the upper respiratory tract.
AB  - The palatine tonsils and nasopharyngeal adenoids represent the predominant
      immunocompetent tissue of the upper respiratory tract. Its major function is as a
      first line of defense against viral, bacterial, and food antigens that enter the
      upper aerodigestive system. Another major function of the tonsils and adenoids is
      to supply the local mucosal immune system of the upper respiratory tract with
      dimeric IgA-producing B cells. Secretory IgA has particular hydrophilic
      properties and is capable of preventing adsorption and penetration of bacteria
      and/or viruses into the upper respiratory tract mucosa. In addition, the role of
      the indigenous flora of the upper respiratory tract, particularly the viridans
      streptococci has been emphasized as providing a valuable source of bacterial
      interference to the colonization of potential pathogens.

PMID- 1439239
TI  - Familial occurrence of combined pigment epithelial and retinal hamartomas
      associated with neurofibromatosis 2.
AB  - Combined pigment epithelial and retinal hamartomas are rare lesions that usually
      occur sporadically in individuals without systemic abnormalities. However, they
      have been reported in isolated patients with neurofibromatosis 1 and 2. No
      familial cases have been reported. The cases of four patients with unilateral
      macular lesions from three consecutive generations of a single family are
      presented: two of the patients also have neurofibromatosis 2. The ophthalmoscopic
      appearance of their ocular lesions resembles combined pigment epithelial and
      retinal hamartomas. The morphologic differences in the lesions of these 4
      patients, whose ages are 8 months, 5 years, 29 years, and 65 years, may serve to
      demonstrate the evolution of this type of hamartoma.

PMID- 1439240
TI  - Subretinal neovascularization secondary to choroidal septic metastasis from acute
      bacterial endocarditis.
AB  - The clinical features of an infective embolic choroidopathy are described, from
      its early onset to late complications in a 45-year-old man with acute
      Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis of the aortic valve. Initial fundus
      examination revealed, in addition to fresh choroidal lesions, stigmata of a
      previous embolic episode secondary to endocarditis from Actinobacillus
      actinomycetemcomitans. The choroidal lesions were extremely asymmetrical, with a
      clear preference for localization in the left eye. Similar ocular findings were
      seen in a 78-year-old female with mitral valve prolapse and acute S. aureus
      endocarditis. In this case, however, choroidal involvement from septic emboli
      spread was bilateral and roughly symmetrical. Choroidal neovascular membranes
      arising in scars from choroidal septic emboli occurred in the macular area of the
      left eye of both patients, 10 months and 5 years after embolization,
      respectively.

PMID- 1439241
TI  - The frequency of subretinal fluid drainage and the reattachment rate in retinal
      detachment surgery.
AB  - The reattachment rate and the frequency of subretinal fluid drainage were
      reviewed in 771 eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment that had undergone
      transscleral retinal detachment surgery between January, 1980 and December, 1989.
      During this period, the frequency of drainage decreased from 63.6% in 1980 to
      14.1% in 1989. This decrease has not been accompanied by any change in the
      reattachment rate. The difference between visual acuity in eyes that underwent
      the operation when drainage was performed in only certain selected cases and
      visual acuity in eyes operated on when drainage was performed more frequently was
      not statistically significant (P = 0.966). It is suggested that the decrease in
      the frequency of drainage was due to a carefully followed method of patient
      management, including preoperative bed rest, use of criteria to establish
      nondrainage operation, use of transilluminator, and control of intraocular
      pressure.

PMID- 1439242
TI  - Digital overlay of fluorescein angiograms and fundus images for treatment of
      subretinal neovascularization.
AB  - A system for comparing sequential fundus photographs and angiograms has been
      developed using a personal computer and commercially available image processing
      software. This process provides rapid results and a high degree of accuracy in
      image correlation, even when images come from different cameras with different
      magnifications. Though no concentrated effort was made to compare the superiority
      of this method to the manual technique, the value of the manual results is fully
      acknowledged, and this technique is offered as another method of achieving the
      same end. This technique can be used to determine the adequacy of treatment of
      subretinal neovascularization, recurrence of subretinal neovascularization in
      subsequent angiograms, pigment epithelial creep, and changes in fundus lesions.

PMID- 1439243
TI  - Pathologic findings in pathologic myopia.
AB  - A retrospective study was conducted of 308 eyes with pathologic myopia obtained
      from 202 patients (23 surgical eyes; 285 post mortem eyes) over a 67-year period.
      Histopathologic findings and percentage of eyes affected, in decreasing order of
      frequency, were myopic configuration of the optic nerve head, 37.7%; posterior
      staphyloma, 35.4%; degenerative changes of the vitreous, 35.1%; cobblestone
      degeneration, 14.3%; myopic degeneration of the retina, 11.4%; retinal
      detachment, 11.4%; retinal pits, holes, or tears, 8.1%; subretinal
      neovascularization, 5.2%; lattice degeneration, 4.9%; Fuchs spot, 3.2%; and
      lacquer cracks, 0.6%. The reasons for enucleation in the surgically obtained eyes
      included, in decreasing order of frequency: degeneration after retinal
      detachment; secondary glaucoma; endophthalmitis; postsurgical epithelial
      ingrowth; expulsive hemorrhage; degeneration after cataract extraction; and
      presumed intraocular tumor. Clinicopathologic correlations are discussed.

PMID- 1439244
TI  - Experimental studies of the combined use of vitreous substitutes of high and low
      specific gravity.
AB  - The combined use of high and low specific gravity liquid vitreous substitutes has
      been studied in the rabbit. Eyes having undergone 1) vitreous replacement with
      silicone liquid combined with a perfluoropolyether liquid of high viscosity; 2)
      replacement with the perfluoropolyether or silicone alone; or 3) vitrectomy only
      (control) were compared under conditions of a cell-injection model of traction
      retinal detachment. Some of the control eyes (3 out of 9) and silicone-filled
      eyes (2 out of 10) developed total retinal detachments involving all quadrants;
      in the silicone-filled eyes the detachments extended behind the silicone globule.
      Conversely, in the eyes undergoing replacement with the two liquids or with the
      perfluoropolyether liquid alone, retinal detachments never extended to the
      inferior quadrants underlying the perfluoropolyether globule. In other
      experiments, the tendency toward emulsification of a low-viscosity
      perfluorocarbon liquid was reduced when it was used in combination with silicone
      liquid, in comparison to when this liquid was used alone.

PMID- 1439245
TI  - A new magnifying indirect stereo ophthalmoscope.
AB  - A new magnifying indirect stereo ophthalmoscope had been designed, built, and
      tested. Magnification is achieved by means of Keplerian telescopic systems
      mounted in each eyepiece. Schmidt or Pechan prisms are incorporated to shorten
      the length of the telescopic systems. Using a +20 diopter condensing lens, the
      total retinal magnification achieved with this system varies from 5.6x at a 40-cm
      observation distance to the aerial image to 9.4x at a 25-cm observation distance.
      When the fundus is viewed through a dilated pupil extraordinary stereopsis is
      obtained. When combined with the magnification, this stereopsis greatly enhances
      the view of the posterior segment of the eye.

PMID- 1439246
TI  - Peripapillary subretinal neovascularization. A review.
AB  - Peripapillary choroidal neovascularization is an important feature in the
      pathogenesis and treatment of a number of disorders affecting the optic nervehead
      and adjacent chorioretinal areas. Although less well understood than its macular
      counterpart, peripapillary subretinal neovascularization possesses characteristic
      clinical and histopathologic features that directly affect its prognosis and
      management. This review provides a summary of the diseases in which peripapillary
      subretinal neovascularization occurs and an overview of studies on the natural
      history, clinicopathologic findings, and therapy. In addition, a pathogenetic
      model of peripapillary subretinal neovascularization is discussed based on these
      findings.

PMID- 1439247
TI  - A method for induction of posterior vitreous detachment during vitrectomy.
AB  - Complete surgical removal of the posterior vitreous requires the presence of a
      posterior vitreous separation from the retina. Although a partial or complete
      posterior vitreous detachment is usually present before surgery, occasionally
      this separation must be induced during the course of a pars plana vitrectomy. A
      simple method for creation of a posterior vitreous detachment during surgery is
      described. This alternative technique seems to be an efficient and safe method
      for achieving this important surgical objective.

PMID- 1439248
TI  - Viewing fluorescein angiograms with stereopsis significantly assists
      interpretation.

PMID- 1439249
TI  - Arnall Patz Medal for Excellence in Retinal Vascular Disease. Matthew D. Davis,
      MD.

PMID- 1439250
TI  - Laser treatment of eccentric leaks in central serous chorioretinopathy resulting
      in disappearance of untreated juxtafoveal leaks.
AB  - In central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) laser treatment of leaking points
      close to the macular center should be avoided because of the possibility of
      producing juxtafoveal scotoma and stimulating choroidal neovascularization. Nine
      eyes of nine consecutive patients with CSCR had two or more leaking points within
      a macular detachment, one of which was foveal or near to the fovea.
      Photocoagulation with green argon laser was performed in all eyes, treating all
      the leaking points except for the central one. Visual symptoms regressed after
      treatment, and the serous detachment was resolved 10 days to 4 weeks after
      photocoagulation in all cases. Fluorescein angiography showed no leakage at
      either the central leakage point or the leakage point that had been treated.
      These results led us to believe that the central or dependent leak in our cases
      was not sufficient to maintain the serous detachment by itself. An alternative
      hypothesis is that the untreated leak did not represent real fluid movement but
      only diffusion of fluorescein molecules, or a false leak. In cases of CSCR with
      multiple leaks within a single macular detachment, we believe that a foveal leak
      may be a dependent or false leak and that direct treatment is not necessary.

PMID- 1439251
TI  - [A case of aconitine poisoning accompanied by bidirectional ventricular
      tachycardia treated with lidocaine].
AB  - A rare case of aconitine poisoning accompanied by bidirectional ventricular
      tachycardia was reported. A 67-year-old male ate several leaves of a wild plant
      which had been collected in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. About 90 minutes later,
      he felt numbness and weakness of the limbs and vomiting took place, and he was
      admitted to our hospital. The blood pressure was 80/60mmHg, and the
      electrocardiogram showed multiple premature ventricular contractions and
      bidirectional ventricular tachycardia. After bolus injection of lidocaine,
      continuous administration of the drug was started. Immediately after starting the
      treatment, the arrhythmia disappeared and hemodynamic changes improved.
      Thereafter the wild plant was ascertained to be a species of Aconitium. Diagnosis
      of aconitine poisoning was made. According to the fact that aconitine acts as a
      agonist of Na-channel receptor, antiarrhythmic agents which belong to Vaughan
      Williams' classification I might be the first choice for the therapy of aconitine
      induced arrhythmias.

PMID- 1439252
TI  - [A case of painless myocardial injury probably caused by coronary artery spasm].
AB  - A 53-year-old male was admitted to the hospital due to electrocardiographic ST
      segment elevation in V1-4 with ST-segment depression in the inferior leads, which
      suggested acute myocardial infarction. He had a cough and a slight fever without
      chest pain. Serum creatine kinase and its myocardial band were slightly elevated
      but creatine kinase value did not exceed twice the normal upper limit. Emergent
      coronary arteriography (CAG) revealed intact coronary arteries. The CAG in a
      chronic stage again revealed intact coronary arteries. Intracoronary
      administration of acetylcholine of 100 micrograms to the left coronary artery and
      50 micrograms to the right coronary artery provoked diffuse spasm in the right
      and left coronary arteries. The electrocardiogram (ECG) during the right coronary
      artery spasm revealed ST-segment depression in the inferior leads with ST-segment
      elevation in V2 and V3, which resembled the ECG finding at the time of the
      patient's admission. With intracoronary isosorbide dinitrate, the spasm and ST
      segment elevation were resolved. These findings strongly suggest that coronary
      spasm can cause myocardial injury indicated by a slight elevation of serum
      creatine kinase value.

PMID- 1439253
TI  - [False aneurysm formation during the chronic phase of myocardial infarction at
      the margin of a previously-detected true aneurysm].
AB  - The patient was a 59-year-old man who had acute extensive anterior myocardial
      infarction in October, 1989. One month later, he was transferred to Kyoto
      University Hospital and underwent cardiac catheterization. Left ventricular
      aneurysm and significant stenosis in the proximal portion of the left anterior
      descending artery were documented. Because he experienced chest pain on slight
      exertion accompanied by a slight increase in the depth of the negative T wave on
      electrocardiogram, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was
      performed. Thereafter, chest pain disappeared, and the patient was discharged.
      Three months later, he was re-admitted to Kyoto University Hospital for a repeat
      cardiac catheterization after PTCA. PTCA site was found to be restenosed, and a
      small diverticulous aneurysm was found at the margin of the previously-detected
      ventricular aneurysm. As the diverticulous aneurysm was considered likely to
      precipitate the ventricular aneurysm into rupture, expeditious left ventricular
      aneurysmectomy was performed to prevent cardiac rupture. Ventricular aneurysms,
      common complications in myocardial infarction, are of two types, either true or
      false. Most aneurysms develop during the acute phase of myocardial infarction,
      and rupture of true aneurysms during the chronic phase of myocardial infarction
      rarely occurs. However, in the present case, a small diverticulous aneurysm,
      which was not demonstrated at the initial cardiac catheterization, developed
      during the chronic phase of myocardial infarction. Pathological examination
      revealed that the diverticulous aneurysm was a false aneurysm due to incomplete
      rupture. When the common pathogenesis of ventricular aneurysms in myocardial
      infarction is considered, the present report might represent an extraordinary
      rare case.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439254
TI  - [A case of myxedema heart with serial endomyocardial biopsy].
AB  - We report a case of middle-aged woman with myxedema heart who presented
      congestive heart failure due to myocardial damage caused by myxedema, and showed
      reversible and irreversible myocardial change proven by serial endomyocardial
      biopsy. She was admitted to our hospital because of facial, peripheral edema and
      dyspnea. On admission, chest X-P revealed severe cardiomegaly (CTR 70%) and
      bilateral pleural effusion. Electrocardiogram showed low voltage. Echocardiogram
      and chest CT revealed a large amount of pericardial effusion. No significant
      stenosis was observed on a coronary arteriogram. Laboratory data showed elevated
      TC, CPK, LDH values and immunological test indicated high titer of thyroid test
      and microsome test. Thyroid function test revealed primary hypothyroidism with
      low T3, low T4 and high TSH levels. Replacement therapy for hypothyroidism in
      addition to digitalis and diuretics++ has been started. Seven months after
      initial evaluation, this therapy has resulted in dramatic clinical improvement.
      Transvenous right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy demonstrated vacuolated
      degeneration on admission and improvement of vacuolated degeneration with a
      slight degree of fibrosis after therapy. This pathological finding suggests that
      myxedema heart is able to produce both reversible and irreversible myocardial
      damage.

PMID- 1439255
TI  - [A case of adult pulmonary supravalvular membranous stenosis which was
      successfully treated by percutaneous transluminal balloon dilatation].
AB  - We report a case of adult pulmonary supravalvular stenosis which was successfully
      treated with percutaneous transluminal balloon dilatation (PTBD). A 42-year-old
      man was admitted for a heart murmur and abnormal findings in the screening chest
      roentgenogram. Having no symptoms on admission, his physical activity was
      evaluated as Class I according to the classification of the New York Heart
      Association. A systolic murmur (Levine III/VI) with split second sound was
      audible at the left sternal border in the 3rd intercostal space. Chest
      roentgenogram revealed 57% of the cardio-thoracic ratio and no signs of increased
      pulmonary vascular markings. ECG showed incomplete right bundle branch block.
      Echocardiography and right ventriculography visualized the supravalvular
      membranous structured stenosed pulmonary artery 1cm above the pulmonic valve.
      Systolic pressure gradient between the right ventricle and the distal main
      pulmonary trunk was 54mmHg. The patient was diagnosed as having pulmonary
      supravalvular membranous stenosis. PTBD was applied using Inoue balloon catheter,
      where inflation was initiated from approximately 120% of pulmonary arterial
      diameter and terminated at 150%. This procedure decreased systolic pressure
      gradient from 54mmHg to 36mmHg without complication. After PTBD right
      ventriculography demonstrated that a part of the membranous structure had become
      floppy and movable. Pulmonary arterial diameter was unchanged. We considered that
      PTBD tore the membranous structure, which consequently resulted in the decrease
      of systolic pressure gradient. Systolic murmur diminished to Levine II/VI. Six
      months later, cardiac catheterization showed no change in systolic pressure
      gradient compared with that immediately after PTBD. This is the first report on
      pulmonary supravalvular membranous stenosis successfully treated with
      PTBD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439256
TI  - [A case of rectus sheath hematoma].
AB  - The following is a rare case of rectus sheath hematoma. The patient was a 78-year
      old man with a past history of axillo-femoral bypass operation. He contracted a
      cold, and when he coughed severely, acute lower abdominal pain occurred.
      Abdominal echography and CT scanning confirmed the presence of a hematoma in the
      rectus abdominis muscle. Before, patient was diagnosed as acute abdomen and
      surgery was performed. Recently, accurate diagnosis has been made easily by
      echography or CT.

PMID- 1439257
TI  - [A case of nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with ventricular
      tachycardia and sick sinus syndrome].
AB  - We examined, a 64 year old man with hypertrophic nonobstructive cardiomyopathy
      (HNCM) accompanied with dizziness. Twenty-four hour ECG monitoring showed sinus
      bradycardia and sinoatrial block. Electrophysiologic study demonstrated inducible
      sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) by continuous rapid high right atrum
      pacing during which systolic blood pressure fell to 40 mmHg. Induced VT
      degenerated into ventricular fibrillation in ten seconds. We implanted a DDD
      pacemaker for sick sinus syndrome (SSS) and administrated 90mg/day of diltiazem
      for VT. Treadmill exercise test was carried out while the patient was taking
      diltiazem and no arrhythmia was induced. This case of HNCM is rare in that he
      presented both sick sinus syndrome and sustained VT.

PMID- 1439258
TI  - [The clinical significance and degradation of basement membrane in lung cancer].

PMID- 1439259
TI  - [Respiratory and arousal responses during sleep: an experimental study in
      sleeping dogs].

PMID- 1439260
TI  - [Retrograde perfusion].

PMID- 1439261
TI  - [Regional blood flow measurement with nonradioactive microspheres].

PMID- 1439262
TI  - [Laryngeal mask airway: application to emergency and intensive care].

PMID- 1439263
TI  - [Heart diseases in the elderly (3)--Cardiac function and heart failure in the
      elderly].

PMID- 1439264
TI  - [An experimental study of determining the appropriate frequency of radiofrequency
      catheter ablation in vitro and in vivo for ventricular tachycardias].
AB  - The purpose of this study was to examine the appropriate frequency of
      radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) for ventricular tachycardia.
      Radiofrequency energy generated by a device in which the frequency could be
      changed, was delivered from an electrode catheter with an electrode tip-width of
      4 mm. RFA was performed for 10 seconds with 20W (50V x 0.4A) using 7 different
      frequencies from 10 to 500 kHz on ventricular myocardium in vitro and in
      anesthetized dogs. The ablated lesion was significantly larger with RFA of 200
      300 kHz in both surface area and depth (p less than 0.05). The appearance of
      ventricular arrhythmia during RFA increased as the frequency decreased, and one
      dog applied with RFA of 100 kHz had spontaneous ventricular fibrillation
      resulting in death. All dogs with frequency less than 100 kHz had a muscle cramp
      during RFA. We conclude that appropriate frequency seems to be 200-300 kHz to
      obtain a large ablated lesion, and a frequency higher than 300 kHz seems suitable
      to avoid arrhythmia. We also conclude that a frequency under 100 kHz should not
      be used.

PMID- 1439265
TI  - [Postural changes in finger and toe pulse waves].
AB  - Finger and toe pulse waves were simultaneously recorded in medical students and
      outpatient hypertensive patients. The delay of the rise of toe pulse to that of
      finger pulse (t) was almost halved in students on postural change from the supine
      position to the sitting position. This was mainly due to an increase in the pulse
      wave velocity in the aorta, which was thought to be induced by the increase in
      hydrostatic pressure in the aorta. In students a marked dicrotic wave was
      observed in both finger and toe pulse waves. That the interval between the main
      and dicrotic waves (T) was shorter for finger pulse than toe pulse also seems to
      be ascribable to the influence of the intraaortic pressure: Pulse was transmitted
      faster in the systolic phase than in the diastolic phase. The features of pulse
      waves of hypertensive patients were that (t) was short even in the supine
      position, and that dicrotic wave was small or absent especially for toe pulse.
      These differences were considered to be accounted for by the high blood pressure
      and the structural change of arterial wall in the hypertensive patients.

PMID- 1439266
TI  - [Myocardial infarct size and left ventricular function in diabetic patients].
AB  - We determined the relationship between myocardial infarct size (MIS) estimated by
      electrocardiographic measurements of infarct size (QRS score) and left
      ventricular function estimated by angiographically left ventricular ejection
      fraction (EF). MIS estimated by QRS score were the same in both DM and NDM (5.2
      +/- 0.5 vs 4.3 +/- 0.4: p greater than 0.05), but EF in DM was significantly
      lower than in NDM (43.1 +/- 1.4 vs 51. +/- 1.1%: p less than 0.05). There was
      clear linear correlation between MIS and EF in NDM (r = -0.71) but not in DM. EF
      was much lower in DM than in NDM even at the same QRS score level. There were no
      differences in blood pressure, serum lipid levels, age, and the site of the
      myocardial infarction. The most likely explanation for this appears to be due to
      a previous left ventricular disease in DM.

PMID- 1439267
TI  - [Abnormalities in the signal-averaged electrocardiogram in Ebstein's anomaly].
AB  - Abnormalities in the signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) of patients with
      Ebstein's anomaly were studied. A SAECG was obtained in 4 patients with Ebstein's
      anomaly, aged 3 to 25 years. The control groups included 8 patients with atrial
      septal defect (ASD group), 10 with right bundle branch block (RBBB group), 8 with
      Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome (WPW group), and 40 normal subjects (Normal
      group). The SAECG was calculated by the vector-magnitude method using the VCM
      3000. The root-mean-square during the initial 20 msec of the filtered QRS (i-RMS)
      was very small in 2 older patients with Ebstein's anomaly compared to the ASD
      group, the RBBB group and the Normal group, and was as small as that in the WPW
      group. This probably was affected by the delta wave associated with Ebstein's
      anomaly or concealed accessory pathway. The root-mean-square during the terminal
      40 msec of the filtered QRS (t-RMS) was small in the patients with Ebstein's
      anomaly and the RBBB group. Two patients with Ebstein's anomaly had a smaller t
      RMS than the RBBB group, suggesting pathological changes of an atrialized right
      ventricle. In conclusion, SAECG is useful for evaluating patients with Ebstein's
      anomaly, especially older patients.

PMID- 1439268
TI  - [Effects of Nd:YAG laser irradiation on ventricular myocardium in dogs using an
      artificial sapphire tip contact laser catheter].
AB  - To apply Nd:YAG laser irradiation through a new sapphire tip contact laser method
      to catheter ablation in treatment of tachy-arrhythmias, effects of laser
      irradiation on ventricular myocardium were investigated in 10 mongrel dogs.
      Nd:YAG lase (1064nm) discharges were delivered to different sites on the
      endomyocardium at power of 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25w with duration of 3, 5, or 10
      seconds (sec.) respectively in closed beating hearts. Histopathologically, the
      lesion irradiated was clearly demarcated from the normal myocardium by the
      construction band necrosis zone. The depth of injured myocardium was less than
      2mm with 3 sec. irradiations, with 5 sec. from 1 mm to 4 mm in proportion to
      power increase, with 10 sec. from 3mm to 8 mm in proportion to the power from 5w
      to 15w and could not be measured in cases of more than 20w irradiations. Although
      with every irradiation duration, the depth of injury increased in proportion to
      the power increase. With the same total energy, a longer time of irradiation
      produced deeper injury than a shorter time. This method makes it easier to keep
      the laser positioned to target than bare laser, and is suitable for use in
      catheter ablation.

PMID- 1439269
TI  - [Endothelium-derived contracting and relaxing factors].

PMID- 1439270
TI  - [Endothelial cells and atherosclerosis].

PMID- 1439271
TI  - [Haemodynamic effects of intravenous isosorbide dinitrate in congestive heart
      failure].
AB  - The effects of intravenous infusion of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) were evaluated
      in 22 patients with congestive heart failure. These patients did not receive
      vasodilator therapy before this study. Seven of these patients (two bolus groups
      of 5.0 mg and 7.5 mg each) were infused bolusly. The mean PA, PCWP and mean RA
      decreased for 5 min and, after 60 min, they were back to the original levels. The
      mean Ao had an accentuated change when the 7.5 mg bolus was injected, but, apart
      from that, changes were minimal. The CI changed little and upwardly. ISDN was
      infused continuously in 10 patients (two infusion groups of 5.0 mg/hr and 7.5
      mg/hr each) whose mean PA, PCWP and mean RA decreased for 15 min and continued
      downwardly but mildly for 120 min. The mean Ao did not change much and the CI
      slightly increased. Five of the 22 patients (bolus+infusion group of 5.0 mg and
      5.0 mg/hr) showed rapid response but the parameters only slightly changed. Since
      this group included severe heart failure patients, the results observed were
      milder. The response of all 5 groups receiving ISDN infusion were confirmed by
      the serum ISDN concentration curve. These results indicate that continuous
      infusions of 7.5 mg/hr ISDN or bolus infusions of 5.0 mg and infusion of 5.0
      mg/hr improved haemodynamics in patients with congestive heart failure.

PMID- 1439272
TI  - [Cardiac performance in total anomalous pulmonary venous connection].
AB  - Cardiac performance in 54 patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous
      connection was investigated by cardiac catheterization before and after surgery.
      51 patients underwent intracardiac repair, and 17 of them died during or
      immediately after operation. According to the preoperative study, the left
      ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of surviving patients was significantly
      higher than that of patients who died, and the pulmonary arterial mean pressure
      of surviving patients was significantly lower than that of patients who died.
      However, there was no significant difference between the left ventricular end
      diastolic volume (LVEDV), right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF), and right
      ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV) in surviving patients and those who
      died. Post-operative catheterization studies showed significant increases of LVEF
      and LVEDV compared to pre-operative figures. RVEF and RVEDV and pulmonary
      arterial mean pressure decreased significantly after surgery. It was concluded
      that preoperative cardiac performance of surviving patients was better than that
      of those who died, and post-operative cardiac performance of surviving patients
      was basically normal.

PMID- 1439273
TI  - [Electrophysiologic effects of flecainide on guinea pig atrium].
AB  - We investigated the effects of flecainide on guinea pig atrial muscle. Using
      Langendorff's method, the whole heart of a guinea pig was perfused with Tyrode's
      solution containing acetylcholine (3 x 10(-7) M). Then, with right atrial
      extrastimulus and high frequency pacing method, the following values were
      measured before and after administration of flecainide (10(-7)-10(-5) M). A)
      Effective refractory period (ERP); the longest coupling interval which failed to
      produce right atrial activity at premature stimulus. B) Interatrial conduction
      time (ACT); After right atrial stimuli by trains at PCL 200 ms for 5 min the
      interval from the stimulation to the first deflection of the left atrial
      activity. C) Atrial fibrillation threshold (AFT); the minimal amount of current
      required to induce atrial fibrillation lasting for more than 30 sec by 50 Hz high
      frequency stimulation. Flecainide lengthened ERP (> or = 3 x 10(-5) M) and ACT (>
      or = 10(-7) M). Flecainide (10(-5) M) significantly increased AFT which
      correlated well with ERP (r = 0.81, p < 0.002) and ACT (r = 0.84, p < 0.002). In
      conclusion these effects of flecainide on guinea pig atrium might explain in part
      the clinical effectiveness of the drug on paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

PMID- 1439274
TI  - [Prophylactic use of antibiotics for fever following fiberoptic bronchoscopy and
      bronchography].
AB  - To evaluate the effect of bacampicillin hydrochloride on fever following
      fiberoptic bronchoscopy and bronchography, we conducted multi-institutional
      randomized study. In bronchographic examinations, the rise of body temperatures
      in the bacampicillin group (0.82 +/- 0.13 degrees C: mean +/- SE) was
      significantly smaller than that in the control group (1.39 +/- 0.25 degrees C) on
      the second day of examination. Bacterial infection may contribute to the rise of
      temperature on the day following bronchography, but no pneumonia or sepsis was
      observed. There was no differences in the rise of body temperature on the first,
      third or fourth day. In fiberoptic bronchoscopic examinations, there was no
      difference between the two groups. We conclude that there is no clinical
      indication of the value of prophylactic use of antibiotics in either fiberoptic
      bronchoscopy or bronchography.

PMID- 1439275
TI  - [The acute and chronic effects of bunazosin on exercise capacity estimated by the
      anaerobic threshold in patients with chronic congestive heart failure].
AB  - To study the effect of bunazosin on exercise capacity in patients with congestive
      heart failure (NYHA II-III), anaerobic thresholds (AT, VO2, ml/min/kg) were
      measured before (control) and after initial 1 = 2mg administration of bunazosin
      (acute phase; N = 14) and after two weeks of bunazosin therapy (3mg/day, 1mg t.
      i. d., chronic phase; N = 6). AT were determined by Wasserman's V-slope method
      during ergometer exercise test with a ramp loading (10 watt/min). AT increased
      significantly from control during both acute (14.2 +/- 2.7 to 16.9 +/- 3.6
      ml/min/kg p < 0.005) and chronic (13.6 +/- 2.5 to 16.7 +/- 1.0 p < 0.05) phase.
      Additionally, work (watt) attained at AT increased significantly from control
      during both acute (33.6 +/- 19.2 to 52.6 +/- 30.2 p < 0.005) and chronic (35.8 +/
      25 to 49.3 +/- 15 p < 0.05) phase. Pressure-rate-products (PRP, x 10(2)
      mmHg/min) at AT increased significantly from control during the acute phase (119
      +/- 35 to 240 +/- 50 p < 0.005) alone. In the chronic phase, PRP decreased
      significantly at the work level equal to AT during control (from 207 +/- 41 to
      187 +/- 39 p < 0.05). These data suggest that bunazosin has favorable acute and
      chronic effects on exercise capacity in patients with congestive heart failure.

PMID- 1439276
TI  - [A clinical study of postinfarction angina (PIA): the significance of
      electrocardiographic ST segment changes during anginal attacks].
AB  - We studied the clinical significance of electrocardiographic ST segment changes
      during PIA attacks. Of 478 AMI patients admitted to the CCU of our hospital
      within 48 hours after onset, we evaluated 73 (15.3%) with PIA. According to
      electrocardiographic ST segment changes during PIA attacks, the patients were
      divided into three groups, namely ST elevation at the same infarction site (same
      site elevation group), ST depression at the same site (same site depression
      group), and ST depression at other sites (other site depression group), and their
      pathological condition was studied. There were 33 patients (45.2%) in the same
      site elevation group, 19 (26.0%) in the same site depression group, and 21
      (28.8%) in the other site depression group. The predominant infarction areas were
      anteroseptal and inferior wall in the same site elevation group, NTMI in the same
      site depression group, and inferior wall in the other site depression group. PIA
      usually occurred within 4 days after the onset of infarction in the same site
      elevation group, and within 5-7 days in the other site depression group, but no
      uniform trend was observed in the same site depression group. With respect to the
      number of vessels showing disease, cases of single-vessel disease tended to
      predominate in the same site elevation group, while cases of three-vessel disease
      tended to predominate in the same site depression group and the other site
      depression group. Stenosis rates in the vessels responsible for infarction were
      high in the same site elevation group in the acute period. Prognoses were poorest
      in the same site depression group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439277
TI  - [A case of hypereosinophilic syndrome exhibiting left ventricular systolic
      dysfunction].
AB  - A 16-year-old woman suffering from bronchial asthma since 2 years previously was
      admitted to the hospital because of high grade fever, dyspnea, skin eruption and
      arthralgia. Laboratory data revealed pronounced eosinophilia with elevated
      immunoglobulin E value. A chest X-ray film showed cardiomegaly with pulmonary
      congestion. Left ventriculograms showed diffusely reduced motion of the left
      ventricle (LV). Various clinical symptoms and laboratory data were resolved
      shortly after the administration of corticosteroids, but the LV dysfunction
      persisted for at least three months. Left ventriculograms 2 years later disclosed
      a marked improvement of the LV wall motion. In both the acute and the chronic
      phase, endomyocardial biopsy of both ventricles revealed non-specific
      histological findings comprising disarrangement of myocytes and interstitial
      fibrosis, suggesting post-myocarditis. This case was characterized by LV
      dysfunction possibly due to eosinophilic myocarditis associated with
      hypereosinophilic syndrome, and by its functional improvement with long-term
      corticosteroid therapy.

PMID- 1439278
TI  - [Two cases of hypothyroidism with echocardiographic features similar to
      cardiomyopathy: one simulates hypertrophic and the other dilated cardiomyopathy].
AB  - Two cases of hypothyroidism with echocardiographic features similar to
      cardiomyopathy were presented. In case 1 (a 68 year-old woman), moderate
      pericardial effusion and myocardial hypertrophy were observed on admission. In
      case 2 (a 69 year-old woman), dilation of the left ventricle, hypokinesis of the
      interventricular septum and the left ventricular free wall, and reduced left
      ventricular systolic function were observed on admission. These echocardiographic
      findings were similar to hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy. In the two
      cases, after recovery to euthyroid state, these echocardiographic abnormalities
      returned to normal. We concluded that hypothyroidism led to a reversible
      hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy, and that echocardiographic study was
      useful for diagnosis and for following up cardiac manifestations of
      hypothyroidism.

PMID- 1439279
TI  - [A case of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis presenting positive findings by
      two-dimensional echocardiography].
AB  - A 55-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of left hemiparesis.
      Brain CT and cerebral angiography demonstrated cerebral embolism due to occlusion
      of the sphenoidal part of the right middle cerebral artery. Two-dimensional
      echocardiography revealed mitral valve vegetation measuring 10 x 7 mm and slight
      mitral-valve regurgitation. Blood cultures were negative. She developed
      disseminated intravascular coagulation. Chest roentgenography and abdominal
      ultrasonography showed multiple liver and lung tumors, but she died before the
      primary lesion was detected. At autopsy, adenocarcinoma of the gall bladder was
      found. Friable vegetation was attached to the auricular surface of the mitral
      valve. Microscopic examination confirmed the diagnosis of nonbacterial thrombotic
      endocarditis. Although echocardiography is an important tool for diagnosing
      nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis, few reports have described
      echocardiographic detection of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis. Because
      vegetation of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis is smaller than that of
      infective endocarditis (less than 3 mm), it is difficult for echocardiography to
      detect nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis. Thus, a negative examination does
      not exclude the possibility of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis. To make an
      antemortem diagnosis of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis, we must perform
      echocardiography carefully in cases of cerebral infarction with carcinoma and/or
      DIC.

PMID- 1439280
TI  - [A case of an unusual type of coarctation of the aorta terminating in the
      complete obstruction].
AB  - A 19 year-old girl with an unusual type of coarctation of the aorta terminating
      in complete obstruction is presented. At the age of 5 years, she was diagnosed by
      aortography to have coarctation of the aorta of type IV C according to Edward's
      classification. No surgical treatment was performed at that time because her
      growth was good and she didn't have hypertension. During the follow-up period,
      marked hypertension developed, and she was readmitted. The aortogram revealed a
      bicuspid aortic valve and total obstruction of the descending thoracic aorta at
      the site where coarctation was noticed previously. The abdominal aorta distal
      from the obstruction site was filled through rich collateral circulation. As
      these angiographic interval changes are very rare, we discussed the genesis of
      obstruction and operative indication by reviewing the literature.

PMID- 1439281
TI  - [Introduction to pressure support ventilation].

PMID- 1439282
TI  - [Theory of pressure support ventilation].

PMID- 1439283
TI  - [Evaluation of patient-ventilator interactions during pressure support
      ventilation using spring-loaded bellows type lung model].

PMID- 1439284
TI  - [Ventilators which are designed for pressure support ventilation].

PMID- 1439285
TI  - [Clinical advantage and limitation of pressure support ventilation].

PMID- 1439286
TI  - [Are the first repetitive reentrant VPCs a trigger or an initiation of reentrant
      circuit for VPCs?: Evaluation by Holter ECG in patients with reentrant sustained
      ventricular tachycardia].
AB  - To evaluate whether the first repetitive reentrant VPCs are a trigger or an
      initiation of a reentrant circuit for VPCs, we studied Holter ECGs in 13 patients
      with sustained ventricular tachycardia, the morphology of reentrant VPCs, the
      relationship between the coupling interval (N-V) and the first ventricular cycle
      length (V-V), and the relationship of the coupling interval (N-V) between single
      VPC and repetitive VPCs. In 7 patients who showed episodes of repetitive VPCs
      more than twice on one recording of Holter ECG, most of VPCs in the first and
      second beats were the same in shape (1195 out of 1466 episodes, 82%). No obvious
      relationship between the coupling interval (N-V) and the first ventricular cycle
      length (V-V) was found in 5 patients, whereas a weak inverse relationship (r =
      0.32) was found in one patient, and a weak positive relationship (r = 0.38) was
      found in another patient. In addition, the coupling interval in repetitive VPCs
      was longer than that in single VPCs in 4 out of 7 patients. These results imply
      that, in most cases, the first VPC is the expression of initiation of a reentrant
      circuit for repetitive reentrant VPCs developing spontaneously.

PMID- 1439287
TI  - [Detection of ventricular late potentials comparison of 4 commercial high
      resolution systems].
AB  - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the methodologic problems of
      noninvasive registration of ventricular late potentials. METHODS: we compared the
      results obtained in the same patients with four different systems which were
      Marquette MAC1, MAC12, ART LP101 and FUKUDA VCM 3000. Filtering was employed
      digital forward direction, 100-300 Hz in MAC1, digital FFT, 40-250 Hz in MAC12,
      digital, bidirectional, 40-250 Hz in ART and analogue, forward direction 40-300
      Hz in FUKUDA VCM 3000. DEFINITION OF LATE POTENTIALS (LPs): Filtered QRS duration
      (FQRSD) was 120 msec or more, root mean square voltage in the last 40 msec (RMSV)
      was 15 microV or less in MAC12 and ART. FQRSD was 130 msec or more, RMSV was 15
      microV or less in FUKUDA. FQRSD was 20 msec or more after QRS obtained from low
      resolution leads in MAC1. SUBJECTS: 163 patients [control 13, PVCs 23, myocardial
      infarction 55, others 51, IVCD (RBBB, LBBB, IVCD) 21] were included in this
      study. RESULTS: 17.6% of all patients (except for IVCD) showed LPs with MAC12,
      20.0% with ART, 30.3% with FUKUDA, and 14.1% with MAC1. 23.1% of the control
      group showed LPs with MAC12 and FUKUDA, but no cases showed LPs with ART and
      FUKUDA. 4.3% of the PVC group showed LPs with MAC12, 13.0% with ART and FUKUDA,
      but no cases showed LPs with MAC1. 25.5% of the myocardial infarction group
      showed LPs with MAC12 and MAC1, 30.9% with ART and 36.3% with FUKUDA. All four
      methods gave corresponding results in 65.4% of patients, 7.0% positive and 58.4%
      negative findings. FQRSD of MAC12, ART and FUKUDA was 110.2 +/- 18.1 msec, 105.2
      +/- 20.4 msec and 125.8 +/- 22.8 msec respectively. Correlation coefficient (r
      value) in FQRSD was 0.90 between ART and MAC12, 0.74 between ART and FUKUDA, and
      0.75 between FUKUDA and MAC12. RMSV of MAC12, ART and FUKUDA was 49.2 +/- 30.2
      microV, 43.7 +/- 37.8 microV and 22.5 +/- 10.6 microV respectively. R value in
      RMSV was 0.59 between ART and MAC12, 0.38 between ART and FUKUDA and 0.43 between
      FUKUDA and MAC12. R value in high frequency low amplitude signals duration under
      40 microV of LPs positive patients in MAC1 was 0.51 between ART and MAC 12, 0.18
      between MAC12 and MAC1, and 0.32 between ART and MAC1. Most of the differences
      result from a different interpretation of the tracings. Especially LPs far from
      QRS offset could be registered with neither MAC12, ART nor FUKUDA.

PMID- 1439288
TI  - [The effect of acebutolol and metoprolol on noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure
      monitoring system in essential hypertension].
AB  - We compared the antihypertensive effects of acebutolol and metoprolol during 2-4
      weeks of treatment in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.
      Acebutolol (n = 12) significantly decreased conventionally measured blood
      pressure from 173/100 mmHg to 148/86 mmHg (p less than 0.005), and metoprolol (n
      = 11) decreased it from 164/106 mmHg to 138/87 mmHg (p less than 0.01). Based on
      data derived from automated 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, both
      drugs significantly decreased the blood pressure in the early morning (5:00
      10:00). Moreover, in the metoprolol group, there were significant falls in day
      time blood pressure (7:30-19:30) and night-time blood pressure (23:00-7:00). In
      contrast, acebutolol showed significant antihypertensive effect on day-time blood
      pressure, but not effect on night-time blood pressure. The study confirmed the
      efficacy and character of metoprolol and acebutolol. We must choose an effective
      beta-blocker when using an automated 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
      system to get adequate blood pressure reduction for the whole 24 hours.

PMID- 1439289
TI  - [Ultrasonic tissue characterization in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: analysis of
      three-layered appearance of the ventricular septum by apical approach].
AB  - In normal hearts, two-dimensional echocardiography from the apical window
      displays the left ventricular wall as a three-layered appearance (TLA): central
      bright layer and bilateral sonolucent zones. The TLA is considered to reflect the
      normal myocardial architecture: the predominant latitudinal fiber bundles of the
      midwall layer, and longitudinal or oblique ones on both sides. We analysed the
      TLA of the ventricular septum in 20 normal subjects, 20 patients with left
      ventricular hypertrophy due to pressure load (LVH), and 81 patients with
      hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Of the 81 HCM patients, the layering was often
      obscure or absent in 53 (65%), whereas LVH patients showed clear TLA as well as
      normal hearts. In patients with severe layering disorder (n = 30), the age at
      diagnosis was lower (40 +/- 15 vs 50 +/- 12, p less than 0.05), and familial
      occurrence (53 vs 11%, p less than 0.01) and severe functional limitation (NYHA
      greater than or equal to III) were more common (27 vs 4%) than in those with
      clear TLA (n = 28). The disturbed layering detectable by echocardiography may
      reflect the disorder of basic myocardial fiber architecture in the ventricular
      septum, and is likely to become a useful marker of the pathologic severity of the
      disease.

PMID- 1439290
TI  - [Electrophysiologic effect of a new Ca(2+)-antagonist, TA-3090 on
      supraventricular tachycardia and conduction system].
AB  - We investigated the effect of a new Ca-antagonist, TA-3090 on supraventricular
      tachycardia (SVT) and conduction system, comparing it with the effect of
      Diltiazem Hydrochloride, in 11 patients who had paroxysmal SVT attacks. Seven of
      the 11 patients presented atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) via
      retrograde concealed conduction through an accessory pathway, and the others
      presented AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). After SVT was induced by means
      of programmed electrical stimulation at high right atrium, TA-3090 (0.1 mg/kg
      body weight) or Diltiazem (0.2 mg/kg) was administered intravenously for 3
      minutes. TA-3090 terminated nine of 11 SVTs, while Diltiazem terminated four of 4
      SVTs. On termination of SVT, both drugs interrupted A-H conduction during AVRT
      and the slow pathway during AVNRT. After TA injection, five of 11 SVTs could not
      be induced by programmed electrical stimulation, while two of 4 SVTs could not be
      induced after Diltiazem. In AVRT, three patients in which TA-3090 prevented SVT
      induction had a longer AV node effective refractory period than that of the
      others in which TA-3090 could not prevent SVT (330 +/- 46 vs 210 +/- 24 msec, p
      less than 0.01). However, SVT was induced more easily than before in three of the
      11 patients treated with TA-3090 administration, and in one of the 4 patients
      treated with Diltiazem administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439291
TI  - [Augmentation of left ventricular slow filling in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].
AB  - To investigate the significance of augmentation of left ventricular slow filling,
      trans-mitral flow (TMF) was echocardiographically observed through pulsed Doppler
      method in 116 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), 74 with dilated
      cardiomyopathy (DCM), 27 with mitral regurgitation (MR), 86 with old myocardial
      infarction (OMI) and 80 normal controls (C). The slow filling-wave (SFW) in TMF
      was defined as the filling wave with obvious peak velocity during slow filling
      phase. The peak velocities (E, A, S) of the early filling, the atrial contraction
      and the slow filling waves were measured. The SFW was divided into two patterns
      according to the S and E ratio: large SFW (S/E greater than or equal to 1/2) and
      small SFW (S/E less than 1/2). 1) The small SFW was more frequently, but not
      significantly, observed patients with MR (37%) than in normal subjects (18%),
      patients with HCM (10%), DCM (4%) and OMI (7%). However large SFW was observed in
      16 patients (14%) with HCM, but not in normal subjects and patients with other
      cardiac diseases excluding one patient with DCM. 2) In normal subjects and
      patients with DCM, OMI and MR, those with small SFW had larger E and smaller A/E
      than those without small SFW. However in patients with HCM, there was no
      difference in these indices (E and A/E) according to whether the patients were
      with or without SFW. 3) In HCM, patients with large SFW had significantly smaller
      E and significantly larger isovolumic relaxation time than those without SFW.
      Thus, appearance of the large slow filling wave, which might be caused by
      abnormal relaxation of the left ventricle, was frequently observed in patients
      with HCM.

PMID- 1439292
TI  - [Long-term follow-up of clinical features and ECG changes in 50 patients with
      HCM].
AB  - We studied the relation of ECG changes during the clinical course in patients
      with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Fifty patients with HCM were categorized
      in two groups; 20 patients with, and 30 patients without signs of deterioration
      of clinical state. The changes between the first and the final ECG were compared
      in these two groups. The average follow-up period was 7.6 years. Twenty patients
      with clinical deterioration presented increase in QRS intervals (0.06----0.071
      sec, p less than 0.025), decrease in voltage of RV5 (2.81----2.38 sec, p less
      than 0.025), increase in newly developed abnormal Q waves, and P wave changes. In
      contrast to these cases, 30 patients without clinical deterioration presented no
      significant ECG changes. Amplitudes of the negative T wave were unchanged in both
      groups. We conclude that electrocardiographic observations proved to be useful
      for predicting clinical features in patients with HCM.

PMID- 1439293
TI  - [Clinical value of PMN elastase activity before reperfusion therapy in acute
      myocardial infarction: comparison with clinical characteristics, reperfusion
      events and myocardial damage].
AB  - Many recent studies demonstrate that neutrophils may be involved in the genesis
      and propagation of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury. Clinical value of
      PMN elastase activity before reperfusion which is released from activated
      polymorphonuclear leucocyte were evaluated in 30 patients with acute myocardial
      infarction. 19 patients with normal or moderately elevated PMN elastase activity
      (G1: less than 200 micrograms/l) revealed similar clinical characteristics before
      reperfusion therapy, compared to 11 patients with extremely high PMN elastase
      activity (Group 1: greater than or equal to 200 micrograms/l). But Group 1
      represented fewer incidence of reperfusion events (Group 1 2/19, Group 2 7/11, p
      less than 0.01) such as arrhythmia, BP down, re-elevation of ST segments, and
      increased chest pain just after reperfusion, and higher incidence of salvaged
      myocardium in the risk area (Group 1 5/11, Group 2 4/19 p less than 0.1)
      evaluated by Tc-99m PYP, T1-201 dual SPECT, than Group 2. Wall motion analysis
      also showed that both global and regional wall motion were severely depressed in
      Group 2 compared with Group 1 (Group 1: Global EF 66.6 +/- 13.5, Extent 26.5 +/-
      17.4, Severity 63.1 +/- 48.5, Group 2: Global EF 51.2 +/- 10.6, Extent 40.1 +/-
      16.3, Severity 112.8 +/- 55.5, p less than 0.01 for Global EF, Extent, and p less
      than 0.05 for Severity). These data suggest that leucocyte activation before
      reperfusion may play important role in the genesis of reperfusion injury.

PMID- 1439294
TI  - [A case of middle aged women with isolated left coronary ostial stenosis].
AB  - A-50-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for the examination of
      exertional chest pain. She had no coronary risk factors. No hormonal disorders
      were observed. Physical and laboratory examinations revealed that she had not
      suffered from syphilis or aortitis syndrome or any other inflammatory diseases.
      An exercise electrocardiogram (Master's test) demonstrated ST segment depression
      in V3-6, II, III and a VF. On coronary angiography, a 75% stenosis of the left
      coronary ostial stenosis was found, but no abnormality was found in other
      arterial trees. The patient was diagnosed as having isolated coronary ostial
      stenosis. She underwent coronary bypass surgery from the aorta to the circumflex
      artery and the anterior descending coronary artery. She is now completely
      asymptomatic. A review of the literature together with this patient reveals the
      following characteristics of patients with isolated coronary ostial stenosis.
      Firstly, the patients are almost always middle aged woman with no coronary risk
      factors. Secondly, the involved coronary artery is the left main coronary artery,
      so its obstruction results in a serious condition. Therefore, though its
      pathogenesis remains to be determined, isolated left coronary ostial stenosis
      seems to be a distinct clinical entity.

PMID- 1439295
TI  - [A case report of two mitral valve aneurysms with one perforation after two
      attacks of infective endocarditis].
AB  - Aneurysms of the mitral valve complicating infective endocarditis (IE) are
      uncommon. The patient was a 57-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital for
      a precise examination of heart failure. One year before, the first two
      dimensional echocardiography showed an aneurysm of the anterior mitral leaflet
      possibly due to a previous attack of IE. Doppler color flow mapping detected a
      regurgitant jet from the mitral valve aneurysm into the left atrium during
      systole, which suggested perforation of the aneurysm, and an aortic regurgitant
      jet flowing against the anterior mitral leaflet. Because the patient's family
      refused cardiac catheter examination and surgery, we treated him in the out
      patient clinic. A few weeks before his admission, he had discontinued taking
      diuretics because of uncomfortable urinary frequency. He gradually developed the
      symptoms of heart failure and entered our hospital. IE was suspected because of
      leucocytosis and slight fever. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed a new
      aneurysm of the anterior mitral leaflet without perforation, located in the
      distal part of the old aneurysm. This time, his family consented to the surgical
      treatment. Aortic and mitral valve replacement was successfully performed. It was
      pathologically confirmed that the two mitral aneurysms had been caused by IE.

PMID- 1439296
TI  - Effect of hyaluronidase on interstitial pressure response to edema in air
      inflated rabbit lung.
AB  - The response in perivascular interstitial pressure to water accumulation was
      measured in air-inflated isolated rabbit lungs. The blood vessels and trachea of
      isolated lungs were cannulated and the vascular cannulas were connected to a
      reservoir filled either with a 3% albumin in saline solution (control) or with
      hyaluronidase in the albumin solution (treated). The lungs were inflated to 5
      cmH2O transpulmonary pressure and the vascular reservoir elevated to a height of
      7-10 cm above the lung base. The reservoir was suspended by a load cell which
      measured liquid accumulation in the lung. As the lung gained weight, interstitial
      pressure was measured by the micropuncture technique in the interstitium
      surrounding a vein near the hilum of an upper lobe. In control lungs,
      interstitial pressure increased monotonically with time from a value slightly
      below 0 cmH2O (pleural pressure) to a value of approx. 3.0 cmH2O by 5 h. In
      treated lungs, interstitial pressure increased more slowly to a value of approx.
      1.5 cmH2O by 5 h. Interstitial compliance, the change in weight gain divided by
      the change in interstitial pressure, was 1.2 g.(g lobe wt)-1.cmH2O-1 for the
      control lungs and 2.9 for the treated lungs. A two-compartment electrical analog
      model representing the perivascular interstitium and alveolar liquid space was
      developed to simulate the data. The analysis indicated that in the control lungs,
      perivascular interstitial conductance and compliance were 5-fold and 15-fold
      smaller than those of the alveolar liquid space, respectively. The slower rise in
      interstitial pressure with water accumulation in the treated lungs was attributed
      to an increased compliance of the alveolar liquid space. The effect of
      hyaluronidase on the alveolar liquid space was to increase its compliance 2.4
      fold with little change in its fluid resistance.

PMID- 1439297
TI  - Respiratory mechanics of the coatimundi and woodchuck.
AB  - The coatimundi breathes with a large tidal volume and relatively short TE/TTOT
      while the woodchuck has a relatively long TE/TTOT compared to other mammals.
      Hence, the respiratory mechanics of the coatimundi and woodchuck were studied to
      determine whether mechanics play any role in the differences in breathing pattern
      observed in these two mammals of similar body size. Although static respiratory
      system compliance was less and lower airway resistance was greater in the
      woodchuck compared to the coati there was no significant difference in
      deflationary time constant that could contribute to the difference in expiratory
      time. Both species exhibit less compliant chest walls than would be predicted for
      animals this size (4.5 and 5 kg) and the coati lung compliance is greater than
      that of the woodchuck or the prediction. The large tidal volume in the coati may
      be attributed in part to the large lung volume of this species (2.2 times the
      allometric prediction). The differences in breathing pattern are more likely
      related to differences in the control of breathing (i.e. regulation of expiratory
      airflow and inspiratory onset) than to differences in respiratory mechanics.

PMID- 1439298
TI  - Chemosensitivity and breathing pattern regulation of the coatimundi and
      woodchuck.
AB  - An analysis of breathing pattern regulation was carried out on the coatimundi and
      woodchuck who represent two different volume-time patterns. It was found that the
      coati, with a short expiratory time as a fraction of total breath time, TE/TTOT,
      has a greater sensitivity to CO2 as represented by the slope and threshold of its
      ventilatory response. Breathing air the coati maintains post-inspiratory
      inspiratory activity (PIIA) of the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) through 51% of
      expiration, while the woodchuck, who is less sensitive to CO2 and has a long
      TE/TTOT, exhibits no PIIA of the PCA. The woodchuck also has a greater incidence
      and duration of end-expiratory pauses (or delayed inspiratory onset). The
      woodchuck does not demonstrate the usual inverse relationship between VT and TE
      in response to 5% CO2 and does not recruit PIIA of the PCA at this level of CO2.
      These data confirm the importance of CO2 chemosensitivity in regulation of TE. It
      is further demonstrated that interspecific differences in chemosensitivity among
      three mammals of the same size are reflected in regulation of TE but not in
      inspiratory 'drive' (as indicated by mean inspiratory flow, VT/TI).

PMID- 1439299
TI  - High intensity exercise training-induced metabolic alterations in respiratory
      muscles.
AB  - Limited information exists concerning the effects of high intensity interval
      exercise training (HIET) on metabolic alterations in both inspiratory and
      expiratory muscles. To test the hypothesis that HIET will improve the oxidative
      capacity of the diaphragm and major expiratory muscles, we examined Krebs cycle
      and beta oxidation enzyme activities in the diaphragm and three groups of
      expiratory (abdominal) muscles in rats subjected to 12 weeks (5 days.wk-1) of
      treadmill exercise. Two groups of female Sprague-Dawley rats (age ca 120 days)
      were studied: (1) HIET group (n = 10; animals performed 6 x ca 5-min running
      intervals.day-1 at ca 90-95% VO2max); (2) sedentary control group (n = 7). When
      compared to controls, HIET resulted in significantly elevated (P less than 0.05)
      activities of 3-hydroxy-acyl-Co-A dehydrogenase (HADH) and citrate synthase (CS)
      in the costal diaphragm, rectus abdominus, external obliques, and the plantaris
      muscles. In contrast, training did not increase (P greater than 0.05) the
      activities of CS or HADH in the crural diaphragm or the internal
      obliques/transversus abdominus muscles. By comparison, the training-induced
      increases in oxidative capacity (e.g., CS activity) in the costal diaphragm,
      rectus abdominus, and external obliques were relatively small (ca 23, 10, 12%,
      respectively) when contrasted to the exercise-induced increase in CS activity in
      the plantaris muscle (ca 47%). We conclude that HIET results in small but
      significant improvements in the oxidative and beta oxidation capacities of the
      costal diaphragm and at least two abdominal expiratory muscles.

PMID- 1439300
TI  - Activity of abdominal muscle motoneurons during hypercapnia.
AB  - Our purpose was to examine the influence of hypercapnia on the activity of
      motoneurons innervating the transversus abdominis and internal oblique abdominal
      muscles, and of integrated phrenic and abdominal motor nerve activities. Studies
      were done in nine adult cats that were decerebrated, vagotomized, thoracotomized,
      paralyzed and ventilated mechanically. Of 42 motoneurons examined, 24 showed
      strong respiratory modulation (RM neurons), with the discharge confined primarily
      to the central expiratory period. The remaining 18 motoneurons discharged
      tonically, and failed to show respiratory modulation even at increased levels of
      central respiratory drive. Hyperoxic hypercapnia augmented the activities of the
      phrenic and abdominal nerves and increased the early expiratory discharge
      frequency of the RM neurons. The hypercapnia-induced increase in firing frequency
      during early expiration was accompanied by a corresponding decline in late
      expiration, and a virtual abolition of the inspiratory activity in the few
      neurons that discharged in this phase under normocapnic conditions. Finally,
      hypercapnia induced an increase in the number of spikes generated during each
      expiratory period in about half of the RM neurons, whereas the remaining cells
      showed a decrease. Thus, the increased peak activity of the integrated whole
      abdominal nerve burst with hypercapnia was brought about by a shift in the
      temporal pattern of motoneuron firing, or by an increase in the number of spikes
      generated during the expiratory period. The steep rate of rise and the pronounced
      early expiratory peak observed in the integrated abdominal nerve burst during
      hypercapnia in this preparation are consistent with the increase in motoneuron
      firing frequency during the early stages of the expiratory phase.

PMID- 1439301
TI  - Diaphragmatic fiber type specific adaptation to endurance exercise.
AB  - Recent evidence suggests that exercise training results in a significant
      improvement in the oxidative capacity of the mammalian diaphragm; however,
      limited data exist concerning which diaphragmatic fiber types are metabolically
      altered due to training. To test the hypothesis that exercise training increases
      the oxidative capacity of diaphragmatic type I and IIa fibers only, we examined
      the effects of endurance training on the fiber type specific changes in oxidative
      capacity, cross-sectional area, and capillarity of the costal diaphragm. Female
      Fischer-344 rats (age ca 180 days) were divided into either sedentary control
      group (n = 6) or an exercise training group (n = 6). The trained animals
      exercised for 10 wks on a motor-driven treadmill (60 min.day-1; 5 days.wk-1) at a
      work rate equal to ca 55-65% VO2max. Capillaries were identified histologically
      and fiber types determined using ATPase histochemistry. Fiber cross-sectional
      area (CSA) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity in individual fibers were
      measured using a computerized image analysis system. Compared to control animals,
      training did not increase the capillary to fiber ratio in any diaphragm fiber
      type (P greater than 0.05); however, training increased capillary density
      (capillary No./CSA) in type IIa fibers due to a reduction in cell CSA (P less
      than 0.05). Further, training resulted in significant (P less than 0.05)
      increases in total diaphragmatic SDH activity (delta increase = 17.5%) and an
      increase in SDH activity in both type I (delta increase = 14%) and IIa fibers
      (delta increase = 17.4%). In contrast, training did not alter (P greater than
      0.05) SDH activity in type IIb fibers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439302
TI  - Effect of dopamine on ventilatory response to incremental exercise in man.
AB  - We investigated whether dopamine, an inhibitory neuromodulator in the carotid
      body, would alter the ventilatory response typically associated with metabolic
      (lactic) acidosis during exercise. Six subjects performed incremental cycle
      ergometer exercise to exhaustion during infusions of dopamine (3 micrograms.kg
      1.min-1) or saline. Ventilation and pulmonary gas exchange were computed breath
      by-breath; arterialized venous blood was collected every 90 sec for measurement
      of lactate, potassium and blood gases. The resting ventilatory response to an
      isocapnic step decrease in end-tidal PO2 to 50 Torr was used as an index of
      carotid body drive. Dopamine diminished the hypoxic ventilatory response but had
      no effect on the ventilatory response during exercise. Peak lactate, potassium,
      and ventilation were unaffected by dopamine, and the degree of respiratory
      compensation for the metabolic acidosis was the same as in control experiments.
      Therefore, either the carotid bodies respond differently to hypoxia than to acute
      metabolic acidosis and/or hyperkalemia during heavy exercise, or the carotid
      bodies are not the sole mediators of hyperventilation above the lactate
      threshold.

PMID- 1439303
TI  - Neural respiratory responses to cortically induced seizures in cats.
AB  - Seizure activity can lead to profound respiratory stimulation in spontaneously
      breathing animals with intact respiratory feedback mechanisms (Paydarfar et al.,
      Am. J. Physiol. 260, R934, 1991). The present study was designed to test the
      hypothesis that peripheral respiratory feedback mechanisms are not important for
      the genesis of seizure-induced hyperpnea. Studies were performed in 16
      anesthetized, vagotomized, glomectomized cats whose end-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2) was
      kept constant. Integrated phrenic nerve activity was used to represent
      respiration. Seizures were induced by injection of penicillin into the parietal
      cortex and electrocorticographic (ECoG) and biceps femoris nerve activities,
      arterial pressure, airway PCO2 and brain temperature were recorded continuously.
      Progressive seizure activity was associated with progressive increases of
      respiratory frequency and peak phrenic activity, despite constancy of PETCO2 and
      brain temperature. Patterns of entrainment were identified among ECoG spikes,
      biceps femoris nerve and phrenic nerve activities. Phrenic nerve activity became
      highly irregular during generalized ictal seizures and ceased to respond to
      changes of PETCO2. Acute intercollicular decerebration in all experiments
      resulted in normalization of respiratory rhythm even while ictal ECoG activity
      continued. We conclude that stimulation of breathing during seizures occurs in
      the absence of respiratory feedback mechanisms. The findings suggest that an
      important cause of the respiratory response is a feedforward mechanism, whereby
      activation of subcortical structures above medulla and pons results in
      stimulation of breathing.

PMID- 1439304
TI  - Angiotensin II potentiates neurally mediated contraction of rabbit airway smooth
      muscle.
AB  - The effect of angiotensin II (AT II) on cholinergic neurotransmission in rabbit
      tracheal segments was studied under isometric conditions in vitro. AT II
      concentration-dependently potentiated the contractile response to electrical
      field stimulation (EFS), and caused a leftward shift of the frequency-response
      curves for EFS, so that the stimulus frequency required to produce a half-maximal
      effect (ES50), decreased from 7.0 +/- 0.1 to 3.0 +/- 0.1 Hz (P less than 0.01).
      In contrast, the contractile response to acetylcholine was not affected. Non
      peptide AT II receptor antagonist CV-2961 attenuated the effect of AT II on the
      EFS-induced contraction. Pretreatment of tissues with thiorphan or phosphoramidon
      did not alter the action of AT II. Thus, AT II may prejunctionally potentiate the
      neurally-mediated contraction of airway smooth muscle through activation of AT II
      receptors on the cholinergic nerve terminals, and this effect may not be
      modulated by endogenous neutral endopeptidase.

PMID- 1439305
TI  - Opsonized zymosan decreases cytoplasmic motility of alveolar macrophages in dogs.
AB  - To examine the mechanisms of changes in alveolar macrophage (AM) activities
      caused by phagocytic stimulus, we studied the effect of opsonized zymosan (OZ) on
      cytoplasmic motility (CM) of AM from dog lungs in vitro. Four days after the
      instillation of ferrimagnetic particles (Fe3O4, 3 mg/kg) into the lower lobe
      bronchus, AM were harvested by broncho-alveolar lavage. AM were adhered to the
      bottom of plastic vials (10(6) cells of AM per each vial). Remanent field
      strength (RFS) from the AM containing Fe3O4 particles was measured immediately
      after magnetization. RFS decreased with time due to particle rotation
      (relaxation), which is related to cytoplasmic motility of AM. OZ (1-500
      micrograms) decreased lambda 0 (the relaxation rate for the first min) in a
      concentration-dependent fashion. Neither BW755C (10(-5) M), indomethacin (10(-6)
      M), leupeptin (10(-5) M), bestatin (10(-5) M), nor superoxide dismutase (1000
      U/ml) inhibited OZ (500 micrograms)-induced inhibitory effects on lambda 0,
      suggesting that cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase products, serine, thiol enzymes,
      aminopeptidase and superoxide anion wer not responsible for OZ-induced effects.
      OZ (500 micrograms) significantly increased the intracellular concentration of
      Ca2+ (P less than 0.01). Likewise, OZ (500 micrograms)-induced effects on lambda
      0 of AM were significantly inhibited by replacement of the medium with a Ca2+
      free solution (P less than 0.01). These results imply that opsonized zymosan
      inhibits cytoplasmic motility of AM via external calcium influx.

PMID- 1439306
TI  - [Systemic-psychodynamic model for family evaluation].
AB  - In this paper a family evaluation instrument called systemic-psychodynamic family
      evaluation model is described. Also, the second stage of the validation study of
      this instrument is presented (which deals with the inter-observers variation).
      Twenty families were studied. They were assessed always by the same interviewers
      designated as experts. They are all family therapy specialists and their
      assessment was used as the evaluation reference standard or "gold standard". The
      observers were psychiatrists without previous training in family therapy. For the
      purpose of the interview, both experts and observers were blind to the medical
      diagnosis of the patients. During the first stage of the validation study the
      observers did not have a reference guide which resulted in a low concordance
      rating. For the second stage, a 177 item guide was used and a considerable
      increase in the concordance rating was observed. Validation studies like the one
      used here are of considerable value to increase the reliability and further
      utilisation of evaluation instruments of this type.

PMID- 1439307
TI  - Rapeseed diet and hepatocyte hypertrophy: an experimental morphometric study.
AB  - A previous study suggested that a rapeseed diet induced hepatocellular
      hypertrophy in normal albino rats. In the present study morphometry confirmed
      that a rapeseed diet produces hepatocytic hypertrophy which, according to
      cytological findings, is primarily due to an increase in the cytoplasmic area. A
      combination of a rapeseed diet and the administration of carbon tetrachloride
      (CCl4) also led to hepatocellular hypertrophy but the histological picture of the
      cirrhosis was similar to the one in control animals receiving CCl4 alone. The
      fact that the hypertrophy was primarily due to organelles supports the idea that
      a component or components of the rapeseed may modify protein turnover in the
      parenchyma of the liver.

PMID- 1439308
TI  - [Role of liver biopsy in the diagnosis of prolonged cholestasis in infants].
AB  - Liver biopsy in the diagnosis of the results of a retrospective analysis of
      percutaneous liver biopsy in the differential diagnosis of prolonged cholestasis
      in infancy are reported. We compare the clinical features, serum bilirubin
      levels, hepatobiliary scintigraphy and histology in two groups of patients. One
      group of 56 patients had extrahepatic biliary obstruction (biliary atresia: 42;
      choledochal cyst: 9; extrinsic obstruction: 4; Caroli's disease: 1). Another
      group of 54 children had intrahepatic cholestasis with patent biliary tract
      (hepatitis: 38; non-specific cholestasis: 14; cirrhosis: 2). The percutaneous
      liver biopsy was better than the other procedures to differentiate biliary
      atresia from hepatitis. We conclude that percutaneous liver biopsy should be
      carried out in children with prolonged cholestasis when other non-invasive
      procedures have not ruled out extrahepatic biliary obstruction and before any
      surgical exploration of the biliary tract is performed.

PMID- 1439309
TI  - [Prognostic importance of beta-2-microglobulin in multiple myeloma].
AB  - Beta 2 microglobulin is a low molecular weight protein found on the surface of
      all nucleated cells: it is the light chain of the HL-A histocompatibility
      complex. The increased levels of serum beta 2 microglobulin in patients with
      multiple myeloma have been associated with a poor prognosis. Pretreatment levels
      of serum beta 2 microglobulin were estimated in 70 previously untreated patients
      with multiple myeloma. In a multivariate analysis, serum beta 2 microglobulin
      levels and stage were the most significant prognostic factors for survival
      independent of other risk factors associated with a worse prognosis. There was a
      clear difference in survival duration observed between the patients with a high
      pretreatment level of beta 2 microglobulin and stage III (none alive at 5 years)
      compared with patients with normal levels and stage I (80% alive at five years)
      (p less than .001). We conclude that pretreatment-beta 2 microglobulin level is
      one of the most useful prognostic factors in patients with multiple myeloma.

PMID- 1439310
TI  - [Adjuvant chemotherapy in gastric cancer. Experience at the National Institute of
      Nutrition].
AB  - The cases of gastric carcinoma treated with surgery plus chemotherapy (FAM) at
      the Instituto Nacional de la Nutricion (INNSZ) in Mexico City from January 1979
      to December 1988 were reviewed. In 322 patients seen in this period, only in
      12.4% (40 patients) it was possible to undertake curative resection; of these,
      twenty two received adjuvant FAM (fluorouracil, 600 mg/m2 IV days 1,2,3;
      doxorubicin, 30-35 mg/m2 day 1; and mitomycin-C, 10 mg/m2 in three days). Twenty
      patients were in stage III and two in stage II. At a median follow-up of five
      years, ten patients have relapsed; of these, eight died from progressive
      neoplasia; one is alive with no evidence of disease 24 months after receiving
      combined chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, cisplatinum and adriamycin, and one is
      alive with the disease. Nine patients (40.5%) are alive with no evidence of
      relapse 30 to 114 months after initial surgery. One patient died from unrelated
      causes with no evidence of relapse. Two individuals were lost to follow up at 9
      months and 28 months, without evident malignant disease at the time of last
      consultation. The median survival was 61 months with a 51% estimated overall
      survival at five years. None of the prognostic factors analyzed were
      significantly associated with recurrence: number of metastatic lymph nodes;
      number of cycles of chemotherapy; interval between surgery and chemotherapy; and
      intraoperative blood transfusions requirements, although there was a tendency to
      relapse in the majority of the patients who received intraoperative blood
      transfusions as compared with the untransfused (five years disease free survival
      of 18% vs 64% respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439311
TI  - [Clinical, cytogenetic, endocrinological and histological studies in true
      hermaphrodites].
AB  - The clinical, cytogenetic, endocrinological and histologic features of nine
      mexican patients with true hermaphroditism are reported. Ages at admission ranged
      from 10 months to 27 years; in seven cases a male sex of rearing was documented,
      being 46,XX (n = 6) the most frequent karyotype. Basal levels of gonadotrophins,
      gonadal steroids, and the testosterone response to exogenous HCG varied depending
      upon age as well as with type and functional status of the gonadal tissue.
      However, ovarian tissue always preserved its function better than the testicular
      tissue did. In one of the patients who presented cyclic hematuria, spontaneous
      ovulation was documented by serum progesterone monitoring (progesterone = 4.3
      11.0 ng/mL during luteal phase). Ovo-testis was the most common gonad present; in
      four cases bilateral ovo-testes were found. Internal genitalia varied depending
      on the existing gonad, although in all cases a uterus was found. These findings
      are in accordance with previous reports of individuals bearing true
      hermaphroditism in other populations.

PMID- 1439312
TI  - [Frequency and risk factors associated with metronidazole therapeutic
      noncompliance].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to determine the frequency and risk factors of non-compliance to oral
      metronidazole. STUDY DESIGN: comparative cross-sectional survey. STUDY UNITS: 111
      patients who received oral metronidazole. SETTING CHARACTERISTICS: two medical
      units: one primary level unit and one secondary care unit of the Mexican
      Institute of Social Security. MEASUREMENTS: non-compliance was assessed by home
      interview and pill count. MAIN RESULTS: frequency of non-compliance was 55%. Risk
      factors for non-compliance were: female sex (OR = 3.0; p less than 0.05); side
      effects (OR = 3.1; p less than 0.05); low literacy (OR = 3.75; p less than 0.05).
      Stratified analysis showed no interaction between variables. CONCLUSIONS:
      frequency of non-compliance to metronidazole is high, and could affect the
      effectiveness of medical care. Female patients with low literacy and who suffer
      side effects are a high risk group for non-compliance.

PMID- 1439313
TI  - [Effect of the treatment of hyperthyroidism on the course of exophthalmos].
AB  - The exophthalmos evolution in hyperthyroid patients was investigated: twenty
      patients were randomly assigned to treatment with radioiodine (group I followed 2
      162 months) and 20 to treatment with thyroidectomy (group II followed 2-158
      months). There was no correlation of sex age and follow up with exophthalmos
      evolution. In group I, exophthalmos improved in one patient (5%), did not change
      in ten (50%) and worsened in nine (45%). In group II it got better in six (30%),
      did not change in seven (35%) and got worse in seven (35%). The differences
      between the two groups were not statistically significant (p greater than 0.05).
      The postsurgical thyroid gamma-gram with one mCi of I-131 in group II showed
      absence of thyroid tissue in nine patients (45%) and remainders of the gland in
      11 (55%) and apparently this did not influence the post treatment evolution. The
      length of pretreatment evolution did not influence the evolution post treatment.
      In summary, there was no correlation between exophthalmos evolution and kind of
      treatment in Graves' disease.

PMID- 1439314
TI  - [Dissolution of pancreatic calcifications with oral citrates in a woman with
      chronic idiopathic pancreatitis].
AB  - Pain control is one of the most important objectives in the medical treatment of
      patients with chronic calcifying pancreatitis (CCP). It is generally accepted
      that pain in CCP is secondary to the obstruction of the pancreatic duct by
      calcifications, protein plugs and stenotic areas. Experimental studies have shown
      that calculi and protein plugs are soluble in citrates. We report here the case
      of a young non alcoholic woman with idiopathic CCP who after a
      pancreatojejunostomy developed again pain and pancreatic calcifications which
      were dissolved with oral citrates. The case confirms previous observations and
      illustrates the potential use of citrates in subjects with CCP.

PMID- 1439315
TI  - [Lung perforation by a small-bore enteral feeding tube].
AB  - A 68 year old male with multisystemic disease, mainly lungs and heart, was
      treated with a cuffed endotracheal tube, mechanical ventilation and a 16 Fr Levin
      nasogastric tube for feeding; it was substituted 13 days later by a 2.3 mm, 8 Fr
      O'Brien KMI polyurethane small bore enteral feeding tube introduced with a guide
      wire. The feeding tube perforated his right lung and passed into the pleural
      cavity, either through the larynx or through a nonconfirmed tracheoesophageal
      fistula; signs for the supposedly correct position of the tube were positive. In
      patients with depressed sensoria, abnormalities of gag or cough reflexes,
      esophageal strictures, significant cardiomegaly or tracheoesophageal fistula,
      small bore enteral feeding tubes should be passed under direct vision by
      laryngoscopy or preferably by flexible endoscopy; adequate confirmation of the
      correct position requires a chest and an upper abdominal roentgenogram.

PMID- 1439316
TI  - [24-year-old male with fever, pancytopenia, and alterations in his state of
      consciousness].

PMID- 1439317
TI  - [New approaches to the measurement of clinical competence].
AB  - A new phase in the development of an instrument designed for the measurement of
      clinical competence is presented. The instrument (exam type) was previously
      validated; we report its use in three generations of students of a specialization
      course in internal medicine: those recently admitted to the course (group I);
      those finishing their first training year (group II) and those finishing the
      second year (group III). In the exam 304 out of the 600 questions included were
      classified as "experimental" (dealing with knowledge in internal medicine) and
      the remaining 296 questions corresponded to "control" questions (dealing with
      knowledge in other specialties). The variables considered in the exam were: 1)
      global result; 2) usage of diagnostic indicators; 3) omission of necessary
      procedures without a iatrogenic effect; 4) commission of unnecessary procedures
      without a iatrogenic effect; 5) omission of necessary procedures with resulting
      iatrogenic consequences; 6) commission of unnecessary procedures with resulting
      iatrogenic consequences; 7) global omission (variables 3 and 5); 8) global
      commission (variables 4 and 6); 9) global iatrogenesis (variables 5 and 6); 10)
      knowledge in nosology. Scores obtained by the three groups on the experimental
      questions differed in accordance with the respective time of clinical experience
      (group I obtained the lowest scores, group II showed intermediate scores, and
      group III showed the highest scores). Analysis of variance was significant (p
      less than 0.05) in variables 1, 2, 6, 8 and 9. The scores obtained by the three
      groups on the control questions were similar. In conclusion, we believe that this
      instrument is capable of detecting learning dependent on the time of clinical
      experience.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439318
TI  - [Overview of erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate deficiency].
AB  - The cloning and sequencing of the G6PD gene has opened a new chapter in the
      characterization of the numerous G6PD variants described. Many which were thought
      to be different on the basis of their kinetic properties, are really the same
      whereas heterogeneity has been found in some which were thought to be
      homogeneous. We discuss with some detail variants A+, A- and the Mediterranean
      type.

PMID- 1439319
TI  - [Splenectomy in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura].

PMID- 1439320
TI  - Pulmonary mycobacterial infections associated with neoplasia.
AB  - Patients with cancer are at increased risk for disease caused by mycobacteria
      when there is immunosuppression resulting from the underlying disease or its
      treatment. Pulmonary disease is usual with Mycobacterium tuberculosis or with
      mycobacteria other than M tuberculosis (MOTT) and atypical presentations with
      extrapulmonary dissemination occur frequently. No clinical features reliably
      distinguish between disease caused by M tuberculosis or MOTT. The incidence of M
      tuberculosis infection depends on a history of prior exposure in patients and on
      patterns of disease within hospitals and the surrounding community. Infection
      with different species of MOTT reflects their environmental prevalence. Diagnosis
      of mycobacterial infection can be clinically challenging and must be pursued
      aggressively. Despite recent improvements in clinical and laboratory methods,
      diagnosis of mycobacterial infection may take weeks. Recent increases in the
      incidence of M tuberculosis infection and the emergence of drug-resistant strains
      require heightened alertness to its diagnosis and careful epidemiological control
      measures to prevent continued spread of this contagion. M tuberculosis with
      routine antimicrobial susceptibility responds well to conventional therapy when
      initiated early. Prophylaxis of tuberculin positive patients is effective and
      should be started before immunosuppressive therapy. Guidelines for therapy of
      MOTT depend on the species isolated but remains poorly defined in most cases.
      There are several new compounds that may be useful for treatment of drug
      resistant species of MOTT. New methods for the rapid diagnosis, speciation, and
      epidemiological investigation of mycobacterial infection are being developed, and
      some are available for clinical application. Nonetheless, the timely diagnosis of
      mycobacterial disease in patients with cancer remains a challenge of increasing
      clinical importance.

PMID- 1439321
TI  - Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia among patients with neoplastic disease.
AB  - Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) emerged in the 1980s as the most common
      opportunistic infection among patients with the acquired immunodeficiency
      syndrome (AIDS). Because of this, the presentation and clinical course of PCP has
      become well-known to many physicians. However, PCP continues to occur among
      patients not infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, generally those who
      receive immunosuppressive therapy as treatment for neoplastic disease. A review
      from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer has shown that a new group of patients,
      those receiving corticosteroid therapy for brain neoplasm, are also at risk for
      the development of PCP and should receive PCP prophylaxis. Previously defined
      patient groups--people with acute lymphocytic leukemia or allogeneic bone marrow
      transplantation--also should continue to receive prophylaxis. In addition, the
      clinical course and outcome of patients with neoplastic disease who develop PCP
      may differ from those with AIDS and PCP: the disease may be much more fulminant
      among patients with neoplastic disease, and the mortality rate much higher,
      approaching 50% in the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center series. Wider use
      of prophylaxis should decrease the frequency of this disease, whereas prompt
      initiation of therapy in patients with a compatible syndrome should help to
      improve mortality rates.

PMID- 1439322
TI  - Pulmonary infections after bone marrow transplant.
AB  - Pneumonia occurs in up to 50% of patients after bone marrow transplant and is the
      main cause of mortality. The patient may be predisposed to pulmonary
      complications by previous treatment and infections, by transplant conditioning
      and graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis regimens, and by prolonged severe
      immune-suppression. The period of greatest risk is within 3 months of transplant
      when focal or diffuse interstitial pneumonias may occur. The most common
      infectious etiologies are Aspergillus or other fungi and cytomegalovirus.
      Idiopathic, noninfectious, interstitial pneumonia occurring in this same period
      may represent treatment toxicity. Both fungal and cytomegalovirus infections have
      been associated with high mortality, but there has been significant success in
      treating cytomegalovirus with the combination of ganciclovir and immunoglobulin
      in recent years. Late bacterial pneumonia may occur more than 6 months after
      transplant because of prolonged immunedeficiency and functional asplenia.
      Prophylactic therapy to prevent the pneumonias anticipated after transplant
      should be an essential part of the care of the bone marrow transplant patient.

PMID- 1439323
TI  - An approach to the diagnosis of pulmonary infections in immunosuppressed
      patients.
AB  - The goal of this review is to provide an approach to the diagnosis of pulmonary
      infections in immunosuppressed patients. First, a framework will be provided to
      narrow the extensive list of possible infectious and noninfectious pulmonary
      complications. This can be accomplished by considering the underlying immune
      defect, the pattern of radiographic presentation, the rapidity of progression of
      radiographic infiltrates, the typical temporal pattern of infection in specific
      disease states, and the local epidemiology at one's institution. Next, the yields
      and potential complications of invasive and noninvasive diagnostic techniques for
      pulmonary infections are reviewed. Lastly, algorithms, which account for the
      pattern of radiographic presentation, the primary disease and its underlying
      immune defect and the anticipated yields and complications of diagnostic
      procedures, are provided as a suggested plan for the use of diagnostic techniques
      and the institution of therapy.

PMID- 1439324
TI  - Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis complicating neoplastic disease.
AB  - Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is a necrotizing pneumonia that is most
      frequently seen in association with profound granulocytopenia as a consequence of
      cytotoxic chemotherapy that is used to treat hematologic neoplasms. There is
      considerable evidence that the incidence of this infection is increasing over the
      past decade as a result of improved medical support used in the management of "at
      risk" patients. Heightened clinical awareness coupled with advances in diagnostic
      techniques have led to earlier treatment and improved outcomes of this once
      uniformly fatal infection. Amphotericin B remains the treatment of choice;
      however, newer therapeutics (azoles) and strategies (combination chemotherapy,
      biological response modifiers) show promise as alternative regimens. Novel
      approaches in preventing the acquisition of pulmonary aspergillosis in the "at
      risk" patient are being explored.

PMID- 1439325
TI  - An independent application accuracy evaluation of stereotactic frame systems.
AB  - The purpose of incorporating stereotactic methodology into neurosurgical
      procedures is to consistently achieve a high degree of accuracy and precision in
      localizing intracranial targets. Therefore, the limits of resolution for the
      therapeutic intervention itself are a function of the accuracy and precision
      inherent to the particular stereotactic frame system itself. The total clinically
      relevant error (application accuracy) comprises errors associated with each
      procedural step, including imaging, target selection, vector calculation and the
      mechanical errors of stereotactic frames. To evaluate these parameters, a
      systematic error analysis was carried out in the 4 most commonly used CT
      compatible stereotactic devices: the Brown-Roberts-Wells, Cosman-Roberts-Wells,
      Kelly-Goerss Compass (modified Todd-Wells) and Leksell frames. Over 7,681
      independent test measurements were made. The results suggest a potentially
      significant degree of error in application accuracy of all stereotactic
      instrumentation which is accentuated by imaging-associated error. These
      individual error values must be considered with every clinical use of
      stereotactic frames.

PMID- 1439326
TI  - A universal system for interactive image-directed neurosurgery.
AB  - Stereotactic methods confer great accuracy to intracranial target localization,
      but require strict adherence to a complex program of mechanical and computational
      maneuvers. A computerized, articulated, localizing 'arm' has been developed that
      frees the neurosurgeon of these constraints and provides a completely intuitive,
      'user-friendly' interface. This universal system is independent of whatever
      localizing fiducial system is selected. The arm may be sterilized for
      intracranial use. A variety of intraoperative end effectors may be selected. The
      patient's CT/MR/PET scans are loaded into computer memory and a three-dimensional
      shaded surface wireframe diagram of the patient's head is displayed
      simultaneously with up to 3 independent sets of cross-referenced CT/MR/PET scan
      images on the intraoperative video screen. The arm's endpoint location and the
      directional vector are shown as cursors on the relevant scan slices, and change
      continuously as the surgeon moves the arm. Because the information is
      continuously updated, an unlimited number of targets and trajectories may be
      displayed throughout the operation. The arm has an ultimate design accuracy for
      end-point localization to within 0.1 mm throughout a target volume of 40 x 40 x
      40 cm. The tested application accuracy of the first prototype model is 0.31 mm.
      In clinical use during 30 surgeries, its real-world application accuracy is 0.9
      mm. This system provides stereotactic accuracy and universally compatible,
      intuitive, interactive operation.

PMID- 1439327
TI  - Further development and clinical application of the stereotactic operating
      microscope.
AB  - Implementation of a Vicom-VME image processing workstation for the frameless
      stereotactic operating microscope system has allowed an improved interpolation
      algorithm for more accurate reconstruction of three-dimensional data, the
      integration graphically of multimodality imaging information, an additional
      stereotactic graphics display outside of the microscope optics and optional three
      dimensional displays through communication with a Convex mini-supercomputer. A
      precision-milled coupling for reproducible attachment of the spark gap bracket to
      the microscope has eliminated the need for that transformation calculation during
      each case. Clinical utility has been greatest in providing navigational guidance
      to small subcortical or deep lesions and in defining the extent of preoperatively
      planned resection of larger, infiltrating tumors. Mean accuracy in the past 17
      cases has been 3.5-6.5 mm. The frameless methodology has also enabled
      extracranial stereotactic surgical procedures in 7 patients.

PMID- 1439328
TI  - Stereotactic magnetic resonance angiography.
AB  - Visualization of the surgical trajectory with respect to the cerebral vasculature
      may enhance the safety of some stereotactic neurosurgical procedures. Traditional
      stereotactic angiography is tedious and, being an invasive procedure, poses some
      risk to the patient. A technique of projecting a stereotactically defined
      surgical trajectory onto magnetic resonance angiograms is presented.

PMID- 1439329
TI  - In vivo and in vitro study of the lesions produced with a computerized
      radiofrequency system.
AB  - For many years, radiofrequency-generated lesions have been used for the treatment
      of pain and abnormal movements. However, the reliability of this method has been
      questioned because of the variation in the size of lesions produced by the
      electrode at different times and temperatures. A 500-kHz radiofrequency generator
      with different electrodes was used to determine the size of lesions, using
      different time and temperature exposures. A computerized feedback mechanism kept
      the tip temperature constant during the production of the lesion, regardless of
      varying tissue impedance. Eight electrodes of different size and tip
      characteristics were evaluated at different temperatures and time settings, both
      in vitro and in vivo. Graphic display of the curves in time were obtained at 65,
      70, 75, 80, 85 and 90 degrees C. The effects of thermo-coagulation were studied
      in vitro in fresh egg whites, using time intervals of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 s,
      and in vivo, in the subcortical white matter of 20 adult New Zealand white
      rabbits. Animals were sacrificed after 7 days. Lesions were photographed and
      measured under magnification. In all cases, the coagulated masses were ellipsoid,
      with regular, well-demarcated borders. A two-way statistical analysis of variance
      was done. The coagulum size increased with higher temperatures and with larger
      probes. The increase was significant in both diameter and length (p = 0.001). In
      contrast, the use of different times at the same level of temperature showed no
      significant increase in most of the electrodes. There were two statistical
      significant time effects, for both diameter and length, with the monopolar 2-mm
      electrode. The use of real-time monitoring with graphic display and the feedback
      information provided for the computerized control of power and current allows
      high precision of the temperature at the electrode tip during the production of
      the lesion.

PMID- 1439330
TI  - Positron emission tomography imaging-directed stereotactic neurosurgery.
AB  - The diagnostic yield of stereotactic biopsies depends upon safely sampling the
      most representative regions of masses. Potentially, localization information
      presently available from CT and MR scans might be improved by considering
      regional levels of cerebral metabolism by PET. In 10 selected stereotactic
      biopsies of intracranial mass lesions, PET scans were obtained using the Siemens
      CTI system; the Kelly-Goerss Compass system was used as the stereotactic
      development platform. PET-[18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) images provided
      clinically significant information by appropriately directing biopsy efforts when
      CT and MRI was inconclusive or misleading. PET-FDG images can be successfully
      incorporated into routine image-directed stereotactic surgery.

PMID- 1439331
TI  - Ventroposterolateral pallidotomy can abolish all parkinsonian symptoms.
AB  - Stereotactic ventroposterolateral pallidotomy in 46 parkinsonian patients
      resulted in a complete or almost complete and long-lasting relief of rigidity and
      hypokinesia in 91% of the patients. Good tremor effect was obtained in 80% of
      them. The L-dopa-induced dyskinesias, gait and speech improved in most patients.
      Complications were observed in 7 cases after 51 pallidotomies, i.e. 14% (partial
      homonymous hemianopia in 6 and transient dysphasia and facial weakness in 1). We
      believe that the good effect of surgery is based on interruption of some
      striopallidal or subthalamopallidal pathways.

PMID- 1439332
TI  - Three-dimensional whole-brain mapping.
AB  - The implementation and use of a computerized whole-brain mapping system which can
      be used in conjunction with MRI, CT, angiographic and other brain imaging
      techniques is described. Three mapping systems based upon common reference
      structures about the third and fourth ventricular core of the brain are used in
      conjunction with internationally recognized nomenclature to create a normalized
      whole-brain mapping system according to the Talairach/Tournoux proportional grid
      technique.

PMID- 1439333
TI  - Intraoperative brain mapping techniques in neuro-oncology.
AB  - Intraoperative brain mapping techniques are utilized in neuro-oncology to
      maximize the extent of tumor resection and seizure control, and minimize the
      operative morbidity. Direct stimulation mapping of the cortex and subcortical
      descending motor pathways will localize the rolandic cortex, dominant language
      speech zones and motor tracts in the internal capsule, cerebral peduncle and
      corticospinal tract/anterior horn cells. Electrocorticography identifies
      epileptogenic areas that histologically are distinctly devoid of neoplastic
      infiltration. Seizure control is maximal when seizure foci are resected in
      addition to the tumor nidus.

PMID- 1439334
TI  - Corticoamygdalectomy in memory-impaired patients.
AB  - Sixty-seven patients who underwent resection of the amygdala and temporal
      neocortex for intractable temporal lobe epilepsy were analyzed. Forty-four of
      them failed memory tests during the intracarotid sodium amytal procedure or
      showed severe impairment of contralateral material specific memory. Surgical
      outcome ratings were seizure-free or rare seizure, 51%; worthwhile improvement,
      15%; failure, 34%. The least successful outcome was noted in the group with
      mandatory corticoamygdalectomy and seizure origin in the dominant hemisphere.
      There was no postoperative exacerbation of memory deficit, whether preoperative
      memory was normal or impaired. When hippocampal resection is inadvisable,
      corticoamygdalectomy may be considered.

PMID- 1439335
TI  - Surgery of central sensory motor and dorsolateral frontal lobe seizures.
AB  - Ten patients who presented with dorsolateral or frontocentral seizures were
      studied with chronic subdural grid electrodes. Cortical mapping, sensory-evoked
      potentials and chronic electrocorticography were obtained for each patient.
      Seizures were classified as focal, regional or dipolar. At the time of
      explanation, a selective functional corticectomy was performed. Surgical outcome
      is presented at a mean follow-up of 36 months. Two patients are seizure-free and
      7 patients had a significant reduction in seizure frequency. One patient had no
      change in seizure pattern. Dorsolateral frontal lobe seizures have a focal
      functional anatomy and can be surgically treated by selective cortectomy.

PMID- 1439336
TI  - Surgical outcome in computer-assisted stereotactic resection of intra-axial
      cerebral lesions for partial epilepsy.
AB  - A retrospective analysis was performed in 30 patients who underwent computer
      assisted stereotactic resection of intra-axial mass lesions with intractable
      partial epilepsy. Mean follow-up was 4.1 years (2-5.5), mean age 21 years (3-45)
      and mean duration of seizures 8.4 years (1-26). Pathology consisted of vascular
      malformations in 11, glial neoplasms in 11, cortical dysplasia in 4 and gliosis
      in 3, and no diagnostic abnormality was found in 2 patients. The location of the
      lesions in some cases may have precluded a standard craniotomy and cortical
      resection, e.g. precentral gyrus (5), post-central gyrus (5) and deep-seated left
      posterior temporal region (4). Operative morbidity involved 3 patients who
      developed motor or language deficits. Four patients were lost to follow-up.
      Thirteen patients out of 26 (50%) were class I, 3 (12%) were class II, 4 (15%)
      were class III and 6 (23%) were class IV. These findings suggest that
      stereotactic lesion resection in selected cases (e.g. where lesions are located
      in eloquent brain regions) can be useful in providing a histological diagnosis of
      the epileptogenic foci and result in a favorable reduction in seizure activity
      without the need for a standard cortical resection.

PMID- 1439337
TI  - Focal encephalitis as an etiology of temporal lobe epilepsy.

PMID- 1439338
TI  - Use of the callosal grid system for the preoperative identification of the
      central sulcus.
AB  - The callosal grid system based on modern imaging techniques facilitates the
      identification of the central sulcus by its relationship to the midcallosal
      plane. Imaging with or without the stereotactic frame allows precise localization
      of various anatomic sites, which can be compartmentalized within subdivisions of
      the grid system. The information gained permits accurate preoperative planning
      and intraoperative recognition of the central sulcus and adjacent neurovascular
      structures.

PMID- 1439339
TI  - Comparison of CT- versus MRI-guided, computer-assisted depth electrode
      implantation.
AB  - Fourteen candidates for ablative seizure surgery underwent CT-guided, computer
      assisted stereotactic depth electrode implantation and 21 underwent MRI-guided,
      computer-assisted implantation. A hand-held computer with no graphic capability
      was used for CT-guided procedures. A computer work station which included a high
      resolution color graphics terminal with touchscreen interfacing and software
      capable of simulating targets and trajectories in single or multiple views was
      used for MRI-guided procedures. Previous phantom studies done with a 1.5-tesla MR
      scanner suggested acceptable localization error. Localizing information was
      obtained in 10 (71.4%) of 14 of the CT-guided implants and in 16 (76.2%) of 21 of
      MRI-guided cases. In the CT group, 7 (70%) were seizure-free and 8 (80%) were
      greater than 90% improved at 1 year follow-up. In the MRI group, 8 (80%) were
      seizure-free and 9 (90%) were greater than 90% improved at latest follow-up.

PMID- 1439340
TI  - Surgical therapy of temporal lobe seizures.
AB  - Resection of epileptogenic lesions and pathological studies were performed in all
      35 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, 20 male and 15 female. Their ages ranged
      from 6 to 48 years with an average of 22 years. Various examinations including CT
      scan were carried out without any positive finding. EEG showed spike formation in
      the temporal lobes in all 35 patients. Epilepsy lesions were removed from the
      right temporal lobe in 22 patients and from the left temporal lobe in 13
      patients. Pathological changes were found in all epilepsy lesions by light and
      electron microscopy. The operative outcomes were seizure-free since discharge in
      10 patients (28.5%), seizure-free after some early attacks (34.2%) in 12
      patients, seizure-free for 2 or more years and then rare or occasional attacks in
      6 patients (17.1%), marked reduction of seizures in 5 patients (14.5%) and
      moderate or less reduction of seizure tendency in 2 patients (5.7%), with an
      effective rate of 93%. No death or severe complications did occur.

PMID- 1439341
TI  - Cerebellar stimulation for seizure control: 17-year study.
AB  - Since 1974, 32 seizure patients have undergone chronic cerebellar stimulation
      (CCS); 27 have been contacted with 9 (7 spastic, 2 epileptic) continuing to use
      CCS for an average of 14.3 years (10-17 years). 6 (67%) are seizure-free and 3
      (33%) have a reduction of seizure frequency. In the last 2 years, 2 other
      patients with spastic seizures, who were using CCS for 13 years, died of
      respiratory illness; 1 had been seizure-free and the other had a reduction. Of
      the remaining 16 patients (12 spastic, 4 epileptic) who did use CCS for an
      average of 8.3 years (2-14 years) and now have nonfunctioning stimulators, 5
      (31%) continue to be seizure-free, 7 (44%) have a reduction and 4 (25%) have no
      change or a slight increase. Overall, 23 (85%) patients have benefitted from CCS.
      Stimulation charge densities were 0.9-2.5 microC/cm2/phase delivered at 10-180
      pulses/sec to bilateral electrode pads on the superomedial cerebellar cortex. CCS
      is relatively safe and nonablative, and could be offered for patients with
      intractable seizures originating from bilateral or extratemporal foci.

PMID- 1439342
TI  - Stereotactic thalamotomy for medically intractable essential tremor.
AB  - Objective surgical symptomatic outcome of ventrolateral (VL) thalamotomy
      specifically for essential tremor is uncommonly reported and functional outcome
      has not been investigated previously. In the present series, 7 patients underwent
      unilateral and 1 patient staged bilateral VL thalamotomies for disabling
      medically refractory essential tremor. At follow-up examination (mean 17.3
      months, range 1-50 months), all patients enjoyed complete ablation or significant
      amelioration of the targeted tremor. Disability as determined by a modified form
      of an established rating scale for tremor was reduced from moderate (57%) or
      severe (43%) to absent (86%) or mild (14%). Interestingly, voice tremor was
      ablated or significantly improved in 71.4% of patients with preoperative voice
      tremor.

PMID- 1439343
TI  - Ventral intermediate thalamotomy for posttraumatic hemiballismus.
AB  - An unusual case of hemiballismus following closed head injury is presented. The
      abnormal movement persisted for 16 years despite medical treatment. Preoperative
      studies did not reveal a specific lesion within the subthalamic nucleus or within
      the basal ganglia. A stereotactic ventral intermediate thalamotomy was performed
      producing a complete resolution of the ballistic movement which persisted for the
      length of our 12-month follow-up.

PMID- 1439344
TI  - Neurosurgical treatment of spasticity: selective posterior rhizotomy and
      intrathecal baclofen.
AB  - The pathophysiology of spasticity and the history of posterior rhizotomies are
      reviewed. The rationale for selective posterior rhizotomies is that electrical
      stimulation identifies afferent posterior rootlets that terminate on relatively
      uninhibited alpha motoneurons; if these uninhibited rootlets are divided,
      spasticity can be alleviated without loss of other posterior root functions.
      Indications, technique, and results of selective posterior rhizotomies are
      presented. The use of continuous intrathecal baclofen (CITB) is summarized. CITB
      at doses of approximately 300 micrograms/day consistently reduces lower extremity
      spasticity and diminishes or alleviates muscle spasms in adults with spasticity
      of spinal origin. Single doses of intrathecal baclofen significantly decrease
      lower extremity muscle tone in children with cerebral palsy, and the effects can
      be maintained in these patients by CITB infusions which diminish muscle tone not
      only in the lower extremities, but in the upper extremities as well. CITB is best
      accomplished via an externally programmable pump that allows titration of the
      daily dose to attain the desired reduction in spasticity. Factors influencing the
      decision for rhizotomy or CITB are presented.

PMID- 1439345
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging and anatomic atlas mapping for thalamotomy.
AB  - A computerized anatomic atlas mapping technique has been developed and used to
      determine target sites for stereotactic thalamotomies. The digitized stereotactic
      atlases of Schaltenbrand and Bailey, Van Buren and Borke, and Schaltenbrand and
      Wahren are used in conjunction with an associated electrophysiological data base
      to determine the intended target site on MR images of the diencephalon. This
      mapping technique uses the 'Brierley and Beck' proportional hypothesis for
      thalamic nuclear determination. Target site determination by this method was
      found to be very accurate, and frequently the mere placement of the probe in the
      target site resulted in tremor cessation.

PMID- 1439346
TI  - Application of magnetic resonance imaging in functional stereotactic thalamotomy
      for the evaluation of individual variations of the thalamus.
AB  - An application of MRI in functional stereotactic thalamotomy is presented. To
      estimate the individual anatomic variations of the thalamus prior to stereotactic
      thalamotomy, a special study using a proton density image that shows
      myeloarchitectonic features of the thalamus was performed. The proton density MRI
      was demonstrated to be very useful to determine the safest trajectory and
      tentative target point. However, as a detailed functional localization of the
      thalamic subnuclei cannot be yet obtained by MRI, the final target should be
      decided on the basis of electrophysiological findings.

PMID- 1439347
TI  - Neurophysiological atlas created by mapping of clinical responses elicited on
      electrical stimulation of the human thalamus.
AB  - By computer processing of intraoperative neurophysiological data and
      intraoperative X-ray films, and using a 0.5-mm-step three-dimensional atlas
      created by interpolation of Schaltenbrand-Bailey's atlas, a neurophysiological
      atlas based on clinical responses upon electrical stimulation of the subcortical
      structures of patients who underwent stereotactic surgery in the awake state was
      created. There was considerable overlap in the distribution of motor and sensory
      responses in the vicinity of the ventral intermediate (VIM) thalamus: however,
      motor responses, particularly irregular movements, tended to be confined within
      the VIM and ventro-oralis posterior (VOP), whereas sensory responses tended to be
      localized in the VIM and ventroposterolateral nuclei, with considerable extension
      into the ventroposterior subthalamic region. In either motor or sensory
      responses, no definite somatotopic pattern could be determined.

PMID- 1439348
TI  - A new multimodality correlative imaging technique for VOP/VIM (VL) thalamotomy
      procedures.
AB  - This paper describes our experience at Mayo Clinic with a new technique for
      planning ventro-oralis posterior (VOP) ventral intermediate (ventrolateral) VIM
      (VL) thalamotomy procedures for selected patients with medically intractable
      tremor. This new method employs a multimodality correlative imaging technique for
      determining the lesion target point on MR images. At surgery, stereotactic frame
      settings for the final lesion target were ultimately determined by stereotactic
      ventriculography modified by neurophysiological recording. Acceptable correlation
      was found between the multimodality correlative imaging method and the actual
      target coordinates determined by ventriculography and semi-microelectrode
      recording.

PMID- 1439349
TI  - Spinal cord stimulation for multiple sclerosis: quantifiable benefits.
AB  - From 1984 to 1991, a quantitative study of 5 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients has
      been determining benefits from epidural (C7-T1 level) spinal cord stimulation
      (SCS). The 5 patients (4 male, 1 female; 4 tetraparetics, 1 hemiparetic) were 36
      45 years of age having had symptoms for 12-22 years. Five quantitative tests were
      given prior to and during SCS on 4-8 occasions; 'off' periods were planned and
      also did occur when the electrode(s) broke (3 patients). With SCS, hand
      dynamometry showed a 2- to 4-fold increase in the 3 patients with weak hand
      function. Jebson Hand Time Testing showed a rapidity improvement to 1/2-1/7 of
      time in the same 3 patients. Minnesota Manipulation Testing with SCS was improved
      to 1/3-1/2 of time in 2 of these 3 patients tested. Manual muscle strength
      increased in all patients by 20-50% in 'normal range'. Ambulation in the parallel
      bars increased with SCS in 2 of the 4 wheelchair patients, while the hemiparetic
      patient could walk without his cane. All patients showed varying quantifiable
      improvements with SCS, but over the duration of testing the patients slowly
      deteriorated. SCS is a rehabilitation option for the weakened MS patient, to be
      used earlier rather than later in the deterioration of MS patients.

PMID- 1439350
TI  - Dorsal selective rhizotomy through a limited exposure of the cauda equina at L1.

PMID- 1439351
TI  - Pioneers of stereotactic neurosurgery.
AB  - The beginnings of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery can be traced as far
      back as 1873 when Dittmar reported the use of a guiding device for the placement
      of probes into the medulla oblongata in animals. Further pioneering work was done
      by Zernov and Altukhov in Russia (1889), Clarke and Horsley in England (1908),
      and Spiegel and Wycis in the United States (1947), as well as others. After a
      promising initiation, interest in stereotactic neurosurgery waned after the
      introduction of L-dopa in the 1960s. Later, the introduction and incorporation of
      new imaging technology into stereotactic techniques signaled the rebirth of
      stereotactic and functional neurosurgery as a versatile and exciting subspecialty
      not only in the resection of previously unresectable lesions but also in the
      functional restoration of central nervous system function. This brief paper will
      focus on the personalities that have pioneered stereotactic neurosurgery over the
      past century.

PMID- 1439352
TI  - Central nervous system grafting: animal and clinical results.
AB  - In the 2 years since this topic was reviewed, there have been dramatic changes in
      our understanding of the basic science of central nervous system transplantation,
      as well as further realization of the crude state in which we find the clinical
      application of this technology. Early concepts of simple diffusion and neuronal
      replacement have been altered as we understand more the rule of neurotrophic
      factors and the response of the host to the transplantation process. Clinical
      studies are becoming increasingly sophisticated as we realize that the initial
      observations were frequently flawed and quantitative evaluations are increasingly
      important in determining the effectiveness of the procedure. There is,
      nevertheless, still a great deal of excitement in the field as new technologies
      are being developed and utilized in the clinical sphere.

PMID- 1439353
TI  - Stereotactic technique and pathophysiological mechanisms of neurotransplantation
      in Huntington's chorea.
AB  - In Huntington's chorea, embryonal brain tissue (striatum) was implanted in the
      caudate nucleus bilaterally, using stereotaxy assisted by CT. A special cannula
      allowed the placement into the brain of 3 or 4 grafts of embryonal tissue along
      the determined trajectory by one introduction of the cannula. The
      pathophysiological mechanism of neurotransplantation in Huntington's chorea is to
      compensate for the degenerated striatal tissue by embryonal striatum, so it is
      necessary to supply a quantity of embryonal striatal tissue which enables the
      whole functional integrity. Therefore, we use material from several embryos.

PMID- 1439354
TI  - Bilateral fetal grafts for Parkinson's disease: 22 months' results.
AB  - Five patients with severe Parkinson's disease underwent bilateral multiple graft
      implants of nondissociated fetal mesodiencephalic tissues. Graft implantation was
      performed in China following CT-guided stereotactic placement of a novel delivery
      system. Follow-up has demonstrated substantially reduced levodopa requirements
      and clinical improvements of motor, postural functions and reduction of freezing
      and on-off phenomenon. PET utilizing [18F]-dopa, at 14 months in the first case,
      suggested graft-induced restoration of dopaminergic transmission in the striatum.

PMID- 1439355
TI  - MR-guided ventral intermediate thalomotomy for posttraumatic hemiballismus.

PMID- 1439356
TI  - Excision of arteriovenous malformation in sensorimotor and language-related
      neocortex using stimulation mapping and corticography under local anesthesia.

PMID- 1439357
TI  - Computer and imaging technology's impact on stereotactic neurosurgery. A 1987
      1991 update.
AB  - Many improvements in computer and imaging technology have occurred since the last
      meeting of the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery in
      1987. These improvements are leading to a much wider acceptance of
      computerization and computer-assisted surgical procedures in the stereotactic
      neurosurgery field. This paper surveys the current fields of computer and imaging
      technology and its relationship and impact on the field of stereotactic
      neurosurgery during the period of 1987-1991. Forecasts about future developments
      are also discussed.

PMID- 1439358
TI  - Stereotactic localization and guidance using a machine vision technique.
AB  - Machine vision techniques (video cameras) can be used to determine the three
      dimensional position of objects. This transformation can be accomplished with
      standard mathematical algorithms. Initial accuracy tests of stereotactic
      localization with video cameras were performed using a standard Brown-Roberts
      Wells (BRW) phantom simulator coupled with the BRW angiographic localizer.
      Localization accuracy was within 1.5 mm. Potential applications of machine vision
      techniques include freehand stereotactic localization of the position and
      orientation of surgical instruments. With sufficient computer speed these
      techniques can be used for continuous monitoring of the position of instruments
      within the cranial vault.

PMID- 1439359
TI  - Utilization of image-derived computer-assisted stereotaxis in a community-based
      practice setting.
AB  - The success of a community-based stereotactic program is dependent upon community
      commitment, technological capability, referral base, patient/family support and,
      most importantly, proper patient selection. To develop a program of superior
      quality requires not only a substantial financial commitment, but also a basic
      philosophical approach which fully supports acquisition and education of support
      staff, physical plant renovation and an establishment of an expanding referral
      base. This report details the development of a highly sophisticated stereotactic
      program in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a semirural community with a base referral
      population of approximately 300,000.

PMID- 1439360
TI  - Using mark-recapture methodology to estimate the size of a population at risk for
      sexually transmitted diseases.
AB  - To study the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) using social/sexual
      mixing models, one must have quantitative information about sexual mixing. An
      unavoidable complication in gathering such information by survey is that members
      of the surveyed population will almost certainly have sexual contacts outside
      that population. The number of these outsiders may be substantial and, hence,
      important for the modelling process. In this paper, we develop a mark-recapture
      model for estimating the size of the population at risk for contracting a STD due
      to direct sexual contact with a specified population targeted by a survey. This
      mark-recapture methodology provides a reliable method of estimating the number of
      outsiders. Because not everyone in the targeted population may be sexually
      active, the size of the sexually active subset, used as the number marked in our
      tag-recapture formulation, must be estimated, which introduces extra variability.
      We derive an estimator of the variance of the estimated total number at risk that
      accounts for this extra variability and an expression for the bias of that
      estimator. We extend the methodology to stratified surveys and illustrate its use
      with data collected from a population of university undergraduates to estimate
      sexual mixing parameters of a deterministic model of the spread of STDs.

PMID- 1439361
TI  - Effects of mid-point imputation on the analysis of doubly censored data.
AB  - Doubly censored data arise in some cohort studies of the AIDS incubation period
      because the time of infection may be known only up to an interval defined by two
      successive screening tests for HIV antibody. A simple analytic approach is to
      impute the infection time by the mid-point of the interval and then apply
      standard survival techniques for right censored data. The objective of this paper
      is to investigate the statistical properties of such a mid-point imputation
      approach. We investigated the asymptotic bias of the Kaplan-Meier estimate,
      coverage probabilities of associated confidence intervals, bias in hazard ratio,
      and the size of the logrank test. We show that the statistical properties of mid
      point imputation depend strongly on the underlying distributions of infection
      times and the incubation periods, and the width of the interval between screening
      tests. In the absence of treatment, the median incubation period of HIV infection
      is approximately 10 years, and we conclude that, for this situation, mid-point
      imputation is a reasonable procedure for interval widths of 2 years or less.

PMID- 1439362
TI  - Calculating the prevalence of cancer.
AB  - Incidence, prevalence and mortality are commonly used measures to assess the
      impact of disease on human populations. Prevalence, although regularly assessed
      for a number of different diseases, has only had recent use to measure the impact
      of cancer. The calculation of the prevalence of cancer presents several
      difficulties since there is no reporting mechanism established to measure the
      proportion of the community that has the disease. In the absence of such a
      mechanism, mortality data linked to incidence data from cancer registries have
      been used. The assumption is made that once diagnosed with cancer an individual
      remains a prevalent case until death. In this paper we present alternatives to
      this assumption and use them to produce estimates of cancer prevalence. We
      illustrate the effect of these assumptions on the calculated prevalence of cancer
      using data from the British Columbia Cancer Registry.

PMID- 1439363
TI  - Estimation of a common risk ratio in stratified case-cohort studies.
AB  - The case-cohort study design is a useful modification of the case-control design,
      which allows direct estimation of the risk ratio without the rare-disease
      assumption. While several risk ratio estimation procedures have been proposed
      under large-strata settings, only the Mantel-Haenszel point estimator is
      available in sparse stratifications. This paper provides simple confidence limits
      methods, based on the large-sample distribution of the Mantel-Haenszel risk
      ratio, that apply to both large-strata and sparse-data situations. For the Tarone
      risk ratio, I give a new large-strata variance estimate.

PMID- 1439364
TI  - Correlated binomial variates: properties of estimator of intraclass correlation
      and its effect on sample size calculation.
AB  - In group randomized studies, the sample size calculations are complicated by
      within group (worksite, community, etc.) correlation. We compare by simulation
      the moment method and the more standard ANOVA method of estimating the intraclass
      correlation. We find the former is less biased for a small to moderate number of
      clusters but the difference disappears when the appropriate degree of freedom is
      used for the ANOVA estimator. We propose a simulation approach for sample size
      determination and illustrate it with an example.

PMID- 1439365
TI  - A note on last case influence using the partial likelihood approach under heavy
      censoring.
AB  - The Cox proportional hazards model always treats the last observation in a time
      ordered data set as an inexact survival time. In certain situations this can lead
      to this observation always having a low case influence and consequently never
      being highlighted by a case influence analysis. Thus an influential value can
      become non-influential by a miscalculation of survival time and this, in turn,
      can affect conclusions of an analysis based on statistical significance (P
      values).

PMID- 1439366
TI  - Bayesian methods for prevalence estimates from incomplete administrative lists.

PMID- 1439367
TI  - Adjusting for baseline: change or percentage change.

PMID- 1439368
TI  - Caregiving demands: their difficulty and effects on the well-being of elderly
      caregivers.
AB  - Nurses assess situations involving elderly caregivers, yet data conflict on how
      caregivers perceive caregiving demands. To develop appropriate research-based
      interventions, more data are needed on specific aspects of these demands.
      Discussed are data from interviews with 60 elderly caregivers regarding tasks and
      personal demands. Results suggest that personal demands are perceived as more
      difficult than task demands and are associated to a greater extent with caregiver
      life satisfaction and depression. Issues are raised, however, regarding the
      measurement of expressed difficulty. Findings also support the adaptive capacity
      of these caregivers and their commitment to the caregiving role. Implications for
      nursing practice and nursing science are discussed.

PMID- 1439369
TI  - Maternal role satisfaction: a new approach to assessing parenting.
AB  - There is a need to study the maternal role beyond the child's first year of life.
      This investigation, using a framework of Locke's expectancy theory, describes the
      expectations, surprises, values, and satisfactions experienced by 102 mothers of
      teens. Content analysis of written narratives describing surprises encountered by
      these mothers is also presented. Data were collected by questionnaire. Findings
      offer support for Locke's theory in two ways: (1) expectation for role was less
      important than value attainment in predicting the level of maternal role
      satisfaction, and (2) encountering at least one positive surprise was associated
      with a higher level of maternal role satisfaction. These variables are offered as
      a useful nursing approach to the assessment of the parenting experience.
      Knowledge of the satisfactions reported may be encouraging to mothers
      anticipating this stage of life.

PMID- 1439370
TI  - Caring, virtue theory, and a foundation for nursing ethics.
AB  - The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the use of a framework of
      virtue theory as a foundation for a nursing ethic embodied in the caring ideal.
      The first section summarizes the problems identified with traditional moral
      theory as a foundation for a nursing ethic based on the caring ideal. From these
      problems, adequacy conditions that a foundation must meet are identified. In
      section two, the basic ideas of virtue theory are sketched and an account of how
      virtue theory can be used as a foundation for a nursing ethic based on the caring
      ideal is discussed. Finally, virtue theory as a foundation for a nursing ethic a
      la caring is assessed against the adequacy conditions delineated in section one.
      The conclusion of this paper is that virtue theory does not offer a viable
      alternative to duty-based theories. While virtue theory provides promise in
      meeting the identified adequacy conditions, serious secondary issues arise that
      can not be immediately nor easily resolved.

PMID- 1439371
TI  - Physiological nursing research in dyspnea: a paradigm shift and a metaparadigm
      exemplar.
AB  - Dyspnea, the primary activity-limiting symptom in chronic obstructive pulmonary
      disease, is associated with respiratory muscle mechanisms. This leads to a
      paradigm shift from pulmonary processes to respiratory muscle function. Within
      the context of an integrative metaparadigm, basic and clinical nursing science
      are developed: to better understand physiological processes associated with
      dyspnea as presented in three physiological models of dyspnea, to identify
      respiratory muscle mechanisms associated with current treatment strategies for
      dyspnea, to eventuate clinical assessments of exercise endurance, and to generate
      treatment strategies in the promotion of positive life processes. The basic
      knowledge developed within this program provides a foundation for the generation
      of strategies to assess patients, to promote normal functioning of life
      processes, and to enhance positive coping with responses to illness. Thus, this
      research program provides a model for the development of substantive
      physiological and clinical knowledge for nursing practice.

PMID- 1439372
TI  - The 1990s will place great emphasis on the quality of higher education.

PMID- 1439373
TI  - Evaluation of a Swedish version of the Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale.
AB  - There is a great need today for clinically useful instruments in the
      rehabilitation of chronic pain patients. The Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale
      measures patients' perceived self-efficacy to cope with the consequences of
      chronic arthritis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a Swedish version
      of the Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale with respect to factor structure and
      reliability. Twenty-five chronic pain patients and twenty-four rheumatology
      patients were given a Swedish version of the Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale twice
      within a three week interval. The three factor structure of the scale was
      confirmed; Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency ranged between 0.82-0.91 and
      test-retest correlations ranged between 0.81-0.91, showing that the instrument
      satisfactorily met psychometric standards.

PMID- 1439374
TI  - Basis of the quality of nursing care. A short quantitative description.
AB  - The purpose of the study is to create a descriptive evaluation basis for the
      quality of nursing care. In this article a short quantitative description of the
      most frequent elements of good nursing care is reported, using the views of
      Finnish nurses and nurse teachers. These elements are: interaction,
      comprehensiveness, need-centerness, initiativeness, technical procedures and
      knowledge-base. Based on these, further research areas can be seen both in
      nursing practice and in education.

PMID- 1439375
TI  - The condition of the oral mucosa in institutionalized elderly patients before and
      after using a mucin-containing saliva substitute.
AB  - The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate whether the condition of the
      oral mucous membrane and the mouth comfort of the elderly could improve using a
      mucin-containing saliva substitute. In total, 52 patients were examined before
      and after a 60-day treatment period, with mucin-containing saliva substitute
      given three times a day before meals. The patients were examined with regard to
      weight, oral mucosa condition, the duration of meals, eating and swallowing.
      Before the treatment period the prevalence of stomatitis was 90.4% and oral
      candidosis was 80.8% compared to 15.4% and 5.8% respectively after the treatment
      period. The pH increased significantly. Artificial mucin-containing saliva
      substitute seems to be an adequate treatment of stomatitis and oral candidosis in
      elderly patients.

PMID- 1439377
TI  - Translation of an instrument. The US-Nordic Family Dynamics Nursing Research
      Project.
AB  - Translation of a research instrument questionnaire from English to another
      language is analyzed in relation to principles involved, procedures followed, and
      problems confronted by nurse researchers from the US-Nordic Family Dynamics
      Nursing Research Project. Of paramount importance in translation are translation
      equivalency, congruent value orientation, and careful use of colloquialisms. It
      is important to recognize that copyright guidelines apply in the translation of
      an instrument. Approaches to solving instrument translation problems are
      discussed.

PMID- 1439376
TI  - Greek fathers' participation in labour and care of the infant.
AB  - Greek fathers' (n = 157) reactions to their presence at the delivery, their
      expectations about the baby and their childcare practices were explored at the
      4th-6th week postpartum. Only 10% of the sample attended the delivery. Their non
      attendance was attributed, by the greatest number of fathers, to official
      hospital policy while the rest claimed it was entirely their decision. Half of
      the non-attenders expressed the desire to have been present while a large
      percentage of mothers were said to have wanted them to be present. The small
      number of fathers who attended the birth felt strong and satisfied. In respect to
      early fatherhood, three main themes were explored: reaction to fatherhood,
      enjoyment of the child and involvement in childcare. All three dimensions were
      strongly correlated.

PMID- 1439378
TI  - The sense of coherence concept and its relation to personality traits in Swedish
      samples.
AB  - The paper proposes that Antonovsky's salutogenic orientation and his sense of
      coherence (SOC) concept provide a sound theoretical basis for the study and
      strengthening of the caring component in clinical practice. In order to study the
      operational utility of the concept, the 29-item SOC questionnaire (in two
      formats) was administered to five Swedish samples (3 groups of nurses, patients
      in a hospital emergency department, and a general population sample).
      Psychometric data are provided which test the internal and test-retest
      reliability of the SOC scale. A Self-Motivation Inventory (SMI) and the
      Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP) were used to test the relation between the
      SOC concept and personality traits. The results revealed that those with strong
      SOC also scored as having more general motivation and less Somatic and Psychic
      Anxiety as well as less Hostility. In addition the data, though in some part
      modest in sample size, consistently supported the view that the SOC scale is a
      robust instrument. Particular note is taken of its crosscultural character and of
      its potential utility in clinical work.

PMID- 1439379
TI  - Theory and methods for research on ethical issues in dementia care.
AB  - Swedish research on ethical issues in dementia care is almost exclusively done by
      nursing scientists. Many of these studies are rightfully acclaimed as exemplary
      research. But the strong focusing on the nurse and her relation to the patient
      tends to bias the ethical issues--the attitudes of other persons involved or
      affected are also in need of investigation. Further, there is a predilection for
      content analysis at the expense of causal analysis. In this paper an eclectic
      approach to the study of ethical issues in dementia care is advocated. More
      interdisciplinary communication and co-operation is also needed--especially
      between nursing scientists and moral philosophers. To facilitate such
      communication and co-operation a model for analysis of ethical issues is
      presented and discussed. To illustrate my ideas I use three articles by
      researchers from the department of advanced nursing in Umea: Ekman & Norberg
      (1988), Norberg & Asplund (1990) and Akerlund & Norberg (1989-90).

PMID- 1439380
TI  - Relaxation training as an integral part of caring activities for cancer patients:
      effects on wellbeing.
AB  - The purposes of this study were twofold. The first was to investigate if
      relaxation training conducted by nurses as an integral part of their caring
      activities affected breast cancer patients' experiences of radiotherapy sessions
      as well as their general wellbeing. Second was to evaluate a pedagogical model
      for large scale application of relaxation training as an integral part of caring.
      The sample consisted of 64 consecutive outpatients with breast cancer at a
      Swedish oncology clinic, receiving their first radiotherapy treatment course
      following surgery. Every second patient was assigned to an experimental group (n
      = 32, mean age: 59.5 years) and every other second patient was assigned to a
      control group (n = 32, mean age: 60.0 years). The programme resulted in the
      following general effects: fewer perceived daily hassles and a more cheerful
      overall mood state. The following treatment situation specific effects were
      noted: programme participants appraised the treatment sessions as successively
      more benign-positive and less threatening. They also reported more perceived
      muscular tensions during treatment sessions. Most goals concerning the
      routinization of the pedagogical model were reached.

PMID- 1439381
TI  - Determination of perceived health among elderly coronary patients.

PMID- 1439382
TI  - [The temporomandibular joint].
AB  - With its discordant articular surfaces and complete division in two cavities
      separated by a disk, the temporomandibular joint appears as a complex anatomical
      and functional entity. Combined movements involving anteroposterior gliding
      between the disk and temporal bone in the upper cavity, anteroposterior condyle
      translation, hinge and rotation movements between the disk and mandibular condyle
      contribute to the different movements of the jaw. With dental occlusion, the
      masticatory apparatus therefore includes five functionally coordinated articular
      compartments. Various impairments of the normal static and dynamic features of
      the temporomandibular joint may lead to relatively frequent pathological
      conditions which can be easily diagnosed by modern imaging and arthroscopic
      methods.

PMID- 1439383
TI  - [Minimal hemorrhagic diathesis].

PMID- 1439384
TI  - [The 3d sound following coronary bypass].

PMID- 1439385
TI  - [Systemic lupus erythematosus].

PMID- 1439386
TI  - [Tuberculous pericarditis: value of adenosine deaminase activity level
      assessment].

PMID- 1439387
TI  - [Preventive medical treatment of kidney stones].

PMID- 1439388
TI  - [Smell. Physiology--its assessment--its disorders in head injuries].

PMID- 1439389
TI  - [Medical terminology].

PMID- 1439390
TI  - Lower extremity injury. Biomechanical factors associated with chronic injury to
      the lower extremity.

PMID- 1439391
TI  - Gastrointestinal problems related to endurance event training.

PMID- 1439392
TI  - Cardiac rehabilitation programmes in children.

PMID- 1439394
TI  - Reproduction for the athletic woman. New understandings of physiology and
      management.
AB  - A physically active and athletic lifestyle is not only a healthy but a fulfilling
      choice for women. Although there is extensive literature on 'athletic
      amenorrhoea' which implies that exercise causes loss of the menstrual cycle,
      there is inadequate scientific evidence for a causal relationship. The
      reproductive system adapts to environmental, nutritional, emotional and physical
      stressors or 'threats' by downward adjustment towards the premenarcheal pattern.
      The hormonal milieu of this adaptation is low gonadal steroid and high
      glucocorticoid levels which synergistically increase the risk for a negative bone
      balance. Athletic women may become amenorrhoeic if reproductive immaturity,
      emotional stress and undernutrition coexist with increasing exercise loads.
      Treatment for athletic women with menstrual cycle changes requires that
      hypothalamic stressors be identified and decreased. In addition, as progesterone
      deficiency (from disorders of ovulation, whether flow is regular or absent) is
      the most prevalent menstrual cycle change, treatment with medroxyprogesterone on
      days 16 to 25 of their cycle will not only provide regular flow (if estrogen
      levels are sufficient) but will also promote increased bone density.

PMID- 1439393
TI  - Exercise training in obese diabetic patients. Special considerations.
AB  - The relationship between obesity and type II diabetes mellitus is well
      established and a majority of type II diabetic individuals are classified as
      obese. The pathogenesis of type II diabetes mellitus is not fully understood;
      however, multiple organ systems are involved, including abnormalities of insulin
      secretion, peripheral insulin resistance and hepatic insulin resistance. The goal
      of the treatment for the obese diabetic is to normalise these alterations and
      achieve normoglycaemia. Traditionally, the initial therapy, aiming to accomplish
      weight reduction, is diet and exercise. In obese type II diabetic patients, the
      whole body insulin-dose response curve is markedly depressed. A single exercise
      session improves and partially normalises both insulin responsiveness and
      sensitivity for glucose utilisation. Furthermore, a single bout of physical
      activity often results in decreased plasma glucose levels, which persists into
      the postoperative period. Type II diabetes patients participating in regular
      exercise programmes can potentially improve their metabolic control. An improved
      glucose control in both lean and obese type II diabetic patients under the age of
      55 years has been demonstrated by improved HbA1C levels and glucose tolerance
      tests following physical training programmes. The effect of regular exercise on
      the metabolic control in these younger patients does not appear to be correlated
      with weight reduction. For most type II diabetic men over 55 years of age,
      physical training is not a feasible form of therapy because of other interfering
      diseases which may complicate or severely hinder all physical training apart from
      very low intensity exercise programmes. Lean, older, type II diabetic patients
      who have been able to exercise for 10 weeks or up to 2 years demonstrate no
      change in HbA1C levels, glucose tolerance or bodyweight. Thus, there is a clear
      difference in metabolic response to regular exercise between younger and older
      type II diabetic patients. The younger patient appears to be more inclined to
      respond to physical training with improvements in the metabolic control. The
      reason for this apparent difference is not clear, but possible explanations may
      include differences in training intensity, the presence or degree of complicating
      diseases, pretraining level of metabolic control or bodyweight. Type II diabetics
      are predisposed to cardiovascular disease and are characterised by
      hyperlipidaemia. In obese type II diabetic individuals, physical training
      improves the blood lipid profile as measured by decreased levels of triglycerides
      and total cholesterol. In young, overweight diabetics, improved lipid profiles
      can be achieved despite no change in bodyweight, while no apparent effects are
      reported for lean patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1439395
TI  - Head and neck injuries in soccer. Impact of minor trauma.
AB  - Head injuries have been shown to account for between 4 and 22% of soccer
      injuries. Clinical and neuropsychological investigations of patients with minor
      head trauma have revealed organic brain damage. 69 active football (soccer)
      players and 37 former players of the Norwegian national team were included in a
      neurological and electroencephalographic (EEG) study to investigate the incidence
      of head injuries mainly caused by heading the ball. 3% of the active and 30% of
      the former players complained of permanent problems such as headache, dizziness,
      irritability, impaired memory and neck pain. 35% of the active and 32% of former
      players had from slightly abnormal to abnormal EEG compared with 13 and 11% of
      matched controls, respectively. There were fewer definitely abnormal EEG changes
      among typical 'headers' (10%) than among 'nonheaders' (27%). The former players
      were also subjected to cerebral computed tomography (CT), a neuropsychological
      examination and a radiological examination of the cervical spine. One-third of
      the players were found to have central cerebral atrophy and 81% to have from mild
      to severe (mostly mild to moderate) neuropsychological impairment. The
      radiological examination of the cervical spine revealed a significantly higher
      incidence and degree of degenerative changes than in a matched control group.

PMID- 1439396
TI  - Strength, flexibility and athletic injuries.

PMID- 1439397
TI  - High-altitude training. Aspects of haematological adaptation.
AB  - Physical training at high altitude improves performance at high altitude.
      However, studies assessing performance improvements at sea level after training
      at higher altitudes have produced ambiguous and inconclusive results. Hypoxia
      induced secondary polycythemia is a major contributor to increased work capacity
      at altitude. The common finding upon exposure to hypoxia is a transient increase
      in haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit because of a rapid decrease in
      plasma volume followed by an increase in erythropoiesis per se. Both nonathletes
      and elite endurance athletes have maximal reticulocytosis after about 8 to 10
      days at moderate altitude. Training periods of 3 weeks at moderate altitudes
      result in individual increase of haemoglobin concentration of about 1 to 4%. A
      more accentuated increase in haemoglobin can be obtained with longer sojourns at
      moderate altitude. The normal erythropoietin reaction upon exposure to hypoxia
      comprises initially increased levels followed by a decrease after about 1 week.
      Thus, the maintenance of a high erythropoietin concentration is not a
      prerequisite for a sustained increase in erythrocyte formation at high altitude.
      The main pharmacological modulator of erythropoietin production seems to be
      adenosine. But modulators such as growth hormone and catecholamines may also
      potentiate the effect of hypoxia per se on erythropoietin production. On the
      other hand, there is a risk that the stress hormones may induce a relative
      depression of the bone marrow particularly in the early phase of altitude
      training when the adaptation is minimal and the stress reaction is most
      accentuated. The most important 'erythropoiesis-specific' nutrition factor is
      iron availability which can modulate erythropoiesis over a wide range in humans.
      Adequate iron stores are a necessity for haematological adaptation to hypoxia.
      However, at moderate altitude, there is a need for rapid mobilisation of iron and
      even if the stores are normal there is a risk that they cannot be mobilised fast
      enough for an optimal synthesis of haemoglobin. Data from healthy athletes
      training at moderate altitudes suggest a true increase in haemoglobin
      concentration of about 1% per week. Complete haematological adaptation occurred
      when sea level residents have similar haemoglobin concentrations at moderate
      altitude compared with residents. The normal difference in haemoglobin
      concentrations can be estimated to be about 12% between permanent residents at
      sea level and at 2500m above sea level. This difference indicates a necessary
      adaptation time of about 12 weeks. If the training period at moderate altitude
      must be shorter, several sojourns at short intervals are recommended. The
      important factor in haematological adaptation in athletes at moderate altitude is
      hypoxia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1439398
TI  - Exercise training for patients with coronary artery disease. Cardiac
      rehabilitation revisited.
AB  - Medically prescribed and supervised physical activity forms the keystone for
      cardiac rehabilitation. A patient's potential and limitations for successful
      participation in an active restoration programme are determined by the degree of
      symptomatic recovery and physiological adaptations to a standardised, multistage
      exercise test. Confirmation of the effects of physical activity intervention is
      measured by the performance of the same exercise test under near identical
      conditions at periodic intervals. The prescribed physical activity regimen is
      usually performed minimally 3 times per week in sessions which last from 30 to 60
      minutes. The object is to utilise from 100 to 200 kcal per exercise session. The
      demonstrated benefits of regular physical activity include reduction of the
      systolic blood pressure and heart rate at supine rest and while performing
      submaximal work, an increased level of physical work capacity, reduction in the
      myocardial oxygen cost at rest and during performance of submaximal exercise,
      reduction in percentage body fat with a concomitant increase in muscle mass, and
      reduction in plasma triglycerides. Regular physical activity, in and of itself,
      does not effect a reduction in plasma cholesterol or an increase in high density
      lipoprotein cholesterol, nor does it affect such lifestyle habits as cigarette
      smoking and alcohol consumption. While contraindications to performing medically
      prescribed and supervised physical activity are usually restricted to the
      physically incapacitated patient, failure to achieve an exercise threshold for
      systolic blood pressure of 140mm Hg or higher is probably a contraindication.
      This conclusion is based on findings which indicate that treated and control
      patients with this physiological limitation experience the same mortality rates
      over 3 years. Regularly performed physical activity by coronary artery diseased
      patients is associated with reductions in mortality from all cardiovascular
      causes except sudden death. This intervention does not effect morbidity. Although
      the scientific evidence warrants the prudent use of physical activity for
      coronary artery disease patients, the case for its long term benefits remains to
      be proved.

PMID- 1439399
TI  - Running injuries. A review of the epidemiological literature.
AB  - Running is one of the most popular leisure sports activities. Next to its
      beneficial health effects, negative side effects in terms of sports injuries
      should also be recognised. Given the limitations of the studies it appears that
      for the average recreational runner, who is steadily training and who
      participates in a long distance run every now and then, the overall yearly
      incidence rate for running injuries varies between 37 and 56%. Depending on the
      specificity of the group of runners concerned (competitive athletes; average
      recreational joggers; boys and girls) and on different circumstances these rates
      vary. If incidence is calculated according to exposure of running time the
      incidence reported in the literature varies from 2.5 to 12.1 injuries per 1000
      hours of running. Most running injuries are lower extremity injuries, with a
      predominance for the knee. About 50 to 75% of all running injuries appear to be
      overuse injuries due to the constant repetition of the same movement. Recurrence
      of running injuries is reported in 20 to 70% of the cases. From the
      epidemiological studies it can be concluded that running injuries lead to a
      reduction of training or training cessation in about 30 to 90% of all injuries,
      about 20 to 70% of all injuries lead to medical consultation or medical treatment
      and 0 to 5% result in absence from work. Aetiological factors associated with
      running injuries include previous injury, lack of running experience, running to
      compete and excessive weekly running distance. The association between running
      injuries and factors such as warm-up and stretching exercises, body height,
      malalignment, muscular imbalance, restricted range of motion, running frequency,
      level of performance, stability of running pattern, shoes and inshoe orthoses and
      running on 1 side of the road remains unclear or is backed by contradicting or
      scarce research findings. Significantly not associated with running injuries seem
      age, gender, body mass index, running hills, running on hard surfaces,
      participation in other sports, time of the year and time of the day. The
      prevention of sports injuries should focus on changes of behaviour by health
      education. Health education on running injuries should primarily focus on the
      importance of complete rehabilitation and the early recognition of symptoms of
      overuse, and on the provision of training guidelines.

PMID- 1439401
TI  - [What is your roentgen diagnosis? Hepatodiaphragmatic interposition of the right
      colonic flexure, Chilaiditi syndrome in dolichocolon].

PMID- 1439400
TI  - Stress fractures in the athlete. Diagnosis and management.
AB  - Stress fractures can be a troublesome injury for the sports medicine clinician.
      The first description was in military personnel, but recently there is an
      increasing awareness and diagnosis of stress fractures in the athletic
      population. Stress fractures have been described in all extremities. Some
      fractures appear to have a degree of sports specificity. Bone is a dynamic tissue
      which strengthens and remodels in response to stress. Maladaptation to stress
      causes osteoclastic activity to supersede osteoblastic activity, thereby allowing
      weakening of the bone. These areas of weakening may fracture and create prodromal
      symptoms and clinical findings. Localised pains of insidious onset which are
      activity related are the hallmarks in the clinical history. The physical
      examination can exhibit localised tenderness, redness and swelling. Radiographs
      can be negative for up to 4 months. The gold standard for diagnosis is the triple
      phase 99mtechnetium bone scan. The treatment of a stress fracture is usually
      conservative. Very few cases require surgical management. The algorithm of
      conservative management includes: rest, appropriate education for treatment and
      preventive care, analgesics, serial radiographs, icing and physical therapy
      modalities, appropriate exercise to prevent detraining, rehabilitation and a
      regimented return to participation and competition.

PMID- 1439402
TI  - [Endosonography: progress in the diagnosis of endocrine pancreatic tumors].
AB  - Diagnostic procedures for secreting endocrine pancreatic tumors comprise
      biochemical tests, CT scans, conventional abdominal sonography, angiography and
      occasionally MR imaging and isotope scans. Due to their small size, insulinomas
      and gastrinomas, the most common of these tumors, elude these diagnostic
      procedures. Preoperative sonography and CT scans were negative in over 60%,
      angiograms in 35% of the patients. The example of a patient with insulinoma
      demonstrates that in the future endosonography will offer itself as an accurate
      method with little risk.

PMID- 1439403
TI  - [The treatment of hemifacial spasm using botulinum toxin].
AB  - Hemifacial spasm is a disagreeable disturbance with involuntary unilateral
      twitching of the facial muscles. Its most common form is supposedly due to an
      irritation of the facial nerve at its proximal intracranial segment by vascular
      structures. Various forms of treatment including surgical procedures are
      employed, very often without satisfactory results but frequently involving the
      risk for severe complications. For a few years a new method has been using
      injection of botulinum toxin into the affected muscles, which in the majority of
      patients relieves the abnormal movements for about half a year; therefore, this
      very effective and secure procedure is recommended as first-line treatment of
      hemifacial spasm.

PMID- 1439404
TI  - [Adrenal cortex carcinoma: diagnosis, therapy and course in 10 cases].
AB  - Data from ten cases with carcinoma of the adrenal cortex, diagnosed between 1981
      and 1988, have been extensively reevaluated. Six patients suffered from a
      hormonally active tumor with proven clinical and laboratory signs of
      hypercortisolism and/or hyperandrogenism. Female patients dominated the cohort
      (eight of ten). No preference for particular age (35 to 64, mean 52) or
      lateralisation of the tumor was recognisable. In all cases signs for
      endocrinopathy and/or tumor disease lead to investigative intervention.
      Nonspecific symptoms like pain, reduction of weight and fatigue were registered
      most frequently. In three patients an abdominal tumor was palpable. Investigation
      of hormone levels and imaging procedures (sonography and CT scan) assured correct
      diagnosis in all cases. Since prior to operation metastases have been detected in
      five cases and in eight cases capsular invasion was proven histologically only,
      one patient was free of tumor after operation but developed hepatic metastases
      later on. Altogether nine of ten patients developed metastases later on. Seven of
      the patients died from the perioperative period up to 8.4 +/- 8.15 months. Mean
      survival of all patients was 20.5 +/- 24.5 months. Histological grading and
      assessment of anaplasia did not correlate with either survival or tumor stage.
      None of the patients presented with tumor stage I according to the TNM system by
      MacFarlane (55). All four patients with advanced disease in stage IV died within
      the first year after operation. Eight patients were treated with 1 to 6 g of the
      adrenolytic o,p'DDD (mitotane, Lysodren). In one of these cases, a
      sonographically documented remission lasting for over eight years was observed. A
      second patient with anaplastic carcinoma showed a reduction of the size of
      pulmonary metastases under continuous therapy with o,p'DDD and a cyclic
      polychemotherapy. After the latter was discontinued, the course was progressive.

PMID- 1439405
TI  - [Priapism: review of current knowledge and presentation of a diagnostic and
      therapeutic algorithm].
AB  - In medicine, priapism is defined as pathological state: a prolonged, generally
      painful erection not accompanied by sexual desire not ending with an ejaculation.
      Rare before 1980, priapism became more frequent after introduction of erection
      inducing drugs by intracavernosal injections for treatment of impotence.
      Therefore, the medical practitioner can be faced with this problem, and the
      authors present with an algorithm the current diagnostic and therapeutic steps
      based on knowledge of pathology, physiopathology and etiology of this disease.

PMID- 1439406
TI  - [Clinical-experimental testing of the effects of a new hypnotic on respiratory
      function in healthy subjects and in patients with chronic-obstructive syndrome].
AB  - In a placebo-controlled double-blinded study with ten healthy volunteers and ten
      patients with obstructive airway disease, the effect of the test compound on
      respiratory function was measured. Results show that in healthy persons as well
      patients with obstructive lung disease of slight to moderate degree respiratory
      functions were not impaired.

PMID- 1439407
TI  - [A case from practice (246). 1. Chronic pancreatitis due to alcoholism--severe
      exocrine insufficiency. 2. Erosive bulbitis. 3. Nicotine abuse].

PMID- 1439408
TI  - [What is your roentgen diagnosis? Cherry pit ileus with subtotally stenosing
      colon carcinoma].

PMID- 1439409
TI  - [Medical ethics: innovation due to deficiencies?].
AB  - A historical follow-up using three examples--euthanasia, choice of therapy for
      tuberculosis of bones and articulations and economic management of a medical
      office reveals that comprehensive timeless medical ethics independent from
      cultural and social influences ('hippocratic oath') do not exist. There are,
      however persistent as well as increasingly new fields of conflict in daily
      practise. The latter are partly related to increased medical efficiency.
      Deficiencies in explicit ethic reflexions and empiric research for coping with
      such problems led to interdisciplinary medico-ethical work groups and journals
      over the last years. In this context traditional subjective ethics of care
      founded on altruism still remain important: The present essay shows, why the new
      objective and the older subjective approach to moral dimensions of healing
      professions are mutually founded on each other and should converge in the course
      of a decision process.

PMID- 1439410
TI  - [Medicine between technique and ethics].
AB  - In modern medicine technical and ethical questions develop continuously into a
      tension-loaded relationship. The actual controversy between technical and ethical
      imperative concerns primarily the fundamental dichotomy and dialectics of modern
      medical technology. In a second part the ethical challenge for physicians and
      nurses operating in our increasingly perfect hospitals is analysed. An outlook
      for future conditions for more harmony between medical technology and ethics is
      finally presented. A new medical spirit is needed to animate medical technology
      and to expand it to real art of healing.

PMID- 1439411
TI  - [Ethical problems from the caregivers' viewpoint].
AB  - In a first part the different perspective of physician and nurse is outlined.
      Then the ethical principles of the health professionals are outlined. The variant
      views--descriptive and normative--are described. In a second part the dilemmas
      emerging in daily practice of health care workers are demonstrated. Questions
      regarding the importance of well-being and illness are raised. Does CAN mean also
      that one SHOULD, i.e. for transplantation of organs? What are the guiding
      criteria for this advanced medicine. Since ethical decisions always touch at
      least two human beings they touch us over and over--profoundly.

PMID- 1439412
TI  - [Ethical problems in geriatrics from the family physician's viewpoint].
AB  - The picture of the 'youthful elderly' will develop further in a positive way
      because elderly people will not only experience a further increase of their
      average life-expectancy but also of their physical and psychic health and
      efficiency. Strict adhesion to calendar data means for the elderly that he is
      easily excluded from social performance and functionality of life. In order to
      meet the needs and expectations of the elder generation we need more overlapping
      linking of the different life periods, i.e. more sensitivity for individual
      arrangements. Increasing burden on the younger generation by increasing
      multimorbidity and needs for nursing may evoke responsibility for our patients.
      Therefore we practitioners should readily fulfill our duty to be in charge for
      the wellbeing of our aging patients. Social sensitivity for dignity in borderline
      situations depends on the acceptance of illness and needs for nursing as a
      natural part of our human existence.

PMID- 1439413
TI  - [Ethics in psychiatry].
AB  - In psychiatry there are two major problem areas where ethical questions are of
      greatest importance. On one hand these are problems arising from commitment to an
      institution, e.g. forced hospitalisation and forced treatment. Swiss civil law
      requires in articles 397a to f that such patients may appeal to a judicial court.
      When this court is a commission comprised of an attorney and of psychiatric and
      psychotherapeutic specialists, it is of greatest importance that the patient
      himself be heard by the attorney and not just by a member of the commission and
      that this attorney also takes into account statements of relatives, as an
      incompetent patient may say things that are inconsistent with actual facts. As
      existing or planned hospitalization laws apply mainly to acutely ill patients who
      are dangerous to themselves or to others, the treatment of chronically ill
      psychiatric patients cannot be guaranteed. Thus conflicts of conscience arise,
      since physicians are required to provide medical aid; therefore if such aid is
      not given or if it is refused, a physician can be sued for inflicting heavy
      injury. Hence there is an urgent need for judicial measures that guarantee also
      the treatment of the chronically ill who, like all patients, have a right to be
      treated. A second problem area is represented by the ethical commissions that
      decide which scientific investigations may be performed on psychiatric
      patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439414
TI  - [What is your roentgen diagnosis? long-stemmed adenomatous colonic polyp].

PMID- 1439415
TI  - [Bronchial asthma].

PMID- 1439416
TI  - [Current aspects of analgetics-induced asthma].
AB  - Up to 10% of all asthmatics are intolerant to aspirin reacting with bronchospasm
      after intake of this drug. The triad aspirin-intolerance, glucocorticoid
      dependent intrinsic asthma and nasal polyps is common in these patients. The
      reaction to aspirin is not mediated by IgE. Cross-intolerance is observed with
      all non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs inhibiting the enzyme cyclooxygenase. If
      intolerance to aspirin is suspected such drugs have to be strictly avoided.
      Paracetamol is the alternative in most instances. Only rarely an adaptive
      desensitization with acetylsalicylic acid is indicated. This method may help to
      overcome the intolerance. Non-acetylated salicylates occurring also in some
      foods, preservatives, and food dyes must not generally be avoided in aspirin
      induced asthma.

PMID- 1439417
TI  - [Therapeutic aspects in the treatment of juvenile bronchial asthma].
AB  - The most important goal of the treatment for bronchial asthma in infants and
      children is to avoid structural damage to bronchi and lung by the underlying
      allergic and immunologic inflammatory process. This inflammation is caused by an
      inherited predisposition to exaggerated mediator-release in the mucosa. Repeated
      actions of trigger factors maintain this inflammation and provoke exacerbations
      of asthmatic symptoms. The protective task of the bronchial mucosa can not be
      fulfilled anymore. General measures of asthma treatment such as prophylaxis
      against house-dust mite exposure, improved breathing technique and improvement of
      lung clearance are indispensable measures of an individually adapted, effective
      symptomatic (bronchodilators) and protective (cromolyn, topical steroids) drug
      therapy in infants and children with bronchial asthma. A successful therapy
      should ensure a physiological development of the child.

PMID- 1439418
TI  - [Bronchial asthma and sports].
AB  - Physical exercise can induce an acute attack in most asthmatics. Exercise-induced
      asthma (EIA) is therefore a common clinical presentation of bronchial asthma. EIA
      is likely a consequence of bronchial hyperreactivity whereby alterations in
      bronchial osmolarity, heat-loss by hyperventilation and physical activity per se
      are discussed as pathogenic triggers. Clinical presentation, pathogenesis and
      diagnosis of exercise-induced asthma are summarized. Pharmacologic and non
      pharmacologic possibilities are covered in some depth. In this context the value
      of sports-therapy in treatment of asthma is redefined. The possibilities and
      limitations for this form of treatment are explained.

PMID- 1439419
TI  - [Asthma and ozone].
AB  - Ozone and other photochemical oxidants are secondary air pollutants which can
      damage the respiratory epithelium by their peroxidative properties. As a
      consequence, inhaled ozone produces diffuse inflammation of the airways, combined
      with an obstructive ventilatory impairment and long-lasting bronchial
      hyperresponsiveness. In physiopathological terms, the features observed reflect
      the characteristics of an asthmatic airway reaction. Thus, ozone seems to be a
      potential trigger of newly generated asthma in healthy persons and, in addition,
      may deteriorate the course of the disease in patients with preexisting asthma.
      The damage induced by ozone depends on the concentration as well as on the amount
      of inhaled pollutants. According to the duration and the physical activities
      during ozone-exposure, slight lung function defects have been demonstrated even
      at concentrations up to 120 micrograms/m3 (60 ppb). Long-term effects of ozone on
      human health are not yet fully explored; however, the results of a few
      epidemiological studies give strong evidence of harmful effects by repeated or
      chronic exposure to photochemical oxidants. So far an increased prevalence of
      respiratory symptoms and deterioration of lung function could be demonstrated in
      populations living in areas of high atmospheric pollution.

PMID- 1439420
TI  - [A case from practice (256). 1. Right-sided gynecomastia possibly drug-induced
      (Roaccutan). 2. Status following excision and covering of a B-cell non-Hodgkin
      lymphoma of the skull. 3. Lumbar irritation syndrome of unclear origin].

PMID- 1439421
TI  - [What is your diagnosis? Herpetic eczema].

PMID- 1439422
TI  - [Epidemiology of falls and hip fractures].
AB  - The risk of falling increases with age and with many of the disorders common in
      late life. Approximately 35 to 40% of community-dwelling people over the age of
      65 and up to 50% of institutionalized elderly fall at least once every year. The
      incidence is highest in women and the very old. Hip fracture, one of the most
      serious injuries associated with falls, assumes epidemic proportions in old
      people. In addition to physical injury, falls can have other serious consequences
      for the older person. Repeated falls are a common reason for the admission of
      previously independent elderly persons to long-term care institutions. This
      article examines why older people fall and what factors place persons at risk for
      falling. The multiple reasons for an inconsistency of the epidemiological data
      are discussed.

PMID- 1439423
TI  - [Cardiovascular causes of falls].
AB  - Falls with transitory loss of consciousness (syncopes) are mainly due to
      cardiovascular incidents and show a significant higher risk of injuries than
      falls without loss of consciousness. The frequency of syncope is increasing with
      advancing age. Syncope represents an important disease with epidemiologic
      consequences in the older age group. The broad etiologic spectrum of syncope and
      the significance of diagnostic methods are discussed. Five case reports are added
      as illustration. Medical history, clinical examination and ecg-recordings are the
      most important diagnostic tools in the evaluation of syncope. An in depth
      investigation of patients with syncope reduces the rate of recurrence and risk
      for injury, it increases the quality of life and results in lower medical costs.

PMID- 1439424
TI  - [Epidemiology of osteoporosis].
AB  - A representative inquiry (n = 4217) in Zurich revealed that 22% of the female
      population eats a diet poor in calcium. A connection between calcium-deficient
      nutrition and other unhealthy lifestyles such as lack of exercise, smoking (> 10
      cigarettes/day) and regular alcohol intake (several glasses/day) has been shown
      by multivariate analysis. Therefore one has to suspect, that every third to
      fourth woman having several risk factors is at risk at entry in menopause.
      Primary prevention as a population-oriented strategy is therefore sought by
      general health-education and prevention of accidents in order to lower risks for
      fractures. Fractures of the collum femoris alone are on the basis of actual life
      expectancy in Switzerland responsible for 157,000 hospital days in women and
      18,000 in men, corresponding to the annual capacity of an acute-cave hospital
      with 500 beds. With the aid of a risk-group strategy therefore attempts at
      secondary prevention are necessary. As a cost-effective screening-test every
      postmenopausal woman should receive a peripheral quantitative computer
      tomography. Women with relatively high bone loss-rates and/or low bone density
      (insufficient stability) could thus be recognized and offered the benefit of an
      individualized compliance-promoting protective treatment.

PMID- 1439425
TI  - [Prevention of osteoporosis using hormone substitution].
AB  - Since osteoporosis in the postmenopause is predominantly due to estrogen
      deficiency, adequate hormone replacement therapy is of utmost importance.
      Estrogens are preventing bone loss and decrease the fracture rate by 95%, but
      they also improve vasomotor symptoms, psychic complaints and urogenital atrophy
      and lower the cardiovascular risk very significantly. Since results depend on
      long term compliance; motivation, appropriate dose, application mode and
      treatment schedule are therefore decisive.

PMID- 1439426
TI  - [Rehabilitation following falls of undetermined etiology: results of an
      intervention study].
AB  - In a population of 355 nursing-home patients 35 could be identified with
      "idiopathic senile gait disturbance" or falls. Out of these, twelve patients were
      motivated to participate in a trial to improve the gait. Six patients
      participated in an intensive daily physiotherapy-program for five weeks, six
      patients served as a control group. Five of the six patients in the intervention
      group improved the gait to a high degree. The gait analysis documented an
      abnormal posture due to a long use of walking aids, which was not influenced by
      the training. The study documents that very old nursing home patients can improve
      the mobility by intensive gait training if they can be motivated for such
      therapy.

PMID- 1439427
TI  - [25 years of pathology at Neuchatel].
AB  - The article introduces the Neuchatel Institute of Pathology (INAP) which
      celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1991. The institute is organised according to
      the statutes of a private foundation, the State of Neuchatel covering the excess
      running costs. The task of INAP is fulfilled by its services of clinical
      pathology which have evolved differently according to each sector. The autopsies
      reached their peak in 1979, a progressive decline in number is noted since then.
      The biopsies have increased regularly, especially since 1985. The service of
      cytopathology has had an irregular development and is actually in full expansion.
      The article then shows the solutions that INAP has found in the technical and
      medical fields. The role of medical informatics, introduced in 1983, is pointed
      out. In conclusion, we discuss the current and future questions of our discipline
      and their possible solutions in an institution such as ours.

PMID- 1439428
TI  - [The role of autopsies for the clinician].

PMID- 1439429
TI  - [The role of autopsies in clinical medicine and in pathology].

PMID- 1439430
TI  - [The Reference Center for Melanomas (CRM)].

PMID- 1439431
TI  - [Classification of gastritis according to the Sydney system].

PMID- 1439432
TI  - [Carcinosarcoma of the larynx].

PMID- 1439433
TI  - [Histiocytoid lobular carcinoma of the breast].

PMID- 1439434
TI  - [Splenomegalic lymphoma].

PMID- 1439435
TI  - [Medical informatics as a complementary method in medical education].
AB  - The practice of the decision making at the bed side especially highlights the
      place to be devoted to medical informatics both at the pre- and post-graduate
      levels. Still in a relatively recent past, say the 50s-60s, most of the medical
      educational efforts were delivered when watching and then imitating the medical
      behaviour of an older physician. The medical educators were aware that besides
      the formal lessons related to selected chapters of medical textbooks, there were
      an obvious need for better training in the ability to make sound clinical
      judgements. If this ability has been considered only as an artful and intuitive
      process neither subjected to theoretical analysis nor to be captured in a formal
      quantitative model, now things have changed to such an extent that it becomes
      broadly shared that a science of medical decision making can be reasonably
      founded and this threefold: 1) Upon a formulated logic, 2) The probability
      theory, and 3) A value theory. The first gives the hand to artificial
      intelligence (AI) technics, the third to medical information data bases dealing
      either with patients (like in hospital information systems) or with literature
      like MEDLINE or electronic "cookbooks". Basically the probabilistic theory is
      based here upon a priori probabilities related to patients informations and data
      and opens the way to bayesian decision making. After this little summary it is
      stressed that educational informatics in medicine would appear either very
      central or very marginal, if not optional.

PMID- 1439436
TI  - [Epidemiology of bronchial disorders and the role of atmospheric pollution].

PMID- 1439437
TI  - [Respiratory mechanical assistance at home].

PMID- 1439438
TI  - [The functional treatment of sprains of the external lateral ligament of the
      ankle].

PMID- 1439440
TI  - [Absinthe and malaria].

PMID- 1439439
TI  - [Epidemiology of and preventive medicine in suicide].

PMID- 1439441
TI  - [AIDS. Response to the letter by P. Kammerlander et al. on the subject of our
      article: HIV epidemic: the end of a special law?].

PMID- 1439442
TI  - [AIDS-HIV: a little less presumption please].

PMID- 1439444
TI  - Cellular and molecular biology of melanoma.
AB  - Melanoma cells have surface markers that are expressed differently than in normal
      melanocytes and nevus cells. Monoclonal antibodies may define a phenotypic map of
      the various melanocytic lesions and can be used in immunohistopathology and
      immunoscintigraphy. Monoclonal antibodies directed against melanoma-associated
      glycoproteins and glycolipids are being tested for therapy. Rearrangements or
      deletions on chromosome 1, 6, and 7 are the most frequently observed cytogenetic
      abnormalities. Molecular studies have not given a clear picture. A subset of HRAS
      alleles has been reported to be associated with melanoma. NRAS activation by
      point mutation has been found in one fourth of the cases. Allele losses at
      different loci have been reported. Genetic linkage studies have given conflicting
      results on the presence of a gene for the melanoma-dysplastic nevus syndrome on
      the short arm of chromosome 1.

PMID- 1439443
TI  - Cutaneous malignant melanoma: epidemiological considerations.
AB  - Large geographic and ethnic variations in incidence and mortality rates of
      cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) suggest inverse correlations with the degree
      of skin pigmentation and latitude. Increases in CMM incidence and mortality rates
      have occurred in virtually all white populations, more markedly in those that
      permanently (immigrants) or temporarily (tourists/vacationers) reside in very
      sunny areas outside their primitive living environment. The interpretation of
      data from case-control studies is, however, hampered by the difficulties in
      quantifying retrospectively, but reliably, CMM risk correlates (e.g., host
      factors, sun exposure, clothing habits, sunburns) in various periods during the
      life span. There is, thus, a need for large prospective studies on the
      development of CMM and naevi, ideally in different contexts as concerns host
      factors, sun exposure, and other life-style habits within and across different
      populations.

PMID- 1439445
TI  - Precursor lesions of melanoma: do they exist?
AB  - The question of whether definite precursors to melanoma exist is answered in the
      affirmative. Three cutaneous lesions likely to be such precursors are described
      and discussed as to their clinical and histologic appearance and incidence.
      Additionally, a type of conjunctival melanosis that has been associated with
      malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva is discussed and an attempt is made to
      define it; a proposed classification of this entity is reviewed. Basic approaches
      to management and analysis of precursor lesions are elaborated.

PMID- 1439446
TI  - Surgical management of primary melanoma.
AB  - The outline of the surgical treatment of a primary cutaneous malignant melanoma
      may be divided into the problems of biopsy, definitive excision and
      reconstruction of the defect. An excisional, in contrast to an incisional, biopsy
      provides the full scope of prognostic parameters and should be used whenever
      possible. General anesthesia is not necessary, and frozen-section examination is
      inaccurate. An immediate excision biopsy should therefore be performed under
      local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. Whenever possible, a margin of 10 mm
      should be used, as this would mean an adequate and definitive treatment in
      melanomas up to 1 mm, and possibly 2 mm, in Breslow thickness. In melanomas more
      than 1-2 mm in thickness a 3-cm free margin instead of a 5-cm free margin is
      recommended. Many patients, especially those with trunk lesions with a 3-cm free
      margin may not need a complicated repair, such as a skin graft or a flap. The
      excision in depth is recommended to be carried perpendicular to the skin and
      inclusion of underlying fascia is optional, as no study has proved it to be
      beneficial. The defect after the excision should whenever possible be closed
      directly. If this is not possible the defect is covered with either a skin graft
      or a flap and the latter is recommended from both a cosmetic and a functional
      point of view. If a skin graft has been used, the secondary defect may be
      reconstructed with a skin expansion technique.

PMID- 1439447
TI  - Treatment of regional nodes.
AB  - The appearance of nodal metastases from cutaneous melanoma represents a poor
      prognosis. Surgery is the only possible treatment for these patients since
      chemotherapy or immunotherapy have no confirmed specific efficacy in adjuvant or
      therapeutic schedules. If, for clinically metastatic regional nodes, there is
      complete agreement on the opportunity of dissection, in the case of clinically
      uninvolved nodes some controversy exists. For melanomas of the extremities, two
      different randomized studies have demonstrated no difference in the long-term
      outcome of patients with stage I melanoma, whether immediate or delayed node
      dissection is performed. For axial melanomas, although definitive data are not
      available, there are preliminary statistical results as well as anatomical and
      technical reasons, suggesting an identical surgical approach to that performed
      for primaries of other sites. Therefore, apart from specific cases, there is good
      evidence that node dissection should be planned only for patients with clinically
      involved regional nodes.

PMID- 1439448
TI  - Hyperthermic antiblastic perfusion in the treatment of local recurrence or "in
      transit" metastases of limb melanoma.
AB  - On the basis of personal experience and a review of the literature, the authors
      have evaluated the results obtained with hyperthermic antiblastic perfusion (HAP)
      for the treatment of stage II, III and IIIAB limb melanoma. The evaluation showed
      that today HAP may be considered a safe and effective treatment, with a major
      complication rate ranging between 1% and 4%. In terms of tumor response,
      locoregional control and survival, this treatment has provided better results
      than other regional chemotherapeutic modalities and undoubtedly better results
      than those obtained with conventional, even radical, surgery. The multiparametric
      analysis showed that, of the treatment-related prognostic factors, the minimum
      tumor temperature influenced the percentage of complete response (CR) to the
      greatest extent (P < 0.03), with a positive trend also with regard to the dosage
      of the antiblastic drug employed (P < 0.08). In turn, the complete response rate
      was a determinant as far as locoregional control (75.3%; P < 0.0009) and disease
      free (51.4%; P < 0.009) and overall survival (63.2%; P < 0.009) rates were
      concerned. Of the tumor-related prognostic factors, the number of lesions (P <
      0.0014), sex (P < 0.04), and the number of disease recurrences (P < 0.01) appear
      to influence overall survival.

PMID- 1439449
TI  - Surgical management of distant melanoma metastases.
AB  - Disseminated melanoma remains a tumour that is poorly responsive to chemotherapy
      and radiotherapy. However, this review demonstrates that surgical removal of
      visceral metastases such as at the, lung or digestive sites, as well as the
      brain, yields consistent median survivals, often longer than 12 months, and long
      term survivors. Such surgery is followed by little complication cost and low
      perioperative mortality. Our experience tends to confirm that complete debulking
      offers longer survivors as compared to partial. Also, one site of metastases,
      whatever its anatomical location, when operated on, gives a better chance for
      survival than when there are multiple sites.

PMID- 1439450
TI  - Cutaneous melanoma: prognosis and treatment results worldwide.
AB  - This first metanalysis of melanoma from treatment centers worldwide consisted of
      15,798 patients with localized melanoma (stages I and II) and 2,116 stage II
      melanoma patients with nodal metastases. Comparisons of dominant prognostic
      variables showed consistent results from center to center, despite the
      heterogeneity of the patient population. Six of eight centers that performed a
      multivariate analysis ranked ulceration among the first three most dominant
      prognostic factors. Men had a higher proportion of ulcerated lesions than did
      women. There was a positive correlation between ulceration and thickness.
      Patients with melanoma of the scalp had a worse prognosis than did those with
      lesions of the face and neck; those with melanomas on the hands had a
      significantly worse prognosis than did those with lesions on the arms or legs. In
      this study, women had a statistically significant survival advantage over men.
      Their melanomas arose in more favorable sites, were thinner, and less ulcerative
      and had a lower stage of disease at presentation. Stage III melanomas were more
      common in males, thicker, and more ulcerated and had a nodular growth pattern.
      Patients with clinically occult nodal metastases detected by pathological
      examination and those with a single metastatic node fared the best. Five of six
      centers identified the number of metastatic nodes to be the most significant
      prognostic factor. Distant metastases (stage IV were analysed at only two
      centers, which found that the number and site of metastases appeared to be the
      dominant prognostic features of stage IV melanoma. When all factors were analyzed
      in a Cox regression analysis, the dominant factors for stage IV melanoma patients
      were (1) the number of metastatic sites, and (2) the remission duration. There
      were no histologic criteria of the primary melanomas that predicted the patient's
      clinical course once distant metastases had developed.

PMID- 1439451
TI  - [Epidemiology of cerebrovascular accidents].
AB  - Recent studies concerning secular trends in stroke incidence and mortality and
      identification of independent risk factors for stroke are reviewed. Stroke
      mortality has declined in many industrialized countries in recent decades. In
      France, it has been declining by more than 30% between 1968 and 1982 in all age
      groups and in both sexes except for women under 40 years. The decline in stroke
      mortality seems to be partly real and partly apparent. In the community-based
      study of Rochester, Minnesota, stroke incidence decreased by 54% between 1945-49
      and 1975-79. Recent data from Rochester, however, suggest that the incidence of
      stroke may no longer be declining. Survival after stroke has also apparently been
      improving but several sources of potential bias may also have influenced the
      decrease in reported survival rates. Hypertension is a major risk factor for
      stroke. Prolonged differences in "usual" diastolic blood pressure of 5 to 10 mmHg
      are associated with about 40% difference in stroke incidence. Recent analysis
      suggests that stroke incidence reduction could arise rapidly after hypertension
      control and that a lower blood pressure should confer a lower risk of vascular
      disease, even in individuals conventionally considered as "normotensive". There
      is evidence that cigarette smoking is an important risk factor for stroke with an
      overall relative risk of 1.5 and that the risk of stroke declines rapidly after
      the cessation of smoking. A cardiac condition may be a marker for another risk
      factor or the primary substrate for cerebral embolism. In patients with atrial
      fibrillation, the risk of stroke is increased through both of these mechanisms.
      Diabetes mellitus, chronic alcohol consumption (> 3 drinks/day), and high
      fibrinogen levels are other independent risk factors for stroke. While high
      levels of cholesterol may be associated with ischemic stroke, an inverse
      association of the serum cholesterol with the occurrence of intracerebral
      hemorrhage in men has been reported. In patients with asymptomatic internal
      carotid stenosis, higher degrees of stenosis convey a higher risk of stroke.
      However, far from all these strokes are due to thromboembolism from an
      atheromatous plaque in the ipsilateral internal carotid artery. The relative risk
      of stroke during the first 5 years following a transient ischemic attack is 7
      times that in persons without transient ischemic attack. More than a third of the
      subsequent strokes occur in a vascular territory different from that of the
      incident TIA. While the use of oral contraceptives may increase the relative risk
      of stroke, postmenopausal estrogen treatment may have a protective effect on the
      risk of vascular diseases.

PMID- 1439452
TI  - [Hemorrhage of the brain after therapeutic fibrinolysis. 11 cases].
AB  - Ten cases of cerebral hemorrhage and one of intraspinal subdural hematoma after
      thrombolytic therapy are reported. Six patients were treated with streptokinase,
      four with rt-PA and one with a combination of both drugs. The incidence was 0.5
      to 2% and was higher in case of rt-PA therapy (3.7%). In all cases, CT scan
      showed primary hemorrhage rather than hemorrhagic infarction. Four patients died
      of stroke. Among the survivors, residual disability was severe in one and mild in
      five. Only one patient recovered completely. In patients treated with
      streptokinase, the hemorrhage was probably due to a more than 80% decrease in
      plasma fibrinogen. In those receiving rt-PA, either excessive dosage (2 cases in
      our series) or lysis of cerebral microthrombi are thought to be responsible for
      the hemorrhagic complications. Treatment consists of infection of aprotinin (an
      anti-fibrinolytic drug), cryoprecipitates with factors V and VIII and protamine
      sulfate.

PMID- 1439453
TI  - [Obsessive-compulsive behavior (arithmomania). Atrophy of the caudate nuclei].
AB  - We report the case of a 56-year-old woman who died after a 2.5 years progressive
      course of behavioral disorders associating severe obsessive-compulsive counting
      with disinhibition. Neuropathological examination showed severe gliosis of the
      caudate nuclei whereas the lentiform nuclei and frontal cortex were not involved.
      In contrast with previous reports, this case lacked psychic akinesia which is
      usually combined with obsessive-compulsive behavior. It is a further illustration
      of how subcortical lesions can produce a frontal like syndrome. It suggests a
      fundamental role of the caudate nuclei in the control of behavior.

PMID- 1439454
TI  - [Postural hypotension with myoclonia in multisystemic atrophy].
AB  - Each time he stood up a 60-year old man experienced myoclonic jerks, quickly
      followed by a syncope due to major postural hypotension. Progressive autonomic
      failure was associated with pyramidal, extrapyramidal and cerebellar features in
      a pattern characteristic of Shy-Drager disease. Myoclonic jerks suggested
      seizures, but no electroencephalographic epileptiform activity was found. This
      case together with data from the literature suggest, that such involuntary
      movements may result from cerebral anoxia.

PMID- 1439455
TI  - [Association of 2 phacomatoses].

PMID- 1439456
TI  - [Neurosarcoidosis with meningoencephalitis and tumoral granuloma].
AB  - A 24-year old woman had neurosarcoidosis with meningoencephalitis and frontal
      granuloma. After corticosteroid therapy for two years, CT showed that the
      granuloma had nearly disappeared and that there was a hydrocephalus.

PMID- 1439457
TI  - [Sacral perineural cysts. Contribution of magnetic resonance imaging].
AB  - In a 41-year old woman complaining of episodic bilateral sciatic pain, MRI showed
      large sacral cysts developed in the pelvis. The fact that these cysts
      communicated with the subarachnoidal spaces was not clearly demonstrated by CT.
      The mechanism underlying the development of this perineural variety of extradural
      cysts is discussed.

PMID- 1439458
TI  - [Pilot study of Ginkgolide B, a PAF-acether specific inhibitor in the treatment
      of acute outbreaks of multiple sclerosis].
AB  - Ten patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in acute relapse were
      treated with a five-day course of intravenous ginkgolide B, a specific inhibitor
      of PAF-acether. Eight patients had improvement of their neurological score,
      beginning 2 to 6 days after the initiation of therapy. This improvement was
      sustained in 5 patients and only transient in 3. Two out of these 3 patients with
      secondary failure and the other 2 who did not respond to ginkgolide therapy,
      received i.v. methylprednisolone. Three patients experienced mild side effects
      under ginkgolide therapy but none of the patients had any serious adverse effect.
      A controlled randomized study is underway, in order to confirm these results and
      test higher dosages and more prolonged administration.

PMID- 1439459
TI  - [Confrontation of Salpetriere hospital. May 1990. A vision and language disorder
      with sudden appearance in a 70 year old patient].

PMID- 1439460
TI  - [Epidemiology of micro-organisms responsible for community-acquired pneumonia].
AB  - Pneumonias occupy a prominent situation among lower respiratory tract infections
      where they are remarkable for their potential mortality and for our relative
      knowledge of the responsible micro-organisms. Analysis and synthesis of each
      series published must answer several questions, such as: what are the lung
      diseases considered? which investigations have been performed? which criteria of
      imputability have been used? in which patients has the study been carried out? in
      which place, which period and which structure? In spite of methodological lacunae
      and of the inhomogeneous answers to the questions asked, there is some
      concordance between the series found in the literature. Thus, more than 90% of
      community-acquired pneumonias with microbiological identification are caused by
      Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae,
      Legionella pneumophila, Chlamydia psittaci (or pneumoniae), or Influenza A virus.

PMID- 1439461
TI  - [Photodynamic therapy of bronchogenic cancer].
AB  - Photodynamic therapy (PDT) means the activation by light of an exogenous
      photosensitizer previously retained by tumors. This therapeutic method is under
      current investigation for lung cancer. A review of the literature presents the
      preliminary results bearing upon more than 200 epidermoid bronchus carcinomas. A
      complete response rate of 75% can be anticipated for early tumors. Several
      survivals beyond five years, due to PDT alone, have already been reported. Two
      phase III trials are opened, comparing PDT vs YAG laser for obstructing tumors
      and PDT+Radiotherapy vs Radiotherapy alone for non-operable small tumors. PDT
      should be developed in selected indications of lung cancer, because it is an
      original and interesting therapeutic solution.

PMID- 1439462
TI  - [Isolated pulmonary choriocarcinoma].
AB  - The author report a case of isolated choriocarcinoma of the lung revealed in a
      young woman by a tumoral syndrome of the right base with haematoma. The diagnosis
      of isolated pulmonary choriocarcinoma was based on the lack of previous
      gynaecological history and tumour, on the singleness of the lung tumour at CT,
      and on the high initial beta-CGH level (3,300 ng/ml) in the absence of pregnancy.
      Surgical resection confirmed the diagnosis and lowered the beta-CGH level to 7
      ng/ml. The various aetiopathogenic theories put forward and their relations with
      the prognosis disparity found in the literature are reviewed. The authors compare
      the prognosis of isolated pulmonary choriocarcinoma in a non-nulliparous woman to
      that of placental choriocarcinoma.

PMID- 1439463
TI  - [An unusual asthma crisis].

PMID- 1439464
TI  - [Inflammatory polyp: a rare benign endobronchial tumor].
AB  - We report a case of inflammatory polyp in a male patient, which was totally
      obstructing the left main bronchus but could be removed by simple endoscopic
      traction. The polyp was responsible for an absence of left lung ventilation which
      in turn produced by reflex an absence of left lung perfusion completely
      reversible after removal of the polyp. Inflammatory polyp is a rare benign
      tumour. Its physiopathology is controverted, but it seems to result from local
      irritation of the bronchial mucosa. Bronchial endoscopy is the essential
      examination which in most cases make it possible to diagnose and treat the
      tumour.

PMID- 1439465
TI  - [Experience of photodynamic therapy in inoperable bronchogenic cancer in the city
      of Nancy. Apropos of 3 cases].

PMID- 1439466
TI  - [Consensus Conference. Lille, 18 October 1991. Respiratory tract infections.
      French language Society of Infectious Diseases].

PMID- 1439467
TI  - [Why "childhood" asthma"?].

PMID- 1439468
TI  - [Models of experimental Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae
      pneumonia in mice].
AB  - Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae are the bacteria most
      frequently involved in bronchopulmonary and E.N.T. diseases. Experimental models
      are useful to analyse in vivo the physiopathological interactions between
      bacteria and lung tissue and to study the activity of various antibiotics in the
      focus of infection. Models for pneumococci are devised according to the virulence
      of the strain, the inoculation technique and the type of animal used. When
      strains of different virulence and hosts of different lineage are combined,
      several experimental models with different natural histories are obtained. These
      experimental models make it possible to study therapeutic measures at different
      stages, comparing the relative activities of fluoroquinolones, ampicillin and
      macrolides. For fluoroquinolones, no correlation has been found between in vivo
      and in vitro data in these models, but the effectiveness of new compounds has
      been studied. As regard Haemophilus influenzae, lung infection models are rare,
      either because their septicaemic component is too important or because they do
      not enable this organism to multiply. Moreover, the models obtained do not lend
      themselves easily to therapeutic trials and favour those antibiotics that have
      high serum concentrations. Developing a better model would enable us to improve
      our knowledge of the pathogenicity of this micro-organism.

PMID- 1439469
TI  - [Are there metabolic counterindications to the hormonal treatment of menopause?].

PMID- 1439470
TI  - [Perineal aponeuroses. An anatomical study leading to the concept of perineal
      pubic-sacral cord].
AB  - On the basis of anatomical dissections, the authors offer a description of the
      perineal thickness (centred on the study of its aponeuroses) which corresponds
      better with medical imaging (ultrasonography, MRI) findings. Situated between the
      pelvic floor (deep layer of the deep perineal aponeurosis) and the perineal skin
      (covering the superficial layer of the superficial perineal aponeurosis), the
      perineal thickness is organised around an antero-posterior functional entity: the
      pubic-sacral perineal cord. This is made up, from behind and going forwards, of:
      the urethro-clitorido-vulval entity, the peri-vulval insertion of the perineal
      aponeuroses, the tendinous centre of the perineum and the ano-coccygeal raphe. It
      forms the keystone of the perineal thickness by closing off the floor of the
      urogenital fossa, the transit point for prolapses. This organisation of the
      perineal thickness explains how the vulval orifice, with no truly effective
      specific muscular structure, opposes the forces of abdominal pressure, thus
      avoiding the development of prolapse under normal circumstances. The ischio
      rectal fossa is also studied.

PMID- 1439471
TI  - [Uretero-vesical injuries during pelvic surgery in women].
AB  - Injuries to the ureter and the bladder are common complications in female pelvic
      surgery. Unfortunately, they remain often unrecognized per operatively.
      Intravenous pyelography and renal ultrasonography are very efficient for post
      operative diagnosis. The indications of nephrectomy have became rare because of
      the efficacity of the procedures of plastic and reconstructive urological
      surgery.

PMID- 1439472
TI  - [Evaluation of the method of delivery in breech presentation].
AB  - The authors report a retrospective study based upon 543 breech deliveries at
      term, collected between 1987 and 1990. The cesarean section rate was 18.4 per
      cent. It was prophylactic in 56 cases. When the possibility of vaginal delivery
      was accepted, cesarean section was performed in 9 per cent of cases. Fetal
      mortality and morbidity were higher with vaginal delivery. However, maternal
      morbidity was greater in the cesarean section group. Study of the literature
      shows that the increase in cesarean section rate in recent years is not the only
      factor responsible for improved fetal prognosis. It is therefore important to
      restrain this increase and find the optimum percentage rate.

PMID- 1439473
TI  - [Meta-analysis of management seeking to prevent ovular infection].
AB  - The prevention of chorioamnionitis after preterm rupture of membranes is still
      controversial. This is due to the lack of power of most studies. These seem to
      show that the outcome is mostly determined by the gestational age at membrane
      rupture and a trend at lower chorioamnionitis when antibiotics are used.

PMID- 1439474
TI  - [A comparative study of 2 uterotonic drugs during assisted delivery. Ergometrine
      versus ergometrine combined with oxytocin].
AB  - Ergometrine and ergometrine combined with oxytocin were used during assisted
      delivery for respectively 65 and 60 labours associated with a risk of hemorrhage.
      Both these substances have a remarkable hemostatic action, though that of
      ergometrine combined with oxytocin was found to be superior.

PMID- 1439475
TI  - [Characteristics of pregnancy and delivery in women with heart diseases].
AB  - The authors report 78 cases of pregnancy in women with heart disease during a 4
      year period (1985-1988). Heart disease involved a rheumatic valve lesion in 90
      per cent of cases. Heart disease was properly monitored in these patients (74.5
      per cent) but the pregnancy in only 50 per cent of cases. These patients gave
      birth to 78 newborn infants. Labour was premature in 15.38 per cent of cases.
      Labour was of short duration: less than 6 hours (73 per cent of cases). There was
      only delivery by cesarean section. Bleeding at the time of delivery was common
      (12.4 per cent of cases). There were two maternal deaths during the post-partum
      period (2.56 per cent). Essential risks to the newborn included low birth weight
      (17.5 per cent) and prematurity (15.38 per cent). Neonatal mortality was 2.5 per
      cent.

PMID- 1439476
TI  - [Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis. Apropos of a case].
AB  - The authors report a case of disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis (DPL)
      occurring in a post-menopausal woman not using hormone replacement therapy. Her
      past history included a subtotal hysterectomy, with preservation of the adnexae,
      for metromenorrhagia due to a leiomyomatous uterus. This case confirms data in
      the literature concerning presentation, symptomatology, macroscopic appearance
      and histology. No electron microscopy study was undertaken, nor were hormonal
      receptors evaluated. The originality of this case lies in the onset of DPL in a
      post-menopausal (with laboratory confirmation) woman with very slow progression
      over several decades confirming the hormone-dependent nature and the good
      prognosis of this rare condition.

PMID- 1439477
TI  - [Vesico-uterine fistulas. Apropos of 2 cases].
AB  - Vesico-uterine fistulas (VUF) are an increasingly rare entity (5% of all
      urogenital fistulas). The authors report two cases of VUF following cesarean
      section. The literature is reviewed briefly, indicating that Youssef syndrome is
      the commonest presentation. This lesion is certainly benign but is a source of
      discomfort for sexually active women. Treatment is above all preventive. It is
      based per-partum on perfect management of all cases of difficult labour.
      Peroperatively, the technique used during each cesarean section must be carefully
      defined and followed. Treatment of a confirmed VUF is essentially surgical.

PMID- 1439478
TI  - The pathogenetic aspects of spondyloarthropathies from the point of view of HLA
      B27.
AB  - The association of HLA-B27 and seronegative spondyloarthropathies, especially
      ankylosing spondylitis has been known for almost two decades. The spontaneous
      development of spondyloarthropathy like joint disease in HLA-B27 transgenic rats
      verifies the suspicion that the HLA-B27 antigens are directly responsible for
      disease development. With the recently revealed crystal structure of HLA-B27 and
      understanding of the class I molecule in general, a new hypothesis can be
      formulated based on the assumption that the pathogenesis of these diseases is a
      subversion of the physiological function.

PMID- 1439479
TI  - Autoantibodies against small cytoplasmic ribonucleoproteins: the anti-Ro/SS-A and
      anti-La/SS-B autoimmune response. A review of autoantibody detection, autoantigen
      composition, autoantibody-disease associations and possible etiologic mechanisms.

PMID- 1439480
TI  - Damage of cultured chondrocytes by hydrogen peroxide derived from
      polymorphonuclear leukocytes: a possible mechanism of cartilage degradation.
AB  - To study the mechanisms of chondrocyte damage, chondrocyte cytotoxicity as shown
      by chromium-51 release induced by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) was
      examined. PMNLs significantly enhanced chondrocyte cytotoxicity in the presence
      of phorbol dibutyrate. This chondrocyte damage was abolished by the addition of
      catalase, whereas superoxide dismutase and scavengers of hydroxyl radicals and
      protease inhibitors failed to reverse it. When cartilage matrix components such
      as hyaluronic acid and various proteoglycans were added to the PMNL-chondrocyte
      cultures, these components failed to affect the chromium-51 release. These
      results suggest that the increase in chondrocyte cytotoxicity is due to hydrogen
      peroxide generated by the PMNLs, and that cartilage matrix components do not
      prevent it. Hydrogen peroxide from PMNLs may therefore play an important role in
      cartilage degradation through direct damage of chondrocytes during inflammatory
      process.

PMID- 1439481
TI  - Persistence of B19 parvovirus in synovial membranes of patients with rheumatoid
      arthritis.
AB  - Recent clinical observations support the hypothesis that persistent parvovirus
      B19 is a triggering factor of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in certain genetically
      predisposed individuals. If this hypothesis is correct, a number of RA patients
      may exhibit parvovirus B19 DNA in their synovial membranes. We tested the
      synovial tissue and peripheral blood leukocytes of 20 patients with RA, 24
      patients with other arthritides or osteoarthritis (non-RA), and 34 healthy blood
      donors for the presence of parvovirus B19 DNA using specific DNA amplification by
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using this technique, parvovirus B19 DNA was
      demonstrated in the synovial biopsies of 75% of patients with RA but in those of
      only 16.7% of patients with non-RA. In autologous peripheral blood mononuclear
      cells the percentage of PCR-positive patients was about 15% in both RA and non-RA
      groups and did not differ from that in healthy controls. When the PCR data were
      correlated with the presence of anti-parvovirus B19 IgG antibodies in serum and
      synovia all patients with parvovirus B19 DNA in peripheral blood alone or in both
      peripheral blood and synovial membrane were seropositive. In contrast, about 40%
      of patients with parvovirus B19 DNA restricted to the synovial membrane were
      seronegative. These data indicate a highly disease-related persistence of
      parvovirus B19 in the rheumatoid synovium.

PMID- 1439482
TI  - Phenotypic analysis of functionally associated molecules on peripheral blood and
      synovial fluid monocytes from arthritis patients.
AB  - Surface expression of 16 different membrane molecules was analyzed in peripheral
      blood and synovial fluid monocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and
      reactive arthritis compared to controls. The most significant findings were
      modulated expression of function-associated FcRI, CR1, CR3, MHC class II and
      activation-associated CD31, M5, and M6 molecules in arthritis patients compared
      to controls. Of these molecules, only upregulated expression of MHC class II has
      previously been reported in synovial fluid monocytes of patients with rheumatoid
      arthritis.

PMID- 1439484
TI  - [The contamination of blood cultures. The usefulness of registries].

PMID- 1439485
TI  - [The terminal phase of life].

PMID- 1439483
TI  - Interleukin-8 in inflammatory rheumatic diseases: synovial fluid levels, relation
      to rheumatoid factors, production by mononuclear cells, and effects of gold
      sodium thiomalate and methotrexate.
AB  - The content of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the synovial fluid and its production by
      blood and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (PBMC and SFMC) was compared in
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and various other inflammatory rheumatic disorders. The
      study included 125 patients and 20 healthy individuals. The highest
      concentrations of IL-8 were found in the synovial fluids and culture supernatants
      of PBMC and SFMC from patients with seropositive RA. Only PBMC from seropositive
      patients, and not from other rheumatic diseases, exhibited significant
      spontaneous release of IL-8 that correlated with serum IgM rheumatoid factor
      titers. Gold sodium thiomalate (GST) and methotrexate (MTX) inhibited the
      spontaneous and stimulated IL-8 production by PBMC by 55-86% at 50 and 10
      micrograms/ml, respectively. Two main conclusions were drawn: (1) rheumatoid
      factors appeared to be a major cause of enhanced IL-8 production in seropositive
      RA, and (2) inhibition of IL-8-mediated neutrophil migration and activation could
      be part of the mechanism of action of GST and MTX.

PMID- 1439486
TI  - [AIDS. A survey].

PMID- 1439487
TI  - [Information for those affected by HIV].

PMID- 1439488
TI  - [Biochemistry and nursing].

PMID- 1439489
TI  - [The professional identity of the nurse].

PMID- 1439490
TI  - [Education and European integration].

PMID- 1439491
TI  - [Continuous irrigation-aspiration].

PMID- 1439492
TI  - [Working conditions in the hospital].

PMID- 1439493
TI  - [Ergonomics in health centers. The improvement of the work setting and of the
      quality of care].

PMID- 1439494
TI  - [Health as viewed by the press. Apropos atypical pneumonia].

PMID- 1439496
TI  - [15 years later].

PMID- 1439495
TI  - [Continuing education. 72. Medical-surgical. Alarm in the ICU. A clinical case].

PMID- 1439497
TI  - [The electrocardiograph].

PMID- 1439498
TI  - Place-specific derived cochlear microphonics from human ears.
AB  - The high-pass noise masking technique was used to obtain derived frequency
      specific cochlear microphonics (CM) from subtracted waveforms to rarefaction and
      condensation stimuli recorded with a tympanic membrane electrode. Two
      characteristics suggest that the response is place-specific CM: the derived
      response retains the same frequency as the stimulating toneburst and the response
      follows the stimulus polarity. For click stimulation, derived neural responses
      make the place-specific CM difficult to observe except in the 2-1 kHz derived
      band. In contrast, place-specific CM evoked by 0.5 and 1 kHz tonebursts can
      usually be detected in at least three derived bands. The amplitude of the
      response is largest in the derived band with center-frequency (CF) just above
      that of the toneburst. This discovery of a place-specific CM offers the
      possibility of assessing (outer) hair cell function in the apical part of the
      human cochlea.

PMID- 1439500
TI  - Effects of adaptation on electrocochleography and auditory brain-stem responses
      in the elderly.
AB  - Changes in the amplitude and latency of the evoked potentials in
      electrocochleography (ECochG) and auditory brainstem responses (ABR) produced by
      increased stimulus rates (adaptation) were investigated using an extratympanic
      ECochG technique with simultaneous recording of the ABR in 12 elderly patients,
      and compared with those of eight normally hearing young adult subjects. Although
      the absolute latencies of the action potential (AP) and ABR waves were delayed in
      the elderly, the shift in latency of these components with increased stimulus
      rate was similar in both groups of subjects. Amplitudes of the AP and wave III
      component were reduced with increased stimulus rate to a degree which again was
      similar in both the elderly and young adults. On this basis we suggest that
      synaptic connections to nerve fibres from surviving hair cells in the elderly are
      functioning so that disturbance of this part of the acoustic nerve is not a
      feature of presbycusis.

PMID- 1439499
TI  - Behaviour of delayed evoked otoacoustic emission under forward masking paradigm.
AB  - The behaviour of delayed evoked otoacoustic emission (DEOAE) has been studied in
      normally hearing adults under a conventional forward-masking paradigm, and
      subjective measurements were carried out additionally for comparison. The clicks
      served as signals and the noise bursts were used as masker. In different
      experimental sets, signal and masker intensity, masker duration, and the interval
      between masker and maskee were altered. At masker levels corresponding to the
      subjective post-masking threshold of the clicks, the DEOAE was unaffected, i.e.
      had no noticeable alteration, compared with click stimulation without masking.
      Even at higher masker levels the inaudible clicks elicited clearly discernible
      DEOAEs. The forward-masking detection threshold of DEOAE ('DEOAE post-masking
      threshold') was reached at masker levels approximately 35 dB above the subjective
      post-masking threshold. The gap between subjective and DEOAE post-masking
      threshold vis-a-vis the masker level was also evident at different masker
      durations and different time intervals between masker and maskee. Central neural
      and peripheral receptor mechanisms are suggested to be the constituents of the
      masking phenomenon. The neural mechanism is involved at low masker levels. The
      receptor mechanism effectively joins the neural one at masker levels exceeding
      the threshold of psychoacoustic masking. The progressive increase in the number
      of auditory units from the periphery to the centre in the hearing system, linked
      with an increase in inhibition, can help to explain these effects.

PMID- 1439501
TI  - The I' potential of the brain-stem auditory-evoked potential.
AB  - We have consistently recorded a positive wave which precedes wave I, and is
      called I', within the human brain-stem auditory-evoked potential. It is
      postulated that I' represents initial neural activity of the auditory nerve,
      which presumably has as its origin auditory nerve dendrites. Thus, I' may
      represent a summed far-field dendritic potential from currents of excitatory
      postsynaptic potentials. We report latency and amplitude values of I'.

PMID- 1439502
TI  - The super-bass bone-anchored hearing aid compared to conventional hearing aids.
      Audiological results and the patients' opinions.
AB  - Twelve patients with severe mixed hearing loss (PTA ranging from 70 to 108 dB HL)
      were provided with the percutaneous 'super-bass HC 220' bone-anchored hearing aid
      (BAHA) to replace their former hearing aid. Five had previously worn an air
      conduction hearing aid (behind-the-ear type, BTE) which could no longer be used
      because of recurrent otorrhoea; the others had previously worn a conventional
      (transcutaneous) bone-conduction hearing aid (CBHA) which had caused serious
      complaints, such as headaches or skin irritation. Free-field speech audiometry in
      the subgroup of patients who used to wear a CBHA revealed that the maximum
      intelligibility score with the BAHA was equal to or better than that obtained
      with the CBHA (range from 0 to +27%). In three of the five patients who used to
      wear a BTE, the speech scores were poorer with the BAHA than with the BTE (range
      from -13 to -40%). For the remaining two patients, the difference in scores was 0
      and +10%. In conclusion, speech recognition with the BAHA HC220 in the patients
      with severe mixed hearing loss was comparable to, or better than, that with a
      CBHA. Compared to an air-conduction hearing aid, the results may be considerably
      poorer. The results of the questionnaire were in good agreement with the
      measurements and support the conclusions.

PMID- 1439503
TI  - Cardiovascular adjustments to high- and low-intensity exercise do not regulate
      temporary threshold shifts.
AB  - Sixteen adults cycled for 10 min at low and high intensities--with and without
      noise. The noise consisted of a 1/3 octave band-filtered noise with a 2,000 Hz
      center frequency at 104 dB SPL. Regardless of whether or not noise was present,
      systolic blood pressure increased 14% and 40% above rest during low- and high
      intensity exercise, respectively. Heart rate also increased above rest (36% and
      90%) during low- and high-intensity exercise, respectively. Temporary threshold
      shifts (TTS) at 3,000, 4,000 and 6,000 Hz could not be differentiated following
      low- and high-intensity exercise when noise was not present. We report
      significant TTS at the three frequencies following 10 min of noise exposure with
      or without low- or high-intensity exercise. TTS was not influenced by either the
      14-40% increase in blood pressure or the 36-90% increase in heart rate induced by
      exercise. The inability of noise alone to influence either blood pressure or
      heart rate appears to implicate systems other than the cardiovascular in the
      regulation of hearing sensitivity.

PMID- 1439504
TI  - The feasibility of using oto-acoustic emissions to monitor cochlear function
      during acoustic neuroma surgery.
AB  - The feasibility of using evoked oto-acoustic emission (EOAE) measurement for
      intra-operative monitoring of cochlear function was assessed during removal of an
      acoustic neuroma in a 53-year-old woman with normal hearing on the operated side
      prior to surgery. The high level of noise in the operating theatre was the only
      material problem encountered and this was not sufficient to prevent recording of
      identifiable waveforms. During manipulation of the brainstem, damage to the
      cochlea was indicated by an increase in EOAE latency and its eventual
      disappearance. A total hearing loss in the operated ear was revealed after
      surgery. Monitoring cochlear function with EOAEs is probably best considered at
      present as an adjunct to auditory brainstem response monitoring of the composite
      cochlea and eighth nerve, thus providing differential information.

PMID- 1439505
TI  - Phase coherence of the middle-latency response in the elderly.
AB  - We compared phase coherence of the auditory-evoked, middle-latency response (MLR)
      and the 40-Hz steady-state evoked potential (SSEP) in two groups of elderly
      listeners, matched for degree of audiometric hearing sensitivity loss. In group
      A, speech understanding was appropriate to the degree of audiometric sensitivity
      loss. In group B, speech understanding was disproportionately poor in relation to
      the degree of loss. In both modes of measurement (MLR and SSEP) phase coherence
      was significantly poorer in group B than in group A. In the case of MLR, maximum
      phase coherence was observed at the expected 40 Hz in group A, but at 30 Hz in
      group B. In the case of SSEP, maximum phase coherence was observed at 40 Hz in
      both groups but was poorer at almost all Fourier components in group B.

PMID- 1439506
TI  - Cochlear and neural dysfunction in acoustic neuroma: can they be separately
      revealed by auditory brain-stem wave V latency?
AB  - Cochlear and retrocochlear lesions may be differentiated by a diagnostic index
      (D5), which is derived from the patient's auditory brain-stem wave V latency and
      pure-tone hearing threshold at 2 to 4 kHz. The D5 values obtained from 49 cases
      of acoustic neuroma (AN) have been shown to share some properties with D5 values
      of patients with cochlear hearing loss (280 cases), indicating a lesser
      prolongation of wave V latency in cases with pronounced hearing loss. Assuming
      this finding is indicative of some degree of cochlear impairment concomitant to
      the neural dysfunction, AN data were corrected in an attempt to remove the
      effects of cochlear impairment. The resulting D5 values could reflect the delay
      in wave V solely due to the neural dysfunction. A significant relationship
      between these D5 values and tumour size seems to support this hypothesis.

PMID- 1439507
TI  - Psychometric evaluation of the hearing measurement scale on patients registered
      in a Swedish hearing centre.
AB  - The hearing measurement scale (HMS), targeting the experience of being hearing
      impaired, was translated into Swedish and answered by 122 patients with slight to
      moderate hearing losses. According to the item analysis the test construction of
      the HMS functions well with a relevant division of the sections. In all sections
      there were individuals utilizing all response possibilities and the homogeneity
      (alpha) of the test was high. One exception was section II (hearing non-verbal
      sounds), which may be due to lack of awareness, indicating that it might not be
      possible to pursue this dimension by a questionnaire approach. Normative
      descriptions were given for two age groups: 40 to 60 and 61 to 74 years,
      including both sexes. The groups had a similar outcome on the HMS, even though
      the older subjects, on average, had worse hearing problems, measured by pure-tone
      audiometry. The section covering speech perception had the strongest correlation
      with hearing loss, while the section covering emotional response entirely lacked
      such correlations for the younger group.

PMID- 1439508
TI  - Indices of hearing in patients with central auditory pathology. II. Choice
      response time.
AB  - The response times of three groups of subjects with pathology of the auditory
      pathway, localized either to the eighth nerve or to the right or left temporal
      cortex, were compared on three psychoacoustic tasks. These tasks included
      detection, frequency discrimination and duration discrimination. Measurements
      were made at two stimulus frequencies, 500 and 2000 Hz, in combination with two
      durations, 50 and 300 ms. The results were compared to those obtained for normal
      hospitalized and non-hospitalized control subjects. All subjects, except those
      with acoustic neuroma, had age-corrected normal hearing. Statistically
      significant group differences were apparent in discrimination but not detection,
      indicating the importance of task demands for response time measures, especially
      in patients with cortical pathology. The outcomes were not related to
      neuropsychological measures of speed or accuracy, supporting the conclusion that
      the time for decision-making rather than motor function had been affected.

PMID- 1439509
TI  - Indices of hearing in patients with central auditory pathology. I. Detection and
      discrimination.
AB  - This paper describes the effect of site of lesion on auditory detection,
      discrimination and speech processing. Three groups of ten patients with confirmed
      pathology of the eighth nerve and right and left temporal cortex and two normal
      hearing control groups, differing with respect to hospitalization, participated.
      In each of the fifty subjects, measurements were made of detection thresholds,
      and difference limens for frequency and duration for 50 and 300 ms pure tones of
      500 Hz and 2000 Hz. Consonant discrimination was assessed using the Four
      Alternative Auditory Feature Test (Foster & Haggard, 1979), presented in quiet.
      Subjects with left temporal pathology had the largest frequency and duration
      difference limens. Those with either left temporal or eighth nerve pathology had
      significantly lower speech intelligibility scores that were correlated with the
      duration difference limen for short stimuli and detection thresholds,
      respectively. These findings challenge traditional views of cortical processing
      and highlight differences between peripheral and central mediators of speech
      processing.

PMID- 1439510
TI  - Magnesium deficiency diagnosed by an intravenous loading test.
AB  - Magnesium deficiency is common but difficult to diagnose and to assess in
      clinical practice. The use of a magnesium loading test was therefore evaluated to
      diagnose magnesium deficiency in 661 hospitalized patients with medical
      conditions assumed to interfere with magnesium uptake and excretion. Thirty
      millimoles of magnesium sulphate were administered intravenously during 8 h as a
      loading test and related to the urinary excretion in the following 24 h. A group
      of 30 patients without any known predisposition for magnesium deficiency and a
      group of 27 healthy volunteers served as controls. The mean (with 95% confidence
      interval) magnesium retention was 4 (-2-10)% in the control group of patients and
      3 (-2-8)% in healthy subjects. A significantly higher retention was observed in
      all the groups of the patients: atrial fibrillation 18 (11-25)%, other
      arrhythmias 18 (11-24)%, hypertension 27 (20-33)%, coronary artery disease 25 (20
      30)%, congestive heart failure 31 (26-37)%, cerebrovascular events 38 (24-51)%,
      gastrointestinal disorders 22 (14-29)%, diabetes mellitus 16 (9-22)%, and
      alcoholics 33 (29-36)%. The percentage of patients with a retention greater than
      mean + 2 SD of the two control groups varied between 22% and 54% among the
      different patient groups. The mean serum magnesium among the patient groups was
      similar to the control group of patients, except for the alcoholics,
      hypertensives and young healthy controls, who had significantly reduced levels.
      Magnesium retention was significantly correlated to age and renal function, and
      among the alcoholics negatively correlated to serum magnesium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439511
TI  - Serum methylmalonic acid before and after oral L-isoleucine loading in cobalamin
      deficient patients.
AB  - Over a 1 1/2-year period, we measured concentrations of methylmalonic acid in
      serum before and after a standardized loading with oral L-isoleucine (100 mmol)
      in 13 patients admitted for evaluation of cobalamin deficiency. All patients had
      serum cobalamin values below 100 pmol l-1, but only 12 of the 13 patients were
      clinically confirmed cobalamin deficient. The clinically non-cobalamin-deficient
      patient had folate deficiency and was excluded. The serum methylmalonic acid
      concentrations before loading with isoleucine were above the upper reference
      limit (0.37 mumol l-1) in all the patients and L-isoleucine caused an increase in
      serum methylmalonic acid of more than 1.00 mumol l-1 in 11 of the 12 deficient
      patients. In the remaining patient the increase was 0.35 mumol l-1. The results
      show that a significant increase of an initially elevated serum methylmalonic
      acid concentration after isoleucine loading is a general finding in tissue
      cobalamin deficiency which strongly supports the diagnosis.

PMID- 1439512
TI  - Clinical evaluation of the Takeda Medical (A & D) TM 2420 ambulatory blood
      pressure monitor. Practical experience and comparison with direct and indirect
      measurements.
AB  - Takeda Medical (A & D) TM 2420 is an automatic ambulatory blood pressure
      monitoring system employing the auscultatory technique. The device was used under
      stable conditions and compared to readings from the Hawksley random-zero
      sphygmomanometer using a double headset stethoscope and a Y-connection. We tested
      85 subjects (aged 13-89 years, systolic blood pressure 85-212 mmHg, diastolic
      blood pressure 40-116 mmHg) and found a difference amounting to 1.6 +/- 6.7 mmHg
      (mean +/- SD) for systolic and 2.1 +/- 4.5 mmHg for diastolic readings (Hawksley
      TM 2420). In 62 subjects a comparison with simultaneous measurement on the
      opposite arm with the Hawksley manometer showed similar results. When comparing
      intra-arterial readings from 10 subjects, a difference (intra-arterial-TM 2420)
      of -1.9 +/- 12.1 mmHg was found for systolic pressures, while the diastolic
      difference was -10.7 +/- 8.7 mmHg. Twenty-four hour monitoring was performed on
      80 subjects; 70 of these yielded usable tracings. The proportion of successful
      recordings was acceptable, but the device was not suitable for bicycle stress
      testing. The quality of the accessories provided with the equipment could be
      improved, but in spite of this the monitoring system was found to be
      recommendable for clinical use.

PMID- 1439513
TI  - Lipoprotein metabolism following gastroplasty in obese women.
AB  - In order to elucidate the long-term alterations in cholesterol transport and
      esterification as a part of the changes in the carbohydrate and lipoprotein
      metabolism subsequent to calorific restriction, 15 obese women were investigated
      before and after treatment with vertical banded gastroplasty. Insulin resistance
      and production, lipid levels in plasma, lipoproteins and the lecithin:
      cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) rate were assessed. There was a 60% decrease
      in mean calorific intake six months after surgery. A slight hyperglycaemia was
      almost normalized concomitant with a reduction of serum insulin and C-peptide
      after 1 year. The very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) level was unchanged. The
      high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels tended to rise after 1 year, when there was
      a significant increase of the HDL-2 subfraction. The lipid levels in the
      lipoprotein fractions showed a rise in mean HDL-2 cholesterol. Both the molar and
      fractional rates of LCAT were decreased. These results suggest that long-term
      calorific restriction reduces insulin resistance and production, and lowers VLDL
      levels and VLDL and cholesterol synthesis. However, the low density lipoprotein
      cholesterol levels are unchanged, probably because of a decrease in the
      previously elevated fractional cholesterol removal.

PMID- 1439514
TI  - Evidence of decreased fibrinolytic activity in hypertensive premenopausal women.
AB  - In 29 lean, premenopausal, never-treated hypertensive women (142 +/- 2/93 +/- 1
      mmHg, mean +/- SEM) plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) was elevated (11.0 +/
      1.5 U/ml vs 6.3 +/- 1.0 U/ml, p less than 0.05) compared to healthy,
      normotensive women (113 +/- 2/71 +/- 2 mmHg). Euglobulin clot lysis time tended
      to be longer in the hypertensive than in the normotensive women (p = 0.06). PAI-1
      was positively correlated to triglycerides (r = 0.60, p less than 0.001),
      haematocrit (r = 0.45, p less than 0.05), insulin (r = 0.38, p less than 0.05)
      and body mass index (r = 0.38, p less than 0.05), and inversely correlated to HDL
      cholesterol (r = -0.43, p less than 0.05) in the hypertensive women. Fibrinogen
      was not significantly different in the hypertensive and normotensive women, while
      the hypertensive smokers had higher fibrinogen than the hypertensive non-smokers
      (3.01 +/- 0.17 g/l vs 2.54 +/- 0.10 g/l, p less than 0.05). All participants were
      investigated in the same phase of the menstrual cycle. Despite that, oestradiol
      was significantly lower in the hypertensive than in the normotensive women (0.57
      +/- 0.06 vs 0.81 +/- 0.09 nmol l-1, p less than 0.05), while progesterone was
      similar in the two groups. These results suggest that premenopausal, never
      treated hypertensive women are characterized by low oestradiol levels as well as
      decreased fibrinolytic activity. PAI-1 seems to be associated with other risk
      factors for cardiovascular disease in hypertensive women.

PMID- 1439515
TI  - Plasma homocysteine in women on oral oestrogen-containing contraceptives and in
      men with oestrogen-treated prostatic carcinoma.
AB  - The mechanism by which oral oestrogen-containing contraceptives in women and
      oestrogen treatment of prostatic carcinoma in men increases the risk of vascular
      disease is unclear. These agents decrease serum concentrations of vitamin B12,
      pyridoxal 5-phosphate, and folate, all of which are essential for the metabolism
      of the atherogenic amino acid homocysteine. We found serum vitamin B12
      concentrations to be lower in 17 women using oral contraceptives (219 +/- 84 pmol
      l-1) than in 13 age-matched female controls (385 +/- 129, p less than 0.001), but
      similar values were obtained in the two groups both for fasting plasma
      homocysteine concentrations (9.1 +/- 2.4 vs 9.2 +/- 3.6 mumol l-1) and for the
      increase in these concentrations after methionine loading (19.2 +/- 7.5 vs 17.8
      +/- 5.2 mumol l-1). In five men with prostatic carcinoma, high-dose oestrogen
      treatment decreased serum vitamin B12 concentrations by a mean of 30% (p less
      than 0.05) within 4 weeks, during which fasting plasma homocysteine
      concentrations decreased (13.8 +/- 4.5 vs 10.5 +/- 2.8 mumol l-1) and response to
      methionine loading increased (12.4 +/- 3.4 vs 17.3 +/- 5.1 mumol l-1), though the
      latter changes were non-significant. Our findings do not support the hypothesis
      that hyperhomocysteinemia explains cardiovascular risk in women using oral
      oestrogen-containing contraceptives, or in oestrogen-treated men with prostatic
      carcinoma.

PMID- 1439516
TI  - Reference intervals based on hospitalized 'healthy' patients and medical students
      in relation to analytical bias for serum potassium.
AB  - The reliability of reference intervals for measurements of serum (S)-potassium in
      Danish hospital laboratories was investigated (i) by estimation of reference
      interval based on two different, healthy subpopulations and (ii) by comparison of
      reference intervals for S-potassium with analytical bias in each of 52 Danish
      laboratories. (i) The reference values from 227 hospitalized 'healthy' patients
      were obtained during the period 1979 to 1987 from the first-drawn serum specimen
      from the hospitalized patients, who were later discharged from the hospital
      without a diagnosis. The estimated 0.95 reference interval was 3.34 to 4.52 mmol
      l-1. The other reference sample group consisted of 314 medical students from whom
      blood was collected in the period from 1983 to 1987. Here the estimated reference
      interval was from 3.44 to 4.53 mmol l-1. The concentration values from both
      reference sample groups were corrected for analytical bias (+0.05 mmol l-1). (ii)
      The 52 Danish laboratories revealed a considerable variability in reference
      intervals which, regarding the lower reference limit, ranged from 3.2 to 3.7 mmol
      l-1 in strong contrast to the analytical bias (ranging from -0.08 to +0.15 mmol l
      1) in 50 laboratories (two outliers). There was no relationship between lower
      reference limit and analytical bias in the individual laboratories. It is
      concluded that analytical performance allows for more uniform (even common)
      reference intervals throughout the Danish and perhaps Nordic hospital
      laboratories.

PMID- 1439517
TI  - Lack of evidence for altered complement and immunoglobulin levels in patients
      with sickle cell anaemia.
AB  - Forty-three patients with homozygous sickle cell disease (haemoglobin SS), 24
      heterozygous (AS) subjects and 24 controls (AA) from Sudan were investigated by
      haemolytic activation for complement function via the classical and the
      alternative pathways, respectively, and by determination of the plasma levels of
      C3, C4 and factor B as well as of immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM. The study
      failed to reveal any direct involvement of the complement system in sickle cell
      disease and nor was any alteration of the immunoglobulin levels registered as a
      possible cause of increased susceptibility to infections in patients with
      homozygous sickle cell anaemia.

PMID- 1439518
TI  - Reference intervals for trace elements in blood: significance of risk factors.
AB  - A random sample of 100 men and 100 women was examined for whole-blood
      concentrations of mercury, lead, cadmium and selenium, and the serum
      concentrations of selenium, nickel, fluoride, aluminium, zinc and copper. Major
      predictors were sex, hormonal factors (pregnancy, menopause, use of oral
      contraceptives), age, tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking. Among notable
      associations, increased blood-mercury was related to the presence of more than
      four amalgam fillings in the teeth. Blood-mercury correlated with blood-selenium,
      but a relation to fish intake could only be demonstrated for the former
      parameter. In women, blood-lead appeared to increase with age, with the highest
      levels seen after the menopause. Serum-nickel was slightly lower in patients with
      nickel-related contact eczema. Only the selenium concentrations showed a slight
      increase in individuals taking mineral supplements. Serum-zinc concentrations
      decreased considerably during the day. Thus, due to the substantial influence of
      physiological and environmental factors, individual results must be interpreted
      in the light of the known predictors for the trace element concentration.
      However, population-based reference intervals for trace elements in blood are
      useful to explore geographic and temporal variations.

PMID- 1439519
TI  - Primary hyperparathyroidism or hypercalcaemia of malignancy?
AB  - The introduction of two-site immunometric assays measuring intact parathyroid
      hormone (PTH) and radioimmunoassays measuring PTH-related peptide (PTH-RP) have
      simplified the evaluation of patients with hypercalcaemia. We present a 63-year
      old man with recurrent hypercalcaemia after surgical treatment for primary
      hyperparathyroidism 3 years previously. PTH measured with a mid-region
      radioimmunoassay gave normal values, at the same level as during his primary
      hyperparathyroidism. Intact PTH was, however, clearly suppressed, and he had a
      highly elevated level of PTH-RP. This suggested that he had humoral
      hypercalcaemia of malignancy. The patient died after 2 months, and at autopsy an
      adenocarcinoma of the pancreas with no skeletal metastases was found.

PMID- 1439520
TI  - Serum methylmalonic acid in uraemia.
AB  - During a 3 month period we measured serum methylmalonic acid concentrations
      monthly in 37 patients, all on chronic haemodialysis because of end-stage kidney
      disease. Concentrations of methylmalonic acid in serum were above the upper
      reference limit in 36 of the 37 subjects. All patients were in regular cobalamin
      therapy, with intramuscular injections every third month, and all had normal to
      very high values of serum cobalamin. We found no normalization of serum
      methylmalonic acid during the examination period after cobalamin injections, and
      we could not demonstrate any relationship between concentrations of methylmalonic
      acid and creatinine, cobalamin and creatinine or methylmalonic acid and cobalamin
      in serum of these subjects. We conclude that an elevated serum methylmalonic acid
      concentration is a general finding in uraemic patients, and so the assay cannot
      be used to establish the diagnosis of tissue cobalamin deficiency in these
      patients.

PMID- 1439521
TI  - Amount of secondary dentin as an indicator of age.
AB  - The amount of secondary dentin in a tooth has been used as one of several
      parameters in methods for age estimation. Dentin deposition has been measured
      according to various scoring systems, and the Pearson correlation coefficient
      with age has been found to be approximately 0.6. In the present study of 1000
      teeth, molars excluded, secondary dentin was estimated according to three scoring
      systems. The teeth were prepared according to the half tooth technique. In
      addition, the area of the coronal pulp and the widths of the root and pulp
      chamber were measured in a stereomicroscope at the cemento-enamel junction and at
      three other defined points along the root. The Pearson correlation coefficient
      between age and secondary dentin varied in different types of teeth. Of the
      scoring systems, scores according to Johanson were most strongly correlated with
      age (r = 0.59 to 0.74). Correlation between age and the coronal pulp area varied
      from -0.47 to -0.72, and the range between age and ratio between pulp- and tooth
      width at the cemento-enamel junction was from -0.46 to -0.77. Correlations
      between age and ratio between sum of pulp widths and the sum of tooth widths for
      all four such measurements ranged from -0.58 to -0.81. Multiple regression
      analyses showed that by combining several types of measurements, the correlation
      with age was increased. A tendency was also observed towards reduced speed of
      secondary dentin formation in the elderly and in women.

PMID- 1439522
TI  - Effect of stannous fluoride and tetracycline on periodontal repair after delayed
      tooth replantation in dogs.
AB  - Previous studies have indicated that inflammatory resorption and ankylosis, which
      are frequent sequela after delayed tooth replantation, can be greatly reduced by
      treating the root surface with 1% solutions of stannous fluoride and
      tetracycline. However, the SnF2 conditioning leaves a long-standing inflammatory
      reaction in the periodontal ligament. To examine whether a more dilute SnF2
      solution would reduce postoperative inflammation without jeopardizing any
      beneficial effects, anterior teeth in three young adult beagles were extracted
      and allowed to air-dry for 45 min. They were then immersed in 0.1% SnF2 for 5
      min, rinsed in saline, immersed in 1% doxycycline HCl for 5 min, rinsed, and
      replanted. Control teeth were air-dried and replanted without further treatment.
      Block biopsies were harvested after 4 wk of healing and processed for histometric
      analysis. In experimental teeth, 85% of the root surface area showed normal
      healing, compared to 33% in control teeth. Conversely, resorption and ankylosis
      were more frequent in controls than in experimental teeth. A persisting
      inflammatory reaction either adjacent to or at a distance from the root surface
      was seen in limited areas in both experimental and control teeth. Compared to
      preceding studies, the findings indicate that reducing the strength of the SnF2
      solution from 1% to 0.1% may result in less persistent inflammation, at the cost,
      however, of less complete prevention of inflammatory resorption and ankylosis.

PMID- 1439523
TI  - Evidence for xylitol 5-P production in human dental plaque.
AB  - The Turku sugar studies indicated that xylitol may possess a caries-therapeutic
      effect. More recent data show that xylitol exhibits a bacteriostatic activity on
      a wide range of bacteria based on uptake and expulsion of xylitol. Intracellular
      xylitol 5-P appears to be a key substance associated with inhibition of bacterial
      metabolism by xylitol. This has been shown in studies with pure strains of
      bacteria, mainly Streptococcus mutans. The aim of the present study was to
      examine if production of xylitol 5-P occurs in freshly collected dental plaque
      which is exposed to labeled xylitol. Plaque extracts were analyzed by thin-layer
      chromatography combined with autoradiography and high performance liquid
      chromatography. Strong indications were obtained that xylitol 5-P is readily
      produced by dental plaque. No other significant xylitol metabolites were
      identified. The bacteriostatic properties of xylitol in plaque are a mechanism
      which may well account for the caries-therapeutic effect of xylitol.

PMID- 1439524
TI  - Evaluation of a photographic method for diagnosis of gingivitis and caries.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to determine the value of a photographic method
      when diagnosing gingivitis and caries. 78 patients participated in the
      investigation. The validity of the photographic method could not be established,
      since the reproducibility of the clinical diagnosis was not 100%. Instead, the
      value of the method was determined by comparing the reproducibility of the
      clinical and the photographic diagnosis. For gingivitis the intra- and inter
      examiner reproducibilities were best for the photographic readings. For caries
      the reproducibility of the clinical diagnosis was highest. The photographic
      method was not limited by method variation when diagnosing redness of the gingiva
      and caries. However, limitations due to variation were present when diagnosing
      gingival swelling. The paper also describes the bias reducing capacity of the
      photographic method.

PMID- 1439525
TI  - Changes in amount of gingival crevicular fluid after a single episode of
      periodontal treatment.
AB  - A total of 51 periodontal sites from 6 adults with no systemic diseases or
      medication were selected for the study. All sites showed radiologic bone loss and
      pockets of 4 mm or more. Crevicular fluid (CF) was collected by inserting filter
      paper strips into periodontal pockets for 5 s and was measured by Periotron.
      Samples were collected before and 2, 5, 10, 20, and 40 days after a single
      episode of periodontal treatment (scaling, root planing and curettage). Plaque
      Index (P1I), Papilla Bleeding Index (PBI) and pocket depth (PD) were measured
      before and 40 days after treatment. The amount of bone loss was estimated from
      orthopantomograms taken immediately before the trial. Two days after treatment an
      increase in the amount of CF was seen. After this the amount of CF decreased,
      reaching the pretreatment level on day 5 after treatment and a level clearly
      below pretreatment level on day 10 after treatment. Forty days after treatment a
      slight increase in the amount of CF was seen. The difference between pretreatment
      values and values at days 2, 10, 20, and 40 was highly significant. In
      pretreatment samples, positive correlations were found between the amount of CF
      and PD, PBI and bone loss and, in samples collected 40 days after treatment
      between CF and PD. CF measurements made before treatment were of no value in
      predicting the changes in clinical parameters after treatment.

PMID- 1439526
TI  - Relationship of collagenase and cathepsin G activity in gingival crevicular
      fluid.
AB  - Human neutrophil cathepsin G has been identified as a potent proteolytic
      activator of latent human neutrophil collagenase in vitro. In order to examine
      the role of cathepsin G in the activation mechanism of latent human neutrophil
      collagenase in vivo, gingival crevicular fluid was collected from periodontal
      pockets of patients with adult periodontitis and the relationship of cathepsin G
      to the proportion of endogenously active collagenase and total collagenase
      activity was determined. The changes in these parameters were monitored before
      and after periodontal therapy and compared to control values obtained for
      periodontal sites without clinical signs of inflammation or increased pocket
      depth. A significant decrease in cathepsin G and collagenase activity in gingival
      crevicular fluid collected from initially deep periodontal pockets was observed
      in response to scaling and root planing (P less than 0.025, Wilcoxon signed rank
      test). Also the proportion of endogenously active collagenase decreased (P less
      than 0.05). There was a significant correlation of cathepsin G and total
      collagenase activity. However, no correlation of cathepsin G activity and
      endogenously active collagenase was observed. The results indicate the existence
      of several distinct activation pathways for latent human neutrophil collagenase
      in vivo and suggest that, apart from cathepsin G, other proteolytic activation
      cascades and/or non-proteolytic activation pathways participate in the activation
      of latent human neutrophil collagenase in vivo.

PMID- 1439527
TI  - Immune-activation in recurrent oral ulcers (ROU).
AB  - Tissue specimens from eight patients with recurrent oral ulcers (ROU) were
      analyzed for possible signs of active lymphocyte involvement. A total of 13
      specimens were analyzed, eight (8) taken at the ulcer site and five (5) from
      clinically unaffected mucosa at a site opposite the ulcer. Monoclonal antibodies
      or heterologous antisera were applied using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex
      (ABC) or peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex (PAP) methods to visualize cell
      activation-associated marker proteins. In specimens from the ulcer area,
      approximately 43 +/- 18% of all inflammatory cells were positive for the MHC
      locus II coded Ia antigen. Furthermore, markers for cycling cells, interleukin-2
      (CD25, 13 +/- 6%) and transferrin (CD71, 23 +/- 14%) receptors, were frequent in
      the specimens studied. Staining for CD1 (5 +/- 2%) disclosed dendritic
      intraepithelial cells in diseased and in clinically unaffected mucosa.
      Mobilization of such cells is suggested by their presence in submucosa in ROU
      specimens, but not in clinically unaffected mucosa. The presence of CD1 cells,
      presumably denoting their identity as potent antigen-presenting Lagerhans' cells,
      and the rich presence of Ia suggest that local conditions are favorable for
      induction of T-cell-mediated responses. The simultaneous presence in such
      infiltrates of activation marker positive T-cells suggests activation de facto.
      This together with the rarity of activated B-cells, i.e. plasmablasts/cells
      containing cytoplasmic immunoglobulin, suggests active involvement of the local
      cells of the T-lymphocyte lineage in the pathogenesis of ROU.

PMID- 1439528
TI  - Force-distance relation and properties of repelling Sm-Co5 magnets in orthodontic
      clinical use: an experimental model.
AB  - In recent years, magnets and magnetic forces have been suggested as an
      alternative to traditional orthodontic devices such as elastics, springs and
      wires. The purpose of this study was to analyze the reliability and the output of
      forces for prefabricated orthodontic repelling Sm-Co5 magnets and the force
      conditions for the magnets after 5 months of maximal loading. The test-machine
      consisted of a jig where the tested pair of repelling magnets was mounted close
      to the clinical situation. With a cylindrical strain gauge transducer, a
      micrometer screw, a bridge-amplifier, and a Mingograph jet recorder, force
      distance diagrams were constructed. The force-distance diagrams showed that the
      force-distance curve was hyperbolic and that the mean force when the magnetic
      pole faces were almost in contact with each other was 214.9 g, SD 13.42 g. The
      variation of magnetic force between different Sm-Co5 magnets was 6-9%. The
      difference in force before and after 5 months of maximal loading of the magnets
      was not significant. The test results indicate that with proper handling of the
      forces according to the new force diagrams, the system is reliable for
      orthodontic use.

PMID- 1439529
TI  - Antibiotic prescribing practices among Norwegian dentists.
AB  - There is scarce information on antibiotics prescription habits among dentists in
      general. The present investigation was undertaken to study some patterns of
      antibiotics prescription among Norwegian dentists. A total of 459 dentists
      (approximately 10% of Norwegian dentists) were randomly selected, and to each was
      mailed a letter describing the survey, accompanied by a questionnaire about age,
      type of practice, educational background and pattern of prescription of
      antibiotics. 78% of the dentists responded to these questions. The results
      indicate that during a typical week, 32% did not prescribe antibiotics, whereas
      5% wrote greater than 5 prescriptions. The mean weekly number of prescriptions
      per dentist was 2.04. Periodontists and oral surgeons prescribed antibiotics
      significantly more often than did general practitioners and other disciplines. In
      addition, those with research and/or teaching experience seemed to prescribe
      significantly more often than those without. More than 1/3 of the sample
      indicated that they may prescribe antibiotics when treating periodontal diseases.
      Compared with other disciplines, periodontists prescribed such drugs
      significantly more often when treating periodontitis, but significantly less
      often in acute gingivitis, stomatitis and herpes simplex infections. Moreover,
      22% of the dentists might prescribe antibiotics when the patient is in pain, 73
      and 38% in cases of abscesses with or without generalized malaise, 2.5% in
      endodontic therapy, 60% to prevent general complications, and 68% for
      prophylactic use if the patient revealed a history of endocarditis. Norwegian
      dentists are somewhat restrictive in their prescription of antibiotics, but they
      mostly prescribe the correct drugs for the different conditions.

PMID- 1439530
TI  - Epithelial adherence to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material.
AB  - The aim of this study was to examine adherence/attachment of gingival cellular
      elements to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material with special reference to
      epithelial cells. Six Gore-Tex membranes used for guided tissue regeneration in
      patients with severe periodontal disease were studied by transmission electron
      microscopy. Upon retrieval, after 30 days of healing, the membranes were
      immediately immersed in formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde, divided in segments (2 x 4
      mm) and embedded in Epon. The majority of segments were devoid of any adhering
      tissue other than erythrocytes and polymorphonuclear cells. Epithelial cell
      adherence was mediated by a 2-microns-thick acellular layer containing
      membraneous profiles with diameter 370 nm or less. Adhering epithelial cells
      exhibited characteristics of cellular degeneration as evidenced by
      tonofilamentous and cytoplasmic condensation, vacuolization and loss of
      structural details. An uneven basement lamina with hemidesmosomal contacts was
      present at the epithelium-connective tissue interface. It is concluded that
      epithelial cells adhere to PTFE material without formation of attachment
      complexes.

PMID- 1439531
TI  - Integrated currents between amalgams and a gold alloy in saline solutions and
      natural saliva with different chloride content.
AB  - The effect of different sodium chloride concentrations on the integrated currents
      (charge transfers) between dental amalgams and a gold alloy was studied in a
      bimetallic cell containing saliva or saline solutions. The integrated currents
      were only to a minor degree affected by increasing chloride concentrations for
      the high copper amalgams both in saliva and saline solutions. The integrated
      currents in the experiments involving conventional amalgam were several times
      higher than those for high copper amalgams. In saline solutions a charge transfer
      maximum was found at 0.2 M chloride. In saliva an increase of the charge transfer
      was found with increasing chloride content.

PMID- 1439532
TI  - Five-year study of cervical erosions restored with resin and dentin-bonding
      agent.
AB  - The cumulative retention rate of a microfilled resin in non-undercut cervical
      abrasion/erosion lesions was studied over a 5-yr period. The enamel was etched
      and the dentin was pretreated with either Gluma (n = 75) or the first marketed
      version of Scotchbond (n = 30). The cumulative 5-yr retention rate of the Gluma
      fillings was 90% and that of the Scotchbond fillings 47% (the 95% confidence
      limits were 83-98% for Gluma fillings and 27-67% for Scotchbond fillings). The
      retention rate with both bonding agents was significantly higher in the maxillary
      arch than in the mandibular arch.

PMID- 1439533
TI  - On minimum requirements in education and training for obtaining a license in
      gastroenterology.

PMID- 1439534
TI  - Fructose and related food carbohydrates. Sources, intake, absorption, and
      clinical implications.
AB  - It is possible to point out subjects consuming considerable quantities of
      fructose and sorbitol, and the intake seems to be increasing both from added and
      natural sources. Studies of the absorption of fructose in animals are
      inconsistent, and the mechanisms of fructose uptake seem to vary in accordance
      with the species. In most species fructose absorption takes place by a specific
      carrier (facilitated transport), but it may be active in the rat. In vitro
      studies of human intestine are very scarce; there is no evidence of active
      intestinal fructose transport in the human intestine. By means of hydrogen breath
      tests, a very low absorption capacity for fructose given as the free
      monosaccharide has been found in humans. Fructose given as sucrose or in
      equimolar combinations with glucose is well absorbed, and only fructose in excess
      of glucose is malabsorbed. On this basis it is hypothesized that two different
      uptake mechanisms for fructose are present in the human intestine. One of these
      may be a disaccharidase-related uptake system. Sorbitol ingestion may aggravate
      malabsorption of fructose given as the monosaccharide; it is not known whether a
      specific mechanism is involved. In children and adults with functional bowel
      distress the absorption capacities for fructose may not differ from those of
      healthy individuals, but malabsorption of fructose and/or sorbitol may be the
      cause of or aggravate abdominal symptoms. Fructose polymers (fructans) are also
      subject to increasing nutritional interest. Fructans are not absorbed in the
      small intestine but are strongly fermented in the large bowel. Fructans may be of
      potential benefit for large-bowel function and blood glucose regulation.

PMID- 1439535
TI  - The effect of portal perfusion on intrasplenic hepatocytes.
AB  - A newly developed rat model of portal diversion, in which the subcutaneously
      transposed spleen is perfused by splanchnic effluent as a result of portal vein
      ligation, has been used to monitor the effect of such portal perfusion on
      intrasplenic hepatocyte implants. Three groups of animals (controls, n = 42;
      transposed only, n = 70; and portally diverted, n = 58) received 2 million
      syngeneic liver cells. The number of hepatocytes in each spleen was assessed 5
      days to 9 months later by direct counting of splenic sections. The transposed
      spleen was capable of supporting hepatocyte grafts even over long periods,
      although the number of cells was reduced in comparison with controls. Diversion
      of portal flow across the transposed spleen significantly increased hepatocyte
      numbers in the first 6 weeks (median number of cells (with inner quartile range),
      1380 (70-1300) versus 600 (347-4050); n = 75), but no differences were detected
      thereafter. It appears that the initial lag phase of hepatocyte grafts can be
      partially abrogated by portal perfusion, but the subsequent 'proliferative' phase
      is unaffected. These effects correlate well with established theories on the
      importance of portal flow to the intact liver.

PMID- 1439536
TI  - The anatomic range of examination by fibreoptic rectosigmoidoscopy (60
      centimetres).
AB  - The purpose of the study was to investigate the anatomic location of the flexible
      rectosigmoidoscope (60 cm) when introduced as far as technically possible. One
      hundred and forty-nine consecutive patients referred for double-contrast enema
      (DCE) were examined with rectosigmoidoscopy before the radiologic examination,
      and CO2 was used for insufflation. A plain abdominal film was taken to locate the
      tip of the instrument when 60 cm or as much as possible of the instrument had
      been introduced. The sigmoid loop was passed and the tip of the scope located in
      the ascending colon or at the left flexure in 99 (66%) of the patients, and in a
      further 27 (18%) the upper part of the sigmoid colon was reached. The sigmoid
      colon had been passed in 71%, 80%, and 44% when 60, 50, and 40 cm of the
      instrument was introduced, respectively. DCE could be performed at the same
      session as the rectosigmoidoscopy, as CO2 was quickly absorbed. In the vast
      majority of patients the sigmoid colon can be inspected with a
      rectosigmoidoscope.

PMID- 1439537
TI  - Proliferative activity of bile duct epithelium after bacterial infection in dogs.
AB  - To clarify the relationship between proliferative activity in bile duct epithelia
      and bacterial infection in the dog, we induced obstructive cholestasis with a
      bacterial infection in two lobes of the liver. The bile duct branch draining the
      left lateral lobes of the liver was cannulated in all mongrel dogs. The dogs were
      divided into three groups and treated as follows: in group 1 the cannula was
      clamped after the injection of 10(7) Escherichia coli (aerobic bacteria) and
      10(7) Bacteroides fragilis (anaerobic bacteria) cells; in group 2 the cannula was
      clamped after the injection of 10(7) E. coli cells; and in group 3 the cannula
      was clamped without the injection of any bacteria. Three months and 9 months
      later dogs from each group were killed, and their livers were examined. In the
      group 1 dogs papillary hyperplasia and severe dysplasia were noted in association
      with chronic cholangitis at 3 months and 9 months, respectively, after operation.
      In the group 2 dogs periductal fibrosis was severe, but epithelial papillary
      hyperplasia was less pronounced than in the group 1 dogs at each period. In the
      group 3 dogs no periductal fibrosis or epithelial papillary hyperplasia was seen
      at either 3 or 9 months postoperatively. These findings suggest that papillary
      hyperplasia and/or severe dysplasia of the bile duct epithelium may be caused by
      aerobic and anaerobic bacterial infection of the biliary tract in combination
      with bile stasis.

PMID- 1439538
TI  - 1-year survey of patients with advanced liver cirrhosis. Prognostic value of
      clinical and laboratory indexes identified by the Cox regression model.
AB  - The relation between coagulation indexes and survival rate was studied and
      analyzed in 46 patients with advanced liver cirrhosis (grade B and C Child-Pugh
      Classification), during a follow-up of 1 year. Twenty-four patients (52%) died of
      liver failure or fatal haemorrhage within 12 months of follow-up. Prothrombin
      activity, fibrinogen, fibrin(ogen) degradation products, prekallikrein and factor
      VII, serum bilirubin, and the degree of liver insufficiency, scored by Child-Pugh
      classification, proved to be significantly correlated with survival by univariate
      analysis. A multivariate survival analysis (Cox regression model) disclosed two
      variables, prekallikrein and factor VII, that predicted survival. The rate ratios
      of death increased to 2.8 and 7.6 with values of prekallikrein < 26% and factor
      VII < 39%, respectively. This study shows that some simple laboratory tests
      exploring the clotting system may identify patients with poor prognosis in severe
      liver failure.

PMID- 1439540
TI  - Suppression of anger and gastric emptying in patients with functional dyspepsia.
AB  - Psychologic distress and gastric motor dysfunction have both been implicated in
      the pathogenesis of functional (non-ulcer) dyspepsia (FD). This study assesses
      the association between psychologic factors and gastric emptying in 28 FD
      patients. Subjects completed an extensive range of psychologic questionnaires and
      underwent dual-isotope scintigraphic assessment of solid and liquid gastric
      emptying. Attempts to resist, control, suppress, and hold in anger, to adopt a
      fighting spirit whilst dealing with chronic stressors, and manifest unhappiness
      were predictors of prolonged gastric emptying. These findings suggest that
      psychologic factors may be important in the aetiology of gastric stasis and
      subsequent upper gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia.

PMID- 1439539
TI  - Effect of Helicobacter pylori on parietal cell sensitivity to pentagastrin in
      duodenal ulcer subjects.
AB  - We have investigated the possibility that hypergastrinaemia in chronic
      Helicobacter pylori infection is a compensatory response to reduced parietal cell
      sensitivity to gastrin. The acid response to 45-min infusions of pentagastrin at
      sequential doses (micrograms/kg/h) of 0, 0.031, 0.062, 0.124, and 0.6 was
      compared before and 1 month after eradication of H. pylori in eight duodenal
      ulcer patients. The median acid outputs (mmol/h) with the respective infusions
      were 5.0, 7.5, 26.5, 30.8, and 37.0 when H. pylori-positive and similar at 4.5,
      7.1, 22.7, 28, and 31.5 when H. pylori-negative. The median estimated dose of
      pentagastrin required to produce 50% maximal response (D50) was similar before
      (0.060 micrograms/kg/h) and after (0.057 micrograms/kg/h) eradication of H.
      pylori. The median estimated maximal response to pentagastrin (mmol/h) was also
      similar before (39.2) and after (32.3) treatment. The median basal gastrin
      concentration was 48 ng/l (range, 22-77) before treatment and fell to 33 ng/l
      (range, 8-37) after eradication of H. pylori (p = 0.03). These findings show that
      the parietal cell sensitivity to pentagastrin is unaffected by chronic H. pylori
      infection in duodenal ulcer subjects and that the hypergastrinaemia cannot be
      attributed to the bacterium inhibiting parietal cell function.

PMID- 1439541
TI  - Stereologic investigations of human gastric mucosa. II. Oxyntic mucosa from
      patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
AB  - Biopsy specimens from the oxyntic mucosa were obtained on 210 occasions from 76
      patients with the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) before and during omeprazole
      treatment. One-micrometer sections were examined by light microscopy, and in 5%
      linear hyperplasia of endocrine cells was observed. Morphometry was carried out
      in 91 of the specimens and showed a significant increase of the mean endocrine
      cell density in comparison with both young, healthy subjects and patients
      suffering from active peptic ulcer disease (PUD). No metaplasia, dysplasia, or
      neoplasia was detected in patients with ZES, and the mean mucosal thickness and
      parietal cell density remained normal. The parietal cells often displayed
      endosome-like structures, and occasionally there were lingulate cytoplasmic
      projections into the gland lumen. Electron microscopic morphometry was carried
      out in specimens from nine patients with ZES and did not show any significant
      differences in the parietal cells in comparison with healthy subjects.

PMID- 1439542
TI  - Location and type of gastric carcinoma in relation to pepsinogen I level in
      blood.
AB  - Serum pepsinogen I (PGI) levels were measured in 192 gastric carcinoma (GC)
      patients and 70 controls. Among GC patients serum PGI levels were not influenced
      by the following variables: age, sex, smoking, Borrmann's or Lauren's
      classification, tumor size, cellular differentiation, and layer of invasion. The
      mean serum PGI levels of tumors restricted to the body, antrum, or involving both
      areas were 64.8 +/- 37.6 ng/ml, 76.0 +/- 47.0 ng/ml, and 51.1 +/- 25.5 ng/ml,
      respectively (P < 0.005). Odds ratios of GC patients from the quartile of 262
      serum PGI levels in the limits > or = 100 ng/ml, 70-99.9 ng/ml, 45-69.9 ng/ml,
      and < 45 ng/ml were 1.00, 0.76, 3.44, and 37.1, respectively (P < 0.001). The
      lower serum PGI levels of Chinese GC patients seem to be related to disease
      location rather than other characters of the tumor.

PMID- 1439543
TI  - Computer-aided decision support in hepatology.
AB  - The aim of this study was to describe and to evaluate the publications of the
      last 30 years devoted to computer-aided decision support in clinical hepatology.
      The search used Medlars and references of articles. Computer-aided decision
      support (CADS) was classified in two categories: statistical systems and
      knowledge-based systems. Two specific questionnaires were used for methodologic
      evaluation, one for statistical systems and one for knowledge-based systems. They
      were filled out independently by two observers. A total of 31 papers were
      selected among 55 identified between 1960 and 1991. The maximum possible for the
      two scores was 24. The methodologic quality ranged from 4 to 22 (median, 12) for
      statistical systems and from 8 to 12 (median, 9) for knowledge-based systems. The
      poor level of methodology could explain in part the lack of utilization of
      computer-aided decision support in the daily clinical practice of hepatologists.

PMID- 1439544
TI  - The role of bile in the regulation of exocrine pancreatic secretion.

PMID- 1439545
TI  - Absorption of wheat starch in patients resected for left-sided colonic cancer.
AB  - Bacterial fermentation of carbohydrate in the colon, producing short-chain fatty
      acids (SCFA)--and especially butyrate--has been shown possibly to impede cell
      proliferation and regulate cell differentiation of colonocytes. In patients with
      diverticular disease or benign polyps in the colon a hyperabsorption of potato
      starch in the small intestine has been found. We have investigated the absorption
      of wheat starch in 15 patients radically resected for cancer in the descending or
      sigmoid colon, and the results were compared with those of 15 healthy controls.
      The starch malabsorption was quantified by the hydrogen breath test. The patients
      malabsorbed 2-14 g (median, 8 g) of 100 g wheat starch ingested, and the control
      group malabsorbed 3-11 g (median, 6 g) (P greater than 0.1). Mouth-to-cecum
      transit time for wheat starch and lactulose and the hydrogen production capacity
      after the lactulose standards were also similar in patients and controls. The
      results do not support the theory that hyperabsorption of starch is
      characteristic of patients with malignant disease in the large intestine.

PMID- 1439547
TI  - Argyrophil cells, mast cells, and histamine in the fundic mucosa of antrectomized
      patients.
AB  - Fasting gastrinemia, fundic argyrophil cell density, mast cell number, basal
      fundic histamine content and histidine decarboxylase activity were determined in
      20 antrectomized patients and 20 control subjects. Fasting gastrinemia and fundic
      argyrophil cell density were significantly lower in antrectomized patients than
      in controls, whereas fundic mast cell number, basal histamine content, and
      histidine decarboxylase activity did not differ significantly between the two
      groups. In antrectomized patients the basal fundic histamine content appears
      related to the fundic mast cell number, as a consequence of the reduced effect of
      gastrin on argyrophil cells.

PMID- 1439546
TI  - Transforming growth factor alpha and epidermal growth factor in protection and
      healing of gastric mucosal injury.
AB  - Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) present
      in the gastric mucosa are polypeptides with similar biologic activity. This study
      compares the activity of TGF and EGF in the protection against injury by 100%
      ethanol and stress and in healing of acute gastric ulcerations. TGF and EGF (12.5
      100 micrograms/kg-h) infused subcutaneously 30 min before and during ethanol or
      stress decreased mucosal lesions dose-dependently. The ID50 for ethanol- and
      stress-induced lesions after TGF were 40 and 70 micrograms/kg-h and after EGF 60
      and 100 micrograms/kg-h. TGF and EGF infused subcutaneously into intact rats
      inhibited gastric acid secretion but did not affect the gastric blood flow or
      mucosal generation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Both TGF and EGF also
      significantly enhanced the healing of stress-induced lesions and the restoration
      of DNA synthesis. Ethanol and stress reduced blood flow in the oxyntic mucosa by
      68% and 51%, respectively, and this effect was partially reversed by EGF and TGF.
      Pretreatment with indomethacin (5 mg/kg intraperitoneally), which reduced mucosal
      generation of PGE2 by 85%, decreased in part the protection by TGF and EGF
      against ethanol-induced damage and virtually abolished the protective action of
      these peptides against stress-induced injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439548
TI  - Colonoscopic screening examination of relatives of patients with colorectal
      cancer. I. A comparison with an endoscopically screened normal population.
AB  - First-degree relatives (n = 206) of patients operated on for colorectal cancer
      (CRC) (n = 181) were offered a colonoscopic screening examination; 169 relatives
      (82%) attended. The findings were compared with those in a normal population
      sample with no CRC in first-degree relatives (n = 308), aged 50-59 years, who had
      been screened by means of flexible sigmoidoscopy. Three carcinomas and 176 polyps
      were found in 56 of 95 male relatives (57%) and 34 of 74 female relatives (46%).
      The adenoma prevalence rate was 37 (39%) and 26 (35%) for male and female
      relatives, respectively. In the 50- to 59-year age group, the adenoma prevalence
      rates for both sexes collectively and for women separately were significantly
      higher among relatives than among the population without CRC relatives.
      Hyperplastic polyps were larger, whereas adenomas were similar in size among
      relatives compared with the normal population. Colonoscopy may be a suitable
      method of choice for screening first-degree relatives of patients with CRC.

PMID- 1439549
TI  - Colonoscopic screening examination of relatives of patients with colorectal
      cancer. II. Relations between tumour characteristics and the presence of polyps.
AB  - Colonoscopy was offered to 206 first-degree relatives of 181 patients operated on
      for colorectal cancer (CRC). Findings of polyps in relatives correlated with
      Dukes staging, extent of dedifferentiation and localization of tumour in the
      operated patient, and type of family relationship. Adenomas in relatives and
      Dukes staging of carcinoma in the patients were inversely related. Relatives of
      patients with Dukes stage A tumour had more than twice as many adenomas as and a
      higher prevalence of multiple adenomas than relatives of patients with advanced
      cancer at the time of operation. If the patient had polyp(s) in addition to
      tumour, the number of adenomas per relative was almost doubled. Hyperplastic
      polyps in relatives were associated with poorly differentiated carcinoma in their
      related patients. These results support the theory that not all CRC are derived
      from polyps and that adenoma-derived CRC may have a better prognosis than 'de
      novo' CRC. An adenoma prevalence risk table is also presented.

PMID- 1439550
TI  - Effect of platelet-derived growth factor-BB on indomethacin-induced gastric
      lesions in rats.
AB  - The effect of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) was evaluated in rats
      with indomethacin-induced gastric lesions. Animals were treated with either
      saline solution or several doses of PDGF-BB given orally. Rats treated with 0.1
      nmol/kg PDGF-BB showed a statistically significant reduction of gastric damage.
      Higher doses did not produce any further reduction of gastric damage, and a
      return toward control values was observed. The effect on lesions was independent
      of inhibition of gastric acid secretion, since a dose of 0.1 nmol/kg of this
      growth factor failed to modify gastric acid secretion stimulated by pylorus
      ligation.

PMID- 1439551
TI  - Increased protein tyrosine kinase activity of the colonic mucosa in ulcerative
      colitis.
AB  - The protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity was measured in the inflamed colonic
      mucosa of 12 patients with ulcerative colitis and in the normal colonic mucosa of
      12 control patients with colon cancer. The specific PTK activity in the
      particulate fraction obtained from ulcerative colitis mucosa was significantly
      increased compared with that of normal mucosa (5.10 +/- 0.60 pmol/min/mg versus
      2.12 +/- 0.44 pmol/min/mg protein; p less than 0.05). Inflamed ulcerative colitis
      mucosa also showed a significantly higher total PTK activity in the particulate
      fraction than normal mucosa (2.60 +/- 0.42 pmol/min/g versus 0.91 +/- 0.16
      pmol/min/g tissue; p less than 0.05). Mucosal samples from ulcerative colitis
      patients were divided into those with mild and those with severe inflammation on
      histologic examination (n = 6 each). The particulate PTK activity of severely
      inflamed mucosa was significantly higher than that of mildly inflamed mucosa (p
      less than 0.05). These results suggest that colonic inflammation in ulcerative
      colitis is associated with alterations in cellular PTK activity.

PMID- 1439552
TI  - Initiation of anastomotic recurrence of Crohn's disease after ileocolic
      resection. Onset proximal to the junction and preceded by increased phospholipase
      A2 activity.
AB  - Colono-ileoscopy was performed on 11 patients after ileocolic resection for
      Crohn's disease, to observe development of recurrent anastomotic inflammation and
      its relationship to mucosal phospholipase A2 (EC 3.1.1.4) activity. Ileal
      inflammation appeared soon after surgery in eight cases but in none of nine
      controls with noninflammatory bowel disease. The ileal inflammation was more
      severe 1-3 cm above than greater than 5 cm above the ileocolic junction (p less
      than 0.05), whereas the postanastomotic colonic mucosa remained unchanged. Ileal
      phospholipase A2 activity in the mucosa was equally raised at the two ileal sites
      (p less than 0.01 and less than 0.02), irrespective of the presence or absence of
      inflammation. In colonic postanastomotic mucosa the phospholipase A2 activity was
      the same as in the controls. Further followup showed preanastomotic ileal
      inflammation at both investigated levels in all patients with Crohn's disease but
      still with greater severity close to the mucosal junction (p less than 0.05). The
      study indicates that recurrent inflammation in Crohn's disease is initiated in
      the terminal ileum close to the ileocolic junction. Progression of severity is
      accompanied by greater proximal involvement. The increase in mucosal
      phospholipase A2 activity, which precedes endoscopically detectable inflammation,
      implies a role for this enzyme in Crohn's disease.

PMID- 1439553
TI  - Pancreatic morphology and function in adult patients with cystic fibrosis.
AB  - To determine the relation between pancreatic morphology and pancreatic exocrine
      and endocrine function, we have studied 8 adult cystic fibrosis patients and 14
      normal control subjects by ultrasonography and pancreatic function testing. In
      the patients with cystic fibrosis the maximum anteroposterior diameter of the
      pancreatic head was significantly increased over that in control subjects (p less
      than 0.01), whereas the maximum diameter of the body was significantly decreased
      (p = 0.05). Increased echogenicity of the pancreatic body was observed in most
      patients. In the cystic fibrosis patients postprandial insulin secretion was
      reduced in the 1st h (p less than 0.005 versus control), whereas pancreatic
      polypeptide secretion was virtually abolished for at least 3 h (p less than 0.01
      versus control). All cystic fibrosis patients had evidence of exocrine pancreatic
      dysfunction as reflected by a diminished urinary para-aminobenzoic acid
      excretion. Intraduodenal enzyme and bicarbonate output in response to secretin
      cholecystokinin was reduced in all of three patients studied. It is concluded
      that loss of endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function in adult cystic fibrosis
      patients is accompanied by a small and echo-dense pancreatic body relative to a
      large pancreatic head.

PMID- 1439554
TI  - Postprandial gallbladder emptying is related to intestinal motility at the time
      of meal ingestion.
AB  - The characteristics of meal-induced gallbladder emptying in healthy individuals
      are subject to wide variation. We hypothesized that some of the observed
      variation might relate to ingestion of the meal during different phases of the
      migrating motor complex (MMC). Recording of gastrointestinal pressure was
      combined with scintigraphic recording of bile kinetics during infusion of 99mTc
      HIDA. The material consisted of 12 healthy men. Group 1 (n = 6) had a fat-rich
      meal in phase I, and group 2 (n = 6) had the meal in a phase II. With the end of
      the meal ingestion as zero, the following results emerged. The subjects in group
      1 had a median (range) lag period before beginning of gallbladder emptying of
      13.5 (9.0-22.5) min. In group 2 gallbladder emptying began during the meal
      ingestion in four subjects, and the median lag period was 0 min (minimum, -9.0;
      maximum, 13.5 (p = 0.02)). The median percentage change of gallbladder counts
      during the observation period of 54 min in group 1 was 11.5% (from 19% filling to
      25% emptying). The corresponding figures in group 2 were 41% (from 2% to 91%
      emptying (p less than 0.05)). This difference was due to the difference in
      duration of lag periods, as the emptying rates measured from the end of the lag
      periods were equal. In conclusion, the onset of postprandial gallbladder emptying
      relates to the phase activity of the MMC at the time of ingestion.

PMID- 1439555
TI  - Antigliadin antibody, D-xylose, and cellobiose/mannitol permeability tests as
      indicators of mucosal damage in children with coeliac disease.
AB  - A dual sugar (cellobiose/mannitol) permeability test using an iso-osmolar
      solution was performed, to compare its ability to predict small-bowel mucosal
      damage in children affected by coeliac disease with the determination of serum
      levels of D-xylose and antigliadin antibody. Eighty-three children (67 on gluten
      containing diet and 16 on gluten-free diet) were investigated. The D-xylose and
      the serum antigliadin antibody test predicted accurately 70% and 78% of the small
      bowel biopsy results, respectively, whereas the cellobiose-mannitol permeability
      test predicted 93%. These data confirm the superiority of the permeability test
      over the D-xylose test, although the former cannot be advocated as a substitute
      for jejunal biopsy. Our results suggest a complementary use of the permeability
      test and the antigliadin antibody measurement as screening tests for coeliac
      disease before applying more invasive procedures.

PMID- 1439556
TI  - Long-term results after 'floppy' Nissen/Rossetti fundoplication for
      gastroesophageal reflux disease.
AB  - Eighty-two patients (median age, 51 years; range, 27-87 years) with refractory
      gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) underwent floppy Nissen/Rossetti
      fundoplication during the period 1980 to 1990. The median postoperative hospital
      stay was 5 days (3-16). Median follow-up was 72 months and included endoscopy and
      a clinical and a questionnaire assessment. Subjective symptoms of reflux were
      abolished in 98%, and 96% of the patients were satisfied with the results.
      Endoscopy showed healing of the esophagitis in 98%. There had been no disruption
      of the fundoplication. Twenty patients complained of gaseous distention and
      increased flatulence; only two of them had severe problems. Three patients were
      unable to belch. In conclusion, the floppy fundoplication has been an effective
      operation with no deaths, a low incidence of morbidity and adverse side effects,
      and without a tendency for late failure.

PMID- 1439557
TI  - Changes in the glutathione redox system during ischemia and reperfusion in rat
      liver.
AB  - After 60 min of reperfusion following 60 min of ischemia, the ischemia-induced
      decrease in liver tissue adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration had recovered
      by 66%, and full recovery of mitochondrial function--that is, the respiratory
      control index (RCI) and the rate of oxygen consumption in state-III respiration
      (ST III O2)--was observed. In contrast, liver tissue ATP concentration had
      recovered by only 13%, and marked low RCI and ST III O2 were observed after 60
      min of reperfusion following 180 min of ischemia. Intermediate results were
      observed in rats after 60 min of reperfusion following 120 min of ischemia. Liver
      tissue hypoxanthine and xanthine, substrates of xanthine oxidase, increased
      ischemic time dependently. Liver tissue concentrations of the reduced form of
      glutathione (GSH) and the oxidized form of glutathione (GSSG) and activities of
      glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase did not change after 60 min of
      reperfusion following 60 min of ischemia. In contrast, GSH concentration and
      glutathione peroxidase activity decreased significantly after 60 min of
      reperfusion following 180 min of ischemia. Since the glutathione redox system is
      an important contributor to the scavenging of free radicals after reperfusion
      following a long time of ischemia, the free radical scavenging ability might
      decrease in spite of enhancement of free radical generation, which might play an
      important role in the inhibition of the recovery of tissue ATP concentrations and
      mitochondrial function.

PMID- 1439558
TI  - Hypoxaemia and myocardial ischaemia during and after endoscopic
      cholangiopancreatography: call for further studies.
AB  - Sixteen non-selected patients undergoing endoscopic cholangiopancreatography
      (ERCP) after diazepam premedication were monitored for oxygen saturation (SpO2)
      with a pulse oximeter and for myocardial ischaemia with a Holter tape recorder
      from 2 h before ERCP to 6 h after the procedure. One patient was excluded from
      data analysis because of oxygen therapy. Oxygen saturation was significantly
      decreased (p less than 0.05) both during endoscopy and in the postendoscopy
      recovery period. Heart rate was significantly increased (p less than 0.05) both
      during and after the procedure. ST depression occurred in no patients before
      endoscopy, in 10 patients during, and in no patients after endoscopy. Concurrent
      ischaemia and episodic hypoxaemia were found in 5 patients, isolated ischaemia in
      7 patients, and isolated episodic hypoxaemia in 13 patients. Concurrent ischaemia
      and tachycardia were found in 10 patients, ischaemia without tachycardia in no
      patients, and isolated tachycardia in 1 patient. There was no significant
      correlation between diazepam dose and SpO2 during endoscopy. These results
      suggest tachycardia to be more important than hypoxaemia in the pathogenesis of
      myocardial ischaemia during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Cardioprotective
      measures other than oxygen therapy should soon be evaluated before the
      implications of the new standards of care in endoscopy have become generally
      adopted.

PMID- 1439559
TI  - Is the irritable gut an inflamed gut?
AB  - Recent advances in the field of neuroimmunology have provided clear
      demonstrations of i) the neuromodulation of immune function, and ii) the
      involvement of the immune system in responses induced by psychologic stress in
      animals and in man. This has led to speculation about the role of the immune
      system in psychosocial disease. The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is
      characterized by chronic gastrointestinal dysfunction, which may reflect in
      altered motility, epithelial function, or sensory perception in the gut. IBS is
      heterogeneous not only in terms of its clinical presentation but also in terms of
      its pathogenesis, and factors ranging from psychoneurotic behavior and emotional
      stress, to dietary fiber deficiency, food intolerance, and enteric infection have
      been implicated. There is evidence of an increase in the inflammatory cells
      present in the gut of some IBS patients and in an emerging literature that
      demonstrates the immunomodulation of the motor system of the gut. These findings
      invite speculation that the immune system may play a role in the pathogenesis and
      pathophysiology of at least a subpopulation of IBS patients.

PMID- 1439560
TI  - Idiopathic constipation: any movement?
AB  - Severe constipation now attracts considerable research interest. As a
      consequence, there have been recent advances in most aspects of this disorder.
      The epidemiology of this condition is now better appreciated, and subgroups of
      patients with different epidemiologies, symptom complexes, aetiologies, and
      treatments can now be distinguished. Radioisotopes enable detailed transit
      studies to be obtained of the entire gastrointestinal tract. Careful psychologic
      evaluation is an essential part of the evaluation. In young women with severe
      idiopathic constipation there is a decrease in propulsive mass movements, and
      specific colonic neurotransmitter abnormalities have been identified. Biofeedback
      therapy is an effective treatment for many of these patients. The variable
      results of surgery are now also clearly defined. Patients with chronic idiopathic
      intestinal pseudoobstruction can be categorized on the basis of their pathologic
      findings; detailed tissue studies may be required. The recognition that severe
      constipation encompasses various different conditions is leading to a more
      precise understanding of pathogenesis and treatment.

PMID- 1439561
TI  - Inflammatory bowel disease: medical therapy revisited.
AB  - The chronic or recurrent immunologic and inflammatory response in ulcerative
      colitis and Crohn's disease may be initiated from the gut lumen. Deviation of gut
      contents away from the inflamed area, bowel rest, or the use of liquid diets
      appears to benefit Crohn's disease. The relative effects of complete bowel rest,
      or an elemental, hydrolysed, or polymeric liquid diet have not yet been
      established. Measures to alter the lumenal bacterial flora, including
      antibiotics, require further study. The use of corticosteroid drugs can be
      improved by the use of poorly absorbed or rapidly metabolized compounds. Amino
      salicylates are effective in ulcerative colitis but require further study in
      Crohn's disease. Immunosuppressive drugs are valuable not only for a steroid
      sparing effect but also for control of chronic inflammation. New treatments
      designed to reduce inflammation are promising but will need to have high potency
      and an effect at the earliest stages of inflammation before a large number of
      different inflammatory mediators are released.

PMID- 1439562
TI  - Nutritional support in inflammatory bowel disease: current status and future
      directions.
AB  - Malnutrition is a frequent occurrence in patients with acute inflammatory bowel
      disease. Total nutritional support provided either parentally (TPN) or enterally
      (TEN) has been advocated not only as an adjunct for improving nutrition but also
      as primary therapy. For patients with acute Crohn's disease, short-term rates of
      remission after TEN are equivalent to TPN. Coupled with certain advantages when
      compared with TPN, including simpler administration, fewer side effects, and
      preservation of the intestinal mucosal barrier, TEN may therefore be the
      preferred route for nutrient delivery. Controlled trials indicate equivalent or
      superior efficacy when enteral polymeric diets are compared with elemental diets
      for inducing remission in acute Crohn's disease. Moreover, when provided as an
      elemental diet, TEN is as effective as corticosteroids for achieving remission in
      acute Crohn's disease, but corticosteroids appear to be more effective than
      polymeric diets. Although the provision of nutritional support rather than bowel
      rest is the major factor contributing to symptomatic improvement, the optimal
      nutrient composition and the precise mechanisms whereby nutritional support
      achieves clinical remission remain to be clarified. In contrast to Crohn's
      disease, nutritional support is not effective for achieving remission in patients
      with ulcerative colitis. Thus, enteral nutritional support is an effective
      therapy for the short-term management of acute Crohn's disease. Whether long-term
      remission is equivalent to treatment with drugs or surgery requires prospective
      evaluation. Future avenues of investigation also include defining the optimal
      nutrient composition and the underlying mechanisms that achieve maximal
      nutritional repletion, promote mucosal cell renewal, and potentially directly
      retard production of inflammatory mediators.

PMID- 1439563
TI  - Screening guidelines for colorectal cancer.
AB  - A review is given of methods and results of screening for colorectal cancer in
      average-risk and high-risk groups. Possible methods are digital rectal
      exploration, endoscopic examination, barium enemas, faecal occult blood tests,
      tumour markers like carcinoembryonic antigen, Ca-19-9, and others, and gene
      markers. Final results of large randomized population studies with faecal occult
      blood tests are expected within the next few years, but it will probably be
      necessary to add flexible sigmoidoscopy to achieve a major reduction in mortality
      from colorectal cancer in average-risk persons. Recommendations for screening in
      high-risk groups are proposed, but strong support for these guidelines are still
      missing, an exception being first-degree relatives of individuals with familial
      adenomatous polyposis; the other high-risk groups include members of hereditary
      non-polyposis colorectal cancer families, relatives of patients with sporadic
      colorectal cancer, patients with colorectal adenomas, patients with previous
      colorectal cancer, and patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

PMID- 1439564
TI  - Laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery.
AB  - The growth and scope of laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery are outstripping
      the ability of medical journals to print series and reports of experience, and
      much data remain anectodal and preliminary. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has
      become established, although, unfortunately, peroperative cholangiography has not
      yet become normal practice, despite convincing published evidence that it is
      likely to reduce the increased number of bile ducts that are damaged by
      laparoscopic surgeons. Imaging the bile ducts and the overall management of
      choledocholithiasis need re-evaluation, and the approach will change as more
      surgeons explore the bile ducts laparoscopically. Laparoscopic hiatal anti-reflux
      surgery will soon be routine, and a whole range of laparoscopically assisted
      operations on the oesophagus, colon, and rectum will become commonplace.
      Operations on the liver remain anecdotal. Throughout this rapid progress,
      surgeons must not forget the principles of (open) surgical practice, whilst
      carefully kept registers and regular audit of operations will provide new
      surgical standards.

PMID- 1439565
TI  - Trefoil peptide expression in intestinal adaptation and renewal.
AB  - There are many avenues where molecular biology is important in studying the gut,
      and here we explore methods for defining expression of a new gene family in the
      gut. We have defined the pattern of trefoil peptide gene expression in the
      ulceration-associated cell lineage (UACL) and in the nearby mucosa in Crohn's
      disease. In the UACL, human spasmolytic polypeptide mRNA and peptide are
      expressed in the acinar and proximal duct cells, whereas pS2 mRNA and peptide are
      found in the distal duct cells and in the surface cells. In adjacent mucosa, pS2
      mRNA and protein are expressed ectopically by goblet cells. Ultrastructural
      immunolocalisation showed the pS2 to be co-packaged in the mucous cell granules.
      pS2 peptide was demonstrated in local neuroendocrine cells and was also co
      packaged with the neuroendocrine granules. The crypts associated with the UACL
      also showed marked neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia. We have also cloned the
      newest trefoil peptide intestinal trefoil factor from human and rat intestinal
      mucosa and shown its co-expression with mucus by normal intestinal goblet cells.
      The co-packaging of the same secretory protein in both mucous and neuroendocrine
      granules, which have different functions, is unusual and indicates an important
      role for pS2 in the secretory process itself or as a ligand delivered to its
      receptor via multiple routes. We conclude that the trefoil peptides are widely
      distributed in the intestine in inflammatory bowel disease and are of
      considerable potential functional importance.

PMID- 1439566
TI  - New perspectives on acute pancreatitis.
AB  - The past decade has witnessed considerable changes in the clinical management of
      acute pancreatitis. Simultaneously, significant advances have been made in
      understanding the cellular and biochemical events involved in the initiation of
      this disease. This review summarizes recent clinical and scientific progress
      regarding acute pancreatitis and suggests areas for future investigation.

PMID- 1439567
TI  - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug gastropathy and cytoprotection: pathogenesis
      and mechanisms re-examined.
AB  - Gastric and intestinal injury induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
      (NSAIDs) is a common and expensive adverse effect of this class of drugs. While
      it is likely that inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by these agents is an
      important component of their ulcerogenic properties, the pathogenesis of NSAID
      gastropathy remains unclear. Likewise, the underlying mechanism for prostaglandin
      'cytoprotection' is not fully understood, although it is clear from recent
      clinical trials that prostaglandin analogues are an effective treatment to
      prevent NSAID gastropathy. In this paper the contribution of neutrophils to the
      mucosal damage induced by NSAIDs is discussed, as is the possibility that
      prostaglandins protect the gastrointestinal mucosa from NSAID-induced ulceration
      at least in part through inhibitory effects on neutrophil function.

PMID- 1439568
TI  - Primary biliary cirrhosis: new therapeutic directions.
AB  - The immunologic mechanisms responsible for the development of primary biliary
      cirrhosis (PBC) remain poorly defined, although recent investigations have
      provided new clues as to the role of cellular membrane proteins such as the
      mitochondrial autoantigens and intercellular adhesion molecules. Additionally,
      new therapeutic agents have become available that markedly enhance the prospect
      for medical management of both hepatic and extrahepatic manifestations of PBC.
      Definitive therapy with ursodeoxycholic acid and/or methotrexate, and symptomatic
      relief of pruritus with rifampicin or metronidazole may become standard in the
      years ahead. The results of their use to date in the treatment of PBC are
      detailed in this review. Successful therapy of hepatic osteodystrophy associated
      with PBC has yet to be achieved, although early data suggest a role for
      ursodeoxycholic acid, estrogen, calcium, and vitamin D in the management of this
      debilitating problem. Orthotopic liver transplantation continues to be successful
      for the management of advanced disease (greater than 70% 5-year survival) and
      will remain an essential therapeutic tool until definitive medical therapy for
      PBC becomes available.

PMID- 1439569
TI  - Hepatitis C: what progress?
AB  - The new serologic assay for hepatitis C has made it possible to identify patients
      infected with this agent and to better characterize their clinical illness and
      its sequelae. As the clinical entity has become better recognized, our
      understanding of the infectious process has also progressed. Hepatitis C is a
      chloroform-sensitive RNA virus, only 30-60 nm in diameter, containing a lipid
      coat. Both erythrocytes and plasma can transmit infection. The viral genome
      consists of single-stranded linear RNA of approximately 10 kilobases. The first
      serologic assay developed was a radioimmunoassay, followed shortly by an enzyme
      linked immunoassay. Secondary tests for specificity now exist. Blood donor
      populations may have a significant frequency of false positives on the antibody
      test, making it important that positive results be confirmed with a secondary
      assay. The antibody is only detected 2 months after infection, by means of
      currently available assays, and may not appear in many patients until 3 to 6
      months after infection. Hepatitis C infection is commonly chronic. This may lead
      to an asymptomatic chronic carrier state without demonstrable liver disease, or
      to chronic progressive or non-progressive hepatitis.

PMID- 1439570
TI  - Modern approach to alcoholic liver disease.
AB  - The pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease is unclear. The recent literature on
      pathogenic factors, including direct effects of ethanol and its proximate
      metabolite acetaldehyde, associated nutritional factors, the formation of
      acetaldehyde-protein adducts, associated immune alterations, and the potential
      for liver injury due to coexisting hepatitis virus infection, is highlighted. The
      therapy of patients with advanced alcoholic liver injury, especially alcoholic
      hepatitis, is also controversial. It seems reasonable that all patients should
      receive adequate nutrition even if parenteral or enteral supplementation is
      required. Corticosteroid administration may benefit those patients with alcoholic
      hepatitis who have coexisting spontaneous hepatic encephalopathy and no
      gastrointestinal bleeding. For patients with complications from end-stage
      alcoholic cirrhosis, liver transplantation should be considered, as the patient
      with alcoholic cirrhosis does as well after liver transplantation as those
      patients with other forms of end-stage liver disease.

PMID- 1439571
TI  - Issues in gastrointestinal endoscopy: oesophageal varices: inject, band,
      medicate, or operate.
AB  - Injection sclerotherapy is the most widely used definitive treatment of acute
      variceal bleeding and is increasingly performed at the time of the first
      emergency endoscopy. Direct endoscopic ligation of varices by banding is a new
      technique under evaluation for both acute bleeding varices and long-term
      management. Repeated injection sclerotherapy is one of the major options for long
      term management after variceal bleeding. More major surgical procedures are
      usually reserved for the failures of sclerotherapy in the management of acute
      variceal bleeding, whereas portosystemic shunts, particularly the distal
      splenorenal shunt, or an extensive devascularization and transection operation
      are commonly used alternative forms of therapy in long-term management. All
      patients with variceal bleeding should be assessed for liver transplantation,
      although only a few will ultimately receive a liver transplant. Medication with
      propranolol is widely recommended in long-term management, but its use in this
      context remains controversial. The most controversial area of management is
      prophylactic treatment before variceal bleeding. Major surgical procedures and
      injection sclerotherapy are not justified at present because it is difficult to
      identify those patients with a high likelihood of a first variceal bleed.
      Although medical therapy with propranolol has proved the most successful therapy
      to date, a case is made for treating most patients conservatively until their
      first variceal bleed occurs or until better predictive indices for patients at
      high risk of a first bleed are identified.

PMID- 1439572
TI  - Gallbladder stones--dissolve, blast, or extract? Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
      versus 'the rest'.
AB  - This article reviews selected aspects of the non-surgical/minimally invasive
      treatments of gallbladder stones (GBS) and discusses briefly the residual role of
      these treatments in the era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In patients with
      specific, gallstone-related symptoms who wish to retain their 'functioning'
      gallbladders, there are at least six different management options. They range
      from rapid but invasive to slow but safe: i) the rotary lithotrite; ii)
      percutaneous cholecystolithotomy; iii) percutaneous transhepatic or iv)
      endoscopic retrograde cannulation of the gallbladder followed by instillation
      (manual or pump-assisted) of contact solvents; v) extracorporeal shock-wave
      lithotripsy + adjuvant bile acids and; vi) oral bile acids alone. The recommended
      investigation sequence is i) ultrasound (to diagnose the presence of GBS),
      followed by ii) oral cholecystography (to assess cystic duct patency, gallbladder
      anatomy and GBS size, number, lucency, buoyancy, and contour), and iii) regional
      computed tomography scanning of the gallbladder (to predict stone composition and
      dissolvability and to plan routes of access to the gallbladder). The decision
      making steps are i) choice of some form of active treatment versus no treatment
      (other than observation); ii) in those with specific symptoms and a patent cystic
      duct who opt for active treatment, to choose between removing versus retaining
      the gallbladder; and iii) in those who wish to retain their 'functioning'
      gallbladder, to offer and select the most appropriate of the alternative options.
      In conclusion, despite the excellence of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, there
      remains a place for the non-surgical/minimally invasive approaches in a carefully
      selected minority of symptomatic GBS patients. Although GBS may recur in
      approximately 50% of patients, the recurrent stones are often asymptomatic, can
      be detected 'early' by follow-up ultrasound, and are easily treated. Ultimately,
      the aim of gallstone research must be to prevent not only recurrent but also
      primary GBS formation, which would obviate the need for both medical and surgical
      treatment.

PMID- 1439573
TI  - Endoscopic ultrasonography.
AB  - Endoscopic ultrasonography (ES) enables accurate imaging of the layering
      structures of the gastrointestinal tract. The equipment is still evolving but has
      already reached a high degree of sophistication. The most relevant clinical
      indications are the analysis of submucosal tumors, the imaging of intestinal
      vascular anomalies, and, especially, the staging of gastrointestinal and
      biliopancreatic malignancy and the monitoring of the therapeutic efficacy of
      surgery, Nd:Yag laser photodestruction, and radiotherapy.

PMID- 1439574
TI  - Laser therapy: more smoke than light?
AB  - Lasers have been used endoscopically in the management of gastrointestinal (GI)
      diseases for 15 years. Although the initial use was for therapy of GI bleeding,
      other more portable less expensive modalities have supplanted the laser in this
      area. Currently, its primary application is for therapy of GI neoplasms. If
      lasers are to be used with increased frequency, it will require that its unique
      property--selective absorption--be more of a focus than simply using it as a
      thermal device. Pigmented vascular lesions such as angioma or watermelon stomach
      are ideally suited for laser therapy using a wavelength preferentially absorbed
      by hemoglobin. The future use of lasers for gastrointestinal diseases--both
      diagnostically and therapeutically--will depend on taking advantage of this
      unique characteristic of laser light.

PMID- 1439575
TI  - Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs--the clinical dilemmas.
AB  - Physicians using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are concerned that
      effective anti-inflammatory doses cause few gastrointestinal side effects. Among
      the causes of discontinuing therapy, upper gastrointestinal symptoms and the
      development of 'ulcer' complications are major concerns; endoscopic findings in
      asymptomatic users are not. Initial symptoms, poorly correlated with endoscopic
      findings, are relieved by anti-ulcer drugs and ameliorate with time of NSAID use
      in most patients. Symptoms accompanied by epigastric tenderness, or unrelieved by
      H2 antagonists, or resulting in cessation of NSAID therapy are more predictive of
      underlying ulcers. Complications probably arise in several ways, including as
      hemorrhages due to interference with platelet function, and as complications due
      to exacerbations of underlying ulcer disease or of ulcers caused by the NSAIDs.
      Pathogenesis and effective prophylaxis (yet to be established) may therefore vary
      in different patients, a clinical dilemma.

PMID- 1439576
TI  - Infection and endoscopy: who infects whom?
AB  - Infection is one of the major hazards of endoscopic procedures and is the
      commonest complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP)
      causing death. Prevention of endoscopy-associated infections is based on adequate
      cleaning and disinfection regimens. Scrupulous mechanical cleaning is
      fundamental; even prolonged chemical disinfection will be ineffective if cleaning
      has not been adequate. Special measures are required to prevent ERCP-related
      infections. It is important to recognize various special circumstances that
      increase a patient's susceptibility to infection and to administer antibiotic
      prophylaxis when appropriate.

PMID- 1439577
TI  - Asleep on the job: sedation and monitoring during endoscopy.
AB  - Gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures are invasive and carry a significant
      morbidity and mortality, even for diagnostic procedures (mortality of 1 in 2000
      for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy). The commonest causes of death are
      cardiopulmonary complications, which may in part be related to sedative
      techniques. The clinical end-points for sedation need to be reappraised and
      should aim to induce amnesia rather than hypnosis. Endoscopists need to be
      familiar with the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the
      benzodiazepines used for sedation. This applies particularly to the protracted
      half-lives of some benzodiazepines and the major drug interaction with
      significant synergy that occurs if opioids are used in combination with
      benzodiazepines. Thus appropriate doses of these drugs should be administered.
      The use of supplemental oxygen and pulse oximetry, combined with continuous
      intravenous access during the procedure should be standard practice. Endoscopists
      should be aware of national guidelines for safe endoscopic practice.

PMID- 1439578
TI  - Antiphospholipid antibodies--new insights into their specificity and clinical
      importance.

PMID- 1439579
TI  - Effect of mucosal and systemic immunization with pneumococcal polysaccharide type
      3, 4 and 14 in the rat.
AB  - Four immunization routes were investigated to induce an immune response against
      three structurally different types of pneumoccoccal polysaccharide (PPS) in the
      rat. In particular, the contribution of the IgA isotype in these immune responses
      was studied. Six days after administration of PPS type 3, 4 or 14, the
      localization of specific antibody-containing cells (ACC) in different lymphoid
      tissues and the antibody titres in serum were studied. All four routes induced
      anti-PPS ACC in the spleen. After intraduodenal, intravenous and especially
      intraperitoneal administration of PPS, many IgA-specific anti-PPS ACC were also
      found in parathymic and mesenteric lymph nodes and in the lamina propria of
      intestinal tissue. Several anti-PPS ACC were found in Peyer's patches, located
      peripheral of the B-cell areas. The intratracheal immunization elicited only a
      local immune response, in bronchus-associated lymphoid tissues and paratracheal
      lymph nodes. The localization of these anti-PPS ACC was influenced by the route
      of immunization. After all four investigated routes, specific antibodies were
      found in serum against PPS. However, some remarkable differences between PPS-3, 4
      and 14 were found in the magnitude of the immune response and the distribution of
      the isotypes. Both route of immunization and structure of the PPS have a profound
      influence on the immune responses in rats.

PMID- 1439580
TI  - T-cell receptor V-gene usage in synovial fluid and synovial tissue from RA
      patients.
AB  - The question of whether there is a preferential use of certain V genes in T cells
      entering an inflamed joint has hitherto been studied mainly using unfractionated
      cells from synovial fluid and tissue respectively, and no clear answer to the
      question has yet been provided. Concomitantly, evidence has been provided that
      the use of V genes may differ considerably between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and
      consequently that detection of biased V-gene expression within an inflammatory
      lesion may require separate analysis of the two T-cell subsets. In this paper we
      have therefore studied T-cell receptor V-gene expression in rheumatoid arthritis
      by means of double stainings of synovial fluid and blood for available anti-TCR
      monoclonal antibodies and antibodies to CD4 and CD8, respectively. Double
      stainings were also performed with anti-TCR antibodies and antibodies to
      activation markers HLA-DR and IL-2R. A certain bias towards the preferential use
      of certain V genes was seen particularly in the synovial fluid samples within
      both the CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell populations, but no uniform pattern was evident
      among the 35 patients investigated.

PMID- 1439581
TI  - Isoelectrophoretic characterization of protein antigens present in mycobacterial
      culture filtrates and recognized by monoclonal antibodies directed against the
      Mycobacterium bovis BCG antigen 85 complex.
AB  - Nine monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) were produced against Mycobacterium bovis BCG
      antigen 85 complex. Using isoelectric focusing combined with Western (immunoblot)
      blot analysis, antigenically related proteins could be identified in culture
      filtrates from M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. Kansasii, M. avium, M. xenopi, M.
      gordonae, M. fortuitum, M. phlei and M. smegmatis. Most of the MoAbs were found
      to be broadly cross-reactive between the various mycobacterial species, albeit
      some minor differences were observed. These MoAbs reacted generally, in each
      species, with different components. One MoAb (VID1-14) was found to be
      specifically directed only against antigen 85B from M. bovis, M. tuberculosis and
      M. kansasii.

PMID- 1439582
TI  - Analysis of the genomic and derived protein structure of a novel human serum
      amyloid A gene, SAA4.
AB  - We have determined the structure of the novel SAA gene, SAA4. The gene is 6.2 kb
      in length and comprises three introns and four exons. Introns 2 and 3 are
      significantly longer than those of the other human SAA genes. We have sequenced
      the exons and junction fragments and have shown that the sequence is the same as
      c-SAA[1] and does not correspond to the pseudogene carried on GSAA4[2]. The
      predicted SAA4 protein sequence has an eight amino acid insertion relative to the
      other human SAA proteins and is more closely related to rabbit and mouse SAA
      proteins than to the other human SAA proteins, or to those of animal species
      which also possess an insertion. We have analysed the predicted SAA4 protein
      relative to the other human SAA proteins and have identified three important
      structural regions. We predict that region 1 of SAA4 represents a lipid binding
      domain. Region 2 forms an extensive, distinctive, hydrophobic beta sheet region
      in place of a helical region. In region 3, SAA4 is the only SAA protein having an
      alpha helix which is not amphipathic. We predict that the SAA4 protein retains a
      modified function of the conserved region, retains the Ca2+ binding site, has an
      amino terminal surface site and has a potentially distinct secretion pattern.
      Together, these differences indicate a distinct function from those of the other
      SAA proteins.

PMID- 1439583
TI  - The role of BCG/PPD-activated macrophages in resistance against systemic
      candidiasis in mice.
AB  - The main conclusions of this study are that BCG/PPD-activated macrophages, in
      contrast to macrophages from control mice, exhibit an increased PMA-induced
      production of H2O2, kill about one-third of the phagocytosed Candida albicans,
      and cause more than 50% inhibition of the intracellular formation of germ tubes
      by C. albicans. Peritoneal macrophages from mice that were colonized post-natally
      with C. albicans do not show increased production of H2O2 upon stimulation with
      PMA and the intracellular outgrowth of germ tubes is inhibited to only a limited
      degree. These macrophages are capable of killing about 20% of the ingested C.
      albicans. In vivo, the number of Candida in the kidney, spleen and liver after
      intravenous injection of Candida albicans is significantly lower in BCG-treated
      mice than in control mice. Post-natal colonization with C. albicans has only a
      limited effect on the outgrowth of intravenously injected C. albicans in the
      spleen and liver but does not influence growth in the kidney. These results
      indicate that acquired immunity against a systemic Candida infection involves
      both oxidative and non-oxidative mechanisms of intracellular killing and that
      these mechanisms may have different effects on the yeast and hyphal forms of C.
      albicans.

PMID- 1439584
TI  - The effect of disodium cromoglycate on in vitro proliferation of peripheral blood
      mononuclear cells from allergic and healthy donors.
AB  - The effect of disodium cromoglycate on in vitro proliferative responses of
      peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy individuals, allergic patients
      with moderate serum IgE and patients with atopic dermatitis and high levels of
      serum IgE was investigated. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated
      with mitogens (phytohaemagglutinin, Concanavalin A), recombinant interleukin-2,
      calcium ionophore + phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, purified protein derivative
      of tuberculin and allergens. It was possible to induce in vitro specific,
      allergen-triggered responses only in allergic individuals with moderate serum IgE
      and not in individuals with atopic dermatitis and high serum IgE. Generally,
      whenever the stimulatory signal(s) caused a significant proliferative response,
      disodium cromoglycate inhibited the proliferation. This inhibition was seen for
      all activation agents and for both healthy and allergic individuals. By contrast,
      for certain non- or low-responders (both healthy and allergic individuals)
      disodium cromoglycate seemed to amplify the proliferation to various activation
      signals. Only non- or low-responder cells derived from atopic dermatitis patients
      showed a biphasic kinetic response pattern when stimulated with the drug in
      combination with recombinant interleukin-2, recombinant interleukin-2 + ionophore
      or specific allergens.

PMID- 1439585
TI  - Antigen-activated T cells inhibit cartilage proteoglycan synthesis independently
      of T-cell proliferation.
AB  - Previously we have shown that blood mononuclear cells (MNC) obtained from
      patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have the capacity to induce depletion of
      proteoglycans (PG) in human cartilage explants. This was observed especially
      after stimulating MNC with mycobacterial antigens, rather than with the mitogen
      Concanavalin A (Con A). We have now co-cultured cartilage explants in the
      presence of T-cell clone A2b obtained from the rat model of adjuvant arthritis
      (AA). We show that inhibition of the cartilage PG synthesis is a consequence of
      antigen-specific T-cell activation and that it is mediated by a humoral factor.
      This seems to be a cytokine rather than an enzyme. Moreover, at the level of
      polyclonally responding T cells, inhibition of PG synthesis due to T-cell
      activation by mycobacterial antigens was shown to depend on prior mycobacterial
      immunization. Arthritogenic T-cell clone A2b also showed PG synthesis inhibitory
      effects when co-cultured with cartilage alone. The inhibitory activity was shown
      to be unrelated to the degree of T-cell proliferation. We conclude that antigen
      specific T-cell activation may be one of the initiating events leading to
      cartilage damage in arthritic processes. The measurement of T-cell-mediated PG
      synthesis inhibition may be a more sensitive and relevant assay for the detection
      of pathogenic T cells than T-cell proliferation.

PMID- 1439586
TI  - OKT3-induced cytokine mRNA expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells
      measured by polymerase chain reaction.
AB  - The kinetic profile of cytokine gene expression in normal human peripheral
      mononuclear cells (MNC) activated by an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody was studied.
      The presence or absence of 10 different cytokine mRNA were measured in a
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assisted mRNA amplification assay. After 2 h of
      stimulation the mRNA for interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), interleukin-2 (IL-2),
      interleukin-3 (IL-3), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon
      gamma (IFN-gamma) were detectable and remained present during the whole time
      period studied (22 h). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and granulocyte macrophage colony
      stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were detected after 4 h, while interleukin-10 (IL-10)
      mRNA did not appear until after 7 h; they all remained expressed at 22 h. A
      transient expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4) mRNA was observed between 4 and 7 h
      of stimulation. No gene expression of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G
      CSF) was detected at any time. These results show that anti-CD3 stimulation of
      MNC leads to a rapid sequential induction of different cytokine mRNA, some with a
      very transient expression.

PMID- 1439587
TI  - [Pathomorphology of damaged cerebral microcirculation after global ischemia in
      the dog. Study of the cortical ectosylvian rostral gyrus].
AB  - Pathological-morphological changes in the brain microcirculatory blood vessel in
      dog after global brain ischemia have been evaluated qualitatively. In series of
      cut sections thick 200 microns dyed with benzidine, a marked microthrombotization
      of the brain capillaries without vasostasis as well as cylindrical microthrombi
      and microthrombi with vasostasis were observed. The described light microscopic
      angioarchitectonic findings account for the phenomenon of vasomotoric paralysis.

PMID- 1439588
TI  - [A model of mild spinal cord injury in rats--dynamics of changes in motor
      function].
AB  - Authors proceeded by performing compressive spinal traumas of variable intensity
      in 21 rats at lower thoracic level over an intact dura. The deficit of hind limbs
      motor functions was evaluated simultaneously with the two tests as follows: a) in
      observing the gait of an animal along with graduation in accord with modified
      Tarlov's classification, b) with the method of inclined plane. The
      reproducibility of injuries of various intensity appeared to be imperfect. Five
      animals with severe injury died up to 4 weeks (Fig. 4, 5). The remainder of them
      showed substantial approval (mild injury--Fig. 6-13). The dynamics of motor
      disorder showed changes up to 6 weeks, after then the state persisted unchanged
      up to 2 months. Within this survival interval, rats were killed either in the
      state of mild paresis or even under regained normal condition. It outflowed from
      our study that a long term monitoring of postinjury spinal cord function is
      important in order not to ascribe possible approval of the functions to the
      therapy applied. Further on course of disorder can be predicted in accordance
      with duration of initial paraplegia. The post-surgery paraplegia had lasted for
      only several hours in the animals whose injuries resulted in a normal condition.

PMID- 1439589
TI  - [Non-contact experimental burns in rats].
AB  - Both healthy female rats of the Wistar strain (VELAZ breed) and those irradiated
      with a single whole-body dose of 5 Gy gamma radiation (60Co) were exposed on the
      back to non-contact infrared radiation (IR lamp with an output of 250 W: skin
      surface temperature at a distance of 3 cm from the crown of the lamp = magnitude
      of 110 +/- 2 degrees C) for time periods of 40 s, 20 s, 10 s (healthy) and 20 s
      (irradiated animals). The surface range of thermic damage to the skin was
      determined using planimetry and measuring the length and the width of the burn
      with the respect to an immediate contraction. The mean values of an immediate
      retraction of the burnt skin and the interval of reliability of their estimate (p
      < 0.05) were significantly lower in 10 s exposure and in whole-body irradiation
      rats after 20 s (magnitude of 5.6 +/- 2.5 % ... 10 s; magnitude of 12.56 +/- 3.86
      % ... in irradiated animals) than the retraction of non-irradiated rats
      (magnitude of 15.98 +/- 4.86 % ... in 20 s; magnitude of 31.88 +/- 7.34 % ... in
      40 s). For a period of 90 min after burning, no substantial changes were found in
      rectal temperature (33.4 degrees C to 35.4 degrees C). Before a thermic trauma
      the drop in the temperature from the skin surface reached cca 2 degrees C
      subcutaneously, after burning in the centre of the burn about 17 degrees C and 9
      degrees C in other exposures using the IR lamp. The mean time of burn healing in
      non-irradiated animals was the shortest in 10 s exposure (magnitude of 17 +/- 2
      days), the damage in the centre reaching II b degree while after 40 s exposure
      the burn reached IV degree and also the longest healing time (magnitude of 60 +/-
      4 days). After 20 s exposure, the mean healing times in irradiated rats were
      longer (magnitude of 39 +/- 3) days and so the skin damage (III to IV degree) as
      compared with non-irradiated animals where the mean healing time amounted to (34
      +/- 4) days, the burns being of III degree.

PMID- 1439590
TI  - [Induced cell fusion in a heteroploid cell line].
AB  - Non-uniformity in properties of the cells within the stabilized heterocaryonic
      line is certified by the decrease in capacity of the cells to fuse together after
      repeated influence of polyethylene glycol. Multiple and large polycaryonic
      formations resulting from primary administration of fusogen are relatively rapid
      in extinction. The cells having been survived after repeated administration of
      polyethylene glycol appear to fuse predominantly into less extended
      polycaryocytes with smaller multiplicity. This fact may be a consequence of the
      selection of a portion of non-uniform cell population being more susceptible to
      this fusogen. Those concerned are probably the cells rather different in surface
      qualities and/or adjacent parts of cytoskeleton.

PMID- 1439591
TI  - [The therapeutic effect of diazepam in dichlorvos poisoning].
AB  - In order to study the influence of diazepam on both cholinergistic and non
      cholinergistic (stressogenic) effects of phosphororganic insecticide dichlorovos,
      both the activity of cholinesterase in selected organs and blood as well as
      biochemical markers of stress (plasma corticosterone, tyrosine aminotransferase
      activity in the liver) have been applied. Comparing the course of diazepam
      treated and untreated dichlorovos intoxication, cholinesterases showed greater
      increase in inhibition in the first case. There was smaller decrease in activity
      of acetylcholinesterase in CNS and diaphragm compared with untreated
      intoxication. Although the changes of plasma corticosterone level were entirely
      corresponding to those of untreated intoxication, there was still greater
      increase in activity of tyrosine aminotransferase when compared with untreated
      intoxication. A marked increase in activity of tyrosine aminotransferase is more
      convenient for an intoxicated organism, because tyrosine aminotransferase
      stimulates gluconeogenesis. Even in absence of a complete elimination of
      cholinergistic and stressogenic effects of dichlorovos, diazepam, as a drug,
      influenced markedly their course. Thus its significance of component of a
      complexive atropine-oxime therapy of the intoxication with organophosphates
      appears to be undiscussible and wider than stressed usually.

PMID- 1439592
TI  - [Literature findings and suggestions for modification of the fluorometric method
      for determination of n-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase in urine].
AB  - Literature data are summarized on the determination of N-acetyl-beta-D
      glucosaminidase (NAG) in human urea. Based on these data, the modified
      determination of NAG activity in urea has been worked out. The latter consists in
      selection of suitable conditions for providing enzyme reaction and conditioning
      the area sample used to determine the NAG activity.

PMID- 1439593
TI  - [Evaluation of the kinetics of the left ventricular wall using the Cardio 200
      computer].
AB  - The WALLMO program was used in comparing normal kinetic values of left ventricle
      wall with those obtained from control patients and literature sources. Authors
      concluded that, when based on the original data for RAO projection, the
      evaluation of regional LV wall contractility gives erroneous results in
      estimating whether a given section is normo- hypo- or hyperkinetic. Therefore,
      the set of normal kinetic values of LV motion has been formed for individual
      numbers of radials. This set may be used also at other working sites.

PMID- 1439594
TI  - [The carcinogenicity of gasoline (review of the literature)].
AB  - In accord with new findings, the gasoline is no more believed to be free of
      cancerogenic risk. Renal tumours in male rats and those of liver in murine
      females had been described also after inhalatory exposure to unleaded gasoline. A
      reliable epidemiological study in occupationally gasoline exposed humans is still
      not available (higher rate of tumours in workers of chemical petrol processing
      industry due to the influence of gasoline appears to be an indirect proof,
      because apart from gasoline also other substances are involved simultaneously).
      With regard to a mechanism of action, those first published have been the
      negative results of testing for chromosomal abnormalities and bacterial genetic
      mutations. However, the mutagenicity was proved further on molecular level with
      the use of appropriate tests (e. g. induction of DNA repair synthesis). Certain
      authors ascribe more importance to the promotional rather than initiational
      effect of gasoline. However, the former is not accentuated by the IARC. Further
      studies should be predominantly based on molecular genetic approaches and
      epidemiological studies.

PMID- 1439595
TI  - [Comparison of the quality of diagnostic approaches using the characteristic
      (ROC) curve test].
AB  - The method is described to compare the quality of two diagnostic approaches as
      based on comparing surfaces under the ROC test curve. Apart from small
      deviations, this method may be applied on independent samples and paired
      observations carried on identical individuals. Experimental data are issued from
      comparing two methods of prediction of the survival in dogs on the radiobiologic
      experiment.

PMID- 1439596
TI  - Nocturnal enuresis. A new strategy for treatment against a physiological
      background.

PMID- 1439597
TI  - Clinical background of patients treated with clean intermittent catheterization
      in Norway.
AB  - This study reports on the use of clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) in
      Norway in 1988/89. A total of 407 adult out-patients was studied. CIC was used in
      all age-groups and equally in both sex. The patients were divided into five
      diagnostic groups. There were twice as many patients suffering from neurogenic
      diseases as non-neurogenic ones. A neurourological index was constructed based on
      neurological examination and urodynamic data giving a good differentiation and
      expression of the bladder affection. It appeared that CIC could be performed even
      by highly disabled persons. A statistically significant correlation was found
      between the neuro-urological results in patients with decompensated bladder and
      their over all disability.

PMID- 1439598
TI  - Autotransposition of vas in a 2-stage procedure. An experimental study in the
      rat.
AB  - The patency rate of vasovasostomy in autotransposed vas has been studied using a
      technique set up in a rat model. In a two-stage procedure, 1 cm of the vas
      deferens was transposed to the opposite side. The anastomoses were performed with
      a simplified microsurgical suturing technique. On final examination, 9 of 15 rats
      operated upon showed good sperm passage over the transposed vas segment. Sperm
      granulomas were recorded in four of fifteen cases. Sperm antibodies were
      demonstrated in eight of fifteen cases.

PMID- 1439600
TI  - The muscularis mucosae of the human urinary bladder. Implications for tumor
      staging on biopsies.
AB  - The human urinary bladder wall is traditionally described as being without a
      muscularis mucosae. A consecutive one year material of 772 bladder biopsies from
      171 patients were examined for the proposed presence of lamina muscularis mucosae
      (MM). MM was observed in 15% of the biopsies and in 35% of the patients and
      graded into three patterns according to its continuity. Biopsies with
      transitional cell carcinomas were reviewed in order to find out whether MM
      positive biopsies had been staged correctly. The data are discussed in relation
      to earlier studies on the subject.

PMID- 1439599
TI  - Radical retropubic prostatectomy: our experience with the first 54 patients.
AB  - Complications were analysed in a contemporary series of the first 54 retropubic
      radical prostatectomies performed for carcinoma of the prostate at our
      Institution. The postoperative morbidity was notable; three life threatening and
      ten minor complications occurred within the first 30 postoperative days. Thus,
      more than 1 year after the operations 7 patients had severe stress incontinence
      and 17 noticed minor degree of incontinence. Twenty-six per cent of the patients
      who claimed to be potent before surgery maintained potency. The operative time
      averaged 195 min and the demand for transfusions averaged 2.98 units per patient.
      Our experience in this early series of radical prostatectomy is that the
      operation cannot be done without notable postoperative morbidity.

PMID- 1439601
TI  - Cost effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and percutaneous
      nephrolithotomy for medium-sized kidney stones. A randomised clinical trial.
AB  - To evaluate percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) and extracorporeal shock wave
      lithotripsy (ESWL) for their clinical effects, their cost effectiveness, their
      complication rates, and the patients' experiences, 55 consecutive patients were
      randomised to have one or other operation between October 1986 and October 1988.
      Six patients were excluded, 21 were treated with PNL and 28 with ESWL as primary
      treatment. Mean hospital stay and length of treatment were longer for PNL than
      for ESWL. Since 1 July 1987 all patients having ESWL have been treated without
      anaesthesia (n = 15), whereas epidural anaesthesia was used for all PNL. Slightly
      more of the ESWL patients experienced some pain during treatment. Minor
      complications or pain were more common after ESWL during the first 10 days after
      discharge from hospital. If patients with stone fragments of 4 mm or less were
      regarded as having a successful outcome, the success rates after one year were
      94% for PNL and 77% for ESWL. The overall total cost was lower for ESWL than for
      PNL, the cost per successfully treated patient being 2172 pounds for PNL and 1810
      pounds for ESWL. Medium sized kidney stones (6-30 mm, or 2-3 stones of 20 mm or
      less) can be efficiently and cheaply treated by both PNL and ESWL, though the
      cost of ESWL is lower. Even if effects other than cost (such as complications and
      patients' experience) are borne in mind, ESWL was superior to PNL for this group
      of patients.

PMID- 1439602
TI  - Technique of renal biopsy by ultrasound guided percutaneous puncture with a
      spring loaded "gun".
AB  - The study consisted of 89 consecutive patients (mean age = 41.5, range = 16-82,
      64 men, 25 women) referred for renal biopsy because of clinical suspicion of
      renal parenchymal disease. Neither transplant kidneys nor tumour evaluation were
      included. A biopsy "gun" (Biopty) and 14 (2.0 mm) and 18 (1.2 mm) gauge needles
      were used with ultrasound guidance. Sixtyseven renal biopsies were guided using a
      freehand technique 42 using a fixed angle guide attachment. The mean glomerular
      yield was 9.4 glomeruli. Almost 25% of the 18 gauge needle biopsies (n = 57) had
      to be repeated and 29.3% of the 14 gauge needle biopsies (n = 75). The yield
      difference was not statistically significant (Chi-squared = 0.37, p = 0.54).
      There was no statistically significant difference between the distributions of
      failure to obtain a significant material for evaluation caused by the biopsy
      technique used (Chi-squared = 0.08, p = 0.78). When analysing cases of single
      successful pass the thinner needle produced 6.7 glomeruli (n = 36, SD = 5.08) and
      the thicker needle 13.8 glomeruli (n = 18, SD = 6.82). No serious complications
      occurred.

PMID- 1439603
TI  - Microalbuminuria in obesity.
AB  - Albumin excretion rate, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and kidney volume in
      obese patients and normal-weight controls were compared with body mass index
      (weight (kg)/height2 (m)) in 17 subjects. Body mass index varied from 21.5 to
      48.0, the albumin excretion rate from 2.8 to 17.8 micrograms/min, and the kidney
      volume from 238 to 468 ml. Body mass index correlated significantly with albumin
      excretion rate and with kidney volume (p < 0.01), but not with the GFR. Neither
      the body mass index nor the albumin excretion rate showed any correlation with
      blood pressure. Albumin excretion rate in obese subjects could be as good an
      early predictor of complications as it is in patients with diabetes mellitus, and
      in the elderly.

PMID- 1439604
TI  - Pretransplant parathyroidectomy in renal failure: effects on bone histology and
      aluminum deposits during dialysis and after kidney transplantation.
AB  - Using repeat bone biopsies, we studied whether 1) subtotal parathyroidectomy
      (PTX) enhances aluminum (Al) deposition in bone and 2) whether pretransplant PTX
      affects Al removal from bone after kidney transplantation. Twenty-four kidney
      graft recipients, 10 subjected to PTX 9-44 months prior to transplantation and 14
      controls matched for dialysis duration, had bone biopsies taken at
      transplantation. Serum calcium and parathyroid hormone levels had decreased after
      PTX in all 10. At transplantation, eroded bone surface was lower in PTX
      recipients, while extent of Al-stained bone surface and prevalence of symptomatic
      Al-related bone disease were similar in both groups (PTX: 2/10; non-PTX: 4/14).
      Hence, PTX did not enhance accumulation of stainable bone Al nor increase
      prevalence of clinical bone disease during dialysis. Fourteen (7 PTX) recipients
      with functioning grafts had a second biopsy 12 months after transplantation.
      Symptomatic Al-related bone disease was cured regardless of pretransplant PTX,
      and Al-stained surface had decreased in all but one (PTX) recipient.

PMID- 1439605
TI  - The impact of total unilateral ureteral obstruction on intrarenal angiotensin II
      production in the polycalyceal pig kidney.
AB  - Nine pigs with unilateral complete ureteral obstruction were investigated for 15
      hours. Obstruction of the ureter resulted in a maximum intrapelvic pressure of 60
      cmH2O within the first hour after obstruction, and a gradual decline to 40 cmH2O
      during the next 15 hours. In 6 pigs both renal veins were catheterized together
      with the abdominal aorta allowing measurement of the hormonal difference over the
      kidney. Plasma angiotensin II, plasma vasopressin and plasma atrial natriuretic
      peptide concentrations were determined. Arterial concentration of plasma
      angiotensin II gradually increased from 38.7 pg/ml to 252.3 pg/ml. The highest
      concentrations of angiotensin II were found from the ipsilateral renal vein. From
      1 hour after obstruction and onward there was a negative extraction ratio of
      angiotensin II from the ipsilateral kidney indicating enhanced intrarenal
      generation of angiotensin II. No difference in vasopressin was found among the
      sample sites, but a significant reduction in vasopressin from 15.2 pg/ml to 4.9
      pg/ml was found from the ipsilateral renal vein during the 15 hours of unilateral
      ureteral obstruction. Arterial atrial natriuretic peptide concentrations were
      higher than renal venous levels at all times. Glomerular filtration was
      immediately reduced to 58%. It is suggested that an increased ipsilateral
      generation of intrarenal angiotensin II is at least partly responsible for some
      of the changes in kidney function during acute obstruction.

PMID- 1439606
TI  - Testicular and cardiac amyloidosis. Case report.

PMID- 1439607
TI  - Bilateral epididymal sarcoidosis. Case report.
AB  - A 59-year-old man presented with a four-month history of almost painless
      bilateral scrotal swellings. Histological examination of a biopsy specimen
      confirmed sarcoidosis. He was well two months later, the mass had not increased,
      and he was receiving no treatment. This is the nineteenth reported case to our
      knowledge, and the eighth with bilateral disease.

PMID- 1439608
TI  - Septic arthritis of the hip complicating Salmonella psoas abscess. Case report.

PMID- 1439609
TI  - Uretero-iliac fistula--a rare cause of hematuria. Case report.
AB  - Fistulation between the ureter and iliac artery is a rare cause of hematuria.
      Like our case, most of the cases reported so far, originate from traumatic or
      iatrogenic lesions. This condition should be considered in patients with massive
      hematuria and underlying predisposing factors.

PMID- 1439610
TI  - Changes in renal function during the development of hypertension and effects of
      antihypertensive treatment. A case report.
AB  - Renal function was serially investigated during the development of hypertension
      in a 12.8-year-old girl with chronic glomerulonephritis. Clearances of inulin
      (CIn) and para-aminohippuric acid (CPAH), filtration fraction, and sodium
      excretion were measured during hydropenia and isotonic saline volume expansion.
      Blood pressure was initially labile, but after a few years fixed hypertension
      developed, and antihypertensive treatment with propranolol was started. During
      the early stages of hypertension, the filtration fraction during hydropenia was
      reduced, but the natriuresis during volume expansion was normal. When the
      hypertension was fixed, glomerular filtration rate, CPAH, and filtration fraction
      were normal, but the natriuresis was exaggerated. Antihypertensive treatment only
      partially corrected the natriuresis.

PMID- 1439611
TI  - Phaeochromocytoma--an unusual cause of haematuria.
AB  - A patient was admitted to hospital because of haematuria. A papillomatous bladder
      tumor was removed. Histological examination revealed a phaeochromocytoma.
      Fourteen days postoperatively the urinary excretion rates of catecholamines were
      elevated but normalized afterwards. Abdominal computed tomography and
      metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy were normal. No hypertension or
      characteristic micturitional attacks preceded removal of the tumor.

PMID- 1439612
TI  - Diagnostic criteria in schizophrenia: accentuate the positive.
AB  - In a recent article, Andreasen and Flaum (Schizophrenia Bulletin, Vol. 17, No. 1,
      1991) argued that greater emphasis should be placed on negative symptoms in the
      diagnosis of schizophrenia, leading to a less important role for positive
      symptoms. This article presents a counter-argument to this view. Positive
      symptoms are common and reliable and therefore highly useful diagnostically.
      First-rank symptoms, although not specific to schizophrenia, show good
      discriminability. No other type of symptom or investigative method can make such
      claims to usefulness. Although positive symptoms do not predict outcome, this is
      not a necessary function of diagnostic criteria. The predictive power of negative
      symptoms is, in any case, based largely on studies of patients with chronic
      disorder. Premorbidly impaired social development may interact with
      schizophrenia, worsening the prognosis. We believe positive symptoms have always
      been the essence of psychiatric disorder and should remain so. Increasing the
      diagnostic weight given to negative symptoms risks restricting the definition of
      schizophrenia excessively.

PMID- 1439613
TI  - Clinical services research.

PMID- 1439614
TI  - Service systems research.

PMID- 1439615
TI  - Research resources.

PMID- 1439616
TI  - Disorder of attention in individuals with schizotypal personality.
AB  - This study was designed to examine disorder of switching attention in normal
      individuals with schizotypal personality. High scorers on the physical anhedonia
      (PA) and schizophrenism (SZ) scales of a questionnaire constructed to measure
      schizotypy were compared with a group of control subjects. A reaction time test
      was used that required switching attention across or between auditory and visual
      modalities. It was found that the high PA scores and the high SZ scorers showed a
      deficit of shifting attention across modalities compared with the control
      subjects.

PMID- 1439617
TI  - First person account: my schizophrenia.

PMID- 1439618
TI  - The Tampere Longitudinal Study on Ageing. Description of the study. Basic results
      on health and functional ability.

PMID- 1439619
TI  - Occupational causes of some rare cancers. A literature review.

PMID- 1439620
TI  - The efficacy of Arthrotec in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
AB  - In a double-blind study, 455 patients with osteoarthritis were randomly assigned
      to receive a combination of Arthrotec, 50 mg of diclofenac and 200 micrograms of
      misoprostol, or 50 mg of diclofenac; the drugs were given two or three times
      daily for 4 weeks. At weeks 2 and 4 of treatment, no significant differences
      between the treatment groups were noted in changes from baseline on the
      physicians' and patients' global assessment of osteoarthritis. On a measure of
      arthritis severity, patients with both arthritis of the hip and knee showed
      improvement from week 2 to week 4, with no significant differences between
      treatment groups.

PMID- 1439621
TI  - The safety of Arthrotec in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis:
      an assessment of the upper gastrointestinal tract by endoscopy.
AB  - Two double-blind comparative studies were conducted to determine the upper
      gastrointestinal safety of Arthrotec, a combination of 50 mg of diclofenac and
      200 micrograms of misoprostol versus 50 mg of diclofenac. In one study,
      rheumatoid arthritis patients were randomly given Arthrotec or diclofenac 2 or 3
      times daily for 12 weeks. Endoscopy was performed before and after treatment. At
      the termination of treatment, among the 290 patients with rheumatoid arthritis,
      gastroduodenal ulcers were found in 4% of the Arthrotec-treated patients and in
      11% of the diclofenac-treated patients (P = 0.034). In the second study,
      osteoarthritis patients were randomly given Arthrotec or diclofenac 2 or 3 times
      daily for 4 weeks. Endoscopy was performed before and after treatment. Among the
      329 patients with osteoarthritis, gastroduodenal ulcers were found in none of the
      Arthrotec patients and in 4% of the diclofenac patients (P = 0.015).

PMID- 1439622
TI  - Overall safety of Arthrotec.
AB  - Data from four double-blind studies of the treatment of patients with rheumatoid
      arthritis or osteoarthritis were combined. For 4 to 12 weeks, 747 patients
      received Arthrotec, a combination of 50 mg of diclofenac and 200 micrograms of
      misoprostol, and 754 patients received 50 mg of diclofenac; the drugs were given
      twice or three times daily. The five most commonly reported adverse events were
      abdominal pain by 23.2% of the diclofenac/misoprostol patients and 19.8% of the
      diclofenac patients; diarrhea by 19.9% and 11.3%; nausea by 11.8% and 6.5%;
      dyspepsia by 11.2% and 7.8%; and flatulence by 8.0% and 3.1%. Other adverse
      events, reported by similar proportions of both treatment groups, included
      headache, gastritis, dizziness, vomiting, and constipation. In the
      diclofenac/misoprostol-treated patients, the abdominal pain and diarrhea were
      rated mild in 30.6% and 24.3%, moderate in 49.1% and 51.4%, and severe in 20.2%
      and 24.3%. Serious adverse events occurred in eight of the diclofenac/misoprostol
      treated patients and in 13 of the diclofenac-treated patients; 12.6% and 10.1%,
      respectively, were withdrawn from the study because of adverse events. Results of
      laboratory tests of hepatic and renal function were similar in the two treatment
      groups.

PMID- 1439623
TI  - Biopharmaceutical profile of diclofenac-misoprostol combination tablet,
      Arthrotec.
AB  - Arthrotec, a combination tablet has been developed that contains 50 mg of
      diclofenac in an inner core and 200 micrograms of misoprostol in an outer mantle.
      Both diclofenac and misoprostol are extensively absorbed and their maximum plasma
      concentrations, but not total availability, are diminished when taken with food.
      Both drugs have elimination half-lives of less than 2 hours and do not accumulate
      in plasma after recommended doses. Pharmacokinetic and bioavailability studies of
      the combination product taken separately and together reveal a high between- and
      within-subject variability in plasma diclofenac levels, especially when the
      enteric-coated tablets were given after food; reliable values for peak plasma
      diclofenac concentration could not be ascertained. No pharmacokinetic
      interactions between diclofenac and misoprostol were apparent. The
      bioavailability of diclofenac and misoprostol from the combination tablet was
      similar to that seen when the two drugs are given separately.

PMID- 1439624
TI  - The economic consequences of NSAID-induced gastropathy: the French context.
AB  - The costs of treating gastroduodenal ulcers caused by nonsteroidal anti
      inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are shown to increase the total cost of NSAID
      treatment to the Assurance-Maladie, the French national health insurance system.
      This increased cost is termed the iatrogenic cost factor, and is defined as the
      ratio of the shadow price of an NSAID to its reimbursed cost. The shadow price is
      calculated from estimates of the incidence of NSAID-induced gastropathies, the
      cost of the drug, and the hospital and ambulatory costs of treating the
      gastropathies. The resulting iatrogenic cost factors are estimated as 1.36 for
      naproxen, 1.48 for sulindac, 1.65 for diclofenac, 1.67 for piroxicam, 2.00 for
      ketoprofen, and 2.12 for etodolac.

PMID- 1439625
TI  - Anti-inflammatory efficacy versus gastrointestinal safety: a dilemma resolved?
      Introduction.

PMID- 1439626
TI  - The economic consequences of NSAID-induced gastropathy in the United Kingdom and
      commentary on the article by G. de Pouvourville.
AB  - The iatrogenic cost factor of treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
      (NSAIDs) is defined as the increase in cost resulting from NSAID-induced
      gastroduodenal ulcers. The iatrogenic cost factor of NSAIDs for the National
      Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom was calculated using the model of de
      Pouvourville (1992). The cost factor is defined as the ratio of the shadow price
      of the NSAID to the NHS price. The shadow price is calculated from the incidence
      of NSAID-induced gastroduodenal ulcers and the costs of treating them and the
      price of the drugs. The NHS iatrogenic cost factors of 10 NSAIDs were similar to
      those calculated by de Pouvourville for the French national health insurance
      system, Assurance-Maladie, and ranged from 1.08 for diclofenac/misoprostol to
      2.38 for ibuprofen.

PMID- 1439627
TI  - Efficacy of Arthrotec in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - In a double-blind study, 346 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were
      randomly assigned to receive Arthrotec, a combination of 50 mg of diclofenac and
      200 *g of misoprostol, or 50 mg of diclofenac; the drugs were given two or three
      times daily for 12 weeks. At weeks 4, 8, and 12 of treatment, no clinically
      significant differences between the two treatment groups were noted on measures
      of joint tenderness, pain, and swelling or on physicians' and patients'
      assessments of disease severity.

PMID- 1439628
TI  - Endothelial cell destruction by polymorphonuclear leukocytes incubated with sera
      from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
AB  - When normal polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were incubated with sera from
      patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a significantly
      increased cytotoxicity against human cultured vascular endothelial cells (EC),
      compared with normal control sera, was demonstrated by the standard 51Cr release
      method. The degree of this cytotoxicity was correlated with the immune complex
      level in each serum. The cytotoxicity did not correlate with the presence of anti
      EC antibody. An absorption study with C1q-Sepharose 4B further suggested that the
      immune complexes are the factor which induce cytotoxicity. A gel fractionation
      study, however, indicated the heterogenity of the cytotoxic activity, and
      suggested the possible contribution of other substances including anti-EC, at
      least in some of the patients. This type of cytotoxicity may initiate the
      inflammatory process including vascular damage of the disease.

PMID- 1439629
TI  - Morphological evidence for biological control of urate crystal formation in vivo
      and in vitro.
AB  - Urate crystal formation, and subsequent gout, occurs in only a minority of
      hyperuricaemic subjects indicating that factors other than hyperuricaemia are
      involved. Biological substances (especially proteins) alter crystal growth in
      vitro independently of uric acid concentration. Physiological crystal formation,
      known to be under biological control, is characterised morphologically by
      uniformity of size and constraint of crystal shape. To determine whether
      pathological urate crystal formation is influenced by the surrounding biological
      milieu we examined, using scanning electron microscopy, the morphology of urate
      crystals formed either in vivo or in vitro. We found morphological evidence of
      biological control of in vivo urate crystal formation and demonstrated that those
      characteristics could be induced in vitro by the addition of serum, synovial
      fluid and certain serum proteins to the growth medium during crystal formation.
      Urate crystal formation is dependent, not only on the degree of hyperuricaemia,
      but also on the surrounding biological milieu.

PMID- 1439630
TI  - Nailfold capillary permeability in psoriatic arthritis.
AB  - This study is the first report of the permeability status of nailfold capillaries
      in psoriatic arthritis (PA). "Traditional" nailfold capillary microscopy and
      intravital fluorescence videomicroscopy were carried out at the nailfold of 13
      patients with PA. Twenty five healthy subjects served as controls for nailfold
      capillary microscopy, and 15 out of these for fluorescence videomicroscopy. The
      following parameters were assessed: capillary length, apex width, maximum loop
      width, maximum limb width, loop density, visibility of subpapillary venular
      plexus, loop tortuosity, transcapillary diffusion, and interstitial concentration
      at different sites and times of Na-fluorescein given in intravenous bolus.
      Morphometric analysis of capillaroscopic findings showed a significant increase
      of loop length (mean +/- SD: 290.1 +/- 73.5 microns) when compared to healthy
      controls (223.3 +/- 51.9 microns) (P < 0.02). Transcapillary passage of Na
      fluorescein was homogeneous and symmetric both in PA patients and in controls.
      Mean transcapillary and interstitial diffusion was not significantly enhanced at
      the nailfold in PA patients. Our data support the view that PA is not
      characterized by a specific capillaroscopic pattern and/or significant
      abnormalities of microvascular dynamics at the nailfold.

PMID- 1439631
TI  - Validation of a Swedish version of the Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to test the validity of a Swedish Version of the
      Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale on two groups of patients: 25 patients with chronic
      pain and 24 rheumatology patients. Scores on the three subscales of the self
      efficacy instrument--for controlling pain, for controlling function of daily
      living activities, and for controlling other symptoms--were correlated with
      indicators of present pain status and scores on the Multidimensional Health Locus
      of Control Scales. All correlations were in the direction predicted by self
      efficacy theory, providing evidence for the construct validity of the scale. In
      addition the two patient groups differed significantly on the three subscales
      indicating evidence for the discriminant validity of the instrument.

PMID- 1439632
TI  - Long-term evaluation of penicillamine or cyclofenil in systemic sclerosis.
      Results from a two-year randomized study.
AB  - In a two-year prospective therapeutic trial 13 patients with systemic sclerosis
      (SSc) were treated with penicillamine, 9 with cyclofenil, and 7 with neither. At
      entry skin involvement and esophageal, lung, heart, and kidney function did not
      differ significantly between the groups. Reevaluation after one and two years did
      not show any significant changes in skin, esophageal, heart, and kidney
      manifestations, while lung function had slightly improved in both drug-treatment
      groups. This study thus shows little overall effect of penicillamine and
      cyclofenil, although both drugs may arrest worsening of pulmonary dysfunction.

PMID- 1439633
TI  - Sensitivity to UV light during treatment with chloroquine in rheumatoid
      arthritis.
AB  - Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have long been suspected of causing light
      sensitivity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To gain insight into the
      effect of chloroquines and ultraviolet (UV) light in RA we have phototested 25 RA
      patients with and without chloroquine. The thresholds for UVA and UVB did not
      change upon treatment with chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine. Provocation with
      high dose UVA and UVB was similar with and without treatment with chloroquine or
      hydroxychloroquine. Our results have shown that photosensitivity during
      medication with chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine is uncommon and that there is
      no need to stop this treatment due to sun exposure.

PMID- 1439634
TI  - Posterior scleritis related fundal mass in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

PMID- 1439635
TI  - Amyloidosis of juvenile chronic arthritis in Turkish children.

PMID- 1439636
TI  - Intravenous methylprednisolone therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: a comparative
      dose study.

PMID- 1439637
TI  - The prevalence of fibromyalgia and widespread chronic musculoskeletal pain in the
      general population.

PMID- 1439638
TI  - Long-term blood flow potentials in sequential internal mammary artery grafts.
      Exercise thallium scan for myocardial perfusion study.
AB  - In two groups of patients, coronary artery bypass surgery for angina pectoris
      included internal mammary artery (IMA) sequential grafts (group I) or single
      grafts (group II). At postoperative angiography all grafts were patent. In
      addition, the patients received on average 1.8 vein grafts into other coronary
      arteries. The mean interval to postoperative follow-up was 9.5 years in group I
      and 9.7 years in group II. The preoperative incidence of acute myocardial
      infarction was 44% and 45% in groups I and II. Exercise thallium scan at follow
      up showed IMA graft-related ischemia in 33% of the patients with sequential graft
      and in 64% of those with single graft (ns). Our results indicated that sequential
      IMA grafts functioned at least as well as single grafts and maintained adequate
      myocardial supply even 10 years postoperatively. Internal mammary arteries are
      superior graft material and can be recommended both as single and as sequential
      graft in coronary artery bypass surgery.

PMID- 1439639
TI  - Surgical treatment of myocardial bridging causing coronary artery obstruction.
AB  - Nine patients with obstruction of coronary artery blood flow caused by myocardial
      bridging underwent surgery after failure of medical treatment. The diagnoses were
      made angiographically at rest or during beta-stimulation. Impaired blood flow was
      found only in the left anterior descending artery in seven patients and
      additionally in the diagonal branch in two. The operations, performed with
      cardiopulmonary bypass consisted of complete dissection of the overlying
      myocardium. All patients survived the operation. Major intraoperative
      complications were accidental opening of the right ventricle in two patients.
      Postoperative scintigraphic and angiographic studies demonstrated restoration of
      coronary flow and myocardial perfusion without residual myocardial bridges under
      beta-stimulation. Surgical relief of myocardial ischemia due to systolic
      compression of intramyocardial coronary arteries can be accomplished with low
      operative risk and with excellent functional results.

PMID- 1439640
TI  - Hemodynamic effects of intraaortic versus intravenous protamine administration
      after cardiopulmonary bypass in man.
AB  - A hemodynamic study of men undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery was
      undertaken to elucidate the side effects of protamine given into the ascending
      aorta (group A, n = 16) or into the central venous line (group V, n = 16). After
      termination of extracorporeal circulation, protamine was infused over 120
      seconds, and the hemodynamic profile was continuously recorded. During the first
      minute, the systemic arterial pressure fell to about 60% of the preprotamine
      level in both groups, but the hemodynamic changes occurred more rapidly (p <
      0.05) in group V than in group A, with maximal pressure drop at 61.7 +/- 2.7 vs
      74.4 +/- 4.9 seconds. Following spontaneous restoration of the systemic blood
      pressure, the pulmonary artery pressure rose considerably in both groups, as did
      the pulmonary capillary wedge and central venous pressures, reaching higher
      levels in the intravenous group. The cardiovascular responses were again more
      rapid in group V than in group A (p = 0.004). The degree of systemic hypotension
      thus did not benefit from use of the intraaortic rather than the intravenous
      route for administering protamine. The more pronounced and more rapid pulmonary
      circulatory changes in the intravenous group suggest that the hemodynamic effects
      of protamine are initiated in the lungs.

PMID- 1439641
TI  - Motility studies of the cervical esophagus with intrathoracic gastric conduit
      after esophagectomy.
AB  - Gastric emptying, upper esophageal sphincter pressure and intrathoracic gastric
      motility were studied in esophagectomized patients, ten with a gastric conduit in
      the posterior mediastinum and ten with a conduit in the retrosternal space. In
      addition, the clinical state was reassessed more than 6 months after esophageal
      reconstruction. Gastric emptying, assessed with Tc-99m Sn colloid in a semisolid
      test meal, did not differ between the two groups. In manometric studies a high
      pressure zone distal to the upper esophageal sphincter was associated with
      dysphagia. A high-pressure zone at the anastomosis was found in 60% of the
      retrosternal group and 20% of the posterior mediastinal group. As regards food
      intake, the posterior mediastinal route seems to be preferable in esophageal
      replacement, since it permits more physiologic motility of the conduit.

PMID- 1439642
TI  - Suture closure versus stapling of bronchial stump in 304 lung cancer operations.
AB  - Suture closure of the bronchial stump was compared with staple closure after 304
      operations for bronchogenic carcinoma over an 8-year period. In 154 cases (112
      lobectomies and 42 pneumonectomies) the bronchial stump was closed with
      interrupted sutures of 000 polyester, and in 150 cases (120 lobectomies and 30
      pneumonectomies) an autosuture stapler was used. The time for suture closure
      ranged from 5-15 minutes, whereas stapling was accomplished uniformly in c. 90
      seconds. Bronchopleural fistula developed after suture closure in seven cases
      (4.5%), but in none after stapling closure. Stapling of the bronchial stump after
      lobectomy or pneumonectomy for lung cancer is safer and quicker than suture
      closure, and is recommended as the method of choice.

PMID- 1439643
TI  - Surgical treatment of stage III non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma involving
      the chest wall.
AB  - Thirty-five patients who had undergone surgery for non-small cell bronchogenic
      carcinoma with isolated involvement of the chest wall were reviewed. The
      diagnosis was preoperatively suspected in 80% of cases. En-bloc resection of the
      invaded chest wall was performed in 25 cases and parietal pleurectomy in ten in
      which the pleura was easily dissectable from the costal plane. Of the eight
      patients with major complications in the early postoperative period, six,
      including the two who died perioperatively, had undergone en-block resection. The
      5-year actuarial survival rate was 22% overall and 36% in the patients without
      lymph node involvement. No significant relationship between survival and type of
      operation or degree of chest wall invasion was found. Isolated involvement of the
      chest wall by non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma does not necessarily
      contraindicate surgery with curative intent. Parietal pleurectomy is valid in
      selected cases. Long-term survival depends basically on node involvement.

PMID- 1439644
TI  - In vitro responses to atrial natriuretic polypeptide in human vessels commonly
      used as aortocoronary bypass grafts.
AB  - Vascular effects of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (APII), i.e. the peptide
      hormone released from the atrial myocardium, were investigated in segments of the
      human internal thoracic artery (ITA) and saphenous vein (SV) with intact (+E) or
      injured (-E) endothelium. All segments were subject to several cycles of agonists
      in order to detect tachyphylactic or facilitatory responses. Opposite, indirect
      effects on the noradrenaline contracted ITA and SV were obtained in response to
      APII at a supranormal concentration (50 nM) which had no direct relaxing action
      on the isolated segments in vitro. In ITA the noradrenaline contractures in
      subsequent cycles were reduced to 41 +/- 21% (+E) and 28 +/- 9% (-E), but in SV
      they were enhanced to 211 +/- 115% (+E) and 483 +/- 242% (-E) of those before
      APII exposure. Thus under in vitro conditions ITA could be indirectly relaxed by
      APII via tachyphylactic effect on the noradrenaline contracture. SV, on the other
      hand, was markedly potentiated by APII in its noradrenaline response. In injured
      endothelium these opposite effects were aggravated.

PMID- 1439645
TI  - Efficacy of phosphodiesterase inhibitor enoximone in management of postcardiotomy
      cardiogenic shock.
AB  - The efficacy of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor enoximone for reversal of severe
      postcardiotomy low cardiac output syndrome was investigated in 13 cases of
      cardiogenic shock refractory to conventional treatment consisting of beta
      adrenergic agonists (n = 13) combined with vasodilators (n = 7), and intra-aortic
      balloon counterpulsation (n = 5). Following a bolus of 1 mg/kg enoximone, cardiac
      and stroke volume indices increased from 1.56 +/- 0.27 l/min/m2 and 16.3 +/- 3.3
      ml/m2, respectively, to 2.72 +/- 0.67 and 27.8 +/- 7.1 (both p < 0.001). Mean
      arterial pressure fell, from 77 +/- 11 to 68 +/- 9 mmHg (p < 0.05), as did atrial
      filling pressures (LAP and RAP), LAP from 21.3 +/- 5.5 to 15.9 +/- 2.9 and RAP
      from 16.6 +/- 2.3 to 13.7 +/- 2.1 mmHg (both p < 0.01). The heart rate rose by
      only 5%. Enoximone therapy was maintained by a continuous infusion (5-7.5
      micrograms/kg/min) for 40.6 +/- 8.6 hours (range 14-92). All hemodynamic
      parameters remained stable throughout treatment. Six patients died of sepsis
      and/or multiorgan failure but seven were discharged from hospital. Enoximone thus
      improved hemodynamic performance significantly in cardiogenic shock after open
      heart surgery. It also has proved valuable in cardiac failure when conventional
      therapy was unsuccessful.

PMID- 1439646
TI  - Effect of acid-base management with or without carbon dioxide on plasma phosphate
      concentration during and after hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass.
AB  - Variations of the phosphate concentration in plasma were studied in two groups of
      12 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass
      (CPB). Management of the acid-base status differed between the groups, according
      to whether or not carbon dioxide was added to the anesthetic gas mixture during
      hypothermia ('pH-stat' vs. 'alpha-stat' mode) following correction vs. no
      correction of pCO2 and pH for body temperature. Phosphate variations throughout
      the study were mostly within normal limits. From the start to the end of CPB, the
      mean rise in phosphate levels was 70% in the pH-stat group and 37% in the alpha
      stat group (p < 0.001). During 3 hours after CPB, the phosphate values continued
      to rise by a mean of 25% in the alpha-stat patients, but fell by a mean of 3% in
      the pH-stat patients (p < 0.001). Such different phosphate patterns during and
      immediately after CPB may reflect profound metabolic disturbances and may be
      related to the altering effects of CO2 addition and respiratory acidosis on
      intracellular metabolic activity and phosphate homeostasis.

PMID- 1439647
TI  - Successful surgical management of rupture of the left ventricle and
      interventricular septum due to blunt chest trauma. Case report.
AB  - In a 35-year-old man blunt chest trauma caused rupture of the free wall of the
      left ventricle and the interventricular septum. Emergency pulse Doppler-2D
      echocardiography confirmed the clinical suspicion and immediate surgical repair
      was successfully undertaken. This appears to be the first reported case of
      survival after surgery for such combined cardiac rupture.

PMID- 1439648
TI  - Carcinosarcoma of the lung with gastrointestinal metastasis. Case report.
AB  - An unusual case of carcinosarcoma of the lung with metastasis to the
      gastrointestinal tract causing intussusception is presented. The clinical,
      radiologic and histopathologic features are reviewed with reference to relevant
      literature.

PMID- 1439649
TI  - Dimensions of the heart and great vessels in normal children. A postmortem study
      of cardiac ventricles, valves and great vessels.
AB  - Knowledge of normal heart dimensions is often needed in the planning of cardiac
      surgery in children. Attempts to define 'normal' have so far given varied and
      somewhat controversial results. The purpose of this study was to determine normal
      values for all heart measurements of clinical importance in children. Special
      interest was focused on the relationship between the diameters of the right and
      the left pulmonary artery (RPA abd LPA) and the descending thoracic aorta (DTA),
      defined as RPA/DTA+LPA/DTA, which is widely used in evaluating the feasibility of
      certain pediatric cardiac operations. The normal curve of this ratio during
      growth has not previously been presented in the literature. The observed data
      provide reliable normal values for the diameters of the great vessels and valves
      and the ventricular volumes of the heart.

PMID- 1439650
TI  - Ductus arteriosus in pulmonary atresia with and without ventricular septal
      defect. Anatomic and functional differences.
AB  - The pulmonary circulation is dependent on the ductus arteriosus in all patients
      with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum and in some with pulmonary
      atresia and ventricular septal defect (tetralogy of Fallot type). To assess the
      time of ductal closure in these two patient categories, we compared the ages at
      first operation in 58 patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular
      septum and 32 with pulmonary atresia and septal defect. The age distribution
      differed significantly between the groups. Whereas 90% of the children with
      intact ventricular septum required surgery in the first week of life, 50% of
      those with ventricular septal defect underwent surgery after the first month and
      25% after the third month. The previously described and now confirmed anatomic
      differences of ductus arteriosus or different levels of endogenous prostaglandins
      may explain persistent patency of the ductus in pulmonary atresia with
      ventricular septal defect. The phenomenon may have important clinical
      implications regarding the timing and choice of surgical procedure.

PMID- 1439651
TI  - Open-heart surgery in patients requiring chronic hemodialysis.
AB  - The management and outcome of open-heart surgery in 31 patients requiring chronic
      hemodialysis because of end-stage renal failure are reviewed. The reasons for
      surgery were coronary artery disease (20 cases), mitral valvulopathy (5,
      including 3 with tricuspid insufficiency), aortic valvulopathy (5, including 2
      with coronary artery disease) and perforation of an aortic aneurysm into the left
      upper lung lobe. Surgery was elective in all but the last case. Apart from double
      venous cannulation to avoid potassium overload after cardioplegia, and
      hemofiltration in the extracorporeal circulation permitting removal of 1,500
      2,000 ml fluid during bypass, procedure was routine. Postoperatively fluids were
      restricted and serum potassium levels were not allowed to exceed the known
      preoperative maximum. Four patients required catecholamine support for 3-10
      hours. Thirty were weaned from the respirator after 8-41 (mean 16) hours. The one
      perioperative death was due to complications associated with post-bypass
      administration of protamine. Dialysis was restarted 20-69 (mean 32) hours
      postoperatively. With appropriate management of fluid balance and potassium, open
      heart surgery in dialysis-dependent patients need not carry heightened risk.

PMID- 1439652
TI  - Problems and perspectives in the identification of new occupational carcinogens.
AB  - Occupational studies have played a major role in the identification of chemical
      carcinogens. There still remain, however, substances and occupations that deserve
      further evaluation. The more careful control of potentially hazardous exposures
      in most developed countries has necessitated a change in the conduct of
      epidemiologic investigations. The lowering of exposures and the lack of a simple
      correspondence between specific exposures and one or a few jobs underscores the
      need for careful reconstruction of historical exposures. The most successful
      reconstructions will include the integration of monitoring data, historical
      information on work histories and work practices, and use of biochemical markers.

PMID- 1439653
TI  - Lung cancer mortality among workers in the European production of man-made
      mineral fibers--a Poisson regression analysis.
AB  - One hundred and eighty-one lung cancer deaths among workers during 301,085 person
      years in European man-made mineral fiber production between 1930-1955 and 1982
      were analyzed according to Poisson regression models including age, calendar
      period, country, and exposure variables. Time since first employment was the
      variable most strongly associated with lung cancer risk in both the rock-slag
      wool and glass wool subcohorts. Workers in the early technological phase were at
      higher risk than those in other categories, particularly in rock-slag wool
      production. No clear trend with duration of employment was suggested. No major
      changes occurred in the interpretation of the results when workers with less than
      one year of employment or less than 20 years since first exposure were excluded.
      The original results, based on analyses for standardized mortality ratios, were
      confirmed, and workers with a short duration of employment or a short time since
      first employment did not need to be excluded from the analysis.

PMID- 1439654
TI  - Oral, pharyngeal and laryngeal cancer as a cause of death among Swiss cooks.
AB  - In an analysis of Swiss mortality data (1979-1987) excess mortality due to oral,
      pharyngeal and laryngeal cancer was found among cooks, and the rate was very high
      in the age group < 55 years. The peak number of cases was observed among cooks in
      the age category 45-49 years. In the standard population the highest number of
      such deaths was observed between 65 and 69 years of age. The numbers of alcohol
      related causes of death were also elevated among the cooks, while the numbers of
      smoking-related deaths were not. Although the dominant role of combined alcohol
      and tobacco consumption for the development of oral, pharyngeal and laryngeal
      cancer has been confirmed by many studies, other factors (eg, volatile
      carcinogenic compounds formed during the cooking process) may contribute to the
      excess mortality from oral, pharyngeal and laryngeal cancer among cooks. The
      question of the relevance of such factors will have to be answered by further
      studies.

PMID- 1439655
TI  - Work-related electrical fatalities in Australia, 1982-1984.
AB  - Work-related electrical fatalities were studied as part of a larger investigation
      into all work-related fatalities in Australia in the period 1982-1984. The 95
      electrical fatalities (all men) represented an incidence of 0.49 per 100,000
      persons (0.79/100,000 men) in the employed civilian labor force during the study
      period. Electricity was the fifth highest cause of work-related fatalities in
      Australia and resulted in 10% of all workplace deaths. Ninety-four percent of the
      workers were performing their usual tasks at the time of their death, and 38% of
      them were doing work of an electrical nature at the time. The greatest number of
      deaths occurred on farms and nonconstruction industrial sites, with overhead
      powerlines as the main source of current. Better placement of overhead
      powerlines, improved worker awareness of electrical hazards, and the use of
      residual current devices would probably have prevented most of the deaths.

PMID- 1439656
TI  - Fecundity and the use of video display terminals.
AB  - The association between prolonged waiting time to pregnancy and the use of a
      video display terminal (VDT) was investigated among commercial and clerical
      employees in Denmark. Information on 24,352 pregnancies was obtained through
      register linkage with two national registers. A random sample of 2252 pregnancies
      was drawn, and the women were asked for information on waiting time to pregnancy,
      occupational exposures, and life-style factors. The overall exposure to a VDT
      indicated a slightly increased association with prolonged waiting time to
      pregnancy. The relative risks for waiting more than one year were 1.23, 0.77, and
      1.61 for the women who worked with a VDT for 1-10, 11-20, and > or = 21 h per
      week, respectively. Only the last relative risk was statistically significant.
      The results could be explained by methodological shortcomings such as recall bias
      or confounding by alternative factors that might affect time to pregnancy, or
      simply by the lack of statistical power.

PMID- 1439657
TI  - Menstrual-cycle characteristics and work conditions of workers in poultry
      slaughterhouses and canneries.
AB  - The food and agriculture industry employs 14.6% of the female industrial work
      force in France. Workers are exposed to a variety of environmental and
      organizational constraints (eg, irregular schedules, cold, uncomfortable
      postures, repetitive movements). In 1987-1988 a medical examination and
      questionnaire were administered to 726 workers with menstrual periods in 17
      poultry slaughterhouses and six canning factories. Anomalies (irregular cycles,
      amenorrhea, long cycles) during the previous year were associated with work
      conditions. After adjustment for relevant nonoccupational variables, irregular
      cycles were significantly related to schedule variability and cold exposure,
      amenorrhea was associated with cold exposure, and long cycles with schedule
      variability. Other parameters such as repetitive work, standing posture, lifting
      weights, job satisfaction, and hours of domestic work were not associated with
      cycle anomalies. Cycle anomalies may be a useful indicator of occupational
      effects on female reproduction, analogous to the use of sperm parameters to warn
      of effects on male workers.

PMID- 1439658
TI  - Knee disorders in carpet and floor layers and painters.
AB  - In an evaluation of the effect of kneeling work on the knees, 168 actively
      working carpet and floor layers and 146 house painters were examined with the aid
      of a questionnaire, a clinical examination, and radiography. Reported knee pain,
      knee accidents, and treatment regimens for the knees were more common among the
      carpet and floor layers than among the painters. Radiographic changes of the
      tibiofemoral joint were noted equally in the two occupational groups, but
      osteophytes of the patella were more common among the carpet and floor layers
      than among the painters. In a multivariate analysis, the determinants of
      osteophytosis of the knee were age, occupation, knee accidents, and smoking, and
      osteophytosis may be due to more frequent workbreaks from kneeling postures among
      smoking workers. This study indicates that kneeling work increases the risk of
      knee disorders and such radiographic changes that might be an initial sign of
      knee degeneration.

PMID- 1439659
TI  - Biological monitoring of occupational exposure to low levels of benzene.
AB  - To obtain reference values for the biological monitoring of benzene, the kinetics
      of benzene were studied in volunteers. Benzene in blood and expired air could
      easily be followed until the next morning after a 4-h exposure to a benzene
      concentration of 10 cm3.m-3. Even after exposure to 1.7 cm3.m-3 the benzene
      levels in the morning blood and expired air samples differed from those in
      unexposed subjects. One hour after exposure to 10 and 1.7 cm3.m-3 the mean levels
      of benzene were 238 and 25 nmol.l-1 in blood and 13.2 and 2.5 mumol.m-3 in
      exhaled air, respectively. It was concluded that, at high benzene levels
      (approximately 10 cm3.m-3), samples collected 16 h after exposure reflect the
      body burden of benzene, while at low exposure (< 1 cm3.m-3) samples collected 1 h
      after exposure may be used to estimate the exposure over the preceding few hours.
      Exposure to benzene from smoking is a potential confounder in estimating
      occupational exposure to low levels of benzene.

PMID- 1439660
TI  - Tetanus caused by occupational accidents.
AB  - The role of occupational accidents as a source of tetanus is poorly known. In
      Finland, during the period 1969-1985, 28 (26%) of the 106 cases of tetanus were
      caused by occupational accidents, 16 of which occurred in agriculture and
      forestry. Twenty-one of the patients were men and seven were women. The mean
      annual incidence of tetanus was 1 per 100,000 occupational accidents during the
      study period. The cases were concentrated in summer and autumn. Most of the
      primary injuries were minor, 61% of the injuries occurring in the hands and
      fingers. Forty-three percent of the patients had not been immunized against
      tetanus, and 46% were unaware of their state of immunization. The systematic
      immunization of the population against tetanus is important because the disease
      is often caused by slight injuries not requiring treatment by health care
      personnel. This need is emphasized for work in agriculture, forestry, and other
      branches in which contact with soil or animals occurs.

PMID- 1439661
TI  - Severe farmer's lung following a workplace challenge.
AB  - A severe attack of farmer's lung developed in a dairy farmer after a workplace
      challenge. The patient showed full recovery after corticosteroid therapy. If a
      workplace challenge is considered necessary in the diagnosis of farmer's lung,
      care should be taken to avoid unnecessarily heavy exposure to the offending
      antigens.

PMID- 1439662
TI  - Carcinogenicity of occupational exposures to mists and vapors from strong
      inorganic acids, including sulfuric acid, and hydrochloric acid.

PMID- 1439663
TI  - Carcinogenicity of exposures to 1,3-butadiene.

PMID- 1439664
TI  - The scanning probe microscope.
AB  - Scanning probe microscopy has evolved into a powerful tool since its inception in
      1982. The scanning probe microscope has found applications in metrology,
      spectroscopy, and lithography. We will review the background of the technology,
      discuss the different types of scanning probe microscopes including the scanning
      tunneling microscope and the scanning force microscope, and present many of the
      applications for the instrument.

PMID- 1439665
TI  - Methods for the study of calcium oxalate crystallisation and their application to
      urolithiasis research.
AB  - Many methods have been used to study calcium oxalate crystallisation. Most can be
      characterised by changes in supersaturation during the experiment, which may
      increase, remain constant or decay. Their ability to quantify various aspects of
      crystallisation often reflects the extent to which nucleation, growth and
      aggregation can be measured independently, when two or three of these processes
      may be occurring simultaneously. The mixed suspension, mixed product removal
      technique reaches a steady state supersaturation, is a good model for intrarenal
      crystallisation and allows both growth and nucleation rates to be measured. Using
      92% urine and comparing control urines with samples from recurrent stone formers
      no difference in growth rates was found but the controls had higher nucleation
      rates (p = 0.003) and lower supersaturations (p = 0.001). In parallel
      crystallisers running simultaneously, heparin or hyaluronic acid addition to 92%
      urine was studied. Both macromolecules increased growth rates, decreased
      nucleation rates and increased supersaturation (p < 0.05). The steady state
      supersaturation achieved in this system may be an important determinant of stone
      forming potential. The ability to reach a lower urinary supersaturation by
      increased nucleation may be a crucial protective factor distinguishing non stone
      formers from stone formers.

PMID- 1439666
TI  - A stimulus timing device for capturing fast physiologic events by quick-freezing.
AB  - A timing device was designed that, in conjunction with an impact type of quick
      freezing apparatus and an externally-triggerable stimulus generator, allows the
      application of an electrical stimulus to a muscle preparation at a selected time
      interval before quick-freezing and the measurement of the interval with
      submillisecond precision. This is needed for stopping fast physiological events
      in calcium release and excitation-contraction coupling and allows studying the
      morphological parameters (by freeze-fracture and freeze-substitution) and
      elemental distributions (by x-ray microanalysis) as a function of time after
      stimulation. The device should be adaptable for use with most equipment designed
      for quick-freezing electrically excitable tissue by impact on a cold solid
      surface.

PMID- 1439667
TI  - Scanning X-ray microanalysis of microcarrier cultured endothelial cells:
      elemental changes during the transition to confluency and the effect of ionophore
      A23187.
AB  - Porcine endothelial cells were grown on microcarrier beads and examined by
      scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at various times after initiation of culture.
      Total cell coverage on the bead surface varied from mean values of approximately
      7% (3h) to 80% (96h). Beam penetration into the subcellular matrix presents a
      major problem with SEM X-ray microanalysis of microcarrier cultured cells and
      necessitates the use of an accelerating voltage not exceeding 10kV. At this
      voltage and below, X-ray contribution from elements present in the microcarrier
      bead has minimal effect on the determination of cell elemental levels. Washing
      the cells with 0.15M sucrose was the least perturbing of the rinsing techniques
      investigated, removing surface culture medium but not internal diffusible ions. X
      ray microanalysis revealed detectable levels of Na, P, S, Cl, K and Ca in the
      cells, with well-marked changes from initial attachment to confluency. The level
      of K decreased from approximately 1.0% at 3h to 0.4% at 24h, with a corresponding
      decrease in the K/Na ratio. This unexpectedly low level of K was invariably
      observed after 24h, and is a genuine feature of established microcarrier culture.
      The effect of ionophore A23187 was determined at the 3h culture stage, and
      resulted in significant increases in the concentration of divalent cations (Mg2+,
      Ca2+), monovalent ions (Na+, Cl-) and a decrease in the level of K+.

PMID- 1439668
TI  - Electron probe microanalysis of the otolithic membrane. A methodological and
      quantitative study.
AB  - The effect of tissue preparation on calcium and potassium weight percent in the
      otoconial layer in the utricle and saccule was studied in four groups of OF1 mice
      with electron probe X-ray microanalysis. Glutaraldehyde and freeze-drying,
      glutaraldehyde and air-drying, air-drying, and cryo-fixation and freeze-drying
      were compared. Ca and K changed significantly in the utricle depending on the
      method used (P < 0.001), and K changed significantly in the saccule (P < 0.001).
      We chose cryo-fixation with freeze-drying for the quantitative analysis of the
      otolithic membrane because this method provided the highest values of Ca and K
      with minimum loss of Ca and K. Microcrystalline salt standards mounted on
      scanning electron microscopy holders were used for the quantification of Ca and K
      by the peak-to-local-background (P/B) ratio method. The P/B ratio in standards
      with reproducible results, when plotted against weight percent, gave a straight
      line for Ca (r = 0.99, P < 0.001) and K (r = 0.98, P < 0.001). The Ca and K
      weight percent in otoconia showed similar frequency distributions in the utricle
      and saccule.

PMID- 1439669
TI  - Microwear and striae of Retzius of canines of the wild Japanese monkeys (Macaca
      fuscata).
AB  - This is a description of microwear and striae of Retzius of canine teeth of wild
      caught female Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) from Oita Takasakiyama, Kyushu.
      Micrographs were taken of high resolution casts using a scanning electron
      microscope (SEM). Before the casts were made, the diet of the captive monkeys was
      water-softened for three or four days. This softened diet probably added little
      wear to the surfaces of the teeth. These animals are part of a sample used in a
      previous report published in this journal. Others have observed that wild
      Japanese monkeys eat hard foods (such as grasshoppers, cicads etc.) in the summer
      season. They also bite the hard bark of trees in order to obtain soft parts of
      buds in the winter season. The author previously reported that the wild female
      Japanese monkeys from Oita Takasakiyama showed many thick striations and large
      pits on the occlusal surfaces of the second mandibular molars, and noted that
      these microfeatures categorized these samples in the group of hard-object feeders
      as defined by Teaford. In this study canine teeth are examined. Three were
      heavily worn, exposing patterns related to the structure of the enamel. Two
      canines had prism relief on the heavily worn surfaces. Some of the relief seem to
      be related to the striae of Retzius. These features may be ascribed to excessive
      grinding (bruxism). These findings are presented as direct evidence of the effect
      feeding behavior has on the canine teeth of wild Japanese monkeys.

PMID- 1439670
TI  - Arthropathies associated with basic calcium phosphate crystals.
AB  - Basic calcium phosphate (BCP) crystals refer to a family of crystals including
      partially carbonate substituted hydroxyapatite, octacalcium phosphate, and
      tricalcium phosphate. These crystals have been found in and around joints and
      have been associated with several forms of arthritis and periarthritis.
      Identification of BCP crystals remains problematic because of the lack of a
      simple, reliable analytic procedure. Methods currently in use include alizarin
      red S staining, labelled diphosphonate binding, scanning and transmission
      electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, X-ray
      diffraction, and atomic force microscopy. Periarthropathies associated with BCP
      crystals include calcific tendinitis and bursitis. Intra-articular BCP crystal
      deposition is common in osteoarthritis, often found together with calcium
      pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals. Uncommon conditions in which BCP crystals are
      found include destructive shoulder arthropathies, acute inflammatory attacks of
      arthritis, and erosive arthritis. Secondary deposition of BCP crystals has been
      observed in chronic renal failure, in patients with "collagen vascular" diseases,
      following neurologic injury and after local corticosteroid injection.

PMID- 1439671
TI  - Functional and morphological studies of mitochondria exposed to undecagold
      clusters: biologic surfaces labeling with gold clusters.
AB  - This study reports morphological and functional alterations observed in respiring
      isolated mitochondria when they are exposed to nonpenetrating, positive
      electrostatically charged synthetic undecagold clusters. Modification of the
      undecagold clusters positive charges change or prevent the functional effects and
      the binding to the outside surface of the mitochondria. The mitochondrial
      functional alterations are dependent on the oxidative phosphorylation capacity of
      the isolated organelles. The results of these experiments indicate that
      artificial undecagold may be useful to explore the molecular mechanisms of
      biological energy transducers which require electric charges separation, ionic
      fluxes, and electric surface properties.

PMID- 1439672
TI  - The use of organ cultures to study vessel wall pathobiology.
AB  - Organ culture of the vessel wall is an useful in vitro method to study vascular
      cell biology. The intact vessel allows for the study of cell-cell and cell
      substratum interactions including the structure and function of the vessel wall
      matrix. Long term organ cultures of porcine aorta show that neointimal formation
      is due primarily to cell proliferation of pre-existing intimal smooth muscle
      cells. Neointimal formation in these cultures is more pronounced in the presence
      of an endothelium that is turning over. In endothelial wound repair studies, the
      endothelium of the organ culture shows some important differences when compared
      to tissue culture studies in monolayer culture. Thus, vascular organ cultures can
      be successfully used to study vessel wall biology in health and disease.

PMID- 1439673
TI  - Three-dimensional characterization of dense bodies in contracted and relaxed
      mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells.
AB  - We have previously shown that dense bodies are not the static planar simple
      ovoidal structures they appear to be in thin sections. In this report, we present
      three-dimensional reconstructions from consecutive serial thin sections through
      shortened and non-shortened large mesenteric artery cells. Profiles of the cell
      surface, membrane dense bodies, and cytoplasmic dense bodies were reconstructed
      from consecutive thin sections and the distribution, size, shape, and spatial
      relationships among these components was examined. Within the cell, membrane
      dense bodies are numerous and occupy approximately 10% of the cell volume.
      Membrane dense bodies can attach to the cell surface laterally, obliquely or
      normally. An individual membrane dense body can be continuous over more than 2
      microns of cell depth and can change shape throughout its depth. On cell
      shortening, many membrane dense bodies assume a crenated shape. Compared to
      membrane dense bodies, cytoplasmic dense bodies are smaller in all dimensions and
      occupy about 2% of the cell volume. In shortened cells, cytoplasmic dense bodies
      appear to cluster into groups. This redistribution of cytoplasmic dense bodies
      may be related to the reorganization of contractile units when the cell shortens.

PMID- 1439674
TI  - Early effects on the morphology of mouse small intestine of single or combined
      modality treatment with hyperthermia and X-irradiation.
AB  - This study describes the effects of hyperthermia and X-irradiation on the
      morphological appearance of normal, at risk tissues in the ileum of the mouse.
      The early morphological effects 1 day after a combined modality treatment are
      compared with those due to either hyperthermia or X-irradiation given alone. The
      response was assessed qualitatively and semiquantitatively using scanning
      electron microscopy and a villous scoring technique. Early post-irradiation
      effects on topography did not differ significantly from those observed after
      small intestine exteriorisation without treatment. The villous scores for the
      combined modality treatments reflected greater damage than would be expected from
      the sum of villous scores for each modality treatment on its own. This suggests
      that the combined modality treatment had a synergistic or enhancing effect. A 4
      hour time interval between the two treatments did not seem to reduce the
      enhancing effect. Further studies are required to investigate the effects of
      fractionated combined treatment.

PMID- 1439675
TI  - Morphological study of gastric lesions developing in the rat under several
      damaging conditions: modifications induced by pretreatment with zinc acexamate.
AB  - Lesions developing in the gastric mucosa of the rat after exposure to different
      gastric damaging agents (100 mg/kg aspirin, and 70% or 100% ethanol) were
      assessed by scanning electron microscopy. The severity of the lesions was
      quantified according to morphological criteria. Modifications in the severity of
      these lesions induced by pretreatment with zinc acexamate were also analyzed. The
      scanning electron microscope revealed that with the exception of absolute
      ethanol, which caused distinctive morphological features, lesions found under the
      different experimental agents shared a common pattern of progression.
      Ultrastructural lesions on surface epithelial cells preceded further alterations
      of parietal cells. After the integrity of the epithelial cells was lost,
      detachment of the parietal cells occurred, probably, through peptic digestion of
      the connections between cells and their extracellular matrices. Pretreatment of
      animals with zinc acexamate increased the presence of mucus on the gastric
      surface and significantly prevented the progression of lesions towards the
      severest stages. Ultrastructural damage of surface epithelial cells was not
      influenced by this treatment, but detachment of damaged cells was clearly
      diminished. These data confirm the protective effect of zinc acexamate against
      gastric aggressions. Moreover, our studies confirm the notion that mucus
      secretion and maintenance of continuity on the gastric lumen by surface
      epithelial cells is of critical importance in preventing the gastric damage
      induced in these experimental models.

PMID- 1439676
TI  - Appearance of venous sphincters in the pulmonary microvascular bed of
      normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats.
AB  - The appearance of pulmonary venous sphincters was studied in normotensive and
      spontaneously hypertensive rats using scanning electron microscopy of
      microvascular corrosion casts and transmission electron microscopy of tissue
      sections. Vascular casts were prepared either after lavage with Tyrode solution
      or after glutaraldehyde prefixation. Pronounced pulmonary venous sphincters were
      more frequently identified in spontaneously hypertensive rats as compared to
      corresponding circular indentations in normotensive rats. Tissue sections
      established venous sphincters in hypertensive animals as consisting of multiple
      layers of smooth muscle cells in the venous walls. We did not observe any
      autonomic nerve terminals in close proximity to these bundles of smooth muscle
      cells. The effect of various casting procedures on the appearance of venous
      sphincters is discussed. It is concluded that glutaraldehyde prefixation is an
      appropriate method to demonstrate sphincter functioning, because it causes
      deepening of sphincter indentations. Pulmonary vascular sphincters are thought to
      be governed by blood-born substances, vasoactive metabolites, or by tension of
      oxygen and carbon dioxide. Venous sphincters may influence microvascular flow in
      general and probably substitute for venous valves in the pulmonary vascular bed
      where valves are missing.

PMID- 1439677
TI  - Luminal constrictions on corrosion casts of capillaries and postcapillary venules
      in rat exocrine pancreas correspond to pericyte processes.
AB  - The rat exocrine pancreas was studied as a model to demonstrate morphological
      features of different types of capillaries, using scanning electron microscopy of
      vascular corrosion casts and transmission electron microscopy of tissue sections.
      Two types of capillaries were discerned. The first type represents less
      undulated, slender, straight capillaries with numerous, shallow, circular or
      semilunar furrows on its cast's surface. In tissue sections, this type probably
      corresponds to non-fenestrated capillaries. The numerous grooves on its cast
      correspond to pericyte processes beneath the endothelial lining. The second type
      comprises capillaries of an undulated course and variable diameter with less
      numerous furrows. In addition, these casts showed circumscribed, smooth surfaced
      bulging areas defined by the grooves described. In tissue sections, this type
      probably corresponds to fenestrated capillaries, the bulging areas on its cast
      correspond to fenestrated regions of the endothelium. Fenestrated areas of
      capillary endothelium are less reinforced; pericyte processes are not present
      beneath these regions in tissue sections. The hypothesis that pericyte processes
      are responsible for surface indentations on capillary casts was supported by
      observations on postcapillary venules. Casts of these vascular segments showed
      also numerous circularly running furrows. Accordingly, the wall of postcapillary
      venules is provided with pericytes while smooth muscle cells are missing.

PMID- 1439678
TI  - Vascular anatomy of the pig kidney glomerulus: a qualitative study of corrosion
      casts.
AB  - Pig kidney glomerular vascular anatomy was studied by scanning electron
      microscopy of vascular corrosion casts. A generalized vascular architecture is
      presented to describe the pig kidney glomerulus based upon the observation of
      3,800 vascular cast glomeruli. The relative simplicity of the pig glomerular
      vascular architecture has allowed the characterization of different vascular
      segments more completely than has been possible in other mammals. Based upon
      relationships to the afferent arteriole, a nomenclature and definition of
      primary, secondary, tertiary and anastomotic vessels is proposed for the
      distributing vessels comprising the glomerular tuft. The existence and formation
      of a large central hemispheric vessel deep within the confines of a glomerular
      hemisphere is micrographically documented. Micrographic evidence is presented
      supporting the formation of the single efferent arteriole by the merging of two
      central hemispheric vessels within the confines of the glomerular tuft. Failure
      of the merging of these two vessels may result in multiple efferent arterioles.

PMID- 1439680
TI  - [Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in the rehabilitation of neurological
      disorders].
AB  - Chronic enteric alimentation is preferred to parenteral nutritional support not
      only during intensive care but also during rehabilitation in severe neurologic
      disorders such as brain injury and high tetraplegia. As the long-term placement
      of nasogastric tubes has several disadvantages and undesirable side effects, we
      chose the nonoperative endoscopic technique for placement of a transdermal
      gastric feeding tube. PEG was performed in 40 patients with neurologic conditions
      associated with impaired swallowing or repeated aspiration problems: 20 patients
      with CNS trauma, 13 patients with high tetraplegia and 7 patients with severe
      neurologic disease of the CNS. The procedure used was that described by Gauderer
      and Ponsky. It was performed under local anesthesia in the majority of cases and
      under intravenous sedation in all cases. Technical problems practically did not
      occur, while minor complications were seen in 15% of the patients treated and
      major complications in 2.5%. Because of the high rate of peristomal wound
      infections despite systematic antibiotic prophylaxis, it was assumed that
      percutaneous infections could be secondary to contamination of the transcutaneous
      wound with oropharyngeal bacteria and local disinfection of the mouth with
      betadine has now been started before the procedure. Percutaneous endoscopic
      gastrostomy is a relatively safe (morbidity of less than 10%), very practical and
      cost-effective technique. It is well tolerated by the patients in whom swallowing
      mechanisms are impaired, affords advantages in regard to nursing care and should
      therefore belong to the standard therapeutic procedures in neurologic
      rehabilitation.

PMID- 1439679
TI  - [Heart contusions: pathological findings and clinical course].
AB  - After blunt chest trauma, myocardial contusion is frequently suspected, but
      diagnostic criteria are difficult to define and commonly accepted recommendations
      for duration and form of patient monitoring are lacking. We therefore conducted a
      retrospective review of the hospital records of 50 consecutively hospitalized
      patients with the diagnosis of myocardial contusion after blunt chest trauma, and
      analyzed the pathological laboratory, ECG and echocardiography findings as well
      as the associated injuries and cardiac-related complications. The average injury
      severity score was 25 +/- 8. Initially 98% of the patients were hemodynamically
      stable. In 90% there were abnormal enzyme levels consistent with myocardial
      injury. Typically, the maximum level of CPK-MB, LDH and CPK-MB/CPK (MB-fraction)
      was found initially and these values declined rapidly. The MB fraction normalized
      within 8 hours. In 32% of the patients there were the following ECG changes
      consistent with myocardial contusion transient: ventricular tachycardia (12%),
      ST/T changes (12%), complete right bundle branch block (10%), atrial fibrillation
      (4%), first degree AV block (2%). The episodes of ventricular tachycardia were
      registered within the first 24 hours; in 5 of these 6 patients the admission ECG
      was normal. An echocardiography was done in 64% of the patients and in 37% showed
      either a pericardial effusion, regional wall motion abnormalities, a
      pneumopericardium or an intramyocardial hematoma in the free wall of the right
      ventricle. One patient died of multiorgan failure during this hospitalization.
      There were no sudden cardiac deaths. The diagnosis of myocardial contusion is
      vital in unstable patients but also very important in hemodynamically stable
      patients, despite its low morbidity. The minimum program we recommend for
      diagnosis and monitoring should include enzyme levels (CPK, CPK-MB) and ECG
      controls. Echocardiography may be necessary as well. If during the initial
      compulsory 24 hour monitoring of ECG and hemodynamics no complications occur,
      further monitoring is not necessary.

PMID- 1439681
TI  - [Rubella epidemiology in military recruit schools].
AB  - In 1986, at the start of their training, 6877 male recruits were screened for the
      presence of anti-rubella IgG antibodies. 595 (9%) were seronegative. Of the
      latter group, 475 (80%) were retested in the week prior to discharge. During
      their four months of training, 113 (24%) exhibited seroconversion which proved
      acquisition of a rubella virus infection during the period of service. A clinical
      diagnosis of rubella was established in 15 (13%) of the persons with
      seroconversion. Catarrhal symptoms were present in half of those infected,
      whereas 41 (36%) did not report sick, suggesting a subclinical course of
      infection. Rubella is hardly a problem for the military in Switzerland. However,
      outbreaks such as the ones reported may have implications for the epidemiology of
      rubella in the general population, and hence should be taken into account in the
      planning of programs attempting to eliminate rubella virus infections.

PMID- 1439682
TI  - [Intellectual and neurological development of 9-15-year-olds who were born as at
      risk neonates].
AB  - This retrospective study deals with 296 children born between 1, Jan. 1974 and
      31, Dec. 1980, who had been hospitalized as newborns at the Department of
      Pediatrics of the University of Berne and who had been considered at risk for
      abnormal psychomotor development because of well defined perinatal risk factors.
      Their psychomotor development had first been evaluated in the first months and
      years of life at the Cerebral Palsy Centre at Berne. In 1989, when the children
      were 9-15 years old, their neuro-intellectual development was investigated
      through a questionnaire sent to the families dealing with the subsequent
      psychosocial and scholastic course. In the CP-Centre, at a median age of 10 and
      mean age of 26.4 months, 247 (83.5%) of the children had been discharged with the
      finding of normal psychomotor development, 25 (8.4%) had been considered to show
      questionable findings and 24 (8.1%) to show obvious abnormal psychomotor
      development. On the basis of the answers to the questionnaire (median age 11
      8/12, mean age 11 10/12 years; 62% return rate), 39.3% of the children had had no
      further problem, and 57.4% had used special support such as speech therapy or
      educational consulting and/or had had school problems. 3.3% showed distinct
      learning disabilities. More than 90% were attending a normal public school. This
      corresponds to the attendance in the general population. However, fewer children
      were in higher schools. To investigate whether the judgement in the first months
      and years (CP-Centre) of life corresponded to the further development
      (questionnaire), a subpopulation was specially evaluated in addition.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439683
TI  - [Hypoglycemia and multiple myeloma].
AB  - We report the case of a 78-year-old patient with recurrent attacks of severe
      fasting and late postprandial hypoglycemia, whose plasma showed highly elevated
      concentrations of immunoreactive insulin evidenced by high titers of spontaneous
      insulin and proinsulin-binding antibodies. Insulin autoimmune syndrome was
      diagnosed. Further investigations revealed a multiple myeloma of the kappa-light
      chain type. The monoclonal insulin-binding antibodies were characterized as IgG2
      subclass and were identical with the paraprotein, thereby confirming that the
      insulin-binding antibodies were in fact produced by the myeloma. Together with
      initial symptomatic treatment, plasmapheresis was performed repeatedly to reduce
      the antibody pool. Subsequently octreotide therapy proved successful. The
      underlying myeloma was treated by chemotherapy.

PMID- 1439684
TI  - [Neuroradiology of the spinal cord].
AB  - In recent years MR has assumed a central and key role in neuroradiological
      evaluation of the spinal cord. Because of its noninvasiveness and high
      sensitivity in the detection of intramedullary lesions, it represents the method
      of choice today for the work-up of acute, chronic and traumatic myelopathies. The
      main limiting factor of MR is its rather low specificity. For this reason the
      clinical history as well as the neurological and laboratory findings continue to
      be of major importance in arriving at a definite diagnosis. The method is
      contraindicated in patients with pacemakers or other intracorporeal paramagnetic
      devices. It is relatively contraindicated in claustrophobic patients. In these
      cases MR should be replaced by myelography or CT-myelography. For the diagnosis
      of vascular diseases of the spinal cord, specifically vascular malformations and
      hypervascular tumors (e.g. hemangioblastoma), selective spinal angiography
      represents an essential adjunct to MR. Selective angiography can also be used
      therapeutically to treat preoperatively or definitely vascular malformations
      (i.e. interventional neuroradiology).

PMID- 1439685
TI  - [Imaging of the spine].
AB  - Modern imaging techniques allow early and precise diagnosis of spinal diseases.
      Their sensitivity and specificity are variable, but in general they are more
      complementary than competitive. After emphasizing the different patterns which
      characterize the late evolution of diagnostic imaging, the author reviews the
      indications and limits of plain films, bone scintigraphy, computed tomography,
      and in particular of magnetic resonance, in trauma, degenerative lesions,
      inflammations, infections and tumors of the spine.

PMID- 1439686
TI  - [Evaluation and documentation of tomographic images and further data using the
      Apple-Macintosh PC].
AB  - Use of the personal microcomputer for the analysis of clinical cardial PET
      studies acquired at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen, Switzerland. At
      present this is the only PET facility in Switzerland. As the local computers were
      not usually available for image analysis, it was necessary to find a convenient
      way to visualize and analyze the PET images in our department in the Cantonal
      Hospital, Aarau (distance to Villigen some 30 km). The personal microcomputer is,
      as other authors have already shown, in fact capable of handling the acquired
      images (128 by 128 pixels) easily. We use a Macintosh IIcx (16 MHz Motorola 68030
      CPU) as image analysis workstation. In spring 1990 we implemented a software
      which could read the original Siemens matrix file directly into the Macintosh PC.
      As the handling of this software was somewhat clumsy, we now use a very powerful
      software ("Explorer", UCLA), which is specially designed for PET analysis.
      Analysis of PET data on the personal computer saves both time and money as we are
      able to use a standard PC periphery, which is less expensive than specially
      designed medical units.

PMID- 1439687
TI  - [Sphincter-preserving radiotherapy of anal carcinoma].
AB  - During the last decade radiotherapy, in combination with chemotherapy, has become
      the treatment of choice in cure of anal carcinoma with preservation of anal
      function, and has replaced abdominoperineal resection (APR). From 1979-1990 54
      patients with anal carcinoma were treated by radiotherapy. 24 patients received
      radiotherapy after APR (12 adjuvant, 12 after recurrence). 11 received palliative
      radiotherapy without prior APR. 19 patients were treated curatively, 17 of whom
      received a combination of external irradiation followed by interstitial iridium
      implantation in a split course regimen. 11 of the 19 patients received short
      simultaneous chemotherapy (mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil). All 19 patients had a
      complete remission. 18/19 patients had no local recurrence after mean 14 months'
      follow-up. 2 patients developed regional recurrence. 3 patients died of other
      causes. Colostomy was necessary in 5/19 patients with anal necrosis which was
      dose-related. The maximum tolerated dose was 71.4 Gy. Our results support the
      recommendation in the literature of primary, curative, radiotherapy and
      chemotherapy of anal carcinoma with preservation of the anal sphincter.

PMID- 1439688
TI  - [Current aspects in the pathogenesis and therapy of glomerulonephritis:
      significance of glomerular metalloproteinases].
AB  - The extracellular matrix, comprising the glomerular basement membrane and the
      mesangial matrix, plays a crucial role in glomerular structure and function. The
      glomerular extracellular matrix is composed of collagens, proteoglycans and
      glycoproteins. The distorted balance between synthesis and degradation of
      extracellular matrix proteins is a hallmark of many forms of glomerulonephritis,
      such as glomerulosclerosis. The degradation of the matrix occurs through the
      action of a group of extracellularly active metalloproteinases. Within the
      glomerulus these enzymes are synthesized by the epithelial and the mesangial
      cells. The molecular structure of the mesangial metalloproteinases, including
      their in vitro regulation, was analyzed and the in vivo synthesis of these
      proteinases was documented for cases of idiopathic rapid progressive
      glomerulonephritis and anti-Thy 1.1 nephritis. The therapeutic change in the
      activity and expression of the glomerular metalloproteinases, resulting in the
      restoration of physiologic matrix metabolic balance, opens up a new perspective
      for the therapy of glomerular inflammatory processes.

PMID- 1439689
TI  - [Immediate and long-term results of carotid endarterectomy: the Zurich
      experience].
AB  - Extracardial carotid artery disease is a frequent cause of transient ischemic
      attack and of cerebral infarction. The records of 485 patients who underwent
      carotid endarterectomy between 1978 and 1991 were reviewed, with special
      attention to both cardiac and neurological complications. 432 patients had
      symptomatic carotid disease whereas 53 were asymptomatic but presented with
      significant carotid stenosis or a large ulceration at doppler-duplex examination
      and/or angiography. These examinations showed the following lesions in
      symptomatic patients: unilateral stenosis > 75% (331; 68.5%), ulceration (41;
      8.5%), bilateral stenosis (61; 12.5%) and unilateral stenosis with contralateral
      occlusion (51; 10.5%). Intraluminal shunt was used in nearly all patients whereas
      special management of cerebral metabolism (intraoperative electroencephalogram,
      somatosensory evoked potentials) were used in high-risk patients only. Overall
      early mortality was 1.8%. Three patients died from the sequelae of a neurologic
      injury, whereas six patients died from myocardial infarction or intractable
      arrhythmia. Mortality decreased from 2.4% between 1978 and 1984 to 0.8% between
      1985 and 1991. At 6 and 8 years, actuarial survival rates of 88.1% and 76.1% and
      stroke-free survival rates of 86% and 81.5% were observed. Late mortality was
      essentially due to ischemic cardiac complications (38.5% of the actuarial late
      mortality at 8 years). Review of the literature shows that carotid endarterectomy
      is the treatment of choice for symptomatic high-grade extracranial carotid
      stenosis in patients who are not high-risk candidates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1439690
TI  - [Reliability of bronchial tumor typing base on fibroscopically obtained
      biopsies].
AB  - This study is based on the bronchial tumors biopsied and later examined between
      1971 and 1986 at the Institute of Pathology, Lausanne. In each case the diagnosis
      based on the initial biopsy material is compared with the final surgical or
      autopsy diagnosis (Reference: Histological typing of lung tumours, second
      edition, WHO, 1981, 2). The series studied is constituted by 163 cases: 144 men
      (88.3%) and 19 women (11.7%). In 136 cases (83.4%), the biopsy diagnoses are
      identical to the diagnoses based upon surgical or autopsy material; in 27 cases
      (16.6%) these diagnoses differ. The positive predictive value of bronchial biopsy
      appears to be excellent (100%) for small cell and epidermoid carcinoma (CA). It
      is satisfactory for adenocarcinoma (85.7%) but insufficient for large cell CA
      (42.3%) and the tumors grouped under "others" (50%). The diagnosis of large cell
      CA, in situ CA, papillary tumor, undifferentiated CA, or carcinomatous
      lymphangitis should be considered with caution and in some cases it is advisable
      to repeat the biopsy. The discrepancies between the initial and final diagnoses
      can, in all cases, be attributed either to the biopsy specimen being too small
      and therefore nonrepresentative or, less frequently, to crushing and necrosis of
      the tissues.

PMID- 1439691
TI  - [Primary prevention of osteopenia].
AB  - In industrialized countries the clinical and socioeconomic importance of
      osteoporosis has been well recognized in recent years. Various treatments have
      been introduced for secondary prevention in established osteoporosis. There is,
      however, a deficit in the primary prevention of osteopenia. In every age group
      physical exercise stimulates mineralization of the bone. With regular training
      adolescents can achieve a higher peak bone mass. In old age the physiologic
      decrease of bone mass can be retarded by physical exercise. A diet rich in
      calcium has positive effects on mineralization of the bone. Estrogens have proved
      efficacious in the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Abstinence
      from nicotine and alcohol contributes to the prevention of osteopenia.

PMID- 1439692
TI  - [Dental diagnosis is not to be replaced by the computer].

PMID- 1439693
TI  - [The effect of 2 finishing methods on the micromorphology of the proximal box
      margin. An in-vivo study].
AB  - Minipreparations of class II cavities often are not employed in daily practice
      mainly because adequate instruments for finishing the axial box margin and the
      proximo-cervical curvature were not available. The purpose of this in vivo study
      was to assess the morphology of the proximal box margin after finishing with two
      different methods. 81 class II minicavities for amalgam restorations were
      prepared by 4 dental practitioners. One method for finishing the axial box margin
      and the proximo-cervical curved border was the use of a modified EVA-System with
      the total amplitude reduced to 0.4 mm and a highly flexible file (Cavishape,
      grain 25 microns). The other method was the use of an axial margin trimmer. The
      micromorphology of the two methods was investigated by means of scanning electron
      microscopy and a score system as described earlier (Lussi et al. 1987). The
      margins of the axial box as well as of the proximo-cervical curvature were
      significantly better finished with the EVA-System and the highly flexible file
      compared to the axial margin trimmer (p < 0.001). The finishing time for the box
      margin was not significantly different using the EVA instrument or the axial
      margin trimmer. These findings confirm other in vitro investigations. This in
      vivo study shows that the modified EVA instrument with the highly flexible file
      (Cavishape, grain 25 microns) is clearly superior to the axial margin trimmer in
      finishing the box margin. This device allowed a significant better finishing of
      the axial box margin and the proximo-cervical curvature of minicavities in daily
      practice.

PMID- 1439694
TI  - [The preparation of enamel margin beveling in proximal cavities].
AB  - Minicavities for posterior composite resin restorations were prepared in 24
      caries-free teeth. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the
      micromorphology of the proximal cavosurface bevel. The cavosurface bevel has been
      employed for many years as an accepted modification for composite restorations in
      permanent anterior teeth. The bevel provides more exposed enamel rod ends
      available for bonding. Using the acid-etch technique the resin-enamel bond is
      stronger with etched transverse sections of enamel prisms than with longitudinal
      sections. Enamel in the proximal and gingival wall of class II cavity
      preparations for restoration with composite should be beveled because prism
      direction is at right angles to the surface. The aim of this study was therefore
      to compare two methods for beveling the box margins of small proximal cavity
      preparations. One method for the preparation of the proximal bevel was the use of
      a modified EVA-System with the total amplitude reduced to 0.4 mm, the fixation of
      the file position and a new developed file (Bevelshape, grain 40 microns). The
      form of this file was modified in order to produce a short cavosurface bevel of
      the gingival and proximal wall without danger of damaging the adjacent tooth. The
      other method was the use of an axial margin trimmer. The micromorphology of the
      two methods was investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy and a score
      system as described earlier (Lussi et al. 1987). Statistical analysis revealed
      significant differences between the two groups. As compared to the axial margin
      trimmer the new device allowed a significant better finishing of the proximal
      bevel (p < or = 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439695
TI  - [The marginal sealing of composite inlays with different cavity liners].
AB  - In this in-vitro study we investigated the sealing properties of composite inlays
      (EOS system) dependent on 8 different base materials. Using a dye-penetration
      test, the sealing was determined after mechanical and thermal cycling. A
      partially massive dye-penetration was detected in most cases when one of the
      following materials was used: a calciumsalicylate cement (Dycal), a combination
      of calciumsalicylate cement and a resin (Basic), a calcium hydroxide filled resin
      (Prisma VLC-Dycal), or a zinc phosphate cement (Harvard Cement). In contrast to
      this, we discovered a complete or almost complete sealing in most cases after
      application of chemically-cured glass ionomer cements (Ketac-Bond, Ketac-Bond
      Aplicap, Base-Line) or a light-cured glass ionomer cement (XR-Ionomer) as base
      materials. From these results it can be concluded that the choice of base
      materials has an influence on the marginal sealing of composite inlays after
      thermal and mechanical cycling. However, it is not possible to make a definitive
      statement on the suitability of these base materials under clinical conditions,
      because the results of dye-penetration tests have only limited clinical validity.

PMID- 1439696
TI  - [The surface roughness of orthodontic wires--a laser optical and profilometric
      study].
AB  - The surface roughness of orthodontic wires is an essential factor that determines
      the effectiveness of arch guided tooth movement. Using the nondestructive
      technique of laser specular reflectance, the surface roughness of 11 nickel
      titanium orthodontic wires and a standard steel as well as a beta-titanium wire
      was measured. The results were compared with the results from surface
      profilometry. The smoothest wire, standard steel Hi-T, has an optical roughness
      of 0.10 microns, while the roughness from profilometry reached a value of 0.06
      microns. The titanium molybdenum wire has an optical as well as a profilometric
      roughness of about 0.20 microns, while the roughness of the NiTi wires ranges
      from 0.10 microns to 1.30 microns. As the surface roughness not only influences
      the effectiveness of sliding mechanics, but also the corrosion behaviour and
      aesthetics, the manufacturers of orthodontic wires are asked to improve the
      surface quality of their products.

PMID- 1439697
TI  - [Implants in the edentulous mandible. Clinical experiences with the use of ITI
      implants in the edentulous mandible: a retrospective after 8 years.
      Internationales Team fur Implantologie].

PMID- 1439698
TI  - [The distalization of molars by the mold-casting technic. The distalization of
      molars with the aid of the mold-casting technic--an alternative to headgear].

PMID- 1439699
TI  - [Dental imaging. An image-processing computer system as a new diagnostic and
      communications resource for dentistry].

PMID- 1439700
TI  - [The direct responsibility of the dentist].

PMID- 1439701
TI  - [Dentistry in the Scandinavian states].

PMID- 1439702
TI  - [Membrane technics in oral implantology].

PMID- 1439703
TI  - [No obligatory HIV tests for hospital patients and medical personnel].

PMID- 1439704
TI  - [Statistics on health insurance 1990].

PMID- 1439705
TI  - [Signal transduction in normal and neoplastic cells].
AB  - This review describes molecular mechanisms involved in intracellular signal
      transmission. Special focus is given on calcium and calcium binding proteins as
      signaling intermediates. These strictly controlled biochemical reactions prevent
      uncoordinated proliferation which may lead to tumor development. Generally,
      signal transduction pathways are very similar among higher eukaryotes. Mutations
      in genes responsible for signal transmission and growth control (protooncogenes
      and tumor suppressor genes) are often found in tumors or cancer cell lines.

PMID- 1439706
TI  - [Control of gastrointestinal strongylids in first year calves: use of Paratect
      Flex bolus at late pasture turnout].
AB  - The efficacy of the Paratect Flex-Bolus for the control of parasitic
      gastroenteritis in calves was evaluated in a field experiment in the Swiss
      midland region. The bolus was administered to 9 first year grazing calves at 4 to
      5 months of age before turnout on June 26 while 9 calves remained as untreated
      controls. Both groups were rotated between 8 paddocks that had been pregrazed by
      older cattle in spring. For a period of 12 weeks the faecal egg output of the
      treated calves was reduced significantly (p < 0.05) compared to the controls,
      whereas no significant differences were observed in the mean serum pepsinogen
      values of both groups. At the end of the experiment (November 14) the bolus
      treated calves showed a 4 kg weight gain advantage over the controls which was
      not significant. The mild infection levels in both groups were probably due to
      the low pasture contamination with infective larvae throughout the season which
      most likely resulted from the late turnout of the calves. An outbreak of
      dictyocaulosis was observed in both groups in October and confirmed that the
      Paratect Flex-Bolus provides insufficient protection against this infection.

PMID- 1439707
TI  - [Suspicion of visna in a sheep from Graubunden Canton].
AB  - A lentivirus belonging to the group of retroviridae causes a chronic progressive
      interstitial pneumopathy (maedi) or a demyelinating encephalo-myelitis (visna) in
      sheep and goats. Pulmonary lesions of maedi as well as sero-positive, clinically
      healthy animals can be observed in Switzerland; visna, which even in countries
      with endemic infection does not occur frequently, is extremely rare. The head and
      cervical spine of an ewe with severe nervous troubles suspected of scrapie were
      submitted for postmortem examination. We found a demyelinating myelitis
      resembling visna. Immunocytochemical staining (PAP) to demonstrate the presence
      of the virus in paraffin sections was negative, but several animals of the flock
      proved to be seropositive for maedi/visna virus, which supports the histological
      diagnosis. Although there is no risk of an epidemic outbreak of maedi/visna in
      Switzerland, modes of transmission, eradication programmes and prophylactic
      measures successfully employed in countries with endemic maedi/visna are
      discussed.

PMID- 1439708
TI  - Using fetal tissue.

PMID- 1439709
TI  - The human voice.

PMID- 1439710
TI  - Meaning and mind in monkeys.

PMID- 1439711
TI  - Why do we age?

PMID- 1439712
TI  - Essential but expendable. When do master genes regulate cell growth?

PMID- 1439713
TI  - Shaking the tree. Will statistical analysis of DNA pinpoint human origins?

PMID- 1439714
TI  - Cellular response. Are antibodies the most effective defense against AIDS?

PMID- 1439715
TI  - [Intra-individual variation of cerebral blood flow velocity in sleeping and awake
      children].
AB  - A considerable intraindividual variability of blood flow velocities in the middle
      and posterior cerebral artery was found in 74 children by continuous transcranial
      Doppler recording during EEG registration. The coefficient of variation of the
      mean flow velocities in the posterior cerebral artery was higher than in the
      middle cerebral artery, and higher in restless children than in calm children.
      During hyperventilation the mean flow velocities decreased to about 50 per cent
      of the baseline values. They increased to 130-140 per cent of the baseline values
      after hyperventilation. Repeated variations of the velocities of more than 30 per
      cent of the baseline values were observed during non-REM sleep in the majority of
      the children. They may be caused by a lower damping of the cerebral
      autoregulatory response. The intraindividual variability of cerebral blood flow
      velocities in children has to be kept in mind in pathological conditions and
      during Doppler monitoring.

PMID- 1439716
TI  - [Transcranial Doppler sonography with evaluation of CO2 reactivity in
      craniocerebral trauma].
AB  - 17 patients with severe head injury were examined by transcranial Doppler
      sonography. Resting values and CO2 reactivity were determined. The resting
      measurements had no prognostic value. There was no significant side difference in
      patients with unilateral intracranial lesions. CO2 reactivity was 2.8 +/-
      2.3%/mmHg pCO2 in patients with good outcome, whereas in patients with bad
      outcome CO2 reactivity was 0.6 +/- 5.1%/mmHg pCO2. However, in the acute
      situation after the trauma there was no difference between the two. In patients
      with a unilateral lesion we found a significantly lower CO2 reactivity on the
      side of the lesion of 1.8 +/- 0.4%/mmHg pCO2, on the non-affected side CO2
      reactivity was 4.5 +/- 2.1%/mmHg pCO2. The conclusion is that the CO2 reactivity
      yields information on the actual haemodynamic situation in brain-injured
      patients. Repeated measurements are necessary to improve the prognostic value of
      CO2 reactivity, because this parameter may improve during treatment.

PMID- 1439717
TI  - [Various ultrasound methods for studying the vertebral artery--a comparative
      evaluation].
AB  - In a prospective study 451 patients were examined with extracranial continuous
      wave (CW) Doppler sonography, transcranial Doppler sonography and color coded
      duplex sonography in order to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the three
      methods for vertebral artery pathology (hypoplasia, proximal and distal stenosis
      and occlusion). Color duplex sonography was used as the reference method. CW
      Doppler sonography (mastoidal slope) had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity
      of 27% for the detection of pathological changes in vertebral arteries (VA). For
      suboccipital transcranial Doppler sonography these values were 38% and 58%.
      Extracranial Doppler sonography and transcranial Doppler sonography are often
      unsuitable for differentiating between proximal stenosis and hypoplasia of VA.
      Transcranial Doppler sonography of the terminal segments of VA resulted in normal
      flow parameters in 27% of cases with proximal stenosis and in 50% in cases of
      proximal occlusion. Flow was normal in these particular cases owing to a more
      distal collateralisation of the VA. The terms "hypoplasia" and "asymmetric" of VA
      are discussed.

PMID- 1439718
TI  - [Catheter-induced femoral artery lesions: diagnosis with B-mode ultrasound,
      Doppler ultrasound and color Doppler ultrasound].
AB  - A total of 44 patients were evaluated to compare the value of B-mode sonography,
      Doppler sonography and colour coded Doppler sonography. All patients were studied
      because of suspected lesions of the femoral arteries following diagnostic and/or
      therapeutic cardiac catheterisation. B-mode sonography was unable to reliably
      differentiate between haematoma and pseudo-aneurysms, a.v.-fistula or combined
      lesions. Colour coded Doppler sonography can better demonstrate haematoma and
      thrombi in pseudo-aneurysms. The neck of a pseudoaneurysm can be exactly depicted
      by colour coded Doppler sonography. A.v.-fistula is shown by colour coded Doppler
      sonography based on typical colour coding and the Doppler spectrum. Combined
      lesions of pseudo-aneurysm and a.v.-fistula cannot reliably be detected by colour
      coded Doppler sonography, duplex sonography and B-mode sonography.

PMID- 1439719
TI  - Atlantoaxial instability in Down's syndrome: a case report and review.
AB  - Down's syndrome is the most common autosomal chromosomal abnormality in humans
      and is associated with a number of well known clinical findings. Atlantoaxial
      instability is a less recognized, yet potentially significant, manifestation of
      Down's that has gained importance because of the widespread participation of
      Down's syndrome individuals in athletic events. Early recognition and appropriate
      management of patients with atlantoaxial instability can significantly reduce the
      morbidity and mortality associated with this condition and guide patients and
      their parents toward continued safe participation in athletics.

PMID- 1439720
TI  - Tuberculous peritonitis: a case report and literature review.
AB  - We present a case of tuberculous peritonitis in the setting of alcoholic
      cirrhosis with ascites. A young American Indian male with alcoholic cirrhosis and
      ascites presented with low grade fever and weight loss. A diagnosis of
      tuberculous peritonitis was made by laparoscopic guided peritoneal biopsy. He was
      treated successfully with isoniazid and ethambutol for 24 months. The diagnosis
      of tuberculous peritonitis should be entertained in high risk populations such as
      American Indians, Asians, alcoholics, chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
      patients and AIDS patients in the appropriate clinical setting. Definitive
      diagnosis can usually be made by laparoscopic guided peritoneal biopsy.

PMID- 1439721
TI  - Pediatric pain management.

PMID- 1439722
TI  - A condom sense approach to AIDS prevention: a historical perspective.
AB  - Condoms have come a long way since their use in ancient Egypt three millennia
      ago. Their benefit is well established for the prevention of both contraception
      and STDs. Although AIDS has revitalized the condom, we must remember that condoms
      do not prevent the spread of HIV infection, people do. Everyone must take
      personal responsibility to avoid high risk behavior (e.g.; IV drug use,
      promiscuous sex, casual sex, etc). If one does engage in high risk sexual
      behavior, he/she should at least use condom sense.

PMID- 1439723
TI  - Toxic metal pollution in Africa.
AB  - The available information suggests that the concentrations of toxic metals in
      many ecosystems of Africa are reaching unprecedented levels. Because of the heavy
      load of contaminated dusts in the air of the overcrowded cities, the ambient
      concentrations of toxic metals are now among the highest being reported anywhere.
      Lead pollution from the increasing number of automobiles and cottage industries
      represents a major health hazard, and it is estimated that 15-30% of the infants
      in some urban areas may already be suffering from lead poisoning. The cultural
      and lifestyle determinants of lead exposure and the greater susceptibility of
      African populations to environmental metal poisoning are highlighted. The
      suggestion is made that the environmental health criteria for toxic metals in the
      developed countries may not provide adequate protection for many African
      communities.

PMID- 1439724
TI  - The transport and fluvial redistribution of Chernobyl-derived radiocaeisum within
      the River Wye basin, UK.
AB  - Relatively little attention has been given to the long term prospect of fluvial
      transport processes redistributing Chernobyl-derived radiocaesium within the UK.
      Work undertaken within the Wye basin, central Wales, demonstrates a complex
      distribution of fallout at the catchment scale, with the bulk of the deposition
      concentrated in a narrow north-south band, situated in the west central areas of
      the basin, which contained in excess of 1500 Bq m(-2) of (134)Cs. Fluvial
      transport and redistribution of this material was demonstrated by river sampling
      during the winter of 1988/89, when the radiocaesium content of suspended sediment
      transported by the River Wye (approximately 30-50 mBq g(-1) of (137)Cs) remained
      3-5 times higher than pre-Chernobyl levels. Floodplain reaches displayed variable
      levels of secondary contamination, dependent upon the upstream supply of
      radiocaesium and local morphological controls. Accordingly, the highest (134)Cs
      inventories within the basin (> 6000 Bq m(-2)) were associated with rapidly
      accreting floodplain sites. A number of these sites experienced only limited
      amounts of direct atmospheric fallout. The importance of fluvial redistribution
      as a secondary contamination mechanism is thus highlighted.

PMID- 1439725
TI  - Contamination of plants by resuspension: a review, with critique of measurement
      methods.
AB  - Resuspension of contaminated soil particles can be an important process that
      prolongs the availability of contaminants within the environment. Inhalation and
      inadvertent ingestion of resuspended soil particles may be important pathways to
      human exposure. Our understanding of the processes and mechanisms of resuspension
      onto plant surfaces are currently inadequate for accurate predictions. Part of
      this is due to the use of measurement techniques designed for inhalation studies
      that are not efficient for gaining understanding about phenomena occurring at the
      plant surface. I discuss the shortcomings of such techniques, review the data
      from a technique that currently has the most merit (mass loading), and suggest
      new techniques, as well as specific needs for future research. The paper's focus
      is on the contamination of plant surfaces by resuspended soil particles, not the
      inhalation of such particles.

PMID- 1439726
TI  - Solar UV irradiance and some biological consequences: Bombay, India.
AB  - Measurements of solar UV radiation (UVR) at Bombay, India, lattitude 18.5 North
      and longitude 72.5 East were recorded using Eppley UV radiometer for a 2-year
      period. The UV irradiance is calculated and presented. The annual and diurual
      trends in the quantitation of UVR are examined. The consequences of solar UVR and
      its projected increase are discussed with special reference to its biological
      effects and results of UVR on experimental animal systems vis a vis and
      epidemiological data in the Indian context.

PMID- 1439727
TI  - The transport of airborne trace elements copper, lead, cadmium, zinc and
      manganese from a city into rural areas.
AB  - The fluxes of the elements lead, zinc, copper, cadmium and manganese have been
      measured in the insoluble component of bulk deposition derived from Christchurch,
      New Zealand. Lead, zinc, copper and cadmium fluxes follow approximately
      exponential decay curves away from the city whereas manganese deposition showed
      little spatial variation. A similar composite source originating in the city is
      indicated for the lead zinc, copper and cadmium and a different major source
      occurs for manganese. In the city and nearby rural areas soil is not a major
      source of atmospheric lead, zinc, copper and cadmium, whereas at remote sites
      atmospheric levels of these elements are mostly soil derived. Seasonal variations
      in the bulk deposition are large within the city, and at upwind rural sites. The
      variations are controlled by meteorological conditions, in particular wind speed
      and the height of the mixing layer. Compared with overseas studies, the
      proportion of the metals occurring in the soluble fraction of the bulk deposition
      is low. This may be due to the relatively dry climate of the area.

PMID- 1439728
TI  - Occurrence of butyltin species in sewage and sludge in Canada.
AB  - Samples of sewage treatment influent, effluent and sludges collected monthly from
      five Canadian cities over the period from July 1990 to January 1991 were analysed
      for butyltin and octyltin species. Monobutyltin was found in all influent
      samples, but dibutyltin and tributyltin were found only infrequently, and
      octyltin species were not found at all. In the case of monobutyltin, there was
      significant reduction in its concentration by degradation and adsorption to
      sludge during passage through the sewage treatment plant. The average reduction
      was 40%. The monobutyltin found in the effluent likely came from its use as a
      poly (vinyl chloride) stabilizer, and from the degradation of tributyltin, which
      is used as a slimicide. No butyltin or octyltin species was found in five
      landfill leachate samples in southern Ontario during the same period.

PMID- 1439729
TI  - Radon concentrations inside castles and other ancient buildings.
AB  - Sixty-two measurements of Rn-222 concentrations were made in 24 castles and 13
      ancient buildings in 30 different places situated in the provinces of Parma and
      Reggio Emilia (Northern Italy). The method used was that of activated carbon
      canisters which were placed in selected settings for at least 48 h in the period
      starting from December 1990 to May 1991. It was possible to determine the amount
      of radon in each canister via its daughters gamma emitters counted by NaI(T1) and
      Ge(I) detectors. The mean radon concentrations were 72 Bq m-3 (arithmetic mean)
      and 49 Bq m-3 (geometric mean), a good deal higher than the values obtained from
      measurements carried out in modern dwellings in the same area; 30 Bq m-3
      (arithmetic mean) and 19 Bq m-3 (geometric mean).

PMID- 1439730
TI  - In vivo detection of genotoxicity in waste water from a wheat and rye straw paper
      pulp factory.
AB  - The genotoxicity of waste water from a wheat and rye straw paper pulp mill was
      investigated by in vivo genotoxicity tests using micronuclei and sister chromatid
      exchange as endpoints. Micronuclei were studied in mussels (Mytilus edulis) and
      sister chromatid exchange in fish (Nothobranchius rachowi). The paper mill uses
      chlorine dioxide for bleaching, and the bleaching effluent as well as the
      combined effluent, i.e. the mixture of all waste water streams, were both tested.
      Both effluents induced micronuclei and sister chromatid exchanges, although the
      presence of toxic substances could mask the expression of genotoxicity in some
      cases for both test systems. The study revealed that genotoxins are produced in
      the chlorine dioxide bleaching process as well as in the pulping process,
      indicating also genotoxic activity of non-chlorinated compounds. In contrast to
      previous studies in which mutagenicity was determined with bacterial assays,
      genotoxins were only associated with chlorinated organics from bleaching with
      chlorine and failed in detecting genotoxins in chlorine dioxide bleaching
      effluents. Aquatic in vivo genotoxicity tests are sensitive and efficient systems
      and seem to be a promising tool in effluent testing.

PMID- 1439731
TI  - ELISA test, a new method to detect and quantify isoproturon in soil.
AB  - An indirect competitive Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) has been
      developed to quantify isoproturon (a commonly used phenylurea herbicide) in soil
      samples. To produce the specific antibodies needed for detection of isoproturon,
      an isopropylanilin analogue was covalently linked to a proteic carrier and the
      resulting conjugate used as immunogen. Hybridomas were obtained from spleen cells
      of mice immunized with this conjugate. One specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) was
      selected and used to the ELISA allowing the detection of small amounts of
      herbicide (20-250 micrograms l-1). Cross-reactivities with other current
      phenylureas appear to be insignificant. Samples of six soils were mixed with
      several quantities of herbicide (to reach final concentrations ranging between
      0.15 and 1 microgram g-1) and extracted either with methanol to determine the
      total residue or with a solution of CaCl2, to establish the herbicide available
      from the soil solution. The extracts were analyzed simultaneously by gas
      chromatography and ELISA in these conditions, correlation coefficients between
      both methods were never lower than 93.5%. Organic matter and ionic strength
      appeared to be the most important parameters interfering the ELISA test. To avoid
      these drawbacks, standard curves were established for the ELISA by spiking
      isoproturonless soils extracts. In these conditions, correlations between both
      methods were considered as sufficient. ELISA of untreated samples were carried
      out to verify the isoproturon availability curves established previously.

PMID- 1439732
TI  - Biological and chemical interactions of pesticides with soil organic matter.
AB  - There is little doubt that organic matter plays a major role in the binding of
      pesticides in soil, and that this phenomenon is usually the most important cause
      for interaction of pesticides in the soil environment. Fulvic or humic acids are
      the chemicals most commonly involved in the binding interactions. Binding can
      occur with the original pesticide or a transformation product, the reaction being
      caused by abiotic agents or biotic agents (microbial or plant enzymes). The
      reactions or processes involved appear to be the same as those responsible for
      the formation of humic substances, i.e. for the humification process. Binding of
      pesticides to organic matter can occur by sorption (Van der Waal's forces,
      hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic bonding), electrostatic interactions (charge
      transfer, ion exchange or ligand exchange), covalent bonding or combinations of
      these reactions. Our investigation focused primarily on the binding of
      substituted phenols and aromatic amines to humus monomers and humic substances.
      In model reactions, we demonstrated the formation of covalent linkages between
      pesticides and humus constituents and fulvic or humic acids in the presence of
      phenol oxidases or clay minerals. With chlorinated phenols and carboxylic acids,
      it was possible to isolate and identify cross-coupling products and to elucidate
      the site and type of binding. The binding of chlorinated phenols to humic
      substances was determined by using 14C-labelled chemicals and by measuring the
      uptake of radioactivity by the humic material. These experiments provide a base
      for explaining the formation of bound residues in certain cases and for assuming
      the toxic potential of the immobilized pollutants.

PMID- 1439733
TI  - Molinate decontamination processes in effluent water from rice fields.
AB  - The performance of aeration, photodecomposition and biological degradation
      processes as methods to reduce molinate contamination levels in effluent water
      from rice fields was studied. Aeration produced a molinate dissipation of 84%, as
      against 22% without aeration. Application of UV-light to clean water solutions
      achieved a molinate photodecomposition of 96% in 24 h. Maximal degradation
      obtained in algal cultures was 55% in 20 days and 78% in 40 days. In micro
      organism cultures, kept in darkness and with a continuous flow of aqueous
      solution of molinate and inorganic salts, a degradation of 97% was achieved.

PMID- 1439735
TI  - Gas chromatographic determination of some modern pesticides in fruits.
AB  - A method was developed for determination for residual amounts of some modern
      insecticides, acaricides and fungicides in fruits. The pesticides were extracted
      with methanol and partitioned into chloroform. The extract was purified by column
      chromatography on sodium sulphate/Florisil/Celite/charcoal. Analysis by gas
      liquid chromatography with 63Ni electron capture detection was completed
      successively on a column (150 cm x 4 mm) with 3% SE-30 and a column (150 cm x 2
      mm with 3% OV-17 liquid phase. Recoveries of 17 pesticides from fortified samples
      of apples ranged from 83.3% to 98.4% for a level of 0.1 mg/kg.

PMID- 1439734
TI  - Degradation of aliphatic halogen-substituted pesticides by dehalogenase isolated
      from Pseudomonas alcaligenes. Identification and properties of the enzyme.
AB  - Some characteristics of a 2,2-dichloropropionate dehalogenase induced in a
      bacterial strain capable of degrading high concentrations of the herbicide
      dalapon were studied. Polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis of the crude cell free
      extracts identified only one type of dehalogenase. The single enzymatic protein
      showed activity against a variety of chlorinated aliphatic acids but differed in
      their activity levels. Thus activity in mumol substrate converted (mg protein)-1
      min-1 was 2-monochloropropionate 0.65, 2,2-dichloropropionate 0.56, 2
      monochloroacetate 1.70 and 2,2-dichloroacetate 1.00. In the crude extracts, the
      enzyme activity against 2,2-dichloropropionate was optimal at a broad pH range
      with a mid-point at pH 9.5 and apparent Km values were within the range 0.23-0.73
      mM.

PMID- 1439736
TI  - Relationship between the biodegradative capability of soil micromycetes for
      pentachlorophenol and for pentachloronitrobenzene.
AB  - A collection of 1056 strains in our laboratory were incubated with various
      xenobiotics among which were two potent fungicides: pentachlorophenol (PCP) and
      pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB). The production of extracellular phenoloxidases
      were examined, using a series of ten different reagents. On the whole, PCNB is
      less accessible to fungal degradation than PCP. Although no correlation was found
      between the biodegradative capability of individual fungal strains for PCP or for
      PCNB, when taxonomic groups were considered as a whole, the same activity
      profiles were found. Zygomycetes were the most efficient; yeasts the least
      efficient towards both substrates. A more detailed study of the metabolism of
      both substrates on selected strains is in progress.

PMID- 1439737
TI  - Evidence of reduced poly-B-hydroxybutyrate biosynthesis in free-living nitrogen
      fixing bacteria, Azotobacter chroococcum, following acquired resistance to the
      fungicide captan.
AB  - Some biological activities of Azotobacter chroococcum, strain Azcap 1,
      (spontaneous mutant, captan resistant up to 300 micrograms/ml) were assayed on RM
      medium with and without the presence of the fungicide. Comparisons were also
      carried out with Az. chroococcum sensitive strains Azwt, Azcan 10 and 14. The
      hydrolysis of captan, incorporated in agar plates of RM at 100 micrograms/ml, was
      rapid, since on 4-day plates, no effect was found on the strain Azwt, while on
      freshly prepared ones its growth was completely blocked. As for Azcap 1, grown on
      RM only, the behaviour was similar to that of sensitive strains, whereas when
      grown on captan the results of experiments showed: (i) a lag of approximately 12
      h to reach the maximum nitrogen-fixing activity; (ii) delay of 12-24 h in the
      full consumption of glucose present in the medium, although the invertase
      activity did not present differences; (iii) high ATP culture content during the
      50 h of the experiment; (iv) approximately 6-10-fold lower production of PHB
      (poly-B-hydroxybutyrate); (v) lack of typical encystment phase, for the tested 96
      h and reduced viability in developing colonies on agar RM medium. In contrast,
      when captan was added to cultural medium at sublethal concentration, 50
      micrograms/ml for sensitive strain Azwt and 200 micrograms/ml for Azcap 1, the
      amount of glutathione produced (to remove the fungicide toxicity) was several
      times higher for the former.

PMID- 1439738
TI  - High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of the herbicide imazapyr
      residues in water and soil.
AB  - A rapid method for determining residues of the herbicide imazapyr in water and
      soil is described. The soil samples were extracted with aqueous methanol and,
      after concentrating, the residue was estimated by HPLC with UV detection at 250
      nm. Imazapyr dissolved in water was quantified by injecting the samples without
      any previous treatments. Analyses were performed without clean-up of soil and
      water samples. The pre-concentration of samples was required only at very low
      herbicide amounts. The maximum recovery was achieved by methanol/water (3:2 v/v)
      with both soils after three extraction procedures. The detection limits were 0.01
      mg/l and 0.05 mg/kg in water and soil, respectively.

PMID- 1439739
TI  - Mobility of dichlorprop in the soil-water system as a function of different
      environmental factors. I. A batch experiment.
AB  - Batch experiments were conducted to study the mobility of 14C-labelled
      dichlorprop in different soil types. Soils rich in organic carbon showed high
      sorption capacity compared to sand soil with low content of organic C. Soil to
      soil variations decreased when corrected for different content of organic C (Kd
      normalized to Koc). Data obtained in batch experiments fit into linear as well as
      Freundlich sorption isotherms (17 degrees C). Desorption of [14C]dichlorprop in
      the soil-water system increased with pH. A significant amount of dichlorprop may
      be considered as 'non-available' in soils with high organic C, even at relatively
      high pH-values. The octanol/water partitioning coefficient (Kow) for dichlorprop
      was inversely related to pH. In the pH range 4-7, the Kow-value varied from 114
      to 0.6. The relationship between Koc and pH was similar to the relationship
      between Kow and pH and the data fitted the following equation: log Koc = 0.5 log
      Kow + 0.2 (r2 = 0.986).

PMID- 1439740
TI  - Mobility of dichlorprop in the soil-water system as a function of different
      environmental factors. II. A lysimeter experiment.
AB  - Lysimeter experiments were conducted to study the leaching of [14C]dichlorprop
      and [3H]water through different soil columns. Results from soil columns collected
      at Haslemoen showed that an upper silt loam layer (0-18 cm) had higher retention
      capacity than the underlying sandy loam (35-60 cm) and fine sand (70-95 cm)
      layers. Leaching through silt clay loam (0-18 cm) columns from Ullensaker was
      very fast. When the columns received an amount of water corresponding to
      approximately 10 mm precipitation, up to 50% of the added [14C]dichlorprop
      leached through the columns. This is probably due to rapid downward movements
      through macropores (e.g. cracks).

PMID- 1439741
TI  - Analytical methodology for screening organophosphorus pesticides in biota
      samples.
AB  - The use of gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and capillary gas chromatography
      (GC) with thermionic detection (NPD) is described as a routine methodology for
      the determination of organophosphorus pesticides in biota samples. Confirmatory
      analysis is done by capillary GC with mass spectrometry in the negative chemical
      ionization mode (NCI-MS). As an example, the use of GPC is described as trace
      enrichment technique and clean-up to remove coextractive lipids in samples of
      mosquito fish Gambussia affinis collected during periods of 1987-1989 in the rice
      crop fields of the Ebro Delta (Spain). Recoveries of dioxathion, fenitrothion,
      malathion, tetrachlorvinphos, azinphos-ethyl, ronnel and coumaphos varied between
      60% and 80% depending on the compound.

PMID- 1439742
TI  - Assessment of the movement of triazole fungicides by soil thin-layer
      chromatography.
AB  - Soil TLC was used to assess and compare the mobility of 17 triazole fungicides in
      soil. A sample of Versailles soil (a silt loam with 2% organic matter) was passed
      through a 100-microns-meshed screen, and glass plates were coated with this fine
      fraction at a thickness of 250 microns or 500 microns. The non-labelled compounds
      were bioassayed to visualize their movement. Penicillium expansum was used as
      visualizing agent by spraying plates with an agar suspension of the fungus.
      Plates were then incubated at 28 degrees C, 100% RH. Inhibition areas usually
      appeared within 36 h. When [14C]triazoles were available, a linear detector and
      autoradiography were used to visualize the movement and measure the Rf. The Rf
      values obtained indicate that most of the fungicides were slightly mobile in the
      Versailles soil. Mobility of these fungicides was inversely related to their
      octanol/water partition coefficient. Successive leaching were also carried out
      with radiolabelled compounds, and movement was measured with the linear detector
      and compared with the position predicted from the initial value of Rf. The
      advantages and drawbacks of this technique are discussed.

PMID- 1439743
TI  - Criteria for evaluating the impact of pesticides on groundwater quality.
AB  - A lot of data and information are available regarding the presence of pesticides
      in ground-waters or their tendency to contaminate them. Despite this, for a very
      large number of pesticides these data and information are almost completely
      lacking. Many theoretical methods have been proposed to predict the leaching
      potential of pesticides. Persistence (expressed by DT50) and mobility (expressed
      by Koc) are key parameters that seem to be particularly representative of the
      overall leaching potential of nonionic compounds and they are widely used in
      these methods. Nevertheless, these parameters may vary greatly causing sharp
      differences in ranking the leaching potential of pesticides. Indeed, when the GUS
      Index is calculated using the available published values of Koc and DT50 in
      combinations representing the minimum, medium and maximum leaching potential of
      herbicides, very different results can be obtained. Many of these compounds can
      be classified as contaminants or non contaminants, depending on the type of
      combination used.

PMID- 1439744
TI  - Mathematical descriptions of accelerated transformation of 1,3-dichloropropene in
      soil; a microbiological assessment.
AB  - The rate of transformation of the soil fumigant (Z)-and (E)-1,3-dichloropropene
      in moist soil layers was measured at incubation temperatures of 5 degrees C, 10
      degrees C and 20 degrees C. 'DD95' was added to four characterized soil layers,
      in amounts corresponding to realistic field contents after fumigation. Rapid
      transformation immediately after application was observed in layers with low
      initial contents (30-300 micrograms/kg dm) and could well be described with a
      first-order rate model. Incubation at higher doses (5-15 mg/kg dm respectively)
      showed distinctly different transformation pathways. Degradation curves could
      well be computed using a microbiological interspective competition (MIC) model
      for moist soil. The transformation rate is inversely correlated to microorganism
      population size and growth. Transformation curves described by MIC are
      characterized by a lag-time, a period of accelerated transformation and a period
      of decreasing transformation rates. At low temperatures, DT50 values of more than
      20 days could be observed. First-order rate computations did not exceed 8 days.
      The use of different mathematical discriptions for various soil layers and soil
      temperatures permits simulation of DD95-transformation by microorganisms in the
      soil profile throughout the growing season.

PMID- 1439745
TI  - Binding mechanisms of pesticides to soil humic substances.
AB  - This review-paper summarizes and discusses the nature of the binding forces
      involved and the types of mechanisms operating, often simultaneously, in the
      adsorption processes of several pesticides onto soil humic substances, humic
      acids and fulvic acids. These include ionic, hydrogen and covalent bonding,
      charge-transfer or electron donor-acceptor mechanisms, Van der Waals forces,
      ligand exchange, and hydrophobic bonding or partitioning. Experimental evidence
      obtained and interpretation provided for the various adsorption processes
      proposed are briefly presented and commented. The review ends with some
      concluding remarks and recommendations for future work needed to be done.

PMID- 1439746
TI  - Determination of trace element speciation and the role of speciation in aquatic
      toxicity.
AB  - Knowledge of trace element speciation in waters is essential to an understanding
      of aquatic toxicity and bioaccumulation, as well as to the partitioning of
      elements between water and colloidal and particulate phases. In natural waters,
      only very small percentages of the dissolved heavy metals, such as copper, lead
      cadmium or zinc, are present as free (aquo) metal ion; most of the metal is
      adsorbed to colloidal particles or combined in complexes. For aquatic toxicity
      studies, the aim of the speciation measurement is to determine the fraction of
      total dissolved metal (the 'toxic fraction') that will react with, and be
      transported across, a biological membrane such as a fish gill. In this review, a
      range of trace element speciation techniques is discussed and compared. A simple
      anodic stripping voltammetric method is recommended for the measurement of the
      fraction of electroactive metal in a sample, i.e. the fraction of total dissolved
      metal that can be deposited into a mercury electrode at the natural pH of the
      sample. The electroactive fraction is believed to approximate the toxic fraction.
      A rapid ion exchange method, suitable for field use, is proposed for the
      determination of the toxic fraction of copper in waters.

PMID- 1439747
TI  - Comparison of wet digestion procedures for the determination of cadmium and lead
      in marine biological tissues by Zeeman graphite furnace atomic absorption
      spectrophotometry.
AB  - Three wet digestion procedures, namely, nitric acid/sulphuric acid, nitric
      acid/hydrogen peroxide and nitric acid/perchloric acid were compared for their
      relative efficiency in determining cadmium and lead in marine biological tissues.
      The nitric acid/perchloric acid procedure was the most efficient, whereas the
      nitric acid/hydrogen peroxide procedure was the least efficient. The nitric
      acid/sulphuric acid procedure was also found to be effective but there was a
      problem with the method as the presence of sulphuric acid in the matrix markedly
      suppressed the absorbance signals especially for lead analysis and thus reduced
      sensitivity. The addition of ascorbic acid as matrix modifier improved
      sensitivity. However, this analysis still required the standard addition method.
      No apparent interferences were encountered for cadmium analysis.

PMID- 1439748
TI  - The use of an oxygen bomb as an alternative method for digestion of fish tissue
      for total mercury analysis.
AB  - One of the major time consuming steps in many of the methods used for the
      analysis of fish tissue for total mercury is the wet oxidation by concentrated
      acids. This paper compares the use of an oxygen bomb with the nitric/sulfuric
      acid wet oxidation technique for the determination of total mercury in fish
      tissue. No significant differences existed in the concentrations obtained by wet
      oxidation and bomb oxidation with absorption by deionised distilled water. When
      only a small number of samples (< 5) is to be analysed the oxidation bomb is
      quicker than published techniques. The oxygen bomb technique lacks the hazardous
      problems associated with the use of concentrated acids and produces a digest
      suitable for the determination of other elements but has a requirement for added
      capital cost.

PMID- 1439749
TI  - The social epidemiology of disease with particular emphasis on multiple
      sclerosis.
AB  - A particular conceptual perspective in the epidemiology of disease is discussed
      and evaluated: (1) that epidemiologic research is concerned with investigating
      the possible role played by biological and environmental factors in the etiology
      of disease but that the particular approach of the social epidemiologist is to
      concentrate on sociodemographic factors in the explanation; and (2) that a rich
      tradition of conceptual linkage already exists in epidemiologic research whereby
      sociologists working separately or in concert with epidemiologists, or physician
      epidemiologists concerned with details of social behavior and group
      relationships, have collected an analyzed sociodemographic data on the etiology
      of all kinds of disease conditions, inclusive of multiple sclerosis (MS). This
      paper is divided into four subsections which give an indication of its focus: (1)
      epidemiology and social epidemiologic research; (2) sociodemographic factors in
      epidemiologic research; (3) contribution of sociology to the social epidemiology
      of disease; and (4) sociodemographic factors in epidemiologic research on MS.
      This latter subsection includes a review and critique of some of the most
      frequently investigated sociodemographic factors in MS research: age, sex, race
      and socioeconomic status. Although the etiology of MS remains a mystery,
      sufficient epidemiologic evidence exists to connect three of these four
      sociodemographic factors to the etiology and distribution of this disease.

PMID- 1439750
TI  - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in air samples of meat smokehouses.
AB  - In a screening programme nine Danish meat smokehouses were randomly selected for
      measurements on concentration of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).
      A total of 23 stationary air samples were collected during the entire working
      period of the kiln either above the kiln doors or approximately 2 m in front of
      the kiln doors (i.e. total exposure on the day of sampling). Three of these
      samples had a PAH content below the detection limit of the highly sensitive assay
      employed. Furthermore, eight personal air samples were collected during the
      periods of tending the kiln (i.e. peak exposure measurement). Three of these
      samples were below the detection limit. Total airborne PAH concentration of the
      stationary air samples calculated as the sum of the concentration of 16 selected
      PAH compounds, was in general far lower than the total airborne PAH concentration
      measured in the same manner in smokehouses curing fish (Nordholm et al., 1986).
      In contrast to the study on PAH exposure in smokehouses curing fish, the present
      study revealed no significant difference between total PAH content in air samples
      collected above the kilns compared with samples collected approximately 2 m in
      front of the kiln doors. Calculation of the relative content of the individual
      PAH compounds in the stationary air samples collected in meat smokehouses showed
      naphthalene to be the major compound in (70% +/- 26% of total PAH), whereas the
      relative content of carcinogenic PAH compounds in average represented 4.0% of the
      total PAH content. However, only approximately 15% of the stationary air samples
      with detectable content of total PAH contained detectable amounts of carcinogenic
      PAH compounds. Hence it was concluded that PAH exposure during cold meat curing
      might be considered a limited health hazard compared with PAH exposure during hot
      fish curing.

PMID- 1439751
TI  - Concentrations of copper, zinc and lead in the Sydney rock oyster, Saccostrea
      commercialis (Iredale and Roughley) from the Georges River, New South Wales.
AB  - Copper, zinc and lead were analysed from samples of non-commercially grown Sydney
      rock oysters collected from the Georges River estuary in spring 1987. The
      results, when compared with previous data from 1975, indicated a marked increase
      in the concentration of copper (up to 40%) and zinc (up to 300%). For several
      sites, the recommended (National Health and Medical Research Council) levels for
      copper and zinc (70 micrograms g-1 and 1000 micrograms g-1 respectively) were
      exceeded. There appears to be a decrease in the concentration of lead since 1975.
      The gradient of increasing copper and zinc concentrations with increasing
      distance upstream from the mouth of the estuary reported in 1975 could not be
      statistically validated. A significant correlation was found between copper and
      zinc loadings in the oysters. It was noted that data collected in 1975 were based
      on commercially grown oysters. The use of commercially grown oysters, rather than
      indigenous oysters, to examine interaction of contaminant load and distance
      upstream, is complicated as commercial oysters are moved within the estuary and
      between estuaries to maximise growth potential.

PMID- 1439752
TI  - Fish as a source of exposure to mercury and selenium.
AB  - In a total of 395 subjects with varying fish consumption habits, mercury levels
      in whole blood (B-Hg), and selenium levels in plasma (P-Se) were studied. Also,
      in subcohorts, mercury levels in blood cells (Ery-Hg; n = 79), plasma (P-Hg; n =
      158) and urine (U-Hg; n = 125) were analysed. There were statistically
      significant associations between fish intake on the one hand, and B-Hg, Ery-Hg
      and P-Hg, on the other, but not so with U-Hg. In subjects who never had fish, the
      average B-Hg was 1.8 ng/g, in subjects who had at least two fish meals each week,
      6.7 ng/g. Ery-Hg, and to a less extent P-Hg, were associated with levels of
      marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in serum phosphatidylcholine. P-Hg
      and U-Hg were associated with numbers of teeth with amalgam fillings. P-Se also
      correlated with fish intake. In subjects who never had fish, P-Se averaged 80
      micrograms/l, in subjects who had at least two fish meals per week, 91
      micrograms/l. There was an association between PUFA and P-Se. Further, there were
      statistically significant associations between P-Se on the one hand, and B-Hg,
      Ery-Hg and P-Hg on the other. The data clearly demonstrate the importance of fish
      for the exposure to methylmercury and selenium in the Swedish diet, and the
      impact of amalgam as a source of exposure to inorganic mercury.

PMID- 1439753
TI  - A source inventory and budget for chlorinated dioxins and furans in the United
      Kingdom environment.
AB  - Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and -furans (PCDFs) are ubiquitous in
      the environment. This paper estimates the present UK environmental loading of
      PCDD/Fs in soils, vegetation, air, water and sediments. Greater than 95% of the
      estimated total PCDD/F loading of 5.7 t in the UK environment is present in
      surface soils. Annual emissions from known primary sources of PCDDs and PCDFs are
      estimated. The most important of these include: municipal waste incinerator stack
      emissions (10.9 kg sigma PCDD/F per annum); industrial (7.7 kg/year) and domestic
      (5.1 kg/year) combustion of coal; clinical waste incinerators (1.7 kg/year);
      volatilisation from chlorophenol-treated substrates (1.7 kg/year) and combustion
      of leaded petrol by motor vehicles (0.7 kg/year). These sources are generally
      easy to define and reasonably reliable national estimates can be obtained. More
      difficult to quantify are secondary releases from the large UK stock of
      pentachlorophenol (PCP) and PCP-treated products, which may represent
      quantitatively one of the most important sources of total PCDD/Fs to the
      environment. Estimates of homologue-specific emissions indicate that combustion
      processes represent a far more significant source of tetra and penta CDD/Fs than
      do chlorophenols, which in turn constitute a greater source of hepta- and
      octachlorinated congeners. Direct emission of PCDD/Fs into the atmosphere from
      combustion processes facilitates their atmospheric transport to remote locations.
      This, coupled with the diffuse nature of combustion processes, means that the
      effects of PCDD/F contamination originating from anthropogenic combustion are
      more widespread than those from the use and disposal of chlorophenols.
      Contamination from chlorophenols will be more localised, owing to the
      insignificance of direct atmospheric release pathways for this source. Although
      there is reasonable agreement between the estimated current annual flux and the
      present UK environmental loading of PCDDs and PCDFs, a large discrepancy exists
      between the sum of the annual contributions from primary sources and this annual
      flux. Whilst the existence of an as yet unidentified source or sources or gross
      underestimates of known sources cannot be excluded, it is proposed that much of
      this discrepancy may be accounted for by secondary releases from the use and
      disposal of chlorophenols and the long-range transport, continued remobilisation
      and subsequent redeposition of PCDDs and PCDFs already present in the
      environment. Despite limited evidence for a modest decline in levels of PCDDs and
      PCDFs in some environmental compartments over the last 20 years, the
      environmental persistence of these chemicals means that they will remain in the
      UK environment for the foreseeable future despite recent action to curb primary
      emissions.

PMID- 1439754
TI  - Atmospheric deposition of trace elements around point sources and human health
      risk assessment. I: Impact zones near a source of lead emissions.
AB  - The deposition of lead was monitored over 8 years in the area around a car
      battery factory north of Copenhagen, Denmark. The area also has heavy traffic.
      Deposition was measured by in-situ grown vegetables, transplant grass culture
      biomonitors, bulk deposition and soil samples. Three impact zones were identified
      by a multivariate statistical analysis. Within each zone, the total dietary
      intake of lead was estimated for adults and children as a percentage of the
      provisional tolerably weekly intake (PTWI), and as a result recommendation on
      restrictions in use of locally grown fruit and vegetables were given to the
      public. The pattern of lead deposition in the area during the period 1981-1988
      was monitored and the amount of lead ingested via vegetables was toxically
      evaluated. Lead emission reduction measures introduced in the factory and in the
      traffic during the period produced significant reductions in lead deposition.

PMID- 1439755
TI  - Atmospheric deposition of trace elements around point sources and human health
      risk assessment. II. Uptake of arsenic and chromium by vegetables grown near a
      wood preservation factory.
AB  - Kale, lettuce, carrots and potatoes were grown in 20 experimental plots
      surrounding a wood preservation factory, to investigate the amount and pathways
      for plant uptake of arsenic and chromium. Arsenate used in the wood preservation
      process is converted to the more toxic arsenite by incineration of waste wood and
      is emitted into the atmosphere. Elevated concentrations of inorganic arsenic and
      chromium were found both in the test plants and in the soil around the factory.
      Multivariate statistical analysis of the results indicated that the dominating
      pathway of arsenic and chromium from the factory to the leafy vegetables grown
      nearby was by direct atmospheric deposition, while arsenic in the root crops
      originated from both the soil and the atmosphere. Consumption of vegetables grown
      near the source would result in an increased intake of inorganic arsenic, but the
      intake via the total diet was estimated to be below the provisional tolerable
      daily intake for inorganic arsenic established by FAO/WHO.

PMID- 1439756
TI  - Genome analysis and the human X chromosome.
AB  - A unified genetic, physical, and functional map of the human X chromosome is
      being built through a concerted, international effort. About 40 percent of the
      160 million base pairs of the X chromosome DNA have been cloned in overlapping,
      ordered contigs derived from yeast artificial chromosomes. This rapid progress
      toward a physical map is accelerating the identification of inherited disease
      genes, 26 of which are already cloned and more than 50 others regionally
      localized by linkage analysis. This article summarizes the mapping strategies now
      used and the impact of genome research on the understanding of X chromosome
      inactivation and X-linked diseases.

PMID- 1439757
TI  - Genome delight.

PMID- 1439758
TI  - Immuno-PCR: very sensitive antigen detection by means of specific antibody-DNA
      conjugates.
AB  - An antigen detection system, termed immuno-polymerase chain reaction (immuno
      PCR), was developed in which a specific DNA molecule is used as the marker. A
      streptavidin-protein A chimera that possesses tight and specific binding affinity
      both for biotin and immunoglobulin G was used to attach a biotinylated DNA
      specifically to antigen-monoclonal antibody complexes that had been immobilized
      on microtiter plate wells. Then, a segment of the attached DNA was amplified by
      PCR. Analysis of the PCR products by agarose gel electrophoresis after staining
      with ethidium bromide allowed as few as 580 antigen molecules (9.6 x 10(-22)
      moles) to be readily and reproducibly detected. Direct comparison with enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay with the use of a chimera-alkaline phosphatase
      conjugate demonstrates that enhancement (approximately x 10(5)) in detection
      sensitivity was obtained with the use of immuno-PCR. Given the enormous
      amplification capability and specificity of PCR, this immuno-PCR technology has a
      sensitivity greater than any existing antigen detection system and, in principle,
      could be applied to the detection of single antigen molecules.

PMID- 1439759
TI  - The B cell antigen receptor complex: association of Ig-alpha and Ig-beta with
      distinct cytoplasmic effectors.
AB  - The B cell antigen receptor complex is a hetero-oligomeric structure composed of
      antigen binding, membrane immunoglobulin, and transducer-transporter
      substructures. The transducer-transporter substructure is composed of disulfide
      linked dimers of immunoglobulin (Ig)-alpha and Ig-beta/gamma subunits that are
      products of the mb-1(alpha) and B29 (beta/gamma) genes. Although the receptor
      complex associates with Src family kinases that are activated after receptor
      ligation, the site of interaction of these and other cytoplasmic effector
      molecules with receptor subunits is unknown. The cytoplasmic tails of Ig-alpha
      and Ig-beta chains were found to associate with distinct sets of effector
      molecules. The Ig-alpha chain cytoplasmic domain bound to the Src family kinases
      Lyn and Fyn, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI-3 kinase), and an unidentified 38
      kilodalton phosphoprotein; the cytoplasmic tail of Ig-beta bound PI-3 kinase and
      unidentified 40- and 42-kilodalton phosphoproteins. Binding activity was found to
      occur within a 26-amino acid sequence of Ig-alpha and Ig-beta that contains a
      motif [(Asp or Glu)-(any amino acid)7-(Asp or Glu)-Tyr-(any amino acid)3-Leu-(any
      amino acid)7-Tyr-(any amino acid)2-(Leu or Ile)] previously implicated in signal
      transduction via other receptors including the Fc epsilon receptor I and the T
      cell antigen receptor. These findings indicate that the subunits act
      independently to activate distinct second messenger pathways.

PMID- 1439760
TI  - Production of the Alzheimer amyloid beta protein by normal proteolytic
      processing.
AB  - The 4-kilodalton (39 to 43 amino acids) amyloid beta protein (beta AP), which is
      deposited as amyloid in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's diseases, is
      derived from a large protein, the amyloid beta protein precursor (beta APP).
      Human mononuclear leukemic (K562) cells expressing a beta AP-bearing, carboxyl
      terminal beta APP derivative released significant amounts of a soluble 4
      kilodalton beta APP derivative essentially identical to the beta AP deposited in
      Alzheimer's disease. Human neuroblastoma (M17) cells transfected with constructs
      expressing full-length beta APP and M17 cells expressing only endogenous beta APP
      also released soluble 4-kilodalton beta AP, and a similar, if not identical,
      fragment was readily detected in cerebrospinal fluid from individuals with
      Alzheimer's disease and normal individuals. Thus cells normally produce and
      release soluble 4-kilodalton beta AP that is essentially identical to the 4
      kilodalton beta AP deposited as insoluble amyloid fibrils in Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 1439761
TI  - Structural basis of the intrasteric regulation of myosin light chain kinases.
AB  - The smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (smMLCK) catalytic core was modeled
      by using the crystallographic coordinates of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein
      kinase catalytic subunit (cAPK) and a bound pseudosubstrate inhibitor peptide,
      PKI(5-24). Despite only 30% identity in amino acid sequence, the MLCK sequence
      can be readily accommodated in this structure. With the exception of the short B
      helix, all major elements of secondary structure in the core are very likely
      conserved. The active site of the modeled MLCK complements the known requirements
      for peptide substrate recognition. MLCK contains a pseudosubstrate sequence that
      overlaps the calmodulin binding domain and has been proposed to act as an
      intrasteric inhibitor and occupy the substrate binding site in the absence of
      Ca(2+)-calmodulin. The pseudosubstrate sequence can be modeled easily into the
      entire backbone of PKI(5-24). The results demonstrate that the intrasteric model
      for regulation of MLCK by intramolecular competitive inhibition is structurally
      plausible.

PMID- 1439762
TI  - An uncertain start for a brain decade.

PMID- 1439763
TI  - Two chromosomes down, 22 to go.

PMID- 1439764
TI  - Can a father's exposure lead to illness in his children?

PMID- 1439765
TI  - Dodging the needle in health care.

PMID- 1439766
TI  - Testing to begin on malaria vaccine.

PMID- 1439767
TI  - Hidden messages in genetic maps.

PMID- 1439768
TI  - Calmodulin and myosin light chain kinase: how helices are bent.

PMID- 1439769
TI  - The human Y chromosome: a 43-interval map based on naturally occurring deletions.
AB  - A deletion map of the human Y chromosome was constructed by testing 96
      individuals with partial Y chromosomes for the presence or absence of many DNA
      loci. The individuals studied included XX males, XY females, and persons in whom
      chromosome banding had revealed translocated, deleted, isodicentric, or ring Y
      chromosomes. Most of the 132 Y chromosomal loci mapped were sequence-tagged
      sites, detected by means of the polymerase chain reaction. These studies resolved
      the euchromatic region (short arm, centromere, and proximal long arm) of the Y
      chromosome into 43 ordered intervals, all defined by naturally occurring
      chromosomal breakpoints and averaging less than 800 kilobases in length. This
      deletion map should be useful in identifying Y chromosomal genes, in exploring
      the origin of chromosomal disorders, and in tracing the evolution of the Y
      chromosome.

PMID- 1439770
TI  - A comprehensive genetic linkage map of the human genome. NIH/CEPH Collaborative
      Mapping Group.
AB  - A genetic linkage map of the human genome was constructed that consists of 1416
      loci, including 279 genes and expressed sequences. The loci are represented by
      1676 polymorphic systems genotyped with the CEPH reference pedigree resource. A
      total of 339 microsatellite repeat markers assayed by PCR are contained within
      the map, and of the 351 markers with heterozygosities of at least 70%, 205 are
      microsatellites. Seven telomere loci define physical and genetic endpoints for
      2q, 4p, 7q, 8p, 14q, 16p, and 16q, and in other cases distal markers on the maps
      have been localized to terminal cytogenetic bands. Therefore, at least 92% of the
      autosomal length of the genome and 95% of the X chromosome is estimated to be
      spanned by the map. Since the maps have relatively high marker density and
      numerous highly informative loci, they can be used to map disease phenotypes,
      even for those with limited pedigree resources. The baseline map provides a
      foundation for achieving continuity of clone-based physical maps and for the
      development of a truly integrated physical, genetic, and cytogenetic map of the
      human.

PMID- 1439771
TI  - Genome maps III. 1992. Wall Chart.

PMID- 1439772
TI  - Pioneering work in immune tolerance.

PMID- 1439773
TI  - Panel set to critique AIDS vaccine award.

PMID- 1439774
TI  - Breast cancer's forced march?

PMID- 1439775
TI  - Women's health issues take center stage at the IOM.

PMID- 1439776
TI  - NIH fends off critics of tamoxifen study.

PMID- 1439777
TI  - Three physicians convicted in French 'blood-supply trial'.

PMID- 1439779
TI  - Panel nixes Congo trials as AIDS source.

PMID- 1439778
TI  - A consensus on reform begins to take shape.

PMID- 1439780
TI  - The Huntington's gene quest goes on.

PMID- 1439781
TI  - Supercomputers image the body in three dimensions.

PMID- 1439782
TI  - Actin constitution: guaranteeing the right to assemble.

PMID- 1439783
TI  - What if Minkowski had been ageusic? An alternative angle on diabetes.
AB  - Despite decades of intensive investigation, the basic pathophysiological
      mechanisms responsible for the metabolic derangements associated with diabetes
      mellitus have remained elusive. Explored here is the possibility that traditional
      concepts in this area might have carried the wrong emphasis. It is suggested that
      the phenomena of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia might be more readily
      understood if viewed in the context of underlying abnormalities of lipid
      metabolism.

PMID- 1439784
TI  - Resonance-enhanced x-rays in thin films: a structure probe for membranes and
      surface layers.
AB  - An x-ray resonance effect in an organic thin film on an x-ray reflecting mirror
      is reported. The resonance effect is the result of interference between reflected
      and refracted x-rays at the air-organic thin film interface and occurs at
      incident angles slightly above the critical angle of the film. In excellent
      agreement with theory, the primary resonant x-ray electric field that is confined
      in the organic thin film is approximately 20 times as intense as the electric
      field of the incident beam when measured at a position close to the center of the
      film. Resonance-enhanced x-rays can be used to characterize the internal
      structure of Langmuir-Blodgett thin film membranes. This effect may also find use
      in x-ray-based thin film devices and in the structural analysis of adlayers and
      surfaces that have thus far proved difficult, if not impossible, to study because
      of sensitivity limitations.

PMID- 1439785
TI  - Submicrometer intracellular chemical optical fiber sensors.
AB  - A thousandfold miniaturization of immobilized optical fiber sensors, a
      millionfold or more sample reduction, and at least a hundredfold shorter response
      time, all simultaneously, were achieved by combining nanofabricated optical fiber
      tips with near-field photopolymerization. Specifically, pH optical fiber sensors
      were prepared with internal calibration, making use of the differences in both
      fluorescence and absorption of the acidic and basic dye species. The
      submicrometer sensors have excellent detection limits, as well as photostability,
      reversibility, and millisecond response times. Successful applications include
      intracellular and intraembryonic measurements. Potential applications include
      spatially and temporally resolved chemical analysis and kinetics inside single
      biological cells and their substructures.

PMID- 1439786
TI  - Homobatrachotoxin in the genus Pitohui: chemical defense in birds?
AB  - Three passerine species in the genus Pitohui, endemic to the New Guinea
      subregion, contain the steroidal alkaloid homobatrachotoxin, apparently as a
      chemical defense. Toxin concentrations varied among species but were always
      highest in the skin and feathers. Homobatrachotoxin is a member of a class of
      compounds collectively called batrachotoxins that were previously considered to
      be restricted to neotropical poison-dart frogs of the genus Phyllobates. The
      occurrence of homobatrachotoxin in pitohuis suggests that birds and frogs
      independently evolved this class of alkaloids.

PMID- 1439787
TI  - Saltation and stasis: a model of human growth.
AB  - Human growth has been viewed as a continuous process characterized by changing
      velocity with age. Serial length measurements of normal infants were assessed
      weekly (n = 10), semiweekly (n = 18), and daily (n = 3) (19 females and 12 males)
      during their first 21 months. Data show that growth in length occurs by
      discontinuous, aperiodic saltatory spurts. These bursts were 0.5 to 2.5
      centimeters in amplitude during intervals separated by no measurable growth (2 to
      63 days duration). These data suggest that 90 to 95 percent of normal development
      during infancy is growth-free and length accretion is a distinctly saltatory
      process of incremental bursts punctuating background stasis.

PMID- 1439788
TI  - Antibody-catalyzed rearrangement of the peptide bond.
AB  - The generation of antibodies from a bifunctional cyclic phosphinate transition
      state analog provided agents capable of efficiently catalyzing both steps of the
      overall conversion of a substrate containing an asparaginyl-glycyl sequence
      through a succinimide intermediate to the products aspartyl-glycyl and the
      rearranged isoaspartyl-glycyl sequence. This reaction provides a potential means
      in addition to amide cleavage for the deactivation of protein or peptide
      biological functions in vivo.

PMID- 1439789
TI  - Fatal familial insomnia and familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: disease phenotype
      determined by a DNA polymorphism.
AB  - Fatal familial insomnia (FFI) and a subtype of familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
      (CJD), two clinically and pathologically distinct diseases, are linked to the
      same mutation at codon 178 (Asn178) of the prion protein gene. The possibility
      that a second genetic component modified the phenotypic expression of the Asn178
      mutation was investigated. FFI and the familial CJD subtype segregated with
      different genotypes determined by the Asn178 mutation and the methionine-valine
      polymorphism at codon 129. The Met129, Asn178 allele segregated with FFI in all
      15 affected members of five kindreds whereas the Val129, Asn178 allele segregated
      with the familial CJD subtype in all 15 affected members of six kindreds. Thus,
      two distinct disease phenotypes linked to a single pathogenic mutation can be
      determined by a common polymorphism.

PMID- 1439790
TI  - Ikaros, an early lymphoid-specific transcription factor and a putative mediator
      for T cell commitment.
AB  - In a screen for transcriptional regulators that control differentiation into the
      T cell lineage, a complementary DNA was isolated encoding a zinc finger protein
      (Ikaros) related to the Drosophila gap protein Hunchback. The Ikaros protein
      binds to and activates the enhancer of a gene encoding an early T cell
      differentiation antigen, CD3 delta. During development, Ikaros messenger RNA was
      first detected in the mouse fetal liver and the embryonic thymus when
      hematopoietic and lymphoid progenitors initially colonize these organs; no
      expression was observed in the spleen or the bone marrow. The pattern of Ikaros
      gene expression and its ability to stimulate CD3 delta transcription support the
      model that Ikaros functions in the specification and maturation of the T
      lymphocyte.

PMID- 1439791
TI  - A GDP dissociation inhibitor that serves as a GTPase inhibitor for the Ras-like
      protein CDC42Hs.
AB  - Members of the family of Ras-related guanosine triphosphate (GTP) binding
      proteins appear to take part in the regulation of a number of biological
      processes, including cell growth and differentiation. Three different classes of
      proteins that regulate the GTP binding and GTP hydrolytic activities of the Ras
      family members have been identified. These different regulatory proteins inhibit
      guanosine diphosphate (GDP) dissociation (designated as GDIs), stimulate GDP
      dissociation and GDP-GTP exchange (designated as GDSs), or stimulate GTP
      hydrolysis (designated as GAPs). In the case of the Ras-like protein CDC42Hs,
      which is the human homolog of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell division cycle
      protein, the GDI protein also inhibited both the intrinsic and GAP-stimulated
      hydrolysis of GTP. These findings establish an additional role for the GDI
      protein--namely, as a guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) inhibitory protein for a
      Ras-like GTP binding protein.

PMID- 1439792
TI  - Selecting T cell receptors with high affinity for self-MHC by decreasing the
      contribution of CD8.
AB  - Selective events during T cell repertoire development in the thymus include both
      the positive selection of cells whose receptors recognize self-major
      histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules and negative selection (tolerance) of
      cells whose interaction with self-MHC is of high affinity. The affinity of T cell
      interactions with class I MHC molecules includes contributions by both the T cell
      receptor and the CD8 coreceptor. Therefore, by decreasing the affinity of the
      interaction with CD8, T cells whose receptors have relatively high affinities for
      self-MHC may survive negative selection. Such T cells were generated and those T
      cells reactive with self-MHC plus antigen also displayed low affinity for self.

PMID- 1439793
TI  - A surface protease and the invasive character of plague.
AB  - A 9.5-kilobase plasmid of Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, is
      required for high virulence when mice are inoculated with the bacterium by
      subcutaneous injection. Inactivation of the plasmid gene pla, which encodes a
      surface protease, increased the median lethal dose of the bacteria for mice by a
      millionfold. Moreover, cloned pla was sufficient to restore segregants lacking
      the entire pla-bearing plasmid to full virulence. Both pla+ strains injected
      subcutaneously and pla- mutants injected intravenously reached high titers in
      liver and spleen of infected mice, whereas pla- mutants injected subcutaneously
      failed to do so even though they establish a sustained local infection at the
      injection site. More inflammatory cells accumulated in lesions caused by the pla-
      mutants than in lesions produced by the pla+ parent. The Pla protease was shown
      to be a plasminogen activator with unusual kinetic properties. It can also cleave
      complement C3 at a specific site.

PMID- 1439794
TI  - Cellular membranes.

PMID- 1439795
TI  - Electrical measurements on endomembranes.

PMID- 1439796
TI  - NIH's strategic planning Rorschach blot.

PMID- 1439797
TI  - AIDS vaccines. Army investigates researcher's report of clinical trial data.

PMID- 1439798
TI  - Science in Ireland. Brussels provides funding lifeline to Irish research.

PMID- 1439799
TI  - FDA sets out to hire 600--and image is a problem.

PMID- 1439800
TI  - How scary things get that way.

PMID- 1439801
TI  - Neuroscience fantasia in an appropriate setting.

PMID- 1439802
TI  - Race quickens for non-stick blood monitoring technology.

PMID- 1439803
TI  - Membrane fusion.
AB  - Common themes are emerging from the study of viral, cell-cell, intracellular, and
      liposome fusion. Viral and cellular membrane fusion events are mediated by fusion
      proteins or fusion machines. Viral fusion proteins share important
      characteristics, notably a fusion peptide within a transmembrane-anchored
      polypeptide chain. At least one protein involved in a cell-cell fusion reaction
      resembles viral fusion proteins. Components of intracellular fusion machines are
      utilized in multiple membrane trafficking events and are conserved through
      evolution. Fusion pores develop during and intracellular fusion events suggesting
      similar mechanisms for many, if not all, fusion events.

PMID- 1439804
TI  - The annexins and exocytosis.
AB  - The annexins are a group of homologous proteins that bind phospholipids in the
      presence of calcium. They may provide a major pathway for communication between
      cellular membranes and their cytoplasmic environment. Annexins have a
      characteristic "bivalent" activity in the sense that they can draw two membranes
      together when activated by calcium. This has led to the hypothesis that certain
      members of this protein family may initiate contact and fusion between a
      secretory vesicle membrane and the plasma membrane during the process of
      exocytosis.

PMID- 1439805
TI  - The nuclear membrane.
AB  - The nuclear membrane forms a major barrier within the cell, permitting levels of
      regulation not found in prokaryotes. The dynamics and diverse functions of the
      nuclear membrane and its associated structures are considered in this review. The
      role of the nuclear pore complex in selective transport across the nuclear
      membrane has been studied to a considerable degree; however, many crucial
      questions remain. Components of a signal transduction mechanism are associated
      with the nucleus, suggesting that nuclear functions may be influenced directly by
      this system. The involvement of the heat shock cognate protein Hsc70 in nuclear
      protein import is discussed, and a specific signal-presentation role for this
      protein is proposed.

PMID- 1439806
TI  - Regulation of cell surface polarity from bacteria to mammals.
AB  - The generation of unique domains on the cell, cell surface polarity, is critical
      for differentiation into the diversity of cell structures and functions found in
      a wide variety of organisms and cells, including the bacterium Caulobacter
      crescentus, the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and mammalian polarized
      epithelial cells. Comparison of the mechanisms for establishing polarity in these
      cells indicates that restricted membrane protein distributions are generated by
      selective protein targeting to, and selective protein retention at, the cell
      surface. Initiation of these mechanisms involves reorientation of components of
      the cytoskeleton and protein transport pathways toward restricted sites at the
      cell surface and formation of a targeting patch at those sites for selective
      recruitment and retention of proteins.

PMID- 1439807
TI  - Cytoskeleton--plasma membrane interactions.
AB  - Proteins at the boundary between the cytoskeleton and the plasma membrane control
      cell shape, delimit specialized membrane domains, and stabilize attachments to
      other cells and to the substrate. These proteins also regulate cell locomotion
      and cytoplasmic responses to growth factors and other external stimuli. This
      diversity of cellular functions is matched by the large number of biochemical
      mechanisms that mediate the connections between membrane proteins and the
      underlying cytoskeleton, the so-called membrane skeleton. General organizational
      themes are beginning to emerge from examination of this biochemical diversity.

PMID- 1439808
TI  - Selectins: interpreters of cell-specific carbohydrate information during
      inflammation.
AB  - Although a bewildering array of cell surface carbohydrate structures have been
      described, the physiological relevance of any of these complex molecules has
      often eluded biologists. A family of cell surface glycoproteins, the "selectins,"
      has a characteristic ability to use some of these carbohydrate structures in
      adhesive mechanisms that help localize leukocytes to regions of inflammation.
      This article will review the biology of these carbohydrate-binding adhesive
      proteins and discuss the potential for developing anti-inflammatory antagonists
      that could inhibit binding events that are selectin-mediated.

PMID- 1439809
TI  - Chemical contrast in X-ray microscopy and spatially resolved XANES spectroscopy
      of organic specimens.
AB  - The scanning transmission x-ray microscope at the National Synchrotron Light
      Source has been used to record x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES)
      spectra from 0.01-square-micrometer regions of organic specimens. The spectral
      features observed reflect the molecular structure of the dominant absorbing atoms
      and provide the contrast mechanism for high-resolution imaging with chemical
      sensitivity. This technique was used with x-ray energies near the carbon K
      absorption edge to identify and map separate phases in various polymer blends and
      to map the DNA distribution in chromosomes with a spatial resolution of 55
      nanometers.

PMID- 1439811
TI  - European research institutes.

PMID- 1439810
TI  - Absence of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein in individuals with
      abetalipoproteinemia.
AB  - Abetalipoproteinemia is a human genetic disease that is characterized by a defect
      in the assembly or secretion of plasma very low density lipoproteins and
      chylomicrons. The microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP), which is
      located in the lumen of microsomes isolated from the liver and intestine, has
      been proposed to function in lipoprotein assembly. MTP activity and the 88
      kilodalton component of MTP were present in intestinal biopsy samples from eight
      control individuals but were absent in four abetalipoproteinemic subjects. This
      finding suggests that a defect in MTP is the basis for abetalipoproteinemia and
      that MTP is indeed required for lipoprotein assembly.

PMID- 1439812
TI  - UV light exposure and HIV replication.

PMID- 1439813
TI  - Clinton's technology agenda.

PMID- 1439814
TI  - AIDS funding. MicroGeneSys vaccine trial gets a public peer review.

PMID- 1439815
TI  - Closing in on melanoma susceptibility gene(s)

PMID- 1439816
TI  - Cell biology. A new kind of organic gardening.

PMID- 1439817
TI  - Playing 'telephone' with the body's message of pain.

PMID- 1439818
TI  - Prevalence of AIDS-related risk factors and condom use in the United States.
AB  - A national probability survey of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related risk
      factors among the general heterosexual population, the National AIDS (acquired
      immunodeficiency syndrome) Behavioral Surveys, has obtained data from 10,630
      respondents. Data are presented on the prevalence of HIV-related risks in the
      general heterosexual population, on the distribution of the three largest risk
      groups across social strata, and on the prevalence and distribution of condom use
      among heterosexuals reporting a risk factor. Between 15 and 31 percent of
      heterosexuals nationally and 20 and 41 percent in cities with a high prevalence
      of AIDS reported an HIV risk factor. Condom use was relatively low. Only 17
      percent of those with multiple sexual partners, 12.6 percent of those with risky
      sexual partners, and 10.8 percent of untested transfusion recipients used condoms
      all the time. Overall, the results suggest that current HIV prevention programs
      have, to a very limited extent, reached those heterosexuals with multiple sexual
      partners but have failed to reach many other groups of the heterosexual
      population at risk for HIV. New public health strategies may be needed for these
      specific risk groups.

PMID- 1439819
TI  - Direct mechanical measurements of the elasticity of single DNA molecules by using
      magnetic beads.
AB  - Single DNA molecules were chemically attached by one end to a glass surface and
      by their other end to a magnetic bead. Equilibrium positions of the beads were
      observed in an optical microscope while the beads were acted on by known magnetic
      and hydrodynamic forces. Extension versus force curves were obtained for
      individual DNA molecules at three different salt concentrations with forces
      between 10(-14) and 10(-11) newtons. Deviations from the force curves predicted
      by the freely jointed chain model suggest that DNA has significant local
      curvature in solution. Ethidium bromide and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole had
      little effect on the elastic response of the molecules, but their extent of
      intercalation was directly measured. Conversely, the effect of bend-inducing cis
      diamminedichloroplatinum (II) was large and supports the hypothesis of natural
      curvature in DNA.

PMID- 1439820
TI  - The evolutionary convergence of hearing in a parasitoid fly and its cricket host.
AB  - Parasitism is a widespread and diverse life strategy that connects species
      throughout the animal kingdom. Female parasitoid flies of the genus Ormia must
      find a specific cricket host on which to deposit their parasitic maggots. To
      reproduce, female flies must perform the same task as female crickets: find a
      singing male cricket. These flies have evolved a unique hearing organ that allows
      them to detect and locate singing male crickets. Through evolutionary
      convergence, these flies possess a hearing organ that much more resembles a
      cricket's ear than a typical fly's ear, allowing these parasitoids to take
      advantage of the sensory ecological niche of their host.

PMID- 1439821
TI  - Cooperativity induced by a single mutation at the subunit interface of a dimeric
      enzyme: glutathione reductase.
AB  - When glycine418 of Escherichia coli glutathione reductase, which is in a closely
      packed region of the dimer interface, is replaced with a bulky tryptophan
      residue, the enzyme becomes highly cooperative (Hill coefficient 1.76) for
      glutathione binding. The cooperativity is lost when the mutant subunit is
      hybridized with a wild-type subunit to create a heterodimer. The mutation appears
      to disrupt atomic packing at the dimer interface, which induces a change of
      kinetic mechanism. A single mutation in a region of the protein remote from the
      active site can thus act as a molecular switch to confer cooperativity on an
      enzyme.

PMID- 1439822
TI  - In vitro transcriptional activation by a metabolic intermediate: activation by
      Leu3 depends on alpha-isopropylmalate.
AB  - In the absence of the leucine biosynthetic precursor alpha-isopropylmalate (alpha
      IPM), the yeast LEU3 protein (Leu3p) binds DNA and acts as a transcriptional
      repressor in an in vitro extract. Addition of alpha-IPM resulted in a dramatic
      increase in Leu3p-dependent transcription. The presence of alpha-IPM was also
      required for Leu3p to compete effectively with another transcriptional activator,
      GAL4/VP16, for limiting transcription factors. Therefore, the addition of alpha
      IPM appears to convert a transcriptional repressor into an activator. This
      represents an example in eukaryotes of direct transcriptional regulation by a
      small effector molecule.

PMID- 1439823
TI  - Bacteriophage lambda PaPa: not the mother of all lambda phages.
AB  - The common laboratory strain of bacteriophage lambda--lambda wild type or lambda
      PaPa--carries a frameshift mutation relative to Ur-lambda, the original isolate.
      The Ur-lambda virions have thin, jointed tail fibers that are absent from lambda
      wild type. Two novel proteins of Ur-lambda constitute the fibers: the product of
      stf, the gene that is disrupted in lambda wild type by the frameshift mutation,
      and the product of gene tfa, a protein that is implicated in facilitating tail
      fiber assembly. Relative to lambda wild type, Ur-lambda has expanded receptor
      specificity and adsorbs to Escherichia coli cells more rapidly.

PMID- 1439825
TI  - B cells turn off virgin but not memory T cells.
AB  - There are three possible outcomes when a T cell recognizes a cell bearing a self
      or foreign antigen. (i) The T cell is not sufficiently signaled and is
      unaffected. (ii) The T cell is activated. (iii) The T cell is turned off. The
      differentiation state of the T cell is critical to the outcome. Although both
      virgin and memory T cells can be activated by antigens presented by
      "professional" antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells, they differ in
      their responses to B cells. Experienced T cells respond to antigen presented by B
      cells, whereas virgin T cells are rendered tolerant. These findings may relate to
      the phenomena of low- and high-zone tolerance, neonatal tolerance, and the
      beneficial effect of blood transfusions on allograft survival.

PMID- 1439824
TI  - Assignment of a locus for familial melanoma, MLM, to chromosome 9p13-p22.
AB  - Linkage analysis of ten Utah kindreds and one Texas kindred with multiple cases
      of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) provided evidence that a locus for familial
      melanoma susceptibility is in the chromosomal region 9p13-p22. The genetic
      markers analyzed reside in a candidate region on chromosome 9p21, previously
      implicated by the presence of homozygous deletions in melanoma tumors and by the
      presence of a germline deletion in an individual with eight independent
      melanomas. Multipoint linkage analysis was performed between the familial
      melanoma susceptibility locus (MLM) and two short tandem repeat markers, D9S126
      and the interferon-alpha (IFNA) gene, which reside in the region of somatic loss
      in melanoma tumors. An analysis incorporating a partially penetrant dominant
      melanoma susceptibility locus places MLM near IFNA and D9S126 with a maximum
      location score of 12.71. Therefore, the region frequently deleted in melanoma
      tumors on 9p21 presumably contains a locus that plays a critical role in
      predisposition to familial melanoma.

PMID- 1439826
TI  - Perceptual correlates of massive cortical reorganization.

PMID- 1439827
TI  - Structural similarity between transforming growth factor-beta 2 and nerve growth
      factor.

PMID- 1439828
TI  - Minorities in science.

PMID- 1439829
TI  - What went wrong: why programs failed.

PMID- 1439830
TI  - Identity crisis: teaching v. research.

PMID- 1439831
TI  - Asian-Americans bump against glass ceilings.

PMID- 1439832
TI  - Sequencing and computer time.

PMID- 1439833
TI  - Dividing up the neocortex.

PMID- 1439834
TI  - The progress of science.

PMID- 1439835
TI  - In biotechnology, Japanese yen for American expertise.

PMID- 1439836
TI  - In search of the human touch.

PMID- 1439837
TI  - Unraveling the dark paradox of 'blindsight'.

PMID- 1439838
TI  - Post-transcriptional regulation of early T cell development by T cell receptor
      signals.
AB  - During differentiation in the thymus, immature T cells progress through an
      ordered sequence of developmental stages that are best characterized by variable
      expression of the co-receptor molecules CD4 and CD8. Crosslinking of T cell
      receptor (TCR) molecules on precursor thymocytes was found to block their
      differentiation into CD4+CD8+ cells by eliminating messenger RNA's encoding two
      families of developmentally important molecules: the co-receptor molecules CD4
      and CD8 and the recombination activating genes 1 and 2. TCR-induced post
      transcriptional regulation in early thymocytes was specific for selective
      messenger RNA's, required protein synthesis, and was itself developmentally
      regulated. These data identify a post-transcriptional mechanism that is
      influenced by TCR signals and that regulates early thymocyte development.

PMID- 1439839
TI  - Residual vision in a scotoma: implications for blindsight.
AB  - Blindsight, the ability of some blind patients to describe attributes of stimuli
      they have no conscious awareness of seeing, has been attributed to a secondary
      (retinotectal) visual pathway. However, it has also been proposed that blindsight
      could be due to residual function within the primary (geniculostriate) visual
      pathway. Data have now been obtained that support the second alternative. With an
      image stabilizer ensuring the accurate retinal placement of stimuli, dense visual
      field mapping was carried out with a hemianopic patient. This perimetry revealed,
      embedded in the patient's scotoma, an isolated 1-degree island of residual vision
      that was not disclosed by conventional perimetric methods. Stimuli presented to
      this island could be detected and discriminated, although the subject reported he
      did not see them. The existence of this island of vision implies a corresponding
      island of functioning cortex within the patient's lesion. Other instances of
      blindsight may be mediated by similar islands of functioning cortex.

PMID- 1439841
TI  - Science Innovation meeting 1992. San Francisco. Abstracts.

PMID- 1439840
TI  - Guide to scientific products, instruments and services. Product listing.

PMID- 1439842
TI  - Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction.
AB  - Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, a common entity, frequently is unrecognized
      and inappropriately managed. Acutely, pain and swelling are present over the
      medial ankle and longitudinal arch. Long-standing inflammation can lead to tendon
      rupture, resulting in a progressive planovalgus or "flat foot" deformity. Plain
      radiographs illustrate the changes in bony anatomy associated with chronic
      posterior tibial deficiency, while magnetic resonance imaging scans can identify
      the three stages of posterior tibial tendon pathology. Most cases are amenable to
      conservative therapy, including rest and administration of nonsteroidal
      antiflammatory agents. Often a short period of immobilization in a cast or the
      use of an orthosis is beneficial. In cases with persistent tenosynovitis,
      complete tendon rupture, or progressive deformity, surgical intervention is
      indicated.

PMID- 1439843
TI  - Primary Sjogren's syndrome--clinical and laboratory markers of disease activity.
AB  - Primary Sjogren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disorder of the lacrimal and
      salivary glands, reflecting general involvement of the exocrine tissues and
      leading to functional impairment. This polyglandular disease is often associated
      with systemic extraglandular manifestations, and laboratory tests usually
      indicate polyclonal B-lymphocyte hyperactivity. Clinical and laboratory markers
      monitoring the disease processes are needed for improved management of primary
      Sjogren's syndrome. However, incomplete knowledge of the long-term course of
      inflammation as well as of clinical manifestations makes precise and simple
      directions for monitoring disease activity in primary Sjogren's syndrome
      difficult. This review describes potential primary (eg, salivary gland
      histopathology, autoantibodies, soluble interleukin-2 receptors, and beta 2
      microglobulin) and secondary disease activity markers (clinical and laboratory
      signs of glandular and extraglandular organ damage) and their known associations.
      The importance of genetic characteristics, patient age, and symptom duration for
      the disease activity markers is indicated. The systematic use of primary and
      secondary disease activity markers will improve our understanding of primary
      Sjogren's syndrome and help create better guidelines for monitoring the disease.

PMID- 1439844
TI  - A clinical, serological, and histopathological study of myositis patients with
      and without anti-RNP antibodies.
AB  - Twenty-nine patients with myositis, including 10 with polymyositis (PM), 6 with
      dermatomyositis (DM), and 13 with myositis associated with a connective tissue
      disease (CTD), were followed up for a mean observation time of 49 months. The 13
      patients with CTD-associated myositis were further separated by the presence or
      absence of anti-RNP antibodies. The functional disability at diagnosis was
      pronounced without differences between the groups. The patients with anti-RNP
      antibodies did not differ from the other patients regarding initial muscle
      weakness, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, or creatinine phosphokinase values, but
      the histopathological muscle changes were generally milder. Rapid improvement of
      muscle strength on moderate doses of corticosteroids was seen in most patients.
      At the end of study, corticosteroid treatment had been withdrawn from 17 patients
      because of remission, including 6 of the 7 patients with anti-RNP antibodies. The
      presence of electromyographic changes compatible with myositis, pronounced muscle
      weakness before treatment, and a low erythrocyte sedimentation rate seemed to
      indicate a less favorable outcome unrelated to diagnostic subgroupings. However,
      the combination was rarely found among the anti-RNP-positive patients.

PMID- 1439845
TI  - Amyloidosis.
AB  - Amyloidosis is a heterogenous group of diseases characterized by deposition of a
      fibrillar, proteinaceous material, amyloid, in various tissues and organs.
      Increasing knowledge about the different proteins that constitute the amyloid
      fibrils has made it possible to classify amyloidosis by the fibril protein, which
      appears more rational than the traditional classification by its clinical
      expression. A serum protein is the precursor of the amyloid fibril protein in the
      various systemic forms of amyloidosis. Although the chemical composition of
      amyloid is presently well known, the pathogenetic processes that convert such
      proteins into a fibrillar form and lay them down in the tissues are far from
      clarified. This review describes the amyloid deposits, some putative pathogenetic
      mechanisms, and the clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic aspects of the most
      important forms of amyloid disease.

PMID- 1439846
TI  - Timed treatment of the arthritic diseases: a review and hypothesis.
AB  - Evidence has been accumulating regarding the importance of biological rhythms in
      the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of diseases and disorders. Increasingly,
      the arthritides have shown statistically quantifiable rhythmic parameters.
      Included in the latter group are joint pain and joint size. In addition, a number
      of drugs used to treat rheumatic diseases have varying therapeutic and toxic
      effects based on the time of day of administration. Among these drug classes are
      nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids, and a number of cytostatic
      agents. In the last group of agents, experience in treating malignant disease
      suggests that time-specified treatment may reduce the toxic effects of low-dose
      cytostatic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and related diseases. This
      article reviews that evidence and suggests a rationale for the timed treatment of
      RA with methotrexate.

PMID- 1439847
TI  - Transient osteoporosis of the hip.
AB  - Transient osteoporosis of the hip (TOH) is an uncommon but possibly
      underdiagnosed condition. This pattern of regional osteoporosis affects
      previously healthy middle-aged men, and women in the third trimester of
      pregnancy. Its etiology is still unclear, yet in view of similarities to regional
      migratory osteoporosis and reflex sympathetic dystrophy, vascular and neurologic
      disturbances have been proposed as the possible pathogenetic mechanisms. Pain in
      the hip area and functional disability of the affected limb are the main clinical
      signs. Diagnosis is supported by local radiological osteopenia whose gradual
      disappearance parallels the spontaneous recovery. Bone scintigraphy, magnetic
      resonance imaging, computed tomography, and other imaging methods are
      supplementary diagnostic tools. Exclusion of more common entities is required.
      The purpose of this report is to elucidate the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects
      of TOH and to stimulate the physician's awareness of this condition, recognition
      of which may prevent unnecessary invasive procedures and inadequate treatment.

PMID- 1439848
TI  - [Impotence from the 70's through the 90's: 20 years of evolution of diagnosis and
      therapy].
AB  - The surgical treatment of vascular impotence has evolved as our understanding of
      the haemodynamics of erection advanced. In the early Seventies the direct
      revascularization techniques which create an anastomosis between an artery and
      the corpora cavernosa came to be so much in use that an era of so-called "pure
      arteriogenic impotence" seemed to be dawning. An arterial role in the
      pathogenesis of importance gained increasing support during that decade, as the
      use of a number of techniques for the diagnostic assessment of penile
      haemodynamics becomes widespread (Doppler ultrasound, determination of the penile
      brachial index, selective hypogastric arteriography, penile radionuclide scan,
      penile plethysmography). Corpora cavernosa-direct revascularization techniques,
      such as the Epigastric-Corporal and Femoro-Corporal trans-Saphena anastomoses,
      were developed, the latter being proposed by Michal in 1973. By the late
      Seventies, however, most Authors had abandoned these techniques. Severe
      haemodynamic side-effects, such as uninterrupted intra-cavernous high pressure
      and attendant permanent tumescence of penis, were found to induce the
      microfibrosis of erectile tissues and the thrombosis at the site of the
      anastomosis. In this period, "venous leakage" became, with the advent of
      cavernosography, a recognized factor in the pathogenesis of impotence. However,
      the concept of venogenic impotence, characterized as it is by transient erection,
      and featuring pathological cavernosograms as well as high cavernometric figures,
      belongs more appropriately to a clinical syndrome and is, therefore far from
      being unambiguous. Arterial-arterial bypass and selective veins ligation were
      then introduced to treat cases of "pure" arteriogenic or venogenic
      insufficiency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439849
TI  - [Endocrine therapy of sexual impotence in men].
AB  - Male sexual activity is in all mammalian species, included man, androgen
      dependent. The role of testosterone (T) starts already during intrauterine life.
      It continues thereafter, inducing the development of sexual secondary
      characteristics and libido. Therefore T has represented the "classical" treatment
      of male sexual dysfunctions. In the therapeutic routinary use T is employed ad
      ester, like cipionate, enanthate and other i.m., undecanoate per os. When a
      pituitary defect is present and the testicular receptors are functioning a
      treatment with HCG can be employed.

PMID- 1439850
TI  - [Medical treatment and impotence].
AB  - After having emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary diagnostic approach
      to the sexual impotence as a symptom and having made some comments about the
      erection's physiology, the Authors, according to their experience, take drugs
      into consideration for elective treatment of sexual intercourse.

PMID- 1439851
TI  - [Treatment of psychogenic impotence].
AB  - Individual, marital or familiar problems, life circumstances, lack of libido,
      anxiety or sex identity fragility or immaturity may determine or make worse the
      erectile deficit. A thorough diagnostic work up is essential for the prognosis
      and the choice of the more fitting therapy. Emotional and cognitive understanding
      of the psychogenic background of the symptom is combined with behavioral therapy
      based on modern principles of neuroriabilitation.

PMID- 1439852
TI  - [Intracavernous infusion of drugs].
AB  - In 1982 Virag presented the initial experience of use in diagnosis and treatment
      of impotence. PGE1 has been showed a safe and effectiveness drug. From september
      1989 to october 1991 210 patients with erectile disorders were managed by I.C.I.
      with PGE1 with minimal side effects.

PMID- 1439853
TI  - [Non-surgical therapy of impotence: infiltration, iontophoresis, ultrasound,
      laser].
AB  - Surgical therapy is the only useful correction in congenital fibrosis or in
      hypoplasia of the 'corpora cavernosa', associated with hypospadia or not. On the
      contrary in not congenital fibrosis of the 'corpora cavernosa' (Peyronie's
      disease, consequences of priapism, or trauma, complications of pharmaco
      prosthesis) are allowed pharmaco-physical treatments (infiltrations,
      ionophoresis, ultrasound, laser). Pharmaco-physical therapy can be used as the
      only treatment, which is often resolutive, but it is also useful before or after
      the surgical operation of the 'corpora cavernosa'. These diseases can give
      disorders of the erection, until complete impotence is reached. In fact the
      erectile tissue can't expand, because of the rising fibrosclerosis. Among
      acquired fibrosis of corpora cavernosa I.P.P. has surely the greatest recurrent:
      the consistency of our series made possible to achieve significant results with a
      unified therapeutical protocol. The same management was applied in other, less
      frequent, penile fibrosis, always with full positive results even if on a small
      number of patients. We are evaluating a new drug (defibrotide) in the treatment
      of cavernosal vasculitis. Another one (hyaluronidase) associated to orgotein,
      could improve its effect against inflammation especially in chronic evolutions.
      Besides new treatments, we emphasize the prevention of iatrogenic fibrosis with
      particular regard to cavernous pharmaco-infusions by autoinjections: the training
      of the patient and the safety of the autoinjectors must be carefully checked by
      the andrologist to decrease a large amount of complications.

PMID- 1439854
TI  - [Transdermal therapy of erectile insufficiency].
AB  - The introduction of intracavernosal (i.c.) administration of vasoactive drugs has
      revolutionized diagnosis and treatment of sexual impotence. This procedure,
      though, carries some risks and undesired side-effects, such as fibrosis,
      priapism, hematomas, etc. Thus, at our Centre has been evaluated the possibility
      of a transdermal (TS), either active or passive, treatment of impotence. In a
      first trial, double blind crossover, 62 patients have been treated with yohimbine
      (YOH) as ointment. About 5 mg of the drug were applied at the balanopreputial
      sulcus, twice daily. In 10 patients YOH was also assayed by HPLC in the blood
      drawn from the corpora cavernosa after the application of the drug: a rapid
      adsorption of the drug was demonstrated and a peak value of 58 ng/ml at 25 min.
      Treatment with YOH was particularly satisfactory in patients with impotence of
      recent onset and mild degree, that is without major vascular alterations. The
      active TD drug administration was tested with papaverine delivered with cavernous
      bodies by a C.T.D.A.S. (Controlled Transdermal Drugs Administration System). Thin
      layer chromatography has shown the passage of about 10% of patients a relevant
      amelioration of erectile function was observed.

PMID- 1439855
TI  - [Vacuum therapy].
AB  - In the therapy of vasculogenic impotence, the Vacuum Device has been proposed up
      to now as an "external" prosthesis device with the aim of obtaining a penile
      erection of sufficient rigidity for penetration, in patients afflicted by
      vascular or neurological disorders. In the eighties, the experience gained with
      the use of Intra Cavernous Injections (C.I.D.) (using papaverine, phentolamine
      and prostaglandin), demonstrated not to be an exclusively palliative therapy
      ("pharmacological prosthesis"), but to represent as well a sort of "vasoactive
      exercise" of the erectile tissue. In the nineties, many wondered what could be a
      valid alternative to the C.I.D. Taking this into consideration, we modified the
      method of application of Vacuum Therapy. The device was used once a day without
      the constrictive band applied to the penis root, in order to generate a passive
      action on the erectile tissue, a sort of "stretching" for the smooth muscle
      fibers. From January 1990 to December 1991, we treated 78 pts. afflicted by
      erectile failure. The patients were divided into 3 groups (26 each) of distinct
      therapy: the first was treated weekly with only endocavernous papaverine
      administration (20 mg.), the second underwent daily Vacuum Therapy exclusively
      (10'-15') and the third received a combined therapy: Vacuum Device, daily and
      C.I.D. with Papaverine (20 mg.) once a week. The results of this treatment are as
      follows: the patients who underwent Vacuum Therapy daily (2nd and 3rd groups)
      showed, at the end of the treatment (6 months), a significant improvement in
      spontaneous erectile ability (14 Pts.-53.8% in the 2nd group; 17 Pts-65.3% in the
      3rd group).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439856
TI  - [Postoperative impotence].
AB  - Increasing interest has developed in recent years about the preservation of
      sexual function after urological surgery. The pelvic plexus which is formed by
      parasympathetic visceral efferent preganglionic fibers that arise from the sacral
      center provides autonomic innervation to the corpora cavernosa. The cavernous
      nerves emerge from the pelvic plexus and then travel along the posterolateral
      portion of the seminal vesicle and prostate and then along the membranous
      urethra. The preservation of the nerve supply of the corpora during urological
      and pelvic procedures is of vital importance to preserve potency.

PMID- 1439857
TI  - [Treatment of gas gangrene. Results of a retro- and prospective analysis of a
      traumatologic patient sample over 20 years].
AB  - From 1970 to 1977 and from 1978 to 1990, the treatment and outcome in 136
      patients with gas gangrene were investigated. The prognosis was better in
      patients with gas gangrene after trauma than in patients with gas gangrene
      resulting from vascular insufficiency or malignant tumours. In the first group
      the lethality of gas gangrene was 28.6%, in the second group, 7.1%. This
      difference is significant (P < 0.05). In 40.5% the infected extremities were
      saved. Patients with injuries without fractures did not lose limbs because of gas
      gangrene or die of it. When an operation was performed before or after the first
      session of oxygenation at high pressure (OHP) lethality was lower (20%) and the
      rate of saved limbs higher (80%) than with later operation (lethality, 50%; saved
      limbs, 45.5%). All patients who could not be treated by OHP, or only once or
      twice, died. From 1970 to 1977 patients who were treated surgically and received
      OHP for 5 days survived, and since 1978 this has applied to patients treated for
      4 days. In general, the lives of patients with gas gangrene are no longer in
      danger by the 5th day of therapy. The use of checklists for diagnosis and therapy
      has been practised since 1978, and this is assumed to be one factor in the better
      outcome.

PMID- 1439858
TI  - [Experimental studies of thermal disinfection and sterilization of allogeneic
      bone transplants and their effects on biological viability].
AB  - Thermal energy (80 degrees) for the disinfection of cancellous allogenic bone
      grafts was employed, and it proved to be an advantageous, safe and easily
      accessible method. The effects of this treatment on biological values were
      examined in terms of biomechanical and biodynamic (graft incorporation) loss of
      the treated grafts versus the autoclaved and untreated samples. Given the
      thermolability of the pathogens in question, the thermal approach presented here
      has the advantage of being readily controllable. The lack of toxic or mutagenic
      risks through this method and its accessibility represent further advantages. In
      thermal treatment of bone allografts, it is essential that one knows the
      thermoconductivity of the bone sample and that one can demonstrate pathogen
      inactivation through the entire graft volume. All of the parameters in the 80
      degrees C group that were measured in this study indicate clear biological
      superiority over the autoclaved group. A newly developed thermoincubator is
      introduced for gentler disinfection of allogenic bone grafts and it inactivates
      common vegetative pathogens as well as HIV. It is still necessary to conduct
      serological screening for hepatitis antigens in the donor pool, however. Based on
      these results, we conclude that the clinical use of autoclaved allogenic bone
      grafts needs to be reviewed and possibly limited.

PMID- 1439859
TI  - [HIV detection in the bone transplant with polymerase chain reaction].
AB  - In trauma surgery, bone transplantation was needed in nearly 15% of all
      operations for reconstruction of defects. A high risk of viral infection remains
      in transplantation, however, cocultivation procedures have shown that human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) resides in bone of HIV-infected persons. Safety
      guidelines for running bone banks were not always easy to follow, and physical or
      chemical procedures applied for disinfection failed to inactivate HIV-1. In the
      present study we show that the polymerase chain reaction technique is an
      appropriate and sensitive means of detecting the HIV-1 genome in bone material
      prior to transplantation and-used in this way-can help to diminish the risk of
      HIV-1 transmission via bone transplantation.

PMID- 1439860
TI  - [MEDKOM--new perspectives for accident surgery?].
AB  - MEDKOM is a new communication concept in trauma surgery, originally inaugurated
      as a multi-user online video communication system and now proving its benefits in
      medicine. The technological conditions needed and its daily usefulness are
      described, and examples from our clinic are given. The importance of modern
      technology and the possibilities it opens up, especially for medical training
      programmes and quality protection in trauma care, are pointed out.

PMID- 1439861
TI  - [Experimental trial of intraoperative spinal ultrasound].
AB  - Dorsal operative stabilization of spinal fractures by internal fixation is an
      established means of treatment directed at releasing the extrinsic compression of
      the intraspinal contents caused by the fractured posterior surface of the
      vertebral body. There are few ways of assessing how successful the repositioning
      is intraoperatively. Intraoperative ultrasound with a special small transducer is
      possible, but it is difficult to reach the intraspinal area by this means,
      because it is surrounded by bones. A laminectomy would destabilize the injured
      vertebral column even further. By experiments performed on six human vertebral
      columns we show that it is possible to view the entire length of the fractured
      posterior surface by ultrasound. The beam has to be projected between the laminae
      vertebrae following a small laminotomy. Preliminary intraoperative experiences
      with eight patients confirm our experimental results. The intraoperative
      ultrasound results have been confirmed by preoperative and postoperative CT. We
      expect the necessity for laminectomy for examination of the posterior surface of
      the vertebral body to decline in frequency in the near future.

PMID- 1439862
TI  - [Temporary balloon catheter occlusion for control of bleeding of a blunt injury
      of the proximal axillary artery. Case report and review of the literature].
AB  - We describe the successful placement of an intra-arterial balloon catheter by a
      femoral approach in order to occlude the proximal arterial end and to control
      massive bleeding in a patient with rupture of the left axillary artery after
      blunt scapulo-thoracic dissociation. To our knowledge this technique has so far
      not been reported in Europe. It allows rapid control of bleeding, minimizes blood
      loss and markedly facilitates pre- and perioperative management in selected
      cases. The authors review the relevant literature dealing with this topic.

PMID- 1439863
TI  - [Double dislocation of a finger (personal cases and contributions from the
      literature)].
AB  - This is the author's third report on this extremely rare injury. New cases are
      discussed, and a review of observations is given on the basis of the author's
      experience and that of others.

PMID- 1439864
TI  - [Management of femoral neck fracture in advanced age using femur head
      endoprosthesis].
AB  - Between 1984 and 1989, 419 patients with subcapital fracture were treated, 170
      with a head conserving method, 57 with a total endoprosthesis (THR), and 242 with
      a hemiprosthesis. In the last group the average age was 80.1 (range 55-98) years.
      At follow up an average of 2.5 years after surgery 63.3% had died. Most of the
      remaining patients were asymptomatic and their walking ability in the first few
      years was good. Complications included head protrusion, followed in declining
      order of frequency by loosening and ectopic calcifications. We conclude that for
      elderly patients this technique is a suitable alternative to THR or the femoral
      head-conserving method, which had higher complication rates.

PMID- 1439865
TI  - [Results of repositioning osteotomies in delayed healing or pseudarthrosis of the
      proximal femur].
AB  - The results after valgus osteotomy for delayed or nonunion in 20 patients with
      femoral neck fractures (9 Pauwels type II and 11 type III) and 10
      intertrochanteric fractures are reported. The mean age of the patients at
      presentation with delayed/nonunion of femoral neck fractures and
      intertrochanteric fractures was 37.5 and 60 years, respectively. The average
      interval between injury and valgus osteotomy in the first and second group was 8
      and 13 months, respectively. The average size of the preoperatively determined
      and intraoperatively removed wedge was 30 degrees in both groups. The results of
      the two fracture groups were analyzed separately. All but one osteotomy in a
      patient with a nonunion of a femoral neck fracture consolidated without
      complications. This case developed a nonunion at the osteotomy and required
      additional surgery consisting of bone graft and refixation to heal. Of the
      femoral neck delayed/nonunion cases, 15 (75%) healed immediately following valgus
      osteotomy. In the intertrochanteric delayed/nonunion patients, valgus osteotomy
      led directly to bone consolidation in 6 (60%). In each fracture group 3
      additional cases healed following reoperation for a total consolidation rate of
      90%. In the femoral neck group one union was complicated by infection, resulting
      in ankylosis of the hip and 3.5 years later another patient with a revascularized
      femoral head required total hip arthroplasty because of a large, loose
      osteochondral fragment. In two cases union of the former femoral neck fracture
      could not be achieved. Partial avascular necrosis determined the course and total
      hip arthroplasty was required for both cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439866
TI  - [Arterial occlusive disease after surgical treatment of fractures of the lower
      extremity].
AB  - Chronic arterial occlusive disease of the lower limb may complicate fracture
      treatment. In five cases, diagnosis of vascular disease was established when
      delayed fracture healing or skin gangrene occurred some weeks after operative
      fracture treatment. The diagnosis of vascular disease was made from the case
      history, examination of the patient and repeated pulse control at the feet.
      Arterial insufficiency will be worsened by long-term elevation of the leg and by
      fracture treatment with a cast or traction. Angiography is indicated, and quick
      vascular reconstruction is recommended. In one patient with known iliac occlusion
      (Leriche syndrome) we performed simultaneous vascular reconstruction and
      operative fracture treatment.

PMID- 1439867
TI  - Evaluation of coronary artery disease with positron emission tomography.
AB  - Positron emission tomography (PET) represents the most sophisticated imaging
      modality in nuclear medicine allowing quantification of regional tracer tissue
      concentrations. Beside the technical superiority of data acquisition, a large
      number of PET radiopharmaceuticals are available for clinical application. Based
      on currently available data, PET provides detection of coronary artery disease
      with higher diagnostic accuracy than conventional thallium-201 single positron
      emission computed tomography. Applications of PET with metabolic tracers have
      been shown to provide clinically important information in the management of
      patients with advanced coronary artery disease. Metabolic tissue characterization
      represents the most specific definition of tissue viability currently available.
      However, the relatively high cost of the technology and the lack of reimbursement
      by major insurance carriers has limited widespread clinical application. In
      addition to the acceptance of PET as an advanced clinical imaging modality, this
      imaging modality excels as a sophisticated research tool assessing specific
      tissue functions that could not be visualized before in the living human heart.
      Without doubt, this technique will contribute significantly to the future
      characterization of pathophysiological alterations in substrate metabolism and
      other physiological processes such as autonomic innervation. Furthermore, the
      kinetics of radiolabeled cardiac drugs may be studied with PET to provide
      objective characterization of cardiovascular drug effects and thus enhance our
      understanding of pharmacokinetics in the human heart.

PMID- 1439868
TI  - Positron emission tomography in cerebrovascular disorders.
AB  - The introduction of positron emission tomography (PET) as a powerful imaging
      modality has played a major role in the understanding of the pathophysiological
      bases for cerebrovascular disorders. PET is the only technique that allows
      measurement of regional cerebral blood flow, blood volume, oxygen extraction
      fraction, and oxygen and glucose metabolism with detail and accuracy. Using PET,
      these physiological parameters can be measured to determine the extent of the
      disease from the early stages of cerebrovascular disorders to acute cerebral
      infarction. Significant hemodynamic and metabolic abnormalities are noted in
      chronic ischemia, but no structural changes are noted on anatomic images. PET
      studies have shown that in many patients in the early phases (10 to 12 hours) of
      clinically diagnosed acute stroke, a substantial area of ischemia exists, which,
      if untreated, will become irreversibly damaged. Similar to the results achieved
      in patients with acute myocardial infarction, appropriate intervention in
      patients with cerebrovascular disorders may significantly reduce the extent of
      injury to the brain. PET also has been useful in predicting functional recovery
      and monitoring the effects of various therapeutic approaches. Although functional
      imaging of the brain with single photon emission computed tomography can
      successfully be used in the investigation of several disorders of the brain, its
      role in cerebrovascular disorders is quite limited. PET is a unique modality that
      studies ischemic diseases of the brain, and it potentially could play a
      significant role in the management of patients with cerebrovascular disease. This
      will be further realized when aggressive approaches are used routinely in the
      future.

PMID- 1439869
TI  - The use of positron emission tomography in the clinical assessment of dementia.
AB  - A number of reasons can be cited for performing a test that identifies patients
      early in their course who have fatal and currently untreatable neurological
      disorders. At this stage of illness there is clinical ambiguity. The patient,
      family, and physician are typically faced with a battery of negative test results
      and an ambiguous clinical impression that can lead to periodic repetition of
      tests that involve cost, inconvenience, potential morbidity to the patient, and
      lack of definitive diagnosis. An accurate test would lead to the avoidance of
      these low-yield, repetitive, and costly evaluations. In addition, such studies
      can identify homogeneous groups of individuals with degenerative disorders
      leading to dementia who could be enrolled in experimental therapeutic programs.
      In these programs therapies could be monitored in an objective and noninvasive
      fashion using positron emission tomography (PET). The magnitude of the health
      problems resulting from the dementing illnesses is great in terms of medical
      practice, economics, and family hardship. The number of individuals with these
      disorders is predicted to increase dramatically in the future. The ability to
      provide an accurate diagnosis and more clear prognosis early in the disease
      course should diminish ambiguity for patients, families, and physicians. Ample
      evidence is cited in this article to show that PET has the ability to provide
      such information objectively and noninvasively.

PMID- 1439870
TI  - The use of positron emission tomography in the clinical assessment of epilepsy.
AB  - Positron emission tomography (PET) of local cerebral glucose utilization is
      highly sensitive in detecting epileptogenic regions that correspond to
      electrographic localization in patients with epilepsy. In medically refractory
      temporal lobe epilepsy for which surgical resection of the epileptogenic zone is
      a therapeutic option, the application of PET enables more than 50% of adults and
      older children to be successfully operated on without the necessity for chronic
      intracranial electrographic monitoring. In infants with intractable infantile
      spasms and various types of partial epilepsy, PET has uncovered focal areas of
      cortical dysplasia and other anatomic abnormalities, which, after resection, have
      resulted in cessation of seizures and developmental improvement. The distribution
      of PET abnormality is in excellent agreement with the extent of the epileptogenic
      zone as determined by intraoperative electrocorticography, thus avoiding the
      necessity for chronic intracranial electrographic monitoring in 90% of these
      infants. As a result of PET, the preoperative evaluation of intractable epilepsy
      in both adults and children has become less invasive and less costly.

PMID- 1439871
TI  - Neuropsychiatric disorders: investigation of schizophrenia and substance abuse.
AB  - Because neuropsychiatric disorders involve functional and neurochemical cerebral
      abnormalities, positron emission tomography (PET) is ideally suited for their
      investigation. The use of tracers to measure regional brain glucose metabolism
      and/or blood flow has allowed the evaluation of brain function in psychiatric
      patients. The use of radioligands to assess receptor concentration has enabled an
      evaluation of the extent to which specific neurotransmitter systems are involved
      in the pathogenesis of mental illness. This article reviews the application of
      PET technology to the understanding of schizophrenic disorders and substance
      abuse.

PMID- 1439873
TI  - Position emission tomography at the turn of the century: a perspective.
AB  - Nuclear medicine translates advances in molecular biology into the care of
      patients. In the future, diseases will be characterized at the molecular rather
      than the cellular level, often before detectable structural changes have
      occurred. Position emission tomography (PET) will play a major role in the study
      of intercellular communication by making it possible to characterize the actions
      of "molecules with messages." Diseases will be characterized by defects in
      intercellular communication. Treatment will be planned based on molecular
      abnormalities, and the response to treatment will be monitored with molecular
      probes. PET studies of the brain, heart, and cancer will be extended to all
      organs of the body. Pharmacology will be strongly influenced by PET because most
      drugs act by stimulating or blocking "recognition sites" on the surface of cells.
      In the next century, will single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
      makes PET unnecessary? The answer is no, because both PET and SPECT will have
      achieved a permanent role in medical practice; both make it possible to examine
      regional in vivo chemistry in human beings. Carbon-11 and fluorine-18 will
      continue to lead the way, but many drugs, and some body constituents such as
      proteins, can be radiolabeled with iodine-123 and technetium-99m. Today, PET is
      limited by the need to make one's own radiotracers. This is likely to change when
      regional radiopharmacies become widespread.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439872
TI  - The role of positron emission tomography in oncology and other whole-body
      applications.
AB  - Imaging and quantifying biochemical and physiological processes with PET clearly
      has major potential significance for all organ systems and many disease states.
      Although the full utility and potential of emerging new applications of PET in
      organs other than the heart and brain must be demonstrated in basic and clinical
      research studies, the rapidly accumulating aggregate experience in oncology in
      particular, and in other organ systems and disease states as well, indicates that
      PET is now truly becoming a modality of both clinical and investigative use for
      the body as a whole as well as for specific organ systems. Whole-body PET FDG
      imaging (Fig 9) illustrates the potential of biochemical imaging to map the
      distribution of cancer throughout the body. With the growing list of
      radiopharmaceutical and quantitative techniques applicable to cancer studies with
      PET, this field will continue to realize significant growth.

PMID- 1439874
TI  - Mixed "hot" and "cold" lesions on bone scans.

PMID- 1439875
TI  - "Cold" lesions on indium-111 white blood cell scintigraphy.

PMID- 1439876
TI  - The "hot nose" sign in the cerebral radionuclide angiogram.

PMID- 1439877
TI  - Regulation of hepatic gene expression and development.
AB  - Tissue-specific expression in the hepatocyte appears to require the actions of
      multiple factors in specific combinations for each gene. The interactions between
      two or more positive-acting factors that raise transcription to optimal levels
      and those between positive and negative factors that enforce strict cell-specific
      transcription remain to be elucidated. However, recent progress in the
      identification and cloning of the genes for many of these factors will make it
      possible to begin to answer these important questions.

PMID- 1439878
TI  - Molecular pathogenesis of liver disease during persistent hepatitis B virus
      infection.

PMID- 1439879
TI  - Cellular and molecular mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis.
AB  - For colorectal carcinomas, the rate of tumor development is proportional to the
      fourth to sixth power of elapsed time, suggesting that four to six independent
      events are necessary. Although similar calculations have not been made for HBV
      associated HCCs, it is likely that this is also the case for HCCs, since
      individuals with persistent HBV infection do not usually develop HCC until they
      are 45 or greater years old. As evidence for specific genetic and epigenetic
      changes in HCCs accumulate, the important players in multistep
      hepatocarcinogenesis are becoming clearer. However, even though Myc family
      oncogenes are clearly implicated in woodchuck HCC, similar integrations have not
      been found in human HCCs. Therefore, although rodent and human systems have many
      similarities, we must realize that important differences may also exist.
      Regarding tumor suppressor genes, the evidence for p53 alterations in HCC is
      strong. A growing body of evidence suggests further that alterations in the
      retinoblastoma gene and one or more tumor suppressor genes on chromosome 11 are
      also involved in HCC. HBV integrations may certainly play a role in the
      generation of chromosome aberrations leading to loss of tumor suppressor alleles,
      since chromosomes 11 and 17 are the most common integration sites. Finally, the
      role of X proteins as participants in malignant transformation has been
      demonstrated for certain immortalized, nontransformed hepatocytes. Altered
      autocrine mechanisms of cell growth control, possibly involving IGF-II, are
      clearly implicated in HCC. Paracrine mechanisms for the control of hepatocyte
      growth and differentiated functions may also be altered as a result of the
      synthesis and secretion of a complex array of interleukins, HGF, and basic and
      acidic FGFs by cells in the inflammatory and cirrhotic lesions of precancerous
      livers. Whether the order of molecular changes in the hepatocyte is important for
      malignant progression is presently not clear. What is clear, however, is that
      hepatocarcinogenesis involves alterations in the concerted action of
      protooncogenes, growth factor, and tumor suppressor genes. How these factors
      interact will provide a more complete understanding of the mechanism or
      mechanisms of hepatic oncogenesis.

PMID- 1439880
TI  - New strategies for isolation of low abundance viral and host cDNAs: application
      to cloning of the hepatitis E virus and analysis of tissue-specific
      transcription.
AB  - The ability to clone viruses molecularly has led to dramatic advances in our
      understanding of this diverse group of agents at the molecular level. These
      insights are critical to the development of experimental strategies for the
      containment and control of the various viral pathogens that cause hepatitis in
      man. Knowledge of the genes and gene products have, for example, assisted in the
      design of expression systems that have been useful for the cell-free expression
      and production of viral constituents in the development of a subunit
      (recombinant) vaccine for HBV. Of particular advantage to the experimenter would
      be the ability to clone the virus directly from the infectious source without the
      need to resort to biologic amplification systems that require costly investments
      of money and manpower. This would obviate the need for the time-intensive
      development of a tissue culture propagation or the expensive cost of developing
      an animal model. The methods described here have applications to the discovery
      and isolation of low abundance transcripts from host (cellular) genes. These host
      encoded products may have important roles in virus replication and certainly by
      themselves constitute a growing area of study. The direct selection protocol has
      already proven its value in the isolation of novel (previously undescribed) gene
      sequences from complex cellular sources. The application of these methodologies
      should, at the single cell level, aid in the delineation of those important host
      encoded gene products that are critical for the efficient in vitro propagation of
      hepatotropic viruses. The identification of these low abundance cellular genes
      will elucidate the biologic interplay between host and obligate intracellular
      parasite (virus) and potentially lead to the development of new strategies for
      virus control that take into consideration the role of the cell as host.

PMID- 1439881
TI  - Molecular biology and genetics of alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency.
AB  - The use of advanced recombinant DNA technology has provided an improved
      understanding of the human AAT deficiency phenotype by providing the amino acid
      sequence of several variant proteins and by allowing for the production of
      various cell and animal models to study the molecular and biochemical components
      of the retention, degradation, and accumulation of these variants in the hepatic
      ER. Human AAT deficiency will continue to serve as an excellent model for
      enhancing our current understanding of mechanisms utilized in regulating protein
      "traffic" in the ER and in elucidating the pathophysiologic components of AAT
      related liver disease.

PMID- 1439882
TI  - Structure, function, molecular genetics, and epidemiology of apolipoprotein B.

PMID- 1439883
TI  - Hepatocyte transplantation: development of new systems for liver repopulation and
      gene therapy.
AB  - Following recent advances in molecular and cell biology, development of
      hepatocyte transplantation has been considerably invigorated. To study the fate
      of hepatocytes transplanted into the liver, new strategies have included the use
      of endogenously marked transgenic hepatocytes. Release of peripherally
      quantifiable marker proteins by transgenic hepatocytes has provided noninvasive
      ways to determine hepatocyte engraftment and prolonged survival. Further
      characterization of intrasplenic hepatocyte transplantation has established this
      to be the most suitable method for targeting hepatocytes to the liver. Advances
      in gene cloning, retrovirology, and gene transfer technology have provided
      further tools for accomplishing gene therapy. Practical strategies for ex vivo
      gene therapy involving hepatocytes have been developed by exploiting these new
      technologies. The potential value of hepatocyte transplantation in acute hepatic
      failure has begun to be reexamined. Therefore, hepatocyte transplantation can be
      predicted to provide new ammunition for continuing our assault on untreatable
      disorders. Resolution of outstanding issues should accelerate this process.

PMID- 1439884
TI  - Strategies for gene therapy in the liver.

PMID- 1439885
TI  - End-stage liver disease in a 31-year-old man.
AB  - This is a case of decompensated chronic liver disease associated with FZ
      phenotype AAT deficiency. Histologic confirmation of the diagnosis was aided by
      immunostaining of the AAT globules. Liver transplantation was successful in
      reversing the disease process.

PMID- 1439886
TI  - Case of the season. Perforated benign gastric ulcer with perigastric abscess
      formation.

PMID- 1439887
TI  - Evaluation of cervical vertebral injuries.
AB  - The use of imaging studies on patients with suspected cervical vertebral injury
      should be restricted to those patients who fall into the high-risk category for
      injury. Once a decision is made to obtain radiographs, a minimum of five views is
      required to adequately rule in or rule out injury. Complex imaging studies such
      as CT, polydirectional tomography, and MRI may be performed to confirm the
      initial impression based on plain radiographic findings. The diagnosis of
      cervical injuries may be facilitated by following a logical pattern of analysis
      searching for abnormalities of alignment and anatomy, of bony integrity, of the
      cartilage or joint spaces, and of the soft tissues. This ABCS approach should
      simplify an intimidating subject and insure a confident radiological diagnosis.

PMID- 1439888
TI  - Thoracic spine trauma.
AB  - Thoracic spine fractures are most commonly flexion injuries resulting from
      vehicular accidents or falls. The initial evaluation of any multiple trauma
      victim should include AP and cross-table lateral radiographs of the thoracic
      spine. Conventional and computed axial tomography can add additional information
      regarding posterior element integrity and spinal canal encroachment. MRI can also
      be useful in that it directly images the effects of fractures on the spinal cord.

PMID- 1439889
TI  - Fractures of the lumbar spine.

PMID- 1439890
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging in acute spinal injury.

PMID- 1439891
TI  - Trauma to the pelvic ring and acetabulum.

PMID- 1439892
TI  - MR imaging of skeletal metastases from medulloblastoma.
AB  - The findings of MR imaging in 3 patients with bone metastases from
      medulloblastoma are reported. The first patient showed focal lesions of low
      signal intensity on T1-weighted spin echo images at a time when bone scintigraphy
      was negative for metastases. This patient later developed extensive
      osteosclerotic lesions visible on plain films. The bone marrow of the second
      patient showed diffuse low signal intensity on T1-weighted images. After
      chemotherapy the signal intensity of the bone marrow increased which correlated
      with a return of normal hematopoietic tissue. A response to chemotherapy was also
      found on MR imaging and repeat bone marrow biopsies in a third patient. A
      consistent finding was a low signal intensity on pre-gadolinium images, but the
      pattern (focal or diffuse abnormal signal intensity) was different in each
      patient. To our knowledge, this is the first report on MR imaging findings in
      bone metastases from medulloblastoma.

PMID- 1439893
TI  - Alcoholism-associated spinal and femoral bone loss in abstinent male alcoholics,
      as measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry.
AB  - Although alcoholism is a known risk factor for osteoporosis, there are few
      published reports on alcoholism-associated bone loss. To study alcoholism
      associated bone loss, this study used a dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)
      densitometer to measure lumbar and femoral bone mineral density (BMD) in a
      previously little-studied population: 32 relatively healthy, nonhospitalized,
      Caucasian, alcoholic men with a period of abstinence longer than that previously
      studied (median abstinence 4.0 months, range 3 days-36 months). DXA is a new,
      highly precise densitometric method with many advantages over the methods used in
      previous studies. The subjects had statistically significant bone loss at three
      sites: lumbar spine, femoral neck, and Ward's triangle (multiple correction
      adjusted two-tailed P < 0.008). Compared to the mean BMD of sex-, age-, and race
      matched norms, the subjects' average femoral neck, Ward's triangle, and lumbar
      BMDs were, respectively, 0.56, 0.69, and 0.57 standard deviations (SDs) below the
      normative values.

PMID- 1439895
TI  - Computed tomography appearance of bone metastases of leiomyosarcoma.
AB  - Bone lesions in leiomyosarcoma are uncommon. When encountered, they are usually a
      late manifestation of disease seen in the setting of widespread systemic
      metastases. We present five cases of metastatic leiomyosarcoma, including one in
      which a bone lesion predated detection of a primary gastric leiomyosarcoma and
      one in which bone metastases signaled disease recurrence. Computed tomography in
      14 of 16 osseous leiomyosarcomas demonstrated a lytic, non-expansile pattern.

PMID- 1439894
TI  - The hallux sesamoids revisited.
AB  - The hallux sesamoids are vulnerable to significant injury and weight-bearing
      stress in both the athlete and the nonathlete. Unfortunately, they are often
      dismissed as inconsequential accessory bones. The historical significance,
      embryology, anatomy, and physiology of the sesamoids and the salient features of
      both traumatic and nontraumatic pathologic conditions affecting these structures
      are presented. Because the sesamoids can be responsible for prolonged disabling
      foot pain and discomfort, it is important for both clinician and radiologist to
      pay attention to these bones and recognize the early signs of abnormality.

PMID- 1439896
TI  - Acronyms in bone densitometry.

PMID- 1439897
TI  - Shoulder impingement syndrome: impingement view and arthrography study based on
      100 cases.
AB  - A prospective evaluation combining the shoulder impingement view and arthrography
      was made in patients presenting with chronic shoulder pain. Five hundred and
      twenty-three patients with chronic shoulder pain were X-rayed using conventional
      views and impingement views. One hundred of these patients (mean age 62 years)
      had subacromial bony spurs on the impingement view; these underwent arthrography.
      They were divided into two groups according to the degree of spur formation-
      whether or not the size of the spur exceeded one half of the acromial width as
      measured from the outer margin to the acromioclavicular joint. Of the 100
      subacromial spurs demonstrated on the impingement view, only 18 were visible on
      the conventional view as assessed by an independent radiologist. Arthrography
      showed 35 cases of rotator cuff tear. The size of the bony spur was strongly
      associated with the incidence of rotator cuff tear (P < 0.02).

PMID- 1439898
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging of Achilles tendon xanthomas in familial
      hypercholesterolemia.
AB  - The demonstration of tendon xanthomas is helpful in diagnosing heterozygous
      familial hypercholesterolemia, but in many patients lipid may accumulate without
      clinical abnormality being present. We investigated the possibility of detecting
      the lipid element with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in seven patients with
      familial hypercholesterolemia and six controls. Although the mean relative signal
      intensities measured on long TR/TE spin echo sequences of the tendon were
      significantly higher in patients than in controls, the lack of such elevation
      does not rule out the presence of such lesions. In vitro measurements indicated
      that the signal intensity of triglycerides was quenched by cholesterolesters. The
      anatomic findings of MR imaging were compared with those of ultrasonography (US),
      showing excellent correlation in measurements between MR images and US [r(S) =
      0.95 and 0.97 respectively]. MR imaging and US provide equal information on the
      anatomy of the Achilles tendon; as an abnormally increased signal intensity
      within the xanthoma on MRI was found in only a minority of our patients, the
      value of MRI in the demonstration of Achilles tendon xanthomas is limited when
      using conventional T1 and T2 spin echo sequences.

PMID- 1439899
TI  - MRI evaluation of amyloid myopathy.
AB  - Amyloid myopathy is a rare complication of primary amyloidosis. The magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) features of two patients with amyloid myopathy were
      studied. Slight prolongation of muscle T1 and T2 relaxation times was evident but
      the striking abnormality was marked reticulation of the subcutaneous fat. The
      clinical findings of indurated extremities far exceeds the minimal signal
      intensity alteration seen in the muscles. The MR appearance of amyloid myopathy
      differs from that of other neuromuscular conditions in the minimal changes found
      in muscle, but the striking abnormality seen in subcutaneous fat makes it
      distinct from many neuromuscular conditions.

PMID- 1439900
TI  - Case report 736: Retained surgical sponge (gossypiboma) with a foreign body
      reaction and remote and organizing hematoma.
AB  - This 50-year-old woman presented with progressive pain in the left thigh.
      Radiographs showed a 9 x 6 cm soft-tissue mass located at the lateral border of
      the left femur. Magnetic resonance (MR) examination showed an eccentric,
      nonhomogeneous, soft-tissue mass abutting the femur. The preoperative
      differential diagnosis was schwannoma, low-grade neurogenic tumor, large
      periosteal ganglion, or fibroma. At operation, the cut surface of the specimen
      had features of an organizing hematoma with recent remote hemorrhage and areas of
      fibrosis. Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of polarizable
      foreign body material in a background of foreign body reaction. The specimen
      represented a retained surgical sponge which had been present since the patient's
      surgery for a comminuted fracture 35 years earlier. Gossypiboma, or cotton
      balloma, is a term used to describe a mass within the body composed of cotton
      matrix. Radiopaque markers are now present on surgical sponges, and their
      appearances have been well documented. The gossypiboma, however, may still
      present a diagnostic problem if the marker is distorted by folding, twisting, or
      disintegration over a period of time. Without the radiopaque markers, retained
      sponges are difficult, if not impossible, to diagnose, as was the situation in
      this case.

PMID- 1439901
TI  - Case report 754: Xanthoma of the Achilles tendon.
AB  - The MRI features of bilateral xanthoma of the achilles tendon in type II
      hyperlipoproteinemia are reported. MRI has proved to be the best imaging modality
      available in assessing enlargement of the Achilles tendon. It demonstrates the
      heterogeneous signal on both T1- and T2-weighted images where the xanthomatous
      deposits are relatively higher in signal intensity than the tendon itself. MRI
      also has a potential value in the clinical assessment and therapeutic response of
      the xanthoma after operative intervention.

PMID- 1439902
TI  - Case report 755: Burkitt's lymphoma of the talus.

PMID- 1439903
TI  - Case report 756: Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis.
AB  - We report the case of a young boy referred to our Department of Nuclear Medicine
      under the suspicion of a malignant tumor. The leading clinical symptoms were pain
      in the joints and loss of weight and vitality. Radiographic findings were
      suggestive of osteogenic sarcoma, but bone scans showed multiple increased tracer
      depositions along the cortex of femur and tibia, and in the lower and upper jaw.
      The enrichment pattern was not typical for metastases, but more probably
      demonstrated the multiple foci of osteomyelitis. This assumption was confirmed by
      the histological findings, which were diagnosed as primary chronic osteomyelitis.
      This rare pediatric bone disorder has been described by Giedion et al. The
      etiology of the disease is unknown, and therapy is discussed controversely in
      literature.

PMID- 1439904
TI  - Case report 757: Giant cell tumor of rib.
AB  - A case of the rare occurrence of conventional GCT in a rib is presented. Due to
      its radiological aggressivity, the possibility of a MGCT was entertained
      clinically, and preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy were given. The
      literature on giant cell tumors of the ribs is reviewed, and their distinction
      from primary MGCT and other giant-cell-containing lesions is discussed.

PMID- 1439905
TI  - Contemporary health care and the colonial and neo-colonial experience: the case
      of the Dominican Republic.
AB  - This article traces the development of health care policies in the Dominican
      Republic from their colonial and neo-colonial roots to contemporary times. The
      Dominican case exemplifies the unique historical processes by which its health
      policies were created and maintained, and simultaneously, reflects the political
      and historical forces that shape the Caribbean as a whole.

PMID- 1439906
TI  - Transformations in maternity services in Jamaica.
AB  - Analysis of the current organization and delivery of maternity care in Jamaica
      profits not only from an assessment of recent health issues but from
      consideration of the development of maternity services over the past century.
      Historical analysis indicates that a critical element in public health policy has
      been the effort to encourage use of biomedical obstetrical care and to eliminate
      the lay midwife. However, while women increasingly patronize hospitals, the
      delivery of services has deteriorated, resulting in widespread client
      dissatisfaction. Economic contingencies have contributed to the decline in
      maternity services, but health personnel manifest the ideology prevalent
      throughout the colonial era equating social irresponsibility with health
      complications. The cultural construction of illegitimacy and maternity is shown
      to be a dimension of class relations having an impact on health policy throughout
      Jamaica's history.

PMID- 1439907
TI  - Social factors mediating social class differences in blood pressure in a Jamaican
      community.
AB  - Research on the factors mediating social class differences in blood pressure was
      carried out in a Jamaican community. It was found in a previous report that
      higher social class is related to lower blood pressure for females, while for
      males higher social class is related to higher blood pressure. These differences
      are examined in greater detail here, especially in terms of the historical
      context of the specific community studied, which is on the fringe of the Kingston
      urban area, and in terms of the continuing importance of a social class system
      established under colonial rule. In the current study it is shown that social
      class differences in blood pressure for males are mediated by perceptions of
      social support. Social class differences in blood pressure for females are
      mediated by perceptions of economic stress. It is suggested that specific
      patterns of the growth of the city, and the historically-based social class
      system, have resulted in the juxtaposition of lower and middle class Jamaicans
      within this community, who in turn are influenced by different factors affecting
      blood pressure.

PMID- 1439908
TI  - West Indian gender relations, family planning programs and fertility decline.
AB  - Nearly all West Indian islands initiated marked fertility declines sometime
      between 1960 and 1970. Family planning programs have not played an important role
      in these declines. Neither have other variables that conventional social theory
      tells us should promote reduced family sizes, like education and rising standards
      of living. The historical experience of Barbados and Antigua, which reached
      replacement-level fertility in the 1980s, suggests that West Indian fertility
      declines reflect structural changes in national economies that created job
      opportunities for women. Family planning programs need to be evaluated with
      reference to the distinctive health and human rights goals other than fertility
      transition that they can effectively reach.

PMID- 1439909
TI  - The effect of parental age, birth order and other variables on early childhood
      mortality: a Caribbean example.
AB  - The 4275 births to women of native ancestry that took place on the island of St
      Barthelemy, French West Indies between 1878 and 1970 were analyzed according to
      the sex of the child, the year of birth, maternal age, maternal parity, paternal
      age and the number of children the father already had to determine the effects of
      these variables on rates of perinatal death, death before age 1 and death before
      age 5. The year of birth, the number of children the father already had, and
      maternal parity influenced death before age 1 and death before age 5. The sex of
      the child also influenced the probability of dying in the first year of life but
      not the first 5 yr of life when the other variables were controlled. Perinatal
      deaths were influenced only by the sex of the child, but even this effect
      disappeared when the other variables were controlled.

PMID- 1439910
TI  - Family planning in St Vincent, West Indies: a population history perspective.
AB  - St Vincent's population history, first as a slave society, then, after
      Emancipation, as a migration-oriented society, has strongly influenced cultural
      attitudes towards sexuality and fertility. In contemporary St Vincent, sexual
      activity and procreative ability are highly valued and linked to social status
      for both men and women. This paper assesses historical and contemporary factors
      influencing population dynamics in St Vincent, West Indies, and Vincentians'
      reactions to programs developed to curb population growth. The efforts of private
      and government programs to introduce family planning and change pronatalist
      attitudes are evaluated for their cultural appropriateness. Shifting migration
      patterns and modernization are also affecting gender roles, the social and
      economic value of children, and the acceptability of contraception to contribute
      to recent fertility declines.

PMID- 1439911
TI  - Social inequities in cardiovascular disease risk factors in East and West
      Germany.
AB  - Social class related differences in prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk
      factors in Germany were investigated with special emphasis on comparisons between
      East and West Germany and on time trends. Databases for West Germany are the
      first and second National Health Survey (survey 1: N = 4794, survey 2: N = 5315),
      carried out in the framework of the German Cardiovascular Prevention Study, and
      for East Germany the first GDR-MONICA project (N = 6125). Different social class
      indices were applied to evaluate social inequities for hypertension,
      hypercholesterolemia, cigarette smoking, obesity and predicted cardiovascular
      disease mortality. As a main result, it was found that very similar patterns in
      the relation between social class characteristics and cardiovascular disease risk
      factor prevalence occurred for both parts of Germany. Social class gradients were
      strongest for obesity and weakest for hypercholesterolemia. Analysis of time
      trends for the period from 1984 to 1988 (for West Germany only) revealed an
      increase in social inequalities for hypertension in males and cigarette smoking
      in females. These findings point to the need to focus more on social
      disadvantaged segments in the population when community based health promotion
      and disease prevention programs are brought into action.

PMID- 1439912
TI  - An occupational health programme for adults and children in the carpet weaving
      industry, Mirzapur, India: a case study in the informal sector.
AB  - The Indo-Dutch Environmental and Sanitary Engineering Project under Ganga action
      Plan in Kanpur and Mirzapur is being executed within the framework of Indo-Dutch
      bilateral development cooperation. The project aims to integrate technological,
      social and health related improvements. It is expected that the development
      approach and methodology can be replicated in other urban settlements in India.
      The project is being supplemented by a training and institutional strengthening
      programme, which will facilitate the transfer of new technologies and
      improvements in operation and maintenance of these new technologies. One of the
      project's goals is to improve living conditions in the targeted areas by
      installing drinking water and drainage systems. A socio-economic unit (SEU) in
      the project supports these technical interventions by encouraging the community
      to participate in project activities. The Occupational Health Programme in
      Mirzapur was conceived by the SEU to improve the health and living conditions of
      child and adult weavers. At the start of the programme, 200 weavers and 60 non
      weaver workers from Mirzapur city, matched for age and socio-economic status,
      were interviewed and underwent a physical examination. The mean age of the
      weavers is 27 years, reflecting the relatively large percentage of child labour
      (13.5%). Illiteracy among them is 73%, whereas 14% have had only a primary
      education. 64.5% of the carpet weavers are Muslims and 35.6% are Hindus. 61% own
      a loom or work in a family owned loom shed. 95% of the weavers have a monthly
      income of less than 600 Rs. Complaints of a persistent cough and cough with
      expectoration, backache, the common cold and joint pains occurred more often in
      the weaver population than in the comparison group and have been identified as
      'occupational hazards'. An intervention programme has been implemented based on
      the results of the occupational health survey. These interventions include
      awareness camps, installment of plexiglass tiles for light improvement in the
      loom sheds, training of community health volunteers and house-to-house health
      education. Another essential part of the programme is the provision of functional
      literacy classes for child and adult labourers in the carpet weaving industry.
      Occupational health as an entry point proved to be a successful approach in this
      segment of the informal sector, where child labour plays an important role.

PMID- 1439913
TI  - The costs of diabetes and its complications.
AB  - Diabetes mellitus is a disease with major long-term implications, not only for
      the health and well-being of affected individuals, but also for costs to the
      National Health Service. Treatment of the disease and its complications takes up
      4-5% of total health care expenditure in the U.K. These costs are dominated by in
      patient care for the complications arising from diabetes. This paper presents a
      review of studies which have been carried out on the costs of diabetes and its
      complications. For such a chronic and potentially disabling disease with numerous
      complications it is surprising that costs have not been more extensively
      researched. A large amount of data are available about the implications of
      diabetes in terms of incidence and prevalence, but few costs have been collected,
      particularly indirect and marginal costs. Both insulin dependent (IDDM) and non
      insulin dependent (NIDDM) diabetic patients exhibit similar complications so that
      the cost of treatment may be comparable, but further studies are needed to
      establish this. In addition, few studies have included diabetes as a secondary
      diagnosis. The studies which are available have tended to focus on direct costs,
      for example, the costs of hospital care, consultations and drugs, because they
      are the easiest to measure. Fewer studies have included indirect costs, such as
      the effect of time lost from work, early retirement and premature death, because
      of the difficulties in assigning monetary values to these factors. The most
      important contributors to the costs of diabetes are those of treating
      complications such as eye and limb disease, heart disease, neuropathy and
      nephropathy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439914
TI  - Depression and self-esteem: rapid screening for depression in black, low
      literacy, hospitalized tuberculosis patients.
AB  - One hundred black hospitalized tuberculosis (TB) patients (75 males and 25
      females) were interviewed to ascertain levels of depression and self-esteem. The
      standard of literacy for 65% of the sample was such that they were unable to
      complete a self-report inventory. Reliability (internal consistency) was good for
      the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI: r = 0.79), the 13-item shortened BDI
      (ABDI: r = 0.76) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale (RSE: r = 0.78). There was a
      significant positive relationship between the BDI and the ABDI (r = 0.92, P =
      0.0001). The recommended ABDI cut-off scores established no depression for 32
      patients, mild depression for 22 patients, moderate depression for 38 patients
      and severe depression for 8 patients. There were significant negative
      relationships between the BDI and the RSE (r = -0.54, P = 0.0001), and between
      the ABDI and the RSE (r = -0.56, P = 0.0001). Self-esteem scores dropped in
      accordance with category of depression, revealing that low self-esteem is a
      characteristic feature of depression. It was concluded that the ABDI was a
      reliable, rapid, initial screening device for depression in black persons with
      low literacy levels.

PMID- 1439915
TI  - Contributions of the proximate determinants to fertility change in Senegal.
AB  - The 1978 World Fertility Survey (WFS) and the 1986 Demographic and Health Survey
      (DHS) data are used to examine the relative contributions of three proximate
      determinants (nuptiality or marriage, contraception and post-partum
      infecundability) to fertility change in Senegal. The aim is to identify the
      important variables that is amenable for policy towards fertility reduction.
      Analysis shows that there are increases in the absolute measures of all three
      determinants. The magnitude of change is greatest in contraceptive use, moderate
      in marriage but least in duration of breast-feeding. However, the index of
      contraceptive use exerts the least impact on fertility reduction while that of
      post-partum infecundability makes the strongest impact on fertility. The impact
      of the nuptiality index on fertility change lies in-between contraception and
      breast-feeding.

PMID- 1439916
TI  - Going to extremes: the cultural context of stress, illness and coping in
      Antarctica.
AB  - The question of whether the concept of adaptation remains useful in medical
      anthropology is examined in the context of the human experience in Antarctica.
      This experience is characterized by prolonged isolation, confinement, and
      exposure to extreme environmental conditions. Men and women who winter-over at
      scientific research stations often exhibit a complex of psychophysiological
      symptoms in response to these stressors. However, this experience also appears to
      provide long-term health benefits. It is argued that the psychological symptoms
      are themselves part of the process of coping and do not necessarily represent an
      inability to adapt to the extreme environment. Coping is viewed as a process of
      negotiation leading to a compromise between individual and group needs. The
      cultural systems of Antarctic research stations are both a product of this
      negotiation and a set of normative and pragmatic rules regulating this process.
      Further, this process fosters the acquisition of new strategies or resources for
      coping with subsequent stressful experiences.

PMID- 1439917
TI  - Male and female morbidity in general practice: the nature of sex differences.
AB  - Outcomes from large scale health surveys suggest women's morbidity and medical
      care utilization to be higher than men's. Survey findings have often been
      questioned on methodological grounds, a main criticism being the subjective
      nature of the data on which the alleged sex differences are based. Moreover,
      health differences vary with the type of illness (behavior) that is assessed.
      Instead of asking subjects about their illness experiences, we performed analyses
      on data derived from a continuous registration of morbidity as presented in four
      general practices in the Netherlands. Information was obtained on physician
      diagnoses of 4723 male and 4963 female patients of all ages enlisted in the four
      practices from 1984 to 1988. To gain insight in the nature of sex differences,
      four diagnostic categories were distinguished (sex specific conditions, trauma,
      symptoms without disease, and prevention and diagnostics). Data on mean number of
      diagnoses, sex ratio's and proportions of overall morbidity are presented for
      separate age-groups. In addition, the contribution of each diagnostic category to
      overall female excess morbidity was computed, for age-groups. Results show that
      over 40% of the significantly higher overall female morbidity is accounted for by
      gynaecological and obstetrical diagnoses, and more than a quarter could be
      explained by prevention and diagnostics. In contrast with the often alleged
      female excess of 'vague' or psychosomatic symptoms, these accounted for less than
      20% of the overall sex difference.

PMID- 1439918
TI  - Adolescence and health inequalities: extensions to Macintyre and West.
AB  - The paper investigates class based health inequalities in mid to late
      adolescence. Health status is assessed by means of three subjective self-report
      measures; evaluation of general health, psychological well-being and
      disability/long-standing illness. Using six measures of social class (three
      occupationally and three non-occupationally based) which derive from parental
      characteristics, no evidence for consistent class based differentials in health
      amongst adolescents is found. However, it is not concluded that class based
      health inequalities are absent at this stage of the life cycle. Instead, it is
      argued that the above measures of social class differentiate between young people
      on the basis of the socio-economic status of their parents. As such they fail to
      allow for the possibility that variations in the current social position of young
      people themselves may have important consequences for their health. Current
      social position is assessed in terms of economic activity status, occupation and
      educational attainment. Using these measures, class based health inequalities are
      indeed found. Extending the analysis further, the relationship between social
      class of origin, current social circumstances and self-assessed health status is
      investigated by considering inter-generational occupational mobility. Again,
      evidence for class based health inequalities is found.

PMID- 1439919
TI  - Health and nutrition effects of cash crop production in developing countries: a
      comparative analysis.
AB  - The paper presents results of a comparative analysis of the health and
      nutritional effects of cash crop production in 6 countries--The Gambia,
      Guatemala, Kenya, Malawi, the Philippines, and Rwanda. The 6 country case studies
      were conducted during the same time period and used a similar, although not
      identical, research protocol. Participation in cash crop schemes resulted in
      increases in household income. Short-term increases in household income did not
      result in a decrease in the incidence of illness in preschool-aged children nor
      in the total time that preschoolers were ill. Increases in household income did
      result in increases in the preschooler's energy consumption; however, the
      income/calorie consumption links, although significant, were weak. The household
      income gains did not have an immediate or large impact on preschooler nutritional
      status. While, in the longer term, increases in income may bring about
      improvements in preschooler health, in the short term, it appears that increases
      in income must be accompanied by improvements in the health environment in order
      to have a significant effect in reducing preschooler morbidity and improving
      child nutritional status.

PMID- 1439920
TI  - Psychometric investigation of a belief system: caregiving to the chronically ill
      parent.
AB  - This research draws on psychometric theory to assess open-ended items and develop
      reliable measures for investigation of caregiver ideology. Coding criteria used
      in a qualitative investigation of caregivers' beliefs about filial obligation and
      parental dependency were transformed into closed-end items and fielded with a
      large sample. Factor analysis confirmed the dimensions derived from the
      qualitative inquiry, but also showed that variability on the filial obligation
      dimension was greater than anticipated. Assessing familial caregivers' beliefs
      about filial obligation and parental dependency is useful, for these beliefs
      predict aspects of caregiver satisfaction and burden. Thus, beliefs about one's
      commitment to render care are not simply a norm divorced from behavior, but
      rather a cultural model with motivational force.

PMID- 1439921
TI  - On the seclusion of psychiatric patients.
AB  - The seclusion of psychiatric patients is viewed by some as a violation of basic
      human rights, by others as a necessity for the control of violence, and by still
      others as a therapeutic modality. The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the
      findings from the limited and descriptive research on this controversial
      practice. The major conclusions suggested by the findings are: (1) The reason
      cited for seclusion is more often agitation than violence, raising questions as
      to its necessity. The lack of relationship between the reason for seclusion and
      its duration indicates loose and arbitrary criteria and raises the question of
      bias. (2) The tendency to seclude on admission suggests failure to follow the
      legal stipulation that less restrictive measures be employed first. (3)
      Psychotic, involuntary and younger patients are at higher risk for seclusion than
      other patients. (4) Incidence and duration of seclusion differ widely across
      institutions indicating unnecessary and excessive use in some units. Differences
      may be better explained by hospital factors such as location, staff attitudes and
      treatment philosophy than by patient characteristics. (5) Systematic studies of
      the effectiveness of seclusion are lacking, as is research on events transpiring
      during seclusion. (6) Attitudes of patients and staff toward seclusion differ
      greatly. Patients' attitudes are generally negative, whereas staff members
      believe seclusion benefits patients and preserves the unit's smooth functioning.
      Changes in procedures are suggested to reduce the frequency of seclusion, and to
      make seclusion more rational, effective and humane. Research and clinical
      implications are discussed.

PMID- 1439922
TI  - A shamanic etiology of affliction from western Nepal.
AB  - As a central feature of every ceremony, Nepali shamans (jhakris) publicly recite
      lengthy oral texts, whose meticulous memorization constitutes the core of
      shamanic training. These texts include passages that explain the origins of
      diseases and afflictions, and provide elaborate instructions for their
      alleviation. Through a discursive analysis of key passages, I demonstrate that
      shamans possess a coherent etiology of affliction. These concepts are articulated
      as integrated parts of the treatments that shamans perform. Rather than
      attributing all afflictions to ambiguous other worldly causes, these shamanic
      etiologies identify precise sources and effects that cover a spectrum ranging
      from the purely physical to the purely metaphysical, intersecting the natural and
      supernatural worlds. Patients and the public are repeatedly instructed in this
      unambiguous system of affliction in every diagnostic and healing session, since
      these ceremonies always incorporate recitations of the relevant texts. Accessible
      to non-specialists, the system conveyed by these recitations acts to validate
      shamanic intervention as a significant and intelligible activity. Using their
      oral texts, shamans effectively reproduce worlds that require shamanic
      interventions.

PMID- 1439923
TI  - Alcohol consumption among male reindeer herders of Lappish and Finnish origin.
AB  - Ethnic differences in alcohol intake among male reindeer herders were studied,
      since historical evidence suggests that Lapps drink more than Finns and since the
      considerable freedom of the herding occupation may imply a high risk for alcohol
      problems. In 1988, 2001 men answered a mail questionnaire including questions on
      alcohol intake over the past 12 months. The mean alcohol intake was 22.3 g/day
      among the Lapps and 13.2g/day among the Finns (P less than 0.001). The percentage
      of heavy drinkers (20 g or more daily) was 33.9 among the Lapps and 19.1 among
      the Finns. The mean frequency of getting drunk was 35 occasions/year among both
      Lapps and Finns. An analysis of variance showed that alcohol intake was
      significantly related to age, marital status, region and being of Lappish origin,
      but not to being a full-time reindeer herder. A significant interaction between
      region and marital status was also detected. The Lappish reindeer herders drink
      more than their Finnish counterparts. The ethnic difference is not, however, very
      large when compared with the stereotypic view of the drunken Lapp.

PMID- 1439924
TI  - Infant mortality and illegitimacy.

PMID- 1439925
TI  - Why is health relatively poor on Sri Lanka's tea estates.

PMID- 1439926
TI  - Ethics are local: engaging cross-cultural variation in the ethics for clinical
      research.
AB  - Relatively little consideration has heretofore been given to the interaction
      between Western clinical research ethics and non-Western ethical expectations.
      How should any conflict that might arise when a biomedical investigator and a
      research subject come from different cultural settings and have different ethical
      expectations be addressed? Which ethics should govern such trans-cultural
      clinical research? The answers to these questions are of increasing importance
      because many countries of the developing world are presently sites of field
      testing of biomedical agents sponsored and administered by countries of the
      developed world, especially in the context of the AIDS pandemic. Drawing mainly
      on examples from Asian medical systems and settings, I elucidate four possible
      ethical models to guide the conduct of transcultural biomedical research. Two
      assume that research ethics are culturally relative and two assume that a
      unified, universalistic conceptualization of research ethics is possible. All
      four, however, are problematic and are to a large extent deficient. The cause of
      the deficiencies of these models lies, I argue, in the way that ethics are
      ordinarily conceived. The proper approach to ethical conflict recognizes that
      culture shapes (1) the content of ethical precepts, (2) the form of ethical
      precepts, and (3) the way ethical conflict is handled. Medical ethics may be
      viewed in cross-cultural perspective as a form of 'local knowledge', and any
      differences in such knowledge between cultures--since such differences will not
      conveniently disappear--must be engaged and negotiated.

PMID- 1439927
TI  - Culture, meaning and disability: injury prevention campaigns and the production
      of stigma.
AB  - The potential production of stigma through health promotion campaigns is a
      problem that has not received attention in the current literature on the
      sociology of health promotion. Cultural production studies can shed light onto
      the ways in which injury prevention campaigns, and public health campaigns more
      generally, may call for life-saving interventions at the social expense of people
      with disabilities or other stigmatized conditions. Questioned here are not only
      the presumed benefits of health promotion campaigns, but also our conventional
      understandings of 'health' and 'disability'. This paper examines the way in which
      cultural production studies can contribute to a theory of the production of
      stigma by public health professionals. One view of cultural production views
      culture as a reflection of economic relationships between the dominant and the
      dominated. A second approach emphasizes the 'reception' of cultural works, or how
      audiences experience culture. Third, cultural production is sometimes analyzed in
      terms of texts, or the content of cultural artifacts. Insight into the dilemmas
      of health promotion can be provided by analyzing health promotion strategies in
      terms of their production, reception, and content as cultural works. Focusing on
      the case study of injury control and disability rights, health promotion
      campaigns are seen as potentially contributing to the production of stigma for
      people who already possess the attributes targeted for prevention. This analysis
      moves toward a broader theoretical foundation with which to grasp the unintended,
      even harmful consequences of prevention strategies, and the shared and
      oppositional interests of people with stigmatized conditions, targeted audiences
      of prevention, and public health advocates.

PMID- 1439928
TI  - The relationship between consumption and worker productivity: nutrition and
      economic approaches.
AB  - That better fed, healthier individuals work harder may seem intuitively appealing
      but there is surprisingly little rigorous evidence to support the hypothesis.
      There are numerous problems in establishing a causal link between production and
      consumption due to difficulties in measuring the productivity of workers,
      misinterpretation of simple correlations between production and consumption, and
      jointly determined production and consumption variables. The extent to which
      research findings can be generalized to larger populations often is jeopardized
      by sample attrition and sample selection. It is the purpose of this article to
      explain how these empirical and experimental difficulties arise, their
      implications for research results, how they may be overcome, and to access what
      is known about the consumption-production relationship. The field of nutrition
      contributes understanding of the biological relationship between energy intake
      and energy expenditure, necessary measurement skills, and clinical evidence
      supporting the consumption-production hypothesis. Economists contribute
      understanding of the larger social context in which the biological relationship
      takes place and empirical techniques necessary to overcome measurement and data
      problems.

PMID- 1439929
TI  - On the edge: ward-rounds in a South African psychiatric emergency department.
AB  - Psychiatry, like other institutions in South Africa, is affected by issues of
      race. An examination of ward-rounds in a South African psychiatric emergency
      department, however, revealed that as important to an understanding of this unit
      is the recognition of the place of psychiatry in biomedicine. A key feature
      affecting staff in the unit was the fact of psychiatry's marginality relative to
      general medicine. Race was seldom and obliquely discussed, but played an
      important contributory role. Work towards the transformation of psychiatric care
      in a democratic South Africa must consider the institutional level as well as the
      more obvious question of racial inequality.

PMID- 1439930
TI  - Exploratory analysis of children's nutrition programs in Canada.
AB  - This survey examined the processes by which programs feeding hungry children in
      Canada are initiated, implemented and sustained. The responses of 32 operators of
      these programs were obtained by semi-structured telephone interviews and were
      analysed using qualitative research methods. Concerned citizens within the
      community and teachers were the major proponents for programs; their primary
      indicators of need were children's hunger-related behaviours. Programs generally
      provided the breakfast or lunch meal, were overseen by a board, and were operated
      by a mix of paid and volunteer staff. A lack of resources, problems with parents
      and the community, and managerial stresses were the main perceived barriers to
      program continuance. Programs run by communities generally had more need for
      resources, expressed lower confidence in their sustainability, and were less
      likely to cooperate with other groups than school-run programs. While some
      programs deliberately tried to avoid stigmatization, program operators did hold
      some prejudicial views about the communities they served and few programs could
      be considered empowering to users.

PMID- 1439931
TI  - Is users' knowledge about contraceptives adequate? A case study of Finnish IUD
      users.
AB  - Intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) are popular: in Finland, in 1987, about
      25% of women of childbearing age used them. We studied Finnish women's knowledge
      about contraindications for and side-effects of IUD use, with emphasis on current
      users. In December 1987-January 1988, a postal questionnaire was sent to a random
      sample of 1000 women of childbearing age, in Uusimaa province, which includes the
      capital, Helsinki. After three reminders, the response rate was 84%. We compared
      the answers of current and past users and nonusers of IUDs, and analyzed the
      associations between IUD use, education, age, and knowledge about side-effects.
      In contrast to the recommendations for use and information to be given to the
      contraceptive users, a substantial proportion of current IUD users assumed there
      are few limitations for IUD use. Some side-effects possibly leading to severe
      consequences were not considered to be connected with IUD use, not even by users.
      Although risk of infection was a quite well known fact, infertility was seldom
      associated with IUD use, and 22% of current IUD users did not associate ectopic
      pregnancy with IUDs. The results thus suggest that contraceptive counseling is
      not fully adequate and should receive more attention.

PMID- 1439932
TI  - Accounting for differences. Dutch training nurses and their views on migrant
      women.
AB  - Fifteen extended essays about working experiences with migrants, written by
      district nurses, were analyzed as part of a larger research project on the
      perception of child rearing practices in and family relations in migrant
      households. The nurses have all been working in child health centers and intended
      to improve their expertise in the position of migrant women and the background of
      child rearing practices in migrant households by means of a graduate project
      during their training as a district nurse or senior staff member. I was
      especially interested to learn how the huge amount of literature about the
      different cultural background of Turkish and Moroccan migrants was used by the
      nurses to elaborate ideas about the specific problems of migrant mothers and the
      possibilities of professional support in child rearing affairs. The analysis of
      the essays revealed that in most essays the concepts of 'ignorance', 'unequal
      gender relations' and 'isolation' are central in the construction of the category
      of Turkish and Moroccan mothers as a specific risk or problem group; and that
      'cultural differences', 'transiency' and 'deficiency' play an important part in
      the nurses' 'explanatory model' of the risks and problems in these households. It
      is argued, that the meaning and interrelationship of the nurses' definitions and
      explanations of characteristics and problems in migrant households should be
      understood in the context of (1) the orientalist literature about the population
      of 'eastern' countries which is recommended in the professional trainings, (2)
      former and current perceptions of class differences in child rearing practices by
      professionals and (3) traditional ideas about the position and responsibilities
      of mothers which dominate in youth health care in the Netherlands.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439933
TI  - Exploration of doctor and patient agendas in general practice consultations.
AB  - A method for the interactional analysis of doctor/patient consultations is
      described and applied to six naturally occurring general practice interviews by
      three raters. The method is reliable given sufficient training and satisfies the
      stringent criteria for any method of analysis for medical interviews proposed by
      Wasserman and Inui [1: Wasserman R.C. and Inui R.S. Med. Care 21, 279, 1983].

PMID- 1439934
TI  - Influence of bed supply and health care organization on regional and local
      patterns of diabetes related hospitalization.
AB  - This paper undertakes both a macro- and micro-scale analysis of the influences
      exerted by the health care system on patterns of hospitalization. The health
      disorder of diabetes mellitus is used as the case study and the analyses are
      based on New Zealand data sets. The article first examines the extent to which
      both the supply and organization of primary and secondary health care affect
      rates of hospitalization. The macro-scale analysis investigates the applicability
      of Roemer's Law to regional variations in diabetes hospitalization. The
      organizational control of hospital utilization via doctor gatekeeping functions
      and interaction between health services are then examined at the local level.
      This analysis assumes a population based approach using the Canterbury Register
      of Insulin-treated diabetic persons as the study population. Diabetes discharge
      rates were found to be most highly correlated with hospital bed supply in 5 of
      the 8 years studied (1979-1986). Stepwise regression analysis indicated area
      rates of diabetes hospitalization were significantly influenced by resource
      factors even after controlling for differences in the socio-demographic
      characteristics of the area populations. This confirmed the presence of Roemer's
      Law at the aggregate level with rates of diabetes hospitalization appearing to
      have more to do with the availability of medical resources than to population
      needs. At the local level, hospital admission patterns were found to vary by
      general practitioner age, practice type found to vary by general practitioner
      age, practice type and diabetic caseload. Overall, insulin-treated diabetic
      patients most likely to be hospitalized were those in the care of young doctors
      new to general practice, and those who attended doctors who had small diabetic
      caseloads. Solo practitioners had the lowest rates of patient hospitalization.
      There were marked disparities in patient access to specialist diabetes education
      and clinical outpatient services by patient age, duration of diabetes and
      attendance on primary care. Overall, no significant differences were found in the
      propensity for hospitalization between users and non-users of these specialist
      services. This does not imply however, service ineffectiveness but rather is
      indicative of the complexity of the local diabetes care organization and the
      differing needs of the insulin-treated diabetic population within the community
      as a whole.

PMID- 1439935
TI  - Church-based obstetric care in a Yoruba community, Nigeria.
AB  - The analysis of data from available delivery registers in a Yoruba community,
      Nigeria suggests that about a half of recorded births between 1983 and 1990 were
      delivered in 'faith clinics' and not in a maternity centre. This paper reports on
      the mode of operation of these faith clinics in the town. It was observed that
      the faith clinics were under the control of mission-trained midwives all of whom
      claimed divine call as the reason for taking up the job. The midwives also listed
      prayer, fasting and guidance from the Holy Spirit as their main tools of trade.
      They offered no medicine to their clients and would not recommend any other
      treatment for them. Pregnant women that come for prenatal care are required to
      attend weekly prayer meetings for expectant mothers, take weekly baths in a
      particular river and maintain inward and outward cleanliness in their behaviour.
      The reasons for the relative success of these midwives in the town are discussed
      using a combination of economic, symbolic interactionist and pragmatic
      approaches. Recommendations on how best to tap their resourcefulness for a more
      effective health services delivery in the area include making them educators on
      and communicators of modern preventive health.

PMID- 1439936
TI  - Marital status and infant health outcomes.
AB  - Out-of-wedlock status has long been recognized as a demographic risk factor
      associated with infant mortality and low birthweight. However, the relationship
      between marital status and birth outcomes varies by maternal race and age. The
      negative impact of unmarried status is greatest for white women aged 20 and over.
      High infant mortality rates for married teen mothers challenge the assumption
      that marriage necessarily provides a protective environment for childbearing.
      Maternal and child health research and policy have been hindered by a deviance
      model of out-of-wedlock fertility, which is both biased and outdated.
      Inconsistencies in the effect of marital status indicate variations in both
      economic and social resources. Purely behavioral explanations for escalated risks
      to unmarried mothers are not justified by research findings. Alternative
      interpretations suggest the need for greater societal involvement in maternal
      health care created in part by changes in family structure.

PMID- 1439937
TI  - Psychosocial factors influencing non-urgent use of the emergency room: a review
      of the literature and recommendations for research and improved service delivery.
AB  - Despite dramatic increases in use of hospital emergency rooms (ERs) since the
      1950s, an estimated 85% of ER visits are made for non-life-threatening reasons.
      Using a modified version of the Andersen and Newman model of health care
      utilization, this paper reviews the research literature on ER use to examine what
      is known about factors that influence three stages of the help-seeking process:
      (1) problem recognition; (2) the decision to seek help; (3) the decision to use
      the ER. While predisposing factors other than race are not generally significant,
      enabling factors such as income, insurance coverage, having a usual source of
      care, and geographic proximity affect use of the ER, both alone and in
      interaction with race and other factors. The most common reason for non-urgent ER
      use was 'other care not available'. In addition to the absence of primary care,
      non-urgent use of the ER is linked to need factors arising from socioeconomic
      stress, psychiatric co-morbidities, and a lack of social support. Recommendations
      for future studies include examining prospectively all 3 stages of decision
      making leading to ER use, and considering interactive effects among predictors.
      Implications for service delivery are discussed, including the need to re
      structure health care delivery systems to provide greater access to primary care
      and provide more attention to psychosocial aspects of patient care in clinical
      settings.

PMID- 1439938
TI  - Fertility differentials among the Ijo in southern Nigeria: does urban residence
      make a difference?
AB  - The paper tests some of the conflicting hypotheses regarding the effects of urban
      living and education on fertility by examining the fertility levels of women
      migrants--some educated, others not--to various urban centers in one Nigerian
      ethnic group. Of particular interest are the conditions under which the urban
      residents live and the concept of 'urban' is examined in this West African
      context. Research methodology consisted of a two-pronged approach and combined an
      intensive ethnographic study of the families in the rural home community and in
      one urban center with a demographic survey administered to a larger sample of the
      rural residents and urban migrants. Analysis indicates that the effect of
      education on fertility is more powerful than urban or rural residence. The
      importance of utilizing culturally appropriate categories in demographic research
      is discussed.

PMID- 1439939
TI  - 'New and improved' and other medical non sequiturs.

PMID- 1439940
TI  - Water sanitation practices on the Texas-Mexico border: implications for
      physicians on both sides.
AB  - With the epidemic of cholera in South and Central America and reports of cholera
      in the Northern Hemisphere in Mexico, increasing concern focuses on sanitation
      problems along the border between the United States and Mexico. It is feared that
      binationally shared water supplies are threatened or contaminated by sewage and
      other wastes. Although much anecdotal information exists, surprisingly few hard
      data are available in the United States (or in Mexico, for that matter) regarding
      water quality on the Mexican side of the border. This shortage of data is felt
      most acutely in the semiarid portions of the border, where water is
      extraordinarily scarce. In 1987, researchers at the University of Texas School of
      Public Health (UTSPH) began gathering data on the availability, accessibility,
      and bacteriologic and chemical safety of raw and finished drinking water in
      Mexico at its border with Texas. In view of their timely significance, we wish to
      share pertinent data. This particular study was carried out in Ciudad Juarez, a
      city of more than 1 million people, situated just across the Rio Grande from the
      Texas city of El Paso. The investigation was conducted at the invitation and with
      the assistance of municipal authorities of Cd. Juarez. As far as we know, this
      was the first time the water in Cd. Juarez had been tested for indicator fecal
      bacteria and other selected contaminants.

PMID- 1439941
TI  - Effect of aeromedical aircraft on care of trauma patients: evaluation using the
      Revised Trauma Score.
AB  - Rotor wing aircraft used in transport of the trauma victim have not been subject
      to objective means of evaluating their contribution to patient care. A
      retrospective evaluation of a Bell 206 L-1 and an Aerospatiale 365 N-1 using the
      Revised Trauma Score Triage (RTS) as an indicator of status in 98 patients
      transported from the scene of injury was conducted. Ground (GT), flight (FT), and
      total mission (TMT) times, as well as initial RTS, final RTS, and the difference
      between them (DRTS) were determined for all patients. Statistical analysis was
      done using two-way ANOVA. GT, FT, and TMT were significantly lower in patients
      transported by the 365 N-1. In more severely injured patients (RTS < or = 10),
      DRTS and final RTS were significantly higher in the 365 N-1; FT was significantly
      less. The contributions of various aeromedical aircraft to the care of the trauma
      victim may be assessed using objective indices of patient status.

PMID- 1439942
TI  - Gunshot wounds of the female breast: a risk for intra-abdominal injury.
AB  - We report the results of a clinical study of female patients sustaining gunshot
      wounds to a breast. Thirteen homicides were reviewed by the Fulton County Medical
      Examiner. A prospective series of patients treated by the Grady Memorial Hospital
      Trauma Service included eight additional cases. Ten (48%) of the combined series
      of 21 patients had significant intra-abdominal injury; of these, five (24%) had
      injuries confined to the abdomen as a result of a missile striking a breast. A
      wound pattern consisting of a superior breast entrance wound, an inferior breast
      exit wound, and an inframammary thoracoabdominal reentry wound was noted in five
      patients, four of whom had intra-abdominal injuries and three only intra
      abdominal injuries. Careful examination for this wound pattern should alert the
      clinician to the possibility of intra-abdominal injury. One should anticipate a
      50% incidence of intra-abdominal injury in female patients sustaining gunshot
      wounds to a breast.

PMID- 1439943
TI  - Clindamycin vaginal cream versus oral metronidazole in the treatment of bacterial
      vaginosis: a prospective double-blind clinical trial.
AB  - Bacterial vaginosis is common among patients seen by gynecologists. Several types
      of therapy have been proposed. The purpose of this prospective, randomized,
      double-blind clinical trial was to examine the efficacy of clindamycin vaginal
      cream for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. Sixty patients with symptoms of
      bacterial vaginosis were randomized into the study, and 46 completed the
      protocol. Twenty-three patients received 2% clindamycin vaginal cream (5 g
      applied intravaginally at bedtime for 7 days), with placebo oral tablets twice
      daily for 7 days. The other 23 patients received oral metronidazole tablets (500
      mg twice a day for 7 days) and placebo vaginal cream (5 g intravaginally for 7
      days). The cure rates for the two regimens were comparable. Twenty-two (97%) of
      the patients treated with clindamycin vaginal cream had improvement or cure at
      the first follow-up visit versus 19 (83%) of those taking metronidazole. There
      was no statistically significant difference between the two results. Side effects
      for both regimens were comparable. We conclude that 2% clindamycin vaginal cream
      offers similar efficacy and safety to standard oral metronidazole therapy for
      bacterial vaginosis.

PMID- 1439944
TI  - Wedge resection for bronchogenic carcinoma in high-risk patients.
AB  - At the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Washington, DC, 73 patients with
      bronchogenic carcinoma had pulmonary wedge resection from February 1967 to March
      1988, with a 1.4% perioperative mortality and a 4.1% morbidity. Mean age of the
      patients was 63 years. Patients were considered poor risk with a mean Goldman
      index of 9 +/- 4 (class II), mean ASA physical status classification II, mean 1
      second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) of 1.25 liters (42% predicted), ratio of
      FEV1 to forced vital capacity 30% predicted, and maximum voluntary ventilation
      24% predicted. Staging of the bronchogenic carcinomas indicated 68% stage I, 15%
      stage II, and 17% stage III, and histology showed 41% epidermoid, 40%
      adenocarcinoma, 12% bronchoalveolar, 3% large cell, and 4% small cell type. For
      the 72 patients eligible for follow-up, data were available on 62 for a period
      ranging from 4 months to 15 years. Survival was 94% at 1 year, 55% at 3 years,
      29% at 5 years, 5% at 10 years, and 2% at 15 years. Within 5 years, 21% of the
      patients had died of causes other than bronchogenic carcinoma. The rate of
      recurrence was 16%. Analysis by each stage of lung cancer showed local recurrence
      in 4% of patients with stage I disease, in 9% of those with stage II disease, and
      in 59% of those with stage III disease. We conclude that wedge resection provided
      acceptable surgical treatment in a group of high-risk surgical patients.

PMID- 1439945
TI  - Hereditary angioedema.
AB  - Hereditary angioedema is a rare disease resulting from a lack of functional C1
      esterase inhibitor (C1 INH). Several genetic defects can cause decreased
      production of the protein or the synthesis of a biologically inactive form. A
      similar, acquired condition is occasionally seen, associated with malignancies or
      as an autoimmune process. Disease severity varies greatly among affected
      individuals. Most patients have cutaneous, laryngeal, or gastrointestinal edema,
      often in combinations. The symptoms may appear spontaneously or result from a
      stimulus, usually trauma. When clinical suspicion exists, measurement of the C4
      level screens for the disease. An assay showing low serum C1 INH function
      confirms the diagnosis. When disease severity warrants, symptoms can be
      controlled with anabolic steroids or antifibrinolytics. Doses should be increased
      before symptom-provoking events. Emergencies are treated with plasma infusions,
      fluids, and pain control. Where available, C1 INH concentrate is the treatment of
      choice. Therapy can usually be monitored by control of symptoms. With appropriate
      therapy, most cases remain well controlled.

PMID- 1439946
TI  - Hypercholesterolemia: case finding in family practice.
AB  - The recommendations of the expert panel of the National Cholesterol Education
      Program (NCEP) have been endorsed by national medical organizations as standards
      for the detection and treatment of hypercholesterolemia, yet information on how
      these recommendations are being followed in primary care settings is limited.
      This study was done to determine how family physicians in four primary care
      clinics associated with a teaching hospital in a large southern city follow the
      NCEP guidelines. Of the total patient sample (N = 817), about 60% had at least
      one total serum cholesterol measurement. Patients in the younger age groups were
      less likely to have a cholesterol determination than older patients. Of those in
      the "self-pay" category only 33% had a cholesterol determination. Variability by
      clinic and provider type was also noted, with physician assistants showing the
      highest compliance with screening guidelines (75%), whereas only 43% of patients
      seen by family practice residents had a cholesterol measurement. Of patients who
      should have had a lipoprotein analysis, based on total serum cholesterol and risk
      factors, only 23% actually had a lipid profile. Our study and other similar ones
      point out that case finding varies considerably and that efforts to improve case
      finding need to continue.

PMID- 1439947
TI  - Reduction of caregiver stress by respite care: a pilot study.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine whether providing respite care to
      persons with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias decreased stress and mood
      disturbances in caregivers. Caregivers of persons receiving respite care (n = 7),
      and not receiving respite care (n = 8) were tested at entry into the study and at
      5 weeks and 10 weeks, using the Profile of Mood States and the Relative's Stress
      Scale. Using repeated measures analysis of variance, a downward trend for study
      subjects and an upward trend for controls was found for Relative's Stress Scores.
      Similar trends were found on the Personal Distress Subscale of the Relative's
      Stress Scale. No difference occurred in rates of institutionalization between
      those receiving and not receiving day care. Our study suggests that respite care
      for demented persons living at home significantly reduces the stress among
      caregivers.

PMID- 1439948
TI  - Physicians' negative perception of sclerotherapy for venous disorders: review of
      a 7-year experience with modern sclerotherapy.
AB  - Sclerotherapy is the injection of a sclerosing substance directly into a
      varicosity or telangiectasia to cause damage, fibrosis, and eventual obliteration
      of the vessel. Although sclerotherapy has been shown to be effective with a low
      incidence of side effects, many physicians in the United States are unaware of
      the technique or view it in a negative way. To better define the extent of
      physician unfamiliarity or prejudice toward sclerotherapy, we surveyed a local
      medical community of gynecologists by anonymous written questionnaire. The
      results indicated that 82% of the responding physicians believed that their
      knowledge of sclerotherapy was insufficient to advise their patients, leaving
      patients to learn about sclerotherapy from mass media sources. Sclerotherapy was
      perceived as only slightly effective therapy for varicose veins and was thought
      to have a relatively high incidence of side effects. With recent improvements in
      the technique, our collaborative experience with 3000 patients receiving 50,000
      injections over the past 5 years has shown that sclerotherapy is a safe procedure
      achieving outstanding cosmetic results with concomitant symptomatic relief of
      painful varicosities and telangiectases. Sclerotherapy, as practiced today,
      offers an effective, simple, and less costly alternative to surgical stripping
      for most varicose and telangiectatic veins. The survey data demonstrate the need
      to educate the American medical community about the technique and merits of
      modern sclerotherapy so that patients may be properly guided by their physicians
      to the best sources of care for their aching and unsightly leg veins.

PMID- 1439949
TI  - Nutritional concerns in the elderly.

PMID- 1439950
TI  - New-onset ascites in a young black woman.

PMID- 1439951
TI  - Pharmacologic treatment strategies for the depressed, poorly responsive patient.
AB  - Treatment-resistant depression implies a failure of response to an ample dose of
      antidepressant medicine, prescribed over a sufficient length of time. Assessing
      drug levels in the blood is often helpful in confirming the adequacy of
      antidepressant dosages. Augmentation of the pharmaceutical activity can be
      achieved by coadministration of lithium, triiodothyronine, and/or stimulants.
      Neuroleptics are also prescribed with the antidepressant when psychotic features
      accompany depression. Such enhancements to drug efficacy are usually an advantage
      over beginning a new medication because of shorter response time. When a decision
      is made to change the antidepressant, a structurally different option is more
      likely to induce a remission than a medication of similar configuration.
      Electroconvulsive therapy is the most powerful treatment choice for depressed
      patients, especially when suicidal or psychotic features are present.

PMID- 1439952
TI  - Geriatric assessment and general medical practice.

PMID- 1439953
TI  - Hypercalcemia due to hard water used for home hemodialysis.
AB  - We have described two patients from the same rural community in Georgia who had
      hypercalcemia during home hemodialysis. In the first patient the diagnosis was
      not considered until after the patient complained of the poor taste of her home
      tap water and of the white residue it left on her cooking utensils; other causes
      of hypercalcemia had been ruled out. The diagnosis was confirmed when samples of
      tap water that had passed through the in-line deionizer showed low to high
      calcium concentrations. Calcium concentrations were high after the deionizer
      filters had been in place for some time but within the acceptable guidelines for
      the type of filters used. The second patient, seen shortly after the first, had
      also received dialysis with hard water and also had hypercalcemia despite the use
      of an in-line deionizer. These cases suggest that dialysis-induced hypercalcemia
      can occur during home hemodialysis despite seemingly adequate pretreatment of the
      water source.

PMID- 1439954
TI  - Invasive pituitary adenoma coexisting with infiltrating temporal lobe glioma.
AB  - We have reported the case of a young man who had the uncommon coexistence of two
      relatively common intracranial tumors--a pituitary adenoma and a temporal lobe
      glioma. The pituitary adenoma invaded nerve bundles in the left cavernous sinus,
      but did not extend into the left temporal lobe, where an anatomically separate
      oligoastrocytoma was diagnosed at autopsy. Preoperative magnetic resonance
      imaging may assist in the diagnosis of this and similar uncommon conditions.

PMID- 1439955
TI  - Disseminated infection due to Mycobacterium chelonei.
AB  - We have presented a case of M chelonei subsp abscessus in an immunocompromised
      patient. The patient was given antimicrobial therapy, to which the organism
      appeared sensitive for 4 weeks, but he died because of other medical problems.
      Repeated negative blood cultures for mycobacteria after the initiation of therapy
      and a careful postmortem examination suggested that the antimicrobial therapy was
      effective.

PMID- 1439956
TI  - Metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate manifested as a sellar tumor.

PMID- 1439957
TI  - Double Meckel's diverticulum.
AB  - We have reported a case of double Meckel's diverticulum associated with volvulus
      of the small bowel. On extensive review of the literature, we found no other
      report of such a variant of Meckel's diverticulum.

PMID- 1439958
TI  - Recurrent meningitis associated with intragastric migration of a
      ventriculoperitoneal shunt catheter in a patient with normal-pressure
      hydrocephalus.
AB  - A 68-year-old man had ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement for normal-pressure
      hydrocephalus. Three and a half years later, he had repeated episodes of seizures
      and ophthalmoplegia. He eventually died of recurrent acute bacterial meningitis.
      At autopsy the distal segment of the shunt catheter was found inside the stomach,
      a condition believed to be responsible for the repeated attacks of bacterial
      meningitis.

PMID- 1439959
TI  - Hereditary angioedema associated with pancreatitis.
AB  - A 44-year-old woman with C1q esterase inhibitor deficiency was seen in
      consultation for recurrent right upper quadrant abdominal discomfort, nausea, and
      vomiting. Each of these episodes was accompanied by concomitant peripheral edema.
      Initial diagnostic efforts were fruitless. In time, intermittent elevations in
      amylase and lipase developed, and a diagnosis of relapsing pancreatitis was made.
      We contend that the patient's recurrent acute pancreatitis is associated with her
      hereditary angioedema. Possible pathogenesis could involve intermittent
      intrapancreatic edema with partial ductal obstruction or loss of inhibition on
      the kallikrein-kinin system.

PMID- 1439960
TI  - Deceptive liver histology delays diagnosis of cardiac ascites.
AB  - Cardiac ascites is a rare condition. Diagnosis is aided by liver histology, which
      characteristically shows diffuse hepatic congestion affecting the centrilobular
      region. In our case of refractory ascites due to constrictive pericarditis,
      diagnosis was delayed because centribular hepatic congestion was absent
      histologically. Contrary to numerous published reports, diffuse hepatic
      congestion is not uniformly present in cardiac ascites. Constrictive pericarditis
      is curable and should be considered in all cases of unexplained ascites,
      regardless of atypical hepatic histology.

PMID- 1439961
TI  - Magic lessons...

PMID- 1439962
TI  - Magic lessons: rated R.

PMID- 1439963
TI  - Contarini's condition: paradise regained.

PMID- 1439965
TI  - Endometriosis in teenagers.

PMID- 1439964
TI  - Multiple metastatic carcinomas along the course of axillobifemoral bypass graft:
      unusual complication of extra-anatomic bypass graft.

PMID- 1439966
TI  - From molecular medicine to public health.

PMID- 1439967
TI  - Immunity to the simian malarias in their natural hosts--some problems awaiting
      investigation.

PMID- 1439968
TI  - Appearance of adherent cells suppressive to erythropoiesis during an early stage
      of Plasmodium berghei infection in mice.
AB  - We examined the effect of adherent cells from bone marrow or spleen of mice
      infected with Plasmodium berghei on dyserythropoiesis. Significant reduction in
      number of erythroid progenitors (erythroid colony-forming units: CFU-E and
      erythroid burst-forming units: BFU-E) was observed in bone marrow as early as 1
      day after P. berghei infection. When adherent cells were removed from bone marrow
      or spleen cells of infected mice, the number of CFU-E and BFU-E was clearly
      increased. Furthermore, addition of adherent cells from infected mice to
      nonadherent cells from normal mice inhibited erythroid colony formation
      significantly in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the adherent
      cells obtained from bone marrow or spleen of mice in the early stage of P.
      berghei-infection have a suppressive effect on erythropoiesis.

PMID- 1439969
TI  - Human behavior in relation to selection of malaria treatment.
AB  - People in rural areas usually help themselves when malaria attacks by using a
      drug preparation under the name of "ya-chud" bought from the grocery in the
      village. The objective of this study was to determine the behavior towards
      malarial treatment of local inhabitants in two malarious areas in eastern
      Thailand. Groups of 271 and 131 local inhabitants in villages in Pong Nam Ron and
      Bo Thong Districts, respectively, aged more than 15 years were interviewed
      regarding health behavior in seeking care when they became ill with malaria.
      Forty-two percent of the population at Pong Nam Ron and fifteen percent at Bo
      Thong went to drug-stores or groceries when they developed minor illness, while
      85.2% of the subjects interviewed at Bo Thong went to the local health center.
      However, when they became severely ill, treatment-seeking patterns were similar
      in the two study areas. Ninety-four percent of the subjects interviewed at Bo
      Thong and eighty-seven percent at Pong Nam Ron gave a history of having used ya
      chud in the past. On average, a set of ya-chud for malaria infection consists of
      3-5 drugs: antimalarial drugs together with others such as analgesic
      antipyretics, steroids, anti-histamines, vitamins and antimicrobial agents
      (tetracycline). The price of one ya-chud varied from 3-9 baht. Such improperly
      use of antimalarial drugs in malarious areas can result in treatment failure and
      cause the development of drug resistance, which is a problem in the malaria
      control program in Thailand.

PMID- 1439970
TI  - Anti-tuberculosis programs in Thailand: a cost analysis.
AB  - The standard regimen, a combination of isoniazid and thiacetazone, which has been
      used for treatment of tuberculosis (TB) in Thailand for the past 20 years is
      inexpensive, but possesses a high degree of toxicity and requires 18-24 months of
      continuous treatment, resulting in poor compliance and a low success rate of
      treatment. The more efficacious short-course chemotherapy introduced into the
      National Tuberculosis Program in 1985 is limited by the high costs of drugs.
      However, the cost of providing care is not limited only to drug costs but also
      includes other services costs. The present study was undertaken to compare the
      total provider costs of 3 short-course regimens with that of the standard program
      in the treatment of newly diagnosed pulmonary TB. Data were collected at 4 zonal
      TB centers through out Thailand in 1987-1988. Analysis showed that the 3 short
      course regimens had lower costs than the standard regimen from the provider
      perspective. Among these 3 regimens that of isoniazid, rifampicin and
      pyrazinamide for 2 months, followed by isoniazid and rifampicin twice a week for
      4 months had the lowest costs (Baht 1,499). Despite the lowest drug cost (B 431)
      of the standard regimen, the total provider costs were the highest (B 2,541) due
      to the highest routine service cost of B 2,066. Thus to determine the cost of a
      disease requires consideration of both drug costs and also other cost components.

PMID- 1439971
TI  - Effect of health education on community participation in control of dengue
      hemorrhagic fever in an urban area of Thailand.
AB  - Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), a disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitos, remains
      a serious public health problem in Thailand. This paper describes the effect of
      health education efforts on a community-based DHF vector control program in the
      municipality of Mae Sot District, Tak Province, northern Thailand, from 1988
      through 1990. In 1988, public health education on DHF and larval control through
      mass media, lectures and discussions reduced the Aedes Breteau index from 241 in
      March to 126 in June 1988. In 1989 and 1990, twice a year house-to-house visits
      by trained health workers were added to the health education campaigns. Aedes
      larval indices were decreased far more in the epidemic year of 1990 than in 1989.
      During this 3-year period, water-storage containers for drinking, washing,
      bathing and ant-traps were the primary sources of larval habitats, accounting for
      about 90% of the total breeding places. Reduction of Aedes larvae in these
      sources was due to various larval control measures. By August 1990 water
      containers for non-drinking purposes were the remaining important breeding
      places. The introduction of larvivorous fish may be an effective method of larval
      control for these containers. Most houses were supplied by public piped water
      system; however, a shortage of piped water for a period of time resulted in a
      significant increase in the number of water containers. An adequate water supply
      to the community should be provided continuously to prevent creation of new
      breeding places. Modifying behavioral practices to reduce domestic man-made water
      containers should be encouraged.

PMID- 1439972
TI  - A survey of knowledge, attitude and practice of the prevention of dengue
      hemorrhagic fever in an urban community of Thailand.
AB  - To evaluate the effect of a health education program on the prevention and
      control of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) in the municipality of Mae Sot, Tak
      Province, a survey of adult residents, mainly housewives, was conducted in late
      April 1990 to assess their knowledge of DHF and practice of preventive methods. A
      total of 417 respondents from 417 households selected by a systematic-cluster
      sampling method were interviewed. More than 90% of them knew that the disease is
      transmitted by Aedes mosquitos and indicated water jars and water retention in
      the houses as the common breeding places. However, the other two common breeding
      places, ant-traps and cement baths, were less frequently mentioned. This finding
      was consistent with the greater proportion of respondents who reported no larval
      control methods for these two kinds of containers than for the others. Covering
      water containers was the most common practice to prevent mosquito breeding in
      drinking-water containers whereas addition of abate (temephos sand granules) or
      changing stored water frequently was commonly used for non-drinking water
      storage. Larval control for ant-traps was mainly accomplished by the addition of
      chemicals, including abate, salt, oil or detergent. Health education efforts in
      this area could induce the majority of respondents to accept themselves as
      responsible for the Aedes control program. Health education by health personnel
      played an important role in disseminating DHF information and prevention methods.
      Radio and television were the main effective mass media for public health
      education on DHF in this area.

PMID- 1439973
TI  - Intestinal parasitic infections in Likupang, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
AB  - A parasitological survey was conducted on the inhabitants of 6 villages of
      Likupang, Minahasa Peninsula, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, in August 1991. A total
      of 419 fecal samples were examined by using direct smear, flotation, formalin
      ether concentration, Harada-Mori culture and agar-plate culture techniques. Five
      nematode and 7 protozoan parasites were detected, while trematode and cestode
      infection was not observed. Soil-transmitted nematode infections were
      predominant. Among the younger inhabitants aged less than 15, positive rates of
      Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworm infections were almost same, namely 45.7, 45.3
      and 47.7%, respectively. Among the elder people aged 15 or more, positive rate of
      hookworm infection (89.4%) was much higher than Ascaris and Trichuris infections
      (19.3 and 26.1%, respectively). Village to village differences in parasite
      prevalence, probably due to socio-economic and sanitary-environmental differences
      were observed. Both Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale were detected.
      The agar-plate culture was proved to be an efficient method for detection of
      hookworm as well as Strongyloides stercoralis.

PMID- 1439974
TI  - The effect of repeated chemotherapy on the prevalence and intensity of Ascaris
      lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura infection.
AB  - The prevalence and intensity of intestinal nematode infections were assessed
      during 3 anthelminthic interventions in an urban community in Malaysia. The
      prevalence levels of Ascaris lumbricoides at Interventions 1, 2 and 3 were 30.6%,
      18.9% and 15.5%, respectively and the mean intensities were 1.9, 0.75 and 0.81
      worms per person. For Trichuris trichiura, the prevalence levels at Interventions
      1, 2 and 3 were 46.9%, 21.6% and 15.7%, respectively. The mean intensities for T.
      trichiura at Interventions 1, 2 and 3 were 3.30, 0.92 and 0.07 worms per person.
      No gender-related prevalence and intensity were observed for the two geohelminths
      in this community. Prevalences and intensity had convex age profiles. Although
      repeated chemotherapeutic intervention reduced both prevalence and intensity
      levels, intensity was a more sensitive indicator than prevalence. The results
      indicate that age-targetting treatment at school children of 7-12 years of age
      would be an appropriate strategy for this community.

PMID- 1439975
TI  - Nutritional intervention in acute diarrhea: is a lactose-free formula essential?
AB  - A prospective study was done to determine the incidence of disaccharide
      intolerance among 3-36 month-old patients with acute watery diarrhea who were on
      breast feeding and/or lactose-containing formula. The effect of feeding
      intervention on the outcome was investigated. Significant disaccharide
      intolerance was defined as one with (1) biochemical derangements: stool pH < 6.0
      (Riedel de Haen pH paper) and reducing substances > or = 0.5 mg% (Clinitest) on
      two consecutive determinations and (2) clinical evidence: high purging rate (> 10
      gm/kg/hour) and reappearance of dehydration and/or weight loss while on a lactose
      containing milk. Seven of 92 patients (7.8%) had biochemical evidence of
      disaccharide malabsorption on admission. Subsequent monitoring of the study
      population showed absence of disaccharide intolerance. Despite a lactose
      containing formula, a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in stool output from the
      first to the second day (145.85 +/- 130.26 vs 115.43 +/- 95.65 g/kg admission
      weight) was noted. Likewise, weight gain from admission to discharge (4.56 +/-
      3.44%) was observed. The mean total duration of illness (4.75 +/- 2.84 days) was
      well within the usual course of five to seven days. This study supports the
      current recommendation of continued breast feeding and/or use of lactose
      containing formula during acute watery diarrhea.

PMID- 1439976
TI  - Risk factors for hepatitis B carrier status among blood donors of the National
      Blood Center, Thai Red Cross Society.
AB  - A study of risk factors for hepatitis B carriers among voluntary blood donors of
      the National Blood Center, Thai Red Cross Society was carried out in a case
      control study design during January 1989 to June 1990. Cases were 876 blood
      donors whose blood identified HBsAg at time of recruitment and continued positive
      for more than 6 months. Controls were 1,750 blood donors whose blood was free
      from HBsAg who came for blood donation at the same period as the cases. The ratio
      of cases:controls = 1:2. Self-administered questionnaires were constructed and
      pretested before using both cases and controls. The study revealed that the risk
      factors for hepatitis B among voluntary blood donors were age of less than 30
      years old; low socioeconomic status (family income of less than 8,000
      Baht/month); single status, especially males; male occupations of students,
      monks, nongovernment workers compared with government officials; female
      occupations of laborers, students, nongovernment workers and government officials
      compared with housewives. Sharing of nail clippers, used blades and tooth brushes
      among family members are proved to be risk factors, especially among males. In
      addition, sharing of used blades in barber shops proved to be a risk among males
      while sharing of nail clippers in beauty salons, history of ear-piercing at
      department stores or history of caesarean section among females could not be
      shown to be risk factors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1439977
TI  - Parasitological and histopathological studies on rhesus monkeys infected with
      Chinese mainland strain of Schistosoma japonicum.
AB  - Fifteen rhesus monkeys were infected by cutaneous exposure each with 200 or 300
      cercariae of Schistosoma japonicum. The dynamic distribution of schistosomula in
      the skin showed that 77-90% of them were found in the connective tissue, while 10
      23% migrated in the hair follicles and sebaceous glands at different time
      intervals after cercarial penetration. Dead schistosomula recovered from the skin
      varied from 8.7% to 28.7%. The average rate of adult worm recovery was 74.4% and
      61.3% in the 6th and 15th weeks of infection, thereafter the rate decreased to
      32.3% and 9.0% in the 19th and 42nd weeks, respectively. The mean length of
      mature pair-worms was 13.2 +/- 2.3 mm in male and 18.0 +/- 1.9 mm in female 6
      weeks of worm age. Afterwards the body length of females and their sexual gland
      diminished markedly. The mean prepatent period was 35.0 +/- 0.6 days. The average
      size of mature eggs in the feces was 86.6 +/- 5.4 x 64.3 +/- 3.6 microns, and the
      peak of eggs passage in the feces occurred between 7th and 15th weeks after
      infection, later on the number of eggs markedly decreased. Skin reaction to the
      primary infection was slight. The pathological changes observed in liver were
      chiefly cellular infiltration of portal spaces and the lesions produced by egg
      granulomas. The mean volume of single-egg granulomas of the productive stage in
      liver was 22.7 +/- 10.5 mm3 x 10(-3). The most intensive damages in the gastro
      intestinal tract were observed in the large intestine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1439978
TI  - Sensitivity of different isolates of Schistosoma japonicum from China to
      praziquantel.
AB  - Groups of C57BL inbred mice infected with each of the 4 different isolates,
      (Anhui, Hubei, Sichuan and Yunnan) of Schistosoma japonicum from the mainland of
      China were treated with praziquantel (PZQ) and the parasiticidal effects were
      compared. Worm reduction rate was recorded to assess systematically the
      sensitivity of 4 different isolates to PZQ in the mouse. Three dosage-levels of
      PZQ, ie 150, 230 and 310 mg/kg body weight in single doses were used. The worm
      development rates of control groups infected with schistosomes from Anhui, Hubei,
      Sichuan and Yunnan were 75.5, 81.8, 81.5, and 83.0%, respectively. At the dosage
      level of 150 mg/kg, the worm reduction rates for the 4 different isolates were
      36.0, 33.9, 25.5 and 35.6%, respectively. At the dosage-level of 230 mg/kg, the
      rates were 47.1, 46.0, 38.1 and 47.7%, while at the dosage-level of 310 mg/kg,
      they were 59.3, 58.6, 50.8 and 61.7%, respectively. The results indicated that
      the worm reduction rate of the Sichuan isolate was lower than that of the other
      three isolates, however, the differences were not statistically significant,
      suggesting that schistosomes of Anhui, Hubei, Sichuan and Yunnan isolates bear
      resemblance in drug response.

PMID- 1439979
TI  - Thalassemia in the outpatient department of the Yangon Children's Hospital in
      Myanmar: basic hematological values of thalassemia traits.
AB  - The present study was conducted in the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Yangon
      Children's Hospital (YCH) during June to November 1990 to determine the
      hematological data of 133 Myanmar patients with thalassemia trait who were the
      parents of patients with known beta-thalassemia major or hemoglobin E (Hb E)/beta
      thalassemia. The mean values of hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume
      (PCV), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell volume (MCV) were significantly
      lower than normal controls but the mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was
      the same as controls. Increased osmotic resistance tested in 0.36% buffered
      saline was detected in 81-97% of cases depending on the cut-off point. High
      levels of Hb A2 (> 3.5%) were found in 93% of cases whereas Hb F was increased (>
      0.8%) only in 23% of cases. Although the mean red cell count (RBC) was
      significantly higher than normal, only 79% of thalassemia traits were detected if
      the RBC count of > 5.0 x 10(12)/1 was taken as the discrimination limit. Other
      discrimination functions such as MCH/RBC, MCV/RBC, (MCV)2 x MCH x 0.01 and MCV
      (RBC/10(12)/1)-(5 x Hb) - 3.4 or - 8.4 were tested for their utility in
      diagnosing thalassemia traits. All of them were found not to be superior to each
      of the simple tests (MCV, MCH, Hb A2 or osmotic fragility) in diagnosing
      thalassemia traits. The one tube osmotic fragility test is a the suitable test to
      be used in future thalassemia screening programs in Myanmar.

PMID- 1439980
TI  - Thalassemia in the outpatient department of the Yangon Children's Hospital in
      Myanmar: knowledge, attitudes and practice in relation to thalassemia.
AB  - A maternal knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) study concerning the nature
      and prevention of thalassemia was carried out at the Yangon Children's Hospital
      in Myanmar. The KAP information was collected using a pretested schedule. Only 18
      to 28% of the mothers knew at least one of the statements: thalassemia is a
      genetic disorder; both parents of thalassemic children carry abnormal genes;
      there is a 25% chance of recurrence in each subsequent pregnancy. Eighty-two per
      cent of the respondents decided not to have a further pregnancy for fear of
      recurrence and of these 62% were currently practising contraception. Oral
      contraception was the most commonly used method (56%). The median scores as well
      as the percent responses in favor of the three attitude scales relating to
      limiting thalassemic children, prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy
      were high. Although there is a need to increase the community awareness of
      thalassemia in Myanmar, there is a possibility that prenatal diagnosis and
      pregnancy termination will be accepted for the prevention of thalassemia.

PMID- 1439981
TI  - Thalassemia in the outpatient department of the Yangon Children's Hospital in
      Myanmar: cost analysis of the day-care-room services for thalassemia.
AB  - A cost analysis study for the fiscal year 1989-1990 was conducted in the day care
      room (DCR) for thalassemia patients at the Yangon Children's Hospital in Myanmar
      to provide a basis for future cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit and efficiency
      analyses. Two types of costs, hospital costs and costs borne by the patients'
      families were studied by reviewing hospital records and by interviewing family
      members of patients. Of the total cost of DCR services for thalassemia 74 to 75%
      was contributed by material costs most of which were for imported items. The cost
      of each transfusion visit and the annual cost per patient were Kyats 166.5 to
      173.3 and Kyats 1,108.6 to 1,208.7, respectively. The median cost (range) per
      treatment visit and the averaged annual median cost (range) borne by the
      patients' families were Kyats 21 (0-302) and Kyats 107 (0-1,509), respectively.

PMID- 1439982
TI  - Are the endemic motor neuron diseases of Guam really disappearing?
AB  - Death certificates were reviewed to observe trends in the number of persons on
      Guam reported to have chronic degenerative motor neuron diseases (amyotrophic
      lateral sclerosis, parkinsonism-dementia or Parkinson's disease) at the time of
      death. Additional data, including age and race of the deceased and the name of
      the certifying physician were also collected. The number of persons having been
      diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is apparently decreasing while their
      mean age is increasing suggesting that the etiologic agents or factors causing
      this disease are less prevalent on Guam today than they have been in the past.
      Trends with regard to parkinsonism-dementia and Parkinson's disease are less
      clear.

PMID- 1439983
TI  - Ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine trials in leaf monkeys (Presbytis cristatus)
      infected with Wuchereria kalimantani.
AB  - Clinical trials of Ivermectin in single oral doses of 200, 400, and 1,000 mg/kg
      body weight or in multiple doses of 200 mg/kg body weight for 5 consecutive days
      were performed in leaf monkeys (Presbytis cristatus) infected with Wuchereria
      kalimantani. Optimal microfilaricidal effect occurred at 200 mg/kg body weight.
      The drug was less effective than diethylcarbamazine in this animal model for
      human filariasis but had no adverse effects.

PMID- 1439984
TI  - Etiology of acute severe lower respiratory tract infection in hospital-based
      patients.
AB  - Acute respiratory infections are common childhood illnesses. Most are mild and
      self-limiting. Five percent are lower respiratory tract diseases and are
      potentially serious. A prospective study was conducted to ascertain the etiology
      of community-acquired severe lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in
      hospital based patients. Mycoplasma was the most frequently identified agent
      (33%). This was followed by viruses (28%) and bacteria (15%). Twenty-four percent
      of children had no identified causative agent.

PMID- 1439985
TI  - Immunological activities of monoclonal IgG1 antibody against Trypanosoma
      gambiense.
AB  - The present paper deals with the immune reaction between a monoclonal IgG1
      antibody and Trypanosoma gambiense. The aggregation of trypanosomes, immune
      adherence to macrophages and protection against infection are associated with the
      antibody. IgG1-mediated clumping of trypanosomes is readily dissociated by the
      addition of complement. Dissociation of the clumped trypanosomes in the
      equivalence area released approximately fifty percent of previously bound surface
      antigens. These antigens were capable of binding again to new IgG1 antibody.
      Complement deposition rendered bivalent IgG1 antibody in the immune complex
      functionally univalent. Such an event in the presence of complement is of great
      advantage to the infected host in killing pathogens in vivo, as it allows more
      antibodies to attach to surface antigens and subsequently to initiate complement
      activity.

PMID- 1439986
TI  - Course of antibody production by the DIG-ELISA method in neonatally infected and
      juvenile infected rats after primary infection with Breinlia booliati
      (Filarioidea: Onchocercidae).
AB  - The course of antibody production in Wistar neonatal and juvenile rats after
      primary infection with Breinlia booliati was studied by the DIG-ELISA technique
      using filter papers impregnated with capillary blood drawn from the infected rat
      tails at 7, 14, 28, 60 and 90 days post infection. Sera of neonatally infected
      rats did not react with adult worm antigen until day 7 and the titers of antibody
      remained at very low levels for the next 7 days. There was little tendency to
      eliminate the filarial larvae during this time. The antibody levels then rose
      rapidly throughout the next fortnight and increased to a maximum at day 60 after
      which the titer leveled out at a constant high value until early patency at day
      90. On the other hand, antibodies could be detected in sera of juvenile infected
      rats as early as day 7 and the levels of antibody rose markedly to a maximum at
      day 28. During the period from day 60 to day 90 at early patency, the antibodies
      declined gradually to lower levels. The humoral immune responses of 42 neonatally
      infected rats and 53 juvenile infected rats of 3 strains (Lewis, Wistar and
      Sprague Dawley) were tested against soluble B. booliati antigens from both female
      (1:50) and male (1:10) worm extracts by the DIG-ELISA method. Antibodies were
      detected in sera from all the microfilaremic and amicrofilaremic rats belonging
      to neonatally and juvenile infected groups. Sera of clean neonatal rats did not
      give a positive reaction zone.

PMID- 1439987
TI  - Microbial flora in gut of Culex quinquefasciatus breeding in cess pits.
AB  - The number and types of microorganisms in the gut of Culex quinquefasciatus
      larvae varied considerably from one site of collection to another. Larval gut, in
      general, contained enormous number of bacteria, a few fungi and negligible number
      of actinomycetes which belonged to 15 bacterial, 6 fungal and 4 actinomycete
      genera, respectively. Bacillus sp., Staphylococcus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. among
      bacteria, Aspergillus among fungi and Streptomyces sp. among actinomycetes were
      frequently encountered. Escherichia, Proteus, Aspergillus and Streptomyces were
      the most abundant genera. Isolates of Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Shigella and
      Staphylococcus caused 100% mortality during the early instar of larval
      development. None of the fungal isolates effected 100% mortality while
      Nocardiopsis sp. among actinomycetes gave 100% mortality. One of the Escherichia
      isolate suppressed the adult emergence completely while 27 others, belonging to
      most of the genera found, suppressed significantly. Isolates of Aspergillus,
      Alternaria and Streptomyces inhibited the emergence of adults completely.

PMID- 1439988
TI  - Malacological survey in the Sirikit reservoir, the largest earthfilled dam in
      Thailand.
AB  - Ten species of freshwater molluscs were found in a malacological survey in the
      Sirikit reservoir in 1985. Among these species, Tricula aperta or Neotricula
      aperta, intermediate host of human schistosomes, Bithynia (Digoniostoma)
      siamensis goniomphalos and B. (D.) funiculata, the first intermediate host of
      Opisthorchis viverrini were not found. It is revealed that most of the habitats
      in the Sirikit reservoir are not suitable for the survival and colonization of
      molluscs. Thus few species of edible molluscs in small numbers were found, except
      for Limnoperna siamensis, which were found in large numbers in the reservoir.
      Although it is not a medically important species, their attaching in large
      colonies may reduce the volume of water flowing into the power tunnels and
      obstruct small pipe lines in the dam area. So it is recommended to further study
      the life cycle of L. siamensis and to determine suitable molluscicides or
      biological agents to be used in controlling them.

PMID- 1439989
TI  - Mammonogamus (Syngamus) laryngeus infection: a first case report in Thailand.

PMID- 1439990
TI  - An unusual case of listeria meningitis.

PMID- 1439991
TI  - Albendazole treatment of neurocysticercosis.

PMID- 1439992
TI  - Control of Opisthorchis viverrini cercariae using the copepod Mesocyclops
      leuckarti.

PMID- 1439994
TI  - Pathways into sheltered employment.
AB  - Work ranks high in the rehabilitation of the mentally ill. Currently sheltered
      employment is often the only alternative to unemployment. We present a sample of
      121 patients working at various facilities for vocational rehabilitation. All of
      these patients are chronically mentally ill, 77% of them suffering from
      schizophrenic disorders. With respect to their vocational backgrounds, they
      represent four groups that had come to the sheltered workplace by various means.
      One group of young patients had never had gainful employment, a second group had
      found jobs on the open labour market after onset of their illness, and a third
      group had been employed both before and after the onset of mental illness. The
      largest group, however, comprised those patients who had dropped out of normal
      working life immediately on onset of their illness to work in sheltered
      employment. The rate of isolation from working life was found to be influenced
      neither by professional qualification nor by the extent of vocational integration
      prior to the onset of mental illness. We discuss the consequences of the
      subjective experience of patients and the opportunities and problems presented in
      practice by vocational rehabilitation of the chronically mentally ill. A 5-year
      prospective study on the course of vocational rehabilitation is being designed by
      our group to provide further information on this subject.

PMID- 1439993
TI  - Changes in the prevalence of symptoms of depression and depression across Greece.
AB  - This paper reports on the regional prevalence of symptoms of depression and
      clinical depression (current major depressive episodes) in Greece in the years
      1978 and 1984. Prevalence rates were estimated from two extensive, nationwide
      cross-sectional home surveys on psychosocial issues and health, carried out in
      four geographical areas: the Greater Athens area, the Greater Thessaloniki area,
      the rest of the urban areas and rural areas. The methodology used, the sampling
      procedure and the screening instrument (The Center for Epidemiologic Studies
      Depression Scale) were the same in both surveys. Within the 6-year period a
      substantial increase in the prevalence of symptoms of depression in all
      geographic areas was observed, with the Athenian respondents expressing a higher
      number of symptoms of depression than their counterparts from the other areas.
      The prevalence of current major depressive episodes, according to specific
      criteria matched with criteria from the DSM III R, was increased in 1984 in
      Athens and in the rural areas only. We suggest that economic instability between
      1978 and 1984 probably contributed to the changes in the rates of depressive
      disorders.

PMID- 1439995
TI  - Psychiatric diagnostic profiles in hospitalized adolescent and adult Navajo
      Indians.
AB  - Diagnostic profiles of 400 adolescent and 1159 adult Navajo Indians consecutively
      admitted to a psychiatric unit between 1980 and 1989 are presented in this paper.
      The major discharge diagnoses for adolescents were as follows: adjustment
      reaction, mixed, and depression, not otherwise specified (NOS), with females
      accounting for two-thirds of either diagnosis; schizophrenia, with males
      accounting for 68% of all diagnoses, and personality disorder, NOS, with no
      gender differences. The four major discharge diagnoses for adults were
      schizophrenia and depression, NOS, in which there were no gender differences;
      alcohol withdrawal, syndrome, in which males accounted for 76% of those
      discharged; and adjustment reaction, mixed, in which females constituted 60% of
      those discharged. Over the 10-year period, there was a decrease in adult and an
      increase in adolescent admissions. During the last 2 years (1988 and 1989)
      adolescents accounted for almost 30% of all admissions compared with 14% during
      the first 2 years (1981 and 1982).

PMID- 1439997
TI  - Psychosis in Asian immigrants from the Indian sub-continent: preliminary findings
      from a follow-up study including a survey of general practitioners.
AB  - The paper presents preliminary findings from a follow-up study of 86 first
      generation immigrants to the United Kingdom from the Indian sub-continent, and a
      matched indigenous English-born control group. All subjects had originally been
      seen at the Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals and had been diagnosed as
      suffering from a functional psychosis. Attempts to locate the patients 5-20 years
      later revealed that a significantly higher proportion of the immigrant group
      could not be traced to a general practitioner within the United Kingdom, or
      otherwise accounted for. Possible explanations for this finding are advanced; the
      fact itself has important implications for those concerned with the provision of
      care and services for mentally ill immigrants in this country.

PMID- 1439996
TI  - DSM-III mental disorders in general medical sector: a follow-up and incidence
      study over a two-year period.
AB  - In three general medical settings (general practice, hospital medical wards and
      emergency rooms) about 20% of the adult attenders had a DSM-III mental disorder,
      mainly in the area of affective and anxious disorders. Some of these disorders
      were quite severe. Of those cases reassessed 1 year and 2 years after the first
      interview, less than a quarter reached a "no-diagnosis status". The chronicity of
      most cases dependent on the interplay not only of either relapse or duration of
      the main disorder but also of comorbidity and incidence of new disorders. A high
      incidence of more transient disorders in subjects who were well at first
      assessment was also found.

PMID- 1439998
TI  - Prodromal symptoms in manic depressive psychosis.
AB  - Twenty patients suffering from manic depressive psychosis were interviewed about
      the prodromes to both manic and depressive episodes. These prodromal periods were
      compared with a recent control period during which the patient was in remission.
      It was possible for 85% of patients to identify a depressive prodrome and 75% a
      manic prodrome. Prodromal periods were characterised by a significant increase in
      the number and magnitude of symptoms compared with those present during
      remission. The mean duration of manic prodromes was slightly longer than that of
      depressive prodromes (28.9 days and 18.8 days respectively). The majority of
      patients could identify a time sequence to the retainment of insight during their
      prodromes and could also identify idiosyncratic symptoms.

PMID- 1439999
TI  - Cross-national differences in the frequency and outcome of schizophrenia: a
      comparison of five hypotheses.
AB  - Measures of morbid risk for schizophrenia derived from the WHO Determinants of
      Outcome of Severe Mental Disorders Study showed large correlations with the
      following: an occupational index, a measure of urbanicity, geographical and
      climatic variables, a dietary measure, and the infant mortality rate. The same
      variables were also correlated with a measure of outcome derived from the
      International Pilot Study of Schizophrenia. Nearly all of the correlations were
      significant. The postulated "explanatory" variables were themselves highly
      intercorrelated.

PMID- 1440000
TI  - Effect of cervical spine motion on the neuroforaminal dimensions of human
      cervical spine.
AB  - A nerve root impingement within a stenotic neuroforamen is a common sequela of
      cervical degenerative arthritis and herniated nucleus pulposus. Understanding of
      the effects of cervical position on foraminal size is important in the assessment
      of pathology and injury, for selection of a provocative maneuver to elicit
      symptoms and in selecting a position of immobilization for the management of
      nerve root impingement syndrome. This biomechanical study of human cadaver
      cervical spines reports the measured variations in the sizes of neuroforamina as
      a function of cervical positioning. Five fresh frozen adult human cadaver
      cervical spines (C2-T1) were tested with combinations of flexion-extension and
      rotational position. Ten pounds of axial load was applied to simulate a normal
      loading of a cervical spine. The foramina of C5, C6, and C7 were directly
      measured using a set of finely graded circular probes. Compared to the foraminal
      diameter at the neutral position, there were statistically significant reductions
      in the foramen diameter of 10% and 13%, at 20 degrees and 30 degrees of extension
      respectively (P < 0.01). Conversely, in flexion, there were statistically
      significant increase of 8% and 10% at 20 degrees and 30 degrees of flexion
      respectively (P < 0.01). Though there was a reduction in the foraminal size with
      ipsilateral 20 degrees rotation, and an increase with contralateral 20 degrees
      rotation, these changes were not significantly different from the mean of the
      control. Combinations of flexion or extension position with axial rotation did
      not significantly change the foraminal size compared to the respective sagittal
      position with no axial rotation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1440001
TI  - Repair of symptomatic pseudoarthrosis of anterior cervical fusion. Posterior
      versus anterior repair.
AB  - Thirty-four patients with symptomatic pseudarthrosis of anterior cervical fusion
      were treated. There were 16 men and 18 women. Eighteen patients had
      pseudarthrosis at 1 level; 14 at 2 levels; and 2 at 3 levels, with C5-6 and C6-7
      levels most commonly involved. Anterior repair of pseudarthrosis was done in 17
      patients, which resulted in 76% radiologic fusion. Of 17 patients repaired
      posteriorly, 94% achieved radiologic fusion. Average follow-up was 60 months,
      with a minimum of 24 months. "Excellent" or "Good" results were achieved in 59%
      of anterior repair and 88% of posterior fusion group. This study demonstrates
      that posterior cervical fusion is the more effective method for repairing
      symptomatic pseudarthrosis of anterior cervical fusion.

PMID- 1440002
TI  - Electromyographic detection of paraspinal muscle metastasis. Correlation with
      magnetic resonance imaging.
AB  - Electromyographic (EMG) examination demonstrating marked segmental compromise of
      the posterior primary ramus distal to the spinal root with relative sparing of
      the anterior ramus may be the earliest objective evidence of paraspinal muscle
      metastasis. Antecedent studies are often initially normal, failing to disclose
      the underlying cause of back pain. Although paraspinal muscle metastasis has been
      histopathologically demonstrated at postmortem, attempts to image the suspected
      malignancy with computed tomography have been unsuccessful because the tumor in
      muscle remains isodense. This study reports the use of magnetic resonance imaging
      (MRI) to substantiate the existence of EMG-suspected paraspinal muscle
      metastasis. An EMG pattern of segmental posterior primary ramus denervation is
      not pathognomonic of metastasis. A confirmatory MRI, however, does permit earlier
      treatment with palliative radiation therapy.

PMID- 1440003
TI  - Effects of distraction on physiologic integrity of the spinal cord, spinal cord
      blood flow, and clinical status.
AB  - The authors determined the effects of distraction of the spine on physiologic
      integrity of the spinal cord using neurogenic motor evoked potentials (NMEPs),
      somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), spinal cord blood flow measurements, and
      clinical status in nine hogs. Spinal cord blood flow was measured after each
      level of distraction using the hydrogen washout technique. The results indicated
      that blood flow of at least 65% of baseline was required to maintain physiologic
      integrity of the spinal cord, and that a decrease of blood flow to 12% of
      baseline was associated with paraplegia. Neurogenic motor evoked potentials
      always correlated with the animal's postsurgical clinical status, whereas the SEP
      was falsely negative in one animal.

PMID- 1440004
TI  - Choosing fusion levels in progressive thoracic idiopathic scoliosis.
AB  - The selection of fusion levels in thoracic idiopathic scoliosis was subjected to
      multicenter retrospective review to test the validity of the classification
      system and recommendations of King et al. The 253 patients reviewed were treated
      by posterior fusion and Harrington instrumentation. Bending films were of little
      help in selecting fusion levels. Standing radiographs alone were usually
      adequate. King Type II curves may yield better lumbar correction if the lumbar
      curve is partially included in the fusion. Type IV curves may be safely fused one
      level proximal to the stable vertebrae.

PMID- 1440005
TI  - Chiba Spinal System in the operative management of scoliosis.
AB  - The Chiba Spinal System was developed for three-dimensional correction of
      scoliosis. The system consists of a 7-mm diameter smooth solid rod, closed and
      open hooks, and specially designed conical sleeves. The rod does not have
      ratchets or threads, thus minimizing stress concentrations. The closed and open
      hooks are attached to the rod using the conical sleeves. The sleeves have
      longitudinal slits permitting compression during insertion. The outrigger system
      with a torque wrench is used to correct the deformity in the frontal plane. When
      correcting lordosis with vertebral rotation, a sagittal correction device may be
      used. Fifty-two patients with idiopathic scoliosis were operated on with this
      system from 1986 through 1989. The average correction of the scoliosis was 58%.
      For the 21 patients with thoracic lordosis less than 0 degrees, the mean
      preoperative lordosis was -8 degrees, which was corrected to +7 degrees. The mean
      correction of the vertebral rotation was 24%. Two patients complained of
      paresthesia of the thoracic region after operation, but this disappeared within 2
      weeks. In 32 patients with more than 2 years' follow-up, the mean loss of
      correction was 3 degrees. One case with instrumentation failure was noted.

PMID- 1440006
TI  - The variability of response of scoliotic spines to segmental spinal
      instrumentation.
AB  - Ninety-two patients (71 idiopathic, 15 neurogenic, 2 Marfan's syndrome, 1 Down's
      syndrome, 1 osteogenesis imperfecta, 1 Prader-Willi syndrome, 1 Klippel-Trenaunay
      Weber syndrome), ages 9-49 years, had posterior spine fusion and stabilization
      with Luque L-rods and sublaminar segmental wires (SSI) for progressive scoliosis.
      There were no neurologic complications. The average preoperative major curve of
      52 degrees (37-113 degrees) initially corrected to 30 degrees (6-94 degrees), and
      at last follow-up (range, 2-7 years), was 33 degrees (8-90 degrees). There was
      marked variability in curvature correction and maintenance of correction, with 14
      patients progressively decreasing their curvatures postoperatively. Average
      preoperative Pedriolle vertebral rotation angle for all 92 patients was 16
      degrees (4-26 degrees), which initially corrected to 14 degrees (0-24 degrees),
      and at last follow-up remained 14 degrees (0-23 degrees). Although SSI had little
      influence on rotation, 12 patients progressively decreased their rotational
      deformity after operation. Aside from the positive influence of curve flexibility
      on the degree of postoperative curve correction, the authors could not identify
      factors explaining how curvature and vertebral rotation responded so variably to
      SSI. The authors recommend continued use of SSI to stabilize curvatures in
      osteopenic patients (particularly those with neuromuscular disease), but
      rotational deformity will probably persist.

PMID- 1440007
TI  - In vivo analysis of canine intervertebral and facet motion.
AB  - Using an instrumented spatial linkage, a method for measuring intervertebral
      motion in vivo was developed and used on six dogs. The segmental motion was
      recorded as the animals were exercised in routine functions. The standing posture
      was found to be a repeatable position. During walking, the average excursion
      between opposing facets was 3.4 +/- 1.3 mm, as the L2-L3 motion segment moved
      into 2.3 degrees of kyphosis with respect to the standing position. This method
      has the ability of measuring facet motion (+/- 0.7 mm), vertebral body motion (+/
      0.5 mm), and vertebral body rotations (+/- 0.6 degrees) with suitable accuracy
      such that it is a useful tool in documenting the in vivo response of a motion
      segment to surgical procedures.

PMID- 1440008
TI  - The influence of lordosis on axial trunk torque and trunk muscle myoelectric
      activity.
AB  - Force contributions from the facet complex and posterior ligaments during the
      generation of axial torque are a function of lordosis, and it has been speculated
      that these forces together with muscular contributions play a role in axial trunk
      twisting. This study investigated the electromyographic activity of the trunk
      musculature and torque-generating capacity of the lumbar spine under the
      conditions of normal lordosis, hyperlordosis, and hypolordosis. Eleven male
      subjects volunteered for this study. The subjects performed isometric twisting
      efforts and maximum dynamic twisting efforts at 30 degrees/sec. The myoelectric
      activity levels (normalized to maximal amplitude obtained from nontwist
      activities) were quite low despite maximal efforts to generate axial torque (for
      example: approximately 60% maximum voluntary contraction for latissimus dorsi and
      even lower for the abdominals). Furthermore, changes in lordosis did not produce
      any consistent changes in muscle activity, although a hyperlordotic spine
      produced significantly smaller axial torques, and a hypolordotic spine smaller
      still. Larger torques were measured during all three conditions of lordosis, as
      the subjects rotated toward an untwisted position, and lower torques as the
      subjects rotated away. The opposite trend was observed, however, in myoelectric
      activity of the agonistic side of latissimus dorsi, the thoracic level of erector
      spine, and the lumbar level of erector spinae, i.e., larger amplitudes were
      observed as the trunk was twisted away from the untwisted position. These data
      suggest that tissues other than muscle (i.e., passive tissue) contribute
      significantly to axial torque production and that the flexed and twisted spine is
      less able to resist applied axial torques, possibly increasing the risk of
      torsional injury.

PMID- 1440009
TI  - Magnetic resonance signal patterns of lumbar discs in patients with low back
      pain. A prospective study with discographic correlation.
AB  - This study presents a large prospective analysis of abnormal magnetic resonance
      signal patterns in 1,389 lumbar discs in 892 patients with chronic low back pain.
      Discographic correlations were available at 166 disc levels. Six different signal
      patterns were identified, and correlations with discograms would suggest that
      these patterns reflect the differing and progressive changes of lumbar disc
      degeneration that occur in vivo in patients with low back pain.

PMID- 1440010
TI  - The natural history of sciatica associated with disc pathology. A prospective
      study with clinical and independent radiologic follow-up.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to assess the natural history of sciatica due to
      lumbosacral nerve root compromise and to evaluate the pathomorphologic changes
      that accompany the natural resolution of the disease. One hundred sixty-five
      consecutive patients, 114 males and 51 females, with an average age of 41 years
      (range, 17-72) and an average duration of symptoms of 4.2 months (range, 1-72)
      presenting with sciatica thought to be due to lumbosacral nerve root compromise
      were admitted to the study. The cornerstone of treatment was the serial epidural
      administration of steroid and local anesthetic by the caudal route on an
      outpatient basis. Lumbar epidural injection or periradicular infiltration at the
      appropriate level, confirmed under image intensifier, was the next step before
      considering surgical decompression. An average of three injections (range, 0-8)
      was received by each patient. Patients underwent clinical examination and
      computed tomography. Twenty-three patients (14%) underwent surgical
      decompression. The remainder were clinically assessed at 1 year after
      presentation, and 111 were rescanned at the appropriate levels. All
      conservatively managed patients made a satisfactory clinical recovery: average
      reduction of pain on the visual analog scale was 94% (range, 45-100), and 64
      (76%) of the 84 disc herniations and 7 (26%) of the 27 disc bulges showed partial
      or complete resolution (chi-square = 20.27, P = 0.0001). Thus a high proportion
      of patients with discogenic sciatica make a satisfactory recovery with aggressive
      conservative management, and this recovery is accompanied by resolution of disc
      herniations in a significant number. Only a small proportion of patients needed
      surgical decompression.

PMID- 1440011
TI  - Stenosis of the lumbar spinal canal in vertebral ankylosing hyperostosis.
AB  - Certain morphologic features frequently observed in radiography or computed
      tomography (CT) scan in patients with hyperostosis led us to study the
      association between a narrowed spinal canal and vertebral hyperostosis. Twenty
      eight items were selected and studied by three different investigators (two
      rheumatologists and one radiologist) in radiographs and CT scans of 100 patients
      with acquired stenosis of the lumbar canal, with or without hyperostosis (46 and
      54 cases, respectively). The most distinctive points that we suggest can be used
      as diagnostic criteria of the hyperostotic narrowed lumbar canal are anterior or
      posterior lateral marginal somatic osseous proliferations, proliferations of the
      nonarticular aspects of the posterior apophyses, and ossifications of the
      posterior articular capsule and of the ligaments (yellow ligament, posterior
      longitudinal ligament, and the supraspinal ligament). Four of these six criteria
      should be present to establish the diagnosis of hyperostotic lumbar stenosis. The
      appearance of lumbar hyperostosis on X-ray or CT scans differs from that of
      simple degenerative changes due to arthrosis, and the hyperostosis can be held
      responsible for dural compression.

PMID- 1440012
TI  - Decoupling of bilateral paraspinal excitation in subjects with low back pain.
AB  - This study compared bilateral paraspinal excitation in normal subjects and
      subjects with low back pain. Comparison was made between six control subjects and
      seven low back pain subjects who performed maximum-effort isometric trunk
      extension in minimum elapsed time at two trunk angles. Electromyographic signals
      were collected bilaterally from the paraspinal musculature. The time- and
      amplitude-normalized electromyographic data were analyzed using a repeatability
      criterion sensitive to temporal and amplitude differences. This analysis showed
      that low back pain subjects demonstrated temporal and amplitude decoupling of the
      paraspinal musculature bilaterally. Low back pain subjects also demonstrated
      clinically meaningful disruptions between paraspinal excitation and isometric
      trunk extension moment. This method may be useful in quantifying neuromotor
      control in low back pain for initial and follow-up clinical evaluation for static
      and dynamic functional tests.

PMID- 1440013
TI  - Cost-effectiveness of a back school intervention for municipal employees.
AB  - This study investigated the effect of a back school rehabilitation program on
      lost work time, lost time cost, medical cost, and number of injuries in municipal
      employees. Seventy back-injured workers who participated in a 6-week back school
      were compared on the dependent variables with 70 randomly selected back-injured
      city employees who had not participated in a back school. Back school
      participants demonstrated a significant decrease on all dependent variables. Back
      school participants had significantly fewer injuries in the 6-month
      postintervention period. No statistically significant differences were found
      between groups on the time and cost variables. Actual dollars saved in lost time
      and medical costs between groups was of practical value to the city. Study
      findings offer support for the back school as a cost-effective measure.

PMID- 1440014
TI  - Intraoperative evoked EMG monitoring in an animal model. A new technique for
      evaluating pedicle screw placement.
AB  - An electric drill was used to introduce holes in the L4 through L7 pedicles in
      pigs. Constant-voltage stimulating pulses (5.5 V, stimulus rate = 3/sec) were
      delivered through a ball-tipped probe used to palpate the walls of each pedicle,
      and observation was made of electromyogram (EMG) evoked from hind limb muscles.
      Screws were placed in each pedicle hole, and evaluated for absolute voltage
      necessary to evoke EMG (threshold). At the conclusion of each experiment, screw
      positions were ascertained by removal and dissection of the lumbosacral spine.
      Approximately 50% of screw placements resulted in defects of the pedicle. In each
      of these cases, 5.5 V stimuli delivered through the probe evoked EMG from muscles
      innervated by adjacent motor axons. Conversely, for those cases where the pedicle
      was intact, significantly higher voltages were needed to evoke EMG. The authors
      believe that this is a promising intraoperative technique to simply and reliably
      identify mispositioned screws, thereby minimizing neurologic complications.

PMID- 1440015
TI  - Surgical pathology of the intervertebral disc. Is routine examination necessary?
AB  - A retrospective review of 508 charts of patients undergoing laminectomy for all
      reasons was carried out with special attention to the preoperative diagnosis,
      postoperative diagnosis, pathologic diagnosis, and discharge diagnosis. The
      elimination of routine pathologic examination of surgical discectomy specimens
      would not have lowered the standard of care; the pathologist's report had no
      discernible influence on patient management. Unusual clinical features will
      continue to require careful examination of surgical specimens by the pathologist.
      Millions of healthcare dollars can be saved by eliminating this routine
      examination, which is based on outmoded routines. Hospital medical staffs who
      wish to change this practice must revise their hospital bylaws in keeping with
      the standards of the The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
      Organizations (JCAHO).

PMID- 1440016
TI  - Restriction of indication for automated percutaneous lumbar discectomy based on
      computed tomographic discography.
AB  - This report details the authors' early experience using the automated
      percutaneous lumbar discectomy (APLD) procedure, developed by Onik et al., in 97
      patients with a disc protrusion. In the evaluation of a herniated disc, we used
      computed tomography (CT) discography. According to the distribution of the dye
      inside the disc, five different disc types can be differentiated. With a follow
      up after 3-7 months, the short-term outcomes of the first 40 APLD-treated
      patients varied, depending on the shape of the protruded nuclear material.
      Patients with a broad dye base on CT discography had better short-term outcomes
      than patients with a narrow dye base. In the next 57 patients we treated with
      APLD, this tendency was confirmed. The success rate of a consecutive group of
      patients with a disc protrusion with a broad dye base, treated with APLD, was
      80%. In comparison, the patients with a disc protrusion with a narrow dye base
      had an overall success rate of only 53%. The difference is statistically
      significant (P < 0.05). The message of this report is that APLD is a useful
      invasive treatment for patients with a disc protrusion. The outcome depends,
      however, on the shape of the protruded nuclear material as shown by CT
      discography, which makes this examination as a conditio sine qua non before
      treating patients with a disc protrusion with APLD.

PMID- 1440017
TI  - Unilateral facet dislocation of the lumbosacral junction.
AB  - Fracture-dislocation of the lumbosacral junction is an extremely rare injury. The
      authors are aware of only 24 reported cases. Only seven of these were unilateral
      facet dislocations. In this report, the authors review their experience with four
      cases of unilateral facet dislocations at the lumbosacral junction. In one of
      these cases, there was a pre-existing spondylolysis at L5, and the patient
      sustained a concomitant sacral fracture. From their review, the authors recommend
      the use of open reduction with internal fixation and lumbosacral fusion as the
      treatment of choice for this injury.

PMID- 1440018
TI  - Failure of somite differentiation at the cranio-vertebral region as a cause of
      occipitalization of the atlas.

PMID- 1440019
TI  - Traumatic bilateral rotatory facet dislocation of the atlas on the axis.

PMID- 1440020
TI  - Spondylolisthesis after posterolateral thoracic discectomy. Case report and
      literature review.

PMID- 1440021
TI  - Back pain secondary to esophageal perforation in an adolescent.

PMID- 1440022
TI  - Neural compression due to osteochondral fragments. A report of two cases and
      review of the literature.

PMID- 1440023
TI  - Case report. Pelvic rib/digit.
AB  - In summary, a case of a pelvic rib/digit is presented. Although there is no
      surgical proof that the finding does indeed represent a sacral rib, its
      radiographic findings are characteristic enough to warrant this diagnosis. In
      some respects, the lesion is similar to other cases that have appeared in the
      literature, but it differs in that it has features of both a pelvic rib and
      pelvic digit, suggesting a spectrum of development of these anomalous bony
      structures.

PMID- 1440024
TI  - Cruciate paralysis after a traumatic upper cervical spine injury.

PMID- 1440025
TI  - Epidural lipomatosis in steroid-treated patients.

PMID- 1440026
TI  - Cervical Spine Research Society. 19th annual meeting. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
      December 4-6, 1991.

PMID- 1440027
TI  - Illness as a lifestyle. The role of somatization in medical practice.
AB  - Persons with psychological problems who translate their distress into somatic
      symptoms (somatize) are frequent users of medical care. These patients often have
      underlying depression, anxiety, obsessive--compulsive symptoms, or personality
      disorders. Descriptions of the somatizing syndromes are provided in association
      with recommendations as how to recognize and manage the patient with
      somatization.

PMID- 1440028
TI  - A taxonomy of chronic pain syndromes.
AB  - This article has had as its purpose the delineation of the complexity of the
      production of pain on an organic basis as opposed to any psychological
      amplification. The issues addressed apply directly to the problem of spinal pain.
      Classical nociception arising in the structures of the spine thus would include
      the application of mechanical and chemical stimuli to muscles, ligaments,
      apophyseal joint capsules, bone, and other structures with adequate innervation,
      particularly the anterior dura and its extensions. Disease and injury productive
      of direct nociception are well understood sources of spinal pain. Less well
      understood, but of at least equal importance in the spinal pain problem, are the
      activities within the central nervous system that control the transfer of
      nociceptive information to the higher centers. These activities account for some
      of the variability known to occur in the experience of pain. Further, the fact
      that the nervous system changes its activities in response to chronic pain,
      particularly that arising from damaged neural elements, is of paramount
      importance in understanding how chronic pain syndromes differ so greatly from
      simple nociceptive events. Insidious deafferentation ongoing in spinal nerve
      roots subject to chronic compression and fibrosis offers a fertile field for
      research into the origin of permanent pain in patients in whom application of
      accepted therapies does not result in relief. All of this material must be
      considered by the clinician who is challenged with analyzing spinal pain problems
      in patients.

PMID- 1440029
TI  - The role of neurogenic and non-neurogenic mediators as they relate to pain and
      the development of osteoarthritis. A clinical review.

PMID- 1440030
TI  - Chronic cervical pain: radiculopathy or brachialgia. Noninterventional treatment.
AB  - Chronic cervical pain is not always attributable to radiculopathy. Pain may
      derive from peripheral myofascial syndromes and/or central inflammatory root
      irritation from degradation of discal proteoglycans. This concept is presented
      with its application in 30 patients with follow-up observations up to 30 months.
      Twelve of twenty-five achieving a pain level of 0 (out of a possible 10), ten of
      twenty-five had a pain level of 2, and three of twenty-five had a pain level of
      4. Five cases were considered to be failures because of patient noncompliance.
      Treatment was multidisciplinary: aggressive physical medicine, behavioral
      medicine, vocational, and recreational rehabilitation with the goal of a return
      to socioeconomic productivity or previous lifestyle, secondary to which pain
      relief or control follows. Emphasis was placed on the restoration of
      musculoskeletal physiology to normal with behavioral modification, good body
      mechanics and the application of engineering/ergonomic principles at work or
      recreation.

PMID- 1440031
TI  - Study of experimental cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
AB  - Most cervical spondylotic myelopathy cases show insidious onset. Experimental
      cervical spondylotic myelopathy models were made using cats to analyze advancing
      patterns of myelopathy in the spinal cord and to identify the most responsible
      factor. Spinal cord compression was applied anteriorly using one screw through
      the C5 vertebral body or three screws through the C4, C5, and C6 vertebral
      bodies. Every few weeks, the screws were turned approximately 1 mm at a time up
      to approximately 50% of the spinal canal. At more than 6 months after final
      compression, limb function and evoked spinal cord potentials were evaluated.
      Thereafter, histologic examinations were performed. THE RESULTS: the single
      compression group showed normal limb function, but the multiple compression group
      showed sluggish gait. Histologically, mild neuronal decrease in the gray matter
      was noticeable in the single compression group. Conversely, the multiple
      compression group showed severe changes in the gray matter and significant
      changes in the posterior and anterior columns. There was a correlation between
      the evoked spinal cord potentials and histologic changes. It was clear that
      multiple compressions to the spinal cord caused more severe deterioration
      functionally and electrophysiologically as well as histologically than a single
      compression.

PMID- 1440032
TI  - Preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance image evaluations of the spinal
      cord in cervical myelopathy.
AB  - To evaluate the morphologic changes of the spinal cord in patients with cervical
      myelopathy due to cervical spondylosis and ossification of the posterior
      longitudinal ligament, the authors measured the thickness and signal intensity of
      the cervical cord with magnetic resonance imaging in healthy adults and patients
      with cervical myelopathy, and compared these findings. In patients with cervical
      myelopathy, the preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging
      findings were compared with the severity of myelopathy and postoperative results.
      In healthy adults, the anteroposterior diameter of the cervical cord was 7.8 mm
      at the C3 level and decreased at lower levels. In the patients with cervical
      myelopathy, the preoperative spinal anteroposterior diameter was significantly
      reduced at various levels corresponding to the stenosis site within the vertebral
      canal. In the group with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, the
      minimal anteroposterior diameter of the cervical cord tended to decrease with
      increasing severity of myelopathy. However no relationship was observed between
      the two parameters in the cervical spondylotic myelopathy group. In the group
      with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, surgical results were
      good when the postoperative anteroposterior diameter was increased, whereas in
      the cervical spondylotic myelopathy group there was no relationship between the
      two parameters. In the patients with myelopathy, a high intensity area was
      observed in about 40% of all patients before operation and about 30% after
      operation. However, the presence or absence of a high intensity area did not
      correlate with the severity of myelopathy or with surgical results in the group
      with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and the cervical
      spondylotic myelopathy groups.

PMID- 1440033
TI  - Age and gender related normal motion of the cervical spine.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to develop a clinical method for measuring three
      dimensional motion of the cervical spine using the CA 6000 Spine Motion Analyzer
      (Orthopaedic Systems Inc., Hayward CA). Normal values for passive examinations of
      flexion-extension, lateral bending, rotation, rotation out of maximum flexion,
      and rotation out of maximum extension were obtained and analyzed for each gender
      in a group of 150 normal subjects. Gender classifications were further subdivided
      into age groups, with each decade containing asymptomatic volunteers. Values for
      each group were compared for differences with respect to age and gender
      differences. A detailed error analysis was also performed on the interobserver
      and intraobserver repeatability, differences between passive and active testing,
      and the use of different fixation devices. Significantly decreased motion
      differences were found between age groups within gender, and between gender
      groups in corresponding decades. Results of rotation out of maximum flexion
      suggest and support earlier conclusions that the rotation of the C1-C2 segment
      does not decrease with age, but rather increases slightly to perhaps compensate
      for the overall decreased motion in the lower segments.

PMID- 1440034
TI  - Benign tumors of the cervical spine.
AB  - Benign tumors of the cervical spine are relatively infrequent but have a number
      of common characteristics that aid in the evaluation and treatment of these
      lesions. The tumors are most common in the first and second decades of life,
      presenting as pain, neck stiffness and torticollis. In approximately 70%, the
      lesions are visible on plain roentgenograms and the remainder are well visualized
      on bone scan and computed tomographic scan. The majority are present in the
      posterior elements and may be treated adequately with excisional biopsy by
      curettage. Stage 3 lesions are best treated by marginal excisional techniques and
      may require adjunctive techniques such as embolization or radiation therapy. The
      location of the lesion and extent of excision determine the necessity for fusion.

PMID- 1440035
TI  - Metastatic malignancy of the cervical spine. A nonoperative history.
AB  - Of 48 patients with spinal metastases treated at the Kenneth J. Norris Cancer
      Center at The University of Southern California Medical Center in Los Angeles,
      California between 1984 and 1987, 19 consecutive patients with cervical
      metastatic disease were identified and followed until death or remission.
      Prostate, breast, and lung neoplasms accounted for 57% of the cervical
      metastases. Associated nonspinal skeletal, extraskeletal, or multiple-level
      spinal metastases were seen in 95% of patients. Mean time from diagnosis of
      primary tumor to cervical metastasis was 29 months and mean survival after that
      was 14.7 months. Pain was the initial symptom in 89% of cases. No patient had
      neurologic deficit and three (16%) had slight radiographic collapse and
      deformity. Only one (5%) patient had documented instability. All patients had
      nonoperative treatment with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination.
      Irrespective, the pain recurred in all patients by 6 months. Nonoperative
      treatment may be appropriate in the absence of significant neurologic deficit or
      instability. The return of symptoms by 6 months warrants alternative modes of
      therapy.

PMID- 1440036
TI  - The force exerted by the halo pin. A study comparing different halo systems.
AB  - Seven different halo systems were evaluated biomechanically to compare the force
      exerted by the halo pin in each system. In three different experiments torque
      values of 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8 in lb were applied to the halo pin, and the force at
      the skull end of the halo pin was measured using a load cell. In the first
      experiment, the threads on the halo pin were dry, in the second experiment saline
      was applied to the threads on the pin, and in the third experiment cadaveric bone
      from the skull was interposed between the pin and the load cell. The results
      showed that for a given value of applied torque to the pin, the force exerted by
      the pin end varied widely according to the halo system and whether or not the pin
      was "lubricated."

PMID- 1440037
TI  - Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. A comparison of techniques in an animal
      model.
AB  - An animal model for three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion was
      established in the goat. Twenty-one goats underwent surgery, with seven goats in
      each of three experimental groups. In Group I, all seven goats underwent three
      level anterior cervical discectomy without fusion. In Group II, each of the seven
      goats had a three-level discectomy with autogenous bone performed according to
      the Smith-Robinson technique. In Group III, fresh-frozen allograft bone was used
      for each of the three-level discectomy and fusion. Each goat was then killed
      after 12 weeks. Analysis consisted of radiographic review, fluorochrome labeling,
      biomechanical rigidity and flexion and extension, axial compressive load, and
      torsion. Histologic analysis was also performed for evidence of fusion and
      vertebral body histomorphometric analysis. The analysis of results showed that
      radiographic union was judged to have occurred in 0 of 21 Group I disc spaces, 10
      of 21 Group II disc spaces, and 8 of 21 Group III disc spaces. Histologic fusion
      was judged to have occurred in 0 of 21 Group I goats, 10 of 21 Group II goats,
      and 0 of 21 Group III goats. The histologic fusion rate was significantly higher
      in Group II than either Group I or Group III. Biomechanically, the spines that
      had autogenous bone grafting (Group II) were significantly stiffer in compressive
      axial load and in extension. Both Group II and Group III were stiffer in flexion
      than Group I. An evaluation of the peri-endplate vascularity showed that the
      vascularity measured 10.4% in Group I, 16.7% in Group II, and 8.5% in Group
      III.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1440038
TI  - Modified Smith-Robinson procedure for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.
AB  - Fifty-one consecutive patients with cervical radiculopathy or spondylosis were
      treated with single or multilevel anterior discectomy and fusion using a modified
      Smith-Robinson procedure. There were 33 single-level fusions, 16 two-level
      fusions, and 2 three-level fusions. The three modifications included: 1) the
      endplates at the fusion level were completely removed with a high-speed bur to
      exposed bleeding cancellous bone in parallel planes; 2) the Caspar distractor
      (Aesculap, Burlingame, CA) was used to increase distraction and improve
      visualization; 3) the tricortical autologous iliac crest bone graft was placed in
      reverse position, that is, with the cortical cross-section facing posteriorly,
      creating a stabilizing strut in the middle column. With an average follow-up of 1
      year, the fusion rate was 94% (67 of 71 levels). The single-level fusion rate was
      97%, the two-level fusion rate was 94%, and the three-level fusion rate was 83%.
      Of the four nonunions, only two were symptomatic. Results by clinical examination
      revealed 36 (71%) excellent, 11 (21%) good, 3 (6%) satisfactory, and 1 (2%) poor
      outcomes. There were no significant disc collapses or extrusions. One patient had
      an increase in kyphotic deformity of > 5 degrees, none with > 10 degrees
      kyphosis. There were no wound infections or neurologic complications. The
      modified Smith-Robinson procedure for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion has
      led to the successful treatment of cervical radiculopathy and spondylosis with
      improved results and few complications.

PMID- 1440039
TI  - Anterior decompression, structural bone grafting, and Caspar plate stabilization
      for unstable cervical spine fractures and/or dislocations.
AB  - Fourteen patients who sustained acute cervical spine fractures and/or
      dislocations with associated posterior ligamentous disruption had anterior
      decompressions, structural bone grafting, and anterior Caspar plate
      stabilization. With an average 30-month follow-up, no patient has had loss of
      fixation. Despite criticism raised from biomechanical testing, the Caspar
      anterior plate system (Aesculape, Tuttlingen, Germany) may be added to structural
      bone grafting of unstable cervical fractures and/or dislocations, yielding an in
      vivo solid construct, which obviates the need for simultaneous posterior
      stabilization.

PMID- 1440040
TI  - Spontaneous fracture of the odontoid process in rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - Six cases of spontaneous fracture of the odontoid process in rheumatoid arthritis
      are presented. Fifty-one patients with atlantoaxial subluxation in rheumatoid
      arthritis underwent surgery between 1981 and 1990. This included six patients (in
      10%) who had subluxation accompanied by fracture of the odontoid without apparent
      trauma. The mean patient age was 58 years and all had a long history of
      rheumatoid arthritis. No trauma was considered to be the cause of the fracture.
      This is a fracture caused by erosion and osteoporosis of the odontoid process due
      to rheumatoid synovitis, aging and steroid therapy. In addition, another cause is
      a dynamic load produced from the instability accompanying atlantoaxial
      subluxation working on the odontoid in cervical extension. It is important
      remember that the odontoid process is susceptible to spontaneous fracture.

PMID- 1440041
TI  - Treatment of lower cervical spinal injuries--C3 to C7.
AB  - Injuries of the lower cervical spine are categorized according to the morbid
      anatomy of the lesion. Most often, such injuries are successfully treated by
      surgery through a posterior approach. After anatomic restoration, internal
      fixation with plates and screws provides for stability and arthrodesis. Of 221
      cases of lower cervical spine injuries, posterior stabilization was accomplished
      in 89%. There was no secondary displacement in 85% of cases.

PMID- 1440042
TI  - Management of fracture separations of the articular mass using posterior cervical
      plating.
AB  - Fracture separations of the articular mass are a specific group of unilateral
      facet fractures that must be considered separately because of their unique two
      level instability. This fracture pattern involves a longitudinal fracture of the
      lamina and a fracture of the pedicle on the same side of the spine at the same
      level. It is characterized roentgenographically by horizontalization of the
      lateral mass, with a mean translation of 4.6 mm and a mean angulation of 6.9
      degrees. In this study the deformity most commonly occurs at the level below the
      fracture (19 patients) but also occurred at the level above (5 patients). There
      is a high incidence of neurologic involvement (14 of 24 patients), most often
      radicular in nature. This injury results in two level instability requiring a
      three-level, two-interspace stabilization. All twenty-four patients in this
      series underwent posterior cervical plating with either an asymmetric (8),
      symmetric (9) or porte manteau (7) construct. Statistically significantly better
      results (P < 0.05) were achieved with either a symmetric or porte manteau
      construct. Complications including neurologic deficit and loss of correction were
      more frequent in the asymmetric group.

PMID- 1440043
TI  - [Method for estimating the population risk attributable to a transfer station of
      municipal solid waste].
AB  - Due to the great volume of municipal solid waste that is produced daily in the
      Metropolitan Area of Mexico City a sound management has been an impossible task.
      This is why during the past few years solid waste transfer stations have been
      constructed in the City, allowing a more efficient solid waste collection. The
      attributable risk to the population's health for the operation of such stations
      needs to be assessed in order to have them working within the urbanized areas
      without posing a potential risk to the health of the inhabitants of the
      inhabitants of the surrounding areas.

PMID- 1440044
TI  - [Risk of tuberculosis infection in the health jurisdictions of Jalisco, Mexico].
AB  - This paper reports an evaluation of the risk of tuberculosis infection in school
      children in the sanitary jurisdictions of Jalisco, Mexico. It also compares the
      official figures of incidence of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis with those
      estimated with this epidemiological indicator. The study included 6,469 first
      grade children, six to seven years old, from 95 state schools. We skin-tested
      4,260 of them with 2 TU PPD. Sixty per cent of the children tested were
      vaccinated with BCG. This proportion varied between the jurisdictions: from 43
      per cent in Tepatitlan to 70 per cent in Ameca. The rate of tuberculosis
      infection was 6.3 per cent, with differences between children with a BCG scar and
      those with no scar (7.4% and 4.4%, respectively). We also found differences in
      the annual risk of infection between the jurisdictions. The annual risk was 0 per
      cent in Lagos de Moreno and 1.60 per cent in Ameca. With the exception of two
      jurisdictions, the incidence of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis estimated
      with this indicator is several times higher than that officially reported.

PMID- 1440045
TI  - [Regionalization in health: an instrument for jurisdictional planning].
AB  - This study carried out the regionalization of Sanitary Jurisdiction No. III
      seated in Cuautla, Morelos, consisting of 16 of a total of 33 municipalities in
      the state of Morelos. This regionalization was carried out through the delination
      of areas sharing similar socioeconomical and demographic characteristics (SED).
      Subsequently, the major health hazards and the intraregional distribution of
      human health resources (physicians and nurses) and infrastructure services
      (institutional health centers) were identified for each region. The aim of this
      work was to devise an instrument for a better understanding of and approach to
      health problems at a juridictional level and to pave the way for health planning
      that would be congruent with regional characteristics and needs. Health sector
      efforts would be directed towards the promotion of preventive health care with
      greater efficiency and equity. In order to regionalize the jurisdiction, 17 SED
      indicators were studied in each of the 16 municipalities. Analysis was performed
      using the Principal Components Method (MCP) and an epidemiologic score. As a
      result, the sanitary jurisdiction was divided into three regions: Region I, with
      the best SED conditions, Region II, with moderate SED conditions and Region III
      with the lowest SED conditions. The results of this study show that there is an
      inverse relationship between the intraregional distribution of health resources
      with respect to the delineated regions and the health resources with respect to
      the delineated regions and the health needs and problems found in each one.
      Region III showed the worst SED conditions and the highest incidence of disease.
      It proved to be the region which had the greatest lack of material and human
      health resources, the latter having the lowest technical training level in all of
      the jurisdiction. In contrast. Region I had the best SED conditions and the
      lowest incidence of disease. It also had the highest number of material and human
      health resources, the latter having a high level of preparation. This situation
      is opposite to the national health policies in regards to equity "...give more
      benefits to the more vulnerable groups..."

PMID- 1440046
TI  - [The migration process as risk factor in chronic malnutrition of pre-school
      children from Jalisco].
AB  - The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors in the family's migratory
      profile of preschool children with chronic malnutrition. A comparative
      observational study was conducted, including 511 12 to 60 months old children
      from childcare centers in the Jalisco sugar cane area, from February to March
      1988. We evaluated their nutritional status using anthropometric indicators and
      Waterlow's classification. Their migratory history included information on place
      of origin, migratory mobility, cause of immigration, sociodemographic
      characteristics of parents and history of siblings who died under five years. The
      prevalence of malnutrition was 79 percent per 100 preschool children (68.5%
      adapted, 21.5% acute chronic and 10.4% acute). Factors associated with chronic
      malnutrition (OR greater than 1 CI 95%) included: coming from a poverty stricken
      population and being permanent migrants. A significant difference (p less than
      0.05) was found among children of parents who were jobless at the time of
      migration. These findings could be used to justify the implementation of
      nutritional epidemiologic surveillance and intervention programs.

PMID- 1440047
TI  - [Pregnancy, labor, and puerperium: concepts and practices of midwives in the
      state of Morelos].
AB  - In Mexico a combined type of care for the health-sickness phenomenon exists,
      where three systems interact: domestic, academic and traditional medicine. In
      relation to reproductive health, in the state of Morelos approximately 50 per
      cent of women in rural areas receive attention from traditional birth attendants,
      who make up one of the principal resources of traditional medicine. The goal of
      this study was to gather knowledge about and describe the concepts, resources and
      practices used by traditional birth attendants in their care during pregnancy,
      birth and puerperium; and likewise to determine their socio-demographic
      characteristics, their geographic distribution, their number and the level of
      training which they possess. A census based on three sources was carried out in
      which information about seven basic variables was sought. This information was
      completed with structured interviews with key informants which allowed the
      definition of a profile of the different types of traditional birth attendants
      according to the population they care for and the resources they use. The most
      relevant results indicate that 630 traditional birth attendants are distributed
      throughout the 32 municipalities of the state, with an average age of 52 years
      and 50 per cent having attended training courses. 17.5 per cent fall within the
      category of traditional birth attendant, 50 per cent are trained empiricists and
      11.6 per cent are non-trained empiricists. The 20 per cent did not fit this
      typology. The strong social and cultural identification that exists between
      traditional birth attendants and their patients indicates the need to incorporate
      this valuable resource in rural reproductive health programs.

PMID- 1440048
TI  - [Common personality traits in obese individuals].
AB  - This study is part of an interdisciplinary investigation in which the obese
      patient is evaluated from different aspects. This paper deals with the
      psychometric evaluation of obese people to search for common personality traits
      in obese patients attending the Weight Control Program offered by the Nutrition
      Project of ENEP Iztacala. The results show that differences do exist between
      obese and non-obese people, especially on some scales of the Inventory of
      Temperamental Traits.

PMID- 1440049
TI  - [The supply of physicians in Mexico: excess and shortage].
AB  - The purpose of this paper is to find out whether a decrease in the number of
      medical undergraduates doing their social service has any influence on the
      quantity of medical services provided by health care institutions in Mexico.
      Spearman's Rank Test was used to correlate the number of medical undergraduates
      and the number of services. Data for analysis were taken from the statistical
      information bulletins of the Ministry of Health for the decade of the 1980's. The
      analysis found that there is a significant correlation between the number of
      medical undergraduate and the number of primary health care services provided,
      and that this correlation disappears in the cases of secondary and tertiary
      health care services. The results underscore the importance of reconsidering the
      adequate number of physicians required to satisfy the health care needs of the
      Mexican population.

PMID- 1440050
TI  - [Problems identified by geriatric evaluation at a nursing home].
AB  - A geriatric evaluation was carried out in a group of 37 elderly nursing home
      residents. A complete history and physical examination was performed in all the
      patients. We identified 185 new medical problems in the patients, 40.7 per cent
      of whom were rehabilitation candidates. A functional status evaluation on daily
      activities showed dependency in 56.8 per cent of the patients while in daily
      instrumental activities 51.3 to 81 per cent of the patients required assistance.
      A mental status evaluation showed abnormalities in 46.8 per cent of the patients.
      This analysis shows the need of implementing this particular form of evaluation
      of elderly patient in our community and nursing homes.

PMID- 1440051
TI  - [Self-medication in a urban population of Cuernavaca, Morelos].
AB  - This work contains the results of a study on the prevalence of family drug
      consumption. In our country, self medication should be considered a public health
      problem due to the population's lack of medical education. Nevertheless, this
      problem has not been properly studied. For this reason, we completed an
      exploratory study in an urban population of Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. Its
      purpose was to gather information about the situation of drug consumption and
      self medication. A survey was given to 373 domestic groups from the Carolina
      neighborhood in Cuernavaca. These groups were selected through systematic and
      probabilistic sampling. A total of 1,537 individuals of all ages were surveyed
      with an average of four participants per domestic group. Thirty one per cent of
      those surveyed had consumed drugs during the two weeks prior to the survey. Of
      these consumers, 53.3 per cent did it through self medication, and 64.9 per cent
      of them were females. If classified by age group, the highest consumer rate, 7.6
      per cent, belonged to the users between 25 to 44 years. If the classification is
      done by sex and age, women between 25 to 44 years consumed more antibiotics and
      analgesics which were obtained over the counter. Among the surveyed population,
      the consumption of medicines was done primarily through self medication, mostly
      administered by women, and most frequently consumed by infants under one year of
      age. This phenomenon occurred regardless of the availability and accessibility of
      public and private health services. The data collected do make us identify women
      as a fundamental element in the consumption of drugs and self
      medication.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1440052
TI  - [Education needs for the development of binational programs of health care].
AB  - The purpose of this article is to describe a research project carried out in
      Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. The main objective was to find out
      the continuing education needs of the staff implementing Primary Health Care
      (phc) programs developed with Mexican migrant workers. The methodology was based
      on applied research techniques. It was divided into two stages. The first stage
      was an interview which was applied to the coordinators of three programs: medical
      care, health education and sexually transmitted diseases. The second part of the
      methodology was to design a continuing education course with the input of the
      first stage. The course was implemented in the School of Public Health of Mexico
      in 1990. It had three main components: sociology and health in Mexico; health
      programmes in Mexico, and traditional medicine. The course also included a set of
      visits to clinics, hospitals and curanderos. The course has generated a group of
      scholars who are planning projects in this field to define the health needs of
      the migrant Mexican population in that area and the impact in Mexico. The course
      is also part of the regular Continuing Education Programme of the School of
      Public Health of Mexico now.

PMID- 1440053
TI  - [Smallpox in the Mexican Republic. 1954].

PMID- 1440054
TI  - Radiation hybrids for mapping and cloning DNA sequences of distal 16p.
AB  - Three hundred fifteen radiation hybrids (RH) were isolated using a
      monochromosomal cell hybrid containing chromosome 16 only. A panel of 18 RH,
      which showed breakpoints among four markers (3.15, 26.6, 3'HVR, and 5'HVR)
      mapping in the distal portion of 16p, were selected and characterized for the
      retention of nine additional DNA sequences already localized in this region, and
      for one centromeric sequence. One or more breakpoints were identified in nine of
      the 12 intervals defined by the 13 single-copy sequences used. This panel of RH
      represents a tool for the construction of a detailed physical map of the distal
      part of 16p and for cloning sequences located in the proximity of disease genes.
      Three inter-Alu DNA sequences, amplified from one of these RH containing the
      autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD1) gene, were cloned and mapped
      in the panel. Sequencing of the ends of one of three clones showed a (CAAA)n
      repeat, which revealed a two-allele polymorphism.

PMID- 1440055
TI  - Gene targeting using a mouse HPRT minigene/HPRT-deficient embryonic stem cell
      system: inactivation of the mouse ERCC-1 gene.
AB  - A convenient system for gene targeting that uses hypoxanthine
      phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) minigenes as the selectable marker in HPRT
      deficient mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells is described. Improvements to the
      expression of HPRT minigenes in ES cells were achieved by promoter substitution
      and the provision of a strong translational initiation signal. The use of
      minigenes in the positive-negative selection strategy for gene targeting was
      evaluated and the smaller minigenes were found to be as effective as a more
      conventional marker--the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene. Minigenes
      were used to target the DNA repair gene ERCC-1 in ES cells. A new HPRT-deficient
      ES cell line was developed that contributes with high frequency to the germ line
      of chimeric animals. The ability to select for and against HPRT minigene
      expression in the new HPRT-deficient ES cell line will make this system useful
      for a range of gene-targeting applications.

PMID- 1440056
TI  - Molecular cloning of a gene involved in methotrexate uptake by DNA-mediated gene
      transfer.
AB  - A methotrexate-resistant Chinese hamster ovary cell line deficient in
      methotrexate uptake has been complemented to methotrexate sensitivity by
      transfection with DNA isolated from a wild-type Chinese hamster ovary genomic
      cosmid library. Primary and secondary transfectants, which contain a limited
      number of cosmid sequences, have been shown to regain methotrexate sensitivity
      and to take up methotrexate. Furthermore, the DNA from three cosmid clones,
      isolated from a primary methotrexate-sensitive transfectant, after transfection
      rescued the methotrexate-resistant phenotype at a high frequency. Restriction
      endonuclease analysis of the DNA of these cosmid clones indicated that they
      overlapped extensively and shared two regions of Chinese hamster ovary DNA of 6.6
      kb and 20.6 kb. These observations indicate that a gene involved in methotrexate
      uptake is contained in its entirety within one of these regions. This is the
      first report of the functional molecular cloning of a gene involved in
      methotrexate uptake. A general strategy is also described for screening large
      cosmid libraries from primary transfectants.

PMID- 1440058
TI  - New chromosomal mapping assignments for argininosuccinate synthetase pseudogene
      1, interferon-beta 3 gene, and the diazepam binding inhibitor gene.
AB  - Argininosuccinate synthetase pseudogene 1 (ASSP1), interferon-beta 3 (IFNB3)
      gene, and diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) gene have previously been mapped to
      human chromosome 2. Their nucleotide sequences, recorded in the GENBANK data
      base, were used to generate DNA primers to amplify specific sequences using the
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These primers failed to amplify DNA sequences
      when used to analyze microcell hybrid clones containing human chromosome 2. In
      order to map these genes, a panel of somatic cell hybrids was analyzed by PCR
      with these primer sets. The results of these experiments place ASSP1 sequences on
      human chromosome 6, IFNB3 on human chromosome 8, and DBI on human chromosome 6.

PMID- 1440057
TI  - A gene that partially complements xeroderma pigmentosum group A cells maps to
      human chromosome 8.
AB  - A gene that partially complements sensitivity of xeroderma pigmentosum cells of
      group A to UV irradiation has been mapped to human chromosome 8. Isolation of
      this gene has previously been described. A cDNA clone pEMKR that represents part
      of this gene was used for mapping. Based upon the nucleotide sequence of pEMKR, a
      set of oligonucleotide primers were designed for PCR amplification of DNAs from
      hybrid cell lines. A panel of rodent-human hybrid cell lines representing the
      total human genome was screened by PCR and Southern blot analysis for chromosomal
      assignment of this gene. PCR amplification and hybridization occurred only in the
      case of human and hybrid cell lines that contained human chromosome 8. The pEMKR
      thus represents a different gene than a DNA repair gene XPAC that has been mapped
      to human chromosome 9.

PMID- 1440059
TI  - [Breast cancer: trends from 1964 to 1990. Results of a long-term study].

PMID- 1440060
TI  - [Radiologic diagnosis and therapy of stenosed or occluded hemodialysis shunts].

PMID- 1440061
TI  - [Lymph node metastasis-recurrence following head and neck tumors: computed
      tomography].

PMID- 1440062
TI  - [The place of sonography in surgical intensive care patients].

PMID- 1440063
TI  - [Picture quality, tolerance, acceptance and longevity of a barium sulfate
      suspension (Micropaque CT) as an oral intestinal contrast medium for abdominal
      computed tomography].

PMID- 1440064
TI  - [X-ray study of the upper gastrointestinal tract. 2. Stomach and duodenum].

PMID- 1440065
TI  - [Technique and indications for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the
      arteries supplying the arm].

PMID- 1440066
TI  - [Hypomelanosis of Ito: detection of an ectopic cortical area in the MR tomogram].

PMID- 1440067
TI  - [Evaluation and classification of CT findings in work-related lung and pleural
      changes in accordance with the ILO pneumoconiosis classification].

PMID- 1440068
TI  - [Radiobiological research. A basis for advances in clinical radio-oncology].

PMID- 1440069
TI  - [Incisional, stab and gunshot wounds of the abdomen and thorax].
AB  - The authors give an account of the incidence and prognosis of the mentioned
      injuries treated during the past five years (1987-1991) at the surgical
      department of a district hospital in the centre of Prague. During the past two
      years a marked increase of these injuries was recorder. A total of 10 persons
      with abdominal injuries had ambulatory treatment and nine patients with injuries
      of the chest. During the same period 24 patients with abdominal injuries and 6
      patients with chest injuries were hospitalized as well as four patients with
      combined abdominal and chest injuries. Nineteen ambulatory patients and 34
      hospitalized patients during the five-year period are an ever increasing group of
      casualties who suffered injuries usually when drunk or due to violence.

PMID- 1440070
TI  - [Extensive corium grafts].
AB  - Even in our times of revolutionary advances in the technology and operative
      techniques in plastic surgery, the corium is a material with multiple
      applications and can be found in the patient at varying thickness. The aim of the
      article is to show that its indication to reinforce flaccid musculature or to
      cover muscular defects of the abdominal wall is fully justified even in a time of
      routine use of plastic nets.

PMID- 1440071
TI  - [Is cooling harmful to wounds?].
AB  - An adequate blood supply and stable temperature of the wound are very important
      for the healing process. During healing of a wound we can observe in the
      surrounding area two of rises temperature. The first rise is produced by the
      inflammation in the close vicinity of the wound and its peak is approximately on
      the 5th-10th day after treatment. The second peak can be found locally after 10
      days. It is due to new formation of capillaries and thus a more ample blood
      supply of the wound and an increased tissue metabolism in the area surrounding
      the wound. Algidity affects healing in an adverse manner. The author mentions the
      results of some experiments which provide evidence of the favourable effect of
      stable temperature on wound healing. This can be achieved by adequate dressing
      technique and a correct procedure when changing dressings. Wounds must not remain
      undressed for prolonged periods to avoid drying up and cooling.

PMID- 1440072
TI  - [Complications of mediastinoscopy examinations].
AB  - In 1970-1990 in the Institute of Lung Diseases in Prague a total of 180
      mediastinoscopies were performed. In the submitted paper the authors discuss 169
      of these examinations. In this group 20 examinations were associated with a
      peroperative or postoperative complications, i.e. a total of 12% of the
      examinations. However, only in three patients, i.e. cca 1.8% from the total
      number serious complications were involved which were unequivocally specific for
      mediastinoscopy. In two instances massive haemorrhage occurred from lacerated
      mediastinal vessels associated with superior vena cava syndrome and in one case
      pneumothorax developed. All these complications were controlled by surgical
      intervention made in time. The most frequent complication after mediastinoscopic
      examination was retention of a serohaematoma in the wound--this was recorded 11
      times. The cause of its development is the method of preparation and anatomical
      conditions in the pre- and paratracheal space. The percentage of this
      complication can be reduced by using active drainage of the mediastinum.

PMID- 1440073
TI  - [Evaluation of chemical necrectomy of burns using benzoic acid].
AB  - The author tries to define indication for chemical necretomy. He also discussed
      views regarding the toxicity of benzoic acid and thus attempts to express its use
      quantitatively.

PMID- 1440074
TI  - [Postgraduate education in oncologic surgery].

PMID- 1440075
TI  - [Errors and deficiencies in prehospital care of surgical patients].

PMID- 1440076
TI  - [James Douglas--the name and the man].

PMID- 1440077
TI  - [Adverse events and adverse reactions associated with drugs--important actual
      spontaneous reporting of the drug event].

PMID- 1440078
TI  - [Amyloidosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis after total joint replacement].
AB  - Rheumatoid arthritis patients who had secondary amyloidosis have been studied
      retrospectively. There were eight patients out of 105 rheumatoid arthritis
      patients who had total joint replacement surgery from 1979 to 1990 in our
      institute. The grade of inflammation, renal and hepatic function have been
      compared with the RA patients without amyloidosis pre- and post- operatively. All
      of eight patients was female, and their average age at the diagnosis of
      amyloidosis was 57.8 year-old (range 4-76 year-old). The average preoperative
      period was 14.4 years (range 4-27 years), and the secondary amyloidosis had been
      diagnosed at the time of 3.8 years (range 1-9 years) after operation. The major
      clinical features leading to the diagnosis were gastrointestinal disturbance in
      six cases and renal dysfunction in two cases. The data of the renal function of
      amyloidosis patients showed slightly lower than that of the RA patients without
      amyloidosis, and showed significantly decrease postoperatively. The white blood
      cell (WBC) count was higher at the time of operation in the amyloidosis patients
      and showed continuous increase postoperatively. Lansbury index, alpha 2-globulin
      and WBC count did not improve in the amyloidosis patients during three years
      after operation. On the contrary, the patients without amyloidosis improved in
      these clinical data during the same period. Three amyloidosis patients died of
      renal failure and one died of bronchopneumonia. The average survival period was
      1.8 years (range 1-5 years) after diagnosis of amyloidosis, and was 6.3 years
      (range 2-10 years) after operation in these four patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1440079
TI  - [Reassessment of measurement of anti double-stranded DNA antibodies by Farr's
      assay using double-stranded DNA from E. coli and application of DNA binding
      Activities in high salt solution].
AB  - Farr's assay using double-stranded (ds) DNA from E. coli is a most sensitive and
      specific method for the detection of anti ds-DNA antibodies in patients with
      systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Because of the lack of sufficient DNA
      antigens, however, final antibody titers were hardly determined when the sera
      contained antibodies titered more than 100U/ml (or more than 60 per cent by DNA
      binding activities). In such sera DNA binding activities were measured by using
      ds-DNA tracer adjusted final concentration of NaCl to 125 mM. Higher binding
      activities measured by high-salt tracer are obtained significantly in SLE
      patients groups with nephrotic syndrome, proteinuria, cast, renal failure,
      diffuse proliferative nephritis, low serum complement levels, anemia and/or low
      IgG/IgA levels compared with the patients who lacked these clinical findings. In
      contrast the patients with digital rash or cramp showed significantly lower high
      salt binding activities. The patients with pleuropericarditis tended to have
      lower bindings. The non-lupus patients including MCTD also had lower levels.
      These clinical characteristics could not be evaluated by standard Farr's assay.
      High-salt bindings suggest the presence of high avidity antibodies and also
      partly may mean the high levels of low avidity antibodies. The application of
      high-salt binding activities, thus, is a useful tool for the evaluation of
      clinical characteristics of SLE patients who had high levels of anti ds-DNA
      antibodies by standard Farr's assay.

PMID- 1440080
TI  - [Clinical characteristics and prognosis of secondary amyloidosis in patients with
      rheumatoid arthritis--renal involvement and therapy].
AB  - Secondary amyloidosis is an important complication that may have a strong
      influence on the prognosis of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We studied
      21 RA patients with secondary amyloidosis. The two major initial signs were
      gastrointestinal symptoms and renal involvement. When 15 of the 21 patients were
      diagnosed as having secondary amyloidosis, they displayed renal involvement
      including proteinuria, hematuria and hypercreatininemia. The 15 patients with
      amyloidosis were either subjected to dialysis or died within 35 months on the
      average. The causes of death in 13 patients were cardiac failure,
      gastrointestinal bleeding and infection, which were strongly implicated with
      renal failure. Dialysis was applied to seven patients. Three of them were
      maintained with chronic dialysis. We discussed the induction-time and the method
      of dialysis in patients with amyloidosis secondary to RA.

PMID- 1440081
TI  - [Clinical usefulness of the measurement of type-II procollagen carboxypeptide (C
      II propeptide, pColl-II-C) in synovial fluid as a marker of collagen metabolism
      in cartilage].
AB  - Type-II procollagen-C-peptide (pColl-II-C) in synovial fluids was studied in 319
      patients with osteoarthritis (OA; 151), rheumatoid arthritis (RA; 141), traumatic
      arthritis (TA; 27) and 15 healthy volunteers using the newly developed ELISA kit.
      The mean levels of pColl-II-C in synovial fluids of healthy controls, OA, TA, and
      RA were 0.3 +/- 0.1 ng/ml, 5.9 +/- 0.3 ng/ml, 6.8 +/- 1.4 ng/ml and 1.1 +/- 0.1
      ng/ml, respectively. pColl-II-C levels in synovial fluids of OA and TA were
      significantly higher compared to those of healthy controls and RA. It was also
      demonstrated that pColl-II-C levels could reflect the quantitative and
      qualitative change of cartilage metabolism. Therefore, the quantification of this
      molecule in synovial fluid could be beneficial to know the synthetic activity of
      type II collagen of chondrocytes, since pColl-II-C is a part of the precursor
      molecule of type II collagen.

PMID- 1440082
TI  - [A case of adult onset hypophosphatemic vitamin D resistant osteomalacia].
AB  - A case of adult onset hypophosphatemic vitamin D resistant osteomalacia is
      described. A 40-year-old female who complained of thorax and lumbar pain and gait
      disturbance was admitted to our hospital on 7 November, 1988. The patient had
      hypophosphatemia with normal plasma calcium, parathyroid hormone and 25-hydroxy
      vitamin D3 concentrations, but had decreased tubular reabsorption of phosphate
      and decreased plasma 1, 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 concentrations. The iliac crest
      bone biopsy showed osteomalacic changes. The 99mTc-MDP bone scintigram showed
      evidence of increased bone turnover with raised plasma alkaline phosphatase
      concentrations. After treatment with oral 1 alpha-hydroxy vitamin D3 (3-6
      micrograms/day) and intravenous or oral phosphate supplement (0.47-1.74g/day),
      the subjective and clinical findings improved.

PMID- 1440083
TI  - [A case of late-onset SLE complicated with EDTA-dependent
      pseudothrombocytopenia].
AB  - A 57-year-old man was admitted to our clinic with complaints of proximal myalgia
      in extremities. He was diagnosed as late-onset SLE based on the findings of
      pleuritis, pericarditis, arthritis and antibodies to DNA and cardiolipin.
      Aggregation of the platelets and the decreased counts of platelets were observed
      when EDTA was used as anticoagulant for the blood tests. However, the platelet
      aggregation was not noted with normal counts of platelets when Heparin
      Theophylline was used as anticoagulant. From this observation, EDTA-dependent
      pseudothrombocytopenia was diagnosed and IgM class of EDTA-dependent anti
      platelet antibody was detected by means of flow cytometry. Administration of
      prednisolone at 40mg/day reduced the symptoms and EDTA-dependent
      pseudothrombocytopenia, and EDTA-dependent anti-platelet antibody disappeared.
      His clinical course suggested that EDTA-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia was
      closely associated with the disease activity of SLE.

PMID- 1440084
TI  - [Gold-induced severe cholestatic jaundice in rheumatoid arthritis patient and
      effect of repeated steroid pulse therapy].
AB  - A 32-year-old female with early stage of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) developed
      anorexia, pruritus, dark urine, pale stool and jaundice 3 weeks after initiation
      of chrysotherapy. She was administered a total of 35mg of gold sodium thiomalate
      (GST) intramuscularly and auranofin 6mg per day orally. Liver function tests and
      biopsy specimens showed severe cholestatic jaundice. Prednisolone 30mg per day
      and plasma exchange were started. No response however was obtained and the total
      bilirubin level gradually increased. Steroid pulse therapy, 1000mg
      methylprednisolone for successive 3 days as one therapy unit, was repeated 4
      times. Liver functions were then gradually improved. Gold induced hepatotoxicity
      is a rare complication. We concluded that the hepatotoxicity in this case was
      caused by allergic reaction against GST and repeated steroid pulse therapy was
      very effective to these conditions.

PMID- 1440085
TI  - [A case of rheumatoid arthritis complicated with pseudotumor around odontoid
      process successfully treated by methotrexate].
AB  - A 69-year-old-female with a history of rheumatoid arthritis since 1975 had
      suffered from dysesthesia of extremities since October 1989. Radiating pain and
      weakness occurred when she tried to stand up on Dec. 25 in 1989. She was admitted
      to our hospital in October 1990. Physical examination showed emaciation,
      hypesthesia of extremities, hypesthesia over the right chest and back, impaired
      vibration and position sense, and hyperreflexia. Laboratory findings revealed
      that the erythrocyte sedimentation rate was elevated to 46mm/hr, rheumatoid
      factor (RF) to 83.1IU/ml and CRP to 3.7mg/dl. Her blood sugar was high and she
      was diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus. Cervical X ray film showed atlanto
      axial subluxation. A pseudotumor around the odontoid process bulging into the
      spinal canal and compression of the upper cervical cord was observed by MRI. In
      spite of administration of bucillamine (100mg/day), the size of pseudotumor did
      not change. Methotrexate (MTX) at a dose of 5mg/week was started in February 1991
      and the pseudotumor decreased in size with a concurrent reduction of ESR, RF and
      CRP. However, the high intensity lesion by T2 weighed image did not change and
      dysesthesia persisted. The pseudotumor was thought to be due to pannus and it was
      revealed that MTX was effective for reduction. The persistent dysesthesia was
      probably due to the degeneration of the upper cervical cord, although diabetic
      neuropathy may also have played a role.

PMID- 1440086
TI  - [An autopsied case of progressive systemic sclerosis with anti Wa antibody who
      showed a rapid progression].
AB  - An anti Wa antibody was reported as a new t-RNA related protein antibody in 1986.
      This autoantibody is now considered specific for the diagnosis of progressive
      systemic sclerosis (PSS). Up to date only 5 cases with anti Wa antibody have been
      identified. We report here an autopsied case of PSS with this antibody. A 53
      years old female was admitted to our hospital because of dry cough and dyspnea in
      Sep 1987. There were fine crackles and chest X ray revealed interstitial
      pneumonia. The progressive respiratory failure was treated by steroid pulse
      therapy effectively. Sclerotic skin changes of hand began to appear in Sep 1988
      and rapidly progressed to arms, chest and forehead by Dec 1988. A skin biopsy
      confirmed PSS changes. An anti Wa antibody was detected by double immunodiffusion
      and the protein antigen was associated with t-RNA when immunoprecipitation was
      conducted. She died of heart failure in July 1989. An autopsy revealed the
      diffuse fibrotic change of the heart and the lung. Cases with anti Wa antibody
      were shortly reviewed from the literature.

PMID- 1440087
TI  - [A systemic lupus erythematosus patient with multiple aseptic bone necroses,
      thrombosis of superior mesenteric artery and anti-phospholipid antibody].
AB  - A 38 year old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was admitted because
      of epigastralgia and fever. The diagnosis of SLE was made 22 years ago based on
      Raynaud's phenomenon, butterfly rash, hair loss, photosensitivity and positive
      antinuclear antibody. She had episodes of consciousness disturbance, transient
      visual disturbance of the left eye, and a necrosis of the left big toe. She
      underwent artificial arthroplasty of bilateral femoral heads 11 years ago, when
      multiple aseptic necroses of thirteen bones were found, and when anti-cardiolipin
      (CL) antibody was found to be positive. An echogram of abdomen suggested an
      obstruction of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) when she was admitted. Selective
      angiography revealed a complete obstruction of SMA and splenic artery, and
      incomplete obstruction of celiac artery. Conservative treatment with urokinase
      infusion and prednisolone 50 mg/day was not effective, and small intestine and
      right colon were resected on the 23rd hospital day. The pathological examination
      showed thrombosis of SMA. There was no evidence of arteritis or atherosclerosis.
      Anti-CL antibody and lupus anticoagulant were positive on admission, but the
      level of both anti-DNA antibody and complement was normal. Therefore, it was
      suggested that the thrombosis was related with anti-phospholipid antibody. The
      characteristic clinical feature were multiple aseptic bone necroses and
      thromboses of several arteries. We discussed the relationship of thrombosis and
      the etiology of multiple bone necrosis in this case with anti-phospholipid
      antibody.

PMID- 1440088
TI  - [Tubulo-interstitial nephritis (TIN) with no glomerular lesions, distal renal
      tubular acidosis and asteatosis cutis in a patient with systemic lupus
      erythematosus (SLE): a case report].
AB  - We report a 28-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who showed
      tubulo-interstitial nephritis (TIN) without any glomerular changes. In 1990, she
      was admitted to our hospital, complaining of anorexia, vomiting and persistent
      high fever. Laboratory findings showed proteinuria, pancytopenia,
      hypocomplementemia and positive for antinuclear antibody, anti-DNA antibody, anti
      Sm antibody, anti-SSA antibody and anti-SSB antibody. We made a diagnosis of SLE.
      Furthermore, distal renal tubular acidosis and asteatosis cutis were revealed.
      The diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome was not made. We treated with high-dose
      prednisolone (60mg/day) and achieved improvement of symptoms and laboratory data.
      Open renal biopsy showed TIN without any glomerular changes. Predominant TIN is
      very rare in SLE. We discussed its pathogenesis and relation to the renal lesions
      of Sjogren's syndrome.

PMID- 1440089
TI  - [A case of rheumatoid arthritis associated with progressive systemic sclerosis
      and primary biliary cirrhosis in the presence of various autoantibodies].
AB  - The patient (a 49 year-old, female) had been diagnosed in Apr. 1987 as having
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA) following the history as chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis
      for 4 years. Progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) and primary biliary cirrhosis
      (PBC) were also defined on 1989 in the same patient mainly due to proximal
      scleroderma and histological findings of liver biopsy. On the other hand, the
      coexistence of rheumatoid factor, anti-Scl-70 antibody, anti-mitochondrial
      antibody (anti-MC, anti-MD and an unidentified fraction) and anti-centromere
      antibody have been observed with marked polyclonal hypergammopathy in her sera
      since July 1990. Her disease activity has been controlled well with the
      administration of D-penicillamine and ursodeoxycholic acid during recent clinical
      course. Few cases of RA associated with PSS and PBC, showing various
      autoantibodies as a disease marker in sera, have been reported. In order to
      evaluate the mechanisms of autoimmune disease especially chain reaction of
      autoimmunity, it should be important to accumulate the reports concerning such
      cases.

PMID- 1440090
TI  - [Mechanisms of the production of anti-DNA auto antibodies].

PMID- 1440091
TI  - [Hemostasis screening in the emergency laboratory].
AB  - PURPOSE: While automation of laboratories is of great value for analysts, as it
      makes technical work easier, and for clinicians, as the results are available in
      a shorter time, the requests increase strikingly bringing about higher costs. The
      emergency laboratory is an example of what happens in the general laboratory. In
      order to make an estimate of this subject, the haemostasis screening was chosen
      since it is a recently automated technique in that laboratory, attention being
      paid to the aim and indication of the screening and its economical burden.
      MATERIAL AND METHODS: A study of the haemostasis screening performed during July
      1990 was carried out of considering the 24 hours per day work. The requests were
      classified, in accordance with their indication, as diagnostic, pre-surgical,
      therapeutic or unknown; the justification and purpose of those requests was also
      examined. RESULTS: The total number of studies performed in that month was 1,273,
      with a daily mean of 41, as opposed to 2,095 performed in the haemostasis
      laboratory in the same period. According to the American Medical Association
      criteria only 48% of the requests could be warranted, and abnormal findings
      appeared in only 10% of them. CONCLUSIONS: The cost per isolated parameter is
      low, but it increases greatly when compared with the benefit that it reports to
      the patient because, as those biological tests indirectly measure the
      concentration of clotting factors, they are subjected to error when performed by
      non-specialized personnel; on the other hand, the most valuable information for
      detecting haemorrhagic troubles comes from the patient's history. The economical
      burden in the month studied amounted to 985,879 PTA; one year later, the same
      laboratory, in the same month, had a 50% increase of studies.

PMID- 1440092
TI  - [Antithrombin III: its prognostic value in acute pancreatitis].
AB  - PURPOSE: Antithrombin III (AT-III) activity was studied in relation to the
      seriousness of a series of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). The aim of this
      study was to determine whether AT-III can be a prognostic factor for early
      detection of negative evolution on these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: AT-III
      was determined on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 21 after admission and weekly until
      discharge in 28 consecutive patients with AP, admitted in our hospital during a
      period of six months. The patients were 13 males and 15 females, with a mean age
      of 57 years (range 32 to 82). Fifteen AP were serious and 13 were not. RESULTS:
      AT-III levels under 80% of activity were found up to the 10th day in serious AP,
      turning back to normality from this day. In nonserious AP, AT-III remained within
      normal levels. This different evolution between both kinds of AP was
      statistically significant (p less than 0.05) during the first seven days, and
      became more evident in patients with fatal evolution (p less than 0.001). After
      grouping the lower levels of AT-III observed during the first 48 hours with those
      detected at the end of the first week, and introducing a cut off value of AT-III
      under 70% of activity, serious and nonserious AP presented predictive indexes of
      67 and 70% respectively. Every deceased patients had, at admission and at the end
      of the first week, average levels of AT-III under 70%. CONCLUSION: We conclude
      that determination of AT-III levels is a good prognostic factor to differentiate
      between serious and nonserious AP, especially during the first week of illness.

PMID- 1440093
TI  - [Progression to AIDS among HIV-seropositive hemophiliacs].
AB  - PURPOSE: To assess the incidence of AIDS, along with its origin and mortality
      rate, in a group of sero-positive haemophiliacs with long follow-up. MATERIAL AND
      METHODS: The progression into AIDS in 94 HIV-seropositive haemophiliacs (88 with
      haemophilia A and 6 with haemophilia B) followed since 1986 has been analyzed.
      The mean age was 19 years and 64% of the patients had severe haemophilia. All of
      them had been previously treated with non virus-inactivated factor concentrates.
      Was detected HIV antigen in 13 of them and 32 were treated with zidovudine.
      Actuarial analysis started from seroconversion date or from the first positive
      result and the average observation time was 90 months (5-97). RESULTS: Sixteen
      patients developed AIDS, resulting in an eight-years accumulative actuarial
      indice of about 24%. AIDS incidence was lower (p less than 0.0001) in haemophilia
      A (21%) than in haemophilia B (67%). The eight-years progression rate to AIDS
      showed a significant dependence on patient age, it being higher in patients aged
      greater than 30 (77%) than in those aged 15-30 (30%) and less than 15 (9%).
      Patients who presented CD4+ counts lower than 0.5 x 10(9)/L or CD4/CD8 ratios
      lower than 0.5 at the beginning of the observation period had a greater 8-year
      AIDS incidence (63% and 57% respectively) than the remaining patients (16% and
      12%). At AIDS diagnosis, all patients had CD4+ lymphocyte counts lower than 0.2 x
      10(9)/L, two had detectable HIV antigenaemia and six had been previously treated
      with zidovudine. The cause of AIDS was an opportunistic infection in all the
      cases namely, P. carinii pneumonia and candidiasis, but no secondary neoplasia
      was registered. Nineteen patients died during the follow-up, 12 because of AIDS
      and 7 because of other reasons unrelated to HIV-infection. CONCLUSION: Our
      results suggest that 25% of the haemophiliacs will develop AIDS eight years after
      seroconversion, and a decreasing incidence is not observed. Lower progression
      rate to AIDS in children than in adults is confirmed.

PMID- 1440094
TI  - [Utility of the examination of plasma-cell morphology in the study of multiple
      myeloma].
AB  - PURPOSE: To assess the classification of Greipp et al in a group of multiple
      myeloma (MM) patients, in an attempt to correlate the morphological patterns with
      the clinico-biological features of the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Bone marrow
      aspirates from 135 patients with multiple myeloma were examined by two different
      observers. RESULTS: Full accordance existed in 122 cases (90%). The four
      morphological MM subgroup distribution was: mature, 38%; intermediate, 30%;
      immature, 18%, and plasmoblastic, 14%. The analysis of the M component types with
      regard to morphology showed increased IgA cases within the intermediate (40%) and
      immature (48%) MM (p = 0.01), and Bence-Jones cases within the plasmoblastic MM
      (32%). On the contrary, no differences were found with regard to the clinical
      stage, although none of the plasmoblastic MM was in stage I. The incidence of
      renal insufficiency and of high bone-marrow infiltration progressively increased
      from mature to plasmoblastic MM, the difference between the extreme morphological
      groups being significant. The incidence of hypercalcaemia and lower paraprotein
      rates was higher in plasmoblastic myeloma, with significant difference with
      respect to mature myeloma (p = 0.05). The median survival was longer in
      intermediate (27.8 months) and mature (22.5 months) myelomas than in
      plasmoblastic (17.9 months) and immature (13.6 months) myelomas. After grouping
      the mature forms (intermediate plus mature) and the immature ones (plasmoblastic
      plus immature) the survival differences approached statistical significance (p =
      0.07). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the morphological examination of
      plasma cells should be included in the prognostic criteria of multiple myeloma.

PMID- 1440095
TI  - [Initial dosage of vancomycin in neutropenic hematologic patients].
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the percentage of neutropenic patients who reach the
      therapeutic threshold when vancomycin is given at standard initial doses of 500
      mg/6 hr, and to assess the creatinine clearance and body vancomycin clearance in
      such patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed on 37 haematological
      patients with normal renal function. They received intravenous vancomycin at an
      initial 500 mg/6 hr doses. The plasma concentration of the drug was assessed 48
      72 hr later, pharmacokinetic parameters being calculated. Creatinine clearance
      was estimated by two different methods. RESULTS: The concentration attained was
      beyond the therapeutic threshold in 100% of the patients. The correlations
      between vancomycin and creatinine clearance were r = 0.42 and r = 0.47 when the
      Cockroft-Gault's and the Jellife's methods, respectively, were used.
      Administration of vancomycin at initial doses of 500 mg/6 hr renders a very high
      percentage of patients with plasma concentration of the drug beyond the
      therapeutic margin. CONCLUSIONS: 1) The poor correlation between creatinine and
      vancomycin clearance in the patients with normal renal function does not allow
      using nomograms based on such values for estimation of the initial doses. 2) The
      estimation of initial doses based on the patient's weight (20-25 mg/kg) may
      render a higher percentage of patients with therapeutic concentrations from the
      beginning of treatment. The maintenance doses can be adjusted at 48-72 hr, after
      measuring the plasma concentrations. 3) Therefore, it seems advisable to perform
      further clinical assays on different groups in order to verify an increase of the
      drug's efficacy with no higher toxicity when the initial vancomycin doses is
      adjusted according to the patient's weight, as recommended here.

PMID- 1440096
TI  - [Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and aging].
AB  - The rates of SOD in the Spanish population have been studied in an attempt to
      correlate them with aging. The study was comprised of 94 healthy blood donors
      with ages between 58 and 65 years. The findings were compared with those of 2,297
      healthy normal subjects previously reported. The method of Miami and Yoshikawa
      was judged the technique of choice for a population study. The SOD levels found
      were 4.04 +/- 0.83 U/mL. Individuals from rural areas had values of 3.09 +/- 1.31
      (p = 0.01), whereas subjects from urban environment showed values of 4.20 +/-
      0.97 (p: ns). These figures, in the Spanish population as a whole, were 4.16 +/-
      0.89, 3.81 +/- 0.9 and 4.22 +/- 0.97, respectively. The SOD rates in blood donors
      aged 58-65 years from the rural environment are significantly lower than those os
      their urban counterparts. The levels in this age-group are significantly lower
      than those of the general population. These findings suggest that increased SOD
      activity in the urban areas could result from a better protective mechanism with
      regard to higher concentrations of superoxide radicals which other would achieve
      toxic effects.

PMID- 1440097
TI  - [Severe hemolytic anemia caused by anti-AB in renal transplantation with minor
      ABO incompatibility].
AB  - A 54 year-old woman subjected to renal transplant with minor ABO incompatibility
      developed clinically severe anti-AB haemolytic anaemia. On the 13th day after
      transplantation the patient had: haemoglobin, 7.5 g/dL, unconjugated bilirubin,
      393 mumol/L (23 mg/dL), and undetectable haptoglobin levels. Positive direct
      antihuman globulin test was found, and an IgG antibody capable of binding
      complement and with anti-AB specificity was found upon studying the eluate.
      Immunosuppressive therapy improved the clinical picture, although antibodies
      could still be detected one month later. Clinically significant immune haemolysis
      after renal transplantation appears in about 10-15% of those cases having
      antibodies against the host's antigens. The peak red-cell destruction is seen one
      to two weeks after grafting, and haemolytic signs may last for about three weeks.
      Although self-limited, this condition may achieve high severity. The duration and
      severity of haemolysis depend upon the density of antigen sites on the surface of
      the host's red-cells, his secretor trait, the presence or absence of complement
      activation and the immunosuppressive therapy including cyclosporin. Several cases
      of anti-A and anti-B specificity have been reported, but anti-AB specificity had
      not been previously found; this fact is probably related to the scarce interest
      paid to its search thus far.

PMID- 1440098
TI  - [Kikuchi-Fujimoto necrotizing lymphadenitis associated with brucellosis].
AB  - A 22 year-old woman was referred to the hospital for treatment after being
      diagnosed of Hodgkin's disease, established by lymph node biopsy. She complained
      of fever and sweats, and no lymph node enlargement or visceromegaly could be
      appreciated. Kikuchi's necrotising lymphadenitis was diagnosed after reviewing
      the lymph node specimen. The microbiological and serologic tests performed showed
      the existence of brucellosis. The clinical symptoms easily disappeared after
      treatment with streptomycin and doxycycline and she has been well, with no other
      symptoms or lymph node enlargement, after one year of follow-up. Kikuchi's
      disease is usually associated with different infections, although it had never
      been reported in association with brucellosis. This picture can easily be
      mistaken as malignant lymphoma or Hodgkin's disease.

PMID- 1440099
TI  - [Hodgkin's disease. Recurrence after 16 years' continuous remission].

PMID- 1440100
TI  - [Chronic myeloid leukemia with progression to polycythemia vera].

PMID- 1440101
TI  - [Iron deficiency and catecholamines in women].

PMID- 1440102
TI  - [Late post-transfusional hemolysis caused by anti-Kidd-b].

PMID- 1440103
TI  - [Meningeal myelomatosis].

PMID- 1440104
TI  - [Autoantibodies in hemophilia: consequence of HIV-1 infection and/or cofactors in
      the development of the infection?].

PMID- 1440105
TI  - Professional and family collaboration in case management: a hospital-based
      replication of a community-based study.
AB  - This paper presents the results of research on a program that trains family
      members to serve as case managers for their elderly relatives. The effectiveness
      of the training program was evaluated using a randomized experimental design.
      Data were collected in an urban hospital setting about two groups of elderly
      patients: those with dementia and those needing hemodialysis. Family members of
      both types of patients were assigned randomly to an experimental group, which
      received systematic training in performing case management activities, or to a
      control group, which received only the services ordinarily provided by the
      hospital social work department. Post-test comparisons revealed that the
      experimental group family members performed significantly more case management
      tasks on behalf of their elderly relatives than did family members in the control
      group. Although trained family members assumed more responsibility for case
      management, there was no increase in the level of their subjective or objective
      caregiving burden. Implications for social work practice are presented.

PMID- 1440106
TI  - Improving access to health care: case management for vulnerable children.
AB  - Health care providers are being confronted by a change in childhood morbidity
      from primarily physical problems to complex problems rooted in the social,
      family, and environmental conditions that accompany persistent urban poverty. The
      clustering of multiple problems in one family necessitates redefining preventive
      and treatment strategies. Yet the lack of coordination among federal, state and
      local service programs often exacerbates the vulnerability of these beleaguered
      children and families. Therapeutic case management is a powerful service
      coordination strategy for increasing access and improving the health of
      vulnerable children. An ongoing evaluation of one case management model at the
      Center for the Vulnerable Child at Children's Hospital in Oakland, California is
      described in this article. Process evaluation data show this model to be
      effective in improving comprehensiveness and continuity of care among
      participating families.

PMID- 1440107
TI  - Reducing older patients' reliance on the emergency department.
AB  - Older adults tend to avoid mental health services and rely on hospital emergency
      departments for medicalization of these conditions. An intervention was designed
      for use in emergency departments to refer older adult patients with mental and
      social health problems to appropriate services within the hospital and community.
      Most of the patients in the study used the services to which they were referred;
      further, the intervention was found to decrease repeat utilization of the
      emergency department. Social work practice and policy implications of the
      findings are also discussed.

PMID- 1440108
TI  - Hospitals and school districts: creating a partnership for child protection
      services.
AB  - This article reports the initiation of a joint hospital-school district child
      protection committee in an urban setting of socio-economic blight. The committee
      provided a structure for consultation about troubling, complex situations of
      school children at high risk for physical and sexual abuse and medical neglect.

PMID- 1440109
TI  - Patient psychoeducation: the therapeutic use of knowledge for the mentally ill.
AB  - Psychoeducation has been used successfully with families of patients with
      psychiatric illness for over the past two decades. Modifying this model for use
      with mentally ill patients has demonstrated to both patients and staff the
      positive impact that knowledge can have on patients' functioning and attitudes.
      The model described has three objectives: (1) to impart information about
      psychiatric illness, medication and treatment regimens as a way of increasing
      patients' understanding, (2) to provide a forum which facilitates the integration
      of this information through group discussions with other patients and (3) to
      teach and model some specific management skills for patients as they deal with
      their illnesses.

PMID- 1440110
TI  - Treating women incest survivors: a bridge between "cumulative trauma" and "post
      traumatic stress".
AB  - While the concept of traumatic stress plays an intrinsic part in the diagnosis
      and treatment of adult incest survivors, the developmental framework within which
      the victimization has occurred may be overlooked. This paper presents a treatment
      model that integrates theories of post-traumatic stress and early environmental
      trauma. A profile of women incest survivors is given and an overview of treatment
      strategies utilizing the above theories is discussed.

PMID- 1440111
TI  - AIDS and social work: a decade later.

PMID- 1440112
TI  - Working with denial: a critical aspect in AIDS risk intervention.
AB  - Denial as a defense against anxiety can block the effectiveness of education and
      confrontation in work with clients manifesting AIDS risk behavior. The mechanism
      of denial is explored with reference to its role in supporting sexual acting out
      of unconscious conflicts. Clinical illustrations demonstrate the importance of
      work with denial as a prestage to effective AIDS risk intervention. Work with
      heterosexual and homosexual men and women is cited.

PMID- 1440113
TI  - Obstacles to effective case management with AIDS patients: the clinician's
      perspective.
AB  - A social work clinician filled the role of case manager with multiple functions
      of discharge planner, client advocate, counsellor and educator in her work with a
      young male AIDS patient and his family. Material from this case is used to
      illustrate seven problem areas identified as obstacles to effective case
      management: (1) The stigma of AIDS and homosexuality (2) Lack of adequate family
      support (3) Impact of AIDS dementia (4) Ethical dilemmas in discharge planning
      (5) Conflicts in the advocacy process (6) Lack of adequate resources and (7)
      Countertransference issues. Clinical observations are integrated with the
      existing social work literature which focuses on providing services to AIDS
      patients.

PMID- 1440114
TI  - Latinos and HIV disease: issues, practice and policy implications.
AB  - This paper examines critical issues faced by Latino PWAs and offers suggestions
      for meeting the needs for community support and care of Latino PWAs and their
      families. As HIV disease is shifting increasingly to minority communities, social
      workers need to consider new approaches to developing community care. Drawing on
      the strengths and informal support networks of the Latino community, the authors
      suggest ways in which these strengths can form the basis of service strategies
      that will effectively meet the needs of Latino PWAs.

PMID- 1440115
TI  - Development of an instrument to measure volunteer's motivation in working with
      people with AIDS.
AB  - A scale, "Attitude Towards Volunteer Motivation," was developed to measure
      motivation of volunteers who work with people with AIDS (PWAs). Fifty five
      questions were initially determined to have content validity. They were then
      administered to a random sample of youth services volunteers (n = 150) and
      members of an AIDS volunteer organization (n = 247). Results of factor analysis
      produced five subscales. Reliability of the constructed scale was established. It
      was correlated with a theoretically related scale to establish construct
      validity. Results of this initial research are promising and suggest further
      testing of the instrument.

PMID- 1440116
TI  - Hospital boarder babies and their families: an exploratory study.
AB  - Data were abstracted from the medical and social work charts of 20 newborns who
      were classified as boarder babies and their mothers (N = 18) to identify bio
      psycho-social factors associated with boarding. The findings show that the
      mothers whose newborns remained in the hospital as boarders were usually drug
      users, had other children in out-of-home placement, and over half are
      periodically homeless. Most of these mothers also lacked informal social support.
      The major health problems of infants were prematurity and associated infections.
      The total number of infant boarding days was 195 for a total of $117,000 in
      unreimbursed costs to the hospital. Practice and program implications and
      directions for future research are discussed.

PMID- 1440117
TI  - Lessons in caring: how social work integrates psychosocial values into family
      practice residency training in Israel.
AB  - This paper presents a model of social work consultation to family practice
      physicians in two locations in Israel, a kibbutz and an urban family practice
      medical center. When residents learned to identify and understand how
      psychosocial factors interact to enhance or impair the physician-patient
      encounter, they experienced improved quality in their relationships and practice.
      Physicians learned how the identification of needs can enhance their comfort and
      effectiveness with patients and how an appropriately made referral to a mental
      health professional is seen as an act of caring.

PMID- 1440118
TI  - Efficacy of chlorhexidine swabbing in oral health care for people with severe
      disabilities.
AB  - Chlorhexidine is effective when used as an oral rinse, but many disabled people
      cannot use such a protocol. A double-blind cross-over study tested the efficacy
      of applying chlorhexidine with a sponge-swab, in a sample of 76 severely disabled
      adults, drawn from diverse rehabilitation settings. Two randomly assigned groups
      applied 10 mL 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate (Peridex, Procter & Gamble) or 10 mL
      placebo, using a "Toothette" (Halbrand) once daily, 5 times per week for 10
      weeks. All subjects received 10 mL 0.05% NaF, applied similarly but separately
      from the test/placebo agent. Pre- and post-trial measures included perceived
      level of function and oral status, that is, DMFS, plaque, calculus, pocket depth,
      and tooth stain. The protocol received high levels of compliance and acceptance.
      Compared with placebo, swabbing with chlorhexidine resulted in consistent, and,
      in part, significant improvements in plaque, gingivitis, and periodontal pocket
      depth. Side effects of chlorhexidine, that is, tooth stain and calculus, were
      relatively minor. Perceived improvements in dental health were associated with
      improved physical health, appearance, and mouth odor. The results indicate that
      chlorhexidine swabbing is a useful oral disease preventive protocol for persons
      with disability.

PMID- 1440119
TI  - Dental care in psychiatric hospitals in The Netherlands.
AB  - This study determined the method of organization of dental care in psychiatric
      hospitals in the Netherlands, investigated patients' dental problems, and
      examined hospital nurses' role in prevention and diagnosis of dental problems. A
      bad oral condition, bad oral hygiene, and badly fitting dentures were the
      problems most frequently noticed. If the patients neglected brushing their teeth,
      70% of the nurses interviewed never took over, 20% sometimes did, and 8% always
      did. It was concluded that, although most psychiatric hospitals had their own
      dental clinic or alternative dental facilities, adequate dental care had not yet
      been realized everywhere. The role of the nursing staff in preventing and
      diagnosing dental disease can further be strengthened.

PMID- 1440120
TI  - Attitudes of older versus younger adults toward dentistry and dentists.
AB  - A total of 416 adults were interviewed by telephone to gauge their attitudes
      toward dentistry and dentists. Attitudes of those age 55 and older were compared
      with those younger than age 55. It was found that 72% of those 55 and older had
      not visited a dentist in the previous 2 years because they felt it was not
      necessary; 38.5% of respondents younger than 55 gave this reason. Only 15% of
      those 55 and older reported that high costs kept them away from the dentist.

PMID- 1440121
TI  - Effect of medical status on dental procedure time.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine if treatment of medically compromised
      patients requires more time than that of healthy patients. The time taken to
      complete diagnostic and manipulative procedures was studied and compared for both
      groups. After an evaluation of 160 procedures on 108 patients, it was determined
      that no differences existed in the time taken to complete technical procedures
      between the two groups. However, the diagnostic and evaluation phase for
      moderately to severely compromised patients required twice as much time as that
      of healthy individuals.

PMID- 1440122
TI  - Sociodemographics of homebound people in Kentucky.
AB  - In this report, selected results are presented from the 1987 Kentucky Oral Health
      Survey, which acquired statewide data on the oral health status and practices of
      the noninstitutionalized population of Kentucky. In the 1987 epidemiological
      survey, information about persons who were homebound was also gathered through
      telephone and in-person interviews. The results of that survey provided a
      relatively accurate estimate of the number of persons homebound in the state of
      Kentucky. Although the majority of this population was older than age 60, almost
      21% were between the ages of 35 and 59. Household income for persons who are
      homebound and the amount of money spent on dental care is significantly less than
      in households not reporting the presence of a person who is homebound. These
      findings provide baseline data for dentists and health planners interested in
      serving this population. Also, this data is pertinent to the formation of health
      policies to create accessible, affordable care for this growing segment of the
      population.

PMID- 1440123
TI  - Suspected inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone in a male with mental
      retardation.
AB  - The syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) is a
      disorder in which a sustained release of antidiuretic hormone occurs because of
      certain diseases, pharmacological agents, or trauma. Fluid volume expands with a
      resultant hyponatremia which, depending on the degree, may be asymptomatic or
      result in death. This case report describes a 38-year-old male in whom SIADH was
      strongly suspected secondary to Tegretol therapy to control a seizure disorder.
      Medical consultation is imperative for these patients before administering a
      fluid challenge during general anesthesia.

PMID- 1440124
TI  - A modified light-cured denture identification technique.
AB  - Removable dental prostheses are lost frequently or stolen in nursing homes.
      Dental personnel may not be routinely available to many nursing home residents to
      place identification labels, and nursing staff members are not trained to use
      traditional denture marking techniques. This article describes a modified simple
      marking technique that may be used by either dental personnel or nursing staff
      members. Using ordinary sandpaper, lead pencil or ball pen, art and craft brush,
      direct light, and a mono-poly sealer of 1 part heat-cured clear
      methylmethacrylate powder mixed with 10 parts of autopolymerizing clear
      orthodontic methylmethacrylate liquid, 26 dentures were labeled for 19 nursing
      home residents. The technique was quick, cheap, easily applied, nonirritating to
      mouth tissues, and permanent.

PMID- 1440125
TI  - Perioperative hemodynamic changes in ischemic heart disease patients undergoing
      dental treatment.
AB  - Twenty patients with stable ischemic heart disease in functional capacity Class
      II-IV underwent dental treatment. Scaling was performed in seven patients without
      local anesthesia. In the remaining 13 patients, pain control for restoration
      placement was obtained by local anesthesia: in seven patients, the anesthetics
      contained epinephrine, while in six this drug was omitted. Heart rate, blood
      pressure, and electrocardiograph were continuously monitored during the dental
      session. All patients had elevated systolic blood pressure and rate pressure
      product during treatment. In the patients who received plain local anesthetics
      only, the elevation in systolic blood and rate pressures was, however,
      significantly lower than the ischemic threshold. Arrhythmia or ST segment
      depression of > or = 1 millimeter were not recorded in any of the subjects. In
      severely compromised ischemic heart disease patients undergoing routine dental
      procedures of limited chair time, plain local anesthesia seems to be the
      preferred analgesic modality.

PMID- 1440126
TI  - The lack of efficacy of a foam brush in maintaining gingival health: a controlled
      study.
AB  - Foam brushes have been used in the oral care of hospitalized patients for many
      years. However, no controlled study of their efficacy has been conducted. A
      randomized crossover study, comparing the effectiveness of a foam brush with that
      of a toothbrush, was carried out. The gingival condition and presence of plaque
      in the mouths of 29 volunteers were followed. It was shown that a toothbrush was
      more effective in controlling plaque levels and gingivitis.

PMID- 1440127
TI  - Pharmacotherapy in the geriatric population.
AB  - The geriatric population constitutes the largest group of consumers of
      medications in this country. Changes in the pharmacokinetic response to
      medications of this population are less predictable than in younger age groups,
      thereby resulting in adverse reactions and drug interactions in multidrug users.
      Dentists need to be aware of these changes as well as alterations in therapeutic
      responses to the medications most commonly used in dental treatment: sedatives,
      local anesthetics, analgesics, and antibiotics.

PMID- 1440128
TI  - A dentist's social responsibility to diagnose elder abuse.
AB  - Because of the high prevalence of dental disease and consequent need for dental
      care in the elderly, dentists are in frequent contact with the elderly, thus
      providing an opportunity for realizing their social obligation to become more
      involved in diagnosing and reducing elder abuse. Current estimates of the
      incidence of elder abuse in the US indicate that nearly 10% of the elderly
      population is affected, and this incidence rate is steadily increasing. Problems
      of vague definitions regarding abuse, elusiveness of the problem, and limited
      interest on the part of health care professionals may have deterred dentists from
      more involvement in the past. Apathy, tunnel vision, and vested interests of
      dental professionals may also contribute to the poor oral health of the elderly
      and consequently decrease the elders' quality of life. However, by developing a
      clear understanding of possible etiologies and by knowing physical and behavioral
      indicators of abuse, dentists can better fulfill their moral and social
      obligations and greatly reduce the incidence of elder abuse.

PMID- 1440129
TI  - Effects of hyposalivatory medications on saliva flow rates and dental caries in
      adults aged 65 and older.
AB  - Institutionalized adults aged 65 or older often receive medications that have
      been associated with decreased saliva flow. Flow rates depressed by
      hyposalivatory medications are thought to increase susceptibility to dental
      caries. In this study, a cross-sectional comparison was made of stimulated whole
      saliva rates and coronal and root caries prevalence in a group of older adults,
      in a long-term care facility, taking hyposalivatory medications vs. a control
      group. No significant differences were found between the two groups in
      masticatory or gustatory stimulated flow rates or in mean decayed coronal or root
      surfaces.

PMID- 1440130
TI  - The use of vacuum-molded polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene copolymer (PVAC.PE) for a
      handicapped patient.
AB  - This paper provides a survey of recent literature on the use of mouth sticks for
      patients who have little or no use of their limbs. Criteria for mouth stick
      design, types of appliances, and the fabrication of such devices are described.
      Details are given of a case of a young child with arthrogryposis multiplex
      congenita, in whom a novel approach was used to allow the safe intra-oral
      retention of writing implements.

PMID- 1440131
TI  - Erythema multiforme: a literature review and case report.
AB  - Erythema multiforme is a florid mucocutaneous disease characterized by oral,
      cutaneous, and ocular manifestations. The cutaneous lesions are pathognomonic
      because of their unique "target-like" appearance. A severe form of EM has been
      termed "Stevens-Johnson Syndrome". Although the etiology of EM is unknown, much
      of the research suggests an immunological association with HSV. The diagnosis of
      EM is based on signs and symptoms, and a differential diagnosis should include
      other ulcerative, mucocutaneous diseases, such as erosive lichen planus,
      pemphigus, varicella zoster, ANUG, TEN, aphthous stomatitis, and primary HSV.
      Therapeutic measures are palliative, including a soft bland diet, topical
      anesthetics, and corticosteroids. A case of EM is described which underscores the
      appearance of the disease and its clinical course.

PMID- 1440132
TI  - Surgical management of a patient with cleidocranial dysplasia: a case report.
AB  - Cleidocranial dysplasia is associated with the formation of many supernumerary
      teeth which usually fail to erupt. In later life, cysts may form around the
      embedded teeth. The following report describes the management of such a case with
      a method which promotes satisfactory prosthodontic rehabilitation.

PMID- 1440133
TI  - Streptococcus mutans, lactobacilli, and caries experience in older adults.
AB  - This study investigated salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans, lactobacilli,
      and caries experience in a random sample of 448 black and 362 white older dentate
      adults living in North Carolina. Significant proportions of the participants had
      stimulated salivary flow rates less than 1.0 mL/min, salivary buffering capacity
      less than 4.0, S. mutans levels of 10(5) cfu/mL or more in stimulated whole
      saliva, or lactobacilli levels of 10(5) cfu/mL or more. Each of these factor
      levels could be considered, on a clinical basis, to increase caries risk. In
      general, people with higher levels of S. mutans or lactobacilli had more
      untreated coronal and root caries, but not greater total caries experience.

PMID- 1440134
TI  - The role of salivary function on oropharyngeal colonization.
AB  - Aspiration of oropharyngeal flora is the most common route of acquiring Gram
      negative pneumonia, a major nosocomial infection. Epidemiologic studies indicate
      that the elderly are at increased risk for developing these life-threatening
      pneumonias. The primary objective of this study was to determine the effects of
      salivary oral defenses against Gram-negative colonization. The study population
      consisted of 41 male outpatients, age 70 and older, seen at the Denver VAMC. The
      group included subjects with both diminished and normal salivary flow. Each
      subject answered a questionnaire regarding overall health, medication use, and
      symptoms of salivary dysfunction. We then collected whole saliva, unstimulated
      and stimulated parotid saliva, and performed a throat swab on each patient. For
      each throat culture, analysis was done to identify Gram-negative bacteria. Flow
      rates between colonized (n = 6) and noncolonized subjects (n = 34) were compared.
      While there were no significant differences in the flow rates between the two
      groups, a trend was noticed in that flow rates were lower for all three flow
      measures in the colonized group (whole, 22% decrease; unstimulated, 22% decrease;
      and stimulated, 28% decrease). These preliminary findings suggest that subjects
      with diminished salivary flow may possibly be at increased risk for oropharyngeal
      Gram-negative colonization. Research on the role that saliva plays in
      oropharyngeal bacterial colonization is continuing.

PMID- 1440135
TI  - A national survey of medical risk assessment instruction in general practice
      residency programs (Part I).
AB  - Formal and structured training in medical risk assessment (MRA) has been a
      requirement in general practice residency (GPR) programs since their inception in
      1972. Institutions offering GPR programs frequently differ in the levels and
      types of available resources necessary to implement this training. Program
      directors have expressed significant concerns that this training is difficult to
      provide, especially in the area of physical examination. The literature has not
      yet established how or if programs have organized their curricula to conform to
      accreditation standards in MRA established by the American Dental Association's
      Commission on Dental Accreditation. The purpose of this study was to conduct a
      nationwide survey of all GPR programs to identify program characteristics and
      resources, didactic and clinical educational methods, and perceived achievement
      of ADA Standard Fourteen for MRA training. Recommendations for further research
      are also given. Results will be reported in this paper, the paper following in
      this issue, and an additional paper to be published in a forthcoming issue.

PMID- 1440136
TI  - A national survey of medical risk assessment instruction in general practice
      residency programs (Part II).
AB  - This is the second part of a three-part series reporting a national survey of
      general practice residency directors and their evaluation of the medical risk
      assessment (MRA) instruction curriculum in their programs. The purpose of Part II
      is to evaluate the degree of success of the implementation of the ADA Commission
      on Accreditation's standard for MRA programs. Acceptable levels of achievement
      were attained in most areas of basic and intermediate-level skills. However,
      approximately one-third to one-half of general practice residency directors
      report that they are not achieving the standard for some intermediate or advanced
      assessment skills. When various instructor categories were compared, physicians
      scored significantly higher than oral and maxillofacial surgeons or other
      dentists in their ability to achieve acceptable outcomes in MRA instruction. The
      results of this survey, coupled with available literature concerning medical risk
      assessment instruction, support that changes in the undergraduate curriculum, a
      mandatory additional year of training, or modification of defined goals and
      outcomes should be considered.

PMID- 1440137
TI  - Metastatic colon carcinoma to oral soft tissues.
AB  - Metastatic tumors to the oral cavity are uncommon. Most of these cases involve
      the mandible or the maxilla. Rarely, metastasis occurs to the oral soft tissues
      from a distant primary tumor. The lung and breast are the most common primary
      sites. It is extremely rare to have an oral soft-tissue metastasis from a
      carcinoma of the colon. A case of primary adenocarcinoma of the colon with
      metastasis to the soft tissues of the mouth is described. Three similar case
      reports are reviewed. A metastatic lesion to the oral cavity could be the first
      indication of the presence of a primary tumor.

PMID- 1440138
TI  - Lip-chewing: another treatment option.

PMID- 1440139
TI  - Dietary and salivary factors associated with root caries.
AB  - In this pilot study, dietary habits, microbial factors, and salivary factors in
      20 older adults who had active decay on root surfaces were compared with those of
      20 adults who had inactive or no root caries. In this case-control study, the
      groups were matched by sex and were of similar age. Subjects using medications
      known to induce dry mouth were excluded. Subjects completed a nutrition interview
      and a four-day food diary. Stimulated whole saliva flow rate, buffering capacity,
      levels of salivary lactobacilli with use of the Dentocult method, and S. mutans
      cultured on MSB agar were determined. The root caries group had a greater mean
      number of eating occasions per day (6.1 vs. 4.6), more frequent exposures to
      fermentable carbohydrates (5.8 vs. 4.2), and higher average daily sugars intake
      (133 g/day vs. 105 g/day) than the control group. Root caries subjects had
      significantly higher lactobacilli counts and less salivary buffering capacity.
      Within the root caries group, significant correlations were found with Root
      Caries Index and lactobacilli (r = 0.56) and S. mutans counts (rs = 0.50). These
      results show that frequent intake of simple sugars, high lactobacilli counts, and
      low saliva buffering capacity may be risk factors associated with root caries in
      older adults.

PMID- 1440140
TI  - Therapeutic laparoscopy in general surgery.

PMID- 1440141
TI  - Inflammatory bowel disease.

PMID- 1440142
TI  - Ureterorenoscopy.

PMID- 1440143
TI  - An approach to the management of penile cancer.

PMID- 1440144
TI  - Rectal prolapse and other pelvic floor abnormalities.

PMID- 1440145
TI  - Controversies in surgical management of asymptomatic peripheral vascular disease.

PMID- 1440146
TI  - Reconstruction of deep venous valves of the lower extremity.

PMID- 1440147
TI  - Nesidioblastosis: still an enigma.

PMID- 1440148
TI  - Enteral nutrition in the intensive care unit.

PMID- 1440149
TI  - Renal hyperparathyroidism.
AB  - The indications for surgical treatment of renal HPT in patients with chronic
      endstage renal failure are symptomatic disease or failed medical management. The
      indications for patients who have had a kidney transplant are symptomatic disease
      and persistent hypercalcemia. It should be noted, however, that the current
      approach favored in the literature in asymptomatic, mild post-transplant
      hyperparathyroidism is conservative. Total parathyroidectomy with
      autotransplantation is the most popular surgical method reported. I have done
      subtotal parathyroidectomy and reserved total parathyroidectomy for selected
      patients. My recurrence rate is comparable to that reported. The actual survival
      rate in our two groups of patients was 58 percent for the dialysis patients and
      79 percent for the transplant patients. The actuarial survival rates at 1, 5, and
      10 years in the two groups were 95 and 92 percent; 59 and 67 percent; and 32 and
      67 percent. The use of diphosphonates and medical rather than surgical control
      needs further study, as do the long-term effects of conservative treatment of
      asymptomatic post-transplant hyperparathyroidism.

PMID- 1440150
TI  - Oncogenes, growth factors, and prognostic indicators in colorectal cancer.

PMID- 1440151
TI  - An appraisal of the gastroesophageal antireflux barrier and the lower esophageal
      sphincter.

PMID- 1440152
TI  - Fluid and electrolyte management in the pediatric surgical patient.
AB  - The following is a quick guide to the perioperative fluid program discussed 1.
      Always assess the state of fluid repletion in any patient presenting for surgical
      management (Note: This does not necessarily mean operative management). 2. If the
      patient is hypovolemic or if there is the possibility of hypovolemia and you are
      uncertain, restore volumes equal to 25% of the patient's blood volume with a
      fluid push made up of an osmotically active electrolyte solution modified for the
      additional requirements of red cell carrying capacity or clotting factors. If
      this results in a urine output and correction of hypoperfusion or hypotension,
      maintain an increased fluid administration program until a stable urine output
      and good perfusion are achieved. If the patient is normovolemic at the time of
      presentation, particularly if the patient is having an elective operative
      procedure and does not have an intravenous line in place, calculate the
      insensible losses that will occur during the time of fluid restriction before
      surgery and correct at least 50% of these during the operative procedure. 3.
      Develop the postoperative fluid program as a combination of 24-hour insensible
      loss replacement (maintenance fluid), restoration of measured losses, and an
      estimate (guess) as to the volume requirements for third-space fluid shifts.
      Restore blood losses if appropriate or administer additional volumes of balanced
      electrolyte solution at a 3-to-1 ratio to replace measured blood loss. 4. Total
      the insensible loss measurement, the measured losses, and the estimate of third
      space requirement and divide this volume by 24 to get an initial hourly fluid
      administration rate. 5. Select the most osmotically active fluid that you intend
      to use and administer it first at the calculated rate. Carefully monitor the
      patient's urine output. 6. Increase or decrease the fluid administration rate to
      bring the hourly urine output within the guidelines for the appropriate hourly
      urine output (milliliters) for the particular patient based on size (kilograms).
      7. When the urine output falls within the appropriate range, maintain that rate
      of fluid administration, and recalculate the volumes required because of
      insensible loss, measured loss, and third-space shifts by subtracting the amount
      of fluid already administered from the volume that will be required in the
      remainder of the 24 hours; this will yield the volumes of additional maintenance,
      measured loss, and third-space fluids that will make up the remainder of the
      fluids needed for the 24 hours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1440153
TI  - Update on anesthesia management for infants and children.
AB  - This review aims at providing the pediatric surgeon with an update on the most
      important issues in pediatric anesthesia and the changes that have taken place
      over the last few years. Many practices, entrenched in tradition, are being
      modified in the light of research that has provided new knowledge, drugs, and
      techniques. Pediatric anesthesia requires dedication, a sense of anticipation,
      meticulous attention to detail, and an individual who derives enormous
      satisfaction from the pleasure to be had from dealing with these small patients
      and their families.

PMID- 1440154
TI  - Surgical management of children with hemoglobinopathies.
AB  - Sickle hemoglobinopathies include sickle cell disease, sickle-C disease, and
      sickle-beta thalassemia. Patients with these disorders commonly suffer a
      multitude of destructive events to vital organs, especially to the central
      nervous system, the spleen, the kidney, the lung, and the heart as a result of
      microvascular plugging by the sickled erythrocytes. Thoughtful preparation for
      anesthesia and operation, especially when directed by experienced individuals,
      can greatly reduce the hazard of inducing the sickle crises that formerly plagued
      individuals with sickle hemoglobinopathies who faced major operations under
      general anesthesia. The patient must be free of any acute illness, especially one
      involving the respiratory system. Adequate hydration preoperatively combined with
      avoiding perioperative hypoxia, hypothermia, and acidosis, the triggers for
      sickling, will go far toward avoiding sickle-induced complications. Modern
      transfusion therapy, consisting of multiple small transfusions of Hb A
      erythrocytes administered over several weeks prior to the operation, not only
      corrects the chronic anemia but suppresses erythropoiesis of cells containing Hb
      S in the patient's bone marrow and leaves him or her with a majority of cells
      containing Hb A. This provides a safety net in case a sickle-inducing insult
      occurs despite the best efforts to avoid one. Individuals with sickle
      hemoglobinopathies may require any of the operations common to all children, for
      example, herniorrhaphy, appendectomy, tonsillectomy, and circumcision, but a
      significant number will develop calcium bilirubinate cholelithiasis and possibly
      cholecystitis as a result of the continual increased load of bile salts resulting
      from the shortened lifespan of the cells containing Hb S. Also, although most
      individuals with Hb S will gradually suffer splenic infarction by late childhood,
      a significant number of infants will experience acute splenic sequestration
      crisis, a life-threatening entity, the recurrence of which is prevented by
      splenectomy. Several publications have demonstrated that such surgical procedures
      can be performed in large numbers of patients with sickle hemoglobinopathies
      without deaths and with minimal morbidity.

PMID- 1440155
TI  - Metabolism and nutritional frontiers in pediatric surgical patients.
AB  - The successful treatment of pediatric surgical disease requires an understanding
      of the acute metabolic stress response. Poor clinical outcome can result when the
      metabolic demands of acute injury exceed the ability of endogenous host
      mechanisms to compensate. Appropriate exogenous supplementation may provide the
      metabolic and nutritional support crucial to recovery. As knowledge in this area
      grows, more effective treatment strategies are evolving. The potential for
      further advances, especially in the infant critical care population, offers the
      hope for substantial progress in the near future.

PMID- 1440156
TI  - Vascular access techniques and devices in the pediatric patient.
AB  - Vascular access is a sine qua non in the management of pediatric surgical
      patients. The indications, as well as the number of available access routes,
      types of devices, and their use, have expanded over the last two decades. This
      article is an overview intended to allow the surgeon to match the safest and most
      effective access to the child's therapeutic needs. It also contains descriptions
      of sites for percutaneous and cut-down vascular access in children, as well as
      the author's personal approach to central venous access. Vascular access in
      children requires skill, time, patience, and the appropriate equipment.
      Fortunately, with attention to detail, most complications can be avoided.

PMID- 1440157
TI  - Gastrostomy techniques and devices.
AB  - Gastrostomies play an important role in the management of a wide variety of
      surgical and nonsurgical conditions of childhood. Many techniques and gastrostomy
      devices are available. In our experience, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy has
      proved safe and effective, and the gastrostomy button has eliminated most of the
      catheter-related problems. Candidates for gastrostomy, particularly children with
      foregut dysmotility, must be carefully selected, undergo preoperative studies
      aimed at determining the degree of gastroesophageal reflux, and have appropriate
      long-term follow-up. Attention to technical detail is essential to avoid
      operative complications. A good working relationship between the surgeon,
      gastroenterologist, nurse, and patient's family is essential to minimize long
      term morbidity, particularly stoma-related problems.

PMID- 1440158
TI  - Evolving uses of laparoscopy in children.
AB  - As the technology evolves, the number of procedures that can be performed
      laparoscopically will continue to expand (Table 3). The impact on the field of
      pediatric surgery, which encompasses surgical oncology, gastrointestinal surgery,
      trauma, and gynecologic surgery, will be significant. There are several hurdles
      for the pediatric surgeon to overcome before beginning operative laparoscopy. The
      acquisition of the initial instrumentation is expensive, and the credentialing
      process may be time-consuming. And there remains a healthy suspicion on the part
      of many pediatric surgeons that these techniques represent a fad. We believe that
      operative laparoscopy has advantages and disadvantages. Some of the procedures
      require more time and are frequently tedious, thus trying the patience of the
      surgeon. It is difficult for experienced surgeons to subject themselves
      electively to the learning curve associated with a new procedure. While the
      benefits are mostly in the postoperative period, we believe exposure is vastly
      improved in obese patients. Patients appear to have less pain and postoperative
      ileus, and they may return to unrestricted activity sooner. We are still
      discovering which laparoscopic procedures can be done safely to the patient's
      advantage. Solving the dilemma of what procedures should be performed using
      laparoscopic techniques will require extensive experience and study, and
      minimally invasive surgery will be a subject of controversy and debate for many
      years. It is difficult to imagine that open cholecystectomy would once again
      become the standard. We predict that we will see a continued expansion in the
      types of procedures to be performed using minimal-access techniques. And in the
      future, we may have to justify our opening of a patient's abdomen when the
      procedure could have been performed laparoscopically, as is now the case for
      cholecystectomy in some areas of the country.

PMID- 1440159
TI  - Lasers in pediatric surgery.
AB  - The use of lasers in a variety of surgical disciplines has added new dimensions
      to operative techniques, allowing increased precision, improved hemostasis, and
      less tissue injury. Although lasers offer no significant benefit over some
      conventional pediatric surgical techniques, there are other procedures and
      disease conditions in which the use of laser technology provides major advances
      and improves outcome. The physics of laser technology and the unique
      characteristics and applications of the currently available lasers are discussed
      along with current and future applications in pediatric surgery.

PMID- 1440160
TI  - Uses of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in nonneonatal respiratory patients.
      An update.
AB  - Neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has progressed rapidly from
      the experimental stage to a standard of care for certain infants who fail to
      respond to maximal conventional management. A broad diagnostic group of
      nonneonatal patients has now been supported by several different modes of ECMO
      with encouraging results. Selection criteria for nonneonatal patients that differ
      from those used for neonatal patients are emerging. Prospective randomized
      clinical trials are needed.

PMID- 1440161
TI  - Trends in pediatric trauma management.
AB  - Injuries are the leading cause of death in children 1 to 14 years old and result
      in permanent disabilities for thousands of children each year. Blunt trauma
      accounts for more than 60% of childhood injuries. Head trauma is most common, but
      the most severely injured children have multisystem injuries, frequently of the
      extremities, chest, and abdomen. The child's response to injury differs from that
      of the adult, and specific patterns are seen with blunt injury; recognition of
      these patterns is essential for proper management. The general surgeon
      coordinates the total care of the injured child, including the efforts of a
      variety of medical specialists, to provide cohesive and efficient care.

PMID- 1440162
TI  - Current surgical considerations in gastroesophageal reflux disease in infancy and
      childhood.
AB  - An understanding of gastroesophageal reflux disease in infants and children by
      the clinician requires a working knowledge of 18- to 24-hour esophageal pH
      monitoring and the motility disorders of the esophagus and stomach that may be
      associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease. The results of surgical therapy
      for childhood gastroesophageal reflux disease cannot be assessed accurately
      without this knowledge. Antireflux operations can be tailored to the child's
      situation, which includes a combination of clinical symptoms and findings on
      objective tests for reflux and associated alimentary-tract motility disorders.
      The presence of severe complications from gastroesophageal reflux disease in
      "asymptomatic" infants and children is a troublesome and not yet fully defined
      problem. Special areas include the documentation of gastroesophageal reflux
      disease as a cause of SIDS, the increased reporting of Barrett's esophagus and
      adenocarcinoma of the esophagus in childhood, and the effect of associated
      alimentary-tract motility disorders in children with CNS disease who have
      gastroesophageal reflux disease requiring surgical intervention.

PMID- 1440163
TI  - Current management of anorectal anomalies.
AB  - A significant amount of new information has been obtained concerning the early
      management of anorectal malformations. The surgical approach also has changed and
      improved the functional prognosis of children with these defects. Recommendations
      are made based on a series of 632 cases. A simplified approach to avoid the most
      common errors in the management of these defects is emphasized. Yet, there are
      still many children born with severe anatomic deficiencies who cannot expect
      normal bowel function; however, for this group, a bowel management program is
      available to help improve their quality of life.

PMID- 1440164
TI  - Review of head and neck lesions in infancy and childhood.
AB  - Common congenital and infectious lesions of the head and neck in infancy and
      childhood have been discussed. Those that are present at birth, asymptomatic, and
      frequently cystic are clearly benign lesions that require operative management
      for the potential complications of enlargement and infection. Solid lesions,
      particularly those of the lymph nodes, must be differentiated from neoplasms,
      particularly Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Suppurative
      lymphadenitis is obvious from its local inflammatory signs, but the subacute and
      chronic adenopathies may be difficult to distinguish from neoplasia. An attitude
      that unless the benign nature of a lesion is clearly demonstrated, early
      excisional biopsy for histopathologic evaluation must be the rule will avoid
      delays in diagnosing those neoplastic lesions that can be treated successfully if
      managed early and aggressively.

PMID- 1440165
TI  - The changing role of amputation for soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity in
      adults.
AB  - The role of amputation in soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity has decreased at
      Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center during the last 20 years. In an attempt to
      determine the reasons for this change in therapy, an analysis of two separate
      databases involving 1,057 patients compiled during the periods of 1968 to 1978
      and 1982 to 1990 was performed. The patients requiring amputation for soft tissue
      sarcoma of the extremity in the two databases (n = 233) were compared in an
      attempt to determine any significant differences between the two time periods.
      The groups were specifically compared for differences in risk factors,
      indications for amputations and the effect a decreasing incidence of amputation
      in the 1982 to 1990 group had on local recurrence and overall survival between
      the two groups. Despite similarity of risk factors and indications for
      amputation, the decreased incidence of amputation during the 1982 to 1990 period
      was associated with a significant decrease in local recurrence after amputation
      and no significant change in overall survival compared with the 1968 to 1978
      group. Absence of local recurrence was associated with significant improvement in
      survival. Possible reasons for the shift in therapy, as well as the present and
      future role of amputation in soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity, are discussed.

PMID- 1440166
TI  - Appendiceal mucoceles and pseudomyxoma peritonei.
AB  - Mucoceles of the appendix and associated pseudomyxoma peritonei are a
      heterogeneous group comprising various histopathologic lesions with differing
      prognoses. Between 1983 and 1990, we treated eight patients with appendiceal
      mucocele, three cystadenomas and five cystadenocarcinomas, three of which had
      accompanying pseudomyxoma peritonei. All patients were more than 50 years of age.
      Women outnumbered men by seven to one. Preoperative diagnosis was acute
      appendicitis or appendiceal abscess in all instances of mucocele unaccompanied by
      pseudomyxoma peritonei. Ultrasound of the abdomen, together with paracentesis,
      diagnosed pseudomyxoma peritonei in two of three patients. Elevated
      carcinoembryonic antigen levels were found in six of the eight patients and
      monitoring of this parameter was useful in the early detection of the two
      recurrences observed. The three patients with cystadenomas remain free of disease
      after appendectomy. Of the five patients treated for cystadenocarcinoma by right
      colectomy, two underwent reoperation after recurrence of disease. One patient
      died 41 months later of intestinal obstruction caused by pseudomyxoma peritonei.
      Pseudomyxoma peritonei significantly decreases survival of patients with
      appendiceal mucocele. In these patients, aggressive initial surgical management,
      repeated if need be, is indicated.

PMID- 1440167
TI  - A prospective randomized trial of single versus multiple drains in the axilla
      after lymphadenectomy.
AB  - Increasing duration and amount of postoperative fluid formation after axillary
      lymphadenectomy delays final healing. We postulated that multiple drains (instead
      of a single drain) might decrease postoperative fluid accumulation by their
      greater proximity to points of leakage. We randomized 65 women with clinical
      stage I or II carcinoma of the breast to single or multiple drains. They were
      stratified for axillary dissection or modified radical mastectomy. For axillary
      dissection, randomization to multiple drains meant placement of four catheters in
      the axilla, and randomized to the single drain, one catheter in the axilla. For
      modified radical mastectomy, the patients randomized to multiple drains received
      four catheters in the axilla and one catheter under the inferior flap; the
      patients randomized to single drains had one catheter in the axilla and one
      catheter under the inferior flap. All catheters exited separately. The two arms
      (single versus multiple drains) were determined to be homogeneous in other
      variables that may affect postoperative fluid formation--age, size of the breast,
      weight, height, obesity, presence of previous surgical biopsy, excision of
      pectoralis minor muscle, excision of thoracodorsal complex, level of axillary
      dissection, number of lymph nodes, number and proportion of positive lymph nodes
      and whether or not the dominant hand was on the side operated upon. Single versus
      multiple drains had no clinically significant effect on the amount or duration of
      drainage, as an inpatient or outpatient, or total. We recommend a single drain to
      the axilla after lymphadenectomy.

PMID- 1440168
TI  - Comparison of intraoperative and endoscopic manometry of the sphincter of Oddi.
AB  - Despite the potential utility of intraoperative manometry of the sphincter of
      Oddi, limited data are available validating its use. The current study was
      undertaken to validate the method of intraoperative sphincter of Oddi manometry
      by comparing the pressure tracings obtained at operation (transduodenal
      sphincteroplasty and transampullary septoplasty) and endoscopy (preoperative) in
      the same group of patients. Seventy-four patients with idiopathic pancreatitis or
      unexplained disabling pancreaticobiliary pain had sphincter of Oddi manometry
      performed endoscopically and intraoperatively within six weeks of each other.
      Thirty-five patients had manometric evaluation of the bile duct segment of the
      sphincter of Oddi. The mean basal sphincter pressure determined endoscopically
      and intraoperatively was 41.1 +/- 6.4 millimeters of mercury (mean plus or minus
      standard error of the mean) and 42.0 +/- 6.8 millimeters of mercury (not
      significantly different, p > 0.05), respectively. There was no significant
      difference between the biliary sphincter phasic pressure, phasic frequency and
      phasic duration, as recorded by the two techniques. Fifty-five patients had
      manometric evaluation of the pancreatic duct sphincter. The mean basal sphincter
      pressure determined endoscopically and intraoperatively (after biliary
      sphincteroplasty) was 111.9 +/- 9.9 millimeters of mercury and 102.7 +/- 8.7
      millimeters of mercury, respectively (not significantly different, p > 0.05).
      There was no significant difference in the pancreatic sphincter phasic duration
      and phasic frequency determined by the two techniques. However, the pancreatic
      sphincter phasic pressure was significantly higher when measured endoscopically
      (p < 0.001). Overall, 70 percent of patients benefited from surgical sphincter
      ablation therapy. Patients with an elevated basal sphincter pressure determined
      intraoperatively were more likely to improve than those with a normal basal
      sphincter pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1440169
TI  - Success with sacrospinous suspension of the prolapsed vaginal vault.
AB  - Sacrospinous ligament fixation of the prolapsed vaginal vault has proved very
      useful, but the complications of failure, hemorrhage, infection, nerve damage,
      incontinence and dyspareunia are reported. Experience with 51 operations
      performed by staff, and residents with supervision, has shown the value of
      certain preoperative and technical steps to avoid complications, including
      candidate selection; repair of enterocele; retropubic positioning of the bladder
      neck; repair of all pelvic support defects, and perineorrhaphy. Technical
      modifications are described. Results in these instances are tabulated: no
      recurrent prolapse; no transfusions; four narrow vaginas; two with stress
      incontinence; one pelvic cellulitis, and one ventricular fibrillation on the
      third postoperative day. We believe that most complications are preventable.

PMID- 1440170
TI  - Clinical use of synthetic absorbable cuff material for peripheral vascular
      anastomosis.
AB  - End to end arteriovenous (AV) fistulas were created using the cuff technique for
      hemodialysis in 12 patients with end stage renal disease. The cuff used was made
      of a synthetic biodegradable material, a lactic glycolic acid co-polymer with the
      same composition as absorbable surgical suture. Cephalic vein radial artery
      fistulas in the forearm were created electively in six patients to convert a
      Scribner shunt to a fistula in three patients and because of malfunction of a
      fistula created previously in three patients. Eleven patients underwent
      hemodialysis, with pump speeds of more than 200 milliliters per minute, and were
      evaluated for 129 to 477 days. These subcutaneous AV fistulas were maintained as
      patent functional veins and continued to function without complication. After
      five weeks, one patient had conversion to a prosthetic AV fistula because of poor
      venous maturation. The overall patency rate was 92 percent. The diameter of the
      AV anastomosis increased gradually with time. At 20 weeks, however, it reached
      more than 70 percent of the diameter of the radial artery lumen. These
      observations led us to believe that the cuff material used is biodegraded until
      20 weeks and gives sufficient flexibility. In the future, the cuff method is
      expected to be clinically developed as another approach for vascular anastomosis.

PMID- 1440171
TI  - Treatment of peripancreatic fluid collections in patients with complicated acute
      pancreatitis.
AB  - We reviewed an experience with treatment of peripancreatic fluid collections in
      patients with complicated acute pancreatitis to identify clinical and computed
      tomography (CT) parameters that are helpful in the selection of patients for
      treatment and to assess treatment outcome. The extent of CT abnormalities
      determined a CT severity score (mild = 1, severe = 4). From 1985 to 1990, 650
      patients were hospitalized with acute pancreatitis; a peripancreatic fluid
      collection was found in 36 patients (5.5 percent). Ten of 11 patients with
      successful outcome after no invasive treatment (group 1) had a low CT severity
      score of 1 or 2; mean serum albumin was 4.0 gram percent. Of 25 patients who had
      some form of drainage, 12 had a high CT severity score of 3 or 4 (p < 0.05) and a
      mean serum albumin of 3.4 grams percent (p < 0.05). Nine patients had only
      operative drainage (group 2) and 16 had CT-directed percutaneous catheter
      drainage (group 3). In group 3, percutaneous catheter drainage successfully
      drained the fluid collection in six patients, while ten patients needed an
      operation, in addition to percutaneous drainage, to effectively debride and drain
      the necrotizing pancreatic problem. As a result of the current review, we propose
      an algorithm for treatment of these patients.

PMID- 1440172
TI  - Axillary versus combined axillary and pectoral drainage after modified radical
      mastectomy.
AB  - Initial attempts to obliterate dead space and minimize fluid accumulation in
      patients after mastectomy using closed suction drainage, used insertion of a
      single axillary drain. Today, surgeons often insert two drains in the
      postoperative wound, one in the axilla and the other beneath the pectoral flaps.
      The current study was done to determine whether or not there is an advantage in
      using two drains rather than a single axillary drain after mastectomy. A
      randomized, clinical trial was conducted with 84 women undergoing modified
      radical mastectomy. Thirty-seven patients had one axillary drain and 47 had two
      drains placed postoperatively, one in the axilla and the other beneath the
      pectoral flaps. Follow-up results were obtained four weeks postoperatively for
      complication data, including seroma and hematoma formation, flap necrosis and
      infection. The average total drainage was 870.4 milliliters per patient in the
      group with one drain and 997.4 milliliters per patient in the group with two
      drains (p value not significant). The overall complication rate in the group with
      one drain was 35.0 percent compared with a rate of 31.9 percent for all
      complications observed in the group with two drains. These differences did not
      reach statistical significance. Comparing the frequency of each complication in
      the two groups again showed no significant difference. However, the data suggest
      a trend toward an increased incidence of flap necrosis in the group with two
      drains that used a drain beneath the pectoral flaps. Use of a single axillary
      drain after modified radical mastectomy seems to result in no increase in
      postoperative complications, is less costly and may assist in reducing the
      incidence of flap necrosis.

PMID- 1440173
TI  - Effects of pentagastrin and of the somatostatin analog (SMS 201-995) on growth of
      CT26 in vivo adenocarcinoma of the colon.
AB  - This study was done to investigate the effects of pentagastrin and of
      somatostatin analog (SMS 201-995) on growth of CT26 adenocarcinoma of the colon
      implanted in mice. Eighty Balb C mice were inoculated subcutaneously with 100,000
      cells. Four groups of 20 mice each were treated with 0.1 milliliters of saline
      solution every eight hours; 250 micrograms per kilogram of pentagastrin every
      eight hours; 100 micrograms per kilogram of SMS 201-995 every 12 hours; 250
      micrograms per kilogram of pentagastrin every eight hours, plus 100 micrograms
      per kilogram of SMS 201-995 every 12 hours. Tumoral weight, volume and
      deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content and mean survival rates were determined for
      each group. Control mice had tumors weighing 1,619 +/- 179 milligrams, of 1.47 +/
      0.2 milliliters to the third power and with 12.9 +/- 1.1 milligram of DNA, at 30
      days after inoculation. The mean survival rate was 42.5 days. Pentagastrin
      administration increased the three parameters of tumoral growth by 40 percent and
      reduced survival time to 29.6 days (p < 0.01), while SMS 201-995 inhibited growth
      by 40 percent and prolonged survival time to 48.5 days (p < 0.01). Simultaneous
      administration of both peptides had no effects. These data suggest that
      pentagastrin has a trophic effect and SMS 201-995 an inhibitory effect on CT26
      adenocarcinoma in mice.

PMID- 1440174
TI  - Systematic assessment of massive bleeding of the lower part of the
      gastrointestinal tract.
AB  - A study of 83 patients admitted with massive bleeding in the lower part of the
      gastrointestinal tract is presented using a diagnostic approach primarily of
      angiography and colonoscopy with the adjunctive investigations of scintigraphy,
      small intestine series and computed tomographic scan. The source of bleeding was
      identified preoperatively in 74 patients. Nine patients had a diagnostic
      laparotomy and the cause was found in an additional seven. A source was not
      identified in two patients at exploration and a blind resection was not
      performed. The two patients have not had recurrent bleeding four and nine years
      postlaparotomy. The sites of bleeding were colon in 44 patients, small intestine
      in 24 and the anorectum in 11. Sixty-five patients were treated operatively, two
      by angiographic embolization and two by endoscopic electrocoagulation. Fourteen
      patients were managed conservatively. The mortality rate was 10.8 percent and
      five patients rebled after treatment. We conclude that a thorough systematic
      assessment of patients with bleeding in the lower part of the gastrointestinal
      tract is important to localize the site of the hemorrhage. Exploratory laparotomy
      is the final diagnostic modality, and if a source has not been identified, a
      blind colonic resection should not be performed.

PMID- 1440175
TI  - Fibrin glue reduces seroma formation in the rat after mastectomy.
AB  - Fibrin glue is a biologic tissue adhesive that has been found to be useful in
      several areas of surgical treatment. Little has been written in the English
      literature, however, on its use in preventing postoperative fluid collections. We
      performed a prospective randomized trial to determine if fibrin glue could reduce
      postoperative fluid collections after mastectomy in a rat. Bilateral mastectomies
      and axillary lymph node dissections were performed upon 42 rats, one-half of
      which were treated with fibrin glue and one-half of which served as controls. The
      rats were sacrificed after seven days and inspected for quantity of fluid and
      adhesion formation. The mean plus or minus standard error of the mean fluid
      collections were 0.71 +/- 0.26 milliliter and 3.75 +/- 0.65 milliliter for the
      rats treated with fibrin glue and control rats, respectively. This was
      statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Seventeen of 21 rats treated with fibrin
      glue and four of 21 control rats were found to have fluid collections of less
      than 1 milliliter, again statistically significant (p = 0.00006). Furthermore,
      greater adhesion formation between the skin flap and chest wall was noted in the
      rats treated with fibrin glue. The results support the use of fibrin glue in
      clinical investigations to reduce postoperative fluid collections and also
      support the need to develop a standard reproducible method of producing fibrin
      glue or a commercial product free of transmissible disease.

PMID- 1440176
TI  - An analysis of prognostic factors in response to conservative treatment of
      postmastectomy lymphedema.
AB  - Postmastectomy lymphedema of the upper limb is usually managed conservatively.
      Patients are often advised to use elastic bandages or sleeves during the day:
      elastic compression is, in fact, generally considered the mainstay of lymphedema
      therapy by authors who advocate the addition of cyclical instrumental or physical
      treatments, such as pneumatic compression or manual lymphatic drainage. The
      results of elastic compression, however, have never been extensively analyzed. In
      the present study, we describe the patterns of response during six months of use
      of a standard elastic sleeve in a series of 120 patients with postmastectomy
      lymphedema. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify
      possible prognostic factors for a better or worse response. Overall, limb
      measurements were reduced by 14.7 percent, with weight gain after surgical
      treatment resulting as the only significant independent negative factor: patients
      who did not increase weight after mastectomy achieved nearly a 25 percent
      reduction of lymphedema. These results should be considered during the selection
      of patients for protocols of lymphedema treatment and the analysis of results.

PMID- 1440177
TI  - Transhiatal esophagectomy using a varicose vein stripper.

PMID- 1440178
TI  - A different technique of tying the surgeon's knot.

PMID- 1440179
TI  - Aseptic technique in microgravity.
AB  - Within the next decade, the United States will launch a space station into low
      Earth orbit as a preliminary step toward a manned mission to Mars. Provision of
      asepsis in the unique microgravity environment, essential in operative and
      invasive procedures, is addressed. An assessment of conventional terrestrial
      aseptic methods and possible modifications for a microgravity environment was
      done during the microgravity portion of parabolic flight on NASA KC-135 aircraft.
      During 110 parabolas on three flight days, a "surgical team" (surgeon, scrub
      nurse and circulating nurse) using a life size mannequin fastened to a prototype
      surgical "work station" (operating table), evaluated open and closed gloving (ten
      parabolas), skin preparation (six parabolas), surgical scrub methods (24
      parabolas), gowning (22 parabolas) and draping (48 parabolas). Evaluated were
      povidone iodine solution, 1 percent povidone iodine detergent, Chloroxylenol with
      detergent, wet prep soap sponge, a water insoluble iodophor polymer (DuraPrep,
      3M), disposable towels, disposable and reusable gowns, large and small disposable
      drapes with and without adhesive edges, disposable latex surgeon's gloves with
      and without packaging modifications and restraint mechanisms (tether, swiss seat,
      waist and foot restraint devices, fairfield and wire clamps and clips). Ease of
      use, provision of restraint for supplies and personnel and waste disposal were
      assessed. The literature was reviewed and its relevance to the space environment
      discussed, including risk factors, environmental contamination, immune status and
      microbiology. The microgravity environment, limited water supply and restricted
      operating area mandated that modifications of fabrication and packaging of
      supplies and technique be made to create and preserve asepsis. Material must meet
      stringent flammability and off-gassing standards. Either a chlorhexidine or
      povidone iodine detergent prepackaged brush and sponge would provide an adequate
      scrub plus preliminary cleansing of a dirty wound. Choice may depend on ease of
      removal from the water supply as well as sensitivity to each compound of
      individual crew members. Rinsing was achieved with sterile water soaked gauze.
      Drying would be more efficient with two small hand towels, which would be easier
      to manipulate in microgravity and require less stowage volume. Skin preparation
      highlighted unexpected packaging problems, as centrifugal force was required to
      "shake" the solution out of the container on to the mannequin. To minimize
      contamination, a gown should be folded in an accordion manner and fastened to the
      base of its sterile wrapper, so that an assistant can compensate for the lack of
      gravity by applying constant tension.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1440180
TI  - Current clinical and pathologic perspectives on gastric stromal tumors.
AB  - Gastric stromal tumors are heterogeneous and poorly understood. Investigators
      have studied these tumors by histologic and immunocytochemical characteristics,
      but interlaboratory variations have impeded clinical application of these
      techniques. Although many gastric stromal tumors can be categorized as benign or
      malignant with some certainty, occasional instances may present great difficulty
      in this distinction. Uncertainty about malignant potential and the biologic
      factors of the lesion will therefore generally suggest excision with a 1 to 2
      centimeter margin for diagnosis and definitive therapy of these tumors.
      Subsequent prognosis will be dictated primarily by tumor size, histologic factors
      and mitotic index. Gastric stromal tumors in young women should suggest the
      possibility of Carney's triad. Functional extra-adrenal paragangliomas and
      pulmonary chondromas should be sought preoperatively. The paraganglioma should be
      managed first and the gastric lesion then addressed. Distal gastrectomy of at
      least 50 percent would seem to represent a reasonable resection limit.
      Identification of the specific cellular biologic factors of these lesions will be
      necessary to accurately classify particular tumors, gauge prognosis and
      individualize their management.

PMID- 1440181
TI  - In defense of the anatomic blackboard drawing.

PMID- 1440182
TI  - Anatomical bases of the pediculated pisiform transplant and the intercarpal
      fusion by Graner in Kienbock's disease.
AB  - Anatomic characteristics of the lunate, the pisiform and the capitate were
      compared in order to support the use of a pisiform transplant or the intercarpal
      fusion by Graner in advanced stages of Kienbock's disease. Fifty lunate and
      pisiform bone pairs and 20 wrist specimens served for morphological and
      functional investigations. In view of the present results, the pisiform, after a
      rotation of 90 degrees, should be implanted in the lunate box with its
      longitudinal diameter oriented to the dorsopalmar plane. Despite the small
      pisiform volume, maintainance of carpal height is assured by its relatively large
      dorsopalmar diameter. The rotated position permits use of existing soft tissue
      structures and improves the conditions of force transmission. Measurements
      comparing the radii of curvature of the original lunate and the substitute
      pisiform surfaces show a good correspondence proximally and a reduction of the
      articular congruity distally, due to the flatness of the pisiform surface. The
      palmar convexity of the pisiform adapts better to the distal radius facet than
      the capitate head, which replaces the lunate in Graner's surgical procedure.

PMID- 1440183
TI  - Anatomical basis of the anterior cervical spine approach: topographic study of
      the nerve structure.
AB  - The results of the surgical anterior approach to the cervical spine are marked in
      a number of cases by dysphagia and dysphonia, especially when the approach is
      extensive or performed at the upper cervical spine. 35 cadaver dissections were
      performed to define the topography of the nerve structures during operative
      exposure at various vertebral levels: superior and recurrent laryngeal nerves,
      hypoglossal nerve and its superior root of the ansa cervicalis. The authors
      suggest some technical improvements, for each stage of surgical dissection.

PMID- 1440184
TI  - Anatomical bases of percutaneous surgery for calculi in horseshoe kidney.
AB  - Horseshoe kidney is a renal fusion which combines three anatomic abnormalities:
      ectopia, malrotation and vascular changes. These anomalies can be recognised
      separately to varying degrees in unfused kidneys. Necessary modifications of the
      standard technique for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) are directly deducible
      from analysis of the anatomic data of the imaging of horseshoe kidneys. We report
      our experience with 5 patients (7 kidneys) who underwent PNL for calculi in
      horseshoe kidneys. The percutaneous approach was performed under ultrasound and
      fluoroscopic monitoring. In situ disintegration by ultrasonic lithotripsy and
      nephrostomy drainage were necessary in all cases. Modifications of the standard
      PNL procedure are related to the anatomic changes. The lower abdominal position
      of a horseshoe kidney necessitates upper or middle calyceal puncture, while the
      malrotation necessitates a more posterior puncture. Monitoring of the puncture
      needle by fluoroscopy as it is advanced postero-anteriorly is more difficult and
      the risk of the surgeon's hand entering the radiation path is increased. The
      renal pelvis is deep and a long endoscope may be required. Aberrant segmental
      vessels may create potential hazards. The majority of problems in location can be
      avoided by use of an ultrasonically guided needle. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy
      is the treatment of choice for calculi in horseshoe kidneys for the following
      reasons: the high incidence of recurrent lithiasis in horseshoe kidney and the
      complexity of repeated surgical approaches diminish the acceptable results of
      open surgery; difficulties in focussing on the calculi and drainage problems
      militate against the success of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL); PNL
      has a good success rate and the least morbidity.

PMID- 1440185
TI  - Arterial supply of the acetabulum in the fetus: application to periacetabular
      surgery in childhood.
AB  - The need to perform triple osteotomies of the pelvis passing very close to the
      articular surface leads to the isolation of bony fragments whose vascularisation
      may be precarious. To assess the risks of such surgery, we undertook an anatomic
      study of the vascularisation of the acetabulum in the fetus. 53 specimens were
      injected to study the vessels to the acetabulum and their distribution within the
      osteocartilaginous specimen. The acetabular a., a branch of the obturator a.,
      gives a central pedicle distributed to the acetabular fossa, the triradiate
      cartilage and ending in the three primary bony components. The superior gluteal,
      inferior gluteal, internal pudendal and obturator aa. form a periacetabular
      vascular circle. The abundant vascularity of the acetabulum makes massive
      necrosis improbable in the child. However, there is a zone of precarious
      anastomosis at the anterior portion of the acetabulum.

PMID- 1440186
TI  - Fetal development of the pyloric muscle.
AB  - The fetal development of the pyloric muscle was studied in five human embryos
      (crown-rump length 5 to 31 mm) and in ten fetuses aged 3 to 9 months. Samples of
      pyloric muscle were obtained during operation for pyloric stenosis in two infants
      aged six weeks. Anatomo-radiologic, morphologic and immunohistochemical studies
      were made on this material, from which it emerged that the pylorus is
      identifiable by means of specific markers from the 40th day. Its two-layered
      muscular structure is described in detail. The mechanism of sphincteric function
      is reviewed. This study assumes clinical importance in the context of the
      etiopathogenesis of hypertrophic stenosis of the pylorus.

PMID- 1440187
TI  - Induced and genetic mouse middle ear ossicular malformations: a model for human
      malformative ossicular diseases and a tool for clarifying their normal
      ontogenesis.
AB  - Oral administration of 13-cis retinoic acid (RA) to pregnant mice on the 9th
      gestation day provokes important malformations of the middle ear ossicles,
      associated with a general kind of craniofacial dysmorphogenesis evoking the human
      mandibulofacial dysostosis. The malleus, incus and stapes are affected. The
      malleus exhibits a handle separated from its head and keeping a persistant
      relationship with the tubotympanic recess. The stapes makes no contact with the
      otic capsule. The malformation pattern is visible early as shown by the
      appearance of an abnormally curved Meckel's cartilage at day 12, followed by the
      development of atypically shaped ossicular anlagen. The mouse "far" (first arch
      malformation) mutation is responsible for minor ossicular abnormalities which
      disrupts the normal relationships between the stapes, Reichert's cartilage and
      stapedial muscle. The administration of RA to pregnant mice and the comparison
      with a genetically induced malformation (the mutation far) provides some
      interesting information about the postulated mechanisms of human middle ear
      dysmorphogenesis, as well as precious data about the features of normal ossicular
      primordia formation. The comparison of these features with human middle ear
      abnormalities as revealed by medical imaging sheds light on human malformation
      patterns and provides a better understanding of normal and abnormal radiologic
      ossicular aspects.

PMID- 1440188
TI  - Relationship between the development of diaphragma sellae and the morphology of
      the sella turcica and its content.
AB  - The impaired formation of the diaphragma sellae may lead to the development of
      the empty-sella syndrome. This structure, when fully formed, is a protective
      barrier against the pulsating action that the cerebrospinal fluid exerts on the
      sellar content. There are anatomical features which support this belief, but they
      also suggest that the development of the diaphragma sellae is a factor which
      determines the morphology of the sella turcica and its contents. Those human
      specimens which do not have diaphragma sellae or in which it is only partially
      developed, are characterized by a smaller hypophysis, always located at the
      inferior and/or posterior half of the sella, with a larger sellar volume and
      frequently greater fragility of its bony walls. These findings, although rare (5%
      of the cases), are indirect signs of the important role which the diaphragma
      sellae plays in the sellar region.

PMID- 1440189
TI  - Three-dimensional reconstruction of the hip muscles on the basis of magnetic
      resonance images.
AB  - MRI in combination with three-dimensional reconstruction is pre-eminently
      suitable for the study of the human musculoskeletal system in vivo in an accurate
      and detailed way. MRI provides the possibility of studying superficial as well as
      deep muscles under tension in the living state. Bones, muscles, tendons and
      adipose tissue are clearly visible. Parts can also be distinguished within a
      muscle. After reconstruction of the 2-D images the geometry of the muscles and
      muscle parts can be visualized from different angles. This leads to a deeper
      understanding of the biomechanics and functional anatomy of the musculoskeletal
      system of the human body. In this paper the morphology of the muscles around the
      hip was studied in three subjects in vivo on the basis of three-dimensional (3-D)
      reconstructions of two-dimensional (2-D) MR images.

PMID- 1440190
TI  - Analysis of length and surface area of each segment of the large intestine
      according to age, sex and physique.
AB  - Length, diameter and surface area of each of 6 segments of the large intestine
      were determined and calculated in 920 Japanese patients who underwent barium
      enema. Of the length and surface area measurements obtained, those of the
      transverse colon were the largest, followed by those of the sigmoid colon. The
      diameter of the ascending colon was the largest, while those of the descending
      colon and sigmoid colon were the smallest. There were various sex differences in
      size of the large intestine. Length and surface area of the entire large
      intestine in males were shorter and smaller respectively than those in females.
      Lengths of the cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon and rectum in males were
      shorter than those in females. Diameters of the descending colon, sigmoid colon
      and rectum in males were larger than those in females. Total surface areas of the
      ascending colon and transverse colon in males were smaller than those in females,
      while total surface areas of the descending colon, sigmoid colon and rectum in
      males were larger than those in females. Length of the entire large intestine
      tended to be increased with age. Length and surface area of the entire large
      intestine tended to be increased with an increase in physical dimensions in
      females.

PMID- 1440191
TI  - Trans-uterine venography. Normal anatomy and pathologic appearances.
AB  - From a series of 110 trans-uterine venographies, the authors present the normal
      radiological anatomy of the uterine venous vascularization and of its efferent
      venous drainage. They also present the most frequent variations from normal and
      examples of the pathologies encountered.

PMID- 1440192
TI  - Biometry of the infrarenal inferior vena cava measured by computed tomography.
      Clinical applications.
AB  - In a previous study based upon the cavography of 100 patients, we determined that
      the average diameter of the infrarenal inferior v. cava (IIVC) was 21.3 mm (range
      10-31 mm) at its end [1]. We discuss the value of different methods to measure
      IIVC, and particularly computed tomography (CT) scans reviewed in our department.
      It showed that the largest diameter of IIVC was not in a frontal plane and the
      width observed in a cavography was in fact the projection of a transverse
      diameter on the film. The real diameter of the IIVC is larger than that showed by
      cavography. This present study shows the results of measurements of the IIVC
      obtained from 50 consecutive CT scans. The average transverse diameter is 24.26
      mm (range 14-33.3). The average anteroposterior diameter is 13.4 mm (range 5-22)
      and the average angle alpha between the transverse diameter and the frontal plane
      is 30 degrees 45' (range 12 degrees-55 degrees). We discuss the different methods
      of measurement of IIVC and we conclude that at present, CT scan is one of the
      most reliable methods to measure the real diameter of IIVC.

PMID- 1440193
TI  - Morphologic aspects of biceps brachii in the rat: application to brachial plexus
      reconstruction (27.3.92).

PMID- 1440194
TI  - Role of the first dorsal metacarpal artery in the construction of pedicled bone
      grafts (27.3.92).

PMID- 1440195
TI  - Role of class I molecules of the major histocompatibility complex in cytotoxic T
      cell function in health and disease.

PMID- 1440196
TI  - Mechanisms of transplantation immunity.
AB  - In summary, this chapter describes the biology and genetics of the major and
      minor histocompatibility antigens and the nature of in vitro and in vivo immune
      responses to them and to tissue-specific antigens. It reviews the nature and
      action of immune response genes. It gives an account of how tolerance to
      histocompatibility antigens was originally defined and the prospects of
      intervention aimed at establishing tolerance to these and tissue-specific
      antigens in adult animals, including man.

PMID- 1440197
TI  - Genetic analysis of susceptibility to type 1 diabetes.

PMID- 1440198
TI  - The immunogenetics of rheumatoid arthritis.

PMID- 1440201
TI  - Clinical procedures review: another casualty of a litigious society.

PMID- 1440200
TI  - A role for major histocompatibility complex-binding peptides in the immunotherapy
      of autoimmune disease.

PMID- 1440199
TI  - Multiple sclerosis and its animal models: the role of the major
      histocompatibility complex and the T cell receptor repertoire.

PMID- 1440202
TI  - Transcranial Doppler sonography in carotid-cavernous fistulas: analysis of five
      cases.
AB  - Transcranial doppler sonography was performed transorbitally in five patients
      clinically diagnosed as unilateral carotid-cavernous fistula. Dural arteriovenous
      malformation related-shunts were detected in all the patients. In the normal
      eyes, the only doppler signals observed at an insonation depth of 45 to 55 mm
      were those of the ophthalmic artery. In the affected eyes, abnormal doppler
      signals with relatively higher flow velocity and lower resistance were observed.
      In three of the cases, these abnormal signals showed a flow directed anteriorly
      or away from the cavernous sinus, consistent with changes in the ophthalmic veins
      caused by the presence of the shunts. In two cases, however, the observed flows
      were directed posteriorly, the normal direction of these veins. The possible
      explanations for this discrepancy are discussed in relation with angiographic
      findings. The use of transcranial doppler might provide a better understanding
      about hemodynamic changes in carotid cavernous fistulas.

PMID- 1440203
TI  - Mesial temporal subdural electrode as a substitute for depth electrode.
AB  - As a substitute for depth electrodes, mesial temporal subdural electrodes were
      devised. This electrode has a slender trapezoid shape and is easily introduced to
      the inner uppermost portion of the parahippocampal gyrus. Our results have shown
      that mesial temporal electrodes can detect not only interictal spikes but also
      subclinical and clinical seizure discharges from the mesiolimbic structures, and
      they have excellent capability for lateralization of the mesial temporal
      epileptic focus. If mesial temporal subdural strips are used in combination with
      lateral temporal subdural grids, comprehensive understanding of the focus
      distribution throughout the temporal lobes will be possible without using depth
      electrodes.

PMID- 1440204
TI  - Multimodality treatment of deep periventricular cerebral arteriovenous
      malformations.
AB  - The surgical treatment of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) located in deep
      periventricular regions such as the basal ganglia is associated with marked
      morbidity and mortality. Approaches through critical brain regions afford limited
      exposure of the lesions, while surgical dissection is sometimes complicated by
      acute severe brain swelling and/or hemorrhage in the surrounding tissues. In our
      approach to deep AVMs, our regimen has evolved from direct staged microsurgical
      excision under routine fentanyl-N2O-relaxant anesthesia (first four patients) to
      the use of elective high-dose barbiturate anesthesia (subsequent 12 patients). In
      the first group of four patients, 11 operations were performed. Two patients
      improved, one of whom returned to normal neurologically. There were three
      episodes of acute brain swelling and/or hemorrhage. One patient died as a result,
      and another deteriorated. In the second group of 12 patients, all but two lesions
      were completely excised. Among the 10 patients in whom the AVM was completely
      excised, seven improved, six of whom achieved a good to excellent outcome, with
      two regaining full neurologic function. Three patients worsened (one as the
      result of acute brain swelling and/or hemorrhage). There was no death in this
      group. Only one incidence of acute brain swelling and/or hemorrhage occurred in
      26 operations. Even though the number of patients is too small in the first group
      for meaningful statistical comparison, our intraoperative observations and
      postoperative results suggest that our evolved multimodality regimen, such as
      staged excision and the use of elective high-dose barbiturates, was likely to
      have contributed to the improved treatment results of these formidable lesions.

PMID- 1440205
TI  - Hemifacial spasm due to tumor, aneurysm, or arteriovenous malformation.
AB  - The authors report eight cases of so-called symptomatic hemifacial spasm. They
      had gross pathological lesions such as a tumor (one epidermoid, one neurinoma,
      and two meningiomas), vascular malformation (one medullary venous malformation
      and two arteriovenous malformations), and aneurysm. In all four cases with a
      tumor, no artery compressed the facial nerve at the root exit zone. In three of
      the four cases, the hemifacial spasm disappeared after removal of the tumor in
      contact with the facial nerve. Compression or encasement of the facial nerve by
      the tumor was the pathogenesis of the hemifacial spasm in these three cases. The
      remaining case with tumor (tentorial meningioma) did not have a mass or vessel
      that directly compressed the facial nerve at the root exit zone. However, the
      hemifacial spasm disappeared after the removal of the tumor. In a case with a
      medullary venous malformation with arterial component, an engorged draining vein
      compressed the root exit zone of the facial nerve. In the remaining three
      vascular cases--two cases of arteriovenous malformation and a case of saccular
      aneurysm--enlarged feeding arteries and an aneurysm directly compressed the root
      exit zone of the facial nerve. Not only arterial or venous but also mass
      compression can cause hemifacial spasm in some symptomatic cases. Surgical
      decompression of the facial nerve from the causative organic lesion is the
      primary choice of treatment.

PMID- 1440206
TI  - Vertebral hemangioma causing spinal cord compression during pregnancy.
AB  - Hemangiomas of bone are extremely common vascular tumors that are most commonly
      discovered as incidental findings in the vertebral column. Infrequently, these
      benign lesions may cause local or radicular pain and neurologic deficits, from
      myeloradiculopathy to paralysis. This report describes the occurrence of a
      symptomatic vertebral hemangioma during pregnancy, in order to illustrate current
      methods for diagnosis and treatment of these lesions when associated with spinal
      cord compression. The possible mechanisms by which they may become symptomatic
      during pregnancy are reviewed.

PMID- 1440207
TI  - Neurinoma of the third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerves: a survey and report of
      a new fourth nerve case.
AB  - A rare case of trochlear nerve neurinoma is described. Including this case, the
      number of reported intracranial tumors arising from the sheaths of the third,
      fourth, and sixth cranial nerves is 38. By site and relationship to the nerve
      segment, they fall into three groups: cisternal, cisternocavernous, and
      cavernous. In cisternal tumors of the third and sixth nerves, paresis of the
      nerve hosting the tumor is the unique nerve deficit; by contrast, in those of the
      fourth nerve, paresis of the trochlear nerve can be absent and that of the third
      nerve present. In the latter tumors, a peculiar ataxic hemiparesis syndrome is
      produced by midbrain compression. Cisternocavernous neurinomas often cause
      symptoms of intracranial hypertension, while cavernous neurinomas bring about two
      clinical features: paresis of one or more nerves of the cavernous sinus and a
      clinicoradiological orbital apex syndrome. At surgery, generally cisternal
      neurinomas are totally removed and the nerve source of the tumor identified; in
      cisternocavernous and cavernous neurinomas, total removal of tumor and
      identification of the parent nerve have been reported in only half of the cases.
      In the majority of parasellar neurinomas, clinical differences can be found
      between those arising from the nerves governing eye movement and those arising
      from the gasserian ganglion.

PMID- 1440208
TI  - Repositioning of the tortuous vertebrobasilar artery for trigeminal neuralgia: a
      technical note.
AB  - A patient with trigeminal neuralgia caused by a tortuous vertebrobasilar artery
      is reported. To obtain safe and certain neurovascular decompression of the
      trigeminal nerve, the tortuous vertebrobasilar artery was repositioned by pulling
      it toward the dura mater of the clivus using a synthetic vascular slip. The
      authors describe the technique of repositioning of the tortuous vertebrobasilar
      artery and its usefulness.

PMID- 1440209
TI  - Implications for the pathogenesis of aneurysm formation: metastatic
      choriocarcinoma with spontaneous splenic rupture. Case report and a review.
AB  - We report a case of ruptured intracranial aneurysm from metastatic
      choriocarcinoma in a patient presenting with intracerebral hemorrhage. Operative
      evacuation of the hematoma with clipping of a distal right middle cerebral artery
      aneurysm was performed. Postoperatively, the patient developed hypovolemic shock
      from spontaneous splenic rupture. Histopathologic examination of the cerebral
      aneurysm showed choriocarcinoma invading the vessel wall. Metastatic
      choriocarcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of
      intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage in women of child-bearing age.

PMID- 1440210
TI  - Primary carcinoma of the choroid plexus in the lateral ventricle.

PMID- 1440211
TI  - Cavernous angioma of the posterior fossa dura mimicking a meningioma: case report
      and review of literature.
AB  - A cavernous angioma of the posterior fossa dura was discovered incidentally on
      neuroimaging studies. The clinical and pathologic features of this lesion are
      described. Although it has been reported to arise in the posterior fossa and the
      tentorium cerebelli, we present the first case of such a malformation arising
      from the dura of the posterior fossa.

PMID- 1440212
TI  - Benign meningioma with a short latency period following irradiation.
AB  - Meningiomas have been reported following radiation of the head, usually with a
      long latent interval between exposure and the diagnosis of the new tumor. We
      report a benign meningioma resected approximately 3 1/2 years after radiation
      therapy for a glioma, which represents an unusually short latent interval between
      radiation and new tumor growth.

PMID- 1440213
TI  - The association of cervical spondylosis and multiple sclerosis.
AB  - The diagnostic and therapeutic considerations produced by the coexistence of
      cervical spondylosis and multiple sclerosis are complex. We have encountered six
      patients, affected by both multiple sclerosis and cervical spondylosis, in whom
      neurosurgical procedures were performed. The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis was
      confirmed by a combination of clinical, neuroimmunologic, electrophysiologic, and
      neuroradiologic findings. The diagnosis of spondylosis with spinal cord
      compromise was confirmed by myelography and computed tomographic scan in all
      cases, and by magnetic resonance imaging in four. Surgery was followed by lasting
      clinical improvement in two patients, transient improvement in one, and no change
      in the other three. Our experience confirms that multiple sclerosis and cervical
      spondylosis can coexist and suggests that this coexistence may result in an
      interaction that compounds the deleterious effect on the nervous system.
      Diagnostic evaluations of patients, particularly young patients, with symptoms of
      cervical spondylosis should include consideration of the possible coexistence of
      multiple sclerosis. The evaluation of a patient with known multiple sclerosis who
      develops new signs of cervical spinal cord dysfunction should always include
      spinal neuroimaging studies. When progression of symptoms coincides with
      documented progression of anatomic compression, surgical intervention can yield
      good results.

PMID- 1440214
TI  - Use of propofol (Diprivan) for awake craniotomies: technical note.
AB  - We describe the use of propofol (Diprivan) to provide patient comfort during the
      initial stages of awake craniotomies.

PMID- 1440215
TI  - Meningioma in a neonate: case report.
AB  - A 10-day-old female with a parasagittal meningioma presenting as a subcutaneous
      tumor is reported. Meningiomas within the 1st month of life are rare. The
      clinical and pathological characteristics of congenital meningioma are reviewed.

PMID- 1440216
TI  - Cerebral berry aneurysms in identical twins: a case report.
AB  - A pair of identical twins in whom cerebral berry aneurysms were found is
      reported. One presented with epilepsy, and the aneurysm was discovered
      incidentally. The other presented with a spontaneous bleed, which was fatal.

PMID- 1440217
TI  - Intracerebral injury following thermocoagulation of the trigeminal ganglion.
AB  - An unusual postoperative complication of percutaneous thermocoagulation of the
      gasserian ganglion is reported. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance
      imaging of the brain disclosed an intracerebral lesion following the surgical
      procedure. Some rare abnormalities of the skull base could increase the risk of
      such complications. A meticulous surgical technique with fluoroscopic and
      neurophysiological control is mandatory in any percutaneous procedure on the
      trigeminal ganglion.

PMID- 1440218
TI  - Growth of a giant aneurysm following complete thrombosis by detachable balloon
      occlusion.
AB  - A giant basilar artery aneurysm demonstrating growth and causing neurological
      deterioration even after complete detachable balloon occlusion is reported.
      Autopsy revealed total thrombosis of the aneurysm and a hemiconcentric, onion
      skin-like, laminated structure. Numerous vascular channels and multiple fresh
      intramural hemorrhages were noted within the outer margin of the aneurysmal wall.
      Repeated intramural hemorrhages appeared to have been responsible for the
      aneurysmal laminated structure and contributed to progressive aneurysmal growth.
      This case demonstrates that the growth of some giant aneurysms is not dependent
      upon the continuity with the parent artery, and progressive enlargement cannot
      always be prevented by balloon occlusion.

PMID- 1440219
TI  - Acute intramedullary spinal cord abscess: case report.
AB  - We report the first case of an acute pyogenic intramedullary cervical spinal cord
      abscess, brain abscesses and meningitis due to an unusual anerobe, Bacteroides
      disiens. The importance of spinal magnetic resonance imaging for establishing the
      diagnosis is emphasized.

PMID- 1440220
TI  - A case of double-compartment hydrocephalus presenting with opisthotonus.
AB  - Double-compartment hydrocephalus, a rare shunt complication, is caused by
      occlusion of the aqueduct and the fourth ventricular outlets after shunting of
      the lateral ventricles. Dilation of the fourth ventricle causes brain-stem
      dysfunction and cerebellar signs. A case of double-compartment hydrocephalus
      presenting with opisthotonus is presented, and the relevant literature is
      reviewed.

PMID- 1440221
TI  - Intraventricular craniopharyngioma: report of two cases and review of the
      literature.
AB  - Two unusual cases of purely intraventricular craniopharyngioma are presented.
      Both patients complained of headache as a sign of increasing intracranial
      pressure, but neither other neurological deficits nor hormonal disorders were
      present. Magnetic resonance images showed a mass lesion located within the third
      ventricle. Surgery confirmed that these two tumors were completely confined
      within the third ventricle, and histologically they proved to be squamous
      papillary craniopharyngiomas. Review of the literature demonstrates that
      craniopharyngiomas at this location have many common features and would appear to
      form a distinct entity.

PMID- 1440222
TI  - Serial development of 'de novo' aneurysms after carotid ligation: case report.
AB  - A case demonstrating the serial development of "de novo" aneurysms following
      common carotid ligation is presented. Persistence of the hemodynamic changes
      caused by carotid ligation, proven by ophthalmodynamometry performed twenty-five
      years later, might be the underlying basis for the serial formation of de novo
      aneurysms. The need for a program of routine neuroradiological follow-up in
      patients undergoing carotid ligation is discussed.

PMID- 1440223
TI  - Multiple spinal neurinomas presenting visual disturbance as the initial symptom:
      case report.
AB  - A case of multiple spinal neurinomas with visual disturbance is reported. A 63
      year-old man was admitted with a complaint of progressive visual disturbance due
      to papilledema without spinal symptoms and signs. The neuroimaging studies
      demonstrated communicating hydrocephalus and two mass lesions in the cauda
      equina. Both tumors were found to be neurinomas. Intracranial hypertension
      secondary to spinal tumors is unusual, and multiple spinal neurinomas are rare.
      In the patient without spinal symptoms and signs, it is difficult to make a
      diagnosis of spinal tumor. Importance of checking for a spinal cord lesion by
      magnetic resonance imaging in such a case is stressed.

PMID- 1440224
TI  - Lumbar disk lesions in retrospect and prospect.

PMID- 1440225
TI  - The knife that saves. Memoirs of a Lahey Clinic surgeon.

PMID- 1440226
TI  - Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea occurring in long-term bromocriptine treatment for
      macroprolactinomas.

PMID- 1440227
TI  - In vitro fertilization and frozen bone flaps.

PMID- 1440228
TI  - Endometrial carcinoma in patients aged 75 years or older: outcome and
      complications after postoperative radiotherapy or radiotherapy alone.
AB  - A retrospective analysis is reported of 89 patients at least 75 years old (median
      age 79 years) treated with irradiation for endometrial carcinoma between 1972 and
      1989, the median follow-up being 39 months. In 66 patients radiotherapy was given
      postoperatively and in one case preoperatively, 22 patients were treated with
      radiotherapy alone: intravaginal insertions exclusively in 22 patients (median
      dose 60 Gy to the mucosa) and combined with external radiotherapy in 53 patients
      (median external target dose 45 Gy; three or four fields, all treated daily, 1.8
      to 2.0 Gy per fraction, five fractions per week; 30 Gy to the vaginal mucosa with
      low-dose rate). A few patients were treated with external radiotherapy or
      intrauterine insertions only. 65% of the patients treated with radiotherapy alone
      and 34% of the patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy had FIGO stage II or
      III disease. Five-year actuarial overall survival and disease-free survival for
      all patients with adenocarcinomas treated with curative intent was 47.5% and
      57.2%, respectively. In 48 patients with surgical stages I and II, treated with
      postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy, overall actuarial survival is 58.2% and
      disease-free survived 65.5% at five years. After postoperative vaginal insertions
      only, no vaginal recurrence occurred. With combined external and intravaginal
      radiotherapy in surgical stage I and II, 4/36 patients (11%) showed a recurrence
      in the vagina only, the abdominal and pelvic recurrence rate being 8.3%. Grade 3
      to 4 late toxicity was observed in 6/53 patients (11.3%) treated with external
      and intravaginal radiotherapy. However, in patients receiving external
      radiotherapy less than 45 Gy and intravaginal radiotherapy 30 to 40 Gy, as is
      standard postoperative adjuvant treatment today, only one grade 3 late toxicity
      was observed in 17 patients (5.9%). We conclude, that treatment of elderly
      patients with adenocarcinoma of the uterus should follow the same pattern as in
      younger patients, the acute side-effects and late toxicity of radiotherapy being
      similar.

PMID- 1440229
TI  - Clinical assessment of tumor clearance during radiotherapy as a prognostic factor
      of early glottic carcinoma.
AB  - From 1967 through 1985, 358 cases of early glottic carcinoma were treated with
      telecobalt therapy at the Department of Radiology, Osaka University Medical
      School. Among 278 cases treated with 2 Gy a day, the tumor response of 262 cases
      at 40, 50 and 60 Gy were evaluated by direct or indirect laryngoscope. The five
      year local control rates of these evaluable cases of T1 and T2 glottic carcinoma
      were 79% and 70%, respectively. The local control rates of T1 glottic carcinoma
      with tumor clearance and persistence at 40 Gy were 83% (119/143) and 64% (43/67),
      and those of T2 cases were 86% (18/21) and 58% (18/31), respectively. The local
      control rates of the cases with tumor clearance and persistence at 40 Gy were
      same between T1 and T2 cases. The tumor clearance rates of T1 cases were
      significantly higher than those of T2 cases (p < 0.005). T2 glottic carcinoma had
      larger tumor volumes and slower tumor regression and resulted in lower control
      rates compared with T1 glottic carcinoma. The difference in the radiation dose of
      T1 and T2 glottic carcinoma with the same clearance rate was estimated as 15 Gy
      using logit analysis.

PMID- 1440230
TI  - Ideal dose level in treatment planning optimization.
AB  - The biological response of the tumor is expressed in terms of tumor control
      probability (TCP) and its dependence on the inhomogeneous dose distribution
      throughout the tumor volume is studied. The ideal dose level to which the
      prescribed dose must be referred is derived, by employing a formula based on the
      linear quadratic model. To administer the prescribed dose to the ideal dose level
      renders the tumor control probability equal to that one corresponding to a
      uniform irradiation of the tumor. For the normal tissue irradiated a normal
      tissue complication probability index (NTCPI) is also defined and calculated. The
      comparison between NTCPIs of competing plans supports the optimization. In
      general the resulting ideal dose level is lower than the mean dose level, but not
      necessarily equal to the minimum in the tumor. This result shows the possibility
      of administering the prescribed dose to a dose level higher than the minimum,
      maintaining the tumor control probability at a good level and consequently
      lowering the complications to the normal tissue. The method offers a general
      support for the choice of the reference dose level and of the better technique.
      An example of application of the method is shown.

PMID- 1440231
TI  - The cytoskeleton and proliferation of melanoma cells under hyperthermal
      conditions. A correlative double immunolabelling study.
AB  - Hyperthermia provides a potent therapeutical tool of cancer treatment, the cell
      biological effects of which are fairly understood. In the present study we
      applied hyperthermal shocks of 42 degrees C and 44 degrees C to human melanoma
      cells under tissue culture conditions. The integrity of the microtubular (mT)
      system and rate of DNA replication was assessed by indirect immunofluorescence
      using antibodies to tubulin as an mT marker and to BrdU as an indicator for DNA
      replication. Through this approach we obtained evidence that heat (44 degrees C
      for 60 min) exerts a profound damaging effect on the mT system accompanied by a
      change in the phenotypical appearance of melanoma cells. DNA replication,
      however, was still in progress in a significant number of heavily afflicted
      cells. From these data we conclude that a therapeutic regiment combining
      hyperthermia and mT inhibitors might prove useful in the treatment of human
      melanomas.

PMID- 1440232
TI  - Micronucleus assay prediction and application optimized by cytochalasin B-induced
      binucleated tumor cells.
AB  - Improvement in the predictive assertion of the micronucleus assay was achieved by
      treating human malignant melanoma cells (Mewo) with cytochalasin B (CB),
      generating binucleated cells (BNC) representing cells after a single
      karyokinesis. Optimal cell binucleation was determined by testing several
      cytochalasin B concentrations and different incubation times. On average, 56%
      binucleated cells were found after incubation with 2 to 3 micrograms/ml
      cytochalasin B for 48 h. Cells with at least one micronucleus (Mn) were defined
      as fraction of cells with micronuclei and describes the degree of damaged cells.
      We found in binucleated cells 2.2 fold the fraction of cells with micronuclei
      than in mononucleated cells (MNC), as expected assuming that an induced
      micronucleus is associated with only one single daughter cell after mitosis. The
      mean of micronuclei per binucleated cells, however, was enhanced about 2.9 fold
      in relation to that of micronuclei per mononucleated cells and is related to the
      nuclear damage per cell. The application of cytochalasin B did not enhance the
      fraction of damaged cells although the degree of the injury per cell is
      intensified. A micronuclei promoting or inhibiting effect of the experimental
      design due to changes in cell proliferation was excluded by cytofluorometric
      investigations of DNA content and synthesis after cytochalasin B application. A
      comparison of the modified with the conventional micronucleus assay shows the
      superiority of the former.

PMID- 1440233
TI  - Protection of mouse oesophageal mucosa against gamma rays injury.
AB  - The alterations in the oesophageal epithelium were studied in mice after a single
      whole-body exposure to 7.5 Gy of Co-60 gamma rays in presence or absence of 2
      mercaptopropionyl glycine. The epithelium showed an increase in the thickness
      which reached a maximum on the third day and then decreased gradually up to
      seventh day after irradiation in the non-drug treated group. In the 2
      mercaptopropionyl glycine treated animals the epithelial thickness remained in
      the normal range except on the day 7 when it was significantly lower than normal.
      The total cell population registered a steady decline from one to seven days post
      irradiation in both groups, but the number of cells was more in the 2
      mercaptopropionyl glycine treated group. The number of pycnotic nuclei showed an
      inverse relationship to the total cell population, it increased continuously up
      to seven days in both the protected and non-protected groups. However, pycnotic
      nuclei were significantly lower in the protected group on days 3, 5 and 7 in non
      protected group.

PMID- 1440234
TI  - Adjuvant therapy for patients with colon and rectal cancer: clinical indications
      for multimodality therapy in high-risk groups and specific surgical questions for
      future multimodality trials.

PMID- 1440235
TI  - Retroperitoneal Castleman's disease.
AB  - A case of Castleman's disease localized in the retroperitoneal space is reported.
      A 29-year-old patient had a mass 15 cm in diameter with radial calcification.
      After surgical resection, both the patient's anemia and hypergammaglobulinemia
      disappeared. Castleman's disease should be considered when facing a solid
      retroperitoneal or mesenteric mass, mainly if anemia and hypergammaglobulinemia
      are present. Previous reports about this unusual condition are reviewed.

PMID- 1440236
TI  - Laparoscopic cholecystectomy during pregnancy in symptomatic patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The management of symptomatic biliary tract disease during pregnancy
      is controversial. Although most patients receive temporizing medical therapy,
      some authors have advocated a more aggressive surgical approach. We have extended
      this surgical approach to include laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: Five
      women with pregnancies at 13 to 23 weeks' estimated gestational age underwent
      laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis or acute
      cholecystitis between March and September 1991. RESULTS: No complications
      occurred, and the postoperative courses of all patients were unremarkable. Four
      patients have been delivered of healthy babies, and the fifth patient is still
      pregnant at the time of this report. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
      appears to be a safe treatment for selected patients with symptomatic biliary
      tract disease during pregnancy. Further study is warranted to determine its
      proper role in managing this difficult clinical problem.

PMID- 1440238
TI  - Lymphatic and venous examination of the ulcerated leg: a preliminary report.
AB  - BACKGROUND: It has been widely accepted that deep venous thrombosis and venous
      incompetence initiate a series of events resulting in various ulcerations. The
      role of the lymphatic system in the progression of these events has not been
      extensively studied. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with nonarterial ulcerations
      of the legs were examined by phlebography and lymphangiography. All had recurrent
      ulcerations associated with nonpitting edema, brawny induration, and dermatitis
      characteristic of the postphlebitic syndrome. Arterial circulation was normal in
      all patients. RESULTS: Phlebographic abnormalities found were the presence of
      communicating vein incompetence in all 23 patients, varicose veins in six, and
      deep venous occlusion in one. Lymphatic abnormalities were also present in all
      patients. Extravasation in the area of the ulcer was seen in eight patients,
      dermal backflow in six, tortuosity and irregularity of the channels in four, and
      retention of contrast agent for more than 24 hours in seven. CONCLUSIONS:
      Significant abnormalities of the lymphatic system exist in patients with leg
      ulcers caused by the postthrombotic syndrome.

PMID- 1440237
TI  - Granulocyte oxidative activity after thermal injury.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Alterations in granulocyte function after thermal injury have been
      described. We have serially studied the level of granulocyte cytosolic peroxidase
      activity in 23 thermally injured patients during the first 6 weeks after injury.
      The patients' mean age and burn size were 35.1 +/- 15.7 years and 41.6% +/- 16.8%
      (range, 18% to 88%), respectively. Fourteen patients had concomitant inhalation
      injury, and the overall mortality rate was 4.3%. METHODS: Purified granulocytes
      were obtained from peripheral blood after red cell lysis and Ficoll-Hypaque
      (Pharmacia Inc., Piscataway, N.J.) gradient separation. Cells were loaded with
      dichlorofluorescin diacetate, and baseline fluorescence was measured by flow
      cytometry. After phorbol myristate acetate stimulation, fluorescence was measured
      again. Cells from unburned normal subjects were used as daily controls. RESULTS:
      The data are expressed as percent of stimulated control granulocyte fluorescence.
      Unstimulated patient granulocytes demonstrated a significantly higher baseline
      activity than did unstimulated controls (22.9% vs 15.4%; p < 0.05). Mean
      fluorescence from stimulated granulocytes was 114% of the control values (p <
      0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Granulocytes from thermally injured patients exhibited a
      baseline increase in cytosolic oxidase activity, suggesting in vivo activation
      and a greater than normal oxidase activity after in vitro stimulation.

PMID- 1440239
TI  - Modified anoabdominal rectal resection and colonic J-pouch anal anastomosis for
      lower rectal carcinoma: preliminary report.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There has recently been increasing interest in coloanal
      reconstruction after proctectomy for low rectal carcinoma. We describe here our
      pilot experience with seven patients undergoing modified anoabdominal resection
      of the rectum and a colonic J-pouch anal anastomosis. METHODS: The procedure
      varied according to the extent of internal anal sphincter (IAS) resection (type
      a, partial resection of the upper IAS; type b, circumferential resection of the
      upper IAS; type c, partial preservation of the lower IAS; and type d, total
      resection of the IAS). RESULTS: None of the patients had incontinence, but
      preservation of the lower half of the IAS (types a and b) showed functional
      superiority over more extensive IAS resection (types c and d). Only patients who
      underwent types c and d resection needed medications to reduce stool frequency.
      CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the lower half of the IAS has a more
      important role than the upper half in the control of defecation. Total resection
      of the IAS did not sacrifice continence, but preservation of at least the lower
      IAS resulted in a better quality of life. Careful patient selection is needed
      when considering the use of these procedures for tumors in the lowest part of the
      rectum.

PMID- 1440240
TI  - Adrenal scintigraphy of well-differentiated (functioning) adrenocortical
      carcinomas: potential surgical pitfalls.
AB  - Adrenal scintigraphy with 131I-6 beta-iodomethylnorcholesterol (NP-59) has been
      widely used to evaluate adrenal cortical tumors during the past 20 years.
      Unilateral visualization on the side of an adrenal tumor has been considered
      diagnostic of a benign adrenocortical adenoma in the patient with Cushing's
      syndrome. Bilateral nonvisualization of the adrenal glands in the presence of
      Cushing's syndrome is considered diagnostic of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC).
      ACCs characteristically are unable to incorporate enough NP-59 to be visualized
      on NP-59 adrenal scintigraphy. Two patients with well-differentiated cortisol
      secreting ACCs, in which the primary tumor or subsequent metastases demonstrated
      intense uptake (visualization) on NP-59 scans are reported here. As a result of
      these findings on NP-59 adrenal scintigraphy, the lesions were initially
      misinterpreted to represent benign disease. In each patient the operative
      approach selected, based on the interpretation of the NP-59 scan, was
      inappropriate for the management of the respective adrenal neoplasm or its
      metastasis. A review of the literature reveals 16 other cases of either ACC or
      their metastases that were visualized with adrenal scintigraphy. Ninety percent
      of these cases were associated with adrenocortical hormone hypersecretion. It is
      concluded that in the presence of Cushing's syndrome or another adrenocortical
      hormone excess state, unilateral visualization of an adrenal tumor on NP-59
      scintigraphy cannot be interpreted to represent uniformly benign disease.

PMID- 1440241
TI  - Surgery for malignant obstructive jaundice: analysis of mortality.
AB  - Surgery on patients with malignant obstructive jaundice carries formidable
      morbidity and mortality rates. Clinical records of 120 consecutive patients who
      had a serum total bilirubin levels of 100 mumol/L or greater before exploration
      were analyzed retrospectively to provide guidelines for better management.
      Although most patients underwent bilienteric bypass to either the extrahepatic (n
      = 45) or intrahepatic ductal system (n = 28), resection was possible in 32
      (26.7%). Complications developed in 42 patients (35%), among whome 12 (10%)
      required reexploration and 32 (26.7%) died within the same hospitalization.
      Identification of risk factors associated with hospital deaths after surgery was
      conducted on 84 of the 120 (group A) patients randomly selected from the entire
      study period. Based on multivariate analysis, age greater than 65 years, a raised
      serum aspartate transaminase value greater than 90 IU, and serum urea level
      greater than 7 mmol/L before surgery were the risk factors selected from 39
      different clinical (n = 6), laboratory (n = 26), and operative (n = 7) parameters
      studied. The predictive value was validated in the remaining 36 patients (group
      B), and a high-risk patient population had been isolated. Because both serum urea
      and aspartate transaminase values correlated significantly with the necessity of
      urgent exploration, aggressive nonoperative treatment should be used to control
      the emergency. Alternative therapeutic options or perioperative management should
      be considered for the selected high-risk patients before definitive surgical
      biliary decompression.

PMID- 1440242
TI  - Spontaneous rupture and functional state of the esophagus.
AB  - Esophageal function was investigated after 1 to 8 years in five consecutive
      patients surviving spontaneous esophageal rupture (Boerhaave's syndrome) and
      treated by suturation. Only one patient was symptom free and had almost normal
      esophageal function as judged by manometry, 24-hour pH monitoring, endoscopy, and
      barium swallow. In the other four patients reflux symptoms and a severe
      functional disturbance of the esophagus were observed. In four patients the
      manometry revealed a lack of propulsive peristaltic movements and esophageal
      muscular incoordination (particularly in the upper part of the esophagus) closely
      mimicking those seen in the nonspecific esophageal motility disorder. In 24-hour
      intraesophageal pH monitoring a pathologic gastroesophageal reflux with long
      lasting single reflux periods was observed, suggesting poor esophageal clearance.
      Also endoscopic and histologic signs of reflux esophagitis were seen in the same
      four patients. In contrast, lower esophageal sphincter pressure was normal in all
      five survivors. It is concluded that patients with spontaneous esophageal rupture
      have a severe disturbance of esophageal motility. The concomitant reflux
      esophagitis may be caused primarily by the esophageal motility disturbance, which
      may also contribute to the origin of the rupture.

PMID- 1440243
TI  - Conventional versus high-porosity polytetrafluoroethylene grafts: clinical
      evaluation.
AB  - In baboons, nonreinforced (unwrapped) 60 microns internodal distance
      polytetrafluoroethylene grafts form a complete endothelial lining within 2 weeks
      by capillary ingrowth through the wall. Smooth muscle cells then grow under the
      endothelium and proliferate to form a complete neointima. To determine if
      spontaneous endothelialization of these grafts can also occur in humans, 10 above
      knee femoropopliteal grafts composed of equal lengths of 60 and 30 microns
      polytetrafluoroethylene were placed in eight patients. These grafts were
      reinforced (wrapped) for human use. Because biopsy of the grafts was not
      possible, endothelialization was assessed noninvasively by 111In-labeled platelet
      imaging 1 week and 3 months after surgery. There was no difference in indium
      uptake between 60 and 30 microns segments at either time. Histologic sections
      were available from 60 microns segments of two patients who underwent operation
      for graft thrombosis. Capillary ingrowth was seen in these grafts, but it rarely
      extended more than half the distance from the outside of the graft to the lumen.
      Smooth muscle cells were not seen on the flow surface, indicating that a
      neointima had not formed. These findings demonstrate that capillary ingrowth can
      occur in 60 microns grafts in humans but does not produce an endothelial lining.
      The failure to endothelialize is perhaps a result of inadequacy of angiogenesis
      in adult humans or retardation of capillary ingrowth by the reinforcing wrap.

PMID- 1440244
TI  - Burn edema is accentuated by a moderate smoke inhalation injury in sheep.
AB  - We determined the lung and systemic response of a moderate smoke inhalation
      injury combined with a 15% total body surface third-degree burn compared with a
      burn alone and inhalation alone. Adult sheep were prepared with chronic lung and
      bilateral prefemoral soft tissue lymph fistula. The burn was confined to one
      side. Physiologic parameters, lymph flow (QL), and lymph/plasma protein ratio
      were monitored. Oxidant changes were measured as lipid peroxidation by
      circulating and lymph-conjugated dienes and lung tissue malondialdehyde. Animals
      were resuscitated with lactated Ringer's solution during the 24-hour study period
      to restore and maintain vascular filling pressures and cardiac index. We found
      net 24-hour fluid balance for burn-inhalation injuries to be 4.1 +/- 1.2 L
      compared with burn alone of 2.9 +/- 0.9 L and inhalation alone of 2.4 +/- 0.5 L,
      a significant difference. Protein-rich burn tissue QL increased by fivefold to
      sixfold with burn alone compared with more than tenfold with burn-inhalation
      injury. A twofold increase in both lung and nonburn soft tissue QL was also seen
      in the combined injury not seen with burn alone. Arterial blood gases decreased
      only at 12 hours. Plasma conjugated dienes were increased in all groups, whereas
      burn lymph values were increased only in combined insult. In addition, lung
      malondialdehyde content at 24 hours was 155 +/- 11 nmol/gm with burn-inhalation
      injury compared with 62 +/- 8 nmol/L for burn alone, 55 +/- 9 nmol/L in
      inhalation alone, and 45 +/- 4 nmol/L for controls. However, no alveolar flooding
      was noted in any group. We conclude that a modest smoke inhalation
      (carboxyhemoglobin of 25%) added to a 15% total body surface burn markedly
      increases the degree of burn edema, as well as nonburn soft tissue and lung QL,
      compared with burn alone, indicating increased plasma to interstitial fluid
      transport in these tissues as well. Increased burn tissue lipid peroxidation
      products corresponded with the increased burn fluid losses. The increased lung
      lipid peroxidation also indicates further lung oxidant activity as well.

PMID- 1440245
TI  - Jejunal versus ileal segmental allografts in the dog: comparison of immunologic
      and functional results.
AB  - Segmental small-bowel grafts have been advocated as a means of reducing the
      incidence of rejection and graft-versus-host disease in small-bowel transplant
      recipients. This study compared the results achieved with heterotopic segmental
      allografts of the jejunum and the ileum that used 120 cm Thiry-Vella loops in a
      dog model. Immunosuppressive therapy consisted of 25 mg cyclosporine/kg/day.
      Results were monitored by histologic examinations, function tests (maltose and
      xylose absorption), and brush-border enzyme assays. Thirty-three dogs were
      randomized for use as a donor (n = 11) or recipient of a jejunal allograft (n =
      11) or an ileal allograft (n = 11). Eight allografts were technical failures and
      were excluded from analysis. Fourteen allografts were successful (eight ileal,
      six jejunal). No case of graft-versus-host disease was observed. Six allografts
      (42.5%, three jejunal [50%] and three ileal [37.5%]) were rejected during the
      first 3 months (not statistically significant). Eight allografts (five ileal,
      three jejunal) were tolerated for up to 3 months and were removed. Two ileal and
      two jejunal allografts appeared grossly normal at surgical removal, but two ileal
      and one jejunal allografts exhibited signs of chronic rejection, and one ileal
      allograft showed advanced rejection. The jejunal and ileal allografts had similar
      clinical courses, as were revealed by immunologic reactions and functional
      parameters. We conclude that there is no major difference between jejunal
      allografts and ileal allografts in the dog.

PMID- 1440246
TI  - Meticulously restored lumina of injured veins remain patent.
AB  - We report our experience with 38 major venous injury repairs in 37 patients
      between January 1981 and December 1989. The injuries were caused by gunshot (n =
      27), shotgun (n = 3), knife (n = 5), blunt trauma (n = 1), and dog bite (n = 1).
      These involved 27 femoral, 10 popliteal, and one brachial veins. Thirty patients
      had associated major arterial injuries and seven had major long bone fractures.
      Retrospective analysis yielded two groups. Group I consisted of 17 patients who
      underwent meticulous restoration of venous lumina ensured by intraoperative
      postreconstruction venography (IPV) in all patients. Two of these required
      revision on the basis of IPV findings. Late patency of venous repair was
      confirmed by postoperative venography (n = 10) or duplex scans (n = 7). All 17
      venous repairs were patent (100%). In group II none of the 20 patients (21 veins)
      underwent IPV. Fifteen of the 20 patients underwent venography and five patients
      (six veins) underwent duplex scanning after surgery. Eight veins were occluded
      and 13 (62%) were patent. The difference in patency rates of venous repair
      between groups I and II was significant (p = 0.02). Three (37.5%) of eight
      patients with occluded venous repair required delayed fasciotomy, but only 1
      (3.4%) of 29 limbs (30 veins) with patent lumina required fasciotomy (p = 0.03).
      We conclude that meticulous restoration to normal-caliber venous lumina,
      confirmed by IPV, can achieve high patency and low morbidity rates.

PMID- 1440247
TI  - Adenosine triphosphate-magnesium chloride in radiation injury.
AB  - Although adenosine triphosphate-magnesium chloride (ATP-MgCl2) has demonstrated
      cytoprotective effects in a variety of adverse pathophysiologic conditions, its
      ability to alter radiation injury is unknown. The purpose of this study,
      therefore, was to assess the effects of ATP-MgCl2 on colorectal radiation injury
      after preoperative pelvic radiotherapy. Mixed-breed pigs (n = 36) received 4250
      cGy preoperative external-beam pelvic radiotherapy (350 cGy fractions three times
      per week for 4 weeks). During radiotherapy, animals were randomly assigned to one
      of three treatment groups: (1) intravenous infusions of normal saline during
      radiotherapy, (2) intravenous ATP-MgCl2 (30 mumol/kg) during radiotherapy, or (3)
      intravenous ATP-MgCl2 (60 mumol/kg) during each radiotherapy session. After
      completion of radiotherapy and a 4-week rest period, animals underwent colorectal
      resection by either the two-layer hand-sewn (n = 18) or stapled end-to-end
      anastomosis technique (n = 18). Laser Doppler velocimetric readings were obtained
      to assess mural colonic blood flow after completion of anastomosis. A second
      laparotomy on postoperative day 5 or 11 was done to examine the following
      anastomotic parameters: (1) repeat laser Doppler velocimetry, (2) gross
      inflammatory scoring, (3) bursting pressure, (4) preoperative barium enema to
      identify leak or stenosis, (5) analysis of anastomotic hydroxyproline content,
      and (6) incidence of cutaneous injury in the radiation portals. ATP-MgCl2
      administered intravenously at 60 mumol/kg led to (1) diminished colorectal
      seromuscular ischemia evidenced by laser Doppler velocimetric readings, (2)
      decreased skin and subcutaneous tissue injury in the treatment portals, (3)
      significantly decreased perianastomotic inflammatory reaction, and (4) increased
      early hydroxyproline content. There was no significant difference in the
      incidence of leakage or stenosis between the study groups, nor was the
      anastomotic bursting strength significantly different between the treatment
      groups. Therefore the administration of ATP-MgCl2 (60 mumol/kg) appears to offer
      significant cytoprotection from preoperative pelvic radiation therapy.

PMID- 1440248
TI  - Physical and biologic impermeability of intestinal sutures in the first twenty
      four hours after operations on the gastrointestinal tract.
AB  - The author has substantiated a concept that in the general notion of the
      impermeability of intestinal sutures, it is necessary to distinguish between
      physical impermeability (imperviousness of sutures to liquids and gases) and
      biologic impermeability (imperviousness of sutures to microbes and toxins). It
      was established in experiments on 165 dogs that infection that invaded peritoneum
      during operation disappeared from the peritoneal cavity within an hour of small
      bowel and stomach surgery and within 1 1/2 hours of colon surgery. Then a period
      of sterility of peritoneum was observed, which lasted for 8 to 9 hours after
      operations on the stomach and the small bowel (p = 0.01) and for 4 to 7 hours
      after operations on the colon (p = 0.01). In the following hours the peritoneal
      cavity was infected through physically hermetic intestinal sutures. At the end of
      24 hours the peritoneum of operated organs showed the presence of 10(4) to 10(6)
      intestinal microbes. Greater omentum, bowel loops, and their mesentery adhered to
      the suture in response to the infection through the suture. Complete covering of
      the suture with adjacent viscera prevented infection of the peritoneal cavity
      through the suture. The author suggests a well-grounded concept of the leading
      role of infection through a physically hermetic intestinal suture in the
      development of postoperative peritonitis and peritoneal adhesions.

PMID- 1440249
TI  - Cesar Roux--Swiss pioneer in surgery.
AB  - Cesar Roux of Lausanne, Switzerland, typified the pioneers in surgery at the turn
      of the nineteenth century. He was inspired by his mentor Theodor Kocher of Berne
      and the surgeons Theodor Billroth and Richard von Volkmann. Although he is best
      known for the Roux-en-Y loop, the first esophagojejunostomy and the first
      adrenalectomy are also evidence of his innovative approach to operative surgery.
      Despite his many contributions and honors he remained a surgeon in the field. His
      exemplary career is recalled here.

PMID- 1440250
TI  - Visceral infarction caused by cocaine abuse: a case report.
AB  - Cocaine abuse is now known to result in a wide variety of medical illnesses. We
      report our experience with one patient who had abdominal pain and was found to
      have near-total infarction of all abdominal viscera. The cause of this and other
      medical complications of cocaine abuse (i.e., extreme vasoconstriction) is
      discussed in detail. Physicians should maintain a high index of suspicion when
      dealing with complaints of abdominal pain by cocaine users.

PMID- 1440251
TI  - Circumferential rupture of the ascending aorta in a fusiform aneurysm.
AB  - A case of complete circumferential rupture of the ascending aorta with massive
      hemorrhage into the pericardial space and around the aortic arch is described.
      Computed tomography was used to establish the diagnosis. Rupture occurred distal
      to the origin of the coronary arteries without impairment of aortic valve
      function, and therefore a preclotted woven Dacron graft was inserted. To the best
      of our knowledge, this is the first documented case of complete rupture of the
      ascending aorta in a fusiform aneurysm and the first report of its successful
      surgical treatment.

PMID- 1440252
TI  - Comparison between internal mammary artery and saphenous vein bypass graft.

PMID- 1440253
TI  - [The assessment of the functional status of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy
      based on the data from a spirometry-bicycle ergometry test].

PMID- 1440254
TI  - [The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and antidiuretic hormone in chronic
      circulatory failure in elderly subjects].
AB  - Overall 210 patients aged 60-74 years suffering from coronary heart disease
      associated with chronic circulatory failure, stages I, IIA and IIB, 53 patients
      aged 45-59 years and 20 healthy persons aged 45-74 years were examined for the
      renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and antidiuretic hormone. Renin activity,
      the concentration of aldosterone and vasopressin in blood plasma were
      investigated by radioimmunoassay. In the initial stage of heart failure, the
      elderly persons showed up more marked renin activation in blood plasma, followed
      by its lowering as decompensation progressed as well as an increase in the
      concentration of aldosterone and vasopressin, which resulted in the progress of
      circulatory failure.

PMID- 1440255
TI  - [The clinico-morphological aspects of primary pulmonary hypertension].
AB  - The authors relate the results of a clinical and post mortem examination of 12
      patients who died for primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). The clinical, x-ray,
      echocardiography and electrocardiography data were of the same type in all the
      patients. Macroscopic studies of the heart also demonstrated similar changes: the
      heart mass was increased because of hypertrophy of its right parts. At the same
      time the microscopic picture of small vessels of the lungs turned out fairly
      diverse. Based on these differences all the cases were divided into 3 groups:
      veno-occlusive disease, recurrent pulmonary thromboembolism, plexogenic pulmonary
      arteriopathy. However, certain differences were noted inside the groups either.
      It is therefore assumed that PPH is a collective notion, uniting different
      alterations in small pulmonary vessels, that lead to a considerable rise of
      pressure in the pulmonary artery.

PMID- 1440256
TI  - [The prognosis of the accelerated progression of chronic glomerulonephritis].
AB  - Based on the data of the 20-year follow-up of 146 patients suffering from
      intracapillary chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) verified with the aid of
      nephrobiopsy, the conclusion was made about the necessity of distinguishing rapid
      progressing CGN. In such pattern of CGN, chronic renal failure may occur for up
      to 5 years since the disease onset. A significant relationship was established
      between the incidence of rapid-progressing CGN and the morphological and clinical
      types as well as tubulointerstitial alterations. The clinical types included the
      active and inactive nephritic, nephrotic and nephrotic-hypertonic types. A
      regressive analysis made according to the Cox method permitted one to establish
      that the clinical type of CGN is the most reliable factor of predicting rapid
      progressing disease.

PMID- 1440257
TI  - [Diabetes mellitus and pregnancy].

PMID- 1440258
TI  - [The comparative clinico-morphological characteristics of the regional
      circulation of the parotid and labial salivary glands in Sjogren's disease and
      chronic parenchymatous parotitis].

PMID- 1440259
TI  - [The main trends in the training of medical college students in clinical
      departments in the propagandizing of a healthy life style].
AB  - Popularization of the healthy way of life (HWL) at the medical institutes is a
      crucial problem, since on the one hand, the medical institute is to train good
      specialists in terms of their own health and, on the other hand, these
      specialists are to popularize the HWL among the community. The paper is a summary
      of the experience of 10 clinical departments of the Vladivostok Medical
      Institute, gained with popularization of the HWL. The purpose lies in the
      training of the specialists in the methodology and techniques by which the HWL is
      to be introduced in the consciousness of the community. The realization of the
      purpose involves the use of conventional and original methodological approaches
      to the organization of the training and educational process and their
      differentiation at certain stages. The program and plan of the training include
      the use of both required and facultative forms of the training, active
      participation of the students in carrying out health measures among the
      community.

PMID- 1440260
TI  - [Pneumonias in the aged--their clinical picture and treatment].

PMID- 1440261
TI  - [Experience in the combined treatment of different clinical forms of chronic
      bronchitis with new phytotherapeutic mixtures].
AB  - As many as 68 patients suffering from chronic bronchitis (CB) were subjected to
      combined treatment by new mixtures of medicinal herbs given per os and by
      inhalation. Administration of the first (antiseptic) or the second (broncholytic)
      mixture was determined by the clinical variant of CB. In 81% of cases, the method
      produced a beneficial effect, contributing to the shortening of the times of the
      patients' treatment in the hospital. The long-term results were also positive,
      allowing the simultaneous use of the phytotherapeutic mixtures per os and by
      inhalation in the treatment of CB patients.

PMID- 1440262
TI  - [Cough].

PMID- 1440263
TI  - [Prolonged fever as the leading symptom of granulomatous giant-cell arteritis].

PMID- 1440264
TI  - [Wissler's subsepsis allergica as a manifestation of drug allergy].

PMID- 1440265
TI  - [The role of the endothelial cell in immunopathology].

PMID- 1440266
TI  - [The role of computed spirometry in the epidemiological study of respiratory
      symptoms].
AB  - An epidemiological study was made of a random representative sample of men and
      women aged 25-64 years. There were 167 men and 306 women. In order to compare
      forced expiration in persons with different combinations of respiratory symptoms,
      potentialities of the use of the forced midexpiratory flow 25-75% together with
      the FEVC, FEV1, FEV1/FEVC were examined. Among the flow parameters, the forced
      midexpiratory flow has the least variability, which permits using it for
      diagnosis of obstructive disorders of lung ventilatory function. The studies
      revealed qualitative peculiarities in the changes of the spirography readings
      among men and women. As compared to the examinees without respiratory symptoms,
      men with cough and sputum manifested a decrease in the parameters characteristic
      of mixed changes in lung ventilatory function with the predominance of
      obstructive alterations in chronic bronchitis. The degree of obstructive
      disorders was higher than in women showing the analogous symptoms. As compared to
      the examinees without respiratory symptoms, women suffering from chronic
      bronchitis were marked by lower values of the volumetric parameters, without any
      signs of forced expiration deceleration.

PMID- 1440267
TI  - [Monocyte functional activity and nonspecific antiviral cellular resistance in a
      group at high risk for developing acute pneumonia].
AB  - Overall 132 patients at greater risk for pneumonia were examined for functional
      activity of monocytes and antiviral cellular resistance according to the status
      of intracellular viremia in monocytes and lymphocytes. The control group included
      46 healthy men. Proneness to pneumonia was discovered to be related to abnormal
      function of mononuclear phagocytes and a decrease of antiviral cellular
      resistance. The conclusion is made about the necessity of the control over
      functional activity of monocytes, viremia in immunocompetent cells and
      advisability of carrying out immunomodulatory and antiviral therapy.

PMID- 1440268
TI  - [The metabolism of eicosanoids, glucocorticoids and cyclic nucleotides in young
      people with acute pneumonia].
AB  - An investigation into the pathogenesis of acute pneumonia in 37 young men made it
      possible to ascertain the role of arachidonic acid metabolites and hormonal
      regulation in the pathogenesis of the inflammatory reaction in acute bacterial
      pneumonia. At the initial stage of inflammation, invasion of the infectious agent
      leads to phagocytosis activation, stimulates the output of immunoglobulins
      belonging to different classes, which, binding antigens, form immune complexes
      influencing the output of biologically active substances. This is accompanied by
      the destruction of pulmonary tissue, release of lipid peroxidation radicals and
      proteinases, by the enhancement of arachidonic acid degradation under the
      destructive action on the membranes of phospholipase A2 cells to form
      prostaglandins participating in the changes in the tone of bronchi, pulmonary
      vessels and affecting blood coagulation. Activation of the hypophyseo-adrenal
      system leads to the attenuation of the effects produced by biologically active
      substances and exerts varying actions in the acute and convalescence periods. The
      data obtained stress an important role played by metabolic functions of the lungs
      in the integrative connections of all the systems of the body maintaining
      homeostasis in pneumonia and the main function of the lungs, namely ventilation.

PMID- 1440269
TI  - [The efficacy of using the Soviet antibiotic rifamethoprim in treating acute
      bacterial pneumonias and chronic bronchitis].
AB  - Rifametoprim (600 mg/day) was given to 64 patients with acute bacterial
      pneumonia, acute bronchitis and exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. 201 (83.4%)
      out of 241 isolates were sensitive to the action of the antibiotic. The treatment
      turned out effective in 84.4% of cases.

PMID- 1440270
TI  - [The clinical efficacy of treating patients with acute pneumonias by using drug
      and quantum correction of the lipid peroxidation-antioxidant system].
AB  - The authors describe the status of lipid peroxidation (diene conjugates and
      malonic dialdehyde) and the endogenous antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase in
      the course of the treatment of patients with acute focal pneumonia by means of
      the use of transthoracic intrapulmonary injections of unithiol and autologous
      ultraviolet blood radiation (AUVBR). Three groups of patients were entered into
      the study. The first group included 64 patients who were given transthoracic
      intrapulmonary injections of unithiol, the second group 58 patients who received
      5-7 sessions of AUVBR, in the third group, 52 patients were given transthoracic
      intrapulmonary injections of unithiol coupled with 3-5 sessions of AUVBR. The
      control group was made up of 40 patients given intravenous unithiol injections in
      routine therapeutic doses. The results of the treatment evidence that combined
      correction of lipid peroxidation carried out in the third group patients was most
      effective. As regards the times, the positive dynamics of lipid peroxidation and
      superoxide dismutase activity correlated with the clinical, biochemical and x-ray
      improvement. Therefore the method of correction in question is a pathogenetically
      based approach, permitting one to enhance the clinical efficacy of the treatment
      of patients suffering from acute focal pneumonias and to reduce the times of
      their stay in the hospital by 5-7 days, on the average.

PMID- 1440271
TI  - [Viral infection in pulmonology].

PMID- 1440272
TI  - [The causes of prolonged fever in patients with infiltrative lung processes].
AB  - The authors analyze the causes of lingering fever in patients with pulmonary
      infiltrations. The given phenomenon is most often caused by pneumonias provoked
      by unusual causative agents (Legionella, Rickettsia, Mycoplasma). In such cases,
      administration of erythromycin is effective. In rare cases, lingering fever is
      induced by blocked pulmonary suppurations, pleural exudates in pneumonia
      patients, and infiltrative tuberculosis. Besides, there were cases, in which
      fever was of drug etiology.

PMID- 1440273
TI  - [The prognosis of the outcome of the inflammatory process in chronic bronchitis].
AB  - The authors relate the data on the leading part fibrosoformation plays in the
      disease outcome in patients with certain pulmonary chronic illnesses. The levels
      of free and bound hydroxyproline and hyaluronidase activity served as diagnostic
      criteria for processes of fibrosoformation. Based on the data obtained a method
      of predicting chronic bronchitis (CB) was devised. Thus, the two-fold rise of
      hyaluronidase activity as compared to normal and the index of fibrosing (the
      ratio of free to bound hydroxyproline) exceeding 1 suggest an unfavourable course
      of CB accompanied by the enhancement of fibrosoformation. Meanwhile if
      hyaluronidase activity increases 2-fold and more and the index of fibrosing is
      less than 1, the prognosis of inflammatory process may be favourable. Based on
      the clinical data, the significance of prognosis was proved in 93% of cases.

PMID- 1440274
TI  - [The contractile capacity of the myocardium in patients with chronic obstructive
      bronchitis].
AB  - As many as 123 patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis (COB) were examined.
      Myocardial contractility was estimated by echocardiography. The data obtained
      indicate that in COB patients, the contractility of the right and left heart is
      disordered. The level of systolic pressure in the pulmonary artery did not exceed
      45 mm Hg in COB patients and cannot be the cause of the overload of the right
      heart. The decrease of left ventricular contractility is not associated with the
      concomitant pathology of the cardiovascular system. The causes of myocardial
      contractility disorders in COB patients remain unclear.

PMID- 1440275
TI  - [The activity of lipid peroxidation and proteolysis in assessing the stability of
      the course and the prognosis of ischemic heart disease in patients with chronic
      bronchitis].
AB  - In combination of coronary heart disease with chronic obstructive bronchitis
      observed in 57 patients there appeared hyperactivity of lipid peroxidation and
      suppression of lipid antioxidant abilities. In aggravated chronic bronchitis,
      lipid peroxidation intensified still more, starting the chain of biochemical
      reactions which entailed further imbalance and inhibition of the antioxidant and
      proteolysis systems. This suggests the conclusion on the validity of introduction
      of antioxidants and proteolytic inhibitors into complex therapy of such patients.

PMID- 1440276
TI  - [Hypoxic stimulation and inspiratory resistive training in the rehabilitation of
      patients with chronic bronchitis].
AB  - A study was made of the efficacy of normobaric hypoxic stimulation (NHOS) and
      inspiratory resistive training (IRT) in multimodality treatment and
      rehabilitation of patients suffering from chronic obstructive bronchitis. The
      results were estimated by means of exercise tests and by stimulation
      electromyography of the diaphragm (SEMGD). The use of NHOS and IRT in
      multimodality treatment of the given group patients was found to give rise to a
      more complete physical rehabilitation of the patients, whereas the application of
      SEMGD is an effective approach to the control of sessions and courses of NHOS and
      IRT. Besides, the use of the latter method also permits choosing the intensity of
      the action of the treatment methods in question on the body, particularly on the
      diaphragm muscle.

PMID- 1440277
TI  - [Asthmatic bronchitis as the first manifestation of secondary immunodeficiency in
      hereditary enzymopathy in women].
AB  - The characteristics of nonspecific immunity were studied on an outpatient
      material of 80 non-smoking women aged 38-60 years, with manifestations of
      hereditary primary enzymopathy (hyperoxaluria syndrome). Hyperoxaluria was shown
      to be related to immunologic imbalance of some components of nonspecific
      resistance by the cellular and humoral type. In addition to biochemical
      differences, the group of patients with prognostically favourable chronic
      asthmatic bronchitis have got immunologic differences with the alternative group.

PMID- 1440278
TI  - [The generation of active forms of oxygen by the blood leukocytes, lipid
      peroxidation and antiperoxide protection in bronchial asthma patients].
AB  - A study was made of the generation of active forms of oxygen by leukocytes, of
      free radical lipid peroxidation and antiperoxide activity (APA) in 52 bronchial
      asthma (BA) patients depending on the disease phase and of a possibility of their
      correction with antioxidants. In BA exacerbation, chemiluminescence of leukocytes
      (CL) and plasma content of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) increase whereas plasma APA
      reduces as compared to the control. During remission, CL and plasma content of
      MDA decrease but do not reach normal. Simultaneously one can see a tendency
      toward plasma APA reduction as compared with the phase of exacerbation. BA
      patients who received antioxidants in addition to the conventional therapy
      demonstrated a more pronounced lowering of CL and plasma MDA content than those
      given the conventional therapy alone. The data obtained attest to the activation
      of free radical oxygen and lipid processes and to inhibition of plasma APA in BA,
      providing evidence in favour of including antioxidants in combined therapy of BA.

PMID- 1440279
TI  - [The effect of theophylline on purine receptor function in bronchial asthma
      patients].
AB  - A study was made of purine receptors (PR) in healthy subjects and bronchial
      asthma (BA) patients before and after theophylline (TP) treatment. BA patients
      demonstrated a significant lowering of the binding sites of A2PR and a tendency
      toward the rise of the number of A1PR on peripheral blood lymphocytes as compared
      to the healthy subjects. As a result of TP therapy for 3 weeks, the number of
      A2PR increased in 69% and the number of A1PR fell in 50% of the patients. The
      efficacy of TP pharmacotherapy depended significantly on the increment of the
      binding sites of A2PR. The growth of the number of A2PR was recorded in the
      groups of patients with a beneficial and satisfactory effect of the treatment.

PMID- 1440280
TI  - [The effect of a single dose of nifedipine, intal, sodium thiosulfate and
      Essentiale on the blood level of calcium, hydroperoxides, thiol compounds and
      prostaglandins in bronchial asthma patients].
AB  - A study was made of the impact of a single intake of nifedipine, intal, sodium
      thiosulfate and essentiale on respiratory function, the blood content of ionized
      calcium, total calcium, hydroperoxides, total and non-protein thiol groups, and
      prostaglandins in bronchial asthma patients. All the drugs exerted an antioxidant
      action, which is supported by the lowering of the content of hydroperoxides after
      their administration and by an increase of the content of thiol groups. A rise of
      the level of PGE and a considerable reduction of blood serum PGF2 alpha, most
      remarkable after essentiale administration were also noted. In patients given
      nifedipine in a dose of 20 mg, an insignificant broncholytic effect was recorded
      in more than half the cases. An appreciable rise of blood ionized calcium was
      seen in all the cases. Obviously, this is a direct consequence of its limited
      supply to the cells via calcium channels. In contrast to patients who received
      other drugs, those given intal demonstrated the lowering of blood serum ionized
      calcium and the growth of the content of bound calcium, which may be accounted
      for the transformation of ionized calcium to the bound condition.

PMID- 1440281
TI  - [An evaluation of the efficacy of Beclometh in bronchial asthma patients].
AB  - Fifteen bronchial asthma patients were followed-up for 6 months. They were
      administered beclomet-250 in a daily dose 1000 micrograms. The patients' clinical
      status was characterized by positive changes, ventilation function of the lungs
      improved. The drug was discovered to produce no suppressive action on adrenal
      function. Besides, the patients did not develop oropharyngeal candidiasis.

PMID- 1440282
TI  - [The use of transbronchial ECG leads for the early detection of hemodynamic
      disorders in the lesser circulation in chronic nonspecific lung diseases. 1].
AB  - Increased resistance of pulmonary blood vessels is of basic significance in the
      development of pulmonary hypertension. Atrial complex of transbronchial ECG
      leads, recorded with a special electrode, reveals early disorders of pulmonary
      circulation and consequent hyperfunction of the right atrium. Adequate task for
      ECG is registration of changes in myocardial biopotentials rather than
      quantitative assessment of pressure in the pulmonary artery. Combined
      bronchoscopy and electrocardiography enhance their potentialities and can be used
      to identify patients, who are likely to develop pulmonary hypertension.

PMID- 1440283
TI  - [The problems of the clinical integration of pulmonology and other therapeutic
      disciplines (the internist pulmonologist--myth or reality?)].

PMID- 1440284
TI  - [The function of the collateral bed in patients with ischemic heart disease and
      isolated occlusion of the anterior descending branch of the left coronary
      artery].
AB  - To study the collateral bed, 39 coronary heart disease patients with isolated
      occlusion of the anterior descending artery without a history of large-focal
      myocardial infarction were examined. All the patients were subjected to coronary
      angiography and left ventriculography. Based on an analysis of left ventricular
      myocardial contractility, the patients were distributed into 2 groups. The first
      group included 16 patients without disorders of local contractility of the left
      ventricular myocardium, the second one 23 patients with derangement of local
      contractility of the left ventricular myocardium. The conclusion is made that in
      patients suffering from stable angina pectoris with isolated occlusion of the
      anterior descending artery without a history of large-focal myocardial
      infarction, exclusively intersystemic collateralization of the vessel via the
      conal artery (or the conal branch of the right coronary artery) is most
      favourable from the standpoint of the maintenance of myocardial contractility.

PMID- 1440285
TI  - [Arterial hypertension as a prognostic factor in the course of ischemic heart
      disease].
AB  - Overall 235 patients with a history of uncomplicated myocardial infarction were
      examined. Of these, in 79 patients (33%), myocardial infarction developed in the
      presence of arterial hypertension. To predict the efficacy of rehabilitation
      treatment, postinfarction angina pectoris, arterial hypertension, the size and
      localization of the injury, the status of the coronary and myocardial reserves
      were taken into consideration. The data obtained confirmed the prognostic
      significance of arterial hypertension in the estimation of the efficacy of
      rehabilitation therapy. Arterial hypertension contributes to an unfavourable
      course of CHD and to a decrease of the work fitness of the patients who suffered
      myocardial infarction. Estimating the long-term efficacy of rehabilitation
      treatment, it is necessary to bear in mind not only the coronary reserves, but
      also the myocardial reserves, its integral index--the total ejection fraction and
      regional myocardial contractility.

PMID- 1440286
TI  - [Experience with the use of streptokinase in acute myocardial infarct at the
      prehospital stage].
AB  - The authors analyze the experience gained with the systemic thrombolytic therapy
      (STLT) at the prehospital stage of the treatment of acute myocardial infarction
      by specialized emergency cardiological teams. The screening of patients to be
      given STLT was performed via the remote diagnostic center. STLT was provided to
      43 patients who were given intravenous injections of 500,000 PU streptokinase
      (Avalizin, GDR) for 15-30 minutes. The control group included 16 patients given
      standard therapy. After STLT 62.8% of the patients demonstrated moderate arterial
      hypotension, which could readily be corrected. Myocardial reperfusion after STLT
      manifested by rapid removal of the painful syndrome, characteristic dynamics of
      ECT, and by the appearance of specific reperfusion disorders of rhythm and
      conduction. The accelerated idioventricular rhythm, ventricular premature heart
      beat and A-V rhythm of the junction were recorded most frequently. The indicated
      rhythm disorders were removed readily enough. It is recommended that STLT may be
      carried out at the prehospital stage of AMI treatment by the cardiological
      emergency teams, which is likely to appreciably enhance the efficacy of the given
      therapy form.

PMID- 1440287
TI  - [The physical and psychological rehabilitation of women who have had a myocardial
      infarct].
AB  - The study was performed of the effect of bicycle exercise and occupational
      therapy (embroidery, knitting, sewing, drawing, etc.) on physical and
      psychological status of postmyocardial infarction females at the in-hospital
      stage of rehabilitation. It was found that occupational therapy improved the
      psychological status and life quality, whereas low-intensity physical training
      increased performance status in relevant women.

PMID- 1440288
TI  - [The clinico-electrocardiographic classification of the early ventricular
      repolarization syndrome].
AB  - Based on an analysis of 4980 ECGs of patients, the authors could distinguish and
      classify the clinico-electrocardiographic versions of the early ventricular
      repolarization syndrome (EVRS): permanent, occurring for the first time, suddenly
      disappearing, intermittent with a gigantic T wave; with a negative T wave, with a
      short-term T wave inversion, marked by the combination with Wolff-Parkinson-White
      syndrome, and additional chordae of the left ventricle. The clinico
      electrocardiographic classification of the EVRS is of paramount importance for
      practitioners owing to an assumption that the EVRS is not only a version of the
      normal ECG but also can be a marker of CHD. The authors view the EVRS as an
      independent version of the preexcitation syndrome along with Wolff-Parkinson
      White and CLK syndromes, with the manifestations of which it may combine.

PMID- 1440289
TI  - [Abramov's "primary myocarditis", Fiedler's myocarditis and dilated
      cardiomyopathy].
AB  - After comparing the clinical and post mortem signs of myocarditis and dilated
      cardiomyopathy on the basis of correlating the reported data and own data on 28
      patients with the appropriate descriptions by S. S. Abramov and A. Fiedler, the
      authors came to the conclusion that they had described two different diseases. S.
      S. Abramov had described dilated cardiomyopathy, whereas Fiedler acute diffuse
      myocarditis. The term Abramov-Fiedler myocarditis used in the Soviet literature
      does not correspond to the up-to-date classification of myocardial diseases. That
      is why it is required that these two concepts be separated to the benefit of the
      treatment.

PMID- 1440290
TI  - [A clinical case of Sneddon's disease].

PMID- 1440291
TI  - [Panniculitis in gout].

PMID- 1440292
TI  - [The benign course of extracapillary nephritis of drug-induced etiology].

PMID- 1440293
TI  - [Insuloma as the cause of a hypoglycemic syndrome].

PMID- 1440294
TI  - [The basic groups of modern diuretic preparations. I. The mechanisms and location
      of the action of diuretic preparations in the nephron. Carbonic anhydrase
      inhibitors. Thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics].

PMID- 1440295
TI  - [The history of the creation of methods of physical diagnosis: the priority of
      Russian clinical internal medicine in developing methodical palpation].

PMID- 1440296
TI  - [The use of stress echocardiography with dobutamine for the diagnosis of ischemic
      heart disease and for the detection of viable myocardium].

PMID- 1440297
TI  - [The dynamics of the concentration of atrial natriuretic factor depending on
      changes in the arterial pressure level in patients with arterial hypertension].
AB  - The purpose of the study was to explore the dynamics of the concentration of
      atrial natriuretic hormone (ANH) in response to changes in arterial pressure
      including those induced by hypertonic crisis, 7-day hypotensive monotherapy with
      the drugs having different action mode, and the acute test with the basic
      hypotensive drugs. 75 patients suffering from arterial hypertension were entered
      into the study. Measurements of the concentration of ANH in blood plasma were
      performed by radioimmunoassay with the aid of the kits manufactured by the
      Amersham Company (Great Britain). The activity of renin and aldosterone was
      determined by radioimmunoassay according to the standard technique. A strong
      positive correlation was revealed between the concentration of ANH and the level
      of both systolic and diastolic AP. A significant rise of the concentration of ANH
      elicited by hypertonic crisis reflects the growth of the tension of the depressor
      mechanisms by which AP is regulated. The lack of significant changes in the level
      of ANH during the acute pharmacological tests and effective continuous treatment
      with the hypotensive drugs attests to the existence of the complex mechanisms
      that regulate ANH secretion, determined not only by the level of AP.

PMID- 1440298
TI  - [Concomitant rheumatoid arthritis and microcrystalline arthropathies].

PMID- 1440299
TI  - [The use of frequency-correlation electrocardiography on patients with left
      ventricular hypertrophy].
AB  - The frequency correlation electrocardiogram (FCECG) was recorded in 27 patients
      with arterial hypertension (AH) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), 8
      patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 22 patients with coronary heart
      disease (CHD) and in 10 practically healthy volunteers. V4, V5 and V6 ECG leads
      were used as channel X, whereas lead II was used as channel Y. Application of V6
      lead as channel X turned out most informative. The patients with AH and CHD had
      pathological indices in channel coherence. The patients with LVH manifested
      deviations in the spectrum of the amplitudes of lead II. The patients with
      associated LVH and relative coronary insufficiency demonstrated the unchanged
      FCECG like the practically healthy persons. In the given case, however, the
      unchanged FCECG in the above patients reflected the impairment of stimulation
      spreading in the left ventricular myocardium rather than the lack of its
      hypertrophy.

PMID- 1440300
TI  - [The nature of the changes in the repolarization complex of the ECG in patients
      with arterial hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy].
AB  - Altogether 58 patients suffering from arterial hypertension (AH) were examined.
      The patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and changes in the ST-T
      demonstrated a high correlation between an increase of the end systolic tension
      (EST) and interval elongation and the minimal size of the left ventricle before
      mitral valve opening. These data point to the development of "high-stressful LVH"
      which is accompanied by a non-proportional increase of EST, subendocardial
      ischemia of the myocardium (changes in the ST-T) and derangement of diastolic
      heart function.

PMID- 1440301
TI  - [Fluctuations in the stenocardia threshold of patients with ischemic heart
      disease].
AB  - In twenty-eight men (the mean age 49.3 +/- 3.2 years) with different clinical
      varieties of angina pectoris, analysis was made of the heart rate and the grade
      of ischemic depression of the ST segment, associated with anginous attacks seen
      during bicycle ergometry and other physical exercises in the course of daily
      cardiomonitoring. The data obtained indicate that in the same patient, the same
      grade of ischemic depression of ST was recorded despite varying heart rate. On
      the contrary, in spite of the same heart rate the grade of ischemic depression of
      the segment could vary. Dynamic coronary obstruction determined by the mechanisms
      of adrenergic vasoconstriction is the most probable cause of changeability of the
      threshold of angina pectoris in patients belonging to functional classes III-IV.
      The probability of fluctuations in the threshold of angina pectoris should be
      taken into consideration in deciding expert problems and in the assessment of the
      efficacy of antianginal therapy.

PMID- 1440302
TI  - [Left ventricular function in patients with ischemic heart disease and "critical"
      stenosis of one coronary artery. The data from multiphasic ventriculography].
AB  - As many as 38 patients with the clinical and angiographic signs of "critical"
      stenosing of one coronary artery were examined. All the patients underwent
      coronary angiography and transvenous multiphase left ventriculography. The
      authors defined a complex of fairly early, "preclinical" signs of myocardial
      ischemia, pertaining to the energetic effectiveness of the cardiocycle, diastolic
      function of the left ventricle and indices of the local movement of chamber
      walls. It is important that these signs are recordable in minimal, clinically
      undetectable myocardial ischemia characterized by the lack of anginous pain, no
      changes in the ECG, and when the two-picture analysis, commonly used in clinical
      practice, provides normal results.

PMID- 1440303
TI  - [The expansion of the medical possibilities in timely diagnosis].

PMID- 1440304
TI  - [The significance of microproteinuria for the diagnosis of kidney involvement in
      hypertensive disease and secondary forms of arterial hypertension].
AB  - N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity, the concentrations of microalbumin
      (MA) and B2-microglobulin (B2-MG) were measured in urine of 50 healthy subjects
      and 200 patients suffering from arterial hypertension (AH) with preserved renal
      function, including patients with essential hypertension (EH), stages I and II,
      chronic pyelonephritis (CPN), chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) and vasorenal
      hypertension (VRH). The healthy subjects, the patients with stage II EH, and
      those with secondary forms of AH demonstrated significant differences in NAG
      activity in urine. A positive correlation (r = +0.53; p < 0.03) was discovered
      between systolic AP and NAG activity in urine of EH patients. The concentration
      of MA in urine of CGN and VRH patients was significantly higher than that in the
      healthy subjects, EH and CPN patients. The patients with CPN and VRH showed
      significantly higher levels of B2-MG in urine.

PMID- 1440305
TI  - [Renal scintigraphy with captopril in the diagnosis of renovascular
      hypertension].
AB  - Altogether 16 patients with arterial hypertension (AH) were examined. Of these,
      11 were with stenosis of renal arteries, 4 had essential hypertension (EH) and I
      with nephrogenous parenchymatous AH. To estimate the influence of captopril on
      the total and separate renal function in patients with and without stenosis of
      renal arteries and the possibility of the use of the given pharmacological test
      in the diagnosis of renovascular hypertension (RVH), all the patients underwent
      renal scintigraphy with 99Tc-DTPA on admission to the hospital and 1-7 days after
      a single intake of 25 mg captopril per os. Later on in the operated patients the
      results of the test were compared with the hypotensive effect of the surgery. The
      rate of glomerular filtration (RGF) was measured according to the Gates method.
      In patients with stenosis of renal arteries and EH, the total filtration renal
      function remained unchanged after the intake of a single dose of captopril. In
      patients with stenosis of renal arteries, there was a significant decrease of the
      RGF on the side of stenosis made for by an insignificant elevation of the RGF in
      the contralateral kidney, which was accompanied by an increase of asymmetry of
      the renograms. In patients with no hypotensive effect of the surgery, the test
      with captopril was negative, which supports the possibility of this test
      application in the diagnosis of RVH.

PMID- 1440307
TI  - [The diagnosis of hypertension: the tasks, difficulties and errors].

PMID- 1440306
TI  - [The efficacy of nitrendipine in patients with stable arterial hypertension. The
      data from a cooperative study in the USSR. The Working Group for the Cooperative
      Study of Nitrendipine].
AB  - Nitrendipine (bypress) manufactured by Bayer Company in the form of 10 and 20 mg
      tablets and administered in a dose of 20-40 mg/day turned out an effective
      antihypertensive remedy in 65% of patients with arterial hypertension largely
      running a mild course. The effect of nitrendipine administered in a single daily
      dose of 20 mg did not differ from that attained with the same dose given in two
      intakes. The raising of the daily dose of nitrendipine from 20 to 40 mg was
      associated with augmentation of the hypotensive effect in 43.8% of the patients
      in whom the treatment in a dose of 20 mg a day had turned out ineffective. Under
      the conditions of the cross-over method with the use of the reference drugs
      belonging to three groups of the basic antihypertensive agents (nifedipine,
      propranolol, hydrochlorothiazide), the hypotensive effect of nitrendipine did not
      differ from that produced by the drugs under comparison (according to the mean
      group indicators and individual assessment of the efficacy). The tolerance of
      nitrendipine administered in a dose of 10 mg twice a day or in a dose of 20 mg
      once or twice a day was satisfactory.

PMID- 1440308
TI  - [Arterial hypertension in the late period after the hemodynamically adequate
      correction of aortic coarctation].
AB  - The paper is concerned with a study of arterial hypertension in the long-term
      periods after the resection of coarctation of aorta in 77 patients aged 6 to 35
      years. The complex of the patients' examination included bicycle ergometry.
      Arterial hypertension was revealed in 59.7% of the patients. In 83.2%, adequate
      correction was performed, in 16.8%, recoarctation was suspected. The rate of the
      development of hypertension in the operated under 16 years depends on the grade
      of the systolic AP increase before the operation. In those operated on in the
      older age, the rate of arterial hypertension depended on the time elapsed after
      the operation and the age by the moment of examination. In 50% of arterial
      hypertension patients, the work fitness corresponds to that in healthy subjects,
      in 28%, it constitutes 75% of the level seen in healthy subjects, and in 22%, it
      is low. Indications for operation in persons under 16 years rest on the grade of
      the arterial pressure increase; in the older age, indications are not dependent
      on the arterial pressure level.

PMID- 1440309
TI  - [The comprehensive diagnosis of the aortic arch syndrome in nonspecific
      aortoarteritis].
AB  - The authors provide a scheme of a comprehensive diagnosis of the aortic arch
      syndrome in nonspecific aortoarteritis. It includes the clinical and laboratory
      data together with the data on the anamnesis, angiography and ultrasound
      dopplerography. The derangement of the aortic arch was diagnosed in 65 (41%) out
      of 128 patients. There were 53 (81.5%) women and 12 (18.5%) men. The derangement
      of the branches of the aortic arch was most frequently (in 33.8% patients)
      associated with vasorenal hypertension syndrome. The use of modern research
      methods in combination with the clinical data and findings of objective
      examinations turned out fairly effective in the diagnosis of the derangement of
      the aortic arch in nonspecific aortoarteritis.

PMID- 1440310
TI  - [The efficacy of combinations of anti-arrhythmia preparations in patients with
      the paroxysmal form of atrial fibrillation].
AB  - The efficacy of allapinin, ethacizine, ritmilen, kinilentin, obsidan and finoptin
      given alone and in different combinations was studied in 44 patients with
      paroxysmal atrial fibrillation provoked by transesophageal pacing. The use of the
      combinations of the drugs belonging to the first group as well of those of the
      first group combined with the drugs belonging to the 2nd-4th group permitted one
      to significantly enhance the treatment efficacy, to reduce drug doses in a lot of
      patients and, therefore, to minimize the rate of side effects. The data obtained
      promoted the choosing of the therapy algorithm to prevent paroxysms of atrial
      fibrillation. While designing the algorithm, account was taken of the rate of
      paroxysms and of the initial sinus rhythm as was of the results of estimating the
      comparative efficacy of the drugs under study.

PMID- 1440311
TI  - [The mechanisms of the development and diagnosis of myocardial infarct in septic
      endocarditis].
AB  - Based on the clinical, instrumental and biochemical findings, out of 104 patients
      with septic endocarditis 11 (10.6%) were diagnosed to have myocardial infarction.
      It was provoked by coronary artery embolism, the covering of the coronary artery
      ostium by vegetation from the aortal cusp, a decrease of perfusion pressure in
      atherosclerosis stenosed coronary arteries because of marked insufficiency of the
      aortal cusp. In more than half the cases, the clinical picture of myocardial
      infarction was atypical, painless. Echocardiographic demonstration of the
      vegetations near the coronary artery ostium permits forecasting the possibility
      of its covering with vegetation, the threat of the occurrence of acute coronary
      insufficiency, which may appear an additional indication for heart valve
      replacement.

PMID- 1440312
TI  - [Acute rheumocarditis in young men].
AB  - A study was made of the characteristic features of rheumocarditis in 200 young
      recruits. Rheumocarditis developed within the first 2-3 days since the onset of
      migrating polyarthritis and high fever. In many cases, it was accompanied by
      rhythm and conduction disorders as well as by a moderate increase of the left
      heart in combination with intracardiac hemodynamic disturbances. In 42 patients
      (21%), myocardial injury was coupled with mitral valve lesion. Injury to the
      pericardium was recorded in 20 patients (10%); fibrinous pericarditis was
      diagnosed in 15 patients, exudative pericarditis in 5 patients. Injury to all 3
      heart membranes was ascertained in 5 patients (2.5%) (according to
      echocardiography). Thus, the clinical and instrumental manifestations of
      rheumocarditis made it possible to diagnose marked carditis symptoms almost in
      all the patients (in 96%). Unmarked carditis was only discovered in 7 patients.
      The above-mentioned characteristics of rheumocarditis in young men may be due to
      the intensity of the action of streptococcal infection on the heart structures
      within the first days of the disease as well as due to the action of
      immunopathological processes. Besides, a definite role may be played by the
      foregoing physical load.

PMID- 1440313
TI  - [The clinical aspects of the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis].
AB  - Altogether 212 patients aged 16 to 73 years with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
      lasting 3 months to 32 years were examined. Of these, 78 patients had grade I,
      111 grade II, and 23 grade III disease activity. 34 patients had stage I, 76-
      stage II, 56--stage III, and 24--stage IV disease. In 22 patients,
      roentgenography failed to reveal pathology of the joints. The reference group
      comprised 65 patients suffering from gouty arthritis, 46 having osteoarthrosis
      deformans with phenomena of secondary synovitis, 30 with Bekhterev's disease, 10
      with systemic lupus erythematosus, 6 with Reiter's disease, 5 with psoriatic
      arthropathy, and 50 with non-rheumatic diseases. When trying the diagnostic
      criteria for ARA (revised in 1987), criteria 1-4 and 7 were found to be most
      sensitive (from 88.2 to 93.8%), criteria 5 and 6 appeared most specific (100 and
      98.6%, respectively). The specificity of the remaining criteria ranged from 85.4
      to 96.3%. The use of the revised criteria for ARA in clinical practice was
      dictated by the necessity of improving RA diagnosis.

PMID- 1440314
TI  - [The treatment follow-up and diagnosis of drug intolerance].

PMID- 1440315
TI  - [The morphofunctional parallels in arterial hypertension in patients with chronic
      glomerulonephritis].
AB  - A study was made of the structural rearrangement of renal tissues in intravital
      nephrobiopsy specimens and of the functioning of the renin-angiotensin
      aldosterone system and kallikrein-synthetic function in patients with
      mesangioproliferative (MSPGN) and membranous proliferative glomerulonephritis
      (MPGN). The morphological changes were revealed. The patients with associated
      MSPGN and secondary hypertension (SH) mostly demonstrated emptying and hyalinosis
      of arteries, whereas those with associated MPGN and SH manifested for the most
      part the derangement of the tubulointerstitial structures. In patients with MPGN,
      the levels of total renin (TR) and inactive renin (IR) were significantly higher
      than in those suffering from MSPGN. This can be regarded as risk factor of
      earlier development of SH. In MPGN patients, the content of TR and IR as well as
      that of active renin (AR) did not depend on the clinical pattern of chronic
      glomerulonephritis. As compared to MSPGN patients with isolated urinary syndrome,
      those with associated MSPGN and SH had a higher AR level, which agreed well with
      systolic and mean arterial pressure. Apparently, the latter one is implicated in
      the mechanism of SH in MSPGN. In associated MPGN and SH, kallikreinuria was found
      to be lowest, which may be the consequence of tubulointerstitial lesions.
      Discoordination of the renin-angiotensin and kallikrein systems is likely to be
      one of the causes of earlier formation and severe course of SH in the
      morphological pattern under consideration.

PMID- 1440316
TI  - [The importance of determining the level of fibronectin in the blood plasma and
      urine of patients with chronic glomerulonephritis and amyloidosis].

PMID- 1440317
TI  - [Crohn's disease. The problem of early diagnosis].
AB  - A retrospective analysis was made of the diagnostic period of Crohn's disease as
      well as of x-ray and endoscopic signs in 28 patients. Three forms of the disease
      were distinguished: acute (pseudoappendicular), stenosing with chronic intestinal
      obstruction syndrome and primary chronic characterized by the triad (pains in the
      stomach, diarrhea, fever) or by the syndrome of malabsorption with
      extraintestinal manifestations. In the stenosing and primary chronic forms of
      Crohn's disease, a correct diagnosis was established in the majority of the
      patients 3-5 years after appearance of the symptoms. To improve early diagnosis
      of Crohn's disease, it is recommended that indications for x-ray and endoscopic
      examinations be extended. These examinations are indicated in all the patients
      with recurrent pains in the right iliac area, fever of obscure genesis and
      chronic diarrhea.

PMID- 1440318
TI  - [The optimization of the detection of tumors of the organs of the
      hepatobiliopancreatic area by a combination of the ultrasonic study method and of
      the determination of tumor markers in the blood serum].
AB  - To find out new possibilities of improving the diagnosis of tumors of the
      hepatobiliopancreatic area, comparative assessment was made of the efficacy of
      ultrasonography and detection of oncomarkers (carcinoembryonic antigen and
      carbohydrate antigen CA-19-9) in blood serum of patients with suspected carcinoma
      and metastatic injury to the liver, the biliary system and pancreas. Analysis of
      the results has shown that echography is highly informative in the diagnosis of
      the given pathology type. However, in some cases, particularly in those where
      ultrasonography is impeded or else its results are inconclusive, it is advisable
      that the concentration of oncomarkers (preferably of CA-19-9) be measured
      additionally in blood serum, with those oncomarkers producing the highest effect
      in tumors of the biliary system and pancreas.

PMID- 1440319
TI  - [Diagnostic difficulties and errors in early stomach cancer].
AB  - Difficulties that occur in the diagnosis of early gastric carcinoma (EGC) were
      studied on a material of 1617 prophylactic endoscopic examinations of persons who
      did not make any complaints of the alimentary organs and 2158 primary
      gastroscopies performed in accordance with the patients' complaints, results of
      the dispensary follow-up of 811 patients who made up a risk group, and an
      analysis of case reports of 183 patients in whom EGC was confirmed by surgery.
      The authors emphasize a high percentage of errors determined by the lack of the
      pathognomonic symptomatology, difficulties of interpreting the endoscopic
      appearance and histologic confirmation of carcinoma. To improve early diagnosis
      of gastric carcinoma (GC), it is recommended that every endoscopic investigation
      be performed with oncological apprehension, paying attention even to the minimum
      focal changes in the gastric mucosa and making spot biopsy of those changes. It
      is also advisable that a more strict approach should be exercised to the
      formation of risk groups, restricting them to the patients at greater risk for GC
      or with unrecognized GC (first revealed and poorly healing ulcers, polyps
      measuring over 2 cm in diameter, grade III dysplasia discovered in gastric biopsy
      specimens). Such patients should be placed under dispensary observation including
      endoscopy which is to be made in the first stage after 1, 3 and 6 months.

PMID- 1440320
TI  - [Hypertension and "silent" myocardial ischemia. I. The results of stress
      scintigraphy of the myocardium in patients].
AB  - As many as 24 patients suffering from essential hypertension (EH) were examined.
      The patients were subjected to Holter ECG monitoring, echocardiography, coronary
      angiography, exercise scintigraphy of the myocardium with transesophageal pacing
      of the atria and the dipyridamole test. The patients manifested defects of
      thallium accumulation during exercise scintigraphy of the myocardium. They were
      transitory defects of accumulation with clearance impairment recorded in EH
      patients with atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries; transitory defects of
      accumulation without clearance impairment recorded in EH patients with the
      angiographically unchanged coronary arteries. In Holter ECG monitoring, the
      patients with a silent depression of the ST segment demonstrated transitory
      defects of thallium accumulation by the myocardium in all the cases during
      exercise scintigraphy of the myocardium.

PMID- 1440321
TI  - [Computed tomography and physical methods of patient study].

PMID- 1440322
TI  - [Ticlid--a new development in the treatment and prevention of arterial
      thromboses].

PMID- 1440323
TI  - [Hyperfiltration as a factor in the progression of chronic kidney diseases].
AB  - As many as 34 patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS) and 42 patients suffering
      from type I diabetes mellitus without clinical manifestations of renal damage
      were examined for clinical and morphological signs of hyperperfusion renal damage
      (hyperfiltration, microalbuminuria, specific morphological alterations). The lack
      of renal functional reserves was regarded as a criterion for the status of
      hyperfiltration (oral protein administration, intravenous injection of small
      doses of dopamine). The risk of the progression of renal failure by the
      hemodynamic type in NS amounted to 65%. In the mechanism of the development of
      hyperfiltration in NS, the role of systemic hypertension, renal failure, a
      reduction of the ultrafiltration coefficient is discussed. Hypooncia does not
      make any material contribution to the development of hyperfiltration in NS. The
      clinical and morphological signs of hyperfusion renal injury were revealed in 50%
      of patients suffering from type I diabetes mellitus without the clinical signs of
      renal injury.

PMID- 1440324
TI  - [The basic groups of modern preparations. II. Loop diuretics. Osmotic diuretics.
      Aquaretics. Uricosuric diuretics].

PMID- 1440325
TI  - [Problems in kidney physiology].

PMID- 1440326
TI  - [The determination of apolipoproteins. Its possible diagnostic importance].

PMID- 1440327
TI  - [The clinical use of norfloxacin (Nolicin) and ciprofloxacin (Ciprinol)].

PMID- 1440328
TI  - [Lipiduria in the nephrotic syndrome].
AB  - A study was made of urine lipids and their fractions in chronic
      glomerulonephritis (CGN) and renal amyloidosis with nephrotic syndrome (NS). 91
      patients suffering from NS were examined. 2 subgroups were distinguished among
      these patients: with CGN of the nephrotic type and with the nephrotic stage of
      renal amyloidosis. The reference groups were made up of patients with latent CGN
      and healthy subjects. Measurements were made in the blood and urine of total
      lipids (TL) and their fractions--phospholipids (LP), free cholesterol (FC), mono-
      and diglycerides, triglycerides (TG), and cholesterol esters (CE). The presence
      of the NS was attended by a rise in the blood of TL concentration, relative
      content of FC, TG and by a decline of RL and CE, with the decrease of the
      relative content being more manifest in amyloidosis. Nephrotic lipiduria was
      largely characterized by an increase of the concentration of TL and of the
      relative content of PL, with the changes of the latter parameter being mostly
      characteristic of CGN patients. Thus, NS was associated with a high excretion of
      lipids with urine which is likely to reflect their elevated filtration under
      nephrotic hyperlipidemia. Still, in nephropathies whose pathogenesis is
      determined by an important role of inflammatory and membrane-destructive
      processes, of definite role is also the local (renal) formation of PL.

PMID- 1440329
TI  - [The effect of a protein loading test on the fibrinolytic system in patients with
      chronic glomerulonephritis and amyloidosis].
AB  - Investigation of the reserves of the fibrinolytic system with the aid of protein
      stimulation was carried out in 10 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis and in
      10 patients suffering from amyloidosis. All the patients manifested proteinuria
      exceeding 3.5 g/day and other symptoms of nephrotic syndrome of varying
      intensity. Renal function was preserved in all the patients. The reserves of the
      fibrinolytic system were measured by analyzing blood plasma and urine before and
      after beef protein stimulation. The data revealed reciprocal responses of
      activator activity in blood plasma and urine in patients suffering from chronic
      glomerulonephritis and amyloidosis. In patients with amyloidosis, the test
      revealed complete depletion of activator activity in urine while its considerable
      reserves were preserved in blood plasma of the systemic channel.

PMID- 1440330
TI  - [Immunoglobulin filtration and reabsorption as possible factors in the
      pathogenesis of chronic glomerulonephritis. Clinical, immunomorphological and
      histoenzymological research].
AB  - Kidney biopsy specimens obtained from a group of individuals with chronic
      glomerulonephritis (CGN) have been processed for light and electron microscopic
      immunolocalization of total immunoglobulins (Igs). In a few cases, acid
      phosphatase (ACPase), a lysosomal enzyme marker, was ultrastructurally
      visualized. In the glomeruli, horseradish peroxidase-stained Igs were revealed in
      capillary lumina, urinary spaces and in transit through occasional loci of the
      glomerular basal membranes while ACPase-containing lysosomes resided both within
      and outside the cells. In the proximal tubules, Igs were traced in the endocytic
      vesicles and vacuoles, the latter also being positive for ACPase. Statistically
      significant relationships have been revealed between the number of IGs-labeled
      proximal tubules and some clinical or pathomorphological stigmata of CGN, in
      particular, proteinuria and arterial hypertension levels, marked interstitial
      sclerosis, etc. The data obtained are discussed in regard to the mechanisms of
      increased macromolecular filtration and the different proteinuria selectivity
      levels as well as the development of interstitial sclerosis as a result of the
      elevated reabsorption and incomplete lysosomal degradation of Igs in CGN.

PMID- 1440331
TI  - [The morphofunctional parallels in arterial hypertension in patients with chronic
      glomerulonephritis].
AB  - The restructure of renal tissue in intravital nephric biopsy specimens, renin
      angiotensin-aldosterone together with kallikrein synthetic functions were studied
      and compared in patients with mesangioproliferative and membranoproliferative
      glomerulonephritis (MsPGN and MPGN). The characteristics of the morphological
      changes were defined. In MsPGN with secondary hypertension (SH), nephronic
      wasting and hyalinosis of arteries were mostly detectable whereas MPGN with SH
      was primarily marked by the derangement of the tubulointerstitial structures. In
      MPGN, the levels of total and inactive renin (TR and IR) were significantly
      higher than in MsPGN. This can be regarded as risk factor of early development of
      SH. The content of TR and IR and in addition that of active renin (AR) in MRGN
      did not depend on the clinical form of chronic glomerulonephritis. As compared to
      MsPGN with an isolated urinary syndrome, in MsPGN with SH, AR was prevalent,
      while its level correlated well with systolic and the mean arterial pressure. AR
      may be implicated in the mechanism of SH in MsPGN. In MPGN with SH,
      kallikreinuria was found to be extremely low, which may be consequent to
      tubulointerstitial injuries. The discoordination of the renin-angiotensin and
      kallikrein system may be one of the causes of earlier formation and the grave
      course of SH in the morphological pattern under consideration.

PMID- 1440332
TI  - [Probably the most burdensome event for the physician is the occurrence of
      severe, sometimes fatal, pathology as a result of performing one or another
      medical interventions].

PMID- 1440333
TI  - [Acute kidney failure in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis].
AB  - The causes of acute renal failure (ARF) and results of its treatment are analyzed
      in 34 patients aged 15 to 51 years with exacerbation of chronic
      glomerulonephritis (CGN). Of these, 20 patients presented with lupoid GN, 11 with
      Bright's GN, and 3 had GN associated with systemic vasculitis (2 of them also had
      mixed cryoglobulinemia). All the patients underwent clinical treatment that
      lasted from January 1, 1986 to December 31, 1990. In 15 patients, ARF was due to
      the activity of the underlying disease or development of its complications
      (nephrotic crisis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, cryoglobulinemia); in
      15 patients, it was determined by complications induced by drug treatment
      (diuretics, antibiotics, nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs), and in 4 patients,
      by complications related to invasive examinations (radiographic contrast studies)
      and treatment (isolated ultrafiltration). The authors hold that superaddition of
      progressive tubular disorders, rapid decrease of the rate of glomerular
      filtration accompanied by the growth of serum creatinine form the basis for ARF
      to be diagnosed in such patients. Identification of the cause of ARF and
      delimitation of whether the pathological process is renal or prerenal in CGN
      patients is required for rational treatment prescription.

PMID- 1440334
TI  - [The effect of pathogenetic therapy on the expression of endogenous intoxication
      in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis].
AB  - The content of medium-sized molecules (MSM) in the blood serum was measured in 52
      patients with exacerbation of chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) given pathogenetic
      therapy. All the patients manifested an initial rise of the content of MSM.
      Administration of cytostatics and (or) glucocorticoids led to the regression of
      the nephrotic syndrome in 32 patients. In 20 patients, it was ineffective. All
      the patients in whom the treatment appeared effective demonstrated the lowering
      of the content of MSM 2 weeks after the treatment initiation, which outstripped
      the dynamics of the other parameters characteristic of CGN exacerbation. At the
      same time the urinary clearance of MSM remained unchanged. The patients in whom
      the pathogenetic therapy turned out ineffective manifested an increase of the
      blood content of MSM and of the urinary clearance of these substances. It is
      suggested that the test with the detection of the urinary clearance and the
      content of MSM in the blood serum may be used before the treatment and 2 weeks
      after its initiation to early estimate the treatment efficacy. The prognostic
      value of the positive test is 82%, that of the negative 80%. It is assumed that
      the mechanism that triggers the increase of the rate of MSM generation may lie in
      lipid peroxidation activation.

PMID- 1440335
TI  - [The correlation of different forms of primary glomerulonephritis today and their
      diagnostic criteria (the work experience of a nephrology department and a clinico
      morphological analysis of 3000 cases)].
AB  - The author reviews the structure of nephropathies on the basis of an analysis of
      the clinicomorphological data obtained during the follow-up of 3000 patients
      examined at the nephrological center. In a group of primary glomerulonephritis,
      the mesangioproliferative form occurred most frequently (68%), the
      membranoproliferative form was encountered in 27.2% of cases, and the membranous
      form in 1.8%. Over the recent years not a single case of acute glomerulonephritis
      has been observed. Analysis of the diagnostic criteria allowed the antibody
      variety only to be regarded as an independent pattern of rapid-progressing
      glomerulonephritis. Equally to the manifestations of glomerulonephritis proper,
      mesangial proliferation should be also viewed as a possible nonspecific response
      to the other pathological processes. Focal glomerulosclerosis as a disease entity
      is to be excluded from the nomenclature of glomerulonephritis.

PMID- 1440336
TI  - [The characteristics of kidney involvement in chronic diffuse liver diseases due
      to the hepatitis B virus].

PMID- 1440337
TI  - [Liver cirrhosis and lymphoproliferative diseases].
AB  - Seven patients suffering from liver cirrhosis combined with lymphoproliferative
      diseases: chronic lymphoid leukemia (n = 4), lymphosarcoma (n = 3) were placed
      under observation. Viral etiology of liver cirrhosis was established in 4
      patients (HBV markers were revealed in the serum in 2 and in liver tissue in 1)
      and was assumed in 3 patients (the lack in the anamnesis of other hepatotropic
      factors; multilobular form of liver cirrhosis). In 5 patients, the
      lymphoproliferative disease was diagnosed 2-30 years after the appearance of the
      symptoms of chronic diffuse liver disease. In 2 patients liver cirrhosis and
      hemoblastosis showed up simultaneously. The role of hepatitis viruses, HBV in
      particular, in the onset of lymphoproliferative diseases is under discussion.

PMID- 1440338
TI  - [The key problems of glomerulonephritis].

PMID- 1440339
TI  - [Streptococcal infection and chronic glomerulonephritis in children].
AB  - Microbiological, immunological and immunohistochemical studies were carried out
      in 78 children with different clinicomorphological forms of chronic
      glomerulonephritis (GN). According to the data obtained, the role of
      streptococcal infection (SI) is inconclusive in certain clinicomorphological
      forms of chronic GN, suggesting different approaches to the treatment of these
      patients. The etiological role of SI is most probable in mesangioproliferative
      and mesangiocapillary GN, manifesting by hematuric and mixed forms of chronic GN.
      Antibacterial therapy is indicated to patients with a rise of the level of ASL-O
      and with the clinical signs of acute SI or exacerbation of chronic tonsillitis in
      the same patients, especially during immunosuppressive therapy.

PMID- 1440340
TI  - [Antistreptococcal antibodies in the blood serum of glomerulonephritis patients].
AB  - To study humoral antistreptococcal immunity, 29 patients with acute
      glomerulonephritis (AGN), 211 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) and
      30 healthy donors were examined. According to EIA, blood sera of the indicated
      groups demonstrated antibodies (AB) to structural components of Streptococcus--A
      polysaccharide (A-ps) and hyaluronic acid (HA) and to its extracellular products-
      streptokinase (SK) and streptolysin-O (ASLO). It has been shown that in the blood
      of AGN patients, the levels of AB to A-ps, SK and ASLO were high. The highest
      level of AB and SK was detected in 55% of the patients with the disease standing
      of up to half a year. In patients of all the clinical groups of CGN, the levels
      of AB to A-ps, SK and HA were elevated. The degree of the rise of the levels of
      all AB depended on the disease activity. Of prognostic importance in the
      chronicity of AGN and progression of CGN are high titers of AB and SK. The
      etiological role of streptococcus in glomerulonephritis and its importance in CGN
      exacerbation and prognosis are under discussion.

PMID- 1440341
TI  - [Immunosuppressive therapy with the use of cyclosporin A in the late period after
      a kidney transplant].
AB  - A study was made of the results of kidney transplantation in 90 patients who
      received three-component immunosuppressive therapy (cyclosporin, azathioprine and
      prednisolone) in the induction phase, followed by cyclosporin conversion in the
      phase of maintenance therapy. The second patients' group (39 cases) received
      permanent three-component immunosuppressive therapy. Analysis of the data
      obtained makes it possible to regard the use of cyclosporin advisable not only in
      the induction, but also in the maintenance phases of immunosuppressive therapy.

PMID- 1440342
TI  - [The role of disorders in the structural-functional properties of the erythrocyte
      membranes and energy metabolism in the progression of anemia in patients with
      terminal kidney failure].
AB  - As many as 30 healthy persons and 65 patients suffering from chronic
      glomerulonephritis with terminal renal failure (TRF) placed on program dialysis
      were examined for lipid composition of the membranes and functional properties of
      red blood cells. By the gravity of anemia the patients were distributed into 2
      groups. It has been established that in the red blood cell membranes, there was
      an increase of the content of cholesterol and sphingomyelin, and a decline of the
      content of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine.
      In addition to the changes in the lipid content of red blood cells, the
      peripheral red blood cell pool showed an increase of the amount of pathologically
      shaped cells, a reduction of the cell capacity to deformation, a rise of the
      content of fibrinogen in the supramembranous layer. Destruction of the
      phospholipid matrix of the red blood cell membrane was attended by noticeable
      restructure of the work of the multienzymic complex of glycolysis, resulting in
      energy metabolism destabilization. Analysis of the data obtained has demonstrated
      that as the structural and functional properties of the membranes underwent
      alterations and the mechanisms of stabilization of red blood cell energy
      homeostasis got disintegrated, anemia in patients with TRF became graver.

PMID- 1440343
TI  - [Lipid peroxidation as a possible mechanism of erythrocyte damage in patients
      with chronic kidney failure on hemodialysis].
AB  - Ten patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) treated by hemodialysis (HD) were
      examined. All the patients demonstrated remarkable anemia. The red blood cell
      count was (2.7 +/- 0.2) x 10(12)/I the concentration of hemoglobin 79.5 +/- 5.6
      g/l, on the average, hematocrit 23.2 +/- 1.8%. The content of malonic dialdehyde
      in the patients' red blood cells was far greater than in controls, amounting to
      132% (per 1 ml of hemolysate), 134% (per 1 mg of protein) (p < 0.05). Catalase
      and glutathione peroxidase activity in the patients' red blood cells did not
      differ from that in controls. Superoxide dismutase activity reduced by 43% as
      compared to that in donors (p < 0.001). The authors review possible mechanisms of
      lipid peroxidation (LPO) and a decrease of antioxidant defense in red blood cells
      of CRF patients on hemodialysis. It is concluded that activation of LPO processes
      and the decrease of antioxidant defense produce a noticeable destructive effect
      on the integrity of the red blood cell membrane. They also influence the
      development of hemolysis.

PMID- 1440344
TI  - [The lipid peroxidation process in patients with nephrogenic hypertension and
      clinico-laboratory signs of chronic kidney failure].

PMID- 1440345
TI  - [Disordered intestinal mechanisms in patients with chronic kidney failure].
AB  - The data on impairment of the intestinal mechanisms in 103 patients with chronic
      renal failure are presented. This impairment is characterized by inhibition of
      the absorption capacity of the intestine, an increase of the concentration of
      urea and creatinine in its contents, and by dysbacteriosis.

PMID- 1440346
TI  - [The active rosette-formation reaction in assessing the immunomodulating activity
      of basic preparations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

PMID- 1440347
TI  - [The modern concepts of hereditary nephritis].
AB  - The authors describe the results of modern studies into the problems of genetics,
      clinical picture, prognosis and prospects of the treatment of inherited
      nephritis. It is assumed that at the basis of inherited nephritis there lies
      generalized impairment of the basal membranes, which is determined by mutation of
      X chromosome that codes the structure of the chains of the fourth fraction of
      collagen. The phenotypic heterogeneity of the disease is accounted for by
      mutation of different alleles in a solitary locus. The clinical characteristics
      of inherited nephritis without hypoacusis and Alport's syndrome in inbred and
      outbred families is provided as are specific features of the disease evolution.
      The results and efficacy of kidney transplantation in patients with inherited
      nephritis in the phase of chronic renal failure are discussed.

PMID- 1440348
TI  - [The basic mechanisms of the development of kidney failure and the methods for
      its correction in multiple myeloma].
AB  - To examine functional capacities of the kidneys, reserve potentialities of the
      urinary tract and the mechanism of the development of chronic renal failure (CRF)
      in multiple myeloma (MM), 60 patients were examined. In addition to the routine
      methods of examination, all the patients were subjected to renal sonography. It
      has been shown that the main causes of CRF in MM are proteinemia and
      paraproteinuria. Emphasis is laid on the importance of sonography that enables
      one to measure not only the size of the kidneys, to estimate the status of the
      parenchyma and calyceal system, but also to reveal the derangement of urodynamics
      of the upper urinary tract in the stage of latent CRF. It has been demonstrated
      that one of the effective methods of removing CRF lies in therapeutic
      plasmapheresis, which is advisable in MM patients even in latent renal failure,
      preventing the impairment of the tubular system and increasing the filtration and
      reabsorption capacity of the kidneys.

PMID- 1440349
TI  - [The recovery of erythropoiesis after the short-term Recormon treatment of renal
      anemia].

PMID- 1440350
TI  - [An unusual course of amyloidosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients].

PMID- 1440351
TI  - [An epileptic syndrome in systemic lupus erythematosus].

PMID- 1440352
TI  - [Hemostasis and the kidneys (I)].

PMID- 1440353
TI  - [The correlation of the lipoprotein (a) level of the blood serum with the degree
      of coronary atherosclerosis].

PMID- 1440354
TI  - [The prediction of the late effect of charcoal hemoperfusion in rheumatoid
      arthritis patients].
AB  - Hemocarboperfusion is effectively used for the treatment of serious cases of
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The effectiveness of the treatment may be decreased by
      possible development of the rebound syndrome (RS) after the treatment. The useful
      retrospective frequency analysis does not often allow predicting the development
      of RS. The authors devised the system of forecasting the development of RS
      depending on the body state by means of an analysis of the results in the group
      of 38 patients with classical RA treated by hemocarboperfusion. They also
      designed a statistical model with the help of linear regression and correlation
      methods. It allows counting the degree of the predisposition to RS development
      for each patient both numerically and individually. The precision of the
      conclusion based on the method is about 90%. The results of the forecasting give
      the general characteristics of RA development and can be used as an additional
      argument for prescription of hemocarboperfusion.

PMID- 1440355
TI  - [The prevalence of and risk factors for osteoarthrosis in workers in tire
      manufacture].
AB  - The data of epidemiological studies of rheumatic diseases, carried out at the
      Yaroslavl tire factory among 2508 workers are provided. Overall 845 subjects
      afflicted with different rheumatic diseases were identified. The prevalence of
      osteoarthrosis of the peripheral joints was 12.68 +/- 0.66%. The main industrial
      risk factors of osteoarthrosis were distinguished: occupational hazard (physical
      overloads), work record in the main specialty over 5 years, functional and static
      dynamic loads of the bones and joints, elevated temperature and air humidity in
      industrial premises. As to the other factors, age, defects of the skeleton,
      hereditary load, foci of chronic infection, primary education, female sex, and
      the character of feeding turned out significant for the development of
      osteoarthrosis. The authors have worked out the tables of risk for osteoarthrosis
      of the peripheral joints, the use of which allows predicting the morbidity of
      every worker and distinguishing risk groups with a purpose of carrying out early
      treatment and prophylactic measures.

PMID- 1440356
TI  - [The intensive therapy of multiple organ failure in myelotoxic agranulocytosis in
      a patient with acute leukemia].

PMID- 1440358
TI  - [The treatment of erythremia].

PMID- 1440357
TI  - [A combination of myelomatous disease with generalized xanthomatosis].

PMID- 1440359
TI  - [The first Russian trial of treating patients with acute nonlymphoblastic
      leukemias with novantrone combined with cytosar].

PMID- 1440360
TI  - ["Small doses" of cytosar in the therapy of acute nonlymphoblastic leukemias].

PMID- 1440361
TI  - [The significance of the erythrocyte antioxidant system in the development of
      anemia in hemoblastosis patients].

PMID- 1440362
TI  - [Chromosome aberrations in the inhabitants of Gomel and Gomel Province: the
      results of living in radioactively contaminated areas].

PMID- 1440363
TI  - [Modern oncological hematology--medicine of critical decisions].

PMID- 1440364
TI  - [An expanded radical program of radiation therapy with prophylactic irradiation
      of the lungs in lymphogranulomatosis].

PMID- 1440365
TI  - [The strategy for the therapy of acute myeloid leukemias in adults].

PMID- 1440366
TI  - [The use of novantrone in combination with other preparations in hematosarcoma
      patients].

PMID- 1440367
TI  - [The clinical significance of the immunophenotyping of the tumor cells in
      nonleukemic hemoblastoses of a lymphatic nature].

PMID- 1440368
TI  - [A trial of using farmorubicin in the therapy of malignant lymphomas].

PMID- 1440369
TI  - [The determination of the beta 2-microglobulin level in malignant lymphomas].

PMID- 1440370
TI  - [The chemoradiation treatment of patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas
      in the III-IV stages of the disease].

PMID- 1440371
TI  - [Methods of treating spinal cord involvement in multiple myeloma].

PMID- 1440372
TI  - [Circulatory failure and the methods for its correction in multiple myeloma].

PMID- 1440373
TI  - [The clinical manifestations and course of blood system diseases in elderly and
      old disabled veterans of World War II].

PMID- 1440374
TI  - [Alternative approaches to the treatment of aplastic anemia patients].

PMID- 1440375
TI  - [The use of cyclosporin A in treating partial red-cell aplasia of the bone marrow
      and aplastic anemia].

PMID- 1440376
TI  - [Congenital hemolytic anemia caused by the carriage of hemoglobin Bristol beta 67
      Bal-->Asp].

PMID- 1440377
TI  - [The effect of correcting anemia with recombinant erythropoietin on the central
      hemodynamic indices of patients on regular hemodialysis].

PMID- 1440378
TI  - [The role of the radionuclide study method in the diagnosis and therapy of
      hemophilic joint lesions].

PMID- 1440379
TI  - [Selective lymphapheresis (a method for the selective elimination of cellular
      elements and fibronectin complexes from the lymph) in systemic scleroderma].

PMID- 1440380
TI  - [The generation of active forms of oxygen by the leukocytes and their role in the
      development of chronic gastroduodenal diseases].

PMID- 1440381
TI  - [The rational use of De-Nol in the treatment of peptic ulcer and chronic active
      gastroduodenitis associated with Helicobacter pylori].

PMID- 1440382
TI  - [Dilated cardiomyopathy--the diagnostic and treatment possibilities under
      outpatient polyclinic conditions].

PMID- 1440383
TI  - [Modern diuretic preparations. III. Potassium-saving diuretics].

PMID- 1440384
TI  - [The clinical heterogeneity of the scleroderma group of diseases].

PMID- 1440385
TI  - [Verapamil--on the 30th anniversary of its clinical use].

PMID- 1440386
TI  - [The pathogenetic therapy of lupus glomerulonephritis].

PMID- 1440387
TI  - [The use of enterosorbent SKN in hyperlipoproteinemias (clinical and experimental
      research)].

PMID- 1440389
TI  - [A comparative assessment of 2 approaches to the electrical impulse treatment of
      atrial fibrillation. 1. The immediate results and complications].

PMID- 1440388
TI  - [Dynamic changes in the histamine and serotonin levels of acute myocardial
      infarct patients treated with strepodecase, finoptin and alpha-tocopherol
      acetate].

PMID- 1440390
TI  - [The development of pharmacology and the appearance every year of newer and newer
      drugs has significantly complicated the work of the physician (editor)].

PMID- 1440391
TI  - [The chronotropic and hemodynamic effects of finoptin in patients with a
      permanent form of atrial fibrillation].

PMID- 1440392
TI  - [Estulic (guanfacine) in the treatment of arterial hypertension].

PMID- 1440393
TI  - [The effect of long-term therapy with a calcium antagonist on thrombocyte
      function in hypertension patients].

PMID- 1440394
TI  - [The current status of the science of antibiotics and the outlook for its
      development].

PMID- 1440395
TI  - [Changes in the central hemodynamics and kidney activity during the enalapril
      treatment of hypertension patients].

PMID- 1440396
TI  - [The efficacy of combined therapy with immunodepressants, anticoagulants and
      antiaggregants in certain clinico-morphological variants of chronic
      glomerulonephritis].

PMID- 1440397
TI  - [The role of hippurate in kidney failure].

PMID- 1440399
TI  - [Experience with the use of endovascular blood irradiation with helium-neon laser
      light in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis and disordered kidney
      function].

PMID- 1440398
TI  - [10-years' experience in using enterosorption for treating chronic kidney
      failure].

PMID- 1440400
TI  - [A multicenter trial of Recormon within the framework of international controlled
      research].

PMID- 1440401
TI  - [The prognosis of lupus nephritis during treatment with superhigh-dose
      cyclophosphane].

PMID- 1440402
TI  - [The efficacy of Capoten in treating rheumatoid arthritis with arterial
      hypertension: an analysis of its hypotensive and anti-inflammatory actions].

PMID- 1440403
TI  - [The extracorporeal immunopharmacotherapy of severe glucocorticoid-dependent
      atopic diseases].

PMID- 1440404
TI  - [The treatment of patients with duodenal peptic ulcer with a synthetic
      prostaglandin E2 analog (enprostil)].

PMID- 1440405
TI  - [The programmed therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults].

PMID- 1440406
TI  - [The therapeutic results in acute myeloid leukemias in elderly patients].

PMID- 1440407
TI  - [The procedure for antianginal therapy with Isoket and nitrosorbide].

PMID- 1440408
TI  - [A comparison of the efficacy of clindamycin and penicillin in anaerobic lung
      infections].

PMID- 1440409
TI  - [The optimal times, season and indications for the sanatorium treatment at Bairam
      Ali of patients with different forms of glomerulonephritis].

PMID- 1440410
TI  - [Hematuria as a manifestation of drug disease].

PMID- 1440411
TI  - [Diagnostic difficulties and therapeutic success in Wilson-Konovalov disease].

PMID- 1440412
TI  - A comparison of gingival marginal gap formation in composite inlays using three
      different fabrication techniques.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of composite inlays
      fabricated with three different techniques. Using 2-factor ANOVA it was found
      that after light curing, the Direct Method was the most accurate. After
      readapting and heat curing, the Indirect Method was not different from the Direct
      Method. The same was true after 24 hours' storage in water. The direct method is
      recommended if proximal contours and contact can be adequately controlled. If an
      Indirect Method is used, it is recommended that the laboratory use an additional
      cured layer of composite material in the gingival margin after initial curing to
      minimize the gaps.

PMID- 1440413
TI  - Alternative methods of ventilation during CPR training of the dental team using a
      bag-mask technique.

PMID- 1440414
TI  - Selective developmental toxicity: misuse of the concept via mis-application of a
      mis-defined "A/D ratio".

PMID- 1440415
TI  - Ellagic acid protects rat embryos in culture from the embryotoxic effects of N
      methyl-N-nitrosourea.
AB  - Ellagic acid is a naturally occurring plant phenol that has demonstrated
      anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic activity in several test systems. Given the
      common proposed etiopathogenic processes of mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and
      teratogenesis induced by genotoxic chemicals, the present study was initiated to
      determine whether ellagic acid would protect rat embryos in culture from the
      teratogenic effects of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). Ellagic acid alone (as used
      in these experiments; 50 microM in DMSO) was not embryotoxic. Ellagic acid (50
      microM) significantly (P less than 0.01) prevented MNU (75 microM)-induced
      effects including mortality (absence of heart beat), abnormal formation of the
      cephalic neural tube derivatives, and delayed differentiation as assessed by a
      morphological scoring system. These embryoprotective effects were dose
      responsive. Sequential treatment of embryos with ellagic acid followed by MNU in
      fresh media also was embryoprotective with no diminution of effect. The site at
      which ellagic acid interrupts the critical teratogenic events induced by MNU is
      apparently within the embryo and/or placenta. This model of chemical
      embryoprotection may be useful in determining the role of cell death and/or
      mutation in the teratogenic mechanism of action of methylating agents.

PMID- 1440416
TI  - Spina bifida aperta induced by valproic acid and by all-trans-retinoic acid in
      the mouse: distinct differences in morphology and periods of sensitivity.
AB  - The antiepileptic drug valproic acid (VPA) has been implicated as a human
      teratogen causing spina bifida aperta. Recently, we developed a mouse model
      inducing spina bifida aperta with VPA. To elucidate the pathogenesis of VPA
      induced spina bifida aperta we now investigated the anatomy and histology of this
      defect in the mouse. The morphology of spina bifida aperta induced by all-trans
      retinoic acid (RA) was used for comparison. Various doses of VPA and RA were
      administered at different times to determine the periods of sensitivity for
      inducing spina bifida aperta with these drugs. Each administration regimen
      consisted of three doses applied at intervals of 6 hr. RA induced spina bifida
      aperta during an earlier developmental period (day 8 of gestation) than VPA (day
      9 of gestation). The most effective regimens for induction of spina bifida aperta
      in mice were injections of 3 x 500 mg VPA-Na/kg body weight (b.w.)
      intraperitoneally on day 9 of gestation at 0, 6, and 12 hr; RA (12.5 mg/kg b.w.)
      was given orally on day 8 of gestation at 12 and 18 hr, day 9 at 0 hr. VPA did
      not induce spina bifida aperta on day 8 of gestation and RA did not induce this
      effect on day 9 of gestation. Histological studies of day 18 fetuses carrying
      spina bifida aperta were performed. The spina bifida aperta induced by VPA shows
      a disorganized and necrotic spinal cord. In the vertebral canal were observed
      cell debris, blood cells, capillaries, macrophages, and rests of meninges. These
      results indicate that the spinal cord is almost destroyed at the affected
      section. In contrast, the spina bifida aperta induced by RA demonstrates a spinal
      cord organized in the gray and white matter, the dorsal and ventral horn. But the
      neural canal does not exist, only a layer of ependymal cells lies on the surface
      of the spinal cord. Our results indicate that the morphology of spina bifida
      aperta induced by VPA differed distinctly from that induced by RA in the mouse
      fetus. Moreover VPA produced a spina bifida aperta with a specific morphology.
      Also the period of sensitivity for induction of this lesion differed and occurred
      earlier for RA than for VPA. VPA and RA may possibly induce spina bifida aperta
      via different mechanisms in the mouse.

PMID- 1440417
TI  - Embryotoxicity of T-2 toxin and secalonic acid in embryonic chicks varies with
      the site of administration.
AB  - A crucial role of the site of administration in the sensitivity of the
      alternative system using chick embryo for testing embryotoxicity was demonstrated
      by morphological evaluation of the effects of T-2 toxin and secalonic acid D, and
      by incorporation of [14C]sodium acetate radioactivity. Secalonic acid D,
      administered to 2-, 3-, and 4-day-old embryos in doses higher than 1 microgram
      produced mostly malformations of the face (bilateral cleft beak, microphthalmia)
      while the teratogenic effects of T-2 toxin were being limited to the embryonic
      trunk of 2-day-old embryos (rumplessness) after administering doses higher than
      0.001 microgram. In case of subgerminal and intraamniotic injections, the doses
      of both mycotoxins needed for producing embryotoxic effects comparable to those
      obtained with the more commonly used yolk sac injections appeared to be lower by
      one and two orders of magnitude, respectively. The results stress the need of
      using the shortest transport channel of test substances from the site of
      application to the target tissues of the embryo, when the maximum sensitivity and
      reproducibility of the test system are to be expected.

PMID- 1440418
TI  - Inner ear malformations induced by isotretinoin in hamster fetuses.
AB  - Inner ear malformations induced in anotic hamster fetuses following maternal
      treatment with 50 mg/kg isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) on gestational day 8
      are described. Computer-assisted three dimensional reconstruction was used. Two
      general types of defective vestibulocochlear development were seen. Defects were
      bilateral and correlated with extent of middle ear deficiency and severity of
      mandibular defects. In the more severely affected fetuses the inner ear was
      limited to an epithelial sac with occasional small projections, no apparent
      innervation and a correspondingly reduced otic capsule. In most of the fetuses
      examined the inner ear was less severely affected and was characterized by a
      reduction in the number of semicircular ducts and alterations in the size and
      shape of the cochlear duct. These defects are similar to those seen in a child
      with the isotretinoin embryopathy. Pathogenesis may result from a direct effect
      on otic epithelium or from faulty inductive interactions with the rhombencephalon
      or with periotic neural crest cells.

PMID- 1440419
TI  - Effects of a 48 hour continuous intravenous infusion of CGS 13080-primagrel, a
      selective thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, on the perinatal and early postnatal
      period in the guinea pig.
AB  - CGS 13080, imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine-5-hexanoic acid, was evaluated for perinatal
      and postnatal effects in third trimester pregnant guinea pigs and their
      offspring. The compound was administered via 48 hour continuous intravenous
      infusion to a group of pregnant guinea pigs (n = 16) at a dose of 3 mg/kg/hr
      starting on gestational day 52 (via chronically implanted indwelling jugular
      venous cannulas). A saline control group (n = 12) received equivalent volumes of
      normal saline 0.5 ml/kg/hr throughout the dosing period. A third group (surgery
      sham, n = 16) was subjected to cannulation but not infused. A gross examination
      of each dam and piglets was conducted at necropsy on day 5 of lactation. The
      neonatal brains and all gross lesions (maternal and neonatal) were removed and
      fixed for histopathological examination. Compound-related clinical signs were
      noted in dams during the dosing phase of gestation. Six guinea pigs developed
      cephalic lymphatic swelling during the infusion. This observation may be
      correlated to the reported redistribution of fluid volume to the thorax of guinea
      pigs given intravenous injections of CGS 13080. There were no compound-induced
      effects on labor, delivery, or any of the examined reproductive parameters. There
      were no compound-related clinical signs, or effects on survival, body weight and
      developmental parameters in the F1 generation. Histopathological examination of
      the brains and other organs did not reveal any compound-related abnormalities.
      Based on these results, it was concluded that CGS 13080 did not elicit adverse
      perinatal and postnatal effects in guinea pigs.

PMID- 1440420
TI  - Developmental stages of the CD (Sprague-Dawley) rat skeleton after maternal
      exposure to ethylene glycol.
AB  - Ethylene glycol (EG), a chemical which causes skeletal malformations in rats, was
      administered by gavage to sperm positive CD rats on gestational days (gd) 6
      through 15 at doses of 0 or 2,500 mg/kg/day to assess its effects on the pre- and
      postnatal skeletal development. Dams and fetuses/pups were killed on gd 18, 20,
      postnatal day (pnd) 1, 4, 14, 21, or 63, and offspring were double-stained for
      examination of skeletal malformations and degree of ossification of rapidly
      developing skeletal districts. No difference in gestational day of delivery
      between controls and the EG-treated dams was seen. Fetal weights per litter were
      significantly decreased with EG treatment in both the gd 18 and 20 groups. Pup
      body weight on pnd 1 was significantly below controls; however, EG had no effect
      on pup body weight on pnd 4-63. The percentage of fetuses/pups with skeletal
      malformations per litter was significantly increased after EG exposure for all
      time points except at pnd 63, with a predominance of axial skeletal defects. The
      percentages of total ossification, of sternabrae ossified, and of vertebral
      centra ossified were significantly reduced in the EG groups on gd 20 and on pnd 1
      21, but not on gd 18 or on pnd 63. When the ossification data were subjected to
      statistical analysis with fetal/pup weights as a covariate, the values for EG
      exposed pups on gd 20 were not statistically significantly different from the
      control values. The reduced ossification values for EG-exposed pups on pnd 1-21
      retained statistical significance even after covariate analysis. There was no
      effect of dose or body weight on ossification of fore- or hindlimb digits. In
      conclusion, the differences in incidence of skeletal alterations observed
      prenatally and through pnd 21 were not evident by pnd 63, suggesting that
      perinatal skeletal abnormalities may not always be permanent.

PMID- 1440421
TI  - Comparison of staging systems for the gastrulation and early neurulation period
      in rodents: a proposed new system.
AB  - Because there is no standard developmental staging system for the early
      postimplantation period of rodent embryos, investigators must now choose between
      a variety of systems that differ significantly. We have reviewed many of these
      staging systems and have summarized the ambiguities within them and the
      inconsistencies among them. In order to compare systems, we first obtained a
      consensus of the order of developmental events from the literature, and then
      attempted to fit existing systems into this order taking into account
      inconsistencies in terminology and blurred borderlines between stages. We were
      able to do this for most systems but not all because some were too divergent. We
      found that inconsistencies in definition of some terms, such as "primitive streak
      stage" and those used to describe the early neurulation process (neural plate,
      neural groove, neural folds, and head fold) cause much confusion. In order to
      develop an unambiguous system which can be used by all investigators, we propose
      to modify Theiler's system, which is one of the most commonly used systems but is
      not defined precisely during the early postimplantation period. We suggest making
      subdivisions of the original stages as follows: 1) stage 8 into 8a and 8b, by the
      degree of extension of the proamniotic cavity into the extraembryonic region; 2)
      stage 10 into 10a and 10b, by the completion of amnion formation; 3) stage 11
      into 11a, 11b, and 11c, by the appearance of neural folds and foregut pocket.
      After Stage 12, the number of somite pairs can be used to precisely stage
      embryos.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1440422
TI  - Genetic differences in heat-induced tolerance to cadmium in cultured mouse
      embryos are not correlated with changes in a 68-kD heat shock protein.
AB  - Heat-induced cross-tolerance to cadmium was investigated in two inbred strains of
      mice, BALB/c and SWV, using a whole embryo culture system. Embryos were exposed
      to a pretreatment of 5 min at 43 degrees C and subsequently to an embryotoxic
      concentration of cadmium, 1.75 microM. The two types of embryos responded
      differently to the heat pretreatment, as cross-tolerance was induced in SWV but
      not in BALB/c mice. In SWV embryos, prior exposure to 43 degrees C for 5 min
      essentially eliminated the negative effects of cadmium on embryonic development
      and growth. However, in BALB/c embryos, no protection was observed. The variation
      in development of cross-tolerance in embryos from the two strains of mice was not
      correlated with differences in the induction of a 68-kD heat-shock protein
      (hsp68). There was a rapid increase in this protein in both strains after the
      initial heat exposure but not excess induction in the SWV strain that developed
      tolerance. The induction of hsp68 is therefore not sufficient to elicit cross
      tolerance, and other mechanisms are likely to be important in the protective
      response of the embryo.

PMID- 1440423
TI  - UT anatomist critiques Leonardo's drawings in Houston exhibition.

PMID- 1440424
TI  - TMA president stresses importance of "sunset" process.

PMID- 1440425
TI  - Health commissioner stresses need for preventive care.

PMID- 1440426
TI  - Disaster! When catastrophe strikes. Physicians' roles in emergency planning.

PMID- 1440427
TI  - OSHA blood borne pathogens standards.

PMID- 1440428
TI  - Treatment of patients with asthma in the 1990s.
AB  - The treatment of patients with asthma in this decade requires an understanding of
      the inflammatory process in their airways. A combination of bronchodilators and
      inhaled medications that reduce or prevent this inflammatory process provides the
      best treatment for this population. Because the inhaled anti-inflammatory
      medications do not offer the immediate clinical response that bronchodilators
      will provide, patient education regarding proper management becomes more
      critical. The patient's assistance in frequently monitoring the function of the
      airway can help both the patient and the physician implement the necessary
      changes in medications to reduce the severity of or to prevent an asthma attack.
      Through these monitoring and treatment techniques, mortality and morbidity caused
      by asthma can be reduced.

PMID- 1440429
TI  - Management of the patient with an abnormal Papanicolaou smear.
AB  - Any patient with an abnormal Papanicolaou smear should undergo colposcopic
      evaluation. Histologic examination of tissue obtained by biopsy and by
      endocervical curettage is essential for a proper diagnosis. Conization of the
      cervix has very well-defined indications.

PMID- 1440430
TI  - Universal access: the other side of the argument.

PMID- 1440431
TI  - Let's watch the language when talking about managed care.

PMID- 1440432
TI  - [The history of bronchial asthma].
AB  - 'Panta rhei': everything flows. The significance of bronchial asthma is currently
      changing to no less a degree than medicine itself. In order to know where we are,
      we must know where we have come from. The historical course of bronchial asthma
      to some extent reflects the history of medicine itself: the Hellenic systems were
      followed by Byzantine, Galenic teaching methods, while Humanism and the
      Renaissance were followed by the considerable fireworks of early modern medicine.
      This continued with Magendie's experimental revolution in the 19th century and,
      finally, analytic medical research up to today.

PMID- 1440433
TI  - [Asthma and sleep].
AB  - In asthmatics, nocturnal cough and dyspnea are much more common than generally
      known. Therefore, patients with asthma must be asked specifically whether they
      suffer from symptoms of asthma at night. Usually, nocturnal wheezing is a sign of
      a badly controlled asthma. Nocturnal bronchoconstriction appears to be an
      exaggeration of the normal circadian changes in airway calibre. The cause of this
      exaggeration is not well understood, and it's origin is presumably
      multifactorial. Careful treatment of nocturnal asthma is particularly important
      because many deaths due to asthma occur at night and because regular disturbance
      of sleep impairs performance during the day. Inhaled corticosteroids and beta 2
      agonists, especially the new long-acting beta agonists, are first-line drugs for
      therapy.

PMID- 1440434
TI  - [Neglected allergens].
AB  - The atopic symptoms manifest themselves mainly in hay fever or bronchial asthma.
      In a not inconsiderable number of cases, the question of oral complaints,
      connected with the intake of certain foodstuffs, is ignored in the medical
      anamnesis. Here, we are dealing with what is known as food-associated allergy
      syndrome, which is largely based on a cross reaction between certain types of
      pollen (birch, alder, hazel and mugwort) and food allergens (drupes, pomes, nuts,
      vegetables such as celery, carrots and fennel, etc.). Whereas following the
      intake of fruit the complaints are usually restricted solely to the oral cavity
      and the throat (aphthas, stomatitis, swelling of the lips and/or tongue,
      irritation of the hard palate, hoarseness and compulsive clearing of the throat),
      nuts and celery among others from the family Compositae often cause acute,
      allergic attacks with sometimes serious general symptoms such as laryngeal
      oedema, bronchial asthma, urticaria and even anaphylactic shock. In the
      sensitization against animal allergens, it must not be forgotten that the most
      powerful immunogens are to be found, for example, in the urine of small rodents
      (mice and rats). In the manufacture or application of fish food with red gnat
      larvae, people who are disposed to this will often react with an attack of
      bronchial asthma.

PMID- 1440435
TI  - [Immunotherapy of asthma: pro and contra].
AB  - Specific immunotherapy (IT) introduced in 1911 for the treatment of asthma is
      still controversial, since many protocols have been devised empirically, some
      extracts are still poorly defined, the mechanisms of action are not yet clear and
      allergen injections can cause serious side effects. However, clinical efficacy of
      allergen-specific IT in hay fever with seasonal asthma and in selected patients
      with perennial asthma has been convincingly documented. For optimal effectiveness
      IT should be restricted to appropriately selected patients with proven IgE
      mediated disease. IT has seldom the capacity to act as a curative treatment.
      However, a considerable reduction in symptoms and drug consumption is of
      sufficient benefit. The clinical efficacy of IT should not be solely compared to
      symptomatic therapy, since IT should be considered as a part of a multifactorial
      approach aimed at interfering broadly with the pathophysiology of allergic
      diseases.

PMID- 1440436
TI  - [Chronic cough].
AB  - Cough is a powerful physiological reflex mechanism that causes central airways to
      be cleared of foreign material and excess secretions. Chronic cough is a very
      common presenting symptom in general practice with a prevalence in the population
      of about 5%. As a general rule, persistent cough represents organic disease of
      the upper and lower airways, the lung parenchyma, the pulmonary circulation, the
      pleural space, the mediastinum and the upper gastro-intestinal tract. The most
      common cause is cigarette smoking, but virtually any chronic lung disease may be
      occasionally associated with cough. Complications of coughing are tussive
      syncopes, rib fractures, rupture of respiratory muscles and eventually hernias.
      Based on a detailed clinical history and physical examination, the investigation
      includes a chest radiograph, spirometry, and sputum smears. Radiography of the
      sinuses, bronchoscopy and upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy may be added. If the
      treatment of an underlying disease is successful, chronic cough may disappear.
      There are few 'antitussive' drugs with proven suppression of the cough reflex.

PMID- 1440437
TI  - [Chronic bronchitis: when are antibiotics indicated?].
AB  - The role of bacterial infections in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases is
      still poorly understood, and so is the importance of antimicrobial chemotherapy.
      Based on the present knowledge from clinical studies, it is suggested that
      antibiotic treatment should be initiated for seven to ten days in patients
      suffering from an 'Anthonisen type-1 exacerbation', i.e. clinical deterioration
      with a significant increase in sputum production and sputum purulence, but not in
      others. The best tolerated, least toxic and least expensive oral antibiotic with
      adequate activity against pneumococci and H. influenzae is probably most
      appropriate. These prerequisites are still best fit by aminopenicillins and
      cotrimoxazol.

PMID- 1440438
TI  - [Chronic bronchitis: rare etiology].
AB  - Chronic bronchitis is defined for epidemiologic and clinical purposes as the
      presence of productive cough for three months in each of two successive years.
      Based on symptoms, the term 'chronic bronchitis', therefore, does not describe
      one distinct disease. It is rather a collective name for the clinical
      manifestation of numerous different congenital or acquired chronic diseases of
      the trachea, the bronchi and the bronchioli. Cigarette smoking is the most
      consistently important (and preventable) determinant of chronic bronchitis. There
      are, however, other rare etiologic factors, including malformations, tumors,
      recurrent aspirations and bronchiectasis. The latter often occur in association
      with systemic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, immotile cilia syndrome,
      immunodeficiency, alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency and others.

PMID- 1440439
TI  - [Chronic asthmatic bronchitis].
AB  - Many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) episodically or
      continuously have asthmatic signs with a degree of reversibility in response to
      bronchodilators. In such cases, the diagnosis 'chronic asthmatic bronchitis' is
      often used, although the cause-effect relationship between COPD and asthmatic
      manifestations is not established. Hence, the 'chronic asthmatic bronchitis' is
      not a pathogenetic diagnosis, but rather a working diagnosis which implies a
      specific treatment of the reversible component of chronic airway obstruction.
      Certainly, the most important measure to avoid a rapid progression of COPD is the
      elimination of damaging agents by inhalation (smoking). In addition, it was a
      widely accepted belief that these patients require a continuous inhalation
      therapy with beta-agonists or anticholinergics. However, there is new evidence,
      indicating that a continuous treatment might accelerate the decline in
      ventilatory function and that a better long-term outcome might be achieved by on
      demand inhalations.

PMID- 1440440
TI  - [Case of the month: cough, dyspnea and joint pain].

PMID- 1440441
TI  - [Wound management].
AB  - The following article is a check-list for wound care giving some practical hints.
      Special interest has been given to the themes of local anesthesia and prevention
      of infections. The indications and limits of the ambulant wound care are also
      discussed. Finally, a short explanation is given for the treatment of wounds
      situated at delicate regions of the body.

PMID- 1440442
TI  - [Ambulatory plastic surgery].

PMID- 1440443
TI  - [Ambulatory hand surgery].
AB  - The majority of surgical interventions about the hand can be done on an
      outpatient basis and in private practice; however, the surgeon must be well
      trained in hand surgery and should master all forms of local and regional
      anesthesia, permitting an atraumatic technique. In addition, he must be prepared
      to handle any peri- and intraoperative complication and should be able to refer
      the patient to a close-by hospital in case of need. Since the aftercare appears
      to be of paramount importance for a successful outcome, the postoperative
      rehabilitation must be guaranteed as well. As all these conditions require
      qualified manpower and a good infrastructure, hand surgery is probably best
      performed within a small group of practising surgeons.

PMID- 1440444
TI  - [Lunate dislocation].

PMID- 1440445
TI  - [Status of the family physician in ambulatory surgery].
AB  - Due to progress in anesthesia and new operating techniques, ambulatory surgery is
      advancing. The family doctor attends to the preoperative examination, the
      immediate postoperative care, the subsequent treatment and rehabilitation. To
      grant interdisciplinary collaboration, the hospital must establish exact
      instructions for preliminary examination and after-treatment as well as organize
      regular postgraduate meetings, thus intensifying relations between the family
      doctor and the surgeon.

PMID- 1440446
TI  - [Ambulatory phlebectomy].
AB  - Ambulatory phlebectomy has been done already in Greek and Roman times. It was
      since forgotten for many centuries, but it has been revived by Muller in 1956.
      Ambulatory phlebectomy is one of the most rewarding instances of ambulatory
      surgery. It consists of the comprehensive extraction of the varices through
      extremely small stab incisions, followed immediately by vigorous marching. It
      calls for team work: The surgeon performs the high ligation and stripping of the
      proximal third of the greater saphenous vein, and the phlebologist removes all
      the other varices. And it is an almost ideal treatment, as it provides efficiency
      as well as excellent cosmetic results at low costs and is also harmless.

PMID- 1440447
TI  - [Ambulatory treatment of varicose veins].
AB  - Only a small part of the varicose veins need inpatient treatment. Restricting
      strippings to the diseased saphenous segments and the use of Muller's technique
      ('phlebectomie ambulatoire') permits the majority of patients to be treated on an
      ambulatory basis. In 1990 and 1991, 453 of 723 operations were performed under
      local anesthesia. 233 of the 686 insufficient long and short saphenous veins were
      treated by high ligation-with or without stripping-in local anesthesia. The
      limitations of ambulatory surgery are defined by the extension of the varices and
      by the presence of a seriously diseased long saphenous vein necessitating a
      stripping.

PMID- 1440448
TI  - [Surgical indications for partial inpatient and ambulatory surgery of the lower
      extremities].
AB  - Outpatient (ambulatory) surgery has become widely accepted in free-standing
      outpatient surgery centres and in hospitals covering the field of hand surgery as
      well as, increasingly, the field of lower-extremity surgery. Three factors are
      decisive for secure ambulatory surgery: adequate material and personal resources
      guaranteeing a round-the-clock medical service, outpatient anesthesia which
      focuses mainly on the perioperative care of outpatient surgery, and a well
      informed patient. Under these prerogatives the majority of surgical procedures of
      the lower extremities are performed on an outpatient basis without any undue
      risk. This includes also the diagnostic and operative arthroscopy of different
      joints.

PMID- 1440449
TI  - [Ambulatory surgery at the surgical clinic and polyclinic of the Munich Technical
      University].
AB  - Day-care and especially short-stay surgery were found attractive logistics for
      surgery of the hand, inguinal hernia repair, laparoscopic cholecystectomy,
      invasive measures for tumor staging such as diagnostic laparoscopy and
      implantation of vascular ports for chemotherapy. This new way of surgical
      organization is a practical alternative to overcome increasing limitations of
      hospitalization capacities and to conserve everyday surgery which is necessary
      for the teaching of students and surgical beginners within otherwise highly
      specialized institutions.

PMID- 1440450
TI  - [Ambulatory ophthalmologic surgery].
AB  - In the past years, more procedures (including intraocular surgery) have been
      performed on an outpatient basis, thanks to the added safety of microsurgery. The
      decision of whether to operate on an outpatient basis should not just be based on
      the kind of procedure but more on the patient's suitability and on his social
      context. The patient must be able to come daily to the office, and eye medication
      must be applied as prescribed by a relative or a neighbour.

PMID- 1440451
TI  - [Ambulatory pediatric surgery].
AB  - The authors refer about their experience in ambulatory pediatric surgery
      performed in pediatric clinics or in their own practice. Indications are listed,
      conditions, advantages and disadvantages are discussed. 562 operations were
      completed from February 1991 to January 1992, 181 (32%) under practice conditions
      with an experienced anesthesiologist. No complications had to be reported, and no
      patient was hospitalized due to surgical or anesthetic complications. But
      indications for ambulatory surgery have to be strictly noted, and only children
      in excellent health should be anesthesized. The decision about operability has to
      be made by the anesthesiologist in charge.

PMID- 1440452
TI  - [Ambulatory hernia surgery].
AB  - Ambulatory surgery for hernia repair is not generally used in Switzerland.
      Tradition, patients' expectations and the insurance system still favour
      hospitalization. Nationwide, the mean length of stay amounted to 8.7 days in
      1990. A five-year experience is presented, using transversalis fascia repair for
      uncomplicated unilateral hernia and encouraging immediate ambulation. In 530
      patients, the mean duration of hospital stay was 4.4 days. In 446 of these cases,
      local anesthesia was used, and two thirds of the patients were discharged by the
      second postoperative day. Thus, it seems possible to gradually approach short
      stay surgery for inguinal hernia repair even in Switzerland.

PMID- 1440453
TI  - [Ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy?].
AB  - Commonly, after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, patients will be discharged from
      the hospital on the second or the third postoperative day and return to full
      activities about a week after surgery. Some reports from the USA demonstrate that
      laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be done on an outpatient basis. But these as
      well as all operative procedures are not without risk, and we prefer a short
      hospitalization. Outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy is performed because
      cost containment has become a major issue in American medicine.

PMID- 1440454
TI  - [Ambulatory surgery--urology].
AB  - Similar to other surgical specialties, there are in urology a considerable number
      of interventions that may be performed on an outpatient basis. This holds true
      also for the rapidly evolving endoscopic urology. Well-established and new
      indications are discussed and modern operative techniques described. However, the
      move to more outpatient or day surgery with fewer and shorter hospital stays
      will, in Switzerland, mostly depend on the health care financing system or on
      'who pays for what'.

PMID- 1440455
TI  - [Ambulatory proctologic surgery].
AB  - An increasing number of proctological procedures may be performed on outpatients
      under extensive local anesthesia or by posterior perineal bloc. Precise selection
      criteria should be observed. Results of 1233 outpatients procedures are reported.

PMID- 1440456
TI  - General practitioners and asthma.

PMID- 1440457
TI  - Lung sounds.

PMID- 1440458
TI  - The cost of care in cystic fibrosis.

PMID- 1440459
TI  - Lung sound intensity in patients with emphysema and in normal subjects at
      standardised airflows.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A common auscultatory finding in pulmonary emphysema is a reduction
      of lung sounds. This might be due to a reduction in the generation of sounds due
      to the accompanying airflow limitation or to poor transmission of sounds due to
      destruction of parenchyma. Lung sound intensity was investigated in normal and
      emphysematous subjects in relation to airflow. METHODS: Eight normal men (45-63
      years, FEV1 79-126% predicted) and nine men with severe emphysema (50-70 years,
      FEV1 14-63% predicted) participated in the study. Emphysema was diagnosed
      according to pulmonary history, results of lung function tests, and radiographic
      criteria. All subjects underwent phonopneumography during standardised breathing
      manoeuvres between 0.5 and 2 1 below total lung capacity with inspiratory and
      expiratory target airflows of 2 and 1 l/s respectively during 50 seconds. The
      synchronous measurements included airflow at the mouth and lung volume changes,
      and lung sounds at four locations on the right chest wall. For each microphone
      airflow dependent power spectra were computed by using fast Fourier
      transformation. Lung sound intensity was expressed as log power (in dB) at 200 Hz
      at inspiratory flow rates of 1 and 2 l/s and at an expiratory flow rate of 1 l/s.
      RESULTS: Lung sound intensity was well repeatable on two separate days, the
      intraclass correlation coefficient ranging from 0.77 to 0.94 between the four
      microphones. The intensity was strongly influenced by microphone location and
      airflow. There was, however, no significant difference in lung sound intensity at
      any flow rate between the normal and the emphysema group. CONCLUSION: Airflow
      standardised lung sound intensity does not differ between normal and
      emphysematous subjects. This suggests that the auscultatory finding of diminished
      breath sounds during the regular physical examination in patients with emphysema
      is due predominantly to airflow limitation.

PMID- 1440460
TI  - Effect of methacholine induced bronchoconstriction on the spectral
      characteristics of breath sounds in asthma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Analysis of breath sounds by digital techniques offers an attractive
      non-invasive method of monitoring changes in airway calibre. Asthmatic breath
      sounds have been analysed and related to changes in forced expiratory volume in
      one second (FEV1). METHODS: Bronchoconstriction was induced with methacholine in
      six asthmatic subjects on two occasions and changes in FEV1 and breath sound
      spectra were measured. RESULTS: Audible wheeze appeared after a mean (SE) fall in
      FEV1 of 35% (6.3%) but the level was not reproducible within patients. The mean
      and median frequency of the spectra of breath sounds correlated with the
      percentage of predicted FEV1 (r = -0.5 and -0.6 respectively; p < 0.001).
      Inclusion of the quartile frequencies in a stepwise multiple regression reduced
      the residual variance by a further 9%. CONCLUSION: Detecting changes in airway
      calibre by this method of sound analysis so far produces qualitative data only
      and will not yield quantitative data in individual patients.

PMID- 1440461
TI  - A cost description of an adult cystic fibrosis unit and cost analyses of
      different categories of patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is little information on the costs of running an adult cystic
      fibrosis centre. The aim of this study was to provide detailed costs to assist
      funding and planning for these patients. METHODS: The cost of a regional adult
      cystic fibrosis centre serving 119 cystic fibrosis patients, categorised
      according to four treatment regimens, was determined. District health authority,
      family health service authority, and voluntary resources used from April 1989 to
      March 1990 were determined, with appropriate bases for allocation of costs and
      patient based costs from local information. RESULTS: The total annual cost of
      treating the 119 patients was 980,646 pounds, with an average cost 8241 pounds
      per patient. An outpatient reviewed at three monthly intervals cost 2792 pounds a
      year; an outpatient receiving intravenous antibiotics cost 8606 pounds; an
      inpatient receiving intravenous antibiotics cost 13,501 pounds; and a patient
      needing a high level of care cost 19,955 pounds. Medication accounted for 57%
      (561,395 pounds) of the total cost. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis has helped us to
      secure funding for patients with cystic fibrosis and it facilitates the
      prediction of future requirements. The study also indicates the limitations of
      using average patient costs and difficulties as a result of the poorly structured
      British National Health Service accounting and information systems.

PMID- 1440462
TI  - Comparison of polymerase chain reaction amplification of two mycobacterial DNA
      sequences, IS6110 and the 65kDa antigen gene, in the diagnosis of tuberculosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the sequences of mycobacterial genes and the
      availability of DNA amplification techniques have raised the possibility that
      identification of mycobacterial DNA may offer a rapid and specific diagnostic
      test for tuberculosis. The correlation between the presence of Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis DNA and clinical tuberculosis, however, is not known. This study
      compared the results of polymerase chain reaction amplification of two M
      tuberculosis DNA sequences, IS6110 and the gene encoding the 65kDa heat shock
      protein (65kDa Ag), from sputum, bronchoscopy washings, and bronchoalveolar
      lavage fluid and related these findings to the presence of active and past
      tuberculosis. METHODS: Highly specific primers were used for amplification of
      IS6110 and 65kDa Ag DNA. Analysis was performed on one or more samples from 87
      patients. RESULTS: IS6110 DNA was identified in samples from all six patients
      with active tuberculosis, from 15 to 18 patients with past tuberculosis, from
      five of nine contacts of patients with tuberculosis, and from nine of 54 patients
      with lung disease unrelated to tuberculosis. The 65kDa Ag DNA was identified in
      samples from all patients with active and past tuberculosis, from contacts of
      patients with tuberculosis, and from 14 of 42 patients with non-tuberculous lung
      diseases. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the presence of IS6110 DNA
      correlates more closely with a tuberculosis related diagnosis than that of 65kDa
      Ag DNA and that both DNAs are found in most subjects with past tuberculosis or
      contacts of patients with tuberculosis. This may limit the clinical usefulness of
      these tests.

PMID- 1440463
TI  - Generation of cytolytic T cells in individuals infected by Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis and vaccinated with BCG.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Macrophage activation by cytokines provides only a partial
      explanation of antimycobacterial immunity in man. Because cytolytic T lymphocytes
      have been shown to contribute to immunity in animal models of intracellular
      infection, the generation of mycobacterial antigen specific cytotoxic T cells was
      examined in the peripheral blood of patients with tuberculosis. METHODS: Subjects
      comprised 36 patients with active tuberculosis (18 newly diagnosed) and 32
      healthy volunteers, of whom 25 had had BCG vaccination and seven were Mantoux
      negative. The ability of purified protein derivative (PPD) stimulated peripheral
      blood lymphocytes to lyse autologous, mycobacterial antigen bearing macrophages
      was examined by using a chromium 51 release assay. RESULTS: PPD stimulated
      lymphocytes from normal, Mantoux positive, BCG vaccinated subjects produced high
      levels of PPD specific cytolysis, whereas lymphocytes from unvaccinated,
      uninfected subjects caused little or no cytolysis. The generation of cytolytic T
      lymphocytes by patients with tuberculosis was related to their clinical state.
      Those with cavitating pulmonary disease or lymph node tuberculosis generated PPD
      specific lymphocytes with cytotoxic ability similar to that of those from Mantoux
      positive control subjects, whereas lymphocytes from patients with non-cavitating
      pulmonary infiltrates showed poor antigen specific cytolysis. After seven days of
      stimulation with PPD in vitro, lymphoblasts contained both CD4+ and CD8+ cells.
      Mycobacterial antigen specific cytolysis was restricted to the CD4+ cell
      population and was blocked by monoclonal antibodies directed against major
      histocompatibility class II (MHC) antigens. CONCLUSION: CD4+ cytolytic T cells
      can lyse autologous macrophages presenting mycobacterial antigen and were found
      in patients with cavitating pulmonary tuberculosis or tuberculous lymphadenitis
      and in normal, Mantoux positive control subjects. The ability to generate these T
      cell responses seems to be a marker for response to mycobacteria and may
      contribute to tissue damage in tuberculosis. These responses do not provide
      protective immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis but may help in disease
      localisation.

PMID- 1440464
TI  - Height and age adjustment for cross sectional studies of lung function in
      children aged 6-11 years.
AB  - BACKGROUND: No standard exists for the adjustment of lung function for height and
      age in children. Multiple regression should not be used on untransformed data
      because, for example, forced expiratory volume (FEV1), though normally
      distributed for height, age, and sex, has increasing standard deviation. A
      solution to the conflict is proposed. METHODS: Spirometry on representative
      samples of children aged 6.5 to 11.99 years in primary schools in England. After
      exclusion of children who did not provide two repeatable blows 910 white English
      boys and 722 girls had data on FEV1 and height. Means and standard deviations of
      FEV1 divided by height were plotted to determine whether logarithmic
      transformation of FEV1 was appropriate. Multiple regression was used to give
      predicted FEV1 for height and age on the transformed scale; back transformation
      gave predicted values in litres. Other lung function measures were analysed, and
      data on inner city children, children from ethnic minority groups, and Scottish
      children were described. RESULTS: After logarithmic (ln) transformation of FEV1
      standard deviation was constant. The ratios of actual and predicted values of
      FEV1 were normally distributed in boys and girls. From the means and standard
      deviations of these distributions, and the predicted values, centiles and
      standard deviation scores can be calculated. CONCLUSION: The method described is
      valid because the assumption of stable variance for multiple regression was
      satisfied on the log scale and the variation of ratios of actual to predicted
      values on the original scale was well described by a normal distribution. The
      adoption of the method will lead to uniformity and greater ease of comparison of
      research findings.

PMID- 1440465
TI  - Nasal ventilation to facilitate weaning in patients with chronic respiratory
      insufficiency.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The non-invasive technique of nasal intermittent positive pressure
      ventilation (NIPPV) has an established role in providing domiciliary nocturnal
      ventilatory support in patients with chest wall disorders, neuromuscular disease,
      and chronic obstructive lung disease. NIPPV was used to simplify ventilatory
      management and assist the return of spontaneous breathing in patients with
      chronic respiratory insufficiency who had failed to wean from conventional
      intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV). METHODS: A trial of NIPPV was
      carried out in 22 patients with weaning difficulties. Nine patients had chest
      wall disorders or primary lung disease, six had neuromuscular conditions, and
      seven had cardiac disorders with additional pulmonary disease. Conventional IPPV
      via an endotracheal tube or tracheostomy had been continued postoperatively in
      nine patients and 13 had been ventilated after acute cardiorespiratory
      decompensation. RESULTS: Conventional IPPV had been continued for a median of 31
      days (range 2-219). Eighteen patients were successfully transferred to NIPPV and
      discharged home a median of 11 days (range 8-13) after starting this type of
      ventilation. Sixteen patients remain well 1-50 months after hospital discharge
      and 10 of these continue on domiciliary nocturnal NIPPV. Seven patients have
      returned to work. CONCLUSION: NIPPV can be used to facilitate the return of
      spontaneous breathing and to reduce the need for intensive care accommodation in
      patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic respiratory insufficiency that
      requires intubation and IPPV.

PMID- 1440466
TI  - Lung function testing in adults with preferential nasal breathing.
AB  - Three adult patients with asthma with preferential nasal breathing were found to
      have a typical pattern of lung function test results with substantial between
      test variation. This condition can be identified as a cause of unsatisfactory
      performance in respiratory tests by observing the patient's reaction after the
      nostrils have been occluded.

PMID- 1440467
TI  - Bronchopulmonary Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with AIDS.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Kaposi's sarcoma in HIV antibody positive patients may affect the
      lungs. This study describes the presentation, chest radiographic appearances, and
      pulmonary function test abnormalities in patients with AIDS who had
      tracheobronchial Kaposi's sarcoma. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty nine (8%) of 361
      consecutive HIV antibody positive patients undergoing bronchoscopy for
      respiratory symptoms had tracheobronchial Kaposi's sarcoma. Eight patients had
      intercurrent infections and one had previously received chemotherapy for
      cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma; these patients were excluded. Seven of the remaining
      20 patients had localised Kaposi's sarcoma (lesions confined to the trachea or
      the subsegments of one lobe) and 13 had widespread Kaposi's sarcoma (affecting
      the trachea and one lobe or the subsegments of more than one lobe); 19 patients
      also had cutaneous and palatal Kaposi's sarcoma. Seven patients, four with
      widespread disease, had a normal radiograph. All patients had reduced transfer
      factor (TLCO) and transfer coefficient (KCO) but only those with widespread
      disease had reductions in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced
      vital capacity (FVC), and peak expiratory flow (PEF). Follow up pulmonary
      function testing in seven patients (median three months later) showed further
      reductions in TLCO. All four patients who received no treatment had progressive
      radiographic abnormalities; bronchoscopy in two patients showed progressive
      tracheobronchial disease, and two patients had further reductions in FEV1 and
      FVC. In three patients treated with chemotherapy palliation of symptoms was
      achieved but two had further reductions in FEV1 and FVC and the radiograph
      deteriorated. Bronchoscopy showed regression of disease in only one patient.
      CONCLUSION: Pulmonary Kaposi's sarcoma produces abnormalities of TLCO even in
      patients with localised disease; airflow obstruction may occur in patients with
      widespread disease. Bronchoscopic reassessment of the extent of disease may not
      accurately reflect response to chemotherapy.

PMID- 1440468
TI  - Bronchopulmonary Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with AIDS.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Kaposi's sarcoma is the most common secondary neoplasm to complicate
      HIV infection and may cause pulmonary disease. METHODS: A prospective study was
      carried out in 140 consecutive patients who were HIV seropositive and required
      bronchoscopy for new respiratory symptoms of at least two weeks' duration, with
      either a chest radiographic abnormality or abnormality of pulmonary function. The
      patients were classified into those with single local endobronchial lesions of
      Kaposi's sarcoma or generalised widespread lesions. Before bronchoscopy all
      patients had routine simple pulmonary function tests and chest radiography.
      RESULTS: Thirty nine (21%) patients had evidence of cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma.
      Nineteen of the 39 were found to have endobronchial Kaposi's sarcoma lesions at
      bronchoscopy, but none of those who did not have cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma.
      Respiratory symptoms of cough and breathlessness and radiographic abnormalities
      were attributed to Kaposi's sarcoma in this group, except in four patients who
      had concomitant pneumocystis pneumonia. Eight patients had local endobronchial
      Kaposi's sarcoma lesions and 11 had extensive lesions. Patients with extensive
      lesions had more widespread radiographic abnormalities; four of the patients with
      local endobronchial lesions had normal chest radiographs. All patients had
      reduced transfer factor for carbon monoxide and transfer coefficient, whereas
      patients with extensive endobronchial lesions also had reductions in forced
      expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity. Median survival (with
      palliative chemotherapy with vincristine and bleomycin) was only seven months. In
      three patients who needed further diagnostic bronchoscopy endobronchial lesions
      had regressed while they were having chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: This study
      suggests that endobronchial Kaposi's sarcoma is a relatively common finding in
      patients with AIDS and is particularly common in patients with cutaneous Kaposi's
      sarcoma who present with respiratory illness. Endobronchial Kaposi's sarcoma
      causes respiratory disease and abnormalities of pulmonary function. Pulmonary
      Kaposi's sarcoma should be considered as a possible cause for respiratory illness
      in any patient with cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma.

PMID- 1440469
TI  - Pulmonary Kaposi's sarcoma in Africa.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A study was carried out to identify the main clinical radiological
      and bronchoscopic features of HIV related Kaposi's sarcoma of the lung in African
      patients. METHODS: Forty seven HIV positive patients with epidemic Kaposi's
      sarcoma who had clinical or radiological respiratory changes were investigated by
      simple lung function tests and fibreoptic bronchoscopy. RESULTS: The most common
      respiratory symptoms in the 47 patients were persistent cough in 42, haemoptysis
      in 23, and breathlessness in 38. A restrictive spirometric pattern was most
      common. The mean (SD) forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was 1.88
      (0.62) 1 with a forced vital capacity (FVC) of 2.66 (0.87) 1 and a FEV1/FVC% of
      73.2 (7.5). On the chest radiograph 26 patients had diffuse reticulonodular
      shadows, 11 focal nodular shadows, seven a pleural effusion, and one a
      substantial increase in vascular markings; in two the radiograph was normal. At
      bronchoscopy characteristic discrete lesions were easily visible in 37 patients
      and were often bright red. Multiple nodules were seen in 11, flat or early plaque
      lesions in 12 (14 had both), proximal flat lesions and diffuse infiltration in
      three, diffuse infiltration alone in four, and masses in two; one had normal
      appearances at bronchoscopy. One patient had Pneumocystis carinii and two had a
      single bacterial pathogen cultured from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Only
      two of 29 bronchoscopic biopsies showed classical histological Kaposi's sarcoma.
      After cytotoxic treatment 20 patients have died, with an overall median survival
      of 70 days. CONCLUSION: In this African population symptomatic pulmonary Kaposi's
      sarcoma was common, with lesions seen in all but one patient at bronchoscopy.
      Coexistent infection was uncommon. Prognosis was poor despite treatment.

PMID- 1440470
TI  - An audit of the clinical investigation of pleural effusion.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pleural aspiration with pleural biopsy is advised for the
      investigation of pleural effusion. The clinical investigation of pleural effusion
      in a group of teaching hospitals was audited with reference to adequacy and
      diagnostic value of sampling procedures. METHODS: A retrospective review of case
      records of all patients investigated for pleural effusion during an eight month
      period was performed. The records of 112 patients, age range 16-91 years, who
      underwent 150 procedures were reviewed. RESULTS: Microbiology samples were
      obtained from 137 procedures, of which five provided a positive culture,
      including one for mycobacteria. Cytology samples were obtained from 145
      procedures though approximately two thirds of samples were less than the
      recommended 30 ml. The pleural biopsy rate was 30%, varying from 0% in general or
      thoracic surgery to 68% in thoracic medicine (thoracic surgeons carried out
      thoracoscopy). Twenty nine per cent of pleural biopsy samples were of poor
      quality. The complication rate was 2% for aspiration alone, and 4% for aspiration
      plus biopsy. The sensitivity of the first diagnostic procedure for a diagnosis of
      malignancy or tuberculosis was 53% for cytology alone, 50% for biopsy alone and
      72% for cytology plus biopsy. CONCLUSION: The samples obtained from pleural
      aspiration and biopsy in the initial investigation of pleural effusion are often
      inadequate. Further education is necessary to improve the quantity and quality of
      specimens submitted for histological and cytological examination.

PMID- 1440471
TI  - High resolution computed tomography as a predictor of lung histology in systemic
      sclerosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The relative proportions of fibrosis and inflammation seen by open
      lung biopsy examination is a predictor of disease outcome in fibrosing
      alveolitis. This study was designed to assess the ability of high resolution
      computed tomography to predict the histological appearance of open lung biopsy
      specimens from patients with systemic sclerosis. METHODS: Twenty abnormal biopsy
      specimens from 12 patients were assessed; abnormalities were categorised as
      fibrotic (fibrosis exceeding inflammation) or inflammatory (inflammation equal to
      or exceeding fibrosis). Computed tomography appearances were scored for the lobe
      from which the biopsy specimen was taken; scans were graded from parenchymal
      opacification alone through to a reticular pattern alone. RESULTS: Two lobar
      appearances were identified on computed tomograms: amorphous parenchymal
      opacification equal in extent to reticulation (grade 3) and a predominantly
      reticular pattern (grade 4). There was a significant association between a
      fibrotic histological appearance and a grade 4 computed tomogram, and between an
      inflammatory histological appearance and a grade 3 computed tomogram. Computed
      tomography grade 4 was associated with a fibrotic histological appearance in 12
      out of 13 lobes, and grade 3 with an inflammatory histological appearance in four
      out of seven lobes. CONCLUSION: Computed tomography discriminated between biopsy
      specimens that were predominantly fibrotic and a smaller group with a larger
      amount of inflammation.

PMID- 1440472
TI  - The pulmonary physician and critical care. 4. A new look at the pulmonary
      circulation in acute lung injury.

PMID- 1440474
TI  - Percutaneous visceral pleural biopsy with fenestrated cup biopsy forceps.
AB  - When there is an exudative pleural effusion often both the parietal and the
      visceral pleura are affected, but the usual practice is to perform a percutaneous
      parietal pleural biopsy alone for diagnosis. Percutaneous visceral pleural biopsy
      was carried out in 20 patients with exudative pleural effusions with fenestrated
      cup biopsy forceps. In all 20 biopsies pleural tissue was obtained and it was
      diagnostic in 19 cases. The procedure is painless and appears safe.

PMID- 1440473
TI  - The airway microvasculature and exercise induced asthma.
AB  - It has been proposed that exercise induced asthma is a result of "rapid expansion
      of the blood volume of peribronchial plexi" (McFadden ER, Lancet 1990;335:880-3).
      This hypothesis proposes that the development of exercise induced asthma depends
      on the thermal gradient in the airways at the end of hyperpnoea. The events that
      result in exercise induced asthma are vasoconstriction and airway cooling
      followed by reactive hyperaemia. We agree that the airway microcirculation has
      the potential for contributing to the pathophysiology of exercise induced asthma.
      We do, however, question whether reactive hyperaemia, in response to airway
      cooling, is the mechanism whereby hyperpnoea provokes airways obstruction in
      asthmatic patients. Further, we question whether vasoconstriction accompanies dry
      air breathing and whether an abnormal temperature gradient and rapid rewarming of
      the airways are prerequisites for exercise induced asthma. From published
      experiments we conclude that dry air breathing is associated with vasodilation
      and increase in airway blood flow rather than vasoconstriction and a decrease in
      blood flow to the airways. We propose that the stimulus for the increase in
      airway blood flow is an increase in osmolarity of the airway submucosa. This
      osmotic change is caused by the movement of water to the airway lumen in response
      to evaporative water loss during hyperpnoea. The increase in airway blood flow
      may occur directly or indirectly by the osmotic release of mediators. Exercise
      induced asthma is most likely to be due to the contraction of bronchial smooth
      muscle caused by the same mediators. Whether it is enhanced or inhibited by
      alterations in airway blood flow is not yet established in man.

PMID- 1440475
TI  - Acute and long term respiratory damage following inhalation of ammonia.
AB  - A lifelong non-smoker who was the victim of a massive accidental exposure to
      anhydrous ammonia gas was followed up for 10 years. In the acute phase the
      patient presented with severe tracheobronchitis and respiratory failure, caused
      by very severe burns of the respiratory mucosa. After some improvement he was
      left with severe and fixed airways obstruction. Isotope studies of mucociliary
      clearance, computed tomography, and bronchography showed mild bronchiectasis. It
      is concluded that acute exposure to high concentrations of ammonia may lead to
      acute respiratory injury but also to long term impairment of respiratory
      function.

PMID- 1440476
TI  - Expandable metal stents for tracheal obstruction: permanent or temporary? A
      cautionary tale.
AB  - An expandable metal stent inserted via a long term tracheostomy successfully
      relieved life threatening respiratory obstruction due to benign tracheal
      stenosis. Later the patient's tracheostomy suction catheter became stuck on the
      stent and dislodged it. The stent was removed electively, without damaging the
      trachea, with a rigid biopsy forceps.

PMID- 1440477
TI  - Occupational asthma due to polyethylene shrink wrapping (paper wrapper's asthma).
AB  - Occupational asthma due to the pyrolysis products of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
      produced by shrink wrapping processes has previously been reported. The first
      case of occupational asthma in a shrink wrap worker using a different plastic,
      polyethylene, is reported; the association was confirmed by specific bronchial
      provocation testing.

PMID- 1440478
TI  - Occupational asthma induced by the fungicide tetrachloroisophthalonitrile.
AB  - A 48 year old male farmer had recurrent episodes of dyspnoea, shortness of
      breath, and wheezing after being in his plastic greenhouse when the fungicide
      tetrachloroisophthalonitrile had been sprayed. A bronchial provocation test with
      a control challenge and a patch skin test confirmed that his asthma was induced
      by tetrachloroisophthalonitrile.

PMID- 1440479
TI  - Alternative and complementary medicine for asthma.

PMID- 1440480
TI  - Alternative and complementary medicine for asthma.

PMID- 1440481
TI  - Air pollution and respiratory morbidity.

PMID- 1440482
TI  - Pulmonary function in chronic renal failure: effects of dialysis and
      transplantation.

PMID- 1440483
TI  - Haematological effects of inhalation of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine
      in man.

PMID- 1440484
TI  - Apparent lack of synergism between heparin and dihydroergotamine in prevention of
      deep vein thrombosis after elective hip replacement: a randomised double-blind
      trial reported in conjunction with an overview of previous results.
AB  - We report the results of a double-blind, randomised trial of venous thrombosis
      (VT) prevention in 117 patients having elective hip replacement where low dose
      heparin alone (5,000 IU sodium heparin given subcutaneously [sc] 8 hourly until
      the seventh postoperative day) was compared with low dose heparin plus
      dihydroergotamine (DHE; 0.5 mg, given 8 hourly by sc injection). The trial end
      point consisted of VT discovered through bilateral ascending venography done
      routinely on the seventh postoperative day. VT developed in 34% of patients given
      heparin/DHE (95% confidence interval = 22% - 47%) compared with 24% in those
      given low dose heparin alone (95% confidence interval = 14% - 37%; p = 0.34),
      difference = 10% (95% confidence interval = -7% to +26%). Corresponding figures
      for the incidence of proximal (above-knee) thrombosis were 17% and 14% (95%
      confidence intervals = 8% - 29% and 6% - 25% respectively). These results are
      discussed in the context of a detailed overview of published evidence concerning
      VT prevention with heparin/DHE after hip replacement and we conclude it is
      unlikely that heparin/DHE is markedly superior to low dose heparin alone in this
      clinical setting.

PMID- 1440485
TI  - Ventilation-perfusion lung scanning and the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism:
      improvement of observer agreement by the use of a lung segment reference chart.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the systematic use of a lung segment
      reference chart can improve the inter- and intra-observer agreement for the
      interpretation of ventilation-perfusion lung scans. DESIGN: A randomized trial.
      STUDY POPULATION: Ventilation-perfusion lung scans were obtained in a series of
      220 consecutive patients with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism.
      INTERVENTION: Ventilation-perfusion scans were randomly allocated to one of two
      series each consisting of 110 ventilation-perfusion lung scans. The first series
      of lung scans was interpreted according to the routine diagnostic approach, and
      the second series was interpreted with the mandatory use of a lung segment
      reference chart on which observed ventilation and perfusion defects were drawn.
      The two nuclear medicine physicians agreed a priori on the diagnostic criteria of
      the classification scheme. MEASUREMENTS: Lung scans were classified as normal,
      non-high probability, or high probability for pulmonary embolism. The extent of
      disagreement between the nuclear medicine physicians (inter-observer
      disagreement) and the lack of internal consistency of each nuclear medicine
      physician (intra-observer disagreement) was assessed by the percentage
      disagreement and by kappa statistic. RESULTS: Inter-observer disagreement which
      was 20% in the first series, decreased significantly in the second series to 7%;
      P = 0.003. Intra-observer disagreement for the first series was 10% and 22% for
      the nuclear medicine physicians, respectively. Intra-observer disagreement for
      the second series of lung scans decreased significantly for one nuclear medicine
      physician (intra-observer disagreement, 0%; P less than 0.01), whereas intra
      observer disagreement was reduced to 10% for the other nuclear medicine physician
      (P = 0.09). CONCLUSION: Inter- and intra-observer disagreement were significantly
      reduced when two nuclear medicine specialists interpreted ventilation-perfusion
      lung scans according to the routine diagnostic approach plus the use of a lung
      segment reference chart. The use of the lung segment reference chart for the
      interpretation of lung scans is likely to improve the management of patients with
      clinically suspected pulmonary embolism.

PMID- 1440486
TI  - Early activation of hemostasis during cardiopulmonary bypass: evidence for
      thrombin mediated hyperfibrinolysis.
AB  - In 14 consecutive patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass for coronary bypass
      surgery the time course of coagulation and fibrinolysis markers were measured, e.
      g. plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT) complexes, cross-linked
      fibrin degradation products (XIFDP) and plasmin-alpha 2-antiplasmin complexes
      (PAP). TAT levels exceeded the 90% baseline percentile already during CPB (after
      opening of aortic clamp) in 10 patients, whereas PAP and XIFDP exceeded their 90%
      percentile in only one patient at this time. Concerning fibrinolysis markers PAP
      and XIFDP the majority of patients showed elevations higher than their 90%
      baseline percentile only 1 h postoperation. Correlation analysis revealed
      significant dependencies between TAT levels during and at the end of CPB and PAP
      levels 1 h postoperation (R = 0.55 and R = 0.56 respectively). Furthermore, 1 h
      postoperation XIFDP levels were significantly correlated with both TAT and PAP.
      Peak XIFDP levels at the same time correlated with blood loss via thoracic drains
      (R = 0.56). Thus, we suggest that hyperfibrinolysis in patients undergoing CPB is
      at least partly due to hypercoagulation. Clinically, this may implicate that
      intensified anticoagulation could prevent hyperfibrinolysis and reduce
      postoperative blood loss.

PMID- 1440487
TI  - The effect of insulin treatment on the balance between tissue plasminogen
      activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in type 2 diabetic patients.
AB  - Beside hypercoagulation and hyperactivated platelets disturbances of the
      fibrinolytic system towards hypofibrinolysis have been reported to be associated
      with both glycemic and lipidemic derangement in diabetic patients. In the present
      prospective follow-up study the effect of 16 weeks insulin treatment and glycemic
      regulation on plasma levels of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen
      activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), the main regulators of fibrinolysis, was
      investigated in 19 type-2 diabetic patients with secondary failure to
      sulphonylureas. A similar glycemic regulation was obtained in a control group of
      10 type 2 diabetic patients with sufficient metabolic response to strict dietary
      treatment and continuation of sulphonylurea treatment. Compared to 27 healthy
      subjects levels of tPA and PAI-1 were not significantly increased in type 2
      diabetic patients before metabolic intervention. Although a hypofibrinolytic
      state due to an increase of PAI-1 levels was previously reported in obese
      hyperinsulinemic patients, no effect of insulin treatment on both tPA- and PAI-1
      levels was observed in the present study including patients with only slightly
      increased body mass index (median 26.0 kg/m2). By correlation analysis PAI-1
      levels were significantly related to serum cholesterol (R = 0.52) and glycemic
      control (glucose R = 0.41) in the whole group of diabetic patients at entry and
      in both subgroups after 16 weeks of treatment (insulin group: cholesterol R =
      0.46, HbA1c R = 0.51; sulphonylurea group: cholesterol R = 0.59, HbA1c R = 0.58).
      In healthy subjects tPA and PAI-1 was correlated to serum insulin (R = 0.54, R =
      0.56) and triglycerides (R = 0.46, R = 0.40).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1440488
TI  - Detection of asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis by real-time B-mode
      ultrasonography in hip surgery patients.
AB  - The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the accuracy of real-time B
      mode ultrasonography in the diagnosis of asymptomatic proximal deep vein
      thrombosis (DVT) in hip surgery patients. Venography was adopted as the gold
      standard. We studied 100 consecutive patients undergoing hip surgery: 60 patients
      for hip fracture and 40 patients for elective hip replacement. Bilateral real
      time B-mode ultrasonography was performed prior to bilateral venography. The two
      diagnostic procedures were performed on the same day by different investigators
      unaware of the assigned prophylatic regimen for DVT. Compressibility of the vein
      segment was adopted as the single criterion for DVT. Venography was performed and
      judged by radiologists unaware of the ultrasonography results. In 13 limbs
      venography was either impossible to perform or not adequate for judgement.
      Ultrasonography and an adequate venography was obtained in 187 limbs. A
      venography proven DVT was observed in 49 limbs (26.2%) and a proximal DVT in 21
      limbs (11.2%). All the patients were asymptomatic for DVT. The sensitivity and
      specificity of real time B-mode ultrasonography for proximal DVT were 57% (95%
      confidence interval: C.I. 36-80) and 99% (C.I. 99-100), respectively and the
      positive and negative predictive values were 93% (C.I. 73-100) and 95% (C.I. 91
      97), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for overall DVT were 25% (C.I.
      11-38) and 99% (C.I. 97-100), respectively and the positive and negative
      predictive values were 92% (C.I. 73-100) and 79% (C.I. 76-85), respectively. Our
      data indicate that real-time B-mode ultrasonography for its high specificity
      could make venography unnecessary in patients with positive results.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1440489
TI  - A six year prospective study of fibrinogen and other risk factors associated with
      mortality in stable claudicants.
AB  - A total of 333 patients with stable intermittent claudication at recruitment were
      followed up for 6 years to determine risk factors associated with subsequent
      mortality. Cardiovascular diseases were the underlying cause of death in 78% of
      the 114 patients who died. The strongest independent predictor of death during
      the follow-up period was the plasma fibrinogen level, an increase of 1 milligram
      being associated with a nearly two-fold increase in the probability of death
      within the next 6 years. Age, low ankle/brachial pressure index and a past
      history of myocardial infarction also increased the probability of death during
      the study period. The plasma fibrinogen level is a valuable index of those
      patients with stable intermittent claudication at high risk of early mortality.
      The results also provide further evidence for the involvement of fibrinogen in
      the pathogenesis of arterial disease.

PMID- 1440490
TI  - Immunoglobulin fractions isolated from patients with antiphospholipid antibodies
      prevent the inactivation of factor Va by activated protein C on human endothelial
      cells.
AB  - We studied the effect of purified immunoglobulins (Ig) from 21 patients with
      antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) on factor Va degradation by activated protein C
      (aPC) on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Sera from
      patients were tested on an ELISA aPL assay to determine the isotype with aPL
      activity. HUVEC were incubated with purified IgG or IgM fraction from controls or
      patients. Activated PC and factor Va were then added and factor Va degradation
      was measured after several reaction times. 13 of 14 IgM and 8 of 10 IgG from
      patients showed an inhibitory effect on factor Va degradation by aPC when
      compared with control Ig. We also observed the same inhibitory effect with
      patients' Ig on studying the degradation of factor Va by aPC in a purified system
      containing aPC, protein S and phospholipids. These results suggest that aPL
      antibodies disturb the anticoagulant activity of aPC, which may contribute to the
      thrombotic tendency of these patients.

PMID- 1440491
TI  - A rapid monoclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the quantitative
      determination of soluble fibrin in plasma.
AB  - Soluble fibrin is considered as a molecular marker for intravascular fibrin
      formation, and impending thrombotic events. Most of the existing assays are less
      suitable for routine clinical applications and their specificity may be limited.
      We have developed a sandwich-type EIA with a fibrin-specific MoAb described by us
      before (Proc Natl Acad Sci 1989; 86: 8951) as the capture antibody. An other MoAb
      (G8; Thromb Haemostas 1988; 60: 145) with an epitope in the carboxyl-terminal
      sections of the fibrin alpha-chains, was labeled with peroxidase and used as the
      tagging antibody. The EIA is calibrated against plasma spiked with known
      concentrations of soluble fibrin. The time-to-result of the EIA is only 1.5 h.
      Concentrations as low as 0.5 micrograms soluble fibrin/ml plasma are readily
      measureable. Heparin has no effect on the results. Fibrinogen and fibrin(ogen)
      degradation products are not detected. The values of fibrinopeptide A and soluble
      fibrin values found with the "COA-SET soluble fibrin" assay correlated well with
      the soluble fibrin values found with our EIA i.e. r = 0.998 and 0.984,
      respectively. The run-to-run variabilities were 7.9% and 6.6% for samples with
      low and high soluble fibrin concentrations, respectively. The within-run
      variabilities were 2.5, 1.8, 4.0 and 4.6% for samples with 1, 0.5, 0.25 and 0.125
      micrograms soluble fibrin/ml, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity,
      accuracy and short time-to-result make our EIA suitable for routine clinical
      applications and the monitoring of the effectivity of heparinization.

PMID- 1440492
TI  - Antiphospholipid antibody positive sera enhance endothelial cell procoagulant
      activity--studies in a thrombosis model.
AB  - The effect of sera and IgG from 12 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
      (SLE) on the endothelial cell (EC) procoagulant activity (PCA) was investigated
      in an in vitro thrombosis model. Six of the 12 SLE sera contained
      antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). EC were stimulated for 8 h at 37 degrees C
      with or without 50 pM tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in culture medium containing
      20% patient or control serum. Then the endothelial cell matrix (ECM) was isolated
      and subsequently exposed in a perfusion chamber to circulating normal whole
      blood, anticoagulated with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). The PCA of the
      ECM was determined as the amount of generated fibrinopeptide A (FPA) in samples
      taken before and after perfusion. Furthermore, cross sections were made of the
      perfused matrix and analyzed for platelet adhesion and aggregate formation. All
      six aPL containing sera induced a small, but significant increase of ECM
      procoagulant activity. When added in combination with a low dose of TNF (50 pM),
      a synergistic enhancement of ECM procoagulant activity was found. The FPA
      generation was increased to 150-614% from the values obtained after stimulation
      with TNF and control serum. Also a shift towards the formation of larger platelet
      thrombi was observed. After stimulation with TNF and patient serum the surface of
      ECM covered with large aggregates (greater than 5 microns) was increased by 124
      329% compared to the results obtained after stimulation with control serum and
      TNF. When patient sera were depleted from IgG the effects were strongly
      decreased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1440493
TI  - The prevalence of factor XII deficiency in 103 orally anticoagulated outpatients
      suffering from recurrent venous and/or arterial thromboembolism.
AB  - One hundred and three patients suffering from recurrent venous thrombosis,
      recurrent arterial thromboembolism and/or recurrent myocardial infarction and 50
      healthy subjects were tested for Hageman factor (FXII) coagulant activity and
      antigen. Among the 103 patients we identified 15 subjects with FXII deficiency
      (15%), 3 with protein C deficiency (3%) and 3 with protein S deficiency (3%).
      Combined FXII and protein C, protein S or antithrombin III deficiency was not
      observed. The 103 patients were divided into subgroups according to the type of
      thrombotic complication. Among patients with exclusively recurrent venous
      thromboembolism 8% (p = 0.153) were deficient in FXII. Among patients suffering
      from recurrent arterial thromboembolism and/or myocardial infarction, the
      incidence of FXII deficiency was significantly higher (20%, p less than 0.003).
      In 67% of the patients with FXII deficiency a positive family history of
      thrombosis could be established. In contrast, only 32% of all venous and 28% of
      all arterial thrombosis patients had a positive family history. We believe that
      reduced levels of FXII should be considered as a risk factor in the development
      of thromboembolism. Consequently, more attention should be payed to the
      measurement of FXII when evaluating thromboembolic risk factors especially in
      cases of recurrent arterial thromboembolism and/or myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1440494
TI  - Molecular cloning and cell-free expression of mouse antithrombin III.
AB  - The homology between antithrombin III (AT-III) of mouse, of man, and that of
      other species was investigated. Preliminary experiments showed that mouse AT-III
      inhibited human alpha-thrombin efficiently (second order rate constant [K2nd] 5.8
      x 10(3) M-1 s-1) as compared to human AT-III (K2nd 6.7 x 10(3) M-1), but was not
      recognized on immunoblots by antibodies that recognized both human and rabbit AT
      III. In order to compare AT-III from different species at the molecular level, a
      cDNA clone for murine AT-III was isolated from a lambda ZAP mouse liver cDNA
      library on the basis of hybridization to a rabbit AT-III cDNA probe. The 1509 bp
      murine AT-III cDNA consists of a 1398 bp open reading frame, preceded by a 15 bp
      5' untranslated region, followed by a 75 bp 3' untranslated region. The deduced
      primary protein structure consists of a 32 amino acid signal sequence, with a
      mature portion of 433 residues. Mature murine AT-III is 89% identical to its
      human counterpart, 86% identical to bovine AT-III, and 82% identical to that of
      the rabbit. Constructs lacking the nucleotides encoding the signal sequence were
      engineered and expressed in a cell-free system. The resulting 47 kDa non
      glycosylated translation product was capable of being cleaved by human alpha
      thrombin, of forming SDS-stable complexes with the protease, and of binding to
      immobilized heparin. Isolation of the murine AT-III cDNA will make feasible
      molecularly defined experiments with murine AT-III in the mouse system.

PMID- 1440495
TI  - Anticoagulant activity of beta 2-glycoprotein I is potentiated by a distinct
      subgroup of anticardiolipin antibodies.
AB  - Plasmas of 16 patients positive for both IgG anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies and
      lupus anticoagulant (LA) antibodies were subjected to adsorption with liposomes
      containing cardiolipin. In 5 of these plasmas both the anticardiolipin and the
      anticoagulant activities were co-sedimented with the liposomes in a dose
      dependent manner, whereas in the remaining cases only the anticardiolipin
      activity could be removed by the liposomes, leaving the anticoagulant activity
      (LA) in the supernatant plasma. aCL antibodies purified from the first 5 plasmas
      were defined as aCL-type A, while the term aCL-type B was used for antibodies in
      the other 11 plasmas, from which 2 were selected for this study. Prolongation of
      the dRVVT was produced by affinity-purified aCL-type A antibodies in plasma of
      human as well as animal (bovine, rat and goat) origin. aCL-type B antibodies were
      found to be devoid of anticoagulant activity, while the corresponding
      supernatants containing LA IgG produced prolongation of the dRVVT only in human
      plasma. These anticoagulant activities of aCL-type A and of LA IgG's were
      subsequently evaluated in human plasma depleted of beta 2-glycoprotein I (beta 2
      GPI), a protein which was previously shown to be essential in the binding of aCL
      antibodies to anionic phospholipids. Prolongation of the dRVVT by aCL-type A
      antibodies was abolished using beta 2-GPI deficient plasma, but could be restored
      upon addition of beta 2-GPI. In contrast, LA IgG caused prolongation of the dRVVT
      irrespective of the presence or absence of beta 2-GPI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1440496
TI  - A comparison of methods for the measurement of activated factor VII.
AB  - A number of different methods are available for the measurement of factor VIIa.
      Almost all of these employ ratios of two different measurements of factor VII. In
      order to determine which is the most sensitive to activated factor VII we have
      compared currently available methods in the following groups: two patients with
      haemophilia A following treatment with activated recombinant factor VII (rVIIa);
      6 normal plasmas during cold promoted activation of factor VII; normal
      individuals (n = 23); and patients with unequivocal disseminated intravascular
      coagulation (DIC, n = 19). Factor VII was measured in an amidolytic assay
      (VII:Amid) and an antigen assay (VII:Ag). Clotting activity was measured using
      rabbit (VII:C Rab), human (VII:C Hum) and bovine (VII:C Bov) thromboplastin. Of
      the clotting assays the most sensitive to the presence of factor VIIa was that
      which utilised bovine thromboplastin. Amidolytic and immunological measurements
      were unaffected by the activity state of factor VII. The ratios VII:C Rab/VII:Ag
      and VII:C Rab/VII:Amid were insensitive to activated factor VII. The ratios most
      sensitive to the presence of factor VIIa were VII:C Bov/VII:Amid and VII:C
      Bov/VII:Ag. The ratios VII:C Bov/VII:C Rab and VII:C Bov/VII:C Hum are less
      sensitive but have the advantage for epidemiological studies of narrower
      reference ranges.

PMID- 1440497
TI  - Effect of DDAVP on endotoxin-induced intravascular coagulation in rabbits.
AB  - We have evaluated the effect of 1-Deamino-8D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) on an
      experimental model of intravascular coagulation (DIC) induced in rabbits by
      injection of 20 micrograms kg-1 h-1 during 6 h of E. coli lipopolysaccharide.
      DDAVP significantly ameliorated the platelet drop and fibrinogen decrease (p less
      than 0.01) induced by endotoxin in control animals. A significant reduction in
      factor XII consumption (p less than 0.01) and a decrease in the generation of
      endotoxin induced PAI-1 activity in rabbits circulation was also observed (p less
      than 0.005). Moreover, fibrin deposition in kidneys of rabbits receiving DDAVP
      was significantly reduced as compared to control animals. Finally, the mortality
      rate in the control group was significantly higher than in DDAVP-treated rabbits
      (p less than 0.01). The hemostatic changes induced by DDAVP correlated with lower
      fibrin deposition and reduction in mortality rates.

PMID- 1440498
TI  - Tissue plasminogen activator release in chronic venous hypertension due to heart
      failure.
AB  - In order to study the effects of chronic venous hypertension due to heart failure
      on blood fibrinolytic activity, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen,
      plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) antigen, t-PA activity and PAI activity
      were measured before and after venous occlusion of the arm for 20 min in 15
      patients with right-sided heart failure, 15 patients with left-sided heart
      failure, and 30 control healthy subjects. Central venous pressure, measured by
      observing the jugular veins, was above 15 cm of the blood column in all patients
      with right-sided heart failure, and normal (below 8 cm) in all patients with left
      sided heart failure and control subjects. There was no difference in the basal
      concentrations of t-PA (11.0, 10.2 and 10.8 ng/ml; all values medians) and PAI-1
      antigens and their activities between right and left-sided heart failure and the
      control subjects. After the occlusion, t-PA antigen increased significantly less
      in right-sided heart failure (28.6 ng/ml) than in left-sided heart failure and
      the control subjects (54.5 and 45.9 ng/ml, respectively). It was concluded that
      the poor increase in fibrinolytic activity that had already been reported in
      patients with heart failure, was due to low t-PA release during occlusion and not
      to a high basal PAI level. It was limited to the patients with right-sided heart
      failure and was probably the consequence of chronic systemic venous hypertension.

PMID- 1440499
TI  - Fibrin clot lysis by thrombolytic agents is impaired in newborns due to a low
      plasminogen concentration.
AB  - Although thrombolytic drugs have been extensively used in adults, there is sparse
      information on their effectiveness in newborns whose fibrinolytic system differs
      significantly from adults. The purpose of this study was to determine if low
      plasma levels of plasminogen in cord plasma limited the therapeutic effectiveness
      of thrombolytic agents. Urokinase (UK), streptokinase (SK) and tissue plasminogen
      activator (TPA) were compared for their ability to lyse washed 125I-labelled
      adult or cord fibrin clots suspended in cord or adult plasma. 125I-labelled
      fibrin clots were prepared by recalcifying cord or adult plasma spiked with
      labelled fibrinogen and then placed into cord or adult plasma which contained
      either saline or differing amounts of a specific thrombolytic agent. After a 60
      min incubation, the remaining 125I-fibrin in clots released 125I-fibrin
      fragments, and concentrations of fibrinogen, alpha 2-antiplasmin, and plasminogen
      in the bathing plasma were measured and compared to starting values. Cord fibrin
      clots were more resistant than adult fibrin clots to all thrombolytic drugs
      tested (p less than 0.001). On average, the cord system retained 27% more 125I
      fibrin in clots, and released 32% less 125I-fibrin fragments into plasma.
      Fibrinogenolysis was also decreased in cord plasmas compared to adult plasmas.
      The degree of fibrinolysis and fibrinogenolysis in cord plasma increased to adult
      values when plasminogen concentrations were increased in the bathing plasma.
      Thus, cord fibrin clots have an impaired response to thrombolytic agents
      secondary to low levels of plasminogen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1440500
TI  - Thrombolytic activity of two chimeric recombinant plasminogen activators (FK2tu
      PA and K2tu-PA) in rabbits.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the thrombolytic activity of two hybrid
      plasminogen activators (HPAs) in a rabbit jugular vein thrombosis model. In the
      two HPAs the kringle-2 domain (K2tu-PA) or the finger and the kringle-2 domains
      (FK2tu-PA) of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) are linked to the
      catalytic protease domain of single chain urokinase type plasminogen activator
      (scu-PA). The two HPAs were compared with rt-PA and scu-PA on a weight/weight
      basis. K2tu-PA, FK2tu-PA, rt-PA and scu-PA were infused at doses of 0.4, 0.8 and
      1.2 mg/kg over 3 h. Saline served as control. Saline produced 11 +/- 2%
      thrombolysis. The three doses of K2tu-PA led to 38 +/- 4%, 66 +/- 5% and 89 +/-
      7% thrombolysis, respectively; the three doses of FK2tu-PA: 18 +/- 3%, 29 +/- 5%
      and 33 +/- 6%, respectively; the three doses of rt-PA 32 +/- 2%, 49 +/- 3% and 68
      +/- 6%, respectively; the three doses of scu-PA 16 +/- 2%, 24 +/- 3% and 32 +/-
      4%, respectively. K2tu-PA and rt-PA showed a statistically significant higher
      thrombolytic activity than FK2tu-PA and scu-PA at the three tested doses (p less
      than 0.01). The thrombolytic activity of K2tu-PA was significantly higher than rt
      PA at the two higher doses (p less than 0.01). Both K2tu-PA and rt-PA produced a
      statistically significant reduction of fibrinogen, alpha 2-antiplasmin and
      plasminogen 3 h after the start of the infusions of the two higher
      doses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1440501
TI  - Synergistic antithrombotic properties of G4120, a RGD-containing synthetic
      peptide, and argatroban, a synthetic thrombin inhibitor, in a hamster femoral
      vein platelet-rich thrombosis model.
AB  - The synergistic antithrombotic properties of G4120, a synthetic Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)
      containing peptide which strongly inhibits platelet aggregation, and of
      Argatroban, a synthetic thrombin inhibitor, were examined in a reproducible
      quantitative hamster femoral vein platelet-rich mural thrombosis model. Bolus
      injections of G4120 and Argatroban inhibit thrombus formation in a dose-dependent
      way; 50% inhibition (ID50) is obtained with 11 micrograms/kg G4120 and with 2
      mg/kg Argatroban. Combined bolus injections of 3 micrograms/kg G4120 with 0.5,
      0.75 or 1 mg/kg Argatroban and of 1 mg/kg Argatroban with 1.5 or 3 micrograms/kg
      G4120 caused linear dose-dependent inhibition of thrombus formation, whereas 3
      micrograms/kg G4120 or 1 mg/kg Argatroban alone had very little effect (less than
      20% inhibition). ID50 was obtained with the combination of 3 micrograms/kg G4120
      and 0.5 mg/kg Argatroban, corresponding to an equi-effective fractional
      combination of 0.62 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.50 to 0.74. Alternatively
      the ID50 was obtained with the combination of 1 mg/kg Argatroban and 1.3
      micrograms/kg G4120, corresponding to an equi-effective fractional combination of
      0.52 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.18 to 0.86. In both instances these
      results are indicative of a significant synergistic interaction. Bolus injection
      of 10 mg/kg aspirin, 100 U/kg heparin or the combination did not inhibit thrombus
      formation. The synergistic effect of the combination of platelet inhibiting RGD
      peptides and synthetic thrombin inhibitors could be useful in the prevention of
      arterial occlusion with platelet-rich thrombus in patients with ischemic heart
      disease following thrombolytic therapy or angioplasty, although this combination
      is not expected to reverse platelet thrombus formation.

PMID- 1440502
TI  - Mass contents of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and 1,2-diacylglycerol in human
      platelets stimulated with a thromboxane analogue and thrombin.
AB  - Mass contents of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and 1,2-diacylglycerol (DG)
      were measured in U46619-stimulated human platelets. 1 microM of U46619 induced
      maximum responses in aggregation, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) secretion and
      increase in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Aggregation was
      almost comparable to that induced by maximal dose (1 U/ml) of thrombin, while 5HT
      release was almost half. The initial [Ca2+]i peak in response to U46619 was about
      half of thrombin stimulation. Production of IP3 and DG was, however, less than
      one tenth of that seen in thrombin stimulation. The profile (time course and
      concentration-dependency) of IP3 formation did not correlate with that of
      [Ca2+]i, suggesting that U46619 stimulates IP3-dependent and -independent Ca2+
      mobilization. DG production was small but sustained for more than 5 min. These
      findings support the recent hypothesis that aggregation is regulated by a delayed
      accumulation of DG. The low level of 5HT secretion could be explained by the low
      production of second messengers, IP3 and DG.

PMID- 1440503
TI  - Effect of stimulation on the stabilization of platelet-fibrinogen interactions.
AB  - The interaction between fibrinogen and stimulated platelets is a multiphasic
      process that culminates in the stabilization of ligand binding and reduced
      accessibility of bound fibrinogen to exogenous antibody. The present study was
      designed to further explore platelet-fibrinogen interactions by examining the
      effect of agonist on bound fibrinogen expression and interaction with stimulated
      platelets as a function of time after ligand binding. Two agents were identified,
      Zn2+ and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), which support progressive decreases in
      bound fibrinogen expression on platelets, but fail to support the stabilization
      of fibrinogen binding. Sixty min after binding to platelets, approximately 80% of
      bound fibrinogen remained reversibly associated with Zn(2+)- or PMA-treated
      platelets and failed to associate with the Triton X-100 insoluble cytoskeleton.
      In contrast, polyclonal anti-fibrinogen antibody binding decreased by more than
      66%. Over the same time course, fibrinogen binding to control platelets,
      stimulated with thrombin or ADP, was not only accompanied by a 70% decrease in
      antifibrinogen antibody binding, but also an inability of EDTA or excess
      exogenous fibrinogen to dissociate more than half of platelet-associated
      fibrinogen, as well as the progressive association of bound fibrinogen with the
      platelet cytoskeleton. Costimulation of platelets with ZnCl2 and thrombin or
      ZnCl2 and ADP enhanced overall fibrinogen binding but not the EDTA-resistant
      component, and prevented the recovery of irreversibly bound fibrinogen with the
      Triton X-100 insoluble cytoskeleton. Costimulation of PMA- or Zn(2+)-treated
      platelets with low doses of A23187, however, restored the stabilization of
      platelet-fibrinogen interactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1440504
TI  - On the significance of different aequorin loading techniques on intracellular
      aequorin discharge, baseline calcium, platelet aggregation and aequorin-indicated
      Ca(2+)-transients.
AB  - The study compares the decay of intracellular luminescence activity (Lmax), the
      levels of basal [Ca2+]i in resting platelets, and agonist-induced peak [Ca2+]i
      signals in platelets loaded with aequorin using the EGTA-, DMSO- and hypoosmotic
      shock treatment (HOST)-techniques. The highest load of intracellular aequorin
      with almost unchanged luminescence activity during 4 h was achieved with HOST.
      Lmax decreased linearly in EGTA- and HOST-platelets, but the decay rate and the
      levels of basal [Ca2+]i were significantly lower in HOST-platelets. Platelet
      aggregation and aequorin-indicated [Ca2+]i-rise induced by thrombin and collagen
      were similar in EGTA- and HOST-platelets. In HOST-platelets, ADP-induced platelet
      aggregation was always accompanied by aequorin-signals, while at a similar time
      point, aequorin-signals were absent in 3 of 5 cases in EGTA-platelets. The
      initial aequorin loading was highest in DMSO-platelets, but Lmax described an
      exponential decay, which was most pronounced when DMSO-platelets were maintained
      in Ca(2+)-free buffer (R2 = 0.86). Agonist-induced platelet aggregation was
      significantly reduced in DMSO-platelets: thrombin-stimulation was accompanied by
      a significantly lower and delayed [Ca2+]i-rise and no aequorin-signal was
      obtained in response to ADP in 3 of 5 cases. The study shows that in addition of
      being a rapid loading-technique, the criteria of high intracellular aequorin load
      with low luminescence consumption, low basal [Ca2+]i and completely preserved
      platelet functions are most convincingly met by the HOST-method.

PMID- 1440505
TI  - Low molecular weight fibrinogen degradation products stimulate the release of
      growth factors from endothelial cells.
AB  - Cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAEC) constitutively produce and
      secrete in their culture medium mitogens collectively called endothelial cell
      derived growth factors (EDGFs). Incubation of PAEC with fibrinogen-degradation
      products (FDPs) obtained by plasmin digestion of highly purified fibrinogen
      caused an increased release of EDGFs, as assessed by [3H]-thymidine incorporation
      in 3T3 mouse fibroblasts. The effect was time-dependent and correlated with the
      degree of fibrinogenolysis. It was accompanied by elongation of the cells.
      Neither increase in EDGFs release nor cell damage was observed when non-degraded
      fibrinogen was incubated with endothelial cells. Low molecular weight fibrinogen
      degradation products (LMWFDPs) (M(r) less than or equal to 10,000), and the
      higher molecular weight fibrinogen fragments D and E were tested under the same
      conditions. Only the LMWFDPs caused elongation and damage to PAEC and a marked
      stimulation (up to 12 fold) of EDGFs release. A low density growth assay revealed
      that the released EDGFs were mitogenically active on the same PAEC. The activity
      of the released EDGFs was time and dose dependent on both 3T3 fibroblasts and
      PAEC, indicating that LMWFDPs caused enhanced release of EDGFs that can act in
      paracrine and autocrine fashion. This study suggests an additional role for
      fibrinogenolysis contributing to wound healing, and possibly to atherosclerosis.

PMID- 1440506
TI  - Acquired protein S deficiency might be associated with a prethrombotic state
      during estrogen treatment for tall stature.

PMID- 1440507
TI  - Lack of an acute effect of Pb2+ on platelet aggregation.

PMID- 1440508
TI  - Pregnancy and the bleeding time.

PMID- 1440509
TI  - The de-endothelialized rat carotid arterial graft: a versatile experimental model
      for the investigation of arterial thrombosis.
AB  - A novel model of arterial thrombosis was developed. A mechanical endothelium
      denuding injury was created (using a scalpel blade) on harvested, freezer-stored
      rat carotid arteries. Vessel length of 5 mm. were grafted into the femoral
      arteries of recipient Sprague-Dawley rats using microvascular anastomotic
      technique. Patency rates in untreated animals were compared with those in animals
      receiving systemic aspirin or heparin. The control group patency after 2 hours of
      flow was 15%, while grafts in aspirin- and heparin-treated animals achieved 35%
      and 95% patency rates, respectively. Uninjured non-frozen carotid grafts in
      untreated animals yielded a 95% patency rate, while frozen grafts achieved an 80%
      patency. Therapeutic levels of aspirin, heparin, and urokinase were confirmed
      through tail bleeding and whole blood clotting tests, as well as platelet
      aggregation studies and scanning electron microscopy of the graft lumenal
      surfaces. A long-term series using syngeneic grafts placed in recipients (Lewis
      to-Lewis) and employing systemic heparinization demonstrated maintenance of
      patency for 4 weeks. Scanning electron microscopy revealed good re
      endothelialization, well advanced by one week. Histology confirmed the regrowth
      of endothelial cells, but showed sparse cellular repopulation of medial and
      adventitial layers. The mechanical injury model was compared to enzymatic de
      endothelialization (using trypsin or collagenase), for which patency rates were
      similar (10% and 0%, respectively). Trypsin de-endothelialized vessels were
      tested in vitro for the amount of active trypsin remaining bound to the lumenal
      surface; no detectable activity was found when trypsin inhibitor was applied
      following trypsin treatment. The versatility of allowing both in vitro evaluation
      and in vivo patency assessment demonstrates the uniqueness and value of this new
      model, offering an avenue toward more direct investigations of surface-mediated
      thrombotic processes.

PMID- 1440510
TI  - Sphingosine inhibits factor Xa-catalyzed prothrombin activation on the surface of
      cultured calf pulmonary artery endothelium perturbed by hydrogen peroxide.
AB  - The effects of hydrogen peroxide on factor Xa-catalyzed prothrombin activation on
      the surface of vascular endothelial cells, and the inhibitory effect of
      sphingosine on prothrombin activation were studied in cultured calf pulmonary
      artery endothelial cells (CPAEC). Hydrogen peroxide enhanced factor Xa-catalyzed
      prothrombin activation on the cell surface in a time and dose-dependent manner.
      Sphingosine, a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C and the extrinsic pathway of
      blood coagulation, showed a partial inhibition of prothrombin activation on the
      surface of CPAEC. When cells were perturbed by hydrogen peroxide, sphingosine
      inhibited prothrombin activation and displaced factor Xa bound to the cell
      surface.

PMID- 1440511
TI  - Effects of cyclooxygenase inhibitors on ex vivo cysteinyl-leukotriene production
      by whole human blood allowed to clot spontaneously. Comparison to stimulated
      blood.
AB  - In ex vivo experiments we have investigated the effects of single oral
      administrations of aspirin (100 or 1000 mg) or ibuprofen (200 or 1200 mg) on the
      formation of immunoreactive thromboxane (TX) B2 and cysteinyl-leukotrienes (LT)
      by whole human blood in vitro. Whole human blood was allowed to clot
      spontaneously and in addition, in the presence of the chemotactic tripeptide f
      Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP, 1 microM), or the non-physiological ionophore A 23187 (10
      microM). Oral pretreatment with aspirin or ibuprofen led to dose-dependent
      inhibition of the TXB2 production in the presence of any of the stimuli used.
      After drug pretreatment the cysteinyl-LT production was not significantly
      enhanced in blood stimulated with FMLP or allowed to clot spontaneously as
      compared to values prior to oral drug administration. However, pronounced
      inhibition of the cyclooxygenase pathway was accompanied by an enhanced cysteinyl
      LT formation when ionophore A 23187 was used as a stimulus. This could also be
      shown in experiments where the cyclooxygenase inhibitors were added in vitro. The
      higher oral dose of aspirin reduced the ex vivo cysteinyl-LT production in
      spontaneously clotting blood. By reverse phase HPLC immunoreactive cysteinyl-LT
      were characterized as a mixture of LTD4 and LTE4 as well as small amounts of
      LTC4. The data show that in the presence of therapeutic cyclooxygenase inhibitors
      no enhanced formation of cysteinyl-LT occurs in human blood in vitro after
      physiological stimuli such as contact activation of the clotting cascade or FMLP.

PMID- 1440512
TI  - Changes of the fibrinolytic system in liver dysfunction: role of portal
      hypertension.
AB  - The contribution of hemodynamic changes to the pathogenesis of accelerated
      fibrinolysis in liver disease was investigated in rats. In animals with hepatic
      lesions induced by a 7-week inhalation of carbon tetrachloride there was a
      significant increase in blood t-PA activity and PAI activity, with no significant
      change in portal pressure. Following a 10-min portal vein occlusion there was a
      marked increase in portal pressure and t-PA activity and a significant decrease
      in PAI activity. Following ligation of both portal vein and hepatic artery, t-PA
      activity increased to a higher extent and PAI activity was reduced to a lesser
      extent than changes found in portal-stenosed rats. Our data suggest that high t
      PA circulating levels in liver disease could be related not only to the reduced t
      PA clearance as a consequence of liver injury but also to hemodynamic changes.

PMID- 1440513
TI  - Combined inherited protein S and heparin co-factor II deficiency in a patient
      with upper limb thrombosis: a family study.
AB  - A 42-year-old Italian woman presenting with spontaneous deep vein thrombosis of
      the right arm, was found to have inherited a deficiency of both protein S (PS)
      and heparin co-factor II (HC II). The two defects seemed to segregate
      independently, since her son exhibited only a HC II deficiency while one of her
      sisters manifested only the PS defect. All affected patients appeared
      heterozygous for one or other or both deficiency states. The proposita and her
      sister exhibited a congenital PS deficiency consisting of normal or near normal
      levels of total PS antigen and C4b-binding protein (C4b-BP) but a moderate
      reduction both of free PS antigen and of PS functional activity. In addition, the
      proposita and her son had half normal levels of HC II antigen and activity.
      Except for the proposita, all were asymptomatic. Inherited deficiencies either of
      PS or of HC II have been associated with thrombotic manifestations. Since the
      proposita had an inherited combined defect of the two proteins, severe thrombotic
      events might be expected. However, this was not found to be the case. The role of
      HC II deficiency in the pathogenesis of thrombosis whether alone or combined
      remains to be fully investigated.

PMID- 1440514
TI  - An animal model of fibrinolytic bleeding based on the rebleed phenomenon:
      application to a study of vulnerability of hemostatic plugs of different age.
AB  - The primary bleeding time is prolonged when tested during the infusion of both
      plasminogen activators and anticoagulants, and such sites frequently exhibit
      rebleeding after initial hemostatic control. This study describes an animal
      (rabbit) model which distinguishes fibrinolytic from anticoagulant hemorrhage and
      further applies the model to the study of hemostatic plugs of increasing age. In
      this model, rebleeding occurred from hemostatically-stable ear puncture sites
      induced prior to infusion of streptokinase (SK) or recombinant tissue-plasminogen
      activator (rt-PA), but not of heparin or hirudin. This distinction was apparent
      even for lesions induced only 15 minutes prior to the infusion and fibrinolytic
      bleeding was observed in such lesions induced up to 24 hours earlier. Post
      infusion sites bled more quickly than did pre-infusion sites, and there was a
      gradual decrease in susceptibility of such prior trauma sites for rebleeding,
      evidenced not only by a lower proportion of sites that rebled, but also by a
      longer lag time after starting SK or rt-PA before such rebleeding occurred. At
      the dosages tested, SK showed a trend (not statistically significant) toward more
      sites that rebled, while rt-PA showed a trend towards a longer duration of
      rebleeding. Thus, this animal model of rebleeding appears to be unique for
      fibrinolytic agents and allows for more detailed study of the physiological
      mechanisms of such bleeding and for a multifaceted comparison of the bleeding
      potential of plasminogen activators.

PMID- 1440515
TI  - Interaction of factor VIII with phospholipids: role of composition and negative
      charge.
AB  - Radiolabelled human anti-FVIII:C antibody was affinity-purified according to its
      ability to bind to factor VIII-phospholipid (FVIII-PL) complexes, yielding a
      fraction directed against the phospholipid binding-site (PL-site antibody). This
      antibody was used as a specific probe for FVIII binding to PL vesicles containing
      a variety of natural and synthetic PLs. Of purified PLs tested for FVIII binding,
      phosphatidyl serine (PS) and phosphatidic acid (PA) were highly active,
      phosphatidyl inositol (PI) much less so, and both phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE)
      and phosphatidyl choline (PC) inactive: the apparent dissociation constant (Kd
      app) for FVIII binding to PS:PC vesicles showed a strong dependence on PS
      content. Free-flow electrophoresis of vesicles confirmed FVIII binding to PS:PC
      required both net negative charge and specific head-group: neither PS vesicles
      given a positive charge with stearylamine nor PC vesicles made negative with
      dicetyl phosphate bound FVIII. It is concluded that the negative charge required
      for FVIII binding must be presented on the phospholipid surface in the correct
      orientation: phosphatidyl serine supplies this charge in coagulant-active PL
      preparations.

PMID- 1440516
TI  - Effects of antithrombotic drug, Y-20811 on mural thrombus formation and intimal
      thickening following intimal injury.
AB  - Inhibitory effect of Y-20811 on platelet thrombus formation induced by mechanical
      intimal injury and subsequent intimal fibrous thickening was studied. In the
      short term experiment, polyethylene tubing was inserted into the rabbit aorta and
      was drawn out one hour after with or without Y-20811 administration, then the
      rabbits were sacrificed. In the experiment for the quantitative analysis of
      platelet adhesion, 51Cr-labeled platelets were used. Radioactivities of 2cm
      length of the injured segment of the thoracic aorta and the proximal 2cm of the
      normal segment were measured. Radioactivity of the injured segment was
      significantly lower in rabbits treated with Y-20811 than the control ones. The
      mean thickness (area of thrombi/length of injured intima) and the maximal
      thickness of the mural thrombi in the Y-20811-treated rabbits were significantly
      lower than those in control rabbits. De-endothelialized area showed raised
      platelet thrombi in the control group and diffuse thin-layered platelet sheets in
      Y-20811-treated rabbits. In the long term experiment, polyethylene tubing was
      indwelled for 24 hours. Rabbits were sacrificed 10 days after drawing out the
      tubing. Through the experiment Y-20811 was injected intravenously every 24 hours.
      There was no significant difference between the control group and the Y-20811
      treated one in both mean thickness and maximal thickness of the intimal
      fibromuscular thickening. The experiments indicate that Y-20811 has an inhibitory
      effect on platelet thrombus formation following intimal injury, but subsequent
      myointimal thickening is not inhibited by the drug.

PMID- 1440518
TI  - Cathepsin G, a regulator of human vitamin K, dependent clotting factors and
      inhibitors.
AB  - Cathepsin G was used in vitro to digest human factor VII and factor IX. Clotting
      assays indicated that the proteinase affected a rapid loss in coagulant activity
      while in the presence of calcium ions the activity was almost totally protected.
      SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated the removal of a peptide from
      each zymogen, VII-L from factor VII and IX-L from factor IX. This lead to the
      formation of VII-H and IX-H respectively. N-terminal analysis of the VII-H and IX
      H products and COOH-terminal analysis of the VII-L and IX-L products confirmed
      that cathepsin G had cleaved position Phe40:Trp41 in factor VII and factor IX.
      The cleavage site is the same as that when cathepsin G is reacted with factor II,
      factor X and protein C. The unique action of cathepsin G may be part of a
      regulatory system for controlling the coagulant activity of vitamin K dependent
      clotting in vivo.

PMID- 1440517
TI  - Congenital protein C deficiency and myocardial infarction:concomitant factor VII
      hyperactivity may play a role in the onset of arterial thrombosis.
AB  - A 29-year-old man with congenital protein C deficiency and acute myocardial
      infarction is reported. Four hours after the onset of chest pain, he was treated
      intravenously with tissue-type plasminogen activator. Subsequent coronary
      angiography revealed only slight stenosis of the left anterior descending
      coronary artery without any atherosclerosis. The propositus, his brother, and his
      mother, showed low levels of both protein C activity and antigen, while plasma
      thrombomodulin levels were normal. His grandfather had died from acute myocardial
      infarction at 38 years of age. We investigated several other risk factors for
      arterial thrombosis, including factor VII, fibrinogen, heparin cofactor II,
      lipoprotein (a), and anticardiolipin antibodies. No other haemostatic
      abnormalities apart from factor VII hyperactivity were detected in this family.
      To study the effects of protein C and factor VII on procoagulant activity,
      prothrombin time was measured after the addition of activated protein C and
      factor VII to protein C-deficient plasma. The prothrombin time ratio decreased
      along with an increase in the factor VII level. It also decreased with a decrease
      in the activated protein C level. These findings indicated that the procoagulant
      activity of factor VII was enhanced by low protein C levels, suggesting that
      concomitant factor VII hyperactivity may cause acute myocardial infarction in
      patients with protein C deficiency.

PMID- 1440519
TI  - Endogenous heparinase-sensitive anticoagulant activity in human plasma.
AB  - In this paper we show that an anticoagulant activity, which we measure by
      thrombin time, appears in human plasma after its exhaustive proteolytic
      digestion. This activity is extremely heat stable, it is resistant to chondroitin
      ABC lyase (E.C.4.2.2.4) and heparan sulfate lyase (E.C.4.2.2.8), it is sensitive
      to heparin lyase (E.C.4.2.2.7) and to nitrous acid treatment: we suggest that it
      can be identified as authentic heparin. The amount present in 1 ml of plasma of
      healthy subjects corresponds to 0.1-0.2 I.U. of standard heparin (150 I.U./mg).
      Proteolytically digested human plasma was submitted to ion-exchange
      chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel and the anticoagulant activity in the fractions
      eluted at the different molarities of NaCl was measured by thrombin time. This
      analysis shows that the anticoagulant activity elutes at very low ionic strength.
      The possibility that interactions of the endogenous heparin with proteins or
      protein fragments are responsible for the difficulty in isolating heparin from
      human plasma is discussed.

PMID- 1440520
TI  - Endoglycosidase H digestion of Yukb (Pena) alloantigen.
AB  - We characterized a platelet specific alloantigen (Yukb). In immunoblotting, anti
      Yukb antibody was found to react with both 110 kDa and 96 kDa bands under
      nonreducing condition. Immunoblotting followed by separation by two-dimensional
      electrophoresis (isoelectric focusing/SDS-PAGE) showed that the 96 kDa band had a
      pI of 5.1-5.8, while the 110 kDa band had a pI of 5.2-5.7. The 96 kDa band was
      identified as glycoprotein (GP) IIIa on the basis of periodic acid Schiff
      staining, but the 110 kDa band was not characterized. These results implied that
      it is difficult to determine differences in antigenic epitopes between Yukb and
      PlA1 antigens by the electrophoresis. Yukb antigen, unlike PlA1 antigen, was
      partially destroyed by chymotrypsin treatment. Furthermore, endoglycosidase H
      digestion resulted in loss of the Yukb epitope, while the PlA1 determinant was
      retained on the three bands with lower molecular weights after endoglycosidase H
      digestion. The transfer of Yukb antigens recognized by anti-Yukb antibody into
      the supernatant of platelets treated with endoglycosidase H was also found using
      mixed passive hemagglutination test. The results indicated that the Yukb epitope
      might be located to the endoglycosidase H digested N-linked high mannose
      carbohydrate chains of GP IIIa or hybrid type chains of GP IIIa, which is
      different from the location of PlA1 epitope.

PMID- 1440521
TI  - Antithrombin III, C1 inhibitor, methylglyoxal, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes
      in the development of vascular complications in diabetes mellitus.
AB  - Under conditions closely approximating those in vivo (100 mM sodium carbonate pH
      7.3 with 0.9% NaCl, 37 degrees C), antithrombin III (AT III) and the C1 inhibitor
      (C1-INH) are inactivated by methylglyoxal (MG) with pseudofirst-order kinetics
      and second-order rate constants of 25.2 and 7.8 M-1 min-1, respectively. A study
      of the functional status of neutrophils from patients with diabetes mellitus (DM)
      prompts an idea that under hyperglycemia in the diabetic organism the
      polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PML) endure 'arousal' that is identical or
      analogous to their activation. Indeed, nonstimulated PML from DM patients display
      (i) an almost sixfold higher luminol-dependent chemiluminescence and (ii) a
      double rate of oxygen uptake as compared with those from healthy donors, and
      (iii) are capable of MG formation in the presence of acetoacetate, which in vivo
      may be an additional source of this inactivator of AT III and C1-INH in diabetic
      patients. Conditions leading to ketosis or lactic acidosis are discussed, and a
      probable scenario is proposed for the organismic deterioration in DM.

PMID- 1440522
TI  - Pharmacological profile of a native dermatan sulfate.
AB  - We performed different "in vivo" investigations to study the pharmacological
      properties of a native DS: anti-thrombosis by the stasis model, bleeding
      potential by tail transection bleeding time and template bleeding time, and
      profibrinolysis by a growing thrombus model and by an established thrombus model.
      The results suggest that DS is a safe antithrombotic drug by i.v. administration
      without bleeding potential, even at very high doses (up to 16 mg/Kg). DS has
      shown a protective index of at least 4 in contrast to heparin that has shown a
      protective index of 1. The profibrinolytic models so far studied did not evidence
      a clear profibrinolytic contribution to the antithrombotic properties of DS, but
      showed a prolonged antithrombotic action that cannot be explained only by the
      heparin cofactor II potentiation.

PMID- 1440523
TI  - Evaluation of plasma D-dimer in the diagnosis and in the course of fibrinolytic
      therapy of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
AB  - Blood samples were obtained from patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or
      pulmonary embolism (PE) after angiographic confirmation as well as during
      fibrinolytic therapy with streptokinase. Plasma cross-linked fibrin degradation
      products were measured by a quantitative enzyme-linked immunoassay that
      recognizes the D-Dimer epitope. 24 patients with PE showed elevated D-Dimer
      levels (median; 25%-, 75%-quartile) (3,250 ng/ml; 1,270 ng/ml, 6,940 ng/ml) as
      well as 38 patients presenting with DVT (2,330 ng/ml; 1,760 ng/ml, 3,980 ng/ml).
      The sensitivity for the diagnosis of PE was 92%, for diagnosis of DVT 89% resp.
      100%, depending on the cut-off limit. The D-Dimer level showed a correlation (r =
      0.64) to the angiographically documented severity of PE quantified by the
      Miller's score, in contrast to DVT, where no such correlation could be found.
      During fibrinolytic therapy median levels rose from 3,020 ng/ml to 63,000 ng/ml
      within 8 hours and then fell within 6 days to 2,930 ng/ml. 10 patients with PE
      showed a good correlation (r = 0.72) between the reduction of Miller's score
      within 72 hours and D-Dimer 24 hours after the onset of therapy. In 17 patients
      with fibrinolytic treatment of DVT no correlation between D-Dimer and clot lysis
      could be found. These findings indicate that D-Dimer can provide additional
      information in the diagnostic procedure of suspected PE. During fibrinolytic
      therapy of PE with streptokinase, D-Dimer could serve as an early prognostic
      parameter of successful thrombolysis.

PMID- 1440524
TI  - Comparative studies in vitro and ex vivo on the anticoagulant effect of a
      reversible and an irreversible tripeptide inhibitor of thrombin.
AB  - Comparative studies on the anticoagulant effect of D-Phe-Pro-Arg-H (ALD) and D
      Phe-Pro-Arg-CH2Cl (CMK) were carried out in order to estimate whether the
      reversible or the irreversible tripeptide inhibitor of thrombin would be more
      suitable to develop as a novel anticoagulant. Conventional screening assay
      methods in vitro were focused on the functional stability of the compounds in
      whole blood and blood components while ex vivo the changes in whole blood
      clotting time under parenteral application of the inhibitors were investigated.
      The efficacy of ALD relative to that of CMK was found to depend on the complexity
      of the test systems. Thus CMK was the more inhibitory in citrated plasma, but ALD
      showed the higher potency in whole blood. When incubated in various systems such
      as human whole blood, serum, solutions of isolated plasma proteins, digestive
      juices and tissue homogenates, respectively, the inhibitory activity of ALD
      showed only slight decreases for several hours while marked or substantial loss
      of activity was observed with CMK under identical conditions. ALD administered
      parenterally to rabbits proved to be powerful anticoagulant; CMK exhibited only a
      weak and transient anticoagulant effect presumably due to its ability to bind
      irreversibly to various plasma and tissue proteins. Accordingly, the reversible
      inhibitor ALD should be more suitable to develop as an anti-coagulant than CMK,
      its irreversibly acting analogue.

PMID- 1440525
TI  - Recombinant human factor VIIa (rFVIIa) in a rabbit stasis model.
AB  - The thrombogenicity of recombinant human FVIIa (rFVIIa) and FEIBA was studied in
      a rabbit stasis model. Only minor thrombus formation in isolated vein segments
      during 10 min. of stasis was seen following the administration of rFVIIa 100-1000
      micrograms/kg or FEIBA 50-100 U/kg whereas both compounds caused clear thrombus
      formation during 30 min. of stasis. RFVIIa caused no change in platelet counts or
      plasma fibrinogen 3 hours after administration, whereas a small decrease of APTT
      was seen due to the direct effect of rFVIIa in this assay. In contrast, FEIBA
      caused a significant and dose-dependent decrease of platelet counts as well as of
      fibrinogen, and an increase of APTT which demonstrate a general consumption of
      coagulation factors. In conclusion the study demonstrated a local pharmacological
      effect of rFVIIa in the absence of a general activation of the coagulation
      cascade.

PMID- 1440526
TI  - Stimulation of PAF-synthesis in pulmonary artery endothelial cells by
      Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin.
AB  - Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin is a pore-forming exotoxin that probably
      represents a significant virulence factor in staphylococcal infections. Previous
      studies demonstrated that this agent stimulated arachidonate metabolism with
      subsequent formation of prostacyclin in endothelial cells and leukotriene B4 in
      granulocytes. We now examined the effect of alpha-toxin on the synthesis of
      platelet-activating factor (PAF) in cultured porcine pulmonary artery endothelial
      cells. PAF was labeled by bioincorporation of tritiated acetate and
      separated/quantitated using thin-layer chromatography, straight-phase-HPLC, or
      post-HPLC-bioassay. Alpha-toxin induced synthesis of small amounts of PAF in a
      time- and dose-dependent manner. The maximal amount of PAF elicited by alpha
      toxin was approximately 7% of that observed after application of the ionophore
      A23187. Staphylococcal alpha-toxin but not the ionophore induced a rapid fall in
      cellular ATP-content. On kinetic grounds, the decrease in ATP-levels did not
      explain the differences in stimulated PAF-synthesis. Low amounts of PAF induced
      by the action of alpha-toxin on endothelial cells may contribute to the
      development of inflammatory lesions in infectious disease.

PMID- 1440527
TI  - Heparin enhances platelet aggregation irrespective of anticoagulation with
      citrate or with hirudin.
AB  - The effects of anticoagulation with citrate or hirudin on heparin effects on
      platelet aggregation was studied with whole blood aggregometry on blood from
      healthy volunteers. Platelet aggregation was initiated by collagen. The heparin
      effect was also studied with filtragometry where hirudin was used as the
      anticoagulant. In citrated blood, a mean collagen dose of 0.42 +/- 0.04
      micrograms/ml resulted in an impedance change of 1.1 +/- 0.3 Ohm. Preincubation
      with heparin doses of 0.5, 2.5 and 5 IU/ml enhanced the impedance induced by the
      same dose of collagen by 2.9 +/- 1.4, 11.4 +/- 1.6 and 9.9 +/- 2.3 times,
      respectively (p less than 0.0001, ANOVA). In hirudinized blood a similar degree
      of change in impedance (1.5 +/- 0.2 Ohm) was achieved at significantly lower
      concentration of collagen (0.08 +/- 0.006 micrograms/ml, p less than 0.0001).
      Preincubation with heparin in doses of 0.5, 2.5 and 5 IU/ml increased impedance
      by 1.5 +/- 0.5, 3.9 +/- 1.6 and 1.3 +/- 0.5 times, respectively (p less than
      0.0001, ANOVA). The dose-related increments were smaller in hirudinized blood as
      compared to citrated blood (p less than 0.04). With filtragometry, heparin dose
      dependently shortened the aggregation time (p less than 0.0007). Compared to
      hirudin alone as anticoagulant, heparin in an equipotent dose in these
      experiments shortened aggregation time (p less than 0.05). In conclusion, heparin
      enhanced platelet aggregation both in calcium-chelated blood and in blood
      anticoagulated with hirudin. Heparin also dose-dependently increased platelet
      aggregation in filtragometry. Thus the heparin potentiating effect on platelet
      aggregation seems to be independent of extracellular ionized calcium and be
      operative at physiological calcium concentrations.

PMID- 1440528
TI  - Post-operative pulmonary embolism and meta-analysis.

PMID- 1440529
TI  - Does fibrinogen contain populations with different degree of sialylation?
AB  - The reactivity of the galactose specific lectin from Ricinus communis seeds,
      ricin, towards the fractions of fibrinogen separated by DEAE-cellulose
      chromatography and their isolated glycopeptides was studied. Ricin is known to
      differentiate oligosaccharide chains with different degree of sialylation. The
      results indicated that the fractionation of fibrinogen is not correlated with a
      different degree of sialylation of its oligosaccharide chains. The higher sialic
      acid content of the most acidic fraction correlates with a higher neutral sugar
      content due to the presence of highly glycosylated contaminants. The possibility
      that the heterogeneity in the degree of sialylation is only of intramolecular
      nature is discussed.

PMID- 1440530
TI  - Coagulation and fibrinolytic system impairment in insulin dependent diabetes
      mellitus.
AB  - Selected coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters were assessed in 40 insulin
      dependent diabetes mellitus patients with varying degrees of metabolic control;
      30 healthy subjects matched for age and sex formed the control group. Activated
      Partial Thromboplastin Time, Prothrombin Time, Fibrinogen, Factor VII,
      Antithrombin III, Protein C, Plasminogen, alpha 2-Plasmin Inhibitor, Plasminogen
      Activator Inhibitor-1, tissue-Plasminogen Activator were functionally evaluated.
      Antigenic levels of tissue-Plasminogen Activator, Thrombin-Antithrombin complexes
      and fibrinolytic specific product B beta 15-42 were also determined. Compared to
      the control group diabetic patients displayed significantly higher levels of
      Fibrinogen (p < 0.01), Factor VII (p < 0.01), Thrombin-Antithrombin complexes (p
      < 0.01) and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 activity (p < 0.01). Regardless of
      the normal level of the tissue-Plasminogen Activator-related antigen, diabetic
      patients had tissue-Plasminogen Activator activity lower than the control group
      (p < 0.05). Coagulation Factor VII and Thrombin-Antithrombin complexes were
      increased only in the patients with poor metabolic control (p < 0.01). Activated
      Partial Thromboplastin Time, Prothrombin Time, Antithrombin III, Protein C,
      Plasminogen, alpha 2-Plasmin Inhibitor, B beta 15-42 fibrin peptide were found to
      be in the normal range. Fibrinogen correlated positively with fasting blood
      glucose (p < 0.05) and Thrombin-Antithrombin complexes with glycosylated
      haemoglobin (p < 0.05), whereas Factor VII was positively correlated with
      glycemia (p < 0.01) and glycosylated haemoglobin (p < 0.05). Higher levels of
      Fibrinogen were found in patients affected by nephropathy (p < 0.005) or
      neuropathy (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate an impairment of the haemostatic
      balance in diabetic patients, that is a possible hypercoagulable state, which
      represents an important factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic
      complications.

PMID- 1440531
TI  - Reduced functions of intracellular Ca2+ in aggregation, secretion and protein
      phosphorylation of permeabilized platelets from stroke-prone spontaneously
      hypertensive rats.
AB  - Aggregation, secretion and 47kDa protein (P47) phosphorylation by various
      agonists such as thrombin, ADP and ionophore A23187 were markedly reduced in
      platelets from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) compared with
      those of age-matched Wistar Kyoto rat (WKY) platelets, suggesting defective
      functions of intracellular Ca2+ in SHRSP platelets (Tomita et al. Hypertension
      1989; 14: 304-315). To clarify the mechanism of the platelet hypofunctions,
      saponin permeabilized platelets were prepared to compare the responses of
      platelets from both rats in varying concentrations of extracellular Ca2+. The
      leakage of lactate dehydrogenase from saponin (15 micrograms/ml)-treated
      platelets was approx. 5% of total activity; the degree of the leakage in both
      platelets did not differ. In saponin-treated platelets, extracellular Ca2+ alone
      did not induce either aggregation or secretion in both strains. However, in the
      presence of 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (10 micrograms/ml), Ca2+ dose dependently
      stimulated both aggregation and secretion. Under this condition, Ca2+ sensitivity
      of aggregation, secretion and P47 phosphorylation in SHRSP platelets were
      significantly reduced compared with those in WKY platelets. These results
      strongly suggest that intracellular Ca2+ functions are impaired in SHRSP
      platelets.

PMID- 1440532
TI  - Reduction of the anticoagulant activity of glycosaminoglycans on the surface of
      the vascular endothelium by endotoxin and neutrophils: evaluation by an
      amidolytic assay.
AB  - The processes that underlie the coagulopathy observed in severe infection are not
      fully understood, but seem to be due to an imbalance in the antithrombotic, and
      prothrombotic properties of the vascular endothelium. Sulphated
      glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) present on the vessel wall represent an important
      component of the non-thrombogenic nature of the endothelium. We have modified an
      amidolytic assay to study the functional ability of GAGs on human umbilical vein
      endothelial cells (HUVECS), and investigate the effect of E. coli endotoxin and
      neutrophils on HUVEC surface anticoagulant activity (SAA). Neither endotoxin
      alone, nor separated neutrophils at lower concentrations (less than 10(6)
      neutrophils per ml), had major effects on endothelial SAA. When activated
      neutrophils were incubated with HUVECS pre-stimulated with endotoxin, a
      significant decrease in SAA was seen using either plasma (mean percentage of
      control 67.8% +/- sem 7.8; p < 0.02) or purified ATIII (mean percentage of
      control 69% +/- sem 4.6; p < 0.001). We suggest that alterations in endothelial
      surface GAGs may occur during sepsis and inflammation, and that this may have
      important consequences for vascular function. This system will allow the further
      study of the role of GAGs in the intravascular thrombosis of severe sepsis, and
      other inflammatory diseases.

PMID- 1440533
TI  - Purification of rabbit, rat and mouse protein C with the use of monoclonal
      antibody to human protein C, PC01.
AB  - Ca(++)-dependent monoclonal antibody specific to gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla)
      domain of protein C was produced. It did not cross-react to the other vitamin K
      dependent plasma proteins but to protein C of the other species. Using this
      monoclonal antibody, PC01, rabbit (170 micrograms), rat (60 micrograms) and mouse
      (40 micrograms) protein Cs were isolated from 100 ml of their plasma by affinity
      chromatography. All of these protein Cs were two chain form linked by disulfide
      bond as well as human protein C and activated by thrombin-thrombomodulin complex.
      Rat and mouse protein Cs showed similar characters to human protein C. On the
      other hand rabbit protein C had different M(r) of heavy and light chains and
      showed lower anticoagulant activity compared with human protein C.

PMID- 1440534
TI  - Evidence for the role of dialysis hypoxemia in the pathogenesis of hemodialysis
      induced rise in tissue-type plasminogen activator.
AB  - It is well known that hemodialysis (HD) causes a rise in plasma tissue-type
      plasminogen activator (t-PA). Although there have been several suggested
      mechanisms responsible for this effect of HD, the precise cause has not been well
      understood yet. Another complication of HD, when performed with acetate
      containing dialysate, is hypoxemia, which is commonly observed during the first
      hour of the session. The purpose of this study was to investigate the
      relationship between dialysis hypoxemia and HD-induced t-PA changes during the
      first two hours of HD. HD caused significant increase in plasma t-PA antigen
      levels. When individual t-PA profiles versus time were examined, two patterns
      were observed. Whilst ten subjects (%56) experienced minimal or no increase, t-PA
      antigen level of the remaining eight subjects began to rise at 30 minutes and
      continued at that level up to 90 minutes, when the last samples were drawn. The
      courses of pO2 were also different; whilst the former group had "early-onset and
      short-term" hypoxemia, the latter had "late-onset and prolonged" hypoxemia. The
      amount of increase in t-PA antigen and the amount of decrease in pO2 were
      correlated at 60 and 90 minutes of the HD session. Thus, it is concluded that
      dialysis hypoxemia may contribute to HD-induced rise in plasma t-PA levels.
      Further studies comparing different dialysates and dialyser membranes are
      required to confirm this hypothesis.

PMID- 1440535
TI  - Inhibitory effect of activated protein C on platelet aggregation induced by the
      prothrombin-converting reaction.
AB  - The present study was undertaken to elucidate the effect on platelet aggregation
      of the prothrombin-converting reaction on platelets with or without activated
      protein C (APC). A reaction mixture of washed platelets from human individuals,
      Factor Xa and prothrombin markedly induced platelet aggregation; maximum
      aggregation rates, 31.3-92.5%, and times to reach to maximum aggregation, 11.6 to
      20.1 min. This aggregation was inhibited by the addition of APC with 50%
      inhibition concentration (IC50) value of 14.4 U/ml. APC also inhibited thrombin
      generation in the reaction mixture in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 value of
      0.96 U/ml. However, APC did not inhibit the thrombin (0.1 CU/ml)-induced platelet
      aggregation at concentrations of up to 30 U/ml. These findings suggest that APC
      has no direct inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation and that APC inhibits
      platelet aggregation through inhibition of thrombin generation.

PMID- 1440536
TI  - Interactions between thrombolytic agents and platelets: effects of plasmin on
      platelet glycoproteins Ib and IIb/IIIa.
AB  - The mechanisms by which thrombolytic agents affect platelet function are not yet
      elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of
      plasmin, generated by thrombolytic agents in plasma, on platelet glycoproteins
      (GP) Ib and IIb/IIIa. Platelet-rich plasma was incubated with pharmacological
      amounts of streptokinase, anistreplase and tissue-type plasminogen activator and
      the platelet surface GP's were investigated with a panel of monoclonal antibodies
      using flow cytometry. As assessed from the mean fluorescence intensity of
      incubated and control platelets, no significant changes in the binding of
      antibodies to GP Ib and GP IIb/IIIa were found. The functional integrity of these
      glycoproteins was severely impaired by treatment with the thrombolytic agents, as
      shown by significant inhibition of ADP- and ristocetin-induced platelet
      aggregation. Experiments with purified plasmin and washed platelets indicated
      significant degradation of GP IIb/IIIa and upregulation of GP Ib, which is in
      agreement with previous findings. In addition, platelet activation by plasmin was
      shown using two monoclonal antibodies to activation-specific antigens. We
      conclude that degradation of platelet GP's by plasmin offers no likely
      explanation for the defect in platelet function, which is induced by thrombolytic
      agents in platelet-rich plasma.

PMID- 1440537
TI  - Inhibition of plasma kallikrein. Kininase and kinin-like activities of
      preparations from the medicinal leeches.
AB  - The medicinal leech salivary gland secretion deprived of hirudin antithrombin
      activity inhibits amidolytic (substrate S-2302) and kininogenase (substrate
      kininogen) activities of plasma kallikrein, the main component of the intrinsic
      mechanism of blood coagulation. It therefore possesses high anticoagulant
      properties. Kininase (substrate bradykinin) activity of leech saliva and extracts
      from the medicinal leeches, as well as kinin-like effects of extracts heated at
      100 degrees C have been detected. The last one is correlated with the
      hyperalgetic property of the heated extract. An analgetic effect was observed
      with the unheated extract but not with leech saliva after intranasal
      administration to rats.

PMID- 1440538
TI  - [Discovering and supervision in relation to veterinary environmental hygiene].

PMID- 1440539
TI  - [Coordination in veterinary environmental problems].

PMID- 1440540
TI  - [Education in veterinary environmental health].

PMID- 1440541
TI  - [The quality of foodstuff of animal origin in relation to environmental pollution
      (government viewpoint)].

PMID- 1440542
TI  - [Quality of foodstuff of animal origin in relation to environmental pollution].

PMID- 1440543
TI  - [Neospora abortion in cattle in The Netherlands].
AB  - Three cases of bovine protozoal abortion at three different dairy farms are
      reported. Multiple abortions had occurred, on two farms, and a sporadic abortion
      on the third farm. Histopathological examination of foetal tissues revealed a
      distinctive multifocal necrotising encephalitis as well as focal inflammatory
      lesions in the myocardium, liver, kidney and lung. In one foetus protozoal tissue
      cysts were found in the brain and individual and clustered tachyzoites were seen
      in brain, and lung. In another foetus a cluster of tachyzoites was seen in a
      section of a placentoma. Immunohistochemically, tissue cysts as well as
      tachyzoites reacted with Neospora caninum antiserum. Tachyzoites were also
      detected in the brain lesions of the other two foetuses. The preliminary results
      of a histopathological survey of aborted bovine foetuses indicate that this
      protozoal infection may be an important cause of bovine abortion in The
      Netherlands.

PMID- 1440544
TI  - [Vesicular swine disease in The Netherlands].
AB  - The clinical signs, diagnosis and epizootiology of swine vesicular disease (SVD)
      are described. The clinical appearance is illustrated by photographs of
      experimentally and naturally infected pigs. Special attention is paid to
      differences between SVD and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and to the choice of
      disinfectants.

PMID- 1440545
TI  - [The effect of feeding mangel-wurzels on blood beta-hydroxybutyrate level of milk
      producing cows].
AB  - The effect of feeding dairy cattle mangel-wurzels on the serum increased
      concentration of beta-hydroxybutyrate was investigated in serum is normally
      indicative of an increased catabolism of fats in the liver as a result of an
      energy shortage. Feeding cattle large amounts of mangel-wurzels can cause the
      serum beta-hydroxybutyrate concentration to increase above normal reference
      values, thus seemingly indicating that there is a (sub)clinical acetonaemia. In
      fact the increased concentration of beta-hydroxybutyrate is probably the result
      of an increased production of butyrate in the rumen.

PMID- 1440546
TI  - [Rickets-like bone changes in goat kids fed with artificial milk intended for
      calves].
AB  - In a large commercial goat farm rickets-like symptoms were diagnosed in goat
      kids. The disease was probably caused by the synthetic milk which was freely
      available to the kids. The milk feed was for calves and had a calcium-phosphorus
      ratio of 0.83:1.

PMID- 1440547
TI  - [Carpal ligament lesions: a underrated problem in dogs].
AB  - Traumatic hyperextension of the carpus in the dog may result in severe lesions of
      the palmar ligaments, which cannot be treated by coaptation splinting alone.
      Treatment in three dogs by partial arthrodesis using plate osteosynthesis is
      discussed.

PMID- 1440548
TI  - [Prevention of pseudo-fowl plague in other than commercially bred poultry].

PMID- 1440549
TI  - [Annual cocktail-vaccination for dogs and cats].

PMID- 1440550
TI  - [Sunlight dermatitis].

PMID- 1440551
TI  - [Premature infants and hepatitis B vaccination. Study Group Prevention Neonatal
      Hepatitis B].
AB  - Since 1986 health authorities in the Netherlands advise to vaccinate preterm
      infants at similar age as term infants, without correction for their shortened
      gestational age. This advice was based on a study, which showed comparable immune
      responses after DTP vaccination in preterm and term infants. To assess the
      immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccination not corrected for gestational age in
      preterm infants, we compared the antiHBs titer after hepatitis B vaccination in
      44 preterm infants with the antiHBs titer in 829 term infants. More than 95% of
      the preterm infants developed an adequate immune response (> 10 IU/l antiHBs),
      irrespective the vaccination scheme which varied in vaccine dose, the number of
      vaccinations and the onset of the first vaccination. The percentage preterm
      infants with an antiHBs titer > 10 IU/l (98%) was not different of the
      corresponding percentage of term infants (98%). Similarly, no difference between
      preterm and term infants was observed when an antiHBs value of 100 IU/l was
      considered a positive response, neither when active immunisation started at month
      0 or month 3. The geometric mean titre at 12 months of age was considered.

PMID- 1440552
TI  - [Intracranial germinoma in children].
AB  - Two cases of intracranial germinoma with different clinical expression, are
      described. The clinical symptomatology, the diagnosis and the treatment of this
      tumor are discussed. The symptoms depend on the localization of the tumor: in the
      suprasellar germinoma endocrinologic manifestations prevail while the symptoms in
      germinomas which are located in the pineal region, are mainly due to increased
      intracranial pressure. The diagnosis is suggested by the findings on CT-scan and
      MRI of the brain, but for the definitive diagnosis, pathologic examination of the
      tumor remains necessary. Blood HCG and alpha-fetoprotein are useful markers for
      follow-up; the value of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) as a marker, is still
      unclear. The ideal treatment of germinoma consists of surgical removal,
      postoperative chemotherapy and, afterwards, local radiotherapy. On the whole, the
      prognosis of this tumor is good.

PMID- 1440553
TI  - [Independence within reach. Ergotherapy treatment of children with a congenital
      reduction defect].
AB  - The occupational therapy department of the University Hospital of Leiden treats a
      relatively large number of children, born with a dysmelia of the forearm. This
      article has been written to give information about the possibilities to supply
      these children with a prosthesis, and how this effects their level of
      independence. A short description of occupational therapy and the working of a
      myoelectric prosthesis will be followed by a case-study of a boy with plural
      congenital reduction defects. He needs several prosthesis and aids to become
      (mainly) independent of the help from others. It will be described how aids are
      made and tested, and how the prosthesis is used. The case-study illustrates that
      the different demands and desires which are demanded from prosthesis and aids,
      are related to the age and developmental level of the child.

PMID- 1440554
TI  - [Tropical malaria and sickle-cell anemia: a tropical surprise].
AB  - A case of a very sick 2.5-year-old, Ghanese boy with fever, who fell in coma in
      the emergency room, is described. He was diagnosed as having blackwater fever
      (BWF) on clinical grounds. He also had a sickle cell anaemia. A short review of
      BWF is given and we discuss possible causes of the anaemia in this case. The
      anaemia in sickle cell anaemia is described and it appears that malaria tropica
      can lead to a severe hemolytic sickle cell crises. We discuss the combination of
      sickle cell anaemia and malaria tropica.

PMID- 1440555
TI  - [Intraosseous infusions in children].
AB  - Tibial intraosseous infusions can be invaluable in the management of the
      pediatric patient who is in cardiac arrest or severe shock when vascular access
      by the intravenous route is unattainable. Recently there has been renewed
      interest in this procedure. There is a small risk of complications.

PMID- 1440556
TI  - [The precious child. Observations at the century of the child].

PMID- 1440557
TI  - [Quantitative and qualitative stock-taking of scientific research in pediatrics
      in The Netherlands (1986-1990)].
AB  - All Dutch academic and non-academic pediatric training centres were requested to
      give a survey of all scientific publications produced from 1986 to 1990. The
      initiative came from the board of the Dutch Pediatric Association. During the
      observation period (1986-1990) the number of international publications with an
      external reference system was twice when compared with 1981-1985. The quality of
      the publications was similar. In at least four of the participating academic
      pediatric hospitals most publications came from the subspecialty area of
      metabolic diseases, oncology/hematology, immunology/infectious diseases, and
      cardiology, both during the first and the second observation period. From 1986 to
      1990 the total number of theses in which a pediatrician was the main promoter or
      promoter in charge came to 84.

PMID- 1440558
TI  - Linkage disequilibrium between DPA1 and DPB1 alleles among Norwegian Caucasoids
      and Japanese.
AB  - Associations between alleles at the DPA1 and DPB1 loci were analyzed in 181
      Norwegian caucasoids. Associations were observed between the DPA1*0201 and the
      DPB1*0101, *0901, *1001 and *1101 alleles. An association between DPA1*0201 and
      the DPB1*0901 allele was also observed among 23 healthy Japanese and 24 Japanese
      MS patients. In addition, it appeared that among Japanese the DPA1*0201 allele
      may be associated to the DPB1*0501. In conclusion, alleles at the DPA1 and DPB1
      loci display different associations among Norwegian caucasoids and Japanese.

PMID- 1440559
TI  - HLA-DR,DQ nucleotide sequence polymorphisms in five Melanesian populations.
AB  - HLA-DRB1 nucleotide sequence polymorphisms have been examined in 304 Melanesians
      from the Papua New Guinean coast (Madang), islands (Rabaul) and highlands
      (Goroka), and from New Caledonia and Fiji. A total of 20 HLA-DRB1 alleles were
      detected by oligonucleotide hybridizations of exon 2 HLA-DRB1 polymerase chain
      reaction products, in a typing protocol designed to detect all 42 officially
      designated HLA-DRB1 alleles. DRB1*1502 and 1101 alleles were the most common
      alleles in coastal and island Melanesians, while DRB1*1501, 1502 and 1408
      predominated in Papua New Guinean highlanders. Undefined mixed lymphocyte
      reaction determinants in earlier studies of Melanesians could be accounted for in
      the present study as DRB1*0410, 1407 and 1408 in Papua New Guinean highlanders
      and as DRB1*1104 and 1602 in coastal people. Nucleotide sequence polymorphisms at
      HLA-DQA1, -DQB1, -DRB3 and -DRB5 were also determined for estimating HLA-DR,DQ
      allelic disequilibrium relationships; unusual haplotypes in Melanesians included
      DBR1*1502, DRB5*0101 and DRB1*0410, DQB1*0402. Previous claims of limited
      heterogeneity in the HLA-DR allele repertoire in Melanesians are now seen to
      reflect limitations of early typing reagents rather than any dramatic restriction
      in HLA-DR allelic diversity.

PMID- 1440560
TI  - Rapid identification of HLA-DRw53-positive samples by a generic DRB-PCR
      amplification without further analysis.

PMID- 1440561
TI  - HLA-DPB1 alleles and autoantibody subsets in systemic lupus erythematosus,
      Sjogren's syndrome and progressive systemic sclerosis: a question of disease
      relevance.

PMID- 1440562
TI  - Two novel HLA-DQB1*06 alleles reveal additional heterogeneity of HLA-DQw1.

PMID- 1440563
TI  - DNA typing of HLA class II genes in B-lymphoblastoid cell lines homozygous for
      HLA.
AB  - The HLA class II genotypes were determined in the B-lymphoblastoid cell lines
      selected for the Tenth International Histocompatibility Workshop. The HLA class
      II genes were determined by the PCR-SSOP method using the reagents provided by
      the Eleventh Histocompatibility Workshop. Additional studies have been performed
      for further characterization of HLA class II polymorphism on these cell lines. It
      is observed that several cell lines have HLA class II haplotypes with the same
      DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 alleles on both haplotypes but different alleles at the other
      class II loci, confirming that these cell lines are not truly HLA class II
      homozygous. Other cell lines carried HLA class II haplotypes which were only
      different at the DRB1 gene. These results suggest double recombination events or
      gene conversion-like events in generation of HLA DR, DQ haplotypes. These cell
      lines provide an important tool as references for HLA DNA typing.

PMID- 1440564
TI  - A serologically defined HLA-A11 split antigen.

PMID- 1440565
TI  - Adult onset spinocerebellar ataxia linked to HLA in a South African kindred of
      mixed ancestry.
AB  - Hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is a relatively common disorder in the
      Western Cape region of South Africa. At present there are no genetic markers
      available for prenatal or presymptomatic diagnosis. A large kindred of mixed
      ancestry with late onset SCA was studied in which the disorder segregated in an
      autosomal dominant fashion. HLA typing was undertaken on 44 family members, and
      the HLA haplotypes were assigned on the basis of segregation. The LIPED computer
      program, with a correction factor allowing for the age of onset, was used to
      analyze the pedigree for linkage to HLA. Of 22 individuals in whom disease status
      could be definitely assessed, only one recombinant between HLA and the SCA locus
      occurred. The lod score reached a maximum of 4.13 at a recombination fraction of
      0.05, indicating the odds to be approximately 13,500 to 1 in favor of linkage
      between HLA and the putative disease allele for SCA. A possible recombination
      within the HLA region suggested that the disease allele lies telomeric of the HLA
      region. In view of the recent demonstration of tight linkage between SCA1 and
      D6S89, however, HLA should not be used for presymptomatic diagnosis or genetic
      counselling.

PMID- 1440566
TI  - Do human leukocyte antigens have a role to play in differential manifestation of
      multibacillary leprosy: a study on multibacillary leprosy patients from north
      India.
AB  - 118 multibacillary leprosy patients with differential manifestations were studied
      for the antigens they expressed at MHC loci to investigate the role of human
      leukocyte antigens in the differential response to the same causative agent.
      While the lepromatous leprosy (LL) patients showed a significant increase of
      Bw60, DR2, DRw8 and DQw1, borderline lepromatous (BL) patients had Bw52, DR9 and
      DQw7 significantly more often as compared to the normal controls. A comparison of
      LL, BL and mid-borderline (BB) patients showed a significantly higher frequency
      of Bw60 in LL patients as compared to the BL. However, Bw52, Bw53, DR9 and DQw7
      were found significantly more often in the BL patients as compared to the LL
      patients but the difference failed to reach significance after pc. A comparison
      of HLA antigens in BB patients with those of either the LL or BL patients did not
      show any significant differences.

PMID- 1440567
TI  - Distribution of HLA class II alleles among Scandinavian patients with systemic
      lupus erythematosus (SLE): an increased risk of SLE among
      non[DRB1*03,DQA1*0501,DQB1*0201] class II homozygotes?
AB  - HLA-DRB1, -DRB3, -DQA1 and -DQB1 alleles were determined by DNA typing in 51
      Scandinavian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 129 controls.
      DRB1*03,DRB3*0101,DQA1*0501,DQB1*0201 were significantly increased in the patient
      group, with relative risks (RR) of 2.80, 3.07, 3.55 and 2.12, respectively. These
      alleles are in strong linkage disequilibrium, and their possible relative
      contributions in predisposition to SLE are difficult to distinguish. The
      strongest association was found for DQA1*0501, which is in linkage disequilibrium
      with DRB1*03 as well as DRB1*11,12 (DR5). An increased frequency of DRB1*11,12
      was observed (RR = 1.89, ns). No association with DRB1*15,16 (DR2) was found. The
      patients had a higher frequency of HLA class II homozygosity than the controls
      (RR = 5.05, p = 0.0005). When compared to the low-risk group (nonDRB1*03 class II
      heterozygotes), the cases homozygous for DRB1*03,DQA1*0501,DQB1*0201, known to be
      in linkage disequilibrium with the complement allele C4A*Q0, had the highest
      relative risk of developing SLE (RR = 16.39, p = 0.0002). However
      non[DRB1*03,DQA1*0501,DQB1*0201] class II homozygotes had a higher relative risk
      (RR = 4.68, p = 0.0147) than DRB1*03,DQA1*0501,DQB1*0201 heterozygotes, known to
      carry the C4A*Q0 allele (RR = 2.72, p = 0.0088). This may suggest that HLA class
      II molecules are directly involved in susceptibility to SLE.

PMID- 1440568
TI  - Distribution of HLA-DQA1, -DQB1 and DRB1 alleles in black IDDM patients and
      controls from Zimbabwe.
AB  - We have used the XI Histocompatibility Workshop sequence-specific oligonucleotide
      probes to determine the DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 genotypes by dot-blot hybridization
      of polymerase chain reaction (pcr)-amplified material from a homogenous black
      population in Zimbabwe. The DR4 subtype DRB1*0405, the DR3 subtype DRB1*0301,
      DQB1*0201 and DQB1*0302 and DQA1*0301 and DQA1*0501 were significantly increased
      in the IDDM group compared to the controls, whereas DRB1*11, DQB1*0602 and
      DQA1*0102 were significantly decreased. Taken together, the data show that
      susceptibility and resistance to IDDM are associated both with particular
      haplotypes and DQA1-DQB1 heterodimers without one or other being overriding.

PMID- 1440569
TI  - A silent mutation in HLA-DRB1*0301 can affect oligotyping.

PMID- 1440570
TI  - Genetic diversity within the HLA class II region: ten new DPB1 alleles and their
      population distribution.

PMID- 1440571
TI  - Cell cultures from cryopreserved human lung tissue.
AB  - To assess gene induction in primary human fibroblasts, we have developed a method
      for cryopreservation of lung biopsies in liquid nitrogen. Fresh biopsies (n = 10)
      were chopped into 5 x 5 mm pieces and transferred into an ice-cold freezing
      medium. Biopsies were kept on ice for 15 min, followed by further cooling of the
      tissue to -70 degrees C. With this method, lung biopsies were preserved for more
      than 1 year before they were used for generating cell cultures. There was no
      significant difference in the biological responsiveness of fibroblasts generated
      from immediately cultured lung biopsies compared with those from cryopreserved
      tissue. The doubling rate of fibroblasts from fresh tissue was 23.6 +/- 1.1 hr;
      compared to 23.5 +/- 1.5 hr for fibroblasts generated from cryopreserved tissue.
      PDGF-BB enhanced de novo synthesis of DNA 100 times, in both the immediately
      cultured fibroblasts and those generated from cryopreserved biopsies.
      Macrophages, dendritic cells and endothelial cells could also be recovered from
      cryopreserved lung tissue. This method permits long-term storage of lung tissue
      and the possibility of establishing primary cell lines from the same tissue at
      later times without appreciable changes in their cellular biological
      characteristics.

PMID- 1440572
TI  - The regulated expression of mRNA for Clara cell protein in the developing airways
      of the rat, as revealed by tissue in situ hybridization.
AB  - Tissue in situ hybridization has been used on sections of developing rat lung to
      follow the cellular sites of mRNA expression for a protein identified only in
      bronchiolar Clara cells. The mRNA for this Clara cell protein (CCP) was first
      detected on gestational day 16 in only one of the two types of tubules existing
      in the lung at this developmental stage. During the next 2 days CCP mRNA
      expression increased uniformly only in the epithelium lining the respiratory
      tubules. By gestational day 19, CCP mRNA expression became limited to secretory
      epithelial cells lining the bronchi, and terminal bronchioles. By neonatal day 1,
      an intense hybridization signal was observed along all of the conducting airways,
      but it was irregular due to the fact that expression of the CCP gene was limited
      to the secretory epithelial cells. In adult rats, CCP mRNA was expressed not only
      in secretory cells of the intrapulmonary airways at all anatomical levels, but
      also in secretory epithelial cells lining the trachea and its glands, as well as
      in specific alveolar cells thought to be type II pneumocytes. These findings
      demonstrate that the regulation of the CCP gene during lung development is a
      complicated process and that the expression of CCP mRNA does not parallel exactly
      the sequential development of the airways.

PMID- 1440573
TI  - Absence of sex differences in size of the genital ducts of the rat prior to
      embryonic day 15.5-16.0.
AB  - Sexual dimorphisms of the rat brain are generally believed to be brought about by
      the presence of testosterone during a critical period starting at embryonic day
      (ED) 17/18. In contrast, sex differences of diencephalic and mesencephalic
      dopaminergic neurons were observed to develop in cell cultures raised from ED 14
      rat brains. This was interpreted as evidence indicating that sexual
      differentiation of certain neural systems may occur independently of gonadal
      hormones. To substantiate this claim, it was felt necessary to examine the rat
      embryo for clues to a possible existence of sex differences in hormonal
      environment prior to ED 17. Morphometry was applied to compare the development of
      male and female Wolffian and Mullerian ducts, both primary targets of hormones
      secreted from the male gonad. Diameters of serially cross-sectioned Wolffian and
      Mullerian ducts were measured in rats of ED 15.0 to ED 16.5. Females had thicker
      Mullerian ducts from ED 15.5 on. The first step of differentiation in males was
      the widening of the lumen and a slight increase of the outer diameter of the
      Wolffian duct at ED 16.0. The size differences of both ducts were most obvious in
      the vicinity of the lower half of the gonad. Except in Wolffian ducts of ED 16.5,
      sex differences were absent in the caudal parts of the ducts. It appears that
      gonadal androgen and Mullerian inhibiting substance do not affect the development
      of their classical target organs prior to ED 16.0 and ED 15.5, respectively.
      Furthermore, the first effects are paracrine in nature. There is no evidence for
      sex differences in systemic androgen environment until ED 16.5.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1440574
TI  - Effects of exercise and food restriction on rat skeletal muscles.
AB  - Studies were undertaken to compare the effects of exercise and food restriction
      on body weight (BW), muscle weight (MW), muscle fiber size, and proportion of
      muscle fiber types. 20 male Fischer 344 rats were randomly assigned to four equal
      groups: ad libitum-fed control (AC), ad libitum-fed exercise (AE), food
      restricted control (RC) and food restricted exercise (RE). From 6 weeks of age,
      RC and RE rats received 60% of the daily food intake of AC and AE rats,
      respectively. At 7 months of age, AE and RE rats began 40-50 min of daily
      treadmill exercise. Running speed increased from 1.2 to 1.6 miles/hour and the
      grade increased to 15% during the first 2 weeks of training. After 10 weeks of
      training, rats were weighed, sacrificed, and the soleus (SOL), plantaris (PLN)
      and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles were removed at in situ rest length,
      weighed, and quick-frozen. Standard histochemical assays were performed, and
      muscle fiber cross-sectional area was determined planimetrically. Training had
      little effect on MW or BW, but food restriction greatly reduced BW. This resulted
      in greater MW/BW ratio in RC and RE than AC and AE rats, respectively. Exercise
      also increased SOL muscle fiber area in ad libitum-fed but not food restricted
      rats resulting in smaller fibers in SOL of RE than AE. No changes in percentage
      of SOL fiber types occurred with food restriction or exercise. In PLN, the
      percentage of fast-twitch oxidative fibers of AE and RE was greater than in AC
      and RC, but there was no effect of food restriction or exercise on fiber
      area.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1440575
TI  - Ultrastructural morphometry of matrical changes induced by exercise and food
      restriction in the rat calcaneal tendon.
AB  - The ultrastructural morphometry of collagen fibril populations in 24 calcaneal
      tendons obtained from 12 Fischer 344 rats were studied to elucidate matrical
      changes induced by food restriction and/or endurance exercise. Rats were randomly
      assigned to four equal groups: ad libitum control (AC), ad libitum exercise (AE),
      restricted diet control (RC) and restricted diet exercise (RE) groups. Beginning
      from 6 weeks of age, animals in the two food restriction groups were fed 60% of
      the mean food consumption of ad libitum fed rats. Then, starting from 6-7 months
      of age, the rats in the two exercise groups performed 40-50 min of treadmill
      running at 1.2-1.6 miles h-1 every day for a total of 10 weeks. Endurance
      training did not significantly alter body weight, but food restriction with or
      without exercise resulted in a significant loss of body weight. In ad libitum fed
      controls, food restriction alone did not significantly alter the mean collagen
      fibril CSA, but predisposed a preponderance of small-sized collagen fibrils.
      Endurance training per se induced a significant (32%) increase in mean fibril CSA
      (P less than 0.05), but this adaptive response to exercise was prevented by food
      restriction, as indicated by a 33% decline in fibril CSA (P less than 0.05).
      These findings demonstrate that dietary restriction modifies the adaptation of
      tendon collagen morphometry in response to endurance training, and that weight
      loss is better achieved with food restriction than endurance exercise.

PMID- 1440576
TI  - Ultrastructural morphometry of membrane-bound intracytoplasmic collagen fibrils
      in tendon fibroblasts exposed to He:Ne laser beam.
AB  - Collagen fibrils are not found in fibroblast cytoplasm except in certain
      pathological conditions or in the presence of drugs and other agents that
      accelerate collagen turnover. Because low energy laser photostimulation is both a
      non-pathogenic and non-chemical accelerator of collagen synthesis, its effects
      were studied on four groups of calcaneal tendons from 18 rabbits (1) to test the
      hypothesis that vacuolar fibrils are not produced exclusively by diseases and
      chemical agents, and (2) to compare the morphometry of matrical and vacuolar
      fibrils. The right calcaneal tendons of nine rabbits were surgically tenotomized
      and repaired; six of these were transcutaneously irradiated with He:Ne laser
      everyday. The right calcaneal tendon of six of the remaining nine rabbits were
      similarly irradiated with laser, but without prior tenotomy and repair. 21 days
      later, all tendons were fixed in situ and processed for electron microscopy.
      Fibril-bearing vacuoles were found only in fibroblasts of tenotomized laser
      irradiated tendons. Similar vacuoles were not seen in non-tenotomized laser
      irradiated tendons nor in non-irradiated tendons whether tenotomized or not. Mann
      Whitney U tests revealed no statistically significant differences in the cross
      sectional areas or diameters of matrical and vacuolar fibrils. These findings
      suggest (a) that matrical and vacuolar fibrils have a common origin, and (b) that
      vacuolar fibrils can be induced by a non-pathologic, non-chemical accelerator of
      collagen synthesis.

PMID- 1440577
TI  - Ultrastructural and mechanical properties of electrically inexcitable skeletal
      muscle fibers of the crustacean Atya lanipes.
AB  - Examination of the ultrastructure and mechanical activation of the ventro
      abdominal flexor muscle of the freshwater crustacean Atya lanipes shows that the
      fibers are of the long sarcomere, tonic type. The fibers possess an ample and
      well-organized internal membrane system, with extensive regions of T/SR dyad
      contacts near the ends of the A bands. An orbit of 10-12 thin filaments surrounds
      each thick filament. The lanthanum tracer method reveals a highly regular
      organization of the T-system, Z-tubules, and multiple internal clefts. Tension
      generation responds to extracellular potassium in a concentration dependent
      manner and is very slow. Mechanical activation is strictly dependent on
      extracellular Ca2+, even though these muscle fibers do not generate Ca2+ currents
      when depolarized. Tension development responds to caffeine and is also dependent
      on extracellular Na+, suggesting that Ca2+ release from the SR and Ca2+ influx
      via the Na/Ca exchanger intervene in mechanical activation.

PMID- 1440578
TI  - The innervation of the closer muscle of the mesothoracic spiracle of the locust.
AB  - The closer muscle of the mesothoracic spiracle of the locust, Schistocerca
      gregaria is innervated by two excitatory motoneurones and also by processes of a
      peripherally located neurosecretory cell. Within the muscle, ultrastructural
      studies show the presence of two types of excitatory nerve terminal which differ
      in the content of dense cored vesicles and in their distribution. The ventral
      segment of the muscle is innervated predominantly by terminals with small clear
      vesicles and only an occasional dense-cored vesicle. The central part of the
      muscle is innervated predominantly by terminals with small clear vesicles and
      larger numbers of dense-cored vesicles. The dorsal segment of the muscle is
      innervated exclusively by a neurosecretory type innervation. The small
      neurohaemal organ of the median nerve close to the spiracle muscle is
      immunoreactive to an antibody raised against bovine pancreatic polypeptide but no
      immunoreactive processes enter the muscle itself. The muscle possesses specific
      octopaminergic receptors that increase cyclic AMP levels and the possibility that
      the neurosecretory input to the muscle is provided by either a central or
      peripheral octopamine containing neurone is discussed.

PMID- 1440579
TI  - Quantitation of Sertoli cell-germ cell desmosome gap junctions in relation to
      meiotic divisions in the male rat.
AB  - Desmosome-gap (D-G) junctions were quantified in relation to germ cell meiosis in
      the male, specifically to test the hypothesis that the loss of these junctions is
      related to successful passage of cells through diplotene phase of Meiosis I and
      the two cytokineses that follow. Such a hypothesis has been proposed as the cause
      for the resumption of meiosis that occurs prior to ovulation in the female. D-G
      junctions were quantified in pachytene spermatocytes (stage XII), diplotene
      spermatocytes (stage XII), secondary spermatocytes (stage XIV) and step 1
      spermatids (stage I). These were referred to as the cells of interest as compared
      with spermatocytes (zygotene spermatocytes, zygotene spermatocytes, pachytene
      spermatocytes, pachytene spermatocytes) in the same stages, respectively, that
      served as controls termed control cells. Since gap junctions are not easily
      recognized in the average sectioned profile of a desmosome-gap junction, only the
      desmosomal component was quantified. The data were expressed as both numbers and
      length of junctions per tubule, per cell profile and per unit lineal membrane
      length to overcome errors inherent in the methodologies utilized. There was no
      indication that numbers of junctions changed specifically in the cells of
      interest after passage through diplotene suggesting that these junctions do not
      have a comparable role in meiotic continuance in the male as proposed for the
      female. Interestingly, the control cells always showed greater numbers and length
      of junctions than the cells of interest suggesting that junction may relate more
      to the period of initiation of meiosis than to its continuance.

PMID- 1440580
TI  - Morphology of the liver of the brook lamprey, Lampetra lamottenii before and
      during infection with the nematode, Truttaedacnitis stelmioides, hepatocytes,
      sinusoids, and perisinusoidal cells.
AB  - Routine light microscopy and transmission and scanning electron microscopy were
      used to describe and compare the livers of larval lampreys, Lampetra lamottenii
      before and during infection of the bile ducts by the nematode, Truttaedacnitis
      stelmioides. The hepatocytes of uninfected animals differ from other lamprey
      species in that they contain abundant glycogen, smooth endoplasmic reticulum
      (SER), and lipoprotein indicating that the liver may be involved in glucose
      metabolism. Infestation of the biliary tree by T. stelmioides coincides with
      alterations to the hepatocytes. These changes include dilation of the bile
      canaliculi, smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER), rough endoplasmic reticulum
      (RER), and Golgi apparatus, swollen mitochondria in cells showing a high degree
      of hypertrophy, and an abundance of dense bodies. Following infection, the
      sinusoidal lumina became dilated and contain a moderate electron-dense
      precipitate, an abundance of melanomacrophages, lipocytes, and mononuclear cells.
      There is also a widening of the fenestrae of the sinusoidal endothelium following
      infection. Many of the changes in hepatocytes and sinusoids following parasite
      infections closely resemble those observed in hepatocytes in various pathologies
      and following experimental bile duct ligation and, therefore, are likely a
      consequence of increased biliary pressure due to bile duct obstruction.

PMID- 1440581
TI  - Role of the dermal tracts in the pigment pattern of the frog.
AB  - The pigment pattern of the ventral skin of the frog Rana esculenta is compared in
      skin fragments grown for 24 hr with or without antiserum directed to fibronectin
      (anti-FN). Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) was added to the medium during
      the last hour in culture in order to enhance visibility of melanophores in the
      ventral region of the frog skin. Comparison of these two treatments provides
      information regarding the precise localization of melanophores in the dermal
      tracts and their involvement in the pigment pattern of the ventral frog skin. In
      this regard, the whitish pigment pattern of skin fragments is compared to the
      tiny black spots found on anti-FN treated skin fragments and the abundant blotchy
      spots found on skin cultured alone. The distribution of melanophores in the
      dermal tracts observed in vertical semithin sections is found to be related to
      the three different levels of the dermal tracts. This report demonstrates the
      importance of fibronectin as a substrate for the melanophore migration, the
      importance of the tract level for the melanophore localization both involved in
      the pigment pattern of the ventral skin.

PMID- 1440582
TI  - Receptor-mediated endocytosis of insulin by cultured endothelial cells.
AB  - Label-fracture immunochemistry and pre-embedding indirect immunocytochemistry
      were applied to investigate insulin uptake by endothelial cells. Freeze fracture
      replicas showed that a small percentage of native insulin receptors are
      associated with non-coated pits (4%) and coated pits (2%). After warming,
      receptor bound insulin became increasingly associated with such endocytotic
      vesicles. After 2 min the percentage of detectable insulin associated with non
      coated and coated pits increased to 16% and 8%, respectively. Pre-embedding
      immunocytochemical localization of insulin gave results consistent with those
      obtained from the label-fracture studies. Both non-coated and coated vesicles
      appeared labelled after 5 min of warming. Non-coated vesicles contained 25% of
      the cell associated insulin while 9% was associated with coated pits and
      vesicles. After 10 min of warming, 9% of label was located in non-coated vesicles
      and 7% in coated vesicles. A large proportion (29%) of the label was found in
      tubular-vesicular endosomes at this time. After 15 min of warming, 30% of the
      remaining cell-associated gold label was found in multivesicular bodies. These
      experiments demonstrate that insulin uptake by endothelium is mediated by both
      coated and non-coated vesicles and that, once internalized, insulin is routed
      through endosomal pathways that primarily result in transcytosis.

PMID- 1440583
TI  - A simple in vitro method for raising monoclonal antibodies to cochlear proteins.
AB  - Monoclonal antibodies have been produced to mammalian hair cell antigens using a
      simple in vitro kit. Antigen was crudely prepared from dissected cochlear tissue
      by detergent extraction. There was no need to purify hair cells. Hybridoma
      supernatents were screened most efficiently on dissociated cells fixed with
      acetone. The immunisation method is sensitive to nanograms of antigen and can
      generate responses to conserved or weak antigens. The kit requires very little
      previous experience with cell culture and generates monoclonal antibodies within
      3-4 weeks. It has overcome a number of problems with production of antibodies to
      hair cells and it should prove to be a very valuable tool in many laboratories.

PMID- 1440584
TI  - Changes of the Golgi apparatus and lysosomes during decidualization in mice.
AB  - The Golgi apparatus of the endometrial stromal cells of pregnant mice increases
      in size simultaneously with the differentiation of stromal cells into decidual
      cells. The activity of acid phosphatase in this organelle increases during this
      stage. On the other hand, the involuting decidual cells show morphological and
      cytochemical signs of Golgi regression (dilated cisternae, lack of enzymatic
      activity) together with the finding of numerous, pleomorphic lysosomes that have
      intense cytochemical label. These results confirm morphological data suggesting
      that decidual cell death occurs by autophagic degeneration.

PMID- 1440585
TI  - Perinuclear cytoskeleton of acrosome-less spermatids in the blind sterile mutant
      mouse.
AB  - The perinuclear cytoskeleton of mammalian spermatids is thought to play a major
      role in nucleus-acrosome association and in shape changes of the head during
      spermiogenesis. To test these hypotheses acrosome-less spermatids in blind
      sterile mutant mice were investigated for the development of the subacrosomal
      layer. Immunogold procedures were used for the detection of actin and calmodulin.
      In addition to various other abnormalities many acrosome-less round and
      elongating spermatids developed a subacrosomal layer with an actin and calmodulin
      distribution similar to that observed in normal spermatids. However, in mutant
      elongating spermatids the apical part of the nucleus was truncated and/or folded.
      The expected elongation and shaping of the nucleus only occurred in its caudal
      part associated with an hypertrophied and somewhat ectopic manchette. These
      abnormalities and those previously observed in mutant and experimental models
      indicated that the subacrosomal layer may form independently of the acrosome. It
      is suggested that the subacrosomal filamentous actin is a transitory scaffolding
      which might be involved in the assemblage of other proteins of the perinuclear
      cytoskeleton. However, by itself, this layer is not sufficient to ensure a normal
      shaping of the nucleus. Acrosome-nucleus interactions mediated by the
      subacrosomal layer seem necessary to shape the cranial spermatid head. The
      manchette appears to be involved only in the caudal nuclear shaping.

PMID- 1440586
TI  - Demonstration of the capacity of nacre to induce bone formation by human
      osteoblasts maintained in vitro.
AB  - Nacre implanted in vivo in bone is osteogenic suggesting that it may possess
      factor(s) which stimulate bone formation. The present study was undertaken to
      test the hypothesis that nacre can induce mineralization by human osteoblasts in
      vitro. Nacre chips were placed on a layer of first passage human osteoblasts.
      None of the chemical inducers generally required to obtain bone formation in
      vitro was added to the cultures. Osteoblasts proliferated and were clearly
      attracted by nacre chips to which they attached. Induction of mineralization
      appeared preferentially in bundles of osteoblasts surrounding the nacre chips.
      Three-dimensional nodules were formed by a dense osteoid matrix with cuboidal
      osteoblasts at the periphery and osteocytic-like cells in the center. These
      nodules contained foci with features of mineralized structures and bone-like
      structures, both radiodense to X-ray. Active osteoblasts (e.m.) with abundant
      rough endoplasmic reticulum, extrusion of collagen fibrils and budding of
      vesicles were observed. Matrix vesicles induced mineral deposition. Extracellular
      collagen fibrils appeared cross-banded and electrodense indicating
      mineralization. These results demonstrate that a complete sequence of bone
      formation is reproduced when human osteoblasts are cultured in the presence of
      nacre. This model provides a new approach to study the steps of osteoblastic
      differentiation and the mechanisms of induction of mineralization.

PMID- 1440587
TI  - Ultrastructure of carotid baroreceptors in the goat.
AB  - The initial segment of the occipital artery of the goat appears modified under
      the electron microscope; endothelial cells are low cuboidal, the tunica media
      contains many elastic lamellae, and there are few smooth muscle cells. Free
      afferent nerve endings are seen in this modified arterial wall. They closely
      resemble the presumptive baroreceptor endings reported in other mammals in their
      mitochondrial content and abnormal organelles and are interpreted as solely
      adapting baroreceptors. Special topographical relations between the endings and
      elastic or collagen fibres do not occur, but microfilaments are present in the
      vicinity of these endings. Presumptive adrenergic efferent endings are not found
      in the region of the baroreceptors. We suggest that this zone of the occipited
      artery is homologous to the carotid sinus.

PMID- 1440588
TI  - Stellate cells of aortic intima: I. Human and rabbit.
AB  - Stellate cells hitherto accounted exclusively in the innermost elastic
      hyperplastic layer were already reported to inhabit human aortic intima. The
      present paper shows that most of these cells are situated just beneath the
      endothelium. Stellate cells also appear in the deendothelialization-induced
      myointimal thickening of rabbit aorta. In the myointimal thickening these cells
      were revealed in the direct proximity to the endothelium. A conclusion is
      available that the previously demonstrated polymorphism of human aortic intimal
      cells may be reproduced in a simple experimental model, which gives new
      possibilities for the study of the cellular polymorphism in the vessel wall.

PMID- 1440589
TI  - Calcium-binding proteins in chemoreceptors of Xenopus laevis.
AB  - Calcium-binding proteins were investigated immunohistochemically in chemo
      receptors of the olfactory epithelium and taste buds of the clawed frog, Xenopus
      laevis. Calmodulin-, S-100- and calbindin-immunoreactive material were found in
      sensory cells of the olfactory epithelium; however, parvalbumin-like material was
      absent in these cells. Taste buds of the palate showed calmodulin-, S-100- and
      parvalbumin-immunoreactive material in sensory cells, while calbindin
      immunoreactive material in supporting cells. Merkel cells, surrounding the base
      of the taste buds in a ring-like manner, exhibited calmodulin- and S-100
      immunoreactive material.

PMID- 1440590
TI  - The role of the rat submandibular gland in the excretion of bis (tributyltin)
      oxide: electron microscopy, X-ray microanalysis and atomic absorption analysis.
AB  - The role of the submandibular glands in the excretion of parenterally
      administered bis (tributyltin) oxide (TBTO) was studied. Fine structural
      alterations of the submandibular glands were observed with an electron
      microscope. Accumulation sites of TBTO were determined with an X-ray
      microanalyzer and tin concentrations in saliva and blood were measured by atomic
      absorption spectrophotometry.

PMID- 1440591
TI  - [The clinical case. Hair loss for three months in a dog].

PMID- 1440592
TI  - [Diagnostic procedure in polydipsia].

PMID- 1440593
TI  - [Birth injuries in calves and perinatal calf losses in a large dairy herd].
AB  - Post-mortem examinations were carried out on 65 calves which were stillborn or
      died within 24 hours of birth. All calves came from a large dairy unit with about
      one thousand cattle of the Schwarzbuntes Milchrind breed. To evaluate the
      perinatal losses, the farm records of parturitions from 1985-1990 were used. The
      calves had gross damage of the CNS, the musculature, subcutaneous tissue and
      internal organs such as lung and intestines. It may be assumed that a lesser
      degree of similar damage would also be present in the surviving calves. The level
      of perinatal losses is determined particularly by deaths following prolonged
      parturition due to foetal oversize in heifers and young cows, but also by the
      birth of immature calves of low weight after pregnancy of normal or decreased
      duration and by twin pregnancies with high total calf mass and relative
      immaturity of the calves.

PMID- 1440595
TI  - [Ocular manifestations of systemic diseases in birds. Part 2].
AB  - Among the representatives of the class aves, ocular lesions may be a particularly
      strong indicator of systemic disorders. A causative diagnosis of ocular lesions
      may be vital for the avian patient, not only as a basis for effective therapy of
      the primary disease, but also for saving the vision, as birds orientate
      themselves primarily by vision. The following paper presents a synopsis of
      important ocular disorders in avian patients that are either pathognomonic for
      certain disorders or, when considered in conjunction with other organic diseases,
      enable a specific diagnosis. Bacterial and parasitic infections were already
      described in part 1 of this paper. Part 2 gives outlines of possible viral
      etiologies and noninfectious diseases.

PMID- 1440594
TI  - [Concentration of Fe, Fe-binding capacity, Cu and Zn in the plasma of piglets
      before and after oral administration of iron sulfate solution].
AB  - In piglets, the influence of the ingestion of Fe-enriched faeces, of the oral
      application of Fe-dextran (containing 150, 200 or 250 mg Fe) up to the 8th hour
      as well as the intramuscular injection of Fe-dextran (150 mg Fe) on the 2nd and
      3rd day after birth on Fe-resorption was analysed. On the 5th to the 7th and on
      the 12th to the 14th day after birth the highest increase in the Fe-concentration
      and the highest values of the Fe-binding capacity of the plasma after the oral
      application of a solution of Fe-sulphate (containing 20 mg Fe/kg body weight)
      were confirmed in the piglets with the ingestion of Fe-enriched faeces and in the
      control piglets without Fe-supplementation. The increase of the iron
      concentration in the plasma induced a decrease in the concentration of Cu in some
      cases and of Zn in the plasma in most cases. The biggest increase in body weight
      was established in the piglets that ingested Fe-enriched faeces.

PMID- 1440596
TI  - [Respiratory support techniques in foals in a newborn intensive care unit for
      large animals].
AB  - Various techniques for support and control of respiration in neonatal foals are
      described. It is crucial to evaluate respiration through frequent arterial blood
      gas analysis. Details for blood sampling from the metatarsal arteries and
      interpretation of results are provided. Typical diseases in newborn foals, which
      cause hypoxemia and/or hypercapnia and can be indications for respiratory support
      are apnea, hypopnea, pulmonary atelectasis, surfactant deficiency, meconium-,
      fetal fluid- and milk aspiration, maladjustment syndrome, cardiovascular
      abnormalities, anemia, airway obstruction, compromised lung expansion, increased
      abdominal pressure and pneumonias. Oxygen insufflation can be delivered through
      an intranasal tube. Positive pressure ventilation is best accomplished via an
      endotracheal tube. A nasogastric tube is inserted for enteral nutrition,
      application of drugs and checking for gastric reflux. Details for insertion of
      endotracheal and nasogastric tubes are given. Positive pressure ventilation can
      be achieved by manual ventilation with a rebreathing resp. resuscitator bag and
      mechanical ventilation with a respirator. Management and control of mechanical
      ventilation as well as intensive care and monitoring of foals are described.

PMID- 1440597
TI  - [Riding arenas and different riding track surfaces in relation to the airway
      contamination in horses. Laboratory studies on riding surfaces].
AB  - 29 samples of commonly used surfaces were tested for their water characteristics
      (litre weight, water capacity, water binding, water evaporation) and their
      contribution to airborne fungal spores (dust formation, dust setting). The
      results are discussed in comparison to the literature with regard to the
      environment. The results are: 1. Any surface--no matter of what material-
      eventually causes air pollution with fungal spores and dust. 2. Correct watering
      prevents air pollution by any surface. 3. Artificial products have no advantage
      over natural materials in the parameters tested. 4. The question of proper
      disposal of old surface material has to be clarified before purchase. The results
      show that a mixture of sand and wood shavings should be recommended as a surface
      for indoor arenas, especially in regard to environmental protection and proper
      disposal.

PMID- 1440598
TI  - [Pathology of the retina].
AB  - Degenerations (atrophies) of the retina are divided into primary (hereditary) and
      secondary forms including glaucomatous retinopathy of retinal atrophy. The
      pathogenesis of inflammation of the retina is considered. This condition
      generally appears in association with inflammation of the choroid
      (chorioretinitis), but can also occur as an isolated inflammatory condition
      during infectious disease (distemper). The functional conditions for retinal
      detachment, its rhegmatogenous and nonrhegmatogenous types, as well as the
      consequences of retinal detachment are described. Comparison of the pathology of
      retinal tumors shows that retinoblastoma is not known in animals. However,
      neuroepithelial tumors like the so-called acquired adenoma and adenocarcinoma of
      the mature ciliary epithelium as well as the rare congenital tumors of the
      embryonic neuroepithelium i.e. the medulloepithelioma and the ganglioneuroma are
      seen in animals. Finally, the rare but not unusual parasitic retinopathies are
      mentioned.

PMID- 1440599
TI  - [Malignant hyperthermia as a complication of anesthesia in the dog].
AB  - A moderate malignant hyperthermia developed in a Labrador Retriever anaesthetized
      with isoflurane for a femoral shaft fracture repair. Signs of malignant
      hyperthermia included progressive increases in PETCO2 and rectal temperature up
      to 39.8 degrees C, tachycardia, cyanosis, and elevated serum levels of potassium,
      inorganic phosphorus, AST, CK and alkaline phosphatase. Treatment initiated in
      the early recovery period consisted of hyperventilation with 100% oxygen, stomach
      lavage with iced water, body surface cooling, and intravenous administration of
      cold isotonic saline solution. Cooling was continued until the rectal temperature
      had dropped to 37.3 degrees C. After treatment the dog recovered uneventfully.
      Clinical signs, pathophysiology, therapy, prevention of malignant hyperthermia
      and its association with other disorders are discussed.

PMID- 1440600
TI  - [The diagnostic value of sonography in the clinical picture of pyometra in the
      dog].
AB  - Experiences of the diagnostic value of ultrasonography of pyometra in the bitch
      are reported. The different ultrasound scans of the uterus are illustrated.
      Results are compared with clinical diagnosis and pathophysiological findings
      after laparotomy and surgical removal of the uteri. Very close correlation (r:
      0.985, p < 0.001) was found between the postoperative macroscopic and the
      ultrasound scan measurements of the uterus. Accuracy of the ultrasound diagnosis
      and reasons for false and questionable results are discussed. In summary,
      ultrasonography is an accurate procedure for the qualitative and quantitative
      examination and diagnosis of canine pyometra.

PMID- 1440601
TI  - [The radiologic differential diagnosis in girth increase of the gastric cavity
      and the body in lizards (Squamata: Sauria)].
AB  - The extended girth is one of the few important and obvious symptoms in lizards
      (Sauria). Radiological examination proved to be the most important method in the
      clinical diagnostic procedure. Standard and contrast images using oral and
      cloacal application of barium sulphate or iodophoric contrast media were
      frequently indicated. Based on 442 X-rays from 162 lizards out of 20 genus the
      significant radiological, physiological and pathological findings are described.
      Frequent findings were dystocia in oviparous and viviparous lizards (18.5%),
      gastritis and enteritis (12.3%), ascites (9.3%), fractures of the spine and
      osteodystrophia (9.3%), obstipation (6.2%), foreign bodies (4.9%), neoplasia
      (4.3%) and enteroliths (4.3%). Pneumonia (3.7%), was as frequent as the
      physiological lung tympany (3.7%). Pregnancy was the most frequent physiological
      finding (8%). The radiological findings, are described in detail, especially in
      regard to differentiation between physiological and pathological conditions.

PMID- 1440602
TI  - Effects of ethanol on cocaine metabolism: formation of cocaethylene and
      norcocaethylene.
AB  - The coabuse of cocaine and ethanol occurs with high frequency and increases the
      risk of cocaine-related morbidity and mortality. The mechanisms mediating the
      toxic interactions of cocaine and ethanol are not clearly defined. This study
      examined the effects of acute ethanol administration on the metabolism of cocaine
      in the male Wistar rat. Intraperitoneal administration of 2 g/kg ethanol 30 min
      prior to administration of 25 mg/kg cocaine resulted in the formation of two
      ethylated derivatives of cocaine, benzoylecgonine ethyl ester (cocaethylene) and
      benzoylnorecgonine ethyl ester (norcocaethylene) in liver, brain, and serum.
      Fifteen minutes after cocaine administration, the tissue levels of cocaethylene
      were 22, 10, and 9% of the cocaine recovered from liver, serum, and brain,
      respectively. Ethanol pretreatment increased cocaine concentrations in liver and
      benzoylnorecgonine concentrations in liver and serum. The increased morbidity and
      hepatotoxicity seen with acute combined administration of cocaine and ethanol may
      be due to the formation of the toxic ethylated and N-demethylated metabolites of
      cocaine. Ethanol pretreatment decreased benzoylecgonine concentrations in serum
      and liver. The most important consequence of ethanol-induced inhibition of the
      normally rapid hydrolysis of cocaine to benzoylecgonine may be a decrease in
      benzoylecgonine-mediated vasoconstriction.

PMID- 1440603
TI  - Sulfur mustard-induced microvesication in hairless guinea pigs: effect of short
      term niacinamide administration.
AB  - It has been postulated that sulfur mustard (HD) damage may activate poly(ADP
      ribose) polymerase (PADPRP), resulting in depletion of cellular NAD+. This
      biochemical alteration is postulated to result in blister (vesicle) formation. It
      has been previously demonstrated that niacinamide (NAM), an inhibitor of PADPRP
      and a precursor for NAD+ synthesis, may be useful as a pretreatment compound to
      reduce HD-induced microvesication. The present study was undertaken to determine
      whether niacinamide's protective action could be extended beyond 24 hr and if the
      degree of microvesication is related to changes in skin NAD+ content. HD
      exposures were made by vapor cup to hairless guinea pigs. Niacinamide (750 mg/kg,
      ip) given as a 30-min pretreatment did not reduce the degree of microvesication
      72 hr after HD compared to saline controls. However, niacinamide given as a 30
      min pretreatment and at 6-, 24-, and 48-hr after HD, exhibited a 28% reduction in
      microvesication 72 hr after HD. Skin NAD+ content at 72 hr after HD was depleted
      by approximately 53% in the saline and NAM-treated groups. Skin NAD+ content was
      depleted despite NAM administration. Niacinamide did not reduce the degree of
      erythema at 48 or 72 hr. These results suggest that niacinamide's protective
      effect against HD-induced microvesication may be extended for at least 72 hr, but
      NAM levels must be sustained during the post-HD period. The link between
      maintenance of skin NAD+ and reductions in microvesication is still uncertain.

PMID- 1440604
TI  - Paraoxon toxicity is not potentiated by prior reduction in blood
      acetylcholinesterase.
AB  - The role of blood acetylcholinesterase in moderating the effects of
      organophosphate challenge in rats was tested. Adult male rats (n = 42) were
      injected (iv) either with monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to rat acetylcholinesterase
      (EC 3.1.1.7; AChE) or normal mouse IgG (controls). Two days later, the rats were
      injected (sc) with either a mild (0.17 mg/kg) or moderate dosage (0.34 mg/kg) of
      paraoxon or with vehicle. Neurological integrity was assessed by a functional
      observational battery followed by motor activity, 3 to 4 hr after dosing. Blood,
      brain, and diaphragm tissues were then collected for determination of AChE
      activity. MAb treatment reduced whole blood and plasma AChE activity by 32 and
      90%, respectively, but did not affect neurobehavioral parameters or the AChE
      activity of brain or diaphragm. The paraoxon challenge produced dose-related
      neurobehavioral changes and inhibition of brain and diaphragm AChE activity to
      the same extent in IgG- and MAb-treated rats. Thus, significant loss in blood
      AChE alone produced no detectable neurobehavioral deficits and did not alter the
      subsequent responses to paraoxon challenge.

PMID- 1440605
TI  - Hydrolysis of pyrrolizidine alkaloids by guinea pig hepatic carboxylesterases.
AB  - Two carboxylesterases (GPL1 and GPH1) were isolated from guinea pig hepatic
      microsomes and assayed for activity using the following pyrrolizidine alkaloids
      (PAs): seneciphylline (SNP), monocrotaline (MCT), and a mixture of senecionine
      (SEN) and integerrimine (INT) referred to as SEN-INT. GPH1 was able to effect the
      hydrolysis of all PAs, however, only minimal activity was seen for SEN-INT. The
      specific activity of GPL1 for p-nitrophenyl acetate was four times that of GPH1,
      but the former showed no activity toward PAs. The molecular weights and pIs were
      determined for both enzymes, and the Michaelis-Menten constants for two PAs, SNP
      and MCT were obtained using GPH1. The response to inhibitors confirmed GPH1 as a
      type B serine hydrolase although it was also inhibited by HgCl2. The isolation of
      a PA active esterase from the guinea pig may help to explain the resistance of
      this animal to PA intoxication, while enzyme substrate specificity may explain
      how the guinea pig's susceptibility to PA intoxication can differ toward various
      PAs.

PMID- 1440606
TI  - Modulation of M1 and M2 muscarinic receptor subtypes following repeated
      organophosphate exposure in rats.
AB  - Repeated exposure to organophosphates has been shown to cause a decrease in
      muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the central and peripheral nervous system.
      The present study measured the modulation of M1 and M2 muscarinic receptor
      subtypes in rat brain areas during and following a 2-week daily exposure to the
      organophosphate disulfoton. The radioligands [3H]telenzepine and [3H]AFDX 384
      were utilized to label M1 and M2 receptors, respectively. The study found
      comparable down-regulation in both [3H]telenzepine- and [3H]AFDX 384-labeled
      receptors in cortex, hippocampus, and striatum during exposure. Recovery of M2
      subtype was slower than recovery of M1, especially in the hippocampus. The
      results suggest that M1 and M2 receptor subtypes may be similarly regulated in
      response to subchronic exposure to organophosphates, but that recovery of
      receptor subtypes to control levels may be governed by distinct factors.

PMID- 1440607
TI  - Inhibition of acute TCDD toxicity by treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor
      antibody or dexamethasone.
AB  - 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) acute toxicity is characterized in
      part by a wasting syndrome with depletion of adipose tissue. Tumor necrosis
      factor (TNF) induces a similar response during chronic infection. The
      similarities of these toxic effects led to a hypothesis that TNF plays a role in
      TCDD acute toxicity. To test this hypothesis pharmacologic doses of an antibody
      specific for murine TNF and the potent anti-inflammatory agent Dexamethasone
      (DEX) were used to inhibit TCDD toxicity in mice. TNF antibody treatment resulted
      in a 54% reduction in TCDD-mediated mortality while DEX treatment, a
      glucocorticoid agonist that inhibits transcription of TNF, reduced mortality by
      92%. Cyp 1A1 induction, the most commonly measured TCDD-mediated response, was
      not blocked by DEX, demonstrating separation of this biochemical effect from
      acute toxic responses to TCDD. These data suggest that TCDD-mediated changes in
      the TNF pathway may be an important mechanism for acute TCDD toxicity.

PMID- 1440608
TI  - 1,2-Dichloropropane is a renal and liver toxicant.

PMID- 1440609
TI  - Effect of ozone on platelet activating factor metabolism in phorbol
      differentiated HL60 cells.
AB  - The mechanisms of ozone (O3) toxicity in the lung may involve the formation of
      lipid inflammatory mediators. We have previously demonstrated that exposure to O3
      in vitro results in increased accumulation and release of platelet activating
      factor (PAF) in the macrophage-like cell line HL60 differentiated with phorbol
      ester (dHL60). In the present study we have examined possible biochemical
      mechanisms responsible for the O3-induced increase in PAF levels in dHL60 cells.
      Specifically, we studied the effect of O3 on phospholipase A2 (PLA2),
      acetyltransferase, acetylhydrolase, and reacylation activities. dHL60 cells were
      exposed to 1.0 ppm O3 or air alone. O3 exposure was found to significantly
      decrease dHL60 cell acetylhydrolase activity by 36%. Additional experiments
      demonstrated that extracellular acetylhydrolase activity, but not intracellular
      acetylhydrolase activity, was inhibited by O3 exposure of dHL60 cells. O3
      exposure resulted in a small (13%) but statistically significant reduction in
      reacylation activity in dHL60 cells. In addition, a significant (22%)
      contribution of PLA2 activation to the O3-induced increase in PAF levels was also
      found. Basal and calcium ionophore-induced acetyltransferase activity was found
      to be unaffected by exposure of dHL60 cells to O3. These data suggest that in
      vitro exposure to O3 affects both synthetic and degradative pathways of PAF
      metabolism in dHL60 cells.

PMID- 1440610
TI  - Physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for methanol in rats, monkeys, and
      humans.
AB  - The pharmacokinetics of methanol and formate were characterized in male Fischer
      344 rats and rhesus monkeys exposed to methanol vapor concentrations between 50
      and 2000 ppm for 6 hr. End-of-exposure blood methanol concentrations were not
      directly proportional to the atmospheric concentration. The methanol exposures
      did not cause an elevation in blood formate concentrations. After an intravenous
      dose of [14C]methanol in rats, metabolism, exhalation, and renal excretion
      contributed 96.6, 2.6, and 0.8%, respectively, to the elimination of blood
      methanol concentrations. These values and the calculated renal methanol
      extraction efficiency (0.007) are nearly identical to those for humans after low
      doses of methanol. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model was developed to
      simulate the in vivo data. In order to simulate the observed blood methanol
      concentrations in the inhalation studies in rats, a double pathway for methanol
      metabolism to formaldehyde was used. One path used rodent catalase Km and Vmax
      values and the other used a smaller Km and Vmax to simulate an enzyme with a
      higher affinity and lower capacity. The lack of proportionality observed in end
      of-exposure blood methanol concentrations may be due to saturation of an enzyme
      with higher affinity and lower capacity than catalase. The physiologically based
      pharmacokinetic model was modified to simulate the monkey data and was scaled-up
      for humans. In order to simulate the monkey blood methanol concentrations, the
      use of rodent catalase parameters for methanol metabolism was required. This
      finding suggests that primates and rodents may be similar in the initial step of
      methanol metabolism after low methanol doses. Previously published human urinary
      methanol excretion data was successfully simulated by the model. The models were
      used to predict the atmospheric methanol concentration range over which the
      laboratory species exhibit quantitative similarities with humans. Below 1200 ppm,
      all three species exhibit similar end-of-exposure blood methanol concentrations
      and a linear relationship between atmospheric and blood methanol concentrations.
      At higher atmospheric concentrations, external and internal methanol
      concentrations increase desparately, suggesting that delivered dose rather than
      exposure concentration should be used in interpreting data from high-dose
      studies.

PMID- 1440611
TI  - Acute ozone-induced lung injury in rats: structural-functional relationships of
      developing alveolar edema.
AB  - As part of a study on the effects of acute ozone stress on the lung surfactant
      system, we correlated morphometric, biochemical, and functional indices of lung
      injury using male rats exposed to 3 ppm ozone for 1, 2, 4, and 8 hr. Evaluation
      of lung mechanics, using the Pulmonary Evaluation and Diagnostic Laboratory
      System, revealed a significant decrease in dynamic lung compliance (ml/cmH2O/kg)
      from a control value of 0.84 +/- 0.02 (SEM) to 0.72 +/- 0.04 and 0.57 +/- 0.06 at
      4 and 8 hr, respectively. At 2 hr there was a transient increase in PaO2 to 116
      torr (control = 92 torr) followed by a decrease at 4 hr (65 torr) and 8 hr (55
      torr). Morphometry of lung tissue, fixed by perfusion of fixative via the
      pulmonary artery at 12 cm H2O airway distending pressure, demonstrated an
      increase in the area of the intravascular compartment at 8 hr, in association
      with a 65 and 39% replacement of the alveolar area by fluid in ventral and dorsal
      lung regions, respectively. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.966) between
      alveolar edema and transudated proteins in lavage fluid. A stepwise multiple
      regression model, with edema as the dependent variable, suggested that pulmonary
      vasodilatation, hypoxemia, and depletion of surfactant tubular myelin in lavage
      fluid were indices for predicting alveolar edema. In a second model, with lavage
      protein concentration as the dependent variable, decreasing dynamic compliance
      and hypoxemia were predictors of progressive, intraalveolar transudation of
      plasma proteins. The above structural-functional relationships support the
      concept that ozone-induced high-protein alveolar edema is pathogenetically linked
      to pulmonary hyperemia, deficiency of surfactant tubular myelin, and associated
      lung dysfunctions.

PMID- 1440612
TI  - Mercury distribution in the rat brain after mercury vapor exposure.
AB  - Brown Norwegian rats were exposed to mercury vapor at a concentration of
      approximately 1 mg/m3 for 5 weeks 24 hr/day 7 days a week and 6 hr/day 3 days a
      week, respectively. The total mercury absorption was calculated to 264 and 35
      micrograms per week and 100 g body weight. The mean blood mercury concentration
      was 0.25 +/- 0.03 and 0.09 +/- 0.01 microgram/g, and the total concentration in
      the brain was 5.03 +/- 0.73 and 0.71 +/- 0.10 microgram/g tissue, respectively.
      The mercury distribution in the brains was examined using a method based on
      chemographic principles. Mercury was found primarily in the neocortex, in the
      basal nuclei, and in the cerebellar Purkinje cells. This distribution pattern
      corresponded to the pattern of inorganic mercury described after exposure to
      methyl mercury. Distribution of mercury after administration of different mercury
      compounds is discussed.

PMID- 1440613
TI  - Comparison of cell-permeable calpain inhibitors and E64 in reduction of cataract
      in cultured rat lenses.
AB  - E64, an inhibitor of calpain (EC 3.4.22.17) and other cysteine proteases, slows
      the rate of formation of cataract in cultured rat lenses. The purpose of this
      study was to determine (1) why E64, a charged compound with little cell
      permeability, was effective in reducing cataract in cultured lens and (2) whether
      uncharged more permeable protease inhibitors are more effective than E64 in
      preventing cataract. Results showed that E64 entered the lens, but only after the
      lens was treated with the calcium ionophore, A23187, or sodium selenite, both of
      which cause cataracts. Therefore, the uptake and subsequent effectiveness of E64
      may be related to a generalized increase in membrane permeability during
      induction of cataract in culture. Three protease inhibitors, reported to have
      improved cell permeability, were compared with E64 for their ability to prevent
      cataracts in cultured lenses. cBz-ValPheH, calpain inhibitors I and II, are
      uncharged-aldehyde inhibitors of calpain. Calpain inhibitors I and II even at
      high concentrations were not effective at reducing lens opacity caused by calcium
      ionophore and were toxic to the lens. cBz-ValPheH, which is slightly toxic to the
      lens, was able to significantly reduce lens opacity induced by calcium ionophore.
      The presented data suggest that while E64 decreases cataract formation in
      cultured lens, the more cell permeable inhibitor, cBz-ValPheH, may have greater
      efficacy as an anticataract drug in vivo.

PMID- 1440614
TI  - Determination of mutagenicity in tissues of transgenic mice following exposure to
      1,3-butadiene and N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea.
AB  - 1,3-Butadiene (BD) is carcinogenic in the B6C3F1 mouse in multiple organs,
      including lung and liver. We conducted a study to measure the frequency of BD
      mutations in mouse tissues using a transgenic mouse (Muta mouse; MM). MM is a
      BALB/c x DBA/2 (CD2F1) mouse that has a bacteriophage lambda shuttle vector with
      the target gene lacZ integrated into the mouse genome. Mice were exposed by
      inhalation to 625 ppm BD (6 hr/day) for 5 days and the lacZ- mutant frequency
      (mf) was determined in lung, bone marrow, and liver. The lacZ- mf in lung
      increased twofold above air-exposed control animals, but the bone marrow and
      liver samples did not exhibit an increase above background. N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea
      (250 mg/kg ip) was mutagenic in all three tissues examined. Studies on the
      biotransformation of BD using MM liver microsomes showed that the ratio between
      the rates of BD bioactivation to BD monoepoxide (BMO) and hydrolysis of BMO by
      epoxide hydrolases was approximately 40% less than this ratio using B6C3F1 mouse
      liver microsomes. Quantitation of adducts of BMO to N-terminal valine in
      hemoglobin (Hb) in the MM revealed an adduct level of 3.7 pmol/mg globin. Using
      this value, the predicted Hb adduct level in MM would be approximately one-half
      of that measured in the B6C3F1 mouse following similar exposures. These results
      indicate that BD induces mutations in vivo in a known murine target tissue, but
      strain differences in the biotransformation of BD should be considered in
      comparing the susceptibility of transgenic mouse strains to mutation.

PMID- 1440615
TI  - Dietary 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran in rainbow trout: accumulation,
      disposition, and hepatic mixed-function oxidase enzyme induction.
AB  - Juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were exposed to dietary 2,3,7,8
      [3H]tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) (0.36 to 42.8 ng g-1) and accumulation, tissue
      distribution, biotransformation, and hepatic monooxygenase enzyme (MO) induction
      were studied. The assimilation efficiency of TCDF ranged from 49 to 62% in 30-day
      exposures and was independent of the TCDF level in the diet. Depuration half
      lives (whole body) of TCDF following 30-day exposure ranged from 40 to 77 days
      and were significantly more rapid in fish exposed to 42.8 ng g-1. Liver somatic
      index (LSI) and rate of increase in liver weight were elevated in fish exposed to
      42.8 ng g-1 TCDF compared to controls. Exposure to 9.2 ng g-1 TCDF in the diet
      for 140 days also resulted in higher LSI values, as well as increased mortality
      (16%), but had no significant effects on growth. [3H]TCDF was found mainly in the
      carcass (63-74%) and GI tract (18-31%), with lesser amounts in liver (0.6-2.3%)
      during the 140-day exposure, primarily (> 98%) in the form of the parent
      compound. Radioactivity in bile was found mainly as a single polar transformation
      product by reverse-phase HPLC. Glucuronidase hydrolysis yielded a product with
      the retention time expected of hydroxylated TCDF, suggesting the presence of a
      glucuronide conjugate. MO enzyme induction measured by ethoxyresorufin-O
      deethylase (EROD) activity in liver (postmitochondrial supernatant) was 137.5 and
      15 times higher than that in control fish after 30 days dietary exposure to 42.8
      and 9.2 ng g-1, respectively. EROD activities were correlated with TCDF
      concentrations in liver (R2 = 0.59, N = 45).

PMID- 1440616
TI  - Rat lung metallothionein and heme oxygenase gene expression following ozone and
      zinc oxide exposure.
AB  - We have conducted exposures in rats to determine pulmonary responses following
      inhalation of two common components of welding fumes, zinc oxide and ozone. To
      examine their effects on target-inducible gene expression, we measured mRNA
      levels of two metal-responsive genes, metallothionein (MT) and heme oxygenase
      (HO), in lung tissue by RNA slot-blot analysis. A 3-hr exposure to ZnO fume via a
      combustion furnace caused a substantial elevation in lung MT mRNA at all
      concentrations tested. Exposures to 5 and 2.5 mg/m3 ZnO resulted in peak 8-fold
      increases in MT mRNA levels (compared to air-exposed control animal values)
      immediately after exposure, while 1 mg/m3 ZnO exposure caused a 3.5-fold
      elevation in MT mRNA. These levels returned to approximate control gene
      expression values 24 hr after exposure. In addition, ZnO exposure caused an
      immediate elevation in lung HO gene expression levels, with 8-, 11-, and 5-fold
      increases observed after the same ZnO exposure levels (p < 0.05). Like MT gene
      induction, HO mRNA values returned to approximate control levels 24 hr after
      exposure. In striking contrast to the induction of MT and HO gene expression
      after ZnO exposures, there was no elevation in gene expression following a 6-hr
      exposure to 0.5 and 1 ppm ozone, even when lungs were examined as late as 72 hr
      after exposure. Our results demonstrate the induction of target gene expression
      following the inhalation of ZnO at concentrations equal to, and below, the
      current recommended threshold limit value of 5 mg/m3 ZnO. Furthermore, the lack
      of effect of ozone exposure on MT and HO gene expression suggests no involvement
      of these genes in the acute respiratory response to this oxidant compound.

PMID- 1440617
TI  - Biotransformation and toxicity of acetaminophen in congenic RHA rats with or
      without a hereditary deficiency in bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase.
AB  - Acetaminophen is eliminated primarily by glucuronidation, thereby avoiding
      cytochrome P450-catalyzed bioactivation to a toxic reactive intermediate.
      Previous studies have shown that UDP-glucuronosyltransferase-deficient Gunn rats
      are more susceptible to acetaminophen toxicity than normal Wistar controls, from
      which the Gunn strain was derived. However, the Gunn and Wistar strains are not
      congenic, and differences in toxicologic susceptibility could be due in part to
      genetic differences other than UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity. Accordingly,
      acetaminophen (750 mg/kg, ip) was administered to congenic RHA rats with normal
      (homozygous, RHA/++), moderately deficient (heterozygous, RHA/j+), and severely
      deficient (homozygous jaundiced, RHA/jj) activities of bilirubin UDP
      glucuronosyltransferase. Acetaminophen metabolites were measured by high
      performance liquid chromatography and production of the acetaminophen glucuronide
      conjugate was quantified by the area under plasma concentration-time curve (AUC)
      from 0 to 2 hr, standardized by the AUC value for acetaminophen in the same
      animal (glucuronidation ratio = AUC acetaminophen glucuronide/AUC acetaminophen).
      The 0- to 2-hr time period for AUC calculations was necessitated by the
      accumulation at later time points of glucuronide and sulfate conjugates in the
      plasma of animals experiencing severe nephrotoxicity. Acetaminophen bioactivation
      was quantified by the 24-hr urinary recovery of glutathione-derived conjugates.
      Hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity were assessed respectively by the peak
      concentrations of plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and blood urea nitrogen
      (BUN). Glucuronidation of acetaminophen in RHA/jj rats (0.065 +/- 0.005) (mean +/
      SE) was reduced 63% compared to the RHA/++ controls (0.17 +/- 0.01) (p < 0.05).
      RHA/jj rats demonstrated respective 230- and 7-fold increases in the peak plasma
      concentrations of ALT (17144 +/- 1014 vs 75 +/- 10) and BUN (128 +/- 23 vs 18.4
      +/- 0.2) compared to congenic normal controls (RHA/++) (p < 0.05). Heterozygous
      animals (RHA/j+) demonstrated intermediary toxicity for both parameters (ALT =
      2029 +/- 1581, BUN = 41 +/- 16, p < 0.05). Decreased glucuronide production
      correlated with elevations in ALT (r = -0.86, p < 0.001), while increased
      acetaminophen bioactivation correlated directly with both elevated ALT (r = 0.93,
      p < 0.001) and BUN (r = 0.83, p = 0.001). These results using congenic controls
      demonstrate that the enhanced susceptibility of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase
      deficient rats to acetaminophen toxicity is due to decreased glucuronidation
      resulting in enhanced bioactivation, rather than to other unappreciated genetic
      differences.

PMID- 1440618
TI  - Methylene dianiline: acute toxicity and effects on biliary function.
AB  - 4,4'-Methylene dianiline (4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane, DAPM), which is used in
      the polymer industry, causes hepatobiliary damage in exposed humans. Our
      objectives were to characterize the acute toxicity of DAPM in liver, particularly
      on secretion of biliary constituents and on biliary epithelial cell gamma
      glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity. Biliary cannulas were positioned in
      Sprague-Dawley male rats under pentobarbital anesthesia. After 1 hr of control
      bile collection, each rat was given 250 mg DAPM/kg (50 mg/ml) po in 35% ethanol
      or 35% ethanol only; bile was collected for a further 4 hr. Groups of rats were
      also examined for liver injury and biliary function at 8 and 24 hr after DAPM.
      Four hours after DAPM administration, main bile duct cells were severely damaged
      with minimal damage to peripheral bile ductule cells. Focal periportal
      hepatocellular necrosis and extensive cytolysis of cortical thymocytes occurred
      by 24 hr. Serum indicators of liver injury were elevated by 4 hr and continued to
      rise through 24 hr. By 4 hr, biliary protein concentration was increased 4-fold
      while concentrations of biliary bile salt, bilirubin, and glutathione were
      decreased by approximately 80, 50, and 200%, respectively. DAPM also induced a
      striking effect on biliary glucose with an approximately 20-fold increase.
      Histochemical staining of main bile duct GGT was absent by 8 hr after DAPM. Bile
      flow was diminished by 40% at 4 hr; three of five rats had no bile flow by 8 hr
      and none had any bile flow by 24 hr. These results indicate that DAPM rapidly
      diminishes bile flow and alters the secretion of biliary constituents and is
      highly injurious to biliary epithelial cells.

PMID- 1440619
TI  - The relationship between nickel chloride-induced peroxidation and DNA strand
      breakage in rat liver.
AB  - Inorganic nickel chloride induces hepatic DNA strand breaks, chromosome
      aberrations, and lipid peroxidation under in vitro and in vivo conditions. The
      objective of this research was to determine if a relationship exists between
      NiCl2 genotoxicity and lipid peroxidation in vivo. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (210
      250 g) were dosed with 0.56 or 0.75 mmol/kg NiCl2 subcutaneously and euthanized
      after specific time periods, ranging from 30 min to 24 hr. Livers were perfused
      and excised for the measurement of nickel content using atomic absorption
      spectrometry, lipid peroxidation using a thiobarbituric acid assay, and DNA
      strand breakage using single-stranded DNA extraction and the diaminobenzoic acid
      assay. The lower dose (0.56 mmol/kg) did not induce lipid peroxidation or strand
      breakage. The higher dose (0.75 mmol/kg) induced DNA strand breakage at 4 hr and
      lipid peroxidation at 12 hr in rat liver. Nickel was seen to accumulate in liver
      nuclei of rats receiving 0.75 mmol/kg. Deferoxamine (1 g/kg, ip, 15 min before
      the NiCl2 injection) completely inhibited DNA strand breakage at 4 hr but had no
      effect on lipid peroxidation. This suggests that lipid peroxidation is not
      causally related to genetic damage. NiCl2-induced DNA strand breakage may be
      caused by the induction of the Fenton reaction, generating hydroxyl radicals.

PMID- 1440620
TI  - Plants with a reputation against snakebite.
AB  - Many plants are recommended in traditional medicine as active against various
      effects of snakebite. Few attempts have been made to investigate the veracity of
      these assertions in controlled experiments. Several workers, mainly Oriental,
      have investigated the reputation of such plants by performing in vitro and in
      vivo experiments in order to demonstrate whether there was any protective effect,
      using drugs or mixtures of drugs prepared using traditional formulae. In some
      studies, these extracts were administered to mice before or after treatment with
      different elapid or crotalid venoms. Other papers deal with selected compounds
      isolated from Schumanniophyton magnificum, Eclipta prostrata or Aristolochia
      shimadai, and their capacity to inhibit phospholipase A2 or other enzymes (e.g.
      ATPase) or for physiological and biochemical properties (such as effects on
      uterine tone or the protection of mitochondrial membranes). Japanese workers have
      described the antihaemorrhagic effect of persimmon tannin from Diospyros kaki.
      Atropine has been attributed a life-prolonging effect after black mamba venom
      treatment. Prolonged survival was also observed after pretreatment with extracts
      of Diodia scandens and Andrographis paniculata. Some authors have found little or
      no beneficial effects. The papers collected so far show that there are no
      systematic investigations in this field.

PMID- 1440621
TI  - Paralytic shellfish poison (saxitoxin family) bioassays: automated endpoint
      determination and standardization of the in vitro tissue culture bioassay, and
      comparison with the standard mouse bioassay.
AB  - Mouse neuroblastoma cells swell and eventually lyse upon exposure to veratridine,
      which, when added together with ouabain, enhances sodium ion influx. In the
      presence of saxitoxin (STX), which blocks sodium channels, the action of the
      other two compounds is inhibited and the cells remain morphologically normal. A
      tissue culture bioassay using mouse neuroblastoma cells, developed by Kogure and
      colleagues, takes advantage of these principles; in this bioassay, the fraction
      of the cells protected from the actions of ouabain and veratridine is in direct
      proportion to the concentration of STX and its analogues. We have modified this
      bioassay, improving its convenience and speed by eliminating the need to count
      individual cells to determine the saxitoxin equivalents, and instead have
      employed a microplate reader for automated determinations of absorbances of
      crystal violet from stained neuroblastoma cells. When these changes and other
      minor technical modifications were tested in the tissue culture bioassay
      systematically, we found the lower detection limit to be around 10 ng STX
      equivalents (eq) per ml of extract ( = 2.0 micrograms STX eq/100 g shellfish
      tissue). Our version of the tissue culture bioassay was compared with the
      standard mouse bioassay using 10 acid extracts of dinoflagellates (Alexandrium
      excavata and A. fundyense) and 47 AOAC extracts of shellfish tissues. The tissue
      culture bioassay provided results virtually identical to those obtained with the
      mouse bioassay (r > 0.96), and moreover, was considerably more sensitive. The
      results gained from high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of 12
      of the same extracts were less consistent when compared with the results from
      both bioassay methods. The automated tissue culture (neuroblastoma cell) bioassay
      may be a valid alternative to live animal testing for paralytic shellfish
      poisoning.

PMID- 1440622
TI  - Identification of anatoxin-A in benthic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and in
      associated dog poisonings at Loch Insh, Scotland.
AB  - Dog deaths occurred in 1990 and 1991 after the animals drank water containing
      blooms of benthic cyanobacteria along the shoreline of Loch Insh, Scotland. Signs
      of poisoning in the affected animals and the high neurotoxicity of bloom extracts
      in laboratory bioassays indicated acute poisoning due to cyanobacterial
      neurotoxin(s). The neurotoxic blooms consisted largely of benthic Oscillatoria
      species which were also observed in the stomach contents of the poisoned dogs.
      Stomach contents were also neurotoxic in bioassays with the same signs of
      poisoning as the Oscillatoria blooms. The cyanobacterial alkaloid neurotoxin
      anatoxin-a was identified in bloom extracts and poisoned dog stomach contents by
      high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
      A species of benthic Oscillatoria has been isolated from the neurotoxic bloom
      material and shown to produce anatoxin-a in laboratory culture. These findings
      are the first to associate anatoxin-a toxicoses with benthic, rather than
      planktonic, cyanobacteria. Procedures for anatoxin-a extraction and
      identification from the blooms and animal material are also detailed.

PMID- 1440623
TI  - Production of a monoclonal antibody against the thrombin-like enzyme, habutobin,
      from Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom.
AB  - We succeeded in producing a monoclonal antibody to the thrombin-like enzyme,
      habutobin, which was purified from crude venom of the snake Trimeresurus
      flavoviridis. The monoclonal antibody obtained belonged to IgG1, and its light
      chain consisted of a kappa-chain. The monoclonal antibody reacted specifically
      with habutobin and crude venom from T. flavoviridis but did not react with human
      thrombin or bovine thrombin on Western blotting. The concentration of habutobin
      and crude venom of T. flavoviridis, in vitro, could be measured by means of ELISA
      using the monoclonal antibody. Furthermore, the ELISA-double sandwich method
      employing this monoclonal antibody may represent a reliable method for
      determining the habutobin levels in the circulating blood.

PMID- 1440624
TI  - Variation and secretion of toxins in gastropod mollusc Niotha clathrata.
AB  - Nearly 300 specimens of the gastropod mollusc Niotha clathrata were collected in
      South Taiwan. All specimens were assayed for toxicity by the official method for
      tetrodotoxin (TTX). The frequency value of toxic specimens in N. clathrata was
      30.0%, 68.0% and 80.4% at Anping, Chiating and Tungkang, respectively. The
      highest lethal potency of a gastropod specimen was 1900 mouse units (MU). The
      specimens collected from Tungkang showed the highest frequency of toxic specimens
      and toxicity, followed by those from Chiating and Anping. The specimens collected
      in autumn and spring showed higher toxicity than those collected in other
      seasons. Moreover, another 17 specimens of N. clathrata were collected for
      testing the toxin secretion by electric shock treatment. It is found that the
      gastropod did not secrete any additional toxin when electric shock treatment was
      performed twice at approximately 1-hr intervals. The toxicity of secreted toxin
      was 206 MU.

PMID- 1440625
TI  - Hepatic glutathione concentrations and the release of pyrrolic metabolites of the
      pyrrolizidine alkaloid, monocrotaline, from the isolated perfused liver.
AB  - We have examined the relationship between the metabolism of the pyrrolizidine
      alkaloid, monocrotaline, and glutathione concentration in the isolated, perfused
      rat liver. On perfusion of monocrotaline (300 microM) through the isolated liver,
      high concentrations (1.1 mM) of its metabolite glutathionyldehydroretronecine are
      released into bile, while much lower amounts (4.86 microM; 0.05 mumol/g liver)
      accumulate in the perfusate over a 1 hr perfusion period. Metabolite
      concentration in both the bile and perfusate increase when the level of
      monocrotaline perfused is increased to 900 microM. Metabolite release is also
      elevated in livers pretreated with phenobarbital. Monocrotaline perfusion lowered
      glutathione concentrations in the liver from 30 min onwards. Livers from animals
      treated with buthionine sulfoximine or chloroethanol showed much lower
      glutathione levels after 60 min perfusion. Livers from chloroethanol-treated (but
      not buthionine sulfoximine-treated) animals showed significantly lower release of
      pyrroles into the bile on perfusion with monocrotaline, but there is no effect on
      the rate of build-up of pyrrolic metabolites in the perfusate. We conclude that
      hepatic glutathione concentrations and the release of pyrrolic metabolites of
      monocrotaline mutually interact. Exposure of the liver to monocrotaline reduces
      glutathione concentrations, while marked depletion of liver glutathione
      concentration leads to a decrease in the release of monocrotaline metabolites.

PMID- 1440626
TI  - Effects induced by bothropstoxin, a component from Bothrops jararacussu snake
      venom, on mouse and chick muscle preparations.
AB  - Bothropstoxin, a 13,700 mol. wt myotoxic phospholipase homologue isolated from
      the venom of Bothrops jararacussu and devoid of PLA2, proteolytic or hemolytic
      activities, inhibited muscle twitch tension, evoked either directly or indirectly
      through stimulation of the motor nerve in the mouse phrenic-diaphragm
      preparations. The compound action potential of the muscle was also abolished with
      a similar time course. In addition, the toxin (0.7 mM) evoked membrane
      depolarization which was inhibited in the presence of 10 mM Ca2+. In chick
      biventer cervicis muscle, the toxin (2 mM) induced a contracture that reached its
      maximum amplitude in 44.8 +/- 15.6 min (n = 6) and was not blocked by either d
      tubocurarine or tetrodotoxin. The time to maximum amplitude was reduced to 5.5 +/
      1.0 min (n = 4) in nominally Ca(2+)-free Krebs solution and was completely
      abolished in Ca(2+)-free Krebs solution containing 1 mM EGTA.

PMID- 1440627
TI  - Antivenom and biological effects of ar-turmerone isolated from Curcuma longa
      (Zingiberaceae)
AB  - A potent antivenom against snakebite was isolated from Curcuma longa, a plant
      commonly used in traditional Brazilian medicine. The fraction consisting of ar
      turmerone neutralized both the hemorrhagic activity present in Bothrops jararaca
      venom, and the lethal effect of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom in mice.
      Immunological studies demonstrated that this fraction also inhibited the
      proliferation and the natural killer activity of human lymphocytes.

PMID- 1440628
TI  - Comparison of the potency of three Brazilian Bothrops antivenoms using in vivo
      rodent and in vitro assays. BIASG (Butantan Institute Antivenom Study Group).
AB  - Three Brazilian polyspecific Bothrops antivenoms were compared using standard
      W.H.O. rodent in vivo and in vitro assays of their ability to neutralize the
      principal venom activities of pooled whole Bothrops jararaca venom. On a volume
      basis, the antivenoms were equally effective in neutralizing lethal activity in
      mice, and there were only minor differences in their ability to neutralize venom
      induced haemorrhage, necrosis and procoagulant activity. Antivenom efficacy in
      neutralizing defibrinogenation varied. However, when equal amounts of antivenom
      IgG were compared, it was found that the FUNED antivenom best neutralized
      lethality, haemorrhage, necrosis and fibrinogen clotting activity. Vital Brazil
      and FUNED antivenoms were equally effective in neutralizing plasma coagulant
      activity but Vital Brazil antivenom was the more effective in neutralizing
      defibrinogenation.

PMID- 1440629
TI  - Citrate is an endogenous inhibitor of snake venom enzymes by metal-ion chelation.
AB  - Citrate levels in selected snake venoms were determined by an enzymatic assay
      coupled to NADP+ reduction. Citrate concentrations in different viper venoms (n =
      5) varied from 95 to 150 mM, in crotalids (n = 3) from 63 to 142 mM, and in
      elapids (n = 4) from 17 to 163 mM. In Bothrops asper venom Ca(2+)-ion
      concentrations varied from 2.5 to 3.6 mM, suggesting that the high relative
      citrate levels may serve to chelate endogenous divalent metal cations, thereby
      inactivating divalent cation requiring enzymes. Control experiments with B. asper
      phospholipase A2 MIII in the presence of 2.5 mM Ca2+, showed that the enzyme is
      completely inhibited by 20 mM citrate. Crotalus adamanteus 5'-nucleotidase and
      phosphodiesterase are also inhibited 100 and 75%, respectively, by 100 mM
      citrate. By forming complexes with divalent metal ions, citrate markedly reduces
      the activities of selected enzymes in snake venoms. Secretion of high
      concentrations of citrate may represent an important mechanism by which snakes
      protect themselves against the toxic effects of their own venoms.

PMID- 1440630
TI  - Effects of sand viper (Cerastes cerastes) venom on isolated smooth muscle and
      heart and on haematological and cardiovascular parameters in the guinea-pig.
AB  - The effects of the venom of the sand viper (Cerastes cerastes) on haematological
      and cardiovascular parameters and on isolated ileum, trachea, pulmonary artery
      and atrium from the guinea-pig were studied. In concentrations from 0.2
      micrograms/ml to 0.6 mg/ml, snake venom caused concentration-dependent relaxation
      of the longitudinal ileal segments and the epinephrine-precontracted pulmonary
      artery rings, increased the tone of the tracheal rings and increased the rate of
      the spontaneously beating atrium but depressed the amplitude of its contraction.
      Low doses (0.04-0.4 mg) of the venom caused transient small depression of both
      heart rate and contractility of the isolated perfused heart. A higher dose (1.0
      mg) significantly inhibited both parameters and delayed their recovery. An i.v.
      injection of 0.12 mg/kg of the snake venom to anaesthetized guinea-pigs had no
      effect on red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration or the haematocrit
      value but significantly reduced the circulating white blood cells, the plasma
      clotting time and erythrocyte deformability. Also, i.v. injections of 0.02-0.2
      mg/kg of the venom caused initial depression of the systolic and the diastolic
      blood pressure followed by complete or partial recovery and subsequent
      hypotension. These observations indicate that C. cerastes venom has multiple
      sites of action which may help in better understanding the pathology of bites by
      this snake.

PMID- 1440631
TI  - Cardiovascular effects of Acanthaster planci venom in the rat: possible
      involvement of PAF in its hypotensive effect.
AB  - Cardiovascular effects of the crowns-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci)
      venom were examined in rats. The crude venom extracted from the spines of A.
      planci caused systemic hypotension associated with an increase in heart rate and
      a decrease in renal cortical blood flow when given i.v. The hypotensive effect of
      the venom was not inhibited by pretreatment with atropine, indomethacin or
      aprotinin, but was significantly inhibited by SRI 63-441, a platelet activating
      factor (PAF) antagonist. The venom caused dose-dependent vasorelaxation of the
      isolated rat aortic ring preparation precontracted by noradrenaline, an effect
      which was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with SRI 63-441, methylene
      blue or parabromophenacyl bromide. Denudation of the endothelium also diminished
      the vasorelaxing effect of the venom. Both the vasorelaxing and the hypotensive
      effects showed tachyphylaxis. These results suggest the release of PAF or a PAF
      like substance from the endothelium by the venom.

PMID- 1440632
TI  - The toxicity of macrocyclic trichothecenes administered directly into the rat
      brain.
AB  - The tested macrocyclic trichothecenes are produced by Myrothecium fungi and by
      the plant Baccharis megapotamica. The toxicity of five macrocyclic trichothecenes
      has been measured by intracerebral and subcutaneous injection into rats. It is
      assumed that the toxic effects are based on inhibition of protein synthesis.
      Intoxication of rats by these compounds finds expression in slowly progressing
      respiratory depression and paralysis of skeletal muscles. The macrocyclics are
      derived from verrucarol, which lacks ring D and exhibits only low toxicity. The
      high toxicity of the macrocyclics, established by intracerebral and subcutaneous
      applications, may thus be attributed to the presence of the large ring D.

PMID- 1440633
TI  - Occurrence of the mycotoxin chlamydosporol in Fusarium species.
AB  - The mycotoxin chlamydosporol (C11H14O5) has been independently isolated from
      three different Fusarium species (F. chlamydosporum, F. acuminatum and F.
      culmorum), suggesting that its distribution may be widespread. We have developed
      a sensitive, specific fluorometric assay for chlamydosporol that allows
      quantitation in crude culture extracts. Using this assay we have observed
      production of chlamydosporol on rice medium by 23 of 40 isolates (58%) of
      Fusarium sp. examined in amounts as high as 0.8% (wt/wt) dried culture medium.

PMID- 1440634
TI  - Experimental myonecrosis induced by the venoms of South American Micrurus (coral
      snakes).
AB  - Venoms from 11 taxa of Micrurus (coral snakes) from Brazil and Colombia were
      tested for myotoxic activity in mice. All venoms, except that of M. surinamensis,
      induced myotoxicity as judged by the increase in plasma creatine kinase levels
      and by histological analysis. Qualitatively, these venoms induced a similar
      necrotic pattern, although there were conspicuous quantitative differences
      between them.

PMID- 1440635
TI  - European viper venoms: haemorrhagic and myotoxic activities.
AB  - Thirty-one venom samples from European vipers (genera Vipera and Daboia) were
      tested for haemorrhagic and myotoxic activity by intramuscular injection into
      mice. Most venoms exhibited haemorrhagic activity and fewer had myotoxic
      activity, both of which are not strictly related.

PMID- 1440636
TI  - Microcystin-like toxins in different freshwater species of Oscillatoria.
AB  - In January and September of 1989 and March 1990 blooms of Oscillatoria rubescens,
      Oscillatoria tenuis and Oscillatoria mougetii were found in Lake Simbirizzi and
      Lake Flumendosa in Sardinia, and in Lake San Puoto in the Lazio region of Italy.
      By using different extraction methods and HPLC analysis, two microcystin-like
      toxins (RR-like and YR-like), similar to some of the toxic compounds produced by
      the Cyanophycea Microcystis aeruginosa, were detected in these blooms.

PMID- 1440637
TI  - Bibliography of toxinology.

PMID- 1440638
TI  - Comparison of the purity and efficacy of affinity purified avian antivenoms with
      commercial equine crotalid antivenoms.
AB  - Antivenoms were raised in laying hens by repeated immunizations with detoxified
      crotalid snake venoms and purified from egg yolks by affinity chromatography.
      While the affinity purified avian antivenoms were essentially pure IgG,
      commercial equine (Wyeth) and W.H.O. international reference antivenoms
      (Trimeresurus flavoviridis) contained several non-immunoglobulin contaminants. In
      standard mouse protection assays, the purified avian Crotalus atrox and T.
      flavoviridis antivenoms were 6.3 and 2.0 times as potent, respectively, as these
      equine antivenoms in neutralizing venom lethality. The purity, efficacy, and ease
      of manufacture of avian antivenoms, and their inability to fix mammalian
      complement, make them an attractive alternative to equine and other mammalian
      antivenoms.

PMID- 1440639
TI  - Molecular properties and structure-function relationships of lethal peptides from
      venom of Wagler's pit viper, Trimeresurus wagleri.
AB  - Two new lethal peptides (waglerins) were purified from the venom of Trimeresurus
      wagleri, and sequenced. We found them to be analogs of lethal peptides
      (waglerins) I and II reported previously (Weinstein et al., Toxicon 29, 227-236,
      1991), with an additional Ser-Leu on the amino terminus. Three of the four
      waglerins were synthesized and the products were chemically and biologically
      equivalent to the naturally occurring counterparts in venom. Murine i.p. LD50 for
      synthetic waglerins I, SL-I and II were 0.33, 0.22, and 0.51 mg/kg, respectively.
      The single, intramolecular disulfide bond in each synthetic peptide formed
      rapidly in high yield. The reduced (cysteine-containing) forms of the peptides
      appeared to have significant toxicities, even without prior disulfide bond
      formation, but synthetic analogs with serine substituted for cysteine were not
      toxic. The synthetic dimer of waglerin I, formed by two intermolecular disulfide
      bonds, was not toxic, but rapidly rearranged to lethal, monomeric waglerin I at
      alkaline pH upon the addition of 5 mM beta-mercaptoethanol. Waglerin I was
      inactivated by cleavage at Tyr-15 with chymotrypsin.

PMID- 1440640
TI  - Separation of insecticidal components from an extract of the roots of male Piper
      guineense (west African black pepper) by gas chromatography.
AB  - A petroleum ether extract of Piper guineense male roots showed insecticidal
      activity when tested against Musca domestica. Gas chromatography of the extract
      yielded four active fractions, one of which was a pure component which was
      identified by spectral and chemical methods as pellitorine (N-isobutyl-2E,4E
      decadienamide). The root extract lost about half of its insecticidal potency
      during passage down the GLC column, and much of the residual activity was due to
      the presence of pellitorine. It was concluded that GLC facilitates the isolation
      of active components in a pure form, but causes some insecticidal components of
      the root extract to be lost.

PMID- 1440641
TI  - Identification of insecticidal peptides from venom of the trap-door spider,
      Aptostichus schlingeri (Ctenizidae).
AB  - Nine insecticidal peptides were isolated from the venom of the trap-door spider,
      Aptostichus schlingeri. Seven of these toxins cause flaccid paralysis of insect
      larvae within 10 min of injection and all were lethal within 24 hr. The complete
      amino acid sequences (32-76 residues) of six peptides are presented. The
      identified peptides contain three or four disulfide bonds and the larger peptides
      (74-76 residues) are quite similar in sequence with carboxyl termini as free
      acids, not amidated.

PMID- 1440642
TI  - Neuromuscular effects of four phospholipases A2 from the venom of Pseudechis
      australis, the Australian king brown snake.
AB  - Four homologous single chain phospholipases A2 (Pa-1G, Pa-5, Pa-12C and Pa-15)
      were tested for neuromuscular effects on chick biventer cervicis and mouse
      hemidiaphragm nerve-muscle preparations. The four isozymes blocked directly
      elicited (mouse hemidiaphragm) and indirectly elicited (mouse and chick nerve
      muscle preparations) twitch responses in concentrations of 1-30 micrograms/ml.
      The order of potency seen in both types of preparations was Pa-1G = Pa-5 greater
      than Pa-12C much greater than Pa-15. All four isozymes caused slow-onset,
      sustained contractures and reduction of muscle membrane potentials. In the chick
      preparation, responses to acetylcholine, carbachol and KCl were reduced by
      exposure to the toxins. It is concluded that the toxins act primarily
      postsynaptically to depress muscle contractility, perhaps by directly damaging
      muscle fibres. The order of potency agrees with their phospholipase A2 activity.
      Pa-1G is unusual because it is an acidic molecule, most toxic phospholipases
      being basic.

PMID- 1440643
TI  - Potential-dependent alpha-latrotoxin interaction with black lipid membranes.
AB  - The influence of membrane potential on alpha-latrotoxin insertion into bilayer
      lipid membranes (BLM) has been investigated. It was found that positive
      potentials cis to toxin application stimulated the formation of channels in the
      bilayer. A two-step model of latrotoxin/membrane interaction is put forward to
      explain these data. In the first step, latrotoxin irreversibly binds to the
      bilayer without forming conductive structures. The second step of the process
      represents rapid insertion of the protein molecule into the bilayer with the
      formation of the conducting channel. We imagine the driving force for this
      process to be the interaction of charged groups in the toxin molecule with the
      electric field applied across the BLM. Our results are compared with known data
      on the interaction of LTX with synaptosomal membranes.

PMID- 1440644
TI  - Activation of bovine factor V by an activator purified from the venom of Naja
      naja oxiana.
AB  - The crude venom of many elapid snakes appeared to contain proteins that activated
      blood coagulation factor V. The factor V activator present in the venom of Naja
      naja oxiana was purified to homogeneity by chromatography on a mono-S column. The
      activator was a single chain protein with an apparent mol. wt of 48,000, as
      judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl
      sulfate and by gel permeation chromatography on Sephacryl S200. Activation of
      bovine factor V by the purified venom activator was accompanied by proteolytic
      cleavage of factor V and resulted in the formation of two major polypeptide
      chains with mol. wts of about 90,000 and 77,000. The final product obtained was
      compared with thrombin-activated factor V for its ability to function as cofactor
      in factor Xa-catalysed prothrombin activation in the presence of negatively
      charged phospholipid vesicles (5 mole% phosphatidylserine/95 mole%
      phosphatidylcholine). The Km for prothrombin obtained at a saturating amount of
      venom-activated factor Va was nine-fold higher than with thrombin-activated
      factor V (0.83 microM vs 0.09 microM, respectively) whereas both factor Va
      molecules stimulated the Vmax of thrombin formation some 6000-fold. Both forms of
      factor Va promoted the binding factor Xa to negatively charged phospholipid
      vesicles. However, the apparent Kd for factor Xa was less favorable in the
      presence of venom-activated factor V (0.67 x 10(-9) M) than in the presence of
      thrombin-activated factor V (0.043 x 10(-9) M). Thrombin cleaved a peptide bond
      in the 77,000 mol. wt polypeptide chain of venom-activated factor V, which
      resulted in the formation of a normal factor Va light chain. This peptide bond
      cleavage was, however, not associated with a change of cofactor activity. Venom
      treatment of thrombin-activated factor V, on the other hand, did remove a small
      fragment (mol. wt approximately 4000) from the heavy chain of factor Va (94,000),
      yielding a molecule with reduced cofactor activity. The diminished cofactor
      activity of venom-activated factor V is, therefore, likely due to the fact that a
      small peptide fragment, involved in the interaction with prothrombin and factor
      Xa, is missing from the heavy chain of venom-activated factor V.

PMID- 1440645
TI  - Pharmacological studies of jumper ant (Myrmecia pilosula) venom: evidence for the
      presence of histamine, and haemolytic and eicosanoid-releasing factors.
AB  - Jumper ant venom was prepared by extraction of venom sacs in distilled water and
      centrifugation to remove insoluble material. Jumper ant venom (2 micrograms/ml)
      produced a biphasic response on isolated guinea-pig ileum, i.e. an initial rapid
      contraction followed by a slower prolonged contraction. The histamine antagonist
      mepyramine (0.1 microM) inhibited the first phase of this response by greater
      than 90%. In the isolated rat stomach fundus strip (which is insensitive to
      histamine), jumper ant venom (6 micrograms/ml) produced only a single
      contraction. No tachyphylaxis was observed to repeated doses of jumper ant venom
      in guinea-pig ileum or rat fundus strip. Responses to jumper ant venom of the egg
      albumin-sensitised guinea-pig ileum were not significantly different before and
      after an in vitro anaphylactic response induced by egg albumin (0.5 mg/ml).
      Fluorometric assay revealed a mean value of 0.9 +/- 0.2% of the dry weight as
      histamine in jumper ant venom. Both the lipoxygenase/cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor
      BW755C and the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin significantly inhibited the
      second phase response to jumper ant venom of the guinea-pig ileum, and the
      response of the rat fundus strip. The muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine
      (0.1 microM), the bradykinin antagonist [Thi5,8,D-Phe7]-bradykinin (10 microM)
      and the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor captopril (20 microM) did not
      affect either phase of the venom response in guinea-pig ileum. Jumper ant venom
      caused haemolysis of guinea-pig blood. The degree of haemolysis was significantly
      reduced when boiled venom was used. These results suggest that jumper ant venom
      contains histamine and may cause the release of cyclo-oxygenase products. It also
      contains a heat-sensitive haemolytic factor.

PMID- 1440646
TI  - Structure determination and toxicity of a new microcystin from Microcystis
      aeruginosa strain 205.
AB  - A new hepatotoxic microcystin was isolated from the cyanobacterium Microcystis
      aeruginosa strain 205. Its structure was found to be [Dha7]microcystin-RR as
      determined by amino acid analysis, mass spectrometry and 1H NMR spectroscopy.
      LD50 value (i.p. mouse) of this toxin was 180 micrograms/kg. The 48 hr lethal
      concentration (48-hr-LC50) of the toxin for larvae of the yellow fever mosquito,
      Aedes aegypti, was 14.9 micrograms/ml.

PMID- 1440647
TI  - Pathological and biochemical changes induced in mice after intramuscular
      injection of venom from newborn specimens of the snake Bothrops asper
      (Terciopelo).
AB  - Venom from newborn Bothrops asper snakes has higher lethal, hemorrhagic, edema
      forming, proteolytic and defibrinating activities than venom from adult B. asper
      specimens. Electrophoretic analysis confirmed the variation between these venoms.
      Intramuscular injection of 100 micrograms of venom from newborn specimens in mice
      induced defibrination, together with moderate increments of serum levels of
      lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, hemoglobin and total proteins. A
      conspicuous hemorrhage developed in injected muscle rapidly after envenomation,
      probably due to a drastic alteration in capillaries and larger blood vessels.
      Other histological alterations included moderate myonecrosis, lung collapse and
      prominent renal damage, characterized by tubular necrosis and hyalinization.
      Polyvalent antivenom effectively neutralized lethal, hemorrhagic and indirect
      hemolytic activities of newborn B. asper venom, although requiring higher
      antivenom doses than neutralization of venom from adult B. asper.

PMID- 1440648
TI  - Precursor structure of omega-conotoxin GVIA determined from a cDNA clone.
AB  - The Ca2+ channel blocking neurotoxin, omega-conotoxin GVIA, is a 27-amino acid
      peptide with three disulfide bonds. We have determined the precursor structure of
      this peptide by analyzing a cDNA clone obtained from a Conus geographus venom
      duct library. The omega-conotoxin GVIA prepropeptide is 73 amino acids in length
      comprising a 22 amino acid signal sequence, an intervening region of 23 amino
      acids, and finally, a 27 amino acid toxin region. A C-terminal glycine residue is
      later processed to a C-terminal amide moiety. The omega-conotoxin GVIA precursor
      exhibits regions of strong homology to the previously characterized King-Kong
      peptide precursor, but shows surprising divergence as well. The possible
      significance of the precursor organization is discussed.

PMID- 1440649
TI  - IgG antibodies to Loxosceles sp. spider venom in human envenoming.
AB  - The presence and specificity of IgG antibodies produced by patients with
      loxoscelism were studied. The loxoscelism diagnosis was supported mainly by
      clinical parameters. A search for IgG antibodies anti-Loxosceles gaucho venom in
      patients with loxoscelism submitted to serumtherapy showed antibodies in four out
      of 20 patients. The IgG antibodies were detected as early as 9 days and as late
      as 120 days after bite. The highest IgG antibody titer was 1:640 and the lowest
      was 1:80. Immunoblotting tests showed that human anti-L. gaucho IgG antibodies
      recognize preferentially the components responsible for the dermonecrotic and
      lethal activities of the venom. A comparison of the clinical picture, the level
      of serum IgG antibodies and the dose of antivenom administered suggest that there
      is no relationship between these parameters.

PMID- 1440650
TI  - Histopathological changes in WEHI-3B leukemia cells following intoxication by
      cytotoxin P4 from Naja nigricollis nigricollis venom.
AB  - The histopathological changes in WEHI-3B leukemia cells were followed by light
      and electronmicroscopy at different time intervals following exposure to
      cytotoxin P4 from Naja nigricollis nigricollis venom. At 1 hr after exposure to
      the toxin (2.5 x 10(-7) M) deformation was detected, primarily in the
      mitochondria, followed by vacuolization in the cytoplasm and an increase in
      lysosome number at 2 hr post-intoxication. Thereafter, the endoplasmic reticulum
      assumed a microsomal-like appearance, the plasma membrane was disrupted and,
      finally, the cells released their content to the culture medium. It is postulated
      that cytotoxin P4 may affect mitochondria either indirectly, by stimulating
      intracellular processes after binding to the cell membrane, or directly by
      interaction with the mitochondria after penetrating into the cell.

PMID- 1440651
TI  - Bibliography of toxinology.

PMID- 1440652
TI  - Characterization of snake venom components acting on blood coagulation and
      platelet function.
AB  - Snake venoms can affect blood coagulation and platelet function in various ways.
      The physicochemical properties and the mechanisms of actions of the snake venom
      components affecting blood coagulation and platelet function are discussed.

PMID- 1440653
TI  - Cross-reacting antigens in the butter clam (Saxidoma giganteus) and their
      relationship to total paralytic shellfish poison toxicity.
AB  - A specific protein with an apparent mol. wt of 23,000 was identified in foot
      homogenate derived from paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) contaminated butter
      clams and was found to cross-react with crab-saxitoxin-induced protein (SIP)
      antiserum. Antiserum, once cross-absorbed against non-toxic shellfish material,
      was incubated with tissue homogenate derived from 52 butter clams with varying
      total PSP toxicities in a prototype ELISA. A significant (r = 0.83; P less than
      0.001) correlation existed between soluble clam antigen content in foot
      homogenate and total PSP toxicity; the latter measured by the mouse lethality
      bioassay. From the ELISA results, a soluble antigen threshold of 0.1% total
      protein was successfully used to distinguish between PSP toxic and non-toxic
      butter clams. It is proposed that this type of screening assay could be used in
      conjunction with the standard mouse bioassay to increase PSP monitoring and
      potentially reduce unnecessary animal testing.

PMID- 1440654
TI  - Ricin-induced hepatic lipid peroxidation, glutathione depletion, and DNA single
      strand breaks in mice.
AB  - The ability of ricin, the glycoprotein toxin from the castor bean (Ricinus
      communis), to stimulate oxidative stress was investigated. Following the i.p.
      administration of 25 micrograms ricin/kg or the vehicle to female CF-1 mice, the
      effects of ricin on hepatic lipid peroxidation, nonprotein sulfhydryl (reduced
      glutathione) content and DNA single-strand breaks were determined at 0, 12, 24,
      36, 48 and 72 hr post-treatment. Hepatic lipid peroxidation significantly
      increased 3.4-, 3.8-, and 3.0-fold relative to control values at 24, 36, and 48
      hr post-treatment, respectively. Hepatic nonprotein sulfhydryl concentrations
      decreased significantly to approximately 51%, 61% and 65% of control values, at
      24, 36, and 48 hr, respectively. The incidence of hepatic DNA single-strand
      breaks increased by 2.9-, 2.8-, and 2.4-fold relative to the zero time values at
      24, 36, and 48 hr after treatment with ricin, respectively. No significant
      differences were observed in either lipid peroxidation or nonprotein sulfhydryl
      concentrations at 12 or 27 hr post-treatment. Decreases in liver and intestinal
      weight to body weight ratios were observed in ricin-treated animals, while no
      changes were observed in spleen and kidney weight to body weight ratios. These
      results indicate that in the liver of mice, ricin induces an oxidative stress
      which is maximal at approximately 36 hr post-treatment.

PMID- 1440655
TI  - Purification and characterization of an antithrombin III inactivating enzyme from
      the venom of the African night adder (Causus rhombeatus).
AB  - A serine proteinase was isolated from the venom of the night adder (Causus
      rhombeatus) by fast protein liquid chromatography (anion-exchange, gel filtration
      and hydrophobic interaction). The protein (termed CR-serpinase) had an estimated
      mol. wt of 45,500 as determined by SDS-PAGE, pI of 4.7 and a carbohydrate content
      of 18.9%. Incubation of CR-serpinase with purified human antithrombin III at a
      molar ratio of 1:66 resulted in a loss of more than 90% of the initial AT III
      activity within 10 min. The reaction was dependent on heparin. In SDS-PAGE
      inactivation of human antithrombin III was correlated with the occurrence of two
      cleavage products. The cleavage site in the antithrombin III molecule was
      determined to be Arg 393-Ser 394 by amino-terminal sequencing. CR-Serpinase had
      no thrombin-like activity since no fibrinogen conversion was induced and had no
      procoagulant activity. CR-Serpinase activity was not inhibited by antithrombin
      III-heparin and was not decreased by a 10-min preincubation in normal human
      plasma. Inactivation of antithrombin III by CR-serpinase appeared to be very
      specific.

PMID- 1440656
TI  - Influence of unilateral ovarian torsion to the contralateral ovary.
AB  - An experimental study was planned to show the suppression of contralateral ovary
      in unilateral ovarian torsions. In the study, 55 New Zealand female rabbits were
      used. Basal and stimulation 17 beta estradiol values were measured and unilateral
      torsion in 20 rabbits, bilateral torsion in ten rabbits and bilateral
      oophorectomy in five rabbits were performed. Eight, 16, 24 hours after the
      procedure, 17 beta estradiol levels were measured again and the second
      stimulation values maintained. The control group consisted of 20 rabbits. Values
      were analyzed statistically and the results were significant.

PMID- 1440657
TI  - Effects of endurance training under hyperoxia on serum and tissue lipid levels in
      rats.
AB  - Effects of 6 weeks endurance training (5 days per week) under hyperoxia (60% O2
      plus 40% N2) on serum and tissue lipid levels were investigated in male rats.
      Rats were divided into 4 groups: normoxia-control (NC), hyperoxia-control (HC),
      normoxia-training (NT), and hyperoxia-training (HT). NT and HT groups were run on
      a treadmill in a chamber at 20 m per min with a 6 degree gradient for 30 min. The
      chamber was perfused with hyperoxic gas. After training under hyperoxia, high
      density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was higher (p less than 0.01) than in the
      normoxic condition, but there were no changes in serum lipids and glucose, or
      liver and aorta cholesterol. Skeletal muscle TG and liver glycogen in hyperoxic
      condition tended to show the higher values. Basal lipolysis of adipose tissue was
      increased (p less than 0.05) by hyperoxia, and decreased (p less than 0.01) by
      training, but there was no change of norepinephrine induced lipolysis in any
      group. The results suggest that endurance training or resting under hyperoxia
      induces increased HDL-C or lipolytic activity of adipose tissue. These effects
      might be caused by greater fat oxidation during exercising or resting under
      hyperoxia.

PMID- 1440658
TI  - Progressive facial hemiatrophy with localized scleroderma.
AB  - A 46-year-old woman who presented with progressive facial hemiatrophy (PFH)
      following localized scleroderma is described. The patient had a markedly deformed
      and depressed plaque surrounded by erythema on the right cheek. She also showed
      linear scleroderma with hair loss on the occipital area and morphea lesions on
      the neck and shoulder. Histological findings of the facial and other atrophic
      lesions were consistent with localized scleroderma. Therefore, the PFH and
      localized scleroderma may have had the same pathological background in this case.

PMID- 1440659
TI  - Cardiac tamponade in the blastic crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia.
AB  - A 36-year-old man with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous
      leukemia (CML) developed hemorrhagic pericarditis with tamponade as a terminal
      manifestation of the blastic crisis. Cardiac tamponade should be kept in mind as
      an uncommon cause of death of CML patients. Based on a literature review,
      symptomatic pericarditis in patients with CML blast crisis suggests imminent
      death. This is in contrast to long-term survival for patients in the chronic
      phase.

PMID- 1440660
TI  - Plasmapheresis in the Tokai University Medical Center, 1983-1989.
AB  - There were 634 instances of plasmapheresis performed on 152 patients in the
      Kidney Center, Tokai University Hospital, in the seven year period from Jan. 1983
      to Dec. 1989. The average number of plasmapheresis treatments per patient was
      highest for those with neurological and dermatological disease (6.7), followed by
      liver disease (5.6), and drug intoxication (1.2). The major treatment modalities
      for the liver, collagen, drug intoxication, hematologic, neurologic and
      hyperlipidemic disorders were plasma exchange (PE) and double filter
      plasmapheresis (DFPP). Recently, however, the use of plasma perfusion (PP) and
      immunoadsorbent plasma perfusion (IPP) has been increasing because of their
      ability to selectively adsorb various pathologic macromolecules.

PMID- 1440661
TI  - [The morphofunctional characteristics of the dystrophic and reparative processes
      in experimental autodermoplasty using a CO2 laser].
AB  - The aim of this work was research of the morphofunctional features of rabbit free
      skin flaps after CO2 laser and scalpel interventions. pO2, histologic and
      histochemical data were analyzed. The results evidence an insignificant delay of
      the pO2 growth in laser-treated flaps early after surgery. This fact hints at a
      low speed of laser-treated flaps vascularization because of wound coagulation
      necrosis. However, this does not influence the course of the reparative process.
      Our conclusions are confirmed by histologic and histochemical findings.

PMID- 1440662
TI  - [A clinico-morphological evaluation of the effect of antiseptics on the degree of
      root canal cleaning and the potentials for its improvement].

PMID- 1440663
TI  - [A temperature assessment of the treatment of exacerbated chronic periodontitis
      with the immobilized proteinase preparation profezim].
AB  - Presents the results of studies of the gingival thermal response in patients with
      chronic periodontitis exacerbations. Profezyme, an immobilized proteinase enzyme,
      was used in the treatment of 51 patients (test group) and chymotrypsin was
      administered to 43 controls. Anti-inflammatory action of profezyme was
      demonstrated. Reduction of the gingival temperature and pain alleviation evidence
      a high efficacy of the drug.

PMID- 1440664
TI  - [The results of the clinical use of the immobilized-protease enzyme profezim in
      treating exacerbated chronic periodontitis].
AB  - The authors characterize the action of profezyme, an immobilized proteinase
      enzyme, used in the treatment of patients with exacerbations of chronic
      periodontitis. Time course of symptomatology was followed up in 65 patients in
      various periods of periodontitis therapy. Prolonged enzymic therapy helped reduce
      the length of treatment by 2-3 times.

PMID- 1440665
TI  - [The efficacy of clinical indices in determining periodontal status].
AB  - The accuracy and reproducibility of a number of clinical indices used in
      assessment of the status of periodontal tissues was evaluated in clinical
      examinations of 240 students. The Green-Vermillion index and the CDL periodontal
      index were found the most accurate and reproducible, their efficacies ranging
      within 86-97%.

PMID- 1440666
TI  - [The microbial status of the periodontal pocket].
AB  - Analysis of components helped reveal the true relationships between the counts of
      individual representatives of the bacterial association in the contents of 18
      periodontal pouches. Though the authors did their best to select a group of
      patients with the periodontitis course as similar as possible, the
      multidimensional grouping method has demonstrated the heterogeneity of this
      group. Four types of periodontal pouches were distinguished, differing by their
      bacterial status; this probably requires a differentiated approach to its
      correction.

PMID- 1440667
TI  - [A comparative study of the efficacy of the action of a number of local
      antimicrobial preparations on the species and quantitative composition of the
      microbial flora in periodontal pockets].
AB  - The effects of a number of antibiotics were studied with the use of phase
      contrast microscopy. The time course of the qualitative and quantitative changes
      of the periodontal pouch microflora evidences that a mixture of trichopol with
      chlorohexidine is the most effective therapy for periodontal pouch sanitization.

PMID- 1440668
TI  - [The morphofunctional characteristics of the free cells and microvessels of the
      gingiva in inflammatory periodontal diseases].
AB  - A comprehensive assessment of the gingival histohematic barrier components in
      patients with gingivitis and periodontitis was carried out. Analysis of the
      intratissular correlations has led the authors to a hypothesis on the presence of
      a peculiar 'break-off' of the interstructural relationships determined by the
      severity of the periodontal injury. Gingivitis is characterized by a change,
      though minimal, of correlations, as against the intact periodontium. Involvement
      of the entire tissue complex of the periodontium in the process is associated
      with elevation of the counts of both positive and negative relationships between
      free stromal cells. Accumulation of free stromal cells and disorder of their
      cooperation is parallel with lowering of alkaline phosphatase activity and
      isolation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, this forming the structural basis for
      the progress of the inflammatory dystrophic process in the periodontium.

PMID- 1440669
TI  - [Indices characterizing the expression of hyperesthesia of the hard dental
      tissues in patients with periodontitis].
AB  - Clinical examinations of 226 patients with periodontitis have revealed in 61% of
      them hyperesthesia of the hard dental tissues, that was mostly generalized,
      characterized by a marked reaction to thermal, chemical, and tactile stimulants.
      Study of the mineral metabolism has demonstrated that growing bone tissue loss in
      dental biopsy specimens and gingival fluid is associated with reducing levels of
      P, Ca, and Mg. Combination of clinical manifestations of periodontitis and
      hyperesthesia necessitate search for combined therapy aimed at simultaneous
      elimination of hyperesthesia and inflammation.

PMID- 1440670
TI  - [A morphological assessment of the efficacy of the deaggregation therapy of
      chronic catarrhal gingivitis].
AB  - Light optics, electron microscopy, morphometry were used to study the structural
      changes in the epithelial cells and endotheliocytes of gingival papillary
      capillaries of patients with chronic catarrhal gingivitis after papaverin
      therapy. The studies have revealed signs of disappearance of intercellular edema
      and a higher degree of cellular differentiation; signs of normalization of
      transcellular fluid transport were seen in the endotheliocytes, and aggregations
      of formed elements of the blood disappeared.

PMID- 1440671
TI  - [Ways to improve the treatment of patients with phlegmons of the maxillofacial
      area].
AB  - The examination has involved a total of 216 patients (111 in the study group and
      105 in the reference one) with maxillofacial phlegmons. Patients of the main
      group were administered multiple-modality treatment with surgical treatment of
      the purulent focus, involving a primary suture on the wound and intraarterial
      local drug therapy. Partial necrectomy was found possible in the majority of
      cases with the surgical treatment of the purulent focus; therefore to prevent
      dissemination of the inflammatory process and liquidate it as soon as possible
      surgery had to be performed against the background of the maximal permissible
      antibiotic concentration in the adjacent tissues. Primary suturing of the
      purulent wound had to be combined with draining and continuous dialysis of the
      postoperative wound. The postoperative wound healed by primary tension in 91.89%
      of patients in the main group; the incidence of complications was lower in them
      than in the reference group; the length of hospital stay and invalidity periods
      were reduced almost twofold.

PMID- 1440672
TI  - [Lipid peroxidation in suppurative-inflammatory diseases of the maxillofacial
      area].
AB  - The levels of lipid peroxidation products were measured in patients with various
      pyoinflammatory conditions of the maxillofacial area: abscess, phlegmons, chronic
      mandibular osteomyelitis). Blood plasma and red cell levels of lipoperoxides were
      found increased and alpha-tocopherol levels lowered in all the examinees.

PMID- 1440673
TI  - [The clinico-immunological aspects of dental implantology].
AB  - Analyzes the clinical and immunologic data evidencing that implantation, as a
      rule, induces immunologic shifts in patient's body. Traces the direct
      relationship between the frequency and severity of complications and the type of
      the patient's immune response to implantation, the intensity of this response
      being directly related to the implantation material and volume. Basing on the
      relationship between the clinical and immunologic data, recommends examination of
      the patients' immune status for the prediction of the results of the surgical
      stage of dental implantation and for the assessment of new implantation material
      intended for introduction into practical dentistry.

PMID- 1440674
TI  - [The bone tissue of the jaws in congenital and acquired deformities].
AB  - Biophysical parameters of the jam bones were examined in patients with congenital
      and acquired deformations. Ash content, density, mineral content, and
      microhardness were estimated in 58 patients aged 17 to 28. The mean values of
      these characteristics were found to be unrelated to the individual features and
      the type of the changes in the bone tissue, associated with deformations of the
      jaws. Frequency ranging of the individual values helped obtain a more objective
      picture of the bone tissue status. Bone tissue density was found increased in
      congenital maxillary and mandibular deformations. These data evidence a lowered
      plasticity of the bone tissue in the patients with congenital deformations of the
      jaw bones.

PMID- 1440675
TI  - [The regional blood circulation of the parotid gland and the correction of its
      disorders in chronic interstitial parotitis].
AB  - Elevated vascular tone, lengthened time of intraglandular arterial bed filling,
      fibrinogenemia, elevated plasma tolerance to heparin were detected in 32 patients
      with chronic interstitial parotitis (CIP) during exacerbation and in a number of
      CIP patients with the remission of the disease. Correction of microcirculation
      disturbances is advisable during CIP exacerbation; in remission it may be
      effective in patients with the late stage of parotitis, in those with parotitis
      coursing along with diabetes mellitus, essential hypertension, or against the
      background of prolonged oral drug therapy (e. g. clofelin). Drugs correcting the
      microcirculatory disorders are conducive to a sooner alleviation of the
      inflammation and better and longer preservation of the function of the parotid
      glands.

PMID- 1440676
TI  - [Body immunological reactivity in patients with chronic nontumorous diseases of
      the parotid salivary glands].
AB  - Examinations of 81 patients and 30 healthy donors have revealed a variety of
      immunologic disturbances in different forms of chronic nontumorous conditions of
      the parotid glands. Lymphocyte sensitization to salivary gland antigens was
      observed in all the patients, but was the most marked in those with Sjogren's
      disease. The studies permit considering the detected shifts in the immunity
      system an important component of the pathogenesis of chronic nontumorous diseases
      of the parotid glands. These findings may be useful in the differential
      diagnosis, prognosis, and adequate therapy of salivary gland diseases.

PMID- 1440677
TI  - [The regional blood circulation in the parotid gland area in Sjogren's disease
      (syndrome)].
AB  - Rheographic investigations of the parotid gland area in 103 patients with
      Sjogren's disease (syndrome) that developed in the presence of chronic
      nonspecific sialadenitis during its various stages and inflammation phases have
      demonstrated that the blood stream volumic rate directly depended on the
      inflammation phase and intensity of this phase. During remission the circulation
      in the salivary glands was close to normal.

PMID- 1440678
TI  - [The dynamics of fracture healing in the bones of the zygoma area].
AB  - Investigation of the reparative histogenesis in patients with zygomatic bone
      fractures suffered in different periods in the past included histologic study of
      the tissue specimens taken from fracture sites during surgical intervention,
      studies of the osteogenesis, topographic-anatomic position of bone fragments,
      their mobility and configuration, and clinical and pathomorphologic changes in
      the soft tissues adjacent to the fracture site. Specific features of the
      reparative osteogenesis of the facial skull flat bones and changes in the soft
      tissues adjacent to the fracture site were detected.

PMID- 1440679
TI  - [The late results of observing and treating patients with histiocytosis X and
      involvement of the jaw bones].
AB  - Eighty-one patients with histiocytosis X involving the jaw bones were followed up
      for 30 years; the patients presented with involvement of the lungs, skin, mucosa,
      other bones of the skeleton, and diabetes insipidus signs. In 58 of the 81
      patients eosinophilic granuloma eventuated in a generalized process: chronic
      xanthomatosis or Hand-Schuller-Christian's disease. This fact permits a
      conclusion that eosinophilic granuloma is an initial stage of the same systemic
      disease, histiocytosis X, and that subdivision of histiocytosis X into 3 forms,
      accepted in literature, is undesirable, for it erroneously presents the essence
      of the process. Therapeutic recommendations are given.

PMID- 1440680
TI  - [The importance of the surgical treatment method in cancer of the oral mucosa
      with the primary tumor 4 cm in size and larger].
AB  - The authors analyze the results of surgical treatment of patients with local
      disseminated squamous-cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa. The data on the
      survival rate of patients treated with different surgical methods are presented
      and variants of combined operations described.

PMID- 1440681
TI  - [A method for performing stimulation electromyography of the masticatory muscles
      in man].
AB  - A principal block scheme of an apparatus complex is suggested and a method for
      examination of masticatory muscle function is described. The method is based on
      electrostimulation of masticatory nerve followed by registration and analysis of
      the masticatory muscle action evoked potentials. The block scheme of the
      apparatus complex includes a universal electrostimulator ESU-2. Examinations of
      30 healthy volunteers and 30 patients with unilateral fractures of the mandible
      helped define the major parameters of stimulation electromyography. The patients
      were treated by splints applied on the teeth with fixation on both jaws. By day
      28 of the investigation the M-response amplitude dropped more than twofold and
      its length by 1.5 times as against the mean parameters in health.

PMID- 1440682
TI  - [The modelling of mandibular osteomyelitis].
AB  - The method suggested by the authors permits a reliable reproduction of mandibular
      osteomyelitis in white rats. The primary localization and pattern of the
      infectious process in this model well correspond to odontogenic osteomyelitis,
      this permitting a preclinical study of new drugs and physiotherapeutic methods
      intended for patients with odontogenic diseases.

PMID- 1440683
TI  - [The experience of using the 1-day hospital in maxillofacial surgery].
AB  - The authors describe for the first time the experience gained by a one-day
      hospital for oral surgery. The efficacy of this hospital is analyzed and economic
      effect estimated.

PMID- 1440684
TI  - [The characteristics of treating odontogenic osteomyelitis against a background
      of malaria in the population of the Republic of Burundi].
AB  - All the patients were administered preoperative antimalarial therapy, antibiotics
      and sulfanilamides, and agents maintaining the defense factors, as well as
      detoxifying and desensitizing therapy. Rational nutrition was prescribed. All
      these measures helped liquidate the inflammation foci not only in the bones, but
      in the soft tissues of the paramaxillary area as well.

PMID- 1440685
TI  - [An x-ray method for determining the position of the tongue in the oral cavity].
AB  - The suggested modified technique for assessing the tongue position in the oral
      cavity is based on teleroentgenography in the lateral projection and estimation
      of cephalometric parameters. Theoretical rationale is given for the use of
      skeletal check points in the mandibular area and cervical portion of the spine
      and of the mandibular and spinal reference lines. Indications for the use of this
      method are defined and its advantages described.

PMID- 1440686
TI  - [The comparative characteristics of mastication tests].
AB  - Changes in the values of Manly's [correction of Manley's], Rubinov's, and the
      author's mastication tests were studied in subjects with intact dentition,
      orthognathic occlusion; the tests were carried out 3 times each with intervals of
      2-3 weeks. Correlations of the data of Dahlberg's [correction of Dalberg's],
      Manley's, Rubinov's and the author's tests were studied and the pattern of
      changes in the data of the tests in minor dentition defects analyzed. Repeated
      tests yielded better results; the data of various tests were found incompatible;
      the suggested test was found the most sensitive and accurate. The basic
      requirements to a mastication test are formulated.

PMID- 1440687
TI  - [The clinical evaluation of the use of metal ceramic dentures with a Simet glass
      ceramic coating].
AB  - Good results of clinical follow-up of patients with cermet dentures coated with
      cimet (glass ceramic) permit recommending this type of coating for wide practical
      use. Reconstructive prosthetics with glass ceramic and metal and cermet dentures
      should involve denture modeling in the articulator and a prophylactic check-up at
      least once a year with oral hygiene and functional occlusion control.

PMID- 1440688
TI  - [A method for the functional forming of the distal section of a complete upper
      denture].

PMID- 1440689
TI  - [An automated system for the collection and processing of clinico-diagnostic
      information in developing methods for treating dental defects by using dental
      implants].
AB  - A dialogue medical information system "Dental Implant" is described, intended for
      the collection and analysis of clinico-diagnostic information with the aim of
      developing methods for the treatment of patients with dentition defects, making
      use of dental implants. This automated system permits a rapid and effective
      analysis of surgical and orthodontic complications and is intended for operation
      by a non-programmer.

PMID- 1440690
TI  - [Kalipsol-based balanced intravenous anesthesia in pediatric outpatient dental
      practice].
AB  - Basing on clinical studies of anesthesia in 568 children, central hemodynamic
      studies, analysis of the blood acid-base balance and gases, glycemia level, and
      assessment of the psychoneurologic status, the authors validate the usefulness of
      calypsol-based anesthesia in practical outpatient pedodontics. Such anesthesia
      did not influence the stability of central hemodynamics parameters, nor did it
      change the acid-base balance and blood sugar level; it provided an adequate
      protection of the patient from surgical stress with the adaptation mechanisms
      remaining intact. The child may leave the clinic 2.5-3 h after the intervention
      and a test for adequate adaptation to the environment. Calypsol-based balanced
      anesthesia improves outpatient care of the children, introduction of this method
      into practice will bring about a good economic effect.

PMID- 1440691
TI  - [A comparative study of the role of atresia and stenosis of the outflow duct of a
      salivary gland in the pathogenesis of dystrophic and inflammatory changes].
AB  - Experiments were carried out with submandibular salivary glands of 20 dogs.
      Complete obturation of the submandibular duct (in 10 animals) was achieved by
      binding this duct. Partial impairment of the saliva flow from the gland was
      induced in 10 animals by fixing a metal ring on the duct. The experiment has
      demonstrated that both complete and partial obturation of the salivary duct
      result in the development of chronic sialadenitis. Partial obturation of salivary
      outflow from the gland did not result in an acute inflammation but in a flaccid
      process, slowly developing dystrophic changes in acinar cells, gradually
      developing sclerosis of the glandular parenchyma and stroma. These data indicate
      a direct relationship between the intensity of dystrophic changes in the salivary
      gland and the severity of impairment of salivary discharge.

PMID- 1440692
TI  - [The characteristics of the occlusal surface relief of the molars and its role in
      caries susceptibility in Nenets children].
AB  - Analysis of the principal odontological and odontogliphic parameters of 1088
      molars of caries-susceptible and caries-resistant Russian and Nenets children has
      demonstrated that molar caries-resistance of the Nenets children is explained by
      the prevalence of the basic and supplementary grooves and elements that create a
      more intricate fissure pattern, the tooth size, groove length, number of tubers
      and fossae at the site of fissure fusion.

PMID- 1440693
TI  - [Changes in the oral cavity of children as possible diagnostic signs of
      leukemia].
AB  - In 15 of the 65 children the initial signs of leukemia coincided with oral
      diseases running an uncommon course: acute or chronic recurrent herpetic
      stomatitis, periostitis, parotitis. An infectious process showing no tendency to
      resolution, stubborn infiltration of tissues in inflamed foci, hemorrhages, and
      changed total status of a child may be regarded as probable diagnostic signs of
      leukemia, requiring a profound examination, carried out by a dentist and
      hematologist.

PMID- 1440694
TI  - [The morphological parameters of the dental arches in children with unilateral
      complete cleft lip and palate].
AB  - The size and proportions of dentitions and relationships between longitudinal,
      transverse, and vertical parameters of the upper and lower dentitions and
      palatine processes were examined in 42 children (22 girls and 20 boys), aged 5-6
      years, with unilateral complete labiopalatine clefts before uranoplasty. Analysis
      of correlations in the findings was carried out and 12 reliable coefficients of
      correlations obtained.

PMID- 1440695
TI  - Minor and trace sterols in marine invertebrates 65. 23-Epidihydrocalysterol: a
      new cyclopropane-containing sponge sterol.
AB  - A new cyclopropane-containing sterol was isolated from the marine sponge
      Cribrochalina vasculum. The new sterol was characterized by nuclear magnetic
      resonance and mass spectrometry and the structure was shown to be (23R,24S,28R)
      dihydrocalysterol. Implications concerning the biosynthesis of cyclopropane and
      cyclopropene sterols in sponges are discussed.

PMID- 1440696
TI  - Persistent estrogen responsiveness of ras oncogene-transformed mouse mammary
      epithelial cells.
AB  - Ovarian steroids are associated with the proliferation of normal as well as
      tumorigenically transformed mammary epithelial cells. The experiments performed
      in this study were designed to establish that (1) tumorigenic transformation
      induced by the ras oncogene is associated with alterations in estradiol
      biotransformation, (2) altered endocrine responsiveness persists in the fully
      transformed tumor cell phenotype and (3) specific perturbations induced by the
      ras oncogene can be experimentally downregulated. The ras transfectant pH06T and
      the tumor-derived T1/Pr1 cells exhibited 3- and 43-fold increases, respectively,
      in C-16 alpha hydroxylation of estradiol relative to the parental mouse mammary
      epithelial cells (P less than 0.0001). At the cellular level, this alteration
      corresponded with approximately 90-fold increase in the anchorage-independent
      growth of T1/Pr1 cells (P less than 0.0001). Estrogen responsiveness of T1/Pr1
      cells was demonstrated by their suppression of growth in phenol red-free and/or
      tamoxifen-supplemented medium and by the reversal of antiproliferative effect of
      tamoxifen by phenol red and estradiol. Indole-3-carbinol, a naturally occurring
      tumor suppressive agent, was able to upregulate C-2 hydroxylation at the expense
      of C-16 alpha hydroxylation of estradiol. Treatment of T1/Pr1 cells with indole-3
      carbinol resulted in a substantial decrease in anchorage-independent growth.

PMID- 1440697
TI  - The effect of dihydrotestosterone and culture conditions on proliferation of the
      human prostatic cancer cell line LNCaP.
AB  - Cell density, nutritional state, and serum factors modify the growth response of
      LNCaP human prostatic cancer cells to dihydrotestosterone. Evaluation of growth
      response to dihydrotestosterone requires logarithmic transformation of cell count
      or thymidine incorporation data. Under conditions of dose response, growth
      increases with cell density but no significant interaction of dihydrotestosterone
      with cell density was found under optimal culture conditions. The frequency of
      media change was a significant factor in modulating dose response. When cells
      from cultures maintained at different feeding periods were plated at different
      cell densities of (trypan blue) viable cells, significant effects of plating
      density on dihydrotestosterone response were found. Dihydrotestosterone protects
      cells under the adverse effects of media deprivation. Under the extreme adverse
      effects of serum deprivation, cells respond to dihydrotestosterone even under
      conditions of increasing cell loss. The effects of dihydrotestosterone on final
      cell density were significant. In the absence of serum, the elongated cells of
      LNCaP assume a round shape, but many remain adherent to the culture dish and can
      be restored to normal morphology by serum. A number of growth factors fail to
      restore normal morphology that was completely restored by a combination of
      fibronectin and dihydrotestosterone. We have not developed a practicable serum
      free system for LNCaP.

PMID- 1440698
TI  - Steroid metabolism in teleost gonads: purification and identification of
      metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography.
AB  - A simple, efficient, and comprehensive technique for the purification,
      identification, and quantitation of the common steroid metabolites synthesized by
      the gonads of teleosts involving five systems of high-performance liquid
      chromatography (HPLC) was developed. Steroid standards were identified in HPLC by
      UV absorption at 254 nm or 280 nm, by differential refractive index, or by using
      radioactive standards. Metabolites that do not absorb UV light and are not
      resolved in the isocratic HPLC systems were identified in thin-layer
      chromatography following purification by HPLC. By using this technique, most of
      the steroid metabolites, including some polar metabolites, synthesized by the
      gonadal tissues of the teleosts can be purified within three steps of
      chromatography. The HPLC systems reported here are also useful in identifying the
      chromium trioxide oxidized products of metabolites, such as triols and tetrols,
      which considerably narrows down the number of probable metabolites.

PMID- 1440699
TI  - A highly specific heterologous enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measuring
      testosterone in plasma using antibody-coated immunoassay plates or polypropylene
      tubes.
AB  - A highly specific and sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using a
      heterologous combination of antiserum raised against testosterone-3-(O
      carboxymethyl) oxime-bovine serum albumin and penicillinase-labeled testosterone
      11 beta-carboxymethyl ether, was developed for measuring testosterone in human
      plasma. Immunoassay plates (96 wells) provided a sensitivity of 2.5 pg/well. This
      was achieved by maintaining the molar ratios of steroid to enzyme between 10 and
      20. The assay was very specific for testosterone and did not show any cross
      reaction with the related C19 steroids tested. Replacement of immunoassay plates
      with the locally available polypropylene tubes raised the detection limits to 25
      pg/tube, but improved the range of doses of testosterone that could be measured
      up to 10,000 pg. The antiserum to testosterone derivative was linked to both
      immunoassay plates and polypropylene tubes through immunochemical bridges.
      Comparison of testosterone values of 52 plasma specimens obtained by both solid
      phase methods with those of radioimmunoassay showed good correlation.

PMID- 1440700
TI  - Comparison of estrogen sulfotransferase and pregnenolone sulfotransferase of
      guinea pig.
AB  - Guinea pig adrenal estrogen sulfotransferase from either sex was eluted as a
      single peak, irrespective of buffer salt concentration, when subjected to fast
      protein liquid chromatography on gel filtration columns. The same enzyme was
      consistently eluted in two distinct peaks during chromatofocusing. Adrenal
      pregnenolone sulfotransferase was eluted during gel filtration in a heterogeneous
      pattern, dependent on salt concentration. These properties have made possible
      almost complete separation of the two sulfotransferases in one step, although
      adrenal estrogen sulfotransferase may possess a minute intrinsic ability to
      catalyze sulfation of pregnenolone. Pregnenolone sulfotransferase had no
      measurable activity toward estrone. Pregnenolone sulfotransferase from both sexes
      yielded variable elution patterns during chromatofocusing. Estrogen
      sulfotransferase from the adrenal, as well as that of guinea pig chorion, was
      strongly inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide and to a lesser degree by iodoacetamide
      and iodoacetate. Adrenal and chorion estrogen sulfotransferases were thermolabile
      and were activated, although not protected from the effect of heat, by binding to
      3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate. Adrenal pregnenolone sulfotransferase was
      inhibited only by high concentrations of N-ethylmaleimide and not at all by
      iodoacetamide or iodoacetate. It was more thermostable than the estrogen
      sulfotransferase and was not activated by binding to 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'
      phosphosulfate.

PMID- 1440701
TI  - Secular trends in stroke incidence and mortality. The Framingham Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The reduction in US stroke mortality has been attributed to declining
      stroke incidence. However, evidence is accumulating of a trend in declining
      stroke severity. METHODS: We examined secular trends in stroke incidence,
      prevalence, and fatality in Framingham Study subjects aged 55-64 years in three
      successive decades beginning in 1953, 1963, and 1973. RESULTS: No significant
      decline in overall stroke and transient ischemic attack incidence or prevalence
      occurred. In women, but not men, incidence of completed ischemic stroke declined
      significantly. Stroke severity, however, decreased significantly over time.
      Stroke with severe neurological deficit decreased in later decades, with a fall
      in rates of severe stroke cases in which patients were unconscious on admission
      to the hospital. There was no substantial change in the case mix of infarcts and
      hemorrhages and no decline in hemorrhage to account for the decline in severity.
      The proportion of isolated transient ischemic attacks increased significantly
      over the 30 years studied, yielding an apparent and significant decline in case
      fatality rates in men only. CONCLUSIONS: Secular trends in stroke incidence and
      fatality did not follow a clear or definite pattern of decline. While a
      significant decline in stroke severity occurred over three decades, incidence of
      infarction fell only in women. The decline in total case fatality rates occurred
      only in men and resulted largely from an increased incidence of isolated
      transient ischemic attacks. The severity of completed stroke was significantly
      lower in the later decades under study.

PMID- 1440703
TI  - Cerebral cysticercosis as a risk factor for stroke in young and middle-aged
      people.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A probable association between cerebral cysticercosis and
      susceptibility to stroke, especially among young and middle-aged patients, has
      been reported. We examined the association between cerebral cysticercosis and
      stroke and the possible factors causing this association. METHODS: In 169 stroke
      patients (75 males and 94 females) under 65 years of age admitted to our
      neurology department, we evaluated the following possible risk factors: arterial
      hypertension, diabetes, cardiac disease, hyperlipidemia, smoking, alcohol abuse,
      and cerebral cysticercosis. In 169 control patients under 65 years of age matched
      by sex and age, we evaluated the same possible risk factors for stroke. RESULTS:
      In the univariate matched analyses, the frequencies of cerebral cysticercosis (p
      < 0.001), arterial hypertension (p < 0.001), cardiac disease (p < 0.001),
      hyperlipidemia (p < 0.05), and alcohol abuse (p = 0.05) were higher in the stroke
      patients than in the control patients. After controlling for possible confounding
      factors, we found that arterial hypertension (p < 0.001), cardiac disease (p <
      0.001), and cerebral cysticercosis (p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for
      stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral cysticercosis should be considered a risk factor
      for stroke in young and middle-aged individuals.

PMID- 1440702
TI  - Lipoprotein and apolipoprotein profile in men with ischemic stroke. Role of
      lipoprotein(a), triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, and apolipoprotein E
      polymorphism.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The role of lipoprotein abnormalities in the development
      of ischemic cerebrovascular disease has not been sufficiently clarified. The aim
      of this study was to identify the lipoprotein profile in ischemic cerebrovascular
      disease and the possible role of apolipoprotein E polymorphism. METHODS: The
      relation between the concentrations of lipoprotein(a), intermediate density
      lipoproteins, apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein B, apolipoprotein E, and other
      lipoproteins was studied in 100 men with ischemic cerebrovascular disease (48
      atherothrombotic, 28 lacunar, and 24 of unknown type) and in 100 healthy age
      matched men as a control group. RESULTS: Patients with ischemic cerebrovascular
      disease had significantly higher levels of lipoprotein(a), lipids carried by
      intermediate density lipoproteins, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol and
      lower levels of high density lipoproteins than control subjects. Patients with
      atherothrombotic infarction had higher total serum cholesterol and low density
      lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations than patients with lacunar infarction. To
      assess lipoprotein abnormalities in normolipidemic subjects, a subgroup of 38
      patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease and 53 control subjects, both with
      serum cholesterol levels < 5.2 mmol/l (200 mg/dl) and triglycerides < 2.3 mmol/l
      (200 mg/dl), was analyzed. Serum lipoprotein(a), lipids carried by very low
      density lipoproteins and intermediate density lipoproteins, and low density
      lipoprotein triglycerides were significantly higher in normolipidemic patients
      compared with normolipidemic control subjects, whereas high density lipoprotein
      cholesterol levels were lower. Apolipoprotein E polymorphism in our ischemic
      cerebrovascular patients differed from that of the control group, with the
      epsilon 4 allele being more prevalent. CONCLUSIONS: Increased serum
      lipoprotein(a) levels and intermediate density lipoprotein abnormalities together
      with decreased high density lipoprotein levels are major risk factors for
      ischemic cerebrovascular disease, even in normocholesterolemic and
      normotriglyceridemic subjects. Finally, the epsilon 4 allele could probably be a
      predisposing genetic marker for ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

PMID- 1440704
TI  - Early time course of N-acetylaspartate, creatine and phosphocreatine, and
      compounds containing choline in the brain after acute stroke. A proton magnetic
      resonance spectroscopy study.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The early time course after acute stroke of cerebral N
      acetylaspartate, creatine and phosphocreatine, and compounds containing choline
      was studied in vivo by means of localized water-suppressed proton magnetic
      resonance spectroscopy. METHODS: Eight patients with acute stroke were studied
      serially in the acute phase, 1 week after, and 2-4 weeks after the onset of
      clinical symptoms. Ten healthy volunteers served as controls. A stimulated echo
      (STEAM) sequence was used for measurement of the brain metabolites in a volume of
      interest located within the infarcted area as visualized by magnetic resonance
      imaging. For quantification, the unsaturated water signal was used as the
      internal standard. Regional cerebral blood flow in the infarcted area was
      measured relative to a symmetrically located unaffected area by means of single
      photon emission computed tomographic scanning, using 99mTc-labeled d,l
      hexamethylenepropyleneamine oxime as the flow tracer. RESULTS: Relative regional
      cerebral blood flow was considerably reduced in the infarcted area in the acute
      phase. After 1 week, hyperemia was seen in all but one patient. The N
      acetylaspartate content was significantly reduced, with the loss appearing to
      occur between 6 and 24 hours after the stroke incident. The reduction in N
      acetylaspartate content was greater in the central part than in the peripheral
      part of the infarcted area. Creatine and phosphocreatine were also reduced in the
      infarcted area, whereas no significant change was seen in the choline content.
      CONCLUSIONS: Assuming that N-acetylaspartate content reflects neuronal survival
      or loss, our results may suggest that treatment procedures with restoration of
      blood flow to severely ischemic areas should be initiated within the first 6
      hours after stroke onset.

PMID- 1440705
TI  - Imaging of the intracranial vertebrobasilar system using color-coded ultrasound.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Anatomic variety and difficult accessibility of the vertebrobasilar
      arteries pose considerable problems to conventional ultrasound. We evaluated the
      diagnostic potential of transcranial color-coded sonography in the distal part of
      this system. METHODS: We insonated the intracranial section of the
      vertebrobasilar arteries through the foramen magnum window in 24 healthy
      individuals using a Doppler color flow imaging system in connection with a 2.5
      MHz sector transducer. Magnetic resonance images in special inclination planes
      were performed and compared with the color-coded duplex images in five cases.
      RESULTS: The B-mode image of the craniocervical junction and the intracranial
      parenchymal structures in addition to the color-coded blood flow allowed an
      unambiguous identification of the vertebrobasilar arteries (vertebral artery,
      96%; basilar artery, 79%; and posterior inferior cerebellar artery, 50%). Blood
      flow velocities were measured considering the insonation angles: vertebral
      arteries, 50/24 cm/sec (30 degrees); basilar artery, 59/28 cm/sec (4 degrees);
      and posterior inferior cerebellar artery, 56/30 cm/sec (20 degrees) [peak
      systolic/end diastolic blood flow velocity (mean angle correction)]. CONCLUSIONS:
      Transcranial color-coded sonography enables accurate identification and
      differentiation of the intracranial vertebrobasilar arteries and improves
      accuracy of Doppler measurements. It may prove useful for evaluation of
      tortuosity and for hemodynamic studies in this vascular territory.

PMID- 1440706
TI  - Risks and benefits of shunting in carotid endarterectomy. The International
      Transcranial Doppler Collaborators.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Controversy continues about the pathogenesis of
      perioperative stroke in carotid endarterectomy and the use of shunting. The
      purpose of this study was to determine, using transcranial Doppler
      ultrasonography, the severity of ischemia during clamping of the carotid artery
      as a basis for analysis of complications in patients operated on with and without
      shunting. METHODS: In a retrospective study, 11 centers contributed 1,495 carotid
      endarterectomies monitored with transcranial Doppler. The cases were divided into
      groups with severe, mild, and no ischemia, and each group was subdivided
      according to shunt use. The perioperative rate of severe stroke attributable to
      intraoperative ischemia, in addition to total perioperative stroke, was
      determined for each subgroup. RESULTS: Severe ischemia occurred in 7.2% of our
      cases but cleared spontaneously in about half of these. In those with persisting
      ischemia the rate of severe stroke was very high, while shunting protected
      against stroke in such cases. If ischemia did not occur, the stroke rate was
      higher with shunting, although not so high as in unshunted cases with severe
      ischemia. Slightly more than one third of the severe strokes were due to
      postoperative cerebral hemorrhage or carotid thrombosis, unrelated to clamp
      induced ischemia or shunting. CONCLUSIONS: Carotid endarterectomy complications
      might be reduced by selectively shunting only for severe persisting ischemia.
      Monitoring of cerebral ischemia would be essential to selective shunting.

PMID- 1440707
TI  - Prediction of cerebral ischemia by ophthalmoscopy after carotid occlusion in
      gerbils.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Mongolian gerbil provides a unique model of
      unilateral focal cerebral ischemia because of the lack of posterior communicating
      arteries in all gerbils as well as an absence of an anterior communicating artery
      in approximately 20% of the gerbil population. It is unclear how to identify
      unequivocably the subpopulation of animals that would suffer a severe focal
      cerebral ischemia after unilateral carotid occlusion. METHODS: Ninety-three male
      gerbils were exposed to unilateral occlusion of the right common carotid artery.
      The severity of neuronal loss was evaluated histologically in gerbils selected as
      having significant focal ischemia based on either behavioral criteria (i.e., the
      demonstration of stereotypical behavior within 1 hour after occlusion) or
      ophthalmoscopic criteria (i.e., interruption of the retinal arterial perfusion
      within 10 minutes of carotid ligation as assessed with an ophthalmoscope). After
      3 hours of unilateral carotid occlusion, cerebral blood flow was reinstated for
      24 hours before fixation for histological analysis. The viability of the CA1
      region of the hippocampus, lateral cortex, and medial cortex was scored on a
      scale of 0-4 based on the percentage of apparent neuronal loss (e.g., 0, no
      damage; 4, > 75% damage (the Viability Index). RESULTS: Twenty-eight percent of
      the gerbils met the behavioral selection criteria, and 17% met the
      ophthalmoscopic criteria. In the specimens selected by behavioral criteria (n =
      7), 30% demonstrated no evidence of postischemic neuronal loss; the mean +/- SEM
      Viability Index scores for CA1, lateral cortex, and medial cortex were 1.6 +/-
      0.6, 1.0 +/- 0.3, and 0.3 +/- 0.2, respectively. Of the animals selected by
      ophthalmoscopic criteria (n = 12), 100% had severe ischemic tissue damage to the
      ipsilateral hemisphere; the Viability Index scores for CA1, lateral cortex, and
      medial cortex were 3.5 +/- 0.1, 3.1 +/- 0.2, and 1.2 +/- 0.2, respectively; all
      scores were significantly larger than those observed in the behaviorally selected
      group. CONCLUSIONS: Selection of animals by ophthalmoscopic criteria provides a
      reliable, consistent method to predict animals with severe focal cerebral
      ischemia.

PMID- 1440708
TI  - Diffusion-weighted imaging studies of cerebral ischemia in gerbils. Potential
      relevance to energy failure.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging has been
      shown to be particularly suited to the study of the acute phase of cerebral
      ischemia in animal models. The studies reported in this paper were undertaken to
      determine whether this technique is sensitive to the known ischemic thresholds
      for cerebral tissue energy failure and disturbance of membrane ion gradients.
      METHODS: Diffusion-weighted images of the gerbil brain were acquired under two
      sets of experimental conditions: as a function of cerebral blood flow after
      controlled graded occlusion of the common carotid arteries (partial ischemia), as
      a function of time following complete bilateral carotid artery occlusion (severe
      global ischemia), and on deocclusion after 60 minutes of ischemia. RESULTS:
      During partial cerebral ischemia, the diffusion-weighted images remained
      unchanged until the cerebral blood flow was reduced to 15-20 ml.100 g-1.min-1 and
      below, when image intensity increased as the cerebral blood flow was lowered
      further. This is similar to the critical flow threshold for maintenance of tissue
      high-energy metabolites and ion homeostasis. After the onset of severe global
      cerebral ischemia, diffusion-weighted image intensity increased gradually after a
      delay of approximately 2.5 minutes, consistent with complete loss of tissue
      adenosine triphosphate and with the time course of increase in extracellular
      potassium. This hyperintensity decreased on deocclusion following 60 minutes of
      ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that diffusion-weighted imaging is
      sensitive to the disruption of tissue energy metabolism or a consequence of this
      disruption. This raises the possibility of imaging energy failure noninvasively.
      In humans, this could have potential in visualizing brain regions where energy
      metabolism is impaired, particularly during the acute phase following stroke.

PMID- 1440709
TI  - Cerebral vasoconstriction in response to hypocapnia is maintained after
      ischemia/reperfusion injury in newborn pigs.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hypocapnic cerebral vasoconstriction is used
      therapeutically to reduce elevated intracranial pressure caused by cerebral
      edema. Because cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury causes a selective loss of
      prostanoid-dependent responses, including vasodilation to hypercapnia, we
      designed these experiments to examine the effect of ischemia/reperfusion on
      hypocapnic cerebral vasoconstriction. METHODS: Microvascular responses were
      studied in 10 newborn pigs (closed cranial window) in response to
      hyperventilation-induced hypocapnia (PaCO2, 22 +/- 2 mm Hg) both before and 45
      minutes after 20 minutes of global cerebral ischemia. Responses to hypercapnia
      (PaCO2, 63 +/- 3 mm Hg), topical isoproterenol (10(-7) M), and norepinephrine
      (10(-4) M) were also studied before and after ischemia in the same animals for
      comparison. RESULTS: Before ischemia/reperfusion, pial arterioles vasoconstricted
      to hypocapnia (-17 +/- 2%) and norepinephrine (-35 +/- 4%) and vasodilated to CO2
      (37 +/- 7%) and isoproterenol (25 +/- 2%). After ischemia/reperfusion, the
      constriction of pial arterioles to hypocapnia (-19 +/- 2%) was similar to that
      before ischemia. This is in contrast to the loss of dilation to hypercapnia.
      Dilation to isoproterenol and constriction to norepinephrine were not affected by
      ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: Hypocapnic cerebral vasoconstriction is maintained after
      ischemia/reperfusion. Since prostanoid-dependent responses, such as hypercapnic
      dilation, are lost following cerebral ischemia, these data suggest that
      hypocapnic constriction is not dependent on an intact prostanoid system and that
      cerebral vascular responses to CO2 involve multiple mechanisms, depending on
      whether CO2 is increasing or decreasing from baseline.

PMID- 1440710
TI  - Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate stabilizes brain intracellular calcium during hypoxia
      in rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Exogenously administered fructose-1,6-bisphosphate
      reduces neuronal injury from hypoxic or ischemic brain insults. To test the
      hypothesis that fructose-1,6-bisphosphate prevents changes in intracellular
      calcium ([Ca2+]i) and high-energy phosphate levels, we measured [Ca2+]i,
      intracellular pH (pHi), and adenosine triphosphate in cultured rat cortical
      astrocytes and cortical brain slices during hypoxia. METHODS: The fluorescent
      indicators fura-2 and bis-carboxyethyl-carboxyfluorescein were used to
      simultaneously measure [Ca2+]i and pHi with a fluorometer. RESULTS: Exposure to
      hypoxia (95% N2, 5% CO2) or 100 microM sodium cyanide produced transient
      increases in [Ca2+]i in astrocytes and sustained increases in [Ca2+]i in brain
      slices. Adenosine triphosphate levels fell in slices exposed to hypoxia or
      cyanide. Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (3.5 mM) blocked increases in [Ca2+]i and
      prevented depletion of adenosine triphosphate. Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate also
      partially prevented adenosine triphosphate depletion in brain slices incubated in
      glucose-free medium. Iodoacetate (a specific inhibitor of glycolysis) elevated
      [Ca2+]i and partially prevented these actions of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate.
      Changes in pHi during hypoxia were not affected by fructose-1,6-bisphosphate.
      CONCLUSIONS: Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate supports adenosine triphosphate production
      via stimulation of glycolysis and results in the maintenance of normal [Ca2+]i
      during hypoxia or hypoglycemia.

PMID- 1440711
TI  - Effects in cats of inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis on cerebral vasodilation
      and endothelium-derived relaxing factor from acetylcholine.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We investigated the chemical identity of the endothelium
      derived relaxing factor generated by acetylcholine in cerebral microvessels by
      studying the effects and mechanism of action of inhibitors of nitric oxide
      synthesis from arginine on the vasodilation and endothelium-derived relaxing
      factor production induced by topical application of acetylcholine in cerebral
      arterioles. METHODS: We determined cerebral arteriolar dilation and endothelium
      derived relaxing factor production by bioassay in anesthetized cats equipped with
      cranial windows during superfusion of 10(-7) M acetylcholine before and after
      administration of either NG-monomethyl L-arginine or NG-nitro-L-arginine, two
      inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis. RESULTS: NG-Nitro-L-arginine abolished the
      vasodilation from acetylcholine and eliminated the production of endothelium
      derived relaxing factor in the bioassay experiments. NG-Monomethyl L-arginine had
      no effect on the response to acetylcholine in the absence of pretreatment.
      However, after pretreatment with the detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate to increase
      cell membrane permeability, the inhibitor had effects identical to those of NG
      nitro-L-arginine. L-Arginine reversed the effects of the inhibitors of nitric
      oxide synthesis. Neither inhibitor affected baseline vascular caliber, nor did
      they generate a vasoconstrictor agent in the bioassay experiments. The two
      inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis did not affect the response to nitroprusside
      or adenosine, showing that the effect on responses to acetylcholine was specific.
      Also, the blockade of the response to acetylcholine induced by the inhibitors of
      nitric oxide synthesis was unaffected by treatment with superoxide dismutase and
      catalase, showing that the effect was not mediated by oxygen radicals.
      CONCLUSION: The endothelium-derived relaxing factor generated by acetylcholine in
      cerebral arterioles of cats is either nitric oxide or a nitric oxide-containing
      substance. The effect of these inhibitors on the response to acetylcholine is
      mediated by inhibition of the synthesis of nitric oxide. There is no involvement
      of radicals, and no vasoconstrictor agent is generated.

PMID- 1440712
TI  - Neuroprotective effects of carvedilol, a new antihypertensive agent, in cultured
      rat cerebellar neurons and in gerbil global brain ischemia.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Free radical generation mediates part of the ischemic
      neuronal damage caused by the excitatory amino acid glutamate. Carvedilol, a
      novel multiple-action antihypertensive agent, has been shown to scavenge free
      radicals and inhibit lipid peroxidation in swine heart and rat brain homogenates.
      Therefore, we studied the neuroprotective effect of carvedilol on cultured
      cerebellar neurons and on CA1 hippocampal neurons of gerbils exposed to brain
      ischemia. METHODS: Neuroprotective mechanisms were studied using an in vitro
      ischemia model of cultured rat cerebellar granule cell neurons exposed to either
      glutamate or oxygen free radical-generating systems. Prevention of lipid
      peroxidation by carvedilol was studied by measuring the formation of
      thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance. Gerbil CA1 neuron survival was examined
      by direct neuronal count 7 days after 6 minutes of global ischemia with
      reperfusion. RESULTS: Carvedilol protected cultured neurons in a dose-dependent
      manner against glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity (inhibitory concentration [IC50]
      = 1.1 microM) as well as against a 20-minute oxidative challenge (IC50 = 5
      microM). The IC50 against the oxidative challenge was lowered to 1.3 microM by
      growing neurons for 24 hours in the presence of carvedilol. At 10 microM
      carvedilol inhibited lipid peroxidation 50% and 73% (n = 4, p < 0.001) in neurons
      exposed to two different free radical-generating systems. Neuroprotection of 52%
      (n = 22, p = 0.009 versus vehicle) of gerbil CA1 hippocampal neurons was achieved
      by pretreatment and posttreatment with subcutaneous injection of 3 mg/kg
      carvedilol twice a day for 4 and 3 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Carvedilol
      provided neuroprotection in both in vitro and in vivo models of neuroinjury,
      where oxygen radicals are likely to play an important role. Therefore, carvedilol
      may reduce the risk of cerebral ischemia and stroke by virtue of both its
      antihypertensive action and its antioxidative properties.

PMID- 1440713
TI  - Release of proinflammatory and prothrombotic mediators in the brain and
      peripheral circulation in spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive Wistar
      Kyoto rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We reported previously that stroke risk factors prepared
      the brain stem for the development of ischemia and hemorrhage and induced the
      production of tumor necrosis factor following an intrathecal injection of
      lipopolysaccharide, a prototypic monocyte-activating stimulus. This study
      evaluates whether blood or brain cells of hypertensive rats produce more
      proinflammatory and prothrombotic mediators than do blood or brain cells of
      normotensive rats. METHODS: Levels of tumor necrosis factor, platelet-activating
      factor, 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha, and thromboxane B2 in the cerebrospinal
      fluid and blood of spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats
      were monitored before and after a challenge with lipopolysaccharide. RESULTS:
      Little or no activity from these mediators was found in the cerebrospinal fluid
      or blood of saline-injected control animals. Intravenous administration of
      lipopolysaccharide (0.001, 0.1, and 1.8 mg/kg) produced dose-dependent increases
      in blood levels of all mediators in hypertensive rats. In normotensive rats the
      levels were less than in hypertensive rats and were not clearly dose-related.
      When lipopolysaccharide was injected intracerebroventricularly, more tumor
      necrosis factor was measured in the cerebrospinal fluid than in the blood,
      suggesting local synthesis of this cytokine. Levels of tumor necrosis factor and
      platelet-activating factor in the cerebrospinal fluid were higher in hypertensive
      than in normotensive rats. The thromboxane A2/prostacyclin ratio was not altered
      significantly between the two rat strains. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that the
      higher incidence of brain stem ischemia and hemorrhage after the intrathecal
      injection of lipopolysaccharide in hypertensive rats than in normotensive rats
      might be related to the higher levels of the two cytotoxic factors tumor necrosis
      factor and platelet-activating factor produced in response to such challenge.

PMID- 1440714
TI  - Detection of intracranial emboli in patients with symptomatic extracranial
      carotid artery disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cerebral embolism from extracranial sources is an
      important cause of ischemic stroke. The purpose of this limited study using long
      term transcranial Doppler ultrasonographic monitoring was to estimate the
      frequency of clinically silent intracranial embolisms in patients with
      symptomatic extracranial carotid artery disease. SUMMARY OF REPORT: By means of a
      2-MHz pulsed-wave transcranial Doppler instrumentation, three consecutive
      patients with extracranial internal carotid artery stenosis (n = 2) or occlusion
      (n = 1) and recurrent ipsilateral ischemic events were monitored (19 hours total
      recording time). In addition, 10 control subjects without cerebrovascular disease
      were studied (25 hours total recording time). Formed-element emboli were defined
      as distinct signals within the fast Fourier-transform Doppler spectrum that were
      < 70 msec in duration and > 9dB greater in intensity than the background signal.
      Clinically silent formed-element embolism of ophthalmic or cerebral arteries was
      demonstrated in all three patients. Embolic events occurred only in the territory
      of the symptomatic internal carotid artery. The average rate of cerebral
      embolization at transcranial Doppler ultrasonography was 4.1/hr, with a mean
      signal duration of 47 msec. No emboli were found in control subjects.
      CONCLUSIONS: The observed high frequency of silent embolism of the intracranial
      arteries detected by transcranial Doppler monitoring in patients with recurrently
      symptomatic extracranial carotid artery disease should encourage studies of the
      prognostic and therapeutic implications of this method.

PMID- 1440715
TI  - Irish brogue after stroke.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We describe a patient who presented a unique variation of the
      previously described acquired foreign accent syndrome. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 65
      year-old women developed an Irish brogue immediately after a deep left hemisphere
      stroke. The newly accented speech possibly represented a previously learned
      speech pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Suppressed prosodic speech patterns may reemerge in
      the setting of brain injury.

PMID- 1440716
TI  - Bilateral medial medullary infarction with oculomotor disorders.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We describe the first case of bilateral medial medullary
      infarction demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging. We discuss the relation
      between this lesion and the oculomotor signs that were observed clinically. CASE
      DESCRIPTION: A 71-year-old man initially presented with pure motor hemiparesis,
      which progressed to complete quadriplegia. He also developed nearly complete
      vertical and horizontal ophthalmoplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed
      upper medial medullary infarctions bilaterally that extended to the
      pontomedullary junction. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that the vertical oculomotor
      disorders resulted from involvement of the oculomotor system in the caudal brain
      stem, especially the caudal paramedian pontine reticular formations on both
      sides.

PMID- 1440717
TI  - The role of transesophageal echocardiography in the acute onset of paraplegia.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Acute paraplegia must be investigated promptly to exclude
      reversible causes. In this report we illustrate the usefulness of transesophageal
      echocardiography in identifying the vascular etiologies of acute paraplegia. CASE
      DESCRIPTIONS: Two patients presented with acute paraplegia, one spontaneously and
      the other after removal of an intra-aortic balloon pump catheter. Through the use
      of transesophageal echocardiography, we excluded aortic dissection and identified
      protruding atherosclerotic plaques in the descending thoracic aorta of each
      patient. Embolization of atheromatous material from the thoracic aorta was
      considered the most likely etiology of paraplegia in both cases. CONCLUSIONS:
      Embolization from atherosclerotic plaques in the thoracic aorta may be an
      underestimated cause of acute paraplegia. Transesophageal echocardiography
      provides a safe, rapid, and reliable tool for investigating a vascular etiology
      of acute paraplegia.

PMID- 1440718
TI  - Is cerebral angiography indicated in infective endocarditis?
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with infective endocarditis may develop
      intracranial mycotic aneurysms. Whether these patients should undergo cerebral
      angiography followed by prophylactic surgery if an aneurysm is detected is an
      unresolved question. METHODS: We estimated the probability of survival 12 weeks
      after the diagnosis of infective endocarditis on the basis of data available in
      the literature. RESULTS: For a 40-year-old female patient with right-sided
      hemiplegia, the 12-week survival is estimated to be 83.75% without angiography
      and 83.65% with angiography; the specific mortality of intracranial mycotic
      aneurysms is relatively small but increases by 40% (from 0.25% to 0.35%) if
      angiography is performed. The risk of aneurysm rupture in infective endocarditis
      and the mortality from rupture appear to be the most important factors that
      affect the analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral angiography should not be performed
      routinely in patients with infective endocarditis. Specific subgroups in whom
      such a policy might be beneficial have not yet been identified.

PMID- 1440719
TI  - Experimental evidence of ischemic thresholds and functional recovery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Impaired blood flow below certain critical levels and an insufficient
      supply of energy-rich substrates cause failure of neuronal function, triggering
      biochemical disturbances that eventually lead to ischemic cell damage. SUMMARY OF
      REVIEW: This article reviews experimental studies that attempted to define those
      ischemic thresholds using functional and histological markers and, more recently,
      chemical markers of ischemic damage. CONCLUSIONS: The duration of ischemia
      causing irreversible cell damage still is ill defined. Reestablishment of
      sufficient perfusion must be induced very early after an ischemic attack to
      ameliorate the potentially harmful biochemical sequelae of transient ischemia.

PMID- 1440720
TI  - Leukoaraiosis and dementia in hypertensive patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although our previous study demonstrated that dementia of
      the Binswanger type may be a disconnection dementia caused by leukoaraiosis, some
      hypertensive patients with marked leukoaraiosis do not develop dementia. The goal
      of the present study is to elucidate the pathophysiology of nondemented
      hypertensive patients with leukoaraiosis. METHODS: We performed clinical and
      neuroradiological studies, including positron emission tomography, in eight
      hypertensive patients with leukoaraiosis. RESULTS: Four patients were demented,
      and two among the other four who were not demented at the first examination
      developed dementia during the follow-up period. Digital subtraction angiography
      of the cervical and intracranial arteries demonstrated stenotic lesions in only
      one patient. Cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism in patients with dementia
      were markedly reduced in the white matter (59-67% of control values). In
      contrast, cerebral blood flow in the white matter of patients without dementia
      was reduced less markedly (74% of control), oxygen extraction fraction in the
      white matter was significantly increased (130% of control), and oxygen metabolism
      remained at almost-normal levels not only in the white matter but also in the
      cortical area. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension-caused arteriosclerotic changes of the
      long penetrating medullary arteries may cause misery perfusion and later ischemic
      damage in the periventricular white matter. Preserved oxygen metabolism in
      hypertensive patients with leukoaraiosis may represent the early stage of
      vascular dementia of the Binswanger type.

PMID- 1440721
TI  - A unified form for neurological scoring of hemispheric stroke with motor
      impairment.

PMID- 1440722
TI  - Handedness and carotid plaque lesion.

PMID- 1440723
TI  - Use of breath holding for evaluating cerebrovascular reserve capacity.

PMID- 1440724
TI  - Disagreement over terms.

PMID- 1440725
TI  - Arrhythmias and stroke laterality.

PMID- 1440726
TI  - Inhibitory and enhancing activity of beta 2-glycoprotein I on antiphospholipid
      autoantibody binding.

PMID- 1440727
TI  - [The diagnosis of heart contusion in living subjects with closed chest trauma].

PMID- 1440728
TI  - [The nature of the deposit of substances in gunshot injuries from a smooth-bore
      hunting rifle].
AB  - Direct microscopic examinations of plain-barrel hunting gun-shot wounds may
      reveal on the victim's skin or clothes starch or paraffin particles or
      impressions thereof (a secondary shell trace). These data may evidence a specific
      charge of the cartridge and be used to specify the distance from which the shot
      was made, with an obligatory experimental shot made in each case.

PMID- 1440729
TI  - [The differential diagnosis of death from complete freezing and other causes].

PMID- 1440730
TI  - [The forensic medical expertise of the victims of large-scale fires].
AB  - The difficulties of present-day forensic medical expert evaluation of poisonings
      in fires are explained by exposure of man to highly toxic compounds that form
      during burning of polymers. Analyzing forensic medical expert evaluations of a
      large number of victims dead in a large-scale fire, the authors emphasize the
      necessity of measuring not only dead people's blood levels of HbCO, but of some
      other toxic combustion products that may exert combined effects on human body.
      The authors think it desirable that criteria of forensic medical evaluation of
      combined poisoning in fire be defined.

PMID- 1440731
TI  - [The use of trace deposits for establishing the weapon of an injury].
AB  - The author analyzes the value of traces detectable on stabbing and cutting
      instruments (traces of blood, isolated cells of the injured organs and tissues of
      human body, trace particles of textile fabrics) for the identification of the
      instrument of injury. A comprehensive assessment of the fact of detection of
      material traces and of the specific features of injuries of victim's body and
      clothes helps in some cases identify the instrument of injury.

PMID- 1440732
TI  - [The characteristics of conducting forensic medical expertise in cases of
      forcible sodomy].

PMID- 1440733
TI  - [The determination of the presence of blood in the clues for material evidence].

PMID- 1440734
TI  - [The combination of mixed agglutination and immunofluorescence reactions for the
      simultaneous detection of 2 ABO-system antigens in isolated cells].
AB  - A combination of two immunologic tests, mixed agglutination and
      immunofluorescence, is suggested, that permits the detection of two AB0 system
      antigens in the same cell within one process. Such mode better validates the
      conclusion on the group appurtenance of cells, for instance, in analyses of mixed
      stains originating from different subjects with different blood groups.

PMID- 1440735
TI  - [The use of immunoenzyme analysis for determining ABH antigens in traces of
      saliva and sperm].
AB  - The authors suggest a simple sensitive technique for enzyme immunoassay (EIA) of
      ABH antigens in saliva and semen. A two-staged dot blot solid-phase EIA on
      nitrocellulose membranes was employed with anti-ABH monoclonal antibodies
      obtained in immunization of mice with human red cells. 4-chloro-1-naphthol
      substrate solution was used to visualize the peroxidase label. The results of
      analysis of salivary and spermatic samples obtained from donors of various groups
      evidence that this EIA variant may be useful in forensic medicine.

PMID- 1440736
TI  - [The use of the orthogonal function method for calculating the background in
      determining ergotamine in biological material].

PMID- 1440737
TI  - [The determination of phoxim in cadaveric material by gas-liquid chromatography].
AB  - The developed gas-liquid chromatographic procedure for forensic chemical
      detection and measurement of phoxim in cadaveric material permits the detection
      in 25 g of an organ of 44 to 52% of added phoxim. The threshold of phoxim
      measurement in 100 g of the liver is 0.04 mg, the least volume of phoxim
      detectable being 0.02 g. The developed gas-liquid chromatographic technique
      should be used as an additional method together with thin-layer chromatography,
      for a more objective evaluation of the results of forensic chemical analysis of
      cadaveric material for phoxim.

PMID- 1440738
TI  - [Acute methanol poisonings].

PMID- 1440739
TI  - [The cost price of expertise as an objective index of the work-share coefficient
      of the forensic medical expert].
AB  - The author suggests a method for estimating the net cost of a forensic medical
      expert investigation, consisting in calculation of an objective real coefficient
      of the ratio of various expert investigations to the reference value. The ratio
      between forensic medical investigation budget and the total number of these
      investigations forms the basis for the estimation of the net cost of an expert
      evaluation.

PMID- 1440740
TI  - [The use of intravital tooth staining in personal identification].

PMID- 1440741
TI  - [The possibilities for using computer technology and programmed systems in
      forensic medicine].

PMID- 1440742
TI  - [The choice of the control object in the forensic medical determination of the
      intravital origin of mechanical injuries].

PMID- 1440743
TI  - Presuicide attempt communications between parasuicides and consulted caregivers.
AB  - A high percentage of parasuicides visit professional caregivers prior to the
      attempted suicide. The content or outcome of these consultations is unknown. We
      interviewed hospitalized attempters and the professional caregivers they
      identified as having been consulted prior to their attempts. About half of these
      patients directly disclosed suicidal symptoms or intentions, especially to mental
      health professionals. These professionals more often inquired about suicidal
      ideations than did nonpsychiatric physicians. However, few caregivers noted
      suicidal thinking or probed suicidal symptoms. The data suggest that professional
      caregivers and especially nonpsychiatric physicians should be more sensitive and
      responsive to the signs and symptoms of suicidality.

PMID- 1440744
TI  - Intensive follow-up does not decrease the risk of repeat suicide attempts.
AB  - We carried out a randomized controlled trial to determine whether an intensive
      intervention after a suicide attempt could decrease by half the risk of a repeat
      attempt in the following two years. After initial assessment and randomization,
      experimental subjects attended 18 therapy appointments over one year, including
      one home visit, and measures to improve attendance. Control subjects received the
      usual care. Of 63 experimental subjects, 35% made a repeat attempt, and so did
      30% of 63 control subjects. The study had a 99% power to detect the desired
      decrease of risk (30% to 15%). Clearly, the intervention did not achieve its
      objective.

PMID- 1440745
TI  - Adolescents' experience with and response to suicidal peers.
AB  - The present study investigated a sample of 325 suburban high school students'
      knowledge of suicidal peers, whether they had ever talked to a suicidal peer,
      and, if so, what they actually did in that situation. Sixty-eight percent of the
      females and 42.5% of the males reported knowing a teen who had committed or
      attempted suicide. Ninety-seven students reported having talked to a peer who was
      definitely considering suicide; of these, 63% talked to their peer about his or
      her concerns, 24.7% told an adult, and 12% did nothing in response to the
      encounter. Ninth graders were significantly more likely to do nothing as compared
      to eleventh graders. A mixed pattern of results was found as to the relationship
      of the response of youth to suicidal peers and their general experience with
      suicidal peers. The results confirm the importance of adolescents themselves for
      the prevention of youth suicide, and the need to convince adolescents to report
      at-risk peers to an adult.

PMID- 1440746
TI  - Older adults: the next suicide epidemic?
AB  - Suicide rates historically and currently are highest by age among those over the
      age of 65. Predictions of markedly higher rates for future older adults have been
      advanced. Possible alternative factors that might produce lower risk among future
      elderly Americans are presented and it is argued that future trends are
      uncertain. Predictions of elderly suicide are made based on an assumption of
      stable rather than changing rates. Constant rates produce estimates of more than
      twice the current number of suicides and a proportionate increase in the number
      of suicides from one in five for the 1980s to one in three by the year 2030. The
      elderly are and likely will be a group with high suicide risk. Immediate efforts
      to lower elderly suicide risk and avert high future rates are recommended.

PMID- 1440747
TI  - Self-directed and other-directed aggressive behavior in a forensic sample.
AB  - Fifty habitually aggressive men were assessed for self-directed aggressive
      behavior (SDAB) and other-directed aggressive behavior (QDAB). Subjects
      displaying SDAB were compared with subjects exhibiting exclusively ODAB. The
      former were found to engage in more frequent acts of verbal aggression, physical
      aggression against objects, and physical aggression against others, as well as in
      more severe acts of verbal aggression and physical aggression against others.
      They were also more likely to receive diagnoses of mental retardation, organic
      personality disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, or autism. Findings are
      consistent with the presence of a neurologically based behavioral dyscontrol in
      the SDAB subjects.

PMID- 1440748
TI  - Suicide and the military justice system.
AB  - The United States military is sensitive to suicide. There are military policies
      that direct the formation of active suicide prevention programs. The U.S.
      military emphasizes a humanitarian approach. Modern military law, however, may
      view suicidal behavior as deviant. The prosecution of this behavior, although
      theoretically possible, has never occurred until recently. The U.S. military has
      now convicted soldiers for attempted suicide and assisted suicide. This article
      reviews these recent court decisions and suggests revisions in the military law.

PMID- 1440749
TI  - A suicide epidemic in a psychiatric hospital.
AB  - The authors report in detail on an epidemic of six inpatient suicides in a
      psychiatric hospital in Finland. Suggestion and identification had an effect on
      the timing as well as on the method of four of the suicides. The epidemic is
      viewed from individual, network, and organizational perspectives. The authors
      speculate on how such epidemics could be avoided. An increase in inpatient
      suicide rates has been reported from many countries, and the Werther effect may
      thus become a topic of considerable importance in psychiatric hospitals in the
      future.

PMID- 1440750
TI  - Gender differences in the psychosocial correlates of suicidal ideation among
      adolescents.
AB  - Gender differences in the psychosocial correlates of suicidal ideation were
      studied. A sample of 613 high school students (ages 14-19) completed measures of
      suicidal ideation, depression, hopelessness, life stress, loneliness, alcohol and
      drug use, and reasons for living. The results of a discriminant function analysis
      indicated that males reported higher loneliness and substance abuse scores than
      females whereas females reported greater suicidal ideation, depression, and
      reasons for living. The results of multiple regression analyses found that,
      although the same four variables, depression, hopelessness, substance abuse, and
      few reasons for living emerged as significant predictors of suicidal ideation in
      both samples, the predictive equation accounted for more of the variance in
      ideation scores in females (57%) than in males (46%). In a final analysis a
      discriminant function analysis of the subscales of the reasons for living
      inventory revealed that females have a greater fear of death and injury whereas
      males have a greater fear of social disapproval over having suicidal thoughts.
      This may account for the greater rate of suicide completing among males. Fear of
      social disapproval, more anger and impulsivity, and less help-seeking behavior
      among males are offered as potential variables to explain the observed gender
      differences.

PMID- 1440751
TI  - Adolescent suicide and defensive style.
AB  - This empirical study investigated the relation between ego defense mechanisms,
      diagnoses, and suicidality among 200 adolescent psychiatric patients ages 12 to
      16 years. Based on a structured diagnostic interview, adolescents were divided
      into three groups: suicide attempters, suicidal ideators, and nonsuicidal
      patients. Using the Defense Mechanisms Inventory (DMI), suicidal adolescents
      scored higher on the defense of turning-against-self and lower on reversal, as
      compared to nonsuicidal adolescents. Although suicide was significantly more
      common among adolescents with an affective disorder, turning-against-self
      remained significantly associated with suicide attempt even when diagnosis was
      controlled for. Results demonstrate the importance of defense mechanisms in
      understanding adolescent suicidal behavior.

PMID- 1440752
TI  - A test of Durkheim's theory of suicide in primitive societies.
AB  - Primitive societies were classified as high, moderate, or low on independent
      measures of social integration and social regulation to test Durkheim's theory of
      suicide. The estimated frequency of suicide did not differ between those
      societies predicted to have high, moderate, and low suicide rates. Thus,
      Durkheim's theory was not confirmed. Possible reasons for these results are
      discussed.

PMID- 1440753
TI  - The suicide of Marigold Perry.

PMID- 1440754
TI  - [Dental care at Winterthur].

PMID- 1440756
TI  - [Aging: fundamental theme in psychology?].

PMID- 1440755
TI  - [Emergency service of the Winterthur Association of Dentists (VWZ). Objectives,
      duties and methods].

PMID- 1440757
TI  - [Substitution effects in the care for the elderly in Southeast Groningen].
AB  - Results are presented of a 'demonstration project' in care for the elderly in the
      region South-East Groningen. Three issues were at stake in this project:
      extension of home-care, interventions in the referral processes to nursing homes
      and homes for the aged and coordinated allocation and planning of services for
      the elderly. Effects of the intervention were assessed with a quasi-experimental
      control-group design. In this paper, the issue of substitution is addressed from
      two different angles. First, changes in utilization of services in the
      experimental period (1988-1990) were evaluated. Second, changes in disability of
      elderly clients were evaluated. In both analyses, controls for national
      developments took place. The analyses show that substitution occurred, both in
      terms of utilization of care (more home-care, less institutional care) and in
      terms of the levels of need of clients (increases in mean level of disability in
      the populations of home-care and homes for the aged).

PMID- 1440758
TI  - [Voting behavior of the elderly: motivation and background].
AB  - On the occasion of the Dutch election for the Second Chamber of Parliament held
      on September 6, 1989 the Central Bureau of Statistics conducted a National Voters
      Survey (NKO). Voting behaviour and information about the backgrounds of this
      behaviour were collected among 1506 voters. A formerly developed explanatory
      model of party choice of the electorate also appears to apply to the 382 elderly
      voters (55 years and older) in the sample. The results show that party choice of
      elderly is mainly determined by the characteristics income, social class,
      religion, social values (social criticism) and opinions about politicians. The
      elderly differ from the younger voters (18-54 years old) on several points. For
      the elderly, the characteristics sex, education and social class play a more
      important role, whereas certain values (family values and postmaterialism) are
      more relevant for the 18-54 year-old group. In addition it turned out that as far
      as the explanation of party choice is concerned, the elderly are not a
      homogeneous group. Voters aged 75-plus in particular can be distinguished from
      the 55-64 and 65-74 year-old groups.

PMID- 1440759
TI  - [The elderly and memory complaints. A study of self-knowledge about memory,
      depression and memory abilities].
AB  - A group of 24 elderly persons who applied for a memory training because of memory
      complaints is compared with a control group of 24 healthy persons (matched for
      age, sex, and education). The comparison concerned several memory tests,
      complaints above everyday memory, depression and aspects of meta-memory. Before
      training, the memory training group had more complaints about everyday memory and
      depression compared to the control group. The training group reported more
      decline in memory capacity and functioning compared to their earlier days. They
      also reported feelings of stress and anxiety related to memory performance in
      daily life. Before training, the training group had more general knowledge about
      basic memory processes and used memory strategies more frequently. On most memory
      tests no differences were found. Memory complaints of elderly people may
      therefore not only be related to memory abilities according to tests but also to
      individual (negative) beliefs in memory capacity and abilities.

PMID- 1440760
TI  - [Does advancing age not spoil mood?].

PMID- 1440761
TI  - The Onchocerciasis Control Programme.

PMID- 1440762
TI  - Medicine for the tropics: past, present and future.

PMID- 1440763
TI  - Chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium vivax in Papua New Guinea.
AB  - An Australian expatriate on regular weekly antimalarial prophylaxis with
      chloroquine base and Maloprim developed symptomatic Plasmodium vivax infection
      which failed to respond adequately to 600 mg of chloroquine base. More ominously,
      a resident of the Highlands region of Papua New Guinea contracted vivax malaria
      which failed to be cleared by 2400 mg chloroquine base administered over 4 d.
      Both patients had achieved appropriate blood and plasma concentrations of
      chloroquine after treatment. Chloroquine-resistant P. vivax is now a clinical
      fact in Papua New Guinea.

PMID- 1440764
TI  - Innate resistance to new antimalarial drugs in Plasmodium falciparum from
      Nigeria.
AB  - The rapid dissemination of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in West
      Africa has been well documented and represents a significant health threat to
      autochthonous populations. The methodical development of alternative
      chemotherapeutic agents demands that dispensing new antimalarial drugs
      (mefloquine, halofantrine, and artemisinine [qinghaosu]) be closely monitored in
      order to protect their clinical utility. Indeed, mefloquine-resistant strains of
      P. falciparum have been reported. We present data from experiments in vitro on
      the innate resistance of P. falciparum isolates to mefloquine as well as a
      disturbing observation of transient resistance to artemisinine. The implications
      for the extended efficacy of these new antimalarial drugs are addressed.

PMID- 1440765
TI  - Plasmodium falciparum: haemoglobinase activity pattern of isolates is not related
      to chloroquine sensitivity.

PMID- 1440766
TI  - Chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium vivax: the first case in Brazil.

PMID- 1440767
TI  - Immune activation during cerebellar dysfunction following Plasmodium falciparum
      malaria.
AB  - Evidence for immune activation was investigated in 12 patients with a rare
      syndrome of self-limiting, delayed onset cerebellar dysfunction following an
      attack of falciparum malaria which occurred 18-26 d previously. Concentrations of
      tumour necrosis factor, interleukin 6 and interleukin 2 were all significantly
      higher in serum samples of patients during cerebellar ataxia than in recovery
      sera and in the sera of 8 patients who did not develop delayed cerebellar
      dysfunction following an attack of falciparum malaria. Cytokine concentrations in
      the cerebrospinal fluid were also significantly higher in ataxic patients than in
      controls. These findings suggest that immunological mechanisms may play a role in
      delayed cerebellar dysfunction following falciparum malaria.

PMID- 1440768
TI  - Human cerebral malaria: alpha-galactosyl antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid.

PMID- 1440769
TI  - Urinary neopterin in volunteers experimentally infected with Plasmodium
      falciparum.
AB  - To investigate the kinetics of monocyte/macrophage activation in falciparum
      malaria we determined urinary neopterin values serially in experimentally
      infected volunteers. Three subjects who had been immunized with irradiated
      sporozoites via mosquito bites served as controls. These individuals remained
      aparasitaemic, afebrile and without a rise in neopterin after challenge by
      infective mosquitoes. Four non-immune subjects developed Plasmodium falciparum
      parasitaemia, fever (3 of 4) and sharp rises in neopterin. Parasite densities
      reached 10-100 parasitized erythrocytes per microliter before elevations in
      temperature or neopterin levels were detected. Onset of fever preceded the rise
      in neopterin excretion by one day. Prompt chemotherapy was associated with the
      clearance of parasites from the blood and the return of temperature and neopterin
      levels to normal.

PMID- 1440770
TI  - Urinary frequency in falciparum malaria.

PMID- 1440771
TI  - Detecting malaria sporozoites in live, field-collected mosquitoes.
AB  - A method is described for identifying malaria-infected mosquitoes, without
      killing them or hampering their fitness. Individual mosquitoes were induced to
      salivate on coverslips, and sporozoites, deposited on the glass surface, were
      visualized by Giemsa staining. Of 21 mosquitoes found to contain sporozoites by
      salivary gland dissection, 13 had delivered sporozoites on coverslips. A positive
      correlation was found between the amount of saliva expelled and ejection of
      sporozoites, indicating that the sensitivity of the method may be increased by
      improving the probing behaviour of the mosquitoes. The procedure described may be
      suitable for selecting infected mosquitoes which are able to eject sporozoites
      during probing. Being applicable to wild Anopheles and to large numbers of
      mosquitoes, the method lends itself for use in field studies on malaria.

PMID- 1440772
TI  - Cutaneous leishmaniasis in western Venezuela caused by infection with Leishmania
      venezuelensis and L. braziliensis variants.
AB  - Between 1975 and 1987, epidemiological studies were carried out in several rural
      and urban communities in the central part of western Venezuela, especially in the
      state of Lara. 115 positive cultures were obtained from human cases and
      identified by their reactivity patterns to a cross-panel of specific monoclonal
      antibodies using a radioimmune binding assay; 53 were Leishmania venezuelensis
      and 62 were L. braziliensis. Most of these stocks were also characterized by
      isoenzyme electrophoresis, which confirmed the identification of the L.
      venezuelensis isolates. The enzyme electrophoretic profiles of the L.
      braziliensis isolates, however, revealed two populations with distinct
      electromorphs, one related to the World Health Organization L. braziliensis
      reference strain while the other population appeared to be a hybrid between L.
      braziliensis and L. guyanensis. L. braziliensis variants showed the widest
      geographical distribution, and were found in 7 states: Districto Federal
      (Caracas); Lara (Barquisimeto, Crespo, Iribarren, Jimenez, Moran, Palavecino,
      Torres, Urdaneta); Nueva Esparta (Margarita); Portuguesa (Las Cruces, Rio
      Amarillo); Trujillo (Cuicas); Yaracuy (Agua Fria, Cambural, Guaremal); and Zulia
      (Zipa-Yare). L. venezuelensis was found in the following endemic regions: Lara
      (Barquisimeto, Iribarren, Jimenez, Moran); Merida (Zea); and Yaracuy (Campos
      Elias), showing that this parasite has a much wider geographical distribution
      than was initially recognized and that both these species can occur
      simultaneously within the same endemic region. Five isolates of L. braziliensis
      were made from infected donkeys (Equus asinus) in Urdaneta, Lara State,
      suggesting a possible domestic reservoir of L. braziliensis.

PMID- 1440773
TI  - Cutaneous leishmaniasis in south-western Ethiopia: Ocholo revisited.
AB  - The borough of Ocholo, on the western side of the Ethiopian Rift Valley, is an
      endemic focus for Leishmania aethiopica infection and has been surveyed thrice
      between 1987 and 1990. In 1989, 3022 inhabitants (> 95% of the population) were
      interviewed and examined. The overall prevalence of localized cutaneous
      leishmaniasis (LCL) was 3.6-4.0%, with a peak value of 8.5% in the 0-10 years old
      age group. In half of the patients the active disease was estimated to last for
      9.6 +/- 6 months; in 10%, it exceeded 3 years. Scars of LCL were present in 34.3%
      of the residents. Leishmanin skin tests were positive in 54% of 120 school
      children without signs of the disease. Therefore, in Ocholo a minimum of 71.6% of
      the population has been exposed to L. aethiopica infection. Two cases of the
      diffuse form of cutaneous leishmaniasis were observed. In this highland biotope,
      Phlebotomus pedifer was found to be the major, and possibly the only, vector for
      L. aethiopica.

PMID- 1440774
TI  - Comparison of parasitological and immunological methods in the diagnosis of
      leishmaniasis in Ethiopia.
AB  - The sensitivity and specificity of parasite demonstration methods (smear, culture
      and histology) and serological assays (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA],
      direct agglutination test and immunoblot) were compared in the diagnosis of
      leishmaniasis in Ethiopia. Culture was found to be the most sensitive diagnostic
      method, followed by ELISA, for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL).
      When the clinical type of CL was taken into consideration, serological and
      parasitological methods were equally good for the diagnosis of diffuse cutaneous
      leishmaniasis. Overall, the serological assays were not sensitive enough to
      diagnose all the parasitologically confirmed cases of localized cutaneous
      leishmaniasis. Both groups of diagnostic methods performed equally well in the
      diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis patients. In cases of CL where clinical
      diagnosis was a problem and histology could not give a definitive diagnosis due
      to the absence of demonstrable parasites, one of the serological assays,
      preferably ELISA, was very useful in establishing the final diagnosis.

PMID- 1440775
TI  - Identification of Leishmania from mucosal leishmaniasis by recombinant DNA
      probes.
AB  - Three cases of mucosal leishmaniasis are described. Parasites isolated from
      mucosal lesions were identified by Southern blot analysis of their genomic
      deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs) using recombinant DNA probe pDK20. Parasites from 2
      patients were identified as Leishmania donovani s.l. One of the patients had pure
      mucosal lesions, while in the second patient there was dissemination of the
      parasite to other organs. The spectrum of the disease caused by L. donovani is
      discussed. The parasite from the third patient was identified as L. major.

PMID- 1440776
TI  - HIV-Leishmania co-infections in Italy. Isoenzyme characterization of Leishmania
      causing visceral leishmaniasis in HIV patients.
AB  - Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) infections in patients with human immunodeficiency
      virus (HIV) infection are dramatically increasing in Mediterranean countries such
      as Spain, France and Italy. A study has been carried out to characterize
      biochemically the agents of typical or unusual VL in subjects with HIV infection
      and to compare results with those obtained so far from VL and cutaneous
      leishmaniasis (CL) infections in HIV negative subjects. Twelve Leishmania stocks
      were isolated from 8 HIV patients and typed through the electrophoretic analysis
      of 14 isoenzymes. All the stocks were identified as L. infantum s.l. According to
      zymodeme classification, the results can be summarized as follows: (i) only half
      of the subjects were infected with the expected commonest viscerotropic zymodeme
      in the Mediterranean area, MON 1; (ii) 2 patients were infected with the most
      widespread agent of CL in Italy, L. infantum MON 24; (iii) one subject was found
      infected with a zymodeme (MON 78) which, so far, has been found only in Malta as
      an agent of CL; (iv) one subject was infected with a new zymodeme, MON 136, which
      shares biochemical characteristics with 2 dermotropic L. infantum zymodemes, MON
      78 and MON 111. Thus, half of the HIV patients surveyed displayed severe
      visceralization of parasites usually showing low virulence in HIV negative
      subjects.

PMID- 1440777
TI  - A capture ELISA detects Giardia lamblia antigens in formalin-treated faecal
      samples.

PMID- 1440778
TI  - Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies
      for the detection of Entamoeba histolytica antigens in faecal specimens.
AB  - A murine monoclonal antibody (MAb) (Eh208C2-2) raised against crude lysate of the
      pathogenic HM-1:IMSS strain of Entamoeba histolytica was used in an enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay for the detection of E. histolytica antigens in faecal
      specimens. The detection limit of the assay was 110 and 280 amoebae/ml of the HM
      1:IMSS and HK-9 strains in phosphate-buffered saline, respectively. The assay was
      applied to single stool samples from 3 groups of individuals comprising 40
      patients whose stools were positive for E. histolytica trophozoites and/or cysts
      (group I), 48 patients whose stools were negative for E. histolytica but positive
      for other parasites (group II), and 36 parasitologically-negative healthy
      controls (group III). Positivity rates of 77.5%, 2.1% and 2.7% were found in
      samples from groups I, II and III respectively. Specificity, positive and
      negative predictive values, and efficiency of the assay were 97.6%, 93.9%, 90.1%
      and 91.1% respectively. When group I samples were further divided into a
      trophozoite-positive subgroup IA (13 samples) and a cyst-positive subgroup IB (27
      samples), the positive rates were 100% and 66.7%, respectively (P < 0.025).

PMID- 1440779
TI  - Entamoeba histolytica: erythrophagocytosis, collagenolysis, and liver abscess
      production as virulence markers.
AB  - High rates of erythrophagocytosis and collagenolysis in vitro have been regarded
      as indicative of virulence in vivo of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites. In the
      present study, the erythrophagocytic index and the collagenolytic activity of 3
      axenic lines of E. histolytica, strain HM1:IMSS, were measured. The 3 lines
      shared the same pathogenic zymodeme but showed clear-cut differences in the
      extent of liver damage induced in hamsters. A direct correlation between
      collagenolysis in vitro and the size of liver abscesses produced by each line of
      E. histolytica trophozoites was found. In contrast, the line with the highest
      erythrophagocytic index produced small amoebic abscesses in hamsters, whereas the
      line with a relatively low erythrophagocytic index produced the largest liver
      lesions. It is concluded that the extent of collagenolytic activity is a better
      marker of virulence of E. histolytica cultured under axenic conditions than is
      erythrophagocytosis.

PMID- 1440780
TI  - Axenic cultivation of Entamoeba histolytica in suspension.

PMID- 1440781
TI  - Quantitative detection of schistosomal circulating anodic antigen by a magnetic
      bead antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MBAC-EIA) before and
      after mass chemotherapy.
AB  - The magnetic bead antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MBAC-EIA)
      has been applied to detect schistosomal circulating anodic antigen (CAA) in pre-
      and post-treatment sera from 55 individuals in a Schistosoma mansoni control
      project in the Blue Nile valley of western Ethiopia. The amounts of CAA detected
      by this assay were positively correlated with the numbers of eggs per gram of
      faeces (epg). A significant reduction in CAA levels as measured by the MBAC-EIA
      was observed after mass chemotherapy. The sensitivity was 88-89% in clinically
      significant cases excreting more than 100 epg. In light infections, however, the
      sensitivity was lower. None of 32 uninfected Norwegian blood donors or 12
      Ethiopian immigrants to Norway were positive. The specificity was thus estimated
      to be 100%. The test is rapid (1-2 h) and simple to perform without sophisticated
      equipment and could therefore, with slight modification, be used as a reliable
      method of diagnosis at field level in endemic areas undergoing mass chemotherapy
      campaigns or population surveys.

PMID- 1440782
TI  - Serum laminin in hepatic schistosomiasis.
AB  - Serum laminin levels were measured in patients with chronic hepatic
      schistosomiasis. A significant increase in the mean serum laminin level was
      observed in 14 patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis (2.57 +/- 0.83
      units/ml [standard deviation]) compared to the level in 10 patients with the
      hepatointestinal form of the disease (1.38 +/- 0.45 units/ml) and in the control
      group of 10 (1.15 +/- 0.31 units/ml). In the hepatosplenic patients there was a
      significant direct relation between serum laminin and percutaneous splenic pulp
      pressure (r = 0.68). However, this relation was not observed with either liver
      function tests or levels of N-terminal propeptides of type III procollagen. These
      findings are compatible with an increased production of laminin in hepatosplenic
      schistosomiasis, which may be related to the observed enlarged liver and spleen
      basement membranes in such disease.

PMID- 1440783
TI  - Preliminary study of the prevalence of human schistosomiasis in Richard-Toll (the
      Senegal river basin).

PMID- 1440785
TI  - Prevalence of hookworm infection and its association with low haematocrit among
      resettlers in Gambela, Ethiopia.
AB  - A cross-sectional survey of hookworm infection and haematocrit (HCT) levels was
      conducted in 7 resettled villages and 3 indigenous villages on sample populations
      selected by two-stage random sampling. Of 614 resettled persons and 187
      indigenous persons, 65.5% and 60.4% respectively were infected with hookworm.
      Mean haematocrits for 664 resettled and 222 indigenous persons were 33.1% and
      35.2%, respectively. A significant association (odds ratio = 2.65) was found
      between low haematocrit level (below the median for the sample population) and
      hookworm infection in the resettled population. Suggestions are made on the need
      for further studies and intervention programmes.

PMID- 1440784
TI  - Intestinal schistosomiasis: report of the first cases in Guinea Bissau.

PMID- 1440786
TI  - Natural infections of Dirofilaria immitis in Aedes (Stegomyia) polynesiensis and
      Aedes (Finlaya) samoanus and their implication in human health in Samoa.
AB  - Dirofilaria immitis infections were observed in Aedes polynesiensis and Ae.
      samoanus in Samoa, together with Wuchereria bancrofti infections, in a study on
      sub-periodic bancroftian filariasis during 1978-1980. In the 4 indicator
      villages, the infection rate in Ae. polynesiensis was 0.46% and the infective
      rate 0.09% (15,223 mosquitoes were dissected). The infection rate in Ae. samoanus
      was 0.20% and the infective rate 0.08% (10,089 dissected). In 45 selected
      villages throughout the country, Ae. polynesiensis infection and infective rates
      were 0.92% and 0.29% (7575 dissected) and the rates for Ae. samoanus were 0.21%
      and 0.07% (9093 dissected). Infection with D. immitis was comparable in degree
      and distribution to that with W. bancrofti. There was a steady and consistent
      exchange of parasites between the human and canine populations, creating
      conditions favourable for human dirofilariasis in Samoa. Clinicians are warned
      against this probable human infection.

PMID- 1440787
TI  - Serological evaluation of the 12 kDa subunit of antigen B in Echinococcus
      granulosus cyst fluid by immunoblot analysis.
AB  - This study evaluated the 12 kDa (smallest) subunit of Echinococcus granulosus
      antigen B as a diagnostic molecule. Using immunoblotting, 90.9% of cystic hydatid
      patients, 40% of alveolar hydatid patients and 5.5% of cysticercosis patients
      showed sero-reactivity to this subunit. Human antibody response to the 12 kDa
      molecule appeared independent of factors such as parasite strain or host
      population responsiveness. The majority of infection sera, and some normal human
      controls, also recognized the 38 kDa subunit of antigen 5.

PMID- 1440788
TI  - Dengue 1 epidemic in French Polynesia, 1988-1989: surveillance and clinical,
      epidemiological, virological and serological findings in 1752 documented clinical
      cases.
AB  - An epidemic of dengue 1 occurred in French Polynesia in December 1988 and June
      1989. This paper records (i) the trend of the outbreak and its surveillance and
      (ii) the clinical, epidemiological and virological data obtained from 1752
      documented cases. The epidemic reached its peak in February in Tahiti Island, 7
      weeks after its recognition. Among 6034 suspect cases reported by sentinel
      physicians, 60.3% were < 20 years old. The illness was classical dengue. No
      fatality or case of dengue haemorrhagic fever/dengue with shock syndrome was
      reported. Of 4792 patients subjected to laboratory testing, 41% were confirmed as
      positive. The serological attack rate was c. 40%. The estimated number of dengue
      infections in the Windward Islands was about 20,000. Transmission was associated
      with Aedes aegypti. Study of documented cases showed a higher confirmation rate
      in both the civilian population < 15 years old (46.5%) and the susceptible French
      military population (47.6%) than in older civilians (31.1%, P < 0.05).
      Furthermore, primary dengue infections were predominant in both of the first 2
      groups. The diagnosis was mostly confirmed (i) by virus isolation on day < 5 of
      illness and (ii) by detection of immunoglobulin (Ig) M on day > or = 5 of
      illness. The study showed that adequate surveillance of an epidemic requires both
      clinically and laboratory-based systems.

PMID- 1440789
TI  - Rift Valley fever antibody in human sera collected after an outbreak in domestic
      animals in Kenya.

PMID- 1440790
TI  - An outbreak of typhoid due to multidrug resistant Salmonella typhi in
      Pondicherry.
AB  - An outbreak of typhoid due to multi-drug resistant Salmonella typhi is reported
      from Pondicherry, India. While the average prevalence of drug resistant strains
      in 1980-1988 had been 11.7%, it increased to 52% in 1989-1990. The majority of
      strains (80.8%) were resistant to chloramphenicol, streptomycin, tetracycline and
      ampicillin; 40% were resistant to co-trimoxazole. Minimum inhibitory
      concentrations to 8 antibiotics for 17 representative strains were more than 10
      fold greater than those of 13 sensitive strains. The multi-resistance was shown
      to be plasmid mediated in direct conjugation experiments and the strains belonged
      to Viphage type O, biotype II.

PMID- 1440791
TI  - Risk factors in transmission of brucellosis from animals to humans in Saudi
      Arabia.
AB  - A case-control study was undertaken to determine for the first time the specific
      aetiology of animal to human transmission of brucellosis in Saudi Arabia. Cases
      consisted of all patients with brucellosis attending the primary care clinic of
      the Riyadh Al-Kharj Hospital programme in central Saudi Arabia. A sample of
      individually matched controls was selected concurrently from patients attending
      the same clinic for unrelated problems. Cases and controls responded to a 48 item
      questionnaire on exposure to established risk factors for brucellosis. Greatest
      risk was found to be associated with indirect contact with animals (the
      consumption of unpasteurized dairy products), as opposed to direct contact with
      animals. When specific animal products were considered, greatest risk was
      associated with the consumption of milk and laban (buttermilk), as opposed to
      cheese or uncooked liver. When specific animal species were considered, greatest
      risk was associated with products derived from sheep and goats as opposed to
      camels and cattle. When direct contact with animals was considered, the study
      found a very high risk associated with assisting in animal parturition, but no
      significant risk associated with other direct (unspecified) animal contact.

PMID- 1440792
TI  - Oligonucleotide probes to identify three sibling species of the Anopheles farauti
      Laveran complex (Diptera: Culicidae).
AB  - We have sequenced recombinant plasmid probes for each of 3 Anopheles farauti
      complex species and identified internal oligonucleotides of 25-26 base pairs,
      specific for each member of the complex. Synthetic oligonucleotides oAf1, oAf2
      and oAf3, when radiolabelled and hybridized with deoxyribonucleic acid from An.
      farauti, reacted as highly specific probes for An. farauti numbers 1, 2 and 3
      respectively. These probes are effective on air-dried or alcohol-preserved
      larval, pupal or adult specimens.

PMID- 1440793
TI  - A simplified, non-radioactive DNA probe protocol for the field identification of
      insect vector specimens.

PMID- 1440794
TI  - Persistent and acute diarrhoea as the leading causes of child mortality in urban
      Guinea Bissau.
AB  - An investigation of child mortality in a semi-urban community, Bandim II, in the
      capital of Guinea Bissau was carried out from April 1987 to March 1990. 153
      deaths were recorded among 1426 live-born children who were followed for 2753
      child-years. The under-five mortality risk was 215 per 1000 children (95%
      confidence interval [CI] 176-264), infant mortality 94 per 1000 (95% CI 73-115),
      and perinatal mortality 52 per 1000 (95% CI 41-63). By prospective registration
      of morbidity, post-mortem interviews, and examination of available hospital
      records, a presumptive cause of death was established in 86% of the deaths.
      Persistent and acute diarrhoea were the most frequent causes of death, accounting
      for 43 and 31 deaths per 1000 children, respectively. Fever deaths (possibly
      malaria), neonatal deaths, acute respiratory infections, and measles were other
      frequent causes. The access to health services was relatively easy: 75% of the
      children who died had attended for treatment at a hospital or a health centre. It
      is important to find ways of preventing and managing persistent diarrhoea, the
      major cause of death, and to improve the control of acute diarrhoea by a targeted
      approach.

PMID- 1440795
TI  - Atropine poisoning after eating chapattis contaminated with Datura stramonium
      (thorn apple).

PMID- 1440796
TI  - Intestinal pathogens and parasites in Australian aboriginal children from birth
      to two years of age.

PMID- 1440797
TI  - Multiresistant Salmonella typhi infection in Cairo.

PMID- 1440798
TI  - Proper requirements for the QBC malaria test.

PMID- 1440799
TI  - Intestinal parasitic infections: a soluble public health problem.

PMID- 1440800
TI  - Prognostic significance of rises in parasitaemia during treatment of falciparum
      malaria.
AB  - Transient rises in parasitaemia occur commonly during the treatment of falciparum
      malaria but their prognostic significance has not been well defined. Twelve
      hourly parasite counts from 133 malaria patients who were ultimately cured were
      therefore compared with counts from 97 therapeutic failures to determine if
      increase in parasitaemia was a useful early indicator of poor treatment response.
      Parasitaemia in both groups frequently rose during the initial 12 h of therapy
      (41% of all patients), but rising counts thereafter were rarer in treatment
      successes (P < 0.01). The relative risk of treatment failure was 3.8 if the count
      was higher at 24 h than 12 h, rose to 7.8 for increases at 48-60 h, and was 13.7
      and 19.4 for counts above admission levels at 48 h and 60 h. These data suggest a
      way to identify patients at high risk of treatment failure.

PMID- 1440801
TI  - Acute renal failure, acute rhabdomyolysis and falciparum malaria.

PMID- 1440802
TI  - Insecticide impregnation can restore the efficiency of torn bed nets and reduce
      man-vector contact in malaria endemic areas.
AB  - Three trials with torn bed nets impregnated with permethrin and deltamethrin were
      made under field conditions at the Soumousso Field Station and the Vallee du Kou
      rice-field area, both in Burkina Faso, and the Djoumouna fish pond area in the
      Congo Republic. Even a considerably torn correctly impregnated bed net could be
      an useful method for limiting human-anopheline contacts. But bed nets in poor
      condition, i.e. too little impregnated and too much torn, cannot protect the
      users against anopheline bites. Protection increases with insecticide
      concentration, but at a high dosage insecticide could have more a repellent than
      a killing effect. Therefore a balance has to be found for the optimum rate of
      insecticide treatment of bed nets to obtain a real reduction in malaria
      transmission and morbidity, in every epidemiological situation.

PMID- 1440803
TI  - The effect of artemisinine, its derivatives and mefloquine against chloroquine
      resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro.
AB  - A 48 h in vitro test of the efficacy of artemisinine, dihydroartemisinine,
      artemether, mefloquine and chloroquine was carried out against 3 chloroquine
      resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum, strains K1 and T996 from Thailand and
      LS21 from India. A sigmoid Emax model was fitted to all in vitro inhibition data
      for each combination of drug and strain. Strains K1 and LS21 were strongly
      resistant to chloroquine, whereas T996 was partially resistant. Artemisinine,
      dihydroartemisinine and artemether were active against all strains, with complete
      growth inhibition at 10(-7) M. Artemether and dihydroartemisinine were both more
      potent than artemisinine, with 50% effective (EC50) values of 0.57-1.6 nM and
      0.36-3.1 nM respectively; the EC50 of artemisinine was 1.5-6.1 nM for the 3
      strains. The EC50 values for mefloquine were 46-185 nM. At higher concentrations,
      strains K1 and LS21 were fully inhibited, while with strain T996 mefloquine did
      not fully inhibit even at the highest concentration, 1.28 x 10(-6) M. It is
      concluded that artemisinine and its derivatives were highly effective against the
      3 chloroquine-resistant strains, one of which showed borderline resistance to
      mefloquine.

PMID- 1440804
TI  - The relationship between the response of Plasmodium falciparum malaria to
      mefloquine in African children and its sensitivity in vitro.
AB  - The clinical efficacy of two doses of mefloquine (15 and 25 mg/kg body weight)
      was evaluated in 85 children suffering from acute symptomatic falciparum malaria.
      The cure rate on day 28 was 100% in both groups. There was no significant
      difference (P > 0.05) in the mean parasite and fever clearance times in both
      groups (48.5 +/- 14.6 and 32.0 +/- 12.7 h respectively for the 25 mg/kg group and
      49.0 +/- 15.1 and 30.0 +/- 13.3 h respectively for the 15 mg/kg group). There was
      also no significant difference (P > 0.05) in these values between children with
      hyperparasitaemia (53.6 +/- 11.1 and 36.0 +/- 17.0 h respectively) and those
      without hyperparasitaemia (49.1 +/- 13.6 and 31.8 +/- 14.6 h respectively).
      Recurrence of parasitaemia was observed after day 30 in 2 patients in the 15
      mg/kg group and in 1 patient in the 25 mg/kg group. In vitro, 3 of 21 isolates
      showed reduced susceptibility to mefloquine, with minimum inhibitory
      concentrations (MIC) > 67 nM/litre. The MIC and 50%, 90% and 99% inhibitory
      concentrations were 200.8, 6.27, 31.7 and 119.6 nM/litre respectively. Four of 22
      isolates were resistant to chloroquine (MIC > 108 nM/litre). Isolates that showed
      low sensitivity to mefloquine in vitro were sensitive to chloroquine in vitro,
      and the 4 that were resistant to chloroquine were sensitive to mefloquine.
      Irrespective of MIC and dose of mefloquine, parasitaemia cleared in all subjects
      in 96 h or less.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1440805
TI  - Drug sensitivity studies during a highland malaria epidemic in Kenya.

PMID- 1440806
TI  - Ciprofloxacin does not achieve radical cure of Plasmodium falciparum infection in
      Sierra Leone.
AB  - Recently, activity in vivo of norfloxacin has been reported against Plasmodium
      falciparum and, in vitro, ciprofloxacin has been found to be even more potent
      than norfloxacin. We therefore treated one patient infected with chloroquine
      resistant P. falciparum at relatively low parasite density with ciprofloxacin,
      200 mg intravenously twice daily for 3 d. This treatment failed to produce
      radical cure, although some suppressive effect was probably obtained. The growth
      of the P. falciparum isolate in vitro was inhibited at 12.5 micrograms/ml,
      whereas the plasma concentration recorded 1 h after infusion was only 1.2
      microgram/ml. It is concluded that, if ciprofloxacin is to be used for treatment
      of malaria, a higher dose than that normally used for bacterial infections is
      necessary.

PMID- 1440807
TI  - Chronotherapy of malaria: improved efficacy of timed chloroquine treatment of
      patients with Plasmodium falciparum infections.
AB  - The effect of routine treatment with chloroquine (10 mg/kg on days 1 and 2 and 5
      mg/kg on day 3) on parasitaemia and parasitaemic profile of patients infected
      with Plasmodium falciparum was studied. As with P. vinckei petteri, the mid-term
      trophozoites of P. falciparum were the most susceptible stages to chloroquine
      treatment. It is suggested that, in order to diminish the frequency of drug
      administration and to lower the risks of chemoresistance developing, treatment
      should be diversified, using the drug which is most effective on the parasite
      stages present in the peripheral blood.

PMID- 1440808
TI  - Increase of chloroquine resistance in vivo of Plasmodium falciparum over two
      years in Edea, south Cameroon.

PMID- 1440809
TI  - Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein inhibits the effect of quinine on the growth of
      Plasmodium falciparum in vitro.

PMID- 1440810
TI  - Use of the fluorochrome benzothiocarboxypurine in malaria diagnosis.

PMID- 1440811
TI  - Epidemic visceral leishmaniasis in southern Sudan: identity and systematic
      position of the parasites from patients and vectors.
AB  - Twenty-five strains of Leishmania donovani isolated from humans and Phlebotomus
      orientalis in an epidemic area of southern Sudan were shown to belong to 3 very
      similar zymodemes: MON 18 (11 strains), MON 30 (1 strain) and MON 82 (13
      strains). The 3 zymodemes are very closely related and seem to behave as a single
      population.

PMID- 1440812
TI  - Isoenzyme characterization of Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis isolates
      obtained from Bolivian and Peruvian patients.
AB  - Thirty-four Leishmania isolates obtained from Bolivian and Peruvian patients
      infected with mucocutaneous leishmaniasis were characterized by isoenzyme
      electrophoresis using 10 enzymatic markers; all belonged to the subspecies L.b.
      braziliensis. Three isolates showed marked variation compared with the reference
      strain with respect to 5 or 6 enzymes. These variant isolates originated from
      patients with forms of the disease which were unresponsive to treatment.

PMID- 1440813
TI  - Haemoculture of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis from two cases of mucosal
      leishmaniasis: re-examination of haematogenous dissemination.
AB  - Leishmania parasites were isolated from peripheral blood leucocytes of 2 patients
      with mucosal disease among a total of 23 parasitologically confirmed cases of
      leishmaniasis. One had had mucosal leishmaniasis for 4 years and active pulmonary
      tuberculosis was also diagnosed. The other patient presented a cutaneous lesion
      on his right leg of 3 months duration and asymptomatic mucosal involvement. He
      had received intravenous antimonials before isolation of parasites. Both patients
      had positive indirect fluorescent antibody and Montenegro skin tests. L.
      (Viannia) braziliensis was isolated from both patients. This culture of parasites
      from leucocytes provided direct evidence for metastatic spread of Leishmania via
      the blood.

PMID- 1440814
TI  - A kit for in vitro isolation of trypanosomes in the field: first trial with
      sleeping sickness patients in the Congo Republic.

PMID- 1440815
TI  - High cell surface hydrophobicity of virulent Entamoeba histolytica isolates.
AB  - Thirty isolates of Entamoeba histolytica were examined for their cell surface
      hydrophobicity. It was observed that increased hydrophobicity of the trophozoites
      was associated with lesion-forming ability in hamster liver, a higher rate of
      erythrophagocytosis and greater resistance to complement. The relationship of
      cell surface hydrophobicity to other virulence markers in E. histolytica is
      discussed.

PMID- 1440816
TI  - Pneumocystis carinii as a cause of pneumonia in HIV-infected patients in Lusaka,
      Zambia.

PMID- 1440818
TI  - Schistosoma haematobium infection in Egyptian schoolchildren: demonstration of
      both hepatic and urinary tract morbidity by ultrasonography.
AB  - Parasitological, clinical and ultrasonographical studies were performed upon 422
      schoolchildren aged 12-16 years living in a village in the Fayoum where
      Schistosoma haematobium, but not S. mansoni, was transmitted. Over half of the
      children gave a history of receiving praziquantel therapy during the preceding 2
      years. Symptoms (e.g., haematuria, burning micturition), signs (e.g.,
      hepatomegaly, splenomegaly) and urinary findings (e.g., haematuria, proteinuria)
      correlated better with the presence and intensity of S. haematobium infection
      after correcting for this variable. Renal obstructive lesions detected by
      ultrasound were 2 and 3 times as common in those with moderate and heavy
      infections as in those with no or light infections, and urinary bladder wall
      lesions were far more frequent in those with moderate and heavy infections. A
      mild grade of periportal fibrosis, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly were present in
      some children in all groups. However, the prevalence of splenomegaly correlated
      directly with the intensity of infection; liver lesions occurred much more
      frequently in children with infection or a history of treated infection than in
      non-infected children denying recent treatment; and no child had hepatomegaly or
      splenomegaly in the absence of periportal fibrosis.

PMID- 1440817
TI  - An epidemiological study of a Schistosoma intercalatum focus in south-east Gabon.
AB  - A Schistosoma intercalatum focus in south-east Gabon was studied between July
      1989 and July 1990. Among the 356 permanent residents in the village, 354
      provided stool specimens and 101 (28.5%) were excreting eggs (geometric mean of
      egg density = 101.4 eggs/g, with a range of 1-3200). The pattern of prevalence
      and intensity of infection with age showed the curve usually found in
      schistosomiasis, i.e. increasing during the first 2 decades of life and then
      gradually decreasing. The analysis by stepwise logistic regression of factors
      shown to be important in determining infection in other schistosomiasis clearly
      demonstrated the significant and independent effects of both age and water
      contact on infection by S. intercalatum. These similarities with other
      schistosomal infections could indicate that similar immune mechanisms were
      operating. Urine from 284 subjects, of whom 90 were egg excreters, was tested for
      circulating antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a Schistosoma
      genus-specific monoclonal antibody (Sm 10.27.12). The test was positive for 90
      subjects but only 35 of these were egg excreters. Although S. intercalatum is
      usually considered of low pathogenicity in man, this study showed a relationship
      between egg excretion and both splenomegaly and lower haemoglobin levels, even
      after taking into account the confounding presence of Plasmodium falciparum.

PMID- 1440819
TI  - Schistosome circulating anodic antigen in serum of individuals infected with
      Schistosoma japonicum from the Philippines before and after chemotherapy with
      praziquantel.
AB  - The presence of the schistosome circulating anodic antigen (CAA) in serum of
      patients infected with Schistosoma japonicum from The Philippines has been
      investigated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum samples
      were tested from 48 patients who excreted S. japonicum eggs, 9 individuals with a
      negative stool examination, and 20 controls with both a negative stool and a
      negative circumoval precipitin test. No false positive result was detected for
      the unequivocally negative controls. CAA could be demonstrated in 72.9% of the
      egg-excreting patients. A positive correlation between parasite burden (eggs per
      gram of faeces) and antigen level (CAA titre) was found (Spearman's rho = 0.48, P
      < 0.001, n = 48). Four of 18 sera from the egg-negative individuals were positive
      in the ELISA. In view of the fact that anti-worm antibodies were also detected in
      these 4 sera, those reactions suggest active infection not detected by stool
      examination. In serum from patients treated with praziquantel, a significant drop
      in CAA titre was seen within 5 d after treatment (Wilcoxon's chi T = -2.23, P =
      0.0258, n = 21). In conclusion, the detection of CAA by ELISA in S. japonicum
      infection can give valuable information in both individual diagnosis and
      therapeutic drug monitoring, as well as in epidemiological studies or disease
      control programmes.

PMID- 1440820
TI  - Wuchereria bancrofti infection in human and mosquito populations of a Polynesian
      village ten years after interruption of mass chemoprophylaxis with
      diethylcarbamazine.
AB  - In 1991, a study on Wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae (mf) and infection rates
      was carried out in the human and mosquito populations of a Polynesian village
      where, 10 years before, the mf prevalence rate was 6.4% and twice-yearly mass
      treatment with 3 mg/kg of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) was interrupted. Venous blood
      samples were collected from 575 (97%) individuals aged 15 years or more, of whom
      122 (21.4%) were mf positive. The mf carrier prevalence rate was 27.4% in males,
      significantly higher than that of 14% in females; it increased from 7-12% in the
      youngest age group (15-19 years) to 40-50% in the oldest (> or = 60 years) for
      both males and females. 387 mosquito collections were performed and 1748 female
      Aedes polynesiensis were dissected, of which 1176 were parous. Among the latter,
      114 (9.7%) were infected with Wuchereria bancrofti larvae at L1, L2 or L3 stages.
      The mean number of larvae per mosquito was 2.46 (range 1-15). Of the 114 infected
      mosquitoes, 30 harboured L3 larvae, giving a 2.55% infective rate; the mean
      number of L3 larvae per mosquito was 1.15 (range 1-2). Such findings indicate
      that the interruption of systematic twice-yearly mass treatment with DEC (3
      mg/kg) has resulted, after 10 years, in a substantial increase of microfilarial
      prevalence in humans, and in high infection rates in mosquitoes.

PMID- 1440821
TI  - Therapeutic effect of triclabendazole in patients with paragonimiasis in
      Cameroon: a pilot study.

PMID- 1440822
TI  - Albendazole for the treatment of human gnathostomiasis.
AB  - The efficacy of albendazole was investigated in 112 patients with symptomatic
      gnathostomiasis; 49 received 400 mg twice daily, 51 received 400 mg once daily,
      and 12 patients received placebo, all for 21 d. Subsequent follow-up was for 6
      months. Cure (no further swelling) was seen in 93.9% and 94.1% of the treatment
      groups but in none of the placebo group. Additionally, reductions in eosinophil
      counts and in immunoglobulin G antibody were observed after treatment. Side
      effects were minimal. Albendazole may be an effective compound for the treatment
      of gnathostomiasis.

PMID- 1440823
TI  - Infectivity of irradiated and non-irradiated metacestodes of Taenia saginata.

PMID- 1440824
TI  - Immunoblot (western blot) and double diffusion (DD5) tests for hydatid disease
      cross-react with sera from patients with cysticercosis.

PMID- 1440825
TI  - Hepatitis delta virus infection in Bombay.
AB  - From June 1985 to June 1989, sera from 425 cases of acute viral hepatitis were
      gathered from 2 hospitals in Bombay; 331 sera were positive for hepatitis B
      surface antigen and immunoglobulin M anti-hepatitis B core antigen, and the
      donors' disease was diagnosed as hepatitis B. Anti-hepatitis D virus was found in
      124 of these sera, and hepatitis D antigen was present in 24 more, conclusively
      proving the presence of hepatitis delta infection in association with hepatitis B
      in Bombay. Among the 425 cases of hepatitis, 39 cases of fulminant hepatitis
      developed, of whom 31 died. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) was the apparent viral
      infection in 32 of the fulminant cases, and 20 (63%) of them also showed evidence
      of hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection, suggesting an aggravation of their clinical
      course due to concurrent HBV and HDV infections.

PMID- 1440826
TI  - Aflatoxin exposure, malaria and hepatitis B infection in rural Gambian children.
AB  - Aflatoxin-albumin adduct levels were measured in serum samples obtained from a
      group of Gambian children. The relationships between exposure to aflatoxin and
      the prevalence of malaria, between exposure and humoral and cellular responses in
      vitro to defined malaria antigens and, amongst children with evidence of exposure
      to hepatitis B infection, between aflatoxin and carriage of the hepatitis B
      surface antigen (HBsAg), were assessed. Aflatoxin-albumin adduct was found in
      nearly all serum samples collected during a survey performed at the end of the
      dry season and levels of adduct were generally high (up to 720 pg aflatoxin
      lysine equivalent/mg albumin). Higher levels of aflatoxin-albumin adduct were
      detected in Wollof children than in children of other ethnic groups and marked
      variation in mean adduct levels between villages was observed. Aflatoxin-albumin
      adduct levels were higher in children who were HbsAg positive and in children
      with Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia than in controls. However, levels of
      adduct had no consistent effect on either malaria-specific antibody responses,
      lymphoproliferative responses in vitro, or morbidity from malaria during the
      subsequent rainy season. Much lower levels of aflatoxin-albumin adduct were
      detected in repeat samples obtained at the end of the rainy season. There was
      poor correlation between dry and rainy season levels of adduct in individual
      children. We have shown that Gambian children are exposed to high levels of
      aflatoxin. The seasonal variation of aflatoxin-albumin adduct and marked
      fluctuation of adduct with time in individual children need to be considered in
      the future planning of epidemiological studies using this marker of
      exposure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1440827
TI  - The role of sexual transmission in the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus in black
      South Africans.
AB  - The role of sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus in Black South Africans was
      evaluated by a seroprevalence study of sentinel populations at varying risk for
      sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus
      antibodies was found to be 1.8% in an STD clinic sample of 272, 0.7% in a family
      planning sample of 148, 3.3% in a sample of 246 'blue collar' workers (81% of
      rural origin), and 0.9 in a sample of 117 new blood donors. All samples were from
      Black adults. The differences between them were not significant (P = 0.2348). In
      contrast, the prevalence of anti-human immunodeficiency virus antibodies in the
      STD sample (5.5%) was statistically significantly different (P = 0.00095) from
      the family planning clinic sample (1.4%) and the blue collar sample (0.8%) as
      well as from the reported prevalence for black blood donors in the Johannesburg
      area (0.7%). No evidence supporting a role for sexual transmission of hepatitis C
      virus was found, while the prevalence of infection appeared to be higher in rural
      populations and in males. These features are similar to hepatitis B in this
      population.

PMID- 1440828
TI  - HTLV-1 has reached Thailand via a heterosexual route.

PMID- 1440829
TI  - A short term projection of HIV infection and AIDS cases in Cameroon.
AB  - By September 1991 Cameroon had reported 650 cases of the acquired immune
      deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The results from the sentinnel surveillance system
      showed a seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)1 of 1.3% among
      pregnant women, 2.5% in people attending sexually transmitted disease clinics and
      3.5% in tuberculosis patients in 1990. The estimated number of persons infected
      with HIV varies between 10,000 and 30,000. The World Health Organization
      projection model was used to make a short-term projection of HIV infection and
      AIDS cases; it indicated that the number of persons infected with HIV will double
      by the year 1995, with an estimated 8500 AIDS cases. Even in a low prevalence
      country such as Cameroon, the impact of the HIV epidemic is important and will
      result in a burden for the health care system.

PMID- 1440830
TI  - Rabies: is provocation of the biting dog relevant for risk assessment?

PMID- 1440831
TI  - Plague in Lushoto district, Tanzania, 1980-1988.
AB  - Rodents were live-trapped in selected plague-inflicted villages from June 1980 to
      March 1988. Flea infestation rates were determined and the animals were
      serologically tested for plague. Clinically suspected and clinically healthy
      people in the affected areas were similarly tested for plague antibodies. Of 1596
      rodent sera tested, 91 (5.7%) were positive for plague. These were mostly from
      Rattus rattus, Mastomys natalensis, Otomys spp. and Pelomys fallax. A total of
      1772 fleas, of which Dinopsyllus lypusus, Xenopsylla brasiliensis and
      Ctenophthalmus calceatus comprised the largest proportion, was collected from the
      captured rodents. Total flea indices ranged from 0.67 to 1.12 fleas per rodent. A
      total of 2809 human cases and a mortality rate of 10.2% were recorded in 1980
      1988. It was concluded that most rodent species in the area were suitable
      reservoirs of plague and that D. lypusus, X. brasiliensis and C. calceatus were
      probably responsible for transmitting the pathogen. Lack of effective quarantine
      measures during outbreaks was partly responsible for the spread of the disease to
      many villages, while inadequate rodent and flea control and poor sanitary
      measures could be responsible for continued outbreaks of plague in the area.

PMID- 1440832
TI  - Short-course treatment of typhoid fever with ciprofloxacin in south India.
AB  - This study assessed the performance of short-course ciprofloxacin for the
      treatment of 34 adult patients with culture-positive typhoid fever. Patients
      received ciprofloxacin, 750 mg orally twice daily for 7 d. Measurement of
      response was based upon time from initial treatment to fever lysis, to afebrile
      state, and to symptom resolution. Ciprofloxacin-treated patients defervesced in a
      mean of 3.21 d (+/- 0.56), with stabilization of temperature in 4.0 +/- 0.73 d.
      After 90 d follow-up, no relapse or carrier was identified. Side effects during
      therapy were minimal.

PMID- 1440833
TI  - An evaluation of the hydrogen sulphide water screening test and coliform counts
      for water quality assessment in rural Malaysia.
AB  - The H2S water screening test and the membrane filtration faecal coliform count
      were compared with Escherichia coli counts for water samples collected from
      household water sources and domestic drinking water in rural Malaysia. Water
      samples were taken from 151 wells, 44 taps supplying water from the treated
      municipal supply and 192 domestic stored water supplies. E. coli were detected in
      20% of the samples (42% of wells, 7% of tap water and 6% of drinking water).
      Excellent correlation (Spearman's rank correlation rs = 0.93) was found between
      the faecal coliform and E. coli counts for all sample types. The H2S method was
      poorly correlated whether read at 18 or 30 h. False positive rates were highest
      for well water, and false negative rates were highest for both well and drinking
      water samples, with low E. coli counts. The faecal coliform test was an excellent
      predictor of the presence of E. coli in these water samples, while the H2S test
      was very inadequate.

PMID- 1440834
TI  - Corneal ulceration in Tanzanian children: relationship between measles and
      vitamin A deficiency.
AB  - Two 3-year prospective studies from 1982-1984 and 1986-1988 in Tanzania
      identified 189 children with corneal ulceration, of whom 31 (16.4%) were due to
      vitamin A deficiency. In 1982-1984, vitamin A deficiency was responsible for
      23.4% of corneal ulcers (25 of 107) compared with 7.3% (6 of 82) from 1986-1988
      (P = 0.006). It is postulated that the decrease in corneal ulceration due to
      vitamin A deficiency can be attributed to improved measles immunization coverage.

PMID- 1440835
TI  - Corneal ulceration in Tanzanian children: relationship between malaria and herpes
      simplex keratitis.
AB  - Two 3-year prospective studies from 1982-1984 and 1986-1988 in Tanzania
      identified 189 children with corneal ulceration, of whom 92 (48.7%) were due to
      herpes simplex keratitis. In 1982-1984 herpes simplex keratitis was responsible
      for 35.5% of corneal ulcers (38 of 107), compared with 65.8% (54 of 82) in 1986
      1988 (P = 0.00006). It is postulated that the increase in corneal ulceration due
      to herpes simplex keratitis can be attributed to an increase in the incidence and
      severity of malaria infection.

PMID- 1440836
TI  - Haematemesis and severe anaemia due to a pharyngeal leech (Myxobdella africana)
      in a Kenyan child: a case report.

PMID- 1440837
TI  - Treatment of envenoming by Mesobuthus tamulus (Indian red scorpion).

PMID- 1440838
TI  - Diagnosis of malaria in the field by fluorescence microscopy using QBC capillary
      tubes.

PMID- 1440839
TI  - Pentamidine in blood.

PMID- 1440840
TI  - American Association of Blood Banks, 45th annual meeting. San Francisco,
      California, November 7-12, 1992. Abstracts.

PMID- 1440842
TI  - Successful extended lung preservation with UW solution.
AB  - Maximum preservation times of 4-6 hr continue to plague lung transplantation. The
      high-potassium colloid University of Wisconsin solution (UWS) has proved superior
      to the crystalloid modified Eurocollins' solution (ECS) for preservation of the
      liver, kidney, and pancreas. The purpose of this study was to compare UWS and ECS
      for extended lung preservation using a technique of combined pulmonary and
      bronchial artery perfusion. Simultaneous pulmonary artery and bronchial artery
      (via a closed aortic segment) perfusion was employed to harvest the lungs of ten
      mongrel dogs (wt 25-35 kg) using either UWS (n = 5) or ECS (n = 5) preservation
      solutions. Following 17 hr of cold (4 degrees C) pulmoplegic storage, the lungs
      were placed in an isolated perfused working lung (IPWL) apparatus. Seven freshly
      harvested lungs served as a control group (CON). Lung aerodynamics and gas
      exchange were evaluated at standard intervals until failure of the lung on the
      IPWL apparatus. Time until failure (mean +/- SEM) for each group was: CON = 209
      +/- 14 min; UWS = 227 +/- 26 min; and ECS = 123 +/- 29 min. Only one of the ECS
      lungs lasted longer than 90 min. UWS-preserved lungs displayed a gas exchange
      efficiency equal to the CON group and better than that in the ECS-preserved lungs
      (lower A-aDO2, lower intrapulmonary shunt), suggesting better protection of the
      alveolar capillary membrane. Although the UWS lungs were initially less compliant
      than the ECS lungs, at no time was there a significant difference in the total
      work of respiration between the two groups. We conclude that UWS provides
      superior protection of the alveolar capillary membrane. The aerodynamic
      disadvantages of UWS preservation did not effect lung survival or total work of
      respiration.

PMID- 1440841
TI  - Successful reversal of spontaneous diabetes in dogs by intraperitoneal
      microencapsulated islets.
AB  - Long-term euglycemia by intraperitoneal transplantation of microencapsulated
      islets has not been described in the diabetic large animal model. In this study,
      we report the successful long-term reversal of diabetes by this method in
      spontaneous diabetic dogs. We have identified fundamental mechanism(s) associated
      with alginate-based microcapsule fibrosis, and have devised methods to ameliorate
      this problem. These include the use of purified alginate of low mannuronic acid
      content and cytokine suppression. Ten insulin-dependent, spontaneous diabetic
      dogs (insulin requirement 1-4 units/kg/day; absence of circulating C-peptide and
      diabetic K-values of 0.6 +/- 0.4) were entered into the study. Islets from
      mongrel donor pancreata were isolated and transplanted intraperitoneally either
      as free islet controls (n = 3) or as microencapsulated islet allografts (n = 7).
      In all seven encapsulated islet recipients, euglycemia was achieved within 24 hr
      (serum glucose failing from 304 +/- 117 to 116 +/- 72 mg/dl). IVGTT performed 14
      days after islet transplant demonstrated normalization of K-values changing from
      a pretransplant level of 0.6 +/- 0.4 to 2.6 +/- 0.6. All animals receiving
      encapsulated islets remained euglycemic, free of the need for exogenous insulin,
      for a period of 63-172 days, with a median insulin-independence for 105 days. In
      contrast, recipients receiving free islets rejected their graft within seven days
      of implantation. In conclusion, this is the first report of long-term successful
      reversal of spontaneous diabetes in the large animal model by an intraperitoneal
      injection of encapsulated islets. The potential exists for this form of therapy
      to be explored in the treatment of type I diabetes in man.

PMID- 1440843
TI  - Bile secretion and histology of liver autotransplanted into the pancreatic
      parenchyma.
AB  - The pancreatic parenchyma was evaluated as a potential recipient site for hepatic
      fragment autotransplantation. Histologic and functional studies of hepatic
      autografts in the pancreas were performed in 15 mongrel dogs. Approximately 10 g
      of liver parenchyma was resected from each left lateral lobe. The remnant liver
      remained in situ. Bile secretion from the hepatic tissues implanted into the
      pancreas was estimated by measuring the indocyanine green (ICG)* concentration in
      pancreatic juice following intravenous ICG injection. One month following
      implantation, the hepatocytes in the pancreatic parenchyma were histologically
      colorless and did not have sinusoids. However, by the second month following
      implantation, hepatic nodules had grown extensively to become normal liver
      tissue, with sinusoids and a single liver cell-plate structure. At 4 months
      following intrapancreatic implantation the transplanted hepatic masses consisted
      of several hepatic lobules. Furthermore, ICG could be detected in the pancreatic
      juice of dogs surviving more than 2 months after implantation but no ICG could be
      detected in the pancreatic juice of normal controls. The present study provides
      direct evidence that hepatic grafts transplanted into the pancreas that has a
      ductal drainage system for bile secretion can reconstitute histologically normal
      liver tissue capable of secreting bile. This model can be used to understand the
      early steps of hepatic regeneration.

PMID- 1440844
TI  - The impact of arterialization on hepatic microcirculation and leukocyte
      accumulation after liver transplantation in the rat.
AB  - This study investigated the influence of hepatic arterialization on early graft
      function, microcirculation, and leukocyte-endothelial interaction after syngeneic
      orthotopic liver transplantation in Lewis rats. Livers were preserved for 17 hr
      in UW solution and transplanted without rearterialization (group 1: n = 10) or
      with immediate arterial reconstruction (group 2: n = 10). Graft function was
      analyzed by bile flow; microcirculation was assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry
      (LDF) and intravital microscopy (IVM). In addition, flow behavior of leukocytes
      was quantified by IVM after i.v. injection of the WBC marker acridine orange.
      Improved graft function in group 2 was indicated by increased bile production
      during the observation period of 90 min after reperfusion (7.18 +/- 0.62 vs. 3.63
      +/- 0.63 ml/100 g liver [mean +/- SEM] P < 0.001). In arterialized grafts LDF
      values increased by 22.9 +/- 3.8% upon reperfusion of the hepatic artery (P =
      0.004). Arterialization increased WBC velocities in sinusoids (group 1: 0.29 +/-
      0.02 mm/sec, group 2: 0.34 +/- 0.01 mm/sec, P < 0.001) and postsinusoidal venules
      (0.43 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.64 +/- 0.05 mm/sec, P = 0.029). In addition, the number of
      nonperfused midzonal sinusoids decreased significantly (8.5 +/- 2.2% of all
      sinusoids analyzed vs. 4.2 +/- 1.3%, P = 0.048). However, the marked sinusoidal
      and venular WBC adherence observed 1 hr after reperfusion was not altered by
      arterialization. It is concluded that arterial reconstruction in rat liver
      transplantation improves microvascular perfusion and graft function but this
      improvement does not relate to WBC accumulation within the graft. We propose that
      studies on hepatic preservation and postischemic reperfusion in the rat should be
      based on the physiological model of dual vascularization.

PMID- 1440845
TI  - Ultrastructural changes and lipid peroxidation in rat adipomusculocutaneous flap
      isotransplants after normothermic storage and reperfusion.
AB  - Parallel in vivo, histological, and ultrastructural studies were carried out and
      markers of lipid peroxidation (Schiff's bases [SB] and thiobarbituric-acid
      reactive material [TBAR]) were measured in rat adipomusculocutaneous flap
      isotransplants that had been stored for 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hr under normothermic
      (37 degrees C) conditions and reperfused for specific periods. Flaps stored for 4
      hr and treated with intravenous desferrioxamine (DFX) or hypertonic citrate flush
      (HCA) were also evaluated. In vivo assessment was made after 7 days of
      reperfusion. Flaps stored for 4 hr eventually exhibited partial necrosis in vivo,
      and neither DFX or HCA flush increased the area of surviving skin. Electron
      microscopy revealed extensive storage damage in epidermal, follicle, fat, and
      smooth muscle cells and in endothelium. HCA significantly preserved fat cells (P
      = 0.0035) and DFX diminished smooth muscle damage. Reperfusion injury was seen in
      endothelial cells in the form of swelling that was not prevented by HCA or DFX.
      Ultrastructural alterations correlated with changes in susceptibility to lipid
      peroxidation in fat but not in skin. The results of these parallel studies
      indicate that both free radical-dependent and independent mechanisms operate in
      ischemia and reperfusion injury in flap tissue and that fat has a greater
      predisposition to free radical damage than skin.

PMID- 1440846
TI  - Late airway changes caused by chronic rejection in rat lung allografts.
AB  - Airway disease after lung or heart-lung transplantation is one of late major
      complications, affecting the prognosis of the transplants. Little is known about
      the causes of airway changes. We performed rat lung transplantation and
      investigated the late airway changes of the long-term surviving lung grafts:
      allografts, BN to Lewis; isografts, BN to BN rat. All recipients were treated
      with CsA. We found airway changes, i.e., mucosal ulceration, granulation,
      submucosal fibrosis, which was located in the large airways, in four of five
      allografted lungs. The lung isografts showed no pathological abnormalities.
      Immunopathological studies disclosed the localized expression of MHC class II
      antigens on the bronchial epithelium of the large airways where recipient type
      dendritic cells accumulated in the submucosa and CD4 positive predominant
      lymphocytes infiltrated. These findings support the idea that the late airway
      changes in lung transplants are caused by immunologically mediated chronic
      rejection.

PMID- 1440847
TI  - Pharmacologic, toxicologic, and marrow transplantation studies in dogs given
      succinyl acetone.
AB  - A novel immunosuppressant, succinyl acetone (4,6-dioxoheptanoic acid), was
      studied in dogs. Results with bolus intravenous injections at doses ranging from
      50 to 1600 mg/kg showed dose-dependent alpha and beta half-lives, ranging from 30
      to 80 min and 7 to 27 hr, respectively. Results suggested that continuous i.v.
      infusion was necessary to maintain constant plasma levels. Four dogs were given
      9.2 Gy total-body irradiation and autologous marrow transplants along with
      continuous i.v. infusion of succinyl acetone at 50, 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg/day
      for 21 days, and all four had rapid, sustained hematopoietic engraftment.
      However, two of the four dogs receiving 200 and 400 mg succinyl acetone/kg/day,
      respectively, developed bilateral hind-limb ataxia, with histologically confirmed
      cerebellar lesions in the dog given the higher dose, thus establishing a
      potential dose-limiting neurotoxicity. Prevention of graft-versus-host disease
      was studied in recipients of allogeneic marrow. Dogs were given 9.2 Gy TBI,
      followed by hematopoietic grafts from unrelated DLA-nonidentical or DLA
      haploidentical littermate dogs. Succinyl acetone was given as continuous infusion
      for 21 days after transplant at doses of 100-300 mg/kg/day. Starting succinyl
      acetone on the day of marrow infusion in four dogs failed to prevent rapid onset
      of acute GVHD, and dogs survived no longer than controls. Starting succinyl
      acetone 3 days before transplant delayed the onset of acute GVHD and prolonged
      survival significantly compared with that of dogs not given postgrafting
      immunosuppression (P = 0.008); survival was comparable to that in previously
      reported dogs given either methotrexate or cyclosporine as postgrafting
      immunosuppression (P = 0.88 and 0.99, respectively). Seven of the sixteen
      allogeneic recipients developed evidence of neurotoxicity during succinyl-acetone
      infusion. Neurological dysfunctions were manifested by hind-limb ataxia and
      posterior paresis. In conclusion, succinyl acetone significantly delayed the
      onset of GVHD and prolonged survival of DLA-nonidentical marrow graft recipients
      but did not induce graft-host tolerance and was associated with dose-limiting
      neurotoxicity.

PMID- 1440849
TI  - The use of radiolabeled anti-CD33 antibody to augment marrow irradiation prior to
      marrow transplantation for acute myelogenous leukemia.
AB  - Disease recurrence remains a major limitation to the use of marrow
      transplantation to treat leukemia. Previous transplant studies have demonstrated
      that higher doses of total-body irradiation result in less disease recurrence,
      but more toxicity. In this study, the possibility of delivering radiotherapy
      specifically to marrow using a radiolabeled anti-CD33 antibody (p67) was
      explored. Biodistribution studies were performed in nine patients using .05-.5
      mg/kg p67 trace-labeled with 131I. In most patients initial specific uptake of
      131I-p67 in the marrow was seen, but the half-life of the radiolabel in the
      marrow space was relatively brief, ranging from 9-41 hr, presumably due to
      modulation of the 131I-p67-CD33 complex with subsequent digestion and release of
      131I from the marrow space. In four of nine patients these biodistribution
      studies demonstrated that with 131I-p67 marrow and spleen would receive more
      radiation than any normal nonhematopoietic organ, and therefore these four
      patients were treated with 110-330 mCi 131I conjugated to p67 followed by a
      standard transplant regimen of cyclophosphamide plus 12 Gy TBI. All four patients
      tolerated the procedure well and three of the four are alive in remission 195-477
      days posttransplant. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a
      radiolabeled antimyeloid antibody as part of a marrow transplant preparative
      regimen and also highlights a major limitation of using conventionally labeled
      anti-CD33--namely, the short residence time in marrow. Strategies to overcome
      this limitation include the use of alternative labeling techniques or the
      selection of cell surface stable antigens as targets.

PMID- 1440848
TI  - Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm ligation after orthotopic liver transplantation--a
      report of 7 cases.
AB  - Pseudoaneurysm (PA) is a rare but life-threatening complication of liver
      transplantation. The authors present their experience on 7 patients treated by
      ligation of a post-OLT PA. Hepatic artery ligation or embolization was performed
      from 10 to 70 days after liver transplantation. Of the seven patients, four
      survived, one developed a biliary stricture, treated by percutaneous balloon
      dilatation, two died of a complication not related to treatment, and one died of
      multiple organ failure.

PMID- 1440850
TI  - Advantages of cyclosporine as sole immunosuppressive agent in children with
      transplanted kidneys.
AB  - A prospective study of intentional stopping of steroids 6 months after
      transplantation was done with 29 pediatric renal transplant recipients with a
      mean age of 10.4 +/- 3.4 years. Immunosuppression consisted of cyclosporine and
      methylprednisolone. We stopped giving MP to 24 children: to twenty after six
      months, four after 11-20 months. "Crude graft survival" was 97% during a mean
      follow-up of 36.7 +/- 15 months. The rejection rate was 48% during the first 6
      months and 29% in the period after stopping MP. At present, 20/24 children (83%)
      have remained on CsA alone (18 patients) or CsA and azathioprine (2 patients)
      during a mean follow-up of 30 +/- 17 months. CsA nephrotoxicity occurred in 20.6%
      of patients, gum hypertrophy in 45%, hypertrichosis in 24%, and neurological
      symptoms in two patients (6.8%). Linear growth significantly improved after
      stopping MP: mean catch-up growth for prepuberal children 1.38 height standard
      deviation score (HSDS) and for pubertal children 1.6 HSDS. Bone age did not
      increase more rapidly than chronologic age. Weight/height index (W/HI) also
      improved. There was also a significant reduction in the use of antihypertensive
      drugs. Calculated glomerular filtration rate was decreased, though not
      significantly, after stopping MP. Thus, when graft survival is good, stopping
      corticosteroids corrects the major handicap of children with irreversible uremia-
      the poor linear growth--and improves the W/HI and control of arterial pressure.
      Longer follow-up periods are necessary to exclude significant worsening of renal
      function and an increased incidence of chronic rejection after stopping the
      steroid.

PMID- 1440851
TI  - The occurrence of cytotoxic and non-complement-fixing antibodies in the
      crossmatch serum of patients with early acute rejection episodes.
AB  - In an earlier study we found a strong correlation between the presence of donor
      reactive HLA-specific antibodies in the crossmatch serum and early acute
      rejection episodes. Our experience was also that some of these antibodies were
      not cytotoxic and could therefore not be detected using the microcytotoxicity
      assays. In the present study, 11 patients from the earlier study who had weakly
      positive B cell reactive cytotoxic antibodies of the IgG class were further
      characterized. In addition, 14 new patients were selected who experienced early
      acute rejections but had a completely negative donor-B cell cytotoxicity
      crossmatch. A group of 12 controls without immunological complications was added,
      as well as 5 patients with early graft losses due to nonimmunological causes.
      Using the flow cytometric crossmatch test we confirmed the presence of HLA
      specific antibodies in all 11 patients from the earlier study. In addition,
      positive flow cytometric crossmatches shown to be caused by HLA antibodies were
      observed in 11 of the 14 patients with acute rejections and negative cytotoxic
      crossmatch. One of 17 control patients had antibodies that were not HLA-reactive.
      IgA antibodies as well as IgG subclass determinations were performed in all
      positive sera. A substantial proportion of patients had HLA-specific antibodies
      of non-complement-binding classes (IgG2, IgG4, IgA) often of higher titers than
      IgG1 and IgG3. The subclass distribution pattern was heterogeneous and often
      included several subclasses. We conclude that non-complement-fixing antibodies
      can also contribute to the risk for development of early acute rejections after
      necrokidney transplantation. Immunological mechanisms for these findings are
      discussed.

PMID- 1440852
TI  - Treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease with a nonmitogenic anti-CD3
      monoclonal antibody.
AB  - Treatment with the monoclonal antibody OKT3 specific for the CD3 complex
      associated with the T cell antigen receptor can reverse acute rejection of human
      renal allografts. However, efficacy of anti-CD3 antibodies for treatment of
      patients with acute graft-versus-host disease after marrow transplantation has
      not been established. The dose-limiting side effects resulting from T cell
      activation induced by some anti-CD3 antibodies in vivo have discouraged their use
      for this application. We now report a phase I-II study of GVHD treatment with the
      anti-CD3 antibody BC3, a monoclonal murine IgG2b that, unlike OKT3, does not
      activate T cells. Fourteen patients were treated with BC3 after progression of
      acute GVHD despite treatment with cyclosporine and corticosteroids, and three
      patients received BC3 as primary treatment for GVHD. BC3 was administered at a
      dose of 0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg/day for seven or eight days. Five patients achieved
      complete resolution of GVHD, eight patients had partial improvement, two patients
      had no change, and two patients had progression of GVHD on therapy. Responses
      were sustained in 8 of 13 patients. Mild chills, fever, hypertension, and chest
      discomfort occurred in various combinations following 6 of 17 (35%) initial
      infusions of BC3 and following 4 of 99 (4%) subsequent infusions. In each
      instance it was possible to continue BC3 therapy without adjusting the dose or
      treatment schedule. In each patient treated, the absolute count of peripheral
      blood lymphocytes decreased transiently but returned to baseline within 22 hr
      after the first infusion. Circulating T cells had surface CD3 molecules saturated
      by the infused antibody in all but one patient. Four patients survived longer
      than one year after treatment with antibody BC3, and 13 patients died of
      infection or organ failure. Administration of the nonmitogenic anti-CD3 antibody
      BC3 was associated with improvement in the clinical manifestations of GVHD with
      minimal acute toxicity. Efficacy of antibody treatment did not depend on
      depletion of circulating T cells. Therefore, antibody BC3 may be achieving
      therapeutic immunosuppression by modulating T cell function. Controlled studies
      in patients treated earlier in the course of GVHD should determine whether
      antibody BC3 can improve survival.

PMID- 1440853
TI  - Acute vascular rejection in renal transplantation--diagnosis and outcome.
AB  - Thirty episodes of histologically verified acute vascular rejection in kidney
      transplant recipients were studied. In 11 grafts the rejection was mainly
      vascular, whereas in 19 grafts a concomitant cellular rejection was seen.
      Histological features prognostic for bad outcome were glomerular necrosis and
      thrombi in the arteries and arterioles. Characteristic findings in transplant
      cytology, i.e., high number of monocytes and low number of lymphocytes and blast
      cells were noted prior to the onset of clinical signs of rejection, and this
      finding was also persisting throughout the rejection episode. The numbers of
      lymphocytes and blast cells were significantly lower in grafts with a pure
      vascular rejection than in grafts with a concomitant cellular rejection. Vascular
      rejection was reversible in 15 cases. As rescue therapy plasmapheresis and added
      immunosuppression were often successful.

PMID- 1440854
TI  - Noninvasive procedures for diagnosis of renovascular hypertension in renal
      transplant recipients--a prospective analysis.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to clarify the selectivity and specificity of
      noninvasive procedures for diagnosis of clinically suspected posttransplant
      renovascular hypertension. We prospectively investigated 25 renal transplant
      recipients with arterial hypertension and clinically suspected stenosis of the
      graft artery (8 female and 17 male patients; ages 45 +/- 15 years). We performed
      a captopril test with 25 mg captopril (n = 25), renography with technetium-99m
      diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid (99mTc-DTPA) before and after angiotensin
      converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition with determination of glomerular filtration
      rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) (n = 23) and color-coded duplex
      ultrasonography of the transplant kidney vessels (n = 24). Renal transplant
      artery stenosis (RTAS) was excluded by renal arteriography in 20 patients and by
      operative evaluation or clinical follow-up in 5 patients. We identified 4
      patients with RTAS and renovascular hypertension. The noninvasive methods showed
      the following results (sensitivity/specificity): (1) captopril test: 75%/67%; (2)
      renography combined with ACE-inhibition: 75%/84%; and (3) color-coded duplex
      ultrasonography: 100%/75%. We conclude that in patients with clinical evidence of
      RTAS most noninvasive diagnostic procedures are not sufficiently accurate to
      exclude the diagnosis. Only color-coded duplex ultrasonography did not fail to
      detect all patients with RTAS and may act as a screening test. Intraarterial
      renal angiography remains the most reliable and as-yet indispensable diagnostic
      test for transplant recipients to rule out RTAS.

PMID- 1440855
TI  - The effects of steroid withdrawal on the lipoprotein profiles of cyclosporine
      treated kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant recipients.
AB  - Lipoprotein profiles were measured before and two months after complete
      withdrawal of prednisone in 34 kidney and 9 kidney-pancreas transplant recipients
      subsequently maintained on cyclosporine and azathioprine. Withdrawal of steroid
      therapy was accompanied by a 17% reduction in total serum cholesterol levels.
      However, there was a parallel reduction in all other measured lipoprotein
      concentrations, including an 18% reduction in high-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol levels. In diabetic recipients of a kidney or kidney-pancreas
      transplant, the ratio of total to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was
      unchanged after steroid withdrawal. In nondiabetic kidney transplant recipients,
      this ratio actually increased significantly following withdrawal of prednisone.
      These observations suggest that it is premature to presume that withdrawal of
      steroid therapy will reduce the cardiovascular risk related to hyperlipidemia in
      cyclosporine-treated kidney or kidney-pancreas transplant recipients.

PMID- 1440856
TI  - Cyclosporine nephrotoxicity in lung transplant recipients.
AB  - End-stage lung disease has been treated successfully by lung transplantation
      (LTXP) at our institution since 1983. We report on the renal function of 30 LTXP
      recipients who were followed for at least 6 months (mean, 39 months; range, 6-60
      months). All patients received quadruple immunosuppressive therapy including
      cyclosporine A, with a trough serum level (RIA) between 150 and 250 ng/ml for the
      first 6 months between 125 and 150 mg/ml after 6 months. The mean serum
      creatinine (SeCr) increased from a baseline value of 75 +/- 3.5 to 182 +/- 13.9
      microM at the end of the follow-up. The greatest change in SeCr occurred within
      the first 6 months post LTXP. Fifteen of 30 patients who were initially
      normotensive required at least one antihypertensive medication post LTXP. By the
      end of the follow-up, 9 patients had SeCr > 200 microM. Two patients in this
      institution have progressed to end-stage renal disease requiring dialytic
      therapy. CsA nephrotoxicity has emerged as a major source of morbidity in the
      lung transplant population. Nephrotoxicity occurs early, and there does not
      appear to be any trend toward reversibility despite a lowering of the dose. Renal
      parenchymal injury may be progressive, despite an apparent plateau of the SeCr in
      some patients.

PMID- 1440857
TI  - Immunofluorescent localization and immunochemical determination of cyclophilin-A
      with specific rabbit antisera.
AB  - We raised rabbit antisera against homogeneous bovine cyclophilin A (CypA) and we
      report their use for its immunofluorescent and immunochemical detection without
      resorting to cyclosporine binding. Indirect immunofluorescence demonstrated that
      in tissue culture cells CypA is present in the cytoplasm diffusely and also
      associated with vesicles and the Golgi apparatus. In mitotic cells CypA is
      increased in amount and redistributed away from cytoplasmic organelles. High
      levels of CypA were demonstrated in murine splenic erythroblasts and myeloblasts,
      but they became undetectable during differentiation to mature erythrocytes and
      granulocytes. Large, often granular, lymphocytes stained very intensely, but
      small lymphocytes demonstrated variable staining. Dot blot immunoassays
      demonstrated that murine tissues contain similar amounts of CypA. During CsA
      treatment murine liver can increase its CypA content much more than spleen. In
      summary, we demonstrated that cells known to be resistant to the effects of CsA
      have high levels of CypA. Also tissues that are resistant to CsA can increase
      their levels more than sensitive tissues upon CsA exposure. Taken together these
      results suggest that CypA plays a role in cell cycle progression and that
      sensitivity to CsA may not be simply a reflection of the baseline CypA levels,
      but may also be affected by the regulation of these levels. Further work is
      needed in order to delineate the role of CypA in the cell cycle and its relation
      to the action of CsA.

PMID- 1440858
TI  - Patterns of T cell-accessory cell interaction in the generation of primary
      alloresponses in the pig.
AB  - Partially inbred, MHC-homozygous miniature swine provide a unique model for the
      study of organ transplantation and the induction of tolerance in large animals.
      Models of both vascularized solid organ transplantation and bone marrow
      transplantation have previously been established. The availability of monoclonal
      antibodies reactive with porcine leukocyte subset antigens now makes possible
      studies of the cellular immunology in this species, affording the opportunity to
      examine mechanisms of transplant tolerance and graft rejection in increasing
      detail. Using such antibodies and peripheral blood leukocytes from pigs of
      recombinant MHC haplotypes, we have examined porcine T cell-accessory cell
      interactions in vitro with attention to T cell subsets and the class of MHC
      alloantigen stimulation. Primary allospecific MLR and CML cultures were studied
      after depletion of accessory cells from responder and/or stimulator populations.
      Although class II MHC antigens were expressed on the majority of porcine T cells
      before and after depletion, these cells were insufficient for antigen
      presentation, since there was an absolute requirement for ACs in the generation
      of primary alloresponses. Proliferative and CTL alloresponses could be generated
      provided that ACs of either stimulator or responder type were present. Selective
      depletion of CD4+ T cells from the responder population demonstrated: (a) that
      the interaction mediated by self ACs was CD4-dependent; (b) that two pathways
      exist for interaction involving allogeneic ACs; and (c) that the interaction
      involving allogeneic class II is CD4-dependent, while that with allogeneic class
      I is not.

PMID- 1440859
TI  - Priming and cross-priming for H-Y in female mice.
AB  - Although female mice (H-2b and H-2g) that are responders to H-Y are able to cross
      prime for this antigen, their ability to do so varies from strain to strain and
      can be influenced by whether they are exposed to H-Y via a subcutaneous hind
      footpad inoculation of male cells or via a male skin graft. On the other hand,
      females (H-2k) that are low responders to H-Y only can be sensitized to male skin
      isografts following a hind footpad inoculation of syngeneic male cells.

PMID- 1440860
TI  - Determination of tolerance to self E alpha peptides by clonal elimination of H-2E
      reactive T cells and antigen presentation by H-2A molecules.
AB  - A series of three synthetic peptides spanning H-2E alpha k chain residues (90
      110), (110-130), and (130-150) were synthesized and purified. Mice representative
      of H-2E- (B6, B10, B10.M, B10.Q, B10.S) and H-2E+ (B10.D2, B10.K, B10.RIII) were
      immunized with individual peptides and lymph node cells challenged in vitro. Both
      B6 and B10 mice respond to in vitro challenge to peptides (90-110) (cpm 20,000),
      (110-130) (cpm 40,000), and (130-150) (cpm 60,000). In contrast all H-2E+
      haplotypes were unresponsive to all three peptides (cpms < 10,000). Furthermore,
      B10 mice could be rendered hyporesponsive to E alpha k peptide challenge
      following expression of an E alpha k transgene or mating to an H-2E+ strain. The
      H-2Ad,k,f,q,s alleles were associated with reduced peptide recognition.
      Furthermore, alteration of the H-2A beta chain in bm12 mutant mice resulted in
      impaired responses to all three peptides. Immunization with synthetic peptides
      comprising major histocompatibility molecules may yield insights into mechanisms
      of self-tolerance.

PMID- 1440862
TI  - Successful reversal of hyperacute renal allograft rejection with the anti-CD3
      monoclonal OKT3.

PMID- 1440861
TI  - Living kidney donor and recipient evaluation in Fabry's disease.

PMID- 1440863
TI  - Bone marrow dysfunction after liver transplantation for fulminant non-A, non-B
      hepatitis. High risk for young patients.

PMID- 1440864
TI  - Liver transplantation for hereditary tyrosinemia--early transplantation following
      the patient's stabilization.

PMID- 1440865
TI  - The use of transesophageal ultrasonography for the diagnosis of inferior vena
      caval outflow obstruction during liver transplantation.

PMID- 1440866
TI  - The effect of the prostaglandin analogues misoprostil and enisoprost on the
      synergy between donor-specific transfusion and cyclosporine in allograft
      survival.

PMID- 1440867
TI  - Evidence of the central role of the thymus in the induction of donor-specific
      unresponsiveness to a renal allograft.

PMID- 1440868
TI  - Succinyl acetone plus methotrexate as graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis in
      DLA-haploidentical canine littermate marrow grafts.

PMID- 1440869
TI  - HLA-mismatched bone marrow transplantation.

PMID- 1440870
TI  - New insights into the mechanism of HIV-1 trans-activation.

PMID- 1440871
TI  - Preparation of high molecular weight DNA from Drosophila adults for PFGE
      analysis.

PMID- 1440872
TI  - Reprobing of DNA:DNA in situ hybridization preparations.

PMID- 1440873
TI  - Eukaryotic replication origins as promoters of bidirectional DNA synthesis.
AB  - Recent work in yeast shows that eukaryotic origins of DNA replication are
      multipartite regulatory elements resembling promoters of transcription. As for
      the regulation of transcription, accessory transcription factors appear to
      function in concert with basic origin recognition factors to regulate initiation
      of DNA synthesis at specific subsets of origins. The participation of
      transcription factors in the regulation of DNA replication may facilitate
      temporal control of transcription and replication during the cell cycle, as well
      as providing a mechanism for integrating origin selection with the cellular
      transcriptional program.

PMID- 1440874
TI  - The S locus of flowering plants: when self-rejection is self-interest.
AB  - In certain families of flowering plants, a self-incompatibility (SI) locus
      prevents self-fertilization, by a specific interaction between the S-gene product
      produced in the pistil and the S-gene products borne on or expressed by the male
      gametophyte, the pollen grain. The female S-locus gene products for two families
      showing different types of SI have been putatively identified as major pistil
      glycoproteins (the S-locus-specific glycoproteins of the Brassicaceae and the S
      RNases of the Solanaceae). However, they are distinct in sequence and mode of
      action. The nature of the S-locus gene product borne by the pollen is still
      uncertain in both systems.

PMID- 1440875
TI  - Dopamine: from Cinderella to Holy Grail.

PMID- 1440876
TI  - Regulation of brain neurotrophin expression by physiological activity.

PMID- 1440877
TI  - Development of GPIIb/IIIa antagonists as antithrombotic drugs.
AB  - Thrombosis represents a major target for development of drugs to prevent and
      treat a variety of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, which are the
      leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western world. This review by
      Andy Nichols and colleagues focuses on a central process in thrombosis, namely
      platelet aggregation, and how it can be inhibited by antagonists of the adhesion
      molecule GPIIb/IIIa. Successful and future therapeutic applications of GPIIb/IIIa
      antagonists, and their pharmacology, are considered in detail.

PMID- 1440878
TI  - Health information and training materials for developing countries.

PMID- 1440879
TI  - An approach to the management of tuberculosis in HIV endemic areas.
AB  - The epidemic of HIV-associated tuberculosis is having a severe impact on
      tuberculosis control in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the United States of
      America, and is expected to spread. Where facilities are limited, the association
      between HIV and sputum-smear negative tuberculosis hampers diagnosis; trials of
      anti-tuberculous therapy are indicated in some cases. Standard treatment regimens
      are effective, but thiacetazone should be avoided because of its association with
      severe, cutaneous adverse reactions. Treatment may have to be prolonged in HIV
      positive cases. Measures to maximize compliance with therapy are paramount. These
      include the use of the shortest possible regimens, of recognized potency, and
      emphasis on ensuring that the regimen is understood by and readily accessible to
      the patient.

PMID- 1440880
TI  - How many bloods will a 'HIVCHEK' check? Multiple tests for HIV antibody for a
      single screening kit.
AB  - Detection of HIV infection in blood donors or populations is usually by testing
      sera for antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2. Screening tests are now highly sensitive
      and specific, but still expensive and scarce in Africa. We tested the
      commercially available kits 'HIVCHEK 1 + 2' in two field laboratories, on
      specimens from blood donors and antenatal women in rural Zaire. We describe a
      method of using one test kit for up to five serum samples, saving money and time.
      In 491 antenatal mothers in Eastern Zaire, among whom the HIV seroprevalence was
      3.3%, we compared 'HIVCHEK' results with results obtained by ELISA and Western
      blot. The 'HIVCHEK' multiple-sample method had a sensitivity of 82% and a
      specificity of 99.6%. In an area with an HIV seroprevalence of < 4%, using
      'HIVCHEK' by the multiple sample method would lead to a saving of about 2,400
      pounds for every 1000 individuals tested.

PMID- 1440882
TI  - Bacteriology of snakebite abscess.
AB  - Thirty-eight cases of abscess secondary to pit viper envenomation are reviewed.
      The incidence of abscess formation was 9%. Results of aerobic cultures revealed
      growth of enteric, coliform organisms in 22 of 25 isolates obtained from
      previously unopened abscesses. Clinical evidence for co-existent anaerobic
      infection is presented. No cases of tetanus were encountered. Clinical and
      laboratory findings of patients in the study are correlated with a review of
      bacteriologic investigations of the oral flora of venomous snakes. Use of
      antibiotics effective against aerobic coliforms and histotoxic anaerobic
      organisms for prophylaxis and/or treatment of infectious complications of pit
      viper envenomation are recommended.

PMID- 1440881
TI  - Aluminium phosphide poisoning.
AB  - Aluminium phosphide is a solid fumigant pesticide widely used in the Indian
      subcontinent as a grain preservative. Over the last 5 years there has been a
      dramatic increase in the number of cases of aluminium phosphide poisoning in
      India. Ninety-two patients with aluminium phosphide poisoning due to ingestion
      were studied over a period of 3 years. Abdominal pain, vomiting and restlessness
      were the common initial features followed by alteration in sensorium and shock
      unresponsive to conventional treatment. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were
      very common and highly variable. Routine serum biochemistry was usually
      unremarkable. Severe metabolic acidosis was common and mortality high (49%). The
      survivors recover completely without any residual organ damage. There is no known
      antidote.

PMID- 1440883
TI  - A simple scheme to improve compliance in patients taking tuberculosis medication.
AB  - Compliance with prescribed treatment remains a major problem in the control of
      tuberculosis worldwide. We describe a simple method of improving patient
      compliance with hospital-based treatment. Eighty-two patients paid a deposit at
      the start of their treatment which entitled them to cheaper drugs and was
      refundable on completion of the prescribed course. Sixty-two per cent of patients
      completed the course compared with 23% of retrospective controls. A direct
      relationship was found between the amount of deposit paid and the rate of
      completion. Reasons why poor patients (who paid a lower deposit) may default are
      discussed, as are the merits of short-course drug regimens. It is recommended
      that similar schemes be assessed elsewhere.

PMID- 1440884
TI  - Drug of the month: ivermectin.

PMID- 1440885
TI  - Treatment of scabies in rural east Africa--a comparative study of two regimens.
AB  - Scabies is endemic in Africa where living conditions make synchronous treatment
      of every member of the large extended family impossible. An open study was
      designed to investigate the optimum treatment of school children in rural
      Tanzania. In one school where 34 children (7%) were infested, treatment with
      benzyl benzoate was distributed to the affected child and those sleeping in close
      proximity. In another school where 29 pupils (6.4%) were affected, the above
      treatment was given along with soap and some scabicidal ointment (6% sulphur) to
      be used on residually affected areas. Again, the treatment was given to those
      sleeping in proximity. One month later 46% were clear at the first school and a
      significantly higher proportion (69%) at the second. I conclude that inefficient
      application of scabicidal treatment and lack of washing contribute to scabies
      treatment failures. Synchronous treatment of small groups within the extended
      family can be effective.

PMID- 1440886
TI  - Sonographic changes following splenectomy for portal hypertension in Schistosoma
      mansoni.
AB  - Eleven patients with portal hypertension due to infection with Schistosoma
      mansoni underwent splenectomy and devascularization operations. The patients were
      examined with ultrasound once preoperatively and twice postoperatively over a
      period of about 6 months. Following surgery there was significant and sequential
      reduction in the diameter of the portal vein at the hilum and the splenic vein at
      the pancreas. The liver lengths and index of liver size did not change
      significantly. No changes in the degree of periportal fibrosis could be detected.

PMID- 1440887
TI  - Myths and beliefs about diseases of ear, nose and throat.

PMID- 1440888
TI  - Is the WHO weight for age chart appropriate for infants of the developing world?

PMID- 1440889
TI  - Multi-resistant typhoid fever in Nepal.

PMID- 1440890
TI  - Phenytoin and wound healing.

PMID- 1440891
TI  - Family planning: KAP among rural women in Kabarole District, Uganda.

PMID- 1440893
TI  - A simple method for measuring nasal patency in children.

PMID- 1440892
TI  - Attitudes to hearing aid use in Nigerian patients.

PMID- 1440894
TI  - Reduction in perinatal mortality.

PMID- 1440895
TI  - Helicobacter pylori and non-ulcer dyspepsia.

PMID- 1440896
TI  - Unwanted pregnancy.

PMID- 1440897
TI  - Anorectal fistulae and pulmonary tuberculosis in Ibadan.

PMID- 1440898
TI  - Living retained second twin 6 days after first.

PMID- 1440899
TI  - Use of activated charcoal to treat poisoning.

PMID- 1440900
TI  - Inexpensive low vision aids.

PMID- 1440901
TI  - Reduction of complete rectal prolapse.

PMID- 1440902
TI  - Surgery for duodenal ulcer in Zambia.

PMID- 1440903
TI  - The pattern of surgical thyroid diseases in Zambia.

PMID- 1440904
TI  - Neonatal chlamydial conjunctivitis in Barbados.

PMID- 1440905
TI  - Aldehyde test (Formol-Gel test) in the diagnosis of kala-azar (visceral
      leishmaniasis).

PMID- 1440906
TI  - A bilharzioma in association with HIV disease.

PMID- 1440907
TI  - A rare presentation of hydatid disease of liver.

PMID- 1440908
TI  - An unusual echographic appearance of the spleen in tuberculosis.

PMID- 1440909
TI  - Echinococcus breast abscess.

PMID- 1440910
TI  - [Cytogenetic effect in peripheral blood lymphocytes of children living in
      villages in the Ovruch District, Zhitomir Region of the Ukraine contaminated by
      radionuclides].
AB  - For the purpose of genetic indication of low level of chronic radiation exposure
      the cytogenetic monitoring of some critical children groups living in two
      contaminated Ukrainian villages was carried out. In all the groups the mean
      frequency of aberrant cells and chromosome type aberrations (including
      dicentrics, centric rings, chromosome translocations as well as polyploid cells)
      significantly exceeded control level. During the repeated examination of children
      from Vistupovichi (in 13 months after the first one) the striking increase of
      cytogenetic effect was revealed. Dicentrics and rings were registered in 79% of
      persons with the individual rate 0.5-1.5 and mean group frequency 0.57 per 100
      cells. The authors tried to evaluate the average cumulative doses of radiation
      for examined groups using G. Littlefield equation for dicentric outcome under the
      low dose rate Cs-137 source and taking into account the assumption about the
      reducing of 50% dicentrics per year. According to this rough calculation, the
      revealed cytogenetic effect can correspond to the mean total dose of 33 cSv for
      Vistupovichi children.

PMID- 1440911
TI  - [Genetic monitoring in connection with the Chernobyl accident].
AB  - The complex investigation has been provided to control the genetically influenced
      processes after Chernobyl accident in some Ukrainian regions. Some dangerous
      trends in genetic populational status were revealed in the Ukrainian regions
      surrounding Chernobyl power plant allowing for the increasing number of
      congenital anomalies among the newborns and the spontaneous abortions as well as
      higher proportion in aberrations of chromosome type in human somatic and embryos
      cells, higher incidence of structural defects in embryonal bone system and
      higher, compared with control, proportion of children with intensive catabolism
      (R-protein homeostasis).

PMID- 1440912
TI  - [Cytogenetic study of the chorion and placenta in prenatal diagnosis of fetal
      pathology].
AB  - The experience of investigation of 230 chorion and placental biopsy in 209 women
      of high risk pregnancy group is presented. Two methods of "direct" chromosomal
      analysis have been compared. Prospects and high economic efficiency of chorion
      and placenta studies as against other methods of prenatal diagnosis, great role
      in a decrease of prenatal disease and mortality are confirmed.

PMID- 1440913
TI  - [Results of the morphologic examination of abortuses and features of the
      pregnancy course when it is aborted in trimesters I and II].
AB  - Morphologic examination of abortuses has been carried out in the women, whose
      pregnancy proceeded under the threat of abortion. While analyzing the course of
      pregnancy and comparing with the results of the pathoanatomic examination, it is
      concluded that prenatal diagnosis is necessary in connection with the high risk
      of congenital developmental defects under the threat of abortion.

PMID- 1440914
TI  - [Problems of medical genetics in the Ukraine].

PMID- 1440915
TI  - [Clinical and genetic analysis of the Townes-Brocks syndrome].
AB  - Due to the performed analysis of data from literature and the author's
      observations of the Taunse-Brock's syndrome a wide variability of phenotypic
      manifestations is shown, the diagnostic criteria of syndrome are determined, its
      autosomic-dominant inheritance with complete penetrance is confirmed.

PMID- 1440916
TI  - [Electron microscopic and histochemical examination of hepatocytes in rat embryos
      exposed to the effect of a static electric field].
AB  - Static electric field with intensity of 150-80 V/cm has no teratogenic and
      embryolethal effect on the rat embryos. However, it provokes disturbance of the
      morphofunctional state of embryo liver, causes destructive-dystrophic changes in
      the parenchyma cells, decreases the content of nucleic acids, induces
      disturbances of the membrane systems of mitochondria and other cell structures.

PMID- 1440917
TI  - [Deviations in progeny development of rats expressing the human growth hormone
      gene].

PMID- 1440918
TI  - [Quantitative characteristics of heterochromatin regions in human metaphase
      chromosomes at different stages of ontogenesis].
AB  - The comparative study of C-heterochromatic regions has been provided for 1, 9, 16
      and Y chromosomes of 30 human embryonal in vivo lymphocytes of 6-8 gestational
      weeks (obtained with medical abortions), on the one hand, and in vitro
      lymphocytes of 100 phenotypically normal newborns, on the other hand. According
      to the results the heterochromatic regions of 1, 9 and Y are significantly
      shorter in embryonal chromosomes as compared with lymphocytes of newborns.

PMID- 1440919
TI  - [Value of molecular-genetic examination of patients with the Shereshevsky-Terner
      syndrome and married couples with disorders of reproductive function].
AB  - The molecular-cytogenetic investigation gives a significant opportunity for
      diagnosis of gonosome mosaics. Due to the molecular-cytogenetic method additional
      chromosomes in karyotypes in 4 of 13 patients are determined. A significant
      spreading of mosaicism type 45, XO/46, X among women with early spontaneous
      abortions is revealed.

PMID- 1440920
TI  - [Screening of mentally retarded persons for "fragile" X-chromosome].
AB  - 112 mentally weak persons aged from 2 to 18 with different degree of oligophrenia
      have been examined. Cultivation of blood lymphocytes was performed on medium 199
      containing 5% of cattle serum. 9 persons with "fragile" X-chromosome are
      revealed. High frequency of autosomes fragility among the examined contingent of
      patients is found. A supposition is advanced on interrelation between
      homozygosity of "fragile" parts of autosomes and oligophrenia.

PMID- 1440921
TI  - [Successes and prospects of molecular diagnosis of the most widespread inherited
      diseases].
AB  - Current state of molecular diagnosis of hereditary diseases most common in the
      former USSR such as cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, haemophilia A
      and B as well as phenylketonuria is reviewed. Basic results of prenatal diagnosis
      and carrier detection of the above mentioned diseases in St.-Petersbourg and
      somewhere else in Russia are presented. The urgent necessity to start an
      efficient molecular diagnosis of some other widespread hereditary diseases (von
      Willebrand's disease, Martin-Bell syndrome, polycystic kidney. Huntington chorea,
      myotonic dystrophy, etc.) is emphasized. Creation of new diagnostic centers
      dealing with most common diseases as well as complementing each other as to
      molecular diagnosis of more rare hereditary diseases is substantiated. Prospects
      of implementation of new molecular methods and novel technical approaches
      (preimplantation embryos, fetal cells selected from maternal blood) for more
      efficient diagnosis of hereditary diseases are briefly outlined.

PMID- 1440922
TI  - [Attempt at quantitative estimation of genetic effects of chemical pollution of
      atmospheric air in urban populations].
AB  - Epidemiological investigation of spontaneous abortions and congenital anomalies
      in three towns of Ukraine has shown that mutation rate in Mariupol, the most
      contaminated town, as compared with relatively clean town is essentially higher.
      Genetical consequences due to environmental chemical pollution in Mariupol proved
      to be equivalent to the chronic influence of ionizing radiation for 30 years in
      the dose of 230 REM.

PMID- 1440923
TI  - [Urgent problems of elimination of medical aftereffects of the Chernobyl nuclear
      reactor accident].

PMID- 1440924
TI  - [The Chernobyl project].

PMID- 1440926
TI  - [The dependence of the incidence of encountering cells with micronuclei in the
      experimental metastases of rat rhabdomyosarcoma on the duration of the growth and
      on the size of these metastases].
AB  - Cell suspensions of rat transplantable rhabdomyosarcoma RA-2 were injected to
      white rats. The experimentally induced lung metastases (ELM) were estimated
      according to the frequency of micronucleated cells (MNC) that appeared 9-20 days
      after injection (a. i.). The frequency of MNC in ELM decreased from 2.7% (9 days
      a. i.) to 0.7% (20 days a. i.). The ELM which were of the same size but were
      examined at different time after injection had equal frequencies of MNC. At each
      investigated time after injection the least frequencies of MNC were observed in
      the ELV of the biggest size. The data provided allow to infer that the growth
      time and site of ELM may influence the spontaneous karyotype instability rates.

PMID- 1440925
TI  - [Myocyte polyploidy in human cardiac pathology].
AB  - With general atherosclerosis, the ploidy of left ventricle myocytes in the hearts
      of patients that underwent infarction corresponds to the norm variation
      irrespective of the ventricle and heart weights. At heart diseases the myocyte
      nucleus ploidy is often much higher than the norm variability both in
      hypertrophied ventricles and in those with normal weight. An additional
      polyploidization is suggested that may occur at some natural ontogenetic periods
      of human development (in the childhood) during heart diseases both innate or
      spontaneously appearing at the particular time. Unlike, the myocardial
      hypertrophy in adults does not stimulate myocyte polyploidy.

PMID- 1440927
TI  - [Tubular structures in Mycoplasma gallisepticum and the localization of a tubulin
      like protein].
AB  - In all the strains of M. gallisepticum investigated, a protein with apparent
      molecular weight 40 kDa was revealed by immunoblotting with polyclonal anti-calf
      brain tubulin antibodies and monoclonal anti-chicken alpha-tubulin antibodies. In
      other 8 investigated Mycoplasma species no positive reactions with the same
      antibodies were found. The M. Gallisepticum cells were examined under electron
      microscope on fine serial sections and on some sections going at different angles
      to the long cell axis. Undermembrane system of tubules was revealed and the
      intracellular pattern of the tubular structures were reconstructed. The
      immunoelectron microscopic data suggest that tubulin-like protein may be included
      into the structures.

PMID- 1440928
TI  - [A comparative analysis of the action of oxidative metabolic inhibitors on the
      luminescence parameters of normal and tumorous cells].
AB  - Comparative investigation of different mitochondrial oxidative metabolism
      inhibitors action on NAD(P)H and flavoproteins fluorescence intensity of minimal
      transformed 3T3 NIH mouse fibroblasts and rat HTC hepatoma cells was made.
      Principle differences were shown between these cells in oxidized flavoproteins
      fluorescence intensity changes under the action of used inhibitors. It is
      suggested that the unusual HTC hepatoma cells flavin fluorescence intensity
      increase is connected with the oxidation of unidentified flavin-containing
      component functionally attached to mitochondrial respiratory chain.

PMID- 1440929
TI  - [The effect of antithymocyte serum on the natural cytotoxicity of C3HA mouse
      splenocytes in the early periods after 20-methylcholanthrene administration].
AB  - The role of T-lymphocytes in natural cytotoxicity of splenocytes of C3HA mice
      after a single injection of 20-methylcholanthrene (20-MC) was investigated. A
      splenocyte suspension was treated with anti-T-cell serum and complement. This
      treatment was not shown to exert influence on the natural cytotoxicity of
      splenocytes within 1-13 days after injecting 20-MC.

PMID- 1440930
TI  - [The use of an immunohistochemical method for detecting N7-methylguanine in human
      cells].
AB  - An immunohistochemical method, followed by silvering (Ag-treatment) of the final
      product of peroxidase reaction for N7-methylguanine detection, was first employed
      for human cells treated in vitro with N-methylnitrosourea. This method appeared
      to be highly specific and sensitive, compared to the routine immunohistochemical
      technique. Evidence has been provided on the application of Ag-treatment for
      detecting N7-methylguanine in the esophagus epithelium of patients with a high
      risk of cancer with this particular locality.

PMID- 1440931
TI  - [Increasing the sensitivity of an immunohistochemical method for detecting
      carcinogen adducts with DNA].
AB  - Application of polyclonal antibodies against N7-methylguanine (N7-MG) for
      immunohistochemical detection of the DNA damage following exposure to
      methylnitrosourea in cultured cells (CHO and IAR-27) has been shown. The
      approaches were applied: a) an extraction of nuclei, and b) a silver
      intensification of the end product of peroxidase reaction. Both the approaches
      were effective in increasing the sensitivity of immunohistochemical detection of
      N7-MG, the latter technique being most sensitive. It is proposed that the silver
      intensification technique is very perspective to have a high levels of
      sensitivity and specificity, a sufficient contrast and preservation of the cell
      morphology. The efficiency of the new approach in application to the purposes of
      molecular epidemiology is discussed.

PMID- 1440932
TI  - [The mitotic cycle and DNA repair in UV-irradiated murine neuroblastoma cells].
AB  - A correlation has been shown between a reduced rate of movement of UV-irradiated
      neuroblastoma cells from G1 into S phase, an essential increase of cells in S
      phase while progressing through the cell cycle, and a defect in free DNA
      synthesis on a damaged template. These indices may reflect one and the same cell
      response to the UV light.

PMID- 1440933
TI  - [The effect of 3-aminobenzamide on the mitotic cycle of Chinese hamster cells
      cultured on a medium with 5-bromodeoxyuridine following ionizing radiation
      action].
AB  - A specific inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-3-aminobenzamide (6 mM) has
      been shown to: 1) reduce survival of non-irradiated CHO-K1 cells, cultivated in
      medium containing 5-bromodeoxyuridine (10 mkM, BDU cells), and increase their
      radiosensitivity; 2) induce G2 delay in BDU cells while progressing through the
      cell cycle as analysed by the DNA flow cytometry; 3) increase to a great degree
      G2 delay in X-irradiated BDU cells. 3-Aminobenzamide is primarily effective when
      it is present during the first or two first cell cycles after the initial
      addition of BDU. The above data confirm the involvement, presumably an indirect
      one, of ADP-ribosylation in the DNA repair through affecting the chromatin
      structure.

PMID- 1440934
TI  - [The effect of Mycoplasma contamination on the karyotypic structure of a skin
      fibroblast cell line from the Indian muntjac].
AB  - The karyotypic variability has been studied in a low chromosomal cell line of the
      Indian muntjak skin fibroblasts contaminated with Mycoplasma arginini R-16 and
      Acholeplasma laidlawii A. The mycoplasmal contamination exerted influence on the
      cell distribution for the chromosome number. The frequency of the modal class
      cells with 7 chromosomes, having the main structure variant of the karyotype
      (MSVK) 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1, was seen to decrease, while the frequency of the
      submodal class cells with 6 chromosomes, having MSVK 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 because of the
      loss of Y1 chromosome from MSVK 2 + 2 + 1 + 1, to increase. The frequency of
      chromosomal aberrations, predominantly that of dicentrics, was higher in the
      contaminated variants. Dicentrics were mainly produced by chromosomes 1 and 2.
      They were formed by a nonrandom combination of chromosomes and their arms.
      Possible correlations are discussed between aneuploidy and dicentric chromosome
      formation in low chromosomal cell lines, and cell adaptations to culture
      conditions.

PMID- 1440935
TI  - [The cellular mechanism for the formation of lamellar bodies in type-II
      pneumocytes in rat lungs].
AB  - Pneumocyte type II cells from lungs of native rats and of rats that inspired a
      hypoxic mixture of gases were investigated by transmission electron microscopy.
      In cells of experimental rats, membrane structures were found that well compare
      with lamellar bodies. Experimental results and analysis of literature allowed to
      put forward a hypothesis about the cell mechanism of formation of lamellar bodies
      from the spiral twisted membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum.

PMID- 1440936
TI  - Consensus development conference: assessment of the quality of life in cancer
      clinical trials. Italian Psycho-Oncology Society (SIPO).

PMID- 1440937
TI  - Plasma steroid transport in subjects with tumors of hormonal target organs: a
      review.
AB  - Tumors derived from a hormonal target organ are assumed to be stimulated by the
      same hormone that stimulates the normal target tissue. In spite of attempts to
      acquire direct indications of a correlation between hormones and cancer, none
      have been definitive because studies of total and free hormone levels have given
      contradictory results. For this reason, attention has shifted to the study of
      plasma binding and transport of hormones, that is, of the proteins responsible
      for modulation of the hormone effect and thus of hormone bioavailability. The
      data reviewed indicate that in-depth study of the transport and binding system of
      sex steroids would give new information about the endocrine characteristics of
      cancer patients.

PMID- 1440938
TI  - The effects of the macrocyclic lactone bryostatin-1 on leukemic cells in vitro.
AB  - The macrocyclic lactone bryostatin-1 was found to exert in vitro antineoplastic
      activity against several leukemic cell lines, including human K562
      erythroleukemia, HL60 promyelocytic leukemia, REH and MOLT-4 lymphoblastic
      leukemias, CCRF-CEM lymphoma, KG-1 myeloid leukemia, and murine P388 lymphocytic
      leukemia. No statistically significant difference in sensitivity to bryostatin-1
      was found between adriamycin-resistant P388 and K526 subclones and their
      sensitive counterparts. Freshly explanted clonogenic leukemic cells showed a
      variable sensitivity to bryostatin-1 in 10/12 tested samples. The IC50 of
      clonogenic leukemic cells was 4 x 10(-3) M bryostatin-1, and that of normal
      marrow CFU-GM was 10(-5) M. Leukemic cells exposed to bryostatin-1 showed a
      variable degree of monocytic differentiation as evaluated by ANAE staining and
      morphology. Bryostatin-1 is also able to inhibit the growth of CFU-GM from
      myelodysplastic marrow and to shorten the duration of dysplastic hematopoiesis in
      liquid culture. In conclusion, these data suggest that bryostatin-1 is a potent
      antileukemic agent in vitro that may be potentially useful for clinical studies.

PMID- 1440939
TI  - Effect of medroxyprogesterone acetate on immunohistochemical expression of
      estradiol in endometrial carcinoma.
AB  - The effect of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on the immunohistochemical
      expression of estradiol (E2) was investigated in 25 cases of endometrial
      carcinoma. Twenty-three cases of the endometrial carcinomas showed positive
      immunoreactivity for E2. The immunohistochemical expression of E2 was more
      intensive in carcinoma cells than in stromal cells. Although the morphologic
      alterations induced by MPA treatment were observed only in 2 cases who were
      administered more than 30,000 mg of MPA, the staining intensity in most cases
      appeared to decrease after the treatment. The decrease in E2 immunoreactivities
      of cancer cells as well as of stromal cells in Grade 1 or Grade 2 was
      significant. These results suggest that MPA might decrease the E2 content in
      endometrial carcinoma cells as well as in stromal cells.

PMID- 1440940
TI  - Bone marrow histopathology and prognosis in malignant lymphomas.
AB  - Bone marrow trephine biopsies of patients with non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphomas
      (ML), followed for at least 4 years, were investigated using univariate and
      multivariate survival analyses to detect which anagraphic data and
      histomorphologic medullary patterns before therapy were related to the prognosis.
      In 234 ML (146 low grade, 88 high grade), univariate analysis showed that
      survival was reduced by bone marrow involvement, absence of reactive lymphoid
      nodules, and low marrow cellularity. Moreover, in low-grade ML, patients 50 years
      or older and showing absence of myeloid hyperplasia, excess of hemosiderin and
      mast cell hyperplasia had significantly lower-survival rates. The prognostic
      relevance of these parameters did not change when cases without marrow
      involvement were separately analyzed. Multivariate analysis showed that, besides
      marrow involvement, age and myeloid hyperplasia had significant prognostic
      importance in low-grade ML, and lymphoid nodules in high-grade ML. Our data
      confirm the value of bone marrow histopathology in ML and indicate that the
      prognosis is related not only to medullary involvement but also to the morphology
      of the uninvolved marrow.

PMID- 1440941
TI  - Histology as a prognostic factor in early gastric cancer.
AB  - Of 431 patients with gastric cancer observed in our institution, 23 (5.3%) had
      early gastric cancer (EGC). Macroscopic presentation, histology, depth of
      invasion, and lymph node involvement were evaluated in all the cases. All
      patients underwent surgery and an intensive follow-up was performed. Five of the
      23 patients progressed, and the risk factors were examined. Histology seemed to
      be the main prognostic factor in our study, since intestinal type of EGC was
      associated to a significantly better prognosis. Total gastrectomy is indicated in
      the proximal localization of EGC, and should perhaps be performed also in cases
      presenting undifferentiated histology.

PMID- 1440942
TI  - Minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia: a morphologic, cytochemical and
      ultrastructural study.
AB  - Seven of 368 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) could not be subclassified by
      routine morphologic, cytochemical and immunologic analyses during the period
      January 1989 to December 1990. Further investigations including ultrastructural
      examination, anti-myeloperoxidase and myeloid specific antigen analysis were
      carried out in all these patients and they were classified as AML-MO, as per the
      FAB criteria. Morphologically these blasts resembled ALL-L2/AML-M1.
      Cytochemically they were negative for Sudan black, myeloperoxidase, periodic acid
      Schiff, and non-specific esterase. On initial immunophenotypic analysis, they
      could not be classified into B, T or myeloid lineages. Further investigations
      revealed CD13 and CD33 positivity in 4 of 6 patients. Anti-myeloperoxidase was
      positive in 6 of 6 patients and ultrastructural examination revealed
      myeloperoxidase-positive blasts in 6 of 7 cases. Cytogenetic analysis done in one
      patient revealed 60% abnormal metaphases. Six of 7 cases were treated with
      aggressive chemotherapy. One patient achieved complete remission but relapsed
      after 6 months, whereas others were resistant to treatment. Hence we conclude
      that an aggressive investigative and therapeutic approach is required to identify
      and treat AML-MO.

PMID- 1440943
TI  - Ultrastructural modifications in one case of hairy cell leukemia during alpha
      interferon therapy.
AB  - There are many reports concerning the morphology of hairy cell leukemia (HCL),
      but, to our knowledge, there are no data on the ultrastructural modifications of
      HCL during interferon therapy. The ultrastructural modifications of neoplastic
      cells in peripheral blood in a case of HCL were investigated before and 2 and 4
      months after beginning treatment with human lymphoblastoid alpha-interferon.
      Before therapy, hairy cells displayed the typical cytoplasmic projections, and 4%
      contained ribosome-lamellae complexes (RLC) (the cells contained up to 7 RLC).
      Two months from the beginning of therapy, hairy cells had shorter projections,
      RLC had disappeared, and tubuloreticular structures (TRS) had appeared in 2.2% of
      the elements. Four months from the beginning of therapy, TRS persisted in 2.3% of
      hairy cells, cylindrical confronting cisternae (CCC) appeared in 6.8% of the
      cells, and uncommon RLC, in close contact with the rough endoplasmic reticulum
      and nuclear membrane, were found in 1.5% of the elements. The cells contained up
      to 3 RLC. Our data confirm that interferon stimulates the synthesis of TRS and
      CCC, whereas the reappearance of uncommon forms of RLC could reflect their
      neosynthesis, possibly related to the interferon therapy. The frequent findings
      of a close contact between RLC and nuclear membrane support the view that RLC are
      derived not only from rough endoplasmic reticulum, but also from the nuclear
      membrane.

PMID- 1440944
TI  - Cationic content in multiple mammary cysts.
AB  - One hundred and ninety-six breast cyst fluid samples from 78 consecutive patients
      with multiple cysts were subdivided according to the K+/Na+ ratio: type 1 (K+/Na+
      ratio > 1) and type 2 (K+/Na+ ratio < or = 1). Cysts of the same type were found
      in 57.7% of patients (concordant group). Such a finding suggests that in patients
      bearing multiple cysts, all aspirated fluids need to be classified on the basis
      of their cationic composition. In the concordant group, type 1 cysts were more
      frequent than in the discordant group (80.3% vs 59.5%, P = 0.002). High K+/Na+
      ratios (> 4.0) were present in 64% of type 1 cysts in the concordant group
      compared to 37.7% in the discordant group (P = 0.001), which suggests a different
      activity of the epithelium lining the cyst wall.

PMID- 1440945
TI  - Osteosarcoma of the extremity metastatic at presentation: results achieved in 26
      patients treated with combined therapy (primary chemotherapy followed by
      simultaneous resection of the primary and metastatic lesions).
AB  - From September 1986 to December 1989, 26 selected patients with high-grade
      osteosarcoma of the extremities metastatic at presentation were treated with
      primary chemotherapy (high doses of methotrexate, -cisplatinum and adriamycin)
      followed by surgery. Twenty-one cases underwent resections of the primary and
      metastatic tumor at the same time; owing to the disappearance of lung metastases
      after preoperative chemotherapy in 3 cases, only the primary tumor was operated
      on. Due to progression of the disease in 2 patients, no surgery was performed.
      Histologic examination of the resected specimen was performed to evaluate the
      percentage of necrosis produced by chemotherapy on the primary and metastatic
      tumor. After surgery, the patients received further chemotherapy with the same
      drugs used preoperatively plus ifosfamide and VP-16. The histologic response of
      the primary tumor was good (> 90% tumor necrosis) in 25% of the cases; in the
      resected metastatic nodules, 23% had good responses. A discrepancy between the
      histologic response of the primary and secondary tumor was observed in only 15%
      of the cases. These results seem to confirm the validity of the strategy (widely
      used today in the neoadjuvant treatment of non-metastatic osteosarcoma) of
      changing the postoperative treatment when the histologic response of the primary
      tumor is poor. At an average follow-up of 3.5 years, only 6 patients remained
      disease-free; 19 patients relapsed and 1 patient died for adriamycin
      cardiotoxicity. Of the 19 relapsed patients, 16 died and 3 are still alive but
      with uncontrolled disease. These results are much worse than those obtained in
      144 cases of non-metastatic osteosarcoma of the extremities treated in the same
      period with the same preoperative chemotherapy (77% with good response in the
      primary tumor and 78% with continuous disease-free survival). The data suggest
      that a very effective neoadjuvant chemotherapy for nonmetastatic osteosarcoma of
      the extremities gives disappointing results in osteosarcoma of the extremities
      which is metastatic at presentation.

PMID- 1440947
TI  - Colonic metastasis of a renal carcinoma. A case report.
AB  - A 64 year-old man with a metastatic clear-cell renal carcinoma experienced low
      intestinal bleeding. The endoscopy revealed a polypoid mass in the left colon
      which proved to be a metastasis of the renal carcinoma. This is an uncommon cause
      of intestinal hemorrhage, and a rare localization of metastatic deposits.

PMID- 1440946
TI  - Case report: a patient with Hodgkin's disease after treatment for testicular
      cancer.
AB  - A young patient developed Hodgkin's disease 11 years after surgical,
      chemotherapeutic and radiation treatment for stage IIIA embryonal carcinoma of
      the testis. The importance is stressed of establishing a tissue diagnosis when
      there is an unexpected course of the disease.

PMID- 1440948
TI  - The effect of nifedipine on secretory diarrhea in mice.
AB  - The aim of this study was to determine whether castor oil-induced secretory
      diarrhea in mice could be ameliorated by nifedipine, a calcium channel blocking
      agent in mice. Ten animals received nifedipine in a dose of 1 mg/30 g/body weight
      and another ten animals received only distilled water via an orogastric feeding
      tube. Fifteen minutes after the administration of the drug or the distilled
      water, castor oil was given to all animals. The mean body weight loss was found
      to be higher in the control group than in the nifedipine treated group two hours
      after the administration of castor oil. These findings indicate that nifedipine
      may have a therapeutic role in castor oil-induced secretory diarrhea.

PMID- 1440949
TI  - Neuroblastoma presenting as protein-losing enteropathy.
AB  - Protein-losing enteropathy is often reported to be associated with malignancies
      such as Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and mesenteric mesenchymoma,
      but it seldom complicates neuroblastoma. In this report, we describe a case of
      neuroblastoma presenting as protein-losing enteropathy in which neurohumoral
      mechanisms were involved.

PMID- 1440950
TI  - A case of Waardenburg syndrome and aganglionosis.
AB  - Waardenburg's syndrome is characterized by a broad nasal root, pigmentation
      disturbance and congenital deafness while aganglionosis is described as the
      partial or complete lack of ganglion cells in the alimentary tract. This report
      describes a five-day-old male infant with Waardenburg's syndrome associated with
      total aganglionosis of the colon, ileum and distal jejunum and draws attention to
      the causal relationship between these two entities.

PMID- 1440951
TI  - Kawasaki syndrome.
AB  - Kawasaki syndrome, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, is an acute
      vasculitis of infants and young children. We describe a four-year-old girl who
      presented with fever, a diffuse erythematous maculopapular rash, bilateral
      nonpurulent bulbar conjunctivitis, dry, red, fissured lips, a tongue with a
      strawberry "appearance", an erythematous pharynx, indurative erythema, and edema
      and desquamation of the face, hands and feet. She probably developed mitral valve
      prolapse during the course of the disease. The diagnosis of Kawasaki syndrome was
      arrived at by excluding other diseases and by the presence of all the clinical
      criteria for Kawasaki syndrome. Since this syndrome is rarely encountered in
      Turkey, this case is presented and the literature regarding the syndrome is
      reviewed.

PMID- 1440952
TI  - Evaluation of growth hormone secretion and insulin-like growth factor-1 in
      prepubertal children with thalassemia.
AB  - Growth retardation is a clinical feature of patients with thalassemia major, and
      endocrine studies have frequently revealed the presence of normal growth hormone
      (GH) secretion. The present study was undertaken in 14 prepubertal thalassemic
      children (9 males and 5 females), aged 2(2/12) to 10(3/12) years, with the aim of
      evaluating GH response to i.v. arginine, oral L-dopa stimulation and insulin-like
      growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels. Eleven patients had peak serum GH levels less
      than 7 ng/ml and two patients had peak serum GH levels of 7-10 ng/ml with
      arginine. Similarly, 10 patients had peak levels less than 7 ng/ml and one
      patient had a peak level of 7-10 ng/ml with L-dopa. Thus, nine of the patients
      had GH deficiency and two had partial GH deficiency. Three patients had elevated
      basal GH values. The serum IGF-1 levels in the patients were not statistically
      different from the levels in the controls, but three patients had low IGF-1
      values. These findings suggest a defect in the regulatory mechanisms of GH
      secretion.

PMID- 1440953
TI  - The role of viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae in lower respiratory tract
      infections in childhood.
AB  - Acute lower respiratory tract infections are one of the major causes of childhood
      morbidity and mortality in developing countries. This study was undertaken at
      Hacettepe University Children's Hospital to determine the role of viruses and
      Mycoplasma pneumoniae in respiratory tract infections in children. Eighty-three
      patients with lower respiratory tract infections were selected at random from
      among the children admitted to the hospital for evaluation of respiratory
      symptoms. Acute and convalescent serum samples were collected from all patients
      for the complement-fixation test and the following antigens were used:
      respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, parainfluenza virus Type 1,
      influenza viruses A and B, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The test was positive in 39
      of 83 patients (47%), and RSV was the most frequent agent detected serologically
      (15.7%).

PMID- 1440954
TI  - Carrier detection by DNA analysis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy families.
AB  - We applied DNA analysis techniques to Turkish families whose members were
      afflicted with Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy. The aim of this study was to
      establish a prenatal diagnosis of this anomaly and to determine the carrier
      state. All of the techniques used in established diagnosis centers are now
      applied routinely in our laboratory. Both Southern analysis and polymerase chain
      reaction (PCR) methods were used for deletion detection in patients and
      restriction enzyme fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) determination for linkage
      analysis in women at risk. CA repeated sequence length polymorphism, the most
      recent technique for linkage analysis, was also applied. About 250 individuals
      from seventy-nine families were investigated and thirty-six entire families were
      screened. Twenty-five women were found to be carriers while thirty seven were non
      carriers. The carrier state could not be determined in three women.

PMID- 1440955
TI  - The significance of early panendoscopy in caustic ingestion in children.
AB  - Fourteen cases of esophageal and gastric burns following the accidental ingestion
      of a caustic substance are presented. Early fiberoptic endoscopy was necessary,
      for it made possible a precise assessment of the severity and extent of injury
      and the application of proper conservative therapy. Signs and symptoms of caustic
      burns in children are an unreliable guide to injury, therefore, panendoscopy
      should be performed as soon as possible. A delay in the performance of a
      fiberoptic examination could result in the perforation of the affected organs.

PMID- 1440956
TI  - The value of CSF adenosine deaminase levels in the differential diagnosis of
      childhood meningitis.
AB  - In this study, adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels of serum and cerebrospinal fluid
      (CSF) in a total 28 children (13 with bacterial meningitis, 5 with mumps
      meningoencephalitis and 10 with febrile convulsions) were determined. The
      comparisons between the serum values were insignificant (p greater than 0.05) but
      the CSF levels of the children with bacterial meningitis were higher than in the
      others (p less than 0.05). These findings suggest that serum ADA levels are not
      important in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of these diseases. However,
      ADA levels of CSF may be useful in differentiating between bacterial and viral
      meningitis.

PMID- 1440957
TI  - [Use of water-soluble 2-nitro-4-sulfophenyl ester of adipic acid for preparation
      of peptide protein conjugates].
AB  - Two synthetic peptides were conjugated with bovine serum albumin by means of 2
      nitro-4-sulfophenyl ester of adipic acid. The amino acid analysis of the
      conjugates has shown that 14-15 molecules of the peptide are coupled per 1
      molecule of the albumin during 10 min. The number of coupled molecules is the
      same when the reaction time increases to 24 hours. So, 2-nitro-4-sulfophenyl
      ester of adipic acid may be used parallel with the known bifunctional reagents to
      obtain peptide-protein conjugates.

PMID- 1440958
TI  - [Effect of the degree of liposome oxidation on adsorption by montmorillonite].
AB  - The influence of the degree of liposomes oxidation on the parameters of their
      adsorption by montmorillonite was studied. It was shown that accumulation of the
      products of oxidation in liposomes, which occurred in the process of their
      incubation, feebly influenced the ability of liposomes to adsorb on the surface
      of the clay mineral. The increase of the degree of liposomes oxidation in this
      case lead to the lowering of the values of adsorption heats, however the kinetics
      of heat production was preserved.

PMID- 1440959
TI  - [Status of the antioxidant protective system of rat liver exposed to carbon
      tetrachloride].
AB  - The dynamics of enzyme activity of antioxidative protective system of the liver
      and the content of restored glutathione have been studied in rats poisoned by
      CCl4 injection. During the first hours followed the injection against the
      background of maximum accumulation of dienic conjugates and decrease of the
      restored glutathione level no significant changes in the enzyme activity of the
      antioxidative protective liver system were observed. At the same time 48 hours
      later the superoxide dismutase and catalase activity decreased by 38% and 36%,
      respectively, with relative stability of glutathione-dependent enzymes and a two
      fold increase of the restored glutathione level. It is shown that a fall of
      activity of the cytoplasmic antioxidative liver enzymes is not a result of the
      immediate inactivating effect of free-radical reactions initiated by CCl4, but
      is, evidently, caused by the covalent binding of its radical metabolites with
      corresponding macromolecules.

PMID- 1440960
TI  - [Hydrolysis of polymeric fibrin by plasmin, miniplasmin, microplasmin and
      trypsin].
AB  - 125I-labeled polymeric fibrin hydrolyzed with plasmin, Val442-plasmin
      (miniplasmin, Lys530-plasmin (microplasmin) and trypsin has been studied for
      radioactivity of its separate electrophoretic bands. The reaction of hydrolysis
      was stopped at a moment of a two-fold decrease of the fibrin clot turbidity
      (t1/2) at the wave length 350 nm. For plasmin, miniplasmin, microplasmin and
      trypsin taken in the same caseinolytic activities t1/2 was 12.4, 40.0 164.1 and
      76.8 min, respectively. Differences in composition of fibrin digests taken at
      t1/2, are demonstrated: the content of high-molecular components of digests
      decreases in the order of plasmin greater than miniplasmin greater than
      microplasmin greater than trypsin, thus showing differences in the processes of
      fibrin clot structure disruption by the enzymes.

PMID- 1440961
TI  - [Isolation of steroid-binding proteins on new affinity adsorbents].
AB  - Steroid-binding proteins of human blood are extracted and investigated on
      corticosteroid-hydrazide-oxypropyl-adsorbents by the affinity chromatography. The
      role of structural changes in the matrix-spacer-ligand system for different types
      of adsorbents is studied as well as a dependence of sorption on pH and salt
      environment. A dependence of the protein sorption on the isolated hydrazide
      groups is revealed. It is shown that hydrocortisone displays the highest binding
      activity to the protein pool in the affinity electroimmunoassay while the
      substance S-Reichstein and its 16-alpha-methyl analog--the least one.

PMID- 1440962
TI  - [Biochemical bases of prevention of the cytotoxic effect of xenobiotics].
AB  - Possible sources of cytotoxicity of xenobiotics and main mechanisms of
      realization of their damaging effect are briefly considered. Protective system of
      a cell is characterized with regard for the peculiarities essential for
      development of principles of alimentary prophylaxis of cytotoxic effects of
      foreign compounds. Modern approaches to alimentary modification of the processes
      of biotransformation of xenobiotics and promotion of protective capacities of a
      cell are discussed.

PMID- 1440963
TI  - [Structure and properties of the cell nucleus chromatin in the brain of rats
      exposed to gamma-radiation].
AB  - Exposure of rats to radiation in a dose of 1 Gy changes sensitivity of chromatin
      in the cerebral cortex cells to the action of DNAase 1, which promotes an
      increase of the DNA hydrolysis level and content of dissolved chromatin
      fractions. A day after irradiation the chromatin structure restores only
      partially and then (7-30 days after irradiation) it passes into a new, less
      compact state. The irradiation changes the chromatin ability to aggregation in
      the presence of Mg2+ and spermidine.

PMID- 1440964
TI  - [Changes in the intensity of DNA synthesis in immunocompetent mouse tissues by
      peptidoglycans of bacterial origin].
AB  - The data are presented on the effect of activation of by peptidoglycans from cell
      walls of Staphylococcus aureus and Brevibacterium flavum on the DNA synthesis
      intensity in the mice spleen, thymus and bone marrow in vivo. Maximum of the
      peptidoglycan influence on the DNA synthesis intensity is observed 12-36 hours
      after injection. As a rule, higher doses of the studied peptidoglycans (1 mg per
      one animal) activate the DNA synthesis more efficiently. Peptidoglycan from Br.
      flavum stimulates the DNA synthesis in all tissues more intensively then the
      peptidoglycan from S. aureus, which may be a result of its monomers' structure.

PMID- 1440965
TI  - [Coenzyme-binding sites of the brain pyruvate dehydrogenase complex].
AB  - It is shown that the relative amount of the holoenzyme in the highly purified
      pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from the bovine brain is higher when the enzyme
      activity is assayed in the reaction of nonoxidative formation of acetaldehyde as
      compared to the pyruvate: NAD+ reductase reaction. The S0.5 values for thiamine
      pyrophosphate are as following: (TPP) (0.314 +/- 0.22) x 10(-7) M with reaction
      of nonoxidative formation of acetaldehyde, (0.188 +/- 0.08) x 10(-6) M and (1.65
      +/- 1.16) x 10(-6) M in case of the pyruvate: NAD+ reductase reaction. TPP in the
      concentration of (0.5-6.0) x 10(-7) M completely protects the sites of
      nonoxidative formation of acetaldehyde from modification by the coenzyme analogs,
      4'-oxythiamine pyrophosphate and tetrahydrothiamine pyrophosphate. However, the
      pyruvate: NAD+ reductase activity of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is
      inhibited in this case by 30-34%. The data obtained suggest that in contrast to
      the pyruvate: NAD+ reductase reaction the conversion of pyruvate to acetaldehyde
      occurs by the sites which tightly bound TPP.

PMID- 1440966
TI  - [Inhibition of yeast pyruvate decarboxylase by alkyl phosphates].
AB  - It is found that yeast pyruvate decarboxylase is inhibited by alkyl phosphates.
      Inhibition is competitive with respect to a substrate. The inhibition constants
      with n-butyl and n-heptyl esters of phosphoric acid are the values of the same
      order of magnitude. With an increase in the length of the alkyl phosphates
      hydrocarbon chain from 7 to 10 carbon atoms inhibition constants change
      drastically. For n-heptyl phosphate and n-decyl phosphate values KI are equal to
      1.6 x 10(-4) M and 1.7 x 10(-6) M, respectively. A further increase in the number
      of carbon atoms in the alkyl substituent of phosphoric acid ester induces no
      reduction of the inhibition constant. Multiple-inhibitor experiments of pyruvate
      decarboxylase show that inorganic phosphate and n-decyl ester of phosphoric acid
      are mutually exclusive. It is suggested that the inhibition mechanism with alkyl
      phosphates includes the competition of the phosphoric acid residue with alpha
      ketocarboxyl group of pyruvate as well as the interaction between a hydrocarbon
      radical and hydrophobic parts on the enzyme surface, one of them being outside
      the substrate binding site.

PMID- 1440967
TI  - [Activity of glutathione-dependent enzymes and superoxide dismutase in peptic
      ulcer].
AB  - Activity of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-peroxidase, glutathione-S
      transferase, glutathione reductase, glucoso-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and content
      of glutathione reduced in blood of patients with gastric and duodenal ulcer
      depending on the age and parallel lesion of the hepatobiliary system have been
      studied. Considerable inhibition of superoxide dismutase, glucoso-6-phosphate
      dehydrogenase activity and decrease of the content of reduced glutathione, the
      most pronounced in patients with parallel lesion of the hepatobiliary system,
      have been revealed. Glutathione reductase activity is high in all the patients,
      except for aged and old people with parallel lesions of the liver and biliferous
      tracts. Glutathione peroxidase is essentially active in adult patients,
      especially in case of combined pathology. Glutathione peroxidase activity is
      lower in aged and old patients as compared to the age norm, while the level of
      glutathione-S-transferase activity is high; at the same time there are no
      considerable changes in the glutathione-S-transferase activity in adult patients.
      The mechanisms of compensation and decompensation of functioning of enzymatic
      antiradical and antioxidant system under the peptic ulcer depending on the age of
      patients and concomitant lesions of the hepatobiliary system are discussed.

PMID- 1440968
TI  - [Redox processes in the retina and tunic tissues of the rat eye in experimental
      alkalosis].
AB  - It is shown in experiments is vivo that development of experimental metabolic
      alkalosis in rats is followed by changes in redox processes in the eye retina and
      tunic. For the first two months of the experiment the number of sulphydryl group
      decreases, while that of disulphide ones of water-soluble proteins and low
      molecular compounds increases. The amount of oxidized metabolites of glycolysis
      and of a cycle of tricarboxylic acids (pyruvate, oxaloacetate, alpha
      ketoglutarate) increases relative to the reduced ones (lactate, isocitrate,
      malate), as well as activities of hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, NAD-dependent
      malate dehydrogenase, while activities of fructose diphosphatase, glucoso-6
      phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase fall.
      The content of malonic dialdehyde increases. 90 days later disorders of certain
      compensatory mechanisms of the metabolic system of alkalosis regulation probably
      occurred in the eye retina and tunic tissues: hexokinase and pyruvate kinase
      activity fell to the control values, while that of NAD-dependent malate
      dehydrogenase--below the control level; the content of lactate increased.
      Activity of glutathione-dependent enzymes remained low and the amount of malonic
      dialdehyde grew much more than in the previous terms.

PMID- 1440969
TI  - [Ammonia metabolism in tissue of newborn animals in health and in digestive
      disorders].
AB  - Ammonium nitrogen was studied for its metabolism in the tissues of ruminants in
      transition from pre- to postnatal development in norm and with disorders in
      gastroenteric digestion. It is established that the intensity of ammonium genesis
      and glycolysis processes as well as a cycle of tricarbonic acids change in
      newborn calves as compared to adult animals. The ammonium toxicosis development
      in sick animals, which is confirmed by an increase of the ammonia level and
      intensification of the reactions of ammonium- and ureogenesis in tissues of the
      gastroenteric tract, liver and kidneys.

PMID- 1440970
TI  - [Effect of ketoconazole on the activity of key enzymes of biosynthesis of
      cholesterol and its esters in the liver of rats maintained on a cholesterol
      enriched diet].
AB  - Ketoconazole in vivo has been studied for its effect on the activity of key
      enzymes of the cholesterol and its esters' biosynthesis in the liver and on the
      cholesterol concentration in certain fractions of blood lipoproteins in normal
      and cholesterol-fed rats. It is established that ketoconazole decreases
      cholesterol concentration in low-density lipoproteins and in very low-density
      lipoproteins as well as decrease the acyl-CoA-cholesterol acyl-transferase
      activity and increases the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA-reductase activity in
      the liver microsomes of intact and test animals. It is supposed that the possible
      cause of the observed changes can be a disturbance in regulation of basic links
      of cholesterol metabolism in the liver.

PMID- 1440971
TI  - Alkyllysophospholipid influenced melanoma cell morphology is associated with
      decreased attachment to basement membrane.
AB  - The alkyllysophospholipid analog 1-0-octadecyl-2-0-methyl-3-phosphorylcholine (ET
      18-OCH3) was examined for possible anti attachment effects on B16-F10 murine
      melanoma cells in vitro. At sub-lethal lipid concentrations B16-F10 cells were
      inhibited from attaching to reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel) during a
      45 min assay. This type of inhibition was also imparted by the isoprenoid
      farnesol but not by egg lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) at concentrations up to 10
      micrograms/ml. Both lipids were toxic to B16-F10 cells in the absence of bovine
      serum albumin (BSA), BSA (0.1%) completely protected the cells from lysis except
      when both lipids were combined as a mixture. Light and electron microscopy, as
      well as electronic sizing of cells, gave evidence of alkyllysophospholipid
      induced reduction in cell size which correlated well with attachment inhibition.
      The results suggest that alkyllysophospholipid induced reduction of cell surface
      area leads to inhibition of cell attachment to basement membrane which 8 with our
      experimental conditions, was not permanent since cells eventually attach within
      24 h after treatment. The enhanced lytic effect the lysophospholipid imparts on
      the alkyl compound, in conjunction with the anti-attachment properties should be
      important areas for future research.

PMID- 1440972
TI  - [Effect of salvipholin on the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in the rat liver
      in alloxan diabetes].
AB  - Peroral administration of salvipholin in a dose of 50 mg/kg to intact male rats
      (the body weight 180-220 g) had a positive effect on the carbohydrate-lipid
      metabolism in the liver and blood serum of animals. Administration of the same
      dose to rats with alloxan diabetes induced a significant decrease in the content
      of glucose, free fat acids, triglycerides and lysophospholipids of the liver and
      blood serum. The level of these components has sharply increased after
      subcutaneous alloxan administration in a dose of 150 mg/kg, the content of
      glycogen and pyruvic acid being normalized and insulin deficiency removed. These
      changes are closely related to salvipholin-promoted restoration of phospholipid
      spectra of the blood serum and liver of experimental animals disturbed under
      conditions of insulin deficiency. The possible mechanism of the salvipholin
      action is analyzed.

PMID- 1440973
TI  - [Blood lipids and characteristics of free radical processes in specific classes
      of lipoproteins in rats in the early periods after gamma-radiation].
AB  - The content of lipids and lipoproteins, the state of free-radical processes and
      the level of eicosanoids (prostaglandin F-1L and thromboxane B-2) have been
      studied in the blood plasma and in certain classes of lipoproteins in rats 2 and
      24 h after external gamma-radiation in doses of 1.2 and 3 Gy.
      Hypertriglyceridemia and hyperprebetalipoproteinemia, whose expressivity
      increases with a radiation dose are revealed. The activation of free-radical
      processes, an increase of the thromboxane V-2 content and a decrease of the
      prostaglandin F-1L content are observed with a dose of 1 Gy.

PMID- 1440974
TI  - [Cellular microbiosensors for methanol and ethanol determination on the basis of
      pH-sensitive field transistors].
AB  - Cellular sensors for methanol and ethanol determination were developed using
      immobilized mutant cells of methylotrophic yeasts Hansenula polymorpha and Pichia
      pinus (able to extrude protons in the presence of alcohol) and pH-sensitive field
      effect transistors (pH-SFETs). The intact cells of yeasts were immobilized in Ca
      alginate gel to obtain a biomembrane. The minimal detectable response was
      obtained to approximately 0.5 mM of methanol and ethanol, a linear dependence of
      biosensor's response on the logarithmic alcohol concentration was observed in the
      range from 5 to 100 mM for both types of alcohol. The prospects for application
      of biosensors to determine alcohols in the analytical practice are discussed.

PMID- 1440975
TI  - Comparative ultrastructure of needle aspiration biopsy and surgical resection
      specimens of lung tumors.
AB  - Ultrastructural examination affords conclusive evidence for classification of
      lung tumors. Tissue properly fixed for electron microscopy is not available in
      many cases, however. Ultrastructural diagnosis of resected specimens obviously
      follows, rather than directs, the surgical treatment. Fine-needle aspiration
      (FNA) of lung masses is recommended as a means to obtain lung tumor tissue for
      electron microscopy. Nevertheless, no comparison has been made between
      ultrastructural information gained from aspiration specimens and resected
      specimens. Electron microscopy was performed on transthoracic FNA specimens of 10
      lung tumors for which surgical resection was subsequently performed.
      Glutaraldehyde-fixed specimens from FNA and surgical resection were prepared for
      electron microscopy according to routine procedures. Fixation of the FNA
      specimens was equivalent or superior to that of the resected specimens in 9 of
      the cases. Three of the FNA specimens contained necrotic as well as viable
      tissue. Features essential for diagnosis such as desmosomes, junctions,
      neurosecretory granules, intermediate filaments, glycogen, lipid, mucin, and
      microvilli were identifiable in both FNA and resected specimens. FNA specimens
      therefore yield a representative sample of the ultrastructural features of lung
      tumors when adequate cellular material is obtained. Use of a coaxial needle
      sampling technique with immediate microscopic assessment reduces the likelihood
      of retrieving only blood or necrotic tissue in the electron microscopy specimens.

PMID- 1440976
TI  - Acute myopathy associated with chronic licorice ingestion: reversible loss of
      myoadenylate deaminase activity.
AB  - A patient with acute rhabdomyolysis and absence of myoadenylate deaminase (MADA)
      associated with chronic licorice intoxication is presented. Clinical and
      laboratory examination of the patient and morphologic study over skeletal muscle
      were performed. The major effect of licorice intoxication is hypokalemia, which
      may explain most of the observed clinical symptoms and morphological changes. The
      absence of MADA may be a consequence of the direct toxic effect of licorice
      glycosides. To our knowledge, this is the first report in which a lack of MADA
      and chronic licorice intoxication has been shown to be associated with clinical,
      histochemical, biochemical, and morphological changes, which were completely
      reversed with potassium supplementation and licorice withdrawal.

PMID- 1440977
TI  - Ciliary ultrastructure in primary ciliary dyskinesia and other chronic
      respiratory conditions: the relevance of microtubular abnormalities.
AB  - Twenty-eight subjects with chronic respiratory disease were investigated for
      clinical data, ciliary beat frequency of nasal mucosa (10 cases), and ciliary
      ultrastructure. The cases were divided into two groups: those considered
      compatible with primary ciliary dyskinesia (genetic), and those not fitting into
      this category (others). A case was defined as genetic if one or more of the
      following were present: dextrocardia, ciliary beat frequency less than 10 Hz, or
      an average dynein arm count (outer, inner, or both) of less than two per ciliary
      cross-section. In each of the genetic cases at least two of these parameters were
      present. The percentage of malformed microtubules was calculated from the total
      number of evaluated cross-sections for each case. Ciliary microtubular
      abnormalities of any kind were no more frequent in cases of primary ciliary
      dyskinesia than in other cases. The same was true for transposition and radial
      spoke defects.

PMID- 1440978
TI  - Chordomalike soft tissue sarcoma in the leg: a light and electron microscopic and
      immunohistochemical study.
AB  - A soft tissue tumor in the leg of a 67-year-old woman is described. This large
      tumor below the knee area infiltrated extensively the deep and superficial soft
      tissues but did not involve the bones. The tumor cells formed nodules resembling
      the architecture seen in chondroid tumors and chordoma. The tumor cells were
      often vacuolized, and there was extracellular myxoid matrix similar to that in
      chordoma or myxoid chondrosarcoma. Immunohistochemistry showed keratins 8 and 19,
      epithelial membrane antigen, and vimentin in most tumor cells, and there was also
      S-100 protein positivity in a number of tumor cells. Electron microscopy showed
      desmosomelike cell junctions and bundles of intermediate filaments resembling
      those seen in many epithelial neoplasms. Thus the tumor resembled chordoma in
      many respects. Because clinically no other primary tumor was found, this tumor is
      probably a chordomalike primary soft tissue sarcoma different from typical
      extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma or chordoid sarcoma.

PMID- 1440979
TI  - Metastatic spindle cell malignant melanoma with prominent microvilli.
AB  - A metastatic spindle cell malignant melanoma with positive immunoreactivity for S
      100 protein and HMB-45 antigen and the presence of premelanosomes is described in
      a lymph node of the neck 11 years after removal of a superficial spreading
      malignant melanoma from the arm. Ultrastructurally, long, slender microvilli
      created a pattern with great similarity to an anemone cell tumor. A more solid
      pattern without microvilli was also present. Despite the abundance of microvilli
      in the anemone part of the tumor, intracytoplasmic lumina were not observed. In
      addition, crystalline structures within enlarged mitochondria and intracisternal
      tubules were noted.

PMID- 1440980
TI  - Osteoclastic origin of giant cells in giant cell tumors of bone: ultrastructure
      and cytochemical study of six cases (UP 15:623-629)

PMID- 1440981
TI  - Limits of cryofixation as seen by Fourier transform infrared spectra of
      metmyoglobin azide and carbonyl hemoglobin in vitrified and freeze-concentrated
      aqueous solution.
AB  - The limits of cryofixation were probed by investigating metmyoglobin azide and
      carbonyl hemoglobin in approximately 5 wt% aqueous solution by Fourier transform
      infrared spectroscopy. Spectra of solutions cooled slowly and recorded in steps
      between 295 K and 190 K are compared with those obtained by "hyperquenching"
      either into their glassy states at 80 K, or into freeze-concentrated solution at
      170 K. For metmyoglobin azide we conclude from an analysis of its covalently and
      ionically bound azide that it is impossible to freeze-in its high-spin/low-spin
      equilibrium even by hyperquenching, and that its vitrified state must correspond
      to a temperature T < 226 K for the Fe(II) site of the protein. In the amide I
      spectral region of carbonyl hemoglobin (HbCO), a band at approximately 1654 cm-1
      due to alpha-helical structures is the dominant band in spectra recorded at
      ambient temperature and in the vitrified state, but in the spectrum of HbCO
      quenched at similar rates into a freeze-concentrated state, a band at
      approximately 1650 cm-1, tentatively assigned to unordered structures, becomes
      the dominant feature. This band is absent in the spectra of freeze-concentrated
      samples obtained by heating a vitrified sample to 170 K. We surmise that HbCO is
      dehydrated by freeze-concentration to a larger extent in solution quenched
      rapidly at 170 K than in a vitrified solution heated to 170 K, and that this
      dehydration is the primary cause for HbCO's perturbation. We conclude that freeze
      concentration induced by heating a vitrified solution can cause less
      perturbations of a protein than does quenching into a freeze-concentrated state.
      Therefore it can be advantageous for the practice of freeze-etching to vitrify
      first a solution by "hyperquenching" and thereafter freeze-etch at e.g.
      approximately 170 K.

PMID- 1440983
TI  - New STEM multisignal imaging modes, made accessible through the evaluation of
      detection efficiencies.
AB  - With its specific design for recording simultaneous signals, the scanning
      transmission electron microscope (STEM) offers unique imaging capabilities. In
      order to use them fruitfully, we have implemented, on a VG STEM equipped with a
      magnetic spectrometer, home-made detectors for recording multisignal images. This
      paper first describes a method developed for the quantitative evaluation of
      detection efficiency of all data-acquisition channels involved in these
      multisignal images. At this stage, new imaging modes become accessible, which can
      be classified following their specificity and sensitivity; scattering power
      image, elastic and inelastic images mean free path ratio images. Original
      applications encountered in the biological as well as in the materials science
      fields illustrate the possibilities of these various approaches, which can be of
      great interest in quantitative microscopy, analytical imaging or low-dose
      observation.

PMID- 1440982
TI  - Scanning tunneling microscopy of an ionic crystal: ferritin core.
AB  - Ferritin molecules were imaged directly in air by scanning tunneling microscopy
      (STM). The lateral dimensions were close to the values determined by electron
      microscopy, and the vertical dimension was much reduced. Several clusters of
      partially naked ferritin cores displayed a hexagonal structure of lattice
      constant 4.9 +/- 0.5 A. It is thus shown that the STM can be used to image thin
      ionic crystals at high resolution.

PMID- 1440984
TI  - A method for observing cross-sectional views of biomembranes.
AB  - Cross-sectional views of intact biomembranes and synthetic lipid bilayer
      membranes were observed by electron cryomicroscopy using spontaneous orientation
      of disk-shaped membranes; purple membrane, thylakoid membrane, synthetic
      phospholipid membrane and a microcrystalline sheet made of Er-binding polypeptide
      were observed. The membranes were observed fully hydrated, embedded in vitreous
      ice, and their self-orientation was most probably caused by repulsion between
      their hydrophobic edges and their hydrophilic environment which forced their
      edges to be exposed to the air-water interface. The cross-sectional profiles of
      the native biomembranes were asymmetric and characteristic, whilst those of the
      synthetic membranes were symmetric and predictable by a simple model. Simple
      Fourier analysis showed that the cross-sectional images retained structural
      information up to a medium resolution.

PMID- 1440985
TI  - Ultrasonic analysis of edible fats and oils.
AB  - Low intensity ultrasound is a powerful analytical technique for investigating the
      physico-chemical properties of many biological and non-biological materials. In
      this article its application for the characterization of edible fats and oils is
      assessed. Ultrasound can be used to determine the dynamic rheology and
      composition of oils, the oil content and droplet size of emulsions and the solid
      fat content of partially crystalline emulsions. It is capable of rapid and
      precise measurements, is non-destructive and non-invasive, can be used on-line or
      off-line and is relatively inexpensive. Ultrasonic techniques will therefore
      prove a useful addition to the existing analytical techniques used to
      characterize fats and oils.

PMID- 1440986
TI  - The effect of bone structure on ultrasonic attenuation and velocity.
AB  - The relationship between the structure of bovine cancellous bone, and its
      ultrasonic propagation parameters is investigated by means of a novel technique
      involving the application of large static loads, thereby changing the porosity in
      a controlled manner. The results show that for frequencies in the range 0.4 to 1
      MHz, porosity decreases up to 35% are associated with a reduction in attenuation
      of up to 500%, whereas the velocity increases by roughly 35% for the same
      changes. The data taken overall suggest that in determining the ultrasonic
      attenuation coefficient at these frequencies, the amount of material in a given
      bone section is significantly less important than the distribution of that
      material.

PMID- 1440987
TI  - Dependence of ultrasonic attenuation of liver on pathologic fat and fibrosis:
      examination with experimental fatty liver and liver fibrosis models.
AB  - To clarify the effect of the pathological state of the liver on ultrasonic
      attenuation, we produced two experimental rabbit models. The influence of fat on
      ultrasonic attenuation was examined using a fatty liver model without liver
      fibrosis, and that of fibrosis on attenuation using a liver fibrosis model
      without fatty infiltration. Ultrasonic data were obtained in vivo directly from
      the liver, and an acoustic attenuation coefficient slope was obtained by the
      spectral difference method. Tissue components of the liver, namely the total
      lipid, hydroxyproline and water contents, were measured precisely by quantitative
      methods. We revealed that ultrasonic attenuation depends mainly on fatty
      infiltration of the liver and to a lesser extent on fibrosis, but not on the
      water content.

PMID- 1440988
TI  - Axial stress distributions between coaxial compressors in elastography: an
      analytical model.
AB  - We describe an analytical model to study the behavior of stress along the
      compression axis for different configurations of opposing circular compressors,
      as applied to elastography. The method is based on a hypothesis that the axial
      stress at any point on the axis is the superposition of the individual components
      of the stresses derived from the boundary conditions at either end. The
      determination of the axial stress behavior according to the model permits the
      correction of certain elastograms for depth-dependent stress. Experimental
      results have been presented to corroborate the model.

PMID- 1440989
TI  - Fetal exposure from endovaginal ultrasound examinations in the first trimester.
AB  - Ultrasonic obstetrical examinations during the first trimester are now often
      performed endovaginally with higher-frequency (5-7.5 MHz) transducers operating
      closer to the fetus than for transabdominal examinations. To estimate exposure to
      the fetus, propagation distances were obtained from a retrospective study of 100
      normal first-trimester endovaginal B-mode examinations. No significant dependence
      of attenuation on gestational age was observed. The range of the attenuation
      estimates was 1.8-10.4 dB. A mean attenuation of 5.0 dB at 5 MHz for an average
      depth of 2.8 cm resulted in an attenuation coefficient of .36 dB/cm/MHz. Exposure
      (ISPTA) to the fetus at each gestational week from three ultrasound units was
      very similar: worst-case values of the 100 cases ranged from 1.2-1.9 mW/cm2, well
      within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines of 94 mW/cm2 for derated
      focused transducers. Energy density deposited to the anterior surface of the
      fetus during a typical examination, assuming that the transducer is kept
      stationary over one area for the entire period of the examination (which is
      unlikely), ranged from 143-217 mJoules/cm2, within the American Institute of
      Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) recommendations.

PMID- 1440990
TI  - Human in situ dosimetry: differential insertion loss during passage through
      abdominal wall and myometrium.
AB  - We constructed a specialized in vivo exposimetry system and determined selected
      ultrasonic field quantities. We examined two groups of non-pregnant women
      (nulliparas = 14, multiparas = 9) under conditions of full and empty bladder. A
      calibrated 7-element linear array hydrophone was placed in the anterior fornix of
      the vagina in each subject. In the full bladder condition, the sound beam
      traversed the anterior abdominal wall and full bladder, whereas after voiding,
      the sound beam traversed the abdominal wall and anteverted uterine fundus. Each
      study was conducted using a 3.5 MHz mechanical sector transducer. Calibration
      data were recorded after completion of each in vivo experiment. Data from both
      groups were pooled for analysis. Assuming (1) the sound path through the full
      bladder is loss less, the insertion loss (ILFULL) should represent the insertion
      loss for the abdominal wall (ILABD WALL) 8.2 +/- 5.6 dB; whereas (2) for the
      empty bladder condition, (ILEMPTY) represents (ILABD WALL+ILUTERUS). Subtracting
      ILFULL from ILEMPTY yields ILUTERUS = 5.8 +/- 6.8 dB. Therefore, knowing the
      respective path lengths and normalizing for frequency, the mean tissue
      attenuation coefficients (A) are estimated to be AABD WALL = 1.39 dB/cm-MHz and
      AUTERUS = 0.14 dB/cm-MHz. These attenuation data suggest that the abdominal wall
      is the principal source of ultrasonic energy loss.

PMID- 1440991
TI  - Apparent contribution of respiratory gas exchange to the in vitro "cell density
      effect" in ultrasonic cell lysis.
AB  - Ultrasonic damage to cells in vitro has been reported to vary dramatically with
      cell density; the particle density per se has been proposed to be responsible for
      this effect via interference with gas body activity. Reported here are the
      results of experiments designed to test the general postulate that the "cell
      density effect" can be explained in part by cellular modification of the
      suspension medium by respiratory gas exchange. Ultrasonic cell lysis is shown to
      occur at a much higher level in suspensions supplemented with the respiratory
      inhibitor NaCN than in control suspensions when suspension densities exceed 2 x
      10(7) cells/mL. Moreover, at constant cell density, cell lysis diminishes with
      increasing pre-insonation incubation time at 37 degrees C. The rate of change in
      cell lysis with incubation time was diminished significantly by cyanide
      treatment. These observations are consistent with the postulate that respiratory
      O2:CO2 exchange enriches the medium in CO2 while depleting the medium of oxygen,
      which cavitates more readily than CO2, thereby diminishing the potential for
      cavitation-related cellular damage. However, this is only a partial explanation
      of the cell concentration dependence of cell lysis; cell density per se is an
      important factor in the "cell density effect."

PMID- 1440992
TI  - Ultrasound-enhanced effects of adriamycin against murine tumors.
AB  - Earlier studies from our and other laboratories have demonstrated that ultrasound
      (US) enhances the cytotoxicity in vitro of the antitumor agent Adriamycin (Adr)
      (Harrison et al. 1991; Loverock et al. 1990; Saad and Hahn 1987, 1989; Yang et
      al. 1991; Yumita et al. 1987, 1989). We have now tested the possibility that this
      additional cytotoxicity can be translated into antitumor activity in vivo. Mice,
      bearing either a fibrosarcoma (RIF-1) or a melanoma (B-16) on their thighs, were
      injected with a single dose of Adr (10-20 mg/kg). The tumors were then heated
      locally to 41 degrees -43 degrees C for 30 min, either by insonation with US or
      by immersion of the animals' limbs into hot water baths. Antitumor efficacy was
      scored two ways: by serial measurements of tumor volume to determine the time for
      the tumor to double in size, or by determining the X-ray dose required to
      sterilize 50% of the tumors (TCD50) after the Adr-hyperthermia treatment. Both
      assays gave similar results. Ultrasound-induced hyperthermia was substantially
      more effective in enhancing Adr activity than was hyperthermia induced by the
      water bath. The mean-doubling time was 13 days for tumors treated with the
      combination of Adr and US and 6 days for tumors heated with a water bath
      immediately after injection of Adr. The TCD50 was 21.2 +/- 0.8 Gy for the
      combination of US and Adr and 36.1 +/- 0.9 Gy for the water bath heating and
      Adr.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1440993
TI  - The sensitivity of Drosophila larvae to continuous-wave ultrasound.
AB  - The threshold for killing of freshly hatched Drosophila larvae exposed to
      continuous-wave (CW) ultrasound shows a minimum at approximately 0.3 MHz. This
      suggests that the stiffness of the material surrounding the gas bodies in the
      organism is comparable to water. From this, it is apparent that the gas bodies in
      three-day-old larvae that we have used in earlier studies are far larger than
      resonance size at the frequencies (1-5 MHz) used. Yet, these larvae were killed
      by short exposures to low-temporal-average-intensity pulsed ultrasound with peak
      intensities of the order of 10 W/cm2. Hence, it appears that "large" bubbles
      cannot be ignored in considerations of the biological effects of pulsed
      ultrasound and lithotripsy.

PMID- 1440994
TI  - [Reparative processes of experimental Aitken III lesion. An animal experiment
      study].
AB  - This present study describes the fine structural aspects of experimentally
      induced defects of the proximal growth plate of the tibia in rabbits as
      simulation of epi-/methaphyseal fractures. We evaluated two different defect
      sizes. As important result we find in narrow defects of 0.5 mm no osseous
      bridging of the epiphyseal plate whereas with 2 mm defects there is partial
      transphyseal closure. Growth plate cartilage is thus capable of repairing
      spontaneously smaller defects.

PMID- 1440995
TI  - [Ablation of hard biological tissue with the excimer laser].
AB  - Cutting and drilling of bone- and meniscus tissue were performed using a XeCl
      excimer laser combined with a tapered fiber. Ablation speed on meniscus tissue is
      already sufficient, the thermal damage of the adjacent tissue is minimal.
      Increasing of energy transmission through special fibers promises higher ablation
      rates also on hard biological tissue and that promoted the interest in lasers
      again for accident surgeons.

PMID- 1440996
TI  - [Effect of form elasticity of the prosthesis shaft in response to stress of the
      proximal femur].
AB  - Uncemented hip prostheses are characterized by a variable design of the stem. In
      these investigations, nine different prostheses were studied according to the
      model of a standard bone (Kunststoffnormfemur). After preparation of the cavity
      of the prostheses with original instruments and after its implantation, strain
      gauges were placed at 16 certain points. Measurements were carried out in steps
      of 200 N until reaching the maximal force of 2kN. Prostheses that are
      characterized by an anatomical design of the stem resemble the physiological
      nature of normal bone, in contrast to the models with a rectangular cross-section
      or with a stretched lateral shape of the stem.

PMID- 1440997
TI  - [Thoracopulmonary complications of fresh fractures of the thoracic spine with
      neurologic damage].
AB  - The number of thoracic injuries associated to traumatic fractures of the spine is
      increasing. The multiple trauma rate in this retrospective study of 253 spinal
      injuries with neurological damage, which needed admission to the Intensive Care
      Unit, was of 55%. Blunt chest trauma was found in 86% of the multiple trauma
      group, especially in combination with fractures of the upper and middle thoracic
      spine (up to 100%), while head injuries appeared in only 58%. Hemopneumothorax
      was diagnosed in 88%, pulmonary contusion in 48% of the cases, leading to a high
      rate of recidivating atelectasis and pneumonia. Emergent chest computed
      tomography should therefore be obligatory in thoracic spine fractures.

PMID- 1440998
TI  - [Possibilities for avoiding homologous blood transfusion in surgical
      interventions].
AB  - Alternative techniques to reduce the need for homologous blood transfusions are
      clinically available for several years. Actually a decision of our federal
      constitutional court (Bundesgerichtshof) outlined the medicolegal importance of
      autologous blood transfusion concepts. Pre-operative donation of red cells and/or
      plasma, acute normovolemic hemodilution, and intraoperative blood salvage and
      retransfusion will be discussed in terms of effectiveness, advantages,
      indications, and contraindications. In an emergency hemorrhage situation only the
      intraoperative blood salvage and retransfusion is available. The other autologous
      concepts are important in elective surgery.

PMID- 1440999
TI  - [Experiences with the isoelastic prosthesis in treatment of humerus metastases].
AB  - 39 patients with pathological fractures of the humerus were treated by isoelastic
      polyacetal endoprosthesis. Ten patients received a humeral-head-prosthesis and 32
      a prosthesis of the humeral-shaft. The average survival time was nine months.
      Three times within the first group of twelve patients fracture of the cone of the
      prosthesis occurred. Therefore an additional stabilization of the contact zone
      between bone and prosthesis by plate-osteosynthesis was performed in the
      following 20 operations, preventing breakage of the material. In contrast to the
      conventional posterior approach to the humeral-shaft we chose a ventrolateral
      approach between the biceps and triceps muscle. This technique is less traumatic
      and leads to a shorter operation time. In patients with pathological humeral
      fractures a conception of treatment is demonstrated which provides an immediate
      stability by using endoprostheses to preserve the quality of life of oncological
      patients.

PMID- 1441000
TI  - [Combined injury of the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral
      ligament of the knee joint--results of two to six years follow-up of surgical
      treatment].
AB  - A retrospective study of 148 combined acute knee injuries with anterior cruciate
      and medial collateral ligament injuries was performed. Follow-up included 115
      patients, 95 of whom were personally examined two to six years postoperatively.
      Proximal anterior cruciate ligament ruptures were treated with reinsertion in 96
      patients, in case of intraligamentous lesions (44 times), augmentation with the
      semitendinosus tendon was performed. Medial collateral ligament lesions were
      explored during the operation. Reconstruction of intraligamentous ruptures was
      performed with sutures (120 times). Distal lesions were refixed with Burri plate
      or staple. A modified Ellison procedure was routinely performed. Postoperative
      treatment was cast-free and included immediate physiotherapy using a functional
      brace. Between the two groups with anterior cruciate ligament reinsertion and
      augmentation, no significant differences were observed in subjective evaluation
      (Lysholm score 85 vs. 88), activity level (Tegner score 5.5 vs. 5.4) or anterior
      stability (KT 1000 at 89 N 6.6 vs. 6.1 mm displacement). A clear pivot shift sign
      was noted in two knees with reinsertion and in none of the augmented group.
      Medial stability was reestablished almost completely, independent of the site of
      lesion or the reconstruction technique (average valgus movement at 30 degrees
      flexion 0.7+ vs. 0.5+ on injured/contralateral side). We conclude that
      reinsertion of femoral anterior cruciate ligament ruptures will reestablish
      anterior stability in most cases, although semitendinosus augmentation appears to
      give slightly more reliable results. Medial stability is gained by the site
      depending reconstruction techniques. Whether intraligamentous medial collateral
      ligament lesions can be left alone with only the anterior cruciate ligament being
      reconstructed, cannot be answered by this study.

PMID- 1441001
TI  - [Immobilization and early mobilization of malleolar fractures after
      osteosynthesis with resorbable bone screws].
AB  - 71 patients with displaced ankle fracture were treated by using absorbable screws
      in the fixation of fractures. The follow-up time was 17 (13 to 33) months in
      average. The fixation devices were SR-PLLA (self-reinforced poly-L-lactide) and
      SR-PGA (self-reinforced polyglycolide) screws. 38 of the ankle fractures were
      immobilized with plaster cast and 33 ankle joints were mobilized immediately with
      a brace. An exact radiological result was achieved in 66 cases, insignificant
      displacement was observed in four cases and the result was poor in one patient.
      The result was classified as excellent in 62 patients, as good in eight patients
      and as poor in one patient. The patients treated postoperatively without plaster
      healed in a somewhat shorter time, but at one year check-up the differences in
      the clinical results were almost eliminated. Selected ankle fractures fixed with
      absorbable screws can be treated postoperatively with early mobilization without
      plaster.

PMID- 1441002
TI  - [Traumatic hematoma of the adrenal gland simulating pheochromocytoma. A case
      report].
AB  - A young man with Weber B fracture had adrenalectomy under the suspicion of
      pheochromocytoma on the right side. Surprisingly hematoma of the right adrenal
      gland was found. This case is presented to point out the mechanism of trauma and
      diagnostic possibilities of the injury.

PMID- 1441003
TI  - [Textually transmitted diseases].

PMID- 1441004
TI  - [Pneumococcal vaccine: a solution in clinical studies?].

PMID- 1441005
TI  - [Sinusitis: the maxillary sinus should not necessarily be the focus of
      treatment].

PMID- 1441006
TI  - [Declaration on influenza vaccination for the 1992-1993 season. National
      Consultative Committee on Immunization (NCCI)].

PMID- 1441007
TI  - [Periodical physical examination. 1991 update. 4. Screening for cystic fibrosis
      of pancreas (mucoviscidosis). A Canadian study group on periodical physical
      examination].

PMID- 1441008
TI  - [Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of peripheral arteries: past, present and
      future].
AB  - Balloon percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) has been described in 1974
      and has since been considerably refined with the improvement of balloon
      catheters, guide wires and radiology equipment. Laser and other mechanical
      recanalization devices have not hold to their initial promises. Clinical and
      angiographic indications for PTA have been better defined over the years,
      resulting in excellent clinical successes with low morbidity and very low
      mortality. PTA has become an almost painless procedure and may be done on an
      outpatient basis. It is considered as the treatment of first choice in suitable
      patients.

PMID- 1441009
TI  - Microwave coagulation therapy on VX-2 carcinoma implanted in rabbit urinary
      bladders.
AB  - In order to evaluate the effectiveness of microwave coagulation therapy on
      urinary bladder carcinoma, we conducted a series of experiments using carcinoma
      VX-2 cells designed for the application on animal hosts. Three days after
      implantation of VX-2 cells into the bladder of the rabbits, microwave coagulation
      therapy was performed. The antitumor effect, i.e. the survival rate, the
      histological study and the immunological response of the microwave therapy was
      examined in comparison with the control group (no treatment), the partially
      cystectomized group and the sham-operated group (no tumor cell implantation). The
      results were obtained as follows. (1) The survival rate in the microwave group
      was greater than that in the control group. (2) The stimulation index value (SI),
      which represents humoral immunity, decreased postoperatively in all groups. In
      the microwave group, SI increased gradually beginning 21 days after the transient
      decrease. (3) Histological findings revealed severe degeneration, necrosis and
      complete eradication of the cancer cells of the bladder wall in the microwave
      group, however, perforation of the urinary bladder could not be detected. The
      results indicate that microwave coagulation therapy is an effective procedure for
      urinary bladder tumors. Furthermore, microwave therapy may also accelerate the
      inactivation of immunological suppressors in the carcinoma host, an additional
      benefit of the microwave procedure.

PMID- 1441010
TI  - Evaluation of seminal vesicle characteristics by ultrasonography before and after
      ejaculation.
AB  - Twenty males underwent transrectal ultrasonography before and after ejaculation
      to examine possible alterations that could influence interpretation of seminal
      vesicle ultrasonography. The preejaculation length of 35 mm was significantly (p
      < 0.05) decreased to 30 mm after ejaculation. The mean width of the seminal
      vesicles was 13 mm before and 11 mm after ejaculation. The seminal vesicle volume
      was significantly diminished after ejaculation (p < 0.05). It therefore seems
      important to maintain a period of abstinence when evaluating the seminal vesicles
      by ultrasonography.

PMID- 1441011
TI  - Lithiasis in the ileal conduit and the continent urinary pouch: two cases and a
      review.
AB  - We present 2 patients who developed stones (6 and 57 g) in the ileal conduit; the
      first stone was passed and the second required surgical removal; its nidus was a
      surgical staple. After a review of the literature which includes 25 other cases
      of stones in ileal conduits, as well as over 20 cases of stones in continent
      urinary pouches, it is concluded that the use of metallic staples in the
      construction of the ileal conduit or the continent urinary pouch should be
      abandoned.

PMID- 1441012
TI  - The forgotten double J stent. Case report of a multifractured ureter stent.
AB  - An 81-year-old male patient was admitted to hospital because of macrohematuria.
      The clinical examination revealed a multifractured double J stent which had been
      placed 17 months before in another clinic because of hydronephrosis. In the
      reported case, a combined endoscopic and open surgical management was necessary
      to remove all fragments from the renal pelvis, the ureter and the bladder.
      Occlusion, encrustration and migration are among the most frequent risks of
      ureter stenting. The breakage of the stent, however, is a rare but severe
      complication. Therefore, patients should generally be controlled by sonography
      every 2 months and when malfunction of the stent is suspected, a cystogram should
      follow. In general, a stent exchange should be performed after 12 months.

PMID- 1441013
TI  - Delayed dehiscence of repaired bladder rupture.
AB  - A case of dehiscence of a previously repaired bladder rupture occurring 3 years
      after the original repair is reported. There was no obvious predisposing cause to
      this event. As this occurrence is very rare, it brings into question the need for
      long-term review of patients with conservatively treated bladder rupture.

PMID- 1441014
TI  - Penile horn.
AB  - A case of cutaneous horn of the penis is reported, which was treated by
      electrosurgical excision. The possible etiopathogenesis with a review of the
      literature is discussed herein.

PMID- 1441015
TI  - Diagnostic and predictive value of an immune monitoring program for complications
      after kidney transplantation.
AB  - We have tested an immune monitoring program consisting of cytofluorometric
      analysis of lymphocytic and monocytic markers, using a set of different
      monoclonal antibodies (mAb), in about 500 transplant patients including about 300
      long-term renal allograft recipients. The high sensitivity (95%) of these
      cytofluorometric analyses in the peripheral blood allows to discriminate between
      acute rejection and other causes of deteriorated kidney transplant function
      (infection, toxicity, arteriopathy), especially in the late phase (> 1 year)
      after transplantation. Additionally, the immune monitoring is sufficient to
      predict success of antirejection therapy as early as a few days after onset of
      treatment. A life-threatening complication in allograft recipients is septic
      disease. Proceeding from immune parameters, septic patients were found to fall
      into two categories: those with decreased expression of HLA-DR on monocytes (<
      20%, termed as 'immunoparalysis') and patients with nearly normal HLA-DR+
      monocytes. Septic immunoparalysis requires drastic reduction of immunosuppression
      (mortality after drastic reduction: 8%; after marginal reduction or without
      reduction: 90%). We have not observed severe rejection as a consequence of
      reduced immunosuppression in such patients. Our immune monitoring seems to be
      useful for management of immunosuppression in patients with unclear deterioration
      in graft function as well as patients with septic complications in order to
      minimize two risks, i.e. death by sepsis or loss of graft.

PMID- 1441016
TI  - Problems of the distal ureter in renal transplantation.
AB  - The incidence and mortality rates of urologic complications in renal
      transplantation have decreased significantly during the last decade. This was
      achieved by improved techniques of donor nephrectomy with preservation of the
      ureteric blood supply and refined procedures for the reconstruction of the
      urinary tract. Intra- and extravesical ureteroneocystostomies have shown to be
      the most reliable and preferred techniques to restore the urinary tract
      continuity. Beside ureteral ischemia and technical failure ureteral rejection is
      increasingly accepted as an important contributory factor for the development of
      ureteric fistula and stenosis formation. Controversy still exists concerning the
      pathogenesis of reflux into the graft and its impact on long-term graft function.
      Percutaneous and endoscopic procedures have supplemented and partially replaced
      open surgical management of ureteric fistulas and stenoses. By adherence to the
      principles described the frequency of urologic complications and its associated
      mortality rates can be minimized.

PMID- 1441017
TI  - Secondary pyeloureterostomy after ureter necrosis in renal transplant recipients.
AB  - After kidney transplantation, urological complications account for significant
      morbidity necessitating reoperation in a substantial number of patients. In cases
      with urinary tract necrosis after renal transplantation secondary
      pyeloureterostomy represents an accepted method for urinary tract reconstruction.
      In our institution 2% of all kidney grafts required secondary pyeloureterostomy.
      In all cases the recipient's own ureter was investigated before reoperation by
      retrograde pyeloureterography. Pyeloureterostomy was performed with a standard
      technic, the recipients own kidney being removed in all but 5 patients. All 25
      patients had normal kidney function immediately after secondary
      pyeloureterostomy. Urological complications occurred in 7 patients (anastomotic
      leakages in 4, stenosis in 3); 5 out of 7 complications were managed
      conservatively (nephrostomy, transureteral stenting). Two patients needed
      reexploration for reanastomosis. Our results confirm the simple and safe technic
      of pyeloureterostomy for urinary reconstruction in patients with ureter necrosis
      after renal transplantation.

PMID- 1441018
TI  - Problems concerning the bladder in renal transplantation. Prognosis--replacement
      possibilities.
AB  - Problems arising from the lower urinary tract in patients with a terminal renal
      insufficiency are usually known long before transplantation; they can even be the
      cause of chronic renal failure. A careful investigation of morphology and
      function of upper and lower urinary tract before performing renal transplantation
      is still of great importance. In up to a quarter of the cases pathological
      findings can be recorded. Whether a supravesical urinary diversion or a bladder
      augmentation has to be performed in case of insufficient bladder function is
      dependent on the urodynamic results. However, so far there are no reliable
      prognostic factors indicating whether or not a bladder with increased capacity
      due to renal transplantation reacts with normal pressure. An investigation of the
      lower urinary tract also has to be carried out in patients who already have a
      supravesical urinary derivation at the time of renal transplantation, as a
      possible removal always has to be taken into consideration. Survival rate
      following transplantation in patients with a conduit is not lower than in those
      with a normal bladder.

PMID- 1441019
TI  - Diagnosis and treatment of urological complications in kidney transplantation.
AB  - Between January 1973 and January 1990 we carried out 1,038 kidney
      transplantations using a transvesical end-to-side implantation of the ureter in
      the bladder without an antireflux mechanism. Moreover, 30 transplantations were
      done in 26 patients with a urinary diversion. We examined the urological
      complications in these 1,068 consecutive transplants. Urinary leakage and
      obstruction were the two main urological posttransplant complications. Severe
      leakage occurred in 21 patients (2.0%), and was treated by open surgery; 2
      patients had a urinary diversion. The treatment of choice is a pyeloureterostomy
      (anastomosis between the transplant renal pelvis and the native ureter). There
      were 35 patients (3.3%) with severe ureteral obstruction of whom 5 had a urinary
      diversion. In 30 patients open surgical treatment of the obstruction was
      necessary and in 7 patients a percutaneous endourologic treatment was done
      (dilatation of a confined ureteral stricture in 6 patients and percutaneous stone
      treatment in 1). The postoperative mortality in the patients treated for leakage
      or obstruction was low: 4 patients (7%) died, 3 of septicemia due to leakage and
      1 of pulmonary embolism after repair of the obstruction. The results of surgical
      treatment were good. The graft survival after 2 years in the group of
      urologically complicated transplants was 68% for the patients with leakage and
      80% for those with obstruction. The 2-year graft survival in the patients without
      complications was 67% and 71% for the patients with a urinary diversion. We
      conclude from these results that urological complications after renal
      transplantation can be treated successfully by surgical (or percutaneous)
      correction.

PMID- 1441020
TI  - Biochemistry of bladder cancer invasion and metastasis. Clinical implications.
AB  - In bladder cancer, the finding of infiltration signals the capability of a tumor
      to behave in an aggressive manner and potentially create a life-threatening
      situation. The ability to invade is carried in the tumor cell's complement of
      biochemical pathways as well as in its inability to preserve or restore rather
      than to disrupt normal tissue architecture. What determines the activation and
      deployment of these biochemical activities is unclear. That they occur, however,
      and can distinguish aggressive cancers likely to metastasize from cancers whose
      behavior is benign, is not. Recognizing and identifying these distinctions is an
      important step in designing new therapies to prevent a tumor's potential
      aggressive behavior, possibly reverse or at least contain any extensions that
      have occurred, and ultimately convert a potentially life-threatening situation to
      one with a more benign prognosis.

PMID- 1441021
TI  - Molecular genetics and biochemical mechanisms in bladder cancer. Oncogenes, tumor
      suppressor genes, and growth factors.
AB  - Transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder is believed to arise through a series
      of genetic changes affecting cell growth and proliferation. Two basic types of
      such genes have been described: protooncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. The
      former have not been studied extensively in bladder cancer, although there is
      evidence that c-erb B-2/neu is overexpressed. Loss of specific chromosomal
      regions, which is common in bladder tumors, may inactivate tumor suppressor
      genes, of which p53 has received the most attention. Work also has been done on
      epidermal growth factor and its receptor, yielding evidence that malignant and
      normal urothelium have different sensitivities to its action. Although several
      advances must be made before genetic changes come to the clinical forefront, the
      information now being gained with such speed holds considerable promise for
      diagnosis and treatment.

PMID- 1441022
TI  - Basic epidemiologic and statistical methods in clinical research.
AB  - Various study designs and approaches to statistical analysis in clinical research
      have their own underlying rationales and limitations for interpretation. This
      information is presented in an intuitive and accessible manner, relying minimally
      on basic algebra. Epidemiologic concepts of study design and interpretation, bias
      and confounding, hypothesis testing, and sample size and power are explained.
      Statistical tests and their appropriate applications are discussed for mean
      comparisons (t tests and ANOVA), percentages (chi-square), survival analysis, and
      correlation and regression. Applicable nonparametric tests are also introduced.

PMID- 1441023
TI  - Assessment of study design in clinical trials for bladder cancer.
AB  - Physicians and surgeons who treat bladder cancer must be able to judge the
      validity and relevance of clinical trials if they are to make appropriate
      recommendations to their patients. To do so, they must be familiar with the
      design of clinical trials and with the many problems that may confound their
      results and limit their validity. The present article has reviewed aspects of the
      design, analysis, and reporting of clinical trials with particular reference to
      bladder cancer. Nonrandomized studies are important in establishing the
      feasibility of new treatments and in providing preliminary information about
      effectiveness. However, selection of patients, together with many other types of
      bias, prevents a useful comparison of the results obtained in such trials with
      those obtained using alternative treatment strategies. Establishment of the value
      of a new type of treatment will usually require the conduct of a large randomized
      trial in which patients receive experimental or standard therapy by random
      assignment. While such trials may influence practice in an appropriate way, they
      must likewise be reviewed critically to ensure the validity of the results and
      generalizability to patients seen in a nontrial setting.

PMID- 1441024
TI  - Staging of advanced bladder cancer. Current concepts and pitfalls.
AB  - Data presented in the preceding paragraphs should highlight to the reader several
      important features of clinical bladder cancer staging. Irrespective of the
      staging level being addressed, the available techniques uniformly have
      limitations, as well as advantages and disadvantages with respect to each other.
      A common shortcoming of both plain and cross-sectional techniques employing
      conventional X-rays is their lack of specificity. Every radiographic finding has
      an associated differential diagnosis in which neoplasia-related change is but one
      of many possibilities. Solitary abnormalities on bone scan or chest film serve as
      an excellent examples of this dilemma. The specificity of conventional imaging
      techniques is further compromised by attempts to increase sensitivity. As long as
      nonspecific anatomic changes are used as discriminating criteria, increases in
      test sensitivity will always occur at the price of specificity. It is hoped that
      advances in PET scanning and the use of isotope-labeled, tumor-selective
      monoclonal antibodies will overcome the limitations of currently available
      techniques. The significance of the limitations of a given test depends to some
      degree on whether the test is being used for clinical decision making or for
      patient stratification in a clinical trial. As an example, an aggressive
      transurethral resection of bladder tumors provides excellent information for
      clinical management but may introduce bias into multicenter studies in which this
      technique is not uniformly practiced. Similarly, the results of bimanual
      examination under anesthesia are important in the reference framework of the
      managing physician but are a poor quantifier of disease extent in multi
      investigator clinical trials. Which staging studies are indicated and their
      optimal sequence for performance are influenced by pre-existing clinical
      information. Recognizing this, the staging algorithm in Figure 6 is intended to
      serve only as a guide to assist the clinician in the evaluation of patients with
      bladder neoplasms. As clarifications, several points concerning this algorithm
      merit mention. The literature suggests that as a single study, transurethral
      ultrasonography provides excellent local staging information. However, given that
      it is not widely available, the authors have chosen not to incorporate it into
      the staging schema. Optimally, it would be used immediately prior to
      transurethral resection of bladder tumors and bimanual examination. In addition,
      the algorithm lists MRI interchangeably with CT. While MRI appears to have
      slightly better sensitivity and specificity for both local and regional tumor
      stage relative to CT, its benefits are to some degree offset by its greater cost
      and the need to image the patient in multiple planes for lengthy
      intervals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1441025
TI  - Treatment of regionally advanced bladder cancer. An overview.
AB  - The finding of muscle-infiltrative bladder cancer is generally considered
      ominous, as 50% of patients who present with this condition are likely to develop
      distant metastases within 2 years. However, some types of infiltrative bladder
      cancer appear to have a less ominous prognosis. In order to assess the results of
      various therapies on regionally advanced bladder cancer, it is important to
      characterize the distinctions between the types with a poor prognosis (5-year
      survival rate 15% to 30%) and those with a better prognosis (5-year survival rate
      50% to 85%). The former have a nodular architecture, infiltrate more deeply and
      in a tentacular pattern, and more often involve the bladder wall vasculature and
      lymphatics than does the latter type, which has papillary architecture and
      infiltrates on a broad front. These two types appear to respond differently to
      various treatments except systemic chemotherapy.

PMID- 1441026
TI  - Transurethral resection in regionally advanced bladder cancer.
AB  - Various treatments have proved useful for disease control in some patients with
      regionally advanced bladder cancer. Transurethral resection may cure some
      patients with invasive disease, but identifying patients with such potential
      early in their course is difficult. A restaging transurethral resection helps
      indicate whether conservative management is feasible and, if not, which operation
      is appropriate. In some patients, transurethral resection may enhance the
      response to chemotherapy. Research is needed to identify those tumor
      characteristics associated with good results of conservative management of
      regionally advanced bladder cancer.

PMID- 1441027
TI  - Partial cystectomy.
AB  - Partial cystectomy remains an uncommonly performed procedure in the urologist's
      armamentarium. Historically, it has had a limited role in the treatment of
      bladder cancer because of the variable reported success rate and because of the
      high success rate of local endoscopic excision. When patients with muscle
      invasive lesions are appropriately selected, 5-year survival rates following
      partial cystectomy approximate those of radical cystectomy in the treatment of
      transitional-cell carcinoma while preserving a physiologically functioning
      bladder. Therefore, not only does partial cystectomy represent a valuable
      treatment option, but it appears to be the procedure of choice for local muscle
      invasive transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder when careful selection
      criteria are utilized. Future studies are needed to define its precise role in
      affording bladder preservation when used in association with adjuvant
      chemotherapy. Partial cystectomy also remains a surgical option for a variety of
      less common benign and malignant lesions of the bladder.

PMID- 1441028
TI  - Radiation therapy in regionally advanced bladder cancer.
AB  - In conclusion, for patients undergoing bladder preservation, conventional
      external radiation therapy can no longer be recommended as a curative single
      modality. The usefulness of prognostic indicators, such as radiation
      responsiveness and tumor morphology, will have to be evaluated in light of newer
      treatment regimens. Patients should receive external radiation only if other
      therapies such as hyperfractionation, brachytherapy, intraoperative electrons, or
      combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy are unavailable or unable to be
      tolerated. Patients undergoing a planned cystectomy should receive preoperative
      radiation therapy until such time as neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been proved
      more or equally effective.

PMID- 1441029
TI  - Systemic chemotherapy in regionally advanced bladder cancer. Theoretical
      considerations and results.
AB  - Integrating systemic chemotherapy into the treatment of patients with invasive
      bladder cancer, where the majority of deaths are from systemic relapse, is
      crucial if survival is to be improved. However, the global recommendation of a
      single treatment approach for all patients is becoming outdated as several groups
      have found that appropriately selected patients enjoy comparable survival whether
      treated by transurethral resection alone or by partial or radical cystectomy.
      Thus, refining case selection becomes a critical area of investigation. Patients
      with a high risk of systemic relapse should be considered for systemic therapy
      early in the course of the disease, ideally as part of a clinical trial. The
      availability of growth factors has reduced the toxicities of the regimens
      currently in use. Improvements in assessing biologic potential are required, so
      that treatment recommendations will allow patients the maximal chance of cure and
      maintenance of organ function, while minimizing toxicities in patients for whom
      systemic approaches are unwarranted. Of interest are recent reports that G-CSF
      may enhance tumor sensitivity to methotrexate in vitro and increase the
      sensitivity of implanted urothelial tumors to chemotherapy in nude mice. Such
      findings suggest an expanded role for these agents. Unfortunately, simple
      escalation of all components of a combination regimen does not appear to be a
      viable strategy, as it is unlikely to significantly increase CR proportions
      without prohibitive toxicities. However, as more is understood about drug
      resistance, and in particular its development in vivo, better sequencing of the
      available of options should be possible. The availability of effective salvage
      therapies suggests that this is an appropriate therapeutic approach. In addition,
      a number of strategies aimed at reversing the mdr phenotype are under study.
      These include calcium channel blockers such as verapamil, cyclosporin, and
      tamoxifen. Alternatively, some groups are investigating transfecting the mdr gene
      into bone marrow cells to reduce the sensitivity of these cells to cytotoxic
      agents. These novel designs can be tested both in patients with metastatic
      disease and in patients with locally advanced (T3b, T4, and N+) disease, who have
      a high risk of metastatic failure and low CR proportions to available regimens.

PMID- 1441030
TI  - Combined treatment approaches in regionally advanced bladder cancer.
AB  - Multimodal therapy for locally advanced bladder carcinoma is being pursued in a
      wide diversity of protocols at this same time. While a number of innovative
      approaches are being explored, neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy in
      conjunction with cystectomy remains the dominant approach. The M-VAC regimen has
      become the dominant combination for the treatment of advanced bladder cancer; its
      use in an adjunctive setting is a logical progression. Although it is capable of
      effecting a response in the primary bladder lesion in a high percentage of cases,
      it is still not known whether survival will be enhanced. The use of
      radiosensitizing cytotoxics in conjunction with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, when
      combined with external-beam radiotherapy, is a provocative new approach that
      attempts to achieve both bladder salvage and enhanced patient survival.
      Completion of well-designed randomized studies will be necessary to determine
      whether these therapeutic innovations will yield any clinical benefit.

PMID- 1441031
TI  - Treatment of chemotherapy-refractory metastatic urothelial tumors.
AB  - Patients with unresectable bladder carcinoma unresponsive to standard
      chemotherapy have a short survival, but recent clinical trials of salvage
      treatment have produced some good results. Changes in the dosage of M-VAC; 5
      fluorouracil, alpha-interferon, and cisplatin; and gallium nitrate show promise.

PMID- 1441032
TI  - Urinary diversion.
AB  - The patient facing cystectomy now has the opportunity to select various forms of
      urinary diversion. Although not all of the newer techniques have stood the test
      of time, preliminary results indicate that these continent diversions should be
      considered safe and effective. These procedures definitely alter the patient's
      lifestyle, resulting in a significantly better adjustment to the need for bladder
      removal. With experience, these procedures can be performed with morbidity rates
      very similar to those encountered with ileal conduit diversion. As with any
      procedures, however, appropriate patient selection and surgical training are
      imperative.

PMID- 1441033
TI  - Management of advanced bladder cancer in the elderly.
AB  - Patients over the age of 70 years will become an increasingly important component
      of uro-oncologic practice. Although few published studies have specifically
      addressed this population, it is clear that the elderly can expect outcomes
      similar to younger patients in the management of advanced bladder cancer provided
      care is taken in planning. Of particular importance is an understanding of the
      pathophysiology of aging, of the possible implications of the causative factors
      for bladder cancer, and of the potential impact of advanced age on the biology of
      urothelial malignancy. Future studies should specifically address the problems of
      older patients with this malignancy to ensure the optimal possible outcome and
      definition of the most appropriate balance of toxicity and efficacy.

PMID- 1441034
TI  - Renal pelvic cancer: a review of 611 patients treated in Illinois 1975-1985.
      Cancer Incidence and End Results Committee.
AB  - Renal pelvic transitional cell carcinoma constitutes about 7 percent of all
      kidney cancer. This report is a summary of 611 Illinois patients with this tumor
      treated between 1975 and 1985. Overall, the five-year relative survival rate was
      62 percent and the observed five-year rate was 48 percent. Stage was a major
      determinant of survival, as expected, in these cancer patients. The Illinois
      experience is reviewed and compared with the accumulated literature experience
      with renal pelvic cancers since 1944.

PMID- 1441035
TI  - Experience with schistosomiasis in renal transplantation.
AB  - Schistosomiasis involving the urinary tract has only occasionally been reported
      in North American literature and rarely from American hospital experience.
      Chronic infection may result in numerous abnormalities of the urinary tract which
      may interfere with the function of a transplanted kidney. Our institution has
      performed a number of renal transplants in patients who are from countries where
      schistosomiasis is endemic. Six patients in our group had evidence of
      schistosomal disease during their pretransplant evaluation and were appropriately
      treated. None of these patients had postoperative complications attributable to
      the schistosomal disease. We recommend that all patients who are from areas where
      urinary schistosomiasis is endemic undergo a cystoscopic examination and bladder
      biopsies in addition to the routine pretransplant urologic evaluation.

PMID- 1441036
TI  - Objective treatment response to endocrine therapy in metastatic prostate cancer.
AB  - A ten-year review of 198 patients with Stage D2 prostate cancer identified 13
      patients (6.6%) who exhibited objective responses to hormonal treatment, as
      indicated by regression of a positive bone scan, CT scan, or chest x-ray film.
      Four patients had complete responses and 9 patients achieved partial responses as
      judged by the National Prostatic Cancer Project criteria. Median survival for
      those with objective treatment response has not yet been reached (> 44 months)
      compared with twenty-four months for the nonresponders (p = 0.00006). Although
      relatively uncommon, objective treatment response in Stage D2 prostate cancer is
      correlated with an improved prognosis.

PMID- 1441037
TI  - Anchor fixation and other modifications of endoscopic bladder neck suspension.
AB  - The long-term efficacy of surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence can
      be improved by modifications that reduce the possibility of suspending suture
      detachment. Fifty-three women with stress urinary incontinence underwent
      consecutive endoscopic bladder neck suspensions with new modifications developed
      in an effort to decrease suspending suture detachment. Those modifications
      included: (1) technique of needle passage to capture a maximum volume of
      urethropelvic fascia lateral to the bladder neck and urethra while avoiding
      injury to the bladder, (2) pubic bone fixation of the suspending suture using a
      small anchor developed for orthopedic use, and (3) a simple technique to limit
      tension of the suspending sutures. Procedures were outpatient in 60 percent of
      patients (93% of the last 27 patients). Seventy percent of patients did not
      require intermittent catheterization beyond the day when their indwelling
      catheter was removed. The postoperative success rate (absence of stress urinary
      incontinence) at one month was 100 percent. There were 4 failures on follow-up up
      to fifteen months. Urgency incontinence decreased from 59 percent preoperatively
      to 15 percent postoperatively. The complication of osteitis pubis was not noted.
      Patient rating of satisfaction postoperatively was high. These modifications
      constitute a safe alternative to procedures that effectively suspend the bladder
      neck. An assessment of any change in long-term efficacy as a result of these
      modifications will require continued follow-up.

PMID- 1441038
TI  - Penile calcification in maintenance hemodialysis patients.
AB  - Penile calcification was detected in 6 of 32 patients (19%) with end-stage renal
      disease (ESRD) using soft tissue x-ray techniques. Having been maintained on
      hemodialysis for a minimum of one year, all the affected patients showed clinical
      evidence of secondary hyperparathyroidism and calcification in the blood vessels
      of some other tissues. All had erectile impotence, while in 1 patient gangrene of
      the penis developed. Penile calcification is probably more common in ESRD
      patients than realized and should be looked for as a possible cause of impotence
      in male patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis.

PMID- 1441039
TI  - Bladder training in patients with spinal cord injury.
AB  - Immediately following severe injury to the spinal cord or conus medullaris, there
      is a stage of flaccid paralysis of the bladder. The smooth muscle of the detrusor
      and rectum is affected. Drainage of the bladder is very important in the early
      care of such patients. From August 1989 to August 1990, 55 spinal cord injury
      patients were studied on admission to our department. The current bladder
      training method used for these patients is presented. A patient was deemed to
      have been successfully bladder trained when catheter-free, continent, and able to
      consistently maintain a residual volume of 100 mL or less with the aid of tapping
      and compression. On discharge 45 patients (82%) were successfully bladder
      trained, 8 (15%) employed a regimen of clean intermittent self-catheterization,
      and 2 went home/institutional care with an indwelling catheter. The material
      presented is applicable to any type of neurogenic bladder dysfunction.

PMID- 1441040
TI  - Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy with Lithostar lithotriptor.
AB  - Initial experience of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) using the
      Lithostar lithotriptor is reported; 193 patients underwent 248 treatments for 210
      stones. A total of 139 renal calculi (126 patients) and 71 ureteral stones (67
      patients) were analyzed. Treatments were performed without anesthesia in 65
      calculi (27.6%), with intravenous sedation in 91 (42.5%), and under epidural
      anesthesia in 34 calculi (29.9%). A three-month follow-up showed a success rate
      of 88.0 percent for renal calculi and 95.5 percent for ureteral calculi treated
      in situ. Renal stone fragmentation was achieved with a mean of 4,890 shocks at
      17.4 kV and ureteral calculi were fragmented with a mean number of 4,798 shocks
      at a mean of 18.3 kV. Auxiliary procedures after ESWL were required in 2 patients
      with renal stones and in 1 with ureteral calculi. A comparison between stone size
      and number of shock waves required to achieve stone fragmentation revealed a
      linear relationship. Hospitalization was not necessary in 84.4 percent of renal
      calculi and 89.6 percent of ureteral calculi. Retreatments were necessary in 22
      (15.8%) of the renal calculi (18 had 2 sessions, 3 had 3 sessions, and 1 had 4
      sessions). Of the ureteral calculi, 8 (11.3%) underwent retreatment (6 had 2
      sessions, 1 had 3 sessions, and 1 had 4 sessions). The low morbidity with a large
      number of patients treated on an outpatient basis, minimizing the need for
      anesthesia, demonstrated a favorable initial successful experience with the
      Lithostar.

PMID- 1441041
TI  - In utero detection of horseshoe kidney with unilateral multicystic dysplasia.
AB  - Unilateral renal dysplasia in a horseshoe kidney is very uncommon. A case which
      was detected in utero is presented. The management of multicystic kidneys is
      reviewed.

PMID- 1441042
TI  - Klinefelter's syndrome with prepenile scrotum.
AB  - Two cases of Klinefelter's syndrome with prepenile scrotum were presented. They
      underwent the operation for prepenile scrotum according to Glenn and Anderson's
      method. Thereafter urethroplasty was performed in each case. The decrease in
      response to testosterone in the target organ was noticed in 1 patient, suggesting
      that some androgen resistance in this case was attributable in part to anomaly of
      genitalia.

PMID- 1441043
TI  - Tunica vaginalis urethroplasty.
AB  - Tunica vaginalis on a vascular pedicle was tubularized and used as a urethra to
      repair hypospadias in three difficult cases. This is the first report of tunica
      vaginalis utilized for a urethral reconstruction in humans. This new surgical
      technique is described.

PMID- 1441044
TI  - Efficacy and tolerability of norfloxacin vs. ciprofloxacin in complicated urinary
      tract infection.
AB  - This prospective, open, randomized clinical study compared the efficacy and
      tolerability of norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin in adult patients with complicated
      urinary tract infection, defined as infection in the presence of an underlying
      anatomic or functional abnormality of the urinary tract. Seventy-two patients
      were randomized, 37 received norfloxacin (400 mg orally twice daily for 10-21
      days) and 35 received ciprofloxacin (500 mg orally every 12 hours for 14-21
      days). Patients were clinically assessed, and urine cultures were obtained
      following two to four days of therapy, and five to nine days and four to six
      weeks after discontinuation of therapy. Seventy-two percent of the norfloxacin
      group and 79 percent of the ciprofloxacin group were considered cured. This
      difference was not significant. One failure of norfloxacin therapy was associated
      with the emergence of resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Following norfloxacin
      therapy, in 2 patients superinfections developed with resistant organisms
      (Staphylococcus epidermidis [1] and Pseudomonas maltophilia [1]). Twelve
      patients, 6 in each group, experienced adverse reactions, which were considered
      related to the study drug therapy in only four instances. Our results indicated
      comparable efficacy and tolerability of norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin in the
      treatment of complicated urinary tract infection in adults.

PMID- 1441045
TI  - Arteriovenous malformation of ureter.
AB  - Congenital arteriovenous malformations of the genitourinary tract are rare. We
      report the first case of an arteriovenous malformation of the ureter. The patient
      presented with recurrent hematuria and left flank pain. Evaluation included an
      intravenous urogram, cystoscopy, and retrograde pyelography. A pedunculated
      lesion thought to be a fibroepithelial polyp was seen at the time of
      ureteroscopy, and the lesion treated by excisional biopsy and fulguration.
      Pathologic examination demonstrated an arteriovenous malformation. After thirty
      month follow-up, the patient remains asymptomatic and free of recurrence.

PMID- 1441046
TI  - Metastatic prostate cancer presenting as obstructive jaundice.
AB  - Metastatic cancer of the prostate, presenting with carcinomatous obstruction of
      the common bile duct as a cause of jaundice and abnormal liver function tests is
      very unusual. The literature suggests an association between abnormal liver
      function tests and poor survivability in those patients with liver parenchymal
      metastases. This case illustrates that patients with abnormal liver function
      tests on the basis of extrahepatic ductal obstruction may have a better prognosis
      than those with hepatic disease.

PMID- 1441048
TI  - New endourologic technique for catheter placement after TURP, prostatectomy, and
      difficult urethroscopy.
AB  - Inserting a Foley catheter into a traumatized urethra with false channels or a
      post-transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) undermined bladder neck can be
      very difficult if not impossible at times. Likewise, replacing a Foley catheter
      that has fallen out in the early postoperative period after a radical
      prostatectomy can be difficult and can cause significant injury to the fresh
      anastomosis. We describe a technique using a Peel-Away sheath that fits over a
      cystoscope or a resectoscope, and facilitates accurate insertion of a Foley
      catheter without trauma to the urethra.

PMID- 1441047
TI  - Squamous cell carcinoma of ureter extending into renal vein. Positive
      immunohistochemical staining for carcinoembryonic antigen.
AB  - A case of squamous cell carcinoma of the ureter with extension into the renal
      vein is presented. Immunoperoxidase method revealed positive staining for
      carcinoembryonic antigen. The literature on ureteral tumors is reviewed with
      special reference to renal vein involvement and carcinoembryonic antigen.

PMID- 1441049
TI  - Incidence of testicular microlithiasis.
AB  - In adults polytopic intratubular calcifications of the testes are rare. Known as
      testicular microlithiasis, they manifest themselves in a characteristic echo
      pattern on sonography with high-frequency transducers (5 to 10 MHz). This
      consists of multiple echogenic specks in an otherwise normal testicular
      parenchyma. In a retrospective analysis of 1,710 testicular sonograms of adults,
      bilateral intratesticular microliths were found in 11 cases (0.6%). In 5 of them,
      the microliths were associated with a testicular tumor. One patient with a tumor
      in the contralateral testis had undergone radiotherapy and another one presented
      with hypogonadism. Four patients with noncontributory histories presented with
      varicocele or epididymal cyst. Sonographic findings were confirmed histologically
      in 6 patients. Multiple intratubular calcifications were found in all of them.
      The pathogenesis of testicular microliths is still poorly understood. Their
      clinical relevance is unclear, but their incidence in adults appears to be higher
      than reported in the literature.

PMID- 1441050
TI  - The vas after vasectomy: comparison of cauterization methods.
AB  - A histologic study of the vas ends was carried out in 21 patients undergoing
      vasovasostomy. All had undergone prior vasectomy by the same surgeon, with a
      technique identical except for the type of cautery used to seal the vas ends. A
      superior sealing of the vas, as shown by fewer cases of vasitis nodosa and
      spermatic granuloma, followed use of the thermal cautery ("red-hot wire") than
      the electrosurgical cautery (23% vs 60.7% suboptimal sealing rate). The thermal
      cautery is a superior method of sealing the vas at vasectomy.

PMID- 1441051
TI  - Nitric oxide mediates neurogenic relaxation induced in rabbit cavernous smooth
      muscle by electric field stimulation.
AB  - We investigated the relaxant effect of electric field stimulation (EFS) on rabbit
      cavernous smooth muscle strips in vitro precontracted by phenylephrine. Effects
      of EFS were monitored alone, and following muscarinic receptor blockade, and
      inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) formation by L-N-monomethylarginine (L-NMMA) or
      by L-N-nitroarginine (L-NOARG). Atropine only slightly reduced the relaxant
      effect of EFS to 89.0 +/- 6.1 percent. Additional application of L-NMMA further
      reduced the relaxant effect to 37.3 +/- 15.3 percent. Substitution of L-NOARG for
      L-NMMA led to a more pronounced inhibition of relaxant effects to 16.2 +/- 8.7
      percent. The results indicate that neurogenically induced relaxation of rabbit
      cavernous smooth muscle is mediated mainly by NO formation and argue against a
      substantial role of relaxing peptidergic neurotransmitters, such as vasoactive
      intestinal polypeptide and calcitonin-gene-related peptide, in penile erection.

PMID- 1441052
TI  - Squamous cell carcinoma-associated antigen in uroepithelial carcinoma.
AB  - We investigated the clinical significance of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
      antigen determined by radioimmunoassay on patients with uroepithelial carcinoma.
      Serum SCC antigen levels and the positive rates were significantly higher in
      uroepithelial carcinoma having an SCC component than in normal controls, benign
      urologic diseases, other urogenital carcinomas, or in pure transitional cell
      carcinoma (TCC) of uroepithelial carcinomas. A substantial number of patients
      with pure TCC showed a positive serum level of SCC antigen. Immunohistochemical
      staining of SCC antigen on the uroepithelial carcinomas confirmed that some, not
      all, pure TCC, mostly grade 3, expressed SCC antigen in their cells. These
      results suggested a biologic characteristic of grade 3 TCC which is closely
      related to that of SCC. The serum levels of SCC antigen correlated well with the
      disease extensions in uroepithelial carcinoma containing SCC component. Changes
      in serum levels of SCC antigen following treatment reflected the clinical courses
      of patients, particularly in those with elevated pretreatment levels. The results
      of our study indicated that the determination of SCC antigen would be clinically
      useful for monitoring clinical courses of patients with uroepithelial carcinomas
      containing SCC component and of those with pure TCC whose pretreatment level was
      elevated.

PMID- 1441053
TI  - IgM-producing renal plasmacytoma.
AB  - A seventy-six-year-old woman with plasmacytoma presenting as a renal mass died
      three months after diagnosis. Bone surveys disclosed no lytic lesions. Gallium-67
      scan showed an avid uptake of the radionuclide in the renal mass. Histologic and
      immunofluorescence studies of resected specimens demonstrated that the renal
      parenchyma was destroyed by sheets of immature plasma cells producing IgM-lambda
      and by massive deposits of amorphous, eosinophilic substance stained with anti-mu
      and anti-lambda antisera. The literature is reviewed. We believe this case is the
      first one of well-documented IgM-producing renal plasmacytoma.

PMID- 1441054
TI  - [Development of standards and quality assurance in nursing activities--Finland].

PMID- 1441055
TI  - [Development of standards and quality assurance in nursing--Iceland].

PMID- 1441056
TI  - [Development of standards and quality assurance in nursing services--Norway].

PMID- 1441057
TI  - [Development of standards and quality assurance in nursing services--Sweden].

PMID- 1441058
TI  - Patient satisfaction as an indicator of the quality of nursing care.
AB  - This paper deals with the patient satisfaction, as an indicator of the quality of
      nursing care. The literature review and a Finnish empirical illustration, using
      patient interviews, are included in the article. The results indicate a high
      level of satisfaction. However, there is no basis to use the measurement of
      patient satisfaction as a sole indicator of the quality of care, because the
      satisfied patients expressed also reasons for dissatisfaction.

PMID- 1441059
TI  - [The concept of quality in nursing and nursing services].

PMID- 1441060
TI  - [Scandinavian cooperation in quality assurance in nursing].

PMID- 1441061
TI  - [SSN's Study Group "Standard and quality in nursing services" (Scandinavian
      Nursing Society)].

PMID- 1441062
TI  - [Measuring nursing care quality. Adaptation and testing of the Rush Medicus
      Process instrument].

PMID- 1441063
TI  - Measurement of outcomes.

PMID- 1441064
TI  - [Administration's role in quality assurance in nursing services].

PMID- 1441065
TI  - [Development of standard and quality assurance in nursing--Denmark].

PMID- 1441066
TI  - [Freedom as an occupation].

PMID- 1441067
TI  - [Reopening chronic arterial occlusions].
AB  - Chronic complete occlusions still represent the major technical limitation of
      percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty, both in peripheral and coronary
      vessels. The clinical use of low speed rotational angioplasty (ROTACS) started in
      1986 for the peripheral and in 1987 for the coronary vessels, and has already
      become part of the clinical routine in several centers. Up to now, more than 300
      patients with peripheral and more than 200 patients with coronary occlusions were
      treated in Frankfurt. In peripheral occlusions the acute success rate was more
      than 80% if used as the first attempt; after failure of conventional techniques
      still more than 60% of the vessels could be recanalized successfully. In addition
      to occlusions of the arteries of the lower limbs, the indication now includes the
      iliac artery and several other indications are under investigation. In each of
      the patients with chronic coronary occlusions an attempt with conventional
      techniques had failed before. Following a learning curve, which was also
      influenced by a better understanding of morphological preconditions, the acute
      success rate has now reached 70%. Both in patients with peripheral and those with
      coronary occlusions no deaths occurred. First angiographically documented long
      term results in both indications are comparable to conventional balloon
      angioplasty. It is concluded that the use of low speed rotational angioplasty
      (ROTACS) can improve the results of nonoperative invasive treatment, both in
      peripheral and in coronary arteries.

PMID- 1441068
TI  - [Coronary vascular stent implantation--experiences with the first 100 implants].
AB  - Coronary stent implantation was performed for blocking elastin recoil, reducing
      acute complications and restenosis. In 89 (95%) of 91 patients successful stent
      implantation was possible. No stent embolization occurred. Coronary luminal
      diameter measured 1.05 +/- 0.57 before PTCA and 1.9 +/- 0.2 mm post PTCA. After
      stent implantation mean diameter of the coronary artery measured 3.05 +/- 0.2 mm,
      with a balloon diameter of 3.0. Thus, elastic recoil is nearly completely
      blocked. In 28 (31%) of 91 patients stent implantation was performed for acute
      symptomatic dissection in 27 patients and occlusion in one patient. Stent
      delivery was successful in all. There was no acute occlusion, one acute
      thrombosis which could be treated with urokinase, no Q-wave-infarct, 4 (14%) non
      Q-wave-infarcts and 14 (20%) CK-elevations without ECG changes. Coronary bypass
      surgery was necessary in 2 patients on an elective base during follow-up. In 72
      (90%) of 80 patients follow-up coronary angiograms after 4 to 6 months were
      performed. Restenosis rate measured 21% overall, 14% for single stent, 60% for
      multiple stent implantation, and 14% in bail-out situations. Subacute thrombosis
      occurred in 10 (12%) of 89 patients, 7 (70%) of 10 events after bail-out
      stenting. Recanalization by thrombolytic and/or PTCA was possible in 9/10
      patients. By improving monitoring of anticoagulation, the subacute thrombosis
      rate could be reduced to 3% even in bail-out situations. Bleeding complication
      occurred in 10% of the patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1441069
TI  - [Long-term results of coronary angioplasty].
AB  - Recently published studies prove a favourable long term prognosis after coronary
      angioplasty, especially in patients with single vessel disease. PTCA success,
      progression of atherosclerosis, cardiac risk factors, extent of coronary artery
      disease and left ventricular function are determinants of the long term outcome.
      A lasting PTCA success can be assumed in patients without evidence of restenosis
      6 months after PTCA. These observations are helpful criteria in the assessment of
      insurance risks.

PMID- 1441070
TI  - [Results of heart valve replacement. Prognosis--occupational and general
      disability--occupational rehabilitation].
AB  - The success of valve surgery has led to a marked improvement in prognosis,
      quality of life and exercise tolerance in patients with symptomatic valvular
      heart disease. The degree of subjective and objective improvement depends on
      multiple preoperative factors like NYHA status, left ventricular function, valve
      lesion and type of valve replaced as well as peri- and postoperative factors like
      the occurrence of a perioperative myocardial infarction, the degree of
      intraoperative myocardial damage, the type of valve replaced and the speed and
      degree of postoperative regression of left ventricular hypertrophy and
      dilatation. The postoperative exercise tolerance is a major determinant for
      postoperative vocational rehabilitation. Therefore the individual functional
      assessment of patients postoperatively is of major importance.

PMID- 1441071
TI  - [Therapy with nitrates in the post-infarct phase].
AB  - The beneficial effects of nitrates in patients with angina pectoris and acute
      myocardial infarction have positively influenced the prognosis of the treated
      patients. Studies of Jugdutt pointed out that there is a better prognosis also in
      the postinfarction period. Especially left ventricular over dilatation, which
      follows larger infarct, can be prevented by a consistent nitrate therapy.

PMID- 1441072
TI  - [Diagnosis of acute coronary ischemia].
AB  - In patients presenting with acute chest pain and suspected acute coronary
      insufficiency the diagnosis and the decision to admit such patients to a coronary
      care unit is based on the history, the physical findings and the first
      electrocardiogram. A diagnostic flow diagram can complement but not substitute
      clinical judgement.

PMID- 1441073
TI  - [Accusation of malpractice in cardiovascular surgery].
AB  - The reproach of malpractice in cardio vascular surgery seems to be up to now
      quite seldom in comparison with other While in cardiac surgery the
      acknowledgement was found extremely seldom in vascular surgery acknowledgement of
      malpractice reproach must be expected in about 50%. In cardiac surgery mainly new
      neurological deficits are content of malpractice reproach; in vascular surgery
      artery injuries and surgical procedures to correct varicose veins are most often
      involved. In order to prevent or to minimise those malpractice reproaches an
      optimal communication between the surgeon and the patient, an extensive informed
      consent and a very strict medical indication for surgery are imperative.

PMID- 1441074
TI  - [Evaluation of occupational and work capacity after myocardial infarct].
AB  - Innovations in medical technics increase in volume. In consequence the medical
      expert has more difficulties in judging the rank of the different tests and
      medical examinations. With this publication we intend to help to value the
      results of specific medical tests and the checkup of a patient after a myocardial
      infarction with regard to the "Berufs- und Erwerbsunfahigket". Furthermore there
      is a table, showing criterions and various results to answer the question, if a
      patient after a myocardial infarction is able to have furthermore an occupation
      and if you may expect heavy labour of someone. In this article, written by a
      doctor working in a hospital treating patients with diseases of the heart
      circulation system, special aspects were considered, concerning the "Anschlu ss
      heilbehandlungsma ss nahme", which is a common practice for a patient after a
      myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1441075
TI  - [Comment on the contribution by Dr. N. A. Sittaro: Problems and compensation of
      back and spinal disorders in workman's compensation].

PMID- 1441076
TI  - [The treatment of malignant tumors of the ethmoidal labyrinth].

PMID- 1441077
TI  - [The differential diagnosis of Meniere's disease and neurinoma of the 8th nerve].

PMID- 1441078
TI  - [The treatment of patients with allergic rhinosinusopathy].

PMID- 1441079
TI  - [The significance of the structural characteristics of the sphenoid sinuses in
      the development of sphenoiditis].
AB  - Medicolegal autopsies show a great incidence of sphenoiditides (63.3%) with a
      prevalent chronic atrophy (48%). Frontal and asymmetric presentation of the
      posterior cribrate cells about the sphenoid sinuses proved an unfavorable
      regional anatomic factor underlying dysfunction of the shunt drainage.
      Sphenoiditides are also promoted by digestions of the Vidian nerve canal
      producing harbours at the base of the sphenoid pterygoid process. Identification
      of anatomical factors of risk and characterization of the mucosal defects can be
      conducted at additional x-ray examination.

PMID- 1441080
TI  - [The endoscopic CO2 laser surgery if congenital laryngeal synechiae].

PMID- 1441081
TI  - [The clinico-diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of ENT organ involvement in
      patients with mucoviscidosis].

PMID- 1441082
TI  - [The clinico-anatomical basis for sectioning the vidian nerve].
AB  - Regional anatomic study of the pterygopalatine fossa on 101 cadavers, 86
      angiographies, 114 x-ray tomography pictures provided evidence in support of the
      advantages of the Nomure transantral subperiosteal approach to the vidian nerve.
      To prevent postoperative complications, the nerve destruction was carried out by
      laser. The power and exposure were tested on 15 white rats. Seventy surgical
      interventions were performed in the clinic of ENT diseases of the Leningrad
      Medical College. Their results were assessed with specially devised techniques.
      The authors thought the cut of the vidian nerve an effective procedure in chronic
      polypous rhinosinusitis as it brought about a persistent response and improved
      the condition of the nasal mucosa.

PMID- 1441083
TI  - [The treatment of exudative forms of maxillary sinusitis in children with
      complete closure of the natural opening].

PMID- 1441084
TI  - [An esthesioneuroblastoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses].

PMID- 1441085
TI  - [The use of local oxygenation with one-time perfusion in treating exudative
      maxillary sinusitis].

PMID- 1441086
TI  - [The free transplantation of a part of the concha auriculae in a defect of the
      ala nasi].

PMID- 1441087
TI  - [Lethal midline granuloma].

PMID- 1441088
TI  - [The procedure for treating patients with chronic suppurative otitis media
      depending on the nature of the microflora].

PMID- 1441089
TI  - [A foreign body in the frontal lobe].

PMID- 1441090
TI  - [A rhinolith with a nucleus from the remains of a gauze tampon].

PMID- 1441091
TI  - [The long-term presence of a foreign body in the larynx].

PMID- 1441092
TI  - [An analysis of patient mortality based on the data from the ENT Department of
      the M. F. Vladimirskii Moscow Province Clinical Research Institute for a 12-year
      period (1979-1990)].

PMID- 1441093
TI  - [Studies in the history of radical ear surgery (for the centenary of its
      development)].

PMID- 1441094
TI  - [Endaural surgery in children].

PMID- 1441095
TI  - [The diagnosis of malignant neoplasms of the naso- and oropharynx by using
      computed magnetic resonance tomography in an ultralow field].
AB  - MR tomography examination of 51 patients with maxillofacial or cervical cancer
      provided adequate diagnostic information especially in the absence of bone
      involvement. The method proved efficient in differentiating tumors with
      inflammation, in tumor localization, evaluation of its size and spread, outline,
      structure, invasion. It is safe, noninvasive. For differential purposes the
      technique is most beneficial in impulse double echo mode with proton density and
      T2.

PMID- 1441096
TI  - Parasitic otitis in sheep associated with psoroptes infestation: a clinical and
      epidemiological study.
AB  - Parasitic otitis associated with psoroptes infestation was diagnosed in a small
      pedigree flock of sheep with aural haematomas, abscessation and cauliflower ears.
      Thirteen of the 15 lambs were affected but the clinical signs were mild; small,
      discrete, crusty lesions on the inner aspect of the ear at the junction of its
      anterior and posterior borders were typical. Nine of the 20 adults were affected
      but the lesions were more severe. Eighteen of the 64 members of the breed society
      who responded to a telephone survey reported sheep with similar clinical signs in
      their flocks. The proportion of animals affected ranged from 1 to 60 per cent
      with a median value of 16 per cent.

PMID- 1441097
TI  - Incidence and clinical significance of sesamoid disease in rottweilers.
AB  - A group of 55 rottweiler pups was studied from three to 12 months old to assess
      the incidence and clinical significance of disease involving the palmar
      metacarpal sesamoid bones. The results of physical examination were correlated
      with clinical signs of lameness and the results of radiographic examination of
      the forefeet. Twenty-one dogs became lame during the study and in 12 of them the
      lameness was attributable to sesamoid disease. However by 12 months of age, the
      incidence of sesamoid disease as assessed by radiographic changes in the sesamoid
      bones was 73 per cent (30 of 41 dogs). Six of the 12 dogs which were lame owing
      to sesamoid disease got better without specific treatment. It was concluded that
      sesamoid disease can result in clinical lameness in young rottweilers, but that
      subclinical disease is common.

PMID- 1441098
TI  - A clinical trial of buparvaquone in the treatment of East Coast fever.
AB  - A clinical trial was conducted to test buparvaquone (Butalex; Coopers Pitman
      Moore) in the treatment of East Coast fever under field conditions in Kenya. Data
      from 229 cases were analysed following treatment with one (69), two (142) or
      three (18) doses at 2.5 mg/kg. The majority of cattle (95.2 per cent) were exotic
      (Bos taurus) or improved (Bos taurus cross Bos indicus) and 39.3 per cent were
      infected with Anaplasma marginale. There was an overall recovery rate of 85.6 per
      cent, with 90.1 per cent recovering following one treatment and 75.4 per cent
      recovering following two treatments. At a follow-up visit three to six months
      after completion of the trial data was obtained on 224 cases. Thirty had died, 13
      of which were reported to have been from East Coast fever, nine had been sold and
      six slaughtered. Of the remaining 146, 86.3 per cent were in good condition, 13.7
      per cent fair and 2.0 per cent in poor condition. A two dose regimen was most
      effective and should be recommended except in very early cases or those under
      direct veterinary supervision.

PMID- 1441099
TI  - Hemivertebra in a crossbred heifer.

PMID- 1441100
TI  - Docking of dogs.

PMID- 1441101
TI  - Suspected European brown hare syndrome in Scotland.

PMID- 1441102
TI  - Welfare of farmed fish.

PMID- 1441103
TI  - Erosion of veterinary influence.

PMID- 1441104
TI  - Euthanasia of horses.

PMID- 1441105
TI  - Measuring dairy herd fertility.
AB  - The use of the calving index as a measure of herd fertility ignores the
      proportion of the herd that is culled, generally for failing to conceive. It is
      more important to consider the total cost of long calving intervals, high culling
      rate and even low pregnancy rates in an integrated index that reflects
      inefficient management, than to have to cope with balancing a number of separate
      physical indicators. In a study of 91 herds containing 14,524 cows a full range
      of physical indices was examined. The average herd calving interval was 380.3
      days, with a culling rate of 23.1 per cent. Of the cows calving, 76.9 per cent
      recalved, a figure which when adjusted for the calving interval (CIA calving
      rate) became 73.8 per cent. In quartiles split on the basis of CIA calving rate,
      the top quartile achieved 82 per cent with a calving index of 375.2, and a
      culling rate of 16.7 per cent. These standards were achieved by serving 91.9 per
      cent of the cows after calving, at an interval to first service of 67.2 days. The
      submission rate for artificial insemination in the first 24 days after the
      earliest service date was 57.5 per cent and the overall pregnancy rate was 51.2
      per cent. As a result 92.1 per cent of the cows served, and 85.3 per cent of
      those which calved, conceived again, with an average of 1.9 services per
      conception. Assessing fertility on a financial basis, with costs attributed to
      calving interval, culling rate and pregnancy rate to give a fertility index, the
      average herd was losing pounds 62/cow/year, compared with target levels.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1441106
TI  - Farm investigations of anaemia in lambs caused by feeding cow colostrum.
AB  - The deaths on nine farms of lambs which had been fed cow colostrum as a
      substitute for ewe colostrum were investigated. Of 105 lambs which received cow
      colostrum, 65 (61.9 per cent) showed clinical signs of anaemia and 42 (40 per
      cent) died. The signs of anaemia usually appeared when the lambs were between
      eight and 12 days old. The most significant post mortem finding was the
      appearance of the bone marrow which was cream or grey rather than the normal
      bright red. The types of treatment which were given are summarised. Whey from
      samples of the colostrum fed to the lambs was tested for its effect on sheep red
      blood cells. Haemolysis or agglutination of the red cells occurred with some,
      though not all, of the samples which caused anaemia.

PMID- 1441107
TI  - Ataxia and head tremor in an alpaca (Lama pacos)
AB  - An 18-month-old alpaca developed nervous signs, including swaying of the head and
      neck, a wide-based stance and hind-limb ataxia. No certain diagnosis was made but
      the animal recovered after successive treatment with amoxycillin, vitamin B1,
      ivermectin and copper oxide, followed by vitamin E and selenium. The differential
      diagnosis rationale of treatment is described.

PMID- 1441108
TI  - Observations on the epidemiology of Taenia hydatigena in Soay sheep on St Kilda.

PMID- 1441109
TI  - Efficacy of netobimin against naturally acquired helminth infections in cattle.

PMID- 1441110
TI  - 'Superfleas' bounce back?

PMID- 1441111
TI  - Use of free-access minerals.

PMID- 1441112
TI  - Respiratory mucociliary clearance in the horse in health and disease, and its
      pharmaceutical modification.
AB  - The structure and possible functions of respiratory secretions are reviewed. In
      the equine, goblet (mucus producing) cells are the main source but little
      information is available on the volume or composition of equine respiratory
      secretions. Airway mucus has complex and incompletely understood physical
      characteristics which can be partially assessed by a wide range of in vitro and
      biological techniques. The complex relationship between mucus structure and its
      propulsion by the airway cilia are discussed, both in health and with pulmonary
      disease. Mucokinesis in the horse has been assessed visually, by
      bronchoscopically observing intratracheal markers and also by the use of
      radiographic and radioactive markers. All techniques indicate a tracheal mucus
      velocity of approximately 20 mm/min. A large number of mucokinetic agents have
      been claimed therapeutically to increase mucokinesis, using a range of
      mechanisms. These include mucus diluents, surface acting agents, mucolytics,
      bronchomucotropic agents, ciliary augmentors and broncho-dilators. A critical
      review of the literature shows that the bronchodilator clenbuterol is the most
      effective mucokinetic agent assessed to date in the equine.

PMID- 1441113
TI  - An interlaboratory trial of a latex agglutination kit for rapid identification of
      Salmonella enteritidis.
AB  - An interlaboratory trial was conducted of a latex agglutination kit for the rapid
      identification of Salmonella enteritidis, to assess the stability of the
      components and its performance with respect to a panel of three coded salmonellas
      and 243 field isolates. Two of the components of the kit deteriorated with time.
      All 62 isolates of S enteritidis were correctly identified by the kit; only two
      false positives were recorded and no false negatives.

PMID- 1441114
TI  - Use of amoxycillin by injection in Atlantic salmon broodstock.

PMID- 1441116
TI  - Swine vesicular disease in the European Community.

PMID- 1441115
TI  - Virginiamycin susceptibility of Serpulina hyodysenteriae, in vitro and in vivo.

PMID- 1441117
TI  - Control of fleas.

PMID- 1441118
TI  - Distemper in Grimsby.

PMID- 1441119
TI  - Exclusions in pet insurance.

PMID- 1441120
TI  - Use of free-access minerals.

PMID- 1441121
TI  - Injuries from air-guns.

PMID- 1441122
TI  - Injuries from air-guns.

PMID- 1441123
TI  - Progressive axonopathy in boxer dogs.

PMID- 1441124
TI  - Resistance in goat lice.

PMID- 1441125
TI  - Prevalence of anthelmintic-resistant nematodes in fibre-producing goats in
      Scotland.
AB  - Six cashmere goat herds in Scotland were surveyed to assess the prevalence of
      anthelmintic resistance and the species of nematode involved. Resistance was
      determined in vivo by a faecal egg count reduction test and in vitro using an egg
      hatch assay and specific faecal egg identification techniques. Benzimidazole
      resistance was present in five of the herds, insufficient eggs were obtained from
      the other herd to draw firm conclusions. Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) species
      predominated in four of the five herds in which resistance was detected and
      Haemonchus contorus was the dominant species in the other.

PMID- 1441126
TI  - Morbillivirus infection in two common porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the
      coasts of England and Scotland.
AB  - Two common porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), one found stranded on the Isle of
      Sheppey, Kent, and the other in the Moray Firth, Scotland, in late 1990, were
      examined post mortem. Lesions of diffuse bronchointerstitial pneumonia were
      present in both animals; they were characterised by the infiltration of alveoli
      with leucocytes, macrophages and multinucleate syncytia, the necrosis of
      bronchial and bronchiolar epithelium, focal proliferation of type II pneumocytes
      and occasional acidophilic cytoplasmic inclusions in alveolar macrophages and
      syncytia. Lymphoid depletion was apparent in the spleen, thymus and lymph nodes
      of both porpoises. Other changes in the Isle of Sheppey porpoise included severe
      dacryoadenitis. Marked pharyngitis, oesophagitis and balanoposthitis were present
      in the Moray Firth porpoise. Immunoperoxidase staining revealed the presence of
      morbillivirus antigen in a range of epithelia from both porpoises. This is the
      first report of morbillivirus infection in cetaceans from the coast of Great
      Britain.

PMID- 1441127
TI  - Detection of post partum ovarian activity in cows using on-farm progesterone
      ELISAs.

PMID- 1441128
TI  - Homoeopathic prophylaxis.

PMID- 1441129
TI  - Homoeopathic prophylaxis.

PMID- 1441131
TI  - Aleutian disease in ferrets.

PMID- 1441130
TI  - Homoeopathic prophylaxis.

PMID- 1441132
TI  - Licensed veterinary products.

PMID- 1441133
TI  - Progress in the British hypodermosis eradication programme: the role of
      serological surveillance.
AB  - The British warble fly eradication programme has resulted in the numbers of
      infested cattle falling from an estimated four million in 1978 to zero in 1991.
      In 1982, when about 705 herds were infested the disease was made notifiable, and
      serological surveillance was begun in 1988. In spring 1991, 227,000 blood samples
      were tested by using the ELISA technique and no warbled animals were found. In
      addition no clinical cases were reported during 1991.

PMID- 1441134
TI  - Proliferative osteitis of the femoral greater trochanter and humeral medial
      epicondyle as a cause of lameness in sows.
AB  - Thirteen chronically lame female breeding pigs were examined clinically and post
      mortem. Of the eight sows with hindleg lameness, one showed detachment of the
      ischial tuberosity and a second showed detachment of the ischial tuberosity on
      the left and a mid-shaft femoral fracture on the right. Two showed no lesions
      apart from a change in the positional relationship between the femoral head and
      the greater trochanter, resulting in a lowering of the femoral head. In the
      remaining four sows an apparently unreported condition was seen, which produced a
      proliferative osteitis of the greater trochanter. All five animals lame in the
      forelimb showed varying degrees of proliferative osteitis of the medial
      epicondyle of the humerus. Advanced cases could be palpated in the live animal.
      It is proposed that proliferative osteitis may be a response, at the point of
      attachment of the muscle masses of the major limbs, to the trauma of over
      exertion.

PMID- 1441135
TI  - The cost of summer mastitis.
AB  - The incidence of summer mastitis on 95 dairy farms in southern England was
      monitored in the summer of 1987. Data on the type of animal infected, the fate of
      the animals immediately and over the succeeding lactation, and the procedures
      used in treating the infections were collected for 144 cases. Twenty-five per
      cent of cases were attended by veterinary surgeons. Most of the animals received
      parenteral antibiotics and on average each received five tubes of intramammary
      antibiotic. The incidence of infection was highest in pregnant and calving
      heifers, more than 2 per cent of the animals at risk, and lowest (0.04 per cent)
      in calves, although more than twice as many dry cows were infected. Over half of
      the farms reported summer mastitis, with 36 per cent suffering more than one
      case. The greatest economic loss, 49 per cent of the total, was from lost milk
      production; and 37 per cent was from lost animal value, cull and calf losses. The
      average loss was 192 pounds per case. Using national incidence data from England
      and Wales, the cost to the UK dairy industry in 1987 was 6.22 million pounds.

PMID- 1441136
TI  - Benzimidazole resistance in Trichostrongylus axei in Australia.

PMID- 1441137
TI  - Virulent Serpulina hyodysenteriae from a pig in a herd free of clinical swine
      dysentery.

PMID- 1441138
TI  - Exclusions in pet insurance.

PMID- 1441139
TI  - More than a flea killer?

PMID- 1441140
TI  - Cattle as a source of verotoxigenic Escherichia coli O157.

PMID- 1441141
TI  - Diagnosis of snakebite.

PMID- 1441142
TI  - Unseasonal twins.

PMID- 1441143
TI  - A neuropathological survey of brains submitted under the Bovine Spongiform
      Encephalopathy Orders in Scotland.
AB  - Bovine spongiform encephalopathy was not confirmed histologically in 225 of 829
      bovine brains submitted for diagnosis. Several previously described disorders of
      the central nervous system were observed in these brains as well as disorders not
      previously recognised in Britain, including bilateral vacuolation of the
      substantia nigra, hippocampal sclerosis with brainstem neuronal chromatolysis and
      necrosis, focal symmetrical encephalomalacia and meningio-angiomatosis. Severe
      cerebellar dysplasia consistent with pre-natal bovine viral diarrhoea--mucosal
      disease virus infection or mineralisation of the blood vessels of the basal
      ganglia were interpreted respectively as congenital changes or changes due to
      ageing and were considered to be of no clinical significance.

PMID- 1441144
TI  - Prevalence, regional distribution and control of blowfly strike in England and
      Wales.
AB  - The prevalence and control of blowfly strike in England and Wales was
      investigated by a postal survey of 2451 sheep farmers, divided into five regions,
      who were asked about the blowfly seasons of 1988 and 1989. These were important
      years for the control of blowfly strike because the number of compulsory dips for
      the control of sheep scab was reduced from two to one in 1989. The response rate
      was 74.2 per cent. A larger proportion of farmers in the south west and south
      east reported strike (90 per cent), than in the north of England (60 per cent).
      The proportion of sheep with strike showed a similar regional variation (0.7 per
      cent in the north of England to 2.8 per cent in the south west). Dipping was the
      most common method of blowfly control, followed by tail amputation, dagging,
      spraying and cyromazine. Twenty per cent of farmers reported reducing the
      frequency of dipping in 1989, and of those 20 per cent increased the frequency of
      spraying and 20 per cent used cyromazine.

PMID- 1441145
TI  - Investigations into causes of death of endangered molluscs (Partula species).
AB  - Molluscs of the genus Partula are threatened with extinction; captive populations
      of some species have shown a marked and unexplained decline in numbers.
      Histopathological, electron microscopical and bacteriological studies were
      carried out on normal and 'pathological' specimens of Partula species. Although
      tissue changes and microorganisms were detected, the findings did not suggest
      that infectious or non-infectious disease contributed significantly to the
      disease or death of the snails. Additional investigations are suggested.

PMID- 1441146
TI  - Efficacy of moxidectin against gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle.
AB  - Three groups of 11 naturally infected crossbred beef calves were injected
      subcutaneously with moxidectin 1 per cent injectable at 0.2 or 0.3 mg
      moxidectin/kg bodyweight or with the unmedicated vehicle. Nematode infections had
      been acquired during grazing from December to April. Based on the faecal egg
      counts and total worm counts of the control calves at necropsy (11 to 13 days
      after treatment) most of the calves had heavy parasitic burdens. Ostertagia
      ostertagi was predominant and the mean numbers of adults, developing fourth stage
      larvae (L4) and inhibited early L4 were 45,906, 10,061 and 68,918, respectively.
      Haemonchus placei and Trichostrongylus axei were also present in the abomasa.
      Three species of Cooperia, Oesophagostomum radiatum L4 and T colubriformis adults
      were found in the intestinal tract. Both dosages of moxidectin were equally
      effective (P < 0.05) against all the abomasal nematodes (99.9 to 100 per cent)
      and the intestinal tract nematodes (99.4 to 100 per cent). No adverse reactions
      to the moxidectin treatment were observed. Abomasal pathology characteristic of
      heavy O ostertagi infection was observed in the control calves, but not in the
      treated calves.

PMID- 1441147
TI  - A thiamine responsive nervous disease in saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus
      porosus).

PMID- 1441148
TI  - Laparoscopic salpingectomy in a hybrid flamingo.

PMID- 1441149
TI  - Docking of dogs.

PMID- 1441150
TI  - Effect of potassium on urinary acidosis.

PMID- 1441151
TI  - Idiopathic brainstem neuronal chromatolysis and hippocampal sclerosis: a novel
      encephalopathy in clinically suspect cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
AB  - Some of the brains submitted for neurohistopathological examination under the
      Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Orders did not show lesions of BSE. They
      showed neuronal chromatolysis and necrosis of the brainstem, perivascular cuffs
      and meningeal infiltrates of mononuclear cells and large irregularly shaped
      vacuoles in the neuropil. About half of them also showed loss of pyramidal
      neurons in the hippocampus, with astrocytic gliosis. The topography of the
      brainstem neuronal degeneration and vacuolation was the same in all the cattle,
      suggesting that neuronal necrosis and chromatolysis, vacuolation and hippocampal
      sclerosis are part of a spectrum of changes common to a single disease. The cows
      affected with such changes came from most parts of Scotland with the largest
      number from the north east. They were of various breeds, mostly suckler cows, and
      were aged from six to 16 years. Some cows had had no reported access to feed
      supplements. Clinically, the cows showed a range of neurological signs: tremor,
      ataxia, apprehension and weight loss were described in more than 80 per cent of
      the cases. The cause of the disorder was not determined.

PMID- 1441152
TI  - Observations on an outbreak of anthrax in pigs in north Wales.
AB  - Nineteen pigs in a 500 sow herd died from anthrax over a period of 95 days. This
      paper describes some of the problems encountered and how they were dealt with,
      including the risks to public health, the disposal of slurry and the cleansing
      and disinfection of the premises after the herd was slaughtered.

PMID- 1441153
TI  - Significance of the vaginal bacterial flora in the bitch: a review.
AB  - The literature on the bacterial flora in the vagina of the bitch is reviewed. The
      bacterial flora in the vagina of healthy bitches is compared with the flora of
      infertile bitches and bitches with vaginitis, and the role of Brucella canis as a
      cause of infertility is evaluated. Several investigators have recommended that
      bitches with reproductive disorders be treated with antibacterial drugs, but
      there is very little knowledge of the effect of this therapy on the bacterial
      flora in the vagina.

PMID- 1441155
TI  - Temporal relationship between progesterone and uterine lymphocyte-inhibitory
      activity in ewes.

PMID- 1441154
TI  - Isolation of Ehrlichia risticii from the aborted fetus of an infected mare.

PMID- 1441156
TI  - Optimum temperature of ovary transportation for in vitro fertilisation of bovine
      oocytes.

PMID- 1441157
TI  - Docking of dogs.

PMID- 1441158
TI  - Docking of dogs.

PMID- 1441159
TI  - Resistance to avermectins and milbemycins.

PMID- 1441160
TI  - Persistent Salmonella typhimurium PT 104 infection in a dairy herd.

PMID- 1441161
TI  - Isolation of Mycobacterium bovis from the respiratory tracts of skin test
      negative cattle.
AB  - Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from the respiratory tracts of three cattle
      which registered negative to tuberculin testing; no tuberculous lesions were
      found and the culture of lymph nodes and other tissues proved negative. One
      animal was from a group of five calves which had been inoculated intranasally
      with M bovis, and the organism was recovered once only from nasal mucus sampled
      100 days after inoculation. The second animal had had contact with experimentally
      infected cattle which were excreting M bovis and the third was from a commercial
      farm. The results of ELISAS for antimycobacterial antibodies and interferon
      gamma, and of lymphocyte transformation assays are presented. The animals' immune
      responses provided evidence that each of them had been challenged.

PMID- 1441162
TI  - An outbreak of tuberculosis in pigs and cattle caused by Mycobacterium africanum.
AB  - An outbreak of tuberculosis in pigs and cattle caused by Mycobacterium africanum
      produced lesions in the pigs similar to those caused by M tuberculosis, M bovis
      and M avium, with caseation in the lymph nodes of the head and in the jejunal
      lymph nodes. Bacteriological examination of the dysgonic mycobacteria isolated
      showed that they were M africanum I. The intradermal tuberculin test was very
      reliable in pigs, differentiating between mammalian and avian reactions, and the
      results of the test were in accordance with the lesions found at meat inspection.
      No clinical signs were observed during the outbreak, and the infection was
      neither serious nor progressive. There were no lesions in the tuberculin-positive
      cattle. The source of the infection remains unknown.

PMID- 1441163
TI  - Possible effect of pH on the survival of leptospires in cattle urine.

PMID- 1441164
TI  - Pathogenicity of SAD rabies vaccine given orally in chacma baboons (Papio
      ursinus).

PMID- 1441166
TI  - Out-of-hours cover.

PMID- 1441165
TI  - Vectors of African horse sickness in the Cape Verde Islands.

PMID- 1441167
TI  - Bovine embryo transfer.

PMID- 1441168
TI  - Possible 'silo gas' poisoning in a bull.

PMID- 1441169
TI  - Injuries from air-guns.

PMID- 1441170
TI  - Data sheet correction.

PMID- 1441171
TI  - Economic progress.

PMID- 1441172
TI  - Hypomagnesaemia in a calf.

PMID- 1441173
TI  - Anaplastic sarcoma in the caudal thigh of a horse.
AB  - A 16-year-old showjumping gelding was examined because of a non-painful, slowly
      progressive caudal thigh swelling, which was associated with 2/10th lameness at
      the trot. Radiography, real time beta-mode ultrasonography and gamma-scintigraphy
      of the caudal thigh for the presence of chip fractures, sequestrum formation and,
      or, abscessation were inconclusive. Radiographic examination of the chest
      revealed multifocal, nodular cannon ball-like opacities throughout the entire
      lung fields from which a diagnosis of a primary soft tissue tumour with
      metastasis to the thorax was made. An anaplastic sarcoma was diagnosed port
      mortem in the candal thigh. At no time did the horse show signs of respiratory
      embarrassment.

PMID- 1441174
TI  - Prevalence of leg weakness in broiler chickens and its relationship with
      genotype.
AB  - A method for measuring the prevalence of leg weakness by assessing the walking
      ability of broilers was developed. Walking ability was divided into six
      categories, from completely normal to immobile. The method was found to give
      consistent results when performed by the same people. In a survey of commercial,
      intensively reared broilers, 90 per cent had a detectable gait abnormality and 26
      per cent suffered an abnormality of sufficient severity for their welfare to be
      considered compromised. The prevalence of leg weakness in free range broilers,
      and three commercial breeds of broilers was determined. The results indicated
      that genetic factors were an important cause of leg weakness in broilers and also
      identified a possible relationship between liveweight and leg weakness.

PMID- 1441175
TI  - Time in lairage needed by pigs to recover from the stress of transport.
AB  - Two experiments were carried out in which a total of 602 pigs were slaughtered
      after being held in lairage for periods ranging from less than one hour to 21
      hours. In the first experiment the pigs were handled under ideal conditions and
      slaughtered at the University of Bristol slaughterhouse; in the second the pigs
      were killed at a commercial plant. Blood samples collected at exsanguination were
      analysed for indices of stress. There were no consistent effects of time in
      lairage on the levels of lactate and creatine phosphokinase. Plasma cortisol and
      beta-endorphin levels were reduced by lairage for three hours or more in the
      first experiment and cortisol was reduced by lairage for two hours or more in the
      second; beta-endorphin was not measured in the second experiment. A period of
      rest in lairage allowed the pigs to recover from transport and the associated
      handling and the recovery appeared to be complete within two to three hours.

PMID- 1441176
TI  - Experimental infection of pregnant gilts with Leptospira interrogans serovar
      mozdok.
AB  - Three pregnant gilts were experimentally infected with leptospires of the serovar
      mozdok, isolated from an aborted pig fetus from a Portuguese pig farm with
      abortion problems. All the gilts aborted dead or dying piglets on days 105 or 106
      of pregnancy. Serovar mozdok was isolated from 12 of the 22 piglets in the three
      litters. Histological examination of the livers and kidneys of the gilts at the
      end of the experiment revealed evidence of disease, and leptospires were isolated
      from their kidneys. Their serological responses up to 42 days after inoculation
      were monitored by means of a microscopic agglutination test, using 21 antigens
      from 18 serogroups. Cross reactions to heterologous antigens belonging to the
      Grippotyphosa, Australis, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Cynopteri groups were observed
      in all of them.

PMID- 1441177
TI  - Differential diagnosis of rinderpest and PPR using biotinylated cDNA probes.

PMID- 1441178
TI  - Firing of horses.

PMID- 1441179
TI  - Megabacteriosis in exhibition budgerigars.

PMID- 1441180
TI  - 'Mal seco' and grass sickness.

PMID- 1441181
TI  - Sudden death of calves by experimental infection with Strongyloides papillosus.
      II. Clinical observations and analysis of critical moments of the disease
      recorded on videotape.
AB  - Four calves experimentally infected with different doses of Strongyloides
      papillosus were examined for changes of body temperature and other clinical
      parameters. Also, the critical moments of death, which were recorded on
      videotape, were analyzed in detail. The first clinical signs included initial
      accelerated respiration. In general, body temperature was almost normal; however,
      one calf showed a slight increase after 2 or 3 days of infection, and two calves
      a gradual increase 7 days after infection. Vocal noises and general spasms were
      observed 5-14 times during the course of death. Initial vocal noises were heard
      between 0:50 and 1:30 (minute:second) after the appearance of the initial
      clinical signs. The final spasm, preceding death, occurred between 3:05 and 3:40
      after the appearance of the initial clinical signs.

PMID- 1441182
TI  - Preventive treatment against toxocarosis in bovine calves.
AB  - Treatment of bovine calves 10-16 days old with an anthelmintic which is effective
      against immature Toxocara vitulorum killed the parasites, there was no new
      infection and recontamination of the environment was precluded. When the
      management of the program was delegated to the livestock officers, approximately
      3% of calves scheduled for treatment developed patent infections. The prevalences
      of toxocarosis on the different farms were correlated with annual rainfall,
      probably because the longer dry periods associated with lower rainfall killed
      infective eggs in the environment. The treatment schedules prevailing before the
      study commenced were ineffective. The prevalence of toxocarosis in the bovine
      calves on farms in the area with an annual rainfall of about 1000 mm was lower
      than that in buffalo calves studied previously in the same area.

PMID- 1441183
TI  - Sex-related susceptibility of bulls to gastrointestinal parasites.
AB  - The effects of sex and anabolic implants on fecal egg counts and pasture
      contamination were examined in 77 naturally infected yearling bulls, steers, and
      heifers of mixed beef breeds grazing the same contaminated pasture in southern
      Ohio in the spring of 1990. Fecal egg counts were compared in seven groups of 10
      14 animals each, twice before anabolic implants and twice after implants.
      Comparisons were made between untreated bulls, steers, and heifers, between
      steers with and without implants, and between heifers with and without implants.
      Bulls had significantly (P < 0.01) higher fecal egg counts than steers, and
      counts from steers were not significantly different to those from heifers. There
      were no significant differences between counts from implanted and control steers
      or heifers. The results have important practical implications both for parasite
      control and for bovine parasite research. There is a need to pay special
      attention to young bulls when designing parasite control programs, and to
      distribute the sexes equally between groups when doing research trials with
      cattle of mixed sexes. Some previous studies on worm population dynamics and
      anthelmintic evaluation may need to be re-examined in the light of sex
      differences.

PMID- 1441184
TI  - The development of naturally acquired cyathostome infection in ponies.
AB  - Groups of animals of different ages and experience of previous parasite exposure
      were allowed to graze a single pasture for 5 weeks in autumn (7 October to 11
      November). There was evidence that previous exposure modified cyathostome
      development, as acquired burdens in foals which had previously grazed were
      smaller and developed more slowly than those of helminth-naive animals of the
      same age. The burdens acquired by yearling and adult ponies were of a similar
      size to those of the previously grazed foals, but the incidence of arrested
      development was higher in the younger groups of foals and yearlings when compared
      with adults. Further evidence of an effect of age on cyathostome development was
      that the level of faecal egg output of the adult ponies was lower than in the
      groups of young animals.

PMID- 1441185
TI  - Immunological and feeding studies on antigens derived from the biting fly,
      Stomoxys calcitrans.
AB  - Pairs of rabbits were immunised with three antigenic preparations derived from
      Stomoxys calcitrans gut, abdominal section and whole flies. Immunoblotting
      studies demonstrated that a humoral response was mounted against eight antigens
      from the gut preparation and 12 each from the abdominal and whole fly
      preparations. In vitro feeding experiments showed higher mortality between Days 4
      and 7 in the group of flies which had fed upon blood from rabbits inoculated with
      the gut derived antigen. This group also produced the lowest percentage of viable
      eggs (15.5%).

PMID- 1441186
TI  - Leishmaniasis in Mediterranean countries.
AB  - The epidemiology of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis is described in the
      Mediterranean countries where a recrudescence and a geographical spread of these
      zoonoses are noted. Recent findings concerning isoenzyme identification of the
      causative agents are given and the problems encountered in the development of
      vaccines to protect humans and dogs are discussed.

PMID- 1441187
TI  - Cellular immune responses in the skin of sheep infected with larvae of Lucilia
      cuprina, the sheep blowfly.
AB  - Cellular immune responses were observed in the skin of sheep after primary and
      secondary infection with sheep blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) larvae. Both primary and
      secondary infections resulted in a massive cellular infiltration within 48 h of
      wound initiation, with the majority of cells having the CD45 phenotype.
      Neutrophils comprised the major cell type at the skin surface. In the dermis, the
      number of CD4+ T helper, gamma delta-TCR+ cells and T19+ (CD4-, CD8-) T cells
      also increased significantly in skin during both primary and secondary infections
      compared with control sites. However, there was no significant difference in the
      numbers of these cells between primary and secondary infections. An increase in
      the expression of the CD1 antigen on Langerhans/dendritic cells was observed,
      along with an apparent increase in the number of these cells in secondary
      lesions, with the majority of the cells being concentrated in the upper dermis
      and epidermis. While there was no increase in mast cells, eosinophils increased
      significantly during infection compared with control sites. The cellular
      infiltration observed following primary and secondary infections suggests
      polyclonal activation of T cells and their selective recruitment to the lesion
      site.

PMID- 1441188
TI  - Arthropoda as zoonoses and their implications.
AB  - Some aspects of changing patterns of arthropodal infections and arthropod-borne
      diseases in Mediterranean areas are briefly discussed. Selected examples are
      given, with particular emphasis on the phenomenon of the synanthropic flea
      Ctenocephalides felis felis and on health problems caused by human infections
      with Argas reflexus, the common tick of urban pigeons in Europe. Finally, the
      risk of the emergence of Lyme borreliosis (Borrelia burgdorferi) is considered in
      relation to the increasing spread of environmental infestation with ticks, mainly
      Ixodes ricinus, an efficacious vector for the spirochaete.

PMID- 1441190
TI  - World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (W.A.A.V.P.)
      methods for the detection of anthelmintic resistance in nematodes of veterinary
      importance.
AB  - Methods have been described to assist in the detection of anthelmintic resistance
      in strongylid nematodes of ruminants, horses and pigs. Two tests are recommended,
      an in vivo test, the faecal egg count reduction test for use in infected animals,
      and an in vitro test, the egg hatch test for detection of benzimidazole
      resistance in nematodes that hatch shortly after embryonation. Anaerobic storage
      for submission of faecal samples from the field for use in the in vitro test is
      of value and the procedure is described. The tests should enable comparable data
      to be obtained in surveys in all parts of the world.

PMID- 1441189
TI  - The development of a recombinant Babesia vaccine.
AB  - Crude extracts of Babesia bovis parasites were shown to induce levels of
      protection in susceptible cattle equivalent to that resulting from natural
      infection. The crude material was systematically fractionated and tested in
      numerous sequential vaccination/challenge experiments in adult cattle. Antigens
      in protective fractions were then purified by affinity chromatography with
      monoclonal antibodies. Three highly protective (more than 95% reduction in
      parasitaemias) antigens were thus identified. None of these antigens was
      immunodominant; a number of immunodominant antigens were identified and all were
      immunosuppressive and/or non-protective. The three protective antigens were
      cloned and expressed as either beta-galactosidase or glutathione-S-transferase
      (GST) fusion proteins. Two of these, GST-12D3 and GST-11C5, when used in
      combination were almost as protective as has been previously shown for the
      commercially available live attenuated vaccine. A short fragment of a third
      antigen (21B4) has also been shown to be protective. In two of the antigens,
      repetitive segments have been shown to be non-protective while the third antigen
      (12D3) does not contain repetitive domains. Homologues of these antigens exist in
      other Babesia species and it is anticipated that these may be candidate antigens
      for protective vaccines against those species.

PMID- 1441191
TI  - Some glucose metabolic enzymes in various fractions of sarcocysts of Sarcocystis
      fusiformis of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).
AB  - A comparative biochemical study on some enzymes of glycogenolysis, glycolysis and
      the hexose monophosphate shunt pathway in various fractions (cyst wall, cyst
      fluid and zoites) of the sarcocysts of Sarcocystis fusiformis from the
      oesophageal muscles of naturally infected Indian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
      was carried out. The pattern and the magnitude of enzymic activity differed
      markedly in these fractions. Phosphorylase, hexokinase, aldolase and pyruvate
      kinase showed their highest levels of activity in the zoites fractions, whereas
      lactate dehydrogenase was the highest in cyst fluid. Alcohol dehydrogenases were
      non-detectable. Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate
      dehydrogenase were localized in the cyst wall only. Zoites were considered to be
      the most active metabolic sites for glucose breakdown.

PMID- 1441192
TI  - The epidemiology of tropical theileriosis (Theileria annulata infection in
      cattle) in an endemic area of Morocco.
AB  - A longitudinal study of tropical theileriosis was performed on 12 farms in the
      Doukkala region of Morocco during 1990. Adult Hyalomma detritum detritum were
      collected between March and early October and a peak in numbers was observed at
      the end of June. Nineteen percent (24/127) were infected with Theileria species
      and, amongst these, over 50% had five or more sporoblasts in their salivary
      glands (range 1-151). Hyalomma d detritum larvae and nymphs were found on cattle
      between September and early December with the highest numbers in late October.
      The prevalence of T. annulata piroplasm carriers at the beginning of the year was
      48.5% (47 positive out of 97) and there were 14 new infections during the disease
      season (March to September) of which five developed into clinical cases. The
      incidence rates of new infection and clinical disease were 0.156 and 0.056 per
      animal-season, respectively. Differences were observed between age categories of
      cattle in both tick and parasite infections. A significantly lower number of
      adult H.d. detritum were collected from calves than from adult cattle. The
      prevalences of piroplasm carriers before the disease season were 0%, 36% and 76%,
      respectively, in (a) calves which had been born since the previous disease
      season, (b) calves born before then and (c) adults. However, the incidence rates
      of infection and disease for uninfected animals in the two categories of calves
      were approximately the same: 0.299 and 0.378 new infections, and 0.085 and 0.126
      clinical cases per animal-season for (a) and (b), respectively. The date
      predicted for the appearance of adult H.d. detritum, based on published tick
      development times and local temperature records, was within 2 weeks of the study
      visit when the highest number of adults were collected from cattle. However, the
      date predicted for the appearance of larvae was 6 weeks earlier than the observed
      peak populations and may indicate that H.d. detritum delays either egg laying in
      the summer or larval host searching in the autumn.

PMID- 1441193
TI  - Frequency distribution of Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cysts in sheep
      populations in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.
AB  - Age-prevalence and age-intensity data of Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cysts in
      sheep populations were collected in an abattoir in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous
      Region, People's Republic of China. The frequency distribution of the larval
      cysts per sheep was empirically described by the negative binomial model, with
      parameter k being 0.5273. A mathematical model for the life cycle of E.
      granulosus was applied to the collected data and the results show that the
      infection pressure on sheep was 0.4362 (female) or 0.4119 (male) infections per
      year, the mean number of cysts increased linearly by 0.8824 (female) or 0.9971
      (male) cysts every year and acquired immunity was too low to depress this rate of
      increase. According to certain definitions of steady states for taeniid
      populations, it was concluded that at least in some parts of Xinjiang, the life
      cycle of E. granulosus was and may still be in an endemic steady state.
      Consequently, the regular dog-dosing program would readily drive the infection
      from an endemic state towards extinction.

PMID- 1441194
TI  - Isoenzyme analysis of Haemonchus contortus resistant or susceptible to
      ivermectin.
AB  - Three different strains of Haemonchus contortus (susceptible to ivermectin, S
      IVM; selected for resistance to ivermectin, R-IVM; a multiple resistant strain,
      i.e. resistant to benzimidazole and ivermectin, R-IVM/SA) were examined for
      isoenzyme variation by starch gel electrophoresis. Using stains for seven enzymes
      separated in five different buffer systems, no differences in the electrophoretic
      mobility could be detected between any of the strains. Results demonstrate a low
      level of enzyme variation in H. contortus and no differences in enzyme
      electrophoretic profile between IVM-sensitive and IVM-resistant parasites.
      Differences between the ivermectin-sensitive and both ivermectin-resistant
      strains were observed with the propionyl esterases and although some of the
      differences are probably associated with benzimidazole resistance, others are
      associated with resistance to ivermectin. The three strains of H. contortus are
      generally identical; however, differences between all strains of H. contortus and
      a strain of Dictyocaulus viviparus were detected.

PMID- 1441195
TI  - Efficacy of the morantel sustained release trilaminate bolus against
      gastrointestinal nematodes and its influence on immunity in calves.
AB  - An experiment was conducted in calves to investigate the efficacy of a morantel
      sustained release trilaminate bolus (MSRT) to control gastrointestinal parasitism
      and to assess the development of immunity during the use of MSRT. Two groups (M
      and U) of four calves each were infected three times a week with a mixed
      Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora infection for 12 weeks. Calves of
      Group M received an MSRT at the start of the experiment. Twenty weeks after the
      start of the experiment, all animals, including a previously uninfected control
      group (C), received a challenge with 100,000 Ostertagia and 100,000 Cooperia.
      After a further 4 weeks all calves were necropsied for worm counts. During the
      trial calves were weighed and faecal egg counts, larval differentiation and
      pepsinogen concentrations were determined. The results demonstrated the high
      level of efficacy of the MSRT in reducing the faecal egg output and preventing
      parasitic gastroenteritis under conditions of a continuous high rate of
      infection. Efficacy of treatment was higher for Cooperia than for Ostertagia.
      Post-mortem worm counts suggested a partially impaired immunity build-up in Group
      M, at least for Cooperia.

PMID- 1441196
TI  - An ELISA for detection of antibodies against porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus
      (PEDV) based on the specific solubility of the viral surface glycoprotein.
AB  - Viral proteins of porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV) were extracted from the
      cytoplasm of infected Vero cells using hypotonic conditions and a non-ionic
      detergent. Both the pH and the NaCl concentration of the extraction buffer were
      varied in attempts to increase the solubility of the virion spike glycoproteins
      (S-protein) and of the nucleocapsid proteins (N-protein). Monoclonal antibodies,
      hyperimmune sera and convalescent pig sera were used to identify and monitor
      these proteins by immunoprecipitation and Western blots. The solubility of the S
      protein was optimal at pH 4, whereas that of the N-protein was optimal at pH 9.
      Consequently, it was possible to enrich for either S-protein or N-protein;
      increases in the NaCl concentration of the buffer were of no advantage in this
      respect. Enriched preparations of the S-protein and N-protein were used as ELISA
      antigen for the S-ELISA and N-ELISA, respectively. The S-ELISA proved to be the
      more effective of the two immunoassays. Antibodies against S-protein remained
      detectable for longer periods of time than anti-N-protein antibodies in the sera
      of PEDV-infected pigs. Using this ELISA of increased sensitivity, it was observed
      that only a small number of farms in Switzerland had been infected with PEDV.

PMID- 1441197
TI  - Serological characterization of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae strains isolated
      from pigs in Quebec.
AB  - A total of 3306 isolates of A. pleuropneumoniae originating from lung tissues of
      pigs that died of acute pleuropneumonia and 140 isolates recovered from tonsils
      or nasal cavities of apparently healthy pigs from chronically infected herds were
      serotyped. Various serotyping methods, such as slide agglutination, tube
      agglutination, ring precipitation, coagglutination, immunodiffusion, indirect
      hemagglutination and counterimmunoelectrophoresis either alone or in combination
      were used. The techniques used for serotyping continued to evolve during the last
      10 years depending on the problem encountered in serotyping. Antisera prepared in
      rabbits against formalinized whole cell suspensions of reference strains of A.
      pleuropneumoniae of serotypes 1 to 12 were employed for serotyping. Serotype 1
      was predominant ranging from 55 to 87% from year to year during the last 10 years
      with an average prevalence of 68%. Serotype 5 was second in prevalence ranging
      from 9 to 30% with a mean of 23%. Both subtypes of serotype 5 (5a and 5b) were
      present in Quebec. Serotypes 3, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 were isolated in small numbers
      together accounting for about 9%. Serotypes 4, 9 and 11 were not present. Cross
      reactions were observed among isolates of serotypes 3, 6 and 8, and 1, 9 and 11
      and were easily differentiated from each other by quantitation of type and group
      specific antigens by coagglutination and immunodiffusion tests. Serotypes 1, 5
      and 7 were isolated most frequently from tonsils of pigs from chronically
      infected herds. Prevalence of different serotypes in different countries has also
      been reviewed.

PMID- 1441198
TI  - Diphenylamine increases cloacin DF13 sensitivity in avian septicemic strains of
      Escherichia coli.
AB  - Thirteen avian septicemic isolates of Escherichia coli were examined for the
      presence of the aerobactin iron transport system. All of the strains possessed a
      functional aerobactin system and hybridization experiments showed that the
      aerobactin genes were located on ColV-type plasmids in all cases. The expression
      of the aerobactin receptor IutA was also studied by determining the bacterial
      susceptibility to the bacteriocin cloacin DF13. Twelve of the 13 isolates were
      cloacin-resistant but became sensitive to this bacteriocin upon treatment with
      diphenylamine which caused a reduction in the amount of O-side chain
      lipopolysaccharide.

PMID- 1441199
TI  - Development of a species-specific DNA probe for Mycoplasma capricolum.
AB  - A specific DNA probe for the detection and identification of Mycoplasma
      capricolum, one of the causative agents of contagious agalactia syndrome, was
      selected from a genomic library. It consists of a 900bp RsaI genomic fragment of
      M. capricolum (reference strain), cloned into the EcoRV site of the plasmid
      Bluescript. By using the appropriate stringency this radiolabelled probe reacts
      specifically with M. capricolum when tested by dot blot hybridization against
      various mycoplasmal DNAs. The current level of sensitivity of the 32P-labelled
      900bp RsaI probe is 500 pg of homologous DNA, corresponding to 5 x 10(4)
      mycoplasmas. A non radioactive labelling method, using the digoxigenin-11-dUTP,
      was also tested. The specificity of the digoxigenin-labelled probe was equivalent
      to that obtained with the radioactive probe. However the sensitivity of detection
      decreased to 1 ng of homologous DNA detected, corresponding to 1 x 10(5)
      mycoplasmas. Tests performed with milk samples have demonstrated that the
      radioactive 900 bp RsaI probe indeed detected M. capricolum contained in milk. A
      positive signal was obtained when 10(5) M. capricolum were present in the spot.

PMID- 1441200
TI  - [Potentialities of x-ray diagnosis in improving the diagnosis of oncologic
      diseases in outpatient clinics].
AB  - The authors analyze the possibilities of improving the prehospital diagnosis of
      the most prevalent oncologic diseases (tumors of the lungs, stomach, large
      intestine, mammary gland) that may be effectively detected by modified methods of
      x-ray and x-ray fluorographic examinations. The x-ray diagnostic service of
      health centers is regarded as a most important component in the system of
      prehospital diagnosis. A program of reorganization of this service is suggested,
      that will help reorient its activities to purposeful screening examinations that
      will altogether improve the detection of a number of oncologic diseases.

PMID- 1441201
TI  - [Use of DIL-type cava filters for the prevention of thromboembolism of the
      pulmonary artery].
AB  - New type cava filters were employed to prevent pulmonary artery thromboembolism
      in 12 cases. DIL cava filter was used, that represents a string made of a special
      alloy that can 'memorize' its shape. The design of this filter is in principle
      different from all the known filters, for it functions as an intraluminal filter
      and at the same time stretches the vena cava inferior, enlarging its diameter in
      the frontal plane. The DIL cava filter proved to be effective in the majority of
      cases, but if the walls of vena cava inferior were too rigid, for example, if a
      tumor grew into them, it was difficult to place the filter properly. On the whole
      this filter is characterized by a number of advantages: it can be easily
      implanted via 7 F catheter without injuring the vena cava inferior walls. No
      cases of dislocation of cava filters in relation to bone markers were noted in 9
      patients over 60 +/- 17 days.

PMID- 1441202
TI  - [X-ray and ultrasonic diagnosis of noninflammatory benign diseases of the
      gallbladder].
AB  - The author analyzes the results of x-ray (cholecystography) and ultrasonic
      examinations carried out in patients with noninflammatory benign diseases of the
      gallbladder (71 with cholesterosis and 28 with adenomyomatosis). X-ray and
      ultrasonic symptoms of these conditions are presented and the diagnostic
      potentialities of both methods in the detection of such diseases assessed. The
      author considers ultrasonic scanning the method of choice for the diagnosis of
      any forms of gallbladder cholesterosis, whereas an x-ray examination appears to
      be informative only in a polypous form of the disease. X-ray contrast examination
      is preferable for the recognition of gallbladder adenomyomatosis, for it presents
      a clear-cut pattern characteristic of each form of this condition, whereas
      ultrasonic symptoms of such involvement are nonspecific.

PMID- 1441203
TI  - [A complex x-ray endoscopic study in complicated cholelithiasis].
AB  - Recurrent or residual choledocholithiasis was diagnosed in 202 patients with a
      history of cholecystectomy, in 148 cases this condition was combined with
      papillostenosis. Transfistula extraction of the concrements and endoscopic
      papillosphyncterotomy helped achieve cure of 186 (92%) patients without
      relaparotomy. The authors discuss the role of roentgenology in such combined x
      ray and endoscopic diapedetic examinations and emphasize its role in
      identification of the diagnostic details that are so important for the choice of
      the optimal treatment strategy. They come to a conclusion that the results of
      treatment of complicated cholelithiasis by 'minor surgery' means depend not only
      on the manipulations and skills of the surgeon endoscopist, but on the full-value
      employment of roentgenology as well.

PMID- 1441204
TI  - [A standardized x-ray examination in the diagnosis of tumors of the large
      intestine].
AB  - High morbidity and mortality rates because of large intestinal carcinoma and a
      clear-cut tendency to the growth of these rates have prompted the authors to
      undertake this study. When new methods of radiodiagnosis appeared, traditional
      and highly informative methods, Ba enema among them, seemed to be forgotten. The
      authors suggest a program of standard examinations of the large intestine, based
      on simultaneous double-contrast technique, that permits an essential improvement
      of the diagnostic and economic efficacy of this one of the most prevalent methods
      of x-ray examinations. The suggested technique was used in examinations of 4120
      patients with suspected tumors of the large intestine.

PMID- 1441205
TI  - [Radiodiagnosis of kidney diseases in a municipal hospital].
AB  - Ultrasonic (US) examinations of the urinary tract of 2384 patients have revealed
      pathologic shifts in 725 cases; x-ray examinations had to be carried out in 632
      of these to specify the diagnosis. X-Ray and US-based radiodiagnosis of a wide
      spectrum of renal diseases, carried out at a common municipal hospital, promotes
      a better diagnosis. Employment of US examinations as a screening method helps
      recognize renal hypoplasia, cystic diseases, and an acute inflammatory process,
      renal carbuncle, fairly well. The diagnosis of other renal abnormalities,
      urolithiasis, hydronephrotic transformations, tumors and injuries still has to be
      specified by routine x-ray methods.

PMID- 1441206
TI  - [Computed tomography in the diagnosis of stomach cancer and the assessment of its
      spread].
AB  - CAT was carried out in 110 patients with gastric carcinoma and its findings
      compared with the intraoperative findings. CAT involved a polypositional scanning
      (depending on the tumor site) against the background of oral contrast label of
      the stomach and intestine. CAT potentialities in the diagnosis of gastric
      carcinoma, assessment of the tumor size and involvement of the adjacent organs
      and structures, detection of the metastases were studied. Use of CAT in complex
      with other methods will help choose the optimal treatment strategy and determine
      the volume of supposed surgical intervention.

PMID- 1441207
TI  - [The role of x-ray computed tomography in the topical diagnosis of insulinomas of
      the pancreatic gland].
AB  - Pancreatic insulinomas were intraoperatively revealed in 15 patients. X-ray
      computed tomography (CAT) revealed the tumor in only 6 (40 %) patients. The mean
      size of detectable insulinomas was 2.4 cm, that of undetectable ones 1.2 cm. X
      ray CAT diagnosis is facilitated in case of a superficial localization of the
      tumor on the body or tail of the gland .

PMID- 1441208
TI  - [Radiodiagnosis of adrenal gland diseases].

PMID- 1441209
TI  - [Improvement of x-ray diagnosis in stomatology].

PMID- 1441210
TI  - [Ultrasonic diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].
AB  - Analyzes the results of ultrasonic examinations of 111 patients with various
      forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Reviews ultrasonic semeiotics of non-Hodgkin's
      lymphadenopathy of the abdominal cavity and retroperitoneal space and of
      extranodal variants of lymphoma course (with involvement of the spleen and
      stomach). Suggests the most safe method for precision diagnostic aspiration
      biopsy of the spleen monitored by ultrasound. The author considers ultrasonic
      examination to be a valuable method for the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas;
      it is economic, rapid, safe, permits a simultaneous assessment of the status of
      many organs and systems. The results of ultrasonic examinations should be
      assessed in complex with the results of other diagnostic methods. Ultrasonic
      examination should be considered as a method of choice for monitoring patients
      with diagnosed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PMID- 1441211
TI  - [Radiologic methods in the diagnosis of diseases of the spleen].
AB  - Ultrasonic and computer-aided tomographic examinations of 2457 patients with
      suspected diseases of the abdominal cavity organs have revealed splenic
      involvement in 48. The sensitivity of ultrasonic technique for the detection of
      splenic diseases has made up 70.8%, that of computer-aided tomography--95.8%.
      Invasive interventions monitored by these two methods were carried out in 26
      patients; in 10 of these transcutaneous puncture drainage was carried out for
      cysts (2), hematoma (1), and abscesses of the spleen (7). In one patient with
      multiple abscesses of the spleen the drainage was found insufficient for complete
      cure and he had to be subjected to splenectomy, in the rest cases surgery did not
      have to be resorted to. Therefore, ultrasonic and computer-aided tomographic
      examinations of the spleen, used together with various invasive interventions,
      result not only in correct diagnosis and differential diagnosis of this organ's
      disease, but permit various therapeutic measures and help achieve cure without
      laparotomy.

PMID- 1441213
TI  - [The frequency of recurrences and metastases of bladder cancer following a
      radical course of radiotherapy].
AB  - The authors compare the incidence of bladder carcinoma recurrences and
      dissemination after long-distance gamma-beam therapy, carried out according to a
      traditional method, and in an accelerated hyperfractionation mode combined with
      metronidazole therapy. The recurrences were most frequently detected at the site
      of the primary tumor (62-67% of cases) in 6 to 18 months after the treatment.
      They come to a conclusion that accelerated hyperfractionation and local
      metronidazole radio-modification were conducive to a reduction of the incidence
      of recurrences from 45 to 28% as against the traditional split radiotherapy
      course in the classical fractionation mode.

PMID- 1441212
TI  - [The differential diagnosis of an abdominal aortic aneurysm and a retroperitoneal
      para-aortal hematoma].

PMID- 1441214
TI  - [Comprehensive clinical and x-ray diagnosis of shock lung in children and
      adults].

PMID- 1441215
TI  - [Cancer of the stomach--new and "old" problems of diagnosis].
AB  - The author discusses present-day potentialities of radiodiagnosis of gastric
      carcinoma. Analysis of more than 2000 case histories brings him to a conclusion
      that the problem of the detection of this condition is particularly intricate for
      two reasons: the absence of active screening for gastric carcinoma in high-risk
      groups and inadequate attention to its endophytic forms. The author's data
      evidence that intramural growth of gastric carcinoma is responsible for up to 75%
      of all its anatomic forms. So high an incidence of endophytic carcinomas of the
      stomach necessitates a combination of the x-ray and endoscopic methods in gastro
      oncology. Making use of the total scope of present-day diagnostic methods,
      including routine techniques, double-contrast examination, and, in recent years,
      x-ray computer-aided tomography and ultrasonic examinations, the author gives
      recommendations that will help solve quite a number of problems in radiodiagnosis
      of gastric carcinoma.

PMID- 1441216
TI  - The potential of molecular biology for the production of monoclonal antibodies
      derived from outbred veterinary animals.
AB  - The protein structure of immunoglobulins and the genetics on the regulation of
      immunoglobulin expression are reviewed. This basic knowledge has led to the
      development of systems to produce monoclonal antibodies in eukaryotic or
      prokaryotic cells. The potential and limitations of molecular biology for the
      understanding of immunoglobulin regulation and for the production of monoclonal
      antibodies derived from animals of veterinary importance are discussed.

PMID- 1441217
TI  - Bovine major histocompatibility complex class I specific monoclonal antibodies
      characterized by flow cytometry, one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis,
      western blot and inhibition of cytotoxic T lymphocyte function.
AB  - To identify and characterize the bovine major histocompatibility complex (MHC)
      class I molecules, a panel of 11 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were analyzed. The
      mAbs reacted with bovine MHC class I antigens, as assessed by flow cytometry and
      immunoprecipitation followed by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.
      Analysis by flow cytometry revealed that class I molecules were expressed less on
      a class I mutant B-lymphoblastoid cell line than on the parent cell line. The
      relative molecular weights of the proteins identified by these mAbs were similar
      to those reported previously for cattle and humans. Nonequilibrium pH gradient
      two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed that RH16C recognized four different
      class I gene products, indicating this mAb reacts with a conserved epitope
      present on different class I molecules. These mAbs effectively blocked cytotoxic
      T lymphocyte killing of allogeneic lymphoblasts, suggesting the functional
      importance of beta-2m in this process. These mAbs should be useful reagents for
      studying bovine MHC class I molecules.

PMID- 1441218
TI  - Sheep macrophages express at least two distinct receptors for IgG which have
      similar affinity for homologous IgG1 and IgG2.
AB  - Ovine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) may express several IgG receptor (Fc
      gamma receptor; FcR) subsets. To study this, model particles (opsonized
      erythrocytes; EA), which are selectively handled by certain FcR subsets of human
      macrophages were used in cross-inhibition studies and found to react in a similar
      manner with FcR subsets of sheep macrophages. In experiments with monoclonal
      antibodies against subsets of human FcR, human erythrocytes (E) treated with
      human anti-D-IgG (anti-D-EAhu) and sheep E treated with bovine IgG1 (Bo1-EAs)
      were handled selectively by human macrophage FcRI and FcRII, respectively. Rabbit
      IgG-coated sheep E (Rb-EAs) were recognized by FcRI, FcRII and possibly also by
      FcRIII of human macrophages. Anti-D-EAhu, Bo1-EAs and Rb-EAs were also ingested
      by sheep BMM. Competitive inhibition tests, using various homologous and
      heterologous IgG isotypes as fluid phase inhibitors and the particles used as FcR
      specific tools in man (anti-D-EAhu and Bo1-EAs), revealed a heterogeneity of FcR
      also in sheep BMM. Thus, ingestion of anti-D-EAhu by ovine BMM was inhibited by
      low concentrations of competitor IgG from rabbit or man in the fluid phase, but
      not at all by bovine IgG1, whereas ingestion of Bo1-EAs was inhibited by bovine
      IgG1. This suggested that anti-D-EAhu were recognized by a FcR subset distinct
      from that recognizing bovine-IgG1. It was concluded that sheep BMM express
      functional analogs of human macrophage FcRI and FcRII and that Bo1-EAs and anti-D
      EAhu are handled by distinct subsets of BMM FcR. All EAhu tested (EAhu treated
      with anti-D, sheep IgG1 or sheep IgG2) were ingested to a lower degree than EAs.
      This inefficient phagocytosis could be enhanced by treatment of EAhu with
      antiglobulin from the rabbit, suggesting that it is caused by a low degree of
      activity of opsonizing antibodies rather than special properties of the
      erythrocytes themselves. Several lines of evidence suggested that both FcR
      subsets of ovine BMM recognize both ovine IgG1 and IgG2. In contrast, bovine IgG1
      reacts with one FcR subset and bovine IgG2 interacts inefficiently with all FcR
      of ovine BMM.

PMID- 1441219
TI  - Development and persistence of Cowdria ruminantium specific antibodies following
      experimental infection of cattle, as detected by the indirect fluorescent
      antibody test.
AB  - Different breeds of cattle were experimentally infected with Palm River, a
      Zimbabwean isolate, or Ball-3, a South African isolate of Cowdria ruminantium,
      derived from tissue culture or tick or blood stabilates. C. ruminantium specific
      antibody responses were detected by an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT)
      using C. ruminantium-infected bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) cell cultures as
      antigen. The first detection of antibodies to C. ruminantium generally coincided
      with the peak of the febrile reaction and the antibodies remained detectable for
      a period of 8-30 weeks in the Palm River infected group and 18-30 weeks in the
      Ball-3 infected group. Peak reciprocal antibody titres in both groups ranged from
      64 to 2048 between 3 and 6 weeks post-infection. No apparent serological
      differences were observed among the various C. ruminantium isolates when tested
      in homologous and heterologous IFATs. Post-infection sera to Anaplasma marginale,
      Theileria parva parva, Babesia bigemina and Rickettsia conorii did not exhibit
      reactivity with the C. ruminantium antigen. These results indicate the possible
      use of C. ruminantium-infected cultures as antigen in IFATs to detect similar C.
      ruminantium-specific antibody responses in the field in clinically sick,
      recovered and carrier animals.

PMID- 1441220
TI  - Bovine haptoglobin: single radial immunodiffusion assay of its polymeric forms
      and dramatic rise in acute-phase sera.
AB  - Using purified bovine haptoglobin (Hp) and specific antisera, a single radial
      immunodiffusion (SRID) assay method has been developed to measure the serum Hp
      level in cattle. Bovine Hp is a highly polymerized protein showing heterogeneous
      molecular forms in serum. After treatment with cysteine or glutathione, Hp was
      partially reduced to a homogeneous form, suitable for SRID assay. This method
      gives values comparable to those obtained by hemoglobin-binding capacity assay,
      and has the advantage of being simple and convenient. Although serum Hp was not
      detectable in healthy cattle, it was found more than 50-fold after invasive
      surgery, indicating that Hp is a characteristic acute-phase protein in cattle.

PMID- 1441221
TI  - Autoimmune haemolysis in the dog: relationship between anaemia and the levels of
      red blood cell bound immunoglobulins and complement measured by an enzyme-linked
      antiglobulin test.
AB  - A direct enzyme-linked antiglobulin test (DELAT) was used to measure the levels
      of red blood cell (RBC) bound IgG, IgM, IgA and C3 in dogs with autoimmune
      haemolytic anaemia (AIHA). At presentation, one or more DELAT parameters was
      raised in each AIHA case, and the RBC were typically coated with immunoglobulin
      of more than one class, together with C3. There was no relationship between the
      levels of RBC-bound IgG, IgM or IgA and the severity of the anaemia, although a
      significant negative correlation (rs = -0.66, P < 0.02) was found between bound
      C3 and blood haemoglobin concentration. These results indicate that the level of
      sensitisation of erythrocytes with IgG alone is not a reliable predictor of the
      severity of haemolysis in different cases, and that the pathogenesis of AIHA can
      be complex, involving multiple immunoglobulin classes and complement in the
      destruction of RBC. A significant relationship (rs = 0.63, P < 0.02) was found
      between serum IgG concentration and haemoglobin levels, and it is suggested that
      this may be due to free IgG inhibiting the interaction of IgG-sensitised RBC with
      macrophages. Serial measurements from individual AIHA cases during treatment
      revealed that the levels of RBC-bound immunoglobulins fell simultaneously with
      improvements in anaemia. In one dog, a relapse was associated with increases in
      bound IgG and IgM. Transient relative reticulocytopenia at presentation was
      common, but was not related to the severity of the anaemia. However, in other
      cases there was a persistent failure to increase RBC production, which was
      associated with slower recovery.

PMID- 1441222
TI  - Identification and characterization of rat intestinal lamina propria cells:
      consequences of microbial colonization.
AB  - Germ-free (GF) animals exhibit an abnormally diminished, cell-mediated immune
      response which can be rapidly normalized by bacterial colonization of the
      intestine. This conventionalization suggests that the development and/or
      regulation of the immune system is dependent upon intestinal bacteria or their
      products. Here we consider the ontogeny of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT)
      immunocytes by isolating and characterizing the intestinal lamina propria cells
      (LPC) of GF rats responding to bacterial colonization or an irrelevant protein
      antigen, and compared to LPC of specific pathogen-free (SPF) rats which were
      conventionalized (CV) from birth. Isolation of cells was accomplished by
      successive EDTA washings of small intestine to remove the epithelium, and
      enzymatic digestion of the tissue generating single-cell suspensions. Resulting
      cell suspensions were characterized by monoclonal antibodies directed against
      leukocyte epitopes using flow cytometry. Functional characterization was measured
      by the tritiated thymidine proliferation assay with concanavalin A (Con A) and
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as co-stimulators. Germ-free and SPF rats had fewer
      total LPC than CV rats. Antibody staining revealed that GF rats had fewer total
      leukocytes than CV and SPF rats, and that CV rats had a greater percentage of T
      cells and cells positive for the C3 receptor than GF rats. Co-stimulation of LPC
      with mitogens only increased proliferation of cells from CV rats compared to GF
      and SPF rats. In addition, spleen cells from CV rats demonstrated significantly
      enhanced proliferative responses compared to spleen cells from GF rat and were
      more analogous to spleen cells from SPF rats in their ability to proliferate in
      vitro, with and without mitogens. We conclude that T-cells and CD35-positive
      (C3BR+) cells are recruited and/or proliferate in response to intestinal bacteria
      and/or their products, and that this results in the induction of immune
      competency.

PMID- 1441223
TI  - Detection of IgM rheumatoid factor in canine serum using a standardized enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay.
AB  - An ELISA measuring IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) in dog serum is presented. Dog sera
      and a human IgM RF standard, calibrated against the international World Health
      Organisation (WHO) standard, are compared. It is concluded that the human IgM RF
      standard may be used as reference serum in the canine assay, which makes it
      possible to compare results from different veterinary laboratories.

PMID- 1441224
TI  - Effect of aflatoxin B1 on in vitro production of interleukin-1 by bovine
      mononuclear phagocytes.
AB  - In this study we examined the effects of preincubation with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)
      on the ability of bovine monocytes to produce the immunological mediator
      interleukin-1 (IL-1). Monocytes preincubated for 6-24 h with 10 micrograms ml-1
      AFB1 demonstrated a diminished capacity to release IL-1 activity in response to
      bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Preincubation for less time, or with lower
      concentrations of AFB1, did not affect IL-1 release. Pretreatment of monocytes
      with AFB1 also resulted in diminished release of IL-1 activity in response to in
      vitro infection with Listeria monocytogenes. Incubation with AFB1 reduced the
      amount of IL-1 beta mRNA in LPS-stimulated bovine monocytes; however, this was
      observed only at high concentrations of AFB1 that non-specifically reduced steady
      state transcription of actin mRNA. We therefore concluded that AFB1 does not
      specifically suppress monocyte release of IL-1, other than through its general
      inhibition of mRNA transcription.

PMID- 1441225
TI  - Immunological parameters in meat-type chicken lines divergently selected by
      antibody response to Escherichia coli vaccination.
AB  - Our group has established two lines of meat-type chickens divergently selected
      for early (HC line) and late (LC line) antibody responsiveness at 10 days of age
      to immunization with inactivated pathogenic Escherichia coli bacteria. The
      question addressed in the study presented here is whether this selection has
      changed other immunological responses, increasing the overall 'early'
      immunocompetence. Broilers of the third and fourth generations (S3 and S4) of the
      selected lines (HC and LC) and a control, unselected line (CT) were vaccinated at
      10 days of age with E. coli vaccine, Newcastle virus vaccine (NDV), sheep
      erythrocytes (SRBC) or bovine serum albumin (BSA). Line-HC chicks exhibited
      higher antibody titers to E. coli, NDV and SRBC than CT or LC chicks. At 20 days
      of age HC chicks demonstrated a higher total protein and a higher beta- and gamma
      globulin levels in their serum. At 21 days of age, HC chicks cleared carbon
      particles faster than LC chicks. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from HC
      chicks vaccinated with E. coli vaccine, proliferated in vitro more actively in
      the presence of the stimulating antigen than the PBL of LC chicks. Peripheral
      blood lymphocytes (PBL) obtained from HC-line chicks exhibited a higher
      proliferative response to concanavalin A (Con A)-, phytohemagglutinin (PHA)- or
      pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-stimulation than LC PBL. These results demonstrate that
      the selection for high or low antibody response to E. coli at a young age
      resulted also in a significant change in the response of other parameters of the
      immune system. The high response to E. coli was found to be associated with a
      high antibody response to other antigens (NDV and SRBC), increased phagocytic
      activity and increased proliferative response to antigen or mitogens. The
      selection most probably affected early immunocompetence.

PMID- 1441226
TI  - C3 fixed in vivo to cornea from horses inoculated with Leptospira interrogans.
AB  - C3 was detected bound in vivo to the opaque cornea of horses inoculated with
      killed Leptospira interrogans. Employing epithelial corneal cells isolated from a
      monolayer in tissue culture, we proved that C3 is fixed in vitro to the intact
      cell surface after incubation with a fresh equine anti-Leptospira serum. These
      findings, in addition to the infiltration of cornea with neutrophils and
      lymphocytes, may explain the mechanisms of tissue damage in recurrent uveitis of
      horses with leptospirosis.

PMID- 1441227
TI  - Bovine respiratory syncytial virus-specific immune responses in cattle following
      immunization with modified-live and inactivated vaccines. Analysis of
      proliferation and secretion of lymphokines by leukocytes in vitro.
AB  - Cattle were immunized with vaccines containing modified-live or inactivated
      bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and lymphocyte proliferative responses
      and cytokine secretion were monitored sequentially. Compared to pre-inoculated
      values, significant increases in proliferative responses to modified-live BRSV
      were detectable by Day 7 after the primary immunization with the vaccine
      containing inactivated BRSV, and by 7 days after the second immunization with
      modified-live virus. After a third immunization with the respective vaccines,
      proliferative responses to live BRSV were significantly higher in the group that
      received modified-live vaccine compared to the group that received inactivated
      vaccine. Proliferative responses to live BRSV corresponded with the presence of
      interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the supernatants from BRSV-stimulated leukocyte cultures
      and there were significantly higher levels of IL-2 in cultures from the group
      that received modified-live BRSV. An interferon species with the characteristics
      of interferon-alpha was also present in the supernatants from leukocyte cultures
      and there were no significant differences between the groups of vaccines. The
      predominant phenotype of proliferating cells in BRSV-stimulated leukocyte
      cultures derived from both groups of bovine vaccines was a BoCD4+ T-lymphocyte.
      These in vitro data suggest that both types of vaccines are capable of
      stimulating cell-mediated immune responses to BRSV in cattle.

PMID- 1441228
TI  - Bovine respiratory syncytial virus-specific immune responses in cattle following
      immunization with modified-live and inactivated vaccines. Analysis of the
      specificity and activity of serum antibodies.
AB  - Cattle were immunized with vaccines containing modified-live or inactivated
      bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and serum antibody responses were
      analyzed. Compared with preinculation values, at Day 14 after two biweekly
      immunizations with modified-live or inactivated vaccines there were significant
      increases in BRSV-specific titers in the sera of cattle that received both types
      of vaccines, as determined by a whole cell ELISA. Using a blocking ELISA and
      radioimmune precipitation it was determined that there was recognition of the
      fusion (F) protein by antibodies from cattle that received both types of BRSV
      antigens: however, virus neutralization assays revealed that only cattle that
      received modified live virus, either in monovalent or polyvalent vaccines,
      developed neutralizing antibodies to BRSV after two immunizations. These results
      indicate that inactivation of BRSV can lead to a dissociation between serological
      recognition of the F protein and virus neutralization in vaccinated cattle.

PMID- 1441229
TI  - Purification and characterization of porcine C3. Studies of the biologically
      active protein and its split products.
AB  - Separation techniques for obtaining pure and biologically active swine C3 have
      been improved in this study. Using these procedures and through the further
      characterization of porcine C3, the possibilities for developing more specific
      techniques for the analysis of the complement system in swine have been improved.
      Plasma was initially treated with protease inhibitors, polyethylene glycol (PEG)
      fractionation, plasminogen-depletion and a rapid chromatographic desalting step.
      The essential fractionation was carried out by DEAE-Sephacel chromatography.
      Contaminants were removed by size-exclusion (Sepharose CL-6B)- and
      hydroxylapatite-chromatography. The final recovery reached 56% with 73% retaining
      specific hemolytic activity. The amino acid composition (98.33%), the functional
      compatibility and the secondary structure of fragments and intact protein
      indicate a high degree of homology with human C3. In contrast with the findings
      of earlier studies was the considerable immunologic cross-reactivity observed
      with human C3, and the size difference between the human and the swine C3-beta
      subunit, which was found to be 10 kDa lighter than the human analogue. The
      finding that the swine C3b/iC3b/C3c fragments do not separate from C3 by agarose
      electrophoresis, unlike the human analogues, demonstrated that this commonly used
      simple parameter for the detection of complement activation cannot be used in the
      porcine model.

PMID- 1441230
TI  - Inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation by bovine trophoblast protein-1 (type I
      trophoblast interferon) and bovine interferon-alpha I1.
AB  - Bovine trophoblast protein-1 (bTP-1) is a Type I interferon secreted by the
      bovine trophoblast from about Day 15 of pregnancy. It is not known whether bTP-1
      has functional properties in common with other interferons. The aim of the
      present study was to determine whether bTP-1 inhibits proliferation of
      lymphocytes induced by mitogens, mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC) and interleukin
      2 (IL-2) and, if so, whether this activity is similar to that of a related
      interferon, bovine interferon-alpha I1 (bIFN-alpha I1). Stimulation of lymphocyte
      proliferation caused by phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A) and
      pokeweed mitogen (PWM) was inhibited by bTP-1 and bIFN-alpha I1 without any
      reduction in cell viability. Maximum or near-maximum inhibition (less than 50%)
      was achieved at concentrations of 0.5-5.0 nM of bTP-1 and bIFN-alpha I1. Cells
      stimulated with PWM were less inhibited than cells stimulated with PHA and Con A.
      Both bTP-1 and bIFN-alpha I1 inhibited MLC to a greater degree than lectin
      stimulated cells (maximum inhibition was 78% or greater). Also, bTP-1 and bIFN
      alpha I1 slightly inhibited incorporation of [3H]thymidine ([3H]TdR) induced by
      the combination of phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), and
      calcium ionophore A23187. Finally, bTP-1 and bIFN-alpha I1 had bimodal effects on
      incorporation of [3H]TdR by IL-2-induced lymphocytes. Incorporation of [3H]TdR
      was increased at 0.005 nM and 0.05 nM concentrations while higher concentrations
      caused a slight decrease in [3H]TdR incorporation. Results confirm that bTP-1
      inhibits lymphocyte proliferation in a manner similar to that caused by the
      leukocyte-derived interferon, bIFN-alpha I1. Incomplete inhibition of mitogen
      induced proliferation and differences in degree of inhibition between various
      stimulators suggest that bTP-1 and bIFN-alpha I1 preferentially inhibit certain
      lymphocyte subpopulations. Local inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation caused by
      bTP-1 may help protect the allogeneic conceptus from immune responses to fetal
      antigens or regulate the release of cytokines from endometrial lymphocytes.

PMID- 1441232
TI  - [The scientific activities of a hospital].

PMID- 1441231
TI  - Partial purification and characterization of chicken interleukin-2.
AB  - Chicken interleukin 2 (IL-2) activity was partially purified from conditioned
      medium produced by culturing chicken splenic lymphocytes in the presence of
      concanavalin A. The purification procedure included sequential steps of gel
      filtration chromatography, reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography, and
      phenyl-sepharose chromatography. Two peaks of IL-2 activity with apparent mol.
      wt. ranges of 36-39 kD and 17.5-25 kD were eluted from the Sephadex G100 gel
      filtration column. An increase in IL-2 spec. act. from 14 U mg-1 to between 2000
      and 20,000 U mg-1 was obtained for the Sephadex G100 column peaks when subjected
      to the subsequent steps of the purification procedure. Alkylative reduction of
      the higher mol. wt. Sephadex G100 column peak (followed by re-chromatography with
      Sephadex G100), resulted in generation of the lower (17.5 kD) mol. wt. peak,
      indicating that chicken IL-2 is capable of either dimerizing or forming
      aggregates with other proteins. Elution of the lower mol. wt. IL-2 activity from
      a non-reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel demonstrated an apparent
      mol. wt. for chicken IL-2 of 20 kD, which confirmed the range of 17.5-25 kD seen
      with gel filtration.

PMID- 1441233
TI  - [The psychological training of the students of a military medicine department for
      their professional activities].

PMID- 1441234
TI  - [The characteristics of rendering qualified surgical and specialized medical care
      during the war in Vietnam].

PMID- 1441235
TI  - [Experience in treating maxillofacial wounds (based on army hospital data)].
AB  - The article analyses the treatment of 494 patients with maxillofacial wounds.
      Local anesthesia was applied in 74% of cases, and general one--in 26%. Local
      anesthesia in 55% of cases was combined with intravenous or intramuscular
      injections of meperidine that made it possible to assure the treatment of the
      vast wounds. Simultaneously with the course of surgical treatment 36 patients
      underwent a primary plastic operation. Laminated stitches were used in 38 cases.
      The bent wire splints were used to immobilize the fractured fragments of jaw.
      "Protakril" self-solidified plastics were used in 31 cases to treat gunshot
      fractures of low jaw.

PMID- 1441236
TI  - [The characteristics of rendering care to those wounded with vascular gunshot
      injuries].

PMID- 1441237
TI  - [The comparative characteristics of cranioplasty methods using biological
      materials].
AB  - Comparative results were obtained in the experiments conducted on dogs in
      cranioplasty using allogenic bones, one-piece or small-fragmentized
      brephoxenotransplants. It was found out that allogenic bones and
      brephoxenotransplants, when conserved in the solution of 0.2% of formaline and
      0.1% of gl. aldehyde, were a perfect material for cranioplasty. These materials
      ensure a reparative osteogenesis in the recipient's organism after grafting. The
      process in small-fragmentized brephoxenotransplants is more active and ensures
      the bone recuperation of the vault of skull in 1.5 years.

PMID- 1441238
TI  - [The use of intermittent medical plasmapheresis in the combined treatment of
      severe diseases and injuries at a garrison hospital].

PMID- 1441239
TI  - [The rendering of cardiac surgical care to servicemen and the members of their
      families].

PMID- 1441240
TI  - [The possibilities for using new integral indices of the human peripheral blood].
AB  - In medical examination of flight personnel two new statistic indexes of integral
      estimate of changes in peripheral blood were used: integral blood deterioration
      ratio and entropy of leukocyte blood formula. These indexes have a rather high
      sensitivity that makes it possible to determine the tendency towards pathological
      changes in the organism, even if the whole blood picture will be within
      acceptance limits.

PMID- 1441241
TI  - [The diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders in heat shock].
AB  - The article examines actual aspects of serious heat injuries in some kinds of
      military activities, and shows clinical manifestations of nervous system
      affection in thermal shock. The authors stress the importance of opportune
      diagnosis for these types of heat injuries, and describe the measures oriented to
      the correction of neurologic disorders in thermal shocks, as well as its role in
      complex treatment of this pathology.

PMID- 1441242
TI  - [Contrast viscosimetry as a current method for the determination of the severity
      of retinal damage].

PMID- 1441243
TI  - [The clinico-immunological validation of associated immunization].
AB  - Clinico-immunological studies on men were conducted using associated immunization
      by pair combinations of 8 commercial national vaccines (typhoid, plague, typhus,
      smallpox, tick-borne encephalitis, yellow-fever, cholera and sextaanatoxine). As
      for reactogenicity and immunological efficiency (serological studies), these pair
      associations can be subdivided into three main groups. The first group consists
      of pair combinations of vaccines that cannot exert any influence on
      immunogenicity of cause the development of frequent post-vaccination reaction or
      temporary disability (typhus, smallpox, tick-borne encephalitis, yellow-fever
      vaccines). These preparations are completely compatible in every combination. The
      second group includes plague and cholera vaccines that reduce its immunogenicity
      under the influence of more active antigens or increase its reactogenicity being
      associated with typhoid vaccine or sextaanatoxine. The third group is composed of
      typhoid vaccine and sextaanatoxine that have high reactogenicity and stable
      serological shifts. Associations of the first group are the most favourable for
      anti-epidemiological practice.

PMID- 1441245
TI  - [The outlook for research to improve the activities of the medical service in
      accidents and disasters (a review of the literature)].

PMID- 1441244
TI  - [The efficacy of sodium nucleinate in preventing acute respiratory infections in
      troop units].

PMID- 1441246
TI  - [The evaluation and criteria of body weight standards for servicemen].

PMID- 1441247
TI  - [The effect of a milk-processing product on body nonspecific resistance].
AB  - Laboratory experiments in rats had shown that the standard ration of the
      structural food concentrate obtained from milk processing could increase the body
      resistance of animals by 20-30%. The estimation of the influence exerted by the
      concentrate was made on the basis of hypoxic and radiobiological models. The
      authors make a conclusion that application of this concentrate for prophylaxis
      has good prospects for the future.

PMID- 1441248
TI  - [The outlook for improved medical control over the health status of the flight
      personnel in a military unit].
AB  - The article studies methodological and methodical questions for improving medical
      control (MC) over the flight personnel. The authors analyse the main components
      of MC, i.e. basic control which is built on clinicophysiological methods, and
      dynamic control which is aimed for estimation of performance characteristics in
      the process of professional activities. The authors substantiate the structure of
      the perspective computerized automated system for MC consisting of three
      functional units: terrain complex of medical operational control, on-board
      equipment for aircrew health monitoring in flight, expert and diagnosis system
      for estimation and prognostication of professional health status.

PMID- 1441249
TI  - [The reasons for divers to cease their occupational work activities].

PMID- 1441250
TI  - [A device for the active drainage of wounds and cavities in the postoperative
      period].

PMID- 1441251
TI  - [An improved fixing unit assembly for an electroroentgenographic apparatus].

PMID- 1441252
TI  - [An appliance for the x-ray diagnosis of injuries to the collateral knee joint
      ligaments].

PMID- 1441253
TI  - [A scalpel for the lancing of pharyngeal abscesses].

PMID- 1441254
TI  - [The protection and strengthening of mental health].

PMID- 1441255
TI  - [Nikolai Nikolaevich Savitskii (on the centenary of his birth)].

PMID- 1441256
TI  - [Medical service for the land forces of the USA: its organization and utilization
      principles].

PMID- 1441258
TI  - [The Central Military Medical Directorate has been transformed into the Main
      Military Medical Directorate].

PMID- 1441259
TI  - [Mobile search and rescue units].

PMID- 1441257
TI  - [The hospital ships of the naval military forces of the USA].

PMID- 1441260
TI  - [The methodology of mathematical modelling in military medicine].

PMID- 1441261
TI  - [A computer system with an "artificial intellect"].

PMID- 1441262
TI  - [The planning of the academic process and of the work organization of the
      training section of the military department in a medical institute with the use
      of programming facilities and applied program software].

PMID- 1441263
TI  - [The use of applied sorbents in the surgical management of wounds of the
      extremities].
AB  - 970 laboratory experiments, 202 chronic experiments on animals and 102 clinic
      observations were performed to study the possibilities of sorbents to enhance the
      efficiency of surgical treatment in gunshot wounds of the extremities.
      Gravimetric, climatic, morphometrical, microbiological, spectrofluorometric,
      clinical and roentgenological methods of studies were used for this matter. It
      was ascertained that the sorbent application contributed to the optimization of
      the wound process. The studies have proved the advantages of composite sorbent
      with biologically active supplements: it has a high sorption capacity, pronounced
      bacteriostatic and local-anaesthetic features.

PMID- 1441265
TI  - [Amputation of the extremities in obliterating vascular diseases].

PMID- 1441264
TI  - [A comparative study of charcoal sorbents for local wound treatment].
AB  - The laboratory and medico-biological findings made it possible to choose the most
      suitable carbonaceous sorbents for local management of wounds, basing on the fact
      that every carbonaceous material has strictly selected capacity for protein and
      microbe sorption, and also can be the carrier of the water-miscible drugs. The
      "Dnieper-MN" carbonaceous fabric and "Aktilen" fibrous sorbent have the best
      features for sorption. It is possible to use these materials for the construction
      of bandages to treat wounds and burns which have little exudation. "Karpema" and
      "AUTM-2" sorbents, which are characterized by the low degree of activation, can
      be used for the manufacturing of surgical pads. "Karpema" being strong and having
      a less fiber structure, has a good electrical conductivity and, thus, can be used
      as medical electrodes.

PMID- 1441266
TI  - [Hemoperfusion via a xenogenic spleen in the combined treatment of surgical burn
      sepsis].

PMID- 1441267
TI  - [The combined therapy of chronic pyoderma taking into account body immunological
      reactivity and staphylococcal antibiotic resistance].
AB  - Summarizing the results of treatment in 23 patients the authors propose an
      effective two-staged method to treat chronic pyoderma. This method is based on
      administration of synthetic peptide of thymus--"thymogen", which is used to
      correct the immune status and increase sensitivity of staphylococci to
      antibiotics at the zones of cutaneous affection. The second stage of this method
      consists in administration of antibiotics in combination with stimulators of
      phagocytosis and humoral immunity. The results prove the high efficiency of
      thymogen application in complex management of chronic pyoderma: up to 73.9% of
      clinic recoveries.

PMID- 1441268
TI  - [Body immunocorrection when vaccination is contraindicated (a clinico
      epidemiological validation)].
AB  - The article summarizes the results of epidemiological observation which was
      performed in one of the training units. The goals of this observation were to
      estimate the prophylactic efficiency of the selected application of Natrii
      nucleinas in persons with the lowered immunoresistance on the background of
      antigrip immunization. A high clinico-epidemiological effectiveness ws approved
      for 10-days administration of the Natrii nucleinas in persons with clinic
      manifestations of grip and other respiratory infections at the moment of
      vaccination. It is resulted in the diminishing of the morbidity index, duration
      and gravity of this pathology in the postvaccinal period. The administration of
      Natrii nucleinas was experimentally substantiated during this epidemiological
      observation.

PMID- 1441269
TI  - [Diagnostic difficulties in pulmonary tuberculosis].
AB  - The pronounced pathomorphosis complicates the diagnosis of pulmonary
      tuberculosis, especially with round growths in lungs. In the author's opinion the
      reasons that lead to the errors in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis are
      the following: as a rule, the diagnosis is made only on the basis of clinico
      roentgenological data; lack of oncological anxiety; overestimation of trial
      chemotherapy by means of tuberculostatic medications. In cases of the
      indeterminate diagnosis it is recommended to arrive at the decision on operation
      within the shortest possible time.

PMID- 1441270
TI  - [Methodological and methodical problems in the system of the organization of
      troop health and hygiene support].

PMID- 1441271
TI  - [The basic trends in health protection and rehabilitation for international
      troops (the Committee on International Troop Affairs of the Council of the Heads
      of Government of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States)].

PMID- 1441272
TI  - [The developmental outlook for epidemiological health surveillance in the Armed
      Forces].

PMID- 1441273
TI  - [Pharmacological agents for stimulating the work capacity of flight personnel
      under stressful duties].

PMID- 1441274
TI  - [An experimental and clinical validation of the use of sorption materials in
      treating infected wounds].

PMID- 1441275
TI  - [Scleroplastic operations as a method of preventing the progression of limited
      degrees of myopia].

PMID- 1441276
TI  - [Eye lesions from the components of a regenerative substance].

PMID- 1441277
TI  - [The use of soft contact lenses in eye injuries and diseases].

PMID- 1441278
TI  - [The dynamics of the thyroid functional indices in adaptation to military
      service].

PMID- 1441279
TI  - [To publish by imperial edict (on the 170th anniversary of the Voenno
      meditsinskii zhurnal)].

PMID- 1441280
TI  - [Boris Konstantinovich Leonardov (on the centenary of his birth)].

PMID- 1441281
TI  - [At the sources of the birth of sanitary chemical defense].

PMID- 1441282
TI  - [The visit of a medical delegation of the Combined Armed Forces of the CIS to
      Switzerland].

PMID- 1441283
TI  - [Glycosaminoglycans in syrinogomyelia].
AB  - Excretion of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) with urine was 2.7-fold decreased in
      patients with syringomyelia as compared with healthy persons. Patterns of GAG
      decreased excretion are genetically determined and inherited as dominant
      features. Content of GAG was decreased in the patients skin, cerebrospinal fluid
      and brain by 30%, 40% and 20-40%, respectively; content of GAG was increased by
      80% in spinal cord where the pathological process was localized. The data
      obtained suggest that considerable impairment of connective tissue metabolism
      occurred in syringomyelia.

PMID- 1441284
TI  - [Isolation and physico-chemical characteristics of ceruloplasmin obtained from
      murine serum].
AB  - Ceruloplasmin was isolated from mice blood serum by means of ion exchange
      chromatography and gel filtration. Its content in blood was equal to 10-12 mg/100
      ml, oxidase activity--9-12 U/mg of protein at E440, molecular mass--161.3 +/- 5.8
      kDa. Properties of mice ceruloplasmin were studied as compared with the human and
      rat glycoprotein, isolated using the similar procedure.

PMID- 1441285
TI  - [Proteolytic mechanisms in bronchial secretions in rats with bronchial
      anaphylaxis].
AB  - Serine elastase-like proteinase was isolated from rat bronchial secretion,
      activity of which was increased 2-fold in bronchial anaphylaxis. Effect of
      histamine, serotonin and hydrocortisone on the enzymatic activity was studied.
      Regulation of the enzyme activity in bronchial anaphylaxis was considered with
      relation to patterns of its metabolism as well as depending on efficiency of
      specific endogenous inhibitor of the proteinase. A procedure for histamine
      stimulation of alkaline proteinase was developed.

PMID- 1441286
TI  - [Biochemistry of fructose-2,6-biphosphate--a regulator of carbohydrate
      metabolism].

PMID- 1441287
TI  - [Use of the magnitude of vitamin and vitamin metabolite excretion as indicators
      of availability of vitamins B2, B6, and niacin].
AB  - Alimentary deficiency of riboflavin in rats caused a decrease in excretion of
      vitamin B2 with urine simultaneously with lowering in daily excretion of 4
      pyridoxylic acid (4-PA) and N1-methyl nicotinamide (N1-MNA); these patterns are
      usually used as indicators of pyridoxine and niacin availability. The similar
      decrease in excretion of 4-PA and N1-MNA with urine but without alterations in
      NAD+NADP concentrations in erythrocytes was detected in women deficient in
      vitamin B2. Content of nicotinamide coenzymes in erythrocytes correlated with
      excretion of N1-MNA with urine only under normal conditions of riboflavin
      availability. Use of the criteria involving rates of 4-PA and N1-MNA excretion
      for evaluation of pyridoxine and niacin deficiency is discussed.

PMID- 1441288
TI  - [Stomach mucosa prostaglandins in liver cirrhosis].
AB  - Distinct decrease in content of prostaglandins PGE, PGF2 alpha and 6-keto-PGF1
      alpha was detected in biopsy material, using radioimmunoassay, from gastric
      mucosal membrane of patients with liver tissue cirrhosis complicated and not
      complicated by ulcerous disease of stomach or duodenum which correlated with a
      decrease in secretion of gastric juice (basal and histamine-stimulated
      secretion). These data suggest considerable impairments of endogenous
      biosynthesis of prostaglandins in gastric mucosal membrane under conditions of
      liver tissue cirrhosis, which are of importance in development of ulcerous
      disease in these patients.

PMID- 1441289
TI  - [Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in peripheral human lung tissue: binding
      characteristics of 3H-quinuclidinyl-benzilate in malignancies].
AB  - Binding of muscarinic receptors antagonist 3H-quinuclidinyl benzylate (3H-QNB)
      was studied in human peripheral lung tissue, obtained after resection of
      pulmonary carcinoma and partial resection of tuberculoma from surrounding normal
      tissues (control group). Radioligand binding assays showed that binding of 3H-QNB
      in lung parenchyma membranes of both normal, healthy persons and patients with
      cancer was saturable with high rate of affinity. Saturation occurred at 1 nm
      concentration of the ligand. The Scatchard plot analysis indicated that the high
      affinity binding site exhibited the following parameters: Kd = 0.33 nm, Bmax =
      164.8 fmol/mg in the group of controls: and Kd = 0.63 nm, Bmax = 401.5 fmol/mg in
      the group of patients with cancer. Maximal amount of 3H-QNB binding sites was
      distinctly increased in malignization of peripheral lung tissue. The results
      obtained suggest that increase in concentration of 3H-QNB binding sites may be
      among the specific patterns of malignant growth in lung peripheral tissue.

PMID- 1441290
TI  - [Effect of cryoconservation of platelets on polyamine level and cathepsin D
      activity].
AB  - Alterations in activity of cathepsin D as well as in content of polyamines
      spermine, spermidine, x-fraction (apparently, acetyl spermidine) and putrescine
      were studied in blood platelets depending on conditions of conservation. The
      enzyme activity and content of polyamines correlated directly with duration of
      the cell concentrates storage. Cathepsin D and polyamines appear to be involved
      in responses to stress adaptation.

PMID- 1441292
TI  - [Interaction of heparin with defensin, a nonenzymatic cationic protein from
      neutrophils].
AB  - Heparin was shown to form complexes with cation non-enzymatic protein defensin
      from neutrophils. The complex obtained in vitro did not affect the
      anticoagulation and fibrinolytic properties of blood, whereas defensin decreased
      the content of heparin, rates of non-enzymatic fibrinolysis and total
      fibrinolytic activity while heparin stimulated the anticoagulation activity of
      blood plasma. Interaction of heparin with defensin appears to be involved in
      protective mechanism responsible for neutralization of both the heparin
      anticoagulation activity and the defensin properties related to inhibition of
      nonenzymatic fibrinolysis.

PMID- 1441291
TI  - [Antioxidants, lipid peroxidation, and receptor-dependent increase in Ca2+
      concentration in human platelets].
AB  - Content of tocopherol and total antiradical activity of hydrophobic antioxidants
      were estimated in human blood platelets. Two hydrophobic antioxidants--tocopherol
      and ubiquinone were detected in hexane extracts of thrombocytes using thin-layer
      chromatography. After incubation of thrombocytes with N-ethyl maleimide content
      of malonyl dialdehyde was increased and of tocopherol--decreased, receptor
      dependent increase of Ca2+ concentration in cytoplasm was potentiated, while the
      Ca(2+)-blocking effect of nitroglycerol was decreased. Nitroglycerol did not
      inhibit the N-ethyl maleimide effect on content of malonyl dialdehyde in blood
      platelets. Addition of exogenous vitamin E to thrombocytes did not affect the
      receptor-dependent increase of Ca2+ concentration. Ascorbic acid inhibited the
      receptor-dependent increase of Ca2+ concentration. The data obtained suggest that
      nitrates may be used more rationally in combination with antioxidants and/or
      inhibitors of cyclooxygenase.

PMID- 1441293
TI  - [Structure-activity determination of physiological reactions of vasopressin and
      its analogs on the hemostasis system].
AB  - Effects of vasopressin, its C-terminal fragments and derivatives on the system of
      hemostasis were studied in rats. Modification of amino acid sequence in
      vasopressin molecule led to distinct alterations in main peptide properties.
      Presence of ring structure in the peptide molecule appears to be obligatory to
      increase the content of factor VIII in blood, while absence of glycine in side
      chain caused a decrease in the rate of fibrinolysis and in activity of
      plasminogen activators.

PMID- 1441294
TI  - [Thrombolytic effect of urokinase upon various methods of administration into the
      body].
AB  - A preparation of urokinase, obtained from human kidney cell culture, was
      administered into rats at a single dose of 5,000-10,000 U/200 g of body mass in a
      variety of ways using intravenous, intraperitoneal and subcutaneous inoculations.
      After intraperitoneal and subcutaneous administrations an increase of
      fibrinolytic activity in blood was more long-term although less distinct; the
      phase of reactive hypercoagulation was only slightly detected within 24 hrs after
      these procedures. Thrombin-produced provocation of thrombosis led to a lesser
      ratio of death in these animals as compared with the animals group administered
      intravenously. However, thrombolytic effect of similar doses of urokinase was the
      highest in intravenous administration. The fibrinolytic activity correlated well
      with content of the antigen (enzyme) in blood but not with the antiplasmin
      content in all the procedures used.

PMID- 1441295
TI  - [Structural components and activity of erythrocyte membrane ATPase from albino
      male rats under the effect of noise and simultaneous treatment with the synthetic
      antioxidant 3,5-ditertbutyl-4-hydroxyphenylpropanol (gamma-propanol)].
AB  - Repeated administration of synthetic antioxidant gamma-propanol, 3,5-ditertbutyl
      4-hydroxyphenyl propanol, into rats under conditions of acoustic noise led to
      increase in content of phospholipids, to decrease in cholesterol level
      simultaneously with inhibition of ATPase activity in erythrocyte membranes. The
      initial hypocholesterolemic effect of gamma-propanol under conditions of acute
      acoustic stress was replaced by hypercholesterolemia in long-term experiments
      within more than 4 weeks.

PMID- 1441296
TI  - [Participation of protein C in reaction of the anti-coagulant system to
      intravenous administration of thrombin and thromboplastin to rats].
AB  - Dynamics of protein C concentration was studied in rat blood after administration
      of thrombin and thromboplastin. Administration of 0.5 ml 1% thromboplastin caused
      fast decrease of protein C concentration, down to 60% of the initial level,
      within 3 min, while activity of factor V reached the minimal rate (30%) within 5
      min. Content of protein C returned to the initial level in blood within 2-2.5 hrs
      and of factor V--within 6 hrs. After administration of thrombin 3 NIH in content
      of protein C was decreased to 91.3% whereas heparin was released only after
      injection of 6 NIH. The data obtained suggest that the protein C system responded
      earlier to occurrence of thrombin in circulation as compared with the
      neurohumoral regulators of the anticoagulation system; the protein C system is
      one of primary mechanisms of the antithrombosis defence.

PMID- 1441298
TI  - [Features of lipid metabolism impairment in chronic alcoholic intoxication].
AB  - Long-term administration of ethanol into animals within 1-6 months resulted in
      distinct alterations of blood serum fatty acid composition as well as in
      elevation of the saturation rate simultaneously with a decrease of fatty acid
      polyunsaturation. Calculated coefficients, which included ratios between fatty
      acid with various rates of unsaturation, were highly informative. Alterations of
      fatty acid composition in blood serum, registered during observations, reflected
      the state of fatty acid metabolism in tissues. Analysis of fatty acid spectrum in
      blood serum enabled to evaluate the severity of impairments in liver tissue and
      pancreas under conditions of alcohol intoxication: increase in the rate of
      phospholipid catabolism, in content of cholesterol, triglycerides and total
      lipids was observed both in blood serum and liver tissue. These impairments of
      lipid metabolism may produce alcohol hepatitis, which is the basis for liver
      tissue alcohol cirrhosis.

PMID- 1441297
TI  - [Phenomenon of adapted stabilization of structures and the role of heat shock
      proteins in its mechanism].
AB  - Mechanisms, responsible for distinct increase in rat heart tissue resistance to
      reperfusion paradox and toxic concentrations of catecholamines and Ca2+, were
      developed in the heart after repeated stress actions. Sarcoplasmic reticulum and
      mitochondria isolated from heart cells of adapted animals were highly resistant
      to autolysis, while nuclei--to the impairing effect of single-strand exogenous
      DNA. These alterations were designed as a phenomenon of adaptive stabilization of
      structures (PhASS). Accumulation of heat shock proteins was found to be of
      importance in mechanisms of PhASS. Development of PhASS was accompanied by an
      increase in resistance of myocardium to ischemic necrosis.

PMID- 1441299
TI  - [Preparation and use of an affinity sorbent containing phenylboric acid, for
      separation and quantitative determination of glycated hemoglobin].
AB  - m-Aminophenylboric acid, attached to epoxy-activated diasorb, developed a highly
      effective sorbent intended to separation and quantitative estimation of glycated
      hemoglobin. The procedure developed is reproducible, fast and may be used in mass
      scale examination of people for occult diabetes. Temperature and pH of buffers
      used did not affect significantly the data obtained.

PMID- 1441300
TI  - [Catalytic properties of induced L-lysine-alpha-oxidase].
AB  - Regulation of biosynthesis of L-lysine-alpha-oxidase from Trichoderma sp using
      biostimulators was studied. Specific activity of L-lysine-alpha-oxidase was
      increased 2.7-fold in presence of biostimulators; this occurred due to induction
      of the enzyme, properties of which were described previously. Catalytic and
      physico-chemical properties of the enzyme studied were not altered after addition
      of stimulators into the cultivation medium of the producing strain. Small amounts
      of L-lysine-alpha-oxidase isozyme were detected in the medium during cultivation;
      the isozyme was less active and had lower molecular mass as compared with the
      enzyme studied.

PMID- 1441301
TI  - Repeat plateletpheresis: the effects on the donor and the yield.
AB  - Requirements for HLA ot otherwise matched single-donor platelets may sometimes
      require repeat plateletpheresis of an individual donor. AABB standards permit the
      repeat collection of platelets by plateletpheresis of a single donor at 48-hour
      intervals, whereas recent recommendations from England state that a donor should
      not donate platelets more often than 12 times a year. To assess the effects of
      repeat plateletpheresis on the donor, we have studied the hematological indices
      and the product yields following every other day plateletpheresis of 13 normal
      donors who gave a total of 10 times during 22 days. The platelet count decreased
      in every case, with the lowest values reached at the third donation (day 5). The
      pre-donation count averaged 225 +/- 53 x 10(9)/l decreasing to 174 +/- 27 x
      10(9)/l at the time of the 3rd donation then increasing by the 6th donation to
      198 +/- 46 x 10(9)/l. The yield in the product decreased from 3.2 +/- 1.3 x
      10(11) on day 1 to 2.6 +/- 0.8 x 10(11) for the third donation, returning
      thereafter to higher values. In spite of the expected and apparent stimulation of
      platelet production through feedback, the counts did not rebound above starting
      levels indicating a basic homeostatic mechanism. The donor WBC showed minimal
      changes during the study period, however there was a significant increase in the
      total number of lymphocytes by the 3rd procedure; this was corrected by the fifth
      procedure. The absolute number and ratio of T4 (helper) and T8 (suppressor)
      lymphocytes did not change.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1441302
TI  - Correlation between anti-HBc titers and HBV DNA in blood units without detectable
      HBsAg.
AB  - Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was tested for in 294 blood units which had antibody
      against hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) as the isolated serological marker of
      HBV infection. After amplification by polymerase chain reaction, HBV DNA was
      detected in 12 (6.9%) of 175 units that were positive for anti-HBc with
      hemagglutination inhibition titers greater than or equal to 2(6), significantly
      more often than in none of 119 units with titers less than or equal to 2(5) (p
      less than 0.01). These results indicate that the exclusion of blood units with
      isolated high-titer anti-HBc would be effective for further decreasing the risk
      of posttransfusion hepatitis B.

PMID- 1441303
TI  - Diversity of human anti-D monoclonal antibodies revealed by reactions with
      chimpanzee red blood cells.
AB  - Fifty-three human anti-D monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) revealed a striking
      diversity of reactions in tests with panels of chimpanzee red blood cells (RBCs)
      of various R-C-E-F blood group phenotypes (counterparts of the human Rh-Hr
      groups). The reactivities of these antibodies, which depended on the
      agglutination technique used, could be classified into four main types. These
      patterns of reactivity of anti-D mAbs with chimpanzee RBCs showed only limited
      correlation with types of reactions observed with human D variant RBCs. Primate
      red cells may, therefore, constitute an independent test system for
      subclassification of human monoclonal antibodies. Comparison of reactivities of
      human anti-D mAbs with chimpanzee and human D variant RBCs confirms the homology
      between the chimpanzee Rc, and the human D antigens. The chimpanzee Rc shares
      with human D the epitopes epD5, epD6/7 and epD8, but lacks epitopes epD1, epD2,
      epD3 and epD4 of the Rh mosaic, thus resembling the human D variants IVb and Vc.

PMID- 1441304
TI  - Thrombocytopenia due to platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa-reactive autoantibodies
      non-reactive with platelets from EDTA blood.
AB  - We describe 2 patients with thrombocytopenia and autoantibodies in the blood
      against platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa, in whom reactivity of the
      antibodies with their antigen was greatly diminished in the presence of sodium
      EDTA. One patient also showed a marked thrombocytopathy, suggesting a functional
      blocking of GP IIb/IIIa by these autoantibodies. These observations show that
      some immunologically important autoantibodies can easily be missed in routine
      serological investigations in which EDTA blood is used, obscuring the autoimmune
      nature of a thrombocytopenia and possibly of a thrombopathy as well.

PMID- 1441305
TI  - TSEN: a novel MNS-related blood group antigen.
AB  - We report an antibody (anti-TSEN) that recognizes an antigen (TSEN) at the unique
      amino acid sequence that results from the junction of GPA58 to GPB27 if the GPB
      carries the S antigen. Red cells from several unrelated donors that possess this
      specific GP(A-B) hybrid molecule were agglutinated by anti-TSEN. Since a
      synthetic peptide with the amino acid sequence at this junction (Pro-Glu-Glu-Glu
      Thr-Gly-Glu-Met-Gly-Gln-Leu-Val-His-Arg) specifically inhibited anti-TSEN, it
      must detect an antigen within this novel amino acid sequence. The TSEN antigen
      has been provisionally assigned the MNS blood group system number 002.033 on
      behalf of the ISBT Working Party on Terminology for Red Cell Surface Antigens.

PMID- 1441306
TI  - MINY: a novel MNS-related blood group antigen.
AB  - We report an antibody (anti-MINY) that recognises a novel low-incidence MNS
      related blood group antigen. Anti-MINY agglutinates all Hil-positive red cells
      tested (Mi.III, Mi.V, Mi.VI, GP.Kipp, GP.Mor and AG) and Hil-negative TSEN
      positive red cells (Mi.IV, JR, JL, Oca. and Rag.). All MINY-positive red cells
      possess glycophorin A-B hybrid molecules. The MINY antigen occurs at the unique
      amino acid sequence which results from the junction of glycophorin A58 to
      glycophorin B27 regardless of whether the glycophorin B gene encodes methionine
      or threonine at amino acid residue 29 of normal glycophorin B. The MINY antigen
      has been provisionally assigned the MNS blood group system number 002.034 on
      behalf of the ISBT Working Party on Terminology for Red Cell Surface Antigens.

PMID- 1441307
TI  - Autologous blood donation by patients with cardiovascular disease.

PMID- 1441308
TI  - Autologous blood transfusion in thoracic surgery: a survey of 667 patients.

PMID- 1441309
TI  - Cell age characterization of erythrocytes in the buffy coat.

PMID- 1441310
TI  - Safety of the antibody screening test as the sole method of pretransfusion
      testing.

PMID- 1441311
TI  - Nomenclature for factors of the HLA system, 1991.

PMID- 1441312
TI  - Prevalence and classification of anemia in elective orthopedic surgery patients:
      implications for blood conservation programs.
AB  - We audited 281 consecutive orthopedic patients scheduled for surgery for whom
      blood type/cross-matching was requested over a 6-month period. One hundred and
      sixty-two patients predonated autologous blood at University Hospitals of
      Cleveland, and 34 (21%) of these were anemic [hematocrit (Hct) less than or equal
      to 39%] at initial donation. Twelve (35%) of these 34 anemic autologous blood
      donors subsequently received homologous blood. In contrast, 18 (15%) of 128
      nonanemic autologous blood donors received homologous blood (p = 0.05). In 119
      patients who did not donate autologous blood, 39 (33%) were anemic at admission.
      Of these, 22 (56%) received homologous blood. In the 80 remaining nonanemic
      patients, 33 (41%) received homologous blood (p = 0.119). Analysis of discharge
      Hct indicates that 31 (12%) of 263 evaluable patients were possibly transfused
      inappropriately. The anemias of a cohort of 30 autologous donors were analyzed: 5
      had rheumatoid arthritis without iron deficiency. Nine (30%) others had evidence
      of iron deficiency. Sixteen (53%) had an unclassified anemia of chronic disease.
      We conclude: (1) the high rates of homologous blood exposure indicate a need for
      innovative blood conservation strategies in anemic autologous blood donors; (2)
      the prevalence of anemia and the high rates of homologous blood exposure in
      anemic patients who did not donate autologous blood demonstrate a need for early
      recognition and treatment in order to procure autologous blood and reduce
      homologous blood exposure; (3) the presence of inappropriate autologous and
      homologous transfusions demonstrates a need for more effective physician
      education programs that emphasize 'no blood transfusion' as an alternative to
      enhance blood conservation effectiveness.

PMID- 1441313
TI  - Autologous blood donation in nonorthopaedic surgical procedures as a blood
      conservation strategy.
AB  - Autologous blood donation in many nonorthopaedic procedures is controversial. Our
      study of 408 consecutive such procedures could be divided into two groups. In
      group I, the anticipated probability for homologous blood transfusion was very
      low (less than 5%): vaginal hysterectomy and miscellaneous gynecologic
      procedures, obstetrical delivery, mammoplasty and cholecystectomy. In group II,
      the anticipated probability for homologous blood transfusion was high (greater
      than 5%): open heart and vascular surgery, neurosurgery, mastectomy, abdominal
      and radical hysterectomy, and extensive urologic procedures. We conclude that for
      procedures in which the blood transfusion probability is very low, autologous
      blood donation should not be encouraged; this practice should be promoted in
      procedures in which the blood transfusion probability is 'high' (i.e. greater
      than 5%), with emphasis on maximizing autologous blood collection in order to
      minimize homologous blood transfusion.

PMID- 1441314
TI  - [Acetylsalicylic acid ultraphonophoresis in the treatment of the pain syndrome in
      patients with lumbar osteochondrosis].
AB  - Data are reported of an experimental-clinical substantiation and therapeutic use
      of acetylsalicylic acid ultraphonophoresis of pain syndromes of radicular and
      reflex genesis in 144 patients with lumbar osteochondrosis. Improvement was noted
      in 57.3% in severe pain, 31.2% in moderate pain, and 75% in mild pain. Aspirin
      ultraphonophoresis was effective in pain syndrome of radicular genesis in 71% of
      cases and in 60.5% of reflex genesis.

PMID- 1441315
TI  - [Experience with the compulsory treatment of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis
      and alcoholism].
AB  - Patients with alcoholism and tuberculosis suffer most frequently of alcoholism
      stage II. Tuberculosis effects unfavourably the course of alcoholism. Most
      frequently acute alcohol psychoses appear in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis
      showing a severe and prolonged course. Alcoholism effects the process of
      treatment of tuberculosis: healing of cavernosis is noted in 9.8%, abacillation-
      in 11.5%. Compulsory treatment of patients with alcoholism and tuberculosis
      should be carried out in large antitubercular clinics with special wards for
      these purposes. Decisions should be made by courts. In narcological clinics
      special wards for the treatment of the above mentioned patients should be singled
      out.

PMID- 1441316
TI  - [The characteristics of the initial period of alcohol consumption in men with
      venereal diseases of the urogenital system].
AB  - Results indicate that the average age of first consumption of alcohol by
      juveniles is in direct and to a certain degree in "competent" dependence on some
      external parameters: education, family position and oth. Early alcohol "start"
      produces the most negative effect on the subsequent low professional-social
      status and also on the progression of alcoholism an essentially "enhances" their
      admission to venereal clinics for specific diseases of the urogenital system.

PMID- 1441317
TI  - [Phytotherapy in rheumatology (a review of the literature)].

PMID- 1441318
TI  - [Syncopes: their classification, clinical picture and treatment (a lecture)].

PMID- 1441319
TI  - [The differentiated phytotherapy of patients with duodenal peptic ulcer].
AB  - Resulted are analysed of complex treatment of 103 patients with duodenal ulcer.
      Infusions and concoctions of medicinal plants were used. The regimen of
      administration and composition of the cocktail from herbs depended on the
      character of gastric secretion and dyskinesia of the gastroduodenal zone as well
      as on the presence of concomitant diseases; cholecystitis, gastritis, hepatitis,
      pancreatitis, enterocolitis. Intragastric drip administration of the concoctions
      and infusions of medicinal plants favour scarring of duodenal ulcers and
      reduction of the number and duration of recurrences.

PMID- 1441320
TI  - [Modern principles in designing models of a healthy life style].

PMID- 1441321
TI  - [Factors that facilitate the infection of medical workers with viral hepatitis
      B].
AB  - The author analyzes of 180 physicians, nurses, laboratory workers, technicians,
      carriers of HB A, revealed by radioimmunoassay and a control group of non
      carriers. Different factors are discussed favouring viral hepatitis B, namely,
      donorship, minor traumas, rubber gloves as a means of protection, instruments,
      syringes, needles, inadequate provision with washing and disinfection means.
      Knowledge of data on the real hazards of viral hepatitis B infection among the
      medical personnel is of major importance.

PMID- 1441322
TI  - [Immune anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa blood preparations (a review of the
      literature)].

PMID- 1441323
TI  - [The dynamics of the general morbidity of the population of Belarus before and
      after the accident at the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station (1985-1989)].

PMID- 1441324
TI  - [Humoral immunity in young hypertension patients].
AB  - The state of humoral immunity was investigated in 72 young-age patients suffering
      of hypertensive disease. It was established that there occurred an increase of
      the level of immunoglobins, circulating immune complexes and antibodies to
      lipoproteids of low density in hypertensive disease. This indicates the
      importance of immunological changes in the pathogenesis of hypertensive disease.

PMID- 1441325
TI  - [Laser endovascular recanalization (a review of the literature)].

PMID- 1441326
TI  - [The optimization of the hypotensive therapy of hypertension patients taking into
      account the central hemodynamics and functional tests with obzidan and prazosin].
AB  - A study of 52 patients with hypertensive disease (grade II, age--from 30 to 50
      years; men--32, women--24) using functional tests with physical loads revealed
      that pronounced hemodynamic changes were seen in patients with the hyperkinetic
      type of hemodynamics. Obsidan and prazosin reduced the degree of responses to
      physical loads, economy of energy expenses, increased tolerance to physical work.
      Association of pharmacological tests with functional physical loads in patients
      with hypertensive disease allows to realize selection of hypotensive drugs
      depending on the hemodynamic variant of the course of the pathological process
      and evaluate the adequacy of dosages for treatment courses.

PMID- 1441327
TI  - [The attitude of rheumatoid arthritis patients before treatment: social
      psychological research].
AB  - The authors developed a special questionnaire for examination of the attitude of
      patients to different procedures, methods of treatment, diet, attitude to
      different levels of medical services, self-treatment. An anonymous study of 125
      patients with rheumatoid arthritis was carried out. Many respondents were not
      satisfied with organization of the treatment, in particular, the outpatient
      variant. The causes of inadequate treatment and ways for treatment improvement
      are discussed.

PMID- 1441328
TI  - [The efficacy of treating peptic ulcer patients with trichopol and dalargin].
AB  - A study of 90 patients with endoscopically proved duodenal ulcer revealed that
      dalargin and trichopol+dalargin treatment resulted in early scarring of the ulcer
      and control of gastroesophageal and duodenogastric reflux in the majority of
      patients. Gastroduodenitis symptoms were not eliminated in a half of all
      patients. It was shown that persistent manifestations of gastroduodenitis
      remained in patients with a pronounced pyloric helicobacteriosis and a high titer
      of antibodies to cells of the gastric mucosa.

PMID- 1441329
TI  - [New tableted protein products in the treatment of peptic ulcer patients and the
      dynamic indices of the glutathione system].
AB  - The authors investigated the content of reduced glutathione, activity of
      glutathione peroxidase, glutathione transferase, glutathione reductase, glucoso-6
      phosphate dehydrogenase in the liver tissue, gastric mucosa of rats with
      experimental ulcer and in the blood of patients with gastric and duodenal ulcer
      in the course of treatment using new protein tableted products. Experimental
      investigations were conducted on 96 white rats, clinical studies in 128 patients
      and 59 healthy persons. It was shown that high therapeutic efficiency of these
      new tableted products, their normalizing effects on the glutathione system
      indices are important.

PMID- 1441330
TI  - [The radiodiagnosis of the indicators of pancreatic cancer].
AB  - For suspicion of pancreatic cancer 84 patients were subjected to ultrasonic
      examination, computerized tomography, x-ray of the stomach and duodenum and as
      indicated endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and percutaneous
      transhepatic cholangiography combined with external cholangiostomy. The
      semeiotics of cancer of the pancreas was evaluated on the basis of radiation
      methods. Practical recommendations on the diagnosis and scope of surgical
      treatment as assessed preoperatively are given.

PMID- 1441331
TI  - [The functional-morphological changes in the kidney and ureter of patients with
      congenital ureterohydronephrosis].
AB  - Complex methods were used to examine 80 patients with congenital
      ureterohydronephrosis due to obstruction of the juxtavesical portion of the
      ureter. It was established that at different stages of the disease the ureteral
      wall develops intravascular, proper vascular and extravascular disorders, of the
      hemomicrocirculation and disorders of tissue trophics accompanied by functional
      changes in the kidney and ureter.

PMID- 1441332
TI  - [Changes in the complement system in acute streptococcal infection].
AB  - Results are reported of a study of relationship of complement level, unspecific
      adaptative reactions, number of circulating immune complexes and some cellular
      parameters of the immunogram in patients with different forms of streptococcal
      infection. Different changes were found in acute and chronic forms of the
      disease. The possible mechanisms of development of these disorders are discussed.

PMID- 1441333
TI  - [A structural analysis of hemato-encephalic barrier function in bacterial
      meningoencephalitis].
AB  - A correlation analysis of the content of metals in the cerebrospinal fluid in 70
      patients with bacterial meningoencephalitis showed that an increase of
      permeability of microvessel walls for macro- and microelements is accompanied by
      a reduction of the regulating activity of barrier structures. Pathomorphological
      examination of the brain by the method of scanning electron microscopy revealed
      structural changes of the microvessel walls as the basis of disorders of the
      barrier-transport function.

PMID- 1441334
TI  - [The sterility of blood products manufactured in Ukraine].
AB  - The author reports results of examination for sterility of 3100 series (7343
      samples) of hemocorrectors that were received for State control from zonal blood
      transfusion stations in the Ukraine from 1987 through 1990. Four of them proved
      non-sterile. Strict surveillance for aseptics and antiseptics at all stages of
      the technological process will ensure sterility of all hemotransfusion media
      obtained from the blood transfusion services.

PMID- 1441335
TI  - [The significance of beta 2-microglobulin for the diagnosis of preleukemic states
      in workers of the chemical industry].
AB  - A study is presented of 89 workers contacting with benzene and its derivatives
      and 98 workers without contacts with chemical substances. Radioimmunological
      assay of peripheral blood B2-microglobulin was carried out. Persons with a length
      of work over 10 years contacting with anilin and its derivatives showed a marked
      increase of B2-microglobulin in the blood serum as well a marked reduction of
      leucocyte number. It is considered that leucopenia with granulocytopenia and
      marked increase of B2-microglobulin is regarded as a preleucosis state.

PMID- 1441336
TI  - [The alkaline phosphatase and aminotransferase activity of the blood serum and
      liver in rats with chronic poisoning by the dust from a mineral wool made of
      ferronickel slag].
AB  - The authors investigated the activity of alkaline phosphatase, alanine- and
      aspartate-aminotransferases of the blood serum, mitochondria and
      postmitochondrial fraction of the liver in conditions of administration of
      mineral cotton from ferronickel slag. It was shown that 1 and 3 months after
      introduction of mineral cotton dust changes occurred in the activity of these
      enzymes. Restoration of these enzymes occurred 6 months after introduction of
      mineral cotton dust.

PMID- 1441337
TI  - [The modelling of the extrinsic allergic alveolitis of woodworkers].

PMID- 1441338
TI  - [A hygienic evaluation of a filter-ventilation installation from the Kemper firm
      for purifying the air in metal arc welding].
AB  - It was found that "Kemper" devices absorb efficiently noxious substances released
      during arc welding of metals. Conditions for maximum efficiency of the "Kemper"
      devices are described.

PMID- 1441339
TI  - [The combination of taking acetylsalicylic acid and a complex of physical factors
      in the rehabilitative treatment of patients with ischemic heart disease].
AB  - The efficacy of physiotherapeutic methods in association with preliminary aspirin
      intakes was examined in 276 patients with ischemic heart disease. Results
      indicate that the main clinicofunctional and laboratory indices showed a positive
      dynamics. The above treatment is considered perspective in the restorative
      treatment and secondary prophylaxis of patients with ischemic heart disease.

PMID- 1441340
TI  - [The effect of antioxidants on the nonspecific inflammatory component in
      rheumatoid arthritis patients].

PMID- 1441341
TI  - [Nonspecific aortoarteritis with involvement of the pulmonary arteries].
AB  - Considering the common aspects of tissue structure of the aorta and pulmonary
      artery the authors suggest that in unspecific aortoarteritis in the form of
      generalized arteriopathy, involvement of pulmonary artery is real. Analysed were
      45 autopsy cases. In 31 cases vessel changes of two kinds were seen: destructive
      proliferative and sclerotic. Not all cases of sclerotic changes may be explained
      by lesser circulation hypertension and, thus, the reported data evidence frequent
      involvement of the pulmonary arteries with development of generalized pathology
      of the vascular system.

PMID- 1441342
TI  - [The pathomorphogenetic characteristics of the wall of the common bile duct in
      cholestasis].
AB  - Data are presented on the reversibility of pathological changes of the common
      bile duct, causes and criteria of reversibility. Consideration of four stages of
      pathomorphogenesis of the common bile duct wall may be of help in the choice of
      surgical tactics in surgical intervention on the common bile duct.

PMID- 1441343
TI  - [Liquid-crystal thermography in the diagnosis of peptic ulcer].
AB  - The authors studied the aspects of the thermographic picture of the skin, abdomen
      in patients suffering of gastric and duodenal ulcer as compared with endoscopic
      and roentgenological methods, their dynamics in the course of treatment. The
      method of fluid crystalline thermography is recommended as a diagnostic test in
      conditions of limited diagnostic opportunities.

PMID- 1441344
TI  - [A treatment method for patients with reflux esophagitis (an invention,copyright
      No. 1607825)].
AB  - The authors developed a method of complex treatment of patients with reflux
      esophagitis consisting in introduction via a probe of cooled 0.25% collargol
      solution and rose oil after intake of dimetpramide and simultaneous
      electrostimulation of the lower third of the esophagus. This method of treatment
      allows to control rapidly the pain syndrome, enhance treatment time and prolonged
      remission to 24 hours and more.

PMID- 1441345
TI  - [The characteristics of chronic bronchitis in workers in ferrous metallurgy
      enterprises].
AB  - Results of clinico-functional examination of workers of metallurgical plants
      confirmed early development and severe course of chronic bronchitis in this
      category of workers. The polyetiological aspect of chronic bronchitis is
      suggested. Changes of the pleura and pneumosclerosis which often accompany
      chronic bronchitis impede the differential diagnosis with interstitial form of
      pneumoconiosis. Diagnostic criteria of chronic bronchitis in metallurgists should
      be determined with consideration of concrete working conditions, endogenous
      factors of risk in the development of the disease and possible variants of the
      course.

PMID- 1441346
TI  - [The results of bronchoscopy in patients of different ages with chronic
      bronchitis].
AB  - Bronchological examination of 1769 patients with chronic bronchitis (CHB) of
      different age groups revealed that the development of that or another form of
      endobronchitis (catarrhal, purulent, atrophic) did not depend on the age,
      duration of disease and other causes. It may be suggested that the genetic
      predisposition to development of definite forms of endobronchitis. Apparently,
      most rigidly determined is the development of the atrophic form of endobronchitis
      as its frequency was similar in all groups, in different forms of CHB.

PMID- 1441347
TI  - [Enterosorption in the treatment of chronic kidney failure in patients with
      surgical diseases of the kidneys].
AB  - Enterosgel was used in 89 patients with different stages of renal failure treated
      surgically and medically. It is concluded that isolated or complex detoxication
      using enterosgel is a perspective approach in the treatment of patients with
      surgical renal diseases complicated by chronic renal failure. The use of
      enterosorption in the preoperative period allows to perform operative
      intervention in situations when infusion treatment by traditional methods was not
      sufficient.

PMID- 1441348
TI  - [Clinico-epidemiological and laboratory indices in icteric forms of viral
      hepatitis B and C].
AB  - Icteric form of acute viral hepatitis B (VHR) and C (VHC) were characterized by
      similar epidemiological data and clinical symptoms, frequency of concomitant
      diseases, disorders of biochemical values of the blood serum. VHC as distinct
      from VHB was more frequent in women and was characterized by a short incubation
      period, prevalence of mild forms. The duration and frequency of revealing blood
      serum markers of viral hepatitis B are of major importance for differentiation
      between VHC and VHB.

PMID- 1441350
TI  - [The importance of research in geriatric pharmacology for practical medicine].

PMID- 1441349
TI  - [Neuroendocrine and neurotrophic changes in patients with craniocerebral trauma
      and fractures of the long bones].

PMID- 1441351
TI  - [The medical rehabilitation at Alushta Health Resort of patients coming from
      areas of increased radiation activity].

PMID- 1441352
TI  - [The scientific validation of the differentiated demand of the population for
      specialized hospital care and an increase in its effectiveness].

PMID- 1441353
TI  - [The results and prospects of preventing arterial hypertension in Ukraine].
AB  - An analysis is presented of the status of arterial hypertension prophylaxis in
      the Ukraine. Drawbacks in solution of this problem are discussed: diagnosis is
      incomplete, prophylactic management of hypertensive disease is inadequate. Ways
      and means of improving the diagnosis and prophylaxis of hypertensive disease in
      the Ukraine including better remuneration of the medical personnel and interests
      of the population in preserving their health are discussed.

PMID- 1441354
TI  - [The problems of sanatorium care for tuberculosis patients].

PMID- 1441355
TI  - [Vadym Mykolaiovych Ivanov (on the centenary of his birth)].

PMID- 1441356
TI  - [The development of the ideas of Academician V. M. Ivanov in modern oncology].

PMID- 1441357
TI  - [From the Yekaterinoslav Higher Courses for Women to the medical college].

PMID- 1441358
TI  - [The pathogenetic mechanisms of the development of glomerulonephritis].

PMID- 1441359
TI  - [The iodine level of the environment and the risk of developing thyroid
      diseases].

PMID- 1441360
TI  - [The possible significance of immunological disorders in the pathogenesis of
      paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in patients with the Wolff-Parkinson
      White syndrome].

PMID- 1441361
TI  - [The right ventricle and tachyarrhythmias. The structural-functional
      characteristics studied by radionuclide ventriculography].
AB  - Radionuclide ventriculography was used to evaluate the functional structural
      parameters of the right ventricle systole and diastole in 100 patients with
      paroxysmal tachyarrhythmia without signs of cardiac insufficiency (42 with
      cardiac fibrillation, 35--supraventricular tachycardia, 23--with ventricular
      arrhythmia). Results indicate that radionuclide ventriculography allows to
      evaluate objectively the functional state of the right ventricle in patients with
      paroxysmal tachycardia, detect early signs of deterioration of its hemodynamic
      productivity and contractile capacity in patients refractory to treatment of
      cardiac arrhythmias.

PMID- 1441362
TI  - [The significance of the antioxidant properties of emoxipin in the combined
      treatment of patients with chronic heart failure].
AB  - It was found that emoxypin (40 mg daily) with nitrates of prolonged action and
      corinfar used in 87 patients with chronic cardiac insufficiency (CCI) reduces the
      concentration of primary and secondary products of lipid peroxidation to control
      levels which is not observed when only corinfar and nitrates of prolonged action
      were used. Simultaneous use of prazosin and emoxypin favoured balanced oxidant
      antioxidant system of the body.

PMID- 1441363
TI  - [The effect of chenotherapy on the reservoir function of the gallbladder in
      cholelithiasis patients].
AB  - The effect of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) on the reservoir function of the
      gallbladder was studied in 46 patients with cholesterol cholelithiasis. There was
      a dependence between a clear increase of filling of the gallbladder in patients
      treated by this method with subsequent sharp reduction of its size and
      development of dyspepsia and diarrhea. In 14 patients increase of the gallbladder
      against the background of chemotherapy was not authentic but no dyspeptic
      phenomena occurred. Thus, decompensation of the reservoir function of the
      gallbladder in patients with cholelithiasis against the background of
      chemotherapy are manifested by a significant increase of the gallbladder size
      with subsequent emptying of bile into the duodenum and development of collagenous
      diarrhea.

PMID- 1441364
TI  - [Ecological changes and the epidemic process].

PMID- 1441365
TI  - [Disorders of the bioenergetics and microcirculation in the gastric mucosa in
      peptic ulcer with concomitant involvement of the hepatobiliary system].
AB  - The histological structure, distribution of neutral glycoseaminoglycanes, the
      content of glycogen in the cells, activity of succinate dehydrogenase,
      cytochromoxidase, magnesium-dependent ATP-ase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate
      dehydrogenase were studied in the biopsies of the gastric mucosa removed from the
      anterior third of the anterior part of its body in 104 patients. RESULTS:
      essential decrease of the enzymes of oxidative phosphorylation, increased
      reaction to lactate dehydrogenase, inhibition of enzymes controlling the
      microcirculation in the gastric mucosa in ulcer disease. These changes
      deteriorate in elderly patients as well as concomitant diseases of the
      hepatobiliary system.

PMID- 1441366
TI  - [Differentiated immunocorrective therapy in nonspecific ulcerative colitis].
AB  - A comparative study of the clinico-immunological efficacy of steroid hormones and
      thymus drugs in 50 patients with unspecific ulcerative colitis of different
      activity grades revealed that their efficacy was not similar at different phases
      of the disease and depended on the activity of the inflammatory process.
      Corticosteroids were more effective in inflammatory-destructive changes in the
      mucosa of the large intestine while in mild inflammation with prevalence of
      ulcerative-reparative processes, immunomodulators (thymalin) are preferred.

PMID- 1441367
TI  - [The participation of the eicosanoid system in the formation of bronchial
      obstruction in chronic bronchitis].

PMID- 1441368
TI  - [The significance of risk factors in the development of disorders of the cerebral
      venous circulation].
AB  - The state of venous brain circulation in patients suffering of arterial
      hypertension, excessive weight, hyperlipidemia, ischemic heart disease was
      investigated using laboratory instrumental methods of examination
      (rheoencephalography, conjunctival biomicroscopy, determination of lipids in the
      blood serum and oth.). It was established that subjects with risk factors show
      often instability of the brain venous tone, while patients with initial signs of
      brain vessel insufficiency show signs of hypotension. These changes may not be
      clinically overt, have a compensatory character and diagnosis often requires
      instrumental methods of examination.

PMID- 1441369
TI  - [The prevalence of strokes among the native population of the Transcarpathian
      area].

PMID- 1441370
TI  - [The structure and seasonality of strokes in the Central Asian region].
AB  - An analysis is presented of case histories of 1475 patients with disorders of the
      cerebral blood circulation (ischemic stroke--93.9%, hemorrhagic stroke--6.1%).
      Acute disorders of the cerebral blood circulation prevailed in males up to 50
      years of age. The main cause was hypertensive disease (47.3%), atherosclerosis-
      35.8% and their combination--12.6%. Maximum incidence of stroke in Middle Asia
      region was noted during winter-spring period (January, February, March, April),
      minimum incidence during the summer-autumn period.

PMID- 1441371
TI  - [Computed tomography in the diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculitis].

PMID- 1441373
TI  - [The risk of the occurrence of diabetes based on the data from a genealogical
      study of the parents].
AB  - A study of the Kharkov population revealed the effect of parent exogamy for
      liability of the progeny to diabetes mellitus that was more pronounced in sons
      than in daughters. Minimum genetic effect on the formation of diabetes mellitus
      concerns the group of reduced exogamy. In type I diabetes mellitus, the maximum
      genetic effect concerns the group of moderate exogamy, in type II diabetes--the
      group of elevated exogamy.

PMID- 1441372
TI  - [The significance of the functional status of the crural muscles in the
      pathogenesis of the postthrombophlebitic syndrome].
AB  - Venous stasis, disorders of oxygen metabolism and other disturbances in the post
      thrombophlebitic syndrome result in reduction of the contractile function of the
      crus, i.e. muscle pumping capacity. Mutual influence of these factors result
      finally in the development of the so-called "vicious circle". Results of a study
      of 90 patients with different stages of the post-thrombophlebitic syndrome show a
      clear correlation between the stage of the disease and degree of reduction of the
      functional capacity of sural muscles. Measures for restoration of the contractile
      capacity of the crural muscles are advocated.

PMID- 1441374
TI  - [Lipid peroxidation in the lymphocytes of guinea pigs with a radiation lesion].

PMID- 1441375
TI  - [The treatment of patients with ischemic heart disease and significant disorder
      of left ventricular function].
AB  - A study is presented of 71 patients with ischemic heart disease verified
      coronarographically and showing severe disorders of contractile function of the
      left ventricle. Thirty-eight patients who underwent the operation of
      aortocoronary shunting showed an improvement of the contractile capacity of the
      myocardium, and a longer survival as compared with those treated medically.
      Medical treatment was accompanied by more complications in the form of myocardial
      infarctions, cardiac insufficiency resulting often in a lethal outcome.

PMID- 1441376
TI  - [Cardiac contractile function in hypertension patients who have had a large-focus
      myocardial infarct].

PMID- 1441377
TI  - [The procedure for the emergency treatment of patients with a heart rhythm and
      conduction disorder].

PMID- 1441378
TI  - [Changes in heart volume in patients with iron-deficiency anemia (based on data
      from teleroentgenocardiography)].
AB  - Teleroentgenocardiography was employed in 96 patients with iron deficiency anemia
      with the purpose of evaluating the cardiac volume. This volume increased with
      advance of the disease. The number of women with cardiomegaly increased as well.
      Cardiomegaly showed a tendency to normalization in the course of treatment. These
      findings are of importance for the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with
      iron deficiency anemia.

PMID- 1441379
TI  - [The late treatment results in patients with the irritable bowel syndrome].

PMID- 1441380
TI  - [The detection of foci of tuberculous infection].
AB  - Data from an antitubercular hospital in Krasnoyarsk Territory indicate that of
      184 autopsy cases with pulmonary tuberculosis in 99 cases no official
      registration for tuberculosis has been noted and the patients were not treated
      for this disease. Four of these patients suffered of active forms of
      tuberculosis.

PMID- 1441381
TI  - [Secondary pneumonia in subjects with acute leukemia].
AB  - Of 105 patients with acute leukoses secondary pneumonias were found in 47.6%. A
      dependence was found of the frequency of pneumonia on the severity of initial
      hyperleukocytosis and duration of post-cytostatic agranulocytosis. The efficiency
      of routine criteria of diagnosis was 66% and increased significantly in
      microbiological and cytological investigation of the bronchoalveolar lavage
      fluid. TREATMENT: combined antibacterial therapy, antifungal, desintoxicating
      agents; in severe cases--endobronchial administration of monogroup leucocytic
      mass.

PMID- 1441382
TI  - [Left ventricular function in patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis].
AB  - A study of 45 patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis by the method of
      radionuclide ventriculography with 99mTc showed that even the early stages of the
      disease were characterized by an inhibition of the contractile function of the
      left cardiac ventricle. With progression of respiratory insufficiency,
      maintaining of the left cardiac ventricle stroke volume is achieved by increase
      of the final-diastolic and final-systolic volumes. Appearance of signs of cardiac
      decompensation is accompanied by a breakdown of this compensatory mechanism
      accompanied by a reduction of the strike volume and diminished rate of
      contraction of the circular fibers of the left ventricle myocardium.

PMID- 1441383
TI  - [The role of the immune and fibrinolytic systems in the inhibition of
      atherogenesis in chronic obstructive bronchitis].
AB  - A study of the immune and fibrinolytic systems of the body in 216 patients with
      different clinical forms of atherosclerosis (exertion and rest stenocardia,
      arrhythmias, atherosclerotic hypertension), chronic obstructive bronchitis
      revealed that the antiatherogenous effect of chronic obstructive bronchitis is
      predetermined on the one side by an increased function of the monocytic
      macrophagal link of immunity and on the other by activation of the fibrinolysis
      system.

PMID- 1441384
TI  - [The immunomodulator kemantan in the treatment of patients with exacerbated
      chronic obstructive bronchitis].

PMID- 1441385
TI  - [The prediction of the risk of an unfavorable outcome in bronchial asthma
      patients (based on anamnestic data)].

PMID- 1441386
TI  - [Experience in organizing a rehabilitative care club for bronchial asthma
      patients].

PMID- 1441388
TI  - [A validation of the pathogenetic treatment of alopecia areata].

PMID- 1441387
TI  - [The activity of the metabolic processes in phagocytosing cells in sarcoidosis
      patients].
AB  - A study of 109 patients with active sarcoidosis revealed an activation of the
      metabolic processes of phagocytes but with extension and duration of the disease
      they subside. Apparently, this is related to exhaustion of the functional
      capacities of the cells. Though, namely, low initial metabolic activity favours
      spreading and delay of the pathological process.

PMID- 1441389
TI  - [The use of bemitil in patients with progressive muscular dystrophies].
AB  - Bemithyl treatment was carried out in 22 patients with neuromuscular diseases
      (progressive myodystrophy). The actoprotector bemithyl inhibited in these
      patients the processes of lipid peroxidation, activation of neoglucogenesis
      favours improvement of interorganic exchange of metabolites. Bemithyl is
      recommended in patients with progressive myodystrophy along with drugs
      normalizing the protein, energy and electrolyte metabolism.

PMID- 1441390
TI  - [Electrostimulation in the treatment of a facial nerve lesion].
AB  - The author developed and introduced in the clinic a method of electric
      stimulation with sinusoidal modulated currents (using the "Amplipulse" device) in
      114 patients with facial nerve lesions. A differentiated approach to electric
      stimulation is recommended in normal and reduced electric excitability of mimic
      muscles.

PMID- 1441391
TI  - [Nervous system involvement in Madelung's syndrome].
AB  - Due to proliferation of the fatty tissue in the neck and depending on the degree
      of compression of the pharynx, larynx, vessels, nerve trunks the patients show,
      respiratory disorders, swallowing disturbances, dysarthria, stenocardia, neck and
      occipital pain, scalenus syndrome, cervicobrachialgia, posterior cervical
      sympathetic syndrome, disorders of the cerebral and spinal blood circulation.
      Involvement of both the central and peripheral nervous system are observed in
      Madelung's disease.

PMID- 1441392
TI  - [The tocopherol acetate and splenin correction of the immunological disorders in
      patients with viral hepatitis B].
AB  - Inclusion of tocopherol acetate and splenin into complex treatment of viral
      hepatitis B (VHB) ensures a marked immunomodulating effect consisting in control
      of T-lymphopenia, normalization of helper-suppressor ratio, reduction of
      circulating immune complexes and a tendency to restoration of normal ratio
      between separate fractions of immune complexes, stimulation of phagocytic
      activity of monocytes of the peripheral blood. Splenin and tocopherol acetate are
      recommended in the complex treatment of hepatitis B.

PMID- 1441393
TI  - [The clinical significance of the sulfhydryl groups in the peripheral blood
      lymphocytes of patients with thyrotoxic goiter].
AB  - A study of 42 patients with thyrotoxic goiter revealed a reduction of SH groups
      in the peripheral blood lymphocytes. The reduction depended on the severity of
      the pathological process. Changes of the SH groups are an informative criterion
      of the severity of the disease and treatment efficacy.

PMID- 1441394
TI  - [Rheoencephalography in assessing the cerebral hemodynamics in patients with
      euthyroid and toxic goiter].

PMID- 1441395
TI  - [Infrared thermography in the diagnosis and assessment of treatment efficacy in
      patients with eczema nad allergic dermatitis].
AB  - Thermography was used for examination of 45 patients with eczema and 18 patients
      with allergic dermatitis. Eczema patients without clinical improvement showed no
      positive thermographic picture. Thermography is of importance in the evaluation
      of treatment efficiency in patients with eczema and allergic dermatitis.

PMID- 1441396
TI  - [The late appearance of diagnostic titers of specific antibodies in patients with
      typhoid fever].

PMID- 1441397
TI  - [Polyserositis as a complication of sarcoma of the heart].

PMID- 1441398
TI  - [Ievhen Ozarkevych--one of the founders of Ukrainian medical science].

PMID- 1441399
TI  - [The illness and last days in the life of Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko].

PMID- 1441400
TI  - [The acupuncture reflexotherapy of diabetes mellitus patients].

PMID- 1441401
TI  - [Russian-Ukrainian medical dictionary. 7000 words].

PMID- 1441402
TI  - [The function of the hypophyseal-thyroid system in the children of Zhitomir
      Province living in areas polluted by the radionuclides resulting from the
      accident at the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station].
AB  - A study of 1167 children (age: 7-15 years) inhabiting districts contaminated with
      radionuclide due to Chernobyl atomic station accident indicates that children
      with thyroid hyperplasia revealed high requirement and intensity of the
      peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones that results finally in relative
      hormonal deficit (subclinical hypothyroidism) and thyroid hyperplasia. This is a
      sequel of maximum functional tension of the thyroid with impending breakdown of
      adaptation and this should be considered as a pathological process requiring
      correction, i.e. presence of subclinical hypothyroidism in children with thyroid
      hyperplasia requires substitution therapy with thyroid hormones.

PMID- 1441403
TI  - [The immune status of patients with neurocirculatory dystonia subjected to
      ionizing radiation exposure during the cleanup of the accident at the Chernobyl
      Atomic Electric Power Station].
AB  - The immune state of 77 cleanup workers of Chernobyl power plant accident
      suffering from vegetative dystonia was studied. The group of comparison consisted
      of 10 vegetative dystonia patients, who were not subjected to the ionizing
      radiation influence. The workers showed no specific changes of immunity, but
      immune state disturbances among them were more frequent and more pronounced that
      in ordinary vegetative dystonia patients.

PMID- 1441404
TI  - [Sexual functions in men subjected to ionizing radiation exposure resulting from
      the accident at the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station].
AB  - A study of 426 males who participated in liquidating the sequels of the Chernobyl
      atomic station disaster revealed specific changes of the sexual active and
      generative function. Data are reported on the main mechanisms of these disorders
      and treatment results are analyzed.

PMID- 1441405
TI  - [The use of pectin-containing enterosorbents in exposure to radionuclides and
      heavy metals].
AB  - The pectin-vitamin composition (PVC) and its complex with active carbon (AC) was
      investigated for use as an oral sorbent to protect radionuclide (Sr-85, Cs-137)
      accumulation. PVC is composed of the natural mixture of cellulose, pectin (Ca
      salt), flavonoides, vitamins of the B-group, PP and C. Investigation of PVC
      radioprotective action was carried out on the two groups of rats (n = 30) which
      received 1306 Bk/animal of Sr-85 or 343 Bk/animal of Cs-137 daily. One of the
      group of rats received every day also 300 mg of PVC. After 30 days level of Sr-85
      was less by 56.6%, level of Cs = 137 was less by 27.6% in PVC-treated than in the
      control group (P < 0.05). Composite sorbent consisting of PVC and AC was slightly
      less effective in removing of Sr and Cs.

PMID- 1441406
TI  - [The hypertensive heart: its pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment].

PMID- 1441407
TI  - [Atypical attacks of stenocardia of effort occurring at rest].
AB  - Results of a clinico-instrumental examination and treatment of 320 patients with
      ischemic heart disease revealed that 147 of them showed both exertion stenocardia
      and angina pectoris attacks in seemingly physical rest that could be considered
      as spontaneous stenocardia. An analysis of the clinical picture of the disease in
      these patients allowed to distinguish five atypical variants of effort
      stenocardia that imitated stenocardia during rest: hemodynamic, stenocardia
      during arterial pressure elevation, cardiac arrhythmia, vasospastic and night
      effort stenocardia attacks. A differential approach to to complex treatment of
      patients with the above forms of effort stenocardia is necessary.

PMID- 1441408
TI  - [Radionuclide methods for studying the central and regional hemodynamics of
      patients with dilated cardiomyopathy].
AB  - Radiocardiography was used in 26 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and in 20
      practically healthy persons. Results revealed significant changes of the central
      and regional hemodynamics manifested in a reduction of the minute cardiac volume,
      delayed blood flow velocity, disorders of the cardioportal and cerebral
      hemodynamics.

PMID- 1441409
TI  - [The effect of combined treatment with the use of magnetotherapy on the systemic
      hemodynamics of patients with ischemic heart disease and spinal osteochondrosis].
AB  - The authors examined 66 patients with ischemic heart disease and concomitant
      cervico-thoracic osteochondrosis and 22 patients without osteochondrosis.
      Differences were revealed in values of the systemic hemodynamics with prevalence
      of the hypokinetic type in patients with combined pathology. Inclusion of
      magnetotherapy in the treatment complex of patients with ischemic heart disease
      and osteochondrosis favours clinical improvement, normalization of indices of
      central and regional blood circulation.

PMID- 1441410
TI  - [The effect of compensatory mechanisms of pancreatic exocrine function on the
      course and outcome of rehabilitative treatment in patients with chronic primary
      gastroduodenitis].
AB  - Methods of endogenous stimulation of the exocrinous pancreatic function in
      chronic primary gastroduodenitis were used. It was expressed in parallel gastric
      hyperchlorhydria, hyperproduction of pancreatic hydrocarbonates at initial stages
      of chronic primary gastroduodenitis and reduction of their excretion with diverse
      changes of the activity of pancreatic enzymes in prolonged and persistent course
      of the disease.

PMID- 1441411
TI  - [The results of using a mathematical method for the differential diagnosis of
      pulmonary tuberculosis and cancer].
AB  - The authors developed a table differential-diagnostic algorithm designed for
      improvement of the differential diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and cancer.
      This algorithm allows to establish precise diagnosis of cancer or tuberculosis of
      the lungs at district and regional health service levels, enhances the time of
      diagnosis and favours rational treatment.

PMID- 1441412
TI  - [The diagnosis of acute pneumonia in respiratory viral infections].
AB  - Data are reported of 582 case records of patients with acute pneumonia of
      different influenza epidemic periods, results of a study of 175 lethal cases due
      to acute pneumonia, that complicated influenza in adults as well as experimental
      studies on reproduction of para-influenzal-staphylococcal, influenzal-Klebsiella
      and Proteus-influenzal infections. The study allowed to find out the causes of
      diagnostic difficulties, to establish the features of the course of acute
      pneumonia in patients with respiratory viral diseases to disclose the mechanisms
      of development of lung changes and make propositions facilitating early clinical
      diagnosis on the prehospital period.

PMID- 1441413
TI  - [Lipid peroxidation following ultraviolet irradiation of the blood and the
      protective action of tocopherol acetate (experimental research)].
AB  - Original experimental data are reported on processes occurring in the blood after
      UV irradiation. A study of the content of primary and secondary products of lipid
      peroxidation, vitamin E and the resistance of erythrocytes to hemolysis, catalase
      activity before and after UV irradiation of animals of different age groups
      revealed that UV irradiation of the blood changes not only the intensity of the
      process of lipid peroxidation but also the direction of metabolism of unsaturated
      fatty acids in the blood cells, exchange of semiproducts between them and the
      plasma, but also weakens the antioxidant systems of the blood. These processes
      are age-dependent. Preliminary administration of vitamin E preparations secures a
      high antioxidant homeostasis in the blood, especially after UV irradiation.

PMID- 1441414
TI  - [The biochemical criteria for evaluating the early signs of the adverse action of
      nitrochlorobenzine compounds].

PMID- 1441415
TI  - [Ethonium in the treatment of peptic ulcer patients].
AB  - Results are reported of clinical trials in 52 patients of ethonium belonging to
      quaternary ammonia compounds with consideration of the patients' age and
      concomitant disorders of the hepatobiliary system. It was established that
      ethonium possesses a marked antiradical and antioxidant effect in ulcer disease,
      furthering potentiation of the activity of peroxidedysmutase, protective enzymes
      of the glutathione system, improvement of bioenergetic processes in the gastric
      mucosa, enhancement of ulcer healing, prevention of ulcer recurrence.

PMID- 1441416
TI  - [The intensive therapy of young patients with acute pneumonia].

PMID- 1441417
TI  - [The clinical characteristics of a cerebral ischemic stroke with a tumor-like
      course].
AB  - A complex examination (clinical picture, EEG, REG, EchoEG, CT, angiography) of 27
      patients with ischemic stroke showing a tumour-like course allowed to single out
      three variations of stroke course: with a stormy development of the disease due
      to the hypertensive syndrome; with a remittent course; with epileptic seizures
      and absence in the postseizure period. The character and frequency of the above
      variants of the onset and further clinical course of cerebrovascular
      insufficiency will favour early diagnosis and efficient treatment of the disease.

PMID- 1441418
TI  - [Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the diagnosis of pancreatic
      diseases].
AB  - Additional criteria for endoscopic cholangiopancreatography are evaluated:
      endoscopy data, passage of the contrast medium, subjective symptomatology. A
      study of 271 patients with clinical data of involvement of the pancreas was
      carried out. The obtained data widen the possibilities of this method, especially
      in the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis.

PMID- 1441419
TI  - [The characteristics of the clinical picture of candidiasis of the skin and
      mucous membranes in patients with chronic dermatosis].
AB  - The author describes the clinical picture and course of candida infection of the
      skin and mucous membranes in 176 patients with chronic dermatoses (eczema, atopic
      dermatitis, psoriasis). Several patients (9%) showed torpid, atypical
      manifestations of candidosis, often masqueraded by other skin pathology. It was
      established that Candida infection is one of the causes of long-term, torpid
      course and increase of number of recurrences of the main dermatosis, development
      of a polymorphous clinical picture and mycogenous sensibilization. There was also
      a reverse relationship: chronization of the Candida process and prolonged
      elimination of the pathogen, insufficient efficacy of anticandidosis treatment.
      This dictates the necessity of detailed examination of patients with chronic
      dermatoses and mycological check-up with the purpose of modern diagnosis and
      treatment of candidosis of the skin and mucous membranes.

PMID- 1441420
TI  - [The prevalence and secondary prevention of ischemic heart disease and arterial
      hypertension in workers of the gas recovery industry].
AB  - Results are reported of the incidence of ischemic heart disease and arterial
      hypertension in workers of the gas producing industry. There was a direct
      correlative dependence on age, profession, character of work. Schemes are
      presented on the treatment with consideration of the course of the disease.

PMID- 1441421
TI  - [The prevention of occupational diseases in glassware grinders].
AB  - The role is shown of a complex of hygienic measures in the prophylaxis of
      professional diseases of the hands of grinders--reduction of the level of
      morbidity and delay of the onset of symptoms. Nonobedience of hygienic
      regulations is the major cause of failures of prophylactic measures. The authors
      worked out physiological regulations of static loads and effective means of their
      control.

PMID- 1441422
TI  - [The content of manganese in the hair as a test of exposure in welders].

PMID- 1441423
TI  - [The spiritual revival of Ukrainian medicine].

PMID- 1441424
TI  - [Experience with the secondary prevention of noninfectious diseases under the new
      economic mechanism].

PMID- 1441425
TI  - [The Department of Phthisiatrics with a course in pulmonology on the 150th
      anniversary of the Kiev Medical Institute].

PMID- 1441426
TI  - [The activities of I. A. Sikorskii as a neurologist].

PMID- 1441427
TI  - [The phenomenon of antigenic defectiveness in naturally circulating strains of
      the tick-borne encephalitis virus and its possible connection to seronegative
      forms of the disease].
AB  - Ten strains of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus isolated from single specimens
      of I. persulcatus ticks were studied. The strains were divided into antigenically
      complete (AC) and antigenically defective (AD), depending on the presence or
      absence of some virus antigens in concentrated virus preparations,
      characteristics in rocket immune electrophoresis (RIEP), rate and intensity of
      humoral immune response in monkeys and rabbits, and plaque size in SPEV cell
      culture. The AC-strain markers include high activities of precipitating,
      hemagglutinating (HA), and complement-fixing (CF) antigens, formation of
      precipitates moving in rocket shape towards anode and cathode in RIEP, rapid
      development of antihemagglutinins and virus-neutralizing antibodies, large
      plaques (3-5 mm). The AD variants are characterized by the lack of HA and
      precipitating activity, low titres of CF antigen, slow and poor immune response,
      the lack of cathode precipitate "rocket", very small plaques. The antigenic
      defectiveness is transitory and shows in early passages; after 10-11 passages in
      SPEV cell cultures or in white mice, transformation AD----AC occurs. A
      transformed strain is neutralized, like standard TBE strains, by blood sera of a
      typical patient with poliomyelitis-like form of TBE. Examinations of blood sera
      from the population of an endemic zone (Yaroslavl Province) and 67 TBE patients
      (Kurgan Province) demonstrated the association of AC and AD variants with the
      formation of immune portion of the population and TBE etiology. Cases of the
      disease confirmed by seroconversion in HI with commercial diagnosticum are
      associated with AC variants, whereas AD variants are associated with those TBE
      cases which are difficult to diagnose using the commercial diagnosticum.

PMID- 1441428
TI  - [A trial of the intranasal vaccination of adults against measles: the approaches
      to an alternative revaccination method].
AB  - The safety and efficacy of a measles vaccine from the L-16 strain was studied
      after its intranasal administration to adult volunteers using an atomizer. The
      controls were adult volunteers given one dose of the vaccine subcutaneously. The
      measles vaccine given intranasally was used in the same or double dose. The
      intranasal administration of the vaccine caused practically no side effects.
      Within 14-60 days postvaccination, the volunteers in all the groups showed a
      significant rise in titres of antibodies to measles virus determined by
      hemagglutination inhibition test. The double dose of intranasally administered
      vaccine was approximately as effective as a single dose given subcutaneously.

PMID- 1441429
TI  - [Yucaipa-like viruses isolated in Kazakhstan in 1987-1989].
AB  - From domestic birds 13 strains of avian paramyxoviruses, serotype 1, and 14
      strains of serotype 2 were isolated. Avian paramyxoviruses, serotype 2, differ
      antigenically and biologically from each other and from the prototype variant
      chicken/Yucaipa/California/56. The virus was also detected experimentally in
      birds having contact with the infected specimens. Examinations of avian blood
      sera revealed wide dissemination of viruses related to the chicken/Yucaipa/56
      strain in domestic bird breeding farms (43.6% to 50.0% of positive birds). The
      detected variability of the antigenic structure of the isolates attests to the
      potential emergence of a pathogenic variant.

PMID- 1441430
TI  - [The etiology of chronic anti-HBc-positive hepatitis].

PMID- 1441431
TI  - [The principles for standardizing serum panels intended for the quality
      assessment of diagnostic test systems (exemplified by an immunoenzyme test system
      for detecting HIV antibodies)].

PMID- 1441432
TI  - [The quantitative detection of orthopoxvirus antibodies in studying sera in a
      single dilution in an immunoenzyme test system with a conjugate of protein A and
      peroxidase].

PMID- 1441433
TI  - [The enhancement of the diagnostic reliability of immunoblot for HIV-1 antibodies
      by enriching the preparation for immunoblot with the HIV-1 gp120 protein].
AB  - The diagnostic value of original immunoblot system depends on the availability of
      enveloped protein GP120 because it is the antibodies to this polypeptide that
      frequently indicate the running virus infection. This polypeptide is lost during
      purification of viral material but remains free in culture medium. The extraction
      of GP120 from culture fluid with immunosorbent based on sepharose 4B with ligated
      immunoglobulins from HIV-1-infected persons enriched the preparation for
      immunoblot with proteins increasing its diagnostic value.

PMID- 1441434
TI  - [The inhibiting action of interferon inducers on the multiplication of the human
      immunodeficiency virus].
AB  - High molecular natural (ridostin and larifan) and synthetic (camedon) interferon
      inducers inhibited HIV-1 replication in MT-4 and CEM cultures when administered
      simultaneously with the inoculum. The effect of interferon inducers was
      comparable with that of azidothymidine in concentrations providing cell
      protection. The degree of culture protection determined by the number of viable
      and antigen-containing cells was approximately similar for strain 899A and
      freshly isolated IV39. No significant difference in the efficacy of the
      preparations in the two different cell cultures. MT-4 and CEM, was observed. It
      may be assumed that the antiviral effect of the interferon inducers under study
      will depend little on the type of cell culture.

PMID- 1441435
TI  - [The use of DNA polymerase from Thermus thermophilus].
AB  - National DNA polymerase from Thermus thermophilus was used in polymerase chain
      reaction (PCR). The synthetic oligonucleotides (primers) to the basic structural
      HIV genes GAG, ENV, the genome DNA of donor peripheral blood lymphocytes were
      used, and the controls included the plasmid DNA with cloned HIV genome and the
      genome DNA of peripheral blood lymphocytes from HIV-infected persons confirmed by
      ELISA and Western blot analysis. The PCR technique and evaluation of the obtained
      results are described. The expediency of using PCR for different contingents is
      discussed.

PMID- 1441436
TI  - [The use of a virazole aerosol in young children with a respiratory syncytial
      virus infection].
AB  - The therapeutic effect of aerosol virasol was studied in young infants suffering
      from RS virus infection with concomitant broncho-obstructive syndrome. The study
      involved 60 children between 1 month and 4 years of age of whom 30 were treated
      with virasol and another 30 made a control group. Virasol was shown to reduce the
      severity of the clinical picture to a considerable degree and speed up the
      recovery in infants with RS virus disease. Virasol is recommended for inhalation
      treatment of infants with RS virus infection and concomitant broncho-obstructive
      syndrome. The daily dose of virasol is 10 mg per kilo of body weight. The
      duration of one course is 3 to 5 days.

PMID- 1441437
TI  - [The origin of pandemic strains of the influenza A virus].

PMID- 1441438
TI  - [The detection and quantitative determination of antigens to the human
      immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2].
AB  - Three modifications of ELISA test system for HIV antigen detection are described.
      They are based on IgG from HIV-1 and HIV-2-infected human sera and monoclonal
      antibodies against HIV-1 p24 used as immunosorbents. The peroxidase/anti-HIV-IgG
      conjugate was used in all the test systems. A possibility of quantitative
      detection of viral antigen in native culture fluids, lysates, and purified virus
      preparations was demonstrated. The test system for HIV-1 antigen detection cannot
      be used for HIV-2 antigen detection and vice versa. The diagnostic value of HIV-1
      p24 antigen detection consists in the possibility of earlier AIDS identification
      and monitoring of the disease at various stages. The sensitivity of "p24" assay
      is 0.5 ng/ml.

PMID- 1441439
TI  - [Monoclonal antibodies to the influenza A virus matrix protein that react with
      viral strains of different subtypes].
AB  - To obtain hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies (MCA) to matrix (M) protein
      of influenza virus, mice were immunized with a modified antigen which consisted
      of subvirus units after electrophoretic removal of surface glycoproteins from
      virions using Desintegnon-O detergent. Six stable hybrid cultures producing MCA
      to M-protein were derived. The properties of MCA to the antigen determinant
      common for a group of influenza A virus strains of different subtypes allow them
      to be used in the development of a test-system for diagnosis of influenza A type.

PMID- 1441440
TI  - [The characteristics of the humoral response to respiratory syncytial viral
      infection in adult patients with different forms of bronchitis].
AB  - The levels of specific IgG and IgM were determined in 72 patients with verified
      respiratory syncytial (RS) virus infection: 11 patients with acute delayed
      bronchitis (ADB), 26 with recurring bronchitis (RB) 35 with chronic obstructive
      bronchitis (ChOB), by indirect enzyme immunoassay; RS virus was detected by
      direct immunofluorescent technique. The activity of the inflammatory process in
      the bronchi was shown to depend upon RS infection activity in cases of ChOB and
      RB. RS infection was observed to be significantly dependent on obstruction and
      bronchospasms. The specific humoral response was reduced and delayed in ChOB and
      RB as compared to acute bronchitis. The possibility of long-term persistence of
      RS virus antigen in chronic and recurring forms of bronchitis was demonstrated.

PMID- 1441441
TI  - [The interrelationship of the causative agents of subacute transmissible
      spongiform encephalopathies].
AB  - Virological, histological, and electron microscopy methods were used to study the
      features of the infectious process in minks infected with scrapie agent as
      compared with that in minks infected with the agent of mink transmissive
      encephalopathy and in mice infected with scrapie. The results of the study showed
      the similarity in the clinical picture and the pattern of histological and
      ultramicroscopic lesions in minks infected with either of the agents. On the
      basis of the authors' own data and those from the literature, the relationship
      among the agents of the diseases comprising the group of subacute transmissive
      spongiform encephalopathies is discussed.

PMID- 1441442
TI  - [The effect of the methods for producing an experimental Marburg virus infection
      on the characteristics of the course of the disease in green monkeys].
AB  - A comparative study on the features of the pathogenesis of Marburg disease after
      parenteral and aerosol infection of green monkeys with a virus prepared from
      native culture suspension and that after lyophilization was carried out. The
      changes in the dynamics of the clotting time, the activity of serum
      aminotransferases, the duration of prefebrile period and survival time were
      analysed in different cases. No lethality was observed in animals infected with
      small doses of aerosol preparations.

PMID- 1441443
TI  - [Changes in the blood serum aminotransferase activity in the experimental
      infection of Cercopithecus aethiops monkeys with the Marburg virus].
AB  - Aminotransferase levels in the peripheral blood serum of African green monkeys
      were studied after aerosol infection with lyophilized virus preparation. A
      correlation between aminotransferase activity and other symptoms of hemorrhagic
      fever was shown. Considerable variations in the features of aminotransferase
      activity in severe and mild cases of the disease were observed.

PMID- 1441444
TI  - [Polypeptides p14 and p31 of the African swine fever virus--early proteins
      located on the membrane of the infected cell].
AB  - African swine fever virus polypeptides p14 and p31 are synthesized in the
      presence of phosphonacetic acid which inhibits viral DNA replication, and
      therefore they are early viral proteins. These polypeptides were found to be
      localized on plasma membranes by immunofluorescence with monospecific antisera
      and monoclonal antibodies and by selective solubilization of infected cells. The
      p14-specific antibodies mediate complement-dependent cytolysis and antibody
      dependent cytotoxicity of the cells infected with African swine fever virus.

PMID- 1441445
TI  - [Immune reactions to the African swine fever virus].
AB  - Host immune reactions to African swine fever virus variants differing in their
      virulence were studied comparatively. Their obvious variabilities in antibody
      induction to some polypeptides active in antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity and
      cytotoxic T-lymphocytes were demonstrated. T-helpers of immune pig splenocytes
      were found to recognize the cells infected with avirulent but not virulent virus
      variants. The described differences were not connected with the changes in SLA-1
      antigen expression in the infected cells but correlated with induction of host
      resistance, chronic or acute course of the disease with fatal outcome.

PMID- 1441446
TI  - [The effect of the influenza virus on the activity of macrophage 5-nucleotidase
      and murine resistance to staphylococcal infection].

PMID- 1441447
TI  - [The genome of the measles virus in the peripheral blood lymphocytes in kidney
      diseases].

PMID- 1441448
TI  - [A method for the hydrophobization of antibodies leading to an enhancement of the
      sensitivity of an immunoenzyme analytical test system for detecting HBsAg].

PMID- 1441449
TI  - Radical vulvectomy--a 21-year review.
AB  - The factors surrounding patients subjected to radical vulvectomy were examined.
      Most patients were over the age of 40 years. The standard butterfly incision was
      used in all but 2 cases. The histology in all cases was invasive squamous cell
      carcinoma. The main complications were primary haemorrhage, urinary tract
      infection and wound dehiscence. The mean hospital stay was 50 days and the
      mortality rate was 4 per cent.

PMID- 1441450
TI  - Cancer in the Caribbean and environs. A comparison of age-standardized rates for
      9 population groups.
AB  - Age-standardized rates for cancer in Kingston & St. Andrew, Jamaica are presented
      by site and sex, and compared with data from Registries in the Caribbean and
      adjacent regions. These comprise Costa Rica, Cuba, Cali (Colombia), Martinique,
      the Netherlands Antilles (excluding Aruba), New Orleans (Whites and Blacks) and
      Puerto Rico. There are significant differences which demand explanation. Overall,
      the reported rates are highest in New Orleans, which leads in breast cancer,
      tumours of bronchus, larynx, colon, rectum, pancreas, prostate and bladder.
      Lymphomas occur most frequently in Whites in New Orleans while Blacks in that
      city show similar rates to other Registries in the area. Cali (Colombia) and
      Costa Rica lead in cervical cancer, with Jamaica third. The lowest figure is for
      Whites in New Orleans. Cali (Colombia) and Costa Rica also have very high rates
      for gastric cancer, and low rates for colonic. Oesophageal cancer is highest in
      Blacks in New Orleans, followed by Martinique and the Netherlands Antilles.
      Jamaica has shown a steady decline for this site over 30 years. The rate in
      Whites in New Orleans is only one-fourth of that in Blacks.

PMID- 1441451
TI  - Mesolimbic deficits exacerbate amphetamine treatment. Clinical implications for
      drug abusers.
AB  - Amphetamine, a common drug used by abusers, is able to produce a schizophreniform
      psychosis in man. The experiment reported here examined amphetamine in relation
      to its role in the nucleus accumbens septi (NAS) and the globus pallidus. The
      effects produced by apomorphine, a direct dopamine (DA) agonist, were compared
      with those of amphetamine, a known indirect DA agonist. The data revealed that
      amphetamine in NAS-lesioned animals produced very active stereotypy which
      intensified with time. This effect was blocked by pallidal lesioning. Apomorphine
      in pallidectomised rats produced persistent stereotypy, but of diminished
      intensity. The results are discussed in terms of the mediating roles of the NAS
      and globus pallidus on behavioural sequelae.

PMID- 1441452
TI  - Primary repair of the cholecyst-enteric fistula in gallstone ileus.
AB  - Gallstone ileus is a rare cause of mechanical bowel obstruction. The attendant
      lack of awareness by the clinician will not only result in the diagnosis being
      made intraoperatively but will also affect the adequacy of the preoperative
      preparation of these ill patients. These patients are often elderly, septic and
      have significant concomitant medical illnesses. Recently two patients with
      gallstones ileus were managed with enterolithotomy and primary repair of the
      cholecyst-duodenal fistula at the University Hospital of the West Indies,
      Jamaica. Their clinical presentations and progress are described along with a
      review of the classical clinical course, radiological features, and operative
      choices available.

PMID- 1441453
TI  - Acute acalculous cholecystitis.
AB  - Acute acalculous cholecystitis is now well recognised but is almost certainly not
      an homogeneous entity. The recognition of at least two sub-groups would appear to
      enhance the clinical perspective of this problem and facilitate on-going study
      and discussion. Two cases representing one of these sub-sets are reported, and
      both varieties are described.

PMID- 1441454
TI  - Colo-mucosal proctectomy with ileo-anal anastomosis. The Jamaican experience.
AB  - A total colectomy and a mucosal proctectomy with ileo-anal anastomosis (c-mp-iaa)
      effectively removes all debilitating, potentially malignant colonic mucosa.
      Preservation of the anorectal sphincter predictably results in good to excellent
      anal continence with a low mortality and acceptable morbidity. Since 1983 at the
      University Hospital of the West Indies (U.H.W.I.), Jamaica, five (5) patients
      have undergone c-mp-iaa for colonic mucosal disease. All have good to excellent
      anal continence with an average of 2-6 continent, formed stools per day. There
      were no operative deaths. The five (5) cases are described and a plea is made for
      the earlier use of this definitive surgical procedure where indicated.

PMID- 1441455
TI  - Immunohistochemistry of lymphocyte B-cell lymphoma of the prostate gland.
AB  - A case of small lymphocytic B-cell lymphoma occurring in the prostate gland of a
      68-year-old man is reported. These tumours are rarely encountered in surgical
      specimens, and may be confused with an undifferentiated carcinoma.
      Differentiation is readily made, using immunohistochemical techniques.

PMID- 1441456
TI  - Bothrops atrox snake bite in a six-year-old child.
AB  - A rare case of snake bite poisoning presenting as disseminated intravascular
      coagulation is presented. It is important to consider this entity in the
      differential diagnosis of children presenting with acute bleeding disorders in
      the West Indian islands where Bothrops atrox is present, namely, in Trinidad, St.
      Lucia and Martinique.

PMID- 1441457
TI  - Professional etiquette.

PMID- 1441458
TI  - Acute infectious diarrhoea in adults.

PMID- 1441459
TI  - Cimetidine. Potential for its use in HIV disease.

PMID- 1441460
TI  - Biliary surgery in patients with sickle-cell anaemia.
AB  - The results of biliary surgery are reported in 12 consecutive patients with
      homozygous sickle-cell (SS) disease treated over a two-year period at the
      University Hospital of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica. Recommendations for
      the surgical management of these patients are outlined.

PMID- 1441461
TI  - Pregnancy outcome in paraplegic women.
AB  - Six cases of paraplegia in pregnancy are reviewed. The major medical
      complications were urinary tract infection and anaemia. The obstetrical problems
      were pre-term labour and one perinatal loss due to unattended birth.

PMID- 1441462
TI  - Physician-patient sexual contact. Prevalence and problems.
AB  - To document the current prevalence of physician-patient sexual contact and to
      estimate its effect on involved patients, 10,000 family practitioners,
      internists, obstetrician-gynecologists, and surgeons were surveyed. Of the 1,891
      respondents, 9% acknowledged sexual contact with 1 or more patients. Even in the
      unlikely case that none of the nonrespondents had sexual contact with patients,
      its prevalence among all 10,000 physicians surveyed would still be 2%. Of
      respondents, 23% had at least 1 patient who reported sexual contact with another
      physician; 63% thought this contact was "always harmful" to the patients. Almost
      all (94%) responding physicians opposed sexual contact with current patients; 37%
      also opposed sexual contact with former patients. More than half of respondents
      (56%) indicated that physician-patient sexual contact had never been addressed in
      their training; only 3% had participated in a continuing education course
      focusing on this issue. Clear and enforceable medical ethics codes concerning
      physician-patient sexual contact are needed, as well as preventive educational
      programs for medical schools and residency programs.

PMID- 1441464
TI  - Quantitative quality assurance in a community hospital pediatric intensive care
      unit.
AB  - Unbiased, objective evaluations of quality of care are preferred over subjective
      evaluations. We observed 681 admissions to a pediatric intensive care unit of a
      community hospital from 1989 through 1990 for outcomes and physiologic profiles
      of the patients on the admission day using the Pediatric Risk of Mortality score
      to assess severity of illness. Mortality adjusted for severity of illness was
      compared with that predicted from a pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary
      medical center: 32.6 deaths were predicted based on the physiologic profiles, and
      23 occurred. The number of outcomes and their distribution according to mortality
      risk indicated close agreement between observed and predicted results. Thus, a
      quality-assurance technique developed in tertiary care centers can be used to
      indicate a comparable level of care in a community hospital.

PMID- 1441463
TI  - Mycobacterium avium complex and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients infected
      with the human immunodeficiency virus.
AB  - Primary care physicians play an important role in identifying and treating
      bacterial infections in adults infected with the human immunodeficiency virus
      (HIV). Mycobacterium avium complex and Mycobacterium tuberculosis are pathogens
      that can cause systemic or local infection in these patients. We review the
      epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and principles of treatment
      for these two mycobacterial pathogens. Because M tuberculosis disease is
      preventable and curable and yet communicable, physicians should maintain a high
      degree of suspicion for tuberculosis in HIV-infected adults. In comparison, the
      goal of treating M avium complex in patients with advanced HIV disease is to
      reduce constitutional symptoms and improve survival.

PMID- 1441465
TI  - Screening mammography reports. Toward clear, concise clinical descriptions.

PMID- 1441468
TI  - Occupational asthma.
AB  - The Council on Scientific Affairs of the California Medical Association presents
      the following inventory of items of progress in chest diseases. Each item, in the
      judgment of a panel of knowledgeable physicians, has recently become reasonably
      firmly established, both as to scientific fact and important clinical
      significance. The items are presented in simple epitome, and an authoritative
      reference, both to the item itself and to the subject as a whole, is generally
      given for those who may be unfamiliar with a particular item. The purpose is to
      assist busy practitioners, students, researchers, or scholars to stay abreast of
      these items of progress in chest diseases that have recently achieved a
      substantial degree of authoritative acceptance, whether in their own field of
      special interest or another. The items of progress listed below were selected by
      the Advisory Panel to the Section on Chest Diseases of the California Medical
      Association, and the summaries were prepared under its direction.

PMID- 1441466
TI  - Erythropoietin therapy in patients with chronic renal failure.
AB  - Symptomatic anemia is a common complication of chronic renal failure. Treatment
      is now possible with the availability of recombinant human erythropoietin
      (epoetin alfa). Previous experimental studies have suggested that correcting the
      anemia of chronic renal failure may be harmful in that renal failure may be
      accelerated. Although experience with this drug has been primarily restricted to
      its use in patients with end-stage renal disease, several recent trials have been
      reported in patients with varying degrees of chronic renal failure. We review
      these studies with particular reference to the progression of renal failure and
      the drug's reported side effects. We conclude that the use of epoetin is
      beneficial and well tolerated and that there is no compelling evidence for the
      acceleration of renal failure associated with its use in patients.

PMID- 1441469
TI  - Antibiotics for pneumonia.

PMID- 1441470
TI  - Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

PMID- 1441467
TI  - The second century of the antibody. Molecular perspectives in regulation,
      pathophysiology, and therapeutic applications.
AB  - The modern age of immunology began in 1890 with the discovery of antibodies as a
      major component of protective immunity. The 2nd century of the antibody begins
      with a focus on the molecular physiology and pathophysiology of immunoglobulin
      production. Numerous human variable-region antibody genes have been identified
      through advances in molecular cloning and anti-variable-region monoclonal
      antibodies. Some of these variable-region genes are now known to be involved in
      specific stages of B-lymphocyte differentiation and immune development. This
      connection has yielded new insights into the pathogenesis of immune dyscrasias
      and lymphoid neoplasia; common variable immunodeficiency and cryoglobulinemia are
      highlighted here. The molecular regulation of immunoglobulin expression suggests
      new targets for pathogenesis and clinical intervention. Finally, genetically
      engineered antibodies offer novel opportunities for diagnostic and therapeutic
      applications.

PMID- 1441471
TI  - Thrombolytic treatment of pulmonary embolism.

PMID- 1441472
TI  - Lung-assist devices.

PMID- 1441473
TI  - Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia.

PMID- 1441474
TI  - Advances in pulmonary biopsy techniques.

PMID- 1441475
TI  - Lung transplantation.

PMID- 1441476
TI  - Monoclonal therapy for bacteremia and sepsis.

PMID- 1441477
TI  - Conventional treatment of cystic fibrosis.

PMID- 1441478
TI  - Aerosolized bronchodilators.

PMID- 1441479
TI  - Screening for obstructive sleep apnea using pulse oximetry.

PMID- 1441480
TI  - Long-standing latent idiopathic hypoparathyroidism discovered during concurrent
      central nervous system disease.

PMID- 1441481
TI  - Cerebral infarction as a remote complication of childhood Haemophilus influenzae
      meningitis.

PMID- 1441482
TI  - Ehrlichiosis in a visitor to Virginia.

PMID- 1441483
TI  - Blood-saturated operating-room shoe covers.

PMID- 1441484
TI  - The 'R' word. 'Rationing' of health care and the role of academic health centers.

PMID- 1441485
TI  - Physician aid in dying. What physicians say, what patients say.

PMID- 1441486
TI  - Assisted suicide--what euthanasia activists say, what people with disabilities
      say.

PMID- 1441487
TI  - The popular movement for physician-assisted dying--what the public is saying,
      what physicians are hearing.

PMID- 1441488
TI  - Death, politics, and philosophy.

PMID- 1441489
TI  - Physician aid in dying--finding the middle ground.

PMID- 1441490
TI  - Recombinant erythropoietin therapy in renal and nonrenal anemia.

PMID- 1441491
TI  - Manifestations of adult varicella in the United States Navy, 1984-1987.

PMID- 1441492
TI  - Successful treatment of markedly symptomatic patients with type II diabetes
      mellitus using high doses of sulfonylurea agents.

PMID- 1441493
TI  - Abdominal aortic aneurysm. Incidence in a hospital population at risk.
AB  - The incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysms has been studied in various selected
      patient groups. In this study, 100 male patients on a cardiology service who were
      older than 60 years and over 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) tall were examined by abdominal
      ultrasonograms. A total of 11 aneurysms were found, 2 of which were more than 4.5
      cm in diameter. Other abnormalities that were found included renal disease in 20
      patients (1 carcinoma treated with a curative nephrectomy), gallbladder disease
      in 22 patients, and miscellaneous intra-abdominal disease in 6 patients; 47
      patients had no abnormalities found. The aneurysms of these patients were
      classified by a patient's height in 5-cm (2-in) increments. No significant
      difference in the incidence of aneurysms was found within the groups, but these
      groups are small and a significant difference would not be expected. It is of
      interest that the two large aneurysms were in persons taller than 180 cm (5 ft 11
      in). Previous ultrasonographic studies of aneurysmal incidence have not reported
      other intra-abdominal disease.

PMID- 1441494
TI  - Radiation retinopathy.
AB  - Radiation therapy is effective against many cancerous and noncancerous disease
      processes. As with other therapeutics, side effects must be anticipated,
      recognized, and managed appropriately. Radiation retinopathy is a vision
      threatening complication of ocular, orbital, periorbital, facial, nasopharyngeal,
      and cranial irradiation. Factors that appear important in the pathogenesis of
      radiation retinopathy include total radiation dosage, fraction size, concomitant
      chemotherapy, and preexisting vascular disorders. Clinical manifestations of the
      disorder include macular edema and nonproliferative and proliferative
      retinopathy, similar to changes seen in diabetic retinopathy. Argon laser
      photocoagulation has proved efficacious for managing macular edema and
      fibrovascular proliferation in some of these patients. Ongoing basic laboratory
      and clinical research efforts have led to a better understanding of the
      pathogenesis, natural history, and treatment response of radiation retinopathy.
      The ultimate goal of this knowledge is to improve the prevention, recognition,
      and management of this vision-threatening complication.

PMID- 1441495
TI  - Effects of the multiple risk factor intervention trial smoking cessation program
      on pulmonary function. A randomized controlled trial.
AB  - To determine whether the decline in pulmonary function in smokers is modified by
      stop-smoking intervention, a randomized controlled study (the Multiple Risk
      Factor Intervention Trial) was done comparing participants in a special
      intervention group that included an intensive smoking cessation program with
      those assigned to usual care. The subjects were 6,347 middle-aged male smokers
      who had serial measurements of pulmonary function--principally the forced
      expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)--during 6 to 7 years of follow-up. No
      overall differences were detected in the rate of loss of FEV1 in the two groups.
      The use of beta-blockers, which had detrimental effects on FEV1, was
      significantly more common in the intervention group. Among nonusers of beta
      blockers, heavy smokers lost FEV1 at a rate about 11 ml per year slower in the
      intervention group than in the control group (2P = .09) and ended the trial with
      an FEV1 about 90 ml higher (2P = .05). These results support the inference from
      observational studies that smoking cessation has a beneficial effect on pulmonary
      function in heavy smokers.

PMID- 1441498
TI  - Transesophageal echocardiography.
AB  - The Council on Scientific Affairs of the California Medical Association presents
      the following inventory of items of progress in anesthesiology. Each item, in the
      judgment of a panel of knowledgeable physicians, has recently become reasonably
      firmly established, both as to scientific fact and important clinical
      significance. The items are presented in simple epitome, and an authoritative
      reference, both to the item itself and to the subject as a whole, is generally
      given for those who may be unfamiliar with a particular item. The purpose is to
      assist busy practitioners, students, researchers, and scholars to stay abreast of
      these items of progress in anesthesiology, that have recently achieved a
      substantial degree of authoritative acceptance, whether in their own field of
      special interest or another. The items of progress listed below were selected by
      the Advisory Panel to the Section on Anesthesiology of the California Medical
      Association, and the summaries were prepared under its direction.

PMID- 1441496
TI  - Wake up and smell the coffee. Caffeine, coffee, and the medical consequences.
AB  - Caffeine is a methylxanthine whose primary biologic effect is antagonism of the
      adenosine receptor. Its presence in coffee, tea, soda beverages, chocolate, and
      many prescription and over-the-counter drugs makes it the most commonly consumed
      stimulant drug. Initially caffeine increases blood pressure, plasma catecholamine
      levels, plasma renin activity, serum free fatty acid levels, urine production,
      and gastric acid secretion. Its long-term effects have been more difficult to
      substantiate. Most of the caffeine consumed in the United States is in coffee,
      which contains many other chemicals that may have other biologic actions. The
      consumption of coffee is a self-reinforcing behavior, and caffeine dependence and
      addiction are common. Coffee and caffeine intake have been linked to many
      illnesses, but definitive correlations have been difficult to substantiate.
      Initial trials showing coffee's association with coronary disease and myocardial
      infarction have been difficult to reproduce and have many confounding variables.
      Recent studies showing a larger effect over long follow-up periods and with heavy
      coffee consumption have again brought the question of the role of coffee in
      disease states to the fore. Caffeine in average dosages does not seem to increase
      the risk of arrhythmia. At present there is no convincing evidence that caffeine
      or coffee consumption increases the risk for any solid tumor. The intake of
      coffee and caffeine has clearly been decreasing in this country over the past two
      decades, largely brought about by the increasing health consciousness of
      Americans. Although there have been many studies that hint that the fears of
      increased disease with coffee drinking may be warranted, many questions have yet
      to be answered about the health effects of coffee and caffeine use.

PMID- 1441497
TI  - Urinary tract infections in children. An update.
AB  - Urinary tract infection is a common and frequently recurring condition in
      children. The susceptibility of the host, the presence of urinary tract
      abnormalities, and the virulence of the urinary pathogens are of primary
      importance in the development of the infection. Renal parenchymal scarring,
      hypertension, and renal insufficiency are well-established complications of the
      infection in children. To reduce the risk of renal damage, diagnosis and
      treatment must be prompt. The diagnosis demands radiologic evaluation of the
      urinary tract in all boys, all children younger than 5 years, all patients with
      voiding dysfunction, and school-aged girls with recurrent infection to identify
      those patients with vesicoureteral reflux, obstruction, or other urinary tract
      abnormalities. Both voiding cystourethrography and renal ultrasonography are the
      initial examinations to use to determine the next appropriate study. Children
      with vesicoureteral reflux or with recurrent urinary tract infections should
      receive prophylactic antibiotic therapy and should be observed closely to prevent
      renal scarring.

PMID- 1441499
TI  - New applications of propofol.

PMID- 1441500
TI  - 'Do-not-resuscitate' orders in operating rooms.

PMID- 1441501
TI  - Novel approaches to the treatment of neuropathic pain.

PMID- 1441502
TI  - Postoperative pain.

PMID- 1441503
TI  - Perioperative myocardial ischemia.

PMID- 1441504
TI  - Sedating patients in intensive care units.

PMID- 1441505
TI  - Perioperative temperature control.

PMID- 1441506
TI  - Postoperative apnea syndrome in premature infants.

PMID- 1441507
TI  - Autologous blood transfusion therapy.

PMID- 1441508
TI  - Diffuse demyelinating lesions of the brain after the rapid development of
      hypernatremia.

PMID- 1441509
TI  - Adult Still's disease presenting as fever of undetermined origin in a patient
      with leukemoid reaction.

PMID- 1441510
TI  - Costs and coverage. Pressures toward health care reform.
AB  - Signs of discontent with the health care system are growing. Calls for health
      care reform are largely motivated by the continued increase in health care costs
      and the large number of people without adequate health insurance. For the past 20
      years, health care spending has risen at rates higher than the gross national
      product. As many as 35 million people are without health insurance. As proposals
      for health care reform are developed, it is useful to understand the roots of the
      cost problem. Causes of spiraling health care costs include "market failure" in
      the health care market, expansion in technology, excessive administrative costs,
      unnecessary care and defensive medicine, increased patient complexity, excess
      capacity within the health care system, and low productivity. Attempts to control
      costs, by the federal government for the Medicare program and then by the private
      sector, have to date been mostly unsuccessful. New proposals for health care
      reform are proliferating, and important changes in the health care system are
      likely.

PMID- 1441511
TI  - Health care reform--another view.

PMID- 1441512
TI  - Getting some breathing room--persuading patients to stop smoking.

PMID- 1441513
TI  - Caffeine under examination--a passing grade.

PMID- 1441514
TI  - Urinary tract infections--navigating complex currents.

PMID- 1441515
TI  - Osmotic shifts, metabolic compromise, and the vulnerability of the pons.

PMID- 1441516
TI  - Blood-saturated shoe covers.

PMID- 1441517
TI  - Earthquakes and the practicing physician.

PMID- 1441518
TI  - Let's not do with euthanasia what we did with abortion.

PMID- 1441519
TI  - [Results of conventional treatment of severe congestive heart failure with
      vasodilators].
AB  - In 61 patients with NYHA IV class chronic congestive heart failure, treated in
      succession with digoxin (D) and furosemide (F) for two weeks, with D+F and
      isosorbide dinitrate (S) or nifedipine (N) for two weeks, with D+F+S or N without
      C for two weeks, clinical status, chest X-ray picture and two dimensional
      echocardiography were evaluated at the end of each stage of the treatment. There
      were analyzed heart rate (HR), arterial systolic (Ps) and diastolic (Pd) blood
      pressure, body weight (Mc), 24-hour urinary output (Dd), cardio-thoracic index
      (CTI), cardiac volume index (CVI) and dimensions of the left ventricle: systolic
      (LVIDs), and diastolic (LVIDd). The mean daily doses of the drugs were as
      follows: D-0.290 +/- 0.108 mg, F-13.0 +/- 4.1 mg, S-44.5 +/- 9.8 mg, N-42.0 +/-
      12.2 mg, and C-75.1 +/- 24.4 mg. The treatment with vasodilators (Vd) induced
      decreases in Mc, CVI, LVIIDs and LVIDd in comparison with the treatment with D
      and F. The largest lowerings in HR, Ps, Pd and Mc were observed during the
      treatment with D and F. The most beneficial effects with regard to CVI, LVIDs and
      LVIDd were obtained during four-week treatment with captopril.

PMID- 1441520
TI  - [Results of the treatment of Sjogren's syndrome with TFX (thymus factor X)].
AB  - Seven patients with Sjogren's syndrome (6 with primary and 1 with secondary form
      of the syndrome developing during SLE) were treated with TFX Polfa in ampoules of
      10 mg during 6-12 month. Before the treatment, besides evaluation of the general
      clinical condition, the following immunological parameters were determined: IgG,
      IgA and IgM levels, absolute lymphocyte count, T-cell and B-cell counts, absolute
      neutrophil count, antinuclear antibodies, circulating immune complexes and skin
      tests with recall antigens (tuberculin and distreptase). The clinical condition
      of the patients was determined at monthly intervals and the immunological
      investigations were repeated after the treatment which lasted 6-12 months. In all
      patients alleviation was observed of the clinical manifestations of the disease
      with decreased proneness to infections. In some patients improvement was observed
      of the determined immunological parameters, in the first place, reversal of
      cutaneous tests from negative to positive.

PMID- 1441521
TI  - [Value of laparoscopy in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis].
AB  - The purpose of the study was evaluation of laparoscopy in the diagnosis of
      cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis. The studied material comprised 197 cases of
      cholestasis in which for diagnostic-prognostic purposes laparoscopy was done.
      During visual observation of the abdominal cavity in 81 cases cirrhosis and in 25
      chronic hepatitis was diagnosed. The reliability of the laparoscopic diagnosis
      was verified by the microscopic verification of the material obtained by guided
      biopsy of the liver or during operation. Among 81 cases of cirrhosis diagnosed
      during laparoscopy histological confirmation was obtained in 68 cases (83.9%). In
      the group of 25 cases with laparoscopic diagnosis of chronic hepatitis the
      diagnosis was confirmed histologically in 21 (84%) cases. The authors believe
      that laparoscopy extends the diagnostic possibilities in liver diseases. However
      reliable diagnosis can be obtained by microscopic examination of liver fragments
      obtained by guided biopsy or operation.

PMID- 1441522
TI  - [Diagnostic and prognostic value of the assessment of selected indicators of
      humoral immunity in alcoholism-related pathology of the liver].
AB  - The purpose of the study was evaluation of the usefulness of selected indices of
      humoral immune responsiveness in the differential diagnosis of post-alcoholic
      hepatocellular damage. The study was carried out in 105 patients: 10 patients
      with a history of alcohol abuse without clinical and biochemical evidence of
      hepatocellular damage, 2) patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, 3) patients with
      post-inflammatory cirrhosis. The prognostic usefulness of the determinations of
      serum IgM, C3 and C4 complement components and circulating immune complexes in
      early diagnostic of alcoholic liver disease was demonstrated. It was noted also
      that increased serum IgA level may be a useful index differentiating of cirrhosis
      after hepatitis from alcoholic cirrhosis.

PMID- 1441523
TI  - [Hepatitis A in drug addicts].
AB  - In the years 1982-1988 among patients admitted with the diagnosis of acute virus
      hepatitis to the Department of Infectious Hepatology, Institute of Infectious and
      Parasitic Diseases in Warsaw were 25 drug addicts. In 15 of them virus hepatitis
      B and in 10 virus hepatitis A was recognized. Virus hepatitis A had in the group
      of addicts a milder course than in controls not taking narcotics.

PMID- 1441524
TI  - [Phenomenon of increased resistance of yeast-like fungi to nystatin].
AB  - The results are presented of in vitro investigations of the sensitivity of 225
      strains of yeast-like fungi to nystatin. The strains were isolated from cutaneous
      and mucosal lesions. In the study nystatin concentration 10 micrograms/ml of the
      substrate was used and a two-grade scale of evaluation was applied: sensitive or
      resistant to the drug. It was found that 56.7% of the tested strains were
      resistant to this nystatin concentration. The obtained data were compared with
      those obtained in 1972 when all the tested strains were sensitive to nystatin in
      this concentration. The study showed that the resistance to nystatin has been
      rising in these organisms with years.

PMID- 1441525
TI  - [Sliding hiatal hernia in endoscopic examination].
AB  - Among 1000 successive endoscopic examinations carried out in the first 6 months
      of 1990 in a laboratory of endoscopy 443 cases (44.3%) of sliding hiatus hernia
      were analysed. The examination was carried out with an Olympus GIF-Q10 fibroscope
      without pharmacological premedication. The diagnosis was based on the criteria
      described by Dagradi and Trujillo at all. In 296 cases sliding hiatus hernia was
      the only pathological abnormality in the endoscopic examination. In 85 cases it
      was associated with mucosa inflammation in the oesophagus, and in 1 case with
      carcinoma of the oesophagus. No correlation was found between frequency of
      endoscopic finding of hiatus hernia and sex and age. The analysis showed that in
      110 out of 172 cases earlier routine radiological examination (63.9%) failed to
      demonstrate the hernia, whose direct signs were found in endoscopic examination.
      In no case radiological findings suggested the presence of oesophageal changes.
      It seems that endoscopic diagnostic of sliding hiatus hernia may contribute to
      explanation of the cause of "non-characteristic" gastric symptoms which in over
      half the cases were the cause of referral of the patients to this examination.

PMID- 1441526
TI  - [Further studies of the acid plate agglutination reaction in the diagnosis of
      brucellosis in humans].
AB  - Using the methods of acid platelet agglutination, agglutination, agglutination
      with 2-mercaptoethanol, Coombs' reaction, and complement binding reaction, 152
      serum specimens taken from patients with diagnosed brucellosis, were subjected to
      studies. The following per cent of seropositive results was shown: acid platelet
      agglutination--11.2%, agglutination--40.1%, agglutination with 2-mercaptoethanol-
      34.4%, Coombs' reaction--42.8%, complement binding reaction--7.9%. The acid
      platelet agglutination reaction cannot be used for screening for brucellosis in
      humans.

PMID- 1441527
TI  - [Silent myocardial ischemia].

PMID- 1441528
TI  - [Fungal stomach ulcer].
AB  - Fungal gastric ulcer is a relatively frequent from of gastric mycosis coexisting
      in 20-30% of cases with peptic ulcer. In such cases fungi were present in
      patients without other disease and in those with concomitant diseases such as
      neoplasms, polyps of the stomach, haematological diseases, and in patients
      treated with cytostatics and H2-blockers. Fungal ulcer differ from common ulcers
      in greater size and tendency for bleeding. In certain situations "fungal ulcer"
      requires routine antimycotic treatment especially if operation is planned.

PMID- 1441529
TI  - [Antiphospholipid syndrome].

PMID- 1441530
TI  - [Acrodermatitis enteropathica--congenital zinc deficiency syndrome].
AB  - The importance of the presence of zinc in human physiology and pathology has been
      analysed. The disturbances in the prostaglandin synthesis in the impaired
      intestinal zinc absorbtion have been of special interest. It is known that the
      deficiency of zinc results in the inborn clinical syndrome oh he disease and both
      its past and present treatment methods.

PMID- 1441531
TI  - [Severe exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B following interferon therapy].
AB  - A patient with chronic active hepatitis B was treated with interferon alpha.
      Inhibition of HBV replication was associated with severe exacerbation of
      hepatitis. Treatment of chronic hepatitis B with interferon may lead to transient
      decompensation of liver function, especially in patients with high activity of
      morphological changes.

PMID- 1441532
TI  - [Burgdorf's reaction (painful acral erythema) in patients with acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia following medium-dose methotrexate therapy].
AB  - Erythematous changes of the palms with associated oedema, blistering and
      desquamation were observed in two children during chemotherapy for acute
      lymphoblastic leukaemia, after methotrexate in doses of 1,000 mg/m2. These
      changes correspondent to those described in the literature as Burgdorf's
      reaction. In Poland it was never reported as yet.

PMID- 1441533
TI  - [A case of skin reactions to carbamazepine].
AB  - A case is described of severe cutaneous complications after carbamazepine
      administration. Attention is called to the frequency of adverse reactions to this
      drug.

PMID- 1441534
TI  - [A case of side effect of Biseptol].
AB  - A case of adverse side effects of co-trimoxazole (Biseptol) was observed, with
      predominance of neurological changes in the clinical picture. Attention is called
      to the infrequent occurrence of such side effects of this drug and to the
      necessity of prompt diagnostic and therapeutic management of such cases.

PMID- 1441535
TI  - [A case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the thyroid gland].
AB  - A case is reported of centrocytic-centroblastic malignant lymphoma situated in
      the thyroid and simulating goitre. Attention is called to difficulties in
      establishing of correct diagnosis.

PMID- 1441536
TI  - [Stress fracture of the clavicle].

PMID- 1441537
TI  - [Epidemiological analysis of the correlations between selected individual
      characteristics of patients with primary arterial hypertension].
AB  - The purpose of the study was to find the correlations and to evaluate their
      strength between the progression of hypertension and age, sex, time between the
      diagnosis of hypertension and the beginning of treatment, body weight and other
      characteristics. The study was carried out in the population of patients treated
      in the Cardiology Department, Medical Academy in Lublin in the period 1981-1984.
      The computer-assisted analysis of the obtained material was carried out in the
      Department of Epidemiology, Medical Academy in Lublin. The studied population
      comprised 320 patients with essential hypertension. In the statistical analysis
      the chi square test was applied for finding of statistically significant
      correlations and Pearson test was used for estimation of correlation strength.
      Statistically significant correlations were obtained between the progression of
      hypertension and age, sex, time between hypertension diagnosis and present
      treatment and body weight.

PMID- 1441538
TI  - [Occurrence of retrograde conduction after ventricular stimulation with the VVI
      pacemaker].

PMID- 1441539
TI  - [Postoperative complications and mortality; results of skin tests in delayed
      hypersensitivity].
AB  - In 221 patients the test of cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity was done before
      the operation and 4 days after it, using 3 antigens: tuberculin, distreptase and
      phytohaemagglutinin. The patients were divided into three groups: I control (109)
      subjected to minor and moderately serious operations, and study group (II) with
      peritonitis (IIa 40 cases), digestive tract cancer (IIb 65 cases) and digestive
      tract diseases (IIc 7 cases). The study showed that in cases with preoperative
      anergy to antigens the operations were followed significantly more frequently by
      serious septic complications and mortality from these complications was much
      higher. No patients with preoperatively normal responses to the antigens died
      after the operations. The test makes possible preoperative detection of high
      surgical risk connected with infection, and early treatment reducing
      postoperative mortality.

PMID- 1441540
TI  - [Elaboration of a device for detection of the ovulation period in women].
AB  - The results are described of studies for evolving of modern methods for
      determination of the ovulation time in women. After an analysis of literature
      reports three methods were chosen based on differences in body temperature
      measurements and a measuring device for these experiments was designed. The
      results are presented of preliminary experiments with this method of
      "measurements of changes in the reactivity of blood vessels". Further studies can
      be conducted only by physicians, and the paper contains proposals of using this
      device as well as the literature data.

PMID- 1441541
TI  - [Results of the treatment of steroid-resistant and steroid-dependent nephrotic
      syndrome with pulsed doses of prednisolone].
AB  - In 12 children with steroid-resistant and 17 with steroid-sensitive nephrotic
      syndrome massive doses of prednisolone were used in intravenous infusions
      ("pulses"). In 8 children with steroid-resistant and 9 with steroid-sensitive
      nephrotic syndrome very good or good results were obtained. The authors suppose
      that in a part of the children previous ineffectiveness of this immunosuppressive
      treatment could have been due to insufficient dosage. Rosette tests before and
      after pulses demonstrated a reduction of the total number of T-cells after
      pulses. The change of the ratio of theophylline-resistant to theophylline
      sensitive lymphocytes suggests that this reduction was caused mainly by a fall of
      the number of helper T-cells and non-specific cytotoxic cells.

PMID- 1441542
TI  - [Lung cancer among the autochthonous population and among immigrants Upper
      Silesia in relation to smoking, exposure to harmful factors at work and
      atmospheric pollution].
AB  - By the case-control method 367 patients with lung carcinoma coming from the
      autochthonous population of Upper Silesia and 253 similar patients from the
      population of immigrants from other areas were compared (620 cases, in all)
      treated in the Institute of Oncology in Gliwice in the years 1982-1989. They
      accounted for about 85% of all male patients with this tumour. In the analysis
      three zones of Upper Silesia with varying concentrations of atmospheric
      pollution, where the patients lived, were considered, estimating the risk of this
      tumour in relation to pollution level, and standardizing the risk for tobacco
      smoking and considering data related to the exposure to harmful factors in
      occupational work. The analysis showed that the so called summarized index of
      relative risk was about 2.5 times greater for the autochthonous as well as
      immigrant populations in the zone of greatest atmospheric pollution with
      statistically significant differences in relation to the relatively most
      favourable zone (accepted as 1.00) However, the risk was progressively rising
      only in the autochthonous population (in all 3 zones). That showed that the risk
      of lung carcinoma was increasing in this population with increasing atmospheric
      pollution. This evident progression of risk was not found in the population of
      immigrants, although the risk level in this population living in the zone of
      greatest pollution was similar to that in the autochthonous population.

PMID- 1441543
TI  - [Surgical treatment of otosclerosis].
AB  - The purpose of the study was evaluation of the surgical treatment of otosclerosis
      by the method of small and large window. On the basis of four conversation
      frequencies hearing improvement was assessed in 44 ears after operation. Closure
      of cochlear reserve to 10 dB was obtained in 70.5% of cases. The mean hearing
      improvement was 29 dB. The best results were obtained with stapedotomy (small
      window method), particularly at 4 kHz frequencies.

PMID- 1441544
TI  - [Endoscopic picture of hemorrhage from the upper digestive tract in elderly
      patients].
AB  - The causes of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding were analysed in 412 patients
      dividing them into age groups below and over 60 years. Both groups were compared
      using endoscopic classification of bleedings by Forrest. In the group aged over
      60 years a significantly higher per cent of type II lesion was found, especially
      non-bleeding vascular stump protruding from the bottom of the ulcer. This lesion
      was associated in nearly half the cases with recurrence of bleeding. The finding
      of this endoscopic picture should suggest the necessity of a more radical
      operation, although the operative risk is higher in patients aged over 60 years.

PMID- 1441545
TI  - [Radioisotope methods of evaluation of myocardial blood flow].

PMID- 1441546
TI  - [Primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary liver cirrhosis as the causes
      of intrahepatic cholestasis].
AB  - Primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cirrhosis are rarely diagnosed
      diseases which should, however, be considered in the diagnosis of cholestasis.
      The authors present an outline of the modern knowledge on these diseases with
      particular reference to differential diagnosis.

PMID- 1441547
TI  - [Non-ulcer dyspepsia].
AB  - The definition, classification, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of
      functional disturbances of the upper part of the digestive tract called "non
      ulcer dyspepsia" are described. Attention is called to the frequency of these
      disorders, and stress is laid on the role of digestive tract motor function tests
      in the knowledge of the pathophysiology and effective treatment. In the
      therapeutic proposals the authors prefer the use of prokinetic drugs, especially
      metoclopramide, domperidone and cisapridine.

PMID- 1441548
TI  - [Decidual prolactin].
AB  - Human prolactin (hPRL) is a hormone produced by the lactotropic cells of the
      hypophysis and by the endometrium converted to decidua in pregnancy. Prolactin of
      decidual origin is identical with the pituitary hormone. Decidual prolactin is
      released mainly by the extraplacental fetal membranes. Prolactin production was
      found also in the endometrium in late secretory phase of normal menstrual cycle.
      It was noted that hPRL production by the decidua in various periods of pregnancy
      is closely correlated with hPRL concentration in the amniotic fluid. Peak hPRL
      release into the amniotic fluid is in the 24th week of pregnancy. The most
      important biological function of decidual prolactin is its effect on water and
      electrolyte transport for the needs of the fetus, and this transport takes place
      mainly across the fetal membranes. Moreover, it was found that prolactin affects
      the synthesis of fetal surfactant, influences calcium absorption in the fetal
      intestine. Calcium and phosphorus are obtained by the fetus from the amniotic
      fluid. Many authors suggest that decidual prolactin has a role in the process of
      implantation and early development of the blastocyst.

PMID- 1441549
TI  - [Recurrent acute chylous peritonitis].
AB  - A case of acute chylous diffuse peritonitis with recurrences was treated by
      peritoneal drainage. During the first hospital stay this drainage resulted in
      cure. After 17 months another recurrence treated in the same way led to death
      with increasing renal failure, diabetes, cardiorespiratory failure.

PMID- 1441550
TI  - [Severe EPH gestosis complicated by development of complete HELLP syndrome].
AB  - This is the first in Poland report on fully developed HELLP syndrome complicating
      severe EPH gestosis. The diagnosis and treatment of the syndrome are discussed in
      the light of a literature survey.

PMID- 1441551
TI  - [Treatment of hyperlipidemia in the prevention of ischemic heart disease. A
      proposal for the unification of medical management. I and II].

PMID- 1441552
TI  - [4 years' methadone substitution therapy in Austria].
AB  - On September 25th 1987 methadone was legalized for therapeutic use in Austria.
      During the past four years altogether 1828 opiate addicts were admitted to
      methadone maintenance treatment. 439 females and 926 males were currently being
      treated in December 1991; their age ranged from 16-59 years, the daily oral d,l
      methadone dose levels varied between 10 mg and 250 mg per day. Only 406 doctors
      and 123 pharmacies participate in methadone maintenance treatment, which does not
      provide complete cover for the area in spite of increased finding. Moreover, the
      doctors' skills in this treatment have to be improved by requisite training. As
      Austrian experience shows, methadone treatment offers a first step towards social
      rehabilitation for drug addicts who have been living as criminals on the fringe
      of society. Socioeconomic data, as well as criminal behaviour changed
      dramatically for the better due to this treatment in Austria. Physicians have a
      clear responsibility to lead the effort on all fronts in the implementation of
      this treatment modality. Therapeutic drug monitoring should become routine in
      methadone treatment to ensure compliance and to achieve optimum results,
      especially in patients who complain of withdrawal symptoms and continue high-risk
      behaviour and to increase acceptance of substitution therapy. The Austrian
      treatment model for methadone maintenance treatment is a positive example for
      other countries who wish to introduce this treatment modality for drug addiction.

PMID- 1441553
TI  - The diagnostic impact of magnetic resonance imaging on the evaluation of
      suspected spinal cord disease.
AB  - The data from 262 patients studied consecutively for suspected spinal cord
      disease were analysed to determine the utility of magnetic resonance imaging
      (MRI) in this clinical setting. Damage to the spinal cord was detected in a total
      of 188 (72%) patients and was caused by myelocompression in two thirds and by
      intramedullary lesions in one third of the patients. Misleading sensory levels 5
      to 12 segments below the actual lesion site were seen in 26% of patients with
      both extra- and intramedullary types of abnormality. A negative spinal MRI
      implied predominantly demyelinating or inflammatory origin of the clinical
      symptomatology, as was indicated by additional MRI studies of the brain and CSF
      findings. It is concluded that MRI is the procedure of choice for assessing
      patients with medullary symptoms. Irrespective of localizing neurologic findings
      the evaluation of the entire spine and even of the brain may be necessary to
      obtain maximum diagnostic information.

PMID- 1441554
TI  - [Epidemiology of suicide in Austria 1980 to 1990].
AB  - This article investigates the suicide rates in Austria from 1980 to 1990
      according to age groups and the methods used. In the years investigated the
      overall suicide rate increased until 1986, followed by a decline until 1990. The
      suicide rate in women shows a gradual linear increase with age, whilst in men
      there is a biphasic curve with a steep increase in teenagers and young men in
      their early twenties, followed by a plateau and a second steep increase as from
      65 years of age, whereby the increase from "60-64 years" to the age group "over
      85 years" is 134%. Regarding the age groups the decline over the past years in
      women is biggest in the groups "35-39 years" and "65-69 years", with men a
      decrease is present in the age groups from 20 to 50 years. Concerning the methods
      used, hanging is the most common mode of suicide in both women (36.4%) and men
      (48.8%). Suicide in the elderly--particularly in old men--which has increased
      internationally over the past few decades is targeted as the major area for
      vigorous preventive measures in Austria.

PMID- 1441555
TI  - [Randomized field study of the etiology of strabismus concomitans].
AB  - After an introduction to the problems of binocular vision and an overview of the
      literature, the authors report on the reasons for undertaking this study and on
      its practical implications. Up to now, no other randomized study has been
      undertaken to our knowledge on children of this age group in such a large city as
      Vienna. All children in primary 3 classes in 20 out of the 256 elementary schools
      were examined ophthalmologically and orthoptically. It was found that hereditary
      factors are of statistically significant importance. Especially important for the
      ophthalmologist is also the statistically significant relation between the
      diagnosis poor range of fusion, poor fixation, incorrect Worth test for distance
      and/or proximity, and poor or lacking stereoscopic vision with the occurrence of
      strabism. The authors were astonished to find a remarkably high percentage of
      exophoria (58%), in contrast to esophoria (16%). It is interesting for
      prophylaxis and therapy that children originating from families where spectacles
      are worn, acted more cooperatively and tended to take the orders of the physician
      more seriously than those coming from families without eye problems. The
      promotion of genetic research related to squint and more counselling for couples
      wishing to have children or confronted with risk factor problems would be
      desirable, as well as the inclusion of more obligatory ophthalmological
      examinations in the mother-child medical "passport".

PMID- 1441556
TI  - Laminar heterotopic grey matter (double cortex) in a patient with late onset
      Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
AB  - The Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a severe epileptic disorder, characterized
      by developmental delay, typical electroencephalographic pattern and poor control
      of seizures. This epileptic syndrome generally presents in early childhood but
      exceptionally starts at the age of 5 years or later. We describe a patient who
      was classified as late-onset LGS, with evidence of mild hydrocephalus on CT. MRI
      added new diagnostic information by demonstrating laminar heterotopic grey
      matter.

PMID- 1441557
TI  - [Role of the supplementary motor area for spatial parameters of bimanual
      movements].

PMID- 1441558
TI  - [Neurologic symptoms within the scope of endocrine emergencies].
AB  - Functional disturbances of the central and peripheral nervous system can be seen
      in various internal diseases and it is not unusual that neurological symptoms are
      the first kind of presentation. The tight anatomical and functional junction
      between neurology and endocrinology predisposes to the development of
      neurological derangements such as somnolence, coma, seizures, and focal signs
      following endocrinological emergencies. In spite of modern imaging and laboratory
      methods, history and clinical examination are still of great importance to
      establish the correct diagnosis.

PMID- 1441559
TI  - Hemodynamic findings in migraine patients on transcranial Doppler sonography.
AB  - Forty migraine patients were examined by means of 3D-transcranial Doppler
      scanning (TCD). The complete circle of Willis was investigated in all patients
      during headache-free intervals. TCD investigations were repeated in 10 patients
      during a migraine attack, in one patient twice. Based on the diagnostic criteria
      of the "headache classification committee of the international headache society"
      23 patients were assigned to a "migraine without aura" group and 17 to a
      "migraine with aura" group. Twenty age-matched volunteers, not suffering from
      headache or any vascular disease, served as a control group. No significant
      differences were detected between the hemodynamic data of the control group and
      the migraine groups both with respect to the headache-free interval and the
      attack. No hemodynamic changes in keeping with the pathophysiologic hypothesis of
      vasospasm were found in the proximal segments of the basal cerebral arteries.

PMID- 1441560
TI  - [Smoking is a risk factor for spinal diseases. Hypothesis of the pathomechanism].
AB  - Epidemiological studies strongly imply that smoking is a risk factor for back
      problems. The question arises as to the nature of the underlying pathomechanism.
      Several theories are currently discussed in the literature: it could be due to
      "unhealthy" life styles associated with smoking, to a rise in intraabdominal
      pressure caused by frequent coughing, or to osteoporosis of smokers. All of these
      hypotheses, however, do not stand up to a critical examination of the
      experimental evidence. A new theory is, therefore, put forward, claiming that
      smoking leads to malnutrition of the discs, which in turn renders them more
      vulnerable to mechanical stress. Malnutrition can be brought about by CO-Hb
      formation, vasoconstriction, arteriosclerotic vessel wall changes, impairment of
      fibrinolytic activity and changes in the flow properties of blood, all of which
      are known effects of smoking. The evidence for these pathomechanisms is
      discussed. Future studies should test the above hypothesis experimentally.

PMID- 1441561
TI  - [Perspective in the incidence of Alzheimer's disease in Austria by the year
      2050].
AB  - Population projections of the Austrian Central Statistical Office show a dramatic
      increase in the proportion of people of 65 years of age and over in Austria by
      the year 2050. Since this population group is at higher risk to develop
      Alzheimer's disease (AD/SDAT), it will be necessary to modify the currently
      available facilities for social and medical care to meet this increasing demand.
      Based on official demographic data and epidemiological findings of the "Eurodem"
      group, our computations show that the number of persons with AD/SDAT aged 65 or
      over will rise from 48,000 at present to over 113,500 in 2050 (1990: 614/100,000,
      2050: 1505/100,000 persons of the total population), equivalent to an increase of
      140%. By forecasting the number of persons affected, it should be possible to
      intensify (and in some areas introduce) long-term health planning with respect to
      the social, financial and medical care of aged, demented people in Austria.

PMID- 1441562
TI  - [Video-endoscopic interventions in thoracic surgery].
AB  - Between October and December 1991 we performed videoendoscopic procedures,
      including resection of lung tissue, on 9 patients in our thoracic surgery unit. A
      lung measuring 15 x 18 was extirpated in 1 patient and parietal pleurectomy was
      performed after complicated pneumothorax in 4 patients. In one of these cases it
      was necessary to close a parenchymal leak and in 3 cases bullae had to be
      removed. Resection was undertaken in 4 patients for peripheral lung nodules, in
      one of them for metastases. Two patients proceeded to conventional lobectomy
      immediately after the frozen section results came through. Closure of lung
      parenchyma was carried out by means of the new ENDO-GIA stapler. Duration of the
      procedure was less than one hour except in the case of one patient. In one case
      it was necessary to use three cannulae. In the other cases two cannulae (one for
      videoendoscopy and fixating instrument, one for preparation instrument and
      stapler) sufficed for the operation to be undertaken without difficulty. This new
      technique brings all the known advantages of minimal invasive intervention to
      patients requiring thoracic surgery.

PMID- 1441563
TI  - [Laparoscopic cholecystectomy--evaluation of a prospective follow-up study].
AB  - A report is presented on 105 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy
      because of symptomatic gallstone disease. Preoperative and intraoperative
      findings, complications and results were prospectively documented. In four (3.8%)
      patients the laparoscopic procedure had to be converted into open
      cholecystectomy. There were only minor surgical complications such as wound
      infection and a subhepatic haematoma. On average, patients were discharged on the
      second postoperative day. The operating time decreased from a median of 98
      minutes in the first half to 73 minutes in the second half of the study, despite
      augmentation of the number of surgeons and of the indications to include patients
      with acute cholecystitis (n = 11), previous upper abdominal surgery (n = 7) and
      cirrhosis (n = 2).

PMID- 1441564
TI  - [Spinal meningoceles. Diagnosis--microsurgery--long-term results].

PMID- 1441565
TI  - [The Hypertension Optimal Treatment Study. Background information].

PMID- 1441566
TI  - [Anabolic steroids in athletes].
AB  - The use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AS) to enhance appearance as well as
      physical/physiological capacities has increased dramatically over the past four
      decades in all age groups from early adolescence to adulthood. Although higher AS
      use rates are reported by elite and competitive athletes, a significant number of
      recreational athletes appear to be using AS. The scientific literature is
      inconsistent and at times at odds with the conventional wisdom and empirical
      experiences of the athletic community regarding the ergogenic effects of AS.
      However, individuals experienced in weight training, with an adequate diet, and
      who continue training during AS administration seem to consistently increase
      their strength and lean mass over what would have been expected from training
      alone. Previous research documenting deleterious but transient and mostly
      asymptomatic acute changes in physiology, risk factors and behavior has been
      inconclusive regarding the long term health impact. The abuse of AS constitutes a
      special challenge to society. AS are not euphorigenic or mood altering
      immediately following administration, as are other illicit drugs; the appetite
      for AS has been created predominantly by our societal fixations on winning and
      physical appearance. Consequently any successful intervention in this area must
      go beyond education, law enforcement and drug testing, and attempt to change a
      social environment which currently encourages the use of AS.

PMID- 1441567
TI  - [Aerobic upper body training. An underutilized potential in training therapy].
AB  - Until recently, there was little or no emphasis on aerobic upper body exercise
      training, despite research strongly supports the inclusion of this type of
      exercise in cardiac rehabilitation programs and adult fitness. The limited degree
      of transfer of training benefits from trained limbs to another set of untrained
      limbs appears to discount the practice of recommending aerobic leg exercise
      alone. In addition, leg training programs fail to accommodate individuals with
      specific health problems. There is an increased physiological stress during arm
      training, if compared to leg training. Exercise intensity derived from a bicycle-
      or treadmill test would therefore cause an inappropriately target heart rate for
      upper body exercise. Thus, target heart rate has to be reduced by 10 to 20% to be
      adequate for aerobic arm training. Finally, an example of a progressive arm
      exercise training program is shown.

PMID- 1441568
TI  - [Females in performance sports from the sports medicine viewpoint].
AB  - Especially in the endurance disciplines, the performance of women went up
      considerably in the course of the past few decades. This seems to be peculiar to
      the female sex and can be taken as a hint to a higher adaptability of the female
      organism with respect to the various motor capacities required for strength and
      endurance. During the past 10 years, however, the rate, with which the
      performance gap in the endurance disciplines narrowed, has slowed down
      distinctly. Thus, it seems, that the era during which the women vigorously caught
      up on the men, is coming to an end in the endurance sports. The different
      capacity of the sexes with respect to strength is rooted in the differently
      dimensioned cross sections of the muscle fibres and in the higher activation
      capability of the skeletal muscles of men. No differences exist with respect to
      the relative proportions of the ST-, FTa- and FTb-fibres and with respect to the
      biochemistry of the muscles. Just as in case of men, the adaptation of the
      cardiovascular system to endurance training manifests in a uniform enlargement of
      all of the heart's cavities. It is true, that women have a smaller heart volume
      and lower values for the maximum oxygen uptake, but these differences or by no
      means related to sex alone. Very often, they are produced by the fact that the
      endurance training of the women did not go that far. As regards the energy
      substrates, there is the hypothesis that women have better utilization of free
      fatty acids under conditions of prolonged and intensive physical work.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1441569
TI  - Lymphatic filariasis: the disease and its control. Fifth report of the WHO Expert
      Committee on Filariasis.

PMID- 1441570
TI  - WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization.

PMID- 1441571
TI  - Politics and war.

PMID- 1441572
TI  - Management of neck pain.

PMID- 1441573
TI  - Musculoskeletal pain and work disability.
AB  - Musculo-skeletal pain caused by neck and back injury, cumulative trauma to the
      upper extremities, fibromyalgia, and reflex dystrophy is an important cause of
      worker disability. Physicians are involved not only in the care of injured
      workers, but in providing independent medical opinions regarding such injuries.
      Advances in medical knowledge permit better understanding and management of these
      injuries, and it is the responsibility of all physicians to provide accurate
      diagnosis, treatment, and information to patients, employers, insurers, and the
      workers compensation system.

PMID- 1441574
TI  - Occupational low back pain: prevention of chronic disability.
AB  - Work-related low back pain is a major problem for both patients and employers.
      Although the cause of the pain is often unclear, patients failing to return to
      work within 3 to 6 months have a poor medical and economic prognoses. This
      article reviews issues relevant to the need for aggressive management of acute,
      work-related LBP cases.

PMID- 1441575
TI  - Occupational soft tissue disorders of the hand and forearm.
AB  - Upper extremity work-related diagnoses are becoming more frequent as a source of
      chronic pain and lost work time for the injured worker. Early directed care
      toward diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation is needed to prevent a protracted
      course. A review of common regional problems of the upper extremity is presented.

PMID- 1441577
TI  - Assessment of disability status: the role of the physician.

PMID- 1441576
TI  - Fibromuscular pain disorders in the injured worker: accurate examination is the
      key to diagnosis.

PMID- 1441578
TI  - Review process for reasonableness of fees and necessity of treatment disputes
      involving Worker's Compensation cases.

PMID- 1441579
TI  - Physicians and the Worker's Compensation system.

PMID- 1441580
TI  - Breast cancer survival in Wisconsin.

PMID- 1441581
TI  - The Gundersen legacy.

PMID- 1441582
TI  - Nutritional factors and the etiology of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus:
      an epidemiological overview.

PMID- 1441583
TI  - The affluent diet and its consequences: Saudi Arabia--a case in point.

PMID- 1441584
TI  - Vitamins and hypertension.

PMID- 1441585
TI  - Long-chain omega 3 fatty acids are the most effective polyunsaturated fatty acids
      for dietary prevention and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusions
      from clinical studies.

PMID- 1441586
TI  - Molecular cloning of a cDNA for rat diabetes-inducible cytochrome P450RLM6:
      hormonal regulation and similarity to the cytochrome P4502E1 gene.
AB  - 1. A polyclonal, monospecific antibody to a constitutive, diabetes-inducible and
      insulin-reversible cytochrome P-450 isozyme (RLM6) was used to screen a male rat
      liver cDNA library in lambda gt 11. Six clones harbouring the RLM6 cDNA insert
      were isolated initially from the expression library and three of these were
      further plaque-purified and sub-cloned. A 1.1 Kb cDNA insert, representing
      approximately 65% of the expected full length cDNA was characterized by
      restriction endonuclease mapping and sequenced by the dideoxy chain-termination
      method. Comparison of the nucleotide sequence of RLM6 cDNA to that of ethanol
      inducible P4502E1 rat cDNA showed the two cDNAs to be identical, the RLM6 cDNA
      corresponding to nucleotides 310-1402 of the P4502E1 sequence. 2. RLM6 cDNA probe
      was used in Northern blot and RNA dot blot hybridization analysis to demonstrate
      that both streptozotocin-induced diabetes and fasting significantly elevated the
      steady-state level of RLM6 mRNA in male rat liver. Increased RLM6 mRNA level in
      the diabetic rat resulted in increased RLM6 apoprotein synthesis when polysomal
      RNA was used in a cell-free, protein-synthesizing system, indicating that the
      elevated RLM6 level observed in diabetic rats was correlated directly with the
      increased RLM6 mRNA concentration. 3. Daily insulin treatment of diabetic rats
      reversed the diabetes-dependent increase in RLM6 mRNA in a time-dependent manner,
      returning to control values after approximately 2 weeks of continuous insulin
      treatment. This insulin-dependent decrease of the RLM6 mRNA level was paralleled
      by a similar time-dependent decrease in serum acetone concentration. 4. Treatment
      of the male diabetic rat with testosterone also resulted in a decrease in both
      RLM6 mRNA and in vitro translated apoprotein. 5. Modulation of RLM6 mRNA level in
      the diabetic rat by insulin and testosterone, and the nucleotide sequence
      similarity with that of P4502E1 confirms that diabetes-inducible P450RLM6 and
      ethanol-inducible P4502E1 are coded for by the same gene.

PMID- 1441587
TI  - Bacterial metabolism of 2,6-dinitrotoluene with Salmonella typhimurium and
      mutagenicity of the metabolites of 2,6-dinitrotoluene and related compounds.
AB  - 1. Metabolites produced by the incubation of 2,6-dinitrotoluene (2,6-DNT) with
      Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98, TA 98/1,8-DNP6 and TA 98NR were examined.
      Mutagenicities of bacterial products and related compounds were also examined in
      the Ames assay using TA 98 and TA 100. 2. 2,6-DNT was converted to 2-nitroso-6
      nitrotoluene, 2-hydroxylamino-6-nitrotoluene and 2-amino-6-nitrotoluene, with
      concurrent spontaneous formation of 2,2'-dimethyl-3,3'-dinitroazoxybenzene, in
      the incubation with TA 98 and TA 98/1,8-DNP6. Capacity of TA 98NR to reduce 2,6
      DNT was much lower than that of TA 98 and TA 98/1,8-DNP6. 3. Bacterial products,
      including 2,2'-dimethyl-3,3'-dinitroazoxybenzene, showed no mutagenic activity in
      the Ames assay. 4. Results indicate that the lack of mutagenic activity of 2,6
      DNT is not due to low reductive metabolism of 2,6-DNT by bacteria, but due to the
      lack of mutagenic activity of the bacterial reductive products of 2,6-DNT.

PMID- 1441588
TI  - Bioanalytical applications of tandem mass spectrometry in the in vitro metabolism
      of the anticholinergic drug cimetropium bromide to detect differences in species
      metabolism.
AB  - 1. In vitro metabolism of the anticholinergic drug, cimetropium bromide, was
      investigated using four different animal hepatic microsomal incubates derived
      from rat, hamster, guinea pig, and mouse livers. 2. Constant neutral loss (CNL)
      tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect the presence of the N
      methylenecyclopropyl-scopine functionality by monitoring loss of 54 daltons
      (corresponding to loss of methylenecyclopropane) in microsomal incubates. 3. A
      CNL loss of 46 daltons was used to screen for the presence of ester hydrolysis
      products. 4. A comparison of the daughter ion spectra obtained on ions detected
      by CNL scanning, with daughter ion spectra of synthetic standards, determined the
      presence of ten metabolites of cimetropium bromide. 5. Hydroxylation of the
      aromatic ring in the ester side-chain was found to be the major metabolic
      pathway, and ester bond hydrolysis was a minor metabolic pathway. 6. N
      Demethylation of the bridgehead nitrogen was observed only in rat and hamster
      incubates. 7. Using the method of CNL scanning it was possible to screen
      different animal microsomal incubates without resorting to any major purification
      procedures such as h.p.l.c. 8. This scanning method revealed differences between
      species in the metabolic pathways of cimetropium bromide.

PMID- 1441589
TI  - Differences in the metabolism of the antitumour agents amsacrine and its
      derivative CI-921 in rat and mouse.
AB  - 1. Rats and mice were treated with the antitumour agent CI-921 (I), and parent
      compound amsacrine, with all biliary metabolites being analysed. 2. In both rat
      and mouse the major biliary metabolites of amsacrine are the 5'- and 6'
      glutathione (GSH) conjugates, with no C9-GSH conjugate being detected. 3. 5'- and
      6'-GSH conjugates of I are also formed in both species. However, two additional
      products were detected and their structures confirmed by liquid secondary ion
      mass spectrometry and 1H-n.m.r. spectrometry, and by comparison with synthetic
      standards. 4. Additional metabolites of I are the C9-GSH conjugate and the 4
      hydroxymethyl derivative which, either as the aglycone or glucuronide, is the
      predominant product in rat bile (comprising 56% of the dose eliminated over 3.5
      h). 5. Relative amounts of the C9-GSH conjugate to the 5'- and 6'-GSH conjugates
      to the 4-hydroxymethyl derivatives, were 24:65:10 in mouse bile and 2:8:90 in rat
      bile. 6. These differences indicate first, likely enzyme involvement in the
      formation of the C9-GSH conjugate of I, and second, in comparison with amsacrine,
      alternative pathways which may decrease formation of the reactive quinone diimine
      intermediate of I and consequent hepatotoxicity.

PMID- 1441590
TI  - Interspecies variations in caffeine metabolism related to cytochrome P4501A
      enzymes.
AB  - 1. Interspecies (including man, monkey, rabbit, rat and mouse) variations in
      caffeine metabolism by liver microsomes were studied. While N-3 demethylation was
      the major pathway in man (81% of total dimethylxanthines), N-7 demethylation was
      predominant in monkey (89%), and the three demethylation pathways were about
      equal in mouse, rabbit and rat. 2. Three monooxygenase activities
      (methoxyresorufin O-demethylase, phenacetin O-deethylase and acetanilide 4
      hydroxylase) correlated significantly with the rate of metabolism of caffeine. 3.
      P4501A1 and 1A2 enzymes were immunodetected in different species. P4501A2 was the
      only isoform detected in liver of man, rat and mouse, while no polypeptide
      immunorelated to P4501A was detected in monkey and only a minor band of P4501A1
      was detected in rat and rabbit. 4. All in vitro data indicate that paraxanthine
      formation is mediated mainly by P4501A2 in mammals while theophylline formation
      is mediated mainly by cytochromes P-450 other than those of the 1A family.

PMID- 1441591
TI  - Disposition and biotransformation of pentachlorophenol in the red abalone
      (Haliotis rufescens).
AB  - 1. The disposition and biotransformation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in the red
      abalone (Haliotis rufescens) have been determined. 2. In a flow-through system,
      three abalones were exposed to 1.2 mg/l of [U-14C]PCP for 5 h to determine
      bioconcentration and tissue distribution. Retained residues were quantified from
      radioactivity, while excreted residues were identified and quantified by h.p.l.c.
      and determination of radioactivity. 3. The 5-h total concentration factor ranged
      from 16.0 to 21.5; individual tissue concentrations ranged from 133.4 nmol/g in
      gill to 17.5 nmol/g in gonad. Due to its large size, the foot muscle received the
      largest amount of total retained residue (47.4%). 4. During a 13-h recovery
      period the abalones depurated 72.2% of retained residues; however, residue
      concentration in gonad increased over 100%. PCP was primarily excreted unchanged
      (89.3%), but small amounts of pentachloro-beta-D-glucoside (7.9%),
      pentachloroanisole (1.3%), pentachlorophenylsulphate (0.9%), and tetrachloro-p
      hydroquinone (0.6%) were also formed.

PMID- 1441592
TI  - Purification and molecular properties of 2-carboxybenzaldehyde (CBA) reductase
      from phenobarbital-treated rat liver.
AB  - 1. A rat liver cytosol enzyme, tentatively named CBA reductase, catalyses the
      conversion of 2-carboxybenzaldehyde (CBA) to 2-hydroxymethyl benzoic acid in the
      presence of NADH (or NADPH). CBA reductase is useful for exploring the mechanism
      of in vitro enzyme induction, as the enzyme can be induced by phenobarbital (PB)
      both in vivo and in vitro. 2. Possible involvement of glutathione (GSH) in gene
      expression was suggested by a recent study with cultured rat hepatocytes. 3. CBA
      reductase was purified about 200-fold by a combination of column chromatography
      and isoelectric focusing in the presence of mercaptoethanol. 4. The ability to
      form 2-hydroxymethyl benzoic acid was lost when the enzyme was chromatographed on
      a hydroxylapatite column in the absence of mercaptoethanol; however, it was
      restored if sulphydryl compounds or bovine serum albumin was added to the eluate
      from the column. 5. Gel filtration showed the molecular sizes of CBA reductase
      from the 105,000g supernatant fraction of rat liver extracts and the purified
      preparation were 64 kDa and 49 kDa, respectively. 6. The results suggest that
      sulphydryl substances and some proteins play important roles in preserving the
      molecular and catalytic properties of CBA reductase.

PMID- 1441593
TI  - Intestinal metabolism of mephentermine and its biliary metabolites in male Wistar
      rats.
AB  - 1. Intestinal metabolites produced in the incubation (0-24 h) of mephentermine
      (MP), phentermine (Ph), N-hydroxymephentermine (N-hydroxy-MP), N
      hydroxyphentermine (N-hydroxy-Ph), p-hydroxymephentermine (p-hydroxy-MP) and p
      hydroxyphentermine (p-hydroxy-Ph) with male Wistar rat intestinal contents under
      N2 were examined by g.l.c. and g.l.c.-electron impact (EI) mass spectrometry.
      Metabolites produced in the anaerobic incubation of bile from rats given MP, with
      the intestinal contents were also examined. In addition, urinary and biliary
      metabolites of p-hydroxy-MP and p-hydroxy-Ph dosed orally to rat were examined.
      2. Metabolites in the anaerobic incubation of N-hydroxy-MP and N-hydroxy-Ph were
      MP and Ph, and Ph, respectively. No metabolites were detected in the incubation
      of MP, Ph, p-hydroxy-MP and p-hydroxy-Ph. 3. p-Hydroxy-MP and p-hydroxy-Ph
      (major), and MP and Ph (minor) were detected when bile from rats given MP was
      incubated with intestinal contents. 4. Unchanged p-hydroxy-MP, and conjugates of
      p-hydroxy-MP and p-hydroxy-Ph, were detected in the 24-h urine of rats dosed with
      p-hydroxy-MP, which accounted for about 3, 72 and 1% dose, respectively.
      Unchanged p-hydroxy-Ph and conjugated p-hydroxy-Ph were detected in the 24-h
      urine of rats dosed with p-hydroxy-Ph, which accounted for about 4 and 68% dose,
      respectively. 5. Conjugated p-hydroxy-MP and conjugated p-hydroxy-Ph, which
      accounted for about 3% doses, were detected in the 24-h bile of rats dosed with p
      hydroxy-MP and p-hydroxy-Ph.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1441594
TI  - Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of dofetilide in mouse, rat, dog and man.
AB  - 1. Pharmacokinetics of dofetilide were studied in man, dog, rat and mouse after
      single i.v. and oral doses of dofetilide or 14C-dofetilide. 2. Dofetilide was
      absorbed completely in all species. Low metabolic clearance in man resulted in
      complete bioavailability following oral administration. Higher metabolic
      clearance in rodents, and to a lesser extent dogs, resulted in decreased
      bioavailability because of first-pass metabolism. 3. Following i.v.
      administration, the volume of distribution showed only moderate variation in all
      species (2.8-6.3 l/kg). High plasma clearance in rodents resulted in short half
      life values (mouse 0.32, male rat 0.5 and female rat 1.2 h), whilst lower
      clearance in dog and man gave longer terminal elimination half-lives (4.6 and 7.6
      h respectively). 4. After single i.v. doses of 14C-dofetilide, unchanged drug was
      the major component excreted in urine of all species with several metabolites
      also present. 5. Metabolites identified in urine from all species were formed by
      N-oxidation or N-dealkylation of the tertiary nitrogen atom of dofetilide. 6.
      After oral and i.v. administration of 14C-dofetilide to man, parent compound was
      the only detectable component present in plasma and represented 75% of plasma
      radioactivity. No single metabolite accounted for greater than 5% of plasma
      radioactivity.

PMID- 1441595
TI  - Stereoselective inhibition of nortriptyline hydroxylation in man by quinidine.
AB  - 1. Four volunteers phenotyped as extensive metabolizers of sparteine took 25 mg
      nortriptyline hydrochloride and collected urine for 72-80 h. Total free and
      conjugated 10-hydroxynortriptyline (10-OH-NT) accounted for 54-58% of the dose
      and it was reduced to 25-40% when 50 mg quinidine sulphate was ingested on the
      first and second day. 2. Of the four isomers of 10-OH-NT, (-)-E-10-OH-NT was
      selectively decreased in quantity by quinidine coadministration, while the (+)
      isomer and (-)- and (+)-Z-10-OH-NT were found in unchanged or slightly increased
      quantities. The contribution of (-)-E-10-OH-NT to total E-10-OH-NT and the E-/Z
      ratio in total 10-OH-NT were significantly reduced. 3. The quantity of the
      phenol, 2-hydroxynortriptyline in urine was decreased by quinidine; the relative
      amounts of metabolites with a primary amino group were not affected. 4. Liver
      microsomes from a donor in which cytochrome P450IID6 was shown to be present by
      in vitro phenotyping metabolized NT to E-10-OH-NT containing 86% of the (-)
      isomer. Quinidine reduced the hydroxylation rate in (-)-E-10-position much more
      than that in (+)-E-10-position. 5. Since quinidine selectively impairs the
      function of cytochrome P450IID6, it is concluded that this isoform catalyses NT
      hydroxylation predominantly in (-)-E-10- and in 2-position.

PMID- 1441596
TI  - Transgenic animals in the evaluation of compound efficacy and toxicity: will they
      be as useful as they are novel?
AB  - 1. Construction of transgenic mice is predicated upon inserting foreign DNA into
      native host DNA and having this expressed in the germline. This may be
      accomplished by nuclear injection, retroviral vectors or use of embryonic stem
      (ES) cells. 2. Expression of novel structural genes may be reasonably directed by
      the judicious use of an accompanying promoter/enhancer sequence. Insertion of
      foreign genes may be designed to result in phenotypic expression of a novel trait
      or ablation of a native gene or gene product. 3. Resulting transgenic mice offer
      significant utility as models of human diseases and a unique opportunity for
      investigating immune and metabolic pathways as well as for exploring mechanisms
      of development, mutagenesis and teratogenesis. 4. Use of transgenic animals in
      drug development has considerable potential although realization of this
      potential will take time. Constructing transgenics is only the first step in a
      complex series of events culminating in understanding the consequences of
      imposing novel genetic material on an intact, highly integrated living system.
      Practical use of transgenic animals will depend upon substantial effort being
      spent in investigating and validating the phenotypic consequences of gene
      transfer.

PMID- 1441597
TI  - Methylation pharmacogenetics: thiopurine methyltransferase as a model system.
AB  - 1. Methyl conjugation is an important pathway in the biotransformation of many
      drugs and xenobiotic compounds. 'Pharmacogenetic' variation exists in the
      activities of many methyltransferase enzymes, and experiments with the drug
      metabolizing enzyme thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) offer a model for one
      approach that has proven useful in the study of methyltransferase
      pharmacogenetics. 2. TPMT catalyzes the S-methylation of thiopurine drugs such as
      6-mercaptopurine. This enzyme activity is present in the human red blood cell
      (RBC), and RBC TPMT activity is controlled by a common genetic polymorphism that
      regulates also the enzyme activity in all other human tissues that have been
      studied. 3. Subjects with inherited low levels of TPMT activity are at increased
      risk for thiopurine drug-induced myelotoxicity, while patients with high TPMT
      activities may be 'undertreated' with these drugs. 4. TPMT activity in tissue
      from selected strains of inbred mice also is regulated by a genetic polymorphism.
      These mice provide an animal model for use in the study of pharmacological or
      toxicological consequences of inherited differences in TPMT activity. 4. Other
      methyltransferase enzymes including thiol methyltransferase, catechol O
      methyltransferase, and histamine N-methyltransferase also are present in the
      human RBC, are regulated by inheritance, and are responsible for individual
      variation in drug metabolism. Enhanced understanding of the pharmacogenetics of
      methylation may make it possible to understand and predict individual variation
      in the biotransformation, toxicity and therapeutic effect of compounds that
      undergo methyl conjugation.

PMID- 1441598
TI  - Polymorphisms of N-acetyltransferase genes.
AB  - 1. A genetic polymorphism of human liver arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT)
      enzyme activity leads to wide variation in the disposition of many drugs and
      potential carcinogens, resulting in differential susceptibility to chemical
      induced toxicity. 2. During studies to determine the biochemical and molecular
      mechanisms underlying this pharmacogenetic defect, we cloned two human genes,
      NAT1 and NAT2, which encode the functional acetylating enzymes NAT1 and NAT2. 3.
      NAT1 and NAT2 are both expressed in human liver cytosol, the latter as two
      closely related isoforms NAT2A and NAT2B. 4. NAT2 gene locus is the site of the
      human acetylation polymorphism, because its products NAT2A and NAT2B selectively
      acetylate 'polymorphic' arylamine substrates (e.g. sulphamethazine), and since
      the liver content of these isozymes is markedly reduced in genetically slow
      acetylator subjects. 5. NAT1 shows marked kinetic selectivity for 'monomorphic'
      substrates (e.g. p-aminobenzoic acid) whose in vivo acetylation rates do not
      correlate with the acetylation polymorphism. 6. Despite the drastic reduction in
      NAT2A/B proteins in livers from phenotypically slow acetylators, levels of the
      NAT2 gene transcript are not altered. 7. Three common mutant alleles at the NAT2
      gene locus have so far been identified, which may be detected by restriction
      fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis on Southern blots or by allele
      specific polymerase chain reaction amplification.

PMID- 1441599
TI  - Polymorphism in stereoselective hydroxylations of mephenytoin and hexobarbital by
      Japanese liver samples in relation to cytochrome P-450 human-2 (IIC9).
AB  - 1. Stereoselective 4'-hydroxylations of R-(--)-mephenytoin and S-(+)-mephenytoin
      were determined in liver microsomes of 19 Japanese subjects. 2. The content of P
      450 human-2 assessed by Western-blots correlated with microsomal S-(+)
      mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation. Antibody raised against P-450 human-2 effectively
      inhibited microsomal S-(+)-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation, but was less efficient
      for inhibition of R-(--)-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation in extensive metabolizers,
      and 4'-hydroxylation of both mephenytoin enantiomers in poor metabolizers. 3.
      Similar results were observed on the stereoselective hydroxylations of R-(--)-
      and S-(+)-hexobarbital. Clear correlations were observed for the content of P-450
      human-2 and microsomal R-(--)-hexobarbital 3'alpha-hydroxylation and S-(+)
      hexobarbital 3'beta-hydroxylation. 4. Moreover, yeast microsomes expressing P-450
      human-2 cDNA showed high stereoselectivities for hydroxylations of mephenytoin
      and hexobarbital similar to those observed in human liver. 5. Two other
      cytochromes P-450(IIC 9/10) expressed in yeast, whose cDNA were synthesized by
      site-directed mutagenesis from human-2 cDNA, showed no stereoselectivity for the
      hydroxylations of mephenytoin and hexobarbital, in spite of the modification of
      only two amino acid substitutions or deletions in the whole sequence. 6. Only a
      cytochrome derived from P-450 human cDNA corresponding to P-450 human-2 was
      expressed in human livers, the two cytochromes of the three related IIC9/10 forms
      were not expressed. 7. These findings indicate that P-450 human-2 is the major
      cytochrome P-450 responsible for the polymorphisms in stereoselective
      hydroxylations of mephenytoin and hexobarbital.

PMID- 1441601
TI  - Co-induction of cytochrome P4504A1 and peroxisome proliferation: a causal or
      casual relationship?
AB  - 1. The hypothesis that xenobiotic induction of hepatic microsomal cytochrome
      P4504A1 and peroxisome proliferation are closely-related phenomena has been
      further investigated. 2. Five rat strains (Gunn, Fischer, Wistar, Long Evans and
      Sprague Dawley) were all susceptible to xenobiotic induction of both microsomal
      cytochrome P4504A1 and peroxisome proliferation, and no strain exhibited a
      dissociation of these phenomena. 3. In comparison to rat, the marmoset was
      substantially less susceptible to the above hepatic changes. 4. Induction of both
      cytochrome P4504A1 and peroxisome proliferation by a structural analogue of
      clofibrate (2-(4-(4-chlorophenyl)benzyloxy)-2-phenyl acetic acid) demonstrated
      stereochemical selectivity, in that the R(-)-isomer was a more potent inducer of
      both phenomena than the S(+)-antipode, with the racemic mixture exhibiting an
      intermediate potency. 5. Cycloheximide inhibition of clofibrate-dependent
      induction of acyl CoA mRNA, but not cytochrome P4504A1 mRNA has indicated a
      protein dependency for peroxisome proliferation, not inconsistent with
      participation of cytochrome P4504A1 in the biogenesis of peroxisome
      proliferation. 6. Taken collectively, the data described herein provide further
      evidence for a close linkage between xenobiotic induction of cytochrome P4504A1
      and peroxisome proliferation, and possible molecular mechanisms inter-relating
      these two phenomena are discussed.

PMID- 1441600
TI  - Applications of stable V79-derived cell lines expressing rat cytochromes P4501A1,
      1A2, and 2B1.
AB  - 1. Chinese hamster V79-derived cell lines, stably expressing cytochromes P4501A1,
      1A2, and 2B1 activities, were constructed by genetic engineering in continuation
      of our work to establish a battery of V79 derived cell lines designed to study
      the metabolism of xenobiotics. 2. Cell lines XEM1 and XEM2, expressing cytochrome
      P4501A1, were capable of the O-dealkylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin and the
      hydroxylation of benzo[a]pyrene. 3. Cell lines XEMd.MZ and XEMd.NH, expressing
      P4501A2, were shown to hydroxylate 17 beta-estradiol and 2-aminofluorene. 4. Cell
      line SD1, expressing cytochrome P4502B1, was able to hydroxylate testosterone
      stereo- and regio-specifically at the 16 alpha and 16 beta positions. 5. Cell
      lines were validated in mutagenicity, cytotoxicity, and metabolism studies
      employing benzo[a]pyrene, trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene,
      cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, and picene. 6. Construction of metabolically
      competent V79-derived cell lines be recombinant DNA technology will be a
      fundamental improvement for the evaluation of the cytotoxic, genotoxic and
      pharmacological properties of a chemical.

PMID- 1441602
TI  - Multiple mechanisms in hepatic microsomal azoreduction.
AB  - 1. Microsomal reduction of azo dyes related to dimethylaminoazobenzene (DAB) is
      catalysed by at least two types of cytochrome P-450. The first is selectively
      induced by clofibrate. The second is induced by phenobarbital, beta
      naphthoflavone, isosafrole, and pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile, as well as
      clofibrate. 2. Azoreduction by the first type of P-450 is insensitive to both O2
      and CO and involves dyes with only electron-donating substituents (I substrates).
      3. Azoreduction by the second type of P-450 is inhibited by both O2 and CO and
      involves dyes with electron-withdrawing as well as donating substituents (S
      substrates). 4. All azo dye substrates exhibit two negative and one positive
      redox potential, as measured anaerobically by cyclic voltammetry. The negative
      potentials reflect one- and two-electron reductions while the positive potential
      permits electron transfer from microsomal P-450, the redox potential for which is
      reported to be negative (approximately 0.35 V). The positive potential is
      associated with a polar electron-donating group para to the azo linkage, which is
      an absolute requirement for microsomal reduction. Dyes without this functional
      group do not exhibit positive potentials and are not reduced. 5. The first
      negative potential of S substrates is quenched upon admitting air to the system,
      whereas this potential is unaffected in I substrates. The relative stability of
      the one-electron reduced state may be an explanation for the differential O2
      sensitivity of I and S substrate reduction.

PMID- 1441603
TI  - Metabolic activation of 1-nitropyrene to a mammalian cell mutagen and a
      carcinogen.
AB  - 1. The mutagenicity of 1-nitropyrene metabolites in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)
      cells, in the absence of rat liver S9, decreased in the order 6-hydroxy-1
      nitropyrene > 1-nitropyrene 9,10-oxide > 1-nitropyrene 4,5-oxide approximately 3
      hydroxy-1-nitropyrene approximately 8-hydroxy-1-nitropyrene > 1-nitropyrene. The
      order of mutagenicity with rat liver S9 was 1-nitropyrene 4,5-oxide approximately
      6-hydroxy-1-nitropyrene approximately 1-nitropyrene 9,10-oxide > 3-hydroxy-1
      nitropyrene approximately 1-nitropyrene > 8-hydroxy-1-nitropyrene. 2. 1
      Nitropyrene 4,5-oxide reacted with calf thymus DNA to give one or several closely
      related adducts. The same adducts were detected in CHO cells incubated with 1
      nitropyrene 4,5-oxide. Inclusion of a nitroreductase, xanthine oxidase, in the
      incubations with calf thymus DNA resulted in the formation of an additional
      adduct identified as N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-1-aminopyrene (dG-C8-AP). 3. 1
      Nitropyrene 9,10-oxide reacted with calf thymus DNA to give an adduct pattern
      similar to that observed with 1-nitropyrene 4,5-oxide. Incubation of 1
      nitropyrene 9,10-oxide with CHO cells resulted in the formation of the same
      adducts along with dG-C8-AP. 4. dG-C8-AP and N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-1-amino-x
      nitropyrene (x = 3, 6 or 8; dG-C8-ANP) were detected in injection site DNA from
      Sprague-Dawley rats treated with 1-nitropyrene. In mammary gland DNA, dG-C8-AP
      and an unidentified adduct were found. dG-C8-ANP was the only DNA adduct detected
      in the livers of newborn CD-1 mice and the lungs of A/J mice dosed with 1
      nitropyrene.

PMID- 1441604
TI  - Glutathione-dependent toxicity.
AB  - 1. Recent studies show that glutathione conjugate formation is an important
      bioactivation mechanism for several groups of compounds with implications for
      organ-selective toxicity and carcinogenicity. 2. Vicinal dihaloalkanes, such as
      1,2-dihaloethanes, yield S-(2-haloalkyl)glutathione conjugates that give rise to
      highly electrophilic episulphonium ions, which are involved in the cytotoxicity
      and mutagenicity of 1,2-dihaloethanes. 3. Nephrotoxic haloalkenes are metabolized
      to S-(haloalkenyl)- or S-(haloalkyl)-glutathione conjugates which, after
      metabolism to the corresponding cysteine conjugates, are bioactivated by renal
      cysteine conjugate beta-lyase to yield cytotoxic or mutagenic metabolites. 4.
      Finally, hepatic glutathione conjugate formation with hydroquinones and
      aminophenols yields conjugates that are directed to gamma-glutamyltransferase
      rich tissues, such as the kidney, where they undergo alkylation or redox cycling
      reactions, or both, that cause organ-selective damage.

PMID- 1441605
TI  - The use of stable isotopes to identify reactive metabolites and target
      macromolecules associated with toxicities of halogenated hydrocarbon compounds.
AB  - 1. Halogenated compounds, such as the inhalation anaesthetics, halothane and
      enflurane, and the chemicals chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and
      bromotrichloromethane can cause hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and inactivation
      of cytochromes P-450. Each of these toxicities is mediated by reactive
      metabolites. 2. Stable isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, chlorine and oxygen have
      been used in conjunction with mass spectrometry and n.m.r. spectrometry to
      identify the structures of these metabolites, to elucidate the mechanisms of
      their formation, and to characterize the structures of their macromolecular
      adducts. 3. In a number of cases, oxidative pathways of metabolism to toxic
      metabolites have been defined by kinetic deuterium isotope effects. 4. Recently,
      we have found that the trichloromethyl radical metabolite of
      bromotrichloromethane can activate myoglobin by causing the covalent cross
      linking of haem to protein. The structure of a haem-myoglobin adduct has been
      defined by the use of stable isotope studies.

PMID- 1441606
TI  - Investigations of mechanisms of reactive metabolite formation from (R)-(+)
      pulegone.
AB  - 1. (R)-(+)-Pulegone is a monoterpene that is oxidized by cytochromes P-450 to
      reactive metabolites that initiate events in the pathogenesis of hepatotoxicity
      in mice, rats and humans. 2. Selective labelling of (R)-(+)-pulegone with
      deuterium revealed that menthofuran was a proximate hepatotoxic metabolite formed
      by oxidation of the allylic methyl groups of pulegone. Incubations of pulegone
      with mouse liver microsomes in an atmosphere of 18O2 resulted in the formation of
      menthofuran that contained only oxygen-18 in the furan moiety. These results are
      consistent with oxidation of pulegone to an allylic alcohol that reacts
      intramolecularly with the ketone moiety to form a hemiketal that subsequently
      dehydrates to generate menthofuran. 3. Studies on the metabolism of menthofuran
      revealed that it is oxidized by cytochromes P-450 to an electrophilic gamma
      ketoenal that reacts with nucleophilic groups on proteins to form covalent
      adducts. In addition, diastereomeric mintlactones are formed. Investigations with
      H2(18)O and 18O2 are indicative of a furan epoxide intermediate, or a precursor,
      in the formation of the gamma-ketoenal and mintlactones.

PMID- 1441607
TI  - Deuterium isotope effect on the metabolism of N-nitrosodimethylamine and related
      compounds by cytochrome P4502E1.
AB  - 1. Deuteration of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) decreases its carcinogenicity,
      and produces an isotope effect on its metabolism in vivo. Consistent with these
      results are the observations that deuteration caused a 5-fold increase in the
      apparent Km, but not the Vmax for the demethylation and denitrozation of NDMA in
      acetone-induced rat liver microsomes. These microsomes are a good source of
      cytochrome P4502E1. 2. For demethylation of Z-[2H3]NDMA and E-[2H3]NDMA, the Km
      values were indistinguishable, and were between the values for those of NDMA and
      [2H6]NDMA. Almost all the formaldehyde formed was derived from the non-deuterated
      methyl group, indicating a lack of stereoselectivity in the demethylation of
      NDMA. 3. NDMA and [2H6]NDMA displayed apparent Ki values of 59 and 441 microM,
      respectively, for N-nitrosodiethylamine deethylase, showing an apparent isotope
      effect of 0.13, and displayed an isotope effect of 0.21 in the Ki values for p
      nitrophenol hydroxylase. 4. With acetone and deuterated acetone as inhibitors for
      p-nitrophenol hydroxylase, the isotope effect on the Ki was 0.11. Similar
      deuterium isotope effects were also observed with acetone and dimethylformamide
      as competitive inhibitors for NDMA demethylase. 5. In the microsomal oxidation of
      ethanol, a deuterium isotope effect of about five was observed in the Vmax/Km
      when carbon-1 was deuterated, but was not observed in the Vmax. 6. Results
      illustrate a unique deuterium isotope effect on the Km values of reactions
      catalysed by P4502E1.

PMID- 1441608
TI  - The role of the flavin-containing monooxygenase (EC 1.14.13.8) in the metabolism
      and mode of action of agricultural chemicals.
AB  - 1. The flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) (EC 1.14.13.8) is a versatile enzyme
      that catalyses the monooxygenation of a large number of xenobiotic soft
      nucleophiles ranging from inorganic ions to organic compounds with nitrogen,
      sulphur, phosphorus or selenium heteroatoms. 2. The substrate specificity
      relative to agricultural chemicals is discussed and compared with that of the
      cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase system. The relative activity of these
      two enzymes towards common substrates varies from substrate to substrate and from
      tissue to tissue as is shown in the case of the insecticide, phorate and the
      hepatotoxicant, thiobenzamide. 3. The products of FMO action may be chemically
      different (e.g. nicotine) to those from P-450, or the two enzymes may produce
      different isomers of the same product (e.g. phorate). 4. Recent studies have
      demonstrated that, in the rabbit, the FMOs from liver and lung are different gene
      products which differ not only in primary sequence but also in physical,
      catalytic and immunochemical properties. These studies are being extended to
      include other tissues such as skin and brain. 5. Immunocytochemical localization
      of FMO in lung and skin correlates well with measurements of the oxidation of
      methimazole, a specific FMO substrate.

PMID- 1441609
TI  - Metabolic considerations in pyrethroid design.
AB  - 1. Synthetic pyrethroids, based on the naturally-occurring insecticidal
      components of pyrethrum extract, emerged in the 1970s as the fourth major
      chemical class of synthetic insecticides. They are widely used today in the
      control of agriculture and household pests and disease vectors. 2. Early efforts
      in the design of synthetic analogues focused on the need to identify novel
      structural moieties that preserved or enhanced intrinsic insecticidal activity
      while eliminating known sites of metabolic and photolytic attack in the natural
      compounds. Subsequent efforts focused on achieving high levels of insecticidal
      activity while minimizing costs of synthesis and retaining desirable levels of
      selective toxicity. 3. The synthetic compounds obtained in these efforts
      constitute a group of insecticides having unprecedented biological activity
      against target species with low acute toxicity to mammals. 4. The evolutionary
      development of the pyrethroids illustrates how knowledge of metabolic fate can
      contribute to the design of novel insecticides with improved insecticidal
      activity and selective toxicity.

PMID- 1441610
TI  - Bioanalytical data in decision making: discovery and development.
AB  - 1. Bioanalysis is traditionally associated with the development phase of drugs;
      its use in discovery programmes is often ignored but can have a major impact. 2.
      Pharmacokinetic studies conducted in conjunction with pharmacology screening can
      provide additional information to that considered in conventional structure
      activity relationships. Such factors as half-life and bioavailability can be
      critical in designing improved drugs. 3. Analytical methods in discovery
      programmes may differ from those used in later development work: for instance
      bioassay allows a common assay system for a large number of project compounds.
      Moreover its use, when combined with conventional methods, such as h.p.l.c.,
      allows active metabolites to be readily detected. 4. Bioanalytical data generated
      in discovery and pre-clinical programmes are a valuable guide to early clinical
      programmes. Plasma concentration-response data from these programmes can be
      compared with those obtained in man. Such comparisons are particularly valuable
      during the phase one-initial dose escalation study. To maximize this it is our
      practice to generate pharmacokinetic data between each dose increase.

PMID- 1441611
TI  - High-performance tandem mass spectrometry in metabolism studies.
AB  - 1. High-performance tandem mass spectrometry provides unit resolution in both
      selection of precursor ions and analysis of fragment ions, and extensive and
      reproducible fragmentation through collisional activation at high energy. 2.
      Metabolites can be analysed that occur as minor components in h.p.l.c. peaks or
      other mixtures. Homogeneous isotopic species can be selected for unambiguous
      analysis of distributions of isotope labels. Fragmentation may be significantly
      enhanced to provide structural information. Overall, the signal to noise ratio is
      greatly improved and the spectrum is simplified. 3. These points are illustrated
      by isotope-labelling studies of the mechanisms of glutathione conjugation of the
      anti-tumour agent cyclophosphamide, the cytotoxic agent phosphoramide mustard and
      dimethylbilirubin, an analogue of bilirubin designed to be distinguishable from
      endogenous bilirubin. Analysis of isomeric mixed disulphides formed between
      glutathione and a peptide with an internal disulphide bond is discussed. 4.
      Reaction-induced decomposition is presented as an alternative to collisionally
      induced decomposition with more efficient energy transfer.

PMID- 1441612
TI  - [13th Symposium for attorneys and physicians, 11 and 12 January 1991 in Berlin.
      Expert assessment in forensic psychiatry. Geriatric psychiatry].

PMID- 1441613
TI  - [Expert assessment in legal liability--from the physician's viewpoint].

PMID- 1441614
TI  - [Expert assessment in criminal justice--from the legal viewpoint].

PMID- 1441615
TI  - [Expert assessment in civil rights. Determination of working capacity--from the
      physicians viewpoint].

PMID- 1441616
TI  - [Expert assessment in civil rights. Determination of work capacity--from the
      legal viewpoint].

PMID- 1441617
TI  - [Expert assessment in civil rights. Determination of informed consent--from the
      legal viewpoint].

PMID- 1441618
TI  - [Expert assessment in social law. Determining need for care--from the legal
      viewpoint].

PMID- 1441619
TI  - [Expert assessment in social law. Determination of the need for care--from the
      physician's viewpoint].

PMID- 1441620
TI  - [Expert assessment in social law. Determining the need for nursing care--from the
      socio-political viewpoint].

PMID- 1441621
TI  - [Expert assessment in social law. Expert assessment of neuroses and psychosomatic
      disorders--from the physician's viewpoint].

PMID- 1441622
TI  - [Expert assessment in social law. Expert assessment of neuroses and psychosomatic
      disorders--from the legal viewpoint].

PMID- 1441623
TI  - [The significance of psychiatry for geriatrics].

PMID- 1441624
TI  - [Ability to give legal testimony--from the physician's viewpoint].

PMID- 1441625
TI  - [Ability to give legal testimony--from the legal viewpoint].

PMID- 1441626
TI  - [Legal guardians--disability--management--from the physician's viewpoint].

PMID- 1441627
TI  - [Legal guardians--disability--management--from the legal viewpoint].

PMID- 1441628
TI  - [Diagnosis using the ear?].

PMID- 1441629
TI  - [Phototherapy of skin diseases].

PMID- 1441630
TI  - [Ultrasonic diagnosis of cholangiolithiasis].

PMID- 1441631
TI  - [Are introverted probands positively effected by piroxicam?].

PMID- 1441632
TI  - [Differential diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (osteoarthropathia psoriatica) and
      chronic polyarthritis (rheumatoid arthritis)].

PMID- 1441633
TI  - [Prevention of thromboembolism with heparin and dihydroergotamine in a trauma
      surgery patient sample--comparison of the effectiveness of different
      administration forms of dihydroergotamine].

PMID- 1441634
TI  - [Immunocytologic tumor cell detection in bone marrow of breast cancer patients].

PMID- 1441635
TI  - [42-year-old patient with fever and weight loss of unknown origin].

PMID- 1441636
TI  - [Infectious diseases in the elderly].

PMID- 1441637
TI  - [Bacterial infections of the liver in the elderly].

PMID- 1441638
TI  - [Value and results of trans-sphenoid surgery of the hypophysis in acromegaly].

PMID- 1441639
TI  - [Nutritional references for patients with migraine or headache].

PMID- 1441640
TI  - [Rapid cycling syndromes in adolescence].

PMID- 1441641
TI  - [Histologic changes of the myocardium after heart transplantation].

PMID- 1441642
TI  - [A case report from general practice (1): pale appearance and dyspnea].

PMID- 1441643
TI  - [Pharmacotherapy in the elderly].

PMID- 1441644
TI  - Salmonellosis--a cause of concern and a challenge.

PMID- 1441646
TI  - [Energy balance in repeated under- and overnutrition in model studies in sows].
AB  - In a model experiment eight adult sows were used to examine the effect of
      successive periods of under- and oversupply of energy (MUMU) on thermogenesis and
      efficiency of energy utilization in comparison to a constant maintenance supply
      (NNNN). Each treatment sequence was assigned to each animal according to a change
      over design over 8 weeks. Before and after the treatment periods all the animals
      were fed at maintenance level (N). Energy deficiency (M) was performed by use of
      a basal diet with 45% of maintenance energy requirements and values for all the
      other nutrients sufficient for requirements. Normal (N) and excessive (U) intakes
      of energy was provided with supplements of starch. The total inake of gross
      energy during the periods MUMU was exactly the same as during NNNN. Complete
      energy balances were performed for each animal and period as well as during the
      pre- and post-experimental phase. There was no or little response of altered
      energy intake on carbon and energy excretion in faeces, urine and methane.
      However, heat production was significantly decreased by 4.1% on energy
      deficiency, and increased by 15.1% during energy oversupply. Summed up over the
      total sequence the animals produced 5.4% more heat on MUMU than during NNNN. This
      response was associated with a mobilization of 1.1 MJ/d tissue energy and a
      decrease in body weight by 2.0 kg. The efficiency of utilization of ME was 88%
      with energy undersupply and 75% during overnutrition. Criteria of energy balance
      did not differ between the pre- and post-treatment periods. It could be
      demonstrated that the increase in energy expenditure at oversupply was entirely
      explainable by the so-called obligatory thermogenesis. At the energy deficiency
      periods the efficiency of energy utilization reflected both energy costs of
      ingestion and processing of nutrients as well as a slight reduction in metabolic
      rate. Finally, there were no residual effects of the treatment on the energy
      expenditure of the animals at the end of the experiment.

PMID- 1441645
TI  - Citrinin.
AB  - Citrinin, a nephrotoxic mycotoxin, has been of growing importance also for the
      "International Agency for Research on Cancer", ever since its presumable role in
      the occurrence of Balcan endemic nephropathy (BEN) was discussed at the congress
      on "Mycotoxins, Endemic Nepthropathy and Urinary Tract Tumours" held in Lyon in
      June 1991 (12). In late 1991, citrinin was therefore also included in the list of
      toxins to be examined by the screening subcommittees on natural toxins of the
      International Live Science Institute, European Branch.

PMID- 1441647
TI  - [The nutrition situation of the population in the former East Germany: results of
      household budget surveys in 1989].
AB  - The last representative nutritional surveys in households of the former GDR date
      back to 1989. Trends towards excessive energy intake have continued, resulting,
      above all, from high fat consumption. A considerable proportion of employed
      persons have their meals outside the home. The proportion of food used as animal
      feed was high in households of members of agricultural cooperatives.

PMID- 1441648
TI  - [Intake of trans-isomeric fatty acids--an evaluation on the basis of data of the
      national consumption study in 1991].
AB  - The intake of trans octadecenoic acids is estimated by a national consumption
      assay. The daily intake in West Germany differs between 3.4 g for women and 4.1 g
      for men. The consumption of trans fatty acids decreased in the last years, due to
      the progress in food technology and changes in nutritional habits. The main
      sources of trans fatty acids are partially hydrogenated vegetable fats just as
      well as ruminant and dairy fats.

PMID- 1441649
TI  - [Common attitudes about the effect of positive and negative mood on task related
      motivation].
AB  - Several theories on emotion and mood have stressed the close relationship between
      emotion and motivation. However, assumptions on mood contingent motivations have
      mainly been studied in the field of social behavior, and there are only few
      studies concerned with mood contingent task motivations, an area in which nit is
      possible to distinguish between two motivational sets, the deliberative and the
      implemented mind set. Assuming that positive mood is associated with a stronger
      task-oriented deliberative mind set, and that negative mood is associated with a
      stronger self-oriented deliberative mind set, and that implemented mind set
      should be intrinsically task-oriented during positive mood and instrumentally
      task-oriented during negative mood. The present paper is concerned with these
      assumptions from a subjective perspective: The respondents were asked about their
      lay perceptions of mood influences (positive, elated versus negative, sad mood)
      on task related motivations. In study I the respondents (N = 40) were asked about
      their deliberative mind sets during positive versus negative mood and about their
      general perceptions of mood influences on performance. In study II the
      respondents (N = 58) were requested to imagine situations which elicit positive,
      negative or neutral mood, and then to answer questions on deliberative and
      implemented mind sets during these states; they also hat to answer a general
      question about mood influences on task performance. Both quantitative and
      qualitative measures are used in these studies. The findings support the above
      general notions, and they additionally show that in the respondents' opinions
      negative mood effects are more variable than positive mood effects; further, that
      there are quite a few individual differences in assumed mood effects on task
      related motivation.

PMID- 1441650
TI  - [Slow alpha in the EEG power spectrum as an indicator for conceptual arousal].
AB  - Based on previous findings (Bosel et al., 1990) it was assumed that in concept
      learning tasks generating on hypotheses on a concept which has to be developed is
      accompanied by increases of the Alpha 1 power (7.5-10 Hz) in the spontaneous EEG
      activity. In this study 16 subjects performed five problem solving tasks with
      similar processing requirements. EEG data were analyzed by means of post hoc
      comparisons of subjects differing in performance quality. Additionally, four
      control tasks were employed in which, based on previous studies, variations in
      the Theta frequency range were expected. An effect in the Alpha 1 frequency band
      was observed in tasks requiring reconstructive recall or testing the usefulness
      of an mathematical algorithm. The creation of a rank order or mental map is
      accompanied by power increases in the lower portions of the Alpha 1 frequency
      band (7.5-8.5 Hz). Moreover a high amount of controlled variance (eta2 up to 34%)
      was obtained for this effect. Increases in EEG Theta power, which presumably
      indicate subjects' component analysis, were found before the subjects recognized
      parts of geometric figures or before relevant features in the "buddhist monk
      problem" were discriminated. The dynamics of EEG power over time is in examples
      of frequency/time plots in a figure, illustrated.

PMID- 1441651
TI  - [The correlation between coping with stress and blood pressure reaction].
AB  - This study explored the relationship between individual strategies of coping and
      blood pressure responses during and after mental stress. Blood pressure behavior
      was measured noninvasively and continuously before, during and after a mental
      stress situation in 27 normotensive subjects. Coping strategies were assessed
      with the Stressverarbeitungsfragebogen (SVF; coping with stress inventory). Two
      extreme groups were formed on the basis of the scores in the SVF. Results were:
      (a) Individuals who used coping strategies characterized by controlling the
      situation directly and constructively, in contrast to probands not using these
      strategies, exhibited lower blood pressure during the stress situation and a
      faster return to baseline levels after cessation of stress. (b) Subjects using a
      coping behavior characterized by the use of defense mechanisms such as
      suppression and denial, also showed lower blood pressure during stress but a
      significantly delayed return to baseline levels of blood pressure after stress
      was concluded.

PMID- 1441652
TI  - [EMG reactions of mimetic muscles after repeated presentation of pictures with
      positive, negative and neutral content].
AB  - Twenty male subjects (Ss) were repeatedly confronted for five seconds to pictures
      with positive, negative and neutral valence. During the picture presentation
      facial EMG-reactions of five mimic muscles (m. frontalis lateralis, m. corrugator
      supercilii, m. orbicularis oculi, m. zygomaticus major on the right and left side
      of the face) were recorded. In addition, heart rate was measured. It could be
      shown that during repeated presentation of pictures with positive valence the m.
      orbicularis oculi and the m. zygomaticus major on both sides of the face yielded
      enhanced average EMG-reactions as compared to the repeated presentation of
      pictures with negative and neutral valence. During presentation of pictures with
      negative valence the m. frontalis lateralis and the m. corrugator supercilii
      revealed enhanced EMG-reactions as compared to the repeated presentation of
      pictures with positive valence. Furthermore, it could be shown that during the
      repeated presentation of pictures with positive valence those facial muscles
      which mainly react during confrontation with pictures of positive valence showed
      a continuous decrease of EMG-activity. Facial muscles which mainly react during
      the presentation of pictures with negative valence do not show a continuous
      decrease in EMG-activity during the course of the repeated presentation of
      pictures with negative valence. Additionally, the EMG-activity of the m.
      zygomaticus major on the right and lift side of the face do not differ with
      respect to the mean activity and the time course during confrontation of pictures
      with positive valence. The m. orbicularis oculi yielded enhanced EMG-reactions
      during the presentation of pictures with positive valence as compared to both m.
      zygomaticus major muscles. The present results are discussed with respect to
      psychobiological theories concerning facial expression.

PMID- 1441653
TI  - [Change in the event-related skin conductivity: an indicator of the immediate
      importance of elaborate information processing?].
AB  - In recent psychophysiological conceptualizations of the orienting response (OR)
      within the framework of information processing, the OR is increasingly considered
      a "call for processing resources", something which is especially inferred from
      variations in the event-related skin conductance response (SCR). The present
      study, therefore, was concerned with certain implications arising from this
      framework or perspective, particularly in regard to the question of whether
      stimuli eliciting skin conductance responses obligatorily receive/evoke
      processing priority or not. In order to examine whether these electrodermal
      responses denote a capturing of attention or merely a call for processing
      resources, short (1 s) pure sine tones of 65 dB with sudden onset (commonly used
      as orienting stimuli) were inserted in a reaction time paradigm with an
      additional memory load. This demand was primarily given because memory processes
      play a key role in theories of orienting and habituation. The task was run under
      two different conditions of complexity, factorially combined with a novelty
      variation of the added auditory stimuli. The results revealed a substantial
      deterioration of task performance subsequent to the occurrence of the tones,
      which, however, was dependent on task complexity and on novelty of the tones. The
      task impairment is particularly remarkable as subjects were asked to avoid
      distractions by paying attention to the task and as the tones were introduced as
      subsidiary and task-irrelevant. Together with the missing effects of task
      complexity on phasic and tonic electrodermal activity, results suggest that
      information-processing conceptualizations of the OR can only be a meaningful
      heuristic contribution to theoretical developments about human orienting and its
      habituation if the setting of processing priority, its conditions, as well as its
      implications are adequately taken into account. In addition, it seems to be
      promising to consider the strength of the SCR as an index of urgency of
      elaborate, attention-demanding processing and not as a peripheral physiological
      manifestation of the OR, or, respectively, of a call for unspecific processing
      resources. Such a view would also do justice to the aspect of prioritization. The
      sufficient conditions for an OR's occurrence could, in this context, be equated
      with, among others, some of those which activate a mechanism subserving selective
      attention and, as a possible result, which lead to further and more elaborate
      processing of potentially important information.

PMID- 1441654
TI  - [Life expectancy].

PMID- 1441655
TI  - [Gene technology in production of modern drugs].
AB  - In the last years gene technology has influenced dramatically medical and
      biological disciplines. With the help of molecular biology it is possible to
      produce a variety of proteins in alternative ways. Further, substances can be
      produced which exist in nature only in trace amounts, and therefore can not be
      produced with conventional methods. However, there is no other scientific
      discipline which is discussed so controversially in public like genetic
      engineering. The "new" biology comprises a multitude of disciplines which are
      difficult to understand for non experts. Unfortunately, gene technology has
      become the new symbol for "uncontrolled" technology development. In this review
      article the basic concepts of genetic engineering will be explained. Further, the
      production of some recombinant drugs, which are already used in practice, will be
      demonstrated. Finally, some safety aspects concerning about risk assessment are
      discussed.

PMID- 1441656
TI  - [Therapy of acute lung failure with nifedipine. A study with interventional
      analysis].
AB  - In 24 patients with severe ARDS after major gastro-intestinal surgery the effect
      of the calcium antagonist nifedipine on pulmonary function was investigated.
      Besides descriptive statistics and comparison between group means, intervention
      analysis was employed to assess the treatment effect for the individual patient.
      The treatment effect could always be assessed after 12 hours. 14 out of 15
      patients with initially high PVR showed a significant decrease of PVR followed by
      an improvement of AaDO2. 8 out of 9 patients with initially normal PVR did not
      improve in pulmonary function as no significant changes in PVR occurred. No
      unwanted side-effects on cardio-vascular function (MAP, CI, LVSWI, RVSWI) could
      be observed. 9 out of 24 patients decreased. Lethality among patients who showed
      a significant decrease of PVR under nifedipine infusion was 3 out of 15, whereas
      5 out of 9 patients died without changes in PVR. Thus nifedipine can improve
      pulmonary function in ARDS. Especially in the early stages of ARDS with elevated
      PVR the administration of nifedipine p.i. appears advantageous.

PMID- 1441657
TI  - [Clinical and hemodynamic results of surgical correction of hypertrophic
      obstructive cardiomyopathy].
AB  - The value of transaortal subvalvular myectomy after Morrow remains unclarified.
      We therefore analysed our results with HOCM with particular attention to the
      operation risk and the longterm results. 56 patients were treated at the Leipzig
      Heart Centre between January 1984 and August 1990 using the transaortic myectomy.
      In 16 patients an additional mitral valve replacement or -reconstruction was
      required. In 14 patients, other combined operations (aortic valve replacement,
      aortocoronary bypass) were indicated. In the postoperative observation period (up
      to 7 years; 141 patient-years; mean follow-up 4.2 yrs) detailed information was
      obtained at regular intervals about subjective complaints, ECG changes, left
      ventricular functional parameters and the weight of the heart muscle mass were
      recorded. The myectomy resulted in an alteration of the NYHA-class from 3.1 to
      1.3 postoperatively (p < 0.05). The ventriculo-aortal pressure gradient reduced
      in the group myectomy (group I) from 69.2 +/- 5.2 to 23.3 +/- 2.7 mmHg
      postoperatively. In the myectomy+mitral valve repair group (group II) the
      intracavitary pressure gradient was even reduced to 11.7 +/- 2.2 Torr (p < 0.05).
      The Sokolov-Lyon-Index was 3.7 +/- 0.19 mV preoperatively and went down to 2.9 +/
      0.16 mV. The heart muscle mass decreased from 680 g to a postoperative value of
      430 g (p < 0.05). The relation of BAR and calcium channel density of 0.5 +/- 0.1
      in HOCM versus 0.9 +/- 0.08 in a control group (n = 6) proves the increased
      number of calcium channels in HOCM.

PMID- 1441658
TI  - [The quality of life of the aged after heart surgery interventions. Analysis of a
      patient sample of very advanced age].
AB  - Due to the continual improvement of surgical and anaesthesiological techniques,
      the cardiac patients are now of a much higher age than was previously the case.
      Only pre- and postoperative comparison of life quality can show in what manner
      these old patients are improved by cardiac surgery. 71 patients with the mean age
      of 77.6 years were examined by standardized interviews at hospital admittance and
      one year after returning home. Although there was no statistical significance,
      there was a very clear trend towards improved quality of life. These very good
      long-term results concerning the quality of life justify an increased operative
      risk in this group of 70-80 years old patients. In our study we could show
      results which were as good as has been shown with younger patients in literature.

PMID- 1441659
TI  - [Depression in general practice of the internist and family physician].
AB  - Successful approach to depressed patients demands some knowledge of
      psychopathology, nosology and psychopharmacology. Some important aspects for
      practitioners of understanding and coping with depressives are given. An overview
      on the role of antidepressants (TCAs, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors,
      MAO-inhibitors) is also given.

PMID- 1441660
TI  - ["Rejuvenation" as the outcome of research on aging: dreams and theories-
      experiments and results].
AB  - A report is given on experiments of rejuvenation which were carried out in the
      first decenniums of the 20th century. The knowledge of the effect of sexual
      hormones on the one hand and still missing possibilities of synthesisation on the
      other gave rise to spectacular transplantations and further operation techniques
      as well as physical forms of therapy on testicles and ovaries. The fundaments of
      the scientific theory and the social backgrounds of these side branches of
      gerontology which established itself only at the end of the thirties are
      mentioned.

PMID- 1441661
TI  - [Conventional roentgen functional diagnosis--videodensitometry. 1. Densitometric
      and topometric measurements of roentgen video images: technique and method of
      measuring].
AB  - It is possible to measure movements in the human body with the help of X-ray
      television systems. A great number of different techniques has been published in
      the scientific literature. They all based on only two principles with qualitative
      differences in signal acquisition. The densitometric and topometric measurements
      are assessed and compared. Neither the densitometric nor the topometric principle
      seems to be superior. To support the experimental work the videoanalyser VIANA MP
      was developed on the Ilmenau Institute of Technology.

PMID- 1441662
TI  - [Conventional roentgen functional diagnosis--videodensitometry. 2. Clinical
      imaging site for noninvasive diagnosis of organ motion].
AB  - By means of the described system it is possible to measure and as well analog as
      digital process the organ movement, needing a X-ray television system for
      flouroscopy and a videotape for continuously recording. Using the densitometric
      principle measurements of time and a quantitative form analysis of the curves are
      performed. After border recognition and using the topometric principle, the local
      organ motion can be evaluated. The levels of signal and noise in the measured
      curves are computed by a fourier transformation. In the field of functional
      cardiology the video signal is recorded and processed synchronously with the
      electrocardiogram.

PMID- 1441663
TI  - [The physician's responsibility for patient education. Part I].

PMID- 1441664
TI  - [Treatment with antibacterial chemotherapy].
AB  - The importance of a true indication of antimicrobiological chemotherapy is
      discussed on beginning of the paper. A correct choice of antibiotics and proper
      strategy of therapy will be demonstrated. Additionally essential antibiotics are
      presented.

PMID- 1441665
TI  - [Current status and change in infectiology].
AB  - Clinical infectiology had passed through a marked transformation in the past, it
      is changing in the present time and will do so in the future. The most important
      factors for these changes are: the change of the living standard of the people,
      the increased number of persons with dispositions for infections, a better
      knowledge about the microbial etiology of infections and new possibilities of
      diagnostics and therapy of infectious diseases. The importance of these changes
      are in Germany inadequately reflected not only in the clinical practice but also
      in medical teaching and research. The reintegration of the infectiology as an
      important medical specialty in the Germany's medicine is urgently indicated.

PMID- 1441666
TI  - [Clinical microbiology as a basis of antimicrobial chemotherapy].
AB  - Clinical microbiology is a facet of medical microbiology which is dedicated to
      all aspects of human infectious disease diagnosis, especially in patients treated
      in hospitals. The specific tasks of such a laboratory can be solved at best, if
      it is integrated in the hospital and if there is close co-operation with clinical
      specialists. Different methods for susceptibility testing of isolated bacteria
      are possible: agar diffusion test, agar dilution test, bouillon dilution test
      etc., the results of which need to be interpreted considering further aspects.
      During antimicrobial chemotherapy certain tests are also necessary or useful. The
      objective of future developments is to avoid the need of cultures and to
      establish antibiotic profiles within hours to provide the clinician with relevant
      results.

PMID- 1441667
TI  - [Antibiotic therapy of bacterial respiratory tract infections].
AB  - Infections of the airways are among the most frequent of inflammatory diseases
      appropriate for antibacterial therapy. One must differentiate between infections
      of the upper and lower airways, respectively infections obtained externally, and
      nosocomial infections. Since a relatively uniform spectrum of microbes can
      usually be expected, well-planned antibacterial therapy is possible. For
      nosocomial infections, on-target antibacterial therapy is required. For the
      various diseases of the airways, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are
      outlined.

PMID- 1441668
TI  - [Diagnosis and therapy of urinary tract infections].
AB  - Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most frequent indications for
      antibacterial chemotherapy. We must be differentiate between complicated and
      uncomplicated as well as between upper and lower UTI. Regarding the definition of
      significant bacteriuria (> or = 10(5) CFU/ml), some relativations are necessary.
      Dip-slide techniques proved to be very useful for bacteriological diagnosis. The
      calculated therapy depends upon age and sex and is different for community
      acquired and nosocomial infections. Further items are the selection of
      antibacterial agents, the duration of chemotherapy, the role of asymptomatic
      bacteriuria and reinfection prophylaxis.

PMID- 1441669
TI  - [Antimicrobial chemotherapy of infection in intensive care conditions].
AB  - Antimicrobiologic chemotherapy is a cornerstone in the modern concept of
      treatment of sepsis. It is supported by a number of measures of intensive care.
      Externally acquired infections followed by sepsis mainly affect immunocompromised
      patients. They represent the minority. On the other hand, nosocomial infections
      play a dominant role in intensive care units. Nosocomial pneumonias and
      infections caused by intravascular plastics or endoprotheses are the most
      important reasons of sepsis. Initial antimicrobiologic therapy considers both the
      infectious focus and the specific epidemiology and resistance of microorganisms
      present in the department: it comprises the drawing of 2 to 3 blood cultures,
      taking of urinary cultures, tracheal secretion, liquor and wound-swaps for
      microbiologic examination. A gramstaining of the preparation can be helpful. In
      case the focus of the sepsis is not known, the first step of treatment consists
      of a combination of piperacilline or cephalosporins with aminoglycosides. If the
      septic state does not improve within 48 hours, a glycopeptide should be added
      against staphylococci (second step). If the combination fails,
      imipenem/cilastatin and aminoglycosides are administered as the third step.
      Normally, the result of cultures and resistogram already are available by this
      time. Today aminoglycosides are preferably given once daily, the serum level is
      monitored, and the toxicity of aminoglycosides is thus diminished.

PMID- 1441670
TI  - [Therapy of bacterial infections in neutropenic and immunocompromised patients].
AB  - Neutropenias, especially extended an long-lasting stages, lead to life
      threatening endogenous infection. Therefore, after taking off materials for
      bacteriological investigations an empirical schedule of a combined high dose,
      treatment with broad-band antibiotics and/or antimycotics has immediately to be
      introduced and to continue until the body temperature and the peripheral blood
      granulocytes are normalized. In case of treatment failure one should complete the
      therapy by other additional antibiotics or correct the combination of its in
      respect to the results of the microbiological investigations. Supplements of this
      antimicrobial treatments are immunoglobulins and growth factors (G-CSF, GM-CSF).
      In case of an expected neutropenica the use of the selective gut decontamination
      or the reverse isolation of the patient can be of essential advantage.

PMID- 1441671
TI  - [Fungal infections in granulocytopenic and immunocompromised patients].
AB  - Opportunistic fungus infections in neutropenic immunocompromised patients have
      strikingly increased, especially with the improvement of antibiotic treatment.
      Their outcome is often fatal because of the difficulties in diagnosis and
      treatment. Therefore a rationale of surveillance diagnostics and empiric
      treatment in risk patients is necessary. In these patients a continuous weekly
      mycotic diagnosis of mouth, throat, faeces, urine, vagina, as well as of the
      blood is necessary. During an aggressive neutropenia-producing chemotherapy an
      antimycotic prophylaxis with the aim of reducing fungal colonization in the
      gastrointestinal tract (sometimes in the respiratory pathways, too) should be
      performed. Fever of unknown origin lasting longer than 4-5 days in spite of broad
      spectrum antibiotic treatment and/or positive diagnostic findings must lead to
      treating risk patients empirically using amphotericin B 1 mg/kg/d or a
      combination of amphotericin B 0.3-0.5 mg/kg/d together with flucytosin (Ancotil)
      150 mg/kg/d. In case of a beginning candidiasis, patients can first be treated
      with fluconazol (Diflucan). The dose is 400 mg/d, later on 200 mg/d. It is
      pointed out that, much more often than usual, in risk patients with fever,
      atypical pneumonia, meningoencephalitis or other organ symptoms fungal infections
      should be taken into consideration. The most common opportunistic fungal diseases
      are presented and details concerning the different antimycotic drugs are given.

PMID- 1441672
TI  - [The value of ultrasound and computerized tomography in detection of cystic
      changes in chronic pancreatitis].
AB  - Intra- or extrapancreatic pseudocysts (PP) are the most common local complication
      in chronic pancreatitis. Aim of this study was to investigate frequency,
      localisation and size of pseudocysts in patients with chronic pancreatitis by
      means of ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT). 155 patients (females 35,
      males 120) with chronic pancreatitis, that underwent simultaneous (within two
      weeks) CT and US examinations, from January 1982 to June 1989, were included in
      this study. Cystic lesions were detected in 62% by CT, in 52% by US. Sensitivity
      in detection of cysts based on intraoperative findings (gold standard) was 98%
      for CT and 94% for US. 80% of the pseudocysts were smaller than 6 cm. 46% were in
      the range from 2 to 66 cm and 34% were smaller than 2 cm. The most common
      localisation was the pancreatic head region (50%), 20 of 102 patients with
      chronic pancreatitis were found to have a direct communication of a pseudocyst
      with the ductal system by ERP. No specific clinical or laboratory pattern were
      associated with the presence of pseudocysts. Increased pancreatic serum amylase
      concentration was detected in 29% of patients with and in 27% of patients without
      pseudocysts.

PMID- 1441673
TI  - [Results of conventional and laparoscopic cholecystectomy].
AB  - We report about a retrospective study of 861 conventional and 812 laparoscopic
      cholecystectomies (including one coelioscopic choledocholithotomy). In the
      conventionally operated group reoperation was required in 2.7% (1.4%
      relaparotomy, 1.3% secondary suture), mortality was 0.5%. After laparoscopic
      treatment the reoperation rate was 2% (10 relaparoscopies, 5 laparotomies, 2
      secondary sutures), no mortality. Growing experience and better definition of
      contraindications for endoscopic cholecystectomy might improve our results in the
      future.

PMID- 1441674
TI  - [Therapy of stomach ulcer--a comparison between the low dosage antacid
      hydrotalcite and ranitidine--results of a randomized multicenter double-blind
      study. Talcivent Study Group].
AB  - In a 8 week double-blind randomized multicenter trial in 159 patients with benign
      gastric ulcer the efficacy of hydrotalcite vs. ranitidine in expediting ulcer
      healing and in achieving pain relief was determined. 79 patients received
      hydrotalcite 1000 mg q.i.d. as tablets equalling a total neutralizing capacity of
      111.2 mval and 80 patients received ranitidine (300 mg at night). Endoscopically
      controlled healing rates after 4 weeks of therapy amounted to 41.8% with
      hydrotalcite and 53.8% with ranitidine. After 8 weeks both regimen showed
      significant equivalent healing rates (hydrotalcite: 81.0%, ranitidine: 78.8%, p <
      0.003). Ulcer pain decreased parallel in both groups. By the end of therapy 92.4%
      of the patients treated with hydrotalcite and 86.3% of those receiving ranitidine
      were free of pain. Incidence of helicobacter pylori in antral mucosal biopsies
      was not influenced by both treatments. We conclude that an 8-week treatment with
      low dose hydrotalcite therapy is as effective as ranitidine in healing benign
      gastric ulcers and achieving pain relief.

PMID- 1441675
TI  - Enteric protein loss as a marker of intestinal inflammatory activity in Crohn's
      disease: comparability of enteric clearance and stool concentration of alpha-1
      antitrypsin?
AB  - Intestinal alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT) clearance has been shown a reliable
      index of intestinal inflammatory activity in Crohn's disease (CD). For reasons of
      practicability, it has been repeatedly suggested to replace alpha 1-AT clearance
      by alpha 1-AT concentration in random stool samples. In 60 controls and in 70
      patients with CD, in 21 patients before and after treatment, fecal alpha 1-AT
      concentration and the ratio of stool and serum alpha 1-AT concentration were
      compared with alpha 1-AT clearance. In 11 patients alpha 1-AT clearance, fecal
      concentration and stool/serum alpha 1-AT concentration ratio were compared with
      51Cr-albumin clearance. alpha 1-AT clearance (104 +/- 14 vs. 17.5 +/- 2 ml/d, p <
      0.0001) as well as fecal alpha 1-AT concentration (155 +/- 21 vs. 30 +/- 3 mg/100
      ml, p < 0.0001) and stool/serum alpha 1-AT concentration ratio (45 +/- 6 vs. 12
      +/- 1) were significantly higher in CD patients than in controls. alpha 1-AT
      clearance (60 +/- 9 vs. 37 +/- 4 ml/d, p < 0.01), fecal alpha 1-AT concentration
      (113 +/- 21 vs. 59 +/- 8 mg/100 ml, p < 0.01) and the stool/serum alpha 1-AT
      concentration ratio (27 +/- 4 vs. 18 +/- 2) decreased after treatment, but fecal
      alpha 1-AT concentration and the stool/serum alpha 1-AT concentration ratio
      failed to parallel the course of alpha 1-AT clearance in 33% and in 24% of
      patients, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1441676
TI  - Active autoimmune gastritis without total atrophy of the glands.
AB  - To date, autoimmune gastritis has been diagnosed for the most part only when
      total atrophy of the oxyntic glands is detected. On the basis of 40 patients
      without total atrophy of the glands, and with parietal cell antibodies in the
      serum, we show that the diagnosis of type A gastritis is also possible in the pre
      atrophic stage. The histological criteria for the diagnosis of active autoimmune
      gastritis without total atrophy of the glands are 1. usually dense, diffuse
      locally emphasized lymphocytic infiltration of the lamina propria between the
      glands in the oxyntic mucosa, 2. focal destruction of individual glands in the
      corpus of the stomach by lymphocytes, and 3. reactive pseudohypertrophy of the
      parietal cells. A comparison with a group of patients with autoimmune gastritis
      and total atrophy of the glands shows that in active autoimmune gastritis, too,
      women are more frequently affected than men (in both groups, the sex ratio is
      approximately 3:1). Patients without atrophy of the glands are, on average, about
      12 years younger than those with "burnt out" type A gastritis (average age
      69.98:57.80 years). While in the case of burnt out type A gastritis, no
      colonisation with Helicobacter pylori was to be found, such colonisation was
      demonstrated for the corpus mucosa in 22.5%, and for the antral mucosa in 15.0%.
      In 27.5% a minimal or low-grade inactive superficial gastritis, as may be seen
      after eradication of Helicobacter pylori, was additionally diagnosed in the
      antrum. A knowledge of the histological appearance of the pre-atrophic stage of
      type A gastritis might be of importance for the possible prevention of pernicious
      anaemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1441677
TI  - [Diffuse cholangiofibromatosis--incidental findings in sonography, ERCP and
      laparoscopy].
AB  - Diffuse cholangiofibromatosis is a rare and asymptomatic abnormality. Its
      clinical significance results from problems that occur in differential diagnosis
      to granulomatous hepatitis, sclerosing cholangitis, multiple microabscesses or
      diffuse tumour infiltration of the liver, when it is incidentally found in
      ultrasound, ERCP or laparoscopy. The characteristic findings in these
      examinations are described in two case reports. The ultrasonic pattern of
      multiple intrahepatic double structures, microcystic areas and surrounding
      hyperechoic reflexes are in accordance with multiple intrahepatic microcystic and
      hazy areas in ERCP x-rays and multiple white-yellowish areas that retract liver
      surface in laparoscopy. Final diagnosis is confined by the characteristical
      microscopic finding of von Meyenburg-complexes in liver biopsy.

PMID- 1441678
TI  - [Treatment of cholestatic liver diseases; the role of ursodeoxycholic acid].
AB  - Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) allows symptomatic treatment of cholestatic liver
      diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis,
      intrahepatic biliary atresia, and cholestasis of cystic fibrosis. Patients should
      be treated at an early stage of the disease in order to prevent progression to
      cirrhosis. Since UDCA has no toxic effects longterm treatment with this substance
      is possible without the risk of undesired side effects. In patients with primary
      biliary cirrhosis and rapid progression of the disease, UDCA may be combined with
      an immunosuppressive substance (i.e. cyclosporin). In primary sclerosing
      cholangitis, biliary atresia and cholestasis of cystic fibrosis, UDCA at present
      seems the only treatment of which a benefit for the patients can be expected. In
      endstage disease liver transplantation is indicated. The role of UDCA in chronic
      hepatitis and alcohol induced liver disease needs to be clarified in further
      studies. Whether the improvement of laboratory tests in such patients indicates
      amelioration of the course of disease, still is unclear.

PMID- 1441679
TI  - [Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic color laser lithotripsy in bile duct
      calculi].
AB  - Tunable dye laser lithotripsy is an effective and low risk treatment in patients
      with bile duct stones in which transpapillary maneuvers failed. The percutaneous
      approach allows to introduce small caliber endoscopes (10.5 F) to fragment the
      calculi under vision. This technique was evaluated in 8 patients who had
      undergone a biliodigestive anastomosis or in whom the biliary calculi could not
      removed by standard retrograde treatment. Laser lithotripsy resulted in
      sufficient fragmentation in 7 patients. Bile duct clearance proved to be a
      particular problem with the percutaneous access. When a retrograde sphincterotomy
      is not possible an antegrade papillotomy must be attempted under fluoroscopic
      guidance. In bile duct strictures the implantation of expandable stents
      facilitates the passage of fragments and may prevent recurrent stricture and
      development of new stones.

PMID- 1441680
TI  - [Computerized tomography analysis of gallstones: soon an essential diagnosis
      before nonsurgical gallstone therapy?].
AB  - Successful application of non operative procedures for gallstone therapy are
      limited on cholesterol stones. Therefore reliable therapeutic analysis of stone
      components is mandatory for planning of an adequate therapy. Computed tomographic
      gallstone analysis is considered to improve selection of patients significantly.
      However, standardized conditions for investigation of patients are not yet
      established. It is suggested that computerized tomography should be performed
      using 4 mm slides, standardized position of patients and a phantom, which allows
      calibration of different CT-machines.

PMID- 1441681
TI  - [Cytokine-assisted extrahepatic cellular binding of hepatitis B virus: pathogenic
      importance for cell tropism and virus replication?].

PMID- 1441682
TI  - [Surgical measures in tropical chronic pancreatitis--are inflammatory
      complications, requiring surgical measures, less frequent in tropical chronic
      pancreatitis than in chronic alcoholic pancreatitis?].

PMID- 1441683
TI  - [Use of ERCP in suspected bile duct and pancreatic cancer].

PMID- 1441684
TI  - [Psychoimmunologic correlation between allergies, panic and agoraphobia].
AB  - The present behavioral medical paper is a contribution to basic research in
      neuroimmunology. The relationship of panic/agoraphobia and allergy/anaphylaxis
      (IgE-mediated immediate reaction) is demonstrated and discussed with specific
      consideration of vasomotor reactions, tachycardia and hyperventilation in panic
      patients and allergies with anaphylactic reactions. The vegetative symptoms of
      panic reactions and anaphylaxis showed a high correlative correspondence. 74% of
      23 panic and/or agoraphobia patients in a pretest to an epidemiologic study
      turned out to have an allergic illness that needed treatment; but there were no
      more anxiety disorders disclosed in 50 allergic patients than in the general
      population according to expectancies found in epidemiologic publications. If
      these data are confirmed then panic and agoraphobia cannot be seen as merely a
      cognitive-emotional event, but also as a further kind of allergic disease with
      genetic, ecological, psychological and social determinants; they would then have
      to be diagnosed as psychoimmunological disturbances and treated with behavior
      medicine (preferably with exposition and immunotherapy or hyposensitization).
      Anxiety therapies would improve qualitatively and could be cut down in duration.

PMID- 1441685
TI  - [A comparison of East German and West German probands: emotionality and objective
      personality variables].
AB  - Data from a joint research project between the University of Trier and the
      Humboldt University Berlin of personality dimensions were compared and analyzed.
      Since Germany was separated for forty years, studies of the general population
      are necessary in order to yield possible cultural differences. In the present
      comparison we analyzed personality constructs like anxiety, curiosity, anger and
      anger expression as well as variables of objective personality tests. The sample
      from the former western German states contained N = 109 persons. As a basis for
      comparison, we selected a parallized matched sample (n = 109) from the new
      eastern German states out of a larger sample (N = 586). The main results were as
      follows: (1) reliability (consistency) and factor structure of the measures are
      similar for both samples. This equivalency is the formal prerequisite for a
      comparison. (2) There are substantial differential effects between eastern and
      western samples. Wellness as well as emotionality also show different results
      considerable with regard to age and sex.

PMID- 1441686
TI  - [Ethical aspects of psychotherapy].
AB  - There are many ethical problems in theory and practice of psychotherapy. Aims of
      therapy, effectiveness, side effects and modalities of therapy are discussed in
      detail. The dependency of these aspects from anthropological considerations and
      understanding of illness is stressed. As far as side effects of psychotherapy are
      concerned abuse of the patient by the psychotherapist is distinguished from those
      potentially harmful effects which are due to the specific process of
      psychotherapy. The relationship of psychotherapy to psychopharmacotherapy is
      discussed in a special passage.

PMID- 1441687
TI  - [A multi-stage cognitive training program for improving cognitive functions of
      chronic alcoholic patients].
AB  - In accordance with neuropsychological findings, that chronic alcohol abuse can
      lead to cognitive impairment, a multi-phased cognitive training program (MKT)
      developed by Sagstetter was conducted with a group of chronic alcoholic patients.
      In this article this program is introduced and evaluated with regard to chronic
      alcoholic patients and their improvement in certain cognitive functions. The
      study group consisted of 11 chronic alcoholics, who regularly took part in the
      program. The control group consisted of 11 patients who took part on a behavior
      therapy program offered by the clinic and had similar social and pathological
      histories to those of the study group. The two groups were compared with each
      other with the help of a follow-up study design after approximately seven weeks.
      The results reveal that this present cognitive training program promotes, above
      all, cognitive functions such as visual short-time memory, concentration, form
      perception as well as combination and organisation ability.

PMID- 1441688
TI  - [The hypochondriacal delusion].
AB  - Hypochondriacal delusions are not bound to a specific mental disorder, but occur
      in the whole spectrum of psychoses. In spite of the implicitly wrong conception
      of reality, the significance of these delusions as an attempt to express,
      interpret and cope with mental illness should not be neglected if an approach to
      the patient's own experience is sought. On the one hand, hypochondriacal
      delusions are based on altered body perceptions in mental illness, characterized
      by primary local or general dysaesthesias to the point of depersonalisation, or
      caused secondarily by the patient's increased attention to his own body. This
      alienated bodily experience is named in (lay) medical terms by the delusional
      hypochondriac. On the other hand, "illness" with its manifold cultural and
      psychological meanings stands as a polyvalent metaphor for the incomprehensible
      alteration of the patient's self-experience in general: thus, the feeling of
      exposure to external attacks, of guilt, sinfulness, shame, loss of self-esteem or
      even the experience of a disruption of personality may find their expression in
      the hypochondriacal delusion.

PMID- 1441689
TI  - [German version of the Vanderbilt Psychotherapy Scales: description and use in
      two brief psychotherapies].
AB  - The Vanderbilt-Psychotherapy-Scales appeared to be useful instruments for the
      identification of process characteristics determining the outcome of brief
      dynamic psychotherapies. The German versions of the two scales measuring
      important components of the psychotherapeutic process and of negative indicators
      are described in this article. It could be shown that--similar to the original
      versions--both scales can be used economically and that rater agreement soon
      reaches satisfactory levels. To demonstrate the potential use of the scales,
      their application in two different short term treatments are described which are
      presently analysed in a multi-center study of "single case oriented process
      research" using a variety of different methods. The example demonstrates that
      both scales are useful to discriminate both different theoretical foundations of
      the treatments as well as specific features of the patients and their therapists.
      The usefulness of the scales in a broader context is mainly based upon the
      experience that they reveal a lot of important informations about the
      psychotherapeutic process with a minimum of expense.

PMID- 1441690
TI  - [In situ detection of EGF receptor mRNA in arteriosclerotic lesions in man:
      implications for the proliferative activity of smooth muscle cells].
AB  - Growth factors and growth factor receptors are considered to be key elements in
      the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis and restenosis formation. To study the local
      expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, plaque tissue specimens
      from advanced lesions (10 coronary, two femoral, seven carotid) of 19 patients
      were taken for in situ hybridization studies using an EGF-specific cDNA probe. In
      serial vascular sections of three lesions with increased focal cellularity,
      autoradiographic silver grains were clearly localized to intimal cells adjacent
      to the internal elastic lamina. EGF mRNA transcripts were not observed in the
      fibrous cap, the plaque shoulders, necrotic intimal areas, or in the media. In
      smooth muscle cells (SMCs) cultured from human plaque tissue, EGF increased SMC
      proliferative activity in a dose-dependent manner (ED50: 3-6 ng of EGF/ml).
      Proliferative responsiveness to EGF (10 ng/ml) was found to be significantly (p <
      0.01) enhanced in coronary SMCs derived from restenotic lesions as compared to
      those from primary stenoses. The expression of EGF receptor mRNA in human
      atheromatous lesions could be of prognostic value to predict an increased SMC
      proliferative response to stimulatory growth factors.

PMID- 1441691
TI  - [The anti-ischemic effect of gallopamil-retard in comparison with nifedipine
      retard in stable angina pectoris].
AB  - To assess the antiischemic efficacy of slow-release (SR) gallopamil, 100 mg
      b.i.d., versus slow-release (SR) nifedipine, 20 mg b.i.d., 24 patients with
      chronic stable angina underwent symptom-limited bicycle ergometer exercise stress
      tests in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over protocol.
      Both medications caused a significant reduction in anginal attack frequency and
      nitroglycerin consumption as compared to placebo; similarly, exercise tolerance
      was augmented in association with a considerable reduction in ischemia-induced ST
      segment depression. The antiischemic effect of gallopamil (SR) was marginally
      superior to that of nifedipine (SR). Since the incidence of adverse effects was
      also less with gallopamil (SR) this drug exhibited a more favorable risk-benefit
      ratio relative to nifedipine (SR).

PMID- 1441692
TI  - [Interval resistance exercise in comparison with bicycle ergometry stress.
      Studies with resistance endurance training in coronary patients].
AB  - In the rehabilitation of coronary patients there is an increased interest in
      using complementary resistance exercise training. Therefore, we studied nine
      patients (males; age: 51 +/- 7 years) with chronic stable coronary heart disease
      during extensive resistance exercise (ex RE) (legpress, abduction, adduction) (60
      s work: 60-s rest; contraction intensity: 65% of 1 RM) and during intensive
      resistance exercise (int. RE) (legpress) (30-s work: 45-s rest) with 85% of 1 RM.
      Non-invasive continuously measured blood pressure, heart rate, norepinephrine,
      epinephrine, lactic acid, and glucose were compared with values from maximal
      bicycle ergometry (3-min steps, each 25 w; max. performance: mean 156 w; range
      125-200 w). RESULTS: 1) Comparing ex RE and int RE with bicycle ergometry there
      were no differences in blood pressure (systolic: 206 and 204 vs. 210 mm Hg; ns;
      diastolic: 98 and 104 vs. 92 mm Hg; ns). Heart rates (104 and 103 vs. 125/min; p
      < .01), norepinephrine (3.8 and 3.3 vs. 8.8 nmol/l; p < .01) and epinephrine (0.7
      and 0.6 vs. 1.4 nmol/l; p < .01) were considerably lower. 2) The most significant
      increase and decrease of blood pressure and heart rate occurred within 15-30 s
      after the beginning and end, respectively, of isometric exercise. CONCLUSIONS: 1)
      ex RE is suitable for patients with stable CHD and cardiac exercise tolerances of
      1.5-2 W/kg = 125-150 watts. 2) Blood pressure monitoring by the cuff method (RR)
      immediately after RE did not reflect blood pressure during RE. 3) Controlling RE
      by the training heart rate prescribed for endurance exercise is not possible.

PMID- 1441693
TI  - [Rotational stability of angiography catheters].
AB  - Rotatory stability is a parameter that reflects the ability of a catheter to
      transmit a rotation applied at the outer end to the catheter tip for the purpose
      of selective probing. A method for measuring the rotatory stability is described,
      and the results of rotatory stability measurements of 70 different commercially
      available catheters are reported. There is an almost linear correlation between
      the rotatory stability and the difference between the respective fourth power of
      the external and internal diameter or, approximately, to the fourth power of the
      external diameter for catheters without wire reinforcement. With the same cross
      sectional dimensions, the rotatory stability of teflon, polyethylene, and nylon
      catheters has an approximate ratio of 1:2:4. Wire reinforcement increases
      rotatory stability by an average factor of about 3. For catheters of calibers 5 F
      and 6 F, a correlation between the rotatory stability and the weight of the
      reinforcing wire mesh is apparent.

PMID- 1441694
TI  - [Peripheral embolism of hemostasis collagen (VasoSeal)].
AB  - VasoSeal is a purified bovine, absorbable collagen plug currently successfully
      used to close the femoral arterial puncture site after cardiac catheterization
      under full anticoagulation. Up to now there has been no experience with potential
      complications. We observed acute ischemia in the right lower leg of 2/100
      patients 36 resp. 24 h after successful closure of the puncture site with
      VasoSeal. Angiography confirmed acute occlusion of the distal A. poplitea dextra.
      A 25-mm resp. 50-mm long cylindrical foreign body embolus was removed with a
      Fogarty-catheter by retrograde indirect embolectomy. Histopathology confirmed a
      fresh collagen clot with appositional thrombosis.

PMID- 1441695
TI  - [Pimobendan (UDCG 115 BS) in long-term therapy of chronic heart failure].
AB  - Pimobendan is a positive inotropic agent with additional calcium-sensitizing
      effects of the phosphodiesterase III-inhibitor group. In short-term studies,
      beneficial hemodynamic effects have been demonstrated in patients with congestive
      heart failure. The aim of this prospective study was to examine the long-term
      effect of pimobendan (during at least 6 months) on subjective state, hemodynamic
      parameters, and arrhythmias in patients with congestive heart failure NYHA
      classes II and III. After double-blind randomization, 24 patients received
      pimobendan 5 mg bid or placebo orally in addition to a basic therapy (diuretics,
      digitalis). After 3 months, pimobendan-treated patients showed a significant
      clinical improvement (p < 0.03). In the placebo group, one patient underwent
      acute cardiac transplantation due to rapid clinical deterioration; another
      patient died suddenly after 5 months. No cardiac events occurred in the
      pimobendan group. In comparison to placebo, no proarrhythmogenic effect of
      pimobendan was detected. Clinical stabilization of patients in the pimobendan
      group was not paralleled by improvement of the hemodynamic parameters of left
      ventricular performance.

PMID- 1441696
TI  - [Function of the right ventricle in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy].
AB  - To analyze right-ventricular size and function and their relationship to left
      ventricular dimensions in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), biplane
      cineventriculography was performed in 57 patients. The results were compared to
      15 normals (N). In patients dilatation of the right ventricle (RVEDVI: DCM: 126.5
      +/- 41.4 ml/m2, N: 90.5 +/- 9.2 ml/m2, 2 p < 0.05) was less pronounced than
      dilatation of the left ventricle (LVEDVI: DCM: 136.0 +/- 45.8 ml/m2, N: 76.7 +/-
      7.9 ml/m2, 2 p < 0.05). Left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF: DCM: 36.1 +/-
      10.2%, N: 64.4 +/- 3.8%, 2 p < 0.05) was more reduced than right-ventricular
      ejection fraction (RVEF: DCM: 39.7 +/- 11.5%, N: 58.3 +/- 3.3%, 2 p < 0.05).
      Concerning the individual patient, a good correlation was found between right-
      and left-ventricular stroke volume (r = 0.74), whereas ejection fraction (r =
      0.58), enddiastolic (r = 0.52) and endsystolic volume (r = 0.55) of the left and
      right ventricle correlated only moderately. Twenty-three of the 57 patients
      showed pronounced differences between right- and left-ventricular ejection
      fraction. The difference RVEF-LVEF was < = -10% in six patients, i.e., right
      ventricular ejection fraction was markedly more reduced than left-ventricular
      ejection fraction. Right-ventricular myocardial biopsy was performed in five of
      these six patients with histologic evidence of dilated cardiomyopathy and, also,
      no signs of right-ventricular dysplasia (no lipomatous tissue
      replacement).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1441697
TI  - [Initial presentation of ventricular pre-excitation after catheter ablation of
      concealed retrograde conducting accessory atrioventricular pathways].
AB  - Catheter ablation using radiofrequency or direct current energy was performed in
      19 consecutive patients with concealed accessory pathways. Four patients
      developed manifest preexcitation for the first time following ablation. The
      concealed accessory pathways of these four patients were localized at right
      lateral, left posteroseptal, left posterolateral, and left lateral sites,
      respectively. In two patients, manifest preexcitation developed immediately after
      attempted ablation. In the other two patients, preexcitation occurred after 4 and
      14 days. Electrophysiologic testing revealed in all four patients that the origin
      of manifest preexcitation corresponded to the site of the concealed pathway.
      Successful catheter ablation using radiofrequency current was performed in three
      patients. One patient preferred surgical interruption of the accessory pathway.
      The reason for this sudden emergence of preexcitation of these patients with only
      retrograde conducting pathways remains to be investigated. The anterograde
      conduction capacity might have been modified by damaging the site of the
      accessory pathway insertion.

PMID- 1441698
TI  - [Successful treatment of atrial fibrillation by resection of a congenital
      aneurysm of the left heart atrium].
AB  - Atrial fibrillation occurred in a 27-year-old patient with a history of globular
      cardiac enlargement since childhood. Because of the probable causal relationship
      between the preexisting heart disease-which was supposed to be an enlargement of
      the left atrium-and the rhythm disturbance, we recommended a surgical
      intervention. Cardiac surgery revealed a congenital aneurysm of the left atrial
      appendage which could be resected without any complication. Postoperatively,
      atrial fibrillation had returned to regular sinus rhythm. The bad prognosis with
      a high risk of systemic embolism is the reason why early cardiac surgery should
      be performed after diagnosis of this rare anomaly (20 reported cases) of the left
      atrium.

PMID- 1441699
TI  - [Cardiovascular intensive care. Report of the meeting of the "Cardiovascular
      Intensive Care" Study Group at the spring congress of the German Society of
      Cardiovascular Research 23 April 1992 in Mannheim].

PMID- 1441700
TI  - [Effectiveness of propafenone in congenital ectopic junctional tachycardia--a
      case report].
AB  - Junctional ectopic tachycardia is associated with a poor prognosis when it occurs
      in newborns and young infants. Like other automatic tachyarrhythmias, junctional
      ectopic tachycardia has been shown to be very resistant to medical treatment.
      Successful therapy with propafenone in a newborn with congenital junctional
      ectopic tachycardia is presented. Due to its high effectiveness, safety, and lack
      of side-effects, propafenone appears to be a valuable drug in the treatment of
      young patients with congenital junctional ectopic tachycardia.

PMID- 1441701
TI  - [Percutaneous high frequency current catheter ablation in permanent ventricular
      tachycardia of the "bundle-branch reentry" type after implantation of an
      automatic cardioverter-defibrillator].
AB  - A 65-year-old female patient with a history of recurrent sustained ventricular
      tachycardia presented with an incessant ventricular tachycardia (cycle length 360
      400 ms) following implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). The
      tachycardia could not be terminated by antiarrhythmic drug treatment,
      antitachycardia pacing or internal defibrillation via the ICD. An invasive
      electrophysiologic study revealed that the mechanism of this newly occurring
      tachycardia was bundle branch reentry. The patient underwent emergency catheter
      ablation using radiofrequency (RF) current. Endocardial mapping of the right
      bundle branch and of the distal His bundle was performed and a bundle branch
      reentry tachycardia was diagnosed. After delivery of the fifth RF-impulse, the
      tachycardia terminated and complete AV block was induced. No malfunction of the
      ICD was observed following RF-ablation. The patient was hemodynamically stable
      with a junctional escape rhythm and antibradycardia pacing back-up of the ICD
      (VVI-mode). This case report demonstrates the feasibility of RF catheter ablation
      in the treatment of incessant bundle branch reentry tachycardia as a
      complementary option after implantation of an ICD.

PMID- 1441702
TI  - [Unexpected malposition of a ventricular pacemaker electrode].
AB  - Ten years after mitral-valve replacement, a 69-year-old patient underwent VVI
      pacemaker implantation because of symptomatic bradyarrhythmia. Postoperatively,
      the electrocardiogram showed a right bundle branch pattern under ventricular
      stimulation while the threshold was optimal. Under fluoroscopy, we suspected a
      malposition of the electrode outside the right ventricle in the LAO and lateral
      view. This could not be verified by echocardiography, whereas contrast
      angiography of the right ventricle proved the extracavitary position of the
      electrode under the inferior wall of the left ventricle, probably in the middle
      cardiac vein. The electrode position was operatively corrected without
      complications. We discuss different ways of malposition and their detection by
      considering electrocardiographic configuration and fluoroscopy in LAO and lateral
      view.

PMID- 1441703
TI  - [Pulmonary valve atresia with ventricular septum defect: interventional
      recanalization of the right ventricular outflow tract].
AB  - A case of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect is reported where
      continuity between the right ventricle and the hypoplastic pulmonary artery was
      established interventionally. The atretic valve was perforated using a special
      "perforation needle" with a sharp and stiff distal and a flexible proximal part.
      Perforation of the bifurcation was well tolerated without later sequelae. After
      perforation of the atresia, dilation was successfully performed using 2, 4, and
      7.2 mm balloons with a pressure of 10 atm; the arterial oxygen saturation
      increased from 72% to 84%. Four weeks later repeated "valvuloplasty" was
      performed (balloon diameters 8 mm, 9.5 mm, and 12 mm) and the "valve" ring was
      dilated to a diameter of 10.5 mm. Although no general conclusions can be drawn
      from this single application, mechanical perforation of the atresia could become
      an attractive interventional approach for the treatment of pulmonary atresia.

PMID- 1441704
TI  - [Acute and intermediate clinical and angiography results after coronary stent
      implantation].
AB  - The value of stenting in emergency situations in interventional angioplasty
      procedures is widely accepted. Stenting remains controversial as a therapeutic
      method for use beyond the acute phase, as the results reported in the acute phase
      are characterized by a wide range. This study reports the implantation results of
      Palmaz-Schatz stents in 64 cases mostly for failed PTCA. Stents were mounted on
      Monorail-PVC-balloon catheters. The acute success rate was 96.8%. In two cases
      with stent misplacement CABG was performed within 48 h. No lethal events occurred
      in the acute phase. Stent thrombosis has only been seen in four cases (6.5%) so
      far under subtle monitoring of the anticoagulant regime. Restenosis rate
      (definition: NHLBI-4) according to serial angiography 6 and 12 weeks after
      implantation was 4.25% at 6 weeks, with a cumulative rate of 19.4% up to 12
      weeks. All recurrences eligible for PTCA have been successfully redilated. A high
      extracardiac complication rate--predominantly groin hematoma--is the main
      disadvantage of the procedure. Surgical repair was necessary in 11.4% up to 6
      weeks after implantation. Surprisingly high was also the incidence of hematuria,
      also in 11.4%, in the phase of high anticoagulation. In conclusion, stenting is
      an effective therapeutic method to avoid emergency CABG and elective CABG in most
      cases of failed PTCA.

PMID- 1441705
TI  - [Randomized comparison between collagen administration and pressure dressings for
      occlusion of the arterial puncture after coronary angiography and coronary
      dilatation].
AB  - One hundred patients undergoing routine diagnostic or interventional
      catheterization were randomly assigned to receive either percutaneously applied
      collagen (group A; n = 50) or conventional pressure dressing (group B; n = 50)
      for sealing of the femoral artery. Clinical variables were comparable in both
      groups. The heparin dose was 100 IU/kg in 30 patients and 200 IU/kg in 20
      patients of both groups. The average compression time was 4.3 min in group A and
      42.3 min in group B (p < 0.001). In group A, 1/50 patients required pressure
      dressing compared to 50/50 patients in group B. Bleeding was not observed in
      group A, but was observed in 6/50 patients in group B. The time to ambulation was
      6.4 (range, 4-12) h in group A and 21.6 (range, 10-48) h in group B (p < 0.001).
      Hematomas with a diameter of > 6 cm developed in 4/50 patients in group A and in
      11/50 patients in group B (p < 0.05). Blood-transfusions or surgical
      interventions were not required and there was no loss of ankle pulses in either
      group. In conclusion, percutaneously applied collagen reduced compression time
      and duration of bedrest after diagnostic catheterization and PTCA. Despite
      earlier ambulation, the incidence of bleeding was lower with collagen than with
      conventional pressure dressing.

PMID- 1441706
TI  - [Spontaneous renal artery dissection].
AB  - The clinical clues of sudden arterial hypertension, acute pain in the side,
      proteinuria, hematuria, abdominal bruits and renal failure are suspicious for
      spontaneous dissection of the renal arteries, even in the absence of one or more
      of the above-mentioned symptoms. To confirm the diagnosis and to provide
      appropriate therapy, immediate renal arteriography is mandatory, otherwise acute
      loss of renal tissue may occur. We report on one patient with spontaneous
      dissection of the renal arteries.

PMID- 1441707
TI  - [Geriatric diseases of the upper digestive tract].
AB  - During aging, secretion and motility of the upper GI tract slow down. The
      reduction of these functions, however, does not create complaints. In the higher
      age groups, a number of symptoms from age-dependent diseases occur more
      frequently, e.g., dysphagia in response to cerebral ischemia, or disturbed
      gastric emptying caused by diabetic visceral neuropathy. Moreover, certain GI
      diseases occur more often in the elderly, e.g., chronic atrophic gastritis, NSAR
      induced gastric ulcers, malignancies, and others. In contrast, almost nothing is
      known about diseases or symptoms of the GI tract that might be specific for the
      elderly. With only a few exceptions, there are no age-dependent clinical
      differences. Nevertheless, intestinal diseases often develop more rapidly and the
      mortality is higher in the elderly than in younger people.

PMID- 1441708
TI  - [The small and large intestine. Fecal incontinence].
AB  - Except for impaired resorption of vitamin D and calcium, the small bowel does not
      exhibit significant functional impairment during aging. Vascular problems in the
      small and large bowel are rare, but are of dramatic importance. Chronic
      constipation and diverticulosis are classical disorders of aging which should be
      treated by adding fiber to the normal diet. Surgery is only indicated in the case
      of complicated diverticulitis. Adenoma and colorectal carcinoma show an age
      related incidence. Angiodysplasia, preferentially localized in the caecum, is the
      major cause of lower gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage. Anal incontinence may be
      multifactorial, behavior modification and biofeedback may help to avoid surgery.

PMID- 1441709
TI  - [Gastrointestinal motility in the elderly].
AB  - The existence of specific, age-related changes in gastrointestinal motility with
      clinical significance is controversial. Beside the more infrequent primary
      motility disorders, secondary motility disturbances associated with collagen
      vascular diseases, endocrinopathies, and neuromuscular diseases are prominent in
      the older and often multimorbid patients. Especially in geriatric patients,
      motility associated symptoms are undesired side-effects of drug therapy. The
      pathophysiology, clinical syndromes, and therapeutic principles of motility
      disorders in the elderly are discussed. The major symptoms of esophageal
      dysfunction are dysphagia, chest pain, heartburn, and regurgitation.
      Oropharyngeal dysphagia, mostly caused by cerebrovascular accidents and other
      neurologic disorders, leads to disturbances in food intake, and is often
      complicated by broncho-pulmonary infections arising from recurrent aspiration of
      food or saliva. Gastrointestinal reflux disease and spastic motility disorders of
      the esophagus are regarded as possible causes of angina-like chest pain after
      exclusion of cardiac diseases. Motility disturbances of the stomach and small
      bowel are often related to systemic disease (i.e., diabetes mellitus, chronic
      intestinal pseudo-obstruction) of drug side-effects. Mental and physical decline,
      reduced fluid intake, and constipating drugs are the most relevant factors for
      idiopathic constipation in the elderly. Fecal incontinence means a great
      psychological strain for older patients and leads to social isolation.

PMID- 1441710
TI  - [The significance of current hepatitis virology for geriatrics].
AB  - In geriatric medicine, hepatitis A is of minor interest only because protecting
      antibodies have been demonstrated in 92% of the elderly. Hepatitis B (which,
      prior to recognition of major routes of transmission, was predominantly
      transmitted percutaneously) has gained importance only by its chronic residuals
      in aged patients; acute infection in the elderly is rare. The recently detectable
      posttransfusional hepatitis C is the most important type of viral hepatitis in
      the elderly. In our region, hepatitis D is rare and hepatitis E has not yet been
      observed.

PMID- 1441711
TI  - [Calculi of the bile ducts--a problem for the elderly? Observations from the
      surgical viewpoint].
AB  - Age alone does not increase the risk in biliary surgery. However, cholelithiasis
      in the elderly is often associated with an increased frequency of acute
      cholecystitis and cholangitis due to stone obstruction. The proportion of elderly
      people in the world is still growing, therefore, we can expect to see
      increasingly more complications of gallstones. Elective surgery for gallstone
      disease in all age groups is to be preferred to a policy of waiting for stone
      complications with the resultant risk of higher mortality and postoperative
      morbidity of emergency surgery.

PMID- 1441712
TI  - [Housing for the elderly--results of an empirical study].
AB  - This empirical study is based on 285 standardized interviews with older people
      living in government-subsidized housing (sozialer Wohnungsbau). Housing
      conditions, especially contentment and perceived deficiencies are described.
      Additional remarks refer to the neighborhood relations. The high contentment,
      already known from former studies, is confirmed by the results. The findings
      indicate that steps towards an adaptation of housing conditions to possible needs
      of older people are not ranked very high. Beyond that, there seems to be a lack
      of information about the technical possibilities of improving the housing
      conditions, although older people want to live as long as possible in their
      current housing.

PMID- 1441713
TI  - Changes in thyroid hormones and serum lipids of aged women following
      thyroidectomy.
AB  - Thyrotropin (TSH), thyroxine (T24) 3,5,3403 triiodothyronine (T23), serum lipid
      levels and ECG findings in females who underwent thyroidectomy 2-44 years
      earlier, were compared to those of similar controls with intact thyroid.
      Pathological ECG is more frequent in thyroidectomized persons who also exhibit
      higher thyrotropin and lower HDL-cholesterol levels. The results indicate that
      thyroidectomized state should be regarded and controlled as a possible condition
      of subclinical hypothyreosis, being a risk factor of cardiovascular diseases.

PMID- 1441715
TI  - Influence of age and sex on 19 blood variables in healthy subjects.
AB  - Normal values exist for all clinical chemical tests, but it is not very clear
      what is normal for healthy elderly subjects. Therefore, routine blood variables
      were determined in 80 ambulatory, disease-free persons who had undergone rigorous
      health screening. The subjects were divided into the following age groups: 20 (+/
      3), 40 (+/- 3), 60 (+/- 3), and 80 (+/- 5) years, with 10 males and 10 females
      per age group. Blood variables were determined after an overnight fast. It was
      found that even with conservative statistical measures more than half of the
      variables were significantly affected by age or sex. Significant age differences
      were found for total cholesterol, triglycerides, sodium, and ASAT. Urea,
      creatinine, gamma-GT, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, and albumin were
      characterized by both age and sex differences. No age or sex differences were
      found for glucose, potassium, chloride, calcium, calcium ion, iron, magnesium,
      total protein, and ALAT. The findings suggest that the age or sex-related changes
      of a number of blood variables such as cholesterol, triglycerides, and liver
      enzymes are not only of statistical significance, but are also of clinical
      relevance.

PMID- 1441714
TI  - [Thyroid gland disorders in elderly psychiatric patients].
AB  - With 200 admissions of 192 patients to the psychogeriatric acute ward of the
      Zwiefalten State Mental Hospital serial measurements of serum concentrations of
      basal TSH and, if necessary, of total T3 and total T4 were carried out with the
      TRH tests performed. Basal TSH was decreased in 16% of patients and in 2% it was
      increased. Only three patients had manifest hyperthyroidism and one patient had
      marginal hypothyroidism. Regardless of their psychiatric diagnosis, patients with
      manifest hyperthyroidism showed psychomotor agitation, whereas those with latent
      and marginal hypothyroidism suffered from lack of impulse. These symptoms
      improved after treatment with carbimazol or levothyroxine, respectively, and
      psychotropic drugs. Therefore a thyroid screening should be performed on
      psychogeriatric patients regardless, including, when possible, repeat measurement
      of basal TSH and, if necessary, the test battery should include total T3 and
      total T4.

PMID- 1441716
TI  - Cortical bone age estimates from historically known adults.
AB  - Adult skeletal remains from 19th century historic cemeteries were used to test
      the accuracy and precision of age estimations based on the cortical bone
      histological technique proposed by Thompson [6, 7]. Comparison of estimates made
      from anterior microscopic fields versus peripheral fields (N = 29 femora)
      indicates general age agreement, with 6/29 demonstrating marked differences
      between sampling locations. Three cases of unilateral trauma show no consistent
      effect on bone age estimates. Among sixteen adults of known age, the ages of
      eight were accurately estimated; five were estimated to be significantly older
      and three were estimated to be younger than they were. It is argued that cortical
      erosion/diagenetic destruction may contribute to overestimation by obscuring the
      periosteal regions required for application of the technique. While not without
      its shortcomings, it is concluded that the Thompson technique is relatively
      robust and merits further development.

PMID- 1441717
TI  - Incisification of anthropoid deciduous mandibular canines.
AB  - Interspecific variation of the deciduous mandibular canine's mesial cristid in 51
      anthropoid taxa is assessed. In 84% of the taxa observed, mesial cristids were
      well developed and provided incisor-like occlusion with di2. In 5 of the
      remaining 8 taxa, lingual cristids provided incisor-like occlusion with dc1.
      Comparisons between dc1s and C1s of conspecific adult males and females show that
      in 85% of the species observed the magnitude of mandibular canine incisor traits
      follows this order: deciduous > adult female > adult male. This within-species
      variation is inversely related to the likely adaptive value of the canine as a
      weapon and to canine crown height. A selection model based on these data is
      derived and applied to human canine evolution. The relevance of these data to the
      field vs. clone theory debate about dental development is also discussed.

PMID- 1441718
TI  - Estimation of stature in children from second metacarpal measurements.
AB  - On the basis of 552 boys and 542 girls aged 6 to 20 years, this study examines
      the estimation of stature from dimensions and maturity of second metacarpals by
      means of linear regression equations. A combination of length and width
      measurements provided a more accurate estimation than each measurement
      individually. When taken alone, length produced a more accurate estimation than
      width. Sex and age factors are useful for the estimation of stature, though these
      variables are often unknown in the isolated bone. The samples are divided into
      immature and mature groups (according to skeletal maturity). Regardless of sex,
      stature could be estimated from the metacarpal length and width with a standard
      error of 4.19 cm by means of a multiple linear equation in the immature group.
      The mature group should be considered with adults for this purpose. Thus, taking
      into account their skeletal maturity, living stature could be practically
      estimated from the second metacarpal with significant degrees of accuracy in
      children.

PMID- 1441719
TI  - "Lucy's" body height and relative leg length: human- or ape-like?
AB  - The body height of Australopithecus afarensis A.L. 288-1 ("Lucy") has recently
      been estimated and calculated as between 1 m to 1.06 m; other estimates give ca.
      1.20 m. In addition, it is often stated that her relative leg length was shorter
      than that of modern humans. Using relative leg-, femur- and tibia length it is
      shown that both statements together can not be true; either her body height must
      at least have been around 1.06 to 1.10 m to give "Lucy" human-like leg
      proportions, or, to achieve a shorter, more ape-like leg ratio, a body height of
      ca. 1.20 m must be assumed.

PMID- 1441720
TI  - Secular trend of menarcheal age in southern Chinese girls.
AB  - Southern Chinese girls aged 11 years and 9 months to 12 years and 3 months in
      Hong Kong have a mean menarcheal age of 11.50 years (standard deviation of 0.47)
      using the recollection method. Highly significant differences are found when
      compared to the 12-year-old girls in Hong Kong studied in the past decades.
      Therefore, a secular trend of earlier menarcheal age is demonstrated.

PMID- 1441721
TI  - Emergence of deciduous teeth in Punjabi children, north India.
AB  - Data on deciduous tooth emergence of 312 children aged 4 to 31 months of Punjabi
      parentage are presented. Probit analysis was used to derive the median age of
      tooth emergence. Female children are found to be advanced with respect to tooth
      emergence than their male counterparts. While comparing the present data with
      those from other populations it is found that, in general, the mean number of
      emerged teeth in Punjabi children is more at most ages, with lower median age of
      eruption for most teeth. Magnitude of interage variability in the eruption times
      is noticed to be maximum in the 16-17 and 20-21 months age groups. The findings
      of the study suggest that number of teeth can be used as a parameter for the
      estimation of age.

PMID- 1441722
TI  - Asymmetry and sexual dimorphism of lungs weight in fetal ontogeny.
AB  - 1079 male fetuses and 727 female fetuses at the age of 20 to 41 weeks were
      investigated for the process of asymmetry and sexual dimorphism of lungs weight
      formation as well as developmental correlation between the weight of the lungs
      and the size of the heart. Statistical analysis of the results was applied. It
      was ascertained, among others, that asymmetry of lungs weight occurs in the
      investigated developmental period--the right lung is heavier than the left one
      about 20 to 30%. Between the increase in the weight of the lungs and the size of
      the heart positive correlation occurs, but it is not of directed character. A
      substantial, intersexual differentiation of lungs weight was not ascertained.

PMID- 1441723
TI  - Origin of the Romany gypsies--genetic evidence.
AB  - Genetic heterogeneity and affinity was examined between nine Romany speaking
      gypsy populations and two of their possible ancestral populations from India. For
      AB0, Rhesus (D), MN and HP systems there exists a conclusive heterogeneity among
      these populations. Three gypsy populations from Western Europe (English, Welsh
      and Swedish) are genetically distinct from the rest of the East European gypsies
      and the populations of India analysed in this investigation. Overall the genetic
      differentiation among these populations is moderately high (RST = 0.029). The
      results also indicate the relative close relationship among the East gypsies and
      the two selected nomadic populations of India. The factors responsible for the
      moderate diversification of the East European gypsies may be high rate of
      migration, isolation and random drift, while among the Western gypsy populations
      admixture seems to be an important differentiation factor.

PMID- 1441724
TI  - Flatness of facial skeletons in Siberian and other circum-Pacific populations.
AB  - Thirty-four populations from Siberian and other circum-Pacific regions were
      compared in terms of facial flatness measurements of the cranium. While
      fundamentally having an extremely flat face, Siberian populations tend to be
      differentiated into two or three subgroups. On the other hand, other Mongoloid
      populations show greater variation in facial flatness. The less flat faces of the
      American Indians are almost equal to those of the Europeans. In Japan, the
      existence of two contrasting groups in terms of facial flatness have been found.

PMID- 1441725
TI  - Investigations on the variability of blood group polymorphisms among sixteen
      tribal populations from Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, India.
AB  - Sixteen tribal populations from Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have been
      typed for the polymorphic blood group systems A1A2B0, MNSs, Rhesus, Kell, Duffy
      and Diego. The heterogeneity in the distribution of haplotype and allele
      frequencies, respectively, is partly considerable. It is supposed that this is
      due to the operation of several microevolutionary factors, such as genetic drift,
      social and geographic isolation and gene flow. This is discussed in detail.

PMID- 1441726
TI  - Apes and apomorphies: the anterior nasal spine as a projection of cladistic
      conceptions.
AB  - Projections, tubercles, or spines of bone at the anterior margin of the piriform
      aperture occur in widely varying forms among catarrhine primates. This paper
      describes, illustrates, and tabulates the frequencies of such structures by age
      and sex in a large collection of Pan troglodytes verus skulls. In the overall
      sample of 263 skulls where the region could be observed, these protuberances of
      bone occur bilaterally in 10.7% of specimens and unilaterally in an additional
      3.4%. They increase in frequency with age to a high of 16.9% in adult and older
      animals. Among adult specimens, these projections of bone in the anterior nasal
      region are present more commonly in females than in males. In a comparative
      context, variants on this structure in nonhuman primates, some of them documented
      previously, should help to counter the cladistic conception that the anterior
      nasal spine is an apomorphic or evolutionary novel morphological structure in
      hominids.

PMID- 1441727
TI  - Experimental evaluation of antitoxic protective effect of new cholera vaccines in
      mice.
AB  - Intraperitoneal immunization of mice and subsequent challenge with purified
      cholera toxin (CT) were employed to evaluate the anti-cholera toxin protective
      effect of two new oral cholera vaccines, live CVD 103-HgR and killed B subunit
      whole cell (BS-WC). CVD 103-HgR vaccine demonstrated 100% protection of mice
      against 2.25 LD50 and 70% against 3 LD50 of CT. Mice immunized with BS-WC vaccine
      were protected against 2.25 and 3 LD50 of CT in 88 and 62% of cases,
      respectively. All three killed parenteral vaccines failed to protect against CT.
      We suggest this mouse system for preliminary evaluation of the antitoxic
      protective activity of cholera vaccines.

PMID- 1441728
TI  - A single vaccination with an inactivated hepatitis A liposome vaccine induces
      protective antibodies after only two weeks.
AB  - In the near future an inactivated hepatitis A vaccine will be commercially
      available. The recommended vaccination schedule will include at least two
      vaccinations 1 month apart. Giving two doses of vaccine on the same day in one
      injection results in protection after 2-4 weeks dependent on the adjuvant used.
      Hepatitis A virus incorporated into liposomes proved to be a suitable formulation
      in term of rapid seroconversion, high level of mean antibody content and low
      reactogenicity.

PMID- 1441729
TI  - Compulsory and non-compulsory immunizations: contraindications perceived by
      medical practitioners.
AB  - A total of 284 general practitioners (GPs), paediatricians and doctors of public
      vaccination centres (DPVC) were interviewed to investigate their willingness to
      immunize children with compulsory (diphtheria-tetanus, oral polio) and non
      compulsory (measles, pertussis) vaccines in the presence of 19 different medical
      histories. We observed a reluctance to immunize in the case of false
      contraindications, a lack of information mainly about non-compulsory
      immunizations, and doubts about the real contraindications to polio, measles and
      pertussis vaccines. The frequency of correct answers to the question posed was
      significantly higher in the group with less than 20 years of experience, and the
      DPVCs proved better informed about immunization. However, the crucial role played
      by the GPs and paediatricians' advice can prejudice the correct use of active
      immunization.

PMID- 1441730
TI  - Liposomes enhance the immunogenicity of reconstituted influenza virus A/PR/8
      envelopes and the formation of protective antibody by influenza virus
      A/Sichuan/87 (H3N2) surface antigen.
AB  - Reconstituted influenza virus (A/PR/8 strain) envelopes (RIVE) and influenza
      virus (A/Sichuan/87 (H3N2) strain) surface antigens were entrapped in dehydration
      rehydration vesicles (DRV liposomes) composed of egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) or
      distearoyl phosphatidylcholine (DSPC DRV) and equimolar (32 mumol) cholesterol.
      Entrapment values for RIVE were 31.2 (PC) and 29.4% (DSPC DRV) of the material
      used. Corresponding entrapment values for the A/Sichuan/87 strain antigens were
      40.7 and 39.3%. Balb/c mice injected intramuscularly with PC or DSPC DRV
      liposomes containing 0.1 and 1.0 microgram RIVE exhibited primary (higher dose
      only) and secondary responses (IgG1) which were significantly higher than those
      obtained in mice injected with identical amounts of non-entrapped RIVE.
      Significantly higher secondary responses were also observed for the IgG2a and
      IgG2b subclasses. In experiments designed to assess the effectiveness of DRV
      liposomes as a carrier of influenza virus antigens in a potential vaccine,
      hamsters were immunized intramuscularly with 0.1, 0.5 and 5.0 micrograms of free
      or liposome-entrapped influenza A/Sichuan/87 surface antigens. Results showed
      increased haemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody levels in terms of both
      primary (0.5 and 5.0 micrograms doses) and secondary (all doses) responses in the
      sera of animals treated with the liposomal formulations. DSPC compared with PC
      DRV exhibited greater adjuvanticity when the lower doses of antigens were used.

PMID- 1441731
TI  - Inhibition of immune responses against rabies virus by monoclonal antibodies
      directed against rabies virus antigens.
AB  - Treatment of mice with a cocktail of murine anti-rabies monoclonal antibodies
      (mAb-C) interfered with the ability of these animals to mount a virus
      neutralizing antibody response to rabies vaccine. Administered mAb-C did not
      affect the induction of rabies virus-specific T-helper cells. The magnitude of
      the inhibition of rabies virus-specific B-cell response was dependent on the
      concentration of the mAb-C and the duration of the mAb-mediated interference was
      inversely proportional to the biological half-life of the mAb. As long as the
      serum titres were above a critical threshold, the suppression could not be
      overcome even by multiple vaccinations. Since injection of mice with
      immunocomplexes consisting of inactivated rabies virus and mAb rendered the
      animals non-responsive to a subsequent vaccination with inactivated rabies virus,
      it is concluded that the mAb-induced suppression might be caused by the formation
      of antigen-antibody complexes which exert a negative signalling effect to
      premature B cells.

PMID- 1441732
TI  - Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of an aroD deletion-attenuated
      Escherichia coli K12-Shigella flexneri hybrid vaccine expressing S. flexneri 2a
      somatic antigen.
AB  - The construction and characterization of EcSf2a-2, an aroD-deleted Escherichia
      coli-Shigella hybrid vaccine carrying chromosomal and plasmid genes from Shigella
      flexneri and expressing S. flexneri 2a somatic antigen in association with E.
      coli K12 core are described. Expression of hybrid lipopolysaccharide and deletion
      of aroD resulted in the attenuation of phenotypic characteristics associated with
      pathogenicity. The addition of an aroD deletion results in a requirement for an
      aromatic precursor of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), an essential bacterial
      metabolite not present in mammalian tissues. The biosynthesis of hybrid somatic
      antigen prevents expression of a Sereny-positive reaction by invasive bacteria
      capable of expressing a plaque-positive phenotype. A functional kcpA gene is
      required for expression of the plaque-positive phenotype. The presence of an aroD
      deletion does not interfere with expression of an invasive phenotype; however, in
      bacteria containing a functional kcpA gene, replication and spread by invading
      bacteria are limited, preventing development of the plaque-positive phenotype.

PMID- 1441733
TI  - B30-MDP, a synthetic muramyl dipeptide derivative for tumour vaccination to
      enhance antitumour immunity and antimetastatic effect in mice.
AB  - The effect of a muramyl dipeptide derivative (B30-MDP) on the augmentation of
      antitumour immunity against highly metastatic L5178Y-ML25 mouse lymphoma cells
      was examined in CDF1 (Balb/c x DBA/2) mice. Mice immunized with a mixture of X
      irradiated tumour cells (10(3)) and B30-MDP (100 micrograms) on 7 days prior to
      challenge by viable tumour cells displayed a significant decrease in metastasis
      towards the target organs, liver and spleen, compared with that of untreated
      mice. Immunization of mice with the mixture on day 5 or 7 after tumour challenge,
      when the level of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic-oxaloacetic
      transaminase (GOT) in sera of mice inoculated with viable tumour cells was
      observed to be normal, caused less metastasis than immunization with X-irradiated
      tumour cells alone. Sensitization with X-irradiated tumour cells admixed with B30
      MDP induced almost two times higher cytotoxicity of spleen cells against L5178Y
      ML25 lymphoma cells than sensitization with X-irradiated tumour cells without B30
      MDP. In contrast, cytotoxic activity of spleen cells against another target,
      L1210 lymphoma cells derived from BDF1 mice, was not observed by immunization
      with X-irradiated L5178Y-ML25 cells with or without B30-MDP. Specific lysis by
      splenic cells of the immunized mice against L5178Y-ML25 cells decreased to the
      normal level when T cells were deleted from the immunized spleen cells by the
      treatment of rabbit anti-mouse Thy1.2 antibody and rabbit complement. These
      results indicate that B30-MDP is able to augment a specific tumour immunity due
      to the enhancement of cytotoxicity mediated by T lymphocytes, and is useful as an
      immunopotentiating agent for active immunization of inactivated tumour cells.

PMID- 1441734
TI  - Immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in parenteral drug abusers.
AB  - Responsiveness was assessed to a programme of vaccination of hepatitis B vaccine
      in a cohort of 197 intravenous drug addicts (mean age, 23.7 years) and their
      antibody response was compared with that of 271 healthy controls (mean age, 24.2
      years). All participants were seronegative for hepatitis B surface antigen
      (HBsAg) and antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs). The vaccination schedule consisted of
      three intramuscular injections (deltoid area) at months 0, 1 and 2. Although 70%
      of parenteral drug abusers received the three doses of vaccination, only 43.6%
      were evaluable for immune response. Fifty-eight per cent of heroin addicts and
      80% of controls had evidence of anti-HBs seroconversion at 1 month after
      vaccination (chi 2 = 15.52, p less than 0.001). Geometric mean antibody titres
      were also significantly higher in controls (69.1 IU l-1; confidence interval 95%,
      56.83 and 84.04) than in parenteral drug abusers (18.2 IU l-1; confidence
      interval 95%, 12.85 and 25.73) (F = 20.951, p less than 0.0001). The anti-HBs
      response was not influenced by coexistent anti-HBc, HCV antibody or HIV antibody
      seropositivity.

PMID- 1441735
TI  - Effects of sample processing on the measurement of specific intestinal IgA immune
      responses.
AB  - The effects of techniques commonly used in the collection and processing of human
      intestinal fluid on the specific secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) response
      following oral immunization with the live typhoid vaccine Salmonella typhi Ty21a
      were examined. It was observed that the failure to adjust specific intestinal
      anti-typhoid lipopolysaccharide IgA antibody titres for total secretory IgA
      resulted in a false-negative detection rate of 19.8% and a false-positive
      detection rate of 7.4%. Furthermore, these specific responses were significantly
      diminished if the intestinal fluid was subjected to heat inactivation to reduce
      intestinal protease activity (p = 0.0083), but were not affected if stored at -70
      degrees C for up to 1 year, without heat inactivation. It was concluded that in
      the processing of the intestinal fluid samples for specific sIgA determination
      heat inactivation significantly reduced specific sIgA titres, and that the
      failure to adjust absolute titres for total sIgA content resulted in a
      significant false-negative detection rate.

PMID- 1441736
TI  - In vitro translation of a subgenomic mRNA from purified virions of the Spanish
      field isolate AST/89 of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV).
AB  - Purified preparations of the Spanish field isolate of rabbit hemorrhagic disease
      virus AST/89 were found to contain the plus-stranded genomic RNA of more than 7.4
      kilobases (kb) and large amounts of a subgenomic mRNA of 2.4 kb. The smaller RNA
      was translated in vitro and shown to code for a 60 kDa protein which was
      immunoprecipitated using anti-RHDV as well as anti-VP60 sera.

PMID- 1441737
TI  - A carboxy-terminal mutant spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV) envelope glycoprotein
      is transport-competent, but non-leukemogenic.
AB  - The Friend spleen focus-forming virus (F-SFFV) codes for a transport-defective
      leukemogenic envelope glycoprotein designated as gp52. We have previously shown
      that the external domain of gp52 carries the determinants responsible for its
      transport defect. Consistent with this idea, truncated gp52 molecules that lack a
      hydrophobic membrane anchor were transport-defective, and were not secreted from
      cells. In this report, we describe the construction of a mutant SFFV envelope
      gene that codes for altered gp52 molecules in which the carboxyl-terminal
      hydrophobic residues are replaced with exogenous hydrophilic residues encoded by
      the vector-derived sequences. The mutant env gene was expressed using the
      retroviral expression vector, pLXSN, and the mutant envelope protein was found to
      be transport-competent, and efficiently secreted from the cells. However, M-MuLV
      pseudotypes of the retroviral vectors expressing the mutant genome were found to
      be non-leukemogenic in mice.

PMID- 1441738
TI  - Alterations in the levels of expression of specific cellular genes in adenovirus
      infected and -transformed cells.
AB  - There is increasing evidence that changes in the transcriptional program of
      cellular genes in virus-transformed cells can contribute to virus transformation.
      It is, therefore, important to study altered expression patterns of cellular
      genes in adenovirus-infected and -transformed cells. We have used 40 different
      cellular genes or gene segments as hybridization probes to analyze the
      cytoplasmic RNA from adenovirus type 2 (Ad2)-infected KB cells, from Ad5
      transformed human cells (293) or from several Ad2- or adenovirus type 12 (Ad12)
      transformed hamster cell lines. Many of the genes probed were not expressed in
      human or hamster cells. Transcription of the ADPRT and the heat shock protein 70
      genes was increased in Ad2-infected KB cells and in 293 cells. In Ad2-infected KB
      cells, c-myc gene transcription was decreased. In 293 cells and in three
      adenovirus-transformed hamster cell lines (T637, BHK21-Ad2E1A-E1B, and BHK21-Ad2
      HindIII-G), the transcription of the c-jun gene was increased, whereas c-myc
      transcription was decreased in the latter two cell lines. The data presented here
      demonstrate that, among 40 different mammalian gene probes, alterations in steady
      state levels of RNA were detected for five of these genes. These results suggest
      major alterations in transcription patterns in adenovirus-infected and 
      transformed cells.

PMID- 1441739
TI  - Mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol decrease the difference of electrochemical
      proton potentials across the yeast plasma and vacuolar membranes and activate
      their H(+)-ATPases.
AB  - Mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol (DTT) inhibited the acidification of external
      medium by Saccharomyces carlsbergensis cells and protoplasts during glucose
      oxidation. The inhibition was also observed when cells were incubated with
      mercaptoethanol or when mercaptoethanol and DTT were used to prepare protoplasts.
      Experiments with S. carlsbergensis plasma membrane vesicles and vacuoles showed
      these thiol reagents to inhibit ATP-dependent generation of delta pH and Em
      across plasma membrane vesicles and vacuoles but to activate their H(+)-ATPases.
      Mercaptoethanol and DTT are suggested to de-energize plasmalemma as well as
      tonoplast by increasing their H(+)-permeability and to disturb the cell ion
      homeostasis.

PMID- 1441740
TI  - Genetic homology between Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its sibling species S.
      paradoxus and S. bayanus: electrophoretic karyotypes.
AB  - Chromosomal DNAs of many monosporic strains of the biological species
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae, S. paradoxus and S. bayanus were analysed using contour
      clamped homogeneous electric field electrophoresis. Southern blot hybridization
      with eight cloned S. cerevisiae genes (ADC1, CUP1, GAL4, LEU2, rDNA, SUC2, TRP1
      and URA3) assigned to different chromosomes was used to study homology and
      chromosomal location of the genes in the three sibling species. A comparative
      study of Ty1, Ty2 and telomere-associated Y' sequences having multiple
      chromosomal location was also done. Chromosome length polymorphism was found in
      cultured strains of S. cerevisiae. Wild S. cerevisiae and S. paradoxus strains
      yielded chromosome banding patterns very similar to each other. The karyotype
      pattern of S. bayanus was readily distinguishable from that of S. cerevisiae and
      S. paradoxus. Southern blot analysis revealed a low degree of homology between
      the S. cerevisiae genes studied and the corresponding S. paradoxus and S. bayanus
      genes. The number of chromosomes appears to be 16 in all three species.

PMID- 1441741
TI  - Development of the yeast Pichia pastoris as a model organism for a genetic and
      molecular analysis of peroxisome assembly.
AB  - We describe the isolation of mutants of the yeast Pichia pastoris that are
      deficient in peroxisome assembly (pas). These mutants of P. pastoris can be
      identified solely by their inability to grow on methanol and oleic acid, the
      utilization of which requires peroxisomal enzymes, and are defined by the absence
      of normal peroxisomes as judged by electron microscopy and biochemical
      fractionation experiments. These mutants are the result of genetic defects at
      single loci and represent at least eight different complementation groups. The
      isolation of pas mutants of P. pastoris by a simple screen for mutants unable to
      use methanol and oleic acid represents a significantly more efficient method for
      identification of pas mutants than is possible in other organisms. To exploit
      this advantage fully we also developed new reagents for the genetic and molecular
      manipulation of P. pastoris. These include a set of auxotrophic strains with an
      essentially wild-type genetic background, plasmids that act as Escherichia coli
      P. pastoris shuttle vectors, and genomic DNA libraries for isolation of P.
      pastoris genes by functional complementation of mutants or by nucleic acid
      hybridization. The availability of numerous pas mutants and the reagents
      necessary for their molecular analysis should lead to the isolation and
      characterization of genes involved in peroxisome assembly.

PMID- 1441742
TI  - A screening procedure for the intracellular expression of native proteins by
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae: discrimination of diphtheria toxin-resistant mutants.
AB  - A general method is described for screening Saccharomyces cerevisiae colonies for
      the intracellular expression of native proteins. Colonies are replicated onto
      nitrocellulose membranes and yeast cell walls are removed enzymatically. The
      resulting spheroplasts are rapidly lysed by placing chromatography paper soaked
      in hypotonic buffer on the membranes. Intracellular proteins released by
      spheroplast lysis are bound in situ to the nitrocellulose under non-denaturing
      conditions and potentially can be examined using enzymatic or immunologic
      methods. For example, in the present study colonies were screened for the
      presence of elongation factor 2 (EF-2) that can be [32P]ADP-ribosylated by
      diphtheria toxin and [32P]NAD+. Recognition by the toxin requires the presence in
      EF-2 of the unique post-translationally modified histidine derivative,
      diphthamide. The procedure described here reliably discriminates between wild
      type yeast colonies and mutant colonies that do not synthesize diphthamide. In
      addition to facilitating the study of diphthamide biosynthesis in yeast, the more
      general application of this procedure will enable the screening of colonies with
      assays that require native proteins.

PMID- 1441743
TI  - Yeast flocculation: receptor definition by mnn mutants and concanavalin A.
AB  - Yeast flocculation involves the binding of surface lectins on flocculent yeasts,
      to carbohydrate receptors present as constituents of yeast cell walls. Receptors
      were investigated by coflocculation of flocculent strains of Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae, of both Flo 1 and NewFlo phenotypes, to known mnn mutants which vary
      in the wall mannan structure. Strong coflocculation was found with mnn1, mnn4,
      mnn9 and control strains, while very little coflocculation was found with mnn2
      and mnn5 strains. In contrast, aggregation of these mutants by concanavalin A, a
      lectin with similar sugar inhibition to NewFlo phenotype flocculation, showed
      strong aggregation of mnn1, mnn4 and mnn5 strains and poor aggregation of mnn2
      and mnn9 strains. The mmn mutant data suggested that flocculation receptors were
      the outer-chain mannan side-branches, two or three mannose residues in length,
      confirming an earlier theory based on sugar inhibition data. The similarities and
      differences between flocculation and concanavalin A aggregation are discussed.

PMID- 1441744
TI  - Mutational analysis of Schizosaccharomyces pombe U4 snRNA by plasmid exchange.
AB  - We have developed a system for testing mutations by plasmid exchange in the
      fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. This system has been used to test the
      requirement for different regions of the small nuclear RNA U4 in S. pombe.
      Surprisingly, five of seven deletion and substitution mutations tested in
      different regions of U4 prevent the accumulation of the mutant RNA. Substitution
      of the U4 sequence in stem 1 of the U4/U6 interaction domain allows accumulation
      of the mutant U4, but does not support viability. Two sequences with homology to
      the Sm binding site are found in the 3' region of S. pombe U4; substitution of
      the 3' sequence of the two does not interfere with accumulation or function of
      U4, indicating that the 5' sequence is the functional Sm-binding site.

PMID- 1441745
TI  - The telomere-associated MAL3 locus of Saccharomyces is a tandem array of repeated
      genes.
AB  - Saccharomyces strains capable of fermenting maltose contain any one of five
      telomere-associated MAL loci. Each MAL locus is a complex of three genes encoding
      the three functions required to ferment maltose: maltose permease (GENE 1),
      maltase (GENE 2) and the MAL trans-activator (GENE 3). All five loci have been
      cloned and all are highly sequence homologous over at least a 9.0 kbp region
      containing these GENEs (Charron et al., Genetics 122, 307-331, 1989). Our initial
      studies of strains carrying the MAL3 locus indicated the presence of linked,
      repeated MAL-homologous sequences (Michels and Needleman, Mol. Gen. Genet. 191,
      225-230, 1983). Here we report our analysis of the centromere-proximal MAL3
      linked sequences and show that the complete MAL3 locus spans approximately 40 kbp
      and consists of tandemly arrayed, partial repeats of the three GENE sequences
      described above. In addition, the structure of the MAL3 locus is compared to that
      of three partially functional alleles of MAL3. These alleles were shown to
      contain only MAL31 and MAL32 and their structure suggests that they resulted from
      MAL3 deletions removing the sequences centromere-proximal to MAL31. The
      amplification and rearrangement of the telomere-linked MAL3 sequences are
      discussed in the context of studies on other telemere-associated sequences from
      yeast and other species.

PMID- 1441746
TI  - Efficient selection of phleomycin-resistant Saccharomyces cerevisiae
      transformants.
AB  - The recently described dominant yeast marker Tn5ble confers phleomycin resistance
      on the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Gatignol, Baron and Tiraby, 1987. Mol.
      Gen. Genet. 207, 342-348). Incubation in non-selective medium prior to selection
      is critical, however, for getting phleomycin-resistant transformants. A 6-h
      incubation period was found to give optimal transformation frequencies, up to
      10(5) transformants/micrograms plasmid, comparable to selection for uracil
      prototrophy (Ura+).

PMID- 1441747
TI  - Mapping of two new codon-specific suppressors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PMID- 1441748
TI  - Nucleotide sequence of D10B, a BamHI fragment on the small-ring chromosome III of
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PMID- 1441749
TI  - MOL1, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene that is highly expressed in early
      stationary phase during growth on molasses.
AB  - We have isolated a new Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene, MOL1, that is transiently
      expressed at high levels in the early stationary phase of batch cultures growing
      on industrial molasses medium. The DNA sequence of the MOL1 gene (for MOLasses
      inducible) with its flanking regions was determined (EMBL accession number
      X61669). It encodes a polypeptide of M(r) 35 kDa that is closely related to
      stress-inducible proteins of similar size from two Fusarium species. Unlike ST135
      of Fusarium, MOL1 is not induced by ethanol or heat shock. MOL1 expression is
      absent in rich (YP) medium, and only very low levels of expression are detectable
      in minimal (YNB) medium. The gene is not essential, and a MOL1 disruption strain
      showed no apparent phenotype under a variety of growth conditions. The 5' region
      of MOL1 contains the complete sequence previously determined for the SUF4 locus,
      encoding a tRNA-gly (UCC) gene, which has been mapped to chromosome VII.

PMID- 1441750
TI  - RHO gene products, putative small GTP-binding proteins, are important for
      activation of the CAL1/CDC43 gene product, a protein geranylgeranyltransferase in
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - Two multicopy suppressors of the cal1-1 mutation in the yeast Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae have been isolated and characterized. They are identical to the yeast
      RHO1 and RHO2 genes, which encode putative small GTP-binding proteins. Multiple
      copies of either RHO gene suppressed temperature-sensitive growth of the cal1-1
      mutant but did not suppress the cal1 null mutant. Genetic analysis suggests that
      overproduction of either RHO gene product acts for activation of the CAL1 gene
      product.

PMID- 1441751
TI  - Disruption and mapping of IDI1, the gene for isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase in
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - Isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase catalyses an essential activation step in the
      isoprene biosynthetic pathway. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene for isomerase,
      IDI1, was recently isolated and characterized (Anderson et al. J. Biol. Chem.
      1989a, 264, 19169-19175). Wild-type IDI1 was disrupted with a LEU2 marker, and
      the resulting DNA was used to transform a yeast leucine auxotroph. Southern blots
      of EcoRI fragments of chromosomal DNA from the diploid strain showed the expected
      fragments for intact and disrupted IDI1. Dissection and analysis of tetrads
      demonstrated that IDI1 is an essential single-copy gene. A CHEF gel and clone
      grid filter analysis, followed by chromosomal mapping indicated that the gene is
      located on chromosome XVI approximately 55 kb centromere proximal to PEP4.

PMID- 1441752
TI  - DNA sequencing and analysis of a 24.7 kb segment encompassing centromere CEN11 of
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae reveals nine previously unknown open reading frames.
AB  - A 24.7 kb segment of the cosmid clone pUKG047 containing a Sau3AI-partial
      fragment from the centromere region of Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome XI was
      sequenced and analysed. A mixed strategy of directed methods including
      exonuclease III nested deletion, restriction fragment subcloning and
      oligonucleotide-directed sequences was carried out. Exclusive use was made of the
      Applied Biosystems Taq DyeDeoxy Terminator Cycle technology and a laser-based
      AB1373A sequencing system for reactions, gel electrophoresis and automated
      reading. A total of 12 open reading frames (ORFs) was found. Nine new ORFs (YK102
      to YK110) were identified, three of which (YK102, YK107, YK108) showed homologies
      to proteins of known function from other organisms. In addition, sequence
      analysis revealed three recently functionally characterized genes (MET14,
      VPS/SPO15, PAP1), which could be joined to the earlier published CEN11 region.

PMID- 1441753
TI  - Sequence of a 12.7 kb segment of yeast chromosome II identifies a PDR-like gene
      and several new open reading frames.
AB  - A 12,684 bp DNA fragment, between FUS3 and the centromere, from the left arm of
      chromosome II of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was sequenced as part of the European
      project to sequence the whole chromosome. This segment contains at least five
      complete new open reading frames (ORFs) and the beginning (191 first 5' codons)
      of an ORF whose putative translational product is highly similar to the multidrug
      resistance PDR1 gene previously characterized by Balzi et al. (1987) on
      chromosome VII.

PMID- 1441754
TI  - An 11.4 kb DNA segment on the left arm of yeast chromosome II carries the
      carboxypeptidase Y sorting gene PEP1, as well as ACH1, FUS3 and a putative ARS.
AB  - We report the nucleotide sequence of an 11.4 kb DNA segment from the left arm of
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome II. This sequence contains a typical
      structure of a functional ARS as well as five open reading frames (ORFs) longer
      than 300 bp. One is PEP1, a gene encoding a transmembrane protein of 1579 amino
      acids which transits through the secretory pathway and is involved in vacuolar
      protein sorting. Two genes were previously sequenced: ACH1 (Lee et al., 1990) and
      FUS3 (Elion et al., 1990), which encode an acetyl-CoA hydrolase and a protein
      kinase involved in the cell division cycle, respectively. The last two ORFs
      localized on the complementary strand of ACH1 are not likely to be expressed.

PMID- 1441755
TI  - AFG1, a new member of the SEC18-NSF, PAS1, CDC48-VCP, TBP family of ATPases.
AB  - We have sequenced a gene that encodes a 377 amino acid putative protein with an
      ATPase motif typical of the protein family including SEC18p (NSF = N-ethyl
      maleimide-sensitive fusion protein; vesicle-mediated endoplasmic reticulum to
      Golgi protein transfer), PAS1p (peroxisome assembly), CDC48p (VCP = valosin
      containing protein; cell cycle) and TBP1 (Tat-binding protein). This gene, AFG1
      for ATPase family gene, also has substantial homology to these proteins outside
      the ATPase domain. AFG1 is located on chromosome V immediately centromere
      proximal to MAK10.

PMID- 1441756
TI  - Sequence of the genes encoding subunits A and B of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase of
      Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
AB  - The genes encoding subunits A (vma1) and B (vma2) of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase
      from Schizosaccharomyces pombe were cloned by hybridization to cDNAs of the
      homologous genes in Neurospora crassa. Both genes are interrupted by introns, two
      in vma1 and four in vma2. Positions of introns do not appear to be conserved when
      compared to those of N. crassa. The subunit A gene encodes a single product of
      619 amino acids and is not interrupted by the coding sequence for a second
      product as found for Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Kane, P. K., Yamashiro, C. T.,
      Wolczyk, D. F., Neff, N., Goebl, M., and Stevens, T. H. (1990). Science 250, 651
      657).

PMID- 1441757
TI  - LEU2 gene homolog in Kluyveromyces lactis.
AB  - A DNA fragment that can complement the leu2 mutation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
      was cloned from the genomic library of Kluyveromyces lactis. The nucleotide
      sequence revealed an open reading frame of 362 codons, 75% homologous to S.
      cerevisiae LEU2 gene. The upstream region contained a CCGGAACCGG sequence
      identical to the site of leucine-specific control of LEU2. Further upstream,
      there is a partial open reading frame homologous to rat ribosomal protein L7.

PMID- 1441758
TI  - Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains a homolog of human FKBP-13, a membrane
      associated FK506/rapamycin binding protein.

PMID- 1441759
TI  - [Determination of water-soluble vitamins B1, B2, B6 and B12 in milk using HPLC].
AB  - Simple methods of determining the water-soluble vitamins B1, B2, B6 and B12 in
      milk by HPLC are described. Compared to existing procedures, the following
      improvements can be realized. The oxidation of vitamin B1 to thiochrome is
      stopped by the addition of sodium sulphite. This step significantly increases
      repeatability. Thiochrome is then extracted with butan-1-ol, which results in
      fewer co-extracts and greater selectivity. After the hydrolysis of the 5
      phosphates of the vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine), these
      three vitamers are determined by isocratic HPLC as DDS-ion-pairs and with
      fluorimetric detection. As only microbiological methods have so far been used for
      the determination of minute quantities of vitamin B12 in milk, a new HPLC
      procedure is proposed with a detection limit of 0.2 micrograms vitamin B12/L
      milk.

PMID- 1441760
TI  - A rapid, sensitive and economic method for the detection, quantification and
      confirmation of aflatoxins.
AB  - A rapid, sensitive and economic method for the detection, quantification and
      confirmation of aflatoxins is described. Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2, are
      extracted by methanol/water (85 + 15) and partitioned into methylene dichloride.
      The methylene dichloride solution is cleaned up on a polypropylene column, filled
      with 0.5 g silica gel 60. The aflatoxins are eluted with chloroform-acetone
      (90:10) and are detected using bidirectional thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with
      aluminium silica gel foil. The mean recovery of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 in
      corn samples was 73, 78, 80, and 64%, respectively; the limit of detection was
      0.5 micrograms/kg. The results can also be confirmed by derivative formation
      using trifluoroacetic acid on the TLC plate. The method has been applied to a
      wide range of foods with good results.

PMID- 1441761
TI  - Rapid analysis of whey proteins from different animal species by reversed-phase
      high-performance liquid chromatography.
AB  - This paper explores the possibilities of reversed-phase high performance liquid
      chromatography (RP-HPLC) for analysing whey proteins from the milk of cows and
      other animal species. An RP-HPLC method is proposed to separate and quantify
      bovine whey proteins. Using this method, bovine serum albumin, alpha-lactalbumin,
      beta-lactoglobulin A and beta-lactoglobulin B were separated in less than 7 min.
      It is demonstrated that irreversible adsorption of bovine whey proteins occurs on
      unused columns (i.e. those not previously used to separate proteins). Therefore,
      prior conditioning of the column with whey proteins is required for valid protein
      quantification. Conditioning can be achieved by eluting a large amount of at
      least one of the bovine whey proteins through the unused column. The calibration
      curve (peak area vs. protein concentration) for the main bovine whey proteins was
      linear. This method also allowed good separation of caprine and ovine whey
      proteins and separation of some homologous whey proteins of different animal
      species. Detection of milk mixtures from different animal species was carried out
      using this method.

PMID- 1441762
TI  - [Recent advances in neuropsychopharmacology of the central serotonin receptor].
AB  - The existence of multiple serotonin (5-HT) receptor subtypes has been proposed
      based on radioligand binding assay technique and other functional assay. Recent
      advance of neuropsychopharmacology has contributed to elucidating their
      physiological functions, ranging from molecular biological to clinical
      characteristics. Abnormalities of central 5-HT function are currently thought to
      play a significant role in mental disorders such as affective disorder, anxiety
      disorder, eating disorder and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, and in the
      regulation of physical functions such as body temperature, blood pressure and
      pain. The most significant outcome of the basic pharmacological work has been
      successful application of 5-HT receptor agents to the treatment of the above
      clinical disorders. In this article, the authors review the history of 5-HT
      receptor research and the role of 5-HT receptor in clinical disorders.

PMID- 1441763
TI  - [Patch-clamp technique].
AB  - We first describe how to set up the system for patch-clamp recording and carry
      out the experiments with 4 different modes of conventional patch-clamp technique:
      cell-attached, whole-cell, inside-out and outside-out configurations. Thereafter,
      we mention about an improved 'nystatin perforated' patch-clamp technique which
      dissolves the fault of conventional patch-clamp techniques except the cell
      attached mode.

PMID- 1441764
TI  - Differential effects of intracerebroventricular AF64A injection, nucleus basalis
      of Meynert lesion, and scopolamine on place navigation and open-field behavior of
      rats.
AB  - The present study was conducted to compare the behavioral effects of
      intracerebroventricular AF64A injection, electrolytic lesion of the nucleus
      basalis of Meynert (NBM), and systemic scopolamine treatment, all of which are
      typical experimental models of central cholinergic system dysfunction, on place
      navigation performance and open-field behavior in rats. The animals were trained
      in a circular pool to escape from opaque water onto the hidden platform fixed at
      a particular location for 5 days. Significant performance deficits were observed
      in all the models tested. However, it is of importance that any impairments
      relating to information storage within a day or across days were not obtained.
      Choline acetyltransferase activity was decreased in the hippocampus of AF64A
      injected rats and in the cortex of NBM-lesioned rats, respectively, but those
      changes did not simply associate with the reductions of the performance. These
      results suggest that the central cholinergic system is only partially involved in
      cognitive process. In the open-field test, ambulation, rearing, defecation, and
      urination were measured for 5 min. Patterns of changes in the open-field behavior
      were clearly different among the 3 models, indicating variability of the effects
      of these cholinergic manipulations on motor activities and emotionality.

PMID- 1441765
TI  - [Effects of mesocortical dopaminergic lesions on stress-induced changes in
      monoamine metabolism in the discrete brain regions of rats].
AB  - This study assessed the possible influence of the mesocortical dopamine (DA)
      system on the reactivity of subcortical monoamine systems to stress. Rats were
      either sham-operated or subjected to DA-depleting lesions of the medial
      prefrontal cortex (mPFC) with 6-hydroxydopamine. Fourteen days after surgery, the
      rats were exposed to 30 or 60 min immobilization stress, and levels of
      noradrenaline, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (MHPG). DA, 3-4
      dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), serotonin, and 5
      hydroxyindoleacetic acid were measured in nine brain regions. The stress caused a
      significant increase in the levels of DA metabolites, DOPAC or HVA, in the mPFC
      of sham-operated, but not of lesioned animals. HVA concentrations in the nucleus
      accumbens, olfactory tubercle, and ventral tegmental area were significantly
      increased in both sham-operated and lesioned rats, but the effect of stress on
      the subcortical DA systems was unaffected by the lesion. The stress also
      significantly elevated MHPG levels in the amygdala and hypothalamus of both
      groups of animals, and these results were similar in the amygdala of rats with or
      without lesions. In the hypothalamus, however, 60 min stress caused a more marked
      increase in MHPG concentrations in lesioned rats than in sham-operated rats
      (lesion-group, 143%; sham-group, 122%), while 30 min stress produced a similar
      elevation in both groups of animals (lesion-group, 149%; sham-group, 142%). These
      results suggest that the mesocortical DA system may modulate the sensitivity of
      the noradrenergic system in the hypothalamus to stress.

PMID- 1441766
TI  - [Early history of the specialist in psychotherapy medicine].

PMID- 1441767
TI  - [Quality assurance: clarification of a provocative and trendy expression].
AB  - The GRG from 1988 commits all suppliers of medical or therapeutic services in
      Germany to take steps to assure quality. The legislator left it in the care of
      the involved parties to find an agreement how to do it. This vagueness together
      with the emphasis put simultaneously on quality and economy turned this issue
      into a threat for many therapists. This tendency is supported in addition by the
      intensified competition between the therapeutic schools. The major goal of this
      review is to give some information that provide a functional discussion and
      hinder a misuse. The article informs about the issue of quality assurance, which
      is not as new as some people may consider it; the political context is pointed
      out, the main concepts are introduced, approaches and experiences from other
      countries or other fields of medicine are reported, and the conflicts between the
      interest groups are sketched out. Finally, some comments on central aspects are
      given which eventually make easier a transference into the field of psychotherapy
      and hopefully encourage specific approaches of quality assurance in this field.

PMID- 1441768
TI  - [Disillusionment as a change: 3 progression steps in female development].

PMID- 1441769
TI  - [The Harald Schultz-Hencke intentionality concept from the viewpoint of
      psychoanalytic infant research].
AB  - Recent Research on small children has infused Schultz-Hencke's concepts of
      intentionality and the experiencing of drives with new relevance. Because of the
      fundamental similarities between Schultz-Hencke's work and psychoanalytical
      infant research, Lichtenstein's theory of motivation is being compared to Schultz
      Hencke's experiencing of drives.

PMID- 1441770
TI  - [Psychotherapy of depressed elderly patients with pathologic grief reaction].
AB  - Loss events not sufficiently worked through frequently are the core syndrome of
      depressive illness in the elderly. The frequency and symptom pattern of
      pathological grief reactions as well as influencing factors in 155 patients 60
      year old or older treated for endogenous, neurotic and reactive depression, are
      described. Special issues of the psychodynamics of pathological grief reactions
      in the elderly are discussed; problems of counter-transference are pointed out.
      The developmental potential in the elderly often is underestimated. Psychotherapy
      of pathological grief reactions in the elderly offers important and rarely used
      possibilities.

PMID- 1441771
TI  - [Elderly patients in psychosomatic psychotherapeutic institutions].
AB  - With the aid of a comparative study of the data collected in the Berlin
      Psychotherapy Study and the outpatient clinic of the Psychosomatic Clinic
      (University of Heidelberg), the allocation and utilization modalities of elderly
      patients with regard to psychosomatic-psychotherapeutic institutions is
      investigated. One important result seems to be the high rate of psychodynamically
      understandable triggering situations (as a measurement of psychological
      comprehension of the symptoms) and the consequent therapy recommendations (as a
      measurement of treatability) even for elderly patients. A case study will
      demonstrate that the danger may arise to subsume new somatic symptoms in the
      elderly under the aspect "multimorbidity" and thus withhold recommended
      psychotherapeutic treatment.

PMID- 1441773
TI  - Thermal deactivation kinetics of CM-cellulase from a local isolate of Aspergillus
      niger (RD-2231).
AB  - The kinetic of thermal deactivation of CMC-ase activity of A. niger, locally
      isolated, was studied. The enzyme was found to be more stable in temperatures
      below 40 degrees C. The rates of activity decay were significant at high
      temperatures and can be described as a first-order kinetic model. Deactivation
      rate constants (Kd) were determined at different temperatures (30, 40, 55 and 65
      degrees C). Kd value for CMC-ase activity decay at 65 degrees C was 28 times
      higher than its value at 30 degrees C. An Arrhenius type temperature dependence
      of Kd was found, and the activation energy (Ea) of the thermal deactivation was
      calculated to be 8400 cal/mole. Thermodynamic quantities (delta H) and (delta S)
      for deactivation process were 7700 and 11.9 cal/mole, respectively. The change of
      two kinetic parameters, i.e. Vmax and Km under deactivation conditions, was
      discussed.

PMID- 1441772
TI  - [Psychotherapy with elderly patients. Experiences from a psychiatric
      psychotherapeutic consultation service].
AB  - Experiences with psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy with the elderly have
      been made in a psychiatric consultation service at a general hospital. The life
      long importance of psychodynamically relevant conflicts is illustrated by two
      case examples of psychosomatic patients with asthma and functional symptoms of
      the gastrointestinal tract. The experiences with short-time psychotherapies
      described here are encouraging and confirm results of other groups demonstrating
      the efficiency of psychotherapeutic interventions with the elderly. Special
      problems of psychotherapy with older patients in a psychiatric consultation
      service and implications for the routine medical treatment of general-hospital
      patients are discussed.

PMID- 1441774
TI  - Physiological and biochemical characteristics of staphylococci isolated from the
      rumen of young calves and lambs.
AB  - Six strains of rumen ureolytic staphylococci were isolated from young calves and
      lambs. Three isolates were allotted to the species Staphylococcus xylosus.
      Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Staphylococcus gallinarum. The taxonomy of
      remaining three isolates was uncertain. Total numbers of staphylococci varied
      between 10(4) and 10(6) per 1 ml of the rumen fluid. Rumen Staphylococci utilized
      a wide range of substrates and produced a bacteriocin-like substance. No strain
      hydrolysed gelatin. All strains produced catalase and reduced nitrate. The main
      product of anaerobic carbohydrate metabolism was lactate accompanied by formate,
      acetate and ethanol. Most of strains were sensitive to ionophores, avoparcin,
      bacitracin and tylosin. All strains were sensitive to rifampicin, tetracycline
      and chloramphenicol.

PMID- 1441775
TI  - [Sources and developments in heart surgery].
AB  - This contribution deals with the development of the individual ramifications of
      cardiac surgery from their inception to the presence and especially highlights
      the personalities responsible for these breakthroughs. The trials and errors of
      these developments are described along with the multitude of presently unanswered
      questions including those related to thoracic organ transplantation, cardiac
      assistance, and replacement as well as the socio-economical aspects of modern
      cardiac surgery.

PMID- 1441776
TI  - [Use of hypertonic NaCl solutions in primary volume therapy].
AB  - The i.v. bolus infusion of 4 ml/kg b.w. of hypertonic (7.2-7.5%) saline solution
      represents a new concept for primary resuscitation from traumatic-hemorrhagic
      shock; it is called "small-volume resuscitation". Experimental studies have
      demonstrated that for the case of a 50% blood loss the infusion of 7.2-7.5% NaCl
      in a dose equivalent to 1/10 of the blood loss effectively restores cardiac
      filling pressures and cardiac output and significantly increases systemic
      pressure. Simultaneous application of a colloid (6-10% Dextran 60/70; 6-10% HAES
      200,000/0.5) prolongs the circulatory effect of the hypertonic solution.
      Moreover, "small-volume resuscitation" by means of 7.2 NaCl/10% Dextran 60 was
      shown to completely restore nutritional organ blood flow already within only 5
      minutes. The superiority of "small-volume resuscitation" using hypertonic
      hyperoncotic solution as compared to conventional volume therapy consists of its
      effects on the microcirculation. Recent clinical trials have revealed the
      efficacy, practicability and safety of this new therapeutic concept for primary
      resuscitation from trauma and shock.

PMID- 1441777
TI  - [Duplex sonographic monitoring of infra-inguinal arterial reconstructions: can a
      threatened bypass occlusion be detected by this method?].
AB  - In our institution, 95 infrainguinal arterial reconstructions were prospectively
      entered into a graft surveillance programme which consisted of a postoperative
      i.a. DSA and routine assessment of graft flow velocity (GFV) and ankle pressure
      indices (ABI) during the first postoperative year. An average of 4.1 GFV
      measurements was obtained during a mean follow-up period of 8.2 months. Abnormal
      GFV led to arteriography in 29 bypasses identifying--aside from three false
      positive findings--two graft occlusions and 24 severe (> 70%) graft stenoses. Of
      the latter, in only 7 cases a significant decrease in ABI was found. Unheralded
      graft occlusion occurred in 6 patients. Including the corrections of the above
      mentioned lesions, secondary patency rates were 97% at 30 days and 89% at one
      year.

PMID- 1441778
TI  - [The elderly as heart surgery patients. Pre- and postoperative analysis of the
      quality of life].
AB  - The aim of the study was to measure pre- and postoperative quality of life of the
      old patient to find out his profit of open heart surgery. METHOD: 71 patients
      ranging from 75 to 86 years (mean 77.6 years) were examined by using a standard
      interview about their quality of life on the day of hospital admittance and one
      year after returning home (range 11-14 months). RESULTS: There was an improvement
      of postoperative quality of life. These results were similar to data reported in
      the literature after investigating younger patients. CONCLUSION: No one should be
      excluded from open heart surgery because of old age.

PMID- 1441779
TI  - [Shouldice hernia report with a PTFE suture].
AB  - Between 4/90 and 2/91 we repaired 105 inguinal hernias according to Shouldice's
      technique. Instead of an absorbable suture (PDS no.0) we used a PTFE suture no.0.
      By this study we tried to assure that it is allowed to use as well the non
      resorbable PTFE suture no.0. in hernia repair as the slowly resorbable PDS suture
      no.0. We compared the rate of postoperative hematomas, seromas and pus
      collections and the rate of early recurrences in both groups. The results of the
      PTFE group were compared with those of a prospective study (n = 100) between 6.88
      and 4.89 when we used PDS suture no 0. In the PTFE group we saw 9.5% hematomas,
      1.9% seromas and 0.9% pus collections. In the PDS group 4% of the patients
      developed a hematoma, 4% a seroma and 2% a pus collection. We saw 1.9% early
      recurrences after 8 months (PTFE: 7-11; median: 9 months) and 3.2% after 9 months
      (PDS: 8-13; median: 10 months) medium follow-up time. The results did not
      significantly differ between both groups. (Chi-square test: p = 1.0). By these
      results we can draw the following conclusions: 1. The use of a non absorbable
      PTFE suture no 0 in hernia repair is of no disadvantage. 2. The principle of
      hernia repair is the induction of scar tissue in the site of hernioplasty; the
      use of slowly resorbable suture material is allowed as well.

PMID- 1441780
TI  - [Perforated aneurysm of the left hepatic artery].
AB  - Aneurysms of the hepatic artery are second (20%) to the splenic artery the most
      common site of splanchnic artery aneurysms. The frequency of location in the
      branches of the hepatic artery is as follows: common hepatic 63%, right hepatic
      28, left hepatic 5%, both left and right hepatic artery 4%. Today atherosclerosis
      (30 - 32%) is the most prevalent etiology, followed by trauma (22 - 28%) and
      inflammatory lesions (11%). The average age is 41,6 years, the male to female
      ratio 2:1. In 64-80% of patients rupture of the aneurysm is the first and
      dramatic clinical manifestation. The mortality is then about 35%. The case of a
      64 years old female with perforated aneurysm of the left hepatic artery is
      presented and the literature is reviewed with emphasis on etiology, clinical
      manifestation, diagnostic and therapeutic (surgical and non-surgical) procedures.

PMID- 1441781
TI  - [Post-traumatic hemobilia and successful direct treatment of the arteriobiliary
      fistula].
AB  - Traumatic hemobilia is a rare complication of deep and central liver injuries.
      Repeated and massive bleeding requires an active therapy. For diagnosis of the
      arterial-biliary fistula, most advantageous is a transcutaneous selective
      arteriography which can be used also for therapeutic embolization. Of surgical
      techniques, ligature of the art.hepatica comm. or propria and direct closure of
      the fistula in the liver parenchyma are recommended. The authors report on such a
      successful direct intervention in a 9-year-old girl.

PMID- 1441783
TI  - [Pioneer interventions in surgery and their legal background].

PMID- 1441782
TI  - [Malignant tumor of the autonomic nervous system of the stomach (GAN-tumor)--case
      report of a new entity].
AB  - Gastrointestinal autonomic nerve (GAN)-tumors are extremely rare. So far seven
      cases of intestinal and four of gastric GAN-tumors were reported. GAN-tumors,
      also termed plexosarcomas, arise from autonomic nervous system plexuses of the
      gastrointestinal tract such as those of Meissner or Auerbach. We report a case of
      a metastatic gastric GAN-tumor in a 40-year-old woman. A small, 1 cm in diameter,
      submucosal plexosarcoma located in the posterior gastric wall and a 1.5 kg, 23 x
      15 x 11-cm metastasis located retroperitoneally behind the stomach between liver,
      spleen and pancreas without discernable invasion of any of these organs were
      found. En-bloc resection of the retroperitoneal mass, the spleen, the pancreatic
      tail, and a part of the posterior gastric wall adhering to the mass were
      performed. In addition, lymph node metastases in splenic hilum were noted, and
      resected. In CT scan liver metastases were detectable fourteen months after
      surgery. The diagnosis is based on light microscopical, ultrastructural, and
      immunhistochemical analyses. The prognosis of GAN-tumors is fatal. In spite of
      radical excision 8 of 11 reported patients died few month after surgery while
      local recurrences and/or metastases in regional lymph nodes and in the liver were
      found. The response to chemotherapy was poor.

PMID- 1441784
TI  - [Sequential cancer of concomitant cancer?].
AB  - The generally-favoured polyp-cancer sequence hypothesis its probably wrong. The
      distribution of polyps in large intestine differs from that of cancer. There is
      evidence that different aetiological factors are involved in the genesis of
      polyps, their growth rate and the development to invasive cancer. Most polyps are
      very small (90%). They never develop a cancer. It is a diffusely abnormal state
      of the large bowel mucosa which renders it more liable to produce often polyps
      and very rare carcinoma (5%). Polyp-carcinoma concomitance is much nearer to the
      truth.

PMID- 1441785
TI  - [The dysplasia-carcinoma sequence in the colorectum].
AB  - The concept of dysplasia-carcinoma sequence has been established for the
      gastrointestinal tract. Dysplasia is defined as unequivocal neoplastic
      proliferation of epithelium without invasion and represents the precancerous
      lesions of the colon and rectum. The most common appearance of dysplasia is
      polypoid adenoma, however, flat adenomas are increasingly diagnosed. During the
      last 20 years, new pathological and biological methods including molecular
      genetics showed the stepwise evolution of colorectal carcinoma from normal mucosa
      to dysplasia of increasing grade and to invasive carcinoma. Of course, dysplasia
      carcinoma sequence does not imply the development of carcinoma in every focus of
      dysplasia. In fact, the incidence of carcinomas from adenomas is 5-10%. A new
      molecular or genetic epidemiology promises an improved selection of high risk
      individuals.

PMID- 1441786
TI  - [Symptomatic stenoses following stapler anastomosis of the large intestine].
AB  - Since 1978 the stapled colonic anastomosis belongs to the technical standard in
      surgery of the rectosigmoid. It is followed by an extension of indications for
      sphincter-preserving excisional treatment. The main advantages of the mechanical
      suturing are the shortening of operation time as well as the practical and easy
      management, especially when the anastomosis is located low in the pelvis. Early
      respectively late postoperative strictures represent the most frequent
      complications of stapled anastomosis. From 1989 to 1991, the stapling technique
      was used for colorectal anastomosis in 196 cases in our hospital. Clinical
      stenosis occurred in 5 cases, an incidence of 2.5%. Causative the size of the
      cartridge, the healing by second intention because of the metallic staples, a
      disturbed microcirculation depending on the tension around the anastomosis,
      missing normal fecal dilation because of protective colostomy and an incongruity
      of the combined lumina are discussed. Independent of localisation and grade of
      the stricture, repeated dilation was a successful therapy in all 5 cases.

PMID- 1441787
TI  - [Minimally invasive surgery of the rectum].
AB  - Low precision of transanal techniques, their limited area of application and high
      rate of complications of extensive surgical techniques led to the development of
      an endoscopic surgical system. Its main indication is the removal of broad based
      adenomas and early rectal cancers. Further indications are palliative excisions
      of advanced cancers. From July 1983 till December 1990 the endoscopic system has
      been employed on 233 patients. The total sum of operations raised to 251 cases
      due to recurrences and new tumour formations. The overall crude 5 year survival
      with merely local removal of rectal cancer was 67% for early rectal carcinoma
      patients and 75% for patients with pT2 carcinomas. Early postoperative
      complications consisted of 5 intraperitoneal perforations, 4 recto-vaginal
      fistulas and 4 haemorrhages (complication rate 5.2%). There were 2 postoperative
      deaths due to cardiopulmonary failure (clinical lethality 0.8%). The overall
      recurrence rate of adenomas was 4.9%. In accordance with the selection criterias
      of other authors, our selection criteria for curative local excisions of rectal
      cancers enclose tumour diameter less than 4 cm, pT1 carcinomas, low grade
      malignancy and tumour free margins of locally excised specimen.

PMID- 1441788
TI  - [Delay phenomenon of the jejunum. Studies of nutritional blood supply and oxygen
      supply of the jejunum of the rabbit].
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Delay procedure has been shown to effectively improve microvascular
      perfusion in skin flaps. In analogy to skin, we have analyzed the effect of delay
      on regional blood flow and surface tissue PO2 of a proximal segment of the
      jejunum. METHODS: Under nembutal anesthesia (30 mg/kg BW) and mechanical
      ventilation a total of 15 rabbits were laparotomized. Regional blood flow of the
      jejunum was estimated using radioactive-labeled microspheres, and tissue PO2 was
      assessed by means of a platinum-multiwire surface electrode. In order to induce
      acute ischemia three consecutive jejunal arteries were ligated, and the proximal
      marginal vascular arch was temporarily occluded by a microvascular clip. Delay
      procedure was induced by 1) ligation of the jejunal arteries, 2) in situ
      maintenance of the jejunal segment for two weeks followed by 3) relaparotomy and
      occlusion of the proximal marginal arch (n = 8). Regional blood flow of the
      jejunum and tissue PO2 were also assessed in sham-operated animals (n = 7).
      RESULTS: After acute ischemia regional blood flow (0.27 (0.05) ml x min-1 x g-1,
      mean (SEM)) and surface tissue PO2 (39 (3) mmHg) of the jejunal segment were
      found significantly (p < 0.05) reduced as compared to baseline (0.82 (0.12) ml x
      min-1 x g-1 and 66 (1) mmHg) and sham-operated animals (0.69 (0.12) ml x min-1 x
      g-1 and 62 (5) mmHg), respectively. In contrast, delay of the jejunal segment
      resulted in almost complete preservation of regional blood flow (0.56 (0.04) ml x
      min-1 x g-1) and surface tissue PO2 (65 (1) mmHg). CONCLUSION: We therefore like
      to propose that the jejunal delay phenomenon may be clinically used to reduce
      ischemic complications in jejunal transposition for esophagoplasty.

PMID- 1441789
TI  - [Status of treatment with free radical scavengers following kidney and pancreas
      transplantation].
AB  - AIM OF THE STUDY: The frequency of acute renal failure (ARF) after preservation
      and kidney transplantation is rather high. The etiology of an ARF is an
      interaction of multiple mechanisms as donor conditions, explantation procedure,
      duration of ischemia and reperfusion injury. Different experiments demonstrated,
      that the damage produced by reperfusion can be prevented by the scavenger of free
      radicals, the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: After a
      double blind study, using consecutive intraarterial bovine SOD (n = 100) in
      kidney transplantation, showing a trend in favour to the SOD treated group,
      especially when long-time stored kidneys (> 30 h) had been grafted, a second
      study was designed to evaluate the efficiency of intravenous recombinant human
      SOD in the protection from ARF. This study (n = 180) was split into two different
      trials, double blind and randomized in itself: (A) grafts with cold ischemia time
      lower or equal 30 hrs., (B) cold ischemia more than 30 hrs. All grafts were
      preserved with Euro-collins. The study substances were either placebo or 200 mg
      rh-SOD (Grunenthal GmbH, FRG), given 10-2 minutes prior reperfusion
      intravenously. Parameters causing an ARF were equal and well comparable in both
      groups. RESULTS: Concerning early graft function there was no difference in study
      A between placebo and rh-SOD group. In study B the average and median of the day
      creatinine dropped the first time without interference of hemodialysis, showed a
      trend in favour to the rh-SOD group. If placebo was given only 19% of the grafts
      gained function within the first week, when rh-SOD was applied 47% functioned in
      the first week. The lack of significant benefit from SOD treatment could be
      explained by the dependency of the proportion of the total injury caused by
      reperfusion compared with the proportion resulting from ischemic injury per se.
      The rh-SOD group showed a better 3 years graft survival rate (+16%). CONCLUSIONS:
      It seems rh-SOD is able to augment the early graft function and is helpful to
      reduce the ARF frequency when long-time stored cadaveric kidneys have to be
      transplanted. These promising results encourage us to continue the study in
      protocol B to get greater numbers and definitive results.

PMID- 1441790
TI  - [Is penicillin G the drug of choice in gas gangrene? Results of a prospective
      documentation of clinical, microbiological and animal experiment data].
AB  - Between 1978 and 1990 98 patients with gas gangrene were treated in the
      departments of general surgery and traumatology of the University of Kiel. The
      microbiological results of tissue samples and results of animal infectious
      experiments were correlated to the clinical outcome. It could be shown, that gas
      gangrene due to C.perfringens alone had a higher mortality than gas gangrene due
      to polymicrobial infection. In trauma patients, however, the rate of amputations
      was lower in cases of clostridial monoinfections (25%), than in patients with
      mixed infections (48%). The results of animal experiments with guinea pigs which
      were infected by patients' infectious material showed a correlation to the
      clinical outcome. This correlation could not bee shown using isolated and
      cultured clostridia. Therefore and because of the quantity of mixed infections it
      is necessary to use broad spectrum antibiotics for treatment in cases of gas
      gangrene and for perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. Penicillin-G alone can not
      more be recommended for this purpose.

PMID- 1441792
TI  - [The surgeon Karl Thiersch as cholera research specialist].

PMID- 1441791
TI  - [Heterotopic ossifications in a patient with severe craniocerebral trauma].
AB  - Patients with severe head injury and fractures of joints or of long bones often
      show a hypertrophic callus formation which leads to a rapid consolidation of a
      fracture but can also lead to an ankylosis of the joints. This is the
      retrospective report of a patient who showed this phenomenon.

PMID- 1441793
TI  - [The evolutionary changes in the amino acid sequences and properties of the ATP
      synthase in chloroplasts, mitochondria and bacteria].
AB  - Studies have been made on ATPase from chloroplasts, cyanobacteria and
      mitochondria of higher plants and animals. No intraspecies and interspecies
      variability of chloroplast and mitochondrial ATPase was found with respect to pH
      optimum of the activity, to specificity to cations as substrate components, to
      sensitivity to stimulating and inhibiting anions and ethanol, to optimal
      stimulating ethanol concentration. Intergenus variation of these properties of
      ATPase from chloroplasts, plant mitochondria, and cyanobacteria was revealed.
      Analysis of homology of the amino acid sequence in ATP-synthase subunits showed
      that ATP-synthase genes in chloroplast DNA originate from cyanobacterial genome,
      whereas ATP-synthase genes in plant and animal mitochondria-from genome of
      Rhodospirillum rubrum or closely related species. It was established that no
      recombination between the genetic material of chloroplasts and mitochondria took
      place during evolution.

PMID- 1441794
TI  - [The dual regulation by glucagon of the adenylate cyclase system in the embryonic
      chick heart].
AB  - Taken in physiological concentrations, glucagon increases the activity of
      adenylate cyclase from the heart of 11-day chick embryos, i.e. at the earliest
      investigated stage. High glucagon concentrations inhibit the enzyme from cardiac
      membranes at all ontogenetic stages except mature chicks in which glucagon
      produces stimulating effect. Guanine nucleotides potentiate this effect up to the
      16th day of incubation, this effect being absent at later periods. Reconstruction
      of adenylate cyclase system from the heart of 16-day embryos with N-proteins from
      mature liver tissue of chicks results in the recovery of potentiating effect.
      However, at later developmental stages, potentiation was absent even in the
      presence of N-proteins.

PMID- 1441795
TI  - [Testosterone production by the fetal testes of silver foxes selected for their
      domesticated behavior].
AB  - Testosterone content was determined by radioimmune assay in the testes of silver
      foxes between the 31st and 50th days of gestation. Small quantities of
      testosterone were found in the testes already at the 31st day of prenatal life,
      gradually increasing up to a maximum value at the 50th day. No significant
      difference in testosterone content was found between domesticated and
      undomesticated silver foxes during prenatal life. It is suggested that selection
      for domesticated behaviour affects rather central control of endocrine functions
      than steroid biosynthesis in the testes.

PMID- 1441796
TI  - [The temperature hysteresis of water-salt metabolism in the frog Rana
      temporaria].
AB  - Frogs acclimated to 4 degrees C were transported to a medium with temperature 20
      degrees C, which caused polyuria; recovery of normal diuresis took about 24 h.
      During this period, hypernatremia was observed together with the increase in
      natriuresis, the rate of renal excretion of potassium ions with urea remaining
      constant. Water content of skeletal muscles decreased. Transportation of frogs
      acclimated to 20 degrees C into a medium with a temperature 4 degrees C decreased
      their diuresis. Renal excretion of sodium, calcium and magnesium ions remained
      unchanged, whereas that of potassium ions significantly decreased. The content of
      potassium and magnesium in the blood serum increased, that of sodium--decreased.
      Hydratation of muscled and kidneys was accompanied by the decrease of calcium,
      potassium and magnesium ions calculated per wet weight of the tissues, the level
      of sodium remaining unaffected. The data obtained indicate significant changes in
      the pattern of water and salt metabolism in frogs during temperature hysteresis.

PMID- 1441797
TI  - [The dynamics of the activity parameters of the neuronal populations in the
      dorsal hyperstriatum of hens depending on the afferent input in ontogeny].
AB  - Studies have been made on the properties of neuronal populations of the dorsal
      hyperstriatum of the forebrain in hens beginning from the 18th day incubation up
      to the 7th day after hatching, which were incubated and kept either in darkness
      or under periodic illumination. Among the investigated parameters of
      multicellular activity, mean frequency of the discharge activity was found to be
      most susceptible to the level of external light afferentation in ontogenesis. The
      discharge activity was more intense in the left hemisphere of chick embryos and
      chicks from illuminated group, which may be associated with asymmetrical visual
      afferentation resulting from embryonic position within the egg, and its
      modulating effect on synchronization processes in the adjacent neurones of the
      given structure.

PMID- 1441798
TI  - [The temperature dependence of receptor structures and temperature-related
      reception].
AB  - In acute experiments on rats, studies have been made on impulse activity of
      single fibres of n. ischiadicus evoked by stimulation of the receptive fields of
      the sole by focused ultrasound. Mechanical effects were produced by rectangular
      ultrasonic stimuli, thermal ones--by trapezoid ones. With respect to the
      magnitude of a threshold response to a rectangular stimuli, the receptor
      structures were divided into three groups, i.e. low, mean and high threshold
      ones. Low and mean threshold receptor units responded to local thermal
      stimulation. Mean threshold units exhibited an increase of the threshold to
      mechanical stimulation after local thermal one. In human subjects, the structures
      which are functionally similar to mean threshold units, evoke thermal sensations,
      and may be classified not only as temperature dependent, but also as temperature
      sensitive.

PMID- 1441799
TI  - [The genetic and sexual differentiation of the brain].

PMID- 1441800
TI  - [The code of codon roots--the evolutionary basis of protein structures and
      functions].

PMID- 1441801
TI  - [The seasonal dynamics of the adenine nucleotide level in the liver mitochondria
      of the frog Rana temporaria].
AB  - ATP, ADP and AMP content of liver mitochondria has been determined in frogs
      immediately after isolation during autumn, winter and spring periods. Seasonal
      changes in adenine nucleotides in frogs are similar to those observed in rat
      liver mitochondria during early postnatal ontogenesis. It is suggested that in
      frogs seasonal changes in liver intramitochondrial adenine nucleotides depend on
      the hormonal condition of animals.

PMID- 1441802
TI  - [The formation of interhemispheric asymmetry in human ontogeny during the
      perception of emotions in normal speech and in stuttering].
AB  - Age peculiarities of functional brain asymmetry in perception of emotional
      information of speech have been revealed. It was shown that the age of 4-7 years
      is most important for formation of this asymmetry in emotional perception. It is
      in this age that functional reorganization of perception in stuttering children
      is observed. These data indicate that correction of emotional activity in
      stutterers should be made at early periods of their life.

PMID- 1441803
TI  - [The biological properties of Serratia marcescens bacteriophages].
AB  - Sixteen phages active against bacteria of the genus Serratia have been divided
      into 4 groups on the basis of the study of their biological properties. As a
      result, 5 typing phages have been selected, which permitted the typing of 77.3%
      of S. marcescens cultures under study, divided into 13 phage types.

PMID- 1441804
TI  - [The resistance plasmid of Klebsiella pneumoniae that controls its cytotoxic
      activity].
AB  - R-plasmid (40 MD) isolated from K. pneumoniae hospital strain makes Escherichia
      coli strain J62 capable of inducing a cytotoxic effect which can be detected in
      Hep-2 cell culture. In contrast to the initial E. coli strain J62 producing no
      changes in the monolayer, E. coli J62 cells containing P-plasmid induced
      pronounced cytotoxic changes and a sharp increase in the number of nonviable Hep
      2 cells by hour 24 of interaction.

PMID- 1441805
TI  - [Lipopolysaccharide changes in smooth-type avirulent Shigella in comparison with
      initial virulent strains].
AB  - The comparative study of the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of virulent and avirulent
      strains of S. sonnei, phase I (smooth colonies), has been made. Electrophoresis
      of LPS and subsequent densitometry of electrophoregrams have revealed the
      increase of the fraction of long 0-chains with a considerable number of recurring
      elements in 2 out of 3 LPS preparations obtained from avirulent shigellae. In
      mice immunized with these LPS preparations a considerably greater number of
      antibody-producing cells can be detected in Jerne's test on sheep red blood cells
      (SRBC) sensitized with the LPS of a virulent strain than on those sensitized with
      the above LPS preparations. Long 0-specific chains supposedly inhibit the
      fixation of individual complement components on the corresponding sensitized
      SRBC. The LPS of the third avirulent strain of S. sonnei, phase I, with
      transposon integrated into its genome, which has led to the formation of the
      avirulent variant of a previously virulent strain, seems to contain fine
      structural differences from the initial virulent strain. The immunogenicity of
      the LPS of this avirulent strain is greatly (3-4 times) decreased, which is
      manifested by the number of antibody-producing cells detected in Jerne's test on
      SRBC sensitized with LPS preparations obtained from these two strains.

PMID- 1441806
TI  - [The development and study of the batch and multicyclic cultivation with a
      glucose feed of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B].

PMID- 1441807
TI  - [The migratory activity of HIV-infected people in the northwestern region and the
      routes of the possible spread of the infection].
AB  - The epidemic situation in HIV infection in the northwestern region of this
      country has been analyzed. The ways of the spread of HIV infection among the
      infected persons, residents of the St. Petersburg region, Kaliningrad, Novgorod
      and Murmansk, have been studied. The infection is transmitted mainly through
      sexual contacts, both homosexual and heterosexual. High migration activity of HIV
      infected persons, homo- and heterosexuals, has been established, and a great
      number of unknown (casual) sexual contacts among them was noted. The results of
      these observations may be useful in the prognostication of the epidemic situation
      in HIV infection not only in the northwestern region, but also beyond its
      boundaries, and later in the optimization of screening.

PMID- 1441808
TI  - [Microbial ecology and a retrospective assessment of the possibility of
      predicting an outbreak of suppurative meningitis caused by a Serratia marcescens
      strain in a hospital for the nursing care of premature infants].
AB  - An outbreak of purulent meningitides in a hospital ward for preterm babies,
      caused by Serratia marcescens strain of serovar 05/13 with multiple resistance,
      is described. Data on the results of the long-term observation of the ward showed
      that during three months preceding the outbreak the consecutive spread of the
      infective strain and its colonization of the intestine of children occurred. At
      the moment of the outbreak S. marcescens 05/13 was the dominating intestinal
      microflora in 37% of children in the ward and constituted 30% of the total
      aerobic flora in the intestine of the examined children. No S. marcescens strains
      were isolated from the feces and urine of the medical personnel and mothers. The
      importance of the observation of microflora colonizing newborn infants in the
      ward for the evaluation and prognostication of the epidemiological situation is
      discussed.

PMID- 1441809
TI  - [The definition of the forms of the epidemic process in intestinal infections].
AB  - A method for the identification of the forms of the epidemic process in dysentery
      (annual, seasonal and outbreak forms) has been worked out. The method is based on
      the calculation of the upper limits of annual and seasonal morbidity from the
      data on the period of several years with the use of the formulae of binomial
      distribution, serving as the mathematical model of alternative random values,
      such as morbidity. The comparison of actual morbidity for each year of the
      analyzed period with the upper limits of annual and seasonal morbidity helps
      identify the form of the epidemic process.

PMID- 1441810
TI  - [An evaluation of the quality of tetanus anatoxins by gel electrophoresis].
AB  - The study of tetanus toxoids obtained from different manufacturers in the USSR
      has shown that these preparations exhibit molecular heterogeneity. The method of
      gel filtration has made it possible to find out that tetanus toxoids from
      different manufacturers differ in the degree of their purification. The
      preparations produced by the manufacturing enterprises in Perm and Ufa have been
      found to contain considerably less ballast substances than the preparations
      produced in Moscow.

PMID- 1441812
TI  - [The antigenic activity of vaccines made from opportunistic microorganisms in an
      experiment to immunize animals by oral and combined methods].
AB  - The results of the study of the antigenic activity of multicomponent vaccine
      consisting of staphylococcal, Klebsiella, Proteus, Escherichia coli antigens and
      staphylococcal monovaccine, introduced into rabbits and guinea pigs by different
      routes, are presented. As shown in this study, the multicomponent vaccine
      introduced orally in 5 administrations stimulated the production of antibodies to
      all components, but the intensity of antibody formation to each of them was
      different. Antibodies to E. coli antigen were found to be at the lowest level.
      Staphylococcal antigen, introduced orally both as the component of the
      multicomponent vaccine and as the monovaccine, ensured pronounced stimulation of
      the production of antistaphylococcal antibodies, not lower than that observed
      after subcutaneous injection. The comparative study of the activity of the
      multicomponent vaccine introduced by combined routes, oral-subcutaneous and
      subcutaneous-oral, showed the advantage of the former one.

PMID- 1441811
TI  - [Pseudomonads as parasites of protozoa].
AB  - The experimental study of the interaction of Tetrahymena pyriformis with
      different microorganisms of the genus Pseudomonas, isolated from the soil, was
      made. The study revealed that T. pyriformis phagocytosed some Pseudomonas pigment
      forming species (P. cepacia, P. putida, P. fluorescens, P. pirkettii). The most
      pronounced cytopathogenic effect was produced by P. cepacia. The dynamic
      observations of the ultrastructural features of interaction between P. cepacia
      and protozoa were made. Even at early stages of this interaction some types of
      parasitiferous phagosomes containing both intact bacteria capable of
      multiplication by binary division and Pseudomonas cells exhibiting different
      degrees of destruction were registered. In several phagosomes morphologically
      intact bacteria differing in their cell-wall profiles and the density of their
      cytoplasm and nucleotide were present simultaneously. More dense cells with
      sinuous cell-wall membranes were more virulent. By hour 18 one giant
      parasitiferous vacuole was formed by fusion of smaller phagosomes, which
      subsequently broke up, liberating a new generation of bacteria. In infected cells
      disturbances in the structure of their mitochondria and macronucleus appeared.
      During the first 2 days of the joint cultivation of P. cepacia and T. pyriformis
      the accumulation of bacteria occurred due to the selection and multiplication of
      digestion-resistant bacterial cells, which ensured the resistance of this
      Pseudomonas population in association with protozoa.

PMID- 1441813
TI  - [An assessment of the immunoepidemiological efficacy of a liquid cultured killed
      vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis virus strain 205 in the Maritime
      Territory].
AB  - Inactivated vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), prepared on the basis
      of strain 205, is characterized by epidemiological (53%) and immunobiological
      activity. The appearance of a few TBE cases among the vaccinees is probably due
      to different maturation rate of immune response to various strains (different
      specificity of immune response). A suggestion has been made that no inactivated
      vaccine prepared from a single strain can produce a reliable protective effect
      because of pronounced heterogeneity of the population of TBE virus.

PMID- 1441814
TI  - [An evaluation of the scope of the circulation of Salmonella among the workers of
      commercial poultry- and meat-packing enterprises based on serological study data
      in the PHA test].
AB  - Serum samples from 641 workers of large poultry and meat-packing plants were
      studied in the passive hemagglutination test with the use of Salmonella complex
      and serogroup diagnostica. A specific increase in the level of anti-Salmonella
      antibodies in 60.7% of poultry plant workers and in 9.8% of meat-packing plant
      workers was established. Among the workers of the poultry plants the most
      pronounced immune shifts were detected in persons having contacts with sick
      poultry and pathological material and among the employees of the meat-packing
      plant, in those who ate raw sausage meat. A high level of antibodies in the
      professional groups under study was observed as early as in the first year of
      work at the plant and persisted over the whole period of this work. Under the
      conditions of constant contamination of the workers of poultry and meat-packing
      plants with small doses of salmonellae specific immunity to this infection was
      seemingly induced, which inhibited the development of the manifest forms of
      infection, but did not prevent the formation of chronic carrier state.

PMID- 1441815
TI  - [The chemoluminescence of the primary focus of a suppurative infection and of
      isolated neutrophils exposed to dimephosphon].
AB  - The influence of dimephosphone at concentrations of 0.001 M-0.75 M on the
      chemiluminescence of tissues at the focus of purulent infection in the ear of a
      guinea pig, on the survival rate of the experimental animals injected with the
      lethal dose of Staphylococcus aureus, as well as on the spontaneous and
      stimulated chemiluminescence of blood neutrophils in patients with wound
      infection, was studied. The study showed that different concentrations of
      dimephosphone oppositely influenced the intensity of the chemiluminescence of
      neutrophil suspensions and tissues at the focus of infection: low concentrations
      were found to produce stimulating action and high concentrations, suppressive
      action. At the highest concentration used in this study (0.75 M) dimephosphone
      prevented the death of the animals receiving lethal doses of S. aureus.

PMID- 1441816
TI  - [The characteristics of the polyclonal action and immunomodulating activity of
      bacterial peptidoglycans in oppositely reacting mouse strains].
AB  - The data on the specific features of the polyclonal action of gram-negative
      bacteria on primary immune response to sheep red blood cells in oppositely
      reacting mouse strains are presented. Staphylococcus aureus and Bacterium flavum
      peptidoglycans have been found to increase the amount of antibody producing cells
      to thymus-dependent antigen only in the spleen of low-responsive mice. At the
      same time differences in the amino acid composition of these heteropolymers do
      not affect their stimulating activity. Differences between the capacity of B.
      flavum peptidoglycans to induce the activation of B cells in mice of different
      strains have been established.

PMID- 1441817
TI  - [The methods for correcting with specific and nonspecific immunomodulators the
      immunopathological processes arising from the administration of a staphylococcal
      vaccine].
AB  - In mice immunized with staphylococcal vaccine the arresting of graft-versus-host
      reaction under the influence of small doses of staphylococcal vaccine,
      hyperimmune antistaphylococcal serum, cyclophosphamide, antilymphocytic serum has
      been demonstrated. Small doses of staphylococcal vaccine stimulated the
      production of antibodies to staphylococci and dermal extract in the animals,
      previously immunized with this vaccine, with the simultaneous suppression of cell
      mediated immune reactions to both antigens. Immunosuppressing agents have been
      found to inhibit humoral and cell-mediated immune response to microbial antigen
      and dermal extract. No influence of vermox and levamisole on the outcome of the
      graft-versus-host reaction has been registered; the latter preparation has been
      found to intensify cell-mediated immune reactions to microbial and tissue
      antigens.

PMID- 1441819
TI  - [The use of immunoenzyme analysis and immunoblotting for the serological
      characterization of mycobacterial antigens].
AB  - The enzyme immunoassay and immunoblotting were used for the study of the
      serological activity of different mycobacterial antigens and the spectrum of
      antibodies to them in patients with different forms of tuberculosis and healthy
      persons. Antibodies in patients' sera were shown to bind antigens with different
      molecular weight. The level and spectrum of antibodies to purified protein
      fraction I made it possible to differentiate between patients with various forms
      of tuberculosis and healthy persons.

PMID- 1441818
TI  - [Interferon type I in protective body reactions in an experimental Klebsiella
      infection].
AB  - The study on mice with experimental generalized Klebsiella infection, carried out
      with the use of microbiologic, immunologic and pathomorphologic methods, revealed
      that the intraperitoneal injection of type I interferon into the animals
      prevented their death and led to the rapid elimination of the infective agent
      from their body, enhanced the phagocytic and metabolic activity of
      polymorphonuclear lymphocytes of their peritoneal exudate, decreased the
      manifestation of microcirculatory and dystrophic changes in the parenchyma of
      their internal organs.

PMID- 1441820
TI  - [The 125th anniversary of the birth of the founder of Soviet epidemiology Daniil
      Kirillovich Zabolotnyi].

PMID- 1441821
TI  - Protein-bound glycosaminoglycans in serum of patients with lung cancer and
      patients with diabetes mellitus.

PMID- 1441822
TI  - Competition between oleanolic acid glycosides in their transport to isolated
      vacuoles from Calendula officinalis leaf protoplasts.

PMID- 1441823
TI  - Induction of aberrant crypts in the colons of rats by alkylating agents.

PMID- 1441824
TI  - The effect of flavonoids on the mutagenic activity of aromatic amines.

PMID- 1441825
TI  - The effect of nitrofurazone and furazolidone on induction of cytochrome P-450
      dependent monooxygenase system.

PMID- 1441826
TI  - The effect of exo- and endogenous compounds on the activity of glutathione-S
      transferase from monkey brain.

PMID- 1441827
TI  - Glutathione-S-transferase from boar testis: properties of the cytosolic and
      microsomal forms.

PMID- 1441828
TI  - Placenta as a protecting barrier--some properties of glutathione-S-transferase.

PMID- 1441829
TI  - Investigation of DNA structures with scanning tunneling microscope.

PMID- 1441830
TI  - Properties of phenol sulphotransferase from brain of the monkey Rhesus macaca.

PMID- 1441831
TI  - Collagenolytic activity in experimental atherosclerosis induced in rabbits fed a
      cholesterol-rich diet.

PMID- 1441832
TI  - Evaluation of metabolism of connective tissue proteins in patients with lung
      cancer.

PMID- 1441833
TI  - Effect of Cd2+ on phosphate exchange in Staphylococcus aureus.

PMID- 1441835
TI  - Protective action of cholesterol against changes in membrane fluidity induced by
      malathion.

PMID- 1441834
TI  - DNA-platinum-DNA cross-links formation induced by cis and trans
      diamminedichloroplatinum in isolated leukocyte nuclei.

PMID- 1441836
TI  - DNA-protein cross-linking induced by nitracrine in two strains of mouse lymphoma
      L5178Y cells.

PMID- 1441837
TI  - The influence of chosen physico-chemical factors on proteolytic activity of the
      hatching liquid of Coregonus albula and C. lavaretus.

PMID- 1441838
TI  - Blocking of the function of alpha-sarcin domain of 28S ribosomal RNA using the
      synthetic oligonucleotides as antisense DNA probes.

PMID- 1441839
TI  - Changes in thymocytes undergoing programmed death.

PMID- 1441840
TI  - Amino acid composition of human hair melanoproteins.

PMID- 1441841
TI  - Interaction of Fe3+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ with melanin and melanoproteins from bovine
      eyes.

PMID- 1441842
TI  - 59Fe distribution and elimination after melanin administration in mice.

PMID- 1441843
TI  - Effect of copper ions on hydrogenase activity of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans.

PMID- 1441844
TI  - Molecular basis for the functional diversity of enzyme forms of the LMW (Mr
      38,000) acid phosphatase of the frog liver.
AB  - Recent studies on the structure and function of the tartrate-resistant acid
      phosphatase (Mr 38,000) of the frog liver are reviewed. The nature of the enzyme
      heterogeneity is elucidated on a molecular and physiological basis. The following
      structure-activity relationship is proposed: the enzyme protein is modified by
      glycosylation processes leading to formation of the different enzyme forms. The
      oligosaccharide chain stabilizes the final structure of the enzyme forms with
      altered conformation causing different exposure of the essential functional
      groups (e.g. sulfhydryl residues, antigen determinants). This leads to different
      physiological events necessary for fulfillment of metabolic requirements of the
      cell.

PMID- 1441845
TI  - Exopolysaccharides of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii harbouring cloned
      exo region.
AB  - Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii produces an acidic exopolysaccharide (EPS)
      which plays an important role in the development of nitrogen-fixing nodules. Tn5
      mutant of R. trifolii 93 defective in EPS production (Exo-) forms ineffective
      (Fix-) nodules on red clover. This Exo- mutation is complemented by the pARF1368
      and pARF25 cosmids isolated from gene bank of Rhizobium trifolii TA1, but the
      complementation is not correlated with restoration of Fix+ phenotype.
      Furthermore, these cosmids introduced to wild-type of R. trifolii 24 repress its
      ability to form nitrogen-fixing nodules. These results might suggest that
      bacteria with cosmids carrying the exo region form EPS of altered structure. It
      has been shown by 1H-n.m.r. that exopolysaccharides produced by R. trifolii
      93pARF-1368 and 93pARF25 contain less non-carbohydrate residues (acetyl, pyruvyl
      and 3-hydroxybutanoyl) than the wild type EPS. These data suggest that the
      biological activity of the exopolysaccharide of R. trifolii depends on the
      contents of the non-carbohydrate substitutions.

PMID- 1441846
TI  - Adenosine deaminase: physical and chemical properties of partially purified
      mitochondrial and cytosol enzyme from rat liver.
AB  - Adenosine deaminase (ADA) was partially purified 486- and 994-fold from rat liver
      mitochondria and cytosol, respectively. Relative molecular mass of the enzymes
      from both fractions was 34,000. Km for adenosine and 2'-deoxy-adenosine were 3.08
      x 10(-5) M and 3.03 x 10(-5) M for mitochondrial ADA and 3.12 x 10(-5) M and 2.87
      x 10(-5) M for cytosolic ADA. The enzyme from both subcellular fractions had the
      maximum activity at pH 7.5-8.0, and pI 5.2 and 4.2 for mitochondrial and
      cytosolic enzyme, respectively. The enzyme was inhibited by erythro-9-(2-hydroxy
      3-nonyl)adenine and 2'-deoxycoformycin with Ki 4.4 x 10(-7) M and 3.2 x 10(-7) M
      for mitochondrial ADA and 4.9 x 10(-7) M 2.8 x 10(-7) M for cytosolic ADA. Among
      the natural nucleoside and deoxynucleotide derivatives tested, deoxy-GTP and UTP
      inhibited only cytosolic adenosine deaminase by 60% and 40%, respectively.

PMID- 1441848
TI  - Uptake and subcellular distribution of intraventricularly injected [1-3H]dolichol
      in rat brain.
AB  - The uptake of C95[1-3H]dolichol in the form of liposomes into rat brain after the
      intracerebral and intraperitoneal injection was investigated. Efficient, time
      dependent uptake of dolichol into the brain was observed exclusively after the
      intraventricular injection. Within 24 h after the injection about 10% of the
      applied dolichol was found in the brain and 1.5% in liver. The distribution of
      dolichol in various parts of rat brain decreased in the order: cerebellum greater
      than midbrain greater than grey matter and brain stem greater than white matter.
      Seven days after the injection total radioactivity in the brain decreased and
      concomitantly a significant increase was observed in blood circulating and liver
      of the rat. The highest activity was found in grey matter and it remained a few
      times higher in comparison with that in white matter. About 80% of the dolichol
      taken up by the brain membrane was recovered in the following subcellular
      fractions: crude nuclear fraction greater than microsomes greater than
      mitochondria greater than synaptosomes greater than myelin. These results
      demonstrate for the first time that dolichol is actively taken up by the brain
      membrane exclusively after intraventricular injection of dolichol
      phosphatidylcholine in the form of liposomes; this method may be useful in
      studies on the role of dolichol in brain function.

PMID- 1441847
TI  - The 45 kDa and 27 kDa yeast's protein kinases are not immunologically related.
AB  - Two yeast casein kinase type-1 species of 45 kDa and 27 kDa (CK1) were purified
      to apparent homogeneity and used for investigation of their immunological
      affinity. Antisera against the two kinases were isolated; the antibody against
      the 45 kDa kinase did not react with the 27 kDa enzyme. The 27 kDa casein kinase
      was recognized only by its own antibody. The obtained data strongly suggest that
      the low molecular mass CK-1 is not a proteolytic product of the 45 kDa kinase
      species.

PMID- 1441849
TI  - Rapid separation of tyrosine-specific tRNA from white lupin.
AB  - During isolation of total ribonucleic acids from white lupin (Lupinus albus) and
      their subsequent separation by 10% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a fast
      migrating RNA band is very well separated. The nucleotide sequence analysis of 76
      nucleotide long sequence with many modified nucleosides was found to be identical
      with that of tyrosine specific tRNA of yellow lupin seeds (Lupinus luteus) and
      wheat germ (Triticum aestivum). Also this tRNA(Tyr) is identical with plant amber
      suppressor tRNA. The presented approach offers a very rapid method of
      purification of plant tRNA with UAG suppressor activity.

PMID- 1441850
TI  - Identification of ectopic ventricular foci by means of intracavitary potential
      mapping: a proposed method.

PMID- 1441851
TI  - Quantitative analysis of ventricular late potentials (LP) in healthy subjects.
      Comparative study with Holter monitoring.
AB  - Signal averaging is a technique that improves the signal-to-noise ratio. It
      allows the detection of low-amplitude wave formes in the terminal portion of the
      QRS complex, also known as ventricular late potentials. A high incidence of
      arrhythmic events is found in patients with abnormal ventricular late potentials
      after an acute myocardial infarction. Few wide studies have been conducted in
      healthy subjects to assess normal values. One hundred sixty-five healthy subjects
      are enrolled in our study (59 men and 106 women). The results (mean +/- standard
      deviation) are as follows: duration of filtered QRS: 89.5 +/- 9.1 ms; duration of
      the low-amplitude signals in the terminal portion of QRS < 40 microV: 27.1 +/-
      7.8 ms; root-mean-square voltage in the last 40 ms: 47.2 +/- 29.5 microV. A
      signal difference is noted between men and women for the QRS duration. No
      difference is found in HFD40 and RMS40. QRS duration confidence limits of 95% are
      < 108 ms for the total group. HFD40 and RMS40 confidence limits of 95% are
      respectively of 43 ms and 13 microV. There is no significant difference of the
      values for age. There is no relation between the severity of a ventricular
      arrhythmia and the values of the three parameters of the late potentials in a
      healthy subjects population.

PMID- 1441852
TI  - Defibrase, a purified fibrinolytic protease from snake venom in acute myocardial
      infarction.
AB  - To investigate the thrombolytic effects of defibrase in AMI, 157 pts with AMI
      were studied. Of the 157 pts, 87 were assigned to defibrase thrombolysis and 70
      to the conventional therapy plus heparin (control). Coronary arteriography was
      performed in 36 pts of the defibrase group and 26 of the control group.
      Pretreatment coronary arteriography was performed in 10 pts and total occlusion
      of infarct-related artery (IRA) was demonstrated in 7. Thirty to 45 min after
      either intracoronary or intravenous defibrase thrombolysis, recanalization
      occurred in 4 of the 7 pts. The perfusion and stenosis was improved in 2 of the 3
      pts with patent IRA. Of the 10 pts who underwent emergency coronary arteriography
      after the onset of i.v. defibrase thrombolysis, 6 were shown to have patent IRAs.
      Of the 16 pts who underwent coronary arteriography two weeks after the i.v.
      defibrase thrombolysis, 13 were shown to have patent IRAs. In contrast, only 11
      of the 26 pts in the control group had patent IRAs two weeks after admission to
      the hospital. Of the 36 angiographic cases of the defibrase group, 15 underwent
      follow-up coronary arteriography, only 1 pt showed reocclusion. In comparison to
      the control group, the pts in the defibrase group had earlier CPK peaking, higher
      percentage of pts with LVEF > 0.5, a lower mortality and complication rate. Major
      spontaneous bleeding complications were rarely seen with defibrase. The results
      indicate that defibrase is an effective thrombolytic agent with a reasonable
      recanalization rate, low reocclusion rate and a low rate of bleeding
      complications.

PMID- 1441853
TI  - Does the measurement of left ventricular isovolumic relaxation time allow early
      prediction of cardiac allograft rejection?
AB  - In order to evaluate the value of isovolumic relaxation time measurement for the
      diagnosis of moderate acute rejection episodes in cardiac allograft recipients a
      comparison was made with the histological results from the endomyocardial biopsy.
      A total of 202 isovolumic relaxation time measurements from 26 patients were
      compared to the biopsy results. The technique used to record isovolumic
      relaxation time was dual M-mode echocardiography. In addition a combined
      phonoechocardiography was used for 54 isovolumic relaxation time measurements
      from 17 patients. A good correlation was found between these two methods. When
      the biopsy results were normal the isovolumic relaxation time was 71.4 +/- 15.1
      ms. When moderate acute rejection episodes were present isovolumic relaxation
      time decreased to 50.2 +/- 21.2 ms (p < 0.001). In spite of the close correlation
      detected at group level, there was a large variability of the measurements
      without accompanying changes in the biopsy specimen. At the same time a
      significant overlap was found between the measurements taken during rejection and
      non-rejection periods making it impossible to use these methods for clinical
      decision making. We conclude that isovolumic relaxation time measured with these
      methods is not a sufficiently sensitive parameter for the diagnosis of moderate
      acute rejection episodes in the individual patient, and in our experience, it is
      not a substitute for endomyocardial biopsy and can not be applied for clinical
      decision making.

PMID- 1441854
TI  - A comparison of cardioversion of atrial fibrillation using oral amiodarone,
      intravenous amiodarone and DC cardioversion.
AB  - Fifty-two consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation underwent 86 episodes of
      attempted cardioversion with oral amiodarone, intravenous amiodarone or DC
      cardioversion. The presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or a
      presenting heart rate of less than 110 beats per minute were associated with a
      favourable outcome. Conversion to sinus rhythm was achieved in 29% of the group
      treated with oral amiodarone, 42% of the group treated with DC cardioversion and
      64% of the group given intravenous amiodarone. The overall statistical
      significance of this distribution on chi square testing was p < 0.032. However
      when only first attempts at cardioversion were analyzed there was no difference
      between intravenous amiodarone and DC cardioversion.

PMID- 1441855
TI  - Target organ status and cardiovascular risk in borderline hypertension.
AB  - In order to assess the prevalence of target organ damage 78 men with borderline
      hypertension, according to the World Health Organization criteria, and 67
      normotensive controls underwent echocardiographic, electrocardiographic and
      fundoscopic examination, followed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for 24
      hours. Echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy was found in 13 borderline
      hypertensive subjects (16.6%), while no electrocardiographic or fundoscopic
      abnormalities could be detected. Our data suggest that noninvasive assessment of
      cardiovascular status, including echocardiography, allows recognition of a subset
      of borderline subjects with an increased risk for subsequent cardiac morbid
      events, thereby improving prognostic stratification.

PMID- 1441856
TI  - Surgery for massive pulmonary embolism.
AB  - Pulmonary embolectomies were performed in 30 patients from January 1973 until
      December 1991 in the University Hospital of Leuven. There was an 80% hospital
      survival. The late follow-up showed no recurrent pulmonary emboli. The
      preoperative haemodynamic status was the most important predictor for survival.
      Patients, under cardiopulmonary resuscitation or in profound cardiogenic shock
      before surgery, had a survival of only 50% while all other patients survived.
      Angiography, performed in only 23% of the cases, remained the most important
      diagnostic tool until the advent of transthoracic and transoesophageal
      echocardiography. Thrombolysis is an acceptable alternative in the stable
      patient, but pulmonary embolectomy is life-saving in the haemodynamically
      unstable patient and when thrombolysis is contraindicated.

PMID- 1441857
TI  - Early venous coronary bypass graft occlusion in a patient with non-specific
      aortitis: a case report.
AB  - A 58-year-old woman with aortic valve regurgitation and bilateral ostial coronary
      artery stenosis due to non-specific aortitis is presented. Four months after
      aortic valve surgery and venous bypass surgery, orificial occlusion or high grade
      stenosis of the bypass grafts occurred. Repeat coronary arteriography was
      followed by cardiac arrest and emergency surgery but patient did not survive. The
      etiology, pathological findings and surgical approach are discussed.

PMID- 1441858
TI  - Thrombolytic therapy and acute aortic dissection.
AB  - Thrombolytic (tissue plasminogen activator) and antithrombotic treatment (heparin
      and aspirin) were given to a 47-year-old man with an acute type II aortic
      dissection presenting as an acute anterior myocardial infarction. During
      treatment he developed cardiac tamponade and an ischaemic stroke.
      Transoesophageal echocardiography (but not computed tomographies of the chest)
      revealed the correct diagnosis. After surgical repair (Bentall procedure) there
      was a complete recovery.

PMID- 1441859
TI  - The nursing care recording system. A preliminary study of a system for assessment
      of nursing care demands in the ICU.
AB  - A new system, Nursing Care Recording (NCR), for the recording of nursing care in
      a general ICU is presented. NCR classifies ICU patients according to their need
      for intensive nursing care. Comparing the NCR with the Therapeutic Intervention
      Scoring System (TISS), a correlation coefficient of 0.60 was found. The main
      difference between the two systems was related to recording procedures allowing
      changes in nursing intensity within a 24-h period, reflecting patient improvement
      due to therapy, which was detected by NCR but not by TISS. NCR can be used to
      estimate nursing capacity during different shifts and may be useful in the
      assessment of the total nursing staff necessary for a given ICU. It is suggested
      that NCR will allow detection of changes in the nursing care work load, whether
      this change is due to new activities in the unit or to alterations in the
      individual patient care.

PMID- 1441860
TI  - Influence of the type of anaesthesia on post-operative subjective physical well
      being and mental function in elderly patients.
AB  - Standardized behavioural observations were used to establish the influence of the
      type of anaesthesia on the mental function and the subjective physical well-being
      in 60 patients, all men, following urological surgery. The patients were
      randomized to two groups, receiving spinal or general anaesthesia. For evaluation
      of the influence of pre-operative physical condition on post-operative mental
      function, a supplementary group of 34 patients with pre-existing cardiovascular
      and/or pulmonary disorders was included in the study. These patients all received
      spinal anaesthesia. The patients were observed from the day before surgery until
      4 weeks after. In all patients a short-lasting temporary decline in mental
      function was observed. The outcome was not influenced by the type of anaesthesia.
      In the two groups receiving spinal anaesthesia the decline in post-operative
      mental function and subjective sense of well-being was most pronounced in
      patients with a compromised physical condition pre-operatively. Four weeks after
      surgery, no signs of mental deterioration were present; however, the subjective
      sense of physical well-being had not fully returned.

PMID- 1441862
TI  - Is acupuncture an alternative in idiopathic pain disorder?
AB  - This study investigated the pain-relieving effect of an intensive type of
      periosteal acupuncture stimulation in patients with idiopathic pain disorder.
      Twelve patients, 2 males and 10 females, with a mean age of 54, were included in
      the study. The average duration of their pain was 12.6 years. Each treatment
      consisted of brief but painful manual stimulation of 3 to 4 periosteal sites.
      Over a 3-8-month period each patient had between 4-11 treatments, an average of
      7. Analgesic drugs that patients were on prior to the study were continued but no
      other physical or psychological treatment for their pain was applied. Ten
      patients had either no responses to treatment or only transient responses which
      were not maintained until the following treatment. Two patients benefitted from
      treatment, having long periods of substantial pain reduction. All responses were
      assessed on pain scales maintained daily before and during the entire period of
      treatments. For the majority (83%) of patients in this study, with an idiopathic
      pain disorder, periosteal acupuncture stimulation was not a treatment
      alternative.

PMID- 1441861
TI  - Anaesthetic uptake and washout characteristics of patient circuit tubing with
      special regard to current decontamination techniques.
AB  - The amounts of halothane and isoflurane trapped after exposure for up to 3 h at 2
      MAC in commonly used anaesthesia circuit tubing were quantitated by gas
      chromatography. The decontaminating effects of procedures such as flushing with
      oxygen, thermal disinfection and/or routine storage were assessed in a similar
      way. After halothane exposure, anaesthetic content was highest in silicone (398
      +/- 55 mg 100 g-1). Lower quantities were found in all other tubings investigated
      (electrically conductive latex: 64 +/- 4, conductive rubber: 62 +/- 4,
      polyethylene-vinyl-acetate (PEVA): 293 +/- 10 and 149 +/- 17 for non-conductive
      corrugated and spiral tubes, respectively, polysulfone (Hytrel): 155 +/- 10 mg
      100 g-1). The isoflurane contents were substantially lower (silicone: 278 +/- 23;
      others: 55 +/- 7, 61 +/- 6, 163 +/- 9 and 86 +/- 8, 74 +/- 4 mg 100 g-1). The
      tubings' content did not correlate with the material's partition coefficient as
      full saturation was not achieved during exposure. Decontamination procedures
      reduced the content of volatile anaesthetics to a variable extent. Conductive
      latex and rubber showed the highest residual content, even after thermal
      disinfection and subsequent storage. Twenty-minute flushing with oxygen (8 l min
      1) decreased effluent gas concentrations below 5 p.p.m. in all tubings. With
      silicone, after 1 h flushing, halothane concentrations still exceeded 10 p.p.m.
      (isoflurane: 8 p.p.m.). It is concluded that urgent decontamination by a 20-min
      flush warrants the safe re-use of previously 'contaminated' conductive rubber and
      latex as well as polysulfone tubings in critical situations, e.g. in malignant
      hyperthermia patients if disposable tubing is not immediately available.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1441864
TI  - Effect of piroxicam in addition to continuous thoracic epidural bupivacaine and
      morphine on postoperative pain and lung function after thoracotomy.
AB  - Twenty-eight patients scheduled for lung resection with lateral thoracotomy and
      postoperative chest drains during combined thoracic epidural bupivacaine plus
      morphine and general anaesthesia were studied. Postoperative pain treatment was
      continuous epidural infusion of bupivacaine 0.25% 5 ml h-1 plus morphine 0.2 mg h
      1 for 48 h and, in addition, the patients received rectal piroxicam 40 mg
      randomly and double-blind 12 h and 1 h before surgery and 20 mg 24 h-1
      postoperatively or placebo. Pain was evaluated at rest, during cough and
      mobilisation, together with pulmonary function (FEV1, FVC, PEFR) and sensory
      level of analgesia repeatedly for 48 h. The results showed efficient pain relief,
      but without differences in pain scores or need for supplementary analgesics
      between the two groups. Pulmonary function decreased similarly in the two groups.
      Thus we were unable to show enhanced analgesia by supplementing an otherwise
      effective low-dose epidural bupivacaine and morphine treatment with piroxicam
      after thoracic surgery with chest drains.

PMID- 1441863
TI  - Intra-articular bupivacaine plus adrenaline for arthroscopic surgery of the knee.
AB  - The purpose of the study was to evaluate three different doses of intra-articular
      bupivacaine plus adrenaline in relation to per- and postoperative pain relief
      following arthroscopy. Sixty patients were allocated to three groups of 20
      patients each scheduled for arthroscopy. They were randomized prospectively to
      receive bupivacaine plus adrenaline 25 mg + 50 micrograms, 50 mg + 100
      micrograms, 75 mg + 150 micrograms, respectively, diluted to a volume of 30 ml.
      Four patients were excluded because the operation could not be carried out under
      intra-articular analgesia, 18 patients had a diagnostic arthroscopy and 38
      patients had different arthroscopic operations performed. The number of patients
      scoring pain in the knee as moderate or severe was less in Group 3 than in the
      other two groups, i.e. the highest dose had a better pain relief. No adverse
      effects were registered. With respect to per- or postoperative administration of
      analgesics, postoperative pain occurrence, and the surgeon's acceptance of the
      method, there were no statistically significant differences. Ninety-two percent
      of the patients would prefer intraarticular analgesia if they should need to have
      another arthroscopy performed.

PMID- 1441865
TI  - Pulmonary granulocyte accumulation is reduced by nebulized corticosteroid in
      septic pigs.
AB  - Nebulized beclomethasone dipropionate was administered to 14 anesthetized and
      artificially ventilated pigs at 6-hourly intervals after infusion of live S.
      aureus (BDP group). Changes in pulmonary activity from autologous granulocytes
      labeled with In-111 was detected externally for 12 (n = 8) to 44 h (n = 6). The
      changes were compared with those in ten pigs (12 h n = 7, 44 h n = 3) subjected
      to the same insults but given no corticosteroid (placebo group). Serial
      measurements of blood radioactivity, and cardiac output were performed in animals
      observed for 12 h. Corticosteroid-treated pigs showed a gradual decline in decay
      corrected pulmonary In-111 activity. The placebo group displayed a more varied
      reaction, but most animals had an increased activity compared to the
      corticosteroid group. The difference between the groups was significant at 8 h
      (BDP-group 92% (88-98), placebo-group 107% (97-121), median (lower-upper
      quartiles), baseline = 100%. P < 0.01, U-test). Blood radioactivity and cardiac
      output did not differ significantly between the two groups. Nebulized
      corticosteroid thus diminished pulmonary granulocyte accumulation, which may be
      of value in the treatment of septic respiratory distress.

PMID- 1441866
TI  - Ten ml bupivacaine 0.125% with 12.5 micrograms epinephrine is a reliable epidural
      test dose to detect inadvertent intravascular injection in obstetric patients. A
      double-blind study.
AB  - A double-blind study was designed in order to determine the specificity and
      sensitivity of an epidural test dose to detect inadvertent intravenous injection
      in obstetric patients undergoing epidural analgesia. Forty unselected obstetric
      patients were given an intravenous injection of 10 ml bupivacaine 0.125% with
      12.5 micrograms epinephrine (test dose) or 10 ml normal physiologic saline. The
      maternal heart rate was monitored by the direct ECG mode of a fetal monitor and
      registered simultaneously with the tocogram. The primary investigator was blinded
      to the solution he injected into an antecubital vein. After the injection was
      given, he recorded his judgment of which solution he had administered. Eight
      other anesthesiologists made similar judgments on the basis of the recordings
      plus various levels of additional information (presence or absence of epidural
      analgesia, time of injection, subjective signs and symptoms). In contrast to the
      primary investigator, the blood pressure values were not given to them. For the
      primary investigator, the specificity of the test dose was 100% and the
      sensitivity 97.5%. The judgments of the 8 other anesthesiologists resulted in an
      excellent specificity (99.1%) and a good sensitivity (91.9% with information on
      time of injection and subjective signs and symptoms). The better performance of
      the primary investigator is probably due to the availability of blood pressure
      data.

PMID- 1441867
TI  - Thiopentone or propofol for induction of isoflurane-based anaesthesia for
      ambulatory surgery?
AB  - This study compares psychomotor recovery following induction of anaesthesia with
      either thiopentone or propofol in 30 healthy, unpremedicated patients undergoing
      outpatient arthroscopic procedures of the knee. A battery of tests including
      simple reaction time (SRT), choice reaction time (CRT), perceptive accuracy test
      (PAT) and digit symbol substitution test (DSST) were done before anaesthesia. The
      patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group 1 was induced with
      thiopentone 5-6 mg/kg while Group 2 was induced with propofol 2-3 mg/kg.
      Anaesthesia was then maintained with isoflurane (0.5-2%) in oxygen and air, and
      supplements of alfentanil were given for analgesia during spontaneous respiration
      with a face mask. Psychomotor recovery assessed every 30 min postoperatively for
      120 min showed that patients in Group 1 had not returned to baseline values until
      120 min after the operation on the PAT, while those in Group 2 had returned to
      baseline values at 60 min. No patient had any significant side effects. The SRT,
      CRT and DSST proved to be relatively insensitive in the detection of residual
      effects of anaesthesia and had a significant learning effect. This study suggests
      that induction of anaesthesia with propofol followed by maintenance with
      isoflurane in oxygen and air during spontaneous ventilation is associated with
      rapid psychomotor recovery and is a suitable method for ambulatory surgery. The
      PAT is sensitive and not associated with some of the problems found with other
      commonly used tests.

PMID- 1441868
TI  - Effects of verapamil on histamine-induced changes in lung mechanics.
AB  - The effects of verapamil on airway resistance and total thoracic compliance were
      studied in 15 rabbits with histamine-induced changes in lung mechanics. The
      animals, after being tracheotomized under anaesthesia, were subjected to
      mechanical ventilation in a time-cycled, volume-limited mode. Airway pressure and
      gas flow signals measured by a pneumotachograph and integrated for volume, were
      registered on a recorder. Each animal was given histamine hydrochloride in an
      isotonic solution of sodium chloride at a rate of 0.05 micrograms.kg-1.min-1
      through a peripheral venous line. Verapamil was infused intravenously in an
      isotonic solution of sodium chloride at a rate of 20 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 after
      the initiation of histamine. Verapamil reduced the histamine-induced increase in
      airway resistance by 20% at 20 min after the start of administration.

PMID- 1441869
TI  - Haemodynamic changes associated with thermodilution cardiac output determination
      during myocardial ischaemia or pulmonary oedema in dogs.
AB  - Since the technique of thermodilution (TD) cardiac output measurements per se
      causes haemodynamic alterations, the authors examined whether the alterations
      elicited by iced injectate are augmented in the presence of myocardial ischaemia
      (MI) or pulmonary oedema (PE), compromised conditions frequently associated with
      critically ill patients. MI (N = 7) or PE (N = 7) was induced by clamping the
      anterior descending coronary artery or by a slow infusion of oleic acid into the
      right atrium, respectively, in anaesthetized dogs. Injection of iced injectate, 3
      ml, caused similar changes in heart rate, mean systemic and pulmonary arterial
      pressures, pulmonary blood flow, right ventricular dP/dt, and right atrial
      pressure in dogs with and without MI or PE. Cardiac output estimated by TD
      correlated closely with pulmonary blood flow measured by electromagnetic
      flowmeter in both MI and PE (r > 0.9). No profound alterations in haemodynamics
      were observed at any injection during TD cardiac output measurements under MI or
      PE. These results indicate that TD cardiac output determination does not cause
      serious haemodynamic alterations, and can estimate right ventricular output
      accurately under MI and PE.

PMID- 1441870
TI  - Effects of epinephrine and clonidine on plasma concentrations of spinal
      bupivacaine.
AB  - ASA II-III patients, scheduled for peripheral vascular surgery, were included in
      a study designed to assess the effect of spinal epinephrine and clonidine on
      plasma concentrations of spinally administered 0.5% glucose-free bupivacaine.
      Patients were allocated randomly to three groups to receive via a spinal catheter
      22.5 mg (4.5 ml) of bupivacaine alone (Group B, 9 patients) or combined with 0.3
      mg epinephrine (Group BE, 10 patients) or 0.15 mg clonidine (Group BC, 10
      patients). Sensory blockade was assessed by pin-prick and motor blockade on the
      Bromage scale. Bupivacaine plasma concentrations were measured by gas
      chromatography. A trend to prolongation of local anaesthetic blockade was
      documented in patients receiving bupivacaine plus epinephrine or clonidine. (Time
      to regression of sensory blockade to L2: 170 +/- 75 min in Group B, 230 +/- 50
      min in Group BE, 232 +/- 64 min in Group BC.) The maximum peak concentration
      (Cmax), the time to reach Cmax (Tmax) and the time-concentration curve from 0-180
      min (AUC) were not different for the three groups (Cmax 228 +/- 112 ng.ml-1 in
      Group B, 215 +/- 103 ng.ml-1 in Group BE, 234 +/- 159 ng.ml-1 in Group BC; Tmax
      41 +/- 34 min in Group B, 59 +/- 31 min in Group BE, 68 +/- 32 min in Group BC;
      AUC 31.0 +/- 1.7 mg.ml-1.min-1 in Group B, 27.3 +/- 1.1 mg.ml-1.min-1 in Group
      BE, 27.0 +/- 1.1 mg.ml-1.min-1 in Group BC). The results of this study suggest
      that epinephrine and clonidine do not decrease blood resorption of spinal
      bupivacaine.

PMID- 1441871
TI  - Plasma prilocaine and mepivacaine concentrations after combined lumbosacral
      plexus block.
AB  - In a pharmacokinetic study of combined sciatic/3-in-1 block for lower limb
      surgery, the two moderate-acting local anaesthetics prilocaine and mepivacaine
      were compared. The mean maximum venous plasma concentrations of mepivacaine were
      more than twice as high as when prilocaine was used as anaesthetic (5.1
      micrograms/ml vs. 2.37 micrograms/ml). When used in combination with the former,
      ornipressin did not reduce plasma concentrations of mepivacaine to values which
      were below the threshold for toxic symptoms (5-6 mg/ml). The peak plasma
      concentrations exceeded the threshold of 5 micrograms/ml in four of the nine
      patients of the mepivacaine group (maximum value 7.21 mg/ml) and in two of the
      nine patients of the mepivacaine+ornipressin group (maximum value 8.61
      micrograms/ml).

PMID- 1441873
TI  - A two-dose epidural morphine regimen for cesarean section patients: therapeutic
      efficacy.
AB  - A single dose of epidural morphine (EM) usually produces 24 h of post-cesarean
      section (CS) analgesia and patients require supplemental analgesics beyond this
      period. This study assesses if a second dose of EM administered 24 h after the
      first one offers superior therapeutic efficacy compared to conventional
      analgesics. Patients (n = 100) were randomized to receive one or two doses of
      epidural morphine. In all patients, EM 5 mg was administered after delivery.
      After 24 h patients received epidurally either normal saline (n = 50, Group 1) or
      morphine 5 mg (n = 50, Group 2). An independent observer used a visual analogue
      scale to assess nausea, itching, and analgesia 24 h after each injection. Results
      were expressed as mean +/- 1 s.e. mean and analyzed using nonparametric methods.
      The second dose of EM produced a significantly lower incidence and severity of
      nausea and itching than did the first dose (P < 0.01) in Group 2 with no
      difference in analgesia. The second day postoperative pain score in Group 1 was
      significantly greater than the first day score in the same group, and
      significantly greater than the severity score in Group 2. Only 36% of patients
      receiving two doses of EM required supplemental analgesics beyond 48 h compared
      to 76% of those receiving one dose (P < 0.01). No serious complications were
      noted. In summary, the use of a second dose of EM for post-CS analgesia produces
      better analgesia and reduces the need for oral analgesics. The second dose
      produced fewer side-effects, probably due to acute tolerance to morphine.

PMID- 1441872
TI  - Prilocaine in lumbosacral plexus block--general efficacy and comparison of nerve
      stimulation amplitude.
AB  - The significance of the threshold amperage of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS)
      for the efficacy and latency of sciatic block is shown in a controlled randomized
      study of stimulation amplitude. In all cases the block was complete within a
      short time when the threshold amperage was 0.3 mA or less. Incomplete motor and
      sensory blocks occurred with higher stimulation amplitudes of 0.5 and 1.0 mA. In
      view of these results a prospective study of the clinical efficacy of 852
      combined sciatic/3-in-1 blocks using prilocaine, and performed by means of
      peripheral nerve stimulation was carried out. No CNS or cardiovascular
      complications, no problems resulting from methaemoglobinaemia and, above all, no
      nervous lesions were observed. The limiting factor for surgery of the lower limb
      with this method of anaesthesia is the tolerance of the femoral tourniquet which
      depends mainly on the efficacy of the 3-in-1 block. Ninety-one per cent of the
      combined blockades were primarily successful when there was no tourniquet at all,
      and 87% when the tourniquet was placed on the lower leg. In the course of surgery
      with a femoral pneumatic tourniquet, only 55% of the blocks did not require
      supplement when 20 ml of 1% prilocaine was used for the 3-in-1 block, while 72%
      and 74% were efficacious with 30 ml and 35 ml, respectively. The efficacy of the
      sciatic block proved to be extremely high (> 95%), its success depending on the
      dosage of the local anaesthetic and correct execution of the peripheral nerve
      stimulation.

PMID- 1441875
TI  - Failure of anaesthesia after accidental subdural catheter placement.
AB  - A case is described where an epidural anaesthetic was complicated by dural
      puncture, following which attempted conversion to a continuous subarachnoid
      infusion technique resulted in failure of anaesthesia. Accidental subdural
      catheter placement was confirmed radiologically, subdural spread of solution
      being demonstrated; however, only minimal anaesthetic effects were produced.

PMID- 1441874
TI  - Influence of plasma cholinesterase activity on recovery from mivacurium-induced
      neuromuscular blockade in phenotypically normal patients.
AB  - The significance of plasma cholinesterase (pChe) activity for the duration of
      action of mivacurium in phenotypically normal patients was evaluated in 35
      patients during neurolept anaesthesia. The response to train-of-four nerve
      stimulation was recorded using a Myograph 2000. Ten patients with normal pChe
      (Group I) and five patients with decreased pChe activity (Group 2) were given a
      small test dose of mivacurium 0.03 mg kg-1. Mivacurium 0.1 mg kg-1 was
      administered following spontaneous recovery from the first dose. The mean
      suppression of the height of the first (T1) of the train-of-four responses
      following mivacurium 0.03 mg kg-1 patients with normal and decreased enzyme
      activity was 40% and 56%, respectively, and the mean T1 suppression after
      mivacurium 0.1 mg kg-1 was 100% in both groups. The times to different levels of
      twitch height recovery following the 0.1 mg kg-1 dose did not differ between the
      two groups of patients. Another 20 patients with normal or decreased pChe
      activity (Group 3) were given mivacurium 0.2 mg kg-1. In this group the time to
      maximum block was 1.4 min (1.0-4.0) mean (range) and the time to reappearance of
      the T1 response was 15.0 min (7.4-22.7) (range). An inverse relationship was
      found between the patients' pChe activity and the time to first response. It is
      concluded that mivacurium is short-acting in patients with normal pChe phenotype
      and normal to low-normal pChe activity. No patient with very low pChe activity
      was included in the study. A prolonged response to mivacurium may, however, be
      expected in these patients.

PMID- 1441876
TI  - Comparison of ketorolac and morphine for postoperative pain after major surgery.
AB  - This study was designed to determine the relative analgesic efficacy and safety
      of single intramuscular injections of ketorolac (10 mg or 30 mg) and morphine (10
      mg) in patients of either sex with moderate to severe pain after major surgery.
      In a single-dose, randomised, double-blind study of parallel design, pain was
      assessed immediately before injection of test medication and at regular intervals
      for 8 h thereafter. One hundred and seventeen patients (109 undergoing cardiac
      surgery; 8 lung surgery) were randomized to one of the three treatment groups.
      Pain intensity was assessed using a 5-point verbal scale before administration of
      study drugs. Postadministration, at 30 min and hourly for 8 h, pain intensity and
      pain relief were assessed, again using the 5-point verbal scale. Additionally, as
      a measure of analgesia, forced expiratory volume (FEV1) was obtained in all
      patients. Vital signs including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiratory
      rate and blood gases (PaCO2) were recorded prior to and after study medication.
      Based on hourly pain intensity differences and hourly pain relief observations,
      ketorolac 10 mg was generally more effective than morphine 10 mg, and ketorolac
      30 mg was generally more effective than ketorolac 10 mg. The results of this
      study show that ketorolac is an effective and safe (with regard to arterial
      pressure, blood gases and lung function) analgesic for relief of postoperative
      pain after major surgery in stable patients. No clinically significant adverse
      effects occurred during the study. One cannot exclude an influence on patients
      with organ system dysfunction or on parameters not measured in this study.

PMID- 1441877
TI  - Lidocaine hydrocarbonate and lidocaine hydrochloride for cesarean section:
      transplacental passage and neonatal effects.
AB  - Twenty-six patients, ASA physical status 1, scheduled for elective cesarean
      section, were divided at random into two groups and received via an epidural
      catheter 20 ml of 2.2% lidocaine hydrocarbonate (17.3 mg.ml-1 lidocaine base)
      with 5 micrograms.ml-1 epinephrine freshly added (Group CO2 = 13 patients) or 20
      ml of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride (17.3 mg.ml-1 lidocaine base) also with 5
      micrograms.ml-1 epinephrine freshly added. Following clampage of the umbilical
      cord (at 40.1 +/- 4.9 min after the injection of lidocaine for the CO2 group and
      at 41.0 +/- 5.4 min for the HCl group), serum concentrations of lidocaine were
      measured both in the mother and in the umbilical vein. All newborns were examined
      by the same blinded pediatrician with Apgar scores at 1, 5 and 10 min and with
      Neurobehavioral Adaptive Capacity Scores (NACS) at 15 min, 2 h and 24 h. The
      concentrations of lidocaine in the serum were comparable in both groups: in the
      mothers 8.61 +/- 1.48 mumol.l-1 for the CO2 group vs 8.04 +/- 2.36 mumol.l-1 for
      the HCl group and in the newborns 3.86 +/- 0.84 mumol.l-1 for the CO2 group vs
      3.92 +/- 0.95 mumol.l-1 for the HCl group. The ratio of umbilical vein to
      maternal vein concentrations of lidocaine was also similar in both groups: 0.45
      +/- 0.07 for the CO2 group vs 0.54 +/- 0.24 for the HCl group. The percentage of
      newborns with a normal NACS (score > or = 35/40) was equal in both groups, i.e.
      91% at 15 min and 2 h of life and 100% at 24 h of life.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1441878
TI  - Onset and duration of hypoalgesia of lidocaine spray applied to oral mucosa--a
      dose response study.
AB  - Lidocaine is often used as a topical analgesic prior to painful procedures
      performed in the oral cavity and upper airways. In this study the optimal time
      interval for performance of painful procedures in the oral cavity and the upper
      airways was determined by spraying lidocaine solution on the mucous membranes of
      the mouth with subsequent measurements of pain thresholds induced by argon-laser
      stimulation. Two different dosages (30 mg and 60 mg) of lidocaine spray were
      administered to the oral mucosa of the lower lip in healthy volunteers. Repeated
      measurements were performed until normal sensitivity returned after 15 min. Pain
      thresholds increased 62% after 30 mg lidocaine and 50% after 60 mg lidocaine (a
      non-significant difference). Thus repeated applications were found to be without
      any additional hypoalgesic effect. Maximal hypoalgesia was reached after 4 to 5
      min. Complete analgesia was not obtained. The hypoalgesic effect lasted until 14
      min, but painful procedures should be performed in the time interval 3-8 min
      after application.

PMID- 1441879
TI  - Increased volume of gastric contents in diabetic patients undergoing renal
      transplantation: lack of effect with cisapride.
AB  - Gastroparesis is a frequently unrecognized complication of insulin-dependent
      diabetes mellitus, which subjects these patients to the risk of aspiration at
      induction of anaesthesia. The effect of oral cisapride on volume and pH of
      gastric contents was studied in 24 diabetic and 24 non-diabetic uraemic patients
      undergoing renal transplantation. All patients were allocated randomly in a
      double-blind fashion to receive either 10 mg of cisapride or placebo orally
      approximately 100 min before anaesthesia and three times daily for the first 2
      postoperative days. After the induction of anaesthesia, gastric contents were
      aspirated through a nasogastric tube, and the pH and volume were measured. The
      emptiness of the stomach was verified by gastroscopy. Gastric volumes exceeding
      0.4 ml.kg-1 were observed in 12/24 of the diabetic and 4/24 of the non-diabetic
      uraemic patients (P < 0.01). The pH of the gastric contents did not differ
      between the groups, ranging from 1-8 in diabetics and 1-7 in non-diabetics.
      Cisapride lacked effect on gastric contents and postoperative gastrointestinal
      motility. Diabetic uraemic patients had larger gastric volumes than their non
      diabetic controls at induction of anaesthesia. Cisapride had no effect on gastric
      emptying preoperatively nor on postoperative bowel function.

PMID- 1441881
TI  - Ultrastructure of the parathyroid gland of fetal and pregnant golden hamsters
      subjected to hypergravity environment.
AB  - The ultrastructure of the parathyroid glands of fetal and pregnant golden
      hamsters exposed to 5-gravity environment was studied. In the centrifuged fetal
      animals the Golgi complexes associated with some prosecretory granules were
      significantly increased compared with those of the control fetal animals, and
      several secretory granules were located in a peripheral position just beneath the
      plasma membrane. In the centrifuged pregnant animals the Golgi complexes
      associated with numerous prosecretory granules were significantly increased,
      cisternae of the granular endoplasmic reticulum appeared to be increased compared
      with those of the control pregnant animals, many secretory granules were located
      in the peripheral cytoplasm and several granules were situated close to the
      plasma membrane. These findings suggest that in the parathyroid glands of the
      fetal golden hamsters as well as the pregnant animals the synthesis and release
      of parathyroid hormone may be stimulated in response to a hypergravity
      environment.

PMID- 1441880
TI  - Individual variability of pathological parameters in chemically induced rat colon
      tumors.
AB  - The development of tumorigenic conditions in the carcinogen-exposed rat colon was
      studied using selected morphological, histochemical, immunohistochemical and
      biochemical methods of analysis. Rats were treated with two carcinogens: 1,2
      dimethylhydrazine and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine alone or with
      deoxycholic acid as a tumor promoter. It was found that 3 months after treatment
      of animals with the carcinogens the following changes were developed in colonic
      tissue: infiltration of lymphocytes in the mucous membrane, high increase in
      mitotic index among epithelial cells, negative reactions of colonic cells for
      neutral mucopolysaccharides and sulfomucins and positive reactions to carboxyl
      groups, nonsulfated acid mucosubstances and tissue polypeptide antigens. An
      increase in the activity of ornithine decarboxylase in colonic tissue was
      developed within the same time period and has been seen only in those tissues
      which were characterized by the development of precancerous conditions.
      Individual variations were observed in the manifestation of the studied
      parameters in rat neoplastic colonic tissues. It is suggested that these
      differences reflect an individual sensitivity of animals to carcinogens and the
      magnitude of the dysplastic processes induced in the colon.

PMID- 1441882
TI  - Degranulation of rough endoplasmic reticulum in M phase and adenosine
      triphosphate-treated interphase cells is reversible.
AB  - In the preferential harvesting of rounded mitotic (M phase) cells of human Chang
      liver monolayer cultures by mechanical agitation in Ca(2+)-free phosphate
      buffered saline, degranulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was observed.
      Mitotic cells are known to have a series of Ca2+ transients and, without being
      subjected to Ca(2+)-free washings, did not have degranulated ER. Quiescent cells
      incubated with 0.7 mM adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) in Ca(2+)-free HEPES
      buffered saline produced very similar ER degranulations. Confocal argon laser
      imaging of fluo-3-loaded cells showed a Ca2+ transient peaking at 2 min after ATP
      treatment. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, transients of Ca2+ elevation in
      the cytosol would exit the cell in a down-gradient, draining the ER Ca2+ stores.
      Substituting ATP with 1 microM brominated A23187 calcium ionophore in the
      incubation that contained 1-100 mM CaCl2, respectively, did not produce ER
      degranulation, thereby excluding raised cytosolic Ca2+ per se as the cause of ER
      degranulation. In fact, incubation with 0.7 mM ATP in the presence of 1-5 mM
      CaCl2 failed to produce ER degranulation. ER degranulated cells, from treatment
      with ATP without extracellular Ca2+ as well as from Ca(2+)-free washings at M
      phase, could be rescued by subsequent incubation in growth medium that contains
      Ca2+ whereupon the rounded cells re-flatten (a round-to-flat change) and have
      well-defined rough ER. It therefore seems possible for Ca2+ depletion, or at
      least a reduction, to be causally related to ER degranulation. If that were the
      case, ER granularity would appear to be a facultative rather than a constitutive
      state.

PMID- 1441883
TI  - Gamma-aminobutyric acid immunoreactivity in the enterochromaffin cells of the rat
      stomach.
AB  - The present immunocytochemical study revealed gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
      immunoreactivity in the oxyntic and pyloric mucosa of the rat stomach at light-
      and electron-microscopic levels. GABA-immunoreactive endocrine cells were
      numerously seen in the lower half portion of the pyloric mucosa but rarely in the
      oxyntic mucosa. These cells were round or oval in shape and sometimes had a short
      cytoplasmic process. Serotonin-immunoreactive enterochromaffin (EC) cells were
      also observed in the oxyntic and pyloric mucosa of the stomach. The distribution
      and shapes of the immunoreactive cells were similar to those of the GABA
      immunoreactive cells. With a double immunolabeling technique using anti-GABA and
      antiserotonin serum, GABA-immunoreactive endocrine cells showed serotonin
      immunoreactivity and were identified as EC cells. At the electron-microscopic
      level the GABA-immunoreactive cells contained round or oval, spindle-like, pear
      shaped granules in EC cells. The immunoreaction product in the EC cells was
      generally confined to the granular cores. These findings suggest that GABA may be
      synthesized in the EC cells and be released from the granules of the cells after
      adequate stimuli.

PMID- 1441884
TI  - The mandible--an analysis.
AB  - In this study, an attempt has been made to examine and analyse the ancient
      mandibles of people who have died several hundreds of years ago during the second
      and first millenium B.C. These mandibles have been recovered from the burial
      mounds in Bahrain (Arabian Gulf) and preserved in the National Museum and the
      Department of Antiquities in Bahrain. The dental conditions recorded are e.g.
      attrition, caries, fluorosis, periodontitis or antemortem tooth loss. The results
      indicate the age, sex, diet, occupation and environmental conditions that existed
      and even the culture of the people. A comparative study of the ancient mandibles
      and those of the present generation has been carried out.

PMID- 1441885
TI  - Distributions of antibovine-pepsinogen-positive cells in glandular regions of
      forestomach in the bactrian camel, Camelus bactrianus.
AB  - The present paper describes mucous cells in the forestomach glandular region
      which immunoreacted to antibovine pepsinogen serum in adult and young bactrian
      camels, Camelus bactrianus (female, 25 years old; female, 6 months old; from
      Hilar Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China, in August 1988). These
      immunoreactive cells in forestomach glandular regions also reacted to Alcian blue
      (pH 1.0) and/or periodic acid-Schiff. Cross-reactivity of antibovine pepsinogen
      serum against extracts from the forestomach glandular region was analyzed by
      Western blotting, supporting that this serum could detect pepsin and/or
      pepsinogen in the bactrian camel. It was suggested that mucous cells in
      forestomach glandular regions produce pepsinogen molecules.

PMID- 1441886
TI  - Cartilage canal growth: experimental approach in the rat tibia.
AB  - This paper studies the influence of an antimitotic factor (puromycin) and a
      hormonal factor (thyroid hormone, TH) on canal growth. The tibiae of 15 six-day
      old rats were cultured in a serum-free chemically defined medium. The cultures
      were carried out for as long as 6 days. Our results show: (1) canal growth is not
      dependent on perichondrium or chondro-epiphysis growth; (2) the canal is greater
      and has a complex pattern in a triiodothyronine (T3)-treated assay group; (3)
      round and multinucleated cells are more numerous in the T3-treated assay group
      than in the other groups. We hypothesize that the canal grows by a physiological
      phenomenon of programmed cell death and that it is stimulated by TH.

PMID- 1441887
TI  - Distribution of glycoconjugates localized by peanut and Maclura pomifera
      agglutinins during mouse molar root development.
AB  - Glycolipids, glycoproteins, glycosaminoglycans and sialoglycoproteins have all
      been implicated in a number of developmentally significant processes related to
      complex interactions between cell surfaces and the extracellular matrix. The
      present study was designed to localize glycoconjugates recognized by peanut
      agglutinin (PNA) and Maclura pomifera (MPA) lectins during mouse molar root
      development. Postnatal ICR mice at 10, 15, 21, 28 and 42 days were used. Lower
      jaws were dissected, fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, decalcified in 5% EDTA and
      embedded in paraffin. Serial sections were made and stained with FITC-conjugated
      PNA or MPA. beta-Lactose was used as an inhibitory sugar for PNA, and alpha-D
      melibiose for MPA. PNA specifically stained Hertwig's epithelial root sheath
      (HERS), whereas MPA stained a number of tissues. The outermost layer of root
      dentin, forming cellular cementum, alveolar bone and HERS showed positive
      reactions with MPA. Glycoconjugates localized by the lectins may be functionally
      related to molecules which contribute to root formation and cemento-genesis.

PMID- 1441888
TI  - Modulation of phenotype and cytoskeleton architecture by interleukin-1 alpha in
      human osteoblast-like cells in vitro.
AB  - Interleukin-1 alpha, a growth factor produced by macrophages as well as many
      other types of cells, is able to modulate biosynthetic activities in bone cells.
      In this work, the authors show that the administration of interleukin-1 alpha to
      osteoblast-like cells in vitro induces a marked change in cell morphology, which
      becomes dendritic, with a smaller cellular body and numerous prolongations. The
      morphological changes are also accompanied by an altered expression in the
      pattern of cytoskeleton proteins.

PMID- 1441889
TI  - Increase of DNA synthesis in uterine adenomyosis in mice with ectopic pituitary
      isograft.
AB  - Ectopic pituitary isografts (EPI) have been found to induce a high incidence of
      uterine adenomyosis in SHN mice. All the SHN mice given EPI in the right uterus
      at 40 days of age developed uterine adenomyosis, and more than 80% of mice showed
      the genesis of subserosal nodules, an advanced state of adenomyosis, 65 days
      after EPI. Activities of both thymidylate synthetase and thymidine kinase, i.e.
      DNA-synthesizing enzymes in de novo and salvage pathways of pyrimidine
      metabolism, respectively, were significantly increased in EPI-induced uterine
      adenomyosis to approximately 2-fold those in normal control uteri.
      Bromodeoxyuridine-immunoreactive cells were regarded as the cells in S phase, and
      the number in the endometrial epithelium and stroma in EPI-induced uterine
      adenomyosis was more than 1.5-fold that in normal control uteri. EPI may affect
      the genesis of uterine adenomyosis generally, but not locally, because there were
      no differences between the right uterus with EPI and the left without EPI in the
      incidence of adenomyosis, histology or DNA-synthesizing enzyme activities.

PMID- 1441890
TI  - Identification of sugar residues in human fetal olfactory epithelium using lectin
      histochemistry.
AB  - Lectin-binding histochemistry was used to investigate the distribution and the
      changes of the glycoconjugate saccharidic moieties in the olfactory epithelium of
      human fetuses ranging from 8 to 12 weeks of gestation. It was found that the
      basal cells, the sustentacular cells and the olfactory neurons exhibit
      differences in oligosaccharide cellular content and distribution. Differences in
      lectin binding was also demonstrated at the dendrite, cell body and axon of the
      receptor cells. From the 11th week onwards, Ulex europaeus agglutinin I was found
      to be a marker of the olfactory neurons.

PMID- 1441891
TI  - Clomiphene citrate alters surface ultrastructure of uterine luminal epithelial
      cells.
AB  - Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate the uterine luminal epithelium
      from ovariectomized rats treated with a single minimal physiological dose of
      clomiphene citrate, oestradiol-17 beta or progesterone. It was found that
      clomiphene treatment produced some ultrastructural surface features which were
      similar to those seen with both oestrogen and progesterone treatment, but in
      addition it produced features unique to clomiphene treatment.

PMID- 1441892
TI  - Are Ranvier's nodes of the central nervous system also artifacts by preparation?
AB  - Recent research on peripheral nerves of six species of vertebrates concluded that
      Ranvier's nodes may be artifacts by preparation. As a consequence, the question
      as to whether or not Ranvier's nodes of the central nervous system may also be
      artifacts was logically raised. The ultrastructural data concerning our field of
      research (the cerebellar cortex) support the notion that Ranvier's nodes are real
      features in the central nervous system; otherwise, the occurrence of vesicular
      outpockets establishing, along myelinated axons, well conspicuous en passant
      nodal synapses cannot be explained.

PMID- 1441893
TI  - Isolated pancreatic islets of the rat: an ultrastructural study.
AB  - Pancreatic islets from adult Wistar rats were isolated by an improved collagenase
      digestion technique. Examination of the preparations showed that they contained B
      cells possessing secretory granules, each having an eccentric electron-dense core
      surrounded by an electron-lucent halo; the Golgi bodies with their characteristic
      features were located in a juxtanuclear position. Roughly surfaced endoplasmic
      reticulum and mitochondria were present and were mostly normal in appearance. The
      cell possessed all the ultrastructural attributes indicating that they were fully
      functional and structurally intact.

PMID- 1441894
TI  - [Quantitative analysis of the isthmo-optic nucleus and projection neurons to the
      retina in adult fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus)].
AB  - Quantitative analysis of the isthmo-optic nucleus (IO) and centrifugal projection
      to the retina in the fowl was made using Nissl preparation and retrograde
      horseradish peroxidase (HRP) methods. Seven adult fowls (Gallus gallus
      domesticus) were used for Nissl stain. Serial sections were cut on a freezing
      microtome at 60 microns and stained with cresyl violet. IO was situated just
      medial to the caudal part of the tectum and laterodorsal surface of the brain
      stem. Rostrocaudal extension of IO was about 800-1,000 microns. The average total
      volume and neuronal population of the IO was 280 x 10(-3) mm3 and 5,600 neurons,
      respectively. Eight animals were used for HRP study. One hundred microliters of
      30% HRP solution in physiological saline was injected into the vitreous body of
      one eye of each hen. Serial transverse sections of 60 microns were treated with
      tetramethyl benzidine (TMB). Many labeled neurons were found in contralateral
      brain stem. Average total number of contralateral HRP-labeled cells in IO and
      peri-IO were 5,268 and 1,492, respectively. Labeled neurons peri-IO were mainly
      distributed ventrally and rostrally to IO. No labeled neurons in IO, and only a
      few labeled neurons peri-IO were found ipsilaterally. The number of HRP-labeled
      neurons in IO corresponded to the neuronal population of IO in Nissl preparation,
      which suggested that most of isthmo-optic neurons might be projecting to the
      contralateral retina. In contrast to the round and small IO neurons (long axis 15
      20 microns, short axis 10-20 microns), peri-IO neurons were multipolar and longer
      (long axis 15-30 microns, short axis 10-25 microns).

PMID- 1441895
TI  - [Cellular architecture of the sheep myocardium and heart conduction system as
      revealed with silver-impregnation method].
AB  - Morphological studies were carried out to delineate the cellular architecture of
      the myocardium and heart conduction system in adult sheep using the silver
      impregnation method. Reticular fibers were heavily stained in a deep black color,
      while collagen fibers were less intensely silver-stained in a brownish color.
      Individual working myocardial cells were ensheathed by thin reticular fibers and
      showed a polygonal form, and were connected with adjacent cells mainly end-to-end
      and sometimes side-to-side. Thick collagen septa were distributed between masses
      of myocardial cells. The nodal cells in both the sinoatrial (SA) node and
      atrioventricular (AV) node were spindle shaped, smaller in size than myocardial
      cells, and surrounded by thin reticular fibers. The bundles of SA node cells were
      linearly oriented, while those of AV node cells formed a reticular pattern. The
      cells in the His bundle and Purkinje system were oval in shape, larger in size
      than myocardial cells and formed the strands composed of 4-8 cells. Each stand
      was surrounded by thick reticular fibers. These cells had both end-to-end and
      side-to-side contacts. Purkinje cells were followed by transitional cells which
      were in contact with myocardial cells. On the other hand, the reticular fibers
      and collagen fibers showed characteristic structures at the different portion of
      heart. The present study discusses the topographical relationship between cardiac
      muscle cells containing the conduction system and the connective tissue sheaths
      surrounding muscle cells.

PMID- 1441898
TI  - [A research and simulation study on the cadaver supply for education and
      research].

PMID- 1441897
TI  - [The selachian terminal nerve].
AB  - In order to clarify morphology and function(s) of the terminal nerve, gross
      examinations of the nerve were carried out in 9 species of selachians. The
      terminal ganglion was observed light- and electron-microscopically. FMRF-amide
      immunoreactivity of the terminal nerve was also examined in some species. The
      results were as follows: 1) The terminal nerve was divided into peripheral and
      central branches by interposed ganglion(s). Macroscopically, the peripheral
      branch appeared from an area between the nasal sac and the olfactory bulb. The
      central branch entered the telencephalon from either the rostral, dorsal, or
      ventral surface. The position seemed to differ from species to species. 2) The
      terminal nerve showed great species differences and individual variations in the
      macroscopic morphology, such as number and course of the peripheral branch,
      position, size and number of ganglia, and telencephalic areas where the central
      branch entered. Even in the same individual, there was a difference in left and
      right sides. 3) According to general histology, the ganglion was encapsulated and
      had no direct connection with the telencephalon through the capsule, even when
      the ganglion was situated on the telencephalon. The Bodian preparations showed
      that most ganglion cells were unipolar, and a few were bipolar or pseudounipolar.
      4) All ganglion cells and the processes were FMRF-amide immunoreactive.
      Immunoreactive fibers of the central branch terminated in the septal and preoptic
      areas. FMRF-amide immunoreactive cells were also found in the olfactory nerves or
      the septal area of the telencephalon in some species. These neurons were thought
      to be ectopic ganglion cells. 5) Neuronal somata and the axons in the ganglion
      contained large dense cored vesicles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1441896
TI  - [On the fenestration of the vertebral and basilar arteries].
AB  - The fenestration of the vertebral and basilar arteries was investigated
      macroscopically in 370 human cases. Altogether 43 fenestrations were found in 32
      (8.6%) out of 370 cases. The fenestrations could be divided in three groups
      according to the position where the fenestration appeared. Group I was the
      fenestration observed along the vertebral artery (Fig. 1), and 7 such
      fenestrations were found in 6 (1.6%) out of 370 cases; 3 fenestrations among them
      were located on the right side, 2 were located on the left side and 1 was found
      on the bilateral vertebral arteries. In 4 out of 7 fenestrations in this group,
      the hypoglossal nerve was found passing through the fenestration. Group II was
      the fenestration observed along the basilar artery (Fig. 2), and 26 fenestrations
      of this type were found in 20 (5.4%) out of 370 cases: 23 fenestrations (88.5%)
      were located at the caudal half, 3 (11.5%) were located on the rostral half of
      the basilar artery (Fig. 5). A close relation was indicated between the side on
      which the fenestration appeared in the basilar artery and the largeness in
      caliber of the vertebral artery of either side. Group III was the fenestration
      observed at the lateral area of the vertebral and basilar arteries (Fig. 3), and
      10 fenestrations of this type were found in 9 (2.4%) out of 370 cases; all the
      fenestrations were located on the right side. In this group, the hypoglossal
      nerve was observed passing through the fenestratin in 4 out of the 10
      fenestrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1441899
TI  - Magnetic resonance studies on brain dysfunction induced by organic solvents.
AB  - A 38-year-old layer of parquet flooring was referred because of memory
      impairment, tiredness and diffuse headaches. His work involved using several
      neurotoxic organic solvents. Extensive laboratory, neuropsychological, clinical
      neurophysiological, neuroadiological, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and
      spectroscopy studies were performed. The neuropsychological and behavioural
      assessments showed an organic brain syndrome. MR imaging and CT scanning of the
      brain revealed enlarged ventricles and generalized atrophy. 31P and 1H MR
      spectroscopic measurements did not show any abnormalities. Owing to recent
      improvements regarding sensitivity and facilitated assignment, MR spectroscopy
      may provide in the near future significant additional information on brain
      metabolism in patients with brain dysfunction presumably induced by organic
      solvents.

PMID- 1441901
TI  - Apraxia of eyelid opening secondary to right frontal infarction.
AB  - Apraxia of eyelid opening is the incapacity of voluntarily eyelid opening in the
      absence of motor dysfunction or blepharospasm. It has mostly been described in
      extrapyramidal diseases and only very rarely in cortical lesions. We report a
      right-handed patient with a right frontal infarction exhibiting eyelid opening
      apraxia.

PMID- 1441900
TI  - Treatment of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies with cyclophosphamide pulses:
      clinical experience and a review of the literature.
AB  - Short-term cyclophosphamide pulse therapy was administered to five patients with
      idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) which were refractory to corticosteroids
      and, in two cases, to other aggressive therapies. Both disease remission and a
      reduction in corticosteroid dosage were obtained in four patients. Three of them
      have been in remission over since, taking only minimal doses of steroids during
      the subsequent two years. In the fourth patient a less intensive, maintenance
      pulse therapy could not be continued due to unacceptable side effects. On the
      basis of these results and of data from the literature, herein reviewed,
      cyclophosphamide pulse therapy may be recommended for adult patients with IIM who
      do not respond to or who do not tolerate conventional corticosteroid treatment,
      as well as when a steroid-sparing effect is desired.

PMID- 1441903
TI  - Epilepsy care in The Netherlands.
AB  - In this article models of epilepsy care in the Netherlands are outlined. Mostly
      this care is aimed at people with uncontrolled epilepsy who may have suffered
      from the adverse effects of ignorance, prejudice and even discrimination. Many of
      these adverse factors should be avoidable in future as the educational programmes
      for people with epilepsy, professionals and the general public take full effect.
      Meanwhile there is a great deal that can be done to rehabilitate people whose
      seizures are a problem and whose social abilities fall short of the standards
      that are required for independent and self-fulfilling living in any society. The
      models of care described are very sophisticated and they have been developed over
      many years. They require well-trained and motivated staff and sometimes elaborate
      and expensive medical diagnostic equipment. But this should not put anybody off
      as the principles behind any model of care should be the same: Accurate
      diagnosis. Optimal drug and other treatment (this should be optimal treatment
      available in that country). Education of the patient and family about all aspects
      of epilepsy. Opportunity to share experiences. A multidisciplinary approach to
      identified problems (a multidisciplinary approach can be taken by one person,
      although a team of people from different disciplines is ideal.) Objectives agreed
      by all participants.

PMID- 1441902
TI  - Sneddon's syndrome associated with anticardiolipin antibody: a case report.
AB  - We report the case of a young man suffering from the rare combination of livedo
      reticularis and recurrent ischemic cerebrovascular disease (Sneddon's syndrome).
      He also had a circulating anticardiolipin antibody. in the absence of systemic
      lupus erythematosus, we suggest the likelihood of a primary antiphospholipid
      syndrome.

PMID- 1441904
TI  - The relationship of neuropsychological abilities to seizure factors and to
      surgery for epilepsy.

PMID- 1441905
TI  - The effect of seizure activity and paroxysmal electroencephalographic discharges
      on cognition.

PMID- 1441906
TI  - Epileptic equivalents in psychiatry: some 19th century views.

PMID- 1441907
TI  - Affect and mood in epilepsy: an overview with a focus on depression.

PMID- 1441908
TI  - Childhood epilepsy: pharmacological considerations.

PMID- 1441909
TI  - The Heemstede tradition of clinical neurophysiology.

PMID- 1441910
TI  - Genetic research in epilepsy: the Italian League against Epilepsy contribution.

PMID- 1441912
TI  - Recent advances in surgical treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy.

PMID- 1441911
TI  - Current medical therapy of epilepsy.
AB  - The treatment of epilepsy firstly depends upon the correct diagnosis, with
      emphasis on considerations of etiology, seizure type, and epilepsy syndrome.
      Following an appropriate diagnostic conclusion, the patient may be started on the
      medication matched to the seizure type. A full understanding of the pharmacology
      of antiepileptic drugs will enable the physician to obtain maximum benefit from
      the available pharmaceutical armamentarium.

PMID- 1441913
TI  - Classification of epileptic seizures and the epilepsies.

PMID- 1441914
TI  - Extratemporal epilepsy: clinical presentation, pre-operative EEG localization and
      surgical outcome.
AB  - To summarize, the most commonly encountered problems in the pre-operative EEG
      localization of the epileptogenic zone in patients with extra-temporal epilepsy
      are dependent upon: 1) Poor EEG localization of the interictal epileptic
      abnormality and poor localization of seizure onset. 2) Presence of a widespread
      epileptogenic area during interictal and ictal tracings, often involving two or
      more lobes synchronously or independently, thus suggesting a multilobar or a
      multifocal epileptic disorder. 3) Absence or paucity of interictal epileptiform
      discharges is not an uncommon finding and clinical seizures without accompanying
      ictal EEG manifestations are also not uncommon. 4) Different paths of seizure
      propagation might occur even in individual patients. This may reflect clinically
      as different seizure patterns resembling a multifocal seizure problem. From this
      review, one could envisage that the future research challenge in extra-temporal
      epilepsy resides in the development of a technology or system which will provide
      a better localization of the seizure generator, as well as a better
      identification of the mechanisms of seizure spread, ideally indicating anatomical
      pathways involved.

PMID- 1441915
TI  - Epilepsy services. What people need, what they want, what they get.

PMID- 1441917
TI  - Morphometric study of the sensory neuron and peripheral nerve changes induced by
      chronic cisplatin (DDP) administration in rats.
AB  - We performed a morphological, morphometric and toxicological study on the spinal
      ganglia and peripheral nerves of the rat after chronic administration of
      cisplatin (cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum II; DDP) with two different schedules.
      Severe damage of the spinal ganglia neurons was demonstrated with predominant
      involvement of the nucleus and nucleolus associated with a decrease in the cell
      size. Morphological and morphometric changes also occurred in the sciatic and
      peroneal nerves with the features of axonopathy. All these changes were more
      marked in the group of rats which underwent the most intense DDP treatment and
      the tissue platinum concentrations were also higher in this group. This
      experimental model is the first available for chronic DDP administration in which
      concomitant spinal ganglia and peripheral nerve damage has been confirmed
      pathologically. Our study supports the hypothesis that DDP-induced peripheral
      nerve fiber degeneration may result from nuclear and nucleolar changes in the
      sensory ganglion cell perikaryon.

PMID- 1441916
TI  - Neuron-associated class III beta-tubulin isotype, retinal S-antigen,
      synaptophysin, and glial fibrillary acidic protein in human medulloblastomas: a
      clinicopathological analysis of 36 cases.
AB  - Surgical specimens from 36 medulloblastomas (25 classic and 11 desmoplastic) were
      studied by peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) immunohistochemistry with antibodies
      against the class III beta-tubulin isotype (beta-tubulin), synaptophysin, retinal
      S-antigen (S-Ag), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). We found that
      neoplastic cells expressed beta-tubulin in 91% of the tumors (23 classic and 10
      desmoplastic), synaptophysin in 75% (19 classic and 8 desmoplastic), S-Ag in 44%
      (11 classic and 5 desmoplastic), and GFAP in 11% of medulloblastomas (2 classic
      and 2 desmoplastic). Synaptophysin and beta-tubulin positivities were observed in
      undifferentiated neoplastic cells, in cells forming neuroblastic rosettes, and in
      pale islands, while S-Ag immunopositivity was noted in undifferentiated cells,
      occasionally in beta-tubulin-negative neuroblastic rosettes, and exceptionally in
      pale islands. Large pale islands, in two desmoplastic medulloblastomas, exhibited
      distinct patterns of immunoreactivity to the above markers, suggesting neuronal
      and glial differentiation in the central area, and intense neuritic development
      in the peripheral zone. Our findings confirm the predominant capacity of
      medulloblastoma cells to differentiate along neuronal cell lines and indicate
      that large pale islands, in desmoplastic medulloblastomas, represent well
      organized areas for neuronal and, to a lesser degree, astroglial differentiation.
      Furthermore, it appears, in our cases, that immunohistochemical features do not
      represent clear-cut prognostic indicators in patients with medulloblastomas.

PMID- 1441918
TI  - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with ophthalmoplegia and multisystem degeneration
      in patients on long-term use of respirators.
AB  - We describe two patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), who
      had developed progressive external ophthalmoplegia of a predominantly
      supranuclear type while they survived on respirators, and displayed
      histopathological abnormalities both typical and atypical of ALS. Patient 1 was a
      43-year-old man with ALS of 5-year duration, who had initially exhibited
      fulminant ALS, and remained on a respirator for 4 years. Patient 2 was a 51-year
      old man with ALS of 13-year duration, who remained on a respirator for 8 years.
      Both patients died in a "totally locked-in state". Autopsy of both patients
      revealed not only histopathological abnormalities consistent with ALS, but also
      multisystem degeneration which involved the pontine tegmentum, substantia nigra,
      Clarke's dorsal nuclei and spinocerebellar tracts. In addition, Patient 2
      displayed intracytoplasmic neuronal basophilic inclusion bodies which exhibited
      marked immunoreactivity to anti-ubiquitin antibodies. Our case reports indicate
      that the longer survival which is possible through the use of respirators may
      make one subgroup of ALS patients prone to develop atypical clinical and
      neuropathological features which are not observed during the natural course of
      ALS.

PMID- 1441919
TI  - The characteristics of blood-brain barrier in three different conditions-
      infarction, selective neuronal death and selective loss of presynaptic terminals-
      following cerebral ischemia.
AB  - We investigated the extravasation of serum albumin using immunohistochemistry in
      three different conditions, i.e., infarction, selective neuronal death and
      selective loss of presynaptic terminals following cerebral ischemia in gerbils.
      In selective neuronal death, which is typically found in the CA1 neurons of the
      hippocampus after 5-min bilateral cerebral ischemia, selective damage of
      postsynaptic components with intact presynaptic sites was demonstrated by
      immunohistochemical examination for microtubule-associated protein 2 and synapsin
      I, and albumin extravasation did not become apparent before postsynaptic
      structures were destroyed. In cerebral infarction, which was consistently
      observed in the thalamus after 15-min forebrain ischemia, massive albumin
      extravasation was visible early after ischemia due probably to the ischemic
      endothelial necrosis. In selective loss of presynaptic terminals, which was
      detected at the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus in the contralateral,
      nonischemic hippocampus after unilateral cerebral ischemia, immunoreaction for
      albumin was not visualized. Since endothelium and glial cells were intact in
      morphological aspects in selective damage of both pre- and postsynaptic sites, it
      was thought that extravasation was facilitated by the stimulation of endothelial
      cells and glial cells with unknown factors that were induced by the destruction
      of post- but not presynaptic elements.

PMID- 1441920
TI  - Immunohistochemical observations on rat radial glia: relationship with the origin
      of ethylnitrosourea-induced tumors.
AB  - Gliomas induced in the rat by transplacental administration of ethylnitrosourea
      (ENU) are intensely immunoreactive for vimentin and scarcely for glial fibrillary
      acidic protein (GFAP). Since tumoral transformation takes place during the late
      fetal and early postnatal period, the sequential expression of the two glial
      antigens has been investigated in this age period in ENU-treated and control
      rats. Immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopical methods have been
      employed. Vimentin was widely expressed starting from embryonal day 14 (E 14) in
      the processes of radial glia; as long as radial glia was present, vimentin
      decorated it. GFAP was, at earliest, observed at E 20 and expressed by glial
      cells with a stellate, i.e., mature shape. No GFAP-positive radial process was
      observed. No difference was found between ENU-treated and control rats. Since ENU
      is most effective in producing tumors when administered at the 16-17th day of
      fetal life, vimentin-positive radial glia is a candidate target of ENU. The
      similarity of intermediate filament pattern between radial glia in the late fetal
      life and tumors induced by transplacental ENU suggests that radial glia might be
      the cell of origin.

PMID- 1441921
TI  - Immunoelectron microscopic study of tubulin and microtubule-associated proteins
      after transient cerebral ischemia in gerbils.
AB  - Differential vulnerability of microtubule components to cerebral ischemia has
      been reported previously. We investigated the disintegration of microtubules
      using immunoelectron microscopy for alpha-tubulin and microtubule-associated
      protein 1A and 2 (MAP1A and 2). Mongolian gerbils were subjected to bilateral
      carotid occlusion for 10 to 30 min and reperfusion for up to 72 h following
      ischemia for 10 min. After ischemia for 10 min, some dendrites in the stratum
      moleculare of the subiculum-CA1 region lost immunoreaction products for alpha
      tubulin and MAPs. Loss of the reaction products spread to the medial CA1 region
      during progressive ischemia for 30 min. In some dendrites, electron-dense
      precipitates for MAPs were dispersed in the dendritic cytoplasm with little
      reaction product on microtubules and without alteration of the reaction for alpha
      tubulin. After recirculation, loss of electron-dense precipitates for alpha
      tubulin and MAPs, as well as disintegration of microtubules, propagated further
      to the medial CA1 region and to the proximal dendrites. The present study
      demonstrated prompt disintegration of microtubules with rapid disappearance of
      the reaction for MAPs which seemed to be caused by detachment of MAPs from the
      microtubule cores.

PMID- 1441922
TI  - Spasmodic torticollis: severe compression neuropathy in rami dorsales of cervical
      nerves C1-6.
AB  - In 28 patients with spasmodic torticollis dorsal branches of the cervical nerves
      C1-6, and in 25 of these patients fascicles of the contralateral accessory nerve
      were investigated by light and electron microscopy. Significant changes were
      noted in 15 patients. The alterations were not seen or were less prominent in the
      5 control cases studied for comparison. Semiquantitative evaluation of light
      microscopic findings revealed in 12 cases prominent and numerous Renaut bodies;
      in 9 cases evidence of regeneration (in 3 of these postoperatively); and in 11
      cases disproportionately thin myelin sheaths in relation to axon calibers. In
      conjunction with endoneurial edema and thickening of the perineurium, these
      changes were suggestive of compression neuropathy. Whether these changes were the
      cause, or a side effect of the abnormal muscle contractions in spasmodic
      torticollis could not be elucidated. Peripheral nerve compression, however, may
      trigger abnormal activity in the peripheral part of the involved interneuronal
      circuits and may, thus, be considered as one of the many possible causes of
      spasmodic torticollis.

PMID- 1441924
TI  - Occurrence of active demyelinating lesions in children with hereditary motor and
      sensory neuropathy (HMSN) type I.
AB  - In three children with dominant hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type I,
      peripheral nerve biopsy showed the classical lesions of segmental demyelination
      with remyelination and onion bulb formations. In two cases, ultrastructural
      examination also demonstrated numerous characteristic features of active
      demyelination. The presence of active demyelinating lesions suggests an
      autoimmune attack superimposed on the course of a chronic genetic disease.

PMID- 1441923
TI  - Occurrence of acetylcholinesterase activity closely associated with amyloid
      beta/A4 protein is not correlated with acetylcholinesterase-positive fiber
      density in amygdala of Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - To investigate the possible relationship between acetylcholinesterase (AChE)
      containing fiber density and senile plaque density and between AChE-positive
      plaques and beta/A4 protein deposition, AChE histochemistry, the modified
      Bielschowsky's method and beta/A4 protein immunohistochemistry were performed on
      the amygdala of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and aged control cases. Abundant AChE
      positive senile plaques were found in the amygdala and related structures in AD.
      These AChE-positive plaques were mainly of the primitive or diffuse type. In
      addition to senile plaques of typical morphologies a variety of AChE-positive
      structures were observed in the amygdala and related regions in AD. A comparison
      of serial sections stained alternatively with AChE histochemistry and beta/A4
      protein immunohistochemistry has revealed that these AChE-positive structures
      with variable morphological appearances displayed beta/A4 protein
      immunoreactivity, indicating that AChE is localized in a variety of beta/A4
      protein deposition including the diffuse plaque. Thus, it is suggested that AChE
      is present in some senile plaques at the earliest stage. However, there was no
      apparent correlation between the numerical density of AChE-positive fibers and
      senile plaque density. These findings suggest that the degeneration of
      cholinergic neurons is not attributed to the occurrence of AChE activity in
      beta/A4 protein.

PMID- 1441926
TI  - Ciliary claws: their existence in various epithelial cysts of the central nervous
      system.
AB  - We describe claw-like projections and their associated structures as encountered
      at the tips of cilia in a cerebellar epithelial cyst, an intraspinal bronchogenic
      cyst and two colloid cysts of the third ventricle. Ciliary claws appear either as
      a single structure or as a cluster of two to five projections measuring 22-28 nm
      in length and 8-10 nm in diameter, extending from the plasma membrane of the
      ciliary tip. The transmembranous fibrils of the ciliary claws are bound to a
      multilayered electron-dense disc which is attached by the distal ends of axonemal
      microtubules. These observations suggest that ciliary claws are common in several
      types of epithelial cysts of the central nervous system; the presence of these
      structures supports the premise that the corresponding epithelium is of
      endodermal origin.

PMID- 1441925
TI  - Cumulative white matter changes in the gerbil brain under chronic cerebral
      hypoperfusion.
AB  - An animal model of chronic brain hypoperfusion has been developed by applying
      coiled clips to the bilateral carotid artery of Mongolian gerbils. The brain
      tissue damage was neuropathologically studied after 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks of
      hypoperfusion. The hippocampus, basal ganglia, and cerebral cortex of the
      chronically hypoperfused gerbil showed lesions with various severity which are
      probably due to ischemic episodes. In the cerebral white matter, however, two
      types of lesions were observed; one similar to those in the gray matter, and the
      other observed only in the white matter after more than an 8-week duration of
      brain hypoperfusion. The lesion specific to the white matter showed rarefaction
      and gliosis without locally associated ischemic changes. This type of the white
      matter lesion was never found in the gerbil brain before 8 weeks and,
      significantly, increased in number and size by 12 weeks post operation. The
      accumulation of the white matter lesions is characteristic in the gerbil with
      chronic hypoperfusion. The observed white matter-specific lesion resembles the
      histological changes in aged brain with cerebrovascular diseases.

PMID- 1441927
TI  - Immunohistochemical evidence of endothelin-1 in human choroid plexus.
AB  - An immunohistochemical investigation was carried out on 17 specimens of human
      choroid plexus obtained post mortem, 1 biopsy of normal choroid plexus including
      part of the lateral ventricle and 1 papilloma of the choroid plexus removed
      surgically. The material was fixed in formalin. Paraffin and cryostat sections
      were used. A polyclonal antiserum to endothelin-1 served as a primary antibody.
      The avidin-biotin-peroxidase method was applied to demonstrate the
      immunoreaction. The epithelial cells of the choroid plexuses, the choroid
      papilloma and most ependymal cells of the lateral ventricle showed a distinct
      brown reaction product in their cytoplasm indicating antigenic sites to
      endothelin-1. The reaction was of lesser intensity in the ependymal cells. The
      connective tissue in choroid plexus was unstained. A positive immunoreaction was
      present in the walls of some vessels in the choroid plexus in cryostat sections.
      This is the first report on the presence of antigenic sites to endothelin-1 in
      the epithelial cells of the human choroid plexus. The role of endothelin in these
      cells should be investigated to ascertain if the cells synthesize this
      biologically active peptide or if it is merely bound to receptors in them.

PMID- 1441928
TI  - Neuropathology of biotinidase deficiency.
AB  - A patient with biotinidase deficiency and a progressive neurological disorder
      died just before the biochemical diagnosis was established. Post-mortem
      examination of the brain and spinal cord revealed necrotising lesions similar to
      those in Leigh's disease and Wernicke's encephalopathy. Unlike these two
      conditions, the regions affected included the hippocampus and parahippocampal
      cortex. In addition there was severe focal oedema in deep cerebral grey matter,
      the brain stem, and the spinal cord. These lesions appear to result from a number
      of severe metabolic disturbances, perhaps linked to an underlying disordered
      pyruvate metabolism. The nature of the pathology explains why a neurological
      deficit may persist despite treatment.

PMID- 1441929
TI  - Subtraction radiography of interradicular bone lesions.
AB  - Subtraction and conventional radiography were evaluated for their diagnostic
      potential to assess interradicular bone lesions in the mandibular premolar
      region. Both conventional radiographs and subtraction images were interpreted by
      10 observers. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) technique was used to
      compare the two techniques. The diagnostic validity was higher for the
      subtraction technique, both for lesions confined to cancellous bone and for
      lesions including the cortical bone, than for the conventional technique. For
      bone defects confined to cancellous bone the diagnostic accuracy was lower than
      those reported from periapical bone lesions irrespective of whether subtraction
      or conventional radiography was used. We conclude that subtraction radiography
      improves the detectability of bone lesions, shallow ones in particular. Lesions
      in the interradicular bone are more difficult to detect than those in the
      periapical bone.

PMID- 1441930
TI  - Dental caries in primary school children in Nairobi, Kenya.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to record the caries status in children attending
      public primary schools in Nairobi. The sample comprised 513 children, 262 aged 6
      8 years and 251 aged 13-15 years. The children were drawn from six randomly
      selected schools in the city. Clinical examination was carried out in a room with
      natural daylight, using the WHO (1977) criteria. Fifty-four per cent of the 6- to
      8-year-olds and 50% of the 13- to 15-year-olds were caries-free. The mean dmft in
      the 6- to 8-year-olds was 1.7, and the mean dmfs was 3.5. The mean DMFT in the 13
      to 15-year-olds was 1.8, and the mean DMFS was 2.9. The d- and D-components
      dominated and were mainly located in the occlusal surfaces. The f-component of
      the dmft and the F-component of the DMFT comprised 1% and 10%, respectively.
      There was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) in the prevalence of
      caries between males and females in the younger age group. In the older age
      group, however, females had a higher (p < 0.05) prevalence than males. In
      general, the study showed a low caries prevalence in Nairobi children.

PMID- 1441931
TI  - An experimental model of osteoarthrosis in the temporomandibular joint of the
      rabbit.
AB  - Degenerative changes in the temporomandibular joint were induced in 24 rabbits by
      surgical perforation of the disk. The incongruence obtained between the joint
      surfaces caused a gradual increase in macroscopic and microscopic changes,
      including gross remodeling, loss of tissue volume, and altered cell morphology
      within a 16-week observation period. These changes occurred concurrently with
      major alterations in the composition of the matrix, as demonstrated by increase
      in the glycosaminoglycan content of both condylar cartilage and disk and by loss
      of hydroxyproline in the disk. The lesions in the disk tissue were clearly
      discernible, whereas those in the condylar cartilage were less extensive. The
      described method is concluded to give alterations in the temporomandibular
      tissues, as seen in degenerative joint disease of an early stage.

PMID- 1441932
TI  - Craniomandibular disorders in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and
      ankylosing spondylitis. A clinical study.
AB  - Sixty-one subjects with rheumatoid arthritis, 61 with psoriatic arthritis, 61
      with ankylosing spondylitis, and 61 healthy controls were examined with regard to
      subjective symptoms and clinical signs of craniomandibular disorders (CMD). The
      frequencies of most subjective and clinical variables were higher in all three
      disease groups than in the control group. Subjects with rheumatoid arthritis and
      psoriatic arthritis showed more frequent and severe signs and symptoms than
      subjects with ankylosing spondylitis. It is concluded that subjective symptoms
      and clinical signs of CMD are common in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic
      arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis and are mainly caused by the respective
      general joint disease. None of the signs and symptoms is pathognomonic for
      rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.

PMID- 1441933
TI  - Use of professionally administered fluoride among Danish children.
AB  - The objective of this study was to determine the use of professionally
      administered fluoride in Denmark in 1991. Of the 275 addressed Danish
      municipalities 98% returned the questionnaire. Ten per cent of the municipalities
      with public clinics were using systematic mouthrinses with 0.2% fluoride,
      compared with 25% of the municipalities without public clinics (p < 0.01). In
      comparison, 93% of the municipalities reported having used mouthrinses in 1985.
      Fluoride swabbing was used by 69% of the municipalities not using mouthrinses and
      by 47% of the municipalities still using fluoride mouthrinses (p < 0.02).
      Duraphat lacquer was used in 92% of all municipalities, fluoride gel in 3% and
      fluoride tablets in 8% of the municipalities. It is concluded that during the
      past 6 years the use of professionally administered fluoride among Danish
      children has changed from mass-prophylactic mouthrinses to maneuvers aimed more
      at the specific needs of the individual.

PMID- 1441934
TI  - Microleakage of indirect composite inlays. An in vitro comparison with the direct
      technique.
AB  - Microleakage occurring around directly and indirectly made class-II composite
      restorations was evaluated on extracted human premolars. Before the evaluation
      was made, the teeth were thermocycled and stained with an organic dye. Direct
      class-II composite restorations demonstrated extensive microleakage at their
      dentin cavosurface margins. Indirect class-II composite inlays luted with a dual
      curing composite cement displayed much less microleakage than restorations made
      using the direct technique. The use of glass-ionomer cement rather than composite
      cement as the luting material resulted in more microleakage. Rather than being a
      true microleakage, the leakage of glass-ionomer cement might be the result of a
      diffusion of the water-soluble organic dye in the water-based cement. The results
      suggest that the indirect composite technique is superior to the direct technique
      when it comes to reducing microleakage.

PMID- 1441935
TI  - Skeletal maturity, dental maturity, and eruption in young patients with Turner
      syndrome.
AB  - A major problem for patients with Turner syndrome is their small body height. The
      rapid biotechnologic development has now made treatment with growth hormone
      possible at a larger scale. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate
      skeletal maturity, dental maturity, and eruption in a group of young patients
      before hormone therapy. The material comprised 33 patients aged 7-16.7 years. The
      skeletal maturity, as judged from hand radiographs, was on an average 2.3 years
      retarded (p < 0.001) and showed increasing retardation with increasing age. The
      dental maturity, assessed from the formation stages of the permanent teeth on
      panoramic radiographs, was accelerated, with a mean value of 1 year (p < 0.001).
      The timing of clinical eruption did not differ significantly from that of our
      reference material; the Turner girls were on an average 3.7 months ahead. Several
      patients had local eruption problems, especially in the maxillary lateral
      segments. It is suggested that disharmony between tooth size and arch size may
      contribute to this problem.

PMID- 1441936
TI  - Piezoelectricity in dental materials, a conceivable cause of postrestorative
      sensitivity.
AB  - With the increased use of tooth-colored posterior inlays reports of
      postrestorative sensitivity have also increased. One of the symptoms the patients
      complain of is a sharp pain when the inlays are loaded through chewing and
      biting. Many explanations for the causes of dissimilar types of postrestorative
      sensitivity have been offered, but one conceivable explanation that has not
      hitherto been studied is the direct piezoelectric effect in dental materials.
      Direct piezoelectric effect means that when certain anisotropic crystals are
      mechanically loaded, a charge is generated on the surface. The aim of the present
      study was to examine whether this physical phenomenon occurs in certain materials
      intended for dental use. Specimens of four different dental ceramics and one
      indirect composite resin for inlays were mechanically loaded with various forces,
      and the current was directly recorded. Currents of up to 0.9 microA with a pulse
      duraton of 0.4 msec were extracted, and it cannot be excluded that the
      piezoelectric phenomenon and related properties may cause postrestorative
      sensitivity. This has to be taken into consideration when posterior inlays of the
      types concerned are used.

PMID- 1441937
TI  - Team approach to tibial fracture. 37 consecutive type III cases reviewed after 2
      10 years.
AB  - During a 10-year period, we managed 35 patients with 37 cases of Type III open
      tibial fractures, 15 cases within 1 week and 22 as late referrals. In all cases,
      simultaneous assessment and management by a microvascular and an orthopedic
      surgeon were mandatory throughout the treatment period. 6 of the 15 acute cases
      had a primary amputation. Of the remaining 31 cases, limb salvage was possible in
      27. 31 flaps, pedicle and microvascular free flaps were used. Major complications
      occurred in 6 cases, but in 27 cases infection-free solid union was obtained. At
      long-term follow-up, average 5 years, the function was good or acceptable in 23
      cases. We conclude that: (1) patients with Type III tibial injuries should
      preferably be transferred within a week after injury to a hospital where major
      reconstructive procedures are commonly performed, (2) early soft tissue coverage
      is essential in the management of these injuries, (3) unilateral external
      fixation should be the preferred technique of stabilization, and, finally, (4)
      plastic surgery expertise is important in management of severe tibial fractures.

PMID- 1441938
TI  - Free tissue transfer for type III tibial fractures. Microsurgery in 19 cases.
AB  - We report 19 tibial fractures Types III B and C treated by free flaps. The
      fracture healed in 16 cases after 12 (3-54) months. In 3 cases a secondary
      amputation was carried out. Tibial malalignment or substantial shortening ensued
      in 1 case each. We conclude that coverage with free flaps, radical removal of
      dead bone, stable external fixation and transfer of vascularized bone may salvage
      the majority of Type III B and C tibial fracture with function superior to that
      after amputation.

PMID- 1441940
TI  - Blood flow and mechanical properties of healing bone. Femoral osteotomies studied
      in rats.
AB  - In male Wistar rats, a transverse osteotomy at the midshaft of the femur was
      made, and the acute effects on bone flow were measured before and after reaming.
      Flow and mechanical variables in the healing bones were measured at 4, 8, and 12
      weeks following osteotomy. Osteotomy reduced total bone blood flow by about 50
      percent, and cortical flow in the diaphysis by approximately 40 percent. Cortical
      flow was equally diminished in the mid-diaphysis and in the osteotomy area, and
      no differences between the proximal and distal diaphyseal flows were found.
      Reaming of the osteotomized bones did not lead to any further flow reduction. At
      4 weeks, total bone flow was more than doubled; increases were found in every
      segment of the fractured bone, and a more than 10-fold increase in the callus
      area was seen. At the end of the experiment, the femurs had regained 83 percent
      of their normal strength, 88 percent of normal rigidity and 78 percent of normal
      fracture energy. At this time total bone flow was marginally increased, flows in
      the proximal and the distal diaphyses were almost normalized, while a nearly 3
      fold increase was still found in the callus area. Flow in the callus area
      gradually decreased during healing, and regression analysis demonstrated a
      negative correlation between callus flow and mechanical properties.

PMID- 1441939
TI  - Reconstruction of the Achilles tendon region by free microvascular flaps. 9 cases
      followed for 1-9 years.
AB  - In 1981-89, 9 patients underwent reconstruction for complex injuries in the
      Achilles tendon region. 10 free microvascular flaps were used: 5 fasciocutaneous
      and 5 muscle or musculocutaneous flaps. In addition, 4 Achilles tendons and 1
      tibial posterior nerve were reconstructed, 1 femoropopliteal bypass was
      performed, and 6 tibial fractures were treated. The patients were re-examined on
      an average 3.5 years after the reconstruction. The stability of soft tissues was
      good in all patients. Good contour was achieved in superficial defects with
      fasciocutaneous and in deep injuries with latissimus dorsi free flaps. The
      calcaneal tendon function was good in 5, fair in 2 and poor in 2 patients,
      depending on the severity of the underlying skeletal injury. We conclude that
      free microvascular transfer offers one-stage reconstruction of complex, infected
      wounds in the Achilles tendon region, promotes fracture healing, and allows
      simultaneous tendon or nerve repair.

PMID- 1441941
TI  - Closed versus open medullary nailing of femoral fractures. Blood flow and healing
      studied in rats.
AB  - In rats, bilateral closed femoral fractures were produced. On the left side,
      closed intramedullary nailing was done, and on the right side, the nail was
      inserted by an open procedure. The healing process of the fractures was evaluated
      at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, bone and muscle blood flows were also determined. Reaming
      had no acute impact on bone blood flow, while reaming and fracture halved total
      bone flow (P < 0.04), and reduced cortical diaphyseal flow to approximately one
      quarter (P < 0.01). No differences were found between the open and closed
      methods. At 4 weeks, the bending moment, rigidity, and fracture energy of the
      fractures treated by closed medullary nailing were greater than those treated by
      open nailing. The fracture energy was still greater at 8 weeks, while no
      differences were seen in bending moment and rigidity. At 12 weeks, however, there
      were no differences in the mechanical parameters. Bone blood flows in both the
      cortical diaphysis and callus area were increased at 4 and in the callus area at
      8 weeks in bones treated by the open method. No differences were found at the end
      of the experiment. Muscle blood flow was not different in the two limbs, and was
      constant during the experimental period. We conclude that femoral fractures
      treated by closed nailing heal better in the initial phase compared with those
      that have been openly nailed. This difference cannot be explained by an impaired
      muscle or bone blood flow due to open surgery.

PMID- 1441942
TI  - The radiographic classification of medial gonarthrosis. Correlation with
      operation methods in 200 knees.
AB  - Ahlback's classification of gonarthrosis can be applied with improved precision
      by careful interpretation of anteroposterior varus stress and lateral radiographs
      of the knee. The tibial lesion in early gonarthrosis is located in the anterior
      and middle part of the medial plateau. In more advanced disease, when the
      anterior cruciate ligament is invariably damaged, the lesion extends to the
      posterior margin of the medial tibial plateau. We studied the preoperative
      radiographs of 200 knees with arthrosis. We were able to predict the integrity of
      the anterior cruciate ligament (and the use of unicompartmental arthroplasty)
      with 95 percent accuracy and rupture or damage to the anterior cruciate ligament
      (and the use of total condylar arthroplasty) with 100 percent accuracy. We
      believe that the Ahlback classification reflects the anatomic and pathologic
      progression of medial compartment gonarthrosis, and is of value in allowing more
      accurate comparisons to be made of different methods of treatment.

PMID- 1441944
TI  - Collagen ultrastructure in ruptured cruciate ligaments. An electron microscopic
      investigation.
AB  - The ultrastructure of collagen fibrils was investigated in normal (n 39) and
      ruptured (n 23) human anterior cruciate ligaments. The normal ligament had a
      complex three-dimensional structure. Collagen fibrils predominantly had a
      undirectional course with parallel arrangement and a mean diameter of 75 (20-185)
      nm. Four days after anterior cruciate ligament rupture, the mean fibril diameter
      was increased; it later decreased, probably due to synthesis of young, thin 30-40
      nm fibrils. Interfibrillar dysplastic collagen fibrils were detected in the
      extracellular matrix of ruptured ligaments. They were more frequently found later
      than 3 days after rupture and were seen also at a distance of 2-3 cm from the
      rupture zone. The presence of dysplastic fibrils may explain the functional
      insufficiency of the repair tissue in ruptured cruciate ligaments.

PMID- 1441943
TI  - Devascularization of the anterior cruciate ligament by synovial stripping in
      rabbits. An experimental model.
AB  - In rabbits, synovial stripping of the anterior cruciate ligament was performed,
      and histologic and mechanical changes were followed up to 2 months. The operation
      did not immediately affect the strength of the ligament or its histological
      structure. However, a gradual deterioration of mechanical properties, associated
      with collagen necrosis and an ineffectual reparative response, was evident. Thus,
      synovial stripping of the ligament with the attendant concomitant
      devascularization leads to ligamentary insufficiency despite the lack of
      structural damage to the ligament by the contusion itself.

PMID- 1441945
TI  - Arthrosis after surgically treated acetabular fractures. A retrospective study of
      60 cases.
AB  - 59 patients with 60 surgically treated acetabular fractures were followed up to
      25 years. Coxarthrosis developed within 3 years in 23 fractured hips. There was a
      high correlation between nonanatomic reduction and posttraumatic arthrosis. The
      long-term results after an acetabular fracture can be predicted within 2-3 years
      of surgery.

PMID- 1441946
TI  - The triradiate incision for acetabular fractures. A prospective study of 23
      cases.
AB  - 24 acetabular fractures, displaced in the dome, were operated on through the
      triradiate incision, and 23 were followed for at least 2 years. All but one
      fracture were anatomically reduced in the dome. At follow-up, 7 hips had
      developed arthrosis, all with comminuted fractures with separate osteochondral
      dome fragments. Heterotopic bone formation occurred in 13 hips: 10/14 with
      indomethacin prophylaxis had no heterotopic bone, whereas all 9 without
      indomethacin prophylaxis had. We conclude that the triradiate incision is
      suitable for surgical treatment of complex acetabular fractures, and that the
      heterotopic bone formation can be reduced by indomethacin prophylaxis.

PMID- 1441947
TI  - Human growth hormone in polymethyl methacrylate. A controlled study of 15 hip
      arthroplasties.
AB  - Growth hormone-loaded polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) was used in 15 hip
      replacements. The levels of growth hormone and insulin growth factor-I from the
      hip and the blood were measured before, and after, implanting PMMA containing 20
      mg of growth hormone. Low levels of growth hormone and insulin growth factor-I
      were found in the femur initially, but very high local levels were found after
      implanting the growth hormone-loaded PMMA. These results were compared with the
      low levels found in 15 patients in a control group undergoing cemented or
      cementless hip replacement without added growth hormone. The local levels of
      growth hormone and insulin growth factor-I declined rapidly during the first 72
      hours and were near normal at the end of this time. Systemic levels of growth
      hormone and insulin growth factor-I were not affected by the implantation of
      growth hormone-loaded PMMA. No complications or adverse reactions were noted.
      However, randomized studies with long-term follow-up are mandatory before the use
      of growth hormone-loaded PMMA is justified.

PMID- 1441948
TI  - Prognosis in Perthes' disease after noncontainment treatment. 106 hips followed
      for 28-47 years.
AB  - The results in 96 patients (106 hips) with Perthes' disease who had had
      conservative noncontainment treatment were studied after 35 (28-47) years. At
      skeletal maturity, the radiographic result was poor in 65 hips. At the average
      age of 43 years, radiographic signs of arthrosis were found in 48 patients (51
      hips); 5 patients had had hip replacement and 13 patients had symptoms justifying
      that procedure. At early phases of the disease, radiographs showed
      biocompartmentalization of the acetabulum in 24 percent of the hips, but the
      acetabulum normalized in the majority. There was no difference in long-term
      prognosis between Catterall's Groups III and IV; two or more signs of head-at
      risk were not of prognostic value. The patients' age at diagnosis and the shape
      of the femoral head at skeletal maturity were the most reliable prognostic
      factors.

PMID- 1441950
TI  - Treatment of hip fracture in Finland and Sweden. Prospective comparison of 788
      cases in three hospitals.
AB  - A prospective population-based study of hip fracture treatment was performed
      during 1989 in the regional hospitals of Oulu (Finland) and Sundsvall and Lund
      (Sweden). For cervical fractures hemiarthroplasty was preferred in Oulu and
      osteosynthesis in Sundsvall and Lund. For trochanteric fractures screw-plate was
      preferred in Oulu and Lund and Ender-nailing in Sundsvall. A shorter mean time at
      the orthopedic department in Oulu (13 days) was compensated by a lower (14
      percent) fraction of patients directly discharged to own home. A somewhat longer
      mean orthopedic hospitalization time in Sundsvall (19 days) and Lund (17 days)
      was combined with a higher discharge to own home (49 percent and 35 percent).
      Prospective multicenter comparisons of treatment combinations (both operation and
      rehabilitation) permit identification of programs that are optimal for both
      patient and society.

PMID- 1441949
TI  - Effect of hyperbaric oxygenation on femoral head osteonecrosis in spontaneously
      hypertensive rats.
AB  - We investigated the effects of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) on ischemic
      osteonecrosis and on ossification disturbance of the femoral heads in growing,
      spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). 10 male SHRs aged 5 weeks (Group A) and
      another 10 male SHRs aged 8 weeks (Group B) were treated with HBO at 2.8
      atmosphere absolute (ATA) for 6 weeks in a total of 30 hours. The control
      animals, 10 male SHRs (Group C) and 10 male wistar Kyoto rats (WKY, Group D),
      were kept under normal laboratory conditions. All the rats were killed at the age
      of 17 weeks for microscopic examination. In Group A, there was no evidence of
      osteonecrosis, and only 2 femoral heads with ossification disturbance were
      observed. In Group B, there were 2 femoral heads with osteonecrosis and 1 with
      ossification disturbance. In contrast, there were 6 femoral heads with
      osteonecrosis and 4 with ossification disturbance in Group C. It was concluded
      that HBO prevented osteonecrosis and ossification disturbance of the femoral
      heads in SHR.

PMID- 1441951
TI  - Hip arthroplasty in Jutland, Denmark. Age and sex-specific incidences of primary
      operations.
AB  - During the 10-year period 1981-90, 1752 primary total hip arthroplasties were
      performed in the County of South Jutland, Denmark. The annual number increased to
      a steady state during 1988-90. In this period, the incidence was highest in the
      age group 70-79 years for both women and men, with 485 and 410 arthroplasties per
      100,000 inhabitants, respectively; the overall incidence was 82 per 100,000
      inhabitants. During the next 30 years, the demand for primary hip arthroplasties
      in Denmark is expected to increase because of demographic changes.

PMID- 1441952
TI  - Renal function after hip arthroplasty and isoxazolylpenicillin prophylaxis.
AB  - Two different isoxazolylpenicillins (cloxacillin and dicloxacillin) were compared
      regarding impairment of renal function after total hip arthroplasty. 85 patients
      received dicloxacillin and 93 patients received cloxacillin as antibiotic
      prophylaxis. A total dose of 6 grams was given during a 36-hour period in doses
      of 1 gram pre-, per- and postoperatively. Creatinine in serum and beta 2
      microglobulin in serum and urine were determined preoperatively and 2, 4, and 10
      days after the operation. The dicloxacillin-treated patients had an increase in
      creatinine and beta 2-microglobulin in serum that was not seen in the cloxacillin
      group. The increase indicates a transient injury in the process of glomerular
      filtration. Although the increase was temporary and subclinical, a dose reduction
      is nevertheless recommended for older patients.

PMID- 1441953
TI  - Acetabular cement temperature in arthroplasty. Effect of water cooling in 19
      cases.
AB  - In 19 patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty the temperature was studied
      at the bone-cement interface in the acetabulum during the polymethyl methacrylate
      curing process. To evaluate the effect of fluid cooling, the patients were
      randomized into two groups: one group with no irrigation, the other with
      continuous irrigation with Ringer solution during cement curing. The temperature
      was recorded with a thermocouple at the bone-cement interface. Without water
      cooling, the median maximum temperature was 49 (41-67) degrees C. In 9 out of 11
      patients the temperature elevations were sufficient to cause impaired bone
      regeneration or thermal necrosis of bone. Continuous water irrigation reduced the
      amount of heat at the bone-cement interface; median maximum temperature was 41
      (37-48) degrees C.

PMID- 1441954
TI  - Hyperthermia during occipito-cervical fusion with acrylic cement. Epidural
      thermometry in 23 cases.
AB  - In 22 patients, 23 posterior occipito-cervical fusions using acrylic cement were
      studied; 18 had seropositive rheumatoid arthritis and 4 traumatic atlanto-axial
      instability. The mean age was 60 (39-75) years. During the curing of the cement,
      epidural temperature measurements were performed over the cerebellum and between
      the foramen magnum and C1. Temperatures up to 69 degrees C were recorded. Cooling
      with profuse surface irrigation using normal saline solution or precooled 8
      degrees C fluid did not influence the maximal temperatures recorded under the
      cement. Even though no gross neurological damage was noted, the epidural
      temperatures in occipito-cervical fusion with acrylic cement can be of sufficient
      degree to be hazardous; surface irrigation does not seem to be an effective way
      to reduce this risk.

PMID- 1441955
TI  - Cement removal in revision hip arthroplasty. Experience with bone cement added to
      the cavity in 20 cases.
AB  - A new technique for cement removal is presented where bone cement is added to the
      cavity after removal of a femoral component. The old and new segments of cement
      are then removed together by using a threaded extractor. In 16 of 20 patients,
      the method was successful; the entire cement mass was extracted in 35 (25-50) min
      without complications or bone loss. In 4 of the patients, the technique had to be
      combined with traditional methods for cement removal.

PMID- 1441956
TI  - Colles' fracture associated with reduced bone mineral content. Photon
      densitometry in 74 patients with matched controls.
AB  - In a prospective population-based investigation, we measured bone mineral density
      (BMD) of the forearm using single-photon absorptiometry at both a distal and a
      more proximal site in 74 Colles'-fracture patients who were compared with
      controls matched for age, sex, and years after menopause. For both groups there
      was a marked inverse relationship between age and bone mass. However, over the
      entire age range, the probands had 11 percent reduced BMD when compared with the
      controls. Our findings confirm that patients with fracture of the distal forearm
      have reduced BMD. They constitute an appropriate group for studies aimed at
      prevention of fracture in the elderly.

PMID- 1441957
TI  - Capitate-hamate fusion for Kienbock's disease. Good results in 8 cases followed
      for 3 years.
AB  - 8 patients with Kienbock's disease and without negative ulnar variance were
      treated with a modification of Chuinard's capitate-hamate fusion. All patients
      returned to their normal activities free of pain. The postoperative wrist motion
      was unchanged, but the grip strength was increased.

PMID- 1441958
TI  - Stress fracture in the medial femoral condyle. A case report.
AB  - An 88-year-old woman complained of pain in the medial part of her knee for 5
      weeks. Plain radiography was normal. Clinical and scintigraphic findings were
      suggestive of spontaneous osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle. Magnetic
      resonance imaging showed a stress fracture of the medial femoral condyle. In 3
      weeks pain had disappeared, confirming this diagnosis.

PMID- 1441959
TI  - Tissue expansion to cover amputation stumps. A case report.

PMID- 1441960
TI  - A case of intraosseous angioleiomyoma.
AB  - We report a rare case of expansively growing angioleiomyoma in the proximal tibia
      of a 64-year-old woman. MRI revealed a well-defined area of low signal intensity
      on T1-weighted image and high intensity on T2-weighted image. Angiographs showed
      hypervascularity and vascular poolings. Microscopic examination after incisional
      biopsy showed an angioleiomyoma with bundles of nerve fibers.

PMID- 1441961
TI  - [Experimental carpal displacement induced by ligamental lesions].
AB  - Ligamentous lesions were created experimentally in 40 fresh cadaver wrists. The
      precise localization of traumatic rupture of the ligaments and the subsequent
      carpal imbalance were defined by the comparison between the experimental results
      and the clinical displacements. The displacements may be permanent, sequential or
      induced by external forces. Lesions of capsular ligaments cause the displacement.
      There are 3 functional units; the distal scaphoid complex; the palmar ligaments
      which form a "belt", consisting of the lateral external ligament, the radiocarpal
      ligaments an the radiate ligament; the medial ligaments, which also form a "belt"
      consisting of the palmar triquetral ligaments on each side of the triquetrum. The
      sprains are caused by a lesion of a functional unit. The lateral sprain is
      characterized by a lesion of the distal scaphoid complex. The scaphoid moves into
      a horizontal position, causing a dorsal deviation of the lunate and a
      scapholunate diastasis. The central sprain is induced by a rupture of the palmar
      "belt", causing an anteroposterior radiocarpal or mediocarpal drawer movement.
      The medial sprain is induced by the rupture, of different extents, of the medial
      ligaments. On examination, there is either a click or a palmar deviation of the
      lunate, sometimes with a lunotriquetral diastasis. The dislocations of the wrist
      are caused by lesion of several ligamentous units.

PMID- 1441962
TI  - Additional mechanical tests of bone cements.
AB  - A revision of the ISO-standard for bone cement testing has been proposed to
      include compressive strength after 24 hours in air and 4-point bending testing
      after 50 hours in a 37 degrees water bath. Nine commercially available bone
      cements were tested in accordance with the new program. Compressive strength
      varied from 78 to 100 MPa, bending strength from 48 to 74 MPa and bending modulus
      from 2.2 to 2.8 GPa. The highest strengths, but also the highest stiffness, were
      encountered with Simplex brands and low-viscosity cements.

PMID- 1441963
TI  - [Multidimensional analysis of reactive forces of the foot during normal walking].
AB  - The authors present the analysis of the three components of ground reaction
      forces on both left and right feet on 50 subjects. Fourier analysis shows that a
      25-Hz sampling is sufficient to fully characterize the normal gait. The approach
      used in order to study the data tables built for each component consisted in
      principal component factor analysis. This multivariate method, which looses the
      least possible information in relation to raw data, has indicated a high
      variability between subjects. Concerning the intrasubject variability, great
      asymmetry occurred between the forward and back forces. With respect to the
      relationship, the three components, the medial-lateral force was very independent
      of the two others. Particular classes of normal gait have been proposed.

PMID- 1441964
TI  - The development of discopathy in lumbar discs adjacent to a lumbar anterior
      interbody spondylodesis. A retrospective matched-pair study with a postoperative
      follow-up of 16 years.
AB  - Of 46 patients who underwent a lumbar or lumbo-sacral anterior interbody fusion
      at one or two levels, 16 were available for a follow-up of 16-20 years. The
      indications for operation were instability, degenerative disc disease,
      pseudarthrosis of a posterior fusion, and spondylolisthesis. Preoperative
      roentgenograms were compared with those made at follow-up 16 years (or more)
      later. In only a minority of patients was discopathy or instability found. The
      roentgenographic findings of the operated patients at a follow-up of at least 16
      years were compared with those of a group of age- and sex-matched controls not
      previously treated for backache. We found that most degenerative changes of the
      adjacent discs occurred at a rate nearly similar to that in the corresponding
      levels of the controls. These results may suggest that lumbar anterior interbody
      spondylodesis does not accelerate the development of degenerative changes in
      adjacent discs.

PMID- 1441965
TI  - [Microradiography in the study of trabecular parameters].
AB  - The intermethod variation in measurement of trabecular bone volume (VTO) and the
      indirect estimation of its microstructure according to Parfitt MTPT (microns),
      MTPD (/mm) and MTPS (microns) were evaluated in seven undecalcified bone biopsies
      by analyzing the microradiograph of a 100-microns-thick section with an automatic
      method (IBAS II Zeiss, Munich) in addition to reference methods (manual and
      semiautomatic) described in the literature and performed on 7-microns-thick
      stained sections. Three consecutive 7-microns-stained sections and one 100-mu
      thick microradiographed section were taken in each specimen. The 100 microns
      thick section was also superficially stained. Trabecular bone volume was measured
      with both a manual integrating eyepiece and an automatic method. The automatic
      method on the microradiograph underestimated the VTO by 24.42%. There was a
      correlation (r = 0.75; p < 0.02) between the manual and computerized methods.
      Mean trabecular plate thickness (microns), mean trabecular plate density (/mm)
      and mean trabecular separation (microns) were measured with both semiautomatic
      and automatic methods. The automatic method on the microradiograph underestimated
      the MTPT (microns) by 18.98% and the MTPD (/mm) by 14.14% and overestimated the
      MTPS (microns) by 23.17%. For the MTPT (microns) there was a correlation (r =
      0.88; p < 0.02), between both methods, and the correlation was good for MTPD
      (/mm) (r = 0.97; p < 0.001), and MTPS (r = 0.86; p < 0.002).

PMID- 1441966
TI  - Retrosternal dislocation of the clavicle.
AB  - Retrosternal dislocation of the clavicle is an uncommon injury which may affect
      the mediastinal structures in a life-threatening way. Therefore, computed
      tomography is mandatory. Manipulation in the acute situation is the treatment of
      choice. In case of failure or old dislocation, open reduction with stabilization
      of the joint is required. The literature on this subject has been reviewed and an
      additional two cases are reported.

PMID- 1441967
TI  - [Compression neuropathy of the cubital nerve at the elbow].
AB  - Compression neuropathy of the ulnar nerve at the elbow has numerous known
      etiologies, and the anatomy of the ulnar nerve around the elbow leaves it
      vulnerable to compression at numerous sites. The compression may be extrinsic
      such as in occupational neuropathy or in cases of postanesthesia neuropathy. The
      so-called idiopathic compression may be favored by some anatomic variations. The
      cubital tunnel retinaculum may be loose, leading to ulnar nerve dislocation or
      subluxation or tight compression of the nerve during flexion of the elbow.
      Bulging of the synovium in the floor of the tunnel may be the cause of
      compression in rheumatoid arthritis, whereas osteophytes may be the cause in
      degenerative osteoarthritis. Cubitus valgus or instability due to a
      pseudarthrosis of the lateral epicondyle or to ligamentous injury may stretch the
      nerve. The choice of a surgical technique must be based on (i) the
      pathophysiology of chronic nerve compression at the elbow, (ii) an understanding
      of the etiology of the nerve compression in the particular patient's case, and
      (iii) the knowledge of the potential technical drawbacks of the various operative
      procedures. Simple decompression is the first choice in case of minimal
      compression without instability of the nerve. Decompression of the nerve with a
      medial epicondylectomy is indicated in case of instability of the nerve and is
      the first choice in case of pseudarthrosis or malunion of the medial epicondyle.
      Ulnar nerve transposition is technically the most demanding procedure. Inadequate
      surgical technique creates new sites of compression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1441968
TI  - Posterolateral bone grafting for nonunion of the tibia.
AB  - Sixty-two tibial diaphyseal nonunions in 60 patients were treated with a
      posterolateral bone graft over an 18-year period (1969-1987). The majority were
      complicated by severe soft tissue damage or segmental bone loss. Thirty-four had
      a deep infection. Primary healing was achieved in 92%. Three types of bone grafts
      have been used: from 1969 to 1978 either a whole iliac bone graft (10 tibiae) or
      a nonvascularized fibular graft (11 tibiae) was used. Since 1978 small iliac
      cancellous bone chips (41 remaining tibiae) were applied to the posterior
      surfaces of tibia and interosseous membrane. In three tibiae with major bone
      defects, cancellous allografts were added to the autogenous bone. The use of
      cortico-cancellous bone chips resulted in a shorter healing time, compared to a
      nonvascularized fibular graft or a massive corticocancellous bone block.

PMID- 1441969
TI  - [The treatment of rigid hallux using Swanson's silastic implant (single and
      double stem). Clinical, radiological and podobarographic review with a 16-year
      maximum follow-up].
AB  - Twenty-eight cases of hallux rigidus treated with the Swanson Silastic implant
      (single and double stem) were reviewed, with an 8-year follow-up. The skin
      complication rate was significant. Long-term patient satisfaction was good.
      Radiologic findings were alarming: implants seem to wear out quickly on the
      articular side, and granulomatous reactions develop around the stems. Dynamic
      pedobarography shows decreased pressure under the first ray, with transfer of the
      weight to the midmetatarsal heads, sometimes on the external edge of the foot.
      The authors review the international literature on the etiology, pathology and
      treatment of hallux rigidus. Surgical indications and techniques are specified.

PMID- 1441971
TI  - Osteosynthesis of pathologic fractures and prophylactic internal fixation of
      metastases in long bones.
AB  - Osteosynthesis was performed in 36 pathologic fractures, and in 21 metastases
      prophylactic internal fixation was carried out. The principles of the operative
      technique consist of a rigid osteosynthesis with removal of metastatic tissue and
      filling up of the bone defect with allograft or methylmethacrylate. The
      indications and benefits of prophylactic internal fixation are discussed.

PMID- 1441970
TI  - Rational therapy for ingrown toenails. A prospective study.
AB  - Partial phenolization of the germinal matrix is described as a simple and
      effective procedure for the treatment of ingrown toenails. It is illustrated in a
      summary of anatomy and pathophysiology as well as in a randomized prospective
      trial.

PMID- 1441972
TI  - Intrapelvic intrusion of the lumbosacral spine.
AB  - A 34-year-old female fell 7 meters onto her lower back and side, and sustained a
      nondislocated fracture of the 7th thoracic vertebra, a complex pelvic fracture
      with symphysiolysis and a left acetabular fracture in combination with a
      bilateral comminuted sacral fracture and downward intrusion of the lumbosacral
      spine. There was also a cauda equina-syndrome. Laparotomy with exploration of the
      lumbosacral area was terminated early because of hemorrhage. Later internal
      fixation of the fractures was performed by an anterior approach with complete
      reduction of the bilateral sacral fracture and the lumbosacral spine intrusion.
      We conclude that an anterior approach to this area gives good visualization, but
      is hazardous owing to the close proximity of the fractures to the central vessels
      and retroperitoneal muscles. A posterior approach gives less good visualization
      but may cause less hemorrhage.

PMID- 1441973
TI  - A patient with two upper lumbar disc herniations.
AB  - Of all lumbar disc herniations, less than 5% occur in the upper lumbar area.
      Though protrusions are common at all levels, truly extruded disc herniations in
      the upper lumbar area from L1 to L3 are rare. Even more unusual is the multilevel
      occurrence of herniations in this area. The authors stress the importance of
      accurate diagnosis and clinically directed medical imaging work-ups.

PMID- 1441974
TI  - Dorsolumbar spine duplication.
AB  - We report a case of dorsolumbar spine duplication in a female patient. She had
      several vertebral anomalies, such as fused vertebrae, hemivertebrae and butterfly
      vertebrae, together with duplication of the spinal column in the lower thoracic
      and the whole lumbar tract. Clinically, she had no control of the sphincters, but
      her gait was only slightly affected. This is probably the third reported case of
      this rare anomaly.

PMID- 1441975
TI  - Chondromatosis of the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint. Case report and review of
      the literature.
AB  - Synovial chondromatosis is extremely rare in small joints. The authors present a
      case of involvement of the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint, treated by removal of
      loose bodies and synovectomy.

PMID- 1441976
TI  - Double-level spinal injury resulting in "en bloc" dislocation of the lumbar
      spine. A case report.
AB  - We report the case of a 21-year-old man with a unilateral lumbosacral dislocation
      together with a fracture of L1 resulting in "en bloc" dislocation, which is
      difficult to classify from an anatomopathological and biomechanical point of
      view. Unilateral lumbosacral dislocation is likewise an infrequent injury with
      less than 10 cases previously reported. Its association results in an anterior
      displacement to the left of the whole lumbar spine. To our knowledge, this
      displacement "en bloc" of the lumbar spine represents a rotatory dislocation of
      the same, an injury which we have not seen described until now in the literature.

PMID- 1441977
TI  - Patellar fracture in a patient with Forestier's disease.

PMID- 1441978
TI  - Ulnar approach to the wrist.
AB  - An ulnar approach to the wrist is described. We used this technique for several
      reconstructive procedures in more than 30 cases.

PMID- 1441979
TI  - A surgical approach for the repair of large tears of the rotator cuff.

PMID- 1441980
TI  - Advantages of the enlarged middle cranial fossa approach in acoustic neurinoma
      surgery. A review.
AB  - Utilizing an enlarged middle cranial fossa approach to the cerebello-pontine
      angle without destruction of the labyrinth or cochlea the authors have since 1981
      operated on 263 unilateral acoustic neurinomas. Tumour sizes ranged between 3 mm
      intrameatal and 35 mm within the cerebello-pontine angle. Complete tumour removal
      was accomplished in 96%. There was one postoperative mortality, and only rarely
      neurological complications. Excellent function of the facial nerve was obtained
      in 78% (in small and medium sized neurinomas 90% House I and II) and severe
      paralysis persisted in only 6%. Preservation of hearing was possible in 70% of
      the small tumours, and in 50% of the total group. Against this background
      comparable data of the literature are reviewed, and the indications for the
      enlarged midfossa approach analyzed.

PMID- 1441981
TI  - Initiation of sinusoidal tracking eye movements in man.
AB  - Smooth pursuit eye movement was recorded with a DC amplifier during horizontal
      sinusoidal target motion at 0.3, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 Hz and a peak-to-peak
      amplitude of 20 degrees. Eye movement was digitalized at 100 Hz and 12 bits. From
      the digitalized eye movements, the maximum position error, the correlation
      coefficient and regression coefficients between stimulus and eye position were
      calculated in each half cycle. The A/D conversion and calculation were performed
      using a 16 bit microcomputer (NEC PC 98). Thirteen healthy volunteers with normal
      smooth pursuit patterns were examined. The correlation coefficient increased, but
      the maximum position error and the two regression coefficients decreased as the
      target moved. However, all four stabilized from about the 3rd half cycle
      regardless of the target frequency. These findings indicate that the smooth
      pursuit of a sinusoidally moving target reaches the maintenance at about the 3rd
      half cycle after initiation of two half cycles from the beginning of the target
      motion. This might be due to a prediction (or learning) of periodicity.

PMID- 1441983
TI  - Retinal ganglion cells related to optokinetic nystagmus in the rat.
AB  - The nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) in the pretectum is the visuo-motor relay
      between the retina and preoculomotor structure in the pathway conveying signals
      responsible for optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) in both afoveate and foveate animals.
      Unilateral lesions of the NOT abolish OKN toward the side ipsilateral to the
      lesion. However, what parts of the retina and what kinds of retinal ganglion
      cells project their fibers into the NOT are still unknown. To examine this,
      horseradish peroxidase conjugated with wheatgerm agglutinin was injected into the
      NOT of the rat. Labeled retinal ganglion cells were diffusely documented in the
      contralateral side, whereas those situated only in the lower temporal crescent,
      were found in the ipsilateral side. Ganglion cells dominated in the range of
      small cells, i.e., W cells. Therefore, ganglion cells responsible for OKN are
      believed to be related to W cells. However, medium-sized and large cells were
      definitely labeled in the rat, suggesting possible participation of these cells
      in OKN.

PMID- 1441982
TI  - Plasticity of the human otolith-ocular reflex.
AB  - The eye movement response to earth vertical axis rotation in the dark, a
      semicircular canal stimulus, can be altered by prior exposure to combined visual
      vestibular stimuli. Such plasticity of the vestibulo-ocular reflex has not been
      described for earth horizontal axis rotation, a dynamic otolith stimulus. Twenty
      normal human subjects underwent one of two types of adaptation paradigms designed
      either to attenuate or enhance the gain of the semicircular canal-ocular reflex
      prior to undergoing otolith-ocular reflex testing with horizontal axis rotation.
      The adaptation paradigm paired a 0.2 Hz sinusoidal rotation about a vertical axis
      with a 0.2 Hz optokinetic stripe pattern that was deliberately mismatched in peak
      velocity. Pre- and post-adaptation horizontal axis rotations were at 60 degrees/s
      in the dark and produced a modulation in the slow component velocity of nystagmus
      having a frequency of 0.17 Hz due to putative stimulation of the otolith organs.
      Results showed that the magnitude of this modulation component response was
      altered in a manner similar to the alteration in semicircular canal-ocular
      responses. These results suggest that physiologic alteration of the vestibulo
      ocular reflex using deliberately mismatched visual and semicircular canal stimuli
      induces changes in both canal-ocular and otolith-ocular responses. We postulate,
      therefore, that central nervous system pathways responsible for controlling the
      gains of canal-ocular and otolith-ocular reflexes are shared.

PMID- 1441984
TI  - Phase audiometry in neuroaudiological practice.
AB  - Six groups of subjects, altogether 107 in number, were studied with phase
      audiometry. Three control groups were studied (normal-hearing healthy controls,
      persons with cochlear hearing losses, and patients with neurological disease not
      affecting the auditory system), and three patient groups were studied (patients
      with cerebellopontine angle tumours, with brainstem lesions, and with temporal
      lobe lesions). Two phase audiometers were used. The sensitivity was 85% for
      patients with cerebellopontine angle tumours, 71% for patients with brainstem
      lesions, and 69% for patients with temporal lobe lesions. There was good
      agreement between the phase audiometers, though one of them (BIAB Phase
      Audiometer) had better results for two of the patient groups. Phase audiometry
      can be recommended in neuroaudiological practice.

PMID- 1441985
TI  - Threshold shift, hair cell loss, and hair bundle stiffness following exposure to
      120 and 125 dB pure tones in the neonatal chick.
AB  - One-day old chicks were exposed to one of two pure tone stimuli (0.9 kHz at 120
      or 125 dB SPL) for 48 h. Three major results arose from a variety of tests that
      assessed the structural and functional consequences of the exposure on the
      peripheral auditory system at either 0 days or 12 to 15 days recovery. First,
      brainstem response data showed that the 120 and 125 dB groups had maximum evoked
      potential threshold shifts of 57 and 71 dB immediately after removal from the
      sound. Fifteen days post-exposure, the thresholds in the 120 dB group returned to
      near-normal levels, while in the 125 dB group, recovery was within 19 dB of
      control thresholds. Second, scanning electron microscopic measurements of hair
      cell density within the lesion showed that at 0 days recovery, the 120 and 125 dB
      groups had a 30% and 59% short hair cell loss, respectively, but by 15 days no
      differences could be identified between the exposed and control animals,
      regardless of exposure level. Finally, at 0 days of recovery, micromechanical
      stimulation data did not reveal any significant difference in stiffness between
      the control and surviving hair cells in the lesion area. Although the more
      intense exposure induced greater structural and functional damage in the chick
      cochlea, the birds retained or even enhanced their ability to replace lost hair
      cells and had partial hearing recovery by 15 days post-exposure.

PMID- 1441986
TI  - Permanent, skin penetrating, bone-anchored titanium implants. A clinical study of
      host-reaction in bone and soft tissue.
AB  - In 12 patients with a skin penetrating retroauricular titanium-implant
      (Branemark) the reaction in bone and soft tissue was studied. Observation time
      was 6 to 36 months. All implants were "osseointegrated", as assessed by repeated
      manual test, X-ray examination and 99mTC-scintigraphy. Soft tissue reactions
      appeared to be slight and clinically insignificant. However, all patients
      produced crusts around the abutment. When the abutment was removed varying
      degrees of inflammatory reaction in the skin penetration could be observed in
      most patients. A theory for the development and cause of the soft tissue
      reactions is proposed and changes in the operative procedure and the design of
      the abutment to reduce the host reaction are suggested. It is stressed that the
      clinical significance of this host reaction is uncertain and above all has to be
      weighed against the important benefits this implant system offers to a severely
      handicapped group of patients.

PMID- 1441987
TI  - Distribution of bone remodeling units in the otic capsule of the rabbit. A
      semiquantitative morphometric study.
AB  - Distribution of bone remodeling units (BRU) in relation to the perilymphatic
      space was studied in undecalcified temporal bones from adult rabbits labeled in
      vivo with bone-seeking fluorochromes. Based on recordings of focal bone
      formation, relative densities of BRUs inside concentric tissue zones around the
      inner ear spaces were estimated. Zonal densities of BRUs were found to decline
      towards the perilymphatic space, lending further support to the existence of a
      local inner ear mechanism in control of capsular bone tissue dynamics. The
      possible nature of this mechanism is considered briefly with special reference to
      inner ear electromechanic activity.

PMID- 1441988
TI  - Development of endolymphatic hydrops following immune response in the
      endolymphatic sac of the guinea pig.
AB  - The present study investigated immune injury associated with endolymphatic
      hydrops (e.hydrops) following locally mounted immune reaction in the
      endolymphatic sac (e.sac) of guinea pigs. E.hydrops occurred, progressing rapidly
      within the first week post secondary Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) challenge in
      the e.sac and developed into two phases, acute and chronic. On the other hand,
      primary KLH challenge of the e.sac, PBS inoculation into the e.sac or intradural
      secondary KLH challenge were incapable of inducing e.hydrops. These results
      indicate that reversible and irreversible e.hydrops are induced by the immune
      response of the e.sac, suggesting that local immunological events of the e.sac
      may provide an animal model of Meniere's disease.

PMID- 1441989
TI  - Dark cell pathology in Meniere's disease.
AB  - The dark cells in the cristae of the semicircular canals were studied
      histopathologically in 9 temporal bones from individuals with Meniere's disease
      (MD group), 7 temporal bones with endolymphatic hydrops from individuals without
      a history of Meniere's disease (non-MD hydrops group), and 10 normal temporal
      bones (control group). The density of the dark cells was significantly lower in
      specimens in the MD group versus the non-MD hydrops group (Wilcoxon's ranking
      test, t = 90.5, p less than 0.01) and control group (Wilcoxon's ranking test, t =
      50.0, p less than 0.01), and many of the dark cells were found to be abnormal in
      the specimens from the MD group. The difference in dark cell density between the
      non-MD hydrops group and control group, however, was not significant (Wilcoxon's
      ranking test, t = 75.0), and few cells in these groups were abnormal. It is
      speculated that the differences in density and the abnormalities in dark cell
      morphology might be either factors in the etiology of endolymphatic hydrops or
      results of Meniere's disease. Other, unknown, factors must be postulated to
      produce endolymphatic hydrops in ears with hydrops but without MD.

PMID- 1441990
TI  - Central projections from singular parts of the vestibular labyrinth in the guinea
      pig.
AB  - Primary afferent projections from singular parts of the vestibular labyrinth were
      studied in the guinea pig. The posterior ampullary nerve, the common trunk of the
      anterior and lateral ampullary nerves, as well as fibers innervating the macula
      sacculi or the macula utriculi were traced with crystals of horseradish
      peroxidase (HRP) lyophilisate. Posterior, as well as anterior and lateral
      ampullary fibers were found to project extensively to the superior vestibular
      nucleus, but also reached the other main vestibular nuclei. Saccular fibers
      projected mainly to the lateral parts of the lateral vestibular nucleus and to
      the adjoining descending and superior vestibular nuclei as well as to group y.
      Modest projections could be followed to the medial vestibular nucleus.
      Furthermore, a distinct saccular projection to the cochlear nuclei was evident.
      Utricular projections reached the four main vestibular nuclei with a denser
      accumulation of fibers within ventral parts of the lateral, descending and
      superior vestibular nuclei.

PMID- 1441991
TI  - The embryologic development of the human external auditory meatus. Preliminary
      report.
AB  - During the final period of embryogenesis, a funnel-shaped tube continues medially
      into the mesenchymal tissue forming a curved path. Although this may sound
      simple, the development occurring during early fetal life is in fact very
      complex. At first, ectodermal cells proliferate to fill the lumen of the meatus,
      forming the meatal plug, and then at 10 weeks the bottom of the plug extends in a
      disc-like fashion, so that in the horizontal plane the meatus is boot-shaped with
      a narrow neck and the sole of the meatal plug spreading widely to form the future
      tympanic membrane medially. At the same time, the plug in the proximal portion of
      the neck starts to be resorbed. In the 13-week fetus, the disc-like plug begins
      to show signs of its final destiny; the innermost surface of the plug in contact
      with the anlage of the malleus is ready to contribute to the formation of the
      tympanic membrane. In the 15-week fetus, the innermost portion of the disc-like
      plug splits, leaving a thin ectodermal cell layer of immature tympanic membrane.
      The neck of the boot forms the border between the primary and secondary meatus,
      and is the last part to split. In the 16.5-week fetus, the meatus is fully patent
      throughout its entire length, although the lumen is still narrow and curved. In
      the 18-week fetus, the meatus is already fully expanded to its complete form.

PMID- 1441992
TI  - Otitis media with effusion: components which contribute to the viscous
      properties.
AB  - Middle ear effusions from children undergoing myringotomy were classified into
      thick (mucoid) and thin (serous) on the basis of their flow properties. Their
      composition was analysed and their rheological properties measured. The viscosity
      of the effusions was measured using a Contraves low shear viscometer and
      expressed as specific viscosity per mg/ml of non-dialysable solids present. In
      order to measure the effusion viscosity it was necessary to solubilize the
      effusion by mild homogenisation in a phosphate buffer pH 6.7 containing a
      cocktail of proteolytic inhibitors. The viscosity of mucoid effusions was
      significantly greater than that of the serous effusions. There was a small but
      measurable amount of proteolytic activity in the effusions, range 0.05-1.79
      micrograms/mg of non-dialysable solids. This proteolytic activity was not
      significantly different between the thick and thin effusions and was therefore
      unlikely to explain the difference in viscosity. Analysis of the constituents of
      the effusions showed that glycoprotein and DNA but not protein nor lipid were
      significantly higher in the mucoid effusions compared to the serous effusions.
      The viscosity of the effusions correlated with the glycoprotein concentration but
      not with the protein or lipid concentration. Under certain circumstances the DNA
      concentration did correlate with the viscosity of the effusion. However,
      digestion with a proteinase free DNase did not reduce the viscosity of the
      effusion. These results demonstrate that classifying effusions as thick and thin
      based on visual inspection and flow properties is valid and that the only
      constituent present in the effusions that determines viscosity is mucin.

PMID- 1441993
TI  - Incidence and progression of myringo-incudo-pexy after secretory otitis.
AB  - A cohort of originally 327 healthy children born in 1975 was followed by repeated
      otomicroscopies and tympanometries from age 5 to age 16 years, in total 9
      otomicroscopies. Prevalence of drum pathology, especially myringo-incudo-pexy was
      investigated. Prevalence of myringo-incudo-pexy was 0.5% at age 5 years, 2.5% at
      age 7 and 4.2% at age 16. Forty percent of pexies were stable; 36% fluctuated and
      26% disappeared. Hearing was surprisingly good at age 16, but the pexy represents
      a risk for progression.

PMID- 1441994
TI  - Occurrence of antibodies to pneumococcal protein antigens in experimental acute
      otitis media.
AB  - To study serological antibody response to pneumococcal protein antigens,
      experimental pneumococcal (type 3) acute otitis media (AOM) was induced in 6
      rats, sera being analysed with the Western blot technique at different intervals
      after bacterial challenge. The most striking finding was a distinct antibody
      response to a protein of about 35 kDa visible in 5 of the rat sera within 14
      days, and persisting throughout the remainder of the study (i.e., 56 days in
      all). Moreover, appear to be a phenomenon restricted to type 3 pneumococci. Both
      the pathogenetic importance of this protein and the immunological response it
      evokes are still unclear. However, as antibodies to protein antigens may
      contribute to inflammatory reactions in the middle ear (e.g., otitis media with
      effusion), this 35-kDa protein might be important for the development of sequelae
      to AOM.

PMID- 1441995
TI  - Permeability of the normal round window membrane to Haemophilus influenzae type b
      endotoxin.
AB  - Sensorineural hearing loss associated with otitis media may be due to passage of
      ototoxic substances such as bacterial toxins and antibiotics, from the middle ear
      into the inner ear. The round window membrane is the most likely route for such
      transport. The aim of this study was to analyze the extent of endotoxin passage
      through the normal round window membrane. The round window membranes of 19
      chinchillas were exposed in vivo to Gelfoam soaked in purified Haemophilus
      influenzae type b endotoxin at a concentration of 45,000 endotoxin units per ml
      (EU/ml) during 3 to 24 h. Endotoxin levels in the perilymph were measured with
      Limulus Amaebocyte Lysate or Quantitative Chromogenic Limulus Amaebocyte Lysate.
      Endotoxin was detected in half of the inner ears at concentrations close to the
      detection limit (approximately 4 EU/ml). The results suggest that the normal
      round window membrane efficiently protects the inner ear against the passage of
      bacterial endotoxins from the middle ear cavity. It is unlikely that endotoxin at
      concentrations found in the middle ear secretion during otitis media can traverse
      the round window membrane in sufficient amount to cause inner ear deterioration.

PMID- 1441996
TI  - Nasopharyngeal bacterial flora in otitis prone children treated with
      immunoglobulin.
AB  - The present study was undertaken to evaluate possible beneficial effects of
      regularly given, long term immunoglobulin prophylaxis of children below 2 years
      of age with recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM). The nasopharyngeal bacterial
      flora and the frequency of acute otitis media (AOM) and secretory otitis media
      SOM were studied. Every second of 44 children with 3 or more periods of AOM
      during the last year received immunoglobulin intramuscularly (Gammaglobulin Kabi
      165 mg/l, 0.45 ml/kg b.w.) every third week for 6 months, while the other 22
      children served as controls. All children were followed for 12 months.
      Immunoglobulin prophylaxis neither influenced the nasopharyngeal flora, nor the
      frequency of AOM or SOM periods. Children with AOM or SOM more often harbored
      bacterial pathogens in their nasopharynx than children with normal middle ear
      status. Also, the immunoglobulin prophylaxis did not influence the increased
      frequency of bacterial pathogens in the nasopharynx of children attending public
      day care or family day care as compared to those taken care of at home.

PMID- 1441997
TI  - Antigen reduces nasal transepithelial electric potential differences and alters
      ion transport in allergic rhinitis in vivo.
AB  - The change of ion transport in acute allergic reactions in vivo was studied by
      measuring the nasal transepithelial potential difference (PD) in patients with
      nasal allergy to Japanese cedar pollens. Comparison of nasal PD in the pollen
      season revealed a lower PD in the allergic patients than in the normal control
      subjects. We challenged the patients with allergen in the non-pollen season and
      measured the time course change of nasal PD and rate of inhibition of PD by
      amiloride and indomethacin. Nasal PD reached the lowest value 15 min after nasal
      allergen challenge. Percent inhibition of PD by amiloride was greater without the
      allergen challenge than it was in those patients after allergen challenge (51.7%
      versus 29.4%, p less than 0.01). Indomethacin did not change PD without allergen
      challenge, whereas it depressed nasal PD by 25.1% after allergen challenge. These
      results suggest that decreased sodium absorption and increased chloride secretion
      occur in local allergic reactions. Both changes may contribute to the increase in
      fluid transport towards the lumen, and this may lead to abnormalities of nasal
      secretion during acute allergic reactions.

PMID- 1441998
TI  - Mechanical properties of the vocal fold. Stress-strain studies.
AB  - The viscoelasticity of the vocal and ventricular folds was experimentally
      assessed by analyzing the stress-strain relationships obtained using a newly
      developed measuring system. The degree of stiffness of the mid-membranous portion
      of the vocal fold was less than that near the anterior commissure or the vocal
      process. The ventricular fold was much less stiff and significantly more viscous
      than the vocal fold. At the membranous portion of the vocal fold, the degree of
      stiffness was less and that of viscosity greater at 2 mm above and below the free
      margin than at the free margin itself.

PMID- 1442000
TI  - Thermal effects on the vestibular hair cell synapse have to be considered for the
      explanation of caloric nystagmus.

PMID- 1441999
TI  - Effects of folinic acid on 5-fluorouracil induced cell lethality with or without
      cisplatin against head and neck laryngeal squamous carcinoma multicellular tumor
      spheroids.
AB  - We evaluated the efficacy of folinic acid (Leucovorin, LV) on cell lethality
      induced by 5-fluorouracil (FU) alone or in combination with cisplatin (DDP) by
      using the HEp-2 laryngeal squamous carcinoma multicellular tumor spheroids (MTS)
      system. For LV, non-toxic concentration of 10(-5) M was used. For cells in the
      monolayer, 6 and 24 h exposure to LV increased FU-induced cell lethality
      approximately 7- and 2-fold, respectively, whereas LV did not influence the
      effect of FU for MTS. LV's lack of effect on cells in MTS may be interpreted to
      mean that LV cannot penetrate the MTS. For the monolayer, simultaneous exposure
      to 3 drugs, DDP, FU and LV, produced synergistic interaction. However, sequential
      exposures were marginally synergistic or antagonistic, irrespective of sequence
      of DDP first or last. In contrast, DDP followed by FU plus LV was most
      synergistic for MTS. Simultaneous exposure was also synergistic, however, FU plus
      LV followed by DDP was antagonistic. These results suggest that LV is unable to
      penetrate into the MTS core to potentiate FU activity. DDP appears to have
      enhanced LV penetration into the MTS core. The exploration of means to overcome
      limited penetration of LV appears important for successful treatment of head and
      neck carcinoma.

PMID- 1442001
TI  - Effect of intravenous diazepam and thiopental on voluntary saccades and pursuit
      eye movements.
AB  - The effects of diazepam and thiopental on voluntary saccades and pursuit eye
      movements were tested in 9 volunteers, with an interval of at least 2 weeks
      between tests. One, 4 and 8 h after intravenous injection of diazepam (0.3 mg/kg)
      or thiopental (6.0 mg/kg), voluntary saccades and pursuit eye movements were
      tested and blood samples taken for analysis of drug concentration. As compared to
      results of tests without drugs, a significant reduction both of saccadic peak
      velocity and gain of pursuit eye movements was found 1 h after injection of
      either drug, but not after 4 and 8 h. The amplitude of saccades elicited with the
      60 degrees stimulus was significantly reduced 1 h after injection of diazepam.
      Latency of saccades increased significantly up to 4 h after injection of either
      drug. No significant correlation was found between peak velocity of saccades and
      blood concentration of either thiopental or diazepam 1 h after administration.
      The present results confirm that in man saccades and pursuit eye movements are
      reduced by benzodiazepines and barbiturates, but provide no support for the
      previously described efficacy of saccades in monitoring the effect of
      benzodiazepines. It is hypothesized that diazepam and thiopental also induce
      reduction of voluntary saccades and pursuit eye movements via a general sedation
      of the central nervous system (CNS), besides having specific effects on CNS
      structures important to the performance of voluntary eye movements.

PMID- 1442002
TI  - Plastic properties of the vestibulo-ocular reflex in olivo-ponto-cerebellar
      atrophy.
AB  - Disorders in vestibulo-ocular functions were studied in 4 patients with olivo
      ponto-cerebellar atrophy (OPCA). The phenomenon of habituation, considered as a
      plastic property of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), was explored with a
      behavioural paradigm in these patients. When subjected to the habituation
      paradigm all patients presented a modified response opposite to that observed in
      normal subjects. The role played by the cerebellum in relation to VOR plasticity-
      well known in different experimental models--is analyzed. The hypothesis of a
      modification of the cerebellum's inhibitory action on vestibular nuclei neurons
      is put forward to explain the inversion of the VOR habituation phenomenon in
      these patients.

PMID- 1442003
TI  - Effect of transcutaneous electrostimulation on noise-induced temporary threshold
      shift.
AB  - The effect of transcutaneous electrostimulation around the ear before and during
      noise exposure on noise-induced temporary threshold shift (TTS) was examined in
      26 volunteers. Electrostimulation reduced TTS in the majority of cases and the
      reduction was statistically significant. Two possible mechanisms for this
      reduction are proposed: stimulation of the olivocochlear bundle and alteration of
      cochlear blood flow. Transcutaneous electrostimulation may be useful for
      prevention or treatment of noise induced hearing damage and for treatment of
      tinnitus.

PMID- 1442004
TI  - Noise-induced auditory loss: influence of genotype, naloxone and methyl
      prednisolone.
AB  - Inbred strains of mice have several advantages as models for human noise-induced
      hearing loss. However, the isogenic nature of inbred lines is very unlike the
      human condition, and may make this species less valuable as an auditory model.
      The present experiments start with two mouse genotypes having lifelong normal
      cochlear functions: The CBA/CaJ and the AUS/sJ inbred strains. These strains and
      their F1 hybrid offspring were examined for noise-induced elevation of the
      auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold. The F1 line had an intermediate
      degree of loss and the most uniform high frequency cochlear loss.
      Methylprednisolone was found to protect the F1 from noise-induced losses, whereas
      naloxone did not.

PMID- 1442005
TI  - Immunohistochemical localization of alpha-atrial natriuretic polypeptide in the
      rat cochlea.
AB  - The localization of alpha-atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-ANP) in the rat
      cochlea was studied by immunohistochemical technique, using a polyclonal antibody
      against synthetic rat alpha-atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-rANP). The
      spiral ligament of the lateral cochlear wall exhibited pronounced
      immunoreactivity to atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP), whereas the stria
      vascularis displayed almost no immunoreaction. ANP immunoreactivity (IR) was also
      intense in the spiral limbus region. IR was observed in the fibroblast-like cells
      and in the extracellular matrix, in particular along its fibrous bundles, of both
      the spiral ligament and the spiral limbus. These results indicate that ANP may
      participate in the regulation of the water electrolyte balance at these sites,
      which may imply a role for ANP in the regulation of cochlear fluids.

PMID- 1442006
TI  - Localization of type II, IX and V collagen in the inner ear.
AB  - Types II and IX collagen are traditionally considered cartilage collagens;
      however, within the inner ear, types II and IX collagen have a more diverse
      distribution. In the adult gerbil, type II collagen is the major fibrillar
      component. In the otic capsule it is present surrounding the osteocytes embedded
      and branching in the periosteal layer, in the cartilaginous rests of the
      enchondral layer, and in the endosteal layer bordering the membranous labyrinth.
      In the regions of the sensory cells, type II collagen is found in the osseous
      spiral lamina, the connective tissue of the spiral limbus, the subepithelial
      tissue of the maculae in the vestibule and the cristae in the ampullae, and in
      the spiral ligament. It is present in the non-cartilaginous and acellular
      structures of the tectorial membrane over the cochlear hair cells and the
      vestibular membrane lining the semicircular canals. Type IX collagen, when
      present, in all cases co-localizes with type II collagen but is found in more
      limited regions. It is found only in the cartilaginous rests of the enchondral
      bone, the tectorial membrane and the vestibular membrane. Type V-like collagen, a
      connective tissue collagen, is found to have a complementary localization to
      types II and IX collagen within the interstitial bone of the otic capsule, the
      osseous spiral lamina and the tectorial membrane, but it is absent from the
      vestibular membrane. This report is the first documenting the co-localization of
      types II and IX collagen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442007
TI  - Human embryonic organ of Corti in tissue culture and NSE expression.
AB  - For the first time ever, the cochlear tissue of the human embryo has been
      successfully grown in vitro in two cases, and neuro-specific enolase (NSE)
      immunoreactivity was studied in one of these tissues. The outer hair cells were
      arranged in three rows, and the inner hair cells in one row and in better order
      than the outer hair cells. After NSE immunostaining, the outer spiral bundle,
      tunnel fiber, outer hair cells, inner hair cells, and the spiral ganglion cells
      showed positive staining. This data suggests that the human embryonic cochlea has
      nearly reached complete maturation by 16 weeks, and that the tissue of the Corti
      organ can be differentiated and matured in vitro.

PMID- 1442008
TI  - Ultrastructural findings in the inner ear of Jackson shaker mice.
AB  - The ultrastructural characteristics of the inner ear of Jackson shaker mice were
      analyzed. We used 12 Jackson shaker mutants (js/js) with ages ranging from 10 to
      47 days and 10 heterozygotes of the Jackson shaker (js/+) with ages ranging from
      10 to 30 days. The most striking findings observed were incomplete
      differentiation of the stereocilia of the outer hair cells and the maculae,
      although outer and macular hair cell cytoplasm, including the nerve terminals,
      became fully developed. Most outer hair cells did not show regular W-shaped
      configuration of the stereocilia throughout the entire turns of the cochlea
      except for a few hair cells. In many hair cells of the utricular and saccular
      maculae, the classical pipe organ configuration of the stereocilia was not
      observed. The Jackson shaker mice have been reported to have a gene abnormality
      on chromosome 11, and its gene locus was close to that of our new-mutant mice
      which showed deranged stereocilia of the outer and macular hair cells. Therefore,
      future studies can provide additional information on the cytodifferentiation of
      the stereocilia as a function of the gene on chromosome 11.

PMID- 1442009
TI  - Expression of glycoconjugates in the human fetal cochlea.
AB  - The distribution of glycoconjugates in the human fetal cochlea was analyzed using
      six biotinylated lectins: wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), abrus precatorius
      agglutinin (APA), ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA-I), ricinus communis
      agglutinin 120 (RCA120), helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA), concanavalin A (ConA).
      The tectorial membrane (TM) in the 11- and 15-week-old human fetuses was labelled
      with WGA, APA, RCA120 and ConA, but not with UEA-I and HPA. In the 19-week-old
      fetuses, the reaction of the TM decreased. In the 11-, 15- and 19-week-old
      fetuses, the surface of the greater and the lesser epithelial ridges were
      respectively labelled with WGA, APA and RCA120. Reissner's membrane was labelled
      with WGA, ConA, APA, RCA120 and HPA. WGA, RCA120 and APA strongly stained the
      stria vascularis, especially in the 15-week-old fetuses. HPA did not stain the 11
      week-old fetal cochleas at all, while it stained the apical surface of the hair
      cells, Reissner's membrane, the cells within the stria vascularis and spiral
      osseous lamina in the 15-week-old fetuses. In the 19-week-old fetuses, the
      fluorescent reaction with HPA became decreased and the apical surface of the hair
      cells was not labelled with HPA at all. This result suggests that HPA reactive
      glycoconjugates may be related to the molecule responsible for stereociliary
      adhesion only during development.

PMID- 1442010
TI  - Differences in hair bundles associated with type I and type II vestibular hair
      cells of the guinea pig saccule.
AB  - Several studies have reported variations in shape and size of stereociliary
      bundles and in a limited number of observations have associated them to type I
      and type II hair cells. A systematic study has been undertaken for which a
      technique was developed in order to identify both cell types and their
      corresponding hair bundles. Numerous fissures were obtained in saccular epithelia
      and observed in scanning electron microscopy. Saccular type I and type II hair
      cells in the guinea pig were found to have distinctive hair bundles. The tallest
      stereocilia of almost all type I cells were longer than 6 microns, and were
      shorter in the striola compared to the periphery. In contrast, the tallest
      stereocilia of almost all type II cells were shorter than 6 microns and were not
      found to vary notably in size from the striola to the periphery. Hair bundles
      with stereocilia organized in straight or in staggered rows were found for both
      types of cells across the whole saccular epithelium, with no apparent particular
      distribution. Possible physiological significance of differences in hair bundles
      is discussed.

PMID- 1442011
TI  - Periductal vessels of the endolymphatic duct.
AB  - Light microscope was used to examine the rich vascular plexus surrounding the
      human endolymphatic duct, both in the periductal loose connective tissue and in
      the bony channels surrounding the bony vestibular aqueduct. We also performed
      computer-aided three-dimensional reconstruction on one serially sectioned region
      of the endolymphatic duct. We found an anastomotic and looping network of vessels
      residing in the loose connective tissue close to the epithelium of the
      endolymphatic duct. This network often received a vascular contribution from the
      vessels in the periaqueductal bony channels. These findings were verified by
      light microscopic examination of 50 temporal bone specimens. Concurrent with this
      finding, histologic examination also showed different characteristic features of
      the vascular system of the endolymphatic duct-proximal sac areas and of the more
      distal parts of the endolymphatic sac. These features include the arrangement,
      quantity, and contents of the periaqueductal bony channels, as well as the
      organization of the bone containing these periductal bony channels. Findings from
      this study help the understanding of the anatomy of the human endolymphatic duct.
      In addition, they support and supplement earlier observations of the structure of
      the endolymphatic duct. We suggest the possible existence of a periductal
      vasculature system, similar in pattern to that in the endolymphatic sac, but
      specialized to work with the duct to aid its function.

PMID- 1442012
TI  - Ischemia of the endolymphatic sac.
AB  - A decrease in vascular density in the endolymphatic sac was suspected as a factor
      in the pathogenesis of endolymphatic hydrops in Meniere's disease. The present
      study was undertaken to explore this possibility by cutting the posterior
      meningeal artery and the sigmoid sinus above and below the external aperture of
      the vestibular aqueduct or by incision of the dura adjacent to the sinus in 18
      guinea pigs. The lesions in the sac were greater in the segmental ablation of the
      artery and sinus and were consistently associated with the development of
      endolymphatic hydrops. Among the lesions shown in the sac epithelia, the
      intermediate portion was most often and most severely affected with a decrease in
      rugose formation and a flattening of the tall epithelial cells or replacement of
      epithelial cells by squamous type cells. A high correlation between the lesions
      in the intermediate portion and occurrence of hydrops suggests that the
      intermediate portion plays a greater role in the pathogenesis of endolymphatic
      hydrops. The sac luminal precipitates known to be increased in human Meniere's
      cases were decreased or absent in this study, which suggests that the increased
      amount is unlikely to be the cause of endolymphatic hydrops. The evidence
      supports the hypothesis that these substances are secreted by the endolymphatic
      sac. The limited sensory cell lesions seen in the cochleae and saccules are
      likely to be due to a temporary vascular ischemia and endolymphatic hydrops.

PMID- 1442013
TI  - Adenylate cyclase modulation of ion permeability in the guinea pig cochlea: a
      possible mechanism for the formation of endolymphatic hydrops.
AB  - The pathophysiological mechanisms leading to endolymphatic hydrops in Meniere's
      disease are unknown. Changes in ionic permeability of the cellular membranes
      between the endolymph and the perilymph, which alter the composition and
      osmolarity of the inner ear fluid, may be a major factor in the etiology of
      endolymphatic hydrops. To determine the possible involvement of adenylate cyclase
      in the formation of endolymphatic hydrops, we measured the endolymphatic K+, Na+,
      Cl- activities (AK, ANa, ACl) and the endocochlear potential (EP) by means of ion
      selective microelectrodes while inner ear adenylate cyclase was activated by
      perilymphatic perfusion with forskolin. We observed a large ACl increase
      accompanied by an EP increase during forskolin (2 x 10(-4) M) perfusion and a
      delayed AK decrease after perfusion. No measurable ANa change was observed. These
      results suggest that adenylate cyclase may regulate Cl- permeability of the
      endolymph-perilymph barrier and that adenylate cyclase plays a critical role in
      acute endolymphatic hydrops in Meniere's disease by altering the osmolarity of
      the endolymph.

PMID- 1442014
TI  - CT-scanning of ancient Greenlandic Inuit temporal bones.
AB  - Additional morphological evidence of former infectious middle ear disease (IMED)
      was found by CT-scanning in 5 of 6 Greenlandic Inuit crania strongly suspected
      for former IMED due to earlier examination revealing either bilateral
      hypocellularity or asymmetry of the pneumatized area of the temporal bones. The
      CT-scans showed sclerosing and obliteration of the air cells and even destruction
      of the cellular septae, and a high degree of irregularity of the cells.
      Sclerosing of the surrounding bone tissue was also found. The findings in one
      cranium were dubious and could both be regarded as a congenital malformation or
      an infection in infanthood. CT-scan confirms and even adds to the results of
      conventional X-ray of temporal bones making hypotheses of paleopathology more
      reliable. The findings also support the environmental theory of pneumatization of
      the air cell system in the temporal bones.

PMID- 1442015
TI  - Effects of various inflammatory mediators on eustachian tube patency.
AB  - The effects of several inflammatory mediators on the patency of the Eustachian
      tube were evaluated in 15 mongrel dogs. Histamine, leukotriene C4(LTC4) and
      D4(LTD4), and platelet activating factor (PAF) were perfused through the
      Eustachian tube of anesthetized dogs at concentrations detected in human middle
      ear effusion of patients with otitis media. The patency of the Eustachian tube
      was then evaluated by perfusion pressure and opening pressure. Histamine at
      concentrations of more than 10(-5) M caused increased tubal resistance and
      opening pressure rapidly. LTC4 and LTD4 caused a rapid increase of tubal
      resistance and opening pressure at far lower concentrations, i.e. 10(-12) M.
      Doses of PAF over 10(-9) M may cause an increase in the opening pressure. These
      results indicate that various inflammatory mediators are capable of affecting the
      Eustachian tube function.

PMID- 1442016
TI  - Laser-Doppler flowmetry compared to intravital microscopy for assessment of blood
      flow in the nasal mucosa of the rabbit.
AB  - Laser-Doppler flowmeter (LDF) studies of the rabbit nasal mucosal
      microcirculation were compared with intravital videomicroscopy and with flow
      measured in single blood vessels in order to evaluate the applicability of the
      LDF technique. Access to the nasal mucosa for a microscope objective was gained
      surgically through the maxilla. Transillumination for microscopy was achieved
      through a prism inserted on the contralateral side of the septal cartilage. Blood
      flow changes were induced by the inhalation of N2, CO2 and O2 and by topically
      applying the vasoconstricting alpha-adrenoceptor agonist oxymetazoline. The
      effects were registered by LDF and direct visual observation. Flow in veins and
      capillaries was calculated using on-line cross-correlation, and off-line a
      computerized video-analysis system. LDF did not correlate to flow in single veins
      or capillaries but agreed well with the visual impression. LDF is considered a
      valuable method for the assessment of over-all blood flow changes in the nasal
      mucosa.

PMID- 1442017
TI  - Newcastle disease viral infection in chicken nasal turbinate and maxillary sinus.
AB  - Newcastle disease virus (NDV) B strain was inoculated intranasally and
      intrasinusly into unanesthetized chicken which were maintained on a standard
      commercial mash chicken diet until the age of 21 days after hatch. The lesions
      induced by NDV following intranasal inoculation usually produced a selective
      destruction of significant portions of the inner surface of the turbinate scroll,
      but sinus lesions, though sometimes present in NDV infection, were not common.
      The chicken sinus was infected by intrasinus inoculation. These results were
      supported by the amount of virus and mucociliary transport time in the turbinate
      and sinus. It is suggested that mucus hypersecretion of ostial gland and/or
      mucociliary activity in the sinus be one of the most important factors in
      protecting against chicken sinus infection.

PMID- 1442018
TI  - Immunohistochemical detection of epidermal growth factor receptor in laryngeal
      squamous cell carcinomas.
AB  - Laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas from 15 consecutive preoperatively irradiated
      patients were investigated for the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor
      (EGF receptor). The study was performed on frozen sections by means of the 5
      layer APAAP technique employing an antibody recognizing the extracellular part of
      the EGF receptor. In sections from 9 of the patients with laryngeal squamous cell
      carcinoma, normal differentiated epithelia were included. Sections from 6 of
      these patients, in addition, contained dysplastic epithelia. Expression of EGF
      receptor-like material was demonstrated in the basal cell layer of normally
      differentiated laryngeal epithelial and in dysplastic epithelia. Fourteen of the
      squamous cell carcinomas proved EGF receptor positive. Nearly all cells in the
      poorly differentiated carcinomas showed positive staining with the antibodies. In
      moderately to well differentiated carcinomas a reduction in the extent of
      staining was seen in certain areas. Especially for the epithelial pearls, the
      staining reaction was localized to the undifferentiated cells in the periphery.
      This finding corresponds to the staining pattern observed in the basal cell
      layers of normal epithelial. The present investigation confirms the expression of
      EGF receptor-like material in normal laryngeal epithelial, dysplastic epithelial
      and squamous cell carcinoma. The staining pattern was similar to that observed in
      oral squamous cell carcinomas, predominantly varying inversely with cellular
      differentiation.

PMID- 1442019
TI  - Clinical application of exogenous surfactant and high frequency oscillation in
      Japan.

PMID- 1442020
TI  - Relationship between PaO2 and lung volume during high frequency oscillatory
      ventilation.
AB  - The relationship between oxygenation and lung volume during high frequency
      oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) was studied. We ventilated anesthetized,
      tracheostomized adult rabbits that were rendered surfactant-deficient by lung
      lavage. Lung volume was measured by the 'disconnection technique'. In the first
      experiment, HFOV was commenced after conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV)
      for 1 hr. In the absence of sustained inflation (SI), oxygenation improved with
      time during HFOV. In the second experiment, HFOV was instituted after CMV for 4
      hr. In the absence of SI, all animals expired during the experimental period. In
      the third experiment we ventilated rabbits for 4 hr and then switched to HFOV. We
      applied SI first and increased mean airway pressure (MAP) by increments of 2
      cmH2O every 15 min. However, there was little improvement in PaO2 despite the use
      of repeated SI and the increase in MAP. We conclude that oxygenation has a linear
      relationship to lung volume during HFOV, and that secondary lung injury due to
      long-term CMV impairs the response to HFOV. Therefore, it is important to
      minimize the risk of such secondary injuries before instituting HFOV.

PMID- 1442021
TI  - Skin tests of pollen grains of taxodiaceae and cupressaceae in children with
      bronchial asthma.
AB  - Atmospheric cedar pollen in the southern region of Okayama Prefecture (situated
      in south-western Japan) has been counted since 1988. Pollen of different species
      of the Taxodiaceae family (Cryptomeria japonica, Sequoia sempervirens and
      Metasequoia glyptostroboides) and Japanese juniper (Juniperus rigida) in the
      Cupressaceae family, which are propagated mainly in the southern region of
      Okayama Prefecture, were found among the atmospheric pollen. Scratch tests using
      the pollen extract from Taxodiaceae and Cupressaceae were performed on children
      with bronchial asthma. Forty (25%) and 30 (18.8%) of the 160 patients reacted
      positively to an allergen extract from the pollen grains of Japanese cedar
      (Cryptomeria japonica) and Japanese juniper, respectively.

PMID- 1442022
TI  - The effects of rice bran broth bathing in patients with atopic dermatitis.
AB  - We determined the effects of rice bran broth bathing therapy in 17 outpatients
      with atopic dermatitis. The rice bran broth used in this study was made in our
      hospital and distributed to the patients who dissolved it in the bathtub as a
      medicinal bath. In the case of one patient, redness and itching of the skin
      increased just after bathing. The patient subsequently discontinued therapy. We
      followed the other 16 patients who performed rice bran broth bathing for 2-5
      months and examined their skin symptoms once a month. The efficacy of this
      therapy in alleviating skin symptoms was excellent in four of the 16 evaluated
      patients, good in seven, slightly effective in four, and ineffective in one. None
      of the 16 patients experienced negative effects of treatment. Recurrence of
      initial symptoms was not detected in any patient during rice bran broth bathing.
      Rice bran broth bathing therapy appears to be safe and clinically useful.

PMID- 1442023
TI  - Possible role of Streptococcus pyogenes in mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome. XV.
      Potential utility of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin toxoid for the prophylaxis
      and treatment of MCLS.
AB  - Mice made tolerant to streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (SPE) by neonatal
      inoculation with SPE emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant demonstrated
      early thrombocytopenia followed by thrombocytosis. This state is the perfect
      counterpart of patients with mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome (MCLS). We have
      hypothesized that by inducing tolerance to SPE, the biological activities of the
      toxin might play leading roles in the pathogenesis of MCLS. In the present
      investigations, the efficacy of SPE on the prophylaxis and treatment of diseases
      caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (including MCLS) were monitored using the murine
      model system accompanied with a platelet-counting technique. The mice, rendered
      tolerant due to neonatal SPE inoculation and followed by immunization with SPE
      toxoid about 1 month prior to the provocative injections with SPE, demonstrated
      an almost complete lack of response to the provocation, keeping platelet counts
      within the normal range of values (except for a marginally significant
      thrombocytosis 7 days postprovocation). Moreover, anti-SPE titers of the sera
      from the mice sacrificed on day 35, at which point the observation was
      terminated, were proved to be markedly elevated when compared with controls.
      These findings seem to suggest that immunization with the toxoid could overcome
      tolerance, resulting in the production of an antitoxin. In a second experiment
      that examined the effect of administration with rabbit antiserum raised against
      the toxoid, the antiserum-treated mice demonstrated a transitory thrombocytosis
      on 7 days postprovocation with SPE, followed by an abrupt decrease in the number
      of platelets from day 10 onward.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442024
TI  - Urinary fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products and the origin of hematuria.
AB  - We examined urinary fibrin and fibrinogen degradation product (U-FDP)
      concentrations in pediatric patients with hematuria using the rapid and highly
      sensitive latex particle agglutination test (LPAT), and assessed the value of
      this test for the localization of the site of hematuria. Patients with hematuria
      were divided into two groups: 60 with glomerular hematuria and 46 with non
      glomerular hematuria. If U-FDP concentrations less than 0.25 microgram/ml are
      accepted as an indicator of glomerular bleeding, the sensitivity and specificity
      of localization of glomerular hematuria in the present study were 78% (47/60) and
      89% (41/46), respectively. The high U-FDP concentrations observed in patients
      with non-glomerular hematuria may reflect direct bleeding into the urinary tract.
      Since all 13 patients with glomerular hematuria and U-FDP concentrations of 0.25
      microgram/ml or more had coexistent erythrocyte cylindruria, the U-FDP test seems
      to be compensated with combined urinalysis for the relatively lower sensitivity.
      We conclude that a knowledge of U-FDP concentrations by LPAT can be of help in
      localizing the site of bleeding in hematuria.

PMID- 1442025
TI  - Nosocomial meningitis due to Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus in a neonatal
      intensive care unit.
AB  - We experienced a nosocomial outbreak of Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus (C.
      fetus) meningitis in a neonatal intensive care unit. A cluster of three infants
      developed meningitis approximately 1-1.5 months after the index patient was
      admitted. Two asymptomatic intestinal carriers of C. fetus were detected during
      the outbreak. Our experience indicates that C. fetus can cause nosocomial
      meningitis in neonates, and asymptomatic carriers may play a role in the
      transmission of the organism.

PMID- 1442026
TI  - A mosaic case of isodicentric chromosome 18.
AB  - A case of mosaicism of isodicentric chromosome 18 is reported. Dicentric
      chromosome 18 occurs rarely and only five cases of isodicentric chromosome 18
      have been documented. A high resolution banding method revealed that the
      karyotype of the patient was mos 46,XX/46,XX idic(18)(pter-->q21.3::q21.3-
      >pter), and the ratio of normal and abnormal clones was 1:1. The clinical
      manifestations, resembling those of trisomy 18 syndrome, were affected by both
      partial trisomy 18pter-->q21.3 and partial monosomy 18q21.3-->qter.

PMID- 1442027
TI  - Myelodysplastic syndrome with partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 5:
      first report of a case in a child.
AB  - A childhood case of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with a deletion of the long
      arm of chromosome 5 (5q-) is reported. The patient was an 8 year old boy who has
      recurrent angina. Laboratory evaluation revealed the following: hemoglobin 8.1
      gm/dl, white blood cell count 4.9 x 10(3)/l with 3% atypical lymphocytes, and
      platelet count 17.7 x 10(4)/l. A bone marrow aspirate revealed 20% blast cells
      and dysmyelopoietic changes involving all three marrow cell lines. Karyotype
      analysis of marrow cells revealed 46,XY,5q- in 100% of the metaphases. These
      findings led to a diagnosis of MDS with 5q-, which is most commonly found in
      adult MDS. This case seems to represent an exceedingly rare childhood case of MDS
      with 5q-.

PMID- 1442028
TI  - Atelosteogenesis type 3: the first patient in Japan and a survivor for more than
      1 year.
AB  - We report the first patient of atelosteogenesis type 3 (AO3) in Japan. The
      patient had multiple craniofacial abnormalities at birth, including ocular
      hypertelorism, a flat nasal bridge, micrognathia and a cleft palate. There was
      rhizomelic shortness of the limbs and a club-foot. The infant had short broad
      thumbs in the hands similar to those observed in the feet. There were no
      chromosomal abnormalities. Radiological examination demonstrated striking
      hypoplasia of the humerus with proximal rounding and distal tapering giving a
      'drumstick' appearance, 'S'-shape configuration of the cervical spine, scoliosis
      and coronal cleft in the thoracolumbar vertebral bodies. The infant experienced
      recurrent apnea and persistent severe tracheomalacia, which necessitated
      tracheostomy at 5 months of age. Despite his multiple skeletal deformities and
      respiratory problems, this patient survived more than 1 year with motoneuronal
      developmental delay.

PMID- 1442029
TI  - Spinal arachnoid cyst in a newborn infant.
AB  - A male infant was born with asphyxia following a prolonged breech delivery at 39
      weeks of gestation. He had a chylohemothorax from birth. Soon after birth he
      exhibited flaccid paraplegia with an absence of deep tendon reflexes in the lower
      extremities. At 17 days of age, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disclosed a
      hypodense area in the thoracic cord between C7 and Th4 in T1-weighted images, and
      spinal sonography revealed an echo-free space compressing the spinal cord in the
      same region observed with MRI. A spinal cyst was removed surgically at 24 days of
      age. The cyst was confirmed by pathology to be a true arachnoid cyst between C7
      and Th4. The cause of this cyst may have been a spinal cord injury during the
      perinatal period.

PMID- 1442030
TI  - Report of a Japanese girl with Marfan syndrome associated with insulin-dependent
      diabetes mellitus.
AB  - A 3 year old girl was admitted to hospital in an emaciated condition and with
      polydipsia in October 1974. Following the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, she
      received treatment with insulin. On the first admission, a systolic murmur was
      noted at the apex of the heart. In 1981, the murmur was found to be continuous
      with a systolic click, and echocardiography demonstrated a mitral valve prolapse.
      In 1982, electrocardiography revealed left ventricular hypertrophy, and the
      patient's X-ray showed vertebral kyphoscoliosis. Ophthalmological examination
      revealed slightly impaired visual acuity and a mild case of cataracts in 1986.
      The patient grew to be tall and thin with arachnodactylia of the hands, fingers,
      feet and toes. These symptoms and findings were compatible with Marfan syndrome,
      although the ophthalmological findings are not specific for this disease. This
      patient is the first case in Japan of Marfan syndrome associated with insulin
      dependent diabetes mellitus, although the relation between Marfan syndrome and
      IDDM remains unclear.

PMID- 1442031
TI  - Case report of an insulin-dependent diabetes multiplex family with a pair of
      identical twins.
AB  - The following is a case of a family with a pair of identical twins and a family
      history of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). A 2 year old identical
      twin was first admitted to our hospital and diagnosed as IDDM based on diabetic
      ketoacidosis. His father has been treated with insulin since the diagnosis of
      IDDM at the age of 17. All family members had the HLA-DR4 and DQA1*0301 alleles,
      which are strongly associated with IDDM. The DR-DQ haplotypes of the father and
      both twins were DR4-DQW8 (DQB1*0302), which increases susceptibility to IDDM.
      Islet cell antibodies were positive only in the index twin at the time of
      diagnosis. The co-twin was considered to have beta-cell dysfunction based on the
      result of an intravenous glucose tolerance test.

PMID- 1442032
TI  - Familial occurrence of growth hormone deficiency and primary hypothyroidism.
AB  - We examined endocrine function in three male siblings with growth hormone (GH)
      deficiency and primary hypothyroidism. Low GH responses to various provocative
      tests were revealed in all three. Exaggerated thyrotropin (TSH) responses to
      thyrotropin-releasing hormone increased basal TSH levels, and low free thyroxine
      levels were also found in all three. Additionally, a low testosterone response to
      human chorionic gonadotropin and low gonadotropin responses to luteinizing
      hormone-releasing hormone were noted in the youngest sibling. Skull X-ray films,
      computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed no abnormalities
      of the pituitary gland or sella turcica. The GH gene was intact in all of the
      children and their parents. We diagnosed all siblings as having GH deficiency and
      primary hypothyroidism. This is the first report of familial occurrence of GH
      deficiency and primary hypothyroidism.

PMID- 1442033
TI  - Intra-operative total enteroscopy for the management of Peutz-Jegher's syndrome.
AB  - We present a case of Peutz-Jegher's syndrome in an 18 year old female who was
      followed for gastrointestinal polyps for 13 years from the age of 5 years. The
      patient was treated four times with surgical or endoscopic polypectomy for
      gastrointestinal polyps. At the age of 14 years, a combined surgical and
      endoscopic approach for the management of Peutz-Jegher's syndrome was carried
      out. A large polyp of the ileum required enterotomy for its removal, and another
      smaller polyp of the upper jejunum was identified and removed by intra-operative
      total enteroscopy via the anus. Intra-operative enteroscopy allows one to
      identify polyps that would previously have been missed. A more complete
      polypectomy can be performed using this technique, allowing the patient with
      Peutz-Jegher's syndrome a longer interval between laparotomies and a reduction in
      symptoms attributed to polyps.

PMID- 1442034
TI  - The very low birthweight neonate with an interrupted aortic arch and
      dextrocardia.
AB  - Type 1A interruption of the aortic arch complex accompanied by mirror-image
      dextrocardia with situs inversus was diagnosed by counter-current aortography
      through the radial artery. This technique is useful for aortography of the very
      low birthweight neonate.

PMID- 1442035
TI  - [Effects of m-nifedipine on experimental myocardial metabolism and infarct size
      in rabbits].
AB  - The protective effects of m-Nif 15, 30 and 50 micrograms.kg-1 and of Nif 30
      micrograms.kg-1 on experimental myocardial infarction and metabolism in rabbits
      were evaluated. Blood samples were collected simultaneously from the femoral
      artery and the coronary sinus for examining lactate and potassium balance. In the
      normal group (n = 8) and the sham ligated group (n = 5), the lactate balance were
      +17 +/- 1.0 and + 13 +/- 1.1% respectively and the potassium balance were +2.1 +/
      0.08 and +2.4 +/- 0.08%, respectively. After occlusion of the LAD, the lactate
      and K+ balance reduced to -196 +/- 60.2 and -83.0 +/- 8.2% respectively, and m
      Nif produced a dose dependent improvement of both balance. After giving m-Nif 15,
      30 and 50 micrograms.kg-1 i.v., the lactate balance improved to -60 +/- 9, -48 +/
      6.7 and -24 +/- 1.8% and the K+ balance went up to -32.2 +/- 2.1, -17.6 +/- 0.1,
      -3.3 +/- 0.06, respectively. In the mean time, Nif 30 micrograms.kg-1 i.v.
      improved the lactate and K+ balances to -52 +/- 8.6% and -36.4 +/- 3.1%. In
      another experiment, propranolol 1 mg.kg-1 i.v. improved the lactate balance to 
      18 +/- 1.2% while the K+ balance increased to +2.0 +/- 0.05%. The area of the
      myocardial infarct was measured by nitroblue tetrazolium (N-BT) technique 24 h
      after LAD occlusion.2+ angina pectoris.

PMID- 1442036
TI  - [Effects of arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on
      tension of rabbit aortic strips].
AB  - The purpose of the investigation was to determine the effects of eicosapentaenoic
      acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) on the isolated
      rabbit aortic strips. The results showed that (1) the rabbit aortic strips with
      intact endothelium contracted in a dose-dependent manner to exogenous AA between
      the concentrations of 2.5 x 10(-6) mol/L and 4 x 10(-5) mol/L. EPA did not affect
      the tension of the relaxing strips, but inhibited the contractile response to AA
      (2 x 10(-5) mol/L), IC50 = 9.94 x 10(-6) mol/L. DHA showed no significant effect
      on the contractile response to AA. (2) In the endothelium-damaged rabbit aorta,
      the contraction of strips to AA was drastically diminished. The inhibitory effect
      of EPA on the contraction to AA was almost vanished. (3) The contraction of
      rabbit aortic strips to AA was shown to be abolished by indomethacin (1.5 x 10(
      5) mol/L), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. (4) Radioimmunoassay showed that exogenous
      AA increased the tissue levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, TXB2 and their ratio. Lower
      dose of EPA (1.5 x 10(-6) or 1.5 x 10(-5) mol/L) did not affect the tissue levels
      of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TXB2. However, EPA at higher concentrations decreased
      the metabolites of AA significantly. These findings suggest that exogenous AA
      induces the contraction of rabbit aortic strips in vitro, which is related to the
      endothelial cells and mediated by the metabolites(s) of cyclooxygenase, likely
      endothelium-derived contracting factor (EDCF).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442037
TI  - [Effect of cinobufagin on the guinea pig vas deferens and its mechanism of
      action].
AB  - Cinobufagin, one of the active principles extracted from toad venom, was studied
      on the isolated vas deferens of the guinea pig. The preparation was suspended in
      a bath containing 10 ml Krebs solution. Isometric tension of vas deferens was
      recorded on polygraph with a force displacement transducer. Cinobufagin caused a
      long lasting contraction of the vas deferens of the guinea pig at concentrations
      of 15-50 mumol/L. The contraction was inhibited following reserpinization and
      cold storage treatment. The cinobufagin induced contraction was partly blocked by
      pretreatment with phentolamine and verapamil. These results suggest that the
      cinobufagin induced contraction of vas deferens might be related to an action
      which promotes release of NA from the adrenergic nerve terminals.

PMID- 1442038
TI  - [Synthesis and analgesic action of 6,7-methylenedioxy-1(2H,4H)-acridone
      derivatives].
AB  - Thirteen derivatives of 6,7-methylenedioxy-1 (2H, 4H)-acridone were prepared. The
      structures of all the compounds synthesized were characterized by elemental
      analysis, IR and 1H NMR spectra. Compounds IIa, IIb, IId, IIe, IIf increased
      significantly the pain threshold using the hot-plate method.

PMID- 1442039
TI  - [Synthesis of molluscacidal synergists].
AB  - Chemical molluscicides are useful in schistosomiasis control. A synergist can
      potentiate the efficacy and reduce the dosage of a molluscicide, thus decreasing
      the toxicity and environmental pollution. In order to search for potential
      molluscicidal synergists, 13 compounds of O,O-dialkyl-O-(2-substituted-3
      benzofurylacetonitrile-alpha-oxi mino)phosphate or thiophosphate (VI1-13) and 2
      compounds of O,O-dialkyl-O-(2-thienylacetonitrile-alpha-oximino)phosphate
      (X14,15) were prepared. Preliminary test demonstrated that compound X15 had
      strong synergic effect with sodium pentachlorophenol in combating mollusks.
      Compounds X14 and VI1,2,3,6,8,10,12,13, also showed some molluscicidal
      synergistic activity.

PMID- 1442040
TI  - [Isolation and identification of two new taxane diterpenes from Taxus chinensis
      (Pilger)Rehd].
AB  - Two new taxane diterpenes were isolated from the stem barks of Taxus chinensis
      grown in Sichuan province of China. Their structures were elucidated by spectral
      analysis and chemical evidence as 1-hydroxy-7,9-dideacetyl baccatin I(1) and 7,9
      dideacetyl baccatin VI(3).

PMID- 1442041
TI  - [Revision of structure of peimisine].
AB  - From the bulbs of Fritillaria siechuanica cultivated in Sichuan province, 5
      alkaloids including peimisine (III) were isolated. Structure of peimisine
      reported in reference (2) was revised as 2 based on 2D-NMR (1H-1H, 1H-13C COSY
      and NOE), and FR-5 was proved to be peimisine on the basis of their melting point
      and TLC behavior. It is worthy of noting that 1) configuration of the oxygen at
      the C-17 in hupehenisine 3 is possibly erroneous; 2) both songbaisine 4 (A or B)
      and peimisine 2 should be the same compound on the basis of comparison of their
      13C NMR data (Table 3) and 1H NMR spectra; 3) configuration of the oxygen atom at
      C-17 in the jervine-type steroidal alkaloids can not be safely proved by their
      IR, MS and the chemical shifts of some protons such as the methyls without the X
      ray diffraction analysis, or the NOE technique and the 13C NMR method.

PMID- 1442042
TI  - [Studies on naphthoic acid esters from the roots of Rubia cordifolia L].
AB  - Four naphthoic acid esters including a new compound were isolated from the roots
      of Rubia cordifolia L. The new one was named as rubilactone and its structure was
      elucidated as 3'-carbomethoxy-4'-hydroxy-naphtho[1',2'-2,3] pyran-6-one (I) based
      on the physicochemical properties and spectrometric analyses (UV, IR, MS, 1HNMR
      and 13CNMR). The other three were 3'-carbomethoxy-4'-hydroxy-naphtho [1',2'-2,3]
      furan (II), dihydromollugin (III) and 3-carbomethoxy-2-(3'-hydroxy)isopentyl-1,4
      naphthohydroquinone-1-O -beta-D-glucoside (IV).

PMID- 1442043
TI  - [Anodic stripping voltammetry of promethazine hydrochloride with Nafion coated
      glassy carbon electrode].
AB  - This paper reports the determination of promethazine hydrochloride with Nafion
      coated glassy carbon electrode by anodic stripping voltammetry. There is a linear
      relationship between the concentration and peak height in the range of 4 x 10(-8)
      5 x 10(-5) mol/L and 8 x 10(-5)-1 x 10(-3) mol/L for promethazine hydrochloride.
      The raw material and tablets of promethazine hydrochloride have been analysed and
      good results were obtained.

PMID- 1442044
TI  - [Comparison of chemical constituents of essential oils from Elsholtzia splendens
      and cultivated Mosla chinensis by GC-MS analysis].
AB  - Xiangru (Labiatae) is a well-known drug used in Chinese traditional medicine.
      Chemical constituents of essential oils from Elsholtzia splendens and cultivated
      Mosla chinensis were compared by GC-MS/DS combination on SE-54 capillary column
      (30 m x 0.32 mm). Forty-three components were identified in Elsholtzia splendens
      Nakai ex F.Maekawa. The total content of the components in the essential oil was
      found to be 90.61%. Among them the major constituents are elsholtzia ketone
      (80.81%). Fifty components were identified in cultivated Mosla chinensis, with a
      total content of 93.91% in the essential oil. The major constituents are
      carvacrol (51.11%), thymol (22.00%), and etc.

PMID- 1442045
TI  - [Construction and application of all-solid-state aconitine electrochemical
      detector in flow injection analysis].
AB  - A new kind of all-solid-state electrochemical detector for very toxic alkaloids
      such as aconitine, mesaconitine and hypaconitine has been studied. It exhibits
      Nernstian response for these alkaloids with a slope of 56 mV/decade over the
      concentration range of 3 x 10(-5)-1 x 10(-2) mol/L at pH 2-7 under the flow
      condition. Direct potentiometry for the determination of aconitine in Aconitum
      kusnezoffii Reichb., Aconitum carmichaeli Debx. and Xiaohuoluo Wan showed average
      recoveries of 98.5, 98.3 and 96.8% and relative standard deviations of 1.8, 2.4
      and 3.5%, respectively. It can be used for the determination of very toxic
      alkaloids in the above mentioned samples by flow injection analysis. It also can
      be used for the study of the hydrolytic kinetics of aconitine.

PMID- 1442046
TI  - [Bioavailability of a controlled-release suspension of phenylpropanolamine in
      healthy volunteers].
AB  - A high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of phenylpropanolamine (PPA)
      in human plasma is presented. Using direct UV detection the method is
      sufficiently sensitive to 25 ng/ml for PPA. Single-dose pharmacokinetics of PPA
      in 10 healthy volunteers taking controlled release suspension (C) or tablet (T),
      each containing 150 mg PPA was compared. The study described here has shown that
      the (C) AUC(0-infinity)/(T) AUC(0-infinity) = 1.02 (P greater than 0.4). The
      controlled-release product of PPA is equivalent to PPA tablet.

PMID- 1442047
TI  - [Dissolution rate and bioavailability of famotidine tablets].
AB  - An automated dissolution test system was used for the determination of the
      dissolution rate of famotidine tablets, and a mean cumulative dissolution rate of
      97.40 +/- 0.31% in 15 min was obtained. To each of six healthy volunteers, 40 mg
      of famotidine tablets were administered orally, then an automated HPLC with
      switching column system was used to analyze famotidine in plasma. Variation of
      drug concentration vs time were fitted to curves. By comparison of calculated
      values with observed ones, the results could be described as one-compartment
      model in human. According to a statistic moment algorithm, the results of
      calculation showed that T1/2 = 2.92 h and Frel = 118.8%.

PMID- 1442048
TI  - [Morphological and histological studies on the Chinese drug shan-dou-gen].
AB  - The Chinese drug "Shan-Dou-Gen" has been used for removing toxic heat, promoting
      the subsidence of swelling and soothing the sore throat since the ancient time.
      The authors made a survey of the drug "Shan-Dou-Gen" available in drug markets as
      well as the plant origin from the drug producing districts. The results showed
      that the drug "Shan-Dou-Gen" used in different regions in China at present are
      the roots or rhizomes derived from 9 species: Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep.
      (Leguminosae), Menispermum dauricum DC. (Menispermaceae), Indigofera amblyantha
      Craib (Leguminosae), I. carlesii Carib, I., fortunei Craib, I. decoa Lindl. var.
      ichangensis Y. Y. Fang et C. Z. Zheng, I. kirilowii Maxim. et Palibin, I.
      potaninii Craib, and Beesia calthaefolia (Maxim.) Ulbr. (Ranuculaceae). In this
      paper, the morphological characters of the crude drugs are described, compared
      and illustrated with photographs. The histological structures of the used parts
      are described, compared and illustrated with line drawings. The morphological and
      histological similarities and differences found among the above 9 species are
      summarized, and the key for the identification of the crude drugs is provided. As
      the drug "Shan-Dou-Gen" derived from different species has different actions and
      dosages, it is necessary to give different names to different species and use
      them correctly.

PMID- 1442049
TI  - [Derivatives of arteannuin B with antileukemia activity].
AB  - Arteannuin B (I) was converted to hydroxy lactones (VII, VIII) by a mixture of
      formic acid and sulfuric acid. Compound VI and Compound VII both showed activity
      against leukemia P 388 cell in vitro. The rate of growth inhibition were 97.5%
      and 11.8% for (VI) and 80% and 52.6% for (VII) at the concentration of 10 and 1
      micrograms/ml respectively. It seems that the antileukemia activity of 6-membered
      lactone is higher than that of 5-membered and the methylene group is necessary
      for the antileukemia activity.

PMID- 1442050
TI  - Purification and partial characterization of anti-inflammatory peptide from
      pilose antler of Cervus nippon Temminck.
AB  - An anti-inflammatory compound was purified and isolated from pilose antler of
      Cervus nippon Temminck by dialysis, gel filtration and ion-exchange
      chromatography techniques. HPLC and N-terminal amion acid analysis identified the
      compound as a homogeneous peptide. The peptide is composed of 68 amino acids and
      its molecular weight as determined by amino analysis, is about 7200.

PMID- 1442051
TI  - [The antitumor effect of adriamycin conjugated with monoclonal antibody against
      gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo].
AB  - Adriamycin (ADM), an anthracycline cytotoxic agent, was conjugated with
      monoclonal antibody 3H11 against gastric cancer via the dextran bridge method.
      The conjugate 3H11-DEX-ADM, with molar ratio of 3H11 to ADM being 1:73, retained
      antibody activity to 86%. In the cytotoxicity assay, 3H11-DEX-ADM was shown to
      exhibit increased cytotoxicity against the target cell line BGC 823. Its IC50 was
      3.75 fold less than that of free ADM. The antitumor effect of the conjugate was
      evaluated in tumor-bearing nude mice. The results indicate that the specific
      antibody conjugate 3H11-DEX-ADM can significantly inhibit the tumor growth. At
      the dosage level used in the present study (5 micrograms/mouse x 6), 3H11-DEX-ADM
      showed an inhibition rate of 51.5%, whereas only moderate inhibition rates were
      observed with free ADM and the control conjugate NIgG-DEX-ADM. In addition,
      experiment was performed to evaluate the combined cytotoxicity of 3H11-DEX-ADM
      and the conjugate of mitomycin C (3H11-HSA-MMC) at different ratios. It was shown
      that the combination has no synergistic effect when their IC50 was compared with
      that of the two conjugates used alone. The same result was observed on
      combinations of the two corresponding free drugs.

PMID- 1442052
TI  - Effect of Ganoderma polysaccharides on T cell subpopulations and production of
      interleukin 2 in mixed lymphocyte response.
AB  - Mixed lymphocyte response was used as a main model through all the experiments In
      a series of concentrations (25, 50, 100, and 200 micrograms/ml), Ganoderma
      polysaccharides (GL-B) promoted the production of interleukin 2 (IL-2) in a
      concentration-dependent manner after initiation of culture for 12 h and increased
      the total cell recovery as well as that of Lyt 2+ and L3T4+ cells after 4 days of
      culture. The data also show that the polysaccharides markedly enhanced the
      cytotoxicity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which was increased by 100% at the
      concentration of 200 micrograms/ml.

PMID- 1442053
TI  - [Synthesis of oxazolidines from ephedrines as potential prodrugs].
AB  - Twenty three (-)- or (+)-2-(substituted phenyl)-3,4-dimethyl-5-phenyl-
      oxazolidines and five Schiff base derivatives of ephedrine were synthesized by
      cyclization or condensation with aromatic aldehydes, according to the structure
      activity relationships and the pro-drug principle. Stereochemical structures were
      studied for these compounds by spectroanalysis method, and the kinetics of
      hydrolysis of the oxazolidines were also studied by UV spectra and HPLC methods.
      The oxazolidines were found to undergo a facile and complete hydrolysis at pH
      7.40 and 37 degrees C and the half-lives of hydrolysis were determined. The
      relationship between structure and stability of the oxazolidine derivatives were
      discussed. The oxazolidine derivatives are more lipophilic and less basic than
      the parent ephedrines and their chemical and physical characters are more stable
      than those of the parent aromatic aldehydes. The stability of the oxazolidine
      derivatives is affected by the configurations of ephedrines and the positions or
      Hammett constants of the substituents in the aromatic aldehydes. These results
      indicate that oxazolidines can be considered as potential prodrugs for
      ephedrines.

PMID- 1442054
TI  - [Synthesis and antitumor activities of 4-acylthiol-4-deoxy-4'
      demethylepipodophyllotoxin analogues].
AB  - This paper describes the synthesis and antitumor activity of 4-acylthiol-4-deoxy
      4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin analogues. 4-Mercapto-4-deoxy-4'
      demethylepipodophyllotoxin prepared from 4'-demethylepipodophyllo-toxin with H2S
      in the presence of BF3.Et2O, was acylated with different acids using diethyl
      cyanophosphonate and thus, corresponding 4-acylthiol-4-deoxy-4'-demethyl
      epipodophyllotoxin analogues were synthesized. These compounds were screened in
      L1210 leukemia and KB cells, and one compound has activity similar to etoposide,
      and others were generally weaker than etoposide and corresponding 4-acylamido-4
      deoxy-4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin analogues.

PMID- 1442055
TI  - [Total synthesis of securinine].
AB  - Securinine, an alkaloid having strychnine-like action was synthesized using 1,4
      cyclohexanedione as the starting material through the following sequence of
      reactions: condensation with piperidine, reduction, cyclization catalyzed by
      mercuric acetate and intramolecular condensation, totally in eleven steps. The
      IR, 1HNMR and melting point of the synthetic product is identical with those of
      natural securinine.

PMID- 1442056
TI  - [Phenyl glycosides from Curculigo orchioides].
AB  - One new phenyl glycoside and two new chlorophenyl glycosides were isolated from
      rhizomes of Curculigo orchioides (Chinese name: Xian Mao, Hypoxidaceae). Based on
      HRMS, FABMS, 1H-, 13C-NMR and other spectral data as well as chemical evidence,
      the structures of curculigoside B, curculigine B and C were elucidated to be 2
      beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-5-hydroxybenzyl-2'-methoxy-6'-hydroxybe nzoate (I),24
      dichloro-3-methyl-5-methoxy-phenol-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl (1-6)-beta-D
      glucopyanoside (III) and 2,4,6-trichloro-3-methyl-5-methoxyphenol-O-beta-D
      xylopyranosyl (1-6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (IV), respectively.

PMID- 1442057
TI  - [Anthraquinones isolated from Morinda officinalis and Damnacanthus indicus].
AB  - From chloroform extract of the root of Morinda officinalis, eight anthraquinones
      were isolated whose structures were deduced to be rubiadin (I), rubiadin-1-methyl
      ether (II), 1-hydroxyanthraquinone (III), 1-hydroxy-2-methylanthraquinone (IV),
      1,6-dihydroxy-2,4-dimethoxyanthraquinone (V), 1,6-dihydroxy-2
      methoxyanthraquinone (VI), 1-hydroxy-2-methoxyanthraquinone (VII) and physcion
      (VIII). Except for compound I and compound II, the other compounds, 1-hydroxy-2
      hydroxymethylanthraquinone (IX), 1,3-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-anthraquinone (X), 1,4
      dihydroxy-2-methylanthraquinone (XI), 1-methoxy-2-hydroxyanthraquinone (XII) and
      1,4-dimethoxy-2-hydroxyanthraquinone (XIII), were isolated from chloroform
      extract of root of Damnacanthus indicus. Compound V, VI and XIII are new
      compounds.

PMID- 1442058
TI  - [Determination of nifedipine by differential spectrophotometry].
AB  - This paper reports a new method for determining nifedipine based on the unstable
      character of nifedipine to light. The absorbance was measured at 350 nm before
      and after light irradiation. In this method, the contents of nifedipine in
      tablets were determined by differential absorbance (delta A) and the assay of
      nifedipine was not affected by other components. Calibration graph was linear in
      the range of 10-60 micrograms/ml for delta A. The precision of the method was:
      1.3% within-day and 1.9% between-days. The average recovery for nifedipine was
      99.69%. The method is not only better in specificity and repeatability but also
      simple and rapid, it would be a new way of assay for nifedipine.

PMID- 1442059
TI  - [Studies on the dissolution and bioavailability of trimethoprim-sulfadiazine
      sulfamethoxazole tablets].
AB  - A reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was established
      for the simultaneous determination of trimethoprim (TMP), sulfadiazine (SD) and
      sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) in dissolution media. Meanwhile, another reverse-phase
      high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous
      determination of the three drugs mentioned above and their metabolites, N4-acetyl
      SD and N4-acetyl-SMZ in serum. The in vitro dissolution and in vivo
      bioavailability of two commercial trimethoprim-sulfadiazine-sulfamethoxazole
      tablets (A and B) were studied. Drugs were released far more rapidly from A than
      from B. Significant difference (P less than 0.001) was observed between the T50 s
      of the same active principles released from A and B. The in vivo processes of all
      three active principles in 8 healthy subjects taking two tablets each could be
      described by one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination.
      Compared with A, the relative bioavailabilities of B were 0.83, 0.73 and 0.78 for
      TMP, SD and SMZ, respectively. Drugs were absorbed more rapidly from A than from
      B.

PMID- 1442060
TI  - [Studies on pharmacokinetics of cisplatin-ethylcellulose microspheres for
      maxillary arterial embolization in dogs].
AB  - This paper reports the preparation and pharmacokinetic studies of DDP-EC-ms. The
      DDP-EC-ms were infused into the maxillary artery of dogs and DDP were infused
      into the vein as control. The concentration of DDP in peripheral venous blood and
      tissue was determined by FAAS. Results showed that the DDP level of DDP-EC-ms in
      the circulating blood was significantly lower than that in dogs given DDP
      intravenously. However, a significantly higher DDP concentration in tissues was
      found in dogs treated with DDP-EC-ms. These facts suggest that maxillary arterial
      embolization with DDP-EC-ms, which significantly reduced the systematic side
      effects and increased the level of DDP in the embolized local tissue, could
      achieve the purpose of targeted cancer therapy.

PMID- 1442061
TI  - [Effects of anisodamine and atropine on the microvasculature of liver, skeletal
      muscle and foot-pad skin in anesthetized rats].
AB  - Rats were urethanised and kept in a constant temperature chamber. The surface
      temperature of various organs including the liver and the armpit skeletal muscle
      were monitored with a special mercury thermometer through a narrow hole on the
      skin cut with scalpel. The temperature of the foot-pad skin were measured using a
      thermometer as reported previously. After iv of anisodamine or atropine at doses
      of 12.5-50 micrograms/kg the temperature of the liver and the armpit skeletal
      muscle were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner but the skin
      temperature was increased. Temperature changes were observed 5 min after drug
      administration, reaching peak height at about 15 min and maintained for one hour
      or so. Isoprenaline, dopamine and aminophylline iv showed only a temperature
      elevating effect, while serotonin and noradrenaline caused only a temperature
      decreasing effect in all the three organs mentioned above. Although the
      functional significance of the opposite effects on the microcirculation of
      different tissues remain to be defined, the effects of atropine-like drugs must
      result in a redistribution of circulating blood and may have beneficial effects
      on the survival of some vital organs such as brain, lungs, kidneys ... especially
      in shock.

PMID- 1442062
TI  - [Synthesis and antitumor activity of substituted benzaldehyde/cinnamicaldehyde
      selenosemicarbazones].
AB  - According to drug combination principle 26 substituted
      benzaldehyde/cinnamicaldehyde semicarbazones were synthesized. Twelve of which
      were not found in literature. The structures of the title compounds were
      confirmed by elemental and IR, UV, 1HNMR and MS analyses. Thirteen compounds were
      screened in vivo against Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. Four compounds (VIIf, VIIg,
      VIIh, VIIm) showed strong antitumor activity. The percent increase in life span
      were between 46.1%-91.1%. 3-Methoxy-4-hydroxy and 3-methoxy-4-acetyloxy
      cinnamicaldehyde selenosemicarbazones showed stronger activity and less toxicity
      with increase of life span of 76.5% (300 mg/kg) and 91.1% (60 mg/kg),
      respectively. They were worthy to be studied further.

PMID- 1442063
TI  - [A new skeleton bisditerpenoid alkaloid from Aconitum pukeense].
AB  - A novel bisditerpenoid alkaloid named pukeensine was isolated from Aconitum
      pukeense W. T. Wang (Ranunculaceae). Its proposed structure was suggested by
      spectral evidence. This bisditerpenoid alkaloid skeleton has not been found
      previously.

PMID- 1442064
TI  - [Acuminatin from the aerial part of Epimedium acuminatum].
AB  - A new flavonol glycoside, C27H28O10, mp 151-152 degrees C (MeOH), named
      acuminatin (I), was isolated from the aerial part of Epimedium acuminatum Franch
      in addition to four known compounds. By means of UV, FAB-MS, EI-MS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR
      and chemical evidences, the structure of acuminatin was established as 6", 6"
      dimethylpyrano (2", 3": 7, 8) 4'-methyl kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside.
      The known compounds were identified as kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside
      (II), quercitrin (III), hyperin (IV) and daucosterol (V).

PMID- 1442065
TI  - [Effects of astragalus (ASI, SK) on experimental liver injury].
AB  - The saponins (ASI, SK) used in this study was extracted from the root of
      Astragalus membranaceous Bge and Astragalus sieversianus Pull. ASI and SK were
      found to protect liver from chemical injury induced by CCl4, D-galactosamine and
      acetaminophen in mice. The two saponins were shown to impede the elevation of
      SGPT level, decrease the MDA content and increase the GSH concentration in mouse
      liver. Obvious improvement of histological changes were also observed. The
      protective action of ASI and SK against the hepatotoxicity was also shown in
      experiments using primary cultured rat hepatocytes. The average value of GPT in
      the medium treated with different concentration of ASI and SK (0.00075-0.18
      mmol/L) was lower than that in control. Analyzing through multiple linear
      correlation, we showed that the lowering of SGPT was negatively related to the
      increase of GSH, positively related to the decrease of MDA in mice given CCl4 or
      acetaminophen in combination with ASI or SK. These results indicate that the
      hepato-protective effects of ASI and SK may be due to their anti-oxidation
      activities, since the content of liver protein in mice given ASI or SK was more
      than that in the controls. Moreover, the level of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P
      450 in all mice given the two saponins were significantly increased, the liver
      metabolism and immunoregulating action produced by ASI and SK may be also
      involved in their hepato-protective effects.

PMID- 1442066
TI  - [Comparison of antiarrhythmic effects of IHC-72 (an iodonium-72), lidocaine and
      verapamil].
AB  - The antiarrhythmic actions of 3,6-dimethylamino-dibenzopyridonium edetate (IHC
      72), lidocaine (Lid) and verapamil (Ver) on several models Were compared at
      equitoxic doses (equal fraction of LD50). The action of IHC-72 against aconitine
      induced arrhythmia was similar to that of Lid but stronger than that of Ver in
      anesthetized rats. The effect of IHC-72 on ouabain induced arrhythmia was also
      similar to that of Lid, but weaker than that of Ver in anesthetized guinea pigs.
      The activity of IHC-72 to raise electrical ventricular fibrillation thresholds
      (VFT) was weaker than that of Lid and Ver. The effects of IHC-72 in decreasing
      the incidence of ventricular premature beat(VP B), ventricular tachycardia (VT),
      ventricular fibrillation (VF) and shortening the duration of VT yielded by
      reperfusion were similar to those of Lid anf Ver in vivo.

PMID- 1442067
TI  - [Effects erythropoietin on experimental anemia in rats with chronic renal
      failure].
AB  - Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone secreted by human kidney cells.
      Human EPO was induced from human embryo kidney cells, isolated and purified from
      medium by biochemical method in our laboratory. The hypoproliferative anemia in
      chronic renal failure (CRF) has been assumed to be the result of decreased EPO
      production by the damaged kidney and of the shortening of the survival of
      erythrocytes. In this study, CRF anemia was formed 9 weeks after the removal of
      five-sixths of the renal mass of rats. These anemic rats were divided into 6
      groups: treated with different dosages of EPO or physiological saline. The
      results indicate that EPO has apparent effects on anemia in rats with CRF. It may
      stimulate erythropoiesis and improve the anemia state of rats with CRF.
      Hematological parameters (RBC, Hb, PLT, Ht and Rt) may be reverted to normal
      levels (P less than 0.001). The level of BUN and Cr were significantly decreased.
      The optimum dose of EPO was 1000 U/kg. All these results show that injection of
      EPO has therapeutic effect on anemia in rats with CRF. EPO showed no effect on
      normal rats.

PMID- 1442068
TI  - [Studies on the tissue schizonticide of malaria parasite: synthesis of
      derivatives of 2-substituted phenoxyprimaquine, 4-methylprimaquine and
      quinoxaline].
AB  - 2-Substituted phenoxy-, 4-methyl-6-methoxy-8-aminoquinolines and 7-methoxy-5
      aminoquinoxaline were condensed with 1-phthalimido-bromo-alkane to yield 2
      substituted phenoxy-, 4-methyl-6-methoxy-8-(1-phthalimidoalkyl)-aminoquinolines
      (compounds 7-10 and 15-20) and 7-methoxy-5-(1-phthalimidoalkyl)aminoquinoxalines
      (28-30) which were subsequently reacted with hydrazine hydrate to give 2
      substituted phenoxy-, 4-methyl-6-methoxy-8-(1-aminoalkyl)-aminoquinolines (11-14
      and 22-27) and 7-methoxy-5-(1-aminoalkyl) aminoquinoxalines (31-33),
      respectively. The 2-substituted phenoxy-6-methoxy-8-aminoquinolines (4-6) were
      afforded by reduction of the corresponding 8-nitroquinolines (1-3) which were
      obtained by condensation of 2-chloro-6-methoxy-8-nitroquinoline and substituted
      phenols. Among them, compounds 25 and 24 were the most effective when evaluated
      in Plasmodium yoelii infected mice, no parasitemia was observed after a single
      oral dose of 10 mg/kg.

PMID- 1442069
TI  - [Studies on the tissue schizonticide of malaria parasite: synthesis of 5
      trieluoroacetyl-primaquine and its derivatives].
AB  - Primaquine was acylated with trifluoroacetic anhydride to give 6-methoxy-8-(4
      trifluoroacetamido-1-methylbutyl) aminoquinoline (compound 2 in Table) and 5
      trifluoro-acetyl-6-methoxy-8-(4-trifluoroacetamido-1-methylbutyl )-
      aminoquinoline (compound 6), bis (trifluoroacetyl) primaquine, which was
      subsequently hydrolyzed to yield 5-trifluoroacetyl-6-methoxy-8-(4-amino-1
      methylbutyl)-aminoquinoline (compound 11), 5-trifluoroacetyprimaquine or
      trifluoroacetoprimaquine, coded M8506. Similarly, compounds 1, 3-5 and 7-10 were
      also prepared. Among them, compound 11 appeared to be the most effective by
      evaluation in mice infected with sporozoites of Plamodium yoelii. With
      intragastrical dosage of 0.75 mg/kg/d x 3 d of compound 11 to monkeys infected
      with sporozoites of P. cynomolgi, the radical cure rate of the compound was
      92.3%, while that of primaquine was 55.6%. The acute toxicity of compound 11 was
      two times a low as that of primaquine in mice. The compound did not appear to
      have mutagenicity, embryotoxicity and chromosomal aberration. When rats received
      intragastrical doses of 15, 30 and 60 mg/kg/d of compound 11 for 14 and 28
      consecutive days respectively, no change was found in histopathological
      examination at the two lower doses. However, reversible changes were observed at
      the highest dose. Compound 11, trifluoroacetoprimaquine, was shown to be a
      promising tissue schizonticide of malaria parasite.

PMID- 1442070
TI  - [Study on the mass spectrometry of natural products. XI. The MIKES of fast atom
      bombardment mass spectra of sodium adduct ions of phenylpropanoid glycosides].
AB  - The fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectra and mass-selected ion kinetic energy
      spectra [MIKES] of sodium adduct ions [M + Na]+ of six phenylpropanoid glycosides
      have been studied. An intense sodium adduct appeared in their FAB mass spectra,
      which was more abundant than the corresponding protonated molecular ion [M + H]+
      and may give more definite information about molecular weight of the sample. The
      MIKES of these [M + Na]+ ions provided a convenient way for sugar sequence
      analysis of such glycosides.

PMID- 1442071
TI  - [Glycosides of phenolic acid and flavonoids from the leaves of Glycyrrhiza
      uralensis Ficsh].
AB  - Seven glycosidic constituents have been isolated from the dried leaves of
      Glycyrrhiza uralensis Ficsh. (Leguminosae). The Structures of these compounds
      have been identified as 1-O-protocatechuyl-beta-D-xylose (I), apigenin-6,8-di-C-
      beta-D-glucopyranoside (vicenin-2, II), isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside (narcissin,
      III) kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (nicotiflorin, IV), kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-
      glucopyranoside (astragalin, V), quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (rutin, VI), and
      quercetin-3-O-beta- D-glucopyranoside (isoquercitrin, VII) by chemical method and
      spectroscopic analysis. Among these compounds, I is a new compound, named
      uralenneoside; III was reported for the first time in the genus; III to VII were
      isolated for the first time from the species. II to VII are known biologically
      active constituents.

PMID- 1442072
TI  - [Triterpene constituents from Euphorbia nematocypha Hand-Mazz].
AB  - Seven triterpenoids have been isolated from the roots of Euphorbia nematocypha
      Hand-Mazz. through chromatography on 20% AgNO3-silica gel. One of them was
      identified as a new compound named nematocyphol on the basis of spectral data
      (IR, EIMS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR). Its structure was deduced as IVa. Other compounds
      were identified as nepehinol acetate (I), germanicol acetate (II), euphol (III),
      tanaxastanol (Va), 24-methylenecycloartanol (VIa) and nepehinol (VIIa). These
      compounds were obtained for the first time from this plant.

PMID- 1442073
TI  - [Direct injection of plasma to determine gliquidone in plasma using HPLC column
      switching technique].
AB  - An automated clean up and concentration method by column switching is described
      for the assay of gliquidone, a hypoglycemic agent, in plasma. The system uses
      Merck Lichroprep RP2 (25-40 microns) as short precolumn packing material for on-
      line clean up and concentration. A Shimpack CLC--ODS (5 microns) is used as
      analytical column. Water is used as the pretreatment mobile phase and a mixture
      of methanol--isopropanol--0.2 mol/L ammonium acetate solution (61:5:34) is used
      as the analytical mobile phase. The plasma is diluted with a solution of 0.2
      mol/L acetic acid and injected directly on the precolumn. The low speed of 0.2
      ml/min of pretreatment mobile phase during transfer of plasma sample on the
      precolumn can get recovery of 80.7%. The detection is at 310 nm and the detection
      limit is 30 ng/ml plasma. The procedure is simple and automatic.

PMID- 1442074
TI  - [Quality assessment of the traditional Chinese medicine gentian by chemical
      pattern recognition].
AB  - Methanol extracts of 38 samples of the traditional Chinese medicine gentian of
      different origin were prepared. Data reflecting their chemical constituents as a
      whole were obtained by HPLC. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia (1990) specified four
      species of the getiana as authentic. Some samples from the authentic and non
      authentic gentian were used as the training set of pattern recognition. Chemical
      features of the gentian samples were selected from among the matching data of
      HPLC by the SIMCA program. Finally, the selected chemical features were displayed
      as stars in a semicircular polar coordinate system, resulting in a constellation
      graph. Quality assessment of the traditional Chinese medicine gentian was
      accomplished by recognizing the position and path of the stars in the
      constellation graph. The clusters of the gentian samples in the constellation
      graph obtained from the HPLC features were consistent with and complement to
      their plant taxonomy. The vivid graph demonstrated that pattern recognition via
      chemical constellation promises well a reliable method for assessing traditional
      Chinese medicines.

PMID- 1442075
TI  - [Determination of ofloxacin in human plasma and studies of its pharmacokinetics
      using HPLC method].
AB  - Ofloxacin is a new broad-spectrum oral bactericidal antimicrobial agent. Its
      primary effect is the inhibition of bacterial DNA gyrase. This paper describes
      the development of a simple method for its determination using HPLC with UV
      detection. We used a Waters liquid chromatograph equipped with a Model 490 E
      multi-wavelength detector, a Model 510 pump and a U6K injector. The separation
      was performed on a Spherisorb C18 column (200 mm x 4.6 mm ID, 5 microns) with a
      mobile phase of methanol-0.01 mol/L phosphate buffer-0.5 mol/L tetrabutylammonium
      bromide (35:65:4, pH 2.50). The flow-rate was 1.0 ml/min and detection was at 294
      nm. A specimen (0.2 ml) was spiked with the internal standard (norfloxacin) and
      deproteinized by adding 1.0 ml methanol. The precipitated mixture was shaken and
      then centrifuged at 3000 x g for 10 min, the supernatant was evaporated at 75
      degrees C under a nitrogen stream. The residue was taken up with 0.4 ml of the
      mobile phase and 50 microliters aliquots were injected into the system. The
      minimal detectable concentration in plasma is 20 ng/ml. There is a linear
      relationship between the peak area ratio over the range of 0.5-4.0 micrograms/ml
      with r = 0.9999. The method has been applied to assay ofloxacin concentration in
      human plasma. The pharmacokinetic characteristics were studied.

PMID- 1442076
TI  - [Transdermal properties of timolol and factors affecting its permeability in
      vitro].
AB  - V-C horizontal diffusion cell has been used to carry out the initial study of
      timolol across intact and stripped hairless mouse skin and human cadaver skin.
      Also, we have systematically studied the effect of some factors such as hydration
      time, medium pH value as well as various transdermal enhancers on the
      permeability of timolol in vitro. We investigated the determination method of
      timolol by RP-HPLC using YWG-C18 column with water-acetonitrile-triethylamine
      (87:13:1) as the mobile phase. The results indicated the feasibility of
      transdermal absorption of timolol. The permeabilities of timolol raised
      significantly with properly extending of hydration time, increasing of medium pH
      and with presence of various kinds of transdermal enhancers. With 10% propylene
      glycol and 1% azone were used conjunctly, they showed obviously synergistic
      effects. All these studies contributed theoretically and practically to the
      further development and utilization of timolol in the form of transdermal patch.

PMID- 1442077
TI  - [Studies on the chemical constituents of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. III.
      Isolation and identification of zhebeinone].
AB  - A new C- nor D-homo steroidal alkaloid named zhebeinone was isolated from the
      bulbs of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. Its structure was determined by spectral
      analyses and chemical conversion as 5 alpha, 14 alpha-cevanine-3 beta, 20 beta
      dihydroxy-6-one or C-27 epimer of peiminine.

PMID- 1442078
TI  - [Structure of swertiapuniside from Swertia punicea Hemsl].
AB  - A new xanthone glycoside, swertiapuniside (V), has been isolated from the whole
      plant of Swertia punicea Hemsl. The structure was elucidated as 1,5,8-trihydroxy
      3-methoxyxanthone-8-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-6)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside by
      means of chemical and spectroscopic data. Four other known xanthones mangiferin
      (I), bellidifodin (II), 1,3,5,8-tetrahydroxyxanthone (III) and swertinolin (IV)
      were also identified.

PMID- 1442079
TI  - [Antitumor activity of new antitumor antibiotic C1027 and its monoclonal antibody
      assembled conjugate].
AB  - C1027, a new macromolecular peptide antitumor antibiotic produced by Streptomyces
      globisporus C1027, shows extremely potent cytotoxicity to cultured cancer cells.
      The antibiotic is composed of an apoprotein and a chromophore and the latter
      serves as the active part of the compound. C1027 was separated into apoprotein
      and chromophore by methanol extraction and the separated parts can be
      reconstituted to form the active C1027 molecule in phosphate buffer. For
      determination of the specificity of C1027 reconstitution, the apoprotein was
      incubated with epirubicin and the chromophore was incubated with H16, a McAb
      directed against hepatoma cells. Notably, the reconstitution of C1027 occurred
      neither between apoprotein and epirubicin nor between chromophore and IgG
      molecule. In addition, bovine serum albumin showed no competition with C1027
      apoprotein in binding to the chromophore. Various methods for linking C1027 to
      McAb were studied and two kinds of immunoconjugates have been prepared: (1)
      direct conjugate was made by linking C1027 to McAb, using SPDP as a linker agent,
      (2) assembled conjugate was made by linking and reconstitution, including 3
      steps. Firstly, the chromophore was extracted with methanol and stored at -70
      degrees C in drak. Secondly, the apoprotein was conjugated to McAb by SPDP and
      finally the extracted chromophore was added to the McAb-apoprotein conjugate.
      Determined by clonogenic assay, the IC50 values for hepatoma cells were 42
      pmol/L, and 5.5 pmol/L, respectively, for direct conjugate and assembled
      conjugate. The IC50 value of M3-C1027 assembled conjugate prepared by linking the
      irrelevant McAb M3 to C1027 was 1,400 pmol/L.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442080
TI  - [Rejection of physico-chemical indices for pathological matrix in a quantitative
      drug design].
AB  - In a quantitative drug design, correlation of coefficient matrix of physico
      chemical indices Xi is often pathological when these indices are highly
      correlated. The regression equation of biological activity Y about these indices
      Xi obtained in this case is not stable. In this paper, a method is given to
      obtain a stable regression equation: giving a critical valne alpha and finding
      out the indices among which correlation coefficient is not less than alpha. The
      following are the rules to reject some of them. If Xi and Xj is highly correlated
      (magnitude of rij greater than or equal to alpha, rij is the correlation
      coefficient of Xi and Xj), and magnitude of rin greater than magnitude of rjn
      (rin and rjn are correlation coefficients of Xi and Xj about Y, respectively),
      than the index Xj is rejected, otherwise, Xi is rejected. Stable equation can be
      obtained by stepwise regression with the remaining indices.

PMID- 1442081
TI  - [Preparation and biological activities of monoclonal antibody-streptonigrin
      immunoconjugates].
AB  - The clinic use of streptonigrin (114B), a highly active antitumor antibiotic, is
      limited by its detrimental effects on normal tissues. In an attempt to improve
      its specificity streptonigrin was conjugated to anti-human hepatoma monoclonal
      antibody 3A5 by four different chemical linkage methods. The first method was via
      water-soluble carbodiimide (EDCI) to create conjugates (1); in the second, an
      active ester of streptonigrin was applied as a reactive intermediate (2); and in
      the other two, spacers were put to use for coupling streptonigrin to McAb 3A5
      Dextran T-40 (3) or McAb 3A5-bovin serum albumin (BSA) (4). The conjugates showed
      biological activities and UV spectral characteristics of streptonigrin and 3A5.
      As determined by clonogenic assay with human hepatoma BEL-7402 cells for 1 hour
      exposure, the IC50 for conjugate (2), conjugate (3) and streptonigrin were 0.355
      ng/ml, 1.23 ng/ml and 22.4 ng/ml, respectively. The potency of conjugates (2) and
      (3) were 63-fold and 18-fold stronger than that of free streptonigrin. Clonogenic
      assay with KB cells which weakly react with 3A5 by Elisa showed that the potency
      of conjugate (2) and (3) were 11-fold and 13-fold weaker than free streptonigrin,
      respectively. The results suggest that the conjugates of McAb 3A5 and
      streptonigrin show specific cytotoxicity to target liver cancer cails. The
      linkage groups of streptonigrin were also discussed.

PMID- 1442082
TI  - [Synthesis of O,O'-dialkyl-O''-(5-substituted-3-benzothienglyoxylonitrile
      oximino) phosphates and thiophosphates].
AB  - In order to search for potential molluscicidal synergists, eighteen O,O'-dialkyl
      O''-(5-substituted-3-benzothienglyoxylonitrile oximino) phosphates and
      thiophosphates were synthesized. Preliminary biological screening showed that
      compounds I2,3,7,11,12 combined with sodium pentachlorophenate exhibited
      significant molluscicidal synergism against snails (Oncomelanis hupensis).

PMID- 1442083
TI  - [Studies on chemical constituents of the roots of Lantana camara].
AB  - Six oligosaccharides (I-VI) and six iridoid glucosides (VII-XII) isolated from
      the ethanolic extract of Lantana camara roots were identified as stachyose (I),
      verbascose (II), ajugose (III), verbascotetracose (IV), alpha-D-galac-(1-[-6)
      alpha-D-galac(-1](3)-6-D-gluc(V ) , alpha-D-galac-(1-6)-alpha-D-galac(-1]-(4)6-D
      )gluc(VI) , theveside (VII), 8-epiloganin (VIII), shanzhsid methyl ester (IX),
      theviridoside (X), lamiridoside (XI) and geniposide (XII), on the basis of
      spectral analysis (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, FD-MS, GC-MS), physico-chemical constants and
      preparation of derivatives. V and VI were new compounds named lantanose A and
      lantanose B, respectively. The others were isolated from this plant for the first
      time.

PMID- 1442084
TI  - [System of crystal structure analysis on pc computer--NOMCSDP package].
AB  - The package of crystal structure analysis--NOMCSDP (Natural Organic Molecule
      Crystal Structure Determination Package) Version 1.0 has been developed on the
      widely used IBM PC computer. It can perform the whole task of X-ray crystal
      structure analysis, as well as can be used for computing crystal structure on
      neutron diffraction. NOMCSDP has many advantages--easy operation, less needs for
      specialized crystallographic knowledge, wide applicability of solving structure,
      and having all the necessary functions. The inexorable trend of X-ray crystal
      structure analysis in the course of realizing the wide spread use in determining
      molecular structure of natural products was discussed and the practical uses of
      NOMCSDP were illustrated with examples. We hope that this version will play
      active role in the process of promoting routine use of crystal structure
      analysis.

PMID- 1442085
TI  - [Studies on the chemical constituents from Aralia elata].
AB  - Eight compounds have been isolated from the root bark of Aralia elata. Their
      structures have been identified by means of physico-chemical and spectral
      analysis. They are (6'-O-palmitoyl)-beta-sitosterol-3-O-beta-D-glucoside (A5),
      silphiosideA (A9), chikusetusaponin Ib (A11), araloside A (A12), araloside C
      (A15), acanthoside D (B1). Compound A10 is a new natural product, named as
      araloside A methyl-ester. 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1----3)[beta-D-glucopyranosy
      (1----4)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-oleanolic acid-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (A16)
      is a new compound, named as araloside G. Compounds A5, A9, A10, A11, A16, and B1
      were isolated for the first time from the plant. 13C-NMR chemical shifts of
      compounds A9 and A15 were assigned for the first time.

PMID- 1442086
TI  - [Studies on the analytical method of a new anti-arrhythmic guan-fu base A in
      rabbit plasma].
AB  - Guan-fu base A, a new antiarrhythmic alkaloid with a structure of C20
      diterpenoid, was first isolated from the tuber of Aconitum coreanum (Levl.)
      Raipaics in China in 1966. An analytical method of GC-ECD has been established in
      this paper for the determination of its concentration in rabbit plasma in order
      to study its pharmacokinetics in preclinical pharmacology. Guan-fu base A and the
      internal standard alprenolol (ALP) was found to react rapidly and quantitatively
      with trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA) to produce derivatives GFA-TFAA and ALP
      TFAA which were identified by GC-MSD. An optimal GC-ECD system for the separation
      and determination of the derivatives following the sample preparation was
      established. There was a wide linear range of the method from 10-2 x 10(4) ng/ml
      (r = 0.9984). The average recovery of Guan-fu base A from the spiked plasma was
      97.52%. The coefficient of variation of between-day and within-day were less than
      9% and 7%, respectively. The method was used to determine Guan-fu base A in the
      plasma of 15 rabbits following intravenous administration of 3 dosages of 0.4, 2
      and 10 mg per kg of body weight.

PMID- 1442087
TI  - [Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography of tetracyclines].
AB  - The present paper describes a quantitative determination method of tetracyclines
      by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. The method used a
      Waters 10 C18 4.6 nm ID x 250 nm reversed phase column, with a mobile phase
      composed of 14% acetonitrile-3% dimethylformamide-83% water containing 0.02 mol/L
      citric acid (pH-2.5), the detector wavelength was set at 350 nm, and the flow
      rate was maintained at 1.0 ml/min. Demethylchlortetracycline, epi
      demethylchlortetracycline, demethyltetracycline, epi-demethyltetracycline,
      tetracycline, epi-tetracycline, chlortetracycline and epi-chlortetracycline can
      be separated highly efficiently. The tetracyclines and their anhydro- products
      can be separated on the same column with 15% acetonitrile- 15% dimethylformamide-
      70% 0.02 mol/L citric acid as the mobile phase, and detected at UV 270 nm.

PMID- 1442088
TI  - [Obtaining natural light photostability of drugs from lamp light exposure
      experiments].
AB  - The photostability of vitamin B2, vitamin K3, zinc sulfadiazine and vesnarinone,
      and the equivalent influences of different light sources on the photostability of
      the above drugs were studied under natural light and lamp lights. From this
      study, the photostability of drugs under different light sources can be converted
      to each other, and the natural light photostability of drugs can be conveniently
      obtained from lamp light exposure experiments. The relationship between the
      surface reflectance of the above drugs and the cumulative illumination of
      different light sources can be formulated as R = A + B(Et) + C/(Et + D)
      accurately, and the cumulative illumination of different light sources irradiated
      on the above drugs can be converted to each other equivalently.

PMID- 1442089
TI  - Determination of arctiin and arctigenin in Fructus Arctii by reverse-phase HPLC.
AB  - The fruits of Arctium lappa L. is an often-used herbal drug in traditional
      Chinese medicine for the treatment of common cold caused by wind and heat. This
      drug contained many constituents, principally arctiin, with arctigenin in smaller
      amount. In this work, arctiin has been isolated from the fruits of Arctium lappa,
      and then enzymolyzed into arctigenin. The obtained arctiin and arctigenin were
      characterized and then used as standards for their determination in the crude
      drug by HPLC. The method is simple, rapid and accurate.

PMID- 1442090
TI  - [Simultaneous determination of propafenone and its active metabolite in serum by
      high performance liquid chromatography].
AB  - A rapid, sensitive and simple high performance liquid chromatographic method for
      the simultaneous determination of propafenone (PPF) and its metabolites (5
      hydroxypropafenone, 5-OHP; N-depropylpropafenone, NDP) in serum has been
      developed. Separation of PPF, 5-OHP and NDP was achieved by reversed phase
      chromatography using a mobile phase consisting of 57% methanol and 43% 10 mmol/L
      potassium dibasic phosphate (pH 2.7) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min on a 5 microns
      ODS-C18 column. The eluent was monitored at 254 nm. The method showed a good
      linearity. The recoveries of PPF, 5-OHP and NDP were found to be 99.54 +/- 2.13%,
      100.02 +/- 3.66% and 100.48 +/- 3.10%, respectively. Precision studies for both
      within day and day-to-day at different concentrations provided RSD values of less
      than 5%. Some commonly used drugs can be determined in the same procedure without
      interference except phenytoin. This method is well adapted to the therapeutic
      monitoring of PPF treated patients, as well as for pharmacokinetic studies.

PMID- 1442091
TI  - [Pharmacognostical studies on Baibu radix stemonae and allied drugs. IX.
      Determination and evaluation of total alkaloid content in the roots of Chinese
      Stemona spp].
AB  - An acid-dye colorimetric method was reported for the determination of total
      alkaloids in 53 samples of Baibu drugs from their growing destricts in 14
      provinces and municipalities and its average recovery and its linear range were
      96.1% (CV less than 4%) and 20-150 micrograms respectively. The relationship
      between the total alkaloid content, geographical origins and morphology were
      discussed. The results showed that: 1. the content of total alkaloids of stemona
      was 0.26-3.1%; 2. that of Stemona sessilifolia was 0.26-2.17% with the highest
      content of the sample from Nanyang country in Henan Province; 3. that of S.
      japonica was 0.83-1.43%; 4. that of S. tuberosa was 0.53-3.1% with the highest
      content of sample from Hengyang in Hunan Province; 5. that of S. parviflora was
      0.22-0.74% with the highest content of sample from Qongzhong in Hainan Province;
      and 6. that of more yellow, solider and stronger samples was higher than that of
      any other samples. However, that of all bigger samples in shape was not higher
      than that of smaller ones.

PMID- 1442092
TI  - [Surface activity of emulsifiers. Part IV. Determination of the contact angle at
      the interface of two liquids].
AB  - A method has been worked out for the determination of wetting contact angle
      formed at the interface of oil/water and/or aqueous and oleaginous solutions of
      surfactants, respectively. Contact angle proved to be an accurate and well
      reproducible index. The size of contact angle decreased logarithmically along
      with the concentration of tensids. Several samples of the emulsifier series
      tested, induced interfacial tension in 1-1.5%, and the wetting contact angle did
      not decrease further above this concentration. Correlation and a non-linear
      regression was found between the contact angle and the interfacial tension.

PMID- 1442094
TI  - Sensitive colorimetric determination of copper (II) ions in some chemicals and
      multivitamins.
AB  - A sensitive and selective colorimetric method has been devised for the micro
      determination of copper (II) ions in pure form, some chemicals and multivitamin
      preparations. The method depends on the formation of stable blue complexes in
      ammonia medium peaking at 615 nm between copper (II) ions, oxalyldihydrazide and
      one of the following aldehydes: 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, 2-nitrocinnamaldehyde and
      formaldehyde with minimum detection limits 0.1, 0.16 and 1.1 ppm, respectively.
      Several metal ions do not interfere. The optimum reaction conditions were studied
      and the results obtained were favorably comparable to the diethyldithiocarbamate
      method.

PMID- 1442093
TI  - [Effect of interferon and interferon combined with 3-methylcholanthrene on the
      mixed function oxidase system in the liver of mice].
AB  - The authors have studied the effect of human interferon alpha alone, as well as
      its effect when co-administered with 3-methylcholanthrene, on the mixed function
      oxidase system (MFO) of mouse liver. The single interferon alpha treatment did
      not influence the activities of MFO. However it decreased significantly the
      enzyme-inducing effect of 3-methylcholanthrene during combined treatment.

PMID- 1442095
TI  - [Effect of pretreatment with immunomodulating agents on the outcome of
      lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection in athymic (nude) and euthymic
      mice].
AB  - Balb/c (euthymic) and nu/nu (athymic) mice were treated intraperitoneally with TP
      4 (a synthetic tetrapeptide, thymopoietin sequence analog, Pharmaceutical
      Product's Factory Gedeon Richter, Budapest, Hungary) or with Mannozym (0.1%
      zymosan suspension, Institute for Serobacterological Production and Research,
      HUMAN, Budapest, Hungary), and were infected intracerebrally with LCM virus. Both
      of the agents contributed to the development of fatal choriomeningitis,
      consequently they stimulated the cellular immune response in euthymic mice, but
      the athymic mice, either treated or not, survived the infection, consequently the
      agents had no effect on the course of LCM virus infection. The results showed
      that the cellular immune response stimulating effect by both agents was thymus
      dependent. Using these agents immunostimulatory effect can be realized only in
      the presence of the thymus or the T-dependent lymphoid system, respectively.

PMID- 1442096
TI  - [Analytic and biological standardization of Prunus avium extracts].
AB  - Novicardine, the acetonic extract of P. avium peduncle which has advantageous
      cardiotonic effect, was standardized chemically and biologically. Flavonones,
      flavones, isoflavones and their glycosides were (methanolbuffer solution eluent,
      gradient elution) detected by reverse phase HPLC technique. It has been found
      that substances produced from different varieties of cherry peduncle originated
      from various lands, have the same components and their ratios are similar, but a
      contradictory statement could be made in the case of sour cherry. The allowed
      area ratios belonging to some ingredients were stated with reference to
      dihydrowogonine-7-O-glucoside. The biological experiments were performed on
      isolated heart preparations. In the organ bath with Locke's solution content the
      suspended left atrium and the papillary muscle were driven by rectangular
      electric impulses of 1 msec duration and of 1.7 Hz frequency, whereas the right
      atria were beating spontaneously. The result of experiments demonstrated that the
      standard Novicardine improves the contraction force of heart muscle by some 20
      25%, and at the same time doesn't exert influence on the basic
      electrophysiological parameters and doesn't cause significant changes in heart
      rate. On the basis of investigation of substances having modified componentratio
      it was stated that extracts could be isolated which have cardiotonic effect four
      times stronger than that of Novicardine, on the other hand there were some
      extracts having negative inotropic effect. These effects were brought into
      connection with families of compounds (mainly glycosides and aglycones). It seems
      that the big variety of Novicardine can be assigned to the individual sensitivity
      of heart preparations, and the ratios of the above mentioned compounds.

PMID- 1442097
TI  - Increase of blood glucose concentrations in diabetic patients with glucagon
      eyedrops.
AB  - Hypoglycemic crisis is a common occurrence in diabetic patients. In order to
      reverse the hypoglycemia, glucagon eyedrops at concentrations of 2.5%, 5.0%, and
      7.5% were instilled to the eyes of diabetic patients who were fasted overnight.
      The glucagon eyedrops raised the blood glucose efficiently in a dose-dependent
      manner and peaked at 30 min after drug instillation. At 2.5%, glucagon raised the
      blood glucose 0.83 mmol.L-1 which exceeded the minimal requirement of 0.56 mmol.L
      1 increase in blood glucose level at hypoglycemic crisis. At 5.0% and 7.5%,
      glucagon eyedrops increased the blood glucose level further to 1.76 and 1.91
      mmol.L-1, respectively. These results indicate that glucagon can be delivered
      effectively through ocular route to raise the systemic blood glucose for the
      treatment of hypoglycemic crisis.

PMID- 1442098
TI  - Effects of permeation enhancers BL-9 and Brij-78 on absorption of four peptide
      eyedrops in rabbits.
AB  - Systemic absorption of 4 peptide drugs through ocular route was enhanced by
      permeation enhancers, BL-9 and Brij-78. Gonadorelin (LHRH) was the smallest
      molecule (M(r) = 1200) and its systemic delivery was most efficiently enhanced by
      BL-9 (17.0-20.8 times) and Brij-78 (13.9-21.5 times). Although bombesin (M(r) =
      1620), atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP) (M(r) = 3240), and adrenocorticotropic
      hormone (ACTH) (M(r) = 4540) had molecular weight ranged widely, their systemic
      absorption through ocular route was enhanced by BL-9 (6.1-8.3 times) and Brij-78
      (6.5-9.0 times) in about the same degree. BL-9 enhanced systemic absorption of
      peptide drugs faster and reached peak peptide concentrations in 5-20 min. On the
      other hand, Brij-78 took 20-60 min to reach to peak concentration of peptide
      drugs in the blood. These results indicate that systemic delivery of peptide drug
      through ocular route is a feasible one particularly when the absorption enhancers
      are used.

PMID- 1442099
TI  - Effect of dizocilpine maleate on monoamines and their metabolites in rat brain.
AB  - Systemic (ip) injection of dizocilpine maleate (DM, 0.1 and 0.5 mg.kg-1)
      increased the levels of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic
      acid but did not bring about any noticeable change in the dopamine (DA) level in
      the striatum and limbic area. DM also increased the levels of norepinephrine in
      the limbic area and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the hippocampus. Amphetamine
      increased DA level and reduced DOPAC level in the striatum and limbic area. The
      behavioral manifestations revealed that DM predominantly evoked circling behavior
      and ataxia. The results indicate that the mechanism of the behavioral effect of
      DM may be different from that of amphetamine.

PMID- 1442100
TI  - Protective effects of fulvotomentosides on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity.
AB  - Fulvotomentosides (Ful) is the total saponins of Lonicera fulvotomentosa. In the
      present study, we examined the effect of Ful on acetaminophen (AA)-induced
      hepatotoxicity in mice. Ful pretreatment (75-225 mg.kg-1, sc x 3 d) significantly
      decreased AA (500 mg.kg-1, ip)-induced liver damage as indicated by serum
      activities of alanine aminotransferase and sorbitol dehydrogenase. Ful
      pretreatment (225 mg.kg-1, sc x 3 d) decreased hepatic cytochrome P-450,
      cytochrome b5, and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase by approximately 15-20%.
      Microsomes from Ful-pretreated mice, incubated in vitro with AA, produced less AA
      glutathione. A 28% increase in urinary excretion of AA-glucuronide was observed
      in Ful (150 mg.kg-1, sc x 3 d) pretreated mice. Ful pretreatment had no influence
      on liver UDP-glucuronic acid concentration, but increased hepatic
      glucuronyltransferase activity towards AA. In summary, Ful pretreatment protects
      against AA-induced hepatotoxicity. One of the mechanisms for this protection
      appears to be the decreased AA toxic activation via P-450, as well as increased
      detoxication via glucuronidation of AA.

PMID- 1442101
TI  - Protective effects of fulvotomentosides on cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity.
AB  - Fulvotomentosides (Ful) is the total saponins of Lonicera fulvotomentosa. In the
      present study, we examined the effects of Ful on cadmium (CdCl2)-induced acute
      liver injury in mice. Ful pretreatment (150 mg.kg-1, sc x 3 d) remarkably
      decreased CdCl2 (3.7 mg Cd.kg-1, iv)-induced liver damage as indicated by serum
      activities of alanine aminotransferase and sorbitol dehydrogenase. Distribution
      of Cd to 12 organs and hepatic subcellular fractions was determined 2 h after Cd
      challenge. Ful pretreatment did not produce a marked shift in the distribution of
      Cd to various organs, but markedly altered the hepatic subcellular distribution
      of Cd, with more Cd bound to metallothionein (MT) in the cytosol, less in the
      nuclear, mitochondrial, and microsomal fractions. Ful pretreatment produced a
      dose-dependent increase in hepatic MT as determined by the Cd.hemoglobin assay.
      In conclusion, Ful protected against Cd hepatotoxicity by inducing MT, which
      binds Cd in the cytosol and lowers the amount of Cd available to other critical
      organelles and proteins.

PMID- 1442102
TI  - Neuroprotective effects of phencyclidine on acute cerebral ischemia and
      reperfusion injury of rabbits.
AB  - Acute cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury of rabbits was produced by
      permanently occluding the vertebral arteries and temporarily clamping the common
      carotid arteries for 30 min. Phencyclidine [1-(phenylcyclohexyl)piperidine, PCP]
      40-80 micrograms.kg-1 icv 30 min before ischemia significantly attenuated the
      decrease of the total power of electroencephalogram (EEG) within 30 min of
      ischemia and improved the recovery of brain electric activity following
      reperfusion. PCP 20-80 micrograms.kg-1 dose-dependently suppressed the creatine
      kinase (CK) release during cerebral ischemia and reperfusion, and PCP 40-80
      micrograms.kg-1 reduced brain ischemic damage. These improvements indicated that
      PCP has protective effects on acute cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury.

PMID- 1442103
TI  - Acetylcholine contents and muscarinic receptor levels in frontal cortex, corpus
      striatum, and hippocampus of reserpinized rats and mice.
AB  - The acetylcholine (ACh) levels in rat and mouse frontal cortex increased 155% and
      124%, respectively, 24 h after ip reserpine 3 mg.kg-1. Striatal ACh contents,
      however, were diminished by 47% in rats and 80% in mice. ACh contents elevated
      50% and scopolamine (Scop) depleted the ACh by 47% in mouse striatum 12 h
      following reserpine. Receptor binding assay showed that 24 h after reserpine the
      Bmax of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) binding to muscarinic receptors
      increased in frontal cortex (by 33% in rats, by 30% in mice) and decreased in
      striatum (31% in rats, 26% in mice). In mouse hippocampus the ACh contents, Bmax,
      and affinity of muscarinic receptors lowered 63%, 19%, and 26%, respectively. But
      these changes were not seen in rat hippocampus.

PMID- 1442104
TI  - Protective effect of cycloprotobuxine-A against cardiac arrhythmias induced by
      ouabain.
AB  - Cycloprotobuxine-A (CPB-A) 1-4 mg.kg-1 iv increased the dose of ouabain required
      to induce ventricular arrhythmias in guinea pigs. At the equitoxic doses (1/50
      LD50), CPB-A was more potent than cyclovirobuxine-D and amiodarone. Pretreatment
      with reserpine (5 mg.kg-1 ip), vagotomy or pithing spinal cord did not prevent
      the action of CPB-A, which indicate that the protective effect of CPB-A may be
      due to its direct action on myocardium without the involvement of nervous system.
      In isolated guinea pig ventricular muscles, CPB-A 3 mumol.L-1 consistently
      decreased the amplitude of oscillatory afterpotentials (OAP) and blocked
      triggered activity elicited by ouabain. At 30 mumol.L-1, CPB-A abolished the
      appearance of OAP. It seems that one of the mechanisms for the anti-arrhythmic
      action of CPB-A was a decrease in the amplitude of OAP.

PMID- 1442105
TI  - Hemodynamic actions of guan-fu base A in anesthetized rats.
AB  - Guan-fu base A (GFA) is a terpenoid alkaloid isolated from the tuber of Aconitum
      coreanum in this institute. GFA exhibited anti-arrhythmic effects in various
      experimental arrhythmia animal models, and bradycardic actions. In this paper,
      the hemodynamic action of GFA was investigated. GFA 20 mg.kg-1 iv decreased in
      heart rate from 420 +/- 51 to 305 +/- 60 bpm (P less than 0.05). The changes of
      SBP, DBP, LVSP, +/- dP/dtmax, and LVEDP were much smaller or insignificant. GFA
      (1, 3, 10, 30, 60 mg.kg-1 cumulative iv) increased the heart periods (HP) and QT
      intervals in a dose-dependent manner, accompanied by a small increase in PQ
      interval, but did not affect QRS complex. The increase in HP from 138 +/- 11 to
      321 +/- 48 ms (P less than 0.01) was mainly due to a prolongation of the
      diastolic period from 22 +/- 12 ms to 156 +/- 46 ms (P less than 0.01). The
      triple product of HR x LVET x SBP was also decreased with every dose of GFA. This
      hemodynamic profile suggests that the bradycardic action of GFA can reduce
      myocardial oxygen consumption and improve myocardial blood supply, which may be
      of use in certain cardiac patients.

PMID- 1442106
TI  - Effects of ketanserin on blood pressure variability in conscious spontaneously
      hypertensive rats.
AB  - Computerized analysis of blood pressure (BP) was used to study for the effects of
      ketanserin (Ket) on BP and blood pressure variability (BPV). Rats were
      instrumented chronically and BP was sampled every 4 ms by a computer from 2:00 to
      14:00. Then a single dose of Ket (3 mg.kg-1) was given iv. BP and heart period
      (HP) were recorded for the next 30 min. The results showed that Ket lowered
      systolic BP (26.7 kPa to 21.1 kPa), diastolic BP (20.5 kPa to 15.8 kPa), and
      systolic BPV (1.3 kPa to 0.94 kPa). Otherwise, a positive relationship was found
      between antihypertensive effects of Ket and BPV. These findings may be of
      importance in antihypertensive treatment.

PMID- 1442107
TI  - Effects of microinjection of picrotoxin into posterior hypothalamus on
      ventricular electric stability.
AB  - Ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT), serum potassium, and monophasic action
      potentials (MAP) have been assessed before and after microinjection of picrotoxin
      (Pic) into posterior hypothalamus in rabbits. Pic (2 and 3 micrograms) brought
      about a biphasic effect on VFT, an initial decrease followed by a notable
      increase. Pretreatment with spinal cord transection almost abolished the
      descending phase, whereas pretreatment with vagotomy depressed the ascending
      phase significantly. Following the microinjection of Pic, serum potassium rose up
      to 5.0 mmol.L-1 at 30 min. The amplitude of MAP (MAPA) and Vmax were lessened in
      rabbits, while in vagotomized rabbits, the changes of MAP were aggravated, and
      the duration of MAP was shortened. Phentolamine counteracted the changes of MAP
      induced by Pic. These results suggested that the initial decrease of VFT caused
      by Pic derived mainly from the direct action and myocardial ischemia of
      sympathetic activation, while its subsequent elevation was caused by vagal
      activation and hyperkalemia.

PMID- 1442108
TI  - Protective and anti-arrhythmic effects of dauricine and verapamil on acute
      myocardial infarction in anesthetized dogs.
AB  - Dauricine (Dau) 5 mg.kg-1 and verapamil (Ver) 0.15 mg.kg-1 iv followed by
      infusions of 0.1 and 0.01 mg.kg-1.min-1, respectively, for 30 min, depressed the
      elevated coronary venous blood LDH and CPK after LAD occlusion. Dau produced
      antagonistic effects on acute myocardial ischemia-induced ventricular ectopic
      activities (VE) and ventricular tachycardia (VT). The incidences of VE and VT in
      Ver group and ventricular fibrillation (VF) in both groups tended to descend. The
      results suggested that Dau and Ver produced marked protective effects on
      myocardial infarction and antagonized the acute ischemic arrhythmia.

PMID- 1442109
TI  - Cytotoxic activity of trewiasine in 4 human cancer cell lines and 5 murine
      tumors.
AB  - Trewiasine (TWS) is a mytansinoid compound. It possessed a significant cytotoxic
      activity against various human cancer cell lines in vitro. U937 cells, which were
      more sensitive to the TWS, required TWS 1 microgram.ml-1 to inhibit cell growth
      over 90% (P less than 0.01). TWS also showed activities against murine tumors in
      vivo, such as the ascitic tumors S180, hepatoma, U14, and solid tumor Lewis lung
      carcinoma. Depression of leukocytes was not seen when mice were given ip TWS 10
      or 50 micrograms.kg-1.d-1 x 7 d. TWS 0.1-1 micrograms.ml-1 caused no sister
      chromatid exchange induction in Chinese hamster cell line V79.

PMID- 1442110
TI  - Effect of schisandrin B on lipoperoxidative damage to plasma membrane of rat
      liver in vitro.
AB  - The effect of schisandrin B (Sin B) on oxygen free radicals--induced
      lipoperoxidative damage to plasma membrane of rat hepatocytes was investigated.
      When the plasma membrane of rat hepatocytes was incubated with iron/cysteine or
      Vit C/NADPH, the production of malondialdehyde (MDA) and consumption of NADPH
      increased, while the membrane fluidity reduced. Addition of Sin B (3-25
      micrograms.ml-1) to the incubation mixture inhibited all these alterations of the
      plasma membrane induced by iron/cysteine and Vit C/NADPH. The results indicated
      that Sin B could maintain membrane stability of rat hepatocytes under oxidative
      stress.

PMID- 1442111
TI  - Effects of cantharidin on interleukin-2 and interleukin-1 production in mice in
      vivo.
AB  - After cantharidin (0.75, 1.5 mg.kg-1) was given ip 3 times every other day in
      mice, Con A-induced spleen lymphocyte proliferation, as measured by [3H]TdR
      incorporation assay, was enhanced from 7,978 +/- 1,780 to 36,631 +/- 8,467 and
      29,997 +/- 3,788 dpm in both doses. Interleukin-2 and interleukin-1 production
      were also increased from 11 +/- 4 to 52 +/- 18, 23 +/- 6 U.ml-1 and from 7,628 +/
      1,477 to 14,532 +/- 2,272, 11,515 +/- 2,862 dpm, respectively. These results
      suggest that cantharidin potentiates immune response through the release of
      interleukin-2 and interleukin-1.

PMID- 1442112
TI  - [Effect of habenular nucleus in 5-HT ascending pressor pathways].
AB  - The blood pressure was elevated by the electric stimulation of dorsal raphe
      nucleus in rats. Microinjection of 5-HT (6 micrograms, 3 micrograms) into
      habenular nucleus induced pressor effect too, but the heart rate was not much
      changed. Microinjection of procaine hydrochloride (300 micrograms.microliters-1)
      into both sides of habenular nuclei, the pressor effect induced by stimulation of
      dorsal raphe nucleus was alleviated obviously (85% blockade). The data suggested
      that habenular nucleus participates in the pressor effect caused by the
      excitation of dorsal raphe nucleus, and 5-HT may be one of the neurotransmitters
      in the action of habenular nucleus participating in cardiovascular regulatory
      function.

PMID- 1442113
TI  - [Effects of benzyltetrahydropalmatine on rat portal vein and guinea pig
      myocardium].
AB  - In isolated rat portal vein, benzyltetrahydrophalmatine (BTHP) 0.3-100 mumol.L-1
      dose-dependently increased the spontaneous mechanical activity. However, BTHP 300
      mumol.L-1 showed an inhibitory effect on the spontaneous contraction. BTHP 200
      mumol.L-1 reversed positive staircase phenomenon to negative ones in left atrium
      of guinea pig and inhibited the amplitude and Vmax and shortened the action
      potential duration (APD50) of the slow action potentials induced by high K+ (24
      mmol.L-1) in guinea pig papillary muscles. BTHP reduced also the contractile
      force in papillary muscles of guinea pig. These results suggest that BTHP
      possesses calcium antagonistic effect in high concentration.

PMID- 1442114
TI  - [Effect of hippocampal injection of oxytocin on shuttle-box avoidance behavior of
      rats].
AB  - Bilateral dorsal hippocampal injection of oxytocin (Oxy, 50 pg, on each side) in
      rats impaired the acquisition of conditioned avoidance behavior and accelerated
      the extinction of conditioned avoidance behavior in shuttle-box. The data
      suggested that the effect of Oxy on shuttle-box conditioned avoidance behavior of
      rats was at least partly accomplished via the hippocampus; Oxy affected short
      term memory as well as long-term memory.

PMID- 1442115
TI  - [Effects of 4-(4"-(2",2",6",6"-tetramethyl-1"-pipe-ridinyloxy) amino)-4'
      demethylepipodophyllotoxin on nucleic acids, proteins, and DNA strand of L7712
      cells in vitro].
AB  - The antitumor activity of GP-7, a new spin-labeled epipodophyllotoxin, was
      studied by liquid scintillation spectrometry. There were many similarities
      between GP-7 and etoposide. Both GP-7 and etoposide inhibited the incorporation
      of [3H]TdR, [3H]UR, and [3H]Leu into DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis in leukemia
      7712 cells. The inhibition correlated with drug concentration and duration. IC50
      of GP-7 and etoposide on DNA synthesis at 24 h were 0.21 and 0.37 micrograms.ml
      1, respectively. The inhibition of GP-7 or etoposide on DNA synthesis retained
      even after the drug were washed out for 3 h. GP-7 and etoposide caused DNA single
      strand breaks, with a well concentration-response relationship. These data
      suggest that the inhibition of DNA synthesis by GP-7 or etoposide is likely due
      to the damage of DNA template and breaking of single-strand DNA.

PMID- 1442116
TI  - [Effect of artemether against Schistosoma japonicum].
AB  - Artemether (beta-methyl ether of artemisinin) first synthesized by Shanghai
      Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences(1), appears in colorless
      crystal and is more lipid-soluble than artemisinin. When artemether was given ig
      or im to mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum for 32-35 d at the dosage of
      1/10-1/2 LD50. Its effects in the two administration routes were similar. After
      artemether 200 mg.kg.d-1 ig or 100 mg.kg-1.d-1 im for 1-2 d was given to mice
      infected with S japonicum cercariae at different intervals, d 7 schistosomules
      were more susceptible to the drug with worm reduction rates of 73.9-92.0%. The d
      35 adult worms also exhibited susceptibility to the drug and the worm reduction
      rates were 47.0-70.1%, but less susceptibility to the drug in other developmental
      stages of schistosomes. The major morphological alteration of adult worms induced
      by artemether was sustained shrinkage accompanied by atrophy and degeneration of
      the worm's reproductive glands, eg, the testis in males and ovary as well as
      vitelline gland in females. The in vitro tests indicated that artemether showed
      apparent effects on different stages of schistosomes only when a higher
      concentration of 40 micrograms.ml-1 was used.

PMID- 1442117
TI  - [Pharmacokinetics of puerarin in rats, rabbits, and dogs].
AB  - The puerarin was determined by HPLC with fluorescence detection. The plasma
      concentration-time course of puerarin in rats and dogs after iv was best fitted
      to a two-compartment open model, while that in rabbits was best fitted to a three
      compartment open model. Species specificity was found among rats, rabbits, and
      dogs, calculated with compartment model program. The T1/2 beta after iv puerarin
      9 mg.kg-1 in rats, rabbits, and dogs were 11, 21, and 67 min, respectively. There
      were no significant differences in pharmacokinetic parameters after iv 4.5-30
      mg.kg-1 to rabbits and dogs.

PMID- 1442118
TI  - Effects of graded restriction of perfusion on circulation and metabolism in the
      working leg; quantification of a human ischaemia-model.
AB  - An experimental model used with the intention of mimicking the ischaemic
      condition in patients with arterial obliterative disease was evaluated. The
      influence of reduced effective perfusion pressure by increased external pressure
      on leg blood flow and metabolism was determined during exercise in 10 healthy
      subjects. Catheters were inserted into the right femoral artery and vein and into
      the left femoral vein. Supine one-legged (n = 5) or two-legged (n = 5) cycle
      exercise was performed with the subject's legs in a pressure chamber. Zero and
      three different levels of local supra-atmospheric pressure were applied over the
      legs: 30, 50 and 60 mmHg. Three submaximal work loads were used: 24, 48 and 72
      W/leg. Leg blood flow was measured by the constant-infusion dye-dilution
      technique. Samples were also drawn from the femoral artery and vein for oxygen
      saturation and lactate determinations and arterial pressure was recorded.
      Exercise blood flow decreased progressively with increasing chamber pressure (P
      less than 0.001). Exposure to 50 mmHg over the working leg led to a mean
      reduction of blood flow by 16% and venous oxygen saturation by 12 percentage
      units (P less than 0.05). Lactate release increased with increasing pressure (P
      less than 0.05). In summary, local application of moderate positive external
      pressure over the working leg reduces blood flow in a 'dose-dependent' manner,
      and as a consequence, femoral venous oxygen saturation decreases and lactate
      release increases. Thus, this method makes it possible to induce graded ischaemia
      in human skeletal muscle during exercise in a controlled fashion.

PMID- 1442119
TI  - Bio-energetic changes in human gastrocnemius muscle 1-2 days after strenuous
      exercise.
AB  - [31P]magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to study the metabolic sequelae of
      intense muscular activity in gastrocnemius of seven subjects 1-2 days after a 67
      mile bicycle ride. The muscle was examined at rest, during a test exercise and
      during recovery from test exercise. Post-ride and pre-ride results were compared.
      At rest, the ratio of phosphocreatine to ATP (PCr/ATP) was increased post-ride;
      during test exercise PCr/(PCr+Pi) was lower post-ride; and the recoveries of PCr,
      Pi and PCr/(PCr+Pi) after test exercise were delayed, with decreased 'overshoot'
      of PCr/(PCr+Pi) (which is due to recovery of Pi to below its resting value). Mild
      mitochondrial damage (perhaps due to exposure to high cytosolic [Pi] during the
      bicycle ride) may explain some of these results. In contrast to reports of
      largely eccentric exercise there was no increase in resting Pi/ATP. We have thus
      demonstrated perturbations of muscle bio-energetics 1-2 days after strenuous
      exercise, in the absence of convincing enzymological evidence of muscle damage.

PMID- 1442120
TI  - Influence of prostaglandins and a prostaglandin H synthase inhibitor on cervical
      secretion of the guinea-pig.
AB  - The modulatory effects of several prostaglandins and a prostaglandin H synthase
      inhibitor (indomethacin) on basal as well as nerve stimulation induced secretion
      from the cervical glands of the guinea-pig were studied. Hypogastric nerve
      stimulation resulted in a secretory response of +113%. Indomethacin dose
      dependently inhibited this secretory response. Prostaglandins E2, F2 alpha and I2
      inhibited and 19-OH prostaglandin E1 reduced nerve stimulation induced secretion.
      Prostaglandin I2 and 19-OH PGE1 markedly enhanced basal secretion, while
      indomethacin as well as PGE2 and PGF2 alpha did not induce any secretion of
      cervical glands. However, PGF2 alpha in combination with the alpha-adrenergic
      blocker phentolamine resulted in an increase in secretion. The inhibitory effect
      of prostaglandins on cholinergic secretory innervation might be due to
      stimulation of adrenergic nerves exerting an inhibitory influence on cholinergic
      secretomotor innervation. It is suggested that PGI2 and 19-OH PGE1 exert
      postjunctional stimulatory effects on the secretory lining and that a lack of
      secretory effect of PGF2 alpha at least in part may be due to stimulatory effects
      on adrenergic neurons, inhibiting cholinergic secretomotor transmission. Thus, in
      this in vitro study it is shown that metabolites of the arachidonic acid cascade
      and a prostaglandin H synthase inhibitor can modulate cervical secretion and thus
      maybe influence fertilization.

PMID- 1442121
TI  - Protein kinase C activity in rat renal proximal tubule cells.
AB  - The presence of protein kinase C (PKC) in proximal tubule cells of the rat kidney
      is established by means of immunodetection and by the demonstration of calcium-
      and phospholipid-dependent, staurosporine-inhibitable histone phosphorylation.
      The calcium-dependence of renal PKC is described. Maximal activation of the
      enzyme (178.2 and 258.8 pmol P1 mg-1 min-1 for cytosol and membrane respectively)
      was achieved with 5 microM of Ca2+. Phorbol 12, 13 dibutyrate (PDBu) translocated
      PKC from cytosol to membrane in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, while 4 alpha
      phorbol 12,13-didecanoate produced no significant effect on translocation.
      Cytosolic PKC activity was compared in immature and mature tissues (10- and 40
      day-old kidneys). Basal activity was found to be significantly higher (P less
      than 0.05) in immature cells (272.8 vs. 157.5 pmol Pi mg-1 min-1). PDBu at 10(-6)
      M for 15 min reduced immunoreactivity in the soluble fraction of both groups,
      which was accompanied by a significant decrease in kinase activity. We speculate
      that the high PKC activity in the infant kidney plays a role in cell growth.

PMID- 1442122
TI  - Metabolic rates of minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in cold water.
AB  - Body temperature, blubber thickness and lung capacity (Vc) were recorded in newly
      killed minke whales, while respiratory frequency (f) was determined in free
      swimming animals. Mean deep (thoracic) body temperature was 34.7 +/- 0.8 (SD)
      degrees C (n = 14). Weighted mean core/blubber interface temperature in animals
      caught in 2.5-5.5 degrees C water was 28.8 +/- 1.7 degrees C (n = 8). The minimum
      average rate of sensible heat loss (HLs) was 3.81 +/- 0.53 (SD) W kgw-0.75 (n =
      8) in animals with body masses (w) in the range of 1840 to 5740 kg, HLs being
      inversely proportional to w (HLs = -2.98 10(-4) w +4.89 W kgw-0.75 (n = 8, r2 =
      0.73, P less than 0.01)). The average rate of respiratory heat loss (HLr) was
      0.26 +/- 0.04 (SD) W kgw-0.75, regardless of w, in the same 8 animals. Total
      rates of heat loss (HL = HLr+HLs) in 2.5-5.5 degrees C water ranged between 3.40
      and 4.87 W kgw-0.75, with an average of 4.06 +/- 0.52 (SD) W kgw-0.75 (n = 8).
      Estimates of oxygen consumption based on records of f and Ve, and data on oxygen
      extraction from other cetaceans, yielded a range of metabolic rates which
      compared nicely with the calculated HL values.

PMID- 1442123
TI  - Changes in high-energy phosphates in rat skeletal muscle during acute respiratory
      acidosis.
AB  - We used 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study changes in phosphorus
      metabolite concentrations in rat skeletal muscle during respiratory acidosis (14
      and 20% inspired CO2) and recovery. As intracellular pH fell (from 7.05 to 6.75
      after 20 min of 20% CO2), intracellular [P(i)] increased by up to 50% while
      phosphocreatine concentration decreased by up to 8%. The sum of all intracellular
      phosphates remained constant. [ADP] decreased by up to 40% in accordance with the
      creatine kinase equilibrium but the phosphorylation potential [ATP]/([ADP][P(i)])
      was preserved as a result of increased [P(i)]. This adjustment may be a mechanism
      for maintaining mitochondrial ATP synthesis despite low pH. Eventually this
      increase in cellular [P(i)] could lead to slow efflux of P(i) from the skeletal
      muscle cell contributing to the hyperphosphataemia of acute respiratory acidosis.

PMID- 1442124
TI  - Effects of Amrinone on shortening velocity, force development and ATPase activity
      of demembranated preparations of rat ventricular myocardium.
AB  - This study analyses the effects of Amrinone (bipyridine derivative with
      phosphodiesterase inhibitor properties) on the myofibrillar apparatus of rat
      myocardium. Thin trabeculae were isolated from the right ventricle and chemically
      demembranated. Force development and shortening velocity were measured during
      maximal calcium activations (pCa = 4.45) in control conditions and in the
      presence of 1-3 mM Amrinone. Maximum shortening velocity was obtained both from
      extrapolation of the force-velocity curve and with the slack test method.
      Amrinone was found to significantly reduce maximum shortening velocity and force
      development. Myofibrils and myosin were prepared from rat ventricular myocardium
      and their ATPase activity was assessed in control conditions and in the presence
      of Amrinone (0.3-6 mM). Ca-Mg dependent myofibrillar ATPase activity which was
      determined at low ionic strength was depressed by Amrinone in a dose-dependent
      way. Ca-stimulated ATPase activity determined at high ionic strength in myofibril
      or myosin preparations was not affected. Furthermore, Amrinone did not influence
      the pCa-ATPase activity curve of the myofibrillar preparations. A comparison
      between the inhibitory effects of Amrinone on myofibrils prepared from euthyroid
      rats and myofibrils prepared from hypothyroid rats was carried out. The ATPase
      activity was significantly less depressed in myofibrils prepared from hypothyroid
      rats than in those prepared from euthyroid rats. These results provide the first
      evidence of an effect of Amrinone on ATP splitting and force generation in the
      myofilament system of cardiac muscle.

PMID- 1442125
TI  - Force production in voltage-clamped human atrial muscle.
AB  - Human atrial muscle preparations obtained during open heart surgery were mounted
      in a sucrose gap. Force and membrane currents were recorded during voltage clamp.
      After a 20-s rest, 10 clamps from a holding potential of -40 to 0 mV at 1.0 Hz
      were given. This was followed by a test clamp (called 1) of a varied duration and
      amplitude and two more test clamps (called 2 and 3) as during the priming period.
      Peak force of contraction 1 (F1) was independent of clamp duration from 2s to
      about 100 ms but declined at shorter durations. Peak force of contraction 2 (F2)
      and 3 (F3) increased with the duration and became potentiated. Increasing the
      clamp amplitude raised F1 to an optimum value at about +10 mV and there was a
      decline at higher voltages. Both F2 and F3 increased at higher amplitudes. A
      conventional bell-shaped current-voltage relation for the second inward current
      was obtained during clamp 1 with maximum inward current around -10 mV. In control
      experiments on isolated human myocytes peak current was recorded at somewhat more
      positive potentials. The relation between F3 and F2 was linear both when duration
      and amplitude of clamp 1 was varied. The slope of the line, interpreted as a
      measure of recirculation of activator calcium, was 0.4. It is concluded that
      force during voltage clamp in human atrial muscle is similarly related to
      membrane voltage as previously reported for guinea pig and ferret preparations.

PMID- 1442126
TI  - Intra-neural electrical stimulation of cutaneous nociceptive fibres in humans:
      effects of different pulse patterns on magnitude of pain.
AB  - A study was performed to elucidate how different impulse frequencies and impulse
      patterns in cutaneous nociceptive fibres influence the subjective magnitude of
      pain. Groups of nociceptive A delta and C fibres were co-activated by electrical
      intraneural stimulation at constant intensity in cutaneous fascicles of the
      peroneal nerve in healthy human subjects. The resulting pain sensations were
      rated on a modified visual analogue scale. Five-second trains were administered
      randomly at irregular intervals of at least 30 s. Five of the stimulus patterns
      had regular interpulse intervals, corresponding to frequencies of 1, 2, 4, 10 and
      15 Hz, and three other patterns were constructed to mimic to some extent the
      initially phasic and subsequently slowly adapting discharge patterns which may be
      encountered in recordings from human nociceptors. The results from these
      experiments using stimulation frequencies within physiological discharge ranges
      for human nociceptors indicate that the subjective magnitude of pain increases
      monotonously as a function of stimulus frequency, and that patterns mimicking
      nociceptor discharges in response to natural stimuli give rise to greater peak
      magnitudes of pain than artificial regular patterns with a corresponding number
      of impulses.

PMID- 1442127
TI  - Thalamic nociceptive mechanisms in cats, influenced by central conditioning
      stimuli.
AB  - Field potentials and single cell activity evoked by tooth pulp (TP) stimulation
      were studied in the ventrobasal (VB) complex of the cat. The experiments were
      performed using a conditioning-test paradigm. Evoked cell activity or field
      potentials following TP stimulation was used as a test. Conditioning stimulus was
      given to different regions of the thalamic central lateral nucleus (CL).
      Conditioning electrical stimulation in medial (ML 2.8-3.6 mm) parts of CL induced
      a depression of the TP evoked response in 10 cells. Stimulation sites in lateral
      CL (ML 3.6-4.2 mm) induced facilitation in eight cells and decreased activity in
      seven cells. Tooth pulp evoked field potentials in thalamus were facilitated by a
      preceding stimulation in lateral CL. Cells in the lateral parts of CL are
      suggested to induce an increased activity in cells in the VB complex which
      mediate nociceptive information. This effect is suggested to be mediated via a CL
      induced disinhibition at a reticular thalamic (RE) or at a VB complex level. The
      medial parts of CL seem to give a traditional feedback inhibition on VB cells.
      Such an effect is also suggested to be mediated via the RE complex. The
      importance of these findings are discussed with relation to changes in the
      thalamus that may occur following long lasting nociceptive stimulation.

PMID- 1442128
TI  - Inefficiency of bilateral amygdaloid lesions to reduce the transient motor
      reactions exhibited by swine during exposure to CO2.
AB  - The aim of the study was to evaluate from the ethical point of view the
      importance of transient muscular jerks commonly exhibited by swine at an early
      stage of pre-slaughter CO2-anaesthesia. The influence of 5 min restraint upon
      plasma concentrations of adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline (NA) was studied in
      swine (n = 6) before and after bilateral lesioning of the amygdaloid region of
      the brain, as were the motor reactions of the same and three other animals during
      1 min exposure to 80% CO2. The A and NA responses to the restraint became almost
      extinguished after amygdaloid lesioning in three of the animals, were reduced by
      about 50% in one swine, whereas no reduction was seen in the other two animals
      investigated. The amygdaloid lesioning did not visibly influence the latency for,
      and the duration and intensity of the muscular jerks manifested by the swine
      during the CO2-exposure. The results do not favour the possibility that transient
      motor reactions exhibited by swine during pre-slaughter CO2-exposure are
      manifestations of emotional stress. Instead, the study indirectly supports the
      idea that the cause of the muscular jerks may be disinhibition of subcortical
      motor centres being inactivated by the CO2-anaesthesia somewhat later than
      neocortical cells normally exerting the inhibition.

PMID- 1442129
TI  - IGF-I binding and IGF-I expression in regenerating muscle of normal and
      hypophysectomized rats.
AB  - Binding of iodinated IGF-I to tissue sections from regenerating muscle was
      studied by autoradiography in normal and in hypophysectomized rats. Binding of
      IGF-I was low in control muscle in both groups of animals, but increased
      transiently about 10-fold during regeneration after injury. Maximal binding
      occurred later in hypophysectomized rats than in control rats, and there was also
      a slower regeneration process in these animals. IGF-I, as demonstrated by
      immunohistochemistry, and IGF-I mRNA, as demonstrated by in situ hybridization,
      were expressed by the regenerating muscle cells in both groups of animals. It is
      concluded that locally produced IGF-I is the most likely ligand for IGF-I
      receptors during muscle regeneration.

PMID- 1442130
TI  - The ethanol technique of monitoring local blood flow changes in rat skeletal
      muscle: implications for microdialysis.
AB  - We have investigated the feasibility of monitoring local skeletal muscle blood
      flow in the rat by including ethanol in the perfusion medium passing through a
      microdialysis probe placed in muscle tissue. Ethanol at 5, 55, or 1100 mM did not
      directly influence local muscle metabolism, as measured by dialysate glucose,
      lactate, and glycerol concentrations. The clearance of ethanol from the perfusion
      medium can be described by the outflow/inflow ratio ([ethanol]collected
      dialysate/[ethanol]infused perfusion medium), which was found to be similar
      (between 0.36 and 0.38) at all ethanol perfusion concentrations studied. With
      probes inserted in a flow-chamber, this ratio changed in a flow-dependent way in
      the external flow range of 5-20 microliters min-1. The ethanol outflow/inflow
      ratio in vivo was significantly (P less than 0.001) increased (to a maximum of
      127 +/- 2.8% and 144 +/- 7.4% of the baseline, mean +/- SEM) when blood flow was
      reduced by either leg constriction or local vasopressin administration, and
      significantly (P less than 0.001) reduced (to 62 +/- 6.4% and 43 +/- 4.4% of
      baseline) with increases in blood flow during external heating or local 2
      chloroadenosine administration, respectively. Dialysate glucose concentrations
      correlated negatively with the ethanol outflow/inflow ratio (P less than 0.01)
      and consequently decreased (to 46 +/- 7.6% and 56 +/- 5.6% of baseline) with
      constriction and vasopressin administration and increased (to 169 +/- 32.5% and
      262 +/- 16.7% of baseline) following heating and 2-chloroadenosine
      administration. Dialysate lactate concentrations were significantly increased
      (approximately 2-fold, P less than 0.001) during all perturbations of blood flow.
      In conclusion, this technique makes it possible to monitor changes in skeletal
      muscle blood flow; however, methods of quantification remain to be established.
      The fact that blood flow changes were found to significantly affect interstitial
      glucose and lactate concentrations as revealed by microdialysis indicates that
      this information is critical in microdialysis experiments.

PMID- 1442131
TI  - Power spectral analysis of heart rate and blood pressure variability in
      anaesthetized dogs.
AB  - Short-term oscillation of heart rate and blood pressure are mainly regulated by
      the automatic nervous system. It has been proposed that non-neural factors, such
      as changes in intrathoracic pressure, can strongly modulate this rhythmicity. Our
      aim was to evaluate the effect of changing intrathoracic pressure and central
      autonomic nervous activity on heart rate and blood pressure variability.
      Evaluation was performed by using spectral analysis techniques with
      autoregressive modelling. The variability in heart rate and blood pressure
      remained in animals with open chest or paralysed respiratory muscles. After
      vagotomy, the variability in heart rate decreased, but not that of blood
      pressure. Total spinal anaesthesia elicited a decrease in the variability in
      blood pressure. The pharmacological blockade of alpha- and beta-receptors further
      decreased both variabilities. It was concluded that in anaesthetized dogs heart
      rate and blood pressure variability are mainly of central origin and non-neural
      factors have only minor effect on these central rhythms. High (> 0.15 Hz), medium
      (0.07-0.15 Hz) and, obviously low (0.00-0.07 Hz) frequency variations in heart
      rate are mostly mediated vagally. In blood pressure, medium and obviously low
      frequency variations are modulated by sympathetic nervous system, whereas high
      frequency variations are secondary to the heart rate variation.

PMID- 1442132
TI  - Functional and stereologic estimations of myocardial capillary exchange capacity
      in treated and untreated spontaneously hypertensive rats.
AB  - Myocardial capillary exchange capacity was investigated by stereologic and
      functional techniques in parallel during pressure-overload cardiac hypertrophy
      and after long-term antihypertensive therapy with the vasodilator felodipine. In
      26-week-old female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) blood pressure increased
      by 25% and left ventricular weight (LVW/BW) increased by 18% compared to Wistar
      Kyoto rats (WKY). Myocardial capillary surface and volume densities normalized
      for organ weight were similar in both ventricles for both strains. Moreover,
      capillary surface density was higher sub-epicardially (EPI) than in the
      subendocardium (ENDO) in the left ventricle of SHR. Thirteen weeks of felodipine
      therapy (SHR-Felo) normalized blood pressure without affecting LVW/BW although a
      transition from concentric to eccentric hypertrophy is known to occur. Myocardial
      capillary surface and volume densities and the left ventricular ENDO-EPI-gradient
      in surface density were similar to untreated SHR. However, felodipine-treatment
      increased right ventricular weight and capillary volume density. Functional
      capillary exchange was estimated in terms of permeability surface area products
      (PS) for Cr-EDTA and vitamin B12 and normalized for organ weight. PSCr-EDTA,
      PSB12 and the ratio PSCr-EDTA/PSB12 (an index of capillary permeability) were
      similar in SHR and WKY. Furthermore, the relation between functional and
      stereological indices of exchange capacity was investigated in a multiple linear
      regression analysis. However, no significant correlation between PS and neither
      capillary surface nor volume density was found. In conclusion, myocardial
      capillary exchange capacity was well adapted to the pressure overload cardiac
      hypertrophy present in female SHR. Despite induction of right ventricular
      hypertrophy, felodipine-treatment did not affect capillary exchange capacity.
      Furthermore, when functional and stereologic estimates were performed in
      parallel, the importance of dynamic factors for myocardial capillary exchange
      capacity (e.g. heterogeneity) was illustrated.

PMID- 1442133
TI  - Lipid peroxidation capacities in the myocardium of endurance-trained rats and
      mice in vitro.
AB  - The endurance-training programme in Experiment 1 (Exp. 1) consisted of a total
      swimming time of 149-159 h per male Han Wistar rat and in Experiment 2 (Exp. 2)
      the male NMRI-mice run on a treadmill at a speed of 25 m min-1 1 h per day, 5
      days a week for 3 weeks. One group of the rat hearts was perfused with 0.3 mM
      cumene hydroperoxide (CumOOH) while the others were fractioned (mitochondria,
      sarcolemma and sarcoplasmic reticulum) and these cell fractions and homogenates
      were used to determine the total concentration of peroxidative lipids and the
      susceptibility to lipid peroxidation. The perfusion with CumOOH caused the
      release of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) into the perfusate.
      The release of TBARS from the trained hearts was smaller than that of the control
      hearts (P < 0.01). The concentration of TBARS was also smaller in the myocardium
      of the right ventricle of the trained rats (P < 0.01). The concentration of
      reduced GSH remained at a higher level after the CumOOH perfusion suggesting a
      better redox state in the hearts of trained animals. The concentration of the
      lipids susceptible to lipid peroxidation was lower in the homogenates of the
      trained rat hearts (P < 0.05). However, this decrease could not be explained by
      any of the tissue fractions used when studied in rat hearts. In Exp. 2 the total
      concentration of lipids susceptible to peroxidation remained unchanged in the
      mice hearts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442134
TI  - Vasoconstrictor reactions in spontaneously hypertensive rats versus Wistar Kyoto
      can be increased or decreased depending on the conditions of perfusion.
AB  - The reactions of resistance vessels in SHR and WKY hindquarters were compared
      during saline or blood perfusion. During saline constant-flow perfusion at all
      initial pressures (80-200 mmHg) sympathetic vasoconstrictor effects were greater
      in SHR than those in WKY. During perfusion at constant and equal pressure
      vasoconstrictor responses were greater in SHR vs. WKY only at high pressure--200
      mmHg. On the other hand, under constant pressure conditions at lower pressures
      (80 and 120 mmHg) sympathetic stimulation induced weaker responses in SHR than in
      WKY, which at, for example, 80 mmHg was the case at every frequency of
      sympathetic stimulation used (2-20 Hz). Also, the responses to exogenous
      noradrenaline and vasopressin occurred during perfusion at low (80 mmHg) and for
      both equal constant-pressure conditions lower in SHR than in WKY. Comparison of
      sympathetic effects in SHR and WKY during blood hindquarter perfusion revealed
      similar results. Also, when SHR and WKY responses were compared at their ordinary
      levels of constant-pressure, sympathetic vasoconstrictor effects in SHR were
      lower than those in WKY.

PMID- 1442135
TI  - Effects, release and disposal of endothelin-1 in conscious dogs.
AB  - Cardiovascular and renal responses to a step-up infusion of endothelin-1 (ET-1)
      (1, 5, and 15 ng kg-1 min-1) were investigated in conscious dogs. In addition,
      the disappearance of ET-1 in arterial and central venous plasma after an infusion
      of 10 ng kg-1 min-1 was quantified, and the effects of vasopressin (AVP, 10 ng kg
      1 min-1) and angiotensin II (AII, 2, 5, and 10 ng kg-1 min-1) on plasma ET-1 were
      investigated. The step-up infusion of ET-1 increased the plasma level from 3.6 +/
      0.3 to 243 +/- 23 pg ml-1. Concomitantly, arterial blood pressure increased and
      heart rate (HR) decreased dose-dependently. Diuresis, sodium, and potassium
      excretion did not change significantly. However, free water clearance increased
      during the infusion. Clearance of creatinine and excretion of urea decreased (39
      +/- 4 to 29 +/- 3 ml min-1 and 87 +/- 16 to 71 +/- 14 mumol min-1, respectively).
      Decay curves for ET-1 in venous and arterial plasma were identical, and initial
      t1/2 was 1.1 +/- 0.1 min. Vasopressin increased arterial blood pressure (107 +/-
      4 to 136 +/- 3 mmHg) beyond the infusion period and increased plasma ET-1 (85%).
      An equipressor dose of AII tended to decrease plasma ET-1. It is concluded that
      the lung is apparently not important in the removal of ET-1, that the
      disappearance of ET-1 follows a complex pattern, and vasopressin--in contrast to
      angiotensin II--is able to increase the plasma concentration of ET-1.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442136
TI  - Polyamines in nerve terminals and secretory granules isolated from
      neurohypophyses.
AB  - In isolated nerve terminals from ox neurohypophyses the following concentrations
      of polyamines [pmol (microgram protein)-1 (mean +/- SEM)] were found: spermine:
      2.07 +/- 0.14 (n = 3), spermidine: 0.22 +/- 0.01 (n = 4), putrescine: 0.20 +/-
      0.01 (n = 4). In secretory granules isolated from the same tissue, the
      concentrations were: spermine: 0.57 +/- 0.02 (n = 3), spermidine: 0.07 +/- 0.04
      (n = 3), putrescine: 0.13 +/- 0.04 (n = 3). After incubation of isolated nerve
      terminals with the polyamines, they were taken up as a function of time and
      concentration, approaching saturation at high concentrations. The kinetic
      parameters of their synthesizing enzyme, ornithine decarboxylase, in ox
      neurohypophyseal nerve terminals (apparent Km 0.75 mM and Vmax 22.5 pmol mg
      protein-1 h-1) were comparable to those previously found in cerebral cortex of
      rats. When isolated, hemilobes from rat neurohypophyses were incubated in a
      medium which contained spermidine (5 mM), and were stimulated by 56 mM K+,
      release of vasopressin was smaller than in control experiments. However, after
      removal of spermidine and after restimulation, 50 min after initial stimulation,
      the release was significantly elevated. It is suggested that polyamines may take
      part in modulation of vasopressin release.

PMID- 1442137
TI  - Luminal and basolateral uptake and degradation of insulin in the proximal tubules
      of the dog kidney.
AB  - In order to determine the major routes of insulin degradation in the body,
      insulin was labelled with a 'trapped' or 'residualizing' label: [125I]tyramine
      cellobiose ([125I]TC) and injected intravenously in dogs. In contrast to
      conventional iodine-labelled insulin (131I-insulin), the [125I]TC-insulin allows
      measurements of total uptake in specific organs in vivo because the radioactive
      degradation products do not leave the cells. One h after the injection of trace
      doses, the amount of radioactivity recovered in the kidney from [125I]TC-insulin
      was nine times higher than when conventional [131I]insulin was used. In the
      blood, the amount of acid-precipitable radioactivity was the same for both
      labelled preparations, indicating similar clearance rates. A comparison of the
      uptake of insulin in filtering vs. non-filtering (ureter-occluded) kidneys
      indicated that the uptake of insulin is twice as high through the luminal than
      through the basolateral cell membrane; after 60 min, 8.9 +/- 0.8% of the injected
      [125I]TC-insulin dose remained in the filtering kidney and 3.2 +/- 0.2% of the
      dose was accumulated in the contralateral kidney, with occluded ureter but normal
      blood perfusion. In both filtering and non-filtering (ureter-occluded) kidneys,
      the subcellular distributions of [125I]TC-insulin were studied after various
      times by isopycnic sedimentation in sucrose gradients. No difference between
      peritubular and tubular uptake was discernible. The intracellular transport was
      rapid, leading to accumulation of radioactive label in dense lysosomes within 10
      min.

PMID- 1442138
TI  - Changes in muscle fibre type from adolescence to adulthood in women and men.
AB  - Age-related changes in muscle fibre characteristics have been presented in cross
      sectional studies previously. The aim of the present study was to investigate
      longitudinally whether the muscle fibre type composition and muscle fibre area
      change from adolescence to adulthood. Fifty-five men and 28 women were studied at
      the age of 16 and again at the age of 27. Biopsies were taken from the vastus
      lateralis muscle and analysed for fibre types (I, IIA, IIB, IIC) and fibre areas.
      Different development of fibre type composition with increased age were seen in
      women and men: the type I percentage tended to increase in the women (51 +/- 9 to
      55 +/- 12) and decrease significantly in the men (55 +/- 12 to 48 +/- 13). The
      fibre areas remained unchanged in both sexes. It is suggested that there is a sex
      related fibre adaptation to increased age.

PMID- 1442139
TI  - Neuro-effector characteristics of sweat glands in the human hand activated by
      irregular stimuli.
AB  - Intraneural electrical stimulation of cutaneous fascicles in the median nerve was
      performed in 24 normal subjects and the effects on sweating within the
      innervation zone were monitored as changes of skin resistance and water vapour
      partial pressure (wvpp). The aims were: (1) to investigate the response
      variability between repeated stimulation sequences in the same skin site and
      between different sites and (2) to compare quantitative effects of regular and
      irregular stimulation on skin resistance and wvpp. Regional axillary anaesthesia
      of the brachial plexus eliminated spontaneous and reflex sympathetic activity.
      With repeated irregular stimulation sequences skin resistance responses from the
      same skin site varied only slightly between trials. Differences between response
      curves from two skin sites in the same subject or from different subjects were
      also small but significantly greater (P < 0.01) than differences between
      responses to repeated stimulation in the same site. Irregular stimulation with
      average frequencies of 0.49 Hz and 3.51 Hz gave greater resistance responses than
      if the same number of stimuli were delivered regularly (P < 0.01). The difference
      was most pronounced at 0.49 Hz. At an average frequency of 0.49 Hz the
      stimulation usually evoked no changes of wvpp whereas an average frequency of
      3.51 Hz caused an increase of wvpp which was greater with irregular than with
      regular stimulation in all subjects. We conclude that: (1) sweat responses to
      sudomotor nerve traffic vary slightly due to local factors in the skin or the
      terminal nerve endings and (2) irregular sudomotor nerve traffic evokes more
      sweat than if the same impulses occur regularly.

PMID- 1442140
TI  - In vivo and in vitro studies on effects of beta-endorphin and naloxone on sex
      steroids in the water frog, Rana esculenta.
AB  - The effects of beta-endorphin and its receptor antagonist, naloxone, on
      progesterone, androgens, and oestradiol-17 beta release in male and female Rana
      esculenta were studied in vivo and in vitro. In the in vivo experiments the frogs
      underwent hypophysectomy, gonadectomy or both, or were left intact; the animals
      were injected with beta-endorphin or naloxone and killed after 15, 30, 90 and 240
      min. In the in vitro experiments inter-renal, testis and ovary, all with and
      without added pituitary, were incubated with beta-endorphin or naloxone for 10,
      20, 40 and 80 min. The in vivo and in vitro data from males and females were in
      agreement. In vivo beta-endorphin increased progesterone in all experimental
      groups and oestradiol in intact and hypophysectomized frogs, while it decreased
      androgens in all experimental groups. In vitro beta-endorphin increased
      progesterone in inter-renal and gonadal tissue, and oestradiol in gonads only,
      while it decreased androgens in inter-renals and gonads. In vivo and in vitro
      naloxone induced opposite effects to beta-endorphin. These data suggest that in
      Rana esculenta, opioids are involved in the modulation of hypothalamo-pituitary
      inter-renal and gonadal axes. In particular, the data indicate a direct effect of
      opioids on inter-renal and gonadal sex steroid production.

PMID- 1442141
TI  - Muscle fibre number following hindlimb immobilization.

PMID- 1442142
TI  - Glucose in human parotid saliva in response to cold stress.

PMID- 1442143
TI  - NADPH diaphorase activity and non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic relaxation of the
      human gastrointestinal tract.

PMID- 1442144
TI  - Activation of the tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism in an in vitro preparation
      of the juxtaglomerular apparatus.

PMID- 1442145
TI  - Training effects on concentrations of immunoreactive superoxide dismutase iso
      enzymes in human plasma.

PMID- 1442146
TI  - In vivo and in vitro release of indomethacin from water-soluble and fatty base
      suppositories.
AB  - The plasma concentration of indomethacin was measured after the rectal
      administration of water-soluble and fatty base suppositories in rats. The results
      were compared with the in vitro indomethacin release from suppositories
      determined by Paddle method using three different types of membranes: cellulose
      membrane, artificial sausage membrane and natural sausage membrane. The plasma
      concentrations of indomethacin during the first 4h after the rectal
      administration were higher in rats that received water-soluble base suppositories
      than in those that received fatty base types. When either a cellulose membrane or
      an artificial sausage membrane of cow protein was used in the Paddle method, the
      amount of indomethacin released from fatty base suppositories was significantly
      higher than that from water-soluble base ones. However, the results were reversed
      when a natural sausage membrane of pig colon was used. The discrepancy in the in
      vitro experiments using water-soluble base suppositories seemed to be due to the
      difference of pore size of membrane used. Careful consideration should be given
      to the membrane used in the Paddle method especially when this method is employed
      to examine the release of poorly soluble drugs like indomethacin in both water
      soluble and fatty base suppositories.

PMID- 1442147
TI  - Histochemical detection of lipid peroxidation in human gastrointestinal, mammary
      and renal carcinomas.
AB  - Constitutional lipid peroxidation in randomly selected 32 cases of clinically
      advanced carcinoma from human gastrointestinal tract (20 cases), breast (8 cases)
      and kidney (4 cases) was examined histochemically in frozen sections using cold
      Schiff's reagent. Only two cases of gastrointestinal carcinoma were positive by
      the reagent. Non-cancerous parenchymal cells were negative. These findings
      suggest that detectable constitutional lipid peroxidation seldom occurs in either
      cancerous or normal tissues. The capacity for normal and neoplastic tissues to
      undergo lipid peroxidation was also studied by incubation with an iron-NADPH pro
      oxidant system. Normal parenchymal cells showed, to various degrees, a positive
      reactivity. In gastrointestinal carcinoma, 6 out of 7 cases of well
      differentiated adenocarcinoma reacted positively, whereas 2 out of 8 cases of
      moderately to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma disclosed weakly positive
      reactions. Mucinous adenocarcinomas (4 cases) were all negative. Signet-ring cell
      carcinoma (1 case) was positive. One out of 8 cases of breast cancer also showed
      positive reaction. Four renal cell carcinomas were all negative. Cancer cells
      have lower capacity to undergo lipid peroxidation than normal cells, when the
      iron-NADPH pro-oxidant system was employed. In gastrointestinal carcinoma, the
      ability to undergo lipid peroxidation by the iron-NADPH pro-oxidant seems to be
      correlated with their histological differentiation. This fact may suggest that
      differences in lipid composition or the NADPH enzyme system exist between well
      differentiated and poorly differentiated gastrointestinal malignancies.

PMID- 1442148
TI  - Effect of taurine concentration on platelet aggregation in gestosis patients with
      edema, proteinuria and hypertension.
AB  - To elucidate the relationship between the high concentration of taurine in
      platelets and platelet aggregation in patients with EPH gestosis (gestosis with
      edema, proteinuria and hypertension), platelet aggregation and the platelet
      release response (release of ATP and beta-thromboglobulin) were studied in the
      washed platelet suspension (PS) obtained from normal pregnant or non-pregnant
      women and EPH gestosis patients. Platelet aggregation and platelet release
      response were significantly lower in EPH gestosis patients than in normal
      pregnant and non-pregnant women. Platelet aggregation, platelet release response
      induced by ADP and collagen and the aggregation induced by A23187 were inhibited
      in taurine-loaded PS from non-pregnant women. These results suggest that the
      decrease of platelet aggregation in EPH gestosis patients was caused by high
      concentrations of taurine in platelets, which may inhibit the intracellular Ca2+
      movement and platelet release response. Therefore, taurine appears to have a
      protective effect against the hyper-coagulative state in EPH gestosis.

PMID- 1442149
TI  - Comparison of antitumor activity of new anthracycline analogues, ME2303, KRN8602,
      and SM5887 using human lung cancer cell lines.
AB  - In an attempt to predict the clinical activity of newly developed anthracycline
      analogues, ME2303, KRN8602, and SM5887 in the treatment of lung cancer, we
      compared antitumor activity of these drugs with that of adriamycin, using six
      human lung cancer cell lines and two drug-resistant human lung cancer sublines.
      Taking the pharmacokinetic data into consideration, we evaluated the relative
      antitumor activity: the ratio of area under the concentration-time curve of each
      drug to the 50% inhibitory concentration of the drug. Regarding this ratio,
      ME2303 was more potent than adriamycin, SM5887, and KRN8602. Cross-resistance of
      the new analogues to adriamycin was investigated using an adriamycin-resistant
      small cell lung cancer subline, SBC-3/ADM100 and an etoposide-resistant subline,
      SBC-3/ETP. SBC-3/ADM100 being 106-fold more resistant to adriamycin than the
      parent SBC-3 showed less resistance to the analogues: 1.80-fold to KRN8602, 3.80
      fold to SM5887, and 8.60-fold to ME2303. SBC-3/ETP which was 52.1-fold more
      resistant to etoposide and 39.5-fold more resistant to adriamycin were also less
      resistant to the new analogues: 3.27-fold to KRN8602, 9.07-fold to SM5887, and
      17.3-fold to ME2303. In conclusion, ME2303 was found to be the most potent agent
      among drugs tested for the treatment of lung cancer, and KRN8602 can be expected
      to be beneficial for the treatment of drug-resistant small cell lung cancer.

PMID- 1442150
TI  - Clinical study of malignant tumors originating in the pelvic region.
AB  - We evaluated the surgical problems encountered during treatment of 14 patients
      with malignant tumors originating in the pelvic region at our department. The
      tumor involved the iliac bone in 6 patients, the ischial bone in 2, the pubic
      bone in 2, and the gluteal region in 4. Invasion to the sacrum was observed in 7
      patients. Twelve patients underwent surgical procedures consisting of
      intralesional resection in 6, marginal resection in 3, and wide margin resection
      in 3. Six of the 7 patients with sacral invasion developed local recurrence. Two
      patients with chondrosarcoma and one with parosteal osteosarcoma survived for 4
      or more years, but the mean survival period in those with high grade malignant
      tumors was 11 months. These findings indicate the difficulties encountered in the
      treatment of malignant pelvic tumors.

PMID- 1442151
TI  - Indications and timing of surgery for cholelithiasis associated with valvular
      heart disease.
AB  - Twenty patients with cholelithiasis associated with valvular heart disease were
      studied to assess the need and the optimal time for cholecystectomy. Twelve
      patients (11 symptomatic and 1 asymptomatic patients) underwent cholecystectomy.
      The remaining patients were asymptomatic. The levels of the total bilirubin in 9
      patients, and of LDH in 15, were higher than normal. In most of the patients, the
      serum transaminase levels were higher than normal, but in few cases, the levels
      were higher than 200 IU/l. These abnormal values, however, were not consistently
      observed in these patients. No clear association between the type and form of
      valvular heart disease was demonstrated. The type of prostheses used for valve
      replacement in these patients were ball, tilting disc and leaflet. No significant
      differences in efficacy were observed among different types of prostheses. The
      incidence of silent stones is high in patients with valvular heart disease and
      heart surgery often causes deterioration in patients with cholelithiasis. The
      recovery of the patients who underwent cholecystectomy before valve replacement
      were better than those who underwent cholecystectomy after heart surgery. In
      conclusion, therefore, patients showing any abnormal results in liver function
      tests should be assessed in detail by abdominal echography and should receive
      surgical treatment of biliary tract before heart surgery if necessary.

PMID- 1442152
TI  - Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: report of 42 cases.
AB  - Our initial experience with laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystitis and
      cholelithiasis was reviewed in 42 patients and the data were compared with those
      of 21 patients who underwent conventional open cholecystectomy previously. Only
      one patient required conversion to an open operation. Three of the 42 patients
      had minor complications without death in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The mean
      time for the laparoscopic cholecystectomy was 100 +/- 40 min, as compared with 79
      +/- 21 min for the open cholecystectomy. The average postoperative hospital stay
      was 11.4 +/- 7.1 days for the laparoscopic procedure and 35.5 +/- 15.4 days for
      the conventional procedure. The laparoscopic cholecystectomy offers the patients
      shortened hospitalization and lower complications and can replace the
      conventional open cholecystectomy in large degree, at least in the uncomplicated
      cases.

PMID- 1442153
TI  - Asthma classification by a score calculated from clinical findings and
      examinations in subjects sensitive to inhalant allergens.
AB  - Twenty-one patients with atopic asthma were classified into three types according
      to their symptoms (clinical diagnosis): Ia, simple bronchoconstriction; Ib,
      bronchoconstriction + hypersecretion; and II, bronchiolar obstruction, and this
      classification was compared with a classification made according to clinical
      findings and examinations (score diagnosis). Type Ib asthma was characterized by
      the increased incidence of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF),
      while type II was characterized by ventilatory dysfunction in small airways and
      the increased incidence of neutrophils in BALF. Four patients, whose
      expectoration was between 50 and 99ml/day, of the 12 with type Ia assessed by
      clinical diagnosis were evaluated as type Ib by score diagnosis. One patient with
      type II by clinical diagnosis was assessed as questionable type II by score
      diagnosis. In the other 16 patients, the clinical and score diagnoses were the
      same.

PMID- 1442154
TI  - Hemodynamic performance of the biventricular bypass system operated in an
      independent variable rate mode.
AB  - The present study was undertaken to determine whether a biventricular bypass
      system operated in an independent variable rate (VR) mode can maintain the entire
      circulation. Two pusher-plate pumps which incorporated the Hall effect position
      sensors were used to bypass the right and left ventricles in 10 sheep under
      fibrillation. The flow distributions of the pump output to the carotid and renal
      arteries were investigated every 6 h using ultrasonic blood flow meters for 24 h
      in 5 animals, and the controllability of the VR mode was evaluated in 5 long-term
      experiments. The carotid artery flow ratio to the pump output decreased
      significantly from 4.7 +/- 0.8% before the bypass to 2.7 +/- 0.9% after 24 h.
      However, the renal artery flow ratio did not change throughout the experiments.
      In the long-term experiments, the animals were kept alive from 3 to 48 days (mean
      15.6 days). The mean pump output had been maintained at more than 90 ml/min/kg
      for the first 7 days. After the surgery, the pump driving conditions were not
      readjusted in any experiment. The results indicate that the biventricular bypass
      system operated in the independent VR mode automatically maintains the entire
      circulation at a satisfactory level.

PMID- 1442155
TI  - NG-nitro-L-arginine attenuates flow debt repayment in the reactive hyperemic
      response of the open-chest dog coronary artery: contribution of endothelium
      derived relaxing factor.
AB  - To test the hypothesis that the endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF)
      contributes to coronary vasodilation induced by myocardial ischemia, we examined
      the effect of NG-nitro-L-arginine (a potent and selective inhibitor of EDRF
      release) on the coronary reactive hyperemic response in the open-chest dogs.
      Intracoronary infusion of NG-nitro-L-arginine at a coronary plasma concentration
      of 5 x 10(-5) M had no effect on hemodynamics and myocardial oxygen metabolism,
      but attenuated repayment of the flow debt by an average of 20.4% and 20.0%
      following coronary occlusion for 10 sec and 20 sec, respectively. Concomitant
      infusion of NG-nitro-L-arginine at the same concentration and 8
      phenyltheophylline (a potent adenosine receptor blocker) at a coronary plasma
      concentration of 10(-5) M further attenuated flow debt repayment following 10 sec
      and 20 sec of coronary occlusion by 47.7 and 59.4%, respectively. These results
      indicate that EDRF plays a significant role in the coronary reactive hyperemic
      response and may cause vasodilation independently of adenosine-mediated
      vasodilation following coronary occlusion.

PMID- 1442156
TI  - The role of Kupffer cells in complement activation in D
      Galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatic injury of rats.
AB  - To investigate the role of Kupffer cells in complement activation, we used a rat
      model of acute hepatic injury induced by D-Galactosamine (GalN) and
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In in vivo study, minimal histological changes were
      observed after i.p. GalN (200 mg/kg) single administration. Complement hemolytic
      activity (CH 50) decreased to 70% of its initial value 2-3 h after i.p. LPS (1.5
      mg/kg) single administration. Massive hepatic necrosis was induced by
      simultaneous administration of GalN and LPS. After 2-3 h, CH 50 decreased to 70%
      of its initial value, and deposition of C3 fluorescence (C3) was observed in
      Kupffer cells. After 4 h, GPT was greatly increased (1286 +/- 240 IU/l), CH 50
      was further reduced, and C3 was observed on hepatocyte membranes and in the
      cytosol. In in vitro study, we used hepatocyte cultures and co-cultures of
      hepatocytes and Kupffer cells to investigate the participation of GalN, LPS,
      complement, and Kupffer cells in hepatic cell necrosis. We found no increase of
      LDH (% leakage) when LPS and complement were added to the medium (22.7 +/- 5.7%).
      A moderate increase was observed with the addition of GalN (33.2 +/- 2.6%). A
      remarkable increase was observed only with the addition of GalN, LPS, and
      complement to the co-culture (50.0 +/- 8.8%). These results suggest that Kupffer
      cells activated by LPS are very important in promoting acute hepatic injury by
      complement.

PMID- 1442157
TI  - Frequency of gamma delta T cells in peripheral blood, synovial fluid, synovial
      membrane and lungs from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - The percentages and absolute numbers of gamma delta T cells per CD3 positive
      cells (T cells) in four different compartments, namely peripheral blood, synovial
      fluid, synovial membrane and lungs from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
      and in peripheral blood from healthy controls were studied by two color flow
      cytometric analysis. The percentages (mean +/- SEM = 6.3 +/- 0.8%, n = 22) and
      absolute numbers (70 +/- 11/microliters, n = 22) of gamma delta T cells in
      peripheral blood from RA patients were not different from those of 22 age-matched
      healthy controls (7.5 +/- 0.9%, 81 +/- 17/microliters, respectively). The gamma
      delta T cells in peripheral blood from 50 RA patients were, however,
      significantly decreased in negative correlation with the value of CRP as a marker
      for inflammation, although they had no correlation with the titer of rheumatoid
      factor as an autoantibody. The percentages of gamma delta T cells in synovial
      fluid from 10 patients (3.3 +/- 0.5%, n = 10) or in synovial membrane from 5
      patients (4.2 +/- 1.9%, n = 5) and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 6
      patients (3.6 +/- 0.8%, n = 6) were not different from those in peripheral blood
      from the same patients. Thus, gamma delta T cells are not the dominant
      infiltrating T cell subset in the inflammatory sites of RA patients.

PMID- 1442158
TI  - Asthma classification by pathophysiology and IgE-mediated allergic reaction: new
      concepts for classification of asthma.
AB  - Bronchial asthma was classified by the pathophysiology and by the mechanism of
      onset of the disease. Forty asthmatics who had serum IgE levels lower than 200
      IU/ml were evaluated by two classification methods. 1. In asthma classified by a
      score based on clinical findings and examinations, the characteristics of the
      findings and examination results were compared among three asthma types, i.e.,
      Ia. simple broncho-constriction type, Ib. bronchoconstriction+hypersecretion
      type, and II. bronchiolar obstruction type. Type Ib patients, in addition to
      manifesting hypersecretion, had a significantly higher proportion of eosinophils
      in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid compared to other asthma types.
      Significantly decreased values for ventilatory parameters and an increased
      proportion of BAL neutrophils were found in type II compared with other asthma
      types. 2. In a new classification by mechanism of onset, asthma was classified
      into three types according to the degree of participation of IgE-mediated
      reactions associated with specific IgE antibodies and serum levels of total IgE:
      asthma induced by definite IgE-mediated reaction (atopic asthma), possible IgE
      mediated reactions (asthma), and asthma induced by non-IgE-mediated reaction
      (asthma syndrome).

PMID- 1442159
TI  - A case of trans-sternal bilateral thoracotomy for bilateral lung cancer.
AB  - Trans-sternal bilateral thoracotomy was performed to resect the right upper lobe
      and the left S1 + 2 + S3, and to complete lymphadenectomy in a 35-year-old female
      case of lung cancer in whom multiple lesions were suspected. Trans-sternal
      bilateral thoracotomy was considered to be useful for one-stage surgery in
      patients in whom bilateral lung cancer is suspected or confirmed, because it
      provides a sufficient surgical field enabling the resection of lung and lymph
      nodes. This may be the first case report of trans-sternal bilateral thoracotomy
      to treat multiple primary lung cancer.

PMID- 1442160
TI  - Pituitary and ovarian suppression after early follicular and mid-luteal
      administration of a LHRH agonist in a depot formulation: decapeptyl CR.
AB  - In order to study its effect on pituitary and ovarian function, a single dose of
      triptorelin depot (Decapeptyl CR, Ferring) was administered to 12 women in the
      early follicular (EF,n = 6) or mid-luteal phase (ML,n = 6) of a normal cycle. In
      all 12 women the initial pituitary and ovarian responses were similar.
      Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) rose to peak
      values within 48 h, and declined to hypogonadotropic levels within 2 weeks' time.
      Steroid levels showed a slight to marked rise after injection and fell to
      hypogonadal values within 1 week. LH suppression was maintained until the 8th
      week after the injection, while FSH levels rose to normal between the 3rd and 4th
      week. Estrogen secretion started to be restored in the course of the 7th and 8th
      week. Menses occurred between the 11th and 13th week after the injection of the
      drug. This study demonstrates the possibility of rapid induction of a
      hypogonadotropic and hypogonadal condition in regularly cycling women by
      administration of a single triptorelin depot. Suppression of pituitary and
      ovarian function appears to be continued until the 8th week after the injection.

PMID- 1442161
TI  - The GnRH 10 micrograms test promotes a maximal gonadotropic response in normal
      women.
AB  - The authors have compared the results of gonadotropin stimulation with a
      gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) intravenous bolus of 100 micrograms and of
      10 micrograms in a group of eumenorrheic women. They conclude that there are no
      differences between the responses of the two dosages in normal women. Therefore
      the authors clarify that the dosage of 10 micrograms of GnRH as a bolus test may
      be used currently in clinical practice in order to assess gonadotropic function.

PMID- 1442162
TI  - Auricular acupuncture in the treatment of female infertility.
AB  - Following a complete gynecologic--endocrinologic workup, 45 infertile women
      suffering from oligoamenorrhea (n = 27) or luteal insufficiency (n = 18) were
      treated with auricular acupuncture. Results were compared to those of 45 women
      who received hormone treatment. Both groups were matched for age, duration of
      infertility, body mass index, previous pregnancies, menstrual cycle and tubal
      patency. Women treated with acupuncture had 22 pregnancies, 11 after acupuncture,
      four spontaneously, and seven after appropriate medication. Women treated with
      hormones had 20 pregnancies, five spontaneously, and 15 in response to therapy.
      Four women of each group had abortions. Endometriosis (normal menstrual cycles)
      was seen in 35% (38%) of the women of each group who failed to respond to therapy
      with pregnancy. Only 4% of the women who responded to acupuncture or hormone
      treatment with a pregnancy had endometriosis, and 7% had normal cycles. In
      addition, women who continued to be infertile after hormone therapy had higher
      body mass indices and testosterone values than the therapy responders from this
      group. Women who became pregnant after acupuncture suffered more often from
      menstrual abnormalities and luteal insufficiency with lower estrogen, thyrotropin
      (TSH) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) concentrations than the women
      who achieved pregnancy after hormone treatment. Although the pregnancy rate was
      similar for both groups, eumenorrheic women treated with acupuncture had
      adnexitis, endometriosis, out-of-phase endometria and reduced postcoital tests
      more often than those receiving hormones. Twelve of the 27 women (44%) with
      menstrual irregularities remained infertile after therapy with acupuncture
      compared to 15 of the 27 (56%) controls treated with hormones, even though
      hormone disorders were more pronounced in the acupuncture group. Side-effects
      were observed only during hormone treatment. Various disorders of the autonomic
      nervous system normalized during acupuncture. Based on our data, auricular
      acupuncture seems to offer a valuable alternative therapy for female infertility
      due to hormone disorders.

PMID- 1442163
TI  - The effect of combined estrogen/progestogen treatment in women with
      hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea.
AB  - Eleven women with hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea were treated with a combined
      estrogen/progestogen preparation (Loestrin 30) for 3 months as hormone
      replacement therapy because of estrogen deficiency, with a view to protection
      against osteoporosis. Serum prolactin levels rose during the 1st month of
      treatment (p < 0.05) but did not rise significantly further during the 2nd and
      3rd months. The levels rose in proportion to pretreatment levels by 28% (median),
      and fell significantly but not completely during the 1-week treatment-free
      intervals. After the study period, prolactin values appeared to remain stable in
      those women who continued longer on treatment, and returned to around
      pretreatment values in those who stopped. In one woman there was radiological
      evidence of pituitary tumor growth during treatment. This study shows that
      estrogen/progestogen treatment in standard contraceptive dosage usually leads to
      only moderate and non-progressive stimulation of pituitary activity in women with
      hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea, but occasional excessive growth of a prolactinoma
      can occur and treatment needs to be monitored. Women with relatively high
      prolactin levels seem to be at particular risk. Safer variations of estrogen
      therapy such as lower dosage or combination with a protective low dose of a
      dopamine agonist should also be considered.

PMID- 1442164
TI  - Symptom-free interval after triptorelin treatment of uterine fibroids: long-term
      results.
AB  - An increasing number of publications document regression of fibroids under
      treatment with gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. However,
      recurrence after stopping treatment regularly counterbalances its benefit. We now
      report on 28 patients with intramural myomas, treated with triptorelin for 4-6
      months and followed for 42-56 months. During or shortly after treatment, six
      patients entered menopause. In this group, a volume reduction of 71% was achieved
      and no surgery was needed thereafter. In 22 premenopausal women, a 64% decrease
      of uterine volumes was obtained at the end of treatment; the long-term reductive
      effect was 31%. When compared with initial values, a significant decrease was
      observed at the end of treatment (p = 0.0001) and of follow-up (p < 0.0005). In
      13 (of 22) premenopausal patients, surgery was needed after triptorelin treatment
      for permanent control of fibroids. The remaining nine patients were free of
      symptoms after 42-56 months, having uteri in situ. These two groups differ
      significantly in pretreatment uterine volume (p < 0.001) and in reduction rate
      after therapy (p < 0.01), both parameters being higher in patients who finally
      needed surgery. In conclusion, triptorelin treatment is definitely beneficial in
      perimenopausal women and in nearly half of premenopausal women, in whom
      hysterectomy can be prevented. In the other half, surgery is necessary, despite
      significant volume reduction. These results need to be corroborated on larger
      groups of patients. More research is needed to explain different responses to
      treatment in premenopausal patients.

PMID- 1442165
TI  - Calcitonin gene-related peptide, the menstrual cycle and premenstrual syndrome.
AB  - Calcitonin gene-related peptide plasma levels were measured during four different
      phases of ovulatory menstrual cycles, in eight women suffering from the
      premenstrual syndrome and in eight controls. No significant fluctuations in
      calcitonin gene-related peptide levels occurred during the menstrual cycle.
      Neither were there significant differences in calcitonin gene-related peptide
      levels between the premenstrual syndrome and control groups.

PMID- 1442166
TI  - Ovulation induction in in vitro fertilization.

PMID- 1442167
TI  - Developmental and strain-specific heterogeneity of rat adrenal chromaffin cells
      recognized by a monoclonal antibody against intact chromogranin B.
AB  - We have raised a monoclonal antibody (MAB-1E10) reactive with the intact forms
      but not the processing products of the chromaffin cell vesicle protein
      chromogranin B (CgB). The antibody recognizes rat and human, but not bovine and
      chick adrenal chromaffin cells. In addition, MAB-1E10 immunoreactivity was
      detected in rat PC 12 pheochromocytoma cells and in pituitaries. Several other
      tissues, including pancreas, small intestine and superior cervical ganglia, which
      are known to contain CgB in endocrine cells or neurons, respectively, were found
      not to be reactive with MAB-1E10. Using short-term cultures of dissociated
      adrenal chromaffin cells from Hannover-Wistar rats, we found that the expression
      of intact CgB is developmentally regulated. Between embryonic day 19 and
      postnatal day 40, about 80% of adrenal chromaffin cells--identified by their
      reactivity with an antibody against the enzyme dopamine-beta-hydroxylase--were
      found to be reactive with MAB-1E10. The proportion of positive cells subsequently
      decreased to about 5% at postnatal day 90. In the presence of glucocorticoids,
      this decrease was reduced to about 45% CgB-positive cells at postnatal day 90. In
      another rat strain, Sprague-Dawley rats, the proportion of MAB-1E10
      immunoreactive chromaffin cells (about 50%) remained constant from birth to
      adulthood. Our results indicate that CgB is differentially expressed and/or
      processed in different rat tissues, strains and during development, and
      furthermore, that expression or processing in rat chromaffin cells might be
      regulated by glucocorticoids. Intact CgB appears to be a marker for a
      subpopulation of chromaffin cells, but its function(s) remains to be clarified.

PMID- 1442168
TI  - Effects of combined pre- and postnatal ethanol exposure (three trimester
      equivalency) on glial cell development in rat optic nerve.
AB  - This study evaluated the effects of a combined gestational and 10 day postnatal
      alcohol exposure (human three trimester equivalency) on the development of glial
      cells in the rat optic nerve. Pregnant rats were exposed to alcohol via a liquid
      diet, then their pups were artificially reared and further exposed to alcohol for
      10 postnatal days via a gastrostomy fed liquid diet. Control animals, born of
      pair fed dams, were artificially reared on pair fed isocaloric diets. Optic nerve
      tissues were prepared for light and electron microscopic studies from animals on
      gestational days (G) 15 and 20 and postnatal days (P) 5, 10, 15, 20 and 90. There
      were fewer glial cells per cross-section on day 15 and the cross-sectional areas
      of optic nerves were smaller on days G20, P15 and P90 in the ethanol exposed
      animals. There was an alcohol-induced delay in the appearance of immature cells
      within the oligodendroglia lineage and a decrease in the number of
      oligodendroglia present at 15 and 20 days, indicating a delay in the maturation
      of oligodendroglial cells. These effects were compensated for by 90 days.
      Maturation of the astrocytic cell lineage was generally unaffected by the alcohol
      although there was evidence of increased numbers of cells in the lineage. There
      was no consistent indication of alcohol-induced degeneration of glial cells or
      their organelles. Thus, alcohol exposure for all of gestation and 10 postnatal
      days in the rat causes a delay in oligodendrocyte maturation but appears to have
      no long-term effects on the glial cell population of the optic nerve. Such a
      delay, by contributing to delays in myelin development, could help to explain
      some of the neurological dysfunctions associated with developmental alcohol
      exposures.

PMID- 1442169
TI  - Effects of acetyl-L-carnitine on the survival of adult rat sensory neurons in
      primary cultures.
AB  - Acetyl-L-carnitine produces a significant increase in the survival time-course of
      adult rat sensory neurons maintained in primary cultures up to 40 days. The
      analysis of our data suggests that 200 microM acetyl-L-carnitine added to the
      medium, slows down neuronal decay especially in the first 10 days in vitro,
      sparing a fraction of cells which would otherwise be lost. Patch-clamp recordings
      from these neurons show that superfusion with acetyl-L-carnitine (100-1000
      microM) does not induce any membrane current. In addition an agonist muscarinic
      effect particularly concerning high-voltage activated calcium channel modulation
      appears to be ruled out. In conclusion our data favour the role of acetyl-L
      carnitine in the trophism of sensory neurons in adult rats. In agreement with
      other in vivo experiments our data reinforce the hypothesis that this substance
      might be involved in reducing neuronal loss observed in nervous system aging.

PMID- 1442170
TI  - Synaptic ribbons, spheres and intermediate structures in the developing rat
      retina.
AB  - The present study was conducted to investigate the qualitative and quantitative
      development of synaptic bodies in retinae of Wistar rats during postnatal days 4
      28. In addition, the effects of different light regimens and of eye pigmentation
      on SB numbers were studied. Synaptic bodies were counted and measured in the
      outer plexiform layer of retinal tissue fixed and processed by routine electron
      microscopical techniques. At postnatal days 4 and 5, retinae showed only few
      synaptic bodies. The main numerical development of synaptic bodies occurred
      between postnatal days 4 and 9, numbers remaining more or less constant
      thereafter. The intracellular location of synaptic ribbons changed from
      predominantly cytoplasmic sites to positions at the membrane. In Wistar rats of
      postnatal day 15 held under a light/dark regimen, synaptic ribbon numbers and
      lengths were found to be significantly larger at night than at daytime. This was
      not observed in animals kept under constant darkness. In retinae of a pigmented
      rat strain, Brown Norway, total numbers of synaptic bodies were similar to those
      of Wistar rats, whereas the relative proportions of synaptic ribbons and spheres
      or sphere-like structures, respectively, differed between strains. These results
      are discussed with regard to synaptic body formation and regulation under the
      influence of light and eye pigmentation.

PMID- 1442171
TI  - Correlation between P19 presence and MHC class II expression in human fetal
      astroglial cells cocultured with HTLV-I donor cells.
AB  - The possibility of a direct infection of human brain by HTLV-I, has been studied
      using an in vitro model. Human fetal astroglial cells were cocultivated with
      irradiated HTLV-I donor cell line MT-2, and assayed for the presence of HTLV-I
      core protein p19 after 1 week. Fifty-six per cent of GFAP positive astrocytes
      showed the viral core protein p19 and increased expression of Class II MHC
      antigens. Electron microscopy of astroglial cells exposed to HTLV-I revealed the
      presence of vacuoli-like structures containing viral core protein p19. Cell
      intermediate filament cytoskeleton was also disorganized. Even if this study does
      not provide direct evidence for virus replication inside astroglial cells, all
      these findings suggest that HTLV-I can indeed enter the cell and exert a
      cytopathic effect. Therefore the results of the present study are consistent with
      the hypothesis that astroglial cells could be involved in demyelination processes
      occurring in the HTLV-I associated neurological disorders, such as human
      associated myelopathy and tropical spastic paraparesis.

PMID- 1442172
TI  - Transcriptional induction of H2 (class I) antigens and beta 2 microglobulin by
      interferon-gamma in interferon-sensitive and interferon-resistant Friend leukemia
      cells.
AB  - The effect of interferons (IFNs) type I (alpha/beta) and type II (gamma) on the
      stimulation of H2-Dd (class I) and beta 2 microglobulin genes transcription was
      analysed in IFN-sensitive (w.t.) and IFN-resistant Friend erythroleukemia cells
      (FLC). Type I IFN enhances the expression of H2-Dd and beta 2 microglobulin genes
      in w.t. FLC but does not modulate the expression of these genes in clones
      resistant to IFN-alpha/beta. IFN type II treatment of w.t. and IFN-alpha/beta
      resistant cell lines results in an increased expression of H2-Dd and beta 2
      microglobulin genes, while being ineffective in the cell clone resistant to both
      types of IFNs. In this cell system the effect(s) of IFN type II is in part
      mediated by the induction of IFN-beta. The results reported in the present paper
      suggest that the IFN-gamma is able per se to increase the expression of H2-Dd and
      beta 2 microglobulin genes; since a reduced but clearly evident stimulation of
      the expression of these genes was observed in the FLC clone totally resistant to
      type I IFN.

PMID- 1442173
TI  - Interferon-caused alterations of poly(A)-polymerase activity levels in
      established cell lines.

PMID- 1442175
TI  - Mechanoluminescence: an assay for lymphocyte analysis in neoplasia.
AB  - We have studied the mechano-electrochemical activation of optical emission
      (mechanoluminescence, ML) from the surface of lymphocytes. In C57BL/6 mice with
      B16 melanoma at the terminal stage of tumour growth and after immunotherapy with
      thymic agents, there is a correlation between light emission and the value of
      lymphocyte surface charge and titres of thymic serum factor (FTS).

PMID- 1442174
TI  - A macrophage derived blastogenic factor -MBF- induces cytokines and cytotoxic
      effectors in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
AB  - A soluble macrophage-derived blastogenic factor, previously reported as MBF, is
      secreted from macrophages activated with galactose oxidase. It was previously
      shown that MBF is able to induce IFN-gamma production and proliferation of T
      lymphocytes. In this study we found that MBF is able to induce in human
      peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) production of interleukin 1 (IL-1)
      beta, interleukin 2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and generation
      of MHC-unrestricted cytotoxic activity. The induction of killer cells is likely
      to rely on IFN-gamma production in that in PBMC treated with a monoclonal
      antibody (Mab) against IFN-gamma, the MBF induced cytotoxic activity was
      drastically reduced. A comparison of MBF induced cytotoxic effectors with those
      induced by IL-2 showed that both cytotoxic effectors pertain to NK lineage, in
      that they were CD3- and CD16+. On the contrary, the precursors of MBF and IL-2
      induced killer cells were different; MBF cytotoxic precursor cells were highly
      sensitive to L-Leucine methyl ester (Leu-OME), a drug able to eliminate monocytes
      and NK cells, whereas IL-2 cytotoxic precursors were unaffected by this drug.

PMID- 1442176
TI  - Luminescence from the yeast Candida utilis and comparisons across three genera.
AB  - Weak luminescence was detected from oxygenated liquid cultures of the yeast
      Candida utilis during two stages of its growth cycle. The first period of
      emission occurred during the exponential phase of growth and comprised an
      ultraviolet band (270-390 nm; ca 19 photons s-1 cm-2 of culture surface) and a
      visible band (450-620 nm; ca 68 photons s-1 cm-2). The second period of emission
      occurred late in the stationary phase of growth and was comprised almost entirely
      of a visible region band (450-620 nm; 6.8 x 10(2) photons s-1 cm-2). No
      luminescence was observed when the yeast was grown anaerobically. These
      observations are compared with those previously obtained for two other yeasts,
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The ratios of the
      intensities of the blue/red emissions in the stationary phase luminescences
      correlated with the ratio of the saturated/unsaturated lipid content for the
      three yeasts. This result provided further support for the claim that the
      stationary phase luminescence arises from the reactions associated with lipid
      peroxidation. A number of previously suggested sources of the exponential phase
      luminescence are discussed and rejected. Oxidative side reactions accompanying
      protein synthesis remain a possible source of that emission.

PMID- 1442177
TI  - Bioluminescence and chemiluminescence literature--immunoassays and protein
      blotting assays.

PMID- 1442178
TI  - [Assessment of iron requirements during treatment of anemia with recombinant
      human erythropoietin in patients with chronic renal insufficiency under
      hemodialysis].
AB  - Iron deficiency occurs often in patients with recombinant human Erythropoietin
      (rhEPO) therapy in chronic renal failure (CRF) associated anemia. We have studied
      10 patients with CRF on regular hemodialysis (HD), female = 8, male = 2, average
      age = 49 [32 to 72], time on HD 44.2 +/- 25.0 months. Before starting rhEPO, the
      mean hemoglobin value was 7.36 +/- 1.29 gr/dl, the mean ferritin 695.4 +/- 276.0
      ng/ml, the mean serum iron 160.3 +/- 49.5 micrograms/dl and the mean transferrin
      saturation 55.3 +/- 12.6%. Transfusional requirements in the 12 months Pre-rhEPO
      were 10.9 +/- 3.2 units. The rhEPO dose level was 80 U/kg body weight (3 times a
      week, after HD) in the Correction Period (mean time = 46.7 +/- 18.6 days), being
      reduced afterwards in order to remain target Hb stable between 10 and 11 gr/dl.
      Iron deficiency was detected (transferrin iron saturation less than 16% or serum
      ferritin less than 30 ng/ml) in 5 of the 10 patients. Patients have been divided
      into two Groups (GI--patients which developed iron deficiency; GII--patients
      which remained iron replete). There were no significant differences between GI
      and GII in the serum iron, transferrin and transferrin saturation values of the
      Pre-rhEPO. Serum ferritin in the Pre-rhEPO was lower in GI than GII (GI = 489.2
      +/- 23.6 ng/ml; GII = 901.6 +/- 96.4 ng/ml; p less than 0.01). Falls in the
      transferrin iron saturation during the Correction Period and 3, 6 and 12 months
      and in the serum ferritin at 3, 6 and 12 months versus Pre-rhEPO have
      occurred.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442179
TI  - [Skin pathology in kidney transplant recipients].
AB  - Since 1990, 82 unselected renal allograft recipients were evaluated in order to
      establish the incidence of cutaneous disorders. This pathology was related to the
      period of immunosuppression according to time of transplantation: 0-3 months; 3
      12 months; 12-36 months and beyond 36 months. Most of them were on triple
      immunosuppression (cyclosporine A, azathioprine and prednisone)--(51); Twenty-two
      also associated anti-timocyte globulin five days after transplantation; 7 were on
      Azathioprine and Prednisone and two of them associated Cyclosporine with
      Prednisone. Iatrogenic manifestations were the most common (80.5%) followed by
      infections in 63.4% and pre-malignant and malignant cutaneous lesions in 13.4%,
      other types of manifestations were found in 20.7% of patients. A significant
      incidence of pre-malignant and malignant lesions confirms other reports, making a
      dermatological surveillance advisable.

PMID- 1442180
TI  - [Carcinoma of the lung. Review of a caseload of 12 years at a service of internal
      medicine].
AB  - The authors present a retrospective study of medical records of patients with
      lung cancer, admitted at the Service 1 of Internal Medicine of Santo Antonio dos
      Capuchos Hospital during a 12 year period (1978-1989). Of the 112 selected
      patients, 50% had histologic diagnosis, the remaining had strong clinical
      radiographic, endoscopic and/or autopsic evidence of pulmonary malignancy or
      malignant cytology in sputum, bronchial secretions or pleural fluid. The clinical
      symptoms and means of diagnosis are presented and the advanced stage of the
      disease, at admission, the problems concerning the histologic diagnosis and the
      high mortality rate (55.4%) are emphasized.

PMID- 1442181
TI  - [Neurologic manifestations of Behcet disease. Review of the caseload of the
      Neurology and Dermatology services at the Santa Maria Hospital].
AB  - Neurological involvement in a series of patients with Behcet's disease, evaluated
      at the Departments of Neurology and Dermatology, St. Maria Hospital is reported.
      Meningoencephalytic or encephalytic were the most common clinical forms, while
      headache, cerebellar and pyramidal signs were the most prevalent symptoms/signs.
      On follow-up (range 2-13 years) the majority of the patients had either a
      progressive or a remitting-progressive course. Magnetic ressonance imaging was
      the most valuable method of detecting central nervous system lesions.

PMID- 1442182
TI  - [Incidence of and mortality from malignant tumors inthe municipality of++Vila
      Nova de Gaia: 1981-1987].
AB  - Data from the population based Cancer Registry of Vila Nova de Gaia for the 1981
      1987 period are presented. Cancer is becoming a disease increasingly frequent in
      Portugal, causing progressively higher mortality rates. Population and geographic
      characteristics of Vila Nova de Gaia country is presented. Information sources of
      this Registry are hospitals, pathology labs, Health Authority files and death
      certificates. Net (229.2, 216.6) and standardized for european population (369.9,
      245.9) incidence rates are presented for respectively men and women. Comparisons
      with registries from other countries (e.s.) are made.

PMID- 1442183
TI  - [Diagnosis of Lepore hemoglobinopathy with DNA analysis].
AB  - We illustrate the application of recombinant DNA methods (namely Southern
      blotting) for the genotype diagnosis of haemoglobin Lepore Boston: the use of the
      restriction endonucleases PstI and XbaI along with a beta globin gene specific
      probe make it possible to detect a deletion of approximately 7kb which typically
      characterizes the delta beta Boston gene. The impact of using such methods in the
      prenatal diagnosis of major haemoglobinopathies is discussed.

PMID- 1442184
TI  - [Chronic disease, the chronic patient and his family. Psychosocial impact of
      diabetes mellitus].
AB  - Concerning a revision about the mutual influence between the diabetes, the
      diabetic and his family, the author reviews the literature about the psychosocial
      area of the Family Physician content's work. It is also confirmed the high
      prevalency of the chronic disease and the importance of the family ecosystem, not
      only as support but also as problem to the bearing person of such type of
      disease. Studies of chronic disease indicate that family dysfunction is
      associated with poor health outcomes. The areas which more and better have been
      studied in this scope are reviewed. Thus, having as backdrop the diabetes
      management, the family's diabetic influence in general is reviewed, as well as
      the parental attitudes, the family organization and the family life events.
      Finally, the health care team role is reviewed and particulary the role of the
      family physician in the management of this type of patients. It is pointed out,
      as example of the Family Medicine specific contribution, the improving
      cooperation with medical treatment from the diabetic.

PMID- 1442185
TI  - [Research on psychosomatic disease. Various theoretical and methodologic
      aspects].
AB  - This article mentions ther present main lines of psychosomatic research either in
      what concerns the elimination of the concept of psychosomatic illness, or in what
      concerns its etiological understanding of the peculiar ways of therapeutic
      approach. We specify some methodological problems resulting from using several
      instruments to collect data and measure them. We analyse the theoric relevance of
      the constructs: depressive equivalents and, specially, the alexithymia one.
      Starting from the consensual phenomonological description of this construct, we
      explain its psychodynamic understanding, its neurophysiologic basis and
      sociocultural determination. We question the relationship between alexithymia and
      psychosomatic illness. We point out the pertinency of its utilization as a risk
      or maintainance factor and the possibility of its modelling by ambiance factors.
      We clarify the main heuristic contributions of this construct to psychosomatic
      investigation and we analyse, critically and concisely, the validity and fidelity
      of some instruments of measure built to measure it. It is necessary to pay prior
      attention to psychosomatic investigation in the health area. We propose lines of
      investigation to be developed in our country that should have a multidisciplinary
      perspective.

PMID- 1442186
TI  - [Gastrinoma localized in the pylorus in a patient with recurrent peptic ulcer].
AB  - We report a clinical case of a woman, 56 years old, with a history of duodenal
      ulcer and esophagitis, under medication with H2 receptors blockers during 3
      years. Plasma basal gastrin was near normal levels. A stimulation test with
      secretin was compatible with gastrinoma. CT scan and selective angiography didn't
      localize the tumor. At laparotomy we found a pyloric nodule that prove to be the
      gastrinoma. Eighteen months after surgery the patient is asymptomatic and with a
      normal endoscopic examination and secretin stimulation test.

PMID- 1442188
TI  - [I National Congress of echography. Final echoes].

PMID- 1442187
TI  - [Neodymium--Yag laser in the recanalization of arterial occlusions].
AB  - Failure of the guide-wire to recanalize some arterial total occlusion does not
      preclude balloon angioplasty. Nowadays there are recanalization devices such as
      the mechanical atherectomy and Lasers. The following report describes the
      successful use of the Nd: YG Laser in the recanalization of a common iliac artery
      total occlusion in a patient with claudication, rendering possible balloon
      angioplasty and a Palmaz Stent implantation, which is the first case performed in
      our country.

PMID- 1442189
TI  - [Ileoanal pouch for the treatment of adenomatous polyposis and ulcerative colitis
      -clinical and functional results].
AB  - The results of the first 9 patients with proctocolectomy and ileal pouch operated
      on between 1983 and 1990 were analysed. This procedure was carried out in 8
      patients with adenomatous polyposis. Three of these patients had an associated
      rectal cancer and one a degenerated sigmoid polyp. One patient had ulcerative
      colitis and was previously submitted to a colectomy related with perforated
      fulminant colitis. Three types of pouches were constructed: 3 S, 3 J and 3W, all
      with a temporary ileostomy. A circular stapler was used in 2 cases for ileoanal
      anastomosis. Three postoperative complications were observed: two patients with
      pouchitis during the presence of a diverting ileostomy and an ileal fistula
      following ileostomy closure, all medically treated. Clinical and functional
      results were evaluated 1 to 7 years after the procedure. The average daytime
      stool frequency was 4 with 1 nocturnal. All patients indicated normal continence.
      One patient had her professional life affected due to the increased number of
      defecations. Differences in the clinical results of the patients with S, J and W
      pouches were not statistically different. The functional results expressed as
      median and range were as follows: resting and pressure 45 cm H2O (20-60),
      voluntary anal pressure 70 cm H2O (34-120), compliance 3.70 ml/cm H2O (1.14
      11.40), maximal tolerated volume (MTV) 320 ml (110-48) and threshold volume 95 ml
      (40-170). The MTV values of the groups with J and W pouches were 190 ml (180-200)
      and 370 ml (340-480), respectively (p = 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442190
TI  - [Spinal brucellosis. 4 years of experience].
AB  - The Authors retrospectively studied 17 patients who have been admitted to the
      Infectious Diseases Clinic of Coimbra University Hospital during a four year
      period and whose final diagnosis was brucellar spondylitis. Clinical,
      epidemiological, laboratory and imaging features are analyzed, as well as those
      related to the therapeutic schedules and outcome. Females were more often
      affected (70.58%) and the mean age was 53.35 +/- 13.82 years. Lumbar spine was
      most frequently involved and an unusual elevated incidence of paravertebral soft
      tissue swelling was noticed (23.52%). Two patients were also suffering from
      neurobrucellosis (11.76%). The preferred therapeutic schedule was rifampin and
      doxycycline and surgery was performed in one patient. Finally, several comments
      are made regarding basically the incidence, laboratory and imaging diagnosis,
      therapeutic aspects and evolution of the disease. The imaging similarities and
      differences between tuberculous, pyogenic and brucellar spondylitis are briefly
      approached.

PMID- 1442191
TI  - [Surgical and trauma patients in a medical intensive care unit].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to characterize and to assess in terms of severity the surgical and
      trauma patients admitted to a medical intensive care unit (ICU). DESIGN:
      retrospective study base on clinical records and the ICU computerized database.
      SETTING: the medical ICU of a tertiary hospital. RESULTS: of the 2468 patients
      admitted to the ICU in 1989, 289 (11.7%) were surgical or trauma ones. The more
      frequent reasons for admission were: the need for mechanical ventilation,
      metabolic problems, and depression of consciousness. Of these 289 patients, 48.1%
      required mechanical ventilation, 14.9 hemodialysis; 4.8% had a pulmonary artery
      catheter inserted. Mean APACHE II, TISS and MOF scores were high (20.09 +/- 9.29,
      24.17 +/- 11.45 and 5.4 +/- 3.59); they were determined in 79.2, 88.2 and 43.9%
      of patients respectively. Both APACHE and TISS scores were correlated with
      mortality. When compared with medical patients, surgical/trauma ones although
      younger (52.9 +/- 20.7 years versus 55.9 +/- 20.2, p = 0.00152), had a longer
      mean stay in the ICU (7.63 +/- 12.7 days v. 3.64 +/- 7.61, p = 0.0001), and a
      higher mortality (also in the ICU) (28.7 v. 16.7, p = 0.0005. COMMENTS: these are
      seriously ill patients, who are frequently referred to the ICU in late stages of
      clinical evolution. We propose they should be closely followed, from the earliest
      possible stage, by medical-surgical teams, in order to benefit from a
      multidisciplinary approach.

PMID- 1442192
TI  - [Comas in the emergency room of a central hospital].
AB  - The aim of the present prospective work was to study the etiologic diagnosis and
      prognosis of the comatose patients for whom a neurologic examination is
      requested. It included 148 consecutive cases admitted to the emergency room of a
      general hospital. Coma was caused by supratentorial lesions in 38%, subtentorial
      lesions in 10%, diffuse or metabolic brain dysfunction in 49%, and psychiatric
      disorder in 1% of the patients. CT scan was the most valuable ancillary exam,
      modifying the initial etiologic diagnosis in 42% of the cases on whom it was
      performed. Seventy percent of the patients died. Coma caused by structural
      lesions had a worse outcome than coma caused by diffuse or metabolic brain
      dysfunction (intoxications excluded), and this type of coma had a worse outcome
      than drug-induced coma. The presence of anisocoria, the number of brainstem
      reflexes present and the pattern of motor response, as well as the Glasgow Coma
      Scale score, predicted the outcome.

PMID- 1442193
TI  - Percutaneous splenic embolization of the splenic artery in the treatment of
      hypersplenism.
AB  - Percutaneous splenectomy was performed in 6 patients with hypersplenism.
      Peripheral blood cell counts improved in 5 of the patients. The authors review
      the indications, technique and complications of percutaneous splenic
      embolization. It is concluded that medical splenectomy is an effective method
      particularly to alleviate symptoms of hypersplenism.

PMID- 1442194
TI  - [Solar radiation--physicochemical aspects].
AB  - The solar radiation spectrum and the properties of its components are studied in
      the present paper. The history of the sun rays before reaching earth surface is
      analysed. A simplified analysis of the interaction mechanisms of these components
      with molecules, the energy absorption capabilities of the latter and the expected
      biological consequences are considered. Special emphasis are given to the
      properties of ultra-violet and infra-red radiations and their production
      considered.

PMID- 1442195
TI  - [Anorexia nervosa and a psychosomatic investigation].
AB  - The paper begins with a revision of diagnostic criteria of Anorexia Nervosa (AN),
      stressing the importance of early diagnosis and transitional forms between AN and
      Bulimia Nervosa. A retrospective study of 13 female patients with AN, treated
      during 1990 in Lisbon Psychiatric University Clinica (Hospital de Santa Maria,
      Lisboa) is then described. The Authors outline some common characteristics of the
      sample, many difficulties in the early relationship mother-child, shown by
      maternal unsatisfaction on feeding the baby and with changing of food.
      Concluding, the Authors point out some directions for eating disorder's
      investigation, starting with a multidisciplinary work including biological and
      cultural factors and understanding of individual development and family dynamics.

PMID- 1442196
TI  - [Apropos of ileoanal anastomosis in ulcerative colitis and intestinal polyps].

PMID- 1442197
TI  - [Pulmonary emphysema in a patient with Turner's syndrome].
AB  - Turner's Syndrome was first described in 1938 by Henry Turner and has an
      incidence of 1:3000 live female births. The authors present an unusual case of a
      48-year-old woman with late diagnosed Turner's Syndrome. Whose karyotype was
      (46,X,i(Xq)), associated with a pulmonary emphysema and pulmonary hypertension.
      The case and the methods of study are presented. Some aspects of this case,
      namely the hypothesis of an association between the pulmonary emphysema and
      Turner's Syndrome are discussed.

PMID- 1442198
TI  - [Emphysematous cholecystitis].
AB  - Emphysematous cholecystitis (EC) is a rare and dramatic disease that requires
      prompt therapeutic procedures. The authors report a case of a 70-year-old-woman,
      admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for Infectious Diseases of the Santa Maria
      Hospital, with the diagnosis of EC. The literature on EC is also reviewed.

PMID- 1442199
TI  - [Limitations and perspectives of teaching and research in basic sciences at the
      Portuguese Faculties of Medicine].
AB  - Well known difficulties of teaching and research lived by basic sciences of the
      medical school curriculum in Portugal are becoming desperate. Two main problems
      deserve major concern and urgent solutions: firstly, the recruitment and
      continuing formation of motivated candidates for teaching and/or research in
      those areas; secondly, the establishment of adequate economic support that makes
      those careers in basic teaching and research attractive, along with the provision
      or creation of the necessary support for both activities. Specific administrative
      and financial solutions are required from the government, in order to foster a
      realistic future in the preclinical areas of the medical curricula.

PMID- 1442200
TI  - Change in bone mass immediately before menopause.
AB  - A group of 75 healthy women nearing menopause were entered into a longitudinal
      study of bone mass and bone cell function. All were at least 46 years, were still
      menstruating, and had premenopausal levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
      and estradiol (E2). Bone density measurements of the spine (dual-photon
      absorptiometry, DPA) and total-body (DPA) and forearm (single-photon
      absorptiometry, SPA) were made at 6 month intervals along with measurements of
      FSH and E2 over an average of 2.04 +/- 0.45 years. The annual rate of change in
      bone mass was determined for each individual by regressing the bone mass
      measurement at each site at the time of observation. The slopes were pooled, and
      the percentage annual change was calculated as the mean slope divided by the
      initial mean bone mass value. The mean rates of change in bone mass were
      calculated with and without weighting by length of observation. No meaningful
      differences in the results were seen in the weighted values compared to the
      unweighted values, and none of the sites showed a slope significantly different
      from zero. Demonstrated reproducibility and sample size provided sufficient power
      to detect annual weighted rates of change of 0.81% for spine BMC, 0.69% for spine
      BMD, 1.31% for forearm BMC, 1.55% for forearm BMC/BW, and 1.09% for total body
      bone mineral. We conclude that if changes in bone mineral are occurring in women
      at this age, they are substantially less than 1%/year for spine and not much more
      for the forearm or total skeleton.

PMID- 1442201
TI  - Enhancement of osteoinduction by vitamin D metabolites in rachitic host rats.
AB  - Diaphyseal bone from normal Sprague-Dawley rats was delipidated in chloroform
      methanol and demineralized in 0.6 N HCl at 4 degrees C. The bones were then
      implanted for 7-28 days into rats made rachitic by a low-phosphate, vitamin D
      deficient diet (VDP-) for 3 weeks. Bones from VDP- and normal rats were also
      implanted into normal hosts. When normal rats were used as the host environment,
      a consistent sequence of cartilage induction and bone formation was observed.
      Demineralized rachitic bone (RB) implanted into normal host rats resulted in
      cartilage and bone induction similar to that seen for normal bone (NB) implants.
      Transmission electron microscopy of RB in normal hosts revealed morphologically
      normal chondrocytes and cartilage matrix with normal mineralization. In contrast,
      implantation of NB in VDP- hosts resulted in delayed chondrogenesis and lack of
      calcification. Furthermore, similar results were observed when RB was implanted
      into VDP- hosts. Treatment of VDP- hosts with either 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 or
      24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 did not accelerate the sequential appearance of
      precartilage or cartilage. However, 24,25-(OH)2D3 administered alone or in
      combination with 1 alpha-OHD3 significantly increased the amount of calcified
      cartilage observed at 2 weeks postimplantation compared to implants from either
      untreated VDP-hosts or those treated only with 1 alpha-OHD3. New bone formation
      was observed at 4 weeks postimplantation in all vitamin D-treated groups as
      determined by von Kossa staining or direct electron microscope examination. There
      was no apparent difference in the quantitative or qualitative bone formed within
      the various vitamin D-treated groups. Serum calcium and phosphorus levels were
      lower and alkaline phosphatase levels were higher in VDP- hosts compared with
      normal animals or those treated with vitamin D metabolites. The results of this
      study show a reduction in the capacity of progenitor cells in VDP- rat hosts to
      respond to osteoinductive factor(s). This impaired response appears to be
      corrected by vitamin D metabolites.

PMID- 1442202
TI  - Evidence for the formation of a complex between osteopontin and osteocalcin.
AB  - We hypothesize that the mechanisms governing bone formation and remodeling
      involve the assembly of some of the components of the extracellular matrix into
      supramolecular complexes. We have examined the associations of osteopontin (OPN)
      with other proteins isolated from demineralized rat long bones. Three ligand
      binding techniques were used to demonstrate the formation of complexes between
      osteopontin and osteocalcin (OCN). Using gel overlay assays, the binding between
      soluble 125I-OPN and OCN immobilized in acrylamide gels was visualized.
      Competition for 125I-OPN-OCN complexes was demonstrated when unlabeled OCN
      enriched bone extract was included in gel overlay solutions. Also, gel overlay
      assays showed 125I-OCN binding to OPN. Saturable binding was shown in solid-phase
      filter binding assays, which yielded an equilibrium binding constant of
      moderately high affinity (approximately 10(-8) M). Specificity of OPN-OCN complex
      formation was confirmed by measuring binding in the presence of unlabeled OPN and
      OCN versus a bone-localized serum protein, alpha 2HS-glycoprotein. Finally, the
      formation of soluble complexes were demonstrated in a modified Hummel-Dreyer gel
      filtration assay. These results indicate that OPN and OCN form complexes in
      vitro. The possible functions of OPN-OCN complexes in osteoclast recruitment and
      attachment are discussed.

PMID- 1442203
TI  - Advantages of peripheral radiogrametry over dual-photon absorptiometry of the
      spine in the assessment of prevalence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures in
      women.
AB  - Since osteoporosis develops in most postmenopausal women and is probably the most
      important single factor in the pathogenesis of osteoporotic fractures of the
      spine, hip, and wrist (and at other sites), methods suitable for mass screening
      should be developed. In this study of 97 women aged 24-79, measurements of the
      lumbar spine mineral content by dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA) were compared
      with the summed combined cortical thickness measurements from radiographs of the
      radius and metacarpal II (MR). There was good correlation between the two methods
      (r = 0.90). The correlation of age with MR was higher than with DPA. The
      correlation of years postmenopause was significant with MR but not with DPA.
      Taking the -2 SD level of the premenopausal means to be previously established
      vertebral fracture thresholds, 24% of the DPA measurements, but no MR
      measurements in patients with vertebral compressions, were above the fracture
      threshold. Since MR measurement requires taking only two small plain radiographs
      using ordinary x-ray equipment, it is concluded that this less expensive method
      is better suited to screening for osteoporotic vertebral fracture risk in
      postmenopausal women than DPA.

PMID- 1442204
TI  - Relationship between the location of osteoblastic alkaline phosphatase activity
      and bone formation in human iliac crest bone.
AB  - It is not feasible to use in vivo tetracycline double labeling to study bone
      formation in biopsies taken during the emergency fixation of fractures. We
      therefore compared the trabecular localization and extent of osteoblastic
      alkaline phosphatase (AP) perimeters with tetracycline and osteoid perimeters in
      iliac crest biopsies from 7 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis and 13 women
      without metabolic bone disease. Fresh biopsies were chilled to -70 degrees C, and
      triplicate serial unfixed undecalcified cryostat sections were cut and reacted
      for AP, stained for osteoid, or mounted unstained. At individual remodeling
      sites, the mineralizing perimeter (M.Pm) was measured as the extent of a double
      or single label accompanied by greater than or equal to 1 lamella of osteoid and
      greater than or equal to 1 lamella of mineralized matrix between the
      mineralization front and the adjacent label. Osteoid perimeters (O.Pm) and AP
      perimeters (AP.Pm) were also measured. In each biopsy there was good agreement
      between the location of AP and bone formation (kappa statistic, range 0.71-1.0).
      The overall sensitivity and specificity of AP as an indicator of the location of
      bone formation were 0.963 and 0.902, respectively. At the level of the basic
      multicellular unit, in those samples in which greater than 3 active BMUs were
      found, there was (1) significant positive correlation between the M.Pm and both
      AP.Pm and AP-positive O.Pm (except 1 patient) and (2) no significant difference
      between the M.Pm and AP-positive O.Pm (17 of 18 patients and 18 of 18 patients at
      the tissue level).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442205
TI  - Maintenance of cancellous bone connectivity in primary hyperparathyroidism:
      trabecular strut analysis.
AB  - We previously demonstrated an increase in cancellous bone volume and trabecular
      number in patients with mild primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). To test the
      hypothesis that this increase is due to preservation of cancellous bone
      architecture, we conducted a trabecular strut analysis using a new method that
      measures trabecular connectivity. Iliac crest biopsies from 37 patients with
      PHPT, 14 men (28-68 years) and 23 women (26-68 years), were examined
      histomorphometrically and compared to cadaveric samples from 24 age-matched
      subjects, 17 men and 7 women. Two-dimensional indices of cancellous structure-
      node number (N.Nd), terminus number (N.Tm), node to node (Nd.Nd), node to
      terminus (Nd.Tm), and terminus to terminus (Tm.Tm) strut lengths, and total strut
      length (TSL)--were measured and the ratio of node number to terminus number
      (N.Nd/N.Tm) calculated. TSL, N.Nd, and Nd.Nd were significantly higher in
      patients than in controls. TSL and Nd.Nd, but not N.Nd or Nd/Tm, decreased
      significantly with age in PHPT, indicating that age-related bone loss in PHPT
      occurs without significant loss of trabecular connectivity. Two-dimensional
      indices reflecting connectivity or the amount of bone, that is, N.Nd, Nd.Nd,
      N.Nd/N.Tm, and TSL, correlated positively with cancellous bone volume (BV/TV) and
      trabecular number (Tb.N) and negatively with trabecular spacing (Tb.Sp) in both
      PHPT and controls. Trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) correlated positively with Nd.Nd
      and Tb.N and negatively with Tm.Tm in PHPT but not in controls. The present data
      show that in PHPT there is not only greater cancellous bone volume and trabecular
      number but preserved trabecular connectivity as well. The data further support
      the hypothesis that in PHPT cancellous bone architecture is maintained.

PMID- 1442206
TI  - Extracellular matrix formation by osteoblasts from patients with osteogenesis
      imperfecta.
AB  - Extracellular matrix proteins synthesized by bone cells isolated from 16 patients
      with different forms of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) were analyzed in vitro.
      Specific components of the extracellular matrix by OI and age-matched cultures
      were investigated by steady-state radiolabeling followed by quantitation of label
      into specific proteins and comparison of OI cultures to those of age-matched
      controls. The in vitro proliferation of OI bone cells was found to be lower than
      that of control cells. In seven patients, abnormalities of the alpha 1(I) and/or
      alpha 2(I) chains of type I collagen were detected by gel electrophoresis. In two
      of these patients, the mutations in the COLIA1 and COLIA2 genes have been
      previously identified. Although the amount of total protein synthesized by the
      cells in culture was the same for OI bone cells and age-matched control cells, OI
      bone cells showed a significantly reduced synthesis of not only collagen but also
      other bone matrix glycoproteins. The synthesis of osteonectin (SPARC/BM40) and
      three proteoglycans [a large chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, biglycan (PGI),
      and decorin (PGII)] was found to be decreased in OI cells. The reduction was most
      pronounced at the developmental age at which these macromolecules reach maximal
      levels during normal development.

PMID- 1442207
TI  - Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction and bone resorption by osteoclasts in vitro
      inhibited by a manganese-based superoxide dismutase mimic.
AB  - Oxygen-derived free radicals are produced by osteoclasts. Oxygen radical
      formation occurs at the osteoclast/bone surface interface. This location next to
      bone implies that oxygen radicals, including but not limited to superoxide, are
      needed for bone resorption. Compounds that scavenge superoxide are being
      developed as pharmaceutical agents to inhibit the damaging effects of oxygen
      radical formation on tissues. One such scavenger is the Desferal-manganese
      complex (DMnC). DMnC reduced the amount of formazan staining produced by the
      interaction of oxygen radicals with nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) in both
      individual mouse calvarial osteoclasts in tissue explants and isolated
      osteoclasts. As a result of the reduced concentrations of oxygen radicals, DMnC
      inhibited bone resorption by calvarial explants and isolated osteoclasts.
      Superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibited NBT reduction and bone resorption by
      isolated osteoclasts but to a lesser degree than DMnC. Inhibition of bone
      resorption in the isolated osteoclast system increased in parallel to the
      concentration of DMnC in cultures. Desferal without Mn had no effect on bone
      resorption by isolated osteoclasts. These results support the hypothesis that
      osteoclasts produce oxygen radicals as part of the process of bone resorption.

PMID- 1442208
TI  - Qualitative defects in natural killer cell function in ia osteopetrotic rats.
AB  - Recent studies have provided evidence that cells of the immune system and their
      associated cytokines function in the regulation of bone turnover. The incisors
      absent (ia) osteopetrotic rat represents a model in which a defect in the immune
      system and bone resorption can be studied. Osteopetrosis in the ia rat is
      characterized by a generalized excess accumulation of bone as a result of reduced
      bone resorption by defective osteoclasts that lack a ruffled border and the
      ability to exocytose their osteolytic enzymes. Previous attempts to identify
      associated defects in the ia immune system have proven unsuccessful; ia rats
      demonstrate normal delayed hypersensitivity, mitogenic activity, and macrophage
      function. Inasmuch as the skeletal manifestations of the ia mutation may be the
      result of a defect in exocytosis, related defects may be evident in immune cells
      utilizing exocytosis of granules or enzymes for their cytolytic function. Natural
      killer (NK) cells function by such a mechanism. Therefore, these studies were
      undertaken to evaluate the natural immune system in ia rats. NK activity assessed
      by 51Cr release assays was significantly reduced in ia animals compared to normal
      littermates. Mononuclear cells isolated from the peripheral blood of ia rats
      revealed a significantly greater percentage of large granular lymphocytes than
      normal littermates. Comparison of NK cell phenotypes using two phenotypic
      parameters for NK cells (OX8+, OX19- cells and 3.2.3+ cells) revealed that the
      mononuclear isolates of spleen and peripheral blood of mutant animals had
      significantly greater percentages of OX8+, OX19- and 3.2.3+ cells than normal
      controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442209
TI  - The bisphosphonate, alendronate, prevents bone loss in ovariectomized baboons.
AB  - We examined the effect of the amino bisphosphonate alendronate, administered IV
      every 2 weeks at 0.05 and 0.25 mg/kg for 1 year, on bone loss and parameters
      related to bone metabolism in ovariectomized baboons. Relative to non-OVX
      animals, the OVX baboons experienced increased bone turnover, reflected in
      biochemical and histomorphometric measurements, and bone loss assessed by dual
      beam absorptiometry in the lumbar spine, which was similar to changes observed in
      ovariectomized women. Alendronate treatment maintained all parameters of bone
      turnover at control (nonovariectomized) levels and prevented the bone loss in a
      dose-dependent manner. We concluded that ovariectomized baboons offer a suitable
      model for the bone changes observed in ovariectomized women and that these
      changes can be prevented by sustained administration of an appropriate dose of
      this aminobisphosphonate.

PMID- 1442210
TI  - Effect of fluoride on bone and bone cells in ovariectomized rats.
AB  - To evaluate whether treatment with a mitogenic agent may increase bone formation
      and bone mass in osteopenia induced by estrogen deficiency, we determined the
      effect of oral fluoride treatment on bone and bone cells in ovariectomized rats.
      Sodium fluoride (NaF) was administered to 3-month-old ovariectomized rats 1 day
      after ovariectomy (OVX) for 1, 3, and 6 months. NaF was given in drinking water
      at the dose of 1 mg/kg body weight per day. Fluoride administration led to a
      partial prevention of the bone loss induced by OVX as shown by histologic
      analysis of tibial metaphysis and by evaluation of femoral calcium content. These
      beneficial effects of fluoride were more striking at early time points (1 and 3
      months postovariectomy) than after 6 months of treatment. The increase in
      trabecular bone volume in OVX rats treated with fluoride was associated with a
      rise in the osteoblast surface, which was increased by 60, 72, and 235% at 1, 3,
      and 6 months postovariectomy compared to untreated OVX rats. In OVX rats and in
      sham-operated rats plasma osteocalcin was increased in correlation with the
      osteoblast surface. However, these two parameters were not correlated in OVX rats
      treated with fluoride. The heat-labile bone-specific alkaline phosphatase in
      plasma was decreased in OVX rats treated with fluoride compared to OVX rats,
      suggesting that both the number and the activity of osteoblasts were affected by
      NaF treatment. To examine the effect of fluoride on the osteocalcin production
      and the proliferative capacity of bone cells, osteoblastic cells were isolated by
      collagenase digestion from the bone surface of tibia in treated and untreated OVX
      rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442211
TI  - Localization of parathyroid hormone-related protein mRNA expression in breast
      cancer and metastatic lesions by in situ hybridization.
AB  - Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) has been identified
      immunohistochemically in 60% of breast carcinoma and in 92% of breast cancer
      metastases in bone. To establish whether the localization of the PTHrP antigen
      reflects protein synthesis and also to investigate the role of PTHrP in
      metastatic disease, as part of an ongoing study, we used in situ hybridization to
      study the localization of PTHrP mRNA in a retrospective series of primary breast
      tumors and their metastatic lesions. Paraffin sections of 17 primary and 26
      metastatic lesions, 11 of which were in bone, were available for the study: 10 of
      the 17 (59%) primary lesions, 8 of 11 (73%) breast cancer metastases to bone, and
      3 of 15 (20%) metastases to non-bone sites showed specific localization of PTHrP
      mRNA. These findings establish that PTHrP is commonly synthesized by primary
      breast cancers and support previous immunohistochemical studies reporting a
      higher incidence of PTHrP-positive tumor cells in skeletal metastases than in
      nonskeletal metastases.

PMID- 1442212
TI  - Disodium 1-hydroxy-3-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-propylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate (EB-1053) is
      a potent inhibitor of bone resorption in vitro and in vivo.
AB  - The ability of the new nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate disodium-1-hydroxy-3-(1
      pyrrolidinyl)-propylidene-1,1-bisphosphona te (EB-1053) to inhibit osteoclastic
      resorption was examined in vitro and in vivo. Results were compared to those
      obtained with 3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate (pamidronate or
      APD). In vitro, when tested in osteoclast precursor-dependent systems (fetal
      mouse metacarpals and a coculture system), EB-1053 suppressed 45Ca release
      effectively and was found to be about 10 times more potent than pamidronate (ED50
      = 2.5 x 10(-7) versus 2.5 x 10(-6) M, respectively). The EB-1053-inhibited
      osteoclastic resorption could be reversed by treatment with parathyroid hormone
      (PTH). In vivo, daily subcutaneous injections of EB-1053 to young growing rats
      for 7 days increased metaphyseal bone mass in tibiae dose dependently. In these
      experiments EB-1053 was about 50 times more potent than pamidronate. These
      studies show that EB-1053 is a very potent bisphosphonate that has potential use
      in the treatment of skeletal disorders.

PMID- 1442213
TI  - Development expression of bone sialoprotein mRNA in rat mineralized connective
      tissues.
AB  - Bone sialoprotein (BSP) is a phosphorylated and sulfated glycoprotein that is a
      major noncollagenous protein of bone and other mineralizing connective tissues.
      BSP is characterized by the presence of several polyglutamic acid segments and an
      RGD motif that mediates cell attachment through a vitronectin-like receptor.
      Although the precise function of BSP is unknown, the expression of BSP in
      conjunction with bone formation in vitro indicates a role for this protein in the
      biomineralization of connective tissues. In this study we used Northern
      hybridization and in situ hybridization to determine the tissue-specific and
      developmental expression of BSP during embryogenesis and growth of rat tissues.
      Analysis of tissues obtained from 13, 17, and 21 day fetuses, and from 4-, 14-,
      and 100-day-old animals indicates that BSP mRNA expression is restricted to cells
      actively forming the mineralizing tissues of bone, dentin and cementum. BSP mRNA
      transcripts were first evident in fully differentiated osteoblasts of 17 day
      fetal tissues at sites of de novo intramembranous and endochondral bone
      formation, with maximal expression observed at 21 days of gestation. Thereafter,
      BSP mRNA levels decreased markedly, and in adult bone hybridization was detected
      only in the primary spongiosa of long bones. In comparison, mRNAs for osteopontin
      (OPN), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and osteocalcin (OC) peaked at 4-14 days
      postpartum before declining. In the tibiae, Northern hybridization revealed a
      second peak of mRNA for BSP, ALP, and OPN at 14 days, reflecting an increased
      osteogenic activity due to the formation of the secondary centers of ossification
      in the epiphyseal cartilage. In situ hybridization also revealed BSP mRNA in
      hypertrophic chondrocytes at sites of bone formation, in odontoblasts of the
      incisor during dentinogenesis, and in cementoblasts during cementogenesis. In
      view of the restricted distribution and temporal changes in the expression of BSP
      mRNA that we observed together with the chemical properties of BSP, we believe
      that this protein has a specific role in mediating the initial stages of
      connective tissue mineralization.

PMID- 1442214
TI  - Histomorphometric analysis of resorption and formation in osteoporotics and
      controls with a mean age of 61 years.

PMID- 1442215
TI  - Brainstem auditory evoked potentials in patients with mitochondrial
      encephalomyopathy.
AB  - Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) were evaluated in three patients
      with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy belonging to the same family. This study
      showed marked alterations of BAEPs in all patients: reduction of wave amplitude,
      poor repeatability of responses in test-retest and abnormalities in wave form and
      latency. The neuroradiological examinations (CT-scan, MRI) did not show
      significant structural brain abnormalities. Abnormal BAEPs in our patients may be
      related to central metabolic disorder rather than hearing loss.

PMID- 1442216
TI  - Study of the P300 event-related potential through brain mapping in phonological
      dyslexics.
AB  - The auditory P300 was studied through brain mapping in 10 phonological dyslexics
      (7 M and 3 F), who were found to differ significantly from normals in presenting
      a longer P300 latency and smaller amplitude on the N2-P3 wave. Interesting too
      was the asymmetry of the P300 distribution between the two hemispheres, with less
      amplitude on the right. These findings confirm the hypothesis of reduced right
      hemisphere functioning during the process of information analysis in phonological
      dyslexics.

PMID- 1442217
TI  - Indication, efficiency and complications of intrathecal pump supported baclofen
      treatment in spinal spasticity.
AB  - In 19 patients, who suffered from severe spinal spasticity of different
      etiologies and did not respond sufficiently to oral antispastic therapy,
      intrathecal Baclofen test boli were administered. In 11 patients a DAD (Drug
      Administration Device) [SynchroMedR Model 8611 H, Medtronic Inc. Minneapolis,
      USA] was implanted. Catheter dislocation or torsion was the most common
      complication to be observed in these 11 patients. Long term intrathecal Baclofen
      application was effective in all patients, as reducing spasticity, flexor spasms
      and spasm induced pain. In some cases the motor performance ameliorated.

PMID- 1442218
TI  - Long-term intrathecal baclofen treatment in supraspinal spasticity.
AB  - Baclofen, a derivate of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), is known to be a useful
      drug in spasticity treatment. To achieve a good therapeutic response higher oral
      dosages have to be administered related with central side effects. Intrathecal
      application of Baclofen in microgram range dosages is proved to be effective in
      spinal spasticity. The efficiency of intrathecal Baclofen in patients suffering
      from supraspinal spasticity is discussed controversially. We report on 9 patients
      with long-term intrathecal Baclofen treatment, all of them responding well
      presenting a marked reduced muscle tone. In most cases an improvement of motor
      performance and in two cases improved bladder function was observed. The
      therapeutical dosages administered to patients with supraspinal spasticity exceed
      those administered to patients with spinal spasticity by approximately 100%
      without provoking central side effects. Despite the risks connected with this
      method it has to be considered as treatment of choice in cases of severe
      supraspinal spasticity.

PMID- 1442219
TI  - "Premorbid" personality of patients with Parkinson's disease.
AB  - To elucidate the possible existence of a so called "premorbid parkinsonian
      personality" we studied 33 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 66 controls
      who did not differ in age, sex, geographic origin, and cultural level, with the
      Spanish version of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI).
      Females of the PD group obtained significantly higher scores than females of the
      control group for the scales of hypochondria (p less than 0.01), depression (p
      less than 0.01), hysteria (p less than 0.05), and social introversion (p less
      than 0.01). The scores of the males with PD in all of the clinical scales of MMPI
      did not differ significantly from those of the male controls. These results,
      despite the difficulty of interpretation of a test done in a retrospective way,
      would agree with the hypothesis previously suggested of the possible existence of
      a "premorbid" parkinsonian personality, at least in females.

PMID- 1442220
TI  - Amoebae free-living. Report of the first Italian case of myelitis.
AB  - The AA. refer on the first Italian case of amoebae "Limax" primitive myelitis in
      a 25-year-old man. Microscopical observation showed amoebae free-living, but
      their cultivation and identification were not possible. The patient recovered
      because of the propriety of diagnosis and therapy with amphotericin B.

PMID- 1442221
TI  - Dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT) in a man chronically exposed to pesticides.
AB  - A patient chronically exposed to pesticides with dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT)
      is presented. We evaluate the pathogenic role of these substances in the disease
      and suggest the usefulness of an epidemiological attention on the environmental
      factors in certain neurodegenerative diseases.

PMID- 1442222
TI  - [Urologic laparoscopic surgery].

PMID- 1442223
TI  - [Therapeutic options in metastatic renal carcinoma].
AB  - Within the scope of urogenital tract tumoral diseases, renal adenocarcinoma is
      the third most frequent neoplasia diagnosed in the adult population. The limited
      clinical presentations in early analysis and their anarchical behaviour are the
      cause for 50% to 60% of patients having already developed distant disease at the
      time of diagnosis. The only curative procedure so far is radical surgery, which
      is possible when there is a single metastatic site and sometimes even, depending
      on various factors which will be analyzed, several sites. In these occasions, the
      traditional therapeutic choices (Hormonotherapy, Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy) have
      proven to have limited or no efficacy in managing the disease. This fact,
      together with the successful results obtained in other tumoral processes, have
      allowed the clinical development of different modalities of Immunotherapy for the
      management of metastatic renal carcinoma, with results clearly hopeful. This work
      is a review of the results reported for each of the mentioned therapeutic
      choices, basically analyzing the role currently played by surgery and
      immunotherapy in the management of advanced renal carcinoma.

PMID- 1442224
TI  - [Laparoscopic nephrectomy: a case report].
AB  - Presentation and clinical picture outline of a patient who underwent
      transperitoneal laparoscopy-assisted nephrectomy. The procedure lasted 4 hours
      and the patient was discharged 72 hours later without incidence or complications.
      The paper describes the technique (presently unique and for selective
      indications), as well as the resources that the extensive laparoscopic experience
      of our group put into practice to perform the first successful laparoscopic
      nephrectomy in humans in our country.

PMID- 1442225
TI  - [Current validity of urethroplasty in two stages].
AB  - Review of 18 patients with complex urethral stenosis, who underwent a two-stage
      urethroplasty in our Unit over the last three years. Clinical results have been
      favourable in all patients and, from the radiological point of view, there has
      been only one re-stenosis. Complications rate has been low and can be
      superimposed to that of any urethroplasty procedure. The paper emphasizes the
      enormous relevance of the care taken between both surgical stages on the
      procedure's final result.

PMID- 1442226
TI  - [Ultrasonic retrograde urethrography. Technique. Comparison with radiologic
      retrograde urethrography].
AB  - Using ultrasound scan urethrography (U.S.U.) and radiological retrograde
      urethrography (R.U.), the anterior urethra has been studied in 61 males in an
      attempt to establish the best technique to perform U.S.U. and to compare it, from
      the technical point of view, with R.U. U.S.U. should be made retrogradely filling
      the urethra with a saline solution, under direct ultrasound guidance, which
      allows to see the anterior urethra, from the syringe come introduced into the
      glandular urethra up to the urogenital diaphragm and the beginning of the
      membranous urethra. Overall, U.S.U. is faster to perform than R.U., nine times
      cheaper, more comfortable for the patient, and there is no risk of exposure to
      irradiation or radiological markers.

PMID- 1442227
TI  - [Endourologic treatment of calyceal diverticulum complicated with lithiasis].
AB  - Presentation of 9 cases of calyceal diverticulum symptomatic lithiasis, 6 of
      which have been treated up to the present time. Of the remaining 3, one patients,
      in spite of its evolutive character (increased cavity) and moderate pain, prefers
      to abstain from therapeutic therapy, but undergoes follow-up controls every 6
      months; the other 2 cases are waiting endourological treatment. Out of 6 patients
      who underwent surgery, two cases, who had previously experienced shockwave
      extracorporeal lithotripsy (SWEL), were advised to have endourological procedures
      due to persistence of pain and gallstones debris.

PMID- 1442228
TI  - [Renal carcinoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A clinical report].
AB  - Presentation of one case of a 61-year old male with a non-Hodgkin lymphoma, where
      a renal cell adenocarcinoma was unexpectedly discovered during and extension
      study. Review of the pathogenic significance of such association in the light of
      the various explicative hypothesis of this concurrence.

PMID- 1442229
TI  - [Renal adenocarcinomas associated with other malignant neoplasms].
AB  - The renal adenocarcinoma is not a frequent tumour within the scope of multiple
      neoplasias, at least in the clinical series. Conversely, it appears at a higher
      relative rate in the post-mortem series. This paper submits a review of renal
      adenocarcinoma associated in life to other malignant neoplasias, enumerating
      their major clinical and epidemiological data. Also, it reviews the literature
      with regard to frequency and etiology, applying the data to our series. The paper
      concludes that hypernephroma is not a tumour frequently associated with others in
      life, given its tendency to be secondary to other primary ones, therefore its
      development depending on survival to the initial tumour. It also emphasizes the
      need for adequate anamnesis aimed to detect multi-cancer syndromes and the
      etiology of multiple neoplasias. Further studies are needed to understand the
      scope of multiple neoplasias and their relative risk.

PMID- 1442230
TI  - [Acquired cystic renal disease associated with renal carcinoma: report of 3
      cases].
AB  - Presentation of three cases of haemodialysis patients with acquired cystic renal
      disease (ACRD) who, over the course of their illness, developed clear cells renal
      carcinoma. The paper emphasizes the common association of these two entities and
      the need to consider ACRD cases as patients at high risk of developing renal
      neoplasia.

PMID- 1442231
TI  - [Dermatomyositis as paraneoplastic syndrome of bladder tumor].
AB  - The dermatomyositis is a connective tissue disease characterized by changes
      affecting both the skin and the muscle, appearing most frequently around the
      fifth and sixth decades and which association to a vesical tumour is very rare.
      This paper contributes one case of paraneoplastic dermatomyositis associated to
      infiltrant vesical tumour, presenting erythematous damage in face, nape of the
      neck and upper thorax, as well as periorbital heliotrope erythema and fingernails
      base and sides telangiectasia, all of which are typical signs of dermatomyositis.

PMID- 1442232
TI  - [Bladder amyloidosis].
AB  - We present a case of Vesical Amyloidosis (V.A.) in a woman with Rheumatoid
      Arthritis. Clinical data, other locations and Histochemical findings are
      consistent with Secondary Amyloidosis. After T.U.R., she was treated with
      Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and Colchicine. Her severe hematuria disappeared.

PMID- 1442233
TI  - [Emphysematous cystitis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae].
AB  - Emphysematous cystitis is a very uncommon clinical activity as compared to the
      high incidence of urinary infections in diabetic patients. The paper explains the
      pathophysiological mechanisms and updates its clinical and therapeutic diagnostic
      choices regarding one case of favourable evolution following medical treatment.

PMID- 1442234
TI  - [Laparoscopic cystoprostatovesiculectomy and ureterosigmoidostomy. Experimental
      surgical model].
AB  - The authors have performed 26 experimental laparoscopic
      cystoprostatovesiculectomies in pigs, 17 of which were followed by
      ureterosigmoidostomies, also laparoscopically. Using a 10 mm trocar at the
      umbilical level (optics), another 10 mm at the hypogastric level (pliers and
      titanium staple applicator), a third 5 mm in left iliac fossa (pliers) and
      another 5 mm in right iliac fossa (electric shears), cystectomy is performed with
      a routine technique: stapling and section of deferents, umbilical arteries,
      vesical lateral pedicles and prostate-seminal pedicles. A double ligature
      precedes the section of the urethra in the pelvian fundus. A plier passed within
      an Amplatz jacket (previously introduced through the anus) assists the
      laparoscopic ureterosigmoidostomy "in elephant trunk" which is performed by sero
      muscle suture using 3-zero reabsorbable single-strand material. Overcoming the
      anatomical differences existing with humans, the illustrated experimental model
      confirms the possibility of performing this type of procedures in human beings,
      which would considerably curtail the morbidity associated with this type of
      surgery.

PMID- 1442235
TI  - Personality traits and behaviors of alcohol-impaired drivers: a comparison of
      first and multiple offenders.
AB  - Using an interview and questionnaire format, 358 driving under the influence of
      alcohol (DUI) first offenders and 141 DUI multiple offenders were compared on
      measures of personality traits, drinking behavior and problems, and driving
      behavior and history. In addition, official driving records for the two groups
      were compared. Results indicated that multiple offenders were significantly
      higher in hostility, sensation seeking, psychopathic deviance, mania, and
      depression than first offenders. Multiple offenders were significantly lower in
      emotional adjustment and assertiveness. Multiple offenders had significantly more
      nontraffic arrests, accidents, and traffic tickets than first offenders. They
      also consumed significantly more alcohol, evidenced more alcohol problems, and
      had higher BACs at the time of arrest than first offenders. Results are discussed
      in terms of general problem behavior and implications for intervention and
      treatment.

PMID- 1442236
TI  - Readiness for smoking change among middle-aged Finnish men.
AB  - According to the transtheoretical model of change, smoking cessation attempts are
      preceded by three stages: precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation. These
      stages have shown great utility in predicting and impacting on behavior change.
      This cross-cultural study examined the distribution of the stages within a 33%
      random sample of middle-aged Finnish men. Of 490 regular smokers, 57.6% were in
      precontemplation, 29.4% in contemplation, and 13.0% in preparation. Five
      conceptual clusters were used to predict the stage membership. The number of
      lifetime quit attempts and the number of 24-h quit attempts in the past 12 months
      were found to be the best discriminators among the stages. The overall correct
      classification rate into stages using stepwise discriminant function analysis was
      64.0%, substantially better than the chance rate. However, the analysis was
      successful for precontemplators only. Results showed that most smokers were
      precontemplators. Previous attempts to reduce smoking provided some predictive
      information concerning stage membership. Demographics, addiction to smoking,
      current smoking, smoking environment, and quit history were incomplete predictors
      of stage membership, as theoretically predicted.

PMID- 1442237
TI  - Personal and parental alcohol abuse, and victimization in obese binge eaters and
      nonbingeing obese.
AB  - Current obesity research has begun to emphasize the importance of pretreatment
      assessment and more individually tailored treatment protocols. Obese binge eaters
      have been identified as a subgroup of the obese who do not respond well to
      standard behavioral treatment programs. We were interested in identifying
      variables that are important to consider when assessing and treating obese binge
      eaters. The present study assessed the prevalence of personal alcohol abuse,
      parental alcohol abuse, and victimization in 62 males and 274 females seeking
      treatment for obesity. Obese binge eaters (OBE) had significantly greater rates
      of personal alcohol abuse, parental alcohol abuse, and victimization than the
      nonbingeing obese (NBO) in our sample. Further studies of the OBE population are
      recommended.

PMID- 1442238
TI  - The effects of caffeine and nicotine consumption on mood and somatic variables in
      a penitentiary inmate population.
AB  - A sample of 144 inmates from a maximum security penitentiary responded to a
      request for information regarding their average daily intake of nicotine and
      caffeine. They also rated the quality of their appetite and sleep, their level of
      concentration, their mood and specific feelings of anger, anxiety, frustration,
      and irritability. Factor analysis generated a two-factor solution of these
      variables, namely general mood state (mood, anxiety, anger, frustration, and
      irritability) and a somatic state (appetite, concentration, and sleep). Analysis
      of variance showed an interaction between level of smoking (nonsmokers, low and
      high cigarette smokers) and caffeine use (moderate vs. high) on the general mood
      factor. Nonsmokers who consumed high levels of caffeine experienced poorer
      general mood than any other group. There was a main effect of cigarette smoking
      status on the somatic factor, such that greater dissatisfaction was associated
      with greater consumption. Caffeine consumption was generally high, averaging 800
      mg of caffeine per day, per inmate, well above the amount considered to be
      potentially damaging to health.

PMID- 1442239
TI  - The interaction of sociological and biological factors in adolescent cigarette
      smoking.
AB  - This article considers the interaction of social and biological factors in the
      context of adolescent cigarette smoking. Parent and peer smoking are the
      sociological variables and testosterone is the biological indicator. The subjects
      are 212 males and females 12-14 years of age. The findings support the
      interaction model, suggesting that both sociological and biological factors are
      necessary for understanding adolescent smoking.

PMID- 1442240
TI  - Long-term maintenance following attainment of goal weight: a preliminary
      investigation.
AB  - The present study sought to determine whether the high relapse rates observed
      among subjects in fixed length behavioral-based weight loss programs would be
      lowered if subjects were allowed to continue in treatment until they had reached
      their desired weights. Five hundred seventeen (517) clients at a commercial
      weight-loss program were surveyed approximately 1 year posttreatment regarding
      their current weight status. Of the 267 subjects who responded to the mailed
      survey, it was found that 82% remained within 10% of their posttreatment weights
      at the time of the follow-up. Of particular interest was the fact that weight
      trends during the intervening year suggested subjects were actively and
      effectively calibrating their weight. It was concluded that the high relapse
      rates typical for this mode of treatment may be an artifact of premature
      treatment cessation and further investigation is indeed merited.

PMID- 1442241
TI  - Developmental level as a predictor of alcoholism treatment response: an attempted
      replication.
AB  - Over 12 years ago, a developmental level (DL) cognitive measure derived from the
      Rorschach was found to be a powerful predictor of alcohol-related outcomes
      following behaviorally oriented inpatient alcoholism treatment. These findings
      represent the strongest evidence of a relationship between cognitive functioning
      and treatment response. The current pilot study attempted to determine whether
      the large effects previously obtained with the DL measure could be replicated.
      The Rorschach was administered during the first week of treatment to 20 male
      alcoholic patients attending 1-month day hospital rehabilitation program. The
      Addiction Severity Index (ASI) was administered upon entry into treatment and a
      follow-up ASI was also administered 7 months after treatment entry. A higher DL
      was found to be significantly related to less recent drinking and intoxication at
      baseline as well as to lower alcohol-related problem levels in general. However,
      all of the relationships between DL and alcohol-related behaviors at follow-up
      were found to be either small or in a direction opposite to that hypothesized.
      Some of the reasons for the discrepancy between the findings of the current study
      and the earlier study are discussed.

PMID- 1442242
TI  - Alcohol abusers' perceptions of the accuracy of their self-reports of drinking:
      implications for treatment.
AB  - Several major literature reviews have concluded that alcohol abusers generally
      give valid self-reports when interviewed under certain conditions. Nevertheless,
      across all studies a small proportion of alcohol abusers' self-reports continue
      to be suspect. Sources of invalidity may relate to subject factors or to
      circumstances under which data are collected. One novel way of gaining
      information about conditions possibly affecting the accuracy of alcohol abusers'
      self-reports is to ask the subjects themselves. In the present study, 208 alcohol
      abusers were asked about (a) how accurately different people they knew or lived
      with would report their (i.e., the subjects') drinking at different levels (e.g.,
      abstinent, 1-4 drinks) compared to the subjects' own reports; (b) how accurate
      their own reports would be at different levels of ethanol consumption; and (c)
      how accurate their own reports would be when interviewed under different
      conditions (e.g., by phone, their therapist, a researcher, their employer). The
      results are largely consistent with studies that have empirically examined the
      validity of alcohol abusers' self-reports. Suggestions for future research and
      evaluation are offered.

PMID- 1442243
TI  - Compliance of genetic code with base-composition deflecting pressure.
AB  - Gene DNAs of different organisms show a wide variation in their G+C content as
      much as 20% to 80%. This variation has been regarded as the result of the
      compliance of the genetic code with the base-composition-deflecting mutational
      pressure. To make possible a quantitative discussion of this genetic code's
      elasticity, we made a statistical study of the G+C frequency at the 1st, 2nd, and
      3rd positions of codons: 4.5 x 10(6) codons in 11,981 protein coding regions in
      the DNA data base were analyzed. The data were examined quantitatively by using a
      species-independent universal equation which describes the base frequencies at
      the three codon sites in terms of the constraint parameters characteristic of the
      sites and an intersite interaction. By a best fitting procedure between
      theoretical curves and data points, the constraint parameters and the
      characteristic G+C contents to which the 1st and the 2nd site base compositions
      are bound were determined. The base substituting mutation of the coding sequence
      under the base-composition-deflecting pressure is divided into following three
      stages of the different compliance from the elastic one to the rigid: 1) the 3rd
      position of codons change by synonymous substitution; 2) the 1st and then 2nd
      positions change accompanying amino acid replacement; and 3) in the organisms
      exposed under an extremely high base composition deflecting pressure, the codon
      table is forced to be altered. The compliance parameters were derived
      quantitatively for the first two stages. In conclusion, a simultaneous analysis
      of data from organisms as divers as virus and man discovered that there is a set
      of constraints common to species, which governs the frequency of codon bases, and
      it can be described by a universal equation.

PMID- 1442244
TI  - Selenium and arsenic in biology: their chemical forms and biological functions.
AB  - Based on the recent development of analytical methods, sensitive systems for the
      analysis and speciation of selenium and arsenic have been established. A
      palladium addition technique was developed for the accurate determination of
      selenium in biological samples using graphite furnace atomic absorption analysis.
      For the speciation of the elements, combined methods of HPLC either with ICP-AES
      or with ICP-MS were found to work well. These systems were applied to the
      elucidation of the chemical form of the elements in natural samples. Some
      chemical properties of the selenium-mercury complex in dolphin liver were
      elucidated: i.e., it was a cationic, water-soluble, low molecular weight compound
      containing selenium and mercury in a 1:1 molar ratio, and was shown to be
      different from a known selenium-mercury complex, bis(methylmercuric)selenide. The
      major selenium compound excreted in human urine was revealed to be other than any
      of those previously identified (TMSe, selenate, and selenite). TMSe, a suspected
      major metabolite in urine, was found, if at all, in low levels. The major water
      soluble, and lipid-soluble arsenic compounds in a brown seaweed, U. pinnatifida
      (WAKAME), were rigorously identified, and the results were compared with other
      data on marine algae and animals. The major organic arsenic compounds (termed
      "arseno-sugars") in marine algae commonly contain 5-deoxy-5-dimethylarsinyl
      ribofuranoside moiety. There are various kinds of arseno-sugar derivatives
      containing different side-chains attached to the anomeric position of the sugar,
      and the distribution of each arsenic species seems to be related to algal
      species. The arseno-sugar (A-XI) is present in every alga so far examined, is
      metabolized to lipids, and possibly may play some specific role in the algal
      cells. On the other hand, the major arsenic compound in fish, crustacea and
      molluscs has been identified as arsenobetaine, which is an arseno-analog of
      glycinebetaine, a very common osmo-regulator in living organisms. Arsenobetaine
      is not detected in marine algae while arseno-sugars are not present in marine
      animals except for some molluscs which contain both compounds in considerable
      amounts. Arsenobetaine is present in the urine of human beings who have eaten
      foods derived from marine animals.

PMID- 1442246
TI  - Oral contraception noncompliance: the extent of the problem.
AB  - Compliance has been defined as the extent to which a patient's behavior coincides
      with the clinical prescription. The lowest expected failure rate of oral
      contraceptive (OC) use has been suggested to be 0.1%; however, in typical users,
      the failure rate varies by age, race, and marital status. In some populations in
      the United States (eg, unmarried black adolescents), the failure rate is 18%;
      rates that factor in the occurrence of abortions suggest an overall failure rate
      of 6.2% during the first year of use. If the annual failure rate of 6.2% is
      assumed, long-term failure rates rapidly approach 25% to 50% (ie, the proportion
      of users who will experience an unintended pregnancy) over 10 years of use. The
      gap between the lowest expected failure rate and the failure rates seen in
      typical users is related in large part to problems of compliance. Compliance with
      OC use includes both correct daily use and continuing use. Factors that
      contribute to OC discontinuation include the experience of side effects, fears
      and misinformation about OC side effects fueled by negative media reports, and
      intermittent use. There are relatively few data regarding the issue of missed
      pills and correct use, but studies suggest that adolescents may miss an average
      of 3 pills a month, and at least 20% to 30% of individuals miss a pill every
      month. Patients may have difficulty in the transition from one packet of pills to
      the next, and missed pills that extend the hormone-free interval may contribute
      to the failure rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442245
TI  - Mechanisms for gene conversion and homologous recombination: the double-strand
      break repair model and the successive half crossing-over model.
AB  - Two mechanisms for gene conversion and homologous recombination were discussed.
      (1) The double-strand break repair model. A double-strand break is expanded to a
      gap, which is then repaired by copying a homologous sequence. The gene conversion
      is often accompanied by crossing-over of the flanking sequences. We obtained
      evidence for this model in Red pathway of bacteriophage lambda and RecE pathway
      of E. coli. (2) The successive half crossing-over model. Half crossing-over
      leaves one recombinant duplex and one or two end(s) out of two parental duplexes.
      The resulting ends are, in turn, recombinogenic. Successive rounds of the half
      crossing-over mechanism explains why apparent plasmid gene conversion in RecF
      pathway of E. coli is not accompanied by crossing-over. This model can explain
      chromosomal gene conversion if we assume that the donor is first replicated. Gene
      conversion during mating-type switching in yeast, antigenic variation in
      unicellular microorganisms, and chromosomal gene conversion in mammalian somatic
      cells are explained by this model. Distinguishing between these two mechanisms is
      important in understanding recombination in yeast and mammalian cells and also in
      its application to gene targeting.

PMID- 1442247
TI  - Medical aspects of oral contraceptive discontinuation.
AB  - Oral contraceptive (OC) compliance is adversely affected by three medical
      factors: side effects, poor cycle control, and patients' fears of serious
      diseases. Most physicians recognize these factors but fail to understand their
      true impact on continuation rates. In one study, half of current OC users who
      changed brands and half of former OC users cited unwanted side effects as their
      reason for discontinuation. Moreover, a substantial number of women discontinue
      OCs without consulting their physicians. Among the so-called nuisance side
      effects cited by patients, the most prominent are bleeding irregularities. In new
      patients just beginning OC therapy, bleeding irregularities such as breakthrough
      bleeding and amenorrhea can lead to a very high discontinuation rate; as many as
      50% of new users discontinue OCs before the end of the first year because of such
      side effects. OC discontinuation rates among other patient populations vary. The
      problem has not been studied extensively, but existing data show the problem is a
      large one. One study involving 550 women of various ages and years of OC use
      confirmed that cycle control problems led many women to discontinue OC use--often
      resulting in an unplanned pregnancy. Six percent of the women in this study
      discontinued OC use because of poor cycle control, and 23% of this group
      experienced subsequent unwanted pregnancies. In contrast, clinical tolerance with
      the new progestins such as gestodene is good; in one study 86% of patients had
      normal bleeding patterns. The principal consequences of poor cycle control are
      loss of confidence in the OC and the physician, increased anxiety, disruption of
      sexual relations, additional physician calls and visits, pregnancy tests,
      discontinuation, and noncompliance. The perception that European women have
      regarding the pill is that it is a reliable method that does not interfere with
      sexual activities. However, doubts about the safety of OCs influence compliance
      with the method. While concerns regarding blood clots have diminished, the fear
      of cancer is still a concern for many women. The androgenic side effects of
      weight gain, acne,and breast tenderness are particularly troubling for
      adolescents, who are sensitive to changes in body image. In one recent study, 20%
      to 25% of women stopped taking OCs because of weight gain or acne, and another
      25% stopped because of fear of cancer. The medical component of improving
      compliance is the physician's choice of OC. Formulations with low, effective
      doses of hormones and the fewest side effects should be selected. Cycle control
      and the side-effect profile are improved with the new progestins.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1442248
TI  - Oral contraceptives and cycle control: a critical review of the literature.
AB  - Control of spotting and breakthrough bleeding and absence of withdrawal bleeding,
      collectively termed cycle control, is the single most important determinant of
      whether a new user of oral contraceptives (OCs) will continue this method.
      However, information about different OC preparations and how they affect such
      problems, including the effects of progestogen and estrogen phasing and the
      components of these hormones, is scant and confusing. Studies cited in this
      report reveal highly variable rates of bleeding problems in women taking OCs:
      after 6 months of OC use, the prevalence of spotting varied between 0% and 8.5%;
      of breakthrough bleeding, 0% and 12.2%; and of amenorrhea, 0% and 5.8%. At least
      some of this variation is attributable to differing study populations and
      cultures, study designs, and the manner in which data were collected and
      reported. However, methodologic weaknesses were common, often involving lack of
      randomization and blinding, and attrition rates were high. Despite these
      limitations, it is clear that the frequency of bleeding problems decreases with
      continuing use of OCs, emphasizing the need for patient reassurance about the
      transient nature of these problems. In addition, gestodene-containing
      preparations appear to offer better cycle control than do desogestrel-containing
      preparations and levonorgestrel-containing preparations better control than
      norethindrone-containing preparations. However, the strongest lesson to emerge is
      the need for more rigorous studies to adequately address questions of comparative
      bleeding problems, particularly with newer triphasic formulations. These
      conclusions underscore the importance of counseling new OC users about the
      possibility of bleeding problems, reassuring them that most such problems are
      temporary, and, that if compliance is maintained, these will not impair
      contraceptive efficacy.

PMID- 1442249
TI  - Cultural factors in oral contraceptive compliance.

PMID- 1442250
TI  - Noncontraceptive benefits of modern low-dose oral contraceptives.
AB  - Most oral contraceptive formulations in current use contain 50 micrograms or less
      of ethinyl estradiol and 1 mg or less of the various progestins: norethindrone
      (0.5-1 mg), norgestrel (0.3-0.5 mg), or levonorgestrel (0.05-0.25 mg) [1]. The
      new generation of progestins--norgestimate, desogestrel and gestodene--are
      derived from levonorgestrel, the biologically active enantiomer of norgestrel.
      These steroids have specific metabolic and pharmacologic activity that allow oral
      contraception at lower doses than previous progestins. Desogestrel and
      norgestimate are both prodrugs and must undergo hepatic and gastrointestinal
      metabolism to become biologically active compounds. Gestodene is immediately and
      completely bioavailable [2]. For the new formulations containing less than 50
      micrograms of ethinyl estradiol, the incidence of complications has decreased.
      With most of the early medical problems identified, current research can now
      focus on other aspects of oral contraception such as compliance and OC use
      failure. Prominent noncontraceptive health benefits have been observed in OC
      users and represent new directions for future research. When the risk-benefit
      ratio of OC use is evaluated in healthy women today, it clearly favors the
      benefits. However, these will not be fully realized without an increase in method
      compliance.

PMID- 1442251
TI  - Patient education and understanding: a critical review.
AB  - In the United Kingdom, family planning services are readily available to all
      women, regardless of economic status. Oral contraceptives play an important role
      in this effort, yet studies suggest that many patients still do not understand
      how to use these agents appropriately. Specifically, poor patient compliance is
      much more prevalent than initially thought. Factors influencing compliance in UK
      populations include age, socioeconomic group, education, side effects, packaging,
      and health care delivery. In order for these medications to be effective among
      various female populations, there is a need for greater emphasis on patient
      education about oral contraception. Several possible approaches are discussed.

PMID- 1442252
TI  - Patient counseling.
AB  - The success or failure of oral contraceptive (OC) use depends very heavily on the
      type and extent of the counseling a woman is given both before and during pill
      administration. If she selects the OC as her method of choice after considering
      all the options, a clear, detailed, and accurate discussion should ensue about
      its proper use; any fears that she may have should be explored; and great
      emphasis should be placed on the advantages and effectiveness of our current
      pills and, above all, on their numerous health benefits. All her questions should
      be answered in a thorough and emphatic fashion, and she should be encouraged to
      ask for additional answers at any time in the future. Finally, if her history
      reveals that she is at risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), she must be
      informed that the pill, while highly protective against unplanned pregnancy, will
      not provide protection against most STDs or HIV infections, and that she should
      also use condoms and/or a female barrier contraceptive with each act of
      intercourse.

PMID- 1442254
TI  - Heparin and Related Polysaccharides. Proceedings of an international meeting.
      Uppsala, Sweden, September 1-6, 1991.

PMID- 1442253
TI  - Heparin--an introduction.

PMID- 1442255
TI  - Two enzymes in one: N-deacetylation and N-sulfation in heparin biosynthesis are
      catalyzed by the same protein.

PMID- 1442256
TI  - Metabolism of plasma membrane-associated heparan sulfate proteoglycans.

PMID- 1442257
TI  - Lysosomal degradation of heparin and heparan sulphate.

PMID- 1442258
TI  - Heparin protein interactions.

PMID- 1442259
TI  - Role of protein conformational changes, surface approximation and protein
      cofactors in heparin-accelerated antithrombin-proteinase reactions.

PMID- 1442260
TI  - The interaction of glycosaminoglycans with heparin cofactor II: structure and
      activity of a high-affinity dermatan sulfate hexasaccharide.
AB  - The binding sites for dermatan sulfate and heparin in HCII overlap but are not
      identical. This may explain the observation that HCII binds non-specifically to
      heparin oligosaccharides but preferentially binds to a minor hexasaccharide
      isolated from dermatan sulfate having the structure shown in Fig. 4B. The tissue
      distribution of dermatan sulfate molecules containing the high-affinity HCII
      binding site may regulate HCII activity in vivo. Finally, in the presence of
      dermatan sulfate or heparin, the N-terminal acidic domain of HCII may interact
      with the hirudin-binding site of thrombin to produce maximal stimulation of the
      thrombin-HCII reaction.

PMID- 1442261
TI  - The interaction between LACI and heparin.

PMID- 1442262
TI  - Tissue factor pathway inhibitor and heparin.

PMID- 1442263
TI  - Chemical synthesis and hemisynthesis in the field of glycosaminoglycans.

PMID- 1442264
TI  - Heparin in the prevention and treatment of arterial thromboembolism.

PMID- 1442265
TI  - Relationship between dose, anticoagulant effect and the clinical efficacy and
      safety of heparin.

PMID- 1442266
TI  - Regulation of protease nexin-1 activity by heparin and heparan sulfate.

PMID- 1442267
TI  - New approaches for defining sequence specific synthesis of heparan sulfate
      chains.
AB  - Mammalian cells synthesize heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) which consist of
      core proteins with covalently linked glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of 50-150
      disaccharide units. The GAGs exhibit great structural diversity which arise from
      differing arrangements of alternate disaccharide units. It has been hypothesized
      that HSPG may be involved in regulating the most basic aspects of cell biologic
      systems such as adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. However,
      considerable doubt exists about the specific nature of the above interactions
      because of a failure to isolate GAGs of unique monosaccharide sequence with
      appropriate biologic activities. We have demonstrated that mouse LTA cells
      synthesize cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans with regions of defined
      monosaccharide sequence that specifically interact with antithrombin (HSPGact).
      However, it remains unclear how HSPGact can be generated by a biosynthetic
      pathway with no simple template for directing the ordered assembly of
      monosaccharide units. To examine this issue, we treated LTA cells with
      ethylmethane sulfonate and then identified mutants that exhibit decreased
      antithrombin binding to heparan sulfate chains but possess no gross defects in
      glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis. After screening 40,000 colonies, we isolated 7
      stable mutants which synthesize 8-27% of the wild type HSPGact but produce normal
      amounts of other HSPG. These mutants are recessive in nature, and fall into at
      least two different complementation groups. The delineation of the molecular
      basis of these defects should greatly improve our understanding of how cells
      synthesize HSPG with regions of defined monosaccharide sequence.

PMID- 1442268
TI  - Anti-inflammatory effects of heparin and its derivatives: inhibition of
      complement and of lymphocyte migration.

PMID- 1442269
TI  - Heparan sulphate proteoglycans: molecular organisation of membrane--associated
      species and an approach to polysaccharide sequence analysis.

PMID- 1442270
TI  - Regulation of the gene that encodes the peptide core of heparin proteoglycan and
      other proteoglycans that are stored in the secretory granules of hematopoietic
      cells.

PMID- 1442271
TI  - Structural and functional diversity of the heparan sulfate proteoglycans.

PMID- 1442272
TI  - Heparan sulfate proteoglycans and signalling in cell adhesion.

PMID- 1442273
TI  - Animal cell mutants defective in heparan sulfate polymerization.

PMID- 1442274
TI  - Study design for the prevention of aerodigestive tract cancers.

PMID- 1442275
TI  - Participant enrollment, participation, and compliance in chemoprevention trials.
AB  - Chemoprevention trials offer exciting opportunities for decreasing the risk for
      cancer. Close attention to the recruitment, enrollment, and compliance of
      participants will aid greatly in both the cooperation of participants and the
      long-term adherence that are essential for the success of these trials.

PMID- 1442276
TI  - A population-based trial of beta-carotene chemoprevention of head and neck
      cancer.

PMID- 1442277
TI  - Chemoprevention of Barrett's esophagus and oral leukoplakia.

PMID- 1442278
TI  - Carotene and retinol efficacy trial: lung cancer chemoprevention trial in heavy
      cigarette smokers and asbestos-exposed workers. CARET Coinvestigators and Staff.

PMID- 1442279
TI  - An intervention trial in high-risk asbestos-exposed persons.

PMID- 1442280
TI  - Chemoprevention of aerodigestive epithelial cancers.

PMID- 1442281
TI  - Epidemiology of vitamin A and aerodigestive cancer.

PMID- 1442282
TI  - Multiple primary squamous carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract.

PMID- 1442283
TI  - Smokeless tobacco and aerodigestive tract cancers: recent research directions.

PMID- 1442284
TI  - Hamster lung cancer model of carcinogenesis and chemoprevention.

PMID- 1442285
TI  - Culture conditions affect expression of the alpha 6 beta 4 integrin associated
      with aggressive behavior in head and neck cancer.

PMID- 1442286
TI  - Growth factors and other targets for rational application as intervention agents.

PMID- 1442287
TI  - Micronuclei as intermediate end points in intervention.

PMID- 1442288
TI  - Exercise, calories, and fat: future challenges.

PMID- 1442289
TI  - A model system for studying nutritional interventions on colon tumor growth:
      effects of marine oil.
AB  - Lipid nutrition effects were evaluated on the growth of a transplantable colon
      tumor (CT-26) at various sites in the BALB/c mouse. CT-26 implanted into the back
      or flank of these mice grew well independent of the quality or quantity of fat in
      the diet. However, when implanted in the mid-portion of the descending colon,
      tumor growth was related to the level of dietary saturated (coconut oil) or n-6
      unsaturated (safflower oil) fat in the diet. Similar findings were obtained when
      the tumor was utilized in a pulmonary colonization assay. Dietary marine oil
      (mainly EPA, and DHA n-3 polyunsaturated oils) was found to markedly impair the
      growth of CT-26 implanted in the bowel and lung, but not in the back. Thus, CT-26
      exhibits nutrition responsiveness at certain sites, but not at others. This may
      help to explain contradictory findings concerning dietary lipids in certain
      studies. Inhibition of tumor growth by marine oils may afford preventive or
      chemotherapeutic implications as its mode of action unfolds. Histologic findings
      in bowel tumors from mice fed marine oil but not other oils revealed focal areas
      of necrosis. It is appreciated that arachidonate metabolism is competitively
      interfered with by EPA in both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways. The
      possibility is raised that the metabolism of marine oils in this model system may
      generate lipid peroxidation products to a greater extent than n-6 lipids and in
      turn is associated with focal areas of necrosis. A model system of nutritionally
      non-responsive and nutritionally responsive sites for the post-promotional growth
      of a bowel tumor affords the opportunity to explore lipid effects with control
      and test tumors in hosts fed identical lipid nutriture.

PMID- 1442290
TI  - Enhancement of pancreatic carcinogenesis by dehydroepiandrosterone.

PMID- 1442291
TI  - Caloric restriction and experimental carcinogenesis.

PMID- 1442292
TI  - Breast cancer--the optimal diet.
AB  - In summary, the evidence based upon global and metabolic epidemiology, and animal
      studies supported by biologic understanding of the various mechanisms in which
      dietary fat can affect promotion and progression of breast cancer supports the
      concept that dietary fat, in particular, certain types of fat, and dietary fiber
      affect the causation, promotion, and progression of breast cancer. The
      epidemiologic evidence of the link between breast cancer and dietary fat is still
      controversial due to methodological problems in designing a valid test. Also a
      number of studies dealt with the question of fat intake in pre-menopausal women,
      where admittedly the association is weak. What now needs to be done is to verify
      the effect of a low-fat diet in post-menopausal breast cancer patients. We
      suggest that a similar trial on pre-menopausal breast cancer patients in
      conjunction with ovarian ablation should be conducted. The question to be
      considered is what in terms of dose, type, and duration of fat and fiber will be
      required to obtain a measureable effect on the recurrence rate and survival of
      breast cancer patients.

PMID- 1442293
TI  - Dietary fat and breast cancer: testing interventions to reduce risks.

PMID- 1442294
TI  - Effects of voluntary exercise and/or food restriction on pancreatic tumorigenesis
      in male rats.
AB  - Studies were undertaken to evaluate the effects of caloric restriction on
      voluntary exercise in a rat model of pancreatic cancer. Suckling male Lewis rats
      were initiated with 3 doses (30 mg/kg body weight) of the pancreatic carcinogen
      azaserine. At 28 days of age they were weaned to one of four experimental
      protocols; namely, sedentary/ad libitum fed, voluntary exercise/ad libitum fed,
      sedentary/food restricted, and voluntary exercise/food restricted. Voluntary
      exercise was provided by free access to running wheels fitted with odometers.
      Food restriction was intended to be mild, at less than 10% reduction of ad
      libitum intake. Putative pre-neoplastic pancreatic foci were identified
      microscopically at 4 months post-azaserine treatment. As previously shown, food
      restriction led to increased wheel activity, but the increased activity could not
      be maintained beyond the first half of the post-initiation treatment phase.
      Additionally, the extensive wheel running occurred only when available food was
      restricted by greater than 10%. Exercise per se had a lesser effect compared to
      food restriction on pancreatic tumorigenesis.

PMID- 1442295
TI  - Possible mechanisms through which dietary lipids, calorie restriction, and
      exercise modulate breast cancer.

PMID- 1442296
TI  - Dietary fat, calories, and mammary gland tumorigenesis.
AB  - In this communication, a vast array of studies designed to examine the
      relationship between dietary fat and experimental mammary gland tumorigenesis was
      reviewed and critiqued. It is clear, as reported by many laboratories, that as
      the fat content of the diet is increased from a low or standard level to a high
      level, a consistent and substantial increase in the development of rodent mammary
      gland tumors is observed. The longer the duration the high-fat diet is fed, the
      greater the enhancing effect on tumorigenesis. Furthermore, the stimulatory
      effect of a high-fat diet is observed even when fed commencing late in an
      animal's life. A multitude of studies also have provided evidence that the type
      of fat can markedly influence the development of rodent mammary gland tumors. In
      general, high dietary levels of unsaturated fats (e.g., corn oil, sunflower-seed
      oil) stimulate this tumorigenic process more than high levels of saturated fats
      (e.g., beef tallow, coconut oil); diets rich in certain fish oils (e.g., Menhaden
      oil, Max EPA) are often the most inhibitory to this tumorigenic process.
      Importantly, however, supplementation of saturated fat or fish oil diets with
      modest amounts of unsaturated fats, e.g., corn oil, often negates the mammary
      tumor inhibitory activities of these fats. Thus, rather extreme differences in
      the types of fat are required for a differential in mammary gland tumorigenesis;
      common proportionate blends of different fats of animal, plant, and/or fish
      origin are often unable to differentially influence this tumorigenic process.
      Diets rich in monoenoic fatty acids, e.g., those containing high levels of olive
      oil, have been examined in a number of studies; results from these studies have
      been inconsistent. A number of reports suggest that the increase in development
      of mammary tumors in rodents fed a high-fat diet, compared with those fed a low
      fat diet, is due to specific metabolic activities of the fat per se, activities
      independent of a caloric mechanism. Careful analysis of these reports suggest
      that such a conclusion may not be totally warranted. Indeed, persuasive evidence
      is accumulating indicating that the major mammary tumor development enhancing
      activities of a high-fat diet may be via a caloric (energy) mechanism. Caloric
      restriction, even in animals fed a high-fat diet, significantly suppresses
      mammary tumor development. Even mild caloric restriction (e.g., 12%) can
      significantly suppress development of mammary tumors in rodents.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1442297
TI  - Dietary fat and breast cancer: a search for mechanisms.

PMID- 1442298
TI  - Selected recent studies of exercise, energy metabolism, body weight, and blood
      lipids relevant to interpretation and design of studies of exercise and cancer.

PMID- 1442299
TI  - Former athletes have a lower lifetime occurrence of breast cancer and cancers of
      the reproductive system.

PMID- 1442300
TI  - Voluntary exercise and experimental mammary cancer.
AB  - The results of these studies indicate that voluntary activity suppresses the
      development of chemically and virally induced primary mammary tumors in rats and
      mice fed high-fat diets. These diets were chosen to mimic the current U.S. fat
      consumption of approximately 40% of calories as fat. It remains to be seen if
      activity exerts a similar suppressive effect on animals fed their customary low
      fat diet (10% calories as fat). In general, the activity profiles of the female
      Fischer F-344 and Sprague-Dawley rat and the C3H/o mu j mouse exhibited a similar
      pattern with an early peak followed by a gradual plateau over time. The effects
      of activity on body fat composition showed a trend toward a decreased percent of
      body fat when compared to sedentary animals but a statistically significant
      decrease was found only in the F-344 female rat. In the DMBA model, carcinogen
      dose did alter outcome parameters. For example, time to first tumor was extended
      under low- but not high-DMBA conditions, and, conversely, tumor multiplicity was
      significantly decreased in the high- but not low-DMBA group. In the NMU model, an
      inverse association was found between the amount of activity and tumor incidence.
      A similar association was not found with the DMBA model. The reason for this is
      uncertain, but further analysis in terms of other parameters such as total tumor
      number may shed more light on this discrepancy. The suppressive effect of
      activity on the MMTV-induced mouse mammary tumor is of particular interest since
      it raises the possibility that activity may exert effects on the process of
      provirus insertion, and/or oncogene activation--an area of great potential
      promise in cancer prevention. Activity appeared to enhance the volume and to a
      lesser degree the number of metastatic foci in the lungs of F-344 retired
      breeders under high-fat but not medium-fat conditions. In addition, the most
      active animals in the high-fat group exhibited the greatest volume of metastases.
      These results, together with those in the NMU model, point to the critical
      importance of the quantity of voluntary activity an animal engages in and its
      relation to both primary and secondary cancer prevention. They imply that beyond
      a certain point of either frequency or intensity, the beneficial effect of
      exercise may be nullified by competing deleterious effects. The metastases study
      has also brought to light the importance of dietary fat as a potential
      intervening variable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1442301
TI  - Effect of amount and type of exercise on experimentally induced breast cancer.
AB  - It appears that exercise derived by treadmill running can enhance or inhibit the
      development of mammary cancer depending on the intensity and duration of the
      activity. The effects of timing of exercise relative to the phases of
      carcinogenesis and the frequency of exercise on the tumorigenic response in the
      mammary gland have yet to be studied. What is needed are further investigations
      of a spectrum of exercise conditions that exert differential effects on measures
      of physical fitness, energy intake, body composition, and/or the efficiency of
      utilization of carbohydrate, fat, and protein as energy substrates. This should
      facilitate identification of critical relationships between physical activity and
      the risk for cancer. This goal can best be achieved initially through carefully
      controlled laboratory studies using appropriate experimental systems. There are
      several mechanisms by which exercise could alter the course of tumor development.
      A goal in this field should be to first characterize the influence on
      tumorigenesis of amount and type of exercise that have differential effects on
      metabolism and thereafter proceed to investigate the basis for the effects
      observed. Experiments should be designed to dissociate effects of exercise
      related to local and/or systemic changes induced by skeletal muscle contraction
      from those attributable to changes in energy expenditure. Ultimately,
      investigations of the type proposed should allow for determination of whether the
      quantity and quality of exercise needed to attain health-related benefits for
      chronic diseases such as cancer differs from what is recommended for fitness
      benefits. This should also permit formulation of a specific set of
      recommendations about the amount and type of physical activity that in concert
      with appropriate dietary practices can significantly reduce the risk for cancer.

PMID- 1442302
TI  - The influence of physical activity on the incidence of site-specific cancers in
      college alumni.

PMID- 1442303
TI  - Modulation of chemical toxicity by modification of caloric intake.
AB  - Caloric restriction increases maximum achievable lifespan and offsets the time to
      development of degenerative disease. Part of these desirable effects may result
      from positive modulation of toxic events. We have shown that when rodents are
      placed on a diet that is reduced in total calories by 40%, several beneficial
      changes on biochemical systems which impact on toxicologic processes are
      positively enhanced. Lipid metabolism is reduced and, therefore, the potential
      for lipoperoxidation is reduced. Additionally, activity of enzymes that produce
      free radicals as byproducts (cytochrome P4502C11) are also reduced. Concurrently,
      we have shown that the "effective" activity of catalase and the activity of
      superoxide dismutase (which are required for the detoxification of toxic oxygen
      radicals) are significantly increased by caloric restriction. The activities of
      enzymes of drug and xenobiotic metabolism are also altered by caloric
      restriction. The effect upon activity may be to either decrease or increase
      activity, dependent upon whether the enzyme activates compounds to intermediates
      which may be more toxic or whether the enzyme acts to reduce toxicity. We have
      also shown that caloric restriction may affect the initiation stage of
      carcinogenesis. Aflatoxin B1 binding to hepatic nuclear DNA was reduced by
      caloric restriction (caloric restriction reduced both major adducts that are
      formed upon exposure to aflatoxin B1). caloric restriction also reduced
      cytochrome P4502C11 which converts aflatoxin B1 to its toxic epoxide, and may
      partly explain the reduction in binding. These results suggest that caloric
      restriction may, in part, extend the time to development of degenerative disease
      by altering basic biochemical mechanisms of toxicity.

PMID- 1442304
TI  - Caloric intake, dietary fat level, and experimental carcinogenesis.

PMID- 1442305
TI  - Cell biology of antigen processing and presentation to major histocompatibility
      complex class I molecule-restricted T lymphocytes.

PMID- 1442306
TI  - Human B lymphocytes: phenotype, proliferation, and differentiation.

PMID- 1442307
TI  - Cytokine gene regulation: regulatory cis-elements and DNA binding factors
      involved in the interferon system.

PMID- 1442308
TI  - Cellular and molecular mechanisms of B lymphocyte tolerance.
AB  - A paradox of immunology is that the immune system is distributed so widely in the
      body, as a large number of cells that discharge most of their effector functions
      as single cells; but, at the same time, the elements of the system are so very
      interdependent, not only via specialized cell clusters and microenvironments, but
      also by mobile feedback loops, cellular and molecular. The end result is that one
      cannot really understand one element of the system without understanding every
      other, at least to a degree. Certainly, tolerance cannot be isolated from immune
      activation, nor B cell from T cell tolerance, rendering the task of the reviewer
      somewhat thankless. This being said, the last few years have seen wonderful
      progress in our grasp of B cell tolerance, to which the transgenic revolution has
      contributed a great deal. The fact that B cell tolerance exists as an important
      component of self-tolerance has been firmly established, as have the limits of
      the process in terms of both the survival of low-affinity antiself clonotypes and
      the question of location and concentration of antigen required for tolerance
      induction. Two processes have been identified as key alternatives: clonal
      abortion/maturation arrest/deletion and induction of clonal anergy. The latter
      requires a less strong Ig receptor crosslinking signal, may be partial, and is
      reversible. Recognition of these facts has prompted both experimentation and
      speculation on possible functions of the anergic cell. One unsatisfactory area,
      which we have not addressed because nothing like a consensus has been reached, is
      T cell-mediated suppression and its possible effects on tolerant states,
      including anergy induction in B cells. The phenomenology of suppression is too
      striking to sweep under the carpet, and suppressor T cell memory in particular
      (Adelstein et al., 1990) requires much more investigation; however, suppression
      has not been shown to play a major role in any of the best-studied transgenic
      models. These can readily be explained on the basis of direct interactions
      between the B cell target for abortion or anergy and the self antigen in
      question. The biochemical basis of discrimination between immunity and tolerance
      has also progressed, but not as fast. This is understandable, as so many
      signaling pathways have to come together for full immune induction, and as
      immaturity of the signal transduction pathway plays a profound role that must be
      studied in normal cells, with all the attendant difficulties of cell
      separation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1442309
TI  - Animal models for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

PMID- 1442310
TI  - The vulnerable child: new evidence, new approaches.

PMID- 1442311
TI  - IgG subclasses.

PMID- 1442312
TI  - New concepts in otitis media: results of investigations of the Greater Boston
      Otitis Media Study Group.

PMID- 1442313
TI  - The evaluation of ear canal, middle ear, temporal bone, and cerebellopontine
      angle masses in infants, children, and adolescents.
AB  - Ear canal, middle ear, temporal bone, and CPA angle masses (except for
      cholesteatomas) are rare in the pediatric population. The physician needs to have
      a high degree of suspicion for such lesions if a child presents with ear pain
      unrelated to infection or otorrhea that fails to improve after treatment. A
      precise diagnosis needs to be made in these children and also in those with
      hearing loss, vertigo, and facial paralysis. The most useful imaging procedures
      for ear, temporal bone, and CPA masses are CT and MR imaging. With a suspected
      vascular lesion, a definitive diagnosis usually can be made by an imaging
      procedure or angiography. In all cases of mass lesions, except for some aneurysms
      and infections, a tissue diagnosis must be secured.

PMID- 1442314
TI  - Lyme disease: ecology, epidemiology, clinical spectrum, and management.

PMID- 1442315
TI  - Helicobacter pylori, gastritis, and ulcers in pediatrics.
AB  - Hp now appears to be more than a simple commensal organism in patients with
      gastritis or peptic ulcer disease. Microbiologic, serologic, and epidemiologic
      studies all confirm that Hp has an important role in children with abdominal
      pain. Hp is found in the gastric mucosa of children with histologically proven
      gastritis or peptic ulcer. The organism can be transmitted from human to human
      with evidence of colonization, appearance of gastritis, and serum antibody
      response. Antimicrobial therapy directed at Hp eradicates colonization and
      resolves symptoms. Hp antibodies appear more frequently in familial clusters and
      the frequency of antibody positivity increases with age. Children are more likely
      to have symptomatic disease associated with elevated antibody titers. Recurrence
      of disease is associated with reappearance of the organism. At the present time,
      colonization can be detected only by gastric biopsy; however, it may be possible
      eventually to diagnose or follow infections by obtaining serum antibody titers or
      urea breath-testing. The natural history of Hp infection is unclear. Although it
      can cause an acute gastritis, it generally is found in association with chronic
      gastritis. The increase in seropositivity with age may mean that slow changes
      evolve over decades or that age cohorts have been infected differentially. How
      does antral colonization with Hp cause duodenal ulceration? The organism is not
      found in the duodenum and most patients with gastritis do not develop ulcers.
      This may be related to changes in acid production and mucosal protection
      associated with Hp colonization, but few studies have been done. What factors
      initiate Hp infection? Both volunteers who became colonized first suppressed acid
      secretion with H2-antagonists. Hypochlorhydria also seems to follow Hp infection
      in these same studies. The role of diet and drugs, or other environmental and
      genetic factors, in initiating infection is largely unexplored. An effective
      means of therapy needs to be developed. Although Hp appears sensitive in vitro to
      many compounds, it is difficult to eradicate in vivo, especially with
      monotherapy. Single-drug therapy suppresses the organism, but recurrence rates
      are high. It is difficult to deliver effective doses of drugs to the mucous niche
      the organism has selected and concerns about long-term therapy and its side
      effects persist. Current data suggest no ready solution to the initial case
      presentation. A child with primary gastritis or duodenal ulcer should be treated
      first with standard antacid and H2-receptor antagonist therapy. If endoscopy is
      performed, biopsies of normal-appearing areas of gastric antrum should be stained
      for Hp and a biopsy urease test should be performed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400
      WORDS)

PMID- 1442316
TI  - Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis. The Cystic Fibrosis Neonatal Screening
      Study Group.
AB  - Many questions remain regarding the efficacy, risks, and costs of CF neonatal
      screening. The major gap in knowledge that must be closed before CF neonatal
      screening can be recommended generally in the United States concerns the
      potential long-term medical benefits of initiating treatment in early infancy. It
      would be premature, in our opinion, to implement mass population screening of
      newborns for CF until the benefits and risks have been fully defined, and an
      adequate and logistically feasible testing system developed and/or highly
      effective therapy for CF lung disease becomes available. It is for this reason we
      designed a randomized, controlled investigation of CF neonatal screening and
      implemented this project in Wisconsin during 1985. The fact that 5 years of
      randomized screening and systematic evaluation of outcome measures have not yet
      revealed any pulmonary benefits underscores the importance of rigorous
      investigation to resolve the efficacy issue. In addition to the medical
      uncertainties, we believe that the ethical issues described herein need to be
      resolved; this concern pertains not only to the CF patient but also the
      heterozygote carrier. On the other hand, financial factors and uncertainty about
      the cost effectiveness of CF neonatal screening do not appear to be dominant
      issues according to our assessment of current data. Despite the reservations
      related to the benefit/risk relationship, we expect that the discovery of the CF
      gene should have a favorable impact on neonatal screening for the disease, as
      well as for management.

PMID- 1442317
TI  - Neonatal hemochromatosis.

PMID- 1442318
TI  - Protein and energy during weaning.

PMID- 1442319
TI  - Pediatric renal transplantation.

PMID- 1442320
TI  - Intravenous immunoglobulin in the prevention and treatment of neonatal bacterial
      sepsis.
AB  - IVIG has been shown in vitro to enhance many antibody-dependent immunologic
      functions. In animal models, IVIG enhanced the survival of septic neonates. In
      humans, preliminary data indicate that prophylactic IVIG may diminish the
      incidence of bacterial sepsis in VLBW neonates if sufficient doses of the
      immunoglobulin are administered repeatedly. IVIG administered after the onset of
      clinical symptoms may improve the survival of septic human neonates. However, the
      studies designed to assess the efficacy of IVIG to treat established sepsis have
      employed a small number of subjects and have, overall, provided inconclusive
      data. IVIG has been tolerated well by neonates, but the safety and long-term
      consequences of administering IVIG to newborn infants are not yet defined. IVIG
      will likely serve as a useful adjunct to enhance the antibacterial defenses of
      newborn infants. Use of IVIG in human neonates remains experimental at this time;
      therefore, the clinical application of IVIG for the prevention or treatment of
      neonatal bacterial sepsis should await the development of guidelines to be
      derived from ongoing multicentered, placebo-controlled clinical trials.

PMID- 1442321
TI  - Biochemical, structural, and molecular genetic aspects of halophilism.

PMID- 1442322
TI  - Proton nuclear magnetic resonance studies on hemoglobin: cooperative interactions
      and partially ligated intermediates.

PMID- 1442323
TI  - Thermodynamics of structural stability and cooperative folding behavior in
      proteins.

PMID- 1442324
TI  - Structure and stability of bovine casein micelles.

PMID- 1442325
TI  - Dietary manipulation in experimental inflammatory bowel disease.
AB  - Eicosanoids are major mediators of defensive and inflammatory processes of the
      gut mucosa. The activity of the eicosanoid system is modulated by neural and
      hormonal pathways, but local factors acting within the gastrointestinal lumen may
      also be involved. We have studied the influence of dietary fatty acids on
      eicosanoid synthesis by the gastrointestinal mucosa. Since omega-3 fatty acids
      compete with the omega-6 as precursors of eicosanoid synthesis, we compared the
      effects of dietary supplementation with either sunflower or cod liver oil as
      sources of omega-6 or omega-3 fatty acids, respectively. Rats fed with the cod
      liver-oil-supplemented diet for four weeks showed high omega-3 and low omega-6
      plasma fatty acid levels compared to rats fed with the sunflower oil diet.
      Synthesis of arachidonic-acid-derived eicosanoids (6-keto-PGF1 alpha, PGE2, TXB2,
      LTB4, and LTC4) by gastric and intestinal mucosa was found to be lower in the cod
      liver group as compared to the sunflower group. However, significant generation
      of eicosapentaenoic-acid-derived eicosanoids (PGE3 and LTC5) was observed only in
      the cod liver group. We used the (trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid) TNBS model of
      inflammatory colitis to test the effect of the dietary fat on the development of
      inflammatory lesions of the bowel. A single intracolonic instillation of the
      hapten TNBS dissolved in 10% ethanol induces chronic granulomatous lesions of the
      colonic mucosa that persist for up to 8 weeks. Luminal release of eicosanoid
      mediators, as measured by intracolonic dialysis, was lower in the cod liver group
      than in the sunflower group, particularly during the chronic stage of the
      disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442326
TI  - Effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on glutathione levels in various
      organs of rat.
AB  - Since glutathione (GSH) depletion (about 20% of total GSH content) can impair the
      cell's defence against the toxic actions of drugs and may lead to cell injury and
      death, we examined the effect of piroxicam, naproxen and ketoprofen on GSH levels
      in various organs of the rat (brain, eye, liver, stomach, heart, leg adductor
      muscle). Ketoprofen in brain and leg adductor muscle dramatically decreases the
      GSH levels, giving rise to potential cellular toxicity.

PMID- 1442327
TI  - Use of the rat air pouch model of inflammation to evaluate regional drug
      delivery.
AB  - We have used the rat inflammatory air pouch model to investigate some of the
      pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic issues relating to regional drug delivery.
      S(+)Ibuprofen was administered either intravenously or directly into the air
      pouch at the same time as the irritant (carrageenan). Serial samples of exudate
      and plasma were then taken and assayed for drug concentrations and various
      efficacy markers. Ibuprofen given intrapouch, was found to inhibit in a dose
      dependent manner the concentration of prostaglandin E2 and the number of white
      cells in the exudate. Plasma and pouch concentration-time profiles are described
      for s(+)Ibuprofen: there is evidence for greater drug retention in the pouch than
      in plasma following regional and systemic delivery.

PMID- 1442328
TI  - Desferrioxamine potentiated SOD antiinflammatory activity in rat adjuvant
      arthritis: role of iron and bacterial toxins.
AB  - In this paper we studied the modulating inflammatory activity of iron in the
      adjuvant arthritis, taking indomethacin as a standard antiinflammatory drug and a
      superoxide dismutase derivative (MPEG-SOD) as a scavenger of free radicals.
      Moreover, we evaluated the changes in potential intestinal pathogens requiring
      iron for growth, in order to study the role of bacteria in the altered
      gastrointestinal functions observed during arthritis. We observed a 50% arthritis
      inhibition on the 14th day with MPEG-SOD plus desferrioxamine, a significant
      decrease in serum iron in arthritic rats compared to controls, and a significant
      Cl. perfringens increase on the 28th day in the presence of MPEG-SOD. Our data
      demonstrate that hypoferremia, in arthritis, is a protective mechanism overall in
      the early phase and could protect the intestinal tract by inhibiting the
      development of potential pathogens.

PMID- 1442329
TI  - Anti-inflammatory effect of tuftsin and its retro-inverso analogue in rat
      adjuvant arthritis.
AB  - Tuftsin, an immunostimulating tetrapeptide derived from immunoglobulin heavy
      chain, and its retro-inverso analogue have been tested in rat adjuvant arthritis.
      The secondary lesion of rats injected with Freund's adjuvant was significantly
      inhibited by both the natural and retro-inverso tuftsin administered orally. The
      retro-inverso analogue was at least tenfold more potent than the parent molecule,
      suggesting an increased stability to degradation, because of its molecular
      modification. The anti-inflammatory effect of tuftsin may be due to its ability
      to modulate macrophage function.

PMID- 1442330
TI  - Copper supplementation in the rat: preliminary observations on the clinical,
      hematological and histopathological profile.
AB  - Complete toxicological examinations in female rats fed an "anti-inflammatory" 200
      ppm copper-containing diet for 30 and 58 days were performed. Copper was found to
      accumulate in liver, kidneys and paws; however, at the hematological, clinical
      chemical and histopathological levels, this treatment did not seem able to induce
      any toxic accumulation phenomenon in the examined rats.

PMID- 1442331
TI  - Time- and dose-related influence of dexamethasone on morphine-induced
      hypermotility in mice.
AB  - The effect of interaction between dexamethasone (DEX) and morphine on locomotor
      activity in mice was investigated. DEX alone (1.0 and 10 mg/kg i.p.) did not
      affect the locomotor activity of mice when injected immediately before the
      beginning of the session. DEX (1.0 mg) injected two hours before the session did
      not modify the activity of mice whereas the higher dose (10 mg) increased it.
      Morphine alone (30 mg/kp i.p.) induced a consistent increase in the locomotor
      activity. DEX (1.0 mg) injected at the same time as morphine reduced the morphine
      hypermotility, whereas that injected two hours before morphine had no influence
      on morphine hypermotility. DEX (10 mg) consistently potentiated the morphine
      hypermotility both when administered together and two hours before morphine. We
      conclude that DEX exerts an important time- and dose-related influence on
      morphine-induced hyperactivity in mice.

PMID- 1442332
TI  - Indomethacin-induced enteropathy: effect of the drug regimen on intestinal
      permeability in rats.
AB  - To set up and characterize reproducible, long-standing small intestinal
      inflammation in rats, animals were given three different oral regimens of
      indomethacin (Ind): a bolus of 10 mg/kg in water and three daily doses of 2, 4,
      and 8 mg/kg Ind in (a) the drinking water or (b) the standard diet. The effect of
      Ind on the small intestine was monitored by measuring intestinal permeability
      (IP). The three-day regimen seemed more suitable than a bolus dose to induce long
      standing inflammatory modifications in the rat small intestine and Ind
      administered in the drinking water gave more consistent modifications of IP and
      more reproducible results than Ind in food. IP seemed a suitable tool for
      detecting these inflammatory changes in the small-intestinal physiology. This
      model could be used to assess the effect of new drugs on inflammation.

PMID- 1442333
TI  - Immunological aspects of inflammatory bowel diseases of the human gut.
AB  - The gut has a highly specialized immune apparatus, particularly involving the
      production of protective secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA), but also involving T
      cell immunity. Secretory IgA plays a major role in preventing antigen uptake,
      both of infectious and non-infectious types. IgA immune responses are initiated
      by antigen uptake into specialized lymphoid aggregates such as Peyer's patches,
      and IgA plasma cell precursors are subsequently distributed throughout the gut
      and also over other mucosal surfaces. The clinical consequences of perturbation
      of the local immune system of the gut are surveyed in this article, including the
      consequences of immunodeficiency and the conditions reflecting an enhanced
      expression of immunity in the gut mucosa. The potential impact of non-steroidal
      anti-inflammatory drugs on the local immune system is discussed.

PMID- 1442334
TI  - Role of Helicobacter pylori in gastritis and duodenitis in man.
AB  - Although Helicobacter pylori is now accepted as the major aetiological factor in
      chronic gastritis in man, many of the factors which determine its pathogenicity
      are unknown. The organism has adapted to survive in the low-pH environment of the
      stomach, partly through its ability to buffer hydrogen ion by the hydrolysis of
      urea and by the presence of lectins on its surface, which bind to gastric mucosa
      and epithelial cells. After attachment, harmful toxins and enzymes have access to
      the gastric cells and cellular damage and an immune response ensues. In patients
      with duodenal ulceration, Helicobacter pylori-related gastritis predominantly
      affects the gastric antrum and has a high prevalence. Excessive gastrin
      production has been suggested as a potential aetiological factor linking
      infection with duodenal ulcer development. Perhaps more important is the
      association between gastric metaplasia of the duodenal epithelium, which is
      correlated with acid load and is more extreme in H. pylori positive patients with
      duodenitis. Organisms may subsequently spread from the gastric antrum into areas
      of gastric metaplasia in the duodenal bulb, leading to areas of chronic
      duodenitis and ultimately frank ulceration. It should not be overlooked, however,
      that other factors such as genetic predisposition, blood group, stress, drugs and
      smoking all have a role to play in the outcome, given the comparatively small
      number of patients in the general population infected with H. pylori who develop
      ulcer disease.

PMID- 1442335
TI  - Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) release from fresh and cultured colonic mucosa in
      patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).
AB  - Interleukin-1, a cytokine produced by macrophages and other tissue cells, has a
      major role in inflammatory and immunological responses. Increased levels of IL-1
      activity have been reported in experimental colitis and in patients with active
      Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). IL-1 beta release from fresh
      and cultured colonic biopsies and IL-1 beta plasma concentrations was determined
      in 15 patients with active UC, 16 with UC in remission and 10 normal control
      subjects. Biopsies, taken at colonoscopy were weighed, washed in 1 ml of 0.9%
      sodium chloride solution and then cultured for 24 h in 10% fetal calf serum/RPMI.
      IL-1 beta activity was determined by ELISA KIT (Cystron Biotechnology) in plasma
      samples, washing solution and the incubation medium. Very low levels of IL-1 beta
      were detected only in 3 plasma samples, all from active patients. Significantly
      more IL-1 beta was released from fresh and cultured colonic mucosa obtained from
      patients with UC in remission compared to normal mucosa (p less than 0.01).
      Furthermore, specimens from active UC released significantly more IL-1 beta than
      those from patients in remission (p less than 0.01). In conclusion, IL-1 may play
      an important role in mediating the inflammatory response in UC.

PMID- 1442336
TI  - 15-HETE is the main eicosanoid formed by human colonic mucosa.
AB  - Eicosanoids were measured in colonic biopsies from eleven patients with active
      ulcerative colitis and from thirteen controls. Eicosanoid formation was measured
      after the addition of arachidonic acid and stimulation with calcium ionophore
      A23187. The 15-lipoxygenase derivative 15-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE)
      was the predominant product formed in all biopsies. The amount of 15-HETE formed
      was dependent on the site of biopsy and decreased in the controls in biopsies
      taken in an aboral direction in the colon. The formation of 15-HETE and that of
      prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and PGF2 alpha was proportional to the histologically
      obtained inflammation score. The role of 15-H(P)ETE as a mediator in ulcerative
      colitis should, therefore, be considered in addition to the effects of known
      modulators such as leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and PGE2.

PMID- 1442337
TI  - Treatment of the mucosa with local anaesthetics in ulcerative colitis.
AB  - A new paradigm for the treatment of ulcerative colitis has recently been
      presented: Treatment of the mucosa with lidocaine (2%) enemas for prolonged
      periods. This therapy was introduced based on the hypothesis that hyperreactive
      autonomic nerves may play a pathogenetic role in the disease. One hundred
      consecutive patients have now been treated and the results presented. The
      proctitis patients all responded to the treatment, despite previous therapeutic
      failures in more than two-thirds of the cases. They were treated for 3-12 weeks,
      but 68% had a relapse (observation period 20 months). Of the 49 patients with
      proctosigmoiditis, two-thirds had chronic symptoms resistant to previous therapy.
      One of these patients did not respond to lidocaine, but developed fulminant total
      colitis. The other patient had therapeutic failure with lidocaine but responded
      well to subsequent cortisone enemas. The patients were treated until the subsets
      of T-lymphocytes (OKT4+ and OKT8+) disappeared from the mucosa. This occurred in
      parallel with symptomatic relief and eventual healing in 83% of the patients
      after treatment for 6-34 weeks. Of all the patients with proctosigmoiditis, 42%
      presented with recurrent symptoms (observation period 16 months). Of the 17
      patients with left-sided colitis, all went primarily into remission within 2-4
      months, but 23% had a relapse (observation period 13 months). The 6 patients with
      total colitis had symptomatic relief and improvement of histology when treated
      over 3-8 months. One patient had recurrence after 12 months. Treatment with a
      local anaesthetic in ulcerative colitis is a new approach to mucosal
      inflammation. The beneficial effects may be due to blockade of certain neural
      effects, such as epithelial proliferation and shedding and congestion of the
      mucosal vasculature, with actions on cells of the immune system.

PMID- 1442338
TI  - Species differences in the pattern of eicosanoids produced by inflamed and non
      inflamed tissue.
AB  - The synthesis of 14C labelled arachidonic acid metabolites was measured in
      colonic tissues obtained from mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, piglets and in
      colonic biopsies from humans during colonoscopy. The main eicosanoids formed
      after stimulation with calcium ionophore A23187 were: in humans, 15-hydroxy
      eicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE); in mice, 12-HETE; in rats, 12-HETE, 12-hydroxy
      5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6kPGF1
      alpha); in guinea pigs, PGD2; in rabbits, 6kPGF1 alpha, PGE2 and 15-HETE; and in
      pigs PGE2 and 12-HETE. In inflamed 15-HETE production was increased in man, HHT
      and 12-HETE production in rats and overall eicosanoid production in mice.

PMID- 1442339
TI  - Experimental colitis in mice: effects of olsalazine on eicosanoid production in
      colonic tissue.
AB  - In rodents colitis can be induced by adding 2% (w/v) carrageenan (CARR) for 4
      weeks or 10% (w/v) dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) for 7 days to their drinking
      water. These models are suitable to test anti-inflammatory drugs used in
      inflammatory bowel disease in man. Mice were treated with olsalazine (400 mg/kg
      body wt) starting 7 days before the DSS or CARR administration. Colonic tissues
      were incubated with [1-14C]-arachidonic acid and stimulated with A23187 and,
      thereafter, the pattern of eicosanoids was determined by separation on HPLC. DSS
      and CARR produced a marked diffuse inflammatory response in the colon and a
      subsequent 5-fold increase of all eicosanoids after DSS, whereas after CARR only
      a 2-fold increase of PGs was observed. Olsalazine treatment decreased all
      cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase products to baseline levels.

PMID- 1442340
TI  - Anti-inflammatory and gastrointestinal effects of nabumetone or its active
      metabolite, 6MNA (6-methoxy-2-naphthylacetic acid): comparison with indomethacin.
AB  - 6MNA, the active metabolite of the non-acidic anti-inflammatory drug nabumetone,
      was investigated using intravenous administration for effects on (a) carrageenan
      paw oedema and gastric irritancy compared to either oral nabumetone or both oral
      and intravenous indomethacin when given acutely and (b) gastrointestinal
      irritancy when given in repeat dosing studies. An oral dose of nabumetone or
      intravenous 6MNA produced effective anti-inflammatory activity together with
      significant inhibition of paw exudate PGE2. An anti-inflammatory oral dose of
      nabumetone or intravenous 6MNA produced minimal effects on gastric 6-keto-PGF1
      alpha production, with an absence of gastric damage, in contrast to indomethacin.
      In repeat dose studies, 6MNA failed to induce gastrointestinal damage even at
      doses where general toxicity was evident. These results show that in the rat
      6MNA, the active metabolite of nabumetone, is an effective anti-inflammatory drug
      but, even in very high intravenous doses, does not have the propensity to induce
      gastrointestinal damage.

PMID- 1442341
TI  - EM 405: a new compound with analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties and no
      gastrointestinal side-effects.
AB  - EM 405 has analgesic and antitussive effects, probably exerted by noradrenaline
      uptake inhibition and local anaesthetic actions. It showed anti-inflammatory,
      which may be due to anti-histaminic and indirect sympathomimetic properties. As
      oral application of EM 405 did not induce gastrointestinal side effects a
      possible ulcer preventing action was investigated. EM 405 reduced gastric ulcers
      induced by ethnology or indomethacin with ED50 values of 45 and 26 mg/kg p.o.
      Stress-induced ulcer was inhibited with an ED50 of 34 mg/kg. EM 405 reduced basal
      and stimulated gastric secretion by reducing volume as well as H(+)- and Cl(-)
      production. Therefore ulcer prevention by EM 405 may be explained by its
      inhibitory effects on gastric secretion. The results characterise EM 405 as a
      novel anti-inflammatory compound with ulcer-protective action.

PMID- 1442342
TI  - Gastrointestinal bleeding associated with the use of non-steroidal, anti
      inflammatory drugs--symptomatology and clinical course.
AB  - The symptoms associated with admission for gastrointestinal haemorrhage were
      studied in relation to the intake of non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs
      (NSAIDs) within fourteen days prior to admission. In a prospective, two-year
      study we included only those with bleeding due to gastroduodenal ulcers or
      haemorrhagic erosive gastritis. In 94 patients with a median age of 74 years,
      NSAID use was stated in 54, but the symptoms in these subjects (degree of
      epigastric pain, nausea or heartburn) were no different from those without
      previous NSAID use. Correspondingly, no difference was seen as to the clinical
      course of the bleeding.

PMID- 1442343
TI  - Effect of sulglycotide treatment on cell kinetics alterations induced by aspirin
      in humans.
AB  - The effect on gastric epithelial cell proliferation of small doses of aspirin was
      evaluated in 9 healthy volunteers, with or without administration of
      sulglycotide, a sulfated glycopeptide with cytoprotective properties. Cell
      kinetics study was performed by incubation of gastric biopsies with
      bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and immunohistochemistry. A decrease of BrdU-labeling
      index and a shortening of the height of gastric columns were observed after
      treatment with aspirin and placebo. No variations were observed after treatment
      with aspirin and sulglycotide. A decrease of the epithelial cell renewal could be
      one of the damaging effects of aspirin on the gastric mucosa. The treatment with
      sulglycotide seems to be effective to prevent this alteration.

PMID- 1442344
TI  - Influence of steroid treatment's duration in patients with active Crohn's
      disease.
AB  - Steroids are very useful drugs in the treatment of active Crohn's disease (CD),
      but clinical relapses after steroid withdrawal may be very high. We investigated
      the efficacy of two steroid regimens of different duration in inducing remission
      and in maintaining it after drug suspension. Patients with active CD were
      randomly assigned to scheme A, lasting 7 weeks (27 patients), or to scheme B,
      lasting 15 weeks (27 patients). Remission rates at the end of the treatment were
      81% for scheme A and 85% for scheme B. Relapse rates at 6 months after stopping
      the treatment were 50% (11 patients) and 52% (12 patients), respectively.
      Remission rates seem not to be influenced by the duration of the treatment, but
      patients recently treated with steroids showed a higher relapse rate if they
      received the short-duration treatment.

PMID- 1442345
TI  - Vasodilator therapy enhances neutrophil tissue migration.
AB  - Very little is known about the effect of vasoactive substances on migration of
      polymorphonuclear neutrophils in vivo. We evaluated the effect of oral treatment
      with isosorbide dinitrate on neutrophil migration into a sterile skin
      inflammatory focus in man with the use of "skin chamber technique". Isosorbide
      dinitrate increased the number of neutrophils harvested in the chamber as well as
      the "granulocyte clearance". Thus, vasoactive agent may increase neutrophil
      extravasation and subsequent tissue migration.

PMID- 1442346
TI  - [Quantitative estimation of the relationship between amino acids and cataracts in
      rat lens].
AB  - The concentration of free amino acids and their related compounds has been
      determined in the lenses of ICR (f) strain rat and in the Wistar strain rat's
      lenses which were cultured with diethyl maleate. It was supposed that the
      decrease of cystathionine and the increase of serine in lenses of ICR with aging
      were related with development of senile cataracts. The increase of cystathionine
      in lenses cultured were suggested that synthesis of taurine is done by
      cystathionine pathway. Quantitative changes of amino acids were higher than
      normal of glutamine, glycine and aspartate in lenses cultured. It was supposed
      that the changes were the flow in lens from medium for synthesis of glutathione
      and glucose.

PMID- 1442347
TI  - [Anticoagulant and fibrinolytic therapies for anterior chamber fibrin following
      cataract surgery in the rabbit eye].
AB  - Effects of anticoagulant or fibrinolytic therapy on anterior chamber fibrin
      following cataract surgery was evaluated. In one series of experiment, various
      amounts of antithrombin III (ATIII), an anticoagulant, were injected into the
      anterior chamber of the rabbit eye immediately after phacoemulsification of the
      lens. In another series, various amounts of tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), a
      fibrinolytic agent, were injected into the anterior chamber 24 hours after
      phacoemulsification when it was filled with fibrin. The extent of the fibrin clot
      was graded using a slit lamp microscope, and the aqueous flare intensity was
      determined with a laser cell-flare meter for 2 weeks after operation. The eyes
      treated with TPA was also examined with light and electron microscopy. ATIII
      showed an inhibitory effect on fibrin formation, but complete inhibition was not
      obtained even with the highest concentration used. In contrast, the fibrin clot
      was completely resolved even with the lowest dose of TPA used, while no side
      effect such as inflammation or bleeding was seen. Histological examinations
      revealed no pathological changes in eyes treated with TPA. TPA may be a promising
      agent for fibrin resolution after cataract surgery.

PMID- 1442348
TI  - [Changes in retinal blood flow volume in experimental retinal vein compression].
AB  - The authors quantitated the retinal blood flow volume during and immediately
      after experimental compression of the temporal retinal vein in 5 Macaca fuscata
      monkey eyes. The hydrogen clearance method was used to quantitate the retinal
      blood flow volume. After placing a microelectrode on the retinal surface, we
      measured the blood flow volume 4 times at a 15-minute interval. This value served
      as a baseline for the experiments. Next we compressed the temporal retinal vein
      near the disc with a 25-gauge needle with a rounded tip under guidance by an
      indirect ophthalmoscope. We measured the blood flow volume during compression.
      The compression was maintained for 3 minutes. Further blood flow determination
      was performed 7 minutes after release of compression and was repeated 4 times at
      a 15-minute interval. During compression of the temporal retinal vein, the
      retinal blood flow volume in the area served by the vein decreased by an average
      of 35%. The flow volume recovered rapidly and remained stable after release of
      compression. There was no reactive hyperemia. This model appears useful to
      elucidate the retinal circulation of branch retinal vein occlusion.

PMID- 1442349
TI  - [Retinal toxicity of intravitreally injected steroids on the rabbit eye].
AB  - The retinal toxicity of intravitreally injected steroids, fluorometholone and
      tetrahydrocortisol, was examined. The concentration of the steroids was 20 mg/ml,
      and 0.05 ml of each solution were injected into the rabbit vitreous cavity. An
      equal volume of saline solution was injected as a control. In addition to
      ophthalmoscopy, intraocular pressure was measured and electroretinography, light
      microscopy and electron microscopy were performed. The results showed no
      remarkable changes in all eyes. Fluorometholone and tetrahydrocortisol seem to
      have neither toxicity to the retina nor adverse effect of elevating intraocular
      pressure when intravitreally injected with this amount.

PMID- 1442350
TI  - [Ocular effects of topical instillation of UF-021 ophthalmic solution in healthy
      volunteers].
AB  - Phase I studies, as divided into two stages, were conducted in healthy volunteers
      with the ophthalmic solution of UF-021, a novel prostaglandin metabolite-related
      compound, that was reported to exhibit potent intraocular pressure (IOP)-reducing
      activity in various species of animals. In the first stage, the vehicle as well
      as UF-021 ophthalmic solutions at concentration of 0.03%, 0.06% and 0.09% were
      applied topically to the eyes of 8 healthy volunteers to determine their
      respective effects through observations on the IOP, and local ocular and systemic
      side effects. In the second stage, 2 dosages of UF-021 ophthalmic solution, 0.06%
      and 0.12%, were applied topically to 11 healthy volunteers to investigate the IOP
      reducing activities and local ocular side effects. The results revealed that
      ophthalmic solutions of UF-021 at concentrations ranging from 0.03% to 0.12%
      reduced IOP in a dose-dependent manner with neither systemic nor local ocular
      controversial side effects at those dosage levels. In summary, UF-021 ophthalmic
      solutions, when administered to healthy volunteers through single instillation,
      reduced IOP significantly without causing any side effects.

PMID- 1442351
TI  - [Accommodative resting position and the effect of viewing distance on after
      effects of accommodation and the pupil].
AB  - The resting position of accommodation is determined by the equilibrium
      established between sympathetic and parasympathetic tone. To accommodate for near
      objects is brought about by excitation of the parasympathetic, and distant
      objects call for excitation of the sympathetic system. To investigate
      accommodation and pupil after-effects following the 10 min visual task with
      stereoscopic three dimensional image, the measurements of the dynamic responses
      of accommodation and pupil were made. When the subjects worked at 0.4 m (closer
      than their resting state) and at 1 m corresponded to their resting positions, the
      response delay in accommodative relaxation occurred in each condition. When they
      worked at outside their resting position (1.5 m and 3 m viewing distances), the
      significant response delay in contraction in the groups of 1.5 m and 3 m, and the
      increases of accommodation error and the area of miosis were shown. There was a
      fact that the after-effect on accommodation and pupillary function was different
      between in the case of tasks given inside and outside their resting positions.

PMID- 1442352
TI  - [Intraocular lens implantation after glaucoma filtering surgery--time course of
      changes in intraocular pressure control and filtering blebs].
AB  - Cataract extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation were carried out in
      45 glaucomatous eyes that had undergone glaucoma filtering surgery. Of these, 37
      eyes had primary glaucoma, 2 eyes capsular glaucoma, and 6 eyes secondary
      glaucoma. The visual acuity after IOL implantation was 0.5 or more in 29 eyes
      (64%) but in 10 eyes (22%) acuity was 0.1 or less because of advanced optic nerve
      head damage. To analyze affects of IOL implantation on intraocular pressure (IOP)
      control and functioning of the filtration bleb in 39 eyes of primary or capsular
      glaucoma, a life-table analysis with the Kaplan-Meier method was performed. The
      probability that IOP control does not worsen at 2 years was 43 +/- 7% (SE) in 21
      eyes without pre-operative ocular hypotensive medication, 56 +/- 16% in 18 eyes
      with pre-operative ocular hypotensive medication, 47 +/- 12% in 26 eyes where
      functioning filtering bleb existed pre-operatively. The probability that the
      filtering bleb survives 2 years post-operatively was 44 +/- 11%. The present
      results imply that intensive management of post-operative inflammation and
      careful IOP follow up are imperative in eyes in which IOL implantation was
      indicated after undergoing filtration surgery.

PMID- 1442353
TI  - [Enhanced production of in vitro tumor necrosis factor-alpha from monocytes in
      Behcet's disease].
AB  - In vitro tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production from peripheral blood
      monocytes (PBMC) was investigated among 12 patients (male: 7, female: 5) with
      uveoretinitis of Behcet's disease and 6 age-matched healthy controls. TNF-alpha
      production of PBMC after the stimulation with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) was
      significantly enhanced in Behcet's disease patients with active uveoretinitis
      (21.5 +/- 2.8 U/ml) compared with both controls (5.7 +/- 1.8 U/ml) (p < 0.01) and
      inactive cases (5.1 +/- 1.4 U/ml) (p < 0.01). In the cases with active
      uveoretinitis, TNF-alpha production in the period of ocular attack (7.2 +/- 6.2
      U/ml) was significantly lower than that of the post-attack period (24.4 +/- 13.9
      U/ml) (p < 0.02). These results may indicate that TNF-alpha plays an important
      role in the immunopathogenesis of uveoretinitis in Behcet's disease.

PMID- 1442354
TI  - [Antibody titer to streptococcal and staphylococcal L-form in Behcet's disease
      and other uveitis].
AB  - The antibody titer in serum to Streptococcus pyogenes L-form and Staphylococcus
      aureus L-form were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 28 patients
      with Behcet's disease, 31 patients with other uveitis (sarcoidosis: 10, Harada's
      disease: 5, tuberculosis: 4, rheumatoid arthritis: 4, lues: 2, juvenile
      rheumatoid arthritis: 2, herpes simplex: 2, trauma: 2) and 16 healthy normal
      controls. All L-forms were induced by the penicillin disk method. The antibody
      titer to Streptococcus pyogenes L-form in Behcet's disease was lower than that of
      other cases of uveitis and controls, and showed significant differences between
      controls, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis and Harada's disease by
      the Student's t-test. The antibody titer to Staphylococcus aureus L-form in
      Behcet's disease showed no difference between controls and other cases of
      uveitis. In each uveitis and controls, and between active and inactive stages of
      all uveitis, there were no differences between titers. In Behcet's disease,
      antibody formation to Streptococcus pyogenes L-form may be specifically
      disturbed.

PMID- 1442355
TI  - [Low dose cyclosporin treatment for ocular lesions of Behcet's disease].
AB  - Cyclosporin is an immunosuppressant that has recently been used for the treatment
      of Behcet's disease. We evaluated the clinical effect of low doses of cyclosporin
      (5 mg/kg/day) on 20 patients of Behcet's disease with refractory ocular
      involvement. The therapeutic effect of cyclosporin was judged by the frequency of
      ocular inflammatory attacks. It was effective in more than 70% of the patients.
      On the other hand, it had some adverse side effects such as renal dysfunction,
      indigestion, and neurological disorders. Most side effects were mild with low
      dose treatment, but neurological side effects were similar in frequency and
      severity to those seen with 10 mg/kg/day usage. These findings indicate that low
      dose cyclosporin (5 mg/kg/day) administration may be acceptable as a standard
      plan for treatment of Behcet's disease, but that we have to use cyclosporin with
      great attention to its side effects, especially neurological symptoms.

PMID- 1442356
TI  - [pO2, pCO2 and acid-base balance in the human vitreous sample].
AB  - In order to clarify the physiological profile in vitreous cavity undergoing
      vitrectomy, both human vitreous and venous blood samples were obtained to measure
      pO2, pCO2, acid-base balance and potassium. A new collection system was employed
      to obtain vitreous samples from 15 eyes under local or general anesthesia. The
      mean vitreous pO2 was higher than that of venous blood, and was affected by
      irrigative air more than breathed oxygen. Irrigating air was considered to be one
      of the best methods to supply enough oxygen concentration to the inner retina
      during the vitrectomy. Although the vitreous pH showed alkalosis during the air
      irrigation, it was suggested that to protecting the retina, the vitreous
      bicarbonate buffer was not enough to compensate for the decrease in the vitreous
      pH.

PMID- 1442357
TI  - [Postoperative anterior chamber inflammation after posterior chamber intraocular
      lens implantation concurrent with pars plana vitrectomy and lensectomy].
AB  - The authors compared postoperative anterior chamber inflammation of triple
      procedure; diabetic pars plana vitrectomy, lensectomy with anterior capsule left
      intact and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation anterior to anterior
      capsule, to those of various cataract surgeries with posterior chamber
      intraocular lens implantation and vitrectomies in diabetic retinopathy eyes. The
      inflammation was evaluated in terms of the incidence of inflammatory
      complications (fibrin reaction and posterior synechia of iris), and by periodical
      measurement of flare counts for postoperative 6 months using a laser flare-cell
      meter. The inflammation was more intense than those after the following 3
      surgeries; phacoemulsification and in the bag intraocular lens implantation after
      continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis, extracapsular extraction and in the bag
      intraocular lens implantation after can opener capsulotomy, and vitrectomy alone.
      The inflammation, however, was less intense compared with that of another method
      of triple procedure; pars plana vitrectomy, phacoemulsification and in the bag
      intraocular lens implantation after continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis or can
      opener capsulotomy, and development of posterior synechia was rarely observed.

PMID- 1442358
TI  - [Clinical study of venous abnormalities in diabetic retinopathy].
AB  - The authors studied 304 eyes (248 cases) affected by diabetic retinopathy in
      relation to venous abnormalities by ophthalmoscopy, slit lamp examination with
      contact lens and fluorescein angiography. The posterior pole and surrounding mid
      peripheral area were examined. The subjects consisted of 225 eyes with pre
      proliferative and 79 eyes with proliferative retinopathy. Fifty-six eyes (18%)
      had venous abnormalities: 17 of the 225 eyes (8%) with pre-proliferative
      retinopathy and 39 of the 79 eyes (49%) with proliferative retinopathy. In the 56
      eyes with venous abnormalities. 39 (96%) showed beading. 14 (25%) showed looping
      and 2 (4%) showed duplication. All eyes which showed looping or duplication had
      proliferative retinopathy. The locations of the venous abnormalities were
      analyzed: 42% were in secondary branches, 27% in tertiary branches, 18% in
      primary branches, 10% in fourth branches and 3% in fifth branches. The portion of
      the fundus affected was upper temporal, lower temporal, upper nasal and lower
      nasal in 28%, 22%, 29% and 21%, respectively. Based on our results, eyes with
      looping or duplication on ophthalmoscopic or slit lamp examination, have an
      extremely high probability of being in some stage of proliferative retinopathy.
      Retinopathy should be confirmed by fluorescein angiography and photocoagulation
      should be performed as quickly as possible.

PMID- 1442359
TI  - [Analysis of optic nerve head circulation in diabetics using a laser Doppler
      technique].
AB  - The authors measured the red blood cell speed distributions in the capillaries of
      the optic nerve head using a laser Doppler technique. We calculated the widths of
      Doppler-broadened frequency spectra of laser light scattered from temporal sites
      on the optic nerve head in 34 Type I diabetic patients (mean age, 29.5 years; 12
      patients having no retinopathy; 22 having background retinopathy) and in 29 age-
      and sex-matched normal controls. Doppler broadening proportional to the red blood
      speed was 763 +/- 113 Hz (mean +/- SD) in the diabetics and 912 +/- 167 Hz in the
      controls. The difference was statistically significant. Mean blood pressure and
      intraocular pressure in the diabetics were not significantly different compared
      to controls. Our finding of abnormally low capillary blood speeds suggests that
      pathologic alterations occur in the microvasculature of the optic nerve head in
      the early stages of diabetic retinopathy.

PMID- 1442360
TI  - [Age-related changes in the normal visual field using colored targets].
AB  - The authors evaluated the influence of aging on the normal visual field
      sensitivity and the color visual field sensitivity. The central 5 degrees visual
      field of 259 normal subjects (ages 10 to 79) was evaluated with Program Macula of
      the Humphrey Field Analyzer. Visual field sensitivity remained constant,
      irrespective of age, until 40 years. In contrast, sensitivity decreased linearly
      with aging after 40 years. The age-related decline of visual field sensitivity
      was most remarkable using a blue target. Visual field sensitivity gradually
      decreased toward the peripheral retina measured by white, red and green targets.
      However, using a blue target, at 1 degree-2 degrees locations from the fovea,
      sensitivity was the same as foveal sensitivity. There were no statistically
      significant differences of visual field sensitivity between the lower half of
      visual field and the upper half, and between the temporal half and the nasal
      half. At all test locations, the ordering of visual field sensitivity was white >
      red > blue > green target.

PMID- 1442361
TI  - [A telescopic system for distance consisting of contact lens and spectacle lens
      for low vision patients].
AB  - A telescopic system for distance consisting of a negative contact lens (-10.0 - 
      20.0 D) as the eye piece and a positive spectacle lens (+8.0 - +16.0 D) as the
      objective, a modification of the Galilean telescope was examined. First the
      system was tried in 15 normal subjects, whose visual acuity was reduced to 20/200
      or less by providing several occlusion membranes, and results were compared with
      customary full correction for distance. The best improvement of their vision by
      this system was achieved when the dioptric power of the spectacle was between
      +11.0 D and +13.75 D. This system was then applied to 78 eyes (61 patients) with
      visual acuity of 20/100 or less. Subjective improvement of vision was found in
      55% of those patients' eyes. Eight patients out of 26 patients whose better eye
      acuity was 20/100 or less wanted to use this system and received prescription to
      result in the visual improvement, as evidenced by their continued use. This
      system can provide aid for low vision correction for distance.

PMID- 1442362
TI  - [Auto recording system for the Goldmann perimeter].
AB  - In order to develop a method for converting the Goldmann perimeter data directly
      for computer storage and evaluation, a recording instrument was designed as a
      modification of the Goldmann perimeter. By installing the two potentiometers on
      the pantographic arm and electrical switches, the position of the test target and
      the setting of the four levers which defines the size and the brightness of the
      test target were transferred directly to the computer. Accuracy of this recording
      system is better than 1.3 degree over the entire surface of the chart. This
      system will make it possible to easily follow changes in the visual fields of the
      same patient, i.e. shape change, numerical value.

PMID- 1442363
TI  - [A case of metastatic carcinoma to the retina].
AB  - The authors report a case of metastatic carcinoma to the retina. The patient was
      a 61-year-old man who had an operation for a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma
      of the rectum. Ophthalmoscopic examination disclosed a single, white, elevated
      mass lesion surrounded by serous retinal detachment located in the upper part of
      the macula of the right eye. A few retinal hemorrhages existed around the lesion.
      Fluorescein angiography revealed partially obscured retinal vessels due to
      compression by the tumor and arteriovenous anastomosis. Postmortem pathologic
      examination confirmed metastases to the brain, lung and retina. Microscopic
      examination showed a retinal lesion and tumor cells in the right eye. Tumor
      cells, similar to the carcinoma of the rectum, were present only in the
      neurosensory retina and did not invade the pigmented epithelium or choroid.

PMID- 1442364
TI  - [Ocular manifestations in a case of infantile cystinosis].
AB  - A case of infantile cystinosis was reported. The diagnosis of cystinosis was made
      by the renal Fanconi syndrome and the ocular findings. The patient showed typical
      corneal and fundus changes associated with cystinosis. Corneal crystals and
      fundus pigmentary change were found early in life. The deposition of corneal
      crystals increased in the course of the disease, especially in the nasal and the
      temporal sides close to the limbus. By specular microscopy, the corneal crystals
      were needle-shaped and were larger and more numerous in the superficial layer of
      the stroma. The same shape of crystals ere found in the corneal endothelium, and
      the size of endothelial cells was markedly increased. There were also small
      crystals on the surface of the iris. The entire fundus showed a mottled
      appearance characterized by mixture of fine granular pigmentation and
      depigmentation associated with patchy depigmentation in the periphery. On the
      anterior surface of the retina, a glistening crystal appeared. As the crystal
      deposition in ocular tissues increases, even after successful peritoneal
      dialysis, eventual impairment of visual function may be expected.

PMID- 1442365
TI  - Effects on testosterone, LH and cortisol concentrations, and on testicular
      ultrasonographic appearance of induced testicular degeneration in bulls.
AB  - It is well known that heat stress has a detrimental effect on testicular
      functions. In addition to the alteration of semen quality and testicular damage,
      reproductive hormone secretion can be altered. The objective of this study was to
      describe changes in plasma concentrations of testosterone, LH and cortisol, as
      well as in testicular ultrasonographic appearance after induced testicular
      degeneration. Four Swedish Red and White bulls, aged 3 years, were used. They
      were fed according to Swedish standards. The scrotum was covered with an
      insulation device during 96 h. Semen was collected weekly 3 times before and up
      to 4 months after insulation. Testicular ultrasonography and clinical genital
      examination were performed with the same intervals. Heparinized blood samples
      were taken from the jugular vein at 2 h interval during 24 h every 2 weeks during
      the study. Blood samples were tested for the content of testosterone, LH and
      cortisol. Data were analysed, using one way analysis of variance of seminal data,
      clinical examination data as well as 24 h hormonal output data as percentage of
      mean individual pretreatment values. The use of a 5 MHz B-mode ultrasound unit
      did not contribute with an objective estimation of the degree of testicular
      degeneration. In 3 of the bulls testosterone levels had a tendency to decrease
      and LH to increase during the time of severe degeneration, whereas an opposite
      trend was seen during the regenerative phase, changes becoming significant 15
      weeks after scrotal insulation. Variation between animals was big. Cortisol
      levels had a decreasing trend, changes being significant only in individual bulls
      at 10 and 15 weeks after scrotal insulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442366
TI  - Colostral growth factors. Possible role in bovine udder epithelial cell
      regeneration.
AB  - Growth of the secretory epithelium during prepartum time, and for a short period
      after calving, is under hormonal control by estrogen, progesterone and prolactin.
      The mechanism(s) by which these hormones act is not known but colostrum and milk
      have been shown to contain different growth promoting substances. In an attempt
      to unravel these relationships the effect of bovine colostrum on cellular
      proliferation in vitro have been characterized. Colostral thermostable factors
      not present in milk nor associated with fat, potently induce the proliferation
      associated enzyme, ornithine decarboxylase, in fibroblast cell lines. However,
      mammary epithelial cells appear to proliferate in response to different colostral
      heat sensitive factor(s) that await further characterization.

PMID- 1442367
TI  - Mycoplasma hyosynoviae in joints with arthritis in abattoir baconers.
AB  - The occurrence of Mycoplasma hyosynoviae in synovial fluid of baconers with
      chronic arthritis was studied at an abattoir. Cultural examination of synovial
      fluid samples from diseased tarsal joints of 50 animals from 42 herds yielded M.
      hyosynoviae in 10 cases from 8 herds. Streptococci were found in 6 cases from 6
      other herds. M. hyosynoviae antigen was found in 1 of 47 of the samples, and
      antibody to the mycoplasma was found in 14 of 40 of the samples by ELISA test.
      The presence of M. hyosynoviae in a joint was usually accompanied by the
      corresponding antibody. In joints with streptococcal infection antibody to M.
      hyosynoviae could not be found.

PMID- 1442368
TI  - Critical difference of some bovine haematological parameters.
AB  - The purpose of the present study was to calculate the critical difference between
      2 analytical results for the red blood cell count (RBC), the white blood cell
      count (WBC), the haemoglobin concentration (Hb), and the haematocrit (PCV) in
      blood from Red Danish Dairy cows. The critical difference can help to judge
      whether the difference between 2 consecutive analytical results from the same
      animal may be safely ascribed to natural variation or not. To calculate the
      critical differences, blood samples from 20 clinically healthy lactating cows
      were collected once daily for 5 consecutive days. The total variance of the
      analytical results was divided into the component of variance between cows
      (S2Inter), the component of variance for days within cows (S2Intra), and the
      component of variance for measurements (S2Anal) using nested analysis of
      variance. The critical difference was then calculated from S2Intra and S2Anal as
      0.61 x 10(12)/l for RBC, 2.2 x 10(9)/l for WBC, 0.79 mmol/l for Hb, and 0.07 for
      PCV. The critical differences may be used as guidelines to indicate potentially
      important changes in the parameters. However, the analytical results should not
      be assessed by the critical differences alone, but should also be compared to the
      corresponding reference intervals.

PMID- 1442369
TI  - The use of isophane insulin for the control of diabetes mellitus in dogs.
AB  - For this study 54 dogs with diabetes mellitus verified by anamnesis, clinical
      examinations and laboratory analyses were selected in 13 Danish and Swedish small
      animal clinics. After instruction the owners gave isophane insulin ("Insulin
      Protaphan Human") injections to the dogs morning and evening followed by a
      commercial or homemade meal rich in fibers. The veterinarians examined the
      treated dogs 5 times or more in the 90 day treatment period, preferably in the
      morning before injection and meal. In all 54 dogs the clinical symptoms
      disappeared a few days after isophane insulin injections, and 54% of the dogs
      were clinically healthy within 8 days. Within a month 96% of the dogs were
      normalized after therapy. Simultaneously the blood glucose levels were normalized
      in 64% of the dogs within 14 days and in further 21% within 30 days. The urine
      glucose levels were normalized in 64% of the dogs within 14 days and for further
      19% within 30 days. At the end of the study 48 out of the 54 diabetic dogs were
      clinically healthy, alert and free from symptoms of diabetes. The average dose of
      isophane insulin was for greater dogs 0.44 units per kg bw twice a day, for small
      dogs 0.79. Six dogs had been destroyed in the trial period for various reasons.
      One owner had injection troubles. Another owner was hospitalized and had to get
      rid of the dog. One dog developed advanced breast cancer, 1 went fierce and 2
      developed cataracts. Four dogs had by 1 or 2 occasions shown hypoglycemic
      symptoms, which quickly disappeared after appropriate adjustments of insulin
      dosing, feeding schedule and exercise programme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442370
TI  - Experimental infections with Cooperia oncophora in calves. A study with two
      different larval dose levels and dosing regimens.
AB  - The effect of different larval dose level and dosing regimens on the course of
      Cooperia oncophora infection in calves was studied. Four groups each of 4 calves
      were experimentally infected either with 50,000 or 200,000 C. oncophora larvae
      (L3) given either as single infections or as daily trickle infections. An
      additional group of calves remained as uninfected controls. The animals were
      necropsied on week 4 after infection. Mild to moderate clinical signs of
      parasitic gastroenteritis developed among calves given high doses of larvae, but
      liveweight gains were not significantly different from those of the uninfected
      controls. Serum pepsinogen levels of dosed animals were within normal ranges but
      rose slightly, and on day 14 p.i. they differed significantly from those of the
      controls. On that occasion, the levels of serum pepsinogen in the trickle
      infected groups significantly exhibited the levels of the single infected groups.
      Hypoalbuminaemia was not a feature on any occasion. The various groups did not
      differ significantly with regard to total worm counts and adult worm counts, but
      the groups receiving high larval dose harboured significantly more fourth stage
      larvae than the group receiving low doses of larvae, both in terms of absolute
      counts and in terms of percentages of total worm burdens. Within the same dose
      level, there was a tendency of a more even distribution of worms along the small
      intestine when the infections was given as a single infection compared with a
      trickle infection. The results indicate that C. oncophora larval dose and dosing
      regimens may influence the pathogenic effects and to some extent the distribution
      of the parasite in the small intestine.

PMID- 1442371
TI  - Coculture of bovine demiembryos prior to freezing.
AB  - Pregnancy rates after transfer of frozen/thawed bisected embryos, demiembryos,
      have until now been very low. In the present study it was attempted to improve
      the freezability rate of demiembryos by culturing them on a monolayer of bovine
      oviduct epithelial cells (BOEC) prior to freezing. The cultured frozen/thawed
      demiembryos showed a lower developmental rate than intact embryos. The pregnancy
      rate (23%) following transfer was not different from the pregnancy rate after
      transfer of unfrozen demiembryos (26%). The calving rate (4%), however, was
      significantly lower than the calving rate after transfer of fresh demiembryos
      (23%). Although the overall pregnancy rate achieved in this study was low, it can
      be concluded that a co-culture period upon BOEC prior to freezing does not
      improve the viability of frozen demiembryos.

PMID- 1442372
TI  - Effect of flunixin meglumine on the endocrine control of luteolysis in the
      porcine estrous cycle.

PMID- 1442373
TI  - Neonatal changes in plasma erythropoietin in fast growing pigs.

PMID- 1442374
TI  - George W. Holmes Lecture. Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism:
      correlative evaluation and therapeutic implications.
AB  - Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are significant causes of morbidity
      and mortality in the United States; estimates range from 120,000 to 150,000
      deaths annually. Although usually symptomatic, deep venous thrombosis can be
      clinically occult, in part due to incomplete obstruction or in part related to
      duplication, triplication, and fenestration anomalies, primarily of the
      superficial femoral or popliteal vein. Additionally, pulmonary emboli caused by
      deep venous thrombosis may be clinically silent. Because of therapeutic
      implications, especially indications for insertion of inferior vena caval
      filters, comprehensive assessments of both the disease process (i.e., deep venous
      thrombosis) and the complication (i.e., pulmonary emboli) are important. Thus,
      when a pulmonary embolus is the presenting process, correlative assessment of
      deep venous thrombosis, even in the absence of symptoms or signs in the lower
      extremity, may be of therapeutic significance. Conversely, when deep venous
      thrombosis of the lower extremities involving the popliteal or superficial
      femoral vein is the presenting process, correlative assessment of the pulmonary
      circulation, even when no pulmonary symptoms or signs are present, may be of
      therapeutic significance. Relative to the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, the
      roles of assays of D-dimer, ventilation-perfusion lung scans, and segmental
      occlusion studies of the pulmonary circulation are discussed. Finally, the
      indications for insertion of inferior vena caval filters above the renal veins
      are presented and examples are shown.

PMID- 1442375
TI  - Radiation effects on the lung: clinical features, pathology, and imaging
      findings.

PMID- 1442376
TI  - Epilepsy: the role of MR imaging.
AB  - MR is the imaging technique of choice when examining a patient who is having
      seizures. Detection, localization, and differentiation of structural
      epileptogenic abnormalities are much better with MR imaging than with CT. MR
      imaging has a high success rate in identifying hippocampal sclerosis, a common
      cause of surgically treatable temporal lobe epilepsy. The affected hippocampus is
      atrophic and hyperintense on long TR images. Functional imaging with single
      photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography is
      complementary to MR imaging but is not as widely available. In summary, MR
      imaging has dramatically changed the workup of epilepsy, especially for the
      patient with medically uncontrollable seizures. As surgical treatment of epilepsy
      becomes more available, the need for preoperative evaluation with MR imaging will
      increase.

PMID- 1442377
TI  - CT appearance of pulmonary tuberculosis in diabetic and immunocompromised
      patients: comparison with patients who had no underlying disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: It has been stated, but not adequately assessed, that pulmonary
      tuberculosis in diabetic or immunocompromised patients often has an atypical
      pattern and distribution. To evaluate the CT features of pulmonary tuberculosis
      in diabetic or immunocompromised patients compared with patients without
      underlying disease, we performed this retrospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      We reviewed conventional CT scans (n = 100) and high-resolution CT scans (n = 16)
      of the chest in 110 adult patients with active postprimary tuberculosis. Seventy
      one patients had no underlying disease, 31 had diabetes mellitus, and eight were
      immunocompromised. RESULTS: In patients who had no underlying disease, 44 had
      nodular opacities, 11 had consolidation, and 13 had consolidation with associated
      loss of volume. Characteristic features of tuberculosis in this group of patients
      included segmental distribution (97%), satellite lesions (93%), single cavity
      within any given lesion (95%), and tendency toward architectural distortion and
      loss of volume. In diabetic and immunocompromised patients, 15 had nodular
      opacities, seven had consolidation, and 15 had consolidation with associated loss
      of volume. Diabetic and immunocompromised patients had a high prevalence of
      nonsegmental distribution (30%) and multiple small cavities within any given
      lesion (44%). Unusual localization of tuberculosis, including disease confined to
      the basal segments of the lower lobes, anterior segment of the upper lobes, or
      right middle lobe, occurred equally in both groups (17% and 18%). CONCLUSION: We
      conclude that diabetic and immunocompromised patients have a higher prevalence of
      multiple cavities within any given lesion (p < .01) and of nonsegmental
      distribution (p < .01) than do patients without underlying disease.

PMID- 1442378
TI  - CT of fatty thoracic masses.

PMID- 1442379
TI  - A modified technique for breast compression during needle localization.

PMID- 1442380
TI  - Imaging of patients with potentially resectable hepatic neoplasms.

PMID- 1442381
TI  - Nominal dysphasia.

PMID- 1442382
TI  - Reversed or absent hepatic arterial diastolic flow in liver transplants shown by
      duplex sonography: a poor predictor of subsequent hepatic artery thrombosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We studied the value of absent or reversed diastolic flow in the
      hepatic artery, shown by duplex sonography of recently transplanted livers, in
      predicting subsequent hepatic artery thrombosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We
      retrospectively reviewed the records of liver transplantations performed in
      adults during a 3-year period at our institution. Duplex Doppler studies were
      done within 24 hr after transplantation and subsequently reviewed. The clinical
      course of all patients with absent or reversed diastolic flow in the hepatic
      artery immediately after transplantation was evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 160 liver
      transplants included in this study, 30 had aberrant diastolic flow in the hepatic
      artery immediately after transplantation. Twenty had reversed flow, and 10 showed
      no flow in diastole. In this group of 30 transplants, complications developed in
      six; two were vascular in origin. One of these complications was thrombosis of
      the hepatic artery 12 months after transplantation. This 3% thrombosis rate is
      similar to the 4.6% thrombosis rate of the 130 patients who had antegrade
      diastolic flow in the hepatic artery immediately after transplantation.
      CONCLUSION: Reversed or absent diastolic flow in the hepatic artery of a recently
      transplanted liver has no correlation with subsequent hepatic artery thrombosis.

PMID- 1442383
TI  - Filling defects in the pancreatic duct on endoscopic retrograde pancreatography.
AB  - Filling defects in the pancreatic duct are a frequent finding during endoscopic
      retrograde pancreatography (ERP) and have a variety of causes. Some filling
      defects may be artifactual or related to technical factors and, once their origin
      is recognized, can be disregarded. Others may be due to acute changes of
      pancreatitis and should prompt more careful injection of contrast material into
      the duct. Intraluminal masses may represent calculi or a neoplasm, either of
      which may require surgery or endoscopic intervention. The exact nature of these
      filling defects may not be apparent on radiographs, and other studies may be
      needed. This article reviews our approach to the evaluation of filling defects in
      the pancreatic duct.

PMID- 1442384
TI  - Spiral CT of the pancreas with multiplanar display.
AB  - This essay illustrates the findings obtained with spiral CT imaging in pancreatic
      disease. Features of spiral CT--fast scanning, dynamic injection of contrast
      material allowing optimal vessel opacification, and supplemental multiplanar
      imaging--promise to provide increased accuracy in the diagnosis and staging of
      pancreatic disease. With further development of continuous (spiral/helical)
      scanning technology, this technology should expand to cover a wider range of
      applications.

PMID- 1442385
TI  - Rupture of the bowel after blunt abdominal trauma: diagnosis with CT.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The accuracy of CT in the detection of injuries of the solid viscera
      after blunt trauma is well established, but the value of CT in diagnosing bowel
      rupture resulting from blunt trauma is controversial. This study was conducted to
      determine the sensitivity of CT in diagnosing posttraumatic bowel rupture.
      SUBJECTS AND METHODS: During a 51-month period, 17 preoperative CT scans were
      obtained in 16 patients who subsequently had bowel ruptures verified surgically.
      Both preoperative (prospective) and retrospective CT findings were analyzed in
      these patients. Retrospective interpretation was made by consensus of two
      radiologists. RESULTS: Surgically confirmed bowel ruptures occurred in the
      duodenum (five), ileum (four), jejunum (four), colon (four), and stomach (two).
      CT findings considered diagnostic of bowel perforation were detected
      prospectively on 10 (59%) of 17 scans; these included pneumoperitoneum without
      prior peritoneal lavage (six), mesenteric, intramural, or retroperitoneal free
      air (six), or direct visualization of discontinuity of the bowel wall or
      extravasation of luminal contents (four). Prospective CT findings considered
      suggestive of bowel rupture were present on five (29%) of the 17 scans; these
      included intraperitoneal fluid of unknown source (three), thickened (> 4-5 mm)
      bowel wall (two), gross anterior pararenal fluid without a recognized source
      (one), and a mesenteric-bowel wall hematoma (one). On two of 17 scans, findings
      were seen in retrospect only; these included free intraperitoneal blood without a
      source (findings on a second CT scan were diagnostic) and pneumoperitoneum. CT
      findings diagnostic or suggestive of bowel injury were detected prospectively on
      15 (88%) of 17 scans and were noted in all retrospectively. CONCLUSION: CT is
      sensitive for the diagnosis of bowel rupture resulting from blunt trauma, but
      careful inspection and technique are required to detect often subtle findings.

PMID- 1442386
TI  - Replacement of nasogastric suction by retrograde jejunogastric tube drainage in
      the management of esophagogastric complications.

PMID- 1442387
TI  - Arteriovenous malformation of the small bowel diagnosed with enteroclysis.

PMID- 1442388
TI  - Transcatheter placement of a metallic stent for treatment of an occluded H-graft
      portacaval shunt.

PMID- 1442389
TI  - The natural history of renal lesions in von Hippel-Lindau disease: a serial CT
      study in 28 patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a multisystem disorder predisposing to
      renal cysts and cancer. The growth and development of these renal lesions have
      not been documented previously. We reviewed serial CT scans to determine the
      rates and patterns of growth of renal lesions associated with von Hippel-Lindau
      disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with von Hippel-Lindau
      disease and renal involvement, including the spectrum from simple cysts to solid
      masses, had follow-up examinations for at least 1 year (mean, 2.4 years; range, 1
      12 years) with serial contrast-enhanced abdominal CT. Renal lesions were measured
      and characterized. Surgical correlation was available in 12 patients. RESULTS:
      Two hundred twenty-eight lesions (eight lesions per patient) were detected. On
      the basis of their CT appearance, 168 lesions (74%) were classified as cysts, 18
      (8%) as cysts with solid components, and 42 (18%) as solid masses. Among 12
      patients with pathologic confirmation, the solid components of cystic lesions and
      solid lesions almost always contained renal carcinoma. The majority of cysts
      remained the same size (71%) or enlarged (20%); 9% became smaller or entirely
      involuted during the follow-up period. Although it is generally presumed that
      renal cysts are precursors to cancers, the transformation of a simple cyst to a
      solid lesion was observed in only two patients. Among the 42 solid lesions, all
      but two enlarged with time, with a mean doubling time of 10 months. CONCLUSION:
      The renal lesions associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease exhibited wide
      differences in growth. The majority of renal cysts grew slowly but some
      involuted. Transition to solid renal cancer was rare among cysts. Complex cystic
      and solid lesions contained neoplastic tissue that uniformly enlarged. These data
      may be used to help predict the progression of renal lesions in von Hippel-Lindau
      disease.

PMID- 1442390
TI  - Cystic renal cell carcinoma: CT findings simulating a benign hyperdense cyst.

PMID- 1442391
TI  - Sonographic findings after surgical ablation of the endometrium.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Endometrial ablation is a new surgical technique that is an
      alternative to hysterectomy in women with dysfunctional uterine bleeding. The
      endometrium is either coagulated or resected in an attempt to render the patient
      amenorrheic. Because of the newness of the procedure, no report of radiologic
      findings after endometrial ablation has been published. Accordingly, the
      sonographic appearance of the uterus after endometrial ablation is described.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using transvaginal sonography, we examined a select group
      of 16 women, seven of whom were symptomatic after endometrial ablation. All
      patients had a preoperative diagnosis of menorrhagia not responsive to
      conventional hormonal therapy and no evidence of cancer. RESULTS: In the seven
      symptomatic patients, sonography showed that postoperatively two had hematometra,
      one had a nonviable intrauterine pregnancy, and four had residual islands of
      functioning endometrial tissue alone or in combination with hematometra. In nine
      asymptomatic patients, postoperative sonography showed seven had normal findings
      except for leiomyomata and two had residual islands of functioning endometrial
      tissue. CONCLUSION: Sonographic examination of the uterus after endometrial
      ablation provides a method for evaluating symptomatic patients and for
      identifying any remaining endometrium that could later become symptomatic.

PMID- 1442392
TI  - Early radiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston.

PMID- 1442393
TI  - MR imaging of pelvic masses in women: contrast-enhanced vs unenhanced images.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We compared the value of contrast-enhanced MR images with that of T2
      weighted MR images in the diagnosis and staging of pelvic masses in women.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: The findings on preoperative MR studies of 97 patients
      with a total of 124 surgically proved lesions were retrospectively analyzed.
      Unenhanced T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo images were compared with contrast
      enhanced T1-weighted images. The final diagnosis included benign (36 patients),
      borderline (six patients), and malignant (15 patients) ovarian masses, fallopian
      tube masses (15 patients), endometrial tumors (seven patients), cervical
      carcinomas (32 patients), subserous leiomyomas (11 patients), and two masses of
      extragenital origin. RESULTS: In the depiction of pelvic lesions, the sensitivity
      of contrast-enhanced MR imaging (96%) was equal to that of unenhanced T2-weighted
      imaging (97%). Contrast-enhanced images were useful in the definition of
      intratumoral architecture and tumor borders of 72 adnexal masses, resulting in
      better determination of malignancy (accuracy, 95%) than on T2-weighted images
      (85%). Size of viable tumor, differentiation of tumor from retained fluid, and
      depth of myometrial invasion of six endometrial carcinomas were most reliably
      shown on contrast-enhanced images. In the evaluation of cervical carcinoma,
      overall staging accuracy of contrast-enhanced imaging (80%) was slightly inferior
      to that of T2-weighted imaging (83%). However, contrast-enhanced images improved
      assessment of parametrial and organ invasion in seven cases in which findings on
      T2-weighted MR images were equivocal. Administration of contrast material was not
      helpful in the evaluation of subserous leiomyomas or masses of extragenital
      origin. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that when results of unenhanced T1- and
      T2-weighted MR imaging of pelvic masses are equivocal, contrast-enhanced MR
      images should be used as supportive and complementary pulse sequences to (1)
      improve definition of intratumoral architecture and prediction of malignancy in
      adnexal tumors, (2) stage endometrial carcinoma, and (3) determine tumor
      extension in cervical carcinoma.

PMID- 1442394
TI  - Adnexal torsion: diagnosis by using Doppler sonography.

PMID- 1442395
TI  - Polyethylene osteolysis.

PMID- 1442396
TI  - Detection of acute avascular necrosis of the femoral head in dogs: dynamic
      contrast-enhanced MR imaging vs spin-echo and STIR sequences.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Spin-echo MR imaging has been shown to be highly sensitive in the
      detection of avascular necrosis. Very early avascular necrosis can, however,
      appear normal on MR images. We compared dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging with
      conventional spin-echo and short Tl inversion-recovery (STIR) sequences for
      detecting acute osteonecrosis in an animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      Avascular necrosis was induced unilaterally in the femoral heads of five dogs
      that were imaged with a 1.5-T system within 3 hr of devascularization. After
      standard T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and STIR images, gradient-recalled echo
      images, 28/5 (TR/TE) with a 45 degrees flip angle, were obtained at 6-sec
      intervals for 90 sec synchronous with the IV administration of 0.2 mmol of
      gadoteridol per kilogram of body weight at a rate of 2 ml/sec via an automated
      injector. Two animals were reimaged after 7 days. RESULTS: Spin-echo and STIR
      images did not show any acute changes in the ischemic femoral heads. In contrast,
      significant differences were present in the enhancement profiles of the marrow
      spaces in the normal and ischemic femoral heads (p = .005). Normal marrow was
      characterized by rapid enhancement, with an average signal intensity increase of
      83% peaking at 36 sec; no measurable enhancement was seen in the marrow of the
      ischemic femoral head. Spin-echo images, obtained 7 days after devascularization
      (n = 2), showed changes characteristic of avascular necrosis. Dynamic contrast
      enhanced MR images showed persistent lack of enhancement in the avascular marrow
      of the ischemic femoral head. A junctional zone, characterized by rapid contrast
      enhancement in excess of 120% without early washout, was identified at the
      interface between normal and avascular marrow. CONCLUSION: In this experimental
      model, dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging proved significantly more sensitive
      than conventional spin-echo and STIR imaging in the detection of acute avascular
      necrosis.

PMID- 1442397
TI  - CT findings in a case of exuberant cervical fibrosclerosis.

PMID- 1442398
TI  - Acute appendicitis in children: value of sonography in detecting perforation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We determined the sonographic features of perforating appendicitis in
      children in order to determine the best criteria for establishing the diagnosis.
      MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sonograms of the right lower quadrants of 71 children with
      proved appendicitis were reviewed to determine the value of sonography in
      distinguishing between nonperforating and perforating appendicitis. The
      sonographic signs evaluated included the presence or absence of an appendix, an
      echogenic submucosal layer, increased periappendiceal echogenicity, free or
      loculated periappendiceal or pelvic fluid collections, and appendicoliths. The
      sonographic findings were correlated with the surgical and pathologic findings.
      RESULTS: Forty-five patients had nonperforating appendicitis, and 26 had
      perforating appendicitis. A sonographically visible appendix was present in all
      patients with nonperforating appendicitis and in 10 (38%) of 26 patients with
      perforation. An echogenic submucosa was noted in 27 (60%) of 45 patients with
      uncomplicated appendicitis but in only three (30%) of 10 patients with a visible
      appendix and perforating appendicitis (p < .05). In 19 of 26 patients with
      perforating appendicitis, sonography showed loculated periappendiceal or pelvic
      fluid collections; no patient with nonperforating appendicitis had a loculated
      fluid collection (p < .05). No statistically significant association was found
      between the presence or absence of perforation and free pelvic fluid, prominent
      periappendiceal fat, or an appendicolith. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that
      sonography can be helpful in the diagnosis of perforating appendicitis. The best
      predictors of perforation are absence of the echogenic submucosal layer and the
      presence of a loculated fluid collection.

PMID- 1442399
TI  - Congenital subglottic hemangioma: frequency of symmetric subglottic narrowing on
      frontal radiographs of the neck.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine how often symmetric subglottic
      airway narrowing is present in cases of infantile subglottic stenosis and to
      determine if the radiographic finding has any association with the anatomic
      location of the hemangioma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All cases (n = 12) of
      endoscopically proved subglottic hemangioma from 1976 to 1991 were collected from
      the records at Children's Hospital of Michigan. In 10 cases, high-kilovoltage
      magnification studies or frontal radiographs of the neck were available for
      review by two observers who classified the subglottic narrowing as either
      symmetric or asymmetric. The radiographic findings in these 10 cases were then
      compared with the location and extent of the lesion as described endoscopically.
      RESULTS: In 50% of cases (n = 5), narrowing of the subglottic airway was
      symmetric. In four of these the hemangioma was either situated on the posterior
      wall or was circumferential, and in the remaining one an associated marked
      fibrotic reaction to a lateral wall lesion was present. All other lesions were on
      the lateral wall, and asymmetric subglottic airway narrowing was consistently
      shown on radiographs. CONCLUSION: Our results show that subglottic hemangioma
      often manifests as a symmetric subglottic airway narrowing and that the anatomic
      location of the hemangioma appears to be associated with the appearance on
      radiographs.

PMID- 1442400
TI  - Atresia of the colon in neonates: radiographic findings.

PMID- 1442401
TI  - Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in a child with cystic fibrosis.

PMID- 1442402
TI  - Determination of magnetization transfer contrast in tissue: an MR imaging study
      of brain tumors.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In this study, the magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) on MR images
      of several brain tumors and the correlation between MTC and tumors' histologic
      features were investigated. MTC depends on the extent of magnetization transfer,
      or cross-relaxation, from tissue water protons to macromolecular protons. On the
      basis of the known increase of the cross-relaxation rate with increasing
      molecular weight of protein in protein solutions, the hypothesis that changes in
      MTC correlate directly with the macromolecular composition of various tumors was
      tested. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Preoperative MR images were obtained with a 0.1-T
      MR system in 40 patients with brain tumors. MTC was correlated with the
      histologic features and the dry weight of the tumors. The tumors studied included
      astrocytomas (10), acoustic schwannomas (three), meningiomas (12), pituitary
      adenomas (10), craniopharyngiomas (two), and hemangioblastomas (three). RESULTS:
      MTC was 0.43 in normal white matter and 0.42 in normal gray matter, and varied
      from 0.11 to 0.37 in the tumors. The mean MTC in astrocytomas (0.21 +/- 0.09) was
      smaller than the mean MTC in the gray matter (p = .0001) or in the other solid
      tumors (0.34 +/- 0.07 to 0.37 +/- 0.09, p < .002). MTC was larger in high-grade
      than in low-grade astrocytomas (0.28 +/- 0.05 vs 0.14 +/- 0.04, p = .0005). In
      meningiomas, MTC correlated with the collagen content of the tumor tissue (r =
      .95, p = .01). The differences in contents of solids between the solid tumor
      groups were not significant (p > or = .1, NS). CONCLUSION: When the previously
      demonstrated correlations between solid content and 1/T1 of the types of tumors
      studied are taken into consideration, the present results suggest a larger
      relative contribution from hydrodynamic vs cross-relaxation effects in
      astrocytomas than in benign tumors or in gray matter. The twofold difference in
      MTC between low- and high-grade astrocytomas probably reflects the amount of
      nuclear material in the tumor cells. Collagen content determined the differences
      in MTC among meningiomas. These results indicate that the major determinant of
      differences in MTC within these tumor groups is the high-molecular-weight tissue
      macromolecules, suggesting higher specificity for MTC than for T1 in
      discriminating between tissues on MR images.

PMID- 1442403
TI  - Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma of the brain: MR findings in six patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma is a rare, usually benign brain tumor.
      This pleomorphic supratentorial tumor involves the leptomeninges and superficial
      cortex in young patients with seizures. The MR imaging features of this distinct
      tumor have not been reported. We describe the MR imaging findings in six patients
      with pathologically proved pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
      We retrospectively reviewed the MR images of six patients with pathologically
      proved pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma. MR images were reviewed by two
      neuroradiologists. The pathologic slides of the tumors were reviewed by two
      neuropathologists. We also analyzed the patients' clinical features. RESULTS:
      Most of the tumors were cortical based and isointense with gray matter on T1
      weighted images and mildly hyperintense on T2-weighted images. All the masses
      enhanced with contrast material. Cystic components and gyriform and
      leptomeningeal enhancement were seen occasionally. The tumors occurred in the
      temporal lobes in four of the six patients. Three patients had seizures, and the
      other three had headaches. CONCLUSION: Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma is a rare,
      usually benign, cortical-based mass that often enhances intensely with contrast
      material. The most common location is in the temporal lobes. Seizures and
      headaches are common clinical features. Familiarity with this lesion is important
      in the differential diagnosis of enhancing cortical-based masses.

PMID- 1442404
TI  - Calcification of the trochlear apparatus of the orbit: CT appearance and
      association with diabetes and age.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Calcification can sometimes be observed on CT scans in the region of
      the trochlear apparatus of the orbit, the cartilaginous structure through which
      the superior oblique tendon and its sheath pass. We evaluated associations of
      trochlear calcifications with age and diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We
      retrospectively reviewed CT scans of the orbit in 159 patients to identify the
      presence of trochlear calcifications. The presence or absence of diabetes,
      duration of diabetes, type of therapy, and presence or absence of neuropathy were
      determined from medical charts of 139 patients. We calculated the odds ratio of
      detecting a trochlear calcification and used logistic regression to evaluate the
      associations of age, sex, and diabetes with trochlear calcification. RESULTS:
      Trochlear calcifications were present in seven of the 24 diabetic patients and in
      10 of the 115 nondiabetic patients. The odds ratio for detecting trochlear
      calcifications in diabetic vs nondiabetic patients was 4.3 (p < .01). Logistic
      regression showed univariate associations with trochlear calcification for both
      increasing age (p < .001) and diabetes mellitus (p < .01). The effect of diabetes
      on the prevalence of trochlear calcifications was seen predominantly in those
      less than 40 years old (odds ratio = 24.0, p = .014). Sex, duration of diabetes,
      insulin dependence, and neuropathy were not significantly associated with an
      increase in trochlear calcifications. CONCLUSION: The results show that a
      trochlear calcification seen on CT is a benign condition that may serve as a
      marker for diabetes in young patients. Trochlear calcifications are observed
      frequently (25-30%) in persons more than 50 years old. When it is present in
      patients younger than 40 years, it is strongly associated with diabetes.

PMID- 1442405
TI  - Do abnormalities of the frontonasal duct cause frontal sinusitis? A CT study in
      198 patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine the correlation between
      frontonasal duct abnormalities (narrowing or obstruction caused by hypertrophic
      mucosa) and frontal sinusitis. This study was based on the hypothesis that
      abnormalities of the frontonasal duct cause frontal sinusitis by impairing normal
      drainage of the sinus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT studies of 198 consecutive
      patients with clinical diagnoses of chronic sinusitis were reviewed
      retrospectively. Criteria for inclusion were (1) no history of sinus surgery or
      facial trauma and (2) absence of polyps at rhinoscopy. As 37 frontal sinuses were
      undeveloped, a total of 359 sinuses were evaluated. CT scans were obtained in
      oblique axial and coronal planes. The following CT features were assessed: (1)
      the frequency of detection of the frontonasal duct, (2) the appearance of the
      frontonasal duct: normal vs abnormal (narrowed or obstructed), and (3) the
      correlations between abnormalities of the frontonasal duct and frontal sinusitis.
      RESULTS: The frontonasal duct was detected in all 359 cases, either in both CT
      planes (81%) or only in the axial oblique plane (19%). In 267 (74%) of 359 cases,
      the duct appeared normal; among these, isolated frontal sinusitis was detected in
      five cases (2%). In 92 (26%) of 359 cases, the duct was abnormal; it was narrowed
      in 18 cases (5%) and obstructed in 74 cases (21%). Frontal sinusitis was noted in
      78 (85%) of the 92 cases of frontonasal duct abnormalities. The sensitivity and
      specificity of the correlations between frontonasal duct abnormalities and
      frontal sinusitis were 98% and 85%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Because our results
      show a strong correlation between abnormalities of the frontonasal duct and
      frontal sinusitis, it seems highly probable that abnormalities of the frontonasal
      duct cause frontal sinusitis.

PMID- 1442406
TI  - Venous angioma of the brain: history, significance, and imaging findings.

PMID- 1442407
TI  - Normal anatomy of the hippocampus and adjacent temporal lobe: high-resolution
      fast spin-echo MR images in volunteers correlated with cadaveric histologic
      sections.
AB  - This essay illustrates the appearances of sections of the normal hippocampus and
      adjacent temporal lobe on high-resolution heavily T2-weighted fast spin-echo MR
      images and correlates them with histologic sections. We found that this MR
      examination showed the detailed anatomy of the normal hippocampus in a much
      shorter time than is possible with conventional spin-echo techniques. The
      information provided in this essay can be used as a baseline for distinguishing
      between normal and abnormal hippocampi in a variety of disease states.

PMID- 1442408
TI  - MR myelography using heavily T2-weighted fast spin-echo pulse sequences with fat
      presaturation.
AB  - A new method for generating myelogramlike images of the thecal sac by MR imaging
      is presented. The method is based on suppressing background signal by using
      heavily T2-weighted fast spin-echo pulse sequences and obliterating fat signal by
      presaturation. The resulting slices are then projected into a composite image
      using a standard maximum intensity projection (MIP) algorithm. The technique is
      implemented with commercially available hardware and software and yields
      reproducible high-quality images of the lumbar thecal sac, which show excellent
      definition of the thecal margins, nerve roots, and nerve root sheaths. This
      method could replace conventional lumbar myelography and postmyelographic CT
      studies.

PMID- 1442409
TI  - Assessment of a neuroradiology picture archiving and communication system in
      clinical practice.
AB  - The goal of this study was to determine if our neuroradiology picture archiving
      and communication system (PACS) is capable of improving the efficiency and
      function of the management and review of neuroradiologic images. A neuroradiology
      PACS module developed in our department was evaluated in the clinical environment
      from February 1990 through July 1991. The overall evaluation focused on three
      aspects: (1) image delivery performance, (2) system availability, and (3) user
      acceptance. Image delivery performance was evaluated by analyzing the time spent
      on each modularized task with both the film-based system and the PACS system. The
      system availability was examined by observing the downtime occurrence and uptime
      probability of individual hardware components in the PACS module. User acceptance
      was evaluated through a survey done with the display workstation. Under regular
      operating conditions, the PACS outperforms the current film-based operation. The
      overall PACS module availability is more than 92%, with the display workstation
      available more than 99% of the time. The overall user acceptance of the system is
      3.4 on a four-point ranking scale. This study has demonstrated the full
      functionality and clinical usefulness of our neuroradiology PACS. On the basis of
      the results of this study, a large-scale PACS has been designed and implemented
      in our department.

PMID- 1442410
TI  - Integration of a personal computer workstation and radiology information system
      for obstetric sonography.
AB  - A personal computer workstation has been developed for storage and analysis of
      obstetric sonographic examinations. The workstation also serves as an interactive
      data terminal for our radiology information system. A data-base management
      program locally stores quantitative and descriptive sonographic results.
      Algorithms are used to analyze growth parameters over serial examinations, plot
      growth curves, generate a radiologic report, and provide instantaneous diagnostic
      assistance and suggestions. A bibliographic data-base system containing more than
      3000 references (with abstracts) in the obstetric sonographic literature is
      integrated with the software's analytical functions. A telecommunications
      software module performs dialogues, such as immediate automatic transcription of
      the sonographic report, with the radiology information system. An examination
      summary form, growth curves, and the radiologist's report can be printed or
      digitally faxed by the workstation after authorization by the radiologist. The
      workstation has improved the organization of sonographic data, facilitated serial
      quantitative analysis, supplemented educational resources for our staff
      radiologists and residents, reduced transcription errors and transcription
      delays, and shortened to minutes the time necessary to deliver precise
      examination results to clinicians. This model is suitable for use in many areas
      in a radiology department.

PMID- 1442411
TI  - To telephone or not to telephone: how high is the standard?

PMID- 1442412
TI  - Luetic aneurysm of the innominate artery mimicking a mass in the right side of
      the anterior mediastinum: MR appearance.

PMID- 1442413
TI  - A new technique for retrieving catheter fragments in the pulmonary artery.

PMID- 1442414
TI  - Atypical choledochal cyst.

PMID- 1442415
TI  - Fat-containing collection adjacent to intrahepatic inferior vena cava:
      sonographic detection and characterization.

PMID- 1442416
TI  - Duplicated gall bladder and situs inversus: findings on sonography and
      scintigraphy.

PMID- 1442417
TI  - Hydatid cyst of spleen with bull's-eye appearance on imaging.

PMID- 1442418
TI  - Polyp arising in a colonic diverticulum.

PMID- 1442419
TI  - Congestive heart failure in a patient with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney
      disease.

PMID- 1442420
TI  - Late total closure and caudal migration of an LGM caval filter.

PMID- 1442421
TI  - Dermoid mesh: a sonographic sign of ovarian teratoma.

PMID- 1442422
TI  - Stress fracture detected sonographically.

PMID- 1442423
TI  - Pneumocephalus due to barotrauma: CT demonstration.

PMID- 1442424
TI  - Extradural schwannoma manifested as an expansile vertebral lesion.

PMID- 1442425
TI  - Inadvertent intrathecal use of ionic contrast media for myelography.
AB  - PURPOSE: To describe instances of inadvertent intrathecal injection of ionic
      contrast media and to consider treatment approaches, and diagnostic and
      medicolegal issues. METHODS: Ten cases of inadvertent injection, of which nine
      were reported to the manufacturers/authors and one appeared in the literature,
      are related with emphasis on similarity of reactions. RESULTS: Six criteria are
      enumerated and used to coin the term "ascending tonic-clonic seizure syndrome."
      CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic possibilities seem limited, but several methods for
      controlling seizures are suggested. The importance of identifying the contrast
      material is underscored. Awareness of the grave possibility of administering the
      wrong contrast material is the first step in avoiding this problem; awareness of
      the symptoms is the first step toward therapy.

PMID- 1442426
TI  - High performance liquid chromatography with multiwavelength detection: a
      technique for identification of iodinated x-ray contrast agents in human body
      fluids and brain tissue.
AB  - PURPOSE: Several cases of a severe adverse reaction, referred to as "ascending
      tonic-clonic seizure syndrome," have been reported after administration of water
      soluble iodinated x-ray contrast agents for myelographic examinations. Because of
      the bizarre reactions, the identities of the causative contrast media were
      questioned. METHODS: Analyses of biologic materials from four of these patients
      were performed by using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The
      chromatographic system was equipped with a fast-scanning UV-visible detector for
      the analysis of the UV-spectra of the chromatographic peaks. RESULTS: The
      analyses revealed that the nonionic contrast agents iohexol or ioversol were not
      present in detectable amounts in any of the samples. On the other hand, the
      chromatographic analyses revealed peaks that cochromatographed with and showed
      the same UV-spectra as the ionic agents diatrizoate, metrizoate, and
      ioxitalamate. CONCLUSION: The results indicate inadvertent injection of ionic
      contrast medium in all four cases.

PMID- 1442427
TI  - Computer-based tutorial in MR imaging.
AB  - PURPOSE: To test the effectiveness of customized software as a teaching tool to
      help the novice understand basic physics concepts underlying the creation of MR
      images via various pulse sequences. METHODS: The authors have developed animating
      graphic and highly interactive electronic MR audiovisual software for the
      Macintosh computer in the C programming language, and have integrated it into the
      classroom setting for teaching MR imaging physics concepts such as T1, T2, T2*,
      proton density, RF excitation, TR, TE, TI, flip angle, static magnetic field
      strength, gradient magnetic fields, section thickness, number of phase-encoding
      gradients, number of excitations, field of view, intersection gap, receiver
      bandwidth, contrast agent(s), etc. The program interactively demonstrates the
      effects of these variables upon such imaging objectives as voxel dimensions,
      section quantity, total scanned volume, signal-to-noise ratio, contrast, contrast
      to-noise ratios, resolving power, and scan acquisition time. Partial saturation,
      gradient echo, inversion recovery, and fat-saturation imaging techniques are
      included. Written posttests on the syllabus covered in our basic MR course were
      administered to three groups: 43 student professionals
      (technologist/physicist/radiologist) (control professional group) before, 149
      student professionals (exposed professional group) after the addition of the
      tutorial software into the MR course as an integral part of the teaching process,
      and a group of 200 pharmaceutical sales staff with little to no prior MR or
      scientific background (exposed pharmaceutical group). The scores were then
      evaluated and compared among the groups. One hundred ten students exposed to this
      software also anonymously rated the software on a 1 to 5 scale (harmful to very
      helpful, respectively) as to their feeling regarding its role in their MR
      educational experience and the ease with which they were able to understand the
      material covered in the basic MR course curriculum. RESULTS: Mean test scores
      were statistically significantly lower in the Control Professional Group (60%, +/
      2.59 standard error of the mean (SEM)) than in either the Exposed Pharmaceutical
      (73% +/- 0.75 SEM) or Exposed Professional Groups (77% +/- 0.99 SEM). The mean
      subjective assessment score regarding the software was 4.8 (scale 1 to 5).
      CONCLUSION: This custom-developed interactive MR tutorial software is
      demonstrated to be effective in assisting even those new to MR imaging in
      understanding the concepts underlying MR imaging physics in a manner that is felt
      to be significantly more palatable than lectures, articles, and/or textbooks
      alone.

PMID- 1442428
TI  - MR proton spectroscopy in multiple sclerosis.
AB  - PURPOSE: To elucidate the natural history of visualized MR abnormalities in
      patients with multiple sclerosis using proton spectroscopy. METHODS: MR imaging
      and proton spectroscopy (1H spectroscopy) were performed on 16 patients with
      clinically definite multiple sclerosis. All patients received gadopentetate
      dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA). RESULTS: Decreased levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) were
      demonstrated in 17 out of 21 lesions. No correlation was found between decreased
      NAA and Gd-DTPA enhancement. In five out of seven enhancing lesions, abnormal 1H
      spectra with extra peaks (termed marker peaks) at 2.1-2.6 ppm (ranging in
      absolute concentration from 10-50 mM protons) were observed. In nine out of 14
      unenhancing lesions, no elevated marker peaks were observed. In the five other
      unenhancing lesions, the levels of these marker peaks were generally lower than
      the enhancing group. No correlation was found between the NAA levels and the
      levels of the marker peaks. We suggest two distinct biochemical processes: 1)
      decreased NAA reflecting neuronal cell loss, and 2) elevated marker peaks
      reflecting ongoing demyelination. CONCLUSIONS: Based upon these observations we
      infer that 1) the majority of enhancing lesions are demyelinating with extra
      peaks at 2.1-2.6 ppm representing a marker of this process, 2) enhancing lesions
      without this marker most likely represent edematous regions without significant
      demyelination, and 3) demyelination may be long in duration compared with
      transient blood-brain barrier disruption manifested by Gd-DTPA enhancement. Our
      results suggest that 1H spectroscopy has the ability to further categorize MR
      demonstrated enhancing and unenhancing lesions in patients with multiple
      sclerosis and that it may be more sensitive than contrast enhancement in
      revealing the true time course of demyelination.

PMID- 1442429
TI  - MR imaging in acute multiple sclerosis: ringlike appearance in plaques suggesting
      the presence of paramagnetic free radicals.
AB  - MR studies in three patients with multiple sclerosis have shown clearly defined
      rings within plaques of demyelination, having signal characteristics consistent
      with the presence of paramagnetic material. It is suggested that these
      appearances represent the presence of free radicals in the macrophage layer
      forming the margin of an acute plaque.

PMID- 1442430
TI  - Fulminant multiple sclerosis.

PMID- 1442431
TI  - Cranial hypertrophic interstitial neuropathy.
AB  - The authors describe a patient with complex cranial neuropathy caused by
      pathologically proved hypertrophic interstitial neuropathy. Plain and contrast
      enhanced MR studies were performed prior to surgical exploration. Surgical
      complications caused the patient's death and a complete pathology study was done.
      Though nonspecific, MR proved helpful in determining the extent of disease and
      areas of anatomic involvement.

PMID- 1442432
TI  - Temporary balloon occlusion of the carotid artery combined with brain blood flow
      imaging as a test to predict tolerance prior to permanent carotid sacrifice.
AB  - PURPOSE: To describe the technique of using SPECT brain blood flow imaging to
      identify patients at risk for having strokes after balloon or surgical ligation
      of an internal carotid artery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 29 patients underwent
      temporary balloon occlusion of the internal carotid artery and blood flow imaging
      studies were obtained prior to sacrifice of the vessel; 11 internal carotid
      arteries were indeed sacrificed and form the basis of our study. Follow-up of
      these patients ranged from 3 to 65 days. RESULTS: Three groups emerged: group I,
      patients with symptoms during occlusion and an abnormal blood flow study (one
      patient); group II, patients with no symptoms during the occlusion but with an
      unequivocally abnormal blood flow study (two patients); group III, patients
      without symptoms during occlusion and a normal or slightly abnormal blood flow
      study (eight patients). CONCLUSION: Carotid sacrifice without initial and
      temporary balloon occlusion is unnecessarily risky. Imaging of blood flow in the
      brains of these patients can further improve the safety of occlusion procedures
      in the internal carotid artery.

PMID- 1442433
TI  - Delayed venous occlusion following embolotherapy of vascular malformations in the
      brain.
AB  - PURPOSE: To describe the nature and features of delayed venous thrombosis
      following embolization of arteriovenous fistulae. METHODS: Retrospective review
      of the available clinical history, details of embolization procedures, and
      results of follow-up angiography were carried out on all embolization procedures
      performed on high-flow vascular malformations of the brain done at our
      institution since 1987. RESULTS: Four patients were identified who had delayed
      (greater than 1 week) venous thrombosis/occlusion after embolization of the
      malformation associated with neurologic complications. Two patients had
      arteriovenous fistula and two had vein-of-Galen malformations. These patients had
      no untoward embolization of the venous outlet as a cause of the venous occlusion.
      CONCLUSIONS: It is postulated that thrombosis in the arteriovenous fistula group
      was induced by conversion (due to embolization) of a patulous high flow venous
      outlet into a slow flow system; in the vein-of-Galen group, the occlusion was
      thought to be due to high-flow venopathy.

PMID- 1442435
TI  - Use of the delayed mask for improved demonstration of aneurysms on intraarterial
      DSA.
AB  - PURPOSE: We retrospectively explored the use of the delayed mask technique for
      intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (IADSA) to demonstrate the anatomy
      of aneurysm necks. METHODS: The delayed mask technique was utilized in 22
      patients who had craniotomies for aneurysms demonstrated at angiography. The
      operative notes were compared to the angiographic findings of both the
      traditionally masked IADSA and the delayed mask IADSA. In addition, an in vitro
      model was constructed to examine the relationship between the size of the
      aneurysm neck and the ability to indirectly define its anatomy by demonstrating
      the flow jet. RESULTS: In 12 of 22 cases, the delayed mask technique demonstrated
      a systolic jet that was not demonstrated by traditional subtraction techniques.
      In nine of 12 cases, the delayed mask technique gave more specific information
      regarding the size, location, and orientation of the aneurysm neck. CONCLUSION:
      The delayed mask technique can add important information regarding the anatomy of
      aneurysm without adding time or risk to the procedure.

PMID- 1442434
TI  - Color-flow Doppler sonography in the identification of ulcerative plaques in
      patients with high-grade carotid artery stenosis.
AB  - PURPOSE: To assess the ability of color-flow Doppler sonography (CFDS) to detect
      plaque ulcerations in patients who had high-grade to thread-like carotid artery
      stenosis and who underwent carotid endarterectomy. METHODS: CFDS is a noninvasive
      diagnostic technique that allows, in addition to spatial visualization of blood
      flow, the identification of abnormal blood flow patterns such as vortex
      formation. There is evidence that pathologic anatomic changes in the vascular
      wall (such as ulcerations) may result in characteristic hemodynamic alterations.
      Therefore, solely hemodynamic criteria (detection of vortices) were used to
      diagnose ulceration. The results of preoperative examinations were compared to
      the intraoperative findings in 89 patients in a prospective and blinded way.
      RESULTS: CFDS proved highly sensitive (95.3%), specific (93.5%), and accurate
      (94.0%) for demonstrating ulcerative plaques. CONCLUSION: CFDS may be of
      significant advantage for examining plaque morphology in patients who have high
      grade internal carotid artery stenosis, and in whom accurate, noninvasive
      diagnosis of plaque ulceration was previously difficult, if not impossible.

PMID- 1442436
TI  - Internal carotid artery occlusion due to idiopathic cranial pachymeningitis.
AB  - A 35-year-old black woman had a 6-month history of headaches and a 1-month
      history of abducens nerve palsy. MR showed a mass in the sella and cavernous
      sinuses with encasement of the carotid artery. The mass enhanced intensely and
      homogeneously with Gd-DTPA. Arteriography revealed complete occlusion of the left
      internal carotid artery and severe stenosis of the C5 and C6 segments of the
      right internal carotid artery. Transsphenoidal biopsy of the mass led to the
      diagnosis of idiopathic cranial pachymeningitis.

PMID- 1442437
TI  - Prediction of neurologic outcome in acute spinal cord injury: the role of CT and
      MR.
AB  - PURPOSE: 1) To determine whether MR appearances of the spinal cord in acute
      trauma correlate with clinical prognosis, and 2) to identify other MR and CT
      prognostic factors in acute spinal trauma. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of
      MR, CT, and clinical examinations in 32 acute spinal trauma patients examined
      between 1987 and 1990. RESULTS: All 21 patients with abnormal spinal cords on MR
      had complete motor paralysis at presentation, compared to only three of 11
      patients with normal cords. Whereas cord transection and hemorrhagic contusion
      had poor prognoses, 73% of patients with cord edema and 100% of patients with
      normal cord had useful motor function at outcome. At follow-up MR, areas of cord
      contusion developed into cysts, while edema resolved, leaving residual areas of
      myelomalacia. Associated spinal fractures, ligament injury, and cord compression
      were associated (P < .05) with a worse prognosis. Spondylotic changes were a
      significant risk factor for spinal cord injury, mediated by cord compression.
      CONCLUSIONS: MR and CT are valuable techniques for quantifying injury and
      predicting prognosis in acute spinal trauma.

PMID- 1442438
TI  - Subfrontal recurrence of medulloblastoma.

PMID- 1442439
TI  - Unusual subcutaneous sarcoidosis of the face.
AB  - Two unusual cases of sarcoidosis manifesting as subcutaneous masses of the face
      are reported: in the first, the lesion occurred at the site of an osteotomy for
      rhinoplasty and was the initial clinical manifestation of sarcoidosis; in the
      second, the skin lesion was part of a multisystemic disease. The cases were
      documented with CT. Sarcoidosis should be added to the differential of soft
      tissue masses of the face.

PMID- 1442440
TI  - Perioptic cyst distal to optic nerve meningioma: MR demonstration.
AB  - Dilation of the subarachnoid space between the distal edge of an optic nerve
      sheath meningioma and the eyeball has previously been observed during surgery and
      considered a rare finding. We observed such perioptic cysts in seven patients
      with optic nerve meningioma and describe the MR features of this finding.

PMID- 1442441
TI  - Anomalous origin of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery from the internal
      carotid artery.
AB  - A rare anomalous origin of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery arising from
      the internal carotid artery is described. The embryologic explanation postulated
      is the persistence of a primitive communicating vessel (presegmental artery)
      between the anterior and posterior circulation.

PMID- 1442442
TI  - Chordomas of the skull base: MR features.
AB  - PURPOSE: To characterize the MR features of skull base chordomas with regard to
      signal intensity, size, position, extension, and Gd-DTPA enhancement. PATIENTS
      AND METHODS: The MR imaging studies of 28 patients with surgically proven
      chordomas of the skull base were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-two of these
      patients received intravenous administration of Gd-DTPA. RESULTS: On short
      TR/short TE images, chordomas generally had low to intermediate signal. On long
      TR/long TE images, chordomas generally had very high signal that was
      heterogeneous in 79%. After Gd-DTPA administration, all chordomas demonstrated
      some degree of contrast enhancement. In most cases, enhancement was demonstrated
      throughout most of each tumor in a heterogeneous pattern. Chordomas were
      associated with MR findings of displacement and encasement of vessels, and
      frequent extension into adjacent structures such as the cavernous sinus, sella,
      nasopharynx, and hypoglossal canal. CONCLUSION: The MR characterization of the
      position and extent of these neoplasms played an important role in determining
      the optimal surgical approaches for gross total tumor resection.

PMID- 1442443
TI  - Highlights of the 30th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Neuroradiology.

PMID- 1442444
TI  - Highlights of the scientific exhibits of the 30th Annual Meeting of the American
      Society of Neuroradiology.

PMID- 1442445
TI  - R. Gilberto Gonzalez, PhD, MD: corecipient of the Cornelius Dyke Award for 1992.

PMID- 1442446
TI  - Frank J. Lexa, MD: corecipient of the Cornelius Dyke Award for 1992.

PMID- 1442447
TI  - Pneumosinus dilatans and arachnoid cyst.

PMID- 1442448
TI  - [Epidemiological study of asthmatic crises in a maternal-child emergency
      service].
AB  - In our region, allergic respiratory diseases affects over 55% of the child up to
      5 years. This could be attributed to some peculiarities of our region, such as
      consanguinity, climate and predominant sensitisation to dermatophagoides mite. We
      made an epidemiologic study on the bronchospasm urgent cases attended in the
      Urgency Unit of our Maternal-Child Hospital in Las Palmas. We took 935 patients
      with a mean age of 32.36 months with acute attacks of bronchospasm, and found no
      significant difference between patients from the Northern and Southern zones of
      the island. Bronchospasm cases were more frequently observed in Autumn and
      Winter. We discuss here about the possible causing agents involved and want to
      draw attention to the need of education for our patients' parents for them to
      learn antiasthmatic medication and how to use it, before going to the Urgency
      Unit of any Hospital.

PMID- 1442449
TI  - Evaluation of serum total IgE in Chinese allergic children using different
      assays.
AB  - Since differences in HLA groups have been found in Chinese populations, as well
      as differences in the values of total IgE in China, Japan and Thailand, a study
      has been done in 44 Chinese children, all of them with a history of atopic
      conditions divided into five groups: asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, allergic
      bronchitis and atopic dermatitis. 34 of them were positive against D.
      pteronyssimus, 8 against cats, 3 against dogs and 3 against fish. The only adult
      patient studied was positive against gramineal plants (all positivities were
      tested with the prick test). IVT ELISA Screen is performed against 10 allergens,
      as well as 3 M FAST-Test and 3 M Total IgE FAST Plus Test. The results show that
      the majority of children had an elevation of the total IgE in the three tests.
      There is quite a good agreement between FAST and IgE-IVT and a better correlation
      between IgE-IVT and IgE FAST Plus. The correlation between IgE FAST and IgE FAST
      Plus was excellent.

PMID- 1442450
TI  - Reduction in the oral doses of theophylline in asthmatic children during
      concomitant treatment with ketotifen.
AB  - Sixteen children with moderate or severe bronchial asthma underwent a double
      blind study receiving either ketotifen (K) or placebo (P) in order to verify the
      sparing effect of K on theophylline. The study lasted 18 weeks. Slow release
      theophylline was administered to all patients at a dose of 300 mg every 12 hours
      for the first six weeks of the study ("washout"). From the seventh week on, eight
      patients received K (1 mg, 2x/day) and the others P. The theophylline dose was
      maintained and reduced every 4 weeks to 200 mg and 100 mg. The initial clinical
      characteristics were identical in both groups. The serum levels of theophylline
      decreased below the ideal range (less than 10 mcg/ml) in groups K and P with a
      100 mg dose of theophylline. However, in group K patients, fewer reported
      worsening of symptoms (number of days with cough and/or wheeze, altered daytime
      or nighttime peak expiratory flow rate and consumption of beta agonist) when
      compared to group P. Increased PC20 of methacholine only occurred in group K
      patients.

PMID- 1442451
TI  - Improvement of fog and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction after local and
      subcutaneous immunotherapy in mite asthma.
AB  - We compared the changes of non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity to
      methacholine, UNDW and exercise in 2 groups of patients with mite asthma treated
      with local immunotherapy (LIT group: 12 patients) and subcutaneous immunotherapy
      (SIT group: 8 patients) for 1 year. Bronchial challenges were done 1 week before
      the beginning and 1 week after the end of 1 year of treatment. The results showed
      a reduction of bronchial hyperreactivity to methacholine in the LIT group (PD
      20FEV1 before: 223 +/- 193, after: 434 +/- 548) but not in the SIT group (PD
      20FEV1: before: 143 +/- 188, after: 125 +/- 121) but the difference was not
      statistically significant. Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction completely
      disappeared in all the patients of LIT group (8/8) although only in 2 out of 4
      patients of SIT group. Water-induced bronchoconstriction improved in 66% of LIT
      group (4/6) compared with none of SIT group (0/4). We conclude that, with the
      protocol of the present study, LIT is able to improve, more than SIT, non
      specific bronchial hyperreactivity evaluated with osmotic stimuli as exercise and
      UNDW but not with pharmacologic stimuli as methacholine.

PMID- 1442452
TI  - IgG4 antibodies and bronchial asthma.

PMID- 1442453
TI  - [Asthma caused by culinary spices].

PMID- 1442454
TI  - Physician heal thyself (and thy colleagues).

PMID- 1442455
TI  - Report QQ of the Board of Trustees (I-91). Health Access America refinements
      December 1991.

PMID- 1442456
TI  - Photorefractor for detection of treatable eye disorders in preverbal children.
AB  - Abnormalities of the optical media or alignment of the eyes during the period of
      visual immaturity may produce pathologic changes in the brain resulting in the
      clinical entity of subnormal vision known as amblyopia. Efforts to prevent visual
      deterioration or restore normal acuity where amblyopia exists require early
      diagnosis and treatment. Although amblyopia affects between 1% and 5% of
      children, it is estimated that at most one-fourth of preschool children are
      screened for this major treatable eye disorder. Simultaneous photography of the
      corneal and fundus reflex from both eyes using an offaxis flash photorefractor
      appears to be a practical, efficient, and effective method of eye-screening in
      pre-verbal children. Previous studies of this modality have dealt with
      populations referred to ophthalmology centers. We report the results of a masked
      validation of a commercially available photorefractor in an unselected group of
      children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years.

PMID- 1442457
TI  - Health care 2000?

PMID- 1442458
TI  - The Americans with Disabilities Act.

PMID- 1442459
TI  - Patient safety and physician advocacy.

PMID- 1442460
TI  - Contrast sensitivity vision testing.

PMID- 1442461
TI  - Foreign body mimicking colon cancer.

PMID- 1442462
TI  - Diary of a week in practice.

PMID- 1442463
TI  - Parapneumonic empyema in children: diagnosis and management.
AB  - Parapneumonic effusion can be a significant problem if it is not recognized and
      treated promptly. The amount of pleural fluid at presentation is usually small
      and may not be detected on physical examination. If pleural fluid is seen on
      radiographs, thoracentesis must be performed. Early, free-flowing parapneumonic
      effusions usually respond clinically to antibiotic therapy without the necessity
      of draining the pleural space. Distinguishing between exudative effusion and
      empyema is crucial. Failure of effusion or empyema to respond to the treatment is
      usually due to failure to adequately drain the pleural space or inappropriate
      antibiotic therapy. If chest tube drainage does not result in a lower temperature
      and an appropriate clinical response within a few days, further evaluation by
      computed tomographic scanning and surgical consultation are indicated. In
      patients with pleural effusion and empyema that responds poorly to medical and/or
      surgical therapy, underlying causes or associated debilitating disease should be
      excluded.

PMID- 1442465
TI  - Adverse psychiatric effects of systemic glucocorticoid therapy.
AB  - Glucocorticoid therapy causes psychiatric side effects in many patients. Although
      psychiatric side effects occur most commonly in women and middle-aged patients,
      no clinical features have been identified to predict which patients are at risk.
      The most frequent side effects are mood changes ranging from mild euphoria to
      hypomania, but other reactions, including depression, dementia and psychosis, are
      possible. The incidence of psychiatric side effects is directly related to
      dosage. The mechanism by which glucocorticoids produce psychiatric symptoms is
      probably multifactorial, including both direct and indirect effects on the brain.
      Psychiatric symptoms usually resolve with dosage reduction or controlled
      withdrawal of glucocorticoids, but antipsychotic medication may be indicated if
      symptoms are severe or prolonged.

PMID- 1442464
TI  - Sacroiliac sprain: an overlooked cause of back pain.
AB  - Since sacroiliac sprain syndrome is not a common disorder, it may be overlooked
      as a cause of low back pain. Even though the sacroiliac joint is very strong, it
      can incur painful injury. The diagnosis of sacroiliac sprain syndrome requires
      more than just tenderness on palpation of the sacroiliac area. Certain maneuvers,
      such as Patrick's test and the sacroiliac compression test, are useful in
      establishing the diagnosis. Proper treatment consists of bed rest, heat,
      nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants. Physical therapy and
      manipulation may also help. In recalcitrant cases, injection of the sacroiliac
      joint with a corticosteroid and a local anesthetic can be effective.

PMID- 1442466
TI  - Genodermatoses with malignant potential.
AB  - Disease-associated malignancy may occur in several inherited conditions with
      dermatologic manifestations. These genodermatoses include nevoid basal cell
      carcinoma syndrome, Cowden's disease, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes,
      neurofibromatosis and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Although most of these
      genodermatoses are rare, recognition of their cutaneous features can facilitate
      early diagnosis of the systemic condition and surveillance for neoplasm.
      Appropriate evaluation of the patient's family, as well as genetic counseling,
      should be performed when the diagnosis of a genodermatosis with malignant
      potential is established.

PMID- 1442467
TI  - Sequelae of minor traumatic brain injury.
AB  - Minor traumatic brain injury is the most common type of traumatic encephalopathy,
      with approximately 290,000 to 325,000 new cases occurring each year. Recent
      research has suggested that both anatomic factors (acceleration-deceleration
      injury, contusions) and neurotransmitter factors (cholinergic systems) may
      contribute to the pathologic sequelae. Symptoms may be broadly categorized as
      physical, behavioral/affective, cognitive and integrative. Patients with mild
      brain injury may demonstrate significant attention and information-processing
      impairments in the absence of apparent neurologic problems. Most symptoms abate
      within the first few months, but a sizable subgroup of patients remain
      symptomatic up to one year or more. Evidence suggests that patients whose
      symptoms persist are not simply "neurotic." Rehabilitation efforts should focus
      on proper evaluation, reassurance, education, support and monitoring of progress.

PMID- 1442468
TI  - Managing the difficult physician-patient relationship.
AB  - A difficult physician-patient relationship can have significant consequences for
      both the physician and the patient. Difficult relationships can lead to
      frustrating, dissatisfying, adversarial and expensive medical care. The difficult
      relationship is often a consequence of a breakdown in communication between
      physician and patient. Specific causes include technical communication barriers,
      difficulty in discussing certain topics, unmet or violated norms and expectations
      (both the physician's and the patient's) and a mismatch between the physician's
      and the patient's personality styles. Management goals for the difficult
      relationship include maintaining professional self-esteem, maintaining physician
      patient continuity, minimizing the "medicalization" of the problem by limiting
      the use of tests and procedures, and minimizing hospitalization and referral. It
      is also important to remember that although the relationship may continue to be
      frustrating or conflictual, it can be effectively managed with appropriate
      strategies.

PMID- 1442469
TI  - Recommended core educational guidelines for family practice residents. Research
      and scholarly activity. American Academy of Family Physicians.

PMID- 1442470
TI  - NIH releases consensus statement on gallstones, bile duct stones and laparoscopic
      cholecystectomy.

PMID- 1442471
TI  - Tuberculosis update.

PMID- 1442472
TI  - Diagnostic hysteroscopy.
AB  - The hysteroscope is a valuable tool for selective viewing of the uterine cavity
      and the endocervical canal. With smaller-diameter scopes, hysteroscopy can be
      performed in the office setting, often without the need for cervical dilatation
      or local anesthesia. Controlled-rate CO2 insufflators allow safe distention of
      the uterine cavity with minimal side effects. Indications for office hysteroscopy
      include the evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding, genital carcinoma and
      infertility and the investigation of a "lost" intrauterine device. Hysteroscopy
      is an adjunct to endometrial sampling, dilatation and curettage,
      hysterosalpingography and cervical cytology.

PMID- 1442473
TI  - Expanding applications of the 12-lead ECG in suspected acute infarction.
AB  - In the setting of acute myocardial infarction, the importance of the 12-lead
      electrocardiogram has increased tremendously. In addition to facilitating
      diagnosis of acute ischemic syndromes, including acute myocardial infarction, the
      12-lead electrocardiogram may provide invaluable assistance in determining which
      patients are most suitable for thrombolytic therapy, and it may provide
      information that is useful in prognostic stratification.

PMID- 1442474
TI  - The elimination diet as a diagnostic tool.
AB  - Many family physicians overlook the role that food and food additives play in
      health problems. An elimination diet is a safe and cost-effective method of
      evaluating adverse reactions to foods in some patients with common medical
      problems. Patients whose symptoms improve or clear while they are on the diet are
      then challenged with the omitted foods one at a time to establish food-symptom
      relationships.

PMID- 1442475
TI  - Update on hormone replacement therapy.
AB  - The well-recognized benefits of hormone replacement therapy include relief of
      vasomotor symptoms, alleviation of psychogenic manifestations, prevention of
      atrophic vaginitis, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, and prevention of
      cardiovascular disease. Risks can be minimized by proper evaluation and
      appropriate hormone replacement. When an adequate dosage of estrogen is given,
      the added progestogen does not adversely affect lipid levels. When progestogens
      are added to estrogen replacement therapy, the incidence of endometrial cancer is
      lower in postmenopausal women receiving this form of therapy than in untreated
      postmenopausal women. Although the risk of breast cancer is a matter of
      controversy, it does not seem to increase with estrogen therapy; the addition of
      progestogen may decrease the risk for some women. The prognosis for breast cancer
      is improved in women receiving hormone replacement therapy.

PMID- 1442476
TI  - The conservative coronary angioplasty strategy after thrombolysis for acute
      myocardial infarction: immediate and short-term results.
AB  - The in-hospital and short-term follow-up results of a conservative coronary
      angioplasty approach in 354 consecutive patients treated after thrombolysis for
      acute myocardial infarction were compared with results obtained in 408 control
      noninfarcted patients treated for the classical indication of myocardial
      ischemia. Only 20% of the study patients underwent angioplasty during the initial
      hospitalization period and the clinical success rate was 93% versus 95% in the
      control group (p = NS). No significant differences in the total number of in
      hospital untoward events were observed (10.2% and 7.6%, respectively). During a
      7.4 +/- 1.5 month follow-up period, the total number of adverse events was only
      16.9% in the study patients but it was 27.8% in the control group (p < 0.001).
      There were no significant differences in death, myocardial infarction, or
      coronary surgery as individual events, but repeat angioplasty was less frequent
      in the study group (14.0% versus 21.5%, p < 0.01). Thus in-hospital results in
      patients undergoing angioplasty on a deferred basis after thrombolysis for
      myocardial infarction were largely comparable with those results obtained in
      noninfarcted patients. Moreover, short-term clinical follow-up events were
      reduced when compared with the control group, an observation apparently largely
      related to the subgroup without clinical evidence of residual ischemia.

PMID- 1442477
TI  - Effects of intraaortic balloon pumping on coronary hemodynamics after coronary
      angioplasty in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
AB  - It has been reported that intraaortic balloon pumping can prevent reocclusion
      after coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction. The speculated
      mechanism has been the production of markedly enhanced diastolic coronary
      perfusion pressure; however, most studies have reported that intraaortic balloon
      pumping has little effect on coronary blood flow. To assess the effectiveness of
      this procedure, we studied 12 patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction
      who were undergoing coronary angioplasty and intraaortic balloon pumping. After
      successful angioplasty, coronary blood flow velocity was measured with a coronary
      Doppler catheter before and during intraaortic balloon pumping. Although mean
      coronary blood flow velocity was unchanged, intraaortic balloon pumping increased
      peak coronary blood flow velocity from 34.6 +/- 5.0 cm/sec (mean +/- SEM) to 46.7
      +/- 5.8 cm/sec (p < 0.005). Such an increase in peak coronary blood flow velocity
      seemed to be a mechanism by which intraaortic balloon pumping could prevent
      reocclusion after coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1442478
TI  - Reduced infarct size in nonreperfused myocardial infarction by combined infusion
      of isosorbide dinitrate and streptokinase.
AB  - The value of thrombolytic therapy in myocardial infarction is well established,
      while any beneficial effect of adjunct therapy is more uncertain. In a double
      blind, randomized, parallel-group study the effect of combined intravenous
      infusions of streptokinase and isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) on enzyme-estimated
      infarct size was investigated. One hundred consecutive patients with strong
      clinical and electrocardiographic suspicion of myocardial infarction, admitted to
      the coronary care unit within 8 hours after the onset of symptoms, were given a
      streptokinase infusion of 1.5 million units for 1 hour and a titrated dose of
      ISDN or placebo for 48 hours. From isoenzyme B of creatine kinase (CK-B) values
      measured every 4 hours, the infarct size was calculated and the possible presence
      of reperfusion was evaluated. The infarct size in patients receiving ISDN
      infusion was reduced (p = 0.04, one-sided test) compared with placebo. By
      subdividing the patients according to whether or not reperfusion had occurred,
      the infarct size appeared to be similar following ISDN and placebo in patients
      with reperfusion (419 versus 369 U/L), whereas the infarct size in patients not
      reperfused was markedly reduced after treatment with ISDN (223 versus 1320 U/L, p
      = 0.003). In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that the infarct size may
      be reduced by other means than reperfusion and it supports the use of combined
      infusion of thrombolytic agents and nitrates in patients with suspected
      myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1442479
TI  - Active compression-decompression resuscitation: a novel method of cardiopulmonary
      resuscitation.
AB  - Chest compression is an important part of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR),
      but it only aids circulation during a portion of the compression cycle and has
      been shown to only minimally increase blood flow to vital organs. The purpose of
      this study was to quantitate the short-term hemodynamic effects of CPR with a
      hand-held suction device that incorporates both active compression and
      decompression of the chest. The suction device was applied to the middle of the
      sternum and compared with standard manual CPR in eight nonventilated anesthetized
      dogs. Coronary perfusion pressure, systolic and diastolic aortic pressures, right
      atrial diastolic pressure, and the velocity time integral (an analog of cardiac
      output), which were obtained by means of transesophageal pulsed wave Doppler
      echocardiography from the main pulmonary artery, were measured every 30 seconds
      during CPR. Minute ventilation was measured over the last minute of each CPR
      technique. Both active compression-decompression CPR and standard CPR were
      sequentially performed for 2 minutes in random order 30 seconds after induced
      ventricular fibrillation. The CPR techniques consisted of 100 compressions per
      minute, with a compression depth of 1.5 to 2 inches and a 50% duty cycle.
      Coronary perfusion pressure, velocity time integral (cardiac output analog),
      minute ventilation, and systolic arterial pressure were all significantly
      improved by active compression-decompression CPR when compared with standard CPR.
      We conclude that active compression-decompression CPR is a simple technique that
      appears to improve coronary perfusion pressure, systolic arterial pressure,
      cardiac output, and minute ventilation in nonventilated animals when compared
      with standard CPR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442480
TI  - Myocardial hibernation identified by hyperbaric oxygen treatment and
      echocardiography in postinfarction patients: comparison with exercise thallium
      scintigraphy.
AB  - To evaluate the potential for hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) to produce transient
      improvement in function in areas of myocardium ischemic at rest (hibernating
      myocardium), 24 patients were studied within 1 week of acute myocardial
      infarction. Results were compared with single-photon emission computed tomography
      (SPECT) thallium-201 exercise scintigraphy. Echocardiography demonstrated
      improved contraction following HBO in 20 of 62 damaged left ventricular segments
      in 12 of 24 patients. Thirteen of the 28 segments and 9 of the 14 patients
      showing reversible ischemia on SPECT imaging showed improvement with HBO. There
      were eight segments with apparently normal resting contraction that showed a
      reversible thallium defect. Of 42 segments with fixed contraction abnormalities
      following HBO, eight had reversible thallium defects, four had normal thallium
      kinetics, and 30 had fixed thallium defects. Thus hyperbaric oxygen can
      demonstrate improvement in function in some segments of left ventricle after
      infarction. There is some overlap with viability as determined by thallium
      studies, but the two techniques may be complementary in describing myocardial
      ischemia.

PMID- 1442481
TI  - Long-term follow-up after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in
      patients with single-vessel disease.
AB  - Seven hundred ninety-eight patients with symptomatic single-vessel disease who
      underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) between 1977 and
      1985 were reevaluated by questionnaire 78 +/- 23 months after dilatation.
      Indication for PTCA was stenosis of > or = 70%, anginal symptoms, and objective
      signs of myocardial ischemia. The immediate success rate was 81.2%, and severe
      complications occurred in 7.1%, which included two fatal complications (0.3%).
      Repeat angiograms were performed in 582 of 648 patients who underwent successful
      dilatation and showed restenosis in 143 cases (24.6%). Within 1 year after the
      first dilatation, 586 patients had been successfully revascularized by PTCA
      (i.e., there was no evidence of restenosis or redilatation was successful), and
      113 patients had undergone bypass surgery. The remaining 99 patients were treated
      medically if PTCA was unsuccessful or if restenosis (> or = 70%) that was not
      amenable to redilatation was present. The 8-year overall survival probability was
      91.7%, and cardiac survival was 95.5%. The 8-year event-free survival probability
      was 52.7% for all patients: 62.5% in patients who had successful PTCA and 14.5%
      in patients who had unsuccessful PTCA (p = 0.0000). The cardiac survival
      probabilities of patients with lasting PTCA success at 1 year and of surgically
      treated patients were significantly better than those of patients who did not
      have successful revascularization (at 8 years 97.2% and 98.1% vs 88.9%; p <
      0.04). Late events (> or = 1 year) occurred more often in patients who did not
      have successful revascularization compared with patients who had successful PTCA
      (at 8 years 57.9% were event-free vs 74.4%; p < 0.0001); even fewer late events
      were observed in surgically treated patients (at 8 years 88.2% were event-free; p
      < 0.004). Cox's proportional hazards regression analysis revealed left
      ventricular ejection fraction and revascularization status at 1 year as
      determinants of overall, cardiac, infarct-free, and event-free survival
      probabilities. At the time of reevaluation significantly more patients in the
      successful PTCA subgroup were still free of symptoms or had experienced
      improvement than patients in the bypass or medical subgroups (86.8% vs 68.9% and
      59.5%, respectively; p < 0.0001), and more patients in the successful PTCA
      subgroup were still working (75.4% vs 53.3% and 56.9%, respectively; p < 0.001).
      We concluded that patients with single-vessel disease who have undergone
      successful dilatation have an excellent long-term prognosis with regard to
      survival, cardiac symptoms, and vocational status.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400
      WORDS)

PMID- 1442482
TI  - Long-term efficacy of triple-vessel angioplasty in patients with severe three
      vessel coronary artery disease.
AB  - Between May 1982 and December 1988, a total of 103 patients underwent angioplasty
      of all three major coronary arteries at a single institution. Angiographic
      success was achieved in 334 of 352 vessels (95%) and in 441 of 460 lesions (96%).
      No patients required urgent bypass surgery, and none died during the procedure;
      six had non-Q wave infarctions. The mean length of follow-up time was 49 +/- 15
      months (range 28 to 107 months). There have been 11 deaths, and one patient has
      undergone cardiac transplantation. Thirty-six patients had a clinical recurrence;
      30 had repeat angioplasty and five had bypass surgery. Another nine patients
      eventually had bypass surgery after the clinical recurrence. At 48 months
      actuarial event-free rates are myocardial infarction, 98%; bypass surgery, 88%;
      and death, 89%. Of 86 current survivors, 58 are in functional class O to I, 21
      are in class II, and seven are in class III.

PMID- 1442483
TI  - Aggressive clinical pattern of angina at restenosis following coronary
      angioplasty in unstable angina.
AB  - The frequency, clinical pattern, and timing of recurrent angina following
      successful single-lesion percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
      was assessed in a consecutive group of 104 patients with stable angina and in 85
      with unstable angina. In addition, the relationship between lesion morphology and
      angiographic features and the pattern of recurrent angina was determined.
      Restenosis, defined as recurrence of symptoms with > 50% stenosis at the site of
      PTCA, occurred in 25 (24%) of the stable group and in 23 (27%) of the unstable
      group (p = NS). The pattern of angina at repeat presentation was aggressive in
      nature in 8% of the stable group and in 48% of the unstable group (p = 0.002).
      The time interval between the recurrence of symptoms and repeat coronary
      angiogram or PTCA was longer in the nonaggressive group than in the aggressive
      group, 16 +/- 12.1 and 5 +/- 6.8 weeks, respectively (p < 0.003). The key factors
      predicting the recurrent angina pattern identified by multiple logistic
      regression analysis were the angina status pre-PTCA (p = 0.001) and the presence
      of double-vessel disease (p = 0.01). An aggressive pattern of angina at the time
      of restenosis is frequent in patients with unstable angina at the time of PTCA,
      and close post-PTCA surveillance is necessary in these patients.

PMID- 1442484
TI  - Edge detection versus densitometry in the quantitative assessment of stenosis
      phantoms: an in vivo comparison in porcine coronary arteries.
AB  - The aim of this study was the in vivo validation and comparison of the geometric
      and densitometric technique of a computer-assisted automatic quantitative
      angiographic system (CAAS system). In six Landrace Yorkshire pigs (45 to 55 kg),
      precision-drilled phantoms with a circular lumen of 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.4, and 1.9
      mm were percutaneously introduced into the left anterior descending or left
      circumflex coronary artery. Twenty-eight coronary angiograms obtained with the
      phantom in a wedged intracoronary position could be quantitatively analyzed.
      Minimal lumen diameter, minimal cross-sectional area, percent diameter stenosis,
      and cross-sectional area stenosis were automatically measured with both the
      geometric and densitometric technique and were compared with the known phantom
      dimensions. When minimal lumen diameter was measured using the geometric
      approach, a nonsignificant underestimation of the phantom size was observed, with
      a mean difference of -0.06 +/- 0.14 mm. The larger mean difference observed with
      videodensitometry (-0.11 +/- 0.20 mm) was the result of the failure of the
      technique to differentiate the low lumen videodensities of two phantoms of
      smaller size (0.5 and 0.7 mm) from a dense background. Percent cross-sectional
      area stenosis measured with the two techniques showed a good correlation with the
      corresponding phantom measurements (mean difference between percent cross
      sectional area stenosis calculated from the quantitative angiographic
      measurements and the corresponding phantom dimensions was equal to 2 +/- 6% for
      both techniques, correlation coefficient = 0.93 with both techniques, SEE = 5%
      with the geometric technique and 6% with the densitometric approach).(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442485
TI  - Relationship between septal perfusion, viability, and motion before and after
      coronary artery bypass surgery.
AB  - The etiology of abnormal interventricular septal motion occurring after open
      heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass has not been clarified. Intraoperative
      ischemic septal injury has been proposed as one explanation for this finding. To
      examine this possibility, resting septal perfusion and viability were studied
      using rest and redistribution thallium-201 scintigraphy in 16 patients before and
      after coronary artery bypass surgery. The results were compared with septal
      motion on preoperative and postoperative resting gated blood pool scans.
      Preoperatively, septal thallium uptake was normal in 10 of 16 patients, and
      septal motion was normal in 14 of 16. Postoperatively, septal thallium uptake was
      normal in 11 of 16 patients, while septal motion was abnormal in all. Thus
      abnormal postoperative septal motion is usually associated with normal septal
      perfusion and viability on thallium scans and therefore is not the result of
      septal ischemic injury in a majority of patients.

PMID- 1442486
TI  - Detection of restenosis with dobutamine stress test after coronary angioplasty.
AB  - Dobutamine ECG tests were serially performed before, at 15 days, and at 2 and 6
      months after successful coronary angioplasty in 58 patients. The dose of
      dobutamine was progressively increased from 5 micrograms/kg/min to a maximum of
      40 micrograms/kg/min every 5 minutes, with ECG and blood pressure control.
      Coronary angiography was performed at the end of the study. At 15 days after
      coronary angioplasty, the dobutamine test was of little value for the diagnosis
      or prediction of restenosis. At the end of the study, both the presence of angina
      and the results of the dobutamine test were related to coronary angiography, and
      their accuracy was calculated for the detection of mild (> or = 50%) and severe
      (> or = 70%) restenosis or new coronary lesions. The accuracy of angina was 68%
      for the detection of mild lesions and 70% for that of severe lesions, whereas the
      accuracy of the dobutamine test was 78% for mild lesions and 80% for severe
      lesions. It is concluded that the dobutamine stress test is a simple and useful
      method for the detection of restenosis when it is performed at 2 and 6 months
      after coronary angioplasty. However, it cannot distinguish between restenosis or
      new coronary lesions.

PMID- 1442487
TI  - Metabolic effects of adenosine on regional myocardial ischemia by phosphorus 31
      nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
AB  - The metabolic effects of adenosine on regionally ischemic myocardium were
      investigated in an open-chest rabbit model by means of phosphorus 31 nuclear
      magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Sixteen anesthetized New Zealand white
      rabbits were subjected to thoracotomy; a reversible snare occluder was placed
      around a large branch of the left circumflex coronary artery, and an NMR surface
      coil was positioned adjacent to the myocardium perfused by this vessel. The
      animals were placed in a 2.0 T CSI spectrometer (GE Medical Systems, Fremont,
      Calif.), and baseline spectra were acquired. Eight animals were treated with
      intravenous adenosine (25 mg/kg), and eight rabbits served as control subjects.
      All animals were subjected to a 10-minute period of ischemia followed by a period
      of reperfusion. NMR spectra were acquired during both intervals. During the
      occlusion period, expected increases in inorganic phosphate levels and decreases
      in phosphocreatine levels were observed in both groups; however, inorganic
      phosphate increased less in adenosine-treated animals (adenosine: 33 +/- 2.8%
      total spectral area during occlusion vs control: 41 +/- 3.1%) and phosphocreatine
      diminished less with adenosine (adenosine: 26 +/- 3% vs control: 13 +/- 1.2%; p <
      0.002). No significant differences were seen in beta-adenosine triphosphate
      levels. In both groups the metabolite levels during reperfusion recovered to near
      baseline values, although phosphocreatine remained slightly higher in the treated
      group during early reperfusion. An apparent cardioprotective effect of adenosine
      on relative phosphocreatine and inorganic phosphate levels can be observed in
      intact rabbits by means of phosphorus 31 NMR spectroscopy.

PMID- 1442488
TI  - Diagnostic and prognostic value of ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring.
AB  - To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of continuous ambulatory ECG
      (AECG) monitoring, we studied 124 patients with chest pain syndromes by stress
      myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) and AECG. MPS was classified as normal or
      with fixed or reversible defects involving one or more than one vascular
      territory. Positive AECGs were divided into those with mild (< or = 1.5 mm),
      moderate (1.5 to 2.5 mm), and severe (> or = 2.5 mm) ST segment displacement.
      Among 61 patients with a negative AECG, 93% had limited ischemia or normal
      scintigraphic studies. All 24 patients with moderately or severely positive AECGs
      had reversible defects on MPS. Among those with severely positive AECGs, nine
      (75%) had multivessel scintigraphic ischemia. Severe ST segment depression on
      AECG was highly related to multivessel perfusion defects and to a large amount of
      myocardium in jeopardy. A negative AECG generally indicated limited or absent
      ischemia and thus a more benign prognosis. Induced symptoms and the daily
      ischemic burden were not related to the severity of induced AECG or MPS
      abnormalities. AECG may provide independent information as to the severity and
      related risk of ischemia.

PMID- 1442489
TI  - Power law analysis of the signal-averaged electrocardiogram for identification of
      patients with ventricular tachycardia: effect of bundle branch block.
AB  - Signal-averaged ECGs that use time-domain analysis are useful for the
      identification of patients at risk for ventricular tachycardia (VT). Bundle
      branch block (BBB) and other conduction defects reduce the value of this
      approach, but frequency-domain analysis has shown promise in such patients. The
      purpose of the present study was to examine a new frequency-domain approach to
      signal-averaged ECGs in patients with and without BBB: power law scaling (PLS).
      PLS was performed by plotting the power spectrum of the entire signal-averaged
      ECG on a plot of log power versus log frequency and determining the slope (beta)
      by least-squares regression. This method was studied in 346 patients. Results of
      discriminant analysis revealed better sensitivity, specificity, positive
      predictive value, negative predictive value, and percentage correctly predicted
      when this method was compared with time-domain indexes. A large proportion of the
      variance in PLS (19%) was found to be due to findings in patients with VT;
      whereas the best time-domain index, duration of the filtered QRS signal,
      explained only 6% of the variance in the group with VT. Mean levels of PLS (+/-
      standard deviation) were decreased for the group with VT (-3.55 +/- 0.95) as
      compared with the group without VT (-4.34 +/- 0.59; p < 0.001), suggesting a
      decrease in the time correlation of the signal. Thus this method of frequency
      domain analysis of the signal-averaged ECG was useful in identifying patients
      with sustained VT despite the presence of significant conduction
      defects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442490
TI  - Predictors of surgical mortality and long-term results of endocardial resection
      for drug-refractory ventricular tachycardia.
AB  - The results of surgical therapy performed in 51 consecutive patients with
      ventricular tachycardia were reviewed to determine short- and long-term
      predictors of success of such therapy in preventing recurrences of life
      threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Of 41 patients (80%) who survived surgery,
      40 had postoperative programmed stimulation and, of these patients, 78% (n = 31)
      had no inducible ventricular tachycardia on no antiarrhythmic therapy. This group
      had a very low incidence of arrhythmia recurrence, with only one nonfatal episode
      of ventricular tachycardia after a mean follow-up of 41 +/- 30 months. In
      contrast, two of the nine patients (22%) who had inducible arrhythmias
      postoperatively had cardiac arrest (p = 0.12). Multivariate analysis identified
      two significant predictors of perioperative mortality in our patients: increased
      duration of cardiopulmonary bypass time and increased baseline pulmonary
      capillary wedge pressure. It is concluded that (1) patients who do not have
      inducible ventricular tachycardia after arrhythmia surgery have a very low
      incidence of recurrent arrhythmia and (2) prolonged time of cardiopulmonary
      bypass and increased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure are predictive of
      perioperative mortality.

PMID- 1442491
TI  - A prospective study of the efficacy and safety of adjuvant metoprolol and
      xamoterol in combination with amiodarone for resistant ventricular tachycardia
      associated with impaired left ventricular function.
AB  - Combination antiarrhythmic drug therapy may be more effective than treatment with
      a single agent for control of refractory cases of sustained ventricular
      tachycardia (VT). In a prospective randomized crossover study of 20 patients with
      impaired left ventricular function (ejection fraction of 28% +/- 8%) and
      recurrent VT in spite of treatment with amiodarone, we compared the efficacy and
      safety of adjuvant therapy with metoprolol, 50 mg two times daily and xamoterol,
      200 mg two times daily. Metoprolol caused hemodynamic deterioration in five
      patients, and only one also experienced intolerance to xamoterol. Sustained VT
      was inducible in all 20 patients who were receiving amiodarone alone but was
      suppressed or rendered nonsustained in 8 of 20 patients during treatment with
      amiodarone plus xamoterol and in 6 of 17 patients during treatment with
      amiodarone plus metoprolol. Addition of xamoterol restored sinus rhythm in four
      patients who presented with incessant VT, and metoprolol was effective for three
      of them. Neither beta-blocker significantly altered tachycardia cycle length or
      any electrophysiologic parameter other than the slowing of the sinus rate. Both
      beta-blockers suppressed exercise-induced VT in 3 of 4 patients, and addition of
      xamoterol significantly increased treadmill exercise duration (7.1 +/- 1.8 min)
      compared with administration of amiodarone alone (3.8 +/- 1.5 min; p < 0.01).
      Fourteen patients were discharged with prescriptions for amiodarone-beta-blocker
      combinations. During a mean follow-up period of 13 months (range, 2 to 24
      months), there were three cases of recurrent VT (in all patients VT remained
      inducible) and no sudden deaths.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442492
TI  - Subcutaneous lidocaine affects inducibility in programmed electrophysiology
      testing in children: a follow-up study.
AB  - Invasive cardiac electrophysiology testing during cardiac catheterization
      requires local anesthesia at the point of entry for the catheters. Frequently,
      lidocaine is employed for this purpose. A prospective study completed in 1990
      indicated that subcutaneous administration of lidocaine adversely influenced the
      inducibility of arrhythmias in pediatric patients. Upon completion of that study,
      lidocaine concentration was reduced from 1% to 0.5%, and extra caution was taken
      to avoid deep penetration during administration. A follow-up, prospective study
      was performed to evaluate inducibility under these changed conditions. Because
      the depressant effect of lidocaine on inducibility was age- and weight-related,
      the second study group was required to have statistically indistinguishable age
      and weight distributions from the first group to eliminate these variables as
      factors in inducibility. A total of 177 subjects were collected in the second
      group before a periodic random computer match with the first group produced 99
      individuals with the required age and weight distributions. Analysis of the
      electrophysiology tests in the second study revealed that: (1) incidence of
      inducibility was higher in the second group (58 of 99 versus 43 of 99, p < 0.05);
      (2) average lidocaine dose per kilogram was lower (1.8 mg/kg versus 3.28 mg/kg, p
      < 0.0001); (3) average lidocaine serum concentration was also lower (0.58
      micrograms/ml versus 1.47 micrograms/ml, p < 0.0003); (4) in contrast to the
      first study, neither lidocaine dose nor serum concentration had any effect on
      inducibility. We conclude that the new procedures for lidocaine administration
      effectively removed lidocaine as a factor in inducibility.

PMID- 1442493
TI  - Significance of coronary angiography, left heart catheterization, and
      endomyocardial biopsy for the diagnosis of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
AB  - Many physicians assume that a reliable diagnosis of idiopathic dilated
      cardiomyopathy can be made by noninvasive methods, mainly echocardiography. On
      the other hand, use of endomyocardial biopsy in those patients who have undergone
      left heart catheterization and who demonstrate left ventricular dysfunction of
      unknown origin is increasing. Therefore the purpose of this study was to
      investigate the yield of that diagnostic strategy in patients with the tentative
      diagnosis of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Between 1980 and 1988, 3.2% of
      our 15,442 patients were diagnosed as having idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy on
      the basis of left heart catheterizations and coronary angiograms. Idiopathic
      dilated cardiomyopathy was diagnosed in 444 patients on the basis of clinical
      data and results of noninvasive tests before catheterization, but in only 295 of
      these cases was the diagnosis confirmed by means of coronary angiography and left
      heart catheterization (predictive value of noninvasive tests is 66%). The
      remaining 34% of patients demonstrated extensive coronary artery disease (13%),
      significant valvular heart disease (11%), and other or no heart disease (10%).
      The diagnostic sensitivity of noninvasive tools (patient history, ECG, stress
      test, echocardiography) was only 59%. Left heart catheterization can easily be
      combined with endomyocardial biopsy. With the use of histologic techniques,
      specific heart muscle diseases were detectable in 3.5% of 209 patients, but in
      only 1% could therapeutic consequences be determined. Thus coronary angiography
      and left heart catheterization are mandatory for the correct diagnosis of
      idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442494
TI  - Point mutations in mitochondrial DNA in patients with hypertrophic
      cardiomyopathy.
AB  - Recent advances suggest that mutations in nuclear DNA are involved in the
      etiology of autosomal dominant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Mitochondria have
      their own DNA, and mutations in mitochondrial DNA have been shown to contribute
      to the genesis of various diseases. In this study, we developed rapid sequencing
      methods with the use of a fluorescence-based sequencing system and analyzed total
      mitochondrial DNA of seven patients with nonautosomal dominant hypertrophic
      cardiomyopathy. Multiple point mutations were observed in all patients with
      hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, although some of them were common among the subjects
      examined and the others are unique to each subject. Point mutations in transfer
      RNA genes were observed in five of the seven patients, and point mutations that
      replaced conserved amino acids were also observed. These mutations may result in
      the impairment of mitochondrial function. According to these results, mutations
      in mitochondrial DNA may contribute to the genesis of some cases of nonautosomal
      dominant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and our methods may be useful for the
      detection of point mutations in mitochondrial DNA.

PMID- 1442495
TI  - Contrasting patterns of arterial and venous dilatation after intravenous
      captopril in patients with chronic cardiac failure and their relationship to
      plasma angiotensin II concentrations.
AB  - A 25 mg intravenous bolus injection of captopril caused an abrupt and rapid
      decrease in systemic vascular resistance (time to maximum effect 15 minutes), but
      a more gradual decrease in right atrial pressure (time to maximum effect 75
      minutes) in 12 patients with chronic cardiac failure. Plasma angiotensin II
      concentrations fell significantly, reaching their lowest concentrations at 75
      minutes after the injection of captopril, at which time systemic vascular
      resistance had begun to return toward control values. There was no correlation
      between the acute arteriodilator response and pretreatment plasma renin activity
      or plasma angiotensin II concentrations, or the decrease in plasma angiotensin II
      concentrations. There was a significant correlation between the decrease in
      plasma angiotensin II concentrations and the decrease in right atrial pressure (r
      = 0.67, p < 0.05). These findings suggest that in contrast to the venous response
      to intravenous captopril, the arterial response is not entirely dependent on a
      decrease in the circulating plasma angiotensin II concentration.

PMID- 1442496
TI  - Additive myocardial depressant effects of cocaine and ethanol.
AB  - Although significant morbidity and mortality have been associated with the
      combined use of cocaine and ethanol, the cardiovascular effects of this
      combination are unknown. In this study, the effect of ethanol on cocaine-induced
      cardiovascular alterations was examined in two groups (n = 8 each) of dogs, which
      were randomized to receive either ethanol (1.68 gm/kg intravenously) or saline
      solution and cocaine (2 mg/kg intravenously). Ethanol had no effect on heart
      rate, mean arterial pressure, or rate-pressure product; but it increased
      ventricular end-diastolic pressure (p < 0.05), reduced coronary diameter (p <
      0.02), and decreased ejection fraction by 16% +/- 4% (p < 0.005) from baseline.
      Cocaine produced increases in mean arterial pressure, rate-pressure product, and
      left ventricular end-diastolic pressure that were similar in both groups. After
      administration of cocaine, left ventricular ejection fraction decreased 16% +/-
      2% (p < 0.001) from the baseline value in controls and 32% +/- 5% (p < 0.0002 vs
      baseline; p < 0.01 vs controls) in the ethanol group. Coronary diameter decreased
      (p < 0.05) in both groups after administration of cocaine; however, there was no
      difference between groups in the response of coronary circulation to cocaine.
      Cocaine and ethanol depress myocardial function, and their effects are additive.
      Failure of ethanol to enhance cocaine-induced coronary vasoconstriction suggests
      that the additive myocardial depressant effect of this combination is not related
      to ischemia but rather to a direct toxic effect of these drugs. Individuals who
      combine ethanol and cocaine may be at increased risk of hemodynamic compromise.

PMID- 1442497
TI  - Relationship between plasma atrial and brain natriuretic peptide concentration
      and hemodynamic parameters during percutaneous transvenous mitral valvulotomy in
      patients with mitral stenosis.
AB  - Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a family of peptides with structural and
      biologic homologies to previously identified atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP),
      has been found in human cardiac tissue and plasma. To examine the secretion
      mechanism of these peptides, we have studied the relationship between their
      plasma concentrations and hemodynamic parameters before and at 0.5 and 24 hours
      after percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) in 14 patients with
      mitral stenosis. We have also investigated the validity of measuring plasma
      natriuretic peptides as a means for estimating changes in hemodynamic parameters
      after PTMC. The procedure decreased left atrial pressure (p < 0.01) with an
      elevation in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (p < 0.05). Plasma ANP
      levels decreased significantly after PTMC (before, 64.1 +/- 33.7 fmol/ml; at 0.5
      hour, 58.9 +/- 27.7 fmol/ml; at 24 hours, 45.7 +/- 18.3 fmol/ml; p < 0.01),
      whereas plasma BNP levels remained unchanged after the procedure (before, 5.3 +/-
      1.5 fmol/ml; at 0.5 hour, 5.6 +/- 1.9 fmol/ml; at 24 hours, 5.0 +/- 1.9 fmol/ml;
      p = NS). There was a significant relationship between basal plasma ANP and left
      atrial pressure (r = 0.88; p < 0.001), and changes in plasma ANP were correlated
      with those in left atrial pressure (r = 0.69; p < 0.01). Basal plasma BNP was
      significantly correlated with basal left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (r =
      0.65; p < 0.05) but not with the other measured hemodynamic parameters or with
      plasma volume.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442498
TI  - Quantification of mitral regurgitation with the proximal flow convergence method:
      a clinical study.
AB  - Accurate quantitation of valvular incompetence remains an important goal in
      clinical cardiology. It has been shown previously that when color flow Doppler
      mapping is used, simple measurements of apparent jet size do not correlate
      closely with regurgitant flow rate and regurgitant fraction. Recently the
      proximal flow convergence method has been proposed to quantify valvular
      regurgitation by analysis of the converging flow field proximal to a regurgitant
      lesion. Flow rate Q can be calculated as Q = 2 pi r2v(a), where v(a) is the
      aliasing velocity at a distance r from the orifice. In 54 patients (43 with sinus
      rhythm and 11 with atrial fibrillation) who had at least mild mitral
      regurgitation according to semiquantitative assessment, regurgitant stroke
      volume, regurgitant flow rate, and regurgitant fraction were calculated with the
      proximal flow convergence method and compared with values that were obtained by
      the Doppler two-dimensional echocardiographic method. Regurgitant stroke volumes
      (Vr) as calculated by the proximal flow convergence method correlated very
      closely with values that were obtained by the Doppler two-dimensional method,
      with r = 0.93 (y = 0.95x + 0.55) and delta Vr = -0.3 +/- 4.0 cm3. Regurgitant
      flow rates (Q) as calculated by both methods showed a similar correlation: r =
      0.93 (y = 0.95x + 54) and delta Q = -34 +/- 284 cm3/min. The correlation for
      regurgitant fraction (RF) as calculated by both techniques showed r = 0.89 (y =
      0.98x + 0.006) and delta RF = -0.005 +/- 0.06. All correlations were slightly
      better for the group of patients with sinus rhythm than for the study group of
      patients with atrial fibrillation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442499
TI  - Aortic valve prolapse with aortic regurgitation assessed by Doppler color-flow
      echocardiography.
AB  - The incidence of and the Doppler color-flow echocardiographic characteristics of
      aortic valve prolapse with nonrheumatic aortic regurgitation were examined.
      Aortic valve prolapse was observed in 21 of 243 patients (15 men and 6 women)
      with aortic regurgitation as detected by Doppler color-flow echocardiography
      (rheumatic, 112; nonrheumatic, 131) in 1247 consecutive patients. Patients with
      aortic valve prolapse included three patients with essential hypertension and one
      with annuloaortic ectasia. The remaining 17 patients (7% of those with aortic
      regurgitation) had no other associated cardiovascular disease (idiopathic aortic
      valve prolapse). Prolapse of the mitral or the tricuspid valve or both was
      associated with aortic valve prolapse in seven patients. Aortic regurgitation jet
      was markedly deviated from the axis of left ventricular outflow tract toward the
      anterior mitral leaflet or the interventricular septum in 17 of 21 (81%) patients
      with aortic valve prolapse, whereas 28 of 110 (25%) patients with nonrheumatic
      aortic regurgitation without prolapse and 17 of 112 (15%) patients with rheumatic
      aortic regurgitation without prolapse showed the deviation of regurgitant jet (p
      < 0.001). In conclusion, idiopathic aortic valve prolapse is one of the
      significant causes of aortic regurgitation, and a marked deviation of regurgitant
      jet is a characteristic Doppler color-flow echocardiographic finding of aortic
      regurgitation that results from aortic valve prolapse.

PMID- 1442500
TI  - Isovolumic relaxation time varies predictably with its time constant and aortic
      and left atrial pressures: implications for the noninvasive evaluation of
      ventricular relaxation.
AB  - The isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) is an important noninvasive index of left
      ventricular diastolic function. Despite its widespread use, however, the IVRT has
      not been related analytically to invasive parameters of ventricular function.
      Establishing such a relationship would make the IVRT more useful by itself and
      perhaps allow it to be combined more precisely with other noninvasive parameters
      of ventricular filling. The purpose of this study was to validate such a
      quantitative relationship. Assuming isovolumic relaxation to be a monoexponential
      decay of ventricular pressure (pv) to a zero-pressure asymptote, it was
      postulated that the time interval from aortic valve closure (when pv = p(o))
      until mitral valve opening (when pv = left atrial pressure, pA) would be given
      analytically by IVRT = tau[log(p(o))-log(pA)], where tau is the time constant of
      isovolumic relaxation and log is to the base e. To test this hypothesis we
      analyzed data from six canine experiments in which ventricular preload and
      afterload were controlled nonpharmacologically. In addition, tau was adjusted
      with the use of beta-adrenergic blockade and calcium infusion, as well as with
      hypothermia. In each experiment data were collected before and after the surgical
      formation of mitral stenosis, performed to permit the study of a wide range of
      left atrial pressures. High-fidelity left atrial, left ventricular, and aortic
      root pressures were digitized, the IVRT was measured from the aortic dicrotic
      notch until the left atrioventricular pressure crossover point, and tau was
      calculated by nonlinear least-squares regression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1442501
TI  - Doppler assessment of right ventricular filling dynamics in systemic
      hypertension: comparison with left ventricular filling.
AB  - To assess right ventricular filling dynamics in systemic hypertension, pulsed
      Doppler echocardiographic studies were obtained at the tricuspid and mitral anuli
      in 43 untreated hypertensive patients, aged 23 to 66 years, and in 42 age-matched
      normotensive control subjects. In hypertensive patients, the ratio of late to
      early peak filling velocity and atrial filling fraction were higher, while
      normalized peak filling rate, one third and one half filling fractions were
      lower, compared with control values. Right ventricular filling dynamics
      correlated poorly with age in hypertensive patients, and were unrelated to left
      ventricular mass or left ventricular wall thickness. Weak correlations were only
      found between right ventricular wall thickness and right ventricular peak late
      inflow velocity, first half and first third filling fractions. However, right
      ventricular filling dynamics were closely related to left ventricular filling
      dynamics in both hypertensive patients (r = 0.49 to 0.82) and normal individuals
      (r = 0.55 to 0.86). Thus right ventricular filling dynamics are altered in
      hypertension, independently of left ventricular mass or blood pressure, are
      weakly related to right ventricular thickness, but remain closely correlated to
      left ventricular filling dynamics.

PMID- 1442502
TI  - Cholesterol embolism: an underdiagnosed clinical entity.

PMID- 1442503
TI  - The clinical relevance of myocardial viability in patient management.
AB  - This study examined the importance of viability as a clinical issue in 532
      patients with angiographically proven CAD who underwent exercise SPECT thallium
      imaging. Conventional 4-hour delayed images were used to differentiate scar
      tissue from ischemia (20 segments per patient). There were 90 patients (17%) with
      normal images, 274 patients (52%) with reversible defects only, and 168 patients
      (31%) with scar tissue either with or without associated ischemia. The patients
      with scar tissue were subdivided according to the number of segments with fixed
      defects and the number of additional reversible defects. There were 114 patients
      with scar tissue alone or more scar tissue than ischemia. Contrast
      ventriculography in these 114 patients revealed normal wall motion or ejection
      fraction in 50 patients. On the basis of results of thallium imaging alone, the
      issue of viability was probably significant in 114 patients (21%); however, when
      the ventriculographic data were also included, the issue was significant in only
      64 patients (12%) (p < 0.001). Thus myocardial viability is an important issue in
      21% of patients with CAD when conventional thallium imaging is used, but this
      percentage decreases to 12% when wall motion and ejection fraction data are also
      included. These data may be important in considerations for the need of metabolic
      imaging and emerging scintigraphic techniques.

PMID- 1442504
TI  - Cardiac manifestations of the antiphospholipid syndrome.
AB  - The antiphospholipid syndrome has been associated with multiple cardiac
      abnormalities. The earliest reports were of valvular disease, including verrucous
      endocarditis, as well as valvular thickening and insufficiency. Subsequently,
      antiphospholipid antibodies were implicated in coronary artery disease manifested
      by premature myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass graft occlusion. In
      addition, there have been rare reports of intracardiac thrombi and diffuse
      cardiomyopathy in association with antiphospholipid antibodies. In this review,
      we discuss the nature and prevalence of the cardiac manifestations of the
      antiphospholipid antibody syndrome as well as some of the proposed
      pathophysiologic mechanisms. We also provide examples from our own experience.
      The expanding spectrum of cardiac disease associated with antiphospholipid
      antibodies suggests an important role for these antibodies in certain types of
      cardiac pathology.

PMID- 1442505
TI  - Ambulatory (Holter) electrocardiography signal-averaging: a current perspective.
AB  - Signal-averaging is an emerging new application of the ambulatory ECG. Whereas
      real-time signal-averaging of the high-resolution ECG has led to the measurement
      of abnormal QRS complex parameters and to the detection of ventricular late
      potentials in patients with a history of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation
      at increased risk of an arrhythmic event, similar measurements can also be
      derived from ambulatory ECG tape recordings. This review describes the technical
      differences between real-time and ambulatory high-resolution ECG signal
      averaging, and the early clinical studies that correlated measured QRS complex
      parameters and defined the agreement of late potential detection with the two
      technologies. Although there appears to be a promising cost-effective benefit
      from ambulatory ECG signal-averaging, limitations imposed by the technical
      differences must be recognized, and additional investigation is needed to define
      the appropriate clinical use and criteria for best diagnostic and prognostic
      value.

PMID- 1442506
TI  - Role of perfluorochemical emulsions in the treatment of myocardial reperfusion
      injury.
AB  - Perfluorochemicals are substances with small particle size, low viscosity, and
      high oxygen-carrying capacity. The role of one perfluorochemical preparation.
      Fluosol, an emulsion of two perfluorocarbons, a detergent Pluronic F-68
      (poloxamer 188), and phospholipids on myocardial reperfusion injury was
      investigated in a closed-chest canine model of regional ischemia. Intracoronary
      and intravenous infusions of Fluosol in the perireperfusion period significantly
      reduced infarct size and improved ventricular function in animals that were
      examined for up to 2 weeks after reperfusion. Fluosol preserved endothelial
      structure and endothelium-dependent relaxation of large and small vessels.
      Fluosol reduced neutrophil plugging of capillaries and attenuated neutrophil
      infiltration into the reperfused bed. Ex vivo studies of neutrophil function
      demonstrated apparent suppression of chemotaxis and lysozyme degranulation in
      cells from animals that were treated with Fluosol. However, treatment of cells in
      vitro manifested enhanced superoxide anion production within 5 minutes of
      incubation even with low concentrations of Fluosol. This effect was found to be
      almost entirely attributable to the detergent, Pluronic F-68. The stimulation of
      neutrophils by Fluosol was found to result directly from phagocytosis and
      indirectly from activation of the complement cascade. These findings suggest that
      perfluorochemicals may provide a novel form of therapy to enhance myocardial
      salvage after successful reperfusion. The mechanism appears to be due to
      stimulation and subsequent "deactivation" of neutrophils peripherally, which
      thereby reduces their cytotoxic potential in the reperfused myocardium. The role
      of the oxygen-carrying ability of the perfluorocarbons in the reduction of
      reperfusion injury remains to be determined. In a pilot study in human beings,
      Fluosol that was used as adjunctive therapy with angioplasty has also been shown
      to improve regional ventricular function. Clinical trials with perfluorochemical
      emulsions appear warranted to determine the role of reperfusion injury in
      limiting myocardial salvage in patients who are undergoing pharmacologic or
      mechanical reperfusion.

PMID- 1442507
TI  - Visualization of myocardial cellular architecture using acoustic microscopy.
AB  - The resolution of an ultrasound transducer depends on its frequency. The
      resolution improves when higher frequency transducers are used. A 1000 MHz
      transducer has a resolution of approximately 1 micron. Acoustic microscopy
      utilizes very high-frequency ultrasound (600 to 1000 MHz) to visualize structures
      on a microscopic level. Unstained, deparaffinized, 5 microns sections of
      myocardial biopsy specimens from 10 patients were placed on a slide and imaged
      using an Olympus UH3 scanning acoustic microscope. To compare with light
      microscopy, the section used for acoustic microscopy was subsequently stained
      with hematoxylin and eosin and a serial section from the paraffin block was
      stained with PTAH stain. Myocytes, myofibrils, and interstitial tissue were
      accurately imaged. Pathologic phenomena such as cell fallout, interstitial
      fibrosis, and lymphocytic infiltration were identified by acoustic microscopy.
      Intramural vessels, nuclei of endothelial cells, and the media were clearly
      identified by this technique. There was close correlation between findings by
      acoustic microscopy and light microscopy. Acoustic microscopy permitted the
      visualization of cardiac cellular detail with a resolution similar to that of
      light microscopy. Unlike light microscopy, acoustic microscopy requires no
      staining of the specimen.

PMID- 1442508
TI  - Guidance of directed coronary atherectomy by intracoronary ultrasound imaging.

PMID- 1442509
TI  - Reversal of silent myocardial ischemia by surgery for isolated anomalous origin
      of the left anterior descending coronary artery from the pulmonary artery.

PMID- 1442510
TI  - Percutaneous balloon angioplasty through an anomalous left main coronary artery.

PMID- 1442511
TI  - Myocardial imaging with technetium 99m sestamibi after exercise-induced
      ventricular tachycardia.

PMID- 1442512
TI  - Transient left ventricular dyskinesia as a consequence of myocardial stunning.

PMID- 1442513
TI  - Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection of an automatic implantable
      cardioverter defibrillator.

PMID- 1442514
TI  - Successful repair of a pseudoaneurysm originating from a true left ventricular
      aneurysm.

PMID- 1442515
TI  - Thallium-201 and gallium 67 single photon emission computed tomographic imaging
      in cardiac sarcoidosis.

PMID- 1442516
TI  - Balloon dilatation of primary infundibular stenosis of the right ventricular
      outflow tract.

PMID- 1442517
TI  - Diastolic murmur audible without a stethoscope and associated with aortic
      dissection in Marfan's syndrome.

PMID- 1442518
TI  - Unique manifestations of congenital coronary artery fistulas.

PMID- 1442519
TI  - Venous sheath to facilitate cardiac catheterization via the umbilical vein.

PMID- 1442520
TI  - Use of laryngoscope and esophageal stethoscope to visually direct intraoperative
      insertion of pediatric transesophageal echocardiographic probe in infants and
      small children.

PMID- 1442521
TI  - Transient ischemic attacks after long-term clamshell occluder implantation for
      closure of atrial septal defect.

PMID- 1442522
TI  - Pseudoaneurysm of a saphenous vein coronary artery bypass graft with a fistula
      draining into the right atrium.

PMID- 1442523
TI  - Exercise testing for stratifying cardiac risk following thrombolytic therapy for
      acute myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1442524
TI  - Counseling reduces dispensing accidents.

PMID- 1442525
TI  - Health care reform: to be or not to be? Part 2: Where are we heading?
AB  - The call for a new national health care system reflects the inability of the
      current system to provide access for all, control costs, and maintain quality. In
      Part 1 of this two-part series (September American Pharmacy, p. 28), the authors
      discussed the forces driving our current system.

PMID- 1442526
TI  - Major depression: its recognition and treatment. Part 1: First-generation
      antidepressants.

PMID- 1442527
TI  - Ofloxacin is not an antibiotic.

PMID- 1442528
TI  - DUE software highlights therapeutic issues.
AB  - Drug use evaluation (DUE) or drug use review (DUR) for the ambulatory care
      setting is creating many opportunities to improve the pharmaceutical care
      provided by pharmacists. This study documents one year of peer-review
      interventions based on a retrospective drug utilization review software system
      (Qualisure, Q-A, Inc.) that screens patient profiles for a high likelihood of
      drug therapy problems. Letters are written to physicians and pharmacists
      providing care to these patients. The software identifies frequent opportunities
      for selecting therapeutic class alternatives to prescribed agents. Antibiotics,
      antihistamines, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and antidepressants were
      the classes for which therapeutic class alternatives were most often recommended.

PMID- 1442529
TI  - Deborah Thorn: practicing 'academic detailing'.

PMID- 1442530
TI  - Fecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer.

PMID- 1442531
TI  - Unclaimed prescriptions: an overlooked opportunity.
AB  - Unclaimed prescriptions are an overlooked component of medication noncompliance.
      Of 21 pharmacies surveyed for prescriptions unclaimed for 30 days or more,
      pharmacies averaged 21.4 prescriptions each (450 total), with the mean age of
      45.6 days. More than 50% of unclaimed prescriptions were new phoned-in
      prescriptions. Anti-infective agents were the largest class of unclaimed
      medications, followed by analgesics and respiratory agents. Pharmacists can use
      unclaimed prescriptions as a basis for increasing their patient-oriented
      services.

PMID- 1442532
TI  - Characteristics of Louisiana dispensing physicians.

PMID- 1442533
TI  - A transition category of drugs: win-win-win-win?

PMID- 1442534
TI  - Common misconceptions about chronic pain.

PMID- 1442535
TI  - Counseling in special populations: the elderly patient.
AB  - This seventh installment in the series on value-added services provides
      pharmacists with a systematic approach to identifying and meeting the special
      counseling-related needs of the ambulatory elderly patient. The article describes
      the physical, mental, and social changes that characteristically accompany the
      aging process and that create special problems for pharmacists and their elderly
      patients during the delivery of pharmaceutical care. It also describes a
      systematic approach that pharmacists can use to evaluate whether their elderly
      patients need special counseling. Finally, it illustrates how the principles that
      are discussed can be applied in the practice setting.

PMID- 1442536
TI  - Purpose of medication will reduce errors.

PMID- 1442537
TI  - APhA secures pharmacists' right to compound.

PMID- 1442538
TI  - Treatment of acute diarrhea in children.

PMID- 1442539
TI  - The pharmacists officentre: providing quality care.

PMID- 1442540
TI  - OBRA '90 and your pharmacy computer system.

PMID- 1442541
TI  - Major depression: its recognition and treatment. Part 2. Second-generation and
      newer antidepressants.

PMID- 1442542
TI  - Taking the lead at APhA.

PMID- 1442544
TI  - Turning tragedy into opportunity.

PMID- 1442543
TI  - Interpreting digoxin concentrations.
AB  - In all cases, clinical assessment of the patient is the most critical factor in
      determining dose and interpreting concentrations. When done accurately,
      laboratory assessment of drug concentrations represents only one source of
      information. Serum concentrations must be taken into account along with all other
      relevant clinical data before one can arrive at appropriate management decisions.
      They must not be considered in isolation and out of context. If the laboratory
      report is at variance with your clinical judgment, "it will often be the better
      part of wisdom to question (or reject) the report."

PMID- 1442546
TI  - Is corporate sponsorship improper?

PMID- 1442545
TI  - Computer applications for marketing services, monitoring patients.

PMID- 1442547
TI  - 'Poison pill'.

PMID- 1442548
TI  - Amid grim projections, hope for an AIDS vaccine.

PMID- 1442549
TI  - Ask the Pharmacist.

PMID- 1442550
TI  - Ask the Pharmacist.

PMID- 1442551
TI  - Health care reform: to be or not to be? Part 1: The motivating forces.

PMID- 1442552
TI  - Biotechnology: an opportunity for pharmacists.

PMID- 1442553
TI  - Focus on women: Madison Pharmacy Associates.

PMID- 1442554
TI  - New federal DUR requirements for pharmacists in 1993.

PMID- 1442555
TI  - CQI: changing systems to improve quality.

PMID- 1442556
TI  - Choosing condoms.
AB  - Condoms for men are currently the most effective of the nonprescription
      contraceptive methods. They are readily available, simple to use, and relatively
      inexpensive, and they are not associated with major adverse effects. If used both
      properly and consistently, condoms can significantly reduce the risk of
      transmission of HIV and other STDs. The protection offered by the latex condom
      may be increased by the concurrent use of a vaginal foam or cream containing
      nonoxynol 9. The practicing pharmacist should know about the variety of condoms
      available, be able to explain their correct use to maximize effectiveness, and
      compare condom use with other types of contraceptives. The practitioner should be
      available to answer patrons' questions and provide counseling on contraceptives
      and "safe sex" practices.

PMID- 1442557
TI  - Update on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - The research and clinical experience of the past decade have provided a wealth of
      new knowledge about the causes of AD and the treatment of individuals afflicted
      with this progressive, irreversible illness. Public awareness of the costs of the
      disease has increased both at a national level and at a family and individual
      level. Despite these advances, the care and treatment of the AD patient are
      complex in that the risks of therapy often outweigh benefits. The pharmacists can
      play a key role by ensuring rational therapy, providing professional support to
      AD care givers, and serving as a source of information in both the ambulatory and
      institutional patient settings.

PMID- 1442558
TI  - EPA's role in worker protection.

PMID- 1442559
TI  - Lung cancer mortality among industrial workers exposed to formaldehyde: a Poisson
      regression analysis of the National Cancer Institute Study.
AB  - The Formaldehyde Institute (FI) sponsored additional Poisson regression analysis
      of lung cancer mortality data from the joint National Cancer Institute (NCI)/FI
      cohort study of workers exposed to formaldehyde to investigate the previously
      reported effects of plant and latency period and to assess the impact of short
      term workers (under 1 yr employment) on the results. There were 242 lung cancer
      deaths in this cohort of 20,067 white male workers. With OCMAP software, lung
      cancer death rates for the white males in this cohort were computed by plant,
      age, calendar time, and job type for several time-dependent formaldehyde
      exposures, including formaldehyde exposure in the presence of 12 selected co
      exposures: ammonia (AM), antioxidants (AN), asbestos (AS), carbon black (CB),
      dyes/inks/pigments (DY), hexamethylenetetramine (HX), melamine (ME), particulates
      (PT), phenol (PH), plasticizers (PL), urea/urea compounds (UR), wood dust (WD),
      and a composite co-exposure (X5) involving AN, HX, ME, PH, and UR.A 1.6-fold
      increase in lung cancer risk was found, beginning approximately 16-20 yr after
      first employment in the study plants with no evidence of a differential effect of
      latency between hourly and salaried workers or among the various categories of
      formaldehyde exposure as measured by cumulative average intensity or length of
      exposure. The statistically significant heterogeneity in lung cancer risk among
      the 10 plants could not be explained by interplant differences in cumulative or
      average intensity of exposure to formaldehyde, either without regard to co
      exposures or in the presence of any of the 12 co-exposures considered
      individually. Plant was not a statistically significant predictor of lung cancer
      risk when cumulative exposure to the composite X5 was included in the model,
      suggesting that some component of X5, or a correlate, could at least partly
      account for the overall heterogeneity. No significant associations were found for
      cumulative, average, or length of exposure to formaldehyde without regard to co
      exposure, but positive associations were found for cumulative exposure to
      formaldehyde in the presence of several co-exposures (AN, HX, ME, PH, and UR).
      For workers who were never exposed to any of 10 co-exposures associated with an
      increased lung cancer risk, there was a decreasing pattern of estimated lung
      cancer risk ratios relative to cumulative formaldehyde exposure. Similar patterns
      were seen when the analysis was restricted to the long-term workers. Analysis of
      the internal cohort rates corroborates previous analyses of NCI/FI cohort data in
      that significant positive associations were found between the risk of lung cancer
      and cumulative exposure to formaldehyde in the presence of several of the same co
      exposures. No such associations were found in the absence of these co-exposures.

PMID- 1442560
TI  - Assessment of multiple markers of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in
      controlled, steady-state atmospheres in a dynamic test chamber.
AB  - Controlled test atmospheres of sidestream and mixed mainstream/sidestream tobacco
      smoke were produced in a dynamic test chamber of 16.9 m3 volume. University of
      Kentucky 1R4F research cigarettes were automatically smoked by a Borgwaldt
      smoking machine. Different target levels of smoke were attained by varying the
      number of cigarettes being smoked (one or two cigarettes continuously) and
      dilution airflow through the chamber (1.6 to 7.4 m3/min). For each level, a
      "smoke index" was calculated as the number of cigarettes being smoked divided by
      the dilution flow rate. Ultraviolet light-absorbing particulate matter (UVPM);
      aerosol counts and size distribution; and concentrations of CO, NO2, NH3,
      formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, and nicotine were determined in the test
      atmospheres and background dilution air. Parameters exhibiting the highest
      correlations with smoke index (r2 > 0.98) included UVPM, aerosol counts,
      formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde. The other parameters were also highly correlated
      with r2 > 0.9 in each case. Differences in concentration for sidestream and mixed
      mainstream/sidestream atmospheres were statistically significant for
      acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, and CO; in each case the level was higher in mixed
      mainstream/sidestream smoke. These results demonstrate the utility of employing
      multiple markers for assessment of environmental tobacco smoke levels and for
      dichotomizing the contributions of sidestream and mainstream smoke to these
      levels. The generation factors developed in this work can be used for estimating
      required ventilation rates for attainment of target air quality conditions in
      smoking rooms.

PMID- 1442561
TI  - Review of respirator performance testing in the workplace: issues and concerns.
AB  - Performance capability of respirators has traditionally been evaluated by testing
      components of the respirator (e.g., filter efficiency), facepiece fit, total
      inward leakage, or some other measure of performance evaluated under laboratory
      conditions. In recent years, increased emphasis has been placed on development of
      test methods suitable for evaluating respirator performance in the workplace. The
      goal of such testing is to evaluate the level of protection provided by
      respirators in the work environment. The AIHA Respiratory Protection Committee
      believes that workplace testing of respirators has the potential to be an
      excellent tool for increasing knowledge about the effectiveness of respiratory
      protection. However, a number of technical issues remain to be addressed before
      optimal test protocols and data analysis methods can be defined. The progress
      made to date in workplace testing will be reviewed, and broader discussion about
      key elements that must be considered when developing guidelines for testing
      respirators in the workplace will be initiated.

PMID- 1442562
TI  - Determination of program protection factors for half-mask respirators used at a
      mineral sands separation plant.
AB  - A study was conducted at a mineral sands separation plant to evaluate the
      workplace performance of half-mask filter cartridge respirators. Inhalation
      exposure was estimated by measuring the dust and radioactivity concentration
      inside the respirator while it was worn or hanging around the worker's neck. The
      program protection factor was determined by simultaneously measuring inside-mask
      and ambient (outside-mask) concentrations. A total of 27 tests were conducted,
      covering three brands of half-mask respirators; facial hair on test subjects
      ranged from clean-shaven to bearded. Program protection factors varied from 1.8
      to 13 for dust exposure and 2.5 to 21 for radioactivity exposure. The geometric
      mean program protection factor over all tests was 5.1 (geometric standard
      deviation [GSD] = 1.7) for dust exposure and 7.5 (GSD = 1.7) for radioactivity
      exposure. A minimum program protection factor of 3.5 could be applied to ambient
      airborne concentration data to obtain a conservative, but more realistic,
      estimate of inhalation exposure on a worker category basis.

PMID- 1442563
TI  - Active noise control: a review of the field.
AB  - Active noise control (ANC) is the application of the principle of the
      superposition of waves to noise attenuation problems. Much progress has been made
      toward applying ANC to narrow-band, low-frequency noise in confined spaces.
      During this same period, the application of ANC to broad-band noise or noise in
      three-dimensional spaces has seen little progress because of the recent
      quantification of serious physical limitations, most importantly, noncausality,
      stability, spatial mismatch, and the infinite gain controller requirement. ANC
      employs superposition to induce destructive interference to affect the
      attenuation of noise. ANC was believed to utilize the mechanism of phase
      cancellation to achieve the desired attenuation. However, current literature
      points to other mechanisms that may be operating in ANC. Categories of ANC are
      one-dimensional field and duct noise, enclosed spaces and interior noise, noise
      in three-dimensional spaces, and personal hearing protection. Development of
      active noise control stems from potential advantages in cost, size, and
      effectiveness. There are two approaches to ANC. In the first, the original sound
      is processed and injected back into the sound field in antiphase. The second
      approach is to synthesize a cancelling waveform. ANC of turbulent flow in pipes
      and ducts is the largest area in the field. Much work into the actual mechanism
      involved and the causal versus noncausal aspects of system controllers has been
      done. Fan and propeller noise can be divided into two categories: noise generated
      directly as the blade passing tones and noise generated as a result of blade tip
      turbulence inducing vibration in structures. Three-dimensional spaces present a
      noise environment where physical limitations are magnified and the infinite gain
      controller requirement is confronted. Personal hearing protection has been shown
      to be best suited to the control of periodic, low-frequency noise.

PMID- 1442564
TI  - Health and safety implications of European community 1992 (EC92). Management
      committee. American Industrial Hygiene Association.
AB  - Progress toward the implementation of a single, common market in Europe is well
      underway. European-wide standards and regulations are being formulated to remove
      the physical, fiscal, and technical barriers to the free movement of goods,
      services, capital, and people among member states. In 1992, the target year for
      implementation, members of the European Community are attempting to harmonize
      their health and safety standards so that each nation is on equal footing. The
      European Community has given high priority to health and safety to the extent
      that 1992 has been declared the "year of health and safety in the workforce." The
      EC-rulemaking bodies have developed requirements for significant hazards,
      including risk communication and risk assessment. Efforts are underway to develop
      directives addressing exposure limits, product safety, and environmental
      protection. The result of this ambitious strategy will present substantial
      opportunities and challenges for the member countries, American companies with EC
      based subsidiaries, and any company that sells products in the European market.
      The end result could have a much farther reaching effect. To emphasize this, I
      will quote James Tye, president of the British Safety Council, who said, "The
      European Community will eventually be 700 to 800 million strong as other nations
      join it. I have no doubt it will be the dominant market in the world, assuredly
      as far as the field of health and safety is concerned. I also have no doubt that
      the standards we will be developing in the European Community will be followed by
      Japan and the United States.

PMID- 1442565
TI  - Assessment of intermittent trichloroethylene exposure in vapor degreasing.
AB  - To validate various sampling strategies in assessment of trichloroethylene (TCE)
      exposure, urine and air samples were obtained from 29 metal workers involved in
      vapor degreasing. Urinary trichloroacetic acid and trichloroethanol were useful
      metabolites to estimate TCE exposure on a group basis, but the predictive value
      of a single urine sample was low when related to the air concentration. With
      intermittent TCE exposure, the best information is obtained by analyzing both
      metabolites.

PMID- 1442566
TI  - Assessing viable myocardium with thallium-201.
AB  - Patients with chronic coronary artery disease and potentially reversible left
      ventricular dysfunction can often be successfully identified by one or more
      clinical indicators of myocardial viability, including regional wall motion,
      systolic wall thickening, regional myocardial perfusion as determined by
      perfusion tracers, and redistribution of thallium-201. In some patients, however,
      viable but "hibernating" myocardium will exist even when none of the above are
      evident. Myocardial viability in this situation can be detected with a high
      degree of accuracy by the demonstration of preserved metabolic activity by
      positron emission tomography (PET) scanning. Additionally, modifications of the
      standard exercise-redistribution thallium protocol may also produce accurate
      results. These modifications include late thallium-201 redistribution imaging,
      performed 8-72 hours following initial thallium injection, and thallium
      reinjection at rest after early (3-4 hours) or late (8-72 hours) redistribution
      imaging. These methods can identify viable myocardium in many thallium defects
      that appear to be irreversible on a standard 3-4 hour redistribution image. In
      addition, serial imaging after administration of thallium-201 at rest may also
      provide valuable insights into myocardial viability. These imaging modalities
      have important practical applications in the evaluation and management of
      patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction.

PMID- 1442567
TI  - Myocardial thallium-201 scintigraphy for assessment of viability in patients with
      severe left ventricular dysfunction.
AB  - Many patients with ischemic heart disease and depressed left ventricular (LV)
      function have asynergic zones with sustained microcirculatory perfusion and
      myocardial metabolic activity that exhibit improved systolic function after
      coronary revascularization. The 2 predominant noninvasive techniques used to
      determine myocardial viability in patients with severely depressed LV function
      are thallium-201 (201Tl) scintigraphy and positron emission tomography (PET).
      Myocardial extraction of 201Tl is unaltered under experimental conditions of
      myocardial stunning or short-term hibernation (characterized by decreased flow
      and ischemic dysfunction). Akinetic or dyskinetic LV wall segments can exhibit
      normal or near normal 201Tl uptake as long as some residual flow is present.
      201Tl scintigraphy can identify viable asynergic segments when performed on
      patients with severe coronary artery disease who are in the resting state. Many
      of these patients have initial resting defects that demonstrate delayed
      redistribution, or mild persistent defects that show improved perfusion and
      function after revascularization. There is a direct correlation between the
      extent of 201Tl uptake in zones of severe regional myocardial asynergy and the
      magnitude of improvement in resting LV ejection fraction after coronary bypass
      surgery. Rest 201Tl scintigraphy may help in the selection of patients with
      coronary artery disease and severely depressed LV function who would benefit the
      most from revascularization.

PMID- 1442568
TI  - Prognostic value of thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging in three primary
      patient populations.
AB  - Knowledge of a patient's coronary anatomy alone is often insufficient to predict
      who will benefit from revascularization. Risk of cardiac events is related more
      to the presence of viable myocardium supplied by coronary arteries that are
      hemodynamically significant. Myocardial perfusion imaging with thallium-201 has
      been shown to reveal the presence and extent of jeopardized viable myocardium. In
      addition, thallium-201 imaging can demonstrate exercise-induced left ventricular
      dysfunction, manifested by increased thallium-201 myocardial imaging has
      important prognostic value in a wide spectrum of patients with coronary artery
      disease. The use of thallium-201 to predict cardiac events in patients with known
      or suspected coronary artery disease, in patients following myocardial
      infarction, and in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery is reviewed.

PMID- 1442569
TI  - Thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in the assessment
      of coronary artery disease.
AB  - Of all currently available techniques, thallium-201 single-photon emission
      computed tomography (SPECT) is the most time-tested noninvasive method for the
      detection of coronary artery disease (CAD). Recent pooled data show an overall
      sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 70% for thallium-201 SPECT. Of patients
      with single-vessel coronary disease, 83% are identified by SPECT. Nearly all
      patients with double- and triple-vessel coronary disease (93% and 95%,
      respectively) are also identified. Thallium-201 SPECT imaging is also very
      effective in diagnosing CAD imaging is also very effective in diagnosing CAD
      using pharmacologic stress testing. In certain patient populations (e.g., in
      sedentary patients or those using anti-ischemic medications), pharmacologic
      stress testing with dipyridamole or adenosine may be a logical alternative to
      exercise testing. Moreover, many patients have physical disabilities that
      preclude appropriate exercise testing. Intravenous adenosine is a very potent
      direct coronary vasodilator, with the advantage of an ultrashort half-life, which
      eliminates the need to administer an antagonist in the majority of patients. In
      addition, the dosage of adenosine can be adjusted during the infusion, if
      necessary. The importance of thallium-201 SPECT during exercise or pharmacologic
      vasodilation transcends diagnosis, since it also plays an important role in the
      prognostic evaluation of patients with stable angina or postmyocardial
      infarction. Risk evaluation can be done with submaximal exercise
      electrocardiographic testing, but there is evidence that the addition of
      perfusion scintigraphy enhances the ability to predict future risk.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442570
TI  - Comparison of thallium-201 and technetium-99m methoxyisobutyl isonitrile.
AB  - Thallium-201 (201Tl) is a well-established radionuclide used in myocardial
      perfusion imaging for assessing the presence and prognostic significance of
      coronary artery disease. Recently, technetium-99m hexakis-2-methoxyisobutyl
      isonitrile (99mTc-sestamibi) has become available for the same diagnostic and
      prognostic procedures. This discussion compares the imaging characteristics and
      clinical applications of 201Tl with those of 99mTc-sestamibi. There is a strong
      diagnostic concordance between the 2 agents in symptomatic patients. Various
      comparative clinical trials have shown in numerous patients that both agents have
      a similar diagnostic yield in both planar and single-photon emission computed
      tomography (SPECT) imaging. Because of better image quality of the 99mTc agent,
      there is a trend toward better specificity and normalcy rate, in comparison to
      201Tl. However, when using reinjection imaging protocols, 201Tl retains a unique
      place as an imaging agent to identify viable myocardium.

PMID- 1442571
TI  - Usefulness of ultrafast magnetic resonance imaging in healed myocardial
      infarction.
AB  - The value of ultrafast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the assessment of
      dynamic contrast enhancement and myocardial perfusion abnormalities was evaluated
      in 20 patients with healed myocardial infarction, who also underwent 2
      dimensional echocardiography. At baseline and after bolus injection of the
      paramagnetic contrast agent gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)
      (0.04 mmol/kg body weight), single-level short-axis MRI was performed every third
      RR interval with an acquisition time of 500 ms. Myocardial signal intensities
      were measured in transmural myocardial regions of interest. After gadolinium-DTPA
      injection, infarcted and normal myocardium demonstrated a signal intensity
      enhancement of 50 and 134%, respectively (p < 0.001). A signal intensity of
      normal relative to infarcted myocardium increased from 1.25 +/- 0.22 (SD) before
      to 1.91 +/- 0.41 after gadolinium-DTPA (p < 0.001). The rate of signal increase
      in the infarcted and normal myocardium was 5.17 +/- 2.22 and 18.99 +/- 9.96 s-1
      (p < 0.001), respectively. Ultrafast MRI using gadolinium-DTPA bolus
      administration clearly identifies myocardial perfusion abnormalities in patients
      with healed myocardial infarction. The infarct site on MRI corresponded with the
      location of wall motion asynergy determined by echocardiography. It is concluded
      that gadolinium-DTPA-enhanced ultrafast MRI provides noninvasive assessment of
      myocardial perfusion in patients with proven coronary artery disease.

PMID- 1442572
TI  - Placebo effect of nitrate monotherapy for myocardial ischemia.
AB  - Nitrate monotherapy was assessed by treadmill exercise stress testing in 18
      patients with significant but relatively asymptomatic myocardial ischemia who
      were receiving no other antianginal therapy. In addition, prolonged ambulatory
      electrocardiographic monitoring was performed in 7 patients with demonstrable
      ischemia during baseline monitoring. After baseline assessment, 5 treatment
      periods were used in a random order (each of 1 week duration), incorporating 2
      dose levels of transdermal nitrate (10 and 20 mg/24 hours) and isosorbide
      dinitrate (ISDN) (30 and 60 mg/day in divided doses) with a 10-hour nitrate-free
      interval every 24 hours, as well as a placebo period using a double-blind
      technique. All treatment periods (including placebo) showed a significant (p <
      0.01) 45 to 69% prolongation in the time to 1 mm ST depression during exercise.
      Paired baseline times of 231 +/- 28 and 233 +/- 30 seconds increased to 367 +/-
      37 seconds with 30 mg/day of ISDN, 393 +/- 37 seconds with 60 mg/day of ISDN, 381
      +/- 31 seconds with 10 mg/day of transdermal nitrate, and 372 +/- 33 seconds with
      20 mg/day of transdermal nitrate. The value for placebo was 342 +/- 29 seconds,
      which was not significantly different from active treatment (p > 0.1). Some
      patients appeared to individually respond to > or = 1 nitrate preparation
      significantly more than to placebo, but this appeared to be unpredictable and
      largely independent of dosage level and route of administration. There was a
      qualitatively similar but statistically insignificant reduction in total ischemic
      time during ambulatory monitoring.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442573
TI  - Prediction of late cardiac events by dipyridamole thallium imaging in patients
      undergoing elective vascular surgery.
AB  - Dipyridamole thallium scintigraphy has previously been shown to have prognostic
      value in the preoperative assessment of patients scheduled to undergo vascular
      surgery, but its effect on the long-term outcome is less well-defined. In the
      largest series to date, dipyridamole thallium scanning was performed in 360
      patients before elective vascular surgery and survivors were followed for a mean
      of 31 months. In the 327 patients who underwent vascular surgery, operative death
      and nonfatal myocardial infarction occurred in 4.9 and 6.7%, respectively. A
      cardiac event (nonfatal myocardial infarction or cardiac death) occurred in 14.4%
      of patients with a transient thallium defect, as opposed to 1% with a normal scan
      (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the best predictor of a
      perioperative event was the presence of a reversible thallium defect, elevating
      the risk by 4.3-fold. Late cardiac events occurred in 53 (15.2%) surgical
      survivors or nonsurgically treated patients. Patients with a fixed perfusion
      abnormality had a 24% late event rate, compared with 4.9% in those with a normal
      dipyridamole thallium study (p < 0.01). Cox analysis demonstrated that a fixed
      thallium defect was the strongest factor for predicting a late event and
      increased the relative risk by almost fivefold. A history of congestive heart
      failure was the only significant variable that contributed additional value to
      that of a fixed defect alone. Life-table analysis confirmed the strong relation
      of a fixed defect to cardiac event free survival (p < 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442574
TI  - Prognosis of patients with sustained ventricular tachycardia and of survivors of
      cardiac arrest not inducible by programmed stimulation.
AB  - The aim of this study was to analyze the long-term clinical outcome of 60
      prospectively studied patients with documented sustained ventricular
      tachyarrhythmia that was not inducible during baseline programmed ventricular
      stimulation: 39 with cardiac arrest due to noninfarction ventricular fibrillation
      (VF) and 21 with mild hemodynamically compromising sustained ventricular
      tachycardia (VT). Left ventricular ejection fraction was 55 +/- 14% in the VF
      group and 50 +/- 13% in the VT group (difference not significant). Patients were
      discharged without conventional antiarrhythmic drugs and received only empirical
      beta-blocker therapy. During a mean follow-up period of 21 +/- 16 months (mean +/
      SD), 10 of 60 patients (17%) died suddenly. The actuarial incidence of sudden
      death at 1 and 4 years was similar in both groups (VF group, 10 and 20%; VT
      group, 16 and 16%) (p = 0.48). The actuarial incidence of sudden cardiac death
      was significantly higher in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction < or
      = 40% than in those with > 40% (1-year incidence in VF group, 40 vs 0%; VT group,
      50 vs 0%) (p = 0.005 and p = 0.01, respectively). Multivariate regression
      analysis identified left ventricular ejection fraction < or = 40% and previous
      myocardial infarction as the only independent predictor of sudden cardiac death.
      The occurrence of frequent ventricular pairs during Holter monitoring was the
      only independent predictor of sustained VT recurrences. It is concluded that
      patients with sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia in whom arrhythmia was non
      inducible during baseline ventricular stimulation and not treated with
      antiarrhythmic therapy have a favorable outcome if left ventricular ejection
      fraction is high.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442575
TI  - Reproducibility of stress redistribution thallium-201 SPECT quantitative indexes
      of hypoperfused myocardium secondary to coronary artery disease.
AB  - To determine the reproducibility of quantitative indexes of hypoperfused
      myocardium by exercise thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography,
      duplicate studies were performed in 16 stable patients within 1 month. Twenty
      three other patients, with intervals up to 13 months between studies, were
      retrospectively identified from medical records. Symptoms, weight, heart rate
      achieved and peak systolic blood pressure during the 2 studies were similar.
      Maximal counts circumferential profiles' polar maps were generated and divided
      into 3 vascular territories. The hypoperfused myocardium was defined as the
      percent stress profile points below the normal level. The observed values were
      compared between the 2 studies for each patient. Defect size ranged from 0 to
      73%. The concordance correlation coefficient (a measure of the closeness of the
      data points to the line of identity) and mean absolute deviation were 0.94 and
      4.5%, respectively, when all patients were considered together, 0.93 and 3.2%,
      respectively in the reproducibility group, and 0.94 and 5.1%, respectively, in
      the retrospective group. Inter- and intraobserver reproducibility were also very
      high. For individual vessels, the concordance correlation coefficients were all >
      or = 0.89 and the mean absolute deviations between 3.7 and 9%. Thus, in stable
      patients with repeat thallium studies within a year, the percent hypoperfused
      myocardium is highly reproducible.

PMID- 1442576
TI  - Composition of atherosclerotic plaques in the epicardial coronary arteries in
      juvenile (type I) diabetes mellitus.
AB  - The composition of atherosclerotic plaques in 331 five-mm segments of the 4 major
      (left main, left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right) epicardial
      coronary arteries of 8 patients with juvenile (mean age at onset, 9 years; mean
      age at death, 29 years) diabetes mellitus was determined by computerized
      planimetric analysis. Analysis of all coronary segments disclosed that the
      plaques consisted primarily of dense (53%) and cellular (38%) fibrous tissue.
      Pultaceous debris (7%), foam cells (1.2%) and calcific deposits (0.7%) occupied a
      small percentage of the plaques. Thus, 91% of the coronary plaques in these young
      diabetic patients consisted of fibrous tissue and nearly all of the remaining 9%
      consisted of lipid deposits. Analysis of composition according to degrees of
      cross-sectional luminal narrowing revealed marked increases in dense fibrous
      tissue (from 31 to 74%), pultaceous debris (from 3 to 12%), and calcific deposits
      (from 0% to 3%) as the cross-sectional area narrowing increased from < or = 25%
      to > 75%. Compared with older patients with fatal coronary artery disease, the
      patients with juvenile diabetes had more dense fibrous tissue and pultaceous
      debris and less calcific deposits.

PMID- 1442577
TI  - Effects of infusion of L-arginine into the left anterior descending coronary
      artery on acetylcholine-induced vasoconstriction of human atheromatous coronary
      arteries.
AB  - Hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis are conditions associated with impaired
      endothelium-dependent relaxation. In hypercholesterolemic animals, intravenous
      administration of L-arginine, the precursor of nitric oxide, normalizes
      endothelium-dependent vasodilator activity. In the present study, we questioned
      whether intracoronary administration of L-arginine in patients with coronary
      artery disease could improve coronary vascular reactivity to acetylcholine.
      Thirteen hypercholesterolemic patients with diffuse coronary atherosclerosis but
      nonstenotic lesions of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery were
      investigated. Quantitative coronary angiography and subselective intracoronary
      Doppler flow velocity measurements were performed to determine LAD diameters and
      coronary blood flow. Intracoronary infusion of acetylcholine was performed during
      3 consecutive 3-minute periods at incremental rates adjusted to achieve estimated
      final concentrations of 5 x 10(-7), 10(-6) and 5 x 10(-6) M. After evaluation of
      the response to acetylcholine, L-arginine was infused into the LAD at the rate of
      25 mg/min (10(-3) M) and the same stepwise 3-minute infusions of acetylcholine
      were repeated during infusion of L-arginine. Infusion of acetylcholine induced a
      dose-dependent reduction of distal epicardial LAD diameter reaching -48.5 +/- 17%
      at 5 x 10(-6) M (p < 0.01 vs control values). L-arginine alone had no effect on
      the distal LAD diameter but attenuated acetylcholine-induced vasoconstriction to 
      21 +/- 9% at 5 x 10(-6) M acetylcholine (p < 0.01). Coronary blood flow showed a
      biphasic response to acetylcholine, increasing by 41 +/- 12% at 5 x 10(-7) M (p <
      0.01) and decreasing by 21 +/- 13% at 5 x 10(-6) M (p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442578
TI  - Prognosis with abnormal thallium images in the absence of significant coronary
      artery disease.
AB  - In the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD), thallium imaging has been
      reported to add prognostic information that is independent of coronary anatomy.
      To investigate the prognostic importance of thallium imaging in the absence of
      significant CAD, 87 patients (65 men, 22 women) with abnormal thallium images
      without significant CAD were followed for a median duration of 22 months (range
      11 to 50). Tomographic thallium images obtained immediately and 4 hours after
      exercise were interpreted by 2 experienced observers who graded thallium uptake
      in 24 segments in 3 views (short axis, horizontal long axis, vertical long axis)
      on a 5-point scale (normal; mildly, moderately, or severely reduced; absent). All
      patients had an abnormal thallium study, defined as a reversible defect of at
      least mild severity or a fixed defect of at least moderate severity seen in > or
      = 2 views, or a combination of these, and a coronary angiogram with stenosis not
      > or = 70% in diameter narrowing. Eighty-two patients had at least 1 reversible
      segment, and 26 patients had defects in > or = 2 coronary artery distributions.
      During follow-up there were no deaths or myocardial infarctions. Coronary
      angioplasty and bypass surgery were performed in 2 patients. Three-year survival
      without myocardial infarction or revascularization was 97%. Patients with
      abnormal thallium images in the absence of significant CAD have an excellent
      short-term prognosis.

PMID- 1442579
TI  - Efficacy and tolerability of simvastatin and pravastatin in patients with primary
      hypercholesterolemia (multicountry comparative study). The European Study Group.
AB  - A total of 291 patients with primary hypercholesterolemia [total plasma
      cholesterol > or = 6.20 mmol/liter (> or = 240 mg/dl)] were enrolled in an open,
      randomized, parallel, comparative study of simvstatin and pravastatin. All
      patients started or continued a standard lipid-lowering diet for > or = 6 weeks
      before entry into the 4-week placebo baseline period. There were 145 patients who
      received simvastatin and 146 patients who received pravastatin, both at the
      commonly recommended starting dose of 10 mg once daily, for a treatment period of
      6 weeks. Concentrations of total cholesterol in plasma were reduced by 23% with
      simvastatin, and by 16% with pravastatin. Concentrations of low-density
      lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma were reduced by 32 and 22%, and high-density
      lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were increased by 7 and 5% with
      simvastatin and pravastatin, respectively. Plasma triglyceride concentrations
      were reduced by 13% with simvastatin and by 6% with pravastatin. Adverse
      experiences were similar between treatment groups and both drugs were well
      tolerated. In each treatment group, 3 patients were withdrawn from the study for
      clinical adverse experiences; 1 patient in the pravastatin group required a
      reduction in dose to 5 mg/day because of insomnia. At the commonly recommended
      starting dose for each, simvastatin had a significantly greater lipid-lowering
      effect than pravastatin. Both drugs were well tolerated.

PMID- 1442580
TI  - Frequency and implications of resetting and entrainment with right atrial
      stimulation in atrial flutter.
AB  - Thirty-three patients (24 with typical and 9 with atypical flutter-wave
      morphology) were studied to evaluate the incidence and implications of resetting
      and entrainment of atrial flutter with right atrial stimulation. Resetting with
      single extrastimulus was present in 23 cases (group A) and absent in 10 (group
      B). Most cases of reset flutter were typical (20 of 23). Fixed fusion indicative
      of entrainment was observed in all 29 cases with pacing trains. Groups A and B
      did not differ significantly in flutter cycle length (230 +/- 20 vs 223 +/- 19
      ms), atrial functional refractory period (165 +/- 18 vs 167 +/- 22 ms) or longest
      paced cycle length producing entrainment (213 +/- 19 vs 210 +/- 19 ms). In
      contrast, the return cycle after the longest paced cycle length producing
      entrainment was significantly shorter in group A (228 +/- 27 vs 284 +/- 56 ms; p
      = 0.001). The return cycle in group A was virtually identical to the flutter
      cycle length, whereas in group B it was greater (p = 0.002 compared with group
      A). Resetting was more frequent in typical than atypical flutter (20 of 24 vs 3
      of 9; p = 0.01). Both typical and atypical flutter can be transiently entrained
      by right atrial pacing. Lack of resetting and longer return cycle, suggesting a
      longer conduction time between the reentrant circuit and the stimulation site,
      were mostly observed in atypical flutter. The data suggest a different location
      for both types of flutter, and may have implications for ablation techniques. A
      more cautious approach, with more extensive mapping, appears appropriate for
      ablation attempts of atypical flutter.

PMID- 1442581
TI  - Crossover comparison of atenolol, enalapril, hydrochlorothiazide and isradipine
      for isolated systolic systemic hypertension.
AB  - The benefit of antihypertensive therapy in reducing cardiovascular morbidity and
      mortality associated with isolated systolic hypertension has now been established
      by the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program. However, there is little
      information about the relative effectiveness of different drug regimens in this
      condition. This study compared the efficacy and tolerability of 50 mg of
      atenolol, 10 mg of enalapril, 25 mg of hydrochlorothiazide and 2.5 mg of
      isradipine in the treatment of isolated systolic hypertension. After a 3-week
      placebo run-in phase, 24 subjects were randomized into a 4-period double-blind
      crossover study by use of an orthogonal latin square design. Treatment periods
      were of 6 weeks' duration with titration to a higher dose after 4 weeks in those
      not reaching goal blood pressure (BP). Each active treatment was followed by a 3
      week placebo washout. Casual clinic and 24-hour ambulatory BP (Accutracker II)
      were measured at the end of each treatment phase. Routine biochemistry was also
      performed after the placebo run-in, at the end of each active treatment phase,
      and after the placebo run-out. Of the 24 subjects entered (mean age 72.3 years,
      38% men) 20 completed the whole study. Mean +/- standard deviation of supine
      clinic and daytime ambulatory BP on entry were 181/79 +/- 21/9 mm Hg and 165/82
      +/- 23/15 mm Hg, respectively. All drugs reduced mean casual and ambulatory BP
      significantly relative to placebo but only hydrochlorothiazide and enalapril
      produced a consistent hypotensive effect throughout the entire 24-hour period.
      Isradipine and enalapril exhibited a relatively greater effect on reducing
      systolic BP than either hydrochlorothiazide or atenolol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442582
TI  - Systemic hypertension associated with tricyclic antidepressant treatment in
      patients with panic disorder.
AB  - In a sample of 114 patients, 6 patients developed hypertension while taking
      tricyclic antidepressants. All these patients were diagnosed as having panic
      disorder, with or without major depression. Half of the 6 patients had a previous
      diagnosis of hypertension, which had been well controlled by antihypertensive
      drugs for years. A comparison group of patients with major depression, who had
      never had panic attacks, had no cases of hypertension induced by these
      antidepressants. These findings raise the possibility that patients who have
      panic disorder may experience cardiovascular disregulation that increases their
      risk for antidepressant-induced hypertension.

PMID- 1442583
TI  - Persistent hemodynamic improvement with short-term nitrate therapy in patients
      with chronic congestive heart failure already treated with captopril.
AB  - To evaluate the therapeutic potential of organic nitrates in patients with
      chronic congestive heart (CHF) failure already treated with angiotensin
      converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, the temporal hemodynamic effects of oral
      isosorbide dinitrate, 40 to 120 mg administered every 6 hours to 11 nitrate
      responders who had been treated with captopril 89 +/- 32 mg/day, were studied.
      The administration of isosorbide dinitrate resulted in a significant decline in
      mean right atrial pressure, from 13 +/- 6 mm Hg at baseline (mean value of
      measurements performed every 2 hours for 24 hours with captopril therapy) to 9 +/
      4 mm Hg at 1 hour with persistent effect for most of the study period. Mean
      pulmonary artery pressure decreased from 38 +/- 7 mm Hg at baseline to 29 +/- 9
      mm Hg at 1 hour, with effect persisting for 24 hours. Mean pulmonary artery wedge
      pressure also decreased from 24 +/- 6 to 15 +/- 7 mm Hg at 1 hour and remained
      significantly reduced for 20 hours. Systemic blood pressure demonstrated a
      transient decrease lasting 2 hours after initiation of therapy which was
      asymptomatic in all patients. The results of this study demonstrate a preserved
      vasodilatory effect of organic nitrates in patients already treated with ACE
      inhibitors. Nitrates mediated improvement in right and left ventricular filling
      pressures, and reduction of pulmonary hypertension demonstrates a rationale for
      the use of these therapeutic methods in combination and suggest the need for long
      term evaluation of the effect of nitrate therapy in patients with chronic CHF
      already treated with ACE inhibitors.

PMID- 1442584
TI  - Impaired forearm vasodilation to hyperosmolal stimuli in patients with congestive
      heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy or to ischemic
      cardiomyopathy.
AB  - Patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) have impaired peripheral
      vasodilation during exercise. Hyperosmolality is one local stimulus that produces
      vasodilation during exercise in normal subjects. This study addressed the
      hypothesis that vasodilation to hyperosmolal stimuli is impaired in patients with
      CHF. Forearm blood flow responses to intrabrachial artery infusions of isoosmolar
      (280 mosm/kg) and hyperosmolal (480 and 660 mosm/kg) solutions of saline and
      glucose were compared in 9 patients with CHF and 13 normal subjects. Forearm
      blood flow was measured by strain gauge plethysmography. In the normal subjects,
      hyperosmolal infusions of 480 and 660 mosm/kg increased forearm blood flow by
      3.12 +/- 0.40 and 6.80 +/- 0.67 ml/min/100 ml forearm volume, respectively (both
      p < 0.001 compared with isoosmolal infusions). In contrast, in the patients with
      CHF, these infusions increased forearm blood flow by 2.19 +/- 0.44 and 4.06 +/-
      0.92 ml/min/100 ml forearm volume (p < 0.05 normal vs CHF). The impaired forearm
      blood flow responses in heart failure occurred despite significantly greater (p <
      0.05, normal vs CHF) increases in venous osmolality (17.3 +/- 6.5 vs 9.6 +/- 1.3
      mosm/kg for the 660 mosm/kg infusion). There were no differences between groups
      in forearm venous hematocrit, calcium, and sodium or potassium changes during
      hyperosmolal infusions. It is concluded that peripheral vasodilation to
      hyperosmolal stimuli is impaired in patients with CHF.

PMID- 1442585
TI  - Long-term efficacy of physiologic dual-chamber pacing in the treatment of end
      stage idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
AB  - The long-term efficacy of physiologic dual-chamber (DDD) pacing in the treatment
      of end-stage idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy was evaluated in a longitudinal
      study of up to 5 years in 17 patients. The considerable clinical improvement
      achieved after implantation of a pacemaker programmed for DDD pacing at an
      atrioventricular delay of 100 ms was maintained throughout the follow-up period
      or until death and was associated with a consistent decrease in New York Heart
      Association class and an increase in left ventricular ejection fraction.
      Cardiothoracic ratio, heart rate and echocardiographic dimensions progressively
      decreased, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased. Median survival
      time was 22 months. During follow-up, 4 patients received donor hearts, 9 had a
      sudden death at home without defined cause or after a thromboembolic event, and 1
      died from adenocarcinoma. Three patients survived the follow-up. No patient
      needed rehospitalization owing to a worsening of heart failure after pacemaker
      implantation. An interruption of pacing in DDD mode for 2 to 4 hours was followed
      within the first months by a marked decrease in left ventricular ejection
      fraction and an increase in cardiothoracic ratio and echocardiographic
      dimensions, but this response consistently decreased during follow-up. The data
      indicate that DDD pacing can be recommended as a useful tool in the long-term
      treatment of end-stage idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, with progressive
      improvement in cardiac function and a reduction of the dilatation of the left
      ventricle.

PMID- 1442586
TI  - Differences in direction-dependent shortening of the left ventricular wall in
      hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and in systemic hypertension.
AB  - To determine whether patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) have an
      altered mode of contraction of the left ventricular (LV) wall related to
      underlying myocardial abnormalities, geometric changes in the LV wall were
      analyzed at 2 points of the cardiac cycle (end-diastole and end-systole) using 2
      dimensional echocardiography. The relations between meridional and
      circumferential shortening of the LV midwall, mean wall thickening, and the
      changes in the short-axis cross-sectional area of the LV wall at the level of
      chordae tendineae were determined in 18 patients with nonobstructive HC, and were
      compared with those in 31 normal subjects and 19 patients with essential systemic
      hypertension. In normal subjects, no significant difference was observed between
      meridional (16.3 +/- 2.4%) and circumferential (17.1 +/- 4.0%) shortening,
      whereas cross-sectional LV wall area increased significantly at end-systole (p <
      0.001). In patients with hypertension, all measured indexes were not different
      from those in normal subjects. In contrast, patients with HC had significantly
      reduced meridional shortening (p < 0.001) and mean wall thickening (p < 0.01).
      Consequently, a striking difference was observed between meridional (8.9 +/-
      2.4%) and circumferential (16.9 +/- 3.2%) shortening (p < 0.001). Furthermore, no
      increase in cross-sectional LV wall area was observed at end-systole. Thus,
      echocardiographic detection of direction-dependent contraction can be a useful
      index for distinguishing HC from systemic hypertension.

PMID- 1442587
TI  - Myocardial disarray at junction of ventricular septum and left and right
      ventricular free walls in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
AB  - The abnormality of the myocardium in hearts with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC)
      was assessed regarding whether the muscle bundle in the mid-wall layer maintains
      its normal circular and continuous orientation surrounding the left ventricular
      (LV) cavity. Forty-seven autopsied hearts with HC were examined. The LV wall
      midway between the base and apex was divided into 6 segments in the transverse
      plane. Histologically, the circular orientation was destroyed largely or
      completely due to marked fascicle disarray in 77% of the anterior and posterior
      junctional segments. In 33% of the middle portion of the ventricular septum and
      in 34% of the anterior and posterior portions of the LV free wall, the midwall
      layer showed disarray of muscle fibers or small fascicles. In contrast, the
      lateral LV free wall was devoid of disarranged fibers in its midwall layer.
      Myocardial fibrosis usually was predominant in the portion where disarray was
      marked. There were deep tissue clefts often in the area of junction. In 11 hearts
      (7 from patients aged > 65 years), the circular unit was intact in almost every
      segment, as it was in 9 of 10 control hearts. The destruction of the circular
      unit in the area of septal-free wall junctions in most patients with HC is a
      previously undescribed morphologic feature of HC. This discontinuity may result
      from retention of an abnormal fetal myocardial architecture in which the septal
      latitudinal muscle was continuous with the right ventricular free wall.

PMID- 1442588
TI  - Intra- and interobserver reproducibility of Doppler-assessed indexes of left
      ventricular diastolic function in a population-based study (the Framingham Heart
      Study).
AB  - The reproducibility of a variety of Doppler indexes of diastolic function in an
      epidemiologic setting and in atrial fibrillation have not been reported. This
      study examined the reproducibility of left ventricular inflow in subjects in
      sinus rhythm (n = 80) and atrial fibrillation (n = 12), randomly selected from
      the original cohort of the Framingham Heart Study. The following Doppler indexes
      were assessed for all subjects: peak and integral of early (E) diastolic inflow
      velocity, acceleration slope and time, deceleration slope and time, and pressure
      half-time. For subjects in sinus rhythm, the following parameters also were
      measured: the peak and integral of late (A) diastolic inflow velocity, ratios of
      peak velocities and integrals E/A, and atrial filling fraction. Intraobserver and
      interobserver variability were evaluated by statistical methods including
      Student's t test of the systematic differences (bias), percent bias, correlation
      coefficients, measurement precision, and percent precision. In subjects in sinus
      rhythm, although the interobserver bias was statistically significant for most of
      the parameters, it was < 10% for all but 1 parameter (acceleration time). For the
      peak and integral measures, the intra- and interobserver correlations were > or =
      0.89, with intra- and interobserver percent precision measures within 2.2 to
      13.0% of the corresponding mean values. The acceleration, deceleration and
      pressure half-time measures had somewhat lower correlations (interobserver
      correlations ranging from 0.59 to 0.96), with percent precision measures further
      from the corresponding means (interobserver percent precision ranging from 10.1
      to 19.5%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442589
TI  - Effect of omega-3 fatty acids on the vascular response to angiotensin in
      normotensive men.
AB  - There is a widespread interest in fish oil as a dietary supplement and possible
      nonpharmacologic adjunct in the treatment of hypertension. The effect of dietary
      fish oil on blood pressure is controversial and the effect on systemic
      hemodynamics and regional vascular reactivity in humans is unknown. To address
      these questions, a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study on the
      effect of dietary fish oil substitution was performed during a carefully
      controlled diet in 8 normotensive men. Systemic hemodynamics and the forearm
      vascular response to intrabrachial artery infusions of norepinephrine,
      phentolamine and angiotensin II were obtained. Compared with a safflower oil
      placebo, dietary fish oil had no effect on cardiac output (6.42 +/- 0.38 vs 6.87
      +/- 0.28 liters/min, p = not significant) or 24-hour blood pressure (122/68 +/-
      3/3 vs 122/68 +/- 3/2 mm Hg, p = not significant). The vascular response to
      norepinephrine and phentolamine was unchanged. Fish oil, however, significantly
      (p < 0.05) reduced forearm vascular resistance responses to angiotensin II. These
      changes were associated with a reduction in plasma triglycerides (64 +/- 9 vs 39
      +/- 4 mg/dl, p = 0.02) and an increase in plasma eicosapentaenoic acid levels
      (0.51 +/- 0.25 vs 1.72 +/- 0.35 microM, p < 0.05). Substitution of a moderate
      dose of fish oil for fat in a "Western diet" selectively attenuates the vascular
      response to angiotensin independently of changes in alpha-adrenergic
      vasoconstriction or systemic hemodynamics.

PMID- 1442590
TI  - Comparison of Doppler and two-dimensional echocardiography for assessment of
      pericardial effusion.
AB  - Respiratory changes in left ventricular inflow velocities by Doppler
      echocardiography have been used to assess cardiac tamponade; however, Doppler
      echocardiography has not been compared to right atrial or right ventricular
      collapse. Pulsed Doppler echocardiography of left ventricular inflow velocities
      was performed with respiratory monitoring in 28 patients with small to large
      pericardial effusions. Ten of the 17 patients (59%) with large effusions had
      equalization of right-sided diastolic pressures before pericardial drainage. The
      measurements performed included percent change in left ventricular inflow peak
      early velocity, isovolumic relaxation time, change in inferior vena cava diameter
      from apnea to inspiration, and the presence of right atrial and right ventricular
      collapse. Percent change in early left ventricular inflow velocities
      significantly correlated with pericardial effusion size (p = 0.001) and right
      ventricular collapse (p = 0.007), and showed a trend with right atrial collapse
      (p = 0.10). Pericardial effusions with a left ventricular inflow velocity change
      > 22% were found to have right-sided equalization at a 95% confidence interval.
      Our data indicate that the respiratory changes in Doppler echocardiographic
      parameters are useful in the assessment of pericardial effusion and tamponade.
      This study concurs with the hypothesis that there is a continuum of hemodynamic
      compromise in pericardial effusion that is easily detected by Doppler
      echocardiography.

PMID- 1442591
TI  - Shock-wave thrombus ablation, a new method for noninvasive mechanical
      thrombolysis.
AB  - Successful experimental and clinical experience with thrombus ablation has been
      attained with high-power acoustic energy delivered in a catheter. The goal of
      this study was to investigate the feasibility of noninvasive thrombus ablation by
      focused high-power acoustic energy. The source for high-power acoustic energy was
      a shock-wave generator in a water tank equipped with an acoustic lens with a
      fixed focal point at 22.5 cm. Thrombus was prepared in vitro, weighed (0.24 +/-
      0.08 g), and inserted in excised human femoral artery segments. The arterial
      segments wer ligated, positioned at the focal point and then randomized into
      either test (n = 8) or control (n = 7). An x-ray system verified the 3
      dimensional positioning of the arterial segment at the focal point. A 5 MHz
      ultrasound imaging system continuously visualized the arterial segment at the
      focal point before, during and after each experiment. The test segments were
      exposed to shock waves (1,000 shocks/24 kv). The arterial segment content was
      then flushed and the residual thrombus weighed. The arterial segment and thrombus
      were fixed and submitted to histologic examination. The test group achieved a
      significant ablation of thrombus mass (0.25 +/- 0.15 vs 0.07 +/- 0.003 g; p =
      0.0001) after application of shock waves. Arterial segments showed no gross or
      microscopic damage. Ultrasound imaging revealed a localized (1.9 +/- 0.5 cm2),
      transient (744 +/- 733 ms), cavitation field at the focal point at the time of
      application of focused shock waves. Thus, focused high-power acoustic energy can
      effect noninvasive thrombus ablation without apparent damage to the arterial
      wall.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442592
TI  - Role of transesophageal echocardiography in evaluation of pulmonary venous
      obstruction by paracardiac neoplastic masses.
AB  - From 71 consecutive patients with paracardiac neoplastic masses who underwent
      transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), obstruction of individual right upper
      pulmonary venous flow by compression by contiguous mass was detected by TEE in 4
      patients before and disappeared after anti-neoplastic treatments. Pulmonary vein,
      contiguous neoplastic mass and their relation could be clearly visualized and
      assessed by TEE. Pulmonary venous obstruction was assessed as moderate degree by
      combination of Doppler flow characteristics and diameter of pulmonary vein.
      Before therapy, peak velocities and time-velocity integrals in obstructed right
      upper pulmonary venous flow were increased, whereas deceleration times of
      systolic flow were prolonged. After therapy, peak velocities and time-velocity
      integrals were reduced and deceleration times of systolic flow were shortened,
      with normalization of the diameter of the right upper pulmonary veins. Thus, TEE
      may be used to detect and evaluate pulmonary venous obstruction by neoplastic
      masses and its changes after antineoplastic treatments.

PMID- 1442593
TI  - Analysis of fractional area change at various levels in the normal left
      ventricle.

PMID- 1442594
TI  - Scarring of the left ventricular papillary muscles in sickle-cell disease.

PMID- 1442595
TI  - Limitations in the assessment of changes of cardiac output by Doppler
      echocardiography under various hemodynamic conditions.

PMID- 1442596
TI  - Abnormal electrocardiograms and cardiovascular risk: role of silent myocardial
      ischemia. Evidence from MRFIT.
AB  - The Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT) was designed as a primary
      prevention study to test the effect of multifactorial intervention on long-term
      outcome in men with a combination of risk factors that placed them in the top 10
      15 percentiles of risk for coronary artery disease. Of the 12,866 patients in
      this study, the 3,600 men (about 28%) with abnormalities in the baseline
      electrocardiogram were prospectively identified. They were expected to be at
      increased risk for coronary events compared with those without
      electrocardiographic abnormalities. Analysis of cumulative mortality data
      following antihypertensive regimens that included high dosages of diuretics
      revealed an association between electrocardiographic abnormalities at rest and
      diuretic treatment that related to adverse outcome. When the dosages of the
      diuretic were lowered, this trend was reversed. It is proposed that diuretic
      related hypokalemia may predispose patients who may have silent myocardial
      ischemia to potentially fatal arrhythmias and that use of potassium-sparing
      antihypertensive regimens be considered in high-risk hypertensive patients.

PMID- 1442597
TI  - Role of myocardial oxygen demand in the pathogenesis of silent ischemia during
      daily life.
AB  - The role of myocardial oxygen demand in the pathogenesis of silent ambulatory
      myocardial ischemia was evaluated by reviewing and assessing the methods and
      results of recent studies. The performance of simultaneous ambulatory
      electrocardiographic and blood pressure monitoring in 25 men with proven coronary
      artery disease (CAD) revealed significant increases in heart rate and blood
      pressure (p < 0.001) preceding most silent ischemic events. By plotting the mean
      heart rate obtained at 5-minute intervals during the 30 minutes before an
      ischemic event, the ischemic heart rate was shown to be significantly higher (95
      +/- 15 vs 74 +/- 11 beats per minute [bpm]; p < 0.01) than the nonischemic heart
      rate. The evaluation of heart rate changes during ambulatory ischemia (in
      patients with CAD and ischemia induced by an exercise test using gradual work
      load increments) showed a significant heart rate increase (> 10 bpm) at 1-5
      minutes preceding the onset of ST-segment depression. Heart rate increases during
      exercise testing according to the gradual work load increments of the National
      Institutes of Health protocol were compared with the heart rate preceding
      ischemic events during daily life monitored by ambulatory electrocardiography and
      were found to be closely related. In contrast, heart rate increases that occurred
      during exercise testing using the standard Bruce protocol were higher and
      correlated less with those preceding ischemia in daily life. Heart rate and blood
      pressure increased significantly in most silent ischemic episodes, indicating
      that increased myocardial oxygen demand plays a significant role in the
      pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia during daily life.

PMID- 1442598
TI  - Use of intracoronary ultrasonography in assessing pharmacotherapy for myocardial
      ischemia.
AB  - Intracoronary ultrasonography can provide morphologic and physiologic information
      on coronary vasomotor responses to pharmacotherapy. Preliminary studies indicate
      a high correlation between dimensions determined by 2-dimensional
      echocardiography, angiography, and pathology. Similarly, the emerging data on
      intracoronary Doppler flow velocity responses beyond atherosclerotic obstructions
      before, during, and after coronary balloon occlusion will provide further
      insights into myocardial oxygen supply and its responses to pharmacotherapy
      during controlled myocardial ischemia.

PMID- 1442599
TI  - Relation between systemic hypertension and pain perception.
AB  - To test the hypothesis that hypertension diminishes pain perception, a study was
      made that evaluated the relation between arterial blood pressure and thermal pain
      perception in human subjects. The average mean arterial pressure in all 20 men
      studied (10 hypertensive, 10 normotensive) proved to be significantly related to
      both thermal pain threshold (p = 0.05) and tolerance (p = 0.003). The difference
      between normotensive and hypertensive groups in baseline and posttest plasma
      levels of beta endorphin was also significant (p = 0.02) and indicated an
      interaction between endogenous opioids and blood pressure. Other recent studies
      of hypertension in relation to hypalgesia were also reviewed. An increased pain
      threshold was found in hypertensive versus normotensive rats. In cats, electrical
      stimulation of vagal afferent nerves (cardiopulmonary baroreceptors) suppresses
      nociceptive responses, and both pharmacologic elevation of blood pressure and
      vascular volume expansion produce antinociception. Together with preliminary
      findings in human studies, these results indicate an interaction between pain
      controlling and cardiovascular regulatory functions that is probably mediated by
      the baroreceptor system.

PMID- 1442600
TI  - Significance of silent myocardial ischemia after coronary artery bypass surgery.
AB  - The prevalence and prognostic significance of transient myocardial ischemia after
      coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were evaluated. In 3 studies, ischemia was
      found in an average of 24% of patients by ambulatory electrocardiographic
      monitoring at 3-12 months after CABG. An average of 36% of patients in 3 other
      studies experienced ischemic ST-segment depression during exercise testing at 4
      50 months after CABG. Of the ischemic episodes, 77% were silent during exercise
      testing. In the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) randomized patient subsets,
      survival at 12 years was significantly lower for patients who had either silent
      or symptomatic ischemia during exercise testing at 6 months after CABG compared
      with those who had no ischemia.

PMID- 1442601
TI  - The Council for Myocardial Ischemia and Infarction: advisory group reports on
      silent myocardial ischemia, heart rate control, and post-myocardial infarction
      management.

PMID- 1442602
TI  - Diagnostic and therapeutic implications: exploration through case discussions.

PMID- 1442603
TI  - Cardiac allograft arteriopathy: an ischemic burden of a different sort.
AB  - As heart transplant recipients live longer, an accelerated and distinct form of
      coronary artery disease develops that adversely affects survival. Indeed, cardiac
      allograft arteriopathy may be detected in as many as 90% of heart transplant
      recipients after 5 years. The precise incidence is not easily determined because
      the disease can be difficult to recognize when noninvasive tests are used; even
      angiography has substantive limitations. The distinct characteristics of this
      type of coronary artery disease result in a different form of chronic ischemic
      syndrome. The angiographic hallmark of allograft arteriopathy is an extensive,
      diffuse, obliterative process that primarily involves distal, small,
      subendocardial arteries. Endothelial injury seems to trigger the disease process.
      The arteriopathy is likely immunologically mediated and promoted or exacerbated
      by traditional atherosclerotic disease risk factors. Viral infection may be
      involved as well. To gain a better understanding of allograft arteriopathy, it is
      worthwhile to review its incidence, pathophysiology, prognosis, prevention, and
      treatment.

PMID- 1442604
TI  - Comparison of composition of atherosclerotic plaques in saphenous veins used as
      aortocoronary bypass conduits with plaques in native coronary arteries in the
      same men.
AB  - This study describes quantitatively the components of atherosclerotic plaques in
      saphenous vein grafts used for aortocoronary bypass and compares the findings
      with the plaques in the native coronary arteries in the same men. A total of 607
      five-mm segments of saphenous veins and 797 five-mm segments of native coronary
      arteries were examined by computerized planimetric technique in 19 men, aged 39
      to 82 years (mean 61), who had survived bypass operation for > 1 year. Comparison
      of the mean percentages of the plaque components in saphenous vein grafts in
      place for 14 to 26 months with those of the native coronary arteries revealed
      significant differences: cellular fibrous tissue, 86 vs 7%; dense fibrous tissue,
      13 vs 82%; p < 0.05. As survival time after the bypass operation increased,
      composition of the plaques in the saphenous veins changed so that by
      approximately 80 months the amounts of cellular and dense fibrous tissue in both
      saphenous vein grafts and native coronary arteries were similar: 10 vs 16%, and
      75 vs 71%; p = not significant. Thus, by about 7 years after a coronary bypass
      operation the composition of plaques in saphenous vein grafts is similar to that
      in the native coronary arteries of the same patients.

PMID- 1442605
TI  - Markedly increased periprocedure mortality of cardiac catheterization in patients
      with severe narrowing of the left main coronary artery.
AB  - In early reports, coronary arteriography in patients with left main (LM) coronary
      artery disease (CAD) had a substantial risk, but recent reports suggest that
      arteriography in these subjects is now associated with a low mortality. The
      present study was performed to examine the periprocedure mortality in patients
      with LMCAD undergoing catheterization, to compare the periprocedure mortality in
      these patients with that in subjects with less CAD and to identify the variables
      associated with pericatheterization mortality in this patient cohort. Of 4,009
      patients undergoing elective coronary arteriography from 1978 to 1992, 176 had
      LMCAD. Of the 10 deaths during or within 24 hours of catheterization, 5 occurred
      in these 176 subjects. This periprocedure mortality of 2.8% in patients with
      LMCAD was > 20 times that of those without LMCAD (0.13%). In comparison with the
      171 patients with LMCAD who survived, the 5 who died were older (67 +/- 8 vs 58
      +/- 12 years), and had more severe LMCAD (92 +/- 10% vs 72 +/- 16%) and a lower
      cardiac index (1.9 +/- 0.4 vs 2.6 +/- 0.7 liters/min/m2) (p < 0.05 for all 3
      variables). Thus, even in the 1980s and early 1990s, patients with LMCAD have a
      high pericatheterization mortality, especially those who are older and have
      severe LMCAD.

PMID- 1442606
TI  - Importance of early and complete reperfusion to achieve myocardial salvage after
      thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction.
AB  - The importance of the timing and completeness of coronary artery reperfusion for
      limitation of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) size after intravenous
      thrombolytic therapy was studied in 39 patients. All had electrocardiographic
      epicardial injury and acute coronary angiography performed < 8 hours after
      symptom onset. Acutely jeopardized myocardium was estimated at baseline, and
      before and after angiography by quantitative ST-segment analysis. The AMI size
      was estimated on the final electrocardiogram by the Selvester QRS score. Left
      ventricular ejection fraction was measured at the time of acute angiography and
      before discharge in 31 of these patients. In the 21 patients with normal flow
      (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] trial grade 3) in the infarct
      related artery, the amount of jeopardized myocardium decreased from baseline to
      that before and after angiography (17 to 11 and 11%, respectively; p < 0.00005),
      and the median final AMI size was reduced (17 to 9%; p = 0.0004). In 6 patients
      with suboptimal flow (TIMI grade 2), the median amount of jeopardized myocardium
      decreased slightly from baseline to that before to after angiography (15 to 12%);
      however, the median final AMI size was not reduced (17%). In 12 patients with no
      reperfusion (TIMI 0 to 1) flow, the median amount of jeopardized myocardium
      remained unchanged from baseline to that before angiography (21%), and the final
      AMI size was not significantly reduced. There was a significant inverse
      correlation between the change in global left ventricular function and the
      difference between electrocardiographic estimated jeopardized and final AMI size
      (rs = -0.53; p = 0.008).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442607
TI  - Early and late changes in left ventricular filling after acute myocardial
      infarction and the effect of infarct size.
AB  - To characterize the early (1 week) and late (6 weeks) changes in left ventricular
      (LV) filling pattern associated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) 45
      patients (mean age 65 +/- 2 years) were studied by Doppler echocardiography.
      Based on clinical criteria, patients were divided into those with large (group L;
      n = 12) and those with small (group S; n = 33) infarcts and then compared with 16
      age-matched control subjects. The following parameters were calculated from the
      mitral velocity waveform: (1) peak early and peak atrial velocities and their
      integrals; (2) peak early to atrial velocity ratio and velocity integral ratio;
      and (3) the pressure half-time of the early wave. One week after AMI, group L
      showed a decreased atrial and increased early velocity, velocity ratio and
      integral ratio, whereas the pressure half-time of the early wave was shorter than
      that in group S and in control subjects. At 6 weeks group L showed a reduction in
      early velocity, early to atrial velocity ratio and integral ratio, whereas
      pressure half-time increased. When groups S and L were combined there was a good
      inverse correlation between pressure half-time and infarct size as measured by
      peak enzyme release (r = -0.64, p < 0.001). These data suggest that, depending on
      infarct size, patients exhibit a "restrictive" filling pattern early after the
      acute event. This is manifested by the greater proportion of filling occurring in
      early diastole, reflecting an overall increase in chamber stiffness. At 6 weeks,
      this pattern is less pronounced presumably due to the remodeling process.

PMID- 1442608
TI  - Dose and test for dipyridamole infusion and cardiac imaging early after
      uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction.
AB  - To evaluate the relation of the dose of intravenous dipyridamole on results of
      thallium and echocardiographic testing, the results of standard- (0.56 mg/kg/4
      minutes) versus high- (0.84 mg/kg/10 minutes) dose dipyridamole were obtained 9
      +/- 3 days after uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction in 57 patients. New
      wall motion abnormalities were compared with redistribution of thallium imaging
      and results of discharge coronary angiography. The sensitivity of thallium in
      predicting the presence of multivessel coronary artery disease was significantly
      (p < 0.01) higher (85%) than echocardiography (53%) and was unaffected by the
      dose. However the sensitivity of echocardiography was better with the higher dose
      (53 vs 14%). Minor adverse effects occurred in 34 patients (59%) after receiving
      the high dose and only in 4 patients (7%) after the standard dose (p < 0.001).
      Thus, thallium-201 scintigraphy during standard-dose dipyridamole infusion is
      more effective than high-dose dipyridamole echocardiographic testing in safely
      identifying patients who could benefit from early invasive evaluation and
      therapy.

PMID- 1442609
TI  - Exercise-induced S-wave prolongation in left anterior descending coronary artery
      stenosis.
AB  - Myocardial ischemia may decrease conduction velocity and produce QRS prolongation
      in the surface electrocardiogram. In cases with normal intraventricular
      conduction, areas of the myocardium contributing to the development of the S wave
      receive blood from all 3 major coronary arteries, whereas in left anterior
      hemiblock or right bundle branch block, most of the blood supply to the areas of
      the myocardium contributing to the development of the S wave is from the left
      anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. To test the hypothesis that the S wave
      will be prolonged with exercise only in patients with LAD coronary artery
      stenosis and left anterior hemiblock or right bundle branch block, 88 patients
      with normal intraventricular conduction, 66 with left anterior hemiblock and 36
      with right bundle branch block were studied. Sixty-four, 32 and 21 patients had
      LAD, right and left circumflex coronary artery stenoses, respectively. In
      patients with normal coronary arteries, S-wave duration decreased with exercise
      regardless of the status of ventricular conduction. In patients with coronary
      artery disease and normal intraventricular conduction, the S wave was prolonged
      slightly with exercise, but in those with left anterior hemiblock and right
      bundle branch block, it was prolonged significantly (12.5 +/- 6 and 10.4 ms,
      respectively) only in those with LAD, but not in those with circumflex or right
      coronary artery stenosis. S-wave prolongation in patients with LAD coronary
      artery stenosis and left anterior hemiblock or right bundle branch block most
      likely is related to exercise-induced ischemia in the areas of the myocardium
      contributing to the development of the S wave.

PMID- 1442610
TI  - Psychological, behavioral and biochemical risk factors for coronary artery
      disease among American and Italian male corporate managers.
AB  - Differences in psychological, behavioral and biochemical risk factors for
      coronary artery disease (CAD) among male corporate managers of 2 countries
      (United States and Italy), with very different age-specific rates of mortality
      for CAD were evaluated. In all, 129 American (mean age 43 +/- 7 years) and 80
      Italian (mean age 45 +/- 7 years) managers volunteered to participate in this
      study. Each subject was administered several questionnaires assessing various
      psychological and behavioral risk factors for CAD, and all 129 Americans and 55
      of 80 Italians had their blood drawn between 8:00 and 9:30 AM after overnight
      fasting for the measurement of plasma levels of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate
      (DHEA-S), total cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoproteins A-I and B.
      Italian managers reported significantly more cynicism and hostility, and less
      enjoyment in leisure activities than did American ones. Furthermore, 40 Italian
      (51%) and only 18 American (14%) managers were smokers (this difference being
      statistically significant). Although no significant differences were found in
      factors positively related with CAD (cholesterol, triglycerides and
      apolipoprotein B), there were clear differences in parameters inversely
      correlated with the incidence of CAD. Italian managers had significantly lower
      levels of plasma DHEA-S and apolipoprotein A-I than did American ones. In
      conclusion, this study found that Italian managers had a significantly more
      unhealthy psychological and behavioral profile than did American ones, and had
      lower levels of those biochemical parameters (apolipoprotein A-I and DHEA-S)
      thought to have a protective role against development of CAD.

PMID- 1442611
TI  - Diagonal earlobe crease as a marker of the presence and extent of coronary
      atherosclerosis.
AB  - This study evaluates the association between the presence of diagonal earlobe
      creases (ELC) and coronary artery disease (CAD). One thousand four hundred twenty
      four patients (760 men and 664 women, aged 30 to 80 years) were examined for the
      presence of ELC and classified into 2 groups: group I control--1,086 consecutive
      patients who denied symptoms of myocardial ischemia and were admitted to a
      general hospital for other reasons; group II CAD--338 patients with documented
      CAD (presence of > or = 70% coronary diameter stenosis at angiography). ELC was
      present in 304 patients (28%) in group I and 220 (65%) in group II (p < 0.0001).
      The patients were stratified in age groups to isolate the influence of age
      because the prevalence of ELC and CAD increased with advancing age (p < 0.0001
      for both). This association remained statistically significant in all decades,
      except for patients aged > 70 years. To further remove the confounding effect of
      different age and sex distributions between the groups, a direct adjustment of
      the ELC prevalence was performed. When adjusted for age and sex, the prevalence
      of creases was still 58% higher in patients with CAD than in control subjects (p
      < 0.001). The presence of ELC was also related to the extent of CAD as measured
      by the number of major arteries narrowed (p = 0.015). The observed sensitivity of
      the sign for the diagnosis of CAD was 65%, the specificity 72%, the positive
      predictive value 42% and the negative predictive value 87%.

PMID- 1442612
TI  - Significance of noninvasive diagnostic techniques in patients with long QT
      syndrome.
AB  - The idiopathic long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an infrequently occurring disorder.
      Affected patients may have electrocardiographic alterations and are prone to
      syncope and sudden arrhythmogenic cardiac death. Adequate therapy may improve the
      prognosis of affected patients significantly. Therefore the early and precise
      diagnosis of LQTS has major prognostic impact. This study reports the diagnostic
      significance of standard electrocardiographic techniques and autonomic maneuvers
      in 14 patients with LQTS. The findings are compared with those of 14 healthy age
      matched control persons. QTc duration was significantly longer in patients with
      LQTS during standard 12-lead electrocardiography (489 +/- 56 vs 412 +/- 30 ms, p
      < 0.005), exercise stress testing (490 +/- 38 vs 409 +/- 18 ms, p < 0.001), cold
      pressor testing (512 +/- 45 vs 407 +/- 19 ms, p < 0.001), Valsalva maneuver (497
      +/- 49 vs 407 +/- 19 ms, p < 0.001), minimal heart rate during 24-hours of
      ambulatory electrocardiographic recording (482 +/- 69 vs 402 +/- 22 ms, p < 0.01)
      and maximal heart rate during Holter monitoring (460 +/- 47 vs 411 +/- 27 ms, p <
      0.005). Four of 14 patients with LQTS had pathologic findings during ambulatory
      electrocardiographic monitoring (2 patients with short episodes of torsades de
      pointes tachyarrhythmia, 1 patient with intermittent sinoatrial block, and 1
      patient with intermittent TU-wave alterations), whereas all control persons had
      normal ambulatory electrocardiographic recordings (p < 0.05). Thus, noninvasive
      standard electrocardiographic techniques in combination with autonomic maneuvers
      may contribute significant information for a precise diagnosis in patients with
      suspected LQTS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442613
TI  - Negative dromotropism of adenosine under beta-adrenergic stimulation with
      isoproterenol.
AB  - Adenosine depresses atrioventricular (AV) nodal function by binding to specific
      A1 receptors which activate the acetylcholine, adenosine-regulated potassium
      current. In addition, adenosine can act to antagonize the effects of beta
      adrenergic stimulation on AV nodal function. To assess the negative dromotropic
      effects of adenosine under beta-adrenergic stimulation, 15 patients were studied
      during clinical electrophysiologic study. During high right atrial pacing at a
      cycle length of 400 to 600 ms, adenosine was injected intravenously at an initial
      dose of 0.5 mg followed by a stepwise increment of 0.5 or 1.0 mg given at 5
      minute intervals until a maximal dose of 12 mg was achieved or AV block
      developed. Intravenous isoproterenol (1 to 3 micrograms/min) was then infused to
      accelerate sinus rate by 20 to 30% during which intravenous injection of
      incremental doses of adenosine as described was repeated. The AV nodal conduction
      time (AH interval) was measured at each dose of adenosine. Dose-response curves
      of AV nodal conduction time (expressed as percent increase in AH interval) were
      studied during the control state and during isoproterenol infusion. The dose of
      adenosine required to produce AV nodal Wenckebach block, the increase in the AH
      interval by 50% (ED50) and the maximal response (Emax) were 3.4 +/- 0.9 mg, 1.8
      +/- 0.9 mg and 60 +/- 4%, respectively, in the control state, and 3.7 +/- 0.8 mg,
      2.0 +/- 0.7 mg and 56 +/- 4%, respectively, during isoproterenol infusion. No
      significant changes in ED50, Emax and the dose of adenosine yielding AV nodal
      Wenckebach block could be demonstrated between the control state and during
      isoproterenol infusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442614
TI  - Effects of the class III antiarrhythmic drug dofetilide on ventricular monophasic
      action potential duration and QT interval dispersion in stable angina pectoris.
AB  - The effects of intravenous dofetilide on ventricular monophasic action potential
      duration and effective refractory period at the right ventricular apex and
      outflow tract were studied in 18 patients (aged 37 to 70 years) with ischemic
      heart disease. Six patients received low-dose dofetilide as a 3 micrograms/kg
      loading dose over 15 minutes and a 1.5 micrograms/kg maintenance dose over 45
      minutes; 6 received high-dose dofetilide 6 + 3 micrograms/kg and 6 placebo.
      During atrial pacing at a cycle length of 800 ms high-dose dofetilide prolonged
      right ventricular apex monophasic action potential duration by 45 ms (16%) and
      the effective refractory period by 40 ms (16%). At the right ventricular outflow
      tract, monophasic action potential duration was prolonged by 45 ms (15%) and
      effective refractory period by 55 ms (21%). During atrial pacing at a cycle
      length of 500 ms high-dose dofetilide prolonged the right ventricular apex
      monophasic action potential duration by 40 ms (18%) and the effective refractory
      period by 43 ms (21%). The right ventricular outflow tract monophasic action
      potential duration was prolonged by 33 ms (14%) and effective refractory period
      by 45 ms (21%). Dofetilide produced no increase in the dispersion of
      repolarization between the 2 sites. During the maintenance infusion QTc
      prolongation by high-dose dofetilide averaged 43 ms (10%) with no increase of
      interlead QT dispersion. The effects of dofetilide on QT interval and effective
      refractory period are shown to be due to a direct effect on action potential
      duration with no effect on dispersion. No rate dependence of monophasic action
      potential prolongation was detected at these cycle lengths.

PMID- 1442615
TI  - Catheter ablation of the atrioventricular junction using radiofrequency energy
      and a bilateral cardiac approach.
AB  - Radiofrequency current catheter ablation was used successfully to create complete
      atrioventricular (AV) block in 60 of 61 patients (98%) with drug refractory
      supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. The remaining patient developed Mobitz I AV
      block and is clinically improved (clinical efficacy 100%). In 54 patients (89%),
      complete AV block was achieved using a right-sided approach. Patients aged > 60
      years needed significantly fewer right-sided radiofrequency applications to
      produce complete AV block (5.3 +/- 5.3 vs 11.1 +/- 10.0; p = 0.009). In 6 of 7
      patients with unsuccessful right-sided ablation, a left ventricular approach was
      used. In each case, 1 to 4 additional radiofrequency applications produced
      complete AV block. Patients with unsuccessful right-sided ablation were generally
      younger than those with successful ablation (50 +/- 16 vs 64 +/- 11; p = 0.007).
      It is concluded that catheter ablation using radiofrequency current is an
      extremely effective means of producing complete AV block. Older patients appear
      to be more susceptible to right-sided radiofrequency approaches. Left ventricular
      ablation easily produces complete AV block in patients refractory to right-sided
      attempts.

PMID- 1442616
TI  - Long-term results of percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty with the Inoue balloon
      catheter.
AB  - The initial 85 patients who successfully underwent percutaneous mitral
      valvuloplasty (PMV) with the Inoue balloon catheter at the Guangdong
      Cardiovascular Institute between November 1985 and November 1988 had a mean
      follow-up period of 5 +/- 1 year (range 43 to 79 months). Before and after PMV
      and at follow-up, mean diastolic mitral gradients by the catheter method were
      17.5 +/- 6.2, 3.1 +/- 3.3 and 3.3 +/- 3.4 mm Hg, respectively (p < 0.001 before
      vs after PMV and before vs follow-up; and p > 0.05 after PMV vs follow-up). Mean
      diastolic mitral gradients by the Doppler method were 18 +/- 6, 8 +/- 5 and 9 +/-
      5 mm Hg, respectively (p < 0.001 before vs after PMV and before vs follow-up; and
      p > 0.05 after PMV vs follow-up). Mean diastolic mitral gradients by the Doppler
      method were 18 +/- 6, 8 +/- 5 and 9 +/- 5 mm Hg, respectively (p < 0.001 before
      vs after PMV and before vs follow-up; and p > 0.05 after PMV vs follow-up).
      Mitral valve areas by the echo-Doppler method were 1.1 +/- 0.3, 2.0 +/- 0.4 and
      1.8 +/- 0.5 cm2, respectively (p < 0.001 before vs after PMV and before vs follow
      up; and p > 0.05 after PMV vs follow-up). Phonocardiographic and
      vectorcardiographic studies, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing showed
      significant improvement after PMV and at follow-up.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1442617
TI  - A comparison of hospital and community-acquired infective endocarditis.
AB  - The epidemiology, clinical features, microbiology and outcome of 30 episodes of
      nosocomial endocarditis occurring over a 13-year period were reviewed and
      compared with 148 cases of community-acquired endocarditis. Twenty-eight patients
      (93%) had been in hospital for > 1 week and 10 patients (33%) for > 1 month when
      they developed endocarditis. Left-sided infection was most frequent; only 3 cases
      involved the tricuspid valve. Compared with community-acquired infection,
      patients tended to be older, had a greater incidence of congestive cardiac
      failure (p = 0.001) or hypotension (p = 0.0008) at presentation and were more
      likely to have bacteremia after an invasive procedure (83 vs 31%; p < 0.00001).
      Intravascular devices were the presumed source of bacteremia in 11 cases (37%);
      the same organism was isolated from both the blood and the suspected source of
      infection. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent causative organism,
      accounting for 17 episodes (57%), including 4 (13%) due to methicillin-resistant
      strains. Nosocomial endocarditis had a significantly higher mortality than did
      community-acquired infection (40 vs 18%; p = 0.02). Eight patients (27%) needed
      valve replacement. Proper adherence to protocols for management of intravascular
      devices and appropriate antimicrobial prophylaxis before procedures may have
      prevented endocarditis in 15 of 30 patients.

PMID- 1442618
TI  - Active infective endocarditis observed in an Indian hospital 1981-1991.
AB  - Clinical data from 186 patients (133 males and 53 females) with 190 episodes of
      infective endocarditis (IE) occurring between January 1981 and July 1991 were
      studied retrospectively at a large referral hospital in Northern India with the
      intention of highlighting certain essential differences from those reported in
      the West. The mean age was much lower (25 +/- SD 12 years, range 2 to 75 years).
      Rheumatic heart disease was the most frequent underlying heart lesion accounting
      for 79 patients (42%). This was followed by congenital heart disease in 62 (33%)
      and normal valve endocarditis in 17 (9%). Twenty-four patients had either aortic
      regurgitation (n = 15) or mitral regurgitation (n = 9) of uncertain etiology.
      Prosthetic valve infection and mitral valve prolapse were present in only 2
      patients each. A definite predisposing factor could be identified in only 28
      patients (15%). Postabortal sepsis and sepsis related to childbirth accounted for
      6 and 5 cases, respectively. Only 1 patient had history of intravenous drug
      abuse. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed vegetations in 121 patients (64%).
      Blood cultures were positive in only 87 (47%), with a total of 90 microbial
      isolates. Commonest infecting organisms were staphylococci (37 cases) and
      streptococci (34 cases). Except for a significantly higher number of patients
      with neurologic complications in the culture-negative group, there were no
      differences between patients with culture-positive and culture-negative IE. Of
      the 190 episodes of IE, the patients had received antibiotics before admission in
      110 (58%) instances. A significantly greater number of culture-negative patients
      had received antibiotics than did culture-positive patients (87 vs 23, p <
      0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442619
TI  - Cardiac dimensions determined by cross-sectional echocardiography in the normal
      human fetus from 18 weeks to term.
AB  - Assessment of cardiac dimensions of the chambers, great arteries and veins in the
      human fetus is important to distinguish abnormal dimensions from normal. This
      study establishes normal values based on cross-sectional echocardiographic
      measurements over the gestational period where these measurements may be
      clinically useful. Ventricular and atrial dimensions were measured from the 4
      chamber view, the short-axis dimension immediately below the mitral and tricuspid
      valve leaflets in diastole, and the long axis from the closed apposed
      atrioventricular valves to their respective apices. The ventricular walls and
      septum were measured at the level at which cavity dimensions in diastole were
      measured, defining both the left and right ventricular wall thickness, as well as
      that of the ventricular septum. Furthermore, the long axis of the right and left
      atria was measured from the center of the apposed atrioventricular valve leaflets
      to the posterior atrial wall, and the sizes of the atrial chambers were defined
      using their widths at the prospective broadest points through the area of foramen
      ovale. From a variety of views, diameters were measured at maximal expansion of
      the main, left and right pulmonary arteries, the ductus arteriosus, and the
      superior and inferior venae cavae. The data were evaluated longitudinally from 18
      weeks to term, and regression analysis was performed using the best fit of a
      linear or polynomial equation. The data provide a means for evaluating the normal
      sizes and dimensions of the fetal heart chambers, as well as the thickness of the
      ventricular walls and septum.

PMID- 1442620
TI  - Value of transesophageal echocardiography combined with computed tomography for
      assessing repaired type A aortic dissection.
AB  - Thirty-two patients with repaired type A aortic dissection were examined by
      transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) (n = 32), transesophageal echocardiography
      (TEE) (n = 30), computed tomography (CT) (n = 29), or a combination of all 3, to
      assess course and complications as a function of the surgical procedure. The mean
      follow-up period was 55.7 months (range 3 to 132). Surgery consisted of a
      replacement of the ascending aorta in 25 patients (group 1) with extension to the
      transverse aorta in 7 (group 2). The transverse diameter of the aorta, the
      persistence of the false lumen, thrombus formation and flow dynamics in the false
      lumen were evaluated by TEE. Ten patients (31%) had a dilation in the initial
      ascending aorta (sinus of Valsalva aneurysm in 6 patients, and a false aneurysm
      in the other 4). Three of 4 patients with a proximal pseudoaneurysm underwent
      operation after TEE and CT evaluation. In the descending thoracic aorta, there
      was good agreement between TEE and CT scan determinations of transverse vessel
      diameter. Persistence of flow within the false lumen was significantly more
      frequent in patients with a dilated aorta (p < 0.05), whereas thrombosis was seen
      more often and false lumen less often in patients with nondilated aorta. No
      significant differences in vessel status or outcome were observed between the 2
      groups, although this may have been due to the small size of group 2. TEE is thus
      a well-tolerated method for postoperative follow-up of type A aortic dissection
      whatever the type of surgery. For the upper ascending aorta, CT provided
      sufficient data.

PMID- 1442621
TI  - Effectiveness and safety of bolus administration of alteplase in massive
      pulmonary embolism.
AB  - Animal studies have demonstrated that thrombolysis with recombinant tissue-type
      plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is accelerated and that bleeding is reduced when rt
      PA is infused over a short period. Previous clinical studies in patients with
      venous thromboembolism have shown that rt-PA is an effective thrombolytic agent
      when administered by continuous infusion over 2 to 24 hours. Clinical experience
      of bolus rt-PA administration in patients with massive acute pulmonary embolism
      (PE) is, however, limited. A prospective open study was conducted in which 54
      patients with massive PE (Miller index > or = 20 of 34) received a 10-minute
      infusion of rt-PA at a dose of 1 mg/kg. Perfusion lung scanning was used to
      assess the change in pulmonary perfusion after drug administration. At 48 hours
      and 10 days, the mean absolute improvements in the perfusion defect were 11 and
      31%, respectively. In addition, a significant clinical improvement occurred
      within 2 hours in 11 of the 15 shocked patients. Five patients died (9%) as a
      result of persistent shock (3 patients), neurologic damage (1 patient) or
      intracranial bleeding (1 patient). Major bleeding occurred in 8 patients (15%).
      Long-term follow-up information was available for 44 of the 49 discharged
      patients: 2 had died and 12 (27%) complained of persistent exertional dyspnea, 7
      of whom had an associated heart or lung disease or chronic thromboembolism at
      admission. These results suggest that a bolus regimen of rt-PA could provide a
      convenient approach to thrombolytic therapy in patients with massive PE.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442622
TI  - Course of left ventricular hypertrophy and function in end-stage renal disease
      after renal transplantation.
AB  - Cardiovascular complications are frequent and related to left ventricular (LV)
      hypertrophy and dysfunction in end-stage renal disease. To examine cardiac
      changes after renal transplantation, 24 hemodialysis patients (18 men and 6
      women, age 47 +/- 12 years) were analyzed in a prospective follow-up study with
      echocardiography immediately before and 41 +/- 30 months after renal
      transplantation. Mean systolic blood pressure (hemodialysis vs transplantation:
      156 +/- 35 vs 144 +/- 15 mm Hg; p = not significant [NS]), as averages of 6
      measurements from 2 weeks, remained constant and elevated. The most frequent
      echocardiographic findings at both assessments were left atrial dilatation (75 vs
      79%; p = NS) and LV hypertrophy (71 vs 67%; p = NS). After transplantation, an
      increase was found in mean left atrial diameter (41 +/- 5 to 44 +/- 5 mm; p <
      0.05) and end-diastolic LV diameter (50 +/- 5 to 53 +/- 5 mm; p < 0.05) at
      constant LV muscle mass (332 +/- 104 vs 329 +/- 94 g; p = NS). LV ejection
      fraction (58 +/- 10% to 63 +/- 12%; p < 0.02) and stroke volume (98 +/- 26 to 118
      +/- 25 ml; p < 0.02) improved. No influence of blood pressure in sporadic morning
      determinations or of dialysis fistula patency on alterations of LV mass or
      function was found. Left atrial diameters increased in patients with patent
      dialysis fistulas (41 +/- 7 to 45 +/- 5 mm; p < 0.05), but not in those with
      occluded fistulas (41 +/- 7 vs 42 +/- 4 mm; p = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1442623
TI  - What is the optimum dose of dipyridamole for cardiac imaging?

PMID- 1442624
TI  - Effect of a number of coronary arteries significantly narrowed and status of
      intraventricular conduction on exercise-induced QRS prolongation in coronary
      artery disease.

PMID- 1442625
TI  - Operative results after unsuccessful radiofrequency ablation for Wolff-Parkinson
      White syndrome.

PMID- 1442626
TI  - A prototype coronary electrode catheter for intracoronary electrogram recording.

PMID- 1442627
TI  - Effects of acute exposure to altitude (3,460 m) on blood pressure response to
      dynamic and isometric exercise in men with systemic hypertension.

PMID- 1442628
TI  - Spontaneous echocardiographic contrast with the carbomedics mitral valve
      prosthesis.

PMID- 1442629
TI  - Frequency of left atrial thrombi by transesophageal echocardiography in
      idiopathic and in ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

PMID- 1442630
TI  - Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

PMID- 1442631
TI  - Supravalvular aortic stenosis after replacement of the ascending aorta.

PMID- 1442632
TI  - Profound "pacemaker syndrome" in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

PMID- 1442633
TI  - Acronyms of major cardiologic trials.

PMID- 1442634
TI  - A grading index of serum lipid abnormalities.

PMID- 1442635
TI  - Hypnotherapy for warts (verruca vulgaris): 41 consecutive cases with 33 cures.
AB  - Published, controlled studies of the use of hypnosis to cure warts are confined
      to using direct suggestion in hypnosis (DSIH), with cure rates of 27% to 55%.
      Prepubertal children respond to DSIH almost without exception, but adults often
      do not. Clinically, many adults who fail to respond to DSIH will heal with
      individual hypnoanalytic techniques that cannot be tested against controls. By
      using hypnoanalysis on those who failed to respond to DSIH, 33 of 41 (80%)
      consecutive patients were cured, two were lost to follow-up, and six did not
      respond to treatment. Self-hypnosis was not used. Several illustrative cases are
      presented.

PMID- 1442636
TI  - Performance enhancement in physical medicine and rehabilitation.
AB  - Performance enhancement or mental practice is the "symbolic rehearsal of a
      physical activity without any gross muscular movements" to facilitate skill
      acquisition and to increase performance in the production of that physical
      activity. Performance-enhancement interventions have been well known in the area
      of sports psychology and medicine. However, clinical applications in physical
      medicine and rehabilitation have not flourished to the same extent, though the
      demand for improved physical performance and the acquisition of various motor
      skills are as important. In this paper I will describe how hypnosis can
      potentiate mental practice, present a model of mental practice to enhance
      performance, and describe how to help patients access an ideal performance state
      of consciousness.

PMID- 1442637
TI  - The dialogue technique of hypnotic induction.
AB  - In this paper we describe a technique of hypnotic induction, using a dialogue
      between two hypnotists. It combines, in principle, the utilization of the
      patient's unconscious resources (utilization principle) and verbal confusion
      (confusion principle) to evoke hypnotic responses. The process of the trance
      induction in the dialogue technique comprises four major stages: (1) preinduction
      verbal set, (2) unconscious access and utilization, (3) trance ratification and
      deepening, and (4) trance termination. Clinical experience suggests that the
      dialogue technique can "mask" the effect of confusion and produce trance states
      "spontaneously" for patients. Following the theoretical and methodological
      description of the technique, we also discuss appropriate clinical applications
      and a case example using the dialogue technique.

PMID- 1442638
TI  - Suggested posthypnotic amnesia in psychiatric patients and normals.
AB  - The present study examined both quantitative and qualitative hypnotizability
      differences among four psychiatric patient groups (dissociative disorder (n =
      17), schizophrenic (n = 13), mood disorder (n = 14), and anxiety disorder (n =
      14) patients), and normals (college students (n = 63). Dissociative disorder
      patients earned significantly higher corrected total scores on the Stanford
      Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C (mean = 7.94), than all other groups.
      Likewise, dissociative disorder patients initially recalled significantly fewer
      items when the posthypnotic amnesia suggestion was in effect (mean = .41) and
      reversed significantly more items when the suggestion was canceled (mean = 3.82)
      than all other groups. In contrast, schizophrenic patients recalled significantly
      fewer items when the amnesia suggestion was in effect (mean = 1.85) and reversed
      significantly fewer items when it was canceled (mean = .77) than the remaining
      groups. This qualitative difference between schizophrenic patients and the other
      groups on the suggested posthypnotic amnesia item was observed even though there
      were no significant quantitative differences between groups in overall hypnotic
      responsivity.

PMID- 1442639
TI  - Hypnotic age regression in an experimental and clinical context.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of a clinical context in
      the experience of hypnotic age regression. Twenty-five patients experienced
      hypnotic age regression in an experimental and clinical context in
      counterbalanced order. Patients obtained significantly lower scores for
      experimental age regression than for clinical age regression, in particular when
      the experimental assessment preceded the clinical assessment of age regression.
      Moreover, scores for clinical and experimental age regression were only
      significantly and positively correlated when the clinical assessment of age
      regression preceded the experimental assessment. These findings give a tentative
      indication that more patients are able to experience clinical age regression than
      can be predicted from their responses to an experimental suggestion for hypnotic
      age regression where almost no opportunities for patient contact or maximizing of
      hypnotic responsiveness are provided.

PMID- 1442640
TI  - The psychophysiological investigation of multiple personality disorder: review
      and update.
AB  - In 1984 Putnam reviewed the literature on the psychophysiological investigation
      of multiple personality disorder (MPD). Since his review, a large number of
      studies have been conducted and reported in the literature and at professional
      conferences. Currently, psychophysiologic differences reported in the literature
      include changes in cerebral electrical activity, cerebral blood flow, galvanic
      skin response, skin temperature, event-related potentials, neuroendocrine
      profiles, thyroid function, response to medication, perception, visual
      functioning, visual evoked potentials, and in voice, posture, and motor behavior.
      We review the new research on the psychophysiological investigation of MPD from
      published, unpublished, and ongoing studies, and we attempt to place current
      findings into a conceptual framework. We have noted findings from unpublished and
      ongoing studies, and, perhaps unfortunately, they represent a large amount of the
      data presently available. We conclude with a critical analysis of current
      research methodology and suggestions for future research.

PMID- 1442641
TI  - Self-hypnosis and computer monitoring in the management of obesity.

PMID- 1442642
TI  - Hypnosis and weight reduction: which is the cart and which is the horse?
AB  - Hypnosis has often been described as a useful adjunctive treatment for excess
      weight. However, the literature shows that very few controlled studies have been
      conducted in this realm, and none have incorporated the key variables of either
      the hypnosis components or the weight-reduction components. In this paper I offer
      a brief review of the literature on hypnosis for weight reduction, present weight
      reduction outcome data, outline variables common to people with chronic weight
      problems, and I offer suggestions for future uses of hypnosis within a
      comprehensive approach to weight reduction rather than as the primary treatment.
      Suggestions are also made concerning the multiple opportunities for future
      research using hypnosis in the substance-abuse field.

PMID- 1442643
TI  - Hypnotizability and recovery from cardiac surgery.
AB  - We studied 32 coronary bypass patients to examine the effect of hypnosis on
      recovery from surgery. The patients were assessed for hypnotizability with the
      Hypnotic Induction Profile (HIP) and assigned to experimental groups with a
      random stratification procedure to equate for differences in hypnotizability,
      age, and severity of illness. We taught patients in groups one and two formal
      hypnosis with different treatment strategies; patients in group three were not
      taught formal hypnosis or a treatment strategy. Scores on the HIP were
      significant predictors of recovery, independent of experimental treatment with
      formal hypnosis. Patients who scored "Midrange" stabilized more quickly in the
      intensive care unit (ICU) than those who scored "High" or "Low" (p = < .05).
      Patients who scored "High" had more labile blood pressure in the ICU compared to
      the "Midrange" and "Lows" (p = < .05). Measured hypnotizability was associated
      with the recovery sequence from surgery.

PMID- 1442644
TI  - Pseudomemory and age regression: an exploratory study.
AB  - Hypnotizable (N = 9) and simulating subjects (N = 8) were age regressed to the
      previous week's hypnosis session and received a suggestion to hear a phone ring
      during the earlier session (no phone actually rang). Pseudomemory rates in
      response to open-ended questions were low in this study (0% hypnotizable and
      simulating subjects) and in previous research (Lynn, Weekes, & Milano, 1989;
      12.5% hypnotizable; 10% simulating subjects) in which the phone-ring suggestion
      was not embedded in the context of age regression. In response to a forced-choice
      question, 22.22% of the hypnotizable and 25% of the simulating subjects indicated
      that the suggested phone ring was an actual event, a pseudomemory rate somewhat
      higher than our previous study in which none of the subjects reported
      pseudomemories in response to a forced-choice question. When the occurrence of
      the target stimulus of a pseudomemory suggestion is publicly verifiable, the
      pseudomemory rate is low.

PMID- 1442645
TI  - The effect of prior knowledge of hypnotic items on hypnotic performance and
      depth.
AB  - First we exposed experimental subjects to either the hypnotic items they were
      about to experience or to those items embedded in a longer list of hypnotic
      items. We then asked them to give item-difficulty ratings prior to administration
      of a standard group susceptibility scale. Controls received no prior exposure to
      any hypnotic items. We obtained four dependent measures: hypnotic susceptibility
      score, an in-hypnosis depth report, Field (1965) Depth Inventory score, and
      retrospective depth reports. The three groups did not differ significantly on any
      of the dependent measures. Although this result differs from that of Shor,
      Pistole, Easton, and Kihlstrom (1984), who found that prior knowledge of items
      depressed susceptibility scores, this may be due to procedural differences
      between the two studies. Subjects' self-predictions of item difficulty were poor
      to modest, and accuracy of predictions was not related to any of the four
      dependent measures.

PMID- 1442646
TI  - Construct validity of the Dissociative Experiences Scale: II. Its relationship to
      hypnotizability.
AB  - Undergraduates (n = 311) who volunteered to participate in an experiment on
      "Hypnotizability and Personality" filled out several personality questionnaires
      (including the Dissociative Experiences Scale; DES), were administered the
      Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility (HGSHS), and completed a self
      rating of hypnotizability. The DES overall score correlated significantly with
      the HGSHS summary score (r(309) = .12, p < .05, two-tailed) and with subject's
      self-rating of hypnotizability (r(309) = .13, p < .05, two-tailed). The magnitude
      of these correlations was similar to that observed in a previous study (.14 &
      .18) and is also similar in magnitude to the correlations typically observed
      between the HGSHS and the Tellegen Absorption Scale. The potential clinical
      implications of these findings are discussed.

PMID- 1442647
TI  - "Back from the future": a powerful age-progression technique.
AB  - This paper briefly reviews the benefits of using age-progression techniques in
      hypnotherapy, followed by a detailed explanation and illustration of the "back
      from-the-future" technique with two case examples, including their outcome. The
      patients presented with feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and a sense of
      futurelessness. Following the hypnotherapeutic intervention, patients were
      instructed to take time to reflect on the session and to write down the specific
      experiences they had on their voyage into the future focusing on their visual
      images, auditory sensations, experiences with other senses (touch, smell, and
      taste), as well as thoughts, emotions, and self-perceptions. Follow-up validated
      that the patients maintained their therapeutic accomplishments several months
      after the initial interventions.

PMID- 1442648
TI  - The use of hypnotic age progressions as interventions with acute psychosomatic
      conditions.
AB  - Patients with the physical manifestations and physiological disturbances
      engendered by serious psychosomatic conditions often present with special needs
      in therapy. On a conscious level, these patients may have pessimistic views of
      the future, including the specter of imminent death, which, for some, is a real
      possibility. In this paper we review four clinical cases in which hypnotic age
      progressions reveal the patients' deepest positive hopes for survival and serve
      as ego-strengthening, integrating, and prognostic tools in the face of ominous
      symptoms of physical distress.

PMID- 1442649
TI  - The use of hypnotic age progressions as prognostic, ego-strengthening, and
      integrating techniques.
AB  - Age progression as a hypnotherapeutic technique is mentioned infrequently in the
      literature when compared with its counterpart, age regression. In this paper we
      explore the use of progressions, or "views of the future," as prognostic
      indicators of therapeutic progress and as valuable tools for ego strengthening
      and for the integration of clinical material. Age progressions vary in the types
      of suggestions given and can be used to promote growth on multiple levels,
      facilitating treatment goals and deepening the working-through process. We
      present six cases in which we used different types of age progressions, and we
      discuss the significance of the progressions used in each case, within the
      context of relevant clinical material. We conclude from our observations that the
      use of hypnotic progressions can be a sustaining, valuable aspect of
      hypnotherapy, particularly in providing an index of the current direction and
      progression of the therapy process itself.

PMID- 1442650
TI  - Protein metabolism and growth of term infants in response to a reduced-protein,
      40:60 whey: casein formula with added tryptophan.
AB  - The effects of an experimental reduced-protein (13 g/L), milk-based formula with
      a whey-casein ratio of 40:60 and added tryptophan (Trp) (490 mumol/L, or 100
      mg/L; EF) were measured by growth and protein biochemistry in term infants from 0
      to 12 wk postnatally. Newborn infants (n = 95) were randomly assigned to receive
      EF or conventional formula (15 g protein/L, whey-casein ratio of 60:40; CF) and
      compared with 58 breast-fed infants (BF). Growth velocity for weight, length, and
      head circumference was similar between groups. In 79 infants, blood was sampled
      preprandially at 4, 8, and 12 wk. For all times, plasma Trp was similar in BF and
      EF infants (58.4 +/- 10.4 vs 59.5 +/- 14.7 mumol/L, mean +/- SD) but lower in CF
      infants (53.4 +/- 8.4, P < 0.05). The plasma Trp-large neutral amino acid (AA)
      ratio was higher with EF than with CF, as was prealbumin (P < 0.05). Formula-fed
      infants had higher (P < 0.05) plasma urea, prealbumin, total essential AA,
      branched-chain AA, and threonine than did BF infants. A reduced-protein formula
      with added Trp resulted in Trp status similar to that in BF infants, without
      compromising growth or protein biochemistry compared with CF infants.

PMID- 1442651
TI  - Growth patterns of breast-fed infants in affluent (United States) and poor (Peru)
      communities: implications for timing of complementary feeding.
AB  - We compared growth, dietary intake, and morbidity of infants breast-fed for > or
      = 12 mo from two populations: Davis, CA (n = 46) and Huascar, Peru (n = 52). When
      compared against WHO reference data (based primarily on formula-fed infants),
      Huascar infants appeared to falter as early as 3-4 mo, but when compared with
      Davis breast-fed infants, the curves for weight and length were very similar in
      girls until 10-12 mo and in boys until 6-9 mo. Thereafter, Huascar infants grew
      less rapidly than did Davis infants. Breast milk intake was very similar between
      groups, but in Huascar the amount and nutrient density of complementary foods
      consumed after 6 mo were lower and morbidity rates were much higher than in
      Davis. These results indicate that growth faltering of Huascar infants, when
      judged against breast-fed infants in the United States, occurs primarily after
      the first 6 mo of life and is not due to poor lactation performance.

PMID- 1442652
TI  - Trans-fatty acid intake in relation to serum lipid concentrations in adult men.
AB  - The relation of trans-fatty acid intake to fasting serum lipid concentrations was
      evaluated in a cross-sectional study of 748 men aged 43-85 y. Multiple-linear
      regression analysis was used to adjust for age, body mass index, waist-to-hip
      circumference ratio, smoking status, physical activity, alcohol intake, total
      energy, dietary cholesterol and linoleic acid, and previous serum cholesterol
      concentration. Trans-fatty acid intake was directly related to total serum (r =
      0.07, P = 0.04) and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) (r = 0.09, P =
      0.01), and inversely related to high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (r =
      0.08, P = 0.03). Trans-fatty acid intake was positively associated with the
      ratios of total to HDL cholesterol (r = 0.11, P = 0.002) and LDL to HDL
      cholesterol (r = 0.12, P = 0.001). The estimated ratios of total to HDL
      cholesterol were 4.4 and 4.9 for persons at the 10th (2.1 g/d) and 90th (4.9 g/d)
      percentiles of trans-fatty acid intake, respectively. On the basis of results
      from other studies, these ratios would correspond to a 27% increase in risk of
      myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1442653
TI  - Nutritional effects of feeding a ketoanalogue mixture in growing and adult uremic
      rats.
AB  - Insufficient protein diets supplemented with ketoanalogue/essential amino acid
      (KA/EAA) mixtures are proposed to maintain nutrition and to retard renal
      deterioration. We compared in growing and in adult uremic rats diets containing
      limited or usual amounts of protein (12%, 20% for growing rats, and 10% and 16%
      for adult rats) with diets containing 50% or 60% less casein plus a KA/EAA
      mixture providing KA at an equimolar amount of removed EAA or at higher amounts.
      The latter supplement caused stunting, the former caused no anorexia, a slight
      growth deficit when added to the lowest basal casein diets, and almost normal
      growth when added to higher casein diets. Growth was normal with EAA supplements.
      The plasma EAA changes were unrelated to intake and to growth. Thus, KA
      utilization is maximal, provided that basal protein is sufficient and KA are not
      in excess.

PMID- 1442654
TI  - Rice: a high or low glycemic index food?
AB  - We determined the glycemic (GI) and insulin-index (II) values for 12 rice
      products, using eight healthy subjects. The products were brown and white
      versions of three commercial varieties of rice [two varieties with normal amylose
      content (20%) and the other with 28% amylose], a waxy rice (0-2% amylose), a
      converted rice, a quick-cooking brown rice, puffed rice cakes, rice pasta, and
      rice bran. The GI of the rices ranged from 64 +/- 9 to 93 +/- 11, where glucose =
      100. The high amylose rice gave a lower GI and II (P < 0.01) than did the normal
      amylose and waxy-rice varieties. The converted rice and most other rice products
      gave a high GI. Insulin indices correlated positively with GI (r = 0.75, P <
      0.05), although they were lower than expected. These results indicate that many
      varieties of rice, whether white, brown, or parboiled, should be classified as
      high GI foods. Only high-amylose varieties are potentially useful in low-GI
      diets.

PMID- 1442655
TI  - Calcium supplementation and plasma ferritin concentrations in premenopausal
      women.
AB  - The effect of calcium supplement use on iron stores was examined in a randomized
      controlled study in free-living, healthy, premenopausal women. Of 109 women who
      completed the study, 52 were in the control group and 57 took two tablets
      containing 250 mg Ca as the carbonate with each of two meals daily for 12 wk. In
      all subjects at baseline, plasma ferritin concentrations were positively
      correlated with heme-iron intake (r = 0.21, P = 0.04), serum iron concentration
      (r = 0.19, P = 0.04), transferrin saturation (r = 0.31, P = 0.001), and
      hemoglobin concentration (r = 0.22, P = 0.02), and negatively correlated with
      total iron-binding capacity (TIBC, r = -0.42, P < 0.001). No significant
      differences in absolute or percent changes in plasma ferritin concentrations,
      serum iron concentrations, TIBC, transferrin saturation, hemoglobin
      concentrations, or hematocrit were observed between the treatment and control
      groups. Thus, over a 12-wk period, use of 1000 mg Ca as the carbonate daily with
      meals does not appear to be detrimental to iron stores in healthy, free-living,
      premenopausal women.

PMID- 1442656
TI  - Iron status in exercising women: the effect of oral iron therapy vs increased
      consumption of muscle foods.
AB  - Forty-seven previously sedentary women participating in a 12-wk moderate aerobic
      exercise program were randomly assigned to one of four dietary groups: 50-mg/d
      iron supplement and a low food-iron diet (50 FE + EX), 10-mg/d iron supplement
      and a low food-iron diet (10 FE + EX), placebo and unrestricted diet (P + EX),
      and meat supplement and high food-iron diet (M + EX). A sedentary control group
      (n = 13) received no dietary interventions. Hematocrit, total iron-binding
      capacity, and hemoglobin, serum iron, serum ferritin, and serum albumin
      concentrations were measured every 4 wk. Hemoglobin values decreased at the end
      of 4 wk in all exercising groups compared with the control group. Iron status in
      the 50 FE + EX and M + EX groups improved after week 4 as indicated by an
      increase in serum ferritin, serum iron, and hemoglobin concentrations, and a
      decline in total iron-binding capacity. Thus, short-term, moderate aerobic
      exercise resulted in compromised iron status that was offset to varying degrees
      by ingesting iron or meat supplements. However, meat supplements were more
      effective in protecting hemoglobin and ferritin status than were iron
      supplements.

PMID- 1442657
TI  - Guar gum in insulin-dependent diabetes: effects on glycemic control and serum
      lipoproteins.
AB  - We examined the effect of guar gum on glycemic control and serum lipid and
      lipoprotein profiles in mildly hypercholesterolemic patients with insulin
      dependent diabetes. The study was done in a randomized, double-blind fashion with
      either guar gum or placebo added to the diet four times per day for 6 wk each.
      Fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c decreased significantly during the guar
      gum diet, whereas the diurnal glucose profile was unchanged. In addition, serum
      low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol decreased by 20% and the ratio of LDL
      cholesterol to high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol by 28% during guar-gum
      therapy. No changes were seen in the placebo group. In conclusion, guar gum can
      improve glycemic control and decrease serum LDL-cholesterol concentrations in
      mildly hypercholesterolemic insulin-dependent diabetic patients and thus reduce
      risk factors for both micro- and macroangiopathic complications.

PMID- 1442658
TI  - Guar gum improves insulin sensitivity, blood lipids, blood pressure, and
      fibrinolysis in healthy men.
AB  - A double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study was carried out in 25
      healthy, nonobese middle-aged men to test the effect of guar gum on glucose and
      lipid metabolism, blood pressure, and fibrinolysis. Ten grams guar or placebo
      granulate was given three times a day for 6 wk with a 2-wk run-in before and a
      wash-out period after. Decreases in fasting blood glucose (P < 0.001),
      cholesterol (P < 0.001), triglycerides (P < 0.05), plasminogen activator
      inhibitor-1 activity (P < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (P < 0.01), and
      diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.001) were seen during guar treatment when
      compared with placebo. Insulin sensitivity, measured with the euglycemic-clamp
      technique, increased (P < 0.01), adipose tissue-glucose uptake measured in vitro
      increased (P < 0.001), and 24-h urinary excretion of sodium and potassium
      increased (P < 0.001) during guar treatment. Fasting plasma insulin, renin,
      aldosterone, and fibrinogen concentrations as well as skeletal-muscle
      electrolytes, urinary catecholamines, and body weight remained unaltered. These
      findings support a role for guar in the treatment of the metabolic syndrome in
      which insulin resistance seems to play a pivotal role.

PMID- 1442659
TI  - New weight guidelines for Americans.

PMID- 1442660
TI  - Importance of electrode position in bioelectrical impedance analysis.

PMID- 1442661
TI  - Is 50 kHz the optimal frequency in routine estimation of body water by bio
      electrical impedance analysis?

PMID- 1442662
TI  - Protein requirements of adults from an evolutionary perspective.

PMID- 1442663
TI  - Body-fat measurement in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: which
      method should be used?
AB  - Malnutrition is common in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
      (AIDS), which distorts the chemical contents in the fat-free mass (FFM) and
      alters the assumptions underlying the traditional methods for calculating body
      fat content so that such measurements may not be accurate. In vivo neutron
      activation analysis (IVNA) measures FFM independently of the traditional
      assumptions, thereby providing more accurate measurements of body fat. We
      compared seven methods for measuring body fat in 18 male patients with AIDS:
      IVNA, total body water (TBW by 3H2O dilution), total body potassium (TBK by 40K
      counting), dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA), bioelectrical impedance analysis
      (BIA), and two well-calibrated anthropometric methods. FatTBW and fatDPA were not
      significantly different from fatIVNA. FatTBW gave the highest correlation with
      fatIVNA and the smallest SEE of +/- 1.8% (1.1 kg). The traditional and widely
      available TBW and the newer DPA method provide reliable estimates of fatIVNA in
      patients with AIDS.

PMID- 1442664
TI  - Resting metabolic rate and coronary-heart-disease risk factors in aerobically and
      resistance-trained women.
AB  - This cross-sectional study compared physical characteristics, cardiovascular risk
      factors, and resting metabolic rate (RMR) in a cohort of 82 young women separated
      into three groups: sedentary (SED, n = 48), aerobically trained (AT, n = 21), and
      resistance trained (RT, n = 13). Body mass and fat-free mass (FFM) were not
      different between groups whereas percent body fat was lower in the AT (16.2 +/-
      0.7%) and RT (14.7 +/- 0.8%) groups than in the SED group (21.8 +/- 0.8%). There
      were no between-group differences for blood pressure or blood lipids. RMRs
      (kJ/min) for the AT (4.31 +/- 0.06) and RT (4.25 +/- 0.09) groups were
      significantly greater than those for the SED group (3.99 +/- 0.05). When adjusted
      for differences in FFM, RMRs for the AT group (4.24 +/- 0.05) were different from
      those of both the RT (4.13 +/- 0.05) and SED (4.05 +/- 0.03) groups; RMRs for the
      RT and SED groups were not different from each other. No differences were found
      in cardiovascular risk in young nonobese women of differing exercise status.
      Aerobic training in young women seems to increase the rate of metabolic activity
      of resting tissues whereas resistance training does not.

PMID- 1442665
TI  - Food selection and intake of obese women with binge-eating disorder.
AB  - We studied food selection and intake of 19 women [body mass index (in kg/m2) >
      30] [corrected], 10 of whom met proposed DSM-IV criteria for binge-eating
      disorder (BED). All subjects ate two multicourse meals in the laboratory, and
      were given tape-recorded instructions at each meal either to binge or eat in a
      normal fashion. Subjects with BED consumed significantly more energy than did
      subjects without BED at both the binge [12,400 vs 8440 kJ (2963 vs 2017 kcal), P
      < 0.005] and normal [9810 vs 6870 kJ (2343 vs 1640 kcal), P < 0.02] meals. During
      the binge meal subjects with BED consumed a greater percentage of energy as fat
      (38.9% vs 33.5%, P < 0.002) and a lesser percentage as protein (11.4% vs 15.4%, P
      < 0.01) than did subjects without BED. There were no differences in macronutrient
      composition of food choices between groups in the normal meal. Obese women who
      meet criteria for BED show differences in both intake and macronutrient
      composition of food choices from obese women who do not meet these criteria when
      asked to eat in a laboratory setting, supporting the validity of this new
      diagnosis.

PMID- 1442666
TI  - Resting metabolic rate, body-fat distribution, and visceral fat in obese women.
AB  - Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was evaluated in 27 obese women aged 16-49 y [body
      mass index (in kg/m2) 27-51] by indirect calorimetry. Visceral and subcutaneous
      adipose tissue areas, body fat, and fat-free mass (FFM) were measured by a single
      scan with computed tomography (CT); the waist-hip circumference ratio (W/H) was
      also used. Comparison between the lowest and the highest RMR quartiles--adjusted
      for age and FFM--revealed a higher W/H in the highest quartile (0.78 +/- 0.08 vs
      0.88 +/- 0.08; P < 0.05). No difference was observed in CT indexes. No
      differences in W/H were observed after RMR was adjusted for age, FFM, and body
      fat. Our results point out that RMR, adjusted for FFM and age, correlates with
      body-fat distribution as evaluated by W/H, but not with visceral fat, as
      evaluated by CT. Correlations disappeared after RMR was adjusted for body fat as
      well.

PMID- 1442667
TI  - Cross-sectional study on the iron and vitamin A status of pregnant women in West
      Java, Indonesia.
AB  - A cross-sectional study of the prevalence of iron and vitamin A deficiency in
      normal pregnant women in West Java, Indonesia, was carried out. Of the 318 women
      studied, 49.4% were anemic and, according to multiple criteria, 43.5% had iron
      deficiency anemia, 22.3% had iron-deficient erythropoiesis, and 6.6% had iron
      depletion. Serum retinol values revealed that 2.5% of the pregnant women were
      vitamin A deficient and 31% had marginal vitamin A status. The relative dose
      response test carried out on 45 women showed that 4 (8.9%) had deficient vitamin
      A liver stores. After gestational stage, parity, and subdistrict were adjusted
      for, serum retinol concentrations were significantly positively associated (P <
      0.01) with hemoglobin concentrations, hematocrit, and serum iron concentrations.
      The suboptimal vitamin A status associated with nutritional-deficiency anemia
      suggests that pregnant women in the area should be supplemented not only with
      iron but also with vitamin A. This proposal should be tested in an intervention
      study.

PMID- 1442668
TI  - Evaluation of the impact of weaning food messages on infant feeding practices and
      child growth in rural Bangladesh.
AB  - In rural Bangladesh, a community-based weaning intervention used volunteers to
      teach complementary feeding to families of 62 breast-fed infants aged 6-12 mo.
      Over 5 mo, treatment children gained on average 0.46 SD (approximately 460 g)
      more in weight-for-age (WAZ) than the 55 control subjects, and were approximately
      0.5 kg heavier at the final measure. The differences were statistically
      significant (P < 0.001). The percent median weight-for-age (WAPM) of treatment
      children held steady at 76% of the National Center for Health Statistics'
      reference, whereas the WAPM of control subjects dropped from 78% to 72%. The
      increase in percentage points of severe malnutrition (below -3 WAZ) was only 5%
      in the treatment group compared with 26% in the control subjects. Treatment
      children consumed a significantly greater percent of their energy and protein
      requirements from complementary foods than did control subjects. The affordable
      complementary foods consisted mainly of cereal porridge with oil and brown sugar.
      These findings suggest that educational interventions teaching families to feed
      hygienic, simple, cheap, energy-enriched complementary foods to breast-fed
      infants after 5-6 mo can improve child growth, even under impoverished
      conditions.

PMID- 1442669
TI  - H. pylori causes cancer: true or false?

PMID- 1442670
TI  - Preventing ERCP-induced pancreatitis.

PMID- 1442671
TI  - Up close and personal: a president's perspective.

PMID- 1442672
TI  - Advances in enteral nutrition techniques.
AB  - The increasing use of enteral nutrition in hospitals has led to an expanded role
      for the gastroenterologist and surgeon in providing enteral access. New concepts
      in immunonutrition and gut support in critically ill patients have popularized
      early postoperative feeding. There is an ongoing need to update physicians on the
      diverse enteral access techniques now available. In addition to standard
      percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy
      (PEJ) techniques, this review focuses on reflux prevention through double-lumen
      feeding-suction tubes, and describes the use of steerable catheters for rapid
      insertion of nasojejunal and PEJ tubes without endoscopy. Low-profile "button"
      type devices, one-step button placement, replacement gastrostomy devices, and
      special enteral techniques for patients with cancer are also reviewed.

PMID- 1442673
TI  - High prevalence and persistence of cytotoxin-positive Helicobacter pylori strains
      in a population with high prevalence of atrophic gastritis.
AB  - Helicobacter pylori is strongly associated with both chronic gastritis and
      duodenal ulcer. Certain strains of H. pylori produce a vacuolating cytotoxin in
      vitro. At New Orleans Charity Hospital, concentrated culture supernatants from
      119 of 144 (83%) H. pylori strains isolated from 86 patients at high risk of
      developing gastric cancer, caused vacuolization in HeLa S3 cells. Cytotoxin
      activity was neutralized by acid (pH 4) and basic (pH 10) solutions and
      proteases, and was precipitable by (NH4)2SO4, which suggests that the cytotoxin
      is a protein. In 66 of 86 (76.7%) patients, the H. pylori strains isolated from
      single or multiple sequential gastric biopsies had a vacuolating cytotoxin. These
      cytotoxin-positive H. pylori strains were isolated from 69% of patients with
      diffuse antral gastritis and 89% of patients with chronic atrophic gastritis. The
      latter lesion is considered a precursor of gastric cancer. The cytotoxicity
      persisted in sequential biopsies over an interval of several months, indicating
      persistence of these strains in the gastric mucosa. Fifty-eight percent (7/12) of
      the sera from cytotoxin-positive H. pylori-infected patients neutralized
      cytotoxin activity, whereas 20% (1/5) of sera from patients with H. pylori
      cytotoxin-negative strains and none of five H. pylori-negative patients' sera
      neutralized cytotoxin activity. The relevance of this cytotoxin in the
      pathogenesis of H. pylori-induced gastritis requires further study.

PMID- 1442674
TI  - Manometric and radiologic correlations in achalasia.
AB  - Achalasia is an esophageal motor disorder distinguished by clinical, radiologic,
      and manometric features. To evaluate the correlation among these features, we
      studied 109 achalasia patients. The four most common clinical complaints, the
      four most commonly encountered radiologic findings, and two manometric parameters
      were analyzed with a correlation matrix test and a multiple regression analysis.
      Significant correlation existed among symptoms of dysphagia, regurgitation, and
      weight loss. In contrast, chest pain inversely correlated with these symptoms.
      Dysphagia and weight loss significantly correlated with a bird-beak deformity but
      not with esophageal dilatation or a sigmoid esophagus. Moreover, no significant
      relationship between lower esophageal sphincter pressure and esophageal
      dilatation or sphincter pressure and sigmoid esophagus was found. However, in
      those patients with a resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure greater than 45
      mm Hg, a reasonable correlation among clinical, radiologic, and manometric
      parameters did exist. In conclusion, although in a subset of patients with
      markedly increased lower esophageal sphincter pressure, a good correlation
      between clinical, radiologic, and manometric findings exists, such a correlation
      cannot be established in all of the achalasia patients; esophageal dilatation or
      a sigmoid esophagus may not be due to a hypertensive sphincter, and their
      presence must not necessarily be interpreted as an indication of severity of the
      disease; there is an inverse correlation between chest pain and symptoms of
      dysphagia, regurgitation, and weight loss; and finally, achalasia and hiatal
      hernia may coexist in 6% of the patients.

PMID- 1442675
TI  - Yield of upper endoscopy in the evaluation of asymptomatic patients with
      Hemoccult-positive stool after a negative colonoscopy.
AB  - The yield of upper endoscopy in asymptomatic patients with positive fecal occult
      blood test (FOBT) and a negative colonoscopy was evaluated prospectively in 70
      consecutive patients. Significant pathology was diagnosed in 19 patients (27%),
      eight patients with ulcers, five with arteriovenous malformations, three with
      esophageal or gastric varices, two with multiple erosions, and two with biopsy
      proven Barrett's esophagus. Thirteen patients had iron deficiency anemia and
      demonstrated a 38% prevalence of significant pathology. Fifteen patients on
      nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents had a 30% prevalence of significant
      pathology. No statistically significant difference was noted between subgroups.
      In conclusion, asymptomatic patients without a colonic source to explain a
      positive FOBT often have significant lesions, on upper endoscopy. Iron deficiency
      anemia did not have an impact on pathology. Because treatment and follow-up plans
      were altered in many of the cases in which significant pathology was
      demonstrated, we conclude that upper endoscopy should be seriously considered for
      all asymptomatic patients with occult gastrointestinal bleeding and a negative
      colonoscopic examination.

PMID- 1442676
TI  - Comparison of fecal occult blood tests for detection of gastrointestinal bleeding
      in pediatric patients.
AB  - To compare fecal occult blood tests (Hemoccult II, Hemoccult SENSA, HemeSelect)
      for detecting the presence of occult gastrointestinal bleeding in a pediatric
      population at high risk, we analyzed stool specimens from 100 children who
      followed a restricted diet. Forty-two children had upper and 58 lower
      gastrointestinal sources of bleeding. Positivity rates ranged from 10.8% to 26%
      dependent upon the occult blood test. Whereas Hemoccult II and Hemoccult SENSA
      slides detected several positive specimens in upper gastrointestinal bleeding
      sources, all HemeSelect slides were negative in these subjects. In lower
      gastrointestinal bleeding, HemeSelect slides were positive in 26.8% of samples as
      opposed to 15.9% and 17.5% positivity rates for Hemoccult II and Hemoccult SENSA,
      but this difference was not statistically significant. We conclude that fecal
      occult blood tests vary, depending upon the origin of bleeding. Our results favor
      use of Hemoccult SENSA slides for suspected upper gastrointestinal bleeding and
      HemeSelect slides for lower gastrointestinal bleeding in children. However, if
      only one all-purpose fecal occult blood test is to be utilized, then our data
      supports the use of Hemoccult SENSA slides for children.

PMID- 1442677
TI  - Effect of triglycyl-lysin-vasopressin on quantitative liver function tests in
      patients with cirrhosis.
AB  - The effects of vasopressin and of its analogues on liver function, and their
      possible mechanisms of action, are poorly understood. This study was designed to
      assess the effect of triglycyl-lysin-vasopressin on liver function, evaluated by
      two quantitative tests independent of liver blood flow, i.e., indocyanine green
      intrinsic hepatic clearance and galactose elimination capacity. Indocyanine green
      intrinsic hepatic clearance and galactose elimination capacity were determined
      before and after administration of 2 mg triglycyl-lysin-vasopressin to
      (respectively) 10 and 12 patients with cirrhosis. Eighteen additional patients
      with cirrhosis were studied before and after infusion of placebo. No significant
      variation in either test was observed in placebo-treated patients. A significant
      decrease in indocyanine green intrinsic hepatic clearance, averaging 22%, was
      observed in patients receiving the drug (p = 0.04). Conversely, galactose
      elimination capacity remained unchanged after the drug. These results are
      compatible with the hypothesis that the drug produced a preferential decrease in
      perfusion in functioning areas of the liver, with relative maintenance of blood
      flow in non-functioning areas.

PMID- 1442678
TI  - Seasonal fluctuations in acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding: lack of effect of
      nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
AB  - The seasonal pattern of community-based acute bleeding from the upper
      gastrointestinal (UGI) tract was studied prospectively in 1988-1991. Out of 3343
      emergency admissions to the Departments of General Surgery, 321 (9.6%) were due
      to acute UGI bleeding. There was a significant monthly variation in the total
      number of admissions, as well as in the number of admissions due to acute UGI
      bleeding (p < 0.0001). However, there was no correlation between the two.
      Significant seasonal fluctuations were noted both in the absolute number of
      admissions due to acute UGI bleeding and in the percentage of UGI bleeding
      admissions of the total number of admissions to the Departments of General
      Surgery (p = 0.0002). During summer (July through September), the incidence
      declined significantly to a nadir of 5.5% of total number of admissions in July.
      The seasonal fluctuation correlated closely with the incidence of duodenal ulcer,
      but not with that of gastric ulcer. The seasonal pattern was consistent both in
      patients who had used aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as
      well as in those who had not.

PMID- 1442679
TI  - Is duodenal ulcer a seasonal disease? A retrospective endoscopic study of 3105
      patients.
AB  - The monthly pattern of distribution of endoscopically diagnosed duodenal ulcer
      disease was evaluated for the years 1975-1989. A retrospective review of 3105
      endoscopies performed for peptic disease was recorded and analyzed. Among them,
      2020 endoscopies revealed duodenal bulb deformity, and 1035 revealed the presence
      of acute duodenal ulcer. Chi-square analysis of the data for goodness of fit
      revealed statistical differences for certain months. Slightly more patients with
      chronic deformity presented in June and November, whereas more patients with
      acute duodenal ulcer presented in July, November, and December (p < 0.001). The
      ratio of acute to chronic disease was nearly constant throughout the year. The
      Edwards chi 2 test for seasonal trends did not reveal any seasonality (p > 0.75).
      The differences observed in June-July and November-December, as compared with the
      rest of the year, were so small that they should not be relied upon for the
      clinical management of peptic disease.

PMID- 1442680
TI  - Prospective evaluation of Foley catheter as a replacement gastrostomy tube.
AB  - Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy provides a nonsurgical alternative to enteral
      feeding. However, the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube may deteriorate,
      malfunction, or be accidentally expelled from the stomach, requiring replacement.
      This prospective study was performed to evaluate the use of an all silicone Foley
      catheter (Foley) as a replacement feeding gastrostomy in 28 patients requiring
      replacement gastrostomy. A plastic ring and a retention disc were always placed
      over the Foley prior to replacement. Foley functioned well without replacement in
      19 (68%) patients for a mean of 167 days. It needed to be replaced in nine (32%)
      patients due to malfunction after a mean of 138 days. Lack of migration of Foley
      was the most striking finding of our study, in contrast to case reports in the
      literature. These data suggest that Foley can be safely used as replacement
      gastrostomy tube. A randomized controlled trial comparing the Foley catheter as a
      replacement tube with other commercially available devices is needed.

PMID- 1442681
TI  - Prevalence and significance of Helicobacter pylori in patients with Barrett's
      esophagus.
AB  - A retrospective study for assessment of the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori was
      performed in 107 consecutive patients with columnar-lined epithelium in the
      esophagus. The presence of hiatal hernia and esophagitis was noted. From 71
      patients, biopsy specimens were available for analysis. No difference in the
      presence or absence of H. pylori was noted, regardless of whether or not there
      was esophagitis or hiatal hernia. Most H. pylori-positive patients show a low
      bacterial load in the metaplastic epithelium. It is assumed that the finding of
      H. pylori in columnar-lined epithelium reflects a shift in the bacterium from the
      gastric antrum. H. pylori probably has no etiologic role of esophagitis in
      Barrett's mucosa.

PMID- 1442682
TI  - Optimal nonsurgical treatment of hemorrhoids: a comparative analysis of infrared
      coagulation, rubber band ligation, and injection sclerotherapy.
AB  - Despite an abundance of nonsurgical hemorrhoid therapies, none has been
      consistently more efficacious. By combining data from multiple clinical trials in
      a meta-analysis, the present study compared the efficacy and complications of
      infrared coagulation, injection sclerotherapy, and rubber band ligation to
      determine the optimal nonoperative hemorrhoid treatment. All published clinical
      trials comparing the three methods were identified by computer search and review
      of appropriate English language journals. Five trials studying 863 patients
      satisfied all inclusion criteria. Results demonstrated that similar numbers of
      patients were asymptomatic 12 months after treatment, regardless of initial
      therapy. However, significantly fewer patients undergoing rubber band ligation
      required additional treatment because symptoms had recurred. Although rubber band
      ligation demonstrated greater long-term efficacy, it was associated with a
      significantly higher incidence of posttreatment pain. In contrast, infrared
      coagulation was associated with both fewer and less severe complications. Thus,
      when all factors are considered, infrared coagulation may in fact be the optimal
      nonoperative hemorrhoid treatment.

PMID- 1442683
TI  - Fistulosphincterotomy in the endoscopic approach to biliary tract diseases.
AB  - We report our experience with 49 patients who underwent fistulosphincterotomy
      (FS) after cannulation of the common bile duct (CBD) by standard approaches had
      failed, due to suspected CBD obstruction. Only 4% of our cases turned out to have
      no biliary obstruction at all. The morbidity rate was 16%, and the mortality rate
      was 2%. In our series, FS raised the success rate of CBD cannulation from 90% to
      96%. Ninety-five percent of successful cannulations were followed by endoscopic
      treatment. There were no cases of perforation or hemorrhage, and no difference in
      the success rate between FS in flat papillas and FS in bulging papillas, thanks,
      perhaps, to the technique we used. Our findings would indicate that FS is a
      useful procedure involving additional but not prohibitive risks. Nonetheless, it
      should be used only when CBD obstruction is strongly suspected and standard
      methods are not successful.

PMID- 1442684
TI  - CT-guided needle biopsy of the pancreas: a retrospective analysis of diagnostic
      accuracy.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of percutaneous needle
      biopsy of the pancreas and to compare its sensitivity with that of simple
      computerized tomographic (CT) prediction of malignancy. The records of 41
      patients who underwent CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsies of the pancreas
      during a 4-yr period were reviewed retrospectively. Pre-biopsy CT scans were
      evaluated independently by two experienced radiologists in a blinded fashion.
      Needle biopsy yielded a correct diagnosis of cancer (sensitivity) in only 45% of
      patients ultimately found to have a malignancy, whereas the radiologic
      interpretation alone correctly predicted cancer in 76% of such patients. The
      negative predictive value of needle biopsy was no better (43%) than the
      radiologist's CT interpretation alone. Our findings confirm previous observations
      that percutaneous needle biopsy is an insensitive method of diagnosing pancreatic
      cancer. In our experience, needle biopsy proved less accurate than expert
      radiologic interpretation of CT scans alone.

PMID- 1442685
TI  - Gastrointestinal transit after spinal cord injury: effect of cisapride.
AB  - Heartburn, bloating, and abdominal discomfort are common problems in patients
      with spinal cord injury but, despite its clinical significance, little is known
      about the gastrointestinal effects of spinal transections. To address the
      potential gastrointestinal pathophysiology of spinal cord injury, we measured
      mouth-to-cecum transit time (MCTT) in seven subjects with paraplegia and seven
      with quadriplegia. Gastric emptying was studied in six subjects with
      quadriplegia. MCTT was significantly prolonged in patients with quadriplegia, an
      abnormality corrected by the administration of cisapride. Patients with
      paraplegia, in contrast to those with quadriplegia, have normal mouth-to-cecum
      transit time. In addition, patients with quadriplegia had neither a prolonged
      gastric emptying time nor a change in gastric emptying time, with cisapride.
      Changes in gastrointestinal transit after spinal cord injury and the improvement
      of mouth-to-cecum transit time in subjects with quadriplegia, but not in those
      with paraplegia, may be explained by an imbalance between parasympathetic and
      sympathetic outflows to the gastrointestinal tract in this group of subjects.

PMID- 1442686
TI  - Endoscopic ultrasonography findings in acute gastric anisakiasis.
AB  - To clarify the components of the thickened gastric wall in acute gastric
      anisakiasis, we evaluated endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) findings of acute
      gastric anisakiasis. Ten patients with acute gastric anisakiasis underwent
      endoscopic ultrasonography immediately after anisakiasis was diagnosed by
      endoscopy. In the acute phase of gastric anisakiasis, endoscopic ultrasonography
      (EUS) detected a thickening of the gastric wall made of mainly thickened third
      layer with low echoic changes. When EUS was performed 7 to 11 days later in seven
      patients, the EUS findings had normalized. We made clear EUS findings in acute
      gastritis due to gastric anisakiasis. Consequently, we found, by EUS, that the
      main inflammatory lesion in anisakiasis was in the submucosal layer of gastric
      wall.

PMID- 1442687
TI  - Detection of HIV-1 protein and nucleic acid in enterochromaffin cells of HIV-1
      seropositive patients.
AB  - Diarrhea contributes significantly to the morbidity and mortality of patients
      with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Up to 50% of AIDS patients
      have diarrhea, and an etiologic agent for this cannot be identified in all of
      them. Recent evidence suggests that enterochromaffin cells may be infected by the
      human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and may contribute to the unexplained
      diarrhea. To test this hypothesis further, endoscopic biopsies of duodena from 22
      HIV-1 seropositive patients [17 with diarrhea (> 500 g/day and > 3 bowel
      movements/day), five without diarrhea] and from 15 normal controls (no HIV risk
      factors) without diarrhea were studied. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded 5
      microns sections were examined by immunocytochemistry, using a monoclonal
      antibody to the HIV-1 gp41 protein, and by in situ hybridization with a full
      length biotinylated HIV-1 DNA probe. Positive staining for gp41 was detected in
      crypt cells, consistent with the location, size, and morphology of
      enterochromaffin cells, in 11 of 17 HIV-1-seropositive patients with diarrhea,
      and in none of five without diarrhea. Nucleic acid hybridization staining was
      performed in five of the 11 patients who had positive gp41 staining; all showed
      HIV nucleic acid sequences in similar cells. All three of the five patients with
      positive staining for HIV nucleic acid sequences had diarrhea for which no
      etiologic agent for diarrhea could be found, and one each had cryptosporidia or
      microsporidia. No staining was observed in any of the samples from normal control
      tissues. These results suggest that HIV-1 may infect enterochromaffin cells and
      possibly alter their function. This, in turn, may contribute to the diarrhea
      associated with AIDS.

PMID- 1442688
TI  - Dysgonic fermenter-3: a bacterium associated with diarrhea in immunocompromised
      hosts.
AB  - We describe two patients with chronic diarrhea associated with dysgonic fermenter
      3 (DF-3) infection. One patient had common variable hypogammaglobulinemia and the
      other hand chronic idiopathic neutropenia and human immunodeficiency virus
      infection. Specific stool culture techniques were necessary to isolate DF-3. The
      organism was sensitive to clindamycin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim
      sulfamethoxazole. Antibiotic therapy eradicated the organism and the diarrhea
      resolved in both patients. DF-3 is a little-recognized organism associated with
      diarrhea in the immunocompromised patient. It should be suspected when routine
      evaluation and stool cultures are not diagnostic.

PMID- 1442689
TI  - Pseudomembranous enteritis: rediscovery of a previously well-described entity?

PMID- 1442690
TI  - Association of gluten-sensitive enteropathy and Crohn's colitis.

PMID- 1442691
TI  - Crohn's disease associated with cyclic neutropenia.
AB  - Crohn's disease and neutropenia unrelated to drug therapy is a rare association.
      We present a case of Crohn's disease associated with cyclic neutropenia. Our
      patient, observed over 10 yr, is unique due to the lack of recurrent bacterial
      infections or other associated sequelae of the neutropenic state. There was no
      consistent association between white blood cell cycling and exacerbations of her
      Crohn's disease. However, the latter did appear to worsen the neutropenic state.
      A clear pattern of cyclic neutropenia became apparent only when the disease was
      quiescent and all medications had been discontinued. We report this case for its
      value in pursuing clinically and therapeutically appropriate options, including
      surgery and drugs with neutropenic potential, in patients with Crohn's disease
      and, possibly, white blood cell abnormalities.

PMID- 1442692
TI  - Fulminant hepatitis B and delta virus coinfection in AIDS.

PMID- 1442693
TI  - Acute pancreatitis associated with acute hepatitis A.
AB  - The etiology of acute pancreatitis is diverse, and unusual causes include several
      common viral infections. Although pancreatitis has been found at autopsy in
      patients with fulminant hepatic failure, there have been only a few reports of an
      association between mild to moderate acute viral hepatitis and acute
      pancreatitis. A case of acute hepatitis A complicated by acute pancreatitis is
      presented, and the relevant literature regarding this unusual association is
      reviewed.

PMID- 1442694
TI  - Spontaneous splenic rupture complicating acute Q fever.
AB  - Q fever is usually a self-limited febrile illness that involves the lungs and the
      liver. Acute complications are rare. We present the case of a 30-yr-old patient
      with spontaneous splenic rupture during the course of acute Q fever infection. He
      was admitted to the hospital with high temperature and the radiological signs of
      an atypical pneumonia. Forty-eight hours after admission, he developed shock.
      Because of free intraabdominal liquid, a laparatomy was performed that revealed a
      tear in the enlarged spleen. A splenectomy was performed. The diagnosis of Q
      fever was established by a significant titer increase in complement fixation test
      and IgM-ELISA. Serological investigations into the patient's surroundings
      revealed evidence of Q fever infection in 10 additional persons. Q fever should
      be taken into account as a possible differential diagnosis in patients with
      unexplained febrile illness and symptoms of pneumonia. The acute course of Q
      fever infection can be complicated by splenic rupture. The diagnosis of an acute
      infection with Coxiella burnetii often requires serologic testing of a second
      serum sample obtained at least 10 days after the onset of symptoms. Q fever
      should be ruled out in cases of unexplained splenic rupture particularly in Q
      fever endemic areas.

PMID- 1442695
TI  - The treatment of isolated pancreatic metastases from renal cell carcinoma: a
      surgical review.
AB  - The pancreas is an uncommon site of metastasis for renal cell carcinoma. Multiple
      metastasis to the pancreas from a renal cell carcinoma 17 yr after the primary
      diagnosis is even more uncommon. Such a case, treated by total pancreatectomy,
      and a review of the relevant literature including all recorded cases of
      surgically treated pancreatic metastasis of renal cell carcinoma, are presented.

PMID- 1442696
TI  - Sickle cell crisis and cocaine hepatotoxicity.
AB  - Hepatic dysfunction occurs in up to 10% of patients with sickle cell crisis;
      however, hepatic failure is quite unusual. Cocaine hepatotoxicity has recently
      been recognized in humans with liver biopsies showing varying patterns of
      necrosis. Most patients reported with cocaine intoxication have rhabdomyolysis
      with renal failure, and half of the cases have been fatal. A patient with
      concomitant sickle cell crisis and cocaine intoxication presented with hepatic
      failure, coagulopathy, and encephalopathy. Transjugular liver biopsy showed focal
      areas of confluent necrosis and large areas of collapse. Cocaine intoxication
      should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hepatic failure in patients
      with sickle cell anemia.

PMID- 1442697
TI  - Cervical soft tissue metastasis of typical carcinoid tumor preceding diagnosis of
      ileal primary by 4 years.
AB  - A solitary cervical metastasis of a typical carcinoid tumor was found in the
      subcutaneous tissue of an asymptomatic 38-yr-old woman. Investigations failed to
      disclose the primary site until the 5th yr, when she presented with carcinoid
      syndrome. Multifocal ileal carcinoid tumors were resected and debulking of
      abdominal metastases performed. Interferon and somatostatin analogue treatment
      resulted in remission. Solitary cervical metastasis is an exceedingly rare
      initial manifestation of a mid-gut carcinoid tumor, and poses a therapeutic
      dilemma. There are no directions in the literature as to whether a "wait-and-see"
      approach or exploration surgery is the preferred management when one is
      confronted by a cervical metastasis of typical carcinoid tumor of unknown primary
      site.

PMID- 1442698
TI  - Acute esophageal obstruction: a unique presentation of a giant intramural
      esophageal leiomyoma.
AB  - We report the case of a 33-yr-old man who presented with an acute incomplete
      esophageal obstruction, mimicking food impaction, who was found to have a giant
      intramural esophageal leiomyoma. The leiomyoma was successfully removed through a
      longitudinal esophagotomy. This is the first report of a nonpedunculated
      intramural esophageal leiomyoma presenting as an acute esophageal obstruction.

PMID- 1442699
TI  - Ascites: to drain or recirculate.

PMID- 1442700
TI  - Old habits may be hard to break.

PMID- 1442701
TI  - Colonic motility in ulcerative colitis: muscling in on a mucosal disease?

PMID- 1442702
TI  - Reflux-associated esophageal spasm.

PMID- 1442703
TI  - Pepto-Bismol mimicking pancreatic calcification.

PMID- 1442704
TI  - Guidewire loop formation in common bile duct during biliary manometry.

PMID- 1442705
TI  - Combined injection and thermal therapy in the management of early post
      polypectomy bleeding.

PMID- 1442706
TI  - Natural history of erosive duodenitis.

PMID- 1442707
TI  - Volvulus of the sigmoid colon associated with eventration of the diaphragm.

PMID- 1442708
TI  - Gastrostomy tube deterioration and fungal colonization.

PMID- 1442709
TI  - Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

PMID- 1442710
TI  - Chronic urticaria atopic dermatitis and celiac disease.

PMID- 1442711
TI  - Olsalazine sodium can cause myopia that can be clinically confused with the
      uveitis of inflammatory bowel disease.

PMID- 1442712
TI  - Transrectal ultrasonographic demonstration of rectal varices.

PMID- 1442713
TI  - Gallbladder perforation presenting as significant hyperbilirubinemia.

PMID- 1442714
TI  - Autoimmunity and genetics contribute to the risk of insulin-dependent diabetes
      mellitus in families: islet cell antibodies and HLA DQ heterodimers.
AB  - The risk for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) associated with genetic
      susceptibility markers at the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DQA1 and DQB1 loci
      was evaluated among individuals with and those without islet cell antibodies. A
      total of 108 antibody-positive parents and siblings of IDDM patients from the
      Pittsburgh registry were identified among 1,592 who were screened. HLA-DQ
      molecular typing was performed on 79 of these individuals and on 78 antibody
      negative relatives. There were similar proportions of homozygotes for both of the
      diabetogenic alleles DQA1 arginine-52 (R/R) and DQB1 non-aspartate-57 (nD/nD)
      among the antibody-positive and antibody-negative relatives (19.0 and 15.4%,
      respectively). However, subsequent development of IDDM was restricted to
      individuals who were both antibody positive and carried the potential to make at
      least one diabetogenic DQ heterodimer. A dose-response effect was observed among
      the antibody-positive relatives, in which two of 18 capable of generating one
      diabetogenic heterodimer and six of 29 generating two heterodimers became insulin
      requiring. Nine of 15 who were homozygous for both R/R and nD/nD, coding
      exclusively for diabetogenic variants, became diabetic over the course of the
      follow-up. With a multivariate model, the relative risk for IDDM among those with
      islet cell antibodies who were also R/R and nD/nD was estimated to be 229.3
      compared with those lacking both, after age and sex were controlled for. The data
      suggest that while autoimmunity, indicated by the presence of cytoplasmic islet
      cell antibodies may be relatively common, it progresses only in those with
      variant HLA-DQ molecules.

PMID- 1442715
TI  - The relation of prothrombin times to coronary heart disease risk factors among
      men aged 31-45 years.
AB  - Although levels of coagulation factor VII and fibrinogen are predictive of
      cardiovascular disease, relatively little data describe hemostatic
      characteristics in healthy populations. The cross-sectional associations between
      the prothrombin time, a measure of the activity of the extrinsic and common
      pathways of coagulation, and traits associated with the risk of cardiovascular
      disease were therefore examined among 3,604 white and 514 black, male, US Army
      veterans aged 31-45 years. The prothrombin time measurements, performed in 1985
      and 1986, were precise, with an intraclass correlation of 0.98 (202 pairs).
      Overall, the mean prothrombin time was 12.4 seconds (standard deviation, 0.4
      seconds), and 11 percent of the men had a value of less than 12 seconds. Many of
      the observed associations with the prothrombin time paralleled those that have
      been reported with clotting factor VII and fibrinogen. The mean prothrombin time
      was 0.15 seconds shorter among whites than among blacks and was 0.2 seconds
      shorter among current cigarette smokers than among men who had never smoked.
      Inverse associations were also seen with relative weight and with levels of total
      cholesterol and triglycerides (r = -0.09 to -0.16). All associations were
      statistically significant at the 0.01 level, and the examined characteristics
      could jointly account for about 12 percent of the variability in prothrombin
      times. Additional data on characteristics related to coagulation may help
      elucidate the natural history of cardiovascular disease and aid in the design of
      clinical trials.

PMID- 1442716
TI  - Leukocyte count correlates in middle-aged adults: the Atherosclerosis Risk in
      Communities (ARIC) Study.
AB  - Cross-sectional associations between leukocyte count and sociodemographic and
      cardiovascular risk factors were investigated in 14,679 participants aged 45-64
      years in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study carried out in four US
      communities in 1986-1989. Leukocyte count was strongly associated with present or
      past history of cigarette smoking and was higher in males than in females and in
      white subjects than in black subjects. Among never smokers, no sex differences
      were evident after adjustment for other risk factors. Race-associated differences
      were substantially reduced after other factors were taken into account in
      multivariate analyses. In never smokers, leukocyte count was higher in those who
      reported poor health, and it was inversely associated with high density
      lipoprotein cholesterol, forced expiratory volume at 1 second, physical activity,
      and, among whites, height and socioeconomic indicators. It was directly
      associated with indices of body weight and body fat, heart rate, blood pressure,
      hemoglobin, platelet count, uric acid, fasting insulin and glycemia,
      triglycerides, fibrinogen, antithrombin III, protein C, factors VII and VIII, and
      von Willebrand factor. The associations of leukocyte count with cardiovascular
      risk factors may either represent manifestation of subclinical disease or suggest
      that leukocyte count is part of the causal chain leading to atherosclerosis.
      Alternatively, the relation of leukocyte count to cardiovascular disease may be
      confounded by risk factors and thus be noncausal.

PMID- 1442717
TI  - Postprandial lipemia: reliability in an epidemiologic field study.
AB  - Ten subjects from the Forsyth County, North Carolina, and Washington County,
      Maryland, field centers in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study had two
      fat tolerance tests within a 10-day period from September 1988 to February 1989
      to determine the reproducibility of markers for postprandial lipemia. No
      significant differences between visits were found in fasting mean plasma lipids,
      lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins. Postprandial triglycerides and retinyl
      palmitate were measured at 3.5 and 9.0 hours after the test meal in whole plasma.
      There were no significant differences in the mean levels of these analytes
      between visits. The correlation of triglycerides between repeat visits at 9.0
      hours (r = 0.87) was stronger than in fasting samples (r = 0.67) or at 3.5 hours
      (r = 0.69). The mean plasma retinyl palmitate level at 3.5 hours was 15% higher
      than at the 9.0-hour level. The correlation of repeat measures of retinyl
      palmitate at 9.0 hours (r = 0.94) was much stronger than at 3.5 hours (r = 0.79).
      In conclusion, estimates of reliability in postprandial measurements of 9.0-hour
      triglycerides and retinyl palmitate levels were as strong as fasting lipid
      measurements of total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low
      density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and
      both postprandial triglyceride measurements exceeded that of fasting triglyceride
      (r = 0.67).

PMID- 1442718
TI  - The relation of high density lipoprotein cholesterol and its subfractions to
      apolipoprotein A-I and fasting triglycerides: the role of environmental factors.
      The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.
AB  - Cross-sectional analysis of four general representative populations of middle
      aged adults in the United States in 1986-1989 provides estimates of the close
      relation of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) to its major
      structural apolipoprotein (apolipoprotein A-I) and to fasting plasma triglyceride
      levels. HDL cholesterol differences of approximately 0.4 mg were associated with
      1-mg differences in apolipoprotein A-I; differences of 20% in HDL cholesterol
      (reductions) were associated with triglyceride doublings. Variation in
      apolipoprotein A-I and triglyceride concentration together accounted for 66% of
      the population variance in HDL cholesterol. The uniformity of this pattern in the
      four race-sex groups studied suggests an important role of triglyceride
      cholesterol transfer as a determinant of HDL cholesterol. The fundamental
      relations observed among HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I, and triglycerides
      were unaltered by levels of factors under personal volition. The volitional
      factors appeared to influence HDL cholesterol indirectly: Obesity and physical
      activity were affected primarily through their associations with triglycerides,
      and alcohol use and smoking through associations with apolipoprotein A-I. The
      association of alcohol use with elevated HDL cholesterol was attenuated in
      persons with greater body mass.

PMID- 1442719
TI  - Is stroke mortality on the decline in England?
AB  - This paper challenges the assumption that mortality from stroke will remain
      constant or decline over the next few decades. A decline in stroke mortality
      could be brought about by changes in factors acting close to the time of death
      (period effect) or by risk factors determined by the generation into which a
      person is born (cohort effect). Age-specific death rates for stroke (1931-1985)
      in England and Wales were analyzed to estimate the influence of these different
      effects. There were significant effects for age, period, and cohort on mortality
      from stroke with significantly different age and period effects in each sex. The
      effect of age was linear, with an increasing mortality with age in both sexes.
      Cohort analysis demonstrated a deceleration away from the previous trend in the
      mortality rates associated with birth cohorts born after 1880, followed by an
      acceleration in the trend of mortality rates in cohorts born after 1910. These
      relative increases in risk for cohorts born after 1910 were offset by a
      deceleration in mortality associated with periods from around 1951-1954. Since
      cohort effects are likely to be associated with a lifetime increase in risk of
      stroke mortality, it is difficult to predict the extent of any long-term fall in
      stroke incidence.

PMID- 1442720
TI  - Agreement between maternal interview- and medical record-based gestational age.
AB  - Agreement between maternal interview- and medical record-based gestational age
      was assessed by using data from a case-control study of childhood strabismus. The
      sample consisted of 383 cases of strabismus and their age-matched controls,
      diagnosed between 1985 and 1986 in Baltimore, Maryland, who were under age 7
      years when diagnosed. Medical record-based gestational age was derived, in order
      of priority, from early ultrasound examination, time from the last menstrual
      period, pediatric examination, and obstetric examination. The intraclass
      correlation coefficient, kappa, and mean difference were used to compare
      agreement between maternal interview- and medical record-based gestational age by
      maternal and pregnancy characteristics and characteristics related to study
      design. Overall, 86 percent of mothers were within 2 weeks of the gestational age
      reported in the medical record. The intraclass correlation coefficient comparing
      maternal and medical record-based gestational age was 0.83 (95% confidence
      interval 0.80-0.86). Agreement was positively associated with shorter length of
      recall, low birth order, and having a neonatal illness related to prematurity.
      Agreement was poor among mothers of healthy preterm infants. There was a weak
      positive association between recall and some sociodemographic covariates. There
      was greater misclassification of prematurity in the controls than in the cases.
      The results suggest that, in general, women recall gestational age well, which
      supports the use of gestational age derived from maternal interviews.

PMID- 1442721
TI  - Maternal nutrition and spontaneous preterm birth.
AB  - Previous studies suggesting that maternal undernutrition increases the risk of
      preterm birth have suffered from several methodological shortcomings, including
      use of total gestational weight gain rather than net rate of gain in maternal
      tissue, inclusion of induced preterm deliveries, and error-prone gestational age
      measurements based solely on menstrual dates. The authors have attempted to
      overcome these shortcomings by investigating the potential etiologic roles of
      prepregnancy body mass index, net rate of maternal weight gain, height, and a
      number of other potential biological and sociodemographic determinants of
      spontaneous (i.e., noninduced) preterm birth in a cohort of 13,102 women with
      early ultrasound-confirmed gestational age who delivered at the Royal Victoria
      Hospital in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, between January 1, 1980 and March 31, 1989.
      Total weight gain, but not body mass index, was highly significantly associated
      with spontaneous preterm birth, averaging 14.6, 12.5, 9.9, and 9.1 kg, in women
      delivering at 37 or more, less than 37, less than 34, and less than 32 completed
      weeks, respectively. Although the relation persisted when weight gain was
      expressed as an overall rate, it disappeared when the analysis was based on net
      rate; mean net rates of gain were 0.28, 0.29, 0.27, and 0.27 kg/week,
      respectively. On the basis of multiple logistic regression analyses, significant
      determinants of birth at less than 37 weeks included maternal short stature;
      noncompletion of high school; unmarried status; smoking; diabetes; urinary tract
      infection within 2 weeks of delivery; prepregnancy hypertension; severe pregnancy
      induced hypertension; and previous history of preterm delivery, low birth weight,
      or neonatal death. Most of these factors retained their significance for birth at
      less than 34 and less than 32 weeks. In fact, the effect of low maternal
      education was even stronger at these more severe "levels" of preterm birth. The
      authors conclude that prepregnancy weight-for-height and gestational weight gain
      are not important determinants of spontaneous preterm birth and that some
      previous studies have mistaken an effect of shortened gestation for its cause.
      Other biologic and social determinants, however, indicate priorities for future
      research and intervention.

PMID- 1442722
TI  - The geographic structure of measles epidemics in the northeastern United States.
AB  - The incidence of disease across geographic space often produces distinctive
      regional patterns. In this paper, a modeling approach to the identification of
      the factors that shape the patterns is presented, and a procedure for fitting the
      model to observed data is given. The methodology is illustrated by an application
      to the geographic structure of measles epidemics among 22 states of the
      northeastern United States, New York City, and Washington, D.C., from 1962 to
      1988. The patterns identified are interpreted in terms of the spatial behavior of
      measles epidemics in the region, and the implications of the methodology for
      surveillance and control are considered.

PMID- 1442723
TI  - Prevalence and incidence of viral hepatitis in health workers in the prehepatitis
      B vaccination era.
AB  - To assess the impact of hepatitis B virus on health workers, the authors studied
      baseline prevalences of hepatitis B serologic markers and undertook prospective
      surveillance to assess hepatitis B attack rates in 837 health workers and 994
      blood-donor controls between 1977 and 1982, before the introduction of hepatitis
      B vaccine. The baseline prevalence of all hepatitis B markers was 14% in health
      workers and 6% in controls (p < 0.001); exposure to hepatitis B virus was related
      to the intensity of blood exposure and its duration. In contrast, the frequency
      of exposure to hepatitis A virus, a nonblood-borne agent, was lower in health
      workers (11%) than in controls (16%) (p < 0.01) and increased as a function of
      age. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified occupational categories
      with frequent blood contact, rather than duration of exposure, as being the
      dominant variable for exposure to hepatitis B virus; for hepatitis A virus
      exposure, age was the most significant variable. Among health workers susceptible
      to hepatitis B, the incidence of new definite hepatitis B infections was 1.0% per
      year in 362 health workers (804 person-years of follow-up observation) with
      frequent blood contact versus 0% per year in 258 health workers (534 person-years
      of observation) with limited blood contact (p = 0.017). For definite plus
      probable cases combined, the incidence of new hepatitis B infections was 1.5% per
      year versus 0.2% per year for the groups with frequent and limited blood
      exposures, respectively (p = 0.0013). There were no new cases of hepatitis A or B
      or seroconversions in controls and only one case of hepatitis A acquired outside
      the hospital by a health worker. These data confirm the high prevalence of
      hepatitis B exposure and document in a prospective study the high incidence over
      time of new hepatitis B virus infections in health workers unprotected by
      vaccination. Such findings reiterate the need for aggressive vaccination programs
      in health workers exposed to blood.

PMID- 1442724
TI  - A foodborne outbreak of gastroenteritis involving two different pathogens.
AB  - On the evening of October 10, 1990, many of the 474 inmates of a state prison in
      Florida began to experience symptoms of gastroenteritis. An investigation
      included interviews with inmates, evaluation of the kitchen and food-handling
      practices, cultures of leftover food, stool cultures, and cultures from the nares
      and skin lesions of food handlers. Of the 331 inmates interviewed, 215 (65%) had
      diarrhea, vomiting, or both. The median incubation period was 5 hours (range, 1
      41 hours). Cases with onset of illness 8 or more hours after the evening meal
      were more likely than those with earlier onset to have had only diarrhea without
      vomiting (p < 0.001). Eating turkey at the evening meal on October 10 was
      associated with risk of illness (relative risk = 4.8, 95% confidence interval 1.7
      13.7). Cases who became ill within 8 hours of the evening meal and those who
      became ill later were both more likely to have eaten turkey than those who did
      not become ill (p < 0.001 and p < 0.007, respectively). Salmonella infantis and
      enterotoxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus were both isolated from samples of
      leftover turkey, and S. infantis was isolated from 18 of 20 stool specimens.
      Cultures of the anterior nares and skin lesions of food handlers grew S. aureus,
      but phage typing failed to link these strains to the outbreak. Improper food
      handling practices contributed to the development of this outbreak. This report
      highlights the importance of recognizing multiple-organism outbreaks, since the
      authors' recommendations for prevention of more cases depended upon knowing the
      risks associated with the distinct organisms and the possible sources of
      contamination.

PMID- 1442725
TI  - Re: "Homicide and the prevalence of handguns: Canada and the United States, 1976
      to 1980".

PMID- 1442726
TI  - Re: "Homicide and the prevalence of handguns: Canada and the United States, 1976
      1980".

PMID- 1442727
TI  - Re: "Homicide and the prevalence of handguns: Canada and the United States, 1976
      1980".

PMID- 1442728
TI  - Re: "Homicide and the prevalence of handguns: Canada and the United States, 1976
      80".

PMID- 1442729
TI  - Preexisting lung disease and lung cancer among nonsmoking women.
AB  - Preexisting lung disease was examined as a risk factor for lung cancer in a
      population-based, case-control study of nonsmoking women in Missouri conducted
      between June 1, 1986, and April 1, 1991. A history of lung disease was reported
      by approximately 41% of 618 cases and 35% of 1,402 controls (odds ratio (OR) =
      1.2; 95% confidence interval (Cl) 1.0-1.5. The risk was more pronounced when next
      of-kin interviews were excluded (OR = 1.5). Previous lung disease was
      significantly related both to adenocarcinoma (OR = 1.4), which accounted for 62%
      of the cancers, and to all other cell types of lung cancer combined (OR = 1.8).
      Despite having discontinued smoking for more than 15 years, long-term ex-smokers
      were at a 2.2-fold risk of lung cancer compared with lifetime nonsmokers. Among
      lifetime nonsmokers, significant risks were noted for asthma (OR = 2.7) and
      pneumonia (OR = 1.5). Emphysema (OR = 2.6) and tuberculosis (OR = 2.0) were also
      significantly related to lung cancer, but only among former smokers. Chronic
      bronchitis was linked to elevated risks of nonadenocarcinomas only (OR = 2.3).
      Pleurisy was not reported more frequently by cases than by controls.
      Approximately 16% of all lung cancers among nonsmoking women could be attributed
      to previous lung diseases, most notably asthma, pneumonia, emphysema, and
      tuberculosis.

PMID- 1442730
TI  - Longitudinal prediction of adult blood pressure from juvenile blood pressure
      levels.
AB  - The link between blood pressure measured at juvenile ages (3-18 years) and
      subsequent adult ages (30 and 50 years) was investigated in a community-based
      longitudinal study conducted in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1928 to the
      present. The original sample of 550 persons decreased 61 percent by age 50 years,
      leaving only 211 persons in the cohort. Blood pressure was measured annually up
      to age 18 years and each decade thereafter, providing a unique opportunity to
      link childhood and adult blood pressures over periods of up to 50 years. Juvenile
      blood pressure measured from age 6 years onward was a positive predictor of blood
      pressure at age 30 years. Blood pressure measured at age 50 years was predicted
      best by juvenile pressures measured at early school age and early puberty. The
      juvenile-adult blood pressure association was partly explained by controlling for
      smoking and parental history of cardiovascular disease, but was not explained by
      controlling for juvenile height or body mass. It was stronger in children from
      blue collar families. The reported correlations probably represent an
      underestimation of the true strength of the association because of a greater loss
      to follow-up among subjects with higher blood pressure and the effects of
      antihypertensive medication in adulthood.

PMID- 1442731
TI  - Mortality trends in a cohort of homosexual men in New York City, 1978-1988.
AB  - Trends in mortality related to infection by human immunodeficiency virus type 1
      (HIV-1) and to other causes were examined from 1978 to 1988 in a cohort of 8,906
      homosexual men who participated in studies of hepatitis B virus infection in the
      late 1970s in New York City. HIV-related mortality rates increased from 1 per
      10,000 person-years in 1980 to 181 per 10,000 person-years in 1986, followed by a
      plateau from 1986 to 1988. The standardized mortality ratio among white men in
      the cohort was 3.7 (95% confidence interval (Cl) 3.4-3.9) as compared with white
      men from across the United States. Higher HIV-related mortality rates were
      associated with a higher number of sexual partners, a history of gonorrhea and/or
      syphilis, and serologic markers of infection with hepatitis B virus. After
      adjustment for demographics and sexual behaviors, the relative risk of mortality
      for Hispanic men as compared with white men was 1.5 (95% Cl 1.1-1.9). This study
      illustrates the large excess in mortality among homosexual men over the last
      decade, with the excess accounted for by deaths from HIV-related diseases. The
      recent plateau in mortality may be due to the effect of new treatments and/or the
      decline in new HIV-1 infections among homosexual men. The excess in HIV-related
      mortality among Hispanic homosexual men was not explained by differences in
      demographics and factors associated with the sexual transmission of HIV-1.

PMID- 1442732
TI  - Characteristics of mothers of live infants with congenital syphilis in Florida,
      1987-1989.
AB  - The incidence of congenital syphilis in Florida increased sixfold from 1985
      through 1989, and more than 80% of the cases occurred in metropolitan areas of
      southern Florida. To characterize the population of pregnant women in Florida at
      high risk of delivering an infant with congenital syphilis, the authors conducted
      a case-control study using birth certificates. Birth certificates were obtained
      for 256 of the 344 live infants reported as having congenital syphilis from 1987
      through 1989 (74%); the 246 of these infants born in hospitals were matched for
      hospital and week of birth with an equal number of controls. In conditional
      multiple logistic regression, the following maternal characteristics were
      independent risk factors for congenital syphilis: young age, black race, single
      marital status, absence of a father's name on the birth certificate, previous
      pregnancy, substance abuse, and lack of prenatal care. Although the national
      origin of the mother was not a significant risk factor, the infants of black
      mothers born in the United States were at greater risk than the infants of black
      mothers born outside the United States. Mothers who had < or = 3 prenatal visits
      had an increased risk of delivering an infant with congenital syphilis as
      compared with mothers who had > 3 visits. This study suggests that targeted
      outreach efforts are necessary to control congenital syphilis and provides
      guidance for public health intervention activities.

PMID- 1442733
TI  - Comparative behavioral epidemiology of gonococcal and chlamydial infections among
      patients attending a Baltimore, Maryland, sexually transmitted disease clinic.
AB  - Between April 1988 and May 1989, 400 males and 400 females attending a Baltimore,
      Maryland, sexually transmitted disease clinic were enrolled in a study evaluating
      and comparing behaviors associated with culture-proven gonococcal or chlamydial
      infection. The subjects were enrolled consecutively, and were all seen by the
      same clinician. Among participants of each sex, gonorrhea but not chlamydia was
      associated with increasing numbers of recent (the past 30 days) sexual partners.
      Compared with males with neither infection, factors independently associated with
      increased risk of gonorrhea included age less than 20 years (odds ratio (OR) =
      1.93), the presence of genitourinary symptoms (OR = 8.07), and recent exposure to
      a new sexual partner (OR = 2.78); risk for chlamydial infection in males was
      associated with genitourinary symptoms (OR = 2.83) and was significantly reduced
      in those reporting multiple recent (OR = 0.19) or new (OR = 0.07) sexual
      partners. Among females, age less than 20 years was independently associated with
      gonococcal (OR = 1.86) and chlamydial (OR = 7.79) infections in comparison with
      females with neither infection. No other behavioral factors were associated with
      chlamydial infection for females in this study; however, having a regular sexual
      partner was associated with significantly elevated risk of gonorrhea (OR = 3.85),
      while the presence of genital tract symptoms was associated with diminished risk
      (OR = 0.29) for gonorrhea. These data suggest that there are differences in the
      behaviors associated with gonorrheal and chlamydial infections and that different
      strategies may be useful in efforts to control these infections.

PMID- 1442734
TI  - Behavioral risk factors for injury among rural adolescents.
AB  - This 3-year, longitudinal, prospective study examined behavioral risk factors for
      medically attended injuries among a cohort of 758 rural students from Maryland's
      Eastern Shore region who were 12-14 years of age in 1987. Students were surveyed
      annually in the eighth, ninth, and tenth grades with a self-administered
      questionnaire. Information was obtained on the number of injuries experienced,
      risk-taking behaviors, delinquency, alcohol and drug use, physical exercise and
      sports, parental supervision, and work experience. Information on the parents'
      education was obtained from a parental interview. Slightly more than half (53.5%)
      of the students reported having experienced one or more injuries in the eighth
      grade as compared with one-third of the students in ninth grade, and 38% of those
      in the tenth grade. Poisson regression analyses were conducted to examine the
      association of eighth grade variables with ninth grade injuries and ninth grade
      variables with tenth grade injuries. Results from these analyses indicated that,
      in addition to sex and race, a high degree of risk taking, frequent cruising, and
      having high and low parental supervision in the eighth grade significantly
      increased the number of injuries in ninth grade. In the tenth grade, risk taking
      continued to be associated with injuries. In addition, students who reported
      disciplinary problems in school, working 1-10 hours per week, drinking on 1-2
      days during the past month, lifetime use of marijuana equal to 1-5 occasions, and
      involvement in sports experienced greater numbers of injuries in the tenth grade.

PMID- 1442735
TI  - Weight loss and mortality in a national cohort of adults, 1971-1987.
AB  - Although obesity is a risk factor for mortality, evidence that weight loss
      improves survival is limited. The relation between self-reported previous maximum
      weight, weight loss, and subsequent mortality was examined in 2,140 men and 2,550
      women aged 45-74 years who participated in the First National Health and
      Nutrition Examination Survey (1971-1975) and survived the next 5 years. Vital
      status was determined through 1987. Among men and women whose maximum body mass
      index (weight (kg)/height (m)2) was between 26 and 29, risk of death increased
      with increasing weight loss, after adjustment for age, race, smoking, parity,
      preexisting illnesses, and maximum body mass index. Subjects who lost 15% or more
      of their maximum weight had over twice the mortality risk of those who lost less
      than 5%. At maximum body mass indices of 29 or higher, mortality risk increased
      with the amount of weight lost in women, but weight loss of 5% to < 15% appeared
      to lessen mortality risk in men. Generalization from these results is limited by
      the older age range of the sample and the inability to adequately distinguish
      voluntary from involuntary weight loss in this study. However, these findings
      suggest that prevention of severe overweight may be more generally effective than
      weight loss in reducing obesity-related mortality in the US population.

PMID- 1442736
TI  - Performance of two general job-exposure matrices in a study of lung cancer
      morbidity in the Zutphen cohort.
AB  - Data from a general population cohort of 878 men from the town of Zutphen, The
      Netherlands, were used to evaluate the performance of two general job-exposure
      matrices. Exposures generated by the job-exposure matrices on the basis of job
      histories were compared. The validity of those exposures was measured against
      exposures reported by the participants in 1977/1978. The performance of the
      different exposure measures was assessed in proportional hazards analyses of lung
      cancer morbidity incidence. The two general job-exposure matrices generally
      disagreed with regard to exposure classification because of differences in
      exposure assessment and level of detail of the job axis. When compared with self
      reported exposures, the sensitivity of both job-exposure matrices was low (on
      average, below 0.51), while the specificity was generally high (on average, above
      0.90). Self-reported exposures to asbestos, pesticides, and welding fumes showed
      elevated risk ratios for lung cancer which were absent for exposures generated by
      the two job-exposure matrices. Thus, a population-specific job-exposure matrix is
      proposed as an alternative to general job-exposure matrices developed elsewhere.
      Such a matrix can be constructed from the results of in-depth interviews of a job
      stratified sample of cohort members. Sound validation and documentation of
      exposure assessment methods used in job-exposure matrices are recommended.

PMID- 1442737
TI  - Proxy respondents and the validity of occupational and other exposure data. The
      Selected Cancers Cooperative Study Group.
AB  - As part of a multicenter cancer case-control study conducted in 1984-1988, a
      proxy interview was attempted for all cases who were initially interviewed for
      the study but who died during the 4-year data collection period. To assess the
      validity of using wives, other relatives, or other informants to obtain
      information about a subject, the authors compared occupational and other exposure
      data obtained from 270 male cancer cases and their proxy respondents. The primary
      focus of the case-control study was on Vietnam military service and exposure to
      phenoxy herbicides, but cases and their proxy respondents were also asked about
      occupational and other exposures relevant to the cancers. The accuracy of
      reporting for specific occupational exposures (e.g., asbestos and formaldehyde)
      and specific occupations (e.g., dry cleaning and meat packing or processing) was
      poor, although the latter improved somewhat when only case-spouse pairs were
      examined. Similarly, there was poor sensitivity in the reporting of herbicide
      exposure information in farming and other related occupations. In contrast, the
      reporting of certain demographic characteristics, childhood history
      characteristics, and use of alcohol and cigarettes was relatively good, and was
      even better when only case-spouse pairs were examined. The poor quality of proxy
      information for detailed exposure information suggests the need for careful use
      and interpretation of proxy information in epidemiologic studies.

PMID- 1442738
TI  - Computation of relative risk based on simultaneous surveys: an alternative to
      cohort and case-control studies.
AB  - If the same information on the distribution of risk factors is available for both
      the general population and a subset distinguished by some disease outcome, it
      becomes possible to derive relative risk estimates applicable to the entire
      population with the assurance that the data upon which the estimates are based is
      representative of that population. To illustrate this approach, data from the
      1986 National Mortality Follow-back Survey and the 1987 National Health Interview
      Survey were used to compute rate ratios for several causes of death for work in
      dirtyier as compared with cleaner occupations by three methods commonly employed
      in cohort and case-control studies: the usual standardized rate ratio, the Mantel
      Haenszel estimate of the rate ratio, and a multiplicative model fit to an
      appropriate cross-classification. Properly placed questions in appropriate
      surveys might very well serve as a substitute for cohort studies and could be
      performed at less cost and with less overall effort, and completed in a shorter
      time. Moreover, this approach is less subject to problems of representativeness
      than cohort and case-control studies.

PMID- 1442739
TI  - The analysis of regional patterns in health data. I. Distributional
      considerations.
AB  - Regional patterns of health data such as cancer incidence rates are often
      examined for evidence of environmental effects. In this paper, three measures of
      spatial clustering are evaluated for use with epidemiologic data. In particular,
      the effects of variation in regional population structure on the distribution of
      these measures is considered. It is shown that substantial bias occurs if
      variation in regional population size is ignored (as has occurred in previous
      analyses). On the other hand, the methods are robust to small case frequencies
      and to variation in the regional age distribution. It is recommended that these
      regional differences be routinely taken into account, which can be done with
      relatively little additional computation. A companion paper (Walter SD. The
      analysis of regional patterns in health data. II. The power to detect
      environmental effects.

PMID- 1442740
TI  - The analysis of regional patterns in health data. II. The power to detect
      environmental effects.
AB  - Three measures of spatial clustering (Moran's I, Geary's c, and a rank adjacency
      statistic, D) were evaluated for their power to detect regional patterns in
      health data. The patterns represented various environmental effects: a latitude
      gradient; residence near a contaminated water supply; disease "hot spots";
      relation to socioeconomic status and urbanization; and general spatial
      autocorrelation. While the methods had high power to detect certain patterns,
      they were also affected by factors such as the shape of the map, its regional
      structure, and the spatial distribution of explanatory variables. The power was
      sometimes low, even for strong geographic trends, particularly for D. Moran's I
      had the highest power most often. We conclude that use of these methods requires
      careful specification of the anticipated geographic pattern and awareness of
      idiosyncratic effects in the study of particular maps.

PMID- 1442741
TI  - Re: "Repeat measurement of case-control data: correcting risk estimates for
      misclassification due to regression dilution of lipids in transient ischemic
      attacks and minor ischemic strokes".

PMID- 1442742
TI  - Re: "Very low birth weight: a problematic cohort for epidemiologic studies of
      very small or immature neonates".

PMID- 1442743
TI  - Epidemiology of the post-polio syndrome.
AB  - A late-onset syndrome, consisting of muscle weakness, muscle pain, and
      unaccustomed fatigue, has been reported with increasing frequency among former
      poliomyelitis patients. A population-based cohort of poliomyelitis patients from
      Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, was traced and surveyed to estimate the
      prevalence and incidence and to identify determinants of the post-polio syndrome.
      A questionnaire validated in clinical examinations of 40 cohort members was used
      in the survey. The prevalence of the post-polio syndrome was 28.5% of all
      paralytic cases (95% confidence interval 24.4-32.6). The risk of post-polio
      syndrome was significantly higher among patients who sustained substantial
      permanent impairment after polio and among females. The incidence did not vary
      with age at acute onset, acute severity, or level of physical activity after
      recovery. The strongest determinant of post-polio syndrome onset was the length
      of the interval following the acute illness, with incidence peaking at 30-34
      years. Of all cases of post-polio syndrome, 79% reported no major change in
      impairment status since onset. This study demonstrates that poliomyelitis
      patients are not equally susceptible to post-polio syndrome within the interval
      of 30-40 years after the original illness. For syndrome cases, the onset was
      associated with new neuromuscular symptoms and functional changes but not with
      major new impairment.

PMID- 1442744
TI  - Prevalence of gallstone disease in relation to smoking, alcohol use, obesity, and
      glucose tolerance: a study of self-defense officials in Japan.
AB  - Risk factors of gallstone disease were investigated in male self-defense
      officials who received, between October 1986 and December 1990, a retirement
      health examination at the Self-Defense Forces Fukuoka Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
      Gallbladder ultrasonography, successfully performed with 2,739 of 2,756 men,
      found 61 men with gallstones and 38 men with previous removal of the gallbladder;
      the overall prevalence of gallstone disease was 3.6%. Multiple logistic
      regression analysis assessed the risk of gallstone disease in relation to
      smoking, alcohol use, body mass index, glucose tolerance, and rank. Alcohol use
      was associated with a decreased risk, and body mass index was positively related
      to gallstone disease. Men with impaired glucose tolerance had a slightly elevated
      risk, whereas diabetes mellitus was not associated with gallstone disease.
      Analysis for prevalent gallstones and the postcholecystectomy state showed an
      inverse association of alcohol use with the latter; a positive association with
      impaired glucose tolerance was also confined primarily to the latter condition.
      These findings provide little support for a protective effect of alcohol use in
      the formation of gallstones. It was inconclusive whether impaired glucose
      tolerance was associated selectively with postcholecystectomy.

PMID- 1442745
TI  - Blood pressure reactivity does not correlate with baseline blood pressure or
      blood pressure change over time in preschool children.
AB  - Few studies have examined the relation of blood pressure reactivity to subsequent
      change in blood pressure of preschool children. The authors investigated
      relations between measurement-induced reactivity, exercise reactivity, and change
      in blood pressure over 16 months among 140 preschool children (46-67 months of
      age at baseline, 50.7% female, 92.9% Hispanic). Within-session measurement
      induced reactivity was defined as the change in blood pressure between the first
      and the mean of the fourth and fifth readings obtained at each of 11 sessions.
      Between-session measurement-induced reactivity was defined as the change between
      mean blood pressure at session 1 and the mean of sessions 2 and 3. Both indices
      of measurement reactivity displayed poor reproducibility. Exercise reactivity was
      measured using a treadmill on two occasions and was moderately reproducible.
      There was no association between measurement and exercise reactivity. The change
      in systolic blood pressure over time was not associated with any measure of
      reactivity. The mean diastolic blood pressure did not change over the study
      period. Neither blood pressure reactivity to measurement nor blood pressure
      reactivity to exercise appeared to be a useful predictor of change in blood
      pressure in preschool children during a 16-month period.

PMID- 1442746
TI  - Physical activity and serum lipids: a cross-sectional population study in eastern
      Finnish men.
AB  - The authors studied the association of the type, amount, and intensity of
      physical activity with serum lipids in 2,492 randomly selected eastern Finnish
      men aged 42-60 years during 1984-1989, controlling for the major confounding
      factors. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) and HDL2
      cholesterol were associated positively and triglycerides inversely with total,
      occupational, and leisure time activity in a multivariate regression model (p <
      0.001). HDL3 cholesterol was associated positively only with total activity (p <
      0.001). The adjusted relative differences in HDL cholesterol, HDL2 cholesterol,
      HDL3 cholesterol, and triglycerides between extreme total (occupational, leisure
      time) activity quartiles were 10.7% (9.0%, 5.7%), 12.2% (10.3%, 9.5%), 5.9%
      (2.9%, 0%), and 22.7% (9.2%, 10.4%), respectively. HDL cholesterol and HDL2
      cholesterol were the highest and triglycerides the lowest at a conditioning
      activity intensity of more than 6 metabolic units (p < 0.001). The strongest
      associations were found for the 24-Hour Recording, which suggests short-term
      effects of physical activity on serum lipids. The beneficial effects of physical
      activity on serum lipids appear to be mediated partially by a reduced serum
      insulin concentration and decreased body adiposity. These data provide further
      confirmation for the concept that both regular or at least moderate intensity
      leisure time activity and occupational physical activity have a favorable impact
      on serum lipids.

PMID- 1442747
TI  - Does recent alcohol consumption reduce the risk of acute myocardial infarction
      and coronary death in regular drinkers?
AB  - This study, conducted in Auckland, New Zealand, over 2 years from March 1986,
      used a case-control design to investigate the hypothesis that alcohol acutely
      increases the risk of both nonfatal myocardial infarction and coronary death in
      the 24 hours after drinking, among regular drinkers. The nonfatal myocardial
      infarction analyses included 278 male and 60 female cases identified from a
      population-based coronary heart disease surveillance program and 458 male and 266
      female controls randomly selected from the same population matched by age and
      sex. In the coronary death analyses, 172 male and 16 female coronary death cases
      from the same surveillance program and a population-based sample of 294 males and
      165 females who were age and sex matched were examined. Information on alcohol
      consumption in the 24 hours before the coronary event in cases and a comparable
      24-hour period in controls was collected. Study subjects all drank alcohol
      regularly at least once per month and were aged 25-64 years. Controls were more
      likely than cases to report a drinking episode in the 24-hour period examined in
      both sexes and for fatal and nonfatal disease. After controlling for possible
      confounding, the authors found that drinkers had a consistently lower estimated
      risk of both fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease than participants
      reporting no alcohol in the previous 24 hours. The odds ratios ranged from 0.75
      (95% confidence interval 0.62-0.90) for nonfatal myocardial infarction in men to
      0.46 (95% confidence interval 0.19-1.10) for coronary death in women. There were
      no clear differences in estimated acute risk among those who drank one or two
      drinks, three or four drinks, or more than four drinks in the 24-hour period.
      These findings suggest that, contrary to previous speculation, alcohol
      consumption may acutely reduce coronary heart disease risk.

PMID- 1442748
TI  - Comparison of long-term dietary recall between cancer cases and noncases.
AB  - A quantitative history of current dietary intake based on 83 food items was
      administered by interview to a representative sample of 4,809 subjects in Hawaii
      in 1977-1979. In 1983-1987, this history was readministered to the 131 original
      respondents who had subsequently developed cancer, as well as 413 randomly
      selected subjects who remained cancer free. A surrogate was interviewed when the
      original subject was unavailable. The repeat interview elicited information about
      diet at the time of the original interview. The authors found that recall values
      for macronutrients were consistently higher than original levels for both cases
      and noncases, which may be due in part to a modification in the administration of
      the repeat questionnaire. Although there were no marked differences overall
      between cases and noncases in the ability to recall past diet, differences
      between the two groups were seen in certain subsets of the sample. In the
      subgroup with the longest recall interval (8-10 years), cases were not able to
      recall their diets as well as noncases. Also, the difference between original and
      recall values was larger for cases with colorectal cancer and all cases diagnosed
      with distant stage disease, compared with noncases. This was not true for cases
      of breast and prostate cancer and those with localized or regional disease. The
      following variables were found to have no significant effect on recall for cases
      or noncases: sex, age, education, and type of respondent (surrogate or subject).
      Of the five major ethnic groups included in the study, Japanese had the best
      recall of their past diets, while respondents reporting a diet change between the
      interviews had poorer recall than did those who reported no change. These results
      suggest that differential misclassification in dietary case-control studies may
      pose a significant problem in certain instances, but that these studies can yield
      meaningful results with certain constraints on the study population.

PMID- 1442749
TI  - Cancer of the pancreas and drinking water: a population-based case-control study
      in Washington County, Maryland.
AB  - A case-control study was done to assess a potential association between drinking
      water and pancreatic cancer in Washington County, Maryland. Cases of pancreatic
      cancer occurring from 1975 through 1989 were identified from the cancer registry.
      Controls were selected from the private 1975 census of Washington County. There
      were 101 cases and 206 controls. Chlorinated municipal water was used as a source
      of drinking water by 79% of cases and 63% of controls, yielding a significant
      odds ratio of 2.2. Adjustment for age and smoking had almost no effect on the
      risk, although both age and smoking were independently associated with an
      increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Although these findings must be interpreted
      with caution because of limitations in exposure assessment, these results have
      implications for the prevention of pancreatic cancer because chlorination of
      water is so widely practiced.

PMID- 1442750
TI  - Lymphohematopoietic cancer in styrene-butadiene polymerization workers.
AB  - 1,3-Butadiene and styrene are suspected carcinogens and common chemicals used in
      the synthesis of rubber. To investigate any potential human hazards from exposure
      to these chemicals, a case-control study of 59 lymphohematopoietic cancers was
      conducted within a cohort of male workers employed between 1943 and 1982 in eight
      North American styrene-butadiene rubber polymer-producing plants. A total of 193
      controls were matched to the cases by plant, age, year of hire, duration worked,
      and survival to time of death of the case. Each job was assigned an estimated
      exposure rank, and each worker's cumulated rank score was calculated on the basis
      of the time spent in each job throughout his employment. "Exposure" as a
      dichotomous variable was defined as a log rank score above the mean of the log
      scores for the total population of cases and controls within a subtype of cancer.
      Matched-pair analysis identified a strong association between leukemia and
      butadiene, with an odds ratio of 9.36 (95% confidence interval 2.05-22.9) and an
      association between styrene and leukemia (odds ratio = 3.13, 95% confidence
      interval 0.84-11.2) that did not achieve statistical significance. When exposure
      to both styrene and butadiene was included in a conditional logistic regression
      model, the odds ratio for butadiene remained high (odds ratio = 7.39), but the
      estimated association of leukemia with styrene was small. The results of this
      study support the hypothesis that exposure to butadiene is associated with the
      risk of leukemia. There also appears to be an additional risk from work in
      specific subdivisions of the industry.

PMID- 1442751
TI  - Use of multiple-cause mortality data in epidemiologic analyses: US rate and
      proportion files developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
      Health and the National Cancer Institute.
AB  - The authors have created US mortality rates (age, sex, race, and calendar-time
      specific) and proportions, using multiple cause-of-death data, for the years 1960
      1989. Multiple cause-of-death data include the usual underlying cause of death
      from the death certificate as well as contributory causes and other significant
      conditions. US multiple-cause rates and proportions enable the user to calculate
      the expected occurrences of disease on the death certificates of a cohort under
      study. There is an average of 2.66 causes and/or contributory conditions listed
      on US death certificates, increasing over time from 2.54 in the 1960s to 2.76 in
      the 1980s. The ratio of multiple-cause listings to underlying cause listings
      varies by disease, from low ratios for cancers to high ratios for diseases such
      as diabetes, arthritis, prostate disease, hypertension, pneumoconiosis, and renal
      disease. Use of these data is illustrated with two cohorts. Multiple-cause
      analysis (but not underlying cause analysis) revealed twofold significant
      excesses of renal disease and arthritis among granite cutters. For workers
      exposed to dioxin, neither multiple-cause nor underlying cause analysis indicated
      any excess of diabetes, an outcome of a priori interest. Good candidates for
      multiple-cause analysis are diseases that are of long duration, not necessarily
      fatal, yet serious enough to be listed on the death certificate.

PMID- 1442752
TI  - Unspecified injuries on death certificates: a source of bias in injury research.
AB  - Protective gear (for example, helmets and bulletproof vests) shields certain body
      regions from damaging energy. Failure to specify on death certificates the body
      region and nature of fatal injuries compromises the utility of mortality data for
      epidemiologic or prevention research. Of fatally injured California
      motorcyclists, 41% had no specific injuries listed on their death certificates in
      1988. To examine the implications of this problem, the authors abstracted 186
      coroner's or medical examiner's reports from four California counties with over
      60% nonspecific injuries and one county with few such injuries. These data were
      merged with computerized death certificate files and with the Fatal Accident
      Reporting System. Among the 99 cases with nonspecific injury codes, 68% had head
      injuries, 63% had chest injuries, 58% had abdominal injuries, and 58% had
      extremity injuries. Reporting sensitivity in the four problem counties varied
      from 36% for head injury to less than 5% for abdominal, spinal, and extremity
      injury. The association between head injury and failure to wear a helmet was
      statistically significant using the coroner's diagnoses (p = 0.02), but not using
      death certificate diagnoses (p = 0.17). The value of mortality data to injury
      researchers would be enhanced by better reporting of the nature of injury on
      death certificates.

PMID- 1442753
TI  - Psychoactive drugs and the risk of injurious motor vehicle crashes in elderly
      drivers.
AB  - To determine whether commonly used psychoactive drugs increase the risk of
      involvement in motor vehicle crashes for drivers > or = 65 years of age, the
      authors conducted a retrospective cohort study. Data were obtained from
      computerized files from the Tennessee Medicaid program, driver's license files,
      and police reports of injurious crashes. Cohort members were Medicaid enrollees
      65-84 years of age who had a valid driver's license during the study period 1984
      1988 and who met other criteria designed to exclude persons unlikely to be
      drivers and to ensure availability of necessary study data. There were 16,262
      persons in the study cohort with 38,701 person-years of follow-up and involvement
      in 495 injurious crashes. For four groups of psychoactive drugs (benzodiazepines,
      cyclic antidepressants, oral opioid analgesics, and antihistamines), the risk of
      crash involvement was calculated with Poisson regression models that controlled
      for demographic characteristics and use of medical care as an indicator of health
      status. The relative risk of injurious crash involvement for current users of any
      psychoactive drug was 1.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-1.9). This increased
      risk was confined to benzodiazepines (relative risk = 1.5; 95% CI 1.2-1.9) and
      cyclic antidepressants (relative risk = 2.2; 95% CI 1.3-3.5). For these drugs,
      the relative risk increased with dose and was substantial for high doses: 2.4
      (95% CI 1.3-4.4) for > or = 20 mg of diazepam and 5.5 (95% CI 2.6-11.6) for > or
      = 125 mg of amitriptyline. Analysis of data for the crash-involved drivers
      suggested that these findings were not due to confounding by alcohol use or
      driving frequency.

PMID- 1442754
TI  - Depressive symptoms and other psychosocial factors as predictors of stroke in the
      elderly.
AB  - The aim of this paper is to assess the influence of selected psychosocial factors
      as predictors of stroke incidence in a probability sample of noninstitutionalized
      elderly. The main psychosocial factor of interest was depression. Marital status,
      social support, social networks, and religiousness were also assessed as
      potential antecedent or mediating factors. The data were obtained from a
      prospective longitudinal study based on 2,812 individuals aged 65 years and over
      living in New Haven, Connecticut. The incidence of stroke was monitored from the
      baseline interview in 1982 until December 1988. Depression, measured by the
      Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), was measured at
      baseline as were other predictor variables. Univariate Cox regression analyses
      revealed that higher CES-D scores were predictive of greater stroke incidence (p
      < 0.05). More frequent attendance at religious services was associated with lower
      incidence (p < 0.001). CES-D scores were also correlated with many measures of
      sociodemographic, health, and physical function factors in our multivariate
      analysis (p < 0.05). When combined with other significant predictor variables
      such as age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, physical function, and smoking, neither
      depression nor religious attendance retained its significance.

PMID- 1442755
TI  - Prevalence and risk determinants of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2)
      and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in west African female
      prostitutes.
AB  - The authors studied the prevalence and risk determinants for human
      immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2) in female prostitutes
      from Dakar (1985-1990), Ziguinchor (1987-1990), and Kaolack (1987-1990), Senegal,
      West Africa. Each cohort showed a distinct distribution of HIVs: 10.0% HIV-2 and
      4.1% HIV-1 in Dakar, 38.1% HIV-2 and 0.4% HIV-1 in Ziguinchor, and 27.4% HIV-2
      and 1.3% HIV-1 in Kaolack. In 1,275 female prostitutes from Dakar, increase years
      of sexual activity and a history of scarification were associated with HIV-2
      seropositivity. In contrast, HIV-1 seroprevalence was associated with a shorter
      duration of prostitution and a history of hospitalization. In 278 female
      prostitutes from Ziguinchor, HIV-2 seroprevalence was associated with women of
      Guinea-Bissau nationality and increased years of sexual activity. In 157 female
      prostitutes from Kaolack, HIV-2 seroprevalence was associated with increased
      years of sexual activity and a history of never using condoms. The authors also
      studied the risk determinants for HIV-2 in the 1,280 Senegalese prostitutes
      pooled from all three sites. Controlling for ethnic group, women from Ziguinchor
      and Kaolack were more likely to be HIV-2 seropositive as compared with women from
      the Dakar site. Increased years of sexual activity were associated with HIV-2
      seropositivity, while a history of excision and BCG vaccinations decreased the
      risk of HIV-2 infection.

PMID- 1442756
TI  - The kidney in hypertensive pregnancies--victim and villain.
AB  - Many changes in renal function occur in normal pregnancy. Without a proper
      understanding of these changes, routine clinical investigations may easily be
      misinterpreted. Women with preeclampsia have further alterations in renal
      function and, in occasional cases, develop acute renal failure. Understanding of
      abnormal renal physiology and hormonal changes in these women allows the
      clinician to interpret biochemical tests appropriately and make proper use of
      vasodilator therapy with careful attention to volume homeostasis. Women who
      undertake pregnancy with a primary renal disease, most commonly
      glomerulonephritis or reflux nephropathy, have a higher risk of adverse fetal and
      maternal outcomes. Awareness of these risks provides a basis for proper
      preconceptual counseling, as well as careful monitoring of maternal blood
      pressure and renal function and fetal growth during such pregnancies. These
      strategies will optimize the chances of a successful pregnancy outcome for both
      mother and baby.

PMID- 1442757
TI  - A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effect of
      enalapril in patients with clinical diabetic nephropathy.
AB  - It is unknown if the antiproteinuric effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme
      (ACE) inhibitors reflects attenuation in the rate of progression of diabetic
      nephropathy. We report the results of a randomized, double-blind clinical trial
      designed to evaluate the longitudinal (18-month) effect of the ACE inhibitor,
      enalapril (5 to 40 mg/d), versus a placebo on 24-hour urinary protein excretion
      and on the rate of progression of renal disease in 33 patients with clinical
      diabetic nephropathy. Systemic blood pressure was controlled throughout the trial
      with conventional antihypertensive drugs. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR),
      determined by Tc99mDTPA renal clearance, and urinary protein excretion were
      monitored at 3-month intervals. Enalapril, in contrast to placebo therapy, was
      associated with an initial (40%) and sustained (33%) decrease in urinary protein
      excretion. Patients randomized to both enalapril or placebo experienced mean
      decreases in GFR, from 1.01 mL/s/1.73 m2 (61 mL/min/1.73 m2) to 0.85 mL/s/1.73 m2
      (51 mL/min/1.73 m2), and from 1.06 mL/s/1.73 m2 (64 mL/min/1.73 m2) to 0.97
      mL/s/1.73 m2 (58 mL/min/1.73 m2), respectively. Eleven of 18 patients (61%)
      randomized to enalapril, and 10 of 15 (66%) patients randomized to placebo, had a
      decrease in GFR; their rates of progression were -1.18 mL/min/1.73 m2/mo and 
      1.00 mL/min/1.73 m2/mo, respectively. In the absence of changes in blood
      pressure, the addition of an ACE inhibitor to patients with clinical diabetic
      nephropathy could not be shown to confer a unique renal protective effect. A
      prolonged decrease in 24-hour protein excretion could not be shown to predict
      attenuation in the progression of established clinical diabetic nephropathy.

PMID- 1442758
TI  - Lupus anticoagulant in systemic lupus erythematosus: a clinical and renal
      pathological study.
AB  - Circulating lupus anticoagulant (LA) is associated with thrombosis in large and
      small vessels. To determine how often the presence of LA is associated with
      thrombosis within the renal microcirculation, 33 patients with systemic lupus
      erythematosus (SLE), renal dysfunction, and LA were identified over a 25-year
      period (LA group) and 32 patients with renal SLE but with normal gross
      coagulation screen were matched for age, sex, and biopsy timing (C group).
      Prevalences of serositis, neuropsychiatric illness, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia,
      hemolysis, anti-DS-DNA elevation, and complement reduction were similar.
      Arthritis was less and biologic false-positive (BFP) syphilis serology more
      common in LA. More LA patients had thrombotic events (LA 39% v C 13%; P = 0.014);
      bleeding episodes, including postbiopsy, were similar. At biopsy, hypertension
      (LA 55%, C 41%), serum creatinine (mean +/- SD: LA 186 +/- 168 mumol/L [2.1 +/-
      1.9 mg/dL] v C 150 +/- 168 mumol/L [1.7 +/- 1.9 mg/dL]) and proteinuria (LA 2.6
      +/- 3.1 g/24 h v C 3.1 +/- 2.7) were similar. Lesions by World Health
      Organization (WHO) class, activity, and chronicity indices, as well as
      immunofluorescence (IF) and electron microscopy (EM) findings, were not
      significantly different. Occlusive glomerular, arteriolar, and arterial fibrin
      thrombi, along with varying degrees of renal thrombotic microangiopathy, were
      seen in five of 33 patients with LA, but zero of 32 C patients (P = 0.053); three
      of these five patients died soon after biopsy. Overall, mortality was not
      different between LA and C. We conclude that the majority of patients with SLE,
      renal dysfunction, and LA exhibit renal morphologic findings indistinguishable
      from patients without LA. However, a significant minority of LA patients have
      thrombotic microangiopathy in their biopsy, which is accompanied by a worse
      prognosis.

PMID- 1442759
TI  - Short-term responsiveness of membranous glomerulopathy to cyclosporine.
AB  - We administered a 12-week course of cyclosporine (CsA) (4 to 6 mg/kg/24 h) to
      nephrotic patients with membranous glomerulopathy (MG). Nephrotic patients with
      minimal change nephropathy (MCN) served as a comparison group. We evaluated the
      effects of CsA on proteinuria, glomerular function, and the release of cytokines
      by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in culture. Proteinuria was restored to
      normal levels within 2 to 4 weeks in MCN. Proteinuria declined from nephrotic to
      subnephrotic levels (< 3,500 mg/24 h) in 10 of 14 patients with MG, also within 2
      to 4 weeks of onset of therapy. The four nonresponders exhibited a rapidly
      progressive and presumably irreversible form of MG culminating in renal failure.
      On average, fractional clearances of albumin and IgG declined by 59% and 73% in
      MG (P < 0.005); corresponding declines in MCN were by 99% (P < .0001).
      Corresponding rates of glomerular filtration in each glomerular injury remained
      unchanged. A strong trend for proteinuria to relapse after CsA was withdrawn was
      evident in both disorders. The release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha by
      mononuclear cells in culture was enhanced in each glomerular injury, both before
      and after the course of CsA. We conclude that the proteinuria in most cases of MG
      exhibits a responsiveness to CsA that is qualitatively similar to, but less
      complete than, that in MCN. The rapidity with which barrier function improves
      suggests a possible role for cell-mediated immune injury in MG.

PMID- 1442760
TI  - Dermal patch anesthesia: pain-free puncture of blood access in hemodialysis
      patients.
AB  - Clinical application of dermal patch anesthesia to relieve pain at venous
      cannulation of blood-access was studied in hemodialysis patients. Aqueous gel of
      10% lidocaine base with 3% glycyrrhetinic acid monohemiphthalate disodium (GA
      MHPh 2Na) was applied for 60 minutes to the skin of the patients. Degree of pain
      was expressed as a pain score. Analgesic effect of the lidocaine gel was
      evaluated in 16 patients in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over design
      by comparing the gel with lidocaine with a placebo gel without lidocaine. The
      mean pin-prick pain score (1.0 +/- 0.5) in the lidocaine gel patch (n = 16) was
      significantly lower than that (2.3 +/- 0.3) in the placebo gel patch (P < 0.01).
      In 8.8% of the patients, blood pressure was elevated after venous cannulation,
      but this tendency was modified by dermal patch anesthesia with the lidocaine gel.
      Plasma concentration of lidocaine was under the detection limit of assay (< 0.05
      micrograms/mL) after dermal patch anesthesia in six subsequent dialysis
      treatments.

PMID- 1442761
TI  - Fungal peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis--the Auckland
      experience.
AB  - Fungal infection is an uncommon cause of peritonitis in patients on continuous
      ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). We report our center's experience with 38
      episodes of fungal peritonitis occurring in 33 patients, out of a total of 503
      patients managed on CAPD over 11 1/2 years, and review the relevant literature.
      Our usual management philosophy has been one of early peritoneal catheter removal
      without antifungal therapy. In those with worsening clinical features, and in
      those with persistence of signs and symptoms beyond 48 hours after catheter
      removal, antifungal drugs were administered. Only five patients received
      antifungal therapy initially, followed by later catheter removal. Seventy-six
      percent of patients treated by catheter removal alone (N = 21) and 64% of
      patients treated by catheter removal followed by antifungal therapy (N = 11) were
      successfully reestablished on CAPD. A policy of early catheter removal, usually
      alone, but followed by antifungal therapy in select cases, can be associated with
      a mortality rate of less than 15% and a high rate of return to effective
      peritoneal dialysis.

PMID- 1442762
TI  - Inguinal herniorrhaphy in the continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patient.
AB  - Inguinal hernia repair in the patient on continuous ambulatory peritoneal
      dialysis (CAPD) is complicated in theory by an increased potential for
      recurrence. In addition to the constant increased intraabdominal pressure,
      chronic renal failure has been shown to impair tissue healing. Controversy exists
      regarding the waiting period before resuming CAPD postoperatively. A
      retrospective review of all CAPD patients undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy was
      performed. The patient's age, type of repair, duration of renal failure
      preoperatively, length of time on CAPD postoperatively, and date of resumption of
      CAPD were recorded. An inpatient and outpatient chart review was performed on all
      patients. Telephone follow-up was performed on surviving patients. From April
      1981 to June 1989, 30 patients underwent 36 inguinal herniorrhaphies while on
      CAPD. One immediate postoperative death occurred due to underlying cardiac
      disease. The mean follow-up for surviving patients was 34 months (range, 16 to
      91) and for those deceased was 25 months (range, 1 to 60). No recurrent hernias
      were identified either by extensive inpatient and outpatient chart review, or by
      direct patient telephone contact in all surviving patients. We conclude that
      inguinal herniorrhaphy can be safely performed in CAPD patients. Peritoneal
      dialysis can be initiated immediately after repair in this high-risk group of
      patients. There is a low risk of recurrence; however, long-term patient survival
      is not expected due to concurrent underlying medical problems.

PMID- 1442763
TI  - Fibromuscular dysplasia of the renal arteries associated with antiphospholipid
      autoantibodies: two case reports.
AB  - A relationship appears to exist between antiphospholipid autoantibodies (APLA)
      and vascular occlusion, although the exact mechanism is still a matter of debate.
      We present and comment on two cases of renal artery occlusion in patients with
      concomitant presence of arterial fibromuscular dysplasia and high APLA titers.

PMID- 1442764
TI  - Treatment of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-positive systemic vasculitis
      and glomerulonephritis with pooled intravenous gammaglobulin.
AB  - Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA) is considered a serological marker
      for disease activity in patients with ANCA(+) systemic vasculitis. Recently, ANCA
      has been implicated as a pathogenic antibody that may be associated with
      neutrophil degranulation and release of lytic enzymes. Since intravenous
      gammaglobulin (IVIG) is known to contain antiidiotypic antibodies to ANCA, which
      could decrease the activity of the later, we chose to treat two patients with
      symptomatic ANCA(+) systemic vasculitis and glomerulonephritis with high-dose
      IVIG. The first patient, a 66-year-old man, developed rapidly progressive renal
      failure despite treatment with intravenous (IV) cyclophosphamide. The second
      patient, a 14-year-old boy, had relapsed 3 months after cessation of treatment
      with prednisone and cyclophosphamide. Both patients improved dramatically after
      treatment with IVIG, with the former recovering renal function within 11 days of
      therapy. In both patients, a concomitant reduction in serum ANCA titers was also
      observed. The second patient is currently in a sustained remission 14 months
      after his last IVIG dose on no other medication. These cases provide clinical
      evidence that IVIG has therapeutic benefit in modifying the immune-mediated
      injury associated with ANCA(+) systemic vasculitis and glomerulonephritis. In
      addition, IVIG may provide an additional safe therapeutic option to clinicians
      treating patient's with ANCA(+) vasculitis and glomerulonephritis who are not
      responsive to or are experiencing toxicity from conventional therapy.

PMID- 1442765
TI  - Severe arteriosclerosis in the kidney of a cocaine addict.
AB  - Cocaine abuse has been associated with sudden cardiac death with coronary artery
      thrombosis with or without underlying vessel disease. Additional vascular beds
      thus far implicated in cocaine-associated arteriopathy include thoracic and
      abdominal aorta, and pulmonary, cerebral, and placental vessels; abnormalities
      include vasospasm, thrombosis, and accelerated atherosclerosis. We report the
      case of an adult male cocaine user with severe arteriosclerosis of renal vessels,
      and suggest that cocaine may also affect the renal vasculature.

PMID- 1442766
TI  - Unusual glomerular lesion in a patient receiving long-term interferon alpha.
AB  - A 60-year-old man with long-standing chronic myelogenous leukemia presented with
      renal insufficiency and proteinuria after more than 6 years of therapy with daily
      interferon alpha injections. He also manifested unusual skin lesions and a low
      titer antinuclear antibody (ANA). Percutaneous renal biopsy disclosed an unusual
      glomerular lesion characterized by global, diffuse, and marked widening of the
      lamina rara interna, and focal segmental mesangial proliferation. Discontinuation
      of the drug resulted in resolution of the proteinuria, but not the renal
      insufficiency. These glomerular changes have not been reported previously as a
      complication of this form of malignancy and are similar to lesions reported in
      newborn rats and mice receiving interferon alpha. The potential role of
      interferon alpha in the development of this glomerular disease is discussed.

PMID- 1442767
TI  - The natriuretic peptides and their receptors.
AB  - Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is released from the cardiac atrium in response
      to stretch and acts through receptors to cause an increase in urinary flow and
      sodium excretion, vasodilatation, and a reduction in blood volume. Recently, two
      new natriuretic peptides, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and C-type natriuretic
      peptide (C-typeNP), have been isolated, and three different natriuretic peptide
      receptors have been identified. Two of the receptors, ANP-RGC(A) and ANP-RGC(B),
      mediate biologic actions. The natural ligand of ANP-RGC(A) is ANF, whereas that
      of ANP-RGC(B) is C-typeNP. In view of clear differences in ligand specificity and
      tissue distribution of these receptors, it has been proposed that ANF and its
      receptor, ANP-RGC(A), and C-typeNP and its receptor, ANP-RGC(B), represent two
      distinct natriuretic peptide regulatory systems. Whether a separate system exists
      that incorporates BNP awaits clarification of its natural receptor that mediates
      a biologic action. The third receptor, ANP-Rc, binds all three natriuretic
      peptides. Its messenger RNA lacks the guanylyl cyclase sequence present in the
      mRNA of the other natriuretic peptide receptors, suggesting that the principal
      function of ANP-Rc is to remove natriuretic peptides from the circulation, that
      is, to regulate plasma levels of the natriuretic peptides. However, ANP-Rc may
      also mediate a biologic effect. These findings raise several intriguing questions
      about the functional role of this family of natriuretic peptides.

PMID- 1442768
TI  - United States Renal Data System 1992 Annual Data Report. Analytical methods:
      technical notes.

PMID- 1442769
TI  - United States Renal Data System. Policy on data release for investigator
      initiated research August 15, 1992.

PMID- 1442770
TI  - The USRDS and its database.

PMID- 1442771
TI  - Patient selection to peritoneal dialysis versus hemodialysis according to
      comorbid conditions.
AB  - An historical prospective sample of 2,420 non-diabetic and 1,738 diabetic
      Medicare patients incident from 1986-87 was analyzed for the selection of
      patients to peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) according to comorbid
      factors. Data measuring the degree of comorbidity, describing the major diagnosis
      leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and reporting other sociodemographic
      factors for incident ESRD patients were collected in a special study of the
      USRDS. Patients selected to PD were more likely to be white (greater mortality
      risk), diabetic (greater mortality risk), and younger (lower mortality risk) than
      patients assigned to HD. Estimates of the overall level of comorbidity with
      adjustment for race, gender, diabetes, and age provided evidence of a reduced
      total count of comorbid factors for PD compared to HD, particularly among
      diabetic patients under 60 years of age (p < 0.01). Assessment of selected risk
      factors, with adjustment for age and diabetes, indicated that patients selected
      to PD were not at greater comorbid risk according to cardiovascular factors but
      demonstrated a 20 percent increase in the likelihood of peripheral vascular
      disease (p = 0.02).

PMID- 1442772
TI  - Mortality of blacks and whites with end-stage renal disease attributed to
      hypertension.
AB  - Demographic and mortality analyses were performed for all Medicare black (26,100)
      and white (31,859) ESRD patients from the USRDS database who were incident
      between 1977 and 1988, and for whom the reported cause of ESRD was hypertension.
      Over the years 1977-88, the incidence rates increased markedly. The median age
      for both black and white incident patients also increased, while the percent of
      patients who were black decreased over time. Percent survival at one year and
      five years after onset of ESRD was significantly higher and statistically
      significant in black patients whose ESRD developed in the middle and older ages,
      compared to white patients of the same age group.

PMID- 1442773
TI  - Comorbid conditions and correlations with mortality risk among 3,399 incident
      hemodialysis patients.
AB  - The percent distribution of selected comorbid conditions from a national sample
      of 3,399 Medicare patients starting maintenance hemodialysis in 1986-87 is
      described. Using the Cox proportional hazards model, the relative mortality risk
      (RR) was assessed for comorbid conditions at time of ESRD while adjusting for the
      other comorbid and demographic covariates. Coronary artery disease and congestive
      heart failure, each present in 41 percent of patients, were associated with RR of
      1.22 and 1.26 respectively (p < 0.0005 each). Fifty percent of patients had a
      serum albumin concentration at onset of ESRD of less than 3.5 gm/dl, and an
      increased risk of dying. Additionally, patients recorded as undernourished had an
      elevated risk (RR = 1.34, without adjustment for serum albumin, p < 0.0001).
      Other factors associated with a statistically significant increased mortality
      risk (p < 0.005) included older age, diabetes as cause of ESRD (particularly if
      insulin dependent), history of neoplasm, active smoker, and relatively low serum
      creatinine concentration. By describing the magnitude of risk associated with
      comorbid conditions, this study emphasizes the need for preventive efforts during
      the pre-ESRD stages of renal impairment. Studies are needed to document whether
      improvement in serum albumin or other comorbid factors before ESRD leads to
      reduction in mortality risk for ESRD patients.

PMID- 1442774
TI  - Characteristics of dialysis prescriptions in the US, 1986-1987.
AB  - We analyzed the dialysis prescription parameters for 4,532 randomly chosen
      incident Medicare patients who reached end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in 1986-87.
      Data were abstracted from the patient's record by the ESRD Networks. Dialysis
      prescription was assessed at one month following onset of ESRD. Eighty-four
      percent (3,823) of these patients were initially treated with hemodialysis, while
      the remaining 16 percent (709) were treated initially with continuous ambulatory
      peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Average age for hemodialysis patients was 58, which
      was five years older than the average found for CAPD patients. Black patients
      were heavier than white patients by three kilograms, on average; black patients
      also had a somewhat higher body mass index. Hemodialysis prescriptions averaged
      2.9 treatments per week, for a total of 9.8 hours of hemodialysis per week. Black
      patients had a four percent longer hemodialysis prescription (hours) per week
      than did white patients. Although black patients were heavier than white
      patients, their prescribed Kt/V was similar to that prescribed for white
      patients. On average, the prescribed Kt/V was 1.0. Twenty-two percent of patients
      had a prescribed Kt/V of less than 0.80. Compared to ESRD patients treated in the
      European Dialysis and Transplant Association (EDTA), the prescription for this
      sample of incident US hemodialysis patients was 25 percent shorter in total hours
      per week. Dialyzers were reused in approximately 65 percent of hemodialysis
      patients. CAPD patients had an average prescription of 52 liters of exchange per
      week with typically four exchanges per day and two liters per exchange.

PMID- 1442775
TI  - Catheter-related factors and peritonitis risk in CAPD patients.
AB  - In a national study of essentially all patients starting CAPD therapy at home
      during January through June, 1989 (n = 2,807), the peritonitis risk was assessed
      by patient demographics, connection techniques, and catheter-related factors. The
      present report focuses on several CAPD catheter-related factors, while adjusting
      for other patient and facility characteristics using Cox proportional hazards
      models. This study also provides a description of the actual practice,
      utilization, and insertion of peritoneal catheters. The relative peritonitis
      risk, assessed during the 10.5 to 21 month follow-up in days to first peritonitis
      episode, was increased for single-cuff versus double-cuff catheters (RR = 1.20, p
      = 0.01) and with use of intraperitoneal drugs (RR = 1.14, p = 0.08). A lateral
      catheter placement was associated with a reduced relative risk, but this finding
      deserves further study. No significant association with peritonitis risk was
      found for catheter design, insertion technique or operator, nor for antibiotic
      prophylaxis at time of catheter placement. This study defines the magnitude of
      relative risks in a national sample, and helps direct future work towards
      reducing the risk of peritonitis and/or catheter loss in CAPD patients.

PMID- 1442776
TI  - Mortality rate comparisons of never, previously, and currently transplanted ESRD
      patients.
AB  - Based on analysis of data for 68,683 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients per
      year (on average) prevalent between 1987-89, we report mortality rates for never
      (NTD) and previously (PTD) transplanted dialysis patients and for patients with a
      first functioning cadaveric transplant (Tx). Data are for black and white
      patients between the ages of 20 and 65. Using death rates for all ESRD patients
      as the standard and adjusting for age, race, and diagnosis, the standardized
      mortality ratios (SMRs) were 1.24, 1.35, and 0.37 for NTD, PTD, and Tx patients,
      respectively (significantly different from 1.0, p < 0.001). In a direct
      comparison between NTD and PTD patients, the mortality rate among PTD patients
      was typically 91 percent (p < 0.001) of the rate among NTD patients, although the
      size of the ratio varied by race, being 81 percent (p < 0.001) and 96 percent
      (ns) for black and white patients, respectively. This indicates that part of the
      reduction in mortality among transplant patients relative to dialysis patients
      might be attributable to selection of healthier patients for transplant, since
      PTD patients have lower death rates than do similar NTD patients; and that the
      overall selection mechanism varies by race.

PMID- 1442777
TI  - Simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation versus kidney transplantation alone:
      patient survival, kidney graft survival, and post-transplant hospitalization.
AB  - This study compared patient survival, kidney graft survival, and post-transplant
      hospitalization between patients who received simultaneous kidney and pancreas
      (SKP) transplants and those who received a kidney transplant alone (KTA). A total
      of 3,168 diabetic end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, ages 18-45, who began
      their first ESRD treatment between 1981 and 1989 and received their first
      cadaveric kidney transplant between 1986 and 1989 were selected for study;
      patient and kidney graft survival were followed until 1 March 1990. Twelve
      percent (380) of these patients received SKP transplants. No statistically
      significant difference in patient survival was found between SKP and KTA patients
      (p = 0.86). Kidney graft survival was statistically significantly higher for SKP
      patients than KTA patients (p = 0.008). Post-transplant hospitalization rates
      were statistically significantly higher for SKP patients (p < 0.001), indicating
      potentially higher post-transplant morbidity among this group.

PMID- 1442778
TI  - How good are the data? USRDS data validation special study.
AB  - Four national samples, totaling 1,692 cases selected from ESRD patients incident
      in 1986 and 1987, were analyzed to document the reliability of the USRDS
      database. For these cases, the reported data in the USRDS database were compared
      with on-site source documents (medical records, hospital discharge summary
      records, transplant summaries, and billing records). The results show an overall
      agreement rate of 90.6 percent for over 50 variables. Agreement rates on the most
      important fields range from a low of 87.0 percent for point-in-time variables
      (eg, modality of treatment at the end of the year), to a high of 94.9 percent for
      dates (eg, date of birth, death, first ESRD service). The study concludes that
      (1) appropriate definitions and protocols are needed in the assessment of the
      primary disease causing ESRD, and (2) formal definition of when the patient
      becomes an ESRD patient needs review. This study points to the strengths and
      limitations of the USRDS database and indicates areas that need to be addressed
      to improve current and future data collection efforts.

PMID- 1442779
TI  - Completeness and reliability of USRDS data: comparisons with the Michigan Kidney
      Registry.
AB  - A census of 12,730 Medicare-eligible ESRD patients identified in the USRDS
      database as living in Michigan or as having received treatment in Michigan
      between 1977 and 1987 was compared to the 13,424 ESRD patients listed in the
      Michigan Kidney Registry (MKR) who were alive between 1977 and 1987. Of 7,600
      USRDS patients with both residence and ESRD treatment in Michigan, 97.8 percent
      were also found in the MKR, thus providing evidence that the USRDS is not
      overstating the size of the ESRD population. Overall, 11.4 percent of the cases
      in the MKR could not be matched to the USRDS; however, the rate of matching
      showed a slight upward trend over time. Subsequent analysis shows that after
      excluding those cases expected not to be captured by the Medicare system, only 5
      percent of MKR cases were left unmatched to USRDS cases. Some of these unmatched
      cases from the MKR were found to have short follow-ups, while others belong to
      groups not covered by Medicare without being noted as such by the MKR database. A
      high level of exact agreement on data elements for cases found in both databases
      was documented for demographic variables, above 90 percent. However, differences
      were found between the USRDS and the MKR databases on elements related to
      treatment history. It is likely that a lower precision of the dates associated
      with treatment episodes and difficulty in recording short term treatment episodes
      in the USRDS could account for the differences found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1442780
TI  - Improvements in data quality in the USRDS database: determining treatment
      modalities.
AB  - Past USRDS estimates of the prevalent ESRD population have exceeded the counts
      reported by the HCFA Annual Facility Surveys. One expects the USRDS estimates to
      be lower because the Facility Surveys include non-Medicare patients generally not
      in the USRDS database. The methodology for determining the treatment histories of
      patients has been modified to define lost to follow-up periods as periods of at
      least one year during which the patient has no dialysis data and does not have a
      functioning transplant. Patients are not counted as prevalent when they are in
      such a lost to follow-up period. This change brings the USRDS year end prevalent
      counts down to about 94 percent of the Facility Survey counts of total dialysis
      patients and slightly over the Facility Survey counts of Medicare dialysis
      patients. This change raises prevalent mortality rates by about seven percent
      over the rates reported in the 1991 USRDS Annual Data Report. We expect to make
      further refinements in this methodology.

PMID- 1442781
TI  - USRDS research studies.

PMID- 1442782
TI  - Use of death certificates in epidemiological studies, including occupational
      hazards: discordance with clinical and autopsy findings.
AB  - There has long been evidence of frequent inaccuracy of death certificates, with
      significant discordance between such designations and clinical and autopsy data.
      This exists for occupational diseases as well. The use of statistical rates based
      on death certificates has been seriously questioned despite their utility for
      total mortality. Programs to supplement death certificate data, particularly in
      occupational disease studies, may be helpful, and are reviewed.

PMID- 1442783
TI  - Use of death certificates in epidemiological studies, including occupational
      hazards: variations in discordance of different asbestos-associated diseases on
      best evidence ascertainment.
AB  - There is extensive information on discordance in general between accuracy of
      medical diagnoses on death certificate categorization of cause of death and
      available clinical and histopathological data. This is as true for occupational
      disease as for other conditions. But occupational illnesses bear a special
      problem. Discordance is not equal across the board--it may vary with each
      occupationally related disease, and no single formula can be applied. It may be
      high for angiosarcoma and low for acute hydrogen sulfide poisoning, low for
      bladder cancer, high for unsuspected methyl mercury poisoning. We have found that
      for one agent--asbestos--there were different rates of discordance for different
      asbestos-related diseases (e.g., lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, kidney
      cancer) among 4,951 deaths studied prospectively from 1967 to 1986. Caution is
      therefore required before accepting generalizations concerning (unstudied)
      discordance in occupational mortality studies, and in their use in risk
      assessment models.

PMID- 1442784
TI  - Death certificates in epidemiological studies, including occupational hazards:
      inaccuracies in occupational categories.
AB  - We compared death certificates for asbestos-associated diseases (mesothelioma,
      lung cancer, asbestosis) in two asbestos workers' cohorts. One (insulation
      workers) had current or recent employment and a strong, continuing union support
      system which gave them much information about the effects of asbestos exposure.
      The second cohort, asbestos factory workers, had no such advantage. The factory
      had closed almost 30 years before, and its workers had dispersed into many areas
      of the state and nation. Accuracy of medical diagnosis was comparable in the two
      groups, but occupational listings were not. Three-quarters of the insulators'
      death certificates told of asbestos work, while virtually none of the factory
      workers' certificates provided such information, even for deaths of mesothelioma
      and asbestosis. The data indicate that disease categories, based on medical and
      pathological diagnoses, at least for asbestos-associated disease, tend to be
      accurate. Attempts to identify groups at risk by sorting occupational categories
      can give variable results, good for those with current exposures, much less
      satisfactory for those with long-past occupational exposures.

PMID- 1442785
TI  - Influence of age at death on accuracy of death certificate disease diagnosis:
      findings in 475 consecutive deaths of mesothelioma among asbestos insulation
      workers and asbestos factory workers.

PMID- 1442786
TI  - A case-control study of cancer of the nose and paranasal sinuses and occupational
      exposures.
AB  - The association between nasal cancer and various occupations was investigated in
      a case-control study in the provinces of Verona and Vicenza (northeastern Italy)
      and Siena (central Italy). Cases of malignant epithelial neoplasm of the nasal
      cavities and paranasal sinuses diagnosed in the years 1982-1987 in the hospitals
      of Verona, Legnago, Bussolengo, Vicenza, and Siena comprised the study. Controls
      were patients admitted to the same hospitals as the cases, with any diagnosis
      except chronic rhino-sinusal disease and nasal bleeding. Age, gender, residency,
      and date of admission were taken into account by matching. Cases and controls, or
      their next of kin, were interviewed or required to fill in a mailed
      questionnaire; the overall response rate was 70%. Altogether, 78 cases and 254
      controls provided information on occupational history. Significantly increased
      risks were associated (in males) with work in the wood industry (odds ratio
      [O.R.]: 5.8; 90% confidence interval [C.I.]: (2.2-16) and in the leather industry
      (6.8; 1.9-25). Textile workers, furnacemen, construction workers, and workers
      with possible exposure to organic dusts showed increased risks even if
      statistical significance was not reached.

PMID- 1442787
TI  - Malignant mesothelioma of the pleura in Trieste, Italy.
AB  - One hundred and seventy malignant pleural mesotheliomas seen at necropsy at the
      Institute of Pathological Anatomy of the Trieste University during the period
      1968-1987 were reviewed. The series included 153 men and 17 women, aged between
      33 and 92 years (median 70 years). Lifetime work histories were obtained from the
      patients' relatives by personal or telephone interviews in 162 cases. A majority
      of the male subjects had been employed in "naval" work, 99 people having worked
      in the ship-building industry, 19 in the navy and merchant marine, and 7 in
      docks. A variety of trades appeared in the remaining histories. Work histories
      were indicative of occupational exposure to asbestos in 150 cases. A further 5
      patients with negative or insufficient data showed asbestos bodies in routine
      lung sections and 5 women had a history of domestic exposure. A majority of the
      patients had had their first exposure before 1950. The intervals between first
      exposure and death ranged from 14 to 71 years (median 48 years).

PMID- 1442788
TI  - Acute high dose exposure to benzene in shipyard workers.
AB  - Fifteen degassers were acutely exposed over several days to high concentrations
      (> 60 ppm) of benzene during removal of residual fuel (degassing) from shipboard
      fuel tanks. Medical surveillance evaluation mandated by the Occupational Safety
      and Health Administration's (OSHA) Benzene Standard initially revealed 11 workers
      (73%) reporting neurotoxic symptoms while degassing. Workers with more than 2
      days (16 hours) of acute exposure were significantly more likely to report
      dizziness and nausea than those with 2 or fewer days of acute exposure. Repeated
      laboratory analyses performed over a 4-month period after the acute exposure
      revealed at least one hematologic abnormality consistent with benzene exposure in
      9 (60%) of these degassers. One year later, 6 workers (40%) had persistent
      abnormalities; an additional worker with normal hematologic parameters at the
      time of our initial evaluation subsequently developed an abnormality consistent
      with benzene exposure. Numerous large granular lymphocytes were observed on 6
      (40%) of the peripheral blood smears. Despite these laboratory findings, there
      were no significant associations between the presence of hematologic
      abnormalities and either the number of hours of acute benzene exposure or the
      duration of employment as a degasser. Volatilization of benzene from the residual
      fuel was the suspected source of benzene in the headspace of tanks. Confined
      space exposure to petroleum products may be exposing workers to benzene at levels
      above the OSHA Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL). This situation warrants further
      study.

PMID- 1442789
TI  - Study of sperm characteristics in persons occupationally exposed to lead.
AB  - The sperm characteristics of 38 male workers exposed to lead in a battery factory
      were studied. Sperm analysis was performed after 4 days of sexual abstinence.
      Parameters analyzed were: volume, sperm count, motility, and morphology. Exposure
      levels were estimated by measuring the concentration of lead and delta
      aminolevulinic acid in the serum. Based on blood lead levels, the tested
      individuals were divided in three groups: A (12), B (11), and C (15). Significant
      levels of asthenospermia and teratospermia were found in exposed workers when
      compared with unexposed controls. Long-term exposure to lead may lead to changes
      in sperm characteristics and function.

PMID- 1442790
TI  - Epidemiologic evidence of cancer in aluminum reduction plant workers.
AB  - This paper reviews the epidemiologic evidence of cancer risks among workers in
      aluminum reduction plants with emphasis on associations with specific work areas
      and exposures. Studies of workers manufacturing carbon products outside the
      aluminum industry were also reviewed since the work environment is similar to
      that encountered in the carbon area of aluminum plants. We obtained 22 reports
      from references cited in earlier reviews, through compact disc literature search
      1980-1990, and from the Nordic Aluminum Industry's Secretariat for Health,
      Environment and Safety. Six reports were excluded because the material was
      included in later studies or because a critical evaluation was impossible. This
      left 16 publications from 11 separate studies. Work in potrooms with Soderberg
      electrolytic cells was associated with increased risk of bladder cancer, and the
      increase was correlated to duration of tar exposure. There was a suggestion of
      increased risk of leukemias and pancreatic cancers in potroom workers, and of
      kidney and brain cancers without any clear association with specific exposures or
      work areas. Singular results showed associations between lung cancer risk and tar
      exposure in Soderberg plants, and between lung cancer and work in prebake or
      carbon plants, but interpretation was limited by inadequate data on smoking and
      asbestos exposure, and by problems connected with the choice of reference
      populations in these studies.

PMID- 1442791
TI  - Pneumoconiosis research in South Africa with emphasis on developments in the last
      quarter century.

PMID- 1442792
TI  - Was the literature "corrupted"?

PMID- 1442793
TI  - Health and safety education for worker empowerment.
AB  - This article introduces a special issue of the American Journal of Industrial
      Medicine dedicated to innovative approaches to worker education in health and
      safety. Contributors to this issue describe applications of an "empowerment
      approach" in a wide variety of institutions and settings throughout the United
      States and Canada. In this article, empowerment education is presented and
      contrasted with other training methodologies. The article offers suggestions on
      how to implement this approach discusses evaluation issues, and summarizes the
      articles contained in this issue. Explored are preliminary outcomes of using this
      methodology and implications for developing educational programs in the future.

PMID- 1442794
TI  - Workshops are not enough: making Right-to-Know training lead to workplace change.
AB  - The underlying intent of Right-to-Know laws and regulations is to improve
      workplace conditions through worker empowerment. These regulations require
      employers to educate their employees about the nature and hazards of toxic
      substances found in the workplace, and methods to reduce exposure. This paper
      describes a Right-to-Know training program for over 4,000 local government
      employees which involved workers, their union, and management in the planning,
      implementation, and evaluation of the program. A combination of quantitative and
      qualitative evaluation determined the program was successful at individual,
      group, and structural levels. The evaluation results suggest that Right-to-Know
      training programs can make an important contribution to improving workplace
      health and safety when they are a well-integrated component of a comprehensive
      safety and health program: they use participatory training methods, they are
      tailored to address specific conditions faced by the participants, and there is
      active labor-management collaboration.

PMID- 1442795
TI  - A participatory workplace health and safety training program for ethylene oxide.
AB  - The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has regulated ethylene
      oxide (EtO) on the basis of its acute toxicity and its potential carcinogenic and
      reproductive effects since 1971. OSHA's 1984 EtO standard and its 1988 revisions
      focused new attention on health and safety training and other preventive
      measures. An EtO health and safety training program for hospital sterilization
      workers was developed by the staff of an independent occupational and
      environmental health clinic. Participatory and empowerment training methods were
      central to the approach. Also included were hands-on, demonstration, interactive
      presentation, and other methods. An EtO Health and Safety Training Manual was
      developed based on the training experiences. This paper presents the challenges,
      benefits, and limitations of incorporating participatory and empowerment
      approaches in the design, implementation, and evaluation of EtO health and safety
      training.

PMID- 1442796
TI  - Teaching health and safety: problems and possibilities for learner-centered
      training.
AB  - The University of Massachusetts at Lowell Work Environment Department, working
      jointly with four New England coalitions on occupational safety and health (COSH)
      groups, has developed and is delivering participatory and learner-centered health
      and safety training for hazardous waste site workers and emergency responders
      throughout New England. This consortium has created a technical curriculum for
      hazardous waste workers accessible to the nonspecialist and which, more
      importantly, draws upon workers' own experience and knowledge as a source of
      information, education, and experiential resources. In this article, we examine
      the goals of the consortium, the applicability of the training method, its
      successes and failures, and the wider implications such pedagogical techniques
      have for effective and empowering health and safety training. We conclude that
      such a teaching technique is a successful means of providing technical knowledge
      and skills in a positive and rewarding atmosphere. We also conclude, however,
      that the extent to which this form of education is empowering, as is claimed by
      many of its proponents, is less clear-cut.

PMID- 1442797
TI  - Problem-solving in the fields: an action-oriented approach to farmworker
      education about pesticides.
AB  - This paper describes two educational programs initiated to address the problems
      of farmworker pesticide poisoning in Nicaragua and in the United States and
      Puerto Rico. Both programs utilize a participatory and action-oriented
      educational methodology known as popular education. The methodology is presented
      using examples to demonstrate its application to the planning, delivery and
      evaluation of pesticide education programs. Preliminary outcomes of using this
      methodology are also explored as well as implications for developing future
      training programs in the field.

PMID- 1442798
TI  - Hardware to hard hats: training workers for action (from offices to construction
      sites).
AB  - A university-based labor education program provides training to unionists,
      emphasizing the skills needed by workers and their representatives in order to
      promote their rights to health and safety on the job. The article describes two
      examples of this training approach. The first example is a training program for
      video display terminal (VDT) operators which prepares them to take a leadership
      role in advancing policies to regulate working conditions for VDT users. The
      second is a program designed to improve the quality of safety, or "tailgate"
      meetings in the construction industry by promoting an approach that encourages
      active worker participation in identifying potential hazards and developing
      solutions. The methodologies used to achieve action-oriented outcomes are
      described.

PMID- 1442799
TI  - "Let's Talk Back": a program to empower laundry workers.
AB  - Laundry workers have traditionally been offered little input into the ergonomic
      and health and safety aspects of their jobs. The "Let's Talk Back" program was
      developed in response to worker demands, in order to empower them to effectively
      address some of these concerns. The program, endorsed by the union and
      administered by a hospital ergonomist, provided formal educational sessions,
      physical demand analyses, and a forum in which to communicate concerns and
      suggestions for improvements. Language and/or literacy barriers required
      innovative educational approaches. Management's reluctance to allow the program
      to interfere with production schedules hindered the efficiency of the program,
      but probably contributed to the sense of empowerment in the workforce. Through
      active participation in ergonomic assessments as well as the educational program,
      workers were able to demonstrate to management that changes were needed.

PMID- 1442800
TI  - Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome training from a
      union perspective.
AB  - The authors developed a union sponsored 2-day human immunodeficiency
      virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) "train the trainer" program
      for healthcare workers in the San Francisco Bay Area. The program incorporated
      the "education for action" approach in an effort to respond to the inadequacies
      in many traditional, institutional trainings. Service Employees International
      Union (SEIU) and Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP) conducted the HIV/AIDS
      "train the trainer" program for approximately 100 healthcare workers in county
      public hospitals and community health clinics. After completing the program,
      these workers went back to their healthcare facilities, or community
      organizations, and led additional classes on HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention
      for approximately 600 more people. The goal of the program was to empower
      healthcare workers to: 1) identify the occupational risks associated with
      exposure to blood and potentially infectious body fluids at the workplace; 2)
      develop strategies to reduce those risks; 3) discuss their feelings about caring
      for an HIV/AIDS patient; and, 4) conduct HIV/AIDS workshops at the workplace.

PMID- 1442801
TI  - Use of participatory training techniques in a right-to-know train-the-trainer
      course for New Jersey public employees.
AB  - The New Jersey Department of Health, in conjunction with the Department of
      Personnel's Human Resources Development Institute, has developed a Right-to-Know
      Train-the-Trainer course. In this course, various participatory activities have
      been utilized since the course's inception in December 1989 to train future
      trainers who train public employees about recognizing, evaluating, and
      controlling hazardous substances in their facilities. These participatory
      training techniques have offered a means by which the trainers can encourage
      workers to become proactive in making their working conditions safer. With the
      use of various methods of evaluation, course participants learn the content and
      develop their skills in the use of participatory training techniques. Though
      evaluations indicate that participants have a favorable impression of the course,
      the extent to which these participants take the information back to their
      worksites has not been formally evaluated.

PMID- 1442802
TI  - Implementing right-to-know legislation for health care workers in Manitoba: a
      bipartite sectoral train-the-trainer approach.
AB  - In October 1988, right-to-know legislation was introduced in Canada. This
      presented a technical and administrative challenge to the health care sector.
      With over 170 health care facilities in Manitoba to be brought into compliance,
      some large, some small, some rural, some urban, a cooperative approach was
      needed. A labor-management steering committee with representatives from a cross
      section of facilities as well as the various health care unions was formed to
      design and implement a train-the-trainer program. A small-group, highly
      participatory modular program was developed with input from all parties, and
      delivered across the province by trainers selected jointly by labor and
      management. The program achieved its goal of assisting member facilities to
      implement the legislation. Follow-up surveys and discussions with health care
      workers showed improved understanding of labelling requirements, material safety
      data sheet interpretation, and requirements for hazard control. This first
      bipartite program empowered the health care workforce to use its newly acquired
      right-to-know, and has provided the incentive to implement other cooperative
      safety and health programs.

PMID- 1442803
TI  - Evaluating a training-for-action job health and safety program.
AB  - This paper describes an action research evaluation method developed to assess a
      worker training program which encourages trainees to use knowledge acquired to
      correct health and safety problems in their workplaces. The project teaches
      trainees from the same workplace to identify problem areas collectively using a
      tool called a Risk Chart and then to prioritize problems to work on with the aid
      of an Action Plan. Follow-up trainee interviews are conducted to determine what
      impact the training has on trainees. The methodology is presented and preliminary
      results are discussed, with particular emphasis on the advantages and limitations
      of this method.

PMID- 1442804
TI  - Health and safety education for workers with low-literacy or limited-English
      skills.
AB  - Low literacy and limited English proficiency have become a growing concern for
      health and safety educators. With one-fifth of the workforce reading below an
      eighth-grade level and possibly another tenth having limited English skills,
      health and safety educators and unions have increasingly become aware that
      current training programs often surpass the language and literacy abilities of
      workers being trained. This article describes the dilemmas facing health and
      safety professionals in incorporating knowledge about language and literacy skill
      levels. It documents creative strategies and new programs, largely based on
      participatory and popular education approaches, to provide training that
      simultaneously matches worker needs and leads to worker empowerment.

PMID- 1442805
TI  - Coloring the hazards: risk maps research and education to fight health hazards.

PMID- 1442806
TI  - Waking up the audience: the use of trigger videos in labor education.
AB  - Use of trigger videos can enhance union education programs by encouraging an
      active learning process, in which class members can identify with the problems
      posed in the video, and are motivated to seek a collective action-oriented
      solution to those situations which exist in their own workplaces. Such an
      approach empowers workers to develop their own answers in a supportive and
      mutually reinforcing context.

PMID- 1442807
TI  - Three participatory exercises on empowerment used in health and safety training
      of trainers course in Connecticut.
AB  - In a training-of-trainers course on health and safety sponsored by the
      Connecticut Council on Occupational Safety and Health and the Division of Worker
      Education, Workers' Compensation Commission, various participatory exercises have
      been utilized to train workers who are then expected to train their co-workers.
      Three of the exercises, including hazard recognition, tackling apathy, and
      strategies for change are described.

PMID- 1442809
TI  - ASHP policy on the acceptance of advertising.

PMID- 1442808
TI  - Some lessons learned from using participatory methods in asbestos worker
      training.
AB  - A nonprofit worker training center changed its teaching methods in response to
      teacher feelings of burnout, student expressions of boredom, and the requests of
      new staff members. The paper presents one problem-solving case study that was
      developed. The author discusses some obstacles to using the case study, and her
      experiences in overcoming those obstacles.

PMID- 1442810
TI  - AACP house of delegates vote: colleges to move to sole entry-level Pharm.D.

PMID- 1442811
TI  - Educational program reduces psychoactive drug use in nursing homes.

PMID- 1442812
TI  - Changes in FDA drug classification and priority review policy.

PMID- 1442813
TI  - Ensuring employees' skills.

PMID- 1442814
TI  - Development of i.v. push guidelines.

PMID- 1442815
TI  - Expanding pharmacy drug information efforts to counter pharmaceutical marketing.

PMID- 1442817
TI  - Examining motives for opposition to the sole entry-level Pharm.D. degree.

PMID- 1442816
TI  - Stability of mitomycin for ophthalmic use.

PMID- 1442818
TI  - Formalizing a pharmacy student teaching program in an Indian Health Service
      pharmacy.

PMID- 1442819
TI  - Transition.

PMID- 1442820
TI  - The future of health care.
AB  - Future changes in patient care to curb costs and refocus on health versus medical
      care are discussed, and efforts at the New England Medical Center (NEMC) to
      measure patient outcomes and reorganize the delivery of care are described.
      Medical care is not the only determinant of an individual's health; lifestyle
      choices and the community also play important roles. The rate of increase in the
      cost of medical care must be contained. The future of health-care reform will be
      predicated on packages for the administration of care; for any given condition,
      all of the elements of medical care would be combined so that clinical and
      functional outcomes are achieved at a given price (episode-of-illness pricing).
      The success of medical care should be determined on the basis of the patient's
      ability to function, not on clinical indicators alone. Also, the prices for new
      generations of drugs should be determined on whether the new drugs improve
      patients' quality of life. Health-care professionals in hospitals should not be
      divided according to their specialties; instead, they should compose
      multidisciplinary teams that can care for patients over time. NEMC is developing
      a process and structure in which various health-care professionals work together
      to design health-care plans that cover a full episode of illness. The future of
      health care will also be influenced by global trends, including international
      medical-care inflation, standardization of process and outcome measurements, and
      a shift in emphasis from medicine to health. The health-care industry is in
      transition as this country searches for the best way to improve the health and
      functioning of each citizen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1442821
TI  - Pharmacy practice in 2040.
AB  - Pharmacy practice 50 years in the future is discussed. The practice of pharmacy
      in 2040 will be influenced by many trends and issues, such as increasing cultural
      diversity, the aging population, evolving drug and information technology, rising
      drug costs, and increasing third-party coverage. Pharmacy may take one of two
      paths. In the first scenario, institutional and community practice would drift
      further apart, with community pharmacy becoming more involved with retailing than
      with health care. In the second scenario, all pharmacists would become a vital
      component of an integrated, patient-centered system of health care; pharmacists,
      like physicians, would be salaried professionals, paid for by health-care
      programs financed through health insurance. The difference between the two
      scenarios is the degree to which pharmacists actively participate in their
      creation: The first will happen if pharmacists do not take action; the second
      will require a considerable amount of work. If pharmacists wish to see an active
      system of patient-centered pharmaceutical care in 2040, they must begin to create
      it now, regardless of their practice setting. Pharmacists must work to create a
      future in which they are an integral part of the health-care system.

PMID- 1442822
TI  - ASHP and its customers.

PMID- 1442823
TI  - ASHP and membership commitment.

PMID- 1442824
TI  - Antibiotic-impregnated cement use in U.S. hospitals.
AB  - The results of a survey of the use of antibiotic-impregnated bone cement and
      cement beads in U.S. hospitals are reported. A random sample of hospitals was
      selected from all hospitals registered with the American Hospital Association. A
      questionnaire designed to characterize the extent of use of the products and the
      degree of pharmacy involvement was mailed to the pharmacy directors at 547
      hospitals nationwide. The response rate was 61.7% (336 evaluable returns). Ninety
      hospitals (26.9%) reported using antibiotic-impregnated bone cement or cement
      beads. Product use was significantly greater in urban hospitals, hospitals larger
      than 200 beds, teaching hospitals, and hospitals with pharmaceutical services in
      the operating rooms. Most facilities using the products were community hospitals.
      Total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, and chronic osteomyelitis were
      the most common indications for use. Systemic antibiotics were also administered
      in the great majority of hospitals reporting use of the products. The products
      were generally used in fewer than one procedure per month. Aminoglycosides and
      various cephalosporins were the antibiotics most commonly used; most have not
      been adequately studied for this use. Although nearly all the hospital pharmacies
      purchased antibiotics for these products, none mixed cement and only two
      premanufactured antibiotic beads. About one fourth of the hospitals surveyed
      reported using antibiotic-impregnated bone cement and cement beads, although the
      total number of patients being treated was small.

PMID- 1442825
TI  - Pharmaceutical services to evacuated U.S. military dependents.
AB  - Pharmacy operations on Guam during Operation Fiery Vigil are recounted. In June
      1991 Mount Pinatubo, a volcano near Clark Air Base in the Philippines, erupted
      and forced the evacuation of the base's population. Some 20,000 military
      dependents were transported to Guam. Those evacuees who needed medical attention-
      some 2500 of them--were escorted to a temporary medical unit located in and
      around Andersen Air Force Base and consisting of Army, Navy, and Air Force
      elements. Full-service health care, including 24-hour pharmaceutical services,
      was available. A central pharmacy and four satellite pharmacies were established.
      The four-man pharmacy staff went on 12-hour shifts and made frequent trips to all
      the medical sites. The pharmacy established and maintained drug stocks and
      supplies and provided drug information, particularly information on therapeutic
      equivalents. Constant readiness for emergency drug requests was maintained, and
      the pharmacy was responsible for transporting drugs. The pharmacy also supported
      the Army Veterinary Service in processing, quarantining, and caring for 1300
      pets. Cold, motion sickness, and sunburn preparations and analgesics accounted
      for more than half the prescriptions filled. Problems included the sheer number
      of evacuees, language barriers, the difference in formularies used by the
      pharmacies in the Philippines and Guam, and the physical and psychological stress
      to which the evacuees were subjected. Teamwork and coordination among the three
      U.S. military branches made it possible to satisfy the enormous medical and
      pharmaceutical needs of dependents evacuated from the Philippines after Mount
      Pinatubo erupted.

PMID- 1442826
TI  - How to write and publish scientific papers: scribing information for pharmacists.
AB  - The principles of writing and publishing scientific papers are outlined.
      Scientific writing can be both professionally and financially rewarding, but many
      pharmacists hesitate to write for publication. A primary obstacle is not knowing
      how to begin. Thoughtful planning is the first and most important step. Before
      writing a word, the writer should identify the main message, audience, target
      journal, resource materials, type of manuscript, and authorship. The sections of
      a paper reporting original research include the title, abstract, introduction,
      methods, results, discussion, conclusion, references, and tables and figures.
      Some of these elements also appear in review papers and columns. In general,
      information given in one section should not duplicate information in another. The
      writer typically drafts the methods section first, followed by the results, the
      discussion, and the introduction. Along with intellectual responsibility for the
      paper, an author must assume various ethical responsibilities, such as ensuring
      that it contains no plagiarism, that all sources of funding have been
      acknowledged, and that the paper has not been simultaneously submitted to other
      journals. To enhance the likelihood of publication, the writer should edit the
      manuscript carefully and follow the target journal's instructions to
      contributors. Once the writer has submitted a paper, it must pass the muster of
      editors and, for peer-reviewed journals, outside experts. Several revisions may
      be requested before final acceptance. Pharmacists who adhere to the established
      pattern for writing and submitting scientific papers have the best chance of
      seeing their work in print.

PMID- 1442827
TI  - FDA requires further trials for antiendotoxin monoclonal antibody products.

PMID- 1442828
TI  - FDA urges use of recessed-needle or needleless i.v. administration systems.

PMID- 1442829
TI  - Dealing with conflict.

PMID- 1442830
TI  - Promoting safe use of vincristine sulfate.

PMID- 1442831
TI  - Visual compatibility of diltiazem with commonly used injectable drugs during
      simulated Y-site administration.

PMID- 1442832
TI  - A pharmacist in the future?

PMID- 1442833
TI  - ASHP at 50: organizational precepts.

PMID- 1442834
TI  - Harvey A. K. Whitney Lecture. Of perceived value.
AB  - Current issues in pharmacy are discussed and recommendations are made to help
      pharmacy demonstrate its value in health care. There is a need for pharmacy to
      actively demonstrate and communicate its value in health care. Educational
      requirements should reflect the values of the profession. In the debate over the
      entry-level Pharm.D. degree, the profession must not lose sight of the principal
      goal of elevating the basic competencies of all pharmacists. Graduate-level
      education will continue to be valuable, but the degrees and programs should be
      modified to meet current and future needs. Residency training will become
      increasingly essential. A well-defined corps of pharmacy technicians is needed.
      The profession should strive to meet the needs of society rather than confining
      itself to traditional practice definitions. This will involve increased
      interaction with patients. Also, pharmacy directors must become more creative in
      allocating existing resources and building arguments for expansion. When patients
      recognize the value of pharmacy services, they will seek out and demand those
      services. Pharmacists must get involved in deliberations regarding health-care
      reform. They have a responsibility to promote preventive medicine and healthy
      life-styles. They should actively promote the rational use of all medications.
      Although tremendous progress has been made in advancing the concept of
      pharmaceutical care, the profession still has work to do in communicating its
      value to the public.

PMID- 1442835
TI  - Mirror to ASHP: 1942-1992.
AB  - Highlights from the history of ASHP are presented on the occasion of the
      Society's 50th anniversary. Efforts to organize a formal group representing
      hospital pharmacists, begun in the 1920s, resulted in the formation of a
      subsection on hospital pharmacy of the American Pharmaceutical Association in
      1936. In 1942, ASHP became a distinct organization affiliated with APhA. The
      body's goals were to establish minimum standards for pharmaceutical services,
      ensure a supply of well-qualified hospital pharmacists by providing hospital
      internships, facilitate information exchange, and foster cost-effective use of
      medicines. The development of practice standards and periodic surveys of hospital
      pharmaceutical services, educational efforts and accreditation programs,
      publications, and ASHP's role in the development of principles for hospital
      formulary systems are described. ASHP's endorsement of unit dose drug
      distribution and systems for preparation of intravenous admixtures is discussed.
      The evolution of pharmacists' clinical roles, their increased involvement in drug
      therapy decisions and the provision of drug information to patients, and the
      expanded responsibility implicit in the pharmaceutical care concept are traced.
      Today's ASHP members can build on the work of yesterday's members to provide
      better pharmaceutical care.

PMID- 1442836
TI  - Pharmacokinetic consultation program in a pediatric asthma clinic.
AB  - The effect of a clinical pharmacokinetic consultation program for theophylline on
      the outcomes of pediatric patients with asthma was studied. The program was
      established in 1989 at a pediatric asthma clinic. For each patient visit, a
      clinical pharmacist recorded demographic, clinical, and medication-related
      information and counseled the parents. When an adjustment in the theophylline
      dosage was indicated, the pharmacist calculated the appropriate dosage using
      population pharmacokinetic values. If the pediatrician requested a measurement of
      the serum theophylline concentration, the time when the blood sample was drawn
      relative to the last dose was recorded, an average serum theophylline
      concentration at steady state and individualized pharmacokinetic values were
      calculated, and the dosage was adjusted accordingly. Patient data were compared
      among three stages: (1) the month before and the month of entry into the program,
      (2) months 5 and 6 after entry, and (3) months 11 and 12 after entry. A total of
      44 patients were studied during each of stages 1 and 2, and 29 patients were
      reviewed during stage 3. There was a significant improvement in wheezing from
      stage 1 to stage 2 and in exercise tolerance and nocturnal coughing from stage 1
      to stage 2 and stage 1 to stage 3. Forced expiratory volume in one second
      improved significantly from stage 1 to stage 2, and there was a significant
      reduction in the necessity for hospital visits for the treatment of exacerbations
      of asthma between stages 1 and 2. The daily weight-adjusted dose of theophylline
      increased significantly after the program began. Asthmatic children taking
      theophylline had improvements in outcome variables after pharmacokinetic
      consultation and medication counseling were initiated.

PMID- 1442837
TI  - Factors affecting pharmacists' selection of rural or urban practice sites in
      Nebraska.
AB  - A questionnaire was used to determine why pharmacists in Nebraska chose urban or
      rural practice sites and to help the University of Nebraska College of Pharmacy
      encourage students to consider rural practice. Questionnaires were mailed to 1427
      Nebraska pharmacists to gather data about their practice, job satisfaction,
      location of rearing, location of spouse's rearing, and prepharmacy and clerkship
      training. Usable responses were sorted into those from urban pharmacists
      (residing in Omaha and Lincoln and their suburban areas) and those from rural
      pharmacists (all others). Of the 689 usable responses, 315 (45.7%) were from
      urban pharmacists and 374 (54.3%) were from rural pharmacists. Of the rural
      pharmacists, 93% [corrected] grew up in communities of fewer than 100,000 people
      and 60% grew up in communities of fewer than 5,000 people. Respondents cited
      income potential, desirability of practice site, influence of spouse and family,
      and quality of children's schools as factors that most influenced their choice of
      practice site. Based on the survey results, the University of Nebraska College of
      Pharmacy took actions to recruit students from rural communities and increase
      students' exposure to rural practice settings. Pharmacists who were reared or
      trained in rural areas were more likely to practice in rural Nebraska than
      pharmacists who had only urban experience.

PMID- 1442838
TI  - Therapeutic interchange of cefazolin with metronidazole for cefoxitin.
AB  - The effects on patient outcome and drug therapy costs of a therapeutic
      interchange program using a cefazolin and metronidazole combination in place of
      cefoxitin were studied. A therapeutic interchange program was initiated in which
      the pharmacy department automatically replaced orders for cefoxitin with orders
      for a cefazolin and metronidazole combination. Data were compared for 100
      consecutive patients who received cefoxitin before initiation of the program and
      the first 100 patients who received cefazolin and metronidazole as part of the
      program. The impact of the program on therapeutic efficacy, adverse effects
      associated with therapy, and drug therapy costs was assessed. The two patient
      groups were similar in age, gender, and white blood cell count. The failure rates
      for treatment or prophylaxis of infection did not significantly differ between
      the groups. Duration of therapy and incidence of adverse effects did not
      significantly differ between the groups. The average cost saving was +72 per
      patient for treatment with cefazolin and metronidazole instead of cefoxitin. A
      program for therapeutic interchange of cefazolin and metronidazole in place of
      cefoxitin demonstrated equivalent efficacy and adverse effects, as well as
      considerable cost savings.

PMID- 1442839
TI  - Hospital pharmacy directors' perceptions of job stress in staff pharmacists.

PMID- 1442840
TI  - Guidelines for the safe handling of excreta contaminated by cytotoxic agents.

PMID- 1442841
TI  - Hospital's refusal to hire HIV-infected pharmacist without restrictions violates
      Rehabilitation Act.

PMID- 1442842
TI  - ASHP reports. Empowering ourselves for professional growth.

PMID- 1442843
TI  - ASHP reports. A powerful, likely story.

PMID- 1442844
TI  - ASHP reports. Society achieves income milestone.

PMID- 1442845
TI  - ASHP reports. Building for the future.

PMID- 1442846
TI  - ASHP statement on the use of medications for unlabeled uses.

PMID- 1442847
TI  - ASHP statement on the pharmacy and therapeutics committee.

PMID- 1442848
TI  - ASHP statement on the pharmacist's responsibility for distribution and control of
      drug products.

PMID- 1442849
TI  - Management of syphilis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.

PMID- 1442850
TI  - Response of latent syphilis or neurosyphilis to ceftriaxone therapy in persons
      infected with human immunodeficiency virus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of ceftriaxone in treating latent syphilis or
      asymptomatic neurosyphilis in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency
      virus (HIV). DESIGN: Follow-up study of patients treated at two HIV-based clinics
      during 16 months from 1989 to 1991. PATIENTS: Patients were those in whom a
      clinical diagnosis of latent syphilis or asymptomatic neurosyphilis was made, who
      received all recommended doses of antimicrobial therapy, and who returned for
      follow-up visits for 6 or more months. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were treated
      with ceftriaxone, 1 to 2 g daily for 10 to 14 days. Thirteen underwent lumbar
      puncture before treatment; 7 (58%) had documented neurosyphilis (pleocytosis in
      5, elevated protein levels in 6, VDRL reactive in cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] in
      7), and 6 had documented latent syphilis (entirely normal CSF). The remaining 30
      were said to have presumed latent syphilis. There was no relation between the
      diagnosis and the selected dosage of ceftriaxone. Response rates were similar in
      those who had documented neurosyphilis and documented or presumed latent
      syphilis. Overall, 28 patients (65%) responded to therapy, 5 (12%) were serofast,
      9 (21%) had a serologic relapse, and 1 (2%) who experienced progression to
      symptomatic neurosyphilis was a therapeutic failure. Thirteen patients received
      benzathine penicillin for presumed latent syphilis; results were similar to those
      observed after ceftriaxone therapy, with 8 (62%) responders, 1 (8%) serofast, 2
      (15%) relapses, and 2 (15%) failures. CD4 cell counts in responders were not
      different from those who failed to respond. CONCLUSIONS: Even in the absence of
      neurologic symptoms, half of the HIV-infected persons who have serologic evidence
      of syphilis may have neurosyphilis. Although ceftriaxone achieves high serum and
      CSF levels, 10 to 14 days of treatment with this drug were associated with a 23%
      failure rate in HIV-infected patients who had latent syphilis or asymptomatic
      neurosyphilis. Three doses of benzathine penicillin did not have a significantly
      higher relapse rate and may provide appropriate therapy, at least for documented
      latent syphilis in persons co-infected with HIV. Studies comparing ceftriaxone
      with 10 to 14 doses of procaine penicillin are needed to determine the most cost
      effective treatment for asymptomatic neurosyphilis or presumed latent syphilis in
      this group of patients.

PMID- 1442851
TI  - Cardiac involvement in patients with myeloproliferative disorders.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: To evaluate cardiac involvement in myeloproliferative disorders
      (MPD), two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic studies were performed in 30
      patients with MPD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: There were 18 women and 12 men, with an
      age range from 35 to 76 years. Eighteen patients had polycythemia vera (PV), 8
      had essential thrombocythemia (ET), and 4 had agnogenic myeloid metaplasia (AMM).
      RESULTS: Echocardiography revealed valvular lesions in 19 of 30 patients (63%)
      compared with only 1 of 22 patients (4.5%) in a control group of patients
      referred for echocardiography to exclude a cardiac source for idiopathic systemic
      thromboembolism (chi 2 = 13.39, p < 0.001, by chi 2 test with Yates' correction).
      Valvular lesions were found in 77% of patients with PV, 50% with ET, and 25% with
      AMM (p = NS). The aortic and mitral valves were the most commonly involved
      valves, and the most common echocardiographic lesion was leaflet thickening,
      which was found in 12 patients (40%), followed by vegetations, which were
      observed in 5 patients (16%). In their past history, 14 of 30 (47%) MPD patients
      had arterial or venous thrombosis or embolism. Twelve of 19 (63%) patients with
      valvular lesions had thromboembolism compared with only 2 of 11 (18%) patients
      without evidence of valvular lesions (chi 2 = 3.99, p < 0.05, by chi 2 test with
      Yates' correction). Pulmonary hypertension, unrelated to the severity of valvular
      disease and probably resulting from pulmonary venous occlusion, was found in four
      patients (13%). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the heart is frequently involved in
      patients with MPD, particularly when their past history is complicated by a
      thromboembolic event. Some patients have clinically significant valvular disease.
      Pulmonary hypertension is another relatively common finding in MPD patients.
      Echocardiography provides information of clinical significance in MPD patients. A
      larger number of patients is needed to determine whether the presence of valvular
      lesions is of prognostic significance and may herald future thromboembolic
      events.

PMID- 1442852
TI  - Ascending aorta distensibility abnormalities in hypertensive patients and
      response to nifedipine administration.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of the present investigation was to study the distensibility
      of the ascending aorta in patients with arterial hypertension and normal subjects
      before and after administration of a calcium antagonist, nifedipine. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: The distensibility of the ascending aorta was measured before and after
      nifedipine administration in 22 male hypertensive patients and 12 age-matched
      male normotensive subjects. Aortic distensibility was calculated as a function of
      changes in aortic diameter and pulse pressure, using the formula: 2 x (pulsatile
      change in aortic diameter)/[(diastolic aortic diameter) x (aortic pulse
      pressure)]. Aortic diameters were measured by echocardiography and aortic
      pressures were obtained by catheterization of the ascending aorta. RESULTS: In
      the basal state, the distensibility of the ascending aorta and aortic strain were
      lower in hypertensive patients than in normotensive subjects (p < 0.001); the
      lower aortic distensibility, however, was associated with a greater distending
      pressure. A good inverse correlation (r = -0.81) was found between mean aortic
      pressure and aortic distensibility. The aortic distensibility was increased after
      nifedipine administration in both groups; this increase in aortic distensibility,
      however, was lower in the patients with hypertension compared with normotensive
      subjects (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Aortic distensibility is decreased in patients
      with arterial hypertension. Nifedipine administration increased the
      distensibility of the ascending aorta both in patients with arterial hypertension
      and in normotensive subjects. The increase of aortic distensibility after
      nifedipine administration was lower in hypertensive patients.

PMID- 1442853
TI  - Risk factors for coronary artery disease in patients with systemic lupus
      erythematosus.
AB  - PURPOSE: To estimate the frequency of and examine risk factors for coronary
      artery disease (CAD) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a
      prospective longitudinal study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were SLE are
      enrolled in The Johns Hopkins Lupus Cohort, a prospective study of outcomes in
      229 subjects with SLE. CAD was defined as angina, myocardial infarction, or
      sudden death. Data on CAD risk factors were obtained prospectively every 3 months
      and were analyzed using univariate and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: CAD
      occurred in 19 (8.3%) of 229 patients with SLE and accounted for 3 (30%) of 10
      deaths as of December 31, 1990. Compared to subjects without CAD, those with CAD
      were more likely to have been older at both diagnosis of SLE (37.1 years versus
      28.9 years, p = 0.004) and at entry into the cohort (47.1 years versus 34.7
      years, p < 0.0001), to have a longer mean duration of SLE (12.3 years versus 8.1
      years, p = 0.013) and a longer mean duration of prednisone use (14.3 years versus
      7.2 years, p < 0.0001), to have a higher mean serum cholesterol (271.2 mg/dL
      versus 214.9 mg/dL, p < 0.0001) or a cholesterol level greater than 200 mg/dL
      (odds ratio [OR] 14.5, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.9, 112.1), and to have
      both a history of hypertension (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.3, 9.6) and a history of use of
      antihypertensive medications (OR 5.5, 95% CI 1.8, 17.2). There were no
      significant associations with other known CAD risk factors such as smoking,
      diabetes, family history of CAD, race, or sex, or variables related to steroid
      therapy including the presence of cushingoid features or ever use of
      corticosteroids. The best multiple logistic regression model for CAD included age
      at diagnosis, duration of prednisone use, requirement for antihypertensive
      treatment, maximum cholesterol level, and obesity (using NHANES-II [National
      Health and Nutrition Examination Survey] definitions). CONCLUSION: Primary and
      secondary prevention strategies directed at hypertension, hypercholesterolemia,
      and obesity, as well as other known CAD risk factors, should be routinely
      employed in the management of patients with SLE.

PMID- 1442854
TI  - Tuberculous meningitis in patients with and without human immunodeficiency virus
      infection.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To characterize the symptoms, signs, laboratory findings, and outcome
      of culture-proven meningitis due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients with
      and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. DESIGN: Retrospective
      chart review. SETTING: Urban public general hospital in the United States.
      PATIENTS: Fifteen patients with and 16 without HIV infection. MEASUREMENTS:
      Demographics, symptoms, physical exam findings, serum sodium, complete blood cell
      count, CD4+ cell count, cerebrospinal fluid findings, imaging data, and in
      hospital mortality. MAIN RESULTS: Symptoms, signs, chest radiograph appearance,
      cerebrospinal fluid cell counts and chemistries, and mortality were similar in
      both groups (p = NS). Median CD4+ cell counts were lower in HIV-infected patients
      (median 99/mm3, range 7 to 251, versus 384/mm3, range 171 to 724 in those without
      HIV infection, p = 0.007). Intracerebral mass lesions were more common in the HIV
      infected group (60% versus 14% in the uninfected group, p = 0.01), although the
      presence of a mass did not correlate with focal neurologic deficits, altered
      level of consciousness, or mortality. CONCLUSION: With the exception of an
      increased incidence of intracerebral mass lesions in HIV-infected individuals,
      HIV infection appears to have little impact on the findings and in-hospital
      mortality of tuberculous meningitis.

PMID- 1442855
TI  - Microalbuminuria in patients with essential hypertension: effects of several
      antihypertensive drugs.
AB  - PURPOSE: Microalbuminuria can be present in 10% to 40% of patients with essential
      hypertension and is associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular
      events. The effect of commonly used antihypertensive agents on urinary albumin
      excretion (UAE) has not been well established. The aim of this study was to
      evaluate the effects of a converting enzyme inhibitor, a calcium channel blocker,
      a beta blocker, and a diuretic on UAE and on creatinine clearance in patients
      with mild to moderate hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively
      measured UAE prior to and 4 and 8 weeks after treatment with enalapril,
      nitrendipine, atenolol, or a diuretic in 48 patients with essential hypertension
      and microalbuminuria. RESULTS: All these agents were equally effective in
      reducing arterial pressure. However, enalapril but not the other agents
      significantly decreased UAE. CONCLUSION: Eight weeks of therapy with enalapril
      may reduce UAE in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension, whereas
      other agents, such as nitrendipine, atenolol, or diuretics, had no measurable
      effect on UAE. The clinical and prognostic significance of these observations
      remains to be established.

PMID- 1442856
TI  - Imaging of thoracic Wegener's granulomatosis: the computed tomographic
      appearance.
AB  - PURPOSE: Computed tomography (CT) can play a major role in the examination of
      patients with diffuse infiltrative disorders of the lung. CT patterns of thoracic
      Wegener's granulomatosis were retrospectively evaluated in this study. The CT
      appearance was compared with imaging obtained by conventional plain
      roentgenograms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with Wegener's
      granulomatosis seen during the last 5 years are described. Conventional chest
      roentgenograms and CT scans from these patients are reviewed. RESULTS: The most
      frequent manifestation found in the lungs of patients with Wegener's
      granulomatosis was that of rounded opacities with or without cavitation. This was
      observed in 7 of 14 patients. Relatively unexpected was the frequent occurrence
      of bronchovascular bundle cuffing with a quite constant and characteristic
      bronchocentric distribution. This finding was observed in 5 of 14 patients.
      Vasculitis sign was demonstrated in 2 of 14 patients. Widespread acinar
      infiltrates, usually confluent, were common and were seen in 5 of 14 of our
      patients; in 2 of the patients, these infiltrates were due to diffuse pulmonary
      hemorrhage. Tracheal stenosis was the cause of sudden acute respiratory failure
      that was observed in one patient. Pleural disease was present in 3 of 14
      patients. Hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy was observed in one patient. An
      interstitial pattern was observed in 3 of 14 patients. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude
      that an extremely wide spectrum of radiologic findings may be observed in this
      disease. In 14 patients we found 11 different roentgenographic manifestations;
      moreover, in 8 patients it was possible to describe more than 1 radiologic
      manifestation at the same time or during the course of the disease. This
      observation is not surprising, if we consider the wide variability and broad
      spectrum of pathologic features in pulmonary Wegener's granulomatosis. Because
      conventional roentgenograms failed in a great number of cases to visualize the
      exact pattern and the extent of thoracic involvement, we believe that CT is
      particularly helpful for the assessment of pulmonary involvement in Wegener's
      granulomatosis.

PMID- 1442857
TI  - Physician demographics and the risk of medical malpractice.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to clarify which, if any, physician
      demographic characteristics are associated with an increased rate of medical
      malpractice claims. METHODS: We analyzed the malpractice experience of 9,250
      physicians insured for at least 2 years from 1977 to 1987 in the state of New
      Jersey. After adjusting for years at risk, physician claims per year was
      categorized into low, medium, and high. RESULTS: Male physicians were three times
      as likely to be in the high-claims group as female physicians, even after
      adjusting for other demographic variables (relative risk, 3.1; 99% confidence
      interval, 2.2 to 4.4). Specialty was strongly associated with claims rate, with
      neurosurgery, orthopedics, and obstetrics/gynecology having 7 to 12 times the
      number of claims per year as psychiatry, the specialty with the fewest claims.
      The rate of claims varied with age (p < 0.001) and peaked at approximately age
      40. No association was evident between claims rate and a physician's site of
      training or type of degree. CONCLUSION: Male physicians are three times as likely
      to be in a high-claims category as female physicians. We suspect that the most
      likely explanation for this finding is that women interact more effectively with
      patients. Understanding the reasons for the variation in claim rates between
      physicians may lead to the development of methods to reduce the overall rate of
      malpractice claims.

PMID- 1442858
TI  - Treatment of supraventricular tachycardias with transcatheter delivery of
      radiofrequency current.
AB  - Medical therapy for the treatment of supraventricular tachycardias is frequently
      ineffective and associated with significant side effects, whereas curative
      surgical approaches have generally been limited by their considerable morbidity
      and cost. Greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying supraventricular
      tachycardias has improved our ability to precisely map endocardial areas critical
      to arrhythmogenesis. Advances in catheter ablation techniques and particularly
      the use of radiofrequency current to generate thermal energy for ablation have
      resulted in dramatic success rates for curative catheter ablation. This review
      examines the physics of radiofrequency current ablation and its application to
      the treatment of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, AV nodal reentrant
      tachycardia, and arrhythmias associated with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
      The limitations, risks, and cost-effectiveness of this technique relative to
      medical and surgical approaches are also evaluated.

PMID- 1442859
TI  - Admission screening by thyroid function tests in an acute general care teaching
      hospital.
AB  - To determine the incidence of unrecognized thyroid disease among admissions to a
      large acute care university teaching hospital, 364 samples taken on consecutive
      admissions were assayed for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine
      index (FTI). Patients with abnormal test results were further evaluated by
      determination of antimicrosomal and antithyroglobulin antibodies, and charts were
      reviewed for evidence of prior diagnosis of thyroid disease, especially severe
      illness, drug treatment that might affect thyroid function tests, and prior
      diagnosis of thyroid disease. Results of subsequent thyroid function tests
      performed during the patient's hospitalization were correlated with the admission
      serum assays, and data on subsequent testing during the following 6 months were
      also obtained. A total of 3.9% of patients had significantly depressed TSH, and
      11.1% of values were significantly elevated. A total of 11.3% of patients had
      significantly low FTI values, and 1% had significantly elevated values. A total
      of 7.4% appeared to have the euthyroid sick syndrome, 5.8% appeared to have
      unrecognized or undertreated primary thyroid failure, 6% had apparent subclinical
      hypothyroidism, 2% were thyrotoxic, and 2.8% (all women) had suppressed TSH
      levels for inapparent reasons. Limiting testing to patients over 49 years of age,
      or to women, would have missed many individuals with abnormal test results.
      Considering widespread availability of tests, relative costs, and value of the
      information obtained, it is suggested that the FTI determination would provide an
      appropriate screening test for patients in a population such as this entering a
      large, acute care general hospital.

PMID- 1442860
TI  - Country doctors of Humble Pie.

PMID- 1442861
TI  - Abdominal pain and hematologic abnormalities in a 71-year-old woman.

PMID- 1442862
TI  - Concomitant oculoglandular and ulceroglandular fever due to herpes simplex virus
      type I.
AB  - Herpes simplex virus is a commonly encountered infectious agent in clinical
      practice. The syndromes with which it is usually associated are well described
      and generally easily recognized. This report documents that two uncommon clinical
      syndromes, ulceroglandular fever and oculoglandular fever, may be caused by this
      virus. Our patient's case was even more unusual in that both conditions occurred
      simultaneously.

PMID- 1442863
TI  - Digital gangrene following chemotherapy for AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma.

PMID- 1442864
TI  - Is measurement of venous oxygen saturation useful in the diagnosis of cyanide
      poisoning?

PMID- 1442866
TI  - Less-recognized risks of blood transfusion.

PMID- 1442865
TI  - Axillary lymphadenopathy in a healthy population and its relationship to
      antiperspirants.

PMID- 1442867
TI  - Tumor necrosis factor in pathogenesis of familial Mediterranean fever.

PMID- 1442868
TI  - Earlobe crease and coronary artery disease: association or coincidence?

PMID- 1442869
TI  - Case report: acromegaly and Cushing's disease in a patient with synchronous
      pituitary adenomas.
AB  - A 40-year-old white woman presented with hirsutism, amenorrhea, generalized
      fatigue, diffuse weight gain, acral changes, and coarsened facial features.
      Physical examination revealed mild diastolic hypertension, acromegalic features,
      hirsutism, and seborrhea. The growth hormone concentration was elevated and did
      not suppress after glucose administration. Urinary free cortisol excretion was
      increased and was not suppressed during a 2 mg low-dose dexamethasone suppression
      test. Magnetic resonance imaging of the sella demonstrated a 1.3 x 1.2 x 0.8 cm
      pituitary adenoma. Trans-sphenoidal resection was performed, and portions of the
      resected tumor were analyzed by routine pathologic methods. Histopathologic and
      immunohistochemical findings indicated discrete growth hormone- and
      adrenocorticotropic hormone-producing pituitary adenomas. Coexisting acromegaly
      and Cushing's syndrome due to pituitary neoplasia was previously reported in two
      patients. However, to the authors' knowledge, this represents the first
      description of a patient with acromegaly and Cushing's disease resulting from
      discrete synchronous adenomas of the pituitary gland as defined by modern
      histopathologic techniques.

PMID- 1442870
TI  - Case report: factitious hypoglycemia in diabetic patients.
AB  - Factitious hypoglycemia (FH) in a diabetic patient represents a difficult
      diagnostic and costly management problem. An adolescent diabetic with FH is
      reported. A literature search revealed 10 adolescent and 45 adult diabetic
      patients with FH. Tests currently available for diagnosis are evaluated. The role
      of psychiatric therapy in relation to overall management and prognosis is
      stressed.

PMID- 1442871
TI  - Case report: acute focal bacterial pyelonephritis (lobar nephronia)--presentation
      as a palpable abdominal mass.
AB  - Acute lobar nephronia, or focal pyelonephritis, is an uncommon form of renal
      infection with a distinct computerized tomographic appearance. A patient is
      presented with lobar nephronia characterized by fever, flank pain, urosepsis, and
      painful abdominal mass. Differentiating this condition from abscess or other
      renal mass is important, because the treatment of lobar nephronia is nonsurgical.
      The infection responds to antibiotic therapy.

PMID- 1442872
TI  - Hypertension in blacks: socioeconomic stress and sympathetic nervous system
      activity.
AB  - Primary hypertension is almost twice as prevalent among American blacks as among
      whites. Causes of this increased prevalence of hypertension remain elusive.
      Elevation of sympathetic nervous system activity, in part secondary to increased
      levels of socioeconomic stress, is hypothesized as playing a role. Increased
      sympathetic nervous system activity may increase peripheral vascular resistance
      directly or through increased vascular reactivity. Microneurography allows direct
      measurement of peripheral sympathetic nervous system activity. Application of
      this technique will allow comparison of sympathetic nervous system activity in
      black and white subjects and provide additional insight into the role of the
      sympathetic nervous system in the development of hypertension in blacks.

PMID- 1442873
TI  - Diuretics in the therapy of hypertension: current status.
AB  - Diuretics were the first effective oral agents for treating hypertension. They
      have proven to be safe and effective. Recently, they have been scrutinized as
      possibly being responsible for certain side effects that may increase risk for
      cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A careful review of the literature
      suggests this class of agents warrants continued use as first-line therapy of
      hypertension, especially in certain demographic groups. However, monitoring of
      potential baleful effects and a general reduction in dosage are appropriate.
      Furthermore, selection of other (alternative) agents for monotherapy is advised
      in certain clinical circumstances.

PMID- 1442874
TI  - A new twist in the brain-gut axis.
AB  - Gastrointestinal functions are precisely regulated by hormonal and neural
      negative feedback loops. In addition to the classic hormonal and vago-vagal
      reflex mechanisms, these studies indicate that there are direct actions of gut
      hormones on the dorsal vagal complex. The current data demonstrate that
      pancreatic polypeptide is released into the circulation by vagal-cholinergic
      dependent mechanisms. It travels to the brainstem in the circulation, transverses
      the blood-brain barrier through "leaky" regions of this barrier in the area
      postrema and nucleus of the tractus solitarius and binds to specific receptors in
      the dorsal vagal complex. By binding to these sites, pancreatic polypeptide can
      directly inhibit vagal input to the pancreas and other gastrointestinal organs.
      These observations provide an anatomic basis to explain why pancreatic
      polypeptide is a more potent inhibitor of the action of central stimulants of
      pancreatic secretion than it is of the response to peripheral secretagogues. They
      also establish a novel mechanism by which gut peptides can influence brain
      function directly.

PMID- 1442875
TI  - Commingling and complex segregation analysis of fasting plasma glucose in the
      Lipid Research Clinics family study.
AB  - Commingling and segregation patterns of fasting plasma glucose (GL) were examined
      in family data from 5 clinics (Cincinnati, Stanford, Iowa, Minnesota, and
      Oklahoma) of the Lipid Research Clinics (LRC) family study. In addition to the
      primary question of whether there was a major gene for GL, a secondary purpose
      was to investigate the possibility of genetic heterogeneity among the 5 clinics.
      No statistical support was found for heterogeneity among clinics, either in the
      commingling of distributions or in the segregation patterns. For the combined
      clinics sample, both a major effect and a multifactorial component were
      significant. However, the major effect (accounting for 73% of the variance) was
      not found to be consistent with a major gene, as the hypothesis of Mendelian
      transmission was rejected. The most parsimonious model involved equal
      transmission probabilities, which suggests that the major effect is not
      transmitted from parents to offspring. Possible sources of this major non
      Mendelian effect were explored. The multifactorial component accounted for 10% of
      the variance in GL levels, and no generational differences were noted. Although
      our study was unable to provide evidence in favor of a major gene effect, it
      should be noted that a major gene cannot be firmly refuted. For example, a
      variety of interactions, such as genotype-dependent age effects, could have
      masked the transmission probabilities.

PMID- 1442876
TI  - Study of the etiology of deafness in an institutionalized population in Colombia.
AB  - To identify causative factors we screened 1,715 deaf individuals from 16 schools
      for the deaf in Colombia. We found evidence of environmental causation in 579
      (33.8%) cases, genetic in 608 (35.4%), and in 528 (30.8%) we were unable to
      identify the etiology. The degree of hearing loss was severe to profound in 1,238
      (72.2%), although in 987 (57.5%) of the deaf population studied the hearing
      impairment was not noticed until 2 to 5 years of age. The frequent association of
      deafness with other anomalies underscores the importance of a careful clinical
      and ophthalmologic evaluation in individuals with hearing loss. Our observations
      also emphasize the need for programs directed towards the prevention of hearing
      loss, including primary prevention as well as early diagnosis, investigation of
      possible genetic causes, and rehabilitation of deaf individuals.

PMID- 1442877
TI  - Utilization and evaluation of living-related donors for patients with adult
      polycystic kidney disease.
AB  - Adult onset polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) causes 10% of all end-stage renal
      disease in the United States. Use of living-related donors for renal transplants
      provides significant advantages over cadaver donors. Presymptomatic testing to
      determine ADPKD status of potential donors by DNA linkage analysis is potentially
      more accurate than renal ultrasonography for related donors < 30 years old. To
      determine the utilization of living donor transplants and linkage studies, a
      survey was mailed to 202 transplant centers in the United Network of Organ
      Sharing. The 111 respondents reported 5,026 renal transplants done in 1988 of
      which 390 (7.8%) involved an ADPKD recipient. Only 7% of these 390 transplants
      utilized a living-related donor compared to the 20% rate reported for all renal
      transplants. DNA linkage studies were not used by any of the centers performing
      related donor transplants in 1988 and only 29% reported provision of risk
      counseling. We conclude that living-related transplants are underutilized for
      ADPKD recipients due to conservative transplant policies, concern about the
      inaccuracy of presymptomatic diagnosis, or decreased availability of asymptomatic
      donors in these families. DNA linkage analysis is also underutilized due to lack
      of knowledge of its availability and accuracy, concerns about its cost and
      misconceptions about the accuracy of ultrasonography.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1442878
TI  - Patterns of acrorenal malformation associations.
AB  - Limb and urinary tract defects have frequently been reported to occur together as
      components of a single acrorenal field defect or in many multiple malformation
      syndromes. However, the concordance of such anomalies has rarely been studied on
      a population basis or the relationships between specific limb and renal defects
      defined. This paper documents the patterns of acrorenal associations seen in over
      1,500,000 infants born in Hungary in 1975-1984. In all, 1 in 1,800 infants had a
      limb deficiency and 9% of these (75 cases) had a urinary tract anomaly. Urinary
      tract anomalies were most commonly seen with radial ray defects, micromelia and
      amelia. The commonest recognized patterns were VACTERL association and the
      cloacal exstrophy and caudal regression sequences. Chromosomal and single gene
      defects also occurred. Numerical taxonomic techniques delineated six main
      clusters of patients. Important groupings included micromelia with renal
      agenesis, split hand/foot with hydronephrosis, and radial ray anomalies with
      VACTERL defects. The radial ray groups differed in the nature of the VACTERL
      anomalies seen and with respect to laterality, symmetry, and non-VACTERL
      anomalies. There was a strong association of bilateral limb defects with
      bilateral renal anomalies and unilateral with unilateral. Ipsilateral defects
      tended to occur in typical VACTERL cases, while contralateral defects tended to
      occur with additional non VACTERL midline anomalies. Although renal and limb
      anomalies are associated, in almost all cases malformations in other systems are
      also present. The precise nature of the malformation patterns seen appear to
      reflect differences in the nature and magnitude of the underlying
      dysmorphogenetic processes as well as the timing of their effects.

PMID- 1442879
TI  - Exclusion of human proteoglycan link protein (CRTL1) and type II collagen
      (COL2A1) genes in pseudoachondroplasia.
AB  - Patients with pseudoachondroplasia have a skeletal dysplasia with marked short
      stature. The most common cause of this condition is an autosomal dominant
      mutation, although autosomal recessive inheritance has been reported. Linkage to
      2 cartilage-specific candidate genes, type II collagen (COL2A1) and proteoglycan
      link protein genes (CRTL1), was tested in 9 autosomal dominant families with
      pseudoachondroplasia. Tight linkage to these candidate genes was excluded with
      LOD scores for COL2A1 of -2.45 at theta = 0.05 and for CRTL1 of -7.28 at theta =
      0.001. Discordant inheritance of the disease phenotype with each of these genes
      was also observed. Thus, these 2 candidate genes can be excluded as the cause of
      disease in these families.

PMID- 1442880
TI  - Cardiovascular abnormalities in the oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (Goldenhar
      syndrome).
AB  - We describe the phenotypic characteristics of 25 individuals with oculo-auriculo
      vertebral spectrum (OAVS) and its variants, seen in Northern Ireland between 1969
      1989, with special reference to cardiovascular defects. We report the type and
      prevalence of cardiovascular findings and also estimate the minimum prevalence
      rate of OAVS to be 1 in 45,000.

PMID- 1442881
TI  - Neonatal hemochromatosis: genetic counseling based on retrospective pathologic
      diagnosis.
AB  - We report a case of neonatal hemochromatosis in which the genetic counseling was
      initiated by, and based on, retrospective pathologic diagnosis. Perinatal or
      neonatal hemochromatosis is beginning to be recognized as a distinct clinical
      entity and one of the most common causes of perinatal cirrhosis. The exact
      mechanism of liver damage and the relationship to adult type hemochromatosis have
      not been fully clarified. The pattern of fibrosis in the liver plus the abundant
      iron deposition in the liver and other organs separate this entity pathologically
      from other causes of neonatal liver failure. We report on a case of neonatal
      hemochromatosis that was diagnosed on retrospective autopsy review of an infant
      with supposed hereditary tyrosinemia, when the family presented for genetic
      counseling. This case emphasizes to the genetic counselor and pathologist the
      need to consider the diagnosis prenatally, after birth, or at death, as failure
      to do so would result in the inability to identify families at genetic risk for
      neonatal hemochromatosis or in mislabeling a family with another inborn error.

PMID- 1442882
TI  - Boy with a chromosome del (3)(q12q23) and blepharophimosis syndrome.
AB  - We report on a 6-year-old boy with de novo 46,XY,del(3)(q12q23) and bilateral
      blepharophimosis, ptosis, epicanthus inversus, in addition to multiple other
      anomalies. Since 4 previously reported cases of interstitial deletion of 3q
      involving 3q23 band are clinically similar, we propose this blepharophimosis
      sequence due to 3q23 deletion as a further "contiguous gene syndrome."

PMID- 1442883
TI  - Trisomy 22 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia and absence of corpus callosum in
      a liveborn premature infant.
AB  - We report on a liveborn premature male with trisomy 22 who had multiple
      congenital anomalies, including congenital diaphragmatic hernia and absence of
      corpus callosum. He died of pulmonary hypoplasia associated with diaphragmatic
      hernia within 12 hours of age. Chromosome analysis by multiple banding techniques
      based on lymphocyte culture confirmed that he had trisomy 22. This may be the
      first report of congenital diaphragmatic hernia and isolated absence of corpus
      callosum associated with trisomy 22.

PMID- 1442884
TI  - Comparison of phenylketonuric and nonphenylketonuric sibs from untreated
      pregnancies in a mother with phenylketonuria.
AB  - Two children, one with phenylketonuria (PKU) and the other nonphenylketonuric,
      from untreated pregnancies in a mother with PKU provided the opportunity to
      compare the degree of damage from maternal PKU between these genotypically
      different fetuses. Both the phenylketonuric offspring and her nonphenylketonuric
      sib were microcephalic at birth and had congenital anomalies, esophageal atresia
      in the former and congenital dislocation of the hip in the latter. However, the
      phenylketonuric child also had intrauterine growth retardation while the
      nonphenylketonuric sib had normal weight and length at birth. Both children are
      mentally retarded with an IQ below 50 in the phenylketonuric child despite early
      dietary treatment for PKU and an IQ of 54 in the nonphenylketonuric sib. Both
      children also have hypoplasia of the corpus callosum and enlarged cerebral
      ventricles. This experience and review of the literature indicates that the
      residual liver phenylalanine hydroxylase activity of a nonphenylketonuric fetus
      offers little or no protection from damage in untreated maternal PKU.
      Consequently, the outcome in maternal PKU is likely to depend on control of the
      maternal biochemical abnormalities in the mother regardless of whether the fetus
      has or does not have PKU.

PMID- 1442885
TI  - Golgi-Kopsch silver study of the brain of a patient with untreated
      phenylketonuria, seizures, and cortical blindness.
AB  - This report describes the morphological changes observed in the brain of an
      untreated 27-year-old man with phenylketonuria, cortical blindness, and seizures.
      Golgi-Kopsch silver, cresyl violet, and hematoxylin and eosin stains were used to
      study cell structure and organization of the cerebellum, the lateral geniculate
      nuclei, the visual cortex, frontal cortex, and hippocampus. Extensive neuronal
      losses occurred in the right lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), the visual cortex,
      and hippocampus. The left LGN, cerebellum, and frontal cortex retained neuronal
      components; there was a reduction in the number of dendritic processes on the
      Purkinje cells of the PKU subject. The loss of neurons in the LGN and occipital
      cortex is related to the blindness and the neuronal loss in the hippocampus is
      related to seizure activity.

PMID- 1442886
TI  - Molecular detection of a 4p deletion using PCR-based polymorphisms: a technique
      for the rapid detection of the Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome.
AB  - Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) results from a deletion of part of chromosome 4p.
      The region of 4p consistently deleted in WHS is near the tip of 4p. Two loci in
      this region D4S95 and D4S125 are associated with highly informative VNTR
      polymorphisms and were recently converted to allow PCR-based screening. PCR
      analysis was used successfully to identify a small de novo deletion of 4p in a
      patient suspected of having WHS. This procedure allows a rapid and accurate
      confirmation of 4p deletions in cases where cytogenetics alone cannot provide a
      clear answer.

PMID- 1442887
TI  - Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy type 1A mutation: apparent crossovers with D17S122
      are due to a duplication.
AB  - A locus for the slow conducting form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy (CMT1A)
      was localised to the proximal short arm of chromosome 17, in band p11.2, distal
      to D17S58. Linkage studies of CMT1A in 3 large Australian families with the
      marker loci D17S58, D17S71, and D17S57 suggested the order, pter-CMT1A-D17S71
      D17S58-centromere-D17S57. However, the estimate of the recombination fraction
      between CMT1A and D17S122, also assigned to p11.2, was incompatible with known
      map distances. The impasse was resolved when the D17S122 genotypes were revised
      to take into account a dosage effect due to a duplication. After correction of
      the genotypes, the maximum lod score between CMT1A and D17S122 increased from
      0.53 at a recombination fraction of 0.3 to 34.28 at zero recombination. This
      result emphasizes that genotypes for markers in the p12-p11.2 region should be
      examined very carefully as ignoring the duplication changes the linkage results
      dramatically. The fact that no crossovers were found between CMT1A and D17S122
      suggests that the duplication may cause the disease phenotype.

PMID- 1442888
TI  - New syndrome involving the visual, auditory, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and
      renal systems.
AB  - A previously undescribed fatal multisystem syndrome involving the eyes, ears,
      lungs, intestines, and kidneys occurred in sibs. They both presented during early
      childhood with cataracts, otitis media, intestinal malabsorption, chronic
      respiratory infection, and failure to thrive. Later, they developed recurrent
      pneumonia (one was shown to have immotile bronchial cilia) and progressive
      azotemia leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) by late childhood. Both died
      of overwhelming infection (sepsis, meningitis). An autosomal recessive mode of
      inheritance is proposed since the normal parents were distant cousins, and 4
      other sibs were normal.

PMID- 1442889
TI  - Biochemical characterization of a pedigree with mitochondrially inherited
      deafness.
AB  - A large kindred with a predicted 2-locus inheritance of sensorineural deafness,
      caused by the combination of a mitochondrial and an autosomal recessive mutation,
      was examined at the biochemical level. Because of the mitochondrial inheritance
      of this disease, we looked for defects in the oxidative phosphorylation Complexes
      I, III, IV, and V, the 4 enzymes that include all of the 13 mitochondrially
      encoded polypeptides. Biosynthetic labelling of lymphoblastoid cells from deaf
      patients, unaffected siblings, and an unrelated control showed no difference in
      size, abundance, rate of synthesis, or chloramphenicol-sensitivity of the
      mitochondrially encoded subunits. Since overall mitochondrial protein synthesis
      appears normal, these results suggest that the mitochondrial mutation is unlikely
      to be in a tRNA or rRNA gene. No change in enzymatic levels was seen in
      lymphoblastoid mitochondria of the deaf patients, compared to unaffected sibs and
      controls, for Complexes I and IV. Both affected and unaffected family members
      showed an increase in Complex III activity compared to controls, which may
      reflect the mitochondrial DNA shared by maternal relatives, or be due to other
      genetic differences. Complex V activity was increased in deaf individuals
      compared to their unaffected sibs. Since the family members share the presumptive
      mitochondrial mutation, differences between deaf and unaffected individuals
      likely reflect the nuclear background and suggest that the autosomal recessive
      mutation may be related to the increase in Complex V activity. These biochemical
      studies provide a guide for sequence analysis of the patients' mitochondrial DNA
      and for linkage studies in this kindred.

PMID- 1442890
TI  - Usefulness of a CACA repeat polymorphism in genotype assignments in
      Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy.
AB  - RFLP analysis in Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy (D/BMD) has been limited by
      the lack of informative marker loci at the 3' end of the dystrophin gene.
      Recently a CACA repeat polymorphism was described in the 3' untranslated end of
      the dystrophin gene which we have found helpful in genotype assignments of D/BMD
      families when an RFLP approach is required. The CACA repeat marker has 2 common
      alleles (1 and 2) that are easily visualized by a nonradioactive PCR method
      followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We present 2 families which
      demonstrate the use of this polymorphism. Since 35-50% of females are
      heterozygous, this locus is a useful marker in RFLP analysis of D/BMD families.

PMID- 1442891
TI  - Confirmation of a cryptic unbalanced translocation using whole chromosome
      fluorescence in situ hybridization.
AB  - We report on a 7-year-old boy with minor anomalies, growth retardation, and
      developmental delay with an initial 46,XY,der(18)t(18;?)(q23;?) chromosome
      constitution. To determine the origin of the additional chromosome segment,
      several candidate regions were identified including 4q and 18q. Clinical
      comparison showed more similarities to individuals with partial dup(4q) than to
      those with a dup(18q). Whole chromosome fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)
      was used to demonstrate the correct origin of the translocated region, clarifying
      the karyotype as 46,XY,der(18)t(4;18)(q28.2;q22.2), thus generating information
      of clinical importance. This illustrates the use of whole chromosome FISH to
      identify chromosome regions that cannot be determined conclusively using standard
      cytogenetic banding techniques.

PMID- 1442892
TI  - Update on a family with hand-foot-genital syndrome: hypospadias and urinary tract
      abnormalities in two boys from the fourth generation.
AB  - We describe a fourth generation of involvement with hand-foot-genital syndrome.
      The first 3 generations of this family, which included 5 affected females and no
      affected males, were reported previously by Verp et al. [1983]. In the fourth
      generation, 2 affected males are identified. To our knowledge, the findings of
      bilateral vesicoureteral reflux in one boy and bilateral ureteropelvic junction
      obstruction in his cousin represent the first reports of urinary tract
      abnormalities in males with this syndrome.

PMID- 1442893
TI  - Familial syndrome of endocrine and neuroectodermal abnormalities.
AB  - We report on a previously undescribed combination of endocrine and
      neuroectodermal abnormalities in four sibs from Burma. These abnormalities
      include low growth hormone levels in response to provocative stimuli, delayed
      puberty associated with prepubertal levels of gonadotropins in the males and
      pubertal levels of gonadotropins in the females, type II diabetes mellitus with
      elevated insulin levels, mild mental retardation, sensori-neural deafness, and
      alopecia without pili torti. They also had a characteristic facial appearance and
      fleshy hands and feet. This family appears to have a previously undescribed
      combination of endocrine and neuroectodermal abnormalities.

PMID- 1442894
TI  - Hepatoerythropoietic porphyria in a woman with short stature and deformed hands.
AB  - A 23-year-old woman from Honduras was diagnosed to have hepatoerythropoietic
      porphyria. She had photosensitive skin of early onset, hypertrichosis, and severe
      scleroderma-like lesions of the hands. Erythrocyte uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase
      activity was reduced to about 10% of the normal activity.

PMID- 1442895
TI  - Smallest terminal deletion of the long arm of chromosome 2 in a mildly affected
      boy.
AB  - We describe a male twin with the smallest terminal deletion of chromosome 2q
      [46,XY,del(2)(q37.2)] reported to date. His deletion was confirmed by a
      fluorescence in situ hybridization study using a probe from the deleted region.
      Only 3 other cases with larger deletions including 2q37.2-->qter have been
      reported. Clinical manifestations our patient has in common with them include
      frontal bossing, long eyelashes, micrognathia, infantile hypotonia and
      developmental delay. His twin brother is physically and developmentally normal
      and chromosomes of the parents were normal. The mildness of the phenotype in this
      patient supports less stringent criteria for cytogenetic study of developmentally
      impaired individuals.

PMID- 1442896
TI  - Clinico-pathological conference: a preterm infant with multiple congenital
      anomalies.
AB  - A preterm female infant (28 weeks; 880 g) presented with bilateral ectrodactyly
      of the feet, small cleft palate, esophageal atresia and T-E fistula,
      multivalvular dysplasia and VSD, thrombocytopenia, and other minor anomalies.
      Cytogenetic analysis showed trisomy 18.

PMID- 1442897
TI  - Parental sex effect in spina bifida: a role for genomic imprinting?
AB  - Fifty families (491 individuals in 137 sibships) with more than one living case
      of isolated, nonsyndromic spina bifida (SB) were analyzed genetically. There were
      twice as many gene-carrier females (56) as gene-carrier males (28) (P < 0.005).
      This was not an artifact of ascertainment bias because the sex ratio of gene
      carriers was the same whether the pedigree was obtained through the proband's
      father or mother. Also, this effect was not observed in other disorders analyzed
      by the same method. Neither was the effect due to differential fertility because
      the number and sex of affected and unaffected children per gene-carrier parent
      were not different for male or female gene-carrier parents. There was no evidence
      that the missing male gene-carriers were lost by selective spontaneous abortion.
      There was no deficit of male-to-male or male-to-female transmission, excluding
      simple X-linked or simple mitochondrial inheritance. If genomic imprinting plays
      a role in the unequal female and male carrier frequencies in SB, penetrance
      should differ with parental sex. Penetrance was higher for offspring of female
      parents than of male parents, but the difference was not statistically
      significant. In addition, both male and female gene-carriers were frequently
      found in the same pedigree. Thus, the present data suggest a possible role for
      imprinting in SB.

PMID- 1442898
TI  - Phenotypic evidence for a common pathogenesis in X-linked deafness pedigrees and
      in Xq13-q21 deletion related deafness.
AB  - A structural cochlear abnormality has been observed by high resolution CT
      scanning in some families where X-linked deafness is segregating. We now present
      evidence that the same abnormality is present in a deaf patient who has a
      deletion within Xq21. This observation provides phenotypic evidence that the
      genotypic basis of deafness is the same in both patient groups. It is also likely
      that the perilymphatic fluid "gusher" abnormality may be common to both.

PMID- 1442899
TI  - Craniofacial dysostosis, hypertrichosis, genital hypoplasia, ocular, dental, and
      digital defects: confirmation of the Gorlin-Chaudhry-Moss syndrome.
AB  - We report clinical, orofacial and radiological manifestations in a 4-year-old
      girl and a 33-year-old female with the Gorlin-Chaudhry-Moss (GCM) syndrome.
      Typical findings in the GCM syndrome are short stature, stocky body build,
      midface hypoplasia, small eyes, downslanting palpebral fissures, conductive
      hearing loss, highly arched and narrow palate, malocclusion, abnormally shaped
      teeth, oligodontia, microdontia, low scalp hairline, hypertrichosis of scalp,
      face, trunk and limbs and genital hypoplasia. Radiological features include
      premature synostosis of the coronal suture, brachycephaly, and maxillary under
      development. Hypoplasia of the distal phalanges of fingers and toes (also present
      in the 2 original cases) represents a further manifestation of the GCM syndrome.

PMID- 1442900
TI  - Treatment of sphingomyelinase deficiency by repeated implantations of amniotic
      epithelial cells.
AB  - Five young patients with Niemann-Pick disease type B were treated with repeated
      implantations of amniotic epithelial cells, as a source of exogenous
      sphingomyelinase. This treatment abolished the recurrent infections, mainly of
      the respiratory tract, and led to other improvements of the general conditions of
      the patients. In particular, we noticed a disappearance of vomiting, a recovery
      from muscular hypotrophy, and significantly reduced pulmonary distress. In four
      subjects, who were in a prepuberal state, there was a puberal spurt with a
      concomitant burst of growth. In two cases, characterized by a greater than normal
      content of sphingomyelin in urinary sediments, a single implantation caused a
      sustained normalization of sphingomyelin and total phospholipids in the urine.
      Finally, sphingomyelinase activity of peripheral leukocytes, when assayed 0.5 to
      4 months after some of the implantations, showed a rise to heterozygous values in
      30-40% of the assays.

PMID- 1442901
TI  - Prader-Willi syndrome in a brother and sister without cytogenetic or detectable
      molecular genetic abnormality at chromosome 15q11q13.
AB  - We report on a 12-year-old boy and his 7-year-old sister with the Prader-Willi
      syndrome. They both had severe initial hypotonia with feeding problems and later
      developed an increasing appetite. Both sibs have almond-shaped eyes, triangular
      mouth, hypogonadism, retarded growth, and mental retardation. An older brother
      suffered from severe hypotonia and died at 7 days of age. The children have
      normal chromosomes by high-resolution technique and have inherited the same
      chromosomes 15 short arm polymorphisms from their parents. The family was
      informative for one of four DNA markers specific for the 15q11q13 region. No
      deletion was found using this marker. The parents were healthy and unrelated.
      Autosomal recessive inheritance or a paternally inherited submicroscopic deletion
      are possible explanations for the sib occurrence in this family.

PMID- 1442902
TI  - Cartilage-hair-hypoplasia and Hodgkin disease.

PMID- 1442903
TI  - Pentalogy of Cantrell, ectopia cordis, and frontonasal dysplasia.

PMID- 1442904
TI  - Waardenburg syndrome and meningocele.

PMID- 1442905
TI  - Continuous combined conjugated equine estrogen-progestogen therapy: effects of
      medroxyprogesterone acetate and norethindrone acetate on bleeding patterns and
      endometrial histologic diagnosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the incidence of amenorrhea with
      continuous combined therapy by using two different progestogens and to determine
      whether early bleeding predicts subsequent bleeding and endometrial response.
      STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-nine postmenopausal women on sequential estrogen
      progestogen treatment were switched to continuous combined estrogen-progestogen
      therapy comprising conjugated equine estrogens 0.625 mg daily with either
      norethindrone acetate 0.35 mg twice daily or medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg
      twice daily added continuously for 78 weeks. All bleeding was recorded, and
      endometrial biopsies were performed at 26 and 78 weeks. RESULTS: Only one third
      of the women who starting the study had amenorrhea by week 78, but 46 (62%) of
      these women had withdrawn, mainly because of chronic irregular bleeding.
      Endometrial atrophy was observed in the majority of biopsy specimens. The two
      progestogens had similar effects. Bleeding patterns were useful predictors of
      subsequent bleeding, but not of endometrial response. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent
      irregular bleeding is common with continuous combined estrogen-progestogen
      therapy. Women with persistent early bleeding should probably revert to
      sequential treatment. Regular endometrial sampling is advised.

PMID- 1442906
TI  - Presacral neurectomy for the treatment of pelvic pain associated with
      endometriosis: a controlled study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of presacral neurectomy
      combined with conservative surgery for the treatment of pelvic pain associated
      with endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN: In a randomized, controlled study performed in
      a tertiary institution 71 patients with moderate or severe endometriosis and
      midline dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned to conservative surgery alone (n =
      36) or conservative surgery and presacral neurectomy (n = 35). Main outcome
      measures were relief of dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, and deep dyspareunia after
      surgery according to a multidimensional and an analog pain scale. RESULTS:
      Presacral neurectomy markedly reduced the midline component of menstrual pain,
      but no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups
      in the frequency and severity of dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, and dyspareunia in
      the long-term follow-up. After presacral neurectomy, constipation developed or
      worsened in 13 patients and urinary urgency occurred in three and a painless
      first stage of labor in two. CONCLUSION: Presacral neurectomy should be combined
      with conservative surgery for endometriosis only in selected cases.

PMID- 1442907
TI  - Cold therapy in the management of postoperative cesarean section pain.
AB  - Sixty-two patients were randomized to receive either localized cold therapy to
      the cesarean section incision or routine postoperative care. Evaluation of the
      amount of analgesia requested, infection rate, and length of hospital stay did
      not show a significant difference between the two groups. There is no objective
      evidence to show that the use of cold therapy in postoperative cesarean section
      pain relief is beneficial.

PMID- 1442908
TI  - The clinical diagnosis of asphyxia responsible for brain damage in the human
      fetus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to review the clinical findings in infants who died
      in the perinatal period with brain damage attributable to asphyxia. STUDY DESIGN:
      The neuropathologic findings in 208 perinatal deaths have been reviewed. Thirty
      cases (22 fetal, eight newborn) had evidence of white matter or neuronal necrosis
      due to asphyxia. The clinical course of the pregnancy in 22 cases with brain
      damage attributable to fetal asphyxia were examined. RESULTS: The diagnosis of
      asphyxia was confounded by several factors: (1) asphyxia may occur at any time in
      the last half of pregnancy, (2) 50% of the antepartum asphyxia occurred when the
      pregnancy had no risk factors, (3) periodic fetal assessment in the complicated
      preterm pregnancies failed to identify the asphyxial episodes in the remaining
      cases of antepartum asphyxia, and (4) indicators of fetal asphyxia in the cases
      of intrapartum fetal asphyxia were obtained after the central nervous system
      injury had occurred. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the difficulty in the
      diagnosis of fetal asphyxia at a stage that could permit intervention to prevent
      brain damage.

PMID- 1442909
TI  - Perihepatic adhesions: not necessarily pathognomonic of pelvic infection.
AB  - Perihepatic adhesions are often considered to be associated with pelvic
      inflammatory disease and subsequent infertility. Seventeen patients out of 100
      undergoing elective laparoscopic sterilization had evidence of perihepatic
      adhesions. Four of the 17 showed evidence of old pelvic inflammatory disease, but
      only two gave a history of sexually transmitted disease. All patients had a
      negative gonorrhea culture and 50 also had a negative chlamydia culture before
      the procedure. These data suggest that perihepatic adhesions may be observed in
      otherwise normal fertile women, and its presence does not necessarily imply
      pelvic inflammatory disease or poor fertility.

PMID- 1442910
TI  - Prophylactic amnioinfusion improves outcome of pregnancy complicated by thick
      meconium and oligohydramnios.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The null hypothesis is that the use of intrapartum amnioinfusion in
      labors complicated by the presence of thick meconium and oligohydramnios will not
      decrease the incidence of fetal distress, cesarean delivery, meconium aspiration,
      or meconium aspiration syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred seventy term and
      postterm patients with thick meconium and oligohydramnios were randomly chosen to
      receive amnioinfusion or standard obstetric care without amnioinfusion. The
      frequency of fetal distress, cesarean section, meconium aspiration, and meconium
      aspiration syndrome were subject to chi 2 analysis, Student's t test, or Fisher's
      exact test. RESULTS: The rate of fetal distress was significantly reduced in the
      amnioinfusion group compared with controls (three of 85 vs 19 of 85, relative
      risk 0.15, 95% confidence interval 0.06 to 0.42). The rate of cesarean section
      for fetal distress was significantly reduced in the amnioinfusion group (two of
      85 vs 17 of 85, relative risk 0.118, confidence interval 0.03 to 0.49). The rates
      of meconium aspiration (four of 85 vs 33 of 85, relative risk 0.12, confidence
      interval 0.0449 to 0.327) and meconium aspiration syndrome (0 of 85 vs five of
      85, relative risk 0.09, confidence interval 0.009 to 0.872) were significantly
      reduced by amnioinfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Amnioinfusion improves the outcome in
      pregnancies complicated by thick meconium and oligohydramnios.

PMID- 1442911
TI  - Spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome concomitant with spontaneous
      pregnancy in a woman with polycystic ovary disease.
AB  - Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome has been described after treatment with
      exogenous gonadotropins, clomiphene citrate, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone.
      Spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome has not been described before,
      except in association with hypothyroidism. We report on a case associated with
      spontaneous pregnancy, occurring in a woman with polycystic ovary disease.

PMID- 1442912
TI  - Screening for Down syndrome with the femur length/biparietal diameter ratio: a
      new twist of the data.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the value of discordant
      morphometric measurements as identifiers of Down syndrome by evaluating the
      relationship of biparietal diameter, femur length, biparietal diameter/femur
      length ratio, and cephalic index between a group of fetuses with trisomy 21 and a
      control population. STUDY DESIGN: Biometric measurements from 48 fetuses with
      trisomy were reviewed and compared with 107 normal fetuses of similar gestational
      age. Data were analyzed in 2-week gestational age intervals to determine the
      effect of gestational age on ultrasonographic detection of Down syndrome. Outcome
      measures were subject to least-squares linear regression and the t test for
      analysis. RESULTS: A positive relationship between abnormal morphometric
      measurements and fetuses with Down syndrome was detected but only during specific
      weeks of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Although it appears that biometric measurements
      may be useful for Down syndrome, further study is needed before its widespread
      introduction into clinical practice.

PMID- 1442913
TI  - Rupture of uterine scar with extensive maternal bladder laceration after cocaine
      abuse.
AB  - A relationship between cocaine use and extensive rupture of a uterine scar has
      not been reported. We report such a case with extensive laceration of the
      maternal urinary bladder occurring after ingestion of cocaine.

PMID- 1442914
TI  - Comparison of the efficacy of different local anesthetics and techniques of local
      anesthesia in therapeutic abortions.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine whether carbonated or
      plain lidocaine provides better pain control during abortions and to determine
      whether deep injections of lidocaine provide better pain control than regular
      injections of lidocaine. STUDY DESIGN: Phase 1 was a prospective, randomized,
      double-blind trial comparing 10 cm3 of 2% carbonated lidocaine with plain
      lidocaine. In phase 2 the plain lidocaine group in phase 1 was compared
      prospectively with the next group of patients, in whom a new technique of deep
      injection was used. A pain scale was administered by the counselor after
      dilatation and at the end of the procedure. RESULTS: The improvement in pain
      scores with carbonated lidocaine was 8%. The improvement with the deep injection
      technique was 25%. CONCLUSION: The improvement in pain scores with deep injection
      was clinically significant and is recommended.

PMID- 1442915
TI  - Simultaneous ovarian and intrauterine pregnancy: case report.
AB  - The simultaneous presence of an ovarian and a normal intrauterine pregnancy is a
      very rare condition. We report such a case seen as an ovarian cyst during
      gestation. It was immediately and successfully treated, thus allowing for the
      normal physiologic continuation of the gestation.

PMID- 1442916
TI  - Antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in sera of women with recurrent spontaneous
      abortions.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The relationship between high-titer immunoglobulin G antibodies to
      Chlamydia trachomatis and recurrent spontaneous abortions was evaluated. STUDY
      DESIGN: Sera from the female partners of 258 couples with unexplained
      infertility, no history of chlamydial infection, and negative cervical cultures
      were diluted 1:128 and tested for immunoglobulin G antibodies to Chlamydia
      trachomatis. A subset of patients was also tested for antibodies to
      cytomegalovirus, cardiolipin, nuclear antigens, lactoferrin, and spermatozoa.
      RESULTS: Seven (41%) of 17 women with three abortions and 6 (60%) of 10 women
      with four abortions had chlamydial antibodies as opposed to 20 (13.5%) of 148
      with no abortions, 6 (12.8%) of 47 with one abortion, and 4 (12.1%) of 33 with
      two abortions (p < 0.01). The incidence of > or = 3 spontaneous abortions was
      31.8% among women with high-titer chlamydial antibodies and 7.5% among women who
      had seronegative results (p < 0.001). There was no relation between any of the
      other antibodies and > or = 3 abortions or antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis.
      CONCLUSION: High-titer immunoglobulin G antibody to Chlamydia trachomatis was
      associated with recurrent spontaneous abortions. The mechanism may involve
      reactivation of a latent chlamydial infection, endometrial damage from a past
      chlamydial infection, or an immune response to an epitope shared by a chlamydial
      and a fetal antigen.

PMID- 1442917
TI  - Randomized, double-blind study of cefotetan and cefoxitin in post-cesarean
      section endometritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis of the study is that cefotetan and cefoxitin will be
      equally efficacious and safe in the treatment of post-cesarean section
      endometritis. STUDY DESIGN: In a double-blind, randomized manner 140 patients
      with post-cesarean section endometritis were treated with cefotetan, 2 gm
      intravenously every 12 hours, or cefoxitin, 2 gm intravenously every 6 hours.
      They were followed prospectively for clinical response and side effects. Cure
      rates between the two groups were compared with the chi 2 test. RESULTS: The cure
      rates were 83% for cefotetan and 79% for cefoxitin (p = 0.56). No patient
      required a change in therapy due to adverse effects, and no abnormal bleeding
      occurred. CONCLUSION: In this study cefotetan and cefoxitin appeared equally
      effective in treating endometritis with no difference in side effects or
      complications.

PMID- 1442918
TI  - Interactions between intrauterine contraceptive device use and breast-feeding
      status at time of intrauterine contraceptive device insertion: analysis of TCu
      380A acceptors in developing countries.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This paper is a reassessment of earlier findings from a preliminary
      analysis of data from a multicenter international trial regimen on breast-feeding
      and non-breast-feeding women in which events related to insertion, expulsion, and
      removal of the TCu-380A intrauterine contraceptive device (ParaGard 380) were
      investigated. STUDY DESIGN: Performance of the TCu-380A through 12 months after
      insertion was compared with life-table rate analysis, chi 2, Fisher exact test,
      or Student's t test. Variables were events reported during intrauterine
      contraceptive device insertion and events throughout the 12 months of study
      participation by breast-feeding status. RESULTS: Breast-feeding among
      intrauterine contraceptive device users was associated with fewer insertion
      related complaints and lower removal rates for bleeding and pain. No uterine
      perforations were reported throughout the study. CONCLUSION: Differences in the
      performance of the TCu-380A intrauterine contraceptive device suggest physiologic
      effects associated with lactational amenorrhea. The TCu-380A intrauterine
      contraceptive device is a viable option for women breast-feeding at the time of
      intrauterine contraceptive device insertion.

PMID- 1442919
TI  - Enhanced follicle regulatory protein levels accompany reinitiation of ovulatory
      function after parturition.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We examined the changes in follicle regulatory protein, estrone-3
      glucuronide, pregnanediol-3-glucuronide, and luteinizing hormone levels in first
      morning urine samples from postpartum, fully breast-feeding women to characterize
      the reemergence of these urinary hormones after pregnancy ovarian quiescence and
      early postpartum period and to determine whether follicle regulatory protein
      could be used prospectively to predict the return of fertility. STUDY DESIGN:
      Twenty-five hundred urine samples collected from six postpartum women were
      evaluated. Daily urine samples collected from normally cycling women were used to
      establish normal urinary hormone and hormone metabolite cyclicity. Luteinizing
      hormone, estrone-3-glucuronide, and pregnanediol-3-glucuronide levels were
      measured by radioimmunoassay. Follicle regulatory protein level was assayed with
      a double-antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Although follicle
      regulatory protein levels were found to be very low or undetectable in early
      postpartum urine, they began to rise with episodes of estrone-3-glucuronide and
      pregnanediol-3-glucuronide secretion. A chi 2 analysis suggests that increasing
      urinary follicle regulatory protein levels are most closely associated with the
      luteal phase of the first menstrual cycles in postpartum women. CONCLUSIONS:
      These results suggest that follicle regulatory protein is of little value in
      predicting either the onset of renewed ovarian activity or the fertile period.

PMID- 1442920
TI  - Immunolocalization of the vasoconstrictor endothelin in human endometrium during
      the menstrual cycle and in umbilical cord at birth.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the localization of immunoreactive
      endothelin in human cyclic endometrium and in umbilical cord during normal
      delivery and after cesarean section. STUDY DESIGN: Fixed dated endometrial tissue
      (n = 41) and umbilical cord (n = 6) were subjected to immunohistochemistry with
      an antiserum cross reacting with endothelin-1, -2 and -3. RESULTS: Low levels of
      stromal endometrial staining were seen throughout the cycle. The strongest
      staining was in luminal epithelium throughout the secretory phase and in
      glandular epithelium in the late-secretory phase. In umbilical cord the most
      intense immunoreactivity was present on the amnion cells on the outer cord, with
      some staining in intermittent cells in the Wharton's jelly and in umbilical vein
      cells. No differences were detected between cord from normal delivery or cesarean
      section. CONCLUSION: A paracrine role is suggested for endothelin in regulation
      of endometrial function and a role in vasoconstriction in the umbilical cord at
      birth.

PMID- 1442921
TI  - Reduced platelet tritium-labeled imipramine binding sites in women with
      premenstrual syndrome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We studied the possible role of serotonergic systems in the cause of
      premenstrual affective symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: The binding of tritium-labeled
      imipramine to platelets is thought to parallel central nervous system binding and
      to indicate serotonergic activity. We measured platelet tritium-labeled
      imipramine binding sites in the follicular and luteal phases in 12 controls and
      in 9 women with well-documented late luteal phase dysphoric disorder. In
      statistical analyses we used repeated measures analysis of variance, with Student
      Newman-Keuls and Duncan's one-tailed t tests, and Pearson's r. RESULTS: The
      values of subjects with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder were lower than
      those of controls (F [1,39] = 5.13, p = 0.03). Both follicular and luteal phase
      level were lower in subjects with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder but
      reached statistical significance only in the follicular phase. CONCLUSION: Lower
      platelet tritium-labeled imipramine binding in women with late luteal phase
      dysphoric disorder supports the hypothesis that alteration of central
      serotonergic systems may contribute to premenstrual dysphoric symptoms.

PMID- 1442922
TI  - The development of ultradian rhythms in the human fetus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the normal sequence of neurobehavioral
      development in the human fetus between 14 weeks' gestation and delivery. STUDY
      DESIGN: The study was performed by longitudinal ultrasonographic observation of
      45 low-risk singleton fetuses. RESULTS: During the first half of the midtrimester
      there was a high rate of spontaneous movement that appeared randomly distributed.
      By the end of that trimester an increase in the duration of intervals of
      quiescence resulted in activity appearing cyclically distributed, with the
      duration of quiet cycles progressively increasing to term. Fetal mouthing and
      breathing were linked with cyclic behavior from the time of their emergence.
      Fetal heart rate pattern A could be recognized from around 32 weeks, due to a
      reduction in baseline variability in quiet cycles after 30 weeks, whereas pattern
      B could be recognized several weeks earlier. From the time cyclic behavior and
      heart rate patterns could be recognized, intervals of coincidence of the fetal
      behavioral state variables increased progressively with advancing gestation.

PMID- 1442923
TI  - Effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide on the uterine vasculature of the
      nonpregnant ewe.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The current study was designed to evaluate the uterine vascular
      effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide on the uterine vasculature of
      nonpregnant sheep and compare them with the effects of prostacyclin. STUDY
      DESIGN: Five nonpregnant oophorectomized ewes were instrumented with uterine and
      pulmonary artery flow probes and catheters. Dose-response curves were constructed
      according to increasing doses of calcitonin gene-related peptide (0.01, 0.03,
      0.1, 0.3, 1, and 3, micrograms/min) and prostacyclin (0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, and
      10 micrograms/min) via 10-minute uterine artery infusions. RESULTS: Both
      calcitonin gene-related peptide and prostacyclin produced a significant increase
      in uterine blood flow and a decrease in uterine vascular resistance. Calcitonin
      gene-related peptide was found to be approximately 17 times more potent than
      prostacyclin as a vasodilator. Local uterine artery infusions of calcitonin gene
      related peptide led to significant increases in heart rate but did not alter
      blood pressure, cardiac output, or total peripheral resistance at the doses
      tested. In contrast, at doses of prostacyclin that produced similar uterine
      vasodilatation, prostacyclin led to significant decreases in systemic arterial
      blood pressure and total peripheral resistance and increases in heart rate and
      cardiac output. CONCLUSION: These data strongly suggest that calcitonin gene
      related peptide, an endogenously occurring vasoactive peptide, could play an
      important role in regulating uterine and systemic hemodynamics.

PMID- 1442924
TI  - An ultrastructural study of the developing urogenital tract in early human
      fetuses.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study examines the gonoducts during the ambisexual stage of
      human fetal development to define their ultrastructural characteristics,
      including the origin and antomic relationship of the mesonephric and
      paramesonephric ducts during gonoductal development. STUDY DESIGN: The
      reproductive tracts from five fetuses ranging in gestational age from 35 to 45
      days were processed for ultrastructural examination. The developing mesonephric
      ducts, paramesonephric ducts, and their surrounding mesenchyme were studied with
      a Phillips 300 transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: The mesonephric ducts
      and paramesonephric ducts have distinctive cytoplasmic and cell surface
      ultrastructural characteristics, as well as different morphologic patterns of
      epithelial-mesenchymal interaction. Cephalad portions of mesonephric ducts and
      paramesonephric ducts are separated by mesenchyme, but more caudal aspects move
      progressively closer until they are juxtaposed but separate. CONCLUSIONS: Early
      mesonephric ducts and paramesonephric ducts may be distinguished because of their
      distinctive ultrastructural features; epithelial-mesenchymal interaction may be
      important in their differentiation and maintenance; both gonoducts retain their
      morphologic identity throughout, supporting their separate origins.

PMID- 1442925
TI  - Ethically justified guidelines for family planning interventions to prevent
      pregnancy in female patients with chronic mental illness.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This article proposes ethically justified clinical guidelines for
      family planning interventions to prevent pregnancy in female patients. STUDY
      DESIGN: We reviewed literature on family planning and consequences of pregnancy
      in patients with chronic mental illness and related that literature to ethical
      principles. RESULTS: Patients with chronic mental illness are ethically unique
      because they have chronically and variably impaired autonomy. Existing guidelines
      and proposals for family planning interventions for mentally retarded patients
      are shown not to apply to such patients. CONCLUSION: Three sets of guidelines for
      three groups of patients, representing the continuum of chronically and variably
      impaired autonomy, are proposed: (1) a set of guidelines for patients who can
      achieve thresholds of autonomy, (2) a set of guidelines for patients irreversibly
      near thresholds of autonomy, and (3) a set of guidelines for patients
      irreversibly below thresholds of autonomy. These guidelines should contribute
      significantly to the quality of obstetric and gynecologic care for female
      patients with chronic mental illness.

PMID- 1442926
TI  - Activation of protein kinase C stimulates collagenase production by cultured
      cells of the cervix of the pregnant guinea pig.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Dilatation of the uterine cervix at parturition is achieved by an
      estrogen-induced, collagenase-mediated degradation of type I collagen in the
      cervix. The objective was to test the hypothesis that collagenase production in
      the cervix of pregnant guinea pig in culture is mediated by activation of protein
      kinase C. STUDY DESIGN: The effects of 17 beta-estradiol, prostaglandin F2 alpha,
      or activation of protein kinase C by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, 1-stearoyl
      2-arachidonyl-sn-glycerol and phospholipase C on collagenase production was
      studied with primary monolayer cultures of cervical cells from Hartley guinea
      pigs at 50 days' gestation. Results are analyzed for statistical significance
      with analysis of variance. RESULTS: Collagenase production is increased twofold
      to threefold by 17 beta-estradiol, prostaglandin F2 alpha, or activation of
      protein kinase C. The observed stimulation of collagenase production by 17 beta
      estradiol and prostaglandin F2 alpha was blocked by the protein kinase C
      inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinoline sulfonyl) 2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride.
      CONCLUSION: Collagenase production in cultured cervical cells of pregnant guinea
      pig is stimulated by activation of protein kinase C.

PMID- 1442927
TI  - Hydrogen peroxide and reoxygenation cause prostaglandin-mediated contraction of
      human placental arteries and veins.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Because our previous studies in several vascular preparations suggest
      that posthypoxic reoxygenation elicits tone responses by generation of hydrogen
      peroxide we compared the actions of reoxygenation and hydrogen peroxide on
      isolated human placental arteries and veins. STUDY DESIGN: Endothelium-intact and
      denuded arteries and veins (1 to 2 mm diameter, from normal term deliveries),
      incubated under 95% oxygen/5% carbon dioxide or 5% oxygen/5% carbon dioxide
      (balance nitrogen) and precontracted with 1 to 10 nmol/L U46619, were exposed to
      hypoxia (95% nitrogen/5% carbon dioxide, PO2 8 to 10 torr) followed by
      reoxygenation and to 1 to 100 mumol/L hydrogen peroxide in the presence and
      absence of the inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis, 10 mumol/L indomethacin.
      RESULTS: In both arteries and veins posthypoxic reoxygenation or exposure to
      hydrogen peroxide produced vascular contraction that was eliminated or reversed
      to a modest relaxation by indomethacin, consistent with mediation by
      prostaglandins. Hypoxia after incubation with 5% oxygen, but not 95% oxygen,
      caused a modest prostaglandin-independent relaxation. Removal of the endothelium
      did not alter any of these responses. CONCLUSION: Placental arteries and veins
      show a similar prostaglandin-mediated contraction to hydrogen peroxide and
      posthypoxic reoxygenation, consistent with a possible involvement of hydrogen
      peroxide in the response to reoxygenation.

PMID- 1442928
TI  - Changes in expression of the cyclooxygenase gene in human fetal membranes and
      placenta with labor.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to examine the expression of the gene coding for
      cyclooxygenase, the central enzyme in prostaglandin synthesis, in human placenta
      and fetal membranes during pregnancy and before and after labor at term. STUDY
      DESIGN: Expression of the gene for cyclooxygenase was examined with Northern
      hybridization to ribonucleic acid from human placenta throughout pregnancy and
      human amnion and chorion decidua in the late third trimester. RESULTS: Expression
      was undetectable in trophoblast during the first and second trimesters.
      Expression in amnion and trophoblast increased 3.5- and 2.5-fold, respectively,
      in association with labor. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the increase in
      prostaglandin synthesis within the uterus that is seen with the onset of labor is
      associated with an increase in the expression of the gene cyclooxygenase.

PMID- 1442929
TI  - A novel change in cytologic localization of human chorionic gonadotropin and
      human placental lactogen in first-trimester placenta in the course of gestation.
AB  - Cytologic localization of human chorionic gonadotropin and human placental
      lactogen in developing human early placenta was analyzed by avidin-biotin
      immunoperoxidase techniques with an affinity-purified polyclonal antibody to beta
      human chorionic gonadotropin carboxyl terminal peptide and a polyclonal antibody
      to human placental lactogen. In 4- to 5-week placentas human chorionic
      gonadotropin and human placental lactogen were found to be primarily localized to
      cytotrophoblasts, whereas in 6- to 12-week placentas these substances were
      exclusively localized to syncytiotrophoblast. We previously reported that a
      similar change in cytologic localization of epidermal growth factor and its
      receptor from cytotrophoblasts to syncytiotrophoblast in first-trimester placenta
      appeared between 5 and 6 weeks of gestation. Because epidermal growth factor was
      demonstrated to stimulate human chorionic gonadotropin and human placental
      lactogen production by early placental tissues, their simultaneous expression, as
      well as epidermal growth factor and its receptor in the cytotrophoblast of 4- to
      5-week placenta and in the syncytiotrophoblast of 6- to 12-week placenta, implies
      that human chorionic gonadotropin and human placental lactogen production by
      first-trimester placenta may be regulated in an autocrine manner, wherein
      epidermal growth factor may serve as the signal. These findings suggest that in
      very early placenta, before 6 weeks of gestation, no sequential expression of
      human chorionic gonadotropin and human placental lactogen closely linked to
      syncytia formation may exist and that both can be expressed in the
      cytotrophoblast or undifferentiated stem cell of villous trophoblast in very
      early placenta.

PMID- 1442930
TI  - Transforming growth factor-beta opposes the stimulatory effects of interleukin-1
      and tumor necrosis factor on amnion cell prostaglandin E2 production: implication
      for preterm labor.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In preterm labor increased concentrations of interleukin-1 and tumor
      necrosis factor are present in amniotic fluid. These cytokines may promote labor
      by stimulating the production of prostaglandins by intrauterine tissues. In many
      biologic processes, transforming growth factor-beta modifies the actions of
      cytokines. We studied the effect of transforming growth factor-beta on the
      cytokine-induced prostaglandin E2 production by amnion cells. STUDY DESIGN: Human
      amnion cells in monolayer culture were treated with interleukin-1, tumor necrosis
      factor, or vehicle in the presence or absence of transforming growth factor-beta.
      The prostaglandin E2 production was measured. RESULTS: Transforming growth factor
      beta decreased the interleukin-1- or tumor necrosis factor-induced prostaglandin
      E2 production by 70% to 80% and the basal prostaglandin E2 synthesis by 27%. The
      synergistic stimulation of prostaglandin E2 production by the combination of
      interleukin-1 with tumor necrosis factor was inhibited by 80% in cells treated
      with transforming growth factor-beta. Transforming growth factor-beta 1, -beta 2,
      and -beta 1,2 were equipotent. CONCLUSION: Transforming growth factor-beta
      suppresses the cytokine-induced prostaglandin E2 production by amnion cells and
      may be an important factor in maintaining pregnancy in the face of labor
      promoting cytokines.

PMID- 1442931
TI  - Mutations of the Ki-ras oncogene in endometrial carcinoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the extent of involvement of
      the ras oncogene in endometrial carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: Genomic deoxyribonucleic
      acid from 30 samples of endometrial carcinoma was examined for point mutations in
      codons 12, 13, and 61 from the Ha-ras, Ki-ras, and N-ras genes by means of the
      polymerase chain reaction, slot-blotting, and deoxyribonucleic acid sequencing
      procedures. RESULTS: An apparent somatic mutation of Ki-ras codon 12 in one of 10
      paraffin-embedded tumors was confirmed by deoxyribonucleic acid sequence
      analysis. Two of 20 frozen endometrial carcinoma specimens were also shown to
      contain a point mutation in Ki-ras codon 12. No correlation between ras mutation
      and a number of histologic or clinical parameters was observed. CONCLUSIONS:
      These data suggest a potential role for Ki-ras codon 12 mutations in the
      development of some (10%) endometrial cancers.

PMID- 1442932
TI  - Effect of maternal oxygen administration on fetal oxygenation during graded
      reduction of umbilical or uterine blood flow in fetal sheep.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Effects of maternal oxygen administration on fetal blood gases and on
      oxygen delivery and consumption during reduced uterine and reduced umbilical
      blood flows were examined. STUDY DESIGN: In eight pregnant sheep (gestational age
      133 +/- 4 days) flow transducers were applied to a uterine and the common
      umbilical artery. Graded reductions in uterine and umbilical blood flows were
      achieved by a hypogastric artery snare and a balloon cuff encircling the
      umbilical cord. Fetal femoral arterial and umbilical venous oxygen contents and
      flows were measured at varying flow reductions with the ewe breathing air or
      oxygen. RESULTS: During 75% reduction in umbilical blood flow maternal oxygen
      administration significantly increased fetal oxygen delivery (6.4 +/- 2.5 to 7.7
      +/- 2.3 ml/min/kg) and oxygen consumption (4.3 +/- 1.2 to 5.0 +/- 0.8 ml/min/kg).
      With similar reduction of uterine flow oxygen administration increased oxygen
      delivery from 8.3 +/- 2.4 to 12.3 +/- 3.6 and oxygen consumption from 3.3 +/- 0.8
      to 4.7 +/- 1.6 ml/min/kg. CONCLUSION: Maternal oxygen inhalation improves fetal
      oxygenation during umbilical but especially during uterine blood flow reduction.

PMID- 1442933
TI  - Convulsions in pregnancy in related gorillas.
AB  - Two related gorillas, the second the granddaughter of the first, had pregnancies
      complicated by convulsions and edema. They may have suffered from eclampsia,
      indicating that this is not an exclusively human disease and that in gorillas, as
      in humans, there is a familial factor.

PMID- 1442934
TI  - Messenger ribonucleic acid for transforming growth factor-alpha, but not for
      epidermal growth factor, is expressed in fetal and neonatal mouse brain.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Little is known concerning the presence of transforming growth factor
      alpha in fetal and neonatal tissues. Our objective was to analyze messenger
      ribonucleic acid expression for transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal
      growth factor, the structural and biochemical analog of transforming growth
      factor-alpha in fetal and neonatal murine brain. STUDY DESIGN: Messenger
      ribonucleic acid was prepared from whole brains of mice from these developmental
      stages: embryonic days 14, 15, and 17, postnatal days 0, 4, 10, and adult.
      Polymerase chain reaction was performed on the complementary deoxyribonucleic
      acid obtained from reverse transcription of messenger ribonucleic acid with
      transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor primers. In
      addition, ribonuclease protection assay was used to identify transforming growth
      factor-alpha transcripts. RESULTS: We found messenger ribonucleic acid encoding
      transforming growth factor-alpha in all stages of development used. Epidermal
      growth factor messenger ribonucleic acid was not found in any stage. Ribonuclease
      protection assay confirmed transforming growth factor-alpha transcripts in these
      tissues. CONCLUSION: Transforming growth factor-alpha may play an autocrine or
      paracrine role in the differentiation or maintenance of murine fetal and neonatal
      brains.

PMID- 1442935
TI  - Cardiac electromechanical dissociation in the hypoxic fetal sheep may have
      clinical implications.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to determine the sequence of fetal cardiac electrical
      and mechanical events associated with acute hypoxic acidemia and to correlate
      those events with terminal fetal heart rate patterns preceding fetal death. STUDY
      DESIGN: Eight acutely catheterized fetal sheep were rendered hypoxic by placental
      embolization with microspheres until fetal death occurred. The fetal
      electrocardiogram, Doppler cardiogram, left ventricular and aortic pressures, and
      fetal heart rate were continuously recorded. RESULTS: All eight fetuses showed a
      terminal bradycardia consisting of two phases: an initial phase of falling
      ventricular pressures, culminating in mechanical asystole, and a subsequent phase
      after asystole during which the electrocardiographic signal persisted for an
      average duration of 15.2 +/- 8.7 minutes (range 3.1 to 32.4) and triggered a
      Hewlett-Packard 8040A monitor to show a heart rate pattern. CONCLUSIONS: The
      phenomenon of cardiac electromechanical dissociation may be occurring during
      similar terminal bradycardias that are observed in human labor and explains the
      delivery of a fresh stillbirth in spite of the recording of an
      electrocardiographic signal from a scalp electrode.

PMID- 1442936
TI  - The fetus as an allograft: immunobiologic role of human trophoblasts for fetal
      survival.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis of this study is that trophoblasts contribute to the
      survival of the mammalian fetal allograft. STUDY DESIGN: Immunologic and
      molecular biologic studies were performed with human trophoblasts or
      trophoblastic tumor cells to investigate the expression of class I human
      leukocyte antigens, the susceptibility to natural killer and lymphokine-activated
      cells, the ontogeny of Fc gamma-receptors, and the production of
      immunosuppressive factors. RESULTS: Heterogeneous expression of class I human
      leukocyte antigens on trophoblasts was regulated at transcriptional level.
      Trophoblasts showed low susceptibility to natural killer and lymphokine-activated
      cells. Trophoblasts expressed natural killer cell-type Fc gamma-receptor III,
      which mediates phagocytosis. The trophoblast-derived immunosuppressive factor was
      very similar to transforming growth factor-beta. CONCLUSION: The trophoblasts,
      which ultimately form the fetoplacental interface, constitute a major immune
      barrier for the survival of the allogenic conceptus.

PMID- 1442937
TI  - Suppression of natural killer cell activity by sera from patients with
      endometriosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We determined the effect of sera from patients who have endometriosis
      on natural killer cell activity. STUDY DESIGN: The natural killer cell activity
      of lymphocytes from healthy volunteers was examined after incubation with sera
      from patients who had endometriosis or from controls, with K562 cells used as
      targets. RESULTS: Lymphocytes treated with sera from patients who had
      endometriosis expressed significantly lower levels of cytotoxicity compared with
      lymphocytes treated with control sera. This suppression of cytotoxicity was dose
      dependent, and the degree of suppression was proportional to the incubation time
      of the effector cells with the sera. Decreased cytotoxicity after serum treatment
      was also observed with sera from patients who had been treated with danazol.
      CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that humoral factors that can inhibit natural
      killer cell activity in vitro are present in the peripheral blood of patients who
      have endometriosis; moreover, they suggest that the suppressed natural killer
      cell activity may allow the development of endometrial cells at ectopic sites.

PMID- 1442938
TI  - A prospective, controlled multicenter study on the obstetric risks of pregnant
      women with antiphospholipid antibodies.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: A prospective, controlled multicenter study was performed to estimate
      the obstetric risks of antiphospholipid antibodies (the lupus anticoagulant and
      anticardiolipin antibodies). In addition, the risks of prior thrombosis,
      obstetric history, systemic lupus erythematosus, and high-dose prednisone
      treatment were evaluated. STUDY DESIGN: After screening for antiphospholipid
      antibodies in patients with lupus erythematosus or women with prior fetal
      loss(es), 59 subsequent pregnancies with and 54 without these antibodies were
      followed. RESULTS: The presence of the lupus anticoagulant and a history of at
      least three spontaneous abortions could predict fetal loss (p = 0.032 and 0.001,
      respectively). In live born infants, a low birth weight could be predicted by the
      presence of anticardiolipin antibodies (p = 0.034), prior intrauterine fetal
      death (p = 0.025), and treatment with high-dose prednisone (p = 0.002). No
      relationships were seen between antiphospholipid antibodies and small-for
      gestational-age newborns and pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia. The
      disappearance of antiphospholipid antibodies during pregnancy was not correlated
      with live birth. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the presence of
      antiphospholipid antibodies is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcome.

PMID- 1442939
TI  - Significance of peritoneal macrophages on fertility in mice.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the role of peritoneal macrophages in infertility, we
      investigated how the presence of peritoneal macrophages would affect fecundity in
      mice. Moreover, we also studied the effects of interleukin-1 on embryonic
      development. STUDY DESIGN: Mice were administered OK-432 intraperitoneally to
      induce macrophage infiltration of the peritoneal cavity; ovulation was then
      induced and animals were mated. On day 13 of gestation, fetuses were counted.
      After injection of OK-432 or interleukin-1, the mice were mated. Three days
      later, embryos were collected and the stage of embryo development was determined.
      RESULTS: In mice given OK-432 (n = 33), four (12%) became pregnant and the mean
      litter number was 6.0 +/- 3.6, whereas in the control group 23 of 30 mice (77%; p
      < 0.01) became pregnant and the litter number was 14.1 +/- 5.3 (p < 0.01). OK-432
      and interleukin-1 administered intraperitoneally significantly suppressed embryo
      development (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Increased numbers of peritoneal macrophages
      negatively affect fecundity, probably by suppressing embryonic development.

PMID- 1442940
TI  - Comparison of cytokine levels and embryo toxicity in peritoneal fluid in
      infertile women with untreated or treated endometriosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to examine the relationship between the levels of
      cytokines in peritoneal fluid and its embryo toxicity. STUDY DESIGN: The levels
      of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor were measured in peritoneal fluid from
      infertile women who did not have endometriosis (n = 21), who had untreated
      endometriosis (n = 19), and who had undergone medical treatment for endometriosis
      (n = 10). Embryo toxicity was investigated in mouse two-cell embryos cocultured
      with the oviducts in culture media that contained various concentrations of
      peritoneal fluid. RESULTS: The levels of cytokines were significantly higher in
      the peritoneal fluid from women who had untreated endometriosis than in women who
      did not have endometriosis, but they were extremely low in women who had
      undergone medical treatment with either danazol or buserelin. The peritoneal
      fluid from women who had untreated endometriosis adversely affected the cleavage
      of mouse two-cell embryos. After medical treatment the embryo toxicity of the
      peritoneal fluid was almost undetectable. CONCLUSION: These results offer some
      theoretic bases in support of medical treatment to improve reproductive
      performance in infertile women who have endometriosis.

PMID- 1442941
TI  - Luteinized unruptured follicle in the early stages of endometriosis as a cause of
      unexplained infertility.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We attempted to clarify the relationship between luteinized unruptured
      follicle, which occurs in the early stages of endometriosis, and unexplained
      infertility. STUDY DESIGN: Seventy patients who had unexplained infertility were
      reviewed. RESULTS: Laparoscopic examination showed that 47 patients (67%) had
      endometriosis; of these, 40 (85%) had minimal or mild disease. The incidence of
      luteinized unruptured follicle was higher (p < 0.05) in patients who had
      endometriosis (35%/patient and 25%/cycle) compared with patients who did not have
      endometriosis (11%/patient and 7%/cycle). Degenerated oocyte cumuli were
      collected in 6 (43%) of 14 luteinized unruptured follicles diagnosed by
      transvaginal ultrasound. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that luteinized
      unruptured follicle is common in patients who have mild or minimal endometriosis
      and that it may be one of the causes of endometriosis-associated infertility.
      Transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicular puncture of luteinized unruptured
      follicle during the mid luteal phase may be useful in establishing a definitive
      diagnosis of luteinized unruptured follicle.

PMID- 1442942
TI  - Luteal function in infertile patients with endometriosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether infertile patients who have
      endometriosis show luteal phase defects. STUDY DESIGN: The luteal function in 24
      infertile patients who had endometriosis was compared with the luteal function in
      20 patients who had unexplained infertility and did not have endometriosis
      (control). In both groups serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating
      hormone, progesterone, and estradiol were assayed every day throughout the
      menstrual cycle. Endometrial biopsy specimens were obtained from eight patients
      of the endometriosis group for histologic dating of the endometrium. RESULTS: No
      significant differences in progesterone levels were observed between these two
      groups during the mid and late luteal phase. Seven of the eight patients who
      underwent histologic dating showed a luteal phase pattern, whereas only one
      patient was out of phase. CONCLUSION: Infertile patients who have endometriosis
      do not always have luteal phase defects.

PMID- 1442943
TI  - The impact of endometriosis on the reproductive outcome of infertile patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We examined whether the presence and severity of endometriosis affect
      the reproductive outcome of infertile patients. STUDY DESIGN: The conception
      rates of 2080 infertile women, 1263 who had endometriosis and 817 who did not
      have endometriosis, were analyzed retrospectively by means of the chi 2 test.
      Depending on the stage of the disease patients who had endometriosis-associated
      infertility underwent expectant management, danazol therapy, or minor or major
      conservative surgery. The patients who failed to conceive after these
      conventional treatments were enrolled in the in vitro fertilization-embryo
      transfer program. RESULTS: The conception rates were virtually identical
      regardless of the presence or absence of endometriosis (30.7% vs 30.0%). The
      outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer was not affected either by the
      presence or the severity of the disease. CONCLUSION: Endometriosis had no impact
      on the reproductive outcome of infertile patients in this series unless the
      anatomy of the pelvic organs was heavily distorted, which can occur in the
      advanced stages of the disease.

PMID- 1442944
TI  - Myocardial necrosis in a newborn after long-term maternal subcutaneous
      terbutaline for suppression of premature labor.

PMID- 1442945
TI  - Fetal choroid plexus cysts and trisomy 18.

PMID- 1442946
TI  - Laser therapy for intraepithelial cancer of the vagina.

PMID- 1442947
TI  - Initiation of antepartum testing in the hypertensive gravid woman.

PMID- 1442948
TI  - Legal thoughts on malpractice claims: causes and prevention.

PMID- 1442949
TI  - Laparoscopic hysterectomy: reinventing the wheel?

PMID- 1442950
TI  - Term birth after midtrimester hysterotomy and selective delivery of an acardiac
      twin.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine whether hysterotomy and selective removal of
      an acardiac twin could improve the outcome of the "pump" twin. STUDY DESIGN: A
      literature and case review of the outcome of the acardiac twin malformation was
      performed. When an acardiac malformation was diagnosed at 19 weeks' gestation the
      patient was monitored with weekly ultrasonographic examinations. At 23 weeks'
      gestation, no blood flow could be demonstrated to the acardiac twin and it was
      thought that the continued presence of the acardiac twin posed a risk to the
      "pump" twin. A midtrimester hysterotomy was performed and the acardiac twin was
      delivered. RESULTS: After the midtrimester hysterotomy, the pregnancy progressed
      to term and a healthy female infant was delivered by elective cesarean section at
      37 weeks' gestation. CONCLUSION: Midtrimester hysterotomy may be a useful
      intervention in cases of twinning when one fetus is a threat to the health of the
      other.

PMID- 1442951
TI  - Idiopathic myelofibrosis in pregnancy: a case report and review of the
      literature.
AB  - Idiopathic myelofibrosis is a rare myeloproliferative disorder characterized by
      excessive accumulation of connective tissue in the bone marrow in association
      with anemia, splenomegaly, and extramedullary hematopoiesis. The cause of this
      disease is unknown, and the prognosis is generally poor. To our knowledge, this
      is the first case report of a patient with idiopathic myelofibrosis who carried a
      term pregnancy. In spite of the increased perinatal risks, a favorable outcome
      was possible with close antepartum surveillance.

PMID- 1442952
TI  - Oral contraceptive use and the incidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to examine the relationship between oral
      contraceptive use and the incidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. STUDY
      DESIGN: In a prospective follow-up study of 6622 women participating in the
      Second Tromso Study conducted in 1979 and 1980 in Tromso, Norway, women aged 20
      to 49 years answered a questionnaire regarding their smoking history, dietary
      habits, alcohol consumption, and oral contraceptive use. They were then followed
      for 10 years with data from the Pathology Registry of the University Hospital.
      RESULTS: The age-adjusted incidence rate of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
      was 897 per 100,000 person years among noncurrent and 1295 per 100,000 person
      years among current oral contraceptive users as of 1979. After adjusting for age,
      marital status, smoking, and frequency of alcohol intoxication the relative rate
      for current users was 1.5 (95% confidence interval 1.1 to 2.1), and the relative
      rate for past users was 1.4 (95% confidence interval 1.0 to 1.8), as compared
      with those who had never used oral contraceptives before 1979. CONCLUSION: These
      findings support the hypothesis that the occurrence of cervical intraepithelial
      neoplasia is increased by oral contraceptive use.

PMID- 1442953
TI  - Calcium homeostasis in pregnant women receiving long-term magnesium sulfate
      therapy for preterm labor.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The hypothesis of this study is that calcium homeostasis and bone
      mineralization are altered in pregnant women receiving long-term therapy with
      magnesium sulfate as compared with similar women not receiving magnesium sulfate
      to control preterm labor. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-nine women between 24 and 32
      weeks' gestation, matched for age, race, and duration of bed rest, were enrolled.
      Indices of calcium homeostasis in serum and urine were measured serially, and
      bone mineralization of the distal radius was measured at 1 and 11 weeks post
      partum. RESULTS: Magnesium therapy was administered for a mean duration of 26 +/-
      14 days and a cumulative dose of 1405 +/- 963 gm. Serum concentrations of
      magnesium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone increased and those of calcium
      decreased from baseline values in the magnesium sulfate group and remained
      uniform throughout the 3-week investigation. The serum magnesium, phosphorus,
      parathyroid hormone, and calcium concentrations in the control group were
      unchanged during the study and differed significantly from those in the magnesium
      sulfate group (p < 0.001). Urinary output of magnesium, calcium, and copper was
      significantly greater in the magnesium sulfate group than in the control group
      throughout the study. Urinary losses of calcium in the magnesium sulfate group,
      approximately 800 to 900 mg/day, were substantial. Although radius bone density 1
      week post partum did not differ between groups, the change in bone density from 1
      to 11 weeks post partum was significantly lower in the magnesium sulfate group
      than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that calcium homeostasis is
      altered during and after long-term magnesium sulfate therapy. The marked,
      prolonged urinary calcium losses may affect maternal bone mineralization.

PMID- 1442954
TI  - Nifedipine for treatment of preterm labor: a historic prospective study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether adverse fetal
      and/or neonatal effects occurred during nifedipine treatment of preterm labor and
      to assess maternal tolerance of nifedipine therapy in patients intolerant of a
      beta-sympathomimetic agent. STUDY DESIGN: We undertook historic prospective
      review of medical records of 102 women admitted to an antepartum ward for
      treatment of preterm labor who received nifedipine. Data were collected regarding
      maternal side effects, fetal surveillance, and neonatal outcome. RESULTS: The
      number and severity of reported maternal side effects were significantly reduced
      when patients were switched from terbutaline to nifedipine. No discontinuance of
      nifedipine occurred because of maternal side effects. Fetal surveillance testing
      and neonatal outcome data failed to reveal deleterious in utero effects of
      nifedipine. CONCLUSIONS: Nifedipine was a well-tolerated and safe tocolytic in
      this population and warrants further investigation.

PMID- 1442955
TI  - Nonimmune hydrops fetalis associated with maternal infection with syphilis.
AB  - Intrauterine infection with syphilis was diagnosed by reactive maternal serologic
      studies, ultrasonographic findings, and exclusion of other causes in three
      hydropic fetuses at 31, 34, and 35 weeks' gestation. With penicillin therapy and
      preterm delivery all infants survived through the perinatal period. Intrauterine
      infection that follows syphilis is a potentially treatable cause of nonimmune
      hydrops.

PMID- 1442956
TI  - Suppression of 24-hour cholecystokinin secretion by oral contraceptives.
AB  - Weight gain is a common side effect during oral contraceptive use. The secretion
      of the satiety hormone cholecystokinin was recorded for 24 hours in women before
      and during treatment with oral contraceptives. During treatment serum profiles of
      cholecystokinin were clearly suppressed, which might be related to increased
      appetite and weight gain.

PMID- 1442957
TI  - Delayed endometrial maturation induced by daily administration of the
      antiprogestin RU 486: a potential new contraceptive strategy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine if a progesterone antagonist might
      interdict the development of a secretory endometrium. STUDY DESIGN: Eleven
      normally cycling women not at risk for pregnancy received RU 486 (1 mg/day
      orally) or placebo throughout one menstrual cycle in a randomized, double-blind,
      crossover fashion. Estradiol, progesterone, and placental protein 14 were
      measured every 3 days; luteinizing hormone was measured until the midcycle surge
      was detected. An endometrial biopsy was performed on luteal phase day 7 to 9 and
      interpreted with Noyes' criteria. Differences between treatment groups were
      analyzed by the Student t test. RESULTS: RU 486 delayed ovulation, retarded
      endometrial maturation, and reduced peak levels of placental protein 14 without
      affecting gonadal steroid production. The abnormalities in endometrial morphology
      and function are similar to those seen in infertile women with luteal phase
      defects. CONCLUSION: We hypothesize that this regimen of antiprogestin
      administration may prevent implantation and offer a novel strategy for fertility
      control.

PMID- 1442958
TI  - Antenatal tests of fetal welfare and development at age 2 years.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to examine the outcomes at 2 years of age of fetuses
      delivered electively before 34 weeks, studied antenatally with two tests of fetal
      well-being. STUDY DESIGN: Forty-two fetuses from high-risk pregnancies delivered
      electively by cesarean section before 34 weeks were stratified into normal versus
      abnormal subgroups with umbilical Doppler flow velocity waveform and fetal heart
      rate results. Developmental outcome was assessed at 2 years. Two comparison
      groups were also selected: 40 matched premature controls delivered spontaneously
      before 34 weeks and 67 normal babies delivered spontaneously at term. Frequency
      outcome data were tested with chi 2 analyses and the remainder with analyses of
      variance. RESULTS: Within the electively delivered study group poor cognitive
      progress at 2 years was more strongly associated with an abnormal fetal heart
      rate result than an abnormal Doppler result. Compared with the premature control
      and normal term groups, electively delivered fetuses were significantly delayed
      in growth, cognition, and motor development (p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Adverse
      fetal welfare in a high-risk obstetric sample was associated with poorer outcome
      at 2 years. However, the whole of the group of fetuses from such high-risk
      pregnancies showed significant developmental delay compared with normal term
      children and, more importantly, matched premature infants delivered spontaneously
      from otherwise uncomplicated pregnancies.

PMID- 1442959
TI  - Macrosomia in postdates pregnancies: the accuracy of routine ultrasonographic
      screening.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of routine
      ultrasonographic assessment of fetal weight in predicting fetal macrosomia in
      postdates pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 519 pregnancies of > or = 41
      weeks' duration were subjected to ultrasonographic estimation of fetal weight
      within 1 week of delivery. Estimated fetal weights were compared with birth
      weights. Linear regression analysis was performed and prediction limits for
      estimated fetal weights were generated. RESULTS: Twenty-three percent of infants
      had birth weights > or = 4000 gm and 4% had birth weights > or = 4500 gm. The
      mean percent absolute error was 7.7%. At a birth weight of > 3750 gm, the Hadlock
      model (which uses abdominal circumference and femur length) systematically
      overestimated the birth weight. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and
      negative predictive values for the ultrasonographic diagnosis of macrosomia were
      56%, 91%, 64%, and 87%, respectively. The prediction limits generated determine
      the range of birth weights predicted for a given estimated fetal weight.
      CONCLUSION: Routine ultrasonographic screening for macrosomia in postdates
      pregnancies is associated with a relatively low positive predictive value.

PMID- 1442960
TI  - Retrospective maternal mortality case ascertainment in West Virginia, 1985 to
      1989.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The death of women from pregnancy-related causes remains a threat to
      national maternal and child health. Maternal deaths as persistent, albeit rare
      occurrences are overlooked if vital registration systems are relied on to report
      such deaths. STUDY DESIGN: Live birth records were matched with death records for
      women of reproductive age to detect if a woman died within 1 year of delivery.
      The data for potential cases were reviewed by committee and classified as
      maternal and nonmaternal deaths. RESULTS: Of all linked birth-death records, 32%
      were related to pregnancy: 81% were directly related to pregnancy and 19% were
      indirectly related to pregnancy. The most frequent causes of death were
      hemorrhage and embolism. Thirty-eight percent of the women were transferred to
      tertiary hospitals before death. The case ascertainment through this study
      improved maternal death detection by 100% over official vital statistics.
      CONCLUSION: Enhanced maternal mortality surveillance increased the detection of
      maternal death in West Virginia. Case review of these deaths yielded important
      information useful in shaping the state's perinatal system.

PMID- 1442961
TI  - Laparoscopic diagnosis and repair of spigelian hernia: report of a case and
      technique.
AB  - Spigelian hernia is an uncommon hernia of the abdominal wall. We report a case of
      acquired spigelian hernia diagnosed and treated by laparoscopy. With more
      extensive use of laparoscopy to evaluate abdominal pain, the diagnosis of
      spigelian hernia can be made and repair accomplished without need for open
      exploratory surgery.

PMID- 1442962
TI  - Oligohydramnios and megacolon in a fetus with vesicorectal fistula and anal
      urethral atresia: a case report.
AB  - Severe oligohydramnios and extremely dilated bowel filled with hyperechogenic
      material floating in fluid were the ultrasonographic findings in a fetus at 27
      weeks' gestation. Vesicorectal communication and urethral-anal atresia permitted
      urine to empty into the colon, causing megacolon, oligohydramnios, and markedly
      increased intraabdominal pressure resulting in pulmonary hypoplasia.

PMID- 1442963
TI  - Pathways to hysterectomy: insights from longitudinal twin research.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that genetic influences act on "liability" to
      hysterectomy, that secular influences might differentially affect relative
      importance of genetic and environmental influences, and that the sources of
      genetic influences could be identified from reported risk factors. STUDY DESIGN:
      Hysterectomy data from an Australia-wide volunteer sample of female adult
      monozygotic and dizygotic twins are reported. In 1980 through 1982 a mailed
      questionnaire was completed by 1232 monozygotic female twin pairs and 751
      dizygotic female twin pairs (3966 women) from the Australian Twin Register (wave
      1). The same twins were surveyed by questionnaire 8 years later (wave 2).
      RESULTS: A total of 366 had undergone hysterectomy by wave 1 and a further 198 at
      wave 2. The twin-pair correlations for liability to hysterectomy at wave 1 (0.61
      +/- 0.06 for monozygotic and 0.20 +/- 0.11 for dizygotic) and wave 2 (0.65 +/-
      0.05 for monozygotic and 0.32 +/- 0.09 for monozygotic) indicated a substantial
      genetic contribution. Reported risk factors accounted for only 15% of total
      variance. CONCLUSION: Genetic influences on liability to hysterectomy were
      substantial and stable across birth cohorts, but the important sources of genetic
      influence on liability to hysterectomy are yet to be identified.

PMID- 1442964
TI  - Maternal and fetal hemodynamic effects of autologous blood donation during
      pregnancy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were to describe the maternal and fetal hemodynamic
      impact of a 1 U acute blood loss during pregnancy and to compare the hemodynamic
      responses of pregnant women with those of nonpregnant controls. STUDY DESIGN:
      With Doppler techniques cardiac output and total peripheral vascular resistance
      were determined in 16 pregnant women in the third trimester and in 16 nonpregnant
      volunteers before and during orthostatic stress, before and after donation of 450
      ml of whole blood. In pregnant women the fetal umbilical artery
      systolic/diastolic ratio was also determined. Data were subjected to multiple
      logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: In both groups orthostasis provoked
      significant decreases in cardiac output and increases in total peripheral
      vascular resistance. The hemodynamic effects of blood loss were less pronounced
      and did not significantly change the hemodynamic response to orthostasis in
      either group. Neither orthostasis nor blood loss caused significant changes in
      the umbilical systolic/diastolic ratio. CONCLUSION: These data support the
      hemodynamic safety of uncomplicated autologous blood donation during late
      pregnancy.

PMID- 1442965
TI  - First-trimester diagnosis of cystic hygroma--course and outcome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We studied the outcomes of fetuses in whom cystic hygroma was
      diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy through the application of
      transvaginal ultrasonography. STUDY DESIGN: In the period 1990 to 1991 22 fetuses
      with cystic hygroma were found. All fetuses had karyotyping and a complete
      ultrasonographic search for associated anomalies. RESULTS: Aneuploidy was found
      in seven of 22 fetuses: four trisomy 21, two trisomy 18, and one translocation.
      Monosomy X was absent in this series. In 15 of 22 cases there was a normal
      karyotype. In 10 of 15 euploid fetuses the small nonseptated hygroma resolved
      spontaneously. In four of 15 euploid fetuses other malformations were detected
      with ultrasonography (i.e., polycystic kidneys, coarctation of the aorta, bladder
      outlet obstruction, and fetal hydrops). CONCLUSION: Whenever a cystic hygroma is
      suspected in the antenatal period, even if of small size, a structured and
      detailed ultrasonographic examination and fetal karyotyping are recommended.

PMID- 1442966
TI  - Baking powder pica mimicking preeclampsia.
AB  - We report a case of baking powder pica during pregnancy that was associated with
      maternal hypertension, hypokalemia, and elevated liver function tests. After
      discontinuation of baking powder ingestion and correction of electrolyte
      abnormalities, the blood pressure and the liver function tests normalized.

PMID- 1442967
TI  - Sterilization needs in the 1990s: the case for quinacrine nonsurgical female
      sterilization.
AB  - Much evidence suggests that demand for sterilization is a function of supply of
      surgical sterilization services in less-developed countries. If such services
      were greatly expanded, the number of procedures performed would grow
      dramatically. While the prevalence of sterilization is estimated to increase from
      23.5% to 28.8% of married women of reproductive age in the 1990s, there will
      actually be 106,432,000 more couples of reproductive age at the end of this
      decade than at its beginning who use either no method or a far less effective
      method with much lower continuation rates than sterilization--nearly a 20%
      increase. To achieve a mean sterilization prevalence of 47% of married women of
      reproductive age in the less-developed world, as now seen in the Republic of
      Korea and Puerto Rico, the number of sterilizations would need to be more than
      double the current projection for the 1990s: 328,429,000 rather than 159,000,000.
      The quinacrine pellet method for nonsurgical female sterilization offers hope
      that this enormous shortfall in sterilization services can be overcome in this
      decade.

PMID- 1442968
TI  - Predictors for live birth after unexplained spontaneous abortions: correlations
      between immunologic test results, obstetric histories, and outcome of next
      pregnancy without treatment.
AB  - Our objective was to determine whether results from tests for maternal serum
      antinuclear antibodies, cytotoxic antibodies to paternal lymphocytes, parental
      histocompatibility types, and blocking factors for maternal-paternal mixed
      lymphocyte reactions were predictive of pregnancy outcome without immunologic
      treatment. Pregnancy outcome data from 95 women with a history of unexplained
      recurrent spontaneous abortions who underwent immunologic tests at Jefferson
      Medical College were evaluated with multiple logistic regression analyses. The
      number of prior spontaneous abortions, history of another relevant diagnosis,
      parental sharing of one histocompatibility antigen, and maternal age were related
      to the outcome of the next pregnancy in women given no immunologic treatment (p =
      0.05). No significant correlation was found between results from the immunologic
      tests or other history characteristics evaluated and outcome of the next
      pregnancy. The immunologic tests evaluated were not clinically useful predictors
      of pregnancy outcome.

PMID- 1442969
TI  - Cigarette smoking and urinary incontinence in women.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The goal of this case control study was to evaluate the relationship
      between smoking and female urinary incontinence. STUDY DESIGN: The study included
      606 women whose smoking histories were known; 322 were incontinent and 284 were
      continent. The condition(s) causing each subject's incontinence was determined by
      urodynamic testing; 40% of the continent subjects had the same testing. RESULTS:
      There were highly significant overall differences (p = 0.000009) in the
      distribution of current, former, and never smokers between incontinent (35%, 16%,
      49%) and continent (24%, 8%, 68%) groups. The odds ratio for genuine stress
      incontinence was 2.20 for former (95% confidence interval 1.18 to 4.11) and 2.48
      for current smokers (95% confidence interval 1.60 to 3.84); for motor
      incontinence it was 2.92 for former (95% confidence interval 1.58 to 5.39) and
      1.89 (95% confidence interval 1.19 to 3.02) for current smokers. Increasing daily
      and lifetime cigarette consumption was associated with an increasing odds ratio
      for genuine stress incontinence but not for motor incontinence. The increased
      risk for incontinence was not due to differences in age, parity, weight, or
      hypoestrogenic status. CONCLUSION: The data establish a strong statistical
      relationship between current and former cigarette smoking and both stress and
      motor urinary incontinence in women.

PMID- 1442970
TI  - Natural history of chronic proteinuria complicating pregnancy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Although the significance of proteinuria is well-documented for
      pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia or diabetes, protein excretion of up to 300
      mg per day is considered normal for uncomplicated pregnancy. Our purpose was to
      determine the significance of otherwise "asymptomatic" proteinuria identified
      during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed the perinatal outcome of 65
      pregnancies in 53 women with the following criteria: (1) proteinuria exceeding
      500 mg per day, (2) no previously known renal disease, (3) no reversible renal
      dysfunction, and (4) no evidence for preeclampsia at discovery. RESULTS: Renal
      insufficiency coexisted in 62% of women, and 40% had chronic hypertension.
      Excluding 8 abortions, 53 (93%) of 57 pregnancies resulted in live infants; 45%
      of infants were delivered preterm and 23% had growth retardation. Of these 57
      women, 62% demonstrated clinical evidence compatible with superimposed
      preeclampsia, and although the incidence of preeclampsia was increased with
      isolated proteinuria (29%), it was increased even more when there was associated
      chronic hypertension (incidence 100%) or renal insufficiency (incidence 58%). All
      21 women who eventually underwent renal biopsy had histologic evidence of renal
      disease. To date, with only a limited follow-up of these 53 women, 11 (20%) have
      progressed to end-stage renal disease. CONCLUSION: "Asymptomatic" proteinuria is
      associated with a number of adverse pregnancy outcomes and serious long-term
      maternal morbidity.

PMID- 1442971
TI  - Selective pelvic and periaortic lymphadenectomy does not increase morbidity in
      surgical staging of endometrial carcinoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to retrospectively assess whether
      there was increased morbidity associated with the addition of selective pelvic
      and periaortic lymphadenectomy to hysterectomy in patients with endometrial
      carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: From 1977 through 1988, 196 patients undergoing
      selective pelvic and periaortic lymphadenectomy plus hysterectomy were compared
      with 104 patients who underwent hysterectomy alone for endometrial
      adenocarcinoma. RESULTS: Only after adjusting for covariates was selective pelvic
      and periaortic lymphadenectomy associated with a higher estimated blood loss,
      which increased linearly with weight and was higher for black than for white
      women. The transfusion rate was similar for the two groups (selective pelvic and
      periaortic lymphadenectomy 6%, hysterectomy 10%). The mean blood loss was
      significantly different among the four gynecologic oncology surgeons (range 343
      to 652 ml). The operating time primarily depended on patient weight and race,
      surgeon, and estimated blood loss. Postoperative hospital stay increased
      significantly with age, surgeon, wound infections, thrombotic events, and serious
      complications. Selective pelvic and periaortic lymphadenectomy had no effect on
      wound infections, which were directly related to operating time. Seventy-five
      (38%) of the selective pelvic and periaortic lymphadenectomy group and 19 (18%)
      of the hysterectomy group (p < 0.01) received whole-pelvic radiation with no
      difference in bowel complications (selective pelvic and periaortic
      lymphadenectomy 2/75, hysterectomy 1/19). The risk of serious complications was
      associated only with increasing age. CONCLUSION: Selective pelvic and periaortic
      lymphadenectomy in patients with endometrial carcinoma does not significantly add
      to morbidity from hysterectomy, which is related primarily to other factors such
      as patient weight, age, and race; operating time; and surgeon.

PMID- 1442972
TI  - Does DeLee suction at the perineum prevent meconium aspiration syndrome?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We attempted to determine the impact of "early" (before delivery of
      the chest) oronasopharyngeal DeLee suctioning at the perineum in the prevention
      of meconium aspiration syndrome and to confirm that meconium aspiration syndrome
      is a postnatal event. STUDY DESIGN: We compared infants with meconium-stained
      fluid who underwent "early" oronasopharyngeal DeLee suctioning with a similar
      group of infants whose airways were suctioned "late" (after chest delivery).
      Practicing obstetricians did not know the study was being conducted by the
      pediatric staff, and an independent observer documented whether obstetricians
      performed "early" or "late" oronasopharyngeal DeLee suctioning. Immediate
      postnatal tracheal suctioning was performed in both groups. The study was
      conducted in a private tertiary care center averaging 5800 deliveries annually. A
      consecutive sample of 438 infants with meconium-stained fluid was analyzed. Of
      these infants, 221 received "early" oronasopharyngeal DeLee suctioning, while 217
      infants were suctioned "late". RESULTS: Of the 438 infants with meconium-stained
      fluid, meconium aspiration syndrome developed in 38 (9%). These infants had
      higher rates of fetal distress (i.e., abnormal fetal heart rates) and lower Apgar
      scores (< or = 6) than infants without meconium aspiration syndrome (58% vs 17%
      and 65% vs 13%, respectively; p < 0.001). Forty-five percent of the infants with
      meconium aspiration syndrome had renal failure during the first 20 hours of life.
      In spite of "early" oronasopharyngeal DeLee suctioning, 53% of the infants in
      this group had meconium below the vocal cords and meconium aspiration syndrome
      developed in 7%. The time of oronasopharyngeal DeLee suctioning did not affect
      the rate of meconium aspiration syndrome or the presence of meconium below the
      vocal cords. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that "early" oronasopharyngeal DeLee
      suctioning at the perineum does not affect the rate of meconium aspiration
      syndrome. We speculate that meconium aspiration syndrome is predominantly an
      intrauterine event associated with fetal distress and that meconium in the
      airways is merely a "marker" of previous fetal hypoxia.

PMID- 1442973
TI  - Assessment of the renal circulation during pregnancy with color Doppler
      ultrasonography.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: A non-invasive method of assessing the renal vasculature during
      pregnancy would be useful in the management of patients with renal dysfunction
      resulting from preeclampsia or chronic renal disease. The objectives of this
      study were to determine (1) whether color ultrasonography during pregnancy
      facilitates Doppler interrogation of renal and intrarenal arteries, allowing (2)
      the assessment of differences between waveforms from nonpregnant and pregnant
      women and (3) the analysis of waveform variability throughout the kidney and
      between the right and left kidneys. STUDY DESIGN: In a cross-sectional study
      renal and intrarenal artery flow waveforms were obtained from women in early (12
      to 19 weeks; n = 8), mid (20 to 29 weeks; n = 11), and late (30 to 37 weeks; n =
      14) pregnancy with eight age-matched, nonpregnant women acting as controls.
      Waveforms were analyzed for pulsatility index, resistive index, and
      systolic/diastolic ratio. RESULTS: Left or right renal and upper- and lower-pole
      interlobar artery waveforms were obtained from all women. The mean pulsatility
      index values for the nonpregnant women were not significantly different from
      those women in early, mid, or late pregnancy. In the nonpregnant women, the left
      renal artery pulsatility index (1.13 +/- 0.13) was greater than the left lower
      interlobular artery pulsatility index (0.91 +/- 0.08; p < 0.05). During pregnancy
      renal and interlobar artery pulsatility index values were greater than those for
      the corresponding interlobular arteries, but the differences were not
      significant. Mean renal and intrarenal artery pulsatility index values were
      greater on the right, but the difference was significant only for the lower
      interlobular artery in midpregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy does not
      significantly affect renal and intrarenal artery flow waveforms, nor are there
      significant differences between waveforms from the renal and interlobar arteries.

PMID- 1442974
TI  - Changes in coagulation and anticoagulation in women taking low-dose triphasic
      oral contraceptives: a controlled comparative 12-month clinical trial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The effects of two triphasic oral contraceptives on coagulation and
      anticoagulation factors were compared in a 12-month open-label study. STUDY
      DESIGN: Fifty-two women (mean age 26 years) were enrolled in and completed the
      study; 20 had been randomly assigned to receive levonorgestrel plus ethinyl
      estradiol, 24 had been randomly assigned to receive norethindrone plus ethinyl
      estradiol, and eight surgically sterile women acted as untreated controls.
      Coagulation and anticoagulation factors were measured at baseline and during the
      sixth and twelfth months. RESULTS: Both oral contraceptives produced significant
      decreases from baseline in prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time;
      there were also significant changes in laboratory control times. Factor XII was
      significantly increased in both oral contraceptive groups after 6 and 12 months.
      Fibrinogen antigen was significantly increased for norethindrone plus ethinyl
      estradiol after 6 and 12 months and for levonorgestrel plus ethinyl estradiol
      after 12 months. Platelet counts were unchanged. There was a significant increase
      in antithrombin III activity with norethindrone plus ethinyl estradiol at 12
      months. Antithrombin III antigen was unchanged with the oral contraceptives;
      however, significant increases existed for alpha 1-antitrypsin antigen and
      plasminogen antigen and activity after 6 and 12 months and for alpha 2
      macroglobulin antigen after 12 months for both oral contraceptives. alpha 2
      Antiplasmin antigen was significantly increased for norethindrone plus ethinyl
      estradiol at the 12-month evaluation. There were no significant differences
      between the oral contraceptives for any coagulation or anticoagulation factor,
      and mean values generally remained within reference ranges. CONCLUSIONS:
      Levonorgestrel plus ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone plus ethinyl estradiol
      had equivalent, minimal effects on hemostasis, and changes in coagulation factors
      appeared to be balanced by changes in anticoagulation factors.

PMID- 1442975
TI  - Sleep quality in preeclampsia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to study the sleep quality in women with preeclampsia
      with a special reference to nocturnal body movement activity. STUDY DESIGN: Sleep
      quality was evaluated in nine women with preeclampsia and eight women with normal
      term pregnancy by means of questionnaires and by recording the nocturnal body
      movement activity with the static charge-sensitive bed. RESULTS: Subjective sleep
      complaints were similar in both groups. The total movement time and the total
      frequency of body movements in bed were, however, significantly increased in the
      preeclamptic group. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that sleep is impaired in
      preeclamptic subjects.

PMID- 1442976
TI  - Reversal of fetal distress by emergency in utero decompression of hydrothorax.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to determine whether in utero pleural
      decompression can improve abnormal cardiotocograms resulting from compressive
      fetal hydrothorax. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed all cases of fetal hydrothorax
      referred to our level 3 fetal medicine unit. Highly pathologic cardiotocographic
      findings were observed in four third-trimester patients. All had mediastinal
      compression that resulted in skin edema on the upper part of the body. Prenatal
      therapy was performed on an emergency basis, two with thoracocentesis and two
      with pleuroamniotic catheters. RESULTS: One patient went into intractable
      bradycardia on arrival in the department and died in spite of immediate
      thoracocentesis. The other three recovered, with normal heart rate patterns after
      pleural decompression. CONCLUSION: Emergency prenatal therapy may reverse fetal
      distress in utero, allowing time for delivery of uncompromised infants if
      possible after a complete evaluation of nonimmune hydrops.

PMID- 1442977
TI  - Serum collagenase levels in relation to the state of the human cervix during
      pregnancy and labor.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to investigate the role of collagenase in
      the cervical ripening and dilatation process in term pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN:
      Serum samples were obtained from nonpregnant women (n = 5) and term-pregnant
      women. The term-pregnant women were either admitted for elective cesarean section
      or labor induction (unfavorable cervix, n = 19; favorable cervix, n = 12) or in
      spontaneous, active labor (stiff and inelastic cervix, n = 7; soft compliant
      cervix, n = 8). Statistical analysis was performed with the Student t test.
      RESULTS: The nonpregnant women had low serum collagenase levels (5.2 +/- 0.7
      micrograms collagen digested per minute per 100 ml serum, mean +/- SEM). At term
      but before labor, women with unripe cervices had higher collagenase levels (10.3
      +/- 0.9). The women with ripe cervices had even higher serum collagenase levels
      (22.9 +/- 4.2; p < 0.001). During labor, women with stiff and inelastic cervices
      had lower serum collagenase levels compared with women with soft and compliant
      cervices (12.9 +/- 1.7 vs 28.0 +/- 4.2; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Serum collagenase
      during ripening at term and in active labor increases, supporting its active role
      in the ripening process.

PMID- 1442978
TI  - Genetic offspring in patients with vaginal agenesis: specific medical and legal
      issues.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: There are new options for genetic offspring in patients with vaginal
      agenesis (Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome). The reported world experience
      to date with genetic offspring of patients with vaginal agenesis consists of five
      pregnancies (including two reported here and two frozen embryos). The specifics
      of these cases are presented for discussion. STUDY DESIGN: We present a
      retrospective description of two women with vaginal agenesis and their matched
      gestational carriers with positive outcome of two live births. Care was delivered
      in a private in vitro fertilization and gamete intrafallopian transfer program.
      RESULTS: In vitro fertilization of oocytes gathered from the genetic mother with
      vaginal agenesis and sperm from the genetic father were transferred to a
      gestational carrier. Two live births and one blighted ovum pregnancy resulted.
      CONCLUSION: Until recently, treatment for patients with vaginal agenesis (Mayer
      Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome) has centered on the creation of a functional
      vagina. The technology of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, allowing
      for collection of oocytes from the genetic mother, fertilization by the genetic
      father, and placement into a gestational carrier, enables a woman without a
      uterus to have her own genetic children. The specific medical and legal issues
      involved in facilitating genetic offspring in these instances must be considered;
      these include the initial matching of the genetic parents with the gestational
      carrier, cycle synchronization for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer,
      anatomic difficulties of oocyte retrieval, birth certificate documentation, and
      the current legal status of a gestational carrier.

PMID- 1442979
TI  - Fetal plasma erythropoietin concentration in red blood cell-isoimmunized
      pregnancies.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between
      fetal anemia, plasma erythropoietin concentration, and erythroblastosis in red
      blood cell-isoimmunized pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: Fetal plasma erythropoietin
      concentration in umbilical venous blood samples from 68 red blood cell
      isoimmunized pregnancies at 18 to 35 weeks' gestation was measured. Measurements
      were compared with the appropriate reference range with gestation, and
      associations with blood pH, erythroblast count, and hemoglobin concentration were
      examined. RESULTS: The mean fetal plasma erythropoietin concentration and
      erythroblast count in red blood cell-isoimmunized pregnancies were significantly
      increased only in severe fetal anemia (hemoglobin deficit > 7 gm/dl).
      Furthermore, some severely anemic fetuses were hydropic and acidemic. The degree
      of increase in plasma erythropoietin was significantly associated with both fetal
      acidemia and, more strongly, fetal erythroblastosis. CONCLUSION: These findings
      suggest that in fetuses from red blood cell-isoimmunized pregnancies the ability
      to prevent tissue hypoxia is present until anemia becomes severe, presumably by
      an increase in cardiac output and tissue perfusion. In severe anemia tissue
      hypoxia occurs, and the data indicate that fetuses respond by increasing
      erythropoietin production from at least 20 weeks' gestation. Furthermore, more
      accurate assessment of tissue oxygenation may be obtained by measuring the
      erythroblast count rather than the blood pH.

PMID- 1442980
TI  - Doppler velocimetry and fetal heart rate studies in nephropathic diabetics.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were to determine in pregnancies complicated by
      diabetic nephropathy (1) if impedance to flow in the uterine and umbilical
      arteries is normal and (2) if these fetuses are hypoxemic and acidemic and if
      they have decreased fetal heart rate variation and Doppler blood flow
      redistribution. STUDY DESIGN: In a cross-sectional study at the Harris Birthright
      Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, London, serial assessment of fetal heart rate
      variation and Doppler velocimetry of the placental and fetal circulations was
      undertaken in six pregnancies complicated by diabetic nephropathy. In all cases
      cordocentesis was performed within 24 hours before delivery for the measurement
      of umbilical venous blood gases. RESULTS: Cordocentesis demonstrated these
      fetuses to be hypoxemic and acidemic. The fetal heart rate variation was
      decreased; however, impedance to flow in the uterine artery was normal, and
      increased impedance to flow in the umbilical artery with evidence of blood flow
      redistribution was observed in only one case. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal hypoxemia and
      acidemia in pregnancies complicated by diabetic nephropathy is not a consequence
      of impaired placental perfusion, and the degree of metabolic derangement may be
      obscured by the apparent normal growth and failure of these fetuses to
      demonstrate blood flow redistribution.

PMID- 1442981
TI  - Renal pyelectasis in pregnancy: correlative evaluation of fetal and maternal
      collecting systems.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The current study is aimed at assessing the possibility of a
      statistical relationship between fetal and maternal collecting system dilatation
      during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Two hundred thirty consecutive pregnant women and
      their fetuses (20 to 40 weeks' gestation) were simultaneously examined by
      ultrasonography. The renal collecting systems were measured, and the frequency of
      dilatation was subjected to chi 2 analysis. The temporal incidence of fetal
      pyelectasis was compared with the maternal incidence. RESULTS: Dilatation of
      maternal collecting systems was detected in 91 of 230 patients (40%) and fetal
      pyelectasis occurred in 60 of 230 (26%). Fetal pyelectasis was 5.6 times more
      likely to occur in fetuses of mothers with dilated collecting systems.
      Furthermore, the temporal incidence of fetal pyelectasis throughout pregnancy
      appeared similar to that of maternal pyelectasis. CONCLUSION: This study points
      out the existence of a statistically significant association between maternal and
      fetal collecting system dilatation during pregnancy.

PMID- 1442982
TI  - Primary ovarian pregnancy successfully treated with methotrexate.

PMID- 1442983
TI  - Umbilical venous pressure in nonimmune hydrops fetalis: correlation with cardiac
      size.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were to examine the relationship between umbilical
      venous pressure and cardiac size in nonimmune hydrops fetalis and to assess the
      role of cardiac failure in the pathogenesis of the disease. STUDY DESIGN:
      Fourteen fetuses with nonimmune hydrops fetalis were investigated in a tertiary
      referral unit with high-resolution ultrasonography, echocardiography, and fetal
      blood sampling. Fetal heart size was assessed by measurement of the
      cardiothoracic ratio. Umbilical venous pressure was measured at the time of fetal
      blood sampling with a fluid-filled system. RESULTS: The 10 fetuses with elevated
      umbilical venous pressures had significantly increased cardiothoracic ratios (p =
      0.02). These fetuses also had ascites. Four other fetuses had normal-sized
      hearts, normal umbilical venous pressures, and no ascites. There was a linear
      relationship between cardiothoracic ratio and umbilical venous pressure (r =
      0.75, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Measurement of umbilical venous pressure validates
      cardiothoracic ratio as a noninvasive assessment of cardiac function in nonimmune
      hydrops.

PMID- 1442984
TI  - Monitoring of intravascular fetal transfusions with Doppler velocimetry.
AB  - Intravascular fetal transfusions are occasionally complicated by extravascular
      deposition of transfused blood or by fetal bradycardia on penetration of the
      needle into the umbilical cord. It is desirable therefore to continuously monitor
      the intravascular location of the needle and the fetal heart rate. This can be
      achieved by Doppler velocimetry of the umbilical vein and artery during the
      procedure. The technique is easily performed, does not require moving of the
      ultrasonography transducer, and appears to be time efficient.

PMID- 1442985
TI  - Reproductive, menstrual, and medical risk factors for endometrial cancer: results
      from a case-control study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the risk for endometrial cancer in
      relation to reproductive, menstrual, and medical factors. STUDY DESIGN: A case
      control study of 405 endometrial cancer cases and 297 population controls in five
      areas of the United States enabled risk to be evaluated. RESULTS: A major risk
      factor was the absence of a prior pregnancy (relative risk 2.8, 95% confidence
      interval 1.7 to 4.6). The protective effect of pregnancy appeared to reflect the
      influence of term births, because spontaneous and induced abortions were
      unrelated to risk. Among nulliparous women infertility was a significant risk
      factor, with women having sought medical advice having nearly eight times the
      risk of those without difficulty conceiving. After adjustment for other
      reproductive characteristics, age at first birth and duration of breast-feeding
      were not related to risk. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated risks were found for subjects
      reporting early ages at menarche (relative risk 2.4 for ages < 12 vs > or = 15)
      and longer days of flow (relative risk 1.9 for > or = 7 vs < 4 days), but there
      was no relationship with late ages at natural menopause. Height was not
      associated with risk, but there was a significant relation to weight, with the
      risk for 200 versus < 125 pounds being 7.2 (95% confidence interval 3.9 to 13.3).
      After adjustment for weight and other factors, histories of hypertension and
      gallbladder disease were not significantly related to risk, but an effect of
      diabetes persisted (relative risk 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 3.6).
      Hirsutism developing at older ages was also significantly related (relative risk
      2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 3.4).

PMID- 1442986
TI  - Randomized trial of human versus animal species insulin in diabetic pregnant
      women: improved glycemic control, not fewer antibodies to insulin, influences
      birth weight.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Macrosomia occurs in infants of diabetic mothers in spite of "nearly
      normal maternal blood glucose levels" with insulin treatment. Insulin antibodies
      may carry bound insulin into the fetal blood and thus may be associated with
      fetal hyperinsulinemia and macrosomia in these infants. Our objective was to test
      the hypothesis that human insulin is associated with lower insulin antibody
      levels and less macrosomia than is animal species insulin. STUDY DESIGN: Forty
      three insulin-requiring pregnant (< 20 weeks' gestation) women, previously
      treated with animal insulin, were randomized to human and animal insulins and
      studied at weeks 10 through 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, and 38, at delivery, and at 3
      months post partum. Infant blood was drawn at delivery (cord) and at 1 day and 3
      months post partum 1 hour after a glucose-amino acid challenge. RESULTS: Women
      receiving human insulin required significantly less insulin per kilogram of body
      weight and showed significant dampening of glucose excursions (p < 0.05 for each
      comparison). Infants born to mothers receiving human insulin weighed 2880 +/- 877
      gm compared with 3340 +/- 598 gm for infants of women treated with animal insulin
      (p < 0.05). There was no difference in insulin antibody levels between groups for
      either mothers or infants. Infants born to mothers receiving human insulin had a
      1 hour C-peptide level after the glucose-amino acid challenge at 3 months of age
      of 0.21 +/- 0.13 pmol/ml compared with 0.32 +/- 0.13 pmol/ml (p = 0.01).
      CONCLUSION: Administration of human insulin to pregnant diabetic women has a
      therapeutic advantage over animal insulin, with less maternal hyperglycemia or
      hypoglycemia, fewer larger-for-gestational-age infants, and less neonatal
      hyperinsulinemia. Our data do not support the hypothesis that maternal antibodies
      to insulin influence infant birth weight.

PMID- 1442987
TI  - Biochemical and immunohistochemical estrogen and progesterone receptors in
      adenomatous hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma: correlations with stage and
      other clinicopathologic features.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study investigates clinicopathologic associations of estrogen and
      progesterone receptor content in endometrial carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred
      fifty-two patients with endometrial cancer and 12 with adenomatous hyperplasia
      were included. Dextran-coated charcoal receptor assay and immunohistochemical
      analysis were used. The immunohistochemical analysis receptor content was
      estimated semiquantitatively by a total and a cancer immunohistochemical
      histologic score. Multiple regression analysis was used in testing independence
      of established correlations. RESULTS: Estrogen and progesterone receptor dextran
      coated charcoal values and immunohistochemical histologic scores correlated
      inversely (p < 0.001) with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
      grade of tumor. An inverse correlation (p < 0.0001) between clinical stage and
      dextran-coated charcoal values was independent of International Federation of
      Gynecology and Obstetrics grade. Age of patient, years since menopause, and
      previous estrogen treatment were not related to receptor content. In adenomatous
      hyperplasia high progesterone receptor levels were seen. CONCLUSION: The inverse
      correlation between clinical stage of endometrial carcinoma and content of
      estrogen and progesterone receptors may reflect tumor biologic behavior.

PMID- 1442988
TI  - Effect of fat and fat-free mass deposition during pregnancy on birth weight.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purposes of our study were to describe the patterns and location
      of fat and fat-free mass deposition during pregnancy and to evaluate their
      effects on fetal growth. STUDY DESIGN: Our study is a prospective follow-up of
      105 healthy pregnant women who were delivered of term infants. Body composition
      was evaluated eight times during gestation with anthropometric measures and
      bioimpedance techniques. Body fat and fat-free mass were calculated with
      equations specifically developed for this population. RESULTS: Total weight gain
      was 10.0 +/- 3.5 kg; net weight gain was 3.7 +/- 0.31 kg; birth weight was 3211
      +/- 467 gm (values are mean +/- SEM). In these women fat was deposited mostly in
      the thigh and subscapular region for a total of 6.23 +/- 0.19 kg at term. The
      period of pregnancy of the largest maternal fat deposition per week is between
      the twentieth and thirtieth weeks. After adjusting by prepregnancy weight, birth
      weight is associated with maternal changes in thigh skin folds and fat gain
      before the thirtieth week of gestation. Infants born to mothers with low fat gain
      before the thirtieth week were 204 gm lighter than infants born to mothers with
      fat gain > or = 25th percentile of this population. CONCLUSION: Maternal
      nutritional status at the beginning of gestation and the rate of fat gain early
      in pregnancy are the two nutritional indicators most strongly associated with
      fetal growth in this population.

PMID- 1442989
TI  - Maternal ventricular tachycardia associated with hypomagnesemia.
AB  - We present a rare case of recurrent sustained maternal ventricular tachycardia
      associated with hypomagnesemia. The frequency of this arrhythmia was markedly
      reduced with magnesium sulfate therapy. Both maternal and fetal outcomes were
      good. To the best of our knowledge this is the first description of maternal
      ventricular tachycardia that was associated with hypomagnesemia and did not
      require treatment with conventional antiarrhythmic medications. We discuss the
      possible underlying pathophysiologic causes of this condition.

PMID- 1442991
TI  - The effect of placental management at cesarean delivery on operative blood loss.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The effect of alternative methods of placental delivery at cesarean
      section on blood loss has not been reported. The hypothesis of this study was
      that spontaneous expulsion of the placenta would reduce operative blood loss,
      compared with that of manual extraction during cesarean delivery. STUDY DESIGN:
      We prospectively randomized and compared outcomes of 62 gravid women with manual
      (n = 31) or spontaneous (n = 31) placental delivery at cesarean section.
      Operative blood loss was measured directly. RESULTS: Blood loss measured at
      cesarean delivery was greater in the manually delivered group (967 +/- 248 ml)
      than in the spontaneously delivered group (666 +/- 271 ml, p < 0.0001). The
      incidence of postpartum endometritis was sevenfold greater in the manual than the
      spontaneous group (23% vs 3%, respectively; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude
      that spontaneous expulsion of the placenta at cesarean delivery results in less
      operative blood loss and a lower incidence of postoperative endometritis.

PMID- 1442990
TI  - Maternal floor infarction: relationship to X cells, major basic protein, and
      adverse perinatal outcome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Maternal floor infarction of the placenta is characterized by gross
      placental abnormalities and histologic evidence of X-cell proliferation.
      Previously, pregnancy-associated major basic protein has been localized to the
      placental X cell and identified at elevated levels in serum and amniotic fluid in
      all normal pregnancies. Here we test the hypothesis that pregnancy-associated
      major basic protein is localized to the X cells in maternal floor infarction and
      that it contributes to the pathophysiologic features of pregnancies complicated
      by maternal floor infarction. STUDY DESIGN: Seven patients with eight pregnancies
      complicated by maternal floor infarction were evaluated. We analyzed placental
      tissue, serum, amniotic fluid, and placental cyst fluid for pregnancy-associated
      major basic protein. RESULTS: Placental tissue from pregnancies complicated by
      maternal floor infarction had increased numbers of X cells and fibrinoid material
      that occupied or surrounded degenerating villi and that stained intensely for
      pregnancy-associated major basic protein. Serum pregnancy-associated major basic
      protein levels were variable and likely cannot be used to predict the occurrence
      of maternal floor infarction. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy-associated major basic
      protein, a potent cytotoxin, is localized to X cells and is deposited in close
      proximity to chorionic villi in maternal floor infarction and may contribute to
      the pathophysiology of this disorder.

PMID- 1442992
TI  - Depot leuprolide versus danazol in treatment of women with symptomatic
      endometriosis. I. Efficacy results.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the efficacy of depot leuprolide versus danazol in
      the treatment of endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN: A double-blind randomized trial of
      270 patients from 22 centers compared the pretreatment and posttreatment
      laparoscopic extent of endometriosis. Pretreatment and posttreatment
      endometriosis symptoms and signs were assessed with standardized methods.
      RESULTS: When compared with danazol, leuprolide depot caused a more rapid and
      profound suppression of estradiol. Leuprolide depot and danazol were similarly
      efficacious in decreasing the extent of endometriosis, as well as the pain and
      tenderness associated with endometriosis. CONCLUSION: Depot leuprolide is an
      effective alternative to danazol in decreasing the extent of endometriosis and
      endometriosis-related pain.

PMID- 1442994
TI  - The effect of the menstrual cycle on serum CA 125 levels: a population study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess the effect of the menstrual cycle on CA
      125 levels in a population study. STUDY DESIGN: Serum CA 125 was measured in 1478
      women, with day of menstrual cycle noted in 574 women. Repeat examination was
      performed in women with elevated results, and 40 of these women were tracked by
      weekly examination of CA 125 levels. RESULTS: A significant difference was
      demonstrated when midcycle samples were compared with day 1 and day 28 samples (p
      < 0.05). In spite of this significance the difference was not clinically useful.
      Elevated serum CA 125 (> 35 U/ml) levels were present in 77 (5.2%) of the
      premenopausal women. A significant variation was demonstrable with higher CA 125
      levels about the time of menstruation in 29 of the 40 women tracked. CONCLUSION:
      This study suggests that in the population as a whole the effect of the menstrual
      cycle on serum CA 125 is not clinically significant, but single elevated levels
      in an individual may represent menstrual fluctuation.

PMID- 1442993
TI  - Glycated hemoglobin of fractionated erythrocytes, glycated albumin, and plasma
      fructosamine during pregnancy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate glucose metabolism during pregnancy, we measured plasma
      fructosamine, glycated albumin, and the stable glycated hemoglobin of the light
      and dense erythrocytes. STUDY DESIGN: The abnormal glucose tolerance group
      comprised patients with gestational diabetes and those with one abnormal value on
      a 75 gm oral glucose tolerance test. Erythrocyte fractionation was performed by
      capillary centrifugation. RESULTS: In normal pregnancy glycated hemoglobin of the
      light erythrocytes was reduced in the second and third trimesters (3.42% +/-
      0.62% [mean +/- SD] [n = 306] in the first trimester, 2.15% +/- 0.48% [n = 353]
      in the second, and 2.06% +/- 0.58% [n = 300] in the third), and dense
      erythrocytes were higher in the third trimester (first 4.59% +/- 0.46%, second
      4.70% +/- 0.49%, third 5.29% +/- 0.73%). Glycated albumin and fructosamine
      followed a pattern similar to the light erythrocytes. The group with abnormal
      glucose tolerance had significantly higher levels of glycated hemoglobin of the
      light erythrocytes in the first and third trimesters and glycated hemoglobin of
      the dense erythrocytes and glycated albumin in all trimesters. CONCLUSION: The
      biphasic change in nonfractionated glycated hemoglobin is the sum of the lower
      glycated hemoglobin of the light erythrocytes and the higher glycated hemoglobin
      of the dense erythrocytes in late pregnancy. The stable glycated hemoglobin of
      fractionated erythrocytes and the glycated albumin accurately reflect maternal
      glucose metabolism during pregnancy.

PMID- 1442995
TI  - The fetal recoil test.
AB  - A reassuring fetal recoil test has positive and negative predictive values of 98%
      and 8%, respectively, for a reactive nonstress test (sensitivity 89%, specificity
      33%). Among 21 of 30 subjects in whom recoil was present immediately before
      delivery, none had umbilical arterial pH values < or = 7.20 versus 5 of 9 (56%)
      with nonreassuring recoil (p = 0.005). We concluded that a reassuring fetal
      recoil test is a reliable marker for fetal well-being.

PMID- 1442996
TI  - Recurrent squamous carcinoma of the vulva.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study reviews experience at Indiana University with recurrent
      squamous carcinoma of the vulva over an 18-year period from 1971 to 1989. The
      pattern of recurrence, time interval to recurrence, and efficacy of salvage
      therapy are evaluated in the context of the primary tumor. STUDY DESIGN: This is
      a retrospective study of 40 patients, 21 of whom underwent primary therapy for
      invasive squamous carcinoma of the vulva at Indiana University. RESULTS: Vulvar
      recurrences were observed in 17 patients (43%), the groin was involved in 12
      (30%), whereas pelvic and distant recurrences were observed in 2 (5%) and 9
      (22.5%) patients, respectively. Salvage surgery and/or radiotherapy were
      successful in 25 patients (62.5%) alive from 1 to 144 months (median 8 months)
      from secondary therapy. Survival after retreatment varied significantly by site
      of recurrence (p = 0.002), tumor grade (p = 0.009), and interval to recurrence (p
      < 0.001). Best outcomes were in patients with initial stage I or II disease
      (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics), grade 1 tumors, local
      failure, and interval to relapse of > 16 months' duration. Two of 12 patients
      with groin recurrences were salvaged with surgery and radiotherapy. CONCLUSION:
      Long-term follow-up of patients with vulvar cancer and careful restaging at the
      time of recurrence are mandatory. Although local and nodal recurrences may be
      controlled with surgery and/or radiotherapy, regional recurrences are usually
      fatal.

PMID- 1442997
TI  - Contraction monitoring with a manager calculator.
AB  - A simple manager calculator was used as a contraction monitor, and external
      parallel registrations were performed on 10 pregnant women in labor with the
      Psion and other kinds of tocodynamometers. A 94% correlation was found between
      the simultaneously registered data.

PMID- 1442998
TI  - Mechanisms of relaxation induced by prostaglandins in isolated canine uterine
      arteries.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Prostaglandins liberated from the uterus in response to chemical and
      physical stimuli would be important modulators of uterine arterial tone and blood
      flow. This study was aimed at analyzing mechanisms of vasodilator action of
      prostaglandins in uterine arteries. STUDY DESIGN: Canine uterine artery strips
      were suspended in Ringer-Locke solutions for isometric tension recording.
      RESULTS: Prostaglandin F2 alpha-induced relaxation was reversed to contraction by
      cyclooxygenase inhibitors and suppressed by tranylcypromine (prostaglandin I2
      synthesis inhibitor) or diphloretin phosphate (an inhibitor of prostaglandin F2
      alpha and prostaglandin I2 actions) but was unaffected by endothelium denudation.
      Prostaglandin E2-induced relaxation was not attenuated by indomethacin but was
      partially inhibited by a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor and endothelium
      denudation. Relaxation induced by beraprost (prostaglandin I2 analog) was
      suppressed by diphloretin phosphate but was not influenced by indomethacin and
      endothelium denudation. CONCLUSION: It appears that prostaglandin F2 alpha
      induced relaxation is mediated by prostaglandin I2 released from subendothelial
      tissues, whereas prostaglandin E2-induced relaxation is caused by release of
      endothelium-derived nitric oxide and also by an endothelium-independent
      mechanism.

PMID- 1442999
TI  - Chemotactic factor in the pregnant rabbit uterine cervix.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Neutrophil accumulation is one of the characteristic changes observed
      in uterine cervical stroma at term pregnancy, but chemotactic activity in the
      tissue is obscure. Our study examined the existence and production of chemotactic
      factor in the rabbit uterine cervix. STUDY DESIGN: Uterine cervical explants of
      rabbits at term pregnancy and nonpregnant rabbits were cultured with and without
      interleukin-1 alpha. Rat neutrophilic chemotaxis in culture media was evaluated
      with a Boyden chamber. RESULTS: Tissue extract from the pregnant rabbit uterine
      cervix at term pregnancy contained more chemoattractive activity than the
      nonpregnant cervix. Production of chemoattractant from cultured rabbit cervical
      explants at term pregnancy was also higher than that from nonpregnant explants.
      The addition of interleukin-1 alpha to the culture system promoted its
      production. This chemoattractant was characterized as a true chemotactic factor
      and heat-stable and trypsin-sensitive protein with an apparent relative molecular
      mass of 16,200. So far, these properties are very similar to those of the
      interleukin-8 family. Rabbit uterine cervical fibroblast is characterized as a
      chemotactic factor-producing cell in the rabbit uterine cervix. CONCLUSION: These
      results indicate that interleukin-8-like chemotactic factor participates in the
      cervical ripening at term pregnancy and that the production of this factor is
      controlled effectively by interleukin-1.

PMID- 1443000
TI  - Transient umbilical cord occlusion causes hippocampal damage in the fetal sheep.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to examine the neuronal outcome after a
      standardized period of umbilical cord occlusion. STUDY DESIGN: The umbilical cord
      was clamped for 10 minutes in nine experimental and four control chronically
      instrumented fetal sheep. Three days later the animals were killed for histologic
      interpretation. Systemic, electrophysiologic, and neurohistologic effects were
      compared by analysis of variance. RESULTS: Clamping of the cord resulted in
      transient severe asphyxia, hypotension (24 +/- 5 mm Hg, p < 0.01), bradycardia
      (72 +/- 14 beats/min, p < 0.001), depressed electroencephalographic activity (-17
      +/- 2 dB, p < 0.001), and an increase in cortical impedance. The
      electroencephalographic activity was depressed for 5 +/- 2 hours in spite of
      rapid recovery of arterial oxygen content. Neuronal loss was found in the
      hippocampus. Neither epileptiform electroencephalographic activity nor infarction
      were observed. Three animals with poor blood gas levels died during the
      occlusion. CONCLUSION: An isolated and brief period of umbilical cord occlusion
      in utero can cause predominantly hippocampal damage without persistent functional
      changes in cortical activity and with rapid recovery of other potential
      indicators of fetal asphyxia.

PMID- 1443001
TI  - Secretion of prolactin and insulin-like growth factor I by decidual explant
      cultures from pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth retardation.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Prolactin and insulin-like growth factor I secretion elsewhere in the
      uterus have been shown to decrease when tissue-specific growth is limited. We
      investigated their secretion by decidual explant cultures from pregnancies
      complicated by fetal intrauterine growth retardation. STUDY DESIGN: Explant
      cultures from 13 pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth retardation and
      12 control pregnancies were established in minimal essential medium and media was
      harvested after 24 hours of culture. Prolactin and insulin-like growth factor I
      concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. Total protein in the media
      was also measured. Data were analyzed by analyses of variance and linear
      regression. RESULTS: Decidual prolactin secretion in the pregnancies with
      intrauterine growth retardation was reduced to 109 +/- 31 ng/100 mg tissue per 24
      hours compared with 254 +/- 51 ng in the controls (p = 0.01). Insulin-like growth
      factor I secretion was reduced to 1.9 +/- 0.6 ng/100 mg tissue per 24 hours from
      7.1 +/- 0.9 ng/100 mg in the controls (p < 0.0001). Total protein secretion did
      not differ between the two groups. Decidual prolactin and insulin-like growth
      factor I secretion had a highly significant positive correlation (r = 0.71, p =
      0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that two protein hormones secreted by the
      maternal decidua are dramatically reduced in intrauterine growth retardation and
      warrant further investigation into their roles in the intrauterine environment.

PMID- 1443002
TI  - Human ovarian surface epithelial cells are capable of physically restructuring
      extracellular matrix.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: After ovulation the human ovarian surface epithelium proliferates at
      the wound edges, migrates over the ovulatory defect, and contributes to its
      repair primarily by the action of proteolytic enzymes and by the deposition of
      new matrix material. We examined the potential for human ovarian surface
      epithelial cells to physically remodel extracellular matrix in culture, similar
      to collagen gel lattice contraction by fibroblasts, a well-known culture model
      for wound repair, as an additional role of human ovarian surface epithelium in
      wound repair. STUDY DESIGN: Human ovarian surface epithelium cells from ovarian
      biopsies of 11 patients were grown in culture and plated onto a combination of
      collagen gel and rat ovarian surface epithelial-derived extracellular matrix. The
      degree of matrix contraction was measured as the percentage of the original
      culture diameter. RESULTS: Human ovarian surface epithelial cells surrounded and
      contracted the combination of matrices into a dense matrix organoid. The degree
      of organoid contraction was related to the number of human ovarian surface
      epithelial cells plated per organoid and to the inclusion of fibroblasts within
      the collagen gel but was not affected either by adding epidermal growth factor
      and hydrocortisone to the culture medium or by reducing the serum component of
      the medium. CONCLUSION: Human ovarian surface epithelial organoids may be useful
      for the study of normal and abnormal ovarian events such as ovulatory wound
      repair and cyst formation.

PMID- 1443003
TI  - Autonomic and arginine vasopressin modulation of the hypoxia-induced atrial
      natriuretic factor release in immature and mature ovine fetuses.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the maturational change in the atrial
      natriuretic factor response to hypoxia in ovine fetuses and the role of the
      autonomic nervous system and arginine vasopressin in modulating this response.
      STUDY DESIGN: Chronically catheterized ovine fetuses from 110 to 135 days'
      gestation were subjected to 30 minutes of hypoxia. The fetuses were either
      intact, treated with hexamethonium to block the autonomic nervous system, or
      treated with a pressor antagonist of arginine vasopressin. RESULTS: Hypoxia
      elevated plasma atrial natriuretic factor levels by 1635 +/- 265 pg/ml in
      immature fetuses; this response was greater than the increase of 748 +/- 189
      pg/ml in mature fetuses (p < 0.0001). Blockade of the autonomic nervous system
      reduced the atrial natriuretic factor response and suppressed the vascular
      pressure changes to hypoxia in immature but not in mature fetuses. A vasopressin
      pressor antagonist suppressed the atrial natriuretic factor but not vascular
      pressure responses to hypoxia in mature fetuses. CONCLUSIONS: This study
      demonstrates that the immature fetus manifested a greater atrial natriuretic
      factor response to hypoxia than did the mature fetus. This enhanced response
      appeared to be dependent on the modulatory effects of the autonomic nervous
      system on vascular pressures during hypoxia. In addition, arginine vasopressin
      appeared to augment the atrial natriuretic factor response to hypoxia in the
      mature fetus independent of vascular pressure changes.

PMID- 1443004
TI  - Acute intrauterine hypoxia increases amniotic fluid prostaglandin F metabolites
      in the pregnant sheep.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Amniotic fluid infection promotes cytokine release, prostaglandin
      production, and premature labor. In several tissues local hypoxia also activates
      the secretion of cytokines. Many patients initially seen in premature labor carry
      small-for-gestational-age fetuses, a condition associated with intrauterine
      hypoxia. The purpose of our study was to determine whether a reduction in
      placental blood flow and subsequent acute hypoxia affects prostaglandin secretion
      by the placenta. STUDY DESIGN: We chronically catheterized six pregnant sheep at
      120 days of gestation. We placed catheters in the maternal and fetal femoral
      arteries and in the amniotic fluid cavity. A flow probe and snare were placed
      around the common uterine artery. RESULTS: A 30-minute uterine circulation
      occlusion of 30% of its control value produced an increase in prostaglandin F
      metabolite from 790 +/- 157 to 944 +/- 184 pg/ml within 10 minutes (p < 0.01).
      Additional uterine blood flow reduction to 60% of control increased the amniotic
      fluid prostaglandin F metabolites concentration to 894 +/- 202 (p < 0.05,
      analysis of variance). No increase in mean intrauterine pressure was detected (p
      > 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: We speculate that the prostaglandin increase in amniotic
      fluid in response to intrauterine hypoxia could eventually lead to premature
      labor. Whether the increase in prostaglandins is mediated by changes in cytokines
      is unknown at the present time.

PMID- 1443005
TI  - Changes in pupillary diameter in relation to eye-movement and no-eye-movement
      periods in the human fetus at term.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to reveal whether pupils dilate and constrict
      in a time sequence in the human fetus and to assess the relationship between
      changes in pupillary diameter and eye-movement-no-eye-movement periods. STUDY
      DESIGN: We simultaneously observed pupil and eye movement with real-time
      ultrasonography in 30 human fetuses at 36 to 41 weeks' gestation. Eighteen were
      excluded because of data loss. Statistical analysis of pupillary diameter changes
      were made on the remaining 12 fetuses with the least median of squares
      regression. RESULTS: Pupillary diameters were found to be differentiated with
      statistical significance into two groups: 9.7% for the dilated pupil (median 3.0
      mm) and 90.3% for the constricted pupil (1.7 mm). The percentage of dilated
      pupils during the eye-movement period (14.3%) was significantly greater than that
      during the no-eye-movement period (2.3%; Wilcoxon rank sum test, p < 0.0001).
      CONCLUSION: These findings indicate a close relation between pupillary dilatation
      and eye-movement periods in the human term fetus.

PMID- 1443006
TI  - Early detection of preeclampsia.

PMID- 1443007
TI  - Anesthesia for neonatal circumcision aids hazard detection.

PMID- 1443008
TI  - Preterm versus term asphyxia.

PMID- 1443009
TI  - What is intercurrent eclampsia?

PMID- 1443010
TI  - Hemorrhagic endovasculitis of the placenta.

PMID- 1443011
TI  - A modified freehand ultrasonographically guided technique in transabdominal
      chorionic villus sampling.

PMID- 1443012
TI  - Pro-life people oppose violence.

PMID- 1443013
TI  - Community care of corneal ulcers.
AB  - Because of increasing concern about the appropriate and cost-effective use of eye
      care services and procedures, several organizations have sought to arrive at
      practice guidelines or practice patterns from which physicians can draw guidance.
      To assess the potential effectiveness of such guidelines, we reviewed the care of
      patients with corneal ulcers. Corneal specialists recommend that cultures be
      obtained before initiation of treatment. We determined whether ophthalmologists
      implemented these guidelines by the following: (1) a review of records of 79
      patients referred to a tertiary care corneal and external disease service for
      evaluation of keratitis, and (2) a survey by mail of practicing ophthalmologists.
      Antibiotic therapy without any cultures was observed in 38 of 79 referred
      patients with corneal ulcers (48.1%). Our survey of general ophthalmologists
      disclosed that 274 of 560 patients with corneal ulcers (48.7%) were treated with
      antibiotics without any cultures being obtained. Compliance with recommended
      practice in the care of corneal ulcers is poor, as measured with either method.
      This procedure provides insights into more effective implementation of future
      practice guidelines.

PMID- 1443014
TI  - Lattice degeneration of the retina and the pigment dispersion syndrome.
AB  - Retinal detachment occurs more frequently in patients with pigment dispersion
      syndrome. We evaluated the incidence of peripheral retinal abnormalities known to
      predispose to rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in a consecutive series of 60
      patients with pigment dispersion syndrome with or without glaucoma. Lattice
      degeneration was present in at least one eye of 12 patients (20%). Seven patients
      had bilateral lesions. Full-thickness retinal breaks were found in seven patients
      (11.7%) and two patients (3.3%) had asymptomatic rhegmatogenous retinal
      detachments that required scleral buckle procedures. The incidence of lattice
      degeneration and full-thickness retinal breaks appears to be increased in this
      group of patients, and may be responsible for the increased risk of
      rhegmatogenous detachment.

PMID- 1443015
TI  - Changes in optic disk characteristics and number of nerve fibers in experimental
      glaucoma.
AB  - We compared the change in cup/disk ratio and neuroretinal rim area-to-disk area
      to estimated change in the number of optic nerve fibers in 12 cynomolgus monkeys
      with unilateral experimental glaucoma. Changes in the cup/disk ratios and
      neuroretinal rim area-to-disk area were estimated from stereoscopic optic disk
      photographs that were obtained before and after the development of increased
      intraocular pressure. Change in the number of optic nerve fibers in the
      glaucomatous nerves was estimated by comparing them to their fellow normal
      nerves. A significant linear correlation was present between change in the
      cup/disk ratios and neuroretinal rim area-to-disk area, and estimated change in
      the number of optic nerve fibers (r > or = .85; P < .0002). In optic disks with
      initial cup/disk ratios of 0.2 to 0.3 and neuroretinal rim area-to-disk area of
      0.9, an increase in the cup/disk ratio of 0.1 and a decrease of 0.1 in the
      neuroretinal rim area-to-disk area is associated with a 10% and 9% loss of optic
      nerve fibers, respectively.

PMID- 1443016
TI  - The influence of exposure duration in transscleral Nd:YAG laser
      cyclophotocoagulation.
AB  - Transscleral cyclophotocoagulation was performed in human autopsy eyes by using
      three Nd:YAG lasers with different durations of exposure: a pulsed, contact laser
      with a duration of 0.75 millisecond and a range of one to ten pulses per burst
      (GLase 106, Sunrise Technologies, Fremont, California); a pulsed, noncontact
      laser with a duration of 20 milliseconds (Microruptor 2, Lasag Medical Lasers,
      Thun, Switzerland); and a continuous-wave, contact laser with durations of 700
      and 2,000 milliseconds (Microruptor 3, Lasag Medical Lasers, Thun, Switzerland).
      Tissue responses were observed with a high-magnification videographic recording
      technique to analyze the immediate, real-time laser effects, and by light
      microscopy to characterize the laser-induced lesions further. Videographically,
      both pulsed lasers were noted to cause mild whitening of the pigment epithelium
      with frequent vaporization and explosive tissue disintegration. Histologically,
      the 0.75-millisecond pulse typically produced the most marked epithelial
      disruption, referred to as an explosive-like lesion, whereas the 20-millisecond
      pulse more often caused moderate tissue disruption with elevation of the
      epithelial layers in a blister-like lesion. In contrast, the continuous-wave
      laser was observed videographically to produce prominent tissue whitening and
      puckering, seen histologically as convolution of the epithelium and coagulation
      of stroma, which was called a shrinkage-like lesion. Our study suggests that
      exposure duration influences in vitro tissue response to transscleral Nd:YAG
      cyclophotocoagulation, although in vivo studies and clinical trials are needed to
      determine which tissue response is optimum for clinical use.

PMID- 1443017
TI  - Acquired oculomotor, trochlear, and abducent cranial nerve palsies in pediatric
      patients.
AB  - Between January 1966 and December 1988, 160 pediatric patients (age range, 0 to
      17 years) were seen at the Mayo Clinic with an acquired oculomotor (35 patients),
      trochlear (19 patients), abducent (88 patients), or multiple (18 patients)
      cranial nerve palsy. The clinical findings in the 160 pediatric patients were
      compared with the results obtained in other reviews of cranial nerve palsies in
      the pediatric age group and with the adult Mayo Clinic patients with acquired
      cranial nerve palsies. Trauma was the most common reason for an acquired cranial
      nerve palsy in our pediatric group. The percentage of patients with an acquired
      cranial nerve palsy resulting from trauma was significantly greater in the
      pediatric group (42.5%) than in adults (15.4%) (P < .01). The difference between
      the percentage of adults (15.2%) and pediatric patients (16.9%) with a cranial
      nerve palsy secondary to a neoplasm was not statistically significant (P = .28).

PMID- 1443018
TI  - Development of object vision in infants with permanent cortical visual
      impairment.
AB  - We examined 30 infants in whom cortical visual impairment was diagnosed during
      their first year of life to ascertain prognostic factors for the development of
      object vision, defined as the ability to recognize faces or hand-held toys. All
      patients were followed up for a minimum of 12 months. The most common causes of
      cortical visual impairment in the 30 infants were hydrocephalus in nine infants
      (30.0%), birth asphyxia or neonatal hypoxia in eight infants (26.7%),
      intracranial hemorrhage with or without hydrocephalus in seven infants (23.3%),
      and meningitis in five infants (16.7%). Lack of development of object vision was
      associated only with hypoxia (P = .013). Findings on ophthalmic examination, an
      abnormality in the visual pathway on computed tomographic or magnetic resonance
      scan, and seizures, hydrocephalus, intracranial hemorrhage, meningitis, cerebral
      palsy, developmental delay, prematurity, microcephaly, and hearing deficit, did
      not appear to be risk factors for the lack of development of object vision.

PMID- 1443019
TI  - Ocular findings in Cockayne syndrome.
AB  - The ocular findings in eight patients with Cockayne syndrome included
      enophthalmos, hyperopia, poor pupillary dilation, and retinal dystrophy in all
      patients. Four patients had strabismus. Two patients had cataracts. Three
      patients had nystagmus. Visual acuity was relatively well preserved in six
      patients, including a 25-year-old man with a visual acuity of 20/60 in each eye
      despite advanced retinal pigmentary changes. Failure of DNA and RNA synthesis to
      recover after ultraviolet light exposure as well as selective loss of repair of
      transcriptionally active DNA may account for the ocular abnormality in this
      progeric syndrome.

PMID- 1443020
TI  - Orbital cellulitis caused by Eikenella corrodens.
AB  - Eikenella corrodens is a gram-negative, facultative anaerobic bacillus with
      specific culture and growth requirements and unusual antibacterial
      susceptibilities. It has only recently been recognized as a human pathogen.
      Ocular and adnexal infections with this organism are rare especially in children.
      We treated two children with orbital cellulitis caused by E. corrodens. One was
      an 8-year-old boy; the other was an 11-year-old girl. Orbital cellulitis in both
      patients occurred after an upper respiratory tract infection. Sinusitis and a
      subperiosteal abscess were present in both patients. Eikenella corrodens and
      Streptococcus viridans were isolated from the boy; E. corrodens was the sole
      isolate in the girl. Intravenous ampicillin, prolonged hospitalization, and
      surgical drainage of the orbit were required to control the infection in both
      patients. Eikenella corrodens must be considered in the differential diagnosis of
      orbital cellulitis in children, and ophthalmologists must become familiar with
      the characteristics of this peculiar organism.

PMID- 1443021
TI  - Diode laser photocoagulation for prethreshold, posterior retinopathy of
      prematurity.
AB  - Nine infants with posterior retinopathy of prematurity were treated by using the
      diode laser through an indirect ophthalmoscopic delivery system. Treatment was
      commenced as soon as plus disease (defined as tortuosity and dilation of
      posterior vessels) developed. We defined posterior retinopathy of prematurity as
      retinopathy of prematurity located in zone 1 (the limits of zone 1 are defined as
      twice the disk-fovea distance in all directions from the optic disk, that is, an
      arc of 60 degrees centered on the optic disk) or the posterior one half of zone 2
      (zone 2 extends from the edge of zone 1 peripherally to a point tangential to the
      nasal ora serrata and around to an area near the temporal anatomic equator).
      Disease regressed in all eyes. These results are encouraging and represent an
      improvement over the results obtained by allowing these eyes to reach threshold
      (threshold disease is defined as 5 or more contiguous or 8 total clock hours of
      neovascularization in zone 1 or 2 in the presence of plus disease) before
      intervention.

PMID- 1443022
TI  - Posterior segment changes in membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.
AB  - Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis is a renal disorder characterized by
      proliferation of cells and changes in the basement membrane of the glomerulus.
      The disease is divided into three subtypes: type I, characterized by the presence
      of subendothelial electrondense deposits; type II, characterized by deposition of
      electrondense material of unknown origin in the lamina densa of the glomerular
      basement membrane; and type III, characterized by lesions having both type I and
      type II qualities. Specific posterior segment changes have been reported with
      membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II. We examined three patients with
      membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II and two patients with type III
      disease. All three patients with type II disease had Bruch's membrane and retinal
      pigment epithelial changes, whereas both patients with type III disease had
      normal posterior segments.

PMID- 1443023
TI  - Posterior capsulotomy as a complication of indirect laser photocoagulation.
AB  - Two pseudophakic patients with posterior chamber intraocular lens implants and
      intact posterior capsules underwent indirect laser photocoagulation during their
      immediate postoperative period (24 and 72 hours postoperatively, respectively).
      Laser treatment was indicated for a retinal break noted after vitrectomy and
      scleral buckling in one patient and after peribulbar perforation during cataract
      extraction in the other patient. Ocular media were hazy because of vitreous haze
      and hemorrhage in both eyes and higher power laser settings were required to
      produce adequate chorioretinal burns during photocoagulation. Inadvertent large
      posterior capsulotomy as a complication was noted in both eyes. High-power
      settings and hazy ocular media are risk factors toward this complication. We
      recommend that slit-lamp examination be performed before, during, and after
      indirect laser treatment, especially when higher power settings are required.

PMID- 1443024
TI  - Retained lens fragments after phacoemulsification manifesting as marked
      intraocular inflammation with hypopyon.
AB  - We reviewed the medical records of four patients with marked intraocular
      inflammation and hypopyon as the initial manifestation of retained lens fragments
      after phacoemulsification. The severe inflammatory reaction occurred between one
      month and one year after the cataract extraction. All four patients underwent
      pars plana vitrectomy to remove the lens fragments. The vitreous specimens were
      cultured to rule out infectious endophthalmitis. In all patients, no organisms
      were isolated from the vitrectomy specimens placed on both aerobic and anaerobic
      media. All patients had improved vision and resolution of the marked intraocular
      inflammation after vitrectomy. Echography was useful in establishing the
      diagnosis in these uncommon cases.

PMID- 1443026
TI  - Conjunctival involvement in paraneoplastic pemphigus.
AB  - Paraneoplastic pemphigus is a recently described autoimmune inflammatory
      mucocutaneous disease associated with an underlying neoplasm. Although
      histopathologic and direct immunofluorescence findings of involved skin and
      mucous membranes are consistent with pemphigus vulgaris, indirect
      immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation study results are unique. We treated
      two patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and paraneoplastic pemphigus. Both
      patients had bilateral bulbar conjunctival hyperemia and diffuse papillary tarsal
      conjunctival reactions. One patient had sloughing of conjunctival epithelium and
      the other had tarsal conjunctival cicatrization and forniceal shortening.
      Histopathologic findings of conjunctivae obtained from both patients were
      consistent with pemphigus vulgaris. Diffuse deposition of IgG and C3 in the
      intercellular substance of the conjunctival epithelium was demonstrated by direct
      immunofluorescence. Indirect immunofluorescence testing disclosed binding of
      autoantibodies to rodent bladder and intestinal epithelium. Immunoprecipitation
      disclosed antibodies reactive to Desmoplakin I (250 kd), bullous pemphigoid (230
      kd), Desmoplakin II (210 kd) and 190-kd proteins. Ophthalmologists and
      pathologists should be aware of the conjunctival changes in paraneoplastic
      pemphigus.

PMID- 1443025
TI  - Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome in patients with Cherokee Indian ancestry.
AB  - Eight patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome who have Cherokee Indian
      ancestry ranged from 17 to 49 years of age. Five of the patients were black,
      three were white. Visual acuity at the time of initial examination ranged from
      20/20 to counting fingers. Clinical findings included granulomatous iridocyclitis
      in six patients, vitreitis in seven patients, disk edema in five patients,
      exudative retinal detachment in six patients, and multifocal choroidal lesions in
      all eight patients. All of the patients were treated with systemic
      corticosteroids, and they recovered visual acuity of 20/40 or better. The seven
      patients assayed had the HLA-DRw52 haplotype, including five who were homozygous
      for this allele. This finding may add to the increasing evidence that a class II
      HLA antigen at a D-related locus may predispose carriers to the development of
      Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome.

PMID- 1443027
TI  - Optic neuropathy in Hodgkin's disease.
AB  - Hodgkin's disease is a rare cause of infiltrative optic neuropathy, which
      typically evolves late in the disease course. We managed an unusual case of
      isolated optic neuropathy in a 21-year-old man occurring during clinical
      remission from Hodgkin's disease. Radiotherapy and treatment with high-dose
      systemic corticosteroids resulted in dramatic improvement in vision. Even without
      other evidence of recurrent disease, acute-onset optic neuropathy in a patient
      with a history of a lymphoproliferative disorder should raise the question of a
      reemergence of the malignancy.

PMID- 1443028
TI  - Divergent approaches to the management of corneal ulcers.

PMID- 1443029
TI  - Ultrastructure of human immunodeficiency virus in corneal epithelial scraping.

PMID- 1443030
TI  - Propofol and surgical contamination in strabismus surgery.

PMID- 1443031
TI  - Vertical fusion amplitude in normal adults.

PMID- 1443032
TI  - Moraxella infection of a scleral buckle.

PMID- 1443033
TI  - Intraconjunctival cavitary inclusions of silicone oil complicating retinal
      detachment repair.

PMID- 1443034
TI  - Conjunctival concretions.

PMID- 1443035
TI  - Development of a retinal artery macroaneurysm at the site of a previously
      detected retinal artery embolus.

PMID- 1443036
TI  - Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis and cortical blindness.

PMID- 1443037
TI  - Visual recovery after radiation therapy of orbital lymphoma.

PMID- 1443038
TI  - Successful therapy for trilateral retinoblastoma.

PMID- 1443039
TI  - Successful therapy for trilateral retinoblastoma.

PMID- 1443040
TI  - Multifunction endolaser probe.

PMID- 1443041
TI  - Pulmonary vascular amyloidosis in aged dogs. A new form of spontaneously
      occurring amyloidosis derived from apolipoprotein AI.
AB  - The N-terminus of a mutant form of apolipoprotein AI [apoAI] has previously been
      shown to be the subunit protein of amyloid fibrils in a human kindred with a form
      of familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP, type III) and in a recently reported
      kindred with a form of non-neuropathic hereditary amyloidosis. In this study, we
      demonstrate by amino-acid sequence analysis, that a form of vascular amyloidosis
      occurring in the lungs of aged dogs is derived from a N-terminal fragment of
      apoAI and that no amino acid substitution is present in this confirmed sequence.
      This represents the first documentation of apoAI as a precursor for a form of
      amyloidosis in animals, and provides the first documentation of apoAI as a
      precursor for amyloid fibrils in a form of age-associated ("senile") amyloidosis.
      Secondary structure prediction analysis of the N-terminal regions of normal human
      and dog apoAI indicated a propensity for beta-pleated sheet conformation, and
      thus amyloidogenesis, in 40 and 45% of the respective sequences. These results
      suggest that apoAI (like transthyretin) may serve as an amyloid precursor protein
      for both familial and senile forms of amyloidosis. ApoAI should, therefore, be
      considered as a potential amyloid precursor when forms of human senile
      amyloidosis of unknown origin are evaluated.

PMID- 1443042
TI  - Interleukin-4 may contribute to the abundant T-cell reaction and paucity of
      neoplastic B cells in T-cell-rich B-cell lymphomas.
AB  - T-cell-rich B-cell lymphomas (TCRBCLs) are diffuse lymphomas that contain a
      minority of large neoplastic B cells amidst a majority of non-neoplastic T cells
      and numerous histiocytes, an unusually pronounced reactive component not seen in
      most diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs). This reaction may be influenced by
      various cytokines secreted by lymphoma or reactive cells; therefore, expression
      of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-9 was evaluated
      immunohistochemically on paraffin-embedded sections of 18 TCRBCLs and was
      compared with that of 15 DLBCLs containing a minority of reactive T cells and to
      that of seven reactive lymph nodes. Moderate to intense expression of IL-4 was
      detected in variable numbers of tumor cells and in numerous histiocytes in 16
      TCRBCLs. In contrast, intense IL-4 expression in numerous histiocytes was
      observed in only one of 15 DLBCLs with few T cells. In four other DLBCLs and
      three reactive nodes, moderate to intense staining for IL-4 was noted only in
      rare large transformed cells or in occasional histiocytes. Except for one IL-1
      beta positive and another IL-9 positive TCRBCL, there was no marking or weak
      staining only with other cytokine antibodies in the neoplastic and reactive cases
      studied. The expression of IL-4 in most TCRBCLs, but not in other DLBCLs or in
      reactive nodes, suggests that this cytokine is one factor involved in the
      pathobiology of the abundant T-cell reaction and, perhaps, contributes to the
      paucity of neoplastic B cells in TCRBCLs.

PMID- 1443043
TI  - Synaptophysin expression in "ependymal tumors" induced by ethyl-nitrosourea in
      rats.
AB  - Synaptophysin expression was studied in seven "ependymomas" induced by
      transplacental administration of ethyl-nitrosourea in rats. In all the cases,
      strong positivity for synaptophysin was found on tumor cells. This finding
      supports previous studies suggesting that ENU-induced brain tumors considered to
      be ependymal neoplasms, are, in fact, primitive neuroectodermal tumors.

PMID- 1443044
TI  - The rat testicular artery: a model of spontaneous aneurysmal-like structure
      formation.
AB  - The straight spermatic and highly convoluted testicular arteries were studied by
      light microscopy in adult and aging normotensive (NT) and spontaneously
      hypertensive (SHR) rats. In younger rats, on the internal part of bends of the
      testicular artery, areas lacking the media similar to classical cerebral arterial
      medial defects were observed. At the same location, in other bends, structurally
      defective areas (SDA) constituted by or including medial defects but also lacking
      the internal elastic lamina and which in some cases evaginated, were present.
      Structurally defective areas were less numerous in SHR than in NT rats at 6
      months, suggesting that intrinsic differences may exist between rat strains. In
      contrast, in old rats, the number of SDA was higher in hypertensive than in
      normotensive rats, supporting the role of hemodynamics in SDA formation. With
      age, SDA enlarged in both rat strains, and most of them became structurally
      similar to aneurysms, ie, lacking the internal elastic lamina and medial cells
      and with a dilated lumen, supporting the view that medial defects are sites of
      aneurysmal structure development. In hypertensive rats, fibrin and lipid deposits
      occurred within these aneurysmal-like structures. In the straight part of the
      spermatic artery no such structural modifications occurred, suggesting that
      either hemodynamics and/or structural development, both dependent on arterial
      geometry, are determinant in SDA formation. The results are discussed in view of
      the use of the rat testicular artery as a possible model of the formation of
      spontaneous aneurysmal-like structures relevant to cerebral aneurysms.

PMID- 1443045
TI  - Detection of laminin receptor mRNA in human cancer cell lines and colorectal
      tissues by in situ hybridization.
AB  - The 67-kd high-affinity laminin receptor (67 LR) is a gene product whose
      expression appears to be associated with the invasive and metastatic phenotype of
      a variety of human cancer cells. Northern blot hybridization has been routinely
      used to quantify the level of 67 LR mRNA from total cellular RNA extracts of
      homogenized tissue specimens or in vitro grown cell populations. This technique
      is useful to assess the average expression of the 67 LR mRNA of a particular
      sample but does not provide information about expression in specific cell types
      nor about heterogeneity of expression from cell to cell. In this study, we
      analyzed the expression of 67 LR mRNA in four human cancer cell lines with
      varying degrees of expression of 67 LR protein (renal cancer A-704, breast
      carcinoma MCF-7/4 and MCF-7/7, and pancreatic cancer Panc-1) using in situ
      hybridization performed with 67 LR riboprobes. Total cellular RNA was
      simultaneously extracted from the cell lines and hybridized on Northern blots
      with a 67 LR cDNA probe to assess the validity of the mRNA detection by in situ
      hybridization. Sixty-seven LR mRNA expression was higher in Panc-1 and MCF-7/4
      cells than in MCF-7/7 and renal carcinoma A-704. There was a direct correlation
      (R2 = 0.88) between the in situ hybridization analysis and the mRNA levels
      detected by Northern blot analysis. The in situ hybridization method showed a
      heterogeneous expression of the 67 LR mRNA in the four cell lines with different
      subpopulations of cells showing a range from negative to high levels of the
      message. Sixteen freshly frozen human colorectal tissues (seven adenocarcinomas,
      five matched normal mucosae, and four adenomas) were also analyzed by in situ
      hybridization. The 67 LR mRNA was localized in normal and neoplastic epithelial
      cells. Adenocarcinoma cells showed a 1.6- to 5-fold higher expression (P < 0.02
      according to the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test) than did epithelial colonic cells
      from normal mucosae or adenomas. The signal tended to be stronger in poorly
      differentiated carcinomas and carcinomas with metastases than in moderately
      differentiated and nonmetastatic tumors. We conclude that the high expression of
      67 LR mRNA in colorectal tumors is due to an increased production by tumor cells.
      Furthermore, in situ hybridization is an effective method to detect the
      expression of LR mRNA in cultured cell lines as well as in frozen tissue
      sections.

PMID- 1443046
TI  - Differential permeability of the blood-brain barrier in experimental brain
      metastases produced by human neoplasms implanted into nude mice.
AB  - This study clarified whether and when the blood-brain barrier in experimental
      brain metastases is impaired by using hydrosoluble sodium fluorescein (MW 376) as
      a blood-brain barrier function indicator. Cells from eight human tumor lines
      (four melanomas, two breast carcinomas, one colon carcinoma, and one renal
      carcinoma) were inoculated into the internal carotid artery of nude mice. Brain
      metastases at different stages of development were sampled and the permeability
      of the blood-brain barrier around the metastases determined. Histologic
      examination showed two patterns of tumor growth. In the first, tumor cells formed
      isolated, well-defined nodules in the parenchyma of the brain. In lesions smaller
      than 0.2 mm2, the blood-brain barrier was intact. In the second, small diffuse
      nests of tumor cells were distributed throughout the brain parenchyma. The blood
      brain barrier was intact until the small tumor cell colonies coalesced to form
      large tumor masses. These results suggest that the permeability of the blood
      brain barrier varies among different experimental brain metastases and that its
      function is related to the growth pattern and size of the lesions.

PMID- 1443047
TI  - Expression of a chimeric helix-loop-helix gene, Id-SCL, in K562 human leukemic
      cells is associated with nuclear segmentation.
AB  - We have designed a chimeric gene, Id-SCL, in which the 3' helix-loop-helix
      encoding portion of the presumptive oncogene SCL/tal is joined to the 5' coding
      portion of Id, an inhibitory helix-loop-helix gene. The predicted protein product
      of this chimeric gene contains the helix-loop-helix dimerization domain of
      SCL/tal, but, lacking a basic DNA binding domain, is predicted to have the
      inhibitory function of the Id product. Expression of the Id-SCL fusion gene in
      stably transfected K562 cells reproducibly resulted in nuclear segmentation and
      depressed growth rates; both of these phenotypic effects demonstrated a dosage
      dependence on the levels of Id-SCL mRNA and protein expressed in the various
      clones. Electron microscopy of cells expressing high levels of Id-SCL mRNA showed
      a significant increase in cytoplasmic perinuclear thin filaments and diminution
      of marginal heterochromatin in the nuclei. No other changes in hematopoietic
      differentiation status were observed in association with Id-SCL expression.
      Expression of intact Id and SCL/tal genes, as well as deletion mutants of Id and
      SCL/tal, independently transfected into K562 cells, indicated that the nuclear
      segmentation effect is dependent on the presence of a protein possessing a helix
      loop-helix domain but lacking a basic domain. Our studies suggest that the
      balance of transcriptional inhibitory and stimulatory helix-loop-helix proteins
      in cells may be important determinants of proliferation and of structural
      organization within cells.

PMID- 1443048
TI  - Transplant arteriosclerosis in a rat aortic model.
AB  - Transplant arteriosclerosis (TA) has emerged as an obstacle to the long-term
      survival of transplanted organs, especially cardiac transplants. The animal
      models that have been used to study TA have not been fully characterized with
      regard to features such as the time course of cell proliferation and the sequence
      of cell types arriving in the developing intimal lesion. We present a model of TA
      based on a transplanted segment of abdominal aorta that helps address these
      questions. Two strains of rats (PVG x DA) underwent orthotopic aortic
      transplantation without immunosuppression and were killed at 14, 20, 40, and 60
      days after transplantation. The within-strain control group displayed minimal
      evidence of cellular rejection with minimal to absent intimal lesions. In
      contrast, the allograft group showed a linearly increasing intimal lesion, up
      through 60 days after transplantation. The mechanism of intimal thickening was by
      an increase in cell number at the earlier time points with the later deposition
      of extracellular matrix. The early intimal lesion consisted mostly of mononuclear
      inflammatory cells (45%) with gradually increasing presence of smooth muscle
      cells (SMC) in the intima between 20 and 60 days. Conversely, the media showed
      gradual infiltration by macrophage-type cells with virtual loss of all SMC from
      the media by 40 days. The proliferative index showed a peak of 6% and 8% at 20
      days in both the intima and media, respectively, and was preceded by the presence
      of macrophages. In fact, most of the proliferating cells at the earlier time
      points were either monocytes/macrophages, or were immediately adjacent to
      monocyte-/macrophage-rich regions. This straight artery segment model of
      transplant arteriosclerosis provides an easily quantifiable system in which the
      effects of different interventions (e.g., immunosuppressive regimens) can be
      tested.

PMID- 1443049
TI  - The genesis of the senile plaque. Further evidence in support of its neuronal
      origin.
AB  - Senile plaques are among the most conspicuous neuropathologic changes found in
      the brains of elderly individuals and patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The
      origin of the amyloid beta protein (A beta P) that accumulates in senile plaques
      continues to be highly controversial. Recently, using quantitative
      immunohistochemistry and computerized image analysis, we obtained evidence that
      at least a subset of early ("diffuse") senile plaques originate from neurons. In
      the current investigation, we employed monoclonal antibodies to A beta P and the
      same computerized methodology to examine in further detail the quantitative
      patterns of A beta P deposition in diffuse plaques in a population of
      intellectually intact elderly individuals. The presence of neurocentric
      concentration gradients of A beta P accumulation was confirmed in this study.
      Most significantly, this was the most predominant pattern of early amyloid
      deposition in the population studied. The highest concentration of A beta P was
      centered around neuronal cell bodies or their processes, and occasionally along
      neuronal plasma membranes. Computerized images showed patterns that can be
      interpreted as a pathogenetic sequence ranging from initial neurogenic
      concentration gradients centered around one single neuron to larger deposits
      (diffuse plaques) composed of several "anastomosing" gradients involving several
      adjacent neurons. It is proposed that the described very early deposits
      constitute the initial stage in the development of the senile plaque. Although
      this study does not fully prove that the accumulated A beta P is synthesized in
      the neuron or neuronal process it surrounds, the images herein presented suggest
      that neurons are the initial nidus of plaque formation.

PMID- 1443051
TI  - Cystitis induced by infection with the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia
      burgdorferi, in mice.
AB  - Previous studies have demonstrated that the urinary bladder is a consistent
      source for isolating the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, from both
      experimentally infected and naturally exposed rodents. We examined
      histopathologic changes in the urinary bladder of different types of rodents
      experimentally infected with Lyme spirochetes, including BALB/c mice (Mus
      musculus), nude mice (M. musculus), white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), and
      grasshopper mice (Onychomys leucogaster). Animals were inoculated
      intraperitoneally, subcutaneously, or intranasally with low-passaged spirochetes,
      high-passaged spirochetes, or phosphate-buffered saline. At various times after
      inoculation, animals were killed and approximately one-half of each urinary
      bladder and kidney were cultured separately in BSK-II medium while the other half
      of each organ was prepared for histologic examination. Spirochetes were cultured
      from the urinary bladder of all 35 mice inoculated with low-passaged spirochetes
      while we were unable to isolate spirochetes from any kidneys of the same mice.
      The pathologic changes observed most frequently in the urinary bladder of the
      infected mice were the presence of lymphoid aggregates, vascular changes,
      including an increase in the number of vessels and thickening of the vessel
      walls, and perivascular infiltrates. Our results demonstrate that nearly all
      individuals (93%) of the four types of mice examined had a cystitis associated
      with spirochetal infection.

PMID- 1443050
TI  - Integrin distributions in renal cell carcinomas of various grades of malignancy.
AB  - We studied 41 renal cell carcinomas, classified according to histologic grades G1
      through G3, by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy using a panel of monoclonal
      antibodies (MAb) against various integrin subunits, and the basement membrane
      (BM) components laminin and collagen type IV. Selected cases also were
      immunostained using the avidin-biotin-complex method. The alpha 3 and beta 1
      integrin subunits were detected in tumor cells of all the carcinomas. All G1
      carcinomas, like normal tubular epithelial cells, expressed the alpha 6 subunit,
      whereas it was lacking in 20% and 40% of G2 and G3 carcinomas, respectively.
      Furthermore, when alpha 6 was expressed, a lack of basally polarized organization
      of the subunit, coupled with disorganization of the BM components, correlated
      with histologic grade. Another feature that appeared to characterize the more
      anaplastic tumors was their high level (80%) of the alpha v subunit expression as
      compared with its absence in the G1 carcinomas. Stromal myofibroblasts,
      identified by double-labeling with anti-myosin, were often characterized by the
      expression of the alpha 1, alpha 3, alpha 5 and beta 1 subunits. These results
      indicate that changes in integrin expression in renal cell carcinomas may be
      correlated with their degree of histologic malignancy.

PMID- 1443052
TI  - Anthracyclines selectively decrease alpha cardiac actin mRNA abundance in the rat
      heart.
AB  - Anthracyclines are widely used antineoplastic agents, but possess a major side
      effect of congestive cardiomyopathy. Previously we showed a selective effect of
      the most commonly used anthracycline, doxorubicin, on decreasing alpha-cardiac
      (alpha c) actin mRNA abundance in the rat heart. The current studies examined the
      effects of several anthracyclines (doxorubicin, daunorubicin, and epirubicin) to
      determine if doxorubicin's previously reported effect on alpha c actin mRNA
      abundance is: 1) a property shared by other cardiotoxic anthracyclines; 2)
      selective when compared with a wider spectrum of contractile protein and muscle
      specific mRNAs; and 3) related to the characteristic ultrastructural alterations,
      such as loss of myofilaments, seen in anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy.
      Results showed a major selective effect of doxorubicin, daunorubicin, and
      epirubicin on decreasing alpha c actin mRNA abundance when compared with other
      contractile protein and muscle-specific mRNAs. In addition, ultrastructural
      examination of myocardium showed contractile alterations, including loss of
      myofilaments. These results suggest that decreased expression of selected cardiac
      genes may relate to the molecular mechanism of clinical anthracycline-induced
      cardiomyopathy.

PMID- 1443053
TI  - Efficacy of monoclonal antibody against human recombinant tumor necrosis factor
      in E. coli-challenged swine.
AB  - Monoclonal antibody against human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF MAb) prevents
      death induced by intravenous gram-negative bacteria or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
      in primates. Although these studies have demonstrated that TNF plays a prominent
      role in the development of lethal septic shock, exploration of dose-response
      relationships and possible mechanisms of protection have been limited. We
      addressed these questions in a series of experiments conducted in E. coli
      challenged pigs. First, we determined that TNF MAb neutralized the cytotoxic
      activity found in septic pig plasma and in culture media from pig monocytes
      incubated with LPS. Second, we demonstrated that pretreatment with TNF MAb
      promotes survival, in a dose-dependent fashion, in an otherwise lethal E. coli
      bacteremic pig model. The results of the survival study highly correlate (r =
      0.96, P < 0.01) the presence of TNF in the circulation with mortality. In an
      additional series of physiologic monitoring experiments designed to delineate
      possible mechanisms of protection, the authors demonstrate that TNF MAb
      pretreatment abrogates the prolonged leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and
      microvascular leakiness resulting from intravenous bacterial challenge and
      maintains arterial blood pressure while diminishing pulmonary edema. These
      findings may provide a mechanism whereby neutralization of TNF systemically
      affords protection against the lethal sequelae of bacteremia.

PMID- 1443054
TI  - Different patterns of macrophage infiltration into allogeneic-murine and
      xenogeneic-human neoplasms growing in nude mice.
AB  - This study determined the distribution pattern of tumor-associated macrophages
      (TAM) in murine and human neoplasms growing subcutaneously in nude mice. Seven
      different human neoplasms (cancers of the breast, kidney, colon, prostate, lung,
      and skin, and a melanoma) and five different murine neoplasms (carcinomas of the
      lung, colon, and kidney, melanoma, and fibrosarcoma) were injected into nude
      mice. The murine tumors also were injected into syngeneic mice. Tumor-associated
      macrophages in small and large tumors were studied immunohistochemically by the
      use of several antibodies, including the macrophage-specific F4/80. The pattern
      of TAM distribution differed between mouse and human tumors. Regardless of
      histologic classification, TAM were uniformly distributed throughout all the
      murine neoplasms growing in syngeneic or nude mice. In the human neoplasms, TAM
      were found on the periphery of the lesions and in association with fibrous
      septae. The distribution of TAM in murine and human tumors was associated with a
      pattern of vascularization as determined by antibodies to basement membrane
      collagen type IV. Because the pattern of TAM distribution in neoplasms influences
      their antitumor activity, the data question the validity of the nude mouse model
      for the study of macrophage infiltration into human neoplasms.

PMID- 1443056
TI  - The proliferation of rhetoric and the poverty of ideas.

PMID- 1443055
TI  - A recessive defect in lymphocyte or granulocyte function caused by an integrated
      transgene.
AB  - A line of transgenic mice has been identified with a recessive defect in
      lymphocyte or granulocyte function, presumably as a result of insertional
      mutagenesis by the integrated transgene. Transgenic mice homozygous for the
      transgene integrant showed nearly complete absence of lymphocytes in peripheral
      lymph nodes and Peyer's patches, a severely diminished thymus medulla, and a
      greatly enlarged spleen. These animals also developed a syndrome characterized by
      granulocyte and mononuclear infiltrates in numerous tissues, including skin,
      liver, and lung, and immunoglobulin deposits in kidney glomeruli. Lung
      infiltrates were specifically localized around large blood vessels and bronchi,
      accompanied in some cases by destruction of arterial walls. The light scatter
      profile of spleen lymphocytes suggested an extremely high percentage of blast
      cells. Because tissue development and morphology appears to be normal in all
      other tissues observed, the genetic lesion appears to specifically affect the
      regulation of lymphocyte or granulocyte activation.

PMID- 1443057
TI  - Bereavement support groups for school-age children: theory, intervention, and
      case example.
AB  - Children's bereavement support groups can provide useful surrogate support for
      families when a parent dies, and may contribute new social meaning for this
      traumatic event. Theories and techniques for intervention in such groups are
      presented and their application illustrated via a clinical case history. Results
      indicate that categorization of children's bereavement should be abandoned in
      favor of conceptualization in terms of prior adaptation processes.

PMID- 1443058
TI  - Detachment revisited: the child's reconstruction of a dead parent.
AB  - During the year following a parent's death, children in a community-based sample
      were found to have developed an inner construction of the dead parent. This
      continued, though altered, relationship appeared to facilitate their coping with
      the loss and with accompanying changes in their lives. Implications for
      understanding the bereavement process and for interventions focusing on
      detachment are discussed.

PMID- 1443059
TI  - Childhood parental death and depression in adulthood: roles of surviving parent
      and family environment.
AB  - Among adults who experienced a childhood parental death, measures of depression
      were influenced by interactions with the surviving parent and by the nature of
      the family environment after the death. Individuals describing their surviving
      parent as empathic and warm, and as promoting autonomy, were less likely to
      report depressive experiences than were others. Less opportunity for
      participating in the mourning process was also associated with greater risk for
      depression.

PMID- 1443060
TI  - Parental death in childhood: perceived vulnerability, and adult depression and
      anxiety.
AB  - College students who had experienced the death of a parent during their
      childhoods perceived themselves as more vulnerable to future losses than did a
      nonbereaved control group. Perceived vulnerability to loss was identified as a
      better predictor of adult anxiety and depression than was the early loss itself.
      Perceived vulnerability to loss is thus implicated in the development of adult
      psychopathology associated with early loss.

PMID- 1443061
TI  - Victimization and traumatic injuries among the homeless: associations with
      alcohol, drug, and mental problems.
AB  - Data from a 1987 survey of 1,260 homeless adults in New York City show that
      mental problems and substance dependence were significantly linked to beating and
      sexual assault among women and to several types of injury and victimization among
      men. The extremely high rates of victimization and injury underscore a need for
      greater attention to the safety and welfare of homeless people.

PMID- 1443062
TI  - Early life experiences and residential stability: a ten-year perspective on
      sheltered care.
AB  - The effects of early family losses and disruptions on the ability of seriously
      mentally disabled individuals to achieve stable living arrangements were
      investigated. Factors found to predict instability were early losses, early
      disruptions, psychological symptoms, and youth. Among factors found to predict
      stability were increased age and a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

PMID- 1443063
TI  - Recent trauma in psychiatric outpatients.
AB  - Psychiatric clinic outpatients were screened for recent traumatic events, and
      post-traumatic symptomatology was evaluated in those reporting occurrence of one
      or more events within the two years prior to screening. Clear symptoms of post
      traumatic stress disorder were revealed in 18% of the reporting patients, and the
      distribution of diagnoses was found to be different in the trauma-reporting group
      than it was in a comparison diagnostic group.

PMID- 1443064
TI  - Marital satisfaction among parents of the severely mentally ill living in the
      community.
AB  - Factors influencing marital satisfaction among 131 parents of adult offspring
      with severe mental illness were explored. Those found to be most predictive of
      marital satisfaction were parents' ability to comfort one another, parents'
      gender, number of offspring, family income, and interpersonal sensitivity.
      Implications of these findings for practical and policy approaches to preventive
      intervention are discussed.

PMID- 1443065
TI  - Temperament and adjustment in young adulthood: a 15-year longitudinal analysis.
AB  - The relationship between easy/difficult temperament and adjustment from middle
      adolescence to young adulthood was examined. Cluster analysis revealed four
      groups of individuals via composite temperament scores over three points of
      measurement. Multivariate analyses indicated that extremely difficult temperament
      was associated with poorer psychosocial functioning in childhood and young
      adulthood.

PMID- 1443066
TI  - Long-term effectiveness of a group program for caregivers of frail elderly
      veterans.
AB  - Long-term results of an evaluation of a multicomponent support-group program for
      spouses caring for frail elderly veterans indicated that participants experienced
      significant reductions in subjective burden. As compared to those of the control
      group, caregivers' perceptions of their husbands' health improved significantly
      from pretest to one year, while perceptions of their husbands' functioning on
      measures of instrumental daily activities showed significantly less deterioration
      in the period from pretest to posttest.

PMID- 1443067
TI  - Locus of control as a mediator of negative divorce-related events and adjustment
      problems in children.
AB  - Beliefs about whether locus of control mediates the relationship between negative
      divorce-related events and children's adjustment were explored in a group of 78
      children and their primary residential parents. In the children's self-reports of
      adjustment, locus of control was found to be a partial mediator in the
      relationship. Analyses of the parents' reports of the children's adjustment did
      not support a mediational model.

PMID- 1443068
TI  - Impact on children of abduction by a parent: a review of the literature.
AB  - It is estimated that 350,000 children are abducted by members of their families
      annually. A review of the published research reveals that little is known about
      the impact of this traumatic event on the children. Factors reported to affect
      their functioning after recovery by the searching parent are identified, and
      implications for further research are suggested.

PMID- 1443069
TI  - Functional somatic symptoms: a cross-ethnic comparison.
AB  - Type, distribution, and comorbidity of functional somatic symptoms were examined
      in four community samples, three Hispanic and one non-Hispanic white. Important
      intergroup and intragroup differences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white
      groups were identified. Of the four groups, Puerto Rican respondents reported the
      highest level of somatic symptoms; this finding was apparently independent of
      sociodemographic factors.

PMID- 1443070
TI  - Family functions and children's postdivorce adjustment.
AB  - Data on school-age children of divorced parents were examined to determine which
      dimensions of family dynamics were most associated with the children's
      socioemotional adjustment. Those factors found to be most significant were family
      roles, behavior control, and affective involvement, as well as children's
      reaction to and insight into the divorce, and conflict in the home after the
      divorce. Implications for parent education and early intervention are discussed.

PMID- 1443072
TI  - Creativity: the key to progress.

PMID- 1443071
TI  - Self-structure in borderline personality disorder.
AB  - Self-structural theory is applied to the interpersonal aspects of borderline
      personality disorder. The notion of interpersonal contrasting, a cognitive
      maneuver, is introduced to account for the sharp changes between divergent self
      states characteristic of the disorder. The theory and three prototypical self
      states are illustrated with data from a borderline patient by means of a
      procedure derived from the theory.

PMID- 1443073
TI  - Hearing results from endolymphatic sac surgery.
AB  - This report examines the effect of the endolymphatic shunt on hearing. The study
      group was drawn from 101 shunt operations for intractable vertigo between 1983
      and 1987. Thirty ears met criteria for diagnosis, level of preoperative hearing
      impairment, and length of follow-up. The control group consisted of 30 ears with
      symptoms severe enough to prompt recommendations for shunt surgery, but the
      patients either opted against surgery or improved. The results were analyzed
      using the 1985 AAO-HNS reporting criteria. When looking at worst postoperative
      (or worst scores after 2 years of follow-up in controls) compared to worst
      preoperative (or worst scores in the first 6 months of presentation in controls),
      we found no significant difference between the study group (average loss of 9 dB
      pure-tone average [PTA] and 16% speech discrimination [SD]) as compared to the
      control group (average loss of 3 dB PTA and 10% SD). However, when using the
      first and last audiograms for the control group, there was a statistically
      significant difference as compared to the worst preoperative and postoperative
      scores in the shunt group. Using the first and last scores, the control group had
      a better outcome (PTA improved 2 dB, SD score dropped 5%). There was no
      significant difference between groups for percentage of patients whose hearing
      improved, remained the same, or worsened. In conclusion, the endolymphatic shunt
      operation did not significantly effect the long-term hearing results.

PMID- 1443074
TI  - Aberration of the tissue collagenase system in association with otosclerosis.
AB  - Studies of aural and other body tissues suggest that otosclerosis represents the
      local manifestation of a general disorder of connective tissue. In particular,
      collagen abnormalities have been described. We have undertaken a pilot study of
      the in vivo messenger RNA (mRNA) transcription for procollagenase (precursor of
      collagenase), as well as for stromelysin and tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease
      (TIMP), an activator and a specific inhibitor of tissue collagenase activity,
      respectively. Human skin from individuals with surgically confirmed otosclerosis
      was compared to skin from their family members (clinically positive and
      clinically negative) and from unrelated normal controls. Preliminary data
      indicate that on average there are significantly lower levels of mRNA production
      for stromelysin among individuals with otosclerosis as compared to all others
      tested. Similar trends were demonstrated for TIMP and procollagenase, although
      these did not achieve statistical significance. In addition to suggesting a
      pathogenetic mechanism for the development of the disease, these data could serve
      as the basis of possible confirmatory tests for early diagnosis of otosclerosis
      and as a method for evaluating the genotype of offspring of affected individuals
      prior to their age of clinical manifestation. This could translate into the
      application of prophylactic treatment regimens in the future. The proposed
      abnormalities also suggest candidate genes for otosclerosis.

PMID- 1443075
TI  - Transcochlear transtentorial approach for removal of large cerebellopontine angle
      meningiomas.
AB  - Meningiomas of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) most often arise from the
      posterior surface of the petrous pyramid and may extend along the dura to involve
      the tentorium. Petroclival meningiomas often involve Meckel's cavity and the
      tentorium. It is impossible to completely remove these large lesions with
      extension to the supratentorial region by conventional surgical approaches to the
      CPA such as the suboccipital, middle fossa, or translabyrinthine routes. If total
      tumor resection is not accomplished, recurrence inevitably follows. A
      transcochlear approach and actual excision of a large portion of the tentorium
      allows wide exposure to these large CPA and petroclival meningiomas with
      supratentorial extension. Thirty-three CPA meningiomas were reviewed from 1976 to
      1991. Fourteen patients had tumor extension not only into Meckel's cavity but to
      the supratentorial region. Ten patients had complete tumor removal, whereas
      subtotal removal was associated with cavernous sinus invasion. The surgical
      technique is described in detail with accompanying illustrations. Preoperative
      symptoms, medical imaging scans, results, and complications are discussed.

PMID- 1443076
TI  - Labyrinthotomy with streptomycin infusion: early results of a multicenter study.
      The LSI Multicenter Study Group.
AB  - Early results for hearing and vertigo are reported for 47 labyrinthotomies with
      streptomycin infusion (LSI) by 13 coinvestigator-surgeons. Sixty-eight percent of
      patients had worse hearing after surgery (10 dB or 15% word recognition).
      Patients with a preoperative pure-tone average better than or equal to 40 dB
      appeared to suffer less postoperative hearing loss than those with a greater
      preoperative deficit. Severe to profound postoperative hearing loss was
      experienced by 27 patients (57%), all of whom had preoperative pure-tone averages
      worse than 40 dB. Opening the endolymphatic space was associated with a
      deleterious effect on hearing. Because of persistent vertigo, 17 percent of
      patients required a secondary procedure during the period of observation. These
      early results indicate that LSI is associated with a significant risk of
      postoperative hearing loss. Of the 13 coinvestigator-surgeons, four have stopped
      using LSI, while one considers his results satisfactory. The remaining surgeons
      have taken an intermediate position and feel it is useful in selected cases.
      Longer follow-up is required to judge the efficacy of LSI for controlling
      vertigo. We are currently studying these long-term results.

PMID- 1443077
TI  - Retrolabyrinthine transtentorial approach to lesions of the anterior
      cerebellopontine angle.
AB  - Various surgical approaches to the cerebellopontine angle have been used for
      removal of acoustic neuromas. A retrolabyrinthine transtentorial approach has
      been developed that allows (1) access to the anterior cerebellopontine angle and
      all portions of the basilar artery, (2) extra dural retraction of the lateral
      sinus and cerebellum while avoiding the vein of Labbe, and (3) preservation of
      hearing. This approach allows good exposure of tumor and accurate visualization
      of cranial nerves. To avoid complications, control of spinal fluid is mandatory
      and great care must be taken to avoid injury of the cranial nerves. The
      retrolabyrinthine or translabyrinthine transtentorial approach enables skilled
      neurosurgeons and neurotologists to gain access to lesions that are located in
      areas difficult to approach.

PMID- 1443078
TI  - Differential diagnosis of virus-like particles in the human inner ear.
AB  - The entire endolymphatic duct and sac as well as the vestibular epithelia were
      obtained from four patients with Meniere's disease during translabyrinthine (TL)
      eighth nerve section and from 12 patients undergoing TL resection of acoustic
      schwannomas. After these specimens were processed for routine transmission
      electron microscopy (TEM), they were studied for morphologic evidence of viral
      infection. Although no virus particles were identified, numerous regularly
      occurring cell components and artifacts were found to morphologically mimic
      viruses. An atlas of these structures is presented.

PMID- 1443079
TI  - Aspartame and dizziness: preliminary results of a prospective, nonblinded,
      prevalence and attempted cross-over study.
AB  - Aspartame is a low-calorie food sweetener recently approved by the FDA for
      general human consumption. One of us (AJG) treated a patient whose symptoms of
      episodic vertigo and continuous unsteadiness resolved upon ceasing aspartame
      intake. A literature review revealed that although dizziness has been associated
      with aspartame intake, no systematic study of the problem exists. As an initial
      attempt to ascertain the prevalence of aspartame-related dizziness in an
      otolaryngologic clinic, we elected to study prospectively all patients entering
      with the complaint of vertigo by means of a standardized questionnaire. Those
      patients determined to consume aspartame were further studied in a nonblinded
      manner to see if aspartame intake could be correlated to symptomatology. A cross
      over limb was also attempted, but no patient would participate. This presentation
      details the case history of the propositus patient and the preliminary results of
      the currently ongoing prospective study.

PMID- 1443080
TI  - System identification of perilymphatic fistula in an animal model.
AB  - An acute animal model has been developed in the chinchilla for the study of
      perilymphatic fistulas. Micropunctures were made in three sites to simulate bony,
      round window, and oval window fistulas. The eye movements in response to pressure
      applied to the external auditory canal were recorded after micropuncture
      induction and in preoperative controls. The main pressure stimulus was a
      pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) that rapidly changed between plus and minus
      200 mm of water. The PRBS stimulus, with its wide frequency bandwidth, produced
      responses clearly above the preoperative baseline in 78 percent of the runs. The
      response was better between 0.5 and 3.3 Hz than it was below 0.5 Hz. The
      direction of horizontal eye movement was toward the side of the fistula with
      positive pressure applied in 92 percent of the runs. Vertical eye movements were
      also observed. The ratio of vertical eye displacement to horizontal eye
      displacement depended upon the site of the micropuncture induction. Thus, such a
      ratio measurement may be clinically useful in the noninvasive localization of
      perilymphatic fistulas in humans.

PMID- 1443081
TI  - Evaluations of 3M/House single-channel and nucleus multichannel cochlear
      implants.
AB  - 3M/House single-channel (n = 158) and Nucleus multichannel (n = 71) adult
      cochlear implant users were surveyed about their devices. In comparison to the
      3M/House users, the Nucleus users reported better speech and environmental sounds
      perception and more hours of daily use. However, Nucleus users also were more
      likely to report that the expense of upkeep and frequent movement of external
      parts of their implants were problems. On average, users in both groups were
      satisfied and felt that their implants had positively affected their lifestyle,
      enjoyment of social events, and employability. Differences between groups
      regarding these variables were not found. Multiple regression indicated that the
      users' ratings of the effects of their implants on speech perception,
      environmental sounds perception, enjoyment of social events, and lifestyle were
      all statistically significant predictors of satisfaction. It was concluded that
      the majority of the users in either group thought their devices provided real
      world benefits.

PMID- 1443082
TI  - Reconstruction of the radical mastoid.
AB  - Open cavity techniques (radical mastoidectomy, canal wall down
      tympanomastoidectomy, modified radical mastoidectomy) are well established
      surgical procedures for the treatment of chronic otitis media. Despite their
      effectiveness in exteriorizing cholesteatoma, they are associated with a 20 to 60
      percent incidence of persistent intermittent drainage. In an effort to eliminate
      this problem, we have employed a Palva flap and medial graft technique to
      reconstruct the mastoid cavity and middle ear space in those patients with
      chronically draining ears. Between 1987 and 1990, 28 patients underwent this
      procedure. Twenty-six of these (93%) had complete obliteration of the mastoid
      cavity and successful tympanic membrane reconstruction. Two of 28 (7%) had a
      persistent tympanic membrane perforation and intermittent drainage following
      their surgery. Based on these results, this procedure is effective in eliminating
      intermittent drainage associated with the open cavity techniques. The indications
      for this procedure, the specifics of the surgical technique, and the
      postoperative results are discussed.

PMID- 1443083
TI  - Geniculate ganglion: anatomic study with surgical implications.
AB  - The geniculate ganglion and adjacent segments of the facial nerve were dissected
      in 11 human temporal bones to study the extent and distribution of ganglion
      cells. A histologic basis for the use of geniculate ganglionectomy as the
      treatment for geniculate neuralgia was sought. In 9 of 11 specimens (81.8%), the
      ganglion cell bodies appeared to be aggregated at the apex of the genu close to
      the origin of the greater superficial petrosal nerve. The mean ratio of the width
      of the ganglion cell cluster to the width of the facial nerve trunk at the level
      of the genu was 0.4. In two specimens, significant anatomic variation was
      present. One specimen showed extension of cell bodies into the labyrinthine
      segment of the facial nerve; another specimen showed a single ganglion cell in
      the region of the genu. These findings lead us to postulate that geniculate
      ganglionectomy may be ineffective as the sole treatment for certain cases of
      geniculate neuralgia, and that nervus intermedius section may also be required to
      achieve a more complete deafferentation.

PMID- 1443084
TI  - Rhinorrhea after neurotologic surgery.
AB  - Rhinorrhea after neurotologic surgery may be indicative of a cerebrospinal fluid
      (CSF) leak or may be secondary to autonomic dysfunction as a result of injury to
      preganglionic parasympathetic fibers. Differentiation between these two
      conditions is essential because undetected CSF rhinorrhea may lead to meningitis
      and death.

PMID- 1443085
TI  - Meniere's disease in congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus: report of two
      twins.
AB  - Two cases, twins, affected by congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (CNDI)
      with a high daily volume of dilute urine excretion and periods of compensatory
      high levels of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) simultaneously developed a fluctuating
      Meniere-type hearing loss. It is well known that the kidney and the cochlea are
      linked by structural and anatomic characteristics, as well as by the physiologic
      mechanism of electrolytes and fluid regulation. The patients herein described
      seem to be paradoxical, because they suffered from hydropic hearing loss despite
      the pathophysiologic mechanism of CNDI and the possible role played by ADH in
      water regulation in the inner ear. The consequences on Meniere's disease of the
      different therapeutic regimens followed by the two CNDI patients are discussed.
      To our knowledge these are the first cases of CNDI with Meniere's disease
      described in the literature.

PMID- 1443086
TI  - Very far-advanced otosclerosis.
AB  - The term very far-advanced otosclerosis is proposed to indicate otosclerotic
      patients with both bone and air conduction thresholds nonmeasurable on a standard
      clinical audiometer (blank audiogram). Three of these patients have undergone
      stapedotomy with satisfactory results. This confirms that cochlear implantation
      is not the best treatment for all profoundly deaf patients at least with implants
      available today. Some of the patients with a blank audiogram are better off with
      exploratory tympanotomy and stapedotomy.

PMID- 1443087
TI  - Case 1: Bell's palsy and persistent loss of taste. Case 2: Bell's palsy, dramatic
      recovery with high dose steroid therapy.

PMID- 1443088
TI  - Management of slowly progressive facial paralysis attributable to a tumor in the
      temporal bone.

PMID- 1443089
TI  - Stapedectomy modified by the application of fibrin tissue adhesive.

PMID- 1443090
TI  - Computed tomography and enamel thickness of maxillary molars of Plio-Pleistocene
      hominids from Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, and Kromdraai (South Africa): An
      exploratory study.
AB  - This paper is one in a series which explores the possibility of using the non
      destructive CT technique to identify patterns in tooth enamel distribution and
      structure of hominid molars from Plio-Pleistocene sites in South Africa, notably
      Swartkrans, Sterkfontein, and Kromdraai. Whereas previous investigators have
      emphasised gross differences in absolute and relative or average enamel thickness
      between hominid taxa, the present study highlights differences in enamel
      thickness over functionally significant regions of the crown. Differences in the
      distribution of enamel in A. robustus, A. africanus, and Homo sp. are identified
      through the use of bivariate and multivariate analyses, and are interpreted in
      terms of dietary regimes.

PMID- 1443091
TI  - Congenital syphilis in the past: slaves at Newton Plantation, Barbados, West
      Indies.
AB  - Hutchinson's incisors and Moon's molars are specific lesions of congenital
      syphilis. The extensive but fragmentary clinical literature on these conditions
      describes reduced dimensions and thin enamel in the permanent incisors and first
      molars, crowding and infolding of the first molar cusps, notching of the upper
      incisors, and apical hypoplasias of the permanent canines. A Barbados slave
      cemetery (ca. 1660-1820 AD) includes three individuals with these features,
      suggesting a frequency at birth of congenital syphilis in the population
      approaching 10%. These three cases show triple the frequency of all hypoplasias
      and more than seven times the frequency of pitting hypoplasia present in the
      remainder of the series. The recognizable congenital syphilis cases account for
      much of the remarkably high frequency of hypoplasias in the series as a whole. We
      infer that syphilis contributed substantially to morbidity, infant mortality, and
      infertility in this population. Presence or absence of congenital syphilis may
      account for much of the variability in health and mortality seen among nineteenth
      century African-American populations.

PMID- 1443092
TI  - Demography of the Hadza, an increasing and high density population of Savanna
      foragers.
AB  - This is a report on the demography of the Hadza, a population of East African
      hunter-gatherers. In it, we describe the results of a census, and our estimation
      of age structure, survivorship, mean age of women at childbearing, number of live
      children, total population size and density, and rate of change since 1967. We
      show that relevant measures fit closely the stable population model North 6
      chosen by Dyson to represent Hadza demography in the 1960s. We compare aspects of
      Hadza demography with surrounding non-Hadza and with the !Kung. Among other
      things, we find that the Hadza have a higher population density, higher
      fertility, and a faster population growth rate than do the !Kung. These
      demographic differences are consistent with our expectations, which were based on
      differences in the costs and benefits of foraging in the two regions. We also
      show that Hadza demographic parameters display remarkable consistency over the
      past 20 years. Since neighboring populations have been encroaching on the area
      used by the Hadza, and Hadza foragers have been subject to interludes of
      externally imposed settlement, this consistency is surprising. We discuss some of
      the implications.

PMID- 1443093
TI  - Evaluation of lead concentrations in 18th-century Omaha Indian skeletons using
      ICP-MS.
AB  - The analysis of skeletal remains of Omaha Indians buried between AD 1780 and 1820
      indicated that lead was incorporated in cortical bone. The diagenetic or
      biogenetic origin of the lead was evaluated by examination of lead isotope ratios
      of the bones and artifacts, and comparison of lead concentrations in burial soils
      with those of the bones. The isotopic values of the lead artifacts demonstrate
      that the lead was mined in the Missouri region. Although the isotope ratios in
      the bones are not identical with that from the lead artifacts, there is a strong
      relationship between them. This finding indicates that the lead in the bone was
      at least partly derived from the artifacts. Because lead artifacts rarely
      accompanied the burials but lead was ubiquitous in the bones, we suggest a
      biogenetic origin for the lead. There is also the possibility that some of the
      lead may have been derived from pigments applied to the corpse during mortuary
      ritual.

PMID- 1443094
TI  - Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic signatures of human dietary change in the
      Georgia Bight.
AB  - Measurement of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (delta 13C and delta
      15N) in samples of human bone collagen (n = 93) from a temporal series of four
      prehistoric (early preagricultural, late preagricultural, early agricultural,
      late agricultural) and two historic (early contact, late contact) periods from
      the Georgia Bight, a continental embayment on the southeastern U.S. Atlantic
      coast, reveals a general temporal trend for less negative delta 13C values and
      less positive delta 15N values. This trend reflects a concomitant decrease in
      emphasis on marine resources and increased reliance on C4-based resources,
      especially maize. This dietary reorientation is most apparent for the early
      agricultural sample (AD 1150-1300), coinciding with the Mississippian
      fluorescence in the eastern United States. There is, however, a shift toward the
      use of C3 (non-maize) foods during the last prehistoric period (AD 1300-1450),
      which is likely related to environmental stress and social disruption. A heavier
      use of maize and terrestrial resources in general after the establishment of
      mission centers on barrier islands is indicated. A reduced dietary breadth during
      the mission period may have contributed to the extinction of these populations in
      the eighteenth century.

PMID- 1443095
TI  - New species of bushbaby from the middle Miocene of Maboko Island, Kenya.
AB  - A mandible recovered from ca. 15 million year old deposits of Maboko Island,
      Kenya, represents the first bushbaby known from the middle Miocene. The specimen
      is from a new species of Komba, a genus previously known from early Miocene
      occurrences in western Kenya and northeastern Uganda. Komba is revised, with
      emended diagnoses proposed for the genus, type-species, and referred species.
      Komba sp. nov. is distinguished by its larger size and differences of molar cusp
      acuity, buccal cingulum expression, and mental foramen configuration. Contrary to
      previous opinion, species of Komba probably diverged prior to the last common
      ancestor of extant Galaginae, and it is unlikely that they represent early stages
      of living bushbaby species lineages. Although contemporary Progalago is widely
      regarded as a galagine, aspects of upper molar, lower premolar, and mandibular
      corpus morphology indicate that it is more closely related to lorisines. Unlike
      the greater success currently enjoyed by bushbabies, lorisines were more diverse
      and almost as abundant as galagines in the early Miocene of eastern Africa.

PMID- 1443096
TI  - Estimation of age structure in anthropological demography.
AB  - The past decade has produced considerable debate over the feasibility of
      paleodemographic research, with much attention focusing on the question of
      reliability of age estimates. We show here that in cases where age is estimated
      rather than known, the traditional method of assigning individuals to age classes
      will produce biased estimates of age structure. We demonstrate the effect of this
      bias both mathematically and by computer simulation, and show how a more
      appropriate method from the fisheries literature (the "iterated age length key")
      can be used to estimate age structure. Because it is often the case that ages are
      also estimated for extant groups, we suggest that our results are relevant to the
      general field of anthropological demography, and that it is time for us to
      improve the statistical basis for age structure estimation. We further suggest
      that the oft noted paucity of older individuals in skeletal collections is a
      simple result of the use of inappropriate methods of age estimation, and that
      this problem can be rectified in the future by using maximum likelihood estimates
      of life table or hazard functions incorporating the uncertainty of age estimates.

PMID- 1443097
TI  - Association of phospholipase C-delta with a highly enriched preparation of canine
      sarcolemma.
AB  - Myocardial synthesis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is highly
      compartmentalized in the sarcolemmal membrane. Sarcolemmal vesicles contain
      endogenous phospholipase C (PLC), but the identity of sarcolemmal PLC and its
      relationship to soluble PLC have not been determined previously. Sarcolemmal and
      cytosolic PLC were prepared from canine myocardium and characterized by DEAE
      cellulose chromatography and by immunoblotting with monoclonal and polyclonal
      antibodies to isoenzymes of PLC (PLC beta, PLC gamma, and PLC delta). DEAE
      cellulose chromatography resolved two forms of cytosolic PLC that were identified
      as an 85-kDa form of PLC delta and a 145-kDa form of PLC gamma. In contrast, DEAE
      cellulose chromatography resolved a single form of sarcolemmal PLC that was
      identified as an 85-kDa form of PLC delta. These data demonstrate that PLC gamma
      and PLC delta are expressed in canine myocardium and that an 85-kDa form of PLC
      delta is selectively associated with sites of PIP2 synthesis in a highly enriched
      preparation of sarcolemma. These data do not exclude the existence of additional
      isoenzymes of sarcolemmal PLC that may have been removed during isolation of
      sarcolemmal membranes.

PMID- 1443098
TI  - Oxygenation-activated K fluxes in trout red blood cells.
AB  - The effect of oxygenation on the dissipative fluxes of K in trout red blood cells
      has been determined. Unidirectional influx under low oxygen tension (PO2 = 1 kPa)
      was 0.56 +/- 0.07 mmol.l-1 packed cells.h-1. Within a few minutes of
      equilibration with high oxygen tension (PO2 = 120 kPa), influx was increased 14
      fold, and this was associated with a progressive loss of KCl and a cell
      shrinkage. K influx progressively declined over the following 3 h to levels close
      to those characteristic of cells at low oxygen tension. Replacement of medium Cl
      by NO3- or methane sulfonate inhibited the stimulation due to high oxygen as did
      furosemide and low extracellular pH. The oxygenation-stimulated influx was highly
      volume sensitive, being increased by up to 100% by osmotic swelling and decreased
      by osmotic shrinkage. By contrast, the small influx under low oxygen tension was
      unaffected by either Cl replacement or by shrinkage and increased only with
      extreme swelling. Thus high oxygen tension activated a Cl-dependent and
      furosemide-sensitive K flux. Once activated, the mechanism was rapidly
      deactivated on transfer back to low oxygen tension but slowly deactivated when
      maintained at high PO2. The oxygenation-stimulated flux mechanism promotes a
      rapid and more complete volume regulatory decrease than in cells at low oxygen
      tension.

PMID- 1443099
TI  - Effect of fatigue on rate of isometric force development in mouse fast- and slow
      twitch muscles.
AB  - Changes in the rate of isometric force development with fatigue were measured in
      vitro (25 degrees C) using mouse soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL)
      muscles. Muscles were fatigued using 30 tetanic contractions. Rate of force
      development was determined from the rate constant of an exponential curve fitted
      to the rising force phase of a tetanus. For both muscles, when the intertetanus
      interval was 3 s, maximum isometric force and relaxation rate were significantly
      reduced in the final tetanus relative to the values in the first tetanus. Rate of
      force development in soleus muscles transiently increased and then decreased a
      small amount. The final rate was 92.7 +/- 3.3% (n = 4) of the initial rate. In
      contrast, the rate of force development in EDL muscles increased to 133.7 +/-
      3.3% (n = 4) of the initial rate. This increased rate was evident from the second
      tetanus of the series, was fully established after 5 tetani, and the magnitude of
      the increase in rate was inversely proportional to intertetanus interval and was
      independent of presumed energy expenditure. The enhanced rate decayed with a time
      constant of 14.3 +/- 2.0 s and was independent of presumed energy expenditure.
      Most of these observations can be explained by the effects of P(i) on cross
      bridge kinetics. Other possible mechanisms, involving more rapid activation, are
      also suggested.

PMID- 1443100
TI  - Effects of intracellular ions on interleukin-1 beta production by
      lipopolysaccharide-activated human monocytes.
AB  - Following the observation that interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) production in
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS)activated monocytes increases in concert with a rise in
      intracellular pH (pHi), the role of ion transport in IL-1 beta production was
      investigated. The amiloride analogue 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride (EIPA), an
      inhibitor of the Na(+)-H+ antiporter, inhibited extracellular IL-1 beta. The
      replacement of Na+ in the culture medium with sucrose or choline chloride also
      prevented monocyte activation. The sodium ionophore monensin, in doses from 100
      pM to 1 microM, potentiated LPS-stimulated extracellular IL-1 beta when compared
      with LPS alone. In the absence of LPS activation, monensin by itself at 10 nM
      stimulated IL-1 beta production to 63%. EIPA at 10 microM inhibited the Na+
      influx, the rise in pHi, and intra- and extracellular IL-1 beta production in
      activated monocytes; this inhibition was reversed by 10 nM monensin. In the
      absence of bicarbonate, or in the presence of 10 microM 4,4'
      diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, the pHi of activated monocytes and
      the total protein synthesis did not change, but the production of IL-1 beta was
      inhibited. The data suggest that the stimulated influx of Na+ via the Na(+)-H+
      antiporter regulates both pHi and IL-1 beta production in LPS-activated
      monocytes. The requirement for bicarbonate indicates an additional mechanism(s),
      separate from the modulation of pHi and intracellular Na+.

PMID- 1443101
TI  - Chemical modification of Ca(2+)-activated potassium channels of GH3 anterior
      pituitary cells.
AB  - The effects of amino group specific reagents were examined on single, large
      conductance, Ca(2+)-activated, K+ channels in excised membrane patches from GH3
      cells. The reagents used include trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, 4,4'
      diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid and its 4-acetamido derivative, and
      sulfophenyl-isothiocyanate. These reagents react covalently with peptide terminal
      amino groups and the epsilon amino groups of lysine residues, thereby removing
      positive charge. Internal application of 0.1-1.0 mM reagent to inside-out patches
      irreversibly increases channel open probability. Single-channel conductance and
      voltage sensitivity are not affected by modification. Analysis of channel
      openings and closures shows that the increase in open probability is
      predominantly due to the loss of long-duration closures of the channel; however,
      the lengths of long-duration openings are increased. After the modification in
      the presence of Ca2+ was performed, the channel open probability remains large,
      regardless of the internal Ca2+ concentration. Transitions among several open and
      closed states of the modified channel are present in the absence of Ca2+,
      suggesting that many state transitions are not directly dependent on Ca2+ binding
      or dissociation.

PMID- 1443102
TI  - Delayed shortening and shrinkage of cochlear outer hair cells.
AB  - Slow shortening of cochlear outer hair cells has been speculated to modify
      cochlear sensitivity. Tetanic electrical field stimulation of isolated outer hair
      cells from guinea pigs shortened the cells for 2-3 min. Electrical stimulation
      reduced cell length and volume (-13.5 +/- 1.5 and -37.3 +/- 3.0% of initial
      values, respectively, n = 16) and decreased the intracellular Cl- concentration.
      Cytochalasin B (100 microM) inhibited electrical stimulation-induced shortening
      but not volume reduction. The following chemicals or manipulations inhibited the
      responses: 10 microM furosemide, 0.1 mM 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'
      disulfonic acid (DIDS), 1 mM anthracene-9-carboxylic acid (AC9), 25 mM
      tetraethylammonium, 2.3 microM charybdotoxin (ChTX), 250 nM omega-conotoxin, and
      Ca(2+)-free medium. These findings suggest that both electrical stimulation
      induced shortening and shrinkage of outer hair cells result not only from an
      actin-mediated contractile force, but also from Cl- efflux through furosemide-,
      DIDS-, and AC9-sensitive Cl- channels, and K+ efflux through ChTX-sensitive K+
      channels.

PMID- 1443103
TI  - Interaction of TPA and ultraviolet B radiation in regulation of ODC gene
      expression in rat keratinocytes.
AB  - Ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) and phorbol esters are known to promote tumor
      formation in skin; however, the interaction between UVB and phorbol esters in the
      regulation of gene expression remains incompletely understood. To define the
      interaction of UVB and phorbol esters in the control of keratinocyte gene
      expression, we have studied the effects of the phorbol ester 12-O
      tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and UVB on the regulation of ornithine
      decarboxylase (ODC) gene expression in a rat keratinocyte cell line. Both UVB and
      TPA alone increased ODC activity and induced the expression of the ODC gene. The
      combination of UVB and TPA produced a further increment in ODC gene expression at
      12 h, but UVB markedly attenuated the TPA induction of ODC mRNA transcripts at 3
      h. Protein synthesis inhibition with cycloheximide also induced ODC mRNA
      transcripts, but did not eliminate the further induction of ODC gene expression
      by UVB or TPA. No changes in actin gene expression following exposure to TPA/UVB
      were detected in the same experiments. UVB and TPA alone or in combination had no
      effect on the transcriptional activity of an ODC-chloramphenicol
      acetyltransferase fusion gene in transfected rat keratinocytes. The results of
      these studies suggest a complex posttranscriptional interaction of phorbol esters
      and UVB in the control of keratinocyte gene expression.

PMID- 1443104
TI  - Erythrocyte K-Cl cotransport: properties and regulation.
AB  - Erythrocytes possess a Cl-dependent, Na-independent K transport system
      cotransporting K and Cl in a 1:1 stoichiometry that is membrane potential
      independent. This K-Cl cotransporter is stimulated by cell swelling,
      acidification, Mg depletion, and thiol modification. Cell shrinkage, elevation of
      cellular divalent ions, thiol alkylation, phosphatase inhibitors, and derivatives
      of certain loop diuretics and stilbenes are inhibitory. Thus regulation of K-Cl
      cotransport at the membrane and cytoplasmic levels is highly complex. Basal K-Cl
      cotransport decreases with cellular maturation, whereas its modes of stimulation
      and inhibition are variable between species. The physiological inactivation
      appears to be prevented in low-K animal erythrocytes. In certain human
      hemoglobinopathies, K-Cl cotransport may be the cause of cellular dehydration and
      volume decrease. K-Cl cotransport occurs also in nonerythroid cells, such as in
      epithelial and liver cells of other species. At the threshold of molecular
      characterization, this comprehensive review places our present understanding of
      the mechanisms modulating K-Cl cotransport physiologically and
      pathophysiologically into kinetic and thermodynamic perspectives.

PMID- 1443105
TI  - Potentiation of twitch contraction in guinea pig ureter by sodium vanadate.
AB  - The effect of sodium vanadate on action potential and twitch contraction of
      guinea pig ureter was studied and compared with that of ouabain, elevated K+, low
      temperature, and a Ca agonist (BAY K 8644), which can be expected to exert
      certain comparative effects. Sodium vanadate markedly potentiated twitch
      contraction. Potentiation by vanadate was associated with marked prolongation of
      relaxation time. Sodium vanadate caused only slight depolarization of the
      membrane but marked changes in action potential. The duration of action potential
      was prolonged and the number of oscillatory spike potentials increased. These
      effects were different from those of other treatments. It is concluded that
      prolongation of action potential and the increase in the number of spikes are the
      main cause of potentiation of twitch contraction by sodium vanadate. In addition,
      inhibition of Ca pump activity of the smooth muscle membrane system by vanadate
      might also be involved in potentiation of twitch contraction.

PMID- 1443106
TI  - Kinetics of nucleocytoplasmic Ca2+ transients in DDT1 MF-2 smooth muscle cells.
AB  - The free calcium concentrations in the nucleus ([Ca2+]n) and in the cytoplasm
      ([Ca2+]c) of cultured DDT1 MF-2 smooth muscle cells were estimated using the
      fluorescent dye indo-1. With the use of confocal microscopy, line scans were made
      during the onset and the differential rise of the Ca2+ signal elicited by the
      agonists histamine and ATP. The results confirm our earlier findings that in
      these cells [Ca2+]n at rest was lower than [Ca2+]c. The present experiments show
      that this gradient over the nuclear envelope was also preserved in Ca(2+)-free
      solution containing 2 mM EGTA, underlining the selective barrier function of the
      nuclear envelope. During stimulation with histamine, an early Ca2+ rise in the
      vicinity of the nuclear envelope was found in contrast to the delayed Ca2+ rise 2
      microns away on both sides of the envelope. This suggests the release of Ca2+
      stored in the envelope and the perinuclear sarcoplasmic reticulum. The time
      course for reaching a uniform Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]u = [Ca2+]n = [Ca2+]c) in
      the nuclear and cytosolic compartment varied with the agonist used for
      stimulation and was dependent on the external Ca2+ concentration. The value of
      this uniform Ca2+ concentration itself was, however, independent of the type of
      stimulation. After reaching [Ca2+]u, a further rise occurred with [Ca2+]n
      becoming larger than [Ca2+]c. It is postulated that a critical Ca2+ concentration
      must be reached to induce this differential Ca2+ rise by releasing Ca2+ from an
      intranuclear Ca2+ store.

PMID- 1443107
TI  - Membrane currents in a calcitonin-secreting human C cell line.
AB  - The whole cell version of the patch-clamp technique was used to identify and
      characterize voltage-gated Ca2+, Na+, and K+ currents in the calcitonin-secreting
      human thyroid TT cell line. Ca2+ current consisted of a single low-voltage
      activated rapidly inactivating component. The current was one-half maximally
      activated at a potential of -27 mV, while steady-state voltage-dependent
      inactivation was one-half complete at -51 mV. The Ca2+ current inactivated with a
      voltage-dependent time constant that reached a minimum of 16 ms at potentials
      positive to -15 mV. Deactivation kinetics could also be fit with a single voltage
      dependent time constant of approximately 2 ms at -80 mV. Replacing Ca2+ with Ba2+
      reduced the maximum current by 18 +/- 5% (n = 6). The dihydropyridine Ca2+
      agonist (-)BAY K 8644 did not affect the Ca2+ current, but 50 microM Ni2+ reduced
      it by 81 +/- 0.8% (n = 5). TT cells also possessed tetrodotoxin-sensitive voltage
      gated Na+ channels and tetraethylammonium-sensitive delayed rectifier type K+
      currents. These results indicate that TT cells possess membrane currents
      necessary for the generation of action potentials. T-type Ca2+ channels are the
      sole pathway for voltage-dependent Ca2+ entry into these cells and may couple
      electrical activity to calcitonin secretion.

PMID- 1443108
TI  - Effect of cytochalasin D on the actin cytoskeleton of the toad bladder epithelial
      cell.
AB  - Cytochalasins are widely used to determine the role of actin in cellular
      processes. Their actions include capping of the barbed end of actin filaments as
      well as dimer formation, nucleation, and polymerization. We determined the effect
      of cytochalasin D (CD) on F-actin in the toad urinary bladder, an epithelium in
      which vasopressin depolymerizes F-actin. At a low concentration (0.25 microM), CD
      depolymerized F-actin in the unstimulated cell; at higher concentrations, there
      was a progressive reduction of depolymerization until actual polymerization was
      seen. Vasopressin plus CD produced no greater depolymerization than vasopressin
      alone, suggesting that CD and vasopressin act to a large extent on the same pool
      of F-actin. CD plus vasopressin also enhanced the fusion rate of aggrephores
      compared with vasopressin alone, indicating that intact actin filaments retard
      aggrephore fusion. Despite the increase in aggrephore fusion, water flow was not
      enhanced by CD, confirming previous reports that intact actin filaments are
      required for water channel emergence or stabilization in the apical membrane.
      Vasopressin plus 1 microM CD produced a striking increase in microvillar length,
      direct evidence of the polymerizing action of CD in the cell.

PMID- 1443109
TI  - In vivo estimation of lactose hydrolysis in premature infants using a dual stable
      tracer technique.
AB  - To investigate their putative capacity for lactose digestion, primed continuous
      orogastric infusions of [1-13C]glucose and D-[1-13C]lactose were administered on
      consecutive days to five premature infants (30-31 wk gestation, 15-32 days of
      age), who were fed by orogastric infusions of human milk or formula. By
      monitoring the plateau isotopic enrichment of plasma glucose using isotopomers
      containing the entire derivatized glucose molecule or C-2 through C-6, we were
      able to distinguish label appearing in the peripheral circulation deriving from
      unmetabolized glucose from that arising from recycled or fermented glucose (or
      lactose). Isotopic enrichment of the C-1 of glucose, corrected for recycling, was
      then calculated during each tracer infusion, and the fraction of dietary lactose
      subjected to in vivo hydrolysis was estimated from these values and the
      respective tracer infusion rates, assuming similar absorptive and metabolic fates
      of labeled glucose arising from either tracer. This fraction averaged 1.02 +/-
      0.16 (SD), suggesting that lactose digestion is efficient by 34-wk
      postconceptional age.

PMID- 1443110
TI  - Heated dorsal hand vein sampling for metabolic studies: a reappraisal.
AB  - The purpose of the current study was to determine the accuracy of a given heated
      dorsal hand vein (HDHV) measurement in predicting a simultaneous arterial
      measurement and to validate this technique for use in stable isotope studies.
      Twenty catheterizations of the femoral artery, femoral vein, and a dorsal hand
      vein were performed in 13 healthy male subjects. Simultaneous blood samples were
      obtained from all three sites during primed continuous infusions of L-[1
      13C]leucine (Leu) and L-[ring-2H5]phenylalanine (Phe) in the postabsorptive
      state, with or without intravenous glucose infusion. Relationships were examined
      by linear regression analysis, with 95% prediction intervals for femoral arterial
      values determined using the HDHV-derived values as independent variable. Glucose
      concentrations and isotopic enrichments of ketoisocaproate (KIC), Leu, and Phe
      were similar in HDHV- and arterial-derived blood, with slopes between 0.9414 and
      1.0008, intercepts not different from zero, and r2 values of 0.7613 or greater (P
      < 0.05). Intercepts for KIC, Leu, and Phe concentrations all were different from
      zero (P < 0.05), and slopes ranged between 0.7560 and 0.8625. For each analysis
      the HDHV sample correlated better with the femoral arterial sample than with the
      femoral venous sample. These data support the use of HDHV sampling as a surrogate
      for direct arterial sampling but document significant limitations in the
      technique.

PMID- 1443111
TI  - Muscle glucose transport, GLUT-4 content, and degree of exercise training in
      obese Zucker rats.
AB  - The effects of high (HI)- and low (LI)-intensity exercise training were examined
      on insulin-stimulated 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (3-MG) transport and concentration of
      insulin-regulatable glucose transporter protein (GLUT-4) in the red (fast-twitch
      oxidative) and white (fast-twitch glycolytic) quadriceps of the obese Zucker rat.
      Sedentary obese (SED) and lean (LN) Zucker rats were used as controls. 3-MG
      transport was determined during hindlimb perfusion in the presence of 8 mM 3-MG,
      2 mM mannitol, 0.3 mM pyruvate, and 0.5 mU/ml insulin. HI and LI rats displayed
      greater rates of red quadriceps 3-MG transport and GLUT-4 concentrations than SED
      rats. No significant differences in rates of 3-MG transport or GLUT-4
      concentrations were observed in the red quadriceps of HI and LI rats. There were
      no differences found in the rates of 3-MG transport in the white quadriceps of
      HI, LI, and SED rats although the difference between the HI and SED rats
      approached significance (P < 0.07). The GLUT-4 concentration and citrate synthase
      activity of HI rats were significantly greater than SED rats. The 3-MG transport
      rates of LN rats were twofold greater than SED rats regardless of fiber type, but
      a difference in GLUT-4 content between the LN and SED rats was observed only in
      the white quadriceps. GLUT-4 content of the obese rats was significantly
      correlated with citrate synthase activity (r = 0.93) and 3-MG transport (r =
      0.82).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443112
TI  - Sites of infusion and sampling for measurement of rates of production in steady
      state.
AB  - When labeled and unlabeled (endogenously produced) substances enter an organism
      through different ports of entry, the anatomical location of these entry sites
      must be taken into account explicitly in calculating rates of appearance. All
      traditional formulas that are used for calculating rates of appearance are based
      on the assumption that labeled and unlabeled substances enter by means of the
      same port. These formulas are, therefore, not in general valid for metabolites
      such as lactate, where the entry ports differ. In such cases, specific activity
      will not be uniform throughout the organism even when the labeled and unlabeled
      substances are both in steady state. One cannot speak of the (unique) specific
      activity, because none exists. It is useful in these cases to define a
      distributed specific activity, which is the ratio of the concentration of labeled
      substance at one anatomical site to the concentration of unlabeled substance at
      another. We can then show that the rate of appearance for the double steady state
      (steady tracer infusion method) is given, approximately, as the ratio of the rate
      of infusion of the labeled substance to a particular distributed specific
      activity.

PMID- 1443113
TI  - Suppression of central noradrenergic neuronal activity inhibits hyperglycemia.
AB  - Hypothalamic noradrenergic neuronal activity (NNA) and hepatic glucose output are
      stimulated by stress. The aim of the present investigation was to examine whether
      the blockade of noradrenergic responses to stress might suppress the associated
      hyperglycemia. Mass spectrometry was used for analysis of norepinephrine (NE) and
      its neuronal metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG) in rat hypothalamus, and
      the ratio DHPG/NE was used as an index of NNA. Treatment of rats with 2-deoxy-D
      glucose (500 mg/kg ip, -30 min), yohimbine (10 mg/kg ip, -20 min), or neostigmine
      (2 micrograms icv, -60 min) increased both NNA and serum glucose (P < 0.05). When
      rats were additionally pretreated with pentobarbital (60 mg/kg ip; -60 min), the
      NNA responses were blocked (P < 0.01). At the same time the hyperglycemic
      responses were also inhibited (P < 0.01). In rats that had reduced NNA due to 7
      days "gentling," serum glucose levels were also significantly reduced (P < 0.001)
      compared with naive controls. The data demonstrate that inhibition of central
      noradrenergic activity is also associated with an inhibition of hyperglycemia,
      raising the concept that therapies aimed at reducing central NNA may have a role
      in the management of diseases with excessive hepatic glucose output such as non
      insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

PMID- 1443114
TI  - Selective expression of an arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase by pancreatic islet beta
      cells.
AB  - The immunohistochemical distribution of arachidonate lipoxygenases in rat
      pancreas was characterized with specific polyclonal anti-5-lipoxygenase and anti
      12-lipoxygenase antibodies. Immunohistochemical analysis of formaldehyde-fixed
      paraffin-embedded rat pancreas using anti-12-lipoxygenase antibody and biotin
      avidin-peroxidase detection demonstrated specific staining of islets and no
      staining of pancreatic exocrine tissue. Less intense staining of pancreatic
      vascular myocytes and endothelial cells was also observed. Immunoblotting of
      isolated pancreatic islet extracts with the anti-12-lipoxygenase antibody
      demonstrated immunoperoxidase staining of a single protein band which comigrated
      with purified 12-lipoxygenase (relative molecular weight = 72,000) on sodium
      dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. Dispersed cells
      prepared from isolated islets and then subjected to fluorescence-activated cell
      sorting and immunostaining exhibited 12-lipoxygenase antigen in beta-cell
      populations but not in non-beta-cell (predominantly alpha-cell) populations.
      Assays of enzymatic activity confirmed that the 12-lipoxygenase-catalyzed
      conversion of arachidonic acid to 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid methyl ester
      occurred only with purified beta-cells and not with islet non-beta-cells. No
      evidence of 5-lipoxygenase antigen or enzymatic activity was found in purified
      beta-cells or in islet non-beta-cells. We conclude that rat pancreatic islet beta
      cells contain an arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase which shares antigenic epitopes
      with the homologous enzyme contained in tissues from other species. In addition,
      the selective localization of the 12-lipoxygenase to pancreatic beta-cells and
      its absence in pancreatic acinar cells and in islet non-beta-cells support
      observations suggesting that 12-lipoxygenase products may participate in glucose
      induced insulin secretion from beta-cells.

PMID- 1443115
TI  - Glucose kinetics following administration of an intravenous fat emulsion to low
      birth-weight neonates.
AB  - To evaluate the mechanism(s) of the observed increase in plasma glucose
      concentration following the administration of an intravenous fat emulsion to the
      neonate, we measured glucose kinetics in eight low-birth-weight neonates by the
      prime constant rate infusion technique with D-[6,6-2H2]glucose at a rate of 0.22
      +/- 0.01 mumol.kg-1 x min-1 (39.4 +/- 1.3 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1) while the
      neonates received 32 +/- 5 mumol.kg-1 x min-1 glucose (6.3 +/- 1.1 mg.kg-1 x min
      1) plus an amino acid mixture (parenteral alimentation) alone and in combination
      with an intravenous fat emulsion (Intralipid). Following the latter combination,
      there were significant increases in plasma glucose concentration [4.07 +/- 0.11
      (73 +/- 2 mg/dl) to 5.00 +/- 0.22 mmol/l (90 +/- 4 mg/dl); P < 0.01] and in
      plasma insulin concentration [72 +/- 14 (10 +/- 2 microU/ml) to 172 +/- 36 pmol/l
      (24 +/- 5 microU/ml); P < 0.05]. The parenteral alimentation and intravenous fat
      effusion combination did not affect the glucose production rate: 0.15 +/- 0.05
      mumol.kg-1 x min-1 (0.03 +/- 0.01 mg.kg-1 x min-1) during the parenteral
      alimentation alone and 0.16 +/- 0.05 mumol.kg-1 x min-1 (0.03 +/- 0.01 mg.kg-1 x
      min-1) when parenteral alimentation was combined with an intravenous fat
      emulsion. We conclude that the increased plasma glucose concentration seen in
      association with administration of parenteral alimentation combined with an
      intravenous fat emulsion to the premature neonate is not due to enhanced glucose
      production but could be the result of alterations in glucose utilization.

PMID- 1443116
TI  - Thermogenic response to epinephrine in the forearm and abdominal subcutaneous
      adipose tissue.
AB  - Whole body energy expenditure, thermogenic and metabolic changes in the forearm,
      and intercellular glucose concentrations in subcutaneous adipose tissue on the
      abdomen determined by microdialysis were measured during epinephrine infusion in
      healthy subjects. After a control period, epinephrine was infused at rates of 0.2
      and 0.4 nmol.kg-1 x min-1. Whole body resting energy expenditure was 4.36 +/-
      0.56 (SD) kJ/min. Energy expenditure increased to 5.14 +/- 0.74 and 5.46 +/- 0.79
      kJ/min, respectively (P < 0.001), during the epinephrine infusions. Respiratory
      exchange ratio was 0.80 +/- 0.04 in the resting state and did not change. Local
      forearm oxygen uptake was 3.9 +/- 1.3 mumol.100 g-1 x min-1 in the basal period.
      During epinephrine infusion, it increased to 5.8 +/- 2.1 (P < 0.03) and 7.5 +/-
      2.3 mumol.100 g-1 x min-1 (P < 0.001). Local forearm glucose uptake was 0.160 +/-
      0.105 mumol.100 g-1 x min-1 and increased to 0.586 +/- 0.445 and 0.760 +/- 0.534
      mumol.100 g-1 x min-1 (P < 0.025). The intercellular glucose concentration in the
      subcutaneous adipose tissue on the abdomen was equal to the arterial
      concentration in the basal period but did not increase as much during infusion of
      epinephrine, indicating glucose uptake in adipose tissue in this condition. If it
      is assumed that forearm skeletal muscle is representative for the average
      skeletal muscle, it can be calculated that on average 40% of the enhanced whole
      body oxygen uptake induced by infusion of epinephrine is taking place in skeletal
      muscle. It is proposed that adipose tissue may contribute to epinephrine-induced
      thermogenesis.

PMID- 1443117
TI  - Effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on rough endoplasmic reticulum and
      lysosomes of rat liver.
AB  - In the absence of amino acids and insulin, ribosome-free regions of the rough
      endoplasmic reticulum (RER) invaginate to form an autophagosome, which matures
      into an autolysosome (W. A. Dunn, Jr., J. Cell Biol. 110: 1923-1933, 1990). In
      this study, biochemical and morphological methods were used to examine the
      structure and integrity of the RER and the lysosome-vacuolar system in livers of
      untreated (normal serum insulin) and streptozotocin (STZ)-treated (depressed
      serum insulin) fed and fasted rats. Degradation of endogenous proteins was
      increased by 70% in STZ-treated animals. Proteolysis was further enhanced when
      these animals were deprived of food for 24 h. These alterations in protein
      turnover were accompanied by increases in the fractional volume of autophagic
      vacuoles and in the hepatic amounts of three lysosomal hydrolases. These effects
      of STZ were prevented on administration of insulin. In addition, there was an
      insulin-dependent 50% loss of RER surface area in livers from STZ-treated rats.
      This loss of structural RER was accompanied by comparable decreases in the
      cellular amounts of two RER membrane proteins and one luminal protein, suggesting
      that the RER was degraded as a unit. Additional losses of RER were observed when
      STZ-treated rats were fasted. Furthermore, the hepatic amounts of two serum
      proteins decreased, suggesting the functional capacity of the RER was reduced.
      Combined, the data suggest that in STZ-induced diabetes the losses in RER are
      related to enhanced autophagy.

PMID- 1443118
TI  - Reciprocal feedback regulation of kidney angiotensinogen and renin mRNA
      expressions by angiotensin II.
AB  - The present study asks whether angiotensin II (ANG II), a potent inhibitor of
      renal renin synthesis and release, regulates renal angiotensinogen synthesis. ANG
      II (or vehicle) was intravenously infused into male Sprague-Dawley rats for 3
      days (vehicle or 100, 300, and 1,000 ng.kg-1 x min-1, n = 8/group), significantly
      increasing mean plasma ANG II concentrations and raising mean arterial blood
      pressure (MAP). ANG II dose dependently suppressed plasma renin concentration,
      kidney renin concentration, and renal renin mRNA levels. In contrast, ANG II
      infusion increased renal angiotensinogen mRNA levels stepwise to 122, 136 (P <
      0.05), and 150% (P < 0.05) of control and also increased both liver mRNA levels
      (P < 0.05) and plasma angiotensinogen concentration (P < 0.05). Three days of
      angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (10 mg.kg-1 x day-1 quinapril in
      drinking water, n = 8) significantly decreased MAP (P < 0.05) and increased both
      mean plasma renin concentration (P < 0.05) and renal renin mRNA levels (P <
      0.005). Plasma ANG II concentration tended to decrease (not significant), and
      neither renal nor hepatic angiotensinogen mRNA levels displayed significant
      difference. However, when data from ANG II-infused and quinapril-treated rats
      were analyzed together, correlation between plasma ANG II concentrations and
      renal angiotensinogen mRNA levels was highly significant (P < 0.005, r = 0.585).
      Thus plasma ANG II upregulates renal angiotensinogen gene expression and
      downregulates renal renin gene expression, a reciprocal feedback regulation that
      may have important physiological consequences.

PMID- 1443119
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of ANF and urodilatin during cANF receptor blockade and neutral
      endopeptidase inhibition.
AB  - Urodilatin is a new member of the family of natriuretic peptides. It is of renal
      origin. Previous reports indicate that urodilatin is natriuretic in lower doses
      than atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)-(99-126) and that it might be more effective
      than ANF in the treatment of cardiovascular edema. The present study was designed
      to compare the pharmacokinetics of the hydrolysis and clearance of 125I-labeled
      urodilatin and 125I-ANF. In control rats, the volume of distribution (Vss),
      metabolic clearance rate (MCR), and distribution half-life (distribution t1/2) of
      urodilatin in plasma were not significantly different from those of ANF. Infusion
      of clearance (c)ANF-(4-23), a specific ligand for receptors that clear ANF in
      excess amounts (i.e., a bolus injection of 100 micrograms/kg followed by a
      continuous infusion of 10 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1), increased the amount of
      intact peptide in the plasma to the same extent for both urodilatin and ANF. In
      addition, cANF-(4-23) decreased the Vss and the MCR and increased the
      distribution t1/2 of both peptides to about the same degree. Prior treatment of
      rats with SQ-28,603, a specific neutral endopeptidase (NEP; EN 3.4.24.11)
      inhibitor, was without significant effect on the metabolic clearance of
      urodilatin, whereas it decreased the clearance of ANF by 65%. Furthermore, an
      infusion of SQ-28,603 suppressed the appearance of the hydrolytic products of ANF
      in blood but not of urodilatin. Moreover, the inhibitor increased the total
      amount of ANF recovered in the kidneys to five times the control values, whereas
      it did not alter the renal uptake of urodilatin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443120
TI  - Fasting and postmeal phenylalanine metabolism in mild type 2 diabetes.
AB  - We have investigated postabsorptive and postprandial phenylalanine kinetics in
      non-obese type 2 diabetic patients [non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
      (NIDDM)], using a double-isotope technique and the constant oral administration
      of a synthetic mixed meal. Fasting and postmeal glucose levels were increased (P
      < 0.01) in NIDDM (165 +/- 16 to 226 +/- 24 mg/dl), with respect to normal
      controls (85 +/- 3 to 102 +/- 6 mg/dl). Fasting insulin concentrations were
      comparable in NIDDM (13 +/- 2 microU/ml) and in normals (12 +/- 2 microU/ml), but
      after the meal it increased less (P < 0.07) in NIDDM vs. normals (to 36 +/- 5 vs.
      56 +/- 12 microU/ml, respectively; P < 0.01 vs. basal for both). Postabsorptive
      phenylalanine rate of appearance (R(a)) in NIDDM (0.63 +/- 0.08 mumol.kg-1 x min
      1) was comparable to that of controls (0.73 +/- 0.05 mumol.kg-1 x min-1, not
      significant). During the meal, total and endogenous phenylalanine R(a),
      splanchnic uptake, oxidation, and nonoxidative disposal of the ingested
      phenylalanine were also comparable in the two groups. These data indicate that
      fasting and postprandial kinetics of the essential amino acid phenylalanine are
      normal in NIDDM.

PMID- 1443121
TI  - Adrenergic regulation of type II 5'-deiodinase circadian rhythm in rat harderian
      gland.
AB  - This paper reports on the regulation of the nyctohemeral profile of type II
      thyroxine 5'-deiodinase (T45'D) activity in the rat harderian gland. Harderian
      gland T45'D activity exhibits a nighttime increase with maximal values late in
      the dark period (0200-0400 h) and basal values during the daytime. The nocturnal
      rise of the deiodinating activity was prevented by either exposure of animals to
      light at night, injecting the animals with both alpha- and beta-adrenergic
      receptor blockers, or bilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy (SCGx). However,
      adrenalectomy did not affet the enzyme activity in the harderian gland. In brown
      adipose tissue (BAT), where thyroid hormone metabolism is extremely dependent on
      alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation by blood-circulating catecholamines, adrenalectomy
      significantly decreased T45'D activity. Deiodinating activities in brain frontal
      cortex (BFC) and pituitary gland were unaffected by adrenalectomy. Unlike in the
      harderian gland, SCGx did not modify the T45'D activity in either BAT, BFC, or
      the pituitary gland. The results suggest that elevated plasma catecholamines are
      not required for harderian gland T45'D activation and that the nyctohemeral
      profile of the enzyme activity in the harderian gland is dependent on the
      noradrenergic input from the superior cervical ganglia.

PMID- 1443122
TI  - Glucose-induced insulin release in islets of young rats: time-dependent
      potentiation and effects of 2-bromostearate.
AB  - The development of glucose-stimulated insulin release and time-dependent
      potentiation (TDP) has been studied in isolated islets from 7-, 14-, and 21-day
      old and 3-mo-old rats. Responses were small at 7 days and changed little at 14
      days. At 21 days the amount of insulin released in response to glucose was two
      times that at 14 days but was still less than one-half that released by 3-mo
      islets. Glucose-induced TDP was absent at 7 days but was present at 21 days. The
      second phase response to glucose decreased with perifusion time in 7-, 14-, and
      21-day islets. In 7- and 21-day islets, high glucose in the presence of 2
      bromostearate, an inhibitor of fatty acid oxidation, prevented the time-dependent
      decrease in responses; in addition, it induced TDP and enhanced TDP in the 7-day
      and 21-day islets, respectively. The data suggest that, in the young islet,
      glucose metabolism fails to inhibit fatty acid oxidation as it does in the mature
      islet and that this leads to a diminished signal for stimulus-secretion coupling.

PMID- 1443123
TI  - Inhibition of hepatic ketogenesis by tumor necrosis factor-alpha in rats.
AB  - Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) stimulates hepatic lipogenesis.
      Therefore, it could play a role in the control of ketogenesis. To test this
      hypothesis, we measured simultaneously free fatty acids (FFA; [1-13C]palmitate)
      and ketone body (KB; [3,4-13C2]acetoacetate) kinetics, before and after
      intraperitoneal injection of saline or TNF-alpha, in postabsorptive rats or rats
      starved for 24 h. In both groups of rats, TNF-alpha injection did not modify
      insulinemia and induced a moderate increase of FFA concentrations and appearance
      rates (P < 0.05). Despite increased FFA availability, ketogenesis was impaired
      after TNF-alpha injection, as shown by lower KB concentrations and appearance
      rates; this effect was more important in postabsorptive than in starved rats. The
      percentage of FFA flux used for ketogenesis was decreased by TNF-alpha in the
      postabsorptive group (P < 0.05) and starved (P < 0.05) rats. In both groups,
      maximal liver acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase activity and estimated
      phosphorylation state were not modified by TNF-alpha injection, but hepatic
      concentrations of citrate were increased (P < 0.05). This increased citrate level
      could be related to a mobilization of glucose stored as glycogen since liver
      glycogen was decreased by TNF-alpha injection (P < 0.05). In conclusion, TNF
      alpha injection in rats decreased hepatic ketogenesis. This action could be
      related to an increased mobilization and utilization of carbohydrate stores.

PMID- 1443124
TI  - Visceral fat accumulation in obese subjects: relation to energy expenditure and
      response to weight loss.
AB  - Seventy-eight healthy obese subjects, 40 premenopausal women and 38 men aged 27
      51 yr received a 4.2 MJ/day energy-deficit diet for 13 wk. Resting metabolic rate
      (RMR) and diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) were measured by indirect calorimetry.
      Abdominal subcutaneous and visceral fat areas were calculated from magnetic
      resonance imaging scans before and after weight loss. Before weight loss,
      visceral fat accumulation was positively correlated with higher levels of RMR (P
      < 0.05) and DIT (P < 0.01) in women but not in men. The mean weight reduction was
      12.2 +/- 3.5 (SD) kg. In men but not in women, an initially large visceral fat
      depot was associated with a reduced loss of weight and total fat mass (P < 0.05).
      Within each sex, an initial abundance of visceral fat was significantly related
      to a larger loss of visceral fat (P < 0.001) and in men to a smaller loss of
      subcutaneous fat (P < 0.05). These results suggest that there may be gender
      differences in the associations between visceral fat accumulation and components
      of energy expenditure (RMR and DIT) in obese subjects. Obese subjects with an
      initial abundance of visceral fat do not lose more body weight but more visceral
      fat than subjects with less visceral fat.

PMID- 1443125
TI  - Early metabolic consequences of epidermal growth factor administration to
      neonatal rats.
AB  - Daily administration of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to neonatal rodents elicits
      a classic morphogenetic syndrome. In this study, we examined the early (minutes
      to hours) consequences of EGF treatment in the neonatal rat (age 0-72 h).
      Significant findings included a rapid reduction in resting heart rate 4 h after
      EGF treatment accompanied by a sensitive dose- and age-dependent decrease in
      systemic oxygen consumption (VO2). Midscapular skin temperature (MST) was
      measured as a putative noninvasive indicator of brown adipose tissue
      thermogenesis. As little as 10 ng EGF/g body wt elicited a significant reduction
      in MST. Both the decrease in VO2 evoked by EGF and the MST response were
      potentiated by environmental cold exposure. EGF treatment also resulted in rapid
      (90 min) reductions in circulating levels of glycerol, triglyceride, and
      cholesterol while increasing serum glucose and arachidonic acid. Other free fatty
      acids were unaffected. Serum lactate levels were increased by EGF with the same
      time course as the reduction in VO2. These results provide new biochemical data
      on the pharmacological actions of EGF and further characterize the EGF-treated
      neonatal rodent as an intriguing in vivo model of growth factor action.

PMID- 1443126
TI  - Leucine as a regulator of whole body and skeletal muscle protein metabolism in
      humans.
AB  - Leucine has been proposed as an in vivo regulator of protein metabolism, although
      the evidence for this in humans remains inconclusive. To test this hypothesis, we
      infused either L-leucine (154 +/- 1 mumol.kg-1 x h-1) or saline intravenously in
      six healthy men in two separate studies. L-Leucine infusion increased plasma
      concentrations of leucine and alpha-ketoisocaproate from 112 +/- 6 and 38 +/- 3
      mumol/l to 480 +/- 27 (P < 0.001) and 94 +/- 13 mumol/l (P < 0.001),
      respectively, without any significant change in circulating insulin or C peptide
      levels. Leucine infusion decreased plasma concentrations of several amino acids
      and decreased whole body valine flux and valine oxidation (using L-[1-13C]valine
      as a tracer) and phenylalanine flux (using [2H5]-phenylalanine as a tracer).
      According to arteriovenous differences across the leg, the net balance of
      phenylalanine, valine, and lysine shifted toward greater retention during leucine
      infusion, whereas alanine balance did not change. Valine release and
      phenylalanine release from the leg (estimated from the dilution of respective
      tracers) decreased, indicating inhibition of protein degradation by leucine
      infusion. We conclude that leucine decreases protein degradation in humans and
      that this decreased protein degradation during leucine infusion contributes to
      the decrease in plasma essential amino acids. This study suggests a potential
      role for leucine as a regulator of protein metabolism in humans.

PMID- 1443127
TI  - Hypertension and insulin resistance: role of sympathetic nervous system activity.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that heightened sympathetic
      nervous system (SNS) activity contributes to the mechanism by which hypertension
      is associated with insulin resistance in humans. We performed frequently sampled
      intravenous glucose tolerance tests to determine tissue sensitivity to metabolic
      effects of insulin (SI) and measured plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels in 21
      normotensive and 14 hypertensive Caucasian subjects. Compared with the
      normotensive subjects, hypertensive subjects had decreased SI (5.4 +/- 0.5 vs.
      4.0 +/- 0.7 x 10(-5) x min-1 x pM-1; P = 0.03) but similar plasma NE levels
      (normotensive: 1.82 +/- 0.12 vs. hypertensive: 1.73 +/- 0.16 nM; P = 0.23). In a
      multiple regression model, only body mass index (BMI) and mean arterial blood
      pressure (MABP) were significant independent predictors of SI [SI = (-0.513)(BMI)
      + (-0.058)(MABP) + 23.6; r = 0.748; P = 0.0001]; age, plasma glucose,
      epinephrine, and NE level did not enter this model. As an additional test of this
      hypothesis, seven hypertensive subjects were restudied after 10 days of guanadrel
      therapy to determine whether SI would increase during suppression of SNS activity
      by guanadrel. Despite a significant reduction in plasma NE levels with guanadrel
      (baseline: 1.63 +/- 0.18 vs. guanadrel: 0.99 +/- 0.14 nM; P = 0.01), there was no
      significant change in SI (baseline: 2.97 +/- 0.78 vs. guanadrel: 2.41 +/- 0.54 x
      10(-5).min-1 x pM-1; analysis of variance P = 0.57). We conclude that, in the
      Caucasian population we studied, heightened SNS activity is not essential for the
      insulin resistance observed in hypertensive humans.

PMID- 1443128
TI  - Endurance training does not enhance total energy expenditure in healthy elderly
      persons.
AB  - Physical exercise is prescribed to older individuals to increase cardiovascular
      fitness and improve body composition. However, there is limited information on
      the effect of exercise on total energy expenditure (TEE) and its components. We
      therefore determined the effects of short-term endurance training in 11 elderly
      volunteers (56-78 years) on changes in 1) TEE, from doubly labeled water; 2)
      resting metabolic rate (RMR), from respiratory gas analysis, 3) the energy
      expenditure of physical activity (EEPA), aside from that associated with the
      training program, and 4) body composition from a combination of body density with
      total body water. Endurance training increased maximum oxygen consumption
      (VO2max) by 9% (2.00 +/- 0.67 to 2.17 +/- 0.64 l/min; P < 0.05) and RMR by 11%
      (1,596 +/- 214 to 1,763 +/- 170 kcal/day; P < 0.01). There was no significant
      change in TEE (2,408 +/- 478 to 2,479 +/- 497 kcal/day) before and during the
      last 10 days of endurance training because of a 62% reduction in EEPA (571 +/-
      386 to 340 +/- 452 kcal/day; P < 0.01). There was no change in body mass, but fat
      mass decreased (21.6 +/- 6.6 to 20.7 +/- 6.6 kg; P < 0.05). The increase in fat
      free mass (49.5 +/- 9.0 to 50.4 +/- 9.1 kg; P < 0.05) was explained by an
      increase in body water (35.9 +/- 6.5 to 36.8 +/- 6.3 kg; P < 0.05). We conclude
      that in healthy elderly persons, endurance training enhances cardiovascular
      fitness, but does not increase TEE because of a compensatory decline in physical
      activity during the remainder of the day.

PMID- 1443129
TI  - Precision and accuracy of doubly labeled water energy expenditure by multipoint
      and two-point methods.
AB  - Two-point or multipoint, that is the question. Equations are developed to compare
      the precision and accuracy of energy expenditure, as estimated from doubly
      labeled water data, when analyzed by the multipoint and two-point methods. The
      equations convert the enrichments of deuterium and oxygen-18 into their ratio and
      product, quantities that are less covariant than the two isotopes themselves are.
      This is important not only for estimating the precision but also as a graphical
      aid, since the ratios of the enrichments model carbon dioxide production, whereas
      the enrichment products largely model water turnover. Using data on 12 human
      subjects from the United Kingdom and The Gambia as examples, the combined
      precision and accuracy of the multipoint method (CV 3.6%) was found to be
      appreciably better than the two-point method (CV 5.4%). The bias in the
      multipoint estimate of body pool size would need to be three times as large as
      was observed before it canceled out the better precision.

PMID- 1443130
TI  - Membrane receptors for aldosterone: a novel pathway for mineralocorticoid action.
AB  - Rapid nongenomic in vitro effects of aldosterone on intracellular electrolytes,
      cell volume, and Na(+)-H+ antiport have been found in human mononuclear
      leukocytes (HML). Binding of 125I-labeled aldosterone to plasma membranes of HML
      shares important features with these functional data. This includes a very low
      apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.1 nM for both aldosterone and the effect
      on the Na(+)-H(+)-antiport, a high turnover rate, and the almost exclusive
      binding selectivity for aldosterone. Dexamethasone, RU 26988, corticosterone,
      ouabain, amiloride, and 18-hydroxyprogesterone were inactive as ligands.
      Deoxycorticosterone acetate had an intermediate activity with an apparent Kd of
      100 nM. These findings are the first to demonstrate membrane binding of
      aldosterone being compatible with major aspects of its nongenomic effects.

PMID- 1443131
TI  - Influence of growth hormone on glucose-glucose 6-phosphate cycle and insulin
      action in normal humans.
AB  - Increased activity of the hepatic glucose-glucose 6-phosphate (G/G-6-P) cycle is
      associated with hepatic and peripheral insulin resistance in acromegaly. To
      determine whether a similar association occurs after short-term growth hormone
      (GH) elevation within the physiological range, two-step euglycemic
      hyperinsulinemic clamps were performed in normal human males after 12-h GH (2.2
      ng.kg-1 x h-1) and control infusions. G/G-6-P cycle activity and endogenous
      glucose production (EGP) were determined by [2-3H]- and [6-3H]-glucose using
      labeled exogenous glucose infusions and selective enzymatic detritiation. GH
      increased levels of circulating lipid intermediates despite a twofold increase in
      basal insulin (P < 0.005), but plasma glucose, EGP, and G/G-6-P cycle activity
      were unchanged. GH impaired insulin suppression of EGP and lipid intermediates
      and impaired insulin stimulation of glucose disposal, but G/G-6-P cycle activity
      was unchanged. We conclude that increased activity of the G/G-6-P cycle does not
      contribute to the hepatic insulin resistance induced by GH under these conditions
      but that changes in fatty acid metabolism may be partly responsible for the
      impairment in hepatic and peripheral insulin action.

PMID- 1443132
TI  - Mass isotopomer distribution analysis: a technique for measuring biosynthesis and
      turnover of polymers.
AB  - Mass isotopomer distribution analysis (MIDA) is a technique for measuring
      biosynthesis and turnover of polymers in vivo. A stable isotopically enriched
      precursor is administered, and the relative abundances of different mass
      isotopomers in the polymer of interest are measured by mass spectrometry (MS). By
      comparison of statistical distributions predicted from the binomial or
      multinomial expansion to the pattern of excess isotopomer frequencies observed in
      the polymer, the enrichment of the biosynthetic precursor subunits (p) for newly
      synthesized polymers is calculated. MIDA thereby provides a solution to the
      problem of determining the isotope content in the actual precursor molecules that
      entered a particular polymeric product (the "true" precursor). The fraction of
      polymer molecules in a mixture that were newly synthesized during an isotopic
      experiment (fractional synthesis) can then be calculated. We describe some
      mathematical characteristics of MIDA and point out certain advantageous features.
      For example, mathematical estimates of p remain valid even if there does not
      exist a single anatomic or functional precursor pool. The interpretation of decay
      curves of endogenously labeled polymers may be improved by the use of higher mass
      isotopomers, which better fulfill the assumption of flash labeling. By combining
      fractional synthesis values with rate constants of decay, absolute endogenous
      synthesis rates can be calculated. Thus, by using probability logic combined with
      MS analysis, MIDA allows dynamic measurements to be made through analyses on a
      polymer alone during both isotopic incorporation and decay phases. The method has
      been applied to fatty acids, cholesterol, and glucose and is potentially
      applicable to nucleic acids, porphyrins, perhaps proteins, and many other classes
      of polymers.

PMID- 1443133
TI  - Role of platelet-activating factor in hepatic responses after bile duct ligation
      in rats.
AB  - Role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) as a potential mediator of hepatic
      pathophysiology was investigated using a rat model of obstructive jaundice. Over
      a 1-wk course of bile duct ligation, a sixfold increase in tissue levels of PAF
      (1.57 +/- 0.43 ng/g vs. control 0.24 +/- 0.08 ng/g) occurred in the liver,
      whereas no change was observed in PAF levels in plasma. Concomitantly, endotoxin
      was detected in portal blood drawn from jaundiced rats, and antagonism of the
      putative effect of endotoxin by neomycin plus polymyxin B reduced local PAF
      concentrations in livers from jaundiced animals. Induction of neutropenia failed
      to alter the elevated hepatic PAF concentrations. Moreover, a large quantity of
      PAF was released spontaneously from Kupffer cells isolated from livers derived
      from jaundiced rats but not from endothelial cells or hepatocytes from the same
      animals. An in vitro study using cultured Kupffer cells from normal rats
      indicated that Kupffer cells secreted a significant amount of PAF in response to
      lipopolysaccharide challenge; pretreatment of cells with polymyxin B prevented
      this stimulated PAF release. Treatment of animals with either of two PAF receptor
      antagonists (BN 52021 and WEB 2170) partially prevented the increase in tissue
      levels of eicosanoids and O2-derived free radicals and partially alleviated liver
      injury as judged by the appearance of glutamate-pyruvate transaminase in the
      plasma of jaundiced rats. The present study indicates 1) that endogenous PAF may
      be an important signaling mediator for the hepatic inflammatory alterations
      associated with short-term bile duct ligation and 2) that the interaction of
      Kupffer cells with portal endotoxin is the mechanism by which PAF is produced
      locally.

PMID- 1443134
TI  - Ontogenetic development of nutrient transporters in rat intestine.
AB  - We measured intestinal brush-border uptakes of three sugars and three amino
      acids, plus intestinal morphometric parameters, in rats from the day of birth
      until adulthood. Rates of body weight gain had pronounced peaks in the suckling
      phase and again during weaning, separated by a dip at the onset of weaning. These
      two peaks coincided with peaks or plateaus in intestinal growth and in glucose
      (Glc) and proline (Pro) uptake capacities, which may provide the basis for high
      rates of body growth. Pro uptake declined relative to Glc uptake upon weaning,
      reflecting decreasing protein needs for growth and decreasing protein intake
      relative to carbohydrate intake. Fructose (Frc) and lysine uptake increased
      steeply on weaning, whereas galactose uptake declined relative to that of Glc.
      Rats prevented from normal weaning by being maintained on dry milk were generally
      similar to normal rats weaned onto chow. Notably, their Frc uptake still rose
      steeply on weaning despite low dietary Frc levels, suggesting hard-wired
      regulation of Frc transporter development. Our in vitro uptakes are similar to
      modern in vivo values in the same strain of rats. Nutrient uptake capacities
      exceed normal dietary intakes by only a modest safety margin.

PMID- 1443135
TI  - Ontogenetic development of nutrient transporters in cat intestine.
AB  - Cats are unusual among mammals in several features of nutritional ontogeny
      related to their strict carnivory as adults. Hence we measured intestinal brush
      border uptakes of three sugars and six amino acids, plus intestinal morphometric
      parameters, in cats from birth until after weaning. The ratio of amino acid to
      sugar uptake increases with age, in parallel with the increasing
      protein/carbohydrate ratio of the natural diet. At weaning, when galactose
      disappears from the natural diet of cats, the galactose/glucose uptake ratio
      declines steeply, implying a developmental sequence of multiple aldohexose
      transporters. Fructose uptake remains low at all ages. Uptakes of arginine
      (hyperessential to cats) and of lysine are notably high throughout the suckling
      period. The intense perinatal intestinal hyperplasia observed in many other
      mammal species is absent in cats. The developmental course of intestinal uptake
      capacities normalized to metabolic live mass parallels the course of relative
      body growth rates. The "safety margin" of uptake capacity over intake is greater
      for essential than nonessential amino acids and is greatest for the
      hyperessential arginine.

PMID- 1443136
TI  - Glutathione as a primary osmotic driving force in hepatic bile formation.
AB  - Indirect evidence suggests that transport of glutathione (GSH) across the
      canalicular plasma membrane into bile contributes to the formation of the bile
      acid-independent fraction of bile flow. To directly test this hypothesis, the
      present study measured bile flow in isolated perfused rat livers whose biliary
      GSH excretion rate was selectively modulated by administration of GSH monoethyl
      ester (50, 100, and 200 mumol infused over a 20-min interval), a high dose of GSH
      itself (550 mumol over 20 min), and the three amino acid components of GSH (70
      mumol each) with and without methionine (35 mumol). Animals were starved
      overnight to decrease hepatic GSH levels, and livers were pretreated with
      acivicin to inhibit gamma-glutamyl transferase. Livers perfused single pass with
      Krebs-Henseleit buffer excreted bile acids at a relatively low rate of 1-3
      nmol.min-1 x g-1, and this rate was unaffected by agents used to alter biliary
      GSH efflux. In comparison, basal biliary GSH efflux rates were 8-13 nmol.min-1 x
      g-1. Administration of the GSH ester produced a dramatic dose-dependent
      choleresis, a stimulation of biliary GSH excretion, and resulted in the biliary
      excretion of intact GSH ester. Changes in total biliary GSH excretion and bile
      flow were temporally and quantitatively related. Infusion of GSH and amino acid
      supplementation also resulted in higher rates of bile flow and biliary GSH
      excretion, but their effects were more modest.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443137
TI  - Constitutive expression of the taurine transporter in a human colon carcinoma
      cell line.
AB  - The human colon carcinoma cell line HT-29, when grown to confluence, was found to
      take up taurine and accumulate it against a concentration gradient from a NaCl
      containing uptake medium. Replacement of NaCl with choline chloride almost
      totally abolished the uptake. Taurine uptake was dependent not only on Na+ but
      also on Cl-, because other anions failed to support the uptake in the presence of
      Na+. The uptake process was specific for beta-amino acids such as taurine,
      hypotaurine, and beta-alanine. Apparently, a single transport system with a
      Michaelis-Menten constant of 10.6 +/- 0.3 microM was responsible for the uptake.
      Stoichiometric analyses revealed that the Na+:taurine coupling ratio was 2:1,
      whereas the Cl-:taurine coupling ratio was 1:1. Culture of the cells in the
      presence of taurine caused downregulation of the uptake system. These cells were
      also capable of accumulating beta-alanine against a concentration gradient in the
      presence of NaCl. Beta-Alanine uptake occurred via a single transport system with
      an apparent Michaelis-Menten constant of 36 +/- 2 microM. Taurine and beta
      alanine exhibited mutual interaction during uptake. Kinetic experiments strongly
      suggested that a common transporter was responsible for the uptake of these two
      beta-amino acids. It is concluded that the HT-29 cells constitutively express the
      taurine transporter and that this cell line may be a suitable model for
      investigations of intestinal taurine transporter.

PMID- 1443138
TI  - Histamine potentiation by hydroxylamines: structure-activity relations;
      inhibition of diamine oxidase.
AB  - Hydroxylamines potentiated the responses of the canine colonic epithelium to
      histamine but not to other agonists such as serotonin or carbachol. We tested the
      hypothesis that an inhibition of histamine catabolism could explain the observed
      potentiation. A clear structure activity relation was defined, active compounds
      having the structure NH2-O-R, R being a simple uncharged aliphatic group. Active
      compounds delayed the disappearance of histamine from the bathing solutions and
      inhibited colonic diamine oxidase, an effect mimicked by standard inhibitors
      aminoguanidine and semicarbazide. Histamine agonists that possessed an imidazole
      nucleus (2- and 4-methylhistamine) were affected, whereas impromidine, 2
      pyridylethylamine, and dimaprit were not. Agonist specificity combined with the
      enzyme data suggest an inhibition of histamine catabolism as a possible mechanism
      for the potentiating effects observed.

PMID- 1443139
TI  - Importance of the liver in plasma clearance of hepatocyte growth factors in rats.
AB  - After intravenous administration of 125I-labeled hepatocyte growth factor (HGF),
      trichloroacetic acid-precipitable radioactivity in the plasma disappeared rapidly
      with an early phase half-life of 4 min. The amounts of 125I-HGF distributed to
      the liver, adrenal, spleen, kidney, and lung tissues were much greater than those
      that could be accounted for by distribution to the extracellular space alone. The
      first-pass removal of 125I-HGF by the liver was approximately 26%; the liver
      accounted for approximately 70% of early-phase removal. The hepatic handling was
      also analyzed using a single-pass perfused liver system. The steady-state
      extraction ratio of tracer 125I-HGF was 0.48 but dropped to 0.23 in the presence
      of excess HGF (135 pM), demonstrating hepatic removal saturation of HGF. In the
      presence of excess HGF, the heparin-washable 125I-HGF, the heparin-resistant and
      acid-washable 125I-HGF, and the internalized 125I-HGF dropped to 54, 31, and 32%
      of the control values. The presence of at least two binding sites for HGF on the
      liver cell surfaces was made clear: the heparin-washable site and the heparin
      resistant and acid-washable binding site, considered to have higher affinity for
      HGF. The internalization of 125I-HGF was observed to some extent even in the
      presence of excess HGF and phenylarsine oxide, known to be an inhibitor of
      polypeptides receptor-mediated endocytosis, suggesting the contribution of a
      relatively nonspecific internalization mechanism as well as receptor-mediated
      endocytosis.

PMID- 1443140
TI  - Intestinal absorption and lymphatic transport of peroxidized lipids in rats:
      effect of exogenous GSH.
AB  - We previously found that mucosal glutathione (GSH) plays an important role in the
      intestinal metabolism of luminal peroxidized lipids [T. Y. Aw, M. W. Williams,
      and L. Gray. Am. J. Physiol. 262 (Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 25): G99-G106,
      1992]. To determine the effects of exogenous GSH on lipid hydroperoxide
      elimination under conditions in which mucosal GSH was initially depleted with
      buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), we infused peroxidized lipid solutions without or
      with GSH into the proximal intestine of rats and monitored the steady-state
      output of hydroperoxides in lymph and recovery of luminal hydroperoxides. GSH
      supplementation in BSO-treated rats resulted in a concentration-dependent
      attenuation of lymphatic output of peroxidized lipids that was correlated with
      increases in mucosal GSH. Compared with BSO control, the luminal lipid
      hydroperoxide contents were significantly lower in GSH-supplemented rats,
      consistent with enhanced elimination of peroxidized lipids by exogenous GSH. The
      effect of GSH was ameliorated by the inhibitors of GSH uptake, suggesting that
      the uptake of GSH is required for promotion of intestinal removal of luminal
      hydroperoxides. Other thiols, either at comparable or higher concentrations than
      GSH, were without significant effects on lymphatic transport or luminal recovery
      of lipid hydroperoxides, indicating that these thiols are poor substitutes for
      GSH. Overall, the data are consistent with exogenous GSH being a source for
      cellular reduction of peroxidized lipids. Results from these studies could
      directly impact on future consideration of therapeutic means to increase cellular
      antioxidant systems to promote intestinal hydroperoxide detoxication.

PMID- 1443141
TI  - Symptomatic responses to stimulation of sensory pathways in the jejunum.
AB  - We hypothesized that intestinal afferent pathways inducing perception may be
      selectively activated by transmucosal electrical nerve stimulation, without
      disruption of the intrinsic myoelectrical rhythm. Hence, in 12 healthy subjects
      we measured perception (by a questionnaire) and jejunal slow wave activity (by
      electromyography), and we randomly applied for 1 min at 5-min intervals graded
      electrical (15 Hz, 100 microseconds) and mechanical stimuli (balloon distension)
      in the jejunum up to the respective discomfort threshold. Electrical and
      mechanical stimuli induced dose-related perception; the perception and discomfort
      thresholds were 39 +/- 7 and 63 +/- 6 mA and 31 +/- 3 and 49 +/- 5 ml for
      electrical and mechanical stimuli, respectively. More than one-half of electrical
      stimuli elicited clinical-type symptoms (abdominal pressure, fullness, colicky or
      sharp sensation) similar to those induced by mechanical stimuli; the remaining
      electrical stimuli (38 +/- 10%) induced paresthesia or flutterlike sensation.
      Similar types of symptoms were perceived with weak and strong stimuli. Jejunal
      slow wave activity (11.3 +/- 0.4 cycles/min) was not modified by either stimuli.
      We conclude that activation of intestinal sensory pathways, either by
      transmucosal nerve stimulation or via mechanoreceptors, induces a similar dose
      related symptomatic response, without interfering with the intrinsic
      myoelectrical activity.

PMID- 1443142
TI  - Sphincter of Oddi regulates flow by acting as a variable resistor to flow.
AB  - Two models of transsphincteric flow and a model evaluating pumping activity were
      established in the anesthetized Australian brush-tailed possum to determine
      whether the sphincter of Oddi (SO) acts as a resistor or as a pump. A simple
      model of transsphincteric flow (inflow only) demonstrated that at physiological
      common bile duct (CBD) pressure, 9.5 +/- 0.3 cmH2O (n = 7), transsphincteric flow
      occurred between SO pressure waves (n = 10). A second more complex
      transsphincteric flow model was established that permitted simultaneous
      measurements of inflow, outflow, CBD pressure, SO basal pressure, SO contraction
      frequency, and amplitude. At physiological CBD pressure, inflow always equaled
      outflow (157.0 +/- 11.2 and 156.4 +/- 11.4 microliters/min, respectively; n = 7).
      The SO displayed regular contractions superimposed on a basal pressure of 1.1 +/-
      0.4 mmHg. Contraction amplitude was 12.6 +/- 3.0 mmHg and the frequency was 3.6
      +/- 0.4 contractions/min (n = 7). Pressure waves recorded in the CBD corresponded
      to the SO contractions and reflected SO activity. Transsphincteric flow occurred
      between SO contractions and was obstructed by these contractions. Stimulation of
      SO activity (basal pressure and contraction frequency) with intra-arterial
      injections of motilin (200 ng/kg) or erythromycin (200 micrograms/kg) abolished
      transsphincteric flow. Reduction in SO contraction frequency to 72.7 +/- 7.2% (P
      < 0.01, paired t test) after administration of Cisapride (2 mg/kg iv) increased
      transsphincteric flow to 147.6 +/- 12.3% (n = 7, P < 0.05, paired t test). In six
      possums, possible SO pumping action was evaluated. A manometer was connected to
      the CBD, and a second manometer was connected to the duodenum surrounding the
      papilla.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443143
TI  - Effect of increased tissue oxygen uptake on autoregulation in postnatal
      intestine.
AB  - To determine whether the rate of tissue oxygen utilization affects pressure-flow
      autoregulation in an age-dependent fashion in postnatal swine intestine, in vitro
      gut loops from 3- and 35-day-old swine were subjected to a 35% step reduction in
      arterial pressure under control conditions, during intra-arterial infusion of 2,4
      dinitrophenol (DNP), and 30 min after luminal instillation of predigested
      artificial swine milk. Autoregulation was quantitated by determining the effect
      of pressure reduction on vascular resistance, and also by calculating Gf, a flow
      controlling gain factor that relates pressure and flow. DNP infusion increased
      oxygen uptake 77 and 58% in gut from 3- and 35-day-old swine, respectively,
      whereas feeding increased oxygen uptake approximately 50% in both groups. Under
      control conditions, arterial pressure reduction had no effect on vascular
      resistance in either group. During DNP infusion and 30 min after feeding,
      however, intestine from 35- but not from 3-day-old swine demonstrated significant
      vasodilation in response to pressure reduction. Gf averaged -0.06 +/- 0.11 vs.
      0.21 +/- 0.08 (P < 0.05) before vs. DNP infusion, and 0.06 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.22 +/-
      0.06 (P < 0.05) before vs. 30 min after feeding in intestine from 35-day-old
      swine; these increases in Gf indicate that the intensity of the pressure-flow
      response increased during experimental treatments. In contrast, Gf averaged -0.11
      +/- 0.07 vs. -0.23 +/- 0.08 before vs. DNP infusion, and -0.23 +/- 0.06 vs. -0.23
      +/- 0.09 before vs. 30 min after feeding in intestine from 3-day-old
      swine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443144
TI  - Structural requirements of peptide YY for biological activity at enteric sites.
AB  - Peptide YY (PYY) is a colonic hormone consisting of 36 amino acids that is a
      potent inhibitor of pancreatic exocrine, gastric acid, and insulin secretion. The
      objective of the present experiments was to characterize the structural
      requirements of PYY for inhibition of pancreatic exocrine, gastric acid, and
      insulin secretion, using conscious dogs prepared with gastric and pancreatic
      fistulas. Intravenous administration of PYY-(1-36), PYY-(3-36), or PYY-(4-36)
      (400 pmol.kg-1 x h-1) inhibited cholecystokinin-8-stimulated (25 pmol.kg-1 x h-1)
      pancreatic exocrine secretion (P < 0.05); however, PYY-(1-10), PYY-(1-20), PYY-(6
      36), PYY-(10-36), PYY-(13-36), PYY-(24-36), and PYY-(27-36) did not inhibit
      pancreatic exocrine secretion. Intravenous administration of PYY-(1-36), PYY-(3
      36), or PYY-(4-36) (200, 400, 800 pmol.kg-1 x h-1) inhibited pentagastrin (0.5
      microgram.kg-1 x h-1)-stimulated gastric acid secretion (P < 0.05), as well as 2
      deoxy-D-glucose-stimulated insulin release (75 mg/kg) in a dose-related manner.
      PYY-(6-36), PYY-(13-36), and [Leu31, Pro34] neuropeptide Y did not inhibit either
      gastric acid secretion or insulin release. In the gastric acid and insulin
      secretion bioassays, PYY-(1-36) was significantly more potent than PYY-(3-36) and
      PYY-(4-36); however, in the pancreatic exocrine secretion bioassay, the
      inhibitory effects of PYY-(3-36) and PYY-(1-36) did not differ significantly. PYY
      (4-36) was less potent than PYY-(1-36) on pancreatic exocrine secretion.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443145
TI  - Passive autoregulation of portal venous pressure: distensible hepatic resistance.
AB  - Hepatic resistance to portal blood flow is extremely low and both the pre- and
      postsinusoidal resistance sites are distensible. Both isolated in situ and in
      vivo vascular circuitry were used in cats to demonstrate the principle of
      distensible resistance as a mechanism for the observation that blood flow was
      able to be decreased from 50 to 20 ml.min-1 x kg-1 while intrahepatic pressure
      decreased by only 1.4 +/- 0.2 mmHg and portal pressure by 2.0 +/- 0.4 mmHg.
      Presinusoidal resistance increased by 226% and hepatic venous resistance by 57%,
      thus accounting for passive autoregulation of portal pressure. The relation
      between vascular resistance and the distending blood pressure that acts on the
      resistance is predictable from the relationship IC = R.Pd3, where IC is the index
      of contractility (does not change passively, but does change with active vascular
      tone changes), R is vascular resistance (changes actively and passively), and Pd
      is distending blood pressure (estimated as the average of pressure on either side
      of the resistance vessels). The relatively minor effect of portal flow on portal
      pressure is accounted for by a combination of factors including the low basal
      resistance, the distensible resistance, the hepatic arterial buffer response, and
      hepatic blood volume compliance. By calculation of IC, the venous distensibility
      can be quantified and the passive effect of flow changes on portal and
      intrahepatic pressure determined.

PMID- 1443146
TI  - Electrophysiological identification of vagally innervated enteric neurons in
      guinea pig stomach.
AB  - Myenteric "command neurons" are thought to be the interface between extrinsic and
      intrinsic controls of gut functions and are thought to be responsible for
      transmission of vagal impulses to enteric microcircuits. To identify,
      electrophysiologically, myenteric neurons responding to electrical stimulation of
      the vagus, we developed an in vitro preparation of the gastric myenteric plexus
      in which the vagal innervation was preserved. The majority of myenteric neurons
      [102 of 155 (66%)] received fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs)
      after stimulation of the vagus. The proportion of neurons receiving vagal input
      was highest at the lesser curve (98%) and decreased gradually when recordings
      were made from neurons located toward the greater curve. Only a small proportion
      of neurons (4 of 85 cells) showed a slow EPSP after a burst of vagal stimulation.
      No postsynaptic inhibitory potentials were observed. There was no preferential
      vagal input to either gastric I, gastric II, or gastric III neurons. The fEPSPs
      were due to the release of acetylcholine acting postsynaptically on nicotinic
      receptors. The behavior of the fEPSPs suggests multiple vagal inputs to a
      majority of myenteric neurons. Our observations call into question the concept of
      enteric command neurons in favor of a divergent vagal input with widespread
      modulatory influences over gastric enteric neurotransmission.

PMID- 1443147
TI  - Helicobacter pylori-associated ammonia production enhances neutrophil-dependent
      gastric mucosal cell injury.
AB  - The role of neutrophil and its chlorinated oxidant were investigated in
      Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric mucosal injury in vitro. Luminol-dependent
      chemiluminescence (ChL) was used to detect neutrophil-derived oxidants. ChL
      activity was significantly elevated when neutrophils were incubated in H. pylori,
      indicating that H. pylori actually elicits oxidative burst of neutrophils. To
      assess whether H. pylori-activated neutrophils exert the cytotoxicity for gastric
      mucosal cells, rabbit gastric mucosal cell was monolayered in culture wells and
      labeled with a fluorescence dye, 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)carboxy
      fluorescein, which is retained in the intracellular space as long as the cell
      membrane is intact. Labeled cells were coincubated with neutrophils and H.
      pylori. We inferred from the cytotoxicity index (specific %cytotoxicity), which
      was calculated from fluorometrical measurements of supernatant and lysate, that
      the mucosal cells were significantly damaged by H. pylori-activated neutrophils.
      This injury was largely attenuated by eliminating urea from the incubation
      mixture or by acetohydroxamic acid, a potent urease inhibitor. Additionally, the
      scavengers of neutrophil-derived oxidants, including taurine, methionine, and
      catalase, also attenuated this injury. Cultured mucosal cells that were exposed
      to the solution containing monochloramine (an oxidant yielded by reaction of
      hypochlorous acid and ammonia) were highly damaged compared with cells exposed to
      hypochlorous acid or hydrogen peroxide at physiological concentrations. These
      data suggest that H. pylori-activated neutrophils promote gastric mucosal cell
      injury and that monochloramine plays a unique and important role in this process.

PMID- 1443148
TI  - A new method for quantitating intracellular transport: application to the thyroid
      hormone 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine.
AB  - After entering cells from plasma, molecules must permeate through the cytoplasm
      before they can be metabolized or excreted. If sufficiently slow, cytoplasmic
      transport may determine the overall rate of cellular elimination at steady state.
      Cytoplasmic transport of amphipathic molecules should be particularly slow
      because of extensive binding to intracellular membranes and proteins. Traditional
      transport models assume that molecules become instantly available for metabolism
      and canalicular excretion after entering the cell and thus cannot be used to
      assess cytoplasmic transport. We therefore extended the traditional multiple
      indicator dilution (MID) method of Goresky to explicitly incorporate cytoplasmic
      transport and used the resulting model to estimate the rate constant for
      cytoplasmic transport of the amphipathic thyroid hormone 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine
      (T3). We chose T3 because control studies indicated that it is neither
      metabolized nor excreted during the brief period of an MID experiment (40-90 s).
      The traditional MID model was unable to account for the data unless we postulated
      rapid metabolism or excretion of T3. In contrast, the new diffusion MID model fit
      the data closely without this false assumption and gave values for the influx and
      efflux rate constants that agreed with previously published data. The half-time
      for equilibration of T3 across the cytoplasm of the hepatocyte averaged 50 s.
      This corresponds to an effective cytoplasmic diffusion constant of 3.1 x 10(-8)
      cm2/s, which is > 100 times slower than expected for free T3 in water. Our
      results indicate that cytoplasmic transport of this model amphipathic compound is
      much slower than membrane transport.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443149
TI  - Protein kinase C regulation of IEC-6 cell ornithine decarboxylase.
AB  - Experiments were performed to immunologically identify protein kinase C (PKC) in
      cultured IEC-6 cells. Polyclonal antibodies specific to PKC revealed an
      immunoreactive band of approximately 84 kDa in both cytosolic and solubilized
      particulate fractions. Treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; 10 nM
      x 60 min) increased the intensity of the 84-kDa band by 25% in the solubilized
      particulate fraction while decreasing it by 36% in the cytosolic fraction.
      Prolonged 24-h treatment with 300 nM PMA completely abolished the 84-kDa band in
      both fractions. Isoform-specific antisera demonstrated that alpha- and epsilon
      isoforms of PKC were expressed in IEC-6 cells. Treatment of quiescent cultures
      with PMA induced a maximal 400% increase in ornithine decarboxylase (ODC)
      activity. Similarly, addition of exogenous phospholipase C (PLC) to quiescent
      cells stimulated ODC activity. Downregulation of PKC with 300 nM PMA x 24 h
      inhibited basal, serum, and PLC-stimulated ODC activity by 70%. Northern analysis
      revealed that PKC downregulation was correlated with a marked reduction in ODC
      mRNA levels, suggesting regulation of ODC enzyme at this level. Despite their
      ability to modulate ODC activity in quiescent cultures, neither PMA nor PLC
      induced [3H]thymidine incorporation at 24 h. Furthermore, downregulation of PKC
      did not attenuate thymidine incorporation. However, chronic PMA treatment caused
      the cells to contact-inhibit at a 30% lower cell density, 3.16 x 10(6) vs. 2.1 x
      10(6) cells/35-mm plate, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443150
TI  - Coordination of deglutition and phases of respiration: effect of aging,
      tachypnea, bolus volume, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
AB  - The effects of aging, tachypnea, bolus volume, and chronic obstructive pulmonary
      disease on the coordination of swallowing with the phases of respiration were
      studied by concurrent respirography and submental surface electromyography. Study
      findings showed that in young healthy volunteers, during rest, there is
      preferential coupling of subconscious swallowing with the expiratory phase of
      continuous respiration. This preferential coupling of swallowing with expiration
      was found to increase relative to other phases of respiration during water
      swallows and tachypnea (P < 0.05). Respiratory phase occurrence of swallowing and
      postdeglutitive resumption of respiration during exacerbation of chronic
      obstructive pulmonary disease was found to be significantly different compared
      with the basal state (P < 0.05). Respiratory phase occurrence of subconscious
      swallowing in the elderly was found to be different from the young (P < 0.05).
      Position had no significant effect on the coordination of swallowing and phases
      of respiration. We concluded that in resting young volunteers the majority of
      deglutitions are coupled with the expiratory phase of swallowing. This coupling
      is increased in frequency by the presence of a liquid bolus and tachypnea. And
      finally, age and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease alter this coordination
      significantly.

PMID- 1443151
TI  - Caco-2 cell transfection by rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase cDNA increases
      surfactant-like particles.
AB  - The rat enterocyte produces a particle with surfactant-like properties (including
      a whorled appearance, enrichment for dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, and ability
      to lower surface tension) that also is enriched for intestinal alkaline
      phosphatase. Human Caco-2 cells grown on polycarbonate filters were utilized to
      study the secretion of these particles and exhibited whorls and strands of
      unilamellar membranes, particularly concentrated at the apical pole or near
      junctional complexes. Concentrated culture medium from these cells separated on
      continuous NaBr gradients revealed a fraction at density = 1.07 g/l enriched for
      phosphatidylcholine and intestinal alkaline phosphatase. This fraction contained
      membranous sheets containing alkaline phosphatase, detected by
      immunolocalization. Phosphatidylcholine comprised 54% of phospholipid in this
      fraction, compared with 20% in brush borders. When Caco-2 cells were transfected
      with cDNA encoding rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase, cellular phosphatase
      activity increased twofold, but activity in the medium increased 14-fold to > 200
      (average 32)-fold. Ultrastructurally, compared with mock-transfected cells or
      cells transfected with human placental alkaline phosphatase, transfection with
      rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase cDNA led to intracellular and extracellular
      accumulation of surfactant-like particles. We conclude that surfactant-like
      particles are produced by Caco-2 cells, and their production can be enhanced by
      transfection with a cDNA encoding a protein known to be associated with such
      particles.

PMID- 1443152
TI  - Organic cation transport by rat liver plasma membrane vesicles: studies with
      tetraethylammonium.
AB  - Recently, an organic cation:H+ antiport was selectively identified on the
      sinusoidal domain of rat liver with the use of the endogenous organic cation N1
      methylnicotinamide (NMN). Absence of NMN+:H+ exchange on canalicular membrane
      suggested that this transport process was primarily involved in organic cation
      uptake, leaving the mechanism(s) for organic cation secretion into bile unknown.
      To further define hepatic organic cation transport, we examined the
      characteristics of tetraethylammonium (TEA) transport in basolateral (blLPM) and
      canalicular (cLPM) rat liver plasma membrane vesicles. In cLPM vesicles, under
      voltage-clamped conditions, an outwardly directed H+ gradient stimulated [14C]TEA
      uptake compared with [14C]TEA uptake under pH-equilibrated conditions, consistent
      with electroneutral TEA:H+ exchange. The proton ionophore carbonyl cyanide p
      trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone had no effect on [14C]TEA uptake, demonstrating
      that pH-dependent [14C]TEA uptake was not the result of a H+ diffusion potential.
      In the absence of a pH gradient, the intravesicular presence of TEA trans
      stimulated uptake of [14C]TEA. Procainamide ethobromide (PAEB), vecuronium, and
      tributylmethylammonium (TBuMA), organic cations selectively excreted in bile, cis
      inhibited pH-dependent TEA uptake. In contrast, in blLPM vesicles, no pH gradient
      dependent [14C]TEA uptake was demonstrated. Instead, basolateral [14C]TEA uptake
      was significantly stimulated by a valinomycin-induced intravesicular-negative K+
      diffusion potential. Basolateral [14C]TEA uptake was also cis-inhibited by PAEB,
      vecuronium, and TBuMA, but not by NMN. Conversely, PAEB, vecuronium, and TBuMA
      had no effect on basolateral pH-dependent [3H]NMN uptake. These findings suggest
      that organic cation transport, with TEA as a model quaternary amine, across the
      canalicular membrane is driven by an electroneutral organic cation:H+ exchange
      and that the transport of certain organic cations across the basolateral membrane
      is via a carrier-mediated system stimulated by an inside-negative membrane
      potential.

PMID- 1443153
TI  - Biomechanical properties of duodenal wall and duodenal tone during phase I and
      phase II of the MMC.
AB  - We used a new method, impedance planimetry, to look at variations in compliance,
      tone, and distension-induced peristaltic activity during phase I and phase II of
      the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) in the human duodenum. A balloon was
      inflated stepwise with pressures up to 30 cmH2O in the duodenum, while the
      pressure and balloon cross-sectional area (CSA) were measured simultaneously. The
      biomechanical wall parameters were calculated from these measurements. Nine
      duodenal phase IIIs were recorded in six subjects. A balloon pressure of 20 cmH2O
      induced a smaller CSA in early phase I [266 (236-324) mm2] than in late phase II
      [385 (276-474) mm2] (P < 0.05). Balloon distensions elicited no contractions in
      phase I, whereas they increased contractile activity 60% (P < 0.05) proximal to
      the balloon and 4% distal to the balloon in late phase II. Step distensions in
      phase I with balloon pressures between 10 and 30 cmH2O increased the CSA from 40
      (30-81) to 645 (603-704) mm2. It increased circumferential wall tension from 35
      (28-63) to 429 (402-466) mm x cmH2O and the pressure elastic modulus from 9.7
      (9.0-14.7) to 33.8 (27.6-33.8) cmH2O, respectively. Thus compliance differs from
      phase I to phase II. This is most likely caused by increased smooth muscle tone
      during phase I. Duodenal wall stiffness increases with the balloon pressure
      applied.

PMID- 1443154
TI  - Limitations of laser-Doppler velocimetry and reflectance spectrophotometry in
      estimating gastric mucosal blood flow.
AB  - This study investigated the accuracy of laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDV) and
      reflectance spectrophotometry (RS) measurements as an index of blood flow in the
      gastric mucosa of the rat, in experimental conditions such as pharmacologically
      induced vasoconstriction, hypoxia, hyperoxia, and acute normovolemic anemia.
      Hydrogen gas clearance was used as a reference method. After vasopressin
      infusion, LDV signal and indexes of hemoglobin (IHb) and oxygen (ISO2) content in
      the gastric mucosa estimated by RS significantly decreased in parallel with the
      reduction of gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF). Neither hypoxia (5% O2
      administration) nor hyperoxia (100% O2) affected GMBF or LDV signal. However,
      both IHb and ISO2 significantly decreased or increased after hypoxia or
      hyperoxia, respectively. Acute normovolemic anemia induced a significant increase
      in GMBF, while LDV signal and ISO2 remained unchanged. IHb significantly
      decreased in linear relationship with the decrements in the hematocrit. It is
      concluded that 1) in pharmacologically induced GMBF changes, LDV and RS correlate
      with GMBF; 2) when changes in hemoglobin saturation are induced, LDV but not RS
      reflects GMBF; and 3) in acute normovolemic anemia, neither LDV nor RS reflects
      changes in GMBF.

PMID- 1443155
TI  - Sodium- and chloride-conductive pathways in cultured mouse tracheal epithelium.
AB  - The utility of a transgenic murine model of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease
      will likely depend on whether the mouse's proximal airway epithelium is
      characterized by Na(+)- and Cl(-)-conductive pathways comparable to those found
      in human airways. Therefore, the electrophysiological properties of primary
      cultures of mouse tracheal epithelium (MTE) were investigated using double
      barreled, Cl(-)-selective microelectrodes. Epithelial cells isolated from freshly
      excised mouse tracheae formed confluent polarized monolayers on permeable
      collagen supports and developed significant transepithelial potential differences
      (approximately -10 mV) within 5-6 days postseeding. Under basal conditions, the
      MTE monolayers had an equivalent short-circuit current (Ieq) of -21.1 +/- 2.1
      microA/cm2 and a transepithelial resistance of 424 +/- 49 omega.cm2.
      Intracellular measurements indicated that the apical (Va) and basolateral (Vb)
      membrane potential differences were -16.9 +/- 1.5 and -25.4 +/- 1.5 mV,
      respectively; apical membrane fractional resistance was 0.36 +/- 0.03; and
      intracellular Cl- activity was 56.1 +/- 2.3 mM. The presence of an apical Na+
      conductance was demonstrated by luminal amiloride application (10(-4)M), which
      decreased Ieq, hyperpolarized Va, and increased the fractional resistance of the
      apical membrane. The presence of an apical Cl- conductance was demonstrated by
      substitution of Cl- with gluconate in the luminal bath, which decreased
      intracellular Cl- activity and increased the fractional resistance of the apical
      membrane. Luminal application of ATP (10(-4) M was also found to increase the
      rate of Cl- secretion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443156
TI  - Differential systemic and intrapulmonary TNF-alpha production in Candida sepsis
      during immunosuppression.
AB  - Candida albicans (CA) increasingly causes septic shock, acute lung injury, and
      multiple organ damage during immunosuppression-related neutropenia. However, the
      effects of neutrophil (PMN) depletion on induction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha
      (TNF) by CA and its potential mediation of Candida septic shock are unknown. We
      hypothesized that reduced CA uptake by circulating PMNs during cyclophosphamide
      (CY)-related neutropenia sensitizes to TNF-mediated shock from enhanced cytokine
      production after phagocytosis by tissue macrophages. Absolute or relative
      neutropenia (PMNs < or = 500/microliters or 2,500/microliters) was modeled in
      rats by intraperitoneal CY 4-8 days before 10(9) yeast-phase CA (acute studies <
      or = 24 h, n = 81 animals) or 10(6) CA (subacute studies < or = 72 h, n = 25).
      Compared with neutrophil-sufficient rats, absolute neutropenia accelerated
      hemodynamic collapse and respiratory distress after 10(9) CA, and pulmonary
      microvascular permeability was amplified. These changes evolved without increased
      candidemia or elevations in bioactive or antigenic serum TNF, which remained low
      even at death (42.3 +/- 14.8 U/ml vs. 12.6 +/- 2.9 U/ml for CY + saline, means +/
      SE, P = NS). In contrast, significant TNF in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar
      lavage fluid (BALF) was evident within 6 h in CY + 10(9) CA rats. Electron
      microscopy confirmed hyphal proliferation into alveoli from yeast within
      mononuclear cells in lung capillaries. Subacute disseminated candidiasis after
      10(6) CA was not associated with elevated serum, lung, or BALF TNF. We conclude
      that differential systemic and intrapulmonary TNF production occur in CA septic
      shock during preexisting neutropenia, with compartmentalized TNF production in
      the lower respiratory tract accompanying yeast-mycelial transformation. Thus TNF
      is not an obligate mediator of acute candidemic shock or subacute disseminated
      candidiasis during CY-induced immunosuppression but may initiate pulmonary injury
      accompanying high-grade candidemia.

PMID- 1443157
TI  - Expression and regulation of human pulmonary fibroblast-derived monocyte
      chemotactic peptide-1.
AB  - Monocyte recruitment is essential for maintenance of normal pulmonary macrophage
      populations. In addition, acute and chronic inflammatory pulmonary diseases are
      associated with sequestration of mononuclear phagocytes in the lung. Although
      alveolar macrophages (AM phi) can secrete a number of potent inflammatory and
      chemoattractment mediators, these immune cells do not produce monocyte
      chemotactic peptide (MCP-1) in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor
      necrosis factor (TNF), or interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). The pulmonary
      fibroblast (PF) may play a pivotal role in monocyte recruitment. In these
      studies, we demonstrate a time- and dose-dependent production of PF-derived
      steady-state MCP-1 mRNA, MCP-1 antigen, and monocyte chemotactic bioactivity
      attributable to MCP-1. In cellular models examining cytokine networks between AM
      phi and PF, LSP-stimulated AM phi (conditioned media) induced PF-derived steady
      state MCP-1 mRNA expression that was markedly attenuated by the presence of
      neutralizing TNF and IL-1 beta antibodies. Furthermore, we showed the dose- and
      time-dependent suppression of IL-1 beta-stimulated PF-derived MCP-1 by
      dexamethasone and prostaglandin E2. These findings demonstrated that PF are an
      important cellular source of MCP-1 and this production of MCP-1 may be influenced
      by immunomodulators.

PMID- 1443158
TI  - Murine pulmonary surfactant SP-A gene: cloning, sequence, and transcriptional
      activity.
AB  - SP-A is an abundant pulmonary surfactant-associated protein whose expression is
      controlled in a cell- and developmental-specific manner. To analyze regulation of
      SP-A gene expression, the murine SP-A gene was cloned and sequenced. The murine
      DBA/2J gene was approximately 4.6 kb in length comprised of six exons and five
      introns. Three mRNAs of 3.0, 1.7, and 0.9 kb were detected by Northern blot
      analysis of murine lung mRNA. Expression of the SP-A mRNAs was first detected at
      day 15 of gestation and increased dramatically before birth. A single SP-A gene
      was detected in the DBA/2J mouse genome. SP-A mRNA was detected in lung but not
      in the gastrointestinal tract, kidney, brain, liver, or heart and was detected by
      in situ hybridization in bronchial and alveolar cells of the murine lung. Primer
      extension analysis with a primer to exon three revealed two extension products
      differing by 9 bp in length, suggesting two closely juxtaposed transcription
      initiation sites. Chimeric gene(s) containing 1.8 kb of 5' SP-A sequences and the
      bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene were expressed in pulmonary
      adenocarcinoma cells and in HeLa cells. Expression of the murine SP-A gene is
      partially controlled by non-cell-selective transcriptionally active sequences.

PMID- 1443159
TI  - Role and mechanism of thromboxane-induced proliferation of cultured airway smooth
      muscle cells.
AB  - Thromboxane (Tx)A2 has been reported to play an important role in modulating
      airway contractility under various conditions associated with airways
      inflammation. To identify its potential role in contributing to airway smooth
      muscle (ASM) hyperplasia, a characteristic feature of asthmatic airways, the
      mitogenic effect and mechanism of action of TxA2 were investigated in cultured
      rabbit ASM cells. The stable TxA2 mimetics, carbocyclic TxA2 (CTA2) and U-46619,
      elicited dose-dependent (10(-12) to 10(-6) M) increases in ASM cell number and
      induced acute augmentation of intracellular inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate
      accumulation. The latter action was blocked by neomycin, a phospholipase C
      inhibitor; however, neomycin had no effect on the promitogenic action of the TxA2
      mimetics. In contrast, TxA2-induced ASM cell proliferation was inhibited by
      inhibitors of phospholipase A2 and 5-lipoxygenase, as well as blockade of the
      leukotriene (LT)D4 receptor. Moreover, in complementary studies, we found that
      exogenous administration of LTD4 (10(-14) to 10(-6) M) potently induced ASM cell
      proliferation and that the TxA2 mimetics evoked the enhanced release of
      endogenous leukotrienes from the cultured ASM cells. Taken together, these
      observations provide new evidence that 1) TxA2 stimulates ASM cell proliferation;
      2) the promitogenic effect of TxA2 is associated with activation of phospholipase
      A2; and 3) the latter mediates ASM cell proliferation via the release and
      autocrine mitogenic action of leukotrienes. The findings support a potential role
      for TxA2 in contributing to the characteristic increase in ASM cell mass obtained
      in asthma and other chronic airway diseases.

PMID- 1443160
TI  - Characteristics of magnetically separated rat tracheal epithelial cell
      populations.
AB  - A simple magnetic separation technique has been developed using lectins specific
      for two of the cell types found in the tracheal mucosa. The resulting populations
      of basal and secretory cells were examined for proliferative capacity in culture
      and in vivo. The basal cell fraction contains the cells that proliferate in
      culture and respond to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. In addition, the
      basal cell fraction exhibited the highest proliferative capacity in vivo during
      the first few days after transplantation. Repopulation of inverted intestinal
      segments showed that only with suspensions containing a significant proportion of
      basal cells could a mucociliary lining be established. Segments receiving the
      same number of unsorted or predominantly mucous secreting cells did not
      repopulate in vivo. These data support the hypothesis that the basal cell is most
      likely the stem cell of the tracheal epithelium.

PMID- 1443161
TI  - Methylene blue inhibits neurogenic cholinergic vasodilator responses in the
      pulmonary vascular bed of the cat.
AB  - The effects of methylene blue, an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, on
      pulmonary vasodilator responses to efferent vagal stimulation were investigated
      in the intact-chest cat under conditions of controlled blood flow and constant
      left atrial pressure. In animals pretreated with reserpine or phenoxybenzamine,
      under elevated tone conditions, efferent vagal stimulation at frequencies of 2-16
      Hz caused stimulus-frequency-dependent decreases in lobar arterial pressure and
      pulmonary lobar vascular resistance. The vasodilator response to vagal
      stimulation was reproducible, blocked by atropine, and reduced by methylene blue.
      Intralobar infusion of methylene blue increased lobar arterial pressure without
      significantly altering systemic arterial or left atrial pressure. Methylene blue
      had no significant effect on vasodilator responses to isoproterenol, albuterol,
      atriopeptin III, lemakalim, adenosine, ATP, and pituitary adenylate cyclase
      activating polypeptide-27 but significantly decreased vasodilator responses to
      acetylcholine, nitric oxide (NO), sodium nitroprusside, and the S-nitrosothiol, S
      nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine. The effects of methylene blue on responses to
      vagal stimulation were reversible and were similar with the addition of a NO
      synthase inhibitor. The present data suggest that vasodilator responses to
      cholinergic nerve stimulation involve an increase in the production of guanosine
      3',5'-cyclic monophosphate in the pulmonary vascular bed. These results provide
      additional evidence to support the hypothesis that neurogenically released
      acetylcholine induces endothelium-dependent, muscarinic, guanylate cyclase
      mediated vasodilation.

PMID- 1443162
TI  - Quantitation of alveolar distribution of liposome-entrapped antioxidant enzymes.
AB  - Liposome-encapsulated Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn SOD) and catalase (CAT)
      were instilled intratracheally in rabbits, and the temporal and spatial
      distribution of Cu,Zn SOD and CAT within the lung was assessed at the organ and
      cellular levels. Specific activities of Cu,Zn SOD and CAT were increased in both
      lung homogenates and isolated alveolar type II pneumocytes. Peak Cu,Zn SOD
      activities in lung homogenates and alveolar type II cells were observed 4 h after
      liposome instillation and returned to control levels by 24 h, whereas CAT
      activities remained significantly above controls. There were no significant
      differences in liposome distribution or antioxidant enzyme uptake among lung
      lobes. The distribution of fluorescently labeled Cu,Zn SOD and CAT was assessed
      with the use of epifluorescence microscopy and digital image processing to
      determine patterns of cellular incorporation of liposome-entrapped Cu,Zn SOD and
      CAT within the lung. Although the mean fluorescence intensity of alveoli from
      rabbits instilled with liposomes containing labeled Cu,Zn SOD and CAT was greater
      than autofluorescence observed with either no liposome or empty liposome
      instillation, fluorescence intensity varied between adjacent alveoli. Both
      fluorescently labeled Cu,Zn SOD and CAT were located cytosolically, and uptake
      was not limited to alveolar type II pneumocytes. These results demonstrate that a
      single intratracheal instillation of liposomes can effect increases in Cu,Zn SOD
      and CAT activities in distal lung cells, including alveolar type I and type II
      cells and macrophages.

PMID- 1443163
TI  - Stretching increases calcium influx and efflux in cultured pulmonary arterial
      smooth muscle cells.
AB  - To determine the effect of a single static stretch on calcium fluxes in cultured
      pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC), calcium influx and efflux were
      evaluated in PASMC on a collagen-coated silicone membrane using 45Ca2+ as a
      tracer. A single 20% linear stretch of the silicone membrane of 1 min in duration
      increased calcium uptake by 71%. This effect was partially inhibited by verapamil
      or gadolinium, but was not altered by staurosporine, pertussis toxin, or removal
      of extracellular sodium. Stretch-stimulated calcium uptake attenuated over time,
      such that uptake during the last minute of a 5-min sustained stretch was 46% of
      that during the first minute of stretch. A single 20% stretch sustained for 6 min
      caused a 47% increase in calcium efflux, the magnitude of which was linearly
      related to the degree of cell stretch. Gadolinium and removal of extracellular
      calcium each partially inhibited stretch-induced calcium efflux. We conclude that
      a single static stretch of PASMC causes increases in both calcium influx and
      efflux. Stretch-stimulated calcium influx does not require sodium influx and is
      mediated in part by a pathway sensitive to both gadolinium and verapamil. Stretch
      stimulated calcium efflux is due to both calcium influx via a gadolinium
      sensitive pathway and mobilization of intracellular stores. Because calcium is a
      key cellular second messenger, these effects of stretch on cellular calcium
      handling may play a role in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell
      phenotype and function.

PMID- 1443164
TI  - Surfactant protein C is recycled from the alveoli to the lamellar bodies.
AB  - To clarify the life cycle of surfactant protein C (SP-C), we obtained alveolar
      surfactant from 3-day-old rabbits killed 15 h after the tracheal administration
      of 32P and L-[35S]methionine. Small amounts of this surfactant were administered
      into the tracheas of 3-day-old rabbits, which were killed after 1 min and 2 and 4
      h. We then analyzed the radioactivity associated with SP-C and with saturated
      phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) in lung lavage fluid and in a lamellar body-rich
      fraction isolated from the lung homogenate. We found that SP-C and DPPC are both
      taken up from the alveolar spaces and incorporated into lamellar bodies, but the
      time courses of reuptake are different. Our results indicate that in the alveoli
      SP-C is turned over faster than DPPC.

PMID- 1443165
TI  - Pathways for glucose transport in type II pneumocytes freshly isolated from adult
      guinea pig lung.
AB  - Previous in vivo studies of sugar transport across the mature pulmonary
      epithelium have provided evidence for the existence of a specific phlorizin
      inhibitable, sodium-dependent transport process for D-glucose, although no direct
      evidence for the cellular location of this transport system in fresh cells has
      been shown to date. With the use of elastase digestion and lectin agglutination,
      a pure preparation of type II alveolar epithelial cells was isolated from adult
      guinea pig lung. This preparation always contained >90% type II cells and
      typically showed approximately 85% cell viability 2-3 h after the isolation
      procedure had begun. At 37 degrees C, cells showed specific [3H]phlorizin binding
      that was attenuated by D-glucose and completely abolished by sodium replacement.
      Substantial accumulation of the hexose [14C]methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside (14C
      labeled AMG), a substrate specific for the sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter
      was found in the presence of extracellular sodium; this accumulation above
      equilibrium was abolished on removal of sodium, addition of phlorizin, or in the
      presence of a saturating concentration (69 mM) of D-glucose. The apparent
      inhibition constant (Ki) for glucose inhibition of AMG uptake was 0.4 mM and for
      phlorizin, 0.5 microM. The Hill plot of sodium activation of AMG uptake gave a
      coefficient of 2.8, suggesting cooperativeness between sodium and AMG transport.
      3-O-[14C]methyl-D-glucose (3-OMG) transport was also blocked by phlorizin.
      Phloretin, in the presence of phlorizin, slowed the initial rate of entry but did
      not affect the equilibrium that was attained in the presence of phlorizin
      alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443166
TI  - Protective and specificity-conferring mechanisms of mineralocorticoid action.
AB  - Several experiments using both the in vivo rat bioassay and the isolated toad
      bladder preparation have been reported that lend support to the hypothesis that
      the enzyme 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-OHSD), in
      mineralocorticoid (MC) target tissues, acts as a "protective" mechanism that
      prevents endogenous glucocorticoids (GCs) from causing MC receptor-mediated
      effects on Na+ and K+. Additional experiments have also indicated that a second
      distinct protective mechanism exists that prevents endogenous MCs from eliciting
      excessive MC receptor-mediated Na+ retention. This second protective mechanism
      may involve steroid-metabolizing enzymes other than 11 beta-OHSD. Since the
      specific GC agonist, RU28362, can elicit Na+ retention and K+ secretion, it is
      possible that a third protective mechanism exists whereby renal 11 beta-OHSD
      prevents endogenous GCs from eliciting GC receptor-mediated effects on Na+ and
      K+.

PMID- 1443167
TI  - Induction and intracellular localization of HSP-72 after renal ischemia.
AB  - To determine whether heat shock proteins (HSPs) might be active in cellular
      recovery following transient ischemia, we examined rat kidneys for 70-kDa HSP
      (HSP-70) mRNA expression, protein elaboration, and intracellular localization
      after 45 min of renal ischemia and reflow of 15 min, 2, 6, and 24 h. Inducible
      HSP-70 mRNA is present at 15 min of reperfusion, peaks between 2 and 6 h, and
      falls by 24 h. Inducible 72-kDa HSP (HSP-72) protein accumulates progressively
      through 24 h and is found in both soluble and microsomal fractions following
      ischemia. Within proximal tubules, immunofluorescent localization of HSP-72 is
      restricted to the apical domain at 15 min, is dispersed through the cytoplasm in
      a vesicular pattern at 2 and 6 h, and has migrated away from the apical domain at
      24 h. A portion of the vesicular HSP-72 is associated with lysosomes; no
      intranuclear HSP-72 is detected. The course of mRNA induction, protein
      elaboration, and HSP-72 localization coincides with previously described changes
      in proximal tubule morphology and polarity following sublethal ischemic injury.
      HSP-72 may be instrumental in cellular remodeling and restitution of epithelial
      polarity during recovery from ischemic renal injury.

PMID- 1443168
TI  - Macrophages mediate adverse effects of cholesterol feeding in experimental
      nephrosis.
AB  - We tested whether the deleterious effects of hypercholesterolemia, in a
      progressive glomerular disease model, may be mediated by infiltrating renal
      macrophages. A single sublethal dose of whole body X-irradiation (XI) delivered
      to rats with acute puromycin aminonucleoside (PA) nephrosis fed a high
      cholesterol (HC) diet resulted in significantly greater inulin and p
      aminohippurate (PAH) clearances at 11 days after PA without any alterations in
      circulating lipid levels, in contrast to nonirradiated HC-fed nephrotic controls.
      This functional protection was associated with significant declines in both
      glomerular and cortical interstitial macrophage number. Over the course of this
      16-wk model, HC-fed PA rats had significantly less albuminuria as well as
      significantly fewer glomerulosclerosis (GS) lesions and less mesangial matrix
      expansion at the end of the study despite an equivalent degree of sustained
      hypercholesterolemia. This data suggests that reducing the infiltrating
      glomerular and cortical interstitial macrophage burden with XI during acute PA
      nephrosis, unaccompanied by any hypolipidemic effect, produces not only early
      salutary effects on renal function but also a significant amelioration of the
      progressive glomerulopathic features of this model. This is consistent with the
      hypothesis that the infiltrating renal macrophage, in large part, directly
      mediates the adverse effects of hypercholesterolemia in this model.

PMID- 1443169
TI  - Chloride transport in a mathematical model of the rat proximal tubule.
AB  - The proximal tubule model of this laboratory [Am. J. Physiol. 250 (Renal Fluid
      Electrolyte Physiol. 19): F860-F873, 1986] has been updated to examine proposed
      pathways for Cl- transport. Two additional buffer pairs have been added, i.e.,
      HCO2-/H2CO2 and NH3/NH4+. At the luminal cell membrane Cl-/HCO2- and Cl-/HCO3-
      exchange are considered as pathways for Cl- entry, whereas at the peritubular
      membrane, Cl- exit occurs by either Na(+)-2HCO3-/Cl- exchange or K(+)-Cl-
      cotransport. Calculations with this model indicate that absolute proximal
      reabsorption of both Na+ and Cl- are critically dependent on the rate of luminal
      Na+/H+ exchange. In contrast, increases in the coefficient for Cl-/HCO2- exchange
      have little impact on overall Cl- flux, but, by enhancing base secretion, limit
      the depression of end-proximal HCO3-. Model calculations confirm those of Preisig
      and Alpern (J. Clin. Invest. 83: 1859-1867, 1989) showing that their measured
      value of luminal membrane H2CO2 permeability is inadequate to sustain the
      transcellular Cl- flux as Cl-/HCO2- exchange. Conversely, with sufficiently high
      H2CO2 permeability, luminal Cl- uptake is enhanced along the tubule, as HCO2-
      secretion and luminal acidification increase luminal H2CO2 to values severalfold
      greater than in glomerular filtrate. At the basolateral membrane, the
      thermodynamic driving force across the Na(+)-2HCO3-/Cl- exchanger is small.
      Although its contribution to steady-state Cl- exit may be less than the K(+)-Cl-
      cotransporter, the Na(+)-2HCO3-/Cl- exchanger can be a mechanism by which
      cytosolic acidification enhances peritubular Cl- transport, when luminal
      acidification enhances luminal Cl- uptake. A simulation is presented in which
      impermeant replacement of luminal Na+ leads to enhanced convective Cl- flux
      across the tight junction and alkalinization of the lateral interspace. In this
      setting, cytosolic Cl- depletion via the Na(+)-2HCO3-/Cl- exchanger may mimic
      luminal membrane Na(+)-Cl- cotransport.

PMID- 1443170
TI  - Rat kidney aldose reductase and aldehyde reductase and polyol production in rat
      kidney.
AB  - Mounting evidence indicates that aldose reductase catalyzed reduction of excess
      glucose to sorbitol initiates the onset of certain diabetic complications.
      However, the kidney contains a large amount of aldehyde reductase, another NADPH
      dependent reductase. The study was designed to assess the importance of these
      reductases to sugar alcohol (polyol) production in the kidney. To study the
      ability to reduce aldoses to polyols, both aldose and aldehyde reductases were
      purified from rat kidneys. Incubation studies with purified enzymes clearly
      demonstrated the polyol formation by both enzymes. Galactose feeding induced
      polyol accumulation in both medulla and cortex of the rat kidney. Al 1576, a
      potent inhibitor of both enzymes, reduced this polyol accumulation in both cortex
      and medulla, while the selective inhibitors Ponalrestat or FK 366 resulted in
      greater inhibition in medulla than cortex. These results suggest that kidney
      polyols may be generated by both aldose and aldehyde reductases and that aldehyde
      reductase contributes to polyol production in the kidney cortex, the predominant
      site of diabetes-linked kidney lesions.

PMID- 1443171
TI  - Epidermal growth factor accelerates renal tissue repair in a model of gentamicin
      nephrotoxicity in rats.
AB  - Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent mitogen for renal tubular cells that
      possess specific high-affinity binding sites for this polypeptide. However,
      actual function of EGF within the kidney remains to be elucidated. We evaluated
      the effect of exogenous EGF administration on the rate of tubular regeneration in
      an experimental model of gentamicin (GT) nephrotoxicity. Female Sprague-Dawley
      rats were anesthetized, and a miniosmotic pump filled with mouse EGF or saline
      was implanted subcutaneously. Twenty-four hours later, GT (40 mg.kg-1 x 12 h-1
      ip) was given for 4 and 8 days. Groups of treated animals and controls were
      killed either the day after cessation of treatment (days 5 and 9) or 4 and 8 days
      after the end of 8-day GT administration (days 12 and 16). Cortical GT levels of
      groups killed at days 5, 9, 12, and 16 were similar in animals infused with
      saline or EGF. Serum creatinine levels were significantly higher in GT-treated
      animals infused with EGF or saline and killed at days 9 and 12 compared with
      saline-treated animals infused with EGF or saline alone (P < 0.01). Blood urea
      nitrogen (BUN) also increased as a result of GT administration. However, in
      animals receiving GT and EGF and killed at day 16, mean BUN level was
      significantly lower (P < 0.01) compared with rats dosed with GT alone. In treated
      rats, the extent of tubular regeneration, evaluated by the rate of [3H]thymidine
      incorporation into renal cortical DNA or by the frequency of S-phase cells
      (histoautoradiography), was increased in a dose- and time-dependent
      fashion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443172
TI  - Erythropoietin metabolism and pharmacokinetics in experimental nephrosis.
AB  - We studied erythropoietin (EPO) metabolism, regulation, and pharmacokinetics in
      rats with nephrotic syndrome. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into nephrotic
      (puromycin-induced) and pair-fed control groups. Animals were studied at baseline
      and after induction of anemia or exposure to hypobaric conditions (32 cmHg). The
      nephrotic group showed a reduced hematocrit (P < 0.05), a significant urinary EPO
      excretion, and an inappropriately low plasma EPO. Induction of anemia and
      exposure to hypoxia resulted in a less pronounced elevation of plasma EPO in the
      nephrotic group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The blunted plasma EPO
      response to hypoxia in nephrotic animals was associated with a marked rise in
      urinary EPO excretion. Pharmacokinetic studies following intravenous injection of
      recombinant EPO, 100 U/kg, revealed a shorter plasma half-life (t1/2) (P < 0.05),
      larger apparent volume of distribution (P < 0.05), and greater clearance (P <
      0.02) in the nephrotic group than in the controls. Estimated endogenous EPO
      production rate in nephrotic rats with severe anemia was significantly lower (P <
      0.05) than that of equally anemic controls. Thus puromycin-induced nephrotic
      syndrome is associated with marked urinary loss of EPO, relatively depressed
      plasma EPO response to anemia and hypoxia, as well as reduced plasma t1/2,
      increased volume of distribution, and clearance of exogenous EPO.

PMID- 1443173
TI  - Renal hemodynamic effects of exogenously administered adenosine and polyadenylic
      acid.
AB  - Steady-state intrarenal arterial infusion of adenosine (Ado) suggests that there
      may be both afferent and efferent arteriolar actions of Ado. This study attempts
      to further differentiate vascular sites of action of Ado during an intrarenal
      infusion of Ado. We measured the filtration fraction (FF) during intrarenal
      infusion of Ado (33.3 nmol.kg-1 x min-1) in anesthetized dogs to determine its
      transient actions on renal hemodynamics. FF remained unchanged from preinfusion
      levels (0.42 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.46 +/- 0.01, respectively) at a time when renal blood
      flow (RBF) was significantly decreased (52 +/- 6% of control). During steady
      state, RBF was 96 +/- 5% of control, while FF was significantly decreased from
      control (0.27 +/- 0.02). To determine whether vasoconstriction and dilation to
      Ado are mediated by receptors accessible from intra- or extravascular
      compartments, two Ado analogues [oligoadenylic acid (oligo[A]), mol wt 5,000, and
      polyadenylic acid (poly[A]), mol wt > 100,000] were injected into the renal
      artery, and RBF response was compared with that of Ado. Poly[A] produced a
      transient vasodilation (42 +/- 6% increase in RBF), whereas oligo[A] produced a
      transient vasoconstriction (25 +/- 5% decrease in RBF). Responses to steady-state
      infusion of poly[A] (10 nmol.kg-1 x min-1) were determined in 11 anesthetized
      sodium-depleted dogs. Poly[A] produced a sustained significant increase in RBF
      from 2.83 +/- 0.31 to 3.92 +/- 0.40 ml.g-1 x min-1. This decrease in renal
      vascular resistance was blocked by an intrarenal infusion of the Ado antagonist
      theophylline (0.5 mumol.kg-1 x min-1, 2.68 +/- 0.38 vs. 2.85 +/- 0.38 ml.g-1 x
      min-1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443174
TI  - Folate transport and binding by cultured human proximal tubule cells.
AB  - Because mechanisms for the renal regulation of folate excretion are poorly
      understood, a cell culture system representative of the human proximal tubule
      (HPT) was used for studies of renal folate transport. After confluent cultures of
      HPT cells were incubated with 3H-labeled folic acid (PteGlu), binding to the
      apical membrane was determined by an acid removal procedure, and transport was
      subsequently measured in solubilized cells. Although PteGlu binding was almost
      all specific (suppressed by excess unlabeled PteGlu), HPT cells transported
      PteGlu by specific and nonspecific processes. Specific PteGlu binding and
      transport were both saturable processes, reaching maxima of 0.5 and 0.1 pmol/mg
      protein, respectively, with half-maximal constants of 12 and 50 nM, respectively.
      The PteGlu analogues methotrexate and 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5-CH3
      H4PteGlu) inhibited both the binding and transport of PteGlu, with 5-CH3-H4PteGlu
      being more potent (lower half-maximal inhibitory concentration). In contrast, 5
      formyltetrahydrofolic acid significantly reduced PteGlu transport at
      concentrations (100-250 nM) that had no effect on binding. These data suggest
      that the HPT cells will serve as a good model for studies of renal folate
      reabsorption. Initial characterization of the transport of folate by HPT cells
      suggests two distinct processes, binding to a high-affinity membrane folate
      binding protein followed by a structurally specific transfer into the cell.

PMID- 1443175
TI  - Interaction of Cl- and other halogens with Cl- transport systems in rabbit
      cortical collecting duct.
AB  - We have reported that in the rabbit cortical collecting duct (CCD) we can
      identify electrophysiologically three distinct cell types; the collecting duct
      (CD) cell and the alpha- and beta-intercalated (IC) cell. To further characterize
      the Cl- transport properties of each cell type, we examined the interaction
      between Cl- and other halogens or SCN- in the isolated and perfused CCD by
      intracellular microelectrode impalement. The rapid depolarization of the
      basolateral membrane potential (VB) caused by replacement of bath Cl- with each
      anion revealed that the sequences of apparent halogen selectivity for the
      basolateral Cl- conductance were similar in all three cell types. The ranking of
      Cl- > Br- > F- > I- corresponds to the sequence 5 of Eisenman's series,
      indicating "strong" interaction of the anions with the selectivity site. The
      basolateral Cl- conductance of these three cell types may share common
      characteristics, although I- permeability is less in IC cells than in CD cells.
      Hyperpolarization of the basolateral membrane of the beta-IC cell upon reduction
      of luminal Cl- reflects alterations in either Cl- entry across the apical
      membrane, or Cl- exit across the basolateral membrane, or both. Luminal Cl-
      replacement with each anion showed that the sequence of the hyperpolarization of
      the basolateral membrane was I- >> cyclamate = SCN- > F- > Br-, suggesting that I
      inhibits either apical Cl- entry or basolateral Cl- exit. On the other hand, in
      the CD cell reduction of the perfusate Cl- by replacement with each anion caused
      the basolateral membrane to hyperpolarize with a different ranking: cyclamate = F
      > I- = SCN- > Br-.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443176
TI  - Localization of urea and ornithine production along mouse and rabbit nephrons:
      functional significance.
AB  - Hydrolysis of arginine into urea and ornithine (Orn) was observed to take place
      in several segments of the rat nephron including cortical and medullary pars
      recta of the proximal tubule (PST) and collecting duct (CD). This work was now
      extended to the adult mouse and rabbit. Representative nephron segments, obtained
      by microdissection of collagenase-treated kidneys, were incubated with L-[guanido
      14C]arginine (216 microM). Addition of urease produced 14CO2 + 2 NH3 from the
      newly formed urea released in the incubate. 14CO2 was trapped in KOH and counted.
      In both species, as well as in the rat, the PST was the site of the highest urea
      + Orn production, with an intensity increasing from cortex to medulla. For other
      nephron segments, the pattern was not similar in all species. Significant
      production of urea + Orn was observed in the proximal convoluted tubule and the
      medullary thick ascending limb in the rabbit, but not in the CD of either the
      rabbit or the mouse. The functional significance of this urea + Orn production
      remains unclear. The total amount of urea generated intrarenally by this reaction
      does not seem sufficient to play a significant role in the urinary concentrating
      mechanism. It may be assumed that Orn could be further metabolized to polyamines
      and play a role in maintaining cell integrity and function in the PST, especially
      in its medullary part, exposed to hypertonicity and poor oxygen supply.

PMID- 1443177
TI  - Effects of ATP on pre- and postglomerular juxtamedullary microvasculature.
AB  - Based on evidence that extracellular ATP can influence vascular smooth muscle
      function in other organ systems, experiments were conducted to characterize the
      responsiveness of rat juxtamedullary microvascular segments to ATP. Experiments
      were performed using the in vitro blood-perfused juxtamedullary nephron
      preparation combined with video microscopy. Pentobarbital-anesthetized rats were
      pretreated with enalaprilat (2 mg iv) for 30 min before the right kidney was
      isolated and prepared for study. Renal perfusion pressure was set at 110 mmHg and
      held constant. Under control conditions, afferent and efferent arteriolar
      diameters averaged 19.9 +/- 1.4 (n = 19) and 21.6 +/- 1.2 microns (n = 10),
      respectively. Superfusion with 1, 10, and 100 microM ATP solutions induced
      sustained dose-dependent afferent vasoconstriction of 8.3 +/- 1.4, 12.8 +/- 1.7,
      and 12.1 +/- 2.1%, respectively (P < 0.01). Afferent vasoconstrictor responses to
      ATP were also observed during adenosine receptor blockade. In contrast, efferent
      arterioles were unresponsive to ATP stimulation even at concentrations as high as
      100 microM (P > 0.05). Arcuate and interlobular arterial diameters averaged 82.0
      +/- 15.7 (n = 5) and 43.4 +/- 4.5 microns (n = 6), respectively, during control
      conditions and responded to ATP treatment with a transient vasoconstriction
      followed by a gradual return to control diameter. Interlobular arteries exhibited
      a sustained constriction only at the 100 microM concentration (P < 0.05). These
      data demonstrate that afferent arterioles are more responsive to ATP treatment
      than other renal microvascular segments and suggest the presence of ATP-sensitive
      P2x purinoceptors on pre- but not postglomerular juxtamedullary microvascular
      elements.

PMID- 1443178
TI  - Comparative sensitivities of isolated rat renal arterioles to endothelin.
AB  - The specific intrarenal sites and mechanism of endothelin (ET) vascular action
      are controversial. In this study afferent (AA) and efferent arterioles (EA) were
      isolated from the kidneys of normal Sprague-Dawley rats. Their respective
      concentration-dependent changes in lumen diameter in response to ET-1 were
      compared with those of angiotensin II (ANG II) and norepinephrine (NE). In a
      second series of experiments, the duration of vasoconstriction to comparable
      transient submaximal ET-1, ANG II, and NE concentrations in AA and EA was
      examined. The role of angiotensin II in mediating endothelin vasoconstriction
      also was examined with the converting-enzyme inhibitor captopril (CAP) and the
      competitive inhibitor [Sar1,Ala8]ANG II (SAR). The half-maximal constriction
      concentration (EC50) of ET-1 was less in EA than AA (P < 0.01). EC50 of ET-1 in
      AA was similar to that of ANG II, but was less than that of NE (P < 0.001). In EA
      the EC50 of ET-1 was also similar to that of ANG II, but much less than that of
      NE (P < 0.001). In both AA and EA the duration of ET-1 constriction was at least
      twice that of ANG II and more than fivefold that of NE. Neither CAP (10(-6) M)
      nor SAR (10(-7) M) changed the vasoconstrictor response to submaximal
      concentrations of ET-1 in AA or EA. It is concluded that ET-1 is a potent and
      prolonged constrictor agonist with a small, but significantly greater,
      concentration-dependent effect in EA than AA. The constrictor effect of ET-1 does
      not require ANG II activity.

PMID- 1443179
TI  - Arginine augments neither albuminuria nor albumin synthesis caused by high
      protein diets in nephrosis.
AB  - Dietary protein independently modulates albuminuria (U(Alb)V) and albumin
      synthesis (AlbSyn) in nephrotic rats. While some amino acids are without effect
      on renal hemodynamics, arginine (Arg) augments renal blood flow and glomerular
      filtration rate, increases AlbSyn in tissue culture and isolated perfused livers,
      and could be one specific amino acid causing both decreased glomerular
      permselectivity and increased AlbSyn. Nephrotic rats were fed 10% casein (LP);
      30% casein (HP); 30% casein with the inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis N
      omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (HP + L-NAME); 10% casein supplemented with
      Arg and amino acids that are Arg precursors of or are derived from Arg (proline,
      glutamate, and aspartate) in an amount in the increment between 10 and 30% casein
      (ArgAA); ArgAA supplemented with NH4 acetate to provide a diet isonitrogenous to
      30% casein (ArgAA + NH4); or 10% casein plus an incomplete mixture of amino acids
      (Inc) containing the increment in histidine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, tyrosine,
      lysine, glycine, alanine, serine, threonine, cysteine, and methionine provided
      when the diet was changed from 10 to 30% casein. U(Alb)V increased significantly
      in HP and by a significantly greater amount in HP + L-NAME, but did not change in
      LP, ArgAA, or ArgAA + NH4. U(Alb)V tended to increase in Inc, was significantly
      greater than in LP or in ArgAA + NH4, but less than in HP. AlbSyn
      ([3H]phenylalanine incorporation) was no different in Inc than in HP, and was
      significantly greater than in either ArgAA + NH4 or LP. Increased AlbSyn results
      from increased ingestion of one or more of amino acids in Inc, but not from Arg
      or its precursors or products or from total dietary nitrogen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443180
TI  - Renal innervation plays no role in oxygen-dependent control of erythropoietin
      mRNA levels.
AB  - To assess the role of renal innervation in O2-dependent control of erythropoietin
      (EPO) formation, we have determined EPO mRNA levels in both kidneys of
      unilaterally denervated rats and sham-operated controls using RNase protection.
      To investigate whether possible effects of renal nerve input are related to the
      type of hypoxic stimulus and the degree of stimulation, animals were studied
      under basal conditions, after exposure to normobaric hypoxia (8% O2, 4 h) or CO
      (0.1%, 4 h), and after acute hemorrhage (decrease in hematocrit from 40.8 +/- 0.5
      to 12.7 +/- 0.5% within 7 h; mean +/- SE, n = 6). Serum EPO levels rose on
      average 22-, 49-, and 48-fold under the three stimuli and were unaffected by
      unilateral denervation. Renal EPO mRNA levels in unilaterally denervated animals,
      when expressed in arbitrary units revealed by comparison with an external
      standard, were 7.0 +/- 1.5 vs. 6.3 +/- 2.0 (normoxia), 432 +/- 136 vs. 451 +/-
      156 (normobaric hypoxia), 971 +/- 93 vs. 930 +/- 120 (CO), and 604 +/- 170 vs.
      689 +/- 203 (hemorrhagic anemia) in the intact vs. the denervated kidney (mean +/
      SE, n = 3). Furthermore, there was no difference between EPO mRNA levels of
      either kidney of unilaterally denervated animals and levels in sham-operated
      controls. We conclude that renal nerve input plays no significant role in the
      control of the EPO gene under both basal and stimulated conditions.

PMID- 1443181
TI  - Estimation of erythropoietin secretion rate in normal and uremic subjects.
AB  - We have developed a method for directly estimating the secretion rate of
      endogenous erythropoietin (EPO) in human subjects. Carrier-free recombinant human
      EPO was labeled with 125I by the chloramine T method. Human serum albumin was
      then added prior to removal of free iodide. Seven normal subjects and nine
      patients with chronic uremia and anemia were studied. Each subject received a
      bolus of 125I-EPO according to body size and then a constant infusion for 5 h.
      Secretion rate was calculated as the rate of infusion divided by serum EPO
      specific activity given by the protein-bound counts divided by the EPO
      concentration. Serum EPO concentration was significantly higher in the patients
      than the controls (mean 30.9 pg/ml vs. 11.1 pg/ml, P < 0.05), although all values
      were within the normal range. Mean EPO secretion rate was 255 in the patients
      (range 68-1,101) and 190 pg.kg-1 x h-1 in the normal group (range 52-382). This
      difference was not significant. As the subjects were in a steady state, EPO
      disappearance/degradation was the same in patients compared with controls despite
      a relatively hypoplastic marrow.

PMID- 1443182
TI  - Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger of rat proximal tubule: gene expression and subcellular
      localization.
AB  - The activity of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger, a membrane transporter that mediates
      Ca2+ efflux, has been described in amphibian and mammalian renal proximal
      tubules. However, demonstration of cell-specific expression of the Na(+)-Ca2+
      exchanger in proximal renal tubules has been restricted to functional assays. In
      this work, Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger gene expression in rat proximal tubules was
      characterized by three additional criteria: functional assay of transport
      activity in membrane vesicles derived from proximal tubules, expression of
      specific Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger protein detected on Western blots, and
      determination of specific mRNA encoding Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger protein on Northern
      blots. A new transport activity assay showed that proximal tubule membranes
      contained the highest Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger transport activity reported in renal
      tissues. In dog renal proximal tubules and sarcolemma, a specific protein of
      approximately 70 kDa was detected, whereas in rat proximal tubules and
      sarcolemma, the specific protein approximated 65 kDa and was localized to the
      basolateral membrane. On Northern blots, a single 7-kb transcript isolated from
      rat proximal tubules, whole kidney, and heart hybridized under high-stringency
      conditions with rat heart cDNA. These data indicate that Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger
      protein expressed in rat proximal tubule is similar, if not identical, to the
      cardiac protein. We suggest that the tubular Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger characterized
      herein represents the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger described in functional assays of
      renal proximal tubules.

PMID- 1443184
TI  - A study of regional distribution of renal blood flow using quantitative
      autoradiography.
AB  - Quantitative autoradiography utilizing [14C]iodoantipyrine was used to measure
      regional renal blood flow in anesthetized rats. This technique allowed blood flow
      in any region of the kidney to be measured with a resolution of 100 microns.
      There was no significant difference between flow to polar and middle regions of
      the renal cortex [875 +/- 57 vs. 926 +/- 71 (SE) ml.100 g-1 x mm-1]. Areas of
      high optical density in renal cortex corresponded to peritubular capillaries.
      Mean cortical blood flow was three times greater than mean medullary blood flow.
      Outer medullary blood flow was uniform but significantly higher than inner
      medullary blood flow (272 +/- 16 vs. 45 +/- 7 ml.100 g-1 x mm-1; P < 0.001).

PMID- 1443183
TI  - Age-related changes in alpha 1- and alpha 2-chain type IV collagen mRNAs in adult
      mouse glomeruli: competitive PCR.
AB  - Studies of age-related changes in glomerular extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis
      in normal mice have been hampered by the difficulty of isolating sufficient
      numbers of intact glomeruli and by the inability to quantify different mRNA
      species. The purpose of this study was to identify and quantitate the individual
      mRNAs coding for alpha 1- and alpha 2-chains of type IV collagen in isolated,
      single glomeruli of normal mice at different ages. These data on normal ECM
      synthesis were necessary for the understanding of glomerulosclerosis, a condition
      characterized by excess deposition of collagen. Pools of freshly microdissected
      adult mouse glomeruli were reverse transcribed in situ, and alpha 1-IV and alpha
      2-IV collagen mRNAs were individually amplified by means of specific primers and
      the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), according to a previously published method.
      A competitive PCR assay, based on utilization of mutated cDNAs, allowed the
      reproducible, quantitative, and separate determination of the absolute amounts of
      both alpha 1-IV and alpha 2-IV mRNAs measured, as their respective cDNAs, in one
      tenth of one glomerulus. The levels of alpha 1-IV and alpha 2-IV collagen mRNA
      were 208 +/- 36.0 x 10(-4) and 161.2 +/- 18.6 x 10(-4) amol/glomerulus in 5-wk
      old mice. There were no significant age-related differences at 8, 12, and 24 wk.
      The mean levels over this period were 60.2 +/- 4.9 x 10(-4) for alpha 1-IV
      collagen mRNA and 63.9 +/- 5.8 x 10(-4) amol/glomerulus for alpha 2-IV collagen
      mRNA. Two of three 24-wk-old mice had mild glomerulosclerosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443185
TI  - Organ perfusion by dynamic scintigraphy convection-diffusion tracer kinetics in a
      phantom.
AB  - Dynamic scintigraphy is used widely to evaluate qualitatively the perfusion of an
      organ. Attempts to quantify blood flow to an organ by means of scintigraphic
      imaging modalities have often employed assumptions that lead to oversimplifying
      the physiology of the tracer kinetics. We used a mathematical formalism described
      by W. Perl and F. P. Chinard (Circ. Res. 22: 273-298, 1968), the convection
      diffusion tracer kinetics, model, for parameter evaluation of flow (F) and volume
      of distribution (V). This modeling methodology was evaluated using a circulatory
      phantom with absolute flow measured independently by flowmeter. In a series of 22
      phantom experiments with F/V < 0.32 s-1, there was a strong correlation between F
      and flow probe measurement [r = 0.97; slope = 1.08 +/- 0.06 (SE)]. The
      theoretical analysis comparing this approach with classical tracer kinetics
      methods explains both the satisfactory results for F/V using mean transit time
      and the systematic overestimation of F/V using decay constant methods.

PMID- 1443186
TI  - Renal expression of the gene for atrial natriuretic factor.
AB  - To date, atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) mRNA has eluded detection in the
      mammalian kidney, although we and others have identified ANF protein in the
      kidney using immunohistochemical and immunoassay techniques. Furthermore, we have
      demonstrated the synthesis and secretion of the ANF prohormone in the distal
      cortical nephron of the intact rat kidney and from rat primary cultured renal
      distal cortical tubular epithelial cells. In the present study, we show that the
      ANF gene is expressed in the kidney. Amplification of RNA isolated from rat
      distal cortical tubular epithelial cultures using ANF specific primers produced a
      213-bp fragment that specifically hybridized to a 32P-labeled ANF cDNA. We had
      previously demonstrated these cultures to be enriched for the renal ANF synthetic
      and secretory cell type. However, we were unable to detect an ANF gene transcript
      in total rat kidney RNA using the above-mentioned polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
      conditions. Reanalysis of normal rat kidney PCR products by a second round of PCR
      amplification using nested primers successfully identified ANF mRNA. Similar to
      cultured kidney epithelial cells, normal rat kidney expresses ANF mRNA, but at a
      very low abundance, thus necessitating two rounds of PCR amplification. Further
      characterization of rat cortical distal tubular epithelia poly(A)+ RNA by
      Northern analysis revealed two ANF gene transcripts. A 1.0-kb message that
      comigrated with rat atrial ANF mRNA, and a second larger 1.4-kb transcript. These
      studies further substantiate the synthesis of ANF in the mammalian kidney. Unlike
      the mammalian heart, the kidney contains two ANF gene transcripts.

PMID- 1443187
TI  - Regulatory effect of thromboxane A2 on proliferation of vascular smooth muscle
      cells from rats.
AB  - We investigated the regulatory effects of the vasoconstrictor thromboxane A2 on
      the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from Wistar-Kyoto rats
      using 9,11-epithio-11,12-methano-thromboxane A2 (STA2), a stable analogue of
      thromboxane A2. STA2 dose dependently increased incorporation of [3H]thymidine
      into DNA in randomly cycling VSMC and significantly shortened the doubling time.
      Cell cycle analysis revealed that the increased cell cycle progression was
      primarily due to a rapid transition from the DNA synthetic (S) to the G2/mitotic
      (M) phase. Moreover, STA2 enhanced protein synthesis in VSMC during the G2/M
      phase, whereas the protein synthesis was unaffected in the G0/G1 period. In fact,
      STA2 prompted the cells in G2/M phase to synthesize actin, a major cytoskeleton
      protein. Conversely, inhibition of protein synthesis by puromycin retarded the
      transition from S to G2/M. In addition, depolymerization of the actin molecules
      by cytochalasin D offset the quick progression to the G2/M phase by STA2. These
      data indicate that thromboxane A2 stimulates the cell cycle progression in VSMC
      primarily through a rapid transition from S to G2/M. This enhanced progression is
      attributable partly to a rapid buildup of the cytoskeleton proteins during the
      G2/M period.

PMID- 1443188
TI  - Hypoxia-elicited contraction of aorta and coronary artery via removal of
      endothelium-derived nitric oxide.
AB  - To characterize endothelium-derived contracting factor 1 (EDCF1) released under
      hypoxia, vascular rings isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) aorta
      and canine coronary artery were suspended for isometric tension recording in an
      organ chamber filled with a Krebs-Henseleit buffer. In SHR aorta precontracted
      with norepinephrine (10(-7) M), severe hypoxia induced an initial increase in
      tension by 36.7 +/- 7.5% followed by a 56.9 +/- 5.7% relaxation; moderate hypoxia
      induced only a sustained increase in tension by 20.6 +/- 2.5%. Inhibition of
      nitric oxide (NO) production with N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)
      (10(-3) M) augmented norepinephrine-induced precontraction by 76.1 +/- 12.3% and
      totally eliminated the hypoxic contraction. In canine coronary arteries
      precontracted with KCl (30 mM) in the presence of indomethacin (10(-5) M), severe
      hypoxia caused a sustained increase in tension by 68.9 +/- 7.3%, which was also
      abolished with L-NAME. When L-NAME (10(-3) M) was given after the precontraction,
      both of these vessels developed sustained contractions under normoxia and
      moderate hypoxia. These results suggest that the vasocontraction currently
      considered to be induced by EDCF1 is not caused by a contracting factor but
      rather is a contracting phenomenon derived from continuous inhibition of basal NO
      synthesis during hypoxia.

PMID- 1443189
TI  - Spectrum analysis of sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure in conscious
      rats.
AB  - This study tests whether the power spectrum of blood pressure (BP) provides
      information toward the sympathovagal balance of BP control by comparing the BP
      (femoral arterial catheter) spectrum with the spectrum of the efferent
      sympathetic nerve activity (SNA, bipolar electrode around splanchnic nerve). A
      remarkable resemblance between both spectra was found. A high-frequency component
      (HF) linked to respiration and a slower fluctuation type between 0.15 and 0.6 Hz
      (LF) were identified. There was a large and significant coherence only in the HF
      range of the BP and SNA power spectrum (P < 0.01). The phase lag of SNA and BP
      was roughly 200 ms. The recordings were repeated during pharmacological blockade
      in nine Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and nine spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).
      alpha 1-Adrenoceptor blockade (prazosin) reduced the proportional LF power of BP
      in both rat strains (WKY P < 0.01, SHR P < 0.05) in favor of HF (WKY P < 0.01,
      SHR P < 0.01). Parasympathetic blockade (methylscopolamine) had no effect on
      proportions of power. Similarly, there were no significant differences in the
      proportional HF and LF power spectra of WKY and SHR. These data provide direct
      evidence for a relationship between the BP and SNA power spectra; however, only
      the acute changes in the sympathetic tone changed the LF-HF relationship.

PMID- 1443190
TI  - Role of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in ovine fetal pulmonary vascular tone.
AB  - To study the potential role of ATP-sensitive K+ (K+ATP) channels in fetal
      pulmonary vasoregulation, we studied the effect of a K+ATP channel agonist,
      lemakalim, and antagonist, glibenclamide, on the fetal pulmonary circulation in
      nine chronically instrumented late-gestation fetal lambs. Left pulmonary artery
      (LPA) blood flow was measured with an electromagnetic flow transducer. Brief (10
      min) infusions of lemakalim at 3, 10, and 30 micrograms/min into the LPA produced
      dose-dependent increases in flow from 68 +/- 7 to 96 +/- 11, 160 +/- 15, and 204
      +/- 34 ml/min, respectively. The duration of pulmonary vasodilation after the 10
      min infusions of lemakalim at 3, 10, and 30 micrograms/min was 20 +/- 3, 47 +/-
      10, and 55 +/- 15 min, respectively. Pulmonary blood pressure and flow did not
      change with intrapulmonary infusion of glibenclamide (10 mg), a K+ATP channel
      antagonist. Lemakalim-induced pulmonary vasodilation was not affected by nitro-L
      arginine (10 mg), a competitive inhibitor of endothelium-dependent relaxing
      factor, but was blocked by glibenclamide. Prolonged (2 h) intrapulmonary
      infusions of lemakalim (2-6 micrograms/min) increased pulmonary blood flow by
      137%. The increase in pulmonary blood flow was sustained throughout the infusion.
      Systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures decreased during prolonged infusion. We
      conclude that K+ATP channels are present in the fetal pulmonary circulation, but
      do not participate in the regulation of basal pulmonary vascular tone. K+ATP
      channel activation produces sustained vasodilation that is not mediated by
      endothelium-derived relaxing factor. We speculate that birth-related stimuli
      activate K+ATP channels to enhance the pulmonary vasodilation that occurs at
      birth.

PMID- 1443191
TI  - Capillary length, tortuosity, and spacing in rat myocardium during cardiac cycle.
AB  - Microvascular geometry was evaluated in rat left ventricular midmyocardium (male
      Sprague-Dawley, n = 14), arrested in systole (S) or diastole (D), by bolus
      injections of CaCl2 or KCl, respectively. The histological method employed in
      this study allowed for the visualization of capillary pathways from arteriole to
      venule. Capillary length, as directly measured from terminal arteriole to
      collecting venule, was not significantly different between S and D groups,
      averaging 606 +/- 15 microns (pooled mean +/- SE). The capillary length
      tortuosity, defined as the ratio of the capillary length to the direct
      arteriovenous distance, was significantly increased in systolic-arrested hearts
      (S = 1.31 +/- 0.03; D = 1.18 +/- 0.02, P < 0.01). At the level of individual
      capillary segments, however, there was no increase in tortuosity in systolic
      arrested hearts (S = 1.17 +/- 0.03; D = 1.16 +/- 0.02). Intercapillary spacing
      was significantly more uniform in systolic-arrested hearts. These data suggest
      that in systole, capillary length and tortuosity are generally preserved, and
      capillary spacing is more uniform, serving to maintain geometric conditions for
      oxygen supply during the cardiac cycle.

PMID- 1443192
TI  - Corticoid regulation of atrial natriuretic factor secretion and gene expression.
AB  - This study investigated the acute effects of glucocorticoids and
      mineralocorticoids on atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) biosynthesis in vivo.
      Groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with 1 mg dexamethasone (Dex),
      10 mg deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) or vehicle alone. Different groups were
      studied after periods of 30 min to 8 h. Plasma and left atrial ANF concentrations
      and ANF mRNA levels were measured 2-8 h after corticoid injection. From 30 min to
      2 h after injection, ANF mRNA was analyzed by quantitative and qualitative
      assessments. There was a two- to threefold increase in plasma levels of ANF in
      Dex-treated rats compared with controls at all time periods (P < 0.05). Although
      ANF plasma levels increased over time following DOCA treatment, they were not
      significantly different from control values. Dex treatment also increased
      normalized ANF mRNA levels 77% above control levels during the first 4 h after
      injection (P < 0.05). Thereafter there was a return of mRNA levels to that seen
      in controls. There was no qualitative difference in the ANF mRNA at any time as
      assessed by Northern hybridization. In contrast, DOCA increased ANF mRNA levels
      only after 8 h (P < 0.05). No significant changes in left atrial ANF content were
      noted during this study. In a separate study, Dex was administered to isolated
      left atria in vitro in a superfusion system. Superfusion with 2 x 10(-5) M Dex
      produced a 40% increase in ANF secretory rate within 20 min (P = 0.036). We
      conclude that Dex induces a direct rapid increase in ANF mRNA levels and ANF
      secretion in rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443193
TI  - Effect of coronary perfusion of heptanol or potassium on conduction and
      ventricular arrhythmias.
AB  - Abnormalities in cellular coupling, modulated in part by intracellular gap
      junctions, have an important role in the genesis of reentrant arrhythmias in the
      setting of chronic myocardial infarction. The effects of heptanol, which has a
      relatively selective action on gap junctional resistance at low concentrations,
      and potassium, which primarily affects active membrane properties, were assessed
      using a localized intracoronary infusion system in 11 normal dogs in vivo. Both
      agents caused a dose-related slowing of conduction. Programmed stimulation during
      potassium infusion resulted in ventricular fibrillation in two of six animals
      treated with a low dose (5.0-5.5 meq/l) and five of six animals treated with a
      high dose (7.0-7.5 meq/l). During the infusion of 1.0 mM heptanol, uniform
      ventricular tachycardia was induced in four of eight animals. Infusion of
      heptanol, but not potassium, increased the susceptibility to presumably reentrant
      ventricular tachycardia in normal myocardium. This suggests that agents that
      affect cellular coupling may have markedly different arrhythmogenic consequences
      than agents that primarily alter active membrane properties.

PMID- 1443194
TI  - Prostacyclin rather than endogenous nitric oxide is a tissue protective factor in
      myocardial ischemia.
AB  - Nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI2) were determined in effluents of
      Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts subjected to 2 h of global low-flow ischemia
      and subsequent reperfusion. PGI2 release [6-oxo-prostaglandin (PG) F1 alpha] was
      significantly enhanced during early reperfusion and remained elevated. NO
      formation was reduced during ischemia but did increase substantially during
      reperfusion. Indomethacin (3 microM) significantly suppressed ischemia-related 6
      oxo-PGF1 alpha and NO release. This was accompanied by severely diminished
      myocardial recovery. NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) (100 microM) suppressed NO
      generation without major effects on 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha generation and cardiac
      dysfunction but with a remarkable increase in coronary perfusion pressure. These
      effects of L-NNA were antagonized by L-arginine, whereas the effects of
      indomethacin were not. There was a substantial loss of creatine kinase specific
      activity from reperfused ischemic hearts, which was further aggravated by
      indomethacin but not by L-NNA. These data demonstrate a cardioprotective and
      endothelium-protective role of PGI2 in myocardial ischemia, which also involves
      preservation of NO generation. Endogenous NO appears to be important for local
      regulation of coronary flow.

PMID- 1443195
TI  - Extracorporeal circuits and autoregulation: effect of albumin coating.
AB  - Autoregulation of muscle blood flow often is difficult to demonstrate when
      extracorporeal perfusion is used. This could be caused by contact of blood and
      foreign material. Accordingly, we tested whether autoregulation is preserved when
      the system is coated with albumin. Polyurethane tubing between the carotid and
      distal femoral artery of rats was partially occluded for 1-2 min. With the system
      uncoated (n = 6 rats) autoregulation was absent. With coated systems (n = 6 rats)
      the closed-loop gain (Gc) of the apparent autoregulation (0 < Gc < 1) for the
      pressure range from control (137 +/- 14) to 80 mmHg was 0.40 +/- 0.24 (mean +/-
      SD). In most cases autoregulation was preceded by a period of "superregulation":
      after a variable delay flow rose above control. When the distance between
      occluder and tip of femoral cannula was varied in another group of rats (n = 6),
      the delay (20-75 s) was linearly related to transit time (10-35 s) of blood. Flow
      increase thus seemed to be caused by a blood-borne vasodilator originating at the
      occlusion site and not by a myogenic or metabolic response to decreased pressure
      and flow. The vasodilator did not originate from the albumin coating. Partial
      occlusion of an extracorporeal shunt thus can increase flow to the perfused
      tissue when the system is coated with albumin. The reaction readily disappears
      when the system is not coated.

PMID- 1443196
TI  - Hydraulic conductivity of basement membrane with computed values for fiber radius
      and void volume ratio.
AB  - The basement membrane contributes to resistance to ultrafiltration of the
      capillary wall, but efforts to conduct studies of this material have been
      hindered by difficulty in obtaining homogenous sources and by compression from
      high filtration pressures. We utilized Matrigel in a conductivity chamber and
      showed that it reproducibly yielded a specific hydraulic conductivity of (2.247
      +/- 0.328) x 10(-14) cm2, which is within 21% of that obtained for porcine
      glomerular basement membrane by Robinson and Walton (Microvasc. Res. 38: 36-48,
      1989). No compression or hysteresis was observed over 5-25 cmH2O pressure
      difference. Depending on whether data were fit to drag or hydraulic radius
      fibermatrix models, fiber radius was 0.626-0.696 nm, and void volume ratio varied
      between 0.826 and 0.846, the former agreeing with the major components of
      Matrigel. Ready availability of Matrigel, its uniform hydraulic conductivity, and
      its fit to fibermatrix theory make it ideal to study changes in basement membrane
      during physiological and pathological changes. Moreover, results of such studies
      are likely applicable to endothelial barriers, whose luminal and intercellular
      surfaces are lined with fibrillar materials.

PMID- 1443197
TI  - Relative responses to luminal and adventitial adenosine in perfused arteries.
AB  - Responses to luminal and adventitial adenosine were compared in perfused rabbit
      central ear arteries. Perfused arteries precontracted with 0.5 microM
      norepinephrine relaxed dose dependently but asymmetrically to luminal and
      adventitial adenosine. Arteries were more responsive to luminal adenosine in the
      0.1- to 1.0-microM range, but they were more responsive to adventitial adenosine
      at doses > 10 microM. Alternatively, 2-chloroadenosine, a metabolically stable
      and poorly transported analogue, was equipotent when applied luminally or
      adventitially. Endothelial damage reduced sensitivity and response asymmetry to
      luminal and adventitial adenosine. This was consistent with reduced responses to
      adenosine in luminally rubbed arterial ring segments. Transport inhibition (10
      microM dipyridamole) enhanced arterial reactivity to luminal and adventitial
      adenosine and reduced response asymmetry but was without effect on responses to 2
      chloroadenosine. A comparison of the inhibitory effectiveness of adventitial and
      luminal 8-phenyltheophylline revealed that adventitial antagonist was
      approximately threefold more effective in inhibiting responses to adventitial
      adenosine than luminal antagonist (P < 0.05). This "side-dependent" difference
      was reduced by prolonged antagonist incubation or endothelial removal. The data
      indicate that adenosine relaxes ear arteries by activation of smooth muscle [half
      maximum effective concentration (ED50) approximately 11 microM] and endothelial
      (ED50 approximately 2 microM) receptors. Nevertheless, a sensitive endothelial
      dependent response does not consistently enhance responses to luminal adenosine
      in perfused arteries. This appears to be attributable to relative differences in
      the smooth muscle and endothelium-dependent components of the dilator response
      and transvascular concentration gradients for luminally and adventitially applied
      adenosine. A transendothelial diffusion barrier also reduces the ability of
      luminally applied antagonists to inhibit responses to adventitial adenosine.

PMID- 1443198
TI  - Reversal by increased CSF [H+] and [K+] of phorbol ester-induced arteriolar
      constriction in piglets.
AB  - We determined whether several dilator stimuli could counteract phorbol ester
      induced constriction of pial arterioles. A closed cranial window was implanted,
      and the diameter of one pial arteriole was determined by intravital microscopy in
      newborn pigs. Diameter of one pial arteriole was determined during baseline
      conditions and topical application of 10(-5) M phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate (PDB)
      and during subsequent application of one of the following: arterial hypercapnia
      (inhalation of 10% CO2), topical application of cerebrospinal fluid with 12 mM
      K+, or topical application of 10(-5) M isoproterenol in cerebrospinal fluid. PDB
      constricted the arterioles from 101 +/- 5 to 70 +/- 5 microns (27 +/- 4%; n =
      28). During this period of constriction which lasted longer than subsequent
      interventions (> 90 min), arterial hypercapnia dilated the arterioles by 85 +/-
      19% (n = 12), and topical 12 mM K+ dilated the arterioles by 59 +/- 12% and
      caused vasomotion (n = 7). Despite blockade of direct dilator effects of arterial
      hypercapnia by indomethacin, arterial hypercapnia still reversed phorbol ester
      induced constriction, suggesting that acidosis by itself is sufficient to cause
      this effect. In contrast, topical isoproterenol did not dilate PDB-constricted
      arterioles (n = 9); however, topical forskolin (2.4 x 10(-7) M) did reverse
      constriction, implying that protein kinase C activation may interfere with proper
      functioning of the beta-adrenoceptor. Therefore, increased extracellular fluid
      levels of K+ and H+, but not isoproterenol, are able to interfere with
      cerebrovascular consequences of protein kinase C activation.

PMID- 1443199
TI  - Adenosine improves recovery of postischemic myocardial function via an adenosine
      A1 receptor mechanism.
AB  - The effects of adenosine in the nonischemic heart have been shown to be mediated
      via its binding to extracellular adenosine A1 and A2 receptors located
      predominantly on myocytes and endothelial cells, respectively. We tested the
      hypothesis that the beneficial effect of adenosine on postischemic myocardial
      function is mediated via an adenosine A1 receptor mechanism. Isolated rat hearts
      perfused at constant pressure (85 cmH2O) were subjected to 30 min of global no
      flow ischemia (37 degrees C) and 45 min of reperfusion. Hearts treated with
      adenosine (100 microM) and the adenosine A1 receptor agonist N6
      cyclohexyladenosine (CHA; 0.25 microM) recovered 72 +/- 4 and 70 +/- 4% of
      preischemic left ventricular developed pressures (LVDP), respectively, after 45
      min of reperfusion compared with untreated hearts (54 +/- 3% of preischemic
      LVDP). Adenosine and CHA hearts exhibited greater myocardial ATP contents than
      control hearts after 10 min of ischemia, but there were no differences in tissue
      ATP levels after 30 min of ischemia. In contrast, hearts treated with the
      adenosine A2 receptor agonist phenylaminoadenosine (0.25 microM) failed to
      demonstrate improved postischemic function (52 +/- 5%). The addition of the A1
      selective antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine blocked the
      cardioprotective effect of adenosine (57 +/- 4%). These results suggest that
      adenosine enhances postischemic myocardial function via an A1 receptor mechanism.

PMID- 1443200
TI  - Characteristics and origin of myogenic response in isolated mesenteric
      arterioles.
AB  - Responses to changes in intravascular pressure of isolated rat mesenteric
      arterioles were investigated under no-flow conditions. First-, second-, third-,
      and fourth-generation arterioles were isolated and cannulated. Vascular diameters
      were measured with an image-shearing device and recorded. The arterioles (except
      for the first-generation vessels) developed spontaneous tone, corresponding to
      the step increases in intravascular pressure (from 20 to 160 mmHg, by 20-mmHg
      steps). For example, at 80 mmHg pressure the mean diameters of first-, second-,
      third-, and fourth-generation vessels were 286.9 +/- 5.0, 203.4 +/- 8.2, 92.5 +/-
      4.6, and 35.6 +/- 4.8 microns, respectively; by use of a Ca(2+)-free solution
      containing ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid
      (1 mM) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 10(-4) M) the passive diameters of these
      vessels were 295.6 +/- 6.3, 238.4 +/- 11.7, 120.3 +/- 3.7, and 59.4 +/- 3.1
      microns, respectively, demonstrating that the degree of pressure-induced
      constriction increased with the increasing order of generations (3, 14, 24, and
      43%, respectively). The vasoactive function of endothelium and vascular smooth
      muscle was assessed by the responses of arterioles to acetylcholine (ACh; 10(-6)
      M) and SNP (10(-7) M) before and after removal of the endothelium with air. After
      removal of the endothelium, dilation to ACh was abolished while dilation to SNP
      was retained. Removal of the endothelium did not significantly alter the changes
      in the diameter of arterioles in response to step increases in intravascular
      pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443201
TI  - Glycogen depletion-induced lactate reductions attenuate reflex responses in
      exercising humans.
AB  - Post leg exercise circulatory arrest (PLE-CA) raises blood pressure (BP) and
      reduces peak forearm vascular conductance (C). This reflex is evoked by
      activation of muscle afferents that are often sensitive to lactic acid. We tested
      the hypothesis that lactic acid reductions induced by muscle glycogen depletion
      would attenuate the lower-limb metaboreceptor-mediated pressor and forearm
      vasoconstrictor responses. Eleven subjects had C measured (plethysmography)
      during post leg exercise circulatory arrest (PLE-CA) (supine bicycle exercise for
      9 min, 10 s at 75% VO2max before and after undergoing a glycogen-depletion
      paradigm (24-h fast followed by 10 min of supine leg exercise at 75% VO2max). In
      six subjects with lower lactate values, C during PLE-CA was higher after glycogen
      depletion (0.39 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.21 +/- 0.01 ml.min-1.100 ml-1 x mmHg-1; P < 0.01)
      and BP was lower (113 +/- 6 vs. 128 +/- 6 mmHg, P < 0.01). In five subjects
      without attenuated lactate responses, C and BP during PLE-CA were not different.
      Muscle biopsies (n = 5) demonstrated that the paradigm lowered muscle glycogen
      concentrations. Thus glycogen depletion-induced reductions in muscle lactate are
      associated with reduced muscle metaboreceptor-mediated responses.

PMID- 1443202
TI  - Sarcolemmal Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange activity and exchanger immunoreactivity in
      developing rabbit hearts.
AB  - It has been postulated that as a consequence of an underdeveloped sarcoplasmic
      reticulum, sarcolemmal Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange assumes relatively greater importance
      in modulating Ca2+ fluxes in the developing heart. To explore this concept,
      cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles were prepared from late fetal (28-day gestation),
      newborn (24-48 h), immature (14-16 days), and adult New Zealand White rabbits.
      Na(+)-dependent Ca2+ uptake was measured by diluting Na(+)-loaded (140 mM)
      vesicles into Na(+)-free buffer and measuring 45Ca2+ uptake (40 microM Ca2+) by
      timed quenching and rapid filtration. Vesicles from all four age groups
      demonstrated Ca2+ uptake curves characteristic of Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange with
      stimulation by valinomycin and inhibition by amiloride. Initial uptake velocity
      (measured at 2 s and corrected for the fraction of competent vesicles) was
      significantly higher in fetal (23.2 +/- 5.5 nmol/mg) and newborn (26.2 +/- 5.9
      nmol/mg) than in adult sarcolemmal preparations (7.3 +/- 1.2 nmol/mg). Uptake was
      intermediate in the 2-wk-old group (13.7 +/- 1.7 nmol/mg). The relative amounts
      of exchanger protein were compared by quantitating immunoreactivity using a
      polyclonal antibody to the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger. Densitometric scanning of
      protein slot blots demonstrated approximately 2.5 times more exchanger protein in
      fetal and newborn sarcolemma than in adult preparations. The relative amount of
      exchanger protein detected immunologically corresponded with the age-related
      differences observed in exchanger activity. Thus the cardiac sarcolemmal Na(+)
      Ca2+ exchanger is abundant and functionally well-developed in the late
      fetal/early newborn rabbit heart and appears to decline postnatally.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443203
TI  - Development of cardiac innervation, ventricular fibrillation, and sudden infant
      death syndrome.
AB  - The effects of bilateral vagotomy and of right, left, and bilateral stellectomy
      on sinus node and on ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) were assessed in
      three groups of puppies (1, 3, and 5 wk old) and one group of adult dogs. Heart
      rate was increased by vagotomy and reduced by right stellectomy in all groups.
      After vagotomy, VFT did not change in the first week, while it decreased in the
      third week (-21%, P < 0.0001), in the fifth week (-20%, P < 0.001) and in the
      adults dogs (-18%, P < 0.005). VFT was not modified by right stellectomy in the
      first week and in the fifth week (0%, NS), while it decreased in the third week (
      28%, P < 0.05) and in the adults (-32%, P < 0.001). Left stellectomy, performed
      after right stellectomy, increased VFT in the third week (+52%, P < 0.05), in the
      fifth week (+62%, P < 0.001), and in the adults (+45%, P < 0.01). Thus removal of
      either vagal or right cardiac sympathetic activity increases susceptibility to
      ventricular fibrillation already during the first weeks of life. By contrast,
      removal of left sympathetic nerves increases cardiac electrical stability. These
      findings are consistent with the hypothesis that a developmental abnormality in
      cardiac innervation may play a role in the genesis of some cases of sudden infant
      death syndrome.

PMID- 1443204
TI  - Baroreflex regulation of forearm vascular resistance after exercise in
      hypertensive and normotensive humans.
AB  - The mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive period following a bout of
      exercise are not well understood. We examined the aftereffects of exercise on the
      linear relationship between forearm vascular resistance (FVR) and estimated
      central venous pressure (CVP) during leg raising and lower body negative pressure
      to determine whether an alteration of the baroreflex control of FVR was
      associated with the decreased blood pressure. Blood pressure, forearm blood flow
      (FBF), and estimated CVP were obtained in 13 hypertensive and 9 normotensive
      subjects evaluated in a randomized crossover fashion after 30 min of cycle
      ergometer exercise and after a nonexercise control period. In hypertensive
      subjects, the reduced blood pressure was accompanied by an increased baseline FBF
      after exercise. This resulted in a downward shift of the FVR-CVP relationship,
      while the slope was unchanged. In normotensive subjects, blood pressure and
      baroreflex control of FVR were unaffected by prior exercise. Four of the
      hypertensive subjects performed an additional study in which forearm skin was
      vasodilated with local heating to FVR levels similar to those observed after
      exercise. Results suggested that the aftereffects of exercise could not be
      attributed to changes in cutaneous blood flow. We speculate that modulation of
      the baroreflex control of FVR after exercise contributes to its antihypertensive
      effect.

PMID- 1443205
TI  - K+ATP-channel activation causes marked vasodilation in the hypertensive neonatal
      pig lung.
AB  - We studied the potential role of ATP-sensitive potassium (K+ATP) channel
      activation in mediating pulmonary vasodilation in newborn piglets. Piglet lungs
      (n = 14, ages 1-4 days) were artificially perfused with recirculating Ringer
      solution containing bovine serum albumin and statistically inflated using 95% O2
      5% CO2. We measured pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) and distribution of
      pulmonary vascular resistance (using double-occlusion method). Under resting
      conditions (Ppa 13.7 +/- 1.6 cmH2O, mean +/- SE), the K+ATP channel agonist BRL
      38227 (lemakalim, 10(-7) and 10(-6) M) caused small dose-dependent pulmonary
      vasodilation. This response was diminished by the K+ATP-channel blocker
      glibenclamide (10(-5) M). Pretreatment of lungs with indomethacin (10(-5) M) and
      N omega-nitro-L-arginine (10(-5) M) to inhibit cyclooxygenase- and nitric oxide
      (NO)-related vasodilation, respectively, resulted in a marked increase in the
      baseline Ppa to 85.6 +/- 11.2 cmH2O. Injection of BRL 38227 (10(-7) M and 10(-6)
      M) in these lungs decreased Ppa to 72.5 +/- 8.5 (P < 0.01) and 19.3 +/- 0.9 cmH2O
      (P < 0.01), respectively; the corresponding times for half-recovery of Ppa
      (t1/2R) were 5.7 +/- 4.3 and > 20 min. Glibenclamide (10(-5) M) abolished the
      response to 10(-7) M BRL 38227 and significantly diminished (P < 0.05) the
      decreases in Ppa and t1/2R in response to 10(-6) M BRL 38227 but not to
      acetylcholine (10(-10) M). We conclude that activation of K+ATP channels has a
      minimal role in maintaining basal pulmonary vasomotor tone but is able to induce
      marked vasodilation when NO and cyclooxygenase-dependent vasodilatory mechanisms
      are inhibited.

PMID- 1443206
TI  - Aortic perfusion pressure as early determinant of beta-isomyosin expression in
      perfused hearts.
AB  - Pressure overload in vivo induces an increase in cardiac protooncogene and stress
      protein expression that may initiate the long-term genetic changes observed in
      hypertrophy. To known whether mechanical stimulus is linked to specific gene
      transcription, expression of immediate early genes and synthesis of total
      proteins and myosin heavy chains (MHCs) were studied in beating and KCl-arrested
      isolated rat hearts perfused for 2 h under various coronary pressures. The main
      result of this study is that in the beating heart an augmentation of aortic
      pressure from 60 to 120 mmHg results in a pronounced enhancement of the synthesis
      of MHC (+59%) and of the expression of the beta-MHC isomyosin mRNA (iso-mRNA;
      +104%). Also, total protein synthesis and the amounts of poly-(A)+, c-fos, c-myc,
      and heat-shock protein HSP68 mRNAs were increased. To arrest the heart at 60 mmHg
      has no effect on total protein synthesis and on the amounts of poly(A)+, alpha
      MHC and beta-MHC iso-mRNAs, and mRNAs coding for oncoproteins, but the synthesis
      of MHC decreased by 24%. By contrast with what we have observed in the beating
      heart, the augmentation of the coronary pressure in the arrested heart stimulates
      total protein synthesis and increases the amount of poly(A)+, c-fos, c-myc, and
      HSP68 mRNAs but has no effect on the expression of both MHC iso-mRNAs. In
      conclusion, the activation of myosin synthesis by high coronary pressure in this
      model has mainly a pretranslational origin when the heart is beating.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443207
TI  - Left ventricular dimensions during hemorrhagic shock measured by biplane
      cinefluorography.
AB  - The effects of hemorrhagic shock on left ventricular dimensions and volume were
      studied in 15 splenectomized dogs. A 42 +/- 1% decrease in total blood volume
      caused arterial blood pressure to fall 60% (from 120 +/- 5 to 48 +/- 3 mmHg); the
      first derivative of left ventricular pressure at a developed pressure of 40 mmHg
      fell 54% (from 1,930 +/- 94 to 905 +/- 93 mmHg/s, P < 0.05). Cardiac output fell
      76% due to a 73% decrease in stroke volume; heart rate was unchanged at the end
      of hemorrhage but increased 50% during 3 h of sustained shock (from 110 +/- 6 to
      166 +/- 8 beats/min, P < 0.05). During hemorrhage the septal-lateral and the
      anterior-posterior end-diastolic dimensions fell to a greater extent (7.8 mm, 
      21% and 7.0 mm, -18%, respectively) than the apex-base dimension (2.3 mm, -3.3%,
      P < 0.05). As a result of these dimensional changes, left ventricular end
      diastolic volume fell 39% (from 48 +/- 2 to 28 +/- 1 cm3, P < 0.01). End-systolic
      dimensions fell in the same proportion during hemorrhage, resulting in a 30%
      decrease in end-systolic volume (from 30 +/- 2 to 21 +/- 1 cm3, P < 0.05). After
      120 min of sustained shock, all end-diastolic dimensions remained unchanged, but
      end-systolic dimensions and volume increased significantly from values measured
      at end hemorrhage (P < 0.05), causing ejection fraction and stroke volume to fall
      to a greater extent. This study confirms a pronounced reduction in the minor axes
      of the left ventricle during hemorrhagic shock with subsequent reduction in
      ventricular function.

PMID- 1443208
TI  - Tonic sympathetic excitation and vasomotor control from pontine reticular
      neurons.
AB  - The pontine reticular formation (PRF) was explored for regions providing tonic
      control of arterial pressure, heart rate, and activity of sympathetic nerves. In
      Saffan (alfaxalone-alfadolone)-anesthetized rats, discharge of neurons in the PRF
      or rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) was inhibited by microinjections of
      glycine (1 M; 65 +/- 2 nl). PRF blockade caused large, short-lasting (116 +/- 17
      s) decreases in arterial pressure and equal decreases in renal (-47 +/- 4%) and
      splenic (-45 +/- 4%) nerve activity, indicating that PRF neurons contribute to
      resting control of vasomotor discharge. In contrast, RVLM blockade caused long
      lasting (41 +/- 3 min) decreases in arterial pressure and unequal decreases in
      activity of renal (-50 +/- 4%) and splenic (-31 +/- 6%) nerves. The short
      duration of the responses to PRF blockade could not be attributed to compensation
      by baroreceptors or by actions specific to glycine. Excitation of PRF neurons
      with amino acids caused increases as well as decreases in arterial pressure and
      sympathetic activity, and therefore activated neurons distinct from those that
      are tonically active. These results identify a source of cardiovascular control
      in the reticular formation of the pons that provides tonic excitatory drive to
      sympathetic nerves and that differs from the well-known source in the RVLM.

PMID- 1443209
TI  - Chronic administration of cardiovascular drugs: altered energetics and
      transmembrane signaling.
AB  - The effects of clinically used cardioactive agents in furazolidone-induced
      cardiomyopathy in the turkey poult have been recently reported, and note-worthy
      differences in cardioprotective efficacy of adrenergic effectors, calcium channel
      blockers, and cardiac glycosides have been noted in animal and human studies of
      heart failure. We therefore investigated the effects of chronic oral
      administration of cardioactive agents on ventricular tissue from normal turkey
      poults, and we determined whether these agents altered cardiac function,
      energetics, or transmembrane signaling pathways in a manner that might contribute
      to the varying degrees of cardioprotection and therapeutic efficacy reported
      previously. Creatine content was significantly higher in propranolol- and
      atenolol-treated animals. There was also higher lactate dehydrogenase and
      creatine kinase activities, reflecting an overall increase in energy reserve.
      Treatment with the calcium channel antagonists verapamil and nifedipine produced
      a significant increase in adenylyl cyclase activity and beta-adrenergic receptor
      density. Nifedipine treatment resulted in upregulation of both beta-adrenergic
      receptors and dihydropyridine receptors. This finding was associated with
      enhanced peak twitch force at all extracellular Ca2+ concentrations. We
      demonstrate for the first time that clinically used pharmacological agents
      (nifedipine and propranolol) result in alteration in two transmembrane signaling
      pathways, with associated alterations in physiological performance. Moreover,
      agents without cardioprotective effect in furazolidone-induced cardiomyopathy did
      not induce alterations in transmembrane signaling or energetics in normal hearts.

PMID- 1443210
TI  - Absence of right ventricular isovolumic relaxation in open-chest anesthetized
      dogs.
AB  - During the left ventricular (LV) pump cycle, peak negative first derivative of
      pressure vs. time (dP/dt) occurs very close to the end of LV ejection, and there
      is a well-defined isovolumic relaxation period. Despite similarities between the
      right ventricular (RV) and LV pump cycles, recent studies indicate uncertainty as
      to whether peak negative RV dP/dt occurs simultaneously with RV end ejection and
      whether there is an isovolumic relaxation period during the RV pump cycle. To
      study these questions, we recorded relative timing of peak negative RV dP/dt, RV
      end ejection, and right atrial-RV pressure crossover in the open-chest
      anesthetized dog. The data demonstrate that peak negative RV dP/dt occurs an
      average of 60 ms before end ejection and that there is no RV isovolumic
      relaxation period. These findings have implications for the possible use of peak
      negative RV dP/dt as a marker of RV end ejection and for how time constants of
      pressure decay obtained during RV relaxation can be interpreted.

PMID- 1443211
TI  - Neural mechanisms regulating neurohypophysial resistance arteries.
AB  - We defined the extent of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and
      noradrenergic influences on isolated 100- to 200-microns-diameter vessels from
      the resistance arterial circulation of the neurohypophysis. A dual extracranial
      (inferior hypophysial) and intracranial (superior hypophysial) arterial supply to
      the neurohypophysis was confirmed. The inferior hypophysial artery demonstrates
      noradrenergic and VIP-like perivascular nerves, whereas the superior hypophysial
      artery shows primarily VIP-like innervation. Pharmacological sensitivity of the
      inferior hypophysial to VIP [mean effective dose (ED50) = 10(-8.2) M] and to
      norepinephrine (ED50 = 10(-5.7) M) was demonstrated. The superior hypophysial
      reacted only to VIP (ED50 = 10(-8.6) M). The physiological relevance of these
      findings was tested with transmural nerve stimulation. Frequency-dependent
      vasodilation of both inferior and superior hypophysial arteries was demonstrated.
      This dilation could not be blocked with atropine or propranolol. Frequency
      dependent vasoconstriction was identified in extracranial vessels including the
      inferior hypophysial artery. This constriction is only partially blocked by
      prazosin, phentolamine, and guanethidine. When neurohypophysial resistance
      vessels are compared with larger circle of Willis arteries and similar-size pial
      vessels of other cerebral regions, they appear to have regionally unique neural
      mechanisms for regulating blood flow. Specifically whether controlled by
      periarterial nerves or other tissue influences, the inferior hypophysial artery
      appears to meet anatomic, pharmacological, and physiological definitions of
      neural control for both dilator and constrictor activities of flow to the
      neurohypophysis.

PMID- 1443212
TI  - An angiographic method for in vivo study of arteries of the circle of Willis in
      small animals.
AB  - An X-ray imaging technique designed to allow sequential diameter measurements of
      the cerebral vessels in intact, anesthetized small animals under relatively
      physiological conditions is described. The ferret and the rabbit were chosen as
      potentially useful animal models for studying the cerebrovascular system because
      of the advantageous anatomic characteristics of these relatively small species. A
      commercially available and relatively inexpensive X-ray imaging system with a
      small focal spot provides good spatial resolution. An external carotid perfusion
      loop allows for 1) the introduction of low-osmolality contrast medium without
      changing perfusion pressure or flow and 2) measurement of internal carotid and
      circle of Willis pressures at the same time that the vessel images are obtained.
      In the present study, detection of small changes in the diameters of the small
      vessels is facilitated by an algorithm utilizing the X-ray absorption by the
      entire vessel cross section. This avoids some of the problems of edge detection
      for small cylindrical vessels wherein the contrast is less than optimal and
      diminishes as the vessel perimeter is approached.

PMID- 1443213
TI  - Suction effusion fluid from skin and constituent analysis: new candidate for
      interstitial fluid.
AB  - The authors analyzed the constituents of effuse transcutaneous fluid, labeled
      suction effusion fluid (SEF), and monitored its glucose concentration during
      glucose loading in rabbits (Japan White, female) under pentobarbital anesthesia.
      The SEF was sampled by suctioning corneal layer-stripped skin at 400 mmHg
      absolute pressure. The SEF proved to have nearly the same concentrations as serum
      for lower-molecular-weight substances such as glucose, creatinine, and urea
      nitrogens, but not for higher-molecular-weight substances such as serum proteins.
      The SEF protein concentration was one-fourth that of serum protein. Proteins >
      100 kDa molecular mass were barely detectable in the SEF. Monitoring of SEF
      glucose change every 10 min during intravenous glucose loading was successfully
      accomplished, and SEF glucose concentration followed blood glucose concentration
      with a 10-min delay. The SEF was thought to consist of interstitial fluid and/or
      effuse fluid from small vessels in subcutaneous tissue.

PMID- 1443214
TI  - L-arginine decreases infarct size caused by middle cerebral arterial occlusion in
      SHR.
AB  - L-Arginine, but not D-arginine, serves as a precursor for the synthesis of nitric
      oxide (NO), a potent dilator of cerebral blood vessels. We examined the effects
      of administering L-arginine (300 mg/kg ip) on the volume of infarction in two
      models of focal cerebral ischemia in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). L
      Arginine was administered before (16 and 3 h) and after (5 min and 2 h) vessel
      occlusion, and animals were killed 24 h later. L-Arginine treatment decreased
      infarct size in rats subjected to distal middle cerebral arterial (MCA) plus
      ipsilateral common carotid arterial (CCA) occlusion by 31% [147 +/- 12 (saline)
      vs. 101 +/- 9 mm3 (L-arginine), P < 0.05]. D-Arginine, administered according to
      the same dosage and protocol, was without effect. In the group subjected to
      proximal MCA occlusion, L-arginine decreased infarction size in the striatum by
      28% [47 +/- 5 (saline) vs. 34 +/- 3 mm3 (L-arginine), P < 0.05] and neocortex by
      11% [193 +/- 7 (saline) vs. 171 +/- 8 mm3 (L-arginine), P < 0.05]. Changes in
      blood pressure or other measured physiological parameters did not account for the
      observed differences. The possible use of L-arginine for the treatment of focal
      cerebral ischemia merits further investigation.

PMID- 1443215
TI  - Characterization of norepinephrine-stimulated protein synthesis in rat brown
      adipocytes.
AB  - Rat brown adipocytes were incubated for 24 h with or without norepinephrine (NE)
      in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium with albumin, calf serum, and antibiotics.
      Brown fat cells were viable as defined by unchanged cell morphology, ATP content,
      or basal and NE-stimulated respiration. However, a 24-h exposure to NE led to a
      decline in NE-stimulated respiration that was not due to loss of thermogenic
      capacity. Brown fat cells incubated with or without NE had similar protein,
      succinate dehydrogenase, and uncoupling protein (UCP) content. These results
      differ from those observed after food deprivation in rats where loss of
      mitochondrial proteins occurs within 24 h, suggesting that reduced exposure to NE
      is not the only factor responsible for brown fat atrophy. NE increased
      [35S]methionine incorporation into cellular proteins, mitochondrial proteins, and
      UCP. The effect of NE on cell protein synthesis was inhibited by propranolol but
      not by prazosin. It was also inhibited 95% by cycloheximide but only partially
      (50%) by actinomycin D in contrast to NE stimulation of UCP labeling, which
      required RNA transcription. Chloramphenicol-sensitive protein synthesis was
      stimulated by NE. These results indicate a trophic action of NE in brown
      adipocytes exerted both at the level of RNA transcription and translation.

PMID- 1443216
TI  - Duodenal preabsorptive origin of gustatory alliesthesia in rats.
AB  - Facial consummatory responses reflecting ingestive and aversive perceptions were
      studied and quantified in rats chronically implanted with gastric, duodenal, and
      oral catheters. A gustatory stimulus of 50 microliters of 1.75 mol/l sucrose was
      injected into the mouth every 5 min for 65 min. At time 0, 0.5 ml containing 0.3
      g glucose was injected into the stomach or into the duodenum. Typical ingestive
      facial consummatory responses were observed in response to sweet stimuli prior to
      the load. Aversive consummatory responses were observed in response to sweet
      stimuli after the glucose duodenal load (negative alliesthesia). The gastric load
      of glucose was not followed by negative alliesthesia in response to sweet oral
      stimuli. In the last part of the experiment the rats were vagotomized. When the
      rats were subjected again to the same gustatory sessions, the duodenal load was
      followed by weak and delayed negative alliesthesia in response to sweet stimuli.
      These results in rats parallel results obtained in human subjects and reinforce
      the hypothesis of the existence of a duodenal preabsorptive signal for alimentary
      alliesthesia. They also suggest that the vagus nerve plays a part in the
      perception of satiety.

PMID- 1443217
TI  - Kinetic heterogeneity of Na-D-glucose cotransport in teleost gastrointestinal
      tract.
AB  - D-[3H]glucose transport properties of brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) of
      upper intestine and pyloric ceca of the Pacific copper rockfish (Sebastes
      caurinus) were characterized and compared. Vesicles from both organs exhibited Na
      dependent, phloridzin-sensitive, carrier-mediated transport systems. Kinetic
      constants for D-[3H]glucose influx across vesicle membranes were as follows:
      upper intestine, apparent affinity of glucose (Kt) = 0.14 +/- 0.02 mM, maximal
      glucose influx (JM) = 1,649 +/- 57 pmol.mg protein-1.10 s-1; pyloric ceca, Kt =
      0.58 +/- 0.12 mM, JM = 2,439 +/- 178 pmol.mg protein-1.10 s-1. A hyperbolic
      relationship, following Michaelis-Menten kinetics, occurred between D-glucose
      influx and external Na concentration for pyloric ceca, while a sigmoidal
      function, following Hill cooperativity kinetics (n = 1.71 +/- 0.31), was
      disclosed between the variables for the intestine. External phloridzin, D
      glucose, methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside, and D-galactose were the most potent
      inhibitors of D-[3H]glucose influx in each organ. Other compounds were generally
      more inhibitory in vesicles from the pyloric cecum than those of the intestine
      except for D-mannose which was considerably more potent in the intestine. Results
      suggest that there may be proximal-to-distal hexose- and Na-binding gradients in
      the teleost gut for optimizing sugar absorption during passage of food through
      the gastrointestinal tract.

PMID- 1443218
TI  - Pulmonary vascular response to anaphylaxis in isolated canine lungs.
AB  - We determined changes in vascular resistance and microvascular permeability
      during anaphylactic reaction in isolated canine lungs perfused at constant
      pressure with autologous blood. In lungs with anaphylaxis induced by an intra
      arterial injection of Ascaris suum antigen (10 mg), pulmonary vascular resistance
      and capillary pressure assessed as double occlusion pressure increased
      transiently by 10 times and 6.3 mmHg, respectively. Pre- to postcapillary
      vascular resistance ratio decreased from 0.89 +/- 0.05 to 0.21 +/- 0.06,
      suggesting predominant pulmonary venoconstriction. In lungs perfused in the
      antidromic direction from the pulmonary vein to the artery, anaphylaxis caused
      marked precapillary vasoconstriction, consistent with pulmonary venoconstriction.
      Vascular permeability assessed using the capillary filtration coefficient and
      isogravimetric capillary pressure did not change significantly for 3 h in either
      group. No changes were found in any variables in the saline-injected control
      lungs. The final weight of the anaphylactic lungs was significantly greater than
      that of the control lungs. Thus we conclude that anaphylaxis in isolated canine
      lung produces an increase in capillary pressure due to pulmonary venoconstriction
      without significant changes in vascular permeability. Pulmonary edema accompanied
      by anaphylactic hypotension may result from an increase in pulmonary hydrostatic
      intravascular pressure but not an increase in pulmonary vascular permeability.

PMID- 1443219
TI  - Sex differences in central cholinergic and angiotensinergic control of
      vasopressin release.
AB  - In conscious, unrestrained rats, the intracerebroventricular injection of the
      cholinergic agonist, carbachol, or angiotensin II resulted in the transient
      stimulation of vasopressin secretion, elevation of mean arterial blood pressure,
      and reduction of heart rate. After the injection of carbachol (25 ng) into a
      lateral cerebral ventricle, the plasma vasopressin concentration in male rats was
      increased to twice that of female rats in each phase of the estrous cycle; mean
      arterial blood pressure was elevated more in males than females, whereas heart
      rate fell to the same extent in both sexes. In contrast, the increase in the
      plasma vasopressin concentration of males after the injection of angiotensin II
      (20 ng) was one-half that of females, and the hypertensive and bradycardic
      responses were similar in both sexes. Phase of the female estrous cycle had no
      effect on the responses to either agent. These findings indicate that central
      cholinergic and angiotensinergic mechanisms controlling vasopressin release are
      influenced differently by gender. The role of the gonadal steroid hormones in
      these mechanisms remains to be determined.

PMID- 1443220
TI  - Heparin suppresses endothelin-1 action and production in spontaneously
      hypertensive rats.
AB  - Previous studies have shown that chronic subcutaneous administration of heparin
      significantly reduces blood pressure in hypertensive rats. The intracellular
      mechanisms of how heparin prevents smooth muscle cell proliferation remain
      unclear. This study was designed to examine whether heparin affects endothelin-1
      action and production, to further elucidate the mechanism of the antihypertensive
      effect of heparin. Four-week treatment with heparin (300 U/day sc) significantly
      decreased blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR; 199 +/- 8 vs.
      164 +/- 9 mmHg; P < 0.001) and completely blunted pressor response to endothelin
      1 in SHR. Heparin treatment did not decrease blood pressure response nor did it
      attenuate blood pressure responses to endothelin-1 in Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY).
      Heparin significantly suppressed endothelin-1-induced increase in intracellular
      calcium concentration and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate level in cultured vascular
      smooth muscle cells in a dose-dependent manner and endothelin-1 release from
      cultured endothelial cells. These inhibitions were significantly more pronounced
      in SHR than in WKY. In conclusion, our findings indicate that the
      antihypertensive effect of heparin is mediated, at least in part, by the
      inhibition of endothelin-1 action on vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelin
      1 production from endothelial cells.

PMID- 1443221
TI  - Morphological and physiological correlates with swimming performance in juvenile
      largemouth bass.
AB  - Winter- and summer-acclimatized largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were
      collected from hatchery ponds in eastern Colorado during late winter and
      midsummer, then challenged with two prolonged swimming performances (step test
      and constant-velocity endurance). Variation in the step test performances was
      significantly correlated with variation in the endurance performances in the
      winter-acclimatized but not in the summer-acclimatized fish. Fourteen
      physiological and morphological traits were measured on each fish, and
      correlations among these traits and swimming performance were tested. None of the
      traits measured were correlated with performance variation in both the winter-
      and summer-acclimatized fish. The only significant correlate with swimming
      performance in the summer-acclimatized fish was white muscle lactate
      dehydrogenase activity (n = 19). Six of the seven factors correlating with winter
      swimming performance (n = 18-19) could be divided into two categories: traits
      associated with fasting (condition factor and liver enzymatic activity) and those
      associated with oxygen delivery (heart mass, heart and red muscle cytochrome
      oxidase activity). The results of this study suggest that morphological and
      physiological correlates of swimming performance in juvenile largemouth bass are
      profoundly influenced by seasonal variation.

PMID- 1443222
TI  - Cardiovascular responses to nasal water flow in rats are unaffected by
      chemoreceptor drive.
AB  - Peripheral chemoreceptors generally play a limited role in the initial
      development of diving bradycardia in mammals. However, T.F. Huang and Y.I. Peng
      (Jpn. J. Physiol. 26: 395-401, 1976) reported that peripheral chemoreceptors are
      very important for manifestation of the diving response in conscious rats. The
      objectives of this study were to reinvestigate those findings and determine
      whether the cardiovascular responses to simulated diving in the rat were
      potentiated during preexisting hypoxia or hypercapnia. Responses to simulated
      diving were elicited by nasal water flow with concurrent apnea in paralyzed,
      artificially ventilated Sprague-Dawley rats anesthetized with Innovar. The
      experiments show that nasal stimulation in the rat results in rapid bradycardia
      and hypotension and that these responses are not due to laryngeal stimulation.
      The data also suggest that chemoreceptors do not play a role in the initiation of
      the responses to simulated diving in rats and that preexisting chemoreceptor
      drive does not alter the cardiovascular responses. Additionally, we found that
      concomitant expiratory apnea is necessary to sustain the profound initial
      cardiovascular changes induced by nasal water flow.

PMID- 1443223
TI  - Membrane and synaptic activity during anoxia in the isolated turtle cerebellum.
AB  - Electrical depression in the turtle brain during anoxia has been suggested as a
      strategy for sparing energy and promoting the extraordinary survival capacity of
      this tissue. The present study was aimed toward defining the changes in membrane
      properties during anoxia that may underlie such electrical depression. Studies
      were conducted in isolated cerebellum from turtle brain. Anoxia caused
      transmembrane potentials (TMP) to become relatively less polarized in most
      Purkinje cells. In no cell, however, was TMP depolarized to levels associated
      with the complete loss of transmembrane ion gradients produced by tissue
      superfusion with iodoacetate during anoxia. Sodium (and likely calcium) spike
      thresholds were increased, postsynaptic responses from the major afferent input
      pathways to Purkinje cells were depressed, and input resistance decreased
      significantly during anoxia. These changes likely contribute to the sparing of
      energy needed for ion transport and perhaps other functions that may be directly
      related to cell survival.

PMID- 1443224
TI  - Renal medullary interstitial infusion of diltiazem alters sodium and water
      excretion in rats.
AB  - The role of renal papillary blood flow in regulation of fluid and electrolyte
      excretion was examined. The effects of an acute infusion of diltiazem (5
      micrograms.kg-1 x min-1) into the renal medullary interstitium on papillary blood
      flow and sodium and water excretion were studied. Changes of renal blood flow
      were measured using an electromagnetic flow probe. Cortical and papillary blood
      flows were measured using laser-Doppler flowmetry. Renal and cortical blood flows
      were unchanged during medullary interstitial infusion of diltiazem, but papillary
      blood flow increased 26% (P < 0.05) and remained elevated for 1 h after diltiazem
      infusion was discontinued. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of the infused kidney
      increased by 21% from a control of 1.0 +/- 0.1 ml.min-1 x g-1 during infusion of
      diltiazem (P < 0.05), but it returned to control after diltiazem infusion was
      stopped. Urine flow and sodium excretion increased by 70% (P < 0.05), and
      fractional sodium excretion rose from 1.5 +/- 0.2 to 2.4 +/- 0.3% of the filtered
      load during the hour after diltiazem infusion. Renal blood flow, cortical and
      papillary blood flow, GFR, urine flow, and sodium excretion in the 0.9% sodium
      chloride vehicle-infused kidney were not significantly altered during the
      experiment. Intravenous infusion of the same dose of diltiazem (5 micrograms.kg-1
      x min-1) increased GFR by 22%, but had no effect on urine flow and sodium
      excretion. These results indicate that renal medullary interstitial infusion of
      diltiazem selectively increased renal papillary blood flow, which was associated
      with an increase of sodium and water excretion.

PMID- 1443225
TI  - Role of right heart receptors in the control of renin, vasopressin, and cortisol
      secretion in dogs.
AB  - We have reported that increased left heart pressure inhibits increases in plasma
      renin activity (PRA), arginine vasopressin (AVP), and cortisol during arterial
      hypotension. The goal of this study was to determine whether increases in right
      heart pressure also inhibited hormonal responses to hypotension. Seven dogs were
      chronically instrumented with inflatable cuffs around the ascending aorta (AA),
      the pulmonary artery (PA), and the thoracic inferior vena cava (IVC), as well as
      with catheters in both atria, the abdominal aorta, and vena cava. The IVC, the
      PA, and the AA cuffs were inflated on different days to cause step reductions in
      mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 5, 10, 20, and 30% below control MAP. Graded
      constriction of the AA caused large increases in left atrial pressure and plasma
      atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), but had no effect on plasma AVP or cortisol and
      caused only a small increase in PRA at the maximal reduction of MAP. Constriction
      of the IVC reduced both atrial pressures and plasma ANP, but stimulated increases
      in PRA, AVP, and cortisol. Constriction of the PA increased right atrial pressure
      and plasma ANP and caused increases in plasma AVP and cortisol that were similar
      to responses during IVC constriction, but the PRA response was only half (P <
      0.05). These results indicate that increasing pressure on the right side of the
      heart can attenuate the PRA response to hypotension, and suggest that the
      inhibition is mediated by the rise in plasma ANP.

PMID- 1443226
TI  - Growth hormone-releasing hormone antibodies suppress sleep and prevent
      enhancement of sleep after sleep deprivation.
AB  - Previous reports suggest that the hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing hormone
      (GHRH) promotes sleep, especially non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS). To
      evaluate the role of endogenous GHRH in sleep regulation, the effects of
      antibodies to rat GHRH (GHRH-ab) were studied on normal sleep, brain temperature
      (Tbr), and GH secretion in experiment I and on enhanced sleep after sleep
      deprivation in experiment II. In experiment I, affinity-purified GHRH-ab (50 and
      200 micrograms) raised in goats and a control goat immunoglobulin G (IgG)
      preparation were injected intracerebroventricularly (icv) in rats 1 h before the
      onset of the light cycle, and sleep-wake activity and Tbr were recorded for the
      next 12 or 23 h. Both doses of GHRH-ab suppressed NREMS and REMS throughout the
      light cycle. Sleep durations at night were normal. Electroencephalographic (EEG)
      slow-wave activity, characterized by EEG slow-wave amplitudes, was reduced after
      GHRH-ab during both the light and the dark cycles. Plasma GH concentrations
      measured 6-12 h after injection of GHRH-ab (200 micrograms) were diminished. Both
      the control IgG and GHRH-ab elicited fever. In experiment II, the sleep-wake
      activity and Tbr of rats were recorded for 24 h in three experimental conditions:
      base-line with icv injection of IgG, 3-h sleep deprivation with icv IgG
      injection, and 3-h sleep deprivation with icv GHRH-ab (200 micrograms). After
      sleep deprivation (+IgG), a prompt increase in EEG slow-wave activity (power
      density analysis) and late increases in NREMS and REMS durations were
      found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443227
TI  - Exercise-induced cellular alterations in the diaphragm.
AB  - Limited data exist concerning the effects of exercise training on cellular
      oxidative capacity in the diaphragm of senescent animals. In this study we
      examined the changes in cellular oxidative capacity, muscle cell cross-sectional
      area (CSA), and capillarity within the costal diaphragm of senescent animals
      after a 10-wk endurance-training program. Twelve 24-mo-old female Fischer 344
      rats were divided into either a sedentary control group (n = 6) or exercise
      training group (n = 6). The trained animals exercised on a motor-driven treadmill
      (60 min/day, 5 days/wk) at a work rate equal to approximately 55-65% VO2max.
      Capillaries were identified histologically and fiber types determined using
      adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) histochemistry. Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)
      activity and CSA in individual fibers were measured using a computerized image
      analysis system. Exercise training did not increase (P > 0.05) the capillary-to
      fiber ratio for any fiber type. However, training significantly decreased CSA (P
      < 0.05) and increased capillary density (capillary number/CSA) (P < 0.05) in type
      I, type IIa, and type IIb fibers. Furthermore, exercise training resulted in
      small but significant increase in SDH activity (P < 0.05) in type I and IIa
      fibers, whereas training did not alter SDH activity (P > 0.05) in type IIb
      fibers. These data demonstrate that endurance training in senescent animals
      results in small relative improvements in both oxidative capacity and capillary
      density in costal diaphragmatic type I and IIa muscle fibers. The increase in
      both capillary density and fiber SDH activity was largely due to a reduction in
      fiber CSA.

PMID- 1443228
TI  - Effects of aging on entrainment and rate of resynchronization of circadian
      locomotor activity.
AB  - The phase angle of entrainment of the circadian rhythm of the locomotor activity
      rhythm to a light-dark (LD) cycle was examined in young (2-5 mo old) and middle
      aged (13-16 mo old) hamsters. An age-related phase advance in the onset of
      locomotor activity relative to lights off was seen during stable entrainment to a
      14:10-h LD cycle. In addition, the effects of age on the rate of reentrainment of
      the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity were examined by subjecting young and
      middle-aged hamsters to either an 8-h advance or delay shift of the LD cycle.
      Middle-aged hamsters resynchronized more rapidly after a phase advance of the LD
      cycle than did young hamsters, whereas young hamsters were able to phase delay
      more rapidly than middle-aged hamsters. The age-related phase advance of activity
      onset under entrained conditions, and the alteration of responses in middle-aged
      hamsters reentraining to a phase-shifted LD cycle, may be due to the shortening
      of the free-running period of the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity with
      advancing age that has previously been observed in this species.

PMID- 1443229
TI  - Irradiance responsivity and unequivocal type-1 phase responsivity of rat
      circadian activity rhythms.
AB  - Behavioral, neuropharmacological, and molecular studies of light-induced phase
      shifting of rodent circadian rhythms evaluate carefully the phase dependence of
      light responsivity. However, much less information is available regarding the
      dependence of such effects on the duration and irradiance of the photic stimulus
      used. In this study, very brief (5-min) white light pulses of 50 microW/cm2 (175
      lux) administered to hooded rats elicited unequivocal type-1 phase responsivity,
      without significant changes in period, and with phase shift variability
      comparable to that in studies using longer, higher intensity pulses. Irradiance
      dependence was demonstrated in the phase-delay, phase-advance, and crossover
      portions of the phase-response curve, with minimal phase shifting seen during the
      dead zone even at very high irradiance. These results indicate that maximal phase
      shifting magnitude may be achieved with shorter, less intense photic stimuli than
      are often used in studies of the neural mechanisms involved in light responsivity
      of rat circadian rhythms.

PMID- 1443230
TI  - Influenza virus-induced changes in rabbit sleep and acute phase responses.
AB  - Systematic investigations of sleep after viral inoculation have not previously
      been described. In the present study, rabbits were inoculated intravenously (iv)
      with control allantoic fluid followed by two sequential inoculations of influenza
      virus at intervals of 24 h. After each i.v. inoculation, sleep and brain
      temperature (Tbr), as well as leukocyte distributions and serum levels of
      antiviral activity and ceruloplasmin, were monitored. The first viral inoculation
      elicited several acute phase responses, including increased non-rapid-eye
      movement sleep (NREMS), Tbr, serum antiviral activity, and serum ceruloplasmin
      levels, as well as neutrophilia and lymphopenia. In contrast to the effects of
      the first inoculation, after the second inoculation of virus, all these acute
      phase parameters were diminished or absent (the hyporesponsive state).
      Inoculation of naive rabbits with heat-inactivated virus was similarly
      ineffective; however, inoculation of this group of rabbits with viable virus 24 h
      later did induce full-scale acute phase responses. The possible role of cytokines
      in mediating the acute phase response after influenza viral challenge is
      discussed. Results support the hypothesis that sleep is a facet of the acute
      phase response involved in host defense mechanisms.

PMID- 1443231
TI  - Metabolic adaptation of fetal hindlimb to severe, nonlethal hypoxia.
AB  - To test the hypothesis that an important aspect of the fetal response to severe,
      nonlethal hypoxia is a relatively large reduction in oxidative metabolism and
      small increase in lactate production by organs whose O2 supply is selectively
      reduced, net fluxes of O2, glucose, pyruvate, lactate, and CO2 derived from fetal
      plasma lactate carbon [(CO2)PL] were measured across the hindlimb and umbilical
      circulations in six sheep fetuses before and at 200-260 min of hypoxia. During
      hypoxia, blood lactate reached a high but steady level (15.2 +/- 2.2 vs. 1.7 +/-
      0.2 mM; P < 0.001). Hypoxia was induced by reducing uterine blood flow. Limb O2
      uptake and (CO2)PL decreased (P < 0.01) and lactate output increased (P < 0.05) (
      83.1 +/- 13.9, -28.6 +/- 5.0, and +35.7 +/- 13.7 nmol.min-1 x g-1, respectively),
      while pyruvate and glucose uptakes remained similar to control. The increase in
      limb glycolysis was approximately 10% of the value that would compensate for the
      decrease in oxidative energy metabolism. The ratio of limb O2 uptake to fetus O2
      uptake decreased significantly (0.247 +/- 0.029 vs. 0.447 +/- 0.036; P < 0.01).
      In contrast to fetal limb (CO2)PL, fetal (CO2)PL did not decrease. During severe,
      nonlethal hypoxia, fetal survival depends on uneven and counterbalancing organ O2
      uptake and lactate metabolism.

PMID- 1443232
TI  - Steady-state arterial pressure-urinary output relationships during ovine
      pregnancy.
AB  - To determine the effects of long-term changes in sodium intake on mean arterial
      pressure (MAP) regulation during pregnancy, nonpregnant (n = 16) and 110- to 140
      day pregnant (n = 13) ewes received total daily sodium intakes of 10, 30, 100,
      400, and 1,200 mmol for 7 days. The sheep were housed in metabolism cages and MAP
      was monitored 24 h/day. Urinary sodium excretion (UNaV) followed changes in
      sodium intake, with steady-state levels being achieved with similar degrees of
      rapidity (2-3 days) in nonpregnant and pregnant sheep. At 10 mmol/day sodium
      intake, MAP was lower (79 +/- 1 vs. 82 +/- 2 mmHg; P < 0.01) and water intake
      (2,275 +/- 494 vs. 3,286 +/- 725 ml/day; P < 0.001) and 24-h urine volume (1,454
      +/- 279 vs. 2,299 +/- 496 ml/day; P < 0.01) were greater in pregnant sheep. All
      of these variables exhibited direct relationships with increases in sodium
      intake. Plasma angiotensin II (pANG II) was increased in pregnancy (10.6 +/- 1.6
      vs. 24.5 +/- 6.3 pg/ml; P < 0.001) at 10 mmol/day. Elevation of sodium intake
      suppressed pANG II to minimal levels in nonpregnant sheep, but to only 25% of the
      control level in pregnant sheep. During pregnancy, the renal function curve
      representing the steady-state MAP-UNaV relationship was shifted to lower MAP
      setpoint, but the sodium sensitivity of MAP was unchanged. Also, the inverse
      relationship of sodium intake and pANG II was blunted, suggesting a reduced role
      for ANG II in the maintenance of renal function during pregnancy.

PMID- 1443233
TI  - Sympathoadrenal-circulatory regulation of arterial pressure during orthostatic
      stress in young and older men.
AB  - Our purpose was to test the hypothesis that human aging alters sympathoadrenal
      circulatory control of arterial blood pressure during orthostasis. Plasma
      catecholamine and hemodynamic adjustments to two different forms of orthostatic
      stress, lower body suction (-10 to -50 mmHg) and standing, were determined in 14
      young (26 +/- 1 yr) and 13 older (64 +/- 1) healthy, normally active men. During
      quiet supine rest, cardiac output tended to be lower and systemic vascular
      resistance higher in the older men, but no other differences were observed. On
      average, arterial blood pressure was well maintained during both forms of
      orthostasis in the two groups; the older men actually demonstrated better
      maintenance of pressure (P < 0.05) and a lesser incidence of orthostatic
      hypotension than the young men during lower body suction. Despite a blunted
      reflex tachycardia during orthostatic stress (P < 0.05), cardiac output tended to
      decrease less in the older men because of a smaller decline in stroke volume (P <
      0.05, suction only), whereas the reflex increases in systemic vascular resistance
      were not different in the two groups. The whole forearm vasoconstrictor response
      tended to be attenuated in the older men during lower body suction, but was
      identical in the two groups with standing. Forearm skin vascular resistance was
      unaltered during lower body suction in both groups. Orthostasis-evoked increases
      in antecubital venous plasma norepinephrine concentrations were similar in the
      young and older men, whereas little or no increases in plasma epinephrine
      concentrations were observed in either group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443234
TI  - Nitric oxide participates in the cerebrovasodilation elicited from cerebellar
      fastigial nucleus.
AB  - The endothelium-derived relaxing factor, probably NO, is a potent vasodilator
      that mediates the vasodilating action of acetylcholine (ACh). We studied whether
      NO participates in the cholinergic cerebrovasodilation elicited by stimulation of
      the cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN). Rats were anesthetized with halothane and
      ventilated. FN or pontine reticular formation (PRF) were stimulated through
      microelectrodes. Hypertension was prevented by spinal cord transection with
      arterial pressure maintained by intravenous phenylephrine. Cerebral blood flow
      (CBF) was continuously monitored through a cranial window over the sensory cortex
      by a laser-Doppler probe. The window was superfused with Ringer solution (pH 7.3
      7.4; 37 degrees C). During Ringer superfusion FN stimulation (100 microA; 50 Hz)
      increased CBF by 90 +/- 7% (n = 27; P < 0.001, analysis of variance and Tukey's
      test) and PRF stimulation (100 microA; 100 Hz) by 128 +/- 18% (P < 0.001; n = 9).
      Superfusion with the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor methylene blue (MB) (1 mM)
      attenuated the CBF increase elicited by FN stimulation by 77 +/- 3% (n = 22; P <
      0.001). MB did not affect the CBF increase elicited by PRF stimulation (+98 +/-
      18%; n = 9; P > 0.05). Similarly, superfusion with the NO-synthase inhibitor
      nitro-L-arginine (L-NA) attenuated the CBF increase elicited by FN stimulation (
      67 +/- 3%; n = 14; P < 0.001 from Ringer) but not PRF stimulation (P > 0.05; n =
      9). The CBF increases elicited by FN stimulation were not affected by the
      inactive isomer of nitroarginine, D-NA (P > 0.05; n = 7).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443235
TI  - Changes in regulation of human zinc metabolism with age.
AB  - To assess changes in zinc metabolism with age, kinetic studies were performed in
      healthy adults (26 men, 21 women) aged 20-84 yr after a single oral or
      intravenous bolus of 65Zn. Studies covered two consecutive 9-mo periods while
      subjects were on a basal dietary intake of approximately 10 mg Zn/day and while
      taking an additional 100 mg Zn/day orally. Zinc metabolism was analyzed by
      compartmental analysis using data from plasma, red blood cells, urine, feces,
      liver, thigh, and whole body [M. E. Wastney, R. L. Aamodt, W. F. Rumble, and R.
      I. Henkin. Am. J. Physiol. 251 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 20): R398
      R408, 1986]. Changes in observed and model calculated values of zinc metabolism
      were assessed on age by regression. During basal state, zinc release from red
      blood cells decreased with age. During zinc loading, response (defined as change
      from basal state) of plasma zinc concentration, urinary zinc excretion, and liver
      zinc increased with age, while response of fraction of zinc taken up by red blood
      cells decreased with age. In men, response of amount of zinc absorbed increased
      with age and in women response of fraction of endogenous zinc excreted decreased
      with age. Four responses that changed with age (urinary excretion, red blood cell
      exchange, absorption, and endogenous excretion) occurred at previously defined
      sites of regulation of zinc metabolism. Results show that regulation of zinc
      metabolism changes with age.

PMID- 1443236
TI  - Systemic injection of TNF-alpha attenuates fever due to IL-1 beta and LPS in
      rats.
AB  - The effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on the febrile response to
      interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) was investigated in rats. While both of these
      substances are capable of causing fever when injected into rats, an earlier study
      showed that the injection of antiserum against TNF-alpha enhanced endotoxin
      [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] fever, suggesting that physiological levels of
      circulating TNF may act to limit the magnitude of fever. In the present study,
      the intraperitoneal injection of 1 microgram/kg of TNF-alpha significantly
      attenuated the fever due to the intraperitoneal injection of 10 micrograms/kg of
      IL-1 beta. Higher doses of TNF-alpha (10 and 50 micrograms/kg injected ip)
      slightly lowered the febrile response to this dose of IL-1 beta, but these
      changes were not significant. None of these doses of TNF-alpha alone
      significantly altered body temperature. The injection of 1 microgram/kg of TNF
      alpha also significantly lowered the febrile response to the intraperitoneal
      injection of 10 micrograms/kg of LPS. The febrile responses to the preoptic area
      (POA) or intraperitoneal injection of IL-1 beta were not changed when a
      nonpyrogenic dose of TNF-alpha was simultaneously injected into the POA. Further
      studies are needed, however, before we can conclude that TNF does not act in the
      central nervous system to control the febrile response. These data support the
      hypothesis that nonpyrogenic levels of TNF act in the systemic circulation to
      suppress the development of fever.

PMID- 1443237
TI  - Exhaustive physical exercise causes oxidation of glutathione status in blood:
      prevention by antioxidant administration.
AB  - We have studied the effect of exhaustive concentric physical exercise on
      glutathione redox status and the possible relationship between blood glutathione
      oxidation and blood lactate and pyruvate levels. Levels of oxidized glutathione
      (GSSG) in blood increase after exhaustive concentric physical exercise in trained
      humans. GSSG levels were 72% higher immediately after exercise than at rest. They
      returned to normal values 1 h after exercise. Blood reduced glutathione (GSH)
      levels did not change significantly after the exercise. We have found a linear
      relationship between GSSG-to-GSH and lactate-to-pyruvate ratios in human blood
      before, during, and after exhaustive exercise. In rats, physical exercise also
      caused an increase in blood GSSG levels that were 200% higher after physical
      exercise than at rest. GSH levels did not change significantly. Thus, both in
      rats and humans, exhaustive physical exercise causes a change in glutathione
      redox status in blood. We have also found that antioxidant administration, i.e.,
      oral vitamin C, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, or glutathione, is effective in preventing
      oxidation of the blood glutathione pool after physical exercise in rats.

PMID- 1443238
TI  - Precocious cessation of intestinal macromolecular transport by synthetic trypsin
      inhibitor in suckling rats.
AB  - The effects of repeated oral administration of the synthetic trypsin inhibitor
      camostat on intestinal macromolecular transport and disaccharidase development
      were investigated in suckling rats. By daily treatment with camostat, bovine
      immunoglobulin (Ig) G transport in the intestine declined more rapidly in treated
      than in control rats. The absorption curve shifted to the left in treated rats 3
      days before the controls. Morphological inspection of treated pups showed a
      decline in the number of epithelial cells that absorb bovine IgG and in their
      vesicle size from basal to upper regions of the villi. Maltase activity
      precociously increased with camostat treatment. Chronic subcutaneous injection of
      camostat did not cause any changes in IgG transport and maltase activity. The
      depression of IgG transport by oral treatment with camostat was not affected by
      the cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonist L 364718 and was not inhibited by
      adrenalectomy. The absorptive responses of IgG and maltase activity were not
      affected by CCK-8 treatment. These data indicate that oral administration of
      camostat induces precocious maturation of the small intestine and that the effect
      is not mediated via endogenous CCK released by camostat.

PMID- 1443239
TI  - The listening healer in the history of psychological healing.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is the assessment of the healer's listening
      as an aspect of the history of caring and curing, with particular attention to
      its place in psychological healing. METHOD: An extensive range of philosophical,
      religious, and medical sources from antiquity to the present were studied.
      RESULTS: Over the centuries, listening has been a crucial aspect of the various
      endeavors undertaken by healers in the interest of acquiring information from,
      achieving understanding of, and bringing about healing effects for sufferers. Yet
      it has been vision rather than hearing that has been emphasized in knowing and
      understanding, and looking rather than listening that has been emphasized in
      healing endeavors. Only around the turn of the twentieth century did there emerge
      the focused study of care in listening, of listening beyond the words themselves,
      and of the significance of the interested listener as a soothing, empathic force.
      CONCLUSIONS: The place of listening in depth and with empathy is a crucial
      element in healing. While the emphasis on looking remains significant in the
      gathering and appraisal of data, at times it threatens to overwhelm the need for
      an attentive and concerned listener. There appears to be a natural tension
      between the two modes that has, in modern times, been translated into a tension
      between the two modes that has, in modern times, been translated into a tension
      between a scientific mode of gaining information and a humanistic mode of knowing
      sufferers. A healer neglects either one at his or her peril--and at the peril of
      his or her patients.

PMID- 1443240
TI  - Problems and considerations in the valid assessment of personality disorders.
AB  - This article reviews evidence for the reliability and diagnostic concordance of
      structured-interview and self-report questionnaire methods for the diagnosis of
      personality disorders. The findings of nine studies that compared two or more
      axis II diagnostic instruments administered to the same groups of subjects are
      summarized. Across the eight studies with sufficient data, a summary of the
      overall diagnostic agreement between any two instruments yielded a low
      reliability (median kappa = 0.25) for making individual personality disorder
      diagnoses. Diagnostic concordance was lower between self-report questionnaire and
      interview methods than between interview methods. Comparing dimensional scores of
      different methods did not appreciably improve the level of agreement. The author
      concludes that current methods for making personality disorder diagnoses have
      high reliability but yield diagnoses that are not significantly comparable across
      methods beyond chance, which is not scientifically acceptable. Sources for the
      disagreement include variance due to different raters, interview occasions, data
      sources (self-report versus observer report), information bases obtained, and
      instrument sensitivity to state effects (e.g., mood). Serious problems in
      assessment validity may also arise from the yes/no format, which, despite probes
      for confirmatory examples, may fail to distinguish adequately between sporadic
      occurrences and longstanding patterns. Efforts should be made to improve and
      demonstrate the validity of axis II diagnostic methods. One route to increasing
      validity is to improve the clinical interview, because personality patterns are
      best revealed by the recurring patterns one finds when taking a systematic
      history.

PMID- 1443241
TI  - Measuring the determinants of work values for psychiatrists' services in the
      resource-based relative value scale study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: As part of the Harvard resource-based relative value scale study, the
      authors investigated how well the codes in the Physician's Current Procedural
      Terminology, 4th edition, or CPT-4, match psychiatric services to the work
      involved in evaluating and managing patients and how patient care characteristics
      affect different levels of psychiatric work. METHOD: A random sample of over 200
      psychiatrists and subspecialists was asked to use 68 typical clinical examples or
      vignettes to evaluate services described by CPT codes. Data were analyzed by
      multivariate statistical methods. RESULTS: The survey showed that the existing
      coding system does not adequately describe the work that psychiatrists do. Within
      a single code (e.g., 90844, individual medical psychotherapy), there was wide
      (more than twofold) variation in the estimates, from multiple measurements based
      on different vignettes, of the amount of work represented. Estimates of work
      values varied significantly according to treatment setting and patient
      characteristics: psychiatric services in the hospital showed an average work
      value 25% greater than that for office services; treating new patients involved
      18% more effort than treating established patients; and treating patients
      described as at risk of harming self or others increased the psychiatrists' work
      effort by 36%. CONCLUSIONS: Revisions in coding evaluation and management
      services in the new Medicare fee schedule for psychiatric services should be
      further refined and then implemented. These revisions would bring the coding
      system into line with psychiatric practice, making it a better way of accounting
      for the relative work involved in treating patients of varying difficulty.

PMID- 1443242
TI  - Assessment of lineality in bipolar I linkage studies.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess lineality in families of bipolar I probands, the authors
      used direct interviews of family members to reclassify families initially
      categorized as unilineal by family history. METHOD: The families of 1,800 treated
      bipolar I probands were screened by the family history method with multiple
      informants. If the proband had one or more affected sibs and one apparently
      unaffected parent, the parents (and then other available first- and second-degree
      relatives) were directly interviewed by psychiatrists. RESULTS: Of the 1,800
      families screened, 56 were apparently suitable unilineal families with multiple
      affected members; 46 families were interviewed directly. After interviews with
      the parents, 12 families (26.1%) were found to be bilineal. Direct interviews of
      all available relatives in the 34 remaining families revealed that only 22 (47.8%
      of the 46 interviewed families) were unilineal or probably unilineal and 12 were
      probably bilineal. The probably bilineal families had a significantly higher
      proportion of siblings with unipolar disorder. In addition, the affected sibs
      from the probably bilineal families tended to have earlier onsets but had
      significantly fewer symptoms in the most severe depressive episode. CONCLUSIONS:
      Fewer than 50% of bipolar I families appearing unilineal according to family
      history were found to be unilineal by direct interviews. The phenotypic
      differences between the affected sibs from the probably bilineal families and
      those from the unilineal and probably unilineal families suggest differences in
      genetic mechanisms. These findings highlight the need to systematically assess
      lineality in all families considered for bipolar I linkage studies and support
      the preferential inclusion of unilineal families in linkage studies.

PMID- 1443243
TI  - Schizoaffective disorder and affective disorders with mood-incongruent psychotic
      features: keep separate or combine? Evidence from a family study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether the distinction between
      schizoaffective disorder and affective disorders with mood-incongruent psychotic
      features as described in DSM-III-R is reflected by aggregation of schizophrenia
      in the families of probands with the former disorder and aggregation of affective
      disorders mainly among the relatives of probands with the latter type of
      disorders. METHOD: The probands were 118 inpatients with definite lifetime
      diagnoses of DSM-III-R schizoaffective disorder or a major mood disorder with
      incongruent psychotic features according to structured clinical interviews.
      Diagnostic information on 475 of the probands' first-degree relatives was
      gathered through direct interviews (with 80% of the living first-degree
      relatives) or the family history approach. The rates of affective and psychotic
      disorders among these relatives were then compared with those among the relatives
      of a comparison group of 109 interviewed individuals from the general population
      who were matched on sociodemographic factors to the inpatient probands. RESULTS:
      With regard to the familial aggregation of schizophrenia, the DSM-III-R
      distinction emerged as valid. However, the risk of unipolar affective disorders
      was enhanced in the families of all of the subgroups of patients studied. The
      unipolar/bipolar distinction in both DSM-III-R diagnostic groups was reflected by
      distinct patterns of bipolar disorders in the relatives. CONCLUSIONS: The results
      partly support the DSM-III-R dichotomy of schizoaffective disorder and affective
      disorders with mood-incongruent psychotic features. Although the differences
      between these two diagnostic groups were significant, the magnitude of the
      differences remained relatively modest.

PMID- 1443244
TI  - Reliability of best-estimate diagnosis in genetic linkage studies of major
      psychoses: results from the Quebec pedigree studies.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Diagnostic classification and reliability are critical in genetic
      linkage studies of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. To establish an optimal
      diagnostic procedure, the authors drew 13 methodological elements from 38 major
      linkage studies and workshop reports. They determined reliability for a consensus
      best-estimate diagnostic method based on these 13 features. METHOD: Each of 59
      subjects from several large multiplex pedigrees, densely affected by either
      schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, received a best-estimate diagnosis from
      unblind diagnosticians in the field and also from a panel of four research
      psychiatrists who were blind to the proband's and relatives' clinical status. The
      best estimate was based on personal diagnostic interviews, all available medical
      records, and family history data. RESULTS: The diagnostic concordance between the
      field team and the blind psychiatric board yielded 78% to 90% agreement for the
      whole sample (kappa = 0.83-0.88) and 71% to 87% agreement for the subjects given
      field diagnoses (kappa = 0.76-0.83). The diagnoses made by the unblind field
      diagnosticians were biased toward a greater severity (or certainty) level in the
      diagnostic hierarchy (schizophrenic or bipolar) and more consistency with the
      most prevalent diagnosis affecting the pedigree. CONCLUSION: Since several
      previous linkage studies used diagnoses made by diagnosticians who were not blind
      to the status of the probands and the relatives or did not use a consensus best
      estimate diagnosis, further reliability studies of different aspects of the best
      estimate method and of its effect on linkage studies are needed. Such research is
      imperative given the serious impact of diagnostic misclassifications on genetic
      linkage results.

PMID- 1443245
TI  - Combined pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy in the acute and continuation
      treatment of elderly patients with recurrent major depression: a preliminary
      report.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The authors examined the rate of response to the combination of
      nortriptyline and interpersonal psychotherapy for acute and continuation
      treatment of elderly patients with recurrent major depression. METHOD: The
      subjects were 73 elderly patients, 61 of whom completed treatment. Nortriptyline
      steady-state blood levels were maintained at 80-120 ng/ml, and interpersonal
      psychotherapy was administered weekly for 9.1 weeks (medium) of acute therapy and
      was decreased from biweekly to triweekly during 16 weeks of continuation therapy.
      During acute treatment nonresponding patients also received brief adjunctive
      pharmacotherapy with lithium or perphenazine. RESULTS: Of the 61 subjects given
      adequate trials of nortriptyline and interpersonal psychotherapy, 48 (78.7%)
      achieved full remission (Hamilton depression rating of 10 or lower over 16 weeks
      of continuation therapy), 10 patients (16.4%) did not respond (Hamilton rating
      never below 15), and three achieved only partial remission (Hamilton rating of 11
      14). Early versus late onset was not associated with a difference in response
      rate. During the placebo-controlled, double-blind transition to maintenance
      therapy, 19 (76.0%) of the 25 patients randomly assigned to placebo maintenance
      conditions showed continued recovery and six relapsed. None of the 24 patients
      assigned to nortriptyline conditions relapsed. CONCLUSIONS: Use of nortriptyline
      plus interpersonal psychotherapy for 9.1 weeks (median) of acute and 16 weeks of
      continuation therapy appears to be associated with good response and relatively
      low attrition but about a 25% chance of relapse during double-blind
      discontinuation of nortriptyline. These data require confirmation in a controlled
      clinical trial of acute and continuation therapy.

PMID- 1443246
TI  - Religious coping and depression among elderly, hospitalized medically ill men.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The investigators examined the frequency of religious coping among
      older medical inpatients, the characteristics of those who use it, and the
      relation between this behavior and depression. METHOD: The subjects were 850 men
      aged 65 years and over, without psychiatric diagnoses, who were consecutively
      admitted to the medical or neurological services of a southern Veterans
      Administration medical center. Religious coping was assessed with a three-item
      index. Depressive symptoms were assessed by self-rating (the Geriatric Depression
      Scale) and observer rating (the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression). RESULTS:
      One out of every five patients reported that religious thought and/or activity
      was the most important strategy used to cope with illness. Variables that were
      associated with religious coping included black race, older age, being retired,
      religious affiliation, high level of social support, infrequent alcohol use, a
      prior history of psychiatric problems, and higher cognitive functioning.
      Depressive symptoms were inversely related to religious coping, an association
      which persisted after other sociodemographic and health correlates were
      controlled. When 202 men were reevaluated during their subsequent hospital
      admissions an average of 6 months later, religious coping was the only baseline
      variable that predicted lower depression scores at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: These
      findings suggest that religious coping is a common behavior that is inversely
      related to depression in hospitalized elderly men.

PMID- 1443247
TI  - Visual hallucinations in patients with macular degeneration.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of visual
      hallucinations in patients with macular degeneration, describe such
      hallucinations phenomenologically, and possibly determine factors predisposing to
      their development. METHOD: Using a case-control design, the authors screened 100
      consecutive patients with age-related macular degeneration for visual
      hallucinations. Each patient with visual hallucinations was matched to the next
      three patients without hallucinations. The patients and comparison subjects were
      compared in terms of scores on the Beck Depression Inventory, Eysenck Personality
      Questionnaire, Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status, and a structured
      questionnaire including demographic characteristics, family history, and medical
      and psychiatric history. Ophthalmologic data were obtained by chart review.
      RESULTS: Of the 100 patients, 13 experienced visual hallucinations. Four
      variables were significantly associated with having hallucinations: living alone,
      lower cognition score, history of stroke, and bilaterally worse visual acuity.
      Hallucinations were not associated with family or personal history of psychiatric
      disorder or with personality traits. In 11 (84.6%) of the 13 patients, the
      hallucinations had begun in association with an acute change in vision.
      CONCLUSION: These results indicate that visual hallucinations are prevalent among
      patients with macular degeneration. They appear unrelated to primary psychiatric
      disorder. The predisposing factors of bilaterally worse vision and living alone
      support an association with sensory deprivation, while history of stroke and
      worse cognition support a decreased cortical inhibition theory.

PMID- 1443248
TI  - Elderly Israeli Holocaust survivors during the Persian Gulf War: a study of
      psychological distress.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to systematically assess the
      psychological effects of the Persian Gulf War on a nonclinical group of elderly
      Israeli civilians with and without a Holocaust background. METHOD: Sixty-one
      elderly Holocaust survivors and 131 elderly civilians without a Holocaust
      background completed questionnaires in their homes. Measures included sense of
      safety, symptoms of psychological distress, and levels of state and trait
      anxiety. RESULTS: Findings indicate that Holocaust survivors perceived higher
      levels of danger and reported more symptoms of acute distress than comparison
      subjects. In addition, they displayed higher levels of both state and trait
      anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Findings do not support the notion that prior experience
      with extreme stress has an inoculating effect that leads to greater resilience in
      dealing with other forms of stress. On the contrary, Holocaust experience was
      found to render the elderly more vulnerable rather than less. These findings of
      greater vulnerability among Holocaust survivors are of particular significance
      since they stem from a nonclinical group.

PMID- 1443249
TI  - Utilization of neuropsychiatric diagnostic tests for general hospital patients
      with mental disorders.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The author's goal was to determine the frequency and distribution of
      neuropsychiatric diagnostic tests provided to general hospital patients with
      mental disorders. METHOD: Data from the 1989 National Hospital Discharge Survey
      were analyzed to determine the number, proportion, and general characteristics of
      11,628 discharged patients with primary diagnoses of mental disorders who
      underwent computerized tomography (CT) scanning of the head, EEG, and magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. RESULTS: Of the discharged patients with
      mental disorders, 5.1% had received CT scans, 2.8% had received EEGs, and 0.7%
      had received MRI. These rates were below the rates for patients discharged with
      primary diagnoses of neurological disorders but above the rates for patients
      discharged with primary diagnoses of other medical disorders. Among the patients
      discharged with mental disorder diagnoses, the likelihood of receiving a CT scan
      or an EEG was greater if the primary diagnosis was an organic disorder or if the
      secondary diagnosis was a medical disorder. Patients over age 65 were also more
      likely to have received a CT scan. Hospital size and location had a modest
      influence on the likelihood of receiving a CT scan or EEG, but the ownership of
      the hospital and the patient's source of payment were not significant influences.
      CONCLUSIONS: Neuropsychiatric diagnostic testing is selectively utilized in the
      routine treatment of general hospital psychiatric inpatients. Clinical variables
      rather than institutional or financial variables appear to be the most powerful
      predictors of which patients are selected to receive these tests.

PMID- 1443250
TI  - Effect of instructional cues on schizophrenic patients' performance on the
      Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Schizophrenic patients are particularly deficient on measures of
      executive functioning, notably the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. This study was
      conducted to determine the efficacy of a cuing strategy in facilitating
      performance on this cognitive measure of the integrity of prefrontal brain
      structures and functioning. METHOD: Twenty-four schizophrenic inpatients and 24
      demographically matched inpatients with mood disorders were administered the
      Wisconsin Card Sorting Test either with instructional cues at the beginning of
      the task or with the standard administration procedure. RESULTS: There was a
      significant benefit of cues for the patients with affective disorders as well as
      for the schizophrenic patients. The schizophrenic subjects in the uncued
      condition maintained poor but stable performance throughout the course of the
      task. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that the deficit in executive functioning
      of schizophrenic patients may lie in the formation of concepts, not in their
      application.

PMID- 1443251
TI  - Physical and sexual abuse histories among children with borderline personality
      disorder.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine whether a history of
      physical or sexual abuse is more common in children with borderline personality
      disorder than in other children evaluated in the same outpatient psychiatric
      clinic. METHOD: The authors contrasted rates of abuse in 44 children diagnosed
      with borderline personality disorder and in 100 comparison children. RESULTS: The
      borderline personality disorder group had a significantly greater prevalence of
      physical and combined physical/sexual abuse. Sexual abuse rates alone did not
      differ significantly between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The finding of greater abuse in
      the group with borderline personality disorder supports the hypothesis that a
      history of trauma is associated with the disorder.

PMID- 1443252
TI  - Lithium-discontinuation-induced refractoriness: preliminary observations.
AB  - The authors used a systematic life-chart methodology to observe four patients
      with bipolar disorder in whom long periods (6-15 years) of effective lithium
      prophylaxis were followed by relapses on lithium discontinuation. Once the drug
      was reinstituted, it was no longer effective. The incidence, predictors, and
      mechanisms underlying this phenomenon all require further systematic study. The
      current preliminary observations suggest an additional reason for caution when
      lithium discontinuation in the well-maintained patient is considered.

PMID- 1443253
TI  - Side effects and the "blindability" of clinical drug trials.
AB  - A novel, simple approach to retrospective assessment of "blindability" was
      applied to data on outpatients in a controlled, double-blind clinical comparison
      of a putative antidepressant, etoperidone, and placebo. A "blind" evaluator
      proved capable of discriminating between the active drug and placebo on the basis
      of reported side effects alone, raising questions about the true blindness of the
      study.

PMID- 1443254
TI  - Fluoxetine and suicidal preoccupation.

PMID- 1443255
TI  - Fluoxetine in depersonalization disorder.

PMID- 1443256
TI  - Adverse vascular effects associated with fluoxetine.

PMID- 1443257
TI  - Phenelzine treatment of depression in Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 1443258
TI  - Antidepressants, panic disorder, and PTSD.

PMID- 1443259
TI  - Taking chronic fatigue syndrome seriously.

PMID- 1443260
TI  - Taking chronic fatigue syndrome seriously.

PMID- 1443261
TI  - Taking chronic fatigue syndrome seriously.

PMID- 1443262
TI  - Taking chronic fatigue syndrome seriously.

PMID- 1443263
TI  - Taking chronic fatigue syndrome seriously.

PMID- 1443264
TI  - Pharmacotherapy of agitation in dementia.

PMID- 1443265
TI  - ECT and delirium in Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 1443266
TI  - ECT and delirium in Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 1443267
TI  - ECT and delirium in Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 1443268
TI  - A second look at the placebo response.

PMID- 1443269
TI  - Sociocultural perspectives on substance abuse disorders.

PMID- 1443270
TI  - Cocaine abstinence: "withdrawal" or residua of chronic intoxication?

PMID- 1443271
TI  - Does light therapy present an ocular hazard?

PMID- 1443272
TI  - Patients' appearance and psychopathology.

PMID- 1443273
TI  - The treatment of an adult survivor of incest: a self psychological perspective.

PMID- 1443274
TI  - The Wolf-Man case: classical and self-psychological perspectives.
AB  - Freud's description of his analysis and treatment of the Wolf-Man will be forever
      regarded as an extraordinary clinical and theoretical achievement. What has been
      attempted in this paper is to demonstrate how selected aspects of the Wolf-Man
      case could be interpreted using a self-psychology paradigm. The intent was not to
      demean Freud or to undermine the theoretical and clinical contributions of
      drive/structure theory. Rather, I have attempted to show how Freud's analysis and
      treatment of the Wolf-Man might have been enhanced by a familiarity with more
      recent developments in psychoanalysis.

PMID- 1443275
TI  - Psychoanalytic reflections on language distortion and empathic listening.

PMID- 1443276
TI  - A Fairbairnian object-relations perspective on self-psychology.

PMID- 1443277
TI  - Reflections on the development of male chauvinism.

PMID- 1443278
TI  - Psychoanalysis and state terror in Argentina.

PMID- 1443279
TI  - Will the health care crisis sabotage the practice of psychotherapy?

PMID- 1443280
TI  - The dissolution of the dyad in psychiatry: implications for the understanding of
      patient-therapist sexual misconduct.
AB  - Psychiatry has undergone multiple changes in this century. Some twenty years ago,
      Kubie describe a move away from patients, particularly in those practitioners
      involved in academic psychiatry. His concern was warranted; such a trend appears
      to have involved much of psychiatry. There has been a markedly decreased emphasis
      in viewing the operative unit of psychiatric inquiry as a dyad of the physician
      and patient, in which the parties inescapably influence each other. Newer
      treatments tend to employ the physician as a more independent entity that applies
      necessary treatment to the patient. Concomitantly, we have seen a trend toward a
      diminishing focus on sexuality as a primary motivating force in all areas of
      human endeavor. Freud proposed that libidinal impulses dominated much of our
      behavior; later psychoanalytic theorists and founders of other modalities of
      treatment have focused on other sources of motivation. Within the context of a
      psychiatry less focused on the physician and patient in a dyadic sense, and less
      focused on sexuality as a universal source of motivation, we have witnessed a
      marked increase in interest in the sexual misconduct of psychiatrists.
      Comprehension of this disturbing issue in the service of prevention rests upon
      reversing these trends. We must attend to the dyad as a bipersonal field serving
      as the arena for misconduct. We must also parallel our strident disapproval of
      misconduct with an objective exploration of the dynamics of both parties and the
      human commonality of sexual feelings. This special section represents such an
      exploratory effort.

PMID- 1443281
TI  - Obstacles to the dynamic understanding of therapist-patient sexual relations.
AB  - Several dynamic resistances appear to interfere with rational and empirically
      based discourse about therapist-patient sexual misconduct. These resistances
      include the lure of reductionism and a longing for simplicity; wishes for
      "political correctness"; gender bias; and confusion about the nature of the
      trauma in sexual misconduct. We conclude that (1) empirical study may produce
      unpleasant results; (2) "politically incorrect" models of misconduct merit study
      with care equal to "politically correct" ones; and (3) those reenactments we call
      transference-countertransference should be viewed in all their human complexity.
      Only then will our increased understanding of misconduct offer hope of
      prevention.

PMID- 1443282
TI  - Unanswered questions about the criminalization of therapist-patient sex.
AB  - Even though much has been written about the issue of criminalization of therapist
      patient sex, many questions about the issue remain unanswered, raising doubts
      about the wisdom of nationwide adoption of criminalizing legislation. From a
      philosophical standpoint, we need to understand more fully what thoughts,
      emotions, and behaviors constitute consent. Furthermore we must determine how
      much value to give consent in relation to other social values and goals. From a
      clinical standpoint we still need a better understanding of what constitutes the
      therapist-patient relationship: what it is and when it is over. We must also
      examine more carefully the nature of power within a psychotherapeutic
      relationship. From a legal standpoint we must determine how criminalization
      affects constitutional privacy rights, as embodied both in state constitutions
      and the federal Constitution. From an empirical standpoint we need to assess the
      efficacy of current criminalization statutes and determine their effect on tort
      compensation for patient victims. We also need to assess the practical
      application of these statutes by juries. Without more thorough analysis of all
      the issues raised, the criminalization of patient-therapist sex by state
      legislatures may in fact cause more harm than good.

PMID- 1443283
TI  - Risk management in the practice of behavior therapy: boundaries and behavior.
AB  - Behavior therapy represents a treatment modality widely utilized by clinicians
      but to date insufficiently examined from the risk-management standpoint. Given
      that the determination of negligence is dependent on the role of the therapist as
      proximate cause of the adverse outcome and on the availability of an accepted
      standard of care from which deviations can be specified, a number of general
      characteristics of behavior therapy may render its practitioners potentially
      vulnerable to litigation. These may include its directiveness, its replicability,
      and its methodologic rigor. Similarly, certain specific behavioral techniques may
      carry some medicolegal risks, including the use of aversion methods, utilization
      of family members or other lay cotherapists, response cost, and exposure
      therapies. In addition, therapeutic boundaries in behavioral treatment may be
      different from those in psychoanalytic therapy, allowing for therapist practices
      that might otherwise be considered unusual or in themselves negligent, but the
      therapist may have a heavier burden of justification in such cases. The authors
      suggest that recognition of the possibility of adverse results, ongoing and
      competent informed consent, adequate documentation, willingness to consult, and
      careful monitoring of treatment outcome may help mitigate the medicolegal risks
      of these procedures.

PMID- 1443284
TI  - The prevention of psychotherapist sexual misconduct: avoiding the slippery slope.
AB  - Therapist sexual misconduct has its genesis in the therapeutic relationship. The
      mental health professions have long recognized the delicacy with which the
      therapist must handle the therapeutic relationship, with its power imbalance,
      inherent vulnerability of the patient, and transference and countertransference
      reactions. The prevention of sexual contact starts with the careful attention to
      boundary violations, which, though themselves perhaps not harmful, may escalate
      into sexualized behavior. Methods of preventing this behavior include the
      establishment of clear guidelines for practitioners and the expansion of the
      educational process for therapists, therapists' employers, patients, and other
      professionals. Last resorts lie in the legal and quasi-legal proceedings
      available to victims, such as civil suits for damages, criminal complaints, board
      of licensing complaints, and actions before professional associations. The best
      method of preventing sexual contact with patients involves respecting the
      boundaries of the professional relationship and avoidance of the slippery slope.

PMID- 1443285
TI  - False sexual-abuse allegations by children and adolescents: contextual factors
      and clinical subtypes.
AB  - The authors review the empirical literature concerning the frequency of false
      allegations of sexual abuse as well as the case report literature that describes
      individual episodes of false allegations in detail. The authors then construct a
      clinical typology that is derived from the literature and their own clinical
      experience with similar cases. The specific subtypes of the typology are: (1)
      False allegation in the context of a custody dispute, (2) false allegations
      resulting from psychological disturbance on the part of the accuser, (3) false
      allegation as a conscious manipulation by the child or adolescent and, (4) false
      allegations based on iatrogenic factors. Clinical examples of each subtype are
      presented. The case material presented and reviewed indicates the importance of
      attending to the contextual factors surrounding the allegation and pursuing a
      detailed comprehensive evaluation that is as free of bias as possible.

PMID- 1443286
TI  - Professionals' attitudes towards sex between institutionalized patients.
AB  - Sexual activity among institutionalized patients has always been an issue of
      concern to institutions. Despite this fact, there has been little consensus about
      how patient sexuality should be dealt with. Nor have clinical insights with
      respect to patient sexuality been empirically tested. Given the diversity of
      beliefs and policies in this area, guidelines concerning sexual activity among
      hospitalized mental patients seem to be badly needed. We examined the following
      six factors that we thought might influence staff decisions: (1) the competence
      of a patient to engage in sexual activity, (2) the degree of consent, (3) the
      nature of sexual activity (e.g., hugging vs. genital relations), (4) the location
      of sexual activity (e.g., in bedroom vs. on grounds), (5) the sex of the
      initiating patient (6) the sex of the other patients. We hypothesized that mental
      health professionals, both as members of the community at large and as
      professionals, would have conventional moral views (as defined by Kohlberg)
      towards sexual activity. Supporting this hypothesis, of the six factors listed
      above, only location of the sexual activity and form of the sexual activity
      affected judgements on sexual activity significantly. The professionals
      interviewed appeared to be most condemning of homosexual acts, and least
      condemning of hugging. Although we had hypothesized that profession norms of
      consent and competence would be significant factors, they were not. The core
      implication of our study is that mental health professionals need training on
      competence assessment and its use in decision making and must reexamine their own
      prejudices (e.g., homophobia) to clarify their decision making about
      institutional policies.

PMID- 1443287
TI  - Dynamics for communications data.
AB  - To create a complex dynamical model for a complex system, it is normally
      necessary to have a directed graph of the network, a dynamical model for each
      node, and a coupling function for each directed edge. But in many applications,
      the only observable data consists of communications from one node to another. In
      this situation, the modeler may infer a complex dynamical model for the network
      without any explicit knowledge of the independent dynamical behavior of the
      component systems (nodes). Here we present one procedure for this type of
      modeling problem, inspired by the attractor reconstruction procedure of chaos
      theory. Part of this proposal consists of a strategy for computer graphic
      presentation of the interactive dynamics of the complex system (or social network
      of dynamical schemes) called a netscope. We can imagine applications to diverse
      situations, such as decision groups, management, forecasting, international
      relations, classroom monitoring, therapy (personal, family, group, etc.) and
      distributed processors, to name a few.

PMID- 1443288
TI  - On deciphering the book of nature: human communication in psychotherapy.
AB  - The tools of contemporary applied mathematics reveal important hidden
      regularities amidst the ongoing interactive feedback phenomena occurring in
      interactional or dynamical systems in nature where everything affects everything
      else. Badalamenti and Langs investigate each therapy session as a continuous
      sequential emergence of interrelated communicative events (or communicative
      states) which meet the criteria of a dynamical system. Applying mathematical
      modeling the authors demonstrate how otherwise hidden regularities occurring
      between patients and therapists become accessible to us that are unavailable to
      our unaided powers of observation, intuition, and thought. This is a systems or
      population investigation of clinical interaction that begins in a qualitative or
      domain mode, but which opens immediately toward statistical and formal modes of
      discussion. It can lead to statements of properties and laws that meet the
      criteria of scientific dialogue and validity. It provides the clinician with
      guidelines for making interpretations and for assessing their immediate
      subsequent effect. It is distinguished from the essentialist approach at the
      foundation of traditional clinical thought which provides no access to such
      feedback phenomena and their properties. Communicative Psychoanalysts have
      adopted the systems perspective and are evolving a clinical language and
      treatment based upon its principles and discoveries.

PMID- 1443289
TI  - Clinical consequences of a formal mode of science of psychoanalysis and
      psychotherapy.
AB  - The paper has presented some ways in which existing formal-mode science results
      are of importance to the practicing clinician. Stress was placed on the
      quantification and mathematical identification of countertransference
      difficulties. Formal science results allow for deep insight into the effects of
      various approaches to doing psychotherapy that have not been previously
      available. By adding a new dimension to psychoanalytic observation and
      understanding, formal science studies of the deeper nature of the human mind and
      of the therapeutic interaction should help in time to lead to major revisions in
      clinical theory and practice.

PMID- 1443290
TI  - Psychotherapy with the neuropsychologically impaired adult.
AB  - Despite opinions to the contrary, psychotherapy can be conducted with probably
      all but severely brain-impaired patients, albeit with some modification. The
      challenge is for the clinician to tailor his/her training to meet the needs of
      brain-impaired patients. There are certain real limitations, however, of
      neuropsychologically impaired patients that make psychotherapeutic attempts
      difficult. Assessment of patients' awareness of their losses, and of the
      implications of these losses is basic to an understanding of the emotional
      reactions observed. Screening and/or evaluation of certain neuropsychological
      functions is vital, as these functions have direct impact upon treatment
      efficacy. Traditionally, brain impairment has been thought to exacerbate
      premorbid or underlying character traits. An explanation is proposed for this
      traditional view of "exacerbation of premorbid style," in terms of decreased
      problem-solving skills, greater rigidity, and inherent increased strain of brain
      impairment. Neuropsychological deficits may interact with premorbid character
      types to produce some (predictable) behavioral alterations. Adjustments are
      required to accommodate to the deficits of brain-impaired patients, while
      retaining the richness of subjective experience in the clinical interaction. In
      treating neuropsychologically impaired persons, a model of equilibrium is thus
      suggested to balance patients' deficits with the therapist's interactions.

PMID- 1443291
TI  - Working through conflict with self-destructive preschool children.
AB  - This case history charts the treatment of a preschooler who first presented at
      the age of three years and ten months with aggressive and self-destructive
      behaviors. During the initial months of treatment, the therapist focused upon
      establishing a therapeutic alliance with the child in order to evoke a
      transference reaction. Compelling evidence of the transference in this case
      occurred in the ninth month of treatment when the therapist told the child that
      she would be going on vacation. The child, whose own mother had abandoned him
      several times, responded with uncharacteristic physical and verbal abuse.
      Although the child engaged in aggressive and self-destructive play enactments
      almost from the onset of treatment, these behaviors intensified from the fifth
      month of treatment onwards, as it became evident that he had entered the working
      through phase. Aggressive impulses were shown in his manipulation of toys and
      other objects, and self-destructive episodes emerged in the child's incessant
      efforts to jump from chairs and tables, as well as in repeated threats to "shoot"
      himself with a toy gun. The therapist was sensitive to the child's need to
      continually repeat and gradually modify these behaviors. She permitted their
      display without exhibiting shock or alarm, but at the same time, expressed
      concern for the child's safety and reinforced this concern by setting limits on
      his unacceptable behavior. Gradually, the child's self-destructive and aggressive
      tendencies abated. Further evidence that the conflict had been worked through was
      also seen in the child's ability to express a more realistic assessment of his
      home environment, one which reconciled the conflict between "good" and "bad"
      impulses. This advancement in perception was demonstrated by the child's verbal
      recognition that while his mother was capable of doing "bad" things, she was
      still his mother and he loved her. Prior to the termination of treatment, both
      the child's grandmother and teachers reported significant improvement in the
      child's behavior and linguistic abilities.

PMID- 1443292
TI  - Trends in sexual behavior and the HIV pandemic.

PMID- 1443293
TI  - Perspectives on HIV/AIDS epidemiology and prevention from the Eighth
      International Conference on AIDS.
AB  - The Eighth International AIDS Symposium in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, provided
      updated scientific and programmatic information on the human immunodeficiency
      virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) to thousands of
      interested participants. As in the other scientific areas, the amount of
      information presented in epidemiology and prevention was overwhelming; however,
      the scientific progress described was steady but incremental. This commentary
      summarizes progress made in three selected areas that were highlighted during the
      meeting's scientific session and a fourth that received widespread media
      attention: (1) the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in heterosexual women; (2)
      tuberculosis as an increasing opportunistic pathogen in HIV-infected persons; (3)
      prevention research, practice, and policy; and (4) preliminary reports of severe
      immunodeficiency in persons without evident HIV infection. In order to stem HIV
      transmission worldwide, a safe and effective vaccine is urgently needed.
      Currently, in the absence of such a vaccine, it is crucial for all of the world's
      communities to apply the best science-based prevention methods available.

PMID- 1443294
TI  - The double bind in science policy and the protection of women from HIV infection.

PMID- 1443295
TI  - Commentary: methods women can use that may prevent sexually transmitted disease,
      including HIV.
AB  - Although sexually transmitted diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus
      (HIV), are a major concern for women, few prevention messages are targeted
      specifically to women. Those that are generally stress abstaining, altering the
      number or selection of partners, and urging partners to use condoms. But these
      behaviors may be unrealistic for many women, particularly women who are at
      highest risk for sexually transmitted diseases, because they require significant
      changes in life-style or depend on male-controlled condom use. Recommendation of
      contraceptives for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases depends largely on
      how well specific methods perform under controlled conditions, either in the
      laboratory or in clinical trials. Observational studies, which better reflect day
      to-day use, indicate that condoms, barriers, and spermicides, used properly and
      consistently, can provide substantial protection against various sexually
      transmitted diseases. Condoms can similarly help protect against HIV, but studies
      of barriers and spermicides are scant and currently inconclusive. Finally, those
      methods that are controlled by women are consistently more effective in
      preventing sexually transmitted diseases. Thus, although condoms used well are
      still the best choice, the imperative for female-controlled methods indicates
      that diaphragms and spermicides should receive greater emphasis in prevention
      messages.

PMID- 1443296
TI  - Commentary: the quest for women's prophylactic methods--hopes vs science.
AB  - The companion article by Rosenberg and Gollub in this issue summarizes data from
      10 observational studies and concludes that female-controlled contraceptive
      methods, under typical conditions, are comparable to condoms in preventing
      sexually transmitted diseases and should be merchandized as such. While we agree
      that chemical and mechanical contraceptives provide protection against some
      sexually transmitted diseases, we think the authors have overstated the
      scientific case for these methods, especially in comparison with the condom. We
      think the current data remain inconclusive regarding the absolute protection of
      spermicides against the human immunodeficiency virus and their level of
      protection--relative to that of the condom--against other sexually transmitted
      diseases. Three reasons account for our differences: the limitations in the
      comparative data; the reported adverse effects of spermicides on vaginal
      conditions, including genital ulcers; and the relative value of condoms, even
      under typical conditions, in preventing sexually transmitted diseases. For these
      reasons, we would currently counsel both women and men who practice high-risk
      sexual behaviors to use condoms as their first line of defense. If this is
      unacceptable, the female barriers become a fallback position to protect against
      bacterial sexually transmitted diseases.

PMID- 1443297
TI  - Community AIDS/HIV risk reduction: the effects of endorsements by popular people
      in three cities.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: It is critical to extend community-level acquired immunodeficiency
      syndrome (AIDS) prevention efforts beyond education alone and to develop models
      that better encourage behavioral changes. Gay men in small cities are vulnerable
      to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection due to continued high rates of
      risk behavior. This research introduced an intervention that trained popular
      people to serve as behavioral change endorsers to peers sequentially across three
      different cities. METHODS: Populationwide surveys were conducted of all men
      patronizing gay clubs in each city to establish risk behavior base rates. After a
      small cadre of popular "trendsetters" were identified, they received training in
      approaches for peer education and then contracted to communicate risk reduction
      recommendations and endorsements to friends. Surveys were repeated at regular
      intervals in all cities, with the same intervention introduced in lagged fashion
      across each community. RESULTS: Intervention consistently produced systematic
      reductions in the population's high-risk behavior (unprotected anal intercourse)
      of 15% to 29% from baseline levels, with the same pattern of effects sequentially
      replicated in all three cities. CONCLUSIONS: This constitutes the first
      controlled, multiple-city test of an HIV prevention model targeting communities.
      The results support the utility of norm-changing approaches to reduce HIV risk
      behavior.

PMID- 1443298
TI  - High-risk sexual behavior and condom use among gay and bisexual African-American
      men.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) high
      risk sexual practices of gay and bisexual African-American men. These data are
      needed so that better interventions can be developed and implemented in this
      population. METHODS: The frequency and correlates of unprotected anal intercourse
      were examined among 250 gay and bisexual African-American men in the San
      Francisco Bay Area. The cohort was recruited in 1990 from bars, bathhouses, and
      erotic bookstores, and through African-American gay organizations, street
      outreach, advertisements in gay mainstream and African-American newspapers,
      health clinics, and personal referral from other participants. RESULTS: More than
      50% of the men in our sample reported having unprotected anal intercourse in the
      past 6 months, a considerably higher percentage than that among gay White men in
      San Francisco through 1988 and 1989. Men who practiced unprotected anal
      intercourse were more likely to be poor, to have been paid for sex, or to have
      used injection drugs; to have a higher perceived risk of HIV infection; and to
      report less social support for concerns about risky sexual behavior. Condom
      norms, condom efficacy, and negative expectations about using condoms predicted
      these men's failure to use them. CONCLUSION: In the second decade of the acquired
      immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic, risk reduction programs are still needed for
      gay and bisexual African-American men.

PMID- 1443299
TI  - The completeness of AIDS case reporting, 1988: a multisite collaborative
      surveillance project.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the completeness of
      acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) case reporting. METHODS: Statewide or
      hospital-specific 1988 medical records were linked with AIDS surveillance in six
      sites. Medical records were reviewed for persons who had diagnoses suggesting
      human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or AIDS but were not reported to
      AIDS surveillance by September 1989. RESULTS: Among 4500 hospitalized persons
      diagnosed with AIDS through 1988 in the six sites, completeness of reporting was
      92% (95% CI = 89%, 96%; range across sites = 89% to 97%). Completeness of
      reporting was high in males (92%), females (95%), Whites (95%), Blacks (90%),
      Hispanics (92%), men reporting sexual contact with men (92%), persons reporting
      injecting-drug use (91%), and persons exposed to HIV through heterosexual contact
      (99%). In Medicaid enrollees (two states), completeness of reporting was 99% (95%
      CI = 95%, 99%) in inpatients and 90% (95% CI = 79%, 90%) in outpatients. Of
      previously reported persons with AIDS, 82% were reported within 5 months of
      diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Completeness of AIDS reporting was high, overall and in
      each major demographic and HIV exposure group. These results demonstrate that
      current surveillance data in these six sites provide timely and accurate
      information regarding persons with AIDS.

PMID- 1443300
TI  - The reporting of HIV/AIDS deaths in women.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to assess the completeness of vital
      statistics and case reports of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in
      measuring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related mortality in women 15
      through 44 years of age. METHODS: We used vital records to determine the number
      of deaths attributed to HIV infection and excess deaths due to causes that have
      increased in tandem with the HIV epidemic. RESULTS: In 1988, among women 15
      through 44 years of age, there were 1365 deaths with HIV infection listed as the
      underlying cause, 202 deaths with HIV infection listed as an associated cause,
      and 149 excess deaths due to conditions highly associated with HIV infection
      (subtotal = 1716). In addition, there were 780 excess deaths due to causes that
      may be related to HIV infection or illicit drug use (maximum estimate of HIV
      related deaths = 2496). Of the deaths that occurred in 1988, 1532 were reported
      through AIDS surveillance (1668 deaths when adjusted for reporting delays).
      CONCLUSIONS: Underlying-cause-of-death vital records and AIDS surveillance
      identified 55% to 80% and 67% to 97%, respectively, of HIV-related deaths in
      women 15 through 44 years of age in 1988. The wide ranges of these estimates
      reflect the potential role of both HIV infection and drug use in contributing to
      excess mortality.

PMID- 1443301
TI  - Responses to anonymous questionnaires concerning sexual behavior: a method to
      examine potential biases.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Low response rates to voluntary surveys raise questions about how
      representative the responses are. We compared the behavior and attitudes of
      responders, willing and reluctant, and nonresponders to anonymous questionnaires
      about behaviors that might expose participants to the human immunodeficiency
      virus (HIV). METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to 1080 Danish adults 18 through
      59 years including explicit questions about sexual acts and illegal drug use.
      Identical questionnaires were sent to 3600 other Danes, similarly chosen; packets
      sent to these persons included cards to be returned separately informing us that
      they had responded. Questionnaires were sent twice more to nonresponders, who, if
      they then responded, were considered reluctant responders. One hundred
      nonresponders were telephoned and asked why they had refused to respond. RESULTS:
      Enclosing return cards did not affect initial response rate, but prompting
      boosted replies from 52% to 73%. However, behaviors were generally similar among
      initial and reluctant responders. One third of nonresponders agreed to respond if
      we wished (total potential response: 82%). In general, the reasons for
      nonresponse did not suggest that the life-styles of nonresponders placed them at
      risk for HIV infection. CONCLUSIONS: This method provides a simple, inexpensive
      approach to improving response rates and learning about the biases of reluctant
      responders and nonresponders.

PMID- 1443302
TI  - Pneumococcal bacteremia in Monroe County, New York.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Knowledge of the epidemiology of pneumococcal disease is critical for
      public health planning, evaluation of preventive strategies, and development of
      immunization recommendations. METHODS: We studied the incidence and case-fatality
      rates of pneumococcal bacteremia as a proxy for pneumococcal disease in Monroe
      County, New York, from 1985 through 1989 by reviewing the laboratory and clinical
      care records of all cases occurring among residents. RESULTS: There were 671
      cases identified, for an overall yearly rate of 18.8 per 100,000. The rates were
      highest in the very young, in the very old, and in non-White populations. Age
      specific rates were consistently higher in Blacks than in Whites. Predisposing
      medical conditions were present in 61% of cases. Case-fatality rates were 15%
      overall, 27% in those with predisposing medical conditions, and approximately 30%
      in Blacks older than 55 years and Whites older than 65 years. CONCLUSIONS: This
      study documents the incidence of and mortality from pneumococcal bacteremia. It
      supports previous observations that Black populations have an increased risk of
      invasive pneumococcal infection and suggests that immunization should be
      considered for Blacks older than 55 years.

PMID- 1443303
TI  - Disability in occupations in a national sample.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: We sought to develop lists of jobs whose members reported high and
      low levels of functional disability. METHODS: Samples of women (n = 6096) and men
      (n = 3653) were drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I
      Epidemiological Follow-up. Disability was measured with a modified Stanford
      Health Assessment Questionnaire. We analyzed women and men separately, and we
      calculated average disability indices within longest-held occupations while
      adjusting for age, age-squared, married spouse present, and education. We
      minimized attrition bias with an econometric technique. RESULTS: From highest to
      lowest association with disability, the female broad occupations ranking was as
      follows: farming, no occupation, laborers, service, technicians, operatives,
      crafts workers, transportation operators, professionals, sales workers,
      administrative support, and managers. The male broad occupations ranking was as
      follows: no occupation, farming, operatives, crafts workers, service,
      technicians, manager, administrative support, sales, and professionals. The
      highest levels of disability for women and men occurred among nonconstruction
      laborers, farm workers, twisting machine operators, servants, machinery
      maintenance workers, mining machine operators, and bus drivers. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      results suggest that, in understanding levels of functional disability,
      occupational safety and health play a larger role than is generally assumed.

PMID- 1443304
TI  - Passive smoking and lung cancer in nonsmoking women.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The causes of lung cancer among nonsmokers are not clearly
      understood. To further evaluate the relation between passive smoke exposure and
      lung cancer in nonsmoking women, we conducted a population-based, case-control
      study. METHODS: Case patients (n = 618), identified through the Missouri Cancer
      Registry for the period 1986 through 1991, included 432 lifetime nonsmokers and
      186 ex-smokers who had stopped at least 15 years before diagnosis or who had
      smoked for less than 1 pack-year. Control subjects (n = 1402) were selected from
      driver's license and Medicare files. RESULTS: No increased risk of lung cancer
      was associated with childhood passive smoke exposure. Adulthood analyses showed
      an increased lung cancer risk for lifetime nonsmokers with exposure of more than
      40 pack-years from all household members (odds ratio [OR] = 1.3; 95% confidence
      interval [CI] = 1.0, 1.8) or from spouses only (OR = 1.3; 95% CI = 1.0, 1.7).
      When the time-weighted product of pack-years and average hours exposed per day
      was considered, a 30% excess risk was shown at the highest quartile of exposure
      among lifetime nonsmokers. CONCLUSIONS: Ours and other recent studies suggest a
      small but consistent increased risk of lung cancer from passive smoking.
      Comprehensive actions to limit smoking in public places and worksites are well
      advised.

PMID- 1443305
TI  - HIV antibody testing and posttest counseling in the United States: data from the
      1989 National Health Interview Survey.
AB  - To see how successful human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) counseling and testing
      efforts have been in testing the United States population, particularly among
      those at increased risk for HIV infection, we analyzed data from the 1989
      National Health Interview Survey. Twenty percent of the NHIS sample (or, in terms
      of the general US population, an estimated 36 million persons) reported having
      been tested for HIV antibodies, mostly through blood donations. Although persons
      with increased risk of HIV infection had been tested and counseled at a much
      higher rate than the general population, the majority of this group had not yet
      been tested.

PMID- 1443306
TI  - Decontamination of an HIV-contaminated CPR manikin.
AB  - There has been a concern that the number of persons engaging in cardiopulmonary
      resuscitation (CPR) training could decline because of questions about human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) transmission. We investigated the theoretical
      possibility that a CPR manikin might serve as a fomite for HIV-1 transmission.
      Decontamination protocols were tested by using elevated levels of virus and
      decreasing decontamination times. Even under these compromising conditions,
      however, decontamination was effective.

PMID- 1443307
TI  - Trends in prevalences of behavioral risk factors: recent Hawaiian experience.
AB  - Recent time trends were studied for the prevalences of behavioral risk factors in
      Hawaii during the 5-year period from 1986 through 1990. The presence of linear
      time trend was analyzed by the multiple logistic regression method on weighted
      data, adjusting for confounding factors. The risk factors studied were seatbelt
      nonuse, lack of exercise, obesity, hypertension, smoking, acute drinking, chronic
      drinking, and driving while intoxicated. Seatbelt nonuse showed a significant
      decline, from 8.6% to 4.8%, with a mean annual decrease of 0.9 percentage point.
      Lack of exercise and obesity increased steadily, from 48.0% to 62.4% and from
      16.7% to 21.6%, respectively, with respective annual mean increases of 3.3 and
      1.4 percentage points.

PMID- 1443308
TI  - Predictors of shelter use among low-income families: psychiatric history,
      substance abuse, and victimization.
AB  - For poor housed and homeless families in New York City, NY, we examined the
      degree to which psychiatric and substance-abuse problems and victimization placed
      the families at elevated risk of requiring emergency housing, and we documented
      the prevalence of such problems. These problems were infrequently reported by
      both groups. However, past mental hospitalization, treatment in a detoxification
      center, childhood sexual abuse, and adult physical abuse were associated with
      increased risk of homelessness.

PMID- 1443309
TI  - Cumulative trauma disorders of the hand and wrist in the auto industry.
AB  - Surveillance for cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) of the hand and wrist was
      carried out in five US automotive plants from 1985 to 1986, using Occupational
      Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Form 200 injury and illness logs and
      medical insurance claims. Results using both record sources indicated that hand
      and wrist disorders may be more common in foundries than in other types of
      automotive plants. Similarly, in assembly plants, employees in certain
      departments appeared to be at higher risk for CTDs. Although our results are
      based on small numbers of cases, they suggest plants and departments that might
      be targeted for more detailed investigation.

PMID- 1443310
TI  - A quality-of-life method for estimating the value of avoided morbidity.
AB  - We developed a quality-of-life method for valuing changes in health status. Our
      model determines changes in health attributes for different illnesses and then
      estimates the dollar value of the corresponding welfare losses. We used our
      quality-of-life approach to estimate willingness to pay to avoid asthma, a
      headache, a cough, bronchitis, and arthritis. Estimates derived using our method
      are similar to those obtained from more expensive and restrictive traditional
      methods.

PMID- 1443311
TI  - The Supreme Court, abortion, and the jurisprudence of class.
AB  - The US Supreme Court's decision in Planned Parenthood of Southeastern
      Pennsylvania v Casey both protects a woman's liberty to choose to terminate her
      pregnancy and permits the state to make it more difficult for her to exercise her
      choice. In their opinion on the case, Justices O'Connor, Kennedy, and Souter
      eloquently defend constitutional protection of the right to make intimate
      decisions like continuing or ending a pregnancy. At the same time, they permit
      the state to try to persuade pregnant women not to have abortions and to make
      abortion harder to obtain and more costly, as long as the state's methods do not
      create an "undue burden" on the decision. Any restriction on abortion is a
      burden; whether it is "undue" (and therefore unconstitutional) depends on one's
      circumstances. The Court appears to view the difference between an undue burden
      and mere inconvenience from the perspective of privilege. The restrictions that
      were upheld may not significantly affect middle-class access to abortion, but
      they could prove insurmountable for many less privileged women.

PMID- 1443312
TI  - The validity of self-reported condom use.

PMID- 1443313
TI  - Community health and odor pollution regulation.

PMID- 1443314
TI  - Arthroscopic treatment of sports-related synovitis of the ankle.
AB  - We describe nine cases of sports-related synovitis of the ankle joint with a
      followup of 24 to 44 months (average, 30.9). It affects young athletes and occurs
      after episodes of acute or recurrent inversion ankle sprains or undisplaced ankle
      fractures. The patients complain of morning pain and stiffness along with
      increased pain and swelling with attempted athletic participation. All ankles
      were stable and all failed to respond to at least 6 months of conservative
      treatment. The technetium bone scans were positive in eight of the cases. During
      arthroscopy, a hypertrophic anterior-chamber synovitis was found and treated by
      arthroscopic partial synovectomy. The results were excellent in eight of the
      patients in whom symptoms resolved, allowing full return to their previous
      sports, and fair in one case. The only complication was one superficial wound
      infection.

PMID- 1443315
TI  - Loss of motion after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
AB  - We did a retrospective review and follow-up examination to investigate the
      incidence, risk factors, and outcome of patients who developed loss of motion
      after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Two hundred forty
      four patients with a minimum followup of 1 year were reviewed. Loss of motion
      (defined as a loss of extension of more than 10 degrees or flexion of less than
      125 degrees) was identified in 27 patients for an overall incidence of 11.1%.
      Factors associated with loss of motion included acute reconstruction (less than 1
      month from initial injury), male sex, and concomitant medial collateral ligament
      repair or posterior oblique ligament reefing or both. Twenty-one patients
      required surgery to regain their motion; three patients required a second
      procedure. Twenty-one of 27 patients with loss of motion underwent a detailed
      followup and were compared with 24 randomly chosen controls who had a normal
      range of motion after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. At followup,
      patients who experienced loss of motion had a significant decrease in noninvolved
      to involved knee extension and flexion compared to the control patients. There
      was no difference between our patients and the controls regarding patellofemoral
      problems, anterior knee laxity, and functional strength. Sixty-seven percent of
      patients with loss of motion had a good or excellent result in comparison to 80%
      of the controls.

PMID- 1443316
TI  - Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a composite collagenous
      prosthesis. A biomechanical and histologic study in rabbits.
AB  - We evaluated a prototype composite collagenous anterior cruciate ligament
      replacement device designed to possess the advantages of biological grafts and
      synthetic materials. Collagenous anterior cruciate ligament prostheses were made
      by embedding 225 reconstituted type I collagen fibers in a type I collagen
      matrix, and placing polymethylmethacrylate bone fixation plugs on the ends. The
      collagenous prosthesis was used to replace the anterior cruciate ligament of 31
      mature rabbits. At 4 and 20 weeks postimplantation, histologic and mechanical
      studies were performed on the developing neoligament tissue, and compared to
      values for the contralateral sham-operated control. At 4 weeks, neoligament
      tissue infiltrated the collagen fibers of the prostheses. The tibial bone tunnel
      attachment site contained new bone approaching the fibrous neoligament. The
      glutaraldehyde-treated prosthetic fibers appeared intact, while the carbodiimide
      treated prosthetic fibers began to resorb. The ultimate load and ultimate tensile
      strength of femur-neoligament-tibia complexes had decreased. At 20 weeks,
      glutaraldehyde-treated fibers appeared partially intact; in contrast, the
      carbodiimide-treated prostheses appeared to be completely degraded, and were
      replaced by organized, crimped neoligament tissue. The ultimate tensile strength
      and ultimate load increased substantially due to deposition and remodeling of
      neoligament tissue. The neoligament ultimate load was 2 to 4 times the initial
      load value of the prosthesis. Implantation of a resorbable, composite collagenous
      anterior cruciate ligament prosthesis encourages the development of functional
      neoligament tissue. Studies are underway to optimize the mechanical and
      biological properties of the prostheses.

PMID- 1443317
TI  - Cryotherapy-induced nerve injury.
AB  - Cryotherapy is a frequently used therapeutic modality in the treatment of
      athletic injuries. Peripheral nerve injury can result from the use of cryotherapy
      and cause temporary disability for the athlete. Six cases of peripheral nerve
      injury are reviewed. All cases resolved spontaneously. To avoid this
      complication, one should consider the location of major peripheral nerves, the
      thickness of the overlying subcutaneous fat, and the duration of tissue cooling.

PMID- 1443318
TI  - Extensor mechanism function after patellar tendon graft harvest for anterior
      cruciate ligament reconstruction.
AB  - We evaluated extensor mechanism function in 10 patients after they had
      arthroscopically assisted ACL reconstruction using the central third of the
      patellar tendon. The patients were randomly selected 12 to 24 months after
      reconstruction. All had rehabilitation where range of motion was initiated within
      the 1st postoperative week. All patients stated that they were satisfied and
      considered their knee to be stable. The KT-1000 maximum measurements (30 to 40
      pounds) averaged an increase of 1.7 mm when compared with the opposite knee.
      Subjective complaints, such as anterior knee pain, grating, and weakness, were
      common and only 3 of 10 patients returned to all of their preinjury sports.
      Persistent radiographic abnormalities were common. Physical examination and
      functional testing also revealed persistent dysfunction of the extensor mechanism
      in patients with radiographic abnormalities. Isokinetic testing at 60 deg/sec
      showed an average quadriceps deficit of 18% compared to the normal extremity.
      Axial computed tomography scans revealed significant decrease in quadriceps cross
      sectional area. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography confirmed
      persistent defects at the harvest site; there was significant anterior knee scar
      formation in these patients. Despite achieving ligamentous stability, patients
      still experienced permanent weakness, functional deficits, patellar chondrosis,
      and pain after ACL reconstruction using the central one-third of the patellar
      tendon.

PMID- 1443319
TI  - Quadriceps femoris muscle activity in patellofemoral pain syndrome.
AB  - To elucidate and attempt to dissociate the two mechanisms, neuromuscular and
      mechanical, underlying patellofemoral pain syndrome, 18 subjects, divided into
      two groups based on a diagnosis of patellofemoral pain syndrome and the knee Q
      angle, were studied. The control group was asymptomatic and exhibited a normal Q
      angle (mean, 8.25 degrees), whereas the other group, diagnosed as patellofemoral
      pain syndrome patients, reported knee pain and had an above-normal Q angle (mean,
      21.05 degrees). All subjects were tested for isometric maximum knee extension at
      90 degrees, 30 degrees, and 15 degrees of knee flexion while they were seated in
      a special restraining chair. During testing, surface electromyography at the
      oblique and long fibers of the vastus medialis, and at the vastus lateralis were
      recorded along with the knee moment of force. The integrated electromyographic
      signals associated with the peak torque for all of the vastus muscles, along with
      the vastus medialis obliquus:vastus lateralis and vastus medialis longus:vastus
      lateralis activity ratios showed no significant differences between groups nor
      between the three angles, suggesting that all vasti measured were consistently
      active throughout the studied range of motion. This suggests that the neural
      drive was not affected in the patellofemoral pain syndrome patients. However,
      when the five patients showing the largest Q angles were isolated, they revealed
      a significantly smaller vastus medialis obliquus:vastus lateralis ratio when
      compared to the other group. The same ratio was also significantly smaller at 15
      degrees compared to 90 degrees.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443320
TI  - Os trigonum impingement in dancers.
AB  - Sixteen patients underwent surgical excision of an impinging ossicle through a
      posterior lateral approach. Twelve of these patients (15 ankles) were available
      for followup and were retrospectively surveyed at an average of 28 months after
      surgery. There were 9 women and 3 men. Nine were professional ballet dancers and
      3 were students of advanced ballet schools. Preoperative symptoms included pain
      localized to the posterior ankle, limitation of motion, weakness, swelling, or
      neurologic changes associated with dance activities. All patients were severely
      hampered in their dance participation and had failed nonsurgical therapies.
      Postoperatively, all patients followed an aggressive rehabilitation protocol. All
      had improvement in their impingement symptoms; eight (67%) still had occasional
      discomfort. All professional dancers returned to unrestricted dance activity. The
      mean time to full activity was 3 months. One patient had a superficial wound
      infection requiring antibiotic treatment and another suffered a transient tibial
      nerve neurapraxia. Both of these complications resolved without sequelae. We
      conclude that posterior ankle impingement in ballet dancers, caused by an os
      trigonum and resistant to nonsurgical therapies, is effectively treated with
      simple excision of the offending structure.

PMID- 1443321
TI  - Meniscal repair using fibrin sealant and endothelial cell growth factor. An
      experimental study in dogs.
AB  - The effect of fibrin sealant and endothelial cell growth factor on the healing of
      defects of the avascular portion of canine menisci was investigated in 30 menisci
      of 15 adult mongrel dogs. The defects were treated in one of three ways: Group 1,
      the defect was left empty; Group 2, the defect was filled with fibrin sealant;
      and Group 3, the defect was filled with fibrin sealant and endothelial cell
      growth factor. The healing process was evaluated macroscopically and
      histologically at intervals of 1, 2, 6, 12, and 24 weeks. The average percentage
      of each defect that was filled with connective tissue was 5% in Group 1, 76.6% in
      Group 2, and 89.4% in Group 3. In the early phase of this repair, the extrinsic
      pannus-like tissue that contained many capillary vessels extended from the
      meniscosynovial junction into the defect. Subsequently, organized fibrous
      connective tissue was formed, which had changed to cartilaginous tissue at 12 to
      24 weeks. The combination of fibrin sealant and endothelial cell growth factor
      enhanced the neovascularization and formation of granulation tissue, which
      accounted for the increased healing level in the avascular portion of the
      meniscus.

PMID- 1443322
TI  - Patterns of meniscal injury associated with acute anterior cruciate ligament
      injury in skiers.
AB  - To determine if the incidence and patterns of meniscal injury associated with
      acute anterior cruciate ligament injury in skiers are different from those seen
      in individuals injured in nonskiing athletic activities, we reviewed the records
      of 150 patients with acute anterior cruciate ligament injuries. All patients had
      undergone arthroscopic evaluation within 21 days from the time of injury. There
      were 75 individuals who were injured while skiing and 75 individuals who
      sustained an injury in some other high-load athletic activity. Associated
      meniscal injury was documented at the time of arthroscopy and characterized by
      location, region, zone, depth, shape, size, and stability. Thirty-one of 75
      skiers had an associated meniscal injury as compared to 47 of 75 of the
      nonskiers. This suggested a strong trend of decreased incidence of meniscal
      injury in the skier group, but the nonskiers had a higher incidence of major
      meniscal tears that required repair or partial meniscectomy. The location of the
      meniscal tear was also significantly different. The incidence of isolated lateral
      meniscal injury in skiers was higher than in nonskiers. There was a strong trend
      of increased incidence of medial meniscal involvement in the nonskiers than in
      the skiers. While there was no difference in the zone or region of tear between
      the two groups, the skier group was more likely to have a longitudinal tear of
      the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus. In both groups, lateral meniscal
      tears were more likely to require conservative treatment or partial meniscectomy
      while medial meniscal tears were more likely to be repaired than excised.

PMID- 1443323
TI  - Fluoroscopic evaluation for subtle shoulder instability.
AB  - Fifty patients with unilateral shoulder symptoms and a variety of diagnoses were
      evaluated with stress testing of both shoulders under general anesthesia using
      fluoroscopic documentation just before surgery. An axillary lateral view of the
      glenohumeral joint was taken in neutral rotation and 90 degrees of abduction;
      this was termed "neutral position." Anterior and posterior translational stresses
      were then applied and spot radiographs taken. Measurements were made and the
      translation was expressed as a percentage of displacement of the humeral head
      with respect to the glenoid. The asymptomatic side was used as a control. We
      determined that up to 14% anterior translation and up to 37% posterior
      translation is normal. Using these guidelines, attempts were made to confirm or
      predict the presence of stability or instability. Thirty-one patients were
      correctly identified as stable; 14 were correctly identified as unstable. Three
      patients with anterior shoulder pain were classified as unstable and found to
      have Bankart lesions at surgery. Overall, specificity was 100% and sensitivity
      was 93%. Using discriminant function analysis, a difference score of 10% between
      the symptomatic and control shoulder was generated. This was useful in
      eliminating interobserver variations in the examination for predicting stability
      or instability. We recommend this examination as a valuable adjunct to confirm
      the presence and direction of shoulder instability and predict subtle instability
      patterns in patients with recalcitrant undiagnosed shoulder pain.

PMID- 1443324
TI  - Snow skiing injuries in physically disabled skiers.
AB  - This study, through retrospective review, examines the injury rate of selected
      disable skiing populations in general and as compared to able-bodied skiers in
      areas where comparison was possible. Data on disabled skiers gathered from
      instructional programs at multiple sites indicate that the disabled skier had a
      very low rate of injury occurrence. Where comparison could be make, it was found
      that there was no significant difference in overall injury rates between able
      bodied and physically disabled skiers. Disabled skiers appear to sustain less
      severe injuries, and they do not show the trend in increasing injury rates that
      able-bodied skiers in this study show. In addition, the uphill transport of
      skiers with a disability who use sit- or mono-skis was examined in one large
      program and found to be efficient and exceedingly safe, with no injuries
      reported. A major limitation of this study is the inconsistency in methods of
      data collection and reporting. There is a need for further prospective studies in
      the general able-bodied and disabled skiing populations with direct comparisons
      of rate, location and severity of injury, type of disability, and experience
      level of the skier. We hope that this study will stimulate more ski areas to
      allow disabled skiers on their slopes, even it limited to participation in
      supervised, instructional programs.

PMID- 1443325
TI  - Healing of the patellar tendon autograft after posterior cruciate ligament
      reconstruction--a process of ligamentization? An experimental study in a sheep
      model.
AB  - Forty-eight skeletally mature sheep underwent posterior cruciate ligament
      reconstruction with free patellar tendon autografts in one knee; the
      contralateral knee served as a control. Immediate rehabilitation without
      immobilization followed. Autograft healing was evaluated by histologic,
      roentgenographic, and biomechanical techniques up to 2 years postoperatively.
      After implantation, the autograft tissue underwent necrosis and degeneration,
      followed by a gradual healing process comprising revascularization, cellular
      migration, and formation of an extracellular matrix. The autograft bone pegs were
      osseously incorporated by 6 weeks. After an initial loss of strength, the
      material properties of the operated knee recovered to only about one-third that
      of the control. Better alignment of the collagen fiber bundles resulted in
      increased material properties, up to approximately 50% of the control at 52
      weeks. After 2 years, the autograft tissue was found to differ structurally and
      mechanically from a ligament, suggesting that the autograft may never approach
      normal ligament characteristics. Degenerative alterations, the wide-spread
      presence of type III collagen, and abnormal accumulations of glycosaminoglycans
      in the autograft correlated with a maximum stress of 60% and an elastic modulus
      of 70% of the control. Although ligamentization was not seen, the staging of
      autograft healing into different phases based on distinct morphologic
      manifestations (necrosis, revitalization, collagen formation, and remodeling) and
      correlating with changing mechanical properties may provide a rationale for
      rehabilitation protocols with a realistic evaluation of the loading capacity of
      the replacement tissue.

PMID- 1443326
TI  - In vitro comparison of over-the-top and through-the-condyle anterior cruciate
      ligament reconstructions.
AB  - Knee kinematics, during standard knee examination maneuvers, were measured on 15
      fresh cadaveric knees in their normal state and after isolated sectioning of the
      anterior cruciate ligament using a six degree of freedom electrogoniometer.
      Proximal iliotibial band autografts were used to perform two anterior cruciate
      ligament reconstructions on the cadaveric knees: an over-the-top reconstruction
      and a through-the-condyle procedure. Both of these reconstructions reduced the
      abnormal anterior translation of the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee
      seen in Lachman testing. However, neither reconstruction restored the normal
      anterior translation. In addition, other motions remained uncorrected: 1) the
      internal rotation due to internal torque at full extension; 2) coupled anterior
      translation during internal rotation at full extension; and 3) coupled medial
      translation with anterior translation in Lachman testing. There were no
      statistical differences noted in the joint kinematics created by either
      reconstruction.

PMID- 1443327
TI  - Incidence of injury in Texas high school football.
AB  - This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of injury in high school
      football based on evaluation of 100 high schools in the State of Texas during a
      single football season (1989). Certified athletic trainers were the initial
      medical professionals providing on-site diagnosis and treatment of all injuries.
      An injury was defined as: 1) an incident causing an athlete to miss all or part
      of a single practice or game; 2) any incident treated by a physician; and 3) all
      head injuries reported to the athletic trainer. Data were collected that allowed
      calculation of the time of exposure to injury per athlete in the sample. There
      was 75.5% participation in the study by the certified athletic trainers in the
      100 schools. A total of 4399 athletes in varsity football programs participated
      in the study. There were 2228 injuries, as defined in the study, during the
      period of study, giving an incidence of injury of 0.506 injury per athlete per
      year. Severe injuries--those requiring hospitalization--were found in 137 cases,
      for an incidence rate of 0.031 injury per athlete per year. The incidence of
      reportable defined injury was calculated to be 0.003 injury per hour of exposure
      per student athlete. The knee was found to be the most commonly injured anatomic
      site; the ankle ranked second.

PMID- 1443328
TI  - Human torque velocity adaptations to sprint, endurance, or combined modes of
      training.
AB  - We had groups of athletes perform sprint and endurance run training independently
      or concurrently for 8 weeks to examine the voluntary in vivo mechanical responses
      to each type of training. Pre- and posttraining angle-specific peak torque during
      knee extension and flexion were determined at 0, 0.84, 1.65, 2.51, 3.35, 4.19,
      and 5.03 radian.sec-1 and normalized for lean body mass. Knee extension torque in
      the sprint-trained group increased across all test velocities, the endurance
      trained group increased at 2.51, 3.34, 4.19, and 5.03 radian.sec-1, and the group
      performing the combined training showed no change at any velocity. Knee flexion
      torque of the sprint and combined groups decreased at 0.84, 1.65, and 2.51
      radian.sec-1. Knee flexion torque in the sprint-trained group also decreased at 0
      radian.sec-1 and in the combined group at 3.34 radian.sec-1. Knee flexion torque
      in the endurance-trained group showed no change at any velocity of contraction.
      Mean knee flexion:extension ratios across the test velocities significantly
      decreased in the sprint-trained group. Knee extension endurance during 30 seconds
      of maximal contractions significantly increased in all groups. Only the sprint
      trained group showed a significant increase in endurance of the knee flexors.
      These data suggest that changes in the voluntary in vivo mechanical
      characteristics of knee extensor and flexor skeletal muscles are specific to the
      type of run training performed.

PMID- 1443329
TI  - Ruptures of the pectoralis major muscle. An anatomic and clinical analysis.
AB  - We evaluated 12 patients with 14 ruptures of the pectoralis major muscle to
      compare surgical and conservative management of this injury. Because 9 of the
      injuries occurred while weight lifting, we performed an anatomic study on human
      hemithorax specimens during a simulated bench press to determine the mechanism of
      this rare occurrence. Excursion of individual pectoralis muscle fibers was
      measured at seven points along the broad muscle origin by the use of fine wires
      connected to the humeral insertion and to dial gauges on the study apparatus.
      Excursions in the concentric and eccentric phases of the lift were expressed as a
      percentage of resting fiber length. The short, inferior fibers of the muscle
      lengthened disproportionately during the final 30 degrees of humeral extension.
      We concluded that the inferior fibers have a mechanical disadvantage in the final
      portion of the eccentric phase of the lift, and application of high loads to
      these maximally stretched fibers produces rupture. We repaired five acute and two
      chronic ruptures, and measured peak torque and work production against the
      contralateral side using Cybex isokinetic testing. Surgically treated patients
      showed comparable torque and work measurements, while conservatively treated
      individuals demonstrated and marked deficit in both peak torque and
      work/repetition. We recommend repair of complete pectoralis muscle ruptures in
      active patients who require maximum strength in vocational or avocational
      activities.

PMID- 1443330
TI  - Reconstruction of the lateral ankle ligaments. A biomechanical analysis.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to perform a biomechanical analysis of several
      commonly performed operative procedures used to stabilize the lateral ankle. We
      performed the Evans, Watson-Jones, and Chrisman-Snook procedures on 15 cadaveric
      ankles and tested the ankles for stability, motion, and isometry of graft
      placement. The Evans procedure allowed increased anterior displacement, internal
      rotation, and tilt of the talus when compared to ankles with intact ligaments.
      Subtalar joint motion was restricted by the Evans procedure. The Watson-Jones
      procedure controlled internal rotation and anterior displacement of the talus,
      but was less effective in controlling talar tilt and also restricted subtalar
      joint motion. The Chrisman-Snook procedure allowed increased internal rotation
      and anterior displacement of the talus when compared to ankles with intact
      ligaments. The procedure was effective in limiting talar tilt, but restricted
      subtalar joint motion. Based on the biomechanical data obtained, we devised a
      lateral ankle reconstruction with bone tunnels that reproduce the anatomic
      orientation of both the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments. This
      ankle ligament reconstruction resists anterior displacement, internal rotation,
      and talar tilt without restricting subtalar joint motion. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: We
      found considerable mechanical differences among the more commonly performed
      lateral ankle reconstructions. It is possible to locate bone tunnels and graft
      placement so that a more anatomic configuration is achieved.

PMID- 1443331
TI  - Ultrasound examination of soft tissue injury of the lower limb in athletes.
AB  - We performed ultrasonography on 32 athletes complaining of intense pain in a
      swollen and tender thigh or calf after a contusion or stretching trauma. The
      ultrasonogram was used to visualize the presence and size of a suspected
      hematoma. The findings included the following: 7 patients with a circumscribed,
      anechoic lesion compatible with a liquefied hematoma; 10 patients with a
      circumscribed lesion of mixed echogenicity compatible with areas of liquefied
      hematoma, coagulated blood, and edema; and 15 patients with a diffuse change in
      echogenicity of the whole muscle. The circumscribed liquefied, and mixed hematoma
      were more common after contusion trauma, while the diffuse type was more common
      after injury caused by stretching. Ultrasonography is useful in localizing the
      hematoma and in characterizing the different types. Differentiation is important
      in diagnosis and choice of treatment.

PMID- 1443332
TI  - Echographic and Doppler screening of the forearm arteries in professional
      volleyball players.
AB  - We evaluated nine professional volleyball players by clinical, echographic, and
      Doppler technique examination of the forearm and digital arteries to determine
      vascular damage caused by repeated trauma. The results of these tests showed that
      one-third of the subjects had vascular lesions in the right hand; only one of
      these was symptomatic. This suggests that noninvasive screening should be
      recommended and included in the regular medical check-ups of professional
      athletes in whom repeated trauma to the hand is likely, such as volleyball
      players.

PMID- 1443333
TI  - A biomechanical analysis of solvent-dehydrated and freeze-dried human fascia lata
      allografts. A preliminary report.
AB  - This study compares the basic mechanical properties of two groups of commercially
      available fascia lata allografts processed by different means (solvent-dehydrated
      and sterilized via gamma radiation, and freeze-dried without secondary
      sterilization). The results reveal significantly (P less than 0.05) higher
      stiffness, higher maximum load to failure, and higher maximum load per unit width
      of graft with the solvent-dried as opposed to the freeze-dried fascia lata.
      Subsections of individual solvent-dried specimens were also more uniform in their
      mechanical properties than those of the freeze-dried allografts. CLINICAL
      RELEVANCE: Fascia lata is used as a graft material in a variety of orthopaedic
      procedures. Allograft fascia lata offers an increased cross-sectional area of
      material and eliminates the morbidity associated with the harvesting of
      autologous tissues. However, the structural uniformity of such large grafts has
      been questioned. Processing techniques used in the sterilization and storage of
      such grafts is varied and represents a potential source of variation in the
      mechanical properties of allograft specimens. The results of this study suggest
      that a commercially available solvent-dehydrated form of fascia lata provides a
      more suitable grafting material than freeze-dried specimens obtained from tissue
      banks.

PMID- 1443334
TI  - Patellar osteochondral fracture: the unforeseen hazard of golf.

PMID- 1443335
TI  - Fracture of the supracondylar femur after anterior cruciate ligament
      reconstruction using patellar tendon and iliotibial band tenodesis. A case
      report.

PMID- 1443336
TI  - Lateral plantar nerve entrapment: foot pain in a power lifter.

PMID- 1443337
TI  - Sudden death in a young athlete. A case report.

PMID- 1443338
TI  - Purification of native dengue-2 viral proteins and the ability of purified
      proteins to protect mice.
AB  - Both the envelope structural protein and the non-structural NS1 protein have been
      purified from the flavivirus dengue-2 by high-pressure liquid chromatography.
      These purified proteins maintain their reactivity with monoclonal antibodies.
      When tested in mice, the envelope protein elicited neutralizing antibodies and
      partially protected the animals against a lethal viral challenge. The mice
      responded to the non-structural protein by producing antibodies; however, these
      antibodies were not neutralizing and the mice were not protected.

PMID- 1443339
TI  - Antibodies to the major merozoite surface coat protein of Plasmodium falciparum
      (gp195) in a human population living in a malaria-endemic area of the
      Philippines.
AB  - The seroprevalence of naturally acquired antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum
      merozoite surface protein gp195 was assessed in 726 individuals living in the
      Napsan region of Palawan in The Philippines. Antibodies against gp195 were
      detected using parasite-derived antigens in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
      The lowest seroprevalence of anti-gp195 antibodies (45%) was found in the 0-4
      year-old age group. By 10-19 years of age, the seroprevalence of anti-gp195
      antibodies had leveled off at approximately 90%. Anti-gp195 antibody titers were
      determined for 59 randomly selected individuals using parasite-derived gp195 and
      two yeast recombinant polypeptides corresponding to the N-terminal (195A) and C
      terminal (p42) processing fragments of gp195. For each antigen, the lowest
      antibody titers were found in the 0-4-year-old age group. The 5-9-year-old age
      group had anti-gp195 antibody titers comparable with the older age groups.
      Immunoblotting experiments with parasite-derived gp195 revealed that all serum
      samples tested had detectable antibodies to the 195-kD gp195 precursor molecule
      and the 83-kD N-terminal processing fragment. Individuals with anti-gp195 titers
      greater than 1:400 had antibodies against both the N-terminal and C-terminal
      processing fragments of gp195. These results suggest that the gp195 C-terminal
      region may be less immunogenic than the N-terminal region when presented on the
      parasite surface during natural malaria infections.

PMID- 1443340
TI  - Characterization of naturally acquired antibodies to the non-repetitive flanking
      regions of the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum.
AB  - Antibody responses to the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of Plasmodium falciparum
      have previously been reported against the central repeating tetrapeptides of this
      protein. Segments of the protein flanking the repeat region also contain B-cell
      epitopes, but specific antibody responses have not been previously characterized.
      Longitudinal serum sets from 16 Thai adults who developed acute falciparum
      malaria were selected to represent a spectrum of antibody response to the repeat
      region (R32). These sera were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using
      as capture antigen a recombinant fusion protein, NS1(81)RLF, which contains both
      flanking regions, but lacks the NANP and NVDP repeats of the P. falciparum CS
      protein. Antibody responses to the repeatless flanking (RLF) regions were
      observed in all subjects, including five individuals who lacked detectable anti
      R32 antibody responses. Anti-RLF antibody responses induced by natural infection
      appear to be short-lived and of low-to-moderate magnitude. Thus, if anti-RLF
      antibodies prove to be protective, derived vaccine candidates may require
      presentation of these epitopes with adjuvants or delivery systems that enhance
      immunogenicity.

PMID- 1443341
TI  - Rapid in vivo detection of chloroquine resistance by the Quantitative Buffy Coat
      Malaria Diagnosis System.
AB  - The use of the Giemsa-stained thick blood smear for the diagnosis of malaria has
      not been supplanted since the discovery of the parasite by A. Laveran in 1880.
      Recently, a new direct diagnosis technique, the Quantitative Buffy Coat (QBC)*
      Malaria Diagnosis System, has been developed. We compared this technique with the
      thick blood smear diagnosis in a study of the efficacy of chloroquine therapy in
      Zaire. A total of 815 subjects were screened; 71 participated in the trial. They
      were given chloroquine at a dose of 25 mg/kg of body weight over three days and
      were examined for parasitemia two and seven days after treatment. Chloroquine
      resistance was detected in 38% of the subjects by thick blood smear and in 45% by
      the QBC test. Of greater interest was the time required for each diagnosis: an
      average of 17 min was required to examine microscopic fields with 1,000
      leukocytes by thick blood smear analysis compared with less than one min by the
      QBC system. In addition, we did not observe diminished attention from fatigue by
      microscopists using the QBC system despite the large number of tests conducted.
      We conclude that the QBC system is an important tool for studies of drug
      resistance.

PMID- 1443342
TI  - Detection of Cryptosporidium parvum DNA in fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue by the
      polymerase chain reaction.
AB  - The objective of this project was to demonstrate detection of Cryptosporidium
      parvum DNA in fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue using the polymerase chain reaction
      (PCR). DNA was purified from six samples of fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue that
      were histologically positive for C. parvum and used in the PCR. Previously
      developed oligonucleotide primers specific for C. parvum were used to amplify a
      452-base target sequence, and a 20-base synthetic probe labeled with digoxigenin
      11-dUTP was used to detect the amplification product by chemiluminescence. All
      six samples were positive by PCR; negative controls showed no amplification or
      hybridization. This approach could provide a sensitive and specific method for
      detection of parasite material in fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples, and
      prove to be of significant value in retrospective studies of archival material.

PMID- 1443343
TI  - Diagnosis of Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection by western blot and the use of
      cross-reactive antigens for the possible detection of microsporidiosis in humans.
AB  - Microsporidia are very primitive, eukaryotic, obligate, intracellular, protozoan
      parasites. Encephalitozoon cuniculi, a microsporidian originally described from a
      rabbit infection, has been described in humans as well as in many species of
      laboratory animals. We report the detection of E. cuniculi by Western blotting in
      a rabbit with torticollis that was obtained from an Encephalitozoon-free colony.
      Cross-reactivity of this serum was observed with antigens prepared from several
      genera of microsporidia. Identical Western blotting patterns were obtained with
      sera obtained from a rabbit immunized with E. cuniculi that was purified from
      tissue culture cells. In addition, we were able to demonstrate cross-reactivity
      between E. cuniculi rabbit antisera and Enterocytozoon bieneusi antigens by
      indirect immunofluorescent assay techniques in human intestinal biopsy samples.
      These cross-reactions between microsporidia may be useful in developing
      diagnostic tests for non-cultivatable microsporidia such as Enterocytozoon
      bieneusi.

PMID- 1443344
TI  - Improved diagnostic performance of the circulating antigen assay in human
      schistosomiasis by parallel testing for circulating anodic and cathodic antigens
      in serum and urine.
AB  - Serum and urine levels of two Schistosoma circulating antigens, the circulating
      anodic antigen (CAA) and the circulating cathodic antigen (CCA), were determined
      by monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in 56 Egyptian
      patients infected with S. mansoni and in 12 patients infected with both S.
      mansoni and S. haematobium. Both CAA and CCA could be specifically demonstrated
      in 82% and 88% of the serum samples and in 88% and 87% of the urine samples,
      respectively. While complete specificity was maintained, sensitivity was
      increased to a range of 91-98% by parallel use of the two circulating antigen
      assays, i.e., an individual with a positive titer for at least one of the assays
      was considered to be infected. A combination of CAA and CCA determinations in
      urine samples only resulted in a sensitivity of 94%. However, the highest
      sensitivity was achieved when the serum-CCA assay was combined with the urine-CCA
      assay (98%) or with the urine-CAA assay (97%). Sensitivity could not be increased
      further by combining more than two tests. A significant correlation was
      demonstrated between the level of circulating antigen and the number of parasite
      eggs in feces in each of the four assays. In addition, the levels of CAA and CCA
      in serum and urine were significantly correlated with each other. Our results
      indicate that diagnosis of schistosome infections by detection of circulating
      antigens can be significantly improved by parallel testing for multiple antigens.

PMID- 1443345
TI  - Tuberculous peritonitis in Egypt: the value of laparoscopy in diagnosis.
AB  - Abdominal laparoscopy was performed on 200 patients with undiagnosed ascites. It
      was unsuccessful in one patient with tuberculous peritonitis because of extensive
      adhesions. A presumptive diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis based on clinical
      findings and peritoneal tubercles or adhesions visualized during laparoscopy was
      made in 90 of these patients. The diagnosis was confirmed in 88 by
      histopathology, bacteriology, or therapeutic response. Two of the 109 remaining
      patients who had other presumptive diagnoses made during laparoscopy were
      eventually confirmed to be cases of tuberculous peritonitis. Of 91 patients with
      tuberculous peritonitis included in this series, 79% were females, with the
      majority (79%) of them being of child-bearing age. Half had been ill for longer
      than one month. The most frequent complaints were abdominal pain, fever,
      anorexia, night sweats, abdominal swelling, and weight loss. Ascites, fever,
      wasting, pallor, and abdominal tenderness were common findings. Ultrasonography
      demonstrated ascites in all patients who underwent this procedure; 21% also had
      adhesions. Pleural effusion was present in 15% and pulmonary tuberculosis was
      detected in only two patients. Biopsy samples taken during laparoscopy showed
      that 60% had noncaseous granulomas and 33% had caseous granulomas. Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis was detected in 77%, with guinea pig inoculation having the highest
      sensitivity, followed by culture, and lastly by acid-fast smear. Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis was isolated more easily from biopsy samples than from ascitic
      fluid. Nine of 20 M. tuberculosis isolates that were identified as to species
      were M. bovis. Tuberculous peritonitis, a frequent cause of febrile ascites in
      Egyptian women, was easily diagnosed by histopathologic and bacteriologic studies
      of biopsy samples taken at laparoscopy. All patients responded rapidly to
      antituberculosis therapy.

PMID- 1443346
TI  - Field evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for estimating the
      sporozoite rate in Anopheles albimanus.
AB  - We have verified for specimens of Anopheles albimanus that an enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay (ELISA) used to assess Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum
      sporozoite antigen rates gives results comparable to the salivary gland
      dissection method for estimating sporozoite rates. For 14,150 adults of An.
      albimanus, captured at five locations in Guatemala, we report sporozoite antigen
      rates of 0.03-0.57%, which correlate with the malaria prevalences at the study
      sites. We also present data that suggest that specimens of An. albimanus for the
      ELISA can be obtained more efficiently by cattle corral collections than by the
      human bait capture method.

PMID- 1443347
TI  - Effect of Plasmodium falciparum on blood feeding behavior of naturally infected
      Anopheles mosquitoes in western Kenya.
AB  - Feeding behavior was compared between infected and uninfected field-collected
      groups of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato and An. funestus from western Kenya. A
      significantly greater percentage (81%) of Plasmodium falciparum-infected An.
      gambiae s.l. females probed on experimental hosts (hamsters) than did uninfected
      females (38%). Among those females that initiated probing, there was no effect of
      infection status on the ability to take a bloodmeal. Plasmodium falciparum
      infected An. gambiae s.l. probed more often (mean = 4.0) and for a longer time
      (mean = 277 sec) than did their uninfected counterparts (mean = 2.4 probes and
      mean probing time = 214 sec). Results for the small number of An. funestus that
      fed followed the same trend. Among infected An. gambiae s.l. females, there was
      no effect of sporozoite density on either the number of probes made or the total
      probing time. Among uninfected females, there was no difference in feeding
      behavior between nulliparous and parous females. In laboratory experiments,
      female age had no effect on blood-feeding behavior. Our findings provide evidence
      that natural malaria infection modifies the feeding behavior of Anopheles
      females.

PMID- 1443348
TI  - Circumsporozoite antibody as a serologic marker of Plasmodium falciparum
      transmission.
AB  - In a longitudinal study of a malaria-endemic village in southeastern Thailand,
      circumsporozoite (CS) antibody to sporozoites of Plasmodium falciparum was
      measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine its usefulness as a
      seroepidemiologic marker of malaria transmission. The CS anti-(NANP)n antibody
      level and prevalence during a 25-month period paralleled the pattern of seasonal
      transmission consistent with conventional parasitologic and entomologic
      measurements. The prevalence and level of antibody decreased during the non
      transmission wet season, and increased over a 1-2-month transition period between
      the end of monsoon rains and the onset of dry conditions, an interval of maximum
      vector activity. Antibody increased with age in the population. The prevalence of
      antibody to the asexual blood stage as measured by conventional indirect
      fluorescent antibody assay did not coincide with changes in transmission and was
      sustained throughout the study period. Thus, CS antibody appeared to reflect the
      relative population exposure to mosquito inoculation of P. falciparum sporozoites
      and provided a useful measure of malaria transmission dynamics.

PMID- 1443349
TI  - Schistosoma mansoni infection in diapausing Biomphalaria glabrata snails: studies
      of temperature and genetic influences on diapausing behavior.
AB  - Snails that are capable of undergoing diapause can circumvent unfavorable
      environmental conditions, including long periods of drought. Studies were
      performed to investigate possible temperature and/or genetic factors that may
      trigger lamella formation and diapausing behavior. The influence of diapause in
      Biomphalaria glabrata snails on susceptibility to Schistosoma mansoni infection
      and levels of cercarial production was also investigated. Rearing temperatures of
      23 degrees C or higher did not induce lamella formation or diapause, regardless
      of the parental phenotype. However, substantial percentages of progeny from
      lamellated or lamellated/diapausing parental snails developed lamellae at 18
      degrees C and underwent diapause. Only a small percentage of offspring from
      nonlamellated parents formed lamellae at this temperature. Juvenile snails
      exposed just prior to diapause, or immediately following a diapause period of
      three weeks, were highly susceptible to infection by S. mansoni miracidia. Snails
      that underwent diapause produced comparable or only slightly fewer cercariae than
      did nondiapausing snails. These studies indicate that diapause in B. glabrata
      does little to decrease a snail's ability to act as an intermediate host for S.
      mansoni or to interrupt the development of the parasite. For these reasons, we
      believe that greater attention should be given to diapausing snail populations
      when planning field surveys or mollusciciding programs.

PMID- 1443350
TI  - Albendazole in the treatment of onchocerciasis: double-blind clinical trial in
      Venezuela.
AB  - A double-blind clinical trial was conducted in Monagas State, Venezuela to assess
      the tolerance and efficacy of albendazole in the therapy of Onchocerca volvulus
      infection. Forty-nine patients (26 treated and 23 controls) received a 10-day
      course of albendazole (400 mg/day) or a placebo. Consistent with the excellent
      tolerance observed, albendazole did not kill microfilariae. However, analysis of
      changes in microfilarial densities (mf/mg of skin) over one year showed that
      albendazole was active against O. volvulus, presumably by interfering with
      embryogenesis. The nature, degree, and duration of this effect remain to be
      determined.

PMID- 1443351
TI  - In vitro activity of halofantrine and its relationship to other standard
      antimalarial drugs against African isolates and clones of Plasmodium falciparum.
AB  - The in vitro activity of halofantrine was studied in chloroquine-susceptible and
      chloroquine-resistant African clones of Plasmodium falciparum over a period of
      six months. The susceptibility level remained stable in both clones. The
      chloroquine-susceptible clone (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50] 6.88 nM) was
      less susceptible to halofantrine than the chloroquine-resistant clone (IC50 2.98
      nM). Using an isotopic semimicro drug susceptibility test, the in vitro activity
      of halofantrine was compared with the activities of chloroquine, quinine, and
      mefloquine to study the cross-resistance patterns against 76 African isolates of
      P. falciparum isolated from cases of malaria imported into France. Chloroquine
      resistant isolates (n = 47) were significantly less susceptible to quinine (IC50
      234 nM), but were more susceptible to both mefloquine (IC50 3.20 nM) and
      halofantrine (IC50 1.14 nM) compared with the chloroquine-susceptible isolates (n
      = 29; IC50 147 nM for quinine, 7.16 nM for mefloquine, and 2.62 nM for
      halofantrine). A significant positive correlation was found between the
      activities of chloroquine and quinine and between those of mefloquine and
      halofantrine, indicating cross-resistance between these drugs, while a negative
      correlation was observed between chloroquine and mefloquine or halofantrine. The
      responses to quinine and mefloquine or halofantrine showed no correlation with
      each other. These results reinforce the importance of a cautious use of
      antimalarial drugs in Africa.

PMID- 1443352
TI  - A Symposium: Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Surgical Infections.

PMID- 1443353
TI  - Comparative study of single-dose cefotaxime and multiple doses of cefoxitin and
      cefazolin as prophylaxis in gynecologic surgery.
AB  - In this comparative, randomized, multicenter trial, 273 patients scheduled for
      gynecologic surgery were studied: 87 received a single 1-g dose of cefotaxime 30
      minutes before surgery; 81 were given a 1-g dose of cefoxitin 30 minutes before
      surgery and 1 g every 6 hours for 24 hours after surgery (total dose 4 g); and
      105 received a 1-g dose of cefazolin 30 minutes before surgery, followed by 1 g
      every 8 hours for 48 hours (total dose 6 g). Patients who received cefotaxime had
      a significantly lower incidence of postoperative fever compared with those
      treated with cefoxitin or cefazolin (p < 0.01). The incidence of positive urinary
      cultures was lower in the cefotaxime and cefazolin groups when compared with the
      cefoxitin group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). The results of this study
      confirm the efficacy of cefotaxime as prophylaxis in surgical infections and
      demonstrate that single-dose cefotaxime is more effective than a four-dose
      regimen of cefoxitin.

PMID- 1443354
TI  - New clinical data on the prophylaxis of infections in abdominal, gynecologic, and
      urologic surgery. Multicenter Study Group.
AB  - Two dose schedules of the antibiotic cefotaxime were compared in a prospective,
      randomized 226-center study of 3,670 patients undergoing abdominal, gynecologic,
      and urologic surgery. Schedule A consisted of a single preoperative dose and
      schedule B consisted of one preoperative dose followed by two postoperative
      doses. There was no significant difference in the frequency of wound infection or
      bacteriuria between the two schedules. Schedule B was associated with a
      significantly higher incidence of postoperative pyrexia, further antibiotic
      therapy, local side effects, and extended hospital stay. One dose probably has
      less impact on the intestinal flora. Therefore, single-dose cefotaxime is as
      effective and less costly when compared with multiple-dose cefotaxime for common
      surgical procedures lasting less than 3 hours.

PMID- 1443355
TI  - Which prophylactic regimen for which surgical procedure?
AB  - For optimal prevention of infection subsequent to a surgical intervention, it is
      necessary to follow a series of general principles, including the classification
      of the type of surgical intervention, the characteristics of the antibiotic used,
      and the route and the time of its administration. Moreover, with reference to the
      different types of surgery, other factors assume importance: the etiology of the
      infection and the ability of the antibiotic to achieve adequate levels in the
      tissues at the beginning of the infective process. In general abdominal, biliary,
      and obstetric-gynecologic surgery, which covers many clean-contaminated and
      contaminated interventions for which antibiotic prophylaxis has been shown to be
      the most effective, the etiology is often mixed (aerobic and anaerobic flora)
      with a predominance of gram-negative microorganisms. Thus, an appropriate
      prophylactic regimen must consider a third-generation cephalosporin, such as
      cefotaxime, that is effective against most gram-negative bacteria, in particular
      against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Acylureido penicillins can also be used because of
      their activity against enterococci, gram-positive microorganisms that are also
      causes of infection in this area of surgical intervention. Combining an
      antimicrobial such as clindamycin or metronidazole, which are particularly active
      against anaerobes, may be recommended as well. In urologic surgery, most
      infections are caused by Enterobacteriaceae; in addition to the antimicrobial
      spectrum, the ability of the antibiotic to concentrate adequately in the urine
      and renal tissue must also be considered. Beta-lactam antibiotics are the agents
      of choice, in particular, third-generation cephalosporins, aztreonam, and
      acylureido penicillins. In cardiac, orthopedic, and partially in neurologic
      surgery, where most infections are due to gram-positive bacteria (primarily
      methicillin-resistant staphylococci), antibiotic prophylaxis should include a
      glycopeptide agent (teicoplanin, vancomycin). In the field of surgical
      prophylaxis, more experience has been accumulated with cefotaxime, used as a
      short-course regimen or as a convenient single dose, than with any other newer
      cephalosporin. Cefotaxime's broad spectrum of action provides coverage against
      most potential pathogens and, when used as a single dose, is both convenient and
      cost-effective.

PMID- 1443356
TI  - Timing of antibiotic prophylaxis with cefotaxime for prostatic resection: better
      in the operative period or at urethral catheter removal?
AB  - There are two critical moments for the development of severe infectious
      complications following transurethral prostatectomy (TURP): the operative and
      immediate postoperative periods, and the day that the postoperative drainage
      catheter is removed. To optimize the timing of antibiotic prophylaxis with
      cefotaxime, two prospective randomized studies were conducted in patients with
      preoperatively sterile urine. In Study 1, all patients (n = 50) received
      cefotaxime 1 g intramuscular (i.m.) 1 hour preoperatively and were then
      randomized to receive either a second identical dose of cefotaxime 1 hour before
      catheter removal 24 hours later, or no further antibiotic treatment. In Study 2,
      patients (n = 89) were randomized to receive either cefotaxime 1 g i.m. 1 hour
      preoperatively or no preoperative antibiotic, after which all received cefotaxime
      1 g i.m. 1 hour before catheter removal. Results were compared using identical
      evaluation criteria for infection in both studies: incidence of fever
      (temperature > 38 degrees C), bacteriuria (10(5) organisms/mL) and positive blood
      cultures, and duration of hospital stay (days). In Study 1, infection was
      significantly reduced with respect to all parameters in the group receiving two
      doses of cefotaxime, and total drug treatment costs were halved. In Study 2, the
      groups did not differ with respect to any parameter. We conclude that a single
      dose of cefotaxime 1 g i.m. 1 hour preoperatively provides inadequate cover for
      urethral catheter removal 24 hours later, and that prophylaxis with a single dose
      of cefotaxime 1 g i.m. 1 hour before catheter removal is just as effective as two
      doses given 1 hour preoperatively and 1 hour before catheter removal.
      Prophylactic coverage is essential during the action of removing the catheter and
      the time immediately following the operation. Long-term antibiotic coverage (24
      hours or more) is not necessary. Thus, following TURP in patients with
      preoperatively sterile urine undergoing continuous bladder irrigation for 24
      hours postoperatively, the optimal dose schedule for antibiotic prophylaxis with
      cefotaxime is a single 1-g dose given i.m. 1 hour before catheter removal.

PMID- 1443357
TI  - A reassessment of the activity of the third-generation cephalosporins against
      anaerobes and Staphylococcus aureus.
AB  - The in vitro activity of cefotaxime (CTX) alone and in combination with its
      metabolite desacetylcefotaxime (dCTX) was evaluated against 106 isolates of
      Bacteroides species. and 32 strains of Staphylococcus aureus. All strains were
      recovered from infected tissues of diabetic patients. Addition of dCTX to the
      parent compound markedly increased the inhibitory activity against Bacteroides
      species in general and Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides vulgatus in
      particular. No effect of the combination of both agents on Bacteroides
      thetaiotaomicron or Bacteroides ovatus was observed; 50% of B. fragilis
      infections were susceptible to CTX alone and 81% became susceptible to CTX plus
      dCTX. In addition, a partial synergistic interaction against 20 strains of B.
      fragilis resulted in a four- to nine-fold reduction in the minimal inhibitory
      concentration (MIC) after dCTX was added to CTX. Interestingly, 10 of 20 strains
      that exhibited an MIC of 64-128 micrograms/mL with CTX alone became very
      susceptible after the combination of parent and metabolite. This favorable
      positive interaction of both agents was also observed with S. aureus; a two- to
      four-fold reduction in MIC values was observed when dCTX was added.

PMID- 1443358
TI  - Cefotaxime is extensively used for surgical prophylaxis.
AB  - Cefotaxime, a broad-spectrum third-generation cephalosporin, has been extensively
      used worldwide for chemotherapy of serious infections. Based on the
      characteristics of its antimicrobial spectrum, low incidence of allergy, and lack
      of adverse effects, cefotaxime has been used successfully for prophylaxis of a
      number of different surgical procedures. Extensive data have been accumulated for
      single-dose or short-course cefotaxime prophylaxis regimens. These cefotaxime
      regimens have been demonstrated to be very effective and inexpensive. For this
      article, over 11,500 published cefotaxime prophylaxis cases are reviewed (10,500
      control cases) and 98 references are cited. Single-dose cefotaxime was clearly
      indicated for hysterectomies, cesarean sections, upper gastrointestinal cases,
      bone and joint operations, biliary tract procedures, transurethral resections,
      open urologic surgeries, and some vascular procedures. Short-course (3-4 doses)
      may be required for colorectal resections, cardiac surgeries, head and neck
      surgeries, organ transplants, specific pediatric surgical cases, and for some
      patients with compromised immune function, regardless of origin. Cefotaxime has
      reduced wound morbidity of contaminated abdominal operations to < 10%. This
      change from multiple-dose regimens to the single-dose or short-course regimens,
      enabled by cefotaxime use, decreases the risk of inducing or selecting bacterial
      resistance; the change would generate a significant reduction in hospital costs.
      Surgeons should not hesitate to employ cefotaxime and other third-generation
      cephalosporins with proven limited-dose indications to greatly benefit their
      patients and the hospital environment.

PMID- 1443359
TI  - Measuring the cost-effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery.
AB  - Cost-effectiveness analysis is primarily a decision-making aid for budget
      holders. The first questions that must be answered are: Costs to whom? Effects on
      whom? Ideally cost-effectiveness analysis should address these questions
      separately from the perspective of the hospital, the community health services,
      the patient, and society in general. However, it may not always be practical to
      perform such a wide-ranging study. Moreover, if the decision maker is primarily
      concerned with the hospital budget, it is tempting to confine the detailed
      analysis to items that affect that budget. A good analysis should acknowledge
      these inevitable limitations and explicitly state whose perspective is being
      used. Even if a detailed study of community health services is not possible, the
      analysis should include some evidence about the likely impact of the program on
      others outside the immediate sphere of the budget holder. Two situations commonly
      arise in applying cost-effectiveness analysis to surgical prophylaxis: (a) The
      prophylaxis is more expensive than current practice and its costs must be
      justified, e.g., the use of a more expensive drug for a recognized indication or
      the introduction of prophylaxis for a new indication. (b) The prophylaxis is
      cheaper than current practice and must be shown to be as cost-effective, e.g.,
      the use of a single-dose prophylaxis instead of multiple-dose regimens or the
      administration of an oral dose instead of an intravenous dose. We believe that
      cost-effectiveness analysis adds a useful extra dimension to the evaluation of
      surgical prophylaxis.

PMID- 1443360
TI  - Current perspectives on antibiotic use in the treatment of surgical infections.
AB  - Infections that involve the attention of the surgeon include those that require
      operations for cure as well as those that complicate emergency and elective
      surgical procedures. Mechanical correction is of paramount importance in the
      eradication of such infections with antibiotics serving an adjuvant role,
      primarily to clear lymphatics and prevent bacteremia and seeding of distant
      sites. Review of the current hospital antibiotic susceptibility profile is
      important to determine likely sensitivity to expected pathogens. Infection of the
      urinary tract remains the most common nosocomial infection, but in surgical
      patients the severe infections are pneumonia, fasciitis, and peritonitis. Often
      caused by the gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae, empiric broad spectrum antibiotic
      therapy is initiated after cultures are obtained. Bacterial infection of the
      respiratory tract is often difficult to diagnose in severely ill patients because
      the underlying fever, leukocytosis, and chest X-ray changes are often
      nonspecific. Reliance on sputum gram stain and culture is important to guide
      antibiotic therapy. Empiric treatment of peritonitis requires knowledge of the
      normal enteric flora and the likely pathogenic organisms. The most lethal agent
      against obligate anaerobic organisms is atmospheric oxygen, yet antibiotic
      coverage against these organisms appears wise, particularly when debridement or
      resection will be delayed or not performed. Staphylococcus aureus is still the
      most commonly cultured organism from our Surgical Intensive Care Unit and Burn
      Unit and S. aureus is often responsible for central line and burn wound
      infection. For patients in septic shock, we favor administration of a broad
      spectrum penicillin or cephalosporin combined with an aminoglycoside, with
      subsequent narrowing of the antibiotic spectrum based on culture results.
      Antibiotic efficacy, toxicity, efficiency, and cost all must be weighed in the
      decision-making process.

PMID- 1443361
TI  - Infections in the surgical setting: epidemiology and effect of treatment with
      cefotaxime in a multicenter trial including 3,032 patients.
AB  - Hospital-acquired infections still represent a serious threat to the surgical
      patient. A nationwide survey of 259 Italian surgical wards involving 11,343
      patients was conducted in October 1988. Hospital-acquired infections were
      recorded in 565 (5%) patients: the microorganisms most commonly involved were
      gram-negative rods (60% of all isolates), 41% of the infected patients presented
      one or more intrinsic predisposing factor, and 65% had undergone some invasive
      procedure. The studied group represented 23% of all surgical patients in the
      country on the days of the survey. Following the epidemiologic survey, an open
      multicenter study was conducted in the same wards to evaluate the efficacy and
      tolerability of cefotaxime (1 g, 2 or 3 times per day) in the treatment of
      nosocomial surgical infections. Among 3,032 evaluable patients, 1,295 intra
      abdominal, 610 wound and soft tissue, 554 urinary, and 367 respiratory infections
      were observed. Treatment was judged to be clinically effective in 94% of
      patients, and side effects, mostly involving the gastrointestinal tract, were
      observed in 1.4% of patients; but interruption of the treatment was required only
      in 19 patients (0.6%). This study confirms that cefotaxime, after over a decade
      of use, retains high efficacy in the treatment for nosocomial infections and
      induces a low rate of side effects.

PMID- 1443362
TI  - Everything you wanted to know about Graves' disease.
AB  - Graves' disease is an autoimmune thyroid disease characterized by a genetic
      predisposition, an increased incidence in young women, the presence of thyroid
      stimulating immunoglobulins, and an uncertain etiology. The onset occasionally
      follows a frightening episode in the patient's life or separation from a loved
      one. On physical examination, the patient has a diffuse goiter with secondary
      hyperthyroidism, a noninfiltrative/infiltrative ophthalmopathy, and, on occasion,
      an infiltrative dermopathy. Atypical symptoms, signs, and presentations such as
      "apathetic thyrotoxicosis" are not rare and may delay the diagnosis in some
      patients. The diagnosis is confirmed by elevations of bound thyroxine (T4), free
      T4, or bound triiodothyronine in the presence of thyroid-stimulating hormone
      levels of less than 0.1 mU/L. When the diagnosis is suspected, but unclear, the
      thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test is indicated. Medical therapy must
      be long-term when propylthiouracil or methimazole is used, and results in only
      25% to 50% remissions at 1 to 2 years. Radioactive iodine therapy has resulted in
      a need for retreatment in 25% to 33.7% of patients in the past, and
      hypothyroidism occurs in 70% to 100% of treated patients at 10 years, depending
      on the dose. Evolving changes in operative technique have led to a 95% to 100%
      cure rate with complications such as reoperation for hemorrhage (0% to 1.3%),
      recurrent nerve palsy (0% to 4.5%), and permanent hypocalcemia (0% to 0.6%) at
      extraordinarily low levels in experienced hands. Greater than 90% of patients
      have remained euthyroid 2 years after thyroidectomy in several series. Surgery
      continues to offer the highest cure rate in the shortest period of time.

PMID- 1443363
TI  - Occult fever in surgical intensive care unit patients is seldom caused by
      sinusitis.
AB  - Febrile intensive care unit (ICU) patients were evaluated prospectively for
      sinusitis. Of 598 admissions, 26 patients with transnasal cannulas, ICU stays
      over 48 hours, and occult fevers were identified. These 26 underwent physical
      examinations and sinus computed tomographic (CT) scans. Maxillary centeses and
      cultures were done in patients with CT abnormalities. Patients with positive
      scans had nasal tubes removed and received decongestants. Scans were abnormal in
      19 (73%). All patients with major CT changes had positive maxillary taps. Most
      infections were polymicrobial; enteric bacilli were common. Fever resolved with
      nonoperative care in 18 (95%) patients; in only 1 patient was fever primarily
      from sinusitis. Sinus CT scans are often abnormal in ICU patients with occult
      fevers and transnasal cannulas. Pneumatic otoscopy can serve as a screening tool.
      Most patients respond to nonoperative management. Remote infections are often
      present. Although radiographic nosocomial ICU sinusitis is common, it is seldom
      the sole source of fever or the proximate cause of significant morbidity.

PMID- 1443364
TI  - Are modified radical mastectomies done for T1 breast cancers because of surgeon's
      advice or patient's choice?
AB  - Clinical trials show that T1 breast cancers are equally well treated with breast
      conserving surgery as with modified radical mastectomy. However, the Colorado
      Central Cancer Registry indicates that, for the past 5 years, the majority of
      women (72%) with T1 breast cancer in Colorado have undergone modified radical
      mastectomies. A questionnaire was sent to 175 general surgeons to determine the
      reasons for the high number of modified radical mastectomies still being
      performed. The results indicate that one group of surgeons (34% of those
      responding) believes each type of surgery has equal survival rates but
      unknowingly influences the patient to choose modified radical mastectomy, with a
      subtly biased presentation. Education of both surgeons and patients is needed to
      increase the number of patients with T1 breast lesions who can benefit from
      breast-conserving therapy.

PMID- 1443365
TI  - Risk of major elective operation after myocardial revascularization.
AB  - Although an increased surgical risk of ischemic myocardial disease is widely
      accepted, amelioration of this risk after coronary artery bypass is poorly
      defined. We compared the outcomes of major elective general and peripheral
      vascular operations in 181 patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting
      (CABG) with outcomes in an age-, gender-, and procedure-matched group without
      prior CABG (NOCABG). Despite the perception of a greater operative risk in the
      CABG patients (more CABG patients in American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA]
      class III and fewer in ASA class I, p < 0.001), mortality (1.1% CABG versus 2.8%
      NOCABG) and morbidity (18.8% CABG versus 18.5% NOCABG) rates in the two groups
      were not significantly different. For patients who have undergone successful
      CABG, it appears that: (1) the risk of subsequent elective major general and
      vascular surgical operations is similar to that of an age-, gender-, and
      procedure-matched cohort, and (2) the mortality rate after elective operations is
      low.

PMID- 1443366
TI  - Advantages of the Papillon protocol in the preoperative treatment of rectal
      carcinoma.
AB  - Standard treatment for advanced rectal carcinoma currently includes surgery,
      radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Although there are theoretic advantages to
      preoperative irradiation, it is often not performed because of the prolonged
      delay of surgery and the purported increase in perioperative complications. A
      pilot study was undertaken at our institution to evaluate a treatment protocol
      advocated by Dr. Papillon that offers a shorter treatment time and less patient
      morbidity than conventional preoperative therapy for rectal carcinoma. Twenty
      patients with rectal cancer underwent the preoperative regimen that consisted of
      3,000 cGy delivered in 10 fractions over 12 days with concomitant 5-fluorouracil
      and mitomycin-C. Complications were acceptable. Local recurrence was lower than
      in most reported trials, and survival rates were comparable. Additional benefits
      of the protocol include lower radiation morbidity to the patient and a decreased
      delay between diagnosis and surgery.

PMID- 1443367
TI  - Virulent diverticular disease in young obese men.
AB  - Recent treatment of young patients (aged 40 years or less) with complicated
      diverticulitis prompted us to review our experience. During a 9-year period
      ending in December 1990, 61 of 238 patients treated for acute diverticulitis were
      40 years of age or younger. The younger patients were primarily obese Hispanic
      males in whom the correct diagnosis was frequently missed. Younger patients more
      frequently required an operation on an urgent basis for complications of
      diverticulitis during the initial hospitalization. The most common indication for
      operation in young patients was perforation compared with recurrent disease for
      the older age group. The younger group had a sevenfold incidence of enteric
      fistulas complicating their acute episode of diverticulitis. Our data suggest
      that diverticular disease in young patients is more common and more likely to
      require early surgical intervention than previously noted. In addition, obesity
      may represent an important etiologic factor in the development of diverticular
      disease.

PMID- 1443368
TI  - Reoperation in patients with the short bowel syndrome.
AB  - The clinical courses of 53 adult patients with the short bowel syndrome (SBS)
      were evaluated to determine the incidence of and indications for reoperation.
      Mesenteric vascular disease (23 patients) and malignancy/irradiation (18
      patients) were the most frequent causes of resection. Early reoperation was
      necessary in nine (17%) patients, primarily for intestinal complications. Twenty
      (53%) of the 38 patients leaving the hospital required a later abdominal
      procedure during the mean follow-up of 30 months (range: 2 to 108 months). Three
      (33%) of nine patients with ulcer disease had gastric resection. Six (21%) of 28
      patients at risk for cholelithiasis developed symptoms. Four of these patients
      underwent cholecystectomy, and three others had a prophylactic cholecystectomy.
      Ten patients underwent ostomy closure or formation. Intestinal disease
      necessitated stricturoplasty (three), serosal patch (one), minimal resection
      (three), or takedown of an ileal conduit (one). Twenty-four (63%) of 38 patients
      with SBS received home total parenteral nutrition for a mean of 22 months (range:
      2 to 105 months). Eleven patients required more than 1 vascular access procedure,
      and 4 had more than 3 procedures. Patients with the SBS frequently require
      reoperation for intestinal conditions, cholelithiasis, peptic ulceration, and
      vascular access. Prophylactic cholecystectomy and strategies for preserving
      intestinal length are important considerations in these patients.

PMID- 1443369
TI  - A case-control study of late recurrence of malignant melanoma.
AB  - Late recurrence of malignant melanoma is uncommon but appears to be a growing
      problem. It is unclear whether late recurrence has a better prognosis than early
      recurrence. Since the answer may influence treatment, we compared recurrence
      sites and subsequent survival in 35 patients with disease-free intervals of 72 to
      240 months (median: 127 months) with 35 case-controls who had relapse at 4 to 56
      months (median: 26.7 months). The distribution of recurrence sites in early
      relapse was 66% in regional nodes or soft tissue and 34% in distant soft tissue
      or viscera. In late relapse, this distribution was 49% in regional nodes or soft
      tissue and 51% in distant soft tissue or viscera (no significant differences).
      Median survival for patients with early and late recurrences in regional nodes or
      soft tissue was 26 and 44 months, respectively (no significant differences); 5
      year survival was 27% and 33%, respectively (no significant differences). Median
      survival was similar for early or late relapse in distant soft tissue or viscera
      (8 and 10 months, respectively), as was 5-year survival (0% and 6%,
      respectively). These results suggest that the metastatic pattern and survival
      after recurrence are similar for patients with early and late recurring melanoma.

PMID- 1443370
TI  - Operative morbidity and risk factor assessment in melanoma patients undergoing
      inguinal lymph node dissection.
AB  - A series of 168 patients who underwent 177 inguinal lymph node dissections from
      1979 to 1989 were retrospectively reviewed to determine the incidence and
      severity of postoperative complications as well as the perioperative risk factors
      associated with them. Operative mortality was 0%, whereas the incidence of
      moderate to severe wound infection was 11%, skin flap problems 0%, seromas 6%,
      and hemorrhage 3%. The occurrence of a wound complication increased the average
      hospital stay from 11 to 12 days. Multivariate risk factor analysis revealed age
      older than 50, male sex, and smoking to be significant risk factors for
      developing a wound infection. The use of prophylactic antibiotics and the
      duration of closed suction catheter drainage were not predictive of wound
      complications. Overall, 44% of patients experienced some postoperative edema,
      with only 7% of patients having 1+ edema that lasted longer than 6 months.
      Combined ilioinguinal lymph node dissection increased the chance of developing
      moderate to severe edema. These risk factors identify patients at high risk for
      morbidity, which should lead to improved perioperative care.

PMID- 1443371
TI  - The elderly burn patient.
AB  - During a 16-year period, 547 patients who were older than 64 years of age with a
      mean total body surface area (TBSA) (third-degree burns) of 25% were treated.
      Etiologies were flame/flash in 81% of patients, scald in 11%, solids in 7%, and
      electrical/chemical in 1%. Seventeen percent of patients had significant causal
      factors. An inhalation injury was present in 13% of patients, and the mortality
      in these patients was 100%. Burn excision was performed 239 times in 165
      patients. The majority of excisions were for full-thickness burns. Excision did
      not improve overall survival in patients with third-degree burns of 0% to 10%,
      but the length of stay (LOS) in excised and nonexcised survivors was improved (9
      versus 21 days, respectively). The LOS and survival were not significantly
      different in patients with burns between 11% and 20%. Postburn complications
      occurred in 28% of patients. Overall mortality was 50% (mean age: 77 years; TBSA:
      40%). There were no survivors with over 47% TBSA burns. The leading cause of
      death was pulmonary sepsis. Most surviving patients returned to a satisfactory
      lifestyle after discharge.

PMID- 1443372
TI  - Management of blunt hepatic injuries.
AB  - Sixty-three consecutive patients with blunt hepatic trauma were examined. Twenty
      four patients underwent immediate operation, and 39 patients were evaluated by
      computed tomography (CT), of whom 17 underwent operation. Ten patients had no
      hepatic abnormalities on CT and had operations for associated injuries. Liver
      injuries were noted in the remaining seven patients, but CT underestimated the
      injury in four patients. A large hemoperitoneum was present in all seven patients
      by CT, and the average transfusion was 10 U during initial resuscitation. Twenty
      two patients with grade I to III injuries and a small to moderate hemoperitoneum
      were managed nonoperatively. Six of these patients had transfusions during
      resuscitation. Only one patient received more than 2 U. There were no deaths and
      no major complications related to the liver injury. Most patients had repeat CT
      at 1 week, which demonstrated stable or improving injuries. CT may underestimate
      the degree of liver injury. Nonoperative management is appropriate in stable
      patients with grade I to III injuries and a small to moderate hemoperitoneum.
      These patients should require no more than 2 U of blood, and repeat scans should
      demonstrate a stable injury.

PMID- 1443373
TI  - Hematuria as a predictor of abdominal injury after blunt trauma.
AB  - Among the 1,484 patients included in the Renal Trauma Project with evidence of
      blunt trauma and hematuria, 160 patients were found to have both hematuria and a
      significant intra-abdominal injury not related to the genitourinary system. The
      incidence of abdominal injury generally increased with the degree of hematuria,
      approaching 24% in patients with gross hematuria. For each category of degree of
      hematuria, patients with shock had a significantly higher incidence of abdominal
      injury (p < 0.05) than patients without shock. The incidence of abdominal injury
      in patients with microscopic hematuria and shock was 29%, and it was 65% for
      patients with both gross hematuria and shock. All patients with gross hematuria
      after blunt abdominal trauma and all patients with microscopic hematuria and a
      history of shock should be evaluated for both urologic and extra-renal abdominal
      injuries.

PMID- 1443374
TI  - How much monitoring is needed for basilar skull fractures?
AB  - Basilar skull fractures account for approximately 19% of all skull fractures.
      There have been little data published concerning the need for intensive care
      monitoring in this injury. We retrospectively studied 259 patients admitted to
      our trauma center over an 8-year period with a diagnosis of basilar skull
      fracture. All patients were evaluated with cranial computed tomographic (CT)
      scans. These patients were admitted to the trauma service, and neurosurgical
      consultation was obtained in all cases. The diagnosis was made by clinical signs
      in 207 patients (80%), by CT scan in 47 (18%), and by plain films in 5 (2%).
      Ninety-two patients (group I) had intracranial pathology in addition to basilar
      skull fracture. Twenty-one patients in this group underwent craniotomy. In this
      group, the morbidity and mortality rates were 11% and 7%, respectively. Forty
      four patients (group II) had no intracranial pathology and a Glasgow Coma Score
      (GCS) of less than 13. The morbidity was 2%, and the mortality was 2%. One
      hundred twenty-three patients (group III) had no intracranial pathology on CT
      scan and a GCS of 13 or greater. The complication rate in this group was 1%, and
      there was no neurologically related mortality. Patients who are admitted with a
      diagnosis of basilar skull fracture and who have a GCS of 13 or greater with no
      intracranial pathology on CT can be managed without intensive care monitoring.

PMID- 1443375
TI  - What are the contraindications for laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
AB  - Acute cholecystitis, morbid obesity, and previous upper abdominal surgery have
      been reported as relative contraindications to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. An
      analysis of 706 laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed at our institution was
      undertaken to determine if these relative contraindications led to increased
      morbidity, an increased rate of conversion to the open technique, or longer
      operating time. One hundred ninety-seven patients demonstrated one or more
      relative contraindications to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Morbidity was not
      increased in patients with these risk factors, but conversion to open
      cholecystectomy was required in a greater percentage of patients with acute
      cholecystitis. We favor an attempt at laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients
      with these risk factors; however, they should be counseled as to the increased
      risk of conversion to open cholecystectomy in the presence of acute
      cholecystitis.

PMID- 1443376
TI  - Parathyroid pathology in an intrathyroidal position.
AB  - A systematic approach based on the embryology of the parathyroid glands should
      allow for the appropriate identification of both normal and abnormal glands at
      the time of parathyroidectomy. The exact role of subtotal thyroidectomy as part
      of this approach remains in question because of the low incidence of
      intrathyroidal adenomas reported in the past. From 1978 to 1992, 97 cervical
      explorations were performed in 96 patients (mean age: 56 years) with
      hyperparathyroidism. Four patients (4%) were found to have intrathyroidal
      parathyroid adenomas and were cured by ipsilateral partial or subtotal thyroid
      lobectomy on the side of a missing gland. One parathyroid adenoma completely
      replaced the right lobe of the thyroid, whereas two inferior and one superior
      intrathyroidal adenomas were found in the remaining three patients. The 4%
      incidence of intrathyroidal adenomas is higher than that reported in most series
      and suggests that this entity may be a more common cause of failed parathyroid
      explorations than is currently thought. Ipsilateral thyrotomy or subtotal thyroid
      lobectomy continues to be a potentially curative procedure for
      hyperparathyroidism when there is a missing and presumably diseased superior or
      inferior gland.

PMID- 1443377
TI  - Efficacy of selective intrabronchial air insufflation in acute lobar collapse.
AB  - Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) to remove mucous plugs followed by
      selective intrabronchial air insufflation (SII) to expand the atelectatic lung
      was used in 17 surgical intensive care unit (SICU) patients with pulmonary lobar
      collapse. Thirteen patients were admitted for acute trauma, and the remainder
      were elderly postoperative patients. Lobar collapses occurred on SICU days 1 to
      18 (mean +/- SEM: 5 +/- 1 days), and duration ranged from 4 to 258 hours (mean:
      77 +/- 18 hours). Indications for FFB with SII included critical hypoxemia in 5
      patients, worsening collapse in 2, and failure to respond to aggressive
      respiratory care in 10 (59%). FFB with SII was effective in 14 (82%) patients: 10
      achieved full lung re-expansion, and 4 partial lung re-expansion. When lobar
      collapse was of less than 72 hours' duration, 92% (12 of 13) of patients had
      lungs re-expanded compared with 50% (2 of 4) whose collapse existed for more than
      72 hours. The mean PaO2/FIO2 (fraction inspired oxygen) ratio was 135 +/- 18
      prior to FFB with SII and increased to 205 +/- 21 after FFB with SII.
      Complications were minor and clinically insignificant. In conclusion, SII appears
      to be a simple, safe, effective adjunct to FFB in the treatment of SICU patients
      with pulmonary lobar collapse.

PMID- 1443378
TI  - Contribution of routine intraoperative completion arteriography to early
      infrainguinal bypass patency.
AB  - To determine the clinical utility of routine intraoperative completion
      arteriography, we prospectively evaluated 214 consecutive infrainguinal bypass
      grafts (209 reversed-vein and 5 polytetrafluoroethylene grafts) performed from
      July 1987 to August 1991. Visual inspection, pulse palpation, and continuous-wave
      Doppler examination were performed in all cases. At least 1 completion
      arteriogram was obtained in 213 cases (99%). The bypasses were to the popliteal
      artery in 130 cases and to the tibial or pedal arteries in 84 cases. Graft
      patency was confirmed at 30 days in all patients by ankle-brachial index
      determinations (greater than 0.2 increase) and duplex scan-derived peak-systolic
      flow velocities (greater than 45 cm/s). Significant technical problems requiring
      revision were identified in 18 grafts (8%), including 6% of popliteal grafts and
      12% of tibial/pedal grafts. Only three of these problems were suspected by pulse
      palpation or continuous-wave Doppler examination. The intraoperative angiographic
      findings leading to revision included distal anastomotic stenoses (n = 6), distal
      arterial disease requiring sequential bypass (n = 4), mid-graft valvular or
      branch ligature stenoses (n = 4), distal arterial thrombosis (n = 2), and graft
      kink or twist (n = 2). Thirty-day primary patency was 99% (129 of 130) for
      femoropopliteal grafts and 93% (78 of 84) for femorodistal grafts. Secondary
      patency was 100% (130 of 130) and 96% (81 of 84), respectively. Primary patency
      was 89% (16 of 18) for those grafts that required intraoperative revision based
      on arteriographic findings. We conclude that routine completion arteriography is
      an excellent method of ensuring the intraoperative technical adequacy of
      infrainguinal bypass. The test is easy to perform, reproducible, and should be
      considered the "gold standard" for intraoperative bypass assessment. Prior to
      adopting angioscopy or duplex scanning for intraoperative surveillance,
      randomized, controlled validation studies against angiography should be
      performed.

PMID- 1443379
TI  - Effect of surgical manipulation of polytetrafluoroethylene grafts on
      microstructural properties and healing characteristics.
AB  - The effects on graft healing of alterations in the microstructure of
      polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts induced by surgical instruments have not
      been fully elucidated. This study evaluates changes in the structural and
      physical properties of PTFE grafts resulting from the intentional application of
      commonly used surgical instruments and the influence of these changes on cellular
      ingrowth. The extent of cellular ingrowth into intact (10, 30, and 60 microns
      unreinforced and 30 microns reinforced [R]) and structurally compromised PTFE
      grafts (30 reinforced and 60 microns nonreinforced) implanted subcutaneously in
      Sprague-Dawley (n = 14) rats was evaluated at 7 and 21 days. The thrombogenicity
      of 10-, 30-, 60-, and 80-microns intact graft segments was determined
      gravimetrically after suspension in the internal jugular vein of dogs for 90
      minutes. Cellular ingrowth consisting of fibroblasts, macrophages, and
      microvessels was directly related to porosity and was most extensive in 60
      microns uncompromised graft segments, being 7-, 17-, and 20-fold greater than was
      observed in 60- and 30R-microns compromised grafts and undamaged 10-microns
      grafts, respectively. There was a direct relationship between porosity and
      thrombogenicity of intact graft segments suspended in the jugular vein. The
      amount of thrombus adherent to 80-microns graft segments was eightfold greater
      compared with 10-microns grafts. Manipulation of PTFE with surgical instruments
      significantly impairs healing and may be a possible etiologic factor in the poor
      long-term performance of these grafts.

PMID- 1443380
TI  - Vascular complications of the intra-aortic balloon pump.
AB  - The lower extremity complications of 100 consecutive patients who required the
      placement of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) during a 3-year period were
      studied. Indications for the IABP included hypotension during cardiac
      catheterization (33%) or coronary angioplasty (13%), hemodynamic instability
      after open heart surgery (35%), unstable angina (5%), and cardiac arrest (14%).
      The incidence of IABP morbidity was 29%. Complications included ischemia (25%),
      bleeding (2%), lymph fistula (1%), and femoral neuropathy (1%). Twenty patients
      required 1 or more surgical interventions for lower extremity vascular
      complications. The majority of patients who underwent operation (70%) had
      significant pre-existing arterial occlusive disease. Local femoral artery
      reconstruction or repair was performed in 18 patients. Two patients had
      adjunctive bypasses. Continued IABP support was required in four patients after
      treatment of complications. One patient (1%) had an above-knee amputation. Limb
      ischemia was treated nonoperatively by removal of the IABP in five patients.
      Color-flow duplex scans were useful in distinguishing hematomas from
      pseudoaneurysms as well as for assessing femoral artery flow. We conclude that:
      (1) limb ischemia remains the primary complication of the IABP; (2) pre-insertion
      documentation of the severity of existing peripheral arterial disease by
      noninvasive studies may aid in the management of subsequent acute limb ischemia;
      (3) femoral artery thrombectomy or endarterectomy is usually sufficient for
      revascularization; and (4) noninvasive color flow studies are an important
      diagnostic tool in the nonoperative management of limb complications.

PMID- 1443381
TI  - Concentration of refluxed acid and esophageal mucosal injury.
AB  - The hallmark of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is an increase in
      esophageal exposure to gastric juice. This exposure can result in complications
      such as esophagitis, stricture, and Barrett's esophagus. The aim of this study is
      to determine if there are specific pH exposure patterns that are associated with
      the development of these complications. The 24-hour esophageal pH data for 50
      normal subjects and 154 patients with proven GERD were analyzed for time spent at
      different pH intervals. Increased esophageal acid exposure at a given interval
      occurred when the cumulative time of exposure exceeded the 95th percentile of
      that measured in the 50 normal subjects for that interval. The greatest
      prevalence of mucosal damage was found in the those patients with increased
      esophageal exposure to pH 0 to 2, corresponding to the known pKa of pepsin. This
      exposure was not related to a hypersecretory state. In addition, mucosal injury
      was associated with an increased esophageal exposure to pH 7 to 8. We conclude
      that mucosal injury in patients with GERD is related to the exposure time to
      gastric juice with a pH of less than 2 or greater than 7.

PMID- 1443382
TI  - Changing clinical spectrum of spontaneous pneumothorax.
AB  - The epidemiology and etiology of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) are shifting away
      from the predominance of subpleural bleb disease as emphasized by most reports
      since that of Kjaergaard (Sweden, 1932). We conducted a retrospective review of
      all patients admitted to a large urban hospital with the diagnosis of SP over the
      past 8 years. Of 120 patients, 32 had the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
      (AIDS) (group 1, 26.6%), 43 patients had classic subpleural bleb disease or
      chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with blebs (group 2, 35.8%), and 45
      patients had nonbleb disease exclusive of AIDS (group 3, 37.5%). These three
      groups were studied with respect to primary success rates with differing
      modalities of therapy. Bilateral SP occurred in 34% of group 1 patients, 2% of
      group 2 patients, and 11% of group 3 patients. The in-hospital mortality was 34%
      in group 1 compared with 2% in group 2 and 4% in group 3. Thirty-four percent of
      group 1 patients had recurrent SP compared with 16% of group 2 patients and 8% of
      group 3 patients. This report describes the changing etiology and epidemiology of
      SP in a large urban hospital from 1983 to 1991 and represents the largest single
      institution report of AIDS-related pneumothorax. Standardized therapy was shown
      to have predictably favorable results in patients with bleb disease and nonbleb
      disease exclusive of AIDS. SP in patients with AIDS was associated with a high
      mortality rate and primary treatment failure; small-bore catheters and
      nondrainage therapies have a very limited role in these patients.

PMID- 1443383
TI  - Conservative versus surgical management of chylothorax.
AB  - Chylothorax is a potentially life-threatening disorder that has profound
      respiratory, nutritional, and immunologic consequences. Treatment for this
      problem is controversial, and the results have been variable. From 1985 to 1990,
      29 patients (16 males, 13 females; mean age: 20.1 years; range: 5 days to 76.8
      years) were diagnosed as having chylothorax (18 right, 6 left, 5 bilateral).
      Etiologies included surgical trauma (26) and nonsurgical trauma (3). Initial
      conservative treatment consisted of tube thoracostomy drainage (mean duration:
      13.3 days; range: 1 to 62 days; mean total volume: 4,030 mL) and dietary
      modification (low-fat diet, total parenteral nutrition). This resulted in
      resolution of the chylothorax in 23 patients (79% success), although 2 patients
      died of unrelated causes while hospitalized (myocardial infarction and
      cardiopulmonary arrest). Five adult patients and one infant (21%) required
      ligation of the thoracic duct, with resolution of the chylothorax in all six
      (100% success). Despite successful duct closure, one infant died of respiratory
      failure unrelated to the operation, and one adult died as the result of a
      cerebrovascular accident 6 weeks postoperatively, yielding an operative mortality
      of 33% and an overall mortality of 14% (4 of 29). Our experience demonstrates
      that initial treatment of chylothorax with thoracostomy drainage and dietary
      modification is successful in the majority of patients and is not associated with
      high morbidity or mortality rates. Surgical intervention for chylothoraces that
      fail to respond to initial conservative measures will be required in a minority
      of patients but appears to be associated with a higher risk of complications.

PMID- 1443384
TI  - Diffuse biliary tract injury after orthotopic liver transplantation.
AB  - An unusual type of diffuse biliary tract injury after liver transplantation that
      is characterized by multiple intrahepatic biliary strictures, ductal dilatations,
      fluid collections, or intrahepatic abscesses has been identified. Over a 5-year
      period, a total of 10 patients (2%) developed diffuse intrahepatic biliary injury
      with established vascular patency and no obvious source for their biliary tract
      pathology. All patients received livers preserved in University of Wisconsin
      solution with a mean preservation time of 16 hours. This biliary tract injury was
      associated with the presence of severe preservation injury and Roux limb biliary
      reconstruction. Of the 10 patients, 5 were treated nonoperatively with multiple
      stricture dilations and stent placements, 3 underwent retransplantation, 1 was
      treated operatively with hepaticojejunostomy, and 1 died of sepsis. This study
      suggests that this complication appears to be related to preservation injury and
      that the etiology may be ischemic in origin.

PMID- 1443385
TI  - Current experience with renal transplantation across the ABO barrier.
AB  - Solid organ transplantation has traditionally been governed by the rules of blood
      group compatibility. Thus, it has been demonstrated that crossing the ABO blood
      group barrier generally results in hyperacute rejection. However, the A2 subtype
      of the blood group A is a weaker antigen. Under certain circumstances, organs
      from donors with blood group A2 can be transplanted across the ABO blood group
      barrier into recipients of O or B blood type. Since 1986, 33 patients including
      24 blood group O and 9 blood group B patients received A2 (30) or A2B (3) donor
      kidneys. Both cadaver donor (31) and living-related grafts (2) have been
      undertaken. The mean follow-up since transplantation for the 21 patients with
      functioning grafts is 36 months, with a 67.2% current graft survival.
      Immunosuppression for these transplants consisted of azathioprine, prednisone,
      and cyclosporine, often in combination with prophylactic OKT3 or antilymphocyte
      globulin as protocol dictated. Special immunosuppressive protocols such as
      splenectomy or plasmapheresis were not used. The serum of the potential recipient
      was analyzed for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) forms of
      antibody against A1 and A2 red blood cells. There is a strong correlation between
      a low (less than or equal to 1:8) anti-A1 IgG titer and both early and long-term
      graft function. Recipients with an IgG titer greater than 1:8 in the
      pretransplant serum had a much higher incidence of early graft failure. We no
      longer recommend transplantation of A2 kidneys into O or B recipients with a
      pretransplant titer of greater than 1:8 but found that recipients with low titers
      have graft function rates essentially equal to those of ABO-compatible patients.
      Patients with blood group B have, over time, lower anti-A IgG titers than do
      blood group O patients. In addition, the graft survival among blood group B
      patients is 89% compared with 58% among group O recipients. This may be due to
      the generally low titers found in blood group B recipients. Since instituting a
      policy in 1988 of not transplanting the kidney when the anti-A IgG titer is
      greater than 1:8, the survival in O patients is 88%. We recommend the screening
      of all organ donors with blood group A for the A2 subgroup and believe that
      transplantation can be safely and successfully performed in certain patients with
      blood group O or B.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1443386
TI  - Surgical complications in solitary pancreas and combined pancreas-kidney
      transplantations.
AB  - The benefits of pancreas transplantation (PT) must be weighed against the
      morbidity associated with the operative procedure and long-term
      immunosuppression. Over a 32-month period, we performed 73 PTs including 61
      combined pancreas-kidney transplants (PKT) and 12 solitary PTs. In the PKT group,
      25 reoperations were performed in 18 patients (29.5%) at a mean of 39 +/- 12 days
      after transplant. In the solitary PT group, 16 reoperations were performed in 8
      recipients (66.7%, p = 0.03) at a mean of 87 +/- 12 days after PT (p < 0.01). In
      the PKT group, pancreas allograft survival was 93.4%. Vascular thrombosis
      resulted in the loss of two pancreas allografts. In the solitary PT group,
      pancreas allograft survival was 50% (p < 0.001), with 6 transplant
      pancreatectomies performed for either infectious (5) or vascular (1)
      complications. Surgical complications after PT are common (35.6% in this series),
      occur earlier in patients who undergo PKT, and are more frequent and morbid in
      patients undergoing solitary PT, especially after a previous kidney transplant.
      An aggressive surgical approach can lead to a high rate of pancreas allograft
      salvage without jeopardizing either the patient or the renal allograft.

PMID- 1443387
TI  - Referred otalgia.
AB  - Referred otalgia is a challenging symptom, with the burden on the physician to
      identify the source. Only by careful patient history and physical examination can
      all causes in this extensive differential diagnosis be excluded. In the absence
      of primary otologic pathology, referred pain from a head and neck carcinoma must
      be considered foremost and ruled out.

PMID- 1443388
TI  - Bone autografting of the craniofacial skeleton: clinical and biological
      considerations.

PMID- 1443389
TI  - Superiorly based trapezius flap for emergency carotid artery coverage.

PMID- 1443390
TI  - Is biofeedback effective for chronic tinnitus? An intensive study with seven
      subjects.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study was developed to test the hypothesis that intensive
      biofeedback and relaxation training may favorably affect chronic tinnitus.
      PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven subjects with chronic tinnitus of moderate to severe
      intensity engaged in an intensive 5-month program of weekly, individual 90 minute
      sessions. All individuals attained a high standard of proficiency following
      training by a biofeedback specialist. A biofeedback unit was provided each
      subject for daily practice. Audiometric matching of tinnitus pitch and loudness
      and subjective comparisons of tinnitus loudness were conducted before and after
      every session. RESULT: Audiometric evaluation showed no changes in tinnitus
      loudness. Nevertheless, all subjects gained satisfaction from the training. Three
      reported substantial psychological benefits in coping with tinnitus, two
      described moderate improvement, and two experienced modest gains. CONCLUSIONS:
      These results highlight the role of psychological factors in tinnitus management
      and indicate that biofeedback-relaxation training may be useful therapy for
      coping with stresses of tinnitus.

PMID- 1443391
TI  - Thyroid dysfunction after radiation therapy in head and neck cancer patients.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The reported incidence of hypothyroidism following surgery and/or
      radiation therapy for head and neck cancer varies widely. Most patients undergo
      thyroid lobectomy during laryngectomy. Standard radiation treatment portals often
      include the thyroid gland. The insidious development of hypothyroidism may be
      misdiagnosed. This study examines the incidence of thyroid dysfunction in the
      setting of head and neck cancer therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thyroid function
      tests were performed on 100 consecutive patients treated in the head and neck
      tumor clinic. Statistical inferences on proportions were made using chi-square
      analysis. RESULTS: Therapy included surgery only (10 patients), radiation therapy
      only (28 patients), and combined therapy (62 patients). These patients
      experienced thyroid dysfunction in 0%, 29%, and 45% of individuals respectively.
      These differences were statistically significant (P < .05). The highest rate of
      dysfunction (69%) was associated with patients undergoing laryngectomy and
      radiation therapy. When laryngectomy was not performed, thyroid dysfunction
      occurred in 28%. CONCLUSION: The likelihood of thyroid dysfunction after
      radiation therapy is high particularly when combined with surgery in which
      thyroid lobectomy is performed and the contralateral lobe is potentially
      devascularized. These results suggest that radiation therapy is a primary factor
      in alteration of thyroid function. We recommend that routine thyroid function
      testing be part of follow-up of all head and neck cancer patients.

PMID- 1443392
TI  - Squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip.
AB  - PURPOSE: Most patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip present with
      early disease and follow a rather indolent clinical course. Determinant 5-year
      survival rates range from 85% to 95%. This study was undertaken in an attempt to
      gain insight into the cause of failure in those few patients who develop
      recurrent disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was completed on
      patients treated between 1964 and 1990. Patients were staged according to the
      American Joint Committee. Patients with no palpable adenopathy had either a
      unilateral or bilateral suprahyoid dissection performed. Patients with palpable
      adenopathy underwent radical neck dissection. All patients were followed for
      evidence of recurrent disease. RESULTS: The records of 92 patients treated
      surgically for squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip were available and
      complete. Palpable adenopathy was present in 38 patients; however, only 8 of
      these patients (21%) were histologically positive. Of the 54 patients judged to
      be free of disease, 3 (5.5%) had histologic evidence of metastasis. Overall, the
      incidence of cervical metastasis was 12%. CONCLUSION: The incidence of cervical
      metastasis in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lip is low; however,
      these data suggest that the size of the primary tumor does not correlate closely
      with predicting the incidence of regional lymph node metastases.

PMID- 1443393
TI  - Effects of recurrent otitis media in infancy on auditory perception and speech.
AB  - INTRODUCTION: Recurrent otitis media is commonly encountered in children before 3
      years of age. Conductive hearing loss up to 40 dB is frequently associated with
      suppurative otitis media. Good hearing is believed to be critical to the
      development of normal language. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect
      of recurrent otitis media on auditory perception and speech. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: The experimental group consisted of 33 children with a history of at
      least three episodes of acute otitis media before 2 years of age. A control group
      of 29 children experienced one or fewer episodes of otitis media in the first 2
      years of age. At the time of investigation, all children were 8 to 10 years of
      age and had attended similar pre-school, kindergarten, and elementary school
      programs. None showed evidence of mental retardation nor behavioral or emotional
      disorders. Speech ability was assessed by a battery of tests specific for Slovene
      language. Subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children were used as
      well as the Reading and Writing Test. RESULTS: Auditory perception disorders were
      evident in 88% of children investigated who had a history of at least three
      episodes of otitis media by 2 years of age. Decreased auditory stimulation during
      the time of auditory maturation could prevent the development of these functions
      completely. No statistically significant differences were observed in the
      development of articulation. These observations underscore the importance of
      early management of recurrent otitis media during the first 2 years of age.

PMID- 1443394
TI  - Thornwaldt cysts.

PMID- 1443395
TI  - Tympanogenic labyrinthitis and meningitis.

PMID- 1443396
TI  - Complications of endoscopic sinus surgery.

PMID- 1443397
TI  - Neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinoses: the current status.
AB  - In view of the epidemiological connotation of childhood neuronal ceroid
      lipofuscinosis (NCL) as one of the most frequent progressive lysosomal diseases
      and neurodegenerative disorders in children, the recognition of the individual
      clinical forms of childhood NCL is still based on invasive diagnostic
      electronmicroscopy which, currently, may be applied also for prenatal diagnosis.
      Like other inherited disorders, the NCL group has finally also benefited from the
      genetic breakthroughs of localization of the genes for infantile NCL and juvenile
      NCL on chromosomes 1 and 16, respectively. This review concerns recent advances
      in morphological studies, broadening of the clinical spectrum of childhood NCL,
      new biochemical findings, and preliminary therapeutic results. Hereditary animal
      models, largely for human juvenile NCL, have been successfully employed in
      elucidation of the nosology of NCL, but the basic defect in human, canine and
      ovine NCL remains unknown.

PMID- 1443398
TI  - Myelination of the optic radiation in Leber congenital amaurosis.
AB  - We have studied the myelination of the visual pathway by magnetic resonance
      imaging in seven children (aged 5 months to 16 years) with Leber congenital
      amaurosis. The corpus geniculatum laterale and the retrogeniculate optic
      radiation had a normal appearance on MRI in all patients. Therefore we conclude
      that normal myelination of the optic radiation, as it can be grossly assessed by
      MRI, can take place even with absent or greatly reduced visual sensory input.

PMID- 1443399
TI  - Epileptic electroencephalographic abnormalities and developmental dysphasias: a
      study of 32 patients.
AB  - The relationships between severe developmental dysphasias and epilepsy were
      analysed in 32 patients with congenital dysphasias. The mean age was 8 years 2
      months; 19 of 32 had never had seizures; 9 had had occasional seizures; 4 were
      epileptic. Twenty-two of 32 had normal repeated standard EEGs, but 10 (2 of which
      never had seizures) showed epileptic interictal discharges. During prolonged EEG
      after sleep deprivation, epileptic abnormalities were observed in 13 of the 32
      cases (4 of which never had seizures). The overall night sleep recordings showed
      epileptic abnormalities in 30 of the 32 cases (17 of which had never had
      seizures). The epileptic interictal abnormalities varied considerably in
      intensity and aspect in the same patient from one examination to another.
      Developmentally aphasic children show a higher incidence of abnormal EEG than
      expected, particularly during overall night recordings. In most cases, the
      physiopathology of the language disturbance might be identical to that in Landau
      Kleffner syndrome.

PMID- 1443400
TI  - Serum creatine-kinase-BB concentration in very low birth weight babies with
      posthemorrhagic ventricular dilatation.
AB  - The association between measurements of lateral ventricle dilatation determined
      by serial ultrasound and brain specific creatine-kinase isoenzyme patterns (CK
      BB) is studied in 60 very low birth weight preterm neonates of 1,500 g birth
      weight or 32 weeks gestation or less. The patients were divided into three groups
      according to cranial ultrasonographic findings: Group A (n = 20) had isolated
      peri-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH); group B (n = 20) had PIVH and dilated
      ventricles (VM); group C (n = 20) were normal matched preterms and formed the
      control group. Compared to control babies or those with isolated PIVH, high serum
      concentrations of CK-BB were observed after birth in babies with persistent
      dilated ventricles at two weeks postnatal age (p less than 0.01). No difference
      was found between CK-BB levels of babies with isolated PIVH and control group (p
      greater than 0.05). We suggest that an elevated CK-BB value is found in babies
      with persistent ventricular dilatation suggesting severe and diffuse brain damage
      after post-hemorrhagic ventriculomegaly (VM).

PMID- 1443401
TI  - Relationship between benign epilepsy of children with centro-temporal EEG foci
      and febrile convulsions.
AB  - In order to clarify the relationship between benign epilepsy of children with
      centro-temporal EEG foci (BECCT) and febrile convulsions (FC), we compared the
      previous and family histories of FC of one hundred children with BECCT, aged 3
      years to 13 years, with those of 100 non-epileptic controls matched for age and
      sex. The incidences of FC in children with BECCT and non-epileptic controls were
      18% and 8%, respectively (P less than 0.05). Forty-eight children (48%) with
      BECCT and 21 (21%) non-epileptic controls had positive family histories of FC
      within third-degree relatives (P less than 0.001). Of the fourteen pairs of
      siblings, one of each having BECCT and the other FC, we conducted an EEG
      examination in 7 siblings. All of these 7 siblings exhibited rolandic discharges
      (RD) on EEG. These observations strongly suggested a genetic link between BECCT
      and FC.

PMID- 1443402
TI  - Electrophysiological study of four patients with Fisher syndrome: a mechanism of
      areflexia.
AB  - Electrophysiological studies were performed on four patients with the Fisher
      syndrome (two 4-year-old boys, a 5-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl). Motor
      nerve conduction velocity (MNCV), nerve action potential, F wave, H reflex and T
      reflex were measured at the stage when areflexia was present but ataxia and
      ophthalmoplegia had recovered. MNCV and SNCV by compound mixed nerve potential
      were normal in all our patients. The amplitude of the muscle responses (M
      responses) and compound mixed nerve action potentials were also within normal
      limits. The latencies of the F waves and F wave conduction velocities were
      normal. However, H-reflexes and T-reflexes were absent in all four cases. Our
      results suggested that areflexia in the Fisher syndrome is attributed to the
      desynchronization of the impulses or the partial conduction block of GIa fibers.

PMID- 1443403
TI  - Visuo-perceptual impairment and cerebral lesions in spastic diplegia with preterm
      birth.
AB  - Eighteen cases of spastic diplegia (SD) ranging in age from 5 year 4 month to 9
      year 5 month with preterm birth were studied to clarify the relationship between
      visuo-perceptual impairment and their cerebral lesions. All underwent
      neuropsychological examinations including the Frostig developmental test of
      visual perception, Tanaka-Binet or Suzuki-Binet intelligence test, and MRI
      examination. Cerebral lesions were detected in all subjects, and the volume of
      the peritrigonal white matter of the parietal and occipital lobes was
      significantly correlated with the visuo-perceptual impairment (r = 0.74, in the
      axial plane; r = 0.64, in the coronal plane). We propose that visuo-perceptual
      impairment is caused by cerebral lesions and that the measurement of peritrigonal
      white matter by MRI is useful for detecting potential visuo-perceptual impairment
      at an early age.

PMID- 1443404
TI  - Tuberous sclerosis and Down syndrome: a casual association?
AB  - This paper reports on the clinical, neurophysiological and neuroradiological
      characteristics of a patient with Down syndrome unusually associated with
      tuberous sclerosis. In particular, epilepsy is investigated in detail and its
      polygraphic study and etiopathological factors are discussed. The most
      interesting findings are those related to the presence of a structural
      abnormality of the rolandic-parietal cortex, bilaterally, in the form of
      pachygyria.

PMID- 1443405
TI  - Vascular dysplasia in Down syndrome: a possible relationship to moyamoya disease.
AB  - The brain of a child with Down syndrome (DS) and vascular abnormalities is
      described. Neuropathological examination showed a large cerebral infarction. In
      the circle of Willis there was hypoplasia of the left middle and posterior
      communicating cerebral arteries, and microscopically there was thickening of
      intima and focal disruption of internal elastica in some areas of the circle of
      Willis. Several reports suggest that the incidence of moyamoya disease is higher
      in children with DS than in other children. The high incidence of congenital
      heart disease in DS suggests an abnormality of vascular development that may
      manifest intracranially as a structural vascular defect, creating a vulnerability
      to unknown factors important in the pathogenesis of the moyamoya abnormality.

PMID- 1443406
TI  - Spontaneous occlusion of the circle of Willis (cerebrovascular moyamoya disease):
      with special reference to its clinicopathological identity.

PMID- 1443407
TI  - Spontaneous occlusion of the circle of Willis (cerebrovascular moyamoya disease):
      with special reference to its disease entity and etiological controversy.

PMID- 1443408
TI  - Moyamoya disease (syndrome) and the Down syndrome.

PMID- 1443409
TI  - Ring 14 chromosome with complex partial seizures: a case report.
AB  - A two-year-old girl was found to have a ring 14 chromosome: [46, XX, r(14) (P13
      q32.3)]. Her development, including verbal ability, was retarded, her CT scan
      displayed a low density area anterior to the left temporal lobe, and she suffered
      from complex partial seizures. Focal central nervous system abnormalities may be
      present in patients with ring 14 chromosome, and their seizures are not
      exclusively of the primary generalized type. This is the first case with ring 14
      chromosome and complex partial seizures.

PMID- 1443410
TI  - Cortical reflex myoclonus associated with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy,
      lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS): a case report.
AB  - A 9-year-old female MELAS patient with myoclonus is reported, with emphasis on
      the results of electrophysiological studies of the myoclonus. At age 5 years she
      experienced a stroke-like episode, and a diagnosis of MELAS was made at age 6
      years on the basis of muscle biopsy findings. At age 9 years spontaneous and
      segmental myoclonus, predominantly affecting the upper extremities, developed
      because of complications. Electrophysiological examination, including of
      somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) and averaged EMG for long loop reflexes,
      revealed so-called "giant SEP" and enhanced long loop reflexes reflecting
      cortical hyperexicitability. Jerk-locked averaging yielded no myoclonus related
      spikes, but myoclonus-contingent 4-5 Hz theta bursts appeared. These findings
      suggest that some types of MELAS may be associated with cortical types of
      myoclonus.

PMID- 1443411
TI  - Cerebral aneurysms in children.
AB  - Childhood intracranial saccular aneurysms are rare, accounting for only 0.6-4.6%
      of all aneurysms. This paper presents two such cases. A 12-year-old boy developed
      sudden severe headaches. CT indicated subarachnoid hemorrhage in the bilateral
      sylvian fissure. Angiography failed to demonstrate any vascular lesions. Repeat
      angiography, however, revealed a 2 mm aneurysm on the right A-1. A miniclip was
      successfully applied to obliterate the aneurysm. The postoperative course was
      uneventful. In the second case, a 3-year-old boy, CT incidentally revealed a
      bullet-shaped high density area. Angiography demonstrated a large aneurysm
      arising from the insular portion of the prefrontal branch of middle cerebral
      artery. This large aneurysm with a broad-based neck was successfully clipped,
      employing the angioplastic and/or tandem clipping, despite the fact the
      prefrontal artery unfortunately was compromised in postoperative angiography. The
      patient was doing well postoperatively. Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)
      in childhood is uncommon. However, when children with SAH is encountered,
      angiography should be performed repeatedly even if the first angiogram does not
      demonstrate any vascular abnormality. Childhood aneurysms are increasingly being
      found incidentally in CT scans. The differences between child and adult aneurysms
      in regard to site, size, sex predominance, clinical features, and surgical
      outcome are discussed.

PMID- 1443412
TI  - A case of Hallervorden-Spatz disease: progressive and intractable dystonia
      controlled by bilateral thalamotomy.
AB  - We present a 10-year-old girl with Hallervorden-Spatz disease diagnosed
      clinically from the neurological manifestations and the characteristic MRI
      findings. Her main symptom, dystonia, was progressive and resistant to
      medication, but this dystonia was controlled by bilateral thalamotomy. No
      clinical progression of the symptoms was recognized at 21 months from the last
      operation.

PMID- 1443413
TI  - A search for X-chromosome uniparental disomy and DNA rearrangements in the Rett
      syndrome.
AB  - The cause of the Rett syndrome remains unknown but is thought to be related to X
      chromosome abnormalities. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was
      employed to search for X-chromosome DNA rearrangements and uniparental disomy in
      16 probands and their families. Eighteen different probes, each specific for an
      area on either the long or the short arm of the X-chromosome, were used. DNA
      rearrangements were not detected at any of the tested loci. In addition, at each
      informative locus evidence of both maternal and paternal contributions was found
      in all probands. Thus, no evidence of either chromosomal abnormality or
      uniparental disomy was found in the population studied. If uniparental disomy is
      indeed a causative genetic mechanism for the Rett syndrome, its occurrence may
      only be infrequent.

PMID- 1443414
TI  - An answer to F. Andermann's letter about our case report: bilateral porencephalic
      defect in a newborn after injection of benzol during pregnancy.

PMID- 1443415
TI  - Fetal alcohol syndrome: a case report of neuropsychological, MRI and EEG
      assessment of two children.
AB  - Neuropsychological, neuroanatomical, and electrophysiological data are presented
      on two subjects with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Both boys had intelligence
      quotients in the mentally deficient range and were found to have several other
      severe, specific deficits. Magnetic resonance imaging showed abnormalities of the
      corpus callosum, and reductions in the size of the basal ganglia and thalamic
      structures. No focal abnormalities were noted in the electroencephalogram
      records, although the electroencephalograms of both boys were moderately abnormal
      for their age group. A multidisciplinary approach to the study of FAS, hopefully
      will lead to a more unified concept of the disorder and perhaps indicate specific
      areas of vulnerability.

PMID- 1443416
TI  - Review of the safety of disulfiram among dually diagnosed patients by Larson et
      al.

PMID- 1443417
TI  - Chronic ethanol treatment induces H2O2 production selectively in pericentral
      regions of the liver lobule.
AB  - Chronic treatment with ethanol damages pericentral regions of the liver
      selectively, and reactive oxygen species such as H2O2 may be involved in the
      mechanism of hepatotoxicity. To test this idea, the effect of chronic treatment
      with ethanol on rates of H2O2 production was measured in tissue cylinders
      isolated from periportal and pericentral regions of livers from ethanol-treated
      rats. Rates of hydrogen peroxide production, assessed from the oxidation of
      methanol to formaldehyde by catalase-H2O2, were similar in tissue cylinders
      isolated from periportal regions in control and ethanol-treated rats. In
      contrast, rates of H2O2 production were over 4-fold higher in tissue isolated
      from pericentral regions of livers from ethanol-treated than control animals (1.7
      +/- 0.5 vs. 0.4 +/- 0.3 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively). Rates of H2O2
      generating acyl CoA oxidase activity were equivalent in tissue cylinders from
      periportal regions of livers from both groups (approximately 2 nmol/min/mg
      protein), but were over 2-fold higher in tissue cylinders from pericentral
      regions of livers from ethanol-treated rats than from controls. In contrast,
      catalase activity was increased nearly 2-fold in homogenates from both periportal
      and pericentral regions by ethanol treatment while glutathione peroxidase
      activity was decreased significantly in both regions. These data demonstrate that
      ethanol increases H2O2 generation in pericentral regions of the liver lobule in
      part by elevating rates of peroxisomal beta-oxidation of acyl CoA compounds and
      are consistent with the hypothesis that local increases in H2O2 production may be
      involved in the mechanism of ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity.

PMID- 1443418
TI  - Isolation and identification of phytoestrogens from beer.
AB  - Two estrogenic substances of plant origin have been identified in beer using gas
      chromatography/mass spectrometry. These phytoestrogens, daidzein and genistein,
      have previously been shown to be biologically active in animals. Confirming the
      presence of biologically active phytoestrogens in beer and their possible
      presence in other beverages, suggests that there may be clinically significant
      effects related to sustained exposure to phytoestrogens contained in alcoholic
      beverages.

PMID- 1443419
TI  - Modification of resistance to Streptococcus pneumoniae by dietary ethanol,
      immunization, and murine retroviral infection.
AB  - Hallmarks of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are immunologic
      alterations, frequently associated with opportunistic infections. To study such
      associations, LP-BM5 murine retrovirus infection was used as a murine model of
      AIDS. Retrovirally infected and uninfected mice were fed a 5% (v/v) ethanol diet
      for 55 days and then fed a 7% v/v ethanol diet for the final 7 days to assert the
      role of ethanol as a cofactor in development of murine AIDS. There was a
      reduction in polymorphonuclear neutrophils count in ethanol-fed groups.
      Neutrophils increased in retrovirus-infected groups, except those vaccinated 10
      days before challenge with live bacteria. The percentage of splenic lymphocytes
      in the retrovirus-infected group was reduced in comparison with controls.
      Survival of the mice challenged intraperitoneally with Streptococcus pneumoniae
      was increased by vaccination and suppressed by dietary alcohol. Retrovirus
      infection caused a much faster death rate after bacterial challenge than
      nonretrovirus infected controls. Vaccination played an important role in delaying
      the death rate in all treated groups. Transferring spleen cells from healthy,
      unimmunized mice also enabled the retrovirally infected mice to survive the
      bacterial infection longer. Enhancement of resistance to S. pneumoniae by
      vaccination and transfer of immunocompetent cells to mice immunosuppressed by
      retroviral infection show the potential to use immunomodulation to affect disease
      resistance in AIDS.

PMID- 1443420
TI  - Ethanol intake of chickens treated with fenfluramine, fluoxetine, and dietary
      tryptophan.
AB  - Male, white leghorn chickens fed a standard diet with or without tryptophan
      supplementation were treated with single injections of 8 mg/kg fenfluramine in
      one series of experiments, or 8 mg/kg fluoxetine in another series. The birds had
      been food- and water-deprived prior to injection. They were offered, following
      the drug or saline injection, water, a 5% ethanol solution, or an isocaloric
      sucrose solution (8.75%) for 1 hr. Both fluoxetine and fenfluramine significantly
      reduced consumption of the ethanol solution, an effect exacerbated by tryptophan
      supplementation. Water or sucrose solution intake was also significantly reduced,
      but significantly less so than ethanol after fenfluramine injection. Since the
      birds drank significantly more of the sucrose solution after saline injection
      than of water, the consumption decrease caused by fenfluramine resulted,
      nevertheless, in a higher intake than that of either water or ethanol. Body
      temperature was decreased by ethanol intake and/or fluoxetine injection.
      Fenfluramine injection had an opposite, body temperature-increasing effect. It
      appears that both fenfluramine and fluoxetine decrease ethanol intake in a manner
      more specific than for water or sucrose, and that this effect is amplified by
      dietary tryptophan supplementation.

PMID- 1443421
TI  - Surface exposure of synaptosomal gangliosides from long-sleep and short-sleep
      mice.
AB  - A galactose oxidase/NaB[3H]4 technique was used to examine the relative surface
      exposure of gangliosides from whole brain synaptosomes of long-sleep (LS) and
      short-sleep (SS) mice. The surface exposure of the monosialoganglioside, GM1, did
      not differ between the two lines. Surface exposure of the polysialogangliosides
      GD1a, GD1b, and GT1b, however, was significantly greater in LS synaptosomes than
      in SS. Hydrolysis of the polysialogangliosides by neuraminidase to the end
      product, GM1, at early time periods occurred more rapidly in LS than in SS
      synaptosomes. Upon exposure to either 250 mM or 50 mM ethanol, LS synaptosomal
      ganglioside surface exposure was decreased, but that of SS was increased.
      Pairwise comparisons of the individual ganglioside classes indicated that the
      decrease in LS synaptosomal ganglioside surface exposure was attributable to
      decreases in the polysialogangliosides, compared with controls. The ethanol
      induced increase in SS synaptosomal ganglioside surface exposure, however, was
      mainly due to an increased surface exposure of only GD1a. These results suggest
      that intrinsic differences in the surface exposure of gangliosides and/or the
      magnitude and direction of ethanol-induced changes in ganglioside surface
      distribution may reflect biophysical or modulatory mechanisms by which this class
      of compounds modifies membrane sensitivity to ethanol. These results suggest that
      further studies should be performed to determine whether gangliosides are factors
      in genetically determined sensitivity to ethanol.

PMID- 1443423
TI  - Highlights of the RSA symposium on enzymes of alcohol metabolism.

PMID- 1443422
TI  - FTIR evidence for alcohol binding and dehydration in phospholipid and ganglioside
      micelles.
AB  - We theorize that intoxicants and modern anesthetics bind at the membrane-water
      interface and displace (dehydrate) bound water molecules by breaking the hydrogen
      bonds. We tested this hypothesis by examining the effect of butanol on the
      binding of water to the polar regions of lipids in reversed micelles.
      Understanding the mechanisms of intoxication requires studies in physiologically
      relevant systems such as systems containing sialoglycoconjugates, especially
      gangliosides, which concentrate in the synapses of neural tissue. Therefore, we
      compared butanol effects on phospholipid with effects on ganglioside. Hydrogen
      bond breaking activity of 1-butanol was studied in reversed micelles made of
      dipalmitoylphosphotidylcholine (DPPC), ganglioside (GM1 and GT1b) or the lipid
      mixture in a D2O-CCl4 medium. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) data
      indicated that 1-butanol binds to DPPC and to gangliosides. Adding GM1 to the
      DPPC micelles introduces a new binding site for the alcohol. GT1b binds more
      butanol than GM1, because of more binding sites provided by extra sialic acid
      moieties. Spectral red shifts indicate that both water and butanol bind to the C
      = O group of sialic acid. Butanol partially releases the surface-bound water by
      disrupting hydrogen bonds, as indicated by an appearance of a sharp new free OD
      stretching band of the released D2O molecules. However, control studies with
      lipid-free systems in CCl4 revealed that a free OD peak could occur from a
      deuterium exchange reaction between D2O and 1-butanol(ol-h).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443424
TI  - Effect of calcitonin on the alcohol drinking of rats.
AB  - Previous work has shown that calcitonin inhibits eating by rats and that it
      affects several neurotransmitter systems suspected to play a role in alcohol
      consumption. The present study was an initial test of whether calcitonin does
      affect voluntary alcohol consumption by male Wistar rats with prolonged alcohol
      experience. Calcitonin (20 IU/kg) or saline was injected subcutaneously on 10
      consecutive days when the rats (n = 20) had continual access to 10% (v/v) ethanol
      solution, and to food and water. Using a cross-over design, the effects of 40
      IU/kg calcitonin vs. saline were then examined in a second 10-day treatment
      period. Similar patterns of effects were obtained with both calcitonin doses, but
      the patterns differed with alcohol, food, and water intake. Alcohol drinking
      showed biphasic changes with both doses, producing highly significant Treatment x
      Day interactions (p < 1E-10 and p = 6E-7): it was significantly reduced on the
      first day of calcitonin treatment and significantly increased on the last few
      days. Food intake was reduced on all calcitonin days although most markedly on
      the first. Water drinking was not altered on the first calcitonin day, but was
      greatly increased on the second, then gradually returned toward the baseline. In
      a second experiment, the animals were switched to 1 hr of alcohol access per day,
      and calcitonin (20 IU/kg) was administered periodically to one group 4 hr before
      the alcohol access. Alcohol drinking was significantly reduced in all cases when
      the calcitonin injection was preceded by at least 1 day without
      calcitonin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443425
TI  - Evidence for normal feedback inhibition of triiodothyronine on the thyrotropin
      (TSH) response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in abstinent male
      alcoholics.
AB  - Disturbances in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis have been reported
      in abstinent, noncirrhotic alcoholics, including a reduction in thyrotropin (TSH)
      response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and reductions in
      triiodothyronine (T3). Some evidence has suggested that a portion of alcoholics
      may also exhibit a disturbance in the feedback inhibition of thyroid hormone on
      TSH release. To evaluate the function of the HPT axis negative feedback system in
      abstinent, noncirrhotic alcoholic men we compared the TSH response with TRH
      before and after a standard suppressive dose of T3. Ten alcoholic subjects were
      studied and compared with four control subjects from a previous study and to
      literature values. The mean percent reduction in TSH response in the alcoholic
      subjects of 74 +/- 7% was almost identical to the 71 +/- 9% reduction observed in
      normal subjects. The present findings indicate that noncirrhotic, abstinent
      alcoholic men exhibit normal suppression of the TSH response to TRH following T3.

PMID- 1443426
TI  - The effects of maternal ethanol consumption on lactational transfer of immunity
      to Trichinella spiralis in rats.
AB  - Transient immunity to the intestinal parasite Trichinella spiralis can be
      transferred from the mother to the neonate during lactation. The goal of this
      study was to determine whether maternal ingestion of ethanol during pregnancy and
      lactation inhibited expression of anti- T. spiralis immunity in nursing pups.
      Groups of female rats were infected with 1000 T. spiralis L1 larva, mated, and
      fed either ethanol-containing or isocaloric liquid diets and maintained on diets
      through pregnancy and lactation or were fed the liquid diets for 30 days before
      T. spiralis infection, mated, and maintained on diets through pregnancy and
      lactation. Pups were challenged orally with 200 T. spiralis larva at 14 days
      postdelivery (preweaning period) or 21 days postdelivery (postweaning period) and
      were sacrificed either 3 or 8 days after respective challenge. Intestinal worm
      counts and serum titers of anti-T. spiralis IgG antibodies were determined for
      each pup. No difference in the number of intestinal worms between pups of ethanol
      treated and pair-fed dams that received ethanol diet after T. spiralis infection
      was observed in the preweaning period. This was also true of pups from the dams
      sacrificed at 3 days after challenge in the postweaning period. However, similar
      pups sacrificed at 8 days after challenge showed significantly higher worm counts
      (decreased immunity) relative to their pair-fed controls. Pups of dams that
      received ethanol containing diet 30 days prior to T. spiralis-infection showed
      significantly higher numbers of intestinal worms relative to pair-fed pups at
      both the preweaning and postweaning periods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443427
TI  - Lactation and prolactin release in foster dams suckling prenatally ethanol
      exposed pups.
AB  - The effect of prenatal ethanol exposure on lactation was studied employing
      prenatally ethanol-exposed pups transferred to foster dams following parturition.
      During pregnancy, from day 8 to term, dams consumed either standard laboratory
      chow (ad libitum control), or liquid diets containing 0%, 17.5%, or 35% ethanol
      derived calories (EDC). To equalize caloric intake, the 0% and 17.5% EDC groups
      were pair-fed to rats in 35% EDC group. Following delivery, pups born to dams fed
      with laboratory chow (control) or liquid diets containing 0, 17.5, or 35% EDC
      were adjusted to eight per litter and transferred to foster dams, which had been
      fed laboratory chow and water ad libitum throughout pregnancy. Foster dams were
      implanted with an atrial catheter on day 3 of lactation. On days 6 (early
      lactation) and 10 (midlactation), following separation of litters from dams for a
      6-hr period, a baseline blood sample was removed via a catheter extension. Pups
      were weighed and returned to the dams. Subsequent blood samples were obtained 10,
      30, 60, 120, and 180 min after initiation of suckling. Suckling latency and the
      amount of milk consumed during the 3-hr suckling were also determined. Litters
      were weighed on days 2, 6, 10, and 21. The prolactin surge in foster dams in
      response to suckling by prenatally ethanol-exposed pups was not altered on day 6
      of lactation. On day 10, after the initial rise, suckling-induced prolactin was
      amplified in dams suckled by prenatally ethanol-exposed pups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443428
TI  - Chronic ethanol and cocaine-induced hepatotoxicity: effects of vitamin E
      supplementation.
AB  - The mechanisms of chronic cocaine toxicity and its potentiation by ethanol were
      investigated. Cocaine was administered to male C57BL/6 mice (20 mg/kg by
      peritoneal injection twice a day) alone or in combination with ethanol-containing
      diets (26% of total calories) supplied with a normal (20 IU/liter) or high
      content (170 IU/liter) of vitamin E. Liver levels of vitamin E, reduced
      glutathione, ascorbic acid, and hydroxyproline were measured. Accumulation of
      thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, after in vitro stimulation of lipid
      peroxidation by Fe3+/ADP/ascorbate system, was measured as an index of
      susceptibility of hepatic membranes to oxidative stress. Plasma alanine
      aminotransferase, lethality, liver weight, and liver/body weight ratio were
      determined to assess the extent of liver toxicity. Consumption of ethanol
      exacerbated liver toxicity induced by cocaine treatments and reduced survival,
      but ethanol or cocaine treatments alone caused no or only modest mortality.
      Ethanol potentiated cocaine-induced accumulation of collagen in the liver and
      depletion of ascorbic acid. Hepatotoxicity induced by the combined ethanol plus
      cocaine treatment was not accompanied by a decrease in intracellular vitamin E or
      glutathione content. There were no changes in the basic levels and in the rate of
      accumulation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in liver homogenates
      under the lipid peroxidation-stimulating system in vitro. The toxic effects of
      ethanol and cocaine were not reduced by the ingestion of vitamin E during short
      term exposure of 21 days of treatment.

PMID- 1443429
TI  - Enzymatic production of acetaldehyde from ethanol in rat brain tissue.
AB  - The capacity for the brain to produce acetaldehyde (AcHO) from ethanol was
      determined in rat brain homogenates. Rat brains were perfused with saline-heparin
      solution and homogenized in a phosphate buffer. Varying amounts of tissue were
      incubated with ethanol (0-100 mM) for periods of up to 60 min. The reaction was
      stopped by the addition of desferrioxamine and ice-cold perchloric acid.
      Supernatants were treated with dinitrophenylhydrazine reagent, extracted with
      isooctane in the presence of an internal standard, and the derivatives were
      separated by HPLC. The addition of 4-methyl pyrazole (an alcohol dehydrogenase
      inhibitor) or metyrapone (a cytochrome P450 inhibitor) had no effect on the
      amount of recovered AcHO. On the other hand, treatment with the catalase
      inhibitors sodium azide, cyanamide, or 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole blocked the
      production of AcHO while the addition of exogenous peroxide or a peroxide
      generating system enhanced the production of AcHO. Overall, these results suggest
      that AcHO may be produced in the brain during alcohol intoxication, through the
      action of the enzyme catalase.

PMID- 1443430
TI  - Differences in hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme induction by
      pyrazole, chronic ethanol, 3-methylcholanthrene, and phenobarbital in high
      alcohol sensitivity (HAS) and low alcohol sensitivity (LAS) rats.
AB  - High and low alcohol sensitivity (HAS and LAS) rats have been selected for their
      differences in ethanol-induced sleep time. Liver monooxygenase activities were
      studied in HAS and LAS rats before and after treatments with known inducers such
      as chronic ethanol, pyrazole, 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) and phenobarbital (PB)
      to determine whether the selection procedure also selected for differences in the
      cytochrome P-450 (P-450) inducibility. This previously has been shown with long
      sleep (LS) and short sleep (SS) mice, which were selected using a similar
      criterion. 3-MC and PB, in conjunction with chronic ethanol treatment, were used
      in order to evaluate the interactions of ethanol with these inducers. Prior to
      treatment, total P-450 content was slightly lower in LAS than in HAS rats.
      However, both lines displayed the same microsomal monooxygenase activities
      related to different P-450 isozymes. This was demonstrated by ethoxyresorufin
      deethylation (EROD) for cytochrome P-450 1A1 (CYP1A1), acetanilide hydroxylation
      (ACET) for CYP1A2, pentoxyresorufin dealkylation (PROD) for CYP2B, 1-butanol
      oxidation (BUTAN) and N-nitrosodimethylamine demethylation (NDMA) for CYP2E1.
      After the different treatments, HAS rats did not differ from LAS rats in their
      CYP2E1 inducibility. However, pyrazole, PB and 3-MC treatment led to differences
      in CYP1A and CYP2B monooxygenase activities between the two lines. The
      enhancement of PROD by pyrazole treatment was less prominent in LAS (1.7-fold of
      the control value) than in HAS rats (3.8-fold).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443431
TI  - A gastric alcohol dehydrogenase in the baboon: purification and properties of a
      'high-Km' enzyme, consistent with a role in 'first pass' alcohol metabolism.
AB  - The major isozyme of alcohol dehydrogenase in baboon stomach, ADH3, has been
      purified to homogeneity and characterized with a range of alcohol and aldehyde
      substrates. Using kcat/Km values as an indication of substrate efficacy, medium
      chain length aliphatic alcohols and aldehydes were identified as the preferred
      substrates. ADH3 showed 'high-Km' properties with respect to ethanol, and is
      expected to significantly contribute to 'first-pass' metabolism of alcohol. The
      enzyme exhibited more than two orders of magnitude higher turnover of substrate
      than the baboon liver 'low-Km' ADH, and may play a role in the rapid metabolism
      of a wide range of ingested alcohols in the diet.

PMID- 1443432
TI  - Alcohol-induced inhibition of LH secretion in intact and gonadectomized male and
      female rats: possible mechanisms.
AB  - Alcohol (EtOH) is reported to decrease gonadotropin secretion, but the mechanisms
      mediating these changes are not fully understood. The present study examined the
      ability of acutely or chronically administered EtOH to alter plasma luteinizing
      hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in both male and
      female rats, and correlated these changes with blood EtOH levels (BALs);
      investigated possible changes in the pituitary responsiveness of animals exposed
      to EtOH; and probed the role of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the
      hypothalamus in mediating alcohol-induced decreases in plasma LH levels. The
      injection of 0.5 g EtOH/kg was accompanied by significantly higher BALs in
      females compared with males. This dose of alcohol did not alter rectal
      temperature, and only significantly (p < or = 0.01) decreased plasma LH levels in
      female rats. These findings were not altered by removal of gonadal steroids.
      Administration of 2.0 g EtOH/kg was followed by BALs that were comparable in both
      groups of rats at the 1- and 2-hr time-points, but were significantly (p < or =
      0.01) higher in females 3 hr after treatment. Rectal T measurably decreased in
      all rats injected with 2 g EtOH/kg, though intact females showed the greatest
      change. This alcohol treatment also significantly (p < or = 0.01) inhibited
      immunoreactive LH release in both sexes, but there were no measurable changes in
      FSH values at any time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443433
TI  - Chronic ethanol consumption induces accumulation of proteins in the liver Golgi
      apparatus and decreases galactosyltransferase activity.
AB  - The effect of chronic ethanol consumption on labeled glycoprotein secretion and
      galactosyltransferase activity has been analyzed in cis- and trans-Golgi
      apparatus fractions isolated from rat liver. Rats were injected intraperitoneally
      with 3H-leucine, after different chase periods (30, 60, 180 min), and the
      radioactivity of the different subcellular fractions as well as of the isolated
      Golgi apparatus was measured. Chronic alcohol treatment induces an increase in
      liver weight as well as an enhancement of total liver protein. Ethanol treatment
      produces a significant accumulation of labeled proteins in isolated Golgi
      apparatus fractions after a 60- and 180-min chase. An accumulation of labeled
      proteins in the cytosolic fraction was observed only after 180 min. The alcohol
      treatment also induces a significant decrease in the activity of
      galactosyltransferase in both liver homogenate and Golgi apparatus fractions.
      These results suggest that an impairment of Golgi apparatus functions, including
      glycosylation and glycoprotein trafficking, could be one of the mechanisms
      involved in the accumulation of hepatic protein and thus in the pathogenesis of
      alcohol-induced injury in the liver of chronic ethanol-consuming animals.

PMID- 1443434
TI  - Outcome in subjects with alcohol-provoked seizures.
AB  - The outcome in 165 subjects with either an unknown (n = 93) or an alcohol-related
      (n = 72) seizure etiology, admitted to the emergency room of a general hospital
      in 1977-1978, was assessed after 10 years on the basis of subsequent hospital
      records and death-certificate-based mortality data. Alcohol and/or drug poisoning
      was the most frequent cause of death in the group with alcohol-related seizures.
      Sixty-four percent of the deaths in this group were directly related to alcohol
      abuse. The crude mortality was 45.8 (expected 8.6)/100 persons/10 years in the
      group with alcohol-related seizures and 15.1 (expected 6.0)/100 persons/10 years
      in the other group, the odds ratio between the groups being 4.8. Twenty percent
      of those with an unknown seizure etiology were found to show alcohol-related
      seizures, while the seizure etiology remained unknown in 59%, and a specific
      etiology other than alcohol abuse was revealed in 21% during the follow-up
      period. We conclude that alcohol abuse is an important, though often undetected,
      seizure etiology carrying a poor prognosis. The difference in mortality between
      the groups was due more to alcoholism than to seizures. There was no difference
      in mortality between those with a first alcohol-related seizure and those with
      previous alcohol-related seizures.

PMID- 1443435
TI  - The Alcohol Clinical Index in lower socioeconomic alcohol-dependent men.
AB  - The Alcohol Clinical Index, consisting of a 17-item Clinical Signs checklist and
      a 13-item Medical History questionnaire, was designed to provide an economic
      screening instrument for alcoholism not subject to self-report biases. There has
      been little validation work with this instrument. We therefore administered the
      Alcohol Clinical Index to a group of 40 alcohol-dependent men undergoing
      treatment at a VA Medical Center and a group of 17 nonalcoholic men being treated
      at an outpatient medical clinic at the same facility. The Clinical Signs
      checklist had high sensitivity, but poor specificity. Overall accuracy was 70%
      for a threshold score from 1 to 5. The Medical History questionnaire had more
      moderate sensitivity, but 100% specificity for a cutoff score of 2 or more. At a
      cutoff of 2, it had an overall accuracy of 84%. The high specificity of the
      Medical History questionnaire suggests that it could be used to help discriminate
      between alcoholics and nonalcoholics. Further study of these measures and
      individual items within the measures is recommended with different groups of
      alcohol users and nonusers.

PMID- 1443436
TI  - Dose-ranging study of depot disulfiram in alcohol abusers.
AB  - The object of this early Phase 2 study was to determine the dosage of depot
      disulfiram (DSF) required to induce sustained sensitivity to alcohol. Sixteen
      abstinent alcohol abusers were studied in an unblinded ascending-dose trial of
      DSF suspended in either (1) 5% methylcellulose or (2) 0.1% polysorbate 80. Five
      pairs of subjects received a single subcutaneous dose of Formulation A (1.0, 2.0,
      2.5, 3.0, or 3.5 g). Three pairs were treated with Formulation B (60, 75, or 90
      mg/kg) plus an oral loading dose of DSF (15 mg/kg). Subjects were challenged with
      oral alcohol (0.15 g/kg) before treatment, and on days 7, 14, 21, and 28.
      Subjective and objective responses to alcohol challenges (skin temperature,
      breath acetaldehyde, pulse rate, and blood pressure) were measured, and
      mobilization of DSF was assessed by carbon disulfide levels in breath. Treatment
      with Formulation B (75 or 90 mg/kg) plus an oral-loading dose (15 mg/kg) was
      consistently followed by sustained sensitivity to alcohol. Some subjects
      experienced the subjective and objective features of the DSF-ethanol reaction for
      28 days, but these reactions achieved statistical significance only on day 7 for
      objective changes and on days 7 and 14 for subjective discomfort. Breath carbon
      disulfide was detectable until day 28 in all subjects receiving more than 1.0 g
      DSF, demonstrating sustained release of the drug. Treatment with depot DSF merits
      further study for its potential benefits in chronic alcohol abuse.

PMID- 1443437
TI  - Ascites as a marker for the hyperdynamic heart of Laennec's cirrhosis.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine the relation of the circulatory
      findings of cirrhosis to hepatic decompensation. Twenty individuals with biopsy
      proven cirrhosis and 15 aged-matched controls underwent echocardiographic
      evaluation of cardiac function. Cardiac dimensions and indices derived from
      echocardiograms were related to various measures of liver decompensation.
      Cirrhotics had a higher heart rate, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, left
      ventricular ejection fraction, and cardiac output and a lower mean blood pressure
      and peripheral resistance than aged-matched subjects. On multiple regression
      analyses mean blood pressure, peripheral resistance, and cardiac output were all
      found to be related to estimates of ascites. Also, cirrhotics with ascites had a
      lower peripheral resistance than those without this finding. CONCLUSION: In
      clinically stable patients with cirrhosis, the presence of ascites indicates an
      intense vasodilatory state with a hyperdynamic circulation.

PMID- 1443438
TI  - Relationship of insulin resistance to protein-energy malnutrition in patients
      with alcoholic liver cirrhosis: effect of short-term nutritional support.
AB  - Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and insulin resistance (IR) are common features
      of alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC). In order to determine a relationship between
      them, nutritional status and glucose homeostasis were studied in 26 patients with
      ALC. Nutritional status was assessed through dietary, anthropometric, and
      biological parameters. An IR index (M/I) was obtained from the euglycemic insulin
      clamp technique. M/I was significantly correlated with accurate markers of PEM
      (albumin, transthyretin, and retinol-binding protein) but not with other markers
      of liver dysfunction. Nine patients were studied before and after nutritional
      support: M/I was significantly improved as were serum markers of PEM. Other
      markers of liver dysfunction were also significantly improved. These findings
      suggest that PEM could be responsible, in part, for IR in patients with ALC who
      are frequently malnourished. Moreover, nutritional support improved insulin
      sensitivity in these patients.

PMID- 1443439
TI  - Brain morphologic characteristics of cirrhotic alcoholics and cirrhotic
      nonalcoholics: an MRI study.
AB  - Cirrhotic alcoholics, cirrhotic nonalcoholics, and normal controls were compared
      on planimetric and subjective ratings of the MRI of the brain. The results
      indicated that the cirrhotic alcoholics exhibited more gross pathology than the
      nonalcoholic cirrhotics on ratings of frontal, parietal, and cerebellar atrophy;
      however, these groups were more similar to each other than they were different on
      planimetric measurements. The results are discussed in terms of the etiology and
      localization of the neuropathologic sequelae found commonly among alcoholics.

PMID- 1443440
TI  - Oral magnesium supplementation improves metabolic variables and muscle strength
      in alcoholics.
AB  - Magnesium deficiency is common among chronic alcoholics, but the knowledge of
      oral magnesium supplementation to this group is limited. We, therefore,
      randomized 49 chronic alcoholics, moderate to heavy drinkers for at least 10
      years to receive oral magnesium or placebo treatment for 6 weeks according to a
      double-blind protocol. Effects on metabolic variables and muscle strength were
      analyzed. Significant reduction of aspartate-aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine
      aminotransferase (ALAT) and gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT) were seen after
      magnesium, whereas no change was observed with placebo. Bilirubin decreased in
      both groups. Serum Na, Ca, and P increased significantly during magnesium therapy
      compared with no statistically significant change in the placebo group. Serum K
      and Mg increased slightly after magnesium supplementation and decreased in the
      placebo group, resulting in a significant difference between the two groups at
      the end of the study. Muscle strength increased significantly during magnesium
      treatment, contrasting to no change with placebo. Blood pressure, heart rate,
      hematological variables, serum lipids (cholesterol, HDL, TG), glucose tolerance,
      and creatinine were unchanged in the two groups after treatment. Alcohol
      consumption was similar before and during the trial and does not explain the
      differences between the two groups The results shows that short-term oral
      magnesium therapy may improve liver cell function, electrolyte status, and muscle
      strength in chronic alcoholics.

PMID- 1443441
TI  - Subjective feelings of alcohol intoxication in Asians with genetic variations of
      ALDH2 alleles.
AB  - Asian-American men who possess ALDH2*2 alleles and who experience a facial flush
      after consuming alcohol were carefully matched on drinking history and
      demographic variables with nonflushing Asian males with only ALDH2*1 alleles.
      Each man was tested following placebo and a challenge dose of 0.75 ml/kg alcohol.
      Following alcohol, flushers reported experiencing significantly more positive
      feelings of intoxication than nonflushers, despite equivalent blood alcohol
      concentrations. These data suggest that Asians who flush after drinking,
      particularly those with ALDH2*1/2*2 genotype, have a more intense, although not
      necessarily a more negative, response to alcohol than comparable nonflushing
      Asians. This alcohol sensitivity reaction that many Asian flushers experience may
      contribute to their lower tendency to drink excessively, even though their
      response to alcohol is not predominantly negative.

PMID- 1443442
TI  - The short-term psychological health of alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver
      transplant recipients.
AB  - In response to limited resources and overwhelming clinical need, we previously
      developed an approach to alcoholic patient selection for liver transplant based
      on factors reported to predict short- and long-term sobriety in prospective
      studies of alcoholics. The present study reports follow-up data comparing alcohol
      dependent (n = 22, DSM-3-R criteria) and non-dependent (n = 39) subjects followed
      from 6 months to 3 years post-transplant. Nine percent of the alcoholics had
      returned to symptomatic drinking with 14% reporting some exposure to ethyl
      alcohol. Nearly half (46%) of the non-alcoholic group reported occasional social
      alcohol use. The alcoholic patients were less likely to be in their first
      marriage and more likely to be asked about alcohol use at follow-up clinic
      visits. In most other respects the two groups resembled each other more often
      than they differed. The alcoholic group reported continued high rates of
      prognostic factors associated with long-term abstinence although the content of
      these shifted noticeably between pre- and postoperative assessment. Members of
      both groups reported high frequencies of medication side effects, of missed doses
      of medications, and of depressive symptoms. Most felt the transplant had improved
      their lives but had brought on significant financial burden. There were no
      differences in subjective appraisals of either psychological or physical health
      between the two groups. These follow-up data suggest that carefully selected
      alcohol dependent patients will do as well as non-dependent patients after liver
      transplant.

PMID- 1443443
TI  - Atopic eczema: role of microorganisms on the skin surface.
AB  - The pathophysiology of atopic eczema (AE) is still poorly understood. One
      possible concept favors IgE-mediated reactivity towards allergens that enter the
      skin from the outside or through the blood. Microorganisms of the cutaneous flora
      also might represent a stimulus for allergic skin reactions. Abnormal bacterial
      skin colonization is a characteristic feature of AE. Staphylococcus aureus (S.
      aureus) is the most common pathogen. Binding to host cells involves special
      receptors, such as fibronectin or laminin. Specific IgE antibodies to S. aureus
      can be detected in the blood. Whereas the clinical relevance of anti
      staphylococcal antibodies is still controversial, specific IgE antibodies to
      Pityrosporum species as well as positive type I prick test reactions to these
      yeasts seem to correlate with the intensity of eczematous lesions in the head and
      neck regions of patients with AE. Both antimicrobial and antifungal treatment has
      been shown helpful in some cases of AE.

PMID- 1443444
TI  - T-cell receptor V elements regulate murine IgE production and airways
      responsiveness.

PMID- 1443445
TI  - Serum IgE levels and allergic spectra in immigrants to Sweden.
AB  - We evaluated the allergy status of 134 immigrants from Asia, Africa, the Middle
      East and South America, who were referred to our clinic during the past 10 years.
      Fifty Swedish patients were used for comparison. When the atopy state was not
      taken into account, no significant difference was found between the two groups
      with respect to total IgE levels. However, IgE levels of non-atopic immigrants
      were significantly higher than the IgE levels of non-atopic Swedes. While there
      was no significant difference in IgE levels between atopic and non-atopic
      immigrants, this difference was significant in Swedish patients. In general, IgE
      levels of immigrants showed a decline with time and reached approximately the
      same levels as for the Swedish patients in 10.5 years. In the immigrant group
      atopic women had a considerably lower IgE level than the atopic men. Among the
      atopics there were no differences between sexes. In Swedes and immigrants pollen
      was the most common group of allergens. The spectrum of allergy in the immigrant
      group changed with time in Sweden, and gradually became more similar to the
      Swedish spectrum. Skin and/or RAST positivity to birch increased from 16% within
      2.5 years to 53% after more than 10.5 years in Sweden. Our data indicate that
      environmental factors rather than hereditary differences determine the IgE state.
      Within a few years the immunologic status of immigrants adapts to the new
      environment.

PMID- 1443446
TI  - Clinical and immunological effects of immunotherapy with alum-absorbed grass
      allergoid in grass-pollen-induced hay fever.
AB  - A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of immunotherapy was conducted in 19
      patients with grass-pollen hay fever to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a
      formalinized depot grass allergoid. The patients were assessed before and during
      IT by clinical (symptom-medication scores during the grass- pollen season,
      specific nasal and skin reactivity) and immunological (specific IgE, IgG, IgG1
      and IgG4 antibodies) parameters. High doses of grass allergoid, corresponding to
      a cumulative pre-seasonal dosage of 46,050 PNU, were administered, with only one
      systemic reaction. The actively treated patients had significantly lower symptom
      medication scores than placebo (p less than 0.01) during the month of May and
      showed a significant decrease in specific skin (p less than 0.01) and nasal (p
      less than 0.05) reactivity, and a significant early increase in specific IgE (p
      less than 0.01), IgG (p less than 0.0005), IgG1 (p less than 0.001) and IgG4 (p
      less than 0.05), with a subsequent decrease of IgE and IgG1. No differences were
      detected in any of these parameters in the placebo group. A correlation was found
      between high IgG4/IgG1 ratio and the specific skin reactivity decrease (r =
      0.691, p less than 0.05), whereas a high IgG4/IgG1 ratio was associated with
      higher symptom-medication scores (r = 0.654, p less than 0.05). Possible
      explanations of these apparent discrepancies are proposed.

PMID- 1443447
TI  - Is atopy a risk factor for the use of contact lenses?
AB  - We studied the tolerance of soft contact lenses (CL) in 24 atopic (16 with hay
      fever) and 52 non-atopic subjects with a mean age of 20 years. They were examined
      when they first came to an ophthalmologist to have CL and re-examined after an
      average of 1.7 years. All subjects were allowed to use CL throughout the year,
      including the pollen season. Of the 76 subjects, 31 (41%) reported some kind of
      eye symptoms during the use of CL. Six subjects (8%) had stopped using CL because
      of symptoms. Altogether, in 29/76 subjects (38%) some objective sign was detected
      in the examination, confirming the subjective symptoms (conjunctivitis 16,
      keratoconjunctivitis 8, increased limbal blood vessels 4, and eczema palpebrae
      1). Fourteen of the 24 atopics (58%) had experienced symptoms compared with 17 of
      the 52 non-atopics (33%) (p = 0.034). Eleven atopics had seasonal eye symptoms,
      and eight of them (73%) had problems with CL use. Eosinophils and neutrophils
      found in the conjunctival scrapings at the first examination appeared to predict
      poor CL tolerance when the occurrence of symptoms in different groups was first
      compared by bivariate analysis. The risk factors that could predict poor CL
      tolerance were also evaluated, with logistic regression analysis controlling
      potential confounders. History of an atopic condition increased 5-fold the risk
      of experiencing various external eye symptoms during the use of CL. We conclude
      that seasonal atopic allergy is a especially risk factor for wearing soft contact
      lenses, and their use should be restricted during the season.

PMID- 1443448
TI  - Specific IgE antibodies to vespids in the course of immunotherapy with Vespula
      germanica administered to patients sensitized to Polistes dominulus.
AB  - Sera from a group of 12 patients with anaphylactic reactions to vespids were
      studied. Field observations and RAST values suggested that the offending insect
      was Polistes dominulus (PD). Specific IgE antibodies to PD appeared in all cases
      and to Vespula germanica (VG) in nine. Absorption studies in these basal sera
      showed that IgE antibodies to VG were due to cross-reactivity with PD. The RAST
      value to both venoms was higher after immunotherapy (IT) in six cases. IgE
      antibodies increased to determinants common to both vespids, and in 41% of the
      cases to specific epitopes of VG venom allergens not initially detected in the
      basal sera. In one case antibodies increased only to VG without a corresponding
      rise to PD. These results indicate that if the correct venom to which the
      individuals are sensitized is not administered IgE antibodies may appear which
      were not initially detected in the patients' sera. The levels of these antibodies
      declined during the course of IT.

PMID- 1443449
TI  - Circulatory basophilia in guinea pigs with delayed-type hypersensitivity. Topical
      antigenic provocation induces circulatory basophilia.
AB  - Circulatory basophilia could be induced in inbred guinea pigs systematically
      immunized with ovalbumin and consequently provoked repeatedly with dissolved
      ovalbumin applied onto the mucosa of the nares or the outer eye. The degree of
      the increase in circulatory basophil granulocytes depended on the adjuvant used
      and was significantly more pronounced after immunization with Freund's complete
      adjuvant than with alhydrogel (Al(OH)3). The degree of basophilia was also
      dependent on the animal strain, but different in two strains selected for high
      asthma trait.

PMID- 1443450
TI  - Protective effect of different doses of terfenadine on the conjunctival
      provocation test.
AB  - The protective effect of terfenadine on inflammatory processes following the
      early phase of conjunctival provocation tests by specific allergen was assessed
      in 24 patients suffering from seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, in a single
      blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Patients were
      randomly assigned to four treatment groups, each being given terfenadine 60, 120,
      180 mg daily, or placebo, respectively, for 7 days, out of the pollen season.
      Clinical severity (burning, itching, lacrimation and hyperemia), and number of
      inflammatory cells obtained by conjunctival scraping (neutrophils, eosinophils,
      lymphocytes, and monocytes) were evaluated before and after treatment. Pre
      treatment with terfenadine resulted in a significantly higher allergen threshold
      dose than placebo (p less than 0.01), regardless of drug dose. Patients given
      terfenadine experienced a significant reduction (p less than 0.03) in
      conjunctival symptom severity, as compared with placebo, following conjunctival
      challenge. Accordingly, the number of inflammatory cells in terfenadine-treated
      patients was significantly lower (p less than 0.01) than in the placebo-treated
      after the conjunctival provocation test. The results of this study suggest that
      terfenadine has a significant protective effect on the early-phase cellular and
      clinical events of conjunctival reaction induced by allergen challenge in atopic
      patients.

PMID- 1443451
TI  - A double-blind comparison of nasal budesonide and oral astemizole for the
      treatment of perennial rhinitis.
AB  - Sixty-nine outpatients with symptomatic perennial rhinitis were recruited to this
      double-blind, parallel-group study to compare budesonide nasal spray with oral
      astemizole. Following a 1-week run-in on placebo, 67 patients achieved a mean
      daily total symptom score of at least 4 (scoring for each symptom was 0 = none, 1
      = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe), and were randomized to study treatments - 33
      to budesonide, 100 micrograms in each nostril morning and evening, and 34 to
      astemizole, one 10-mg tablet each morning, for a period of 4 weeks. No
      antihistamine preparations other than eye drops and no corticosteroids were
      permitted during the active treatment period. Patients recorded symptoms of
      blocked nose, runny nose, sneezing, itchy nose, sore eyes or runny eyes in diary
      cards each evening before retiring. Diary card data showed that there was
      significantly greater improvement in blocked nose, runny nose and runny eyes
      during the first 2 weeks of budesonide treatment than during the same period on
      astemizole. A similar, although non-significant, trend was observed for sneezing
      and itchy nose, but there was no apparent difference in the reporting of sore
      eyes. After 4 weeks, blocked nose and runny nose remained significantly less
      troublesome in the budesonide group. Both treatments were well-tolerated and no
      major adverse effects were reported. Patient ratings for treatment efficacy were
      significantly higher for budesonide than astemizole at both 2 weeks and 4 weeks.

PMID- 1443452
TI  - Local nasal immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis to Parietaria. A double-blind
      controlled study.
AB  - Preseasonal local nasal immunotherapy (LNIT) by means of an extract in macronized
      powder form has been studied in allergic rhinitis to parietaria. Twenty-four
      Parietaria-sensitive patients have been studied for 18 weeks in a double-blind
      controlled trial. Subjects were selected on the basis of a positive skin test,
      RAST and intranasal challenge to Parietaria antigen. Three eight-patient groups
      were randomly planned: the first group was given native Parietaria product, the
      second modified Parietaria product, and the third placebo. During the pollen
      season no difference was observed in mean weekly symptom score between the three
      groups, while the mean weekly medication score was significantly lower in the
      treated groups than the control group. Only the treated groups showed a
      significant increase in specific nasal threshold to Parietaria after treatment.
      Adverse reactions to LNIT, limited to the upper respiratory tract, occurred
      rarely and did not interfere with the dose schedule. This study indicates that
      LNIT in powder form may be a suitable alternative to the traditional subcutaneous
      immunotherapy in terms of clinical efficacy and safety.

PMID- 1443453
TI  - Conjunctival provocation test: high clinical reproducibility but little local
      temperature change.
AB  - Ten atopic and five healthy individuals participated in eight conjunctival
      provocation tests (CPT) in an effort to improve the CPT procedure. Results were
      evaluated by thermography and the use of conventional criteria under various
      conditions. Due to considerable spontaneous variability and change in temperature
      already after instillation of diluent, thermography was not sensitive enough to
      identify positive CPT results. The precision of the CPT was within one 10-log
      step in all tests and in all patients. Itching appeared before erythema in 83% of
      subjects and within 5-8 min after instillation of the allergen. This was true
      also when only one eye was used for the CPT. We therefore conclude that the CPT
      procedure can be used in one eye every 5-8 min when indicated in clinical routine
      and that it is a safe, precise method.

PMID- 1443454
TI  - Pulmonary tuberculosis in patients treated with inhaled beclomethasone.
AB  - Inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) has been used with few side-effects in
      the treatment of bronchial asthma for 2 decades. Until now the manifestation of
      tuberculosis (TB) in patients on inhaled BDP has not been reported. Eight
      patients with allergic asthma, of a total of 548 asthmatics (1.46%) seen over a 2
      year period, developed active TB following the use of inhaled BDP. All were
      sputum-positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) on smear and/or culture, all
      responded well to a combination of anti-TB drugs, and none showed evidence of
      immunological or pituitary-adrenal suppression. Two patients agreed to a repeat
      administration of BDP; both developed TB again within 2 weeks and are again on
      anti-TB treatment.

PMID- 1443455
TI  - Early and late-phase asthmatic reactions: a hypothesis.
AB  - Why might a foreign particle, exercise or fog inhalation precipitate two
      asthmatic reactions? It is reasonable to suspect that asthmatic patients develop
      two reactions because healthy subjects may also develop two physiological
      responses to the same stimuli. This suggestion is supported by the observation
      that living things have developed adaptative systems to confront either sudden or
      persistent changes in the environment or within the internal milieu. The results
      of several studies suggest that the early phase response (EPR) usually involves
      cells which are normal residents of the respiratory epithelium (mast cells) and
      pre-formed substances (histamine), whereas cells participating in the late phase
      reaction (LPR) are recruited from the circulation (eosinophils, basophils and T
      cells). Up to now most of the studies of the EPR and LPR have been addressed to
      detecting a cell or metabolite abnormality. This simplistic approach would
      probably not improve the knowledge of the mechanisms involved in asthmatic
      responses. Since the presence of isolated or dual responses seems to depend on
      the intensity and duration of the stimuli it is reasonable to suspect that EPR
      and LPR are the result of an excessive adaptative response of the bodies of
      asthmatics to sudden and prolonged/strong stimuli, respectively.

PMID- 1443456
TI  - Nasal memory T lymphocytes capable of producing IL-4 in the allergic reaction.
AB  - This paper reports the presence of memory T cells in the nasal mucosa of allergic
      patients. The demonstration of CD4+/CD29+ (CD4+/CD45RO+) T lymphocytes, which are
      capable of interleukin-4 production, can indicate a complementary cell-mediated
      regulatory mechanism for mast cell proliferation and IgE synthesis in human nasal
      allergy. No substantial IgE production can be obtained in the absence of IL-4.
      Therefore, the existence of IL-4 producing cells on site in the nasal mucosa of
      allergic subjects probably implies a complementary interaction between cytokines
      and different immunocompetent nasal cells in the regulation of B cells and IgE
      synthesis.

PMID- 1443457
TI  - Hypersensitivity to trimethoprim.
AB  - We present two patients who experienced life-threatening immediate reactions and
      one patient who developed generalized urticaria following oral administration of
      trimethoprim (TMP) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) combination. Skin prick tests with
      TMP were positive in the three patients. No patients reacted to skin prick tests
      with SMX. No significant levels of IgE antibodies to TMP were found by RAST in
      the serum of the patients. Normal subjects used as controls did not react to any
      of these tests. Single-blind, placebo-controlled oral challenges were positive
      with TMP and negative with SMX in all patients. These results suggest that the
      three patients developed type I hypersensitivity reactions to TMP. In our
      patients skin prick tests with TMP were useful in TMP hypersensitivity diagnosis.

PMID- 1443458
TI  - Recurrent pericarditis: a rare complication of allergen immunotherapy.
AB  - We report on a 29-year-old woman suffering from hay fever due to grass and olive
      tree pollens. She developed recurrent pericarditis during her first course of
      immunotherapy with an alum-adsorbed pollen extract. A causal relationship was
      established between the allergen injections and the acute pericarditis episodes
      on two consecutive occasions, which presented with blood eosinophilia. Blood
      cultures and serological tests for microorganisms were negative. There were no
      signs of autoimmune disease or systemic vasculitis. To the best of our knowledge,
      allergen immunotherapy-induced pericarditis has not been previously reported.

PMID- 1443459
TI  - [Skin melanomas of the head and neck: therapeutic value of cervical lymphatic
      dissection].
AB  - There is a conflicting evidence regarding the value of a regional lymph node
      dissection in early clinical stages of head and neck Melanomas. The AA. reviewed
      the clinical histories of 500 patients presenting a malignant melanoma localized
      in the head and neck region and treated in their Hospital between 1967 and 1987.
      Results showed that the prophylactic neck dissection is necessary for lesions
      between 0.75 and 1.5 mm in thickness, whereas in tumours with a depth of invasion
      greater than 1.5 mm the outcome of the disease is not improved by the
      prophylactic neck dissection.

PMID- 1443460
TI  - [Review of ORL manifestations in AIDS. Case series at the Arnau de Vilanova
      Hospital, Lleida].
AB  - The majority of patients suffering AIDS-syndrome present with ENT aspects, being
      the most prevalent lateral adenopathy of the neck firstly, followed by thrush,
      pharyngo-esophageal candidiasis and herpes simplex. Differences regarding the
      distribution in percentage in risk groups are signaled by the AA. between their
      own statistics and those of the americans writers.

PMID- 1443461
TI  - [Diagnostic and therapeutic management in malignant neck tumors of unknown
      origin. Our experience in the last 5 years].
AB  - The AA. analyzed 37 cases of metastatic neck cancer from unknown primary sites
      treated at the Oncologic Unit from 1986 to October 1991. This group account for 7
      percent of total cervicofacial tumors seen. Factors that affected survival
      include the symptoms of consult, the control of cervical disease after treatment
      and surgery. The survival was 50 percent at two years and the rate of neck
      disease control amounted to 57.7 percent.

PMID- 1443462
TI  - [Sarcoidosis as a cause of paralysis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
      Presentation of a case].
AB  - A patient with Sarcoidosis presented with hoarseness in the course of the
      disease, caused by mediastinal adenopathies compressing the left recurrent
      laryngeal nerve. Vocal cord paralysis is an unusual complication of sarcoidosis.
      We have found in the consulted worldwide bibliography on the subject only four
      cases of sarcoidosis with mediastinal enlarged lymph nodes causing compression of
      the left recurrent nerve and subsequently vocal paralysis.

PMID- 1443463
TI  - [Iatrogenic foreign body of the esophagus].
AB  - The AA. report the case of a 79 years-old patient suffering an esophageal
      stenosis managed with intubation (Celestin's tube). This instance shows the good
      tolerance of the prosthesis by the patient as well as the undue of its stay. And
      by the way, the simplicity of its removal with a rigid esophagoscope, as was the
      present case. The paper contemplates a brief review of the indications for
      esophageal intubation and possible complications when dealing with organic
      stenosis of the esophagus.

PMID- 1443464
TI  - [Characteristics of subglottic and glottic-subglottic carcinomas].
AB  - The 14 subglottic and glottic-subglottic carcinomas treated in the
      Otolaryngologic Department of the AA. between 1984 and 1989 are reviewed. Check
      of literature about subglottic carcinomas.

PMID- 1443465
TI  - [Prognostic value of histopathological parameters in epidermoid carcinoma of the
      vocal cords in T-1 stage].
AB  - In this paper are studied macro- and microscopically, 14 histopathologic
      parameters belonging to 37 patients suffering from vocal cord squamous cell
      carcinoma, stage T-la. All patients were submitted to cordectomy and followed up
      during a 5 years term, as a minimum. A discriminant analysis was performed in
      order to establish the relation between histopathologic parameters and local
      failure. Only two of them were statistically significative (p < 0.01): the
      structural type and the differential degree of tumor cells. The histopathological
      study allowed the prediction of 82 percent of local recurrences.

PMID- 1443466
TI  - [Prolactinoma as atypical tumor of the nasopharynx].
AB  - The paper deals with a Prolactinoma case appearing as a swelling of the
      rhinopharynx, which developed cephalgia related to the nasal blockade as solitary
      symptom. Recite of the main clinical characteristics, diagnostic process and
      therapeutics of this condition. The differential diagnosis with other tumors
      situated in the sellar space or in the rhinopharynx, is also considered.

PMID- 1443467
TI  - [Thyroid gland stimulation test in Reinke's edema. A study of 28 patients].
AB  - In order to clarify the correlation between Reinke's oedema and thyreopathies, we
      performed a study on 28 patients affected by polypoid degeneration of the vocal
      cords. Every patient had a complete check-up concerning the otorhino
      laryngological either endocrinological aspects, in particular blood laboratory
      tests including the routine ones and RIA for T3, T4, FT3, FT4, hGT, antibodies
      and TSH under stimulation of the TRH. 22 patients showed to be affected by
      subclinical hypothyroidism; 5 patients did not show a substantial increase of the
      TSH to the TRH stimulation; one patient was affected by hypothyroidism. Our
      experience clearly shows that subclinical hypothyroidism is the organic pathology
      more frequently correlated with Reinke's oedema.

PMID- 1443468
TI  - [Histiocytoid hemangioma].
AB  - Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia is a multisystemic disease
      characterized mainly by cutaneous nodules, vascular proliferation with atypical
      histiocytoid endothelial cells and numerous eosinophiles, often with blood
      eosinophilia. It use to recur "in situ" and persist after surgical excision. The
      AA. review the literature about this rare tumor and present the clinical and
      histopathological features of a case of Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with
      eosinophilia of the tongue.

PMID- 1443469
TI  - Twin challenges.

PMID- 1443470
TI  - Does the laryngeal mask airway compromise cricoid pressure?
AB  - The laryngeal mask airway was inserted in 10 cadavers. At postmortem the chest
      was opened and an infusion set primed with a dilute barium solution was inserted
      into the oesophagus and ligated in place. A cricoid force of 43 N was then
      applied and the infusion set was positioned so that when the clamp was opened it
      generated a pressure of 7.8 kPa within the oesophagus. The cricoid pressure was
      able to stop the flow of fluid into the oesophagus. This demonstrates that
      cricoid pressure is effective in preventing reflux at intragastric pressures
      which are encountered clinically and the presence of the laryngeal mask airway
      does not compromise this.

PMID- 1443471
TI  - Unconscious learning during anaesthesia.
AB  - Forty-three surgical patients were, during general anaesthesia, presented (via
      headphones) with either statements about common facts of some years ago (group
      A), or new verbal associations, i.e. the names of fictitious, nonfamous people
      (group B). None had any recall of intra-operative events. In a postoperative test
      of indirect memory, patients in group A answered more questions about the 'common
      facts' correctly than those in group B (p < 0.005), which reflects the activation
      of pre-existing knowledge. Furthermore, patients in group B designated more
      'nonfamous names' as famous (thus falsely attributing fame) than patients in
      group A (p < 0.001), which demonstrates that information-processing during
      anaesthesia can also take place as unconscious learning.

PMID- 1443472
TI  - The influence of arm position and cardiac output on bolus clearance from the arm.
AB  - The importance of arm position and cardiac output on the clearance of a bolus
      injection from the arm was assessed in 63 patients using technetium-99m.
      Injections were made in the left arm which was either adducted, abducted or
      adducted with the forearm flexed over the lower chest. The clearance of isotope
      was assessed by measuring the amount of radioactivity remaining in the arm at 10
      s intervals and calculating it as a fraction of the injected dose. The clearance
      of Tc-99m was significantly faster and more complete from the abducted arm than
      from the adducted arm. There was no correlation between clearance and cardiac
      output.

PMID- 1443473
TI  - Cannulation of the internal jugular vein. The very high approach.
AB  - A new approach to internal jugular vein catheterisation in the neck (the 'very
      high' approach) was used in 335 patients over a 12-month period. The success rate
      was 100% and there were no complications. It proved to be an easy technique to
      learn and may be particularly useful in difficult and emergency situations.

PMID- 1443474
TI  - Six months of shivering in a district general hospital.
AB  - Of 2595 patients admitted to a recovery room in Derbyshire Royal Infirmary over a
      6-month period, 164 (6.3%) shivered postoperatively. Data regarding the
      anaesthetic techniques to which these patients had been subjected were gathered
      from the Derby Anaesthetic Audit System. Subsequent analysis demonstrated the
      importance of a number of factors that led to shivering, including male gender,
      anaesthetic techniques involving spontaneous ventilation, and anticholinergic
      premedication. The administration of pethidine, alfentanil or morphine intra
      operatively reduced the incidence of shivering postoperatively.

PMID- 1443475
TI  - The laryngeal mask airway in infants.
AB  - Clinical and fibreoptic assessment of positioning of the size 1 laryngeal mask
      airway was performed in 50 infants. A clinically patent airway was obtained in 47
      patients at the first attempt, but perfect positioning, as assessed by fibreoptic
      laryngoscopy, was found in only 22 instances. Despite an airway initially patent,
      delayed airway obstruction occurred in 12 infants. It is concluded that clinical
      airway patency does not guarantee ideal positioning of LMA in infants, and that
      care should be taken to ensure continued airway patency because of the tendency
      of the LMA position to deteriorate in this group of children.

PMID- 1443476
TI  - Profound hypotension following intravenous codeine phosphate. Three case reports
      and some recommendations.
AB  - Three adults are described who developed life-threatening hypotension following
      intravenous codeine phosphate. It is recommended that codeine phosphate should
      not be given intravenously to adults.

PMID- 1443477
TI  - Repeated unilateral epidural blockade.
AB  - Unilateral epidural analgesia occurring in a parturient three times in successive
      pregnancies is reported. Possible causes are reviewed, and clinical and
      radiological evidence in support of the most likely explanation are presented.

PMID- 1443478
TI  - Profound desaturation following vomiting on induction. A case for routine pre
      oxygenation.
AB  - Whilst participating in a clinical trial, a patient vomited during induction of
      anaesthesia. Subsequent analysis of the continuous record of oxygen saturation
      showed precipitous desaturation.

PMID- 1443479
TI  - Anaphylactoid reaction to propofol.
AB  - A case of an anaphylactoid reaction following the induction of anaesthesia is
      reported. Subsequent intradermal testing suggested propofol to be the causative
      agent.

PMID- 1443480
TI  - Anaesthetic machine checking practices. A survey.
AB  - Forty anaesthetists, of all grades, were interviewed without prior warning and
      questioned about the checks they had performed on their anaesthetic equipment
      before use. The results reveal that a substantial percentage (up to 41%) of
      anaesthetists perform inadequate checks. Furthermore, of those that do, few
      follow the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland's recent
      guidelines.

PMID- 1443481
TI  - Evaluation of the Level 1 Hotline blood warmer.
AB  - The Level 1 Hotline warmer is a new type of fluid warmer, developed specifically
      for use with low flows. It was found to be effective at flows between 1 ml.min-1
      and 75 ml.min-1.

PMID- 1443482
TI  - The extensometer--use in spontaneously ventilating awake volunteers.
AB  - The extensometer is a new device with potential in the field of respiratory
      pattern analysis. This paper describes the physical principles upon which the
      extensometer depends and also assesses its performance as a noninvasive
      respiratory monitor in respect of its ability to measure tidal volume and to
      determine obstructive breathing patterns in awake volunteers in the supine
      position over a limited time period. Further developments of the device are
      outlined and the current status of torso transducers in anaesthesia and intensive
      care are discussed.

PMID- 1443483
TI  - An evaluation of the gum elastic bougie. Intubation times and incidence of sore
      throat.
AB  - This study was designed to evaluate the routine use of a gum elastic bougie for
      tracheal intubation. The median time to intubation with the gum elastic bougie
      while simulating an 'epiglottis only' view was only 10 s longer than the time
      taken during conventional intubation with an optimum view. Three of the patients
      required a gum elastic bougie-assisted intubation after attempts at conventional
      visual intubation had failed. There was no significant difference in the
      incidence of postoperative sore throat and hoarseness between the two groups. We
      recommend that anaesthetists should use the gum elastic bougie whenever a good
      view of the glottis is not immediately obtained.

PMID- 1443484
TI  - The Mancunian way.
AB  - The authors have examined early records of the administration of ether
      anaesthesia in Manchester and the lives of several medical men involved in these
      events. Charles Strange, a dentist and chemist, in a letter to the Manchester
      Guardian published on 14 January 1847, described a self-administration of ether
      for dental extraction, but George Bowring, a surgeon, subsequently claimed the
      first anaesthetic administered by a doctor in Manchester. The merits of these
      claims are discussed in the light of the circumstances surrounding these events.

PMID- 1443485
TI  - Plasma concentrations of flumazenil during liver transplantation.
AB  - Six patients were given flumazenil (1 mg) during the anhepatic period of liver
      transplantation. We found higher mean plasma flumazenil concentrations during the
      anhepatic period than occurred in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. It was only
      possible to measure plasma flumazenil concentrations in four patients after
      revascularisation of the donor liver. Of these, elimination half-lives could be
      calculated in only three patients (normal in one and prolonged in two). In these
      two patients the elimination half-lives were prolonged to the same extent as in
      patients with fulminant hepatic failure. The changes during the anhepatic period
      occur because the liver contributes to the central volume of distribution. After
      revascularisation of the donor organ the prolonged half-lives indicate that
      transplanted livers may not recover normal metabolic functions immediately.

PMID- 1443486
TI  - Local anaesthetic: does it really reduce the pain of insertion of all sizes of
      venous cannula?
AB  - A recent study performed in this department showed that a subcutaneous injection
      of local anaesthetic was significantly less painful than the insertion of a 22
      gauge venous cannula. However, our colleagues remained sceptical that local
      anaesthetic infiltration would eliminate the pain of cannulation. Consequently a
      further study was undertaken to compare the pain of cannulation with and without
      the use of local anaesthetic. The results show that pain of cannulation is
      significantly (p < 0.003) reduced after subcutaneous infiltration with 1%
      lignocaine when compared to cannulation without local infiltration. Persistent
      discomfort at the site of cannulation was eliminated by the use of local
      anaesthetic.

PMID- 1443487
TI  - Day case laparoscopy. A comparison of two anaesthetic techniques using the
      laryngeal mask during spontaneous breathing.
AB  - Forty women undergoing day case laparoscopy were randomly allocated to receive
      either an inhalational or total intravenous anaesthetic. All patients breathed
      spontaneously through a Brain laryngeal mask. There were no clinically
      significant cardiovascular or respiratory differences between the two techniques.
      No episodes of clinical aspiration occurred and there were no peri-operative
      arrhythmias. We conclude that spontaneous respiration with a laryngeal mask is a
      safe and effective method of anaesthesia for laparoscopy provided certain
      guidelines are followed.

PMID- 1443488
TI  - An audit of induction of anaesthesia in neonates and small infants using pulse
      oximetry.
AB  - The frequency and severity of hypoxaemia during induction of anaesthesia in
      neonates and small infants at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, a district
      general hospital, was compared, using pulse oximetry, with that of the nearest
      specialist hospital, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Sick Children in London.
      There were differences in staffing and the choice of anaesthetic techniques
      between the hospitals. One third of the patients in both hospitals experienced
      desaturation of more than 5% (moderate or severe hypoxaemia) at one or more
      recordings during induction. The highest incidence of hypoxaemia was associated
      with awake intubation. There was no statistical difference in the incidence or
      severity of hypoxaemia between the hospitals. In the district general hospital,
      moderate or severe hypoxaemia of greater than 30 s duration was more likely if an
      anaesthetist with a regular paediatric operating list was not present at
      induction (p < 0.01).

PMID- 1443489
TI  - Patient controlled analgesia--assessment of machine feedback to patients.
AB  - The effect of varying patient-controlled analgesia machine feedback was studied
      in two groups of patients following a standard surgical procedure using patient
      controlled analgesia with morphine to control postoperative pain. Analgesic
      demands, morphine consumption, pain scores and side effects were compared and
      comments from the patients were noted. There was no significant difference
      between those whose machines signalled only successful demands compared with
      those who had every demand acknowledged. The patients in the former group
      appreciated the extra input and the nursing staff found this machine
      configuration to be less disturbing to the ward. There was no evidence of a
      clinically useful placebo effect in the latter group.

PMID- 1443490
TI  - Spinal anaesthesia for urological surgery. A survey of failure rate, postdural
      puncture headache and patient satisfaction.
AB  - A survey was conducted on 100 consecutive patients who underwent spinal
      anaesthesia in our urology operating theatres. Details of the spinal technique
      were recorded in the operating theatre. In 25% of patients, more than one attempt
      at subarachnoid puncture was required and 16% of this group went on to require
      general anaesthesia. The patients were visited between 24 and 48 h
      postoperatively by one of the authors. On questioning, 24% of patients reported a
      headache, which had the characteristics associated with dural puncture; 62% of
      these headaches were described as moderate or severe and lasted between 12 and 24
      h. Patients were significantly (p < 0.05) more likely to develop a postdural
      puncture headache if more than one attempt at subarachnoid puncture was made.

PMID- 1443491
TI  - Shivering.

PMID- 1443492
TI  - Chemical meningism after lumbar facet joint block.

PMID- 1443493
TI  - Use of calcium chloride for propranolol overdose.

PMID- 1443494
TI  - Anaesthesia in the neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

PMID- 1443495
TI  - Airway obstruction and the laryngeal mask airway in paediatric radiotherapy.

PMID- 1443496
TI  - Laryngomalacia--a specific indication for the laryngeal mask?

PMID- 1443497
TI  - Spurious end-tidal CO2 diagnosed by capnogram.

PMID- 1443498
TI  - Failure of an Ohmeda OAV 7750 ventilator.

PMID- 1443499
TI  - Partial failure of a Servo 900C ventilator.

PMID- 1443500
TI  - Ventilators, circle systems and respirometers.

PMID- 1443501
TI  - Pulmonary oedema due to fentanyl?

PMID- 1443502
TI  - Atrial fibrillation after electroconvulsive therapy.

PMID- 1443503
TI  - Are the hazards associated with glass syringes justified?

PMID- 1443504
TI  - Nalbuphine--an analgesic with unique built-in safety feature.

PMID- 1443505
TI  - Sugi absorbent swabs, dacrocystorhinostomy and partial respiratory obstruction.

PMID- 1443506
TI  - [S-(+)-ketamine. The beginning of a new ketamine era?].

PMID- 1443507
TI  - [The action of S-(+)-ketamine on serum catecholamine and cortisol. A comparison
      with ketamine racemate].
AB  - The S(+)-isomer of ketamine has about twice the anaesthetic potency of the
      commercially available racemic mixture of ketamine. It is assumed that the known
      side-effects of ketamine are significantly reduced when administering half the
      usual dose with the same pharmacodynamic effect [17, 25]. The aim of the present
      study was to determine the haemodynamic effects, the catecholamine and cortisol
      plasma levels after administration of equally potent doses of S-(+)-Ketamine and
      racemic mixture of ketamine. In addition, the effect of premedication with i.v.
      midazolam was assessed. METHOD. After approval by the ethics committee and
      written informed consent, 30 healthy male volunteers were randomly allocated to
      three groups (n = 10). Group 1 received 2 mg/kg ketamine racemate, group 2 1
      mg/kg S-(+)-Ketamine, and group 3 1 mg/kg S-(+)-Ketamine 5 min after i.v.
      premedication with 0.1 mg/kg midazolam. Non-invasive blood pressure (BP) and
      heart rate (HR) were continuously recorded. Blood samples were drawn 7 min
      before, and 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 min after drug administration. Plasma
      epinephrine and norepinephrine (NE) levels were determined by HPLC and cortisol
      plasma levels by RIA. Data were analysed with the Kruskal-Wallis test (P < or =
      0.05) for differences between groups. RESULTS. HR and BP showed a significant
      rise after injection of racemate and isomer, without any significant differences
      between groups. This was also seen for norepinephrine and cortical plasma levels.
      Epinephrine levels, however, differed between groups, showing a significant rise
      after racemate compared to isomer. Premedication with midazolam, in contrast,
      blunted major haemodynamic and hormonal changes. DISCUSSION. The haemodynamic
      changes did not differ between the racemate and isomer group despite a reduced
      isomer dose. HR and BP rise were similar, although epinephrine levels were
      significantly lower after isomer than racemate. Hence we assume that the increase
      in the haemodynamic parameters were mainly caused by NE. Midazolam apparently
      prevented the centrally mediated sympathetic stimulation caused by ketamine and
      its isomers. Therefore, i.v. premedication with midazolam should be applied when
      racemate or isomer is used, especially in high-risk cardiac patients.

PMID- 1443508
TI  - [Studies using S-(+)-ketamine on probands. Computerized EEG-analysis and
      transcranial Doppler ultrasonography].
AB  - It has been shown in the recent literature that the anaesthetic potency of the
      ketamine isomer S(+)-ketamine is twice that of the racemic mixture used in
      clinical practice. METHODS. With approval of the local ethics committee, we
      investigated the effects of a bolus injection of 2 mg/kg racemic ketamine or 1
      mg/kg S(+)-ketamine, respectively, on the electroencephalogram (EEG) and
      transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) of the middle cerebral artery in ten
      healthy volunteers by means of a randomised, double-blind, cross-over design.
      Spectral edge frequency, total activity and activity of the alpha, beta, delta,
      and theta bands were assessed by bihemispheric leads using the Neurotrac system
      before (MZP 1) and 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min after injection (MZP 2
      9). Simultaneously, systolic (Vs-MCA), diastolic (Vd-MCA), and mean (Vm-MCA)
      blood flow velocities in the middle cerebral artery and pulsatility (Vs-Vd)/Vm
      were recorded. Statistics consisted of two-dimensional analysis of variance with
      P < 0.05 considered as significant. RESULTS. Racemic ketamine and S(+)-ketamine
      produced comparable effects on the EEG. Theta- and beta-activities increased
      between the 1st and 10th min after injection and returned to near baseline values
      thereafter. 120 min after injection, the absolute delta- and theta-activities
      were higher following racemic ketamine when compared to the S(+)-ketamine group.
      However, significant differences between the groups could not be confirmed
      statistically. TCD variables changed considerably in the course of the study
      without intergroup differences. Compared to the baseline values, Vs-MCA, Vd-MCA,
      and Vm-MCA increased significantly for the first 15 min after injection with a
      maximum at MZP 3. The pulsatility of the obtained Doppler waveform (Vs-Vd)/Vm
      showed significant decreases at MZP 2-4. CONCLUSIONS. In our study, both racemic
      ketamine and its isomer S(+)-ketamine produced similar EEG changes consistent
      with the data from earlier studies. However, the relative lower proportion of
      slow EEG activity at the end of the study might indicate a better recovery of
      cortical function following S(+)-ketamine than after racemic ketamine. Assuming a
      close relationship between cerebral blood flow velocity and cerebral blood flow,
      our TCD results suggest that both racemic ketamine and S(+)-ketamine will
      considerably increase cerebral blood flow in spontaneously breathing volunteers.
      Such an effect has been observed by others and, at least partly, can be explained
      by a concomitant increase in arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure.

PMID- 1443509
TI  - [Ketamine racemate or S-(+)-ketamine and midazolam. The effect on vigilance,
      efficacy and subjective findings].
AB  - Ketamine is a racemic mixture containing equal amounts of optical isomers that
      have almost identical pharmacokinetic properties but different pharmacodynamic
      effects. The S-(+)-isomer of ketamine has about twice the anaesthetic and
      analgesic potency of the racemic ketamine preparation and is judged to induce
      less psychic emergence reactions and to be followed by a more rapid recovery of
      vigilance. The present study was designed to assess whether the S-(+)-isomer of
      ketamine is superior to the racemic mixture in cardiovascular characteristics,
      emergence reactions and cognitive functions, and whether side effects may be
      reduced or prevented by administration of midazolam prior to injection of S-(+)
      ketamine. METHODS. Following ethics committee approval and informed consent, 30
      volunteers were randomly allocated in this double-blind study to three groups of
      10 each. Group 1 received 2 mg/kg bw racemic ketamine, group 2, 1 mg/kg bw S-(+)
      ketamine and group 3, 1 mg/kg bw S-(+)-ketamine after premedication with 0.1
      mg/kg midazolam i.v. Cardiovascular changes, state of vigilance, cognitive
      performance, subjective mood and acceptance of anaesthesia were assessed by means
      of haemodynamic routine monitoring, electroencephalography (EEG), psychometric
      tests and interview. RESULTS. The increases in mean arterial pressure and heart
      rate following the injection of racemic ketamine and S-(+)-ketamine were
      identical and the differences from baseline values significant after both.
      Premedication with midazolam ensured stable haemodynamics after injection of S
      (+)-ketamine. EEG analysis displayed the characteristic changes well known from
      ketamine anaesthesia for both racemic and S-(+)-ketamine. The vigilosomnoscript
      showed an identical profile of vigilance up to 30 min after injection of both
      drugs. The vigilance status after 125 min was less impaired by S-(+)-ketamine
      than by racemic ketamine. Psychological assessment showed a prompter recovery of
      visual attentiveness and sensorimotor performance in the S-(+)-ketamine group.
      Subjective mood was judged by the volunteers to be significantly better after S
      (+)-ketamine, and volunteers found S-(+)-ketamine to be more acceptable than
      racemic ketamine. The frequency of dreams was the same after both drugs. No
      unpleasant dreams were reported after S-(+)-ketamine, but one of the volunteers
      who received racemic ketamine had uncomfortable dreams. Midazolam prevented any
      unpleasant emergence sequelae. On the other hand, the cognitive performance could
      not be restored to the baseline values until at least 240 min after injection of
      S-(+)-ketamine, because of the sedative effects of midazolam. DISCUSSION. These
      results suggest that S-(+)-ketamine offers the advantages of faster recovery of
      cognitive performance, greater acceptance by the volunteers and identical depth
      of anaesthesia after injection of half the dose compared with racemic ketamine.
      The clinical use of S-(+)-ketamine therefore seems to be justified. Premedication
      with benzodiazepines, e.g. midazolam, is essential. The dose to be administered,
      however, should be carefully selected in order not to abolish the positive effect
      of S-(+)-ketamine on vigilance by the sedative effects of the benzodiazepine.

PMID- 1443510
TI  - [The simultaneous determination of ketamine and midazolam using high pressure
      liquid chromatography and UV detection (HPLC/UV)].
AB  - In order to prevent some negative side effects of ketamine during "dissociative
      anaesthesia", this substance is regularly combined with benzodiazepines, e.g.,
      midazolam. This study was undertaken to develop a simple and effective method for
      the simultaneous detection of ketamine and midazolam in plasma by high-pressure
      liquid chromatography with UV-detection (HPLC/UV). METHODS. The chromatographic
      system consisted of a 300 x 3.9-mm C18 column for reversed-phase chromatography
      and a mobile phase of 30% acetonitrile and 70% 0.05 M sodium phosphate buffer, pH
      4.45. The flow rate was 1 ml/min. UV-detection took place at a wavelength of 210
      nm. Blood samples were preferably taken from a central venous or arterial line.
      After plasma separation, 1 microgram (100 microliters) etidocaine was added to 1
      ml plasma as an internal standard. The samples were alkalinised and extracted
      with ether, followed by back-extraction of the organic phase in 250 microliters
      0.05 N sulphuric acid; 50 microliters of this solution was injected into the
      system. RESULTS. Sample preparation by trained personnel was reliable and led to
      adequate results. Separation of ketamine and midazolam was very satisfactory.
      Standard curves for both drugs were linear from 15-4000 ng/ml (ketamine r =
      0.9998; midazolam r = 0.9996). Recovery rates for ketamine in plasma were above
      95%, for midazolam 70%-75%. Coefficients of variation for ketamine in plasma were
      between 0.6% and 1.3%, for midazolam between 2.0% and 2.6%. The detection limit
      was lower than 5 ng/ml. CONCLUSION. The method is suitable for clinical practice
      and allows the simultaneous detection of two anaesthetics in wide-spread combined
      use.

PMID- 1443511
TI  - [Cerebral effects of ketanserin. The influence on hemodynamics and brain
      metabolism].
AB  - Ketanserin, a 5HT2- and alpha 1-receptor antagonist, decreases blood pressure by
      decreasing systemic vascular resistance without causing reflex cardiac
      stimulation, while cardiac output remains unchanged. To date, little is known
      about the effects of ketanserin on cerebral haemodynamics and cerebral
      metabolism. According to a recently published study, ketanserin seems not to
      impair cerebral blood flow autoregulation in man. The present study was designed
      to investigate the influence of ketanserin on cerebral circulation and
      metabolism, and the cerebrovascular response to CO2 in man. METHODS. Twenty male
      patients between 44 and 67 years of age who were scheduled for coronary artery
      bypass surgery were randomly allocated to one of two groups. In group 1
      measurements were performed after induction of anaesthesia during normocapnia
      (p(a) CO2 approximately 40 mm Hg) and hypocapnia (p(a) CO2 approximately 30 mm
      Hg). Then, ketanserin was given at a bolus dose of 0.3 mg.kg-1 followed by an
      infusion of 0.06 mg.kg-1.h-1 and measurements were repeated under hypocapnic and
      normocapnic conditions. Patients of group 2 were hyperventilated at first, then
      normoventilated. Afterwards, ketanserin was administered at the above-mentioned
      dose and measurements were again performed during normocapnia and hypocapnia.
      Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured using the argon wash-in technique.
      Cerebral venous blood was obtained from a catheter in the superior bulb of the
      right internal jugular vein. Cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) was calculated by
      subtracting jugular bulb pressure from mean arterial pressure and cerebral
      vascular resistance (CVR) by dividing CPP by CBF. Cerebral metabolic rates of
      oxygen, glucose, and lactate were calculated by multiplying the arterial-cerebral
      venous oxygen and substrate differences by CBF. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.
      Ketanserin decreased CPP by 16% to about 60 mm Hg. Cerebral blood flow remained
      unchanged as a result of an insignificant decline in CVR. Hyperventilation
      increased CVR by 32%, while CBF decreased by 27% to the same value that had been
      obtained during hypocapnia without ketanserin. The percentage changes in CBF per
      mm Hg change in CO2 were 1.45%/mm Hg (group 1 and 2.91%/mm Hg (group 2),
      respectively, without ketanserin and 1.98%/mm Hg and 2.22%/mm Hg with ketanserin.
      As CO2-responsiveness with ketanserin was higher in group 1 but lower in group 2
      than without ketanserin, the direction in which ventilation was changed rather
      than ketanserin was responsible for these changes in CO2-responsiveness. Neither
      during normocapnia nor during hypocapnia did ketanserin have any effects on
      cerebral metabolic activity. Thus, it can be concluded that ketanserin does not
      impair CBF regulation and metabolism and that cerebral vascular responsiveness to
      hypocapnia is preserved.

PMID- 1443512
TI  - [Continuous peridural anesthesia in abdominal surgery. An alternative for elderly
      patients].
AB  - Being advanced in years is not in itself a high risk in anaesthesia; however,
      altered pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, mental dysfunction and the
      administration of anaesthetics complicate the postoperative period. In order to
      examine the problem of sedation in elderly patients, we studied the effects and
      side effects of continuous peridural anaesthesia for abdominal surgery. METHODS.
      On the day before surgery we inserted a peridural catheter (Perifix 400, Braun,
      Melsungen, FRG) between T-12 and L-4 in 52 patients in a sitting position (mean
      age 69.3 +/- 10.9 years) using the loss-of-resistance technique. If no signs of
      spinal anaesthesia became apparent, the exact position of the catheter was
      determined using 9 or 10 ml bupivacaine 0.5%. Next day, after premedication with
      atropine, pethidine or midazolam, 20-25 ml bupivacaine 0.5% was instilled through
      the peridural catheter. During surgery patients were sedated using a small dose
      of propofol. We also insufflated oxygen (2 l/min). Blood pressure, heart rate,
      and blood gases were monitored and electrocardiography and pulse oximetry
      performed. As postoperative pain therapy, we administered morphine through the
      peridural catheter at intervals of 8 h. For statistical evaluation we used
      Wilcoxon's test. RESULTS. An adequate degree of analgesia was found between T-4
      and T-7 and abdominal muscle relaxation was satisfactory. Heart rate decreased by
      10.3% after the administration of local anaesthetics. After surgery had begun,
      blood pressure decreased over a period of 30 min (systolic by 20.5% and diastolic
      by 14.2%) but it remained constant at this level during the rest of the operation
      (see Fig. 1). Neither of these side effects was significant. Oxygen saturation
      and blood gases were normal. During the operation, a mean dose of 325 mg
      propofol/h was necessary to maintain sedation. After surgery all patients were
      awake, suffered no pain and had complete amnesia with regard to the operation.
      The postoperative peridural dosage of 5 mg morphine (three times in 24 h) was
      very effective. Because some patients vomited we used between 50 and 100 mg
      tramadol (four times in 24 h) instead of morphine. Early mobilization of patients
      was possible and there were no pulmonary complications such as pneumonia.
      CONCLUSIONS. If carried out by an experienced physician, continuous peridural
      anaesthesia can be an alternative method in abdominal surgery for elderly
      patients. We see advantages in the minimal disturbance of pulmonary and mental
      function, in the minimal amount of sedation required and in the successful
      postoperative pain therapy.

PMID- 1443513
TI  - [Combined sciatic 3-in-1 block. Application in lower limb orthopedic surgery].
AB  - The effects of increasing the maximum prescribed volume of 50 ml lidocaine 1% to
      65 ml in a combined sciatic 3-in-1 block were investigated in 25 adult patients.
      The goal of the study was (1) to show possible increase in the success rate and
      (2) to determine if toxic plasma levels of local anaesthetic would be reached.
      Further more, we wanted to find out if there were any side-effects. The patients
      were divided into three groups according to body weight: group I, 50-69 kg (n =
      7); group II, 70-80 kg (n = 9); group III, over 80 kg (n = 9). Besides clinical
      observation, the plasma levels of local-anaesthetic were determined over a 90-min
      period. RESULTS. Following the neural blockade, the obturator nerve was the first
      to be rendered insensitive after 4.8 +/- 3.6 min, followed by the saphenous (7.2
      +/- 4.4 min) and femoral nerves, and finally by the lateral femoral cutaneous
      nerve after 12.5 +/- 5.3 min. Around the knees, the motor blockade was complete
      after 11.9 + 4.3 min and around the hips 11.2 +/- 4.6 min. Intraoperatively, one
      of these 25 patients needed an additional general anaesthetic, as he did not
      tolerate the Esmarch cuff. The postoperative analgesia in 24 patients lasted 268
      +/- 55 min; the patient who had a general anaesthetic in addition had a
      postoperative analgesia of 315 min. Group I showed levels of mean 2.04 +/- 0.64
      microns/ml, group II 1.84 +/- 0.38 microns/ml and group III 1.69 +/- 0.63
      microns/ml. There were no statistical differences between the three groups.
      CONCLUSION. Increasing the dosage of lidocaine from 500 to 650 mg makes the block
      very successful without any toxic side-effects.

PMID- 1443514
TI  - [Obstructive respiration disorders. An aneurysm of the ventilator tubing during
      general anesthesia].
AB  - Technical problems during anaesthesia are important causes of anaesthesia-related
      deaths and brain damage. During general endotracheal anaesthesia for ophthalmic
      surgery (41-year-old man, ASA 1) we observed an increase in inspiratory pressure
      without other clinical changes. Disconnection and ventilation with a
      resuscitation bag showed normal inspiratory pressures. Inspection demonstrated an
      obstruction due to an aneurysm of the inner layer of the inspiratory tubing. The
      classification of this rare blockage of ventilation differs in the literature
      (pressure, hypoventilation, hypercarbia). In addition, it demonstrates the
      principal problem of clinical decision-making during anaesthesia based on
      monitoring information. Strategies for responding to alarms indicating hazards of
      ventilation must be based on immediate restoration of sufficient ventilation, and
      not primarily on detecting the cause.

PMID- 1443515
TI  - [Comments on the paper by H.-J Hartung and Th. Luiz. Total spinal anesthesia].

PMID- 1443516
TI  - [Comments on the paper by T. Menges et al. Methods of limiting the use of donor
      blood].

PMID- 1443517
TI  - [Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)].
AB  - PEEP has become a widely used ventilatory technique. The beneficial effects of
      PEEP were first described in asphyctic neonates, and it was later used in the
      treatment of cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Since the 1970s PEEP has been well
      established for the treatment of ARDS; the technique is also used for scoring the
      degree of severity of ARDS. Two mechanisms have been identified to explain
      pulmonary function and gas exchange following PEEP therapy: increasing FRC and
      alveolar recruitment. Both factors result in improvement in the
      ventilation/perfusion ratio with a consequent decrease in the intrapulmonary
      right-to-left shunt fraction. PEEP should be used in cardiogenic pulmonary edema
      as well as in ARDS; there are few contraindications. To choose the individual
      level of PEEP, PEEP should be titrated in 3- to 5-cm increments and its effects
      on haemodynamic function, pulmonary gas exchange and respiratory mechanics taken
      into account. In this article the effects of PEEP, its use and abuse are reviewed
      from a practical point of view.

PMID- 1443518
TI  - Quantitation of CoASH and acyl-CoA.

PMID- 1443519
TI  - Investigation of noncalcium interactions of fura-2 by classical and synchronous
      fluorescence spectroscopy.
AB  - Several authors have reported unexpected intracellular spectra of both indo-1 and
      fura-2. One of the major methodological problems in the evaluation of calcium
      concentration using fluorescent probes is that it is assumed that only two forms
      of the dyes are detectable within the cells. We show in this study of fura-2
      properties that this calcium probe is pH-sensitive and able to bind to cellular
      proteins. The excitation spectra of protonated and protein-bound forms of fura-2
      exhibit a maximum in the same region as that associated with the calcium-free
      form (i.e., near 365 nm). The very small shift in the excitation spectra upon
      proton or protein binding precludes the use of classical methods to determine the
      spectral composition of mixtures of several forms of fura-2. We therefore used
      the synchronous fluorescence technique to detect the protein-bound form of fura-2
      selectively, in order to assess the pH dependence of the fura-2/protein
      interaction. The nonspecific binding of fura-2 to proteins is reinforced at
      acidic pH and inhibited by calcium. The fact that the same type of interaction
      was found between fura-2 and poly-L-lysine suggests that it could be mediated by
      basic amino acids. Because of the strong overlap of the excitation spectrum of
      the unprotonated free fura-2 with those associated with the protonated and
      protein-bound forms, a cytoplasmic acidification may lead to an artifactual
      measurement of low calcium levels.

PMID- 1443520
TI  - Factors controlling variability in measurements of the transient gene expression
      in electroporated protoplasts of wheat callus.
AB  - Factors controlling variability in enzyme transient expression assays have been
      investigated in electroporated protoplasts isolated from wheat embryogenic and
      nonembryogenic calli. The level of variation was reduced to a minimum through the
      optimization of the beta-glucuronidase measurements in the pellet and the
      supernatant of the homogenized protoplasts, by expressing the data on the basis
      of the number of protoplasts found to be viable immediately before the assay and
      on the amount of protein in the pellet and supernatant. Protoplast separation on
      the basis of size was also useful in eliminating some of the variation resulting
      from the heterogeneity of the callus used. Efforts to partially synchronize the
      callus tissue by auxin starvation have not resulted in a significant decrease of
      this variation. Our results indicate that the level of variation in enzyme
      transient activity in protoplasts resulting from calli can be reduced by
      implementation of the experimental techniques presented here.

PMID- 1443521
TI  - Effect of covalent modification on the binding of cholera toxin B subunit to
      ileal brush border surfaces.
AB  - A competitive binding assay has been developed to determine how modifications to
      the B subunit of cholera toxin affect the binding affinity of the subunit for an
      ileal brush border membrane surface. The Ricinus communis120 agglutinin (RCA120)
      specifically binds to terminal beta-D-galactosyl residues such as those found in
      oligosaccharide side chains of glycoproteins and ganglioside GM1. Conditions were
      designed to produce binding competition between the B subunit of cholera toxin
      and the RCA120 agglutinin. Displacement of RCA120 from brush border surfaces was
      proportional to the concentration of B subunit added. This assay was used to
      study the effect of modification of B subunit on competitive binding affinity for
      the ileal brush border surface. The B subunit of cholera toxin was modified by
      coupling an average of five sulfhydryl groups to each B subunit molecule and by
      reaction of the SH-modified B subunit with liposomes containing a surface
      maleimide group attached to phosphatidylethanolamine. SH-modified B subunit was
      approximately 200-fold more effective than native B subunit in displacing lectin
      from brush border surfaces in the competitive binding assay. The enhanced binding
      activity was retained on covalent attachment of the modified B subunit to the
      liposome surface. We conclude that the B subunit of cholera toxin may be a useful
      targeting agent for directing liposomes to cell surfaces that contain a
      ganglioside GM1 ligand.

PMID- 1443522
TI  - The measurement of negative charge content in cartilage using a colloid titration
      technique.
AB  - A colloid titration technique has been used to determine the sulfate and
      carboxylate content of various glycosaminoglycans and has been validated by
      comparing the results with data obtained using well-established techniques. The
      method has been applied to the measurement of the negative charge content of
      cartilage slices at various depths from the articular surface and to the
      determination of sulfate and carboxylate contents in bovine nasal septa.
      Titrations of nasal septa were performed on milled cartilage, on cartilage
      digested with papain and on proteoglycans purified by cesium chloride gradient
      centrifugation of guanidinium chloride extracts. The sulfate content was similar
      for all three preparations (0.5 mu eq per milligram dry cartilage). However, the
      carboxylate content determined on milled cartilage was 40% higher than that
      obtained for cartilage digested with papain or for purified proteoglycans; this
      implies the possible contribution of carboxyl groups from structural
      glycoproteins present in the extracellular matrix. The carboxylate content
      determined on purified proteoglycans was in excellent agreement with values
      calculated from chemical analyses.

PMID- 1443523
TI  - Fluorometric assay of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in
      plasma.
AB  - The first practical fluorometric assay of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH-D3)
      and 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (24,25-(OH)2D3) is described. The method uses a
      highly fluorescent dienophile, 4-[2-(6,7-dimethoxy-4-methyl-3-oxo-3,4
      dihydroquinoxalyl)ethyl]-1, 2,4- triazoline-3,5-dione (DMEQ-TAD), to fluorescence
      label vitamin D. Vitamin D metabolites were roughly purified with a short
      cartridge column followed by HPLC, labeled with DMEQ-TAD, and the product was
      analyzed on HPLC. In the assay of 25-OH-D3 the new fluorometric method was
      compared with the HPLC-uv method and was confirmed to be as accurate and reliable
      (CV, 4-5%) as the HPLC-uv method. Plasma 24,25-(OH)2D3 was accurately assayed by
      the HPLC-FL method, where the standard addition method was successfully used to
      calculate the overall recovery.

PMID- 1443524
TI  - Simultaneous determination of sugar incorporation into glycosphingolipids and
      glycoproteins.
AB  - We assessed inhibitors of glycosylation by simultaneous determination of [14C]Gal
      incorporated into glycosphingolipids and glycoproteins as well as of [3H]Leu
      incorporated into proteins of intact cells. After metabolic labeling in 96-well
      plates in the presence or absence of a test substance, cells were collected on
      glass-fiber filters. The lipid components were extracted from the filter and
      radioactivities of both extract and filter determined. The reliability of the
      procedure was tested with different drugs. Using the glucocerebroside synthetase
      inhibitor 1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP; 5 microM),
      glycolipid biosynthesis was shown to be reduced to 50% in the murine T-cell EL-4
      6.1 line, whereas glycosylation of proteins was not disturbed. With 0.5 microM
      tunicamycin, the glycosylation of proteins was 50% of that in the control. The
      procedure was also able to detect various specific effects: the inhibition of
      protein glycosylation with D-glucosamine and castanospermine, the inhibition of
      glycosphingolipid biosynthesis with L-cycloserine, and a slight enhancement of
      glycosphingolipid biosynthesis with conduritol B epoxide and castanospermine.
      Within a series of N-acyl homologs of PDMP the inhibitory potency increased with
      chain length. In contrast, these homologs were equipotent by enzymatic in vitro
      assays.

PMID- 1443525
TI  - Quantitation of positional isomers of deuterium-labeled glucose by gas
      chromatography/mass spectrometry.
AB  - A method for determining the site and extent of deuterium (D) labeling of glucose
      by GC/MS and mass fragmentography was developed. Under chemical and electron
      impact ionization, ion clusters m/z 328, 242, 217, 212, and 187 of glucose
      aldonitrile pentaacetate and m/z 331 and 169 of pentaacetate derivative were
      produced. From the mass spectra of 13C- and D-labeled reference compounds,
      glucose carbon and hydrogen (C-H) positions included in these fragments were
      deduced to be m/z 328 = C1-C6, 2,3,4,5,6,6-H6; m/z 331 = C1-C6, 1,2,3,4,5,6,6-H7;
      m/z 169 = C1-C6, 1,3,4,5,6,6-H6; m/z 187 = C3-C6, 3,4,5,6,6-H5; m/z 212 = C1-C5,
      2,3,4,5-H4; m/z 217 = C4-C6, 4,5,6,6-H4; and m/z 242 = C1-C4, 2,3,4-H3. After
      correction for isotope discrimination and deuterium-hydrogen exchange, the D
      enrichment of these fragments can be quantitated using selective ion monitoring,
      and the D enrichment of all C-H positions can be obtained by the difference in
      enrichment of the corresponding ion pairs. The validity of this approach was
      tested by examining D enrichment of known mixtures of 1-d1-, 2-d1-, 3-d1-, and
      5,6,6-d3-glucose with unlabeled glucose and D enrichment of perdeuterated glucose
      using these fragments. This method was used to determine deuterium incorporation
      in C1 through C6 of blood glucose in fasted (24 h) rats infused with deuterated
      water. The distribution of deuterium was similar to that found by Postle and
      Bloxham (1980, Biochem. J. 192, 65-73). Approximately one deuterium atom was
      incorporated into C5 and only 75% deuterium atom was incorporated into C2. The
      enrichment of C2 and C6 of glucose relative to that of water indicated that 74 +/
      9% of plasma glucose was newly formed 4 h after the onset of deuterium infusion,
      and gluconeogenesis accounted for about 76 +/- 7% of the glucose 6-phosphate
      flux.

PMID- 1443526
TI  - A specific peroxidase-coupled activity stain for diamine oxidases.
AB  - A specific peroxidase-coupled activity staining method for diamine oxidase (DAO)
      was developed. Diaminobenzidine was found to inhibit DAO and to give rise to
      unspecific staining. Among several other reagents 4-Cl-1-naphthol was found to be
      most suitable. Using specific activity staining DAO could be visualized in
      polyacrylamide gels as a high-molecular-weight complex, which could be
      dissociated by Tween 20 but not by NP-40, Triton X-100, or Chaps.

PMID- 1443527
TI  - Synthesis of [2-3H-ethyl]S-(2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl)-L-cysteine and its use
      in covalent-binding studies.
AB  - Metabolism of S-(2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl)-L-cysteine (CTFC) yields
      chlorofluorothioacetyl fluoride, which reacts with cellular proteins to form
      stable lysine adducts. Little is known about the subcellular localization of
      these protein adducts or about their role in CTFC-induced nephrotoxicity. A
      method for the synthesis of CTFC and other cysteine S-conjugates labeled with 3H
      at the S-alkyl or S-alkenyl position would be useful in studies of S-conjugate
      metabolism and toxicity. Reaction of L-cysteine, chlorotrifluoroethene, 1,8
      diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, and 3H-labeled water followed by repeated
      crystallization yielded radiochemically pure [3H]CTFC (235 mg, 20% yield; sp act
      1.07 x 10(9) Bq/mmol), which was identical to CTFC by TLC, 1H NMR, and 19F NMR.
      3H NMR revealed a doublet of triplets at 6.5 ppm with geminal and vicinal T-F
      couplings of 51.5 and 6.0 Hz, respectively, consistent with the proposed
      structure. When 2H-labeled water was used, [2H]CTFC was formed, and its structure
      was confirmed by 1H and 19F NMR, FAB-MS, and TLC. Analysis of renal and hepatic
      subcellular fractions of rats given 1, 10, or 100 mumol/kg [3H]CTFC showed a dose
      dependent binding of 3H-containing metabolites to liver and kidney proteins.

PMID- 1443528
TI  - An enzyme-reactor for electrochemical monitoring of choline and acetylcholine:
      applications in high-performance liquid chromatography, brain tissue,
      microdialysis and cerebrospinal fluid.
AB  - A sandwich-type enzyme reactor in which the enzymes are physically immobilized in
      a minimal dead space between two cellulose membranes, resulting in improved
      sensitivity, was developed for the electro-chemical detection of choline (Ch) and
      acetylcholine (ACh). The reactor contains the enzymes choline oxidase with or
      without acetylcholine esterase, for the detection of ACh and Ch, respectively.
      For the HPLC analysis of Ch and ACh the detection system was coupled post column.
      Levels of Ch and ACh of rat striatum tissue and human cerebrospinal fluid were
      found to be similar to those determined with published methods. Because of low
      back pressure--a further advantage of the reactor--the detection system could
      also be directly coupled to the outlet of a microdialysis device, allowing the on
      line real-time measurement of extracellular brain Ch. The versatility of the
      enzyme reactor for the monitoring of analytes in HPLC eluates, flow injection
      analysis, with or without prepurification, is emphasized. The usefulness of the
      reactor-detector system in biomedical applications is illustrated by the
      measurement of increases of rat striatal extracellular Ch following cardiac
      arrest.

PMID- 1443529
TI  - A potential pitfall in protein kinase assay: phosphocellulose paper as an
      unreliable adsorbent of produced phosphopeptides.
AB  - The ability of phosphocellulose paper to retain phosphorylated peptides
      containing basic amino acid residues was investigated. Some peptide substrates
      that are commonly used for three different protein kinases were tested. The
      adsorption onto phosphocellulose paper was strongly dependent on the amino acid
      composition of the peptides. None of the phosphopeptides studied was adsorbed
      completely, the amount bound varied from 7 to 93%. Phosphopeptides containing two
      basic amino acids each differed remarkably in the degree of binding to the
      phosphocellulose paper (40% RRASVA, 60% FRRLSI, and 80% HRASV was bound). The
      results presented here indicate that data from phosphorylation experiments
      obtained so far for different peptides using the phosphocellulose paper method
      should be judged with caution.

PMID- 1443530
TI  - Use of bacterial and firefly luciferases as reporter genes in DEAE-dextran
      mediated transfection of mammalian cells.
AB  - The aim of this study was to compare three different luciferase genes by placing
      them in a single reporter vector and expressing them in the same mammalian cell
      type. The luciferase genes investigated were the luc genes from the fireflies
      Photinus pyralis (PP) and Luciola mingrelica (LM) and the lux AB5 gene, a
      translational fusion of the two subunits of the bacterial luciferase from Vibrio
      harveyi (VH). The chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene was also included
      in this study for comparison. The performances of the assay methods of the
      corresponding enzymes were evaluated using reference materials and the results of
      the expressed enzymes following transfection were calculated using calibration
      curves. All of the bioluminescent assays possess high reproducibility both within
      and between the batches (less than 15%). The comparison of the assay methods
      shows that firefly luciferases have the highest detection sensitivity (0.05 and
      0.08 amol for PP and LM, respectively) whereas the VH bacterial luciferase has 5
      amol and CAT 100 amol. On the other hand, the transfection of the various
      plasmids shows that the content of the expressed enzyme within the cells is much
      higher for CAT than for the other luciferase genes. VH luciferase is expressed at
      very low levels in mammalian cells due to the relatively high temperature of
      growing of the mammalian cells that seems to impair the correct folding of the
      active enzyme. PP and LM luciferases are both expressed at picomolar level but
      usually 10 to 70 times less in content with respect to CAT within the transfected
      cells. On the basis of these results the overall improvement in sensitivity
      related to the use of firefly luciferases as reporter genes in mammalian cells is
      about 30 to 50 times with respect to that of CAT.

PMID- 1443531
TI  - Quantification of peptide aldehyde ligands immobilized for the affinity
      chromatography of endopeptidases.
AB  - A method is described for quantification of aldehyde and aldehyde semicarbazone
      groups attached to an insoluble matrix. Semicarbazones are converted to
      aldehydes, and the aldehydes are coupled with 4-phenylazoaniline. The excess
      reagent is washed off, and the remainder then displaced with salicylaldehyde. The
      quantity of the phenylazoaniline/salicylaldehyde adduct is determined
      spectrophotometrically, allowing the calculation of the amount of aldehyde or
      semicarbazone per unit volume of the matrix. Analyses by the new method show that
      four matrices offered commercially for this type of immobilization differ greatly
      in coupling capacity and stability of the conjugate under conditions of affinity
      chromatography.

PMID- 1443532
TI  - Modification of the bicinchoninic acid protein assay to eliminate lipid
      interference in determining lipoprotein protein content.
AB  - The bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay method for the determination of protein has
      been investigated for its utility in measuring the protein content of plasma
      lipoproteins. Although other methods, principally those based on the method of
      Lowry et al. (1951, J. Biol. Chem. 193, 265-275) have been extensively used for
      this purpose, the tolerance of the BCA method to many commonly encountered
      detergents and buffers offers a definite advantage over the Lowry-based methods.
      In this study, lipoprotein protein values obtained by the BCA method were
      compared to a standard modification of the Lowry et al. procedure since this
      assay forms the basis of much of the relevant literature. The standard BCA assay
      was found to overestimate the protein content of very low density lipoprotein by
      approximately 70% and low density lipoprotein by approximately 30%; high density
      lipoprotein values compared favorably. Overestimations by the BCA assay
      paralleled the relative phospholipid content of the lipoprotein fractions. This
      apparent lipid effect was eliminated by the addition of 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate
      to samples prior to the analysis. In the presence of this detergent, BCA assay
      measurements for these three lipoprotein fractions were 97, 90, and 98%,
      respectively, of the reference assay values.

PMID- 1443533
TI  - Ion-spray tandem mass spectrometry in peptide synthesis: structural
      characterization of minor by-products in the synthesis of ACP(65-74).
AB  - Ion-spray triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was used to investigate the
      products from the solid phase synthesis of the decapeptide (H)-Val-Gln-Ala-Ala
      Ile-Asp-Tyr-Ile-Asn-Gly-(OH) [acyl carrier protein(65-74)]. The target sequence
      was assembled in stepwise fashion from the C-terminal using Boc chemistry on a
      Bly-OCH2-Pam-copoly(styrenedivinylbenzene) resin. The product was deprotected and
      cleaved from the resin by treatment with HF/p-cresol for 1 h at 0 degrees C. The
      crude product was analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC and contained a single major
      peptide component, one significant minor (late-eluting) component and several
      trace-level peptide by-products. The components were separated by HPLC and the
      fractions directly analyzed by mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry.
      The major product was confirmed as the desired ACP(65-74). The significant minor
      component was apparently from incomplete deprotection of Asp70, an artifact of
      this particular experiment. The trace by-products were found to arise from
      succinimide formation at Asp70, succinimide formation at Asn73, acylation of the
      Tyr71 side chain phenolic hydroxyl leading to a branched heptadecapeptide, and
      tert-butylation of the decapeptide. The possible origins of these by-products are
      discussed in light of known peptide chemistry. Also notable was the absence, to
      very low detection levels, of by-products frequently reported to occur in peptide
      synthesis, illustrating the high degree of refinement and the accuracy of
      currently used synthetic methods.

PMID- 1443534
TI  - Synthesis and properties of N-bromoacetyl-L-thyroxine.
AB  - A one-step bromoacetylation of L-thyroxine (T4) produces N-bromoacetyl-L
      thyroxine (BrAcT4) in good yield. The reaction product is best purified by high
      speed countercurrent chromatography. While HPLC is satisfactory only for
      purification of microgram and submicrogram quantities, amounts ranging from about
      1 ng to 1 g of BrAcT4 can be processed by high-speed countercurrent
      chromatography (HSCCC), a method which we have previously used for the
      purification of N-bromoacetyl-3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (BrAcT3). Operating
      conditions for the one-step synthesis of BrAcT4 and BrAcT3 differ due to
      differences in solubility and reactivity of the two hormones. BrAcT4 purified by
      HSCCC and shown to be pure by analytical HPLC has been characterized by alpha max
      and epsilon max in the near and far uv in several solvents, mass spectrum, 1H NMR
      spectrum, TLC in three solvent systems, retention time in reverse-phase HPLC
      (C18) in relation to the retention times of two internal standards, 3,3',5
      triiodo-L-thyronine and T4, and melting point. Corresponding data for BrAcT3, not
      previously reported, have also been determined. The described procedure can
      provide not only substantial amounts of highly purified BrAcT4 for competition
      studies, but also 125I-labeled BrAcT4 of high specific activity for affinity
      labeling. Since solutions of BrAcT4 and of BrAcT3 undergo partial decomposition
      on evaporation to dryness, suitable procedures for the preparation of these
      hormones in solid form and for storage in solutions have been devised.

PMID- 1443535
TI  - A flow-cytometric method for the separation and quantitation of normal and
      apoptotic thymocytes.
AB  - Using flow cytometry, we describe a method for separating and quantifying normal
      and apoptotic thymocytes. Apoptosis was induced in isolated thymocytes from
      immature rats by treatment with the glucocorticoid dexamethasone or the antitumor
      agent etoposide. Subsequent incubation with the vital bisbenzimidazole dye
      Hoechst 33342 and the DNA intercalating agent propidium iodide enabled three
      distinct populations of cells to be identified and sorted by flow cytometry. Dead
      cells fluoresced red due to propidium iodide whereas normal and apoptotic cells
      fluoresced blue due to Hoechst 33342. Apoptotic cells were distinguished from
      normal thymocytes both by their higher intensity of blue fluorescence and by
      their smaller size as determined by a reduction in forward light scatter. The
      larger cells, with low blue fluorescence, showed normal thymocyte morphology by
      electron microscopy and the absence of any DNA fragmentation as measured by
      agarose gel electrophoresis. In contrast, the smaller cells showed both the
      morphological characteristics of apoptosis and extensive internucleosomal
      fragmentation of DNA to multiples of approximately 180 bp. Using this method, a
      time-dependent induction of apoptosis by dexamethasone, which was inhibited by
      cycloheximide, actinomycin D, and aurin tricarboxylate, was observed. The method
      should facilitate mechanistic studies on the induction of apoptosis in
      thymocytes.

PMID- 1443536
TI  - Selective enrichment and characterization of high affinity ligands from
      collections of random peptides on filamentous phage.
AB  - Large collections of random peptides can be expressed on the N-terminus of the
      pIII protein of filamentous phage and screened for binding to antibodies and
      other receptors. In our previous work with a monoclonal antibody (3E7) (Cwirla et
      al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87, 6378-6382, 1990), we showed that a high
      proportion of the selected peptides had relatively low affinity (Kd's greater
      than 1 microM). Here we describe conditions for selective enrichment of phage
      expressing high affinity peptides. This is done by allowing the phage to interact
      with a low concentration of 3E7 Fab followed by extensive washing to allow
      dissociation of phage-bearing peptides with low affinity. These affinity
      selection conditions were applied to the pool of phage previously selected using
      a high concentration of IgG. A phage clone with the known high affinity ligand
      YGGFL (Kd 7.1 nM) and several other closely related peptides were isolated. The
      dissociation rate of 125I-3E7 Fab from several phage clones approximated that of
      phage expressing YGGFL. A good correlation was found between the dissociation
      rate of the peptides found on phage and the equilibrium binding constants of
      chemically synthesized peptides. The strategy of using a low concentration of
      receptor and extensive washing to select phage-bearing high affinity peptides,
      combined with assays to determine the specificity and relative affinity of
      peptides on isolated phage clones, should be generally applicable in using the
      peptides-on-phage system for discovery of high affinity receptor ligands.

PMID- 1443537
TI  - Novel synthesis of S-nitrosoglutathione and degradation by human neutrophils.
AB  - S-nitrosoglutathione (SNO-GSH), a stable derivative of nitric oxide, is an
      endothelium-derived relaxation factor, which provokes vasodilation, inhibits
      platelet aggregation, and inhibits neutrophil (PMN) superoxide anion (O2+)
      generation. We have established a novel method for synthesis of S
      nitrosoglutathione using a column containing S-nitrosothiol covalently attached
      to agarose. S-nitrosoglutathione was a product as assessed after separation using
      C-18 reverse-phase HPLC and absorption spectroscopy. We examined the stability of
      SNO-GSH in the presence or absence of PMN. The half-life (mercuric acid
      diazotization) of SNO-GSH in Hepes was greater than 60 min. The addition of
      resting PMN did not affect the T1/2 of SNO-GSH. PMN exposed to N-fMet-Leu-Phe
      (FMLP, 10(-7) M) reduced measurable SNO-GSH (15 microM) at 5 min (48 +/- 5.0%
      control, P less than 0.05). Incubation (5 min, 37 degrees C) of PMN with 10
      microM tenidap (an anti-inflammatory drug which inhibits PMN activation) before
      addition of FMLP blocked the PMN-dependent degradation of SNO-GSH (42 +/- 3 vs 78
      +/- 1.3% control, P = 0.01). We confirmed the recovery of SNO-GSH through
      measurements by bioassay (platelet aggregation) and HPLC analysis. The
      degradation of S-nitrosothiols by activated neutrophils may reverse the
      inhibitory effect of S-nitrosothiols on PMN functions and contribute to tissue
      injury at sites of inflammation.

PMID- 1443538
TI  - Development of an avidin-biotin competitive inhibition assay and validation of
      its use for the quantitation of human intervertebral disc serine proteinase
      inhibitory proteins.
AB  - A simple convenient method has been developed for the quantitation of serine
      proteinase inhibitors (SPIs) in tissue extracts. The method is based on the
      competitive binding to trypsin and chymotrypsin immobilized using glutaraldehyde
      on 96-well microtiter plate wells of native SPIs and a biotinylated secretory
      proteinase inhibitor (SLPI) standard. The bound SLPI standard was visualized
      using an avidin-alkaline phosphatase conjugate and inhibition curves were
      determined using absorbancy measurements at 405 nm. The standard assay had a
      range between 0.02 and 1 microgram SLPI/well and a lower detection limit of 20 ng
      SLPI/well; an improved microassay had a detection limit of 2 ng SLPI/well. Only
      active free inhibitor was detected in the assay since denatured and/or enzyme
      inhibitor complexes did not bind to the plates. A range of SPI species was
      demonstrable in human bronchial mucus and intervertebral disc SPI samples using
      this technique. Quantitation of SPI levels in a number of intervertebral disc
      samples indicated that the SPIs were depleted in degenerate discs compared to
      nondegenerate discs (P less than 0.05, n = 12). Since the immobilized trypsin and
      chymotrypsin microplates used in this assay may be prepared in advance (and are
      stable at 4 degrees C for at least 1 month) the remaining two steps of the assay
      (the inhibition step and visualization) may be completed in 2-3 h; thus the assay
      is simple, convenient, and fast. All reagents (other than the biotinylated SLPI
      standard) are readily available commercially, and in principle the assay could be
      adapted to other systems provided defined biotinylated standards were available.

PMID- 1443539
TI  - High-performance liquid chromatographic assays for free and phosphorylated
      derivatives of the creatine analogues beta-guanidopropionic acid and 1-carboxy
      methyl-2-iminoimidazolidine (cyclocreatine).
AB  - Creatine and phosphocreatine are substrates for creatine kinase which is a key
      enzyme involved in energy transfer within the cell. Analogues of creatine have
      been fed to animals to determine the role this enzyme plays in energy metabolism,
      but progress in interpretation has been hampered by the lack of quantitative
      techniques to determine tissue content of these compounds. We describe the
      separation and quantitation of substituted guanidino compounds and their
      phosphorylated forms by high-performance liquid chromatography. First, a cation
      exchange column is used to assay free creatine and its unphosphorylated
      analogues, and then phosphocreatine and its phosphorylated analogues as well as
      adenylate content (AMP, ADP, ATP) are assayed on an anion-exchange column. These
      methods have proven successful in measuring the chemical contents of these
      compounds in neutralized perchloric acid extracts of mammalian skeletal muscles.
      The sensitivity of this method ranges from 50 to 200 pmol, which is adequate to
      provide information from tissue extracts of 5- to 10-mg samples.

PMID- 1443540
TI  - Sulfated proteoglycans of rabbit aorta: selective extraction and alternative
      method for glycosaminoglycan moiety analysis.
AB  - Three different solutions containing urea, guanidine hydrochloride, or a
      detergent mixture were used to extract proteoglycan molecules (PG) metabolically
      labeled with 35S from normal rabbit aortic tissue. The size distribution of whole
      sulfated PG and the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) compositions in the three extracts
      were compared and found to be characteristically determined by the type of
      solution used for extraction. The spectrum of sulfated PG isolated by each
      solution was maintained at consecutive extractions of the tissue, even if this
      was used after another type of solution. The extracts obtained by using the urea-
      or guanidine-containing solutions contained similar, rather balanced populations
      of large and small PG, while the detergent-containing buffer was found to
      preferentially extract smaller, heparan sulfate-rich aortic PG. The selectivity
      of various extracting solutions could be exploited to obtain preparations
      enriched in certain types of sulfated PG. On the other hand, one could obtain a
      larger variety of 35S-labeled PG from the tissue by consecutively using two
      solutions with different capacities of extraction. The distribution of GAG
      moieties among PG populations, separated by size chromatography, was investigated
      by one of the commonly used methods and by a new method. The standard method is
      based on comparison of the chromatographic profiles of the extract before and
      after enzymatic digestions, requiring several chromatographic runs for a sample.
      In the alternative method proposed, the fractions obtained after a single
      chromatographic separation are adsorbed onto a support membrane. Processing of
      the whole membrane by GAG-specific, enzymatic treatments allows simultaneous
      assessment of GAG types in each fraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443541
TI  - Application of a novel apparatus, the quartz chemical analyzer, to the
      determination of endotoxin in blood.
AB  - A novel apparatus called a quartz chemical analyzer (QCA) has been developed
      using a quartz crystal resonator. This apparatus measures sample viscosity
      changes based on resonant frequency changes of the quartz crystal. The apparatus
      was used to determine bacterial endotoxin concentrations by monitoring the
      gelation reaction of Limulus amebocyte lysate. The QCA determined endotoxin
      concentrations with good accuracy and reproducibility in the range of 0.001-3
      EU/ml for endotoxin standard (JP XII). For endotoxin determination in human whole
      blood and plasma samples, the inhibitory reaction was eliminated by pretreatment
      of a fourfold dilution at 60 degrees C and incubation for 30 min. There are many
      advantages of the QCA method compared with the turbidimetric and chromogenic
      methods. For example, QCA can measure sample viscosity changes with high
      sensitivity and accuracy because QCA detects minor resonant frequency changes and
      the frequency data give a numerical value for easy quantitation. QCA can examine
      turbid samples, and the required quantities of samples and reagents are small,
      since the quartz crystal detects sample viscosity changes directly. The endotoxin
      determination time may be shortened by raising the reaction temperature, and QCA
      can detect other types of coagulation reactions.

PMID- 1443542
TI  - Quantitation of low levels of IgM by electroimmunoassay.

PMID- 1443544
TI  - Custom-made adapters in silicone rubber for low-speed centrifugation.

PMID- 1443543
TI  - A means of distinguishing between specific hybridoma cDNA and cDNA of the myeloma
      cell fusion partner.

PMID- 1443545
TI  - A general method for the detection and quantitation of antigens in solubilized
      cells using radiolabeled Fab fragment.

PMID- 1443546
TI  - Spectroscopic quantitation of organic isothiocyanates by cyclocondensation with
      vicinal dithiols.
AB  - Organic isothiocyanates are widely distributed in plants and are responsible for
      a variety of beneficial and toxic biological effects. No direct and generic
      method for quantitating isothiocyanates has been described. Under mild conditions
      nearly all organic isothiocyanates (R-NCS) react quantitatively with an excess of
      vicinal dithiols to give rise to five-membered cyclic condensation products with
      release of the corresponding free amines (R-NH2). The products of the
      condensation of propyl-NCS with 1,2-ethanedithiol, 2,3-dimercaptopropanol, and
      1,2-benzenedithiol have been isolated and identified as 1,3-dithiolane-2-thione,
      4-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dithiolane-2-thione, and 1,3-benzodithiole-2-thione,
      respectively. Since 1,3-benzodithiole-2-thione (lambda max 365 nm and alpha m
      23,000 M-1 cm-1) can be sensitively measured spectroscopically, the reaction of
      organic isothiocyanates with 1,2-benzenedithiol has been developed for analytical
      purposes. All aliphatic and aromatic isothiocyanates tested (except tert-butyl
      and other tertiary isothiocyanates) reacted quantitatively with an excess of 1,2
      benzenedithiol. Thiocyanates, cyanates, isocyanates, cyanides, or related
      compounds did not interfere with this reaction under assay conditions. The method
      can be used to measure 1 nmol or less of pure isothiocyanates or isothiocyanates
      in crude mixtures. It can also be used to measure isothiocyanates in
      chromatographic fractions obtained from plant extracts and for the assay of the
      rate of cleavage of glucosinolates by myrosinase (thioglucoside glucohydrolase;
      EC 3.2.3.1).

PMID- 1443547
TI  - An electrophoresis-based assay for glycosyltransferase activity.
AB  - Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and capillary zone electrophoresis
      (CZE) were used to measure the activity of glycosyltransferases. Acceptor
      molecules were prepared by reductive amination of the monopotassium 7-amino-1,3
      naphthalenedisulfonic acid (AGA) Schiff base with sugars. The resulting sugar
      conjugates were purified by gradient PAGE and recovered using semidry
      electrotransfer into a positively charged nylon membrane. The beta(1---
      4)galactosyltransferase was shown, by PAGE analysis, to transfer a beta
      galactosyl residue to the AGA conjugate of beta-D-GlcNAc-(1----4)-beta-D-GlcNAc
      (1----4)-D-GlcNAc (compound 4). Similarly, alpha(1----2)fucosyltransferase
      isolated from porcine submaxillary glands was shown to transfer fucose from GDP
      fucose to the AGA conjugate of beta-D-Gal-(1----4)-beta-D-GlcNAc-(1----6)-D-Gal
      (compound 5). This conjugate (compound 5) was also an acceptor for the alpha(1---
      3/4)fucosyltransferase partially purified from human milk. The latter reaction
      was followed by both gradient PAGE and CZE, having sensitivities of 200 pmol and
      80 fmol, respectively.

PMID- 1443548
TI  - High-performance capillary electrophoresis of glycoproteins: the use of modifiers
      of electroosmotic flow for analysis of microheterogeneity.
AB  - High-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) is rapidly gaining acceptance
      as an analytical tool for the study of biological macromolecules. In the present
      study, the utility of HPCE for separation of glycoproteins is highlighted using a
      pure ovalbumin preparation. Ovalbumin, the 43-kDa glycoprotein of avian egg
      white, is known to be heterogeneous in nature with at least nine different
      carbohydrate structures having been identified on the single Asn residue. HPCE
      separation in an 87-cm capillary containing borate buffer and 1 mM putrescine
      resolves five major protein peaks in less than 30 min under nondenaturing
      conditions. This effect appears to be specific to glycoproteins since analysis of
      the nonglycosylated protein carbonic anhydrase under the same conditions showed
      no enhanced separation. The sodium borate buffer is proposed to play a key role
      in the separation by preferentially complexing with the diols of specific
      carbohydrate moieties on ovalbumin. Addition of putrescine enhances resolution by
      slowing bulk flow through the capillary and allowing electrophoretic separation
      of what is deduced to be closely related glycoforms of ovalbumin.
      Dephosphorylation of the ovalbumin with either calf intestinal alkaline
      phosphatase or potato acid phosphatase results in a shift of all peaks to a more
      rapid migration time and is consistent with a loss of negative charge. This
      suggests that all major ovalbumin isoforms are phosphorylated to the same degree
      and that heterology among ovalbumin isoforms resides solely in the carbohydrate
      structure. The enhanced resolution obtained with the employment of longer
      capillaries and modifiers of endo-osmotic flow was not restricted to ovalbumin
      since partial resolution of pepsin isoforms was observed under the same
      conditions.

PMID- 1443549
TI  - Detection of receptor-ligand interactions using surface plasmon resonance: model
      studies employing the HIV-1 gp120/CD4 interaction.
AB  - Surface plasmon resonance (SPR), a label-free, real time optical detection
      principle, has been investigated for its potential to detect and quantitate
      macromolecular ligand-ligate interactions. As model systems, the interactions of
      the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein, gp120, and the monoclonal antibody L-71, with a
      soluble form of the T-cell receptor CD4 (sCD4), were investigated. In an effort
      to demonstrate potential analytical applications of this technology, operational
      characteristics of the SPR instrumentation (BIAcore, Pharmacia) including
      stability of the sensing surface and reproducibility in the measurement of such
      macromolecular interactions were investigated. In addition, the ability to detect
      and quantitate sCD4 directly from unfractionated cell culture supernatants, such
      as Streptomyces lividans, was investigated. The results demonstrate that SPR has
      potential in quantitating macromolecular interactions in both purified and crude
      samples and that the reproducibility in, and sensitivity of, such determinations
      is comparable to other techniques.

PMID- 1443550
TI  - Immobilization chemistries suitable for use in the BIAcore surface plasmon
      resonance detector.
AB  - Surface plasmon resonance detectors, such as the BIAcore instrument produced by
      Pharmacia, show promise for the detection and quantitation of macromolecular
      interactions in a label-free mode. Such detectors rely on the covalent
      immobilization of one of the interacting species onto the sensing surface. To
      date, the only published chemistry for this purpose is reaction of primary amino
      containing ligands with an N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester-activated surface. In
      an effort to increase the versatility of the BIAcore with respect to immobilizing
      ligands, we undertook an investigation of activation chemistries compatible with
      this system. Using readily available reagents, we demonstrated that the
      carboxylated dextran-coated sensing surface could be easily converted to
      functions other than NHS-esters, including amine-activated, hydrazine-activated,
      and sulfhydryl-activated surfaces. In addition, use was made of the
      streptavidin/biotin interaction to probe chemical modifications of the sensing
      surface, by employing specifically modified biotin derivatives.

PMID- 1443551
TI  - High-performance liquid chromatographic separation with electrochemical detection
      of amino acids focusing on neurochemical application.
AB  - Twenty-three amino acids and dipeptides, including compounds of neurochemical
      interest, are measured by high-performance liquid chromatography using
      electrochemical detection after precolumn derivatization with o
      phthalaldehyde/beta-mercaptoethanol. The method uses a multistep polarity
      gradient system and the entire separation is performed in less than 23 min of
      analysis. The minimum detectable quantity was 0.66 pmol injected, corresponding
      to 50 nM concentration in the sample; the response was linear in the tested range
      of 1.33-1333 pmol (0.1-100 microM). Relative standard deviations ranged from 0.75
      to 6.089% for area measurements (mean, 2.33) and from 0.209 to 0.779% for
      retention times (mean, 0.546). Examples of application of the method to analysis
      of biological samples such as rat brain homogenate and human cerebrospinal fluid
      are shown.

PMID- 1443552
TI  - Same-day batch measurement of glycine betaine, carnitine, and other betaines in
      biological material.
AB  - Glycine betaine, carnitine, carnitine esters, butyrobetaine, and proline betaine
      (stachydrine) concentrations in biological materials can be reliably measured in
      100-microliters samples, with a detection limit below 1 mumol/liter. The
      procedure is suitable for batches of more than 30 specimens and it is possible to
      obtain a single result within 2 h. The betaines are extracted into an
      acetonitrile:methanol mixture, dried with anhydrous disodium hydrogen phosphate
      containing argentous oxide. The 4-bromophenacyl ester derivatives are formed
      using 4-bromophenacyl triflate as reagent, in the presence of solid magnesium
      oxide as base. The derivatives are separated by high-performance chromatography
      on a silica column, in a mixed partition and ion-exchange mode.

PMID- 1443553
TI  - Analysis of individual-site binding data.
AB  - Individual-site isotherms add experimental data which may allow for a more
      detailed definition of the parameters in a system with interacting binding sites.
      Individual-site isotherms accomplish the following: (A) In general, they define
      little more than the total or combined isotherm except to reveal the existence of
      different sites. (B) Under the limiting conditions of symmetrical interactions in
      two site systems they define: (1) the ratio of the unperturbed or intrinsic
      binding constants rather than their actual values, (2) the unperturbed shape of
      the total isotherm, that is, the shape of the total isotherm if there were no
      ligand dependent interactions between the sites, and (3) the perturbation of the
      shape of the total isotherm derived from interactions between the sites. (C) They
      do not define the nature of the interactions; that is, they do not resolve the
      free energies of the interactions between the sites. (D) When some assumptions
      about the nature of the interactions are made they may aid in defining some free
      energies of interaction between the sites.

PMID- 1443554
TI  - A method for determination of N-glycosylation sites in glycoproteins by collision
      induced dissociation analysis in fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry:
      identification of the positions of carbohydrate-linked asparagine in recombinant
      alpha-amylase by treatment with peptide-N-glycosidase F in 18O-labeled water.
AB  - Previously, a combined use of fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry and
      peptide N-glycosidase F, an enzyme that cleaves the beta-aspartylglycosylamine
      linkage of Asn-linked carbohydrates, was successfully applied to identification
      of N-glycosylation sites in a glycoprotein with the known or DNA-derived sequence
      (S. A. Carr and G. D. Roberts, 1986, Anal. Biochem. 157, 396-406). Here, we
      extended the method for easier identification of N-glycosylation sites in a
      glycoprotein even with unknown sequence. The glycoprotein is digested with
      peptide-N-glycosidase F in buffer containing 40 at% H2 18O, to yield a
      deglycosylated protein whose carbohydrate-linked Asn residues are converted to
      Asp partly labeled with 18O at their beta-carboxyl group during this digestion.
      The deglycosylated protein is further digested with proteolytic enzymes in an
      appropriate buffer prepared with normal water, and then peptides are separated on
      a reversed-phase column by HPLC. Peptides in which carbohydrate-linked Asn has
      been converted to Asp show a pair of signals ([M + 1]+ and [M + 3]+) in FAB mass
      spectra due to the partial incorporation of 18O into the beta-carboxyl groups of
      Asp residues, while the other peptides show normal isotopic ion distributions.
      Thus, both formally N-glycosylated peptides and, using collision-induced
      dissociation analysis, N-glycosylation sites can be identified. The application
      of the present method to the determination of N-glycosylation sites in a
      recombinant glycoprotein, Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase, is described.

PMID- 1443555
TI  - A mass spectrometric method for measuring glycerol levels and enrichments in
      plasma using 13C and 2H stable isotopic tracers.
AB  - The stable isotope tracer [1,1,2,3,3,-2H5]glycerol has been commonly used as a
      tracer to measure glycerol kinetics and lipolysis in vivo. The method for
      measuring samples using the trimethylsilyl derivative and electron impact gas
      chromatograph-mass spectrometry retains only three of the five deuteriums,
      resulting in the possibility of incorrectly identifying the whole glycerol tracer
      molecule. This reports preparation of glycerol as the heptafluorobutyrl
      derivative and measurement by negative ion chemical ionization gas chromatography
      mass spectrometry to produce a derivative with an intense molecular ion that
      retains all five deuterium labels. Thus the heptafluorobutyrl derivative analyzed
      by negative ion mass spectrometry overcomes the problems associated with
      fragmentation and loss of the isotopic label. Glycerol concentration using a
      labeled internal standard can be determined in plasma with a precision of 3%.
      Nanomole amounts of glycerol can be analyzed for 13C or 2H enrichments with a
      precision of +/- 0.14 mol% excess isotope. This simple, sensitive method for
      measuring glycerol levels and stable isotopic enrichment in plasma uses a simple
      extraction procedure and requires a minimal volume of plasma (less than 300
      microliters).

PMID- 1443556
TI  - Analysis of reactive carbonyls in the expired air of transgenic mice.
AB  - Methods for the determination of trace levels of volatile carbonyl compounds in
      air expired from mice were developed and validated. Tumor bearing transgenic mice
      or nontransgenic control mice were placed into a glass chamber through which air
      was passed continuously at 90 ml/min for 1 h. The effluent gas stream was bubbled
      into an aqueous cysteamine solution or an aqueous methylhydrazine solution.
      Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetone in expired air were derivatized to
      thiazolidine with cysteamine and malonaldehyde was derivatized to 1-methyl-2
      pyrazole with methylhydrazine. The derivatized compounds were analyzed by
      capillary gas chromatography with flame photometric or nitrogen-phosphorous
      specific detection. The lowest level quantitated was 4 micrograms/ml
      thiazolidine, equivalent to 1.35 micrograms/ml formaldehyde. Formaldehyde was
      recovered at a level of 1356 +/- 234 nmol/kg0.75 (mean +/- SD) from mice with
      tumors and 898 +/- 97 nmol/kg0.75 from mice without tumors, suggesting that tumor
      bearing transgenic mice expired significantly more formaldehyde than did tumor
      free controls. Amounts of expired acetaldehyde and acetone were not different
      among mice. Malonaldehyde was not detected in either group of mice.

PMID- 1443557
TI  - Efficient precipitation and accurate quantitation of detergent-solubilized
      membrane proteins.
AB  - The protein assay method of I. Polacheck and E. Cabib (Anal. Biochem. 117, 311
      314, 1981) has been modified to provide a general method for quantitating protein
      samples in the presence of detergents. Dilute detergent-solubilized membrane
      proteins, by using ribonucleic acid as a carrier, have been efficiently
      precipitated here by trichloroacetic acid (TCA) in the presence of sodium dodecyl
      sulfate (SDS). Washing the pellets once with TCA solution has removed most of the
      reagents present in the original sample. The washed sample could then be
      quantitated by the Lowry method (O. J. Lowry, N. J. Rosebrough, A. L. Farr, and
      R. J. Randall, J. Biol. Chem. 193, 265-275, 1951). This procedure could be used
      to assay protein solutions of a concentration as low as 5 micrograms/ml in the
      presence of the following reagents: Triton X-100, Triton X-114, Tween 20, N
      octylglucoside, deoxycholate, cholate, Thesit, octanoyl-N-methylglucamide,
      isotridecylpoly (ethyleneglycoether)n, Nonidet P-40, glucose, methyl-D
      glucopyranoside, methyl-D-mannopyranoside, N-acetyl-glucosamine, Mn2+, Ca2+,
      Mg2+, and many buffer reagents. Proteins solubilized from porcine brain myelin
      sheath and synaptic plasma membranes were quantitated by amino acid analysis and
      by the TCA/SDS precipitation method described here. The resultant protein
      concentrations were almost identical. The results have suggested this TCA/SDS
      precipitation method to be useful for quantitating dilute protein samples
      containing high concentrations of detergents and other reagents commonly employed
      in studying membrane proteins.

PMID- 1443559
TI  - A polymerase chain reaction-based method for isolation of gene-specific sequences
      from the interferon-alpha gene cluster.
AB  - The interferon-alpha gene is a gene family of over 20 distinct genes having 80
      95% homology with one another at a nucleotide level. Because of the high homology
      in the gene cluster, the available interferon-alpha gene probes can hybridize to
      multiple bands of different size on Southern blot analysis of restricted human
      genomic DNA. We used the polymerase chain reaction with the primers synthesized
      from Alu repetitive sequence and the conserved sequences of the interferon-alpha
      gene cluster to generate specific probes for individual interferon-alpha genes.
      The amplification products were subcloned into a plasmid vector and analyzed by
      DNA sequencing and Southern blotting of the restricted human placental DNA. One
      clone, which derived from interferon-alpha 14 gene, produced a single 5.2-kb band
      in Southern blots of the HindIII-restricted human placental DNA. This stands in
      contrast to the 10 bands of different size that were detected with a cDNA for the
      interferon-alpha I' gene. Our results indicate that a polymerase chain reaction
      based method can be used to isolate gene-specific sequences from the interferon
      alpha gene cluster. Since a variety of human cancers has been found to have the
      complete or partial deletion of the interferon-alpha gene cluster, the gene
      specific probe generated by this method may aid in determining the breakpoints in
      the vicinity of the gene cluster.

PMID- 1443558
TI  - Selective 5' modification of T7 RNA polymerase transcripts.
AB  - We have developed two methods for selective 5' modification of RNAs generated by
      enzymatic synthesis using T7 RNA polymerase. The first method involves a two-step
      procedure. Transcription reactions are performed under standard conditions except
      that GTP is replaced by GTP gamma S. Since the polymerase initiates transcription
      with GTP, every transcript contains a 5' gamma-thiophosphate group which is
      modified with the thiol-specific reagent of choice (e.g., iodoacetyl dansyl
      derivative) in the second step. In an alternative method, transcription and
      modification reactions are carried out in a single step, using a mixture of
      dansylated GTP and GTP. Under the appropriate conditions, dansylated GTP
      effectively competes with GTP in the initiation reaction but does not
      substantially inhibit the elongation reaction. Yields of fluorescent 64-mer RNA
      ranging from 30 to 70% of the total transcription product have been obtained
      using these methods in combination with HPLC purification. This approach is
      amenable to large scale synthesis reactions and can be used to produce a wide
      variety of 5'-modified RNAs of virtually any size for structural or functional
      studies.

PMID- 1443560
TI  - A strategy for generating monoclonal antibodies against recombinant baculovirus
      produced proteins: application to the Bcl-2 oncoprotein.
AB  - A strategy is described for production of monoclonal antibodies against
      recombinant proteins that are produced using the baculovirus expression system
      and that requires no prior purification of the protein of interest. Crude lysates
      prepared from cultured Sf9 insect cells infected with recombinant or control
      baculoviruses are absorbed to nitrocellulose filters and used in a dot
      immunobinding assay for screening hybridomas. The monoclonal antibody-producing
      hybridomas are derived by immunization of mice with a synthetic peptide
      corresponding to a hydrophilic region in the recombinant protein of interest. By
      using the baculovirus-produced recombinant protein as the screening antigen and
      by comparing antibody binding to filters containing control Sf9 lysates,
      hybridomas are identified that produce monoclonal antibodies with specific
      reactivity for the recombinant protein of interest and that can then subsequently
      be used to assist in the large-scale purification of the recombinant protein from
      baculovirus-infected cells. We applied this method to recombinant 26-kDa human
      Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2), an integral membrane oncoprotein that
      regulates programmed cell death ("apoptosis") in hematolymphoid cells through
      unknown mechanisms. Two mouse monoclonal antibodies were produced that
      specifically bound the recombinant Bcl-2 baculoprotein in both solution and solid
      phase assays.

PMID- 1443561
TI  - The use of streptavidin-biotinylglycans as a tool for characterization of
      oligosaccharide-binding specificity of lectin.
AB  - A new rapid and sensitive method for characterizing lectin specificity using
      streptavidin-biotinylglycans as a tool is presented. This assay is analogous to
      enzyme immunoassay and takes advantage of the strong, irreversible adsorption of
      streptavidin to the wells of the chambers of titer plates. A series of
      streptavidin-biotinylglycans was first coated on a microtiter plate, and then one
      of six lectins, concanavalin A, wheat germ agglutinin, Phaseolus vulgaris (red
      kidney bean) erythro-agglutinin, Lens culinaris (lentil) agglutinin, Datura
      stramoniun agglutinin, or Sambucus nigra (elderberry bark) agglutinin coupled to
      horseradish peroxidase, was added. After incubation and thorough washing, only
      the lectin bound to a complementary glycan remained and could be detected and
      quantified by the peroxidase reaction. It was established that the lectins
      retained their oligosaccharide-binding specificities after coupling to the
      peroxidase, that the binding was inhibited by addition of the corresponding sugar
      inhibitors, and that the color intensity produced by the enzyme reaction is
      proportional to the amount of lectin-peroxidase bound to biotinylglycan complexed
      with streptavidin immobilized on the plate. As an example, it was found that the
      peroxidase-D. stramoniun agglutinin conjugate strongly bound biotinylglycans,
      GlcNAc3-Man5-R, GalGlcNAc3Man5-R, and GlcNAc3-4Man3-R (R = GlcNAc2-[6
      (biotinamido)hexanoyl]-Asn). As little as 10 pmol/ml of lectin was detected. With
      the growing availability of biotinylglycans, the method should represent a
      reliable and simple procedure for screening lectin-oligosaccharide recognition
      qualitatively and quantitatively.

PMID- 1443562
TI  - Noncolorimetric measurement of cell activity in three-dimensional histoculture
      using the tetrazolium dye 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium
      bromide: the pixel image analysis of formazan crystals.
AB  - We describe a novel system for measuring the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5
      diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction in three-dimensional histoculture
      which is no longer dependent on colorimetric determination of extracted formazan,
      but rather is based on a pixel image analysis of formazan crystals, and which
      allows intratumor heterogeneity to be taken into account. The MTT test is based
      on the enzymatic reduction of the tetrazolium salt 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)
      2,5-dipheniltetrazolium bromide to formazan crystals by living, metabolically
      active cells, but not in dead cells. The reaction was carried out in situ in six
      well plates on gel-supported histocultured human tumors. After a 24-h incubation
      with different drugs the tumors were incubated with a solution of MTT. Frozen
      sections of the tumor pieces were made and the slides were then stained with a
      propidium iodide solution, whose fluorescence is proportional to the number of
      cells present. We demonstrate here that the formazan crystals, formed by MTT
      reduction, reflect polarized light and that this can be quantified by using an
      image analysis system based on bright-pixel quantitation directly on a frozen
      section of the original tissue. Combined with the use of the fluorescent dye
      propidium iodide, also measured by pixel analysis, we can express a ratio between
      the total amount of MTT reduction and the total number of cells present in the
      specimen that expresses the effect of drugs on the histocultured tumors. Since
      histology is well maintained in histoculture it is possible to take into account
      the heterogeneity present in the tumor with regard to drug response.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443563
TI  - An in vivo assay for measuring the recombination potential between DNA sequences
      in mammalian cells.
AB  - Mammalian intermolecular recombination vectors that place the recombination
      junction within the intron of a selectable marker gene are presented. Many of the
      previously reported recombination assays require that recombination occur
      homologously and that they occur within the coding region of the selectable
      marker. This vector system involves the use of a human thymidine kinase (tk)
      minigene and measures the recombination frequency between any chosen DNA
      sequences, in mammalian thymidine kinase negative cells. The tk minigene is
      divided into a 5' vector and a 3' vector. In the 5' vector, the DNA sequence of
      interest is inserted in the proximal portion of tk intron 2. In the 3' vector,
      the DNA sequence of interest is inserted in the intron sequence between the
      proteolipid protein exon 2 and tk exons 3-7. Recombination through the DNA
      sequences of interest, either homologous or illegitimate, will reconstruct a
      functional tk minigene. The recombination junction is spliced out of the
      transcribed mRNA and thymidine kinase positive cells can be selected in
      hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine medium. We have tested these vectors to
      measure the recombination potential of two Alu repetitive sequences (BLUR 8 and
      BLUR 11) against a control DNA sequence. BLUR 8 and BLUR 11 do not seem to
      recombine at a significantly higher frequency over that of the control DNA
      sequence. These recombination vectors display similar sensitivity to previous
      recombination systems, but allow tremendous flexibility in the choice of
      potentially recombinogenic sequences.

PMID- 1443564
TI  - A reverse-phase HPLC assay for measuring the interaction of polyene macrolide
      antifungal agents with sterols.
AB  - A quick and simple affinity chromatography method for gauging the interaction of
      polyene antifungal agents with sterols has been developed. The required affinity
      columns are prepared from a standard C-18 reverse-phase HPLC column by injecting
      a measured quantity of sterol under conditions where it is completely retained.
      After the assay, the sterol is eluted with a less polar solvent and the column
      reused. By comparing the elution volume of a polyene injected onto the sterol
      free column (Ve) with that of the polyene injected onto the sterol-doped column
      (V), an association constant (Ka) for the polyene-sterol complex was determined.
      Association constants of different amphotericin B-sterol and pimaricin-sterol
      complexes were determined and correlated with the polyene's ability to induce
      membrane permeability and its antifungal properties. This procedure provides a
      new tool for screening polyene macrolides for antifungal therapy.

PMID- 1443565
TI  - Quantitative and qualitative analysis of amplified DNA sequences by a competitive
      hybridization assay.
AB  - The presence of allelic sequence variations in DNA fragments can be easily
      detected by measuring the extent of DNA strand exchange between test double
      stranded PCR products (target) and labeled standard double-stranded PCR products
      (probe). Under selected hybridization conditions, sequences identical to the
      probe decreased the formation of double-labeled hybrid, whereas differing
      sequences were not efficient enough to compete with the regeneration of the
      probe. A single base substitution in the target DNA increased the percentage of
      remaining double-labeled probe. A general procedure involving denaturation and
      hybridization in solution under different temperature conditions or using
      different probes enabled sequence identification. The degree of regeneration of
      double-labeled probe was determined using a bioluminescent assay. We evaluated
      the specificity of this method with two probes (108 and 131 bp) and several
      targets with different base substitutions.

PMID- 1443566
TI  - An in vitro method for radiolabeling proteins with 35S.
AB  - The radiolytic decomposition products of [35S]-methionine have been used to
      radiolabel proteins in vitro. The process occurs in a time-, temperature-, and pH
      dependent manner. Maximum labeling of bovine serum albumin occurs after a 24 h
      incubation at 37 degrees C and pH 8.5. Once incorporated, the radiolabel cannot
      be removed by extended incubation at various temperatures, multiple freeze/thaw
      cycles, or boiling, indicating that the 35S moiety is covalently attached to the
      protein. A wide variety of proteins have been radiolabeled. The method is simple
      to perform and yields radiolabeled proteins of high specific activity.

PMID- 1443567
TI  - A method for [3H]mannose labeling of Asn-linked oligosaccharides on recombinant
      glycoproteins synthesized in Xenopus oocytes.
AB  - We have developed an efficient method for labeling the Asn-linked
      oligosaccharides of recombinant glycoproteins synthesized in Xenopus laevis
      oocytes. By coinjecting GDP-[3,4-(3)H]mannose with mRNA for human cathepsin D, it
      was possible to incorporate as much as 1800 cpm per oocyte into each of the two
      Asn-linked oligosaccharides of this glycoprotein. Overall, about 50% of the
      microinjected GDP-[3,4-(3)H]mannose was incorporated into Asn-linked
      oligosaccharides, a 10-fold greater value than that obtained when [2-(3)H]mannose
      was microinjected. Less than 10% of the injected GDP-[3,4-(3)H]mannose was
      metabolized to water or converted to amino acids. This technique should
      facilitate studies of Asn-linked oligosaccharide biosynthesis, processing, and
      structure in recombinant proteins synthesized in Xenopus oocytes.

PMID- 1443568
TI  - Two-dimensional mapping of N-glycosidically linked asialo-oligosaccharides from
      glycoproteins as reductively pyridylaminated derivatives using dual separation
      modes of high-performance capillary electrophoresis.
AB  - N-Glycosidically linked oligosaccharides were released from glycoproteins by
      digestion with trypsin followed by hydrazinolysis and subsequently re-N
      acetylated and reductively pyridylaminated. Derivatives of sialic acid-containing
      oligosaccharides were further desialylated with neuraminidase. The final
      derivatives of asialo-oligosaccharides were analyzed by capillary zone
      electrophoresis in two carriers, an acidic phosphate buffer and an alkaline
      borate buffer. The former carrier allowed direct zone electrophoresis as cationic
      immonium ions, accordingly size-dependent separation, whereas the latter realized
      indirect electrophoresis as anionic borate complexes, i.e., separation based on
      the structural variation in outermost monosaccharide residues. Two-dimensional
      plots of relative mobilities of the derivatives in these dual separation modes to
      reductively pyridylaminated glucose provided a good tool for identification of
      oligosaccharides.

PMID- 1443569
TI  - Electroporation-mediated gene transfer efficiency is reduced by linear plasmid
      carrier DNAs.
AB  - Carrier DNA has generally been found to stimulate DNA-mediated gene transfer of
      Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells by calcium phosphate coprecipitation. In
      studies employing electroporation, however, we observed that linear plasmid DNA
      was inhibitory to the transfection of CHO cells. This unexpected result prompted
      us to explore the effects of various types and forms of plasmid, cosmid, and
      chromosomal DNAs on transfection efficiencies. Both carrier DNA form and type
      were found to influence transfection efficiencies. Circular and linear forms of
      plasmid carrier DNA had opposite effects: circular plasmids increased and linear
      plasmids decreased transfection efficiencies. These effects were independent of
      homology with the selected plasmid and are probably independent of homologous
      recombination mechanisms. Bacterial genomic DNA failed to stimulate transfection,
      while calf thymus and cosmid DNA consisting primarily of human sequences
      stimulated transfection significantly. Our results have importance for plasmid
      based experiments in mammalian cells such as those involving the induction of
      interplasmid homologous recombination.

PMID- 1443570
TI  - Analytical methods for identifying and quantitating deamidated sialic acid (2
      keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galactonononic acid) and alpha 2----8-linked
      poly(oligo)nonulosonate residues in glycoconjugates.
AB  - In 1986 we reported the natural occurrence of deaminated neuraminic acid (2-keto
      3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galactonononic acid, KDN) in fish egg glycoprotein.
      Subsequently, we have shown that many types of sialic acid as well as KDN occur
      in polymeric chains, poly(oligo)-Sia and poly(oligo)KDN in nature. In this study
      we demonstrate that the conventional colorimetric and gas-liquid chromatographic
      methods used in the analysis of sialic acid can be applied to analysis of these
      new nonulosonate and poly(oligo)nonulosonates. We report that the thiobarbituric
      acid reaction can be used to analyze both free and bound KDN, but gives lower
      extinction values when applied to poly(oligo)KDN without prior hydrolysis.
      Further, the published hydrolytic and/or methanolytic procedures are suitable to
      release the terminal sialic acid residues, but are not appropriate for
      quantitative release of the nonulosonic acids from poly(oligo)nonulosonates. A
      new gas-liquid chromatographic procedure for the identification-quantitation of
      nonulosonates in poly(oligo)meric forms is described.

PMID- 1443571
TI  - Determination of lectin characteristics by a novel agglutination technique.
AB  - A technique generally applicable for the determination of lectin characteristics
      is described. A sensitive light transmission/scattering method was adapted for
      the determination of lectin levels and lectin activity. Applying this procedure
      Geodia cydonium lectin-mediated agglutination was studied in an agglutimeter
      device using erythrocytes and even T-lymphocytes. In the Geodia lectin/T
      lymphocyte system chosen, (i) a lectin concentration as low as 0.57 micrograms/ml
      could be measured accurately, (ii) the observed cell agglutination velocity
      constant with a maximal value of 0.75 min-1 was calculated, and (iii) the size of
      the agglutinates at a given lectin concentration and time period was estimated.
      The Geodia lectin activity was determined in parallel also in the erythrocyte
      system. Here, compared to the lectin/T-lymphocyte system the agglutination
      efficiency of the Geodia lectin-mediated agglutination was more than 10-fold
      higher and the lowest detectable lectin concentration was 0.06 micrograms/ml.
      Compared to the hemagglutination assay the lectin/erythrocyte system turns out to
      be more sensitive and to give much more information on agglutination behavior;
      this conclusion is supported by additional data using a second lectin isolated
      from Pellina semitubulosa. The superiority of the agglutination method described
      here over other known methods must be seen in its accuracy; moreover more lectin
      characteristics can be determined.

PMID- 1443572
TI  - An unexpected side reaction in the guaiacol assay for peroxidase.
AB  - In routine guaiacol assays for thyroid peroxidase and lactoperoxidase employing a
      newly purchased bottle of guaiacol from Aldrich Chemical Co., we were surprised
      to find the formation of a blue color instead of the expected amber color
      classically associated with this assay. This was observed also with horseradish,
      myelo-, and cytochrome c peroxidase. The blue color (Amax approximately 650 nm)
      was not formed with guaiacol reagents obtained from two other chemical companies,
      nor was it seen with a bottle of old Aldrich guaiacol that had been in use in the
      laboratory for more than 10 years. In the present investigation we provide
      evidence that formation of the blue color is closely associated with the presence
      of a low concentration of catechol (approximately 0.5 mol%) in the new Aldrich
      guaiacol reagent. Catechol itself, even in much higher concentration, is a very
      weak donor for peroxidase, forming a light pink color. The blue color in Aldrich
      new guaiacol is not formed to the exclusion of 470-nm-absorbing product(s).
      Formation of the latter is, however, inhibited, and use of Aldrich new guaiacol
      for assay leads to low values for peroxidase activity. Other dihydroxyphenols
      (resorcinol and hydroquinone) do not mimic the action of catechol in formation of
      the blue color. Resorcinol is a very potent inhibitor of peroxidation of
      guaiacol. Possible schemes are proposed for formation of the products that may be
      associated with the amber and blue colors.

PMID- 1443573
TI  - Speciation of tissue and cellular iron with on-line detection by inductively
      coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.
AB  - Iron accumulating to excess in tissues of humans and animal models occurs mainly
      as complexes with transferrin, ferritin, other hemoproteins, and insoluble
      hemosiderin particles. To determine the distribution of Fe amongst these
      molecular species, we have used inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry as a
      means of on-line, isotope-specific detection for their liquid chromatographic
      separation. The stable isotope 57Fe is a suitable isotope for monitoring the Fe
      content of each fraction, and its availability at high isotopic enrichment makes
      it an attractive choice for tracer studies when the use of a radioisotope is
      undesirable, e.g., in human subjects. The detection system offers the advantages
      of high sensitivity (detection limits in the parts per billion range), a wide
      dynamic range (linearity of the calibration curve over several orders of
      magnitude), and on-line analysis facilitating real-time evaluation of the
      chromatographic separation, in addition to isotope-specific information. The Fe
      distributions in healthy rat livers, liver and heart tissue from Fe-loaded human
      subjects, and human hepatocyte cultures are reported. The ferritin:hemosiderin
      ratio in these samples is shown to be an indicator of the degree of Fe loading
      and correlates well with that determined by Zeeman-corrected electrothermal
      atomic absorption as an alternative means of detection.

PMID- 1443574
TI  - Spectrophotometric measurement of flavin-containing monooxygenase activity in
      freshly isolated rat hepatocytes and their cultures.
AB  - The determination of the mixed function flavin-containing monooxygenase activity
      in rat liver and in hepatocytes and their cultures by spectrophotometric
      measurement of the oxygenation of methimazole is complicated by an inhibition
      caused by some of the reagents used during this method. Optimal conditions were
      determined for measuring this enzyme activity in microsomal preparations of rat
      liver and its hepatocytes. Optimal flavin-containing monooxygenase activities
      were obtained for measurements performed in a 0.25 M N-[2-hydroxy-1,1
      bis(hydroxymethyl)ethyl]glycine-EDTA buffer at pH 8.7 and at a methimazole
      concentration of 2 mM. Data are also presented which show that no interferences
      caused by either cytochrome P450-dependent enzymes or by the reduction of
      methimazole disulfide by glutathione have to be taken into account when
      determining methimazole oxygenation. Finally, the above assay was also used to
      study flavin-containing monooxygenase activity in primary monolayer cultures of
      hepatocytes for 6 days.

PMID- 1443575
TI  - Mutational analysis by a combined application of the multiple restriction
      fragment-single strand conformation polymorphism and the direct linear
      amplification DNA sequencing protocols.
AB  - We describe here an improved procedure for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based
      single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) for rapid mutational detection. To
      circumvent the restriction of having to analyze relatively short PCR fragments,
      restriction endonucleases were used to cleave a longer PCR product and the
      mixture of fragments was analyzed directly in SSCP gel electrophoresis. This
      multiple restriction fragment (MRF)-SSCP protocol was demonstrated by the
      detection of a 4-bp deletion in codons 41-42 and a point mutation in the IVS-2
      sequence of the human beta-globin gene. The MRF-SSCP or the standard SSCP
      protocol was then combined with the linear amplification DNA sequencing (LADS)
      procedure for direct analysis of the PCR products without further purification
      for an exact characterization of the mutations detected. In the LADS analysis,
      homo- or heterozygosity of a mutation was easily distinguished by the appearance
      of a single- or double-lane band in the sequencing gel. The choice of isotope
      used and different labeling methods were compared and were found, in some cases,
      to produce SSCP patterns of different complexities. The combined MRF-SSCP/LADS
      protocol permits rapid mutational analysis of a large number of clinical samples
      using only very small amounts of materials and can easily be adopted for
      nonisotopic clinical applications.

PMID- 1443576
TI  - Assay for O6-alkylguanine-DNA-alkyltransferase using oligonucleotides containing
      O6-methylguanine in a BamHI recognition site as substrate.
AB  - Double-stranded oligonucleotides, 40 bases in length containing an O6
      methylguanine in a BamHI restriction site, were developed as substrates for the
      determination of human O6-alkylguanine-DNA-alkyltransferase (AGT). The assay
      proved highly sensitive and quantitative. After incubation of the 5'-end-labeled
      oligonucleotides with cell homogenates of peripheral blood lymphocytes, the DNA
      was digested with BamHI. Cleavage with this restriction enzyme did not occur in
      the O6-methylguanine-containing oligonucleotide unless the fragment was repaired.
      The cleaved oligonucleotide was separated from the intact parent oligonucleotide
      by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Calculation of the AGT
      content was achieved by integrating the radioactivity of the peak corresponding
      to the digested fragment, which is equal to the molar amount of repaired
      oligonucleotide and corresponds directly to the molar AGT content in the
      lymphocyte homogenate.

PMID- 1443577
TI  - Pineal and plasma melatonin as determined by high-performance liquid
      chromatography with electrochemical detection.
AB  - A rapid and sensitive method for the routine quantitative determination of
      melatonin in pineal and plasma is described. The assay used reversed-phase high
      performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) separation combined with either
      amperometric (system A) or coulometric (system B) detection. The method gave
      satisfactory reproducibility and accuracy, and detection limits for melatonin
      were as low as 8.5 pg (system A) and 1 pg (system B). This high sensitivity,
      together with the short analysis time (less than 10 min), and the simplicity of
      sample procedure make the present RP-HPLC method suitable for a wide range of
      studies concerning melatonin measurements. Melatonin values obtained in this
      study from both rat pineal and human plasma agree with those reported previously,
      and clearly determined a circadian pattern.

PMID- 1443578
TI  - Detection of Clostridium botulinum toxin A using a fiber optic-based biosensor.
AB  - A rapid, sensitive, analytical method for the detection of Clostridium botulinum
      toxin has been developed. The fiber optic-based biosensor utilizes the evanescent
      wave of a tapered optical fiber for signal discrimination. A 50 mW argon-ion
      laser, which generates laser light at 514 nm, is used in conjunction with an
      optical fiber probe that is tapered at the distal end. Antibodies specific for C.
      botulinum are covalently attached to the surface of the tapered fiber. The
      principle of the system is a sandwich immunoassay using rhodamine-labeled
      polyclonal anti-toxin A immunoglobin G (IgG) antibodies for generation of the
      specific fluorescent signal. Various anti-toxin antibodies were immobilized to
      the fibers. Affinity-purified polyclonal horse anti-toxin A antibodies performed
      better than the IgG fraction from the same horse serum or than the monoclonal
      anti-toxin A antibody BA11-3. Botulinum toxin could be detected within a minute,
      at concentrations as low as 5 ng/ml. The reaction was highly specific and no
      response was observed against tetanus toxin.

PMID- 1443579
TI  - Reversible immobilization of antibodies on magnetic beads.
AB  - A streptavidin-biotin system was utilized to prepare an antibody-polyadenylic
      acid conjugate which was subsequently attached to commercially available magnetic
      beads, Dynabeads oligo(dT)25. Biotinylated polyadenylic acid was combined with
      streptavidin and the resulting polyadenylic acid-streptavidin was conjugated with
      an antibody-biotin derivative. The immobilized antibody-polyadenylic acid
      conjugate was separated from the reaction mixture by hybridization with
      complementary oligonucleotide immobilized on the surface of Dynabeads
      oligo(dT)25. The immobilized antibody-polyadenylic acid can be released from the
      carrier, utilizing low-ionic-strength buffers. The system is intended to be
      utilized in cell sorting, using immobilized antibodies against cell surface
      antigens. Dissociation of antibody-containing conjugate from magnetic beads is
      essential for the isolation of viable cells via positive cell sorting.

PMID- 1443580
TI  - Analysis of the biogenic amines in the central nervous system of the tobacco
      hornworm by high-performance liquid chromatography with 16-sensor electrochemical
      detection.
AB  - A method was developed to analyze biogenic amines in extracts of the central
      nervous system of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta by high-performance liquid
      chromatography with 16-sensor electrochemical detection (n-EC-HPLC). The amines,
      precursors, and metabolites were separated in two dimensions. The first dimension
      involves separation based upon retention time by reversed-phase HPLC, while the
      second dimension involves separation based upon the characteristic oxidation
      potentials achieved by n-EC. Biogenic amine identification was based upon maximum
      oxidation potential and peak height ratios in addition to retention time. The
      improved resolving power of this method allows for a simplified sample
      preparation procedure and simultaneous determination of a wide range of
      compounds, including phenylethylamine, catecholamines, indoleamines, and some of
      their precursors and metabolites.

PMID- 1443581
TI  - Determination of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase activity in human
      erythrocytes: high-performance liquid chromatography-linked method.
AB  - A radiochemical reverse-phase-high-performance liquid chromatography-linked
      method to measure the activity of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (EC
      2.4.2.12) in crude lysates of human red blood cells is described. The apparent Km
      for nicotinamide was in the micromolar range, much lower than that described in
      human erythrocytes in the past. The enzyme activity in crude hemolysates was
      found to be extremely low (21 +/- 3.5 nmol x h-1 x g-1 Hb); nevertheless, the low
      Km for nicotinamide might account for the production of pyridine nucleotides
      reported by us for intact erythrocytes incubated at low, physiological
      concentrations of this substrate.

PMID- 1443582
TI  - Method for estimation of benzo[a]pyrene DNA adducts.
AB  - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g., benzo[a]pyrene (B(a)P) are known
      carcinogens/mutagens. These compounds may be metabolized by the P450 mixed
      function monooxygenase to more nucleophilic compounds which may form adducts to
      the cellular macromolecules, e.g., DNA, RNA, and proteins. We have used
      synchronous fluorescence scanning for the assay of DNA adduct formation. In our
      earlier work with in vitro exposed human lymphocytes we estimated the adduct
      formation (femtomoles B(a)P per microgram DNA) to be higher than that estimated
      by other workers. We suggested that this difference may be related to the DNA
      isolation method used. In order to elucidate these differences we compared DNA
      adduct formation in human lymphocytes where DNA was isolated by the two different
      methods, i.e., using phenol extraction or the Gene Clean method. The data
      demonstrate that the phenol extraction procedure gives a yield of adducts per
      microgram DNA lower than that obtained by the Gene Clean method. The principle of
      the Gene Clean method for DNA isolation is protein denaturation by means of NaI
      followed by catching of DNA by absorption on silica particles. In contrast, the
      phenol extraction method is based upon phenol-mediated denaturation of proteins
      in the cell lysate leaving the hydrophilic nucleotides in the aqueous phase.
      However, during adduct formation more lipophilic adducts derived from DNA may
      redistribute between the aqueous phase and the phenol phase. In support of this
      theory we found higher adduct concentration per microgram DNA by the Gene Clean
      method 40 to 60 times than that found by the phenol method.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443583
TI  - Effect of temperature on the spectral properties of coenzyme F420 and related
      compounds.
AB  - The uv-visible spectra of 7,8-didemethyl-8-hydroxy-5-deazaflavin-5'
      phosphoryllactyl glutamate (coenzyme F420), a naturally occurring 5-deazaflavin
      derivative, in three different buffers changed with a rise in temperature; the
      effect on the extinction coefficient at 420 nm (epsilon 420) was as follows: In
      phosphate-buffered solutions at pH less than 7.5, the epsilon 420 increased (at
      pH 5.0 for a temperature shift from 15 to 60 degrees C, delta epsilon 420 was
      +87%), but between pH 7.5 and 8, epsilon 420 changed very little. At pH greater
      than 8.0 in phosphate- or borate-buffered solutions, epsilon 420 decreased
      slightly. In morpholineethanesulfonic acid (Mes)-buffered F420 solutions at pH 5
      and 5.5, epsilon 420 changed very little, whereas at pH 6-8, the epsilon 420
      decreased. Absorbance of F420 at 401 nm in phosphate buffer at pH 5 to 9 was not
      significantly affected by temperature. Changes in epsilon 420 due to temperature
      change corresponded to changes in the pKa of 8-OH of the deazaflavin molecule;
      studies with adenylated F420 showed that the 8-OH of F420 was responsible for
      these changes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443584
TI  - Interactions in affinity partition studied using fluorescence spectroscopy.
AB  - Fluorescence titration has been used to determine the binding constant and number
      of binding sites for the textile triazine dye Procion Yellow HE-3G to lactate
      dehydrogenase from rabbit muscle (E.C. 1.1.1.27). Triazine dye was either free in
      solution or attached to one of the polymer carriers, polyethylene glycol or
      dextran. Titrations were performed in solutions of buffer, dextran, and
      polyethylene glycol. Aqueous two-phase systems composed of polyethylene glycol
      and dextran were prepared and the binding constant and number of binding sites
      for ligand polyethylene glycol-Procion Yellow to lactate dehydrogenase were
      determined in both upper and lower phases of these systems. Affinity partition of
      lactate dehydrogenase in a PEG-dextran system was also performed using PEG
      Procion Yellow as ligand, and partition coefficients of lactate dehydrogenase
      showed good agreement with theoretical partition coefficients calculated from the
      binding constant and number of binding sites obtained from fluorescence
      titration. The advantage of using fluorescence titration to determine affinity of
      a polymer ligand for a protein is that measurement of binding strength can be
      made in the actual environment encountered by protein-ligand complex during the
      purification process.

PMID- 1443585
TI  - A comparison of substrates for quantifying the signal from a nonradiolabeled DNA
      probe.
AB  - A method for measuring the amount of a nonradiolabeled DNA probe using four
      detection substrates is described. In preliminary experiments, digoxygenin
      labeled DNA was bound to neutral, nylon membranes and detected with anti
      digoxygenin antibodies conjugated to alkaline phosphatase. Four substrates [4
      nitrophenyl phosphate, 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate, AttoPhos, and adamantyl 1,
      2-dioxetane phosphate (AMPPD)] were assessed for use in a quantitative
      hybridization assay. Only AttoPhos and AMPPD were found to have detection limits
      in the low picogram range and to respond linearly to DNA concentrations ranging
      from 0 to 1250 pg. In subsequent experiments, a 200-bp DNA probe cloned from the
      marine bacterium Pseudomonas perfectomarina 23S rRNA gene was hybridized to P.
      perfectomarina genomic DNA and total RNA. The amount of hybridized probe was
      determined using AttoPhos. Finally, a digoxygenin-labeled oligonucleotide was
      probed against genomic DNA. Linearity with respect to DNA concentration was
      observed using both the 200-bp fragment and the oligonucleotide as probes with a
      final target detection limit of 166 fg. This study demonstrates the substrate
      AttoPhos can be used to quantify the amount of nonradiolabeled probe hybridized
      to target with sufficient sensitivity for very dilute samples, such as
      environmental samples.

PMID- 1443586
TI  - Synthesis of N,N-dilactitol ethylenediamine: a versatile spacer for attachment of
      residualizing labels to protein.

PMID- 1443587
TI  - Iron contamination in adenosine triphosphate: a warning.

PMID- 1443588
TI  - Measurement of the activity of individual respiratory chain complexes in isolated
      fibroblast mitochondria.

PMID- 1443589
TI  - Why, when, and how biochemists should use least squares.
AB  - One of the most commonly used methods for the analysis of experimental data in
      the biochemical literature is nonlinear least squares (regression). This group of
      methods are also commonly misused. The purpose of this article is to review the
      assumptions inherent in the use of least-squares techniques and how these
      assumptions govern the ways that least-squares techniques can and should be used.
      Since these assumptions pertain to the nature of the experimental data to be
      analyzed they also dictate many aspects of the data collection protocol. The
      examination of these assumptions includes a discussion of questions like: Why
      would a biochemist want to use nonlinear least-squares techniques? When is it
      appropriate for a biochemist to use nonlinear least-squares techniques? What
      confidence can be assigned to the results of a nonlinear least-squares analysis?

PMID- 1443590
TI  - Semipreparative isolation of individual cyanobacterial heterocyst-type
      glycolipids by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.
AB  - Procedures are described for the quantitative, semi-preparative isolation of
      individual cyanobacterial heterocyst-type glycolipids (HGs) by reverse-phase HPLC
      (RP-HPLC) and the modifications to conventional techniques necessary to prevent
      significant HG losses during sample preparation. Total lipids are obtained from
      cultures of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria by triplicate extraction with 200
      packed-cell volumes of chloroform/methanol (1/1, v/v), filtered, and redissolved
      in chloroform for loading onto a short disposable column of acid-washed silica.
      After removal of neutral lipids, pigments, and the majority of
      monogalactosyldiacylglycerol with chloroform and chloroform/acetone, HGs are
      eluted along with other complex lipids in methanol. The complex lipids are then
      fractionated by TLC and the HGs isolated as two classes of differing mobilities.
      The individual components of each class are then resolved by isocratic elution
      with methanol/water (91/9, v/v) from a C18 RP-HPLC column with refractive index
      detection. Samples of up to approximately 1.0 mg lipid can be completely
      separated and the major components isolated in high purity from a single run.
      Structural studies on the major HG of Nostoc azollae show it to be the
      glycosylated hexacosane-1,3,25-triol found by others in Anabaena cylindrica.

PMID- 1443591
TI  - Separation and purification of dolichol and dolichyl phosphate by anion-exchange
      paper chromatography: application to cultured cells.
AB  - Dolichyl phosphate, dolichol C80-105 (dolichol 17:dihydroheptadecaprenol-dolichol
      21:dihydrohexeicosaprenol), and dolichol C55 (dolichol 11:dihydroundecaprenol)
      were separated by anion-exchange paper chromatography. Squalene, sterols,
      phospholipids, anionic glycolipids, and glycerol did not migrate as dolichyl
      phosphate, dolichol C80-105, and dolichol C55 under our elution conditions.
      However, since the Rf of triglycerides was similar to that of dolichol C80-105,
      saponification, prior to chromatography, removed traces of triglycerides. Silica
      gel thin-layer chromatography (TLC) allowed the separation of dolichol C80-105
      from dolichol C55, whereas dolichyl phosphate was eluted with other lipids.
      Incubation of spontaneously transformed cells derived from rat astrocytes primary
      cultures with [2-14C]acetate, saponification of the extracted lipids, and anion
      exchange paper chromatography revealed the presence of radioactive dolichyl
      phosphate and dolichol C80-105 (15 pmol/mg protein). Extraction of labeled
      dolichyl phosphate followed by acid phosphatase treatment and subsequent analysis
      on TLC confirmed the identity of dolichyl phosphate since all the radioactivity
      was associated with dolichol C55. Treatment of the transformed cells with 30
      microM 7-ketocholesterol or 7 beta-hydroxycholesterol stimulated markedly (two-
      to threefold) the incorporation of [2-14C]-acetate in both dolichol C80-105 and
      dolichyl phosphate. These data demonstrate that anion-exchange paper
      chromatography is technically suitable for the separation and analysis of
      dolichol C55, dolichol C80-105, and dolichyl phosphate in cultured cells
      prelabeled with radioactive precursors.

PMID- 1443592
TI  - A method for specific analysis of free fatty acids in biological samples by
      capillary gas chromatography.
AB  - The present report describes a simple method to selectively extract free fatty
      acids and analyze them by capillary gas-liquid chromatography. The procedure is
      based on the use of fumed silicon dioxide. In the presence of plasma, this
      material induces a rapid rise in the viscosity of the mixture and presents the
      ability to trap large particles such as emulsified lipids and lipoproteins.
      Albumin-bound fatty acids are thus left in the aqueous media. We present
      applications of our procedure for the analysis of free fatty acids in 0.2 ml of
      plasma from rat or human. By comparison with the method utilizing thin-layer
      chromatography for the separation of fatty acids and gas chromatography analysis,
      the present method has been found to be reliable and simple. The recovery of
      linoleic acid was 92.1 +/- 8.2%, a value which is about twice better than that
      obtained with the procedure using thin-layer chromatography. In particular, long
      chain polyunsaturated fatty acids were better preserved. Our procedure does not
      require the use of organic solvents and its simplicity and reproducibility make
      it suitable for routine specific determination of the composition of free fatty
      acids in biological samples.

PMID- 1443593
TI  - A fluorometric assay for cholesterol reductase activity.
AB  - A fluorometric method for the assay of cholesterol reductase activity from pea
      leaves (Pisum sativum) is presented. This method is based on the decrease in
      relative fluorescence occurring as a result of the oxidation of NADH when
      cholesterol is reduced catalytically to coprostanol by cholesterol reductase. The
      reaction mixture consisted of micellar cholesterol, NADH, and cytosol of pea
      leaves in a phosphate buffer. After incubation for 1 h, the reaction mixture were
      diluted with 2-(N-cyclohexylamino)ethanesulfonic acid buffer (50 mM, pH 10.0) to
      an appropriate concentration for NADH quantification. The relative fluorescence
      was measured at an excitation wavelength of 360 nm and at an emission wavelength
      of 460 nm. This fluorometric method is relatively rapid, simple, and inexpensive.
      The results obtained show close correlation (R = 0.997) with those obtained by
      the more time-consuming and expensive radiometric method for assay of cholesterol
      reductase activity. Results suggest that the fluorometric method is useful for
      the accurate determination of cholesterol reductase activity in biological
      specimens.

PMID- 1443594
TI  - Identification of glycerophosphorylcholine in mussel ovarian extracts by two
      dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance.
AB  - The abundance of the "phosphodiester" peak in differentiating or proliferating
      tissues, including reproductive organs and tumors, warrants further
      investigations of its metabolic role(s), which would require a rigorous
      confirmation of its identity. The assignment of this peak to
      glycerophosphorylcholine in 31P NMR spectra of biological samples has been
      largely based on chemical shift, which can result in ambiguities. We employed a
      combination of two-dimensional 31P-1H heteronuclear shift correlation and 1H
      total correlation spectroscopies to trace the spin connectivities of
      glycerophosphorylcholine and thus to identify its structure directly from crude
      ovarian extracts of mussels without ambiguities and the need for extensive
      purification. This approach can be applied generally to the identification of
      molecules containing heteroatoms in crude tissue extracts.

PMID- 1443595
TI  - The quantitative analysis of endogenous folate catabolites in human urine.
AB  - In man folates are catabolized and excreted as inactive cleaved degradation
      products, a mixture of pteridines and p-aminobenzoylglutamate (pABGlu) or its
      acetamido derivative (apABGlu). The daily rate of excretion represents the
      inescapable use of the vitamin in metabolic activity and thus has implications
      for determining the recommended dietary allowance for the vitamin. Furthermore,
      the rate of catabolism has been suggested to rise during pregnancy and in certain
      disease states. A method is described for the quantitative extraction and assay
      of the folate catabolites pABGlu and apABGlu in human urine. Aliquots of 24-h
      urine collections are acidified and applied to columns of Dowex 50W cation
      exchange resin. The catabolites are selectively batch-eluted with increasing
      concentrations of HCl. The fraction containing pABGlu is diazotized and then
      applied to a C18 Sep Pak column for further purification and concentration. The
      fraction containing apABGlu was deacetylated and reapplied to the Dowex column
      and then treated identically to the pABGlu fraction. The methanolic concentrates
      of both extracts were evaporated to dryness and reconstituted with water and
      pABGlu was regenerated by reductive cleavage of the diazotized material with
      Zn/HCl. The extracts of the two catabolites were separated by reverse-phase HPLC
      using a Radial Pak C18 column. Recovery of isolated material was monitored by the
      addition of high specific activity tritiated labels of both compounds added as
      internal standards to all urine aliquots prior to purification and analysis.

PMID- 1443596
TI  - A coupled assay for UDP-GlcNAc:Gal beta 1-3GalNAc-R beta 1,6-N
      acetylglucosaminyltransferase (GlcNAc to GalNAc).
AB  - UDP-GlcNAc:Gal beta 1-3GalNAc-R beta 1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (GlcNAc
      to GalNAc) (i.e., core 2 GlcNAc-T) is a developmentally regulated enzyme of the O
      linked oligosaccharide biosynthesis pathway. We have developed a coupled-enzyme
      assay for core 2 GlcNAc-T that is approximately 100 times more sensitive than the
      standard assay using UDP-[3H]GlcNAc as a sugar donor. Core 2 GlcNAc-T reactions
      were performed using unlabeled UDP-GlcNAc donor and Gal beta 1-3GalNAc alpha
      paranitrophenyl (pNp) as acceptor. The product, Gal beta 1-3(GlcNAc beta 1
      6)GalNAc alpha-pNp was then further reacted with purified bovine beta 1-4Gal-T
      and UDP-[3H]Gal to produce Gal beta 1-3([3H]Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-6) GalNAc
      alpha-pNp, which was separated on an Ultrahydrogel HPLC column. Approximately 10%
      of the available GlcNAc-terminating acceptor was substituted in the Gal-T
      reaction, allowing 1 pmol of product to be readily detected. The increased
      sensitivity of the coupled assay should facilitate studies of core 2 GlcNAc-T
      activity where material is limiting or specific activity is low.

PMID- 1443597
TI  - A nonradioactive biochemical characterization of membrane proteins using enhanced
      chemiluminescence.
AB  - Here we demonstrate a nonradioactive immunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl
      sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) technique which replaces
      the standard practice of isotopic protein labeling by iodination or metabolic
      tagging in the analysis of membrane proteins. The technique has proved extremely
      valuable in the biochemical analysis of small quantities of frozen, pathological
      tissue. Membranes were prepared from Dx3 (a human melanoma cell line), C6 (a rat
      glial cell line), and osteoclastoma (a human giant cell tumor of bone). The
      membranes were labeled with biotin and immunoprecipitated with a variety of
      antibodies to the vitronectin receptor (VNR). The VNR proteins were resolved by
      SDS-PAGE and immunoblotted onto nitrocellulose paper. The biotinylated protein
      was visualized using streptavidin horseradish peroxidase and enhanced
      chemiluminescence (ECL). Film exposures ranged from 15 min to 16 h. Good
      visualization of the VNR, yielding the typical heterodimeric receptor of 90 and
      150 kDa, was given. Signals generated were high and background noise low with a
      30-min film exposure. An overnight exposure increased the detection of weaker
      bands. In conclusion, biotinylation of membrane proteins proved a satisfactory
      label for immunoprecipitation and SDS-PAGE analysis. The ECL development stage
      was extremely flexible with visualization of strong and weak signals. The method
      has several advantages over a conventional radioactive immunoprecipitation in
      that it is relatively inexpensive, simple, quick and nonhazardous.

PMID- 1443598
TI  - Quantitative mapping of the N-linked sialyloligosaccharides of recombinant
      erythropoietin: combination of direct high-performance anion-exchange
      chromatography and 2-aminopyridine derivatization.
AB  - A rapid quantitative analysis of the sialylated N-linked oligosaccharides of
      recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells
      has been developed. The procedure utilizes a glycoamidase (glycopeptidase F) to
      release all of the N-linked oligosaccharides from the native glycoprotein,
      followed by direct chromatographic analysis using high-performance anion-exchange
      chromatography (HPAEC) with pulsed amperometric detection. The eight
      sialyloligosaccharides isolated from HPAEC were characterized by derivatizing
      with 2-aminopyridine followed by two-dimensional HPLC mapping of the
      pyridylaminated asialooligosaccharides (Tomiya et al., 1988, Anal. Biochem. 171,
      73-90). Seven kinds of complex-type asialooligosaccharides were identified
      ranging from a biantennary structure to N-acetyllactosamine-extended
      tetraantennary structure. Approximately 3% of the terminal galactose residues of
      the oligosaccharides released from EPO were not sialylated whereas 97% contained
      an alpha(2-->3)-linked sialic acid. Quantitative oligosaccharide mapping of four
      different lots of EPO from CHO cells was performed to quantify the molar balance
      and distribution of the N-linked oligosaccharides. The sialyloligosaccharides
      were distributed with approximately 5% disialylated (single type), 20%
      trisialylated (six types), and 75% tetrasialylated (four types) oligosaccharides
      with an average molar recovery of 85% starting from 750 pmol of EPO.

PMID- 1443599
TI  - An ultrasensitive human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease radioimmuno rate
      assay with a potential for monitoring blood levels of protease inhibitors in
      acquired immunodeficiency disease syndrome patients.
AB  - The angiotensin I-based peptide Asp-Arg-Val-Tyr-Ile-His-Pro-Phe-His-Leu-Leu-Glu
      Glu-Ser yields angiotensin I (Ang I) and Leu-Glu-Glu-Ser upon hydrolysis by the
      human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease, but not by human renin. N
      terminal sequencing of the reaction products showed that the HIV-1 protease
      cleaved exclusively at the Leu-Leu bond. The rate of Ang I formation can be
      measured by a radioimmunoassay, since the parent peptide has minimal cross
      reactivity in this assay. The rate of enzymatic hydrolysis is maximal at pH 4.5
      5.0 and at an ionic strength of 1 M. At 37 degrees C, 0.1 M Na acetate buffer, pH
      5.0, 1 M NaCl, 10% glycerol, 5% ethylene glycol, 1 mg/ml bovine serum albumin,
      and 3 mM EDTA, the reaction obeys Michaelis-Menten type kinetics with Km = 17.2
      +/- 3.5 microM and kcat = 2.30 +/- 0.33 min-1. The activity assay readily
      quantitates as little as 0.25 nM of HIV-1 protease. The production of Ang I by
      the HIV-1 protease is inhibited in the presence of a HIV-1 protease inhibitor.
      The newly discovered substrate is relatively insensitive to human or monkey
      serum. Therefore, the effect of sera from 20 patients with advanced acquired
      immunodeficiency disease syndrome (AIDS) on Ang I production in the above assay
      system was examined. Results of this study indicate that it may be possible to
      adapt the above Ang I-based system to determine blood levels of HIV-1 protease
      inhibitors in AIDS patients during clinical trials.

PMID- 1443600
TI  - Preparation of DNA topoisomers by RP-18 high-performance liquid chromatography.
AB  - A method for the separation of superhelical DNA on the basis of superhelical
      density by reverse-phase HPLC on RP-18 columns is described. The technique can be
      used to prepare superhelical DNA in milligram amounts and narrow topoisomer
      distributions in 0.1 mg amounts. We show example separations of the plasmids
      pUC18 (2687 bp) and pi AN13 (895 bp). While the best separation for pUC18 yields
      topoisomer distributions of two or three major components, the small plasmid can
      be separated into single topoisomer fractions. The basis of the separation is
      probably an interaction of partially opened bases with the hydrophobic column
      matrix. This hypothesis is supported by the elution behavior of DNA fragments on
      this column: DNA fragments with sticky ends, even at a length of several hundred
      base pairs, elute at much higher methanol concentrations than blunt-ended
      fragments.

PMID- 1443601
TI  - Characterization of yeast cultivations by steric sedimentation field-flow
      fractionation.
AB  - The characterization and quantification of biomass is often time consuming and
      dependent on the cultivation media and gives no detailed information between cell
      size and shape and their productivity. By monitoring the bioprocess with steric
      sedimentation field-flow fractionation (Sd/StFFF) in combination with laser light
      scattering, not only cell growth, but also the variation of cell size and shape
      during the cultivation, can be observed. In this work, the feasibility of
      separating and characterizing cell populations by steric sedimentation field-flow
      fractionation is demonstrated by its application to three different yeast
      cultivation broths. For this purpose samples which were collected at different
      cultivation times were injected into an FFF system. Fractograms were obtained in
      less than 4 min. Due to the relatively high resolution of the method, a cell
      sample could be fractionated in several subpopulations differing in their size as
      well as in their number of buds.

PMID- 1443602
TI  - Quantitative derivatization and high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis
      of cyanobacterial heterocyst-type glycolipids.
AB  - Procedures are described for the rapid and quantitative analysis of
      cyanobacterial heterocyst-type glycolipids (HGs) by normal-phase HPLC of their
      per-O-benzoylated derivatives. Total lipids are obtained from 1 ml of nitrogen
      fixing cyanobacterial culture by triplicate extraction with chloroform/methanol,
      1/1 (v/v), and the HGs are isolated from other complex lipids by preparative
      silica gel TLC. A C18 solid-phase extraction cartridge is used to ensure
      quantitative salt-free recovery of the HGs, and the purified glycolipids are then
      rendered uv-absorbing by a per-O-benzoylation derivatization reaction for which
      optimal conditions have been established. Derivatives are analyzed within 12 min
      on a 3-microns silica HPLC column using a linear gradient of 2-propanol in n
      hexane and uv monitoring at 230 nm. The reaction product was also used to
      determine the relative proportions of the glucosyl and galactosyl epimers of
      individual members of this class of glycolipid.

PMID- 1443603
TI  - High-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence assay of pyruvic acid to
      determine cysteine conjugate beta-lyase activity: application to S-1,2
      dichlorovinyl-L-cysteine and S-2-benzothiazolyl-L-cysteine.
AB  - An HPLC-fluorescence assay has been developed for the determination of the
      activity of rat renal cytosolic cysteine conjugate beta-lyase. The method is
      based on isocratic HPLC separation and fluorescence detection of pyruvic acid,
      derivatized with o-phenylenediamine (OPD), and is shown to be rapid, specific,
      and very sensitive. The assay has been evaluated with two model substrates for
      rat renal cytosolic beta-lyase, notably S-1,2-dichorovinyl-L-cysteine (DCVC) and
      S-2-benzothiazolyl-L-cysteine (BTC). Equimolar formation of pyruvic acid and 2
      mercaptobenzothiazole, a chromophoric thiol, indicated that pyruvic acid
      formation actually reflects the beta-elimination activity of beta-lyase during
      the beta-elimination of BTC. From this it follows that the pyruvic acid assay can
      be applied to the measurement of the beta-elimination activity of this enzyme,
      independent of the presence of chromophoric groups or radiolabels in substrates.
      Due to the large linear range and the very high sensitivity of the present HPLC
      fluorescence assay (detection limit, 7.5 pmol of pyruvic acid), both good and
      poor substrates of beta-lyase can be measured. Enzyme kinetic data are presented
      for the model substrates BTC and DCVC and for four structurally related S-2,2
      difluoroethyl-L-cysteine conjugates.

PMID- 1443604
TI  - Sequencing of peptides and proteins from the carboxy terminus.
AB  - A new chemical method for carboxy-terminal (C-terminal) protein sequencing has
      been developed. This approach has been successfully used to sequence 5 residues
      of standard proteins and 5 to 10 residues of synthetic peptides at low nanomole
      levels. The sequencing procedure consists of converting the C-terminal amino acid
      into a thiohydantoin (TH) derivative, followed by transformation of the TH into a
      good leaving group by alkylation. Next, the alkylated TH is cleaved mildly and
      efficiently with (N = C V S)- anion, which simultaneously forms a TH on the newly
      truncated protein or peptide. Thus, after the initial TH derivatization, there is
      no return to a free carboxyl group at the C-terminus. An additional benefit of
      this method is that the alkylating moiety can be chosen with a variety of
      properties allowing for variation in the detection method. This chemistry has
      been adapted to automated protein sequencers with a cycle time of about 1 h.

PMID- 1443605
TI  - Quantitative determination of hydroxy fatty acids as an indicator of in vivo
      lipid peroxidation: oxidation products of arachidonic and docosapentaenoic acids
      in rat liver after exposure to carbon tetrachloride.
AB  - An improved gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method has been applied to the
      quantitation of both in vitro and in vivo products of lipid peroxidation in rat
      liver stimulated with carbon tetrachloride. The method avoids problems of
      autoxidation of unsaturated fatty acids during sample preparation, and the
      sensitivity permits assays on as little as 1 mg of tissue. This permits small
      samples of tissue to be obtained by biopsy from the same organ, thus making it
      possible to perform in vivo time studies on a single animal. Lipids from whole
      tissue or cell preparations are simultaneously extracted and reduced by catalytic
      hydrogenation and then saponified and derivatized to their pentafluorobenzyl
      esters and trimethylsilyl ethers. Quantitation is accomplished by negative ion
      chemical ionization gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, using either deuterated
      compounds or naturally occurring fatty acid metabolites as internal standards.
      Hydroxy fatty acids which result from reduction of the hydroperoxides of
      arachidonic and docosapentaenoic acids are found to increase within 20 min after
      exposure of liver or hepatocyte suspensions to carbon tetrachloride.

PMID- 1443606
TI  - Immunoaffinity chromatography using electroelution.
AB  - Immunoaffinity chromatography and electroelution of protein from solid-phase
      matrices are two powerful tools often used to purify proteins. In this study, we
      combined these two techniques and found that antigen was effectively recovered
      from immunoaffinity resins by electroelution. Yields ranged from 90.5% to 62.8%,
      with a mean of 74.0 +/- 7.4% (mean +/- standard deviation). A major portion of
      the eluate, 79.4 +/- 13.1%, was concentrated in a volume of 100 microliters and
      94.0 +/- 2.0% was recovered in 200 microliters, even when 1 ml of resin was used.
      Electroelution had no major effect on the electrophoretic mobility of the
      antigen. Two distinct antigens, a relatively hydrophilic 230-kDa protein and a
      hydrophobic 28-kDa protein were successfully electroeluted. In addition two types
      of immunoaffinity resins, monoclonal antibody covalently linked to CNBr-activated
      Sepharose or immobilized protein A, were found to be compatible with this method.

PMID- 1443607
TI  - Affinity electrophoretic detection of primary amino groups in nucleic acids:
      application to modified bases of tRNA and to aminoacylation.
AB  - Thiolation of primary amino groups in tRNA with the heterobifunctional reagent N
      succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate gives rise to species which are
      retarded during electrophoresis in organomercury-containing polyacrylamide gels.
      Since such amino groups occur, as far as is known, only as part of the modified
      bases 3-(3-amino-3-carboxypropyl)uridine and N-2-(5-amino-5
      carboxypentyl)cytidine or as the alpha-amino group of aminoacylated tRNAs, this
      extension of the principle of affinity electrophoresis can be used for the
      detection and analysis of a specific functional group in both single tRNA species
      and in a mixed population. The strength of the interaction may be quantified and
      provides information on the chemical environment/conformation of the derivatized
      bases.

PMID- 1443609
TI  - A novel spectroscopic titration method for determining the dissociation constant
      and stoichiometry of protein-ligand complex.
AB  - We offer a new titration protocol for determining the dissociation constant and
      binding stoichiometry of protein-ligand complex, detectable by spectroscopic
      methods. This approach neither is limited to the range of protein or ligand
      concentrations employed during titration experiment nor relies on precise
      determinations of the titration "endpoint," i.e., the maximal signal changes upon
      saturation of protein by ligand (or vice versa). In this procedure, a fixed
      concentration of protein (or ligand) is titrated by increasing volumes of a stock
      ligand (or protein) solution, and the changes in the spectroscopic signal are
      recorded after each addition of the titrant. The signal for interaction between
      protein and ligand first increases, reaches a maximum value, and then starts
      decreasing due to dilution effect. The volume of the titrant required to achieve
      the maximum signal changes is utilized to calculate the dissociation constant and
      the binding stoichiometry of the protein-ligand complex according to the
      theoretical relationships developed herein. This procedure has been tested for
      the interaction of avidin with a chromophoric biotin analogue, 2-(4'
      hydroxyazobenzene)benzoic acid by following the absorption signal of their
      interaction at 500 nm. The widespread applicability of this procedure to protein
      ligand complexes detected by other spectroscopic techniques and its advantages
      over conventional methods are discussed.

PMID- 1443608
TI  - A quantitative microassay of carbohydrate-mediated cell adhesion to
      glycoconjugates immobilized on polystyrene plates.
AB  - A microadhesion assay that allows the quantitative determination of carbohydrate
      mediated cell adhesion to glycoconjugates immobilized on 96-well polystyrene
      plates has been developed. After dislodging nonadherent cells by centrifugation,
      specifically bound cells are quantified by colorimetric analysis of a blue
      formazan product generated from the dye 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2,5
      diphenyltetrazolium bromide by enzymatic reduction. Carbohydrate specificity of
      the cell adhesion was demonstrated by inhibition analyses and the general
      applicability of the assay was proved with indicator cells of three different
      origins: mouse fibrosarcoma cells, Chang liver cells, and human breast carcinoma
      cells (MDA-MB 231).

PMID- 1443610
TI  - The use of capillary electrophoresis in a micropreparative mode: methods and
      applications.
AB  - The ability to collect sufficient quantities of analytes from capillary
      electrophoresis for subsequent analyses is demonstrated. Fractions collected have
      been analyzed using the following techniques: capillary electrophoresis, mass
      spectrometry, and protein sequencing. Fractions can be collected directly into
      small volumes of buffer or directly onto membrane surfaces. Relevant parameters
      such as capillary diameter, mass loading, and separation parameters are
      addressed.

PMID- 1443611
TI  - A steady-state kinetic method for the verification of the rapid-equilibrium
      assumption in allosteric enzymes.
AB  - A method for testing the validity of the rapid-equilibrium assumption as it might
      apply to allosteric enzymes using exclusively steady-state kinetic data is
      presented. The method is based upon a recognition that the ratio of apparent
      dissociation constants for the allosteric ligand, obtained under conditions of
      limiting and saturating substrate concentration, must yield the thermodynamic
      value for the coupling parameter between the substrate and allosteric ligand even
      in the general steady-state case. If this value is found to be equal to the
      apparent coupling parameter determined from the ratio of limiting values of the
      Michaelis constant for substrate obtained in the absence and saturating presence
      of the allosteric ligand, then the substrate can be correctly viewed as
      effectively achieving a binding equilibrium with the enzyme in the steady-state.
      The utility and limitations of this method are demonstrated by examining the ADP
      activation of beef heart mitochondrial NAD-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase.

PMID- 1443612
TI  - Selection of COS cell mutants defective in the biosynthesis of heparan sulfate
      proteoglycan.
AB  - A simple procedure using human basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) was utilized
      for the selection of COS cell mutants with defects in the biosynthesis or
      expression of heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG). Our approach was based on the
      strong binding affinity exhibited by COS cells to human basic FGF that had been
      adsorbed to plastic dishes. Cell binding to basic FGF could be inhibited by
      heparin and heparan sulfate (HS), but not by chondroitin sulfate, dermatan
      sulfate, keratan sulfate, or hyaluronic acid, suggesting that the cell binding
      involved an interaction between basic FGF and cell surface heparin-like
      molecules. COS cells were treated with ethyl methanesulfonate and four stable
      mutants were subsequently isolated that did not bind strongly to basic FGF
      adsorbed to plastic. These mutants cell lines (CM-2, CM-8, CM-9, and CM-15)
      exhibited significantly reduced 35SO4 incorporation into HS (40-70% depending on
      the cellular pool analyzed). In one of these cell lines, CM-15, the incorporation
      of [6-3H]glucosamine into HS was unaltered, suggesting that the extent of
      oligosaccharide polymerization was equivalent to that observed for the wild-type
      cells. Structural analysis revealed that N-sulfated glucosamine residues were
      present much less frequently in HS derived from these cells as compared with that
      derived from wild-type cells. Furthermore, CM-15 was found to be three-fold
      deficient in HS N-sulfotransferase activity, but contained wild-type levels of HS
      O-sulfotransferase activities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443613
TI  - A method for measuring H2O2 based on the potentiation of peroxidative NADPH
      oxidation by superoxide dismutase and scopoletin.
AB  - NADPH oxidation catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase is considerably increased by
      scopoletin and superoxide dismutase. These effects were used to develop a method
      for measuring H2O2 in a horseradish peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and
      scopoletin system by measuring the NADPH oxidation rate. The optimal
      concentration of each reactant was determined. H2O2 could be detected and
      measured when it was present free in the medium or when it was produced by an
      H2O2-generating system, such as glucose-glucose oxidase or NADPH oxidase from
      thyroid plasma membranes. H2O2 was measured either by taking aliquots of the
      incubation medium or by placing NADPH directly in the medium and following the
      kinetics of NADPH oxidation. This latter approach required smaller amounts of
      biological material. In contrast to other methods, the H2O2 which is measured is
      regenerated. This method is 10 times more sensitive than the standard scopoletin
      method for H2O2 measurement and will detect a H2O2 production rate as low as 0.2
      nmol per hour. The method is particularly suitable for biological systems in
      which small quantities of biological material are available.

PMID- 1443614
TI  - Effect of formaldehyde on the efficiency of hybridization of DNA immobilized on
      nitrocellulose filters.
AB  - We report in this study that under certain conditions formaldehyde interacts with
      DNA and makes it more efficient for hybridization on nitrocellulose filters.
      Hybridization signals of formaldehyde-treated DNA are stronger (up to 10 fold) as
      compared with that of the heat- or alkali-denatured DNA. Various parameters of
      the DNA-formaldehyde reaction are optimized as follows: (a) 6 x SSC, 10%
      formaldehyde, 60 degrees C, 20-30 min, reaction volume 10-200 microliters or (b)
      6 x SSC, 5% formaldehyde, 98 degrees C, 15 min, reaction volume 10-200
      microliters. Treatment of agarose gels after electrophoresis with formaldehyde
      improved both the transfer of DNA and the efficiency of hybridization. The
      following conditions are recommended for gel treatment: denaturation in 0.3 N
      NaOH, 1 M NaCl followed by neutralization with 0.5 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.0,
      containing 10% formaldehyde at 60 degrees C for 20 min.

PMID- 1443615
TI  - The mapping by high-pH anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric
      detection and capillary electrophoresis of the carbohydrate moieties of human
      plasma alpha 1-acid glycoprotein.
AB  - The reducing oligosaccharides released from alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) by
      conventional hydrazinolysis have been analyzed by two different mapping
      techniques, using high-pH anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric
      detection (HPAE-PAD) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) with uv detection at 190
      nm. The CE measurements proved about 4000 times more sensitive than the
      measurements by HPAE-PAD. The N-glycan pool was fractionated by Mono Q anion
      exchange chromatography, and individual fractions so obtained were desialylated
      using Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase. The resulting asialo-N-glycans were further
      analyzed by HPAE-PAD, revealing 2 major, 4 intermediate, and 4 small peaks and at
      least 3 spikes, which counted for at least 13 different asialo-N-glycans. The
      carbohydrate structures were tentatively assigned by comparison of the Mono Q
      separated N-glycans with the known AGP carbohydrate structures and known
      structures contained in a mapping database that allows structural assignment of N
      glycans by mere comparison of retention times. In addition to the hitherto known
      AGP carbohydrate structures, we have tentatively identified a number of sulfated
      N-glycans that are currently being analyzed in more detail. We have also compared
      the glycan pools recovered from AGP using hydrazinolysis and glycopeptidase F
      (PNGase F). Approximately 40 distinct peaks could be detected in the
      hydrazinolysis-derived N-glycan pool by either technique (HPAE-PAD and CE), while
      about 30 distinct peaks were detected in the N-glycan pool derived by PNGase F
      digestion of the tryptic AGP digest of the same batch of AGP. These differences
      were attributed to an increased desialylation (approximately 3 mol%) during
      hydrazinolysis, based on the detection by HPAE-PAD and CE of free sialic acid and
      monosialylated oligosaccharides in the glycan pool derived by conventional
      hydrazinolysis. The integrity of the N-glycans' chitobiose core was examined by
      500-MHz 1H NMR spectoscopy. The hydrazinolysis procedure could be optimized such
      that the hydrazinolysis-derived N-glycan pool was chromatographically essentially
      identical to the PNGase F-derived N-glycan pool. Hydrazinolysis proved best, with
      practically no loss of N-acetlylneuraminic acid and the closest resemblance to
      the PNGase F-derived N-glycan pool, using an automated apparatus. Notably, it was
      recognized that, in our hands, PNGase F digestion in the presence of sodium
      dodecyl sulfate resulted in partial desialylation of the liberated N-glycans.

PMID- 1443616
TI  - Dynamically modified, biospecific optical fiber sensor for riboflavin binding
      protein based on hydrophobically associated 3-octylriboflavin.
AB  - A new approach to the production of optical fiber sensors is described which is
      based on a dynamic modification procedure. In this approach, the optical fiber
      surface is rendered hydrophobic through the covalent attachment of a C18 moiety.
      Specific sensing ligands are then associated with this surface through either
      their inherent or designed hydrophobicity. To investigate the feasibility of the
      approach, an optical fiber sensor has been constructed for riboflavin binding
      protein in which 3-octylriboflavin is associated with the fiber surface.
      Fluorescence quenching occurs upon binding of the protein to the immobilized
      riboflavin derivative. The sensor possesses a minimum measurable quantity of 7.3
      pmol of binding protein in a probe volume which is less than 10 microL. With this
      approach, the sensing surface was repetitively regenerated 15 times over a 1-h
      period with less than a 5% variation in sensor-to-sensor performance. The
      approach is general, and with minor variations it can be used in a variety of
      sensing situations.

PMID- 1443617
TI  - Analysis of free intracellular nucleotides using high-performance capillary
      electrophoresis.
AB  - High-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) with UV absorbance detection
      (254 nm) has been applied for analyzing intracellular free ribonucleotides. The
      nucleotide profiles obtained from peripheral blood lymphocytes differ from those
      obtained from Molt4 human leukemic cells. With a 140 mM borate buffer, pH 9.4, a
      nearly complete profile can be obtained in 25 min. HPCE has comparable resolution
      to that of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) but is faster in terms
      of time per sample run (25 min vs 45 min) and requires much less sample
      (nanoliter range for HPCE vs microliter range for HPLC).

PMID- 1443618
TI  - Automated rate nephelometric determination of apolipoproteins AI and B in human
      serum by consecutive addition of antibodies.
AB  - A precise, rapid, automated, rate nephelometric immunoassay for apolipoprotein AI
      (APA) and apolipoprotein B (APB) is described. Both analytes are determined by a
      "one-pot" procedure which uses consecutive addition of the corresponding
      antibodies. Poly(oxyethylene) type nonionic surfactants are used to selectively
      inhibit the APB reaction after the maximum reaction rate has been reached and to
      enhance the APA immunoreactivity. The assay range for APA is 0.3-3.8 g/L and for
      APB 0.2-3.0 g/L. The new assay was compared to commercial rate nephelometric
      methodology. Both methods were shown to be mutually unbiased for APA and APB
      determinations in human serum.

PMID- 1443619
TI  - Voltammetric measurement of oxygen in single neurons using platinized carbon ring
      electrodes.
AB  - Naflon-coated ultrasmall platinum ring electrodes have been implanted in the
      giant dopamine neuron of the pond snail Planorbis corneus, and the oxygen
      concentration inside these single neurons has been estimated. Experimental data
      suggest that the intracellular oxygen level in the identified dopamine neuron of
      P. corneus is approximately 0.032 mM. The oxygen concentration immediately
      outside the cell (ca. 10 microns away from the cell) is 0.041 mM. Furthermore,
      staircase voltammetry can be used to monitor dynamic changes in oxygen
      concentration inside the cell after bathing with Ringer's solution saturated with
      air/oxygen. Data obtained for intracellular oxygen concentrations suggest that
      intracellular oxygen consumption is increased following potassium chloride
      induced stimulation of these cells.

PMID- 1443620
TI  - Background correction by wavelength modulation for pulsed-laser-excited atomic
      fluorescence spectrometry.
AB  - Instrumentation was constructed to modulate the dye laser wavelength for
      background correction in laser-excited atomic fluorescence spectrometry (LEAFS).
      To achieve wavelength modulation a piezoelectric pusher was used to drive the
      wavelength tuning mirror in a laboratory-constructed grazing incidence dye laser.
      The laser pulses were synchronized with the piezoelectric pusher movement so that
      alternate laser pulses measured the atomic fluorescence signal at the analytical
      atomic spectral line (on-line) and the background signal at a wavelength
      displaced to one side of the atomic line (off-line). The background-corrected
      signal was obtained by subtracting the off-line "background" from the on-line
      "signal plus background". The spectral line width (fwhm) of the dye laser was
      0.003 nm, while the wavelength modulation interval was controllable over the
      range from 0 to 0.2 nm with a spectral resolution limited only by the spectral
      line width of the laser. This type of background correction could, in principle,
      be applied to other types of tunable lasers such as pulsed Ti: sapphire lasers.
      The performance of background correction by wavelength modulation (WM) was
      demonstrated by measurement of sodium resonance fluorescence in an air-acetylene
      flame and by thallium nonresonance fluorescence in a graphite furnace. The
      experimental data indicated that the wavelength modulation corrected, effectively
      and quantitatively, for flame background, blackbody emission from a graphite
      furnace, and scatter of laser radiation off aluminum chloride (1 mg/mL as AI)
      matrix particles in both the furnace and the flame. Analytical results were in
      good agreement with certified values for the determination of sodium in standard
      reference materials by the use of modulated LEAFS.

PMID- 1443621
TI  - Bioanalytical applications of partitioning in aqueous polymer two-phase systems.

PMID- 1443622
TI  - Time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the structural analysis of biological
      molecules.

PMID- 1443623
TI  - Use of capillary zone electrophoresis to evaluate the binding of anionic
      carbohydrates to synthetic peptides derived from human serum amyloid P component.
AB  - Capillary zone electrophoresis was used to study interactions between anionic
      carbohydrates and synthetic peptides derived from the heparin-binding region of
      human serum amyloid P component. The method involves quantitation of unbound
      peptides after a charge-dependent electrophoretic separation of the peptide
      carbohydrate mixture. The concentrations of free peptide were determined by
      extrapolating the obtained peak areas of the peptide in the presence of ligand to
      a standard curve. Dissociation constants in the 10(-5) M range were determined,
      and differences in binding affinity of various peptide modifications were
      illustrated. The assay requires minute amounts of material (sample volume is 7-15
      nL), and as long as the reactants are soluble at the chosen conditions, no
      modifications or special characteristics of the interacting molecules are needed
      for their identification. It should be possible to use electrophoretic separation
      in capillaries to evaluate the binding of peptides to any ligand as long as the
      differences in charge/mass ratio between free and complexed peptide are of a
      sufficient magnitude as in the peptide-heparin binding demonstrated here.

PMID- 1443624
TI  - Detection of antistreptolysin O antibody: application of an initial rate method
      of latex piezoelectric immunoassay.
AB  - Latex plezoelectric immunoassay (LPEIA) is a new latex immunoassay using a
      plezoelectric quartz crystal (Kurosawa et al. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1990, 38, 1117).
      This assay requires no immobilization of antigen or antibody on an electrode
      surface of a plezoelectric crystal, while the immobilization is indispensable for
      ordinary immunoassays using a plezoelectric crystal as a microbalance. The
      present paper improves a previous method (end-point analysis) by introducing the
      initial rate method using a batch cell; reduction of assay volume (1.2 mL) and
      shortening of assay time (2-3 min) were achieved. This assay was applied to the
      detection of antistreptolysin O antibody (ASO) in serum. The frequency change was
      proportional to the ASO concentration up to 1040 IU mL-1, and the method has good
      sensitivity for actual clinical application. The volume of serum required for the
      assay was 0.02 mL. Twenty-four clinical specimens were analyzed with this LPEIA,
      and the values obtained were compared with those obtained with a turbidimetric
      latex agglutination method. The correlation coefficient between these values was
      0.950 (P < 0.01).

PMID- 1443625
TI  - Quantitative determination of glucose in blood plasma and in fruit juices by
      combined WATR-CPMG 1H NMR spectroscopy.
AB  - The quantitative analysis of pure glucose solution < or = 225 mM (< or = 40.8
      mg/mL) in 90/10 H2O/D2O was successfully completed in dilute aqueous solution by
      the WATR-CPMG method whereby the T2 of the water resonance is manipulated by the
      WATR method followed by elimination of the water peak by the CPMG pulse sequence.
      The method was applied to the quantitative analysis of total glucose in blood
      plasma from human subjects undergoing the oral glucose tolerance test in the
      teaching hospital, and the results were compared to those obtained using a
      standard glucose oxidase method in a hospital chemical pathology laboratory. The
      accuracy of the results obtained using the WATR-CPMG method were generally within
      5% of the glucose oxidase method. The coefficient of variation was determined to
      be better than 4% using plasma samples of diabetic subjects. Application to the
      quantitative analysis of orange and guava juice was also successfully
      demonstrated.

PMID- 1443626
TI  - On-line coupling of in vivo microdialysis with tandem mass spectrometry.
AB  - The capability of interfacing in vivo microdialysis with mass spectrometry has
      been demonstrated. The goal of this research was to demonstrate the feasibility
      of real-time analysis in biological systems using microdialysis in combination
      with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Microdialysis sampling was accomplished by
      surgically implanting a small microdialysis probe into a tissue or area of
      interest. Molecules diffuse through the membrane of the microdialysis probe due
      to concentration differences. These molecules are collected in a sample loop and
      analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry. Sequential injections can be made in as
      little as 2 min. This capability is advantageous in the study of molecules with
      very rapid elimination rates. Tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate (TRCP) was used as a
      model compound in the development of this analytical technique. As an example of
      an application of the microdialysis/MS/MS technique, plasma concentration vs time
      curves were obtained and compared with the plasma concentration profiles obtained
      using conventional studies. For the microdialysis/MS/MS studies, the average
      slope from three animals was -0.086 min-1. In comparison, the average slope from
      four animals from the conventional studies was -0.035 min-1.

PMID- 1443627
TI  - Penicillin sensor based on a microarray electrode coated with pH-responsive
      polypyrrole.

PMID- 1443628
TI  - Purification of beta-cyclodextrin.

PMID- 1443629
TI  - The fountain cell: a tool for flow-based spectroscopies.

PMID- 1443630
TI  - Human in vivo percutaneous absorptiometry using the laser-photoacoustic method.

PMID- 1443631
TI  - Spectrophotometric enzyme-amplified immunoassay for thyroid stimulating hormone.
AB  - Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) regulates the function of the thyroid gland.
      Its determination at low concentrations in serum is useful in the diagnosis of
      hyperthyroidism. In this paper, it is detected using a spectrophotometric enzyme
      amplified immunoassay. The reporter enzyme is alkaline phosphatase and its
      substrate is flavin adenine dinucleotide phosphate (FADP). Reaction with alkaline
      phosphatase converts FADP into flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), which, unlike
      FADP, re-activates apo-D-amino acid oxidase (apo-AOD). Re-activation of apo-AOD
      allows the product of the reporter enzyme to be amplified. The lower limit of
      detection for TSH by this method is 0.06 microU cm-3. This compares with 0.54
      microU cm-3 for an identical assay in which p-nitrophenyl phosphate was the
      substrate for alkaline phosphatase. Contaminating alkaline phosphatase was
      removed from the reagents by affinity chromatography.

PMID- 1443632
TI  - Determination of ultrafiltrable zinc in human milk by electrothermal atomic
      absorption spectrometry.
AB  - Percentages of non-protein-bound zinc in human milk have been reported by
      different workers, but ultrafiltration and zinc determination in human milk have
      not been comprehensively examined. However, zinc contamination and zinc membrane
      binding have been described for the determination of non-protein-bound zinc in
      serum. In this work, ultrafiltration was studied in terms of zinc contamination
      and zinc membrane binding. An MPS-1 micropartition system fitted with a YMT
      membrane was used. Zinc contamination was found to be less than 276 nmol dm-3 and
      the zinc recovery was 85 +/- 4%. The conditions for electrothermal atomic
      absorption spectrometry were also studied. The detection limit was found to be
      26.4 nmol dm-3 and the upper linear range was 4 mumol dm-3. The precision varied
      from 3% (within-run) to 17% (between-run). The recovery of standard additions was
      95 +/- 7% (n = 30, different human milk ultrafiltrate samples). Physiological
      values varied from 0.46 to 84 mumol dm-3 (4-56% of zinc in whole human milk).
      Expressed in mumol dm-3, zinc in human milk ultrafiltrate decreased slightly
      through the lactation period, whereas expressed as a percentage of the total zinc
      in milk, zinc in human milk ultrafiltrate remained constant from day 2 to day 69
      post partum.

PMID- 1443633
TI  - Determination of ascorbic acid in pharmaceuticals and urine by reverse flow
      injection.
AB  - Two reverse flow injection (FI) methods, using spectrophotometric detection, are
      proposed for the determination of ascorbic acid. Both methods are based on its
      reaction with the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-CoIII complex in a medium of 5%
      diethylamine. In the first method, using the peak-height FI technique, ascorbic
      acid is determined over the range from 2 x 10(-4) to 5 x 10(-3) mol dm-3 and in
      the second, using the peak-width FI method, the working range is extended (2 x
      10(-3)-5 x 10(-2) mol dm-3). Both FI methods were applied to the determination of
      ascorbic acid in pharmaceuticals while the peak-height FI technique was also used
      to determine ascorbic acid in urine.

PMID- 1443634
TI  - Scanning probe microscopies for high-resolution characterization of
      electrochemical sensors. Plenary lecture.
AB  - A better understanding of tailored electrodes and electrochemical sensors
      requires a more detailed picture of their surfaces. New scanning probe
      techniques, such as scanning tunnelling or scanning bioelectrochemical
      microscopies, offer unique opportunities for high-resolution in situ
      characterization of tailored electrodebased sensors. Scanning tunnelling
      microscopy provides valuable information on the topography of pre-treated
      surfaces, the heterogeneity of composite electrodes, the morphology of
      electropolymerized films, the packing arrangement of adsorbed monolayers and the
      microdistribution of immobilized biological components. Scanning
      bioelectrochemical microscopy is shown to be extremely useful for the mapping of
      localized biological activity and the monitoring of dynamic biological events.
      Valuable insights are achieved by correlating the structural features with the
      preparation/modification conditions and the subsequent sensing performance. Such
      correlations can facilitate the predictive design of increasingly better sensors.

PMID- 1443636
TI  - Spectrofluorimetric determination of tetracycline and anhydrotetracycline in
      serum and urine.
AB  - A spectrofluorimetric method, involving alkaline degradation and formation of a
      magnesium complex, is described for the determination of tetracycline (TC) and
      anhydrotetracycline (ATC) in their mixed solution. Tetracycline is degraded and
      determined in alkaline solution. This treatment of ATC produces almost no
      fluorescence, but a fluorescent magnesium complex forms at pH 7.5. Several
      synthetic samples of TC and ATC, with TC:ATC ratios ranging from 50:1 to 1:50,
      were analysed. The recoveries of TC and ATC are about 71-76 and 61-63% in serum,
      respectively, and are all about 100% in urine.

PMID- 1443635
TI  - Determination of lithium at ultratrace levels in biological fluids by flame
      atomic emission spectrometry. Use of first-derivative spectrometry.
AB  - The use of zero-order and first-derivative flame emission spectrometry has been
      investigated for the determination of basal concentrations of lithium in serum
      and urine at the microgram dm-3 level. No significant matrix effect was observed;
      however, it was necessary to make use of background correction techniques. Two or
      three wavelength measurements and first-derivative spectrometry were used for
      this purpose; both methods gave similar results. Detection limits for serum of
      approximately 0.09 micrograms dm-3 were found by both zero-order and first
      derivative emission measurements, while normal lithium levels were found to be
      29.3 and 1.17 micrograms dm-3 for urine and serum, respectively.

PMID- 1443638
TI  - Pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of a series of bile acid
      sequestrants.
AB  - Pyrolysis of a series of polymers based on polystyrene and used as bile acid
      sequestrants produced characteristic mixtures of compounds which were analysed by
      gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The nature of the substituent groups was
      clearly apparent while the polymer backbone gave rise to representative styrenes.
      The reproducibility of the results was examined by experimenting with the
      temperature of pyrolysis. It was found that at low temperatures very little
      fragmentation of the polystyrene backbone occurred but the substituents were
      still released in high yield. The orientation of the various substituted styrenes
      generated by pyrolysis was confirmed by the use of gas chromatography with
      infrared and mass spectrometric detection.

PMID- 1443637
TI  - Microbiological assay of avoparcin in animal feeds and pre-mixes--co-operative
      study.
AB  - A microbiological method for the determination of the antibiotic growth promoter
      avoparcin in animal feeds and pre-mixes was first published in 1979. The existing
      method has been applied to new matrices as commercial use of avoparcin has
      spread. Problems with the existing analytical procedure have been reported,
      particularly in Germany. This paper identifies the causes of the problems and
      includes revisions to the existing analytical procedure. The testing of these
      revisions in co-operative studies with up to five German official laboratories is
      also reported.

PMID- 1443639
TI  - Determination of 4,4'-methylenebis(2-chloroaniline) in urine using capillary gas
      chromatography and negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry.
AB  - A highly sensitive and specific gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS)
      assay for the determination of 4,4'-methylenebis(2-chloroaniline) (MBOCA) in
      urine is reported. It is based on the solvent extraction of the hydrolysed MBOCA
      conjugates, together with deuterium-labelled benzidine-d8 added as an internal
      standard, and a two-phase derivatization procedure involving use of
      pentafluoropropionic anhydride in the presence of ammonia as the phase-transfer
      catalyst. The reaction is complete within 2 min at room temperature. The
      pentafluoropropyl derivatives are determined by use of capillary column GC-MS
      with selected-ion monitoring in the negative ion chemical ionization mode. The
      lower limit of detection for MBOCA was 1 microgram dm-3 and the calibration graph
      showed linearity between 10 and 250 micrograms dm-3. The recovery of the analyte
      added to pooled urine was above 86%. Thirty urine specimens from workers employed
      in a polyurethane-producing plant were analysed for MBOCA by this method.

PMID- 1443640
TI  - Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography of amoxycillin and related
      molecules.
AB  - A micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatographic method has been developed for
      the qualitative assay of amoxycillin and its degradation products and clavulanic
      acid. Together with amoxycillin the latter acid is an important constituent in
      the antibiotic Augmentin. The analytical procedure is fast and analytes can be
      identified both from their migration times and from changes in migration time
      observed either at different pH values or in electropherograms run in H2O and D2O
      based buffers of the same acidity.

PMID- 1443641
TI  - Simultaneous determination of some antibacterial drugs in isosensitest broth
      using high-performance liquid chromatography with solid-phase extraction.
AB  - A method is described for the simultaneous determination of combinations of some
      antibacterial drugs in a matrix of isosensitest broth. A double solid-phase
      extraction procedure is described in which trimethoprim and dibromopropamidine
      isethionate together with 4-chlorophenylbiguanide as internal standard are freed
      from endogenous components by a cation-exchange extraction cartridge and
      subsequently removed and individually separated by reversed-phase ion-pair
      chromatography. Sulfadiazine, sulfamerazine and p-aminobenzoic acid, unretained
      by ion exchange, are similarly isolated for chromatography by adsorption on a CH
      bonded phase cartridge and individually assayed using the same chromatographic
      system. The rationale of the pre-treatment and chromatography is described and
      the quantitative aspects of the analyses of selected combinations of these drugs
      are reported.

PMID- 1443642
TI  - Report of two co-operative trials of a gel permeation chromatographic method for
      the isolation of pesticide residues from oils and fats. Committee for Analytical
      Methods for Residues of Pesticides in Foodstuffs of the Ministry of Agriculture,
      Fisheries and Food.
AB  - A gel permeation chromatographic (GPC) method for the determination of pesticide
      residues in fats and oils was subjected to two co-operative trials. Results for
      organochlorine pesticides (beta-HCH, gamma-HCH, dieldrin, p,p'-DDE and
      heptachlor) were compared with those obtained using an alumina column clean-up
      method. No significant differences in the mean values were found between the two
      techniques using the t-test (5% significance level). Horrat values demonstrated
      acceptable inter- and intralaboratory precisions for both clean-up techniques.
      Two organophosphorus pesticides (diazinon and propetamphos) and the synthetic
      pyrethroid deltamethrin were also determined using the GPC method. However, these
      compounds were not recoverable using the alumina column method, so no comparisons
      between the two methods were possible.

PMID- 1443643
TI  - Flow injection spectrophotometric determination of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin
      in drug formulations.
AB  - A flow injection spectrophotometric method for the assay of ciprofloxacin was
      developed. The method was based on the chelation of iron(III) with the drug in
      0.023 mol dm-3 sulfuric acid solution in a 72 cm long coil and the brown-red
      complex produced was monitored at 447 nm. The super modified simplex computer
      program was employed for the optimization of the system and chemical parameters
      with respect to throughput and sensitivity as a measure of system performance. A
      working range for ciprofloxacin determination of 50-500 ppm for a 110 mm3 sample
      size with an optimum of 250 samples per hour was achieved with a relative
      standard deviation of less than 0.92%. The method was successfully applied to the
      determination of ciprofloxacin in drug formulations.

PMID- 1443644
TI  - [Bernd Vollmerhaus on his 65th birthday].

PMID- 1443645
TI  - [The estimation of the age of the female ibex (Capra ibex ibex L.) by skeletal
      development].
AB  - In female ibex up to an age of six years, a sufficiently accurate age
      determination can be made based on the degree of skeletal ossification and length
      of the bones (s. Table 2). Definitive ossification of the epiphyseal discs with
      the body of the vertebrae in the female ibex is not complete at end of the growth
      period. Observations with regard to sex-related dimorphism of the skeleton will
      not be possible until corresponding investigations have been carried out on the
      buck.

PMID- 1443646
TI  - [The biological valence of the motion in the radioulnar joints of the cat and
      dog].
AB  - Whereas Kolwe described and measured pronation and supination in the cat as early
      as 1920, the present study deals with rotation of the lower limb of the cat and
      dog from both comparative and functional aspects. Active supination predominates
      in cats during climbing and the capture of prey; in the canine passive supination
      and rotation of the lower limb are used in conjunction with directional changes
      involved in the chase. The difference in the extent of inward rotation between
      long- and short-legged breeds of dogs underscores this hypothesis.

PMID- 1443647
TI  - [Differentiation of the ruminal epithelium of cattle during intrauterine
      development].
AB  - The prenatal development of the bovine ruminal epithelium was studied with light-
      and electronmicroscopical techniques. During the period of the nonstratified
      epithelium a pseudostratified epithelium is found in the dorso-cranial part,
      whereas the other areas possess a one-layered epithelium, which is, like the
      pseudostratified epithelium, transformed to a multilayered epithelium from the
      7th week onwards. From the 9th week the period of the stratified epithelium
      starts with the formation of the stratum profundum and stratum superficiale.
      First signs of keratinization are seen in the superficial cells from 2.3 months
      onwards. With 4 months fetal cornified cells can be identified, with 5.5 months a
      single-layered stratum basale is seen on the differentiating papillar connective
      tissue, and the superficial cells are transformed to balloon-cells. In
      suprapapillar areas, a stratum spinosum is formed at the prenatal age of 7.5
      months. During epitheliogenesis a horizontal and vertical differentiation of the
      cells can be observed. The first one includes the differentiation of
      undifferentiated, embryonal cells to the basal cells of the stratum profundum,
      the latter the development of the basal cells to spinous cells and then to fetal
      cornified and balloon-cells. The ultrastructural changes during the process of
      keratinization were especially considered.

PMID- 1443648
TI  - [Development and cell differentiation of the motor nucleus of the facial nerve of
      cattle].
AB  - The early development, cell-migration and cell-differentiation of the nucleus
      motorius nervi facialis were studied in 32 bovine embryos with a CRL of 1 to 53
      cm by light microscopical techniques. The ventro-medial cell column, a transitory
      embryonic formation, can be regarded as the origin of the nucleus. From there
      migrating cells can be demonstrated up to a CRL of 2.7 cm. With 3.8 cm CRL the
      cells are confined to their definitive location. From 5 cm CRL onwards a
      subdivision into 4 subnuclei can be seen. By succeeding maturation processes the
      nucleus of fetuses with 53 CRL acquires the topographical and cellular appearance
      of mature animals. With the electron microscope the cell-differentiation of the
      early stages (2.5 and 3.6 cm CRL) was demonstrated. Additionally the ventro
      medial cell column was studied. The vertical columnar organisation of the neurons
      of the nucleus facialis shows besides longitudinal orientated guiding structures
      the migration process which is taken place at a CRL of 2.5 cm. Synaptogenic cell
      contact are seen from 3.6 cm SSL. At this stage the migration of cells has come
      to an end.

PMID- 1443649
TI  - [Typical presentation of the common tendon sheath of the M. flexor hallucis
      longus and the M. tibialis caudalis in the horse].
AB  - The possibilities for imaging soft tissue structures, especially fluid-filled
      cavities such as articulations, bursae or tendon sheaths, have been improved
      markedly by sonography in recent years. Ultrasonic examinations were performed on
      the common tendon sheath of the musculus flexor hallucis longus and the musculus
      tibialis caudalis, from the medioplantar aspect of the tarsus, in 12 sound adult
      draft- and warm blood horses, and in 5 animals with a distended common sheath.
      The diagnostic precision of the sonographic examination of the tendon sheath is
      excellent and is superior to conventional radiography. A nuclear magnetic
      resonance tomogram of an isolated equine tarsus is presented for comparison
      method.

PMID- 1443650
TI  - [The heterogenicity of the vascular endothelium].
AB  - The vascular endothelium has long been considered to be a homogeneous cell type.
      It is only recently that its remarkable heterogeneity has been shown. The
      selective and organ-specific adhesion of cells of the immune system, of
      metastasizing tumor cells and of microorganisms underscores the central position
      of the endothelium between the circulation and each organ. The use of antibodies
      and lectins led to the recognition of species-, organ-, and age-specific
      endothelial cell surface receptors. Identification of the endothelial adhesion
      molecules and -mechanisms, which are part of the "endothelial organ- and tissue
      address" would lead to the possibility of blocking the adhesion of cells, such as
      e.g. tumor cells.

PMID- 1443651
TI  - [Detection of lectin binding sites in the trophoblast of cattle during early
      pregnancy].
AB  - In the present study we report on the histotopographical distribution of lectin
      binding sites in the trophoblasts of day 18 to day 40 bovine embryos, using the
      FITC-labeled lectins BPA, Con A, DBA, GS I, GS II, MPA, PNA, SBA, UEA I and WGA.
      Lectin binding sites localized in giant binucleate cells differ from those
      localized in uninucleate cells, indicating changes in the biochemical structure
      of cell surfaces taking place during differentiation. In the trophoblast of the
      day 40 embryo, a distinct staining of uninucleate cells was seen after incubation
      with GS I, Con A and MPA, demonstrating N-acetylgalactosamine (GS I), Mannose
      (Con A) and Galactose (MPA) moieties, whereas giant binucleate cells showed
      intense reactions after incubation with DBA and WGA, indicating presence of N
      acetylgalactosamine (DBA) and N-acetylglucosamine (WGA). GS II (specific for N
      acetylglucosamine), SBA (specific for N-acetylgalactosamine) and UEA I (specific
      for L-Fucose) showed no affinity toward any of the examined tissues. We assume,
      that carbohydrate moieties in trophoblast cells play an important role in
      fetomaternal cell-cell adhesion and cell migration during implantation and
      placentation period.

PMID- 1443652
TI  - [Lysosomal structures in the intestinal epithelium of mammals during their pre-
      and postnatal development. A micromorphometric-functional synopsis].
AB  - The first lysosomes appear in the stratified embryonic intestinal epithelium
      during its transition into the simple columnar form. This occurs concurrently
      with the initial villogenesis. Lysosomes situated basally in the epithelium are
      presumably the precursor of the first giant lysosomes in the lower small
      intestine of rodents. Immediately after establishment of the simple configuration
      a special form of secondary lysosomes can be observed, i.e. glycogenosomes, in
      the ephemerally existing huge glycogen containing areas. During subsequent fetal
      intestinal development one observes two events in the epithelial cells, which are
      the same in principle but differ in one essential point, while they exhibit
      partially impressive structures. On the one hand there are autophagic
      degenerative lysosomal processes in the villous epithelium until birth, that lead
      to a surface without villi in the large intestine, where they occur particularly
      frequently. On the other hand giant lysosomes originate perinatally in the lower
      small intestine as well as in the caecum and colon ascendens, in which protein
      molecules, which were transported by a system of inframicrovillar membranes, are
      lysosomally degraded, which can be defined as a heterophagic event.

PMID- 1443655
TI  - Structural relationships between the endothelial actin system and the underlying
      elastic layer in the distal interlobular artery of the rat kidney.
AB  - The structure of the intracellular actin filaments and the extracellular matrices
      was studied in the distal interlobular arteries in the rat kidney, employing
      three different morphological techniques, including rhodamine-phalloidin staining
      of cryosections, resorcin-fuchsin staining of paraffin sections, and a cold
      dehydration procedure for electron microscopy. The endothelial cells possess
      longitudinally running stress fibers. The inner elastic layer is composed of
      meshworks of elastic fibers encompassing numerous pores. The smooth muscle cells
      containing abundant actin filaments are arranged circumferentially around the
      vascular axis. The endothelial stress fibers are found mainly in the basal half
      of the endothelial cells, and anchor onto the basal cell membranes. The elastic
      meshworks send off longitudinal branch fibers to contact the endothelial cell
      membranes at the anchoring sites of stress fibers. In addition circumferential
      branches run toward the smooth muscle cells. The functional significance of the
      intracellular contractile apparatus and the extracellular tensile component in
      small arteries was discussed.

PMID- 1443653
TI  - Immunohistochemistry of cholinergic receptors.
AB  - Acetylcholine and its receptors are involved in a variety of important signal
      transduction processes. As shown here paradigmatically for the human
      neuromuscular junction and the cerebral cortex, acetylcholine receptors can be
      visualized immunohistochemically at the cellular and subcellular level under
      physiological and pathological conditions. At normal motor endplates nicotinic
      cholinoceptors are localized at the surface of the postsynaptic junctional folds.
      In myasthenic syndromes investigation of muscle biopsies enables the diagnosis of
      receptor deficiencies at the ultrastructural level. In normal cerebral cortex
      pyramidal neurons are equipped with both nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine
      receptors localized to postsynaptic densities. In neuropsychiatric diseases
      cholinoceptor expression can be monitored at the cellular level by quantitative
      assessment of immunolabeled cortical neurons.

PMID- 1443654
TI  - An atlas of glycine- and GABA-like immunoreactivity and colocalization in the
      cochlear nuclear complex of the guinea pig.
AB  - The distribution and colocalization of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)- and
      glycine-like immunoreactivity in the cochlear nuclear complex of the guinea pig
      have been studied to produce a light microscopic atlas. The method used was based
      on post-embedding immunocytochemistry in pairs of 0.5-micron-thick plastic
      sections treated with polyclonal antibodies against conjugated GABA and glycine
      respectively. Immunoreactive cells, presumably short axon neurones, predominated
      in the dorsal cochlear nucleus, with mostly single-GABA-labelled cells in the
      superficial layer, double-labelled in the middle, and single-glycine-labelled in
      the deep layers. A few large single-glycine-labelled cells, interpreted as
      commissural neurons, occurred in the ventral nucleus. Scattered double-labelled
      cells, probably Golgi cells, were seen in the granule cell domain. Immunolabeled
      puncta of all three staining categories occurred in large numbers throughout the
      complex, apposed to somata and in the neuropil, showing a differential
      distribution onto different types of neuron. Three immunolabeled tracts were
      noted: the tuberculoventral tract, the commissural acoustic stria, and the
      trapezoidal descending fibres. Most of the fibres in these tracts were single
      labelled for glycine, although in the last mentioned tract single-GABA- and
      double-labelled fibres were also found. Some of the immunolabeled cell types
      described here are proposed as the origins of the similarly labelled puncta and
      fibres on the basis of known intrinsic connections.

PMID- 1443656
TI  - Postnatal development of zinc-containing cells and neuropil in the visual cortex
      of the mouse.
AB  - The postnatal development of zinc-containing synaptic boutons and their cells of
      origin in the visual cortex of a pigmented mouse is described. Two phases can be
      distinguished. During the early phase zinc-containing neuropil is first apparent
      by postnatal day 3. By day 7 a light, but distinct neuropil staining sketches the
      primary and secondary visual cortices. The primary visual area contains light
      precipitate in layers V and VI as well as the monocular portion of layer II/III.
      The secondary visual areas contain slightly denser precipitate in layers II/III
      through VI. The transition to the second phase is marked by a large increase in
      precipitate density by day 11. Thereafter, the intensity of the neuropil staining
      increases to day 28, first in layer II/III and then in layer V, as the adult
      pattern of neuropil staining gradually develops. In the primary visual cortex
      precipitate is dense in layers II/III and V, moderate in layer VI, and sparse in
      layers I and IV. In the secondary visual areas the precipitate is dense in layers
      II/III and V and moderate in the lower portion of layer I and in layers IV and
      VI. Cells of origin of zinc-containing boutons are visible by the end of the
      second postnatal week in layer II/III of the secondary visual cortex. By 21 days
      of age the pattern of staining in the mature mouse is established, and cells in
      layers II/III and VI are labeled in both the primary and secondary visual
      cortices. The developmental sequence of zinc-containing cells and neuropil does
      not preclude an involvement of zinc in the postnatal regulation of NMDA receptor
      function.

PMID- 1443657
TI  - Enhancement of muscle regeneration in the rat gastrocnemius muscle by low energy
      laser irradiation.
AB  - The effect of low-energy laser (He-Ne) irradiation on the rate of skeletal muscle
      regeneration after partial excision of the rat gastrocnemius muscle was studied
      using quantitative histological morphometric methods. The injured zones of the
      experimental rats were subjected to direct He-Ne laser (632.8 nm wavelength)
      irradiation (6.0 mW for 2.3 min) immediately following injury and once daily
      thereafter for 5 days. Muscles that were injured as above and subjected to red or
      room light irradiation served as a control group. The volume fraction (percent of
      total volume of injured zone) of the mononucleated cells in the injured zone
      decreased gradually with time after injury, but more rapidly in the laser
      irradiated muscles than in the control. At 3 days post-injury the myotubes in the
      laser-irradiated muscles populated a significantly higher percentage (13.9 +/-
      1.1%) of the injured area than in the control muscles (7.8 +/- 1.0%). The volume
      fraction of the young myofibers in the laser irradiated muscles exceeded 30.6 +/-
      2.2% and 49.6 +/- 5.6% at 8 and 11 days post-injury, respectively, while in
      control muscles these structures comprised only 9.6 +/- 1.0% and 27.2 +/- 3.8% of
      the injured zone at 8 and 11 days after injury, respectively. It is concluded
      that He-Ne laser irradiation during the regeneration process promotes muscle
      maturation in the injured zone following partial excision of the rat
      gastrocnemius muscle.

PMID- 1443658
TI  - Local signalling in dermomyotomal cell type specification.
AB  - The development and differentiation of the avian myotome was studied after
      removal of the neural tube, including neural crest, and after replacement of
      dorsal half-somites by ventral half-somites. Results show that in the absence of
      neural tissue myoblast differentiation within the somites does not take place.
      Ventral half-somites are able to undergo muscle differentiation if they were
      grafted in place of dorsal half somites. It is suggested that local signals must
      be responsible for the dorsalisation of the newly formed somite including
      myoblast differentiation. Neural crest cells are discussed as possible sources of
      these signals.

PMID- 1443659
TI  - Expression of alpha-tropomyosin during cardiac development in the chick embryo.
AB  - A new monoclonal antibody (mAb) that recognizes alpha-tropomyosin in cardiac
      muscle cells was used in a qualitative (polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and
      indirect immunofluorescence) and quantitative (fluorescence-activated cell
      sorting) study of the expression of this protein during heart development. alpha
      Tropomyosin expression was weak in early stages of chick embryo development
      (Hamburger and Hamilton stage 18), and increased steadily until Hamburger
      Hamilton stage 40. In early stages, the protein was found mainly in cytoplasm,
      whereas by the final stages, it was more abundant in the cytoskeletal
      compartment. The mAb cross-reacted with alpha-tropomyosin in smooth and striated
      muscle cells from chickens, mice, and humans, but did not cross-react with
      nonmuscle tropomyosin.

PMID- 1443660
TI  - Effects of prostaglandin inhibition on the bone activities associated with the
      spontaneous drift of molar teeth in the rat.
AB  - Little is known about local bone regulation that enables spontaneous molar tooth
      drift. In this study the role of prostaglandins (PGs) were investigated in the
      rat by inhibiting PG-synthesis with indomethacin (7 mg/kg/d). Untreated animals
      were killed at the start of the experiment, while treated ones were killed after
      3, 7, or 14 days of treatment. Mandibles were processed for histomorphometry
      without demineralization. Changes in osteoclasts and extent of the different
      steps of the bone remodeling sequence (resorption, reversal, and formation) were
      assessed along the remodeling side of the socket of the buccal root of the first
      molar. The total number of osteoclasts decreased after 7 days of PG inhibition (P
      < 0.01 vs controls) and then partially recovered. This change was due to a sharp
      decrease in active cells on day 7 (P < 0.01), while inactive cells remained
      unchanged throughout the experimental period. The extent of resorption fell on
      day 7 (P < 0.01) and then recovered almost to the control level on day 14.
      Reversal at first increased insignificantly and thereafter decreased (P < 0.02)
      for the remaining 7 days. Formation was modified only on day 14; at that time it
      had doubled compared with controls. These results show that PGs are involved in
      the local regulation of bone remodeling accompanying tooth drift. Resorption
      inhibition was partial, indicating that other factors participate with PGs in
      this regulation; in addition, the trend to recovery observed at the end of the
      experimental period suggests that these factors can take over from PGs to achieve
      the necessary remodeling of the socket.

PMID- 1443661
TI  - Adaptation of cancellous bone to aging and immobilization in growing rats.
AB  - Two-and-half-month-old female rats were subjected to right hindlimb
      immobilization or served as controls for 0, 1, 2, 8, 14, and 20 weeks. The right
      hindlimb was immobilized by bandaging it against the abdomen, thus unloading it.
      Cancellous bone histomorphometry was performed on microradiographs and double
      fluorescent labeled 20 microns sections of the distal femoral metaphyses. Primary
      spongiosa bone loss occurred rapidly by 2 weeks, and secondary spongiosa bone
      loss occurred rapidly by 8 weeks of immobilization, and then equilibrated at 60%
      less bone mass than age-related controls. The negative bone balance induced by
      immobilization was caused by transient increase in bone resorption, decrease in
      bone formation, and longitudinal bone growth. The dynamic data of secondary
      spongiosa cancellous bone showed that percent eroded perimeter was transiently
      elevated by 55 to 82% between 1 and 8 weeks, percent labeled perimeter was
      transiently depressed by 32% to 50% between 1 and 14 weeks, mineral apposition
      rate was depressed by 23% and 19% at 1 and 2 weeks, and bone formation rate-bone
      area referent was transiently depressed by 35% and 59% at 1 and 2 weeks. All the
      above parameters were at age-related control levels by 20 weeks of
      immobilization. However, bone formation rate-tissue area referent was depressed (
      65%) throughout the study. Immobilization depressed completely longitudinal bone
      growth by 2 weeks and remained so. Only 0.65 mm of new metaphysis was generated
      in the immobilized versus 2.1 mm in controls during the study period. The
      immobilization induced an early cancellous bone loss which equilibrated at a new
      steady state with less bone and a normal (age-related control) bone turnover
      rate. When these findings were compared to an earlier study of 9-month-old virgin
      females subjected to right hindlimb immobilization up to 26 weeks, we found the
      adaptive responses of the cancellous bone were identical except that they
      occurred earlier and equilibrated sooner in younger rats.

PMID- 1443662
TI  - Elastic fibers in the duct system of the rat submandibular salivary gland.
AB  - The submandibular salivary gland originates from the floor of the mouth whose
      mucosa contains elastic fibers. Therefore, such fibers were sought in the duct
      system of the derivative organ. In adult rats, light microscopy has indeed
      revealed fine, circumferential, elastic fibers near the basement membrane of the
      duct epithelium. In the larger extralobular ducts, they were separated from
      several layers of longitudinal elastic fibers by a capillary-rich zone sparse in
      elastic fibers except for fine angular ones. More peripherally, larger angular
      appearing fibers were frequently present near the submandibular parasympathetic
      ganglia in the duct wall. As duct diameter decreased, elastic fiber size and
      number diminished. Intralobularly, the smaller striated ducts, granular and
      intercalated ducts, and acini generally lacked such fibers. Electron microscopy
      of the extraglandular portion of the main duct revealed fibrils extending from
      both fibroblasts and elastic fibers that were close to the epithelium.
      Microfibrils coursed from them toward the lamina densa. Anchoring filaments
      joined the lamina densa to the basal plasma membrane of the epithelium. Elastic
      fibers also appeared to connect to both capillaries and collagen via finer
      intermediate structures. These associations might permit dynamic interactions of
      fibroblasts, fibers, smaller fibrillar components, vasa, and the duct epithelium.
      This interplay could occur during feeding and grooming when tongue protrusion and
      neck extension stretch the submandibular duct and the gland itself. As a result,
      the tensile forces engendered could modify cell geometry and the calibers of the
      larger ducts' lumens and intercellular spaces, thus affecting the flow and
      composition of salivary secretion.

PMID- 1443663
TI  - Morphology of the kidney of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus: Monotremata).
AB  - The platypus kidney shows morphological similarities to those of other mammals.
      Macroscopically, the cortex is easily distinguishable from the fairly wide
      medulla. Within the medulla, no clear border is observed between the inner and
      outer zones. Light and transmission electron microscopically, the glomeruli show
      quite similar architecture to those of other mammals; however, the glomerular
      lobulation is very clear. The glomerular tufts are rather simple, but capillary
      lumen varies widely in size, which is one of the unique features of the platypus
      kidney. The urinary tubule is generally similar to that of human and other
      mammals in shape and segmentation; however, the staining specificities of
      histochemical reactions and the shape of epithelial cells of the Henle's loop
      differ from those of other mammals. The most conspicuous features are: 1)
      although no protein casts are found in the tubular lumina, epithelial cells of
      the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) have numerous electron-dense vesicles as in
      human nephrotic kidneys; and 2) the platypus Henle's loop consists of the thick
      epithelial cells similar to the mammalian type nephron of birds. As compared to
      those of other mammals such as humans and rats, our observations suggest that the
      platypus kidney is less developed, in terms of evolution.

PMID- 1443664
TI  - Cystogenesis of the ovarian antral follicle of the rat: ultrastructural changes
      and hormonal profile following the administration of dehydroepiandrosterone.
AB  - Immature 27-day-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were administered daily
      subcutaneous injections of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA, 5 mg/100 g BW) to induce
      the formation of ovarian follicular cysts. Groups of rats were killed on days 0,
      10, 15, 20, 25, and 30. Ovaries from each group of rats were processed for light
      and electron microscopy and for follicular or cystic fluid hormone analysis.
      Normal antral follicle fluid, PMSG-treated preovulatory follicular fluid, and
      cystic fluids were analyzed for progesterone (P), estrone (E1), estradiol (E2),
      testosterone (T), delta 4-androstenedione (delta 4-A), 5 alpha
      dihydrotestosterone (DHT), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone
      (FSH), and prolactin (PRL). DHEA induced anovulation, acyclicity, and the
      formation of follicular cysts. In certain antral follicles, there was a dramatic
      increase in the quantities of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) in the granulosa
      cells and many mitochondria had tubular cristae. Further depletion of granulosa
      cell number was associated with intense blebbing of the cytoplasm into the
      follicle antrum. Formation of the ovarian follicular cyst was completed when the
      entire cyst was lined by a single layer of transformed granulosa cells in contact
      via adhering, gap, and tight junctions. These cells had little cytoplasm,
      mitochondria with lamellar cristae, vast basal and apical bands of
      microfilaments, and an extensive array of smooth-surfaced endocytotic
      invaginations on the basal plasma membrane. These endocytotic pits may
      subsequently form smooth-surfaced vesicles and thereby serve as one mechanism for
      moving fluid from the ovarian interstitium into the cyst. Theca interna cells
      were rarely observed in the peripheral regions of the cyst. Abundant smooth
      muscle cells were located beneath the basement membrane of the epithelial cells
      comprising the cyst wall. These acquired morphological and physiological features
      may ensure persistence of the ovarian cyst and thus potentiate a chronic
      pathological condition. In this study it was also shown that progesterone,
      estrone, and estradiol as well as androgen concentration increased in the
      follicle after PMSG treatment. With DHEA treatment, the follicular cystic fluid
      concentrations of these steroids progressively increased to extremely high levels
      concurrent with the development of the follicular cysts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      400 WORDS)

PMID- 1443665
TI  - Changes in histochemical distribution of cell surface heparan sulfate
      proteoglycan in mouse uterus during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy.
AB  - We have investigated the changes in immunolocalization of a cell surface heparan
      sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) in the mouse uterus during the estrous cycle and at
      the time of implantation in early pregnancy. A monoclonal antibody prepared
      against syndecan, a cell surface HSPG from mouse mammary epithelium (gift of Dr.
      M. Bernfield), was reacted with unfixed and fixed frozen sections of uteri from
      normally cycling, 3.5 and 4.5 days pregnant, and estradiol-treated immature and
      ovariectomized mature mice. A polyclonal antibody prepared against basal lamina
      HSPG from Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) tumor cells (gift of Dr. John Hassell) was
      used as a positive control. The latter showed no variation during the estrous
      cycle or early pregnancy. Localization of syndecan in uterine epithelium changed
      from basolateral to predominantly basal as the cycle progressed from metestrus
      toward estrus. A similar pattern was seen in immature and ovariectomized mature
      females that had received estradiol injections. With the onset of pregnancy, the
      basolateral localization became progressively less intense from 3.5 days through
      4.5 days of pregnancy. Thus, cell surface HSPG distribution is modulated by
      hormonally dependent changes in cycling and pregnant mice, supporting previous
      suggestions that early pregnancy in mice is accompanied by a turnover and
      rearrangement of uterine epithelial cell surface.

PMID- 1443666
TI  - Structural analysis of fetal rat lung development.
AB  - The primary aim of this morphological investigation was to elaborate a concept
      allowing us to coherently define reference spaces for morphometric analysis of
      fetal lung development. Beyond this quantitative goal, morphological analysis of
      cell types, definition of compartments, and reflection about the prospective fate
      of their constituents provided per se new insights into the developmental
      processes. Lungs of rat fetuses aged 17-23 days and newborns aged 20 hours were
      fixed with an osmium tetroxide and glutaraldehyde mixture and their volume
      determined. Left lungs were embedded in Epon and investigated by light and
      electron microscopy. The right lung of one animal per group was embedded in
      methacrylate and step sections obtained to precisely locate the airways within
      the mesenchyme. The various cell types, their topographical relationships, and
      their morphological alterations with ongoing development were analyzed with
      regard to their prospective potentials of differentiation. The developing lung
      could be partitioned into four zones further subdivided into defined
      compartments. Zone I forms a superficial mantle around the lobes and the future
      acini. Consisting of primitive mesenchymal cells, it represents a zone of growth
      which disappears with the onset of the saccular stage. Zone II is mainly a zone
      of differentiation. Its interstitium stains intensely due to a dense population
      of dark cells. Up to gestational day 19, zone II contains future conductive
      airways with their vessels. After day 21, it comprises the whole prospective gas
      exchange region. Zones III and IV contain the elements of the airway tree and
      vascular system, zone IV corresponding to the most proximal generations with an
      adventitial layer. For all differentiation processes, a centrifugal
      directionality is manifested.

PMID- 1443667
TI  - Ultrastructure and immunocytochemistry of the neuroepithelial bodies in the lung
      of the tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum (Urodela, Amphibia).
AB  - Light and electron microscopy of the lungs of Ambystoma tigrinum (Urodela)
      revealed a relatively complex pattern of the neuroendocrine (NE) cells. In the
      apical parts of smaller septa single NE cells not associated with nerve fibres
      were covered and surrounded by pneumocytes. The larger septa possessed small
      areas of ciliated epithelium, in which the NE cells were grouped in a form of
      neuroepithelial bodies (NEB) consisting of 3-5 cells and covered by goblet cells.
      NE cells possessed a large nucleus with patches of condensed chromatin, clear
      cytoplasm, and membrane-bound vesicles of variable morphology and size,
      containing an electron dense interior surrounded by a lucent space. The size of
      these dense core vesicles (DCV) ranged from 70-140 nm, while rarely the larger
      ones exhibited a diameter of 300-600 nm. In some NEB a second type of NE cells
      was observed for the first time in an amphibian species: these cells communicated
      with the air space and exhibited on their surface microvilli and a single
      modified cilium with a 8 + 1 microtubule arrangement. Their cytoplasm contained
      two types of DCV: dense core granules with a diameter of 140-260 nm and vesicles
      320-700 nm in diameter with a moderately electron dense interior. The NEB were
      associated with intracorpuscular, sensory nerve terminals morphologically
      afferent and efferent. By immunocytochemistry, the NE cells revealed the presence
      of serotonin, met-enkephalin, and leu-enkephalin. A paracrine and chemoreceptor
      role is proposed for NEB of Ambystoma tigrinum.

PMID- 1443668
TI  - Comparative study of sexual dimorphism of the innominate bone in rodents and
      amphibians.
AB  - Sexual dimorphism in the shape of the innominate bone was demonstrated in the
      rat, mouse, Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus), frog (Ranna nigromaculata), and
      newt (Cynops pyrrhogaster) with a computer-assisted morphometric technique. In
      the rat, mouse, and hamster, ratios of ischium and pubis widths to the innominate
      bone length (INL) were larger in the males than in the females; however, the
      ratio of pubis length to INL was larger in the females than in the males. In the
      frog, the ratio of distance between the upper edge of the acetabulum and the
      lower edge of the pubis to INL was larger in males than in females. In the newt,
      ratios of width of ischiopubis and the longitudinal length of the ischiopubis to
      INL were larger in females than in males.

PMID- 1443669
TI  - Lymphoid cells in the harderian gland of the rodent Octodon degus.
AB  - The Harderian gland of the degu (Octodon degus) is composed of tubulo-alveolar
      secretory units that share most of morphological features found in the Harderian
      glands of other rodents. However, a peculiar characteristic observed in the
      glands of female degus is the existence of lymphoid cell clusters within the
      connective tissue surrounding the secretory adenomeres. Lymphocytes and
      lymphoblasts are found associated with blood vessels and especially with nerve
      bundles in the medullary region of the gland. Occasionally, macrophages and
      plasma cells are also observed. Although the Golgi apparatus appears well
      developed, the ultrastructural characteristics of most of these lymphoid elements
      correspond to those of inactive lymphocytes. Unmyelinated fibers containing clear
      and dense-core vesicles are found closely related to lymphocytes. On some
      occasions, lymphocytes present extensive areas of apposition with structures
      resembling intercellular junctions. The analogy of the lymphoid clusters reported
      in this study with those described in the avian Harderian gland is discussed.

PMID- 1443670
TI  - Distribution of p21ras in postimplantation rat embryos.
AB  - Expression of ras cellular oncogenes during the early postimplantation period in
      the rat was investigated using immunohistochemistry to p21ras. A broad spectrum
      polyclonal antibody recognizing N-, Ha- and Ki- forms of p21ras was used in an
      indirect avidin-biotin-peroxidase (ABC) technique. Positive staining indicating
      the presence of p21ras was found in embryos from 6.5 to 12 days embryonic age. In
      early egg cylinders (6.5 days), positive staining for p21ras was observed on the
      ectoplacental cone, primitive ectoderm and trophectoderm, while primitive
      endoderm and parietal endoderm appeared paler. In later egg cylinder stages (7.5
      days), strong positive staining was observed in the primitive embryonic ectoderm
      and ectoplacental cone, but parietal and visceral endoderm still appeared to be
      devoid of positive staining. As development proceeded during primitive streak
      stages, the visceral and parietal endoderm became positively stained. By 10 days,
      all tissues appeared to be positive for p21ras, with strong staining appearing in
      the heart and neural elements. Therefore, p21ras does not appear to be ubiquitous
      in the rat conceptus prior to gastrulation, but shows differential distribution,
      appearing later in endodermal derivatives. Possibly p21ras is involved in
      determination of the ectodermal and endodermal lineages.

PMID- 1443671
TI  - Localization of extracellular matrix components in developing mouse salivary
      glands by confocal microscopy.
AB  - The importance of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in epithelial-mesenchymal
      interactions in developing organisms is well established. Proteoglycans and
      interstitial collagens are required for the growth, morphogenesis, and
      differentiation of epithelial organs and the distribution of these molecules has
      been described. However, much less is known about other ECM macromolecules in
      developing epithelial organs. We used confocal microscopy to examine the
      distribution of laminin, heparan sulfate (BM-1) proteoglycan, fibronectin, and
      collagen types I, IV, and V, in mouse embryonic salivary glands. Organ rudiments
      were isolated from gestational day 13 mouse embryos and cultured for 24, 48, or
      72 hours. Whole mounts were stained by indirect immunofluorescence and then
      examined using a Zeiss Laser Scan Microscope. We found that each ECM component
      examined had a distinct distribution and that the distribution of some molecules
      varied with culture time. Laminin was mainly restricted to the basement membrane.
      BM-1 proteoglycan was concentrated in the basement membrane and also formed a
      fine network throughout the mesenchyme. Type IV collagen was mainly located in
      the basement membrane of the epithelium, but it was also present throughout the
      mesenchyme. Type V collagen was distributed throughout the mesenchyme at 24
      hours, but at 48 hours was principally located in the basement membrane. Type I
      collagen was distributed throughout the mesenchyme at all culture times, and
      accumulated in the clefts and particularly at the epithelial-mesenchymal
      interface as time in culture increased. Fibronectin was observed throughout the
      mesenchyme at all times.

PMID- 1443672
TI  - Hemizona assay and its impact on the identification and treatment of human sperm
      dysfunctions.
AB  - The HZA, a functional test for human gamete interaction, has become a useful and
      valuable experimental tool for physiological and cellular analysis of the early
      events leading to fertilization. The analysis of the conventional semen
      parameters with emphasis on sperm morphology (as judged by strict criteria) and
      motion characteristics (evaluated by computer assisted analysis) constitutes the
      first obligatory step for a critical evaluation of male-factor patients. Patients
      in whom fertilization disorders are suspected should be evaluated through
      bioassays of sperm function of established accuracy. The HZA, a bioassay of sperm
      zona binding capacity is here proven to be highly predictive of IVF outcome.
      Ultimately, our increasing knowledge of sperm biology and dysfunction will
      provide a basis for a better diagnosis (membrane receptor defects and
      metabolic/biochemical abnormalities?) as well as better therapeutic interventions
      in patients with sperm disorders. It seems likely that the HZA may be eventually
      replaced by a standardized test kit in which recombinant human DNA-derived zona
      receptors mimic the natural function of the hemizonae currently used. This ZP3
      reagent may also be a useful antigen for contraceptive development. The HZA
      therefore constitutes a useful adjuvant in the armentarium for the diagnosis and
      therapy of male-factor patients.

PMID- 1443673
TI  - Evaluation of bovine cervical mucus penetration as a test of human spermatozoal
      function for an in vitro fertilization programme.
AB  - Thirty-two couples participating in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) programme
      were evaluated as regards the prognostic value on fertilization of spermatozoal
      performance through flat capillary tubes filled with standardized midcycle bovine
      cervical mucus (Penetrak, Serono Diagnostics, Surrey, UK). A statistically
      significant correlation (P < 0.033) was observed between the distance travelled
      by the neat spermatozoa in the mucus and the % penetration of oocytes at IVF.
      There were also significant correlations between motility and progression (P <
      0.004) and a borderline correlation between progression and the Penetrak results
      (P < 0.098). There was no significant difference between the Penetrak distances
      travelled between the 9 who conceived (33.4 mm) and the 23 who did not (29.9 mm).
      While the test does add to the knowledge of fertilization potential, the results
      extrapolated to a larger series would give false positive rates of 25% and false
      negative rates of 11%. The absence of a clear end point renders the Penetrak
      mucus penetration test insufficiently accurate to be used as a main measure of
      the male factor when advising for or against IVF therapy.

PMID- 1443674
TI  - Comparison of semen analysis between the two Hamilton-Thorn semen analysers.
AB  - This study was designed to assess the reproducibility of the computer-assisted
      semen analysis (CASA) system. Semen specimens from 41 suspected subfertile
      patients were analysed on two identical Hamilton-Thorn Motility analysers (HTM,
      model 2030, version 7). Specimens were analysed after liquefaction at 37 degrees
      C for 30 min on two HTMs adjusted to the same gate settings and by using the same
      semen droplet loaded on a Makler counting chamber prewarmed at 37 degrees C.
      Significant differences were seen in the total sperm count (P < 0.0004), motile
      sperm count (P < 0.004), amplitude of lateral head displacement (P < 0.0001),
      linearity (P < 0.01), and beat cross frequency (P < 0.0001) between the two HTMs.
      No significant differences between the two machines was seen in the case of other
      sperm motion parameters: percentage motility, average path velocity, straightline
      velocity, curvilinear velocity, straightness, and progressive motility. Our
      results indicate that the reproducibility of several semen parameters analysed by
      HTM is poor, and steps to remedy this problem are necessary.

PMID- 1443675
TI  - Effect of multiple centrifugations on the evaluation of the acrosome reaction in
      human spermatozoa.
AB  - This study was undertaken to assess the effect of multiple centrifugations on the
      human acrosome reaction and in vitro fertilizing ability. Semen samples were
      obtained from sperm donors and from patients participating in our in vitro
      fertilization programme. Measured sperm samples were centrifuged twice (400xg for
      5 min) before or after the induction of the acrosome reaction with calcium
      ionophore A23187 and before the insemination of oocytes. The samples obtained
      from the sperm donors were used to measure the acrosomal loss by means of
      indirect immunofluorescence (T6 monoclonal antibody) and the patient samples were
      used to assess fertilizing ability and cleavage. Samples centrifuged twice before
      the chemical induction of the acrosome reaction exhibited significantly elevated
      levels of acrosomal loss (mean = 46%) as compared to the controls (23%). However,
      the fertilization (P = 0.688) and cleavage (P = 0.187) rates were not
      significantly different between the controls and the centrifuged samples. The
      present study has shown that the centrifugation of motility enriched (swim-up)
      samples may also modify the acrosomal membrane complex, without compromising
      fertilizing potential.

PMID- 1443676
TI  - On the glandular origin of seminal plasma lipids in man.
AB  - The aim of this study is to examine the glandular origin of seminal fluid lipids
      in man. The triglycerides, the total cholesterol, the non-esterified fatty acid
      and the total phospholipids were measured in seminal plasma of vasectomized
      patients (n = 8) and control subjects (n = 15). The same parameters were measured
      in seminal plasma collected in three fractions from split ejaculates (n = 10).
      The total cholesterol and the non-esterified fatty acid are principally prostatic
      in origin. The phospholipids are secreted by the epididymis but also by the
      prostate. The origin of the triglycerides seems to be very varied.

PMID- 1443677
TI  - Andrological study of an intersex ram.
AB  - An anatomic, histologic, and cytogenetic study was carried out on a young single
      born ram of 'Bergamasca' breed. At an anatomical level the subject, with
      anomalous presence of horns adherent to the head, presented hypoplastic testicles
      descended in two distinct scrotal sacs, hypospadias and small penioid body. The
      histopathologic analysis showed atrophy of the testicular parenchyma while at a
      cytogenetic level, sexual chromosome mosaicism was found with XX and XY cells,
      both at lymphocytic (73%-54, XX; 27%-54, XY) and fibroblastic level. Therefore
      this finding cannot be explained simply referring to freemartinism.

PMID- 1443678
TI  - Morphometric and ultrastructural studies on the rat testis following
      administration of antiserum to human seminal plasma inhibin.
AB  - A study was undertaken to see the effects of antiserum to human seminal plasma
      inhibin (hSPI) on the morphology of rat testis. Morphometric, light microscopic,
      and ultrastructural studies were done on rat testis after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of
      administration of antiserum to hSPI. Daily sperm production rate was also
      estimated by histometric method. The light microscopic analysis showed a slight
      decrease in tubular diameter which was not significant. The degenerative changes
      in the tubules were marked after 12 weeks of treatment. The daily sperm
      production rate was reduced by 50% after 12 weeks of treatment. The
      ultrastructural study revealed phagocytosis of elongated spermatids and
      spermatozoa enclosed in a vacuole surrounded by Sertoli cells. The Sertoli cells
      were dedifferentiated into an immature type. The spermatogonia were not affected.
      The treatment with antiserum to hSPI alters testicular morphology at the
      spermatid and mature spermatozoa level. Since treatment with AshSPI is known to
      elevate the FSH level it appears that the morphological changes correlate with
      the endocrine status.

PMID- 1443679
TI  - Hemodynamic and organ blood flow responses to halothane and sevoflurane
      anesthesia during spontaneous ventilation.
AB  - This study compared systemic hemodynamic and organ blood flow responses to
      equipotent concentrations of halothane and sevoflurane during spontaneous
      ventilation in the rat. The MAC values for halothane and sevoflurane were
      determined. Cardiac output and organ blood flows were measured using radiolabeled
      microspheres. Measurements were obtained in awake rats (control values) and at
      1.0 MAC halothane or sevoflurane. The MAC values (mean +/- SEM) for halothane and
      sevoflurane were 1.10% +/- 0.05% and 2.40% +/- 0.05%, respectively. The PaCO2
      increased to a similar extent in both groups compared with control values. During
      halothane anesthesia, heart rate decreased by 12% (P < 0.01), cardiac index by
      26% (P < 0.01), and mean arterial blood pressure by 18% (P < 0.01) compared with
      control values. Stroke volume index and systemic vascular resistance did not
      change. During sevoflurane anesthesia, hemodynamic variables remained unchanged
      compared with control values. Coronary blood flow decreased by 21% (P < 0.01) and
      renal blood flow by 18% (P < 0.01) at 1.0 MAC halothane, whereas both remained
      unchanged at 1.0 MAC sevoflurane. Cerebral blood flow increased to a greater
      extent with halothane (63%; P < 0.01) than with sevoflurane (35%; P < 0.05).
      During halothane anesthesia, hepatic arterial blood flow increased by 48% (P <
      0.01), whereas portal tributary blood flow decreased by 28% (P < 0.01). During
      sevoflurane anesthesia, hepatic arterial blood flow increased by 70% (P < 0.01)
      without a concomitant reduction in portal tributary blood flow. Total liver blood
      flow decreased only with halothane (16%; P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1443680
TI  - Halothane enhances pulmonary artery endothelial eicosanoid release.
AB  - To determine whether anesthetics alter endothelial eicosanoid release, cultured
      bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells were studied during constant flow and
      pressure perfusion at two oxygen tensions (hypoxia, 50 +/- 2 mm Hg; normoxia, 144
      +/- 5 mm Hg; mean +/- SEM) with and without 1% halothane. Endothelialized
      microcarriers containing approximately 5 x 10(6) cells were loaded into
      cartridges and perfused (3 mL/min) with Krebs' solution (pH 7.4, at 37 degrees C)
      equilibrated with each gas mixture. Eicosanoids (6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha,
      thromboxane B2, and total peptidoleukotrienes [C4, D4, E4, F4]) were measured by
      radioimmunoassay and quantified per gram of cellular protein per minute.
      Eicosanoid release did not vary over time. The 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha
      release increased during hypoxia (normoxia 291 +/- 27 vs hypoxia 395 +/- 35
      ng.min-1 x g protein-1; P < 0.01). Halothane (H) increased release of each
      eicosanoid during both normoxia and hypoxia: 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha
      normoxia 291 +/- 27 versus normoxia + H 356 +/- 32 ng.min-1 x g protein-1,
      hypoxia 395 +/- 35 versus hypoxia + H 464 +/- 40 ng.min-1 x g protein-1, P <
      0.05; thromboxane B2-normoxia 19 +/- 2 versus normoxia + H26 +/- 2 ng.min-1 x g
      protein-1, hypoxia 20 +/- 2 versus hypoxia + H 38 +/- 5 ng.min-1 x g protein-1, P
      < 0.001; leukotriene-normoxia 363 +/- 35 versus normoxia + H 489 +/- 52 ng.min-1
      x g protein-1, hypoxia 329 +/- 29 versus hypoxia + H 455 +/- 39 ng.min-1 x g
      protein-1, P = 0.001.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443681
TI  - Acute toxic delirium in a patient using transdermal fentanyl.

PMID- 1443682
TI  - Electroencephalographic monitoring of cerebral function during asystole and
      successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

PMID- 1443683
TI  - Chiari I malformation presenting as recurrent spinal headache.

PMID- 1443684
TI  - Acute respiratory failure in a patient with acute leukemia undergoing minor
      surgery.

PMID- 1443685
TI  - Change of ectopic supraventricular tachycardia to sinus rhythm during
      administration of propofol.

PMID- 1443686
TI  - Epidural anesthesia in a parturient patient with congenital absence of the
      inferior vena cava.

PMID- 1443687
TI  - Glossopharyngeal nerve block for carotid sinus syndrome.

PMID- 1443688
TI  - Dorsal primary ramus nerve block for treatment of low back pain after epidural
      analgesia.

PMID- 1443689
TI  - Continuous stellate ganglion blockade for reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

PMID- 1443690
TI  - Oculopharyngeal dystrophy: an approach to anesthetic management.

PMID- 1443691
TI  - Bilateral interpleural injection of lidocaine after bilateral lung surgery
      through median sternotomy in four patients.

PMID- 1443692
TI  - A fractured epidural needle: case report and study.

PMID- 1443693
TI  - Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
AB  - Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is still a relatively new technology that has
      recently achieved recognition after initial clinical disappointment in the late
      1970s. At present, it is considered standard therapy for the full-term infant
      with PPHN who fails CMV and extraordinary, heroic therapy for older children and
      adults with ARF or cardiac failure, or both. Currently, the emphasis is on
      developing new technologies for increasing safety and effectiveness. Areas of
      interest include heparinless circuits, carotid artery reconstruction, improved
      monitoring, and expanding applications of VV ECMO. As ECMO becomes safer and more
      effective, it is believed that new and expanding patient populations will emerge
      to include premature infants, earlier intervention in term infants, and more
      liberal application to pediatric and adult populations.

PMID- 1443694
TI  - Local anesthetic-sensitive electrodes: preparation of coated-wire electrodes and
      their basic properties in vitro.
AB  - Coated-wire electrodes with local anesthetic (LA) cation-selective membranes were
      prepared, and their properties in vitro were investigated. Copper wires (0.8-mm
      diameter) were coated with gel membranes of 110 mg of poly(vinyl chloride), 5 mg
      of ion pairs of tetraphenylborate anion with LA cation, 100 mg of
      dioctylphtalate, and 1.5 mL of tetrahydrofuran. This was the composition
      determined to be most suitable. Their electromotive force relative to an Ag/AgCl
      electrode was measured in LA solutions. The lidocaine, dibucaine, and mepivacaine
      electrodes all showed good Nernstian response at 25 degrees C in aqueous
      solutions in the concentration ranges of 1 x 10(-4) to 1 x 10(-2) mol/L, 4 x 10(
      5) to 1 x 10(-2) mol/L, and 5 x 10(-5) to 1 x 10(-2) mol/L, respectively. The
      response time was within 10 s. The electrode potential decreased as the pH in the
      solution increased, with a corresponding decrease of the protonated form of LA.
      The hydrophobic nature of the LA was closely related to the electromotive force
      and to the selectivity of the electrode toward various LA cations. Dibucaine, the
      most hydrophobic, had the highest electrode potential. The more hydrophobic the
      LA of the electrode, the less it is interfered with by other LA molecules. The
      more hydrophobic the interferent cation, the more it acts on the electrode
      potential. The electrode system could also measure LA in human plasma at 37
      degrees C, although the responsiveness was depressed in the low concentration
      range owing to binding of LA to the serum protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1443695
TI  - The genioglossus muscle belongs not to inspiratory but to expiratory muscle?

PMID- 1443696
TI  - Intravenous halothane--questions remain.

PMID- 1443697
TI  - Removal of a tenacious epidural catheter.

PMID- 1443698
TI  - Cyclosporine A and cardiopulmonary bypass.

PMID- 1443699
TI  - Touchscreen technology: potential source of cross-infections.

PMID- 1443700
TI  - Laryngeal mask airway in cervical spine injuries.

PMID- 1443701
TI  - Epidural kits: incompatible contents.

PMID- 1443702
TI  - Is your scavenger system functional?

PMID- 1443703
TI  - Package inserts and other dosage guidelines are especially useful with new
      analgesics and new analgesic delivery systems.

PMID- 1443704
TI  - Propofol requirements for induction of anesthesia in children of different age
      groups.
AB  - To demonstrate any age-related differences in propofol requirements for induction
      of anesthesia, 150 healthy children aged 3-5 yr (n = 50), 6-9 yr (n = 50), and 10
      15 yr (n = 50) scheduled for outpatient surgery were randomly assigned to receive
      an induction dose of propofol of 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, or 3.5 mg/kg. To limit pain
      during injection, alfentanil (5 micrograms/kg) was administered before the
      propofol. Patients were classified as asleep or not asleep 30 s after the
      propofol. Incidence of excitation, injection pain, and apnea during induction of
      anesthesia were noted; arterial blood pressure and heart rate were recorded for 5
      min after induction. More than 95% of the children were asleep in the dose groups
      receiving > or = 2.5 mg/kg. The number of patients falling asleep after receiving
      1.5 mg/kg of propofol increased significantly with increasing age (P < 0.05); the
      difference between the oldest and the youngest age groups was the most
      significant (P < 0.05). Significant decreases in mean arterial blood pressure and
      heart rate occurred after induction in all dose and age groups without any
      systematic intergroup differences. Apnea occurred more frequently in older
      children (P < 0.01) and with larger doses (P < 0.01). The most frequent side
      effect was erythema near the site of injection, and its occurrence was dose
      dependent. The authors conclude that 2.5 mg/kg of propofol, if preceded by 5
      micrograms/kg of alfentanil, is an appropriate induction dose for children aged 3
      15 yr and that the sleep response to 1.5 mg/kg is more in older children.

PMID- 1443705
TI  - Effectiveness of preoperative sedation with rectal midazolam, ketamine, or their
      combination in young children.
AB  - To determine which of three types of rectal sedation was most effective
      preoperatively in facilitating parental separation and intravenous cannulation in
      young children, 100 children 3.0 +/- 1.7 (mean +/- SD) yr of age were randomly
      assigned to four equal groups. One group (M-K-A) received rectal midazolam (0.5
      mg/kg), ketamine (3 mg/kg), and atropine (0.02 mg/kg). The other sedation groups
      received the same doses of midazolam and atropine (M-A) or ketamine and atropine
      (K-A) alone, and the control group (A) received only rectal atropine. Most
      children in either the M-K-A (100%) or M-A (92%) groups separated easily from
      their parents without struggling or crying, significantly more than in the K-A
      (60%) or A (64%) groups. However, more children in the M-K-A group (44%) were
      asleep during separation than in the M-A group (8%; P < 0.05). Only 20% of the
      children in the M-A or M-K-A groups cried during intravenous catheter placement,
      significantly less than in the K-A (56%) or A (92%) groups. Intravenous catheter
      placement was also successful significantly more often in the M-A (80%) and M-K-A
      (84%) groups than in the K-A (48%) or A (40%) groups. Complications were similar
      among the groups, but there was evidence that midazolam prolonged recovery time
      in some patients. Rectal midazolam with or without ketamine is a useful technique
      when intravenous catheter placement before induction of anesthesia is desired.

PMID- 1443706
TI  - Plasma lidocaine concentrations during epidural blockade with isoflurane or
      halothane anesthesia.
AB  - Because isoflurane maintains hepatic blood flow at higher flows than halothane,
      we proposed that the elimination of lidocaine would be different between these
      two volatile anesthetics. The plasma lidocaine concentrations were determined in
      14 female patients undergoing epidural blockade plus isoflurane anesthesia and
      compared with those obtained during halothane anesthesia for lower abdominal
      surgery. General anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane (0.46% +/- 0.04% [mean
      +/- SE] inspired, n = 7) or halothane (0.48% +/- 0.05% inspired, n = 7) and 67%
      nitrous oxide in oxygen. All patients received 2% lidocaine solution, 10 mL as a
      bolus dose and continuous administration at a rate of 10 mL/h, through the
      epidural catheter. The plasma lidocaine concentrations over 180 min after the
      epidural injection in patients receiving isoflurane were similar to those in
      patients receiving halothane. The results suggest that low inspired
      concentrations of isoflurane do not reduce plasma lidocaine concentrations in
      patients during epidural blockade, compared with halothane.

PMID- 1443707
TI  - A rat sciatic nerve model for independent assessment of sensory and motor block
      induced by local anesthetics.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable model to independently
      quantify motor and sensory block produced by local anesthetics. The sciatic nerve
      was blocked in 52 rats by injecting 0.2 mL of 0.125%, 0.25%, 0.5%, or 0.75%
      bupivacaine (n = 13 for each concentration). Accurate needle placement was
      achieved using a nerve stimulator at 0.2 mA and 1 Hz. Ten control rats received
      0.9% saline (n = 5) or sham nerve stimulation (n = 5). Motor block was assessed
      by measuring hindpaw grip strength with a dynamometer. Sensory block was
      determined by measuring hindpaw withdrawal latency from radiant heat. The
      intensity of both motor and sensory block measured at 30-min intervals was
      plotted against time until full recovery to obtain the area under the curve.
      Intergroup comparisons using analysis of variance showed increasing area under
      the curve with increasing concentrations of bupivacaine for motor blocks (P <
      0.05 for all intergroup comparisons except 0.5% vs 0.75%) and sensory blocks (P <
      0.05 for all intergroup comparisons). Normal saline or sham nerve stimulation did
      not result in any motor or sensory block.

PMID- 1443708
TI  - Lumbar subarachnoid ethylenediaminetetraacetate induces hindlimb tetanic
      contractions in rats: prevention by CaCl2 pretreatment; observation of spinal
      nerve root degeneration.
AB  - Disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Na2EDTA) has replaced sodium bisulfite as
      the antioxidant in 2-chloroprocaine, Nesacaine CE. This study was undertaken to
      determine whether this new formulation has neurotoxic effects when administered
      in the subarachnoid space. Sprague-Dawley rats receiving subarachnoid injections
      of 1.5 mM or higher concentrations of Na2EDTA immediately initiated a circling
      behavior that was followed by the development of tetanic contractions of the
      hindlimbs lasting for 15-20 min. The tetanic contractions were followed by a
      brief period of hindlimb paralysis. Pretreatment of rats by subarachnoid
      injections of 1 mM CaCl2 prevented the development of tetanic contractions and
      paralysis of the hindlimb. Histologic examination of animals receiving Na2EDTA
      revealed moderate to severe focal degenerative changes in spinal nerve roots.
      Control rats receiving subarachnoid injections of normal saline solution did not
      develop tetanic contraction nor pathological changes on light microscopy. These
      results suggest that the preservative used in Nesacaine-MPF may be neurotoxic.

PMID- 1443709
TI  - Prolongation of epidural anesthesia using a lipid drug carrier with procaine,
      lidocaine, and tetracaine.
AB  - This study evaluated the effect of a lipid drug carrier (iophendylate) on
      epidural anesthesia. The intensity and duration of motor blockade produced by
      aqueous and lipid preparations of local anesthetics were assessed in rabbits with
      long-term indwelling catheters in the epidural space. Motor blockades produced by
      procaine (1%, 2%, and 4%), lidocaine (1%, 2%, and 4%), and tetracaine (0.5%, 1%,
      and 2%) in normal saline solution were compared with the effects produced by
      equimolar amounts of the drug solutions in iophendylate. Procaine (4%) in aqueous
      solution produced motor blockade lasting 30 +/- 3.54 min (mean +/- SD) versus 84
      +/- 4.18 min in lipid solution. Lidocaine (2% and 4%) in aqueous solution
      produced motor blockade lasting 41 +/- 4.18 and 65 +/- 6.12 min versus 39 +/-
      4.18 and 118 +/- 10.1 min, respectively, in lipid solution. Aqueous tetracaine
      (0.5%, 1%, and 2%) produced motor blockade of 106 +/- 9.62, 189 +/- 6.52, and 273
      +/- 26.8 min versus 284 +/- 14.7, 335 +/- 15.8, and 365 +/- 26.9 min,
      respectively, in their lipid counterparts. A control group of animals that
      received normal saline solution or iophendylate alone did not exhibit motor
      blockade. These results may be attributed to sustained release of local
      anesthetics from the lipid vehicle. Hence, lipid drug carriers may be effective
      in prolonging epidural anesthesia.

PMID- 1443710
TI  - Subblocking concentrations of local anesthetics: effects on impulse generation
      and conduction in single myelinated sciatic nerve axons in frog.
AB  - Phenomena seen in axons exposed to subblocking doses serve as the basis for
      interpreting clinical and behavioral observations during onset and recovery of
      peripheral nerve block. To delineate the changes in excitability and in impulse
      conduction caused by subblocking concentrations of local anesthetics (LAs) in
      myelinated peripheral nerve fibers, LAs were applied to excised frog sciatic
      nerves while impulse conduction was monitored in single axons. For concentrations
      ranging from 0.01 to 1.2 times the LA concentration needed to block impulse
      conduction, three measures of susceptibility to LA were made to quantify the
      action of the drugs on "resting" fibers (firing rates < or = 0.5 Hz): the
      increase in the threshold for electrical activation of impulses, the increase in
      conduction latency reflecting the slowing of impulse conduction in the region
      exposed to LA, and the "critical blocking concentration" of LA just sufficient to
      prevent impulse conduction in the recorded fiber. Wide interfiber variation in
      these variables was observed (e.g., for lidocaine, latency increases at block
      ranged from 66% to 257% of control, blocking concentrations ranged from 0.29 to
      1.40 mM), which was not correlated with fiber diameter (as indicated by resting
      conduction velocity). Mathematical modeling of impulse conduction in fibers
      exposed to LA demonstrated that the interfiber variation in susceptibility to LA
      block could result from interfiber differences in the density of sodium and
      potassium channels. The effects of LA were also studied in active fibers (firing
      rates > 0.5 Hz). Local anesthetics reversibly inhibited two normally occurring
      afteroscillations in membrane threshold related to afterpotentials following an
      impulse. These were "superexcitability," a transient lowering of threshold
      lasting as long as 1 s, and "depression," a phase of raised threshold peaking
      within 2-4 s after an impulse and recovering slowly over several minutes. Impulse
      activity also transiently increased the apparent potency of LAs. Such "use
      dependent" increases in threshold and decreases in conduction velocity showed
      kinetics that were agent specific, lasting 1 s after a burst of impulses for
      lidocaine and lasting > 10 s for bupivacaine. At low concentrations, within the
      range of nontoxic plasma concentrations after systemic administration, the
      predominant actions of LAs on conducting fibers were transient decreases in
      excitability and conduction velocity in combination with a reduction of intrinsic
      oscillatory aftereffects of impulse discharge. These effects may degrade decoding
      of information in discharge patterns without actually blocking conduction of
      infrequent impulses, suggesting how functional blockade of coordinated movement
      and perception may occur even without complete blockade of impulse conduction.

PMID- 1443711
TI  - Central nervous system toxicity of local anesthetic mixtures in the rat.
AB  - Local anesthetics are often administered as mixtures during regional anesthesia.
      This study investigated whether a synergistic or antagonistic interaction between
      amide/amide or amide/ester local anesthetic combinations is present with respect
      to central nervous system toxicity. For surgical preparation, rats were
      anesthetized with 0.8% halothane in 30% O2/balance N2O and mechanically
      ventilated. Mean arterial blood pressure and the electroencephalogram were
      continuously monitored. After surgery, the halothane was discontinued for 15 min.
      An intravenous infusion of solutions containing lidocaine alone, bupivacaine
      alone, or any of three mixtures of the two drugs was then begun and continued at
      a fixed rate until seizure activity was observed on the electroencephalogram.
      Total administered doses of both drugs were compared by isobolographic analysis.
      After a similar protocol, a second experiment was performed evaluating lidocaine,
      tetracaine, or any of three mixtures of those two drugs. In both experiments,
      normocapnia, normoxia, and normothermia were maintained for all rats. For
      mixtures of lidocaine/bupivacaine (P = 0.40) and lidocaine/tetracaine (P = 0.24),
      there was no evidence that a significant degree of either synergism or antagonism
      was present. At the onset of seizures, mean arterial pressure was lowest in the
      lidocaine-alone groups in both experiments. Increasing doses of either
      bupivacaine or tetracaine (with correspondingly decreasing doses of lidocaine)
      were associated with greater mean arterial pressure values at onset of seizures.
      We conclude that central nervous system toxic effects of amide/amide or
      amide/ester anesthetic combinations, such as might occur during accidental
      intravascular injection, are no more than when the drugs are administered
      alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443712
TI  - Locomotor activity after recovery from hypnosis: midazolam-morphine versus
      midazolam.
AB  - This study was performed to test the hypothesis that sedation after recovery from
      pharmacologic hypnosis is less pronounced if hypnosis is induced with a midazolam
      morphine combination compared with midazolam administered alone. Loss of the
      righting reflex was used as an index for the hypnotic effect and reduction of
      locomotor activity as an index for the sedative effect. One group of rats
      received midazolam (20 mg/kg i.v) and another group an equipotent (in relation to
      the hypnotic ef.fect) combination of midazolam (4 mg/kg i.v.) and morphine (1.3
      mg/kg i.v.). The duration of loss of the righting reflex in the midazolam and
      midazolam-morphine groups was 30 +/- 3 and 28 +/- 2 min, respectively (mean +/-
      SE). The difference between the groups in locomotor activity after recovery from
      hypnosis was very pronounced. The locomotor activity in the midazolam-morphine
      group at 1 and 2 h was seven and five times greater, respectively, than in the
      midazolam group (P < 0.005). The profound difference in locomotor activity for
      the two treatment groups was explained on the basis of the difference in the
      outcomes of midazolam-morphine interactions with regard to hypnosis (synergism)
      and sedation (summation). When the animals recovered from hypnosis, the synergism
      of the drug interaction ceased to be a contributing factor.

PMID- 1443713
TI  - Thermoregulatory vasoconstriction during propofol/nitrous oxide anesthesia in
      humans: threshold and oxyhemoglobin saturation.
AB  - To determine the thermoregulatory effects of propofol and nitrous oxide, we
      measured the threshold for peripheral vasoconstriction in seven volunteers over a
      total of 13 study days. We also evaluated the effect of vasoconstriction on
      oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2). Anesthesia was induced with an intravenous bolus
      dose of propofol (2 mg/kg), followed by an infusion of 180 micrograms.kg-1 x min
      1 for 15 min, and maintained with 60% nitrous oxide and propofol (80-160
      micrograms.kg-1 x min-1). Central and skin surface temperatures and SpO2 (using
      two different pulse oximeters) were measured continuously; plasma propofol
      concentrations and arterial PO2 were measured at 15-min intervals. Volunteers
      were cooled with a circulating water blanket until definitive peripheral
      vasoconstriction was detected. The tympanic membrane temperature triggering
      vasoconstriction was considered the thermoregulatory threshold. Vasoconstriction
      developed on seven study days during propofol/nitrous oxide anesthesia at a
      central temperature of 33.3 +/- 1.0 degrees C (mean +/- SD) and plasma propofol
      concentration of 3.9 +/- 1.1 micrograms/mL. The thresholds during anesthesia were
      significantly lower than those during the control period (36.7 +/- 0.3 degrees
      C), but the correlation between plasma propofol concentrations and
      vasoconstriction thresholds was poor. On the remaining six study days,
      vasoconstriction did not develop despite central temperatures ranging from 32.1
      to 32.7 degrees C. Corresponding propofol concentrations were 4.1-10.9
      micrograms/mL. These data suggest that anesthesia with propofol, in typical
      clinical concentrations, and 60% nitrous oxide substantially inhibits
      thermoregulatory vasoconstriction. Vasoconstriction increased SpO2 by
      approximately 2% without a significant concomitant change in PO2. The observed
      increase in SpO2 probably reflects decreased transmission of arterial pulsations
      to venous blood in the finger.

PMID- 1443714
TI  - Alfentanil-induced hypermetabolism, seizure, and histopathology in rat brain.
AB  - We evaluated the effect of alfentanil on hippocampal glucose utilization and
      histopathology associated with alfentanil-induced seizures. Three separate
      experiments were performed. First, anesthetized, paralyzed Long-Evans rats (n =
      15; 5 rats per group) were mechanically ventilated and randomly assigned to three
      groups: (a) control, 70% N2O and 30% O2 continued for 1 h; (b) low-dose
      alfentanil (150 micrograms/kg i.v. bolus), followed by infusion at 15
      micrograms.kg-1 x min-1 for 1 h without N2O; or (c) high-dose alfentanil (1000
      micrograms/kg i.v. bolus), followed by infusion at 100 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1
      for 1 h without N2O. After 1 h, [6-14C]glucose was injected intravenously for
      autoradiography. With high-dose alfentanil, there was increased glucose
      utilization in the ventral hippocampus and the lateral septal nucleus. In the
      second experiment, anesthetized, paralyzed Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 12; 4 rats
      per group) were mechanically ventilated, underwent insertion of hippocampal depth
      electrodes, and were randomly assigned to three groups: (a) control, 70% N2O and
      30% O2; (b) low-dose alfentanil (150 micrograms/kg i.v. bolus), with 70% N2O and
      30% O2; or (c) high-dose alfentanil (1000 micrograms/kg i.v. bolus), with 70% N2O
      and 30% O2. An epileptiform pattern was observed on hippocampal and subdermal
      electroencephalographic recordings in both alfentanil groups. In the third
      experiment, anesthetized, paralyzed Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 20) were
      mechanically ventilated and assigned to two groups: (a) control, 70% N2O and 30%
      O2 (n = 5) or 100% O2 (n = 5) continued for 1 h; or (b) alfentanil (2000
      micrograms/kg i.v. bolus), followed by infusion at 33.3 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1
      for 1 h with 100% O2. After tracheal extubation, the rats recovered overnight.
      Light-microscopic evaluation revealed hippocampal or amygdaloid damage in 6 of
      the 10 alfentanil-treated rats. High doses of alfentanil administered to rats can
      produce limbic system seizure activity with hypermetabolism associated with
      neuropathologic lesions.

PMID- 1443715
TI  - Time-course of respiratory depression after an alfentanil infusion-based
      anesthetic.
AB  - Postoperative respiratory depression after alfentanil administration has been
      described in several case reports. The effects of a prolonged alfentanil infusion
      on the CO2 response curve or cognitive function have not been studied. Twenty-one
      ASA physical status I or II patients were studied after a prolonged alfentanil
      infusion (> 90 min) to determine the incidence of postoperative respiratory
      depression, arterial O2 desaturation, and impairment of cognitive function. Each
      patient's recovery was observed at 30-min intervals for evidence of respiratory
      depression (utilizing the Read CO2 rebreathing method), desaturation by pulse
      oximetry (severe desaturation defined as arterial O2 saturation < 90%), and
      cognitive function (utilizing Trieger dot and digit substitution tests). Plasma
      samples were also examined for secondary elevations in alfentanil plasma
      concentrations. Significant depression of the CO2 response curve and cognitive
      function was found up to 1 h postoperatively. Arterial O2 desaturation was seen
      in 11 of 21 patients (52%). No correlation was found between arterial O2
      desaturation and cognitive function scores or CO2 rebreathing results. Increased
      depression of the CO2 response curve was not necessarily associated with severe
      desaturation episodes. A secondary increase in plasma alfentanil concentration
      was detected in 5 of the 21 patients (24%), but these patients did not experience
      further depression of the CO2 response curve. We conclude that prolonged
      alfentanil administration may result in severe arterial O2 desaturation with
      significant depression of the hypercapnic respiratory drive during the first hour
      in the postanesthesia care unit, even though the majority of our patients were
      easily aroused in response to verbal stimuli.

PMID- 1443716
TI  - R-phenylisopropyl-adenosine increases spinal cord blood flow after intrathecal
      injection in the rat.
AB  - The A1-adenosine receptor agonist, R-phenylisopropyl-adenosine (R-PIA),
      demonstrated antinociceptive properties in animal studies after intrathecal
      administration. In the evaluation of a drug for possible spinal injection in
      humans, the effects of intrathecal R-PIA on spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) were
      investigated using the laser-Doppler flow-metry technique in anesthetized rats.
      In low doses (0.1-1 nmol), no change in SCBF was recorded, whereas larger doses
      (10-100 nmol) caused a significant increase in SCBF. No change in systemic
      arterial blood pressure could be seen, except for a decrease after administration
      of the largest dose of R-PIA (100 nmol). It is concluded that R-PIA in doses of
      10 nmol and larger induces an increase in SCBF after intrathecal injection in
      anesthetized rats and that an increase in blood flow is seen before any effect on
      the systemic circulation is detected. It can also be deduced that the
      antinociceptive effects of R-PIA after intrathecal injection are not a
      consequence of spinal ischemia and that disturbances in local blood flow cannot
      be expected to constitute a neurotoxic factor.

PMID- 1443717
TI  - Changes in functional residual capacity and regional diaphragm lengths after
      upper abdominal surgery in anesthetized dogs.
AB  - The respiratory performance of the diaphragm may be altered by changes in
      mechanical or neural factors, or both, induced by upper abdominal surgery. We
      conducted this study to examine the effects of upper abdominal surgery on
      postoperative respiratory function. We studied resting lengths of four diaphragm
      regions, three in the costal and one in the crural diaphragm, with biplane video
      roentgenography in six dogs immediately after upper abdominal surgery and up to
      30 days postoperatively. Functional residual capacity was 16.7% smaller
      immediately after surgery compared with values obtained in the same animals after
      30 days. Simultaneously measured resting lengths of each of the diaphragm regions
      immediately after surgery were longer, on average by 8.3%, than 30 days
      postoperatively. During the postoperative course, resting diaphragm lengths
      gradually and uniformly decreased as functional residual capacity increased.
      Phrenic nerve stimulation in four other dogs immediately after identical surgery
      resulted in large diaphragm shortening (from 42% to 55%), indicating that neither
      the diaphragm nor phrenic nerves were injured by the surgical manipulation. We
      hypothesize that respiratory dysfunction after upper abdominal surgery may be, at
      least in part, attributed to a decreased central drive for breathing caused by
      activation of the afferent limb of an inhibitory reflex owing to stretching of
      the diaphragm.

PMID- 1443718
TI  - Direct measurement of nitrous oxide MAC and neurologic monitoring in rats during
      anesthesia under hyperbaric conditions.
AB  - The minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of nitrous oxide necessary to prevent
      purposeful movement in rats has not been directly measured; rather, it has been
      extrapolated because the required partial pressure exceeds 760 mm Hg, or 1 atm
      absolute pressure (ATA). Values reported have ranged from 1.36 to 2.20 ATA (136
      220 vol%, or 1034-1672 mm Hg). By maintaining general anesthesia at 2.25 ATA
      (1710 mm Hg), we directly measured the nitrous oxide MAC in 17 Long-Evans rats
      during mechanical ventilation and monitoring of two-channel electroencephalogram,
      compressed spectral array and cortical evoked potentials, electrocardiograph, and
      respiratory and anesthetic gases by mass spectrometry. After a minimal
      stabilization period of 30 min during ventilation by 1.8 ATA nitrous oxide and
      0.45 ATA oxygen, MAC measurements were begun. Each rat was given up to three
      noxious electrical stimulations of 50 V by 10-ms-duration pulses at 50/s for 45
      s. The partial pressure of nitrous oxide was decreased by approximately 10% after
      each negative response. The MAC was taken as the nitrous oxide concentration
      midway between that at which there was no response and that at which the rat
      moved purposefully. The nitrous oxide MAC in Long-Evans rats was determined to be
      1.55 +/- 0.16 ATA (mean +/- SD). Hyperbaric nitrous oxide decreased
      electroencephalogram wave frequency to a predominantly theta rhythm of increased
      amplitude. Cortical evoked potentials had decreased wave amplitudes and increased
      latencies with increasing partial pressures > 0.75 ATA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1443719
TI  - A comparative study of blood warmer performance.
AB  - Massive transfusions of refrigerator-temperature blood may induce hypothermia and
      life-threatening arrhythmias; for this reason a variety of devices have been
      developed for rapid blood warming. Blood warmers available in the United States
      use one of three warming technologies: dry heat, water bath, or countercurrent
      heat exchange. In the current study we evaluated blood warmers representative of
      each technology for speed and extent of heat transfer: the Fenwal blood warmer
      (Fenwal Laboratories; dry heat), the DW-1000 (American Pharmaseal Co.; dry heat),
      the FloTem IIe (DataChem Inc.; dry heat), the Hemokinetitherm (Dupaco Inc.; water
      bath), and the H250 and H500 (Level 1 Technologies; countercurrent heat
      exchange). Only one countercurrent heat instrument (the H500) was able to heat
      blood > or = 33 degrees C at target flow rates > or = 250 ml/min. Dry heat and
      water bath blood warmers were unable to warm blood > or = 33 degrees C at target
      flow rates > or = 100 ml/min. High resistance to flow with the proprietary tubing
      required for one instrument (the Hemokinetitherm) prevented tests of blood
      warming at rates > 150 ml/min. We found that instruments that used countercurrent
      technology warmed blood and saline more effectively than did blood warmers that
      used either dry heat or water bath technology. Our study also demonstrated the
      need for close control and standardization of experimental conditions in the
      evaluation of blood warming devices.

PMID- 1443720
TI  - Use of the laryngeal mask for tracheal intubation in patients at increased risk
      of aspiration of gastric contents.

PMID- 1443721
TI  - Neuromuscular blockade in a patient with active dermatomyositis.

PMID- 1443722
TI  - The effect of positive end-expiratory pressure on right-to-left shunting at the
      atrial level as documented by transesophageal echocardiography.

PMID- 1443723
TI  - Sexual illusions and propofol sedation.

PMID- 1443724
TI  - An epidemic of hypoxemia in two intensive care units: cause and human response.

PMID- 1443725
TI  - Lethal progression of heart block after prosthesis cementing with
      methylmethacrylate.

PMID- 1443726
TI  - Unconsciousness and apnea complicating parascalene brachial plexus block:
      possible subarachnoid block.

PMID- 1443727
TI  - Development of an acute withdrawal syndrome following the cessation of
      intrathecal baclofen in a patient with spasticity.

PMID- 1443728
TI  - Value of the laryngeal mask airway during thoracotomy.

PMID- 1443729
TI  - High-frequency oscillation may be useful in perioperative respiratory management
      of neonates with congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation.

PMID- 1443730
TI  - Memory during anesthesia.

PMID- 1443731
TI  - Partially paralyzed: a personal experience.

PMID- 1443732
TI  - Intractable cardiac arrest in children given succinylcholine.

PMID- 1443733
TI  - A double tube technique of adult fiberoptic assisted tracheal intubation.

PMID- 1443734
TI  - Laryngeal mask airway. Indications and contraindications.

PMID- 1443735
TI  - Volotrauma and the intravenous oxygenator in patients with adult respiratory
      distress syndrome.

PMID- 1443736
TI  - Use of the laryngeal mask airway as an alternative to a face mask during
      outpatient arthroscopy.
AB  - The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has recently become available in the United
      States, and several authors have suggested that it is superior to an anesthesia
      mask. To test this hypothesis, 64 patients undergoing outpatient arthroscopic
      knee surgery were randomly assigned to have anesthesia maintained via either a
      laryngeal mask airway (LMA) (n = 31) or a standard face mask (n = 33). Anesthesia
      was induced with fentanyl 1 microgram.kg-1 and propofol 2 mg.kg-1 and maintained
      with a variable-rate propofol infusion (50-180 micrograms.kg-1 x min) and nitrous
      oxide 67% in oxygen. The LMA was inserted without difficulty by inexperienced
      anesthesiologists in 90% of the patients. Problems associated with airway
      management were more common in patients in the face mask (control) group.
      Episodes of hemoglobin oxygen desaturation (< 95%) occurred in 52% of patients in
      the face mask group compared to only 13% in the LMA group (P < 0.05).
      Intraoperative airway manipulations were required in 15% of face mask patients
      (vs. 3% of the LMA group), and difficulties in maintaining an airway were
      reported by 24% of the resident anesthesiologists caring for patients in the face
      mask group (vs. none in the LMA group) (P < 0.05). Insertion of the LMA was not
      associated with any acute changes in hemodynamic values. Intraoperative
      hemodynamic values and anesthetic requirements did not differ significantly
      between the two treatment groups. There were no significant differences in the
      emergence and recovery times or in the incidence of postoperative sore throats
      between the two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443737
TI  - Clinical trials of an intravenous oxygenator in patients with adult respiratory
      distress syndrome.
AB  - In patients with severe adult respiratory distress syndrome, mechanical
      ventilation may not be able to ensure gas exchange sufficient to sustain life. We
      report the use of an intravenous oxygenator (IVOX) in five patients who were
      suffering from severe adult respiratory distress syndrome as a result of
      aspiration, fat embolism, or pneumonia. IVOX was used in an attempt to provide
      supplemental transfer of CO2 and O2 and thereby reduce O2 toxicity and
      barotrauma. All patients were tracheally intubated, sedated, and chemically
      paralyzed and had a PaO2 < 60 mmHg when the lungs were ventilated with an FIO2 =
      1.0 and a positive end expiratory pressure of > or = 5 cmH2O. The right common
      femoral vein was located surgically, and the patient was systemically
      anticoagulated with heparin. A hollow introducer tube was inserted into the right
      common femoral vein, and the furled IVOX was passed into the inferior vena cava
      and advanced until the tip was in the lower portion of the superior vena cava.
      IVOX use ranged from 2 h to 4 days. In this group of patients, IVOX gas exchange
      ranged from 21 to 87 ml x min-1 of CO2 and from 28 to 85 ml x min-1 of O2. One of
      the five patients survived and was discharged from the hospital. The IVOX
      transferred up to 28% of metabolic gas-exchange requirements. One patient with a
      small vena cava showed signs of caval obstruction. Three other patients
      demonstrated signs of a septic syndrome after the device was inserted.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443738
TI  - Clonidine reduces sympathetic activity but maintains baroreflex responses in
      normotensive humans.
AB  - Clonidine, an alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, has been shown to modify the
      hemodynamic responses to surgery. To examine further the mechanism underlying
      this action, we evaluated the neurocirculatory effects of oral clonidine and the
      ability of clonidine to alter the hemodynamic and sympathetic responses to a
      noxious stimulus (cold pressor test) and to baroreceptor perturbations in nine
      healthy men (ages 20-29 yr). Heart rate (ECG), blood pressure (radial artery
      catheter), central venous pressure (jugular vein), and cardiac output (impedance
      cardiography) were monitored before and after oral clonidine (0.3 mg) or placebo.
      Plasma norepinephrine was measured with high-performance liquid chromatography.
      Sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) to skeletal muscle blood vessels was recorded
      from a Tungsten needle positioned within the peroneal nerve. Baroreceptor testing
      was carried out by intravenous bolus injections of nitroprusside (100 micrograms)
      followed 60 s later by intravenous phenylephrine (150 micrograms). The slope of
      the linear relationship between the change in R-R interval versus the change in
      mean pressure (cardiac baroslope) or change in SNA versus change in diastolic
      pressure (sympathetic baroslope) was determined at baseline and 75 min after
      clonidine or placebo. In addition, peak responses to the cold pressor test (60-s
      hand immersion in ice water) were determined at the same intervals. Clonidine
      progressively decreased blood pressure and muscle SNA over the 75-min session.
      Clonidine subtly reduced the sympathoexcitation produced by the cold pressor test
      but did not alter the gain of the baroreceptor reflex regulating cardiac interval
      or peripheral SNA; baroslope relationships were simply shifted leftward (to
      operate at lower pressures).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443739
TI  - The influence of propofol with and without nitrous oxide on cerebral blood flow
      velocity and CO2 reactivity in humans.
AB  - The cerebrovascular response to CO2 has been reported to be preserved during
      propofol anesthesia, but no comparison with awake control values has been made,
      and the additional influence of N2O has not been investigated. Using the
      noninvasive technique of transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, this study
      investigated the cerebrovascular response to varying levels of PaCO2 while awake
      and during anesthesia with propofol and propofol/N2O. Seven adults without
      systemic diseases undergoing nonneurologic surgery were studied. A pulsed-wave
      Doppler monitor was used to measure the mean middle cerebral artery flow velocity
      (Vmca) during varying levels of PaCO2 (25-55 mmHg) under the following
      conditions: 1) awake; 2) propofol 2.5 mg.kg-1 bolus followed by continuous
      infusion of 150 micrograms.kg-1.min-1; and 3) propofol as in the condition above
      plus 70% N2O. During the awake study condition, hypocapnia was induced by
      voluntary hyperventilation, and hypercapnia was induced with rebreathing of 7%
      CO2 in a closed circuit. During the anesthetized study conditions, hypocapnia and
      hypercapnia were induced by adjustment of minute ventilation. A minimum of five
      to six simultaneous Vmca and PaCO2 measurements were obtained under each of the
      study conditions. Systemic blood pressure was monitored via a radial arterial
      catheter, and phenylephrine was administered if mean arterial blood pressure
      decreased below 60 mmHg (phenylephrine was used in three of five patients in the
      propofol-N2O group). Linear regression and analysis of covariance were used for
      statistical analysis of Vmca-PaCO2 relationships.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1443740
TI  - Inhaled nitric oxide after mitral valve replacement in patients with chronic
      pulmonary artery hypertension.
AB  - Patients with mitral valve disease can develop pulmonary artery hypertension that
      persists after mitral valve replacement. In 1987, nitric oxide (NO) was reported
      to be an important factor accounting for the biologic activity of endothelium
      derived relaxing factor. Inhaled NO was subsequently reported to be a selective
      pulmonary vasodilator in animals and patients. Therefore we investigated the
      vasodilating effect of inhaled NO in patients with mild pulmonary artery
      hypertension after mitral valve replacement. Six patients who underwent mitral
      valve replacement for mitral stenosis presented with a mean pulmonary artery
      pressure greater than 25 mmHg within 24 h after surgery. During mechanical
      ventilation at FIO2 0.5, NO (36.8-38.4 ppm) was breathed for 10 min. Hemodynamic
      data were recorded before NO, after 10 min of NO inhalation, and 30 min after the
      end of NO inhalation. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) hemodynamic response
      to inhaled NO included a transient decrease in systolic (-10%), diastolic (-8%),
      and mean (-10%) pulmonary artery pressures; a decrease in pulmonary vascular
      resistance (-22%); an increase in mixed venous hemoglobin O2 saturation (+6%);
      and a decrease in arteriovenous O2 content difference (-7%). During NO
      inhalation, there was no change in systemic arterial or pulmonary wedge
      pressures. Methemoglobin levels remained < 1%. Inhalation of this concentration
      of NO for 10 min causes transient pulmonary artery vasodilation and hemodynamic
      improvement in patients with mild chronic pulmonary artery hypertension after
      mitral valve replacement.

PMID- 1443741
TI  - A comparison of intrathecal, epidural, and intravenous sufentanil for labor
      analgesia.
AB  - A number of recent studies have suggested that the analgesic effects of highly
      lipid-soluble opioids are similar when these agents are administered either
      epidurally or intravenously. We sought to test whether the lipid-soluble opioid
      sufentanil was more effective when administered intrathecally than when
      administered epidurally or intravenously. Twenty-four women during active labor
      received sufentanil 10 micrograms either intrathecally (n = 9), epidurally (n =
      8), or intravenously (n = 7), using a combined spinal-epidural technique. The
      sufentanil was administered alone, without concomitant local anesthetics.
      Analgesia was assessed using the visual analogue score as well as the time
      elapsed from the administration of study drug to the patient's request for
      additional analgesia via the epidural catheter (bupivacaine 0.25%). The median
      duration of analgesia (median, interquartile range) was 84 (70-92) min in the
      intrathecal group, 30 (23-32) min in the epidural group, and 34 (17-30) min in
      the intravenous group (P < 0.001). The intrathecal group showed rapid and
      significant decrease in visual analogue scale scores, whereas visual analogue
      scale scores in the other two groups did not decrease and remained significantly
      elevated compared to those of the intrathecal group at all observation points.
      Side effects were limited to pruritus in 3 patients (2 moderate and 1 severe) in
      the intrathecal group. No patient developed post-dural puncture headache. We
      conclude that sufentanil 10 micrograms intrathecally provides rapid and effective
      analgesia of 1-2-h duration during labor. Epidural and intravenous use of this
      dose of sufentanil did not provide evidence of satisfactory analgesia.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443742
TI  - Effects of isoflurane and nitrous oxide in subanesthetic concentrations on memory
      and responsiveness in volunteers.
AB  - Awareness, defined as conscious memory during anesthesia, has been a problem in
      anesthesia practice. To determine the effect of isoflurane and nitrous oxide
      (N2O) on memory, 17 healthy adult volunteers were randomly assigned to receive
      isoflurane or N2O and received the alternate agent 1-2 weeks later. Each
      volunteer was studied at four end-tidal concentrations of each agent,
      consecutively 0.15, 0.3, 0.45, and 0.15 times the minimum alveolar concentration
      (MAC) for isoflurane or 0.3, 0.45, 0.6, and 0.3 times MAC for N2O. After 15-min
      equilibration at each end-tidal concentration, volunteers were tested for
      voluntary response to command and were presented with verbal information to be
      recalled after anesthesia. Volunteers were interviewed on the day after the study
      and tested for conscious and unconscious memory of the information presented
      during anesthetic administration. MAC-awake (the end-tidal concentration
      preventing voluntary response in 50% of volunteers) was 0.38 (0.35-0.42) times
      MAC for isoflurane and 0.64 (0.61-0.68) MAC for N2O (means, 95% confidence
      limits), indicating isoflurane to be more potent than N2O in suppressing
      voluntary response (P = .0001). Memory data were analyzed in 12 volunteers who
      completed the study and in whom the allocation of information to be recalled was
      counterbalanced among agents and concentrations of agents. Memory was decreased
      by increasing concentrations of both agents. Conscious memory of the information
      presented during anesthetic administration was prevented by 0.45 MAC isoflurane
      but not completely prevented by 0.6 MAC N2O. Unconscious memory (defined as
      memory of information without conscious recognition) occurred during
      administration of both agents and was prevented by 0.45 MAC isoflurane but not by
      0.6 MAC N2O. Isoflurane was more potent in suppressing memory than MAC-equivalent
      concentrations of N2O. Using models of the relationship between dose of agent and
      suppression of memory, a dose of both agents was estimated that suppressed memory
      by 50% (ED50). The ED50 was 0.20 MAC for isoflurane (95% confidence intervals,
      0.15-0.25), and 0.50 MAC for N2O (95% confidence intervals 0.43-0.55). We
      conclude that isoflurane and N2O suppress memory in a dose-dependent manner, and
      that isoflurane is more potent in preventing memory and voluntary response to
      command than MAC-equivalent concentrations of N2O.

PMID- 1443743
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of rocuronium bromide (ORG 9426) in patients with normal renal
      function or patients undergoing cadaver renal transplantation.
AB  - To determine the effect of end-stage renal disease on the pharmacokinetics of
      reocuronium bromide (ORG 9426), a new nondepolarizing monoquaternary steroidal
      neuromuscular blocking drug, the authors administered 600 micrograms/kg
      rocuronium (2 x ED95) intravenously to ten patients undergoing cadaver renal
      transplantation and ten healthy patients undergoing elective minor surgery
      (controls). All patients were anesthetized with nitrous oxide (50-70% in oxygen)
      and isoflurane (end-tidal concentrations of 1.2 +/- 0.5% and 0.8 +/- 0.2%, mean
      +/- SD, for control and transplant groups, respectively). Plasma concentrations
      of rocuronium were determined by capillary gas chromatography. A population-based
      pharmacokinetic analysis (NONMEM) was used to determine typical values, standard
      errors, and interindividual variability for the pharmacokinetic parameters and to
      determine whether these values differed between control and renal transplant
      patients. Total plasma clearance (2.89 +/- 0.25 ml.kg-1.min-1, mean +/- SE) and
      volume of the central compartment (76.9 +/- 10.6 ml/kg) did not differ between
      control and renal transplant patients, whereas volume of distribution at steady
      state was greater in renal transplant patients (264 +/- 19 ml/kg) than in control
      patients (207 +/- 14 ml/kg). This resulted in a longer elimination half life in
      renal transplant patients (97.2 +/- 17.3 min) compared to controls (70.9 +/- 4.7
      min). The authors conclude that renal failure and renal transplantation alter the
      distribution but not the clearance of rocuronium.

PMID- 1443744
TI  - Prevalence of latex sensitization among hospital physicians occupationally
      exposed to latex gloves.
AB  - Patients undergoing surgery who have a history of occupational exposure to latex
      gloves may be predisposed to intraoperative anaphylaxis caused by latex allergy.
      Thus, medical personnel who routinely wear latex gloves may be at higher risk
      than the general population. The prevalence of latex sensitization has not been
      reported previously among physicians using latex gloves in a North American
      hospital setting. Using a latex skin prick test (SPT), we determined the
      prevalence of latex sensitization among 101 staff anesthesiologists,
      radiologists, and surgeons who regularly use latex gloves and among 100 atopic
      controls who were not occupationally exposed to latex gloves. Latex SPT was
      positive in 10 of 101 physicians (rho = 0.099; 95% confidence interval [CI]
      0.041, 0.157) and 3 of 100 controls. Subgroup analysis showed that 9 of 38 atopic
      physicians were SPT-positive (rho = 0.237; 95% CI 0.102, 0.372). Atopic
      physicians were more likely to be latex SPT-positive than either nonatopic
      physicians or atopic controls (atopic vs. nonatopic physicians: P = 0.0006, odds
      ratio = 19.2, 95% CI 15.4, 23.1; atopic physicians vs. atopic controls: P =
      0.0005, odds ratio = 9.1, 95% CI 7.5, 11.6). We conclude that compared to
      nonatopic physicians exposed to latex, or nonexposed atopic controls, atopic
      physicians who wear latex gloves are at increased risk of latex allergy.

PMID- 1443745
TI  - Respiratory interaction after spinal anesthesia and sedation with midazolam.
AB  - The combined use of midazolam and spinal anesthesia is common in clinical
      practice. Despite the known potential for each to alter ventilation, the effect
      of their interaction has not been examined. Nineteen healthy volunteers were
      studied to assess the impact of intravenous midazolam (0.05 or 0.075 mg/kg),
      spinal anesthesia (T3-T8; mean level, T6), and their combination on resting
      ventilation and ventilatory responses to progressive hyperoxic hypercapnia.
      Resting ventilatory pattern was altered significantly by each condition.
      Midazolam caused a 29% decrease in resting tidal volume and a 24% decrease in
      mean inspiratory flow rate, while respiratory frequency increased by 14% and
      minute ventilation remained unchanged. By contrast, spinal anesthesia alone
      caused a 32% increase in tidal volume, a 24% increase in mean inspiratory flow
      rate, and a 13% increase in minute ventilation accompanied by a 14% decrease in
      respiratory frequency. The combination of midazolam and spinal anesthesia caused
      a significant decrease in minute ventilation (19%), tidal volume (28%), and mean
      inspiratory flow rate (27%), all of which were significantly more than the
      predicted sum of the individual interventions. Midazolam and spinal anesthesia
      each produced a significant decrease in hypercapnic ventilatory response slope,
      whereas their combination provoked no net change in hypercapnic ventilatory
      response slope. Interpretation of the hypercapnic ventilatory response data was
      complicated by shifts in the position of the ventilatory response curve,
      particularly under the spinal anesthesia condition. It is concluded that
      intravenous midazolam depresses resting ventilation, spinal anesthesia stimulates
      resting ventilation, and their combination has a modest synergistic effect of
      depressing resting ventilation.

PMID- 1443746
TI  - The antiemetic effect of lorazepam after outpatient strabismus surgery in
      children.
AB  - The high incidence of postoperative emesis after strabismus surgery in pediatric
      outpatients can be reduced by the prophylactic administration of droperidol 75
      micrograms/kg intravenously. However, this may be associated with profound
      sedation, delayed discharge, dysphoria, agitation, and extrapyramidal symptoms in
      this population. Because lorazepam used as an antiemetic in children during
      chemotherapy decreased the incidence of nausea and vomiting, we compared the
      antiemetic effects of lorazepam and droperidol in a randomized, double-blind,
      placebo-controlled study of 129 healthy children undergoing surgical correction
      of strabismus. The children, aged 1-13 yr, were randomly allocated into three
      groups. The children in group 1 received droperidol 75 micrograms/kg
      intravenously; those in group 2 received lorazepam 10 micrograms/kg
      intravenously; and those in group 3 received placebo. Anesthesia consisted of
      halothane, nitrous oxide in oxygen, and atracurium. Study drugs were administered
      intravenously after induction of anesthesia but before surgery. In children 3-13
      yr old, administration of either lorazepam or droperidol was associated with a
      lower (P < 0.024) incidence of postoperative vomiting. There was no difference
      between the antiemetic effect of lorazepam and that of droperidol. The incidence
      of postoperative agitation was greater in the droperidol group (P < 0.001) than
      in the lorazepam and placebo groups. Postdischarge vomiting was less (P < 0.009)
      in children younger than 3 yr of age. Lorazepam, similar to droperidol, has an
      antiemetic effect in outpatient children 3-13 yr old undergoing strabismus
      correction, but it is associated with less postoperative agitation than is
      droperidol.

PMID- 1443747
TI  - No correlation between quantitative electroencephalographic measurements and
      movement response to noxious stimuli during isoflurane anesthesia in rats.
AB  - A meaningful use of the electroencephalogram (EEG) for monitoring depth of
      anesthesia has proven elusive. Although changes in the EEG with changing
      anesthetic dose or concentration have been noted for 60 yr, it has been difficult
      to demonstrate reliable, quantitative correlation between the EEG and other
      physiologic measures of anesthetic depth. We attempted to correlate several
      quantitative EEG measurements in rats, including average amplitude, spectral edge
      frequency, and burst suppression ratio, with the movement response to
      supramaximal noxious stimulation. We anesthetized 21 Sprague-Dawley rats with
      isoflurane 1.5% and allowed them to breathe spontaneously. After equilibration,
      EEG was recorded for off-line analysis; then a noxious stimulation was delivered
      with a tail clamp and the somatic response noted. Isoflurane concentration was
      adjusted up and down, and the EEG and movement response to tail clamp were
      assessed at each level until the minimum alveolar concentration was determined in
      each rat. We found no EEG dose response to increasing inspired concentrations of
      isoflurane, except for an increasing degree of burst suppression. We found no
      difference in any parameter between rats that responded and those that did not
      respond to stimuli at a given concentration of isoflurane. Finally, we found that
      the presence of burst suppression did not predict lack of response.

PMID- 1443748
TI  - The general anesthetic potency of propofol and its dependence on hydrostatic
      pressure.
AB  - Although plasma concentrations of propofol during anesthesia are well known, the
      free concentration remains unknown because of uncertainties regarding plasma
      protein binding, interaction with other protein-bound substances, the level of
      binding to its lipid carrier, and the use of adjuvants. At elevated surrounding
      pressure, all general anesthetics require higher concentrations to reach adequate
      levels of anesthesia. To determine the anesthetic potency of propofol at
      equilibrium conditions and to study the effects of pressure on propofol-induced
      anesthesia, Rana pipiens tadpoles were exposed to different concentrations of
      pure, not emulsified, propofol in aqueous solution. Anesthesia was defined as
      loss of the righting reflex. Ten animals per concentration were used, and each
      experiment was conducted twice. Pressure experiments were performed with
      nonanesthetized tadpoles and urethane-anesthetized tadpoles as control groups.
      Propofol concentrations were measured spectrophotometrically. At 1 atmosphere
      absolute (atm abs), a semilogarithmic sigmoidal concentration-response curve was
      obtained with a half-maximal effect of propofol at 2.2 +/- 0.22 microM (EC50;
      mean +/- SE). Increased pressure shifted the concentration-response curve to the
      right. The EC50 increased linearly with increasing pressure up to 121 atm abs
      (EC50 at 121 atm abs = 4.1 +/- 0.41 microM). For pressure greater than 121 atm
      abs, an increased excitability of the tadpoles made it difficult to distinguish
      the righting reflex from involuntary movements. The saturated solubility of
      propofol in aqueous solution was found to be 1.0 +/- 0.02 mM (mean +/- SD), and
      the octanol/water partition coefficient was 4,300 +/- 280. Propofol adhered to
      the correlation between anesthetic potency and octanol/water partition
      coefficient exhibited by other general anesthetics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1443749
TI  - Local anesthetic-induced conduction block and nerve fiber injury in
      streptozotocin-diabetic rats.
AB  - Patients with diabetes may have peripheral neuropathy, which may have clinical
      implications for the use of regional nerve block. The effects of local
      anesthetics on nerve conduction and nerve fiber injury were tested in control
      rats and at 4 weeks after the onset of diabetes in rats injected with
      streptozotocin (50 mg/kg intraperitoneally). Nerve conduction was assessed by
      recording evoked electrical activity in hindpaw muscles following ipsilateral
      electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve near the hip. Block of motor nerve
      conduction was quantified by recording the amplitude of the evoked response at 1
      min intervals for up to 15 min after the injection of 500 microliters 1%
      lidocaine HCl or procaine HCl into the midthigh next to the sciatic nerve. In
      control animals, procaine was much less effective than lidocaine in producing
      conduction block. The rate and magnitude of lidocaine-induced conduction block
      were not significantly different between control and diabetic groups. However,
      conduction block due to procaine was sufficiently enhanced in diabetic rats to
      become comparable to that of lidocaine-treated control nerves. Long-lasting
      injury was assessed in sciatic nerve harvested 2 days after the extraneural
      injection of saline or 2 or 4% lidocaine HCl. Using a light microscope with a
      superimposed grid, nerve edema was quantified as the proportion of intersection
      points falling on extracellular space. Lidocaine induced edema in both control
      and diabetic nerves, but 4% lidocaine induced significantly more edema in
      diabetic nerves than in controls. Nerve fiber injury, based on light microscopic
      scoring of axonal degeneration and demyelination, was not observed in saline
      treated nerves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443750
TI  - Effects of propofol and thiopental in isolated rat aorta and pulmonary artery.
AB  - This study was performed to determine if direct arterial dilating actions of
      propofol contribute to the drug's hypotensive actions. The effects of propofol
      were compared with those of thiopental on isolated vascular ring preparations
      from rat thoracic aorta and pulmonary artery. Thoracic aortic ring responses were
      evaluated in the presence and absence of endothelium, indomethacin, and N omega
      nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (LNAME; a specific inhibitor of endothelium-derived
      relaxing factor-nitric oxide [EDRF/NO] synthase). Pulmonary artery responses were
      investigated with intact endothelium. After the induction of active isometric
      force by a predetermined EC50 dose of phenylephrine for each ring, effects of
      propofol (30, 100, 300 microM) and thiopental (10, 30, 100 microM) were examined.
      Propofol caused significant vasodilation in endothelium-intact, endothelium
      denuded, and LNAME-treated aortic rings. In the endothelium-intact aortic and
      pulmonary artery rings, the initial vasodilation due to 30 and 100 microM
      propofol showed gradual and partial recovery over 15 min; 300 microM propofol
      caused sustained vasodilation. Endothelium-denuded rings and LNAME-pretreated
      endothelium-intact rings showed constant and sustained vasodilation with all
      propofol concentrations. Propofol also caused marked vasodilation in pulmonary
      arteries. In contrast, thiopental had no vasodilating effect in aortic or
      pulmonary artery preparations. In control experiments, propofol vehicle
      (Intralipid) also had no effect on vascular rings. Indomethacin pretreatment
      induced a dose-dependent vasoconstriction by thiopental in endothelium-intact
      rings and decreased the vasodilation due to propofol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1443751
TI  - Direct effects of propofol on myocardial contractility in in situ canine hearts.
AB  - The pronounced decrease in arterial blood pressure evident during anesthetic
      induction with propofol has raised the possibility that propofol has a direct
      negative inotropic effect. Previous attempts to evaluate this mechanism in vivo
      have been inconclusive because of confounding variables associated with
      intravenous administration of propofol. Accordingly, in the current study, steady
      state changes in myocardial contractility and related hemodynamic parameters were
      assessed during intracoronary infusions of propofol in seven open-chest dogs
      anesthetized with fentanyl and midazolam. The left anterior descending coronary
      artery (LAD) was cannulated and perfused at controlled pressure (100 mmHg) with
      normal arterial blood. In LAD-perfused myocardium, contractility was evaluated
      from measurements of percent segmental shortening (%SS) obtained with ultrasonic
      crystals. Coronary blood flow in LAD was measured electromagnetically and used to
      calculate myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2; Fick principle) and coronary
      propofol concentration. Propofol was infused into the LAD at 150, 300, 600, and
      1,200 micrograms/min (P-150, P-300, P-600, P-1,200). These infusion rates yielded
      calculated blood concentrations of 7 +/- 1, 15 +/- 1, 26 +/- 2, and 50 +/- 5
      micrograms.ml-1, respectively. The calculated blood concentrations at P-150 were
      in the clinical range, whereas those at P-300, P-600, and P-1,200 were
      supratherapeutic. P-150 had no effect on %SS, whereas higher infusion rates
      caused decreases in %SS. Changes in MVO2 by propofol generally paralleled changes
      in %SS. At P-150 and P-300, coronary blood flow was proportional to MVO2, whereas
      at P-600 and P-1,200, coronary blood flow was in excess of the prevailing MVO2,
      resulting in increased coronary venous oxygen tension.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1443752
TI  - Sleep disruption and increased apneas after pontine microinjection of morphine.
AB  - The medial pontine reticular formation (mPRF) is a cholinoceptive brain stem
      region known to play a key role in regulating rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and
      state-dependent ventilatory depression. Numerous lines of evidence have shown
      that opioids inhibit both cholinergic neurotransmission and REM sleep. The
      present study examined the hypothesis that morphine applied to the cholinoceptive
      mPRF would inhibit REM sleep and alter ventilation. In six cats, guide cannulas
      were chronically implanted to permit pontine microinjection of morphine sulfate,
      naloxone, and the cholinergic agonist carbachol. After each mPRF microinjection,
      2-h polygraphic recordings quantified respiratory frequency and the percent of
      time spent in states of wakefulness, non-REM sleep, and REM sleep. The results
      show that mPRF administration of morphine significantly inhibited REM sleep and
      that this REM sleep inhibitory effect was blocked by pretreating the mPRF with
      naloxone. Apneic episodes were increased after injection of morphine alone, and
      the apneas were decreased by the cholinergic agonist carbachol. The results also
      demonstrated that the ability of microinjected morphine to inhibit REM sleep was
      dose-dependent and site-dependent. Considered together, the site-localization,
      pharmacologic blocking, and dose-response data support the hypothesis that
      specific regions of the mPRF can contribute to the long-recognized ability of
      morphine to inhibit REM sleep and alter respiratory control.

PMID- 1443753
TI  - Histologic examination of the rat central nervous system after intrathecal
      administration of human beta-endorphin.
AB  - The objective of this study was to evaluate histologically the toxicity of human
      beta-endorphin on the rat central nervous system after intrathecal
      administration. Animals received a single injection of 5 micrograms (n = 9) or 50
      micrograms (n = 10) on each of four consecutive days, while others received 50
      micrograms (n = 8) as a single dose. The control groups received either
      physiologic saline (n = 10) during each of four consecutive days or had sham
      operations (n = 4). Tests for nociception (tail-flick latency), motor function,
      and reflexes (righting reflex, eye-blink reflex, and inclined plane) were
      performed 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min after injection. Both dosages produced a
      dose-dependent impact on these parameters. In the 50-micrograms group, there were
      no significant differences in analgesia between the first and the fourth doses
      injected. The 50-micrograms dose produced catalepsy in some animals. All changes
      returned to baseline within 24 h. One animal in the 50-micrograms group developed
      hind limb paralysis after a single injection. Histologic sections from brain,
      brain stem, and spinal cord were prepared. No changes in histology were found
      except for that in the paretic animal, which had anoxic changes in the
      hippocampus and other cortical areas. Human beta-endorphin produced no
      neurotoxicity. The effect on nociception, reflexes, and motor function confirmed
      the results of previous studies.

PMID- 1443754
TI  - Impact on knowledge and practice of a multiregional long-term care facility
      infection control training program.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Few affordable training opportunities are specifically designed for
      the long-term care facility infection control practitioner. There is also little
      evidence of the success of training in improving infection control practices. The
      Nebraska Infection Control Network developed a 2-day basic skills training
      program for Midwestern long-term care facility infection control practitioners
      that was later disseminated to eastern and western training sites. In this study
      we examined the effectiveness of the training program in terms of trainee
      knowledge and practice. METHODS: From 1986 to 1990, a total of 17 courses
      conducted at the three sites were attended by a total of 266 infection control
      practitioners. Trainees completed a 40-item multiple choice test before and after
      training to evaluate their knowledge gain. Implementation of eight key infection
      control practices and time devoted to infection control duties were measured
      before training and at 3 and 12 months after training. Implementation of
      infection control practices was also evaluated in a second study, with infection
      control practitioners randomly assigned to trained and wait-control conditions.
      RESULTS: Significant increases after training were found at each site for both
      knowledge and implementation measures. These increases were maintained at 12
      months follow-up. Time devoted to infection control duties increased
      significantly at the midwest and western sites but not at the eastern site. In
      the second study, significant differences were found between the trained and the
      wait-control group in use of infection control practices, providing evidence for
      a causal relationship between training and increased use of practices.
      CONCLUSIONS: The training program was effective in producing improvements in
      knowledge and implementation of recommended infection control practices in long
      term care facilities. These improvements were consistent across three diverse
      geographic areas. There were some specific geographic differences.

PMID- 1443755
TI  - A retrospective study of nosocomial pneumonia at a long-term care facility.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Results of a passive surveillance system (pneumonia confirmed by x
      ray examination) suggested that in 1989 a total of 187 cases of nosocomial
      pneumonia had occurred at the Canandaigua Veterans Administration Medical Center
      among 250 long-term care patients. METHODS: A retrospective study was undertaken
      to validate cases and to enumerate risk factors. A chart review showed that 136
      of 187 cases (72%) met predetermined criteria for nosocomial pneumonia. RESULTS:
      Three nursing units characterized as at high risk had a pneumonia rate of 1.90
      per 1000 patient days, as compared with a rate of 0.70 cases per 1000 patient
      days on the two other units. There were no differences in age, mean white blood
      cell count, or clinical symptoms between high- and average-risk patients. Two
      thirds of all patients had a history of chronic aspiration. High-risk patients
      were more likely to be confined to bed, to have a debilitating neurologic
      disease, and to require tube feedings. Twenty percent of patients on high-risk
      units died of nosocomial pneumonia or with nosocomial pneumonia as a contributory
      factor. CONCLUSIONS: Facility-associated pneumonia is an important cause of
      morbidity and mortality in long-term care facilities.

PMID- 1443756
TI  - Bacteremia in transplant recipients: a prospective study of demographics,
      etiologic agents, risk factors, and outcomes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Bacteremic infections are a major cause of death among organ
      transplant recipients. We sought to identify the risk factors associated with
      death and examine the timing of the bacteremic episode after operation to
      recognize patients who may benefit from perioperative prophylactic antibiotic
      therapy. METHODS: A total of 125 episodes of bacteremia or fungemia in 16 heart,
      26 kidney, and 70 liver recipients were monitored prospectively in 1 year.
      RESULTS: The urinary tract was the most frequent portal for kidney recipients,
      the gastrointestinal and biliary tracts were frequent for liver recipients, and
      the lung was frequent in heart recipients. Heart and liver recipients were more
      severely ill at the time of bacteremia and had bacteremia sooner after operation.
      Death at 14 days after onset of bacteremia was 33% in heart recipients, 24% in
      liver recipients, and 11% in kidney recipients. Risk of death was associated with
      the severity of the underlying condition of the transplant recipient, the source
      of the bacteremia, and the microbial agent. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and
      Enterobacter species had fatality rates of 47% and 63%, respectively. P.
      aeruginosa and Enterobacter were also most commonly associated with failures of
      perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS: There are distinct clinical
      patterns of bacteremia in transplant recipients. The emergence of P. aeruginosa
      and Enterobacter species in the immediate postoperative period appeared to be a
      significant cause of morbidity and death among transplant recipients.

PMID- 1443757
TI  - Emergence and control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a
      children's hospital and pediatric long-term care facility.
AB  - BACKGROUND: After a 6-year quiescence, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
      aureus (MRSA) was isolated from 30 patients in a children's hospital and a
      pediatric long-term care facility from November 1987 through April 1989. After
      six nosocomial cases had occurred at the children's hospital, increased infection
      control measures directed at MRSA were initiated in August 1988. Because MRSA had
      been identified in three patients in the pediatric long-term care facility within
      24 hours of their admission to the children's hospital, other patients
      transferred from the pediatric long-term care facility to the children's hospital
      were isolated and screened for MRSA. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of
      these patients and evaluated their response to therapy with rifampin alone or in
      combination with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. RESULTS: In the 8-month period
      after initiation of infection control measures, MRSA was identified in 10
      residents of the pediatric long-term care facility; there was also one nosocomial
      children's hospital case. Phage typing showed that one MRSA strain predominated
      in patients at the pediatric long-term care facility but did not implicate this
      strain as the source for MRSA introduction into the children's hospital. Of 16
      patients with MRSA who completed therapy and were available for follow-up, 13
      (81%) had elimination of colonization. CONCLUSION: Prompt institution of MRSA
      surveillance, barrier isolation, and therapy to eliminate colonization should be
      considered in hospitals with a new introduction of MRSA.

PMID- 1443758
TI  - The problem of transfusion-associated acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in
      Africa: a quantitative approach.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Transfusion-associated AIDS accounts for 10% of all cases of AIDS in
      Africa. The risk of HIV-1 contamination in transfusions continues to exist, even
      in countries where blood products are screened, because of limitations in test
      sensitivity, human error, and the window period. Furthermore, 30 African
      countries do not screen all of their blood products because of resource
      limitations. METHODS: This study used decision analysis to compare the survival
      outcomes of severely anemic patients who are transfused with those of patients
      who are not transfused. Sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: When 5% of
      the blood supply is HIV-1 contaminated, every patient with a 6.6% or greater risk
      of dying from anemia should be transfused. Detailed results are provided for a
      wide range of HIV-1 contamination rates. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a
      method for developing and evaluating locality-specific transfusion guidelines.
      This method can be applied to other regions, including the United States, and to
      other diseases transmitted by blood products.

PMID- 1443759
TI  - Design and dissemination of a multiregional long-term care infection control
      training program.
AB  - Long-term care facilities have only recently begun to receive attention in the
      area of infection control. A training program was developed in Nebraska to help
      supply practitioners with knowledge and techniques designed specifically for the
      long-term care environment. This program's success led to its implementation in
      other regions. The regional extensions of the program were designed to operate
      with independent faculty but standardized course materials.

PMID- 1443760
TI  - Determinants of failure in superficial femoral artery angioplasty.
AB  - Although results of iliac artery balloon angioplasty have been shown to be good,
      there are much less data regarding initial success and durability of superficial
      femoral artery (SFA) dilation. The authors retrospectively reviewed the results
      of 22 patients treated for 27 SFA lesions between 1981 and 1986. Mean age was
      64.5 years (fifty-five to seventy-six). Results were analyzed with respect to
      initial, early (< twelve months), and late (> twelve months) angiographic and
      clinical success. Indications were claudication (22), nonhealing ulcer (3), and
      rest pain (2). Mean follow-up was 30.9 months; 100% at one year and 92% at two
      years. Initial failure occurred in 9 (33%) lesions. There were 2 early and 2 late
      failures for a cumulative patency rate of 90.3% and 78% at one and two years,
      respectively. Predictors of clinical failure were: (1) initial--age, SFA
      occlusion, and angioplasty rating; (2) early--age, SFA occlusion, degree of
      atherosclerosis, and angioplasty rating; (3) late--angioplasty rating. There were
      3 complications (11%). The authors conclude that: (1) 33% of attempted SFA
      angioplasties were initially unsuccessful and that the cumulative patency rate
      was 78% at two years. (2) Age is predictive of initial and early failure; SFA
      occlusion, of initial and early failure; degree of atherosclerosis, of early
      failure; and angioplasty appearance, of initial, early, and late failures. (3)
      Complications did not result in limb loss or require surgery.

PMID- 1443761
TI  - Immediate anticoagulation for intracardiac thrombus in acute cardioembolic
      stroke.
AB  - To assess the efficacy of immediate anticoagulation therapy on intracardiac
      thrombus formation in acute cardioembolic stroke, serial two-dimensional
      echocardiographic examinations were performed in 25 patients with acute
      cardioembolic stroke. Anticoagulation therapy was commenced within two days of
      onset in 7 patients (group A) but not in 18 patients (group B). Appearance or
      enlargement of intracardiac thrombi were not detected in group A but were noted
      in 7 patients (39%) of group B. Recurrence of systemic embolism was demonstrated
      in 3 patients (17%) of group B. There were no serious hemorrhagic complications
      in either group. Immediate anticoagulation could, therefore, be effective in
      preventing intracardiac thrombus formation and the consequent recurrence of
      systemic embolization in acute cardioembolic stroke. Because the study was
      preliminary and not randomized, further randomized study is desirable to
      establish the efficacy of immediate anticoagulation therapy.

PMID- 1443762
TI  - Procion yellow fluorescent microscopy: a new method of studying arterial and
      venous pathology.
AB  - A new means of studying vessel wall pathology is presented. This technique
      utilizes Procion yellow, a vital fluorescent dye, to stain and delineate the
      connective elements, matrix, and elastic tissue within the arterial wall. In
      addition, penetration of the dye into cells provides evidence of membrane
      pathology. A canine model was used, and clamped segments of femoral artery were
      stained and examined. The appreciation of this approach for the examination of
      the vessel wall shows alterations in tissue elements that have not been reported
      previously. This technique makes possible a unique means of studying connective
      tissue elements as well as membrane integrity.

PMID- 1443764
TI  - Vascular effects of noise.
AB  - The possible vascular effects of noise were studied. A study of the carotid
      vessels was made with Doppler ultrasonography in two groups of subjects exposed
      to various intensity of noise. The following data were studied: age, blood
      pressure, serum cholesterol, blood glucose, smoking habits, excess weight,
      electrocardiographic anomalies, family history of vascular disease, connection
      with duration of exposure and the type of noise and with audiometric deficits,
      and cerebrovascular modifications after postural changes and after a stress test.
      The control group comprised subjects not exposed to noise. The findings confirm
      that noise does play a role in causing vascular modifications that can be
      detected early by use of Doppler ultrasonography. This technique is predictive
      and could be useful in screening campaigns, following the method suggested here.

PMID- 1443763
TI  - Microcirculation in systemic hypertension.
AB  - In 40 patients with idiopathic systemic hypertension, skin blood flow was
      evaluated with laser-Doppler flowmetry, transcutaneous measurements of partial
      pressure of oxygen (PO2) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), and
      determination of capillary permeability before and after treatment with
      nifedipine (10 mg tid for four weeks). Also 35 normal subjects matched for age
      and sex distribution were studied. Before treatment, microcirculatory studies
      showed a significant decrease in skin flow and venoarteriolar response in
      hypertensive patients in comparison with normal subjects. Moreover, PO2, PCO2,
      and capillary permeability were significantly lower in hypertensives. All these
      microcirculatory parameters significantly increased after nifedipine treatment
      while both systolic and diastolic pressures decreased. In conclusion, laser
      Doppler flowmetry used with other microcirculatory techniques was able to
      discriminate between normal subjects and hypertensive patients, and it was able
      to show the improvement in the microcirculation after nifedipine treatment.

PMID- 1443765
TI  - Assessment of valvular regurgitation using cine magnetic resonance imaging
      coupled with phase compensation technique: comparison with Doppler color flow
      mapping.
AB  - To elucidate whether or not a newly developed technique in cinematic-displayed
      (cine) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can improve the semiquantitative
      evaluation of valvular regurgitant flow, 20 patients with valvular lesions were
      studied. Three pulse sequences of cine MRI, ie, standard, short echo time (TE),
      and rephasing scans, were compared with reference obtained by Doppler color flow
      mapping. Short TE technique and rephasing scan technique improved image quality
      remarkably as compared with standard technique. Each of the three cine MRI
      techniques showed good correlation with the Doppler method (p < 0.001). However,
      short TE and rephasing scan techniques gave a faithful estimation of the extent
      as compared with the Doppler method, whereas standard technique overestimated the
      regurgitation. Thus, cine magnetic resonance imaging with phase compensation
      technique can be utilized for the semiquantitative assessment of valvular
      regurgitation in a manner similar to that of Doppler color flow mapping.

PMID- 1443766
TI  - Lymphoscintigraphy of head-and-neck cancer.
AB  - To achieve the visualization of regional lymph nodes by lymphoscintigraphy, 21
      patients with head-and-neck cancer were studied with the aid of 99mTc-labeled
      rhenium sulfur colloid (99mTc Re). Four injection sites were selected; the
      injections were given into the subcutaneous tissue of the parietal area of 11
      patients, into the submucosa of the retromolar area of 6 patients, into the
      subcutaneous tissue of the postauricular area of 2 patients, and into the thyroid
      glands of 2 patients. Lymphoscintigraphy was done three hours after the
      injection. The cervical regions were visible in 85.7% of the patients on the
      affected side and in 90.5% on the healthy side. The visualization comprised the
      following regions: submental, submandibular, deep cervical, accessory, and
      supraclavicular regions. In total, 102 nodes were visualized on the affected side
      (average 4.8 per patient) and 110 nodes in the healthy side (average 5.5).
      Histologically, 15 of 21 patients had lymph nodes metastases and 6 did not. Of
      these 21 patients, 66.7% (14/21) had confirmed lymph node metastases in the
      visualized regions. This technique appears to be a relatively easy and efficient
      method of imaging the regional lymph nodes in head-and-neck cancer both before
      treatment and after neck surgery.

PMID- 1443767
TI  - Role of the captopril test in renovascular hypertension: a case report.
AB  - This article reports the case of a rapidly severe stenosis of the right renal
      artery, causing uncontrolled hypertension. After failure of a percutaneous
      transluminal renal angioplasty, which provoked the thrombosis of the vessel, a
      surgical revascularization was performed after +/- eighteen hours of renal
      ischemia. Blood pressure, blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine returned to
      normal values. A dramatic improvement of the right renal function was attested at
      the hippuran scintigraphy after a dose test of captopril. The results of
      renographic studies obtained in this clinical case underline the role of the
      captopril radionuclide test in detection and follow-up after treatment of
      renovascular hypertension.

PMID- 1443768
TI  - A case of ventricular tachycardia refractory to medical treatment related to a
      cystic mass in left ventricle--a case report.
AB  - This is a case report of a twenty-two-year-old woman who had attacks of
      ventricular tachycardia that could be prevented by the use of various
      antiarrhythmic drugs for three months. Electrophysiologic study showed that the
      mechanism of the tachycardia was "reentry." In cardiac catheterization a non
      contractile mass having calcification was seen on the apical portion of the left
      ventricle. Angiographically, the mass resembled a diverticulum. Recurrence of
      attacks was terminated by resection of this mass, which had a cystic appearance.

PMID- 1443769
TI  - Pulmonary artery catheterization: the right heart should not be left out--a case
      report.
AB  - Tricuspid valve stenosis in the setting of endocarditis is associated with a high
      morbidity. Diagnostic approaches incorporate a high clinical index of suspicion,
      echocardiographic evidence, and inferences about hemodynamic data derived from
      pulmonary artery catheterization. As demonstrated by the case presented herein,
      inadequate initial evaluation of right-sided pressures delayed the diagnosis and
      treatment of prosthetic tricuspid valve stenosis.

PMID- 1443770
TI  - Local thrombolysis and percutaneous transluminal venoplasty for the venous
      complications of thoracic outlet syndrome: case report.

PMID- 1443771
TI  - Biochemical evidence of the expression of two major histocompatibility complex
      class I genes on bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
AB  - For a long time, the bovine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) (BoLA) class I
      region was characterized, rather uniquely among mammalian species, as having one
      expressed locus. Recent reports have suggested otherwise. Selective
      immunoprecipitation and molecular characterization of products enable a decisive
      answer to the question of whether there is indeed more than one locus expressed.
      Therefore, we characterized serologically defined w10 encoding haplotypes in
      European and African cattle by immunoprecipitation of [35S]-methionine-labelled
      peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), followed by one- and two-dimensional
      isoelectric focusing (1D/2D-IEF) of cell lysates. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb)
      used were directed against either human class I monomorphic determinants (W6/32
      and B1.1G6) or bovine polymorphic determinants expressed on products encoded by
      serologically defined w10 encoding haplotypes of Boran and Friesian cattle.
      Sequential immunoprecipitations with W6/32 and B1.1G6 using lysates of PBMC of
      British Friesian cattle, revealed that from this haplotype W6/32 precipitated one
      product, whereas B1.1G6 precipitated two products. The product precipitated in
      addition appeared to be the one that was selectively precipitated by the mAb
      directed against polymorphic determinants on a product of w10 encoding
      haplotypes. Additionally, peptide maps of protease V8-digested precipitates
      showed that this particular 'w10' associated product was distinctly different
      from the product recognized by W6/32. Thus, we suggest that the two products are
      distinct gene products and that the product with higher pI is associated with the
      serologically defined A-locus product, whereas the product with lower pI is the
      putative second locus product. In the African Boran breed, variants of the
      serologically defined w10 specificity were found on the basis of IEF typing.
      These variants appeared to be associated with different second locus products.
      Therefore, we conclude that serologically defined w10 encoding haplotypes encode
      at least two independent class I locus products, expressed on normal bovine PBMC.
      In IEF analysis the additional use of mAb recognizing polymorphic determinants on
      serologically defined A-locus products highly facilitated the detection and
      typing of second locus products.

PMID- 1443772
TI  - Cloning of highly polymorphic microsatellites in the horse.
AB  - We have isolated equine microsatellites by screening a genomic library with (TG)n
      and (TC)n probes. TG microsatellites were found to be more abundant than TC
      repeats, with an estimated frequency of one per 100,000bp. Sequence analysis of
      eight TG-positive clones revealed varying structures of the repeat regions;
      perfect stretches of TG repeats, imperfect stretches of TG repeats and compound
      regions of TG and TC repeats. Five loci were analysed by PCR and showed extensive
      polymorphism; three to seven alleles and heterozygosities of 0.40-0.76 were
      observed when screening 20-30 unrelated individuals. The high degree of
      polymorphism, their abundance and the possibility of automating the typing
      procedure make these loci ideal for standardized paternity testing in the horse.
      Furthermore, we demonstrate that single hairs can be used as starting material
      for the PCR analysis.

PMID- 1443773
TI  - Genetic polymorphism and close linkage of two plasma protein loci in dogs.
AB  - By using a simple method of two-dimensional horizontal electrophoresis,
      phenotypes of an unidentified plasma protein (PA4) were determined in 967 dogs
      belonging to 43 different breeds. Two codominant, autosomal alleles (F and S) of
      PA4 were reported. While many of the breeds of middle and north-eastern Asia
      (akita inu, Alaskan malamute, chow chow, samoyed, Siberian husky and Tibetan
      terrier) showed a substantial frequency (0.1 to 0.6) of the S allele, a majority
      of the European breeds had only the F allele. Evidence was provided that the PA4
      locus is closely linked to the plasma pretransferrin 1 locus (PRT1). No
      recombinant was observed in 45 informative offspring studied. In nearly all
      breeds, the PA4 S allele was almost always in coupling phase with the PRT1 F
      allele.

PMID- 1443774
TI  - Genetic distances estimated from DNA fingerprints in crosses of white Plymouth
      Rock chickens.
AB  - Crosses were produced between two lines of White Plymouth Rock chickens, one of
      which had been selected for low 8-week body weight for 31 generations (L) and the
      other of which was a bantam population (B). The parental lines, reciprocal F1s,
      reciprocal F2s and all possible back-crosses to each parental line (total of 16
      populations) were available for study. Blood was obtained from 10 females within
      each population. DNA was extracted from blood mixes (equal amounts of blood from
      each individual) for each population, and from blood samples of each individual
      in the two parental lines. Fourteen line-specific DNA fingerprint (DFP) bands
      (those bands present in one parental population, but not in the other parental
      population) were analysed (eight from line L and six from line B). Regression
      analyses were conducted to compare the known proportion of genomic contribution
      from each parental population with values based on relative band intensity
      obtained with a scanning densitometer. The resulting regression coefficient of
      1.004 demonstrated that DFP analysis of relative band intensity is an effective
      method of estimating the relative proportion of genome contributed by parental
      populations.

PMID- 1443775
TI  - Rapid beta-lactoglobulin genotyping of cattle using the polymerase chain
      reaction.
AB  - A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay has been developed for genotyping beta
      lactoglobulin A and B variants in dairy cattle. Either blood or semen samples can
      be used as a source of DNA. The method is accurate, faster than Southern blot
      analyses and should prove a useful tool in breeding programmes.

PMID- 1443776
TI  - Detection of a three-allele single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) in the
      fourth intron of the bovine growth hormone gene.

PMID- 1443777
TI  - Ovine and bovine dinucleotide repeat polymorphism at the MAF46 locus.

PMID- 1443778
TI  - Ovine dinucleotide repeat polymorphism at the MAF209 locus.

PMID- 1443779
TI  - ILSTS002: a polymorphic bovine microsatellite.

PMID- 1443780
TI  - Ovine dinucleotide repeat polymorphism at the MAF70 locus.

PMID- 1443781
TI  - Ovine dinucleotide repeat polymorphism at the MAF33 locus.

PMID- 1443782
TI  - Ovine dinucleotide repeat polymorphism at the MAF50 locus.

PMID- 1443783
TI  - Alloreactive T-cell recognition of bovine major histocompatibility complex class
      II products defined by one-dimensional isoelectric focusing.
AB  - T-cell recognition of bovine MHC (BoLA) class II antigens was investigated in
      relation to BoLA class II polymorphisms defined by one-dimensional isoelectric
      focusing (1D-IEF). One-way mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLRs), and allospecific
      cell lines and clones were used. In general, T-cell responses correlated with the
      1D-IEF defined haplotypes (EDF types). However, with MLRs some responses appeared
      to be associated with BoLA class I differences. All combinations of responder
      stimulator pairs produced alloreactive T-cell responses both in MLR and in
      generation of allolines/clones. Thus allospecific lines and clones were generated
      to all EDF types tested. Splits in the IEF typing were observed with EDF6 and
      EDF3, indicating that distinct BoLA class II haplotypes are not necessarily
      distinguished by 1D-IEF alone. Furthermore, the patterns of reactivity with EDF3
      expressing cells were complex with the T-cell specificities splitting EDF3 into
      several distinct types. Also, in some cases it was clear that more than one T
      cell specificity per EDF type was detectable. Thus, allospecific lines and clones
      provide complementary and additional information to the 1D-IEF typing for
      polymorphism of the BoLA class II complex. This extra information is particularly
      important in terms of the functional significance of the BoLA complex for antigen
      presentation and immune response gene effects.

PMID- 1443784
TI  - [Sialic acid deficiency transferrin: a very promising biological marker,
      sensitive to chronic alcoholism].
AB  - Chronical alcohol ingestion may induce conformational molecular modifications of
      plasma transferrin: alcohol modifies the content of its carbohydrates. The
      abnormal transferrin contains reduced amounts of carbohydrates, especially sialic
      acid, constituting its terminal trisaccharides biantennary chains. Plasma levels
      of partly deficient or asialotransferrin increase in chronically drinkers. In
      English speaking countries, it is called carbohydrate deficient transferrin or
      CDT. A positive correlation is obtained between the plasmatic concentration of
      CDT and the amount of ingested alcohol. Positivity and sensitivity of CDT are
      superior to those other usual biological parameters. The CDT quantitation may be
      proposed for the detection and the follow-up of alcohol drinkers, in order to
      evaluate the degree of intoxication, and during the period of withdrawal.

PMID- 1443785
TI  - [Variations of plasma Willebrand factor and fibrinogen in coronary pathology].
AB  - In order to determine a marker of prethrombotic states, reliable and easy to
      measure, we studied 200 patients under 60 years of age admitted to hospital for a
      precordial chest pain. Four groups were established: transmural myocardial
      infarction, acute infarction without Q wave, unstable angina and atypical chest
      pain. Fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels
      were measured as well as the white cell and platelet counts. There was a
      statistically significant correlation between transmural myocardial infarction
      and increased levels of fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor and white blood cells.
      Von Willebrand factor was already increased in the acute phase of transmural
      infarction, reached a maximum on the fifth day and then decreased slowly during
      the following ten days. This study suggests that plasma von Willebrand factor
      could be a reliable marker of transmural myocardial infarction in the acute phase
      or during the two weeks following the thrombotic event.

PMID- 1443786
TI  - [Assay of micronuclei in binucleated T-lymphocytes. Analysis of the distribution
      and variation factors in a population of 100 subjects].
AB  - The authors analysed micronuclei levels distribution in lymphocytes of 100 non
      occupationally exposed subjects and studied the effect of age, sex and smoking of
      donors on the distribution. Results showed that micronucleated cells were
      distributed according to a normal distribution (average = 9.5 +/- 4
      micronucleated cells in 1,000 binucleated lymphocytes). Age and sex of donors had
      no effect on the distribution but, concerning smoking, the results showed that
      micronuclei levels were correlated to the number of cigarettes daily smoked.

PMID- 1443787
TI  - [Comparison of different methods for serum folate assay].
AB  - Folates were determined in 148 patient sera, using four different methods: a
      microbiological assay (Reference Method), two radioassays (Magic B12 FOL [NB] and
      SimulTRAC SNB no boil kits) and a non isotopic competition method (Magic Lite
      kit). Folate mean varied according to the methods 10.0 nmol.l-1 (reference
      method), 12.2 nmol.l-1 (Magic Lite), 8.7 nmol.l-1 (Magic B12 FOL [NB]) and 10.8
      nmol.l-1 (SimulTRAC SNB NO boil). Poor correlations were also noted (0.83 < r <
      0.95, figures 1 and 2). Differences between methods were explained according to
      the literature.

PMID- 1443788
TI  - [Evaluation of the immunoenzyme test (Elisa) in detecting Clostiridium difficile
      toxin A in fecal samples].
AB  - Currently, the method of choice in diagnosis of Clostridium difficile-associated
      intestinal diseases is the detection of toxin B in fecal specimens. This method
      is long (72 h) and can be realized in laboratories which have tissue culture
      facilities. Commercial agglutination test have been evaluated but they lack in
      specificity. An immunoenzymatic test has been recently commercialized for
      detection of toxin A. We have compared the results of this assay on 275 fecal
      specimens from patients suspected of having Clostridium difficile-associated
      intestinal diseases with the results obtained with the cytotoxicity test and the
      culture. Of the 275 fecal specimens, 58 were positive in cytotoxicity and 53 in
      Elisa. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the Elisa compared with
      cytotoxicity were 89.5% and 99.0% respectively. The immunoenzymatic test
      detecting Clostridium difficile toxin A is an easy test to perform in 2 h 15; it
      displays a good correlation with detection of toxin B and can be very useful in
      daily laboratory diagnosis.

PMID- 1443789
TI  - International Federation of Clinical Chemistry, Scientific Division, Committee on
      Quantities and Units. Quantities and units for centrifugation in the clinical
      laboratory.

PMID- 1443790
TI  - International Federation of Clinical Chemistry, Scientific Division, Committee on
      Quantities and Units. Quantities and units for electrophoresis in the clinical
      laboratory.

PMID- 1443791
TI  - Erythrocyte metabolic alterations in type I diabetes: relationship to metabolic
      control.
AB  - Erythrocytes from young type I diabetic patients (n = 11), incubated in their
      plasma in anaerobic conditions, exhibited higher glucose consumption than cells
      from controls (n = 11). This increased metabolic activity is believed to reflect
      erythrocyte alterations dependent on the degree of metabolic control, as glucose
      consumption was significantly correlated to glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1) and
      to glucose levels (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). Red cell hexokinase (HK)
      and pyruvate kinase (PK) activities were similar in both groups whereas
      phosphofructokinase (PFK) activity was slightly higher in patients' cells (P <
      0.05). No difference was found between patients and controls for red cell ATP and
      2.3 diphosphoglycerate (2.3 DPG) levels. However, the concentrations of these
      glycolytic products seem also closely related to the glucose homeostasis in
      diabetes. Indeed, within the diabetic group, ATP levels showed a negative
      relationship with glucose level (P < 0.05) and 2.3 DPG a positive relationship
      with HbA1 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, higher glycolytic activity is present in
      young diabetic red cells. This activity as well as ATP and 2.3 DPG levels are
      related to the degree of short- or long-term diabetic control. These findings
      stress the importance of a careful metabolic control to avoid haematological
      disturbances.

PMID- 1443792
TI  - [Rapid identification of Candida albicans: evaluation of "Rapidec albicans".
      Study of 444 yeast strains].
AB  - Rapid identification of Candida albicans is of great importance as it is the most
      frequently isolated yeast pathogen. Rapidec albicans, a new 2-h micromethod,
      performs two fluorescent enzymatic activities: hexosaminidase and proline
      arylamidase. A total of 444 yeast strains (334 from type culture collections and
      110 from recent clinical isolates) were tested. The sensitivity was 98.5% and the
      specificity 95.8%. When only considering the clinical strains, 47/47 Candida
      albicans were identified by Rapidec albicans (sensitivity 100%) but only 43/47 by
      the germ tube test (sensitivity 91.5%). The specificities of the two tests were
      respectively 98.2% and 100%. This new system is therefore very efficient for the
      routine diagnosis of Candida albicans in the clinical field. It is easier and
      quicker than the germ tube test.

PMID- 1443793
TI  - [Electrophoresis of biological fluids with low protein concentration: application
      to the cerebrospinal fluid].

PMID- 1443794
TI  - [Metabolism of amino acids and urea cycle: animal models of enzymopathies].
AB  - This article is a review of the animal models which have been described until now
      for the inborn errors of amino acid metabolism and urea cycle. Two approaches
      have been explored to obtain such animal models: firstly oral or parenteral
      administration of the amino acid(s) accumulated in some enzymatic defects of the
      amino acid catabolism or urea cycle--specific enzymatic inhibitors have sometimes
      been used; secondly, the genetic approach, which is often the best method.
      Systematic screening of rat or mouse mutants obtained by experimental mutagenesis
      was performed in some cases. The relationships between the metabolic disturbances
      observed either in the inborn errors of metabolism or in the experimental models
      are discussed as well as the origin of the discrepancies often observed between
      human and animal syndromes.

PMID- 1443795
TI  - [Optimization of a spectrophotometry assay of total and oxidized blood
      glutathione: comparison with a fluorimetric method].
AB  - We developed a method for the enzymatic assay of glutathione which is easy to
      practice, rapid, specific, based on the reaction of the thiol group of
      glutathione with dithiobis-nitrobenzoic acid after the action of glutathione
      reductase in the presence of NADPH. This spectrophotometric technique allowed, on
      the one hand, the determination of total glutathione and on the other hand, that
      of oxidized glutathione (disulfide), after the blockage of reduced glutathione by
      2-vinyl-pyridine. The improvements of the assay of blood glutathione concerned
      the sample preparation, the reaction sensitivity, thanks to a better definition
      of the optimal pH and a reduction ot the blockage time by 2-vinyl-pyridine in
      well defined operating conditions. We compared the performances of our technique
      with a fluorimetric method. We used our method for the determination of total and
      oxidized blood glutathione in a control population.

PMID- 1443796
TI  - [Determination of mannitol and lactulose in urine by capillary gas
      chromatography].
AB  - Gas capillary chromatography (GCC) determination of mannitol and lactulose in
      urine after oral intake is a method for assessing the intestinal permeability in
      various bowel diseases. The method proposed, using gas capillary chromatography
      with flame ionization detection after silylation of urine residue, gives good
      results: coefficients of variation varied from 6 to 8.7% for mannitol and 7.5 to
      13.7% for lactulose. Detection limit was 5 mg/l for both compounds.

PMID- 1443797
TI  - [Serum creatinine assay: results of a multicentric study with 16 analytical
      systems].
AB  - During a multicenter evaluation, 16 methods for creatinine measurement have been
      tested according to the guidelines of the Societe francaise de biologie clinique
      (SFBC) protocol. Kinetic Jaffe methods, widely used in France, performed on
      different analytical systems (Astra Beckman, IL 508, RA 1000 Technicon, Hitachi
      704, 705, 717 Boehringer, Fara Roche, Progress Kone, Kem-O-Mat Coulter,
      Perspective France Monitor) have been compared to a continuous flow method with
      aqueous standards, to enzymatic methods using creatinine amidohydrolase with a
      colorimetric measurement (Boehringer and Ektachem Kodak) and to an HPLC method.
      Reproducibility, estimated with four different control sera, proved to be
      unsatisfactory in some cases as compared to current criteria for imprecision
      (less than +/- 10 mumol/l for intralaboratory and less than +/- 20 mumol/l for
      interlaboratory imprecision). The same selected patients sera covering the whole
      range of physiopathological concentrations have been analyzed with each method,
      and compared with the continuous flow results. Differences are more dependent on
      the sample than on the calibrators. The influences of haemolysis, bilirubin,
      acetoacetate, albumin, lipids, glucose, and some cephalosporins have been
      evaluated with spiked human sera. Haemolysed, turbid and jaundiced patient
      samples have been analyzed as well. The results vary according to the analytical
      procedure. This study took place in the implementation of a selected method for
      routine purpose with special regards to interferences and an acceptable
      imprecision. The method must satisfy the physicians' demands in the renal
      function exploration, especially in kidney-transplant patients.

PMID- 1443798
TI  - [Malaria in the Dunkerque hospital center from December 1979 to December 1990].
AB  - Seventy-one cases of malaria were diagnosed in the hospital of Dunkerque from
      1979 to 1990. Forty-five patients have been infected in the Comores islands.
      Among the 24 other imported cases, 17 (71%) have been contaminated in Western or
      Central Africa. One case of congenital malaria and one of malaria acquired by
      blood transfusion are also reported. Plasmodium falciparum was detected in 84.5%
      of the patients. The four human species were found among the Comorians. Two cases
      with abnormal forms of Plasmodium vivax were observed.

PMID- 1443799
TI  - [Perforation of the esophagus during attempted endotracheal intubation].
AB  - A case is reported of oesophageal perforation which occurred during an attempt to
      carry out endotracheal intubation. A 54-year-old female patient was scheduled for
      mastectomy. She had no clinical features likely to predict a difficult
      endotracheal intubation. After induction with thiopentone, phenoperidine and
      suxamethonium, three attempts were made to carry out tracheal intubation with a
      Mallinckrodt Lo-pro tube, internal diameter 7.5 mm. During the third attempt, the
      oesophagus was accidentally intubated. The diagnosis was made before any
      insufflation was carried out. Another anaesthetist took over, and intubated the
      patient. At that time, there was left-sided cervical emphysema which quickly
      spread. An oesophageal perforation was suspected, and the patient was given 500
      mg of metronidazole and 1 g of cefotetan. Postoperatively, the antibiotics were
      continued, and the patient had nothing by mouth. Oesophagography showed a
      posterior fistula in the upper third. Conservative treatment was continued until
      the seventh day, when another oesophagography was carried out. This showed that
      the perforation had completely healed. This rather rare complication of
      endotracheal intubation may have a poor prognosis if it results in mediastinitis.
      The diagnosis and prognosis of this complication and its treatment, whether
      conservative or surgical, are discussed.

PMID- 1443800
TI  - [Pulmonary pasteurellosis in a young patient with multiple trauma].
AB  - A case is reported of an 18-year-old male patient who had a road traffic
      accident, with head and chest injuries. The patient was admitted to the surgical
      intensive care unit 24 h later because of an alteration of his level of
      consciousness. He required artificial ventilation. Five days later, he developed
      right-sided lower lobe pneumonia, treated with positive end-expiratory pressure.
      A Gram negative organism was found on bronchial brushing, but not in
      haemocultures. It was identified as Pasteurella multocida, sensitive to beta
      lactamines, but not to amikacin. Cefotaxime, which had been started immediately
      after the arrival of the Gram stain result, was continued. Artificial ventilation
      was discontinued on day 12, and the patient left the unit on day 15. The patient
      was probably a P. multocida carrier, being in close contact with animals before
      his accident. This bacteria is often found in infected animal bite wounds.
      Pneumonia due to this bacteria usually occurs in immunodepressed patients, which
      was not the case here.

PMID- 1443801
TI  - [Fatal poisoning caused by African viper's bite (Echis carinatus)].
AB  - The case is reported of a 44-year-old European who was bitten on the foot in
      Djibouti, probably by an African viper. Unusually, there wasn't any pain, nor any
      cardiovascular collapse nor any local swelling. An oedema of the lower limb
      started the day afterwards. Two days after the bite, the patient presented a
      generalized haemorrhagic syndrome, which led to his admission. There was a
      consumption of fibrinogen and prothrombin, without any decrease in the platelet
      count. Heparin was started (100 IU.kg-1.day-1), as well as fluid replacement
      (albumin, fresh frozen plasma, packed red cells). This allowed him to be
      transferred to France, where he arrived in anuria, with hyperpyrexia, and severe
      lower limb oedema and a haemorrhagic syndrome. There was a major extensive
      retroperitoneal haematoma spreading to the perineum. The four limbs were
      ischaemic. The patient's condition continued to worsen, developing hypoxic
      pulmonary oedema. He died on the seventh day after the bite, during a session of
      haemodialysis, from cardiovascular failure resistant to all the usual drugs. The
      principles of anti-venom therapy are recalled. Indeed, this should be started
      early enough and relies on large amounts of serum (greater than 50 ml).

PMID- 1443802
TI  - [Cardiac herniation and sub-herniation. Complication of intrapericardial
      pneumonectomy].
AB  - Two cases are reported of cardiac herniation complicating intrapericardial
      pneumonectomy in the early postoperative period. Both patients had a radical
      pneumonectomy for right-sided bronchial carcinoma invading, in one patient, the
      carina and the superior vena cava. The pericardial defect, made necessary by the
      surgical procedure, had not been closed in either patient. About two hours after
      the end of surgery, both patients, lying supine, developed a state of shock, with
      tachycardia and arterial hypotension. The diagnosis of cardiac herniation was
      made in both cases on the chest film. Placing the patient on his left side was
      only partly efficient in one patient, slowing the heart rate from 160 b.min-1 to
      120 b.min-1 and increasing the systolic blood pressure (from 60 mmHg to 80 mmHg).
      Both patients therefore required to be operated on again. In one patient, the
      heart had completely herniated through the pericardial defect, and had turned to
      the right side about the vena caval axis; in the other patient, partly improved
      by being turned to his left, the heart had returned to its normal position. The
      pericardial defects were closed in both cases with a strip of dura mater
      previously treated with 2 (ethyl-mercurithiol-5-benzoxazol) carboxylic acid. The
      immediate postoperative course was uneventful. Unexpected symptoms and sign
      occurring in the early postoperative period after intrapericardial pneumonectomy
      must imperatively lead to carrying out a chest X-ray.

PMID- 1443803
TI  - [Intravenous immunoglobulins in Guillain-Barre syndrome].

PMID- 1443804
TI  - [The family physician must be involved in the follow-up of ambulatory surgery].

PMID- 1443805
TI  - [Are incidents of epidural and spinal anesthesia more frequent during training?].

PMID- 1443806
TI  - [Nerve block for surgery of the hip in a patient with severe aortic valve
      stenosis].

PMID- 1443807
TI  - [ORL laryngeal mask].

PMID- 1443808
TI  - [Propofol versus etomidate in short-time urologic surgery].
AB  - Thirty patients, scheduled for short urological surgical procedures and ranked
      ASA 1 or 2, were randomly assigned to two homogenous groups. In group P, they
      were given a 2 mg.kg-1 bolus of propofol and 10 micrograms.kg-1 of alfentanil,
      followed by a continuous infusion of propofol (5 mg.kg-1.h-1) and 5 micrograms.kg
      1 doses of alfentanil. In group E, they were given a 0.3 mg.kg-1 bolus of
      etomidate, followed by an infusion (1.5 mg.kg-1.h-1). The doses of alfentanil
      were the same as in group P. Further doses of either propofol (0.5 mg.kg-1) or
      etomidate (0.2 mg.kg-1) were used should anaesthesia prove not to be deep enough.
      The patients were not intubated, and breathed spontaneously. Surgery lasted a
      mean of 18.3 +/- 11.8 min (group P) and 18.8 +/- 9.4 min (group E). The following
      parameters were studied: the amount of each agent required for maintenance of
      anaesthesia, the duration of apnoea at induction, the quality of anaesthesia and
      of muscle relaxation, adverse effects (coughing, trismus, restlessness, nausea,
      vomiting), the time required for recovery, and its quality. In group P, there was
      a 27% decrease in arterial pressure, without any tachycardia or hypoxia, together
      with a quick recovery of excellent quality. On the other hand, in group E, there
      was little or no haemodynamic alteration, but there often was a trismus at
      induction. Hypoxia also occurred during induction with etomidate, being severe
      enough in one case to require tracheal intubation and artificial ventilation. The
      reasons for this hypoxia seemed to be the apnoea and the trismus, which tends to
      hinder assisted ventilation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443809
TI  - [8th consensus conference on resuscitation and emergency medicine. Weaning from
      mechanical ventilation in adults, predominant neurologic and muscular diseases
      excluded].

PMID- 1443810
TI  - [Impairment of deglutition reflex after prolonged intubation].
AB  - This study was designed to assess the swallowing reflex after an endotracheal
      intubation of more than 24 h, as well as the influence of age and duration of
      intubation on swallowing. Twenty patients (aged 58 +/- 17 years) who had been
      intubated for more than 24 h were compared with fifteen others (63.1 +/- 16.7
      years), who had never been intubated. All had a nasogastric tube. Swallowing was
      assessed after administration of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 ml volumes of normal
      saline, in a random sequence, into the epipharynx through a thin catheter passing
      through the nostril after extubation (E0), and then at 1 (E1), 8 (E8), 24 (E24)
      and 48 h (E48) in the extubated patients, and once in the control patients.
      Swallowing responses were identified by an electromyogram of the floor of the
      oral cavity. The efficiency of the swallowing reflex was assessed by the delay
      between instillation and the first swallowing response obtained, and the number
      of swallows recorded during the first 15 seconds following each injection. There
      was a significant increase in swallowing delay in intubated patients for volumes
      less than 1 ml during the first three measurements. Recovery occurred for 0.5 and
      0.75 ml at E24 and E48, when compared with the control group. However, delay
      remained increased throughout the study for 0.25 ml. The number of swallows was
      the same in both groups for each volume tested. There was no correlation between
      increased delay and age or duration of intubation. These data confirmed that
      prolonged endotracheal intubation impairs the swallowing reflex.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443811
TI  - [Analgesic effect of ibuprofen in pain after episiotomy].
AB  - The relief of post-episiotomy pain was investigated in three groups of women,
      ranked ASA 1 or 2, using either a single dose of 400 mg of ibuprofen (n = 31), or
      1 g of paracetamol (n = 28) or placebo (n = 31). Pain intensity was assessed with
      a visual analogic scale, a verbal scale and pain relief scores after half an
      hour, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h. The day after treatment, patients rated the quality
      of pain relief, and were asked whether they wished to take again the same drug
      for the same type of pain. In the placebo and paracetamol groups, respectively 22
      and 16 patients asked for usual treatment before the sixth hour, whereas only 5
      did so in the ibuprofen group (p less than 0.001). Ibuprofen was more effective
      after one hour than either of the other two drugs, whatever the scale or
      parameter used. In the ibuprofen group, the lower pain score was observed at the
      third hour. At six hours, the pain score did not differ from that three hours
      earlier. On the day after treatment, 22 patients from the ibuprofen group
      considered pain relief to have been good or excellent, versus 8 and 5 in the
      paracetamol and placebo groups respectively (p less than 0.001). Similarly, 24
      patients from the ibuprofen group would accept the same drug again for the same
      type of pain, as opposed to 8 and 5 from the paracetamol and placebo groups
      respectively (p less than 0.01). The only side-effect reported was abdominal pain
      in one patient (placebo group).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443812
TI  - [Sedation with propofol and fentanyl in patients under intensive care].
AB  - This study investigated the efficacy of a constant rate infusion of propofol and
      fentanyl in thirty patients requiring artificial ventilation for more than 24 h.
      A loading dose, which differed according to the patient's age, was administered
      over a 30 min period: 2.5 mg.kg-1 for patients less than 50 (G1) (n = 9), 2 mg.kg
      1 for patients between 50 and 60 years old (G2) (n = 9), and 1.5 mg.kg-1 for
      patients over 60 (G3) (n = 12). This was followed by an infusion of 3 mg.kg-1.h-1
      in G1 and G2, and 2 mg.kg-1.h-1 in G3. A 1 microgram.kg-1.h-1 infusion of
      fentanyl was also given. The degree of sedation was assessed with the Ramsay
      scale before starting, after induction, and every four hours thereafter. When
      this proved to be insufficient, the dose of propofol was increased by 0.5 mg.kg
      1.h-1 as well as that of fentanyl by 0.5 microgram.kg-1.h-1. Heart rate, mean
      arterial blood pressure, blood propofol, creatinine, transaminase and lipid
      levels, and urine output were measured before, during, and after the infusion.
      The blood propofol level increased during the infusion, being correlated to the
      doses given (r = 0.64, p less than 0.001). Sedation lasted 91.7 +/- 57.7 h. After
      stopping the infusion of propofol, mean recovery times were 7.5 +/- 5.9 min (G1),
      11.4 +/- 11.4 min, and 14.4 +/- 13.5 min (G3) (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443813
TI  - [Gastroesophageal reflux with combined caudal and halothane anesthesia in
      children].
AB  - Sixteen children, aged 2 to 5 years and ranked ASA 1, were included in this study
      assessing gastro-oesophageal reflux occurring under halothane anaesthesia, before
      and during, caudal anaesthesia. They were scheduled for surgery below the
      umbilicus lasting 1 to 5 h. After premedication with oral hydroxyzine (2 mg.kg-1)
      and intravenous atropine (10 micrograms.kg-1), induction was carried out with 3%
      halothane. A gastro-oesophageal pH probe was inserted via the nose after
      calibration at 37 degrees C. A neutral pH for the oesophageal electrode and an
      acid pH for the gastric one demonstrated the correct position of the probe. The
      pH was then registered every 4 s. The probe was left in situ until the patient
      left the recovery room. The caudal anaesthesia catheter was then inserted with
      the patient lying on his left side. Caudal anaesthesia was began with 2.5 mg.kg-1
      of plain bupivacaine and 5 mg.kg-1 of plain lidocaine. When the patient was lying
      supine again, narcosis was maintained with 0.5% halothane and 50% nitrous oxide.
      A dose of 1.5 mg.kg-1 of bupivacaine was injected every 30 to 45 min. None of the
      children displayed any respiratory signs (coughing, dyspnoea, bronchospasm,
      cyanosis) during the combined anaesthetic. Two episodes of asymptomatic gastro
      oesophageal reflux were revealed by this method, one lasting 7 minutes and
      occurring during insertion of the caudal catheter, and the other, lasting 4
      minutes, during recovery. There were no pulmonary sequels. There was excellent
      respiratory and haemodynamic stability throughout. The two episodes seemed to
      have been triggered off by rapid displacement of the patient and too deep an
      anaesthetic.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443814
TI  - [Effects of halogenated anesthetics on splanchnic hemodynamic in normo- and
      hypovolemic cirrhotic rats].
AB  - The effects of 1 MAC of either halothane, enflurane or isoflurane on splanchnic
      haemodynamics were studied in cirrhotic rats that were either normovolaemic or
      hypovolaemic from haemorrhage. A group of conscious rats acted as the control
      group. Bile duct ligation had been carried out in all the rats four weeks
      previously to induce cirrhosis. At the time of the study, all the rats were
      anaesthetized with ether for catheterization of the left femoral artery and vein,
      and the left ventricle via the right carotid. The control group was allowed to
      awake. When the other rats started to recover, they were artificially ventilated
      with room air and 1 MAC of the halogenated agent. Heart rate and mean arterial
      blood pressure were monitored continuously. Once the animals had remained steady
      for one hour, 1.25 ml of blood for 100 g body weight was removed over a 10 min
      period. PaO2, PaCO2, arterial pH, heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure,
      cardiac index and regional blood flows (RBF) were measured before, and thirty
      minutes after the haemorrhage. Cardiac output and RBF were measured using the
      radioactive-labelled microsphere method. Only 32 animals were finally included,
      eight in each group. Splanchnic, portal and hepatic arterial blood flows were
      similar in conscious rats and in those receiving isoflurane or halothane, and
      were higher than in those receiving enflurane. The lowest splanchnic and portal
      venous blood flows were found in those rats receiving enflurane. After
      haemorrhage, these RBF decreased significantly in all groups except in the
      enflurane group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443815
TI  - [Monochromatic infrared halogenated gas analyzer and handling errors].
AB  - Monochromatic infrared gas spectrometers cannot identify volatile agents. Such an
      analyser (Capnomac, Datex) was tested while performing two errors: a) erroneous
      selection of the agent on the analyser, the vaporizer being filled with the
      correct agent; b) total or partial filling of the vaporizer (Vapor 19, Drager)
      with an incorrect agent, the analyser being set for the agent the vaporizer was
      specified for. Three agents were studied, halothane (H), enflurane (E) and
      isoflurane (I). Each experiment was made in triplicate, the vaporizer being dried
      out between each. In case of erroneous selection on the analyser, differences
      between E and I were very small. When H was erroneously selected, the
      concentration displayed was six times higher, and when E or I was selected
      instead of H, the concentration displayed was six times lower than expected. In
      the 3.3-3.5 m band, H transmittance was six times higher than those of E and I.
      The agent selection control changes the gain so as to correct for the selected
      agent (gain for H: 12.0, E: 2.24, I: 1.89). In case of erroneous filling of the
      vaporizer, the concentration displayed was always different from that expected.
      When E or I was delivered with an H vaporizer, the analyser being set on H, the
      concentration displayed was 3 to 9 times higher than the concentration that had
      been set. On the other hand, when H was delivered with an E or I vaporizer, the
      analyser being set to E or I, the concentration displayed was 4 to 8 times
      lower.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443816
TI  - [Desflurane (I 653) and sevoflurane: halogenated anesthetics of the future?].
AB  - Sevoflurane is an halogenated methyl isopropyl ether. It is potent, non explosive
      and non flammable. It reacts with soda lime to form traces of a related ether
      which has not been shown to have any toxic effect on animals chronically exposed
      to it in a closed system. Induction of anaesthesia with sevoflurane is rapid and
      smooth, as predicted by a blood/gas partition coefficient of about 0.6 and an
      acceptable odour which allows the use of concentrations of up to 10%. Its MAC has
      been reported to vary between 1.7 and 2.3 vol %. Sevoflurane causes dose
      dependent cardiovascular and respiratory depression. Its effect on the cerebral
      circulation is similar to that of isoflurane. The extent of biotransformation is
      similar to that of enflurane, but its low solubility and rapid elimination
      confine this to the period of inhalation. No toxic effects on the kidneys, liver
      and haematopoietic system have been found. Desflurane is a fluorinated methyl
      ether, structurally very similar to isoflurane. It is non flammable and non
      explosive at clinical concentrations. It is more stable in the presence of soda
      lime than any of the volatile anaesthetic agents available. This agent must be
      delivered with a thermostated vaporizer within a closed circle system, as its
      boiling point is 23.5 degrees C. Desflurane is less potent than isoflurane. Its
      MAC has been estimated to be about 7.2 vol % in man. Desflurane did not lead to
      any liver, lung or kidney injury in laboratory rats, even during hypoxia and
      enzyme induction. Desflurane undergoes little biotransformation, although the
      presence of volatile metabolites or covalent tissue-bound products cannot be
      excluded.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443817
TI  - [Is posterior lumbar epidural space partitioned?].
AB  - The anatomy of the posterior lumbar epidural space (PLES) has been extensively
      studied. Besides the anatomists, surgeons, radiologists and anaesthetists have
      taken an interest in this. However, because each one has considered the PLES from
      his own specialist field, descriptions are not always concordant. In particular,
      the reality of a medial partition in the PLES has been suggested by epidurography
      and intraoperative observations. Lewit and Sereghy and Luyendijk opened the
      debate by reporting, on antero-posterior epidurographic films, a clear-cut,
      medial, vertical and narrow picture which partitioned the PLES. However, this was
      not constant. Savolaine et al. also recognized this partition on epidurographic
      CT scans. During laminectomies, Luyendijk has taken photographs of a medial fold
      of the dura mater which appeared to hold it to the posterior vertebral arch,
      being collapsed on either side of the midline. He named it "plica mediana
      dorsalis durae matris" (PMD). Several anaesthetists considered that this could
      explain why epidural analgesia sometimes acted on one side only. Husemeyer and
      White, and Harrison et al., have tried to confirm this experimentally by making
      casts with polymerizing resins in cadavers. They did not get very convincing
      results. Blomberg also tried to see this space by epiduroscopy in the cadaver.
      Unfortunately, for technical reasons, his photographs were of poor quality. He,
      however, reported having seen each time the PMD and a band of connective tissue
      fixing it to the vertebral arch in the midline. However, all these anatomical
      studies used methods which alter the natural structures. Their results are
      therefore questionable. The PLES is a virtual space. Histological studies have
      shown that it is filled with fatty tissue between the dura and the vertebral
      arch. It is therefore conceivable that any liquid injected into the PLES, such as
      contrast medium or local anaesthetic, must push back the dura, the only tissue
      which can move to give it any room. The fatty tissue could therefore be
      compressed and take any of the shapes which have been described on epidurography.
      On the other hand, should it be torn, it seems this fatty tissue could make up
      these haphazard fibrous tracts tensed between the dura and the vertebral arch,
      such as described in classical anatomy, as Bonica recalled. These can be clearly
      seen during surgical and anatomical dissections, and during endoscopies carried
      out on cadavers with sufficient optical means, as opposed to the medial fibrous
      band fixing the dura to the vertebral arch.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1443818
TI  - [Vascular effects of ketamine during anesthesia with diazepam and fentanyl].
AB  - Twenty-six adults undergoing elective cardiac surgery were anaesthetized with
      diazepam and fentanyl (induction with 200 micrograms.kg-1 and 30 micrograms.kg-1
      respectively, maintenance with incremental doses). Normothermic constant
      perfusion output cardiopulmonary bypass was carried out with a membrane
      oxygenator, haemodilution with Ringer's lactate solution, and cardioplegia with
      St. Thomas's Hospital solution. The patients were randomly assigned to two
      groups. They were given either 2 mg.kg-1 of ketamine (group 1) or placebo (5 ml
      of normal saline) (group 2) via the venous line of the oxygenator. The non
      pulsatile flow was then kept at a steady rate of 2.41 x min-1.m-2, and no other
      infusion or treatment was started during the study period (ten minutes). The mean
      arterial pressure and blood reservoir level were measured every min during this
      period. The systemic vascular resistances did not change significantly in either
      group, but remained 27% lower in the ketamine group than in the placebo group (p
      less than 0.01). The blood reservoir level was 37% higher in the ketamine group
      (p less than 0.01), suggesting a decreased venous capacitance. It is therefore
      concluded that ketamine leads to venous constriction, and probably arterial
      dilation, during fentanyl-diazepam anaesthesia and normothermic cardiopulmonary
      bypass. The venous effects of ketamine could explain why it is usually well
      tolerated in hypovolaemic states.

PMID- 1443819
TI  - [Penile block in adults].
AB  - A block of the penile nerves provides a sensory blockade of the penis. In adults,
      surgery can thus be carried out on the foreskin, glans, corpus cavernosum, corpus
      spongiosum or penile urethra. The two dorsal nerves of the penis can be blocked
      by two different routes. In the median technique, only one injection is performed
      in the subpubic space, near the posterior inferior aspect of the symphysis. In
      the bilateral technique, each penile nerve is blocked separately at the level of
      the penile root. Whichever technique is used, additional subcutaneous
      infiltration of the penile root improves the quality of analgesia. Bupivacaine
      without adrenaline is used at a concentration of 0.25% or 0.5%. In the median
      technique, bilateral diffusion of the anaesthetic solution has been demonstrated
      in ten patients by adding contrast medium to the anaesthetic solution. On the
      other hand, contralateral diffusion was only found in six of ten patients after
      an unilateral injection. These results substantiate the value of the bilateral
      technique in the adult. Both techniques were used in a group of 80 patients, aged
      17 to 87 years. In 47 patients no other agent was administered, while the
      remaining 33 had either additional sedation or a general anaesthetic. Among the
      latter, three had a partial failure of the block. Postoperative analgesia, which
      was of excellent quality, covered an average of 10 hours. Neither local nor
      general incident occurred. Penile block is a reliable technique for regional
      anaesthesia. Because it is easy to carry out, and comfortable for the patient,
      this technique may be suggested to adults requiring penile surgery.

PMID- 1443820
TI  - [Is preoperative systematic chest x-ray useful in general surgery? A multicenter
      prospective study of 3959 patients. ACAPEM. Association des Chirurgiens de
      l'Assistance Publique pour les Evaluations Medicales].
AB  - In order to define which patients may not require a routine preoperative chest X
      ray, a prospective multicenter study was carried out. It included 3,959
      consecutive fifteen, or more, year-old patients, free from any cancer, scheduled
      for a general or gastrointestinal surgical procedure other than thoracotomy, and
      had a plain chest X-ray beforehand. This investigation was prescribed before
      surgery, either by the surgeon or the anaesthetist. Patients were classified
      according to selected risk factors: age, smoking, emergency surgery, a past
      history of lung, heart or vascular disease, abnormal clinical findings related to
      the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and a previous chest film made less
      than one year before. There were 2,092 patients in Group I (no risk factors), 916
      in group II (one risk factor), 645 in Group III (two risk factors), and 276 in
      group IV (three risk factors). Three endpoints were selected: a modification of
      operative schedule or anaesthetic technique, a change in surgical procedure, and
      the diagnosis of postoperative complications. A rate of 23.2% of preoperative
      chest films were considered to be abnormal. This rate increased with age and the
      number of risk factors: 6.2% in Group I and 72.5% in Group IV. Surgical and
      anaesthetic procedures were modified as a result of the chest X-ray in only 0.5%
      of patients: 0.1% in Group I, 0.3% in Group II, 1.2% in Group III and 1.4% in
      Group IV. When pulmonary or cardiac complications did occur after the surgery,
      the preoperative chest film was of no help for making this diagnosis in more than
      50% of cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443821
TI  - [Disclosure of protein C deficiency with pulmonary embolism followed by cardiac
      arrest during the recovery period].
AB  - A case of unexpected cardiac arrest occurring in a 17-year-old male patient is
      reported. The patient had been admitted after sustaining hand trauma. A first
      emergency surgical procedure was carried out, followed about three weeks later by
      another one. No incidents occurred during or after either of these two
      operations. A third procedure was required about two months after the accident
      (free toe graft to the thumb of the left hand). The twelve-hour operation was
      carried out under general anaesthesia and axillary block. The patient was given
      intravenous heparin (800 IU.h-1) during the procedure on the arm. The patient
      recovered quickly, and was extubated before his transfer to the recovery room.
      Fifteen minutes later, the patient's heart rate decreased to 40 b.min-1, followed
      by a transient cardiorespiratory arrest. The suspicion of pulmonary embolism was
      confirmed by pulmonary scintigraphy. Thrombolysis was carried out with 2,000
      IU.kg-1.h-1 of urokinase for a 72 h period, combined with continuous heparin
      administration (16 to 36 x 10(3) IU.day-1). The patient recovered after one week.
      No thrombophlebitis was found for origin of the emboli. Biological investigations
      carried out both before and after 10 minutes of anoxia revealed a normal
      fibrinolytic system, but a deficit in protein C (62% antigen, 64% activity). Two
      years after the episode of pulmonary embolism, the patient, still taking
      acenocoumarol, remained free from any sequela. Current perioperative management
      of patients with a known protein C deficit is discussed.

PMID- 1443822
TI  - Bioelectrodes. In honor of Dr. H.P. Schwan's 40 years of scientific research.

PMID- 1443823
TI  - A brief history of bioelectrodes.
AB  - The history of bioelectrodes is intimately associated with electrochemistry in
      general, through studies on electrode polarization. Electrode polarization was
      first recognized and studied in the early 1800s, and scientific studies in this
      area have continued since that time. Experimental and theoretical work on
      bioelectrodes, electrode polarization, and relevant electrochemistry of electrode
      phenomena, is traced from 1826 to Schwan's recent electrode work.

PMID- 1443824
TI  - Linear and nonlinear electrode polarization and biological materials.
AB  - Electrode polarization is a major nuisance while determining dielectric
      properties of cell and particle suspensions and tissues, particularly at low
      frequencies. Understanding of these interfacial phenomena and appropriate
      modelling are essential in order to correct for its distortion of the dielectric
      properties of the sample of interest. I survey the following topics,
      concentrating on contributions from our laboratory: Linear properties of
      electrode polarization and relevant models. Effects of electrode polarization on
      sample impedance. Effects of sample on polarization impedance. Techniques of
      correction. Extension of linear to nonlinear models Harmonics generated in the
      nonlinear range.

PMID- 1443825
TI  - Impedance spectroscopy.
AB  - Impedance spectroscopy (IS) is a general term that subsumes the small-signal
      measurement of the linear electrical response of a material of interest
      (including electrode effects) and the subsequent analysis of the response to
      yield useful information about the physicochemical properties of the system.
      Analysis is generally carried out in the frequency domain, although measurements
      are sometimes made in the time domain and then Fourier transformed to the
      frequency domain. IS is by no means limited to the measurement and analysis of
      data at the impedance level (e.g., impedance vs. frequency) but may involve any
      of the four basic immittance levels: thus, most generally, IS stands for
      immittance spectroscopy.

PMID- 1443826
TI  - A physical interpretation of Schwan's limit current of linearity.
AB  - In this the second of a series of papers on the nonlinearity of the electrode
      electrolyte interface impedance, the wealth of experimental observations which
      exists in the literature on AC impedance nonlinearity is physically interpreted.
      The interface impedance is well represented by the parallel combination of a
      constant phase angle impedance and a charge transfer resistance. The charge
      transfer resistance is the major source of the observed nonlinearities. As a
      result, the current limit of linearity, iL, increases with frequency such that iL
      is proportional to omega beta. The series resistance, Rs, of the interface
      impedance initially increases with applied signal amplitude, reaches a maximum
      and then decreases. The series reactance, Xs, decreases monotonically with signal
      amplitude.

PMID- 1443827
TI  - Analysis of polarization dynamics by singularity decomposition method.
AB  - The driving point immittance (impedance or admittance) function is commonly used
      in electrical characterization of polarized materials and interfaces. The
      immittance function typically attenuates following a power function dependence on
      frequency. This fact has been recognized as a macroscopic dynamical property
      manifested by strongly interacting dielectric, viscoelastic and magnetic
      materials and interfaces between different conducting substances. Linear
      interfacial polarization processes which occur at metal electrode-electrolyte
      interfaces have been represented by the Fractional Power Pole [FPP] function in
      single or multiple stages. The FPP function is referred to as the Davidson-Cole
      function in the dielectrics literature. A related function widely used in
      mathematical modeling of dielectric and viscoelastic polarization dynamics is the
      Cole-Cole function. The fractional power factor which parametrizes the FPP or the
      Davidson-Cole function has been shown earlier to equal the logarithmic ratio of
      the locations of the pole-zero singularities. In this paper we first review a
      modified form of the singularity decomposition of the FPP function accomplished
      within a prescribed error range. The distribution spectrum and the corresponding
      simulation by a cascade R-C network, as opposed to the synthesis by a ladder R-C
      network, are readily obtained as the next step in the simulation. The method is
      then applied to decompose the Cole-Cole function; the pole-zero placement of the
      singularity function is determined and the equivalent cascade R-C network is
      synthesized.

PMID- 1443828
TI  - The admittance of the interface between a metal electrode and an aqueous
      electrolyte solution: some problems and pitfalls.
AB  - Electrochemical admittance measurements have become popular as a convenient, non
      invasive method for the study of interfacial properties of the metal-solution
      interface. However, uncritical use of this technique (as of any other) can lead
      one astray. Here, then, some of the complicating factors and common problems will
      be discussed.

PMID- 1443829
TI  - Electrode-electrolyte interface impedance: experiments and model.
AB  - The impedance of the junction between a solid or aqueous electrolyte and a metal
      electrode at which no charge transfer processes occur (blocking contacts) follows
      closely the constant phase angle form, Z = A(j omega)-n, over a wide frequency
      range, where A is a constant, and the frequency exponent n is typically in the
      range of 0.7 to 0.95. Several models have been proposed in which the magnitude of
      the frequency exponent n is related by a simple expression to the fractal
      dimension d of the rough electrode surface. But experiments with aqueous H2SO4
      and roughened platinum and silicon electrodes show that there is no simple
      relationship, if any at all, between n and d when d is determined from the
      analysis of one dimensional surface profiles. Moreover, n is not a simple
      function of the average roughness of the electrode. In order to gain some insight
      into the effect of electrode topography and the interface impedance, a model for
      the response of the interface to a constant voltage pulse was constructed. This
      model is based on the idea that, following a pulse, locally concentrated regions
      of ions accumulate rapidly at the tips of large protrusions on the electrode
      surface which screens deeper regions of the electrode from the field driven flux
      of mobile ions. After this rapid charging, ions are able to reach the deeper,
      screened regions of the electrode by diffusion, and it is this diffusive process
      that gives rise to the observed t1-n dependence of the charge collected. Computer
      simulations, similar to the diffusion limited aggregation model, using measured
      profiles as fixed (non-growing) clusters, gave exponents n in good agreement with
      experiment.

PMID- 1443830
TI  - Impedances of thin and layered systems: cells with even or odd numbers of
      interfaces.
AB  - Impedance data, e.g., system responses, from perturbing small amplitude applied
      sinusoid signals of near DC to high kilohertz frequencies, give chemical
      information. Analysis of frequency-dependent imaginary and real impedance
      proceeds from equivalent analog circuit elements to chemical and physical
      significance determined from many model systems. Already, it is possible to
      interpret bulk transport processes, surface kinetic effects, diffusion phenomena,
      and dependencies on the type of contacts: symmetric ion contact, symmetric metal
      contact or asymmetric metal-ion interfaces, and cell design; even (battery or
      sensor) and odd numbered (constrained junction or immiscible liquid) interfaces
      in a system. These analyses cover the chemical origins, locations and meanings of
      the lumped resistances, capacitances and transmission lines that are introduced
      by engineers in their strict analog interpretations of the impedance data.
      Examples cover simple ohmic, simple diffusive behavior, complex behavior with
      surface interfacial kinetics or surface resistances, and with finite
      (nonblocking) or infinite (blocking) DC impedance. High and low frequency
      responses may show so-called constant phase element character that suggests
      fractal behavior. Low frequency data occasionally appear in the second quadrant
      of impedance plane plots. These results are caused by negative capacitances and
      resistances. In this paper, chemical interpretations of analog circuit elements
      are mainly based on theory and observations of thin cells of electrolytes and
      solid and liquid films (membranes) that are ionic or mixed ionic/electronic
      conductors. The information should carry over into thickened, gelled, and tissue
      electrolyte phases and serve as a basis for medically-oriented, perhaps
      diagnostic impedance measurement applications already pioneered by Herman Schwan.

PMID- 1443831
TI  - Electrode recovery potential.
AB  - In some instances the same electrodes are used for stimulation and then for
      recording a bioelectric event immediately after the stimulus. However, after the
      current pulse there remains an electrode potential that decays
      quasiexponentially. We have designated this falling potential the electrode
      recovery potential. This study investigated the recovery potentials of single
      electrodes of rhodium, stainless steel, platinum and platinum-iridium in contact
      with 0.9% saline at room temperature (25 degrees C) over a current density
      ranging from 0.1 to 100 mA/cm2 using a constant-current pulse. In all cases, with
      increasing current density, there was a decrease in the time for the electrode
      potential to fall to one half of the immediate post-stimulus value. Above about
      20 mA/cm2 the decrease in recovery time was smooth with increasing current
      density. Below 20 mA/cm2, the recovery time was slightly irregular. The shortest
      recovery times were for platinum and platinum-iridium. The largest decrease in
      recovery time with increasing current density was for stainless steel, which
      decreased 10 fold from 0.1 to 100 mA/cm2. The recovery time for rhodium decreased
      about three-and-one half fold over the same current density range. It was found
      that the waveform of the recovery potential is not a simple exponential because
      the Warburg and Faradic components of the electrode-electrolyte interface are
      current-density dependent. In general, for all current densities studied (0.1-100
      mA/cm2), there was a sudden initial fall in electrode potential with cessation of
      current flow, followed by a very gradual nonexponential decrease in potential.

PMID- 1443832
TI  - Biocompatibility considerations at stimulating electrode interfaces.
AB  - The choice of biocompatible stimulating electrodes for various biomedical
      applications varies with the type of electrode-tissue interface, biomolecules
      present, electrolyte background, preparation of electrode, interfacial potential,
      current density, electrode material, porosity, geometry, and inflammatory
      response. Illustrative examples are given to demonstrate the importance of these
      parameters. Topics discussed are: A) DC electrodes applied to partially
      keratinized epithelial membranes; B) Variation of the electrical impedance and
      biocompatibility of stimulating electrodes with electrode potential and
      surrounding pH; C) Influence of electrode geometry, porosity and pore size on
      biocompatibility; D) Body defense mechanisms at the sites of implantable
      stimulating electrodes; E) Thrombus formation at stimulating electrode interfaces
      and F) Sterilization of electrodes to ensure biocompatibility.

PMID- 1443833
TI  - Utility of serum interleukin-6 for diagnosis of invasive bacterial disease in
      children.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate measurement of interleukin-6 as a diagnostic test
      for the presence and severity of invasive bacterial disease. DESIGN: Prospective
      measurement of interleukin-6 in children with signs of sepsis. (Controls,
      retrospective from serum bank.) SETTING: Emergency department of an urban
      children's hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty children with clinical signs of sepsis
      and 50 other febrile infants and toddlers with negative blood cultures. RESULTS:
      Eleven of the 20 patients had bacteriologically documented infections: four with
      meningitis and two with bacteremia caused by Neisseria meningitidis, three with
      meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b, and one each with meningitis
      and bacteremia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Ten of these 11 had detectable
      interleukin-6. The geometric mean interleukin-6 level in these culture-positive
      patients was 407 pg/mL (95% confidence interval, 108 to 1,545); all three
      children with levels of more than 300 pg/mL developed septic shock, and one died.
      One of nine culture-negative patients with clinical signs of sepsis had
      detectable serum interleukin-6 (166 pg/mL), but none of 50 other febrile children
      without occult bacteremia did. The detection of interleukin-6 had a sensitivity
      of 91% and a specificity of 98% for invasive bacterial disease. CONCLUSION: High
      levels of interleukin-6 occur in children with septic shock, and the presence of
      interleukin-6 in serum is predictive for the isolation of bacteria from blood
      and/or spinal fluid.

PMID- 1443834
TI  - Septic arthritis versus transient synovitis of the hip: the value of screening
      laboratory tests.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic value of screening laboratory and
      initial body temperature data in differentiating septic arthritis of the hip from
      transient synovitis of the hip in children who present to the emergency
      department with a complaint of hip pain. DESIGN: Retrospective review of cases of
      septic arthritis of the hip and transient synovitis of the hip in a 1:2.5 ratio.
      SETTING: An urban regional children's hospital with 20,000 annual ED visits.
      RESULTS: Ninety-four children with transient synovitis of the hip and 38 children
      with septic arthritis of the hip were identified. The children with septic
      arthritis of the hip had a significantly higher initial temperature (38.1 C
      versus 37.2 C, P = .000014), mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate (44 mm/hr versus
      19 mm/hr, P = .000001), and mean WBC count (13,200/mm3 versus 11,200/mm3, P =
      .02). However, the degree of overlap in these variables was large. The
      combination of an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of more than 20 mm/hr and/or a
      temperature of more than 37.5 C identified 97% of all cases of septic arthritis
      of the hip. CONCLUSION: There is clinically significant overlap in the
      erythrocyte sedimentation rate, temperature, and WBC count in children with
      septic arthritis of the hip versus transient synovitis of the hip. All children
      with an irritable hip without a clearly identified source who have an erythrocyte
      sedimentation rate of more than 20 mm/hr or a temperature of more than 37.5 C
      should be considered for diagnostic hip aspiration.

PMID- 1443835
TI  - Plain abdominal radiography in the detection of major disease in children: a
      prospective analysis.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate previously described high-yield
      clinical criteria for obtaining plain abdominal radiographs in the emergency
      evaluation of children. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING:
      Emergency departments of a university medical center and an affiliated county
      hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred fifty-four children 15 years old or younger
      who underwent plain abdominal radiography during a one-year period. METHODS AND
      MEASUREMENTS: Physicians ordering plain abdominal radiographs completed data
      forms that included historical and physical examination information before
      viewing films. At a later date, records of all patients were reviewed for
      radiologist interpretation and final diagnosis. The data were analyzed to
      determine the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of previously
      described high-yield criteria (from a retrospective series) in detecting
      radiographs that were diagnostic or suggestive of "major" abdominal disease. MAIN
      RESULTS: Sixty-one patients (17%) had major diseases potentially requiring
      procedural intervention (eg, appendicitis, ingested foreign bodies, and
      intussusception), whereas 296 patients (83%) had minor diseases not requiring
      procedural intervention (eg, gastroenteritis and nonabdominal diagnoses). The
      presence of any of the following features--prior abdominal surgery, foreign body
      ingestion, abnormal bowel sounds, abdominal distention, or peritoneal signs--was
      93% sensitive and 40% specific in detecting diagnostic or suggestive radiographs
      in patients with major disease. Positive and negative predictive values were 11%
      and 99%, respectively. If only these criteria had been used to obtain
      radiographs, 38% of films would have been omitted (at an estimated savings of
      $20,000) with only two suggestive radiographs missed. CONCLUSION: Our results
      suggest that restricting abdominal radiographs to patients with at least one of
      these five high-yield clinical features will detect most diagnostic and
      suggestive radiographs in children with major abdominal diseases.

PMID- 1443836
TI  - Prehospital intravenous access in children.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine the ability of a unified metropolitan paramedic
      system to provide IV access in children when indicated. DESIGN: Retrospective,
      descriptive clinical study. SETTING: A large metropolitan area in Canada.
      PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred thirteen children from birth through 18 years of age
      who were transported by paramedics. MEASUREMENTS: Indications for IV access,
      rates of successful placement, and time to achieve access were determined.
      Criteria for IV line placement were developed and applied retrospectively. MAIN
      RESULTS: Intravenous line attempts were made in 300 children (58%). Intravenous
      line placement was obtained in 253 (84% of the patients attempted). One hundred
      fifty-nine children met criteria for IV placement in the field. Six of these
      children were clinically dead and received no on-scene resuscitative efforts and
      were excluded from data analysis. Of the remaining 153 children who met criteria,
      122 (80%) had IV attempts made, and 104 (68%) had an IV line placed successfully.
      For children who met the criteria for IV placement, a significantly smaller
      proportion of children younger than 6 years had an IV line placed successfully
      (49%) compared with children 6 years or older (75%) (P < .005). Two subgroups of
      children who met criteria were examined: children with vital signs absent and
      trauma patients. For those who belonged to the subgroup with vital signs absent,
      a significantly smaller proportion of children younger than 6 years had an IV
      line placed successfully (43%) compared with children 6 years or older (92%) (P <
      .01) Eighty-four percent of patients who met criteria and who had one IV line
      successfully placed received only one IV line attempt, and 87% of patients who
      met criteria and who had two IV lines placed successfully received only two
      attempts. CONCLUSION: Although paramedics had an 84% success rate at establishing
      IV lines in children in the field, half the children younger than 6 years who
      required intravascular access did not receive an IV line in the prehospital
      setting. Multiple IV line attempts should be discouraged because additional
      attempts yield little benefit and may prolong transport times.

PMID- 1443837
TI  - Adrenaline-cocaine gel topical anesthetic for dermal laceration repair in
      children.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anesthetic efficacy of a gel form of adrenaline
      cocaine topical medication for minor dermal laceration repair. DESIGN: Unblinded,
      prospective. SETTING: An urban pediatric emergency department. TYPE OF
      PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-five children aged 20 months to 18 years with lacerations of
      the face, outer lip, and scalp. INTERVENTIONS: All received adrenaline-cocaine
      gel made by mixing 1.5 mL of conventional adrenaline-cocaine liquid (adrenaline,
      1:2,000; cocaine, 11.8%) with 0.15 g of methylcellulose powder (an inert
      emulsifying agent). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Lacerations were located on
      the face or outer lip in 25 patients and on the scalp in ten patients. Larger
      lacerations (length of more than 5 cm and/or depth of more than 5 mm) occurred in
      nine patients. The average dose of adrenaline-cocaine gel applied per laceration
      was 0.35 mL (containing 40 mg cocaine). One hundred ninety-five sutures were
      placed (175 cutaneous, 20 subcutaneous); 192 (98.5%) were placed without
      eliciting any pain. There were no observed adverse reactions with adrenaline
      cocaine gel administration or reported complications of wound healing in any
      patient. CONCLUSION: Adrenaline-cocaine gel preparation provides excellent
      anesthetic efficacy for minor dermal lacerations in children. Compared with
      conventional adrenaline-cocaine liquid, adrenaline-cocaine gel may be
      advantageous in reducing the total cocaine requirement and may diminish the risk
      for adverse reactions that can result from runoff of liquid medication onto
      mucosal or ocular surfaces.

PMID- 1443838
TI  - Analysis of the clinical variables driving decision in an artificial neural
      network trained to identify the presence of myocardial infarction.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine which clinical variables drive the output of an
      artificial neural network trained to identify the presence of myocardial
      infarction. DESIGN: Partial output analysis. SETTING: Tertiary university
      teaching center. PARTICIPANTS: Seven hundred six patients more than 18 years old
      presenting with anterior chest pain. MEASUREMENTS: Differential network output
      analysis. MAIN RESULTS: A methodology was developed as the first step in
      measuring the impact input clinical variables have on the output (diagnosis) of
      an artificial neural network trained to identify the presence of acute myocardial
      infarction. The methodology revealed that the network used the presence of ECG
      findings, as well as the presence of rales, syncope, jugular venous distension,
      response to trinitroglycerin, and nausea and vomiting, as major predictive
      sources. Although this first-step analysis studied individual variables, it must
      be stated that the network comes to clinical closure based on the settings of all
      variables in a pattern and that the impact of a single variable cannot be taken
      out of the context of a pattern. CONCLUSION: An artificial neural network trained
      to recognize the presence of myocardial infarction appears to place diagnostic
      importance on clinical variables that have not been shown previously to be highly
      predictive for infarction.

PMID- 1443839
TI  - Serial ECGs are less accurate than serial CK-MB results for emergency department
      diagnosis of myocardial infarction.
AB  - HYPOTHESIS: Serial creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) levels provide more accurate
      predictive information regarding myocardial infarction than serial ECGs in
      emergency department patients with chest discomfort and no ST-segment elevation
      on the initial ECG. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: University
      hospital and university-affiliated Veterans Affairs Medical Center EDs.
      PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred sixty-one patients 30 years or older with chest
      discomfort warranting an ECG and consenting to observation. Exclusions included
      hemodynamic or rhythm instability and ST-segment elevation of 0.1 mV or more in
      two or more electrically contiguous leads at presentation. MEASUREMENTS: ECGs
      were obtained at presentation and three to four hours after presentation.
      Significant serial ECG changes sought on comparison of initial and three- to four
      hour ECGs were 0.05 mV or more ST elevation or depression, Q-wave development, or
      T-wave inversion changes in two or more electrically contiguous leads. CK-MB
      levels were obtained at presentation and hourly for three hours (positive level,
      8 or more ng/mL). Myocardial infarction was determined by record review and was
      based on independent CK-MB measurements. RESULTS: Twenty-eight (11%) patients
      were diagnosed with a myocardial infarction. Thirty-eight (15%) patients had a
      serial ECG change. Eleven of the myocardial infarction patients (39%) had a
      serial ECG change compared with 27 (12%) of the non-myocardial infarction
      patients (P < .001). Sensitivities and specificities of a serial ECG change
      versus serial CK-MBs for myocardial infarction were 39% versus 68% (sensitivity)
      and 88% versus 95% (specificity), respectively. Serial CK-MBs were more accurate
      than a serial ECG change for predicting myocardial infarction (P < .03).
      CONCLUSION: Serial changes in ECGs during a three- to four-hour interval were
      associated with the diagnosis of myocardial infarction but were infrequent and
      less accurate than serial CK-MB levels obtained for the same interval.

PMID- 1443840
TI  - Efficacy and safety of transcutaneous low-impedance cardiac pacing in human
      volunteers using conventional polymeric defibrillation pads.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVES: To assess the safety and efficacy of transcutaneous cardiac
      pacing using low-impedance defibrillation-type, self-adhesive polymer electrode
      pads positioned in the same anatomic sites typical of such pad placement in
      emergency defibrillation attempts. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, single
      blinded normal subject investigation. METHODS: Thirty healthy unmedicated adult
      volunteers of both sexes were paced transcutaneously to the threshold of capture
      and beyond by an intensity factor of 125%. A commercial defibrillator-pacer
      operating in demand mode had its rate set-point higher than the subjects' base
      line rate by 125%. Threshold was established as the pulse current required to
      effect 75% captured beats. Pacing was continued at the 125% level for two
      minutes, during which subjective discomfort levels were recorded on a 1-to-5 pain
      scale. RESULTS: All subjects but one were able to complete the study as designed.
      The single exception complained of intolerable pain early in the two-minute
      trial. Capture current had a mean value of 80 mA while the pain assessment
      averaged 3.2 on our five-point scale. No subject showed any untoward
      cardiovascular effects either during or after the study. CONCLUSION: In normal
      human volunteers, transcutaneous cardiac pacing with low-impedance polymer pad
      electrodes is safe. By extrapolation from this study population, it is
      sufficiently effective to accommodate successfully the vast majority of clinical
      circumstances likely to be encountered in emergency medicine.

PMID- 1443841
TI  - Low-risk criteria for cervical-spine radiography in blunt trauma: a prospective
      study.
AB  - STUDY HYPOTHESIS: Cervical-spine radiography does not need to be performed on
      selected blunt trauma patients who are awake, alert, nonintoxicated, do not
      complain of midline neck pain, and have no tenderness over the bony cervical
      spine. STUDY POPULATION: One thousand consecutive patients seen in the UCLA
      Emergency Medicine Center with a chief complaint of blunt trauma, for whom
      cervical-spine films were ordered and for whom prospective data questionnaires
      were completed. METHODS: Clinicians completed data forms for each patient before
      radiograph results were known. Data items included mechanism of injury, evidence
      of intoxication, presence of cervical-spine pain and/or tenderness, level of
      alertness, presence of focal neurologic deficits, and presence of other severely
      painful injuries unrelated to the cervical spine. Physicians were also asked to
      estimate likelihood of significant cervical-spine injury. RESULTS: Twenty-seven
      patients with cervical-spine fracture were among the 974 patients for whom data
      forms were completed. A number of findings were statistically more common in the
      group of patients with fracture than without, but no single or paired findings
      identified all patients with fracture. All 27 patients with fracture had at least
      one of the following four characteristics: midline neck tenderness, evidence of
      intoxication, altered level of alertness, or a severely painful injury elsewhere.
      Three hundred fifty-three of 947 (37.3%) patients without cervical-spine fracture
      had none of these findings. CONCLUSION: Cervical-spine radiology may not be
      necessary in patients without spinous tenderness in the neck, intoxication,
      altered level of alertness, or other severely painful injury. A policy to limit
      films in such patients would have decreased film ordering by more than one third
      in this series, while identifying all patients with fracture.

PMID- 1443842
TI  - What is a neural network?

PMID- 1443843
TI  - New horizons: emergency medicine at sea.

PMID- 1443844
TI  - Incidence of agonal respirations in sudden cardiac arrest.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To discover the frequency of agonal respirations in cardiac
      arrest calls, the ways callers describe them, and discharge rates associated with
      agonal respirations. DESIGN: We reviewed taped recordings of calls reporting
      cardiac arrests and emergency medical technician and paramedic incident reports
      for 1991. Arrests after arrival of emergency medical services were excluded.
      SETTING: King County, Washington, excluding the city of Seattle. PARTICIPANTS:
      Four hundred forty-five persons with out-of-hospital cardiac arrests receiving
      emergency medical services. INTERVENTIONS: Telephone CPR, emergency medical
      technicians-defibrillation, and advanced life support by paramedics. MEASUREMENTS
      AND MAIN RESULTS: Any attempts at breathing described by callers were identified,
      as well as whether agonal respirations could be heard by dispatcher, emergency
      medical technicians, or paramedics. Agonal respirations occurred in 40% of 445
      out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Callers described agonal breathing in a variety
      of ways. Agonal respirations were present in 46% of arrests caused by cardiac
      etiology compared with 32% in other etiologies (P < .01). Fifty-five percent of
      witnessed arrests had agonal activity compared with 16% of unwitnessed arrests (P
      < .001). Agonal respirations occurred in 56% of arrests with a rhythm of
      ventricular fibrillation compared with 34% of cases with a nonventricular
      fibrillation rhythm (P < .001). Twenty-seven percent of patients with agonal
      respirations were discharged alive compared with 9% without them (P < .001).
      CONCLUSION: There is a high incidence of agonal activity associated with out-of
      hospital cardiac arrest. Presence of agonal respirations is associated with
      increased survival. These findings have implications for public CPR training
      programs and emergency dispatcher telephone CPR programs.

PMID- 1443845
TI  - Prevention of hyperbaric-associated middle ear barotrauma.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of topical nasal decongestant in the
      prevention of middle ear barotrauma in patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen
      therapy. DESIGN: Prospective, parallel, double-blind, randomized trial. SETTING:
      University-affiliated community hospital emergency department with hyperbaric
      oxygen facilities. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen
      therapy; 30 subjects in each treatment arm. INTERVENTIONS: After randomization,
      consenting patients were given two sprays of oxymetazoline hydrochloride or
      sterile water, 15 minutes before hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Collected data
      included patient demographics, ear examinations before and after hyperbaric
      oxygen treatment, and subjective ear complaints. The otoscopic appearance of the
      tympanic membrane was graded according to the amount of hemorrhage in the
      eardrum, with Teed scores ranging from 0 (symptoms only) to 5 (gross hemorrhage
      and rupture). RESULTS: The treatment groups were similar with regard to age, sex,
      and medical history. Ear discomfort during hyperbaric oxygen therapy was present
      in 63% (19 of 30) of those receiving oxymetazoline versus 67% (20 of 30) of the
      control group (P = .99). Likewise, both groups had similar Teed scores after
      hyperbaric oxygen therapy (P = .88). No adverse effects were noted. CONCLUSION:
      The results of this pilot study suggest that topical decongestants may not be
      effective in preventing middle ear barotrauma during hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

PMID- 1443846
TI  - Use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for fingertip analgesia: a
      pilot study.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine if transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
      (TENS) can produce fingertip analgesia. DESIGN: Randomized, crossover trial.
      PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen healthy volunteers, naive to the technique of TENS.
      INTERVENTIONS: TENS stimulation was applied to the middle and ring fingers of
      each subject's hands by means of small carbon electrodes placed over the digital
      nerves. Patients received one fingertip puncture from a mechanically driven
      sterile lancet device to each digit corresponding to one of four conditions:
      sham, one minute of TENS, ten minutes of TENS, and 20 minutes of TENS. The TENS
      unit was operated in the "burst" mode, with two eight-pulse burst groups per
      second (pulse width, 225 mu sec; pulse frequency, 80 Hz). The order of the
      conditions and the finger used for each condition were assigned randomly. The
      pain of each puncture was rated on a 10-cm visual-analog scale. Data were
      analyzed using a repeated-measures analysis of variance with Duncan's multiple
      comparisons procedure. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Mean visual-analog scale scores
      decreased sequentially from sham in each experimental condition: one minute of
      TENS, 24.4% (P < .025); ten minutes of TENS, 28.2% (P < .025); and 20 minutes of
      TENS, 55.7% (P < 10(-6)). Two patients had total anesthesia of the fingertip
      (visual-analog scale = 0 cm) in the 20-minute TENS condition. CONCLUSION: TENS
      significantly reduces the pain of lancet-induced trauma to the fingertip. Further
      studies are warranted to determine if this technique is useful clinically as an
      alternative or adjunct to digital nerve block anesthesia for fingertip surgical
      procedures.

PMID- 1443847
TI  - Shipboard medicine: a new niche for emergency medicine.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVES: To describe the spectrum of illness that presents to shipboard
      hospitals and thereby recommend optimal qualifications for the ship's medical
      personnel. DESIGN: Retrospective review of medical logs from two cruise ships'
      hospitals. SETTINGS: Two passenger cruise ships, with seven-to-ten day cruises in
      the Caribbean. PARTICIPANTS: All patients presenting to the ships' hospitals from
      January 4, 1989, to June 10, 1989, on one ship and from October 13, 1990, to
      November 10, 1990, on another ship. METHODS: Analysis of ship medical logs with
      regard to patient complaint, diagnosis, and treatment. RESULTS: Of 1,547 new
      patient visits, 12% were related to injuries and 88% to medical problems; 97% of
      visits were noncritical, and 3% required immediate emergency intervention. Among
      these were four cardiac arrests, two stab wounds, two serious ocular injuries,
      one closed-head injury, and one near-drowning. Five patients required
      endotracheal intubation. CONCLUSION: There is a sizeable number of visits to
      ships' hospitals by patients with acute and serious problems of a wide variety.
      Physicians and nurses with significant emergency training or experience are best
      qualified to deal with this broad spectrum of patient problems in this isolated
      environment.

PMID- 1443848
TI  - Simpson's paradox and clinical trials: what you find is not necessarily what you
      prove.
AB  - Expensive clinical trials have become the gold standard for evaluating the
      efficacy of promising new therapeutic agents. Full exploration of the collected
      data is routine to maximize the yield of the information available. However,
      potential methodologic flaws in these extensive analyses may not be appreciated
      by investigators or readers. One such problem with subgroup analyses is
      discussed, using hypothetical examples and data from a recently completed
      clinical trial of brain resuscitation as illustrations.

PMID- 1443849
TI  - Collapse of a young athlete.

PMID- 1443850
TI  - Adenosine in the treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in
      children.
AB  - Intravenous bolus adenosine was given to four pediatric patients aged 1 month to
      8 years who had paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia that had not responded to
      conventional medical therapy. Adenosine (one to three doses) was successful in
      converting the arrhythmia to normal sinus rhythm in all four cases, and no side
      effects of the drug were noted.

PMID- 1443851
TI  - Bilateral cortical blindness: an unusual presentation of bacterial endocarditis.
AB  - We report the case of a 37-year-old woman who presented to the emergency
      department with the initial complaint of complete blindness. The patient was
      found to have bilateral ruptured occipital mycotic aneurysms as a sequela of
      bacterial endocarditis. This case is unique in several aspects. Although
      blindness may be a presenting neurologic symptom, it is exceedingly rare. To our
      knowledge, bilateral cortical blindness secondary to mycotic aneurysm rupture has
      not been reported previously.

PMID- 1443852
TI  - Spontaneous renal artery thrombosis associated with altered mental status.
AB  - Renal artery thrombosis is much less common than renal artery occlusion by
      emboli. When it does occur, it is usually a result of blunt abdominal trauma or a
      thrombus superimposed on an atherosclerotic plaque. Numerous other factors have
      been associated with renal artery thrombosis. Spontaneous renal artery thrombosis
      is a rare phenomenon in itself. This case represents spontaneous renal artery
      thrombosis associated with an altered mental status. Clinical features with
      suspected etiologies are reviewed. Recommendations for future evaluations are
      given.

PMID- 1443853
TI  - Aortic saddle embolus presenting with transient lower extremity paresthesia.
AB  - We report the case of a 58-year-old woman who developed acute onset of bilateral
      lower-extremity numbness and difficulty ambulating at home. On presentation to
      the emergency department, however, the patient's symptoms essentially had
      resolved. An aortic saddle embolus was suspected based on the patient's cardiac
      history and the absence of distal pulses in the lower extremities. This case
      illustrates that even with vague or resolving complaints, a high index of
      suspicion should be maintained for the diagnosis of aortic saddle embolus based
      on the patient's medical history and on physical examination.

PMID- 1443854
TI  - Clinically occult presentation of comminuted intertrochanteric hip fractures.
AB  - Hip fractures in awake patients are rarely subtle in their clinical presentation.
      We report two cases of occult, comminuted, intertrochanteric hip fractures that
      occurred in awake, elderly patients who were brought to the emergency department
      for evaluation of other medical conditions. Neither patient complained of hip
      pain, and both were transported to the ED without spinal immobilization. Physical
      examination revealed no sign of hip fracture. Patient 1 was scheduled for
      admission and just prior to transfer out of the ED developed hip pain. Patient 2
      was admitted for workup of possible transient ischemic attack and approximately
      2.5 hours after admission complained of hip pain. Radiographs of both patients
      revealed comminuted intertrochanteric hip fractures. In an elderly, nonambulatory
      patient who may have fallen prior to evaluation, routine radiographs of the
      pelvis and hip should be performed followed by plain tomography, computed
      tomography, bone scan, or magnetic resonance imaging as indicated to rule out
      occult hip fracture. Even comminuted intertrochanteric hip fractures can present
      in an occult fashion; therefore, a high index of suspicion must be maintained for
      these injuries.

PMID- 1443855
TI  - Verifying endotracheal tube placement in children.

PMID- 1443856
TI  - Topical antibiotics for all wounds?

PMID- 1443857
TI  - Usefulness of a diagnostic test.

PMID- 1443858
TI  - Psychological factors in abortion. A review.
AB  - Psychological research is increasingly involved in debates regarding abortion.
      While recognizing the diversity of ethical and moral issues intertwined with
      abortion, the American Psychological Association (APA) has focused its
      involvement on psychological factors, most recently by appointing an expert panel
      to review the literature on psychological effects. This article notes the history
      of APA involvement and reports on the panel's conclusions. It presents evidence
      that abortion is not likely to be followed by severe psychological responses and
      that psychological aspects can best be understood within a framework of normal
      stress and coping rather than a model of psychopathology. Correlates of more
      negative responses following abortion are also discussed.

PMID- 1443859
TI  - Broken hearts or broken bonds. Love and death in historical perspective.
AB  - Psychological theories and practices frequently neglect the extent to which their
      subject matter is historically and culturally defined. This issue is explored in
      the context of theories and therapies related to bereavement. Contemporary
      orientations emphasize the importance of breaking bonds with the deceased and the
      return of survivors to autonomous lifestyles. Placing the orientation in cultural
      and historical context reveals that it is largely a product of a modernist
      worldview. Within the romanticist ethos of the preceding century, such breaking
      of bonds would destroy one's identity and the meaning of life. In light of
      contemporary variations in subcultural meanings and values, a postmodern view is
      suggested in which reflexive responsibility is focal.

PMID- 1443860
TI  - ANCAs aweigh.

PMID- 1443861
TI  - Effect of tidal volume on gas exchange and oxygen transport in the adult
      respiratory distress syndrome.
AB  - The effect of tidal volume (VT) on gas exchange and oxygen delivery (DO2) was
      studied in nine patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and in
      10 postoperative open-heart surgery patients (CABG). During controlled mechanical
      ventilation, VT was initially 10 to 12 ml/kg, followed by an increase and
      reduction of 25% (1.25 VT and 0.75 VT, respectively). In both groups of patients,
      dead space (VD) correlated strongly with VT (p < 0.001), while the VD/VT ratio
      was independent of VT. PaO2 tended to increase in CABG patients and decrease in
      ARDS patients at 1.25 VT. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) did not change at
      1.25 VT but decreased at 0.75 VT (p < 0.001) in the ARDS group. Venous admixture
      (QS/QT) decreased with 1.25 VT and increased with 0.75 VT (p < 0.001). A
      relatively larger increase in cardiac output compensated for the increased QS/QT
      and the reduced SaO2, resulting in significantly higher DO2 with 0.75 VT (p <
      0.01). A lower VT resulted in improved balance between pulmonary gas exchange and
      whole body oxygen supply.

PMID- 1443862
TI  - Use of a measurement of pulmonary hyperinflation to control the level of
      mechanical ventilation in patients with acute severe asthma.
AB  - Mechanical ventilation causes significant morbidity and mortality in patients
      with severe asthma. Hypoventilation may reduce this morbidity and mortality, but
      indicators to guide the degree of hypoventilation are unclear. We used a measure
      of pulmonary hyperinflation to assess the degree of airflow obstruction and to
      guide the extent and duration of hypoventilation. Ten patients who required
      mechanical ventilation for acute severe asthma were studied. All were sedated,
      paralyzed, and given an initial minute ventilation (VE) of 200 ml/kg/min. End
      inspiratory lung volume (VEI) above FRC was measured from the total exhaled gas
      volume during 40 to 60 s of apnea. VEI was used to regulate VE to a safe level
      (VEsafe), irrespective of PaCO2, by reducing the rate when VEI was > 20 ml/kg and
      increasing it when VEI was < 20 ml/kg. Each patient was weaned when VEsafe
      resulted in PaCO2 < or = 40 mm Hg (the weaning point). FRC was measured computer
      analysis of anterior and lateral chest radiographs taken at the end of apnea.
      Using the weaning point criterion, 2 patients (PaCO2 < 40 mm Hg) were weaned
      shortly after arrival. The remaining eight (initial PaCO2, 63 +/- 17 mm Hg)
      continued hypoventilation until the weaning point was reached (30 +/- 29 h). The
      weaning point was reached by the VE required for PaCO2 40 mm Hg decreasing
      concurrent with the VEsafe increasing. All but 1 patient were successfully weaned
      within 24 h of the weaning point.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443863
TI  - Plasma elastin-derived peptide levels in normal adults, children, and
      emphysematous subjects. Physiologic and computed tomographic scan correlates.
AB  - Pulmonary emphysema is likely to be the result of elastic tissue digestion by
      unrestrained elastase activity in the lung. Elastin breakdown by elastases
      results in the release of soluble elastin fragments (EDP), which may be measured
      in plasma by an ELISA. Plasma EDP levels measured using an ELISA were determined
      in the following groups: disease-free children (n = 24), 0.162 +/- 0.082 ng/ml;
      disease-free adult nonsmokers (n = 114), 1.74 +/- 0.8 ng/ml; smokers (n = 68),
      2.76 +/- 4.59 ng/ml; reformed smokers (n = 43), 1.91 +/- 1.14 ng/ml. Adults with
      established pulmonary emphysema (n = 50), as defined by bullous formation on the
      chest radiograph, had levels of 50.83 +/- 24.8 ng/ml, significantly higher than
      the disease-free groups at p < 0.01. Pulmonary emphysema can be reflected by
      pulmonary function tests, especially those that measure the pulmonary elastic
      properties, and by computed tomographic (CT) scan percent emphysema score. We
      therefore examined the relationship of plasma EDP to these other indicators of
      pulmonary emphysema in a separate group of 26 subjects using elastic recoil
      measurements (K), and a further group of 30 subjects with CT scan percent
      emphysema score. A significant correlation of p < 0.001 was shown for plasma EDP
      and K and a significant correlation of p < 0.01 was shown for plasma EDP and CT
      scan percent emphysema score, these correlations suggesting that plasma EDP
      levels are indicators of the loss of pulmonary distensibility and of mild to
      moderate pulmonary emphysema. These findings suggest that pulmonary emphysema is
      characterized by active elastin breakdown.

PMID- 1443864
TI  - Formoterol compared with beclomethasone and placebo on allergen-induced asthmatic
      responses.
AB  - Formoterol is a new long-acting beta 2-agonist. We compared the protective effect
      of 24 micrograms formoterol with 200 micrograms beclomethasone and placebo on
      inhaled allergen-induced asthmatic responses in mild stable asthmatic subjects.
      We measured airflow rates, histamine airway responsiveness, cell counts from
      sputum and peripheral blood, and markers of lymphocyte and eosinophil activation.
      Adjustments were made for the confounding effect of bronchodilatation produced by
      formoterol in comparisons using a control inhalation of normal saline. Formoterol
      caused bronchodilation and inhibition of histamine airway responsiveness for at
      least 24 h. It completely inhibited the early asthmatic responses when
      beclomethasone had no effect. Control comparisons of the effect of formoterol and
      beclomethasone on the allergen-induced late asthmatic response and increase in
      histamine responsiveness showed each to be equally effective but not to inhibit
      the responses completely. Formoterol caused bronchodilation in addition to
      preventing bronchoconstriction. Both drugs inhibited the rise in serum eosinophil
      cationic protein 24 h after allergen, but neither inhibited the allergen-induced
      increases in sputum or blood eosinophils or CD25+ lymphocytes. These results
      suggest that formoterol modifies allergen-induced airway responses through
      functional antagonism rather than the inhibition of inflammatory cell
      infiltration.

PMID- 1443865
TI  - Increased oxygen species generation in blood monocytes of asthmatic patients.
AB  - Besides eosinophils, inflammatory processes in asthma are characterized by an
      infiltration of inflammatory cells, including mononuclear phagocytes, such as
      alveolar macrophages (AM) and blood monocytes, in the airways. Monocyte
      activation has been observed in the blood after exercise or allergen-induced
      asthma. Stimulated AM in chronic and stable asthmatic patients have been shown to
      release oxygen species. We thus investigated the intensity of the activation of
      monocytes from 18 asthmatic patients compared with 18 healthy subjects. Oxygen
      species release was analyzed for monocytes in suspension by chemiluminescence
      using a luminometer and for monocytes maintained in adherence using conventional
      assay and video imaging camera. Circulating blood monocytes in suspension from
      asthmatic patients and control subjects showed the same baseline free radical
      release. Monocytes in suspension from asthmatic patients were more stimulatable
      by PMA: specifically, monocytes release more H2O and peaks of O2-. are sooner;
      moreover, peaks of total free radical release are higher, and this plateau is
      sustained. Compared with monocytes from control subjects, those from asthmatic
      patients evaluated after adherence show a higher baseline for O2-. and higher
      total free radical release. Monocytes from asthmatic patients spontaneously
      release more O2-. over time in nonstimulated cells and release more O2-. with PMA
      stimulation; they show the same peak level total free radical release as those
      from control subjects after stimulation. SOD activity analysis on adherent
      monocytes was lower in asthmatic compared with control subjects. These data show
      that monocytes from asthmatic patients were activated compared with control
      monocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443866
TI  - Impairment of airway mucociliary transport by Pseudomonas aeruginosa products.
      Role of oxygen radicals.
AB  - We previously showed that the supernatant of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA)
      culture and its constituents pyocyanin and 1-hydroxyphenazine inhibit ciliary
      activity of dispersed tracheal epithelial cells in vitro via the generation of
      oxygen radicals by phagocytes. In the present study, we wished to determine if
      tracheal mucus velocity (TMV) is also impaired by PA supernatant and if oxygen
      radicals have a mediating role. In conscious sheep, TMV (measured with a
      radiographic method) was determined before and serially following aerosol
      challenge with the cell-free supernatant of a PA culture or unconditioned culture
      medium (control). TMV decreased from a mean (+/- SEM) baseline of 6.7 +/- 1.1
      mm/min (n = 6) by 29, 35, and 25% at 0.5, 3, and 24 h after challenge,
      respectively (p < 0.05), and returned to baseline 1 wk later (-6%, p = NS).
      Control medium had no effect on TMV (maximum decrease by 15% at 0.5 h).
      Aerosolized catalase blunted the effect of PA supernatant on TMV. To determine if
      the impairment of TMV involved ciliary inhibition, tissues were mounted in a
      chamber and ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and surface liquid velocity (SLV) were
      measured with a microscopic method. PA supernatant decreased both CBF (maximum
      mean decrease 12%; n = 5, p < 0.05) and SLV (maximum mean decrease 78%; n = 5, p
      < 0.05) in a dose-dependent fashion, with a correlation between the two
      parameters; these effects were blocked by catalase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1443867
TI  - Prostanoids inhibit release of endogenous norepinephrine from rat isolated
      trachea.
AB  - Prostanoids, of epithelial origin, are known as modulators of several processes
      in the airways. The present study examined whether prostanoids are involved in
      the local control of sympathetic neurotransmission. The release of endogenous
      norepinephrine from rat isolated tracheae was evoked by electrical field
      stimulation (3 Hz, 540 pulses) in the presence of yohimbine, desipramine, and
      tyrosine. In different series of experiments, indomethacin (3 mumol/L) increased
      the evoked release of endogenous norepinephrine by 70 to 80%. In the presence of
      indomethacin, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and several prostanoid receptor agonists
      inhibited the evoked release of norepinephrine in a concentration-dependent
      manner, maximally by 60 to 70%. According to the concentration producing 35%
      inhibition of norepinephrine release (half-maximal effect), the following rank
      order of potencies was observed (EC35): nocloprost (8 nmol/L), sulprostone (30
      nmol/L), PGE2 (308 nmol/L), iloprost (2 mumol/L), and U46619 (> 10 mumol/L). The
      EP1 receptor antagonist AH 6809 (3 mumol/L) had no effect on the evoked
      norepinephrine release and did not affect the inhibitory effect of 1 mumol/L of
      sulprostone. In the absence of indomethacin, the inhibitory effect of PGE2 was
      similar to that observed in the presence of indomethacin. After removal of the
      epithelium, the evoked norepinephrine release was markedly reduced. However, no
      significant effect of indomethacin was observed in epithelium-denuded tracheae.
      In conclusion, norepinephrine release in the rat trachea is inhibited via
      prostaglandin receptors that have the pharmacologic characteristics of the EP3
      subtype. Endogenous eicosanoids, most likely of epithelial origin, are involved
      in the local control of the release of norepinephrine.

PMID- 1443868
TI  - Angiotensin II-1 receptor-mediated Cl secretion by canine tracheal epithelium.
AB  - To elucidate the effect of angiotensin II (AII) on ion transport function of
      airway epithelium, we studied the bioelectrical properties of canine cultured
      tracheal epithelium under short-circuit conditions in vitro. Addition of AII to
      submucosal solution in Ussing chambers increased the short-circuit current (ISC)
      in a dose-dependent fashion, the maximal increase from the baseline value and the
      concentration required to produce a half-maximal effect being 5.2 +/- 0.5
      microA/cm2 (p < 0.001) and 10(-6) M, respectively. In contrast, mucosal AII had
      little effect. The AII-induced increase in ISC was not altered by the AII-2
      receptor antagonist EXP655 but was depressed by the AII-1 receptor antagonist DuP
      753. Diphenylamine-2-carboxylate, Cl-free medium, indomethacin, the phospholipase
      A2 inhibitor mepacrine, and the methyltransferase inhibitor 3-deazaadenosine
      reduced the change in ISC, whereas amiloride and the lipoxygenase inhibitor AA
      861 did not. Addition of AII to the submucosal but not the mucosal side increased
      the release of prostaglandin E2, an effect that was abolished by DuP 753. These
      results suggest that AII may interact with the submucosal AII-1 receptor and
      stimulate Cl secretion across tracheal epithelium through the mobilization of
      arachidonic acid and the release of prostaglandin E2.

PMID- 1443869
TI  - Furosemide differentially relaxes airway and vascular smooth muscle in fetal,
      newborn, and adult guinea pigs.
AB  - Furosemide, an inhibitor of Cl-dependent Na+,K+ cotransport, is the most
      frequently used diuretic in newborns. Recently, furosemide was also demonstrated
      to decrease bronchial hyper-responsiveness in adults, although little is known
      about the direct effect of furosemide on smooth muscle of immature animals. This
      in vitro study was designed to determine the action of furosemide on airway and
      vascular smooth muscle during ontogeny. Extrathoracic trachea (ET), main stem
      bronchi, main pulmonary artery, and thoracic aorta ring segments from fetal,
      newborn, and adult Hartley albino guinea pigs were suspended in HEPES solution
      for measurement of isometric tension. Furosemide (30 or 300 microM) was
      administered after preconstriction with an ED35-70 concentration of histamine or
      acetylcholine for airway and ED40-100 concentration of norepinephrine for
      vessels. Furosemide (30 microM) caused significant relaxation of airway smooth
      muscle at all ages. After histamine-induced preconstriction, fetal airway
      segments exhibited greatest relaxation (183 +/- 28%), with newborn airway
      demonstrating 123 +/- 15% relaxation and modest relaxation seen in adults (40 +/-
      4%). This pattern was similar for both ET and bronchus and appeared greater for
      histamine compared with ACh preconstriction. Epithelial removal slightly enhanced
      relaxation. Furosemide also relaxed pulmonary artery segments, but at a 10-fold
      higher concentration. In striking contrast to the pattern seen in airway, adult
      pulmonary artery relaxed more than newborn and newborn, more than fetus.
      Cyclooxygenase blockade and endothelium removal did not change pulmonary artery
      relaxation. Furosemide did not significantly relax aorta after NE
      preconstriction. Taken together, these results suggest that furosemide may be
      more effective in relaxing airway compared with vascular smooth muscle, and the
      ontogeny of these responses indicates a greater efficacy and selectivity in
      airways of immature animals.

PMID- 1443870
TI  - Effects of natriuretic peptides and neutral endopeptidase 24.11 inhibition in
      isolated perfused rat lung.
AB  - We have studied the acute effect of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and atrial
      natriuretic peptide (ANP) on pulmonary vascular tone in normoxia and acute
      hypoxia in the absence and presence of a specific inhibitor of neutral
      endopeptidase 24.11 (NEI, UK 73, 967, candoxatrilat; Pfizer) in the isolated and
      blood-perfused rat lung preparation. Baseline pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) was
      16.4 +/- 0.3 mm Hg in lungs from normoxic control rats and 22.5 +/- 0.3 mm Hg in
      lungs from rats kept in hypoxia (FIO2 = 10%) for 7 days. Acute hypoxic pulmonary
      vasoconstriction (HPV delta Ppa) was similar in normoxic control rats (9.5 +/-
      0.6 mm Hg) and chronically hypoxic rats (9.8 +/- 0.9 mm Hg). NEI at 0.07 and 0.2
      mg had no effect on baseline Ppa or HPV delta Ppa. Synthetic BNP at 10 nM had no
      effect on baseline Ppa but produced a 2.8 +/- 0.2 mm Hg reduction in HPV delta
      Ppa alone and 2.7 +/- 0.2 mm Hg reduction in the presence of 0.07 mg NEI in
      normoxic control rats. In contrast, ANP at 10 nM produced a significantly greater
      decrease in HPV delta Ppa in the presence of 0.07 mg NEI (4.8 +/- 0.3 mm Hg, p <
      0.05) compared with ANP alone (2.9 +/- 0.4 mm Hg), and similar results were also
      observed in chronically hypoxic rats. Thus, BNP has a vasodilator effect similar
      to that of ANP in the pulmonary circulation. Inhibition of neutral endopeptidase
      24.11 augments the effects of ANP on HPV but does not influence the pulmonary
      vascular responses to BNP.

PMID- 1443871
TI  - Effects of in utero phrenic nerve section on the development of collagen and
      elastin in lamb lungs.
AB  - Interference with fetal breathing movements is known to retard morphologic
      development of the lung and to reduce compliance. We hypothesized that the lower
      compliance might be in part due to effects on lung structural proteins. We
      studied the effects of phrenic nerve section in utero on lung compliance and on
      the lung contents of collagen, elastin, and DNA. At 110 to 112 days of gestation,
      one fetal lamb in each of 12 twin pregnancies had either both phrenic nerves cut
      (PX) or a sham operation (S). The other twin was left unoperated (Upx, Us) as a
      control. They were killed 14 to 22 days later, and the concentrations in lung
      parenchyma of collagen (as hydroxyproline HPro), elastin, and DNA were measured,
      together with lung compliance and dry and wet weight. Paired comparisons were
      made (PX versus Upx and S versus Us). Both operated groups (PX, S) had smaller
      lungs with lower water content than did their unoperated twins. Absolute static
      compliance in PX was reduced, but compliance relative to lung weight was
      unchanged, and there was no significant difference between S and Us. There were
      no significant effects of PX on the concentrations of HPro, elastin, and DNA, or
      on the elastin/collagen ratio. Compliance was not correlated with either HPro or
      elastin content. HPro content increased significantly with gestational age in all
      groups. It is concluded that phrenic nerve section retards the increase of lung
      compliance and possibly air space, but it does not affect the overall rate of
      lung cell proliferation or of deposition of elastin or collagen.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443872
TI  - Ventilation and gaseous metabolism in infants born at high altitude, and their
      responses to hyperoxia.
AB  - Hyperventilation and decreased metabolic rate are commonly observed in newborns
      during acute hypoxia; whether these responses are also present during sustained
      hypoxia is not known. We asked whether infants at high altitude had higher
      ventilation and lower metabolism than lowlanders. Ventilation (VE), oxygen
      consumption (VO2), and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) were measured in newborn
      (< 1 day old) full-term infants in La Paz (altitude 3,800 m; inspired oxygen
      pressure [PIO2], 92 mm Hg) and in Santa Cruz (altitude, 400 m; PIO2, 141 mm Hg),
      Bolivia. Each group consisted of 30 infants selected to have similar body weight.
      The mothers, Amerindians and mestizos, were born in the corresponding cities or
      at equivalent altitudes. Despite the lower inspired oxygen concentration in La
      Paz (0.107 ml STPD O2/ml BTPS air) than in Santa Cruz (0.164), neither VE nor VO2
      or VCO2 differed between the two groups. The breathing pattern was deeper and
      slower at high altitude. From the values of VE and VO2 it was calculated that
      high-altitude infants extracted more O2 (+62%) from the inspired air than did the
      lowlanders. When given pure O2 to breathe, both groups of infants similarly
      increased VE and gaseous metabolism; even during hyperoxia, however, the
      ventilatory O2 extraction was higher (+50%) in the highlanders. We conclude that,
      contrary to what is observed in acute hypoxia, infants at high altitude maintain
      metabolic rate with no major alterations in VE. The ability to use a greater
      fraction of the inspired O2 at high altitude probably results from functional and
      structural alterations stimulated by fetal hypoxia.

PMID- 1443873
TI  - Characterization of gamma/delta T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients
      with active tuberculosis. A comparison with normal subjects and patients with
      sarcoidosis.
AB  - Studies in experimental animals have suggested that gamma/delta T-cells play an
      important role in the immune response against mycobacteria, but evidence for the
      participation of these cells in the course of human tuberculosis remains
      fragmentary. We have evaluated the number and state of activation of gamma/delta
      T-cells in the peripheral blood of patients with active tuberculosis using two
      color cytofluorometry, and we have sought evidence that these cells might play a
      role in the impaired responses to recall antigens seen in some patients by
      comparing the proliferation of blood T-lymphocytes before and after removing
      gamma/delta T-cells by panning. Results were compared with those obtained for
      cells from normal subjects and from patients with sarcoidosis. The proportion and
      absolute number of circulating CD3+ gamma/delta T-cells were not significantly
      different comparing blood from patients with tuberculosis and that from control
      subjects [54.6 +/- 39.9 (n = 17) and 59.1 +/- 30.2 cells/microliters (n = 10),
      respectively, p > 0.2], and the proportion of cells expressing receptors using
      the V delta 1 variable region remained unchanged in patients with tuberculosis.
      Few gamma/delta T-cells from patients with tuberculosis expressed surface
      antigens associated with activation (IL-2R, < 1%; HLA-DR, 2.6 +/- 3.4%). Four of
      15 patients with sarcoidosis had a proportion of gamma/delta T-cells that was
      outside the range observed in normal subjects, but the absolute number of CD3+
      gamma/delta T-lymphocytes was not different comparing the two groups (p >
      0.2).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443874
TI  - Dissociation between dyspnea and respiratory effort.
AB  - Breathlessness induced by hypercapnia may be related to the sensation of
      respiratory effort or to the central or peripheral effects of CO2. To examine the
      relationship among breathlessness, respiratory effort, and hypercapnia, we
      studied eight normal naive subjects. By using a visual feedback system, subjects
      maintained a constant ventilation of 50-60 L/min. PETCO2 was held at 40 mm Hg
      during the first 2 min of each trial (control period), then for 4 min (test
      period) was either kept at 40 mm Hg or elevated to 50 mm Hg. At the end of each
      control and test period, subjects were asked to give separate ratings for dyspnea
      (an unpleasant urge to breathe) and for the sense of respiratory effort
      (analogous to lifting a weight) on a 50-cm visual analog scale. Hypercapnia was
      associated with a significant reduction in effort ratings (-7.3 +/- 6.4, mean +/-
      SD, p < 0.05) and a concomitant increase in dyspnea (+6.6 +/- 6.0, p < 0.05). We
      conclude that dyspnea associated with hypercapnia is dissociated from changes in
      respiratory effort, and that CO2 has a direct central effect that leads to
      breathlessness. Our data also suggest that the sense of effort at a given level
      of ventilation is less when the ventilation is the result of "reflex" stimuli to
      breathe rather than "voluntary" signals to the respiratory muscles.

PMID- 1443875
TI  - Evidence of acute diaphragmatic fatigue in a "natural" condition. The diaphragm
      during labor.
AB  - Acute diaphragmatic fatigue has been experimentally shown to occur in normal
      healthy subjects and in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by
      asking them to modify their pattern of breathing or to breathe against high
      inspiratory resistances. During the expulsive period of labor women are asked
      periodically to make strong expulsive efforts and to sustain them isometrically
      for many seconds; this is likely to produce "natural" diaphragmatic fatigue. To
      investigate whether this was the case, six women were studied in the delivery
      room from the moment of the rupture of the amnion until delivery of the infant
      occurred. The development of diaphragmatic fatigue was assessed both by measuring
      the static maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and by analyzing the
      electromyographic power spectrum of the diaphragm (H/L ratio). The majority of
      contractions were concentrated in the expulsive period of labor. MIP, recorded in
      the supine position, significantly decreased from 103.2 +/- 17.2 cm H2O (at the
      beginning of the expulsive period) to 73.8 +/- 10.1 cm H2O (after the delivery).
      The H/L ratio fell progressively during the expulsive period; after the delivery,
      it was 59.2 +/- 15.7% of the value recorded at the beginning of the expulsive
      period. This study demonstrates that (1) the diaphragm is active in the expulsive
      efforts during labor and (2) the tension developed and the time each contraction
      is maintained may lead to the development of diaphragmatic fatigue. Therefore, we
      provide evidence of acute diaphragmatic fatigue in a natural condition.

PMID- 1443876
TI  - Adult criteria for obstructive sleep apnea do not identify children with serious
      obstruction.
AB  - Although obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs in the pediatric population,
      diagnostic criteria have not been established. Since criteria for adult OSA are
      well established, we asked whether commonly used adult criteria, such as the
      apnea index (based on the number of obstructive apnea [OA] events per hour),
      would identify children with serious sleep-related upper airway obstruction.
      Polysomnographic data were analyzed from 20 children (ages 8 months to 16 yr)
      with clinical evidence of upper airway obstruction during sleep (loud snoring and
      labored breathing) and who had cyclic oscillations of oxyhemoglobin saturation
      (SaO2) during sleep. The overnight studies included sleep state (EEG, EOG, and
      EMG), SaO2, ECG, nasal (end-tidal CO2) and oral (thermistor) airflow, chest and
      abdominal movement (inductance plethysmography), and video camera and behavioral
      observations. Measurements included the number of obstructive events > or = 10 s,
      the number of desaturations (> or = 5% decrease lasting > or = 5 s), the number
      of desaturation episodes to < 90%, < 85%, and < 80% lasting > 5 s, and the
      percentage of sleep time with SaO2 values < 90%. Gas exchange was impaired as
      evidenced by cyclic decreases in SaO2 and elevated PETCO2 values (maximum value
      58 +/- 6 mm Hg). The children experienced 175 +/- 168 (range 6 to 609) episodes
      of decreased SaO2 > 5%, with an average minimum SaO2 of 66 +/- 13% (range 30 to
      85%). The average number of apnea events was only 1.9 +/- 3.2 events/h (range 0
      to 10.4).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443877
TI  - Normal polysomnographic values for children and adolescents.
AB  - Although polysomnography is routinely performed to evaluate children and
      adolescents with sleep-disordered breathing, normal polysomnographic values for
      the pediatric age group have not yet been established. We therefore performed
      overnight polysomnography in 50 normal children and adolescents (mean age 9.7 +/-
      4.6 SD yr, range 1.1 to 17.4 yr). Of the children 56% were male. Chest wall
      motion, ECG, oronasal airflow, end-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2), arterial oxygen
      saturation (SaO2), and electrooculogram were monitored. Children had 0.1 +/- 0.5
      (range 0 to 3.1) obstructive apneas per hour of total sleep time, with only 18%
      of children having any obstructive apneas. No child had obstructive apneas > 10 s
      in duration. Of the children 30% had central apneas > or = 10 s in duration, and
      one child had a central apnea associated with SaO2 < 90%. Peak PETCO2 was 46 +/-
      4 mm Hg (range 38 to 53 mm Hg), and hypoventilation (PETCO2 > 45 mm Hg) occurred
      for 7 +/- 19% total sleep time (range 0 to 91%). The SaO2 nadir was 96 +/- 2%
      (range 89 to 98%), with only one child desaturating below 90% in association with
      a central apnea. We conclude that polysomnographic results in the pediatric age
      group differ from those in adults. Recommendations for normal polysomnographic
      criteria are given.

PMID- 1443878
TI  - A specific and potent pressor effect of hypoxia in patients with sleep apnea.
AB  - A hypoxic ramp test (to 75% arterial oxygen saturation) during the awake state
      was performed in 17 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Blood pressure
      was monitored with an indwelling arterial line (radial artery), and the
      ventilatory response to eucapnic hypoxia was determined. Eight of the patients
      were normotensive. The remaining nine hypertensive patients were studied after a
      3-wk washout of antihypertensive medication. Compared with a nonmatched group of
      normotensive nonsnoring control subjects in whom hypoxemia did not affect blood
      pressure, all OSA patients showed various degrees of pressor responses during
      hypoxia. The pressor response was of similar magnitude in normotensive and
      hypertensive patients with OSA. There was a significant relationship between the
      ventilatory and the pressor responses to hypoxia (p = 0.03) that was similar in
      both normotensive and hypertensive patients. Although disease severity expressed
      as apnea index (number of apneas per hour of sleep) or minimum arterial oxygen
      saturation reached during the overnight recording correlated with the magnitude
      of the pressor response (p = 0.03 and 0.045, respectively), the ventilatory
      response to hypoxia was unrelated to disease severity. Hypoxemia induced a
      similar increase in heart rate in controls and in normotensive patients, but an
      attenuated heart rate response was seen at the nadir of oxygen saturation in
      hypertensive subjects (p < 0.05). These data demonstrate that patients with
      obstructive sleep apneas have a pressor response to hypoxia. This response is
      likely to be involved in the blood pressure swings seen during apnea in patients
      with OSA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443879
TI  - Temperature thresholds in the oropharynx of patients with obstructive sleep apnea
      syndrome.
AB  - The temperature thresholds for warmth and cold were determined on the
      oropharyngeal mucosa of 15 patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)
      and 15 age-matched nonsnoring control subjects. We found that six of the patients
      with OSAS were not able to detect either the upper (50 degrees C) or lower (25
      degrees C) temperature limits of the test when recording from the tonsillar
      pillar, whereas all control subjects detected the temperature change within the
      measuring range. The OSAS patients showed a statistically significant higher
      threshold for warmth on the anterior tonsillar pillar, 46.8 degrees C (95%
      confidence interval 45.2-48.4) versus 42.5 degrees C (41.3-43.8) for the control
      subjects (p = 0.0006). The same was found on the tip of the tongue-40.1 degrees C
      (38.7-41.6) for OSAS patients and 38.2 degrees C (37.1-39.4) for the control
      subjects (p = 0.036). Determination of temperature thresholds on the skin is an
      established method of detecting a neuropathy. We speculate that patients with
      OSAS suffer from a neuropathy in the pharynx caused by prolonged and progressive
      trauma to the pharyngeal structures from vibration induced by snoring and/or
      stretching of the structures during apneas. A neuropathy may interfere with the
      normal stabilizing function of the pharyngeal muscles and with the local reflex
      mechanism preventing the upper airway from collapsing during inspiration. It is
      thus possible that snoring itself, by inducing a neuropathy in the pharynx, may
      contribute to the sequence of events that transform a snorer into a patient
      suffering from OSAS.

PMID- 1443880
TI  - Respiratory short-term poststimulus potentiation (after-discharge) in patients
      with obstructive sleep apnea.
AB  - In conscious normal humans after a brief hypoxic ventilatory stimulus,
      ventilation slowly decays to baseline and does not undershoot though the subjects
      are hyperoxic and hypocapnic. This phenomenon is attributed to short-term
      poststimulus potentiation (STP), which may be an important factor promoting
      ventilatory stability by preventing periodic breathing. It has been proposed that
      obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a variant of periodic breathing, with
      obstruction occurring when ventilatory drive is low. If this were the case,
      patients with OSA might have reduced STP. To test this, seven normal adults and
      12 patients with OSA (mean apnea index, 52.4 +/- 6.9 SE events/h) were studied.
      Ventilation (VI) was measured in awake seated subjects during 30 to 45 s of
      exposure to hypoxia (end-tidal O2: 50 mm Hg) followed by hyperoxia. A total of 57
      hypoxic-hyperoxic runs were analyzed (36 in the patients and 21 in the normal
      subjects). During hypoxia VI increased and end-tidal CO2 decreased by similar
      amounts in both groups. In normal subjects after hypoxia there was a gradual
      decay in VI to prehypoxic levels without an undershoot. In patients, there was on
      average a ventilatory undershoot at 35 s of hyperoxia, with a mean VI of 83% of
      baseline. The undershoot was due mainly to a decrease in tidal volume, which was
      significantly lower than that of the normal subjects for several seconds. These
      changes were particularly prominent in seven patients who were not different from
      the others in terms of baseline characteristics, hypoxic responses, and OSA
      severity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443881
TI  - The effect of triazolam on the arousal response to airway occlusion during sleep
      in normal subjects.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of triazolam (0.25 mg) on the
      arousal response to airway occlusion during nonrapid eye movement sleep in normal
      subjects. Six male subjects (mean age +/- SD, 28.1 +/- 7.1 yr) had their arousal
      response tested by occluding a mask covering the nose with the mouth sealed.
      After an adaptation night, subjects were studied on two consecutive nights. They
      ingested triazolam (0.25 mg) or placebo one-half hour before bedtime in a
      randomized double-blind crossover manner. Mask occlusion was performed 1 to 4 h
      after triazolam/placebo ingestion while the subjects breathed a mixture of air
      and oxygen adjusted to produce an arterial oxygen saturation of 98%. The maximal
      deflections in airway pressure were measured at a supraglottic location during
      airway occlusion to reflect the degree of inspiratory effort. The time to arousal
      (mean +/- SEM) was significantly longer on triazolam nights (32.0 +/- 5.2 versus
      22.6 +/- 3.2 s, p < 0.01). The maximal airway suction pressure preceding arousal
      was higher on triazolam nights (26.5 +/- 2.0 cm H2O versus 20.0 +/- 1.2 cm H2O, p
      < 0.02). Conversely, the rate of increase in inspiratory effort (maximal
      pressure) during occlusion was not decreased by triazolam. We conclude that
      triazolam prolongs the time to arousal following airway occlusion by increasing
      the arousal threshold.

PMID- 1443882
TI  - Effects of surgical correction of nasal obstruction in the treatment of
      obstructive sleep apnea.
AB  - Negative upper airway pressure is thought to play a key role in the
      pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnea. Because nasal resistance contributes
      to the increase of the transpharyngeal pressure gradient, we evaluated the
      effects of nasal surgery on sleep-related breathing abnormalities in 20 adults
      with obstructive sleep apnea. Polysomnographic studies were done before
      (baseline), and 2 to 3 mo after surgery (septoplasty, turbinectomy, and/or
      polypectomy). Nasal resistances were measured at these visits in 14 patients.
      Cephalometric measurements were obtained before surgery. Cephalometric
      abnormalities consisted in an increase in the distance from the mandibular plane
      to the hyoid bone (MP-H), a decrease in the space between the base of the tongue
      and the posterior soft tissues (PAS), a retroposition of the mandibule, and an
      increase in the length of the soft palate. Body weight did not change between the
      two studies. Nasal resistance decreased significantly after nasal surgery. The
      composition of the total sleep time spent in the rapid eye movement stage
      increased from 11.5 +/- 1.3% (mean +/- SEM) to 14 +/- 1.2% after surgery. For the
      group as the whole, there was no difference between baseline and postsurgical
      values in the frequency of respiratory disturbances (39.8 +/- 6.1, 36.8 +/- 5.9
      n/h), the total apnea time (17.8 +/- 4.2, 15.4 +/- 2.8), the distribution of the
      apnea time within the different apnea types (obstructive and nonobstructive), and
      the severity of the nocturnal desaturations. Interestingly, apnea and apnea plus
      hypopnea indices returned to normal values (< 5 and 10, respectively) in four
      subjects with normal posterior soft tissues and mandibular plane to the hyoid
      bone distances.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443883
TI  - Fiber type and regional differences in oxidative capacity and glycogen content in
      the hamster diaphragm.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to define variability of the oxidative capacity and
      glycogen content between different fiber types and regions of the hamster
      diaphragm. Using histochemical and microphotometric techniques, the oxidative
      capacity (identified by nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase
      reaction end product) and glycogen levels (identified by the periodic acid-Schiff
      stain test) were examined in three myofibrillar ATPase (M-ATPase) fiber types and
      four diaphragmatic regions: sternal, anterior costal, thoracic surface of the
      crural (thor/crur), and abdominal surface of the crural (abd/crur). Most regional
      differences were found between the crus and the rest of the diaphragm. There were
      no differences in the oxidative capacity between diaphragmatic regions in the
      types 1 and 2a fibers, but the type 2b fibers in the thor/crur region had the
      greatest oxidative capacity and the 2b fiber in the sternal region had the lowest
      oxidative capacity. There were differences in glycogen content between
      diaphragmatic regions for all of the three M-ATPase fiber types. Variability in
      oxidative capacity between fiber types was demonstrated in all regions except the
      thor/crur region. Variation in glycogen content between fiber types was only
      demonstrated in the two surfaces of the crus. The type 2b fiber demonstrated the
      most differences from types 1 and 2a fibers in oxidative capacity and glycogen
      content in the different diaphragmatic regions, whereas the types 1 and 2a fibers
      demonstrated few differences from each other in these features across the
      different diaphragmatic regions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443884
TI  - Lung oxidant changes after zymosan peritonitis: relationship between physiologic
      and biochemical changes.
AB  - Our purpose was to determine the effect of non-bacteria-dependent systemic
      inflammation on the degree and time course of lung oxidant activity and
      antioxidant defenses, comparing these changes with lung, physiologic, and
      histologic alterations. Adult male rats were given intraperitoneal zymosan (0.7
      mg/g body weight) and were fluid resuscitated. Oxidant changes were measured as
      lung tissue oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content,
      antioxidant defenses as tissue reduced glutathione (GSH), and catalase. Animals
      were killed at 4, 12, and 24 h, and at 5, 10, and 30 days. Lung data were
      compared with that found in liver. We noted a 45% mortality in the first 18 to 36
      h with all remaining animals surviving. In the first 24 h, we noted a doubling of
      lung MDA and an 80% conversion of tissue GSH to GSSG compared with less than 5%
      in control animals, indicating a severe oxidant stress. These findings
      corresponded with marked increase in lung neutrophils. Arterial pressure (PaO2)
      was significantly decreased from a control of 95 +/- 4 mm Hg to 80 +/- 5 mm Hg
      and 75 +/- 4 mm Hg at Days 5 and 10, respectively, but returned toward control by
      30 days. Lung GSSG and MDA remained significantly increased for the 30-day
      period, whereas amounts of the antioxidants, catalase, and GSH returned to
      control after 24 h. The ongoing oxidant stress corresponded with marked
      mononuclear cell infiltration and interstitial thickening, which persisted over
      the 30-day period even after peritonitis had completely resolved.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443885
TI  - The effect of aerosolized recombinant human granulocyte macrophage colony
      stimulating factor on lung leukocytes in nonhuman primates.
AB  - The number and function of myeloid cells in the lungs are critical determinants
      of health and disease. To examine whether these cells can be modulated in vivo by
      a colony-stimulating factor (CSF), recombinant human granulocyte macrophage-CSF
      (GM-CSF) was given to cynomolgus monkeys by either continuous intravenous
      infusion (7,200 U/kg/day) for 2 wk or by aerosol exposure to 10(7) U on 1 or 2
      consecutive days. At intervals after the initiation of GM-CSF administration,
      animals underwent bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and had peripheral blood sampled
      to characterize changes in lung and circulating phagocytic cells. Compared with
      animals exposed to bovine serum albumin, there was an increase in the total
      number of BAL cells retrieved. This increase was greatest in animals receiving
      aerosolized GM-CSF, and it was the result of more macrophages and neutrophils.
      Both lung macrophages and blood neutrophils from animals exposed to aerosolized
      GM-CSF exhibited an augmented respiratory burst in response to phorbol myristate
      acetate. Lung macrophages from GM-CSF-exposed animals exhibited increased
      capacity to bind and/or ingest opsonized and unopsonized Staphylococcus aureus.
      Despite functional activation of lung phagocytic cells, biochemical analyses of
      BAL fluid for markers of lung injury revealed an increase in only some parameters
      in the GM-CSF group. Intravenous administration of GM-CSF had the expected effect
      on augmenting the number of myeloid cells in the bloodstream. Aerosolized GM-CSF
      produced a transient effect on circulating myeloid cell number between 3 and 5
      days after exposure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443886
TI  - Hyperoxia-induced airway remodeling in immature rats. Correlation with airway
      responsiveness.
AB  - We recently found that exposure of 21-day-old rats to hyperoxia (> 95% O2 for 8
      days) significantly increased in vivo airway cholinergic responsiveness and that
      O2 exposure also increased airway epithelial and smooth muscle layer thicknesses
      in a separate cohort of animals. There was substantial variation in the magnitude
      of both the functional and structural responses to hyperoxia. The present study
      was designed to test whether the magnitude of O2-induced airway remodeling could
      account for individual differences in airway responsiveness after O2 exposure, as
      well as for the difference in responsiveness between air- and O2-exposed animals.
      We assessed in vivo airway responsiveness to aerosolized acetylcholine (ACh) and
      airway architecture in 14 O2- and 5 air-exposed, immature rats. Total respiratory
      system resistance was determined using a plethysmographic method. The mean
      thicknesses and fractional areas of the airway epithelial and smooth muscle
      layers were determined by contour tracing using a digitizing pad and
      microcomputer. Both the small (circumference < 1,000 microns) and central
      (circumference 1,000 to 4,000 microns) airways were studied. For O2-exposed rats,
      individual values of EC200 ACh correlated negatively with small airway smooth
      muscle layer thickness (r = -0.59, p < 0.05; ANOVA), small airway smooth muscle
      layer fractional area (r = -0.75, p < 0.01), small airway epithelial thickness (r
      = -0.54, p < 0.05), small airway epithelial fractional area (r = -0.69, p <
      0.01), and central airway smooth muscle layer thickness (r = -0.53, p < 0.05).
      When both air- and O2-exposed animals were considered, EC200 ACh correlated
      negatively with all eight parameters of airway layer thickness and fractional
      area.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443887
TI  - Bradykinin causes airway hyperresponsiveness and enhances maximal airway
      narrowing. Role of microvascular leakage and airway edema.
AB  - The relationship between bronchial edema and airway responsiveness was studied in
      cats in situ. Five cats were exsanguinated, and the bronchial arteries were
      perfused. We monitored pulmonary resistance (RL), and the provocative dose of
      acetylcholine (ACh) required to produce a 300% increase in RL (PD300) was
      determined. Bronchial vascular permeability was measured by quantifying
      extravasation of Evans blue (EB) dye. Bradykinin (BK) and ACh were administered
      via the bronchial arteries to increase leakage and bronchoconstriction,
      respectively. BK preperfusion (for 30 min) significantly increased bronchial
      vascular permeability to four times the control values (p < 0.05). BK
      preperfusion did not alter baseline RL but caused hyperresponsiveness to ACh,
      with log [PD300 (mole)] of -6.53 +/- 0.42 (mean +/- SD) and -6.90 +/- 0.30,
      before and after BK, respectively (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the maximal airway
      narrowing after BK was 58% higher than before BK (p < 0.01). Histologic study
      showed peribronchial edema after BK. The enhancement of maximal airway narrowing
      was significantly correlated with the degree of EB dye extravasation. These
      results suggest that BK causes airway hyperresponsiveness to ACh and increases
      maximal airway narrowing, possibly because of airway edema.

PMID- 1443888
TI  - Bronchoconstriction and airway microvascular leakage in guinea pigs sensitized
      with trimellitic anhydride.
AB  - We have developed a guinea pig model of immediate airway responses following
      intradermal sensitization with free trimellitic anhydride (TMA). Guinea pigs were
      given an intradermal injection with either 0.1 ml of 0.3% TMA in corn oil (n = 8)
      or 0.1 ml of corn oil alone (n = 6). A guinea pig serum albumin conjugate of
      trimellitic anhydride (TMA-GPSA) was prepared with a substitution ratio of 21:1.
      All sensitized guinea pigs had raised specific serum IgG1 antibodies (ELISA), and
      IgE antibodies were detected in six of the eight sensitized guinea pigs by
      passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. On Days 21 to 28, guinea pigs were anesthetized,
      tracheostomized, and ventilated. Evans blue dye (20 mg/ml), an albumin marker,
      was injected intravenously to quantify airway microvascular leakage (MVL). TMA
      GPSA (50 microliters; 1%) in saline was instilled into the trachea. Lung
      resistance (RL) was measured for 6 min. The guinea pigs were killed, and the
      lungs were removed. Peak RL (cm H2O/ml x s-1) was significantly increased in
      sensitized guinea pigs from 0.26 +/- 0.01, mean +/- SEM to 21.3 +/- 6.9 (p <
      0.05), compared with nonsensitized guinea pigs. There was a significant increase
      in Evans blue at all levels of the tracheobronchial tree in sensitized guinea
      pigs compared with the controls (p < 0.005). The site of MVL was localized to the
      postcapillary venules as assessed by extravasation of intravascular Monastral
      blue dye. We conclude that intradermal sensitization of guinea pigs to TMA
      induces a polyclonal immune response, associated with bronchoconstriction and
      airway microvascular leakage, when challenged specifically with TMA
      GPSA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443889
TI  - Bronchial hyperreactivity after inhalation of trimellitic anhydride dust in
      guinea pigs after intradermal sensitization to the free hapten.
AB  - We have developed in the guinea pig, an animal model of bronchial hyperreactivity
      provoked by inhalation of trimellitic anhydride (TMA) dust, a known cause of
      occupational asthma in humans, after intradermal sensitization to the free
      hapten. Male Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs (n = 6) were injected intradermally with
      0.1 ml of 30% TMA in corn oil. Control animals (n = 7) were injected with 0.1 ml
      corn oil alone. On Days 21 to 28 after sensitization, guinea pigs were challenged
      (nose only) to 12 mg/m3 of inhalable TMA dust for 30 min. Bronchial reactivity
      was measured in sensitized animals and in control animals at 8 h after exposure
      to the dust. We also measured bronchial reactivity in sensitized exposed guinea
      pigs at 2 h (n = 5) and at 24 h (n = 5). Pulmonary inflation pressure (PIP) was
      used to assess bronchopulmonary response. Blood samples were taken for assessment
      of IgG-1 antibodies to TMA conjugated to guinea-pig albumin. The concentration of
      acetylcholine required to induce a 100% increase in PIP was used to assess
      bronchial reactivity. The lungs were eviscerated for histologic examination. All
      guinea pigs injected intradermally with TMA had high titers of specific IgG-1
      antibodies to TMA conjugated to guinea-pig albumin. There was a significant
      increase in bronchial reactivity in sensitized guinea pigs 8 h after exposure to
      the TMA dust compared with that in the control animals. There was also a
      significant eosinophilic inflammatory influx in the subepithelium of the
      sensitized groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443890
TI  - Relationship among mediators, inflammation, and volume history with antigen
      versus hyperpnea challenge in guinea pigs.
AB  - Paralyzed mechanically ventilated guinea pigs constricted to a similar degree by
      either isocapnic hyperpnea or antigen challenge display significantly different
      lung resistance (RL) volume history responses to a deep breath. We compared
      bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) mediator profiles, BAL total protein concentrations,
      and tissue histopathology of antigen-constricted (AC), hyperpnea-constricted
      (HC), and control guinea pigs to determine whether patterns of volume history
      near peak constriction could be related to specific patterns of lung mediators,
      indices of microvascular leakage, or severity of tissue inflammation assessed
      pathologically. Methacholine constricted (MC) animals served as a second control
      group for assessing the effects of direct smooth-muscle contraction on indices of
      inflammation and volume history responses. Our results show that despite similar
      baseline and postchallenge RL, HC and MC animals displayed significant
      constriction reversal after a deep lung inflation, whereas AC animals did not.
      BAL concentrations of prostaglandin D2(PGD2), thromboxane B2 (TxB2), and
      leukotriene C4/D4/E4 (slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis, SRSA) were
      significantly elevated in both AC and HC animals compared with control and MC
      animals, with AC and HC BAL differing only with respect to PGD2 values (AC 2.4
      fold higher). BAL total protein in AC animals was significantly greater than in
      HC, MC, and control animals. Histopathology showed significant peribronchial and
      interstitial cellular inflammation in AC animal specimens, whereas specimens from
      HC animals had little or no inflammation. Differences in volume history responses
      observed between equally constricted AC, HC, and MC animals may be due to
      differences in airway and/or parenchymal microvascular leak and cellular
      inflammation.

PMID- 1443891
TI  - Increased expression of endothelin in bronchial epithelial cells of asthmatic
      patients and effect of corticosteroids.
AB  - We have previously demonstrated that human bronchial smooth muscle cells possess
      specific binding sites for the potent bronchoconstrictive peptide endothelin 1
      and that primary cultures of human bronchial epithelial cells constitutively
      produce an endothelin-like material that binds to smooth muscle cell receptors
      with a kinetic ability analogous to that shown by the authentic peptide. To
      evaluate the potential role of airway epithelium-derived endothelin in the
      pathogenesis of asthma, we have examined here the expression of endothelin in the
      bronchial epithelial cells of 6 patients with symptomatic asthma and reversible
      airflow obstruction. The epithelial cells of 5 normal volunteers and 5 patients
      with chronic bronchitis and airflow obstruction unaffected by bronchodilators
      were tested as controls. The bronchial epithelial cells of all the asthmatic
      patients expressed preproendothelin 1 mRNA, as assessed by in situ hybridization,
      and released high amounts of mature and biologically active endothelin during a
      48-h period of incubation (radioimmunoassay). By contrast, the epithelial cells
      from normal donors did not contain preproendothelin 1 transcripts, and the
      endothelin-like material in their supernatants was invariably below the detection
      limit of the assay. Only a few cells from 2 patients with chronic bronchitis
      expressed preproendothelin mRNA and endothelin immunoreactivity. When
      hydrocortisone (10(-6)M) was added to the culture medium of asthmatic bronchial
      epithelial cells for 48 h, the release of immunoreactive endothelin significantly
      decreased (p < 0.025), but the numbers of cells expressing preproendothelin 1
      mRNA did not change to the same extent.

PMID- 1443892
TI  - Miliary Mycobacterium bovis induced by intravesical bacille Calmette-Guerin
      immunotherapy.
AB  - Intravesical instillation of bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), an attenuated strain
      of Mycobacterium bovis, is the treatment of choice for many patients with bladder
      cancer. In a small percentage, this therapy is associated with systemic side
      effects including pneumonitis. It is uncertain whether these systemic
      manifestations are due to dissemination of infection or due to hypersensitivity,
      an etiologic distinction that has important therapeutic implications. We report
      the first case in which miliary M. bovis was proven to be the responsible
      mechanism, by culture of M. bovis biovar BCG from a transbronchial lung biopsy
      and complete resolution on anti-tuberculous chemotherapy.

PMID- 1443893
TI  - Emphysema: the first two centuries--and beyond. A historical overview, with
      suggestions for future research: Part 1.

PMID- 1443895
TI  - Reporting the reproducibility of spirometry results.

PMID- 1443894
TI  - Effects of cigarette smoking on rate of loss of pulmonary function in adults: a
      longitudinal assessment.
AB  - Data from a random sample of 8,191 men and women selected in six U.S. cities and
      examined on three occasions over a 6-yr follow-up period were analyzed by
      longitudinal methods to describe the effects of smoking history and current
      smoking behavior on rate of loss of pulmonary function during adult life. Former
      smokers had age- and height-adjusted rates of decline (34.3 ml/yr for men and
      29.6 ml/yr for women) comparable with those of never smokers (37.8 ml/yr for men
      and 29.0 ml/yr for women) but much smaller than those of continuing smokers (52.9
      ml/yr for men and 38.0 ml/yr for women). The accelerated rate of loss of FEV1
      among smokers depended linearly on the number of cigarettes smoked per day during
      the interval between examinations. The estimated increase in rate of loss
      associated with smoking was 12.6 ml/yr per pack/day for men and 7.2 ml/yr per
      pack/day for women. These longitudinal estimates of the effects of smoking were
      approximately 50% larger than estimates obtained from cross-sectional analysis of
      the initial pulmonary function examination. Men who started smoking had
      accelerated rates of loss (55.9 ml/yr) as did women (43.1 ml/yr). Smokers who
      stopped smoking between examinations had reduced declines (41.2 ml/yr for men and
      28.7 ml/yr for women) compared with continuing smokers. The age-specific rates of
      loss suggest that the benefits of cessation may be greatest among the youngest
      smokers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1443896
TI  - Pseudomonas adherence to rat tracheal epithelium.

PMID- 1443897
TI  - Lung function testing: selection of reference values and interpretative
      strategies.

PMID- 1443898
TI  - Adrenergic and cholinergic regulation of bronchial vascular tone.
AB  - The autonomic nervous system plays a vital role in the regulation of vasomotor
      tone. Previous studies of systemic arteries and veins have shown that the classic
      autonomic neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and acetylcholine, act on smooth
      muscle, adrenergic nerve endings, and endothelial cells in the blood vessel wall
      to regulate vasomotor tone. Similar studies with isolated tissues indicate that
      bronchial arteries are innervated by adrenergic neurons and that norepinephrine
      activates postjunctional alpha 1-adrenoceptors to cause smooth muscle
      contraction. Isolated canine bronchial arteries fail to relax in response to beta
      adrenoceptor agonists, and they do not contract when exposed to acetylcholine.
      This lack of responsiveness may be species-specific, however, since isolated
      bronchial arteries from other species respond to these agonists. Acetylcholine
      causes endothelium-dependent relaxation of bronchial arteries in vitro; this
      response is mediated by endothelial M3-muscarinic receptors. The role of the
      endothelium in mediating responses to adrenergic agonists, as well as the
      prejunctional effects of norepinephrine and acetylcholine on adrenergic nerve
      endings, remain to be explored in isolated bronchial arteries.

PMID- 1443899
TI  - Lymph and blood flow responses in central airways.
AB  - The lymphatic drainage of the lung has been used as a quantitation of pulmonary
      microvascular fluid flux in normal animals and after various forms of injury.
      This review supports the importance of the bronchial microvasculature in the
      formation of lung lymph. Proof that the lymph drainage of the lung comes from the
      pulmonary circuit has been based on the finding of an elevation of lymph flow
      when the pulmonary venous pressure is elevated. This proof is wanting since
      recent work demonstrates that the venous drainage of the intrapulmonary bronchi
      flows into the pulmonary vascular system at the precapillary level. The
      administration of endotoxin induces an elevation of lung lymph. The bronchial
      circuit may play a role in this response since it is likewise exposed to the high
      pulmonary pressures induced by endotoxin, and there is evidence that
      ischemia/reperfusion injury to the airway occurs with endotoxin administration.
      After acute lung injury from smoke inhalation, lung lymph flow is markedly
      elevated. The lymph drainage from the airway may play an important role in this
      response. Bronchial blood flow is markedly increased after inhalation injury and
      there is airway edema. The increases in lung lymph flow and extravascular lung
      water are markedly reduced by occlusion of the bronchial artery. These data
      support the need for additional study of the role of the bronchial circulation in
      the formation of lung lymph.

PMID- 1443900
TI  - Effect of airway blood flow on airflow.
AB  - Resistance to gas flow of an airway is a function of both airway smooth muscle
      tone and thickness of the airway wall internal to the outer ring of airway smooth
      muscle. Schematically, the increase in airway resistance caused by shortening of
      airway smooth muscle may be potentiated by a concomitant increase in airway wall
      thickness caused by vasodilation of the bronchial vessels and/or microvascular
      leakage. Conversely, bronchial vasoconstriction may limit to some extent the
      increase in resistance to gas flow caused by airway smooth muscle shortening
      and/or congestion and edema of the airway wall. Many endogenous paracrine
      mediators, putatively involved in asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, have
      both bronchomotor and vascular effects. The overall effects on resistance to
      airflow of endogenous or exogenous agents depend not only upon pre-existing
      airway smooth muscle tone and pre-existing condition of bronchial vessels but
      also upon two factors that facilitate microvascular leakage, namely, inflammation
      of the airway wall and outflow pressure of the bronchial circulation, which is
      close to left atrial pressure.

PMID- 1443901
TI  - Microvascular function. Transvascular exchange of fluid in the airways.
AB  - Fluid exchange in the airway microcirculation is presented relative to whether
      the airway epithelium is in an absorbing or a secreting state. The effects of
      increasing microvascular pressures and damaging the endothelial barrier are also
      examined relative to fluid dynamics and lymph flow, especially with regard to
      "filtration secretion." The microvessel pressure profile of the tracheal
      circulation is discussed relative to our recent data and to the published
      literature. These micropuncture data indicate that the major resistance to
      tracheal blood flow resides in arterioles with diameters less than 50 microns. It
      is hoped that this review will stimulate research on the airway microcirculation
      since the available data on the physiology and biophysics of circulation in the
      large and small airways are insufficient to define the microcirculatory exchange
      characteristics in this capillary bed.

PMID- 1443902
TI  - Cellular and intercellular transport pathways in exchange vessels.
AB  - The endothelium of lung alveolar capillaries is of the continuous type, that of
      airway exchange vessels (capillaries and pericytic venules) includes both
      continuous and fenestrated types. Water and small lipophilic solutes penetrate
      via the endothelial cells (cell membrane pathway) as well as through
      intercellular junctions. Hydrophilic solutes are limited to junctional pathways
      and cytoplasmic vesicles. Permeation of hydrophilic solutes is progressively
      restricted with increasing molecular size, as by a sieve, with many openings 8 nm
      and a few 40 to 60 nm wide. In response to local tissue injury or to certain
      chemical mediators, larger junctional pathways may be opened, greatly increasing
      permeability to large molecules. Both alveolar capillaries and airway exchange
      vessels exhibit this response, but the effective stimuli may differ (e.g.,
      alveolar capillaries are insensitive to histamine and bradykinin). Hydrophilic
      solutes are transported by diffusion, convection, and vesicular exchange
      (transcytosis). For small ions and molecules (radii < 2 nm), diffusion is the
      dominant transport mode; contributions of convection and transcytosis are
      negligibly small. Because diffusion decreases with increasing molecular size, all
      three mechanisms may contribute substantially to transport of large molecules
      (radii > 2 nm). Fenestrated endothelia have higher hydraulic conductivities and
      are more permeable to small ions and molecules than are continuous endothelia.
      However, their permeabilities to plasma proteins are about the same. Lung
      alveolar capillary endothelium has lower hydraulic conductivity and lower solute
      permeabilities than do other continuous endothelia (heart, skeletal muscle).
      Airway exchange vessel endothelium has about the same permeability to serum
      albumin as alveolar capillary endothelium.

PMID- 1443903
TI  - Physiologic control. Anatomy and physiology of the airway circulation.
AB  - Both for the nose and the lower airways there is an extensive subepithelial
      capillary network. That for the nose is fenestrated, and this is true for the
      tracheobronchial tree of rats, guinea pigs, and hamsters, and for that of human
      asthmatics. However, healthy humans, dogs, and sheep have capillaries without
      fenestrations except for those close to neuroepithelial bodies and submucosal
      glands. Deeper in the mucosa there is a capacitance system of vessels,
      conspicuous in the nose but present also in the lower airways of rabbits and
      sheep and, to a lesser extent, in those of dogs and humans. Both for the nose and
      the lower airways, parasympathetic nerves are vasodilator, sympathetic nerves are
      vasoconstrictor, and sensory nerves are able to release dilator neuropeptides.
      Most inflammatory and immunologic mediators are vasodilator. A conspicuous
      difference between the nasal and lower airway vasculatures is the presence of
      arteriovenous anastomoses only in the former. Countercurrent mechanisms also
      exist in the nose to increase its efficiency in air conditioning, but they have
      not been established for the trachea. The pulmonary vasculature could be part of
      such a system for the bronchi. Distension of the airway vasculature thickens the
      mucosa, probably both by vascular distension and by edema formation. The latter
      can lead to exudation into the airway lumen. These processes have not been well
      quantitated, and the balance sheet of capillary and capacitance vessel volumes,
      interstitial liquid volume, and exudate volume needs to be worked out in
      physiologic and pathologic conditions.

PMID- 1443904
TI  - The transport of albumin: a critique of the vesicular system in transendothelial
      transport.
AB  - Although albumin circulating in the plasma can exchange with the contents of the
      extensive vesicular system of microvascular endothelium, the mechanism and
      quantitative significance of vesicular transport remains unclear. It has recently
      been shown that transport of electron opaque tracers can occur via the vesicular
      system, but the detailed ultrastructure is inconsistent with the transcytotic
      shuttling of single vesicles. Although most physiologic measurements show a major
      degree of convective coupling in the microvascular permeation of perfused
      tissues, recent reports suggest that convective coupling is low when albumin
      escapes from the intact circulation. Because albumin clearance in these studies
      is consistent with values calculated from ferritin-labeling of vesicles in
      perfused microvessels, the possibility remains that macromolecular
      transendothelial transport occurs through transient communications within the
      vesicular system.

PMID- 1443905
TI  - Turnover of hyaluronan in the microcirculation.
AB  - Hyaluronan in skin, lung, and intestine turns over within a few days and
      catabolism takes place locally in the tissues, in local lymph nodes, and in the
      liver. Hyaluronan will affect microcirculatory exchange through its influence on
      interstitial volume exclusion, hydraulic conductivity, and diffusivity of
      macromolecules. Prolonged increase in interstitial fluid flux in intestine has
      been shown to reduce the hyaluronan content, which in turn increases hydraulic
      conductivity and diffusivity of macromolecules.

PMID- 1443906
TI  - Infections intensify neurogenic plasma extravasation in the airway mucosa.
AB  - Stimulation of sensory nerves in the airway mucosa of the rat evokes the release
      of inflammatory peptides such as substance P, which can increase microvascular
      permeability, resulting in a phenomenon known as neurogenic plasma extravasation.
      The change in vascular permeability is mediated by NK-1 receptors and is caused
      by the formation of gaps between endothelial cells of postcapillary venules and
      small collecting venules, which are the same vessels as are affected by
      inflammatory mediators such as histamine and bradykinin. Respiratory tract
      infections caused by Sendai virus or Mycoplasma pulmonis can intensify neurogenic
      plasma extravasation in the airway mucosa, as indicated by the amount of
      microvascular leakage evoked by substance P or capsaicin. M. pulmonis infections
      can produce a 30-fold increase in the magnitude of neurogenic plasma
      extravasation, which is evident 4 wk after infection and may be permanent. A
      proliferation of venules in the airway mucosa and heightened sensitivity of these
      vessels to inflammatory mediators are key elements of the increase in plasma
      extravasation. Exposure of M. pulmonis-infected rats to ammonia exacerbates the
      infections and further augments the responsiveness of mucosal venules to
      inflammatory mediators. Despite this increased responsiveness, the vessels are
      not abnormally leaky in the absence of inflammatory stimuli. These findings
      emphasize the importance of airway infections as factors that can cause a potent,
      long-lasting increase in the sensitivity of the microvasculature of the airway
      mucosa to inflammatory mediators.

PMID- 1443907
TI  - Endothelial cell biology. Adhesion molecules involved in the microvascular
      inflammatory response.
AB  - Accumulation of leukocytes in tissues is essential for effective host defense. To
      fulfill this role the cell must interact with and penetrate the vessel wall and
      migrate in the tissue. It is now clear that cell adhesion molecules play a
      crucial role in orchestrating these processes. A number of families of such
      adhesion molecules that mediate the interaction of circulating leukocytes and
      vascular endothelial cells have been identified. These include the leukocyte
      integrins, the selectins, members of the immunoglobulin family, and certain
      carbohydrates. Studies in vitro have elucidated which of these adhesion molecules
      are important in the interaction of different leukocyte classes with the
      endothelium under both basal and stimulated conditions. With the aid of
      monoclonal antibodies, the role that these molecules play in the interaction of
      inflammatory cells in the microvasculature in vivo is being assessed. Studies to
      date have demonstrated the key role of cell adhesion molecules in inflammation.

PMID- 1443908
TI  - The role of the endothelial cell in leukotriene biosynthesis.
AB  - Endothelial cells do not contain 5-lipoxygenase and thus are unable to generate
      LTA4 from arachidonate. Nonetheless, endothelial cells may play an important role
      in leukotriene synthesis by virtue of their ability to metabolize LTA4 derived
      from activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) and to modulate PMNL 5
      lipoxygenase activity. Porcine aortic endothelial cells were found to metabolize
      exogenous LTA4 to LTC4, and under some conditions human umbilical vein
      endothelial cells have been found to generate LTB4. Production of LTB4 by these
      cells appears to be under poorly understood cellular control, and it remains a
      controversial area of research. Under physiologic conditions, endothelial cells
      are in constant contact with circulating PMNL, which are known to generate
      substantial amounts of LTA4. When these two cell types are coincubated in vitro,
      clear evidence of transcellular metabolism of PMNL-derived LTA4 to LTC4 by
      endothelial cells is found. Coincubations produce from two to greater than 10
      times more LTC4 than either cell alone. In contrast to these findings, when these
      cells were activated by the receptor-mediated agonist fMLP, evidence for an
      endothelial cell inhibition of PMNL 5-lipoxygenase was obtained. Rather than
      augmentation of LTC4 production, as seen with A23187 activation, coincubation
      activated by fMLP generated significantly less LTC4 (0.23 +/- 0.08 versus 0.75 +/
      0.39 pmol/10(7) cells). The endothelial cell inhibition was removed when these
      cells were pretreated with aspirin, suggesting that their major cyclooxygenase
      product, prostacyclin, acts as a feedback regulator of LT synthesis. When
      cyclooxygenase was blocked, significant transcellular LTC4 synthesis was once
      again apparent (1.66 +/- 0.44 pmol/10(7) cells).

PMID- 1443909
TI  - Heat and water exchange in human airways.
AB  - The intrathoracic airways of humans play a prominent part in conditioning
      inspired air. During inspiration the air is warmed and humidified by the movement
      of heat and water from the mucosa as a direct function of the temperature and
      vapor pressure gradients that exist. In this process, the mucosa is cooled.
      During expiration, the gradients are reversed, and heat and water are given back
      into the airways. At low levels of ventilation, most of the conditioning process
      takes place in the upper air passages; however, as ventilation rises, more and
      more of the tracheobronchial tree becomes involved, and incompletely conditioned
      air penetrates deeply into the distal airways before it is brought to equilibrium
      with body conditions. It is likely that the heat required to condition the
      inspired air is derived from the bronchial circulation, but this has not yet been
      definitely proved. In normal persons, the thermal events associated with the
      conditioning of inspired air do not produce any changes in pulmonary mechanics.
      In contrast, in asthmatics, the airway cooling of hyperpnea and the rapid
      rewarming that develops when hyperpnea is terminated evoke bronchoconstriction.

PMID- 1443910
TI  - [Vertical transmission of HIV virus infection. Questions and answers for the
      90's].

PMID- 1443911
TI  - [Pertussis. Study of an epidemic].
AB  - Forty-six children seen during 1989 with the clinical diagnosis of Pertussis are
      reviewed in this study. In 64.5% of the cases the Bordet-Gengou medium
      nasopharyngeal culture was positive for B. pertussis. Two age groups showed more
      susceptibility to B. pertussis, children under one year of age (70%) and of more
      than five years of age (20%). The disease was of more severity among infants
      younger than two months of age (apnea, choking spells, etc.). Most infants needed
      to be admitted to the hospital. All patients received therapy with erythromycin,
      salbutamol (80%) and general supportive medical care. No deaths or other medical
      sequelae were observed.

PMID- 1443912
TI  - [Evaluation of microalbuminuria in children].
AB  - Microalbuminuria has been shown to be important for the diagnosis and prognosis
      of glomerular nephropathy. A few studies in normal healthy children were
      performed. The concentration of albumin was determined in 171 samples of the
      first morning urine by an immunoturbidimetric method. Microalbumin/creatinine
      ratio values were 4.07 +/- 0.11 mg/mmol, 1.16 +/- 0.10 mg/mmol and 0.88 +/- 0.11
      mg/mmol in children of ages 4 days-1 year, 1-7 years and 7-15 years,
      respectively. We found a negative inverse correlation (r = 0.31; p < 0.05)
      between age and microalbumin/creatinine ratio.

PMID- 1443913
TI  - [Modification of the calculation of risk factors in women, possible carriers of
      Duchenne muscular dystrophy, based on CPK levels].
AB  - We have analyzed the CPK levels in 44 carriers of DMD women, previously diagnosed
      by using molecular techniques (from a risk population of 133 women), and compare
      them with the CPK levels of 138 women of a control population. The results
      obtained show that values higher than the normal level (> 250 mU/ml) are
      compatible compatible in 99% of the cases with the carrier status (21 women of
      the carrier population and 1 women of the control population showed values higher
      than 250 mU/ml). On the other hand, normal values do not distinguish between the
      healthy and carrier populations (22 women of the carrier population showed normal
      CPK levels). These results can be very useful in genetic counselling, especially
      in centers where it is not possible to apply recombinant-DNA techniques.

PMID- 1443914
TI  - [A new method for the measurement of the anatomical development of the muscle
      complex of the anus in children with anorectal malformations].
AB  - We present a new method for the measurement of the anorectal muscle complex. We
      studied 40 children with anorectal malformation (14 low and 16 high). Taking the
      perineal TAC with a rectal probe and quotient called "C": [formula: see text] A
      "C" value less than 0.31 indicates little development of the anus muscle complex.
      In 10/26 patients with high malformation, "C" was less than 0.31. All of these
      patients had fecal incontinence.

PMID- 1443915
TI  - [Intussusception in the Pediatric Hospital of Coimbra. 13-year results].
AB  - We present the results from 233 consecutive patients treated for intussusception
      at the Children's Hospital of Coimbra over a 13-year period (between 1/6/77 and
      31/5/90). Males outnumbered females (66.5% vs 33.5%) and 87.9% of the cases
      occurred within the first year of life. Among the presenting signs and symptoms,
      abdominal pain occurred in 87.9% and vomiting in 81.5%. The presence of currant
      jelly stools was less common, but noted in 67.3%. Hydrostatic barium enema was
      performed in 94.4% of the patients with the aim being both diagnostic and
      therapeutic, successful reduction was achieved in 57.7%. One hundred and twenty
      one patients were operated on with specific pathologic lesion found in 11.5% of
      them. Complications occurred only in the group submitted to surgery. Six children
      were reoperated on. Most intussusceptions were of the ileocecocolic variety. The
      overall recurrence rate was 3.8% (3% recurrent intussusceptions followed barium
      enema reduction and 0.8% followed manual reduction). Mortality rate was 2.5%
      (1.7% related to intussusception).

PMID- 1443916
TI  - [Lipid profiles of children and adolescents in Madrid].
AB  - We have studied 2,224 children and adolescents of both sexes, ranging between 2
      and 18 years of age, at five schools in the city of Madrid. We determined the
      lipid profile: total cholesterol (T-C), cholesterol bound to high density
      lipoproteins (HDL-C), cholesterol bound to low density lipoproteins (LDL-C),
      cholesterol bound to very low density lipoproteins (VLDL-C), triglycerides (TG),
      apolipoprotein AI and apolipoprotein B100 (Apo A1 and Apo B100, respectively). In
      relationship to age and sex, in males, as age increases, there is an elevation in
      LDL-C and TG and a diminution in T-C, HDL-C, Apo AI and Apo B100. There are no
      changes in VLDL-C. In females, there is a diminution in LDL-C, TG, Apo-B100 and
      an increase in HDL-C, Apo AI and T-C, with the increase in T-C being found only
      in those older than 15 years.

PMID- 1443917
TI  - [Breast feeding in a metropolitan area: (I). Analysis of the current situation].
AB  - In order to elaborate a program to promote breast-feeding, it is necessary to
      know in advance the difficulties encountered by the mothers in the target
      population. For this purpose, we surveyed a sample of 400 mothers who were
      representative of those who gave birth in Mostoles in 1989. We found that 56% of
      the mothers did not exceed two months of breast-feeding. Breast-feeding was
      shorter in low-income families. Its duration was influenced by the husband's and
      grandmother's opinions and also by previous failure with elder siblings. Mothers
      made their choice of feeding method before getting pregnant. We also found that
      most health professionals acted unsatisfactorily. Other unfavorable factors
      included excessive insecurity of the mother and misinformation.

PMID- 1443918
TI  - [Breast feeding in a metropolitan area: (II). Design for a promotion program].
AB  - Because of the importance of breast-feeding in the health of both the mother and
      child, and taking into consideration its poor situation at the present time, it
      seems fully justified to start a program to promote breast-feeding. This program
      basically will consist of training health professionals and in the improvement of
      both the mother's and hospital's practices. It is necessary to motivate health
      authorities and to curb the excess in formula promotion. Mass-media should be
      employed for the promotion of breast-feeding and a system should be implemented
      to obtain a proper record of the duration of breast-feeding.

PMID- 1443919
TI  - [Children at risk. Our experience].
AB  - Seventy children in a situation of risk, evaluated and treated in the Social Work
      Unit of the Children's Hospital "Virgen del Rocio" over a period of 22 months,
      were analyzed. Of these children, 89% corresponded to low-middle, low or very low
      social classes. The most common problems included those of the family (77.1%)
      with history of maltreatment and unwanted pregnancies being the most prevalent
      problems. In second place was the personal pathology of the parents (74.2%), with
      mental disorders and alcoholism being the main causes, followed by drug addiction
      and delinquency. Social factors (57.1%), which included predominantly
      unemployment and illiteracy, were the next most common finding. The final factor
      was the personal pathology of the child (10%). The consequences of the risk
      situation are described, emphasizing the psychic and treatment carried out. Final
      comments are made underlining the importance of awareness and professional
      training, multiprofessional teams, means of detecting and intervention into the
      problems, manpower and material as well as how to carry out studies in this area.

PMID- 1443920
TI  - [Early diagnosis of HIV infection in children born to seropositive mothers].
AB  - We have studied 70 children, born to HIV seropositive mothers, since the first
      trimester of life and every three months thereafter. The virological markers we
      used in the diagnosis included: 1) p24 antigen detection. 2) Autochthonous
      production of antibodies detected by Western Blot technique. 3) HIV isolation. 4)
      Specific determination of IgM antibodies. In infected children under 15 months of
      age, p24 antigen was positive in 78%, HIV was isolated in 75% and autochthonous
      production of antibodies occurred in 50%. IgM specific antibodies were detected
      in 92%, but these were also detected in the 33% of the children who seroreverted.
      In seroreverted children, the other three virological markers were negative. The
      problems due to the low sensitivity in p24 antigen detection, HIV isolation and
      the detection of autochthonous production of antibodies, as well as the low
      specificity of the IgM detection, means that it is necessary to simultaneously
      use several techniques in the diagnosis of these children.

PMID- 1443921
TI  - [Neurofibromatosis as a cause of arterial hypertension in children].
AB  - Hypertension can complicate the course of neurofibromatosis. When it appears in
      adulthood (after 18 years of age) it is usually due to pheochromocytoma, but in
      children the cause is a stenotic lesion of the renal arteries or the suprarenal
      aorta. Its treatment follows the general principles used in the treatment of the
      more common forms of renovascular hypertension. We report four patients that
      developed renovascular hypertension after being diagnosed of neurofibromatosis,
      they had different localizations of the stenotic lesion, and the diverse types of
      surgical treatment are analyzed.

PMID- 1443922
TI  - [Diagnostic evaluation of cervical adenopathies in childhood].
AB  - Between 1985 and 1990, 45 children were studied in an inpatient basis hospital
      because of cervical lymphadenopathy. This was the most important clinical sign in
      these patients. Forty-three had true adenitis. In the others, one was
      submaxillitis and one a sarcoma. The age range was from 2.1 to 13.3 years. Seven
      children (16%) had neoplastic adenitis (2 papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, 4
      Hodgkin's lymphoma and one non-Hodgkin's lymphoma). Thirty-six patients had
      benign disorders (18 mononucleosis infections, 7 nonspecific adenitis, 5
      infections of mycobacteria, 2 of toxoplasma and 2 of rickettsia, one cervical
      Whipple and one desmopathic adenitis). We did no find any differences related to
      age or morphological characteristics of the lymph nodes. The evolution time in
      patients with malignant tumors was 16.4 weeks and 9.6 weeks in the benign group.
      All of the cases with supraclavicular location had a lymphoma. The mean LDH in
      patients with malignant tumors was 214 U/L and 614 U/L in those with non
      malignant tumors (p < 0.01).

PMID- 1443923
TI  - [Hepatitis associated with measles virus].

PMID- 1443924
TI  - [Shwachman syndrome: apropos of a case of atypical presentation].

PMID- 1443925
TI  - [Congenital esophageal stenosis associated with H-shaped tracheo-esophageal
      fistula].

PMID- 1443926
TI  - [Gianotti-Crosti syndrome].

PMID- 1443927
TI  - [Incontinentia pigmenti].

PMID- 1443928
TI  - [Recovery from delayed puberty in a case of prolactinoma].

PMID- 1443929
TI  - [Cutaneous cellular hemangioma in childhood, clinical and pathological
      peculiarities of the tumor].

PMID- 1443930
TI  - [Cardiac tamponade and central venous catheterization].

PMID- 1443931
TI  - [Treatment of tuberculosis in children and adolescents].

PMID- 1443932
TI  - [Primary dyslipoproteinemias in a child-adolescent population of Aragon detected
      by two methods: selective search and targeted search].
AB  - A series of 439 children (245 boys and 194 girls) ranged between 2.0 and 18.0
      years of age have been studied January 1987 to April 1990. They belonged to four
      groups: I) 306 children (163 boys and 143 girls), "control group"; II) 31
      children (22 boys and 9 girls) whose parents had some type of dyslipoproteinemia
      (HPDLP); III) 38 children (24 boys and 14 girls) whose fathers were survivors of
      myocardial infarction occurred before 55 years of age (HPCI); and IV) 43 children
      (23 boys and 20 girls) who had, at least in two occasions, more than three months
      of time separated between then, over 200 mg/dL of total serum cholesterol levels
      detected by opportunist search (HDC). For children's identification of risk
      factors to develop atherosclerotic disease during adult life, two different types
      of strategy has been utilised. One, "selective search", taking into account
      children of groups II (HPDLP) and III (HPCI). Other, "opportunist search", taking
      into consideration children of group IV (HDC). The most frequent primary
      dyslipoproteinemia between the families of children with high serum levels has
      been Polygenic Hypercholesterolemia (HP). In the second place were both Familial
      Hypercholesterolemia (HF) an Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia (HFC). A family
      with Mixed Hyperlipidemia (HM) was also identified. Familial aggregation, with
      relation to serum lipid levels, were detected in children of the three groups:
      HPDLP, HPCI and HDC, as it is reported by another authors. Our results suggest
      the genetic alterations may contribute to the presence of different types of
      dyslipoproteinemia in children.

PMID- 1443933
TI  - [Poliomyelitis vaccination and immunization status of school children. School
      Health Team of the Center of Health Promotion].
AB  - This study presents the results of a vaccination inquire in 2,078 schoolchildren:
      807 students in the first year of General Basic Education (G.B.E.) and 1,227
      students in the last year of G.B.E. attending public and private schools of the
      Council of Madrid. The presence of antibodies against the three polio-viruses was
      determined in 1,509 schoolchildren. About 68.3% of the students received the
      complete schedule of vaccinations, with 84.7% belonging the group of children in
      the first year of G.B.E. and 51.2% belonging to that in the last year of G.B.E.
      (p < 0.01). The percentage of children immunized against the three polioviruses
      was 92.7%, with 94% of the students in the first year of G.B.E. being immunized
      and 92% of those in the last year of G.B.E. (p < 0.01). We found differences in
      the immunization rate between those students receiving more or less than three
      doses of vaccine. We compared our study with other seroepidemiologic studies
      undertaken in our country.

PMID- 1443934
TI  - [Neonatal care in a primary health care center].
AB  - Small Madrid community hospitals (less than 100 deliveries annually) were the
      site of approximately 14% of the hospital births in 1990. The quality and
      quantity of services provided by our unit, considered to be of the first of
      primary level, are presented. The study period was 2.5 years long and 1,339
      newborns were attended. The mean stay in the neonatal unit was 4.44 days (+/- 3.8
      days). The cesarean section rate was 17%. The incidence of newborns with a weight
      less than 2,000 g was 1.5%, while those with a weight of more than 4,000 g was
      5.47%. Almost 25% of the newborns were transferred to the neonatal ward and 1.79%
      were transferred to a third level hospital (neonatal intensive care), where three
      of them died. The mortality rate in our hospital was null. With rational
      guidelines, the primary centers can provide valuable services in a community
      perinatal care system.

PMID- 1443935
TI  - [Dog bites in children. Epidemiologic and clinical study of 144 cases].
AB  - We have done a prospective study of 144 cases of dog bites in children between 1
      and 13 years of age that were attended at the Emergency Department of the "Miguel
      Servet" Children's Hospital of Zaragoza over a period of 30 months. The average
      child is an 8 year old boy who is bitten at 4 p.m. in the lower limbs by a dog
      belonging to either the family, a neighbor, or to some friends. The dog of
      unknown breed and the German shepherd are those most frequently involved (39.5%
      and 22.2%, respectively). There is a low incidence of infection (4.8%). The
      attacks were provoked by petting in 52.7%; therefore, we recommend not to get
      close to the animals even if they are known. In our area, 83.3% of the children
      are correctly vaccinated. Finally, we compare our results with other studies and
      we suggest that it is of great interest to establish measures in order to reduce
      the incidence of dog bites.

PMID- 1443936
TI  - [Radiological parameters indicating normalization of bone lesions in Langerhans
      cell histiocytosis].
AB  - The signs predicting radiological healing were studied in 35 bone lesions of 12
      children with Langerhans' cell histiocytosis. The earliest and more frequent
      radiological signs predicting healing were a decrease in size (52%), the change
      from a non-sclerotic lesion to one with sclerosis (41%) and the loss of distinct
      margins of the lesions (29%) three months after diagnosis. The first of these
      signs was statistically significant after three months of follow-up, the last two
      after 12 months. The trabecular pattern was a late (one case after 2 years) and
      infrequent (observed in only 24% of lesions) sign of radiological healing.

PMID- 1443937
TI  - [Cardiovascular risk in the pediatric population. Plasma fatty acid levels].
AB  - Thirty-seven offspring of patients who had acute myocardial infarctions were
      investigated. Serum fatty acids of the whole plasma lipids were evaluated within
      the frame of a full biochemical assessment. Baseline values were obtained and the
      children were subsequently put on appropriate diets and advised to cut-out
      smoking and alcohol. The same values were obtained following one year on such a
      regimen. Results were compared with those found in a control group. Baseline
      palmitoleic and dihomogammalinolenic acid serum levels were significantly raised
      in the study group. Values of palmitoleic, but not of dihomogammalinolenic acid,
      had returned to normal by the reassessment one year later.

PMID- 1443938
TI  - [Blood lipids in children up to 12 years of age in a rural population from
      Extremadura].
AB  - We have studied the levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides in 398 children
      of both sexes, ranging in age from birth until 12 years, in a rural population
      from Extremadura (Spain). The measurements have been made when analyses were
      indicated for other reasons. We obtained the following mean values: Total
      cholesterol = 170.8 +/- 37.0 mg/dl in boys and 172.6 +/- 31.7 mg/dl in girls. Of
      these children, 43.5% had levels over the limit of 175 mg/dl. Triglycerides =
      75.1 +/- 33.5 mg/dl in boys and 71.1 +/- 36.2 mg/dl in girls. In 14.2% of the
      children this value was over 100 mg/dl. The lipoprotein levels did not present
      any significant differences with respect to sex until 12 years of age. We compare
      our results to those of other authors.

PMID- 1443939
TI  - [Celiac disease and short stature in children].
AB  - Celiac disease (CD) is a known cause of short stature and sometimes, this is its
      only symptom. The aim of this work was to determine the incidence of CD in
      children with short stature. We studied 178 infants with short stature and with
      no gastrointestinal symptoms. Serum IgA antigliadin antibodies were determined in
      all of them. We found a pathological titer in ten of these patients. Peroral
      intestinal biopsy was performed on these children, with nine showing no
      alterations and only one having subtotal villus atrophy that was compatible with
      CD. Therefore, the incidence of CD in this population is about 0.56%, which is
      much lower than the incidence shown by other authors.

PMID- 1443940
TI  - [Dermatitis herpetiformis vs. celiac disease].
AB  - Twenty-nine patients affected with dermatitis herpetiformis (HD), all of whom
      were on a diet including gluten, were investigated for symptoms of enteropathy.
      Of these patients, 71% presented severe intestinal lesions, indistinguishable
      from those found in coeliac disease (CD). However, there were little other
      clinical manifestations of this finding since only three children in this group
      had weight and height < or = P3. Of the remaining children, 18% had moderate
      intestinal atrophy and 10% had normal mucosa or mucosa with negligible changes.
      When changed to a gluten free diet, the intestinal lesions subsided, dermic
      lesions disappeared in 17 patients, improved in 8 others and remained the same in
      the other three patients that were still on variable diets. A study of human
      leukocyte antigens (HLA) class II showed a total association with Dqw2 and 85%
      association to DR3, which was identical to the coeliac disease control group.
      These findings lead one to conclude that HD and CD are different clinical
      expressions of the same sensitivity to gluten which is associated to an
      immunological disorder with a common genetic base linked to certain HLA
      molecules.

PMID- 1443941
TI  - [Objective evaluation of a pediatric intensive care unit without continuous
      attendance (I)].
AB  - Eight-hundred and nine consecutive admissions have been reexamined by means of
      analysis of record cards made out at the moment of discharge from the ICU, in
      which, among other data, the TISS and PSI maximum for the first six hours from
      admission are included. The results obtained are the following: 50% of the
      admissions were classified as medium care (PSI < 5, TISS < 20), 28% were grade IV
      (PSI > 12, TISS > 40), and half were of grade III with a PSI of 9.38 and a TISS
      of 20.29. The overall mortality was 8.9%. However, the mortality for grades
      III+IV was 13.4% and gave a good correlation with the PSI, but not with the TISS.
      The PSI/TISS ratio was 0.45 and the predicted mortality rate according to the PSI
      was 6.1% for grade III and greater than 12% for grade IV. We conclude the
      following: (1) Of the illness, 28% were grade IV. (2) We observed a deficient
      PSI/TISS ratio. (3) The evaluation has to be done by objective means in which the
      capability of carrying out different methodologies has not been taken into
      account.

PMID- 1443942
TI  - [Preoperative ultrasonic diagnosis in hepatic hamartoma].

PMID- 1443943
TI  - [Hemimegalencephaly. Presentation of a case uncommon in neonatal age].

PMID- 1443944
TI  - [Ingestion of alkaline batteries: a better alternative for their extraction].

PMID- 1443945
TI  - [Septo-optic dysplasia: absence of the hypophysial stalk in the MRI image].

PMID- 1443946
TI  - [Mucocele: a form of manifestation of cystic fibrosis in childhood. Review of the
      literature].

PMID- 1443947
TI  - [Benign familial hyperphosphatasemia].

PMID- 1443948
TI  - [Acquired angular deformity of the index finger due to fingersucking].

PMID- 1443949
TI  - Postoperative hyponatremic encephalopathy in menstruant women.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine factors associated with the development of
      encephalopathy and with its clinical course in patients with postoperative
      hyponatremia. SETTING: Consultation and referral services of two university
      medical centers and community hospitals. DESIGN: Case-control study (risk factors
      for encephalopathy) and cohort study (clinical course among patients with
      encephalopathy). PATIENTS: Case patients included 65 adults with postoperative
      hyponatremic encephalopathy; controls included 674 adult patients who had
      postoperative hyponatremia without encephalopathy and who were selected from
      76,678 consecutive adult surgical inpatients. MEASUREMENTS: Age, gender,
      menstrual status, neurologic symptoms, time to development and degree of
      hyponatremia, arterial blood gas determinations, serum chemistries, morbidity and
      mortality. RESULTS: Case patients included 40 women (62%) and 25 men (38%) (P >
      0.05); controls included 367 women (54%) and 307 men (46%) (P > 0.1). Of the 34
      case patients who developed permanent brain damage or died, 33 (97%) were women
      (P < 0.001). Among the women with brain damage, 25 (76%) were menstruant (P <
      0.001). The relative risk for death or permanent brain damage from hyponatremic
      encephalopathy in women compared with men was 28 (95% Cl, 5 to 141) and in
      menstruant women compared with postmenopausal women, 26 (Cl, 11 to 62). Arterial
      PO2 at diagnosis was significantly lower in female than in male case patients (34
      +/- 5 compared with 91 +/- 3 mm Hg; P < 0.001). Further, of the 38 case patients
      who had respiratory arrest before the diagnosis of hyponatremic encephalopathy,
      36 (95%) were women. Extent of or time to development of hyponatremia did not
      correlate with subsequent brain damage (P > 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Women and men are
      equally likely to develop hyponatremia and hyponatremic encephalopathy after
      surgery. However, when hyponatremic encephalopathy develops, menstruant women are
      about 25 times more likely to die or have permanent brain damage compared with
      either men or postmenopausal women.

PMID- 1443950
TI  - Causes of persistent dizziness. A prospective study of 100 patients in ambulatory
      care.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the causes of persistent dizziness in outpatients.
      DESIGN: Consecutive adult outpatients presenting with a chief complaint of
      dizziness. SETTING: Four clinics (internal medicine, walk-in, emergency room, and
      neurology) in a teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Of 185 patients presenting during
      the 10-month study period, 51 (28%) had minimal or no dizziness at 2-week follow
      up. Of the remaining 134 patients, 100 completed the study protocol (mean age, 62
      years; range, 20 to 85 years). MEASUREMENTS: Evaluation included a detailed study
      questionnaire, standardized physical examination, vestibular testing by a neuro
      ophthalmologist, laboratory tests, audiometry, and a structured psychiatric
      interview. Data were abstracted onto a standard form and reviewed by three
      raters. Raters independently assigned diagnoses using explicit criteria, with the
      final cause determined by consensus. RESULTS: Primary causes of dizziness
      included vestibular disorders (54 patients), psychiatric disorders (16 patients),
      presyncope (6 patients), dysequilibrium (2 patients), and hyperventilation (1
      patient); dizziness was multicausal in 13 patients and of unknown cause in 8
      patients. Many of those with a single primary cause, however, had at least one
      other condition contributing to their dizziness; only 52% of patients had a
      single "pure" cause. Thirty patients had a potentially treatable primary cause,
      the most common being benign positional vertigo (BPV) (16%) and psychiatric
      disorders (6%). Central vestibulopathies detected in 10 patients were presumably
      vascular or idiopathic in origin. No brain tumors or cardiac arrhythmias were
      found. CONCLUSIONS: Vestibular disease and psychiatric disorders are the most
      common causes of persistent dizziness in outpatients. In about 50% of patients
      with dizziness, more than one factor causes or aggravates symptoms. Life
      threatening causes were rare, even in our elderly population.

PMID- 1443951
TI  - Effect of HIV antibody testing and AIDS education on communication about HIV risk
      and sexual behavior. A randomized, controlled trial in college students.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody
      testing and education about HIV infection on communication about sexual risk
      behaviors for HIV transmission. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial with three
      arms. SETTING: University student health center. PATIENTS: Of 2196 heterosexual
      university students attending the student health clinic for medical care, 435
      were interested in education about HIV and HIV testing and were randomly assigned
      to three groups. Follow-up at 6 months was done in 370 subjects (85%): 90 control
      subjects, 144 subjects who received education alone, and 136 subjects who
      received education plus HIV testing. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Subjects who
      received HIV testing plus education questioned sexual partners about their HIV
      status more than subjects receiving education alone or those in the control group
      (56%, 42%, and 41% of subjects, respectively; P = 0.01). No consistent
      differences among groups in the number of sexual partners or in the use of
      condoms were found at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Heterosexual university students
      who received education about HIV infection plus HIV testing had increased
      communication with sexual partners about the risk for HIV infection after 6
      months. Further reduction in risk behaviors for HIV transmission may require
      additional interventions in this population.

PMID- 1443952
TI  - Stunned myocardium in the toxic shock syndrome.

PMID- 1443953
TI  - Myocardial stunning after electroconvulsive therapy.

PMID- 1443954
TI  - Measured enthusiasm: does the method of reporting trial results alter perceptions
      of therapeutic effectiveness?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare clinicians' ratings of therapeutic effectiveness when
      different trial end points were presented as percent reductions in relative
      compared with absolute risk and as numbers of patients treated to avoid one
      adverse outcome. DESIGN: Survey, with random allocation of two questionnaires.
      SETTING: Toronto teaching hospitals. RESPONDENTS: Convenience sample of 100
      faculty and housestaff in internal medicine and family medicine. INTERVENTION:
      One questionnaire presented results for three end points of the Helsinki Heart
      Study as separate drug trials using only absolute differences in events; the
      other showed the same end points as relative differences. Both questionnaires
      included a fourth "trial," showing person-years of treatment needed to prevent
      one myocardial infarction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The "trials" were each rated on
      an 11-point scale, from treatment "harmful" to "very effective." RESULTS:
      Respondents' ratings of effectiveness varied with the end point. Controlling for
      end point, ratings of effectiveness by the 50 participants receiving absolute
      event data were lower than those by 50 participants responding to relative risk
      reductions (P < 0.001); however, no end-point difference was more than 0.6 scale
      points. For a "trial" reporting that 77 persons were treated for 5 years to
      prevent one myocardial infarction, mean ratings were 2.3 or 1.8 scale points
      lower, respectively (both P < 0.001), than when the same data were shown as
      relative or absolute risk reductions. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians' views of drug
      therapies are affected by the common use of relative risk reductions in both
      trial reports and advertisements, by end-point emphasis, and, above all, by
      underuse of summary measures that relate treatment burden to therapeutic yields
      in a clinically relevant manner.

PMID- 1443955
TI  - Transesophageal echocardiography in the evaluation of stroke.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To review the current role of transesophageal echocardiography in the
      evaluation of stroke. DATA IDENTIFICATION: Articles examining the role of
      transesophageal echocardiography for evaluation of patients with stroke were
      identified using computer and bibliography searches. STUDY SELECTION: All English
      language articles that provided full details on patient selection criteria,
      methods, and study design were reviewed. RESULTS OF DATA ANALYSIS: Cardiogenic
      embolism is frequently an uncertain diagnosis merely inferred by finding a
      potential cardiac source. Transthoracic echocardiography has had a low yield in
      screening unselected patients with stroke. Several series of patients with stroke
      have been reported comparing transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography.
      Potential cardiac sources of embolism were consistently identified in many more
      patients by transesophageal echocardiography. Many findings are, however, of
      uncertain significance; these include spontaneous echo contrast, patent foramen
      ovale, filamentous strands on the mitral valve, and atrial septal aneurysm.
      CONCLUSIONS: Transesophageal echocardiography is most helpful in patients with
      stroke who are less than 45 years of age and in those without clinical evidence
      of heart disease. The indications for its use in the evaluation of stroke remain
      controversial. Further studies are needed using transesophageal echocardiography
      in patients with stroke and in control groups, not only to determine the natural
      history of transesophageal, echocardiographically detected abnormalities but also
      to evaluate treatment options.

PMID- 1443956
TI  - Chronic myelopathy associated with human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I).
AB  - PURPOSE: To review the clinical, epidemiologic, immunologic, and virologic
      aspects of the chronic myelopathy associated with human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma
      virus type I (HTLV-I), currently called tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-I
      associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM). DATA IDENTIFICATION: Studies done after 1985,
      when TSP/HAM was first recognized, were identified by a computer search using
      MEDLARS II and CANCERLIT. Additional information was acquired from personal files
      and bibliographies of existing literature. STUDY SELECTION: A total of 400
      articles, 90 book chapters, and 150 abstracts from meetings covering all aspects
      of HTLV-I and neurologic diseases were critically analyzed, and information from
      250 publications was included. RESULTS OF DATA ANALYSIS: TSP/HAM is present in
      most HTLV-I endemic areas, with a prevalence ranging from 5.1 to 128 per 100,000
      inhabitants. Up to 20% of patients develop TSP/HAM after transfusion of HTLV-I
      contaminated blood. Pathologic characteristics indicate a chronic
      meningomyelitis. The clinical features consist of a chronic progressive spastic
      paraparesis or paraplegia, sphincter disturbances, and minimal sensory loss.
      Supraspinal and peripheral nerve involvement is sometimes observed. High titers
      of HTLV-I-specific antibodies are present in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid.
      The high level of humoral and cellular immunologic response and the association
      of TSP/HAM with other immunologic diseases suggest an immune-mediated process.
      Corticosteroids and immunosuppressor treatment usually result in only short-term
      improvement. CONCLUSION: TSP/HAM is a common neurologic disease in many parts of
      the world. All patients with chronic progressive myelopathies should be tested
      for serum and cerebrospinal fluid HTLV-I-specific antibodies. Systematic
      screening of blood donors for HTLV-I is necessary to help prevent the
      dissemination of the virus and the occurrence of post-transfusional cases.

PMID- 1443957
TI  - American College of Physicians Ethics Manual. Third edition.
AB  - Medicine, law, and social values are not static and must be re-examined
      periodically. This edition of the ACP Ethics Manual covers emerging issues in
      medical ethics and revisits some old issues. The overview of the evolution of
      medical ethics, which appeared in previous editions of the Manual, has been
      eliminated to allow more space for the consideration of today's ethical dilemmas.
      Other changes include a revised chapter on end-of-life care, discussion of
      physician-assisted suicide, revised sections on conflicts of interest and on
      medical risk to the physician and patient, given developments in human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
      (AIDS), and discussion of sexual contact between physician and patient. A
      statement on disclosure of errors and a section on care of the physician's family
      have also been added. The sections on confidential information told by a
      patient's family or friend to the physician; on physician-pharmaceutical industry
      relations; on physicians in training; and on the impaired physician have been
      expanded. Sections on advertising, peer review, and resource allocation have been
      revised. The literature of biomedical ethics expands at a rate that does not
      allow a bibliography to remain current, so an exhaustive list of references or
      suggested readings is not included in this manual. Instead, only cited references
      are listed.

PMID- 1443958
TI  - Breast cancer screening among women from 65 to 74 years of age in 1987-88 and
      1991. NCI Breast Cancer Screening Consortium.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare breast cancer screening rates from the 1991 survey with
      data from 1987-88 for women aged 65 to 74. DESIGN: Surveys of women from five
      communities. SETTINGS: Five control communities of the National Cancer
      Institute's Breast Cancer Screening Consortium. PARTICIPANTS: White, non-Hispanic
      women, ages 65 to 74; 499 in 1987-88 and 2156 in 1991. Response rates for the
      first survey wave ranged by area from 65% to 77% and for the second survey wave,
      from 62% to 85%. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Mammogram and clinical breast examination
      during the past year and performance of monthly breast self examination, with the
      screening rates in wave 2 directly standardized to the income and education
      distribution of wave 1 in each area. RESULTS: Mammography use between waves
      increased significantly (P < 0.05 after adjusting for education, income, and age)
      in all but one area (from 19% to 33% in wave 1 to 35% to 59% in wave 2). Among
      women who had a mammogram, the percent who also had a clinical breast examination
      decreased between waves from 95% to 85% (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mammography in
      older women increased dramatically over 3 years, although the use of clinical
      breast examination may be decreasing.

PMID- 1443959
TI  - A proposed trial of amiodarone for atrial fibrillation.

PMID- 1443960
TI  - AIDS-associated illness and HIV negativity.

PMID- 1443961
TI  - Internal medicine curriculum reform.

PMID- 1443962
TI  - Internal medicine curriculum reform.

PMID- 1443963
TI  - Internal medicine curriculum reform.

PMID- 1443964
TI  - Internal medicine curriculum reform.

PMID- 1443965
TI  - Internal medicine curriculum reform.

PMID- 1443966
TI  - Handicapping the handicapped.

PMID- 1443967
TI  - Internal medicine curriculum reform.

PMID- 1443968
TI  - Emotional support and survival after myocardial infarction. A prospective,
      population-based study of the elderly.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the survival of elderly patients hospitalized for acute
      myocardial infarction who have emotional support with that of patients who lack
      such support, while controlling for severity of disease, comorbidity, and
      functional status. DESIGN: A prospective, community-based cohort study. SETTING:
      Two hospitals in New Haven, Connecticut. PATIENTS: Men (n = 100) and women (n =
      94) 65 years of age or more hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction between
      1982 and 1988. MEASUREMENTS: Social support, age, gender, race, education,
      marital status, living arrangements, presence of depression, smoking history,
      weight, and physical function were assessed prospectively using questionnaires.
      The presence of congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, and cardiogenic shock;
      the position of infarction; in-hospital complications; and history of myocardial
      infarction were assessed using medical records. Comorbidity was defined using an
      index based on the presence of eight conditions. RESULTS: Of 194 patients, 76
      (39%) died in the first 6 months after myocardial infarction. In multiple
      logistic regression analyses, lack of emotional support was significantly
      associated with 6-month mortality (odds ratio, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.2 to 6.9) after
      controlling for severity of myocardial infarction, comorbidity, risk factors such
      as smoking and hypertension, and sociodemographic factors. CONCLUSIONS: When
      emotional support was assessed before myocardial infarction, it was independently
      related to risk for death in the subsequent 6 months.

PMID- 1443969
TI  - Ferrous sulfate reduces thyroxine efficacy in patients with hypothyroidism.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether simultaneous ingestion of ferrous sulfate and
      thyroxine reduces the efficacy of thyroid hormone in patients with primary
      hypothyroidism. DESIGN: Uncontrolled clinical trial. SETTING: Outpatient research
      clinic of a tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Fourteen patients with established
      primary hypothyroidism on stable thyroxine replacement. INTERVENTION: All
      patients were instructed to ingest simultaneously, a 300-mg ferrous sulfate
      tablet and their usual thyroxine dose every day for 12 weeks. RESULTS: After 12
      weeks of ferrous sulfate ingestion with thyroxine, the mean level of serum
      thyrotropin (thyroid stimulating hormone, TSH) rose from 1.6 +/- 0.4 to 5.4 +/-
      2.8 mU/L (P < 0.01), but the free thyroxine index did not change significantly.
      Subjective evaluation using a clinical score showed that nine patients had an
      increase in symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism; the mean score for the 14
      patients changed from 0 to 1.3 +/- 0.4 (P = 0.011). When iron and thyroxine were
      mixed together in vitro, a poorly soluble purple complex appeared that indicated
      the binding of iron to thyroxine. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous ingestion of ferrous
      sulfate and thyroxine causes a variable reduction in thyroxine efficacy that is
      clinically significant in some patients. The interaction is probably caused by
      the binding of iron to thyroxine.

PMID- 1443970
TI  - Myxedema-associated cardiogenic shock treated with intravenous triiodothyronine.

PMID- 1443971
TI  - Hormone therapy to prevent disease and prolong life in postmenopausal women.
AB  - PURPOSE: To critically review the risks and benefits of hormone therapy for
      asymptomatic postmenopausal women who are considering long-term hormone therapy
      to prevent disease or to prolong life. DATA SOURCES: Review of the English
      language literature since 1970 on the effect of estrogen therapy and estrogen
      plus progestin therapy on endometrial cancer, breast cancer, coronary heart
      disease, osteoporosis, and stroke. We used standard meta-analytic statistical
      methods to pool estimates from studies to determine summary relative risks for
      these diseases in hormone users and modified lifetable methods to estimate
      changes in lifetime probability and life expectancy due to use of hormone
      regimens. RESULTS: There is evidence that estrogen therapy decreases risk for
      coronary heart disease and for hip fracture, but long-term estrogen therapy
      increases risk for endometrial cancer and may be associated with a small increase
      in risk for breast cancer. The increase in endometrial cancer risk can probably
      be avoided by adding a progestin to the estrogen regimen for women who have a
      uterus, but the effects of combination hormones on risk for other diseases has
      not been adequately studied. We present estimates for changes in lifetime
      probabilities of disease and life expectancy due to hormone therapy in women who
      have had a hysterectomy; with coronary heart disease; and at increased risk for
      coronary heart disease, hip fracture, and breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Hormone
      therapy should probably be recommended for women who have had a hysterectomy and
      for those with coronary heart disease or at high risk for coronary heart disease.
      For other women, the best course of action is unclear.

PMID- 1443972
TI  - Guidelines for counseling postmenopausal women about preventive hormone therapy.
      American College of Physicians.

PMID- 1443973
TI  - Kath.

PMID- 1443974
TI  - The pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a challenge in clinical
      physiology.

PMID- 1443975
TI  - Asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmias in healthy persons: smoke or smoke screen?

PMID- 1443976
TI  - Diagnosing the irritable bowel syndrome.

PMID- 1443977
TI  - Diagnosing the irritable bowel syndrome.

PMID- 1443978
TI  - Acromegaly and pituitary carcinoma.

PMID- 1443979
TI  - Diclofenac-induced isolated myonecrosis and the Nicolau syndrome.

PMID- 1443980
TI  - Paresthesias and mefloquine prophylaxis.

PMID- 1443981
TI  - Consistency in prescription writing.

PMID- 1443983
TI  - "Playing God" as an act of hope.

PMID- 1443982
TI  - Physicians and cost control.

PMID- 1443984
TI  - Determinants of gastroesophageal junction incompetence: hiatal hernia, lower
      esophageal sphincter, or both?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of hiatal hernia and lower esophageal sphincter
      (LES) pressure on the competence of the gastroesophageal junction under
      conditions of abrupt increases in intra-abdominal pressure. DESIGN: Acute
      experiments. SETTING: University-hospital-based gastroenterology practice.
      PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen asymptomatic volunteers and 34 patients with endoscopic
      findings suggestive of hiatal hernia. INTERVENTION: A series of eight provocative
      maneuvers entailing abrupt changes in intra-abdominal pressure. MEASUREMENTS:
      Five radiographic measurements relevant to the presence and extent of hiatal
      hernia were made from videotaped barium-swallow examinations. Lower esophageal
      sphincter pressure was measured immediately before each maneuver. The percentage
      of maneuvers that resulted in gastroesophageal reflux was calculated as the
      reflux score. A stepwise regression analysis was then used to model the relation
      between measured variables of the gastroesophageal junction (manometric and
      radiographic) with reflux score. RESULTS: Patients with hiatal hernia had
      substantially higher reflux scores and lower LES pressures than either patients
      without hernias or volunteers. In diminishing order of significance, the terms in
      the model of susceptibility to reflux were axial length of hernia measured
      between swallows; LES pressure; and an interaction term in which a progressive
      increase occurred in the risk for reflux associated with a hypotensive lower
      esophageal sphincter as hernia size increased. CONCLUSIONS: Gastroesophageal
      junction competence during abrupt increases in intra-abdominal pressure is
      compromised by both hiatal hernia and low LES pressure. These factors interact
      with each other to determine susceptibility to reflux.

PMID- 1443985
TI  - Kidney transplantation from living unrelated donors.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare patient and graft survival of recipients of kidneys from
      living, unrelated donors (LUDs); cadaveric donors; and living, related donors
      (LRDs) matched for zero (mismatched), one, or two (identical) haplotypes. DESIGN:
      Cohort study. SETTING: Sixty-three renal transplantation centers affiliated with
      the Brazilian Transplantation Registry (accounting for more than 95% of the
      transplantation activity in Brazil). PATIENTS: Patients having renal
      transplantation between January 1987 and March 1991. Of 2892 patients, 165 (6%)
      received transplants from LUDs; 964 (33%), from cadaveric donors; 183 (6%), from
      zero haplotype, HLA-matched LRDs; 1259 (44%), from one haplotype-matched LRDs;
      and 321 (11%), from two haplotype-matched LRDs. MEASUREMENTS: Patient and graft
      survival. Patients were followed for an average of 15.8 months. RESULTS: After
      adjustment for age, race, diagnosis of primary disease, history of previous
      transplantation, cyclosporine use, and number of transplants from LUDs per
      center, patient survival did not differ statistically for recipients of kidneys
      from LUDs and recipients of cadaveric kidneys (risk ratio [RR], 1.16; 95% Cl,
      0.68 to 1.98). Little difference was seen between the adjusted death rate for
      recipients of zero haplotype-matched LRDs and recipients of cadaveric kidneys
      (RR, 1.13; Cl, 0.69 to 1.87). Similarly, in a multivariate analysis, recipients
      of kidneys taken from LUDs and zero haplotype-matched LRDs had a risk for graft
      failure that did not differ statistically from that of cadaveric kidney
      recipients (RR, 0.74; Cl, 0.45 to 1.22 and RR, 0.82; Cl, 0.53 to 1.25,
      respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Graft survival for recipients of kidneys from LUDs is
      similar to that from zero haplotype-matched LRDs and is at least as good as that
      achieved with cadaveric transplants.

PMID- 1443986
TI  - Anticardiolipin antibodies and the risk for ischemic stroke and venous
      thrombosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies is a
      risk factor for ischemic stroke and venous thrombosis in healthy adult men.
      DESIGN: A nested, case-control study in a prospective cohort. SETTING: A
      nationwide study of physicians. PARTICIPANTS: The study sample was drawn from the
      Physicians' Health Study, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of
      aspirin and beta-carotene in 22,071 male physicians. At entry, 68% of the
      participants submitted plasma samples that were subsequently frozen at -80
      degrees C. During 60.2 months of follow-up, follow-up for nonfatal outcomes was
      99.7% complete and ascertainment of fatal outcomes was 100% complete. We
      identified men with documented ischemic stroke, deep venous thrombosis of the
      leg, or pulmonary embolus and for whom a plasma sample was available. A control
      was matched by age, smoking history, and length of follow-up to each of the 100
      patients with ischemic stroke and the 90 patients with deep venous thrombosis or
      pulmonary embolus. MEASUREMENTS: Plasma samples were assessed for IgG
      anticardiolipin antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mean
      anticardiolipin antibody titers of the case patients in the two diagnostic groups
      (ischemic stroke; venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolus) were compared with
      those of the control groups, and relative risks were calculated for patients in
      increasing percentile categories of anticardiolipin antibodies by conditional
      logistic regression. RESULTS: The anticardiolipin antibody titers were higher in
      case patients with deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolus than in their
      matched controls (P = 0.01). Persons with anticardiolipin antibody titers above
      the 95th percentile had a relative risk for developing deep venous thrombosis or
      pulmonary embolus of 5.3 (95% CI, 1.55 to 18.3; P = 0.01). The anticardiolipin
      antibody titers in case patients with ischemic stroke and controls were not
      significantly different (P > 0.2), and no clear trend of higher risks among those
      with elevated levels of anticardiolipin antibodies was observed. CONCLUSION: An
      anticardiolipin antibody level above the 95th percentile is an important risk
      factor for deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolus but not for ischemic
      stroke in healthy adult men.

PMID- 1443987
TI  - [Rectal cancer. Introduction].

PMID- 1443988
TI  - [Forms of the diffusion of rectal cancer and principles of surgical radicality].

PMID- 1443989
TI  - [Role of lymph node excision in the treatment of rectal cancer].

PMID- 1443990
TI  - [Low anterior resection in the curative surgical treatment of rectal cancer].
AB  - Abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer are being performed with decreasing
      frequency in favour of sphincter-saving resections. It remains to be demonstrated
      that sphincter preservation has not resulted in compromised local disease control
      and survival. For this purpose 342 patients with rectal carcinoma have been
      studied. A curative resection has been carried out in 232. Sphincter-saving
      procedure was performed whenever possible: the length of margin of resection was
      at least 2 cm. The operation were: 71 abdominoperineal excisions (AP), 147
      anterior resections (AR), 14 transanal excisions. The thirty-days mortality was 7
      patients (9.9%) for AP and 5 (3.4%) for AR. Local recurrence was: AP 10 cases
      (15.6%), AR 16 cases (11.3%); for tumors 4-8 cm from anal verge recurrence was
      17.1% for AP, 16.2% for AR. Concerning staging, local recurrence was more common
      in the Dukes C stage (24.3%) than in the Dukes B (10.2%) or in the Dukes A
      (3.8%). 5 years survival after AP was 62.2 percent and after AR 67.9 percent.
      Concluding, in our experience, there was no relationship between local recurrence
      or survival and type of curative surgery (AP or AR). Local recurrence and
      survival were only related to tumor stage: lateral tumor extension in these
      advanced and aggressive lesions appears to be the major determinant of local
      recurrence. Further investigations are necessary to determine whether the
      addition of adjuvant radiotherapy or of extended abdomino-iliac lymphadenectomy
      should be able to improve the results.

PMID- 1443991
TI  - [Colorectal anastomosis by mechanical suture: a personal technique].

PMID- 1443992
TI  - [Trans-suture mechanical colorectal anastomosis in the treatment of rectal
      cancer. Apropos of 78 cases].

PMID- 1443993
TI  - [Usefulness of a colonic reservoir and colo-anal anastomosis after resection for
      cancer of the 1/3 mid-rectum].

PMID- 1443994
TI  - [Role of local excisions in the treatment of rectal cancer].

PMID- 1443995
TI  - [Physiopathological changes after interventions for rectal cancer].

PMID- 1443996
TI  - [Surgery of liver metastases secondary to colorectal carcinoma].

PMID- 1443997
TI  - [Treatment of liver metastases of rectal cancer].

PMID- 1443998
TI  - [Adjuvant treatment in rectal cancer].

PMID- 1443999
TI  - [Thyroid carcinoma. Criteria for the selection of surgical treatment].
AB  - Surgery is still today the first choice treatment in the thyroid neoplasm. The
      authors examined 37 patients with thyroid cancer out of 389 thyroidal operation
      performed in the period 1982-85 at the Institute of Surgical Pathology II and
      Surgical Clinic of University of Bari. The pro-operation screening was
      scintigraphy, US study and needle biopsy. In 23 case, with positive cytology
      examination and/or clinical malignancy the performed operation was total
      extracapsular thyroidectomy. Other nine patients underwent lobectomy and in 2
      cases the operation chosen was sub-total strumectomy completed by thyroidectomy
      after histologically proved malignancy. The laterocervical lymphadenectomy was
      done only in the case of nodes involvement. Operative mortality was 0 and post
      operative stay was about 6 days. The extracapsular total thyroidectomy is the
      first choice operation for cancer. Nevertheless recently some Authors proposed
      less destructive operation in the small differentiated type cancers with good
      results.

PMID- 1444000
TI  - [Use of ceftizoxime in the prevention of postoperative infections].

PMID- 1444001
TI  - [Neopterin and interleukin 2 soluble receptors as biochemical markers of cellular
      immune response to surgical trauma].
AB  - In 67 patients submitted to surgical procedures serum neopterin (NPT) and
      Interleukin 2 soluble receptors (IL2R) were evaluated at the end of the operation
      as well as 24, 48, 72 hours later. Thirty seven of the subjects (Group B) had
      undergone minor surgery (average time of operation: 40 +/- 10 min.), thirty
      (Group A) had undergone major surgery (average time: 180 +/- 30 min.). The
      results showed elevated NPT and IL2R levels in the latter cases and, in
      particular, 48 and 72 h after surgery. Neopterin levels were positively
      correlated with IL2R (r = 0.548 p < 0.01). These data suggest an activation of
      the cellular immune response which parallels the magnitude and length of surgical
      trauma. Thus NPT and IL2R levels could represent biochemical markers of
      postoperative disorders of the immune homeostasis.

PMID- 1444002
TI  - [Bibliographic information retrieval].

PMID- 1444003
TI  - [Lupus pericarditis].

PMID- 1444004
TI  - [Rheumatoid pericarditis].

PMID- 1444005
TI  - [Interstitial pneumopathies of systemic diseases. Definition and nosology].

PMID- 1444006
TI  - [Interstitial pneumopathies of systemic diseases. Clinical aspects].

PMID- 1444007
TI  - [Valvulopathies in connectivitis].

PMID- 1444008
TI  - [Bronchiolitis obliterans and systemic diseases].

PMID- 1444009
TI  - [Apparently primary pulmonary arterial hypertension complicating systemic
      diseases. Epidemiological survey and review of the literature].

PMID- 1444010
TI  - [Pulmonary filariasis: clinical and therapeutic aspects].

PMID- 1444011
TI  - [Splenomegaly in a woman who had lived in Africa for 32 years].

PMID- 1444012
TI  - [Value of experimental use of praziquantel in cases of isolated cerebral
      cysticercosis and follow-up of the evolution by MRI].

PMID- 1444013
TI  - [Multiple intracranial syphilitic gummas].

PMID- 1444014
TI  - [Purulent pericarditis revealing esophageal cancer].

PMID- 1444015
TI  - [Bone metastasis of prostatic origin with pseudo-sarcomatous form. Apropos of a
      case with monomelic localization].

PMID- 1444016
TI  - [Medical Society of Paris Hospitals. Medicine as an intellectual model in ancient
      Greece].

PMID- 1444017
TI  - Beyond deficiency. New views on the function and health effects of vitamins.
      Introduction.

PMID- 1444018
TI  - Role of nutrients in delaying cataracts.

PMID- 1444019
TI  - Influence of vitamins E and B6 on immune response.

PMID- 1444020
TI  - Antioxidant vitamins and prevention of lung disease.
AB  - Although the evidence for oxidative stress for air pollution in the human lung is
      fragmentary, the hypothesis that oxidative stress is an important, if not the
      sole, mechanism of toxicity of oxidizing air pollutants and tobacco smoke is
      compelling and growing. First, biochemical mechanisms have been worked out for
      oxidation of lung lipids by the gas phase of cigarette smoke, NO2 and O3. The
      oxidation of lung lipids can be prevented by both vitamins C and E. Vitamin C is
      more effective in preventing oxidation by NO2, and vitamin E is more effective
      against O3. Second, multiple species of experimental animals develop lung disease
      similar to human bronchitis and emphysema from exposure to NO2 and O3,
      respectively. The development of these diseases occurs over a near lifetime
      exposure when the levels of NO2 or O3 are at near ambient air pollution values.
      Third, isolated human cells are protected against oxidative damage from NO2 and
      O3 by both vitamins C and E. Fourth, the vitamin C level in the lung either
      declines on exposure to NO2 for short-term exposures or increases on chronic
      cigarette smoke exposure. The effects of cigarette smoking on serum vitamin C is
      apparently complex and may be related to the daily intake of vitamin C as well as
      smoking. Serum vitamin C levels may be poor indicators of lung demands when daily
      vitamin C intakes are above 100 mg/day. Fifth, vitamin C supplementation protects
      against the effects of ambient levels of air pollution in adults as measured by
      histamine challenge. An augmented response to histamine challenge may represent
      increased lung permeability brought about by air pollution. In experimental
      animal and human experiments, the amount of vitamin C or E that afforded
      protection was in excess of the current recommended dietary allowance. Although
      animal studies do not provide evidence for complete protection against NO2 or O3,
      they do illustrate that current recommended daily allowances are inadequate for
      maximum protection against air pollution levels to which over 100 million
      Americans are exposed. The problem of air pollution and its effects on humans is
      truly of global concern. Air pollution is not restricted to North America or
      Japan where it was first recognized, but is a major public health problem in
      Europe as well. When data are available, air pollution probably will be shown to
      be a major public health problem in all urban areas of the world.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1444021
TI  - Effects of drugs on vitamin needs.

PMID- 1444022
TI  - Influence of HIV infection on vitamin status and requirements.

PMID- 1444023
TI  - Effect of vitamin C on transient increase of bronchial responsiveness in
      conditions affecting the airways.

PMID- 1444024
TI  - Measles-induced vitamin A deficiency.

PMID- 1444025
TI  - The effects of vitamins B12, B6, and folate on blood homocysteine levels.
AB  - The interaction between plasma homocysteine levels and vitamins B6, B12, and
      folate is an exciting field and one that has gathered great momentum over the
      past few years, with the recognition that homocysteine probably plays an
      important role in occlusive vascular disease. Our understanding in this field is
      greatly advanced compared to just a few years ago. There are a number of
      important issues, however, that will need to be addressed in the future if we are
      to develop a sufficient knowledge base to effectively minimize the risk of
      occlusive vascular disease ascribable to hyperhomocysteinemia. These include (1)
      definitive evidence that homocysteine is the actual agent that mediates
      accelerated occlusive vascular disease and the mechanism by which this occurs;
      (2) an understanding of what constitutes a pathologic elevation in homocysteine
      (is there a threshold concentration in the plasma below which no vascular injury
      occurs? is the peak concentration achieved the critical determinant of injury, or
      is the area under the curve, or some other feature, more important?); (3)
      understanding what synergies might exist by adding B6 or B12 to a regimen of
      folate supplementation (what doses are most appropriate? will toxologic issues
      limit the utility of supplementation?); and (4) determining the circumstances
      where reduction of plasma homocysteine will retard or reverse the process of
      occlusive vascular disease.

PMID- 1444026
TI  - Relationship of vitamin C status to cholesterol and blood pressure.

PMID- 1444027
TI  - Physiological importance of extra-hepatic vitamin K-dependent carboxylation
      reactions.

PMID- 1444028
TI  - Ischemia: reperfusion injury and restenosis after coronary angioplasty.
AB  - Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is a very effective
      technology that allows, without surgery, successful mechanical revascularization
      of acutely or chronically obstructed coronary arteries. The success of PTCA in
      patients with acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina is questioned by
      early coronary reocclusion and by so-called reperfusion injury. In a biochemical
      context, reperfusion injury occurs as a very complex interaction between the
      different tissues that build heart muscle. Free radicals play a pivotal role and
      initiate a deleterious cascade of events after reperfusion. Protective mechanisms
      such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase are normally
      present in the cell to prevent damage by free radicals. Endothelial cells have a
      greater number of specific physiologic and metabolic functions and influence the
      microcirculatory flow. In the presence of exogenous glucose, coronary endothelial
      cells show a pronounced lactate production under well-oxygenated conditions. Low
      energy demand and high glycolytic activity may be the cause of why the coronary
      endothelium is less severely injured than the cardiomyocytes in the ischemic and
      anoxic heart. The success of PTCA in patients with chronically obstructed
      coronary arteries (stable angina) is questioned by vessel occlusion and
      restenosis. Restenosis is a very complex process involving clinical,
      morphological, procedural, regional flow-dependent, and biological determinants.
      Early platelet deposition, formation of mural thrombus, coronary vasospasm, and
      elastic recoil forces of stretched vessel wall may contribute to early restenosis
      in the first days after PTCA, but the peak incidence of restenosis occurs between
      two and three months after PTCA. Intimal hyperplasia or proliferation of smooth
      muscle cells is believed to be the fundamental process of restenosis. To solve
      the problem of restenosis, much effort has been expended, which includes several
      technical and pharmacological approaches. Pharmacological strategies,
      systemically or locally administered, aim at increased vasomotor tone, platelet
      function, smooth muscle cell proliferation/migration, and fibrocollagenous
      healing. Up to now none of the proposed drugs has been able to reduce the
      restenosis rate. There is experimental evidence for a claim that the antioxidant
      functions of vitamins (E, C, and beta-carotene) may prevent restenosis post-PTCA.
      Until recently, in most post-PTCA restenosis trials the angiographic analyses
      were not performed using computerized measurement methods. In order to assess the
      efficacy of acute or long-term interventions on the natural course or acute
      complications of coronary artery disease, quantitative measures have been
      introduced and validated that make use of digital coronary angiography and
      computerized image processing techniques.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1444029
TI  - Influence of antioxidant vitamins on LDL oxidation.

PMID- 1444030
TI  - Dietary antioxidants and cardiovascular disease.

PMID- 1444031
TI  - Potential role of beta-carotene and antioxidant vitamins in the prevention of
      oral cancer.

PMID- 1444032
TI  - Vitamin E and cancer: epidemiology.

PMID- 1444033
TI  - Vitamin C status and cancer. Epidemiologic evidence of reduced risk.

PMID- 1444034
TI  - Safety issues regarding the use of vitamin supplements.

PMID- 1444035
TI  - Interaction of riboflavin with zinc bioavailability.

PMID- 1444036
TI  - Effect of short-term feeding of barley oil extract containing naturally occurring
      tocotrienols on the immune response of rats.

PMID- 1444037
TI  - Qualitative relationship of dietary and plasma carotenoids in human beings.

PMID- 1444038
TI  - Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation stimulates alpha-tocopherol incorporation in
      erythrocyte membranes in adult men.

PMID- 1444039
TI  - Biochemical, morphological, and functional aspects of systemic and local vitamin
      A deficiency in the respiratory tract.

PMID- 1444040
TI  - Crystalloid lysozyme inclusions in Paneth cells of vitamin A-deficient rats.

PMID- 1444041
TI  - The influence of antioxidants on the enhanced respiratory burst reaction in
      smokers.

PMID- 1444042
TI  - Vitamin B6. Reservoirs, receptors, and red-cell reactions.

PMID- 1444043
TI  - Ascorbic acid supplements and blood pressure. A four-week pilot study.

PMID- 1444045
TI  - Psychological disorders as early symptoms of a mild-to-moderate vitamin
      deficiency.

PMID- 1444044
TI  - The hematological and electrophysiological effects of cobalamin. Deficiency
      secondary to vegetarian diets.

PMID- 1444046
TI  - Vitamin E and skeletal muscle contracture in vitro.

PMID- 1444047
TI  - Plasma folate adequacy as determined by homocysteine level.

PMID- 1444048
TI  - Antioxidant response to exercise-induced oxidative stress and protection by
      vitamin E.

PMID- 1444049
TI  - Antioxidant status and free radical-induced oxidative damage of sickle
      erythrocytes.

PMID- 1444050
TI  - Vitamin E inhibits the carcinogenicity of N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine.

PMID- 1444051
TI  - Folate status and pregnancy outcome.

PMID- 1444052
TI  - The relation between low-fat intake and vitamin status in a free-living cohort of
      preschoolers.

PMID- 1444053
TI  - Dietary vitamin B6 and vitamin C. Influence on immune response and disease
      resistance in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

PMID- 1444054
TI  - Ascorbic acid bioavailability in humans. Ascorbic acid in plasma, serum, and
      urine.

PMID- 1444055
TI  - Effects of supplemental vitamin E on cancer growth and promotion during murine
      AIDS.

PMID- 1444056
TI  - Effects of antioxidant vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene on immune functions in
      MRL/lpr mice and rats.

PMID- 1444057
TI  - Selective biodiscrimination of alpha-tocopherol stereoisomers. Similar enrichment
      of all 2R forms in rat tissues after oral all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate.

PMID- 1444058
TI  - Vitamin E prevents side effects of high doses of vitamin A in chicks.

PMID- 1444059
TI  - Regulatory role of oxidized and reduced pteroylpolyglutamates.

PMID- 1444060
TI  - Antioxidant functions of vitamins. Vitamins E and C, beta-carotene, and other
      carotenoids.
AB  - Tocopherols and tocotrienols (vitamin E) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) as well as
      the carotenoids react with free radicals, notably peroxyl radicals, and with
      singlet molecular oxygen (1O2), this being the basis of their function as
      antioxidants. RRR-alpha-tocopherol is the major peroxyl radical scavenger in
      biological lipid phases such as membranes or low-density lipoproteins (LDL). L
      Ascorbate is present in aqueous compartments (e.g. cytosol, plasma, and other
      body fluids) and can reduce the tocopheroxyl radical; it also has a number of
      metabolically important cofactor functions in enzyme reactions, notably
      hydroxylations. Upon oxidation, these micronutrients need to be regenerated in
      the biological setting, hence the need for further coupling to nonradical
      reducing systems such as glutathione/glutathione disulfide,
      dihydrolipoate/lipoate, or NADPH/NADP+ and NADH/NAD+. Carotenoids, notably beta
      carotene and lycopene as well as oxycarotenoids (e.g. zeaxanthin and lutein),
      exert antioxidant functions in lipid phases by free-radical or 1O2 quenching.
      There are pronounced differences in tissue carotenoid patterns, extending also to
      the distribution between the all-trans and various cis isomers of the respective
      carotenoids. Antioxidant functions are associated with lowering DNA damage,
      malignant transformation, and other parameters of cell damage in vitro as well as
      epidemiologically with lowered incidence of certain types of cancer and
      degenerative diseases, such as ischemic heart disease and cataract. They are of
      importance in the process of aging. Reactive oxygen species occur in tissues and
      cells and can damage DNA, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. These potentially
      deleterious reactions are controlled in part by antioxidants that eliminate
      prooxidants and scavenge free radicals. Their ability as antioxidants to quench
      radicals and 1O2 may explain some anticancer properties of the carotenoids
      independent of their provitamin A activity, but other functions may play a role
      as well. Tocopherols are the most abundant and efficient scavengers of peroxyl
      radicals in biological membranes. The water-soluble antioxidant vitamin C can
      reduce tocopheroxyl radicals directly or indirectly and thus support the
      antioxidant activity of vitamin E; such functions can be performed also by other
      appropriate reducing compounds such as glutathione (GSH) or dihydrolipoate. The
      biological efficacy of the antioxidants is also determined by their biokinetics.

PMID- 1444061
TI  - Localized deficiencies of folic acid in aerodigestive tissues.
AB  - The notion that requirements for folic acid may be higher in some tissues than
      others, resulting in localized deficiencies in spite of blood levels in the
      normal range was first suggested by the observation of megaloblastic changes in
      the cervical epithelium that responded to folate supplementation. Theoretically,
      such deficiencies may arise from elevated folate turnover in response to rapid
      tissue proliferation or repair; inactivation or alteration of its function by
      external agents such as tobacco, alcohol, or drugs; or altered metabolism or
      tissue uptake caused by an inborn error. Marginal dietary intake could aggravate
      these effects on cells at risk. Evidence for the possible existence of localized
      folate deficiencies in the aerodigestive tract includes lower circulating folate
      levels in smokers as compared with nonsmokers; yet lower circulating levels in
      smokers with bronchial metaplasia; lower folate levels in scrapings of the buccal
      mucosa of smokers than non-smokers; apparent improvement in bronchial atypical
      metaplasia in smokers supplemented with folic acid; lower erythrocyte folate
      levels and higher prevalence of cellular features compatible with folate
      deficiency in geographic areas and individuals in South Africa at high risk for
      esophageal cancer; and a trend toward a lower prevalence of colonic dysplasia in
      ulcerative colitis patients who use folic acid supplements. These observations,
      as well as animal and in vitro studies, also suggest that folate deficiency may
      be co-carcinogenic. Further research in this area will be aided by the
      development of animal models of localized folate deficiency and of methodologies
      capable of measuring folate levels in minute quantities of tissues and exfoliated
      cells.

PMID- 1444062
TI  - Vitamin E. Neurochemistry and implications for neurodegeneration in Parkinson's
      disease.
AB  - Recently there has been a great deal of interest in the potential therapeutic use
      of supplemental vitamin E in amelioration of diseases of the nervous system. Even
      though many studies have provided encouraging results, the mechanism of any
      beneficial effect remains elusive. Experimental studies suggest that the presence
      of high levels of vitamin E in tissues prior to injury is essential for
      biological efficacy because administration of the vitamin after insult is often
      ineffective. The rationale for this phenomenon is unknown at present. Some of the
      remaining areas of investigation include the biochemical interaction of vitamin E
      with other biological antioxidant substances such as vitamin C and sulfhydryl
      compounds; the relative potencies of different molecular forms of tocopherols,
      such as trienols and various optical isomers; and the optimal dosage and mode of
      administration of the most potent tocopherol molecule. Future research on these
      and other topics will shed more light on the effective use of vitamin E in
      neurodegeneration.

PMID- 1444063
TI  - A study of the performance and comparability of the sampling response to cotton
      dust of work area and personal sampling techniques.
AB  - In order to compare and contrast the sampling response to cotton dust of two
      forms of dust sampling 85 work areas were identified over a 2-year period for
      investigation in eight Lancashire spinning mills. Three hundred and five work
      area dust samples were undertaken and 252 personal dust samples were performed.
      Operatives who spent a minimum of 80% of their working shift in the area in which
      work area sampling was also performed were selected for personal sampling. Work
      area dust exposures have recently shown an upward trend, with highest
      concentrations occurring in the ring spinning room (median 1.15 mg m-3, range
      0.82-2.06). Personal dust samples showed a reduction in dust exposures as cotton
      processing progressed, from a high in the opening room (median value of 6.24 mg m
      3, range 1.0-41.5) to a minimum of 1.02 mg m-3 (range 0.30-0.93) in the winding
      room. The ratio of measured personal sampling dust exposure to work area sampling
      exposure was used to compare the relative performance of the two techniques. This
      ratio was highest in the early processes. There was a 7.8-fold difference in
      measurement between the two techniques in the opening processes, falling to 4.9
      in carding and 4.2 in the other card-room processes. However in ring spinning the
      ratio was only 1.4, suggesting a degree of comparability in the methods at this
      stage of processing. The value rose to 2.5 for the last stage (winding).
      Respiratory disease is known to occur predominantly in the early stages of
      processing (opening and carding) where high dust concentrations are found using
      the personal technique. These data support the use of personal sampling for
      setting exposure limits to cotton dust in preference to the current recommended
      method using work area sampling techniques, which may significantly underestimate
      dust exposure in the high risk work areas and is outdated.

PMID- 1444064
TI  - Occupational exposure to carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide during the
      manufacture of carbon black.
AB  - The manufacture of carbon black is known to generate carbon monoxide and sulphur
      dioxide in the 'production gas' and the pyrolysis products of the 'production
      gas', respectively. Adverse health effects have been reported as associated with
      both contaminants (coronary heart disease with carbon monoxide and respiratory
      morbidity with sulphur dioxide). A major cross-sectional and longitudinal
      respiratory morbidity study is being conducted to assess the effects of exposure
      to carbon black on lung function, on chest X-rays and on responses to a
      questionnaire. The questionnaire includes questions on respiratory and
      cardiovascular symptoms, so that information regarding confounding exposure is
      essential. The working population of 18 manufacturing plants in seven European
      Countries was split into 13 job title numbers (1-13) which were then amalgamated
      into five job categories (A-E), with an appropriate (statistically) number of
      samples taken from each plant-job category. In total, 1322 carbon monoxide
      samples and 1301 sulphur dioxide samples were taken, using actively pumped
      longterm colorimetric tubes. In the majority of cases, more than half of the
      samples in each plant-job category were either zero or trace, thereby preventing
      the accurate estimation of the average exposure. The highest median carbon
      monoxide concentration was from the amalgamated data from all 18 plants in job
      number 9 (furnace operators), the highest median sulphur dioxide concentration
      was only 'trace'. The large number of zero and trace values also precluded the
      generation of current and retrospective exposure indices.

PMID- 1444065
TI  - Assessment of dermal and inhalation exposure to zineb/maneb in the cultivation of
      flower bulbs.
AB  - In bulb farming the use of pesticides for crop protection and bulb disinfection
      is extensive. To estimate long-term occupational exposure to pesticides, generic
      levels of exposure specific to the method of working were needed. In order to
      derive these values, dermal and inhalation exposure to the fungicide mixture
      zineb/maneb was assessed for different methods of mixing and loading a wettable
      powder formulation. Further, dermal exposure was also assessed for two methods of
      disinfection of bulbs. Observed exposure was expressed in terms of method
      specific levels of exposure, which makes it possible to compare exposure
      resulting from different methods of working, with respect to the amount of
      pesticide handled, or whether ladling the pesticide with a scoop or dipping the
      bulbs using baskets resulted in high exposure. Moreover, the relative importance
      of dermal and inhalation exposure routes was estimated. The results show that
      during mixing and loading with bare hands dermal exposure is by far the greater
      contributor (greater than 99%) to the total estimated exposure. Comparing these
      results and also some preliminary results of the dermal protection provided by
      working gloves, with tentative health-based limit values of exposure, emphasize
      the need for a programme on appropriate dermal protection.

PMID- 1444066
TI  - Solvent exposure and related work practices amongst apprentice spray painters in
      automotive body repair workshops.
AB  - As part of a multidisciplinary study into the health effects of solvents,
      workplace assessments and airborne solvent vapour monitoring was conducted in 46
      spray painting workshops in the Sydney metropolitan area. Breathing-zone samples
      were taken from 50 apprentices and 14 experienced spray painters. An interview
      schedule was developed to obtain information about the use of acrylic or two-pack
      paint systems, the use of engineering controls, the use of personal protective
      equipment and the availability of material safety data sheets. Contaminants
      typical of the chemical products used in this industry were encountered (aromatic
      hydrocarbons, C5-C7 aliphatic hydrocarbons, ketones, esters). The results of
      airborne solvent monitoring indicate a total solvent exposure in the range 1-99%
      of a combined Worksafe Australia exposure standard, with a mean of 19%. Solvent
      exposure was highest when spraying acrylic paint in the open workshop and lowest
      when spraying two pack paint in a spray booth. Much the same personal protective
      equipment was available in all workshops, but wide variation in its use was
      observed. Material safety data sheets were not observed in any of the workshops.

PMID- 1444067
TI  - A pilot study to evaluate Japanese standard radiographs of pneumoconioses (1982)
      according to the ILO 1980 International Classification of Radiographs of
      Pneumoconioses.
AB  - The Japanese Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses (JC) is
      characterized by its own standard films, including limit films which are defined
      to represent the upper limit of category 0 or the lower limit of category 1. This
      pilot study was aimed at evaluating the JC standard radiographs according to the
      ILO 1980 International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses (IC) in
      which some of the JC standards were read according to the IC by two groups of
      experienced British workers, four non-medically qualified (NM panel) and six
      medically qualified (MQ panel). The Japanese standard limit films, with rounded
      opacities of category 0/1 or 1/0, were classified by both groups as having lower
      categories in the IC than in the JC. With the standard mid-category films showing
      rounded or irregular opacities, the NM panel tended to produce higher categories
      than the MQ panel. From reading results by both panels, however, it may be said
      that the JC mid-category standards agree with the IC in terms of category.

PMID- 1444068
TI  - Occupational exposure to carbon black in its manufacture.
AB  - Carbon black is manufactured by the vapour phase pyrolysis of heavy aromatic
      hydrocarbon feedstocks. Its manufacture is worldwide and the majority of its
      production is for use in the rubber industry especially tyre manufacture. Its
      carbonaceous nature has led many to investigate the occurrence of exposure
      related medical conditions. To quantify any such relationships, it is necessary
      to assess exposure accurately. As part of such an epidemiological investigation
      survey involving the measurement both of respirable and of total inhalable carbon
      black was undertaken in 18 plants in seven European countries between mid-1987
      and mid-1989. A total of 1298 respirable samples (SIMPEDS cyclone) and 1317 total
      inhalable samples (IOM head) were taken and deemed of sufficient quality for
      inclusion in the study. The distributions of the time-weighted average values
      were assessed and found to be best described by a log-normal distribution, and so
      exposure is characterized by geometric means and standard deviations. The data
      are presented in terms of 13 separate job titles for both dust fractions and
      shows a wide variation between job titles, with the highest mean exposure
      experienced by the site cleaners, and 30% of the samples taken from the warehouse
      packers being in excess of the relevant countries' occupational exposure limits
      for total inhalable dust. The quality and extent of this data allows both for
      comparison with exposure standards and for generation of occupational exposure
      indices, which will be presented in another paper (Gardiner et al., in
      preparation).

PMID- 1444069
TI  - Determination of exposure to cobalt and nickel in the atmosphere in the hard
      metal industry.
AB  - Cobalt and nickel, matrices of hard metal, have been shown to be respiratory
      sensitizers. Airborne dust at hard metal-grinding worksites in a factor with a
      work-force of about 180 grinders was analysed for cobalt and nickel. The electron
      microscopic X-ray microanalysis of airborne dust particles demonstrated that they
      had the same metallic components as hard metal products. Andersen sampling
      revealed that 66% of total dust was respirable (< 7 microns). Consecutive
      personal sampling for individuals indicated log-normally distributed
      concentrations of total dust and cobalt. Of the workers surveyed, 12% (16 out of
      133) were exposed to cobalt at more than 50 micrograms m-3, while 1.5% (two out
      of 133) were exposed to nickel concentrations of more than 50 micrograms m-3. A
      correlation between cobalt exposure concentrations and nickel concentrations for
      individuals was significant and positive. Further improvement of the working
      environment is necessary because of the hazard caused by exposure to cobalt and
      nickel.

PMID- 1444070
TI  - Occupational exposure to chromium, copper and arsenic during work with
      impregnated wood in joinery shops.
AB  - CCA-impregnated timber contains copper, chromium and arsenic (CCA), and
      occupational exposure to wood dust as well as the CCA compounds may occur in work
      with such timber. Dust from commercially available impregnated wood has been
      found to contain hexavalent chromium, which is regarded as a carcinogen. Apart
      from determinations of the total amounts of the CCA compounds, specific
      determination of hexavalent chromium is therefore essential. Selective methods
      have been applied for control of the work environment in six joinery shops. The
      mean exposure to wood dust was found to be below 1 mg m-3. The mean airborne
      concentration of arsenic around various types of joinery machines was in the
      range from 0.54 to 3.1 micrograms m-3. No hexavalent chromium was detected in any
      samples and no increased concentrations of arsenic were found in urine from the
      workers. The presence of arsenic in the work-room air must be considered for
      appropriate assessment of the occupational environment in joinery shops.

PMID- 1444071
TI  - Pulmonary clearance of fibrous and angular SiC particulates in the sheep model of
      pneumoconiosis.
AB  - Both angular and fibrous SiC (carborundum) particulates can be emitted by SiC
      production operations. Carborundum pneumoconiosis is now recognized as an
      occupational lung disease with specific pathological features. These were
      previously reproduced in the sheep model of pneumoconiosis with fibrous SiC but
      not with angular SiC. To further document this question, the pulmonary retention
      in the sheep of the two morphological types was studied. Animals were injected in
      the tracheal lobe with equal mass (100 mg) of particulates prepared from SiC
      materials taken in the field. Particles were measured by analytical transmission
      electron microscopy in samples of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BAL) obtained at
      months 2, 4, 6 and 8 after the injection. They were also measured in samples of
      lung parenchyma obtained at month 8. Measurements in BAL and in lung samples both
      indicated a much lower retention for fibrous than for angular SiC. The retention
      rate in lung parenchyma at month 8 was 30 times lower for fibrous SiC. The half
      life of decrease of concentrations was 3.4 times shorter for fibrous SiC. Other
      data in the literature support the notion that fine fibres are cleared more
      effectively than coarser angular particles.

PMID- 1444072
TI  - Clinical results of glaucoma surgery using the White glaucoma pump shunt.
AB  - The findings are reported in 37 patients with refractory glaucoma who were
      treated with the White glaucoma pump shunt for 6 months to 2 years (average
      follow-up, 14 months). Thirty-three patients (89%) had an intraocular pressure
      22mmHg after six months and beyond, with or without medications. The decrease in
      intraocular pressure ranged from 24 to 33mmHg. Visual acuity improved in 12
      patients, remained the same in 18 patients, and decreased in seven patients (all
      decreases were caused by progression of unrelated ocular disease).

PMID- 1444073
TI  - Biometric aspects of diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses.
AB  - A retrospective biometric study was done on 132 patients with diffractive
      multifocal intraocular lenses. The two principal focal points induced by the
      intraocular lens were refracted for distance in each patient. The difference in
      diopters between the refractions was obtained, and the A constant (SRK formula
      series) and anterior chamber depth (ACD, Binkhorst formula) were calculated. Our
      results showed the A constant was 116.46. This value was consistent and not
      affected by the axial length of the eye in the 22mm to 24.5mm range. In patients
      who had emmetropia with the intraocular lens power implanted alone, the constant
      was equal to 116.3. The ACD was 3.94mm. This value was lower in shorter eyes and
      higher than 3.94mm in longer eyes. On the basis of the data obtained, when the
      SRK-II formula is used, an A constant of 116.4 should be used in preoperative
      biometric calculations.

PMID- 1444074
TI  - Bilateral inferotemporal dialysis in identical twins.
AB  - Retinal detachment associated with inferotemporal dialysis comprises
      approximately 10% of all retinal detachments. We describe the cases of two
      patients with bilateral inferotemporal dialyses who were identical twins. This
      finding suggests that genetic factors play a role in some cases of inferotemporal
      dialysis. One of the twins was asymptomatic, stressing the importance of
      examining other family members of patients with nontraumatic retinal dialysis. We
      believe that the cause of inferotemporal dialysis is multifactorial and there is
      a definite subpopulation in which a genetic predisposition is present.

PMID- 1444075
TI  - Idiopathic preretinal macular gliosis: a retrospective study of 200 patients.
AB  - The charts of the last 200 patients with idiopathic preretinal macular gliosis
      (IPRMG) seen in the Retina Service of Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein
      College of Medicine, were reviewed. We found that IPRMG is a disease of older
      people, tends to have a nonprogressive course, and rarely causes severe visual
      loss. In our series, 91.5% of the patients were older than 50 years of age, 80%
      of eyes lost less than two lines of vision, and only 4% of eyes had a visual
      acuity 20/200.

PMID- 1444076
TI  - Trabeculectomy with 5-fluorouracil subsequent to circular buckling operation and
      cataract extraction.
AB  - Six patients, each with one eye that had previously undergone circular buckling
      surgery for the repair of retinal detachment before or followed by cataract
      extraction with or without intraocular lens implantation, underwent
      trabeculectomy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for intractable glaucoma. Surgery was
      done through scarred subconjunctival tissues that were excised partially. The
      total doses of 5-FU ranged from 65 to 100mg (mean +/- standard deviation, 84.2 +/
      13.2mg) Eight to 47 months later, intraocular pressures were 18mmHg in five
      eyes, two of which were not receiving hypotensive medications. In the sixth eye,
      the intraocular pressure was 26mmHg with maximum hypotensive treatment.
      Intraocular pressures in the six eyes were significantly lower postoperatively
      than preoperatively (P < .05). This preliminary study suggests that filtering
      surgery with 5-FU may be beneficial after intraocular operations even in eyes
      where it is done through postoperative scarred subconjunctival tissues.

PMID- 1444077
TI  - False-positive magnetic resonance imaging of a metastatic carcinoma simulating a
      malignant melanoma.
AB  - Previous studies have shown the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the
      diagnosis of malignant melanoma of the choroid. We describe the case of a patient
      with a choroidal mass whose MRI study was characteristic of malignant melanoma.
      Subsequently the eye was enucleated. However, on histopathologic examination, the
      mass was a metastatic carcinoma to the choroid. This false-positive study makes
      us question the value of MRI in the diagnosis of malignant melanoma of the
      choroid.

PMID- 1444078
TI  - Radiotherapy resolves leukemic involvement of the optic nerves.
AB  - A 40-year-old woman with acute lymphoblastic leukemia had a visual disturbance
      OD. The optic disc was slightly swollen in the right fundus, and blast cells in
      the cerebrospinal fluid were found. Radiotherapy to the brain and orbit resolved
      these findings. Five months later, visual acuity decreased OS. Radiotherapy also
      was effective in treating the leukemic involvement of the optic nerve.

PMID- 1444079
TI  - Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test for patients with diabetes mellitus.
AB  - We evaluated 164 eyes of 87 patients with diabetes mellitus compared with 50 eyes
      from 25 healthy subjects as the control group. We compared 87 patients with
      diabetes mellitus (164 eyes) in relation to their duration of diabetes, fundus
      findings, visual acuity, and color vision defects. In all patients, color vision
      defects were determined using the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test, and the total
      error score was established on the basis of age norms from subjects without
      diabetes. No color vision defect was detected in the control group. In the
      diabetic group, fundus degeneration and color vision defects were observed and
      correlated with the duration of diabetes. The dominant color defect was of the
      blue-yellow type.

PMID- 1444080
TI  - Typical ocular coloboma affects three generations in one family.
AB  - We found bilateral colobomas of the iris, choroid, retina, and optic nerve head
      in a son, mother, and grandmother in one pedigree. This represents a rare
      incidence of typical ocular coloboma in three generations.

PMID- 1444081
TI  - Sneezing as a cause of acute angle-closure glaucoma.
AB  - We report the case of a patient who had an attack of acute angle-closure glaucoma
      precipitated by sneezing, probably as a result of a sudden increase in venous
      back pressure. This young woman had a history of allergic sinusitis.

PMID- 1444082
TI  - New applications of the neodymium: yttrium aluminum garnet laser in the Q
      switched mode: experimental results.
AB  - We describe the interaction of the neodymium: yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG)
      laser energy with intraocular lenses using the laser in the Q-switched mode.
      Using this method, it is possible to treat opacities that eventually might occur
      at the level of the visual axis on the optic faces of polymethylmethacrylate
      intraocular lenses (IOLs) if safety parameters (perfect focusing, use of
      additional lenses, and slight and continuous movement of the focal point of the
      laser) are followed. However, it is not possible to treat the silicone IOLs with
      the Nd:YAG laser because the threshold values for damage to the IOL are lower
      than the energy values required for destroying the capsular opacities on the
      optic axis.

PMID- 1444083
TI  - Atropine after trabeculectomy.
AB  - Thirty-eight patients requiring trabeculectomy for control of open-angle glaucoma
      were randomized into two groups. One group received topical atropine immediately
      after trabeculectomy; the second group began treatment on the first postoperative
      day. The two groups were compared over the first three postoperative days. The
      theoretic benefit of atropine instillation immediately after trabeculectomy is
      discussed. Our results showed no significant difference between the two groups
      except there was a significantly larger pupil diameter in the treated group on
      the first postoperative day.

PMID- 1444084
TI  - Digital fundus imaging of subretinal neovascularization.
AB  - Digital fundus imaging was used for fluorescein angiography in patients with
      subretinal neovascularization. After laser treatment, digital red-free
      photographs were obtained and compared against pretreatment angiogram frames to
      determine the margins of treatment. This technique allowed instant review of
      images and confirmation of complete laser treatment of the lesions. Of 15 eyes
      treated and followed for at least one year, there were two eyes with early
      recurrences (13%). A total of five eyes had recurrences during the follow-up
      period (33%). Digital imaging is a useful tool for treating subretinal
      neovascularization.

PMID- 1444085
TI  - Endothelin does not affect experimentally induced corneal neovascularization.
AB  - Endothelin, a potent vasoconstrictor, was found to be ineffective in the
      treatment of experimentally induced corneal neovascularization. Endothelin was
      administered topically, subconjunctivally, and intraluminally in serial
      concentrations ranging from 0.0005 to 5.0 micrograms/mL in New Zealand white
      rabbits without effect. Electron microscopy of the neovascular cornea revealed
      the vessels consisted only of endothelin and pericytes. Hence, the vessels were
      not responsive to endothelin because they lacked contractile smooth muscle.

PMID- 1444086
TI  - [Reduction laryngoplasty by external approach for glottic incompetence. Current
      role, demonstration of its efficacy by objective analysis of parameters of vocal
      quality].
AB  - Authors talk about the place of surgical treatments with cervicotomy in abducted
      vocal cord, about the statistics of the department of Phoniatrics of the Hospital
      Edouard Herriot in Lyon. These techniques have actually a marginal place. But the
      analysis of a recent case shows us that endoscopic treatment for vocal fold
      augmentation with biomaterials such as collagen or teflon can fail. So ENT
      surgeons have to absolutely know the Guerrier's technique to improve the quality
      of the voice when injectable biomaterials fail. With the description of this
      case, we will describe the objective analysis methods of the voice parameters
      that we use in the department.

PMID- 1444087
TI  - [Reconstruction of the mandibular arch using free vascularized iliac and scapular
      grafts. Arguments in favor of using scapular grafts].
AB  - In 12 cases of surgically removed mandibular symphysis malignancies, the bone and
      mouth floor were reconstructed using osteo-musculocutaneous flaps from the iliac
      crest or free osteo-cutaneous scapular flaps. In our experience, the latter
      provide the best results. Removed in dorsal decubitus, they allow floor
      replacement. During the dissection of the tumor site, we also preserve labial and
      clin structures, which favours a good restoration of phonation and swallowing.

PMID- 1444088
TI  - [Long-term esophageal and oropharyngeal pH-metry in ORL manifestations of
      gastroesophageal reflux in children].
AB  - Several studies published over the last few years have pointed out the importance
      of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in the pathogenesis of certain cases of chronic
      or recurrent pharyngo-laryngitis. While the presence of an acid reflux at the
      level of the pharyngo-larynx has recently been demonstrated in certain cases, the
      real incidence and pathogenic impact of this reflux is not precisely known. A new
      technique of continuous 24 hour bi-level monitoring of endoluminal pH in the
      esophagus and the oro/hypopharynx has made it possible to observe the variations
      in acid-base balance in contact with the pathological mucosa. 21 patients, 2
      months to 7.5 years old, presenting recurrent episodes of pharyngitis or
      laryngitis, underwent continuous pH monitoring during a 24 hour hospitalization.
      6 control subjects, 1 month to 13 years old, presenting no chronic or recurrent
      ear, head or neck pathology and no sign or symptom of GER were subjected to the
      same monitoring regimen. A statistically significant difference between the 2
      groups is evident for most of the parameters analysed. The most discriminative
      parameter is the fraction of the total recording time where the pharyngeal
      readings remain under ph6 (p < 0.0005). These results demonstrate that, in this
      clinical condition, acid of gastroesophageal origin is in contact with the
      pharyngeal mucosa. This suggests that the acid has a causal role in the
      pathological changes observed in the pharyngolaryngeal mucosa.

PMID- 1444089
TI  - [Exposure of the facial recess through the ear canal. Value in posterosuperior
      retraction pockets (initial results)].
AB  - 19 patients had surgery for progressive [17] and/or symptomatic [2] posterior
      attic retraction pockets involving the facial recess. Exposition of the
      suprapyramidal region was obtained after endaural incision by thinning the
      posterior wall of the ear canal and removing the posterior-superior portion of
      the tympanic sulcus. This technique is less complicated than intact canal wall
      tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy. Yet gives similar functional results. After a
      mean follow-up of 20.3 months, we have observed no residual cholesteatoma and no
      recurrent retraction pockets. Unlike posterior tympanoplasty, this technique
      makes it possible to meticulously remove the osteitic bone invariably found in
      the facial recess when there is infection of the retraction pocket.

PMID- 1444090
TI  - [Improvement of clinical results by digitalization of a single channel cochlear
      implant].
AB  - For 1973 we have been among the first to claim the multichannel cochlear implant
      superiority regarding single channel efficacy. However we actually thing that
      single channel cochlear implant is indispensable in case of total ossified
      cochlea, and very useful when efficacy/coast ratio must be considered. In order
      to narrow the gap between multi and single channel device efficacy, we used the
      new microprocessors possibilities to digitalize the analogic emietter of the
      single channel system, which we designed in 1987. Owing to a PC keyboard the new
      emietter allows the speech therapist to select the frequency band width of the
      input signal, and to determine the threshold level and the dynamic value as a
      function of six steps values of the stimulus wave frequency. These improvements
      supply the patient with a better speech intelligibility excepted for vowels
      discrimination. Comparison of clinical results obtained through the two analogic
      and digital systems are reported on 4 post lingually and 4 pre lingually deaf
      patients.

PMID- 1444091
TI  - [Indications and results of cochlear implants in young children].
AB  - In order to determine the criteria for patient selection and the preoperative
      prognostic factors for hearing recovery after cochlear implants in young totally
      dead children, the results of hearing rehabilitation were studied in 15 children
      who had undergone cochlear implantation at from 2 to 9 years of age. The choice
      of implant is determined by the permeability of the cochlear duct. A multi-system
      should be used, except when the cochlea is totally ossified. The reliability and
      efficacy of mono and multi system implants make it possible to offer a solution
      to the urgent therapeutic problems posed by total deafness in the young child.

PMID- 1444092
TI  - [Value and control possibilities of the vertebral artery in tumor surgery at the
      base of the skull].
AB  - Following anatomical description of the third segment of the vertebral artery
      (from C2 to the foramen magnum), the surgical techniques which permit to expose
      and control this artery at this level are presented. Choice is between the
      posterior approach in sitting or procubitus position and the lateral approach in
      supine position. The former is mainly applied on intradural tumors or
      prolongments and the latter on extradural tumors. These techniques were utilized
      on more than 60 cases including for the most frequent types meningiomas,
      neurinomas, paragangliomas and osseous tumors and were associated with a very low
      morbidity and mortality.

PMID- 1444093
TI  - [Local immunologic system of the nose and paranasal sinuses].
AB  - The mucus membranes of the nasal chambers may be compared to a local immune
      system which has been called the NALT. The submucosa contains a lymphoid
      infiltration of T-helpers, T-suppressors and a set of plasma cells capable of
      synthetizing four IgG subgroups, IgM, IgA and IgD. The IgA plasma cells are most
      numerous. There is no local synthesis of IgE. Macrophages and langerhans' giant
      cells are present. The epithelium is an immunological entity which is composed,
      in addition to secretory cells, of uliated cells, lymphocytes, and M cells. The
      epithelium is able to synthesize secretory component and allows the transport of
      IgA and IgM into the secretions. The NALT has multiple immunological functions:
      antigenic information, humoral immune response, and expression of local cellular
      immunity. Modifications in T lymphocyte subpopulations are observed in allergic
      rhinitis. Secreted interleukins modify the local efflux and affluence of effector
      cells (mastocytes and eosinophils). Abnormalities of the NALT are characteristic
      of deficiency in humoral IgA and IgG subgroups. The possible presence of
      alterations of cellular immunity in chronic rhinosinusitis has been suggested.

PMID- 1444094
TI  - Point-touch technique of botulinum toxin injection for the treatment of spasmodic
      dysphonia.
AB  - Intralaryngeal injections of botulinum toxin (Botox), under electromyographic
      guidance, have emerged as an effective treatment for adductor spasmodic
      dysphonia. To remain effective, these injections must be repeated every 3 to 9
      months as the symptoms recur. One drawback to the current method is the need for
      electromyographic confirmation of needle placement into the thyroarytenoid
      muscle. This report describes an anatomic approach to Botox injection that
      requires only flexible nasopharyngeal endoscopy and careful evaluation of the
      anatomic landmarks. This technique has been used successfully on 13 patients, and
      objective pretreatment and posttreatment measures are reported.

PMID- 1444095
TI  - Quantitative mapping of the effect of botulinum toxin injections in the
      thyroarytenoid muscle.
AB  - Spasmodic dysphonia has been successfully treated by thyroarytenoid muscle
      injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) with dosages ranging from 0.625 to 25 U. In
      some patients, excessive paralysis with resulting breathiness and aspiration have
      been noted. In order to maximize the efficiency of Botox injections, the
      histologic effects of various Botox dosages were examined in the dog. Nine canine
      thyroarytenoid muscles were injected with 0.5 to 12.5 U of Botox. After 24 hours,
      the recurrent laryngeal nerve to the injected muscle was electrically stimulated
      in order to deplete the glycogen within the muscle fibers. Frozen sections of
      this muscle were then stained for glycogen. Those fibers that retained their
      glycogen were presumed paralyzed by the Botox injection. The extent of paralysis
      was found to be dose-related from 1.0 to 7.5 U. At 10 U and above the muscle was
      completely paralyzed. Spread of the toxin to the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle
      was seen at doses as low as 1.0 U. Clearly, doses less than 10 U appear
      sufficient for clinical paralysis.

PMID- 1444096
TI  - Continuous positive airway pressure as a promoter of laryngospasm during
      halothane anesthesia.
AB  - Twenty mongrel dogs were anesthetized with halothane 2.0%, 1.25%, 0.94%, and
      0.63% in oxygen. Thyroarytenoid (TA) and posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA)
      electromyography (EMG) tracings were recorded with the animal at rest, following
      mechanical irritation of the glottis, and during 20 mm Hg continuous positive
      airway pressure (CPAP) following either airway occlusion or hyperventilation.
      Adductor laryngospasm was defined as continuous tonic TA EMG activity, silent PCA
      EMG, and vocal cord adduction. Abductor laryngospasm was defined as continuous
      tonic PCA EMG activity, silent TA EMG, and vocal cord abduction. Combined
      laryngospasm was defined as continuous tonic PCA and TA EMG activity, with
      variable vocal cord position. The incidence of adductor laryngospasm following
      mechanical irritation was 30% to 50%. The combined incidence of laryngospasm
      during application of CPAP following airway occlusion or hyperventilation was 25%
      to 50%, and differed from the incidence of irritation-induced adductor
      laryngospasm by 5% or less at the same anesthetic level. Continuous positive
      airway pressure appears to be a stimulant of laryngeal muscle spasm comparable to
      mechanical irritation of the glottis.

PMID- 1444097
TI  - Laryngotracheal reconstruction in adults with the sternocleidomastoid
      myoperiosteal flap.
AB  - Subglottic or tracheal reconstruction may be required in cases of subglottic
      stenosis, invasive thyroid carcinoma, or trauma. The sternocleidomastoid
      myoperiosteal flap uses clavicular periosteum on a muscle pedicle to provide
      vascularity. Clavicular periosteum is fibrous and durable and will conform to the
      shape of the trachea, forming bone to provide stability to the airway. The
      procedure is relatively simple and involves single-stage reconstruction. Success
      has been achieved in reconstruction of long-standing subglottic and/or tracheal
      stenosis and in cases of extreme tracheal defects. On the basis of 8 years'
      experience with this flap, we present the results from a series of 26 patients
      who underwent subglottic or tracheal reconstruction with the sternocleidomastoid
      myoperiosteal flap. Twenty-five of the 26 patients were successfully
      decannulated. Complications have been expanded to include one case of
      osteomyelitis of the sternum with mediastinitis, and 1 patient required revision.
      Subsequently, modifications of technique and patient management have been
      adopted. The complications compare favorably in frequency and in seriousness with
      those of other techniques for laryngotracheal reconstruction. We describe
      additional experience with this procedure and longer follow-up to establish its
      position as a first-line reconstructive approach for widespread clinical use.

PMID- 1444098
TI  - Detection of regulatory factors of lymphokine-activated killer cell activity in
      head and neck cancer patients treated with interleukin-2 and interferon alpha.
AB  - Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-alpha (INF-alpha) are biologic modifiers that
      have met with limited clinical success in the treatment of human malignancies. We
      conducted a phase 2 trial of IL-2-IFN-alpha in patients with advanced or
      unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract. Two
      patients were analyzed sequentially for serum induction phase-blocking factors of
      lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity in their therapy. Serum also
      modulated LAK activity independent of autologous or allogeneic effector cells.
      Significantly inhibitory serum samples were stable in multiple freezings and
      thawings. Heat-treating the inhibitory serum, at 56 degrees C for 30 minutes,
      only partially removed the serum inhibitory capacity. Sequential analysis of p55
      and p75, subunits of IL-2 receptors, showed that absence of effector cell lytic
      activity was associated with markedly decreased fluorescence of the IL-2Rp75
      subunit only. No significant alteration of the IL-2Rp55 subunit occurred with
      therapy. These studies support the theory that lymphocyte and multiple serum
      factors, developing during IL-2-IFN-alpha therapy, regulate the induction of in
      vitro LAK activity. Further understanding of these factors may lead to
      improvements in biologic modifier therapy.

PMID- 1444099
TI  - Bilateral choanal atresia associated with malformation of the anterior skull
      base: embryogenesis and clinical implications.
AB  - A number of craniofacial and systemic malformations have been described in
      association with choanal atresia. We report a case of bilateral choanal atresia
      associated with congenital absence of the cribriform plate, crista galli, and
      perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone. The anterior skull base defect was
      detected by using high-resolution computed tomography with three-dimensional
      reconstructions. The findings support the mesodermal flow theory of choanal
      atresia, in which there is excess migration of neural crest cells into the
      developing nasal septum and posterior choanae. This occurs at the expense of
      cells that would otherwise form the rest of the ethmoid complex. Clinical
      implications include the need for adequate preoperative imaging of the anterior
      skull base and consideration of potential intracranial complications during
      surgical repair.

PMID- 1444100
TI  - Laryngeal adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified, treated with carbon dioxide
      laser excision and postoperative radiotherapy.
AB  - Glandular carcinomas of the larynx are aggressive neoplasms that comprise less
      than 1% of all laryngeal malignancies. Adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified,
      is the most common histologic type. The rarity of these lesions has prohibited
      clarification of definitive therapy. Traditionally, radical surgery is performed
      because of the usually high stage at presentation and the relative insensitivity
      to radiotherapy. A case of glottic T1 adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified, is
      reported. The tumor presented clinically as a vocal fold granuloma. The treatment
      modalities included endoscopic excision with the carbon dioxide laser and
      postoperative radiotherapy. The patient has been followed up for 39 months
      without evidence of recurrence or metastases. The current literature is reviewed
      in regard to treatment of laryngeal glandular carcinomas.

PMID- 1444101
TI  - Facial canal dehiscence: histologic study and computer reconstruction.
AB  - The incidence, location, shape, and dimensions of dehiscences in the facial canal
      to the middle ear space were studied in 160 temporal bones obtained from 129
      individuals 24 gestational weeks to 109 years of age at death by means of light
      microscopy and our computer reconstruction and measurement method. Dehiscences
      were observed in 95 of the 129 individuals (74%) and in 119 of the 160 bones
      (74%). The incidence was found to be quite high among fetuses and newborns,
      lowest in individuals in their twenties and then again quite high in the
      geriatric population (chi 2 test, chi 2 = 5.45 and 4.41, p < .05). The most
      frequent site of dehiscence was the oval window area, particularly in its
      posterior half (57% of all ears) on the inferior to inferomedial aspects of the
      canal; these dehiscences were clearly demonstrated in reconstructed images. The
      incidence of dehiscence in the area of the cochleariform process was 16%, and all
      these dehiscences were on the lateral to superolateral aspect of the canal. The
      second genu area and the mastoid portion were sites of dehiscence in 21% and 18%,
      respectively, of specimens; more than half of the dehiscences in the second genu
      area and mastoid portion were on the lateral to anterolateral and posterior
      aspects of the facial canal, respectively. The shape of the dehiscence tended to
      be oval in the oval window area, but rather irregular in the other areas. The
      dehiscences ranged from 0.4 to 2.64 mm in length, from 0.12 to 1.59 mm in width,
      and from 0.03 to 1.87 mm2 in surface area. The proximity of these dehiscences to
      the field of otologic surgery is stressed.

PMID- 1444102
TI  - Skull base dumbbell tumor: surgical experience with two adolescents.
AB  - Pediatric skull base tumors are rare and until recently were considered
      unresectable. We present two patients with tumors of similar anatomic position
      with an extracranial component in the infratemporal fossa and parapharyngeal
      space, an isthmus at the foramen ovale, and a superior component in the middle
      cranial fossa in the region of the cavernous sinus. A 15-year-old girl
      experienced contiguous spread of a spindle cell sarcoma; an 18-year-old boy
      developed a chondrosarcoma. A middle fossa approach provided the advantage of
      surgical avoidance of structures such as the middle ear and mastoid, facial
      nerve, and mandible. Postoperative recovery was rapid. Our impression is that
      preoperative carotid artery occlusion and a middle fossa approach for tumor
      resection can be performed in a young patient with acceptable morbidity and at
      least short-term benefit. Surgery can, therefore, provide an additional
      therapeutic approach to complement irradiation and chemotherapy.

PMID- 1444103
TI  - Rat model for a vascularized laryngeal allograft.
AB  - A new rat model was developed to reexamine the potential for laryngeal
      transplantation. The final anatomic derivation evolved from two earlier
      developmental phases. The first model had only a single arterial anastomosis; the
      second had an end-to-end arterial anastomosis with an end-to-end arteriovenous
      shunt. The final product employed an end-to-side arterial shunt and an end-to
      side arteriovenous shunt for revascularization. The allografts were sited in
      tandem with the intact recipient larynges and were not innervated. A total of 16
      animals were studied in phase 3; 2 died and the remaining 14 had a 64% arterial
      patency at intervals of 1 to 14 days. Our purpose is to detail the relevant
      technical considerations of this new model and compare it with historical
      controls.

PMID- 1444104
TI  - Magnetic resonance angiography of synchronous bilateral carotid body
      paragangliomas and bilateral vagal paragangliomas.

PMID- 1444105
TI  - Embryoma (sialoblastoma) of salivary glands.
AB  - There are four clinicopathologic categories of the exclusively major salivary
      gland tumors that present in the perinatal period. The two with the smallest
      representation among the 20 cases reported to date are those with a hamartomalike
      appearance and those with benign adult equivalents--the pleomorphic and
      monomorphic adenomas. Five cases have been undifferentiated or basaloid salivary
      carcinomas. Embryomas (sialoblastomas) are the most numerous. These tumors
      manifest a histologic phenotype like that of the epithelial anlage of the
      salivary glands, albeit in an arrested state of differentiation.

PMID- 1444106
TI  - [Primary cutaneous lymphoma, with the exception of mycosis fungoides].
AB  - Cutaneous lymphomas other than mycosis fungoides (MF) form a rare and
      heterogeneous group. Their clinical behavior remains largely unknown. In this
      study, the clinical, immunohistological characteristics and follow-up data of 27
      well-documented cases of primary cutaneous lymphomas other than MF, limited to
      the skin (stage IE) were reviewed. The tumors were divided into large-cell
      lymphomas (LCL) (21/27 = 77 p. 100) and small-cell lymphomas (SML) (6/27 = 23 p.
      100). A B-cell phenotype was most often expressed by cutaneous lymphomas (23/27 =
      85 p. 100). The clinical course of cutaneous lymphoma was closely dependent upon
      the histological subtype. Fourteen patients with LCL were treated by radiotherapy
      alone. Nine patients (64 p. 100) relapsed within two years post-treatment. Seven
      of them relapsed in the skin outside the initial site, suggesting that
      radiotherapy alone is not an adequate treatment for these patients. The
      preliminary results concerning 7 other patients with LCL treated with an initial
      third generation polychemotherapy regimen are presented.

PMID- 1444107
TI  - [Atypical cutaneous mycobacterium diseases. Results of a national survey].
AB  - We report the results of a retrospective inquiry concerning atypical cutaneous
      mycobacterioses in France over the last 5 years. Ninety-two cases were observed,
      contracted from aquariums (50 p. 100), in swimming pools (4.4 p. 100) and as a
      result of mesotherapy (15.2 p. 100); 66.3 p. 100 of the patients had no other
      pathology; 17.4 p. 100 were immunodepressed. Bacteriological examination was
      positive in 44.7 p. 100 of the cases; swabbing, scratching and punturing were
      better than biopsy to obtain a bacteriological culture. Mycobacteria were
      identified in 59.8 p. 100 of the cultures. In order of frequency, the pathogens
      were Mycobacterium marinum (from aquariums), M. chelonae (from iatrogenic
      lesions) and M. avium-intracellulare (in immunodepression). M. fortuitum, M.
      ulcerans, M. flavescens, M. haemophilum and M. kansasii were rare. The formation
      of epithelial giant-cell granulomas was observed in patients without any other
      pathology. Non-specific infiltration was found in patients with immunodepression
      and bacteriological examination was often positive in those with non-specific
      infiltrates. The treatment of atypical cutaneous mycobacterioses is always
      difficult; third generation tetracyclines and antibacterial combinations are
      often prescribed, but the results of in vitro tests are not reproducible in vivo.
      New antibiotics, such as clarithromycin, quinolones, ansamycin and clofazimine,
      are currently being tested.

PMID- 1444108
TI  - [Cutaneous reactions to cold of buttocks and thighs].

PMID- 1444109
TI  - [Basex paraneoplastic acrokeratosis associated with acquired ichthyosis,
      pigmentation disorders and pruritus: a late disclosure of laryngeal neoplasms].

PMID- 1444110
TI  - [Polyvalent intravenous immunoglobulins: their use in dermatology].

PMID- 1444112
TI  - [Apropos of systemic scleroderma and pregnancy].

PMID- 1444111
TI  - [How to treat molluscum contagiosum of eyelids when curettage and liquid nitrogen
      may be hazardous?].

PMID- 1444113
TI  - [A case for diagnosis: scleroatrophic lichen of the glans].

PMID- 1444114
TI  - [Varicella and pregnancy].

PMID- 1444115
TI  - [Risks of topical treatments in pregnancy].

PMID- 1444116
TI  - [Facial granuloma].

PMID- 1444117
TI  - [Treatment of discoid lupus erythematosus].

PMID- 1444118
TI  - [Treatment of molluscum contagiosum (except in AIDS)].

PMID- 1444119
TI  - [The green and the red in pharmacy].
AB  - The green colour is historically used as a symbolic mark for the French Pharmacy.
      Green and red are important for the labelling of dangerous and toxic drugs
      respectively. Etymological channels about green and red are studied for many
      words belonging to the pharmaceutical vocabulary and the authorized dying
      matters. Discussion is led in the field of the semantic signification in Pharmacy
      at several times.

PMID- 1444120
TI  - [Immunocompetence in the elderly].
AB  - Ageing is associated with a progressive decline of the immune systems,
      characterized by impaired T cells and changes in the antigenic repertory related
      to both the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. The major alterations
      have been demonstrated in the T cells which undergo functional changes, such as a
      decrease in precursor frequencies of helper and cytotoxic T-cells, and
      accumulation of T cells which does not respond to activators. In general, T cell
      dependent, cell-mediated responses decline with age. The elderly are at great
      risk for low consumption of proteins and of several micronutrients, such as zinc
      or vitamins C, E and B6 which play a critical role in the maintenance of normal
      immune function. As a consequence, the incidence of inflammatory and infectious
      disease, auto-immune disorders, cutaneous pathological changes, and skin cancers
      increases. Morbidity and mortality rates due to tetanus, pulmonary infections and
      influenza remain high in elderly populations. Depressing the rate of
      immunosenescence and restoring a normal immunocompetence in the elderly may
      involve improved nutrition through proteins, micronutrients and vitamins, and
      should deal with the economic and psychosocial problems of the elderly.
      Vaccinations against tetanus, pneumococcus and influenza proved to be efficacious
      and well-tolerated. Consequently, they should be applied systematically to non
      protected elderly individuals.

PMID- 1444121
TI  - [Towards a status of pharmacists responsible to humanitarian associations?].
AB  - The creation and aims of ANPCM (Association Nationale Pharmaceutique pour la
      Collecte des Medicaments = National Chemists for Drug Collection) are recalled.
      In 1988, only a simple letter of the French Ministry of Health gave
      recommendations concerning left unemployed drugs. A clear codification of the
      status of the Responsible Chemist of Humanitarian Associations Collecting Drugs
      should therefore be useful.

PMID- 1444122
TI  - [Comparative study of absorbent dressings].
AB  - The quality of six absorbent dressings of fluffy padding has been compared. The
      study show one variability of the quality of products which can influence on
      scarred up the wounds. The part of hospital pharmacist in the choice of this
      articles is very important.

PMID- 1444123
TI  - [5-Fluoro (3H) pyrimidine-4-ones: synthesis, reactivity and pharmacological
      properties].
AB  - Fourteen fluoro pyrimidine-4-ones, four fluoro bispyrimidine-4-ones and two
      fluoro pyrimidine-4-ones with fused ring have been prepared. The reactivity of
      the carbonyl group of two pyrimidine-4-ones phosphorus oxychloride was studied.
      The 4-chloro pyrimidines reacted with ammonia or morpholine giving 4-substituted
      pyrimidines. Eight compounds are evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and anti
      convulsivant properties: they were found to be weakly active against oedema and
      three of them protected rats form tonic convulsions.

PMID- 1444124
TI  - Facial video image processing: standard facial image capturing, software
      modification, development of a surgical plan, and comparison of presurgical and
      postsurgical results.
AB  - Video imaging is a maturing technology that will challenge the 35-mm photograph
      in its usefulness to the plastic surgeon. Computer modification of a patient
      image communicates to the patient a reconstructive plan. A comparison of the
      presurgical and postsurgical images keenly sensitizes the surgeon to the results
      of surgical technique. The equipment required for video imaging also provides a
      powerful tool for creation of presentation graphic prints (for publication), 35
      mm slides, and, with additional software, educational video tapes. I describe
      here a video method for standard alignment of patients. The preoperative and
      modified patient image (surgical plan) is compared with the postoperative image
      to determine the degree of success in achieving the reconstructive goals.
      Comparison of standardized presurgical and postsurgical images offers the surgeon
      greater objectivity in his analysis of the surgical technique than is possible by
      comparison of clinical photographs. The value of video imaging to the
      reconstructive surgeon magnifies the success (or disappointment) of surgical
      technique.

PMID- 1444125
TI  - Soft-tissue reconstruction of the face: a comparison of dermal-fat grafting and
      vascularized tissue transfer.
AB  - Eight patients treated with dermal-fat grafts and 8 patients treated with
      vascularized tissue transfer were retrospectively reviewed to determine the
      efficacy of the two methods in the treatment of the soft-tissue defects in
      Romberg's disease, clefting syndromes including hemifacial microsomia, and
      traumatic defects. Follow-up averaged 4 years and ranged from 1 to 9 years for
      the vascularized transfers and 1.5 to 11 years for the dermal-fat grafts. Both
      techniques were able to provide enduring augmentation. The vascularized transfers
      were able to provide a greater amount of augmentation. We conclude that dermal
      fat grafting is a satisfactory technique for mild to moderate defects, but that
      vascularized transfers are required for moderate to severe defects.

PMID- 1444126
TI  - Bipedicled fasciocutaneous flaps in the lower extremity.
AB  - It is well known that a bipedicled skin flap permits survival of longer flaps due
      to the secondary recruitment of vascularity. Inclusion of the deep fascia with
      such a flap, obeying the principles of the single-pedicled fasciocutaneous flap,
      provides even greater security for the immediate transposition of yet larger or
      riskier flaps without the need for delay maneuvers. This variation is especially
      valuable for the management of difficult wounds encountered in the lower
      extremity when no other local options may be available. Thirteen local bipedicled
      fasciocutaneous flaps including both vertical and horizontal orientations,
      without isolation of any discrete fascial perforators, have been successfully
      used for soft tissue coverage in the distal leg and ankle with only three (23%)
      minor complications as untoward sequelae. Another major advantage of this
      bipedicled version of the fasciocutaneous flap was that the inclusion of a distal
      pedicle simultaneously may be designed to prevent bone or tendon exposure at the
      donor site that otherwise frequently is a concern with a unipedicled flap.

PMID- 1444127
TI  - The chondromucosal sleeve for the secondary correction of the unilateral cleft
      lip nasal deformity.
AB  - We present a new procedure for the secondary correction of the cleft lower
      lateral cartilage in the unilateral cleft lip nose deformity. A chondromucosal
      sleeve based entirely on mucosa is combined with an open rhinoplasty to
      facilitate a medial to lateral rotation of the cleft lower lateral cartilage. In
      52 patients, we have found that this technique improved the results of the
      deformity and is more successful than lateral to medial rotation procedures
      alone. The chondromucosal sleeve adds to the medial to lateral rotation
      techniques the ability to obtain a controllable and reproducible result.

PMID- 1444128
TI  - Distally based turnover flap and preputium plasty for distal hypospadias repair:
      a preliminary report.
AB  - A surgical procedure for hypospadias correction using a proximally based turnover
      flap, glanuloplasty, and preputium plasty is described. The flap is vertically
      disposed and distally based on the external urethral meatus, and the shape is
      spatulated. It is dissected from proximal to distal, turned over, and sutured to
      the glans to reconstruct the missing portion of urethra. A glanuloplasty is
      performed and the preputium is restored by careful reconstruction of its inner
      and outer surface. The technique is useful in distal penile and glanular
      hypospadias without chordee or meatal stenosis. Very good functional and
      aesthetic results, and no complications, were obtained with this technique.
      Preliminary results and a 3-year follow-up are presented and discussed in this
      report.

PMID- 1444129
TI  - A venous thrombosis technique for experimental thrombolytic therapy.
AB  - A technique for the experimental creation of a venous thrombus in the rat is
      described. This technique involves a circumferential stretching of the intima,
      which maximizes intraluminal collagen exposure without complete separation of the
      vessel wall. This thrombotic method was 94.4% effective at complete vessel
      occlusion after 24 hours in 40 treated veins. This model is of particular
      interest in the in vivo evaluation of thrombolytic agents in the laboratory
      setting and as an adjunct to thrombotic complications in microsurgery.

PMID- 1444130
TI  - Cutaneous vascular anatomy of the thoracic region of the dorsum and its role in
      flap design in the rat.
AB  - The cutaneous vascular anatomy of the proximal one-half of the dorsum (the
      thoracic region) and its role in flap design was studied in the rat. The
      investigation included anatomical dissection, ink injection into the axial
      artery, and flap harvesting in live animals. Anatomical dissection and india ink
      injection of the thoracic region revealed that the skin derives its principal
      blood supply from the lateral thoracic artery. The cutaneous vascular territory
      of the lateral thoracic artery was defined as follows: the medial border, along
      the midline of the back from the level of the inferior angle of the scapula to
      the lower border of the last rib; the lateral border, anterior axillary line
      corresponding with the length of the medial border; the cephalic border, a line
      joining the medial and lateral border at the level of the inferior angle of the
      scapula; and the caudal border, a line corresponding to the lower border of the
      last rib. Bilateral vascular pedicle island cutaneous flaps were harvested in
      living rats based on the vascular territory demarcated by India ink injection.
      All flaps survived; hence, this flap is reliable, with consistent vascularity,
      and is easy to harvest, and therefore, can be used as a vascular pedicle
      experimental model to study flap hemodynamics.

PMID- 1444131
TI  - Squamous cell carcinoma following breast augmentation.
AB  - Controversy over the safety of breast implants has increased significantly over
      the past several years. Several companies have discontinued their manufacture of
      silicone implants. Although there have been reports of breast cancer developing
      in a patient who previously had undergone breast augmentation, a review of the
      literature has failed to reveal a patient with cancer arising from the breast
      implant capsule. We present a woman with squamous cell carcinoma apparently
      arising from an implant capsule 15 years after breast augmentation.

PMID- 1444132
TI  - Tissue expansion of sensate skin for pressure sores.
AB  - The surgical treatment of pressure sores has improved with the development of
      many techniques to provide coverage of these defects. Few deliver sensate
      coverage. This report describes tissue expansion of back skin to provide
      definitive sensate coverage of a pressure sore, thereby preventing its
      recurrence. Follow-up of 5.5 years is presented with a review of the literature.

PMID- 1444133
TI  - Restoration of the mandible by full-thickness calvarial bone flap.
AB  - Two patients with reconstruction of a massive mandibular defect with vascularized
      full-thickness calvarial bone flaps are reported. In Patient 1, the mandibular
      body developed osteomyelitis and once was replaced with a metallic prosthesis.
      The prosthesis later perforated the skin and was removed. Full-thickness
      calvarial bone flaps were elevated bilaterally to reconstruct the mandibular
      body. In Patient 2, the mandible was totally destroyed by invasion of squamous
      cell carcinoma. The lower one-half of the face was resected and replaced with a
      large island scalp flap with full-thickness calvarial bone.

PMID- 1444134
TI  - Misdiagnoses: a timely reminder.
AB  - This case report of an occult infection masquerading as palindromic arthritis was
      misdiagnosed for almost 2 years. The episodic bouts of erysipelas were not
      obvious, and it was even suggested that the silicone implanted 7 years previously
      could possibly be inciting an autoimmune disease. Approximately 2 years after the
      onset of the recurrent episodes of fever, myalgias, and arthralgias, coagulase
      negative staphylococci were found residing in the valve stems of bilumen breast
      implants, which were removed. The symptom complex disappeared and has not
      recurred.

PMID- 1444135
TI  - Benign mesodermal tumors producing nasal deformity.
AB  - Tumors of neurogenic (ectodermal) origin are well-described causes of nasal
      deformity. We present a patient with a benign mesodermal tumor (unclassified
      spindle cell) producing nasal deformity. A retrospective review of the two senior
      authors' records provided an additional three patients with nonvascular benign
      mesodermal nasal masses (fibroma and leiomyoma). Benign mesodermal masses can
      occur in the midline of the nose and need to be differentiated from dermoids and
      gliomas. Misdiagnosis is the rule. Excisional biopsy is required for definitive
      diagnosis. In addition, excisional biopsy is curative and can help to minimize
      the subsequent nasal deformity if performed early in the disease process.
      Immunohistochemical and electron microscopy may be required for comprehensive
      diagnosis and treatment.

PMID- 1444136
TI  - Reconstruction of facial contour deformity with the buccal fat pad flap.
AB  - The primary goal in unilateral facial reconstruction is to mirror, with three
      dimensional or volume symmetry considerations, the contralateral normal
      structures in form and function. This case study indicates that, along with other
      proved options, the buccal fat pad can successfully be used to add small to
      moderate volume in facial reconstructions.

PMID- 1444137
TI  - Abdominoplasty following colostomy.
AB  - An abdominoplasty was performed on a 57-year-old woman, 5 years after she had
      undergone a permanent colostomy for ulcerative colitis. The abdominoplasty was
      performed in an attempt to reduce the increased abdominal girth thought to be
      responsible for excess leakage of effluent from the colostomy site with changes
      in posture and increased abdominal pressure. A simple abdominoplasty flap was
      designed to decrease the excess abdominal tissue without impinging on the
      colostomy site. The result was dramatic in accomplishing the set-out goals. An
      added bonus was a reversal of preoperative urinary incontinence. This outcome is
      thought to be a result of more efficient voiding after abdominal muscle plication
      and stabilization.

PMID- 1444138
TI  - Prediction of nipple viability following reduction mammoplasty using laser
      Doppler flowmetry.
AB  - The assessment of viability of a pedicled nipple-areola complex after reduction
      mammoplasty frequently may be frustrating due to equivocal clinical signs of
      adequate blood flow. Although conversion to a composite graft is always a safe
      option, the aesthetic result may be inferior. An objective monitor might be
      beneficial to maximize the surgical outcome while minimizing the risk of nipple
      necrosis. Laser Doppler flowmetry provides a safe, simple, and noninvasive
      objective monitor that allows continuous intra-operative or postoperative
      evaluation of nipple perfusion. An evaluation of 31 nipples in 16 patients
      undergoing breast reduction based solely on the surgeon's judgment would have
      resulted in 9 false positive or negative results as compared with 3 using the
      laser Doppler. Four nipples that may otherwise have been converted to free grafts
      were instead preserved. However, conclusions from this data limit the laser
      Doppler as a valuable supplement, but not a replacement, for experienced clinical
      acumen.

PMID- 1444139
TI  - The use of bifid nasolabial flaps in the reconstruction of the nose and
      columella.
AB  - The repair of defects involving the tip of the nose and columella still pose a
      problem in reconstructive surgery. The use of bifid nasolabial flaps versus other
      reconstructive methods is discussed in this article.

PMID- 1444140
TI  - Lower facial recontouring in craniofacial asymmetry.
AB  - The secondary correction of facial asymmetry due to early posterior cranial
      deformation is presented. The combination of mandibular skeletal reduction of the
      gonial angle and inferior border, masseter muscle thinning, and auricular setback
      can be an effective camouflage technique when the facial skeleton and occlusion
      do not require repositioning.

PMID- 1444141
TI  - Nasal tampon packing in rhinoplasty: a simple and safe method of hemostasis.
AB  - To absorb bleeding and pack the nasal cavities after rhinoplasty, a sterile
      commercial vaginal tampon was used. It has the following advantages: high
      absorbency, round configuration, and safety removal cord included to preclude
      gliding into the nasopharynx.

PMID- 1444142
TI  - Vector-running subcuticular sutures in high-tension and high-mobility areas.
AB  - Routine cuticular sutures pierce the epidermis, and if left in place long enough,
      will noticeably scarify, a process called "tracking." Alternatively, the running
      subcuticular suture has the advantage of minimizing suture tracking, especially
      following a prolonged usage, because it does not pierce the epidermis along most
      of its course. A "hybrid" modification of these two sutures, described herein,
      allows for prolonged tight closure under high tension in high-movement areas,
      avoidance of tracking, and rapidity of placement. This innovation is called the
      vector-running subcuticular suture.

PMID- 1444143
TI  - Of elephants and periprosthetic cancers.

PMID- 1444144
TI  - Re: Structure and construction: the system of skin flaps.

PMID- 1444145
TI  - Re: The polyurethane foam covering the Meme Breast Prosthesis: a biomedical
      breakthrough or a biomaterial tar baby?

PMID- 1444146
TI  - [HIV infection. Natural history, classification, treatment and occupational
      risk].

PMID- 1444147
TI  - [Ambulatory surgery. Apropos of an experience in hand surgery].

PMID- 1444148
TI  - [Peroperative cholangiography in cholelithiasis. Results of a multivariate
      analysis].
AB  - This study was done to select patients with a low risk of common bile duct (CBD)
      stones in whom operative cholangiography could be avoided. Operative
      cholangiography was performed upon 511 patients. Two different groups of patients
      were identified: patients with CBD stones visualized by CBD exploration (n = 90)
      and patients with no CBD stones at the time of operative cholangiography (n =
      42). Multivariate analysis (stepwise logistic regression) showed that five
      variables were correlated with the presence of CBD stones: size of CBD equal to
      or greater than 12 millimeters, gallstones equal to or less than 10 millimeters,
      advanced age, chronic or acute cholecystitis and pas history of biliary colic.
      Using a scoring system, a group of patients with a low risk (less than 2%) of CBD
      stones could be easily determined. In this group of patients, operative
      cholangiography may be avoided.

PMID- 1444149
TI  - [Hartmann's procedure. A retrospective study of 86 cases].
AB  - The purpose of this retrospective study is to define current indications and
      results of Hartmann's procedure (H). From 1978 to 1989, 86 H were performed, 52
      (60%) as emergency surgery. Indications were: colo-rectal cancer (37): 15
      complicated and 22 as an elective procedure, diverticular disease acute or
      complicated (24), ischemic colitis (10), volvulus of the pelvic colon (5),
      inflammatory bowel disease (4), colonic perforation (3), traumatic hematoma of
      the sigmoid mesocolon (1). Fourteen patients died after operation (mean age: 79).
      There was no death after elective H for cancer. Post-operative complications were
      numerous: pulmonary (25%), abdominal would sepsis or disruption (21%), rectal
      strump leakage (14%), the later being harmless due to the associated Mickulicz
      drainage. Seven patients were reoperated on for necrosis of the colonic stoma.
      Mean initial hospital stay was 31 days. Restoration of the gastrointestinal
      continuity was done in 27 cases (37% of the surviving patients, 76% of the
      diverticular diseases). The authors conclude that for complicated diverticular
      disease H procedure improves survival without preferable continuity. For cancer,
      H procedure is permanently compromising gastrointestinal in the elderly to
      hazardous low anastomosis, and to palliative abdomino-perineal resection.

PMID- 1444150
TI  - [Supramalleolar derotation osteotomy for torsion of the leg in children and
      adolescents. Techniques and results: apropos of 22 patients (32 legs)].
AB  - We have performed 32 supramalleolar osteotomies described by Mc Nicol to correct
      excessive internal or external tibial torsion in 22 patients (aged from 4 to 8
      years, with different indications, with a follow-up of 16 months to 7 years). The
      consolidation of the osteotomy was obtained in 6 weeks. Eighteen patients (27
      osteotomy) have a good result, 2 results are fair and 2 patients have a poor
      result. The indications for correction of excessive internal or external tibial
      torsion are very uncommon, and reserved to cases with functional disorbility of
      fitting appliances, or unaesthetic or uncomfortable gait.

PMID- 1444151
TI  - [Echo-endoscopy of the digestive system].
AB  - Endoscopic ultrasonography of the gastrointestinal tract allows a precise
      ultrasound study of the accessible gastrointestinal walls (oesophagus, stomach,
      duodenum, rectum) and, through these walls, of the adjacent organs (lymph nodes,
      posterior mediastinum, pancreas, extrahepatic biliary ducts and perirectal
      region). This method is better than computerized tomography to evaluate the local
      and regional extension of oesophageal and cardial carcinomas producing little or
      no stenosis and of gastric and rectum carcinomas and lymphomas. It is the
      examination of choice to detect a perianastomotic recurrence of these cancers and
      to evaluate submucosal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. This method, with no
      morbidity, is better than computerized tomography or ultrasonography in the
      aetiological diagnosis of obstacles in the biliary tract and in the diagnosis and
      pretherapeutic assessment of pancreatic cancer or endocrine tumors.

PMID- 1444152
TI  - [Intraperitoneal resorbable mesh in the prevention of postoperative wound
      dehiscence. A comparative study].
AB  - The purpose of this study was to compare efficiency of polyamide mesh externally
      applied to the skin and intraperitoneal resorbable mesh of polyglactine 910, for
      the prevention of wound dehiscence. Two consecutive and homogenous groups of 100
      patients, operated by the same surgical team and presenting one or more risk
      factors of evisceration, were retrospectively compared. Use of intraperitoneal
      polyglactine mesh, significantly reduced rate of wound dehiscence (4% vs 13%),
      lowered frequency of reoperation in eviscerated patients (25% vs 61%), but did
      not improve prognosis of this complication (50% mortality). Potential effect of
      resorbable mesh on late fascial disruption remains controversial.

PMID- 1444153
TI  - [Darier-Ferrand dermatofibroma. An unusual tumor of the soft tissues].
AB  - Darier and Ferrand dermatofibroma is a rare skin tumour arising in the dermal
      connective tissue. It has a slow course over several years and presents very
      unusual histological features. It is characterised by a marked potential for
      local recurrence, frequently multiple due to insufficient primary resection. It
      has a very low metastatic potential. Its diagnosis is difficult but essential in
      order to perform an appropriate surgical procedure which ensures its excellent
      prognosis.

PMID- 1444154
TI  - [Peristomal pyoderma gangrenosum after colectomy for Crohn disease. Successful
      medical treatment].
AB  - A case of Pyoderma gangrenosum with two different abdominal sites in a female
      patient suffering from colonic Crohn's disease is presented. Local trauma on the
      midline scar of an incisional hernia and around the stoma were the possible
      triggering factors. Despite the major abdominal wall defect and an infected
      parietal collection, steroid therapy was very effective without the need for
      surgery.

PMID- 1444155
TI  - [Endometriosis and diaphragmatic defect in catamenial pneumothorax].
AB  - Two cases of catamenial pneumothorax are reported, a rare condition characterized
      by its sudden occurrence in a female patient between the ages of 30 and 40 years,
      always at the onset of the menstrual cycle. Its exact origin is unknown, but the
      frequent co-existence of endometriosis and a defect in the diaphragm suggests
      that endometriosis may be important in the etiology both of the pneumothorax and
      the diaphragmatic lesion. Pelvic endometriosis was present in both our patients,
      one of whom also had diaphragmatic endometriosis. The treatment of the
      pneumothorax in both our cases consisted of pleural decortication with excellent
      results so far.

PMID- 1444156
TI  - [Evaluation of the arrhythmogenic potential 3 months after myocardial
      infarction].
AB  - An evaluation of the ventricular arrhythmia potential was conducted 3 months
      after a myocardial infarction (anterior n = 32, inferior n = 58) in 90 patients
      with a group mean age of 58 +/- 9.3 years, using 24-hour ambulatory ECG
      monitoring, an exercise test, recording of late ventricular potentials and
      programmed right ventricular stimulation. Eighteen patients (20%) had a
      ventricular extrasystole > or = Lown grade III on the Holter, which was more
      frequent in patients with ventricular dyskinesia (41% vs 15%; p < 0.05); 10
      patients (11.1%) had ventricular extrasystoles > or = Lown grade III during the
      exercise test; 19 patients had late ventricular potentials. Programmed
      ventricular stimulation induced monomorphic ventricular tachycardia in 10
      patients (11.1%) (sustained, n = 5, unsustained n = 5) and the prevalence of late
      ventricular potentials was higher in this group (60% vs 16.2%; p < 0.01). In the
      medium term (32 months), 2 patients had died: one suddenly and the other of a
      recurrence of myocardial infarction. Five patients had an episode of spontaneous
      ventricular tachycardia. The risk of sudden death or ventricular tachycardia was
      higher in patients with late ventricular potentials (positive predictive value =
      21%) and in patients with electro-induced ventricular tachycardia (positive
      predictive value = 66%). In the absence of late ventricular potentials, the risk
      of a serious arrhythmic event is slight (2.8%). After myocardial infarction, the
      presence of late ventricular potentials can be used to isolate a group of
      patients with a high risk of serious ventricular arrhythmia; this risk is higher
      if programmed ventricular stimulation triggers monomorphic ventricular
      tachycardia.

PMID- 1444157
TI  - [Nocturnal-diurnal changes of norepinephrine blood levels in patients with
      chronic cardiac insufficiency. Practical values].
AB  - The purpose of this study was to investigate circadian changes in noradrenaline
      (norepinephrine) levels in patients presenting with congestive heart failure.
      Eighteen patients were investigated with a group mean age of 66 years, 12 in NYHA
      class III and 6 in class IV. The cause of the heart failure was ischemia in 7
      cases, valvular in 1 case and idiopathic in the other 10 cases. The mean follow
      up time of the disease was 3.9 years. Six healthy volunteers were investigated
      following the same protocol. Blood samples were taken while the patient was lying
      down over a period of 24 hours, after installing a peripheral venous catheter.
      The assay was carried out by means of high performance liquid chromatography with
      electrochemical detection. In the controls, the mean noradrenaline level
      (norepinephrine) was 220 +/- 62 pg/ml, with daytime peaks. The heart failure
      patients showed a high mean level (230 +/- 404 pg/ml), with less daytime
      variability than the controls (92% vs 127%; p < 0.05). The 8 a.m. value was
      reproducible, and there was close correlation between this value and the mean
      value for the 24 hours (p < 0.001). Thus, the morning sample provides a good
      estimation of the levels over the 24 hours.

PMID- 1444158
TI  - [Predictive factors of regularization and maintenance of sinus rhythm in chronic
      atrial fibrillation].
AB  - The aim in treating chronic atrial fibrillation, is not limited to simply
      achieving immediate regularization. What matters, is sustaining the sinus rhythm.
      The various methods of regularization, using either medical procedures or
      cardioversion, involve constraints and risks. Investigation of the relapse
      predicting factor is of great value in evaluating the benefit/risk ratio. For
      regularization, the absence ultrasound signs of heart disease, an undilated left
      atrium, recent atrial fibrillation and all forms of heart disease which are
      curable, albeit surgically, are indicative of success. With regard to
      prophylaxis, relapses occur more frequently in cases involving mitral valve
      disease, long-standing atrial fibrillation or a dilated left atrium.

PMID- 1444159
TI  - [Extracorporeal circulation in acute ischemia of the lower limb with late
      detection].
AB  - The authors report a case of acute limb ischemia in a 19 years old patient seen
      at 9 hours of the injury. They describe a technique of "washing-reperfusion" by a
      cardio-pulmonary limb bypass (CPLB). Blood pH and kaliema measurements during
      CPLB were noted. The good clinical result except on the initial nerves deficit,
      should lead to think that this technique could take a place in the treatment of
      acute limb ischemia seen lately.

PMID- 1444160
TI  - [Apropos of a rare cause of torsades de pointe: hypokalemia caused by dietary
      deficiency].
AB  - The authors report a case of wave burst arrhythmia in a young immigrant woman of
      Laotian origin aged 32. The main cause of the arrhythmia was related to potassium
      deficiency of dietary origin. Some contributory factors may have had a promoting
      effect: theophylline treatment, beta-mimetics and adrenaline (epinephrine). This
      case can therefore be related to the cases of wave burst arrhythmia and
      hypokalemia previously reported in anorexic subjects. This case suggests that
      special attention should be paid to the diet of some ethnic groups who have been
      displaced by economic causes. Their very unusual dietary habits may induce or
      aggravate hypokalemia, which may also be promoted in some cases by drugs. Some
      treatments should therefore be introduced with caution in this context due to the
      potential risk of inducing severe arrhythmia.

PMID- 1444161
TI  - [Efficacy of the combination of nicardipine-enalapril and atenolol in severe
      hypertension secondary to chronic renal disease].
AB  - The antihypertensive efficacy of combination therapy with N-E-A was evaluated
      during 6 months in 15 patients with hypertension associated with mild to moderate
      kidney failure. After 6 months a significant reduction of SBP and DBP (p <
      0.001), with improvement of creatinine clearance and with no adverse effects on
      ECG, heart rate and routine laboratory tests test, was observed in 3 patients
      treated with N 20 mg x 2/d + E 10 mg/d + A 50 mg/d and in 8 patients treated with
      N 20 mg x 3 + E 10 mg x 2, + A 50 mg x 2. Four patients did not respond to this
      therapy.

PMID- 1444162
TI  - [The beginnings of the International Cardiology Society].

PMID- 1444163
TI  - The diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, including gestational diabetes.

PMID- 1444164
TI  - Reference values of serum and urine creatinine, and of creatinine clearance by a
      new enzymatic method.
AB  - A new, totally enzymatic procedure for the determination of creatinine in serum
      and urine, using creatinine amidohydrolase, creatine amidinohydrolase, sarcosine
      oxidase and formaldehyde dehydrogenase is described. The assay was adapted to a
      discontinuous analyser with each analysis requiring only 20 microL of serum or 3
      microL of urine. Analytical recovery of creatinine in serum and urine averaged
      100.6%. Within-run and between-run precision studies gave coefficients of
      variation of 1.1% and 1.8%, respectively, for a serum with mean values of 83
      mumol/L (9.4 mg/L) creatinine. Creatinine concentrations in serum and urine were
      measured by this procedure, in Japanese children and adults. The reference
      intervals for serum creatinine concentrations in adults were 55-96 mumol/L (6.2
      10.9 mg/L) in men and 40-66 mumol/L (4.5-7.5 mg/L) in women, and for urine, 9.46
      19.01 mmol/day (1070-2150 mg/day) in men and 6.75-10.61 mmol/day (764-1200
      mg/day) in women. The reference intervals of creatinine clearance were 88.0-176.4
      mL/min in men and 75.7-173.0 mL/min in women.

PMID- 1444165
TI  - The steatocrit: an improved procedure.
AB  - The steatocrit is a simple and easily repeated assay for measuring the fat
      content of infants' stools. However, we and others have experienced technical
      difficulties in its use. Three modifications were therefore made to the original
      procedure: incorporation of a lipid-soluble dye, improved homogenization and a
      heating step. The modified method was used to measure the stool fat content of
      young children with and without clinical steatorrhoea. Validation of the modified
      steatocrit is presented, together with examples of its application to both
      clinical research and clinical practice.

PMID- 1444166
TI  - Comparison of post-mortem urinary and vitreous humour organic acids.
AB  - We have analysed organic acid profiles in 74 samples of post-mortem vitreous
      humour from the sudden infant death syndrome and compared the profiles to those
      obtained from the corresponding urine or bladder wall swab. There was a high
      degree of correlation indicating that vitreous humour analysis in high-risk
      infants is an appropriate analytical strategy when urine is not available. In our
      patient sample two infants had evidence of abnormal methylmalonic acid
      metabolism, one had glyceric aciduria (and elevated levels of vitreous humour
      glyceric acid), one had evidence of pre-existing liver damage as judged by the
      presence of 4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid, one had a non-ketotic dicarboxylic
      aciduria indicating inhibited fatty acid oxidation and two patients had
      significant long-chain 3-hydroxydicarboxylic acids and evidence of paracetamol
      ingestion.

PMID- 1444167
TI  - Investigation of the use of impermeable fluid barriers between pelleted and
      supernatant enzyme activity in a pseudohomogeneous enzyme immunoassay.
AB  - We have investigated the feasibility of performing an automated pseudohomogeneous
      enzyme immunoassay in which a separation step is not apparent to the user. This
      was achieved using a layer of silicone fluid, which is immiscible with aqueous
      solutions, as a physical barrier between the pelleted and supernatant enzyme.
      Initially we produced a manual assay based on the Serozyme T4 assay to
      demonstrate the feasibility of the approach. This assay showed good precision,
      parallelism and correlated with 'in house' results on patients' samples.
      Production of a fully automated assay was made difficult by the design of
      available equipment but none the less we demonstrated the feasibility of the
      automated approach by producing a standard curve for T4.

PMID- 1444168
TI  - New automated nonisotopic immunoassays for free thyroxin: effect of albumin and
      thyroxin-binding globulin concentrations.
AB  - Recently, nonisotopic (often automated) immunoassays for measuring serum free
      thyroxin (FT4) have become available. Though more costly than radioimmunoassays,
      they are considerably more convenient. We studied the influence of endogenous
      albumin and thyroxin-binding globulin concentration on five automated,
      nonisotopic methods of measuring FT4 [Enzymun on ES300 (one-step), Stratus I and
      II (essentially two-step), Delfia (two-step), and IMx (two-step)] in a mixed
      patient population. We observed that they (a) are influenced very little by
      endogenous serum binding proteins and (b) seem to have sufficient within-run
      precision to justify performing single measurements on patients' specimens.

PMID- 1444169
TI  - Method comparison--a different approach.
AB  - The commonly accepted method of analysing data from method comparison studies is
      regression analysis, a method which has limitations. This study illustrates the
      use of a graphical presentation of data, the difference plot, which can be used
      as an alternative to least squares regression analysis. The data from comparison
      studies performed on five methods were analysed both by Deming's regression
      analysis, with calculation of the correlation coefficient, and by the difference
      plot. The results show that in most cases much more relevant information was
      obtained from the difference plot.

PMID- 1444170
TI  - Failure to induce reactive hypoglycaemia by drinking whisky and a mixer in
      Glaswegian alcoholic patients.

PMID- 1444171
TI  - Evaluation of a new rapid immunometric method for the measurement of the MB
      isoenzyme of creatine kinase in serum.

PMID- 1444172
TI  - Performance of the Beckman Diatrac gel electrophoresis method for the measurement
      of HbA1c.

PMID- 1444173
TI  - TmP/GFR and ionized calcium in the management of severe hypophosphataemia.

PMID- 1444174
TI  - Positive interference.

PMID- 1444175
TI  - Screening for hyperlipidaemia in diabetics.

PMID- 1444176
TI  - [Insulin resistance and polycystic ovary syndrome].
AB  - The causes and consequences of the insulin resistance that accompanies the
      polycystic ovary Syndrome (PCOS) are still controversial. The hyperandrogenism
      does not appear any more as a causal factor but on the contrary is likely to be a
      consequence, via the ovarian effects of hyperinsulinism. These are still not
      clearly understood in their molecular aspects, but their reality is undoubtful in
      view of some clinical studies which showed an improvement following by the
      reduction of hyperinsulinism. Therefore, the aetiopathogenic role of the insulin
      resistance in PCOS becomes more and more obvious but it cannot be split from the
      likely implication of the intra-ovarian growth factors, and more especially the
      IGF 1 which could act synergistically with it. Moreover, the presence of LH seems
      to be still a pre-requisite to the ovarian action of insulin. The therapeutical
      incidences of these hypothesis are obvious and should improve in the next future
      the medical management of PCOS.

PMID- 1444177
TI  - The influence of oxytocin, vasopressin and their analogues on progesterone and
      testosterone production by porcine granulosa cells in vitro.
AB  - Effects of nonapeptide hormones and some of their chemical analogues on
      progesterone and testosterone production by culture of porcine granulosa cells
      have been investigated. Oxytocin (0.01-10 IU/ml), arginine-8-vasopressin (0.01-10
      micrograms/ml), arginine-8-vasotocin (0.01-10 micrograms/ml) and, in a lesser
      degree, 2-0-methyl-tyrosine (deamino-1-karba)-oxytocin (0.01-10 micrograms/ml,
      but no 1-deamino-8-vasopressin (0.01-10 micrograms/ml) stimulated a progesterone
      surge. Testosterone production was significantly stimulated by oxytocin and
      inhibited by vasopressin or vasotocin additions. 2-0-methyl-tyrosine (deamino-1
      karba)-oxytocin or 1-deamino-8-vasopressin had little or no effect on
      testosterone secretion. The present results suggest the existence of a direct
      influence of nonapeptide hormones on porcine ovarian progestagen and androgen
      production.

PMID- 1444178
TI  - [Cholecystokinin, neurotensin and corticotropin-releasing factor, three important
      anorexic peptides].
AB  - This paper updates the informations on the three most important anorexigenic
      peptides: cholecystokinin, neurotensin and corticotropin-releasing factor. Their
      peripheral and/or central effects on food and water intakes as well as on dietary
      preferences are detailed. Their mechanisms of action and regulation are examined.
      This includes the interactions with classical neurotransmitters (norepinephrine,
      dopamine, etc...) as well as the description of the brain nuclei and neuronal
      networks involved. Finally, their variations in disturbed feeding behavior
      (hyperphagia, anorexia) in man or in animal models are reviewed.

PMID- 1444179
TI  - [Evaluation of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging in tridimensional acquisition
      in the investigation of prolactin microadenoma].
AB  - Twenty one patients with suspected prolactin-secreting microadenoma were
      evaluated with MRI. MRI is the most sensitive means for detecting focal
      microadenomas. In these patients who were clinically and endocrinologically
      considered to harbor a microadenoma, MR detected a focal pituitary signal
      abnormality in 100% when the patients had not previously taken bromocriptine
      therapy. On the other hand MR demonstrated a focal abnormality in only 30% of
      cases when the patients had been on dopamine agonist therapy: the MRI findings in
      the group of bromocriptine treated patients are not affected by neither the
      duration and dosage of the therapy or the delay between MR examination and the
      bromocriptine therapy discontinuation. Among the 9 cases in which MRI did not
      demonstrate a focal abnormality, MRI was strictly normal in 3 cases only; MR
      showed a localized expansion of the subarachnoid space in two cases; the
      pituitary gland was large and round, and had a homogeneous signal in one case;
      the pituitary gland had a heterogeneous signal in 3 cases. In our study the
      microadenoma had a high signal intensity on the precontrast T1 weighted sequence
      in 5 cases. The focal abnormality was not seen on the precontrast MR images in 2
      cases. The microadenoma enhanced in 3 cases on the postcontrast three dimensional
      MR images. This MR technique allows thin section slices (1 mm) and therefore the
      detection of small focal abnormality of the pituitary gland (2.5 x 3 mm). Thus
      three points have to the emphasized: a) MRI always detected a microadenoma when
      the patients had never received a bromocriptine therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1444180
TI  - [Measurement of impedance of hepatic tissue transformed by pathological process.
      A preliminary communication].
AB  - Intrahepatic impedance was measured using a special electrode in 44 patients, 38
      of whom identified abnormalities of the hepatic parenchyma. Impedance values were
      compared with ultrasound findings and with the histological results of needle
      biopsy. Impedance was relatively unaffected in the presence of cirrhosis (n = 7)
      or chronic hepatitis (n = 5). It was markedly decreased in the presence of cysts
      (n = 4) and of hepatocarcinoma (n = 4). Values were variable in secondary
      carcinoma of the liver (n = 16). This preliminary study suggests that the
      measurement of intrahepatic impedance could contribute to the etiological
      diagnosis of hepatic tumour lesions.

PMID- 1444181
TI  - [Hepatic amebiasis in a metropolis. Apropos of 9 cases].
AB  - From 1981 to 1990 nine patients suffering from amebic liver abscess were under
      observation at the Tours hospital. Hepatic amebiasis is scarce in France. Most of
      the subjects have stayed in endemic areas. Most of the time patients are male
      adults suffering from fever and abdominal pains. In most cases the liver
      ultrasonography shows a single cut of the right lobe with variable and non
      specific aspects. Once the diagnosis has been given a metronidazole treatment
      must be prescribed. The diagnosis will be confirmed by serology reactions.
      Clinical supervision is essential. The clinical effectiveness of the treatment is
      spectacular. Comparatively it will take about six months until serology reactions
      and liver ultrasonography get back to normal. Management of hepatic amebiasis
      need exceptionally echo-guided percutaneous puncture or surgery.

PMID- 1444182
TI  - [Gastric metastasis of breast cancer occurring after a cancer-free interval of 30
      years].
AB  - The authors report the case of a 75-year-old female patient who presented with a
      deterioration in her general health and epigastralgia 30 years after mastectomy
      for cancer. The findings of an exhaustive assessment was normal apart from an
      inflammatory syndrome with hyperleukocytosis and subcardial ulceration, which
      gave negative endoscopic biopsies. The patient underwent surgery and the total
      gastrectomy ablation demonstrated that this was a metastasis of a mammary
      adenoma. Follow-up for two years did not reveal any recurrence. The mean time to
      the development of gastric metastases of breast cancers is 2 to 4 years. Life
      expectancy appears to be greater the longer this latency time. The usual blood
      borne spread explains why endoscopic biopsies may be falsely reassuring, since
      the first layers to be affected are the serous and submucosal layers. Localized
      forms may simulate ulcers; nodular forms are more appropriate for curative
      surgery than the more common infiltrating forms (which resemble linitis). These
      infiltrating forms are often combined with peritoneal damage and/or
      extradigestive metastases.

PMID- 1444183
TI  - [Hiccup caused by epigastric compression in a hemiplegic patient].
AB  - The authors report the case of a patient with permanent, refractory hiccup,
      resistant at all classical treatment methods. Hiccup was due to compression of
      the epigastric region by the left fist of the patient immobilised by a spastic
      hemiplegia. Passive mobilisation of the diseased upper limb resulted in the
      disappearance of hiccup.

PMID- 1444184
TI  - [Antibiotic-induced diarrhea. Recent data].

PMID- 1444186
TI  - [Sphincter preservation in the treatment of rectal cancer].

PMID- 1444185
TI  - Anal endosonography.
AB  - Endosonography of the anal canal is capable of imaging the internal and external
      sphincters in detail. Abnormalities of thickness may be seen in the internal
      sphincters and defects in both. The examination is indicated in the investigation
      of incontinence and anal pain, and may be of value in anal sepsis and malignancy.

PMID- 1444187
TI  - [Should subdivision of regressive ischemic colitis be envisaged?].
AB  - The term "regressive ischemic colitis" is generally accepted and refers to acute
      hemorrhagic colitis which may occur at any age and recovers spontaneously in most
      cases, sometimes leaving colonic stenosis due to scarring. Critical analysis of
      the literature reveals that there is no formal diagnostic criterion for this
      condition and no real proof that the mechanism is ischemic, particularly in young
      subjects who have no vascular disorder or hemodynamic triggering factor. The
      number of clinical, radiological, endoscopic and even histological similarities
      between regressive ischemic colitis and some forms of infectious colitis,
      particularly due to enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7 and hemorrhagic colitis due
      to penicillin derivatives and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs is also
      striking. These observations logically lead us to wonder whether the term
      "regressive ischemic colitis" does really correspond to a well-defined entity
      rather than to a group of acute colitis of miscellaneous etiology but with many
      common features.

PMID- 1444188
TI  - [Epidemiology and prevention of colorectal cancer].
AB  - Colorectal carcinoma is very common in western countries. It is in the front line
      of malignant pathology in France. The estimated number of new cases is almost
      26,000 per year. The role played by diet in the onset of colorectal carcinomas is
      well established. The majority of studies indicate the protective role played by
      green vegetables. The role of other factors remains controversial: protective
      role of fibres, calcium and vitamins and favorizing role of fats, proteins, red
      meat, alcohol and calorie intake. The role of bile salts in increasing the size
      of adenomas and their malignant change is accepted. A number of therapeutic
      trials have involved modifications in bile salt concentrations. These should
      enable the proposal of a primary prevention strategy. The early detection of
      carcinomas and the secondary prevention of colorectal carcinoma (by detection of
      the adenomas which precede a high proportion of carcinomas) are areas of great
      interest. Detection of occult blood in stools as a mass screening test is
      currently being evaluated. Methods used to obtain a high participation rate among
      the population vary from one country to another, but are now well-defined. It
      will be necessary to wait for 2 years before being able to determine the effect
      on mortality and an even longer period to evaluate the effect on the incidence of
      colorectal carcinoma.

PMID- 1444189
TI  - The role of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in induction of
      monocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells: synergistic interaction with 1 alpha,
      25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and interferon-gamma in inducing interleukin-1 beta.
AB  - 1 alpha, 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (D3) (100 nM) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)
      (100 U/ml) cooperatively inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells, and
      synergistically induced their monocytic differentiation. The growth-promoting
      effect of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (10 ng/ml)
      was inhibited appreciably by D3 and slightly by IFN-gamma. Despite the clear
      difference in their effects on growth of HL-60 cells, both IFN-gamma and GM-CSF
      in combination with D3 induced cell cycle changes, decreasing the number of cells
      in the S phase and increasing their percentage in the G1/0 phase. GM-CSF alone
      had no effect on differentiation, but enhanced differentiation induced by D3
      distinctly though to a limited extent, and also enhanced monocytic
      differentiation, including morphological changes of HL-60 cells in the presence
      of D3 and IFN-gamma. GM-CSF as well as D3 and IFN-gamma induced interleukin-1
      beta (IL-1 beta) production by the HL-60 cells, clearly indicating their
      importance in differentiation of these cells. IFN-gamma and GM-CSF had mutually
      potentiating effects and induced maximum IL-1 beta production in response to
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence of D3. Thus despite its growth-promoting
      effect, GM-CSF is a potential inducer of monocytic differentiation of human
      myeloid leukemia cells, because in cooperation with IFN-gamma it induced monocyte
      macrophage differentiation of HL-60 cells in the presence of D3.

PMID- 1444190
TI  - Stimulation by estrogen and progesterone of the in vivo growth of transformed
      murine Leydig cells only at the limited early phase of growth.
AB  - B-1 F is a cell line established from estrogen-responsive murine Leydig cell
      tumor and maintained in vitro. We investigated the effects of steroid hormones on
      the growth of tumors produced by the inoculation of B-1 F cells into mice. When
      tumor tissues were transplanted into castrated male mice, injections of estradiol
      17 beta (E2) or progesterone shortened the period before tumors became palpable,
      but did not affect the growth rates of tumors after tumors became palpable.
      Injections of E2 or progesterone from the time when tumors became palpable did
      not affect the growth of tumors, and the discontinuation of injections of E2 or
      progesterone during the middle growth phase showed no effect on the growth of
      tumors. E2 or progesterone also did not increase the mitotic indices of tumors
      after they became palpable. E2 and progesterone did not stimulate the
      proliferation of dispersed tumor cells in vitro. The present results suggested
      that steroid hormones might exert their actions only at the limited early phase
      of growth of transplanted steroid hormone-responsive tumors in vivo.

PMID- 1444191
TI  - Antineoplastic activities and cytotoxicity of 1-acyl and 1,2-diacyl-1,2,4
      triazolidine-3,5-diones in murine and human tissue culture cells.
AB  - 1-Acyl- and 1,2-diacyl-1,2,4-triazolidine-3,5-diones were found to be potent
      cytotoxic agents in murine and human cancer cell lines, e.g. L1210, P388, Tmolt3,
      colon adenocarcinoma, Hela cells and glioma. In vivo activity was demonstrated at
      8 mg/kg/day against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma growth. In L1210 cells, 1-acetyl-4
      phenyl-1,2,4-triazolidine-3,5-dione, 41, reduced DNA synthesis significantly with
      moderate reduction in RNA synthesis. Enzyme sites in L1210 cells which were
      markedly affected were m- and r-RNA polymerase, PRPP amidotransferase, IMP
      dehydrogenase, dihydrofolate reductase, thymidine, TMP and TDP kinases. Kinetic
      studies suggest the inhibition of rate limiting enzymes in the purine pathway by
      41 was responsible for its cytotoxicity. Acute toxicity studies in mice indicated
      41 was safe for therapeutic use at 20, 50, and 100 mg/ky/day.

PMID- 1444192
TI  - An experimental model for the study of thermochemotherapy in vivo.
AB  - Human melanomas serially passaged in nude mice as xenotransplants were used as
      models for the study of the effects of thermochemotherapy of human malignant
      tumours in vivo. Three such melanomas, one (BRO) fast-growing, one (SCH) slow
      growing, and one (BEL) of intermediate growth rate, were chosen. One group was
      left untreated as a control, one received chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide), one
      received hyperthermia, and one a combination of both treatments. In all three
      tumours, the best results were obtained associating chemotherapy with
      hyperthermia. The fastest growing tumor responded more than the slower, which
      responded better than the slowest. This model should prove useful in testing the
      effectiveness of anticancer agents used in association with hyperthermia.

PMID- 1444193
TI  - Correlation of drug response in human tumors histocultured in vitro with an image
      analysis MTT end point and in vivo xenografted in nude mice.
AB  - We have in this study used the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2- thiazoyl) -2,5-diphenyl 2-H
      tetrazolium bromide (MTT) end point in our histoculture drug-response assay. We
      have previously demonstrated that the formazan crystals formed by MTT reduction
      by mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase reflect polarized light and can be
      measured by pixel analysis in intact tissue. The results described here indicate
      a total specificity of 93.8% and a total accuracy of 74.6% of the MTT end point
      for drug response in histoculture correlating with nine different human xenograft
      tumors grown in nude mice with respect to the in vivo drug response data. This in
      vitro system allows prediction of positive and negative responses to drugs, with
      a rate of 70% and 71.8%, respectively. The system described here has potential
      for clinical use because of the possibility of simultaneous description of the
      MTT values and heterogeneous response to drugs within individual tumors.

PMID- 1444194
TI  - Chemosensitivity testing of clinical gastrointestinal cancers using histoculture
      and the MTT end-point.
AB  - Three-dimensional histoculture with the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl
      2H tetrazolium bromide (MTT) end-point was utilized for chemosensitivity testing
      of 100 clinical gastrointestinal cancers and the results were compared with those
      obtained with cell-suspension culture with the MTT end-point. Of the 100 surgical
      specimens, 91 were evaluable using histoculture assay and 66 were evaluable using
      the cell-suspension assay. When the assay results were compared with historical
      frequency of clinical response to chemotherapy, the results of the histoculture
      assay showed a closer correlation than those of the cell-suspension assay.
      Therefore, the histoculture assay seems to have a higher evaluability rate and a
      closer correlation with clinical chemosensitivity of gastrointestinal cancers
      than the cell-suspension assay.

PMID- 1444195
TI  - Improved immunohistochemical detection of p53 protein in paraffin--embedded
      tissues reveals elevated levels in most head and neck and lung carcinomas:
      correlation with clinicopathological parameters.
AB  - We have analyzed the expression of the p53 tumor suppressor gene in paraffin
      embedded sections of normal and malignant head and neck and lung tumors by
      immunohistochemistry using the PAb 1801 monoclonal antibody (MAb). The PAb 1801
      does not consistently detect its p53 epitope in tissue fixed in 10% buffered
      formaldehyde. However, the antibody is effective in AMeX-fixed specimens, thereby
      permitting the improved morphologic localization of p53 phosphoprotein in
      paraffin embedded tissue. Of 33 primary head and neck carcinomas analyzed from
      AMeX-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections, 21 (64%) showed heterogeneous staining
      with PAb 1801. All 33 normal samples of head and neck tissues were negative.
      Similarly, 13 out of 20 lung carcinomas (65%) showed heterogeneous staining while
      none of normal lung tissues were positive. The data indicate a strong positive
      correlation between p53 detection by PAb 1801 and carcinomas of the head and neck
      and of lung. However, there was no obvious correlation between p53 staining and
      the number of involved nodes, the stage of disease or the degree of
      differentiation in these carcinomas.

PMID- 1444196
TI  - Extensive liver metastasis from human colon cancer in nude and scid mice after
      orthotopic onplantation of histologically-intact human colon carcinoma tissue.
AB  - Clinically-relevant animal models of human cancer are greatly needed for the
      study of human cancer biology and the development of new cancer therapeutics and
      diagnostics. We report here that by orthotopically transplanting histologically
      intact human colon cancer to the colon of the immunodeficient nude and scid mouse
      mutants that extensive local growth and liver metastases occur consistently even
      after extensive in vivo orthotopic passage. We demonstrate that the liver
      metastases arise by hematogenous spread. The models described in this report for
      human colon cancer should prove useful for individual cancer patients as well as
      for basic and applied studies to develop improved treatment.

PMID- 1444197
TI  - A patient-like metastasizing model of human lung adenocarcinoma constructed via
      thoracotomy in nude mice.
AB  - A new nude-mouse metastasizing orthotopic transplant model of human
      adenocarcinoma of the lung is described. Histologically-intact human A549
      adenocarcinoma lung tumors were transplanted to the left lung of nude mice via a
      thoracotomy procedure we have developed. The transplanted tumors grew extensively
      locally and metastasized to the opposite lung, lymph nodes and other clinically
      relevant sites. The results described indicate the model developed could have
      clinical relevance and contrast with models of the A549 lung adenocarcinoma
      constructed orthotopically with injections of cell suspensions which result in
      low metastatic potential.

PMID- 1444198
TI  - Augmentation of antineoplastic effects by the combination of recombinant human
      tumor necrosis factor and mitoxantrone on primary culture of human ovarian cancer
      cells.
AB  - Recombinant human tumor Necrosis Factor (rHuTNF) produced dose-dependent
      cytotoxicity against human ovarian cancer cells, OSC and OMC, obtained from fresh
      ascites. A combination of rHuTNF and the topoisomerase II inhibitor,
      Mitoxantrone, produced dose-dependent synergistic cytotoxicity on OSC and OMC
      cells. When OMC cells were incubated simultaneously for one hour with rHuTNF and
      Mitoxantrone, increased numbers of DNA single-strands breaks were produced.
      rHuTNF alone did not induce DNA single-strands breaks. These data are consistent
      with a role for topoisomerase-linked DNA lesions in the rHuTNF mediated
      potentiation of killing cells by Mitoxantrone.

PMID- 1444199
TI  - Clinical stage I and II endometrial carcinoma: multivariate analysis of
      prognostic factors.
AB  - In 221 patients with FIGO stage I and II endometrial carcinoma, the impact on
      survival of age at diagnosis, menopausal status, FIGO stage, myometrial invasion,
      tumor grade and histology was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis.
      At a median follow-up of 50 months (range 45-210), 42 patients had died, and
      therefore overall survival was 81% (179/221). Univariate analysis showed that
      age, menopausal status and histology did not influence survival, whereas FIGO
      stage, myometrial invasion and tumor grade were important prognostic factors.
      Multivariate analysis showed that tumor grade had a significant and independent
      impact on survival and confirmed that FIGO stage is the most important parameter
      influencing survival.

PMID- 1444200
TI  - Enhanced chromosomal fragility in neuroblastoma: correlation with poor prognosis.
AB  - In a previous study we demonstrated spontaneous fragility and hypersensitivity to
      fragile site induction by aphidicolin in lymphocytes from some neuroblastoma
      patients and their parents. Here we report data based on a total of 40 patients
      and 37 families. Possible correlations between higher sensitivity to aphidicolin
      and a variety of personal and clinical characteristics were verified. Patients
      with a poor prognosis generally proved to be more susceptible to fragile site
      induction.

PMID- 1444201
TI  - Relationship between pi-electron distribution and anticancer activity of
      benzo[a]phenothiazines.
AB  - In order to study the correlation between the anti-tumor activity of
      benzo[a]phenothiazines and the electron densities, the Huckel orbital method and
      modified-neglect-of-diatomic overlap (MNDO) orbital method were used. 9-Methyl
      12H-benzo[a]phenothiazine (2), which showed the most potent anticancer activity
      among benzo[a]phenothiazines, had the highest charge of nitrogen atom (QN), L
      region (QL) and M-region (QM) in the molecule. The other derivatives, which
      showed weaker anticancer activity, had a much reduced value of these charges (QN,
      QL, QM). The data suggest that stability of pi-electron in 1 benzene ring and 1
      naphthalene ring in the benzo[a]phenothiazine skeleton might be responsible for
      the induction of anticancer activity.

PMID- 1444202
TI  - Complications of total gastrectomy for gastric cancer--with special reference to
      anastomotic failure.
AB  - We have reviewed the data on patients totally gastrectomized for gastric cancer
      during a 12 year period at our hospital. Our findings are summarized, as follows:
      1. Advanced cases (stage III, IV) accounted for 85.4% (276/323) of them. Combined
      resection of other organs was performed on 87.6% of them. Twelve percent of the
      patients had peritoneal dissemination of P2 or higher grade and 5.9% hepatic
      metastases of H1 or higher grade. 2. Roux-en Y anastomosis was the most frequent
      (83.3%) reconstructive procedure. There were a total of 124 episodes of
      postoperative complications in 76 cases (23.5%). The lung and liver were often
      involved. Twenty-four cases (7.4%) suffered from postoperative anastomotic
      failure, which developed commonly at the site of oesophago-jejunostomy. Major
      leakage from this portion was the cause of death in 62.5% of the cases. The
      mortality rate was not notably different between the groups subjected to
      different reconstructive procedures or between the autosuture group (using an EEA
      stapler) and the hand suture group. The incidence of death due to the surgical
      intervention was 1.9%. 4. The 5-year survival after total gastrectomy was 25.2%,
      which was not necessarily satisfactory. However, it was significantly higher in
      the curative resection group than in the non-curative resection group (40.2% vs
      3.3%).

PMID- 1444203
TI  - An oligomer complementary to the 5' end region of MDR1 gene decreases resistance
      to doxorubicin of human adenocarcinoma-resistant cells.
AB  - Acquired resistance to doxorubicin and other anti-cancer drugs is generally
      dependent on gene amplification of a specific nucleotide sequence, the MDR1 gene.
      Verapamil, cyclosporin and other drugs have been used to circumvent the
      resistance in experimental models in vitro and/or in vivo. We have attempted to
      reverse the MDR phenotype by treating human adenocarcinoma resistant cells with
      20 mers of synthetic unmodified oligodeoxynucleotide MDR1 antisenses. Five ODNs
      towards different mRNA regions and three different schedules of ODN antisense
      administration were tested. We found that FCS concentration greatly influenced
      the stability of ODN, whereas heat-inactivated FCS had no effect. The kinetics of
      ODN cellular uptake suggest the presence of a saturable receptor. Among the five
      antisense ODNs used, the most efficient was the oligomer (ODN-1) complementary to
      20 bases upstream of the AUG initiation codon. No effect was observed with
      antisense complementary to the nucleotide binding sites. Administration of ODN-1
      every 12 hr for 72 hr partially reversed the MDR phenotype. Approximately 60% of
      the cells lost their resistance to doxorubicin and did not form colonies in the
      presence of the drug. The MDR1 mRNA was transiently down-regulated so that the
      level of gp170 was slightly reduced. The incomplete switch off of MDR1 gene
      expression may be ascribed to the large abundance and great stability of MDR1
      messenger RNA. Moreover, the inactivity of the two ODNs complementary to the NBS
      protein domains suggests that translation inhibition is ineffective. It is likely
      that ODN-4 and ODN-5 complement a large number of mRNAs competing for duplex
      formation, because these sequences are highly conserved among many proteins.

PMID- 1444204
TI  - A decision support system for predicting a recurrence of breast cancer; a
      prospective study of serum tumour markers TAG 12, CA 15-3 and MCA.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical value of the
      preoperative serum tumour markers TAG 12, CA 15-3 and MCA in predicting a
      recurrence of breast cancer patients. The sensitivity of the TAG 12 test was 54%,
      that of the CA 15-3 test 15% and that of the MCA test 15% in predicting a
      recurrence of breast cancer. The most important predictor of breast cancer
      recurrence was TAG 12. In order to evaluate the contributions of different tumour
      marker serum test, a stepwise discriminant analysis was carried out. The
      discriminant function (DF) is DF = TAG 12 x 0.061 - CA 15-3 x 0.1336 - 0.396. The
      sensitivity of the DF in detecting recurrence of breast cancer was 63% with a
      specificity of 90% and an efficiency of 75%. In conclusion, the results indicate
      that a new tumour marker TAG 12 is superior to CA 15-3 and MCA in predicting
      breast cancer recurrence. In this study the discriminant function including TAG
      12 and CA 15-3 was superior to single preoperative tumour marker tests. The
      results speak for the use of a decision support system to aid in predicting a
      recurrence of breast cancer.

PMID- 1444205
TI  - A novel triple label method validates the double label technique of defining cell
      cycle kinetics in HL-60 cells.
AB  - HL-60 cells were sequentially labeled with the thymidine analogues
      iododeoxyuridine (IUdR) and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). The labeling index (LI),
      the duration of S-phase (Ts) and the total cell cycle time (Tc) were measured
      immediately. It was therefore possible to predict the next time when the single
      versus double labeled cells would re-enter the S-phase. In our study, the Tc was
      calculated to be 20 hours. The third label, tritiated thymidine (3HTdR), was
      introduced at the predicted time of 20 hours to confirm the validity of the
      previously calculated Tc. The actual percentage of cells which were labeled by
      (3HTdR) was very similar to the predicted value. We conclude, therefore, that the
      calculated cell cycle time correlated well with the actual cell cycle time, at
      least in a controlled in vitro culture system. This novel triple label method
      validates our double-label technique developed for cell cycle measurements.

PMID- 1444206
TI  - Polyamine deprivation enhances antitumoral efficacy of chemotherapy.
AB  - We reported previously that polyamine deprivation by feeding a polyamine
      deficient diet combined with gastrointestinal tract decontamination and polyamine
      oxidase inhibition considerably enhanced the antitumoral effect of DFMO, a
      selective inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase. The combination of polyamine
      deprivation and administration of well established cytotoxic drugs was expected
      to improve further the antitumoral effect of polyamine deprivation in Lewis lung
      carcinoma grafted in mice. Simultaneous treatment, i.e. administration of the
      cytotoxic drugs during the polyamine deprivation regimen, reduced tumor growth,
      but enhanced toxic effects. By alternating treatment and polyamine deprivation
      (1st day methotrexate (1.7 mg/kg), 2nd day cyclophosphamide (90 mg/kg), 3rd day
      vindesine (0.25 mg/kg), followed by five days of polyamine deprivation), tumor
      growth was reduced by 90% and an increase of 64% in the survival time of the
      animals was observed, demonstrating that a significant enhancement of the
      efficacy of chemotherapy was achieved without concomitant enhancement of toxic
      effects.

PMID- 1444207
TI  - A comparison of biochemical and immunohistochemical assessment of EGFR expression
      in ovarian cancer.
AB  - The presence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was determined both by
      immunohistochemistry and ligand binding assay in 118 samples from 96 cases of
      ovarian cancer. EGFR was present in 47.5% of tumours biochemically and in 39.8%
      of tumours analysed immunohistochemically. The concordance rate for the
      techniques varied between 40% in endometrioid carcinomas to 85.7% in
      undifferentiated carcinomas with an overall concordance of 69.5% (p < 0.001).
      There was no significant difference between the presence of the high, low or high
      plus low affinity receptor components and tumour immunoreactivity. Although the
      ligand binding assay is more sensitive than immunohistochemistry for detecting
      the epidermal growth factor receptor, some cases are positive only on
      immunohistochemical screening. We would recommend that both techniques should be
      performed in prospective studies in order to elucidate the role of EGFR
      expression in ovarian cancer.

PMID- 1444208
TI  - Agrimoniin, an antitumor tannin of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb., induces interleukin
      1.
AB  - The induction of interleukin-1 (IL-1) by agrimoniin, a tannin of Agrimonia pilosa
      Ledeb., in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in vitro and in mouse
      adherent peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) in vivo was studied. A significant amount
      of IL-1 beta in the culture supernatant of the human PBMC stimulated with
      agrimoniin was detected with an enzyme-linked immunoadherent assay. Agrimoniin
      induced IL-1 beta secretion dose- and time-dependently. The adherent PEC from
      mice intraperitoneally injected with agrimoniin (10 mg/kg) also secreted IL-1 4
      days later. These results suggest that agrimoniin, a plant tannin, is a novel
      cytokine inducer.

PMID- 1444209
TI  - Immunomodulating effects of the hydrolysis products of formosanin C and beta
      ecdysone from Paris formosana Hayata.
AB  - Formosanin C (PF-3, I), a diosgenin glycoside with four sugars isolated from
      Paris formosana Hayata as main constituent, significantly showed immunomodulating
      effects on the proliferative response of mouse lymphocytes to concanavalin A (Con
      A). The partialy hydrolysis products of formosanin C, dioscin (II) and
      prosapogenin A of dioscin (III), also increased 3H-thymidine incorporation of Con
      A-stimulated lymphocytes maximally at 0.01 micrograms/ml, whereas formosanin C
      did so at 0.0001 micrograms/ml. However, trillin (IV) and diosgenin (V) obtained
      from the partial hydrolysis of formosanin C had no effects on these immune
      responses. Evidently, the immunomodulating activities increased in the order of
      increasing polarity. Probably the solubility in water was a factor. This
      demonstrated that the sugar moiety in the structure of formosanin C (I) displays
      a very important pattern for the effect on the proliferative response of mouse
      lymphocytes to Con A. On the other hand, these hydrolysis products at higher
      concentrations of 1 and 10 micrograms/ml reduced the cytotoxic effects on spleen
      cells as compared with formosanin C. The other constituent, beta-ecdysone (VI)
      isolated from the stems of Paris formosana Hayata also increased 3H-thymidine
      incorporation of Con A-stimulated splenocytes. At the concentration of 0.001
      micrograms/ml, the stimulation index of beta-ecdysone (2) is higher than that of
      formosanin C (1.65), and at the concentration of 100 micrograms/ml, beta-ecdysone
      had no cytotoxicity for normal spleen cells whereas formosanin C at the lower
      concentration of 10 micrograms/ml showed cytotoxicity. Based on this study, beta
      ecdysone (VI) is therefore a better immunomodulator than formosanin C.

PMID- 1444210
TI  - Opposite effects of dehydroepiandrosterone on the growth of 7,12
      dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced rat mammary carcinomas.
AB  - The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (2 mg, twice daily p.o.) on the
      growth of the dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinoma was
      studied in intact and ovariectomized adult female rats. DHEA treatment stimulated
      the tumor growth in ovariectomized animals. Conversely, the tumors of intact rats
      treated with DHEA progressed to a lesser extent than those of intact untreated
      animals (p < 0.01). Plasma levels of DHEA were higher in DHEA-fed than in
      untreated animals (p < .01), whereas E2 concentrations were unchanged after DHEA
      administration. Estrogen receptor (ER) concentrations in tumor tissue of
      ovariectomized animals given DHEA were no different form those found in intact
      rats, whereas ER were undetectable in untreated ovariectomized rats. The data
      indicate that DHEA stimulates the growth of DMBA-induced mammary tumors in
      ovariectomized rats, while it reduces the tumor progression in intact animals.

PMID- 1444211
TI  - Cytogenetic and corresponding flow cytometric DNA analysis of renal cell
      neoplasms.
AB  - Results of flow cytometric DNA content and cytogenetic analyses of six neoplasms
      representing the spectrum of the morphologic subtypes of renal cell neoplasms are
      compared. Flow cytometric determinations of DNA diploidy and near diploidy in two
      renal cortical neoplasms correlated with modal chromosome numbers; however, in
      three of four neoplasms with a highly aneuploid DNA content, the modal chromosome
      numbers indicated diploidy or near-diploidy. Our data suggest that the short-term
      culture conditions used in cytogenetic analysis may favor growth of cells with
      diploid or near-diploid DNA content. This may explain the discrepancy frequently
      observed between results obtained using flow cytometry and karyotyping after
      short-term culture. We also observed (1) abnormalities in the short arm of
      chromosome 3 in all three nonpapillary neoplasms, (both clear and granular cell
      types); (2) aberrations in chromosomes 3 and 17 in the two papillary tumors; and
      (3) normal chromosome 3 in the presence of various random karyotypic anomalies
      including telomeric associations and a pseudo-diploid modal chromosome number in
      the only oncocytic neoplasm studied.

PMID- 1444212
TI  - Effects of high and low single dose irradiation on glioma spheroid invasion into
      normal rat brain tissue in vitro.
AB  - The effects of radiation on direction on directional migration in monolayer
      cultures and brain tissue invasion by two glioblastoma cell lines (D-54 MG, D-247
      MG) were investigated. The Leksell Gamma Unit was the radiation source and
      invasion was registered in an in vitro invasion assay developed in our
      laboratory. As tumor spheroids and brain tissue aggregates were treated
      simultaneously in cocultures; the effects of radiation on the interaction between
      the two tissues could be investigated. Tumor spheroids from both cell lines
      retained their ability to invade and destroy normal brain tissue, even after
      irradiation with 47.6 Gy. However, while the D-54 MG tumor spheroids showed a
      dose-dependent reduction of invasion, tumor spheroids from the D-247 MG cell line
      did not. In addition, radiation produced a dose dependent inhibition of
      directional migration of cells from D-54 MG spheroids. A similar significant
      inhibition of directional migration was found in D-247 MG, but it was not dose
      dependent. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a loosening of the neuropil
      in the brain tissue of irradiated cocultures. However, this structural change did
      not seem to affect the invasiveness of the tumor. In this preliminary study,
      irradiation could not prevent invasion of two different glioblastoma cell lines
      into fetal rat brain tissue. Further studies using the same technique may help to
      understand the influence of ionizing radiation upon the invasion process in
      gliomas.

PMID- 1444213
TI  - Clinical, histological and quantitative prognostic factors in cutaneous malignant
      melanoma.
AB  - A retrospective study including 55 cutaneous melanoma patients with 9.5 years
      follow-up was carried out to assess the significance of various prognostic
      factors. The histological samples were evaluated according to Clark's and
      Breslow's classifications and six nuclear features were measured by interactive
      morphometry. Mitotic activity was assessed by two different methods: mitotic
      activity index (MAI) and volume corrected mitotic index (M/V index). The overall
      disease-related five-year survival of patients was 76.4%. TNM stage (p = 0.0001),
      sex (p = 0.0024), M/V index (p = 0.003), standard deviation of nuclear form
      factor (p = 0.023), MAI (p = 0.02), shortest nuclear axis (p = 0.023) and
      Breslow's classification (p = 0.044) predicted survival in univariate analysis. A
      multivariate analysis including clinical, histological and morphometric features
      pointed the Clark's classification as the most important predictor of survival (p
      = 0.002), while the other variables included had no independent prognostic value.
      The prognostic importance of mitotic indices and morphometric features is clearly
      a subject for further studies in superficial melanomas.

PMID- 1444214
TI  - Effects of dietary fatty acid composition on tumor growth and metastasis.
AB  - Unsaturated fatty acids of the n-6 and n-3 class have been shown to affect tumor
      growth and metastasis. The very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n-3
      family, e.g. eicosapentaenoic acids (C20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acids (C22:5n
      3), have an inhibiting effect on tumor growth. Metastasis is promoted by n-6
      polyunsaturated fatty acids, e.g. linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) and gamma-linolenic
      acid (C18:3n-6). The mechanisms of promotion and inhibition are described in the
      present review. The mechanisms of lipid peroxidation, which appears to be an
      important factor in the inhibition of tumor growth, are discussed. Lipid
      peroxidation is induced by polyunsaturated fatty acids involving autoperoxidation
      a.o. and the enzymes cytochrome P450, cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase. In tumor
      cells these enzymes are decreased in activity but at present the reason for this
      reduction is not known. Lipid peroxidation products such as
      hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETES), hydroperoxy eicosatetraenoic acids
      (HPETES) and malondialdehyde may have a regulating effect on DNA duplication
      enzymes (e.g. polymerases). Prostaglandin synthesis in tumor cells and
      macrophages is also affected by polyunsaturated fatty acids. The fish oil fatty
      acids are known to reduce prostaglandin synthesis by competing with arachidonic
      acid for the enzyme cyclooxygenase. However, fish oil fatty acids have an
      antagonistic effect on cyclooxygenase. Polyunsaturated fatty acids also have an
      effect on the immune system and particularly on macrophages. Macrophages, but
      also T-cells and B-cells, are inhibited by prostaglandins such as PGE2, while
      immunosuppressor cells are stimulated by PGE2.

PMID- 1444215
TI  - Growth effects of tamoxifen on Lovo colon carcinoma cells and cultured cells from
      normal colonic mucosa.
AB  - The growth effects of tamoxifen (TAM) were studied using normal and malignant
      colonic epithelial cells. Addition of TAM (0.8 to 10 microM) to cultured normal
      human colon epithelial cells and Lovo colon adenocarcinoma cells produced a dose
      response decrease in growth of 42 to 76%. Histamine (1 to 10 microM) did not
      affect cell growth and did not negate the TAM effect. Calmodulin (2
      micrograms/ml) totally blocked growth inhibitory effects of a calmodulin
      antagonist, trifluoperazine (10 microM), but did not block the TAM inhibitory
      effect. These data suggest that antiestrogen binding sites (AEBS) may play an
      important role in the growth-inhibitory effects of TAM on colon cells.
      Competition with estrogen and antagonism with histamine or calmodulin do not
      appear to be significant in this regard.

PMID- 1444216
TI  - Histological and quantitative prognostic factors in transitional cell bladder
      cancer treated by cystectomy.
AB  - A cohort of 103 transitional cell bladder tumours (TCC) treated by cystectomy was
      followed up over 9 years. Patients treated with radiation and cystectomy had a
      more unfavorable prognosis than patients treated by cystectomy alone (p <
      0.0001). Old patients had an unfavorable prognosis after cystectomy, whereas none
      of the patients under the age of 50 died of TCC after cystectomy (p = 0.027). WHO
      grade (p = 0.002), high mitotic rate (p = 0.012) and nodular growth pattern (p =
      0.004) were signs of ominous disease outcome in univariate survival analysis.
      Dense inflammatory cell infiltrates in the tumour itself or around invasive
      tumour cells were signs of good prognosis after cystectomy (p = 0.001) in a
      multivariate analysis. Clinical stage or nuclear morphometric factors had no
      independent prognostic value after cystectomy. The results clearly show that the
      intrinsic malignancy of TCC and host defence mechanisms together determine the
      prognosis after cystectomy. The evaluation of malignant features in TCC alone is
      an insufficient means of predicting prognosis in invasive TCC and the analysis of
      host immune response should be included in the prognostic evaluation.

PMID- 1444217
TI  - DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction and mitotic indices as prognostic predictors of
      female breast cancer.
AB  - DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction (SPF), mitotic index (MI), volume corrected mitotic
      index (M/V index) and standard prognostic factors were related to disease outcome
      in a series of 363 women with breast cancer followed-up for over 10 years in our
      clinic. DNA ploidy and SPF were significantly related to histological type,
      tumour grade and mitotic indices (p < 0.001). In univariate survival analysis, pN
      status (p < 0.0001), tumour diameter (p < 0.0001), MI (p = 0.001), M/V index (p =
      0.0003) and SPF (p = 0.015) predicted survival. In pN(-) tumours. MI (p = 0.059)
      was related to survival. In pN(+) tumours, tumour diameter (p = 0.0004), M/V
      index (p = 0.023) and SPF (p = 0.045) predicted survival. In multivariate
      survival analysis, tumour diameter (p < 0.001). M/V index (p < 0.007), pN status
      (p = 0.014) and patient age (p = 0.09) were independently related to survival. In
      pN(-) tumours, tumour diameter independently predicted survival (p = 0.033). In
      pN(+) tumours, tumour diameter (p < 0.001), M/V index (p = 0.006) and the year of
      treatment (p = 0.08) were independent predictors. The results show that tumour
      diameter, pN status and proliferative activity of cancer cells are important
      prognostic factors in breast cancer. Of the proliferation indices, M/V index and
      SPF are equally powerful predictors, and the use of M/V index is advocated due to
      simplicity of the assessment.

PMID- 1444218
TI  - Southern travelling habits with special reference to tumour site in Swedish
      melanoma patients.
AB  - Southern travelling habits were recorded for 127 melanoma patients from southern
      parts of Sweden (the 56th latitude), 55 thyroid cancer patients, 100 non
      Hodgkin's patients and 794 healthy controls from the same region. Melanoma
      patients were found to travel significantly more often south of the 45th
      latitude, as compared with patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or thyroid
      carcinoma (RR = 2.2 for a difference of + 10 trips), and with the healthy
      controls (RR = 1.4 for a difference of + 10 trips). Considering men and women
      separately, the difference was significant only for men. Patients with melanoma
      had a higher educational level than the tumour controls and the healthy controls
      (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 respectively). There was a significant correlation
      between high travelling frequency and high education. An increased risk related
      to southern travelling was present for patients with melanoma on the extremities
      and head and neck, as well as for patients with truncal melanoma. These findings
      support the concept that acute exposure to sunburn may be a risk factor for
      malignant melanoma.

PMID- 1444219
TI  - Thermal effects on DNA synthesis in bone marrow cells of patients with acute
      myeloblastic leukemia.
AB  - It has been known that thymidylate synthetase (TS) and thymidine kinase (TK) are
      DNA-synthesizing enzymes via the de novo and salvage pathways, respectively, in
      pyrimidine metabolism, and an immunological method using a monoclonal antibody to
      bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) is useful for the detection of S-phase cells. We
      investigated the effects of hyperthermia on DNA synthesis in bone marrow cells
      obtained from patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia. TK isozymes in bone
      marrow cells of patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia were separated into two
      types, i.e., fetal type isozyme in cytosolic cell fraction and adult type isozyme
      in mitochondrial cell fraction. Heating at over 43 degrees C as a hyperthermia
      markedly suppressed enzyme activity of fetal type TK isozyme and number of S
      phase cells labelled with BrdU, but not activities of adult type TK isozyme and
      TS. These results indicate that hyperthermia may regulate the proliferation of S
      phase cells by the suppression of salvage synthesis of DNA.

PMID- 1444220
TI  - Modulation by l-leucovorin of 1-hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil antitumor activity
      on human gastric and colon carcinomas serially transplanted into nude mice.
AB  - Experimental biochemical modulation of 1-hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil (HCFU)
      with l-leucovorin (LV) was carried out using human gastric (H-111) and colon (Co
      4) carcinoma xenografts serially transplanted into nude mice. Thirty-five or 70
      mg/kg HCFU dissolved in 0.2 ml of 1% hydroxymethyl cellulose was administered po
      daily for 3 weeks except Sundays, and 50, 100, 200 or 300 mg/kg LV dissolved in
      0.2 ml physiological saline was administered po 30 min before administration of
      HCFU. The biochemically modulated antitumor activity was evaluated in terms of
      actual tumor weight, the relative mean tumor weight and the degree of inhibition
      of thymidylate synthetase (TS) in the tumors at the end of the experiments,
      assayed according to the method of Spears et al. Although 35 mg/kg HCFU was
      ineffective against gastric carcinoma H-111, combination with 200 or 300 mg/kg LV
      resulted in a positive antitumor effect of HCFU on this strain without any
      increase of side effects in terms of body weight loss and mouse mortality. The
      colon carcinoma strain Co-4 showed marginal sensitivity to HCFU (35 mg/kg) alone,
      but 50 or 100 mg/kg LV modulated the antitumor activity of HCFU on Co-4 to
      produce a significant positive effect without any increase in toxicity, and HCFU
      administered with 100 mg/kg LV was more effective than the maximum tolerated dose
      of HCFU (70 mg/kg) alone. The TS inhibition rate was closely related to the
      biochemical modulation of HCFU antitumor activity by LV, suggesting that the
      modulation involves an increase of the ternary complex of TS, 5,10-methylene
      tetrahydrofolate from LV and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate (FdUMP).
      Combination of HCFU and LV is therefore thought to be useful in increasing the
      antitumor activity of HCFU on gastrointestinal carcinomas without enhancing its
      toxicity.

PMID- 1444221
TI  - Prognostic factors in node positive primary breast cancer patients treated with
      adjuvant CMF.
AB  - The influence of various patient and disease-related parameters on survival (S)
      and disease-free survival (DFS) in 217 node positive primary breast cancer
      patients treated with surgery followed by adjuvant i.v. cyclophosphamide,
      methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) was evaluated by univariate and
      multivariate analyses. Five year actuarial S and DFS were 73.3% and 54.8%,
      respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that patient age, number of involved
      axillary nodes and ER status had a significant impact on both S and DFS. PgR
      positive tumors had improved DFS but no S difference was observed. Menopausal
      status predicted S but not DFS. Primary tumor size and CMF-induced amenorrhea did
      not predict disease outcome. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only degree
      of nodal involvement and PgR status had independent significant impact on
      prognosis. Both S and DFS are significantly influenced by the number of involved
      nodes, whereas improved DFS but not S was evident in patients with PgR positive
      tumors.

PMID- 1444222
TI  - Effect of calcium-modifying agents on the growth of human gastric carcinoma cells
      in vitro.
AB  - The antiproliferative effects of various calcium-modifying agents were
      investigated in human AGS gastric carcinoma cells in culture. Variation of the
      extracellular calcium concentration, achieved by addition of calcium to the
      growth medium or binding of calcium to the calcium-chelating agent EDTA, appeared
      to have little influence on growth of the tumor cells. In contrast, the calcium
      antagonist verapamil, the calcium ionophore A 23.187 and the calmodulin
      antagonist W 7, agents supposed to interfere with the regulation of the
      intracellular calcium concentration, all exerted marked growth inhibiting
      effects. Our results provide evidence for an important role of intracellular
      calcium-dependent mechanisms in growth regulation of the human gastric
      adenocarcinoma cell line AGS.

PMID- 1444223
TI  - Proliferative effect of dexamethasone on a human glioblastoma cell line (HU 197)
      is mediated by glucocorticoid receptors.
AB  - The relationship between Dexamethasone proliferative activity and the presence of
      glucocorticoid receptors was studied on a human glioblastoma cell line (HU 197).
      For this purpose, the 17 beta-Carboxamide steroid DXB, a glucocorticoid
      antagonist that competes with Dexamethasone for binding to the intracellular
      glucocorticoid receptor but does not trigger the glucocorticoid effect, was used.
      Concurrent treatments with Dexamethasone and DXB caused an inhibition of the
      proliferative effect obtained by Dexamethasone. The results obtained demonstrated
      that the Dexamethasone activity on cell proliferation is a specific receptor
      mediated effect.

PMID- 1444224
TI  - Synergistic cytotoxic effects of tumor necrosis factor, interferon-gamma and
      tamoxifen on breast cancer cell lines.
AB  - The combined effects of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interferon
      gamma (IFN) and tamoxifen (TAM) on the proliferation of human breast cancer cell
      lines were investigated. In estrogen receptor positive MCF-7 cells, relatively
      resistant to TAM or TNF, cytotoxicity significantly increased in combinations of
      TNF and IFN, and of a cytokine and TAM. The cytotoxicity of TNF increased when
      cells were pretreated with IFN, but not vice versa. Sequential treatment with IFN
      following TNF and TAM also exhibited significant antiproliferative effect on both
      cell lines. The combined or sequential cytokines and TAM treatments are possible
      modalities to overcome breast cancers unresponsive to endocrine treatment.

PMID- 1444225
TI  - Cytotoxic action of cyclosporins on human tumor cell lines is not dependent on
      immunosuppressive activity.
AB  - The cytotoxic activity of cyclosporin A (CsA) and the three non-immuno
      suppressive CsA analogues B3-243, WO-039 and B3-665 were studied in tumor cell
      lines representing both classical and atypical forms of multidrug resistance
      (MDR): T-ALL GM3639 L100 cells selected for vincristine (vcr) resistance and
      displaying characteristics of classical MDR, including P-glycoprotein (pgp)
      expression and increased drug efflux which can be inhibited by pgp blockers (e.g.
      verapamil), and U-1285/ADR, a small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell line selected
      for doxorubicin resistance which lacks pgp, is insensitive to pgp-blockers and
      shows cross resistance to cis-platinum. At 1 micrograms/ml CsA was the most
      active agent in reversing Vcr resistance in L100 cells followed by B3-243 and WO
      039, with no effect of B3-665. Parental LO cells were only marginally sensitized
      to Vcr by these agents. No reversing effect of any cyclosporin was observed in
      the U-1285/ADR or its parental cell line. Compared to LO cells, L100 cells showed
      a marked hypersensitivity to CsA > B3-243 > WO-039 with B3-665 being inactive. No
      collateral sensitivity was observed for cyclosporins in U-1285/ADR cells.
      Although of different magnitude, the pattern of cytotoxic activity for the
      different cyclosporins alone closely parallelled that of L100 cells for U-1285,
      U1285/ADR and LO cells. The results indicate that not only the collateral
      sensitivity in classical MDR but also the cytotoxic actions of cyclosporins per
      se on tumor cells alone are independent of immunosuppressive activity. The
      results also suggest a structure-activity relationship for cyclosporin-induced
      cytotoxicity similar to, but independent of, MDR reversing activity.

PMID- 1444226
TI  - Modulation of DNA damage by vitamin A in developing Sprague-Dawley rats.
AB  - Prenatal and neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were given a diet deficient in or with
      an excess of Vitamin A and at the age of 55 days female progeny were treated with
      a single i.g. dose of 80 mg/kg DMBA or 50 mg/kg MNU. Under these experimental
      conditions it was found that the exposure of perinatal rats to a diet containing
      an excess of Vitamin A caused a decrease in the amount of DMBA- and MNU-induced
      DNA damage in the mammary gland and the liver of the female offspring. When diets
      were deficient in Vitamin A there was a dual effect in terms of DNA damage
      detected in the same organs, namely DMBA caused an amount of DNA damage
      comparable to controls, while the extent of DNA damage induced by MNU greatly
      increased in both organs. These results indicate that Vitamin A can permanently
      change the sensitivity of adult progeny to chemically induced DNA damage when it
      is given to pregnant and lactating females.

PMID- 1444227
TI  - Relation between the hormonal and epidemiological aspects of ovarian cancer
      patients in Japan.
AB  - We compared the hormonal and epidemiological aspects of ovarian cancer patients
      in search of the etiology of this neoplasia. Case-control studies of Japanese
      women with and without cancer were conducted in parallel, with regard to both the
      excretion of 14 urinary steroids and the pertinent physical and physiological
      parameters. The results obtained are as follows: 1) premenopausal ovarian cancer
      patients before and after radical ovariectomy and postmenopausal-postoperative
      patients were associated with a specified steroid deviation profile characterized
      by a combination of general depression of androgens, progestins and
      corticosteroids with sole rescue of tetrahydrocortisol (THF) in urine. 2) The
      deviation profile of postmenopausal-preoperative cancer patients was
      distinguished from the 3 partner profiles by its preservation of normalcy in the
      excretions of androgen and progestin in urine. 3) Ovarian cancer patients were
      associated with growth retardation, when compared with urban healthy controls and
      patients with either breast cancer or endometrial cancer by the age-matching
      method. Ovarian cancer patients were also less fertile than age-matched normal
      controls, and were as infertile as age-matched patients with either breast cancer
      or endometrial cancer. 4) Epidemiological evidence was presented to suggest that
      the incidence of ovarian cancer in Japan was increasing in parallel with the
      recent increase of social tension in Japan. The possible relevance of the
      hormonal characteristics of ovarian cancer patients to both the epidemiological
      characteristics of the same cancer patients and the genesis of this neoplasia is
      discussed in the light of the 2-step carcinogenesis theory.

PMID- 1444228
TI  - Does surgical stress cause tumor metastasis?
AB  - The purpose of this study was to test the validity of our working hypothesis that
      the stress of radical surgery may affect the prognosis of a cancer patient by
      precipitating hematogenous tumor metastasis, and that enhancement of this type of
      tumor metastasis is mediated by an increase of glucocorticoid activity that is
      induced in a cancer patient by surgical stress. Practically, we looked for the
      presence of glucocorticosteroid excess in cervical cancer patients in the course
      of radical surgery, and also tested the possible impact of glucocorticoid excess
      on the development of tumor metastasis in mice with i.v. inoculated Ehrlich
      ascites clone 1 tumor cells. The results obtained indicated that: 1) a state of
      glucocorticoid excess was observed in cancer patients at an early stage of
      postoperative convalescence. 2) Development of lung metastasis of blood-borne
      Ehrlich ascites tumor cells was facilitated in mice by hydrocortisone
      pretreatment--a substitute for surgical stress conditioning. 3) In the
      enhancement of lung metastasis, the hormone was found to induce constriction of
      the lung capillary lumen on the one hand, and acceleration of microvillus growth
      of the tumor cell surface on the other hand two morphological changes that may
      facilitate intrapulmonary retention of tumor cells. 4) Cyclophosphamide, as
      tested in a series of adjuvant chemotherapy experiments, was effective in either
      retarding or arresting the progress of tumor metastasis in hydrocortisone
      conditioned mice. The possible impact of surgical stress on the spread of blood
      borne tumor cells to the lung and liver, as well as on the therapeutic effect of
      cyclophosphamide for the prevention of postoperative micrometastasis, is
      discussed in the light of glucocorticoid actions on its target tissues.

PMID- 1444230
TI  - Nucleolar organiser regions (AgNORs) related to histopathological characteristics
      and survival in prostatic adenocarcinoma.
AB  - The number of silver stained nucleolar organiser regions (AgNORs) was assessed in
      biopsy specimens of 78 patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma followed up for a
      mean of 15.6 years. The number of Ag-NORs was related to histological features,
      clinical stage, DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction (SPF) and clinical outcome. In 31/36
      (86%) of grade I tumours on average less than 3.5 AgNORs/nucleus were present,
      whereas of grade III tumours 8/18 (44%) showed usually more than 3.5 Ag
      NORs/nucleus (p = 0.0163). The number of Ag-NORs was significantly related to
      mean nuclear area (NA) (p = 0.017) and to SD of nuclear area (p = 0.05). The Ag
      NORs were not related significantly to clinical stage, perineural infiltration,
      lymphatic infiltration, DNA ploidy, SPF, G2 fraction or M/V index, although there
      was a clear trend between the variables. In survival analysis, the degree of
      lymphatic infiltration (LI) (P = 0.009) predicted survival, whereas AgNORs had no
      significant prognostic value albeit a trend was observed. In T1-T2 tumours,
      histological grade (p = 0.05), PNI (p = 0.04) and SPF (p = 0.0076) predicted
      survival.

PMID- 1444229
TI  - Cytostatic effect of homo-aza-steroidal esters in vivo and in vitro. Structure
      activity relationships.
AB  - The p-[N,N-bis (2-chloroethyl)amino]phenylacetate esters of 3 beta-hydroxy-N
      methyl-17 alpha-aza-D-homo-5 alpha-androstan-17-one and 3 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha
      aza-D-homo-5 alpha-androstane have been prepared and their antitumor activity
      evaluated against L1210 leukemia, P388 leukemia, Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) and
      Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC). The results are compared with those of the p-[N,N-bis
      (2-chloroethyl)amino]phenylacetate of 3 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-aza-D-homo- 5 alpha
      androstan-17-one. The above compounds were also tested in vitro against L1210, P
      388, EAT and BHX cell cultures. All compounds were found to be active and their
      structure-activity relationship is discussed.

PMID- 1444231
TI  - Flow cytometric DNA characteristics of radiation colitis--a preliminary study.
AB  - The DNA status of 12 rectal biopsies, taken during the investigation of radiation
      proctitis, was investigated. Of these six were in the acute phase and six in the
      chronic phase. All of the acute biopsies had diploid DNA, despite bizarre
      histological epithelial cell appearances. Two of the chronic phase biopsies were
      to have aneuploid DNA profiles. This finding may be relevant to the increased
      risk of malignancy in irradiated tissues.

PMID- 1444232
TI  - Non-toxic sensitization of cancer chemotherapy by combined vitamin C and K3
      pretreatment in a mouse tumor resistant to oncovin.
AB  - The effects of combined vitamin C and K3 i.p. injected 3 hours before i.p.
      administration of single dose of oncovin, to which the ascites liver tumor in
      mouse (T.L.T.) was completely resistant, were investigated. This pretreatment
      sensitized the tumor resistant to oncovin, whereas a separate pretreatment with
      vitamin C or K3 alone was without any effect. This tumor sensitization to the
      chemotherapy was completely suppressed by catalase pretreatment, thus indicating
      that hydrogen peroxide generation with subsequent oxidative stress and its
      consequences may be involved here. Since this sensitization was without any
      increased general and organ toxicity, its possible introduction into classical
      protocols of human cancer treatment would be without any supplementary risk.

PMID- 1444233
TI  - The relationship between cellular ether glycerophospholipid content and
      sensitivity of cancer cells to 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-glycerophosphocholine.
AB  - Cancer cells are more susceptible to the growth-inhibitory effects of alkyl
      lysophospholipids than normal cells, but the mechanism of this selectivity is
      unknown. In this study we have investigated the hypothesis that the sensitivity
      of cells to alkyl lysophospholipids is related to the cellular ether lipid
      content. The order of decreasing sensitivity of the cells to the growth
      inhibitory effect of 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-glycerophosphocholine (ET-18-OCH3)
      was MCF 7 > T84 > Malme 3M > A427 > A549, while the order of decreasing ether
      phospholipid content as a proportion of the total phospholipid was T84 > A427 =
      A549 = Malme 3M > MCF7. There was also no correlation between ET-18-OCH3
      sensitivity and the proportion of ether lipid in the cholineglycerophospholipid
      or ethanolamineglycerophospholipid classes. Our results clearly indicate that the
      postulated relationship between ether phospholipid content and ET-18-OCH3
      susceptibility may have very limited applicability and is unlikely to be the
      underlying reason for the selective effects of alkyl lysophospholipids.

PMID- 1444234
TI  - Inhibition of tumor induction in tobacco by Agrobacterium tumefaciens and
      nodulation induced by Rhizobium meliloti in the presence of phenothiazines and
      structurally related compounds.
AB  - Plasmids of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Rhizobium meliloti carrying Kanamycin
      resistance genes were eliminated from 1.4 to 0.2% of the growing bacterial
      cultures by promethazine and imipramine. As a result of plasmid elimination, the
      A. tumefaciens plasmidless isolate was not able to induce crown gall tumor on
      tobacco plants. The plasmidless R. meliloti strain failed to induce nodule
      formation on alfalfa plants. The efficiency of nodulation was decreased when the
      bacteria were grown in the presence of the drugs. The antiplasmid effects of the
      drugs were not prevented by opines, (nopaline and octopine) in Escherichia coli
      F'lac cells.

PMID- 1444235
TI  - Relation between the hormonal and epidemiological aspects of esophageal cancer in
      Japan.
AB  - Esophageal cancer with endemic distribution of high-risk areas in the world is
      also known to be more prevalent in the male--and in the aged-populations than in
      their counterparts. The hormonal characteristics of esophageal cancer patients
      and the geographical distribution of high and low-risk areas in Japan were
      comparatively investigated in search of the etiology of this neoplasia. A case
      control study of 14 urinary steroids indicated that cancer patients of both sexes
      were associated with an acceleration of cortisone to hydrocortisone conversion
      within their bodies. Evidence was presented to suggest that the above state of
      glucocorticoid excess could be related to the production of hyperplasia as well
      as malignant transformation in the epithelial cells of the esophagus. The 10
      highest risk areas and the 7 lowest risk areas were clearly separated by the 2
      fault lines of the Japan Islands, a finding to suggest that some microelements of
      the soil play a role in conditioning the cancer risk. The possible linkage of the
      observed hormonal characteristics of Japanese patients to both the geochemistry
      of the soil and the genesis of this neoplasia is discussed in the light of the
      competitive relationship between the intake of vitamin C and endogenous
      nitrosation.

PMID- 1444236
TI  - The response of breast cancer cells to steroid and peptide growth factors.
AB  - Four breast cancer cell lines covering a wide range of receptor characteristics
      were examined for their growth responses to oestradiol, insulin, EGF and the anti
      oestrogen, tamoxifen. Stimulated cellular growth using both the MTT assay and 3H
      thymidine incorporation into DNA, was measured against controls grown in a
      steroid reduced environment. The ER positive MCF-7 cell line showed clear growth
      responses to E2, insulin and EGF. This was also demonstrated, although to a
      lesser extent in the ZR-75-1 line which expresses lower levels of ER. In
      combination, these factors gave an additive growth response but the addition of
      EGF to maximal concentrations of insulin and oestradiol produced no further
      increase in growth. In contrast to these results, the two ER negative cell lines
      examined, MCF-7 Adr and MDA-MB-231 showed no growth response to exogenously
      applied steroids and in the case of MCF-7 Adr high concentrations of EGF were
      able to inhibit the growth of this cell line. They also showed high rates of
      growth in a steroid depleted environment which tends to suggest these cells are
      growing autonomously through autocrine growth factor induction.

PMID- 1444237
TI  - Age-related decrease in transplantability of human tumours in nu/nu mice.
AB  - Experiments were designed to assess age-related changes in the transplantability
      of human tumours xenografted in congenitally athymic (nu/nu) mice. It has been
      found that the number of progressively growing human tumour xenografts decreased
      significantly with increasing age of BALB/c nu/nu recipients. These findings,
      taken together with a previously recognized increase in the frequency of
      endogenous interleukin 2 (IL-2)-producing cells with age of nu/nu mice, prompted
      us to investigate whether administration of exogenous IL-2 to young adult nu/nu
      mice could change the transplantability of human tumours in the mice. Peritumoral
      administration of exogenous interleukin 2 to 8-week-old nu/nu mice inhibited the
      growth of the human tumour xenografts. In vitro activation of nu/nu splenocytes
      with exogenous Il-2 resulted in the generation of killer cells which have been
      found to be cytolytic when allowed to react with human tumour targets in 51Cr
      cytotoxicity assay. In addition, it has been found that the percentage of IL-2
      activated Thy 1.2+ and ASGM1+ cells substantially increased with increasing age
      of nu/nu spleen cell donors. These findings are compatible with the hypothesis
      that the observed age-related decrease in takes of human tumour xenografts might
      be determined by the increasing level of IL-2 production and subsequent
      maturation of IL-2-dependent effector cells.

PMID- 1444238
TI  - Pharmacology, bio-analysis and pharmacokinetics of the vinca alkaloids and semi
      synthetic derivatives (review).
AB  - Vinca alkaloids have been used as chemotherapeutic agents now for over three
      decades. Especially during recent years, the development of a considerable number
      of semi-synthetic derivatives, showing attractive properties in preclinical or
      clinical investigations, has been reported. In this paper we shall give a
      critical review of the investigations presented on this matter.

PMID- 1444239
TI  - Prevention of myelosuppression does not improve the therapeutic efficacy of chemo
      immunotherapy.
AB  - This study was designed to investigate whether the prevention of doxorubicin
      (DOX) induced myelosuppression could further improve the therapeutic efficacy of
      chemoimmunotherapy with DOX, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon gamma (IFN
      gamma). The antitumour activity of systemic IL-2/IFN-gamma immunotherapy in
      combination with DOX administered either systemically, regionally or on ion
      exchange microspheres, was assessed in WAG rats bearing hind limb solid colonic
      adenocarcinoma implants. Whilst the use of microspheres to transport DOX clearly
      avoided the myelosuppression, systemic and renal toxicity associated with the use
      of free DOX, it did not provide any therapeutic advantage over chemo
      immunotherapy with free systemic or regional drug.

PMID- 1444240
TI  - Detection of K-ras mutations by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE): a
      study on pancreatic cancer.
AB  - In pancreatic neoplasias mutations in the first exon (codon 12) of K-ras gene
      occur at high frequency and seem to have a diagnostic significance. We set up the
      DGGE conditions to search for these mutations in pancreatic tumor sample DNAs.
      All samples were directly classified by simply comparing their DGGE patterns with
      those of control cell lines carrying known K-ras base substitutions. We found a
      mutation frequency of 73% in pancreatic adenocarcinoma, whereas no mutations were
      observed in benign lesions. The non-isotopic method we used turned out to be
      rapid and sensitive. DGGE could therefore be utilized for the detection of K-ras
      mutations in pancreatic lesions, to evaluate their actual or potential
      malignancy. In general, DGGE could be useful for K-ras gene screening on
      pathological tissue samples.

PMID- 1444241
TI  - Analysis of c-myc oncogene in human esophageal carcinoma: immunohistochemistry,
      in situ hybridization and northern and Southern blot studies.
AB  - We have examined the c-myc gene expression and the gene organization in resected
      human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas, and in the adjacent normal esophageal
      mucosa from 20 patients undergoing radical surgery. Immunohistochemistry of p62c
      myc was compared with that of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in order
      to examine the biologic significance of p62c-myc. Relative c-myc expression
      detected by Northern blot analysis ranged from 0.41 to 2.8, but the degree of c
      myc expression did not correlate with other clinicopathological prognostic
      parameters. In sity hybridization localized the elevated c-myc mRNA expression to
      tumor cells and basal and parabasal cells of the adjacent normal mucosa.
      Immunohistochemistry showed altered localization of p62c-myc, i.e., both
      cytoplasmic and nuclear immunostaining in advanced carcinomas. c-myc
      immunoreactivity exhibited wider distribution compared with that of PCNA, a cell
      cycle related antigen, which may indicate induction of cell proliferation by p62c
      myc. DNA hybridization showed mild amplification in one out of 17 tumors and no
      evidence of gene rearrangement. There was no distinct correlation between the
      results of Northern or Southern blot analysis and the results of in situ
      hybridization or immunohistochemistry. Gene alteration of the c-myc locus, as
      well as overexpression of the c-myc oncogene, appeared to be limited, and
      analysis of the c-myc gene yielded limited prognostic value in human esophageal
      carcinomas.

PMID- 1444242
TI  - Influence of radiation treatment on serum transferrin and tumor necrosis factor
      alpha.
AB  - This study deals with the effect of radiation treatment (RT) on serum transferrin
      and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients with malignant tumors. In
      21 patients who received 36-60 Gy in 20 to 30 sessions of RT, serum transferrin
      and TNF-alpha were determined pre-RT, after 10 to 15 sessions (middle of RT) and
      after 20 to 30 sessions (end of RT). The values of serum transferrin pre-RT were
      significantly higher than those in the middle and at the end of RT (p < 0.001).
      The values of TNF-alpha were increased by RT and were significantly higher at the
      end of RT as compared to the pre-RT values (p < 0.05). The values of serum
      transferrin and TNF-alpha show a tendency to negative correlation, either as a
      whole or separately pre- and under-RT. However, no correlation was statistically
      significant.

PMID- 1444243
TI  - [Prenatal screening in utero of urinary abnormalities. Management].
AB  - The major benefit of antenatal ultrasonography is to allow early diagnosis of
      urinary tract malformations before postnatal infection worsens the prognosis. In
      the majority of cases, there is a unilateral and moderate dilatation requiring a
      check-up only during the second week of life; treatment subsequently depends on
      the etiology of the uropathy and the consequences on the kidney. Unilateral
      severe dilatations and bilateral, but moderate, dilatations must be managed
      immediately after birth in a pediatric surgical center. In the rare cases of
      severe bilateral obstructive uropathy, in utero decompression by catheterisation
      or surgery is now considered to be uselessly invasive, considering that renal
      dysplasia is already present when the malformation is detected.

PMID- 1444244
TI  - [Ureteroceles].
AB  - Four types of ureteroceles are described: A) ureterocele with single ureter
      (10%); B) ureterocele with total duplication and intra-vesical development (10%);
      C) ureterocele with total duplication and extra-vesical development (62%); D)
      ureterocele with ectopic ureter (3%). Most ureteroceles are now detected by
      antenatal ultrasonography, allowing early management. The treatment of types A
      and B is simple depending on the status of the above kidney and ureter:
      abstention, meatomy, ureterocelectomy with ureteral reimplantation, nephrectomy.
      In type C, the upper kidney is always destroyed. Two treatments are proposed:
      upper pole nephrectomy with ureterocelectomy which is a difficult but safe
      procedure, upper pole nephrectomy with aspiration of the ureterocele which is
      called the "simplified technique" but requires reoperation in 40% cases. The
      complicated forms may require either meatotomy for decompression, or diversion by
      percutaneous nephrostomy. Strangulation of the ureterocele constitutes an
      emergency.

PMID- 1444245
TI  - [Enuresis].
AB  - The word "enuresis" is the greek word for incontinence. Enuresis has to be
      considered as a symptom and not as a disease. We have to keep in mind that urine
      leaking may be due to an anatomical anomaly (epispadias, ectopic ureter, spinal
      coral lesion, urethral obstacle) in which case treatment of the underlying
      disease constitutes treatment of enuresis. Nevertheless, enuresis is isolated in
      95% of cases. Three groups are defined depending on whether the bladder is
      normal, hyperactive or retentionnist with bladder-sphincter dyssynergia. We
      emphasize the frequency of coexistence of these three aspects and the gravity of
      a wrong diagnosis. The onset or presence of bladder-sphincter dyssynergia is a
      major concern for the pediatric urologist due to its severity and the
      difficulties of treatment.

PMID- 1444246
TI  - [Treatment of idiopathic vesico-ureteral reflux in children].
AB  - Vesicoureteral reflux is the principal cause of pyelonephritis in children.
      Medical treatment is designed to prevent the development of renal parenchymal
      scars, as these lesions are irreversible and frequently interfere with growth of
      the kidney. Treatment must therefore be specific and sufficiently prolonged. In
      infants under the age of 2 years, reflux may resolve in 50% of cases as the
      ureterovesical junction develops. During this period, treatment consisting of
      alternating antiseptics should be proposed to prevent the development of
      pyelonephritis. In all other cases, reflux must be corrected. Two techniques can
      be proposed at the present time: surgery which gives 98% immediate and permanent
      good results, using Cohen's technique, and injection of Teflon, which is much
      less reliable, with risks of distant dissemination, particularly to the brain,
      and the possibility of developing ureteric stenosis and bladder stones. These
      problems have led many paediatric urologists to abandon endoscopic treatment.

PMID- 1444247
TI  - [Current treatment of bladder exstrophy].
AB  - The treatment of vesical exstrophy has greatly improved over the last twenty
      years. The most important progresses are: closing the bladder before the 72nd
      hour of life; iliac osteotomy allowing fusion of the pubis when closing the
      bladder; lengthening of the penis by liberation of the corpora cavernosa; entero
      cystoplasty when the reconstructed bladder is too small. Most surgeons practice
      the same timing for the different operations. Urinary and genital anomalies can
      be cured at the same time. In relation to urinary problems, about 80% of cases
      achieve good continence. An urinary diversion, using "Coffey's" technique, must
      be performed in the presence of incontinence. Concerning genital problems in boys
      and girls, reconstructive surgery allows restoration of almost normal genital
      organs. Intercourse seems to be satisfactory in most cases. There is a high
      sterility rate in men.

PMID- 1444248
TI  - [Cystoplasties in children].
AB  - Whenever the reservoir function of the bladder is impaired (neuropathic bladder
      and exstrophy), an enterocystoplasty constitutes a satisfactory solution in
      children to enlarge the bladder. The various techniques must take into account
      the degree of alteration of the bladder. The bowel segment must be detubularized,
      regardless of its origin. The main challenge is to obtain adequate peripheral
      resistance with easy voiding and filling of the bladder without urine leak,
      particularly in boys. In girls, the combination of enterocystoplasty and Gobbel
      Stockel procedure ensures perfect continence between two self-catheterisations.

PMID- 1444249
TI  - [Renal transplantation in children. Surgical aspects].
AB  - The renal transplantation in children has some specificities: urologic anomalies
      (vesico ureteral reflux, posterior urethral valves) are frequently the cause of
      the renal failure, and necessitate a thorough surgical preparation before
      transplantation (nephrectomy, reconstitution of urinary tract). The child must
      have a sterile, compliant and continent urinary tract on the day of the
      operation. In small children (< 15 kg), it is often necessary to operate through
      a transperitoneal incision, especially if the donor is an adult: the anastomoses
      will then concern the aorta and vena cava. The results are good, even better than
      in adults, except for very young children (under six years of age).
      Transplantation with living related donor (LRD) give the best results. Currently,
      the graft survival is 87% to 90% after three years with LRD, versus 65 to 77%
      with cadaveric donors.

PMID- 1444250
TI  - Science and politics: tensions between the head and the heart.

PMID- 1444251
TI  - Control of cell density and pattern by intercellular signaling in Myxococcus
      development.
AB  - Myxococcus xanthus cells feed, move, and develop cooperatively. Genetic,
      biochemical, and cell mosaic studies demonstrate that cells coordinate their
      multicellular behavior by transmission of intercellular signals. Starvation for
      amino acids at sufficiently high density on a solid surface initiates a series of
      events culminating in the formation of a multicellular structure called a
      fruiting body filled with dormant, environmentally resistant spores. This review
      discusses how myxobacteria use extracellular signals to sequentially check the
      density and arrangement of cells at different stages during development. For at
      least one early and one late developmental signal, cell density determines the
      efficiency of intercellular signaling. In turn, proper signaling insures that the
      appropriate cell density exists, thus controlling the progress of multicellular
      development in M. xanthus.

PMID- 1444252
TI  - Genetics of ribosomally synthesized peptide antibiotics.
AB  - In recent years many peptide antibiotics have been shown to be ribosomally
      synthesized. Among these are many microcins, produced by diverse strains of gram
      negative bacteria. While the structures and modes of action of these peptide
      antibiotics vary widely, many of them share several important features. Their
      synthesis is often induced by the cessation of growth. In addition, many of them
      undergo unusual posttranslational modifications to yield the mature molecule,
      which is often exported from the cell by a dedicated export apparatus. The genes
      involved in modification and export of the peptide antibiotics are generally
      found adjacent to the structural gene and are under the same regulation. The
      results supporting these conclusions are reviewed and discussed in this chapter.

PMID- 1444253
TI  - Molecular biology of methanogens.
AB  - Methanogens are a very diverse group of the Archaea (Archaebacteria). Their
      genomic DNAs range from 26 to 68 mol% G+C; they exhibit all known prokaryotic
      morphologies and inhabit anaerobic environments as varied as the human gut and
      deep-sea volcanic vents. They are, nevertheless, unified by their ability to gain
      energy by reducing CO, CO2, formate, methanol, methylamines, or acetate to
      methane. Methanogen genes are reviewed and analyzed in terms of their
      organization, structure, and expression and are compared with their bacterial
      (eubacterial) and eukaryal (eukaryotic) counterparts. Many methanogens are
      thermophiles, and some are hyperthermophiles. The influence of these extreme
      environments on their macromolecular structures is also addressed. Methanogens
      are oxygen-sensitive, fastidious anaerobes, and therefore their experimental
      manipulation in research laboratories has been very limited. The majority of the
      information currently available describing their molecular biology has been
      gained by gene cloning. With improvements in anaerobic handling procedures, this
      is beginning to change, and several experimentally tractable regulated systems of
      gene expression in methanogens are discussed. Anaerobic biodegradation
      terminating in methane biogenesis is an established, economically very important
      biotechnology used world-wide both to reduce waste and to generate fuel-grade
      biogas. The substantial progress made over the past decade, reviewed here, in
      understanding the molecular biology of methanogens should now provide a data base
      for considering genetic approaches to improving this process.

PMID- 1444254
TI  - The biology and genetics of the genus Rhodococcus.
AB  - The genus Rhodococcus is a unique taxon consisting of microorganisms that exhibit
      broad metabolic diversity, particularly to hydrophobic compounds such as
      hydrocarbons, chlorinated phenolics, steroids, lignin, coal, and petroleum.
      Advances in chemical, numerical, and molecular systematic methods have
      contributed greatly to the circumspection of the rhodococci, including the
      development of diagnostic fluoregenic probes for improved biochemical profiling
      and identification. Bioprocessing systems employing various Rhodococcus strains
      are operational for industrial and environmental applications. Such applications
      include production of acrylic acid and acrylamide, steroid conversions, and
      bioremediation of chlorinated hydrocarbons and phenolics. Progress on the genetic
      systems of the rhodococci is rather limited, although a number of plasmids,
      cloning vectors, and DNA transfer systems have been reported recently, such that
      progress should be rapid. Certain members of the genus Rhodococcus are known
      pathogens for humans, animals, and plants. Recent trends indicate that rhodococci
      of animal origin are opportunistic human pathogens, indicating the need for a
      greatly improved recognition and understanding of the virulence factors
      associated with the genus Rhodococcus.

PMID- 1444255
TI  - Biodiversity as a source of innovation in biotechnology.
AB  - The object of this article is to draw attention to the significance of microbial
      diversity as a major resource for biotechnological products and processes. The
      topic is approached from two complementary standpoints. First, an attempt is made
      to assess the extent of biodiversity, particularly microbial diversity. In this
      context, the application of the modern techniques of molecular biology is
      enabling the detection of hitherto completely unknown groups of microbes and,
      also, is revealing the extent of genetic diversity within microbial taxa. The
      case is made for the establishment of sound microbial taxonomies both on the
      basis of satisfying fundamental scientific needs, and for designing effective
      isolation strategies. The impact of an ecological approach to search and
      discovery of novel organisms and properties also is emphasized and illustrated.
      Second, the question of screening a collection of appropriate microorganisms for
      the desired attributes is considered. The focus here is placed on modern
      intelligent or targeted screening, and on the power of molecular biology to
      extend the range of screening options. Discussions of microbial ecology or
      diversity only rarely touch upon questions of gene pool conservation. The point
      made here is that loss of biodiversity should be as ominous for microbiologists
      and biotechnologists as it is to conservationists. The article concludes with
      thoughts on some means of conserving microbial diversity.

PMID- 1444256
TI  - The structure and replication of hepatitis delta virus.
AB  - Hepatitis delta virus exists in nature as a satellite of hepatitis B virus. This
      review emphasizes studies during the past few years that have clarified much
      about this satellite relationship. Many unique and intriguing features have been
      assigned to delta and its replication. In addition, certain unresolved questions
      are emphasized, and consideration is even given to the application of delta as a
      vector.

PMID- 1444257
TI  - The electron-transport proteins of hydroxylating bacterial dioxygenases.
AB  - The degradation of aromatic compounds by aerobic bacteria frequently begins with
      the dihydroxylation of the substrate by nonheme iron-containing dioxygenases.
      These enzymes consist of two or three soluble proteins that interact to form an
      electron-transport chain that transfers electrons from reduced nucleotides (NADH)
      via flavin and [2Fe-2S] redox centers to a terminal dioxygenase. The dioxygenases
      may be classified in terms of the number of constituent components and the nature
      of the redox centers. Class I consists of two-component enzymes in which the
      first protein is a reductase containing both a flavin and a [2Fe-2S] redox center
      and the second component is the oxygenase; Class II consists of three-component
      enzymes in which the flavin and [2Fe-2S] redox centers of the reductase are on a
      separate flavoprotein and ferredoxin, respectively; and Class III consists of
      three-component enzymes in which the reductase contains both a flavin and [2Fe
      2S] redox center but also requires a second [2Fe-2S] center on a ferredoxin for
      electron transfer to the terminal oxygenase. Further subdivision is based on the
      the type of flavin (FMN or FAD) in the reductase, the coordination of the [2Fe
      2S] center in the ferredoxin, and the number of terminal oxygenase subunits. From
      the deduced amino acid sequence of several dioxygenases the ligands involved in
      the coordination of the nucleotides, iron-sulfur centers, and mononuclear nonheme
      iron active site are proposed. On the basis of their spectroscopic properties and
      unusually high redox potentials, the [2Fe-2S] clusters of the ferredoxins and
      terminal oxygenases have been assigned to the class of Rieske-type iron-sulfur
      proteins. The iron atoms in the Rieske iron-sulfur cluster are coordinated to the
      protein by two histidine nitrogens and two cysteine sulfurs.

PMID- 1444258
TI  - Exopolysaccharides in plant-bacterial interactions.
AB  - Rhizobial plant symbionts and bacterial plant pathogens produce
      exopolysaccharides that often play essential roles in the plant interaction. Many
      of these exopolysaccharides are acidic heteropolysaccharides that have repeating
      subunit structures with carbohydrate and noncarbohydrate substituents, while
      others are homopolysaccharides such as alginate, levan, cellulose, and glucan.
      While the homopolysaccharides are synthesized by mechanisms that vary with the
      particular polysaccharide, the heteropolysaccharides as a rule are synthesized by
      subunit assembly from nucleotide diphosphate-sugar precursors on a membrane-bound
      lipid carrier followed by polymerization and secretion. Many mutants in
      exopolysaccharide synthesis have been isolated, and in several cases this has led
      to the identification of genes that function in particular steps of biosynthesis,
      as well as in regulation of exopolysaccharide biosynthesis. The genetic
      regulation of exopolysaccharide synthesis in many plant pathogens is complex,
      perhaps reflecting the various niches, free living and in planta, in which
      exopolysaccharides function. In some cases, exopolysaccharide synthesis is
      regulated coordinately with other virulence factors, and in other cases
      separately. Regulatory genes that have homology to the two-component sensor and
      transcriptional effector systems are a common motif. In Rhizobium species,
      exopolysaccharide synthesis is regulated by transcriptional as well as
      posttranslational mechanisms. Exopolysaccharides function differently in the root
      nodule symbiosis versus plant pathogenesis. Specific Rhizobium exopolysaccharide
      structures promote nodule development and invasion in legumes that form
      indeterminate nodules. In plant pathogenesis, less specific mechanisms of
      pathogenesis occur: exopolysaccharides cause wilting by blocking xylem vessels,
      are partly responsible for water-soaked lesions, and may also aid in invasion,
      growth, and survival in plant tissues.

PMID- 1444259
TI  - Double-stranded and single-stranded RNA viruses of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - Yeast RNA viruses include L-A (and its toxin-encoding satellites M1, M2, ...) and
      L-BC dsRNA viruses and the single-stranded replicons 20S RNA and 23S RNA. L-A has
      a single-segment 4.6-kb linear genome encoding a major coat protein (gag) and its
      RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (pol), the latter expressed as a gag-pol fusion
      protein formed by a -1 ribosomal frameshift. In vitro replication, transcription,
      and binding systems for L-A have been used to define cis sites necessary for
      packaging and replication of viral RNA. Cellular functions that promote viral
      replication include the MAK3-encoded N-acetyltransferase whose modification of
      the gag N terminus is necessary for L-A virus assembly. The toxins encoded by the
      M satellite RNAs are processed by enzymes (KEX1 and KEX2, for killer expression)
      whose study led to discovery of mammalian hormone-processing enzymes. 20S RNA is
      an apparently naked circular RNA replicon (with a dsRNA form called W) encoding a
      RNA polymerase-like molecule. Its copy number is induced 10,000-fold in 1%
      potassium acetate, and it is subject to the same SKI antiviral system that
      represses L-A, L-BC, and M dsRNA copy number.

PMID- 1444260
TI  - Genetics of Campylobacter and Helicobacter.
AB  - This article reviews the current state of genetic analysis of Campylobacter and
      Helicobacter. Chromosomal genes cloned from Campylobacter and Helicobacter
      species are listed along with the method used to identify the cloned gene.
      Campylobacter plasmid genes that have been cloned and expressed in Escherichia
      coli and that specify resistance to tetracycline, kanamycin, or chloramphenicol
      are presented. This review also examines our current knowledge of genetic
      exchange in Campylobacter, including conjugative plasmid transfer, natural
      transformation, electrotransformation, and bacteriophage transduction. In
      Helicobacter, natural transformation has been described and both plasmids and
      bacteriophages have been observed. Plasmid cloning vectors have been constructed
      for Campylobacter. Available vectors are discussed and restriction maps of some
      useful vectors that we have constructed are included. The genome sizes of C.
      jejuni and C. coli are approximately 1.7 megabases (Mb), whereas the genome size
      of H. pylori ranges from 1.60 to 1.73 Mb. The positions of various genes on the
      C. jejuni and C. coli genome maps have been determined using both homologous and
      heterologous DNA probes. Genomic maps of these organisms are presented.

PMID- 1444261
TI  - Autoregulatory factors and communication in actinomycetes.
AB  - The ability to produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites and a mycelial
      form of growth that develops into spores are two biological aspects
      characteristic of the gram-positive bacterial genus Streptomyces. Secondary
      metabolism and cell differentiation are controlled by diffusible low-molecular
      weight chemical substances called autoregulators. A-factor, the representative of
      the autoregulators, triggers streptomycin production and aerial-mycelium
      formation in Streptomyces griseus. A-factor exerts its regulatory function with
      the aid of a receptor protein that itself acts as a repressor-type regulator. The
      A-factor signal via the A-factor-receptor protein is transferred to downstream
      genes, such as streptomycin-production genes and sporulation genes, through
      multiple regulatory genes in a complex regulatory cascade. Thus, A-factor can be
      termed a "microbial hormone." This review deals with the A-factor-regulatory
      cascade as a model system for other autoregulators. The biosynthesis of A-factor,
      the structures and characteristics of other autoregulators, and the importance of
      these autoregulators in the ecosystem are also included.

PMID- 1444262
TI  - Genetics of competition for nodulation of legumes.
AB  - An economically important problem in microbial ecology concerns the efficacy of
      rhizobial inoculants for the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules on legume
      crop plants such as soybean, alfalfa, and clover. Some strains of rhizobia can
      increase symbiotic nitrogen fixation under controlled conditions. However,
      attempts to improve nitrogen fixation under agricultural conditions with such
      strains often fail, usually as a result of the presence of indigenous rhizobia
      limiting nodulation by the inoculum strains. This problem is referred to as the
      Rhizobium competition problem, and molecular genetics is being used to address
      the problem from two perspectives. First, the host specificity of rhizobia is
      being characterized with the long term goal of developing strains that can
      nodulate a very strain-specific host-legume genotype. Second, the genetic basis
      of competitiveness in several strains is being examined. Genetic determinants of
      nodulation competitiveness have been isolated and mechanisms for their stable
      integration into the genome of superior nitrogen-fixing strains have been
      developed. Several phenotypes have been identified as playing an important role
      in nodulation competitiveness including antibiosis, motility, speed of
      nodulation, cell-surface characteristics, and nodulation efficiency. Several
      solutions to this problem are likely to result from these strategies and will be
      useful for certain legumes in specific locations.

PMID- 1444263
TI  - Positive regulation in the gram-positive bacterium: Bacillus subtilis.
AB  - Temporally and environmentally regulated gene expression in prokaryotes occurs
      primarily at the level of transcription initiation. Two main modes of regulation
      have been described, including either the binding of a repressor that blocks
      transcription or the interaction of a positive regulator with the transcription
      complex, leading to transcription initiation. Several classes can be
      distinguished among positive regulators according to their mechanisms of action.
      This review describes the different types of positive regulators identified in
      Bacillus subtilis, a gram-positive bacterium. These include accessory regulatory
      polypeptides, classical positive regulators that bind to target sites located
      just upstream from the promoter, ambiactive regulators that can act both
      positively and negatively, antiterminators, two-component signal transduction
      systems, and positive regulators associated with specific secondary sigma
      factors.

PMID- 1444264
TI  - Penicillin and cephalosporin biosynthetic genes: structure, organization,
      regulation, and evolution.
AB  - Penicillins and cephalosporins are produced by a wide variety of microorganisms,
      including some filamentous fungi, many gram-positive streptomycetes, and a few
      gram-negative unicellular bacteria. All produce these beta-lactam antibiotics by
      essentially the same biosynthetic pathway. Recently, most of the penicillin and
      cephalosporin biosynthetic genes have been cloned, sequenced, and expressed. The
      biosynthetic genes code for enzymes that possess multifunctional peptide
      synthetase, cyclase, epimerase, expandase, hydroxylase, lysine aminotransferase,
      and acetyltransferase activities and are organized in chromosomal gene clusters
      and coordinately expressed. DNA hybridization screens of streptomycetes
      demonstrate that beta-lactam biosynthetic genes may be more widespread in nature
      than is indicated by conventional antibiotic screens. They offer the possibility
      of expanding the search for organisms with potential to make new beta-lactam
      antibiotics. Attempts to improve current yields of beta-lactams in production
      strains by introducing into them additional copies of biosynthetic genes have
      been partially successful. Comparative sequence analysis of bacterial and fungal
      beta-lactam biosynthetic genes show they share very high sequence identity. A
      model that explains the similarity of biosynthetic genes from an evolutionary
      standpoint assumes horizontal gene-transfer between the two groups of organisms.
      Indirect evidence suggests the transfer occurred from the bacteria to the fungi.

PMID- 1444265
TI  - Signaling and host range variation in nodulation.
AB  - Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Azorhizobium strains, collectively referred to as
      rhizobia, elicit on their leguminous hosts, in a specific manner, the formation
      of nodules in which they fix nitrogen. Rhizobial nod genes, which determine host
      specificity, infection, and nodulation, are involved in the exchange of low
      molecular weight signal molecules between the plant and the bacteria as follows.
      Transcription of the nod operons is under the control of NodD regulatory
      proteins, which are specifically activated by plant flavonoid signals. The common
      and species-specific structural nod genes are involved in turn in the synthesis
      of specific lipo-oligosaccharides that signal back to the plant to elicit root
      hair deformations, cortical-cell divisions, and nodule-meristem formation.

PMID- 1444266
TI  - The natural history and pathogenesis of HIV infection.
AB  - Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) results in progressive
      deterioration of the cell-mediated immune system characterized by T-helper-cell
      dysfunction and loss in the face of signs of generalized immune-system
      activation. The final stage of HIV disease, AIDS, has a myriad of opportunistic
      infections and malignancies as its hallmarks. The causal relationship between HIV
      and this complex disease pattern is clear but the mechanisms by which it occurs
      are not well understood. There are a number of new developments in our
      understanding of the natural history of HIV infection from a laboratory
      standpoint. Our review of this information raises further questions as to the
      validity of the conventional "cytopathic" model and all its direct descendants.
      In response to these conflicts, we have developed and present an alternative
      hypothesis in which AIDS pathogenesis, in all its manifestations, is seen as the
      outcome of one central process, excess immune activation generated by the
      interaction of virus with the CD4 receptor. The implications of this hypothesis
      on therapy of HIV infections are discussed.

PMID- 1444267
TI  - Functional and evolutionary relationships among diverse oxygenases.
AB  - Oxygenases that incorporate one or two atoms of dioxygen into substrates are
      found in many metabolic pathways. In this article, representative oxygenases,
      principally those found in bacterial pathways for the degradation of
      hydrocarbons, are reviewed. Monooxygenases, discussed in this chapter,
      incorporate one hydroxyl group into substrates. In this reaction, two atoms of
      dioxygen are reduced to one hydroxyl group and one H2O molecule by the
      concomitant oxidation of NAD(P)H. Dioxygenases catalyze the incorporation of two
      atoms of dioxygen into substrates. Two types of dioxygenases, aromatic-ring
      dioxygenases and aromatic-ring-cleavage dioxygenases, are discussed. The aromatic
      ring dioxygenases incorporate two hydroxyl groups into aromatic substrates, and
      cis-diols are formed. This reaction also requires NAD(P)H as an electron donor.
      Aromatic-ring-cleavage dioxygenases incorporate two atoms of dioxygen into
      aromatic substrates, and the aromatic ring is cleaved. This reaction does not
      require an external reductant. All the oxygenases possess a cofactor, a
      transition metal, flavin or pteridine, that interacts with dioxygen. The
      concerted reactions between dioxygen and carbon in organic compounds are spin
      forbidden. The cofactor is used to overcome this restriction. For the oxygenases
      that require the NAD(P)H cofactor, the enzyme reaction is separated into two
      steps, the oxidation of NAD(P)H to generate two reducing equivalents, and the
      hydroxylation of substrates. Flavoprotein hydroxylases that catalyze the
      monohydroxylation of the aromatic ring carry out these two reactions on a single
      polypeptide chain. In other oxygenases, the NAD(P)H oxidation and a hydroxylation
      reaction are catalyzed by two separate polypeptides that are linked by a short
      electron-transport chain. Two reducing equivalents generated by the oxidation of
      NAD(P)H are transferred through the electron-transport chain to the cofactor on a
      hydroxylase component that they reduce. Dioxygen couples with the reduced
      cofactor and subsequently hydroxylates substrates. The electron-transport chains
      associated with oxygenases contain at least two redox centers. The first redox
      center is usually a flavin, while the second is an iron-sulfur cluster. The
      electron transport is initiated by a single two-electron transfer from NAD(P)H to
      a flavin, followed by two single-electron transfers from the flavin to an iron
      sulfur cluster. The primary sequences of many oxygenases have been determined,
      and according to their sequence similarities, the oxygenases can be grouped into
      several protein families. Among proteins of the same family, the sequences in
      regions involved in cofactor binding are strongly conserved. Local sequence
      similarities are also observed among oxygenases from different families,
      primarily in regions involved in cofactor binding.

PMID- 1444268
TI  - Arrest of bacterial DNA replication.
AB  - The chromosomes of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria contain sites
      that arrest the progression of DNA replication forks. These replication-arrest
      sites limit the end of the replication cycle to a particular region of the
      chromosome, called the terminus region. Replication arrest is mediated by protein
      DNA complexes that show polarity of function: they arrest DNA replication from
      one direction only. This paper reviews our current knowledge of the replication
      arrest complexes of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli and examines
      possibilities for the function and mechanism of action of these complexes within
      the bacterial cell.

PMID- 1444269
TI  - The lipophosphoglycan of Leishmania parasites.
AB  - Protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania have the remarkable ability to avoid
      destruction in the hostile environments they encounter throughout their life
      cycle. The molecular details of how these pathogens persevere with impunity under
      harsh conditions are beginning to be understood. The fact that Leishmania
      parasites have adapted to not only survive, but to proliferate probably is due to
      the protection conferred by specialized molecules on the parasite's cell surface.
      One such macromolecule is a novel glycoconjugate called lipophosphoglycan. This
      heterogeneous, lipid-containing polysaccharide is the major surface molecule of
      the parasite and has been implicated in a surprisingly large number of functions
      that may contribute the the parasite's pathogenesis. This review emphasizes the
      structural aspects of lipophosphoglycan and its possible functions and
      biosynthesis.

PMID- 1444270
TI  - Human immunodeficiency virus and the central nervous system.
AB  - Neurological disease frequently complicates HIV-1 infection. In addition to
      opportunistic infections, a syndrome of combined cognitive and motor impairment,
      referred to as the AIDS dementia complex, has been recognized. While presumed to
      relate to HIV-1 itself, the pathogenesis of this syndrome remains uncertain.
      Because of the limited extent of productive brain HIV-1 infection in many cases,
      and because such infection involves macrophages and microglia rather than cells
      of neuroectodermal origin, current speculation centers on indirect mechanisms of
      brain injury including virus- or cell-coded neurotoxins. We review clinical and
      laboratory studies and also describe models of the interaction of HIV-1 and
      immune responses that might account for brain injury.

PMID- 1444271
TI  - Metabolism and functions of trypanothione in the Kinetoplastida.
AB  - Trypanosomatids differ from all other organisms in their ability to conjugate the
      sulfur-containing tripeptide, glutathione, and the polyamine, spermidine, to form
      trypanothione [N1,N8-bis(glutathionyl)spermidine]. Together with the NADPH
      dependent flavoprotein, trypanothione reductase, the dithiol form of
      trypanothione provides an intracellular reducing environment in these parasites,
      substituting for glutathione and glutathione reductase found in the mammalian
      host. Trypanothione and its related enzymes are involved in defense against
      damage by oxidants, certain heavy metals, and possibly xenobiotics. Trypanothione
      and its metabolic precursor, glutathionylspermidine, are also implicated in the
      modulation of spermidine levels during growth. Several existing trypanocidal
      drugs interact with the trypanothione system, suggesting that trypanothione
      metabolism may be a good target for the development of new drugs. The
      purification and properties of three key enzymes (glutathionylspermidine
      synthetase, trypanothione synthetase, and trypanothione reductase) are discussed,
      and the catalytic mechanism, substrate-specificity, and the three-dimensional
      structure of trypanothione reductase are compared to that of glutathione
      reductase.

PMID- 1444272
TI  - Replication cycle of Bacillus subtilis hydroxymethyluracil-containing phages.
AB  - The present review focuses on phage 2C, a member of a family of virulent phages
      that multiply in Bacillus subtilis. The best known members of this group are
      SPO1, phi e, H1, 2C, SP8, and SP82, the genomes of which are made of double
      stranded DNA of about 150 kilobase pairs (kbp). The two DNA strands have
      different buoyant densities. Moreover, thymine (T) is completely replaced by
      hydroxymethyluracil (hmUra). Comparison of the phage DNAs has shown that both
      base substitutions and deletions have contributed to the evolution of their
      genomes. In addition, all of the hmUra-phage genomes contain colinear redundant
      ends, amounting to 10% of total bases. Two lines of evidence suggest that the
      redundant ends of 2C DNA, in spite of extensive homology, contain unique
      sequences. Further studies focused on DNA replication during the lytic cycle. The
      semiconservative replication of the infecting viral genome is followed by
      extensive recombination. At the level of replication forks, viral DNA synthesis
      is discontinuous on both strands during the whole cycle.
      Deoxythymidinetriphosphate, required for viral DNA synthesis in permeabilized
      infected bacteria, was incorporated in small amounts into phage DNA. The putative
      primary origin of replication has been cloned and localized on the viral genome.
      Some viral promoters have been successfully cloned in Escherichia coli. These
      sequences, however, did not promote transcription in B. subtilis. The abnormal
      base might be required for promoter activity in the natural host.

PMID- 1444273
TI  - The anthropological evidence for change through Romanisation of the Poundbury
      population.
AB  - Poundbury Camp cemetery was in use for about 500 Years and was the burial ground
      for an Iron Age Durotrigian group, a rural Roman settlement and an urban Romano
      British community. Low variance of metrical characters and persistence of
      familial traits in the three groups suggest a continuity of the population and in
      situ growth. However evidence for an anthropological response to the cultural
      romanisation of the population has been found in a number of skeletal traits
      including squatting which was most often adopted by Durotrigian females. Dietary
      changes are indicted by variation in concentrations of trace elements, including
      lead, in the bones.

PMID- 1444274
TI  - Ancient skeletal remains of the Canary Islands: bone histology and chemical
      analysis.
AB  - Prehispanic burials from the Canary Islands are often well preserved. Many of the
      bodies are mummified, most of them were not interred, but deposited in caves.
      Bone histological and trace element analysis of 117 skeletons of the prehispanic
      period of the Canary Islands was performed. In some of the islands we have found
      a high prevalence of osteoporosis, whereas in others, histomorphometrically
      assessed trabecular bone mass (TBM) (in undecalcified iliac crest specimens) was
      in the normal range. Bone trace elements analysis have shown high bone S(r), Mg
      and Mn, and low Fe, Zn and Cu in those skeletons with a more reduced TBM. These
      facts speak for a relative protein-calorie malnutrition and a consumption of a
      mainly vegetarian diet. This is especially marked in the skeletons from Gran
      Canaria.

PMID- 1444275
TI  - Anthropometrical study of the Asmat (Irian Jaya).
AB  - An anthropometric study in the Asmat population, a coastal group of Papua living
      in the south-western part of Irian Jaya (Indonesian New Guinea) covered 318
      subjects of both sexes, belonging to four different villages (Basim, Senggo, Ewer
      and Piramanak) of the Asmat region. The dimensions and derived indices,
      describing body, head and face morphology as well as body composition show the
      Asmat to be slender and muscular, with shoulders, chest and pelvis of medium
      dimensions and with long legs in relation to the trunk. They are dolichocephalic
      with narrow faces and rather large noses. Comparisons of the four Asmat groups
      indicate the importance of geographic position on size of the subjects and the
      similarities detected between the groups by discriminant and principal component
      analysis.

PMID- 1444276
TI  - [The color and structure of the human iris. 2. Studies of 200 twins].
AB  - Subject of the present report is an investigation of the heredity of 30 iris
      characteristics. The material basis of this sample of twins (100 monozygotic and
      100 dizygotic pairs), the largest ever taken as a basis for the purpose of iris
      research, consists of standardized colour photographs of the examined persons'
      irises and iris-microscopic observations. The pairs of twins are compared to 100
      non-related casual pairs in order to render a better estimation of the degree of
      heredity of the features possible. On every occasion several classes were
      constituted for the concordance verification. These classes result from the
      number of the classes of the forms of markedness and present different levels of
      similarity. The different distribution of the twin pairs and the control pairs on
      the concordance classes are always examined for their statistical significance,
      and for each group of pairs a concordance value is computed. The intervals
      between the concordance values of the monozygotic and dizygotic pairs and the
      control pairs indicate the degree of heredity of the investigated feature. Taking
      all the compiled factors and conditions into consideration, an evaluation of the
      features as heredity features is made. Though a hereditary component can be
      observed for all iris characteristics, only about a third could be called
      heredity features. Quantity of pigment and the hitherto undescribed limiting
      layer folds were evaluated as "very good", whereas pigment colour in the fine
      analysis, quality of the anterior stroma leaf, frequency of iris crypts and iris
      frill position were judged as "good". Tone of blue, markedness of Woelfflin
      nodules, quantity and markedness of contractional rings could be evaluated as
      "moderately good" as to their heredity. On the basis of the prior concordance
      investigations for each of the 300 pairs, a "similarity index" and a "concordance
      index" were computed in order to arrive at evidence as to the degree of
      similarity of the single pairs; i.e. in order to detect the limits of the
      similarity between non-identical twins and the dissimilarity between identical
      twins. This concluding investigations lead to the question of the possibility of
      a diagnosis of genetic identicalness solely on the basis of the comparison of
      irises.

PMID- 1444277
TI  - Discipline of nursing.

PMID- 1444278
TI  - The real and the ideal.

PMID- 1444279
TI  - Fighting back: promoting emancipatory nursing actions.
AB  - Poverty, education, and social problems are inextricably linked to health
      concerns and cannot be addressed in isolation from each other. Nurses are being
      challenged to care for clients who are socially, politically, and economically
      disadvantaged. The model of emancipatory nursing actions is derived from the work
      of Freire, Habermas, and Katz and presented as a practice model in guiding nurses
      to begin choosing actions that seek to help people fight back from the depths of
      their despair, rather than helping people cope and adapt to their oppression.
      Emancipatory interventions are provided to help nurses launch a new direction
      toward freeing their clients, rather than herding them through an uncaring and
      disjointed health and social service system.

PMID- 1444280
TI  - Conceptual and methodological issues in nurse case management research.
AB  - Conceptual and methodological issues facing researchers who are studying the
      process and outcomes of nurse case management are identified. The evolution of a
      research program designed to understand and evaluate one model of nurse case
      management is described as an example of responding to these issues. The
      development of a body of knowledge around nurse case management is essential to
      assure the expansion of this role and to justify reimbursement through current
      and evolving insurance mechanisms.

PMID- 1444281
TI  - Nursing care partnerships at the Denver Nursing Project in Human Caring: an
      application and extension of caring theory in practice.
AB  - Jean Watson's theory of nursing as the art and science of human caring provides
      the framework for practice at the Denver Nursing Project in Human Caring, a nurse
      managed center for people living with HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this article is to
      describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of a new model of
      nursing practice at the Caring Center, called nursing care partnerships. Client
      and nurse narrative accounts are presented as a means of grounding the reader in
      the care partners' relationships that are formed during the journey of HIV/AIDS.

PMID- 1444282
TI  - Components of nurse innovation: a model from acute care hospitals.
AB  - Components that promote nurse innovation in acute care hospitals are explicated
      in the Acute Care Nursing Innovation Model. Grounded in nursing care delivery
      systems and excellent management-organizations perspectives, nurse executives and
      30 nurse "intrapreneurs" from 10 innovative hospitals spanning the United States
      shared their experiences and insights through semistructured, tape-recorded
      telephone interviews. Guided by interpretive interactionist strategies, the
      essential components, characteristics, and interrelationships are conceptualized
      and described so that others may be successful in their innovative endeavors.
      Successful innovation is dependent on the fit between and among the components;
      the better the fit, the more likely the innovation will succeed.

PMID- 1444283
TI  - Parse's theory as a model for practice: the cutting edge.
AB  - If nursing practice is the performing art of the science of nursing, then
      practice is guided by nursing theory and cannot be considered separately from it.
      Nursing theory based practice is the cutting edge of the discipline. Practice
      methods reflect the beliefs and values of the theories from which they evolve.
      Nurses' values and beliefs about human beings and health are incarnated in the
      way they practice. This article presents Parse's theory of human becoming as a
      model for practice; explicates the beliefs, values, and ethic of the practice
      method; analyzes the logical coherence of theory and method; illustrates the
      pragmatics of the method, and gives evidence of its soundness. The theory
      research-practice triad developed by Parse articulates a paradigmatic view of the
      discipline as a whole with a view of the human being as a living unity freely
      choosing personal meanings in life situations. Parse's practice methodology
      provides nurses with a way of practicing with a focus on the quality of life as
      it is humanly lived. It is presented here as the practice component of an
      emergent theory-research-practice tradition on the cutting edge of nursing
      science.

PMID- 1444284
TI  - Family nursing practice paradigm perspectives and diagnostic approaches.
AB  - Family nursing practice reflects different belief systems about the nature of the
      family and family health. Competing belief systems (paradigms) are examined as
      they relate to the concepts of concern to family nursing. Using a family case
      study, divergent diagnostic approaches emerging from the paradigms are described
      and demonstrated. Implications are delineated for the further development of
      family nursing practice.

PMID- 1444285
TI  - Nursing practice model for maternal role sufficiency.
AB  - In 1975 Meleis set forth a conceptual framework for nursing practice centered on
      the concepts of role insufficiency and role supplementation. Later, Millor
      introduced a parental role sufficiency model for nursing research in child abuse
      and neglect. Based on the works of Meleis and Millor, a nursing practice model is
      proposed that focuses on maternal role sufficiency. It includes assessment of
      prenatal characteristics, measurement of developmental and health-illness
      outcomes, and preventive role supplementation intervention.

PMID- 1444287
TI  - Pharmacokinetic-interaction study of didanosine and ranitidine in patients
      seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus.
AB  - The potential pharmacokinetic interactions between didanosine, an acid-labile
      antiretroviral agent, and ranitidine, an H2-receptor antagonist, were evaluated
      by a crossover study of 12 male patients seropositive for the human
      immunodeficiency virus. Single oral doses of 375 mg of didanosine, formulated as
      a citrate-phosphate-buffered sachet, or of 150 mg of ranitidine were administered
      alone or in combination (ranitidine was given 2 h prior to didanosine). Serial
      blood samples and total urinary output were collected after each treatment and
      analyzed for didanosine and/or ranitidine by validated high-performance liquid
      chromatography-UV assay methods. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by
      noncompartmental methods. There were significant increases in mean area under the
      curve from time zero to infinity and mean urinary recovery for didanosine given
      in combination with ranitidine compared with those for didanosine alone. There
      were no significant differences between didanosine coadministered with ranitidine
      and didanosine alone in the respective mean peak concentrations in plasma, times
      to peak, elimination half-lives, or renal clearances. The mean area under the
      curve for ranitidine given with didanosine was significantly less than that for
      ranitidine given alone. There were no significant differences between the mean
      peak concentrations in plasma, times to peak, elimination half-lives, renal
      clearances, or urinary recovery values for ranitidine coadministered with
      didanosine and values for ranitidine given alone. These data demonstrate that
      administration of didanosine 2 h after ranitidine will result in a minor increase
      in the bioavailability of didanosine. A modification in the dose of didanosine or
      ranitidine is not necessary if the dose of ranitidine precedes that of didanosine
      by 2 h.

PMID- 1444286
TI  - Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic requirements for antibiotic therapy of
      experimental endocarditis.

PMID- 1444288
TI  - CP-72,588, a semisynthetic analog of the polyether ionophore UK-58,582 with
      increased anticoccidial potency.
AB  - We have employed semisynthesis to enhance the anticoccidial potency of a
      polyether ionophore. CP-72,588 is the alpha-methyl analog of the fermentation
      derived polyether ionophore UK-58,852. The parent ionophore required a dose of 15
      ppm to achieve anticoccidial efficacy in chickens equivalent to that of
      salinomycin at 60 ppm. CP-72,588 demonstrated substantially improved potency,
      with efficacy at 5 to 7.5 ppm. The intrinsic antimicrobial potencies of the two
      ionophores are similar; however, CP-72,588 was found in chicken tissues at higher
      levels than those of the parent ionophore when each was administered at the same
      dose (8 ppm). The enhanced potency of CP-72,588 may be partially due to enhanced
      uptake into tissues.

PMID- 1444289
TI  - Comparative study of pharmacokinetics and serum bactericidal activities of
      cefpirome, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, imipenem, and ciprofloxacin.
AB  - We compared the pharmacokinetics and the serum bactericidal activities of
      cefpirome, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, imipenem, and ciprofloxacin. Fifteen healthy
      volunteers received 1 g of cefpirome, ceftazidime, and ceftriaxone intravenously,
      500 mg of imipenem-cilastatin intravenously, and 500 mg of ciprofloxacin orally.
      High-performance liquid chromatographic assays were used to quantitate unchanged
      antibiotic in plasma and urine. Serum bactericidal activities were determined
      against six clinical isolates each of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter
      cloacae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by using a modified microdilution method of
      Reller and Stratton (L. B. Reller and C. W. Stratton, J. Infect. Dis. 136:196
      204, 1977). Overall, cefpirome exhibited pharmacokinetics similar to those of
      ceftazidime: half-life (t1/2), 1.95 h; concentration at 1 h (C1h), 47 to 49
      micrograms/ml for both antibiotics. Ceftriaxone displayed the longest t1/2 (7.65
      h) and the highest C1h (137.8 micrograms/ml), while we observed the shortest t1/2
      (1.05 h) and the lowest C1h (19.85 micrograms/ml) with imipenem. At 1 h,
      cefpirome and, even more so, imipenem showed significantly better serum
      bactericidal activities against S. aureus (1:273 and 1:80) than did the other
      antibiotics (P less than 0.0005; analysis of variance with randomized block
      design and Bonferroni correction). Against E. cloacae, we observed the highest
      serum bactericidal titers at 1 h with cefpirome, and this superiority vis-a-vis
      the other antibiotics tested was maintained for up to 8 h after dosing.
      Ceftazidime remained the most active agent tested against P. aeruginosa (serum
      bactericidal activity titers, 1:43 at 1 h) up to 8 h. In summary, the study
      showed that cefpirome and imipenem provide more potent serum bactericidal
      activities than do broad-spectrum cephalosporins against S. aureus; thus, both of
      these antibiotics should be adequate against serious S. aureus infections. In
      addition, cefpirome appears to be a promising alternative for treatment of
      infections caused by E. cloacae and P. aeruginosa.

PMID- 1444290
TI  - Effects of sub-MICs of antibiotics on cell surface characteristics and virulence
      of Pasteurella multocida.
AB  - The effects of sub-MICs of certain antibiotics, namely, penicillin G,
      tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, on the cell surface
      characteristics and the virulences of two toxigenic isolates of Pasteurella
      multocida representing capsular types A and D were evaluated. Expression of
      proteins, in particular, outer membrane proteins and iron-regulated proteins, was
      not affected by exposure of bacterial cells to low concentrations of antibiotics.
      However, exposition of surface antigens was modified by sub-MICs of the
      antibiotics tested. The lipopolysaccharide profile of one isolate (capsular type
      D) was altered by penicillin G. Sub-MICs of penicillin G and tetracycline
      diminished the virulence of the capsular type A isolate and adherence to porcine
      tracheal rings of the capsular type D isolate. Production of dermonecrotic toxin
      was not affected by sub-MICs of the antibiotics tested. Our results indicate that
      growth of P. multocida in the presence of low concentrations of antibiotics seems
      to have, depending on the isolate, profound effects on cell surface
      characteristics, with concomitant effects on adherence or virulence. Our results
      also indicate that production of dermonecrotic toxin, an important virulence
      factor of P. multocida isolates associated with porcine atrophic rhinitis, was
      not affected by sub-MICs of the antibiotics studied.

PMID- 1444291
TI  - Penetration of cefpodoxime proxetil in lung parenchyma and epithelial lining
      fluid of noninfected patients.
AB  - The pulmonary disposition of cefpodoxime was studied in 12 patients with
      pulmonary opacities after a single oral dose of 260 mg of cefpodoxime-proxetil,
      which is equivalent to 200 mg of cefpodoxime. Blood and lung tissue samples were
      collected during surgery, and bronchoalveolar lavage was carried out 3 h (group
      A) or 6 h (group B) after drug administration. Urea was used as an endogenous
      marker for measurement of the volume of epithelial lining fluid (ELF).
      Concentrations were measured by using a microbiological assay. The mean
      concentrations of cefpodoxime in plasma, ELF, and lung tissue were, respectively,
      1.85 +/- 0.82 mg/liter, 0.22 +/- 0.13 mg/liter, and 0.89 +/- 0.80 mg/kg of body
      weight in group A and 1.40 +/- 1.25 mg/liter, 0.12 +/- 0.14 mg/liter, and 0.84 +/
      0.61 mg/kg in group B. Concentrations in lung parenchyma 6 h after dosing were
      at least equal to or above the MICs for 90% of the strains of most organisms
      commonly found in respiratory tract infections, whereas data for ELF suggest
      levels of drug insufficient to inhibit bacteria.

PMID- 1444292
TI  - Microbiological efficacy and pharmacokinetics of prophylactic antibiotics in
      liver transplant patients.
AB  - The pharmacokinetics of perioperative systemic antibiotics and the
      microbiological effectiveness of oral nonabsorbable antibiotics started
      immediately prior to surgery were studied in 18 adult patients undergoing liver
      transplantation. All patients received cefotaxime, 2 g intravenously, at 6-h
      intervals during surgery and then at 8-h intervals thereafter for 48 h; eight
      patients also received ampicillin at the same dose and schedule. This regimen
      produced levels of antibiotics in blood that appeared appropriate for
      prophylaxis. The first dose peak (68 +/- 18 micrograms/ml) and trough (6.9 +/-
      4.7 micrograms/ml) levels of cefotaxime in serum and the first dose peak (73 +/-
      22 micrograms/ml) and trough (4.1 +/- 2.3 micrograms/ml) levels of ampicillin in
      serum, which were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography, were similar
      to levels reported in normal volunteers, despite mean intraoperative blood loss
      of 3.3 liters and fluid replacement of 21 liters. On postoperative days 1 and 2,
      the levels of cefotaxime and ampicillin were maintained at or above 0.9 and 1.3
      micrograms/ml, respectively, with little accumulation. By random assignment, 8
      patients received systemic antibiotics alone and 10 patients received systemic
      antibiotics plus a 3-week regimen of oral nonabsorbable antibiotics (gentamicin,
      polymyxin E, and nystatin) beginning when a donor liver was procured. Pre- and
      postoperative cultures of rectum, throat, and gastric aspirate samples showed
      persistence of aerobic gram-negative bacilli for the first 2 postoperative weeks
      in about half of the patients in each group. Failure of the regimen of oral
      nonabsorbable antibiotics to supplement cefotaxime in eradicating aerobic gram
      negative bacilli from stools probably results from impaired peristalsis during
      and after surgery and warrants earlier initiation of the regimen.

PMID- 1444293
TI  - Endotoxin concentration in neutropenic patients with suspected gram-negative
      sepsis: correlation with clinical outcome and determination of anti-endotoxin
      core antibodies during therapy with polyclonal immunoglobulin M-enriched
      immunoglobulins.
AB  - We carried out a study in patients with severe neutropenia from hematologic
      malignancy and suspected gram-negative sepsis to evaluate the clinical
      significance of endotoxin concentrations in plasma before and during a
      therapeutic intervention with a human polyclonal immunoglobulin M (IgM)-enriched
      immunoglobulin preparation (Pentaglobin; Biotest, Dreieich, Germany). Twenty-one
      patients with acute leukemia or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma entered the study upon the
      development of clinical signs of gram-negative sepsis and received the IgM
      enriched immunoglobulin preparation every 6 h for 3 days (total dose, 1.3 liter
      with 7.8 g of IgM, 7.8 g of IgA, and 49.4 g of IgG), in addition to standardized
      antibiotic treatment. Concentrations of endotoxin and IgM and IgG antibodies
      against lipid A and Re lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in plasma were determined by a
      modified chromogenic Limulus amebocyte lysate test and semiquantitative enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay, respectively, before each immunoglobulin infusion and
      during the following 25 days. Seventeen patients were endotoxin positive; in five
      of these patients, gram-negative infection was confirmed by microbiologic
      findings. Prior to therapy, endotoxemia correlated significantly with the
      occurrence of fever, and a quantitative correlation between the endotoxin
      concentration and body temperature was found during the individual course of
      infection in 8 of the 17 patients. Overall mortality from endotoxin-positive
      sepsis was 41% (7 of 17) and 64% (7 of 11) in patients with symptoms of septic
      shock. Nonsurvivors had significantly higher maximum concentration of endotoxin
      in plasma compared with those of survivors at the first study day (median of 126
      versus 34 pg/ml; P < 0.05) and during the whole septic episode (median of 126
      versus 61 pg/ml; P < 0.05). In survivors, immunoglobulin therapy resulted in a
      significant decrease in endotoxin levels in plasma within the initial 18-h
      treatment period, from a pretreatment median value of 28 pg/ml to a value of 8
      pg/ml (P< 0.05). In the seven patients who died from uncontrollable infection, no
      effect of therapy on endotoxin levels in plasma was observed. IgM and IgG
      antibodies against lipid A and Re LPS increased significantly under
      immunoglobulin treatment, with significant correlations between antibodies
      against lipid A and Re LPS. These data strongly suggest a prognostic significance
      of the endotoxin levels in plasma and a potential effect of treatment with a
      polyclonal IgM-enriched immunoglobulin preparation. Further studies are needed to
      substantiate these findings and to assess the impact on the clinical course by
      way of a prospective placebo-controlled clinical trial.

PMID- 1444294
TI  - Effect of beta-lactams on peptidoglycan metabolism of Haemophilus influenzae
      grown in animals.
AB  - We have examined bacterial determinants that influence beta-lactam activity in
      Haemophilus influenzae cells cultivated in a system that reproduces in vivo
      growth conditions. Bacteria grown in diffusion chambers were recovered from the
      peritoneal cavities of rats, and their cell properties were compared with those
      of bacteria grown in broth cultures by various tests performed in vitro. The rate
      of peptidoglycan synthesis was measured as the incorporation of [14C]alanine into
      cell wall material in the presence of chloramphenicol. The total incorporation of
      [14C]alanine into peptidoglycan was markedly increased in cells grown in rats
      prior to the assay but was efficiently reduced by the beta-lactams. The extent of
      cross-linking was lower in the peptidoglycan of in vivo-grown bacteria, as
      estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate- to trichloroacetic acid-insoluble
      radioactive cell wall material ratios. A whole-cell labeling assay with 125I
      penicillin was used to characterize the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). Four
      PBPs showed a striking reduction in the binding of the labeled penicillin in
      cells grown in rats. Such changes resembled the PBP alterations seen in beta
      lactamase-negative clinical strains that were resistant to the beta-lactams.
      Although ampicillin and moxalactam showed delayed inhibitory activities in vitro
      for cells collected from rats, cells recovered from beta-lactam-treated rats
      showed evidence of antibiotic effectiveness (binding of the beta-lactams to PBPs
      in vivo and altered morphology), and the killing of cells exposed to antibiotics
      in broth or in peritoneal fluid was equally good. Finally, the frequencies of
      spontaneous resistance or tolerance to ampicillin or moxalactam were estimated,
      and there was no significant difference for in vitro- or in vivo-grown cells.
      These data demonstrated that the cultivation of H. influenzae in animals created
      changes in PBPs and the overall peptidoglycan metabolism. Such alterations did
      not impair the bactericidal activities of the beta-lactams, although they
      resulted in delayed bacterial inhibition, a phenomenon that may have important
      consequences in antibiotherapy.

PMID- 1444295
TI  - Central nervous system targeting of 2',3'-dideoxyinosine via adenosine deaminase
      activated 6-halo-dideoxypurine prodrugs.
AB  - AIDS dementia complex is a neurologic disorder, characterized by increasingly
      severe cognitive, behavioral, and motor impairment, which is associated with
      human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the central nervous system (CNS).
      Many of the dideoxynucleosides effective systemically in the treatment of HIV
      infections, such as 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI), exhibit limited penetration into
      the CNS and limited or variable effectiveness in reversing the symptoms of AIDS
      dementia. Thus, approaches for increasing the CNS uptake of ddI and other
      dideoxynucleosides are needed. The CNS uptake of a series of 6-halo-2',3'
      dideoxypurine ribofuranosides (6-halo-ddPs) previously shown to be active against
      HIV because of their conversion to ddI through the action of adenosine deaminase
      was examined in rats. In vitro studies in rat blood and brain tissue homogenate
      suggested a favorable selectivity for bioconversion in brain tissue, but with
      bioconversion half-lives varying widely within the series. In vivo infusions of 6
      chloro-ddP (6-Cl-ddP), 6-bromo-ddP (6-Br-ddP), and 6-iodo-ddP (6-I-ddP) resulted
      in significant increases (20- to 34-fold) in the ddI concentration ratios in
      brain parenchyma/plasma when compared with those after an infusion of ddI alone.
      Absolute concentrations of ddI in brain parenchyma were increased 10- and 4-fold,
      respectively, following 30-min infusions of 6-Cl-ddP or 6-Br-ddP, but were 2.4
      fold lower after an infusion of 6-I-ddP relative to that after a control infusion
      of ddI. Detailed studies of the plasma pharmacokinetics, CNS uptake kinetics, and
      bioconversion of 6-Cl-ddP were conducted to compare in vivo transport and
      bioconversion parameters with those predicted from in vitro measurements and to
      rationalize the efficiency of CNS delivery of ddI from 6-Cl-ddP. The results show
      that increased lipophilicity alone does not ensure that a given prodrug will
      deliver higher levels of a parent compound to the CNS. Both the selectivity and
      absolute rate of bioconversion in the brain are important factors.

PMID- 1444296
TI  - Modes of action and inhibitory activities of new siderophore-beta-lactam
      conjugates that use specific iron uptake pathways for entry into bacteria.
AB  - We describe here the mechanism of inhibition of two new siderophore-beta-lactam
      conjugates against Escherichia coli X580. One conjugate is a spermidine-based
      catechol siderophore-carbacephalosporin (JAM-2-263), and the other is an N5
      acetyl-N5-hydroxy-L-ornithine tripeptide hydroxamate siderophore
      carbacephalosporin (EKD-3-88). In an agar diffusion test, both conjugates
      produced large inhibitory zones against strain X580. Resistant strains (i.e.,
      JAMR and EKDR) could be isolated after exposure of X580 to the conjugates JAM-2
      263 and EKD-3-88, respectively. No cross-resistance was observed in these
      individual isolates. JAMR and EKDR were studied further to elucidate the
      mechanism of inhibition of each conjugated drug. The affinities of JAM-2-263 and
      EKD-3-88 for penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of isolated inner membranes were
      determined by a competition assay with 125I-penicillin V. JAM-2-263 targeted
      primarily PBPs 1A/B and 5/6, while EKD-3-88 targeted PBPs 1A/B and 3. Strains
      X580, JAMR, and EKDR showed similar PBP affinities for the conjugates. However,
      marked changes were observed in the iron-regulated outer membrane proteins of
      resistant isolates grown on agar plates depleted of iron. EKDR lost the
      expression of FhuA (78 kDa) and its sensitivity to phages T1 and T5, whereas JAMR
      lost the expression of Cir (74 kDa) and its sensitivity to colicin Ia. These
      results revealed the requirement of FhuA and Cir for the inhibitory activities of
      EKD-3-88 and JAM-2-263, respectively. In an antibiotic diffusion assay,
      ferrichrome (1 microM) strongly antagonized the activities of both conjugates
      against X580 and JAMR, including the residual activity of JAM-2-263 against JAMR.
      However, the susceptibility of strain EKDR lacking the ferrichrome receptor (FhuA
      ) to the two conjugates remained the same in the presence of ferrichrome. The
      antagonistic effect of ferrichrome on the activity of JAM-2-263 may also indicate
      a role for FhuA in the activity of this beta-lactam conjugate. A FhuA- Cir-
      double mutant confirmed this hypothesis, since it showed a higher level of
      resistance to JAM-2-263. To reproduce iron-restricted in vivo growth conditions,
      we grew X580 and EKDR cells in diffusion chambers implanted in the peritoneal
      cavities of rats. Strain EKDR showed impaired growth in such a cultivation
      system. This is the first report of beta-lactam drug transport into E. coli cells
      that involves the FhuA outer membrane protein.

PMID- 1444297
TI  - Analysis of multiply antimicrobial-resistant isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae
      from the United States.
AB  - Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates resistant to penicillin, chloramphenicol,
      tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole-trimethroprim are being recovered with
      increasing frequency in the United States. We analyzed the penicillin-binding
      proteins (PBPs), multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) genotypes, and
      ribotypes of 22 multiresistant serotype 23F isolates of S. pneumoniae from the
      United States and 1 isolate each from Spain and South Africa. Also included were
      seven multiresistant isolates of other serotypes, three penicillin-resistant but
      chloramphenicol-susceptible serotype 23F isolates, and two penicillin-susceptible
      isolates (one penicillin-susceptible isolate was serotype 23F). Fifteen of the 22
      multiresistant isolates from the United States and the isolates from Spain and
      South Africa had identical PBP patterns, MLEE profiles, and ribotypes. Six of the
      remaining seven multiresistant isolates were related by PBP pattern, but
      demonstrated slightly different MLEE and/or ribotype profiles, possibly because
      of acquisition of additional resistance markers (four of the six isolates were
      also resistant to erythromycin). The remaining multiresistant serotype 23F
      isolate had a unique PBP pattern and ribotype and was only distantly related to
      the other pneumococcal isolates by MLEE analysis. The PBP patterns, MLEE
      profiles, and ribotypes of the multiresistant serotype 23F isolates were easily
      distinguished from those of six multiresistant isolates of other serotypes; three
      other penicillin-resistant, chloramphenicol-susceptible, serotype 23F isolates;
      and two penicillin-susceptible isolates. One exception was a multiresistant
      serotype 19A isolate that was highly related to the clonal group by PBP pattern
      and MLEE analysis and that had a ribotype similar to those of the other
      erythromycin-resistant serotype 23F isolates. MLEE analysis and ribotyping were
      more discriminating than were the PBP patterns in discerning strain differences.
      These data strongly suggest that a multiresistant clone of S. pneumoniae serotype
      23F that is related to multiresistant isolates from Spain and South Africa has
      become disseminated in the United States. Clinicians should be alerted to the
      spread of these multiresistant strains in the United States.

PMID- 1444298
TI  - Prospective study of oral teicoplanin versus oral vancomycin for therapy of
      pseudomembranous colitis and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea.
AB  - A prospective, randomized study comparing oral teicoplanin with oral vancomycin
      in the treatment of pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) and Clostridium difficile
      associated diarrhea (CDAD) was performed. Teicoplanin was administered at a
      dosage of 100 mg twice a day for 10 days, and vancomycin was administered at a
      dosage of 500 mg four times a day for 10 days. CDAD was diagnosed by
      demonstrating both C. difficile and cytotoxin in the feces of symptomatic
      patients (more than three loose stools per day). The diagnosis of PMC was also
      based on colonoscopy. Cytotoxin assay and cultures were checked in all patients 7
      to 10 days after discontinuation of therapy and 25 to 30 days thereafter. Of the
      51 patients enrolled, 46 were judged to be assessable. Among these, 26 received
      teicoplanin and 20 received vancomycin. At enrollment, both groups were
      comparable in terms of age, sex, occurrence of PMC or CDAD, and previous
      antibiotic treatment. Eighteen of the 20 patients in the vancomycin group and 10
      of the 26 patients in the teicoplanin group had previously undergone surgery (P =
      0.0004). Treatment resulted in the clinical cure of 20 (100%) vancomycin and 25
      (96.2%) teicoplanin patients (P = 0.56). After discontinuation of therapy,
      clinical symptoms recurred in four (20%) vancomycin patients and two (7.7%)
      teicoplanin patients (P = 0.21). Posttherapy asymptomatic C. difficile carriage
      (positive follow-up cultures without any clinical symptoms) occurred in five
      (25%) vancomycin patients and two (7.7%) teicoplanin patients (P = 0.11).Overall,
      9 of 20 (45%) vancomycin patients and 5 of 26 (19.2%) teicoplanin patients
      (P=0.059) appeared not to be cleared of C. difficile after treatment. No adverse
      effects related to vancomycin or teicoplanin therapy were observed.

PMID- 1444300
TI  - Absence of synergistic activity between ampicillin and vancomycin against highly
      vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
AB  - The emergence of clinical enterococcal isolates resistant to both ampicillin and
      vancomycin is a cause of great concern, as there are few therapeutic alternatives
      for treatment of infections caused by such organisms. We evaluated the effects of
      the combination of ampicillin with vancomycin against vancomycin-resistant
      clinical enterococcal isolates. Using both the checkerboard technique and time
      kill curves, we examined 28 strains of enterococci (17 Enterococcus faecalis and
      11 Enterococcus faecium strains) with different levels of resistance to
      vancomycin. Of these, 15 strains were also highly gentamicin resistant, and 9
      demonstrated resistance to ampicillin. Only seven strains of E. faecalis were
      inhibited synergistically by the combination of vancomycin with ampicillin, and
      even then, the concentrations of vancomycin at which synergism was demonstrated
      were above levels achievable in serum. None of the ampicillin-resistant isolates
      (all E. faecium) were inhibited synergistically at any concentration of the
      drugs. In no instance was bactericidal synergism observed, and in most cases the
      combination resulted in less killing than with ampicillin alone. Antagonism was
      not observed at clinically relevant concentrations. The results of this study
      suggest that the combination of vancomycin with ampicillin has little to offer
      against these emerging pathogens.

PMID- 1444299
TI  - Antimicrobial susceptibilities and beta-lactamase characterization of
      Capnocytophaga species.
AB  - Capnocytophaga species have been associated with a wide variety of infections in
      both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. On the basis of data from
      antimicrobial susceptibility studies, beta-lactam antibiotics have been
      considered efficacious therapy. Six of 19 isolates from primarily clinical
      sources across Canada demonstrated beta-lactamase production, and agar dilution
      susceptibility testing showed broad resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. For
      the beta-lactamase producing isolates, clavulanate reduced the MIC of amoxicillin
      for 90% of the strains tested by 64-fold. Isolates were highly susceptible to
      clindamycin, imipenem, and ciprofloxacin. Characterization of the beta-lactamases
      produced by two of these isolates (Van1 and Van2) was performed. Isoelectric
      focusing revealed an identical isoelectric point of 5.6 for both enzymes, but
      they had markedly different relative hydrolysis efficiencies, and different
      conditions were required to extract the enzymes. This study demonstrates the
      production of different types of beta-lactamases by Capnocytophaga spp. and
      suggests the need to screen all clinical isolates of Capnocytophaga spp. for the
      presence of beta-lactamases.

PMID- 1444301
TI  - Subcellular localization of tobramycin and vancomycin given alone and in
      combination in proximal tubular cells, determined by immunogold labeling.
AB  - The subcellular localization of tobramycin and vancomycin in the renal cortices
      of rats was determined with ultrathin sections by immunogold labeling. Four
      groups of four rats each were treated for 10 days with saline (NaCl, 0.9%),
      tobramycin at dosages of 20 mg/kg of body weight per 12 h intraperitoneally,
      vancomycin at dosages of 25 mg/kg/12 h subcutaneously, or the combination
      tobramycin-vancomycin. On day 11, the animals were killed, and cubes of renal
      cortex were fixed overnight in phosphate-buffered glutaraldehyde (0.5%),
      dehydrated in ethanol, and embedded in Araldite 502 resin. Ultrathin sections
      were made and incubated with sheep antitobramycin antibody followed by protein A
      gold (15-nm diameter) complex or rabbit antivancomycin antibody followed by gold
      (30-nm diameter)-labeled goat anti-rabbit antibody. For the double labeling,
      incubations were made on opposite sides of the grid. Tobramycin was detected over
      the lysosomes of proximal tubular cells, but the labeling was concentrated into
      small areas in the matrix of the lysosomes. Vancomycin was seen over the
      lysosomes of proximal tubular cells and was distributed uniformly throughout the
      matrix of the lysosomes. In rats treated with tobramycin-vancomycin, both drugs
      were still detected in lysosomes of proximal tubular cells. It is concluded that
      tobramycin and vancomycin accumulate in lysosomes of proximal tubular cells
      throughout 10 days of treatment and that vancomycin has no effect on the
      subcellular distribution of tobramycin.

PMID- 1444302
TI  - Pharmacodynamic interaction between RP 59500 and gram-positive bacteria infecting
      fibrin clots.
AB  - The fibrin clot penetration and in vivo bactericidal activity of RP 59500, a new
      semisynthetic streptogramin, for two Staphylococcus aureus strains (one
      methicillin resistant and the other methicillin susceptible), two Staphylococcus
      epidermidis strains (one methicillin resistant and the other methicillin
      susceptible), and one Enterococcus faecalis strain were evaluated. The clots,
      inserted subcutaneously, were infected with a mean of 10(8) CFU of the pathogen
      per g. For each strain, groups of four rabbits received a single intravenous
      injection of 50 mg of RP 59500 per kg of body weight over 30 min. The mean peak
      level of RP 59500 in serum in the infected rabbits was 61.9 +/- 6.3
      micrograms/ml. The drug was detectable in serum at a level of 0.8 micrograms/ml
      up to 4 h after administration. The mean peak fibrin clot drug level at 1 h was
      3.3 +/- 0.1 micrograms/g. At 6 h, the level in clots was 1.2 +/- 0.1
      micrograms/g. The mean half-life in serum in infected rabbits was 0.34 +/- 0.01
      h, while in clots the drug exhibited a longer half-life of 3.8 +/- 0.4 h. In
      vivo, this new streptogramin sterilized the clots infected with the two S. aureus
      strains studied in less than 1 h and induced a marked reduction in colony counts
      of the two S. epidermidis strains studied for up to 24 h. The activity of the
      streptogramin against E. faecalis was limited. These results suggest that RP
      59500 should be further evaluated for the treatment of infection with methicillin
      resistant staphylococci.

PMID- 1444303
TI  - Cloning and DNA sequence analysis of an aac(3)-Vb gene from Serratia marcescens.
AB  - The AAC(3)-V resistance mechanism is characterized by high-level resistance to
      the aminoglycosides gentamicin, netilmicin, 2'-N-ethylnetilmicin, and 6'-N
      ethylnetilmicin and moderate resistance levels to tobramycin. Serratia marcescens
      82041944 contains an AA(3)-V resistance mechanism as determined from
      aminoglycoside resistance profiles. This strain, however, does not exhibit
      hybridization with a probe derived from the previously cloned aac(3)-Va gene, (R.
      Allmansberger, B. Brau, and W. Piepersberg, Mol. Gen. Genet. 198:514-520, 1985).
      High-pressure liquid chromatography analysis of the acetylation products of
      sisomicin carried out by extracts of S. marcescens 82041944 have demonstrated the
      presence of an AAC(3) enzyme. We have cloned the gene encoding this
      acetyltransferase and have designated it aac(3)-Vb. Nucleotide sequence
      comparisons show that the aac(3)-Va and aac(3)-Vb genes are 72% identical. The
      predicted AAC(3)-Vb protein is 28,782 Da. Comparisons of the deduced amino acid
      sequences show 75% identity and 84% similarity between the AAC(3)-Va and AAC(3)
      Vb proteins. The use of a DNA fragment internal to the aac(3)-Vb as a
      hybridization probe demonstrated that the aac(3)-Vb gene is very rare in clinical
      isolates possessing an AAC(3)-V mechanism.

PMID- 1444304
TI  - Serum and blister fluid pharmacokinetics and bactericidal activities of
      ampicillin-sulbactam, cefotetan, cefoxitin, ceftizoxime, and ticarcillin
      clavulanate.
AB  - Ampicillin-sulbactam, ticarcillin-clavulanate, cefoxitin, cefotetan, and
      ceftizoxime are promoted for the treatment of mixed aerobic-anaerobic bacterial
      infections. Their activities have been compared in vitro but not in vivo. In
      order to assess the in vivo activities of these agents in serum and interstitial
      fluid, we administered single, intravenous doses of these antimicrobial agents to
      healthy subjects. Concentrations of the antimicrobial agents in serum and suction
      induced blister fluid and bactericidal activity were measured by high-pressure
      liquid chromatography and the standard methodology of the National Committee for
      Clinical Laboratory Standards, respectively. The organisms used for bactericidal
      activity tests were one isolate each of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella
      pneumoniae, and Bacteroides fragilis. Pharmacokinetic parameters in serum and
      blister fluid were similar to those derived in other investigations. Of note were
      the high and prolonged concentrations of ticarcillin and cefotetan in blister
      fluid, despite high-level serum protein binding. The bactericidal activities in
      serum and blister fluid reflected the relative in vitro activities and kinetic
      dispositions of the various antimicrobial agents except for the bactericidal
      activity of cefotetan, which was substantially lower in blister fluid than serum,
      despite a blister fluid:serum area under the concentration-time curve ratio of
      1.5. Similarly, the activity of ticarcillin-clavulanate in blister fluid was also
      substantially less than would have been predicted by the blister fluid:serum
      ratio of the area under the concentration-time curve of 1.1, possibly because of
      the low concentrations of clavulanate in blister fluid. The rankings of the in
      vivo bactericidal activities of the five drugs were as follows: for S. aureus,
      ampicillin-sulbactam > ticarcillin-clavulanate > ceftizoxime > cefoxitin >
      cefotetan; for K. pneumoniae, ceftizoxime > cefotetan > ampicillin-sulbactam =
      ticarcillin-clavulanate > cefoxitin; and for B.fragilis, ticarcillin-clavulanate
      > cefotetan > ceftizoxime > ampicillin-sulbactam = cefoxitin.

PMID- 1444305
TI  - Modulation of interactions of Candida albicans and endothelial cells by
      fluconazole and amphotericin B.
AB  - Using an in vitro model of intravascular infection, we examined the effects of
      exposure to subinhibitory concentrations of fluconazole and amphotericin B on the
      ability of Candida albicans to adhere to and damage human umbilical vein
      endothelial cells. Incubation of the organisms for 18 h in 0.5x the MICs of
      fluconazole and amphotericin B inhibited endothelial cell adherence by 22 and
      91%, respectively (P less than 0.001 for each drug). Candida-induced endothelial
      cell injury was also decreased by exposing the organisms to the antifungal drugs
      while in contact with the endothelial cells. Fluconazole inhibited damage by
      approximately 50% at concentrations ranging from 0.25x to 5x the MIC (P less than
      0.01 for each concentration). Exposure to amphotericin B at 0.5x the MIC
      completely blocked the ability of the organisms to injure endothelial cells. The
      capacities of the antifungal agents to inhibit endothelial cell injury paralleled
      their abilities to suppress candidal germination. Organisms exposed to up to 5x
      the MIC of fluconazole had diminished, but still detectable, germ tube production
      and elongation, whereas incubation in 0.5x the MIC of amphotericin B completely
      abrogated germination. In addition to their direct effects on the growth of C.
      albicans, fluconazole and amphotericin B may decrease the ability of the fungus
      to disseminate hematogenously by inhibiting the organisms' capacity to adhere to
      and injure endothelial cells.

PMID- 1444306
TI  - Intravenous and oral zidovudine pharmacokinetics and coagulation effects in
      asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus-infected hemophilia patients.
AB  - Pharmacokinetic and coagulation studies were carried out over a 12-week period
      with 11 asymptomatic hemophilia patients with human immunodeficiency virus
      infection receiving zidovudine (ZDV). The patients received 300 mg every 4 h
      while awake (the accepted dose at the time of this study); consecutive 24-h
      intravenous (i.v.) and 12-h oral pharmacokinetic studies were conducted at weeks
      1, 6, and 12. Coagulation studies were conducted at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 12. The
      numbers of units of factors VIII and IX and cryoprecipitate transfused during the
      12-week periods before, during, and after ZDV treatment were recorded. Following
      i.v. and oral ZDV administration, the concentration in plasma declined rapidly
      over the first 4 h, and in some patients, ZDV was still detectable at 4 to 10 h.
      The i.v. total clearances (means +/- standard deviations) were 14.9 +/- 7.3, 11.2
      +/- 3.7, and 15.1 +/- 4.7 ml/min/kg of body weight. The i.v. distribution volumes
      were 1.08 +/- 0.5, 1.0 +/- 0.4, and 1.65 +/- 1.4 liters/kg. The bioavailabilities
      were 0.54 +/- 0.22, 0.46 +/- 0.19, and 0.59 +/- 0.13 at weeks 1, 6, and 12,
      respectively. The pattern of ZDV-glucuronide (GZDV) disposition was similar to
      that of ZDV, and the peak plasma GZDV-to-ZDV ratio was higher after oral dosing,
      consistent with first-pass metabolism. In some individuals, up to 33% of an i.v.
      dose was excreted unchanged. At weeks 6 and 12, greater than 300 mg of total ZDV
      (GZDV plus ZDV) was recovered in the urine of some patients, suggesting tissue
      redistribution. Concentration in plasma after oral ZDV administration were
      variable, both within and between patients. The von Willebrand antigen level
      consistently decreased throughout the study but was not accompanied by a parallel
      change in ristocetin cofactor A activity, and no clinical adverse effects on
      coagulation were noted. This study demonstrates that ZDV can be used in
      hemophilia patients without worsening of their bleeding tendencies. The clinical
      significance of decreased ZDV clearance and the prolonged terminal elimination
      phase of ZDV will require further study with patients receiving chronic ZDV.

PMID- 1444307
TI  - Sequence analysis of the beta-lactamase repressor from Staphylococcus aureus and
      hybridization studies with two beta-lactamase-producing isolates of Enterococcus
      faecalis.
AB  - The putative beta-lactamase (Bla) repressor gene, blaI, from the staphylococcal
      plasmid pI524 was isolated, and the DNA sequence was determined. The sequence of
      blaI was found to be identical to the blaI sequence from pI9789 (blaI blaZ seg
      1), a plasmid related to pI524. A blaI probe from pI524 was hybridized with
      plasmid and genomic DNA from Bla+ Enterococcus faecalis isolates HH22 and PA. The
      Bla structural gene of HH22 has been previously shown to be of staphylococcal
      origin, but DNA homologous to the staphylococcal Bla repressor was not found,
      indicating that the constitutive production of beta-lactamase in these E.
      faecalis isolates may be the result of a missing repressor protein.

PMID- 1444308
TI  - Effects of antacids, ferrous sulfate, and ranitidine on absorption of DR-3355 in
      humans.
AB  - This study examined the effects of widely used antacids (aluminum hydroxide,
      magnesium oxide, and calcium carbonate), ferrous sulfate, and ranitidine on the
      absorption of a fluorinated quinolone, (-)-(S)-9-fluoro-3-methyl-10-(4-methyl-1
      piperazinyl)-7-oxo-2,3-dihydro- 7H- pyrido-[1,2,3,-de][1,4]benzoxazine-6
      carboxylic acid hemihydrate (DR-3355), in healthy male volunteers enrolled in
      three separate randomized crossover studies. Study 1 used 100-mg doses of DR-3355
      and concurrent doses of aluminum hydroxide (1 g) or magnesium oxide (500 mg),
      while study 2 used DR-3355 (100 mg) and concurrent ferrous sulfate (160 mg) or
      calcium carbonate (1 g). Study 3 used DR-3355 (100 mg) and concurrent ranitidine
      (150 mg). Each study included control doses of DR-3355 (100 mg) alone. When
      aluminum hydroxide, ferrous sulfate, and magnesium oxide were coadministered with
      DR-3355, the relative bioavailability of DR-3355 was decreased to 56, 81, and
      78%, respectively, of that for DR-3355 (100 mg) alone. Urinary excretion of DR
      3355 was also significantly decreased by coadministration of these drugs. Thus,
      the magnitude of the decrease in the area under the concentration-time curve for
      DR-3355 varied among antacids, and the ranking of their inhibitory effects
      correlated with previously reported rankings of stability constants for chelate
      formation. DR-3355 bioavailability was not influenced by the concurrent
      administration of calcium carbonate and ranitidine, indicating that changes in
      gastric pH do not affect DR-3355 absorption.

PMID- 1444309
TI  - Dehydroepiandrosterone protects mice from endotoxin toxicity and reduces tumor
      necrosis factor production.
AB  - Recent reports have demonstrated an immunomodulating activity of
      dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) different from that described for glucocorticoids.
      The present study was designed to test DHEA's activity in endotoxic shock and to
      investigate its effect on endotoxin-induced production of tumor necrosis factor
      (TNF). Mortality of CD-1 mice exposed to a lethal dose of lipopolysaccharide
      (LPS; 800 micrograms per mouse) was reduced from 95 to 24% by treatment with a
      single dose of DHEA, given 5 min before LPS. LPS administration resulted in high
      levels of TNF, a response that was significantly blocked by DHEA, both in vivo
      and in vitro. DHEA treatment also reduced LPS-induced increments in serum
      corticosterone levels, a parameter considered not to be mediated by TNF. In
      another experimental model, mice sensitized with D-galactosamine, followed by
      administration of recombinant human TNF, were subjected to 89% mortality rate,
      which was reduced to 55% in DHEA-treated mice. These data show that DHEA protects
      mice from endotoxin lethality. The protective effect is probably mediated by
      reduction of TNF production as well as by effecting both TNF-induced and non-TNF
      induced phenomena.

PMID- 1444310
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of 18F-labeled fleroxacin in rabbits with Escherichia coli
      infections, studied with positron emission tomography.
AB  - 18F-labeled fleroxacin was used to measure the pharmacokinetics of fleroxacin in
      healthy and infected animals by positron emission tomography (PET) and tissue
      radioactivity measurements. In all experiments, a pharmacological dose of
      unlabeled drug (10 mg/kg) was coinjected with the tracer. The pharmacokinetics of
      [18F]fleroxacin was measured in groups of healthy mice (n = six per group) at 10,
      30, 60, and 120 min after injection and in groups of rats with Escherichia coli
      thigh infections (n = six per group) at 60 and 120 min after injection by
      radioactivity measurements in excised tissues. In healthy rabbits (n = 4) and in
      rabbits with E. coli thigh infections (n = 4), tissue concentrations of drug were
      determined by serial PET imaging over 2 h; after the final image was acquired,
      animals were sacrificed and concentrations measured by PET were compared with the
      results of tissue radioactivity measurements. In all three species, there was
      rapid equilibration of [18F]fleroxacin to significant concentrations in most
      peripheral organs; low concentrations of drug were detected in the brain.
      Accumulations of radiolabeled drug in infected and healthy thigh muscles were
      similar. Peak concentrations of drug of more than three times the MIC for 90% of
      members of the family Enterobacteriaceae (greater than 100-fold for most
      organisms) were achieved in all tissues except brain and remained above this
      level for more than 2 h. Especially high peak concentrations were achieved in the
      kidney (greater than 75 micrograms/g), liver (greater than 50 micrograms/g),
      blood (greater than 25 micrograms/g), and bone and lung (greater than 10
      micrograms/g). Since the MICs for 90% of all Enterobacteriaceae are <2
      micrograms/ml, fleroxacin should be particularly useful in treating gram-negative
      infections affecting these tissues. In contrast, the low concentration of drug
      delivered to the brain should limit the toxicity of the drug for the central
      nervous system.

PMID- 1444311
TI  - Effects of the aggregation state of amphotericin B on its toxicity to mice.
AB  - Amphotericin B (AmB) is a very effective antifungal agent for most systemic
      fungal infections. However, the relatively high toxicity of this drug imposes
      limits on its clinical usefulness. Most of the current work in this field is
      devoted to the search for less-toxic formulations of the drug. Here we describe
      the effects of three surfactants, one anionic and the other two nonionic, on the
      aggregation state of AmB in solutions which were injected intravenously into
      mice. The degree of aggregation of AmB was monitored spectroscopically and by
      light scattering. The toxicity was expressed as percentage of survivors. These
      results were compared with those obtained with doses of AmB the same as those
      present in a commercial formulation of AmB, Fungizone. Two surfactants, lauryl
      sucrose and sodium deoxycholate, used at concentrations which induced
      monomerization of AmB, substantially decreased the acute toxicity of AmB to mice.
      Conversely, the third surfactant, Tween 80, showed a synergistic potentiation of
      the toxicity of the antibiotic. A good correlation was found between the in vivo
      toxicity and the aggregation state of AmB in injected solutions. Solutions in
      which AmB was almost entirely monomeric were half as toxic after 24 h and about
      six times less toxic after 1 week than the corresponding solutions of Fungizone.

PMID- 1444312
TI  - Use of Tn5lac to study expression of genes required for production of the
      antibiotic TA.
AB  - The beta-galactosidase activities arising from Tn5lac insertions in several genes
      required for antibiotic TA production were measured under different growth
      conditions. In all of the non-TA-producing mutants, the beta-galactosidase
      specific activity was higher when the cells were grown in nutrient-limited 0.5CTS
      medium (0.5% Casitone plus alanine, serine, and glucose) than in rich 2CT medium
      (2% Casitone). One of the mutants, 420, had low beta-galactosidase specific
      activity in both media. The other seven mutants containing inserts in genes
      essential for TA production had specific activities of 139 to 367 U/mg of protein
      in 0.5CTS medium and 11 to 48 U/mg of protein in 2CT medium. The beta
      galactosidase specific activities of two strains, 1030 and 420, increased during
      exponential growth in 0.5CTS medium. The beta-galactosidase specific activities
      of both strains increased greatly when the cells were grown in the presence of
      magnesium phosphate, which traps ammonium ions. The Tn5lac insertions in 1030 and
      420 were used to screen for mutants with increased levels of transcription. An N
      methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced mutation in 1030 that mapped 17 kb
      from the omega 1010 insert increased the specific activity of beta-galactosidase
      21 times in 2CT medium. The regulatory mutation appears to release the repression
      caused by 2CT medium. A UV-induced mutation in 420 increased the beta
      galactosidase specific activity 1.4 to 2.4 times. Medium conditions that affect
      the transcription of TA genes are discussed in terms of enhanced antibiotic TA
      production.

PMID- 1444313
TI  - Low-dose trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole alone and in association with zidovudine
      for prevention and treatment of murine Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
AB  - Low-dose trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) alone was found to be as
      effective as low-dose TMP-SMX plus zidovudine and standard-dose TMP-SMX alone in
      preventing and treating Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in an
      immunosuppressed-rat model. Zidovudine alone had no preventive or curative effect
      on PCP. We conclude that the initially reported reduced incidence of PCP in human
      immunodeficiency virus-infected patients treated with zidovudine alone is not due
      to anti-P. carinii activity of zidovudine. Furthermore, the clinical efficacy of
      low-dose TMP-SMX for the prevention and treatment of PCP should be further
      investigated.

PMID- 1444314
TI  - Effects of diclofenac on ceftriaxone pharmacokinetics in humans.
AB  - The effects of diclofenac, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, on the biliary
      and urinary excretion of ceftriaxone were evaluated in subjects with a T drain in
      the common bile duct. The kinetic study was carried out on the sixth
      postoperative day of treatment with ceftriaxone alone (2 g intravenously; group
      1) or ceftriaxone combined with diclofenac (50 mg every 12 h orally from
      postoperative days 3 to 6; group 2). A significant increase in the elimination
      half-life of ceftriaxone was observed in group 2 patients. Diclofenac caused a
      significant rise in ceftriaxone biliary excretion. This increase was not
      sufficient to balance the significant deficit of urinary excretion of
      ceftriaxone.

PMID- 1444315
TI  - In vivo expression of in vitro anticoccidial activity.
AB  - Large-scale screening has led to the identification of several experimental
      compounds that have very potent intrinsic activity against coccidia, but the lack
      of translation to in vivo efficacy has been a major hurdle in developing such
      leads into effective new drugs. We developed methods to explore the impact of
      oral availability and appropriate distribution in tissue, both of which are
      potentially important factors in the expression of activity in vivo. For the
      compounds that we examined, neither oral absorption nor distribution to the site
      of infection appeared to be the critical barrier to in vivo expression of
      intrinsic anticoccidial activity. Elucidation of the nature of additional factors
      that might be involved could assist greatly in the identification of useful new
      anticoccidial agents.

PMID- 1444317
TI  - Activities of newer fluoroquinolones against Shigella sonnei.
AB  - The activities of six fluoroquinolones were determined for 117 separate strains
      of Shigella sonnei. The order of increasing activity (MICs for 90% of strains
      tested) was enoxacin (0.25 micrograms/ml), temafloxacin (0.032 micrograms/ml),
      sparfloxacin (0.016 micrograms/ml), CI-960 (0.008 micrograms/ml), ciprofloxacin
      (0.008 micrograms/ml), and PD-131628-2 (0.008 micrograms/ml). These data, along
      with results of killing and mutational rate studies, showed that all six
      fluoroquinolones were highly inhibitory against S. sonnei and five
      fluoroquinolones were rapidly and persistently bactericidal.

PMID- 1444316
TI  - Bactericidal activity of ramoplanin against antibiotic-resistant enterococci.
AB  - Ramoplanin, a new lipoglycodepsipeptide antibiotic, was uniformly active against
      65 strains of enterococci, including strains highly resistant to vancomycin,
      penicillin G, and gentamicin. MBCs were usually within a fourfold dilution of the
      MICs. In time-kill studies, ramoplanin alone demonstrated dose-dependent
      bactericidal activity against enterococcal strains that resisted killing by
      vancomycin or penicillin in combination with gentamicin.

PMID- 1444318
TI  - Phase I study of antilipopolysaccharide human monoclonal antibody MAB-T88.
AB  - Monoclonal antibody MAB-T88 is a human monoclonal immunoglobulin M antibody
      directed at the lipopolysaccharide of gram-negative bacteria. In this study, nine
      patients who were expected to become neutropenic from antineoplastic chemotherapy
      received an infusion of MAB-T88, three patients at each of three doses: 1, 4, and
      8 mg/kg of body weight. MAB-T88 was shown to be safe, with an effective half-life
      in plasma of 25.4 h, and no patient developed immunoglobulin G antibody to MAB
      T88.

PMID- 1444319
TI  - Ticarcillin-clavulanic acid zone size criteria.

PMID- 1444320
TI  - Novel nucleoside strategies for anti-HIV and anti-HSV therapy.
AB  - This mini-review describes the structure-activity relationships of several series
      of new nucleoside analogues. It also points to the possibilities of finding new
      molecular modifications which could lead to antivirals with activity both against
      human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) and herpesviruses.

PMID- 1444321
TI  - Anti-HIV-1 activity of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) in primary mononuclear
      phagocytes.
AB  - Conflicting data have been reported on ability of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine
      (AZT) to protect mononuclear phagocytes from HIV-1 infection. We compared the
      antiviral potency of AZT in three types of primary human mononuclear phagocytes:
      peripheral blood monocytes, monocyte-derived macrophages (in vitro
      differentiated) and alveolar macrophages (in vivo differentiated). To establish
      highly-productive virus infection, purified cells (greater than 99%) from healthy
      donors were challenged with the macrophage-tropic HTLV-IIIBa-L strain at input
      multiplicities ranging from 0.05 to 20 TCID50 per cell. AZT (0.1 nM-10 microM)
      was added immediately after infection and either continued for the duration of
      the experiment or stopped 1-7 days after infection. The kinetics of HIV-1Ba-L
      replication were assessed by measuring p24 antigen production on days 4-28 post
      infection. Continuous treatment with AZT reproducibly inhibited viral replication
      in a concentration-dependent manner in all three cell types. The IC90 of AZT was
      0.04 microM in blood monocytes, 0.009 microM in monocyte-derived macrophages, and
      0.0001 microM in alveolar macrophages (mean of 3-4 donors for each cell type).
      AZT was not cytotoxic at less than 10 microM as assessed by cell viability, cell
      protein, and interferon-gamma-activated H2O2-release. In experiments in which AZT
      treatment was stopped after infection, viral replication resumed after a lag of 7
      14 days and increased exponentially toward control levels. This occurred despite
      initial inhibition of virus production to below the limit of p24 detection
      (approximately 50 pg/ml). These results indicate that AZT is a potent inhibitor
      of HIV-1 replication in primary mononuclear phagocytes regardless of the stage of
      cell differentiation, and that AZT is most active in tissue (alveolar)
      macrophages. AZT does not irreversibly block infection of mononuclear phagocytes,
      however, as viral replication resumes after removal of AZT.

PMID- 1444322
TI  - Use of a standardized cell culture assay to assess activities of nucleoside
      analogs against hepatitis B virus replication.
AB  - A cell culture system for the evaluation of compounds which inhibit HBV
      replication (Korba and Milman, Antiviral Res. 15:217, 1991) has been developed
      into a standardized assay. Toxicity of test compounds was assessed by the uptake
      of neutral red dye under culture and treatment conditions which were identical to
      those used for the antiviral assays. A total of 667 separate cultures of 2.2.15
      cells were evaluated for this study. In 86 untreated cell cultures, representing
      15 experiments over a 24-month period, the levels of extracellular HBV virion DNA
      and intracellular HBV DNA forms were found to vary by less than 2.5-fold overall.
      Virion DNA in serum and intracellular viral DNA replication intermediates [RI]
      are the two most reliable and commonly followed markers of hepadnavirus
      replication in patients and experimental animals. In these assays, levels of
      extracellular HBV virion DNA and intracellular HBV RI were well correlated in
      2.2.15 cells. Less correlation was observed between the levels of HBV virion DNA
      and the 3.2-kb episomal HBV genomes present in the cells. A threshold level of 22
      37 intracellular replicating HBV genomes appeared to be required before virions
      were detected in the culture medium. The activities of several 2'-substituted and
      3'-substituted deoxynucleoside analogs against HBV replication were compared
      using this standardized assay. Dideoxycytosine [ddC] and dideoxyguanosine [ddG]
      were the most selective 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides against HBV in 2.2.15 cells.
      Substitution of fluorine at the 2' position abolished the antiviral activity of
      ddC, but enhanced the selective antiviral activities of dideoxythymidine and
      dideoxyuracil. Several 2'-fluorinated pyrimidine arabinosyl furanosides, reported
      to be potent (but toxic) inhibitors of hepadnaviruses in vivo, demonstrated
      relatively low selective antiviral activities in 2.2.15 cells. The current data
      base allows for validation of any given set of test evaluations through
      statistical analysis of both the positive and the negative treatment controls
      present in each experiment; thus, relevant comparisons of the selectivity of anti
      HBV activities for different compounds examined in future experiments can be
      made.

PMID- 1444323
TI  - Zidovudine inhibits hepatitis B virus replication.
AB  - Hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase is a viral enzyme that can use viral DNA as well
      as viral RNA as a template for DNA synthesis. Since both activities are essential
      for the production of new virus particles, blocking of this enzyme should reduce
      viral replication. In the present study the in vitro effect of zidovudine
      triphosphate on hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase activity and the in vivo effect
      of zidovudine on viral replication in chronic HBsAg-positive patients are
      investigated. Zidovudine triphosphate inhibited in vitro DNA polymerase activity
      by 50% at a concentration of 0.3 microM. Serum DNA polymerase activity was
      significantly reduced in 7 patients who received zidovudine (200 mg orally 4
      times daily) for one week. A dose-response effect was suggested by the results
      found for 6 patients who received 100 mg, 200 mg and 300 mg orally 4 times daily
      for one week with 2 drug-free weeks between each course. We conclude that
      zidovudine may be of value for non-responders to alpha-interferon therapy or
      patients with high initial levels of viral replication prior to the start of
      interferon treatment.

PMID- 1444324
TI  - Unexpected adverse reactions during a clinical trial in rural west Africa.
AB  - Ribavirin has been used widely in various clinical trials, without significant
      adverse effects beyond reversible, mild anemia. Since 1978 intravenous ribavirin
      has been used to treat Lassa fever in a remote area of Eastern Sierra Leone, West
      Africa. In March 1991, brief episodes of rigors in patients receiving ribavirin
      were reported. An immediate investigation found that 27/93 patients (29%) had
      records in 1990/91 of at least one episode, the strongest association being with
      survival of Lassa fever (P = 0.0001). The occurrence or number of rigors in an
      individual patient was unassociated with sex, age, weight, volume of loading
      dose, cumulative dose, administration of other drugs, use of intravenous lines or
      heparin traps. In a review of 12 years of ribavirin administration, 74/2117
      injections sampled (3.5%) were associated with a record of rigors. Most occurred
      before 08.00 h (P less than 0.0001), between 0 and 30 min after injection, lasted
      2-45 min, and clustered towards the end of the treatment course (P less than
      0.0001). There was no association with drug lot or individual vials. Drug was
      being given as a bolus (less than 1 min). Since slowing the infusion rate, no
      further episodes have been reported. Epidemiologic techniques are important tools
      in rapid assessment of unexpected events particularly when conducting trials in
      remote locations.

PMID- 1444325
TI  - New hypoxanthine nucleosides with RNA antiviral activity.
AB  - A series of novel C-2 functionalized hypoxanthine and purine ribonucleosides have
      been synthesized and evaluated against exotic RNA viruses of the family or genus
      alpha, arena, flavi, and rhabdo. Both specific and broad-spectrum antiviral
      activities were discovered but only with hypoxanthine nucleosides.

PMID- 1444326
TI  - Animal models for anti-AIDS therapy.
AB  - Primate and non-primate species have been used to study the pathobiology of the
      simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and of the human immunodeficiency virus type
      1 (HIV-1), respectively, and to develop new therapeutic regimes. Transgenic mice
      which express either the entire HIV-1 provirus or subgenomic fragments have been
      used to analyze viral gene products in vivo and may serve as models for the
      development of agents targeted to select viral functions. Chimeric mice which
      were created by transplanting human hematolymphoid cells into mice suffering from
      congenital severe combined immunodeficiency (scid/scid or so called SCID mice),
      can be infected with HIV-1 and allow one to study the entire HIV-1 replicative
      cycle. Type C murine leukemia virus models have been used to develop new
      prophylactic and therapeutic strategies but their use is restricted to the
      evaluation of select antiviral drug inhibition, targeted to retroviral genes
      common to both Lentivirinae and Oncovirinae. The role of various animal model
      systems in the development of anti-HIV-1 and anti-AIDS therapies is summarized.

PMID- 1444327
TI  - In vivo anti-influenza virus activity of plant flavonoids possessing inhibitory
      activity for influenza virus sialidase.
AB  - Isoscutellarein (5,7,8,4'-tetrahydroxyflavone) from the leaf of Scutellaria
      baicalensis non-competitively inhibited (IC50, 20 microM) the hydrolysis of
      sodium p-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-alpha-D-neuraminate by influenza virus sialidase
      with an apparent Ki value of 41 microM. Negligible inhibitory activity was
      observed for mouse liver sialidase at a concentration of 79 microM.
      Isoscutellarein also inhibited the replication of influenza virus A/WSN/33 in
      Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells with 50% virus inhibitory dose at 16 nmol/well
      and influenza virus A/PR/8/34 in the allantoic sac of embryonated egg with little
      toxic effects. The flavone showed significant anti-influenza virus activity in
      vitro similar to isoscutellarein-8-methylether (F36) (Nagai, T., Miyaichi, Y.,
      Tomimori, T., Suzuki, Y. and Yamada H., 1990, Chem. Pharm. Bull. 38, 1329-1332),
      and more potent virucidal activity in ovo than F36. However, F36 completely
      prevented proliferation of mouse-adapted influenza virus A/PR/8/34 in mouse lung
      by the intranasal (0.5 mg/kg) and intraperitoneal (4 mg/kg) administrations, and
      it was more potent than the known anti-influenza virus substance, amantadine.
      Intranasal administration of F36 (0.5 mg/kg) also protected mice against a lethal
      influenza virus A/PR/8/34 infection. Isoscutellarein significantly inhibited lung
      virus proliferation when administered intranasally or orally to mice. F36 and
      isoscutellarein showed negligible toxic effect against mice. These results
      suggested that flavones, which have potent influenza virus sialidase inhibitory
      activity, have anti-influenza virus activity in vivo.

PMID- 1444328
TI  - Murine retroviral disease-enhancing effects of a pyrimidinone immunomodulator.
AB  - (B10.A x A/WySn)F1 mice, infected with the Friend virus (FV) complex, were used
      as a predictive therapeutic model for AIDS. These infected mice exhibit many of
      the viral and immunologic manifestations of AIDS. Bropirimine (2-amino-5-bromo-6
      phenyl-4[3H]pyrimidinone, ABPP) is an immunomodulating compound which has been
      shown to inhibit other viral infections. Oral (per os treatment) dosages of ABPP
      ranging from 50 to 400 mg/kg/day for 3 days resulted in increased numbers of
      infectious centers in the infected mice and increased splenomegaly and percentage
      of Ig+ (B cells) in spleens of infected and uninfected mice. Decreased
      percentages of total Thy-1.2+ (total T) cells and L3T4+ (T-helper) cells were
      seen in both uninfected and infected mice and a slightly decreased percentage of
      Ly-2+ (T-suppressor/cytotoxic) cells was observed in spleens of the infected
      mice. No effect on Ly2+ cells in spleens of uninfected mice was found.
      Intraperitoneal injection, single or multiple, of 20-200 mg/kg ABPP prior to FV
      injection resulted in increased spleen weights but had no effect on numbers of
      infectious centers in the spleens or on FV antibody titers in the plasma.
      Intraperitoneal treatment of uninfected mice with ABPP resulted in slight or no
      changes in percentages of Thy-1.2+, L3T4+ and Ly-2+ cells. Mice receiving
      multiple exposures of ABPP had an increase in percentage of splenic B cells and a
      depressed response to the T cell mitogen PHA. Treatment with ABPP induced the
      production of interferon (IFN); however, a state of hyporesponsive IFN production
      was seen following multiple administrations of ABPP. These data suggest that the
      immunomodulator ABPP may have an enhancing effect on this retroviral disease.

PMID- 1444330
TI  - Special issue: Molecular biology of Saccharomyces.

PMID- 1444329
TI  - Rational approaches to the design of antiviral agents based on S-adenosyl-L
      homocysteine hydrolase as a molecular target.

PMID- 1444331
TI  - The RAS-adenylate cyclase pathway and cell cycle control in Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae.
AB  - The cell cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains a decision point in G1 called
      'start', which is composed of two specific sites. Nutrient-starved cells arrest
      at the first site while pheromone-treated cells arrest at the second site.
      Functioning of the RAS-adenylate cyclase pathway is required for progression over
      the nutrient-starvation site while overactivation of the pathway renders the
      cells unable to arrest at this site. However, progression of cycling cells over
      the nutrient-starvation site does not appear to be triggered by the RAS-adenylate
      cyclase pathway in response to a specific stimulus, such as an exogenous
      nutrient. The essential function of the pathway appears to be limited to
      provision of a basal level of cAMP. cAMP-dependent protein kinase rather than
      cAMP might be the universal integrator of nutrient availability in yeast. On the
      other hand stimulation of the pathway in glucose-derepressed yeast cells by
      rapidly-fermented sugars, such as glucose, is well documented and might play a
      role in the control of the transition from gluconeogenic growth to fermentative
      growth. The initial trigger of this signalling pathway is proposed to reside in a
      'glucose sensing complex' which has both a function in controlling the influx of
      glucose into the cell and in activating in addition to the RAS-adenylate cyclase
      pathway all other glucose-induced regulatory pathways in yeast. Two crucial
      problems remaining to be solved with respect to cell cycle control are the nature
      of the connection between the RAS-adenylate cyclase pathway and nitrogen-source
      induced progression over the nutrient-starvation site of 'start' and second the
      nature of the downstream processes linking the RAS-adenylate cyclase pathway to
      Cyclin/CDC28 controlled progression over the pheromone site of 'start'.

PMID- 1444332
TI  - Genetic approaches to the study of mitochondrial biogenesis in yeast.
AB  - In contrast to most other organisms, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae can
      survive without functional mitochondria. This ability has been exploited in
      genetic approaches to the study of mitochondrial biogenesis. In the last two
      decades, mitochondrial genetics have made major contributions to the
      identification of genes on the mitochondrial genome, the mapping of these genes
      and the establishment of structure-function relationships in the products they
      encode. In parallel, more than 200 complementation groups, corresponding to as
      many nuclear genes necessary for mitochondrial function or biogenesis have been
      described. Many of the latter are required for post-transcriptional events in
      mitochondrial gene expression, including the processing of mitochondrial pre
      RNAs, the translation of mitochondrial mRNAs, or the assembly of mitochondrial
      translation products into the membrane. The aim of this review is to describe the
      genetic approaches used to unravel the intricacies of mitochondrial biogenesis
      and to summarize recent insights gained from their application.

PMID- 1444333
TI  - Global regulators of chromosome function in yeast.
AB  - In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, several abundant, sequence-specific DNA
      binding proteins are involved in multiple aspects of chromosome function. In
      addition to functioning as transcriptional activators of a large number of yeast
      genes, they are also involved in transcriptional silencing, the initiation of DNA
      replication, centromere function and regulation of telomere length. This review
      will consider each of these proteins, focusing on what is known about the
      mechanisms of their multiple functions.

PMID- 1444334
TI  - Nuclear transport and nuclear pores in yeast.
AB  - The central features of nuclear import have been conserved during evolution. In
      yeast the nuclear accumulation of proteins follows the same selective and active
      transport mechanisms known from higher eukaryotes. Yeast nuclear proteins contain
      nuclear localization sequences (NLS) which are presumably recognized by receptors
      in the cytoplasm and the nuclear envelope. Subsequent to this recognition step,
      nuclear proteins are translocated into the nucleus via the nuclear pore
      complexes. The structure of the yeast nuclear pore complex resembles that of
      higher eukaryotes. Recently, the first putative components of the yeast nuclear
      import machinery have been cloned and sequenced. The genetically amenable yeast
      system allows for an efficient structural and functional analysis of these
      components. Due to the evolutionary conservation potential insights into the
      nuclear import mechanisms in yeast can be transferred to higher eukaryotes. Thus,
      yeast can be considered as a eukaryotic model system to study nuclear transport.

PMID- 1444335
TI  - The genetics of nuclear pre-mRNA splicing: a complex story.
AB  - The occurrence of introns in nuclear precursor RNAs (pre-mRNAs) is widespread in
      eukaryotes, and the splicing process that removes them is basically the same in
      yeasts as it is in higher eukaryotes. Splicing takes place in a very large, multi
      component complex, the splicesome, and biochemical studies have been complicated
      by the large number of splicing factors involved. This review describes how
      genetic approaches used to study RNA splicing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have
      complemented the biochemical studies and led to rapid advances in the field.

PMID- 1444336
TI  - Molecular biology of translation in yeast.
AB  - The combination of genetic, molecular and biochemical approaches have made the
      yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae a convenient organism to study translation. The
      sequence similarity of translation factors from yeast and other organisms
      suggests a high degree of conservation in the translational machineries. This
      view is also strengthened by a functional analogy of some proteins implicated in
      translation. Beautiful genetic experiments have confirmed existing models and
      added new insights in the mechanism of translation. This review summarizes recent
      experiments using yeast as a model system for the analysis of this complex
      process.

PMID- 1444337
TI  - Peroxisome biogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - The observation that peroxisomes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be induced by
      oleic acid has opened the possibility to investigate the biogenesis of these
      organelles in a biochemically and genetically well characterized organism. Only
      few enzymes have been identified as peroxisomal proteins in Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae so far; the three enzymes involved in beta-oxidation of fatty acids,
      enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle, catalase A and the PAS3 gene product have been
      unequivocally assigned to the peroxisomal compartment. However, more proteins are
      expected to be constituents of the peroxisomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
      Mutagenesis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells gave rise to mutants unable to use
      oleic acid as sole carbon source. These mutants could be divided in two groups:
      those with defects in structural genes of beta-oxidation enzymes (fox-mutants)
      and those with defects in peroxisomal assembly (pas-mutants). All fox-mutants
      possess morphologically normal peroxisomes and can be assigned to one of three
      complementation groups (FOX1, 2, 3). All three FOX genes have been cloned and
      characterized. The pas-mutants isolated are distributed among 13 complementation
      groups and represent 3 different classes: peroxisomes are either morphologically
      not detectable (type I) or present but non-proliferating (type II).
      Mislocalization concerns all peroxisomal proteins in cells of these two classes.
      The third class of mutants contains peroxisomes normal in size and number,
      however, distinct peroxisomal matrix proteins are mislocalized (type III). Five
      additional complementation groups were found in the laboratory of H.F. Tabak. Not
      all PAS genes have been cloned and characterized so far, and only for few of them
      the function could be deduced from sequence comparisons. Proliferation of
      microbodies is repressed by glucose, derepressed by non-fermentable carbon
      sources and fully induced by oleic acid. The regulation of four genes encoding
      peroxisomal proteins (PAS1, CTA1, FOX2, FOX3) occurs on the transcriptional level
      and reflects the morphological observations: repression by glucose and induction
      by oleic acid. Moreover, trans-acting factors like ADR1, SNF1 and SNF4, all
      involved in derepression of various cellular processes, have been demonstrated to
      affect transcriptional regulation of genes encoding peroxisomal proteins. The
      peroxisomal import machinery seems to be conserved between different organisms as
      indicated by import of heterologous proteins into microbodies of different host
      cells. In addition, many peroxisomal proteins contain C-terminal targeting
      signals. However, more than one import route into peroxisomes does
      exist.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1444338
TI  - Heterologous protein production in yeast.
AB  - The exploitation of recombinant DNA technology to engineer expression systems for
      heterologous proteins represented a major task within the field of biotechnology
      during the last decade. Yeasts attracted the attention of molecular biologists
      because of properties most favourable for their use as hosts in heterologous
      protein production. Yeasts follow the general eukaryotic posttranslational
      modification pattern of expressed polypeptides, exhibit the ability to secrete
      heterologous proteins and benefit from an established fermentation technology.
      Aside from the baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, an increasing number of
      alternative non-Saccharomyces yeast species are used as expression systems in
      basic research and for an industrial application. In the following review a
      selection from the different yeast systems is described and compared.

PMID- 1444339
TI  - The pheromone signal pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - Haploid cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae normally undergo a budding
      life cycle, but after binding the appropriate mating pheromone they undergo a
      different developmental pathway that leads to conjugation. This intercellular
      communication between the two mating types activates a signal transduction
      pathway that stimulates the diverse physiological changes required for
      conjugation, such as induction of cell surface agglutinins, cell division arrest
      in G1, morphogenesis to form a conjugation tube, and cell fusion. The components
      of this pathway include a G protein-coupled receptor, several protein kinases,
      and a pheromone-responsive transcription factor. The molecular mechanisms that
      transduce the pheromone signal are remarkably similar to the mechanisms of
      hormone signaling used in multicellular organisms. Thus, the analysis of the
      pheromone signal pathway in yeast directly contributes to the study of cell
      growth and development in other eukaryotic organisms.

PMID- 1444340
TI  - Who's listening to whom?

PMID- 1444341
TI  - Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki are still with us.

PMID- 1444342
TI  - One solution for pressure sores.

PMID- 1444343
TI  - Surgical glove study questioned.

PMID- 1444344
TI  - Board approves formation of two Specialty Assemblies, proposed revisions to 'AORN
      Official Statement on RN First Assistant'.

PMID- 1444345
TI  - Project 2000. The difference between conceptual models, practice models.

PMID- 1444346
TI  - Solving the mystery of perioperative nursing. An OR Nurse Week program.

PMID- 1444347
TI  - The mentoring relationship.

PMID- 1444348
TI  - Covert actions by a coworker. Identification, consequences, solutions.
AB  - Saboteurs cannot survive if overt communication exists. Open lines of
      communication discourage unethical behavior and make it difficult for saboteurs
      to cause problems. Managers must learn to confront problems directly and then
      move on. Employees should be encouraged to practice direct, open communication
      and not to repeat rumors and gossip. Also, it is important to provide overt
      support for overt communication and behavior. Supporting directness is one way to
      discourage sabotage. Everyone involved needs to remember that it is easy to blame
      the messenger, but saboteurs cannot continue to practice deceit if others are not
      willing to listen to and encourage their continuous gossip.

PMID- 1444349
TI  - Workaholism. Learning self-care to prevent burnout.

PMID- 1444350
TI  - Argon beam coagulation. New directions in surgery.

PMID- 1444351
TI  - Compartment syndrome. A closer look at etiology, treatment.

PMID- 1444352
TI  - Anatomy of a lawsuit.

PMID- 1444353
TI  - Recommended practices. Skin preparation of patients. Association of Operating
      Room Nurses.

PMID- 1444354
TI  - Isolation of Trypanosoma cruzi from blood by histopaque and continuous percoll
      gradient centrifugations.
AB  - Separation of the blood forms of trypanosomes from the blood of infected animals
      is difficult, especially in the case of Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain. Two
      procedures to isolate the Y strain blood forms of T. cruzi using polyvinyl
      pyrrolidone-coated silica (percoll) and histopaque are reported in this study.
      The recovery rates of parasites were 16 +/- 5 and 68 +/- 16%, respectively. The
      parasites isolated by these methods presented normal motility and morphology and
      were infective to albino mice with prepatent periods, parasitemia curves, and
      polymorphism patterns during the infection that were similar to those of control
      parasites. In addition, the preservation of surface antigens was confirmed by
      immunocytochemical studies.

PMID- 1444355
TI  - Purification and general biochemical properties of thermostable pullulanase from
      Bacillus stearothermophilus G-82.
AB  - Thermostable extracellular pullulanase, produced by Bacillus stearothermophilus G
      82 was purified to homogeneity from supernatants of continuous culture by
      ultrafiltration, ammonium sulphate precipitation, chromatography on Sephadex G
      100, and DEAE cellulose. A mol wt of 53,000 was determined by gel filtration and
      56,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The isoelectric
      point (pI) was 4.2. The pullulanase contained predominantly acidic amino acids.
      The enzyme was optimally active at a temperature of 60 degrees C and pH 7.0. It
      preserved 100% of its activity after 10 min treatment at 60 degrees C. The
      thermostability was considerably increased in the presence of pullulan. Ca2+ did
      not increase activity or thermostability. Enzyme activity was fully inhibited by
      N-bromosuccinimide and partially by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. Bacillus
      stearothermophilus G-82 pullulanase was able to hydrolyze alpha 1-6 as well as
      alpha 1-4 glucosidic bonds in pullulan, amylopectin, amylose, glycogen, and
      dextrin. The enzyme showed highest affinity to pullulan (Km = 0.14).

PMID- 1444356
TI  - Immobilized triosephosphate isomerases. A comparative study.
AB  - Pig muscle triosephosphate isomerase was covalently attached to polyacrylamide
      and silica-based supports possessing carboxylic or aldehyde functional groups or
      activated with p-benzoquinone. A silica-based support activated with p
      benzoquinone proved to be the most advantageous. There were no profound
      alterations in the catalytic properties as a result of the immobilization. The
      immobilization enhanced the resistance against urea and heat treatment. At the
      start of the treatments, the enzyme was activated. The extent of activation
      depended on the pH, and on the buffer and salt concentrations. Increase of the
      ionic strength decreased or eliminated the activation. The phosphate ion had a
      specific effect on the thermal inactivation.

PMID- 1444357
TI  - A simple method for detection of monoclonal isotypes.
AB  - A simple rapid method of enzyme labeled anti-isotype assay (ELIA) for detection
      of monoclonal isotype on hybridoma cells is proposed. This alternative method was
      first carried out on hybridoma cell lines 147C11 and 257C11 produced against
      Trypanosoma cruzi and male accessory secretion of Panstrongylus megistus,
      respectively. The monoclonal antibodies produced by these hybridoma were
      characterized by this method as IgM (147C11) and IgG1 (257C23) isotypes, allowing
      evaluation of isotype without having to wait until the concentration of antibody
      present in the supernatant itself rises. Results were confirmed by Ouchterlony
      immunodiffusion. The proposed method offers the advantages of a permanent rapid
      procedure for light microscopy.

PMID- 1444358
TI  - Uptake of ammonia by Saccharomyces cerevisiae carrying the plasmid pCYG4 related
      with ammonia assimilation.
AB  - Batch culture experiments involving ammonia uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
      BC55 pCYG4 have been carried out. This strain carries the plasmid pCYG4 that
      directs substantial overproduction of NADP-GDH, conferring an 11-fold increase in
      activity. The wild type cells had a specific growth rate greater than BC55 pCYG4.
      The ammonia uptake was practically the same until 15 h of growth. However, the
      amount of ammonia hydroxide added during growth (60 h) was two and half times
      greater in the BC55 pCYG4 than wild type cells. The results suggest that the
      presence of the plasmid pCYG4 can increase the amount of ammonia taken by the
      cells, but not the amount of biomass.

PMID- 1444359
TI  - Quantitation of E. coli protein impurities in recombinant human interferon-gamma.
AB  - A multiple antigen ELISA for E. coli proteins (ECPs) that may be present in
      purified recombinant human interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) was developed. SDS-PAGE
      and Western blotting analyses showed that the assay antibodies reacted with a
      wide spectrum of ECPs in the standard and with ECPs in a production run. In spike
      recovery studies, rIFN-gamma at concentrations of 0.05 mg/mL and higher augmented
      the immunoreactivity of the ECPs in the standard curve (1.3-40.0 ng ECPs/mL) by
      approx 50%. To determine ECP content in purified rIFN-gamma, 0.2 mg/mL of rIFN
      gamma was added to the standard curve diluent to compensate for enhanced
      immunoreactivity. The assay was precise (interassay precision of ECP controls <
      or = 4.1 %CV) and accurate with recoveries of 111-115% of expected for ECPs (15
      40 ng/mL) spiked into purified rIFN-gamma (1 mg/mL). Linearity of dilution for
      ECPs spiked into rIFN-gamma was obtained (r = 0.999). Moreover, linearity of
      dilution was obtained for ECPs in "in-process" samples, demonstrating the
      required condition of antibody excess for this type of multiple antigen ELISA.
      ECPs were not detectable in several purified lots of rIFN-gamma. Therefore, these
      lots contained < 1.3 ppm ECPs.

PMID- 1444360
TI  - Fungal biodegradation of lignopolystyrene graft copolymers.
AB  - White rot basidiomycetes were able to biodegrade styrene (1-phenylethene) graft
      copolymers of lignin containing different proportions of lignin and polystyrene
      [poly(1-phenylethylene)]. The biodegradation tests were run on lignin-styrene
      copolymerization products which contained 10.3, 32.2, and 50.4% (wt/wt) lignin.
      The polymer samples were incubated with the white rot fungi Pleurotus ostreatus,
      Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and Trametes versicolor and the brown rot fungus
      Gloeophyllum trabeum. White rot fungi degraded the plastic samples at a rate
      which increased with increasing lignin content in the copolymer sample. Both
      polystyrene and lignin components of the copolymer were readily degraded.
      Polystyrene pellets were not degradable in these tests. Degradation was verified
      for both incubated and control samples by weight loss, quantitative UV
      spectrophotometric analysis of both lignin and styrene residues, scanning
      electron microscopy of the plastic surface, and the presence of enzymes active in
      degradation during incubation. Brown rot fungus did not affect any of the
      plastics. White rot fungi produced and secreted oxidative enzymes associated with
      lignin degradation in liquid media during incubation with lignin-polystyrene
      copolymer.

PMID- 1444361
TI  - Toxin production by Fusarium species from sugar beets and natural occurrence of
      zearalenone in beets and beet fibers.
AB  - Fifty-five Fusarium isolates belonging to nine species were collected from fungus
      invaded tissue of stored sugar beets and identified as F. acuminatum (11
      isolates), F. avenaceum (1 isolate), F. culmorum (1 isolate), F. equiseti (23
      isolates), F. graminearum (4 isolates), F. oxysporum (1 isolate), F. solani (4
      isolates), F. sporotrichioides (7 isolates), and F. subglutinans (2 isolates).
      All isolates were cultured on autoclaved rice grains and assayed for toxicity by
      feeding weanling female rats the ground-rice cultures of the isolates in a 50%
      mixture with a regular diet for 5 days. Fifty-eight percent of the isolates were
      acutely toxic to rats, 26% caused hematuria, 18% caused hemorrhages, and 29%
      caused uterine enlargement. In most cases, toxicity could not be accounted for by
      the known toxins found. The following mycotoxins were found in extracts of the
      rice cultures: zearalenone (22 to 6,282 micrograms/g), chlamydosporol (HM-8) (68
      to 4,708 micrograms/g), moniliformin (45 to 400 micrograms/g), deoxynivalenol (10
      to 34 micrograms/g), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (5 to 10 micrograms/g),
      diacetoxyscirpenol (22 to 63 micrograms/g), monoacetoxyscirpenol (21 to 26
      micrograms/g), scirpenetriol (24 micrograms/g), T-2 toxin (4 to 425
      micrograms/g), HT-2 toxin (2 to 284 micrograms/g), neosolaniol (2 to 250
      micrograms/g), and T-2 tetraol (4 to 12 micrograms/g). F. equiseti was the
      predominant species found on visibly molded beets in the field. Six of 25 moldy
      sugar beet root samples collected in the field contained zearalenone in
      concentrations ranging between 12 and 391 ng/g, whereas 10 samples from
      commercial stockpiles were negative for zearalenone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1444362
TI  - Seasonal incidence of Vibrio vulnificus in the Great Bay estuary of New Hampshire
      and Maine.
AB  - Vibrio vulnificus, a normal bacterial inhabitant of estuaries, is of concern
      because it can be a potent human pathogen, causing septicemia, wound infections,
      and gastrointestinal disease in susceptible hosts. From May 1989 through December
      1990, oysters and/or water were obtained from six areas in the Great Bay estuary
      of New Hampshire and Maine. Water was also sampled from three freshwater sites
      that lead into these areas. V. vulnificus was first detected in the estuary in
      early July and remained present through September. V. vulnificus was isolated
      routinely during this period from oysters and water of the Squamscott,
      Piscataqua, and Oyster Rivers but was only isolated twice from the oysters or
      water of the Great Bay itself. This study determined that there was a strong
      correlation (by analysis of variance) between temperature, salinity, and the
      presence of V. vulnificus in water and oysters. However, other unidentified
      factors appear to influence its presence in certain areas of the estuary.

PMID- 1444363
TI  - Enhanced octadecane dispersion and biodegradation by a Pseudomonas rhamnolipid
      surfactant (biosurfactant).
AB  - A microbial surfactant (biosurfactant) was investigated for its potential to
      enhance bioavailability and, hence, the biodegradation of octadecane. The
      rhamnolipid biosurfactant used in this study was extracted from culture
      supernatants after growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 in phosphate
      limited proteose peptone-glucose-ammonium salts medium. Dispersion of octadecane
      in aqueous solutions was dramatically enhanced by 300 mg of the rhamnolipid
      biosurfactant per liter, increasing by a factor of more than 4 orders of
      magnitude, from 0.009 to > 250 mg/liter. The relative enhancement of octadecane
      dispersion was much greater at low rhamnolipid concentrations than at high
      concentrations. Rhamnolipid-enhanced octadecane dispersion was found to be
      dependent on pH and shaking speed. Biodegradation experiments done with an
      initial octadecane concentration of 1,500 mg/liter showed that 20% of the
      octadecane was mineralized in 84 h in the presence of 300 mg of rhamnolipid per
      liter, compared with only 5% octadecane mineralization when no surfactant was
      present. These results indicate that rhamnolipids may have potential for
      facilitating the bioremediation of sites contaminated with hydrocarbons having
      limited water solubility.

PMID- 1444364
TI  - Purification and properties of 3-hydroxybutyryl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase from
      Clostridium beijerinckii ("Clostridium butylicum") NRRL B593.
AB  - The enzyme 3-hydroxybutyryl-coenzyme A (CoA) dehydrogenase has been purified 45
      fold to apparent homogeneity from the solvent-producing anaerobe Clostridium
      beijerinckii NRRL B593. The identities of 34 of the N-terminal 35 amino acid
      residues have been determined. The enzyme exhibited a native M(r) of 213,000 and
      a subunit M(r) of 30,800. It is specific for the (S)-enantiomer of 3
      hydroxybutyryl-CoA. Michaelis constants for NADH and acetoacetyl-CoA were 8.6 and
      14 microM, respectively. The maximum velocity of the enzyme was 540 mumol min-1
      mg-1 for the reduction of acetoacetyl-CoA with NADH. The enzyme could use either
      NAD(H) or NADP(H) as a cosubstrate; however, kcat/Km for the NADH-linked reaction
      was much higher than the apparent value for the NADPH-linked reaction. Also,
      NAD(H)-linked activity was less sensitive to changes in pH than NADP(H)-linked
      activity was. In the presence of 9.5 microM NADH, the enzyme was inhibited by
      acetoacetyl-CoA at concentrations as low as 20 microM, but the inhibition was
      relieved as the concentration of NADH was increased, suggesting a possible
      mechanism for modulating the energy efficiency during growth.

PMID- 1444365
TI  - Collapse of the proton motive force in Listeria monocytogenes caused by a
      bacteriocin produced by Pediococcus acidilactici.
AB  - The effect of pediocin JD, a bacteriocin produced by Pediococcus acidilactici JD1
      23, on the proton motive force and proton permeability of resting whole cells of
      Listeria monocytogenes Scott A was determined. Control cells, treated with
      trypsin-inactivated bacteriocin at a pH of 5.3 to 6.1, maintained a pH gradient
      and a membrane potential of approximately 0.65 pH unit and 75 mV, respectively.
      However, these gradients were rapidly dissipated in cells after exposure to
      pediocin JD, even though no cell lysis had occurred. The pH gradient and membrane
      potential of the producer cells were also unaffected by the bacteriocin. Whole
      cells treated with bacteriocin were twice as permeable to protons as control
      cells were. The results suggest that the inhibitory action of pediocin JD against
      L. monocytogenes is directed at the cytoplasmic membrane and that inhibition of
      L. monocytogenes may be caused by the collapse of one or both of the individual
      components of the proton motive force.

PMID- 1444366
TI  - Phenotypic, antigenic, and molecular characterization of Pasteurella piscicida
      strains isolated from fish.
AB  - We compared Pasteurella piscicida strains isolated from different fish species in
      several European countries with strains isolated in Japan and the United States.
      The taxonomic analysis revealed that, regardless of the geographic origin and
      source of isolation, all the strains exhibited the same biochemical and
      physiological characteristics. Serological assays with different rabbit antisera
      demonstrated a high level of antigenic similarity among strains, with cross
      agglutination titers of 20,480 to 40,960. This serological homogeneity was
      supported by the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and membrane protein profiles. All the
      P. piscicida strains had the same electrophoretic LPS pattern, showing O side
      chains with a ladder-like structure, and shared at least four major outer
      membrane proteins, of 20, 30, 42, and 53 kDa. Western blot (immunoblot) analysis
      with LPS and protein indicated that all the P. piscicida strains are
      immunologically related. In addition, the chromosomal DNA fingerprint patterns
      obtained for the European strains with the enzymes EcoRI and BamHI were
      practically identical to those of the Japanese and U.S. strains. Although some
      differences were found in the plasmid profiles of P. piscicida, a large number of
      strains possessed in common plasmid bands of 20 and 7 MDa. In addition, a plasmid
      of 50 MDa was present in the majority of the European strains. Restriction
      endonuclease analysis demonstrated the genetic homology of the plasmid bands
      shared by most of the European strains. All the P. piscicida strains had the same
      drug resistance patterns, indicating that a correlation between plasmid carriage
      and resistance to a specific antimicrobial agent cannot be established. The high
      levels of phenotypic, serological, and genetic homogeneity found among the P.
      piscicida strains should facilitate the development of DNA probes with diagnostic
      purposes as well as the design of effective vaccines.

PMID- 1444367
TI  - Evaluation of data transformations used with the square root and schoolfield
      models for predicting bacterial growth rate.
AB  - A comparison was made between mathematical variations of the square root and
      Schoolfield models for predicting growth rate as a function of temperature. The
      statistical consequences of square root and natural logarithm transformations of
      growth rate use in several variations of the Schoolfield and square root models
      were examined. Growth rate variances of Yersinia enterocolitica in brain heart
      infusion broth increased as a function of temperature. The ability of the two
      data transformations to correct for the heterogeneity of variance was evaluated.
      A natural logarithm transformation of growth rate was more effective than a
      square root transformation at correcting for the heterogeneity of variance. The
      square root model was more accurate than the Schoolfield model when both models
      used natural logarithm transformation.

PMID- 1444368
TI  - Evaluation of synergism among Bacillus thuringiensis toxins.
AB  - A simple test for synergism among toxins is described and applied to previously
      reported data on independent and joint toxicities of insecticidal proteins from
      Bacillus thuringiensis. The analysis shows synergism between a 27-kDa (CytA)
      toxin and 130- or 65-kDa (CryIV) toxins from B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis
      against Aedes aegypti larvae. No positive synergism between 130- and 65-kDa
      toxins or among three CryIA toxins tested against seven species of Lepidoptera
      occurred. Comparisons with the original interpretations of these data show one
      case in which synergism occurred but was reported previously as absent and two
      cases that were not synergistic but were reported previously as suggestive of
      synergism. These results show that lack of an appropriate test for synergism can
      produce misleading conclusions. The methods described here can be used to test
      for synergistic effects of any poisons.

PMID- 1444369
TI  - Novel method to extract large amounts of bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria.
AB  - Antimicrobial peptides, bacteriocins, produced by lactic acid bacteria were
      adsorbed on the cells of producing strains and other gram-positive bacteria. pH
      was a crucial factor in determining the degree of adsorption of these peptides
      onto cell surfaces. In general, between 93 and 100% of the bacteriocin molecules
      were adsorbed at pHs near 6.0, and the lowest (< or = 5%) adsorption took place
      at pH 1.5 to 2.0. On the basis of this property, a novel isolation method was
      developed for bacteriocins from four genera of lactic acid bacteria. By using
      this method we made preparations of pediocin AcH, nisin, sakacin A, and
      leuconocin Lcm1 that were potent and concentrated. This method produced a higher
      yield than isolation procedures, which rely on precipitation of the bacteriocins
      from the cell-free culture liquor. It is simple and can be used to produce large
      quantities of bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria to be used as food
      biopreservatives.

PMID- 1444370
TI  - Expression and transfer of engineered catabolic pathways harbored by Pseudomonas
      spp. introduced into activated sludge microcosms.
AB  - Two genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMs), Pseudomonas sp. strain B13
      FR1(pFRC20P) (FR120) and Pseudomonas putida KT2440(pWWO-EB62) (EB62), were
      introduced into activated sludge microcosms that had the level of aeration,
      nutrient makeup, and microbial community structure of activated sludge reactors.
      FR120 contains an experimentally assembled ortho cleavage route for simultaneous
      degradation of 3-chlorobenzoate (3CB) and 4-methyl benzoate (4MB); EB62 contains
      a derivative TOL plasmid-encoded degradative pathway for toluene experimentally
      evolved so that it additionally processes 4-ethyl benzoate (4EB). Experiments
      assessed survival of the GEMs, their ability to degrade target substrates, and
      lateral transfer of plasmid-encoded recombinant DNA. GEMs added at initial
      densities of 10(6) to 10(7) bacteria per ml of activated sludge declined to
      stable population densities of 10(4) to 10(5) bacteria per ml. FR120 degraded
      combinations of 3CB and 4MB (1 mM each) following 3 days of adaptation in the
      microcosms. Indigenous microorganisms required an 8-day adaptation period before
      degradation of 4MB was observed; 3CB was degraded only after the concentration of
      4MB was much reduced. The indigenous microbial community was killed when both
      compounds were present at concentrations of 4.0 mM. However, in parallel
      microcosms containing FR120, the microbial community maintained a normal density
      of viable cells. Indigenous microbes readily degraded 4EB (2 mM), and EB62 did
      not significantly increase the observed rate of degradation. In filter matings,
      transfer of pFRC20P, which specifies mobilization but not transfer functions,
      from FR120 to P. putida UWC1 was not detectable (< 10(-7) transconjugants per
      donor cell).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1444371
TI  - Inhibition of alkylbenzene biodegradation under denitrifying conditions by using
      the acetylene block technique.
AB  - Addition of acetylene to microcosms simultaneously amended with nitrate and
      alkylbenzenes resulted in inhibition of the rate of alkylbenzene biodegradation
      under denitrifying conditions. Toluene, xylenes, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene were
      recalcitrant, whereas ethylbenzene was degraded at a slower rate than usual.
      Benzene was not degraded in either case. Addition of acetylene to microcosms
      preexposed to nitrate and alkylbenzenes produced similar inhibition. These data
      indicate that the activities of microorganisms that degrade alkylbenzenes under
      denitrifying conditions may be suppressed if the standard acetylene block
      technique is used to verify denitrifying activity.

PMID- 1444372
TI  - Cloning and expression of the aspartate carbamoyltransferase gene from Treponema
      denticola.
AB  - Treponema denticola seems to play a central role in the etiology of human
      periodontal disease. We have cloned an antigenic protein-coding sequence from T.
      denticola ATCC 33520. The protein-coding region was found to be a 3-kbp HindIII
      HindIII fragment. The open reading frame consists of 1,426 bp and codes for a
      protein with an M(r) of 54,919. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 33.8%
      homology with that of the aspartate carbamoyltransferase of Escherichia coli. The
      gene products showed aspartate carbamoyltransferase activity.

PMID- 1444373
TI  - Microbial transformation of benzocyclobutene to benzocyclobutene-1-ol and
      benzocyclobutene-1-one.
AB  - Oxidation of benzocyclobutene by intact cells of Pseudomonas fluorescens 127-68
      XVII, containing naphthalene dioxygenase, yielded exclusively benzylic oxidation
      products; benzocyclobutene-1-ol and benzocyclobutene-1-one. No evidence for
      incorporation of oxygen into the aromatic ring was found.

PMID- 1444374
TI  - Stereospecific hydroxylation of indan by Escherichia coli containing the cloned
      toluene dioxygenase genes from Pseudomonas putida F1.
AB  - Escherichia coli JM109(pDTG601), containing the todC1C2BA genes encoding toluene
      dioxygenase from Pseudomonas putida F1, oxidizes indan to (-)-(1R)-indanol (83%
      R) and trans-1,3-indandiol. Under similar conditions, P. putida F39/D oxidizes
      indan to (-)-(1R)-indanol (96% R), 1-indanone, and trans-1,3-indandiol. The
      differences in the enantiomeric composition of the 1-indanols formed by the two
      organisms are due to the presence of a 1-indanol dehydrogenase in P. putida F39/D
      that preferentially oxidizes (+)-(1S)-indanol.

PMID- 1444375
TI  - Occurrence of tributyltin-tolerant bacteria in tributyltin- or cadmium-containing
      seawater.
AB  - Tributyltin chloride (TBTCl)-tolerant bacteria accounted for 90% of the flora in
      natural seawater to which TBTCl was added. These tolerant bacteria were
      insensitive to 250 nmol of TBTCl per disc, and all were Vibrio species. Total
      counts of viable bacteria did not decrease upon storage of the TBTCl-treated
      seawater, indicating that enrichment of tolerant strains took place. Addition of
      CdSO4 to seawater resulted in the occurrence of TBTCl-tolerant bacteria as well
      as Cd-tolerant bacteria, suggesting some correlation of Cd tolerance and TBTCl
      tolerance.

PMID- 1444376
TI  - Amplification of DNA from native populations of soil bacteria by using the
      polymerase chain reaction.
AB  - Specific DNA sequences from native bacterial populations present in soil,
      sediment, and sand samples were amplified by using the polymerase chain reaction
      with primers for either "universal" eubacterial 16S rRNA genes or mercury
      resistance (mer) genes. With standard amplification conditions, 1.5-kb rDNA
      fragments from all 12 samples examined and from as little as 5 micrograms of soil
      were reproducibly amplified. A 1-kb mer fragment from one soil sample was also
      amplified. The identity of these amplified fragments was confirmed by DNA-DNA
      hybridization.

PMID- 1444377
TI  - Use of an oligonucleotide probe to detect Vibrio parahaemolyticus in artificially
      contaminated oysters.
AB  - A 26-mer oligonucleotide specific to Vibrio parahaemolyticus was synthesized from
      a 1,275-bp thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh) gene. This oligonucleotide probe
      specifically reacted with DNA from 89 of 95 V. parahaemolyticus isolates but not
      with DNA from other vibrios or other enteric and nonenteric organisms (n = 48).
      The probe hybridized with Southern blots of 0.5-kb HindIII-restricted chromosomal
      DNA fragments from all but five V. parahaemolyticus test isolates. The probe
      could be used to directly identify V. parahaemolyticus in artificially
      contaminated food without an isolation step.

PMID- 1444378
TI  - Stabilization of botulinum toxin type A during lyophilization.
AB  - Botulinum toxin for medical use is diluted to very low concentrations (nanograms
      per milliliter); when it is preserved by lyophilization, considerable loss of
      activity can occur. In the present study, conditions that gave > 90% recovery of
      the toxicity after lyophilization of solutions containing 20 to 1,000 mouse 50%
      lethal doses per ml were found. Toxicity was recovered upon drying 0.1 ml of
      toxin solution when the pH was maintained below 7 and bovine or human serum
      albumins were used as stabilizers. Various other substances tested with albumin,
      including glucose, sucrose, trehalose, mannitol, glycine, and cellibiose, did not
      increase recovery on drying.

PMID- 1444379
TI  - Cloning of a creatinase gene from Pseudomonas putida in Escherichia coli by using
      an indicator plate.
AB  - A genomic library of Pseudomonas putida DNA was constructed by using plasmid
      pBR322. Transformants of Escherichia coli in combination with Proteus mirabilis
      cells grown on creatinase test plates were screened for creatinase activity;
      transformants were considered positive for creatinase activity if a red-pink zone
      appeared around the colonies. One creatinase-positive clone was further analyzed,
      and the gene was reduced to a 2.7-kb DNA fragment. A unique protein band (with a
      molecular weight of approximately 50,000) was observed in recombinant E. coli by
      minicell analysis.

PMID- 1444380
TI  - Detection and enumeration of bacteria in soil by direct DNA extraction and
      polymerase chain reaction.
AB  - In order to develop a rapid and specific detection test for bacteria in soil, we
      improved a method based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Each step of the
      protocol, including direct lysis of cells, DNA purification, and PCR
      amplification, was optimized. To increase the efficiency of lysis, a step
      particularly critical for some microorganisms which resist classical techniques,
      we used small soil samples (100 mg) and various lytic treatments, including
      sonication, microwave heating, and thermal shocks. Purification of nucleic acids
      was achieved by passage through up to three Elutip d columns. Finally, PCR
      amplifications were optimized via biphasic protocols using booster conditions,
      lower denaturation temperatures, and addition of formamide. Two microorganisms
      were used as models: Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which is naturally absent from
      the soil used and was inoculated to calibrate the validity of the protocol, and
      Frankia spp., an actinomycete indigenous to the soil used. Specific primers were
      characterized either in the plasmid-borne vir genes for A. tumefaciens or in the
      variable regions of the 16S ribosomal gene for Frankia spp. Specific detection of
      the inoculated A. tumefaciens strain was routinely obtained when inocula ranged
      from 10(7) to 10(3) cells. Moreover, the strong correlation we observed between
      the size of the inocula and the results of the PCR reactions permitted assessment
      of the validity of the protocol in enumerating the number of microbial cells
      present in a soil sample. This allowed us to estimate the indigenous population
      of Frankia spp. at 0.2 x 10(5) genomes (i.e., amplifiable target sequences) per g
      of soil.

PMID- 1444381
TI  - Physiological properties of a Pseudomonas strain which grows with p-xylene in a
      two-phase (organic-aqueous) medium.
AB  - Pseudomonas putida Idaho utilizes toluene, m-xylene, p-xylene, 1,2,4
      trimethylbenzene, and 3-ethyltoluene as growth substrates when these hydrocarbons
      are provided in a two-phase system at 5 to 50% (vol/vol). Growth also occurs on
      Luria-Bertani medium in the presence of a wide range of organic solvents. The
      ability of the organism to grow in the presence of organic solvents is correlated
      with the logarithm of the octanol-water partition coefficient, with dimethyl
      phthalate (log P(OCT) = 2.3) being the most polar solvent tolerated. During
      growth with p-xylene (20% [vol/vol]), there was an initial lag period accompanied
      by cell death, which was followed by a period of exponential growth. The
      stationary phase of growth was characterized by a dramatic decrease in cell
      viability, although cell dry weight and turbidity measurements slowly increased.
      Electron micrographs revealed that during growth in the presence of p-xylene, the
      outer cell membrane becomes convoluted and membrane fragments are shed into the
      culture medium. At the same time, the cytoplasmic membrane invaginates, forming
      vesicles, and becomes disorganized. Electron-dense intracellular inclusions were
      observed in cells grown with p-xylene (20% [vol/vol]) and p-xylene vapors, which
      are not present in cells grown with succinate. Attempts to demonstrate the
      presence of plasmid DNA in P. putida Idaho were negative. However, polarographic
      studies indicated that the organism utilizes the same pathway for the degradation
      of toluene, m-xylene, and p-xylene as that used by P. putida mt-2 which contains
      the TOL plasmid pWWO.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1444382
TI  - Metabolism of toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids from tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)
      in ovine ruminal fluid under anaerobic conditions.
AB  - The ability of ovine ruminal fluid to metabolize pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) from
      Senecio jacobaea under anaerobic conditions was evaluated. Four fistulated sheep
      fed PA served as individual sources of ruminal fluid, which was incubated in a
      defined minimal salts medium under two different anaerobic conditions,
      denitrifying and methanogenic. Anaerobic cultures amended with ovine ruminal
      fluids (20%), PA (100 micrograms/ml), and a defined minimal salts medium were
      monitored for a period of several days. These cultures revealed that while PA was
      not depleted in sterile, autoclaved controls or under denitrifying conditions, it
      was metabolized during periods of active methanogenesis under methanogenic
      conditions. In addition, samples of ruminal fluid were separated by differential
      centrifugation under anaerobic conditions, and the resultant supernatants were
      tested for their ability to metabolize PA as compared with those of the
      respective uncentrifuged control fluids. Uncentrifuged controls exhibited a PA
      depletion rate of -4.04 +/- 0.17 micrograms of PA per ml per h. Supernatants 1
      (centrifuged at 41 x g for 2 min), 2 (centrifuged at 166 x g for 5 min), and 3
      (centrifuged at 1,500 x g for 10 min) exhibited significantly slower depletion
      rates, with slopes of data representing -1.64 +/- 0.16, -1.44 +/- 0.16, and -1.48
      +/- 0.16 micrograms of PA metabolized per ml per h, respectively, demonstrating
      no statistically significant difference among the supernatant cultures.
      Microscopic evaluations revealed that protozoa were present in the control whole
      ruminal fluid and to a lesser extent in supernatant 1, while supernatants 2 and 3
      contained only bacteria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1444383
TI  - Hydrodynamic effects on microcapillary motility and chemotaxis assays of
      Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b.
AB  - A study of the random motility and chemotaxis of Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b
      was conducted by using Palleroni-chamber microcapillary assay procedures. Under
      the growth conditions employed, this methanotroph was observed qualitatively with
      a microscope to be either slightly motile or essentially nonmotile. However, the
      cells did not not respond in the microcapillary assays in the manner expected for
      nonmotile Brownian particles. As a consequence, several hydrodynamic effects on
      these Palleroni microcapillary assays were uncovered. In the random-motility
      microcapillary assay, nondiffusive cell accumulations occurred that were strongly
      dependent upon cell concentration. An apparent minimal random-motility
      coefficient (mu) for this bacterial cell of 1.0 x 10(-7) cm2/s was estimated from
      microcapillary assays. A simple alternative spectrophotometric assay, based upon
      gravitational settling, was developed and shown to be an improvement over the
      Palleroni microcapillary motility assay for M. trichosporium OB3b in that it
      yielded a more-accurate threefold-lower random-motility coefficient. In addition,
      it provided a calculation of the gravitational-settling velocity. In the
      chemotaxis microcapillary assay, the apparent chemotactic responses were
      strongest for the highest test-chemical concentrations in the microcapillaries,
      were correlated with microcapillary fluid density, and were strongly dependent
      upon the microcapillary volume. A simple method to establish the maximal
      concentration of a chemical that can be tested and to quantify any contributions
      of abiotic convection is described. Investigators should be aware of the
      potential problems due to density-driven convection when using these commonly
      employed microcapillary assays for studying cells which have low motilities.

PMID- 1444384
TI  - Biodegradation of diphenyl ether and its monohalogenated derivatives by
      Sphingomonas sp. strain SS3.
AB  - The bacterium Sphingomonas sp. strain SS3, which utilizes diphenyl ether and its
      4-fluoro, 4-chloro, and (to a considerably lesser extent) 4-bromo derivatives as
      sole sources of carbon and energy, was enriched from soil samples of an
      industrial waste deposit. The bacterium showed cometabolic activities toward all
      other isomeric monohalogenated diphenyl ethers. During diphenyl ether degradation
      in batch culture experiments, phenol and catechol were produced as intermediates
      which were then channeled into the 3-oxoadipate pathway. The initial step in the
      degradation follows the recently discovered mechanism of 1,2-dioxygenation, which
      yields unstable phenolic hemiacetals from diphenyl ether structures. Oxidation of
      the structure-related dibenzo-p-dioxin yielded 2-(2-hydroxyphenoxy)-muconate upon
      ortho cleavage of the intermediate 2,2',3-trihydroxydiphenyl ether. Formation of
      phenol, catechol, halophenol, and halocatechol from the conversion of
      monohalogenated diphenyl ethers gives evidence for a nonspecific attack of the
      dioxygenating enzyme system.

PMID- 1444385
TI  - Genetic analysis of a locus on the Bacteroides ovatus chromosome which contains
      xylan utilization genes.
AB  - Bacteroides ovatus, a gram-negative obligate anaerobe found in the human colon,
      can utilize xylan as a sole source of carbohydrate. Previously, a 3.8-kbp segment
      of B. ovatus chromosomal DNA, which contained genes encoding a xylanase (xylI)
      and a bifunctional xylosidase-arabinosidase (xsa), was cloned, and expression of
      the two genes was studied in Escherichia coli (T. Whitehead and R. Hespell, J.
      Bacteriol. 172:2408-2412, 1990). In the present study, we have used segments of
      the cloned region to construct insertional disruptions in the B. ovatus
      chromosomal locus containing these two genes. Analysis of these insertional
      mutants demonstrated that (i) xylI and xsa are probably part of the same operon,
      with xylI upstream of xsa, (ii) the true B. ovatus promoter was not cloned on the
      3.5-kbp DNA fragment which expressed xylanase and xylosidase in E. coli, (iii)
      there is at least one gene upstream of xylI which could encode an arabinosidase,
      and (iv) xylosidase rather than xylanase may be a rate-limiting step in xylan
      utilization. Insertional mutations in the xylI-xsa locus reduced the rate of
      growth on xylan, but the concentration of residual sugars at the end of growth
      was the same as that with the wild type. Thus, a slower rate of growth on xylan
      was not accompanied by less extensive digestion of xylan. Mutants in which xylI
      had been disrupted still expressed some xylanase activity. This second activity
      was associated with membranes and produced xylose from xylan, whereas the xylI
      gene product partitioned primarily with the soluble fraction and produced
      xylobiose from xylan.

PMID- 1444386
TI  - Virulence characteristics of clinical and environmental isolates of Vibrio
      vulnificus.
AB  - Twenty-four randomly selected clinical and environmental Vibrio vulnificus
      isolates were tested for virulence in iron-overloaded mice (250 mg of iron
      dextran per kg of body weight). The log10 50% lethal doses of 17 isolates were
      lower by greater than or equal to 3.5 log10 units in iron-overloaded mice than in
      control mice. These isolates were classified as virulent. The 50% lethal doses of
      these virulent isolates were also lower in mice that were immunosuppressed by
      treatment with cyclophosphamide (150 mg/kg). Four of the seven isolates initially
      classified as avirulent were virulent in mice that were simultaneously iron
      overloaded and immunosuppressed. These isolates were classified as moderately
      virulent. The remaining three isolates were avirulent under all conditions. The
      incidence of virulent strains among clinical and environmental isolates did not
      differ. The virulent isolates produced high titers of hemolysin, were resistant
      to inactivation by serum complement, produced phenolate siderophore, and utilized
      transferrin-bound iron. The moderately virulent isolates differed from the
      virulent isolates only in their increased sensitivity to inactivation by serum
      complement. The avirulent isolates differed from those of the other two classes
      in their inability to either produce significant amounts of phenolate siderophore
      or utilize transferrin-bound iron. A modified agar plate diffusion method for
      transferrin-bound iron utilization was developed to differentiate the two classes
      of virulent isolates from the avirulent isolates in vitro.

PMID- 1444387
TI  - A model study of factors involved in adhesion of Pseudomonas fluorescens to meat.
AB  - A study was undertaken to investigate the factors involved in the adhesion of
      Pseudomonas fluorescens to model meat surfaces (tendon slices). Adhesion was fast
      (less than 2.5 min) and was not suppressed by killing the cells with UV, gamma
      rays, or heat, indicating that physiological activity was not required. In
      various salt solutions (NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, MgCl2), adhesion increased with
      increasing ionic strength up to 10 to 100 mM, suggesting that, at low ionic
      strengths, electrostatic interactions were involved in the adhesion process. At
      higher ionic strengths (greater than 10 to 100 mM) or in the presence of Al3+
      ions, adhesion was sharply reduced. Selectively blocking of carboxyl or amino
      groups at the cell surface by chemical means did not affect adhesion. These
      groups are therefore not directly involved in an adhesive bond with tendon. Given
      a sufficient cell concentration (10(10) CFU.ml-1) in the adhesion medium, the
      surface of tendon was almost entirely covered with adherent bacteria. This
      suggests that if the adhesion is specific, the attachment sites on the tendon
      surface must be located within collagen or proteoglycan molecules.

PMID- 1444388
TI  - Loss of allosteric control but retention of the bifunctional catalytic competence
      of a fusion protein formed by excision of 260 base pairs from the 3' terminus of
      pheA from Erwinia herbicola.
AB  - A bifunctional protein denoted as the P protein and encoded by pheA is widely
      present in purple gram-negative bacteria. This P protein carries catalytic
      domains that specify chorismate mutase (CM-P) and prephenate dehydratase. The
      instability of a recombinant plasmid carrying a pheA insert cloned from Erwinia
      herbicola resulted in a loss of 260 bp plus the TAA stop codon from the 3'
      terminus of pheA. The plasmid carrying the truncated pheA gene (denoted pheA*)
      was able to complement an Escherichia coli pheA auxotroph. pheA* was shown to be
      a chimera composed of the residual 5' part of pheA (901 bp) and a 5-bp fragment
      from the pUC18 vector. The new fusion protein (PheA*) retained both chorismate
      mutase and prephenate dehydratase activities. PheA* had a calculated subunit
      molecular weight of 33,574, in comparison to the 43,182-molecular-weight subunit
      size of PheA. The deletion did not affect the ability of PheA* to assume the
      native dimeric configuration of PheA. Both the CM-P and prephenate dehydratase
      components of PheA* were insensitive to L-phenylalanine inhibition, in contrast
      to the corresponding components of PheA. L-Phenylalanine protected both catalytic
      activities of PheA from thermal inactivation, and this protective effect of L
      phenylalanine upon the PheA* activities was lost. PheA* was more stable than PheA
      to thermal inactivation; this was more pronounced for prephenate dehydratase than
      for CM-P. In the presence of dithiothreitol, the differential resistance of PheA*
      prephenate dehydratase to thermal inactivation was particularly
      striking.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1444389
TI  - Heritability of fumonisin B1 production in Gibberella fujikuroi mating population
      A.
AB  - Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced by strains belonging to several different
      mating populations of Gibberella fujikuroi (anamorphs, Fusarium section Liseola),
      a major pathogen of maize and sorghum worldwide. We studied the heritability of
      fumonisin production in mating population A by crossing fumonisin-producing
      strains collected from maize and sorghum in the United States with fumonisin
      nonproducing strains collected from maize in Nepal. Random ascospore and tetrad
      progeny from three of these crosses were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass
      spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography for their ability to
      produce fumonisins on autoclaved cracked maize. In all three crosses, the ability
      to produce fumonisins, predominately fumonisin B1, segregated as a single gene or
      group of closely linked genes. Intercrosses between appropriate progeny and
      parents were poorly fertile, so we could not determine if the apparent single
      genes that were segregating in each of these crosses were allelic with one
      another. Mating type and spore-killer traits were scored in some crosses, and
      each segregated, as expected, as a single gene that was unlinked to the ability
      to produce fumonisins. We conclude that G. fujikuroi mating population A provides
      a powerful genetic system for the study of this important fungal toxin.

PMID- 1444390
TI  - Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the gene coding for aspartokinase II from a
      thermophilic methylotrophic Bacillus sp.
AB  - The structural gene coding for the lysine-sensitive aspartokinase II of the
      methylotrophic thermotolerant Bacillus sp. strain MGA3 was cloned from a genomic
      library by complementation of an Escherichia coli auxotrophic mutant lacking all
      three aspartokinase isozymes. The nucleotide sequence of the entire 2.2-kb PstI
      fragment was determined, and a single open reading frame coding for the
      aspartokinase II enzyme was found. Aspartokinase II was shown to be an alpha 2
      beta 2 tetramer (M(r) 122,000) with the beta subunit (M(r) 18,000) encoded within
      the alpha subunit (M(r) 45,000) in the samea reading frame. The enzyme was
      purified, and the N-terminal sequences of the alpha and beta subunits were
      identical with those predicted from the gene sequences. The predicted amino acid
      sequence was 76% identical with the sequence of the Bacillus subtilis
      aspartokinase II. The transcription initiation site was located approximately 350
      bp upstream of the translation start site, and putative promoter regions at -10
      (TATGCT) and -35 (ATGACA) were identified. A 300-nucleotide intervening sequence
      between the transcription initiation and translational start sites suggests a
      possible attenuation mechanism for the regulation of transcription of this enzyme
      in the presence of lysine.

PMID- 1444391
TI  - Quantitative spectrophotometric assay for staphylococcal lipase.
AB  - We report the development of a specific spectrophotometric assay for the
      quantitative determination of lipase activity in Staphylococcus aureus. The assay
      is based on the rate of clearance of a tributyrin emulsion, and it can detect as
      little as 1.0 micrograms of purified Pseudomonas lipase per ml. By comparison
      with the reaction rates obtained with Pseudomonas lipase, we calculated that S.
      aureus PS54C and S6C produce approximately 15 and 60 micrograms of extracellular
      lipase per ml, respectively. Neither PS54, which is lysogenized with the
      converting bacteriophage L54a and is consequently lipase negative (Lip-), nor
      KS1905, a Lip- transpositional mutant of strain S6C, was positive in our
      spectrophotometric assay. The specificity of the spectrophotometric tributyrin
      assay was confirmed with a triolein plate assay; supernatants from S6C and PS54C
      hydrolyzed triolein, while supernatants from PS54 and KSI905 did not. In contrast
      to the results of the spectrophotometric tributyrin assay, all enzyme
      preparations tested (including commercially purified esterase) were positive when
      examined by a tributyrin plate assay. The lack of specificity in the tributyrin
      plate assay emphasizes the need to interpret the results of tributyrin lipolysis
      kinetically for assessing lipase activity in S. aureus.

PMID- 1444392
TI  - Immunological demonstration of a unique 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate 2,3
      dioxygenase in soil Arthrobacter strains.
AB  - Many bacteria biosynthesize 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate 2,3-dioxygenases for
      growth on aromatic acids, but gram-negative organisms have been most extensively
      studied. A gram-positive strain containing 2,3-dioxygenase activity was
      identified as Arthrobacter strain Mn-1. The 2,3-dioxygenase from strain Mn-1 was
      purified to homogeneity by fast protein liquid chromatography with a Mono Q anion
      exchange column. Rabbit polyclonal antidioxygenase antibodies were prepared.
      Ouchterlony double-diffusion and Western blotting (immunoblotting) protocols were
      used to probe the distribution of the Mn-1 dioxygenase antigen in soil bacteria.
      Fourteen 2,3-dioxygenase-containing Bacillus and Pseudomonas strains did not
      contain immunologically cross-reactive proteins. Six of eight Arthrobacter
      strains contained 2,3-dioxygenase activity, and all of them produced cross
      reactive proteins. The data presented here suggest that a unique type of
      dioxygenase is geographically widespread but is taxonomically confined to
      Arthrobacter soil bacteria.

PMID- 1444393
TI  - 16S rRNA-based probes and polymerase chain reaction method to detect Listeria
      monocytogenes cells added to foods.
AB  - A rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was developed for detection of
      Listeria monocytogenes in foods. This method used a pair of primers based on a
      unique region in the 16S rRNA sequence of L. monocytogenes, which were previously
      reported by us to yield a specific nucleic acid probe. Our method included use of
      a shorter denaturing time, a shorter annealing time, a rapid transition, and an
      increase in the number of cycles, resulting in good sensitivity. Just 3 h for PCR
      plus 1 h for electrophoresis was required. Additional time for DNA isolation and
      DNA hybridization was not needed. This method detected as few as 2 to 20 CFU of
      L. monocytogenes in pure cultures and as few as 4 to 40 CFU of L. monocytogenes
      in inoculated (10(8) CFU), diluted food samples. Seven of eight foods, including
      four poultry products, gave positive results. Only one food sample, soft cheese,
      gave interference. An internal probe hybridization test was used to confirm that
      the PCR products were from L. monocytogenes. A specificity test indicated that
      this PCR method was positive for all 13 strains of L. monocytogenes tested but
      negative for the other 6 species of Listeria, including 6 strains of L. innocua,
      and negative for 17 other gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria tested.

PMID- 1444394
TI  - Genetic relatedness of Bradyrhizobium japonicum field isolates as revealed by
      repeated sequences and various other characteristics.
AB  - Forty-nine isolates of Bradyrhizobium japonicum indigenous to a field where
      soybeans were grown for 45 years without inoculation were characterized by using
      four DNA hybridization probes from B. japonicum. nifDK-specific hybridization
      clearly divided the isolates into two divergent groups. Diversity in repeated
      sequence (RS)-specific hybridization was observed; 44 isolates derived from 41
      nodules were divided into 33 different RS fingerprint groups. Cluster analysis
      showed that the RS fingerprints were correlated with the nif and hup genotypes.
      We found multiple bands of RS-specific hybridization for two isolates that
      differed from the patterns of the other isolates. These results suggest that RS
      fingerprinting is a valuable tool for evaluating the genetic structure of
      indigenous B. japonicum populations.

PMID- 1444395
TI  - Effects of Beauveria bassiana on embryos of the inland silverside fish (Menidia
      beryllina).
AB  - A chemical toxicity and teratogenicity test was adapted to assess potential
      adverse effects of a microbial pest control agent on a nontarget fish. Developing
      embryos of the inland silverside, Menidia beryllina, were exposed to
      conidiospores of the insect-pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. Embryo rupture
      and death were observed. Embryo rupture did not always result in death, nor was
      death always associated with embryo rupture. Adherence of spores to the chorion,
      followed by germination and penetration by the germ tube, probably caused the
      embryos to rupture. Statistically significant (P less than or equal to 0.05)
      responses were observed in tests in which conidiospore concentrations were
      greater than or equal to 8.3 x 10(4) or less than or equal to 1.5 x 10(6)/ml.
      Conidiospores treated with a dispersant (biological detergent) showed
      significantly less binding (P less than or equal to 0.01) to embryos than did
      untreated spores. Both detergent-treated and heat-killed spores failed to cause
      significant adverse effects.

PMID- 1444396
TI  - Heat and cold shock protein synthesis in arctic and temperate strains of
      rhizobia.
AB  - We compared heat shock proteins (HSPs) and cold shock proteins (CSPs) produced by
      different species of Rhizobium having different growth temperature ranges.
      Several HSPs and CSPs were induced when cells of three arctic (psychrotrophic)
      and three temperate (mesophilic) strains of rhizobia were shifted from their
      optimal growth temperatures (arctic, 25 degrees C; temperate, 30 degrees C) to
      shock temperatures outside their growth temperature ranges. At heat shock
      temperatures, three major HSPs of high molecular weight (106,900, 83,100, and
      59,500) were present in all strains for all shock treatments (29, 32, 36.4, 38.4,
      40.7, 41.4, and 46.4 degrees C), with the exception of temperate strains exposed
      to 46.4 degrees C, in which no protein synthesis was detected. Cell survival of
      arctic and temperate strains decreased markedly with the increase of shock
      temperature and was only 1% at 46.4 degrees C. Under cold shock conditions, five
      proteins (52.0, 38.0, 23.4, 22.7, and 11.1 kDa) were always present for all
      treatments (-2, -5, and -10 degrees C) in arctic strains. Among temperate
      strains, five CSPs (56.1, 37.1, 34.4, 17.3, and 11.1 kDa) were present at
      temperatures down to 0 degrees C. The 34.4- and the 11.1-kDa components were
      present in all temperate strains at -5 degrees C and in one strain at -10 degrees
      C. Survival of all strains decreased with cold shock temperatures but was always
      higher than 50%. These results show that rhizobia can synthesize proteins at
      temperatures not permissive for growth. In all shock treatments, no
      correspondence between the number of HSPs or CSPs produced and rhizobial survival
      was found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1444397
TI  - Screening for microorganisms producing D-malate from maleate.
AB  - More than 300 microorganisms were screened for their ability to convert maleate
      into D-malate as a result of the action of maleate hydratase. Accumulation of
      fumarate during incubation of permeabilized cells with maleate was shown to be
      indicative of one of the two enzymes known to transform maleate. The ratio in
      which fumarate and malate accumulated could be used to estimate the enantiomeric
      composition of the malate formed. Many strains (n = 128) were found to be capable
      of converting maleate to D-malate with an enantiomeric purity of more than 97%.
      Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes NCIMB 9867 was selected for more detailed studies.
      Although this strain was not able to grow on maleate, permeabilized cells were
      able to degrade maleate to undetectable levels, with a concomitant formation of D
      malate. The D-malate was formed with an enantiomeric purity of more than 99.97%.

PMID- 1444398
TI  - Induction of melanin biosynthesis in Vibrio cholerae.
AB  - Vibrio cholerae synthesized the pigment melanin in response to specific
      physiological conditions that were stressful to the bacterium. Pigmentation was
      induced when V. cholerae was subjected to hyperosmotic stress in conjunction with
      elevated growth temperatures (above 30 degrees C). The salt concentration
      tolerated by V. cholerae was lowered by additional abiotic factors such as acidic
      starting pH of the growth medium and limitation of organic nutrients. Although
      the amount of toxin detected in the culture supernatant decreased significantly
      in response to stressful culture conditions, no correlation between the
      physiological conditions that induced melanogenesis and expression of OmpU or
      cholera toxin was detected. Since conditions that induce melanin production in V.
      cholerae occur in both the aquatic environment and the human host, it is possible
      that melanogenesis has a specific function with respect to the survival of the
      bacterium in these habitats.

PMID- 1444399
TI  - Formation of poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) by Azotobacter vinelandii
      UWD.
AB  - Azotobacter vinelandii UWD formed polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymers
      containing beta-hydroxybutyrate and beta-hydroxyvalerate (HV) when grown in a
      medium containing glucose as the primary C source and valerate (pentanoate) as a
      precursor. Copolymer was not formed when propionate was added to the glucose
      medium but was formed when heptanoate, nonanoate, or trans-2-pentenoate was
      present. Optimal levels of HV were formed when valerate was added at the time of
      maximum PHA synthesis, although HV incorporation was not dependent on glucose
      catabolism. HV content in the polymer was increased from 17 to 24 mol% by adding
      10 to 40 mM valerate to glucose medium, but HV insertion into the polymer
      occurred at a fixed rate. Similarly, the addition of valerate to a fed-batch
      culture of strain UWD in beet molasses in a fermentor produced 19 to 22 g of
      polymer per liter, containing 8.5 to 23 mol% HV after 38 to 40 h. The synthesis
      of HV in these cultures also occurred at a fixed rate (2.3 to 2.8 mol% h-1),
      while the maximum PHA production rate was 1.1 g liter-1 h-1. During synthesis of
      copolymer in batch or fed-batch culture, the yield from conversion of glucose
      into PHA (YP/S) remained at maximum theoretical efficiency (greater than or equal
      to 0.33 g of PHA per g of glucose consumed). Up to 45 mol% C source, but the PHA
      produced amounted to less than 1 g/liter. The combination of 30 mM valerate as a
      sole C source and 0.5 mM 4-pentenoate increased the HV content in the polymer to
      52 mol%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1444400
TI  - Isolation and characterization of an anaerobic chlorophenol-transforming
      bacterium.
AB  - An obligately anaerobic bacterium which transforms several chlorinated phenols
      was isolated. Dechlorination of the substituents ortho to the phenolic OH group
      was preferred, while removal of a meta-substituted chlorine was observed only
      with 3,5-dichlorophenol. The bacterium was a gram-positive, endospore-forming,
      motile, slightly curved rod. Sulfate was not reduced. Nitrate was reduced via
      nitrite to ammonium. The bacterium is related to the genus Clostridium. The
      highest growth rate was obtained in a medium containing pyruvate and yeast
      extract. Pyruvate supported growth as the sole source of carbon, and the
      fermentation of pyruvate produced almost equimolar amounts of acetate.

PMID- 1444401
TI  - Characterization of a novel Pseudomonas sp. that mineralizes high concentrations
      of pentachlorophenol.
AB  - A pentachlorophenol (PCP)-mineralizing bacterium was isolated from polluted soil
      and identified as Pseudomonas sp. strain RA2. In batch cultures, Pseudomonas sp.
      strain RA2 used PCP as its sole source of carbon and energy and was capable of
      completely degrading this compound as indicated by radiotracer studies,
      stoichiometric release of chloride, and biomass formation. Pseudomonas sp. strain
      RA2 was able to mineralize a higher concentration of PCP (160 mg liter-1) than
      any previously reported PCP-degrading pseudomonad. At a PCP concentration of 200
      mg liter-1, cell growth was completely inhibited and PCP was not degraded,
      although an active population of Pseudomonas sp. RA2 was still present in these
      cultures after 2 weeks. The inhibitory effect of PCP was partially attributable
      to its effect on the growth rate of Pseudomonas sp. strain RA2. The highest
      specific growth rate (mu = 0.09 h-1) was reached at a PCP concentration of 40 mg
      liter-1 but decreased at higher or lower PCP concentrations, with the lowest mu
      (0.05 h-1) occurring at 150 mg liter-1. Despite this reduction in growth rate,
      total biomass production was proportional to PCP concentration at all PCP
      concentrations degraded by Pseudomonas sp. RA2. In contrast, final cell density
      was reduced to below expected values at PCP concentrations greater than 100 mg
      liter-1. These results indicate that, in addition to its effect as an uncoupler
      of oxidative phosphorylation, PCP may also inhibit cell division in Pseudomonas
      sp. strain RA2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1444402
TI  - Metal regulation of siderophore synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and
      functional effects of siderophore-metal complexes.
AB  - Pseudomonas aeruginosa synthesizes two siderophores, pyochelin and pyoverdin,
      characterized by widely different structures, physicochemical properties, and
      affinities for Fe(III). Titration experiments showed that pyochelin, which is
      endowed with a relatively low affinity for Fe(III), binds other transition
      metals, such as Cu(II), Co(II), Mo(VI), and Ni(II), with appreciable affinity. In
      line with these observations, Fe(III) and Co(II) at 10 microM or Mo(VI), Ni(II),
      and Cu(II) at 100 microM repressed pyochelin synthesis and reduced expression of
      iron-regulated outer membrane proteins of 75, 68, and 14 kDa. In contrast,
      pyoverdin synthesis and expression of the 80-kDa receptor protein were affected
      only by Fe(III). All of the metals tested, except Mo(VI), significantly promoted
      P. aeruginosa growth in metal-poor medium; Mo(VI), Ni(II), and Co(II) were more
      efficient as pyochelin complexes than the free metal ions and the siderophore.
      The observed correlation between the affinity of pyochelin for Fe(III), Co(II),
      and Mo(VI) and the functional effects of these metals indicates that pyochelin
      may play a role in their delivery to P. aeruginosa.

PMID- 1444403
TI  - Formation of unilamellar liposomes from total polar lipid extracts of
      methanogens.
AB  - Unilamellar liposomes were formed by controlled detergent dialysis of mixed
      micelles consisting of acetone-insoluble total polar lipids extracted from
      various methanogens and the detergent n-octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside. The final
      liposome populations were studied by dynamic light scattering and electron
      microscopy. Unilamellar liposomes with mean diameters smaller than 100 nm were
      obtained with lipid extracts of Methanococcus voltae, Methanosarcina mazei,
      Methanosaeta concilii, and Methanococcus jannaschii (grown at 50 degrees C),
      whereas larger (greater than 100-nm) unilamellar liposomes were obtained with
      lipid extracts of M. jannaschii grown at 65 degrees C. These liposomes were shown
      to be closed intact vesicles capable of retaining entrapped [14C]sucrose for
      extended periods of time. With the exception of Methanospirillum hungatei
      liposomes, all size distributions of the different liposome populations were
      fairly homogeneous.

PMID- 1444404
TI  - Dynamic mathematical model to predict microbial growth and inactivation during
      food processing.
AB  - Many sigmoidal functions to describe a bacterial growth curve as an explicit
      function of time have been reported in the literature. Furthermore, several
      expressions have been proposed to model the influence of temperature on the main
      characteristics of this growth curve: maximum specific growth rate, lag time, and
      asymptotic level. However, as the predictive value of such explicit models is
      most often guaranteed only at a constant temperature within the temperature range
      of microbial growth, they are less appropriate in optimization studies of a whole
      production and distribution chain. In this paper a dynamic mathematical model--a
      first-order differential equation--has been derived, describing the bacterial
      population as a function of both time and temperature. Furthermore, the
      inactivation of the population at temperatures above the maximum temperature for
      growth has been incorporated. In the special case of a constant temperature, the
      solution coincides exactly with the corresponding Gompertz model, which has been
      validated in several recent reports. However, the main advantage of this dynamic
      model is its ability to deal with time-varying temperatures, over the whole
      temperature range of growth and inactivation. As such, it is an essential
      building block in (time-saving) simulation studies to design, e.g., optimal
      temperature-time profiles with respect to microbial safety of a production and
      distribution chain of chilled foods.

PMID- 1444405
TI  - Isolation and characterization of a fluorene-degrading bacterium: identification
      of ring oxidation and ring fission products.
AB  - An Arthrobacter sp. strain, F101, able to use fluorene as the sole source of
      carbon and energy, was isolated from sludge from an oil refinery wastewater
      treatment plant. During growth in the presence of fluorene, four major
      metabolites were detected and isolated by thin-layer chromatography and high
      performance liquid chromatography. 9-Fluorenol, 9H-fluoren-9-one, and 3,4
      dihydrocoumarin were identified by UV spectra, mass spectrometry, and 300-MHz
      proton nuclear magnetic resonance. The fourth metabolite has been characterized,
      but precise identification was not possible. Since strain F101 is not able to
      grow with fluorenone, two different pathways of fluorene biodegradation are
      suggested: one supports cell growth and produces 3,4-dihydrocoumarin as an
      intermediate and probably the unidentified metabolite, and the other produces 9
      fluorenol and 9H-fluoren-9-one and appears to be a dead-end route.

PMID- 1444406
TI  - Physiological studies of chloramine resistance developed by Klebsiella pneumoniae
      under low-nutrient growth conditions.
AB  - This study investigated the physiological mechanisms of resistance to chloramines
      developed by Klebsiella pneumoniae grown in a nutrient-limited environment.
      Growth under these conditions resulted in cells that were smaller than cells
      grown under high-nutrient conditions and extensively aggregated. Cellular
      aggregates ranged from 10 to more than 10,000 cells per aggregate, with a mean
      population aggregate size of 90 cells. This aggregation may have been facilitated
      by the presence of extracellular polymer material. By using glucose as a
      reference of capsule content, it was determined that growth under low-nutrient
      conditions produced cells with 8 x 10(-14) to 41 x 10(-14) g of carbohydrate per
      cell, with a mean +/- standard deviation of 27 x 10(-14) +/- 16 x 10(-14) g of
      carbohydrate per cell. In comparison, growth under high-nutrient conditions
      resulted in 2.7 x 10(-14) to 5.9 x 10(-14) g of carbohydrate per cell, with a
      mean and standard deviation of 4.3 x 10(-14) +/- 1.2 x 10(-14) g of carbohydrate
      per cell. Cell wall and cell membrane lipids also varied with growth conditions.
      The ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids in cells grown under low
      nutrient conditions was approximately five times greater than that in cells grown
      under high-nutrient conditions, suggesting possible differences in membrane
      permeability. An analysis of sulfhydryl (-SH) groups revealed no quantitative
      difference with respect to growth conditions. However, upon exposure to
      chloramines, only 33% of the -SH groups of cells grown under low-nutrient
      conditions were oxidized, compared with 80% oxidization of -SH groups in cells
      grown under high-nutrient conditions. The reduced effectiveness of chloramine
      oxidization of -SH groups in cells grown under low-nutrient conditions may be due
      to restricted penetration of chloramines into the cells, conformational changes
      of enzymes, or a combination of both factors. The results of this study suggest
      that chloramine resistance developed under low-nutrient growth conditions may be
      a function of multiple physiological factors, including cellular aggregation and
      protection of sulfhydryl groups within the cell.

PMID- 1444407
TI  - Degradation of 2,4-dinitrophenol by two Rhodococcus erythropolis strains, HL 24-1
      and HL 24-2.
AB  - Two Rhodococcus erythropolis strains, HL 24-1 and HL 24-2, were isolated from
      soil and river water by their abilities to utilize 2,4-dinitrophenol (0.5 mM) as
      the sole source of nitrogen. Although succinate was supplied as a carbon and
      energy source during selection, both isolates could utilize 2,4-dinitrophenol
      also as the sole source of carbon. Both strains metabolized 2,4-dinitrophenol
      under concomitant liberation of stoichiometric amounts of nitrite and 4,6
      dinitrohexanoate as a minor dead-end metabolite.

PMID- 1444408
TI  - Initial hydrogenation during catabolism of picric acid by Rhodococcus
      erythropolis HL 24-2.
AB  - Rhodococcus erythropolis HL 24-2, which was originally isolated as a 2,4
      dinitrophenol-degrading bacterium, could also utilize picric acid as a nitrogen
      source after spontaneous mutation. During growth, the mutant HL PM-1 transiently
      accumulated an orange-red metabolite, which was identified as a hydride
      Meisenheimer complex of picric acid. This complex was formed as the initial
      metabolite and further converted with concomitant liberation of nitrite. 2,4,6
      Trinitrocyclohexanone was identified as a dead-end metabolite of the degradation
      of picric acid, indicating the addition of two hydride ions to picric acid.

PMID- 1444409
TI  - Distribution of viruses in the Chesapeake Bay.
AB  - High virus counts were found in water samples collected from the Chesapeake Bay.
      Viruses were enumerated by ultracentrifugation of water samples onto grids which
      were visualized by transmission electron microscopy. Virus counts in September
      1990, April 1991, June 1991, August 1991, and October 1991 ranged between 2.6 x
      10(6) and 1.4 x 10(8) viruses ml-1 with a mean of 2.5 x 10(7) viruses ml-1. Virus
      counts were usually at least three times higher than direct bacterial counts in
      corresponding samples. Virus counts in August and October were significantly
      higher than at the other sampling times, whereas bacterial counts were
      significantly lower at that time, yielding mean virus-to-bacterium ratios of 12.6
      and 25.6, respectively. From analysis of morphology of the virus particles, it is
      concluded that a large proportion of the viruses are bacteriophages. The high
      virus counts obtained in this study suggest that viruses may be an important
      factor affecting bacterial populations in the Chesapeake Bay, with implications
      for gene transfer in natural aquatic bacterial populations and release of
      genetically engineered microorganisms to estuarine and coastal environments.

PMID- 1444410
TI  - DNA amplification polymorphisms of the cultivated mushroom Agaricus bisporus.
AB  - Single 10-bp primers were used to generate random amplified polymorphic DNA
      (RAPD) markers from commercial and wild strains of the cultivated mushroom
      Agaricus bisporus via the polymerase chain reaction. Of 20 primers tested, 19
      amplified A. bisporus DNA, each producing 5 to 15 scorable markers ranging from
      0.5 to 3.0 kbp. RAPD markers identified seven distinct genotypes among eight
      heterokaryotic strains; two of the commercial strains were shown to be related to
      each other through single-spore descent. Homokaryons recovered from protoplast
      regenerants of heterokaryotic strains carried a subset of the RAPD markers found
      in the heterokaryon, and both of the haploid nuclei from two heterokaryons were
      distinguishable. RAPD markers also served to verify the creation of a hybrid
      heterokaryon and to analyze meiotic progeny from this new strain: most of the
      basidiospores displayed RAPD fingerprints identical to that of the parental
      heterokaryon, although a few selected slow growers were homoallelic at a number
      of loci that were heteroallelic in the parent, suggesting that they represented
      rare homokaryotic basidiospores; crossover events between a RAPD marker locus and
      its respective centromere appeared to be infrequent. These results demonstrate
      that RAPD markers provide an efficient alternative for strain fingerprinting and
      a versatile tool for genetic studies and manipulations of A. bisporus.

PMID- 1444411
TI  - Effect of pseudobactin 358 production by Pseudomonas putida WCS358 on suppression
      of fusarium wilt of carnations by nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum Fo47.
AB  - Nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum Fo47b10 combined with Pseudomonas putida WCS358
      efficiently suppressed fusarium wilt of carnations grown in soilless culture.
      This suppression was significantly higher than that obtained by inoculation of
      either antagonistic microorganism alone. The increased suppression obtained by
      Fo47b10 combined with WCS358 only occurred when Fo47b10 was introduced at a
      density high enough (at least 10 times higher than that of the pathogen) to be
      efficient on its own. P. putida WCS358 had no effect on disease severity when
      inoculated on its own but significantly improved the control achieved with
      nonpathogenic F. oxysporum Fo47b10. In contrast, a siderophore-negative mutant of
      WCS358 had no effect on disease severity even in the presence of Fo47b10. Since
      the densities of both bacterial strains at the root level were similar, the
      difference between the wild-type WCS358 and the siderophore-negative mutant with
      regard to the control of fusarium wilt was related to the production of
      pseudobactin 358. The production of pseudobactin 358 appeared to be responsible
      for the increased suppression by Fo47b10 combined with WCS358 relative to that
      with Fo47b10 alone.

PMID- 1444412
TI  - Organophosphonate utilization by the wild-type strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens.
AB  - The wild-type strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens was found to utilize a range of
      structurally diverse organophosphonates as its sole carbon or nitrogen sources.
      Representative compounds included aminoalkylphosphonates,
      hydroxyalkylphosphonates, oxoalkylphosphonates, and phosphono dipeptides. Among
      them, amino(phenyl)methylphosphonate,2-aminoethylphosphonate,
      aminomethylphosphonate, diisopropyl 9-aminofluoren-9-ylphosphonate, and 2
      oxoalkylphosphonates were used by P. fluorescens as its sole sources of
      phosphorus. Only slight growth was observed on the herbicide glyphosate (N
      phosphonomethylglycine), which was metabolized to aminomethylphosphonate. Neither
      phosphinothricin nor its dialanyl tripeptide, bialaphos, supported growth of P.
      fluorescens. The possible mechanisms of organophosphonate degradation by this
      strain are discussed.

PMID- 1444413
TI  - Degradation of phenanthrene by Phanerochaete chrysosporium occurs under
      ligninolytic as well as nonligninolytic conditions.
AB  - In order to delineate the roles of lignin and manganese peroxidases in the
      degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Phanerochaete chrysosporium,
      the biodegradation of phenanthrene (chosen as a model for polycyclic aromatic
      hydrocarbons) was investigated. The disappearance of phenanthrene from the
      extracellular medium and mycelia was determined by using gas chromatography. The
      disappearance of phenanthrene from cultures of wild-type strains BKM-F1767 (ATCC
      24725) and ME446 (ATCC 34541) under ligninolytic (low-nitrogen) as well as
      nonligninolytic (high-nitrogen) conditions was observed. The study was extended
      to two homokaryotic (basidiospore-derived) isolates of strain ME446. Both
      homokaryotic isolates, ME446-B19 (which produces lignin and manganese peroxidases
      only in low-nitrogen medium) and ME446-B5 (which totally lacks lignin and
      manganese peroxidase activities), caused the disappearance of phenanthrene when
      grown in low- as well as high-nitrogen media. Moreover, lignin and manganese
      peroxidase activities were not detected in any of the cultures incubated in the
      presence of phenanthrene. Additionally, the mineralization of phenanthrene was
      observed even under nonligninolytic conditions. The results collectively indicate
      that lignin and manganese peroxidases are not essential for the degradation of
      phenanthrene by P. chrysosporium. The observation that phenanthrene degradation
      occurs under nonligninolytic conditions suggests that the potential of P.
      chrysosporium for degradation of certain environmental pollutants is not limited
      to nutrient starvation conditions.

PMID- 1444414
TI  - Identification of individual prokaryotic cells by using enzyme-labeled, rRNA
      targeted oligonucleotide probes.
AB  - A method to microscopically detect and identify individual cells of members of
      the domains Bacteria and Archaea is presented. rRNA-targeted oligonucleotides
      were 5' end labeled with the enzyme horseradish peroxidase and used for whole
      cell hybridization. Specifically bound probe was visualized by the enzymatic
      formation of an intracellular precipitate from the substrate diaminobenzidine.
      Permeation of the enzyme-labeled probe into whole fixed cells of gram-negative
      bacteria required their pretreatment with lysozyme-EDTA, whereas permeability of
      some archaebacterial cells was improved by addition of detergent to the
      hybridization buffer. Hitherto we had not achieved penetration of enzyme-labeled
      probe into gram-positive bacteria and yeast cells. This method should be a
      valuable tool for identification of suitable prokaryotic cells in environments
      with elevated background fluorescence or in situations in which an
      epifluorescence microscope is not available.

PMID- 1444415
TI  - Importance of unattached bacteria and bacteria attached to sediment in
      determining potentials for degradation of xenobiotic organic contaminants in an
      aerobic aquifer.
AB  - The bacterial abundance, distribution, and degradation potential (in terms of
      degradation versus lack of degradation) for four xenobiotic compounds in an
      aerobic aquifer sediment have been examined in laboratory and field experiments.
      The xenobiotic compounds studied were benzene, toluene, o-xylene, and naphthalene
      (all at concentrations of approximately 120 micrograms/liter). The aerobic
      degradation experiments ran for approximately 90 days at 10 degrees C, which
      corresponded to the groundwater temperature. At the end of the experiment, the
      major part of the microbial biomass, quantified as acridine orange direct counts,
      was attached to the groundwater sediment (18 x 10(6) to 25 x 10(6) cells per g
      [dry weight], and only a minor part was unattached in the groundwater (0.6 x
      10(6) to 5.5 x 10(6) cells per ml). Experiments involving aquifer sediment
      suspensions showed identical degradation potentials in the laboratory and in the
      field. However, laboratory experiments involving only groundwater (excluding
      aquifer sediment) showed less degradation potential than in situ experiments
      involving only groundwater, indicating that the manipulation or approach of the
      laboratory experiments could affect the determination of the degradation
      potentials. No differences were observed between the groundwater-only and the
      sediment compartments in the in situ experiments in the ability to degrade the
      compounds, but the maximum degradation rates were substantially lower in the
      groundwater-only compartment. Preparations used in laboratory experiments for
      studying the degradation potential for xenobiotic organic contaminants should
      contain sediment to obtain the highest numbers of bacteria as well as the
      broadest and most stable degradation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1444416
TI  - Routine procedures for isolation and identification of enterococci and fecal
      streptococci.
AB  - Over the past 6 years, a revised classification of the streptococci and
      enterococci, based primarily on molecular techniques such as 16S rRNA sequencing
      and DNA-DNA hybridization, emerged. However, little attention was placed on
      routine physiological tests that could be used in food and clinical laboratories
      to differentiate between species of a new genus, Enterococcus, and fecal
      Streptococcus spp. The purpose of this study was to devise a convenient and
      reliable system to identify enterococci and fecal streptococci by using
      conventional procedures. Fifty-nine strains of 13 Enterococcus spp., including
      the type strains and many strains used by previous investigators, were
      characterized by using conventional tube tests, the API Rapid Strep system, and
      MicroScan Pos ID panels. Results were compared with each other and with
      previously published results. A comparison of conventional tube tests versus
      published tube test results yielded 17 discrepancies. Although not all tests were
      done with each of the three systems, 28 discrepancies between results obtained
      with the API system and those obtained with conventional tube tests were found.
      There were 24 discrepancies between results obtained with the MicroScan Pos ID
      panel and those obtained with conventional tube tests. There were 12
      discrepancies between the results with the API Rapid Strep system and those with
      the MicroScan Pos ID panels. We devised flow charts of key tests that might be
      used to identify cultures without resorting to nucleic acid analysis and other
      labor- and equipment-intensive analyses.

PMID- 1444417
TI  - Lysogeny and bacteriocinogeny in Xenorhabdus nematophilus and other Xenorhabdus
      spp.
AB  - Induction by mitomycin or high-temperature treatment resulted in the production
      of bacteriocins and phages in both phases of Xenorhabdus nematophilus A24,
      indicating lysogeny. Phage DNA purified from X. nematophilus A24 hybridized to
      several fragments of DraI-digested A24 chromosomal DNA, confirming that the phage
      genome was incorporated into the bacterial chromosome. Bacteriocins and phages
      were detected in cultures of most other Xenorhabdus spp. after mitomycin or high
      temperature treatment. Xenorhabdus luminescens K80 was not lysed by these
      treatments, and no phages were seen associated with this strain. However,
      bacteriocins were detected in limited quantities in all Xenorhabdus cultures,
      including X. luminescens K80, without any induction. X. nematophilus A24
      bacteriocins were antagonistic for other Xenorhabdus species but not for A24 or
      other strains of X. nematophilus.

PMID- 1444418
TI  - Cometabolic degradation of chlorinated alkenes by alkene monooxygenase in a
      propylene-grown Xanthobacter strain.
AB  - Propylene-grown Xanthobacter cells (strain Py2) degraded several chlorinated
      alkenes of environmental concern, including trichloroethylene, 1-chloroethylene
      (vinyl chloride), cis- and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,3-dichloropropylene, and
      2,3-dichloropropylene. 1,1-Dichloroethylene was not degraded efficiently, while
      tetrachloroethylene was not degraded. The role of alkene monooxygenase in
      catalyzing chlorinated alkene degradations was established by demonstrating that
      glucose-grown cells which lack alkene monooxygenase and propylene-grown cells in
      which alkene monooxygenase was selectively inactivated by propyne were unable to
      degrade the compounds. C2 and C3 chlorinated alkanes were not oxidized by alkene
      monooxygenase, but a number of these compounds were inhibitors of propylene and
      ethylene oxidation, suggesting that they compete for binding to the enzyme. A
      number of metabolites enhanced the rate of degradation of chlorinated alkenes,
      including propylene oxide, propionaldehyde, and glucose. Propylene stimulated
      chlorinated alkene oxidation slightly when present at a low concentration but
      became inhibitory at higher concentrations. Toxic effects associated with
      chlorinated alkene oxidations were determined by measuring the propylene
      oxidation and propylene oxide-dependent O2 uptake rates of cells previously
      incubated with chlorinated alkenes. Compounds which were substrates for alkene
      monooxygenase exhibited various levels of toxicity, with 1,1-dichloroethylene and
      trichloroethylene being the most potent inactivators of propylene oxidation and
      1,3- and 2,3-dichloropropylene being the most potent inactivators of propylene
      oxide-dependent O2 uptake. No toxic effects were seen when cells were incubated
      with chlorinated alkenes anaerobically, indicating that the product(s) of
      chlorinated alkene oxidation mediates toxicity.

PMID- 1444419
TI  - Genomic analysis of Pediococcus starter cultures used to control Listeria
      monocytogenes in turkey summer sausage.
AB  - The pulsed-field technique of clamped homogeneous electric field electrophoresis
      was employed to characterize and size genomic DNA of three pediocin-producing
      (Ped+) and two non-pediocin-producing (Ped-) strains of Pediococcus acidilactici.
      Comparison of genomic fingerprints obtained by digestion with the low-frequency
      cleavage endonuclease AscI revealed identical restriction profiles for four of
      the five strains analyzed. Summation of results for 10 individually sized AscI
      fragments estimated the genome length to be 1,861 kb for the four strains (H,
      PAC1.0, PO2, and JBL1350) with identical fingerprints. Genomic analysis of the
      pediocin-sensitive, plasmid-free strain P. acidilactici LB42 with the unique
      fingerprint revealed nine AscI fragments and a genome length of about 2,133 kb.
      Ped- (JBL1350) and Ped+ (JBL1095) starter cultures (one each) were used to
      separately prepare turkey summer sausage coinoculated with a four-strain Listeria
      monocytogenes mixture (ca. 10(5) CFU/g). The starter cultures produced equivalent
      amounts of acid during fermentation, but counts of L. monocytogenes were reduced
      to a greater extent in the presence of the Ped+ starter culture (3.4 log10 unit
      decrease) than in the presence of the Ped- starter culture (0.9 log10 unit
      decrease). Although no listeriae were recovered from sausages following the
      cook/shower, appreciable pediocin activity was recovered from sausages prepared
      with the Ped+ strain for at least 60 days during storage at 4 degrees C. The
      results of this study revealed genomic similarities among pediococcal starter
      cultures and established that pediocins produced during fermentation provide an
      additional measure of safety against listerial proliferation in turkey summer
      sausage.

PMID- 1444420
TI  - Role of heterotrophic bacteria in complete mineralization of trichloroethylene by
      Methylocystis sp. strain M.
AB  - Biodegradation experiments with radioactively labeled trichloroethylene showed
      that 32% of the radioactive carbon was converted to glyoxylic acid,
      dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid and that the same percentage was
      converted to CO2 and CO after 140 h of incubation by a pure culture of a type II
      methane-utilizing bacterium, Methylocystis sp. strain M, isolated from a mixed
      culture, MU-81, in our laboratory. In contrast, these water-soluble
      (14C)trichloroethylene degradation products were completely or partially degraded
      further and converted to CO2 by the MU-81 mixed culture. This phenomenon was
      attributed to the presence of a heterotrophic bacterium (strain DA4), which was
      identified as Xanthobacter autotrophicus, in the MU-81 culture. The results
      indicate that the heterotrophic bacteria play an important role in complete
      trichloroethylene degradation by methanotrophs.

PMID- 1444421
TI  - Hexadecane mineralization in oxygen-controlled sediment-seawater cultivations
      with autochthonous microorganisms.
AB  - Laboratory studies investigated the influence of dissolved oxygen tension (DOT)
      on microbial degradation of hexadecane in cultures with sediment-seawater
      suspensions. With a fermentor system, it was possible to adjust and regulate
      different oxic conditions (DOTs between 0.4 and 80% of oxygen saturation) as well
      as anoxia. The effects of DOT reduction on the amount and rate of hexadecane
      degraded and on the degree of mineralization and on the production of biomass
      were investigated. When the DOT was reduced from 80% to 5%, no dependence of the
      investigated parameters on the oxygen concentration was found. The amount of
      hexadecane degraded was constant, with an average value of 86% of the initially
      applied amount. The degradation rate was constant even down to 1% DOT, with an
      average value of 0.15 mg of hexadecane per g of sediment per h (16.2 mg liter-1 h
      1). The mean degree of mineralization was 70% of the initially applied
      hexadecane, and biomass production reached a value of about 1.5 g per g of
      hexadecane consumed. A significant influence on the degradation process was
      detected only with DOTs below 1%. The degree of mineralization and the amount of
      degraded hexadecane decreased, whereas the degradation rate was still unaffected.
      Under anoxic conditions, no hexadecane degradation occurred within 190 h. The
      fact that the hexadecane biodegradation rate was constant down to at least 0.04%
      DOT shows that the actual oxygen concentration is of minor importance as long as
      the oxygen supply is high enough to guarantee the oxygen-dependent degradation
      step.

PMID- 1444422
TI  - Metabolism of hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride in Pseudomonas strain B1.
AB  - A bacterium (strain B1) utilizing hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride as a carbon
      and energy source was isolated from activated sludge and tentatively identified
      as a Pseudomonas sp. This bacterium only grew on alkyltrimethylammonium salts
      (C12 to C22) and possible intermediates of hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride
      breakdown such as hexadecanoate and acetate. Pseudomonas strain B1 did not grow
      on amines. Simultaneous adaptation studies suggested that the bacterium oxidized
      only the alkyl chain of hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride. This was confirmed
      by the stoichiometric formation of trimethylamine from hexadecyltrimethylammonium
      chloride. The initial hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride oxygenase activity,
      measured by its ability to form trimethylamine, was NAD(P)H and O2 dependent.
      Finally, assays of aldehyde dehydrogenase, hexadecanoyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase,
      and isocitrate lyase in cell extracts revealed the potential of Pseudomonas
      strain B1 to metabolize the alkyl chain via beta-oxidation.

PMID- 1444423
TI  - Establishment of polychlorinated biphenyl-degrading enrichment culture with
      predominantly meta dechlorination.
AB  - Enrichment of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-dechlorinating microorganisms from
      PCB-contaminated sediments from the Upper Hudson River, N.Y., was attempted. The
      enrichment strategy was to use pyruvate as the electron donor and dechlorination
      of Aroclor 1242 as the electron acceptor. The enrichment medium also contained
      non-PCB-contaminated Hudson River sediments, which were required for the PCB
      dechlorinating activity. An enrichment culture (that had stable PCBT
      dechlorinating activity over nine serial transfers during 1 year) was established
      under these conditions; however, the rate of dechlorination did not increase
      after the second serial transfer. Dechlorination occurred primarily from the meta
      positions of the biphenyl molecule. Hydrogen could be substituted for pyruvate as
      the electron donor with equal activity, but when acetate was used as the electron
      donor a delay in dechlorination was observed. Sulfate and bromethane sulfonate
      inhibited dechlorination activity. The pyruvate-Aroclor 1242 enrichment also
      dechlorinated Aroclors 1248, 1254, and 1260; the extent of chlorine removed was
      the greatest for Aroclor 1254. For comparison, nonautoclaved non-PCB-contaminated
      Hudson River sediments used in the assay also dechlorinated Aroclors, but only
      after 12 to 16 weeks of incubation. This suggests that PCB-dechlorinating
      organisms were also present in these sediments but in numbers lower than those in
      the enrichment culture.

PMID- 1444424
TI  - Detection of virulence factors in culturable Escherichia coli isolates from water
      samples by DNA probes and recovery of toxin-bearing strains in minimal o
      nitrophenol-beta-D-galactopyranoside-4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-g luc uronide
      media.
AB  - A total of 449 Escherichia coli isolates in treated and raw water sources were
      submitted to DNA-DNA hybridization using seven different DNA probes to detect
      homology to sequences that code for Shiga-like toxins I and II; heat-stabile and
      heat-labile toxins, adherence factors EAF and eae, and the fimbrial antigen of
      entero-hemorrhagic E. coli. Fifty-nine (13%) of the isolates demonstrated
      homology with one or more specific DNA probes. More than 50% of the isolates in
      treated water were not recovered in MMO-4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide
      media designed for detection of this indicator.

PMID- 1444425
TI  - A new assay for lignin-type peroxidases employing the dye azure B.
AB  - The discovery in 1983 of fungal "ligninases" capable of catalyzing the
      peroxidation of nonphenolic aromatic lignin components has been seen as a major
      advance in understanding how certain basidiomycete fungi can completely degrade
      lignin. The ability of these lignin-type peroxidases to covert millimolar
      concentrations of veratryl alcohol to veratraldehyde, indicated by a change in
      the A310 of veratraldehyde, has become the standard assay for routine
      quantitation of LP activity. A new assay based on the oxidation of micromolar
      concentrations of the dye Azure B is presented. Although it is as simple and
      rapid as the veratryl alcohol assay, it appears to overcome some of the
      shortcomings of that assay. In particular, interference from UV- and short
      wavelength visible-light-absorbing materials is greatly reduced and assay
      specificity is improved.

PMID- 1444426
TI  - Enhanced biodegradation of phenanthrene in oil tar-contaminated soils
      supplemented with Phanerochaete chrysosporium.
AB  - In recent years, the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium has shown
      promise as an organism suitable for the breakdown of a broad spectrum of
      environmental pollutants, including polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The
      focus of this study was to determine whether P. chrysosporium could effectively
      operate in an actual field sample of oil tar-contaminated soil. The soil was
      loaded with [14C]phenanthrene to serve as a model compound representative of the
      PAHs. Soil with the native flora present under static, aerobic conditions with
      buffering (pH 5.0 to 5.5) displayed full mineralization on the order of 20% in 21
      days. The addition of P. chrysosporium was synergistic, with full mineralization
      on the order of 38% in 21 days. In addition to full mineralization, there was an
      increase in the proportion of radiolabelled polar extractives, both soluble and
      bound, in the presence of P. chrysosporium. From this study, it is apparent that
      the native soil microflora can be prompted into full mineralization of PAHs in
      some contaminated soils and that this mineralization can be enhanced when
      supplemented with the white rot fungus P. chrysosporium. With further refinement,
      this system may prove an effective bioremediation technology for soils
      contaminated with PAHs.

PMID- 1444427
TI  - Rates of inactivation of waterborne coliphages by monochloramine.
AB  - A sophisticated water quality monitoring program was established to evaluate
      virus removal through Denver's 1-million-gal (ca. 4-million-liter)/day Direct
      Potable Reuse Demonstration Plant. As a comparison point for the reuse
      demonstration plant, Denver's main water treatment facility was also monitored
      for coliphage organisms. Through the routine monitoring of the main plant, it was
      discovered that coliphage organisms were escaping the water treatment processes.
      Monochloramine residuals and contact times (CT values) required to achieve 99%
      inactivation were determined for coliphage organisms entering and leaving this
      conventional water treatment plant. The coliphage tested in the effluent waters
      had higher CT values on the average than those of the influent waters. CT values
      established for some of these coliphages suggest that monochloramine alone is not
      capable of removing 2 orders of magnitude of these specific organisms in a
      typical water treatment facility. Electron micrographs revealed one distinct type
      of phage capable of escaping the water treatment processes and three distinct
      types of phages in all.

PMID- 1444428
TI  - Characterization of transcription initiation and termination signals of the
      proteinase genes of Lactococcus lactis Wg2 and enhancement of proteolysis in L.
      lactis.
AB  - The transcription initiation signals of the prtP and prtM genes specifying the
      proteolytic activity of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris Wg2 were mapped by
      primer extension. The strength of these promoters was analyzed with promoter
      screening vector pGKV410, and they appeared to be weaker than previously isolated
      promoters of strain Wg2. In addition, a putative transcription terminator
      downstream of the prtP gene was characterized by using the terminator-screening
      vector pGKV259. The putative terminator decreased the transcription activity of
      lactococcal promoter P59 by approximately 70% in both Bacillus subtilis and L.
      lactis. Deletion of a part of the stem-loop structure of the terminator decreased
      the negative effect on transcription, indicating that the structure could indeed
      function as a terminator of transcription. The proteolytic activity of the
      lactococcal host was enhanced by placing the originally oppositely oriented prt
      genes in tandem and replacing the relatively weak promoters upstream of the prt
      genes with the stronger promoter, P32, from the chromosome of L. lactis Wg2.

PMID- 1444429
TI  - Metabolic and energetic control of Pseudomonas mendocina growth during
      transitions from aerobic to oxygen-limited conditions in chemostat cultures.
AB  - Several metabolic fluxes were analyzed during gradual transitions from aerobic to
      oxygen-limited conditions in chemostat cultures of Pseudomonas mendocina growing
      in synthetic medium at a dilution rate of 0.25 h-1. P. mendocina growth was
      glucose limited at high oxygen partial pressures (70 and 20% pO2) and exhibited
      an oxidative type of metabolism characterized by respiratory quotient (RQ) values
      of 1.0. A similar RQ value was obtained at low pO2 (2%), and detectable levels of
      acetic, formic, and lactic acids were determined in the extracellular medium. RQs
      of 0.9 +/- 0.12 were found at 70% pO2 for growth rates ranging from 0.025 to 0.5
      h-1. At high pO2, the control coefficients of oxygen on catabolic fluxes were
      0.19 and 0.22 for O2 uptake and CO2 production, respectively. At low pO2 (2%),
      the catabolic and anabolic fluxes were highly controlled by oxygen. P. mendocina
      showed a mixed-type fermentative metabolism when nitrogen was flushed into
      chemostat cultures. Ethanol and acetic, lactic, and formic acids were excreted
      and represented 7.5% of the total carbon recovered. Approximately 50% of the
      carbon was found as uronic acids in the extracellular medium. Physiological
      studies were performed under microaerophilic conditions (nitrogen flushing) in
      continuous cultures for a wide range of growth rates (0.03 to 0.5 h-1). A cell
      population, able to exhibit a near-maximum theoretical yield of ATP (YmaxATP = 25
      g/mol) with a number of ATP molecules formed during the transfer of an electron
      towards oxygen along the respiration chain (P/O ratio) of 3, appears to have
      adapted to microaerophilic conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1444430
TI  - Evidence of hydrolytic route for anaerobic cyanide degradation.
AB  - Products observed during anaerobic cyanide transformation are consistent with a
      hydrolytic pathway (HCN + H2O <--> HCONH2 + H2O <--> HCOOH + NH3). Formate, the
      most frequently observed product, was generally converted to bicarbonate.
      Formamide was rapidly hydrolyzed to formate upon exposure to the anaerobic
      consortium but was not detected as an intermediate of cyanide transformation.

PMID- 1444431
TI  - Identification of geosmin as a volatile metabolite of Penicillium expansum.
AB  - Cultures of Penicillium expansum produce a musty, earthy odor. Geosmin [1,10
      trans-dimethyl-trans(9)-decalol] was identified by gas chromatography-mass
      spectrometry from headspace samples of P. expansum cultures. Olfactory comparison
      of P. expansum cultures with a geosmin standard indicated geosmin is the primary
      component of the odor associated with P. expansum.

PMID- 1444432
TI  - Evaluation of the ability of primary selective enrichment to resuscitate heat
      injured and freeze-injured Listeria monocytogenes cells.
AB  - Resuscitation rates of injured Listeria monocytogenes on conventional selective
      Listeria enrichment broth and nonselective Trypticase soy broth containing 0.6%
      yeast extract were compared. Cells were heated to 60 degrees C for 5 min or
      frozen at -20 degrees C for 7 days. Inoculation of Trypticase soy broth-yeast
      extract with the stressed cells resulted in growth that was superior to that in
      Listeria enrichment broth. Injured cells were fully recovered at 6 to 8 h.

PMID- 1444433
TI  - A simple method to test condoms for penetration by viruses.
AB  - A method by which virus penetration through condoms can be tested with simple,
      inexpensive equipment is described. The method uses chi X174 bacteriophage as the
      challenge virus and physiologically relevant pressure. Penetration by 0.1
      microliters (or less) of challenge suspension can be readily detected. As
      examples, latex and natural-membrane condoms were examined.

PMID- 1444434
TI  - Plasmids in Listeria monocytogenes in relation to cadmium resistance.
AB  - One hundred and seventy-three unrelated Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated
      from humans, animals, the environment, and food were analyzed for the presence of
      plasmids. Extrachromosomal DNA was found in 28% of the strains. Plasmid DNA was
      extracted more frequently from L. monocytogenes serogroup 1 strains (35%) than
      from serogroup 4 strains (15%). Among strains from food and the environment, 40%
      and 29%, respectively, harbored plasmids, whereas only 13% of the strains from
      humans and animals with listeriosis bore plasmids. We also investigated the
      susceptibility of 90 strains to seven antibiotics and four heavy-metal salts. No
      antibiotic resistance could be detected, but 95.3% of the plasmid-positive
      strains and only 12.7% of the plasmid-negative strains were resistant to cadmium.
      The plasmid-determined genetic basis of cadmium resistance was proven by
      conjugation between strains of L. monocytogenes and by cure of the plasmid. This
      is the first time that plasmids of L. monocytogenes have been shown to be
      associated with cadmium resistance.

PMID- 1444435
TI  - Rapid determination of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae in drinking water
      by an immunological assay using a monoclonal antibody against enterobacterial
      common antigen.
AB  - An immunological method for the detection of members of the family
      Enterobacteriaceae in drinking water was developed. The method was based on a
      sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with monoclonal antibody
      immunoglobulin G2a 898 against enterobacterial common antigen. The
      enterobacterial common antigen sandwich ELISA combined with selective
      preenrichment culture could be performed in only 24 h. Six hundred sixty-eight
      water samples from a variety of German public water supplies were screened to
      verify the effectiveness of the new method. Ninety-eight percent of the results
      obtained by the immunological method could be confirmed by conventional
      microbiological methods. The immunological method proved to be considerably
      faster and more specific and sensitive than the standard method specified by the
      German drinking water regulations.

PMID- 1444436
TI  - Metabolic by-products of anaerobic toluene degradation by sulfate-reducing
      enrichment cultures.
AB  - Two dead-end metabolites of anaerobic toluene transformation, benzylsuccinic acid
      and benzylfumaric acid, accumulated in sulfate-reducing enrichment cultures that
      were fed toluene as the sole carbon source. Stable isotope-labeled toluene and
      gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were used to confirm that the compounds
      resulted from toluene metabolism. The two metabolites constituted less than 10%
      of the toluene carbon (over 80% was mineralized to carbon dioxide, according to a
      previous study). This study demonstrates that the novel nonproductive pathway
      proposed by Evans and coworkers (P. J. Evans, W. Ling, B. Goldschmidt, E. R.
      Ritter, and L. Y. Young, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 58:496-501, 1992) for a
      denitrifying pure culture applies to disparate anaerobic bacteria.

PMID- 1444437
TI  - Influence of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) concentration on the degradation of TNT
      in explosive-contaminated soils by the white rot fungus Phanerochaete
      chrysosporium.
AB  - The ability of Phanerochaete chrysosporium to bioremediate TNT (2,4,6
      trinitrotoluene) in a soil containing 12,000 ppm of TNT and the explosives RDX
      (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5- triazine; 3,000 ppm) and HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7
      tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine; 300 ppm) was investigated. The fungus did not
      grow in malt extract broth containing more than 0.02% (wt/vol; 24 ppm of TNT)
      soil. Pure TNT or explosives extracted from the soil were degraded by P.
      chrysosporium spore-inoculated cultures at TNT concentrations of up to 20 ppm.
      Mycelium-inoculated cultures degraded 100 ppm of TNT, but further growth was
      inhibited above 20 ppm. In malt extract broth, spore-inoculated cultures
      mineralized 10% of added [14C]TNT (5 ppm) in 27 days at 37 degrees C. No
      mineralization occurred during [14C]TNT biotransformation by mycelium-inoculated
      cultures, although the TNT was transformed.

PMID- 1444438
TI  - Comparison of selected methods for the enumeration of fecal coliforms and
      Escherichia coli in shellfish.
AB  - In a comparison of five selected methods for the enumeration of fecal coliforms
      and Escherichia coli in naturally contaminated and sewage-seeded mussels
      (Choromytilus spp.) and oysters (Ostrea spp.), a spread-plate procedure with mFC
      agar without rosolic acid and preincubation proved the method of choice for
      routine quality assessment.

PMID- 1444439
TI  - Acetate oxidation by dissimilatory Fe(III) reducers.

PMID- 1444440
TI  - Purification and characterization of dihydrobenzophenanthridine oxidase from
      elicited Sanguinaria canadensis cell cultures.
AB  - Upon treatment of Papaveracea cells with fungal elicitors, the biosynthesis of
      benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids is induced. Dihydrobenzophenanthridine oxidase,
      which catalyzes a later step in the biogenesis of these alkaloids, is one of the
      enzymes whose activity is elevated in the process. Here we report the 211-fold
      purification of the oxidase from elicited Sanguinaria canadensis by a combination
      of ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Sephadex, CM-Sephadex, Sephadex G-200,
      and either phenyl Superose or gel filtration chromatography. The purified enzyme
      utilized molecular oxygen to oxidize dihydrosanguinarine to sanguinarine with
      concomitant formation of hydrogen peroxide. A pH optimum of 7.0, Vmax of 27
      nkat/mg protein, and apparent Km of 6.0 microM for dihydrosanguinarine were
      determined. Dihydrochelerythrine was also found to be a substrate for the
      purified enzyme, displaying an apparent Km of 10 microM. However, neither
      dihydronorsanguinarine nor the indole alkaloid ajmalicine was oxidized,
      indicating that the enzyme has some substrate specificity. Apparent molecular
      weight estimates by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
      revealed that the most purified enzyme preparation obtained contained a major
      component of 77 kDa and two minor components between 59 and 67 kDa that can be
      associated with oxidase activity. Purified enzyme preparations possessed activity
      that was inhibited by sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, sodium azide, potassium
      cyanide, 1,4-DL-dithiothreitol, and mercaptoethanol.

PMID- 1444441
TI  - Reactions of thrombin-serpin complexes with thrombospondin.
AB  - Activated platelets release proteins that form stable complexes with thrombin (J.
      J. Miller, P. C. Browne, and T. C. Detwiler, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 151,
      9-15, 1988). A working model for the reaction (P. C. Browne, J. J. Miller, and T.
      C. Detwiler, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 265, 534-538, 1988) includes a dissociable
      complex of thrombin with released platelet protease nexin, leading to formation
      of a nondissociable thrombin-nexin complex that then becomes disulfide linked to
      thrombospondin. This disulfide-linked complex is converted back to the thrombin
      nexin complex by reduction of disulfide bonds. Results that allow elaboration on
      this model are presented. After longer periods of incubation or after incubation
      with higher concentrations of thrombin, the amount of thrombin complexed with
      thrombospondin exceeded the amount of thrombin-nexin complex recovered after
      reduction of disulfide bonds. When the reaction mixture included inhibitors of
      formation of the thrombin-nexin complex, a slow formation of the thrombin
      thrombospondin complex was observed. It was concluded that there is a nexin
      independent as well as the faster nexin-dependent disulfide linkage of thrombin
      to thrombospondin. Addition of thrombin-antithrombin III complexes to the
      supernatant solution of activated platelets also led to complexes with
      thrombospondin, demonstrating that serpins other than platelet protease nexin
      facilitate incorporation of thrombin into complexes with thrombospondin. By
      heparin affinity chromatography, it was shown that thrombin-nexin complexes
      dissociably associate with thrombospondin prior to formation of disulfide-linked
      complexes. These observations are incorporated into a more detailed model of the
      reaction.

PMID- 1444442
TI  - Monomaleimidogold labeling of the gamma subunit of the Escherichia coli F1 ATPase
      examined by cryoelectron microscopy.
AB  - A novel approach for locating sites of interest in a protein complex has been
      developed using monomaleimidonanogold (MMN). The Escherichia coli F1 ATPase, when
      prepared without the delta subunit, contains only a single reactive cysteine on
      one of the three copies of the alpha subunit. This site was reacted with MMN and
      the gold cluster visualized on the protein complex by cryoelectron microscopy.
      Additional sites for modification with MMN were added by introducing cysteine
      residues through site-directed mutagenesis. Labeling of two mutants, gamma S8-C
      and gamma T106-C, in which Ser8 and Thr106, respectively, had been replaced by a
      cysteine, placed the gold cluster on the central mass that is seen in the
      hexagonal projection of the ECF1 complex. The results establish that the central
      mass contains the N-terminal part of the gamma subunit.

PMID- 1444443
TI  - Post-transcriptional regulation of mouse renal cytochrome P450 2E1 by
      testosterone.
AB  - Our previous studies demonstrated that the sex-related difference in renal
      metabolism of N-nitrosodimethylamine in C3H/HeJ mouse was due to the sexual
      dichotomy of cytochrome P450 2E1 (P450 2E1) and that renal P450 2E1 in female
      mouse was inducible by testosterone. The present study demonstrates that the sex
      related difference in renal P450 2E1 and the testosterone-mediated regulation
      also occurred in other mouse strains studied. The time- and dose-responses in the
      testosterone-mediated regulation of P450 2E1 were characterized. 19
      Nortestosterone, an analog of testosterone, was shown to have an effect on the
      regulation of mouse renal P450 2E1 similar to that of testosterone. Testicular
      feminized mice (Tfm, a mouse strain devoid of functional androgen receptors) had
      about only one-tenth the renal P450 2E1 mRNA level as the wild-type male mice and
      testosterone treatment of the Tfm mice had no effect on the level of renal P450
      2E1 mRNA. The result suggests that androgen receptor plays an important role in
      the sex- and testosterone-related regulation of mouse renal P450 2E1. To study
      the mechanism of the sex-related and testosterone-mediated regulation of P450 2E1
      mRNA in mouse kidney, the transcription rate of the P450 2E1 gene was measured by
      a nuclear run-on transcription assay. Although the kidneys of male and
      testosterone-treated female mice had much higher steady-state levels of P450 2E1
      mRNA, their transcription rates of the P450 2E1 gene were not higher than the
      kidneys of untreated female mice. This result suggests that the sex- and
      testosterone-related regulation of mouse renal P450 2E1 is predominantly at the
      post-transcriptional level.

PMID- 1444444
TI  - Interaction of mitochondrially bound rat brain hexokinase with intramitochondrial
      compartments of ATP generated by oxidative phosphorylation and creatine kinase.
AB  - Previous work led to the conclusion that, during oxidative phosphorylation,
      mitochondrially bound hexokinase (ATP:D-hexose 6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.1)
      from rat brain was dependent on intramitochondrially compartmented ATP as
      substrate. The present study demonstrated that, when oxidative phosphorylation
      was functioning concurrently, mitochondrial creatine kinase could also generate
      intramitochondrial ATP serving as substrate for hexokinase. In the absence of
      concurrent oxidative phosphorylation, the kinetics of glucose phosphorylation
      with ATP generated by creatine kinase were not consistent with the supply of ATP
      from a saturable intramitochondrial compartment as formed during oxidative
      phosphorylation. Evidence for intramitochondrially compartmented ATP, generated
      by creatine kinase, was obtained; this was distinct from compartmented ATP
      generated by oxidative phosphorylation in terms of kinetics of generation of the
      compartment and its capacity, sensitivity to release by carboxyatractyloside, and
      sensitivity to disruption by digitonin. That oxidative phosphorylation did induce
      a dependence on intramitochondrial ATP as a substrate was further indicated by
      the observation that, although the initial rate of glucose phosphorylation by
      mitochondrial hexokinase depended on the extramitochondrial concentration of ATP
      present at the time oxidative phosphorylation was initiated, a final steady state
      rate of glucose phosphorylation was attained that was independent of
      extramitochondrial ATP levels. These and previous results emphasize the probable
      importance of nucleotide compartmentation in regulation of cerebral glycolytic
      and oxidative metabolism.

PMID- 1444445
TI  - Effects of ligands on reduction of oxygen by vanadium(IV) and vanadium(III).
AB  - V(IV) and V(III) reduce molecular oxygen with increasing rates as the pH is
      raised from 6.0 to 7.4. Under all conditions tested, V(IV) is the more efficient
      reductant. EDTA and ATP generally inhibit the reduction of oxygen by V(III) and
      V(IV). In contrast, desferrioxamine accelerates the reduction of oxygen by V(IV)
      but with decreasing effectiveness at pH 7.4 compared to pH 6.0, while
      desferrioxamine accelerates the reduction of oxygen by V(III) only at pH 6.0.
      Histidine enhances the reduction of oxygen by V(IV) at pH 7.0 and 7.4. The
      observed rates of oxygen reduction by V(III) and V(IV) imply that the
      intracellular distribution of vanadium among its redox states reflects not an
      equilibrium but a steady state.

PMID- 1444446
TI  - Inactivation of Escherichia coli 2-amino-3-ketobutyrate CoA ligase by
      phenylglyoxal and identification of an active-site arginine peptide.
AB  - Treatment of homogeneous preparations of 2-amino-3-ketobutyrate CoA ligase from
      Escherichia coli, a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzyme, with phenylglyoxal,
      4-(oxyacetyl)phenoxyacetic acid, 2,3-butanedione, or 1,2-cyclohexanedione results
      in a time- and concentration-dependent loss of enzymatic activity. Phenylglyoxal
      in 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) is the most effective modifier, causing > 95%
      inactivation within 20 min at 25 degrees C. Controls establish that this
      inactivation is not due to modifier-induced dissociation or photoinduced
      nonspecific alteration of the ligase. The substrate, acetyl CoA, or the coenzyme,
      pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, gives > 50% protection against inactivation. Enzyme
      partially inactivated by phenylglyoxal has the same Km value for glycine but the
      Vmax decreases in proportion to the observed level of inactivation. Whereas the
      native apoligase shows good recovery of activity with time in parallel with an
      increase in 428-nm absorptivity when incubated with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, no
      such effects are seen with the phenylglyoxal-modified apoligase. Reaction of the
      enzyme with [14C]phenylglyoxal allowed for the isolation of a peptide which, by
      amino acid composition and sequencing data, was found to correspond to residues
      349-378 in the intact enzyme. These results indicate that arginine residue-366
      and/or residue-368 in the primary structure of E. coli 2-amino-3-ketobutyrate
      ligase is at the active site.

PMID- 1444447
TI  - Catalytic properties of the human cytochrome P450 2E1 produced by cDNA expression
      in mammalian cells.
AB  - A full-length cDNA encoding human cytochrome P450 2E1 was expressed in mammalian
      cell lines using the vaccinia virus expression system. Immunoblot analysis showed
      that the expressed protein reacted with a polyclonal antibody against rat 2E1 and
      comigrated with P450 2E1 from human liver microsomes. P450 2E1 expressed in Hep
      G2 cells, a human cell line which contains both cytochrome b5 and NADPH:P450
      oxidoreductase, was able to metabolize several known P450 2E1 substrates: N
      nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBzA), p-nitrophenol,
      phenol, and acetaminophen. Apparent Km and Vmax values for NDMA demethylation
      were 22 microM and 173 pmol/min/mg microsomal protein, respectively. P450 2E1
      expressed in TK-143 cells, which do not contain b5, displayed Km and Vmax values
      of 31 microM and 34 pmol/min/mg microsomal protein, respectively. Incorporation
      of purified rat liver b5 into TK-143 microsomes increased the Vmax 2.2-fold and
      decreased the Km to 22 microM. Addition of b5 to Hep G2 microsomes resulted in a
      1.6-fold increase in Vmax, but showed no effect on the Km. P450 2E1 expressed in
      Hep G2 cells was shown to metabolize NMBzA with a Km of 47 microM and Vmax of 213
      pmol/min/mg microsomal protein. Addition of b5 lowered the Km to 27 microM, but
      had no effect on Vmax. These results demonstrate conclusively that P450 2E1 is
      responsible for the low Km forms of NDMA demethylase and NMBzA debenzylase
      observed in liver microsomes and that these activities are affected by cytochrome
      b5.

PMID- 1444448
TI  - Hormonal regulation of rat renal cytochrome P450s by androgen and the pituitary.
AB  - The hormonal regulation of rat renal cytochrome P450s, P450 4A2 (K-5) and K-2,
      was investigated. The level of P450 4A2 in male rats was five times that in
      female rats and accounted for some 90% of total cytochrome P450, measured
      photometrically. Lauric acid omega- and (omega-1)-hydroxylation activities of
      renal microsomes of male rats were also higher than those of female rats. The sex
      differences in lauric acid hydroxylation activity seemed to arise from the
      differences in P450 4A2 concentrations, according to an immunochemical study.
      P450 K-2 was a female-dominant form in rat kidneys. The level of P450 K-2 in
      renal microsomes of male rats was one-tenth that of P450 4A2. Castration of male
      rats decreased the levels of P450 4A2 and treatment of castrated male rats with
      testosterone reversed the decrease. The castration of male rats decreased the
      lauric acid hydroxylation of the renal microsomes to the level of female rats.
      The administration of testosterone to castrated male rats reversed the decrease.
      Hypophysectomy of male rats decreased the level of P450 4A2 and the
      administration of growth hormone reversed the decrease when intermittent
      injections mimicking the male secretory pattern were given, although continuous
      administration mimicking the female secretory pattern did not. Castration of male
      rats did not affect the level of P450 K-2, but testosterone decreased its level.
      Hypophysectomy of male rats increased the level of P450 K-2 and growth hormone
      decreased its level in hypophysectomized rats. These results suggested that the
      expression of P450 4A2 was regulated by androgen or growth hormone and regulation
      of P450 4A2 was different from that of P450 K-2. To explore the regulation of
      renal cytochrome P450 further, testosterone was given to control (intact) or
      hypophysectomized adult female rats. P450 4A2 was induced in the kidneys of both
      control and hypophysectomized female rats to close to the level of male rats.
      Thus, P450 4A2 was directly regulated by testosterone as well as growth hormone,
      and the regulation of the male-dominant form in rat kidneys was different from
      that of the male-specific form in the rat liver, which is regulated mostly by
      growth hormone.

PMID- 1444449
TI  - Direct electrochemistry of thioredoxins and glutathione at a lipid bilayer
      modified electrode.
AB  - By using direct electrochemical analysis we have established that the reduction
      of Escherichia coli thioredoxin (EcT), T4 thioredoxin (T4T), and glutathione
      (GSSG) occurs at a self-assembled lipid bilayer-modified gold electrode via two
      separate one-electron processes. The first electron transfer has half-wave
      potentials of -0.05 +/- 0.01, -0.07 +/- 0.01, and -0.06 +/- 0.01 V, whereas the
      second one has values of -0.48 +/- 0.01, -0.39 +/- 0.01, and -0.45 +/- 0.01 V,
      for EcT, T4T, and GSSG, respectively. The scan-rate dependence of the cyclic
      voltammetry indicates, for both waves, that the process of electron transfer is
      dominated by a bulk diffusion of free species to and from the electrode, and that
      strongly adsorbed species do not significantly contribute at the scan rates used.
      The voltage separation of the peak currents indicates a quasi-reversible electron
      transfer process with an electrochemical rate constant which is larger for the
      second (lower potential) electron than for the first one. Using the above half
      wave potentials of the one-electron steps, one can calculate a thermodynamic half
      wave potential for the two-electron reduction processes. The values of these
      potentials are -0.265, -0.23, and -0.25 V for EcT, T4T, and GSSG, respectively.
      These are in excellent agreement with literature values obtained from equilibrium
      measurements of enzyme-catalyzed reactions involving these species. It is quite
      clear from these results that lipid bilayer-modified electrodes provide a
      biocompatible and direct means of efficiently carrying out electrochemical
      reactions with sulfur-based redox systems, as we have previously shown to be the
      case with metalloproteins.

PMID- 1444450
TI  - Human mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase substrate specificity: comparison of
      esterase with dehydrogenase reaction.
AB  - Substrate specificity of human mitochondrial low Km aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC
      1.2.1.3) E2 isozyme has been investigated employing p-nitrophenyl esters of acyl
      groups of two to six carbon atoms and comparing with that of aldehydes of one to
      eight carbon atoms. The esterase reaction was studied under three conditions: in
      the absence of coenzyme, in the presence of NAD (1 mM), and in the presence of
      NADH (160 microM). The maximal velocity of the esterase reaction with p
      nitrophenyl acetate and propionate as substrates in the presence of NAD was 3.9
      4.7 times faster than that of the dehydrogenase reaction. Under all other
      conditions the velocities of dehydrogenase and esterase reactions were similar;
      the lowest kcat was for p-nitrophenyl butyrate in the presence of NAD.
      Stimulation of esterase activity by coenzymes was confined to esters of short
      acyl chain length; with longer acyl chain lengths or increased bulkiness (p
      nitrophenyl guanidinobenzoate) no effect or even inhibition was observed.
      Comparison of kinetic constants for esters demonstrates that p-nitrophenyl
      butyrate is the worst substrate of all esters tested, suggesting that the active
      site topography is uniquely unfavorable for p-nitrophenyl butyrate. This fact is,
      however, not reflected in kinetic constants for butyraldehyde, which is a good
      substrate. The substrate specificity profile as determined by comparison of
      kcat/Km ratios was found to be quite different for aldehydes and esters. For
      aldehydes kcat/Km ratios increased with the increase of chain length; with esters
      under all three conditions, a V-shaped curve was produced with a minimum at p
      nitrophenyl butyrate.

PMID- 1444451
TI  - Effects of temperature acclimation on the expression of hepatic cytochrome P4501A
      mRNA and protein in the fish Fundulus heteroclitus.
AB  - Previous studies showed that hydrocarbon induction of hepatic microsomal
      monooxygenase activity is attenuated in the teleost fish Fundulus heteroclitus
      acclimated to low temperature. The basis of that attenuation, and the effects of
      temperature on monooxygenase activity, were examined by analyzing liver
      cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) mRNA, protein, and catalytic activity in control and
      beta-naphthoflavone (BNF)-treated F. heteroclitus acclimated to 6 or 16 degrees
      C. There were no temperature-related differences in total P450 content, NADPH
      cytochrome c (P450) reductase activity, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD)
      activity, or immunoquantified CYP1A content in hepatic microsomes of untreated
      fish. Fish acclimated to 16 degrees C and given a single intraperitoneal
      injection of BNF exhibited a rapid rise and fall in CYP1A mRNA content and an
      induction of EROD activity and CYP1A protein that was undiminished over 7 days.
      Similarly treated fish acclimated at 6 degrees C showed an increase in CYP1A mRNA
      content greater than that in 16 degrees C fish, but with no significant increase
      in EROD activity or CYP1A content over 7 days. Examined over a longer term,
      microsomal EROD activity was significantly induced by BNF in fish at both
      temperatures; activity peaked at 5-7 days in 16 degrees C fish, while in 6
      degrees C fish the activity continued to rise slowly over 25 days. However, the
      greatest activity reached in 6 degrees C fish (0.68 nmol/min/mg) was less than
      half that seen in the warmer animals (1.46 nmol/min/mg). Immunodetectable CYP1A
      content showed the same trend as EROD activity, and the turnover number (nmol
      product formed/min/nmol CYP1A) for EROD activity was about the same in all
      groups, indicating that concentration of the catalyst alone could account for the
      different patterns of microsomal activity. CYP1A mRNA content was again induced
      to a similar degree by BNF in both the 6 and the 16 degrees C fish; the apparent
      half-life of the mRNA was substantially longer in cold-acclimated than in warm
      acclimated BNF-treated fish. Comparing the levels of CYP1A mRNA and protein at
      the two acclimation temperatures following BNF treatment indicates that
      translational activity, rather than transcriptional activity, is the sensitive
      point in the effect of temperature on CYP1A induction in these fish.

PMID- 1444452
TI  - Ethanol and oleate inhibition of alpha-ketoisovalerate and 3-hydroxyisobutyrate
      metabolism by isolated hepatocytes.
AB  - Ethanol inhibited glucose synthesis from alpha-ketoisovalerate by isolated rat
      hepatocytes without significant inhibition of flux through the branched-chain
      alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex. Accumulation of 3-hydroxyisobutyrate, an
      intermediate in the catabolism of alpha-ketoisovalerate, was increased by
      ethanol, indicating inhibition of flux at the level of 3-hydroxyisobutyrate
      dehydrogenase. 3-Hydroxybutyrate caused the same effects as ethanol, suggesting
      inhibition was a consequence of an increase in the mitochondrial NADH/NAD+ ratio.
      Flux through the 3-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydrogenase was more sensitive to
      regulation by the mitochondrial NADH/NAD+ ratio than flux through the branched
      chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase. Oleate also inhibited glucose synthesis from
      alpha-ketoisovalerate, but marked inhibition of flux through the branched-chain
      alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex was caused by this substrate.

PMID- 1444453
TI  - Biosynthesis of monoterpenes: inhibition of (+)-pinene and (-)-pinene cyclases by
      thia and aza analogs of the 4R- and 4S-alpha-terpinyl carbocation.
AB  - (+)-Pinene cyclase (synthase) from Salvia officinalis leaf catalyzes the
      cyclization of geranyl pyrophosphate, via (3R)-linalyl pyrophosphate and the (4R)
      alpha-terpinyl cation, to (+)-alpha-pinene and to lesser quantities of
      stereochemically related monoterpene olefins, whereas (-)-pinene cyclase converts
      the same achiral precursor, via (3S)-linalyl pyrophosphate and the (4S)-alpha
      terpinyl cation, to (-)-alpha-pinene and (-)-beta-pinene and to lesser amounts of
      related olefins. Racemic thia analogs of the linalyl and alpha-terpinyl
      carbocation intermediates of the reaction sequence were previously shown to be
      good uncompetitive inhibitors of monoterpene cyclases, and inhibition was
      synergized by the presence of inorganic pyrophosphate. These results suggested
      that the normal reaction proceeds through a series of carbocation:pyrophosphate
      anion paired intermediates. Both the (4R)- and the (4S)-thia and -aza analogs of
      the alpha-terpinyl cation were prepared and tested as inhibitors with the
      antipodal pinene cyclases, both in the absence and in the presence of inorganic
      pyrophosphate. Although the inhibition kinetics were complex, cooperative binding
      of the analogs and inorganic pyrophosphate was demonstrated, consistent with ion
      pairing of intermediates in the course of the normal reaction. Based on the
      antipodal reactions catalyzed by the pinene cyclases, stereochemical
      differentiation between the (4R)- and the (4S)-analogs was anticipated; however,
      neither enzyme effectively distinguished between enantiomers of the thia and aza
      analogs of the alpha-terpinyl carbocation. Enantioselectivity in the enzymatic
      conversion of (RS)-alpha-terpinyl pyrophosphate to limonene by the pinene
      cyclases was also examined. Consistent with the results obtained with the thia
      and aza analogs, the pinene cyclases were unable to discriminate between
      enantiomers of alpha-terpinyl pyrophosphate in this unusual reaction. Either the
      alpha-terpinyl antipodes are too similar to allow differentiation by the pinene
      cyclases, or these enzymes lack an inherent requirement to distinguish the (4R)-
      and (4S)-forms because they encounter only one enantiomer in the course of the
      normal reaction from geranyl pyrophosphate.

PMID- 1444454
TI  - Evidence for an essential histidine residue in 4S-limonene synthase and other
      terpene cyclases.
AB  - (4S)-Limonene synthase, isolated from glandular trichome secretory cell
      preparations of Mentha x piperita (peppermint) leaves, catalyzes the metal ion
      dependent cyclization of geranyl pyrophosphate, via 3S-linalyl pyrophosphate, to
      (-)-(4S)-limonene as the principal product. Treatment of this terpene cyclase
      with the histidine-directed reagent diethyl pyrocarbonate at a concentration of
      0.25 mM resulted in 50% loss of enzyme activity, and this activity could be
      completely restored by treatment of the preparation with 5 mM hydroxylamine.
      Inhibition with diethyl pyrocarbonate was distinguished from inhibition with
      thiol-directed reagents by protection studies with histidine and cysteine carried
      out at varying pH. Inactivation of the cyclase by dye-sensitized photooxidation
      in the presence of rose bengal gave further indication of the presence of a
      readily modified histidine residue. Protection of the enzyme against inhibition
      with diethyl pyrocarbonate was afforded by the substrate geranyl pyrophosphate in
      the presence of Mn2+, and by the sulfonium ion analog of the linalyl carbocation
      intermediate of the reaction in the presence of inorganic pyrophosphate plus
      Mn2+, suggesting that an essential histidine residue is located at or near the
      active site. Similar studies on the inhibition of other monoterpene and
      sesquiterpene cyclases with diethyl pyrocarbonate suggest that a histidine
      residue (or residues) may play an important role in catalysis by this class of
      enzymes.

PMID- 1444455
TI  - Sublethal oxidant stress induces a reversible increase in intracellular calcium
      dependent on NAD(P)H oxidation in rat alveolar macrophages.
AB  - A concentration-dependent elevation of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) and
      oxidation of NAD(P)H occurred in alveolar macrophages during exposure to
      sublethal tert-butylhydroperoxide concentrations (tBOOH) (< or = 100 microM in 1
      ml with 1 x 10(6) cells). Oxidation of NAD(P)H preceded a rise in [Ca2+]i. The
      elevation of [Ca2+]i was reversible at < 50 microM tBOOH exposure and the return
      to the steady state [Ca2+]i correlated temporally with repletion of NAD(P)H. At >
      50 microM tBOOH, the changes in NAD(P)H and [Ca2+]i were sustained. The relative
      contributions of NADPH and NADH oxidation were examined by varying the substrates
      supplying reducing equivalents and by inhibiting glutathione reductase activity.
      The results suggested that at < 50 microM tBOOH, oxidation of NADPH predominated,
      while at > 50 microM tBOOH, NADH oxidation predominated. A complex relationship
      between the relative roles of NADPH and NADH oxidation and the elevation of
      [Ca2+]i was revealed: (i) reversible oxidation of NADPH is associated with the
      initial and reversible elevation of [Ca2+]i at < 50 microM tBOOH; (ii) the
      sustained elevation of [Ca2+]i at > 50 microM tBOOH correlates with the sustained
      oxidation of NADH; and (iii) the changes in [Ca2+]i did not depend on influx of
      extracellular Ca2+. We speculate that at low tBOOH, Ca2+ was released from the
      NADPH/NADP(+)-sensitive mitochondrial Ca2+ pool while higher tBOOH caused
      additional Ca2+ release from GSH/GSSG-sensitive nonmitochondrial Ca2+ pools with
      sustained elevation of [Ca2+]i due to decreased mitochondrial Ca2+ reuptake.

PMID- 1444456
TI  - Regulation of sex pheromone biosynthesis in the housefly, Musca domestica:
      relative contribution of the elongation and reductive steps.
AB  - The regulation of production of the sex pheromone (Z)-9-tricosene (Z9-23:Hy) in
      the housefly, Musca domestica, was studied by examining the chain length
      specificity of the fatty acyl-CoA elongation reactions and the reductive
      conversion of fatty acyl-CoAs to alkenes in 1- and 4-day-old male and female
      houseflies. Microsomal preparations from 4-day-old female insects produced as the
      predominant alkene Z9-23:Hy when incubated with malonyl-CoA, NADPH, and [9,10
      3H2]oleoyl-CoA (18:1-CoA), whereas microsomal preparations from 4-day-old male
      insects produced predominantly (Z)-9-heptacosene (Z9-27:Hy). These are the major
      alkenes produced in vivo by Day 4 females and males, respectively. Microsomes
      prepared from both Day 1 males and Day 1 females produced Z9-27:Hy as the major
      alkene from labeled 18:1-CoA. This is the major alkene produced in vivo by both
      sexes at Day 1. An examination of the chain length specificity of the elongation
      reactions showed that microsomes prepared from Day 4 male insects readily
      elongated both 18:1-CoA and 15-[15,16-3H2]tetracosenoyl-CoA (24:1-CoA) to 28
      carbon moieties, whereas microsomes from Day 4 female insects did not efficiently
      elongate either substrate beyond 24 carbons. With high substrate concentrations,
      microsomes prepared from male insects converted 24:1-CoA to Z9-23:Hy more
      efficiently than did those from females, whereas under lower and presumably more
      physiological substrate concentrations, microsomes from females had slightly
      higher activity than did those from males. Taken together, these data show that
      the regulation of the chain length of the alkenes, and thus sex pheromone
      production, in the housefly resides predominantly in the elongation reactions and
      not in the step which converts the fatty acyl-CoA to hydrocarbon.

PMID- 1444457
TI  - Differentiation of HL-60 cells by phorbol ester is correlated with up-regulation
      of protein kinase C-alpha.
AB  - To clarify the mechanism of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced
      macrophage-like differentiation of HL-60 cells, we investigated the correlation
      between the effects of protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors on the induction of
      markers of TPA-induced differentiation and those on suggested critical steps of
      the differentiation. H-7, sphingosine, and trifluoroperazine significantly
      suppressed TPA-induced cell adhesion but their effects on the induction of acid
      phosphatase and nonspecific esterase differed among the inhibitors. The three
      inhibitors failed to affect on TPA-induced annexin I expression. In contrast,
      staurosporine markedly suppressed the induction of all these markers. The effects
      of the inhibitors on some suggested critical steps of the differentiation, a
      rapid phosphorylation of specific proteins, a rapid membrane association of PKC,
      and down-regulation of PKC at 18 h after addition of TPA, were not correlated
      with those on the differentiation marker induction. Only the effect of the
      inhibitors on up-regulation of PKC-alpha was closely correlated with TPA-induced
      annexin I expression; staurosporine inhibited up-regulation of PKC-alpha but
      other inhibitors did not similarly affect the induction of annexin I expression.
      These results suggest that PKC-alpha is intimately related to macrophage-like
      differentiation of HL-60 cells by TPA.

PMID- 1444458
TI  - Differential effects of iron and inflammation on ferritin synthesis on free and
      membrane-bound polyribosomes of rat liver.
AB  - We have examined the distribution of ferritin mRNA to free and endoplasmic
      reticulum (ER)-bound liver polyribosomes during inflammation and iron treatment
      of rats. Postnuclear tissue supernatants were fractionated on a discontinuous
      sucrose gradient developed to separate free and bound polyribosomes. Total RNA
      recovered averaged 3.2 mg/g tissue, 40% of which was with ER and 30% with the
      free polyribosomes, about 25% being with the postribosomal/RNP fraction. Slot
      blot hybridization of equal portions of RNA revealed that 12 h after injection of
      turpentine to induce inflammation, ferritin mRNA was concentrated on the ER-bound
      polyribosomes, while it was concentrated on the free polyribosomes 2 h after
      injection of ferric ammonium citrate. Differences were highly significant, based
      on multiple determinations and densitometry. Profiles of ferritin mRNA
      distribution on linear sucrose gradients corroborated the differential findings.
      Concentrations of total ferritin mRNA per gram liver doubled with iron treatment
      but were not significantly different 12 h after turpentine treatment. At the same
      time point after turpentine, ferritin protein synthesis was increased twofold, as
      measured by the 1 h incorporation of [14C]leucine. We conclude that a significant
      portion of ferritin mRNA always associates with the ER-bound polyribosomes, and
      that inflammation and iron differentially alter the polysomal distribution of
      ferritin mRNA, suggesting that two different kinds of mRNA may be involved.

PMID- 1444459
TI  - Mechanism of activation of the NAD-malic enzyme from Ascaris suum by fumarate.
AB  - The mechanism of activation of the NAD-malic enzyme from Ascaris suum by fumarate
      has been probed using initial velocity studies, deuterium isotope effects, and
      isotope partitioning of the E:Mg:malate complex. Fumarate exerts its activating
      effect by decreasing the off-rate for malate from the E:Mg:malate and
      E:NAD:Mg:malate complexes. Fumarate is a positive heterotropic effector of the
      NAD-malic enzyme at low concentrations (K act approximately 0.05 mM) and an
      inhibitor competitive against malate (Ki approximately 25 mM). The activation by
      fumarate results in a decrease in the Ki malate and an increase in V/K malate of
      about 2-fold, while the maximum velocity remains constant. Isotope partitioning
      studies of E:Mg:[14C]malate indicate that the presence of fumarate results in a
      decrease in the malate off-rate constant by about 2.2-fold. The deuterium isotope
      effects on V and V/K malate are both 1.6 +/- 0.1 in the absence of fumarate,
      while in the presence of 0.5 mM fumarate DV is 1.6 +/- 0.1 and D(V/K malate) is
      1.1 +/- 0.1. These data are also consistent with a decrease in the off-rate for
      malate from E:NAD:Mg:malate, resulting in an increase in the forward commitment
      factor for malate and manifested as a lower value for D(V/K malate). There is a
      discrimination between active and activator sites for the binding of dicarboxylic
      acids, with the activator site preferring the extended configuration of 4-carbon
      dicarboxylic acids, while the active site prefers a configuration in which the 4
      carboxyl is twisted out of the C1-C3 plane. The physiologic importance and
      regulatory properties of fumarate in the parasite are also discussed.

PMID- 1444460
TI  - Lec15 cells transfer glucosylated oligosaccharides to protein.
AB  - B4-2-1 cells (Lec15 cells) are Chinese hamster ovary cells deficient in
      mannosylphosphoryldolichol synthase activity. They synthesize the truncated lipid
      intermediate Man5GlcNAc2-P-P-dolichol rather than the Glc3Man9GlcNAc2-P-P
      dolichol synthesized by wild-type cells. In this report we present evidence that
      these cells did synthesize glucosylated Man5GlcNAc2-P-P-dolichol, but this
      species represented only a minor fraction of the labeled oligosaccharide-lipid.
      On the other hand, glucosylated oligosaccharides were a major species transferred
      to protein in these cells, showing that in vivo, glucosylated oligosaccharides
      are preferentially transferred to protein. The truncated oligosaccharides found
      in B4-2-1 cells were removed from the protein by N-glycanase treatment, since
      they were resistant to both endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H and F activity.
      B4-2-1 cells processed the glucosylated, truncated oligosaccharides transferred
      to G protein of vesicular stomatitis virus, leading to infectious virus.

PMID- 1444461
TI  - Glutathione S-transferases of human lung: characterization and evaluation of the
      protective role of the alpha-class isozymes against lipid peroxidation.
AB  - Glutathione S-transferase (GST) isozymes of human lung have been purified,
      characterized, quantitated, and, based on their structural and immunological
      profiles, identified with their respective classes. The tau-, mu-, and alpha
      class GSTs represented 94, 3, and 3% activities of total human lung GSTs toward
      CDNB, respectively, and 60, 10, and 30% of total GST protein, respectively. Both
      the mu- and the alpha-class GSTs of human lung exhibited heterogeneity. The two
      mu-class GSTs of human lung had pI values of 6.5 and 6.25 and were differentially
      expressed in humans. Significant differences were seen between the kinetic
      properties of these two isozymes and also between the lung and liver mu-class
      GSTs. The alpha-class GST isozymes of lung resolved into three peaks during
      isoelectric focusing corresponding to pI values of 9.2, 8.95, and 8.8. All three
      alpha-class GSTs isozymes had blocked N-termini and were immunologically similar
      to human liver alpha-class GSTs. Peptide fingerprints generated by SV-8 protease
      digestion and CNBr cleavage indicated minor structural differences between the
      liver and the lung alpha-class GSTs. The three alpha-class GSTs of lung expressed
      glutathione peroxidase activities toward the hydroperoxides of
      phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylglycerol, with Km
      values in the range of 22 to 87 microM and Vmax values in the range of 67-120
      mol/mol/min, indicating the involvement of the alpha-class GSTs in the protection
      mechanisms against peroxidation. All three classes of lung GSTs expressed
      activities toward leukotriene A4 methyl ester and epoxy stearic acid but the mu
      class GSTs had relatively higher activities toward these substrates.

PMID- 1444462
TI  - Molecular cloning of the chicken gizzard telokin gene and cDNA.
AB  - Telokin is a protein which consiste of the C-terminal portion of smooth muscle
      myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) (M. Ito, R. Dabrowska, V. Guerriero, Jr., and D.
      J. Hartshone (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 13971-13974). In this study, the chicken
      gizzard telokin cDNA and gene were cloned and analyzed. The telokin cDNA coded
      157 amino acid residues which were completely identical to the C-terminal portion
      of the amino acid sequence of chicken gizzard MLCK. The telokin gene was coded in
      a 6.3-kb EcoRI genomic fragment and it consisted of three exons. The 5'-leader
      sequence of the telokin cDNA and genomic sequence revealed that the telokin gene
      was included in the MLCK gene and the transcription started in the intronic
      sequence of the MLCK gene. The analysis of the telokin gene suggests that the
      telokin expression was under the control of an independent promotor. Northern
      blotting and the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction methods revealed
      that telokin was expressed not only in chicken gizzard but also in chicken heart,
      lung, intestine, and skeletal muscle although the levels of the expression in the
      latter were much less than that in the gizzard.

PMID- 1444463
TI  - Tissue-specific expression, induction, and inhibition through metabolic
      intermediate-complex formation of guinea pig cytochrome P450 belonging to the
      CYP2B subfamily.
AB  - The tissue-specific expression and induction of P450GP-1, a constitutive form of
      cytochrome P450 of the guinea pig classified into the CYP2B subfamily, were
      studied. Prior to these studies, a P450 form (P450GP-1 PB) was purified from
      phenobarbital-treated guinea pigs and the properties were compared with those of
      the P450GP-1. This form was judged to be the same as P450GP-1 existing in
      untreated animals by comparisons of their N-terminal amino acid sequences,
      peptide maps, and affinities toward anti-P450GP-1 antibody. Immunostaining of
      P450GP-1 revealed that the lung and small intestine as well as the liver of
      untreated guinea pigs contain P450GP-1, while none or only small amounts of this
      P450 form were observed in the kidney, heart, spleen, urinary bladder, and
      testis. The amount of liver P450GP-1 protein expressed in untreated guinea pigs
      was estimated to be 19.4% of the total cytochrome P450 and this form was
      increased 1.7-fold by phenobarbital treatment. Similarly, intestinal P450GP-1 was
      increased by phenobarbital treatment. However, lung P450GP-1 was not increased by
      the treatment. It was also observed that the liver P450GP-1 is induced with SKF
      525A to the same extent as with phenobarbital. On the other hand, dexamethsone,
      p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and isosafrole showed no or only a weak
      ability to increase the liver P450GP-1 content. The drug-metabolizing activities
      in the liver microsomes of SKF-525A-pretreated guinea pigs were lower than those
      in phenobarbital-treated animals, although the P450GP-1 protein was induced
      equally by these treatments. The low activities of SKF-525A-treated animals in
      the drug metabolisms were attributed to the formation of the metabolic
      intermediate complex between P450GP-1 and SKF-525A metabolite. These results
      permitted us to conclude that the tissue specificity in the expression of guinea
      pig P450 belonging to the CYP2B subfamily and the inducibility with chemicals are
      similar to those of rat CYP2B1, although the constitutive expression of guinea
      pig liver P450GP-1 is much higher than that of CYP2B1.

PMID- 1444464
TI  - Binding of pulmonary surfactant protein A to galactosylceramide and asialo-GM2.
AB  - The binding of pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) to glycolipids was examined
      in the present study. The direct binding of SP-A on a thin-layer chromatogram was
      visualized using 125I-SP-A as a probe. 125I-SP-A bound to galactosylceramide and
      asialo-GM2, but failed to exhibit significant binding to GM1, GM2, asialo-GM1,
      sulfatide, and Forssman antigen. The study of 125I-SP-A binding to glycolipids
      coated onto microtiter wells also revealed that SP-A bound to galactosylceramide
      and asialo-GM2. SP-A bound to galactosylceramides with non-hydroxy or hydroxy
      fatty acids, but showed no binding to either glucosylceramide or
      galactosylsphingosine. Excess native SP-A competed with 125I-SP-A for the binding
      to asialo-GM2 and galactosylceramide. Specific antibody to rat SP-A inhibited
      125I-SP-A binding to glycolipids. In spite of chelation of Ca2+ with EDTA or
      EGTA, SP-A retained a significant binding to glycolipids. Inclusion of excess
      monosaccharides in the binding buffer reduced the glycolipid binding of SP-A, but
      failed to achieve complete abolishment. The oligosaccharide isolated from asialo
      GM2 is also effective at reducing 125I-SP-A binding to the solid-phase asialo
      GM2. From these data, we conclude that SP-A binds to galactosylceramide and
      asialo-GM2, and that both saccharide and ceramide moieties in the glycolipid
      molecule are important for the binding of SP-A to glycolipids.

PMID- 1444465
TI  - Synthesis of high-affinity, hydrophobic monosaccharide derivatives and study of
      their interaction with concanavalin A, the pea, the lentil, and fava bean
      lectins.
AB  - Concanavalin A (Con A) and agglutinins from the pea (PSA), lentil (LCH), and fava
      bean (VFA) constitute a group of D-mannose/D-glucose binding legume lectins. In
      addition to their sugar binding specificity, these lectins also contain sites
      that bind hydrophobic ligands. The present study explores a class of nonpolar
      binding sites reportedly present adjacent to the carbohydrate binding site in
      PSA, LCH, and VFA. A series of 2-O- and 3-O-substituted nitrobenzoyl and
      nitrobenzyl derivatives of methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside and methyl alpha-D
      mannopyranoside were synthesized. Evaluation of their binding to Con A, PSA, LCH,
      and VFA was carried out by the technique of hapten inhibition of precipitation
      reaction. The hapten inhibition assay results reveal that the presence of a
      methyl or methylene group at the O-2 or O-3 position of the sugar is essential
      for hydrophobic interaction with PSA, LCH, and VFA. The substitution of methyl by
      nitrobenzyl leads to enhanced binding (1.7-16.7 times for the 2-O-substituted
      compounds and 7.9-40.5 times for the 3-O-substituted compounds) with the m
      nitrobenzyl group contributing to maximum binding. A hydrophobic interaction is
      also involved between Con A and 2-O-nitrobenzyl derivatives, resulting in
      enhanced binding, but the corresponding 3-O-isomers bind poorly due probably to
      steric reasons. These results may be rationalized on the basis of the recently
      published X-ray data of Con A and VFA. The nitrobenzyl derivatives, after
      transformation to their azido analogs, have potential applications in the
      photoaffinity labeling of these lectins.

PMID- 1444466
TI  - Effects of cationic polypeptides on the activity, substrate interaction, and
      autophosphorylation of casein kinase II: a study with calmodulin.
AB  - The effects of basic polypeptides on the ability of casein kinase II to
      phosphorylate an exogenous substrate (calmodulin) are correlated with steady
      state autophosphorylation of the alpha- and beta-subunits of casein kinase II.
      Polylysine and polyarginine increase autophosphorylation of the alpha-subunit
      with a concomitant decrease in beta-subunit phosphorylation, while enhancing
      casein kinase II-stimulated phosphorylation of calmodulin over 100-fold. The
      highly basic carboxyl terminal segment of the endogenous p21c-Ki-ras has similar
      effects on the phosphorylation of calmodulin and the alpha- and beta-subunits of
      casein kinase II. Altering the concentration of cationic polypeptides produces a
      biphasic effect on the phosphorylation of both calmodulin and the alpha-subunit,
      which correlate positively with each other but do not correlate with beta-subunit
      phosphorylation. When the KCl concentration is changed, casein kinase II activity
      correlates positively only with alpha-subunit phosphorylation. In contrast, the
      biphasic response of calmodulin phosphorylation by casein kinase II at different
      Ca2+ concentrations correlates positively with both alpha- and beta-subunit
      phosphorylation. Therefore, in the presence of basic protein activators, the rate
      of phosphorylation of a substrate, calmodulin, correlates with steady-state
      phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit, but not with the beta-subunit under all
      conditions tested. Endogenous cationic factors may modulate the in vivo activity
      of casein kinase II and alter the interaction of the enzyme with specific
      intracellular substrates.

PMID- 1444467
TI  - Identification of arginyl residues involved in the binding of ferredoxin-NADP+
      reductase from Anabaena sp. PCC 7119 to its substrates.
AB  - Ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase from the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7119 was
      chemically modified by the alpha-dicarbonyl reagent phenylglyoxal. The studies of
      the inactivation by this compound, which is specific for arginyl residues, of
      both the diaphorase and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activities, characteristic
      of the enzyme, are indicative of the involvement of at least one group of this
      kind in the binding site of NADP+ and a second one implicated in the interaction
      with ferredoxin. After specific cleavage of a FNR sample incubated with [7
      14C]phenylglyoxal, two major labeled peptides were identified. The peptide which
      exhibited the higher degree of modification corresponded to residues 208-242. It
      contained four arginine residues but only two of them were the target of the
      modification: Arg224 and Arg233. Protection studies with protein substrates and
      sequence comparison with other reductases allow us to propose that these residues
      in Anabaena sp. PCC 7119 FNR must be involved in the interaction with the
      pyridine nucleotide. The second peptide corresponds to residues 75-103 and
      although it contains three arginine residues, Arg77 is the only one that exhibits
      the modification. This residue seems to be a key one in the interaction of this
      reductase with ferredoxin.

PMID- 1444468
TI  - The MgATPase activity of rat cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum is a function of the
      calcium ATPase protein.
AB  - Magnesium-dependent ATPase (MgATPase) activity is associated with many E1-E2 or P
      type transport ATPases including the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium ATPase.
      The SR isolated from rat heart has a MgATPase activity which is 6-12 times faster
      than the MgATPase activity of the SR isolated from dog heart. To determine the
      origin of the high MgATPase activity of rat heart SR, we compared and contrasted
      cardiac SR isolated from both species. The preparations were similar in the
      following ways: (i) contamination by other organelles; (ii) the comigration of
      MgATPase activity with calcium-dependent ATPase (CaATPase) activity through a
      sucrose gradient; (iii) a similar ATPase activity sensitivity to pH and ATP
      concentration; (iv) the high and similar of sensitivity of ATPase activity to
      detergent; and (v) a similar protein profile. In both preparations, a single
      protein in the 105,000-Da region of polyacrylamide gels was phosphorylated by
      ATP, and the phosphorylated species was an acylphosphate formed in the presence
      and absence of calcium. Dimethyl sulfoxide, which slows acylphosphoenzyme
      breakdown, markedly inhibited both CaATPase and MgATPase activities of both
      preparations but not other enzyme activities. Importantly, the specific inhibitor
      of the SR calcium pump, thapsigargin, completely inhibited the CaATPase activity
      with an I50 of 6-7 nM; however, a higher concentration (I50 of 2 microM) was
      required to inhibit the MgATPase activity of the rat cardiac SR. These results
      provide evidence that the MgATPase activity of rat cardiac SR is part of the
      enzyme cycle of the calcium ATPase protein.

PMID- 1444469
TI  - Effects of mutations at residue 309 of the large subunit of ribulosebisphosphate
      carboxylase from Synechococcus PCC 6301.
AB  - Previous studies [G. S. Hudson et al. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 808-814] showed
      that the faster turnover rates and lower affinities for CO2 of
      ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenases from C4 plants, compared to C3 and
      C3/C4 plants, were specified by the chloroplast-encoded large subunits. In pairs
      of closely related C3 and C4 species from three genera, these kinetic changes
      were accompanied by only three to six amino acid residue substitutions, depending
      on the genus. None of these substitutions occurred near the active site and only
      one, 309Met (C3) to Ile (C4), was common to all three genera. Unlike the plant
      carboxylases, the highly homologous enzyme from the cyanobacterium Synechococcus
      PCC 6301 folds and assembles properly when its rbcL and rbcS genes are
      coexpressed in Escherichia coli. Furthermore, the cyanobacterial enzyme has Ile
      at position 309 of the large subunit, a high turnover number, and a poor affinity
      for CO2. 309Ile was replaced with Met and several other residues by site-directed
      mutagenesis of the cyanobacterial rbcL. Met and Leu were tolerated at this
      position with no alteration in the kinetic or structural properties of the
      assembled holoenzyme. However, substitution with Val, Gly, Trp, or Arg prevented
      the assembly of the subunits. The indifference to Met or Ile at this position, as
      well as the tolerance for Leu which is not observed with any natural
      ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase, leads to the conclusion that either the
      309Met/Ile substitution has no effect on the kinetic properties of the plant
      enzyme, despite the correlation apparent in previous studies, or the
      cyanobacterial enzyme is sufficiently different from the plant enzyme in other
      respects that the influence of residue 309 is masked.

PMID- 1444470
TI  - The interaction of Trolox C, a water-soluble vitamin E analog, with
      ferrylmyoglobin: reduction of the oxoferryl moiety.
AB  - The oxidation of the heme iron of metmyoglobin by H2O2 yields an oxo ferryl
      complex (FeIV = O), similar to Compound II of peroxidases, as well as a protein
      radical; this high oxidation state of myoglobin is known as ferrylmyoglobin. The
      interaction of Trolox, a water-soluble vitamin E analog, with ferrylmyoglobin
      entailed two sequential one-electron oxidations of the phenolic antioxidant with
      intermediate formation of a phenoxyl radical and accumulation of a quinone end
      product. These oxidation reactions were linked to individual reductions of
      ferrylmyoglobin to metmyoglobin, as indicated by the value of the relationship
      [metmyoglobin]formed/[Trolox]consumed: 1.92 +/- 0.28. The Trolox-mediated
      reduction of ferrylmyoglobin to metmyoglobin could proceed directly, i.e.,
      electron transfer from the phenolic-OH group in Trolox to the oxoferryl moiety,
      or indirectly, i.e., sequential electron transfer from Trolox to a protein
      radical to the oxoferryl moiety. The former mechanism is supported by the finding
      that the high oxidation heme iron is reduced under conditions where the tyrosyl
      residues are blocked by o-acetylation and when hemin is substituted for
      myoglobin. The latter mechanism is consistent with the following observations:
      (a) the EPR signal ascribed to the protein radical is suppressed by Trolox, with
      the concomitant appearance of the EPR spectrum of the Trolox phenoxyl radical and
      (b) the rate of ferrylmyoglobin reduction by Trolox is decreased with increasing
      number of tyrosyl residues in the proteins of horse myoglobin (titrated by o
      acetylation) and sperm whale myoglobin. The apparent discrepancy between these
      observations can be reconciled by considering that both electrophilic centers in
      ferrylmyoglobin--the oxoferryl heme moiety and the protein radical--function
      independently of each other and that recovery of ferrylmyoglobin by Trolox could
      be effected through the tyrosyl residues, albeit at slower rates. The mechanistic
      aspects of these results are discussed in terms of the two main redox transitions
      in the myoglobin molecule encompassing valence changes of the heme iron and
      electron transfer of the tyrosyl residue in the protein and linked to the two
      sequential one-electron oxidations of Trolox.

PMID- 1444471
TI  - Activation of protein kinase C isozymes by contractile stimuli in arterial smooth
      muscle.
AB  - Protein kinase C (PKC) has been proposed to be involved in the regulation of
      vascular smooth muscle (VSM) contractile activity. However, little is known in
      detail about the activation of this kinase or specific isozymes of this kinase by
      contractile stimuli in VSM. As an index of PKC activation, Ca(2+)- and
      phospholipid-dependent histone IIIS kinase activity was measured in the
      particulate fraction from individual strips of isometrically contracting carotid
      arterial smooth muscle. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) increased PKC activity in
      the particulate fraction (155% over resting value by 15 min) with a time course
      which paralleled or preceded force development. Stimulation with the agonist
      histamine (10(-5) M) resulted in rapid increases in both force and particulate
      fraction PKC activity which was maximal by 2 min (increase of 139%) and partially
      sustained over 45 min (increase of 41%). KCl (109 mM), which evokes a sustained
      contractile response, caused a slow increase (124% by 45 min) in particulate
      fraction PKC activity. No significant increases in activator-independent histone
      kinase activity were observed in response to any stimulus tested. PKC alpha and
      PKC beta were identified as the principal Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent PKC
      isozymes expressed in this tissue. In unstimulated arterial tissue, the ratio of
      immunodetectable isozyme content (alpha:beta) was estimated to be 1:1 in the
      particulate and 1.5:1 in the cytosolic fractions. Upon stimulation with each of
      the three contractile stimuli, particulate fraction PKC content assessed by
      immunoblotting increased with a time course and to an extent comparable to the
      observed changes in PKC activity. There was no evidence of differential
      regulation of the PKC alpha or -beta isozymes by PDB compared to the other
      contractile stimuli. These results indicate that diverse contractile stimuli are
      capable of tonically activating PKC in preparations of functional smooth muscle,
      and are consistent with a functional role for PKC alpha and/or -beta in the
      regulation of normal smooth muscle contractile activity.

PMID- 1444472
TI  - Antioxidant effect of manganese.
AB  - The antioxidant effects of manganese and other transition metals were studied as
      the inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation and crocin bleaching by peroxyl
      radicals. The peroxyl radical scavenging capacity was measured by competition
      kinetics analysis. While Zn(II), Ni(II), and Fe(II) were almost completely
      ineffective, Mn(II) and Co(II) showed a free radical scavenging capacity,
      exhibiting relative rate constant ratios respectively of 0.513 and 0.287. This
      indicates that Mn(II) is by far the most active. Therefore, the chain-breaking
      antioxidant capacity of Mn(II) seems to be related to the rapid quenching of
      peroxyl radicals according to the reaction R-OO. + Mn(II) + H(+)-->ROOH+Mn(III).
      The antioxidant mechanism is discussed considering the different reduction
      potentials of the examined cations.

PMID- 1444473
TI  - The specificity and elastinolytic activities of bovine cathepsins S and H.
AB  - Cathepsins S and H were purified from bovine spleen and their catalytic
      properties compared. The enzymes were shown to be similar by chromatographic
      properties and by the ability to hydrolyze Bz-Phe-Val-Arg-NHMec. They could
      however be distinguished by the fact that cathepsin S reacted with Z-[125I]Tyr
      Ala-CHN2 and hydrolyzed Z-Phe-Arg-NHMec whereas cathepsin H did not. The
      substrate and inhibitor specificities of cathepsin H suggest that unlike
      cathepsins B, L, and S, it cannot accommodate peptides with aromatic side chains
      in P2. Cathepsins L and S can accommodate the aromatic side chain of tyrosine in
      P1 readily, whereas cathepsins H and B cannot. The specificities of each enzyme
      for synthetic substrates and inhibitors have enabled the construction of models
      of the architecture of the active sites of the mammalian cysteine proteinases
      which clearly show the differences between the four enzymes. A significant
      characteristic of cathepsin S is that it can hydrolyze insoluble elastin at both
      acidic and neutral pH; this distinguishes it from all of the other lysosomal
      proteinases.

PMID- 1444474
TI  - Studies on the holoenzyme biogenesis of the spinach ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase.
AB  - An expression plasmid, pPreFNR, in which the DNA sequence coding for the spinach
      ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase precursor was under the control of prokaryotic
      transcription and translation initiation signals has been constructed. The
      plasmid directed the synthesis in Escherichia coli of a 43-kDa immunoreactive
      polypeptide which could be identified with the reductase preprotein. Analyses of
      bacterial extracts showed that the precursor was unstable and devoid of catalytic
      activities, suggesting that the presence of the transit peptide would not allow
      the assembly in E. coli of an active preholoenzyme. Furthermore, the reductase
      precursor was found to undergo a processing in E. coli. The proteolysed form,
      which retained 13 of the 55 residues of the transit peptide, was active,
      suggesting that removal of the first 42 residues of the presequence enabled the
      protein to properly fold and to bind the FAD prosthetic group in the bacterial
      host, as it was previously shown in the case of the mature form of the spinach
      reductase.

PMID- 1444475
TI  - Akazara scallop troponin C: Ca(2+)-induced conformational change and interaction
      with rabbit troponin subunits.
AB  - The number of specific Ca2+ bound to Akazara scallop troponin C was estimated to
      be 0.7 with an apparent binding constant of 5 x 10(5) M-1 (T. Ojima and K.
      Nishita, 1986, J. Biol. Chem. 261, 16749-16754). In the present paper, we report
      on the Ca(2+)-induced conformational changes in the troponin C and the
      interaction of the troponin C with rabbit troponin subunits. The Ca2+ binding to
      the troponin C caused a marked change in difference uv absorption spectra and a
      retardation of elution on Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration. However, its circular
      dichroism spectrum was hardly changed by the Ca2+ binding. These results suggest
      that the Ca2+ binding to the troponin C induced changes predominantly in tertiary
      structure rather than in secondary structure. Akazara scallop troponin C was
      shown to be able to bind to rabbit troponin I-Cellulofine affinity column, but
      the affinity was not greatly increased by Ca2+ unlike the case of rabbit troponin
      C. On hybridizing with rabbit troponin T and I, Akazara scallop troponin C was
      shown to be incapable of substituting rabbit troponin C; i.e., the hybrid
      troponin strongly inhibited the Mg-ATPase activity of rabbit actomyosin
      tropomyosin irrespective of the presence or absence of Ca2+, thus recovering no
      Ca2+ sensitivity.

PMID- 1444476
TI  - Crystal structure of peroxynitrite-modified bovine Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase.
AB  - The crystal structure of bovine Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase modified with
      peroxynitrite (ONOO-) was determined by X-ray diffraction, utilizing the existing
      three-dimensional model of the native structure deposited in the Brookhaven
      Protein Data Bank (J. A. Tainer et al., J. Mol. Biol. 160, 181-217, 1982). The
      native structure and the modified derivative were refined to R factors of 19.0
      and 18.7% respectively using diffraction data from 6.0 to 2.5 A. The major result
      after reaction with peroxynitrite was the appearance of electron density 1.45 A
      from a single epsilon carbon of Tyr-108, the only tyrosine residue in the
      sequence. Tyr-108 is a solvent-exposed residue 18 A from the copper atom in the
      active site. The electron density was consistent with nitration of Tyr-108 at one
      of the epsilon carbons to form 3-nitrotyrosine. We propose that the nitration
      occurs in solution by transfer of a nitronium-like species from the active site
      on one superoxide dismutase dimer to the Tyr-108 of a second dimer.

PMID- 1444477
TI  - Binding of cytosolic aconitase to the iron responsive element of porcine
      mitochondrial aconitase mRNA.
AB  - The 5' end of porcine mitochondrial aconitase mRNA contains an iron responsive
      element (IRE)-like secondary structure (T. Dandekar, R. Stripecke, N. K. Gray, B.
      Goosen, A. Constable, H. E. Johansson, and M. W. Hentze (1991) EMBO J. 10, 1903
      1909). A protein from a liver extract binds to a mitochondrial aconitase RNA
      probe and supports the identification of this sequence as an IRE. Purified
      cytosolic aconitase but not the mitochondrial enzyme binds to this IRE as well as
      to a ferritin IRE. All forms of cytosolic aconitase, [4Fe-4S] enzyme, [3Fe-4S]
      enzyme and apoenzyme bind with similar affinity. A Kd of 0.25 nM was calculated
      for the apoaconitase-IRE interaction from Scatchard analysis. These results
      support the conclusion that cytosolic aconitase is an IRE-binding protein which
      may regulate translation of mitochondrial aconitase mRNA.

PMID- 1444478
TI  - CA074 methyl ester: a proinhibitor for intracellular cathepsin B.
AB  - The specificity of compound CA074 [N-(L-3-trans-propylcarbamoyloxirane-2
      carbonyl)-L-isoleucyl-L-pro line] for the inactivation of cathepsin B was
      quantified in in vitro measurements with cysteine endopeptidases from cattle, it
      being found that the compound is a very rapid inactivator of cathepsin B (rate
      constant 112,000 M-1.s-1), with barely detectable action on cathepsins H, L, and
      S or m-calpain. Conversion of the proline carboxyl group of the inhibitor to the
      methyl ester virtually abolished the effect on cathepsin B, and a possible
      explanation for the importance of the carboxyl is presented on the basis of the
      tertiary structure of cathepsin B. It was found that CA074 methyl ester (1
      microM, 3 h) caused selective inactivation of the intracellular cathepsin B of
      human gingival fibroblasts in culture, in contrast to other available agents, and
      we suggest that CA074 methyl ester will be of value in the elucidation of the
      biological functions of cathepsin B.

PMID- 1444479
TI  - [Present status of gene diagnosis in cancer].
AB  - Advances in molecular genetics in the past decade enabled us to analyze the cause
      of mendelian disorders at molecular level and a variety of mutations, not only in
      point mutations and deletion in exons but also in those occurred in regulatory
      elements or in RNA processing have been precisely identified. Such a variety of
      mutations may constitute variable clinical manifestations even in the simple
      mendelian disorders. On the other hand, pathogenesis of common diseases is much
      complicated and remains greatly to be elucidated. However, if we could use the
      strategies applied in the past few years for mendelian disorders, it seems to be
      not difficult to approach them. It is recommended to categorize a certain disease
      into subgroups for distinguishing their heterogenous phenotypes by clinical,
      biochemical and other properties. Owing to the success in making a subgroup (FAB
      classification), many subtype-specific translocations were found in leukemia, and
      then, rearrangement of relevant genes is also being shown. The best example is
      seen in chronic myelocytic leukemia. Since rearrangement of ABL and BCR was shown
      and both genes were cloned, detection of minimal residual diseases after
      intensive treatment became possible at 10(-6) level using RT-PCR technique.
      Recently developed interphase cytogenetics using FISH has visualized Ph1
      translocation in metaphase cells and also in round nuclei, suggesting a potential
      use in monitoring the effect of certain drugs during treatment. Furthermore, very
      selective targeting therapy is being devised using antisense DNA.

PMID- 1444480
TI  - [New analogues of methotrexate].
AB  - New antifolate antimetabolites are currently developed and three analogues of
      methotrexate (MTX) (Trimetrexate, Edatrexate, TNP-351) are undergoing clinical
      trials in Japan. Trimetrexate characteristically enters cells primarily by
      passive transport, which is different from the mechanism of MTX. The increased
      therapeutic efficacy of Edatrexate is expected, because of the higher
      concentration of polyglutamates than MTX in tumor cells. TNP-351 is a novel
      antifolate, which has a different chemical structure from other antifolates. The
      current state of clinical trials of three antifolates and the indications for
      chemotherapy of lung cancer are reviewed.

PMID- 1444481
TI  - [Enhancement of the effects of anticancer agents on B16 melanoma cells by
      combination with cepharanthine--I. Alkaloids].
AB  - The anticancer effect of a podophyllotoxin derivative, etoposide (ETOP), and the
      vinca alkaloids, vincristine (VCR) and vindesine (VDS), on the colony forming
      efficiency (CFE) of B16 melanoma cells, and the CFE inhibition by the combination
      with a biscoclaurine alkaloid, Cepharanthine (Ceph) were studied in vitro. By
      combination with Ceph, CFE was reduced about 44% for ETOP, 31% for VCR and 30%
      for VDS compared to CFE without Ceph. Therefore, the effect of each anticancer
      agent was enhanced by combination with Ceph, especially that of Ceph and ETOP.
      The combination effect was greater when the low concentration of the agents was
      used. From the present study, the combination of ETOP and Ceph appears to be the
      more effective form of treatment.

PMID- 1444482
TI  - [Enhancement of the effects of anticancer agents on B16 melanoma cells by
      combination with cepharanthine--II. Antimetabolite, alkylating agent,
      nitrosourea].
AB  - We have studied chemotherapy enhancement by the combination of the biscoclaurine
      alkaloid, Cepharanthine (Ceph), using the inhibition of colony forming efficiency
      (CFE) of B16 melanoma cells in vitro. Hydroxyurea, antimetabolite, showed a time
      dependent inhibition of CFE, and the combination with Ceph enhanced CFE
      inhibition by 29%, which is stable and independent of the treatment time.
      Dacarbazine, a biological alkylating agent, given with Ceph showed a time
      dependent inhibition of CFE (43%). MCNU, a nitrosourea, with Ceph showed the
      greatest inhibition of CFE (67%) among the anticancer agents used. The CFE
      inhibition was time-dependent and required a higher concentration of MCNU. In
      this series of studies using CFE inhibition of B16 melanoma cells in vitro,
      etoposide showed the best effect by the combination with Ceph, which seems to be
      a candidate for in vivo evaluation.

PMID- 1444483
TI  - [Concentration of 5-fluorouracil in the blood and tissues of gastric and colo
      rectal cancer patients after oral administration of UFT].
AB  - UFT is given to the patients with digestive cancer from the time before operation
      to prevent intra- and post-operative cancer dissemination and metastases. UFT
      (400 mg/day in terms of tegafur) was given preoperatively for 1-6 days in 6
      patients with gastric cancer and 13 with colorectal cancer. The interval between
      the last administration and the beginning of the operation was 3.9 +/- 1.5 hours
      (mean +/- SD). The concentrations of tegafur, 5-FU, and uracil in the blood
      collected at the time of tumor resection were 9.68, 0.017, and 0.08 microgram/ml,
      respectively. In the patients with gastric cancer 5-FU concentration was 5.5
      times higher in the normal mucosa, 3.3 times in lymph nodes, and 10.7 times in
      the tumor tissues than in the blood. In colorectal cancer patients, also, the 5
      FU concentration was 5.6, 8.3 and 20.8 times higher in the normal mucosa, lymph
      nodes, and the tumor tissue, respectively, than in the blood. The 5-FU
      concentration in gastric cancer and colorectal cancer tissues decreased with time
      after administration of UFT but remained above the effective concentration 1.5-7
      hours after administration of 200 mg. The tissue concentrations of FT-207,
      uracil, and 5-FU were correlated with each other.

PMID- 1444484
TI  - [Blood concentrations of futraful, uracil and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) after UFT
      administration in the various reconstructions after gastrectomy. Saitama UFT
      Research Group].
AB  - The study was undertaken in the total of 58 gastric cancer patients among which
      17 of Billroth (BI), 14 of Billroth II (B II) anastomosis after subtotal
      gastrectomy, and 7 of jejunal interposition, 9 of double tract and 11 of Roux en
      Y anastomosis after total gastrectomy were included. Blood samples were taken
      before 200 mg of per oral UFT administration and after 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7hrs.
      consecutively. The blood Futraful (FT) level in the total gastrectomy groups
      reached peak concentration within 1hr and kept in relatively high level during
      the observation period of 7hrs. The time to maximum FT concentration delayed in
      almost of B I and a few of B II patients. The concentration curves of uracil
      (URA) and 5-FU were similar in shape, revealing steep increase and decrease
      except B I anastomosis which showed gentle course. The plotted maximum
      concentrations of URA and 5-FU in the every type of reconstruction showed a
      significant correlation in the regression line. In the analysis of AUC, URA/FT
      was under 10%, suggesting the longer retention of the unmetabolite type of FT and
      early disappearance of URA. The ratio of 5-FU/FT was indifferent in each
      reconstruction. 5-FU/URA was higher in subtotal rather than total gastrectomy
      groups. From the data obtained, blood concentration of 5-FU after UFT
      administration was considered to depend on the emptying status in the
      gastrectomies. And moreover, it depended on blood URA level, since FT from which
      5-FU was derived, was kept still sufficiently remained during observation period.

PMID- 1444485
TI  - [A study of urinary tegafur, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and uracil concentrations in
      the cases of gastric carcinoma for the confirmation of drug-taking compliance
      after UFT oral administration].
AB  - We have measured urinary tegafur (FT), 5-FU and uracil concentrations after UFT
      oral administration (300 mg daily for 7 days) to confirm drug-taking compliance
      in the 17 cases undergone gastrectomy. Urinary FT and 5-FU concentrations reached
      to the plateau 2 and 3 days after administration, respectively, and were
      maintained until the day after termination of administration. Subsequently, FT
      and 5-FU concentrations also decreased about 50% at 2 day, 20% at 3 day, 10% of
      the plateau values at 4 day after termination, respectively. The mean plateau
      value of urinary FT was 12.9 +/- 6.8 micrograms/dl, and that of urinary 5-FU was
      0.67 +/- 0.50 microgram/dl. On the other hand, uracil concentration, was not
      different before and after administration because of the uracil being present
      endogenously. Therefore, it was suggested that measurement of urinary FT and 5-FU
      concentrations is useful for confirmation of UFT-taking compliance.

PMID- 1444486
TI  - [Intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin (CDDP) for advanced or recurrent
      gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination].
AB  - This study was undertaken in order to evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal
      administration of CDDP on fourteen patients with peritoneal dissemination of
      advanced or recurrent gastric cancer. The procedure was used together specific
      hydration transfusion and diuretics. Two patients showed a complete response and
      5 patients a partial response. Following this therapy, 2 patients have survived
      for more than 6 months. Alimentary symptoms (nausea, vomiting) were found but
      renal toxicity and serious myelosuppression were not recognized in all patients.

PMID- 1444487
TI  - [Clinical evaluation of intra-arterial methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and
      cis-platinum for bladder cancer].
AB  - Chemotherapy regimens including Methotrexate, Vinblastine. Doxorubicin and Cis
      platinum (M-VAC) have shown objective responses in more than 50% of uroepithelial
      tumors. And intra-arterial chemotherapy can theoretically increase the drug
      concentration delivered to the tumor with maximum efficacy and less toxicity. In
      this report we review our experience at Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital between
      September 1987 and February 1991 using intra-arterial M-VAC in 21 evaluable
      patients with bladder cancer. Response was observed in 62% of the treated
      patients, two with complete remission and eleven with partial remission. WBC
      nadir and platelet nadir were mild to moderate. Other adverse effects such as
      mucositis, hair loss and creatinine elevation were seen in a small number of
      patients. Intra-arterial M-VAC can be one of the most useful forms of
      chemotherapy for patients with bladder cancer.

PMID- 1444488
TI  - [Maintenance chemotherapy using UFT and FT for gynecological malignant tumors.
      The Gunma Prefectural Society for Study of Chemotherapy for Gynecological
      Cancer].
AB  - The Gunma Prefectural Society for Study of Chemotherapy for Gynecological Cancer
      made a comparative study on postoperative supplementary chemotherapy including
      UFT and FT-E for gynecological malignant tumors. The number of cases registered
      totaled 182, which was broken down into ovarian cancer 53 cases, uterine cervical
      cancer 89 cases and endometrial cancer 30 cases. Complete cases among them
      consisted of ovarian cancer 53 cases, uterine cervical cancer 86 cases and
      endometrial cancer 27 cases for a total of 166 cases. Ovarian cancer was
      stratified into the completely and incompletely removed cases, uterine cervical
      cancer into postoperative non-irradiated and irradiated cases and endometrial
      cancer into the positive metastasis (+) group and negative metastasis (-) group.
      Then the UFT administration group and FT-E administration group were compared for
      postoperative survival. There were control groups for both ovarian and
      endometrial cancer. UFT administration showed a significant improvement in the
      survival rate (P < 0.05) compared to the FT-E administration group in the cases
      of ovarian cancer completely removed and the cases of endometrial cancer
      irradiated after operation. No significant difference was observed between other
      groups compared. The incidence of side effects was 20.6% (20/97) in the UFT
      administration group and 3.6% (2/55) in the FT-E group. Neither group showed any
      serious side effects.

PMID- 1444489
TI  - [PMUE therapy (CDDP, MMC, UFT, etoposide) for advanced gastric cancer--a case
      report].
AB  - CDDP, MMC, UFT and Etoposide (PMUE)-combined therapy was given to a 62-year-old
      man with advanced gastric carcinoma. PMUE therapy consists of i.v. injection of
      CDDP 75 mg/m2 and MMC 10 mg/body on day 1, i.v. injection of Etoposide 50 mg/body
      on days 3, 4 and 5 and consecutive daily administration of UFT 400 mg/body, with
      3 weeks as one course. He was admitted for Borrmann type 3 gastric carcinoma with
      multiple liver metastasis, lymph node metastases and peritoneal dissemination,
      the underwent total gastrectomy with R2 lymph node dissection. He was treated
      four times with this therapy after sensitivity test for carcinostatic agents (SDI
      test), which resulted in complete remission, as confirmed by CT scan and second
      look operation. The patient has currently been free of disease, and we conclude
      that this PMUE therapy is extremely effective for advanced gastric carcinoma.

PMID- 1444490
TI  - [A case of gastric cancer with multiple liver metastases effectively treated with
      PMUE (CDDP, MMC, UFT, etoposide) hepatic arterial chemotherapy].
AB  - A 62-year-old male patient with progressive gastric cancer and multiple liver
      metastases (H3, P0, ss gamma, n4) underwent total gastrectomy (R1). After 2 years
      and 2 months, he was re-hospitalized with epigastric tumor caused by re
      manifestation of liver metastasis as well as inappetence. Since a large focus of
      liver metastasis and intraportal tumor embolism was identified, a continuous
      intraarterial infusion tube utilizing Infuse-A-Port was inserted in the hepatic
      artery. After conducting 2 cycles of PMUE intra-arterial chemotherapy, the tumor
      size was reduced by 84% (PR); and CEA, which had been high upon
      rehospitalization, recovered to the normal level. After discharge, the patient
      has been receiving 5-FU arterial infusion as an outpatient and undergoing UFT
      oral chemotherapy. The efficacy has continued and he has been well for 3 years
      since operation. Often operations for gastric cancer accompanied with multiple
      liver metastasis meet with little success, and almost no case of prolonged
      survival has been reported. In this case, the effectiveness of PMUE arterial
      infusion chemotherapy was clear, the patient has been well for 3 years since
      operation, and is an interesting example with seemingly good prospects for long
      survival.

PMID- 1444491
TI  - [A five-year-survival case in which complete response was recognized after
      combined chemotherapy using 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin and mitomycin C (FAM) for
      unresectable gastric cancer].
AB  - FAM (5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, mitomycin C) therapy was performed on a 65-year
      old man with unresectable gastric cancer. Cancer cells have not been recognized
      by endoscopic biopsy after the patient's complete response. He is alive without
      metastasis of recurrence for five years.

PMID- 1444492
TI  - [Two cases of pulmonary metastasis of colorectal cancer successfully treated with
      oral 5'-DFUR].
AB  - Two patients with pulmonary metastasis of colorectal cancer, who had previously
      undergone radical resection of primary tumor, were orally administered 5'-DFUR at
      1,200 mg per day. Complete responses were obtained in both. The duration of
      response was 42 and 13 weeks, respectively. Some side effects such as diarrhea
      and aguesia were found in each patient, but the treatment could be continued
      after temporary suspension for a while or by decreasing the dosage. We concluded
      that pulmonary metastasis of colorectal cancer can respond remarkably to oral
      administration of 5'-DFUR at 1,200 mg per day, if the tumor cells have
      sensitivity to this drug.

PMID- 1444493
TI  - [A case report of bone metastasis diagnosed by MRI and effectively treated with
      UFT after breast conserving therapy for breast cancer].
AB  - A 66-year-old woman with left breast cancer (medullary carcinoma; T1cN1M0; Stage
      II A) was treated with breast conserving therapy combined with lumpectomy,
      radiotherapy, chemotherapy and endocrine therapy beginning in March, 1990. She
      complained of back pain and was diagnosed as having bone metastasis to the lower
      thoracic spine by bone scintigram and MRI examination in September, 1990. Oral
      administration of UFT (300 mg/day) was started, and 5 months later, back pain
      disappeared; nineteen months later, no definite findings of bone metastasis were
      observed on bone scintigram and MRI. It was concluded that long-term oral
      administration of UFT is an effective remedy for bone metastasis after breast
      conserving therapy for breast cancer.

PMID- 1444494
TI  - [A case of advanced breast cancer with multiple organ metastases successfully
      treated by tamoxifen].
AB  - A 66-year-old postmenopausal woman presented in June 1991 with a giant ulcerated
      left breast tumor. She had discovered the tumor two years previously, but had
      never visited any medical institution. She was diagnosed as advanced breast
      cancer with multiple lung metastases, bone metastasis, and both supraclavicular
      lymph node metastases by physical examination, fine needle aspiration cytology,
      chest X-P, and bone scintigraphy. Incisional biopsy, performed to confirm the
      histological type of breast cancer and to evaluate estrogen and progesterone
      receptor (ER and PgR) status, revealed solid-tubular carcinoma. Both ER and PgR
      were highly positive at 322.6 and 228.0 fmol/mg protein, respectively. Therefore,
      endocrine therapy was chosen to treat this advanced breast cancer patient,
      although she had multiple organ metastases. Twenty mg of Tamoxifen a day was
      administered per os. After treatment with tamoxifen, the size of ulceration
      started to decreased and the dyspnea caused by multiple lung metastases was
      reduced. Eight weeks after, she showed partial response (PR) determined from the
      size of the ulceration and chest X-P. She has been maintaining PR for more than 9
      months. Thus, Tamoxifen was shown to be very effective for this case of advanced
      breast cancer with multiple organ metastases.

PMID- 1444495
TI  - [A case of jejunal vein thrombosis due to medroxyprogesterone acetate].
AB  - The patient was a 68-year-old woman with advanced breast cancer which had been
      treated by modified radical mastectomy two years and nine months earlier. After
      the surgery, tamoxifen citrate (TAM) was orally administered in addition to
      various types of chemotherapy. Because the patient complained of nausea and
      weight loss, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) was orally administered instead of
      TAM. The patient complained of intense abdominal pain on the 35th day of
      administration. Laparotomy was then performed for her acute abdominal problem.
      Because necrosis from bleeding due to jejunal vein thrombosis was observed in the
      jejunum for about 15 cm, resection of the jejunum was carried out. Histological
      observation demonstrated thrombosis in the vein, and cellular infiltration around
      the thrombosis. The postoperative prognosis has been favorable and the
      postoperative course is now being monitored at our clinic (2 months after
      surgery). The patient has no complications such as diabetes mellitus or
      hypercholesterolemia. The thrombosis observed in the jejunal vein, which is a
      rare site for it on the 35th day of MPA administration was induced by MPA. Due
      attention must be paid to the formation of thrombosis when using MPA.

PMID- 1444496
TI  - [Production of bone resorption stimulating factor by adult T-cell leukemia
      cells].

PMID- 1444497
TI  - [Comparative changes in hepatic function induced by transhepatic arterial
      chemoimmunoembolization among liver cancer patients].

PMID- 1444498
TI  - [Hydrea, an effective drug for chronic myelogenous leukemia].
AB  - Hydroxycarbamide (the brand name: Hydrea) was found effective to chronic
      myelogenous leukemia (CML) in Japan. In the preclinical study, this compound was
      active against mouse leukemia L 1210 and inhibited DNA synthesis. Clinically,
      Hydrea was given orally at the daily dose of 500-2,000 mg, dividing 1-3 times.
      For the maintenance therapy after remission induction, daily dose of 500-1,000 mg
      was given, dividing 1-2 times. As for the side effects, myelosuppression,
      disturbance of the gastro-intestinal tract and temporal liver and renal
      dysfunctions were observed. The response rate in the remission-induction therapy
      was as high as 92.1%.

PMID- 1444499
TI  - Pemphigus foliaceus. Use of antimalarial agents as adjuvant therapy.

PMID- 1444500
TI  - Systemic steroids with or without 2% topical minoxidil in the treatment of
      alopecia areata.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: Thirty-two patients with mild to extensive alopecia
      areata, including 16 patients with alopecia totalis or universalis, entered a
      randomized, controlled trial of a 6-week taper of prednisone followed by either
      2% topical minoxidil or vehicle applied three times daily for an additional 14
      weeks. The results of this study were compared with an open trial of 48 patients
      with alopecia areata treated with a similar taper of prednisone with concomitant
      2% topical minoxidil applied twice daily. Only terminal hair growth was
      considered and was quantitated as 1% to 24%, 25% to 49%, 50% to 74%, and 75% to
      100%: only those with more than 25% terminal hair regrowth were considered to
      have had an objective response. RESULTS: At the end of 6 weeks of prednisone, 47%
      (15/32) of patients had more than 25% regrowth, including nine of 20 patients who
      had had at least 75% hair loss at baseline. Side effects of prednisone were
      primarily weight gain and mood changes/emotional lability. At 3 months, six of
      seven minoxidil-treated patients vs one of six vehicle-treated patients who had
      an objective response to prednisone maintained or augmented this hair growth: at
      the 20-week visit, these numbers were three of seven and zero of four patients,
      respectively. In the open trial, objective hair growth with prednisone was 30%,
      related to the extent of hair loss at baseline, and this growth persisted in more
      than 50% of patients at 6 months with the use of 2% topical minoxidil.
      CONCLUSIONS: A 6-week taper of prednisone offers potential for more than 25%
      regrowth in 30% to 47% of patients with alopecia areata with predictable and
      transient side effects. Two percent topical minoxidil three times daily appears
      to help limit poststeroid hair loss.

PMID- 1444501
TI  - Serologic markers of gluten-sensitive enteropathy in bullous diseases.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is characterized
      immunologically by the presence of IgA immune deposits in the skin and by the
      presence of various serum antibodies. Of these, antibodies to gliadin, reticulin,
      and endomysium have been found to be significant. There are, however, conflicting
      reports as to the exact specificity and sensitivity of these serologic markers in
      diagnosing DH. We examined the disease specificity of these three antibody
      markers in 14 patients with DH, in 98 patients with pemphigus and pemphigoid, and
      in 26 normal subjects. Reticulin and endomysium antibodies were detected by
      indirect immunofluorescence and gliadin antibodies by means of the enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: Among the various bullous diseases,
      endomysial and reticulin antibodies were found to be disease specific for DH.
      Endomysial antibodies occurred in twice the number of DH patients (72%) compared
      with the occurrence of reticulin antibodies (36%). Antigliadin antibodies were
      detected in two thirds of DH patients and were not disease specific since
      increased frequencies of these antibodies were also detected in patients with
      pemphigus and pemphigoid. CONCLUSION: These studies support the earlier findings
      of the high degree of specificity of endomysial antibodies for DH and, thus, help
      to differentiate DH from other bullous disorders.

PMID- 1444502
TI  - Treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas by intralesional interferon alfa
      2b therapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: Intralesional recombinant interferon alfa-2b has been
      shown to be effective in the treatment of actinic keratoses and basal cell
      carcinomas. This open-label study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness and
      cosmetic result of this therapy on actinically induced, primary cutaneous
      squamous cell carcinomas. Thirty-six squamous cell carcinomas (28 invasive
      lesions and 8 in situ lesions) ranging in size from 0.5 to 2.0 cm in the longest
      dimension were treated with interferon alfa-2b 1.5 million units injected
      intralesionally three times per week for 3 weeks. Eighteen weeks following
      therapy, the treatment sites were excised and examined for histologic evidence of
      remaining tumor. RESULTS: Thirty-three (97.1%) of 34 evaluable lesions revealed
      an absence of squamous cell carcinoma histologically after therapy, although
      three biopsy specimens (8.8%) obtained after treatment showed actinic keratoses,
      for an overall complete response rate of 88.2%. The lesion not eliminated after
      treatment was an invasive squamous cell carcinoma. The investigators and patients
      independently judged 93.9% of cases to have a very good or excellent cosmetic
      result. Adverse reactions were limited to those influenzalike symptoms well
      recognized to occur with interferon therapy and these were well tolerated. Only
      one patient discontinued therapy due to side effects. CONCLUSIONS: This trial
      demonstrates that intralesional interferon is effective in the treatment of small
      sun-induced squamous cell carcinomas with well-tolerated side effects and a
      highly acceptable cosmetic result.

PMID- 1444503
TI  - U1RNP antibody-positive neonatal lupus. A report of two cases with immunogenetic
      studies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a distinct subset of lupus
      characterized by cutaneous findings (50%), cardiac conduction defects (50%), and
      autoantibodies to Ro (SS-A) antigen. HLA typing studies of Ro (SS-A) antibody
      positive mothers of infants with NLE have shown an association with the HLA-DR3
      phenotype. We report the clinical and serologic features of two infant-mother
      pairs who are U1RNP antibody positive and Ro (SS-A) antibody negative. HLA typing
      is reported on these infants, their mothers, and two additional infant-mother
      pairs with U1RNP antibody-positive lupus whose clinical features have been
      reported previously. OBSERVATIONS: Cutaneous findings included malar erythema,
      annular and polycyclic plaques, and scales that resolved with residual
      telangiectasia and hyperpigmentation 6 months after birth. Systemic
      abnormalities, including complete heart block, were absent. HLA typing revealed
      HLA-DR3 in two of four mothers, HLA-DR4 and HLA-DRw53 in two of four mothers, and
      either HLA-DQ1 or HLA-DQ3 in four of four mothers. No distinct HLA associations
      were seen in the three infants examined. CONCLUSIONS: The spectrum of cutaneous
      disease in U1RNP antibody-positive infants is similar to Ro (SS-A) antibody
      positive infants with NLE. Complete heart block was not a feature of U1RNP
      antibody-positive NLE. HLA typing studies show a more diverse immunogenetic
      pattern in U1RNP antibody-positive mothers of infants with NLE compared with Ro
      (SS-A) antibody-positive mothers.

PMID- 1444504
TI  - Vesicular erythema migrans.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United
      States. The characteristic rash, erythema migrans, is an early sign of the
      disease. Clinical criteria remain the "gold standard" for diagnosis at this stage
      of illness. OBSERVATIONS: Five (8%) of 65 patients with erythema migrans seen in
      a Lyme disease diagnostic center in Westchester County, New York, had a lesion
      with vesicles. Borrelia burgdorferi was cultured from two of five. In one case
      the positive culture came from a swab of the blister fluid. CONCLUSIONS:
      Recognition of erythema migrans and its variants is important, since early
      treatment of Lyme disease may prevent late complications. Vesicular erythema
      migrans should be added to the differential diagnosis of inflammatory vesicular
      rashes in the appropriate clinical setting.

PMID- 1444505
TI  - Two cases of transfusion-associated graft-vs-host disease after open heart
      surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Some cases of blood transfusion-associated (TA) graft-vs-host disease
      (GVHD) in immunocompetent patients have been reported, but those dermatologic
      findings were not precisely mentioned. We describe patients with
      clinicopathologically TA-GVHD and compare TA-GVHD and acute GVHD after bone
      marrow transplantation. OBSERVATIONS: Two cases of TA-GVHD after open heart
      surgery are reported. In both immunocompetent patients, severe erythema
      multiformelike skin rash developed over the entire body, followed by fever,
      diarrhea, jaundice, transaminitis, pancytopenia, and marrow alpasia approximately
      10 days after operation. The rash in one patient changed from erythema
      multiformelike to toxic epidermal necrolysis at death. Skin biopsy specimens
      revealed eosinophilic bodies, basal vacuolation, and exocytosis in the epidermis.
      Eosinophilic bodies tend to appear in the upper epidermis. Immunohistochemistry
      studies revealed that infiltrating cells were CD4 and CD8. While acute GVHD in
      immunosuppressed patients who have undergone bone marrow transplantations often
      shows lichenoid histologic features, TA-GVHD in our patients who were
      immunocompetent may resemble severe erythema multiforme or toxic epidermal
      necrolysis. The difference in TA-GVHD may be related to lack of host modification
      by immunosuppression. CONCLUSIONS: Irradiation of the blood products should be
      required in open heart surgery, for TA-GVHD in immunocompetent patients is almost
      always fatal.

PMID- 1444506
TI  - Dermatology in France.

PMID- 1444507
TI  - Immune dysregulation in atopic eczema.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In this review, present knowledge of atopic eczema immunopathogenesis
      is summarized, emphasizing recent new findings. Systemic abnormalities in cell
      mediated immunity have not been demonstrated firmly in patients with atopic
      eczema. Within the skin itself, there is evidence for decreased cell-mediated
      immunity, which is partially correlated with the severity of skin disease. Atopic
      eczema, however, cannot be regarded as a direct result of decreased cutaneous
      cell-mediated immunity, since immunophenotyping studies have revealed activated T
      cells as well as dendritic cells within involved skin. In addition, disease
      marker studies in peripheral blood indicate vigorous T-cell activation in atopic
      dermatitis. OBSERVATIONS: The original observation of IgE molecules on the
      membranes of Langerhans cells may indicate trapping of IgE allergen complexes,
      their processing, and subsequent presentation to allergen-specific T cells within
      involved skin. Recent findings as to the abnormal regulation of IgE synthesis in
      atopy point to a preferential expansion of interleukin 4 and interleukin 5
      producing allergen-specific T cells, leading to increased production of
      interleukin 4 and thus increased levels of allergen-specific IgE. We have
      prepared atopic skin as well as peripheral blood-derived T-cell clones and
      determined their specificity and cytokine production profile. Results indicate in
      situ production of interleukin 4 and interleukin 5 within involved skin in
      response to environmental antigens. CONCLUSIONS: These new findings as to the
      basis of IgE dysregulation in atopy, as well as to the identification of an
      abnormal cytokine secretion pattern by T cells presumed to be central in
      immunopathogenesis of atopy-related disorders, suggest a distorted and cytokine
      mediated self-perpetuating response of the skin immune system to environmental
      allergen(s) in the pathogenesis of skin disease in atopy. These observations may
      have important implications for the development of new therapies for atopic
      eczema.

PMID- 1444508
TI  - Photoallergic contact dermatitis. Results of photopatch testing in New York, 1985
      to 1990.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Over a 6-year period, 187 patients with a history of photosensitivity
      were photopatch tested using standard techniques. Seventy-six patients were male
      and 111 were female. Most patients were white (151 patients). Two thirds of the
      patients were between the ages of 31 and 60 years. OBSERVATION: Testing revealed
      a total of 63 positive reactions: 14 plain contact, 41 photocontact, and eight
      combined contact and photocontact in 37 (20%) patients. Careful history taking
      resulted in a diagnosis of clinically relevant photoallergic contact dermatitis
      in 54% of these 37 patients or 11% (20) of the total tested. Ten of the relevant
      responses were due to fragrance ingredients (musk ambrette and 6-methylcoumarin);
      18 were due to sunscreen agents (nine to p-aminobenzoic acid and esters, nine to
      oxybenzone). The fragrance reactions occurred in the early years of the study
      (1985, 1986, and 1987) while the sunscreen agents accounted for all but two of
      the 14 positive reactions in the last 3 years of the study (1988, 1989, and
      1990). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the incidence of photoallergy due to
      fragrances is declining, while reactions to sunscreen agents, in particular
      oxybenzone, are increasing. This trend may reflect an altered use pattern by the
      general population for products containing these chemicals.

PMID- 1444509
TI  - Alopecia areata. A review of therapy, efficacy, safety, and mechanism.
AB  - Although it is clear from the foregoing that some of the drugs and chemicals used
      to treat severe alopecia areata are efficacious to some degree, it is impossible
      to draw any meaningful comparisons among the data outlined in Tables 1 and 2.
      Virtually all of the studies were designed differently. Differences in chronicity
      and extent of disease as well as history of previous treatment resistance may
      significantly affect efficacy data even as two investigators compare the same
      drug. Drug-induced hair regrowth in alopecia areata may be very slow; a cosmetic
      response may take 1 to 2 years to achieve. Efficacy determinations made at
      shorter intervals may, therefore, not reflect true therapeutic potential.
      Efficacy end points vary significantly and need to be standardized. From a
      practical standpoint, scalp hair coverage that is deemed by the patient to be
      cosmetically acceptable seems to be a reasonable efficacy end point to report.
      Maintenance of cosmetic effect with continued treatment and/or following
      discontinuation of treatment also is useful to document. Table 3 outlines my
      approach to therapy of alopecia areata. Topical treatments often must be used for
      as long as 3 months before evidence of regrowth can be seen. In my experience
      with severe disease, if topical treatments cannot control a flare or induce
      regrowth, then the patient will often require either lengthy or frequent courses
      of systemic steroids. In my experience, prednisone doses as low as 20 mg/d may be
      associated with aseptic neurosis of the hip or severe gastrointestinal bleeding.
      Severe alopecia areata is a disease for which all therapies are, at best,
      palliative and, at worst, potentially harmful to patients who are usually
      otherwise very healthy. The psychosocial significance of this disease is
      enormous. The insights shared by a long-time sufferer of the disease mirror those
      expressed by the many patients with whom I have worked during the past 12 years.
      Three key elements to effectively treat the patient are (1) to help the patient
      understand the disease; (2) to encourage the patient to share his or her feelings
      with the physician, family, friends, and other sufferers of the disease; and (3)
      to help the patient to maintain a sense of hope for future scientific knowledge
      and treatment of the disease. With a thorough knowledge of the potential benefits
      and risks of each treatment or combination treatment, the physician with the
      patient's understanding and cooperation may then embark on what may be in severe
      cases a lengthy and sometimes unproductive therapeutic process.

PMID- 1444510
TI  - Symmetrical retroauricular papules. Basal cell carcinoma.

PMID- 1444511
TI  - Multiple red nodules on lower abdomen. Metastatic carcinoma of the prostate.

PMID- 1444512
TI  - The subtleties of Mohs surgery.

PMID- 1444513
TI  - Redefinition of Mohs surgery.

PMID- 1444514
TI  - Topical cyclosporine in the treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus: clinical,
      histologic, and immunohistochemical findings.

PMID- 1444515
TI  - Congenital trichoid keratosis of the scalp.

PMID- 1444516
TI  - Toxic epidermal necrolysis after hepatic transplantation.

PMID- 1444517
TI  - Parity, polypregnancy, paternity, and PUPPP.

PMID- 1444518
TI  - Hair casts: a clinical and morphologic control study.

PMID- 1444519
TI  - Drug abuse in children and adolescents: an update.

PMID- 1444520
TI  - Consent to treatment in childhood.

PMID- 1444521
TI  - Molluscum contagiosum.

PMID- 1444522
TI  - Effects of oral and intramuscular vitamin K prophylaxis on vitamin K1, PIVKA-II,
      and clotting factors in breast fed infants.
AB  - A randomised clinical trial was conducted to establish the effects of oral and
      intramuscular administration of vitamin K at birth on plasma concentrations of
      vitamin K1, proteins induced by vitamin K absence (PIVKA-II), and clotting
      factors. Two groups of about 165 healthy breast fed infants who received at
      random 1 mg vitamin K1 orally or intramuscularly after birth were studied at 2
      weeks and 1 and 3 months of age. Although vitamin K1 concentrations were
      statistically significantly higher in the intramuscular group, blood
      coagulability, activities of factors VII and X and PIVKA-II concentrations did
      not reveal any difference between the two groups. At 2 weeks of age vitamin K1
      concentrations were raised compared with reported unsupplemented concentrations
      and no PIVKA-II was detectable. At 3 months vitamin K1 concentrations were back
      at unsupplemented values and PIVKA-II was detectable in 11.5% of infants.
      Therefore, a repeated oral prophylaxis will be necessary to completely prevent
      (biochemical) vitamin K deficiency beyond the age of 1 month.

PMID- 1444523
TI  - Oscillations of body temperature at night.
AB  - There is increasing evidence that overheating is a contributing factor for some
      cot deaths. One hypothesis is that infant thermoregulation is closely related to
      respiratory control. To test this hypothesis it was necessary to determine the
      normal pattern of body temperature in the developing infant. A system has been
      designed and built to record continuously temperature signals from ambient,
      rectal, and various skin site sensors. Overnight studies were performed on 30
      infants aged between 2 and 26 weeks in a hospital ward. Various time and
      frequency domain analyses of the temperature data have been developed. Analysis
      of body temperature rhythms has confirmed patterns during sleep which mature with
      age. In addition a periodic oscillation of body temperature has been found with a
      cycle of approximately one hour. This oscillation may reflect sleep state and its
      further study may give an insight into control of infant thermoregulation and the
      integration of this control with that of breathing and the cardiovascular system.

PMID- 1444524
TI  - Factors affecting the development of night time temperature rhythms.
AB  - The rectal temperature of 26 infants between 6 and 16 weeks old was monitored
      continuously for one night each week. Rectal temperature always decreased with
      sleep but the minimum temperature attained changed with age. Some time between 8
      and 16 weeks old the minimum sleeping rectal temperature decreased abruptly from
      around 36.8 degrees C to around 36.4 degrees C. This change was complete within
      one week and did not normally revert unless the infant became ill. Some infants
      changed as early as 8 weeks old, others not until 16 weeks. Breast fed infants
      changed significantly earlier than bottle fed infants. Girls changed
      significantly earlier than boys. First born infants changed significantly earlier
      than second or subsequent infants. Early changes were significantly more likely
      to be sleeping lateral or supine, and to have older mothers. They tended to come
      from more affluent families. There was no association between the time of change
      and the thermal environment in which the infant slept or the number of episodes
      of minor illness in the early weeks of life.

PMID- 1444525
TI  - Paediatric cardiac transplantation with steroid-sparing maintenance
      immunosuppression.
AB  - In order to determine the results of steroid-sparing maintenance
      immunosuppression in paediatric patients who have undergone orthotopic heart
      transplantation (OHT), a retrospective study was undertaken in 12 children and
      five infants (median age 3.5 years). Preoperative diagnoses were cardiomyopathy
      in seven and congenital heart disease in 10 patients. Immunosuppression was
      induced by cyclosporin, azathioprine, methylprednisolone, and antihuman
      lymphocyte immune globulin. It was maintained with cyclosporin and azathioprine.
      After induction, five patients received no further steroids. The remainder,
      except one, required only pulses for rejection (13 episodes or 0.51
      episodes/patient year). Long term complications included hypertension in six, and
      renal impairment in three children. There were no early or late deaths from
      infection. Actuarial survival was 94% at one year. Of the children followed up
      for more than one year, all demonstrated an increase in height SD scores (mean
      (SD) -2.15 (1.35) to -1.15 (1.16)). We conclude that a steroid-sparing
      maintenance immunosuppression regimen can be successfully employed in paediatric
      OHT, and that significant catch-up growth can be achieved postoperatively.

PMID- 1444526
TI  - Intravenous immunoglobulin in HIV-I infected haemophilic patients.
AB  - In order to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in the
      early stages of HIV infection (patients without AIDS or AIDS related complex) a
      prospective controlled open trial was conducted in 36 patients (age 6-19 years)
      with haemophilia. Eighteen patients received 0.3 g/kg IVIG at two week intervals;
      18 patients served as controls. Major criteria for the evaluation were
      progression of HIV disease assessed by the modified Brodt/Helm classification,
      number of infectious events and HIV associated thrombocytopenia, and the CD4+ T
      cell count. After 24 months of evaluation seven patients in the IVIG group and
      five patients in the control group deteriorated according to their staging, with
      one patient in each group developing AIDS. Thrombocytopenia and infectious
      events, but no severe bacterial infections, occurred in both groups in similar
      numbers. The absolute CD4+ T cell count decreased by 284/microliters in the IVIG
      group and by 143/microliters in the control group respectively (mean values). The
      statistical analysis of these criteria did not reveal any significant difference.
      In conclusion, IVIG was not effective in the early stages of HIV infection in
      patients with haemophilia. IVIG did not slow down the progression of HIV disease
      and did not prevent the development of an immunodeficiency as assessed by the
      CD4+ T cell count.

PMID- 1444527
TI  - Gastrointestinal complications of gastrocystoplasty.
AB  - The cases are reported of five children with chronic renal failure who underwent
      gastrocystoplasty for a variety of urological disorders. Gastrocystoplasty
      comprises the transplantation of a vascularised segment of stomach to the bladder
      to form an augmented neobladder. The patients had gastrointestinal complications
      after the operation, including considerable weight loss in all five patients,
      accompanied by marked failure to thrive in four of the five patients, and food
      aversion, feeding intolerance, dumping syndrome, delayed gastric emptying, and
      oesophagitis in two patients. Three of the five patients developed severe
      abdominal pain and haemorrhagic cystitis secondary to gastric acid secretion in
      the neobladder from the transplanted gastric pedicle. Nutritional and
      pharmacological interventions were used to manage the gastrointestinal problems.
      Explanations are offered for the pathophysiology of the observed complications of
      gastrocystoplasty. It is believed that the use of this procedure in infants and
      children, particularly those with chronic renal failure and uraemia, warrants
      caution until successful long term follow up and experience with this procedure
      have been reported.

PMID- 1444528
TI  - Prepubertal height velocity references over a wide age range.
AB  - In order to correct height velocities for the confounders age and sex, SD scores
      can be calculated using the mean and the SD of the height velocity in the normal
      population. However, current methods are inappropriate for prepubertal children
      in the age range in which puberty occurs, because reference groups then consist
      of a mixed prepubertal/pubertal population. The mathematical infancy-childhood
      puberty (ICP) model opens up the possibility of dissecting the puberty component
      from the total growth curve. New references for height velocity for prepubertal
      children calculated over a 12 month interval up to the ages of 15.5 years (boys)
      and 13.5 years (girls) have been constructed on the basis of adaptations of the
      ICP model and the Swedish longitudinal growth study.

PMID- 1444530
TI  - Centiles for adult head circumference.
AB  - Reference range for head circumference on the Tanner charts do not go beyond age
      16. In this study the head circumference and heights of 354 adults in two British
      centres were measured. The centile charts constructed from these measurements
      show that adult head circumference is related to height. The mean head
      circumference of a male of average height is above the 97th centile for a 16 year
      old on the Tanner charts. The paediatric charts are therefore inappropriate for
      use in adult males.

PMID- 1444529
TI  - Bone age, social deprivation, and single parent families.
AB  - It is well known that deprivation affects bone growth. The study was set up to
      investigate what aspects of deprivation are of greatest importance. Bone ages of
      1593 child trauma patients aged 0-19 years from Middlesbrough General Hospital,
      Cleveland, were related to local authority ward indices of socioeconomic status
      (51 wards). After adjustment for chronological age and sex, the mean bone ages in
      each ward were highly significantly negatively associated with five ward indices
      of deprivation: the rate of single parent families, low care ownership,
      unemployment, rented housing, and overcrowding. There was a mean four month
      deficit in bone age among children living in wards with the highest single parent
      family rates. The inverse association between deprivation and bone age is
      unlikely to be causal throughout childhood, as older and younger children were
      affected to the same extent. However the bone age deficit could be caused by
      deprivation retarding skeletal maturation during a critical period in early life.

PMID- 1444531
TI  - Immunisation status in inner London primary schools.
AB  - In one inner London district health authority, the immunisation status of
      children attending their routine school entry health interview was reviewed over
      four terms. During the course of these interviews, school nurses completed a
      questionnaire with parents that asked for their child's immunisation history and
      details of family and social background. Parental reporting of immunisation
      history was compared with district health authority records. Only 56% of children
      reviewed were found to be fully immunised, although a substantial number (386) of
      the 513 partially immunised children required only a preschool booster. Four
      percent (54) of the children had received no immunisations; a disproportionately
      high number of these were recent immigrants. Mechanisms for identifying
      unimmunised children before they enter communal groups need to be established.

PMID- 1444532
TI  - An audit of preschool vision screening.
AB  - An audit was carried out to clarify the dispute surrounding the vision screening
      test at 3.5 years. The uptake was 53.5%, sensitivity 77%, specificity 96%, and
      positive predictive value 50%. In particular the uptake was poor and the test
      needed a clear policy for the future.

PMID- 1444533
TI  - Microfollicular thyroid adenoma and congenital goitrous hypothyroidism.
AB  - Three patients with congenital goitrous hypothyroidism are reported. They were
      treated with adequate thyroxine replacement and developed well defined
      microfollicular thyroid adenomas despite being euthyroid clinically and
      biochemically throughout their clinical course. Patients with congenital goitrous
      hypothyroidism appear to be at increased risk of developing thyroid adenoma in
      childhood despite the use of replacement thyroxine treatment in physiological
      doses.

PMID- 1444534
TI  - Oral hairy leukoplakia in vertically and horizontally acquired HIV infection.

PMID- 1444535
TI  - Building a combined child health service.

PMID- 1444536
TI  - Consultative work in child and adolescent psychiatry.

PMID- 1444537
TI  - Statistics from the inside. 7. Regression and correlation.

PMID- 1444538
TI  - Recent advances in understanding muscular dystrophy.

PMID- 1444539
TI  - Investigation of metabolic disorders resembling Reye's syndrome.
AB  - Ten per cent of patients initially reported with Reye's syndrome in the British
      Isles (1981-91) were subsequently found to have an underlying inherited metabolic
      disorder (IMD). There was also evidence to suggest that other cases may not have
      been recognised. The range of metabolic disorders that mimic Reye's syndrome is
      wide and specialist, often complex, investigations are required to make a
      specific diagnosis. Those patients presenting with Reye's syndrome-like illness
      but also with one or more clinical features suggestive of an IMD require
      particular attention and detailed investigation. Recommendations for specimen
      collection and investigation are presented.

PMID- 1444540
TI  - Relationship between urinary and serum growth hormone and pubertal status.

PMID- 1444541
TI  - Malnutrition in children with cancer.

PMID- 1444542
TI  - Intravenous volume replacement: which fluid and why?

PMID- 1444543
TI  - Pediatrics in the accident and emergency department.

PMID- 1444544
TI  - Herpes simplex virus infection in pregnancy.

PMID- 1444545
TI  - Kidney function in the very low birthweight infant.

PMID- 1444546
TI  - Renal function in sick very low birthweight infants: 1. Glomerular filtration
      rate.
AB  - A total of 135 measurements of polyfructoside clearance as a measure of
      glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were made in 39 infants of 25.5-33 weeks'
      gestation, birth weight 720-2000 g, between the ages of 0.5 and 33 days. GRF was
      related to postconceptional age and increased exponentially from geometric mean
      0.59 ml/min at 26 weeks' postconceptional age to 1.40 ml/min at 33 weeks. GFR in
      the first week and GFR at later ages were the same for a given postconceptional
      age. GFR was the same in sick infants with severe ventilatory failure as in less
      ill infants. There was no evidence that GFR was influenced by nitrogen input. GFR
      increases postnatally in a preprogrammed way irrespective of other postnatal
      events. When factored by body weight GFR in the first week increased only little
      from arithmetic mean 0.70 ml/min/kg at 26 weeks to 0.84 ml/min/kg at 33 weeks,
      but older infants often had a falsely high GFR per kg when they lost weight in
      the first week or two after birth or failed to gain weight later.

PMID- 1444547
TI  - Renal function in sick very low birthweight infants: 2. Urea and creatinine
      excretion.
AB  - Plasma urea and creatinine concentrations and urea and creatinine clearances and
      excretion were measured in a sample of 40 infants of 25.5-33 weeks' gestation,
      birth weight 720-2000 g, between the ages of 0.5 and 33 days. Creatinine
      excretion rate was between 60 and 120 mumol/kg/day in the first five postnatal
      weeks (mean 90.5) and was independent of sex or growth retardation. This can be
      used in clinical practice to estimate instantaneous urine flow rate V, if the
      creatinine concentration is measured in a randomly voided urine sample, from the
      formula V = 90.5/urine creatinine, with 95% confidence limits +/- 39%. There is a
      wide range of plasma creatinine at all gestations and ages decreasing from range
      75-130 mumol/l in the first two days to 35-80 mumol/l at 3 weeks of age. Plasma
      urea is a poor indicator of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in sick preterm
      infants. GFR (ml/min/kg) can be estimated from plasma creatinine from the formula
      GFR = 69.2/plasma creatinine but this estimate is imprecise with 95% confidence
      limits +/- 46%. Urea:creatinine clearance ratio was usually less than 1.0 (range
      0.18 to 1.5) and was lower when the urine flow rate was low. Urea excretion was
      up to 17 mmol/kg/day in the first two weeks, higher in the more immature infants.
      These high levels were paralleled by a high plasma urea concentration, up to 18
      mmol/l. A high plasma urea is not necessarily associated with renal failure or
      dehydration.

PMID- 1444548
TI  - Renal function in sick very low birthweight infants: 3. Sodium, potassium, and
      water excretion.
AB  - Renal excretion of sodium, water, and potassium was measured on 434 occasions in
      a sample of 40 infants of 25.5-33 weeks' gestation, birth weight 720-2000 g,
      between the ages of 0.5 and 36 days. Water excretion varied between 1% and 30% of
      the glomerular filtration rate, or 15-350 ml/kg/day, and varied widely from day
      to day in individual infants. Nearly all infants became hyponatraemic before or
      after the first postnatal week. There were a few instances of hypernatraemia in
      the first week caused by high insensible water loss. There were high levels of
      sodium excretion up to 16% of filtered sodium, or 21 mmol/kg/day, in the first
      two postnatal weeks. Highest levels of sodium excretion were seen in the most
      immature infants in the first week. In most infants sodium excretion increased
      either in the first week or later before a subsequent decline. Potassium
      excretion was often high in the first week, as much as 96% of filtered potassium,
      or 5 mmol/kg/day, and is associated with early hyperkalaemia.

PMID- 1444549
TI  - Renal function in sick very low birthweight infants: 4. Glucose excretion.
AB  - Renal glucose excretion was measured on 239 occasions in a sample of 36 infants
      of 25.5-33 weeks' gestation, birth weight 720-2000 g, between the ages of 0.5 and
      32 days. Glucose was invariably present in urine from the first day. Fractional
      glucose excretion varied widely from 0.1% to 90% of filtered glucose and glucose
      excretion rate was up to 15.5 mmol/kg/day and was higher in the most immature
      infants, especially below 28 weeks' gestation. The highest values were in
      association with hyperglycaemia between 5 and 15 days but there was no consistent
      plasma glucose threshold with frequent glucose spillage at normal blood glucose
      concentrations. There was some correlation with sodium excretion in the first
      week suggesting that in the absence of hyperglycaemia with a normal filtered
      glucose load, glucose excretion is caused by proximal tubular immaturity.

PMID- 1444550
TI  - Simultaneous measurement of preductal and postductal oxygen saturation by pulse
      oximetry in hyaline membrane disease.
AB  - Preductal and postductal oxygen saturation were compared in 20 ventilated preterm
      infants with hyaline membrane disease to establish the frequency of right to left
      shunting and to assess the accuracy of postductus arteriosus blood gas sampling.
      One hundred and thirty eight comparisons were made and the frequency of right to
      left shunting was 17% (95% confidence interval 12 to 25%). Shunting episodes with
      possible preductal hyperoxia occurred far less commonly on a maximum of 5% of
      occasions. The findings in infants under 1000 g and of 24-28 weeks' gestation
      were not significantly different from larger or more mature infants. Shunting
      occurred significantly more frequently in very ill infants who subsequently died
      as a result of respiratory disease.

PMID- 1444551
TI  - Effect of patency of the ductus arteriosus on blood pressure in very preterm
      infants.
AB  - Forty one preterm infants (birth weight < 1500 g) were studied by daily Doppler
      echocardiography for the first week of life to examine the effect of a
      haemodynamically significant ductus arteriosus (HSDA) on systemic blood pressure.
      Hourly records of blood pressure were averaged for each infant to produce a 24
      hour mean value and the infants were then allocated to groups according to
      whether, by echocardiographic criteria, there was a HSDA on that day. In infants
      from 1000 to 1500 g the differences in all parameters of blood pressure between
      those with and without a HSDA were not significant. In infants < 1000 g the mean
      blood pressure was significantly less in the infants with a HSDA throughout the
      first week of life. Systolic blood pressure was reduced by as much as diastolic
      blood pressure and as a result the pulse pressure did not differ. Infants < 1000
      g with a HSDA were given more plasma and a greater number received inotropic
      support. Gestational age, respiratory disease severity, and complication rates
      did not differ between those with and without a HSDA. The possibility of a
      clinically silent HSDA should be considered before large amounts of plasma volume
      expanders are given to treat hypotension in infants < 1000 g.

PMID- 1444552
TI  - Annual audit of neonatal morbidity in preterm infants.
AB  - Annual odds ratios, standardised for known confounding variables, were used to
      examine trends in major neonatal morbidities among 3220 preterm infants of less
      than 35 weeks' gestation admitted to a regional referral centre between 1980 and
      1991. Despite improved survival, the risk of major cerebral haemorrhage,
      ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion, and necrotising enterocolitis was
      unchanged. A recent reduction in risk of pneumothorax and persistence of the
      arterial duct was noted. An increased risk for chronic lung disease over time
      could be accounted for by increased survival, although a similar increase in risk
      for infection remained unexplained.

PMID- 1444553
TI  - Prediction of neurodevelopmental outcome in the preterm infant: short latency
      cortical somatosensory evoked potentials compared with cranial ultrasound.
AB  - One hundred and twenty six preterm infants, with a gestational age of 34 weeks or
      less, were studied to compare the predictive value of somatosensory evoked
      potentials (SEPs) with that of cranial ultrasound. A normal N1 latency was no
      guarantee of a normal outcome, nor did a persistently delayed N1 latency always
      correlate with a poor outcome. As a predictor of cerebral palsy, SEPs had a
      sensitivity of 44% and a specificity of 92%. The presence of a large haemorrhage
      (grade IIb/III) or cystic leukomalacia on cranial ultrasound predicted cerebral
      palsy with a sensitivity of 73.6% and a specificity of 83.1%. These results
      demonstrate that the role of SEPs recorded after median nerve stimulation is
      limited in preterm infants.

PMID- 1444554
TI  - Membrane humidification--a new method for humidification of respiratory gases in
      ventilator treatment of neonates.
AB  - A humidifier system for neonatology that functions according to the 'membrane
      humidification' principle was subjected to a performance test in our laboratory.
      Humidification and heating of the respiratory gases took place in a module
      consisting of a net of hollow fibres placed inside the incubator. In 18
      measurement combinations flow, respiratory gas temperature, and incubator
      temperature were varied. At respiratory gas temperatures within the range of 33
      37 degrees C the minimum international standard for the absolute air humidity in
      the respiratory gas was achieved or exceeded in all measurements. No controlled
      clinical tests regarding the importance and long term effects of different
      temperatures and different humidity levels in the inspiratory air are yet
      available for the ventilation treatment of neonates.

PMID- 1444555
TI  - Randomised controlled trial of colloid infusions in hypotensive preterm infants.
AB  - Colloid infusions are often given to treat hypotension in preterm infants. The
      aim of this work was to assess whether it was the amount of protein or the volume
      of the colloid infused which accounted for the observed increase in blood
      pressure. Sixty preterm infants were randomised (20 in each group) to receive 5
      ml/kg 20% albumin, 15 ml/kg fresh frozen plasma, or 15 ml/kg 4.5% albumin. All
      infusions were given at a rate of 5 ml/kg/hour in addition to maintenance fluids.
      The infants were randomised when hypotensive (systolic blood pressure less than
      40 mm Hg for two hours). There was no significant difference in the blood
      pressure of the three groups before or one hour after beginning the infusion. The
      mean increase in blood pressure one hour after completing the infusion, however,
      was significantly lower in infants receiving 20% albumin: 9% compared with 17% in
      the group receiving 4.5% albumin, and 19% in the group receiving fresh frozen
      plasma. It is concluded that the volume infused rather than albumin load is
      important in producing a sustained increase in blood pressure.

PMID- 1444556
TI  - Cardiac tumours in intrauterine life.
AB  - Since 1980, 11 examples of cardiac tumour have been detected in the fetus out of
      a total of 794 congenital cardiac malformations. Patients were referred because
      of fetal hydrops in two, a family history of tuberous sclerosis in two, and
      because of the detection of a tumour mass during a scan at the local hospital in
      seven. The gestational age range at presentation was from 20-34 weeks. Of eight
      fetuses where death occurred, the histological type was rhabdomyoma in seven and
      teratoma in one. In seven cases, the lesion appeared single and in four there
      were multiple tumours. In two of the cases of rhabdomyoma, other family members
      had evidence of tuberous sclerosis. Termination of pregnancy took place in four
      cases; of seven continuing pregnancies, spontaneous intrauterine death occurred
      in four, and three children are still alive. Two of the three survivors has the
      clinical picture of tuberous sclerosis. The last case is as yet only 1 month old.
      In summary, even where the lesion is single, the most likely diagnosis in fetal
      cardiac tumour is rhabdomyoma, with associated tuberous sclerosis. However, the
      characteristic features of this latter condition may not become evident until
      some months after birth.

PMID- 1444557
TI  - Changes in the plasma aminogram of parenterally fed infants treated with
      dexamethasone for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
AB  - A substantial increase in the plasma concentration of most amino acids was
      observed in 59 preterm infants with chronic lung disease soon after the
      initiation of dexamethasone therapy. The size of increase appeared to be dose
      related. This phenomenon is likely to be the result of steroid induced protein
      catabolism. Interestingly, neither phenylalanine nor tyrosine concentrations were
      significantly increased.

PMID- 1444558
TI  - Coagulation screening tests in high risk neonates: a prospective cohort study.
AB  - Forty seven infants in a prospective cohort of 170 high risk neonates without
      signs of overt bleeding had abnormal coagulation screening tests within 36 hours
      of birth. Early thrombocytopenia was a better predictor of prolonged prothrombin
      times and hypofibrinogenemia than very low birth weight, fetal growth
      retardation, or poor five minute Apgar scores.

PMID- 1444560
TI  - Recovery of intralipid from lumbar puncture after migration of saphenous vein
      catheter.
AB  - A term female infant was admitted to the intensive care unit with the diagnosis
      of tetralogy of Fallot with critical pulmonary stenosis. On the seventh day of
      life a long saphenous line was inserted that remained without complications until
      seven days later when the infant appeared septic. A lumbar puncture demonstrated
      the presence of intra-lipid in the cerebrospinal fluid that we interpreted as due
      to migration of the saphenous catheter. The child had an uneventful recovery.

PMID- 1444559
TI  - Clinical application of urine antigen detection in early onset group B
      streptococcal disease.
AB  - The aim of this study was to test the sensitivity and specificity of antigen
      detection for group B streptococcus (GBS) from the urine of neonates with early
      onset GBS sepsis. GBS sepsis was defined as early (< 48 hours) signs of sepsis in
      a neonate colonised with GBS. Neonates of 26 weeks' gestation or more, considered
      at risk for sepsis, were prospectively investigated for one year. Investigations
      included culture of superficial swabs to assess colonisation, blood culture, and
      the Wellcogen Strep B latex particle agglutination test on urine. Of 188 neonates
      investigated, 17 (9%) had GBS sepsis. The urine antigen test had a sensitivity of
      88% and specificity of 98%. The positive predictive value was 79% and the
      negative predictive value 99%. Blood culture was positive in only five neonates
      (29%). The annual incidence of GBS sepsis was 4.0 per 1000 and of blood culture
      positive GBS disease was 1.2 per 1000 live births. Three neonates died. The
      application of the urine antigen test of clinical neonatal practice is discussed.

PMID- 1444561
TI  - Meconium ileus in the absence of cystic fibrosis.
AB  - Although meconium ileus in the absence of cystic fibrosis is considered a rare
      event, it was found that eight of 37 (21.6%) newborn infants with meconium ileus
      had no laboratory or clinical evidence of cystic fibrosis.

PMID- 1444562
TI  - Validation of a portable indirect calorimetry system for measurement of energy
      expenditure in sick preterm infants.
AB  - A portable indirect calorimeter adapted from adult use was validated for use in
      preterm infants. Oxygen consumption (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2)
      were subsequently measured in 16 preterm infants breathing spontaneously in room
      air (canopy mode) and in nine preterm infants receiving intermittent positive
      pressure ventilation (ventilator mode). Validation of the system was performed
      using a gas injection technique with nitrogen to simulate VO2 and carbon dioxide
      for VCO2. Mean errors in validation of the canopy mode were 1.4% and 0.2% for VO2
      and VCO2 with limits of agreement of 0.6 (+2SD) ml/min and -1.3 (-2SD) ml/min,
      and 0.9 (+2SD) ml/min and -2.3 (-2SD) ml/min respectively. In validation of the
      ventilator mode mean errors were -1.8% and -5.05% for VO2 and VCO2 with limits of
      agreement of 1.02 (+2SD) ml/min and -0.74 (-2SD) ml/min, and 0.93 (+2SD) ml/min
      and -1.45 (-2SD) ml/min respectively. Values of VO2 and VCO2 in 16 preterm
      infants in the canopy mode were 6.2 ml/kg/min (0.5 1SD) and 6.7 ml/kg/min (0.6
      1SD) and in nine preterm infants in the ventilator mode 4.98 ml/kg/min (1.09 1SD)
      and 4.74 ml/min/kg (1.08 1SD) respectively. Mean energy expenditure was 45.5 kcal
      (191 kJ)kg/day for infants measured in the canopy mode and 35.5 kcal (149
      kJ)/kg/day for ventilated infants. This metabolic system can be adapted for use
      in the newborn but accuracy is reduced when it is used in those weighing less
      than 1000 g.

PMID- 1444563
TI  - Fatal perinatal nephropathy with onset in intrauterine life.
AB  - A girl, born at 29 weeks' gestation, died of renal failure aged 16 days.
      Postmortem histology showed diffuse mesangial sclerosis with failure of
      development of the cortex. This is an unusual cause of neonatal renal failure,
      and it demonstrates the effect of disease arising in utero and influencing the
      development of the kidney.

PMID- 1444564
TI  - When will my baby go home?
AB  - The length of stay of preterm babies discharged from a neonatal nursery was
      determined and the predictive value of perinatal factors on the duration of stay
      was assessed on 762 preterm Salford born babies admitted to Hope Hospital
      neonatal unit between April 1986 and November 1990. The data were analysed using
      multiple logistical regression and forward stepwise regression analysis. Babies
      were discharged at a median (quartile range) postconceptional age of 36.3 (35.3
      37.6) weeks. Seventeen factors were found to be strongly predictive of discharge
      date. The most significant predictive factor was gestational age accounting for
      40% of variability compared with respiratory difficulties (6%), low birth weight
      (4%), sepsis (2%), and metabolic problems (1%). Most babies are discharged at
      approximately the same postconceptional age despite variations in their clinical
      course. Gestational age at birth is the most powerful predictive factor of time
      of discharge.

PMID- 1444565
TI  - Intermittent ductal patency in healthy newborn infants: demonstration by colour
      Doppler flow mapping.
AB  - Colour Doppler flow mapping was used to determine the time of closure of the
      arterial duct in 51 healthy newborn infants. Initial time of closure corresponded
      with previous reports: 20% on the first day, 82% by the second day, 96% by the
      third day, and 100% by the fourth day. Twenty infants were delivered by caesarean
      section and followed up for seven days even if the duct had apparently closed; in
      six intermittent patency was demonstrated with flow in the third, fourth or fifth
      day, although earlier functional closure had been observed. All were found to be
      closed on the sixth and seventh days. It is necessary to be aware of the
      phenomenon of intermittent closure in any study determining or assessing the
      effect of any intervention on ductal patency.

PMID- 1444566
TI  - Neonatal meningococcal conjunctivitis associated with meningococcal meningitis.
AB  - Two infants are described in whom identical strains of meningococcus were
      isolated from both the eyes and the cerebrospinal fluid. This suggests that the
      eye may be a portal of entry in at least some cases of perinatally acquired
      neonatal meningococcal disease and has important implications for the management
      of purulent conjunctivitis in the newborn.

PMID- 1444567
TI  - Development of audit measures and guidelines for good practice in the management
      of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Report of a Joint Working Group of the
      British Association of Perinatal Medicine and the Research Unit of the Royal
      College of Physicians.

PMID- 1444568
TI  - Diagnosis and management of inborn errors of metabolism--an update.

PMID- 1444569
TI  - Initial experience of screening for retinopathy of prematurity.

PMID- 1444571
TI  - Felix Wurtz of Basel (1518-75) and clubfeet.

PMID- 1444570
TI  - The unreactive fetal heart rate.

PMID- 1444572
TI  - Renal candidiasis in the preterm infant.

PMID- 1444573
TI  - Stillbirths and non-lethal abnormalities--a mechanism of death?

PMID- 1444574
TI  - Clinical, light and electron microscopic features of recessive ichthyosis
      congenita type III.
AB  - The recessively inherited congenital ichthyoses have ultrastructural features
      which indicate abnormal epidermal lipid metabolism. The ultrastructural markers
      of the three recessive congenital ichthyosis groups are lipid droplets in horny
      layers (type I), cholesterol clefts (type II) and membrane structures (type III).
      We describe six patients from five families belonging to the last group. The
      variable clinical phenotype alone does not allow the delineation of this disease,
      but together with the ultrastructural characteristics the subtype is unequivocal.
      In addition to the membrane structures, half of the cases showed abnormal
      keratinosomes and vesicular complexes. Membrane-bound vacuoles and needle-like
      slits were exceptionally found. The onset of the ichthyosis was variable, in
      contrast to other patients described under the heading recessive congenital
      ichthyosis.

PMID- 1444575
TI  - Further evidence that acanthosis nigricans maligna is linked to enhanced
      secretion by the tumour of transforming growth factor alpha.
AB  - The pathogenesis of cutaneous paraneoplastic syndromes is still under discussion.
      Since many of these syndromes, including acanthosis nigricans, are proliferative
      skin disorders it is believed that products secreted by the tumour stimulate the
      keratinocytes to proliferate. Growth factors like transforming growth factor
      alpha (TGF-alpha) are known to be highly mitogenic for keratinocytes in vitro.
      Here we report on a patient with a poorly differentiated gastric cancer and a
      full clinical picture of acanthosis nigricans characterized by diffuse
      hyperkeratosis and multiple papillomatous lesions of the skin with involvement of
      the conjunctivae. In Southern blot analysis of the tumour tissue from this
      patient amplification of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, the common
      ligand for TGF-alpha and EGF, was shown. Immunohistochemically, prominent
      staining was found throughout the tumour using anti-TGF-alpha antibodies. In a
      series of 25 investigated gastric tumour biopsies, four tumours showed
      amplification of the EGF receptor and one additional biopsy was positive for TGF
      alpha. Since there is no other report describing the link between TGF-alpha and
      acanthosis nigricans, except that of Ellis et al. 1987, we present a new case
      suggesting a possible link between growth factors and acanthosis nigricans
      maligna.

PMID- 1444576
TI  - Increase in types IV and VI collagen in cherry haemangiomas.
AB  - The capillaries in cherry haemangiomas show perivascular hyalinized sheaths. In
      order to clarify the nature of this sheath material, the extracellular matrix of
      cherry haemangiomas from 20 normal volunteers (age range 30-64 years) was
      investigated using immunohistochemical and electronmicroscopical methods.
      Antibodies against collagen types III, IV and VI and laminin were used.
      Hyaluronic acid was visualized using the hyaluronic acid binding region of the
      cartilage proteoglycan as ligand. Electronmicroscopically, the sheaths contained
      multilaminated basement membrane-like material, collagen fibres 20-25 nm thick
      with a periodicity of 67 nm and broad-banded aggregates with a periodicity of 100
      nm (zebra bodies or fibrous long-spacing fibres). Immunohistochemically, type IV
      collagen was stained throughout the whole sheath material. Staining for laminin
      was more confined to the endothelial side of the sheath. Intense staining for
      type III collagen and hyaluronic acid was found in the connective tissue of the
      subpapillary layer and between the cherry haemangioma capillaries. Much weaker
      staining for type III collagen and no staining for hyaluronic acid were found
      invariably in an area 4-10 microns thick directly around the capillaries. Both
      sheath material and intercapillary connective tissue of the haemangiomas showed
      pronounced staining for collagen type VI. Immunogold staining revealed that type
      VI collagen was localized to microfibrils 5-6 nm thick and to the broad-banded
      aggregates with 100 nm periodicity. These findings further underline the
      assumption that the broad-banded aggregates consist of type VI collagen.

PMID- 1444578
TI  - Effects of cepharanthine and minoxidil on proliferation, differentiation and
      keratinization of cultured cells from the murine hair apparatus.
AB  - The effects of cepharanthine and minoxidil on proliferation, differentiation and
      keratinization of cultured cells from the murine hair apparatus were examined
      electron microscopically. Both cepharanthine and minoxidil stimulated cell
      proliferation and delayed initiation of differentiation and keratinization of the
      cultured cells. On day 6, most control cells (87%) cultured in a 0.03 mM calcium
      medium without cepharanthine and minoxidil were differentiated into several
      subpopulations corresponding to those of in vivo cell layers of the hair
      apparatus, while most of the cells cultured with cepharanthine (71%) or minoxidil
      (70%) were still immature. On day 13, the number of degenerated cells increased
      (63%) in the control culture, whereas in the culture treated with cepharanthine
      or minoxidil, cell degeneration scarcely occurred (5% and 8%, respectively).
      Differentiated cells having tonofilaments were often observed in the
      cepharanthine- and minoxidil-treated cultures (76% and 72%, respectively).
      Elevation of extracellular calcium up to 1.0 mM induced keratinization (34%) in
      the control culture on day 6, while no keratinized cells were observed in the
      cepharanthine- or minoxidil-treated culture. On day 13 keratinization similarly
      occurred in the cultures with cepharanthine (30%) or minoxidil (48%). These
      results show that both cepharanthine and minoxidil may directly influence
      proliferation, differentiation and keratinization of cultured cells from the hair
      apparatus.

PMID- 1444577
TI  - Immunochemical detection of unrepaired cyclobutane-type pyrimidine dimers of DNAs
      extracted from human skin tumours.
AB  - Unrepaired cyclobutane-type pyrimidine dimers of DNA extracted from human skin
      tumours were examined by an immunoblotting method using polyclonal antibodies
      raised against UV-irradiated calf thymus DNA. A total of 40 DNA samples extracted
      from seven SCC lesions, two AK lesions, two lymphomas, one basal cell
      epithelioma, one eccrine poroma, one neurofibroma of Recklinghausen's disease, on
      verruca vulgaris, four femoral normal skins and white blood cells of 21 humans
      were studied by immunoblotting using this antibody. Two of the 40 DNAs examined,
      one from facial actinic keratosis (AK) and one from a squamous cell carcinoma
      (SCC) which developed form facial AK formed immunoprecipitates. It was found,
      using photoreactivation enzyme plus visible light, that both immunoprecipitates
      were cyclobutane-type pyrimidine dimers. In addition, immunofluorescent studies
      on AK tissue were positive in an immunoblotting assay and revealed that the
      unremoved photodamage in DNA remained in the nucleus of AK cells. These findings
      indicate that these tumour cells may be deficient in the enzyme function for
      repairing photoproduct damage. The unrepaired cyclobutane-type pyrimidine dimer
      in AK cells might reflect the genetic process in multistage carcinogenesis as
      well as in xeroderma pigmentosum.

PMID- 1444579
TI  - A murine in vitro model of allergic contact dermatitis to sesquiterpene alpha
      methylene-gamma-butyrolactones.
AB  - The use of a lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) to provide evidence of allergic
      contact dermatitis was investigated. The haptens studied were alantolactone and
      isoalantolactone, two moderate allergens from Inula helenium L., a decorative and
      medicinal plant. Only alantolactone showed a significant response in vivo and in
      vitro in mice sensitized epicutaneously, without using Freund's complete
      adjuvant. Isoalantolactone did not show any sensitizing capacity in the murine
      model studied. The comparison of in vitro lymphocyte proliferation and in vivo
      allergenic capacity showed a good correlation and clearly demonstrates that, of
      the two sesquiterpene lactones, alantolactone is the better sensitizer.

PMID- 1444580
TI  - Basal lamina-like material and hemidesmosome-like structures associated with
      dermal papilla cells in the normal human anagen hair follicle.

PMID- 1444581
TI  - Immunohistochemical localization of calmodulin in normal human epidermis.

PMID- 1444582
TI  - The analysis of IgG subclasses of anti-intercellular antibodies in pemphigus by
      an immunoblot technique.

PMID- 1444583
TI  - Increased immunoreactive interleukin-5 levels in blister fluids of bullous
      pemphigoid.

PMID- 1444585
TI  - Structural changes of proteins in fish red blood cells after copper and mercury
      treatment.

PMID- 1444584
TI  - Ultrastructural changes in Dunaliella minuta following acute and chronic exposure
      to copper and cadmium.
AB  - The ultrastructural changes taking place after short-term acute exposure to
      copper, cadmium and a combination of the two metals were examined. Additionally,
      the effects of long-term (8 months) exposure to ambient concentrations of these
      metals were investigated. Exposure to 0.34 microM cadmium affected the
      photosynthetic potential of this alga, by reducing the relative volume of the
      chloroplast by 23.27%. It also led to 74.6% increase in the relative volume of
      starch granules. Cells challenged with 0.34 microM cadmium and 7.57 microM copper
      had 33.49% larger volumes than controls, and their relative lipid volumes
      increased by 170%. In contrast, the relative volume of their pyrenoids decreased
      by 41.46%. Similar results were obtained after chronic exposure to 4.9 x 10(-4)
      microM copper with the relative volume of the pyrenoid being 28% smaller than the
      controls.

PMID- 1444586
TI  - Heavy metal and selenium concentrations in black skimmers (Rynchops niger):
      gender differences.
AB  - Most studies of heavy metals and selenium have not examined or have failed to
      find differences in concentrations in the tissues of birds as a function of size
      or sex. Heavy metal and selenium concentrations were analyzed in breast feathers
      of adult black skimmers Rynchops niger, a species with marked sexual size
      dimorphism in which males average 35% heavier than females. Females had
      significantly higher concentrations of lead and cadmium than males, but there
      were no gender differences in mercury, selenium, chromium, manganese, and copper
      despite the marked sexual dimorphism in body size. There were no significant
      correlations of bird weight or wing length and metal and selenium concentrations,
      and few correlations among metal and selenium concentrations in the feathers.

PMID- 1444587
TI  - Heavy metal and selenium levels in young cattle egrets from nesting colonies in
      the northeastern United States, Puerto Rico, and Egypt.
AB  - Colonially-nesting species of herons and egrets breed mainly in coastal areas,
      along rivers or near other large bodies of water. Such areas are also preferred
      for human development, exposing nesting birds to various pollutants. From 1989
      1991, the concentrations of heavy metals and selenium were studied in the
      feathers of fledgling cattle egrets Bubulcus ibis, a terrestrially-feeding
      insectivore, from New York and Delaware in the northeastern United States, from
      Puerto Rico, and from Egypt. There were geographic differences in the
      concentrations of lead, mercury, cadmium, manganese, selenium, and chromium in
      the feathers of these egrets. Lead levels were 41 times higher in the feathers of
      cattle egrets from Cairo compared to the other sites. This difference was
      attributed to the continuing use of leaded gasoline and the dense automobile
      traffic in Cairo. However, other differences remain unexplained. Similarly,
      levels of chromium and manganese were also higher in Cairo than at any other
      sites. Cadmium levels were similar at all places except for higher levels in
      eastern Puerto Rico. Mercury concentrations were twelve times higher in the
      feathers of cattle egrets at Aswan compared to Cairo. In Puerto Rico, we also
      compared levels in adult cattle egrets with young and found higher concentrations
      of mercury and manganese, but lower concentrations of selenium in the adults.
      Using feathers from young cattle egrets is a potentially sensitive tool for
      biomonitoring for metals, especially lead, since they reflect the local area
      surrounding the breeding colony.

PMID- 1444588
TI  - The toxicity of selenium in experimental freshwater ponds.

PMID- 1444589
TI  - Subchronic toxicity and reproduction effects of tri-n-butyltin oxide in Japanese
      quail.
AB  - A subchronic toxicity/reproduction study was performed in Japanese quails that
      were fed a diet containing 0, 24, 60, and 150 mg tri-n-butyltin oxide (TBTO) per
      kg basal diet for 6 weeks. Eggs produced during the 6 weeks of treatment were
      incubated and hatched, and chicks hatched from eggs collected in weeks 5 and 6 of
      exposure were reared for 2 weeks. In parent quail, neither diminished food
      consumption nor any overt toxic or histopathologic signs were observed following
      exposure to TBTO. A statistically significant decrease in hatch-ability and
      increase in percent of chicks found dead in the shell were observed following
      TBTO exposure at concentrations of 60 and 150 mg/kg food. However, no
      significant, adverse effects were recorded on total egg production, eggshell
      thickness and cracked eggs. Blood chemistry parameters of birds measured at the
      last day of TBTO treatment revealed a statistically significant decrease in serum
      aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) enzyme activity among both sexes in all
      treatment groups. In addition, a statistically significant dose-related decrease
      in serum calcium level was observed in females only, while serum follicle
      stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were statistically significantly reduced in male
      birds in all treatment groups (approximately 50% of the controls). Moreover, a
      significant decrease in hepatic microsomal 7-ethoxyresorufin (EROD) activity was
      recorded in females fed 24 and 60 mg TBTO/kg diet and males fed 60 and 150 mg
      TBTO/kg diet, whereas pentoxyresorufin-o-deetylase (PROD) activity was only
      significantly decreased in males fed 150 mg TBTO/kg diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1444590
TI  - Hydrolysis of ochratoxin A by the microbial activity of digesta in the
      gastrointestinal tract of rats.
AB  - This study established the influence of dietary neomycin sulphate on the rate of
      hydrolysis of ochratoxin A (OA) by digesta from the intestine, and its effect on
      the excretion of OA and its hydrolyzed metabolite, alpha ochratoxin (O alpha), in
      the urine and feces of the rat. The first in vitro study demonstrated that
      digesta from the cecum and the large intestine were able to hydrolyze OA whereas
      digesta from the small intestine and stomach had very low hydrolytic activity
      against this substrate. Homogenates of the liver had no hydrolytic activity. The
      second in vivo study demonstrated that digesta from the large intestine and cecum
      of the neomycin treated rats was much less effective (P < 0.001) in promoting the
      hydrolysis of OA than digesta from the control rats. Neomycin when added directly
      to the in vitro system, however, did not affect the rate at which OA was
      hydrolyzed. In a third study, OA was administered in vivo to control and neomycin
      treated rats. Rats fed the neomycin containing diet compared to those fed the
      control diet had a higher concentration (P < 0.005) of blood OA, and a greater
      cumulative excretion of OA plus O alpha over the entire 5 day collection period
      in the feces (P < 0.0001) and a corresponding decrease in the cumulative
      excretion of OA plus O alpha in the urine (P < 0.0001). Individually, there was a
      marked increase in cumulative fecal excretion of OA (P < 0.05) and a
      corresponding decrease in excretion of O alpha (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1444591
TI  - Disposition, behavior, and toxicity of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
      tricarbonyl in the mouse.
AB  - The disposition and toxicity of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
      (MMT), a potential substitute for lead in gasoline, was studied to investigate
      the different adverse effects in ddY mice after chronic oral administration at
      0.5 g/kg in food for 12 months. There was no significant difference in intake
      between the control mice and the mice exposed to MMT (MMT group), but those given
      MMT suppressed weight significantly. The manganese content in the organs of the
      MMT group was 4.4-1.5 times significantly higher than that of the control group.
      In the MMT group, the manganese content was highest in the kidney, followed by
      the liver, thyroid gland, sublingual gland, and prostate gland. The blood
      manganese level in the MMT group was about 8 times higher than that in the
      control group. The urinary excretion of manganese in the MMT group was 5.4% of
      the daily oral intake. The organometallic form of the manganese involved is
      apparently absorbed more readily than inorganic forms. The stronger toxicity of
      MMT to the tissue than that of inorganic manganese is attributed to the
      significantly higher blood and tissue levels of manganese in the MMT group.

PMID- 1444592
TI  - Temporal scales in ecological risk assessment.
AB  - The process of human health risk assessment (HRA) was formalized in 1983 by the
      National Research Council to include hazard identification, dose-response
      analyses, exposure assessment and risk characterization. Risk assessment for
      ecologic endpoints is emerging as a new discipline. Although environmental impact
      statements have been conducted for many years, ecologists, managers and policy
      makers are beginning to formalize the process in terms of risk, and are adapting
      the HRA paradigm to ecological risk assessment (ERA). In this paper it is
      suggested that the temporal scales of the two processes differ, and that these
      differences should be incorporated in ecological risk assessment. Even when HRA
      techniques are applied to a single non-human species there are temporal
      variations including: (1) different and often variable life spans, (2)
      unpredictable lengths of lifestages and different metamorphic stages, and (3)
      indeterminate growth in some species. When these differences are considered for
      multispecies assemblages, the impact on the food web will result in exposures of
      differing magnitudes affecting different species. The challenges for ERA include
      developing general principles for estimating or predicting exposure to critical
      life stages of the dominant species in an ecosystem, and establishing the
      appropriate temporal scales for predicting impacts or evaluating outcomes.

PMID- 1444593
TI  - Aircraft noise annoyance and average versus maximum noise levels.
AB  - A questionnaire study was performed in seven areas located around the airports of
      Landvetter and Save, Gothenburg, in an attempt to elucidate the extent of
      annoyance in populations exposed to aircraft noise. Noise exposure was estimated
      as the energy equivalent level (Aircraft Noise Level--FBN) or as the number of
      aircraft with levels that exceeded 70 dBA, combined with the maximum noise level.
      The results were compared with data obtained from the earlier Scandinavian
      Aircraft Noise Investigation. The results supported the conclusion that the
      annoyance reaction is better related to the number of aircraft and the maximum
      noise level than to energy equivalent levels for noise exposure.

PMID- 1444594
TI  - Bone lead measurements in patients with chronic renal disease studied over time.
AB  - Results of longitudinal studies that involved the measurement of lead by
      different methodologies are presented for two groups of patients with chronic
      renal disease. Methodologies for all patients included x-ray fluorescence
      measurements of finger-bone lead. These measurements were conducted 5 y apart for
      one group of patients (n = 15). Initial measurements for the other group (n = 15)
      were supplemented by bone lead levels obtained either from skull at craniotomy or
      from skull, and sometimes rib, at autopsy. Most subjects also underwent
      ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (specifically CaNa2 EDTA) lead-mobilization
      testing. A correlation between rate of decrease in finger-bone lead and
      immunoreactive parathormone levels was suggested. Renal patients were compared
      with age-matched controls, and their bone half-lives did not differ. The data are
      discussed and related to other results obtained from clinical and nonclinical
      populations in which trabecular and cortical bones were studied, and our results
      were consistent with evidence that more rapid turnover of lead occurs in
      trabecular bone than in cortical bone. No support was found for the hypothesis
      that patients who undergo renal dialysis accumulate lead in bone.

PMID- 1444595
TI  - Effect of low-level body burdens of lead on the mental development of children:
      limitations of meta-analysis in a review of longitudinal data.
AB  - The effect of low-level body burdens of lead on the intelligence of children, as
      measured by intelligence quotient (IQ), was assessed. We reviewed 35 reports from
      five longitudinal studies conducted in the United States and Australia. In each
      of these studies, infants were followed for 58 mo or less. The study populations
      consisted of low- and middle-socioeconomic-class infants who had low-level
      exposure to environmental lead. Blood-lead levels were measured in a standard
      fashion at various times, beginning in the prenatal period, and intelligence was
      first measured at 6 mo of age and was followed by subsequent assessments. Studies
      were assessed for quality by a review panel blinded to the identity of the
      investigators and their affiliations. Efforts were made to pool the data with
      meta-analytic techniques, but efforts were unsuccessful because the methods used
      to analyze and report data were inconsistent. Inconsistencies were as follows:
      (a) there were few instances in which IQ and blood-lead levels were measured at
      comparable times in different studies; (b) incompatibilities existed among the
      studies, including differences in independent variables, data transformations,
      and statistical parameters reported; (c) results conflicted when measurement
      intervals were comparable (i.e., heterogeneity); (d) patterns of regression and
      correlation coefficients were inconsistent; and (e) data were insufficient to
      interconvert the parameters reported. Consequently, definitive conclusions
      regarding the effect of low-level body burdens of lead on IQ could not be
      determined from the longitudinal data. Examination of the weight of the evidence
      from this and other studies, however, suggests an adverse relationship of lead on
      the intelligence of children.

PMID- 1444596
TI  - Impact of environmental cadmium pollution on cadmium exposure and body burden.
AB  - The body burden of cadmium, as estimated from 24-h urine cadmium levels, was
      determined in 1,523 subjects who were not occupationally exposed and who lived in
      five areas of Belgium. Urinary cadmium levels differed significantly with place
      of residence. These differences persisted after standardization for the other
      significant determinants (i.e., age, body mass index, smoking habits, social
      class, alcohol consumption, and menopause). The highest 24-h urine cadmium levels
      were found in subjects who lived in areas that contained cadmium-polluted soils.
      The body burden overload has been attributed mainly to the consumption of locally
      grown vegetables and the use of contaminated well water for cooking and drinking.
      Blood cadmium levels were also dependent on place of residence. However, the
      geographical differences in blood cadmium did not parallel those of urine
      cadmium. Blood cadmium is more influenced by recent exposure; therefore, this
      latter observation might reflect the recent implementation of preventive measures
      in some areas.

PMID- 1444597
TI  - Decrease in blood cadmium levels over time in Belgium.
AB  - During the time period from 1984 to 1988, blood cadmium concentration decreased
      by 56% in 31 males who were not occupationally exposed to cadmium and who lived
      in a Belgian urban area where there existed nonferrous industries. A 40% decrease
      in blood cadmium concentration was also observed in an independent cross
      sectional survey conducted in 1985 and 1988 among 412 subjects who lived in a
      rural area. This latter decrease persisted when the main determinants of blood
      cadmium concentration--gender, age, and tobacco--were allowed for. The results
      presented are consistent with a decrease in environmental cadmium exposure in
      Belgium.

PMID- 1444598
TI  - Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in the household and urinary cotinine
      excretion, heavy metals retention, and lung function.
AB  - The relationship between urinary levels of cotinine (U-cotinine) and arsenic (U
      As), blood levels of cadmium (B-Cd), blood levels of lead (B-Pb), lung function,
      and questionnaire data on smoking habits were studied in 107 parents and their 46
      children (7-10 y of age). There was a statistically significant relationship
      between the reported amount of tobacco smoked and U-cotinine levels. Nonsmokers
      who were married to persons who smoked had three times higher U-cotinine levels
      than nonsmokers whose spouses did not smoke. There was a significant association
      between the number of parents who smoked in the family and the U-cotinine levels
      of children. If only one parent smoked, maternal smoking was of greater
      importance than paternal smoking. There was also an association between U
      cotinine and B-Cd. A study of lung function in the children revealed that vital
      capacity and functional residual capacity (corrected for sex, age, and height)
      increased as the number of parents who smoked increased. Therefore, the present
      study showed that (1) U-cotinine was a useful index of active smoking and
      environmental tobacco smoke exposure in adults and children, (2) U-cotinine was
      associated with the blood concentration of cadmium, and (3) environmental tobacco
      smoke exposure was associated with changes in lung function of children.

PMID- 1444599
TI  - Respiratory health effects of alkali dust in residents near desiccated Old Wives
      Lake.
AB  - Several years of drought have contributed to the desiccation of Old Wives Lake, a
      shallow, alkaline lake in southern Saskatchewan. The prevailing northwest wind,
      which blows across the 177-km2 dry lake bed, has generated airborne sodium
      sulfate, silt, and clay. Residents have reported nasal, eye, and respiratory
      irritation. A cross-sectional design that included 300 controls and 300 exposed
      subjects elucidated the potential adverse respiratory health effects of exposure
      to blowing alkali salt and dust. An increased prevalence of current cough,
      current wheeze, chronic cough, chronic wheeze, chronic eye irritation, and
      chronic nasal irritation was identified in the exposed population. Smoking
      adjusted odds ratios were consistent with the prevalence ratios. Lung function
      did not differ between the exposed and the control populations. Rainfall during
      the study period reduced airborne dust levels and may have precluded
      demonstration of previously reported adverse effects.

PMID- 1444600
TI  - Lead acetate does not impair secretion of Sertoli cell function marker proteins
      in the adult Sprague Dawley rat.
AB  - This study was conducted to determine the effects of lead on Sertoli cell
      function. Androgen binding protein and inhibin in testicular fluids and classical
      parameters of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis were measured in adult male
      rats. For 10 wk, the rats were given water that contained 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%, and
      1% lead acetate. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and
      testosterone levels in all animals that ingested lead were normal at the middle
      and end of the experiment, as was the pituitary content of follicle-stimulating
      hormone and luteinizing hormone. Histologic examination revealed no disruption of
      spermatogenesis. Distribution of androgen binding protein in serum, seminiferous
      tubular fluid, and interstitial fluid was normal, as was the concentration of
      inhibin in interstitial fluid and seminiferous tubular fluid. However, a
      significant increase in epididymal androgen binding protein level and a decrease
      in seminal vesicle weight were observed in rats that ingested water containing 1%
      lead acetate. These results suggest that the effect of lead on spermatogenesis is
      not marked in adult Sprague Dawley rats, nor does Sertoli cell function appear to
      be affected adversely. Lead has been reported to alter in vitro metabolic
      function of Sertoli cells obtained from 16- to 21-d-old Sprague Dawley rats, and
      the Sertoli cells of juvenile animals may be more susceptible to lead than those
      of adult animals. The significant decrease in seminal vesicle weight and the
      abnormal epididymal androgen binding protein content indicate that lead could
      affect the male reproductive function in Sprague Dawley rats via its action on
      male accessory organs.

PMID- 1444601
TI  - Nitrogen dioxide exposure and urinary excretion of hydroxyproline and desmosine.
AB  - The relationship between average and peak personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide
      and urinary excretion of hydroxyproline and desmosine was investigated in a
      population of preschool children and their mothers. Weekly average personal
      nitrogen dioxide exposures for subjects who resided in homes with one or more
      potential nitrogen dioxide source (e.g., a kerosene space heater, gas stove, or
      tobacco smoke) ranged between 16.3 and 50.6 ppb (30.6 and 95.1 micrograms/m3) for
      children and between 16.9 and 44.1 ppb (12.8 and 82.9 micrograms/m3) for mothers.
      In these individuals, the hydroxyproline-to-creatinine and desmosine-to
      creatinine ratios were unrelated to personal nitrogen dioxide exposure--even
      though continuous monitoring documented home nitrogen dioxide concentration peaks
      of 100-475 ppb lasting up to 100 h in duration. Significantly higher
      hydroxyproline-to-creatinine and desmosine-to-creatinine ratios were observed in
      children, compared with mothers (p < .001 and .003, respectively).

PMID- 1444603
TI  - Environmental odor pollution.

PMID- 1444602
TI  - On the bioavailability of methyl isocyanate in the Bhopal gas leak.

PMID- 1444604
TI  - [The American Confederation of Urology and the 5th centennial].

PMID- 1444605
TI  - [Telesurgery].

PMID- 1444606
TI  - [Stress urinary incontinence. Our results with the Burch's technique].
AB  - The aim of the surgical procedures utilized in the treatment of stress urinary
      incontinence (SUI) is to correct the posterior ureterovesical angle defect,
      thereby improving transmission of intraabdominal pressures to the urethra. We
      report our experience on 61 patients that had been diagnosed with SUI at our
      service from June 1984 to December 1990. Treatment was by the same operative
      procedure (Burch Technique) in all patients. The methods of exploration and the
      prognostic factors that might influence the outcome of the procedure are
      described. The short-term (3 months) success rate was 95%, the medium-term (1
      year) 85.7% and the long-term (5 years) 77.1%. We underscore the convenience of
      prophylactic heparin therapy to prevent possible thromboembolic complications.

PMID- 1444607
TI  - [Spontaneous perirenal hematoma].
AB  - We report 10 cases of spontaneous perirenal hematoma that had been treated from
      1974 to 1992. Retroperitoneal hemorrhage was secondary to renal disease in 7
      cases, perirenal in 2 and extrarenal in 1. The etiology of the condition is
      analyzed in detail and the diagnostic usefulness of the different radiologic
      examinations are discussed. Making a preoperative diagnosis permits a more
      adequate surgical strategy.

PMID- 1444608
TI  - [Bladder tumors: false recurrences].
AB  - The use of the new cytostatics for prophylactic therapy of superficial bladder
      tumor recurrence has been associated with fibrino-necrotic ulcers and
      eosinophilic cystitis. We underscore the problems in making the differential
      diagnosis which sometimes present with true tumor necrosis. We describe the
      characteristic features of both pathological conditions which permit these to be
      recognized before endoscopic maneuvers are performed. Their presenting features
      and course are analyzed.

PMID- 1444609
TI  - [Mitoxantrone (MTX) versus mitomycin C (MMC) in the ablative treatment of Ta, T1
      superficial bladder tumors. Phase III, randomized prospective study].
AB  - A prospective randomized study was conducted to determine the ablation capacity
      of mitoxantrone in Ta-T1 superficial bladder tumors versus mitomycin C, a drug
      whose intravesical ablation properties are well-known. Fifty-seven patients
      comprised the study. The tumor was not completely resected when the patient
      underwent TUR. This residual tumor was used as control. The patients were treated
      with either 20 mg Mitoxantrone or 40 mg mitomycin C weekly for 8 weeks and two
      other instillations every 15 days in 50 ml saline solution. Response to therapy
      was evaluated between the 4th and 8th week and classified as complete response
      (CR), defined as no gross and microscopic evidence of residual tumor, or no
      response (NR) or therapeutic failure. CR was observed in 77.7% of the patients
      treated with mitomycin C and in 50% in those that had been treated with
      Mitoxantrone. Treatment was discontinued because of side effects in 15% of the
      patients treated with mitomycin C and in 63.4% of those who received
      Mitoxantrone. We can conclude from the results of the present study that
      Mitoxantrone is a useful agent for ablation therapy of superficial bladder
      tumors, although the high incidence of severe side effects warrants its limited
      use and at high dilutions.

PMID- 1444610
TI  - [Incidence of tumor pathology in a consecutive series of 497 kidney transplants
      in 431 patients].
AB  - From 1975 to 1989, 497 kidneys were transplanted in 431 patients. In this series,
      12 tumors were observed in 11 patients (2.7%). There was a prevalence of skin
      tumors over the other tumor types (33%). The mean time of tumor presentation was
      49 months post-transplantation. We investigated the possible influence of
      immunosuppression on tumor presentation. In our series, immunosuppression therapy
      was modified in only one case (Kaposi's syndrome), and the initial dose was
      maintained in the remaining tumors. Of the 11 patients, 5 have died and the
      remaining 6 patients are alive with a mean follow-up of 34 months.

PMID- 1444611
TI  - [Clinico-therapeutic classification of urinary lithiasis].
AB  - Urinary lithiasis is a millenary disease for which different classifications have
      been developed: clinical, etiopathogenic, crystallographic, etc. The introduction
      of endoscopic surgery and extracorporeal lithotripsy in the last decade has
      created the need for a clinicotherapeutic classification as manifested by Rocco,
      Griffith, Tisselius, and other authors. We have developed the CEP/LTS-X
      classification, which evaluates the stone characteristics (C) [location and form
      (L), size (T), consistency (S) and number (X)], the excretory tract (E) and the
      renal parenchyma (P), and permits classifying the urinary calculus as LTS renal
      calculus types I, II, III, IV; LTS ureteral calculus types I, II, III; and LTS
      vesical and ureteral calculi types I and II, with related general characteristics
      that permit indicating treatment for each type: in situ ESWL or complementary
      endourological techniques, endoscopic or open surgery, alone or in combination.

PMID- 1444612
TI  - [Ureteral tamponade in the treatment of urinary fistula: our experience].
AB  - Surgical correction is the treatment of choice for urinary fistulas. However,
      there are circumstances that advise against the use of this approach, basically
      when patient general condition is poor or life expectancy short; i. e., in the
      presence of an underlying malignant pelvic disease. In these cases, urinary
      diversion by percutaneous nephrostomy will suffice, although sepsis or
      derangement of electrolyte balance may sometimes develop due to the fistulous
      defect. Occlusion of the pyelo-ureteric junction and percutaneous drainage is a
      solution that causes no major complications. Two patients who could not be
      submitted to conventional surgery were treated by the foregoing procedure. Both
      patients have been followed for more than two years. The first case was a male
      who had undergone abdominoperineal resection due to carcinoma of the sigmoid
      colon. He developed stress ulcers, pulmonary thromboembolism, sepsis, paralytic
      ileus and bilateral ureteral fistula. The second case was an insulin-dependent
      female diabetic who had previously received radiotherapy to the pelvis. She
      developed a large vesicocutaneous fistula and public osteomyelitis after drainage
      of an inguinal abscess. Patient tolerance was good and no major complications
      were observed. In our view this palliative procedure should be considered in the
      management of patients with urinary fistula whose life expectancy is short. Its
      application can be extended to patients with inoperable carcinoma of the bladder
      or prostate and important symptoms.

PMID- 1444613
TI  - [Ureteral revascularization in kidney transplantation. Report of a case].
AB  - We present uretero-pyeloplasty as a new surgical approach to stricture of the
      pyelo-ureteric junction in the transplant recipient. The foregoing is more
      frequently found in kidneys that are placed in the inverted anatomic position.
      The surgical procedure is performed without difficulty and at the same time
      permits us to evidence the presence of a new ureteral revascularization from the
      recipient after the interruption of vascular supply of the donor kidney.

PMID- 1444614
TI  - [Nephrectomy following treatment with ESWL of staghorn lithiasis complicated with
      urinoma].
AB  - We report on a female patient that had undergone extracorporeal shock wave
      lithotripsy for a staghorn stone. We describe the endourological maneuvers that
      were performed, but had failed to avoid nephrectomy due to renal fistula with
      urinoma.

PMID- 1444615
TI  - [Normal echographic anatomy of the penis and the perineum].
AB  - Sonourethrography has recently become available for evaluating the urethra. To
      perform this procedure correctly, precise knowledge of the ultrasound anatomy of
      the penis and perineum is required. Sixty-one males were studied using the 7.5
      Mhz ultrasound transducer. During sonographic evaluation the site where the
      suspensory ligament of the penis is attached must be identified routinely. The
      nothc of the compressor nudae muscle in the posterior bulbous urethra can be
      visualized occasionally. The origin of the membranous urethra and urogenital
      diaphragm can be identified upon visualizing the entire urethral bulb and the
      cavernous bulb muscle.

PMID- 1444616
TI  - [Bilateral renal lymphoma].
AB  - Lymphomas can present as a solid tumor mass in one or both kidneys or compromise
      renal function directly or indirectly. Lymphoma should be discarded before
      performing surgical excision of a rapidly growing renal mass, particularly if
      involvement is bilateral. Reducing the renal mass may lead to difficulty in
      instituting specific chemotherapy for this tumor type.

PMID- 1444617
TI  - [Non-venereal sclerosing lymphangitis of the penis].
AB  - Non-venereal sclerosing lymphangitis of the penis is a rare condition that
      affects the distal lymphatics of this organ. It has been reported to be
      frequently associated with trauma to this area and, although it has a minimum
      inflammatory component, its etiology is unknown. A serpinginous nodular lesion in
      the sulcus coronarius penis may be observed by the patient. Because it is
      generally self-limiting, treatment is initially conservative and surgical
      excision is performed only if symptomatic lesions persist. The present study
      reports an additional case. The literature is reviewed and the possible
      etiopathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic alternatives are discussed.

PMID- 1444618
TI  - [Bladder schistosomiasis: presentation of a new case].
AB  - We report a case of urinary schistosomiasis involving only the bladder and
      mimicking a transitional cell pseudotumor. We describe the clinical and
      pathological features and discuss the diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment
      of this disease entity whose incidence is slowly increasing in black immigrants
      of the Maresme area of Barcelona.

PMID- 1444619
TI  - [Liposarcoma of spermatic cord. A rare urologic tumor].
AB  - Malignant paratesticular tumors are uncommon. Of these, liposarcoma of the
      spermatic cord constitutes a rare tumor type with a good prognosis. It has a high
      rate of survival over 5 years. Inguinal orchiectomy generally suffices, although
      patients should be followed closely since local recurrence is not uncommon. The
      present study briefly reviews the literature on spermatic cord liposarcoma and
      reports an additional case that was treated exclusively by radical orchiectomy.
      Four years postoperatively the patient continues to be tumor-free.

PMID- 1444620
TI  - [Acute adrenal hemorrhage and contralateral renal adenocarcinoma].
AB  - We report a case of spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma from rupture of the
      right adrenal in a patient with asymptomatic left renal adenocarcinoma that had
      been incidentally detected during evaluation to determine the cause of the
      retroperitoneal hematoma.

PMID- 1444621
TI  - How serious is knee osteoarthritis?

PMID- 1444622
TI  - Radiological progression of osteoarthritis: an 11 year follow up study of the
      knee.
AB  - A follow up study was carried out in 1990 on 169 well documented patients
      initially presenting with osteoarthritis of the hands or knees between 1975 and
      1977. Radiographic change in the knee was used as the outcome measure. Sixty
      three subjects had paired knee radiographs a mean of 11 years apart and were 69
      (range 52-87) years old at follow up. Thirty subjects were known to have died, 28
      were untraceable, and 48 were traced but did not have paired films available. The
      films were read independently and blind to time sequence by two observers using
      five different radiological scoring methods. Most of the knees did not increase
      in Kellgren and Lawrence grade, with only 33% deteriorating over the time period.
      The results were similar when a subject was categorised by their worst knee. When
      a more sensitive global score on paired films was used 50% of knees showed a
      slight deterioration and 10% improved. Visual analogue pain scores remained
      unchanged. Those with knee pain at baseline had a greater chance of progressing,
      as did those with existing osteoarthritis in the contralateral knee. These
      results suggest that most patients with osteoarthritis attending rheumatology
      clinics do not deteriorate radiographically or symptomatically over an 11 year
      period. More work is needed in the selection and early detection of subjects with
      a poor prognosis and in focusing early intervention on this high risk group.

PMID- 1444623
TI  - Radiographic patterns and associations of osteoarthritis of the hip.
AB  - A number of patterns of osteoarthritis of the hip are described, though studies
      are conflicting with respect to the frequency of such patterns and their
      associations. Two hundred and eleven patients (133 women, 78 men; mean age 66
      years, range 29-86) referred to hospital with osteoarthritis of the hip were
      studied. Involvement was unilateral in 108 (51%) and bilateral in 89 (42%); 14
      (7%) had undergone arthroplasty and were presenting with osteoarthritis hips).
      Sixty one per cent of hips had severe, 28% moderate, and 11% mild changes
      (Kellgren grade). Superior pole migration occurred in 82% (46% superolateral, 25%
      intermediate, 11% superomedial), medial/axial migration occurred in only 8%, and
      in 10% the pattern was indeterminate. In bilateral osteoarthritis of the hip the
      pattern was generally symmetrical. Superomedial and medial/axial patterns were
      proportionately more common in women, whereas superlateral osteoarthritis
      predominated in men. No association was found between multiple clinical nodes,
      radiographic polyarticular interphalangeal or first carpometacarpal
      osteoarthritis and any migration pattern. Any interphalangeal osteoarthritis was
      negatively associated with medial migration. Only 40% of hips could be
      categorised as hypertrophic or atrophic; chondrocalcinosis at any site was
      associated with atrophic osteoarthritis; no associations were seen with
      Forestier's disease. This large survey confirms the association between
      chondrocalcinosis and atrophic osteoarthritis of the hip. Importantly it suggests
      that gender, rather than associated osteoarthritis at other sites, is a major
      determinant of the pattern of osteoarthritis of the hip.

PMID- 1444624
TI  - Exercise induced release of von Willebrand factor: evidence for hypoxic
      reperfusion microvascular injury in rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - Experimental evidence suggests that rheumatoid synovitis may be perpetuated by
      the generation of reactive oxygen species during hypoxic reperfusion injury. The
      latter occurs because increased intra-articular pressure during exercise exceeds
      synovial capillary perfusion pressure, impairing blood flow. The object of this
      study was to establish a marker for and the mechanism of synovial hypoxic
      reperfusion injury. Von Willebrand factor (vWF) is only released from endothelial
      cells and platelets and is an in vivo and in vitro marker of endothelial injury.
      In vivo exercise induced changes in plasma vWF were therefore investigated in
      patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with controls and in vitro vWF
      release by human umbilical vein endothelial cells subjected to hypoxia
      reperfusion. Pre-exercise plasma vWF levels were 1001 and 817 IU/l, increasing
      after exercise to 1658 and 845 IU/l in patients with RA and controls
      respectively. Von Willebrand factor release from human umbilical vein endothelial
      cells followed a biphasic pattern, occurring during both hypoxia and reperfusion.
      Hypoxia reperfusion induced vWF release by human umbilical vein endothelial cells
      in vitro suggests that exercise induced vWF release in patients with RA is best
      explained by synovial hypoxic reperfusion injury. This study supports evidence
      that generation of reactive oxygen species plays a principal part in synovial
      hypoxic reperfusion injury and suggests vWF as a useful marker of this
      phenomenon.

PMID- 1444625
TI  - Relative contribution of contact and complement activation to inflammatory
      reactions in arthritic joints.
AB  - Although both the complement and contact system are thought to contribute to the
      inflammatory reaction in arthritic joints, only activation of complement has so
      far been well established, whereas contact activation and its contribution to
      arthritis has not been systematically explored. Complement and contact activation
      were assessed in 71 patients with inflammatory arthropathies and 11 with
      osteoarthritis using sensitive assays for C3a, and C1-inhibitor (C1INH)
      kallikrein and C1INH-factor XIIa complexes respectively. Increased plasma
      concentrations of kallikrein-and factor XIIa-C1INH complexes were found in two
      and seven of the 71 patients with inflammatory arthropathies, respectively, and
      in none of the patients with osteoarthritis. Increased synovial fluid
      concentrations of kallikrein and factor XIIa complexes occurred in 13 and 15
      patients with inflammatory joint diseases respectively, and in two patients with
      osteoarthritis. Contact system parameters did not correlate with clinical
      symptoms, local activity, or neutrophil activation. In contrast, synovial fluid
      concentrations of C3a and C1INH-C1 complexes were increased in all patients and
      in 20 patients with inflammatory arthropathies respectively, and were higher in
      patients with a higher local activity score. Synovial fluid C3a correlated with
      parameters of neutrophil activation such as lactoferrin. Increased plasma
      concentrations of C3a and C1INH-C1 complexes occurred in 13 and 11 patients with
      inflammatory joint diseases, and in one and two patients with osteoarthritis
      respectively. Plasma concentrations of C3a correlated with the number of painful
      joints. Thus contact activation occurs only sporadically in patients with
      arthritis and contributes little if anything to the local inflammatory reaction
      and neutrophil activation. These latter events are significantly related to the
      extent of complement activation.

PMID- 1444626
TI  - Keratan sulphate in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and inflammatory
      diseases.
AB  - Serum concentrations of antigenic keratan sulphate determined by an enzyme linked
      immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a monoclonal antibody were studied in patients
      with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, other
      inflammatory diseases, and a large control group of women without arthritis. Mean
      keratan sulphate concentrations were low in 117 women with RA compared with 227
      female control subjects matched for age drawn from a community survey. There were
      significant correlations between serum keratan sulphate concentrations in
      patients with RA and serum C reactive protein and the erythrocyte sedimentation
      rate. Serum keratan sulphate concentrations were also low in 29 men and women
      with ankylosing spondylitis and 29 patients with arthritis and high
      concentrations of C reactive protein. In 98 women undergoing an operation for
      benign breast disease there were decreases in serum keratan sulphate
      concentrations after the operation which correlated with doses in serum C
      reactive protein. No differences were found in keratan sulphate concentrations in
      137 women with osteoarthritis compared with controls. Within the group with
      osteoarthritis there were no differences for the various joint groups and there
      was no obvious correlation with radiographic severity or progression. These
      findings suggest serum keratan sulphate is unlikely to be useful as a diagnostic
      marker in osteoarthritis or RA but indicate a role for inflammation in the
      regulation of cartilage loss.

PMID- 1444628
TI  - Central nervous system systemic lupus erythematosus mimicking progressive
      multifocal leucoencephalopathy.
AB  - The case is reported of a patient with central nervous system systemic lupus
      erythematosus (SLE) with features of progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy
      (PML) seen clinically and by magnetic resonance imaging. A brain biopsy sample
      showed microinfarcts. The use of magnetic resonance imaging and IgG synthesis
      rates in evaluating central nervous system lupus, the co-occurrence of SLE and
      PML, and the differentiation of these entities by magnetic resonance imaging and
      by histology are considered.

PMID- 1444627
TI  - Measurement of HLA class I expression in ankylosing spondylitis.
AB  - The importance of HLA-B27 in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis is
      uncertain: current evidence favours a role for the B27 molecule itself. The
      possibility that quantitative differences in HLA-B27 expression may exist between
      patients with ankylosing spondylitis, family members, and control subjects
      positive for B27 was examined using appropriate monoclonal antibodies, flow
      cytometry, and a 'model lymphocyte' coated with a known number of mouse
      immunoglobulin binding sites. No differences were found between the groups. HLA
      A2, examined for comparison, was expressed in greater amounts than HLA-B27, but
      each contributed only 10-20% of the total class I antigens. Homozygotes expressed
      twice the amount of antigen expressed by heterozygotes. Synovial lymphocytes
      expressed more class I antigens than peripheral lymphocytes.

PMID- 1444629
TI  - Mixed connective tissue disease presenting as a left sided pleural effusion.
AB  - Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) usually occurs in women aged 13-50 years.
      Pleural effusion is rarely the presenting feature of this disease. The case is
      reported here of a male patient with MCTD who presented at the age of 79 years
      with a left sided pleural effusion.

PMID- 1444630
TI  - Scleromyxoedema with features of systemic sclerosis.
AB  - The case is described of a patient with scleromyxoedema with features typical of
      systemic sclerosis. The features were so characteristic that the disease was
      misdiagnosed as systemic sclerosis. A brief review of the association of the two
      diseases is given.

PMID- 1444631
TI  - Retrocalcaneal bursitis in juvenile chronic arthritis.
AB  - Retrocalcaneal bursitis has been described in various adult rheumatic diseases
      and septic bursitis unrelated to previous bursal disease has been reported in
      children. The case is reported here of a girl with juvenile chronic arthritis who
      developed non-septic retrocalcaneal bursitis; the diagnosis was suggested by a
      combination of clinical and radiographic studies and was confirmed by
      ultrasonography.

PMID- 1444632
TI  - The 'GALS' locomotor screen.
AB  - The locomotor system is complex and difficult to examine. A selective clinical
      process to detect important locomotor abnormalities and functional disability
      could prove valuable. A screen based on a tested 'minimal' history and
      examination system is described, together with a simple method of recording. The
      screen is fast and easy to perform. As well as providing a useful introduction to
      examination of the locomotor system, the screen includes objective observation of
      functional movements relevant to activities of daily living. Its inclusion in the
      undergraduate clerking repertoire could improve junior doctors' awareness and
      recognition of rheumatic disease and general disability. It could also provide a
      valuable screening test for use in general practice.

PMID- 1444633
TI  - Mycoplasmas and arthritis.

PMID- 1444634
TI  - The venous footpump: influence on tissue perfusion and prevention of venous
      thrombosis.

PMID- 1444635
TI  - Methotrexate, pneumonitis, and infection.

PMID- 1444636
TI  - Methotrexate, pneumonitis, and infection.

PMID- 1444637
TI  - The antiphospholipid syndrome: a syndrome in evolution.

PMID- 1444638
TI  - Anticardiolipin antibodies and renovascular hypertension.

PMID- 1444639
TI  - von Willebrand factor antigen in giant cell arteritis.

PMID- 1444640
TI  - Renal cell carcinoma with acute monarthritis.

PMID- 1444641
TI  - Systemic mastocytosis and Sjogren's syndrome.

PMID- 1444642
TI  - Unusual rhombencephalitis in relapsing polychondritis.

PMID- 1444643
TI  - Continuing evolution in the approach to severe liver trauma.

PMID- 1444644
TI  - Continuing evolution in the approach to severe liver trauma.
AB  - Surgical and radiologic techniques from computed tomography (CT) scanning and
      embolization to temporary gauze packing and mesh hepatorrhaphy have been
      developed to make the management of severe liver injuries more effective.
      Surgical approaches for severe liver trauma have been oriented to two major
      consequences of these injuries: hemorrhage and infection. Early attempts at
      hemorrhagic control found benefit only in temporary intrahepatic gauze packing.
      The subsequent recognition of complications after liver injury blamed the
      practice of packing, which then remained unused for more than 30 years. Yet more
      aggressive attempts at controlling hemorrhage without temporary packing failed to
      improve results. Temporary perihepatic gauze packing therefore has been
      reintroduced, but this is probably an imperfect solution. Mesh hepatorrhaphy may
      control bleeding without many of the adverse effects of packing. Fourteen
      patients are reported with severe liver injuries who have undergone mesh
      hepatorrhaphy, bringing the current reported experience with mesh hepatorrhaphy
      to 24, with a combined mortality rate of 37.5%. Thus far, it appears that only
      juxtacaval injuries fail to have their hemorrhage controlled with mesh
      hepatorrhaphy, but many believe that these injuries may be controlled by
      perihepatic packing. Prophylactic drainage of severe liver injuries is a concept
      for which there is little evidence of benefit. Furthermore, recent radiologic
      developments appear capable of draining those collections that do occasionally
      develop in the postoperative period. The ultimate challenge of liver
      transplantation for trauma has been attempted, but the experience is thus far
      very limited.

PMID- 1444645
TI  - Tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibits hepatocyte mitochondrial respiration.
AB  - Although direct cytotoxicity is a well-established phenomenon of tumor necrosis
      factor alpha (TNF alpha)-induced tissue damage, the intracellular events leading
      to cell death are still poorly understood. To study the cytotoxic effects of TNF
      alpha on normal parenchymal cells, rat hepatocytes were purified and incubated
      with various concentrations of TNF alpha. Mitochondrial respiration, total
      protein synthesis, and enzyme release were measured to assess metabolic
      performance and cell integrity. Treatment with TNF alpha suppressed mitochondrial
      respiration in a concentration-dependent fashion, resulting in a reduction of the
      activity of complex I of the respiratory chain to 67.0 +/- 3.5% of that of
      untreated hepatocytes by 2000 U/mL TNF alpha. Under these conditions protein
      synthesis and the release of intracellular enzymes were significantly increased.
      Both hepatocellular enzyme release and inhibition of mitochondrial respiration
      appear to be associated with the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates by
      the hepatocyte itself, because oxygen radical scavengers prevented these adverse
      effects of TNF alpha. Inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide as well as
      addition of cyclic adenosine monophosphate synergistically enhanced the
      suppression of mitochondrial respiration by TNF alpha, resulting in complex I
      activity of 6.9 +/- 1.6% and 24.9 +/- 2.9% of that of untreated cells. These data
      indicate that inhibition of mitochondrial respiration is one of the mechanisms by
      which TNF alpha induces tissue injury.

PMID- 1444646
TI  - Rapid increase in plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide after common bile
      duct ligation in the rabbit.
AB  - Previous studies have shown that common bile duct ligation in the rabbit is
      followed by a reduction of the extracellular water compartment. To further
      elucidate the mechanisms leading to volume depletion in this model, water and
      sodium balances and changes in plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic
      peptide (ANP), vasopressin (ADH), plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone
      (Ald) were investigated during the first 4 days after common bile duct ligation
      (group OJ,) or sham operation (group SO). Water and chow intakes were lower in
      group OJ (148 +/- 30 versus 226 +/- 40 mL/4 days; p = 0.004 and 12 +/- 9 versus
      171 +/- 40 g/4 days; p = 0.0001). There were no differences in urine output.
      Sodium urinary losses were marginally higher in group OJ (12.4 +/- 7 versus 6.7
      +/- 5 mEq/4 days; p = 0.06). Water balance was lower in group OJ (-50 +/- 56
      versus 101 +/- 71 mL/4 days; p = 0.0001). At 24 hours, plasma ANP (41 +/- 7
      versus 10.7 +/- 1 fmol/mL, p = 0.0001), ADH (21.8 +/- 7 versus 12.3 +/- 6 pg/mL,
      p = 0.008) and Ald (14.5 +/- 5 versus 3.7 +/- 3 ng/dL, p = 0.001) were higher in
      group OJ. These alterations persisted 72 hours after bile duct ligation, when a
      concomitant increase in PRA (10.7 +/- 5 versus 3 +/- 1.6 ng/dL, p = 0.006) was
      also observed. A group of pair-fed pair-watered sham-operated controls (group
      SO2, n = 13) showed a metabolic profile similar to group OJ but a low ANP
      concentration. Multiple venous sampling in five rabbits 24 hours after bile duct
      ligation showed the highest plasma levels of ANP in the aorta and infrarenal vena
      cava. These results suggest that common bile duct ligation in the rabbit is
      followed by marked hypodipsia and hypophagia, possibly mediated by ANP, leading
      to isotonic volume depletion and secondary activation of the water and sodium
      retaining hormones.

PMID- 1444647
TI  - Immunohistochemical characteristics of human milk-fat globule antibodies in
      predicting chest wall and distant metastasis after mastectomy for localized
      cancer of the breast.
AB  - Because postoperative radiation reduces chest wall metastasis after mastectomy,
      it is important to identify patients in whom it might develop. Pathologic and
      immunohistochemical features in 59 patients with chest wall metastasis were
      compared with characteristics in disease-free patients and patients with systemic
      metastases without chest wall metastasis. Immunohistochemical studies with human
      milk-fat globule (HMFG)-2 were not predictive, but a membrane reaction with HMFG
      1 was associated with fewer systemic metastases and tumors, in which most of the
      cells reacted with the antibody had significantly decreased likelihood of chest
      wall metastasis. Antigenic concordance between the primary breast cancer and the
      chest wall metastasis was demonstrated. Neither tumor size nor axillary node
      metastasis predicted development of chest wall metastasis, but systemic
      metastases were less common when fewer than four nodes were involved, the primary
      tumor was well differentiated, and estrogen receptors were positive.

PMID- 1444648
TI  - Congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Stabilization and repair on ECMO.
AB  - Availability of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support and the
      potential advantages of delayed repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)
      have led several centers to delay CDH repair, using ECMO support if necessary.
      This study reviews the combined experience of five ECMO centers with infants who
      underwent stabilization with ECMO and repair of CDH while still on ECMO. All
      infants were symptomatic at birth, with a mean arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) of
      34 mmHg on institution of bypass despite maximal ventilatory support. A total of
      42 infants were repaired on ECMO, with 18 (43%) surviving. Seven infants had
      total absence of the diaphragm, and 28 required a prosthetic patch to close the
      defect. Only five infants ever achieved a best postductal PaO2 over 100 mmHg
      before institution of ECMO. Prematurity was a significant risk factor, with no
      infants younger than 37 weeks of age surviving. Significant hemorrhage on bypass
      was also a hallmark of a poor outcome, with 10 of the 24 nonsurvivors requiring
      five thoracotomies and six laparotomies to control bleeding, whereas only one
      survivor required a thoracotomy to control bleeding. In follow-up, nine of the 18
      survivors (50%) have developed recurrent herniation and seven (43%) have
      significant gastroesophageal reflux. Importantly, five of the 18 survivors were
      in the extremely high-risk group who never achieved a PaO2 over 100 mmHg or an
      arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2) less than 40 mmHg before the institution
      of ECMO. In conclusion, preoperative stabilization with ECMO and repair on bypass
      may allow some high-risk infants to survive. Surviving infants will require long
      term follow-up because many will require secondary operations.

PMID- 1444649
TI  - The effect of pancreatic polypeptide on glucose disposal after surgical
      alterations of the pancreas.
AB  - Surgical alterations of the pancreas result in anatomic changes that can affect
      postoperative glucose metabolism. Pancreas transplantation results in reduction
      of beta-cell mass, systemic release of insulin, and denervation. The authors
      hypothesized that such alterations affect peripheral glucose disposal to induce
      an "insensitivity" to endogenously (systemically) released insulin. Additionally,
      they hypothesized that surgically induced deficiency of the postprandial hormone,
      pancreatic polypeptide, might contribute to altered glucose disposal. The authors
      studied two surgical models in dogs known to be devoid of pancreatic polypeptide-
      70% proximal pancreatectomy (PPx) and PPx plus distal pancreas
      autotransplantation (PAT/B). Oral glucose challenge and euglycemic
      hyperinsulinemic clamp studies were performed before and after a 16-day "pulsed"
      infusion of pancreatic polypeptide. Both surgical procedures resulted in
      elevations in the integrated glucose response after oral glucose, which was not
      affected by pancreatic polypeptide infusion. Euglycemic clamp studies showed
      decreased hepatic glucose output (Ra) and overall glucose disposal (Rd) in the
      fasted state for both surgical groups. The transplant animals demonstrated
      significant decreases in Rd during the hyperinsulinemic challenge (3.2 +/- 0.01
      versus 5.7 +/- 0.01 mg/kg/minute at 60 to 120 minutes for PAT/B versus control).
      After 16 days of pancreatic polypeptide infusion, however, basal Ra, as well as
      basal and 60- to 120-minute Rd values, were returned to control values in the
      transplant group. The authors conclude that pancreas transplantation results in
      altered glucose disposal, possibly due to an altered effectiveness of
      systemically released insulin. They conclude that pancreatic polypeptide is an
      important modulator of peripheral insulin action. Therefore, the role of
      pancreatic polypeptide must be taken into account when evaluating postoperative
      glucose metabolism in canine models of pancreas transplantation.

PMID- 1444650
TI  - Surgical strategies in esophageal carcinoma with emphasis on radical
      lymphadenectomy.
AB  - From 1975 through 1988, 257 patients with carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus
      have been treated in our department. Operability was 90% (232/257); overall
      resectability, 77% (198/257), and for the operated group, 85% (198/232). Hospital
      mortality rate was 9.6% but decreased to 3% over the period 1986 to 1988. There
      were 65% squamous cell epitheliomas and 35% adenocarcinomas. Tumor, nodes, and
      metastases (pTNM) staging was as follows: stage I, 11.6%; stage II, 23.2%; stage
      III, 37.9%; stage IV, 27.3%. Overall survival rate was 62.5% at 1 year, 42.4% at
      2 years, and 30% at 5 years. According to the pTNM staging, 5-year survival was
      90% for stage I, 56% for stage II, 15.3% for stage III, and 0 for stage IV. There
      were no statistically significant differences according to tumor localization,
      pathologic type, sex, or age. Introducing extensive resection and extended
      lymphadenectomy seems to improve significantly survival in patients in whom an
      operation with curative intention was performed, the 1 year survival rate being
      90.8% versus 72%; 2-year survival, 81% versus 46%; and 5-year survival, 48.5%
      versus 41% for radical and nonradical resections, respectively. Based on
      multivariate Cox regression analysis, only TNM stage and presence or absence of
      lymph nodes are important factors in predicting survival: stage 1 tumors have
      lower risk, and involvement of lymph nodes creates higher risk. Using this
      analysis, there was only for the patients with involved lymph nodes (N1) a
      significantly better prognosis when a radical lymph node dissection was performed
      (p = 0.0055). Barrett adenocarcinomas have no worse prognosis than other
      esophageal carcinomas, with a 5-year survival rate of 91.5% if lymph nodes are
      negative, and a 54% overall 5-year survival rate. Functional results after
      restoration of continuity with gastric tubulation were judged excellent to very
      good in 86.5% at 1 year, but infra-aortic anastomoses have a much higher
      incidence of peptic esophagitis: 53% versus 8% for cervical anastomoses. From
      this study it can be concluded that in experienced hands surgery today offers the
      best chances for optimal staging, potential cure, and prolonged high-quality
      palliation.

PMID- 1444651
TI  - Vascularized tissue transfer for closure of irradiated wounds after soft tissue
      sarcoma resection.
AB  - During the years 1985 to 1989, 82 patients were included in the soft tissue
      sarcoma protocol. Preoperative irradiation (50-54 Gy) was performed in all
      patients before tumor extirpation. Microwave hyperthermia was performed in
      conjunction with radiation in patients who had gross tumor remaining after
      initial biopsy. Primary closure with vascularized tissue (flaps) in lieu of
      conventional wound closure by skin approximation led to less complications (19%
      versus 51%), fewer secondary procedures for wound closure (10% versus 35%),
      shorter average hospitalization (15 versus 48 days) and greater limb salvage rate
      (97% versus 91%). The authors conclude that vascularized tissue (flaps) for
      primary wound closure in irradiated tissue leads to improved wound healing, and
      should be considered the procedure of choice for heavily irradiated soft tissue
      sarcoma defects.

PMID- 1444652
TI  - A prospective evaluation of plasma-TFE and expanded PTFE grafts for routine and
      early use as vascular access during hemodialysis.
AB  - The use of prosthetic grafts as vascular access for chronic hemodialysis is
      frequently necessary in patients with end-stage renal disease. Most commonly,
      expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) has been employed because of ease of
      handling, tissue inertness, and acceptable long-term patency. Delay in use to
      allow for tissue ingrowth, however, has often required placement of temporary
      access devices. The authors have undertaken evaluation of a new material, plasma
      polymerized woven dacron Plasma-TFE, in a prospective randomized trial (Plasma
      TFE VA) to compare clinical behavior against e-PTFE grafts, and we have used the
      Plasma-TFE grafts in an additional group of patients (Plasma-TFE AVA) as early
      access (within 1 week of implantation). Twenty-one Plasma-TFE grafts were
      implanted in 19 patients and 19 e-PTFE grafts were implanted in 17 patients in a
      prospective randomized fashion. Additionally, 31 Plasma-TFE grafts were implanted
      in 31 nonrandomized patients for early access. Primary patency rates in Plasma
      TFE VA and e-PTFE grafts were equivalent at 12 months (0.471 and 0.556). When
      Plasma-TFE AVA primary patency was included (0.621), comparisons were not
      statistically significant (p = 0.50). Similarly, secondary patency rates among
      the three groups did not differ (cumulative proportion patent at 12 months:
      Plasma-TFE VA 0.403, e-PTFE 0.658, Plasma-TFE AVA 0.510). In considering after
      revision patency after graft thrombosis, however, the Plasma-TFE grafts (both VA
      and AVA) performed significantly more poorly (p = 0.027) than e-PTFE grafts.
      Incidence of graft infection, wound infection, arm edema, hematoma from use, and
      occurrence of distal limb ischemia between Plasma-TFE (VA and AVA) and e-PTFE did
      not differ statistically. The authors conclude that Plasma-TFE compares favorably
      to e-PTFE with respect to primary and secondary patency and nonthrombotic
      complications, even with early use. Plasma-TFE does not perform as well as e
      PTFE, however, after graft thrombosis.

PMID- 1444653
TI  - Logistics and technique for combined hepatic-intestinal retrieval.
AB  - During a 13-month period, en bloc liver-small bowel cadaveric grafts were
      procured for seven children and one adult. All liver grafts functioned
      immediately, and all but one of the recipient patients recovered. Return of
      absorptive small bowel function was slow, but the integrity of the bacterial
      intestinal barrier was not disrupted. The described technique allows the
      procurement of other abdominothoracic organs, with the exception of the whole
      pancreas.

PMID- 1444654
TI  - Sex differences in gallstone pancreatitis.

PMID- 1444655
TI  - Brachytherapy enhanced the local control of soft-tissue sarcomas, but failed to
      enhance survival.

PMID- 1444656
TI  - Comparison of amputation with limb-sparing operations for adult soft tissue
      sarcoma of the extremity.

PMID- 1444657
TI  - Human liver regeneration after major hepatectomy.

PMID- 1444658
TI  - [The development of bacterial resistance and the role of clavulanic acid].

PMID- 1444659
TI  - [Changes in the bacterial resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and the ways to
      overcome it].

PMID- 1444660
TI  - [Augmentin: the world-wide experience in its clinical use].

PMID- 1444661
TI  - [The treatment of severe infections].

PMID- 1444662
TI  - [The pharmacokinetics, dosage, tolerance, side effects and safety of the
      preparation Augmentin (a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid)].

PMID- 1444663
TI  - [The efficacy of Augmentin in suppurative complications in neurosurgery].
AB  - The results of clinical and laboratory studies on the use of augmentin in severe
      purulent complications after neurosurgical operations are presented. The
      laboratory studies carried out with the use of an automatic system Cobas Bact
      (Roch) showed that the numbers of the augmentin resistant strains of
      Staphylococcus and Enterobacteriaceae among the pathogens were 47 and an average
      of 64.5%, respectively. Gram-negative bacteria resistant to augmentin were 1.5 to
      2 times less frequent than those resistant to amoxycillin. Still, they were much
      more frequent than those resistant to cefotaxime and ceftriaxone. Clinical
      efficacy of augmentin was studied in treatment of 39 patients with various
      affections of the brain such as tumors, trauma, vascular malformations and
      inflammatory processes. The postoperative complications were represented by
      meningitis, pneumonia, sepsis and their associations. The use of augmentin in the
      severe intra- and extracranial complications was favourable in 82.1% of the
      cases.

PMID- 1444664
TI  - [Augmentin in the clinical picture of infectious diseases].
AB  - Augmentin is a new combination manufactured by Smith Kline Beecham (Great
      Britain). It is composed of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid and has antibacterial
      activity. Augmentin was used in clinical trials in the therapy of 50 adult
      patients with suppurations after surgical operations on the organs of the
      abdominal cavity, general staphylococcal infections, pneumonia and
      prophylactically during the preoperative period. It was also used in the
      treatment of 30 children patients with bronchopulmonary affections and
      inflammatory otorhinolaryngological diseases. The clinical trials were performed
      in the Clinic of Infectious Diseases of the N. G. Gabrichevskii Moscow Research
      Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. For comparison ampicillin was used in
      the trials. Augmentin was shown to be an efficient formulation with antibacterial
      activity which could be successfully used in the parenteral therapy of severe
      affections due to organisms sensitive to it. In the treatment of the children
      patients with pneumonia augmentin by its therapeutic efficacy proved to be
      superior to ampicillin. The tolerance of augmentin was good.

PMID- 1444665
TI  - [Augmentin in the combined therapy of puerperal diseases].
AB  - Augmentin was used in treatment of mild forms of postnatal endometritis and
      serous mastitis. Augmentin tablets proved to be efficient in endometritis due to
      enterobacteria and obligate nonsporulating anaerobes and mastitis due to
      Staphylococcus aureus strains sensitive to the preparation. No adverse events
      were recorded. It was shown that in the treatment of mild postnatal infections
      the augmentin tablets were not inferior by their activity of combinations of
      antibiotics against aerobic and anaerobic microflora.

PMID- 1444666
TI  - [A clinico-laboratory assessment of the efficacy of an Augmentin suspension in
      treating children with suppurative-inflammatory diseases caused by opportunistic
      bacteria].
AB  - Augmentin suspension (amoxycillin+clavulanic acid) was estimated in clinico
      laboratory studies with respect to children suffering from pyoinflammatory
      diseases of various localization and its high efficacy was shown. Good and
      satisfactory results were recorded in 96.3 per cent of the cases in the treatment
      (monotherapy) and afterwards in the patients, adverse reactions such as nausea
      and vomiting being recorded only in 1 patient. The therapy with augmentin led to
      normalization of the microflora of the upper respiratory tract mucosa and a 1.5
      fold increase in the neutrophil engulfment index.

PMID- 1444667
TI  - [Augmentin].

PMID- 1444668
TI  - [The efficacy of Augmentin in treating gonorrheal infection].

PMID- 1444669
TI  - [The antimicrobial activity of Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid) compared
      to other antibacterial agents].
AB  - Sensitivity of clinical strains of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria to
      Augmentin was studied in comparison to other antibiotics. Augmentin was shown to
      be advantageous in the level and spectrum of its antibacterial activity over
      ampicillin and other broad-spectrum antibiotics.

PMID- 1444670
TI  - [A comparative analysis of the immunochemical determination of gentamycin by
      fluorescence polarization and quenching].
AB  - A polarization fluorescence immunoassay (PFIA) for gentamicin with using a set of
      reagents made in this country was developed. One ml of fluorescein-labeled
      gentamicin (50 nM) and 100 microliters of antiserum are added to 50 microliters
      of the sample and the fluorescence polarization is measured. The time of the
      assay is 10 to 15 minutes, the range of the measurable concentrations is 0 to 800
      ng/ml, the sensitivity of the method is 5 ng/ml and the accuracy is 5.8-10.3 per
      cent. A fluorescence quenching immunoassay (FQIA) for gentamicin was also
      developed. Determination of gentamicin by the FQIA does not require the use of a
      specific polarization fluorimeter. Its linear calibrating dependence is more
      convenient. However, its accuracy and sensitivity are 3 times lower than those of
      the PFIA.

PMID- 1444671
TI  - [The clinical significance and methodological problems in determining bacterial
      sensitivity/resistance to antiseptics].

PMID- 1444672
TI  - [The theoretical and practical aspects of the problem of antibiotic resistance].

PMID- 1444673
TI  - [The effect of the pathogenetic characteristics of an infection on the efficacy
      of chemotherapy].

PMID- 1444674
TI  - [Comparative research on Augmentin].

PMID- 1444675
TI  - Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in chronically ill patients in the intensive care
      unit. Does poor outcome justify withholding cardiopulmonary resuscitation from
      this group?

PMID- 1444676
TI  - Living with Hippocrates in a changing medical world, with particular reference to
      the patient-physician relationship.

PMID- 1444677
TI  - The rationale of magnesium supplementation in acute myocardial infarction. A
      review of the literature.

PMID- 1444678
TI  - Blue toe syndrome. Causes and management.
AB  - The sudden development of cyanotic lesions on the feet may be a result of
      atheroembolic disease or a number of medical conditions. A careful history and
      physical examination, basic laboratory tests, and noninvasive vascular assessment
      usually distinguish between medical and surgical causes and direct the choice of
      further investigations. Specific therapy is often available for medical
      conditions causing this syndrome. The management of atheroembolic disease is more
      controversial. In particular, further research is necessary to determine which
      patients need surgical intervention and which patients can be managed safely by
      medical therapy.

PMID- 1444679
TI  - Physical restraints in the practice of medicine. Current concepts.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This article reviews the current status of the utilization of physical
      restraints in the practice of medicine. Based on current data from the reference
      sources, appropriate guidelines for the utilization of physical restraints in the
      practice of medicine are presented. DATA SOURCES: A review of the current
      literature as referenced in the article. Only English-language references were
      used. STUDY DESIGN: Articles were selected based on a review of articles from
      Index Medicus, English-language only. Articles were reviewed by the author for
      validity and appropriateness. DATA EXTRACTION: The guidelines of data quality,
      validity, and appropriateness were applied to all articles by the author. DATA
      SYNTHESIS: Restraints are frequently used in the practice of medicine. As many as
      85% of nursing home patients will be restrained at some time and up to 17% of
      hospitalized medical patients will be restrained. This treatment is not always
      appropriate but there are no current guidelines available for the practicing
      physician to assist him or her in these decisions. The current use of physical
      restraints is discussed. The risks of restraints are reviewed and the reasons for
      restraint use are cited. The question regarding the efficacy of restraints is
      directly addressed for each of the situations in which restraints are most
      commonly used. The ethical and legal considerations concerning the use of
      restraints are reviewed, current concepts are summarized, and guidelines for
      improved usage of restraints are suggested. CONCLUSIONS: Despite their extensive
      use, there is virtually no evidence to support the efficacy of restraints. The
      risks of using mechanical restraints are numerous and well documented. The
      detrimental psychologic impact of restraints needs to be emphasized. Restraints
      are inappropriately used if employed because of fear of liability should a
      patient fall. The proper approach to the patient at risk of falling is to address
      the contributing factors that place the patient at risk and, where possible,
      correct them. Restraints are overused in medicine. Guidelines are given to help
      improve the employment of this potentially harmful practice.

PMID- 1444680
TI  - Resource utilization among intensive care patients. Managed care vs traditional
      insurance.
AB  - BACKGROUND: There is considerable evidence that members of managed care
      organizations use fewer hospital resources than patients covered by traditional
      health insurance. While intensive care might seem to be an unlikely setting for
      such differences to exist, the relationship between health coverage and use of
      intensive care has not been examined. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional
      analysis of consecutive intensive care unit admissions at a regional tertiary
      care teaching hospital. Patients in managed care plans (n = 159) and with
      traditional insurance (n = 389) were compared with respect to length of stay,
      hospital charges, charges for specific services, and use of mechanical
      ventilation. The analysis controlled for severity of illness, as measured by the
      Mortality Probability Model, case mix, and mortality. The whole sample as well as
      subsamples representing medical, emergency surgery, and elective surgery patients
      were examined. RESULTS: The managed care group, on average, had short stays (both
      hospital and intensive care unit), lower charges, and less use of mechanical
      ventilation than the traditionally insured group. Average differences of about
      30% to 40% were observed. The finding held for the whole sample as well as the
      medical and emergency surgery subsamples. The differences were more pronounced in
      the patients with lowest severity of illness. CONCLUSION: Even in a setting where
      there would appear to be relatively little room for discretion in treatment
      decisions, incentives associated with type of health insurance seemed to affect
      resource use.

PMID- 1444681
TI  - From data to policy ... to politics. The Minnesotans health care plan for
      universal access to care.
AB  - Calls for major reform of the health care delivery system have been sounded at
      both the state and federal level. However, given the lack of consensus on health
      care reform at a federal level, more than half of the states are developing
      initiatives for universal access to care. In 1989, the Minnesota legislature
      created the Health Care Access Commission to develop a blueprint for universal
      access in Minnesota. To assist this effort, we studied the extent and nature of
      uninsurance and underinsurance within the state. In this article we report the
      findings of that study and discuss how the findings were first used to develop
      recommendations for universal access legislation. We then describe the fate of
      the legislation. Finally, we describe the veto and the creation of HealthRight,
      the recently enacted plan for health care reform bill in Minnesota. This plan
      simultaneously expands access to care and aims to contain health care costs.

PMID- 1444682
TI  - Screening women of childbearing age for human immunodeficiency virus. A cost
      benefit analysis.
AB  - In light of the increasing problem of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus
      (HIV) transmission, the issue of screening women for HIV is receiving
      considerable attention. We analyzed the costs and benefits of screening women of
      childbearing age for HIV. The analysis was based on a dynamic model of the HIV
      epidemic that incorporated disease transmission and progression, behavioral
      changes, and effects of screening and counseling. We found that the primary
      benefit of screening programs targeted to women of childbearing age lies not in
      the prevention of HIV infection in their newborns but in the prevention of
      infection in their adult contacts. Because of this benefit, screening medium- and
      high-risk women is likely to be cost-beneficial over a wide range of assumptions
      about program cost and behavioral changes in response to screening.

PMID- 1444683
TI  - Physicians' attitudes toward mandatory workplace urine drug testing.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Workplace drug testing programs are being increasingly implemented in
      both the public and private sectors, and health care workers are unlikely to be
      excluded from such testing. METHODS: A survey of attending physicians' attitudes
      toward mandatory hospital-based urine drug testing was undertaken in a medium
      sized, midwestern county. RESULTS: Seventy-four percent (272/368) of the sample
      responded. Seventy-two percent of the subjects believed physician drug use to be
      a minor or nonexistent problem, 38% lacked confidence in the testing procedure,
      and 60% believed that testing infringed on the physician's right to privacy; yet
      87% would submit to testing if required by a hospital. Forty-five percent of
      respondents agreed with the policy of mandatory testing for physicians with
      hospital privileges, 34% disagreed, and 21% were uncertain. Respondents were more
      supportive of mandatory testing of other health care and non-health care
      occupations than for themselves. Support for testing was greatest for illicit
      drugs. If implemented, physicians preferred mandatory testing to be performed by
      hospital medical staff independent of hospital administration. CONCLUSIONS:
      Further education and discussion within the physician community appears to be
      necessary before widespread mandatory workplace urine drug testing of physicians
      is implemented.

PMID- 1444684
TI  - Dialysis support of patients with primary systemic amyloidosis. A study of 211
      patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The study assessed dialysis support in patients with primary systemic
      amyloidosis without associated multiple myeloma in whom renal insufficiency
      developed. METHODS: The study group consisted of 211 patients with biopsy-proved
      primary systemic amyloidosis examined at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. No
      patient was lost to follow-up. RESULTS: Thirty-seven (18%) of the patients
      received dialysis therapy. Of those presenting with renal amyloid, one third
      received dialysis. The median time from diagnosis to initiation of dialysis was
      13.8 months. The median survival for patients from the start of dialysis was 8.2
      months. There was no survival difference between hemodialysis (n = 27) and
      peritoneal dialysis (n = 10). The most important predictors of which patients
      would ultimately require dialysis were the 24-hour urinary protein loss and serum
      creatinine values at the time amyloidosis was diagnosed. None of the patients
      seen at diagnosis with a normal serum creatinine value and proteinuria of less
      than 2 g/d required dialysis during follow-up. Of the 37 patients who received
      dialysis, 31 died, and 21 of the 31 died as a result of extrarenal progression of
      their systemic amyloidosis. Fifteen of the 31 deaths were a result of cardiac
      amyloidosis. All long-term survivors had normal echocardiograms without evidence
      of amyloid. CONCLUSION: Eighteen percent of patients with primary amyloidosis
      undergo dialysis. The 24-hour urinary protein loss and creatinine values are
      helpful in predicting which patients eventually will require dialysis. The median
      survival for patients starting dialysis is less than 1 year. Patients whose two
      dimensional echocardiograms are normal are most likely to derive long-term
      benefit from dialysis.

PMID- 1444685
TI  - Occupation and risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: While some analytic studies have suggested that individuals in
      occupations representing higher compared with lower socioeconomic status have a
      decreased risk of coronary heart disease, it is unclear whether occupation itself
      has an etiologic role in the development of coronary heart disease or whether
      differences in as yet uncontrolled coronary risk factors may account for these
      differences in risk. METHODS: White-collar vs blue-collar occupation and risk of
      coronary heart disease was evaluated among 230 male patients hospitalized for a
      first myocardial infarction and 222 control subjects of the same age, sex, and
      neighborhood of residence. Information on coronary risk factors was obtained from
      home interviews, and blood specimens were drawn to test lipid and lipoprotein
      levels. Usual occupation was dichotomized into white-collar and blue-collar
      occupation according to the Edwards' classification. RESULTS: The relative risk
      of myocardial infarction of white-collar compared with blue-collar workers was
      0.74 (95% confidence interval, 0.46 to 1.19) after controlling for age, cigarette
      smoking, family history of premature myocardial infarction, history of treatment
      for high blood pressure, body mass index, history of diabetes, alcohol
      consumption, type A personality, leisure-time physical activity, total calories,
      and percentage of calories consumed as saturated fat. However, there was no
      residual association after control for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
      yielding a relative risk of 0.98 (95% confidence interval, 0.59 to 1.63).
      CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that white-collar occupation per se does not
      appear to protect from coronary heart disease. Any apparent protective effect on
      myocardial infarction that has been previously observed in white-collar compared
      with blue-collar workers may be attributable to differences in high-density
      lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

PMID- 1444686
TI  - Lack of age-related differences in the clinical presentation of digoxin toxicity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Digoxin toxicity occurs most commonly among the elderly. While the
      clinical syndrome of digoxin toxicity is well understood, how toxic
      manifestations change with age is not known. METHODS: We performed secondary
      analysis of data from a postmarketing surveillance study of patients with life
      threatening digoxin toxicity treated with digoxin antibody therapy. Patients
      receiving long-term maintenance digoxin therapy and aged 55 years or older were
      divided into four age groups: 55 to 64, 65 to 74, 75 to 84, and 85 years and
      older (n = 45, 167, 183, and 83, respectively) and compared with regard to
      presenting manifestations, digoxin dosing, serum potassium and digoxin levels,
      and renal function. RESULTS: The prevalence of high-degree atrioventricular block
      showed an increasing but nonsignificant trend with age (40%, 40%, 42%, and 47%,
      respectively). Age-related trends in high-degree atrioventricular block were
      stronger among men than women and even stronger among men with underlying cardiac
      ischemia. The proportion of subjects with nausea/vomiting as a toxic
      manifestation did not consistently change with age (42%, 48%, 48%, and 46%,
      respectively). There were no age-related differences in degree of renal
      impairment or maintenance dose, but maintenance dose decreased with increasing
      renal impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with life-threatening digoxin
      toxicity, there is no age-related difference in clinical presentation.

PMID- 1444687
TI  - Risk of age-related fractures in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Bone mass is reduced, but the influence of primary
      hyperparathyroidism (HPT) on fracture risk is controversial. We addressed this
      issue in a population-based retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Ninety residents
      of Rochester, Minn, were first diagnosed with HPT in 1965 through 1976 and an
      equal number of age- and sex-matched control subjects from the community were
      identified. Fractures were assessed through review of each subject's complete
      (inpatient and outpatient) medical records in the community. RESULTS: Prior to
      the date of diagnosis, Rochester residents with HPT were more likely to have a
      history of fractures than were matched control subjects from the same population
      (30% vs 18%). Subsequently, 36% of cases and 31% of control subjects experienced
      one or more new fractures during 1072 person-years of follow-up; survival free of
      a new fracture was almost the same in the two groups. Women had more fractures
      than men, and fracture rates increased with age. Fractures appeared to be
      somewhat more frequent in those with baseline serum calcium levels of 2.74 mmol/L
      or more, in those with comorbid conditions possibly due to HPT and in those who
      did not undergo parathyroidectomy, but these differences were not statistically
      significant. In a multivariate analysis, only age at diagnosis was an independent
      predictor of fracture risk, with a 36% increase in risk per 10-year increase in
      age. CONCLUSIONS: Overall fracture risk was increased prior to diagnosis of HPT
      but not afterward. Because the numbers involved were small, however, we cannot
      exclude an increased likelihood of fractures in certain subgroups of HPT
      patients.

PMID- 1444688
TI  - High incidence rates of invasive pneumococcal disease in the White Mountain
      Apache population.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In this article we determine the incidence and clinical spectrum of
      invasive pneumococcal disease in the White Mountain Apache population, a group
      known to have a high incidence of invasive disease due to Haemophilus influenzae
      type b. DESIGN: Patients from whom cultures of normally sterile body sites
      yielded Streptococcus pneumoniae were identified retrospectively through review
      of hospital laboratory records from a 6.8-year period. Clinical data were
      reviewed and incidence rates were computed. SETTING: The Whiteriver Indian Health
      Service Hospital is located on the 1.7-million-acre White Mountain Apache
      Reservation in eastern Arizona. PATIENTS: Approximately 10,000 members of the
      White Mountain Apache Tribe reside on or near the reservation and receive health
      care through the Whiteriver Indian Health Service Hospital. OUTCOME MEASURES: The
      average annual incidence rates of invasive pneumococcal disease were calculated
      and clinical characteristics were reviewed. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-eight
      cases of invasive pneumococcal disease were identified. The average annual
      incidence rate was 207 per 100,000 population, and 156 per 100,000 population
      when adjusted for age by direct standardization to the 1988 US population. The
      incidence rate was highest in children between 1 and 2 years--2396 per 100,000.
      The overall case-fatality rate was 5%. Pneumococcal pneumonia was the diagnosis
      in 79% of the patients 5 years of age or older. Alcohol abuse, identified in 66%
      of the cases in adults, was the most common underlying medical condition.
      CONCLUSION: The incidence rates in White Mountain Apaches are the highest
      reported for any population. A vaccine effective in children would greatly
      benefit this population.

PMID- 1444689
TI  - Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome/human immunodeficiency virus risk behavior
      among gay men in small cities. Findings of a 16-city national sample.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Most research on acquired immunodeficiency syndrome has been
      conducted in several of the country's largest cities, and little is known about
      the current level of human immunodeficiency virus risk taking among gay men in
      other geographical areas. The purpose of this study was to determine the
      frequency of risk behavior practices among gay men in smaller communities.
      METHOD: A large sample of men who patronized gay bars in 16 small and moderate
      size cities drawn from six states in four different regions of the country was
      surveyed to determine the frequency of high-risk behavior and factors influencing
      risk taking. Eighty-five percent of men in all cities' bars completed all survey
      measures. The community samples were 1991 men; mean age, 31.3 years; mean
      education, 10.6 years; 90% were white and 10% were of other ethnicities. All
      participants provided detailed information on their sexual behavior practices
      over the preceding 2 months and completed measures assessing their perceived peer
      norms concerning safer sex practices and risk avoidance, intentions to avoid
      risk, personal risk estimation, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome risk
      knowledge, perceived threat of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome/human
      immunodeficiency virus, and serostatus testing history. RESULTS: High-risk
      patterns were still common among gay men in these smaller cities; nearly one
      third of all men had engaged in unprotected anal intercourse an average of eight
      times in the past 2 months, usually outside monogamous relationships. High-risk
      behavior was most strongly associated with beliefs that safer sex practices would
      not be well accepted by peers, weak intentions to use condoms, underestimation of
      personal vulnerability to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, younger age,
      and higher levels of overall sexual activity. Nine percent of men tested said
      they were seropositive. CONCLUSIONS: Growing human immunodeficiency virus
      prevalence and continued high rates of risk behavior indicate that a new "front
      line" for human immunodeficiency virus prevention among homosexually active men
      has shifted to the country's smaller cities. Community prevention efforts in
      these areas are urgently needed to avert sharp increases in future human
      immunodeficiency virus infections in this population.

PMID- 1444690
TI  - Purulent otitis media in adults.
AB  - While the bacterial origin of otitis media has been studied extensively in
      children, there are few data regarding adults with this disease. We undertook
      this study to identify the incidence, prevalence, and bacteriologic origin of
      purulent otitis media in adults. This was accomplished through a review of the
      English-language literature on adult otitis media and a retrospective review of
      adult patients with this disease who were hospitalized at our institution.
      Results of literature review indicate that Streptococcus pneumoniae and
      Haemophilus influenzae are the most common causes of otitis media in ambulatory
      adults, but this illness is uncommon, with an incidence of only 0.25%.
      Hospitalized patients in whom this diagnosis was established suffered a variety
      of serious suppurative complications such as mastoiditis, meningitis, or brain
      abscess. Otalgia and fever were the most common symptoms noted in this patient
      population. Further studies of adult otitis media need to be performed to
      determine bacteriologic, symptomatic, and high-risk patient groups.

PMID- 1444691
TI  - Outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the intensive care setting.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has been shown to be
      most effective in a monitored setting, previous studies have focused primarily on
      patients with acute cardiac events rather than chronic progressive disease. This
      study examined the outcome of CPR in the medical and surgical intensive care
      units where patients often have acute illness superimposed on chronic underlying
      conditions. METHODS: We present a retrospective chart review of all patients
      undergoing CPR in medical and surgical intensive care units during a 2-year
      period. RESULTS: One hundred fourteen charts were reviewed. Patient mean age was
      59 years. The primary underlying disease was malignancy in 29 (25%), vascular
      disease in 20 (18%), chronic liver disease in eight (7%), end-stage renal disease
      in six (5%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in five (5%), and other
      conditions in 46 (40%) patients. Although 50 (44%) of the patients were initially
      resuscitated, only six (5%) ultimately survived to hospital discharge. Only one
      of 29 patients with malignancy and one of 39 septic patients survived. Age, sex,
      and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores were similar among
      survivors and nonsurvivors. Furthermore, four of the six survivors died within 1
      year of discharge, and the two others had severe disabilities. CONCLUSIONS:
      Patients with chronic medical conditions undergoing CPR even in an intensive care
      unit setting seldom survive to hospital discharge. Even among the few survivors,
      the near term prognosis is poor. Therefore, the decision to perform CPR should
      take into account underlying chronic medical conditions and not merely the
      setting of the arrest.

PMID- 1444692
TI  - Life-sustaining interventions in frail elderly persons. Talking about choices.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Engaging older persons in consideration of use of life-sustaining
      measures, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, tube feeding, and urgent
      intubation, is widely recommended, yet uncommon. METHODS: We studied the short
      term impact of a physician-initiated discussion, geared toward guiding informed
      decision-making, with 20 frail elderly homebound patients. A battery of
      psychologic rating scales was administered in a pre-post design. Eighteen
      subjects completed the protocol. Fifteen of the mentally capable surviving
      subjects were reinterviewed 18 months following the initial discussion to
      evaluate durability of their decisions. RESULTS: Most welcomed the discussion and
      clear choices regarding future care usually emerged. Depression rating scales
      decreased slightly for the entire sample. For the subgroup having relatively
      internal locus of control, there was an increase in life satisfaction scores. No
      patient demonstrated signs of emotional trauma consequent to the discussion. On
      follow-up, several patients were indecisive about their choices. CONCLUSION:
      Involvement of these patients in decision-making appeared to have no adverse
      effects, and, for some, it was therapeutic, possibly through enhancement of
      personal control. Durability of their decisions was not a consistent finding,
      however.

PMID- 1444693
TI  - Ranitidine pharmacokinetics and adverse central nervous system reactions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Treatment with histamine2-receptor antagonists has been associated
      with adverse central nervous system reactions (CNS-ADRs). Previous studies of
      cimetidine have shown an association between CNS-ADRs and high cimetidine drug
      levels. While case reports of ranitidine CNS-ADRs have appeared, we wanted to
      study a series of patients, some of whom were critically ill, for the presence of
      CNS-ADRs and to correlate these with ranitidine pharmacokinetics. METHODS: A
      prospective, observational, open study included 163 consecutive patients, of whom
      41 met entry criteria. A nonlinear least-squares regression analysis was used to
      establish a ranitidine pharmacokinetic dosing model. Ranitidine levels were
      determined by a high-performance liquid chromatographic assay. Individual
      ranitidine pharmacokinetics were determined by means of a bayesian model.
      Observations on 13 possible CNS-ADRs were recorded. The CNS-ADRs were evaluated
      by the Naranjo rating system. RESULTS: Ranitidine-associated CNS-ADRs,
      particularly lethargy, confusion, somnolence, and disorientation, occurred more
      frequently in patients with renal function impairment, and these were associated
      with higher peak concentrations, average plasma concentrations, and area under
      the curve. CONCLUSIONS: Ranitidine, when given in conventional doses, can cause
      CNS-ADRs, particularly in older patients who have substantial renal function
      impairment. These CNS-ADRs occur as a consequence of altered ranitidine
      disposition. Ranitidine doses should be reduced when renal function impairment is
      present, and patients should be carefully observed for CNS-ADRs.

PMID- 1444694
TI  - Biguanide-associated lactic acidosis. Case report and review of the literature.
AB  - PURPOSE: The biguanides are a class of oral hypoglycemic agents that are commonly
      used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Such agents include metformin,
      phenformin, and buformin. The use of phenformin was discontinued in the United
      States in 1976 because of probable association with lactic acidosis. However,
      metformin is currently in common use in many parts of the world. In this report,
      we describe a patient with severe lactic acidosis secondary to metformin
      administration, and review the literature relevant to biguanide-associated lactic
      acidosis. PATIENT: We describe a diabetic man with end-stage renal failure and
      diabetes mellitus who was hospitalized with life-threatening lactic acidosis
      (lactate, 10.9 mmol/L). Unbeknownst to the hospital staff, he was being treated
      with metformin, which had been prescribed in Indonesia. RESULTS: Arterial blood
      gas analysis revealed a pH of 6.76 and a bicarbonate level of 1.6 mmol/L prior to
      treatment. Following therapy, which included oxygen, volume expansion, other
      supportive therapy, and hemodialysis, the patient completely recovered and was
      discharged from the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Lactic acidosis can complicate
      biguanide therapy in diabetic patients with renal insufficiency. We review the
      literature relevant to the pathogenesis and therapy of biguanide-associated
      lactic acidosis. Physicians who have completed their training after 1976 may not
      be familiar with metformin and other biguanides, but with the increasing numbers
      of immigrants to the United States, physicians should be aware of the potential
      complications of these medications.

PMID- 1444695
TI  - 'Diaphragmlike' stricture and ulcer of the colon during diclofenac treatment.
AB  - Diclofenac sodium is a widely used enteric-coated nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
      drug. We describe a woman with Hemoccult-positive stools and iron deficiency
      anemia who developed both a colonic ulcer and a "diaphragm-like" colonic
      stricture while taking enteric-coated diclofenac. These lesions were evident on
      colonoscopy but not on barium studies. Biopsy specimens of the ulcer and
      stricture revealed particulate matter that was indistinguishable from diclofenac
      pill fragments by electron microscopy. Discontinuation of diclofenac therapy
      resulted in resolution of anemia and Hemoccult-positive stools. We conclude that
      (1) enteric-coated diclofenac is associated with both colonic ulcers and
      diaphragm-like colonic strictures; (2) the pathophysiologic mechanism for the
      development of both ulcers and strictures may involve a direct action of
      diclofenac within these lesions; (3) colonoscopy may be superior to barium
      studies in evaluating patients receiving diclofenac who have iron deficiency
      anemia and/or Hemoccult-positive stools.

PMID- 1444696
TI  - Refractory potassium repletion due to magnesium deficiency.

PMID- 1444697
TI  - The effect of smoking on elderly drivers.

PMID- 1444698
TI  - Significance of drug interactions with rifampin in Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
      prophylaxis.

PMID- 1444699
TI  - Toxicology as a discipline of internal medicine: the time has come.

PMID- 1444700
TI  - [Recent advancement in surgical treatment for esophageal cancer].

PMID- 1444701
TI  - Improved survival in mice with diet-induced pancreatitis treated with new potent
      protease inhibitor, E-3123 and a broad spectrum antibiotic, cefmetazole.
AB  - This study was designed to evaluate the infectious factor in the pathogenesis of
      acute pancreatitis and the effects of a combination therapy with a new potent
      protease inhibitor, E-3123, and a broad spectrum antibiotic cefmetazole (CMZ) in
      mice with CDE diet-induced severe acute pancreatitis. Combination therapy with E
      3123 and CMZ showed significant protective effects against the high mortality
      rate, increased serum amylase and ascitic fluid amylase levels, pancreatic
      amylase and lysosomal enzyme content, plasma endotoxin levels, redistribution of
      lysosomal enzyme from the lysosomal to the zymogen fraction, lysosomal and
      mitochondrial fragility, and also improved the histological findings when
      compared with the E-3123 alone. These results suggest that infections factors
      play an important role in the development of severe acute pancreatitis and that
      protease inhibitors in combination with antibiotics may be clinically beneficial.

PMID- 1444702
TI  - Protective effects of combined therapy with a protease inhibitor, ONO 3307, and a
      xanthine oxidase inhibitor, allopurinol on temporary ischaemic model of
      pancreatitis in rats.
AB  - The protective effect of a new potent protease inhibitor, ONO 3307, in
      combination with a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, allopurinol, was tested in
      pancreatico-biliary duct obstruction (PBDO) with temporary pancreatic ischemia in
      rats. After PBDO with ischemia, we observed hyperamylasemia, pancreatic edema,
      congestion of amylase and lysosomal enzyme cathepsin B as well as impaired output
      of amylase and cathepsin B into the pancreatic juice and a redistribution of
      lysosomal enzyme from the lysosomal fraction to the zymogen fraction. The
      administration of ONO 3307 plus allopurinol almost completely prevented the
      pancreatic injuries induced by PBDO with ischemia. These results indicate the
      important roles of temporary pancreatic ischemia in the pathogenesis of
      pancreatic damage and the usefulness of combination therapy with a new potent
      protease inhibitor and xanthine oxidase inhibitor in the protection against
      clinical acute pancreatitis.

PMID- 1444703
TI  - [Protective effect of prostaglandin E2 on cerulein-induced rat pancreatitis].
AB  - In order to clarify the effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on cerulein-induced rat
      pancreatitis, we investigated the interaction of PGE2 with cerulein or secretin.
      Intravenous infusion of 10 micrograms/kg.h cerulein inhibited external secretion
      of the pancreas from one hour and caused macroscopic edema at 3 hours.
      Administration of PGE2 relieved the inhibitory effect of supramaximal dose of
      cerulein and decreased the pancreatic edema. The 100 micrograms/kg.hr PGE2 had no
      significant effect on the pancreatic juice volume and amylase secretion
      stimulated with 0.2 micrograms/kg.hr of cerulein. Intravenous injection of 100
      micrograms/kg PGE2 inhibited both the volume and amylase secretion of pancreatic
      juice stimulated with 1 U/kg.h of secretin. The protective effect of PGE2 on
      cerulein-induced pancreatitis was not the stimulation on secretion but caused the
      cytoprotective effect of PG such as stabilization of cytoplasmic and lysosomal
      membrane.

PMID- 1444704
TI  - [Cystic falx meningioma: report of a case with difficulty in radiologic
      diagnosis].
AB  - A case of cystic falx meningioma in the frontal region in which preoperative
      neuroradiologic diagnosis was difficult is reported. This 33-year-old man had
      suffered from epileptic seizures three times in one month. Physical and
      neurological examinations on admission were normal. A cystic mass with a small
      nodule was found on CT in the frontal region. Thin wall was enhanced smoothly and
      the nodule attached to the falx was enhanced heterogeneously. The mass was
      considered to be an extra-axial lesion on MRI. The right anterior falcine artery
      seemed to feed the mass. Bifrontal craniotomy was performed. Cyst was evacuated,
      and a soft reddish mass was subtotally removed. Cyst fluid was yellowish and
      protein content was 3.5 g/dl. Histopathological diagnosis was a
      meningotheliomatous meningioma and tumor cells were present also in the thin cyst
      wall. At the second operation the mass was completely removed, cyst wall
      inclusive. When we encounter a cystic mass in the sites of predilection of
      meningiomas, we have to consider the possibility of a cystic meningioma. If the
      mass has meningeal vascularization, a correct diagnosis is not difficult. Taking
      the location of the mass into consideration, an accurate interpretation of CT and
      MRI findings indicating extra-axial nature of the mass is indispensable.

PMID- 1444705
TI  - [Possibilities for using bedside cards as secondary comparison in trace element
      studies with the PCR technique].
AB  - When fresh blood is not available as a control in stain investigations extracted
      teeth, hair, preserved tissue samples, histological slides, cigarette butts or
      used stamps can also be used. This paper reports on a stain investigation
      performed 7 months after the death of the victim, where a bedside card from the
      medical records was successfully employed as a control blood sample. In a series
      of 10 bedside cards up to 9 years old, the investigation with the PCR method
      showed recognizable patterns in the STR systems SE 33 and TC 11. Matching
      patterns could be found from the 4 sections of each card (anti A, anti B, anti AB
      and anti D). A comparison of the oldest card with a fresh blood sample of the
      patient also showed matching patterns. AMPFLPs were successful with more recent
      cards. Using the PCR method typing of bedside cards from medical records up to 10
      years old can be used in stain investigations.

PMID- 1444706
TI  - [Modern image documentation in forensic medicine].

PMID- 1444707
TI  - [Frankfurt am Main--the German capital of crime?].

PMID- 1444708
TI  - [Morphologic patterns in suicidal stab injuries of the neck].
AB  - Stabs into the neck are seen very seldom in connection with suicide. If there are
      features typical of suicide, the medico-legal analysis of the pathomorphological
      findings essentially may contribute to the differentiation from homicidal
      injuries. On the basis of the observations already published and three own cases
      an attempt is made to derive criteria of self-infliction for differential
      diagnosis from the autopsy findings. Concomitant injuries and combination with
      another method of suicide have turned out to be important indications of self
      infliction.

PMID- 1444709
TI  - [Suicide with chloroquine combined with maprotiline and trimipramine].
AB  - Report on suicide with chloroquine in combination with maprotiline and
      trimipramine. Chloroquine and his metabolite monodesethylchloroquine could be
      determined in organs and body fluids. The highest organ-concentrations of
      chloroquine were found in liver and kidney. The survival time and dose are
      discussed.

PMID- 1444710
TI  - [Gunshot injury caused by a training bullet].
AB  - In the course of a scuffle a 50-year old man has been shot by a revolver. The
      culprit and witnesses state, there has been only one shot, whereas the victim
      declared having been shot twice. The medico-legal investigation revealed a
      gunshot wound that passed through the left thigh, a grazing shot of the right
      hand and a superficial lesion of the skin at the forehead with sprinkled gunshot
      residue in the epidermis. The investigation confirmed the statement of the
      victim: the first shot to the forehead was caused by a plastic training
      cartridge, the second to the right hand and thigh by a cartridge loaded with an
      ordinary bullet.

PMID- 1444711
TI  - [Aspiration of gastric contents in hanging with typical position of the
      strangulation cord and free suspension].
AB  - Among 193 cases of hanging from the years 1978 to 1991 examined in the institute
      of Forensic Medicine of the Freie Universitat Berlin 8 cases with an aspiration
      of stomach contents had been reported. Herefrom 3 cases were hanging in a
      "typical" position (suspension point at the back of the head, free suspension of
      the hanging body) and did not undergo resuscitation. By free suspension of the
      hanging body the observed massive aspiration of gastric contents only can be
      explained by an at least partly open connecting passage between the laryngeal
      entry and the entrance of the oesophagus. The post mortem flowing in of stomach
      contents as well as a post mortem gastro-oesophageal peristalsis seem not to be
      able for explicating the findings. Differences in important parameters (e.g.
      gastric contents, alcoholization) to the cases of hanging without aspiration were
      not found. Even by free suspension of the body, running noose and point of
      suspension in the back of the neck sometimes the connection between larynx and
      oesophagus may stay open, especially when by emesis a high pressure is produced
      by the stomach.

PMID- 1444712
TI  - Emodin O-methyltransferase from Aspergillus terreus.
AB  - Emodin O-methyltransferase, an enzyme catalyzing methylation of the 8-hydroxy
      group of emodin, was identified in the mould Aspergillus terreus IMI 16043, a (+)
      geodin producing strain. The enzyme catalyzed the formation of questin from
      emodin and S-adenosyl-L-methionine. By chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Phenyl
      Sepharose, Q-Sepharose, Hydroxyapatite, and CM-cellulose, emodin O
      methyltransferase was purified to apparent homogeneity. The purified protein had
      a molecular weight of 322 kDa as estimated by gel filtration and 53.6 kDa as
      estimated by gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions, suggesting that the
      active enzyme was a homohexamer. The enzyme showed pI 4.4 and optimum pH 7-8.
      Magnesium ion or manganese ion was not an absolute requirement, nor increased the
      enzyme activity. The enzyme had strict substrate specificity and very low Km
      values for both emodin (3.4 x 10(-7) M) and S-adenosyl-L-methionine (4.1 x 10(-6)
      M).

PMID- 1444713
TI  - A strictly anaerobic nitrate-reducing bacterium growing with resorcinol and other
      aromatic compounds.
AB  - With resorcinol as sole source of energy and organic carbon, two stains of gram
      negative, nitrate-reducing bacteria were isolated under strictly anaerobic
      conditions. Strain LuBRes1 was facultatively anaerobic and catalase- and
      superoxide dismutase-positive. This strain was affiliated with Alcaligenes
      denitrificans on the basis of substrate utilization spectrum and peritrichous
      flagellation. Strain LuFRes1 could grow only under anaerobic conditions with
      oxidized nitrogen compounds as electron acceptor. Cells were catalase-negative
      but superoxide dismutase-positive. Since this strain was apparently an obligate
      nitrate reducer, it could not be grouped with any existing genus. Resorcinol was
      completely oxidized to CO2 by both strains. Neither an enzyme activity reducing
      or hydrolyzing the resorcinol molecule, nor an acyl-CoA-synthetase activating
      resorcylic acids or benzoate was detected in cell-free extracts of cells grown
      with resorcinol. In dense cell suspensions, both strains produced a compound
      which was identified as 5-oxo-2-hexenoic acid by mass spectrometric analysis.
      This would indicate a direct, hydrolytic cleavage of the resorcinol nucleus
      without initial reduction.

PMID- 1444714
TI  - Light and the recovery from heat shock induce the synthesis of 38 kDa
      mitochondrial proteins in Neurospora crassa.
AB  - The effect of light on the protein synthesis pattern in the mitochondria of
      Neurospora crassa was examined by in vivo labelling with [35S]-methionine and two
      dimensional gel electrophoresis. A brief 5-min illumination induced the rapid and
      transient synthesis of a 38-kDa protein. White collar-mutants were not stimulated
      to synthesize this protein by light. A protein of a similar molecular weight and
      isoelectrical point was synthesized during recovery from heat shock.

PMID- 1444715
TI  - The effect of pH on the heat production and membrane resistance of Streptococcus
      bovis.
AB  - Non-growing cultures of Streptococcus bovis JB1 which were incubated in 2-[N
      moropholino] ethane-sulfonic acid (MES)-phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) and glucose (2
      g/l) produced heat at a rate of 0.17 mW/mg protein, and this rate was
      proportional to the enthalpy change of the homolactic fermentation. Since the
      growth-independent heat production could be eliminated by
      dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), an inhibitor of F1F0 ATPases, it appeared that
      virtually all of the energy was being used to counteract proton flux through the
      cell membrane. When the pH was decreased from 6.8 to 5.8, heat production and
      glucose consumption increased, the electrical potential (delta psi) declined, the
      chemical gradient of protons (Z delta pH) increased, and there was a small
      increase in total protonmotive force (delta p). Further decreases in pH (5.8 to
      4.5) caused a marked decrease in heat production and glucose consumption even
      though there was only a small decline in membrane voltage. Based on the enthalpy
      of ATP (4 kcal or 16.8 kJ/mol), it appeared that 38% of the wattage was passing
      through the cell membrane. The relationship between membrane voltage and membrane
      wattage or glucose consumption was non-linear (non-ohmic), and it appeared that
      the resistance of the membrane to current flow was not constant. Based on the
      electrical formula, resistance = voltage2/wattage and resistance =
      voltage/amperage, there was a marked increase in membrane resistance when the pH
      was less than 6.0. The increase in membrane resistance at low pH allowed S. bovis
      to maintain its membrane potential and expend less energy when its ability to
      ferment glucose was impaired.

PMID- 1444716
TI  - An Escherichia coli mutant containing only demethylmenaquinone, but no
      menaquinone: effects on fumarate, dimethylsulfoxide, trimethylamine N-oxide and
      nitrate respiration.
AB  - The mutant strain AN70 (ubiE) of Escherichia coli which is known to lack
      ubiquinone (Young IG et al. 1971), was analyzed for menaquinone (MK) and
      demethylmenaquinone (DMK) contents. In contrast to the wild-type, strain AN70
      contained only DMK, but no MK. The mutant strain was able to grow with fumarate,
      trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), but not with nitrate
      as electron acceptor. The membranes catalyzed anaerobic respiration with fumarate
      and TMAO at 69 and 74% of wild-type rates. DMSO respiration was reduced to 38% of
      wild-type activities and nitrate respiration was missing (less than or equal to
      8% of wild-type), although the respective enzymes were present in wild-type
      rates. The results complement earlier findings which demonstrated a role for DMK
      only in TMAO respiration (Wissenbach et al. 1990). It is concluded, that DMK (in
      addition to MK) can serve as a redox mediator in fumarate, TMAO and to some
      extent in DMSO respiration, but not in nitrate respiration. In strain AN70 (ubiE)
      the lack of ubiquinone (Q) is due to a defect in a specific methylation step of Q
      biosynthesis. Synthesis of MK from DMK appears to depend on the same gene (ubiE).

PMID- 1444717
TI  - Isopropylbenzene (cumene)--a new substrate for the isolation of trichloroethene
      degrading bacteria.
AB  - Various bacterial isolates from enrichments with isopropylbenzene (cumene),
      toluene or phenol as carbon and energy sources were tested as to their potential
      to oxidize trichloroethene (TCE). In contrast to toluene and phenol, all isolates
      enriched on isopropylbenzene were able to oxidize TCE. Two isolates, strain JR1
      and strain BD1, were identified as Pseudomonas spec. and as Rhodococcus
      erythropolis, respectively. TCE oxidation was accompanied by the liberation of
      stoichiometric amounts of chloride. Initial TCE oxidation rate increased
      proportional to the substrate concentration from 25 to 200 microM TCE. Maximal
      initial TCE-degradation rates found here were 4 to 5 nmol.min-1.mg protein-1. The
      TCE degradation rate decreased with time. The two isolates showed a temperature
      optimum for TCE degradation between 10 and 20 degrees C. In addition to TCE, R.
      erythropolis BD1 degraded only cis- and trans-dichloroethene whereas Pseudomonas
      spec. JR1 was able to oxidize also 1,1-dichloroethene, vinyl chloride,
      trichloroethane, and 1,2-dichloroethane.

PMID- 1444718
TI  - N5-methyltetrahydromethanopterin: coenzyme M methyltransferase in methanogenic
      archaebacteria is a membrane protein.
AB  - An assay is described that allows the direct measurement of the enzyme activity
      catalyzing the transfer of the methyl group from N5-methyltetrahydromethanopterin
      (CH3-H4MPT) to coenzyme M (H-S-CoM) in methanogenic archaebacteria. With this
      method the topology, the partial purification, and the catalytic properties of
      the methyltransferase in methanol- and acetate-grown Methanosarcina barkeri and
      in H2/CO(2)-grown Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum were studied. The enzyme
      activity was found to be associated almost completely with the membrane fraction
      and to require detergents for solubilization. The transferase activity in
      methanol-grown M. barkeri was studied in detail. The membrane fraction exhibited
      a specific activity of CH3-S-CoM formation from CH3-H4MPT (apparent Km = 50
      microM) and H-S-CoM (apparent Km = 250 microM) of approximately 0.6 mumol.min
      1.mg protein-1. For activity the presence of Ti(III) citrate (apparent Km = 15
      microM) and of ATP (apparent Km = 30 microM) were required in catalytic amounts.
      Ti(III) could be substituted by reduced ferredoxin. ATP could not be substituted
      by AMP, CTP, GTP, S-adenosylmethionine, or by ATP analogues. The membrane
      fraction was methylated by CH3-H4MPT in the absence of H-S-CoM. This methylation
      was dependent on Ti(III) and ATP. The methylated membrane fraction catalyzed the
      methyltransfer from CH3-H4MPT to H-S-CoM in the absence of ATP and Ti(III).
      Demethylation in the presence of H-S-CoM also did not require Ti(III) or ATP.
      Based on these findings a mechanism for the methyltransfer reaction and for the
      activation of the enzyme is proposed.

PMID- 1444719
TI  - Genes for a second terminal oxidase in Bradyrhizobium japonicum.
AB  - Bradyrhizobium japonicum possesses a mitochondria-like respiratory chain
      terminating with an aa3-type cytochrome c oxidase. The gene for subunit I of this
      enzyme (coxA) had been identified and cloned previously via heterologous
      hybridization using a Paracoccus denitrificans DNA probe. In the course of these
      studies, another B. japonicum DNA region was discovered which apparently encoded
      a second terminal oxidase that was different from cytochrome aa3 but also
      belonged to the superfamily of heme/copper oxidases. Nucleotide sequence analysis
      revealed a cluster of at least four genes, coxMNOP, organized most probably in an
      operon. The predicted coxM gene product shared significant similarity with
      subunit II of cytochrome c oxidases from other organisms: in particular, all of
      the proposed CuA ligands were conserved as well as three of the four acidic amino
      acid residues that might be involved in the binding of cytochrome c. The coxN
      gene encoded a polypeptide with about 40% sequence identity with subunit I
      representatives including the previously found CoxA protein: the six presumed
      histidine ligands of the prosthetic groups (two hemes and CuB) were strictly
      conserved. A remarkable feature of the DNA sequence was the presence of two
      genes, coxO and coxP, whose products were both homologous to subunit III
      proteins. A B. japonicum coxN mutant strain was created by marker exchange
      mutagenesis which, however, exhibited no obvious defects in free-living, aerobic
      growth or in root nodule symbiosis with soybean. This shows that the coxMNOP
      genes are not essential for respiration in the N2 fixing bacteroid.

PMID- 1444720
TI  - Purification and characterization of a methanol-induced cobamide-containing
      protein from Sporomusa ovata.
AB  - The major cobamide-containing protein from methanol-utilizing Sporomusa ovata was
      8-fold enriched to apparent homogeneity. The protein exhibited a molecular mass
      of 40 kDa and of 38 kDa determined by gel filtration and by SDS-polyacrylamide
      gel electrophoresis, respectively. This finding indicates a monomeric protein
      structure. Monospecific polyclonal antisera raised against the protein did not
      cross react with another cobamide-containing protein from Sporomusa cells. Only
      the 40 kDa cobamide-containing protein was induced by methanol, since proteins
      from cells grown on 3,4-dimethoxybenzoate, betaine H2/CO2, or fructose showed
      faint or no cross reaction. Hence, the 40 kDa cobamide-containing protein is
      presumably involved in the methyl-transfer reaction of the methanol metabolism.
      The purified enzyme revealed 1.1 mol of p-cresolyl cobamide per mol of protein,
      but it lacked of iron-sulfur centers. Remarkably, the cofactor was firmly bound
      to its protein.

PMID- 1444721
TI  - Neuroendocrine response to L-5-hydroxytryptophan challenge in prepubertal major
      depression. Depressed vs normal children.
AB  - The neuroendocrine response to L-5-hydroxytryptophan was compared in 37
      prepubertal children who met the Research Diagnostic Criteria for major
      depressive disorder with that in 23 normal children with no lifetime history of
      any psychiatric disorder and very low rates of depression in both first- and
      second-degree relatives. Intravenous L-5-hydroxytryptophan (0.8 mg/kg) was given
      over a 1-hour interval after preloading with oral carbidopa, an inhibitor of
      peripheral but not central L-5-hydroxytryptophan metabolism. L-5
      Hydroxytryptophan, a precursor of serotonin, increases serotonin turnover in the
      central nervous system when given after carbidopa. Seven (19%) of the 37 children
      with major depressive disorder and two (9%) of the 23 normal children had nausea
      or vomiting and therefore did not complete the full infusion. They were
      subsequently excluded from data analysis. After this stimulation, prolactin,
      cortisol, and growth hormone secretion were compared between diagnostic groups.
      The depressed children secreted significantly less cortisol (effect size, 0.70)
      and significantly more prolactin (effect size, 0.83). There was a sex-by
      diagnosis interaction in prolactin response to L-5-hydroxytryptophan and, on
      examination, the prolactin hypersecretion was seen in depressed girls but not in
      depressed boys compared with same-sex controls. There was no significant
      stimulation of growth hormone in either group. These findings are consistent with
      dysregulation of central serotonergic systems in childhood major depression.

PMID- 1444722
TI  - Neuroendocrine responses to m-chlorophenylpiperazine and L-tryptophan in bulimia.
AB  - Preclinical and clinical evidence supports a theory of serotonin (5
      hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) dysregulation in bulimia. We therefore studied the
      prolactin (PRL) and cortisol responses following challenges with the postsynaptic
      5-HT receptor agonist m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP), 0.5 mg/kg orally, the 5
      HT precursor L-tryptophan, 100 mg/kg intravenously, and placebo in a group of 28
      normal weight bulimic patients and 16 healthy controls. Patients with bulimia,
      regardless of the presence of major depression, had significantly blunted PRL
      responses following m-CPP administration compared with those in controls. In
      contrast, only bulimic patients with concurrent major depression had
      significantly blunted PRL responses following L-tryptophan administration
      compared with those in nondepressed bulimic patients and controls. Cortisol
      responses following m-CPP were not significantly different for bulimic patients
      vs controls, although there was a trend toward blunted cortisol responses
      following L-tryptophan administration in the depressed bulimic patients. These
      differences in neuroendocrine responses were not related to differences in age,
      percent of average body weight, medications, time of day, peak plasma drug
      levels, or baseline estradiol levels. Seasonal variations in PRL responses to
      both agents were identified, although covariation for season did not alter the
      group differences. The PRL responses following m-CPP administration were
      inversely correlated to baseline cortisol levels in the bulimic patients, but not
      in the controls, suggesting a dampening effect by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal
      axis dysfunction on postsynaptic 5-HT receptor sensitivity. The reasons for the
      differing hormonal responses to these two serotonergic agents may relate to
      differential involvement of presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms, 5-HT
      receptor subtypes, and anatomical loci of action. The blunted PRL responses to m
      CPP administration suggest that postsynaptic 5-HT receptor sensitivity is altered
      in bulimia nervosa, and that similar alterations in 5-HT receptors at or above
      the level of the hypothalamus may contribute to binge eating and other behavioral
      symptoms.

PMID- 1444723
TI  - Effect of axis II diagnoses on treatment outcome with clomipramine in 55 patients
      with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
AB  - We used the Structured Interview for DSM-III Personality Disorders to diagnose
      DSM-III personality disorders systematically in 55 patients with obsessive
      compulsive disorder in the active-treatment cell of a controlled trial of
      clomipramine hydrochloride. Patients with a cluster A personality disorder had
      significantly higher obsessive-compulsive disorder severity scores at baseline,
      and the number of personality disorders was strongly related to baseline severity
      of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms. At the conclusion of the 12-week
      study, we found no significant difference in treatment outcome with clomipramine
      between those patients with at least one personality disorder and those with no
      personality disorders. However, the presence of schizotypal, borderline, and
      avoidant personality disorders, along with total number of personality disorders,
      did predict poorer treatment outcome. These variables were strongly related to
      having at least one cluster A personality disorder diagnosis, which was also a
      strong predictor of poorer outcome. Implications of these findings are discussed.

PMID- 1444724
TI  - Anxiogenic effects of caffeine in patients with anxiety disorders.
AB  - The effects on measures of anxiety from two doses of oral caffeine (250 and 500
      mg) and placebo were compared in 12 patients with generalized anxiety disorder
      (GAD), 12 patients with panic disorder, and 12 normal subjects. Caffeine produced
      significantly less decrease in electroencephalographic alpha wave activity,
      greater decrease in N1-P2 auditory evoked potential amplitude, and greater
      increased in skin conductance level, systolic and diastolic blood pressure,
      critical fusion flicker frequency, and self-ratings of anxiety and sweating in
      patients with GAD than in normal patients. Patients with panic disorder showed
      different reactivity than normal patients did with respect to
      electroencephalographic alpha waves, N2 latency, N2-P2 auditory evoked potential
      amplitude, and physical tiredness but were less reactive than patients with GAD
      on several variables. It is concluded that patients with GAD are abnormally
      sensitive to caffeine and that the data support the view that panic disorder is a
      separable disorder from GAD.

PMID- 1444725
TI  - Physiologic responses to loud tones in Israeli patients with posttraumatic stress
      disorder.
AB  - Orbicularis oculi (eye blink) electromyogram, skin conductance, and heart rate
      responses to 15 consecutive 95-dB, 500-millisecond, 1000-Hz tones with 0
      millisecond rise and fall times were measured in 14 patients with posttraumatic
      stress disorder, 14 patients with other anxiety disorders, 15 mentally healthy
      subjects with past traumatic experiences, and 19 mentally healthy subjects with
      no trauma history. The patients with posttraumatic stress disorder showed
      significantly larger skin conductance and heart rate responses and a trend toward
      larger electromyogram responses to the tones than every other group. These
      effects were not explained by subjective anxiety, resting physiologic arousal,
      physiologic arousal preceding the tone trials, or initial physiologic
      responsivity. The group with posttraumatic stress disorder was the only one that
      failed to show habituation of skin conductance responses.

PMID- 1444726
TI  - Naltrexone and coping skills therapy for alcohol dependence. A controlled study.
AB  - Ninety-seven alcohol-dependent patients were treated for 12 weeks in a double
      blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating naltrexone and two manual guided
      psychotherapies in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Patients were randomized
      to receive either naltrexone or placebo and either coping skills/relapse
      prevention therapy or a supportive therapy designed to support the patient's own
      efforts at abstinence without teaching specific coping skills. Naltrexone proved
      superior to placebo in measures of drinking and alcohol-related problems,
      including abstention rates, number of drinking days, relapse, and severity of
      alcohol-related problems. Medication interacted with the type of psychotherapy
      received. The cumulative rate of abstinence was highest for patients treated with
      naltrexone and supportive therapy. For those patients who initiated drinking,
      however, patients who received naltrexone and coping skills therapy were the
      least likely to relapse.

PMID- 1444727
TI  - Desipramine treatment of cocaine dependence in methadone-maintained patients.
AB  - We performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized 12-week trial of
      desipramine hydrochloride treatment of cocaine dependence among methadone
      maintained patients. Fifty-nine patients completed the 12-week medication trial
      (36 received desipramine and 23 received placebo), and 94% were recontacted 1, 3,
      and 6 months after treatment. There were significantly more dropouts in the
      desipramine than in the placebo group. Baseline to 12-week comparisons of
      Addiction Severity Index interview data indicated that both groups showed
      improvements. At 12 weeks, the desipramine group showed significantly better
      psychiatric status than the placebo group but did not differ from the placebo
      group on any of 21 other outcome measures, including cocaine use. During the 12
      week medication phase and at the 1-month follow-up evaluation, urine toxicology
      screenings showed no significant difference between groups, but the placebo group
      had significantly less cocaine use at both the 3- and 6-month follow-up points.
      We conclude that desipramine has few benefits with regard to control of cocaine
      use in this population.

PMID- 1444728
TI  - Pharmacotherapy for cocaine-abusing methadone-maintained patients using
      amantadine or desipramine.
AB  - In a double-blind, placebo-controlled 12-week randomized clinical trial, we
      compared amantadine hydrochloride (300 mg/d; n = 33), desipramine hydrochloride
      (150 mg/d; n = 30), and placebo (n = 31) in the treatment of cocaine-abusing
      methadone-maintained patients. Treatment retention and medication compliance were
      excellent, with more than 75% of the patients completing the full 12-week trial.
      Although reported cocaine abuse was significantly lower in the medicated groups
      compared with the placebo group at week 4, this difference became nonsignificant
      at week 8, and no difference was found in cocaine-free urine samples. Future
      studies of amantadine and desipramine treatment in these patients should consider
      alternatives to methadone hydrochloride, such as buprenorphine hydrochloride, and
      the selection of more homogeneous patient subgroups, such as depressed cocaine
      abusers.

PMID- 1444729
TI  - New pharmacotherapies for cocaine dependence ... revisited.

PMID- 1444730
TI  - Drugs for cocaine dependence: not easy.

PMID- 1444731
TI  - Geographic variations in the prevalence of schizophrenia.

PMID- 1444732
TI  - Autofluorescent Charcot-Leyden crystals.

PMID- 1444733
TI  - Paneth cell-like change of the prostate.

PMID- 1444734
TI  - HMB-45 staining in pigmented pheochromocytoma.

PMID- 1444735
TI  - The time is now. Checklists for surgical pathology reports.

PMID- 1444736
TI  - New safety considerations for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome autopsy.

PMID- 1444737
TI  - Autopsies and attitudes. Where do we go from here?

PMID- 1444738
TI  - Interinstitutional assessment of colorectal carcinoma surgical pathology report
      adequacy. A College of American Pathologists Q-Probes study of practice patterns
      from 532 laboratories and 15,940 reports.
AB  - In 1991, the College of American Pathologist's Q-Probes Quality Improvement
      Program evaluated practices in 532 institutions for pathologic information
      provided in surgical pathology reports of 15,940 resected primary colorectal
      carcinomas. Participating institutions studied their last 30 completed cases and
      were from the United States (98%), Canada (1.5%), and Australia (0.4%). The
      influence of various institutional differences and other practice patterns were
      analyzed to determine factors associated with an increased institutional
      likelihood of providing information on pathology reports. The one practice
      significantly associated with increased likelihood of providing complete
      oncologic pathology information on eight of 11 gross and microscopic information
      items surveyed was the use of a standard report form or checklist. Other
      institutional differences bearing inconsistent associations included teaching
      institution status, presence of pathology residency, use of microscopic
      descriptions, institution bedsize category, and performance of DNA ploidy
      analysis. The development and adoption of a standardized report form or checklist
      for each case is a simple but effective means to assure report adequacy and
      consistent communication of oncologic pathology information. In conjunction with
      accompanying criteria for its accurate use, this process can be considered a
      practice guideline or practice parameter that can be extended to the surgical
      pathology examination of all resected malignant neoplasms.

PMID- 1444739
TI  - Confidentiality of human immunodeficiency virus status on autopsy reports.
      Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association.
AB  - The medical profession has long recognized the need to maintain the
      confidentiality of a patient's medical condition, particularly when stigmatizing
      conditions, like human immunodeficiency virus infections, are involved. The
      obligation to maintain confidentiality continues after the death of the patient.
      At the same time, there may be public health concerns that justify limited
      disclosure of a deceased person's human immunodeficiency virus status. This
      report provides guidelines that balance the need for confidentiality with public
      health concerns when a deceased person infected with the human immunodeficiency
      virus undergoes an autopsy.

PMID- 1444740
TI  - Postmortem recovery of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 from plasma and
      mononuclear cells. Implications for occupational exposure.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the ability to recover human immunodeficiency virus type
      1 (HIV-1) from the plasma and mononuclear cell (MNC) fractions of postmortem
      blood samples from patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. DESIGN:
      Blood was randomly cultured post mortem from 41 patients with the acquired
      immunodeficiency syndrome. Plasma and MNC cultures were performed as well as
      serum antigen assays. Evaluation parameters included MNC recovery, MNC viability,
      time of sample collection after death, time of inoculation of coculture following
      sample acquisition, and storage conditions of the body (ie, refrigeration vs
      nonrefrigeration). SETTING: Blood samples were obtained from patients with the
      acquired immunodeficiency syndrome being prepared for burial at metropolitan area
      funeral homes. PATIENTS: Postmortem samples were obtained from 41 patients with
      the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Virus recovery from
      either cells or plasma. RESULTS: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 was
      recovered from 21 (51%) of 41 patients at 0.5 to 21.25 hours postmortem. Recovery
      of HIV-1 from plasma and/or MNC fractions was variable with 6 (15%) of 41
      plasma+/MNC+, 12 (29%) of 41 plasma-/MNC+, three (7%) of 41 plasma+/MNC-, and 20
      (49%) of 41 plasma-/MNC-. Plasma p24 levels (> 30 pg/mL) were detectable in 14
      (48%) of 37 samples tested. Of those culture-positive patients, seven (33%) of 21
      were refrigerated compared with the culture-negative group in which 10 (50%) of
      20 were refrigerated. Time from death until specimen acquisition was the only
      factor significantly associated with recovery of HIV-1. CONCLUSION: These results
      should be useful for health care workers and others exposed to postmortem blood
      from HIV-infected individuals and should lead to changes in the processing
      practices of morticians and/or pathologists for HIV-1-infected cadavers.

PMID- 1444741
TI  - A decade of acceptable autopsy rates. Does concordance of clinician and
      pathologist views explain relative success?
AB  - In an attempt to better understand the basis and significance of an annual
      autopsy rate consistently over 45% for the past decade, we recently investigated
      the attitudes and practices of 36 pathologists and 176 clinicians in our
      institution with respect to the function of the autopsy service and the utility
      of the autopsy. The autopsy report was "not used in a consistent manner" by 57%
      of clinical respondents. Several clinicians thought that autopsy reports were too
      long (20%) and too slow (38%), but not with the frequency that pathologists did,
      73% and 58%, respectively. Significantly more pathologists than clinicians
      believed autopsy rates have fallen over the past 20 years because (1) people
      think that everything about the deceased is already known, (2) medical students
      are poorly educated about the autopsy, (3) pathologists have diminished interest,
      (4) physicians fear litigation, (5) physicians fear "being wrong," (6)
      pathologists lack financial incentives, and (7) Joint Commission on Accreditation
      of Healthcare Organizations requirement is not in place. Perceptions regarding
      the frequency of major discrepancies between clinical and autopsy findings were
      comparable, 17% and 13%, for pathologists and clinicians, respectively. Our
      "high" institutional autopsy rate does not reflect concordance of perceptions
      expressed by clinicians and pathologists and, thus, other factors may be
      important in the maintenance of an acceptable rate.

PMID- 1444742
TI  - Autopsy-determined causes of death following cardiac transplantation. A study of
      81 patients and literature review.
AB  - The principal and contributory causes of death in 81 autopsied heart transplant
      patients who died at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, were
      investigated and subdivided according to the immunosuppressive regimen used as
      well as the postoperative survival period. Mean graft survival was 488 days.
      Chronic rejection (30%), infection (23%), and acute rejection (20%) were the most
      common principal causes of death. Both fatal and nonfatal infections involved the
      lung predominantly. A review of the literature revealed 198 other autopsied heart
      transplant patients whose principal cause of death could be analyzed; infection
      accounted for almost half of these latter deaths, followed by acute and chronic
      rejection. Contributory causes of death in the 81 patients were as follows:
      infection (17%), acute rejection (16%), chronic rejection (14%), miscellaneous
      conditions (14%), embolism (14%), pancreatitis (11%), peptic ulcer (9%),
      inadequate donor heart (3%), and malignancy (1%). We conclude that infection,
      together with acute and/or chronic rejection, are still the major causes of death
      in heart transplant patients.

PMID- 1444743
TI  - Attitudes of funeral directors and embalmers toward autopsy.
AB  - Although physician and family attitudes toward autopsy have been suggested as
      factors leading to declining autopsy rates, attitudes of funeral directors and
      embalmers toward autopsy have not been studied. We surveyed members of the
      Illinois Funeral Directors Association concerning beliefs about the purposes of
      autopsy, problems they experienced with autopsied cases, and the advice they gave
      to family members about permitting autopsy. Three hundred eight (42.2%) of 730
      funeral directors and embalmers responded to the questionnaire. Although 80.3%
      believed that autopsy served a purpose, 46.4% had counseled families not to
      permit autopsy, and 16.6% did so more than half the time. Perceived difficulty in
      embalming autopsied cases (odds ratio, 2.3), family concern about the risk of
      disfigurement (odds ratio, 1.9 to 2.2), having attempted to talk to a pathologist
      or hospital administrator about a poorly performed autopsy (odds ratio, 2.0), and
      belief in the purpose of autopsy (odds ratio, 0.38), were significant independent
      predictors of counseling against autopsy. Of funeral directors who counseled
      against autopsy, 28.3% reported that families never permitted autopsy, and 39.4%
      reported that families only occasionally permitted autopsy, in cases where they
      had counseled against it. Funeral directors from Illinois counties with 1989
      medical certificate case autopsy rates of less than 5% counseled against autopsy
      more frequently than funeral directors from counties with higher autopsy rates.
      We conclude that although most funeral directors and embalmers believe in the
      purposes of the autopsy, difficulties in embalming autopsied cases, and family
      concern about the risk of disfigurement, may lead members of the funeral
      profession to counsel against autopsy, and that such advice may influence
      families not to permit an autopsy.

PMID- 1444744
TI  - Accumulation of brown adipose tissue and nutritional status. A prospective study
      of 366 consecutive autopsies.
AB  - Increased amounts of brown adipose tissue have been reported to occur in
      association with several diseases. The objective of the present study was to
      determine whether brown adipose tissue accumulation is related to nutritional
      status. Histologic sections of periadrenal tissue prospectively obtained at
      consecutive autopsies from 366 adults were examined. The cases were separated
      into three groups: malnourished (101 autopsies), normotrophic (128 autopsies),
      and obese (137 autopsies), according to the Quetelet index. Of these patients, 89
      had brown adipose tissue accumulation, 35 were malnourished, 32 were
      normotrophic, and 22 were obese. The results showed a correlation between brown
      adipose tissue and patient nutritional status and a higher brown adipose tissue
      accumulation in malnourished patients. Cardiovascular disease was the most common
      type of illness present in the cases with brown adipose tissue accumulation.

PMID- 1444745
TI  - The Bethesda System. A proposal for reporting abnormal cervical smears based on
      the reproducibility of cytopathologic diagnoses.
AB  - In the Bethesda System, noninvasive squamous abnormalities are classified as
      atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASQUS), low-grade squamous
      intraepithelial lesions, and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. The
      Bethesda System eliminates two diagnostic distinctions that are made in the
      dysplasia/carcinoma in situ and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)
      classifications, CIN1 vs koilocytotic atypia and CIN2 vs CIN3, and maintains
      three others, negative vs ASQUS, ASQUS vs koilocytotic atypia, and CIN1 vs CIN2.
      To determine whether the diagnostic distinctions preserved in the Bethesda System
      are made more consistently than those eliminated, we analyzed the interobserver
      reproducibility of two cytopathologists in classifying 257 smears. The findings
      indicate that the distinctions retained in the Bethesda System are more
      reproducible than those eliminated. Specifically, cases classified as
      koilocytotic atypia were distinguished from CIN1 no more reproducibly than
      predicted by chance, whereas CIN2 and CIN3 were distinguished as consistently as
      any other pair of diagnoses examined. In 13 cases in which there was
      interobserver discordance, one reviewer classified the smear as ASQUS and the
      other reviewer diagnosed CIN2 or CIN3. The findings in this study suggest that
      smears showing koilocytotic atypia and/or CIN1 may be reported as low-grade
      squamous intraepithelial lesions without further specification. In contrast,
      smears showing high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions may be further
      classified as CIN2 or CIN3 in accordance with the Bethesda guidelines. Since the
      diagnosis of ASQUS is applied to smears showing a wide spectrum of changes,
      management of patients with the diagnosis of ASQUS will be facilitated by
      providing an explanatory note and/or recommendations when appropriate.

PMID- 1444746
TI  - The effectiveness of cytologic evaluation of products of conception.
AB  - In therapeutic abortions, the major issue of concern to physicians and patients
      is the documentation of an intrauterine pregnancy and its successful termination.
      We describe an inexpensive cytologic approach by which results can be obtained in
      a few hours and a permanent method of documentation provided. Three hundred cases
      of therapeutic abortion were evaluated by the cytologic method, and 93.7% of
      cases were positive, ie, they demonstrated the presence of nucleated red blood
      cells and/or placental villi. By routine histologic examination, 96.3% of the
      cases were positive. In only 2% of cases was the cytologic finding negative and
      the histologic finding positive. If the histologic finding is also negative, we
      recommend, based on our data, that the patient be reevaluated.

PMID- 1444747
TI  - Sudden death associated with aortitis and fibrosclerosing disease of the
      conduction system.
AB  - Aortitis is known to complicate a number of autoimmune diseases and syphilis. In
      most patients with autoimmune disease, arthritis is the initial presentation
      followed by aortic insufficiency. We report two cases of ostensibly healthy,
      middle-aged men in whom the initial manifestation of aortitis was sudden death.
      In each patient, there was extension of inflammation from the aorta into the
      atrioventricular node. These cases emphasize the importance of examining the
      conducting system in cases of sudden death associated with aortitis and no
      grossly evident cause of death. To our knowledge, this is the first report of
      aortitis presenting as sudden death.

PMID- 1444748
TI  - Architectural remodeling of lung allografts in acute and chronic rejection.
AB  - The mesenchymal and extracellular matrix alterations that occur in acute and
      chronic rejection of the lung allograft were studied immunohistochemically,
      utilizing a wide panel of antibodies. In early rejection, perivascular and
      peribronchiolar mononuclear infiltrates were associated with basement membrane
      disruption of the vessels and airways and an ingrowth of muscle-specific actin-,
      vimentin-positive, desmin-negative spindle cells accompanied by type IV
      collagenase-positive histiocytes. Subsequent fibrous scarring was manifested by
      perforation and reduplication of the basement membrane of airways and vessels and
      dense collagen deposition, primarily type III. As has been suggested in
      idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the fragmentation of basement membranes and the
      deposition of collagen IV and laminin by mesenchymal cells in vessels and airways
      may reflect the irreversible fibrosis responsible for allograft dysfunction.

PMID- 1444749
TI  - Mammary origin of metastases. Immunohistochemical determination.
AB  - Zinc-alpha 2-glycoprotein, gross cystic disease fluid protein 15, and estrogen
      receptors are expressed in a great proportion of breast carcinomas. These markers
      were investigated by immunohistochemistry in 28 metastases from breast carcinomas
      and for comparison on 24 metastases from other carcinomas. A group of 83 primary
      nonmammary tumors was also studied. Most (> 96%) breast carcinoma metastases
      expressed one or several markers, while all metastases of other origins were
      negative. This sensitive and apparently specific immunostaining proved to be of
      great utility in cases in which the mammary origin of metastases was difficult to
      establish. In four axillary lymph node metastases, it even led to the discovery
      of an occult homolateral breast carcinoma that was not detectable by clinical and
      mammographic investigations. This study indicates that the combined use of zinc
      alpha 2-glycoprotein, gross cystic disease fluid protein 15, and estrogenic
      receptors represents a useful immunostaining technique that can help the
      pathologist in determining the origin of breast carcinoma metastases.

PMID- 1444750
TI  - Uterine leiomyoblastoma (epithelioid leiomyoma) neoplasm of low-grade malignancy.
      A histopathologic study.
AB  - Uterine leiomyoblastomas are neoplasms of smooth muscle origin, which despite
      their benign histopathologic characteristics, have been shown to invade locally,
      metastasize, and recur, resulting in the patient's death. In an effort to define
      possible cellular changes that could explain the disparity between
      histopathologic features and biologic behavior, we have studied a series of three
      uterine leiomyoblastomas that, in routine sections, exhibited benign
      morphological characteristics. A detailed histopathologic study revealed, in all
      three cases, randomly distributed clusters of neoplastic cells with overt
      malignant features, such as cellular and nuclear atypia, abnormal mitoses, local
      infiltrating tendencies, and vascular invasion. These findings suggest that
      uterine leiomyoblastomas should be viewed as neoplasms of low-grade malignancy of
      a distinct clinicopathologic entity.

PMID- 1444751
TI  - Primary malignant melanoma of the urinary bladder.
AB  - Primary malignant melanoma is an unusual neoplasm in the urinary bladder that is
      infrequently found in association with melanosis. We report a case of bladder
      invasive malignant melanoma with melanosis in which the melanosis exhibited
      melanocytic atypia extending through to melanoma in situ and was diagnosed by
      immunohistochemical techniques using a monoclonal antibody, HMB-45. To our
      knowledge, such findings have not been reported previously.

PMID- 1444752
TI  - Primary carcinoid tumor of the urinary bladder.
AB  - A 62-year-old woman who presented with urinary frequency and microscopic
      hematuria was found to have a 1.2 x 1.0 x 0.6-cm polypoid carcinoid tumor of the
      urinary bladder. The tissue resected from the base after removal of the polypoid
      lesion disclosed a small focus of residual carcinoid tumor, associated with
      Brunn's epithelial nests, cystitis cystica, and cystitis glandularis. Tumor cells
      exhibited strong argyrophilia and weak argentaffinity. Immunohistochemical
      staining reactions were strongly positive for chromogranin and serotonin, and
      electron microscopy revealed characteristic dense-core granules. Flow cytometric
      evaluation revealed an aneuploid cell population with a DNA index of 1.20.

PMID- 1444753
TI  - Epidermal growth factor receptor expression in Barrett's esophagus.
AB  - Six cases of known Barrett's esophagus were examined immunohistochemically for
      the presence of epidermal growth factor receptor. All cases showed expression of
      epidermal growth factor receptor in intestinal metaplastic Barrett's epithelium,
      the most common form of Barrett's change. Expression of epidermal growth factor
      receptor may be important in neoplastic transformation in Barrett's esophagus,
      possibly by an autocrine mechanism. Alternatively, epidermal growth factor
      receptor expression in intestinal metaplastic Barrett's epithelium may represent
      a nonneoplastic regenerative phenomenon as seen at other sites within the
      gastrointestinal tract. Further larger studies are required to assess the
      clinical significance of these findings.

PMID- 1444754
TI  - Dissection of the aorta and coronary arteries associated with acute cocaine
      intoxication.
AB  - Acute myocardial ischemia, cardiac arrhythmias, and conduction disturbances are
      the most common cardiovascular complications of cocaine and its alkaloidal
      freebase "crack." Cocaine abuse-related acute aortic dissection has been reported
      only rarely: three cases in the last 5 years. Described herein, to our knowledge,
      is the first case of cocaine intoxication-associated acute aortic dissection that
      also involved the coronary arteries, causing sudden death.

PMID- 1444755
TI  - Eosinophil-mediated bile duct stricture. A case studied by immunohistochemistry.
AB  - Major basic protein accounts for the majority of the protein within the
      eosinophilic granule. Utilizing immunohistochemical staining for major basic
      protein, we have demonstrated the dominant role of the eosinophil in a reversible
      bile duct stricture.

PMID- 1444756
TI  - Nitroimidazoles, XIV: Synthesis of 4-nitroimidazoles with 1-substituents
      containing acid, ester or phenol functions, and radiosensitizing efficiency of
      some of these compounds.
AB  - 1,4-Dinitroimidazole and 1,4-dinitro-2-methylimidazole were reacted with
      aminocarboxylic acids and their esters, aminosulfonic acids, and aminophenol to
      obtain the corresponding 1-substituted-4-nitroimidazoles. The radiosensitizing
      efficiency of some esters of 2-(4-nitro-1-imidazolyl)alkanecarboxylic acids was
      tested.

PMID- 1444757
TI  - [Synthesis and cytostatic effect of 2-phenyl-3-alkyl(aryl)-2,3-dihydro
      1,3,2(lambda-5)- benzoxazaphosphorine-4-one derivatives].
AB  - Preparation of 2,3-dihydro-1,3,2-benzoxazaphosphorin-4-one derivatives and their
      2-oxo derivatives is described. Compounds 1 and 12 have anticancer activity.

PMID- 1444758
TI  - Influence of [6S]-N5-formyltetrahydrofolic acid on the bioavailability of 5
      fluorouracil combined with interferon-alpha-2b.

PMID- 1444759
TI  - [2-Amino-3-cyano-dihydroindol-5-ones. 2. The biological activity of a new class
      of compounds].
AB  - 2-Amino-3-cyano-dihydroindol-5-ones 2 and 3 are formed by reaction of 2
      Aminopyrrole-3-carbonitriles 1 with acetylenic acid esters. In various biological
      test systems they behave as cytotoxic agents.

PMID- 1444760
TI  - [2-Amino-3-cyano-dihydroindol-5-ones. 3. The chemical reactivity of a new class
      of compounds].
AB  - The chemical reactivity of cytotoxic 5-indolone derivatives is examined in order
      to get ideas about their behaviour in biological systems. Dienone-phenol
      rearrangement preserving the indole ring system could not be achieved,
      aromatization of 1b gives the phenol derivative 3 alpha. In diluted NaOH ester
      hydrolysis occurs (1a,b----4a,b). Hydrolysis in conc. H2SO4 yields the amides
      5a,b,d. In ethanolic HCl the ammonium salts 6a,b,d are formed. Acylation of 1a to
      8 reveals the endocyclic N-atom as the nucleophilic center. Benzaldehyde being a
      strong electrophile adds to 1b in position 4. Weaker electrophiles such as
      dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (ADC) only react with the amides 5b,d to give 11
      and 12. Nucleophiles (water, ethanol, n-propylamine) add to the delta 6-double
      bond yielding 14-16.

PMID- 1444761
TI  - Assessment of anti-HIV activity of some benzimidazolylthiazoles.
AB  - Benzimidazolylthiazoles 2 were synthesized by condensing 1H-benzimidazole-2
      acetonitrile (1) with sulphur and isothiocyanates. The syntheses of the Schiff
      bases 3, thioureas 4, and thiazolopyrimido[1,6-a]benzimidazoles 5 and 6 are also
      described. Seven compounds were evaluated in vitro against human HIV, however, no
      significant activity was observed with any of these compounds.

PMID- 1444762
TI  - Studies on annelated [1,4]benzothiazines and [1,5]benzothiazepines, V. Synthesis
      and biological activity of N-2 alkylamino derivatives of 4,5-dihydro-s
      triazolo[3,4-d]-1,5-benzothiazepine.
AB  - The synthesis of a new series of N-2 alkylamino derivatives of 4,5-dihydro-s
      triazolo[3,4-d]-1,5-benzothiazepine has been accomplished starting from 2,3
      dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepin-4(5H)ones and their 2-methyl and 2-aryl derivatives.
      All the compounds were tested in vitro for their antimicrobial activity, but none
      of them showed remarkable activity. The tricyclic compounds 7a-j, 8a-j, 9a-j, 10a
      j, and 11a-j were also screened for their CNS activity in mice and several of
      them showed interesting activity.

PMID- 1444763
TI  - Biotransformation of the sympathomimetic tetraminol in vitro.
AB  - On incubation with the postmitochondrial fraction of the liver homogenate of
      rabbits, guinea-pigs, rats, and mice in the presence of NADPH and oxygen, the
      alpha-sympathomimetic trans-3-(2-hydroxyethylamino)-5,8-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4
      tetrahydro-2-n aphthol (Tetraminol, 1) is preferentially O-demethylated in
      position 8, yielding metabolite 3. In male rats O-demethylation is stronger than
      in females.

PMID- 1444764
TI  - [Enantioselective biotransformation of a new theophylline derivative].
AB  - Reductive amination of 4 with (RS)-2 is an improved method to obtain 7-((RS)2
      ((RS)-1-Methyl-2-phenyl-ethylamino)propyl)-theophylline (3) (ratio of
      diastereomers 1:1) compared with SN-displacement of proxyphyllintosylate with
      (RS)-2 (ratio of diastereomers 9:1). Due to steric hindrance 3 is no noteworthy
      prodrug for the intermediate formation of (RS)-2 in rats. The enantioselectivity
      of 2 after a single oral dose of 3 is determined in 24-h urine by HPLC on a
      Cyclobond-column using the isoindole derivatives, formed from o-phthalaldehyde,
      thioglycolic acid, and 2. The R(-)-amphetamine isomer is formed to a lesser
      amount (34.8%, range 32-37%) than the S(+)-isomer (65.2%, range 63-68%).

PMID- 1444765
TI  - Benzo[b]thiophenes, II: Novel benzo[b]thienylhydrazine and 1,3,4-oxadiazole
      derivatives as potential antidepressant agents.
AB  - Three novel series of benzo[b]thiophene derivatives bearing various hydrazone,
      hydrazine and 1,3,4-oxadiazole moieties were synthesized as potential
      antidepressant agents. 22 Compounds were evaluated for their in vitro inhibitory
      effect on monoamine oxidase enzyme (MAO) type A. Several compounds inhibited MAO
      stronger than pargyline hydrochloride. Maximum inhibitions of 83% and 90% were
      observed with 1-benzyl-2-(3-chlorobenzo[b]thienyl-2-carbonyl)hydrazine (24) and 1
      [2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-2-(3-chlorobenzo[b]thienyl-2- carbonyl)hydrazine (35),
      respectively.

PMID- 1444766
TI  - New acylthiosemicarbazides, thiazolidinones, and 1,3,4-oxadiazoles as possible
      anticonvulsants.

PMID- 1444767
TI  - Urological long-term follow-up in women with spinal cord injuries.
AB  - One hundred eight women and 434 men admitted with spinal cord injuries between
      1973 and 1987 were observed prospectively to determine the effects of age, sex,
      neurological classification, and method of bladder management method on renal
      function and urological complications. The primary method of bladder management
      for women throughout the study period was indwelling urethral catheterization as
      compared to condom drainage for their male counterparts. Renal function was
      determined by effective renal plasma flow and urological complications were
      determined by clinical symptoms and/or objective findings on intravenous
      pyelography (IVP). Analysis reveals that as in the general population advancing
      age and being female were significantly associated with lower ERPF (p < .05).
      Only in men were neurological classification (quadriplegia) and bladder
      management (ileoconduit) associated with significant decreases in ERPF (p < .05).
      Furthermore, women and men showed no significant differences in urological
      complication rates. From the data it can be concluded that there is no particular
      method of bladder management for women that necessarily leads to impaired renal
      function.

PMID- 1444768
TI  - Subscapular nerve block in the painful hemiplegic shoulder.
AB  - Shoulder pain frequently superimposes substantial disability on a limb already
      limited by hemiplegia. The subscapularis muscle is a major internal rotator of
      the shoulder and, therefore, plays a role in the flexor synergy pattern commonly
      seen in spastic hemiplegia. Thirteen patients with spastic hemiplegia, limited
      range of motion, and painful shoulders underwent percutaneous phenol blocks to
      the nerves to the subscapularis. Patients' ages ranged from 22 to 76 (x 46 years)
      and the duration of hemiplegia from two to 13 months. Immediate and significant
      (p < 0.01) improvements in range of motion were observed in abduction (21
      degrees), flexion (40 degrees), and external rotation (38 degrees). Relief of
      pain was also noted with the previously painful movement. Subscapularis nerve
      block is a new and potentially useful technique in the management of the painful
      hemiplegic shoulder.

PMID- 1444769
TI  - Phenol block for hip flexor muscle spasticity under ultrasonic monitoring.
AB  - Hip flexor spasticity, which is often associated with central nervous system
      (CNS) diseases, is a major impediment in rehabilitation. In order to cope with
      this problem, lumbar nerve blocking techniques developed by Meelhuysen and major
      and minor psoas muscle blocking techniques developed by Awad have been used in
      combination with physical therapies. Based on these techniques, we conducted
      major and minor psoas muscle phenol block (motor point block or intramuscular
      nerve block) under ultrasonic monitoring. Phenol block was conducted in nine
      patients with cerebral infarction (13 blocking procedures) and three with spinal
      cord injuries (six blocking procedures) while keeping them in a lateral position
      with the operation side upside. The beginning of the femoral nerves and part of
      the lumbar artery were visualized by ultrasound in some patients. As a result of
      the improvement of hip flexor spasticity, the range of hip joint motion
      (determined by the Mundale technique, prone hip extension and Thomas test)
      improved shortly after blocking. When physical therapy was conducted after
      blocking, improvement of skin care management was observed in eight cases,
      ability to keep in a stable sitting position in nine, improvement of a standing
      posture in three, increases in the ability to walk in two and alleviation of pain
      in three. Although nerve block is reported to result in hematoma, decreases in
      muscle force, pain, cystic/rectal disorders and hypogonadism, we have observed no
      such complication in our patients.

PMID- 1444770
TI  - Associated movement in hemiplegia: the effects of force exerted, limb usage and
      inhibitory training.
AB  - The intensity of associated movement or motor overflow in the contralateral limb
      during a unimanual task was evaluated in postacute traumatic brain injured (TBI)
      young adults with left side hemiplegia and age-matched controls. Both groups
      demonstrated increased overflow with increasing active limb force, although the
      trend was for greater overflow to occur in the TBI group, particularly when the
      spastic limb was active. Following three successive days of inhibitory training
      with electromyographic feedback, TBI subjects were able to significantly reduce
      the amount of overflow in the contralateral limb, greater inhibition occurring in
      the noninvolved limb during spastic limb movement. The results are discussed in
      terms of a dual model of inhibitory control and the role of such processes in
      uncoupling the limbs for independent limb usage.

PMID- 1444771
TI  - Negative transfer of training following brief practice of elbow tracking
      movements with electromyographic feedback from spastic antagonists.
AB  - This study aimed to overcome gaps in the literature by investigating effects of
      EMG feedback provided specifically from spastic muscles during antagonist phases
      of active movement, while controlling for the effects of practicing the movement
      and while testing for transfer of training without confounding several transfer
      phenomena. In a single training session, two groups of stroke patients practiced
      a pursuit tracking task by following a moving target with elbow flexion and
      extension, simultaneously attempting to reduce the activity of elbow flexors.
      Both groups tracked the target more accurately following training. Transfer tests
      failed to demonstrate effects of feedback on accuracy of tracking or on
      electromyographic activity during performance of the practiced task without
      feedback. Moreover, the group that was trained with electromyographic feedback
      exhibited negative transfer on variants of the practiced task: tracking faster or
      less predictable targets.

PMID- 1444772
TI  - Concentric versus combined concentric-eccentric isokinetic training programs:
      effect on peak torque of human quadriceps femoris muscle.
AB  - To determine the effects of isokinetic resistance training of the quadriceps, 25
      male volunteers were randomly assigned to five training groups: Concentric Slow
      (CS), Concentric Fast (CF), Concentric-Eccentric Slow (MS), Concentric-Eccentric
      Fast (MF), and Control (C). In training, subjects performed 20 contractions of
      each quadriceps using either 60 degrees/sec or 180 degrees/sec, for both sides,
      five days per week for 12 weeks. Testing consisted of measurement of peak torque,
      at intervals of 60 degrees/sec across a spectrum of velocities ranging from plus
      to minus 240 degrees/sec, at 0, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Repeated MANOVA using planned
      comparisons showed that all trained subjects made significant peak torque gains
      (p < .05), but that the gains made by MS and MF were greater. These findings
      suggest that the addition of an eccentric training component to a concentric
      isokinetic training program may allow greater peak torque gains regardless of the
      velocity.

PMID- 1444773
TI  - Relationship between two measures of upper extremity strength: manual muscle test
      compared to hand-held myometry.
AB  - One hundred and twenty-two individuals with spinal cord injuries at levels C4-6,
      Frankel classifications A through D, were evaluated to determine the relationship
      between the manual muscle test (MMT) and hand-held myometry as accurate methods
      for measuring muscular strength. More specifically, this study attempted to
      define a range of myometry scores that could be correlated with discrete MMT
      grades. It also investigated which of the two modalities (MMT or hand-held
      myometry) is the best reflection of improvement in muscle strength over time.
      Sequential motor strength examinations using both modalities were performed at 72
      hours, one week, and two weeks post SCI and then one, two, three, four, six, 12,
      18, and 24 months post injury. The data analyses included calculations of
      Spearman ranked correlations, analyses of variance, and linear regressions.
      Results showed that 22 of 24 correlations between MMT and myometry were
      significant at p values less than .001. The range of myometry measurements for a
      particular MMT grade appears to be most specific for MMT scores less than 4 (ie,
      poor-plus to good), and less specific for MMT scores greater than or equal to 4.
      The results of this study also indicate that myometry measurements detect
      increases in strength over time, which are not reflected by changes in MMT
      scores.

PMID- 1444774
TI  - Osteoarthritis of the hand and wrist in the post poliomyelitis population.
AB  - People with a chronic motor disability of the legs become increasingly more
      dependent upon their upper limbs for mobility and self-care skills as they age.
      Many of them complain of hand and wrist pain. A cross-sectional study of 61 post
      poliomyelitis survivors was done to determine the prevalence of osteoarthritis
      within this population and to determine any inherent risk factors. Each subject
      underwent a radiographic evaluation of both hands and wrist as well as a detailed
      physical examination. A questionnaire was used to ascertain a history of hand
      activity, use of canes/crutches, walkers and wheelchairs. The mean age of the
      population sample was 49 +/- 6 with a mean duration of disability of 35 +/- 4
      years. The prevalence of moderate or severe osteoarthritis of either the hand or
      wrist was 13% whereas the prevalence was 68% when cases with mild arthritic
      changes were also included. The risk factors associated with hand and wrist
      osteoarthritis in this population included age, lower limb weakness, use of an
      assistive devices, and severity of disability.

PMID- 1444775
TI  - Clinical and laboratory measures of postural balance in an elderly population.
AB  - The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare scores on the Balance
      Scale with laboratory measures of postural sway and other clinical measures of
      balance and mobility. Thirty-one elderly subjects were assessed on the clinical
      measures and the laboratory tests of postural sway while standing still and in
      response to pseudorandom movements of the platform. The average correlation
      between the Balance Scale and the spontaneous sway measures was -.55. It was
      slightly lower (r = -.38) for the same parameters measured during the
      pseudorandom tests. There were high correlations between the Balance Scale and
      the Balance Sub-Scale developed by Tinetti (r = .91), Barthel Mobility sub-scale
      (r = .67), and timed "Up and Go" (r = -.76). The Balance Scale was the most
      efficient measure (effect size > 1) to statistically discriminate between
      subjects according to their use of each type of mobility aide (walker, cane, no
      aids). These data contribute to existing information on the performance of the
      Balance Scale and supports the validity of the Balance Scale in this geriatric
      population.

PMID- 1444776
TI  - Aerobic capacity with two leg work versus one leg plus both arms work in men with
      peripheral vascular disease.
AB  - The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the correlation between ergometry
      in men with peripheral vascular disease exercising with both legs and with one
      leg and both arms. Fifteen men with peripheral vascular disease performed three
      symptom-limited exercise tests on an ergometer that could be operated from a
      wheelchair with both legs or with one leg and both arms. The three exercise
      conditions were both legs (arms stabilized), left leg plus both arms, and right
      leg plus both arms. The exercise parameters compared were maximum oxygen
      consumption, maximum heart rate, and duration of exercise. Blood pressure was
      monitored at two-minute intervals and oxygen saturation and electrocardiogram
      were monitored continuously. The mean VO2 max +/- standard deviation for both
      legs, right leg plus both arms, and left leg plus both arms were 14.36 +/- 6.15,
      14.86 +/- 4.09, 14.01 +/- 4.14 ml O2/kg-min, respectively. The mean duration of
      exercise +/- standard deviation were 12.01 +/- 5.74, 10.94 +/- 4.68, and 9.81 +/-
      4.70 minutes respectively. The mean maximum heart rate +/- standard deviation
      were 126 +/- 24, 137 +/- 23, 136 +/- 23, respectively for the same exercise
      conditions. The Pearson Correlation Coefficients for VO2 for both legs versus
      right leg plus both arms and left leg plus both arms were .639 and .873,
      respectively. The Pearson Correlation Coefficients for duration of exercise for
      both legs versus right leg plus both arms and left leg plus both arms were .837
      and .877, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1444777
TI  - Functional electrical stimulation leg cycle ergometer exercise: training effects
      on cardiorespiratory responses of spinal cord injured subjects at rest and during
      submaximal exercise.
AB  - This study investigated the cardiorespiratory (CR) responses at rest and during
      submaximal (0-W) functional electrical stimulation (FES)-induced leg cycle
      ergometer (LCE) exercise prior to and following a progressive intensity FES-LCEa
      exercise training program in spinal cord injured (SCI) subjects. Seven
      quadriplegics and six paraplegics participated in FES-LCE training three sessions
      per week for approximately 12 weeks (36 sessions). Monitored CR responses,
      including oxygen uptake (VO2), pulmonary ventilation (VE), respiratory exchange
      ratio (RER), arteriovenous O2 difference (a-vO2), blood pressure (BP), heart rate
      (HR), stroke volume (SV), total peripheral resistance (TPR), and cardiac output
      (Q), were determined before and after training. Power output (PO) increased
      significantly (p < .05) over the duration of the training program, indicating
      increased in strength and endurance of the paralyzed muscles used. Respiratory
      responses were not significantly altered by training in both groups. FES-LCE
      training significantly increased resting HR and SBP in quadriplegics and lowered
      SBP, DBP, and MAP in paraplegics. In both groups, HR and BP during submaximal
      exercise significantly decreased and SV and Q significantly increased after
      completion of the training program. These results suggest that FES-LCE training
      improves peripheral muscular and central cardiovascular fitness in SCI subjects.
      Posttraining HR and BP may also be more stable in quadriplegics and alleviate
      hypotension. This therapeutic exercise may ultimately lead to improved
      rehabilitation outcome and reduced stress during activities of daily living, and
      possibly reduce the risks for secondary CR disabilities.

PMID- 1444778
TI  - Heterotopic ossification in children with burns: two case reports.
AB  - Heterotopic ossification is the formation of ectopic bone in soft tissue, and has
      been reported as a rare complication in pediatric burn patients. At our hospital,
      two 86% body surface area burn patients developed heterotopic ossification in the
      shoulder, elbows, distal femur, proximal tibia, fibula, and ribs approximately
      four months after the burn injury. These two rare and unusual cases are presented
      documenting the clinical involvement, radiological studies, laboratory data, as
      well as treatment of their heterotopic ossification. Discussion will focus on the
      incidence, diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment of heterotopic ossification
      in burn patients and how this information relates to the specific diagnosis and
      management of the complication of heterotopic ossification in the burn child.

PMID- 1444779
TI  - Suprascapular neuropathy during progressive resistive exercises in a cardiac
      rehabilitation program.
AB  - A 56-year-old man developed left shoulder pain three weeks after starting a
      cardiac rehabilitation program, which consisted of submaximal aerobic and
      progressive resistive exercises. Pain in the left shoulder intensified and
      weakness developed one week later. He sought medical attention ten weeks after
      the onset. Physical examination showed only weakness of left shoulder abduction
      and external rotation with mild atrophy of the left supraspinatus and
      infraspinatus muscles. Electrodiagnostic study showed fibrillation potentials and
      positive sharp waves in the left supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles with
      delayed conduction to the supraspinatus. The left suprascapular notch was
      injected with local steroid. Within one week, improvement occurred, and one month
      later the patient was pain free and stronger. The motor latency returned to
      normal, and no fibrillations nor positive waves were seen. The patient returned
      to his previous functional level. Suprascapular neuropathy should be considered
      as a cause of shoulder pain and weakness in a person involved in any
      strengthening exercise program. A steroid injection of the suprascapular notch
      performed early may avoid the need for surgery.

PMID- 1444780
TI  - Anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome.
AB  - Anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome is a rarely reported entrapment neuropathy of the
      deep peroneal nerve under the extensor retinaculum at the ankle. The roof of the
      tunnel is the inferior extensor retinaculum. The floor is the fascia overlying
      the talus and navicular. Within the tunnel are four tendons, an artery, a vein,
      and the deep peroneal nerve. Two patients with foot pain and dysesthesias had
      prolonged peroneal distal latencies with reduced amplitudes from the extensor
      digitorum brevis (EDB). Electromyographic (EMG) abnormalities were confined to
      the EDB. Both patients underwent surgical decompression of the anterior tarsal
      tunnel with reduction of their pain and dysesthesias. If present, an accessory
      peroneal nerve, which does not go through the tunnel, can mask EMG findings in
      the EDB. Diagnosing anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome can also be difficult if
      there is a tendency to assume that fibrillation potentials in the EDB are due to
      shoe wear and prolonged peroneal latencies to cool extremities.

PMID- 1444781
TI  - An alternative bent-knee prosthesis.
AB  - Prosthetic fitting in patients with below-knee amputations and concurrent knee
      flexion contractures poses inherent difficulties to the prosthetic rehabilitation
      team. The standard bent-knee prosthesis is bulky and awkward. It treats the
      patient functionally as a knee disarticulation and yields no potential for
      improving the patient's degree of contracture. This paper describes a case report
      with an alternative to the bent-knee prosthesis that not only offered improved
      function relative to the standard bent-knee prosthesis, but also acted
      therapeutically by reducing the patient's knee-flexion contracture.

PMID- 1444782
TI  - Relegating "CVA" to the dust bin.

PMID- 1444783
TI  - Laparoscopic surgery. A difference.

PMID- 1444784
TI  - Laparoscopic hernia repair. The socioeconomic tyranny of surgical technology.

PMID- 1444785
TI  - Surgical oncology in the 21st century.

PMID- 1444786
TI  - Extended indications for functional limb-sparing surgery in extremity sarcoma
      using complex reconstruction.
AB  - From 1980 to 1991, 29 patients underwent complex reconstruction following
      extremity sarcoma resection. Soft tissue was the site of origin in 15 patients
      (52%) and bone was the site of origin in 14 patients (48%), with 20 sarcomas
      (69%) in the lower extremity. Resection consisted of the following procedures:
      extended anatomical soft-tissue resections (21 patients [72%]), bone resections
      (18 patients [62%]), and joint resections (14 patients [48%]). Reconstruction
      involved the following: myocutaneous flaps (20 patients [69%]), joint prosthesis
      (eight patients [28%]), and bone reconstruction (15 patients [52%]). There was no
      surgical mortality; one patient required an amputation owing to surgical
      complications. The site of the first failure was local (four [31%] of 13
      patients), lung (five patients [38%]), others (four patients [31%]). At a median
      follow-up of 23 months, 18 patients (62%) had no evidence of disease, 27 (93%)
      had no local disease, 21 (72%) had good extremity function, three (10%) had major
      disabilities, and five (17%) underwent amputations. Local control improved when
      the margin of resection was larger than 10 mm. Disease-free survival was 67% at 3
      years. Overall survival was 51% at 5 years. Tumor size was an independent
      predictor of overall survival. Local recurrence did not affect overall survival.

PMID- 1444787
TI  - Pulmonary resection for metastatic breast cancer.
AB  - Thirty-three patients treated primarily with surgical excision of pulmonary
      metastases from breast cancer were compared with 30 patients treated primarily
      with systemic chemohormonal therapy. Treatment for patients in the surgical group
      included pulmonary resection alone in 20, resection plus adjuvant systemic
      therapy in nine, and resection plus adjuvant radiation therapy in four. Treatment
      for patients in the medical group included systemic therapy alone in 22 and
      systemic therapy plus local radiation therapy in eight. Mean survival in the
      surgical group was significantly longer than that in the medical group, even when
      only those patients who manifested single pulmonary nodules were compared (58
      months vs 34 months). The overall 5-year survival rate after treatment of lung
      metastasis was significantly greater for the surgical group than for the medical
      group (36% vs 11%). The results of this study indicate that surgical resection
      should be considered in patients with breast cancer who develop operable
      pulmonary metastases without evidence for concomitant extrapulmonary disease. In
      selected patients, such therapy may result in a survival benefit.

PMID- 1444788
TI  - Management of small soft-tissue sarcoma of the extremity in adults.
AB  - To determine the significance of small (< or = 5 cm in diameter) soft-tissue
      sarcoma of the extremity, 174 adult patients were identified from information
      that had been entered prospectively into a database of 1742 patients between July
      1982 and December 1990. Median follow-up was 48 months. The majority of tumors
      were high grade (n = 114; 66%). Local recurrence (n = 17) was seen in patients
      with both high-grade (11%) and low-grade tumors (7%). Distant metastases were
      seen in 7% of high-grade tumors and in no low-grade tumors. The overall 5-year
      survival rate was 94% for all patients. Grade, depth, location, type of
      operation, and sex did not affect 5-year survival or local recurrence-free
      survival. Neither postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy nor radiation therapy
      resulted in superior 5-year survival or local recurrence-free survival when
      compared with no postoperative treatment. The prognosis of these lesions is
      favorable, and no additional prognostic factors were identified. Inclusion of
      these patients into adjuvant therapy trials examining survival is inappropriate.

PMID- 1444789
TI  - The James Ewing Lecture.

PMID- 1444790
TI  - Molecular surgery for cancer.
AB  - Advances in the understanding of the process of carcinogenesis may allow
      prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer to be approached at the molecular
      level. Studies in our laboratory show that growth factors (transforming growth
      factor alpha), dominant oncogenes (HER-2/erb B2 and K-ras), and tumor suppressor
      genes (p53) are functionally important in the maintenance of the malignant
      phenotype of human non-small-cell lung cancer cells. Application of these
      findings to clinical problems include the identification of p53 mutations as
      markers for malignant change in Barrett's epithelium, the use of discordant p53
      mutations to diagnose second primary malignant neoplasms in patients with head
      and neck cancer, and the potential for therapy by the reversal of genetic
      lesions.

PMID- 1444791
TI  - Relationship between disease-free interval and survival in patients with
      recurrent melanoma.
AB  - A total of 2468 patients with recurrent melanoma were subdivided on the basis of
      disease-free interval: group 1 had recurrences within 1 year (n = 810), group 2
      at years 1 to 3 (n = 1001), group 3 at years 3 to 5 (n = 363), group 4 at years 5
      to 10 (n = 329), and group 5 after 10 years (n = 145). Ten-year survivals were
      21%, 23%, 25%, 28%, and 35%, respectively. Patients who had recurrences within 1
      year had a decreased median survival compared with those who had later
      recurrences, although the differences were not clinically significant (only 6 to
      8 months). Survival was improved for the few patients who had recurrences longer
      than 10 years from diagnosis. However, for the majority of patients, who had
      recurrences between 1 and 10 years, the disease-free interval did not predict
      subsequent survival. The data support the hypothesis that malignant cells can
      exist in a state of relative quiescence for extended periods. Once disease
      reactivation occurs, however, the subsequent survival is relatively predictable
      and is independent of the initial period of tumor dormancy.

PMID- 1444792
TI  - The natural history of mammographic calcifications subjected to interval follow
      up.
AB  - The purpose of this investigation was to determine the natural history and risk
      of malignancy associated with isolated indeterminate microcalcifications
      subjected to interval follow-up. During a 2-year study, 91 patients were
      identified with indeterminate microcalcifications alone. Specific
      roentgenographic features of the calcifications were evaluated on initial and
      follow-up mammograms. During a mean follow-up of 36 months, 19 (21%) of the women
      exhibited mammographic changes. Ten patients (11%) with suspicious changes
      underwent a needle-directed biopsy 6 to 30 months after the initial mammographic
      screening. Five women (5.5%) were diagnosed as having breast carcinoma; three had
      invasive ductal carcinoma and two had purely intraductal lesions. Four patients
      had axillary lymph node dissections and no metastatic disease was found. We found
      no significant differences in the roentgenographic features associated with
      malignant vs benign lesions apart from an increased overall estimation of the
      probability of malignancy rating in the five patients with breast carcinoma. We
      recommend that patients be followed up with mammography at regular intervals for
      at least 18 months following recognition of indeterminate microcalcifications.

PMID- 1444793
TI  - Effect of supplemental dietary glutamine on methotrexate concentrations in
      tumors.
AB  - This study evaluated the effects of supplemental dietary glutamine (GLN) on
      methotrexate sodium concentrations in tumors and serum of sarcoma-bearing rats
      following the initiation of methotrexate. After randomization to a GLN diet
      (+GLN) or GLN-free diet (-GLN), tumor-bearing rats received 20 mg/kg of
      methotrexate sodium by intraperitoneal injection. The provision of supplemental
      GLN in the diet increased methotrexate concentrations in tumor tissues at 24 and
      48 hours (38.0 +/- 0.20 nmol/g for the +GLN group vs 28.8 +/- 0.10 nmol/g for the
      -GLN group and 35.6 +/- 0.18 nmol/g for the +GLN group vs 32.5 +/- 0.16 nmol/g
      for the -GLN group, respectively). Arterial methotrexate levels were elevated
      only at 48 hours (0.147 +/- 0.007 microns/L for the +GLN group vs 0.120 +/- 0.006
      microns/L for the -GLN group). Tumor morphometrics were not different between the
      groups but significantly greater tumor volume loss was seen even at 24 hours (
      2.41 +/- 1.3 cm3 for the +GLN group vs -0.016 +/- 0.9 cm3 for the -GLN group).
      Tumor glutaminase activity was suppressed in both groups at 48 hours, but more so
      in the +GLN group (0.94 +/- 0.13 mumol/g per hour for the +GLN group vs 1.47 +/-
      0.22 mumol/g per hour for the -GLN group). This study suggests that GLN may have
      therapeutic as well as nutritional benefit in oncology patients.

PMID- 1444794
TI  - 99mTc-IMMU-4 monoclonal antibody scan in colorectal cancer. A prospective study.
AB  - A blinded prospective study of 34 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma using
      the Fab' fragment of the anticarcinoembryonic antigen monoclonal antibody type
      IMMU-4 labeled with technetium 99m was conducted to compare, on a lesion-by
      lesion basis, the findings of radioimmunoscintigraphy, preoperative computed
      tomography, and exploratory celiotomy. Of 115 lesions detected at surgery, 113
      were adenocarcinoma. Radioimmunoscintigraphy detected 59 lesions and computed
      tomography detected 62; both studies combined detected 72. Twenty-nine (54%)
      lesions missed by radioimmunoscintigraphy and 24 (45%) missed by computed
      tomography were 1 cm or smaller. When both studies were combined, the
      sensitivities were 90%, 24%, and 42%, and the specificities were 52%, 86%, and
      61% for hepatic, extrahepatic intra-abdominal, and pelvic lesions, respectively.
      In 10 patients, additional information obtained with the radioimmunoscintigram
      could have altered the treatment of these patients. In this study,
      radioimmunodetection scan was complementary to computed tomographic scan in the
      examination of patients with colorectal carcinoma.

PMID- 1444795
TI  - Hepatic metastasis alters the immune function of murine liver nonparenchymal
      cells.
AB  - To examine the effect of a single hepatic focus of metastatic colon tumor on the
      immune function of liver non-parenchymal cells (NPCs) from C57Bl/6 mice, we
      injected 2.5 x 10(5) liver-derived murine colon adenocarcinoma (LD-MCA-38) cells
      beneath the liver capsule. Three weeks following injection of the tumor cells,
      the immune function of the NPCs was studied. The NPCs from tumor-bearing mice
      exhibited increased cytotoxic and proliferative activity. The NPCs from tumor
      bearing mice also contained a greater percentage of CD8+ and T-cell receptor
      gamma/delta+ liver-associated T lymphocytes. Levels of interleukin 6 and tumor
      necrosis factor were increased in the NPC supernatant, and interleukin 6 levels
      were increased in serum from tumor-bearing mice. We conclude that the presence of
      a single hepatic focus of metastatic tumor results in augmented immune function
      of murine liver NPCs.

PMID- 1444796
TI  - Cholera toxin pretreatment protects against tumor necrosis factor lethality
      without compromising tumor response to therapy.
AB  - Antitumor therapy with tumor necrosis factor is limited by systemic toxic
      effects. We studied whether cholera toxin, a bacterial exotoxin that adenosine
      diphosphate-ribosylates the alpha-subunit of Gs proteins, could separate the
      lethal from the antitumor effects of tumor necrosis factor. A single dose of
      intravenous cholera toxin protected non-tumor-bearing mice from a lethal dose of
      Escherichia coli endotoxin administered 6 or 24 hours later. On the basis of
      these results, tumor-bearing mice were randomized to receive either cholera toxin
      or saline, followed 6 hours later by either human tumor necrosis factor (400
      micrograms/kg) or saline. Tumor-bearing mice pretreated with cholera toxin had
      (1) reduced treatment-related mortality (0/11 vs 5/11 for saline controls) and
      (2) tumor regression similar to that of controls. In a separate experiment in
      tumor-bearing mice, intravenous human tumor necrosis factor treatment induced an
      increase in serum levels of murine tumor necrosis factor to a peak of 500 pg/mL
      at 1 hour in saline-pretreated controls, while a similar increase could not be
      detected in those mice pretreated with cholera toxin. These results suggest that
      pretreatment with cholera toxin can reduce the endogenous tumor necrosis factor
      response to administered tumor necrosis factor and separate the lethal from the
      antitumor effects. Cholera toxin may prove to be a useful tool for investigating
      the mechanisms underlying the varied effects of tumor necrosis factor.

PMID- 1444797
TI  - Surgical resection following interleukin 2 therapy for metastatic renal cell
      carcinoma prolongs remission.
AB  - Records of 399 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with
      interleukin 2 with or without lymphokine-activated killer cell immunotherapy
      enrolled in 14 separate clinical trials from multiple institutions were reviewed
      to determine whether patients with a partial response to interleukin 2 therapy
      would benefit from surgical resection of residual tumor. Sixty-two patients
      demonstrated objective responses (15.5%), 18 (4.5%) complete and 44 (11.0%)
      partial. Eleven patients underwent resection of residual tumor in the lung,
      kidney, retroperitoneum, or pelvis so that they had "surgically no evidence of
      disease" (SNED). Of these, 10 had partial responses, and one patient with
      progressive disease had a complete response. Comparison of response duration
      showed no difference between the complete response and SNED groups, but there was
      a significant difference between each of these groups and the partial response
      group. At this writing, all 11 patients in the SNED group remained alive without
      evidence of disease (median follow-up, 21 months). In contrast, only 14 patients
      (76%) with complete responses and 15 patients (35%) with partial responses
      remained free of disease progression. Enhanced survival of the complete response
      and SNED groups compared with the partial response group borders on significance
      and awaits longer follow-up. These data suggest that surgical resection, if
      technically feasible, may benefit patients who show a partial response to
      interleukin 2 treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

PMID- 1444798
TI  - Surgical glove powders bind latex antigens.
AB  - Latex surgical gloves have recently been identified as a potential source of
      allergens. Much of the current information suggests that the soluble proteins in
      latex may cause significant reactions in sensitive individuals. The starch
      powders used as a lubricant on some latex gloves have also been identified as
      potential allergens in some patients. In this study, we determined these powders
      to act as potential carriers of latex allergens. We have produced a polyclonal
      antiserum to be used as a reagent to study latex proteins. By Western blot
      analysis, we identified a significant interaction between latex proteins and
      starch powders. The binding of latex proteins to starch particles results in a
      glove particle that may have an increased potential to act as an allergen. The
      latex protein-starch particles represent a potential mechanism for exposure and
      sensitization of health care workers to latex allergens. Elimination of these
      particles from the operating room should reduce the route of sensitization and
      the potential for adverse reactions to latex.

PMID- 1444799
TI  - A new procedure for management of extrahepatic portal obstruction. Proximal
      splenic-left intrahepatic portal shunt.
AB  - For management of obstruction of the extrahepatic portal trunk in patients with
      healthy livers, we designed an end-to-side anastomosis between the proximal
      splenic vein and the umbilical portion of the left intrahepatic portal vein and
      performed a splenectomy to relieve portal hypertension, treat hypersplenism, and
      restore hepatic portal flow. To our knowledge, no other procedure more adeptly
      restores original hepatic blood flow. Creation of an anastomosis between the
      coronary vein and umbilical portion of the left intrahepatic portal vein is an
      alternative method.

PMID- 1444800
TI  - Massive intra-abdominal hemorrhage from a hepatic laceration caused by vomiting.
AB  - We present a case report of a previously undocumented incident of massive
      hemoperitoneum from a liver laceration secondary to vomiting. The patient
      presented with the complaint of vomiting and abdominal pain. Computed tomography
      revealed perihepatic and perisplenic fluid collections. With this evidence and a
      rapidly falling hematocrit, she underwent emergency laparotomy. Intraoperative
      findings included 3 L of blood in the abdomen and a liver laceration at the
      juncture of the liver and the falciform ligament.

PMID- 1444801
TI  - Studies on the prenatal toxicity of toluene in rabbits following inhalation
      exposure and proposal of a pregnancy guidance value.
AB  - Prenatal toxicity of toluene was determined in two separate studies by inhalation
      exposure of Himalayan rabbits. In the first study 15 artificially inseminated
      females per group were exposed to 30, 100, or 300 ppm and in the second study 20
      artificially inseminated females per group inhaled 100 or 500 ppm. In each case
      the rabbits were exposed for 6 hours per day from day 6 post-insemination (p.i.)
      to day 18 p.i. The respective controls inhaled conditioned clean air under the
      same exposure conditions. No signs of maternal toxicity were observed. All data
      obtained on gestational parameters were found to be within the variation range
      reported for this rabbit strain. The fetal external, soft tissue and skeletal
      findings were seen in toluene exposed fetuses in a frequency similar to the
      corresponding and/or historical controls. Differences observed between the groups
      were not concentration dependent and were considered incidental rather than
      compound related. Therefore, toluene was not embryotoxic, fetotoxic, or
      teratogenic for rabbits exposed during the period of organogenesis. The highest
      concentration tested under these conditions (500 ppm) was found to be a no
      observable-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for both the adult and the fetal
      Himalayan rabbit. Based on these and previous results of animal studies of
      prenatal toxicity, a safety or uncertainty factor approach is considered for
      setting limits of exposure for women at workplaces. A pregnancy guidance value of
      20 ppm is proposed.

PMID- 1444802
TI  - Auditory degeneration after exposure to toluene in two genotypes of mice.
AB  - Two inbred strains of mice, CBA/Ca (with a moderate hearing loss starting late in
      life) and C57BL/6J (with an early onset of spontaneous auditory degeneration),
      were exposed to toluene by inhalation (1000 ppm, 12 h/day, 7 days) at either 1 or
      6 months of age. Thresholds of auditory brainstem response (ABR) were measured 3
      5 days after exposure and assessed repeatedly up to the age of 16 months (C57) or
      23 months (CBA). Both strains of mice exposed to toluene at 1 month of age showed
      a mild loss of sensitivity at a high frequency (31.5 kHz) shortly after exposure.
      With increasing age, toluene exposure had little effect on the aging process of
      the auditory system in CBA mice but accelerated age-related hearing loss in C57
      mice. The results indicate that toluene exposure can aggravate auditory
      deterioration only in mice with a strong genetic predisposition to spontaneously
      precocious age-related hearing loss.

PMID- 1444803
TI  - Effects of p,p'-DDE and some other chlorinated hydrocarbons on the formation of
      prostaglandins by the avian eggshell gland mucosa.
AB  - Some structurally related chlorinated hydrocarbons were investigated for their
      effects on the production of prostaglandins by the eggshell gland mucosa of ducks
      and domestic fowl. Formation of PGF2 alpha, PGE2 and TxB2 by homogenates of
      domestic fowl eggshell gland mucosa was significantly inhibited by in vitro
      addition of p,p'-DDE, Arochlor 1242 and, to a lesser extent, Arochlor 1260, but
      not by p,p'-DDT and o,p'-DDE. Comparatively, in duck eggshell gland mucosa
      homogenates, synthesis of the same prostaglandins was somewhat more sensitive to
      inhibition by 5 microM p,p'-DDE added in vitro. Eggshell gland mucosa synthesized
      significantly more PGF2 alpha, PGE2 and TxB2 than did the mucosa of the magnum
      and isthmus regions of the oviduct. Duck eggshell gland mucosa homogenates
      synthesized significantly more prostaglandins than similar homogenates from the
      domestic fowl, and, considering the former synthesis of PGF2 alpha was
      significantly higher when ducks were slaughtered at 08:00 than at 16:00 hours. In
      ducks, dietary administration of 40 ppm, p,p'-DDE for 45 days resulted in 21%
      eggshell thinning compared to the contemporary control values. This treatment
      also resulted in notable effects in homogenates of the eggshell gland mucosa, as
      compared to controls: Ca2+ uptake was reduced by 43%, synthesis of PGF2 alpha,
      PGE2 and TxB2 was reduced by 26%, 38% and 53%, respectively; the Ca content was
      increased to 145%. The role of p,p'-DDE in inhibiting prostaglandin formation in
      the eggshell gland is discussed as a mechanism of the eggshell thinning action of
      this chlorinated hydrocarbon.

PMID- 1444804
TI  - Manganese induced brain lesions in Macaca fascicularis as revealed by positron
      emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.
AB  - A series of positron emission tomography scans was made on two monkeys during a
      16-month period when they received manganese(IV)oxide by subcutaneous injection.
      The distribution of [11C]-nomifensine uptake, indicating dopamine terminals, was
      followed in both monkey brains. The brain distributions of [11C]-raclopride,
      demonstrating D2 dopamine receptors, and [11C]-L-dopa, as a marker of dopamine
      turnover, were followed in one monkey each. The monkeys developed signs of
      poisoning namely unsteady gait and hypoactivity. The [11C]-nomifensine uptake in
      the striatum was reduced with time and reached a 60% reduction after 16 months
      exposure. This supports the suggestion that dopaminergic nerve endings degenerate
      during manganese intoxication. The [11C]-L-dopa decarboxylation was not
      significantly altered indicating a sparing of [11C]-L-dopa decarboxylation during
      manganese poisoning. A transient decrease of [11C]-raclopride binding occurred
      but at the end of the study D2-receptor binding had returned to starting values.
      The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed that the manganese accumulated in
      the globus pallidus, putamen and caudate nucleus. There were also suggestions of
      gliosis/edema in the posterior limb of the internal capsule. MRI might be useful
      to follow manganese intoxication in humans as long as the scan is made within a
      few months of exposure to manganese, i.e. before a reversal of the manganese
      accumulation.

PMID- 1444805
TI  - Paracetamol toxicity in hamster isolated hepatocytes: the increase in cytosolic
      calcium accompanies, rather than precedes, loss of viability.
AB  - Paracetamol is cytotoxic to hamster isolated hepatocytes by a mechanism that does
      not involve an early increase in [Ca2+]i. Although an increase in [Ca2+]i does
      occur, it accompanies rather than precedes, loss of viability. Studies with the
      ionophore, 4-bromo-A23187, suggest that although sustained elevations of [Ca2+]i
      per se can initiate cell death, this occurs at levels of [Ca2+]i only above 500
      nM. This concentration was not achieved on exposure of cells to a cytotoxic
      concentration of paracetamol for 30 min. The [Ca2+]i-response of hepatocytes to
      vasopressin stimulation was not altered by exposing the cells to toxic
      concentrations of paracetamol. This demonstrates that paracetamol does not cause
      any impairment in the mobilisation or redistribution of Ca2+. The role of
      elevated levels of [Ca2+]i in mediating chemically-induced cell-killing requires
      re-evaluation.

PMID- 1444806
TI  - Effects of the oxazolidinedione anticonvulsants trimethadione and dimethadione
      and the barbiturate homolog 5,5-dimethylbarbituric acid on N-nitrosodiethylamine
      initiated renal and hepatic carcinogenesis in the F344/NCr rat.
AB  - The oxazolidinedione anticonvulsant trimethadione (3,5,5-trimethyl-2,4
      oxazolidinedione, TMO) as well as its major metabolite, dimethadione (5,5
      dimethyl-2,4-oxazolidinedione, DMO), and a structural analog from the barbiturate
      series, 5,5-dimethylbarbituric acid (DMB), were fed to F344/NCr male rats
      previously given a single initiating injection of N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA).
      The known promoter, phenobarbital (5-ethyl-5-phenylbarbituric acid, PB), was
      employed in this study as a positive control. At dosage levels equimolar to 500
      ppm PB, none of the three compounds promoted development of hepatocellular
      adenomas or carcinomas, in contrast to PB. The two oxazolidinedione analogs and
      DMB caused minimal or no induction of cytochrome P450 isozyme 2B1 (CYP2B1)
      mediated alkoxyresorufin O-dealkylase activities following short-term (2 weeks)
      feeding to separate groups of 6-week-old male F344/NCr rats, in contrast to the
      dramatic induction caused by PB. Promotion of neither thyroid nor renal neoplasia
      was observed following prolonged feeding of any of the tested compounds, although
      a significantly higher frequency of premalignant renal cortical tubular lesions
      (dysplasias) was seen in rats exposed to TMO following NDEA initiation than in
      those treated with NDEA alone. These studies provide important additional data on
      structure/liver tumor promoting activity relationships, and yield further
      evidence that within this group of structurally related anticonvulsants, it is
      possible to separate anticonvulsant activity from tumor promoting activity in the
      rat liver.

PMID- 1444807
TI  - Acute infection of mice with highly virulent group B streptococci as a host
      resistance model for immunotoxicity assessment.
AB  - This report describes a unique model for immunotoxicity evaluation in mice. The
      model is adapted from previously described mouse models for group B streptococcus
      (GBS) infections in human neonates. In this disease as well as a number of human
      diseases caused by highly virulent pathogens, the mechanisms of innate immunity
      are unable to protect the host, and survival is strictly dependent on acquired
      immunity. Unlike other host resistance models widely used in immunotoxicity
      studies, the GBS model utilizes bacteria that are highly virulent for mice (LD50
      = 5-17 colony forming units). GBS is not virulent for adult humans and can be
      safely handled with typical precautions. Acquired immunity in the GBS model is
      induced during a 2 week period by two injections of heat-killed GBS. The
      immunizing doses are the minimum which will allow survival of 80-100% of mice in
      response to challenge with an otherwise lethal dose of live GBS (100 bacteria).
      Administration of the immunotoxic agents cyclophosphamide, carrageenan, or cobra
      venom factor during the immunization period and/or shortly before challenge
      significantly suppressed host resistance. For example, the composite mortality
      rate for unimmunized mice was 98% and the rate for immunized mice was 8.5%. For
      all groups treated with cyclophosphamide (one 75 mg/kg dose 48 h before each
      immunization) the mean mortality was 41 +/- 18%. The consistency of the model was
      evaluated by repetition of several treatments in independent experiments, and the
      model's consistency is comparable to that of other host resistance
      models.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1444808
TI  - Decrease of epinephrine-induced arrhythmia threshold in ethanol exposed rats.
AB  - An association between cardiac arrhythmias and ethanol use has been observed for
      some time. The sympathetic nervous system presumably plays an important role in
      the manifestation of cardiovascular ethanol responses. Therefore, we investigated
      the effects of ethanol treatment on epinephrine-induced arrhythmias. Female
      Wistar rats received 10 vol% ethanol or 2.5% glucose (control group) in their
      drinking water for 45 days. In ether anesthetized animals of both groups
      epinephrine (10 micrograms/kg.min) was infused via a lateral tail vein. The
      threshold dose for arrhythmias after epinephrine infusion (mainly 2nd and 3rd
      degree AV-blocks) was reduced beginning 2 days after the start of the ethanol
      treatment and the incidence of AV-blocks during epinephrine infusion was
      increased. During the ethanol treatment the prohypertensive epinephrine effect
      was slightly increased. The reflex bradycardia was not changed after repeated
      epinephrine infusion by ethanol treatment, whereas it was nearly abolished in the
      control group. No blood ethanol could be detected during the time of epinephrine
      infusion (9-12 a.m.), but determinations at 11 p.m. yielded a concentration of
      0.13 +/- 0.02 mg/g. The results show that the epinephrine-induced bradyarrhythmia
      threshold is reduced and the frequency of arrhythmic events is augmented in rats
      exposed to ethanol in the drinking fluid.

PMID- 1444809
TI  - Cellular toxicity of toluene on mouse gamete cells and preimplantation embryos.
AB  - Toluene is an aromatic hydrocarbon, which has been used in the paint, lacquer and
      glue industry. It has been detected in municipal water supplies. Previous mouse
      in vivo studies indicated that toluene administrated by gavage increased the
      embryonic mortality. The present in vitro study demonstrated that a concentration
      of toluene higher than 8.67 micrograms/ml not only decreased sperm motility and
      inhibited fertilization, but also significantly increased preimplantation embryo
      degeneration. At lower levels no effects were observed and the adverse effect
      levels were approximately 780 fold higher than reported levels in municipal water
      supplies.

PMID- 1444810
TI  - Hair analysis for drugs of abuse. V. The facility in incorporation of cocaine
      into hair over its major metabolites, benzoylecgonine and ecgonine methyl ester.
AB  - We studied the incorporation of cocaine (COC), benzoylecgonine (BE) and ecgonine
      methyl ester (EME) into hair from blood. At first, the time courses of three
      drugs in rat plasma following i.p. administration of cocaine were investigated
      over 360 min. AUCs of COC, BE and EME in plasma were 14.2, 60.7 and 53.4
      micrograms/ml/min, respectively. In contrast, the concentrations of the three
      compounds in hair were 16.4, 1.7 and 0.8 ng/mg. In spite of that, the AUC of COC
      in plasma was much lower than that of the other two compounds in plasma, the
      concentration of COC in hair was much higher than that of the other two
      compounds. The incorporation of COC into hair was much greater than that of BE
      and EME. If the incorporation of drugs from blood into hair is compared by
      [concentration in hair]/[AUC in plasma], that of COC, BE and EME is represented
      by 77:1.9:1. Our results suggest that the incorporation of drugs into hair from
      blood unexpectedly depends upon the physical properties of each drug.

PMID- 1444811
TI  - Statistical analysis of toxicokinetic data by nonlinear regression (example:
      inhalation pharmacokinetics of propylene)

PMID- 1444812
TI  - A national validation study of the acute-toxic-class method--an alternative to
      the LD50 test.
AB  - In a national collaborative study an alternative to the classical LD50 test--the
      acute-toxic-class method--was validated. With this testing procedure mortality
      ranges are determined between defined dose levels that are used for
      classification and labelling in the European Community. The results were compared
      with LD50 data obtained from the literature which were categorized according to
      the defined dose levels. The results of this collaborative study have shown that
      the acute-toxic-class method allows allocation to the toxicity classes of very
      toxic, toxic, harmful and unclassified in the same manner as on the basis of the
      classical LD50 tests. The acute-toxic-class method uses fewer animals and
      subjects fewer animals to pain and distress than the LD50 test and yields the
      same information on toxic signs in the treated animals. Identical classifications
      were obtained by the six participating laboratories in 86% of the tests. This
      demonstrates that the acute-toxic-class method results in excellent
      reproducibility in comparison to the classical LD50 test and that this new method
      is a reliable alternative to the LD50 test.

PMID- 1444813
TI  - Comparative toxicity of four chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs) and their
      mixture. Part I: Acute toxicity and toxic equivalency factors (TEFs).
AB  - There is presently no scientifically proven method to assess the toxicity of
      environmental samples containing complex mixtures of chlorinated dibenzo-p
      dioxins (CDDs) of known composition. Their risk assessment is currently based on
      the interim concept of toxicity equivalency factors (TEFs), with the unproven
      assumption that all interactions of CDDs are additive. To address this problem we
      conducted acute toxicity studies with four different CDDs, viz 2,3,7,8
      tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (tetra-CDD), 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
      (penta-CDD), 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (hexa-CDD) and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8
      heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (hepta-CDD), all containing chlorine substituents in
      the crucial 2,3,7,8-positions. The homologues, dissolved in corn oil/acetone,
      were administered to groups of five male Sprague Dawley rats at several doses (at
      least three) by gastric intubation. The obtained mortality data were employed to
      calculate the LD20,50 and 80 for each homologue. These data were subsequently
      used to prepare equipotent doses (expected mortality of 20, 50 and 80%) of a
      mixture containing all four homologues, each of them contributing one fourth of
      the toxicity, under the assumption of additive toxicity. The obtained LD50 value
      and (TEF) was for tetra-CDD 43 micrograms/kg (1), penta-CDD 206 micrograms/kg
      (0.2) hexa-CDD 887 micrograms/kg (0.05) and hepta-CDD 6325 micrograms/kg (0.007),
      respectively. The dose-response to the mixture confirmed the hypothesis of strict
      additivity in the acute toxicity of the four CDD homologues.

PMID- 1444814
TI  - Spontaneous neoplasms in aged Sprague-Dawley rats.
AB  - Incidence of neoplastic lesions in untreated Sprague-Dawley rats (1340 males and
      1329 females) used as controls in 17 carcinogenicity studies are tabulated and
      evaluated. In male rats, the most common neoplasms were benign pheochromocytomas
      and keratoacanthomas (4.0% in each case) followed by pancreatic islet cell
      adenomas (3.7%), thyroid parafollicular cell adenomas (3.6%), fibromas and
      squamous cell papillomas of the skin and hepatocellular adenomas (2.0% in each),
      malignant lymphoma lymphocytic (1.9%), histiocytic sarcomas (1.4%), and adrenal
      cortical adenomas (1.2%). In female rats, the most common neoplasms were of
      mammary gland origin (31.3%: fibroadenoma 19.0%, adenocarcinomas 8.8%, and
      adenomas 3.5%) followed by thyroid parafollicular cell adenomas (2.9%), uterine
      endometrial stromal polyps (2.6%), adrenal cortical adenomas (1.9%), malignant
      lymphoma lymphocytic (1.6%), fibromas in the skin (1.3%), and pancreatic islet
      cell adenoma (1.1%). Metastases were observed from pheochromocytomas,
      hepatocellular carcinomas, nephroblastomas, renal pelvis transitional cell
      carcinoma, interstitial cell tumor and seminoma of the testes, Zymbal's gland
      adenocarcinomas, and mammary adenocarcinomas.

PMID- 1444815
TI  - Poisoning with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid treated by hemodialysis.
AB  - In this paper four patients are presented who had been poisoned by 2,4
      dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). The first patient, aged 51 years, had
      attempted to commit suicide by taking orally 400 ml of a 40% solution of 2,4-D.
      He was admitted in a coma, 6.5 h after poisoning. Extracorporal hemodialysis was
      performed and the course of the illness was satisfactory. The second patient,
      aged 80 years, had accidentally drunk 100 ml of a 40% solution of 2,4-D. He was
      admitted in a coma a few hours after poisoning. Hemodialysis and resin
      hemoperfusion were performed and the course of the illness was satisfactory.
      Prior to the above therapy the patient had a 2,4-D serum concentration of 177
      mg/100 ml. 2,4-D clearance was 56.3 ml/min during this therapy. The third
      patient, aged 24 years, had drunk 200 ml of a 40% solution of 2,4-D in a suicide
      attempt, and paraquat poisoning was also suspected. He was admitted 10 h after
      poisoning and immediately hemodialysis and hemoperfusion were carried out: the
      course of the illness was satisfactory. On admittance the concentration of 2,4-D
      in serum was 122.5 mg/100 ml, and clearance was 72.9 ml/min during treatment. The
      fourth patient, aged 50 years, had accidentally drunk 100-200 ml of a 40%
      solution of 2,4-D. He was admitted in a coma 3 h after poisoning. Hemodialysis
      was performed and the course of the illness was satisfactory. On admittance the
      concentration of 2,4-D in serum was 37 mg/100 ml and clearance was 68.7
      ml/min.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1444817
TI  - [A new counting method of airborne Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen
      allergens by immunoblotting using anti-Cry j I monoclonal antibody].
AB  - We produced monoclonal antibodies against the major allergen of Japanese cedar
      (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen, Cry j I. KW-S10 antibody reacted only with
      Japanese cedar pollen and KW-S91 antibody reacted to most angiospermae pollens as
      well as Japanese cedar pollen. Using these antibodies, we devised a new counting
      method of Japanese cedar pollen allergen particles by an immunoblotting
      technique. Airborne pollen allergens were collected on vaseline coated glass
      slides or Burkard's sampling tape and were transferred onto polyvinylidene
      difluoride (PVDF) membranes. The membranes were treated with anti-Cry j I
      monoclonal antibody conjugated with alkaline phosphatase. Pollen allergens were
      detected as spots on the membranes after staining with phosphatase substrate
      (BCIP/NBT). This method using KW-S10 antibody measured only the amounts of
      allergen from Japanese cedar pollen, while with KW-S91 antibody, the method
      measured the amounts of pollens which have antigenicity in common with Japanese
      cedar pollen.

PMID- 1444816
TI  - Kinetics and renal effects of formic acid in occupationally exposed farmers.
AB  - Twelve male farmers (38 +/- 14 years of age, mean +/- SD) were exposed to 7.3 +/-
      2.2 mg formic acid/m3 for 8 h in the silage making (mean +/- SD, N = 12). Each
      gave urine samples immediately, 15 h and 30 h after the end of the exposure. The
      excretion of formate was linearly related to the exposure 15 and 30 h after the
      exposure. Exposure increased renal ammoniagenesis and urinary calcium at 30 h
      post-exposure. Both biochemical effects may be explained by the interaction of
      formic acid with the oxidative metabolism of renal tubular cells, as formic acid
      is a known inhibitor of the cytochrome oxidase. In view of these renal effects,
      the current hygienic limits may not entirely protect exposed individuals.

PMID- 1444818
TI  - [Study of liver function in babies with atopic dermatitis by using 13C-methacetin
      breath test].
AB  - We measured serum GOT levels in babies with atopic dermatitis and food allergy.
      Two hundred and fourteen babies (133 male, 18 female, under 2 years of age) who
      first visited the Department of Allergy in the National Children's Hospital were
      examined. Their serum GOT levels were higher than normal; the younger they were,
      the higher the serum GOT levels were. We carried out the 13-methacetin breath
      test (MBT) on 11 babies with atopic dermatitis and high serum GOT levels as well
      as 5 normal babies to estimate their hepatic microsomal function. 13C-methacetin
      was administered (0.5 mg/kg) orally, and breath was collected at 30 minutes
      before and immediately before administration. After administration it was
      collected at 15 minute intervals for the first hour and 45 minute intervals for
      90 consecutive minutes afterwards. The level of 13CO2 in their breath was
      determined with a mass spectrometer. The peak level of 13CO2 excretion (%dose/hr)
      in the atopic babies with high serum GOT levels was lower and the time required
      for 13CO2 excretion to reach its maximum level was longer than in normal babies.
      Also their 13CO2 clearance rate (%/hr) was lower. These results suggested that
      there was some relationship between atopic dermatitis and liver dysfunction in
      babies.

PMID- 1444819
TI  - [Efficacy of early use of continuous isoproterenol inhalation therapy for severe
      asthma attacks in children].
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of continuous
      isoproterenol inhalation therapy for asthma attacks in children. We used l-body
      isoproterenol (Proternol L) in 22 children with 32 episodes of severe attacks.
      One of them did not respond to this therapy, and two had complications
      (atelectasis and pneumothorax). Twenty-nine cases were divided into three
      subgroups according to their clinical scores; A) scores less than or equal to 4,
      which meant that they were in the early stage of severe attack (n = 9), B) scores
      5-6, which meant impending respiratory failure (n = 17), C) scores greater than
      or equal to 7, which meant respiratory failure (n = 3). The values of SpO2 at the
      start of this therapy were 94.8, 91.5, 82.0%, respectively. The more severe their
      attacks were, the lower their SpO2 levels were. The periods until their scores
      became zero were 0.78, 6.3, 17.2 hours, respectively. There were significant
      differences between each period respectively (p less than 0.001, p less than
      0.01). Heart rates decreased when their symptoms improved, and other adverse
      effects were not detected. These results suggest that this therapy is effective
      and safe for children with severe asthma attacks, especially in the early stage.

PMID- 1444820
TI  - [A study of skin test with regard to age differences and agreement with positive
      results from the RAST and ELISA methods].
AB  - Skin tests of the scratch type were performed on 132 asthmatic patients with 28
      allergens. The threshold titers of skin test, RAST and ELISA of house dust, HD
      mites, Japanese cedar pollen, ragweed pollen and orchard grass pollen were
      included. The main skin-positive allergens among the patients were as follows:
      house dust, HD mites, Japanese cedar pollen, orchard grass pollen, timothy grass
      pollen and ragweed pollen. There are age differences on skin-positive rates among
      4 age groups of the patients; 90% of the patients under 40 years old groups
      reacted positively to any of 28 allergens, while half number of the patients
      groups over 40 years old reacted positively to the allergens. According to the
      quantitative analysis between threshold titers of skin test and RAST titers using
      house dust and HD mites allergens, specific IgE production shall be decreased in
      the patients over 40 years old. Using 5 main allergens above mentioned, the
      agreements of positive responses between three methods were compared. RAST
      positive responses correlated well with the skin test results, while ELISA
      positive responses correlated rather poorly with the skin test results. However,
      correlation between RAST and ELISA results was relatively good. The correlation
      of positive responses to house dust and HD mites by the three methods was very
      good, but there were some cases where positive responses were obtained by only
      one of the methods.

PMID- 1444821
TI  - [The dysfunction of human peripheral blood dendritic cells on concanavalin A
      induced T cell responses in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].
AB  - The accessory cell (AC) functions of peripheral blood dendritic cells (PDC) in
      concanavalin A (Con A)-induced T cell proliferation were investigated in patients
      with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In Con A-induced T cell proliferation
      using added autologous PDC, AC activity was present in SLE patients (p less than
      0.01). The Con A-induced T cell proliferation, however, was significantly lower
      in SLE patients than in normal subjects (p less than 0.01), and the level of
      decrease became greater with increased activity of the disease (p less than
      0.01). In investigating the Con A-induced T cell proliferation using added
      allogeneic PDC, we compared T cells from SLE patients + PDC from normal subjects
      or T cells from normal subjects + PDC from SLE patients with T cells + allogeneic
      PDC both from normal subjects. The former two combinations showed significantly
      reduced T cell proliferation in active SLE (p less than 0.01 for each), while no
      significant differences were found for inactive SLE. The above results suggest
      that the reduced function of PDC as AC may be involved in reduced Con A-induced T
      cell proliferation in patients with active SLE.

PMID- 1444822
TI  - Is a trypsin-like protease of mites a Der f III allergen?
AB  - A trypsin-like protease was purified from mite (Dermatophagoides farinae) fecal
      extract. In SDS-PAGE, the mite trypsin-like protease showed a single band at 34
      kD. The purified trypsin-like protease possessed potent allergenic activity. Both
      the twenty N-terminal amino acid sequence and the amino acid composition of the
      purified protease were very similar to those of Der f III. These data strongly
      suggest that the trypsin-like protease in the mite is a Der f III allergen.

PMID- 1444823
TI  - [Immunity, allergy and aging].

PMID- 1444824
TI  - [The inhibitory effects of anti-asthmatic agents on ethanol-induced
      bronchoconstriction in Japanese asthmatic patients].
AB  - Asthmatic symptoms are worsened after drinking small amounts of alcoholic
      beverages in Japanese asthmatic patients. Our previous results showed that the
      ingestion of pure ethanol caused a fall in FEV1.0 in about half of the Japanese
      asthmatics we studied. We studied the inhibitory effects of pretreatment with
      three kinds of anti-asthmatic agents on ethanol-induced bronchoconstriction in
      six Japanese asthmatic patients. We tested oral cyproheptadine hydrochloride (8
      mg), which is an anti histamine agent, inhaled disodium cromoglycate (2 mg),
      which has an inhibitory effect on the release of chemical mediators from mast
      cells, and inhaled atropine sulfate (3 mg), which is an anti-cholinergic agent.
      Pretreatment with cyproheptadine significantly inhibited the fall in FEV1.0 120
      minutes after ethanol challenge (p less than 0.05). Inhaled DSCG had significant
      inhibitory effects on the fall in FEV1.0 15 and 30 minutes after ethanol
      challenge (p less than 0.05). Inhaled atropine had no inhibitory effect. These
      results suggest that histamine, released from mast cells, plays an important role
      in ethanol induced bronchoconstriction in Japanese asthmatic patients.

PMID- 1444825
TI  - [Proposal of a new classification of adult bronchial asthma--child onset asthma,
      adult onset asthma and adult relapse asthma. Project Team for Research into Adult
      Bronchial Asthma in Japan].
AB  - The first nationwide research into adult bronchial asthma in Japan proposed a new
      classification of adult asthma. Adult asthma was categorized into child onset
      asthma, adult onset asthma and adult relapse asthma. The frequency of child onset
      asthma, adult onset asthma and adult relapse asthma in adult asthma was 11.2%,
      77.3% and 3.7%, respectively. The frequency of child onset asthma decreased
      markedly in the older age group. On the other hand, the frequency of adult onset
      asthma increased, and reached more than 90%, in the older age group. The
      frequency of the following factors: atopic asthma, complications with other
      atopic diseases, mild asthma, male patients, experience of mechanical
      ventilation, visits to night clinics and oxygen therapy on acute attack, was
      significantly higher in the child onset asthma group than in the adult onset
      asthma group. The frequency of infectious type, aspirin intolerance, steroid
      dependent asthma, severe asthma and regular medication was significantly higher
      in the adult onset asthma group. Adult relapse asthma seemed to fall between
      these two groups. Based on the above observations, we proposed a new
      classification of adult asthma which includes child onset asthma, adult onset
      asthma and adult relapse asthma.

PMID- 1444826
TI  - [Studies of lymphocyte activation on late asthmatic response in adult asthma].
AB  - Late asthmatic response (LAR) as well as delayed asthmatic response (DeAR) is an
      important clinical characteristic in adult severe asthma. These responses might
      be based on cell to cell interaction following lymphocyte activation. Therefore,
      to clarify the pathogenesis of LAR, we studied the lymphocyte functions of adult
      asthmatics with LAR provoked by inhalation of house dust and Candida antigen. The
      results revealed that mite antigen-specific lymphocyte blastogenesis, IL-2 and
      ECF production were significantly higher in asthmatics with LAR provoked by house
      dust antigen than in normal subjects and asthmatics with IAR by house dust and
      LAR by Candida, though there was no significant difference in NCF. Candida
      antigen-specific lymphocyte blastogenesis, IL-2, ECF and NCF production were
      significantly higher in asthmatics with LAR provoked by Candida antigen than in
      normal subjects and asthmatics with IAR or LAR provoked by house dust. There was
      a positive correlation between Candida antigen-specific IL-2 and NCF production
      in asthmatics with LAR provoked by Candida antigen. These results suggest that
      antigen-specific lymphocyte activation may play an important role in the
      pathogenesis of LAR, especially in asthmatics with LAR provoked by Candida
      antigen, and that LAR and DeAR should be considered inclusively as cell-mediated
      allergy.

PMID- 1444827
TI  - [Diagnosis of food allergy based on rectal mucosal cytology].
AB  - We performed rectal and/or oral challenge tests on 8 patients with suspected but
      unproven diagnosis of food allergy based on detailed medical history and findings
      from radioallergosorbent tests (RAST). The cells appearing in the rectal mucosal
      smear serially for 48 hours after allergen challenge were examined. The following
      results were obtained: 1) Significant numbers of not only eosinophils but also
      mast cells appeared in the rectal smears after challenges with suspected-food
      allergens, but not with unrelated foods. This confirmed the antigen-specificity
      of the method. 2) In some cases, the appearance of mast cells and eosinophils was
      bimodal, suggesting the existence of a later allergic response in addition to an
      immediate-type reaction. 3) The food-specific appearance of mast cells and
      eosinophils was observed in association with clinical symptoms after challenge,
      even in patients whose IgE antibodies to the allergen were negative or
      commercially unavailable. In conclusion, we propose that rectal mucosal cytology
      in conjunction with rectal and/or oral challenge tests is a reliable and
      objective method to diagnose unproven or suspected food allergy.

PMID- 1444828
TI  - [Evaluation of Oriton IgE, a new kit for measurement of allergen specific IgE
      antibodies].
AB  - To determine whether Oriton IgE kit, a new kit for the measurement of allergen
      specific IgE antibodies, is useful in screening allergen-specific antibody, we
      measured the titers of IgE antibodies against 11 different allergens (house dust
      2, Dermatophagoides farinae, Japanese cedar, ragweed pollen, egg white, milk, cat
      epithelium, dog epithelium, Candida, Alternaria and Aspergillus) with the Oriton
      IgE kit, and the results were compared to those of intradermal tests and RAST in
      103 allergic patients and 10 normal subjects. There was a clear correlation
      between IgE antibody titers measured by the Oriton IgE kit and the RAST. The
      correlation coefficient was 0.76 (p less than 0.01) and the total correspondence
      rate was 85.9%. We also found strong correlation between the Oriton IgE kit and
      RAST in IgE antibody titer against 5 different allergens, Dermatophagoides
      farinae, Japanese cedar, ragweed pollen, egg white and Candida. The correlation
      coefficient was over 0.70. The correspondence rate, sensitivity and specificity
      of the Oriton IgE kit to intradermal tests was 71.8%, 45.3% and 87.8%
      respectively. The sensitivity of the Oriton IgE kit was slightly higher, while
      the specificity was slightly higher in RAST, although the differences were not
      statistically significant between these methods. Correspondence rate of the
      Oriton IgE kit was similar to that of RAST. These results suggested that the
      Oriton IgE kit is useful in screening allergen specific IgE antibodies.

PMID- 1444829
TI  - [Evaluation of the sensitized condition of patients with allergic diseases in
      Okinawa using the MAST allergy system].
AB  - We determined, using the MAST system, specific IgE antibodies to allergens in the
      circulating blood of 127 patients with bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and
      atopic dermatitis in Okinawa. The positive rates to inhalant allergens in all
      patients examined by the MAST system were as follows: Dermatophagoides farinae
      65%, house dust 58%, cat epithelium 17% and Japanese cedar 9%. In addition, the
      positive rates to food allergens found in all patients were as follows: wheat
      16%, shrimp 14%, egg white, rice and crab 12%. The average number of positive
      allergens in the patients with atopic dermatitis was larger than that in those
      with allergic respiratory diseases only. The above five specific IgE antibodies
      were detected simultaneously in 12 (9%) of the 127 patients. In addition, the
      average number of overlapping positive allergens was 2.0 in all patients. From
      these results, it was suggested that the number of overlapping positive allergens
      in patients on Okinawa is smaller than in other areas of Japan as compared with
      other papers.

PMID- 1444830
TI  - [Time course of drug concentrations in nebulizers and nebulized solutions].
AB  - The drug concentrations in nebulizers and nebulized solutions generated by the
      ultrasonic nebulizer OMRON NE-U10B and the jet nebulizer INSPIRON NEBULIZER
      002305 were examined. With the ultrasonic nebulizer, increases in the
      concentrations of saline, DSCG and isoproterenol in the nebulizer were observed;
      the concentrations of those in the nebulized solutions also increased. The
      increase was most dramatic just before the solution was emptied. No degradations
      of DSCG or isoproterenol were detected in the nebulized solutions, indicating
      that these drugs are stable against ultrasonic nebulization. An increase in the
      drug concentrations in the jet nebulizer was also observed. The concentrations of
      the nebulized solutions also increased, but the concentrations in the nebulized
      solution were lower than those in the nebulizer at any time. On inhalation
      therapy, it is important to give consideration to these concentration changes.
      The nebulizer should not, for example, be refilled with a new drug solution.

PMID- 1444831
TI  - [Itching and allergic diseases].

PMID- 1444832
TI  - [A rapid measuring technique for allergen-induced IL2 responsiveness of
      lymphocytes by the propidium iodide-staining method. Detection of the etiological
      antigen in patients with allergic diseases].
AB  - A method for rapidly measuring the interleukin 2 (IL-2)-responsiveness of
      allergen-stimulated lymphocytes has been newly developed using propidium iodide
      (PI) staining and drawing ink quenching of the fluid medium fluorescence. There
      was a linear correlation between the number of PI-stained cells and the
      fluorescence intensity. The background was less than 5 percent. This
      fluorochromasia assay reflected the cell number for the quantitative measurement
      of lymphocyte proliferation. Antigen-activated patient cells added to IL2, showed
      greater increase in 3H-TdR uptake than IL-2-untreated cells, and were capable of
      acquiring IL2 responsiveness. Increased numbers of the cells were observed by
      both the PI- and trypan blue-staining methods. In contrast, unstimulated cells
      also showed increased 3H-TdR uptake response without increased cell numbers on
      stimulation with r-IL2 by a 6.8 to 19.3 fold stimulation index compared to the
      antigen-activated cells. The results indicated that the unstimulated cells in
      addition with r-IL2 still remained in the initial phase of the DNA-synthetic (S)
      period through the cell cycle, whereas the activated cells had passed through the
      post-synthetic gap (C2) and/or cell division at mitosis (M). 3H-TdR uptake of
      cultured cells usually demonstrates the presence of antigen-sensitized
      lymphocytes by in vitro proliferative response, and shows an increased
      stimulation index in 4 or 7 day cultured cells on stimulation with allergens.
      However, proliferation of some cell populations decreased; furthermore no
      distinct differences in cell proliferation between allergic and normal
      lymphocytes were observed, as is usual in this assay, although the present method
      was capable of measuring increased-IL2 responsiveness of patient lymphocytes. The
      results indicate that the 3H-TdR uptake method can not be substituted for cell
      enumeration in the evaluation of the antigen-specificity of induced-IL2
      responsiveness of activated cells. Therefore, cell enumeration using the PI
      staining method may be preferable in this system. The induced response was
      observed in lymphocytes from patients with atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma
      and/or allergic rhinitis specifically on stimulation with the antigen causing
      clinical symptoms. The results obtained using the PI-staining method were very
      similar to those in previous reports where the trypan blue staining method was
      employed. The present method appears to be capable of rapidly screening
      etiological antigens for disease and easily monitoring clinical activity.

PMID- 1444833
TI  - [Inhibition of Cls activity by methylprednisolone].
AB  - From a clinical study it was found that serum ClINH activity increased 6 hours
      after methylprednisolone (MP) pulse therapy in all the patients we studied with
      connective tissue diseases. Furthermore plasma ClINH-Cls complex decreased after
      pulse therapy. These phenomena lead us to investigate the effect of MP on Cls. 1)
      When a constant amount of Cls (8 micrograms/ml) was incubated with several
      concentrations of MP (2-50 mg/ml), the Cls activity of consuming C4 hemolysis was
      inhibited by MP in a dose-dependent manner. 2) MP inhibited consumption of C2 as
      well as C4 by Cls in a dose-dependent manner, even when MP had been removed by
      dialysis following incubation with Cls. These experimental data suggested that
      the trace amounts of Cls generated by immune complexes could be inhibited by long
      circulation of MP even at low concentrations in vivo, and resulted in a decrease
      of ClINH consumption and ClINH-Cls complex formation. These results indicated
      that the inhibition of Cls activity is one of the most important mechanisms in
      the process of the anti-inflammatory effect of MP in vivo.

PMID- 1444834
TI  - [A relationship between the annual onset day of Japanese cedar pollinosis and
      pollen dispersion].
AB  - A statistical analysis of the annual day of onset of Japanese cedar pollinosis
      was carried out on a total of 305 patients seen at the out-patient clinic for
      allergic diseases in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of Kyoto Prefectural
      University of Medicine between 1989 and 1991 (3 years). The day of onset varied
      among individuals and was distributed over a period of about one month, in
      patient number statistics, however, a clear single peak was seen for all 3 years.
      The day of onset in most patients showed tendency to peak after January 1, i.e.,
      when the maximum temperature integral is approximately 450 degrees C, on warm
      days where the maximum temperature exceeds 15 degrees C, on days where there is
      little rain, and on days when there is a strong southerly wind. This peak onset
      day is about 3 weeks after first day of pollen count, or 3 or 4 days before the
      first dispersion peak, which corresponds to the day on which pollen dispersion
      begins in earnest. Furthermore, it was found that there was a drastic increase in
      the attack rate (from 10% to more than 50%) in pollinosis patients about 1 week
      before the peak day of onset. By the first dispersion peak, 70-80% of the
      patients had experienced an attack. The results of the present study may be
      useful in pollen forecasting and in treating early pollinosis in the dispersion
      season.

PMID- 1444835
TI  - [Allergy to casein hydrolysate formula. A study of sensitizing allergen].
AB  - A six-month old baby, who had been fed for 2 months with casein hydrolysate
      formula (MA-1) for treatment of milk allergy, developed diarrhea. The baby's RAST
      score for milk was negative. IgE antibodies to MA-1 but not to MA-1 depleted of
      lipid (fat-free MA-1), were demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
      (ELISA). It was confirmed by the appearance of numerous mast cells and
      eosinophils in a rectal smear taken after challenge with MA-1 (but not detected
      after challenge with fat-free MA-1) that some component in the lipid of MA-1 must
      be an allergen in this patient.

PMID- 1444836
TI  - [A case of food-dependent anaphylaxis induced by alcohol].
AB  - A 35-year-old male doctor experienced an anaphylactic reaction of urticaria,
      unconsciousness and hypotension one hour after taking a meal including crab meat
      and alcohol (beer 350 ml+Japanese sake 100 ml). He recovered within several hours
      after emergency treatment. Another attack occurred 6 months later after taking a
      meal including crab meat and alcohol. Serum IgE showed 3073 IU/ml. IgE-RAST and
      skin tests were positive for crab. A crab meat plus alcohol challenge test
      revealed a slight increase in plasma histamine level. This is a rare case of food
      (crab meat)-dependent anaphylaxis possibly induced by alcohol.

PMID- 1444837
TI  - [Role of opioid peptide in rheumatoid arthritis--detection of beta-endorphin in
      synovial tissue].
AB  - The presence of beta-endorphin (beta-end) was immunohistologically identified in
      synovial tissue samples biopsied from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and
      osteoarthritis (OA). The amount of beta-end in culture supernatants of synovial
      tissue explants was also determined by RIA. beta-end was strongly detected in
      mainly superficial synovial cells, vascular endothelial cells and a few synovial
      interstitial cells in RA patients, but not in OA patients. In RA patients the
      beta-end concentration was significantly higher in the supernatants of tissue
      explants (26.4 +/- 8.3 pg/ml) than in the plasma of the same patients (15.3 +/-
      2.5 pg/ml) (p < 0.01). Using isolated synovial cells, the beta-end concentration
      in the culture supernatants of non-adherent cells (19.4 pg/ml) was higher than
      that of adherent cells (4.0 pg/ml). It is suggested that beta-end is produced by
      non-adherent cells such as lymphocytes and neutrophils in addition to synovial
      lining cells and endothelial cells and may play some role in the pathology of RA
      synovial inflammation.

PMID- 1444838
TI  - Proteoglycan obtained from bovine aorta suppress thrombin-induced platelet
      aggregation.
AB  - Proteoglycan (PG), isolated and purified from bovine aorta (intima-media),
      consisted of 68.6% chondroitin 4/6-sulfate (CS 4/6-S), 30% dermatan sulfate (DS),
      1.4% heparan sulfate (HS), and a trace of hyaluronic acid (HA). PG did not affect
      platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen, and epinephrine, but inhibited
      that induced by thrombin. Of the standard GAGs investigated, hyaluronic acid (HA)
      and CS-4/6-S slightly inhibited only thrombin-induced platelet aggregation.
      However, PG and standard GAGs did not affect the thrombin induced aggregation of
      washed platelets. The effect of PG after papain digestion on thrombin-induced
      platelet aggregation was less potent than that before. It is suggested by the
      results of this study that PG in the aorta inactivates plasma thrombin, probably
      by inhibiting thrombin activators or potentiating substances which inactivate
      thrombin and that these effect of PG would be mainly due to PG-DS and partly due
      to PG-HS.

PMID- 1444839
TI  - Metabolic aspects of endothelial cells cultured from rat aortae.
AB  - We measured the lactate production, oxygen uptake and ATP in aortic endothelial
      cells cultured from young Wistar female rats. For these experiments, thoracic
      aortae were removed from the animals, minced into small pieces and transferred
      onto culture plates, to which a growth factor was added. When the endothelial
      cells had proliferated, the original pieces were removed from the culture and the
      remaining cells were subcultured until the 3rd passage. Regarding the growth
      curves of the 3rd passage, a logarithmic growth phase (Pg) was found from the 2nd
      to the 7th days and a stationary phase (Ps) followed thereafter. The ATP levels
      in the Pg and Ps were unchanged. Rates of lactate production and oxygen uptake
      were higher in the Pg than in the Ps. Only in the Ps was an interrelationship
      between these estimations found, suggesting that the confluent state exhibits
      metabolic cooperation between the cells in culture.

PMID- 1444840
TI  - Parenteral lipid emulsion-induced atherosclerosis in the obese Zucker rat and its
      lean littermate.
AB  - We have shown previously that parenterally-administered lipid emulsions can be
      utilized to induce early atherosclerosis in the aortas of Sprague-Dawley rats. In
      order to evaluate the effect of obesity on lipid-induced atherogenesis, we have
      utilized this same approach in the present study to demonstrate that i.v.
      infusions of the parenteral lipid emulsion, Lipofundin-S, will induce in the
      genetically obese Zucker rat and its lean littermate aortic endothelial and
      myofibroelastic changes indicative of early atherogenesis. Four groups of rats
      were used: 1) obese controls, 2) obese lipid-infused, 3) lean littermate
      controls, and 4) lean littermate lipid-infused. Observations were made with light
      and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), using qualitative morphological
      criteria to evaluate the results. Based on the fact that both untreated control
      and Lipofundin-S-induced atherosclerosis was more frequent and generally more
      advanced in the obese animals than in their respective lean counterparts, it
      appears that the obese Zucker rat is more susceptible to both spontaneous and
      hyperlipidemia-induced atherosclerosis than its respective lean littermate. Thus,
      obesity in these animals, as might be the case in humans, could potentiate an
      atherogenic process already enhanced by hyperlipidemia.

PMID- 1444841
TI  - [Monoclonal antibodies to neuron-specific enolase in phenotyping lung cancer].
AB  - Morphological assessment of two samples of monoclonal antibodies (mcAB) to gamma
      unit of neurospecific human enolase (NSE) is performed. It is established that
      mcABs interact in the tissue sections with neurons of the brain and spinal cord,
      gangliocytes of the central and peripheral nervous system this proving their
      specificity. 56 cases of lung carcinoma are studied using these mcABs; endocrine
      carcinoma was found in 11 cases, nonendocrine--in 45 cases. Neuroendocrine
      differentiation is revealed in 8 of 45 cases of non-small cell carcinoma; in all
      observations of small cell carcinoma NSE was found.

PMID- 1444842
TI  - [Morphologic characteristics of microadenomas of the large intestine].
AB  - Tissue and cellular atypia, changes of the mucus chemical composition, protein
      secreting function, ATPase activity, differentiation of the epithelial cells and
      DNA replication with the widening of proliferation zone were registered
      morphologically in colon microadenomas. A pronounced increase of labelled small
      lymphocytes capable of proliferation is observed in the stroma. Fibrocytes are
      practically absent, fibroblasts are represented by young 3H-labelled forms. All
      these changes are considered as dysplastic.

PMID- 1444843
TI  - [Pathomorphologic verification of the prenatal diagnosis of developmental defects
      in trimester II fetuses].
AB  - 153 foetuses were studied obtained after the artificial abortion for genetical
      indications. The scheme of the material investigation is given. Isolated,
      systemic and multiple defects were found in 39.0, 12.1 and 48.9%, respectively,
      and the contribution of the syndrome forms in the multiple developmental
      disturbances was 60.9%. The interruption of the pregnancy in 2% of cases was
      assessed as unfounded: as a consequence of hyperdiagnosis and in cases of
      treatable defects. The frequency of the discrepancy between prenatal and
      pathology diagnoses was 31.8% including hyperdiagnosis of the defect (1.3%),
      nosological disagreement (13.3%), the lack of diagnosis of the additional defects
      detectable during II trimester by present ultrasound methods (17.2%). The
      efficacy of the work of the prenatal diagnostic centre is, according to the
      authors, the number of justified interruptions of pregnancy (98% in this study).

PMID- 1444844
TI  - [Metastasizing chondroblastoma of the trachea].

PMID- 1444845
TI  - [Results of the discussion of diagnosis].

PMID- 1444846
TI  - [From the teacher's letters (30 years since the death of Sh. I. Krinitskii)].

PMID- 1444847
TI  - [Autoimmunization and autoimmune diseases].
AB  - Autoimmunization is understood as a type of immune reactions to the unchanged
      autoantigens only. Autoimmune processes can be subdivided into the physiological
      ("sanitary" and regulatory) and pathological ones. Physiological processes are of
      importance in supporting natural immunological tolerance while pathological
      processes develop on the basis of the physiological ones in presence of various
      defects of suppressive mechanisms of the immune system. Pathological processes
      are the basis of the autoimmune diseases and diseases with secondary autoimmune
      disturbances. The distinction between organo-specific and organo-nonspecific
      autoimmune diseases can be taken as their preliminary tentative classification.

PMID- 1444848
TI  - [Epidemiology and prevention of major cardiovascular diseases].
AB  - Analysis of the situation in the Russian Federation indicates that despite a
      small downward tendency, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain a leading cause of
      death among the population. Epidemiology studies of major CVD risk factors
      detected their high prevalence in several cities of the Republic despite
      noticeable geographic differences. The claim that prevention of CVD should be
      started from childhood remains still declarative and needs further large
      comprehensive studies. The accomplished research prevention programmes turned out
      to be feasible at community level and allowed one to develop organizational forms
      of their realization. To bring these projects into everyday life is a challenge
      as it involves many social problems.

PMID- 1444849
TI  - [Ultrastructure of pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma as a prognostic factor in
      surgical treatment].
AB  - 163 operated on patients were divided into 2 groups: the 1st group--those
      surviving 5 years without recurrence (44.2%) and the 2nd group--those dying
      earlier from the tumour progression (55.8%). Central carcinoma was in 104,
      peripheral one in 59 cases. The number of dark cells (DC) and the degree of
      desmosome development revealed ultrastructurally have the greatest practical
      importance as the favourable course in the 1st group was associated with the
      absence or low number of DC (7%) and the high number of desmosomes (89%). These
      indices were found in the 2nd group in 86 and 41%, respectively. Both indices are
      of independent importance and are not associated with the spread of the
      carcinoma. The level of DC is of greater importance. Prognosis of the squamous
      cell carcinoma is the worse the higher is DC number in the tumour and the lower
      the desmosome number.

PMID- 1444850
TI  - [Clinical morphology of chronic myeloid leukemia].
AB  - The morphological features of chronic myeloid leukemia at different stages of the
      disease were specified basing on the study of bone marrow punch biopsies of 239
      patients, surgically removed spleens of 32 patients, marginal liver biopsies of
      22 patients and 69 autopsies. It was found valid to distinguish two histological
      variants: granulocytic and granulocytic-megakaryocytic. It was shown that in the
      latter form of leukemia myelofibrosis, primarily of reticulin type, often tends
      to develop. The granulocytic-megakaryocytic variant and the diffuse myelofibrosis
      were found to be related to the morphological manifestations of unfavourable
      prognosis of chronic myeloid leukemia. The accumulation of blast cells in the
      central parts of bone marrow cavities, as revealed in the punch biopsies is the
      indication of the beginning of the blast transformation.

PMID- 1444851
TI  - [Immunopathologic study of the myocardium in dilated cardiomyopathy].
AB  - Myocardial tissues of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy were studied by
      immunofluorescence. While immunoglobulin A fixation was observed in myocardial
      capillary wall and cardiomyocyte sarcolemma in the majority of patients (11 of
      12), immunoglobulin G and C3 complement component were a rare finding. In the
      vessel wall of heart allografts immunoglobulin A fixation occurred 3-6 days after
      transplantation. As a result of the intensive immunosuppressive therapy which was
      used after the operation immunoglobulin A disappeared from heart allografts
      within 4-5 weeks. Immunoglobulin A fixation in the heart of patients with dilated
      cardiomyopathy is attributed to the anti-tissue or antivirus antibodies and
      probably is involved in the development of this disease.

PMID- 1444852
TI  - [Changes in the human uterine vascular bed in myoma].
AB  - With scanning and transmission electron microscopy characteristic changes in the
      endothelial lining of myometrial vessels of uterus affected with myoma were
      revealed. In the presence of longitudinally oriented folds and microgrowths on
      the luminal surface in a healthy myometrial part, a number of changes were
      observed in the myoma vessels. These included the disappearance of cell surface
      derivatives, disturbance of tight junction of endothelial cells borders, the rise
      of cells over the endothelial monolayer and formation of crateriform pits. The
      partition of the endothelial cells on myoma vessels was accompanied by the
      disturbance of the microvesicular transendothelial transport.

PMID- 1444853
TI  - [Computer program for the analysis of clinical diagnostic errors based on a
      pathology database].
AB  - The program is tested on the material of 882 autopsy protocols. All parts of
      clinical and pathology diagnoses were included into the generation of the data
      base. Automatized analysis allowed to assess main characteristics of the patient
      material with a histogram demonstration of group statistics according to all
      positions considered as well as to obtain information on the influence of more
      complex pathology diagnosis of a main disease, sex and age on the frequency of
      clinical diagnosis mistakes.

PMID- 1444854
TI  - [Cystinosis in an adult].
AB  - The paper reports a case of cystinosis with the involvement of kidneys,
      myocardium and liver in a female of 43. Late development of kidney failure might
      be due to a partial deficiency of the enzyme responsible for a cystine transport
      in the cell.

PMID- 1444855
TI  - [Role of iatrogeny in pathologic diagnosis].

PMID- 1444856
TI  - [Re-examination of diagnosis formulation, assessment of clinical diagnosis
      quality and pathology documentation].

PMID- 1444857
TI  - [Designation of giant mononuclear cells in tuberculosis].

PMID- 1444858
TI  - [Proteins associated with nucleolar organizer regions: practical application in
      tumor histopathology and relationship to biological properties of the tumor].
AB  - The argyrophilic staining of nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR) has been found
      to be of increasing use in routine and experimental histopathology in the study
      of certain neoplastic lesions. The AgNOR reaction demonstrates the presence of
      argyrophilic non-histone proteins within NORs. The number of detectable NORs
      depends on several factors: the level of transcriptional activity, the number of
      NOR-bearing chromosomes in the karyotype, and the stage of the cell cycle in
      which they are sought. In man, five chromosomes have NORs, and these areas are
      the sites which hybridize with rRNA and are of importance with respect to the
      ultimate synthesis of protein. The results of AgNORs might be more informative if
      this technique would be applied simultaneously in cytological and histological
      specimens for each patient. It may also be important to examine the AgNORs
      profiles in stromal cells.

PMID- 1444859
TI  - [Incidence of malignant tumors in Russia and their prevention].
AB  - Cancer incidence statistics in the Russian Federation and the evidence from
      epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that the priority in primary
      prevention of cancer should be given to smoking control. Discontinuation of
      smoking may prevent in Russia annually about 80,000 cases of cancer, or about 25%
      of all newly diagnosed cases of cancer in 1989 (excluding skin squamous and basal
      cell carcinoma). Another very important direction of cancer prevention in Russia
      is modification of diet in favour of increased consumption of fresh fruit and
      vegetables. The elimination of occupational carcinogens or a decrease in exposure
      to them would result in an important decrease in the incidence of certain cancers
      in highly industrialized areas. A decrease in the exposure to carcinogens in
      ambient air and the protection from exposure to ionizing radiation are of some,
      although limited, importance in cancer prevention.

PMID- 1444860
TI  - [Anatomical limitations for the performance of angioplasty in coronary
      multivessel disease].
AB  - PURPOSE: To study anatomical limitation of coronary angioplasty, as alternative
      therapy in patients with multivessel disease and submitted to bypass surgery.
      METHODS: In 380 patients with multivessel disease and submitted to previous
      coronary bypass surgery, age ranged from 41 to 72 (average = 51) years, being 68%
      males. The following parameters were analyzed in the coronary arteriographies:
      anatomic aspects of the coronary arteries and distribution of the atherosclerotic
      stenosis. The patients were arranged in accordance to the criteria: complete
      revascularization, incomplete and no indication for coronary angioplasty.
      RESULTS: The patients were arranged in 3 different groups: I-80 (21%) patients
      included those in whom complete revascularization would be possible; II--55
      (14.5%) patients in whom only incomplete revascularization but satisfactory would
      be possible and III--245 (65.5%) those patients in whom coronary angioplasty
      would no have indication. The data referind the patients of groups I and II were
      analyzed together--135 (35.5%) and arranged according to the number of arteries
      involved. It was observed: two vessel disease--71.8%, three vessel--18.6% and 4
      or more vessel--9.6%. In group III it was observed 51.0% of the patients with 3
      or more vessel disease. The major factors to contra indicate coronary angioplasty
      in group III included: chronic coronary obstruction 99 (40.4%); diffuse disease
      11 (4.5%); technical difficulties 10 (4.1%); left main coronary artery
      obstruction 5 (2%) or when two or more causes were combined 120 (49%).
      CONCLUSIONS: Patients with multivessel disease and classic indication for
      coronary bypass surgery, have a basic limitation for angioplasty due to several
      anatomic factors. However, coronary angioplasty could be beneficial for a
      selected group of patients (35.5%) whenever a complete or incomplete
      revascularization could be obtained.

PMID- 1444861
TI  - [Electrocardiographic changes in accidental hypothermia].
AB  - PURPOSE: Electrocardiographic alterations were evaluated in a group of accidental
      hypothermia patients, and correlated with values of core temperature, pH and
      plasmatic concentrations of Na+, K+ and Cl-. METHODS: Conventional 12-lead
      surface electrocardiograms were obtained in a group of 32 patients with
      accidental hypothermia after involuntary cold exposure. Cardiac arrhythmias, QRS
      configuration, ST-T segment and T wave alterations were analyzed. pH, Na+, K+ and
      Cl- serum concentrations were simultaneously measured. Electrocardiogram and
      electrolyte abnormalities were then correlated with the core temperature.
      RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients had abnormal electrocardiogram (90.6%). Sinus
      bradycardia and idioventricular rhythm were observed in 11 and 3 patients
      respectively. QT interval enlargement was found in 24 patients and Osborn wave in
      28 cases. Altered T waves expressing an abnormal repolarization were observed in
      23 cases. A significant negative correlation was obtained when J wave amplitude
      was correlated with core temperature levels. CONCLUSION: Hypothermia produces
      electrocardiographic abnormalities characterized by Osborn waves. Other minor
      findings include sinus bradycardia, idioventricular rhythm and long QT intervals.

PMID- 1444862
TI  - [Permanent heart valve prosthesis: half a century of search].

PMID- 1444863
TI  - [Occlusion of patent ductus using the Rashkind system. Initial experience].
AB  - Three patients were submitted to the Rashkind device technique for closure of a
      patent ductus arteriosus. The percutaneous transvenous technique was employed in
      every cases. A 12 mm prosthesis was utilized in one case and 17 mm prostheses in
      the other two cases. In the first case, after temporary occlusion of the ductus
      arteriosus, the prostheses was removed due to the technical impossibility of
      evaluation of the proximal umbrella position. In the second and third cases, the
      prostheses were duly liberated in the proper position, thus occluding the
      defects. This technique does not require general anesthesia, is indicated in
      patients over 6 kgs of body weight, and is a therapeutic alternative to the
      habitual surgical procedure.

PMID- 1444864
TI  - [Dissection in an adult with dilatation of the ascendent aorta diagnosed in
      childhood].
AB  - Dilatation of the ascending aorta is relatively infrequent during childhood.
      Besides the Marfan syndrome, the congenital origin should be considered. We
      report a patient with dilatation of the ascending aorta diagnosed at the age of
      10 who presented acute aortic dissection and rupture after a 13-year period of
      follow-up. Several aspects of the proper diagnosis are discussed.

PMID- 1444865
TI  - [Malignant schwannoma metastasizing to the heart].
AB  - We introduce the case of a 34-year-old male with a malignant metastasizing tumor
      in the heart associated with skin manifestations. The patient was submitted to
      heart surgery to resect the tumor. The correct diagnosis was done by pathological
      findings and immunohistochemical methods and showed, malignant schwannoma.

PMID- 1444866
TI  - [Fracture of endocardial electrode at the tricuspid valve level].
AB  - Female, 72 years old, had a permanent pacemaker system with endocardial pacing
      lead, and developed fracture of electrode at the point of passage across the
      tricuspid valve with episodes of asystole.

PMID- 1444867
TI  - [Kawasaki disease in Pernambuco, Brazil. Considerations on a case seen in a
      general hospital].
AB  - The first case of Kawasaki disease in Pernambuco, Brazil, is described. An 18
      month-old by presenting with fever, adenomegaly and mucocutaneous rash, had right
      and left coronary arteries dilation and aneurysm detected on echocardiography.
      Treated with a high dosage of aspirin, the patient is asymptomatic after a 7
      month follow-up, with regression of coronary lesions.

PMID- 1444868
TI  - [A 22-year-old pregnant woman with respiratory deficiency of 10-day duration].

PMID- 1444869
TI  - [Mapping with Technetium-99 methoxy-isobutyl isonitrile at the bedside after
      coronary thrombolysis].
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of bedside Technetium99-methoxy-isobutyl
      isonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) cardiac imaging to assess perfusion after thrombolytic
      therapy (TT) for myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: We studied 9 patients (mean
      age 59 +/- 9 years) submitted to TT with 100 mg of rt-PA in 90 minutes within the
      6 hours of the onset of MI with subsequent angiography. 99mTc-MIBI was injected
      intravenously in a doses of 740 MBq immediately before TT start. Imaging was
      performed in three moments: study 1--as soon as the TT finished, study 2--3-18
      hours after TT; study 3--7-10 days after TT. A perfusion score was established in
      each study and then compared to determine the perfusion patterns after TT. We
      compared through linear regression, the perfusion score with left ventricle
      ejection fraction, and with CKMB enzymatic peak. RESULTS: All patients had a
      patent infarct related artery. The perfusion score of study 1 varied from 12 to
      22, mean 15.8 +/- 3.7, and correlated with ejection fraction (r = 0.9, p < 0.01)
      and peak CKMB (r = 0.78, p = 0.03). Four (44%) patients presented perfusion score
      improvement in study 2 (varied from 12 to 23, mean 16.8 +/- 4.3) and 8 (88%) in
      study 3 (varied from 12 to 28, mean 19.0 +/- 4.3). CONCLUSION: Bedside 99mTc-MIBI
      cardiac imaging is useful to quantify myocardial area under risk before TT, and
      to identify the late (7 to 10 days) benefit of TT.

PMID- 1444870
TI  - [Coronary insufficiency and heparin].

PMID- 1444871
TI  - [Isradipine: a Brazilian multicenter study for the evaluation of the efficacy and
      safety in the treatment of mild and moderate arterial hypertension].
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of isradipine, a new
      dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, in the treatment of mild-to-moderate
      hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and eighty outpatients with
      different races, who had supine and orthostatic diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >
      or = 95 mmHg and < or = 115 mmHg, with a mean age of 52.03 +/- 11.47 years, 70
      men, 110 women; underwent the study. After a two-week wash-out period patients
      received isradipine 2.5 mg b.i.d. for 90 days. Follow-up visits were performed at
      the 30th, 60th and 90th days of treatment. RESULTS: At the end of treatment (90
      days), a statistically significant decrease (p < 0.05) in SBP and DBP in supine
      position was observed. A mean SBP was reduced from 159.28 +/- 16.99 to 142.51 +/-
      15.12, and mean DBP declined from 101.49 +/- 6.82 to 86.63 +/- 7.40. Heart rate,
      weight, electrocardiograms and laboratory tests did not shows significant changes
      during treatment when compared to baseline evaluation. The most frequent related
      side effects (headache and dizziness with nausea) were transient, and at the end
      of the study 96.7% of the patients did not have any complaint. However, two
      patients were withdrawn from the trial because of important headache. CONCLUSION:
      Isradipine 2.5 mg by oral route, b.i.d. has shown to be effective and well
      tolerated in the treatment of mild-to-moderate hypertension in patients of both
      sexes and several ages and races.

PMID- 1444873
TI  - [Non-ischemic electrocardiographic changes].

PMID- 1444872
TI  - [Unstable angina: comparison of the effects of diltiazem and propranolol].
AB  - PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of diltiazem and propranolol in patients with
      unstable angina. METHODS: Fifty-six patients with unstable angina, mean age of
      55.4 +/- 8.5, 41 men and 15 women, were evaluated in a randomized, double-blind
      study of two groups of patients treated with diltiazem or propranolol at total
      daily doses of 180 mg and 120 mg respectively during the first 48 hours. After
      that the total daily doses was adjusted to 240 mg and 160 mg, respectively, until
      the 7th day. The first 48 hours, four times daily, clinical evaluation, CKMB
      data, ECG were obtained and two times daily until 7th day. A coronary
      arteriography was done on study entry. RESULTS: A significative reduction of
      angina crisis number, duration, intensity and the number of sublingual nitrates
      doses were observed equally in both groups. The SAP, DAP, HR and RR did not show
      statistical differences between groups. Individual groups analysis showed
      significative reductions of SAP, DAP and HR in propranolol group. The CKMB data,
      ECG alterations and coronary arteriography characteristics were similar.
      CONCLUSION: Both drugs were effective for the unstable angina treatment.

PMID- 1444874
TI  - Cardiovascular investigation in elderly patients with transient unresponsiveness.

PMID- 1444875
TI  - Human T lymphotropic virus type I-associated myelopathy. A report of 10 patients
      born in the United States.
AB  - Human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated myelopathy (HAM) (tropical
      spastic paraparesis/HAM) has rarely been reported in the United States. We
      present 10 well-documented cases with positive Western immunoblot test results
      and polymerase chain reactions for HTLV-I. The clinical and laboratory features
      of these American-born patients resemble those previously reported series of
      tropical spastic paraparesis and HAM from the Caribbean and Japan, but important
      differences were observed. In our study there were equal numbers of whites and
      blacks and of men and women. Age at onset was younger than that reported from the
      Caribbean and Japan. Rate of progression to paraparesis varied but was more rapid
      than previously reported. Half were transfusion recipients but six had multiple
      sexual partners, with one regularly interacting with prostitutes and reporting a
      history of drug abuse. Although more rapid progression was seen in the
      transfusion recipients, this did not explain the earlier age of onset in this
      group of patients. The HTLV-I, and the associated myelopathy, are endemic in
      Florida, suggesting that immigration from, and proximity, to the Caribbean basin
      are contributing risk factors.

PMID- 1444876
TI  - Reduction of the substantia nigra width and motor decline in aging and
      Parkinson's disease.
AB  - We studied the functional significance of the involutional and degenerative
      changes in the substantia nigra as seen on magnetic resonance imaging. The width
      of the pars compacta correlated with motor performance in both healthy elderly
      subjects and idiopathic Parkinson's disease groups. Patients exhibited
      significant reduction of the width of the pars compacta and the level of this
      reduction correlated strongly with the clinical status evaluated by the Unified
      Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. These results suggest that pars compacta
      shrinkage may account for a substantial part of the structural substratum of
      motor decline in the elderly. Moreover, an analysis of the relationship of the
      midbrain damage with specific symptoms in Parkinson's disease could contribute to
      a better understanding of the pathogenesis of this degenerative process.

PMID- 1444877
TI  - Effect of long-term therapy on the pharmacodynamics of levodopa. Relation to on
      off phenomenon.
AB  - To determine how the response to levodopa is altered by long-term therapy, we
      examined the dose response to 2-hour infusions of levodopa in three groups of
      parkinsonian patients: those who were previously untreated, those who exhibited
      stable responses, and those who exhibited fluctuating responses to levodopa
      therapy, using tapping speed as an index of bradykinesia. The baseline tapping
      speed was greater in the patients with stable responses than in the untreated
      patients, probably representing a "long-duration response" to levodopa therapy. A
      "short-duration response," indicated by an increase in tapping speed lasting
      hours, was observed in most patients in all groups. The onset of the short
      duration effect was more rapid and the incremental increase in tapping speed was
      twice as large in the patients with fluctuating responses compared with the
      untreated patients and patients with stable responses. The duration of the short
      duration effect was greatest in the untreated group but did not differ between
      the groups with stable and fluctuating responses. Dyskinesia was not observed in
      any of the de novo patients but was observed in three of 12 patients with stable
      responses and eight of nine patients with fluctuating responses to levodopa
      therapy. Dyskinesia appeared before or with the antiparkinsonian effects in
      patients with stable responses, giving no indication of a higher threshold for
      dyskinesia in these patients compared with those with fluctuating responses. The
      plasma half-life clearance, volume of distribution, and maximum plasma
      concentrations of levodopa did not differ among groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1444878
TI  - Apomorphine test for dopaminergic responsiveness in patients with previously
      untreated Parkinson's disease.
AB  - We prospectively examined the predictive value of the apomorphine test for the
      therapeutic efficacy of sustained oral levodopa treatment in 62 patients with de
      novo Parkinson syndrome (no additional neurological deficit) who had not
      previously been treated with dopaminergic medication. Patients received 2 to 5 mg
      of apomorphine hydrochloride subcutaneously and a subsequent trial of oral
      levodopa of at least 3 months' duration. In three patients, response to
      apomorphine could not be evaluated owing to side effects experienced during the
      test. In the remaining 59 patients, the best predictor of response to oral
      levodopa was the apomorphine-induced relative decrease in the scores on the motor
      examination part of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). At a
      cutoff value of 20% improvement in UPDRS scores, the test predicted the response
      to levodopa correctly in 50 patients (85%). The sensitivity of the test was 90%,
      specificity 88%. The positive predictive value was 95%. However, seven of 19
      apomorphine test-negative patients experienced a good (n = 4) or partial (n = 3)
      improvement with levodopa therapy. Thus, the negative predictive value was only
      63%. We conclude that response to apomorphine has a high predictive value for
      response to sustained oral levodopa treatment in most previously untreated
      patients, but a negative test should not preclude an adequate trial of oral
      levodopa.

PMID- 1444879
TI  - Treatment trial of oxiracetam in Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - Twenty-four carefully assessed patients with probable Alzheimer's disease were
      enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment study of oxiracetam, a
      nootropic agent reported to improve memory performance in patients with dementia.
      A broad battery of neuropsychological tests failed to reveal any improvement in
      the treated group or in any treated patient when individual test scores were
      analyzed. These findings indicate that oxiracetam is ineffective in reducing
      cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 1444880
TI  - Double-blind parallel design pilot study of acetyl levocarnitine in patients with
      Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - Acetyl levocarnitine hydrochloride has been reported to retard dementia in
      patients with Alzheimer's disease. In a double-blind, parallel design, placebo
      controlled pilot study of 30 mild to moderately demented patients with probable
      Alzheimer's disease, tests of memory, attention, language, visuospatial, and
      constructional abilities were administered, and the level of acetyl levocarnitine
      was measured in the cerebrospinal fluid. Patients were then randomly assigned to
      receive acetyl levocarnitine hydrochloride (2.5 g/d for 3 months followed by 3
      g/d for 3 months) or placebo. After 6 months, the acetyl levocarnitine group
      demonstrated significantly less deterioration in timed cancellation tasks and
      Digit Span (forward) and a trend toward less deterioration in a timed verbal
      fluency task. No differences were found in any other neuropsychological test
      results. A subgroup with the lowest baseline scores, receiving acetyl
      levocarnitine, had significantly less deterioration on the verbal memory test and
      a significant increase in cerebrospinal fluid acetyl levocarnitine levels
      compared with those receiving placebo. These results suggest that acetyl
      levocarnitine may retard the deterioration in some cognitive areas in patients
      with Alzheimer's disease and stress the need for a larger study of this drug.

PMID- 1444881
TI  - Topography of cross-sectional and longitudinal glucose metabolic deficits in
      Alzheimer's disease. Pathophysiologic implications.
AB  - Positron emission tomographic studies of cerebral glucose metabolism have shown
      high diagnostic specificity in distinguishing among the degenerative dementias
      and differentiating between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and normal aging. The
      current investigation was undertaken to characterize the regional glucose
      metabolic deficits in AD, using cross-sectional and longitudinal study designs.
      All subjects met the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative
      Disorders and Stroke-Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association
      criteria for AD (n = 45) or were normal (n = 20), and the AD subjects were
      subdivided into incipient and mild AD and moderate plus moderately severe
      subgroups based on the Global Deterioration Scale. The subjects underwent a non
      contrast computed tomographic scan and a positron emission tomographic (PETT VI)
      scan. The AD subjects (n = 14) and normal control subjects (n = 15) received
      evaluations 2 to 3 years after baseline study. The brain regions that show
      glucose metabolic deficits cross-sectionally (temporal and parietal association
      areas, with lesser degrees of deficit in subcortical gray matter structures),
      over the stages of AD, also show further deficits longitudinally within the same
      AD subjects. The reduction in glucose metabolism is greater than would be
      expected from the degree of brain atrophy. The glucose metabolic deficits are
      discussed in the context of neuropathologic findings and neurotransmitter
      deficits in AD.

PMID- 1444882
TI  - Agraphia in dementia of the Alzheimer type.
AB  - This study describes graphic errors made in writing a simple sentence in 368
      healthy older adults and individuals in different stages of dementia of the
      Alzheimer type. Errors of agraphia were present in both healthy and demented
      people and, in general, increased with the severity of dementia. The errors of
      agraphia were not correlated with measures of aphasia or psychometric measures of
      language and motor performance. Writing skill may represent procedural memory,
      and agraphia errors indicate alterations in long-term memory in dementia of the
      Alzheimer type.

PMID- 1444883
TI  - Serial changes of cerebral glucose metabolism and caudate size in persons at risk
      for Huntington's disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of change of glucose metabolism and caudate size
      in persons at risk for Huntington's disease. DESIGN: Eighteen persons at risk for
      Huntington's disease had two positron emission tomographic glucose metabolic
      studies and two magnetic resonance imaging scans separated by 42 (+/- 9) months.
      SETTING: Ambulatory research subjects at a teaching hospital with magnetic
      resonance imaging and positron emission tomographic technology. SUBJECTS: Seven
      of the individuals were Huntington' disease gene negative by testing at the
      polymorphic DNA loci D4S10, D4S43, and D4S125; the remainder were gene positive
      by genetic testing or onset of chorea after study entry. INTERVENTIONS: None.
      OUTCOME MEASURES: Onset of chorea and imaging results. RESULTS: The gene-positive
      group demonstrated a significant 3.1% loss of glucose metabolic rate per year in
      the caudate nucleus (95% confidence interval [CI], -4.64, -1.48) compared with
      the gene-negative group. There was a 3.6% per year increase in the magnetic
      resonance imaging bicaudate ratio (95% CI, 1.81, 5.37), a linear measure of
      caudate atrophy. The rate of change in caudate size did not correlate with the
      rate of change in caudate metabolism, suggesting that metabolic loss and atrophy
      may develop independently. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that a reduction in
      caudate glucose metabolism and atrophy develop rapidly in Huntington's disease.
      The findings establish a strategy for using serial positron emission tomographic
      imaging to monitor experimental pharmacologic interventions in presymptomatic
      individuals who have developed caudate hypometabolism.

PMID- 1444884
TI  - Neurologic and neuropsychological manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus
      infection in intravenous drug users without acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
      Relationship to head injury.
AB  - We examined 99 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative and 122 HIV-positive
      intravenous drug users (IVDUs) without acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
      to determine whether HIV-positive IVDUs had more neurologic and
      neuropsychological impairment than their HIV-negative counterparts. Controlling
      for age, education, drug use, history of head injury, and interactions between
      head injury and HIV status and drug use, HIV-positive subjects had more
      extrapyramidal signs and frontal release signs. These findings persisted when
      asymptomatic HIV-positive subjects without systemic signs of infection and HIV
      negative subjects were compared. Neurologic findings were more severe in those
      with more systemic illness. Among those reporting a history of head injury with
      loss of consciousness, neuropsychological performance was significantly worse in
      the HIV-positive subjects, and this increased with severity of illness. This was
      not true in the group without head injury, suggesting an interaction between
      history of head injury and the seropositive state. No relationship was noted
      between head injury and either drug use or HIV state. Therefore, subtle
      neurologic and neuropsychological abnormalities may precede clinical evidence of
      AIDS in IVDUs and may be more evident in those with head injury.

PMID- 1444885
TI  - Alcohol exacerbates behavioral and neurochemical effects of rat spinal cord
      trauma.
AB  - Acute alcohol intoxication may exacerbate the consequences of central nervous
      system trauma, although the mechanism is uncertain. Effects of acute ethanol
      administration on behavioral and neurochemical changes were examined in rats
      after traumatic spinal cord injury. Survival rates were reduced and posttraumatic
      neurologic function worsened in ethanol-treated as compared with saline-treated
      controls. Ethanol-treated rats had significantly lower tissue levels of
      excitatory amino acids and higher levels of free fatty acids, thromboxane, and
      lactic acid than did controls. Tissue magnesium concentration was significantly
      reduced by trauma and recovered more slowly in ethanol-treated rats. Enhanced
      phospholipid hydrolysis with free fatty acid and thromboxane accumulation,
      increased release of excitatory amino acids, and decreased tissue magnesium
      levels may each serve to worsen secondary tissue damage and diminish neurologic
      recovery after spinal cord injury associated with acute alcohol intoxication.

PMID- 1444886
TI  - Distinct syndromes of hemineglect.
AB  - Hemineglect was assessed in 34 patients with right-hemisphere stroke using a
      letter-cancellation task and a line bisection task. No significant correlation (r
      = .39) was found between scores on the two tests. Ten patients who showed neglect
      on the cancellation task but performed normally on line bisection had frontal or
      deep lesions. Eleven patients with posterior lesions deviated rightward on line
      bisection; several of these had minimal or no cancellation deficit. A nonmotor
      task involving judgment of a bisected line was also performed abnormally by six
      patients with line bisection shift, suggesting that such shift does not result
      from a motor response asymmetry. We propose that separable components of the
      neglect syndrome may be associated with damage to discrete areas of the
      nondominant hemisphere.

PMID- 1444887
TI  - Flexor plantar responses in children with upper motor neuron lesions.
AB  - The usual plantar response in upper motor neuron lesions is extensor. As flexor
      responses were seen in a number of children with these lesions, a formal study
      was undertaken to assess the plantar reflex in affected children. Fifty-seven
      children with spastic cerebral palsy were examined. Ten had hemiplegias, so a
      total of 104 limbs were tested. Eighty-four (80.8%) of these had flexor and 12
      (11%) had extensor responses. Half (3.9%) of the remaining eight responses were
      mute and half were variable. While exceptions to the extensor rule are known,
      this marked predominance of flexor responses is unusual. This may be the result
      of damage inflicted on the immature nervous system before full connections and
      myelination have been completed. Further studies, involving children who have
      sustained brain damage at different ages, will be needed to elucidate the various
      mechanisms involved.

PMID- 1444888
TI  - Acute intracranial lesions and respiratory sinus arrhythmia.
AB  - We studied the effects of acute intracranial lesions on the respiratory sinus
      arrhythmia (RSA) with the use of computerized measurements of the ratio of
      expiratory to inspiratory R-R intervals. The RSA was reduced below the 95th
      percentile for age in 20 of 27 patients, an average of 2 days after an acute
      event. Only four patients, without neurological deficits, had a normal RSA. Two
      patients, with signs of secondary brain-stem compression from a mass, had an
      increased RSA, without the bradycardia that is usually associated with Cushing's
      response. Twenty-three patients had their respiratory rate controlled by positive
      pressure ventilation during testing, and our preliminary findings suggested that
      this was not responsible for reducing the RSA. Acute intracranial lesions caused
      a diminished RSA, perhaps by reducing supratentorial influences on vagal
      cardioinhibitory activity. In contrast, once signs of secondary brain-stem
      compression occur, the RSA is greatly increased while the heart rate remains
      unchanged, offering a possible method of noninvasive monitoring for this
      complication.

PMID- 1444890
TI  - Perception of forces exerted by jaw and thumb.
AB  - By comparing the results of force matching between the jaw and the thumbs,
      whether subjects have any knowledge about the magnitude of exerted forces
      irrespective of the motor system was studied. Subjects were asked to match
      isometric forces of their own choice exerted by flexion of one of the thumbs with
      the jaw, and the other way around. The results were compared with control
      experiments in which subjects matched forces exerted by flexion of one of the
      thumbs with the other thumb and vice versa. None of the subjects was able to
      match correctly in all experimental conditions. All subjects displayed
      inconsistent matching behaviour, showing a mixture of correct matching and
      mismatching. This holds both for absolute matches (in N), and for matches
      relative to the maximal forces. The results show that knowledge about the
      magnitude of exerted forces is different for the jaw and the thumbs. Sensations
      about isometric forces exerted by the jaw or the thumbs are different within each
      subject and from subject to subject.

PMID- 1444889
TI  - Maintenance of amelogenin gene expression by transformed epithelial cells of
      mouse enamel organ.
AB  - Electroporation was used to introduce foreign genes into cells derived from the
      mouse enamel organ epithelia (EOE). Optimal conditions for this electroporation
      were established. The introduction of a plasmid construct bearing the coding
      region for the large T-antigen from polyoma virus into EOE cells permitted the
      establishment of a derivative cell line that has the following characteristics:
      (1) the cells could be passaged many times; (2) they expressed a keratin
      containing cytoskeleton; and (3) approx. 60% of the cells expressed amelogenin, a
      tissue-specific gene product unique to ameloblasts. Potential uses for such a
      cell line include analysis of: (1) the upstream regulatory regions required for
      temporally and spatially restricted expression of amelogenin; (2) the post
      translational modification of amelogenin in synchronized cells and (3) the
      organization and biomineralization of enamel extracellular matrix in monolayer
      culture.

PMID- 1444891
TI  - Effects of epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta on insulin
      induced differentiation in rat dental pulp cells.
AB  - An established pulp cell line (RPC-C2A) was used to study the regulatory effect
      of insulin on dentinogenesis. Insulin increased alkaline phosphatase activity and
      the incorporation of [2,3-3H]-proline into collagenase-digestible protein,
      whereas [3H]-thymidine incorporation by the cells was inhibited by insulin. The
      enhancing effect of insulin on alkaline phosphatase activity was inhibited by
      epidermal growth factor (EGF) or transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). The
      stimulatory effect of insulin on collagen synthesis was also inhibited when
      insulin was combined with EGF, but was accelerated by the addition of TGF-beta.
      Inhibitory effects of insulin on the [3H]-thymidine incorporation were
      potentiated by EGF, though EGF alone strongly increased the effect; whereas the
      addition of TGF-beta had no significant effect on the insulin action. These
      findings suggest that insulin may be concerned with the differentiation of pulp
      cells in dentinogenesis and that EGF or TGF-beta regulate the insulin effects.

PMID- 1444892
TI  - Comparison of the effects of galactose and glucose on the pH responses of human
      dental plaque, salivary sediment and pure cultures of oral bacteria.
AB  - Comparisons made in dental plaque in vivo demonstrated that galactose produces a
      significantly smaller decrease in pH than does glucose. In vitro studies with
      plaque, salivary sediment and pure cultures of oral bacteria done in the absence
      of intraoral factors such as flowing saliva confirmed this lesser acidogenicity
      of galactose. Pure culture showed that most of the bacteria tested produce a
      moderate to large decrease with glucose but only a few do so with galactose; most
      produced a moderate to little or no pH response with this sugar. This suggested
      that the smaller decreases in pH seen in plaque in vivo with galactose were
      largely due to bacterial differences, basically that resident micro-organisms
      individually have less galactolytic than glucolytic capability. Variance in
      capability was attributed to differences in membrane transport processes and
      metabolic pathways normally available to bacteria for galactose and glucose
      catabolism. In the in vitro experiments, because plaque and sediment can produce
      base as readily as they can produce acid, the nitrogenous substrates identified
      earlier as major stimulants of base formation, urea and arginine, were
      concurrently examined for their attenuating effects on the galactose and glucose
      pH responses. These showed, consistent with its lesser acidogenicity, that
      galactose could be countered more readily in its ability to reduce the pH by
      either of these two base-forming substrates than could glucose. The effects were
      different with urea and with arginine, urea attenuation occurred sooner and
      arginine attenuation later in both plaque and sediment. The corresponding acid
      base pH profiles for pure cultures were different.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1444893
TI  - Isolation of granule proteins from cells of the dental follicle and stellate
      reticulum of rat mandibular molars.
AB  - The presence of a dental follicle is required for eruption of teeth of limited
      eruption but it is uncertain if any molecules indigenous to the follicle regulate
      this eruption. However, electron-dense granules of unknown composition and
      function are present in the fibroblasts of the dental follicle of rat molars, as
      well as the adjacent stellate reticulum, before and during tooth eruption. Here
      the granules have been isolated; two proteins, of 167 and 200 kDa, have been
      determined by biochemical and immunological methods to be major components of the
      granules.

PMID- 1444894
TI  - Granule proteins of the dental follicle and stellate reticulum inhibit tooth
      eruption and eyelid opening in postnatal rats.
AB  - Electron-dense granules within cells of the dental follicle and stellate
      reticulum of rat mandibular molars can be isolated; their major components are
      167 and 200 kDa proteins. Injecting these granule proteins into postnatal rats
      results in a delay of incisor eruption and eyelid separation. These inhibitory
      effects were most pronounced with the 167 kDa protein (a delay of 3 days in
      incisor eruption and of 2 days in eyelid opening) and were opposite to the
      stimulatory effects of epidermal growth factor. Thus, these granules may play an
      inhibitory part in tooth eruption.

PMID- 1444895
TI  - Task-related behavior of motor units in different regions of the human masseter
      muscle.
AB  - Muscle activity patterns appear to vary regionally in the human masseter.
      However, studies of motor-unit (MU) behaviour in the masseter have been hampered
      by the absence of a reliable technique for locating needle-electrode recording
      sites. Here, voluntary MU behaviour patterns were examined in verified regions of
      the muscle. Activity was recorded from 50 stereotactically mapped masseter MUs.
      Initially, the task specificity of each MU was determined. Then for each task,
      the lowest sustainable firing frequency (LSFF) was reached by slow increases and
      decreases in voluntary firing rate, followed by sustained firing at the lowest
      possible rate. Pulse-discrimination and digital sampling of consecutive
      interspike intervals were used to measure the LSFF for each task to which the MU
      contributed. All MUs fired continuously during the performance of 2-6 separate
      tooth-contact and postural tasks. There were significant differences between
      LSFFs for the tasks performed by 47 units. Masseter MU task profiles appear to
      vary regionally, and are dependent on jaw position, the bite point along the
      tooth row, and the direction of effort. Descending neural drive to masseter MUs
      thus seems to be highly task dependent, even when the unit firing rate is
      controlled voluntarily at its LSFF.

PMID- 1444896
TI  - Masticatory muscle fatigue: endurance times and spectral changes in the
      electromyogram during the production of sustained bite forces.
AB  - The purpose of this experiment was to determine if the characteristics of fatigue
      observed in the limb muscle system are also evident in the muscles of
      mastication, specifically, the masseter and temporalis. Surface electrodes were
      placed bilaterally over the masseter and temporalis muscles of 10 adults. Each
      subject was instructed to maintain maximal and six levels of submaximal incisal
      bite forces for as long as possible. The power density spectrum of the
      electromyographic signals for each muscle was calculated at the onset and failure
      of the task. The decrease in endurance time with an increase in bite force
      followed a pattern similar to that in limb muscles, and each muscle was
      characterized by a consistent reduction in the mean power frequency of the power
      density spectrum and a variable change in r.m.s. power. The variability of
      changes in r.m.s. power (which is inconsistent with changes found in the limb
      muscles) was explained in terms of either changes in motor-unit firing rate or
      the muscle's relative contribution to the generation of bite force. The analyses
      also demonstrated a curvilinear relationship between bite force and r.m.s. power,
      but no relationship between bite force and the mean power frequency of the power
      density spectrum.

PMID- 1444897
TI  - Contamination of human gingival crevicular fluid by plaque and saliva.
AB  - Dental plaque and saliva are both possible contaminants of gingival crevicular
      fluid (GCF). Plaque samples from 12 sites in four subjects who had allowed plaque
      to accumulate for 24-48 h were quantified using the Plaque Index and then
      transferred to filter paper strips for fluid volume determination using the
      Periotron 6000. The mean volume of fluid for plaque scores of 0 was 0.02 (+/-
      0.01) microliter, whereas for plaque scores of 3 the mean volume was 0.15 (+/-
      0.07) microliters. In a clinical study, GCF samples, from 19/184 subjects (10.4%)
      were assessed as contaminated or suspected to be contaminated with saliva, but
      only 28/1740 strips (1.6%) were placed in these categories of contamination. An
      assay to confirm salivary contamination was established, using an immunochemical,
      double-antibody method with sheep anti-human salivary alpha-amylase followed by
      peroxidase-conjugated rabbit anti-sheep immunoglobulin. The detection threshold
      of the assay was 7.5 ng of alpha-amylase, which represents approx. 15-25 nl of
      saliva. The assay was evaluated on 90 GCF samples categorized as 'known' (n =
      16), 'suspected' (n = 16), or 'not' contaminated (n = 58) with saliva; 81.25, 50
      61.5 and 5.2-8.6%, respectively, were positive for salivary alpha-amylase. In
      some GCF samples salivary contamination was in excess of 50%. It was concluded
      that GCF samples seen to be contaminated with saliva should be discarded, whereas
      samples considered free from contamination may be used with confidence. Samples
      suspected of contamination may require an alpha-amylase assay before further
      analysis.

PMID- 1444898
TI  - Relationship between size of distal accessory tubercles and hypocones in
      permanent maxillary molar crowns of southern Africans.
AB  - The relationships between total occlusal crown area and the basal cusp areas of
      the accessory distal tubercle (C5) and the hypocone were analysed in molars of
      complete upper tooth rows of a southern African sample. While non-parametric
      tests between hypocone and C5 sizes did not yield statistically significant
      results, analyses of metrical data revealed a trend towards compensatory
      interaction between both cusps. Contrary to previous reports the size of C5 was
      found to be independent of total crown area. As enamel is thickest on cusp tips
      there may be a functional reason for the frequency of occurrence of the distal
      accessory tubercle. The pattern of distribution of the hypocone and C5 within a
      tooth row may be related to the occlusal wear pattern in Homo, which exhibits a
      marked lingual slope of wear in anterior molars and a horizontal or even buccal
      slope in posterior teeth.

PMID- 1444899
TI  - The effects of magnesium and fluoride on the hydrolysis of octacalcium phosphate.
AB  - The adsorption of Mg ions on octacalcium phosphate (OCP) and its effect on OCP
      hydrolysis, with and without F, were studied. The Mg adsorption isotherm was
      fitted by the Langmuir model with an affinity constant of 0.74 ml/mumol and
      maximum number of sites, 31.19 mumol/g. The hydrolysis rates were measured in a
      pH stat by titration of base and were strongly temperature dependent. The
      products were examined by X-ray diffraction and chemical analysis. OCP hydrolysis
      takes place in two stages: the fast initial process, which is attributed to the
      surface topotactical conversion, followed by the main, slower process, which
      involves the nucleation and crystal growth. Mg ions, as 1 mmol/l MgCl2, prevented
      the initial surface reaction and decreased the nucleation rate dramatically and
      the growth rate slightly; F increased the rates of surface reaction and both the
      nucleation and crystal growth processes. The Ca/P ratio (1.53) and the line
      broadening in the X-ray diffraction patterns of the apatitic products were not
      significantly affected by the F. Mg also did not affect the Ca/P ratio and the
      line broadening at (002) diffraction, but decreased the line broadening at (310)
      diffraction.

PMID- 1444900
TI  - Enhancement by cyclosporin A of metastasis from hamster cheek pouch carcinoma.
AB  - Daily intravenous administration of 50 mg/kg cyclosporin A (CsA), after excision
      of cheek pouch tumors induced with 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA),
      enhanced the incidence of cervical lymph node metastasis to 93%, a significant
      increase over the rates observed for animals receiving a dosage of 25 mg/kg
      (43%), and for control animals receiving no CsA (40%). No significant effect was
      evident on the growth rates of the metastasized tumour cells in the lymph node.

PMID- 1444901
TI  - Zinc and macular degeneration.

PMID- 1444902
TI  - The Collaborative Corneal Transplantation Studies.

PMID- 1444904
TI  - Radial keratotomy and corneal scarring.

PMID- 1444903
TI  - Corneal endothelial toxicity of DexSol corneal storage medium supplemented with
      povidone-iodine.

PMID- 1444905
TI  - Sterile stromal melt of epikeratoplasty lenticule.

PMID- 1444906
TI  - Polymegethism of the corneal endothelium in an eye with long-standing ptosis.

PMID- 1444907
TI  - Conjunctival photocoagulation in Sturge-Weber syndrome.

PMID- 1444908
TI  - Physicians refer 9% of patients.

PMID- 1444909
TI  - Screening preschool children to detect visual and ocular disorders.

PMID- 1444910
TI  - The increased risk of ulcerative keratitis among disposable soft contact lens
      users.
AB  - Previous controlled studies on contact lens-associated ulcerative keratitis were
      performed before the widespread use of disposable contact lenses. Therefore, a
      controlled study was undertaken to determine the relative risk of ulcerative
      keratitis among users of disposable soft contact lenses compared with the risk
      among users of other lens types. Forty-six consecutive cases of contact lens
      associated ulcerative keratitis were identified between January 1990 and June
      1992 at a corneal specialty practice in western Michigan. Five controls, matched
      to each case patient according to the dispensing data and prescribing
      practitioner, were obtained for 42 cases (91%). Users of daily-wear rigid gas
      permeable lenses had the lowest risk of developing ulcerative keratitis. Relative
      to users of daily-wear soft contact lenses, users of extended-wear soft contact
      lens had an age-adjusted and sex-adjusted relative risk of 1.87 (95% confidence
      interval, 0.61 to 5.71). Disposable soft contact lens users had the highest risk
      of developing ulcerative keratitis, with an adjusted relative risk of 14.16 (95%
      confidence interval, 5.47 to 37.63) compared with daily-wear soft contact lens
      users and 7.66 (95% confidence interval, 2.27 to 25.83) compared with
      conventional extended-wear soft contact lens users.

PMID- 1444911
TI  - Risks of keratitis and patterns of use with disposable contact lenses.
AB  - Disposable soft contact lenses have been marketed as a safer alternative to
      conventional soft lenses. We undertook a case-control study of patients attending
      the casualty unit of an eye hospital to quantify the relative risk of keratitis
      in disposable lens wear and to establish associated patterns of use. All eligible
      contact lens users were identified and asked to complete a questionnaire (n=242).
      Keratitis, microbial or sterile, was the most common complication in disposable
      lens users, occurring in 16 of 41 subjects. The relative risks for all lens types
      were estimated by comparison with rigid lenses (the referent). Both extended- and
      daily-wear disposable lenses were associated with higher risks of keratitis than
      other lens types including conventional extended-wear lenses. Poor hygiene,
      disinfectant system failure, and lens type may all account for these
      statistically significant trends.

PMID- 1444912
TI  - Electro-oculography in autosomal dominant vitreoretinochoroidopathy.
AB  - Thirteen members of a family presumed to be harboring the gene for autosomal
      dominant vitreoretinochoroidopathy were examined. In four affected members,
      electro-oculography demonstrated marked reduction of the Arden ratio (range, 1.1
      to 1.5; normal, > or = 1.8), despite electroretinographic evidence of mildly
      affected rod function and normal cone function. These findings suggested that a
      diffuse disturbance of the photoreceptor-pigment epithelium complex may have been
      present prior to wide-spread loss of photoreceptor function in the affected
      members of this family. As in previously described families, the pattern of
      inheritance appeared consistent with autosomal dominance.

PMID- 1444913
TI  - Foveal cone electroretinograms in patients with central visual loss of
      unexplained etiology.
AB  - Foveal cone electroretinograms (ERGs) were recorded in five patients (aged 24 to
      66 years) referred because of central visual loss of unexplained etiology. These
      patients had no family history of visual loss and no diagnostic fundus
      abnormalities seen on ophthalmoscopy or fluorescein angiography. Foveal cone ERGs
      were elicited with a 4 degrees white stimulus flickering at 42 Hz centered within
      a steady 10 degrees white surround presented through the dilated pupil to the
      fovea by a hand-held, dual-beam stimulator-ophthalmoscope. All five patients
      showed reduced foveal cone ERG amplitudes. Their abnormal responses were similar
      to those previously reported in cases of clinically apparent macular degeneration
      and contrasted with previously reported normal responses in patients with optic
      atrophy or strabismic amblyopia. The progressive loss of central vision as
      determined by history and these subnormal foveal cone ERG amplitudes suggest that
      these patients have a form of macular degeneration.

PMID- 1444914
TI  - Standardized full-field electroretinography. Normal values and their variation
      with age.
AB  - Full-field electroretinograms were obtained in 269 normal subjects with the
      International Standardization Protocol endorsed by the International Society for
      Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision and the National Retinitis Pigmentosa
      Foundation Inc. Log rod and cone amplitudes decreased exponentially with age in
      adults; amplitudes declined to one half those in the young adult level (ages 15
      to 24 years) by ages 69 and 70 years for rod and cone responses, respectively. B
      wave implicit times increased with age for all responses. Lower limits of normal
      peak-to-peak amplitude and upper limits of normal b-wave implicit time (P < .05)
      were determined for each decade from birth to age 79 years. Naka-Rushton
      functions relating rod peak-to-peak amplitude to retinal illuminance were
      determined in 50 normal subjects. A significant decline in the log maximum
      asymptotic amplitude with age accounted for most of the amplitude decline in the
      standard protocol rod response. The average value of log k, the semisaturation
      constant, was only 0.1 log unit higher at age 70 years than at age 20 years,
      consistent with previous studies showing little decrease in photopigment optical
      density with age.

PMID- 1444915
TI  - Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. Clinical manifestations of the 3460
      mutation.
AB  - Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy is associated with three different point
      mutations of mitochondrial DNA that appear to be pathogenetic for the disease.
      These mutations affect nucleotide positions 3460, 11,778, and 15,257. We reviewed
      the clinical characteristics of 12 visually symptomatic patients from nine
      families with the 3460 mutation and compared them with previously published
      characteristics of symptomatic patients with the 11,778 mutation. The patients
      with the 3460 mutation were similar to the patients with the 11,778 mutation in
      most clinical parameters. However, the patients with the 3460 mutation had a
      higher incidence of visual recovery (20% vs 4%, P = .001), a higher percentage of
      pedigrees with more than one affected family member (78% vs 43%, P = .011), and a
      greater frequency of tobacco and alcohol abuse. The difference in visual
      prognosis between these two mutations and the need for modification of possible
      risk factors provide added significance to genetic testing for Leber's hereditary
      optic neuropathy.

PMID- 1444916
TI  - Ocular findings associated with rhodopsin gene codon 267 and codon 190 mutations
      in dominant retinitis pigmentosa.
AB  - Two members of a family with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa were found
      to have a cytosine-to-thymine mutation in the second nucleotide of codon 267 in
      the rhodopsin gene that resulted in a proline-to-leucine change. Two members of
      another family with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa showed a guanine-to
      thymine mutation in the first nucleotide of codon 190 in the rhodopsin gene that
      resulted in an aspartate-to-tyrosine change. Three members from a third family
      with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa were also found to have a mutation
      in codon 190; however, this guanine-to-adenine mutation in the first nucleotide
      of codon 190 resulted in an aspartate-to-asparagine change. The relatively less
      severe functional retinal impairment in our patients with a transmembrane codon
      267 rhodopsin gene mutation is generally comparable with that observed in a
      previously described codon 58 transmembrane mutation. The two families with
      different intradiscal codon 190 mutations showed a considerable difference in
      severity of their disease.

PMID- 1444917
TI  - Procollagen II gene mutation in Stickler syndrome.
AB  - Four affected members of a family with Stickler syndrome were found to have a
      single base-pair deletion resulting in a translational frameshift in exon 40 of
      the procollagen II (COL2A1) gene on chromosome 12. This mutation was not seen in
      any of five clinically unaffected family members or in any of 15 unrelated
      control patients. All affected members had distinctly abnormal vitreous syneresis
      and all had retinal perivascular pigmentation. Retinal detachments occurred in
      three of the four affected patients. Three of the four affected patients had
      peripheral cortical "wedge" cataracts, and the fourth had extensive nuclear
      sclerosis. Abnormalities of the soft palate were found in all four affected
      patients. All patients reported severe joint pains, and epiphyseal dysplasia was
      found radiographically in all patients.

PMID- 1444918
TI  - The absorption of mixtures of air and perfluoropropane after pars plana
      vitrectomy.
AB  - The duration of mixtures of perfluoropropane and air (0% to 20% C3F8) were
      analyzed in 206 eyes following pars plana vitrectomy for a variety of
      vitreoretinal disorders using a noninvasive model for calculating the intraocular
      gas bubble volume. The accuracy of the noninvasive model was tested by comparing
      the estimated bubble volume with the actual volume withdrawn from 12 eyes with
      intraocular gas bubbles undergoing a subsequent vitrectomy. The method for
      estimating intraocular bubble volume had a mean difference between the actual and
      estimated bubble volume of 0.1 +/- 0.35 mL. The half-life of air (0% C3F8) was
      1.3 +/- 0.1 days; 5% C3F8, 4.2 +/- 0.1 days; 10% C3F8, 6.5 +/- 0.2 days; 15%
      C3F8, 8.0 +/- 0.6 days; and 20% C3F8, 12.5 +/- 1.1 days. The difference between
      each half-life was statistically significant (P < .01). Linear regression
      analysis of the half-lives of C3F8 mixtures of up to 20% C3F8 showed a linear
      increase in half-lives with increasing concentrations of C3F8. The duration of
      intraocular gas tamponade can be controlled by selecting the appropriate
      concentration of air and C3F8.

PMID- 1444919
TI  - Eyelid anatomy revisited. Dynamic high-resolution magnetic resonance images of
      Whitnall's ligament and upper eyelid structures with the use of a surface coil.
AB  - We used a new radiofrequency surface coil and complementary software in eyelid
      magnetic resonance imaging. This custom-designed coil allows visualization of the
      eyelid structures in submillimeter resolution, providing detailed delineation of
      such structures as the orbital septum, levator aponeurosis, Muller's muscle, and
      orbital septa. The effect of Whitnall's ligament on the levator aponeurosis can
      be observed as a "tenting" of the aponeurosis; the change in vector force is
      persistent in upgaze and downgaze. This technology will allow accurate dynamic
      studies of eyelid anatomy in patients with various anatomically based eyelid
      diseases, before and after surgery, making it possible to test in vivo
      longstanding theories of normal and pathologic eyelid physiology.

PMID- 1444920
TI  - Nonulcerative complications of contact lens wear. Relative risks for different
      lens types.
AB  - A case-control study was used to evaluate the relative risk (RR) of acute contact
      lens-related disorders. The study sample comprised new patients wearing contact
      lens presenting at the accident and emergency department at Moorfields Eye
      Hospital, London, England, in 12 months. Disorders were classified by
      pathogenesis. Compared with gas-permeable hard contact lenses (the referent),
      extended-wear soft contact lenses were related to the largest overall RR for any
      complication (2.7 [95% confidence limits, 1.73, 4.16]), whereas for daily wear
      soft contact lenses the overall RR was 1.3 (confidence limits, 1.0, 1.72).
      Relative risks were greatest for extended-wear soft contact lens wearers with
      metabolic disorders (2.1 [confidence limits, 1.28, 3.4]) and for such wearers
      with sterile infiltrates (2.4 [confidence limits, 1.22, 4.84]). Among those using
      daily wear contact lenses, RR was highest for those with toxic/hypersensitivity
      disorders (5.9 [95% confidence limits, 3.27, 10.49]). Severe complications
      involving greater morbidity occurred more frequently with extended-wear soft
      contact lenses. This could be reduced by selecting a more appropriate lens type
      to correct low refractive errors.

PMID- 1444921
TI  - Binocular fusion and stereopsis associated with early surgery for monocular
      congenital cataracts.
AB  - Despite improved visual acuity results in infants undergoing early surgery for
      monocular congenital cataracts, virtually all reports indicate a lack of
      binocular vision and the presence of strabismus in these patients. We report
      herein the presence of motor fusion and stereopsis in patients who have undergone
      early surgery for monocular congenital cataracts. Of 13 patients with congenital
      cataracts who were operated on by age 9 weeks, five (38%) had essentially
      straight eyes and evidence of motor fusion with a minimum of 1 year of follow-up.
      Three (60%) of five patients demonstrated sensory fusion, two with Titmus testing
      and one with Randot Stereo Acuity (Stereo Optical Co Inc, Chicago, Ill) of 250
      seconds of arc. We conclude that binocular fusion and stereo visual acuity are
      obtainable in patients with monocular congenital cataracts.

PMID- 1444922
TI  - Optic nerve aplasia.
AB  - Optic nerve aplasia is a rare congenital defect invariably associated with other
      ocular or systemic disorders. We examined a 3-year-old girl with monocular
      microphthalmos who had optic nerve aplasia on histopathologic examination of the
      eye after enucleation. Magnetic resonance imaging verified the presence of
      unilateral optic nerve aplasia, and demonstrated hemichiasmal hypoplasia on the
      affected side and bilateral optic tracts. The visually evoked cortical response
      revealed increased signals over the occipital cortex ipsilateral to the aplastic
      nerve, suggesting misdirection of axons from the temporal retina of the normal
      eye. The visual pathway in unilateral optic nerve aplasia may assume a primitive
      form of neuronal organization characterized by an increase in contralateral
      retinogeniculostriate projection.

PMID- 1444923
TI  - Toxicity of intravitreous ceftazidime in primate retina.
AB  - Squirrel monkeys were anesthetized and given intravitreous injections of 0.1 mL
      of balanced salt solution containing 0 mg (two eyes), 1 mg (three eyes), 2.25 mg
      (three eyes), or 10 mg (three eyes) of ceftazidime, a third-generation
      cephalosporin that provides excellent coverage for gram-negative infections.
      Ophthalmoscopic examinations were performed 48 hours after the injections and
      results were completely normal in all eyes except for those that were injected
      with 10 mg of ceftazidime, all three of which showed the appearance of cystic
      change in the macula. The monkeys were killed and the eyes were removed and
      examined by light and electron microscopy. All eyes were normal by light
      microscopy except for those injected with 10 mg of ceftazidime, which showed
      disruption of photoreceptors (primarily outer segments) in the foveas with cystic
      changes in all three and macular holes in two of three. Electron microscopy
      showed mild swelling of mitochondria and perinuclear halos around photoreceptor
      nuclei in both control eyes and in eyes injected with 1 and 2.25 mg. An eye
      injected with 10 mg showed severe damage to central photoreceptor outer segments
      consisting of disruption of plasma membranes and accumulation of intracytoplasmic
      granular material. Inner segments showed mild changes and there was loss of
      apical microvilli of the retinal pigmented epithelium. The inner retina was
      normal. These data suggest that high doses of intravitreous ceftazidime show
      toxicity primarily to photoreceptor cells, but a dose of 2.25 mg is safe as
      studied in this model and can be used instead of intravitreous aminoglycosides
      that have a narrow therapeutic window.

PMID- 1444924
TI  - Histopathologic characteristics of diode laser-induced chorioretinal adhesions
      for experimental retinal detachment in rabbit eyes.
AB  - A retinal break and localized retinal detachment were induced in 10 rabbit eyes.
      The retinal break was treated within regions of detached retina using diode laser
      transscleral retinopexy (four eyes), diode laser indirect ophthalmoscopy (two
      eyes), or retinocryopexy (two eyes). Two eyes were left as untreated controls.
      The clinical and histopathologic effects were studied 1 day and 3 weeks after
      initial treatment. Suitable chorioretinal adhesions were induced with all
      treatment modalities. The extent of tissue effects was greater in cryopexy and
      smaller in laser treatment. The histopathologic characteristics of the lesions
      induced by diode laser indirect ophthalmoscopy were similar to those seen with
      transscleral diode treatment and were more focal than those seen with cryopexy.
      Transscleral and transpupillary diode laser photocoagulation were effective in
      inducing chorioretinal adhesions in detached retina in this experimental model in
      rabbits.

PMID- 1444925
TI  - Morphometric analysis of macular photoreceptors and ganglion cells in retinas
      with retinitis pigmentosa.
AB  - There have been a number of histopathologic studies of retinas that were taken
      post mortem from patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), but few have addressed
      the question of transneuronal degeneration of ganglion cells secondary to
      photoreceptor death. We studied sectioned maculae that were obtained from 41
      patients with different genetic forms of RP: autosomal dominant (n = 11); X
      linked (n = 9); and simplex (n = 21). We also studied sectioned maculae that were
      taken from 20 age-matched normal subjects. We counted cell bodies in the
      photoreceptor and ganglion cell layers at 100-microns (0.35 degrees) intervals
      from the foveola to 1500-microns eccentricity and compared the mean cell counts
      among each group with RP. Each RP type had significantly fewer (P < .05)
      photoreceptors than those of the control group at each 100-microns interval. At
      eccentricities of 700 to 1500 microns, the retinas with X-linked and autosomal
      dominant RP had significantly fewer (P < .05) ganglion cells than those of the
      control group; the simplex RP mean ganglion cell counts were significantly lower
      (P < .05) than those of the control group, from 1000 to 1500 microns. The mean
      photoreceptor and ganglion cell counts had a .43 correlation (P < .001) in the
      zone of 700 to 1500 microns, consistent with transneuronal ganglion cell
      degeneration. Current experimental attempts to restore vision in diseased retinas
      by simulating or replacing photoreceptors are based on the premise that ganglion
      cells are retained after photoreceptor death. Our findings support this
      assumption.

PMID- 1444926
TI  - Subcutaneous air after closure of a tracheocutaneous fistula.

PMID- 1444927
TI  - Cataract extraction in eyes filled with silicone oil.
AB  - A surgical technique for cataract extraction in eyes filled with silicone oil was
      developed that has two major objectives: removal of the entire cataractous lens
      and complete preservation of the silicone oil volume. A regular extracapsular
      cataract extraction or phacoemulsification is performed, and the incision is
      closed with the final sutures. All steps are performed under continuous positive
      pressure achieved with an anterior chamber maintainer connected to a bottle of
      balanced saline solution. An inferior basal iridectomy is created with a
      vitrectomy probe, and the posterior capsule is then slowly pulled out through the
      limbal incision with intraocular forceps, again under positive pressure, in an
      eye that is actually a closed system, without any loss of silicone. This step
      results in transformation of the extracapsular cataract extraction condition into
      an intracapsular cataract extraction condition. The described technique was
      successfully performed in nine eyes. In the younger patients, the whole procedure
      was completed through two very small limbal openings.

PMID- 1444928
TI  - Repair of inadvertent conjunctival filtering blebs with a scleral flap.
AB  - We describe a new technique to correct inadvertent conjunctival filtering blebs.
      This method creates a partial-thickness scleral flap to seal the region of the
      excised fistula. Closure of this flap with sutures permanently covers the fistula
      and eliminates any route for recurrence of the bleb or downgrowth of epithelium.
      No complications have been associated with this procedure, which has been used in
      more than 10 cases during the last 3 years.

PMID- 1444929
TI  - The mouse as a model for human audition. A review of the literature.
AB  - The mouse has several distinct advantages as an experimental model for human
      audition. Mice and humans express a similar presbyacusic and ototraumatic
      pattern. Several genetic mouse models also exist for conditions resembling human
      auditory disorders, such as otosclerosis. This paper reviews the strains of
      inbred mice (e.g. the CBA/J) which have recently been used as models for the
      normal human auditory system, describing their deficiencies. It is suggested that
      the F1 offspring of CBA/CaJ and AU/SsJ inbred mice would have advantages over
      existing models.

PMID- 1444930
TI  - Auditory brainstem function of the F1 offspring of the cross of CBA/CaJ and
      AU/SsJ inbred mice.
AB  - Inbred strains of laboratory mice have several distinct advantages as models for
      examining conditions that influence the human auditory system, but the CBA/J
      mouse which has most often been used as a normal model has recently been found to
      have several disadvantages. This paper is the first report of the auditory
      brainstem responses (ABRs) of the F1 offspring of CBA/CaJ and AU/SsJ parents. At
      midlife, high-frequency ABR thresholds are lower in the F1 than in either
      parental genotype. Tuning curves obtained by forward masking of the ABR also
      display heterosis, i.e. they are narrower in the F1 than in either parental
      strain.

PMID- 1444931
TI  - Influence of masker bandwidth on binaural masking level differences.
AB  - Masking level differences (MLDs) were investigated using masking noise with 160
      Hz (amplitude-modulated noise) and 600 Hz (filtered-random noise) bandwidth. One
      hundred normally hearing subjects received the MLD test under both types of
      noise. Significant differences between noise types were observed in both N0S pi
      and N pi S0 conditions; MLDs were larger in amplitude-modulated noise.
      Consideration of these differences would indicate that older MLD norms based
      solely on filtered-random noise are invalid for amplitude-modulated noise
      especially where bandwidth differences in the noise exist. Were the norms for 600
      Hz-wide filtered-random noise to be applied to results of MLD testing performed
      using 160-Hz-wide amplitude-modulated noise, patients with lesions in the central
      auditory pathway might exhibit normal or borderline normal results. Clinical MLD
      norms established on one type of noise should not be used to interpret MLD
      results obtained using a different type of noise.

PMID- 1444932
TI  - Effect of hearing aids on speech perception in noisy situations.
AB  - Hearing-impaired people often complain about poor speech intelligibility when
      they are in noisy surroundings. Several authors have published data suggesting
      that hearing aids add distortion to the signal and thus make speech less
      intelligible. Given the tendency of people to speak louder in competing noise, it
      means that some patients might understand better in such circumstances without an
      aid than with an aid. The present study investigated the effect of modern
      commercial hearing aids on the ability of patients to understand speech
      monaurally in noisy circumstances. The results in general showed speech to be
      equally understandable with and without an aid if the effects of presentation
      level (amplification) are excluded. The results, however, varied considerably
      between patients. Statistical analysis showed that the variance could be
      explained primarily by the degree of high-frequency loss and the slope of the
      audiogram. Patients with steep sloping audiograms understand better and patients
      with a conductive hearing loss component understand less in noisy circumstances
      with a hearing aid. Speech intelligibility in noisy situations did not correlate
      at all with the hearing loss averaged over the mid-frequencies (500, 1,000 and
      2,000 Hz) but it did correlate with the high-frequency hearing loss (2,000 and
      4,000 Hz) and the slope of the audiogram, indicating the importance of high
      frequency emphasis in hearing aids.

PMID- 1444933
TI  - Cooperation of hearing-impaired elderly subjects for participation in a hearing
      screening program.
AB  - Presbyacusis, the auditory disorder which accompanies the aging process, is well
      known. However, the practical assistance available to alleviate the breakdown in
      the communication ability of the older person is unsatisfactory, and provision
      for public awareness of a rehabilitation strategy has not yet been established in
      many countries. Four hundred and ninety-eight elderly subjects, aged 65-94 years,
      were hearing tested in different setups, a geriatric nursing home and in the
      community. It was found that the need for rehabilitation was high and the
      willingness to participate in a hearing screening program was low even though the
      rehabilitation treatment was provided without charge.

PMID- 1444934
TI  - Natural vowel perception by patients with the ineraid cochlear implant.
AB  - Vowel recognition was tested in 10 patients using the Ineraid cochlear implant.
      The vowels were produced by a male speaker in the context 'heed, hid, head, had,
      hawed, hood, who'd, hud' and 'heard'. Performance varied from 34 to 93% correct.
      A descriptive feature system for the vowels was determined from an acoustic
      analysis. An information transfer analysis of these features suggested that
      information about the first formant frequency, vowel duration and fundamental
      frequency was transmitted. Information about the second and third formant
      frequency was transmitted less well. A sequential information transmission
      analysis suggested that the features of the first formant and duration accounted
      for nearly 80% of the information transmitted. The fundamental frequency and
      second formant frequency information accounted for an additional 8%. Information
      provided by the third formant frequency was largely redundant.

PMID- 1444935
TI  - Medical record content: recurring area of concern in hospital analysis.
AB  - This article reports on an analysis of 109 hospitals that received
      recommendations for improvement within their Medical Record Service when surveyed
      by the Australian Council on Health Care Standards (ACHS) in 1990. Seventy-five
      per cent of Medical Record Service recommendations made at an earlier survey had
      been fully implemented and 17% partially implemented by hospitals at the time of
      their next survey in 1990. The major area receiving recommendations for
      improvement was medical record content. Other areas of concern were quality
      assurance, organization and administration, and space for research and work
      within the service. Certain aspects of medical record content also appeared to be
      resistant to change from one survey to the next.

PMID- 1444936
TI  - Trends and projections for day only admissions in NSW acute hospitals.
AB  - The rapid increase in the number of day only admissions during the last decade
      has led to an increased awareness of this type of hospital admission. Health
      planners are now interested in which procedures are causing the increase in the
      day only activity and how best to accommodate it in the future. To address these
      issues, routinely collected hospital data were used to analyse trends in day only
      admissions and to extrapolate future demand via regression models. The results
      suggest that day only admissions will constitute 45% of all admissions to NSW
      acute hospitals by the year 2001. Detailed review of patient caseloads suggest
      that 13.5% of all patients will be potentially treatable through day surgery
      units, as opposed to general wards, by 2001. Assuming 80% of these potential
      patients actually do get treated in day surgery units, then the workload
      generated could be accommodated within 30 day surgery facilities.

PMID- 1444937
TI  - Medical audit of hysterectomy in the Hunter Area of New South Wales.
AB  - A computer search in the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Health statistical
      data base was made to obtain the medical record numbers of patients who had had
      hysterectomies in the public or private hospitals of the Hunter Area of the State
      during the years 1987-89. The medical records of patients so identified were then
      extracted and reviewed by a medical team. The age at and the principal indication
      for hysterectomy were noted in each case and these data were then compared with
      those for the rest of NSW. The hysterectomy rate in the Hunter Area was 66.5 per
      10,000 women aged 15 years or more, compared with a rate of 33.8 per 10,000 in
      the rest of NSW. When the 9.04% of hysterectomies performed on patients whose
      domicile was outside the Hunter Area were excluded, the corrected hysterectomy
      rate for the area was 57.46 per 10,000 women. The commonest indications for
      hysterectomy were menorrhagia (25.4%) and fibroids (15.32%). The limitations of
      this kind of retrospective study are discussed and suggestions are made for an
      improved methodology to be used in a future study.

PMID- 1444938
TI  - Introducing a quality of service programme to hospital orderly staff.
AB  - Recent reshaping of health provision throughout New Zealand has brought many
      changes to virtually every area of the service. In some instances this has
      required a totally fresh approach with a different way of thinking. In others, it
      has meant the adaptation and remodelling of existing structures and approaches.
      This paper gives a brief overview of the West Auckland Health District Quality of
      Service Programme and, in particular, its introduction to the orderly service at
      Waitakere Hospital.

PMID- 1444939
TI  - Windows of opportunities available in tight economic times.
AB  - The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital has developed a culture around the
      Accreditation process and quality assurance. All staff members are regularly
      challenged to ask themselves the question, 'What are we doing now that we could
      do better?' During the financial year 1990-91, over 350 quality assurance
      programmes were undertaken addressing more than 150 individual issues. Many
      aspects of a clinical nature were addressed and these will be dealt with briefly.
      The main focus of this paper is to indicate the windows of opportunity available
      to hospitals in tight economic times. Programmes were undertaken in every
      department throughout the hospital and, in the financial year under review,
      savings of $351,589 were not only identified but accomplished. These savings are
      ongoing during the next 5 years and will amount to approximately $1.75 million.
      The Auxiliaries of The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital have assisted the
      hospital and over the last 10 years have raised $2.5 million without any direct
      public appeals.

PMID- 1444940
TI  - Use of the Injury Severity Score to monitor diagnostic accuracy in the early
      assessment of road trauma.
AB  - A retrospective review of 279 hospital admissions at two Melbourne hospitals was
      conducted to develop a method for identifying diagnostic error using the Injury
      Severity Score (ISS) as a model for clinical audit. Two scores were calculated
      for each patient, the first according to injuries diagnosed on initial assessment
      in the Emergency Department and the second according to final, confirmed
      diagnoses upon discharge from hospital. Diagnostic errors were identified as
      discrepancies between the initial and final scores. ISS discrepancies were found
      in 48 cases (17.2%). Some were clinically significant errors of diagnosis while
      others reflected inaccurate injury description or record keeping. Abdominal
      injuries were the most frequently missed, followed in decreasing order by spinal,
      thoracic, extremities (limbs), head/face and external injuries (skin and
      subcutaneous tissues). The frequency and pattern of injury misdiagnosis concurs
      with the findings of other studies. The diagnostic error rate was found to
      increase with injury severity and with the number of anatomic body regions
      involved. The authors suggest that comparing initial and final ISS provides a
      convenient mechanism for the audit of early diagnosis in trauma cases.

PMID- 1444941
TI  - The tunnel restoration--nine years of clinical experience using capsulated glass
      ionomer cements. Case report.
AB  - The clinical potential of the tunnel restoration is restrained by perceived
      difficulties of access to proximal caries and lack of long-term clinical data.
      This paper describes a technique that affords proximal access similar to that of
      a standard Class II cavity preparation and provides an evaluation of a technique,
      using capsulated glass ionomer cements. It is supported by more than nine years
      of clinical experience that confirms the viability of this procedure as an
      alternative to conventional Class II cavity restorations for initial proximal
      lesions.

PMID- 1444942
TI  - Excessive bleeding following minor trauma. Case report.

PMID- 1444943
TI  - Microsurgical repair of nerves injured during third molar surgery.
AB  - The inferior dental and lingual nerves are in close proximity to the mandibular
      third molar. In approximately 5 per cent of cases of the surgical removal of this
      tooth one or other of these nerves may be injured. In most cases the injury is
      reversible but in 1 per cent a distressing dysaesthesia may occur. The diagnosis
      of the sensory deficit is made by repeated sensory testing. If there is no
      improvement by six to nine months then complete spontaneous recovery will not
      occur. These irreversible nerve injuries can be successfully treated
      microsurgically.

PMID- 1444944
TI  - Facial palsy in the dental surgery. Case report and review.
AB  - Facial palsy is a relatively uncommon condition with a variety of causes
      including dental intervention. A brief history of two cases of facial palsy with
      dental implications is presented. The aetiology of facial palsy is reviewed and
      the management of such cases is discussed. The option of immediate treatment of
      Bell's palsy with prednisone is stressed.

PMID- 1444945
TI  - A clinical evaluation of three topical anaesthetic agents.
AB  - This study compared the efficacy of EMLA 5% Cream, Xylocaine 5% (lignocaine 5 per
      cent) and NUM (benzocaine 15 per cent, amethocaine 1.7 per cent) to a placebo in
      reducing the pain experience during needle insertion. In a random, double blind
      study three groups of twenty volunteers each had a paired topical
      anaesthetic/placebo placed bilaterally in the buccal sulcus of the upper premolar
      regions for two minutes, followed by the insertion of a standard 27 gauge needle
      to a depth of 5 mm. Pain experience was measured with visual analogue scales.
      Results showed that all three agents significantly reduced pain when compared
      with the placebo--EMLA (p less than 0.002); Xylocaine (p less than 0.05); NUM (p
      less than 0.005).

PMID- 1444946
TI  - Some parameters for testing deformation of elastomeric impression materials.
AB  - Because of conflicting published data, the temperature rise in four elastomeric
      materials was measured with a thermistor during setting in the oral cavity and in
      metal and plastic moulds of varying shapes and volumes for 'elastic set'
      specimens. The clinical temperature rise was 2-3 degrees C higher in the molar
      region than anteriorly, except for the polysiloxane. The temperature range
      attained in the set materials varied from 29 degrees C to nearly 35 degrees C for
      clinical and in vitro specimens. The average time taken by a group of operators
      to remove this type of impression from the mouth was five seconds. In a custom
      tray with light and heavy viscosity materials, the syringe material layer was
      only 0-0.15 mm thick and, essentially, the heavy viscosity material provided the
      elastic components for the impression.

PMID- 1444947
TI  - The effect of interface adhesion, water immersion and anatomical notches on the
      mechanical properties of denture base resins reinforced with continuous high
      performance polyethylene fibres.
AB  - Previous work has presented a study of the mechanical properties of denture base
      resins reinforced with a new type of high performance fibre. It is now shown that
      the substantial improvements demonstrated in those composites remain largely
      unaffected by a watery environment, anatomical notches, moulding pressure and
      other factors of denture construction. The understanding of the reinforced resins
      is here complemented with a detailed study of the interface strength, taking into
      account the various couplings occurring within the system.

PMID- 1444948
TI  - Choice of toothbrush: a survey of dentists' personal preferences and
      recommendations for patients.
AB  - Data on dentists' choice of toothbrush brand/type for personal use and their
      recommendations for patients were obtained by means of a questionnaire. Seventy
      nine per cent of dentists surveyed received free samples, with Oral-B comprising
      33 per cent of all such samples, followed by Colgate (16 per cent) and Tek (13
      per cent). Fifty-three per cent of dentists surveyed indicated they used all free
      samples received. Sixty-two per cent of dentists do not consider that different
      brushes differ significantly in their plaque-removing ability. Therefore, while
      an effective toothbrushing technique is important, selection of the 'correct
      toothbrush' from the wide range available may not be critical. The results of the
      present investigation provide information that is relevant to dental health
      education and can be applied at the chairside as well as at the broader community
      level.

PMID- 1444949
TI  - Survey of continuing dental education attendance in Western Australia.
AB  - A survey of attendance at continuing dental education courses convened by the
      University Postgraduate Dental Education Committee, University of Western
      Australia, and the Australian Dental Association. Western Australian Branch was
      collated for one calendar year. Attendances were compared relating to the number
      of dentists registered in the State, ADA membership, metropolitan versus rural
      dentists and the number of courses attended. The mandatory and voluntary options
      for continuing dental education are discussed in the light of the survey
      findings.

PMID- 1444950
TI  - Clinical note no. 11. Mechanical properties in bending of shape-memory wires.

PMID- 1444951
TI  - Effectiveness and efficiency.

PMID- 1444952
TI  - 'Hot pulp' syndrome.

PMID- 1444953
TI  - Finishing techniques for amalgam restorations: clinical assessment at three
      years.
AB  - Use of the optimum finishing technique for an amalgam restoration may enhance the
      marginal integrity of the restoration and discourage its unnecessary early
      replacement. Two hundred and twenty-eight high copper amalgam restorations in 56
      patients were evaluated, using clinical assessment criteria, up to three years
      after placement. Each patient had received at least one carved-only amalgam, at
      least one immediately finished restoration, and at least one amalgam that was
      polished at a subsequent appointment. Regardless of the finishing technique, the
      restorations exhibited similar marginal integrity up to three years after
      placement. Polished restorations were found to have substantially superior
      surface texture and less likelihood of surface discoloration. No evidence was
      found to support the use of immediate finishing techniques. The clinical
      significance of these findings, with respect to the need to polish amalgam
      restorations, is discussed.

PMID- 1444954
TI  - Complications associated with maxillary nerve block anaesthesia via the greater
      palatine canal.
AB  - This paper documents the type, frequency and duration of complications associated
      with regional anaesthesia of the maxillary nerve via the greater palatine canal
      in a series of 101 patients treated in the Oral Surgery Department, United Dental
      Hospital of Sydney.

PMID- 1444955
TI  - Comparative elasticity tests for elastomeric (non putty) impression materials.
AB  - This study was conducted to evaluate the methods used for measuring the elastic
      recovery of various elastomeric impression materials. One brand from each
      chemical group was selected to allow relative ranking of the results from each
      deforming test mode. For compression tests, the polysulphide and silicone
      specimens made in metal moulds gave significantly less set than those made in
      acrylic moulds; this was not so for the polysiloxane and polyether specimens. For
      polysulphide and polyether materials, the set in compression was greater using
      the BSI balanced beam method than for an optical method without inertia or load
      effects; this was not so for silicone or polysiloxane materials. The elastic
      recovery of the materials did not alter significantly after ten minutes of strain
      release, except in tensile tests, where the elastic recovery continued to change
      for twenty minutes. The rank ordering of the deformation set showed a relative
      correlation for the compression test, a new tensile test method, and bend and
      torsion testing methods. Thus only one method is needed to determine set per
      cent.

PMID- 1444956
TI  - Prosthodontic procedures for implant reconstruction. 1. Diagnostic procedures.
AB  - The University of Sydney Dental School and more recently the Implant Centre have
      been treating patients with the Branemark Osseointegration Implant System since
      1981. Success depends on close cooperation between surgeon and prosthodontist.
      This paper describes specific prosthodontic treatment planning procedures based
      on a general knowledge of prosthodontics, and detailed methods for determining
      the position, length and alignments of the implants for a specific case by the
      use of radiographic and surgical templates.

PMID- 1444957
TI  - The adverse effects of dental restorative materials--a review.
AB  - Several materials used in dentistry are described as biomaterials. Owing to the
      intimate contact of these materials with the oral tissues, they should possess a
      high degree of biocompatibility. However, some materials may exhibit adverse
      effects, causing both local and general pathological changes, even though the
      occurrence seems to be relatively low. It is, therefore, the dentist's
      responsibility to be aware of the potential adverse effects of these materials
      and to take precautions to protect the patient form such effects. The purpose of
      this article is to review the potential adverse effects of some commonly used
      restorative materials, mainly with regard to patients.

PMID- 1444958
TI  - Effect of gels containing stannous fluoride on oral bacteria--an in vitro study.
AB  - The purposes of this investigation were to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial
      effect of (1) twelve 0.4 per cent stannous fluoride (SnF2) commercial products
      and (2) different concentrations of SnF2 (range = 0.02 to 3.28 per cent). The
      antibacterial inhibitory effect of various SnF2 gels was evaluated as to their
      effectiveness against oral plaque bacteria including strains of S. mutans, S.
      sanguis, S. sobrinus, A. viscosus, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and B. intermedius.
      When twelve different commercial preparations of 0.4 per cent SnF2 were compared
      for inhibitory effect on plaque bacteria, several of the SnF2 preparations were
      significantly more effective in inhibiting oral bacteria (p < 0.05). With
      increasing concentration of SnF2, there was a comparable increase in the
      inhibitory effect on the oral bacteria tested (r2 ranged from 0.867 to 0.996).
      SnF2 at a concentration of 0.4 per cent had a similar antibacterial effect to
      0.12 per cent chlorhexidine. This in vitro study demonstrated that certain SnF2
      products are highly effective in inhibiting the growth of bacteria often found in
      plaque, and this inhibitory effect is directly related to the concentration of
      the SnF2.

PMID- 1444959
TI  - The grading of practical examinations in complete denture technology.
AB  - The problems associated with the grading of practical examinations are discussed
      and statistical analyses of two gradings are presented. Consideration is given to
      the difficulties of failing students who may wish to transfer to another faculty
      and a recommendation is made for the introduction of non-graded passes.

PMID- 1444960
TI  - Some social characteristics and background of first-year dental students,
      University of Sydney, 1976-85.
AB  - This paper presents some information, derived by questionnaire, on the social
      characteristics and background of 1148 first-year dental students at the
      University of Sydney for the years 1976-1985. Student entry age was 19.4 years;
      27 per cent were female; 36 per cent of fathers and 24 per cent of mothers were
      professionals and 37 per cent of fathers and 11 per cent of mothers had attended
      university; parents of female students had higher educational levels than parents
      of male students; 55 per cent had medicine as the course of first preference.
      Eighty-five per cent of students entered dentistry from high school with 78 per
      cent from Sydney. Characteristics of students showed little change over the
      period 1976-1985. Some changes noted were an increase in the number of female
      students with fewer living in their parents' home; increase in number of students
      from government schools; decrease in foreign students but an increase in students
      (Australian citizens, or residents) born overseas, and of different ethnic
      backgrounds.

PMID- 1444961
TI  - Dental caries and periodontal disease in Fiji.
AB  - A national oral survey was conducted in Fiji in 1985/86. The results showed that
      the prevalence of caries was generally low and most commonly affected pit and
      fissure surfaces. Comparisons with previous surveys in 1948 and 1965 showed that
      the prevalence had fallen in primary teeth but remained relatively constant in
      permanent teeth. There were significant variations in prevalence between
      residential locations but not between ethnic groups. Periodontal disease was
      found to be a major public health problem. Except for the percentage of young
      children with caries-free dentitions, the current status of oral health in Fiji
      was generally better than that proposed in the WHO goals for the year 2000. The
      training of dental hygienists to help in the prevention of both dental caries and
      periodontal disease is discussed.

PMID- 1444962
TI  - Acrylic resins reinforced with highly drawn linear polyethylene woven fibres. 1.
      Construction of upper denture bases.
AB  - This paper presents a detailed description of the construction of complete
      acrylic upper dentures reinforced with highly drawn linear polyethylene fibres.
      The work forms part of a continuing project to elucidate the properties and
      potential of the new system.

PMID- 1444963
TI  - Sedation for dental procedures.

PMID- 1444964
TI  - Federation Dentaire Internationale policy statement on mercury and amalgam in
      dentistry.

PMID- 1444965
TI  - Name the spot. National Skin Cancer Awareness Week 23 to 29 November.

PMID- 1444966
TI  - Multiple sclerosis--making the diagnosis.
AB  - Although intensive research into all aspects of MS in the past 50 years has led
      to a great deal of information about pathological processes that may relate to
      its causation and expression, the disease is still an enigma--one of the greatest
      unsolved problems in medicine. Recent advances in neuroimaging and the ability to
      measure conduction in CNS pathways (evoked potentials) reveal subclinical
      effects, complementing clinical examination and frequently enabling a firm
      diagnosis in earlier phases of the disease than hitherto. In some situations
      earlier conclusive diagnosis facilitates management. But this is by no means
      invariably so. Clinical criteria continue to be paramount; investigative findings
      are supportive rather than being primarily diagnostic in their own right.
      Integrating this information at any one time for the maximum benefit of the
      patient tests knowledge and judgement.

PMID- 1444967
TI  - Is it Parkinson's disease?
AB  - The diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease is based on clinical assessment
      and is also a diagnosis of exclusion. A number of neurodegenerative disorders
      have signs in common with Parkinson's disease and are referred to as
      parkinsonisms. The physical findings that help to make an early diagnosis of
      Parkinson's disease and the atypical features that make another disease more
      likely are presented.

PMID- 1444968
TI  - Some problems in the management of the spinal cord injured patient at home.

PMID- 1444969
TI  - Dizziness--organic or functional?
AB  - The author discusses a specific case to illustrate the problem of chronic,
      uncompensated asymmetrical vestibular function, which can present with seemingly
      bizarre symptoms. Simple guidelines to distinguish between organic and functional
      dizziness are offered.

PMID- 1444970
TI  - Gait disturbances.
AB  - Walking is a complex motor skill and is governed by a number of interlinked
      pathways from the cortex above to the muscles below. The author outlines some of
      the important features in the history and examination of the patient with a gait
      disorder.

PMID- 1444971
TI  - Diabetes in an elderly population. A controlled study of morbidity and outcomes.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine in an elderly diabetic population the frequency of
      vascular and related disorders, the mortality, and outcomes compared with a
      matched control group. SETTING: The Queen Elizabeth Geriatric Centre, Ballarat,
      Victoria. METHOD: The medical records of all diabetics admitted between 1982 and
      1987 inclusive, and a control group matched for age, sex and ward of admission
      were studied retrospectively. The presence of associated conditions and outcome
      parameters were entered in to a database and analysed statistically. RESULTS:
      Increased prevalence in individuals with diabetes of ischaemic heart disease
      (2.0:1.0), cerebrovascualr accident (1.9:1.0) and hypertension (1.5:1.0). Similar
      death rate, cumulative bed days, discharge destination and use of discharge
      services. CONCLUSION: Despite the more frequent presence of clinical vascular
      disease, an elderly population with diabetes had the same outcomes as matched
      controls and did not require more bed occupancy or use of community based
      services.

PMID- 1444972
TI  - An analysis of funding for general practice research in Australia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the current status of funding for general practice
      research in Australia. DESIGN: A descriptive survey analysing funding
      arrangements of research projects included in a national research database,
      established by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. SETTING AND
      PARTICIPANTS: Research projects involving, or directly related to, general
      practice that had commenced in Australia since 1 January, 1989. Responses were
      specifically sought from all universities, the Family Medicine Programme and the
      Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Extent
      and source(s) of funding received or requested, or both; relationship of funding
      received to the following: qualification and affiliations of the principal
      investigator; submission of the research project towards a higher degree; subject
      area(s) covered by the research; study design method used; and duration of
      project. RESULTS: A total of 237 projects from 130 principal investigators were
      included in the analysis. Of these, 149 (63%) had been submitted for funding and
      98 (66%) had been successful. The amount of funding ranged between $300 and
      $855,600. The most common source of funding was the General Practice Evaluation
      Programme. Research contributing towards a higher degree was associated with
      successfully receiving funding. Other variables, including the study design and
      study area, were not significantly associated with an increased success of
      funding. CONCLUSIONS: The total amount of funds spent on general practice
      research is still small, relative to the size of the workforce. However, over
      half of general practice research undertaken in Australia is not submitted for
      funding. Of the research that is submitted, the success rate of receiving funds
      is high.

PMID- 1444973
TI  - Fit-ins. Even a bad day has lessons for us.
AB  - It is a bad day at the office. Four patients present with intractable dilemmas:
      two exhibit self abusing behaviour, and the other two behave in ways that affect
      others. What can the GP do in these circumstances?

PMID- 1444974
TI  - ST elevation and review.

PMID- 1444975
TI  - Endotracheal and intraosseous drug administration for paediatric CPR.
AB  - The endotracheal and intraosseous routes are alternatives to the intravenous
      route of access to the circulation during emergency resuscitation. Adrenaline,
      lignocaine and atropine are readily absorbed from the respiratory tract via an
      endotracheal tube. All drugs and resuscitative fluids can be infused into the
      tibial bone marrow using an intraosseous needle.

PMID- 1444976
TI  - Clinical nutrition in primary health care.
AB  - Nutritional diagnosis and management are important aspects of general practice.
      This information, which is presented in two parts, offers the general
      practitioner a practical framework and an approach to nutritional advice. Part 1
      outlines the clinical conditions and principles involved in nutritional diagnosis
      with a management approach to macrovascular disease and obesity. Part 2 covers
      protein malnutrition, eating disorders, osteoporosis, nutrient toxicity, cancer,
      inherited metabolic disorders, nutrient deficiency and diabetes mellitus. This
      material is based on a seminar organised by Kellogg (Australia) Pty Ltd in
      Melbourne in 1989 and the material is reproduced with the kind permission of
      Kellogg (Australia) Pty Ltd.

PMID- 1444977
TI  - Back posture and lifting--for older women.

PMID- 1444979
TI  - One and one make nothing.

PMID- 1444978
TI  - Variety pack.

PMID- 1444980
TI  - Fingertip dressing.

PMID- 1444981
TI  - Rural doctors.

PMID- 1444982
TI  - Patient education. Nipple problems while breastfeeding.

PMID- 1444983
TI  - Treatment of heart failure.

PMID- 1444984
TI  - Andrew Pattison meeting the challenge of medicine today.
AB  - The common thread of medical education tends to tie up the many diverse interests
      that constitute Andrew Pattison's working week. Although he has diversified into
      health education for the masses through his Doctor Toby books and his talkback
      radio segments, he maintains contact with his grassroots through his general
      practice patients.

PMID- 1444985
TI  - Fluids for non-dehydrated children with 'gastro'.

PMID- 1444986
TI  - Sexual violence.

PMID- 1444987
TI  - Shelf life of drugs.

PMID- 1444988
TI  - Spouses Support Group.

PMID- 1444989
TI  - Scrutinising nationalised medicine.

PMID- 1444990
TI  - Query on homosexual statistics.

PMID- 1444991
TI  - Comment on Vietnam veteran syndrome.

PMID- 1444992
TI  - Payments--a matter of choice.

PMID- 1444993
TI  - General practice--has it got a future?

PMID- 1444994
TI  - Common non pigmented skin cancer.
AB  - The scope of this article does not include many other non melanocytic skin
      cancers such as angiosarcoma, B cell lymphoma and atypical fibroxanthoma. These
      are the less common skin cancers, but no less important. If there is any doubt
      whether a lesion represents a skin cancer, biopsy is mandatory to establish a
      histopathological diagnosis so that treatment can ensue.

PMID- 1444995
TI  - Systemic diseases and the skin.
AB  - Skin lesions often give important diagnostic clues to underlying systemic
      disorders. A brief overview is given of the types of cutaneous presentations that
      may be related to an underlying organic disease.

PMID- 1444996
TI  - Cottonwool babies. A case history.
AB  - Although the adage 'common things occur commonly' is certainly true, especially
      in a general practice situation, there are occasions when rare or uncommon
      problems present themselves. In these situations the learning curve of the
      patient and doctor may be parallel but there is still a lot the family doctor can
      do to ease the suffering of the family and help in the adjustment phase.
      Epidermolysis bullosa can be a cruel, disfiguring and at times lethal disease,
      however, as Michael's case illustrates, patients deserve assessment on their own
      merits and with the right support and care 'cottonwool' babies can lead full and
      purposeful lives.

PMID- 1444997
TI  - Paediatric dermatology.
AB  - The format of this collection of skin conditions allows for only a brief
      discussion of the aetiology and appearance of each entity. Most of them are
      common skin conditions. Referring to a dermatology reference book will make this
      presentation more valuable.

PMID- 1444998
TI  - New approaches to acne.
AB  - In recent years, a greater understanding of the pathogenesis and improved
      treatment regimens have enhanced our ability to control this common and often
      distressing condition. The author presents a brief outline of its pathogenesis
      followed by a systematic approach to treatment.

PMID- 1444999
TI  - Psoriasis--treatment options.
AB  - Psoriasis can be a disfiguring and psychologically disturbing condition. Although
      a cure is not possible, treatment options offer relief and often remission for
      the patient willing to comply with them. The author looks at those options.

PMID- 1445000
TI  - Clinical nutrition in primary health care. Part 2: Assessment, diagnosis,
      presentation and management.
AB  - Nutritional diagnosis and management are important aspects of general practice.
      This information, presented in two parts, offers the general practitioner a
      practical framework and a approach to nutritional advice. Part 2 covers protein
      malnutrition, eating disorders, osteoporosis, nutrient toxicity, cancer,
      inherited metabolic disorders, nutrient deficiency and diabetes mellitus. (Part
      I, outlining the clinical conditions and principles involved in nutritional
      diagnosis with a management approach to macrovascular disease and obesity,
      appeared in the October issue of Australian Family Physician.)

PMID- 1445001
TI  - Whiplash injury: misconceptions and remedies.
AB  - Misconceptions about whiplash injury and its common course are discussed.
      Different patient populations appear to suffer to varying degrees and social
      copying is evident in certain groups--features shared with the Australian 1983 to
      1985 'epidemic' of 'repetitive strain syndrome'. Psychosocial factors and
      overtreatment delay recovery. Family physicians have the opportunity to properly
      assess and manage most patients. Wasteful therapy must be discouraged, and self
      care and patient responsibility encouraged.

PMID- 1445002
TI  - ST depression and review.

PMID- 1445003
TI  - An interpractice visit study.
AB  - In general terms the tests are performed to monitor disease or therapy, to help
      in reaching or excluding a diagnosis, and to screen for significantly treatable
      abnormalities in apparently healthy people either in the population at large (as
      in hyperlipidaemia) or in a specific risk group, for example, relatives of
      colorectal cancer sufferers. The result of the test gives some indication of its
      value in diagnosis. A preponderance of abnormal results suggest that it adds
      little to the clinical acumen of the observer, while in the opposite situation a
      high proportion of normal results suggest that it is being wrongly applied. Where
      the purpose is monitoring, the survey should throw some light on the value and
      frequency of use of the test. How often does the discerning general practitioner
      order routine electrolytes, serum digoxin levels, thyroid function tests? And,
      more significantly, how often should this be done? General practitioners are the
      appropriate people who can find out and establish an accepted standard. In
      screening it should be possible to demonstrate both the value of the test in
      terms of detection rate (ratio of normal to abnormal results) and the efforts of
      an individual practitioner in preventive medicine expressed as proportion of
      total work load. Suitably expanded it could be extended to discover the
      proportion of the total population at risk that is being reached by screening.
      This writer believes that general practice lacks a published body of knowledge
      culled from its collective experience on which it can call when challenged by
      colleagues, government or even hostile barristers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1445004
TI  - Acute otitis media.

PMID- 1445005
TI  - Easy bruising and bleeding.
AB  - The first steps in the identification of the cause of a bleeding disorder is
      careful evaluation of the patient's haemostatic competence and an assessment of
      the personal and family histories. Laboratory assessment should be guided by the
      clinical impression.

PMID- 1445006
TI  - Mini mental state examination.

PMID- 1445007
TI  - Slings (Part 1).

PMID- 1445008
TI  - Patient education. Footcare in diabetes.

PMID- 1445009
TI  - Hugh Carpenter. International general practitioner.
AB  - Hugh Carpenter's interests in general practice have been cosmopolitan and
      challenging. After seven years as a solo country general practitioner in Tasmania
      and then as State Director of the Family Medicine Programme in Tasmania, he was
      appointed to positions in China (1987-1990) and Moscow. His special interests are
      medical education and bilateral international medical relations, especially
      between China and Australia, and Great Britain with Russia, Bulgaria and Romania.

PMID- 1445010
TI  - A matter of chance.

PMID- 1445011
TI  - Glimpses of a cruel world.

PMID- 1445012
TI  - Assessing new drugs.

PMID- 1445013
TI  - Health care crisis in Africa.

PMID- 1445014
TI  - ANF in Japan.

PMID- 1445015
TI  - Nurse and the law. Informed consent and self-determination.

PMID- 1445016
TI  - The third age. A documentation model.

PMID- 1445017
TI  - Quality assurance and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

PMID- 1445018
TI  - Lipoprotein(a): a new independent risk factor for atherosclerosis.

PMID- 1445019
TI  - Lipoprotein(a) concentration in diabetes: relationship to proteinuria and
      diabetes control.
AB  - Diabetic patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly
      when proteinuria is present. Lipoprotein(a)[Lp(a)] levels were assessed in 37
      patients with insulin dependent (IDDM) and in 75 patients with non-insulin
      dependent (NIDDM) diabetes who showed varying degrees of proteinuria and
      glycaemic control. Median Lp(a) in 112 diabetic patients was significantly
      greater than in 116 healthy controls (113 vs 48 mg/L; p less than 0.01). 86 of
      the patients had first morning urine albumin concentration less than 30 mg/L
      (normoalbuminuria = NA), 16 patients 30-200 mg/L (microalbuminuria = MA) and ten
      patients greater than 200 mg/L (albuminuria = ALB). There was no significant
      difference in median Lp(a) concentration between the three groups (NA = 108, MA =
      163, ALB = 98 mg/L; p greater than 0.5). No significant difference in median
      Lp(a) or NIDDM treated with oral agents and/or diet (120, 98, 115 mg/L
      respectively; p greater than 0.7). When the 86 NA patients were divided on the
      basis of median fructosamine concentration (357 mumol/L), no significant
      difference was found in median Lp(a) levels between those grouped below or above
      this median (98 mg/L vs 118 mg/L; p greater than 0.5). Across all diabetics
      studied there was no significant correlation present between Lp(a) and urinary
      protein or glycaemic control. These cross-sectional results suggest that median
      Lp(a) concentration is increased in both IDDM and NIDDM patients, but this
      increase is not related to the degree of proteinuria or short-term glycaemic
      control.

PMID- 1445020
TI  - Semi-quantitative determination of microalbuminuria by urinary dipstick.
AB  - Microalbuminuria predicts subsequent clinical nephropathy and mortality in
      diabetic patients. This study was undertaken to determine the usefulness of a new
      immunochemical urinary dipstick test (Micral-Test, Boehringer Mannheim, GmbH
      Mannheim, Germany) in identifying urinary albumin concentrations within the
      microalbuminuric range (urinary albumin concentration 20-200 mg/L). Twenty-four
      hour urine specimens were collected from 298 consecutive diabetic outpatients.
      Micral-Test was performed by two laboratory scientists blinded to each other's
      results and those of radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunoturbidimetry on the same
      specimen. When compared with RIA, Micral-Test had an overall sensitivity of
      92.2%, specificity of 92.3% and positive predictive value of 86.4%. However, at
      the threshold value of 20 mg/1 Micral-Test showed false positive results in 37.8%
      of samples when compared with RIA. Similar results were obtained when Micral-Test
      was compared with immunoturbidimetry. We conclude that Micral-Test is a useful
      screening method for the detection of microalbuminuria. We suggest that positive
      tests be confirmed by a timed urine collection using established methodology and
      that patients whose Micral-Test is negative be subjected to annual retesting.

PMID- 1445021
TI  - The value of complement measurements in the assessment of lupus activity.
AB  - The complement system was studied prospectively in 29 patients, predominantly
      renal (25), with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to examine the value of
      complement assays in the distinction between active and inactive disease. Disease
      activity was evaluated primarily by clinical, biochemical and histological
      parameters which were obtained at the time of assessment. Fourteen patients had
      active disease, as assessed by clinical and laboratory criteria. C1q, C4, C4a,
      C2, C3, C3a, C5, total haemolytic activity (CH50) and complement inhibitors were
      measured in each patient. The ratios of C4a:C4 and C3a:C3 were also calculated.
      Values for all components except C5 were different between control subjects and
      active patients while only CH50 was different between inactive patients and
      controls. All parameters except C4a:C4 and C5 were different between active and
      inactive patients. There was a highly significant difference in the number of
      active patients with reduced levels of C2, C3 and C3a:C3 compared to inactive
      patients (i.e. p less than 0.001) whereas lesser or no difference was observed
      for other parameters. The concentration of complement inhibitors was elevated in
      both groups. We conclude that, among readily available complement parameters, C2
      and C3 provide the best assessment of disease activity in patients with SLE.

PMID- 1445022
TI  - Coronary artery disease in Asians.
AB  - From available studies, there appears to be a racial preponderance of coronary
      artery disease (CAD) among Indians when compared to other ethnic groups. We found
      that this racial difference exists even in a young Asian population with
      premature atherosclerosis. In this small series, these racial differences could
      not be explained by the commonly known risk factors for coronary artery disease-
      smoking, hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia, findings similar to
      those found in older patients elsewhere. Only fasting triglyceride levels were
      significantly higher among young Indians compared to non Indians (p less than
      0.02) although the importance of this finding as a risk factor for CAD remains
      controversial. The majority of these young patients were treated medically and
      their one year survival was good.

PMID- 1445023
TI  - The prevalence of asthma in Victorian adults.
AB  - To determine the prevalence of asthma in Victorian adults, we carried out a cross
      sectional postal survey utilising a new screening questionnaire which gathered
      data on self reported respiratory symptoms, whether asthma had been diagnosed
      and, if so, how it had been treated. Questionnaires were returned by 2198 (72%)
      of 3095 adults selected randomly from the Victorian electoral roll, an adequate
      response rate. The reported prevalences of individual asthmatic symptoms in the
      last 12 months ranged from 8% for nocturnal wheeze to 22% for current wheeze.
      Thirteen per cent of respondents had ever had asthma, 7% had experienced an
      attack within the last 12 months and 6% were currently taking medication. The
      high prevalence of asthma revealed by our study has major implications for the
      planning of health services.

PMID- 1445024
TI  - Reoperation for recurrent coronary artery disease--a ten year experience.
AB  - The need for reoperation caused by recurrence of coronary artery disease is
      becoming increasingly common. Although reoperation is more difficult and time
      consuming, with careful surgical technique it can be carried out with the same
      mortality as that described by many units for primary coronary artery bypass
      grafting (1.2-2.0%). In the 172 patients described here, who had coronary artery
      reoperations between 1981 and 1990, there were two in-hospital deaths (1.2%).
      There were three postoperative bleeds which required return to theatre. No
      patient suffered a postoperative neurological deficit or postoperative myocardial
      infarction. These reoperations comprised 6.9% of the 2497 coronary artery
      operations carried out in the same period. Follow-up disclosed eight late deaths,
      from five-62 months after operation; all survivors claim to be symptomatically
      improved. Consideration should be given to the potential problems of reoperation
      when carrying out primary myocardial revascularisation.

PMID- 1445025
TI  - Anabolic steroid abuse and toxicology.

PMID- 1445026
TI  - Does sulphinpyrazone reduce haemolysis from prosthetic heart valves?

PMID- 1445027
TI  - NSAID prescribing information.

PMID- 1445028
TI  - Diagnosing acute myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1445029
TI  - The use of the polymerase chain reaction in the identification of a high oxygen
      affinity haemoglobin--Hb Finlandia.

PMID- 1445030
TI  - RSI revisited.

PMID- 1445031
TI  - Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine, 23rd annual scientific
      meeting. Adelaide, South Australia, 3-6 May 1992. Abstracts.

PMID- 1445032
TI  - A mucosal barrier of gastric surfactant identified in the human stomach.
AB  - Using a special fixation procedure avoiding glutaraldehyde, an oligolamellar
      lining has been demonstrated by electronmicroscopy on the luminal surface of the
      human stomach and, with more lamellations, on the epithelial surfaces of oxyntic
      ducts and parietal cells. These results indicate that, in the human stomach,
      there is indeed a gastric mucosal barrier consisting of a multi-laminated
      structure of surface-active phospholipid (SAPL). This gastric surfactant is
      probably produced in parietal cells and surface mucus cells in which lamellar
      bodies and some prominent multi-focal lamellated agglomerates of SAPL were
      prevalent. These findings of a gastric mucosal barrier similar in structure and
      function to a very thin polyethylene liner are compatible with previous
      information about the hydrophobicity of the gastric mucosa, the clinical
      correlation of hydrophobicity with peptic ulceration and the action of barrier
      breakers (including Helicobacter pylori). It is speculated that the
      administration of exogenous gastric surfactant in various forms may be effective
      for inexpensive long-term maintenance of the ulcer patient treated acutely by
      more conventional means.

PMID- 1445033
TI  - Vitamin therapy for acute leukaemia.

PMID- 1445034
TI  - All-trans retinoic acid in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukaemia.
AB  - All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) is known to induce differentiation of
      promyelocytes in vitro and also to induce remission of acute promyelocytic
      leukaemia in vivo. We treated 11 patients with poor prognosis acute promyelocytic
      leukaemia (APL) with ATRA and obtained seven complete and one partial remission.
      Remissions took one to three months to achieve and were associated with adverse
      effects including dry skin and bone pain. In eight patients the white cell count
      rose above 20 x 10(9)/L within the first ten days of retinoic acid treatment and
      this was associated with the development of pulmonary leukostasis in three
      patients which was fatal in one. Another two patients died of intracranial
      haemorrhage also within the first ten days. ATRA is a promising new agent in the
      induction therapy of this particular category of acute leukaemia.

PMID- 1445035
TI  - Neuroendocrine protein 7B2 in Prader-Willi syndrome.
AB  - 7B2 is a neuroendocrine polypeptide of unknown function, the gene for which is
      sited near or within the chromosomal region deleted in Prader-Willi syndrome and
      Angelman's syndrome. Plasma immunoreactive 7B2 levels were measured in 26
      individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome, and appropriate controls. Plasma 7B2
      levels were within normal limits compared to the control groups, in adults with
      Prader-Willi syndrome. 7B2 levels in children with Prader-Willi syndrome were
      higher, this age-dependent variation having been previously reported in normal
      children.

PMID- 1445036
TI  - Phrenic nerve pacing in two young quadriplegic ventilator-dependent patients.
AB  - Patients who survive high cervical injury are usually dependent on mechanical
      ventilation and tracheostomy if the lesion above C3 is complete. We report our
      experience with phrenic nerve pacing (PNP) to achieve ventilator-independence in
      two young quadriplegic patients. A diaphragm conditioning programme, and
      combination of low frequency electrophrenic stimulation within each inspiratory
      burst and low breathing frequency enabled both patients initially to achieve
      continuous 24 hour ventilation independent of mechanical ventilation. One patient
      reverted to overnight mechanical ventilation (six hours) after three years. PNP
      should be considered in ventilator dependent patients with high cervical injury
      to achieve independence and improve quality of life.

PMID- 1445037
TI  - Substantia nigra degeneration in motor neurone disease: a quantitative study.
AB  - There is increasing evidence of degeneration of nerve cells other than motor
      neurones in sporadic motor neurone disease (MND). Sporadic MND is occasionally
      associated with Parkinsonism. The aim of this study was to determine whether
      neuronal loss occurs in the substantia nigra of MND patients. Case records and
      pathological material from 14 patients with MND were reviewed. No patient had
      Parkinsonism documented. Sections of substantia nigra from the patients and 14
      age/sex matched controls were analysed by neuronal and macrophage quantitation.
      The mean number of pigmented neurones at one standard level of substantia nigra
      was 863 in cases and 1094 in controls (p < 0.02); on average 21% (95% CI, 7-35%)
      fewer in the cases. The mean number of macrophages containing neuromelanin in
      cases was 106 and in controls 45 (p < 0.02). The results indicate that patients
      with MND have degeneration of the substantia nigra. Thus MND should be considered
      as a type of multiple system atrophy in which the motor neurone bears the brunt
      of the disease. The implication of this to the relationship between classical MND
      and MND with Parkinsonism-Dementia of the Western Pacific is discussed.

PMID- 1445038
TI  - Streptococcus pneumoniae: how common is penicillin resistance in Australia?
AB  - Streptococcus pneumoniae in the past were uniformly susceptible to penicillin.
      Increasing levels of resistance are now seen worldwide. To define the prevalence
      of this resistance in Australia, a collaborative study was carried out on all
      pneumococcal isolates at 15 large metropolitan teaching hospitals. During 1989
      details of results of penicillin testing using routine methods were recorded.
      Isolates found resistant to penicillin were forwarded to Woden Valley Hospital
      for determination of penicillin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). All
      invasive isolates from five of these hospitals were also forwarded during 1989
      and 1990 for MIC testing. Of the 1822 isolates tested, 31 (1.7%) were recorded as
      penicillin resistant. However, only 16 of 22 resistant isolates forwarded for MIC
      testing had MICs of > or = 0.1 mg/L confirmed. After adjustment to account for
      discrepancies with different laboratory testing methods we calculated the likely
      penicillin resistance to be 1% of isolates. Two of 105 invasive strains tested
      were found to be penicillin resistant. We conclude that penicillin-resistant S.
      pneumoniae isolates, including isolates from invasive sites, are found in
      Australia. All of these isolates had an MIC between 0.1 and 1 mg/L and are thus
      regarded as 'intermediately' penicillin resistant isolates. No high level
      resistance (MIC > or = 2 mg/L) was observed. Ongoing surveillance is essential to
      detect changes in resistance patterns and prevalence, as this will have
      implications for the empiric treatment of serious disease caused by S.
      pneumoniae.

PMID- 1445039
TI  - The practice of forensic medicine in Australasia: a review.

PMID- 1445040
TI  - Computerised management of an oral anticoagulant clinic.

PMID- 1445041
TI  - Alpha-1-antitrypsin replacement therapy--an early Australian experience.

PMID- 1445042
TI  - Ciprofloxacin associated bilateral achilles tendon rupture.

PMID- 1445043
TI  - Strychnine poisoning: an uncommon cause of convulsions.

PMID- 1445044
TI  - Asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism: the case for surgical management.

PMID- 1445045
TI  - IgG RF production in viral diseases.

PMID- 1445046
TI  - Intramedullary spinal cord sarcoidosis presenting with urinary retention.

PMID- 1445047
TI  - Safety of post-menopausal hormone replacement.

PMID- 1445048
TI  - Safety of post-menopausal hormone replacement.

PMID- 1445049
TI  - Safety of post-menopausal hormone replacement.

PMID- 1445050
TI  - Monoclonal gammopathy as a clue to the presence of thyroid lymphoma associated
      with auto-immune thyroiditis.

PMID- 1445051
TI  - Spongiotic (eczematous-type) dermatitis after inhaled budesonide.

PMID- 1445052
TI  - Fulminant viral hepatitis B in a small lymphocytic lymphoma patient.

PMID- 1445053
TI  - A survey of interhospital transfer of head-injured patients with inadequately
      treated life-threatening extracranial injuries.
AB  - A 12 month prospective study was undertaken to determine the frequency of
      untreated life-threatening extracranial injuries in patients transferred to a
      major trauma centre because of head injury. Of the 43 patients transferred (15
      with isolated head injury and 28 with multiple injuries), four (9%) had an
      untreated life-threatening extracranial injury, which caused death in two. All
      four patients with untreated extracranial injuries were transferred from
      hospitals with general surgical staff and facilities. In three of the patients
      (none with a major head injury), the extracranial injuries were recognized at the
      referring hospital, but were left untreated in the rush to transfer the patient
      to a neurosurgical facility. In the fourth patient, who had a severe head injury,
      recurrent hypotension from a ruptured spleen was mistakenly ascribed to a scalp
      wound. The series shows that the dangerous practice of hurriedly transferring
      patients to trauma centres because of actual or perceived head injuries, while
      leaving major extracranial injuries untreated, continues despite warnings in the
      literature and the efforts of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons through
      the Early Management of Severe Trauma programme.

PMID- 1445054
TI  - Controversies in the management of brainstem cavernous angioma: report of two
      cases.
AB  - Two cases of cavernous angioma involving the medulla oblongata are presented.
      Both cases underwent surgical excision with excellent outcome. The use of surgery
      via craniectomy is contrasted with stereotactic radiosurgery in light of the
      known natural history of the lesions. As a result, it is suggested that surgical
      excision provides immediate protection from the risks of recurrent haemorrhage,
      establishes a tissue diagnosis, allows complete removal at the primary
      intervention, avoids complications of radiation-induced damage and is performed
      more easily in these vascular anomalies due to the presence of a capsule with
      surrounding gliotic tissue. Additionally, it is implied that the natural history
      of lesions in this region is still unclear. For these reasons, it is suggested
      that surgical excision should be the primary therapeutic intervention for
      cavernous angiomata that involve the brainstem.

PMID- 1445055
TI  - Pars interarticularis stress and disc degeneration in cricket's potent strike
      force: the fast bowler.
AB  - Cricket fast bowlers are the potent strike force in a multidiscipline team. They
      subject their spines to repetitive sagittal plane and rotatory movements over
      many years. The effect of this repetitive stress has not previously been
      analysed. This study examined 20 former fast bowlers to determine the incidence
      of spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis and degenerative change. Fast bowlers are
      noted to have an increased incidence of spondylolysis. A mixed front/side bowling
      style involving more lumbar hyperextension or rotation has significant
      association with spondylolysis when compared with side-on bowling styles. There
      was a high incidence of radiological thoracolumbar degenerative facet joint and
      disc disease in former fast bowlers.

PMID- 1445056
TI  - Rehabilitation of lower limb amputees and some implications for surgical
      management.
AB  - Aspects of peri-operative management, amputation level and rehabilitation of the
      lower limb amputee are reported in the context of a review of a rehabilitation
      service for amputees which includes an integrated prosthetic service. Two hundred
      admissions were reviewed and some complex cases described. It is concluded that:
      a very close liaison between the surgeon and the rehabilitation team (ideally
      with preoperative consultation) is in the patient's best interests; any person
      previously walking (or a potential walker) should be considered for a trial of
      prosthetic walking; an integrated prosthetic service enhances the efficiency of
      the rehabilitation service; and that modification of the current Artificial Limb
      Scheme to allow manufacture of first definitive limbs in prosthetic
      rehabilitation units would further enhance service to patients.

PMID- 1445057
TI  - Splenic abscess.
AB  - Isolated splenic abscess is an uncommon condition. Seven cases seen between 1980
      and 1990 are reviewed. The clinical presentation is non-specific and diagnosis is
      usually delayed. Computerized tomography allowed for accurate diagnosis in all
      cases. Pseudomonas species as a causative organism is reported to be rare, but
      were present in three of the present cases. Antibiotic therapy alone is
      insufficient and splenectomy remains the treatment of choice.

PMID- 1445058
TI  - Corporeal penile plication for correction of erectile penile deformity.
AB  - Penile curvature causing functional impairment of sexual intercourse is uncommon
      but a number of patients are significantly inconvenienced by this condition.
      Seven patients who had marked erectile deviation were treated with surgical
      plication for their penile deformity. Mean follow-up was 16 months (range 3-48
      months) and no postoperative complications were encountered. In six cases the
      penis has remained straight. In one patient recurrence of deformity occurred 12
      months after corporeal plication. The simplicity of the corporeal plication
      technique with the low incidence of associated complications makes it an
      attractive surgical alternative for the treatment of penile erectile deformity.

PMID- 1445059
TI  - Perineal proctectomy for rectal prolapse in elderly and debilitated patients.
AB  - This paper details the indications, operative technique and results of perineal
      proctectomy in the management of complete rectal prolapse in a high risk, elderly
      and debilitated group of patients. Eighteen procedures were performed by one
      surgeon (A.L.P.) on 16 consecutive patients over a 5 year period. Data collection
      was via: (i) retrospective analysis of hospital and office records; and (ii)
      response to a postal questionnaire by the patient, a relative or attending
      nursing staff. There were 14 females and two males with a mean age of 81 years.
      All patients had significant associated medical conditions. The interval from the
      time of a surgical procedure until review varied from 3 to 37 months with a mean
      follow-up period of 16 months. Total hospital stay varied between 6 and 20 days
      with a mean of 7 days. Eleven procedures were performed under general anaesthesia
      and seven under spinal anaesthesia. There was no postoperative mortality. One
      patient suffered an anastomotic haemorrhage that required operative intervention
      and another patient suffered a rectal stricture that necessitated dilatation. Two
      patients were re-operated for recurrent symptomatic prolapses at 34 and 36 months
      after the initial procedure. Continence improved in seven patients, worsened in
      one and was unchanged in the remaining patients. Fifteen of 16 patients were
      considered to have had a successful result from the operation with satisfactory
      control of the symptom of rectal prolapse. Perineal proctectomy is a low risk
      operative procedure for the elderly and debilitated group of patients in
      controlling complete rectal prolapse. If the condition recurs, the procedure can
      be repeated with equally low morbidity.

PMID- 1445060
TI  - Hurthle cell neoplasms of the thyroid gland revisited.
AB  - Hurthle cell tumours (benign and malignant) have been regarded as lesions with
      uncertain biological behaviour. However recent clinico-pathological studies have
      shown that they should be categorized as benign or malignant on the basis of
      capsular and/or vascular invasion, like other differentiated thyroid neoplasms.
      The fact that the tumours are composed of Hurthle cells is irrelevant. Currently,
      histological parameters do not seem to predict biological behaviour of Hurthle
      cell carcinomas.

PMID- 1445061
TI  - Vault prolapse: a new approach.

PMID- 1445062
TI  - The transanal resectoscope: an under-used instrument?
AB  - The use of the urological resectoscope in the treatment of rectal tumours has
      been described in detail. We report the use of the purpose built transanal
      resectoscope in the treatment of 34 patients. Fourteen patients had villous
      adenomas and all but one were relieved of symptoms. Of 20 patients with rectal
      carcinoma, three presented with acute intestinal obstruction and three had rectal
      stump recurrences. Palliation was excellent in patients with general symptoms,
      but the results were disappointing for rectal stump recurrences. Transanal
      resection (TAR) is a novel form of treatment for patients with rectal
      obstruction. Two patients in this study had their obstruction successfully
      relieved by transanal resection alone. This allowed formal bowel preparation and
      full pre-operative assessment. We feel that this technique is under-used and that
      the results of treatment justify more widespread acceptance of the procedure.

PMID- 1445063
TI  - A case of primary mesenteric fibromatosis.
AB  - A case of primary mesenteric fibromatosis is reported and the current modalities
      of therapy are discussed. Surgery is the primary mode of treatment. Other
      modalities should be reserved for gross local residual disease and for
      unresectable recurrence.

PMID- 1445064
TI  - Dieulafoy's ulcer: a palpable entity?
AB  - Two cases of Dieulafoy's ulcer are reported. Diagnosis was delayed but successful
      surgical treatment was achieved once the lesion was located by palpation.

PMID- 1445065
TI  - Delayed cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea: a case report.
AB  - Post-traumatic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhoea is a well recognized
      complication of closed head injury. Most cases occur soon after injury and a
      delay in presentation of more than 1 month is unusual. A case is reported of CSF
      rhinorrhoea presenting 15 years after initial trauma which was complicated by
      meningitis after 12 months. The management of this condition is reviewed.

PMID- 1445066
TI  - Central venous thrombophlebitis diagnosed by computerized tomography scanning.
AB  - A case is described in which computerized tomography scanning aided in a prompt
      diagnosis and assessment of an intravenous catheter-induced septic thrombus.
      Computerized tomography scanning detected gas bubbles within the thrombus, which
      extended from the right subclavian vein into the superior vena cava, and
      retrograde propagation of the thrombus into the right internal jugular vein.
      Computerized tomography scanning also helped in the assessment of the amount of
      deep tissue swelling present and the competence of the upper respiratory tract.

PMID- 1445067
TI  - Late complication of jejunal bypass: a case report.

PMID- 1445068
TI  - Spontaneous knotting of a pigtail ureteric stent in the ureter requiring
      percutaneous removal.
AB  - Insertion of a ureteric stent is a common procedure in urologic practice.
      Ureteric stenting may be performed for: ureteric obstruction, benign or
      malignant: to prevent ureteric obstruction from stone fragments after
      extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL); or to prevent leakage from the upper
      urinary tract. A case of spontaneous knotting of a ureteric stent in situ is
      reported. Although this complication has been reported previously it is rare.

PMID- 1445069
TI  - Ovine nasal zygomycosis caused by Conidiobolus incongruus.
AB  - About 700 sheep died on 52 farms in north-western New South Wales and south
      western Queensland over a 3 mo period. Affected animals had a marked asymmetrical
      swelling of the face, extending from the nostril to just anterior to the eyes.
      They lost condition rapidly and died within 7 to 10 days. At necropsy there was a
      unilateral severe necrogranulomatous rhinitis with extension of inflammation into
      the adjacent subcutaneous tissue, nasal septum and hard palate. Metastatic
      lesions were present in the draining lymph nodes and in the thorax. Histological
      changes consisted of a granulomatous reaction with numerous eosinophilic foci of
      necrosis and a diffuse, heavy, mixed inflammatory cell response. Many vessels had
      segmental necrosis and thrombosis. Fungal hyphae were numerous, particularly
      within or associated with necrotic foci. Conidiobolus incongruus was isolated
      from nasal tissues, parotid and submandibular lymph nodes and pulmonary lesions.

PMID- 1445070
TI  - A comparison of the pathogenicity of two strains of hog cholera virus. 1.
      Clinical and pathological studies.
AB  - The virulence of a strain of hog cholera virus isolated during an outbreak of
      mild disease in pigs in New South Wales in 1960/61 (the NSW strain) was compared
      over 11 days with that of a virulent strain by inoculating 8 pigs with each virus
      and comparing the ensuing clinical signs and pathology. Both viruses caused
      persistent pyrexia and leukopenia, the NSW strain 4 to 5 days and the virulent
      strain 3 days, after inoculation. Few other clinical signs were observed in the
      pigs inoculated with the NSW strain. In contrast, all pigs inoculated with the
      virulent strain became progressively depressed and incoordinated, and were killed
      between days 6 and 9. Bronchopneumonia and swollen, reddened lymph nodes were
      observed in pigs inoculated with both viruses. Few other gross lesions were
      observed with the NSW strain, but some pigs receiving the virulent strain had
      pustules in the tonsil and the anterior oesophagus, petechial haemorrhages in the
      kidney, and small infarcts at the margins of the spleen. There were marked
      differences in the histopathology, both in the variety of organs affected and the
      severity of lesions in individual organs. Suppurative bronchopneumonia occurred
      in both groups. Other changes in the pigs affected with the NSW strain were
      colitis, mild cerebral vasculitis, necrosis, haemorrhage and neutrophil
      infiltration in some lymph nodes and spleens. In pigs infected with virulent
      virus the cerebral vasculitis was so severe that there was necrosis of cells
      within the vessel walls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445071
TI  - A comparison of the pathogenicity of two strains of hog cholera virus. 2.
      Virological studies.
AB  - Quantitative and qualitative differences were demonstrated in the amount of virus
      in a range of tissues from pigs infected with either the Weybridge or New South
      Wales (NSW) strains of hog cholera (HC) virus. The titre of the Weybridge strain
      in samples, as assessed by either virus titration in cell culture or by the
      density of specific fluorescing cells in tissue sections, was higher than that
      for the NSW strain. This correlated with the greater severity of the clinico
      pathological syndrome induced by the Weybridge strain. The implications of the
      differences in the virus content of tissues in the diagnosis of HC is discussed
      as is the use of monoclonal antibodies to differentiate HC and bovine virus
      diarrhoea viruses.

PMID- 1445072
TI  - Evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of
      Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antibody in porcine serum.
AB  - An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting antibody to Mycoplasma
      hyopneumoniae in porcine serum is described. The results are presented as an
      ELISA ratio, calculated by dividing the absorbance of the test sample by the mean
      absorbance of control negative sera. In known infected pigs, the ELISA ratio was
      highest when the serum concentration applied to the ELISA plate was diluted 1 in
      20 in PBS - Tween. Mean ELISA ratios ranged from 1.2 +/- 0.3 for pigs without
      porcine enzootic pneumonia (PEP) lesions to 5.5 +/- 1.5 for pigs observed with a
      PEP lesion reacting positively with immunofluorescent histopathology. Pigs
      observed with typical PEP lesions at slaughter, but not confirmed by
      immunofluorescent histopathology had a mean ELISA ratio of 4.9 +/- 1.7. The ELISA
      was highly sensitive (95.6%) and specific (98.8%) when pig sera from commercial
      piggeries of known M hyopneumoniae infection status were assessed. No cross
      reactivity with serum from a pig hyperimmunised with killed M flocculare was
      detected, and reactivity with serum from another pig hyperimmunised with killed M
      hyorhinis showed only weak cross-reactivity, which failed to reach the ELISA
      positive threshold (ELISA ratio 3) for M hyopneumoniae.

PMID- 1445073
TI  - Perennial ryegrass staggers in fallow deer (Dama dama).

PMID- 1445074
TI  - Complications of dystocia in a mare.

PMID- 1445075
TI  - An immunohistochemical study of plasma albumin extravasation in the brain of mice
      after the administration of Clostridium perfringens type D epsilon toxin.

PMID- 1445076
TI  - Bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Australia.

PMID- 1445077
TI  - Management of land and livestock contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls.
AB  - Investigations were conducted on several small neighbouring beef cattle and sheep
      farms that were found to be contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
      The residues detected contained about 62% w/w chlorine and soil concentrations
      ranged from 0.35 to 1.9 mg/kg. Beef cattle and sheep grazing the contaminated
      land had PCB concentrations in their fat of 0.3 to 1.7 mg/kg and 0.19 to 0.45
      mg/kg, respectively. The concentration of PCBs in the caudal fat of cattle was
      0.3 to 2 times the concentration of PCBs in the land they were grazing and was
      positively related to stocking rates. PCBs were present in milk fat from cattle
      at about the same concentration as in caudal fat, and lactation appeared to
      contribute to decontamination. Wool grease from sheep contained about 1 to 2
      times the concentration of PCBs in subcutaneous fat. Calves of contaminated cows
      also became contaminated. The half-life for decontamination of PCBs in a group of
      8 young female beef cattle was calculated at 13 months. PCBs were detected in
      pasture samples at concentrations ranging from less than 0.01 mg/kg to 0.12
      mg/kg. However, PCBs were not detected in any sample of hay cut from these
      paddocks. In 4 sheep fed a sole ration of this hay, traces of PCBs were detected
      in their fat following 89 days of feeding. Grazing livestock for meat production
      on land contaminated with PCBs is not recommended because livestock readily
      acquire residues, and PCBs persist in soil and livestock for long periods.
      Grazing sheep for wool production on land contaminated with PCBs may be an
      option.

PMID- 1445078
TI  - Failure of a single postpartum prostaglandin treatment to improve the
      reproductive performance of dairy cows.
AB  - A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of postpartum prostaglandin
      treatment on reproduction in 3 seasonal calving dairy herds. Recently calved
      lactating dairy cows were paired on herd, age, calving date and previous
      production index. One cow in each of the 196 pairs received a single
      intramuscular injection of 25 mg of the prostaglandin analogue, dinoprost,
      between 14 and 28 days after calving. Subsequent reproduction was monitored.
      Within each herd and overall, there was no significant effect of treatment on the
      intervals from calving to first service, mating start date to first service,
      calving to conception, mating start date to conception and first service to
      conception. Treatment also had no significant effect on 21-day submission and
      pregnancy rates, on the proportion of each group not pregnant at the end of
      mating, and on first service pregnancy rates. Responses to treatment did not vary
      between cows calving within 50 days of mating start date and earlier calving cows
      or between cows aged less than 5 years and older cows.

PMID- 1445079
TI  - Salivary and plasma cortisol as an index of stress in goats.
AB  - Total assayable cortisol in plasma was highly correlated (r = 0.97) with
      physiologically active free cortisol in plasma after routine management
      procedures in 1- to 3-weeks-old goats. Transport of adult goats caused
      significant increases (P less than 0.001) in free cortisol in saliva and in free
      and total cortisol in plasma. No difference (P greater than 0.05) between
      concentrations of free cortisol in saliva and in plasma was apparent before or
      after transport. The results demonstrated that the salivary cortisol method is a
      useful measure of stress in adult goats, and that the relationship between free
      and total cortisol in plasma, and the adrenocortical response to transport,
      appear to be similar in sheep and goats.

PMID- 1445080
TI  - Locomotor effects in sheep of alkaloids identified in Australian Tribulus
      terrestris.
AB  - Fresh, mature, ungrazed Tribulus terrestris plant material was subjected to a
      standard alkaloid extraction procedure. The extract was fractionated by thin
      layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Two
      major alkaloid fractions were demonstrated. These fractions were identified by
      means of TLC, ultraviolet spectrofluorimetry (UVS) and HPLC, as the beta
      carboline indoleamines harmane and norharmane. The extractable alkaloid content
      was determined to be 44 mg/kg dry matter. Synthetic harmane and norharmane were
      administered subcutaneously to sheep at a dose rate of 54 mg/kg. Both compounds
      caused similar nervous effects. The main effect observed was limb paresis, which
      in some sheep was body side blased. The clinical signs observed in the
      experimental sheep were consistent with those described for naturally occurring
      cases of Tribulus terrestris staggers. It was proposed that harmane and
      norharmane accumulate in tryptamine-associated neurones of the central nervous
      system, during months of tribulus ingestion, and gradually interact irreversibly
      with a specific neuronal gene DNA sequence.

PMID- 1445081
TI  - Mechanisms underlying Phalaris aquatica "sudden death" syndrome in sheep.
AB  - Twenty outbreaks of Phalaris aquatica "sudden death" syndrome in sheep were
      investigated between 1981 and 1991. Four were confirmed and one was suspected, to
      be a cardiac disorder; 5 were confirmed and 3 were suspected, to be a
      polioencephalomalacic disorder; the aetiology of the remaining 7 outbreaks could
      not be determined. Potentially toxic levels of hydrocyanic acid (20 to 36 mg/100
      g) were measured in the 3 toxic phalaris pastures tested. The measurement of
      potentially toxic levels of nitrate nitrogen (2920 micrograms/g) in toxic
      phalaris pastures by others, was noted. It is suggested that phalaris "sudden
      death" syndrome could have as many as 4 different underlying mechanisms, and that
      these might reflect the presence in the plant of a cardio-respiratory toxin, a
      thiaminase and amine co-substate, cyanogenic compounds, and nitrate compounds.

PMID- 1445082
TI  - Serological response of vaccinated sheep after challenge with Corynebacterium
      pseudotuberculosis.

PMID- 1445084
TI  - Spongiform encephalopathy in an imported cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus).

PMID- 1445083
TI  - Angiostrongylosis in dogs in Sydney.

PMID- 1445085
TI  - Lupinosis in yearling cattle.

PMID- 1445086
TI  - Bovine cranial zygomycosis caused by Saksenaea vasiformis.

PMID- 1445087
TI  - Occupational contact dermatitis in New South Wales.
AB  - Five hundred and seventy patients with occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) were
      seen between 1984 and 1990 at the Skin and Cancer Foundation in Sydney. Data
      derived from these patients demonstrated that hairdressing, food, construction
      and the medical industries were the most at risk of OCD. The hairdressing and
      food industries had a high percentage of apprentices suffering OCD whilst the 35
      to 44 year age bracket was most at risk in the construction industry. Allergic
      contact dermatitis was responsible for 38.2% of cases. The main allergens were
      chromate, thiuram, epoxy resin, nickel and cobalt. A third (33.9%) of patients
      were atopic. The average time lost from work was 16 days each year and the
      calculated yearly cost of OCD in New South Wales was approximately $12 million.

PMID- 1445088
TI  - Skin reactions to diltiazem.
AB  - A survey of Australian dermatologists was conducted into skin reactions observed
      to diltiazem. These have included: erythema multiforme, subcorneal pustular
      dermatosis, photosensitive erythroderma, macular exanthem, allergic vasculitis
      and urticarial vasculitis. The range of clinical and histopathological features
      are described. A review of the literature is presented. Photosensitive
      erythroderma and urticarial vasculitis have not, to our knowledge, been reported
      in the literature previously.

PMID- 1445089
TI  - Keratoderma hereditaria mutilans. Etretinate treatment and electron microscope
      studies.
AB  - Keratoderma hereditaria mutilans is a rare inherited cornification disorder
      characterized by hyperkeratosis of palms and soles with a characteristic "honey
      comb" appearance, keratotic constriction furrows of one or more digits (pseudo
      ainhum) and threatening spontaneous amputation. Approximately 30 cases have been
      reported, but the ultrastructural features have not been well characterized. In
      this article, we describe the clinical, histologic, and ultrastructural findings
      in our patient. A biopsy specimen taken before treatment with etretinate showed
      hyperkeratosis with a well-preserved granular layer and acanthosis.
      Ultrastructural examination disclosed that the spinous cells and granular cells
      contained marked swollen mitochondria, many desmosomes, and that corneocytes
      contained many membrane coating granules (MCG) and lipid like vacuoles. After
      initiation of treatment, considerable clinical improvement was observed, but
      without significant histologic modification. The principal post-treatment
      ultrastructural changes were the reduction of mitochondrial swelling in spinous
      and granular cells and the reduction in the number of MCG in corneocytes. The
      intercellular spaces showed increased amounts of fine and coarse granular
      substances. Stimulation of Langerhans cells was observed. Marginal band formation
      occurred normally after treatment.

PMID- 1445090
TI  - Familial non-diabetic necrobiosis lipoidica.
AB  - Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) is a cutaneous disorder with distinctive clinical and
      morphologic characteristics. It is associated with diabetes mellitus in two
      thirds of cases. The aetiology and pathogenesis of NL are unknown but familial
      cases of NL seem to be extremely rare. We report the occurrence of NL in two
      sisters with normal glucose tolerance.

PMID- 1445091
TI  - Hormonally exacerbated hereditary angioedema.
AB  - Hereditary angioedema is a rare disorder which is associated with an inherited
      deficiency of the inhibitor of the activated first component of complement.
      Genetic transmission occurs in an autosomal dominant manner. Affected patients
      are heterozygotes, and their deficiency is incomplete, many of them having up to
      20% of the normal amount of the inhibitor. We describe two cases of C1 esterase
      inhibitor deficiency occurring in a mother and daughter in whom the symptoms
      appeared to be related to the menstrual cycle or the taking of the oral
      contraceptive pill. Although both features have been mentioned in the literature,
      to the best of our knowledge premenstrual exacerbations have not been documented
      previously. We examined the likely basis of hormonally exacerbated hereditary
      angioedema.

PMID- 1445092
TI  - Pilomatrix carcinoma of the scalp.
AB  - A matrical carcinoma (pilomatrix carcinoma) of the scalp is described--the first
      reported case in this site. This malignant hair follicle tumour must be
      distinguished histologically from benign pilomatricoma and proliferating
      trichilemmal tumour, which can have similar features.

PMID- 1445093
TI  - Infantile pyoderma gangrenosum.
AB  - A six month old female infant with pyoderma gangrenosum is reported. Pyoderma
      gangrenosum in an infant is rare. The child responded to pulse therapy with
      intravenous dexamethasone and intralesional triamcinolone acetonide.

PMID- 1445094
TI  - Superficial mycoses in Saudi Arabia.
AB  - Between June 1988 and December 1990, 1018 cases of superficial mycoses were
      investigated. Diagnosis was confirmed by microscopic examination in 503 cases and
      the causal agent was isolated in 490 cases. Tinea capitis accounted for 47.7%
      (92.5% in children below 10 years of age). The frequency of other clinical types
      in descending order was pityriasis versicolor 25.8%, tinea corporis 9%,
      onychomycosis 5.8%, tinea pedis 4%, intertrigo 3.9% and tinea cruris 2.8%.
      Erythrasma was encountered three times and mixed piedra and trichomycosis
      axillaris once. Microsporum canis was the commonest aetiological agent,
      responsible for 46.9% of ringworm infections. Malassezia furfur was the next most
      common agent (26.5%) followed by Candida albicans (8.6%) and Trichophyton
      violaceum (8.2%). Other species were found less frequently. T.simii was isolated
      from four cases of tinea cruris and one each of tinea capitis and tinea corporis,
      and Piedraia hortae and Trichosporon beigelii from a case of mixed piedra
      infection.

PMID- 1445095
TI  - Occupational skin disease. Skin and Cancer Foundation: 4th April 1992.

PMID- 1445096
TI  - Dermatology 2000--facing the challenges. Canberra, 24-27 October 1991.

PMID- 1445097
TI  - Management of venous ulcers.

PMID- 1445098
TI  - Psoriasis, chronic benign familial pemphigus, and dysplastic naevus syndrome in a
      family.

PMID- 1445099
TI  - A peculiar pruriginous dermatoses with gross reticular pigmentation.

PMID- 1445100
TI  - A comparison between M.R.I. and C.T. in acute spinal trauma.
AB  - Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at 0.3T and Computed Tomography (CT) were
      compared in the retrospective evaluation of 34 patients with acute spinal cord
      injury. MRI was highly accurate in the imaging of vertebral body fracture, and
      spondylitic changes, and is the method of choice for imaging ligament injury,
      traumatic disc protrusion and spinal cord compression. It was also useful for the
      identification of subtle subluxations in the sagittal plane. CT remains the
      method of choice for imaging neural arch fractures. MRI at 0.3T is a valid
      technique for assessing patients with acute spinal trauma.

PMID- 1445101
TI  - A comparison between M.R.I. and C.T. in the investigation of neurological
      deterioration in longstanding spinal trauma.
AB  - MRI at 0.3T and CT with myelographic contrast (CTM) were compared in the
      retrospective evaluation of 35 patients investigated for the development of new
      neurological symptoms following longstanding spinal cord injury. Compared with
      MRI, CTM was relatively accurate for the demonstration of spinal cord
      compression, but failed to identify 23% of patients with spinal cord atrophy, and
      43% of patients with post-traumatic syrinx formation. However, 5 patients had
      unsatisfactory MR imaging, either due to motion or metallic artifact, and in 3 of
      these, CTM demonstrated a syrinx. Although MRI is the method of choice in the
      investigation of this problem, CTM may still be required for patients with an
      unsatisfactory MR examination. Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging is now an
      established technique for imaging the spine, with accurate depiction of the
      spinal cord, as well as the adjacent soft tissues (1, 2). However, the cost of
      this technique, and its as yet limited availability in Australasia, has resulted
      in the necessity to demonstrate its superiority over other imaging modalities for
      any specific clinical problem (3). One of the major areas of impact of MR has
      been in the investigation of the problem of acute neurological deterioration in
      patients with past spinal trauma (4, 5, 6). Some of these patients will have
      treatable causes of deterioration, either a post-traumatic syrinx, or spinal cord
      compression (6), and MR can be used to image these conditions (7), which, until
      recently, were investigated with computed tomography with myelographic contrast
      medium (CTM), (8, 9).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445102
TI  - Cardiovascular evaluation in Turner syndrome: utility of MR imaging.
AB  - Forty patients with karyotypically proven Turner syndrome were prospectively
      studied using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and echocardiography in order to
      determine the frequency of cardiovascular anomalies and to assess the utility of
      both imaging modalities as methods for cardiovascular evaluation in Turner
      syndrome. Cardiovascular anomalies were found in 45% of patients. A high absolute
      prevalence of bicuspid aortic valve (17.5%) and aortic coarctation (12.5%) were
      observed relative to comparable series. Of clinically significant abnormalities,
      three of five aortic coarctations and four of five ascending aortic dilatations
      were solely MRI detected and not evident at echocardiographic examination. MRI is
      thus seen as a valuable adjunct to echocardiography in the cardiovascular
      evaluation of Turner syndrome patients. The usefulness of MRI primarily relates
      to its ability to provide excellent visualisation of the entire thoracic aorta
      where a large proportion of clinically significant anomalies occur in Turner
      syndrome.

PMID- 1445103
TI  - Liver CT: a practical approach to dynamic contrast enhancement.
AB  - The aim of this study was to establish a practical, simple protocol that reliably
      produces high quality dynamic incremental computed tomography (CT) of the liver.
      We reviewed 90 patients randomly allocated into six different protocols. All had
      preliminary unenhanced scans followed by a dynamic incremental CT of the liver.
      An initial delay of 30 seconds was used from the commencement of the injection of
      Iopamiro 370. The groups were: 1. Pump infusion (a) 100 mls at 2 mls/sec scanning
      inferosuperiorly. (b) 100 mls at 2 mls/sec scanning superoinferiorly. (c) 100 mls
      at 1 ml/sec scanning inferosuperiorly. (d) 50 mls at 1 ml/sec scanning
      inferosuperiorly. 2. 40 mls hand injected bolus followed immediately by 60 ml
      pump infusion at 1.3 mls/sec scanning inferosuperiorly. 3. 50 mls hand injected
      bolus scanning inferosuperiorly. The parameters recorded were the degree of
      hepatic parenchymal and hepatic venous enhancement and the aortic--IVC difference
      at the last slice through the liver, all measured in Hounsfield units. The
      protocols using 100 mls of contrast produced approximately twice the parenchymal
      and hepatic venous enhancement compared with those using 50 mls. Approximately 60
      90% of examinations using 100 mls produced scans through the entire liver during
      the bolus or nonequilibrium phase, deemed the most sensitive for the detection of
      focal lesions, compared with 13-33% of those using 50 mls. Equally satisfactory
      results were obtained using the relatively inexpensive Biotel power injector
      preceded by a 40 ml hand injected bolus, compared with using an Angiomat
      angiography infusion pump.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445104
TI  - The perivertebral collar--a new sign in lymphoproliferative malignancies.
AB  - Nine patients with lymphoproliferative malignancies, one of whom had not been
      previously diagnosed, were found on CT examination for back pain to have partial
      or complete soft tissue perivertebral collars. The thoracic and or lumbar regions
      were involved in all. Only 3 had gross bony changes at the time, and in others
      the changes appeared so innocuous that in combination with the vague clinical
      symptoms their significance was underestimated. Five patients ultimately had
      episodes of cord compression, and in all nine the appearance of this spinal
      lesion appeared to be of grave prognostic significance. All 9 were dead within 1
      year of the presentation of their spinal lesions. The observation of a
      perivertebral collar in the context of a known or suspected lymphoproliferative
      malignancy should therefore raise the strong suspicion of spinal involvement. The
      vertebrae should be examined on bone windows and the contents of the spinal canal
      on narrow windows to assess bony and epidural spread.

PMID- 1445105
TI  - Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations: pathology, clinical features and treatment
      with balloon and coil occlusion.
AB  - This paper discusses the cases of 5 patients who have had therapeutic occlusion
      of their pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVM) performed radiologically at
      Alfred Hospital in the past 4 years. The salient pathological, clinical and
      radiological features of PAVM are also presented.

PMID- 1445107
TI  - An evaluation of the effect of processing conditions on mammographic film
      contrast, fog levels and speed.
AB  - While it is well established that extended development times and temperatures
      will increase mammographic film contrast and speed (1), little work has been done
      to date in extending this work to encompass all common screen-film types and to
      study the effect of processing chemistry variations on contrast speed results.
      This paper reports on four locally available mammographic films which, after
      exposure in conditions that closely simulate clinical conditions, have been
      developed with four different development chemicals as a function of development
      temperature and time. Three development times were used (23, 32 and 42 seconds)
      in combination with four development temperatures (32, 34, 36 and 38 degrees).
      The results support the previously published result of increased speed and
      contrast with extending development time and temperature. It was further found
      that, for some film types, the film contrast varied significantly over film
      density when developed with extended processing. Other film types, however,
      maintained high contrasts over large film density ranges. In some cases the
      increased contrast was accompanied by elevated film fog levels. The development
      of mammographic films in non recommended chemistries produced varying results,
      mostly detrimental, which demonstrated that selection of development chemistry as
      well as optimal development times and temperatures, is critical for good film
      performance.

PMID- 1445106
TI  - Accelerated thrombolysis facilitated by direct puncture of occluded prosthetic
      femoral grafts.
AB  - Inability to access occluded grafts is a major limitation to successful
      thrombolysis and may even preclude it. This paper addresses the problem and
      offers a new technique of direct puncture of prosthetic grafts through which
      thrombolysis and angioplasty can be performed. These techniques resulted in
      accelerated thrombolysis in all 15 patients studied with no failures due to
      inability to attain graft access.

PMID- 1445108
TI  - Cleido-cranial dysostosis--skeletal abnormalities.

PMID- 1445109
TI  - Iodine-125 irradiation of choroidal melanoma: clinical experience from the Prince
      of Wales and Sydney Eye Hospitals.
AB  - We examined the records of 53 patients treated for choroidal melanoma between
      1985 and 1989. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and short-term
      results of iodine-125 episcleral plaque therapy. There were 28 males and 25
      females, aged 20 to 77 years (median 61 years), treated for single tumours with a
      median diameter of 9 mm (range 5 to 15 mm) and with a median thickness of 4 mm
      (range 2 to 10 mm). The plaques containing iodine-125 seeds were chosen according
      to tumour size: 10 mm (16 patients); 15 mm (36 patients); 20 mm (one patient).
      All patients are alive at last follow-up (median 1.3 years, range 4 months to 3.3
      years). Four patients underwent enucleation for melanoma progression. Thirty
      patients have developed some type of complication (more than one complication
      occurred in the same eye in 12 patients): retinitis (19), optic neuropathy (7);
      cataract (4), rubeosis iridis (2). Overall, visual acuity deteriorated in 32
      patients, remained stable in 12 patients and improved in 9 patients. Iodine-125
      plaque therapy appears to offer patients good prospects of tumour control and
      preservation of useful vision.

PMID- 1445110
TI  - Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast.
AB  - A patient with pure primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the breast is
      reported. The patient was a 72 year old female who presented with a 4 month
      history of an enlarging left breast mass. Surgery involved a radical mastectomy
      and this was followed by post-operative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The
      patient died of extensive metastatic disease some four months after surgery. The
      various characteristics of SCC of the breast are briefly discussed. A sub-group
      of SCC of the breast is identified among reported cases in which the clinical
      course is characterised by a very rapid growth, extremely aggressive behaviour
      and early metastasis.

PMID- 1445111
TI  - Percutaneous drainage of a thigh haematoma: case report of an unusual
      radiographic appearance.
AB  - We present a case of fat necrosis in the thigh of a ten year old girl, resulting
      in unusual multiple, ovoid filling defects seen in the residual cavity following
      drainage of a subcutaneous haematoma. No similar cases have been found on review
      of the literature. The appearance is described to aid diagnosis at the time of
      initial cavity drainage, avoiding the need for further investigation.

PMID- 1445112
TI  - Multifocal metachronous osteogenic sarcoma.

PMID- 1445113
TI  - Bilateral spondylolysis and associated dysplasia of C6.
AB  - Cervical spondylolysis is a rare condition, characterised by the presence of a
      corticated cleft between the superior and inferior articular facets of the
      articular mass (1). This defect involves the cervical equivalent of the pars
      interarticularis of the lumbar spine. Associated dysplastic changes are present,
      suggesting that the lesion is congenital (1 and 2). This case report describes
      bilateral spondylolysis and associated dysplasia of C6 in an 18 year old female.
      The importance of this lesion lies in its differentiation from the more serious
      articular mass fracture or dislocation (1).

PMID- 1445114
TI  - Post-laminectomy pseudomeningocele: an unusual cause of bone erosion.
AB  - Pseudomeningocele is a rare complication of laminectomy, which can cause
      recurrent back pain with or without radicular signs. A case of bone erosion of
      the posterior vertebral elements by a pseudomeningocele is discussed.

PMID- 1445115
TI  - Sonographic appearance of plasmacytoma of the testis.
AB  - A case of solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the testis is presented
      demonstrating the appearances on ultrasound. The clinical implications of this
      diagnosis are discussed.

PMID- 1445116
TI  - Scintigraphic diagnosis and computed tomographic localization of an accessory
      spleen following relapse of chronic immune thrombocytopaenia.
AB  - Chronic immune thrombocytopaenia is an immunologically mediated disorder
      resulting in disordered platelet kinetics and potentially life-threatening
      thrombocytopaenia. Failure of medical therapy is an indication for splenectomy,
      and responses are seen in 80% of patients following this procedure. An important
      cause of relapse following splenectomy is the presence of an accessory spleen. We
      describe a patient with Hodgkin's Disease who developed chronic immune
      thrombocytopaenia despite previous splenectomy. A remission was induced with
      immunosuppressive therapy, but he later relapsed. An accessory spleen was
      detected using 99mTc denatured red blood cells and localized using computed
      tomography (CT). Resection of the accessory spleen resulted in clinical
      remission. Accessory spleens are often small in size. Combined modality imaging
      is recommended in the evaluation of patients with a possible accessory spleen.

PMID- 1445117
TI  - Intrathoracic right kidney diagnosed by ultrasound.
AB  - Intrathoracic kidneys are rare. A case is described in which the initial
      intravenous urogram performed for prostatism appeared to show a non-functioning
      right kidney. A subsequent ultrasound examination revealed that the right kidney
      was situated in the right hemithorax, well above the liver. Pelvic ectopic
      kidneys are common and standard teaching is to perform a full length film should
      an immediate or 5 minute renal area radiograph suggest an absent/non-functioning
      kidney. With the increasing use of ultrasound in the initial assessment of
      patients with prostatism, the possible intrathoracic location of a kidney should
      be remembered when there is failure to demonstrate a kidney in the abdomen or
      pelvis.

PMID- 1445118
TI  - How should a waiting list for treatment be managed?

PMID- 1445119
TI  - The editor's back.

PMID- 1445120
TI  - Editor's case quiz (3). Cholecystoduodenal fistula.

PMID- 1445121
TI  - Maternal mortality in Australia.

PMID- 1445122
TI  - Jaundice: clinical practice in 88,000 liveborn infants.
AB  - We reviewed jaundiced infants born between 1971 and 1989. Jaundice was diagnosed
      in infants whose serum bilirubin level was found to be 154 umol/l or greater. Of
      88,137 livebirths, 10,944 (12.4%) were jaundiced. The most common aetiological
      factor was prematurity (20.3%), followed by ABO erythroblastosis (5.5%), sepsis
      (1.8%), Rh erythroblastosis (1.8%), bruising (1.3%), multifactorial (1.0%) and
      glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (0.5%). In the remainder (67.8%) no
      cause was found or inadequate investigations were performed to determine a cause.
      During the period under review there was a significant increase (r = 0.91) in the
      proportion of newborn infants with jaundice of prematurity, in those not
      investigated (r = 0.92) and a decrease in the proportion with bruising (r = 
      0.90) as the cause. Phototherapy was used on 4,126 (37.7%) infants and exchange
      transfusion performed on 248 (2.3%). Causes of jaundice in infants requiring
      exchange transfusion were Rh erythroblastosis (108, 43.6%), ABO erythroblastosis
      (58, 23.4%), jaundice of prematurity (44, 17.7%) and a variety of causes in the
      remaining 38 (15.3%). Death occurred in 164 (1.5%) infants. In only 7 (4.3%),
      however, was the death possibly related to hyperbilirubinaemia or its treatment
      (Rh erythroblastosis (4), necrotizing enterocolitis following exchange
      transfusion (2) and pulmonary haemorrhage following exchange transfusion (1)).
      Phototherapy proved safe with no deaths attributable to its use.

PMID- 1445123
TI  - Is there a lower limit for birth-weight/gestational age and antenatal steroid
      therapy?
AB  - The aim of this study was to determine if there is a lower limit for birth
      weight/gestational age below which antenatal steroid therapy may not improve
      fetal survival. The association between antenatal steroid therapy and survival to
      2 years of age was assessed in 2 cohorts of children of birth-weight below 800 g
      or of gestational ages below 27 weeks. Antenatal steroid therapy was associated
      with significantly higher survival rates in infants of birth-weight 500-599 g and
      700-799 g, and at gestational ages of 25 and 26 weeks. There were few survivors
      before 25 weeks and none below 500 g birth-weight. After adjustment for
      extraneous prognostic variables, antenatal steroid therapy was associated overall
      with approximately a doubling of the survival rates of infants of birth-weight
      500-799 g, and of gestational ages 24-26 weeks. In the absence of maternal
      contraindications, if the goal is to deliver a surviving infant, this study
      suggests that the obstetrician may assist the survival chances of the tiniest and
      most immature infants by treating the mother with steroids before birth, with no
      apparent lower limit of birth-weight or gestational age.

PMID- 1445124
TI  - Clinical versus ultrasound estimation of fetal weight.
AB  - A prospective study was carried out on 50 patients who had their fetal weight
      estimated by 3 clinicians of different seniority and compared to the ultrasound
      estimated fetal weights using 3 different formulas. All the patients delivered
      within 24 hours of their clinical and ultrasound estimates. A wide range of birth
      weights (1,800-4,500 g) was estimated among the 3 different races (Malay, Chinese
      and Indians). The results showed that there was no significant difference in
      birth-weight estimation amongst the 3 clinicians as well as between the 3
      ultrasound formulas used. There was however significant difference between these
      2 groups when compared with the actual birthweight with clinical estimation being
      superior to ultrasound estimation in our population. This level of significance
      did not extend beyond 4,000 g fetal weight (actual) thus making both clinical and
      ultrasound estimation of fetal weight equally accurate after 4,000 g. This has
      important implications for developing countries where there is a lack of
      technologically advanced ultrasound machines capable of doing sophisticated
      functions like fetal weight estimations but has experienced clinicians who could
      perform this function equally well if not better.

PMID- 1445125
TI  - An assessment of key aetiological factors associated with preterm birth and
      perinatal mortality.
AB  - The 4 main causes of preterm births in 303 women with consecutive deliveries in
      Flinders Medical Centre were premature rupture of the membranes (39%),
      spontaneous preterm labour (22%), pregnancy-induced hypertension (17%) and
      antepartum haemorrhage (12%). Premature rupture of the membranes occurred with
      equal frequency in singleton and multiple pregnancies and there was no difference
      in the frequency of this cause between the pregnancies with live outcomes and
      those with perinatal deaths. Spontaneous preterm labour was more common in
      multiple pregnancies (39%) than in singleton pregnancies (22%). One in 3 of the
      preterm births and 79% of the pregnancies with perinatal deaths occurred at less
      than 32 weeks' gestation. As it is unlikely that any single obstetric and social
      intervention will be able to reduce these causes of preterm birth research must
      continue to find markers to predict premature rupture of the membranes and
      spontaneous preterm labour.

PMID- 1445126
TI  - Rates of caesarean section and neonatal mortality.
AB  - A comparison of the yearly statistics of National Maternity Hospital (Dublin) and
      University Hospital (Newark) was undertaken for the years 1983-1989. The findings
      appear to indicate that after the elimination of major confounding factors, the
      substantially higher rates of Caesarean section in Newark (17.5% versus 5.8%) did
      not bring about a measurable reduction in the rate of neonatal losses. The impact
      of paediatric care upon the respective neonatal outcomes could not be assessed on
      the ground of the reviewed data.

PMID- 1445127
TI  - The influence of maternal age on cesarean section rates.
AB  - Caesarean section rates have risen in recent years and this has led to concern.
      Significantly different Caesarean section rates have been reported between
      different teaching hospitals. This study compares the Caesarean section rates
      between 2 Sydney teaching hospitals draining populations from different areas of
      Sydney. Raw figures showed significantly different Caesarean section rates (22.5%
      at Royal North Shore Hospital compared with 18.3% at Westmead Hospital). Each
      hospital has a significantly different case mix when maternal ages are compared.
      When Caesarean section rates were corrected for maternal age and parity, there
      was no significant difference. As maternal age is an important factor influencing
      Caesarean section rates, future reports on obstetric services should consider
      this factor in making comparisons.

PMID- 1445128
TI  - Symptoms and signs with scar rupture--value of uterine activity measurements.
AB  - To evaluate the symptoms and signs of scar rupture with special reference to
      intrauterine pressure measurement a retrospective analysis of labour records of
      those women who had trial of labour with a previous Caesarean scar in the
      National University Hospital over a period of 6 years (1985-1990) was carried
      out. Known symptoms and signs associated with scar rupture, cardiotocographic
      tracings and fetal and maternal outcome in these patients were studied. Of the
      1,018 women with previous Caesarean scar (4.2% of our pregnant population at
      term) 722 (70.9%) had trial of labour; 70% delivered vaginally. There were 4
      (0.55%) incomplete and 5 (0.69%) complete scar ruptures. All 9 women had an
      oxytocin infusion; 3 were diagnosed postdelivery (all 3 had complete ruptures); 3
      of the 6 who had rupture prior to delivery had sudden reduction in uterine
      activity, 1 had scar pain and prolonged bradycardia and 2 had no symptoms or
      signs. Continuous cardiotocography with intrauterine pressure measurements may
      help to identify scar rupture early and may be of value especially in those who
      have an oxytocin infusion.

PMID- 1445129
TI  - Vaginal delivery after caesarean section.
AB  - In a prospective study of 318 consecutive pregnancies complicated by previous
      Caesarean section, 193 (61%) had an elective repeat Caesarean section, 125 (39%)
      had a trial of labour and 80 (64%) of these women achieved a vaginal delivery.
      The incidence of uterine rupture was 0.8% (1 of 125). The vaginal delivery rate
      was not influenced by the indication for the first Caesarean section (including
      cephalopelvic disproportion), birth-weight, health insurance status, use of
      epidural analgesia or oxytocin in labour. Perinatal morbidity was unaffected by
      the mode of delivery and maternal morbidity was comparable following elective and
      emergency repeat Caesarean section. Patients having a vaginal deliver spent
      significantly less time in hospital. We conclude that vaginal delivery after
      lower segment Caesarean section is safe and should be considered in most patients
      after a critical review of the indication for the first Caesarean section.

PMID- 1445130
TI  - Narcotic addiction in pregnancy with adverse maternal and perinatal outcome.
AB  - A retrospective case controlled study was carried out on 51 Chinese gravidas who
      had abused narcotics and who were delivered in a teaching hospital in Hong Kong.
      Heroin was the most commonly abused drug. The number of patients who changed from
      heroin to methadone was small. The major antenatal complications were late
      antenatal booking (average 28 weeks), prematurity (41%), small for gestational
      age baby (27.5%), antepartum haemorrhage (13.7%) and high prevalence of venereal
      disease (23.5%). The babies born to drug addicted mothers were on average 629 g
      lighter at birth, 5 cm smaller in head circumference and 7 cm shorter in body
      length. Neonatal withdrawal symptoms occurred in 83% of all drug exposed
      neonates. The perinatal mortality rate was 19.6 per 1,000 total birth which was
      2.5 times that of the control group. There was one maternal death in our series.
      Drug addiction in pregnancy poses a major risk to both mother and child.

PMID- 1445131
TI  - Intrapartum fetal stimulation testing.
AB  - Intrapartum vibroacoustic stimulation testing (VAST) had a sensitivity of 100%, a
      specificity of 59.6% and a positive predictive value of 27.6% for the detection
      of fetal acidosis in this study of 60 cases. The use of VAST could significantly
      reduce the requirement for fetal capillary blood sampling. However, fetal scalp
      stimulation (FSS) was found to be an unreliable test to exclude fetal acidosis.

PMID- 1445132
TI  - Doppler ultrasound in pregnancies with hypertension.
AB  - Doppler studies of the arcuate and umbilical arteries were performed
      longitudinally commencing at 24 weeks or less, in 29 pregnant women with chronic
      hypertension. The hypothesis was that pregnant women with chronic hypertension
      who develop superimposed gestational proteinuric hypertension and/or deliver
      small for gestational age babies are those who have abnormal arcuate and/or
      umbilical flow velocity waveforms. Abnormal arcuate waveforms occurred in 7 women
      and abnormal umbilical waveforms in 12. Nine babies were small for gestational
      age, and 6 of them had abnormal arcuate waveforms. Abnormal arcuate waveforms
      were significantly associated with the delivery of a small for gestational age
      baby (p = .001) and identified those babies where early delivery was necessary
      for fetal reasons. All small for gestational age babies had abnormal umbilical
      waveforms. Superadded gestational proteinuria (or preeclampsia) occurred in 8
      pregnancies, however, only 3 had abnormal arcuate waveforms. An abnormal arcuate
      waveform did not predict the later development of gestational proteinuria. An
      abnormal umbilical waveform however, was associated with the subsequent
      development of gestational proteinuria. We consider that these findings need to
      be confirmed in a larger study.

PMID- 1445133
TI  - The effect of consanguinity on pregnancy-induced hypertension.
AB  - The aetiology of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) is unknown. Either an
      immunological or a genetic disorder are considered likely, with possibly an
      interaction between the two. If this were true, homozygosity would play an
      important role. Though consanguinity is believed to play a protective role, the
      effect of inbreeding on PIH has been inadequately studied. In South India
      consanguinity is common (26%). We prospectively studied 814 primigravidas of whom
      213 had consanguineous marriages. The proportion of women who developed PIH was
      compared in the 2 groups of women with consanguineous and nonconsanguineous
      marriages. The odds of a patient with PIH being consanguineous was 1.12 with a
      95% confidence interval of 0.72-1.75. Our observations suggest that consanguinity
      does not influence the incidence of PIH.

PMID- 1445134
TI  - Norethisterone and gestational diabetes.
AB  - In a single practice during the 21 years 1971-1991, the incidence of gestational
      diabetes in pregnancies in which norethisterone was prescribed was 32.4% (22 of
      69) in comparison with 7.1% in pregnancies in which the women did not take
      norethisterone (137 of 1,684) (p < 0.001). Gestational diabetes was no less
      severe (degree of hyperglycaemia, need for insulin therapy) when associated with
      norethisterone. However, follow-up revealed that gestational diabetes when
      associated with norethisterone had a lesser risk of emerging diabetes mellitus
      and impaired glucose tolerance. Masculinization of a female fetus occurred in 5
      of 39 (12.8%) exposed to norethisterone; all were cases of clitoral hypertrophy
      not requiring surgical treatment. Norethisterone in these 69 pregnancies
      accounted for 33.3% (5 of 15) cases of clitoral hypertrophy diagnosed in 100,756
      consecutive births.

PMID- 1445135
TI  - Clitoral hypertrophy and other forms of ambiguous genitalia in the labour ward.

PMID- 1445136
TI  - Hypothyroidism complicating pregnancy.
AB  - In this report we describe 26 pregnancies complicated by hypothyroidism cared for
      over 6.5 years at AIIMS, New Delhi. In 2 women hypothyroidism was diagnosed
      during pregnancy; others were diagnosed before pregnancy and continued to receive
      thyroxine replacement therapy throughout pregnancy. The thyroxine treatment
      needed readjustment in 7 (26.9%) pregnancies to maintain euthyroidism. Maternal
      complications included anaemia (23.0%), pregnancy induced hypertension (26.9%),
      postpartum haemorrhage (7.7%), intrauterine growth retardation (15.4%),
      postdatism (30.8%), and deficient lactation (19.2%). Perinatal mortality was
      3.9%. No case of stillbirth occurred probably because of intensive fetal
      monitoring and timely termination of pregnancies on evidence of intrauterine
      fetal compromise. One neonatal death occurred due to fetal thyrotoxicosis. In
      these cases close surveillance during pregnancy is needed to maintain optimum
      thyroid hormone concentration, and intensive fetal monitoring is required to
      achieve a good perinatal outcome.

PMID- 1445137
TI  - Indomethacin for the treatment of polyhydramnios: a case of constriction of the
      ductus arteriosus.
AB  - Prenatal administration of indomethacin for the treatment of polyhydramnios at 27
      weeks' gestation resulted in the rapid restoration of normal amniotic fluid
      volume. However, after 16 days therapy, fetal echocardiography revealed
      constriction of the fetal ductus arteriosus which did not reverse during the 17
      days after the therapy was discontinued. The constriction resulted in right heart
      failure but no long-term effects on the infant after birth. Indomethacin is a
      powerful treatment for polyhydramnios but its use requires close monitoring of
      the fetal heart.

PMID- 1445138
TI  - Campylobacter jejuni in pregnancy.
AB  - Case notes of pregnancies with proven Campylobacter jejuni infections were
      collected from 2 Queensland teaching hospitals and reviewed. Of these cases, 2
      pregnancies (3 fetuses) resulted in stillbirths, 2 neonates required treatment
      with antibiotic therapy within 2 days of birth, while the remaining 2 pregnancies
      were treated at the time of the infection and were not associated with adverse
      outcome. Maternal Campylobacter infection should be actively sought for in the
      patient with suspected infectious diarrhoea.

PMID- 1445139
TI  - Pregnancy following infertility.
AB  - Pregnancies of 112 patients who had conceived after a history of a minimum of 2
      years of infertility were compared to an equal number of matching controls
      without prior infertility to find out any risk of increased pregnancy
      complications. These patients were at a significantly higher risk of developing
      first trimester bleeding, antepartum haemorrhage and intrauterine fetal death.
      Also there were higher rates of preterm delivery and Caesarean section. The
      patients in the study group had a significantly higher number of stillborn
      babies. The incidence of other complications such as ectopic pregnancy, multiple
      pregnancy, and medical complications was also higher in these patients but the
      difference was not statistically significant.

PMID- 1445140
TI  - Diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging in gynaecology.
AB  - In this study 23 patients with various gynaecological pathologies were evaluated.
      Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging were performed in all cases, but
      only 14 were evaluated with computed tomography. On the basis of ultrasonography,
      4 patients were labelled as having malignant ovarian tumours, however, this
      diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging in only 1 of the 4.
      Magnetic resonance imaging also determined the correct diagnosis in a patient
      with endometrioma whereas computed tomography showed only a simple cyst, and
      ultrasonography diagnosed a subserous myoma. Tumour was demonstrated by magnetic
      resonance imaging in 2 patients with cervical carcinoma although computed
      tomography and ultrasonography had previously shown no tumour mass in these
      patients. It was concluded that magnetic resonance imaging is much superior to
      computed tomography and ultrasonography in gynaecological diagnosis. This
      advantage results from the correct detection of the contents of ovarian cysts,
      the number and localization of uterine leiomyomas in T2 scans, invasion of
      uterine malignancies and differential diagnosis of subserous uterine leiomyomas
      from ovarian tumours.

PMID- 1445141
TI  - The boldest procedure possible for checking the bleeding--a new look at an old
      operation, and a series of 13 cases from an Australian hospital.
AB  - Ligation of the internal iliac (hypogastric) arteries in cases of massive
      obstetric and gynaecological haemorrhage can be a life-saving operation, but it
      has never been widely practised in the British gynaecological tradition. There
      may be historical reasons for this. A series of 13 cases is presented from one
      Australian hospital over a 5-year period, and a very low rate of Caesarean
      hysterectomy is demonstrated. A wider knowledge of the technique is recommended.
      Alternative methods of management, including angiographic embolization and the
      use of prostaglandins are discussed.

PMID- 1445142
TI  - Primary adjunctive whole abdominal radiotherapy in epithelial ovarian cancer:
      results of 10-years' experience.
AB  - During a 10-year period from January 1, 1979, 59 patients out of a total of 203
      undergoing definitive treatment for epithelial ovarian cancer were managed with
      primary adjuvant whole abdominal radiotherapy after initial cytoreductive
      surgery. The median survival of this group was 53 months. The serious morbidity
      rate was approximately 8% with 4 laparotomies for bowel complications and 1 death
      following radiation related liver failure. This form of adjuvant therapy in
      appropriately selected patients with minimal residual disease merits further
      evaluation against other forms of therapy such as systemic or intraperitoneal
      chemotherapy.

PMID- 1445143
TI  - Urethral instability.
AB  - Urethral instability is still evolving as a clinical entity. Using pressure
      variation of 15 cm water or more at the point of maximum urethral pressure (MUP),
      urethral pressure profilometry on patients referred for urodynamic assessment for
      lower urinary tract symptoms revealed urethral instability in 6.4% of 608
      patients. The close association between urethral and detrusor instability was
      noted. Urethral instability appears to be a cause of frequency and urgency of
      micturition, and its presence increase the risk of urinary incontinence.

PMID- 1445144
TI  - Eisenmenger syndrome in pregnancy.

PMID- 1445145
TI  - Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in pregnancy.

PMID- 1445146
TI  - Transabdominal ultrasound assessment of cervical dilatation in preterm labour.

PMID- 1445148
TI  - Endometrial ablation under local analgesia.

PMID- 1445147
TI  - Uterine rupture after induction of labour for intrauterine death using the
      prostaglandin E2 analogue sulprostone.

PMID- 1445149
TI  - Haematometra--a complication of endometrial ablation.

PMID- 1445150
TI  - Balance and gait analysis after 30 days -6 degrees bed rest: influence of lower
      body negative-pressure sessions.
AB  - Five volunteers took part in -6 degrees head-down bed-rest experiments for 30 d.
      In the first experiment, three subjects underwent several sessions of lower-body
      negative-pressure (LBNP) per day, with two others serving as controls. In the
      second, the LBNP group of the first experiment became the control and vice versa.
      Two experimental protocols analyzed the bed-rest-induced modifications of balance
      and gait and the efficiency of LBNP in counteracting these modifications. A
      kymographic method allowed the measurement of walking parameters. Anteroposterior
      and lateral sways were successively studied with both a force platform (static
      condition) and a rocking platform (dynamic condition). The tests were performed 2
      d before the bed-rest period, and over the 1st, 3rd and 4th days of the recovery
      period. When the subjects were controls, bed rest decreased step length, walking
      velocity, and balance stability. LBNP completely counteracted the bed-rest
      induced modifications of gait and static balance and of dynamic balance for the
      lateral sway. As LBNP was ineffective in counteracting the modifications of the
      anteroposterior sway, dynamic balance deficiency was independent of the
      beneficial effect of LBNP on the decreased orthostatic tolerance induced by -6
      degrees head-down bed rest. The results indicate that head-down bed rest, like
      spaceflight, induces certain sensorimotor changes involved in the decrease of
      gait and balance performance.

PMID- 1445151
TI  - Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning in pregnancy: a case
      report.
AB  - Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is one of the most common forms of poisoning in
      the United States. When CO poisoning occurs in the pregnant patient, it is
      extremely toxic to the mother and fetus in terms of central nervous system
      disorders and delayed central nervous system sequelae. Controversy exists in
      treating the pregnant patient with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) because of the unknown
      effects of high partial pressures of oxygen on the fetus. HBO therapy is
      beneficial in CO poisoning because of its effect of first increasing oxygen
      concentration and causing a shift in the oxygen dissociation curve from the left
      to the right. Second, by causing a diminished CO interaction with cytochrome
      oxidase, HBO allows mitochondria to use oxygen more effectively. Third, HBO may
      reduce lipid peroxidation which may be responsible for neurological deterioration
      and delayed central nervous system sequelae. Fourth, decreased CO influence
      through HBO may reduce changes in the myocardium as a result of CO poisoning, if
      cardiovascular disease is already present. A case study of successful HBO therapy
      used during pregnancy is presented and effects of CO on the fetus are discussed.

PMID- 1445152
TI  - Psychiatric diagnoses aboard an aircraft carrier.
AB  - A descriptive study was conducted for 150 consecutive patients with a psychiatric
      diagnosis evaluated over 11 months by the medical staff onboard an aircraft
      carrier. Patients with sole diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence were
      excluded. Axis II diagnoses, or personality disorders, were more common (N = 120)
      than Axis I diagnoses (N = 46). The most common Axis I diagnoses were adjustment
      disorder and major depression. Axis II diagnoses were significantly more likely
      (OR = 7.33, 95% CI 4.45-12.16, p = 0.000) in sailors less than 23 years of age
      compared to ship's population. Suicide behavior was demonstrated in 68% (102/150)
      of the patient population. This study emphasized the requirement for extensive
      psychiatric training for the clinical aerospace medicine specialists providing
      operational support to aircraft carrier crews.

PMID- 1445153
TI  - Radiated electric field measurements in U.S. Army helicopters.
AB  - Aircraft systems and medical devices generate electromagnetic fields.
      Electromagnetic interference (EMI) can cause faulty operation of aircraft systems
      or medical devices and endanger patients or aircraft crewmembers. A ground and
      inflight study was conducted to describe the electromagnetic fields in typical
      operations. Broadband isotropic field sensors measured electric fields from 5 kHz
      to 3 MHz, 3 to 500 MHz, and 0.5 MHz to 6 GHz. Fields were measured at 0.5 m space
      intervals in JOH-58A, JUH-1H, and JUH-60A helicopters with systems off, operating
      RPM, 5-ft hover, 50-ft hover, and cruise. Electric fields in the environment were
      homogeneous and less than 0.1 V/m. Fields in the helicopters increased during
      ascent, but remained less than 2 V/m except during radio transmissions. EMI
      effect of the Physio Control Lifepack 8 was demonstrated during FM radio
      transmission. The results are useful in evaluating electromagnetic emissions and
      predicting operations that may result in an inflight malfunction of a medical
      device or aircraft system.

PMID- 1445154
TI  - Potential hazards of high anti-Gz suit protection.
AB  - Although balanced positive pressure breathing increases protection by G suits and
      reduces fatigue during sustained high Gz exposures, it does not prevent dependent
      pulmonary right-to-left shunts (arterial hypoxemia) and potentially dangerous
      distention of nondependent alveoli. An incident of acute incapacitating
      mediastinal emphysema in a healthy young man during a sustained exposure to 5.5
      Gx documents this possibility. This, plus neurogenic bradycardia during sustained
      high Gz exposures without pressure breathing, suggests that testing of full
      counterpressure to neck level suits at sustained > 9 Gz exposures may be
      hazardous. Fully instrumented studies of animal surrogates with comparable
      thoracic dimensions are indicated.

PMID- 1445155
TI  - Say no to drugs of abuse.

PMID- 1445156
TI  - Anniversary congratulations.

PMID- 1445157
TI  - Pilot performance with blood alcohol concentrations below 0.04%.
AB  - The effects of a low (less than 0.04%) BAC on pilot performance were investigated
      in a series of four experiments in which pilots flew a light aircraft simulator
      under alcohol and placebo conditions. The mean BACs of subjects when starting and
      finishing the test sessions were 0.037% and 0.028%, respectively. Two of the
      experiments involved demanding flight tasks under instrument meteorological
      conditions: complicated departure, holding, and approach procedures in one case;
      and VOR-use intersection problems in the other. The other two experiments
      involved ILS approaches under turbulence, cross wind, and simulated wind shear
      conditions that imposed heavy control-task loads on the pilots. Significant
      alcohol effects were found, but only under the heaviest workload conditions.
      During posttest interviews 75% of the pilots reported physical and/or mental
      effects due to alcohol.

PMID- 1445158
TI  - Success rate analysis of Navy SERGRAD flight training.
AB  - SERGRADS are selectively retained graduates of Naval Flight Training who become
      flight instructors during their first tour as Naval Aviators. A perception exists
      that SERGRADS have more difficulties than newly designated pilots during
      subsequent training in the Fleet Replacement Squadrons (FRS). A preliminary
      inquiry at the F/A-18 FRS revealed that former SERGRADS appear to experience a
      higher rate of failure on their initial carrier qualification attempt during FRS
      training. This study examined the SERGRAD experience and compared their
      performance to trainees from other sources. Although significant differences were
      found between groups for Fleet Replacement Squadron flight grades and Training
      Command composite grades, no significant differences were found between the
      groups for Training Command carrier qualification grades or Fleet Replacement
      Squadron carrier qualification. Thus, the data do not support the hypothesis that
      SERGRADS have more problems or are poorer aviators than F/A-18 students from
      other sources.

PMID- 1445159
TI  - Time to detection of circulating microbubbles as a risk factor for symptoms of
      altitude decompression sickness.
AB  - This study investigated the association between time at onset of circulating
      microbubbles (CMB) and symptoms of altitude decompression sickness (DCS), using
      Cox proportional hazard regression models. The study population consisted of 125
      individuals who participated in direct ascent, simulated extravehicular
      activities profiles. Using individual CMB status as a time-dependent variable, we
      found that the hazard for symptoms increased significantly (at the end of 180 min
      at altitude) in the presence of CMB (Hazard Ratio = 29.59; 95% confidence
      interval [95% CI] = 7.66-114.27), compared to no CMB. Further examination was
      conducted on the subgroup of individuals who developed microbubbles during the
      test (n = 49), by using Cox regression. Individuals with late onset of CMB (> 60
      min at altitude) showed a significantly reduced risk of symptoms (hazard ratio =
      0.92; 95% CI = 0.89-0.95), compared to those with early onset (< or = 60 min),
      while controlling for other risk factors. We conclude that time to detection of
      circulating microbubbles is an independent determinant of symptoms of DCS.

PMID- 1445160
TI  - Failure of the straight-line DCS boundary when extrapolated to the hypobaric
      realm.
AB  - The lowest pressure (P2) to which a diver can ascend without developing
      decompression sickness (DCS) after becoming equilibrated at some higher pressure
      (P1) is described by a straight line with a negative y-intercept. We tested
      whether extrapolation of such a line also predicts safe decompression to
      altitude. We substituted tissue nitrogen pressure (P1N2) calculated for a
      compartment with a 360-min half-time for P1 values; this allows data from
      hypobaric exposures to be plotted on a P2 vs. P1N2 graph, even if the subject
      breathes oxygen before ascent. In literature sources, we found 40 reports of
      human exposures in hypobaric chambers that fell in the region of a P2 vs. P1N2
      plot where the extrapolation from hyperbaric data predicted that the
      decompression should be free of DCS. Of 4,576 exposures, 785 persons suffered
      decompression sickness (17%), indicating that extrapolation of the diver line to
      altitude is not valid. Over the pressure range spanned by human hypobaric
      exposures and hyperbaric air exposures, the best separation between no DCS and
      DCS on a P2 vs. P1N2 plot seems to be a curve which approximates a straight line
      in the hyperbaric region but bends toward the origin in the hypobaric region.

PMID- 1445161
TI  - Electromyographic activity while performing the anti-G straining maneuver during
      high sustained acceleration.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to measure the muscle activity during performance
      of the anti-G straining maneuver (AGSM) at high sustained acceleration stress
      (+Gz = head-to-foot inertial loading). Ten males were exposed on three separation
      occasions to a rapid onset rate of 6 + Gz. Subjects wore standard United States
      Air Force (USAF) anti-G trousers and performed the AGSM until perceived fatigue
      or until achieving light loss criteria. During each exposure, surface
      electromyography (EMG) was recorded from the erector spinae, external oblique,
      bicep femoris, vastus lateralis, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles. The
      normalized root-mean squares (RMS) and mean power frequency (MPF) for each muscle
      were calculated and tested for significant differences with an analysis of
      variance (ANOVA) procedure. The results of this study showed that mean amplitude
      decreased during the AGSM (35.40%) while MPF showed no significant change. The
      EMG amplitude of lower extremity muscles decreased (61.45%) while the amplitude
      of trunk muscles decreased slightly (3.45%). These results indicate that during
      the performance of the AGSM, motor unit recruitment in lower extremity muscles
      decrease without evidence of fatigue.

PMID- 1445162
TI  - The effects of hypoxia on auditory reaction time and P300 latency.
AB  - A predominant feature of hypoxia is that it slows information processing.
      Evidence is accumulating that early visual mechanisms are an important locus of
      this slowing. Audition is believed to be insensitive to hypoxia, implying
      relatively less slowing with auditory stimuli. Subjects breathed air or a low
      oxygen mixture (65% arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation) while RT (reaction time)
      and the EEG were collected to oddball binaural tone pips at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and
      4000 Hz. Hypoxia slowed RT and the event-related brain potential P300 in a
      correlated manner and by an identical amount that was generally independent of
      frequency. On the assumption that P300 indexes the time to evaluate a stimulus
      and RT indexes this time plus the time to select and execute a response, stimulus
      evaluation is implicated as a major locus of slowing in this experiment. The
      amount of slowing was comparable to that found previously with RT and P300 to
      visual stimuli. It may be that audition is more sensitive to hypoxia than is
      currently believed, at least where the speed of processing is concerned.

PMID- 1445163
TI  - Seasonal effects on human physiological adaptation factors, thermotolerance and
      plasma fibronectin.
AB  - Plasma fibronectin (PF) influences shock survival and basal levels increase with
      active conditioning that improves human physiological adaptation factors (PAF)
      and thermotolerance (TT). To evaluate further PF's relationship with PAF and TT,
      the effects of passive conditioning with seasonal change (spring vs. summer) in
      New England on PAF, TT, basal PF level and PF level during hot-humid exercise
      (HHE; bicycling; 40 +/- 4% VO2max; 35 degrees C; 70% rh; 45 min) were examined in
      male subjects (28.2 +/- 1.6 years; N = 7; values are means +/- SE). The spring
      and summer studies were separated by 2 months. In addition, 2 months prior to the
      spring study, a winter basal PF pre-screening was conducted. Winter (287 +/- 36
      micrograms/ml), spring (272 +/- 21 micrograms/ml), and summer (278 +/- 19
      micrograms/ml) basal PF levels were similar. The PF response during HHE was
      unremarkable with seasonal change. PAF were improved, since blood volume (6266 +/
      276 vs. 5895 +/- 251 ml), plasma volume (3896 +/- 198 vs. 3601 +/- 165 ml) and
      HHE sweat rate (18.7 +/- 5.5 vs. 12.9 +/- 6.4 ml/min) were elevated (p < 0.05) in
      the summer compared to the spring. However, this was not accompanied by improved
      TT, since spring and summer rectal temperatures during HHE were similar, while
      summer heart rate was elevated (p < 0.05) compared to the spring. In contrast to
      active conditioning, passively-induced improvements in PAF were not associated
      with elevations in TT or PF level. Unlike PAF, PF elevations might only occur
      when the conditioning resulted in increased TT, which suggests a potential for PF
      as a TT marker.

PMID- 1445164
TI  - Accuracy of aimed arm movements in changed gravity.
AB  - We studied the accuracy of aimed arm movements in normal gravity, and during the
      hypergravity (hyper-G) and microgravity (micro-G) episodes of KC-135 parabolic
      flights. Subjects pointed at mirror-viewed targets without sight of their arm,
      and final pointing position was measured by a digitizing pad. Compared with the
      normal gravity (normal-G) baseline, subjects pointed consistently higher in hyper
      G, and still higher in micro-G. Results were not different if subjects viewed
      targets only during normal-G and pointed at their memorized position under
      changed gravity (changed-G); this suggests that the "elevator illusion" played a
      minor role in our study. The observed impairments were attributed to degraded
      proprioceptive feedback and/or inappropriate motor programs in changed-G.
      Pointing accuracy improved movement-to-movement but not parabola-to-parabola,
      indicating that prolonged exposure is needed for sustained adaptation.

PMID- 1445165
TI  - Effects of acute exercise on attenuated vagal baroreflex function during bed
      rest.
AB  - We measured carotid baroreceptor-cardiac reflex responses in six healthy men, 24
      h before and 24 h after a bout of leg exercise during 6 degrees head-down bed
      rest to determine if depressed vagal baroreflex function associated with exposure
      to microgravity environments could be reversed by a single exposure to acute
      intense exercise. Baroreflex responses were measured before bed rest and on day 7
      of bed rest. An exercise bout consisting of dynamic and isometric actions of the
      quadriceps at graded speeds and resistances was performed on day 8 of bed rest
      and measurements of baroreflex response were repeated 24 h later. Vagally
      mediated cardiac responses were provoked with ramped neck pressure-suction
      sequences comprising pressure elevations to +40 mm Hg, followed by serial, R-wave
      triggered 15 mm Hg reductions, to -65 mm Hg. Baroreceptor stimulus-cardiac
      response relationships were derived by plotting each R-R interval as a function
      of systolic pressure less the neck chamber pressure applied during the interval.
      Compared with pre-bed rest baseline measurements, 7 d of bed rest decreased the
      gain (maximum slope) of the baroreflex stimulus-response relationship by 16.8 +/-
      3.4% (p < 0.05). On day 9 of bed rest, 24 h after exercise, the maximum slope of
      the baroreflex stimulus-response relationship was increased (p < 0.05) by 10.7 +/
      3.7% above pre-bed rest levels and 34.3 +/- 7.9% above bed rest day 7. Our data
      verify that vagally-mediated baroreflex function is depressed by exposure to
      simulated microgravity and demonstrate that this effect can be acutely reversed
      by exposure to a single bout of intense exercise.

PMID- 1445166
TI  - Liver disease, carbohydrate metabolism and diabetes.

PMID- 1445167
TI  - Chronic pancreatitis and diabetes.
AB  - Chronic pancreatitis is defined by a persistent destruction of the pancreatic
      parenchyma replaced by fibrosis. The lesions generally start in the exocrine
      gland, islets being attacked later in the fibrosis. The two most frequent forms
      are: 1. Chronic calcifying pancreatitis which is a pancreatic lithiasis
      responsible for more than 95% of chronic pancreatitis. In its most frequent form,
      calculi are built up of more than 98% calcium salts together with fibres of a
      degraded residue of lithostathine, a secretory protein. This disease is related
      (i) in most countries to alcohol, protein, fat and tobacco and (ii) in certain
      tropical countries to malnutrition (low-fat, low-protein diet) for some
      generations. A causative role for cassava and kwashiorkor is improbable. The
      mechanism of calcium precipitation is partly explained by the calcium-saturation
      of pancreatic juice and the decreased biosynthesis of lithostathine S, the
      secretory protein preventing crystallization. As a rule, diabetes (and
      steatorrhoea) appear after a clinical evolution characterized by recurrent
      attacks of upper abdominal pain, generally lasting some days with transiently
      increased concentrations of pancreatic enzymes in serum. When diabetes appears,
      pain frequently disappears. Complications are mostly observed in the first 10
      years of clinical evolution. 2. Obstructive pancreatitis is due to an obstacle
      (tumours, scars) in the pancreatic duct. It is rarely a cause of diabetes.
      Diabetes due to chronic pancreatitis is characterized by the low incidence of
      ketosis and the high incidence of insulin-induced hypoglycaemia. Patients are
      generally thin. Serum insulin levels, either basal or stimulated, are decreased.
      Glucagon is less affected. Angiopathies and retinopathies are less frequent than
      in non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Neural complications are fairly frequent. The
      diagnosis is generally easy because diabetes appears at a late stage of the
      disease. The treatment generally requires insulin.

PMID- 1445168
TI  - Diabetes secondary to tropical calcific pancreatitis.

PMID- 1445169
TI  - Diabetes mellitus and cystic fibrosis.
AB  - There is a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus in patients with CF and this is
      likely to increase in the future as more patients are surviving into adult life.
      In view of this all CF clinics should routinely screen for diabetes mellitus. The
      prevalence of diabetes mellitus in adult CF patients is higher than in children,
      and the onset is commonly insidious. The diabetes seen in CF is not classical
      Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes and could more helpfully be called cystic
      fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD). Treatment is by oral hypoglycaemic agents or
      insulin. It is not appropriate to control patients by diet alone. Dietary advice
      to CF diabetic patients is not the same as that given to non-CF diabetic
      patients. Microvascular complications have now been reported and careful
      monitoring of all CF patients with diabetes should be undertaken.

PMID- 1445170
TI  - Haemochromatosis and diabetes.

PMID- 1445171
TI  - Growth hormone disorders and secondary diabetes.

PMID- 1445172
TI  - Diabetes and adrenal disease.
AB  - Disorders of the adrenal cortex and medulla can result in glucose intolerance or
      overt diabetes mellitus. Cushing's syndrome, characterized by excessive secretion
      of glucocorticoids, impairs glucose tolerance primarily by causing insulin
      resistance at the post-receptor level. On the other hand, phaeochromocytoma and
      hyperaldosteronism, via the respective actions of catecholamines and hypokalaemia
      on the pancreatic beta-cell, impair glucose tolerance primarily by inhibiting
      insulin release. The glucose intolerance associated with these adrenal disorders
      is usually only mild to moderate in severity. Marked hyperglycaemia, glycosuria,
      and polyuria are uncommon and ketosis is rare. Moreover, the late complications
      of diabetes mellitus are distinctly uncommon in patients with these disorders,
      and the prognosis for morbidity and death is usually that of the underlying
      disease and not that of diabetes mellitus. The impaired glucose tolerance induced
      by all three of these adrenal disorders usually returns to normal once the
      underlying aetiology has been cured. These factors must guide the clinician in
      treatment of these secondary forms of diabetes, and suggest that tight (near
      normal) blood glucose control may not be an appropriate goal in patients with
      these disorders. The relationship between adrenal androgens and glucose tolerance
      is more uncertain. Several studies in humans have demonstrated an acute decline
      in serum concentrations of the adrenal steroids DHEA and DHEA-sulfate in response
      to experimentally-induced hyperinsulinaemia, but the regulatory role of insulin
      on adrenal androgen metabolism in normal physiology or disease remains
      speculative. In several animal models DHEA appears to exert potent anti-obesity
      and anti-diabetogenic actions, but such effects have yet to be demonstrated in
      humans. Human studies of DHEA are limited, and more research needs to be
      conducted to determine whether the observations made in animal models will prove
      applicable to man.

PMID- 1445173
TI  - Drug-induced diabetes.
AB  - The only drugs which commonly cause diabetes during therapeutic use are the anti
      hypertensive vasodilator diazoxide, and corticosteroids in high doses such as
      those used to palliate intracranial tumours. Thiazide diuretics have in the past
      been used in higher doses than necessary to treat hypertension, and the lower
      doses now used probably carry only a slight risk of inducing diabetes. The risk
      from beta-blockers is also quite small, but there is some evidence that thiazides
      combined with beta-blockers may be more likely to cause diabetes than either drug
      alone. The combination is probably best avoided in patients with a family history
      of non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The effect of the low-oestrogen combined oral
      contraceptive pill seems to be slight, and it presents a risk only to women who
      have had gestational diabetes. Bodybuilders who take enormous doses of anabolic
      androgens can develop impaired glucose tolerance. Several drugs, including
      theophylline, aspirin, isoniazid and nalidixic acid can cause transient
      hyperglycaemia in overdosage, but only streptozotocin, alloxan and the
      rodenticide Vacor are likely to cause permanent diabetes.

PMID- 1445174
TI  - Diabetes secondary to genetic disorders.
AB  - Diabetes may be associated with many genetic disorders. The scientific importance
      of these often rare disorders resides in the insight they may provide into the
      possible mechanisms of common diabetes. The type of diabetes varies in these
      syndromes. Non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM), clinically similar to common
      NIDDM, may be found in some syndromes (e.g. Werner's syndrome). In others there
      may be considerable insulin resistance, such as that present in ataxia
      telangiectasia. Extreme insulin resistance due to abnormal insulin receptor
      function is found in the Mendenhall syndrome. The mechanism of diabetes is more
      obscure in acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), although haem deficiency affecting
      the cytochrome chain raises interesting possibilities. In glycogen storage
      disease type I, the diabetes is associated with insulinopenia, following an
      earlier period in the disease when hypoglycaemia is the rule. IDDM, clinically
      similar to the common form, is present in the autoimmune polyglandular syndromes.
      Although a change in the lean:fat ratio is common in many neuromuscular
      disorders, mechanisms other than insulin resistance would seem to operate. The
      increased incidence of diabetes in heterozygotes for some of these genetic
      disorders raises the possibility that many common diabetics are, in fact,
      heterozygotes for some other disorder. The increased frequency of diabetes in
      Klinefelter's syndrome, Turner's syndrome and possibly Down's syndrome leads to
      the hypothesis that non-disjunction may, in some way be associated with the
      predisposition to diabetes. In several syndromes there is an increased incidence
      of diabetes in otherwise unaffected relatives of individuals with these
      syndromes. It is impossible to assess what proportion of common NIDDM or IDDM is
      made up of heterozygotes for these genetic syndromes.

PMID- 1445175
TI  - APUDomas and diabetes mellitus.

PMID- 1445176
TI  - Incidence of trypanosomes and productivity of settled Fulani cattle in Anambra
      State, southern Nigeria.
AB  - In the tropical rain forest zone of Southern Nigeria Fulani zebus were
      investigated for the incidence of trypanosomes. The animals had been settled in
      this area for at least 3 years. Although cattle in the southern part of the
      country exhibited a significantly higher incidence of trypanosomes than cattle in
      the northern parts they are more robust and healthier and showed a higher
      reproductive performance than cattle in Northern Nigeria. Thus the tse-tse fly
      attacks are no hindrance to cattle production in Southern Nigeria, Anambra State.

PMID- 1445177
TI  - Some physiological aspects of repeat breeding in Holstein Friesians and its
      improvement under Egyptian environment.
AB  - The serum albumin concentration and the albumin-globulin ratio had a significant
      effect on the rate of repeat breeding. In repeat breeders, low concentrations
      were found of albumin, progesterone, phosphorus, zinc, and glucose. The glycogen
      content of the cervical mucus was significantly lower in the repeat breeders.
      Treating repeat breeders with prostaglandin F2 alpha had positive effects on the
      parameter values.

PMID- 1445178
TI  - Adenine phosphoribosyl transferase polymorphism in baboons.
AB  - Two allelic isozymes of adenine phosphoribosyl transferase (APRT) were detected
      by starch gel electrophoresis of baboon hemolysates. Extensive family data
      verified autosomal codominant inheritance. The gene frequencies of five
      subspecies of baboons differed significantly. The activity of erythrocyte APRT is
      sufficiently high to enable the use of this enzyme as a sensitive marker for
      assessing chimerism in research involving bone marrow transplantation.

PMID- 1445180
TI  - The relationship between homozygosity level and animal physiology: iron content
      of plasma and whole blood as well as total iron binding capacity by transferrin
      (TIBC) in rats of various inbreeding coefficient.
AB  - Male and female wild Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus Erxleben) and male and female
      albino outbred rats (Ipf:RIZ) were crossbred. These animals were the control,
      noninbred group (0% inbred). By systematic full-sib mating, two experimental
      groups (50 and 91% of inbred) were raised. Half of each group (both males and
      females) was exposed to physical stress (3 days of starvation and 3 hr of
      swimming). The other half of each group was ether anesthetized to collect blood.
      The iron content of plasma and whole blood, as well as the total iron binding
      capacity, was determined by the Atom-Spec method. A significant decrease in the
      iron content of plasma and whole blood as well as the TIBC was observed by an
      increase in the inbreeding coefficient. Stress significantly influenced the iron
      content of plasma and whole blood as well as the TIBC, whereas the sex of the
      rats affected the whole-blood iron concentration and TIBC. Moreover, some double
      interactions had an impact on the iron content and TIBC. The interactions were as
      follows: plasma--inbreeding level and stress; whole blood--sex and stress; and
      TIBC--inbreeding level and sex.

PMID- 1445179
TI  - A polymorphism detected in a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) of the
      seminal vesicle secretion (SVS) IV gene in inbred rats.
AB  - The second intron of the rat SVS IV gene contains a tandem repeat region of 20-bp
      sequences. This region was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction to
      detect variations. Three alleles, characterized by amplified fragments of 750,
      490, and 390 bp, respectively, were found in 24 strains examined. This variation
      segregated in F1 and backcross progeny in an autosomal codominant manner. We
      tentatively designated this locus Svs-4. Analysis of linkages between the Svs-4
      locus and other loci revealed that it was closely linked to the Svp-1 (less than
      2.9%) and the a (10.0 +/- 6.7%) loci, which belong to rat linkage group IV. The
      Svp-1 and Svs-4 loci, however, were differently distributed among the inbred rat
      strains.

PMID- 1445181
TI  - Analysis of L-alanine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase isozymes in maize.
AB  - Isozyme analysis of L-alanine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (ALT) in maize
      indicates that there are three genes encoding this enzyme activity. Two of the
      gene products interact with each other to form heterodimers, while the third gene
      product does not interact with the other two. Another isozyme that appears after
      gel electrophoresis and ALT staining is shown to be glutamate dehydrogenase-1.
      Anaerobic treatment does not result in increased ALT levels, indicating that the
      previously reported increase in alanine levels caused by this treatment may be
      due to increases in the level of pyruvate, a substrate of ALT.

PMID- 1445182
TI  - Heterogeneity of the hemoglobin of the Ohrid trout (Salmo L. typicus).
AB  - We have analyzed the hemoglobins of five individual trout from the Ohrid Lake
      (Salmo L. typicus) by electrophoretic methods, by reversed-phase high-performance
      liquid chromatography, and by limited structural analyses. The two major classes
      of hemoglobin are type I (35% of total) and type IV (65%). Type IV is the major
      oxygen-transporting hemoglobin; it consists of three types of beta chain (in
      about equal quantities) and three types of alpha chain (one major and two minor
      types). Several structural differences have been observed between these three
      beta (IV) chains and between the three alpha (IV) chains, suggesting a complex
      genetic system governing the synthesis of these proteins. Moreover, a few amino
      acid substitutions occur at positions involved in contacts between chains, which
      suggests that differences in oxygen affinity may exist between these various type
      IV hemoglobins. Type I hemoglobin is less complex because it contains one type of
      beta chain and two alpha chains; the latter two differ in numerous positions,
      suggesting duplications of the alpha (I)-globin gene. The alpha and beta chains
      of type I hemoglobin differ considerably from the alpha and beta chains of type
      IV hemoglobin, indicating the existence of alpha (I)- and beta (I)-globin genes
      separate from the alpha (IV)- and beta (IV)-globin genes.

PMID- 1445183
TI  - Epidermolysis bullosa simplex: expression of gelatinase activity in cultured
      human skin fibroblasts.
AB  - We have measured the baseline level of gelatinase in fibroblast-conditioned
      medium from 41 Scandinavian individuals. They comprised 12 healthy persons, 11
      individuals with the skin disorder dominant epidermolysis bullosa simplex (DEBS),
      16 patients with other types of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and 2 siblings with
      prolidase deficiency. These results divide the cell strains into those with low
      and those with high activity levels. Although this dual biochemical trait
      occurred in all the groups of individuals, the high-activity trait was more
      frequent among the DEBS patients. The localized DEBS forms showed an elevated
      activity level, in contrast to the previously reported generalized DEBS Kobner
      forms. Although a high level was found in some individuals with other EB forms,
      the high incidence in four families with localized DEBS Weber-Cockayne (eight of
      eight) and a single family with generalized DEBS--mottled pigmentation (two of
      two) may result from a close linkage between an EB gene and a gene responsible
      for the biochemical trait. In addition, in the single complete family tested, the
      level of gelatinase activity in cultured fibroblasts seemed to be regulated by
      codominant alleles or genes. A raised baseline level of gelatinase activity in
      cultured skin fibroblasts may be the result of either an altered expression of
      gelatinase or an allelic variant of this enzyme with increased specific activity.
      Further studies of gelatinase in cultured fibroblasts may provide insight into
      the regulatory mechanism and genetics behind this activity and allow formal
      linkage studies versus DEBS.

PMID- 1445184
TI  - Esterase-29 (ES-29): biochemical characterization and control by two independent
      gene loci of a testosterone-dependent mouse serum esterase.
AB  - Biochemistry and genetics of a testosterone-dependent murine serum esterase
      designated esterase-29 (ES-29) are described. The enzyme was identified after
      disc electrophoresis and subsequent staining for esterase using alpha-naphthyl
      acetate as the substrate. It was inhibited by bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate and was
      resistant to p-chlorophenylsulphonate and hence was classified as
      carboxylesterase EC3.1.1.1. The molecular mass was estimated to be about 130 kDa.
      It was shown that ES-29 is under the control of two independent genes. The first,
      termed Es-29, is suggested to be a structural locus, linked to the cluster-2
      esterase loci on chromosome 8. Three alleles at Es-29, Es-29a, Es-29b, and Es-29c
      are distinguished, which determine absence (SEG/1), strong activity (BALB/cJ),
      and low activity (MOLH/Fre), respectively. The second locus, termed Mse-1 (serum
      esterase modifying factor), was found to be closely linked to Pre-2 on chromosome
      12 and is suggested to be a modifying or regulatory gene. Two alleles were
      distinguished, Mse-1a (BALB/cJ) and Mse-1m (MOL3/JA, Cas-Bgr), which determine
      whether ES-29 appears as a single band or a double band, respectively. Mse-1m is
      dominant to Mse-1a.

PMID- 1445185
TI  - Both chloroplast and mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 genes are
      transcribed in pea.

PMID- 1445186
TI  - Allozyme variation in bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae).
AB  - Allozyme variation at an average of 37.3 loci was assessed in queens of 16 Bombus
      and 2 Psithyrus bumble bee species from North America. The mean expected
      heterozygosity (H) for the Bombus species was 0.008 +/- 0.006 (95% confidence
      limits) and that for the Psithyrus was 0.007 +/- 0.007. These levels are
      significantly lower than found in other Hymenoptera but are comparable to those
      found in previous studies of bumble bees based on far fewer loci. Neutral
      mutation and random genetic drift can account for the observed variation, but
      this implies a very small effective population size for species of bumble bees.

PMID- 1445188
TI  - Inheritance of malate dehydrogenase nulls in soybean.
AB  - Three chlorophyll-deficient mutants (CD-1, CD-2, and CD-3), derived from the
      progeny of independent germinal revertants from the w4-mutable soybean line
      [Glycine max (L.) Merrill], were characterized genetically. Electrophoretic
      analyses indicated that these lines lacked two of three mitochondrial malate
      dehydrogenase isozymes (MDH-). The absence of two MDH bands was conditioned by a
      recessive allele at a locus designated Mdh1. All three CDs were allelic to each
      other and to T253, a Harosoy isoline y20-k2 MDH- from the Genetic Type
      Collection. The MDH- phenotype and the yellow-green plant phenotype were each
      inherited as single recessive alleles. No recombination between the two traits
      was found in nine F2 populations from crosses of the CDs by wild-type soybean
      lines. Complete linkage of the Mdh1 and y20 loci suggested that the mutations in
      the chlorophyll-deficient lines were deletions. Phenotypic differences among the
      CDs suggested that the deletions may have different endpoints. The chromosomal
      aberrations were not large enough to affect transmission of y20 and Mdh1 mutant
      alleles through the pollen or ovule. CD-1, CD-2, and CD-3 were added to the
      Soybean Genetic Type Collection as T323, T324, and T325, respectively.

PMID- 1445187
TI  - Chinook salmon NADP(+)-dependent cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase:
      electrophoretic and genetic dissection of a complex isozyme system and geographic
      patterns of variation.
AB  - Species in the genus Oncorhynchus express complicated isocitrate dehydrogenase
      (IDHP) isozyme patterns in many tissues. Subcellular localization experiments
      show that the electrophoretically distinct isozymes of low anodal mobility
      expressed predominantly in skeletal and heart muscle are mitochondrial forms
      (mIDHP), while the more anodal, complex isolocus isozyme system predominant in
      liver and eye is cytosolic (sIDHP). The two loci encoding sIDHP isozymes are
      considered isoloci because the most common allele at one of these loci cannot be
      separated electrophoretically from the most common allele of the other. Over 12
      electrophoretically detectable alleles are segregating at the two sIDHP* loci in
      chinook salmon. Careful electrophoretic comparisons of the sIDHP isozyme patterns
      of muscle, eye, and liver extracts of heterozygotes reveal marked differences
      between the tissues with regard to both relative isozyme staining and the
      expression of several common alleles. Presumed single-dose heterozygotes at the
      sIDHP isolocus isozyme system exhibit approximate 9:6:1 ratios of staining
      intensity in liver and eye, while they exhibit approximate 1:2:1 ratios in
      skeletal muscle. The former proportions are consistent with the equal expression
      of two loci (isolocus expression), while the latter are consistent with the
      expression of a single locus. Screening of over 10,000 fish from spawning
      populations and mixed-stock fishery samples revealed that certain variant alleles
      (*127, *50) are detectable only in liver and eye, while other alleles (*129, *94,
      and *74) are strongly expressed in muscle, eye, and liver. The simplest
      explanation for these observations is that the "isolocus" sIDHP system of chinook
      salmon (and that of steelhead and rainbow trout) results from the expression of
      two distinct loci (sIDHP-1* and sIDHP-2*) that have the same common allele (as
      defined by electrophoretic mobility). IDHP expression in skeletal muscle is due
      to the nearly exclusive expression of the sIDHP-1* locus, while IDHP expression
      in eye and liver tissues is due to high levels of expression of both sIDHP-1* and
      sIDHP-2*--giving rise to the isolocus situation in these latter tissues. Direct
      inheritance studies confirm this model of two genetically independent (disomic)
      loci encoding sIDHP in chinook salmon. Extensive geographic surveys of chinook
      salmon populations from California to British Columbia reveal marked differences
      in allele frequencies at both sIDHP-1* and sIDHP-2* and considerably more
      interpopulation differentiation than was recognized previously when sIDHP was
      treated as an isolocus system with only five recognized alleles.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1445189
TI  - Comparison of the rates of muscle protein metabolism between the domestic and the
      wild coturnix quail.

PMID- 1445190
TI  - Assignment of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase to
      chromosome 3 of Anopheles stephensi.
AB  - Genetics and linkage analysis of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD) and
      malate dehydrogenase (MDH) have been investigated in Anopheles stephensi. Both
      these markers were found to be autosomal and linked and have been assigned to
      linkage group III. Two mutant markers, Black larva (Bl) and golden-yellow larva
      (gy), were used to establish the map distances, and the current sequence of loci
      on chromosome 3 is as follows: Bl (3.75)-gy (14.53)-Mdh-2 (49.83)-6-pgd.

PMID- 1445191
TI  - Isolation of a Drosophila gene encoding glutathione S-transferase.
AB  - We have isolated a Drosophila gene, DmGST-2, that encodes glutathione S
      transferase, a homo- or heterodimeric enzyme thought to be involved in
      detoxification of xenobiotics, including known carcinogens. The encoded protein
      has a primary sequence that is more similar to mammalian placental and nematode
      GSTs than that of a previously described Drosophila GST gene, herein referred to
      as DmGST-1. We provide a physical map of the gene and show that it specifies at
      least two mRNAs, measuring 1.9 and 1.6 kb, which differ only in the lengths of
      their 3' untranslated regions. Both of the mRNAs are present during all
      developmental stages. In situ hybridization of the DmGST-2 gene to larval
      polytene chromosomes places it within the 53F subdivision of chromosome 2, and
      Southern blotting to chromosomal DNA indicates that the gene has no close
      relatives within the Drosophila genome. Our results make possible molecular
      genetic approaches for further elaborating the function of glutathione S
      transferases in insect development and physiology, in the metabolism of plant
      toxins, and in conferring insecticide resistance.

PMID- 1445193
TI  - A positive regulator of the ribosomal protein gene, beta factor, belongs to the
      ETS oncoprotein family.
AB  - The beta factor, which interacts with the rpL32 promoter, binds to the sequence
      5'-GAGCCGGAAGTG and trans-activates this gene. Comparison of the DNA sequences
      bound by the beta factor with those bound by other known DNA-binding proteins
      revealed that the ETS proteins interact with similar DNA sequences. Consequently
      we have examined the relationship of the beta factor to the several ETS proteins
      so far reported. Antibody and oligonucleotide competition experiments, performed
      by using electrophoretic shift analysis, revealed that the beta factor contains
      ETS epitopes and that it is immunologically related to both of the GA-binding
      proteins (GABPs), implying that the beta factor may consist of two separate
      protein subunits.

PMID- 1445194
TI  - Purification and characterization of a carboxylesterase involved in insecticide
      resistance from the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus.
AB  - A carboxylesterase (EC 3.1.1.1) involved in organophosphate insecticide
      resistance has been purified and characterized from the mosquito Culex
      quinquefasciatus. The monomeric enzyme has M(r) of 67,000 and a pI of 5.2. It
      hydrolysed medium-chain-length mono- and di-acylglycerols in addition to
      xenobiotic esters. Kinetic constants determined for four insecticides, temephos,
      chlorpyrifos, fenitrothion and propoxur indicate the rates of acylation and the
      affinities of binding of the insecticides to this carboxylesterase are important.
      This supports the major role of the A2 carboxylesterase is the sequestration of
      the insecticide with a minor role in the slow turnover of the insecticide.

PMID- 1445192
TI  - Regulation of the synthesis, processing and translocation of lipoprotein lipase.

PMID- 1445195
TI  - Importance of the structural zinc atom for the stability of yeast alcohol
      dehydrogenase.
AB  - Yeast alcohol dehydrogenase is a tetrameric enzyme containing zinc. Initially we
      confirmed the presence of two zinc atoms per subunit. Incubation of the enzyme
      with increasing concentrations of dithiothreitol, a method for partial chelation,
      allowed first the reduction of four disulphide bridges per enzyme, but eventually
      was sufficient to chelate the structural zinc atom without having any effect on
      the zinc located in the active site. The enzyme activity was not affected but the
      enzyme became very sensitive to heat denaturation. Chelation by EDTA was also
      performed. Given its location at an external position in the globular protein,
      protected in each subunit by one disulphide bridge, the results establish that
      the second zinc atom present on each enzymic subunit plays a prominent
      conformational role, probably by stabilizing the tertiary structure of yeast
      alcohol dehydrogenase. Recovery experiments were performed by incubation of the
      native enzyme, or the dithiothreitol-treated enzyme, with a small amount of Zn2+.
      A stabilization effect was found when the structural zinc was re-incorporated
      after its removal by dithiothreitol. In all cases a large increase in activity
      was also observed, which was much greater than that expected based on the amount
      of re-incorporated zinc atom, suggesting the re-activation of some inactive
      commercial enzyme which had lost some of its original catalytic zinc atoms.

PMID- 1445196
TI  - The effect of metal ions on the activity and thermostability of the extracellular
      proteinase from a thermophilic Bacillus, strain EA.1.
AB  - The proteinase from the extremely thermophilic Bacillus strain EA.1 exhibits
      maximum stability at a pH of approx. 6.5. In the presence of calcium ions the
      half-life at 95 degrees C of the enzyme at this pH was 17 min, and loss of
      activity followed first-order decay kinetics. The role of metal ions in the
      activity and stability of the enzyme was studied using the holoenzyme, the metal
      depleted apoenzyme, and a zinc-enriched apoenzyme preparation. Zinc and calcium
      ions were the preferred bivalent cations for the active site and stabilization
      site(s) respectively. Stabilization by metal ions was not in itself a highly
      stringent process, but ions other than calcium which stabilized the enzyme
      generally had a concomitant inhibitory effect on activity. Inhibition and
      stabilization of the enzyme by cations were concentration-dependent effects and
      certain ions activated the apoenzyme but not the holoenzyme. Manganese(II) ions
      conferred some stability and also activated the enzyme, but in the latter case
      were not as effective as zinc ions. The results are discussed with reference to
      the ionic radii, co-ordination number and preferred ligand donors of the ions.
      Mercury(II) ions severely compromised enzyme activity and stability, and the
      effects of thiol-reactive agents suggest that thiol groups also have a role in
      enzyme integrity.

PMID- 1445198
TI  - Graphic analysis of relaxation times of enzyme-catalysed reactions. An extension
      of the graphic method of King and Altman.
AB  - An extension of the graphic method of King & Altman (1956) (J. Phys. Chem. 60,
      1375-1378) is applied to the analysis of relaxation times of enzyme-catalysed
      reactions and a simple graphic method is presented. Clear-cut graphs, simple
      drawing, easy operation (without the need to perform the usual complex
      mathematical operations), and reliable results are the main characteristics of
      this kind of graphic method. A system of enzyme-catalysed reactions (E <--> ES <-
      > EP) is used as the actual example for illustrating the graphic method.

PMID- 1445197
TI  - Primary structure of beta s-crystallin from human lens.
AB  - The complete primary structure of beta s-crystallin from human lens is reported.
      The sequence was elucidated by automatic Edman degradation of tryptic and CNBr
      peptides. The blocked N-terminal dipeptide was identified by fast-atom
      bombardment mass spectroscopy. The sequence comparison with other members of
      crystallin family reveals a closer relationship to human gamma-crystallin (53%
      identity) than with beta A3/A1 crystallin (37% identity). The structure,
      evolutionary characteristics and role of beta s-crystallin in lens are discussed.

PMID- 1445199
TI  - Developmental regulation and neuronal expression of the mRNA of rat n-chimaerin,
      a p21rac GAP:cDNA sequence.
AB  - Human n-chimaerin is a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for p21rac and a phorbol
      ester receptor. We have isolated rat n-chimaerin cDNA and investigated the
      cellular and developmental pattern of mRNA expression in the brain. There is
      extensive sequence conservation with human n-chimaerin in the coding region and
      the first 400 nucleotides of the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) (90% and 83%
      identity respectively). The rat cDNA encodes an additional 35 N-terminal amino
      acids compared with the reported human cDNA, which has a 5'-UTR sequence
      inversion and a 41-nucleotide deletion including the putative initiator
      methionine. The rat cDNA encodes a 334-amino acid protein (38200 M(r), pI 8.04)
      with 97% amino acid sequence identity with the human protein, after correction of
      the human 5'-DNA sequence. n-Chimaerin mRNA was detectable in embryonic rat brain
      at day 15 and increased in amount postnatally from birth to 20 days, coincident
      with cellular differentiation and synaptogenesis. n-Chimaerin mRNA is restricted
      to neurons, with highest concentrations in hippocampal pyramidal cells, granule
      cells of the dentate gyrus and cortical neurons. In the cerebellum the mRNA was
      detected only in Purkinje neurons. The pattern and specificity of mRNA expression
      suggests an important role for n-chimaerin in neuronal signal-transduction
      mechanisms.

PMID- 1445200
TI  - Characterization of an ATP-driven H+ pump in human placental brush-border
      membrane vesicles.
AB  - The presence of an ATP-driven H+ pump as measured by H+ uptake upon addition of
      ATP was not demonstrable in human placental brush-border membrane vesicles when
      used in their native form, owing to their right-side-out orientation. However,
      the presence of the H+ pump in these membranes became evident when the membrane
      vesicles were transiently exposed to 1% cholate, with subsequent removal of the
      detergent to re-form the vesicles. Apparently, cholate pretreatment reoriented
      the H+ pump from an inward-facing configuration to outward-facing. Consequently,
      H+ uptake in response to externally added ATP was easily demonstrable in these
      cholate-pretreated vesicles by using the delta pH indicator Acridine Orange. In
      addition, bafilomycin A1-sensitive ATPase activity was measurable in cholate
      pretreated vesicles, but not in native intact vesicles, indicating reorientation
      of the H+ pump. The reoriented H+ pump was electrogenic because H+ uptake was
      stimulated by an inside-negative anion-diffusion potential or when the vesicles
      were voltage-clamped. ATP supported H+ uptake with an apparent Km of 260 microM.
      ITP and GTP supported the pump activity partially, whereas CTP and UTP did not.
      Mg2+ and Mn2+ were the most preferred bivalent cations. Co2+ and Zn2+ showed
      partial activity, whereas Ca2+ and Ba2+ showed little or no activity. The pump
      was inhibited by nanomolar concentrations of bafilomycin A1 and micromolar
      concentrations of N-ethylmaleimide, p-chloromercuribenzenesulphonate, NN
      dicyclohexylcarbodi-imide and 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole, but was
      relatively insensitive to oligomycin, vanadate and NaN3. The inhibition by N
      ethylmaleimide was protectable by ATP. It is concluded that human placental brush
      border membranes possess an ATP-driven H+ pump and that, on the basis of its
      characteristics, it belongs to the class of vacuolar (V-type) H+ pumps.

PMID- 1445201
TI  - Differential uptake of [3H]guanosine by nucleoside transporter subtypes in
      Ehrlich ascites tumour cells.
AB  - Intracellular metabolism of [3H]guanosine was minimal (< 15%) during the first 22
      s of incubation, and hence reasonable estimates of initial-rate influx kinetics
      could be derived by using metabolically active cells. Na(+)-dependent
      concentrative [3H]guanosine uptake was not observed. Data suggest that
      [3H]guanosine was accumulated primarily via the nitrobenzylthioguanosine (NBTGR)
      sensitive subtype of facilitated nucleoside transporter. Incubation of cells with
      100 nM-NBTGR significantly decreased the potency of guanosine as an inhibitor of
      [3H]uridine influx. The Vmax. for [3H]guanosine influx (9.2 pmol/s per
      microliters) was significantly lower than that for [3H]uridine influx (16 pmol/s
      per microliters). The Km for transporter-mediated [3H]guanosine influx determined
      in the presence of 100 nM-NBTGR was 16-fold higher (1780 microM) than that
      determined in its absence, whereas the Km for [3H]uridine influx was shifted by
      only 2-fold. In other respects, the cellular accumulations of [3H]guanosine and
      [3H]uridine were similar; both had Km values of approx. 140 microM for total
      mediated influx, and both were inhibited similarly by other nucleosides and
      transport inhibitors. These characteristics, and the fact that guanosine is an
      endogenous nucleoside, suggest that [3H]guanosine may prove useful as a poorly
      metabolized, relatively selective, substrate for study of the NBTGR-sensitive
      nucleoside transport systems of mammalian cells.

PMID- 1445202
TI  - Evidence for lithium-sensitive inositol 4,5-bisphosphate accumulation in
      muscarinic cholinoceptor-stimulated cerebral-cortex slices.
AB  - Stimulation of [3H]inositol-prelabelled rat cerebral-cortex slices with carbachol
      results in the accumulation of four [3H]inositol bisphosphate isomeric species,
      Ins(1,3)P2, Ins(1,4)P2, Ins(3,4)P2 and Ins(4,5)P2. Although the last isomer ran
      as a minor peak on h.p.l.c., its accumulation was dramatically enhanced in the
      presence of Li+ (1 mM), such that at 30 min it represented almost 35% of the
      total bisphosphate fraction. The accumulation of Ins(4,5)P2 appeared to be very
      sensitive to Li+ (EC50 = 94 +/- 3 microM), strongly implicating a Li(+)-sensitive
      metabolism. Evidence for this is provided from the rapid but Li(+)-sensitive
      decay of Ins(4,5)P2 when muscarinic-receptor stimulation is antagonized by
      atropine at a time when accumulations have reached a new steady state.
      Manipulation of phospholipase D by activators and inhibitors of protein kinase C
      did not suggest a role for phospholipase D hydrolysis of PtdInsP2 in the
      formation of Ins(4,5)P2. Attempts to reveal Ins(4,5)P2 metabolism, or indeed its
      synthesis from Ins(1,4,5)P3, were not successful with broken cell preparations
      and strongly suggest discrete compartmentation of inositol phosphate metabolism
      in the intact cell.

PMID- 1445203
TI  - Characterization of a Gi-protein from Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote membranes.
AB  - A guanosine 5'-[gamma-[35S]thio]triphosphate-binding activity was detergent
      extracted from Trypanosoma cruzi membranes. This binding activity was co-eluted
      from gel-filtration columns with a factor which, in a heterologous reconstitution
      system, blocks glucagon stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in liver
      membranes. ADP-ribosylation of these membranes by pertussis toxin eliminated this
      blocking capacity. Incubation of T. cruzi membranes with activated pertussis
      toxin and [adenylate-32P]NAD+ led to the incorporation of radioactivity into a
      labelled product with an apparent M(r) of approx. 43,000. Crude membranes were
      electrophoresed on SDS/polyacrylamide gels and analysed, by Western blotting,
      with GA/1 anti-alpha common, AS/7 anti-alpha t, anti-alpha i1 and anti-alpha i2
      polyclonal antibodies. These procedures led to the identification of a specific
      polypeptide band of about 43 kDa. Another polypeptide reacting with the SW/1 anti
      beta antibody, of about 30 kDa, was also detected in the membrane fraction.

PMID- 1445204
TI  - A model for adenosine transport and metabolism.
AB  - 1. A model is presented for adenosine transport and metabolism in different
      steady states. The model considers steady-state equations for metabolic enzymes
      based on information from the literature on their kinetic behaviour. 2. Assuming
      that extracellular adenosine and inosine are translocated by three transporters,
      we have devised rate equations for these nucleoside transporters which are valid
      when both nucleosides are present. Since the Na(+)-independent transporter can
      either incorporate nucleosides into the cell or release them, various conditions
      have been simulated in which inosine was either incorporated or released. 3.
      Control analyses are reported which show that the fluxes towards intracellular
      adenine nucleosides are controlled by ecto-5'-nucleotidase in some circumstances
      and by the nucleoside transporters in others. The nucleoside transporter is
      responsible for five fluxes (two Na+ dependent adenosine transport mechanisms, a
      Na(+)-dependent inosine transport, a Na(+)-independent adenosine transport and a
      Na(+)-independent inosine influx or efflux) but the control is not always
      positive for all these fluxes. The control patterns of these five fluxes indicate
      that, in the presence of extracellular adenosine and inosine, the intracellular
      metabolism of adenine derivatives would be highly dependent on the extracellular
      and intracellular concentrations of both nucleosides, on the ectoenzymes (5'
      nucleotidase and adenosine deaminase) and on the transporter. 4. Predictions of
      the model were examined. The results indicate that a change in one independent
      variable (extracellular AMP concentration) makes the system evolve towards a new
      steady state which is far from the initial one and has a different control
      pattern. In contrast, simulation of inhibition of the carriers produces only
      slight modification of the fluxes since the concentrations of the metabolites
      change to counteract the effect. Thus, for instance, a 50% inhibition of the
      three carriers does not affect the flux towards intracellular adenine
      nucleotides. Finally, our model has confirmed that the evolution of the
      concentration of extracellular adenosine, when an increase in extracellular AMP
      is produced, agrees with the behaviour expected for a neurohormone.

PMID- 1445205
TI  - A strategy for increasing an in vivo flux by genetic manipulations. The
      tryptophan system of yeast.
AB  - Decreases in enzyme activity often have little effect on the flux carried by the
      pathway. Similarly, up-modulation of single genes, and hence of the dependent
      enzyme concentrations, is frequently found to be ineffective in increasing the
      flux in the pathway in which the enzyme occurs. This insensitivity to enzyme
      variation is demonstrated experimentally for five separate enzymes in the
      tryptophan synthesis system of yeast, first by down-modulation of the gene dose
      and secondly by increasing the dose using multi-copy vectors. Such a lack of
      response is discussed in terms of the concepts of metabolic control analysis.
      When these five enzymes, however, were simultaneously increased by a multi-copy
      vector carrying all five genes, a substantial elevation of the flux to tryptophan
      was observed. These findings revealed a new phenomenon, namely the more than
      additive effects on the flux of simultaneous elevations of several enzyme
      activities.

PMID- 1445206
TI  - Determining stability of proteins from guanidinium chloride transition curves.
AB  - The guanidinium chloride (GdmCl) denaturation of RNAase A, lysozyme and
      metmyoglobin was investigated at several pH values by using absorbance
      measurements at 287, 300 and 409 nm respectively. From these measurements the
      free-energy change on denaturation, delta Gapp., was calculated, assuming a two
      state mechanism, and values of delta Gapp. at zero concentration of the
      denaturant were measured. For each protein all delta Gapp. values were adjusted
      to pH 7.00 by using the appropriate relationship between delta Gapp. and pH.
      Dependence of the adjusted delta Gapp. value on GdmCl concentration increases for
      metmyoglobin and decreases for the other two proteins as the denaturant
      concentration decreases. It has been shown that these are expected results if the
      presence of the acid-denatured state during the GdmCl denaturation of proteins is
      considered.

PMID- 1445207
TI  - Overexpression, purification and characterization of the Escherichia coli MelR
      transcription activator protein.
AB  - The gene encoding Escherichia coli MelR protein has been cloned in the expression
      vector pJLA502. MelR has been overexpressed, substantially purified and shown to
      bind to DNA fragments carrying the melAB promoter. A truncated version of the
      melR gene, encoding the C-terminal half of MelR, was also cloned into pJLA502;
      the protein product of this truncated gene binds to the melAB promoter but was
      not overproduced. A number of amino acid substitutions were made in the
      recognition helices of two putative helix-turn-helix motifs in the C-terminal
      part of MelR, and the effects of these mutations on MelR-dependent transcription
      initiation at the melAB promoter have been measured.

PMID- 1445208
TI  - Studies on the binding of the Escherichia coli MelR transcription activator
      protein to operator sequences at the MelAB promoter.
AB  - Escherichia coli MelR protein binds to two sites located upstream of the melAB
      transcription start site. Although both sites are required for optimal melibiose
      dependent expression from the melAB promoter, some MelR-dependent expression is
      found if the upstream site is deleted or if the spacing between the two sites is
      altered. Gel retardation assays have been exploited to study MelR binding to a
      DNA fragment carrying just the upstream site. Methylation interference analysis
      was used to identify one guanine (at -104) which is important for MelR binding.
      Mutational analysis confirmed the importance of this base and revealed a second
      position (at -110) where mutations interfere with melAB promoter activity.
      Experiments using potassium permanganate as a probe suggested that the DNA
      sequence around -110 adopts a distorted conformation. We propose that the
      mutation at -104 alters MelR binding by interfering with a direct contact,
      whereas the mutation at -110 primarily affects DNA conformation. The binding of
      purified MelR protein to a melAB promoter fragment carrying both binding sites
      has also been studied: binding results in four retarded bands in gel assays.
      Methylation interference experiments have been exploited to identify the binding
      sites occupied in each complex. Although both binding sites share a common 18 bp
      sequence, MelR binding to the more upstream site is stronger. We could find no
      evidence for co-operative interactions between MelR and RNA polymerase and no
      major effects of melibiose. Some evidence for melibiose-dependent distortion in
      complexes between MelR and the melAB promoter is discussed.

PMID- 1445209
TI  - Iron and aluminium in relation to brain ferritin in normal individuals and
      Alzheimer's-disease and chronic renal-dialysis patients.
AB  - Ferritin has been isolated and its subunit composition, iron and aluminium
      content determined in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of normal individuals
      and in the cerebral cortex of Alzheimer's-disease and renal-dialysis patients. An
      e.l.i.s.a. for ferritin has been developed and the ferritin, non-haem iron and
      aluminium content of the parietal cortex were determined in normal individuals
      and Alzheimer's-disease patients. It was found that ferritin from the cerebral
      cortex and cerebellum of normal individuals had a high H-subunit content, similar
      to that of heart ferritin. The subunit composition of ferritin isolated from the
      cerebral cortex was not significantly altered in Alzheimer's-disease or renal
      dialysis patients. Ferritin from the cerebral cortex of normal individuals had
      only approx. 1500 atoms of iron per molecule and the iron content of ferritin was
      not significantly changed in Alzheimer's-disease or renal-dialysis patients.
      Ferritin isolated from the cerebral cortex of normal, Alzheimer's-disease and
      renal-dialysis patients had less than 9 atoms of aluminium per molecule. The
      failure to find increased concentrations of aluminium associated with ferritin in
      dialysis patients, who had markedly increased concentrations of aluminium in the
      cerebral cortex, shows that aluminium does not accumulate in ferritin in vivo.
      This has important implications for the toxicity of aluminium, since it implies
      that cells are unable to detoxify aluminium by the same mechanism as that
      available for iron. Comparison of the concentrations of ferritin, aluminium and
      iron in the parietal cortex from normal and Alzheimer's-disease patients showed
      that, whereas the concentration of aluminium was not increased, both ferritin and
      iron were significantly increased in Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 1445210
TI  - Interaction of aluminium citrate with horse spleen ferritin.
AB  - Horse spleen ferritin was found to bind aluminium poorly after equilibrium
      dialysis with buffered aluminium citrate solutions. Not more than 10 aluminium
      atoms/ferritin molecule were bound from a 25 microM-aluminium solution, pH 7.4,
      and the degree of binding was dependent on the method used to prepare the
      aluminium citrate solution. Up to 120 aluminium atoms/molecule were bound when
      ferritin iron cores were reconstituted by the addition of 3000 Fe atoms to
      apoferritin in the presence of aluminium citrate. Comparison of previously
      published binding constants of ferritin and citrate for aluminium suggests that,
      in the cell, the prevalence of small ligands effectively prevents the association
      of large amounts of aluminium with ferritin.

PMID- 1445211
TI  - Bivalent-metal binding to CheY protein. Effect on protein conformation.
AB  - CheY is a 14 kDa cytoplasmic protein that is activated by the transfer of a
      phosphoryl moiety to Asp-57 from phosphoCheA during signal transduction in
      bacterial chemotaxis. It has been established that metal ions are necessary for
      the autophosphorylation of CheA, the transfer of phosphate from phosphoCheA to
      CheY and the autodephosphorylation of phosphoCheY. In this work, paramagnetic
      relaxation enhancement has been used in conjunction with one- and two-dimensional
      n.m.r. to study the interaction of CheY with bivalent metal ions. These studies
      have led to the discovery of two conformations of the protein in water,
      corresponding to the metal-free and the metal-bound states. Binding of bivalent
      cations like Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Zn2+ and Mn2+ results in a conformational change
      from the metal-free to the metal-bound state. Preliminary assignments of the
      aromatic proton resonances are reported. Comparison of phase-sensitive double
      quantum-filtered COSY, homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn coherence transfer and nuclear
      Overhauser enhancement spectra from the metal-bound and metal-free protein
      indicates that Trp-58, Thr-87 and Tyr-106 are particularly affected by the
      conformational change involved, and that this change is limited to a small number
      of residues. In addition, homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn coherence transfer
      experiments with paramagnetic Mn2+ show significant suppression of cross-peaks
      associated with Trp-58 and several neighbouring residues. Comparison of the
      distances estimated using n.m.r. with the CheY crystal structure indicates that
      the n.m.r. results are consistent with bivalent metal binding at the cluster of
      aspartic acid residues that includes Asp-13 and Asp-57. These studies also
      demonstrate the utility of paramagnetic metal-induced relaxation in conjunction
      with two-dimensional n.m.r. measurements for exploring ligand-binding sites.

PMID- 1445212
TI  - Activation of the GTP-binding protein Gq by rhodopsin in squid photoreceptors.
AB  - Photoaffinity labelling by a GTP analogue has been used to identify a 42 kDa band
      as the major G alpha subunit in squid photoreceptor membranes, recently
      identified by partial sequence analysis to be a member of the Gq sub-group of GTP
      binding proteins [Pottinger, Ryba, Keen & Findlay (1991) Biochem. J. 279, 323
      326]. Guanine-nucleotide-binding displacement analysis gave a stoichiometry of 1
      G-protein per 12.5 rhodopsin molecules, the same as in vertebrate rod
      photoreceptors. Binding was not detected above background in the dark, but was
      rapidly activated by light. Unlike vertebrate transducin, this G-protein is very
      temperature-sensitive. GTP binding is maximal at temperatures less than 10
      degrees C and is much decreased after several minutes above 18 degrees C. The
      light-stimulated GTPase rate is maximal around 10 degrees C, above which the loss
      of binding sites counteracts the increase in hydrolytic rate per site. Earlier
      studies described light-sensitive G alpha components of 40 and 45 kDa, by ADP
      ribosylation in the presence of cholera and pertussis toxins. These are now shown
      to be very minor components, as the prolonged treatment at elevated temperature
      required for ADP-ribosylation is sufficient to inactivate the major G alpha
      totally. Unlike the minor G alpha components, the 42 kDa G alpha is not inhibited
      by Ca2+.

PMID- 1445213
TI  - Expression of transfected stathmin cDNA reveals novel phosphorylated forms
      associated with developmental and functional cell regulation.
AB  - Stathmin is a ubiquitous, highly conserved phosphoprotein, which most likely acts
      as an intracellular relay integrating various transduction pathways triggered by
      extracellular signals. Two post-translational isoforms (alpha and beta) have been
      previously identified whose increasingly phosphorylated forms migrate as a set of
      isoelectric variant spots (molecular mass 19 kDa; pI 6.2-5.6) on two-dimensional
      electrophoretic gels. In parallel with the phosphorylation of these forms of
      stathmin, two sets of three proteins migrating with slightly higher apparent
      molecular masses (21 and 23 kDa respectively) also incorporated radioactive
      phosphate in response to cell regulation through various transduction pathways.
      These phosphoproteins, previously referred to as proteins '16' and '17', share
      several biochemical properties with stathmin and are recognized by antibodies
      directed to stathmin or to stathmin peptides. Furthermore, when rat stathmin cDNA
      was transfected into mouse myogenic C2 cells, it directed the expression of
      protein sets 16 and 17 together with the 19 kDa forms of stathmin, as detected
      with a species-specific anti-stathmin antiserum. Proteins 16 and 17 are thus
      novel phosphorylated derivatives of stathmin, encoded by the same cDNA as its
      previously identified 19 kDa forms. These results increase the known complexity
      and diversity of stathmin patterns, which may yield the molecular support for its
      proposed role as a relay integrating various signals which regulate the
      proliferation, differentiation and functions of cells during development and
      adult life.

PMID- 1445214
TI  - Interaction of GTPase-activating protein with p21ras, measured using a continuous
      assay for inorganic phosphate release.
AB  - The mechanism of GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activation of p21ras GTP
      hydrolysis has been investigated by measuring the kinetics of release of Pi
      during the hydrolysis. The measurement uses a continuous spectroscopic assay for
      Pi, based on a guanosine analogue, 2-amino-6-mercapto-7-methylpurine
      ribonucleoside, as substrate for purine nucleoside phosphorylase [Webb, M.R.
      (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 4884-4887]. This phosphorolysis gives an
      absorbance increase at 360 nm, so that when the reaction is coupled to GTP
      hydrolysis, the change in absorbance gives the total amount of Pi released from
      the p21ras. The rate of the absorbance increase gives the GTPase activity. This
      provides a non-radioactive method of determining p21ras concentration and GAP
      activity. It was used to determine the interaction of GAP with wild-type p21ras
      and two mutants (Leu-61/Ser-186 and Asp-12), all in the GTP (or guanosine 5'-[
      beta gamma-imido]triphosphate) form. The Leu-61/Ser-186 mutant binds 10-fold
      tighter than does the wild-type protein. The Asp-12 mutant binds to GAP with the
      same affinity as the wild-type protein. A novel GTPase activity was characterized
      whereby the EDTA-induced nucleotide release and GAP-activated cleavage of bound
      GTP leads to steady-state turnover of GTP hydrolysis. An assay for GAP is
      described based on this activity.

PMID- 1445215
TI  - A Raman study of the binding of Fe(III) to ATP and AMP.
AB  - ATP-Fe and AMP-Fe complexes in water (H2O and 2H2O) at pH 7.5 were studied using
      Raman spectroscopy. Parallel and perpendicular polarization spectra were recorded
      in the spectral range 200-1650 cm-1, and the depolarization ratios for most of
      the bands were calculated. The changes in the frequencies, intensities and
      depolarization ratios of the ATP and AMP bands after the addition of FeCl3 showed
      that the adenine moiety, in addition to the phosphate(s), was involved in the
      binding of Fe to both ATP and AMP. Direct interactions of Fe(III) with the
      phosphate chain and the N-7 nitrogen and indirect interaction (via water
      molecules) with the amide group were proposed for the ATP-Fe complex. In
      contrast, direct interaction with the phosphate group and indirect interaction
      with the amide group were observed for the AMP-Fe complex. The different
      interactions of the two complexes suggest an 'anti' conformation for the ATP-Fe
      complex and a 'syn' conformation for the AMP-Fe complex. The strong binding of Fe
      to ATP compared with AMP and the difference in the conformation of the ATP-Fe and
      the AMP-Fe complexes may be significant in the pathway of Fe release in
      mitochondria.

PMID- 1445216
TI  - Kinetics of the monomer-dimer reaction of yeast hexokinase PI.
AB  - Kinetic studies of the glucose-dependent monomer-dimer reaction of yeast
      hexokinase PI at pH 8.0 in the presence of 0.1 M-KCl have been carried out using
      the fluorescence temperature-jump technique. A slow-relaxation effect was
      observed which was attributed from its dependence on enzyme concentration to the
      monomer-dimer reaction; the reciprocal relaxation times tau-1 varied from 3 s-1
      at low concentrations of glucose to 42 s-1 at saturating concentrations. Rate
      constants for association (kass.) and dissociation (kdiss.) were determined as a
      function of glucose concentration using values of the equilibrium association
      constant of the monomer-dimer reaction derived from sedimentation
      ultracentrifugation studies under similar conditions, and also from the
      dependence of tau-2 on enzyme concentration. kass. was almost independent of
      glucose concentration and its value (2 x 10(5) M-1.s-1) was close to that
      expected for a diffusion-controlled process. The influence of glucose on the
      monomer-dimer reaction is entirely due to effects on kdiss., which increases from
      0.21 s-1 in the absence of glucose to 25 s-1 at saturating concentrations. The
      monomer and dimer forms of hexokinase have different affinities and Km values for
      glucose, and the results reported here imply that there may be a significant lag
      in the response of the monomer-dimer reaction to changes in glucose
      concentrations in vivo with consequent hysteretic effects on the hexokinase
      activity.

PMID- 1445217
TI  - Purification and characterization of a diptericin homologue from Sarcophaga
      peregrina (flesh fly).
AB  - A protein with a molecular mass of 8 kDa was found to be synthesized specifically
      when the fat-body from injured Sarcophaga peregrina larvae was cultured in vitro.
      This protein was purified from the haemolymph of the injured larvae to near
      homogeneity. Partial amino acid sequencing revealed that this protein is a
      diptericin homologue. It showed bactericidal activity on growing, but not resting
      Escherichia coli cells. E. coli cells become elongated on treatment with this
      protein.

PMID- 1445218
TI  - Identification of calreticulin isoforms in the central nervous system.
AB  - In the present paper we report the cloning and sequencing of the cDNA encoding
      two calreticulin isoforms from Xenopus laevis central nervous system. The two
      isoforms display 93% identity at the amino acid level. The predicted amino acid
      sequences of the amphibian calreticulins are very similar (76%) to those of
      mammalian liver and skeletal muscle. Xenopus laevis calreticulins are
      characterized by a very acidic c-terminal domain endowed with the endoplasmic
      reticulum retention signal KDEL. The cDNAs of both clones encode an N
      glycosylation consensus sequence. A third clone of calreticulin was also
      identified. The restriction map of this clone was clearly distinct from that of
      the two sequenced clones. These results indicate the existence of multiple
      calreticulin isoforms in the central nervous system and open questions about
      their functional role in different cells and/or subcellular compartments.

PMID- 1445219
TI  - Mechanisms of thermoinactivation of endoglucanase I from Trichoderma reesei QM
      9414.
AB  - The mechanism of irreversible thermoinactivation of endoglucanase I from
      Trichoderma reesei has been determined at 70 degrees C at the pH of maximum
      enzyme activity. The time-course of thermoinactivation did not follow first-order
      kinetics and kinetic constants of the process were dependent on enzyme
      concentration, suggesting that aggregation was the main process leading to
      irreversible inactivation. The enzyme was extremely resistant to urea, which in
      fact seemed to stabilize it against temperature. Disulphide exchange, deamidation
      and hydrolysis of peptide bonds were also responsible for the loss of enzyme
      activity at 70 degrees C.

PMID- 1445220
TI  - Production and interferon-gamma-mediated regulation of complement component C2
      and factors B and D by the astroglioma cell line U105-MG.
AB  - In this paper, we demonstrate the synthesis of the complement component C2 and
      factors B and D by the human astroglioma cell line U105-MG. All three components
      were structurally and antigenically similar to their serum counterparts, as
      determined by biosynthetic labelling studies or Western blot analysis. Northern
      blot analysis demonstrated that the mRNAs of all three components had the same
      apparent sizes as the equivalent mRNAs from hepatocyte and monocyte cell lines.
      Interestingly, U105-MG cells produce two C2 transcripts with sizes of
      approximately 2.8 and 2.3 kb. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) enhanced the
      expression of C2 and factor B mRNA and protein in a dose- and time-dependent
      fashion, while factor D expression was refractory to IFN-gamma. IFN-gamma
      appeared to predominantly enhance the expression of the large (2.8 kb) C2
      transcript. Kinetic studies demonstrated peak C2 and factor B expression in 48 h
      in response to IFN-gamma, similar to the acute-phase response of factor B in
      serum. These data are the first to demonstrate the synthesis of C2 and factor D
      by astroglioma cells. Combined with previous reports documenting the synthesis of
      C3 by astrocytes, our data suggest that endogenous synthesis of complement
      proteins, and particularly of alternative pathway activation components (C3,
      factors B and D), may play an important role in host defence in the central
      nervous system.

PMID- 1445221
TI  - Overproduction of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Escherichia
      coli and site-directed substitutions in the E1p and E2p subunits.
AB  - The aceEF-lpd operon of Escherichia coli encodes the pyruvate dehydrogenase
      (E1p), dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2p) and dihydrolipoamide
      dehydrogenase (E3) subunits of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex
      (PDH complex). An isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside-inducible expression
      system was developed for amplifying fully lipoylated wild-type and mutant PDH
      complexes to over 30% of soluble protein. The extent of lipoylation was related
      to the degree of aeration during amplification. The specific activities of the
      isolated PDH complexes and the E1p component were 50-75% of the values normally
      observed for the unamplified complex. This could be due to altered
      stoichiometries of the overproduced complexes (higher E3 and lower E1p contents)
      or inactivation of E1p. The chaperonin, GroEL, was identified as a contaminant
      which copurifies with the complex. Site-directed substitutions of an invariant
      glycine residue (G231A, G231S and G231M) in the putative thiamine pyrophosphate
      binding fold of the E1p component had no effect on the production of high
      molecular-mass PDH complexes but their E1p and PDH complex activities were very
      low or undetectable, indicating that G231 is essential for the structural or
      catalytic integrity of E1p. A minor correction to the nucleotide sequence, which
      leads to the insertion of an isoleucine residue immediately after residue 273,
      was made. Substitution of the conserved histidine and arginine residues (H602 and
      R603) in the putative active-site motif of the E2p subunit confirmed that H602 of
      the E. coli E2p is essential, whereas R603 could be replaced without inactivating
      E2p. Deletions affecting putative secondary structural elements at the boundary
      of the E2p catalytic domain inhibited catalytic activity without affecting the
      assembly of the E2p core or its ability to bind E1p, indicating that the latter
      functions are determined elsewhere in the domain. The results further consolidate
      the view that chloramphenicol acetyltransferase serves as a useful structural and
      functional model for the catalytic domain of the lipoate acyltransferases.

PMID- 1445222
TI  - Involvement of caldesmon at the actin-myosin interface.
AB  - Addition of myosin subfragment 1 (S-1) to the actin-caldesmon binary complex,
      which forms bundles of actin filaments resulted in the formation of
      actin/caldesmon-decorated filaments [Harricane, Bonet-Kerrache, Cavadore & Mornet
      (1991) Eur. J. Biochem. 196, 219-224]. The present data provide further evidence
      that caldesmon and S-1 compete for a common actin-binding region and demonstrate
      that a change occurs in the actin-myosin interface induced by caldesmon. S-1
      digested by trypsin, which has an actin affinity 100-fold weaker than that of
      native S-1, was efficiently removed from actin by caldesmon, but not completely
      dissociated. This particular ternary complex was stabilized by chemical cross
      linking with carbodi-imide, which does not have any spacer arm, and revealed
      contact interfaces between the different protein components. Cross-linking
      experiments showed that the presence of caldesmon had no effect on stabilization
      of actin-(20 kDa domain), whereas the actin-(50 kDa domain) covalent association
      was significantly decreased, to the point of being virtually abolished.

PMID- 1445223
TI  - Structural features of the low-molecular-mass human salivary mucin.
AB  - The low-molecular-mass human salivary mucin has at least two isoforms, MG2a and
      MG2b, that differ primarily in their sialic acid and fucose content. In this
      study, we characterize further these isoforms, particularly their peptide
      moieties. Trypsin digests of MG2a and MG2b yielded high- and low-molecular-mass
      glycopeptides following gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300. The larger
      glycopeptides from MG2a and MG2b had similar amino acid compositions and
      identical N-terminal sequences, suggesting common structural features between
      their peptides. An oligonucleotide probe generated from the amino acid sequence
      of the smaller glycopeptide from MG2a was employed in Northern-blot analysis.
      This probe specifically hybridized to two mRNA species from human submandibular
      and sublingual glands. A cDNA clone selected from a human submandibular gland
      cDNA expression library with antibody generated against deglycosylated MG2a also
      hybridized to these two mRNA species. In both cases, the larger mRNA was
      polydisperse, and the hybridization signal was more intense in the sublingual
      gland. In addition, the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the larger glycopeptide
      was found to be part of one of the selected MG2 cDNA clones.

PMID- 1445224
TI  - Cellular distribution of nuclear factor kappa B binding activity in rat liver.
AB  - The cellular localization of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) binding activity
      in rat liver has been investigated using electrophoretic mobility shift assay on
      extracts of highly purified hepatocytes and Kupffer cells obtained from liver
      perfused in vivo with collagenase. Constitutive NF-kappa B binding activity was
      demonstrated in nuclear extracts of control Kupffer cells, and this was not
      apparently influenced by injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into rats 24 h
      before perfusion. In contrast, little nuclear NF-kappa B binding activity was
      present in hepatocytes from control animals, although there was detectable
      inactive, inhibitor-bound, NF-kappa B in the cytoplasm. However, nuclear NF-kappa
      B binding activity was increased in hepatocytes from LPS-treated animals and
      after in vitro culture of control rat hepatocytes. Thus NF-kappa B binding
      activity has been demonstrated in highly purified hepatocytes and appears to be
      inducible both in vivo and in vitro. These findings support a role for NF-kappa B
      in hepatocyte gene regulation which may be important in the modulation of the
      hepatic acute phase response.

PMID- 1445225
TI  - Characteristics of phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated dentine phosphoprotein.
AB  - Heterogeneity among the odontoblast-specific, highly phosphorylated acidic
      protein dentine phosphoprotein (DPP) obtained from different species has been
      reported by several investigators. In the present study, the apparent molecular
      mass variations in rabbit and mouse DPP were investigated. Extracellular matrix
      (ECM) DPPs were isolated and characterized. Primary gene products, before post
      translational phosphorylation, were analysed based upon translation products
      produced in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate cell-free system using a polyclonal
      mouse anti-DPP antibody. Nascent non-phosphorylated DPPs were also identified
      from intracellular protein extracts. Mouse and rabbit ECM phosphoproteins
      exhibited a 10 kDa difference in size. However, nascent intracellular or
      translation products from both species showed the same lower molecular mass
      (approx. 45 kDa). Furthermore, Northern-blot analysis showed a single mRNA of the
      same size in both species (approx. 1.6 kb) which contains information for a
      protein no larger than 50 kDa. Our results indicate that the difference in
      molecular mass (or electrophoretic behaviour) among DPPs from different species
      is due to post-translational modifications, in this case phosphorylation.

PMID- 1445226
TI  - Lysosomal cysteine endopeptidases mediate interleukin 1-stimulated cartilage
      proteoglycan degradation.
AB  - The peptidyl diazomethane inactivator of cysteine endopeptidases,
      benzyloxycarbonyl-Tyr-Ala-CHN2, was tested as an inhibitor of interleukin 1 alpha
      stimulated release of proteoglycan from bovine nasal septum cartilage explants.
      Like the previously tested epoxidyl peptide proinhibitor trans-epoxysuccinyl
      leucylamido-(3-methyl)butane ethyl ester, it proved to be an effective inhibitor
      of proteoglycan release from cartilage, with significant inhibition at a
      concentration of 1 microM. The inhibition did not seem to be due to a general
      toxic effect. The rates of inactivation of the bovine cysteine endopeptidases by
      the peptidyl diazomethane, the epoxidyl peptide proinhibitor and its active form
      were determined. Benzyloxycarbonyl-Tyr-Ala-CHN2 proved to be a rapid inactivator
      of cathepsins L, S and B, but reacted much more slowly with cathepsin H and
      calpain. Thus it would appear that the latter two enzymes are not implicated in
      proteoglycan release in our test system. The peptidyl diazomethane and epoxidyl
      peptide proinhibitor (above) were also tested for their effects on three other
      interleukin 1-mediated cellular events, namely epidermal growth factor receptor
      transmodulation, and interleukin 6 and prostaglandin E2 production. In all cases
      the inactivators did not interfere with the response to interleukin 1 in human
      gingival fibroblasts. We conclude that one or more of the lysosomal cysteine
      endopeptidases cathepsins B, L and S mediate interleukin 1-stimulated cartilage
      proteoglycan degradation without affecting signal transduction.

PMID- 1445227
TI  - Hirulog-1 and -B2 thrombin specificity.

PMID- 1445228
TI  - Fluorescence of peptide N-terminal 2-oxoacyl and quinoxaline derivatives.
AB  - A peptide reacts with glyoxalic acid resulting in transamination of the N
      terminal residue to form a 2-oxoacyl group. This further reacts with o
      phenylenediamine, leading to a quinoxaline derivative of the original N-terminal
      amino acid, which is cleavable in mild acid [Dixon & Fields (1972) Methods
      Enzymol. 25, 409-419]. The 2-oxoacyl peptides are weakly fluorescent with
      emission maxima around 410 nm and excitation maxima at about 320 nm, depending on
      the nature and length of the peptide. Formation of the quinoxaline derivative
      results in a marked increase of fluorescence, with emission maximum of 363 nm
      when excited at 303 nm. The fluorescence properties of these derivatives change
      with the nature and length of the peptides and are affected by the presence of
      organic solvents, NaCl and denaturants. It is suggested that such fluorescent
      derivatives could be used as probes for the study of the conformation of the N
      terminal region of peptides and proteins.

PMID- 1445229
TI  - Bicarbonate-dependent ATP cleavage catalysed by pyruvate carboxylase in the
      absence of pyruvate.
AB  - Preparations of pyruvate carboxylase catalyse the cleavage of MgATP in the
      absence of pyruvate and acetyl-CoA. The rate of this cleavage is higher in the
      presence of HCO3- than in its absence. Incubation of the enzyme preparations with
      an excess of the pyruvate carboxylase inhibitor, avidin, completely abolishes the
      pyruvate carboxylating activity of the enzyme preparations but only abolishes the
      HCO3(-)-dependent MgATP cleaving activity, with no effect on the HCO3(-)
      independent ATPase activity. The HCO3(-)-dependent MgATP cleavage is also
      sensitive to inhibition by a pyruvate carboxylase inhibitor, oxamate, and the
      dependence of the reaction on the free Mg2+ concentration is similar to that of
      the pyruvate-carboxylation reaction, whereas the HCO3(-)-independent MgATP
      cleavage is not dependent on the concentration of free Mg2+ in the range tested.
      This indicates that MgATP cleavage by pyruvate carboxylase is entirely dependent
      on the presence of HCO3- and that there may be a low level of ATPase
      contamination in the enzyme preparations. In addition, inhibition of the HCO3(-)
      dependent MgATP cleavage by both avidin and oxamate indicate that although biotin
      does not directly participate in the reaction, its presence is required in that
      part of the active site of the enzyme. The rate of HCO3(-)-dependent MgATP
      cleavage is about 0.07% of that of the full pyruvate carboxylation reaction under
      similar conditions with saturating substrates. The reaction mechanism is
      sequential with respect to MgATP and HCO3- addition and Mg2+ adds at equilibrium
      before MgATP. Acetyl-CoA stimulates the HCO3(-)-dependent MgATP cleavage at low
      MgATP concentrations, with the stimulation being greater at low Mg2+
      concentrations. At high levels of MgATP in the presence of acetyl-CoA, substrate
      inhibition is evident and is more pronounced at increasing concentrations of
      Mg2+. This inhibition appears to be, at least in part, caused by inhibition of
      decarboxylation of the enzyme-carboxybiotin complex by the binding to this
      complex of Mg2+ and MgATP, which probably act to reduce the rate of movement of
      carboxybiotin from the site of the MgATP cleavage reaction to that of the
      pyruvate carboxylation reaction where it is unstable and decarboxylates.

PMID- 1445231
TI  - Tissue distribution of mRNA for heparin-binding epidermal growth factor.
AB  - Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) is a recently identified member
      of the EGF family. Mature HB-EGF is processed from a larger transmembrane
      precursor which can itself act as a cell-surface receptor for the internalization
      of diphtheria toxin into eukaryotic cells. However, to date there is no
      information available on the distribution of HB-EGF in mammalian tissues. We have
      therefore used reverse-transcription PCR to analyse the expression of HB-EGF mRNA
      in a wide range of tissues. HB-EGF transcripts were detected in RNA isolated from
      15 of the 22 tissues obtained from adult pigs, which is consistent with the
      ability of diphtheria toxin to affect many body tissues.

PMID- 1445232
TI  - Investigation of the first step of biotin biosynthesis in Bacillus sphaericus.
      Purification and characterization of the pimeloyl-CoA synthase, and uptake of
      pimelate.
AB  - The pimeloyl-CoA synthase from Bacillus sphaericus has been purified to
      homogeneity from an overproducing strain of Escherichia coli. The purification
      yielded milligram quantities of the synthase with a specific activity of 1
      unit/mg of protein. Analysis of the products showed that this enzyme catalysed
      the transformation of pimelate into pimeloyl-CoA with concomitant hydrolysis of
      ATP to AMP. Using a continuous spectrophotometric assay, we have examined the
      catalytic properties of the pure enzyme. The pH profile under Vmax. conditions
      showed a maximum around 8.5. Apparent Km values for pimelate, CoASH, ATP.Mg2- and
      Mg2+ were respectively 145 microM, 33 microM, 170 microM and 2.3 mM. The enzyme
      was inhibited by Mg2+ above 10 mM. This acid-CoA ligase exhibited a very sharp
      substrate specificity, e.g. neither GTP nor pimelate analogues (di- or mono
      carboxylic acids) were processed. The bivalent metal ion requirement was also
      investigated: Mn2+ (73%) and Co2+ (32%) but not Ca2+ could replace Mg2+. The
      enzyme was inhibited by metal chelators such as 1,10-phenanthroline and EDTA. The
      synthase was a homodimer with a 28,000-M(r) subunit. N-Terminal sequencing
      definitely proved that this enzyme was encoded by the bioW gene. A careful study
      of pimelate uptake by B. sphaericus, E. coli and Pseudomonas dentrificans showed
      that this metabolite crossed the membrane of these microorganisms by passive
      diffusion, ruling out the involvement of the bioX gene product as pimelate
      carrier.

PMID- 1445230
TI  - Molecular structures of glycoprotein hormones and functions of their carbohydrate
      components.

PMID- 1445233
TI  - Exocytosis in electropermeabilized neutrophils. Responsiveness to calcium and
      guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate.
AB  - Electropermeabilized neutrophils were used to study the exocytotic response in
      rabbit neutrophils. Enzyme release from electropermeabilized neutrophils could be
      induced by elevating the Ca2+ concentration. Ca(2+)-induced secretion was
      significantly enhanced by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) in a
      concentration-dependent manner. The effect of GTP[S] could be blocked by
      guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP[S]) and was not affected by pertussis
      toxin. GTP[S] did not induce enzyme release in the absence of Ca2+. Induction of
      an exocytotic response did not require addition of ATP. However, neutrophils
      permeabilized in the absence of ATP became refractory to stimulation due to a
      reduction in their affinity for Ca2+. Responsiveness to the effectors Ca2+ or
      Ca2+ + GTP[S] could be prolonged or restored by ATP. ATP was not the only agent
      that prolonged responsiveness; other nucleotides and inorganic phosphates were
      also effective. The protein kinase C inhibitors staurosporine and 1-O-hexadecyl-2
      methyl-sn-glycerol did not inhibit exocytosis and had only a small effect on the
      prolongation and restoration of responsiveness by ATP. A hypothesis is presented
      suggesting that the loss of responsiveness is caused by dephosphorylation and
      that the restoration or prolongation of responsiveness is not mediated by protein
      kinase C. It is possible that an as yet unidentified Ca(2+)-binding protein is
      dephosphorylated, resulting in a decrease in Ca2+ affinity.

PMID- 1445234
TI  - Secretion of 72 kDa type IV collagenase/gelatinase by cultured human lipocytes.
      Analysis of gene expression, protein synthesis and proteinase activity.
AB  - The matrix metalloproteinases play an important role in matrix degradation, but
      there is limited information about this family of enzymes in either normal or
      diseased human liver. In this study, we have examined the synthesis of a 72 kDa
      type IV collagenase/gelatinase by human hepatic lipocytes in primary culture.
      Hepatic lipocytes were isolated from wedges of normal human donor liver by
      Pronase/collagenase perfusion, purified by density-gradient centrifugation, and
      established in primary culture on uncoated plastic. By Northern-blot analysis,
      the total RNA extracted from cultured human lipocytes was found to contain 3.4 kb
      mRNA for the 72 kDa type IV collagenase/gelatinase. Low levels of expression of
      this mRNA were observed in freshly isolated lipocytes but expression increased
      with the duration of lipocyte culture. Using anti-human 72 kDa type IV
      collagenase/gelatinase IgG, synthesized enzyme was immunolocalized to monensin
      treated human lipocyte cultures. De novo synthesis and secretion of 72 kDa type
      IV collagenase/gelatinase were confirmed by immunoprecipitation of radiolabelled
      enzyme from medium obtained from [35S]methionine-treated cells. Activity of the
      secreted enzyme was demonstrated by gelatin-zymography and by degradation of
      soluble, radiolabelled [14C]gelatin. The enzyme was released both in active and
      latent pro-enzyme forms and its inhibition profile was that of a
      metalloproteinase. These studies indicate that cultured human hepatic lipocytes
      express the gene for the 72 kDa type IV collagenase/gelatinase, and secrete this
      enzyme, particularly in prolonged primary culture. As this enzyme exhibits
      degradative activity against basement membrane collagen, its release by activated
      hepatic lipocytes in the space of Disse could lead to disruption of the normal
      subendothelial liver matrix. It is suggested that this enzyme may have an
      important role in human liver injury and fibrosis.

PMID- 1445235
TI  - Cytostasis induced in L1210 murine leukaemia cells by the S-adenosyl-L-methionine
      decarboxylase inhibitor 5'-([(Z)-4-amino-2-butenyl]methylamino)-5'-deoxyadenosine
      may be due to hypusine depletion.
AB  - The effects of inhibition of the capacity to form spermidine and spermine on cell
      growth were investigated using murine leukaemia L1210 cells and 5'-([(Z)-4-amino
      2-butenyl]methylamino)-5'-deoxyadenosine (MDL 73811, AbeAdo), an enzyme-activated
      irreversible inhibitor of S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase. Putrescine
      levels were increased 80-fold, and spermidine and spermine levels were greatly
      reduced after a 3-day exposure to a maximally inhibitory dose of 10 microM
      AbeAdo. Addition of AbeAdo to the culture medium inhibited the growth of L1210
      cells measured 3 days later in a dose-dependent manner, but, even at a dose of 10
      microM, which was maximally effective, exposure to AbeAdo was not immediately
      cytostatic. However, the growth rate of L1210 cells chronically exposed to 10
      microM-AbeAdo declined steadily until day 12, when the cells stopped growing.
      L1210 cells exposed to AbeAdo for 12 days could not be rescued from cytostasis by
      removal of the drug from the culture, but could be rescued by exposure to
      exogenous spermidine or spermine, indicating that the growth-inhibitory effects
      of AbeAdo were a result of spermidine and/or spermine depletion. It is suggested
      that elevated intracellular putrescine in AbeAdo-treated cells sustained limited
      growth in the absence of physiological levels of spermidine and spermine until
      certain critical and specific physiological role(s) fulfilled by spermidine
      (and/or spermine) became deficient resulting in cytostasis. N-(3-Aminopropyl)-1,4
      diamino-cis-but-2-ene, a spermidine analogue that is a substrate for
      deoxyhypusine synthase, was able to mimic the effects of spermidine in reversing
      AbeAdo-induced cytostasis. Spermidine analogues such as 5,5-dimethylspermidine,
      which are not substrates for deoxyhypusine synthase, were not active in this way.
      These results provide evidence that the formation of hypusine in the protein
      synthesis initiation factor eIF-5A may be a critical role of spermidine essential
      for cell growth.

PMID- 1445236
TI  - Purification and characterization of a vitamin D3 25-hydroxylase from pig liver
      microsomes.
AB  - A cytochrome P-450 which catalyses 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D3 has been
      purified to apparent homogeneity from pig liver microsomes. The specific content
      of cytochrome P-450 was 12 nmol.mg of protein-1, and the preparation showed a
      single band with an apparent M(r) of 50,500 upon SDS/PAGE. A monoclonal antibody
      raised against the vitamin D3 25-hydroxylase reacted strongly with the purified
      25-hydroxylating cytochrome P-450 from pig kidney microsomes [Bergman & Postlind
      (1990) Biochem. J. 270, 345-350]. The liver enzyme showed structural and
      functional properties very similar to those of the kidney enzyme. The two enzymes
      differed with respect to only one of the first 16 N-terminal amino acids. The
      vitamin D3 25-hydroxylase in pig liver microsomes exhibited a turnover and an
      apparent Km for 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D3 which were of the same order of
      magnitude as those of a well-characterized male-specific 25-hydroxylating
      cytochrome P-450 in rat liver microsomes. The two enzymes differed structurally.
      The pig liver enzyme was, in contrast to the rat liver enzyme, not sex-specific,
      and did not catalyse 16 alpha-hydroxylation of testosterone. These properties of
      the 25-hydroxylase in rat liver microsomes have led to questions on the role of
      microsomal 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D3. It is concluded that studies on
      microsomal 25-hydroxylation with the rat may be misleading. The results of the
      present study show that the pig appears to be a representative species for
      evaluation of vitamin D3 hydroxylases in other mammals, including man.

PMID- 1445237
TI  - Disruption of prosomes by some bivalent metal ions results in the loss of their
      multicatalytic proteinase activity and cancels the nuclease resistance of
      prosomal RNA.
AB  - Prosomes are ribonucleoprotein particles constituted by a variable set of about
      20 proteins found associated with untranslated mRNA. In addition, they contain a
      small RNA, the presence of which has been an issue of controversy for a long
      time. The intact particles have a multicatalytic proteinase (MCP) activity and
      are very stable; we have never observed autodigestion of the particle by its
      intrinsic proteinase activity. Surprisingly it was found that Zn2+ and Cu2+ ions
      at concentrations of 0.1-1 mM disrupt the prosome particles isolated from HeLa
      cells and duck erythroblasts and abolish instantaneously its MCP activity,
      without altering the two-dimensional electrophoretic pattern of the constituent
      proteins. Fe2+, however, seems to induce autodegradation rather than dissociation
      of the prosome constituents. Most interestingly, protein or oligopeptide
      substrates protect the particle and its proteinase activity from disruption by
      Zn2+ or Cu2+. Nuclease-digestion assays reveal that the prosomal RNA, which is
      largely resistant in the intact particle, becomes digestible after dissociation
      of prosomes by Zn2+. These data give, for the first time, unambiguous proof of
      the presence of an RNA in the particle. Furthermore, they demonstrate a structure
      function relationship between the complex and its enzyme activity, which seems to
      be based on the particle as an entity and not on the single constituent proteins.

PMID- 1445238
TI  - Characterization of a calsequestrin-like protein from sea-urchin eggs.
AB  - Following our studies on the identification of a calsequestrin-like protein
      (CSLP) from sea-urchin eggs [Oberdorf, Lebeche, Head & Kaminer (1988) J. Biol
      Chem. 263, 6806-6809], we have characterized its Ca(2+)-binding properties and
      identified it as a glycoprotein. The molecule binds 23 mol of Ca2+/mol of
      protein, as determined by equilibrium dialysis. This is in the range reported for
      cardiac calsequestrin but is about half the binding capacity of striated muscle
      calsequestrin. The affinities of the CSLP for Ca2+ are decreased by increasing
      KCl concentrations (20-250 mM) and the presence of Mg2+ (3 mM) in the medium: the
      half-maximal binding values varied from 1.62 to 5.77 mM. Hill coefficients
      indicated mild co-operativity in the Ca2+ binding. Ca2+ (1-8 mM)-induced u.v.
      difference spectra and intrinsic fluorescence changes suggest a net exposure of
      aromatic residues to an aqueous environment. C.d. measurements showed minor
      Ca(2+)-induced changes in alpha-helical and beta-sheet content of less than 10%.
      These spectral changes are distinctly different from those found in muscle
      calsequestrin. Immunoblotting studies showed that the CSLP is distinct from
      calreticulin, a low-affinity Ca(2+)-binding protein.

PMID- 1445239
TI  - Extracellular fatty acids are not utilized directly for the synthesis of very-low
      density lipoprotein in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.
AB  - In hepatocytes cultured in the presence of oleate (initial concn. 0.75 mM), the
      secretion of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) triacylglycerol and, to a lesser
      extent, apoprotein B (apoB) increased with time, whereas there was a large
      decline in the extracellular concentration of fatty acid. There was thus no
      synchronous relationship between the extracellular fatty acid concentration and
      the secretion of VLDL. Rather, the appearance of VLDL in the medium was dependent
      on the intracellular triacylglycerol concentration. At a given concentration of
      extracellular fatty acid, cells depleted of triacylglycerol secreted less VLDL
      triacylglycerol and apoB than did control cells. A similar pattern was observed
      for triacylglycerol newly synthesized from extracellular [3H]oleate. By contrast,
      the synthesis and output of ketone bodies were directly dependent on the fatty
      acid concentration of the medium. These results suggest that, at least for oleic
      acid, extracellular fatty acids are not utilized directly for VLDL assembly, but
      first enter a temporary intracellular storage pool of triacylglycerol, which is
      the immediate precursor of secreted triacylglycerol. The size of this pool then
      determines the rate of secretion of VLDL triacylglycerol apoB. Ketogenesis, on
      the other hand, relies mainly on the direct utilization of extracellular fatty
      acids.

PMID- 1445240
TI  - Sequence of a novel cytochrome CYP2B cDNA coding for a protein which is expressed
      in a sebaceous gland, but not in the liver.
AB  - The major phenobarbital-inducible rat hepatic cytochromes P-450, CYP2B1 and
      CYP2B2, are the paradigmatic members of a cytochrome P-450 gene subfamily that
      contains at least seven additional members. Specific oligonucleotide probes for
      these genomic members of the CYP2B subfamily were used to assess their tissue
      specific expression. In Northern-blot analysis a probe specific to gene 4 (which
      is designated now as CYP2B12) hybridized to a single mRNA present in the
      preputial gland, an organ which is used as a model for sebaceous glands, but did
      not hybridize to mRNA isolated from the liver or from five other tissues of
      untreated or Aroclor 1254-treated rats. The cDNA sequence for the CYP2B12 RNA was
      determined from overlapping cDNA clones and contained a long open reading frame
      of 1476 bp. The nucleotide sequence of the CYP2B12 cDNA was 85% similar to the
      sequence of the CYP2B1 cDNA in its coding region and was different from any CYP2B
      cDNA characterized until now. The cDNA-derived primary structure of the CYP2B12
      protein contains a signal sequence for its insertion into the endoplasmic
      reticulum and the putative haem-binding site characteristic of cytochromes P-450.
      A part of the potential haem pocket of CYP2B12 was identical with a similar
      structure in a bacterial protocatechuate dioxygenase. In immunoblot analysis of
      preputial-gland microsomes, antibodies against CYP2B1 recognized a single
      abundant protein with a lower apparent molecular mass than that of CYP2B1. Our
      results demonstrate that the CYP2B12 protein has the potential to be enzymically
      active and are the first demonstration that a member of the CYP2B subfamily is
      expressed exclusively and at high levels in an extrahepatic organ.

PMID- 1445241
TI  - Crystal structure of papain-E64-c complex. Binding diversity of E64-c to papain
      S2 and S3 subsites.
AB  - In order to investigate the binding mode of E64-c (a synthetic cysteine
      proteinase inhibitor) to papain at the atomic level, the crystal structure of the
      complex was analysed by X-ray diffraction at 1.9 A (1 A is expressed in SI units
      as 0.1 nm) resolution. The crystal has a space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with a =
      43.37, b = 102.34 and c = 49.95 A. A total of 21,135 observed reflections were
      collected from the same crystal, and 14811 unique reflections of up to 1.9 A
      resolution [Fo > 3 sigma(Fo)] were used for the structure solution and
      refinement. The papain structure was determined by means of the molecular
      replacement method, and then the inhibitor was observed on a (2 magnitude of Fo
      magnitude of Fc) difference Fourier map. The complex structure was finally
      refined to R = 19.4% including 207 solvent molecules. Although this complex
      crystal (Form II) was polymorphous as compared with the previously analysed one
      (Form I), the binding modes of leucine and isoamylamide moieties of E64-c were
      significantly different from each other. By the calculation of accessible surface
      area for each complex atom, these two different binding modes were both shown to
      be tight enough to prevent the access of solvent molecules to the papain active
      site. With respect to the E64-c-papain binding mode, molecular-dynamics
      simulations proposed two kinds of stationary states which were derived from the
      crystal structures of Forms I and II. One of these, which corresponds to the
      binding mode simulated from Form I, was essentially the same as that observed in
      the crystal structure, and the other was somewhat different from the crystal
      structure of Form II, especially with respect to the binding of the isoamylamide
      moiety with the papain S subsites. The substrate specificity for the papain
      active site is discussed on the basis of the present results.

PMID- 1445242
TI  - The stereochemical course of sulphuryl transfer catalysed by arylsulphatase II
      from Aspergillus oryzae.
AB  - Phenyl [(R)-16O,17O,18O]sulphate was synthesized and used to study the
      stereochemical course of sulphuryl transfer to p-cresol catalysed by
      arylsulphatase II from Aspergillus oryzae. The reaction was shown to proceed with
      retention of configuration at the sulphur atom, providing evidence for the
      involvement of a sulpho-enzyme intermediate on the reaction pathway.

PMID- 1445243
TI  - Real-time study of the urea cycle using 15N n.m.r. in the isolated perfused rat
      liver.
AB  - 1. Isolated rat liver was perfused with 10 mM-15NH4Cl, 5 mM-lactate and 1 mM
      ornithine, or with 3 mM-[15N]alanine and 1 mM-ornithine, in haemoglobin-free
      medium. The liver was physiologically stable for over 3 h and synthesized urea at
      the rate of 1.15 mumol.min-1.g of liver-1 (15NH4(+)-perfused) or 0.41 mumol.min
      1.g-1 ([15N]alanine-perfused). 2. The perfused liver was continuously monitored
      by 15N n.m.r. spectroscopy at 20.27 MHz for 15N. Well-resolved 15N resonances of
      precursors and intermediates of the urea cycle, present at tissue concentrations
      of 0.2-3.0 mumol/g, were observed from the intact liver in 5-40 min of
      acquisition. Key metabolites in liver extract and the final perfusion medium were
      analysed by n.m.r. and by biochemical assays to determine fractional 15N
      enrichment and the total 15N recovery. 3. In 15NH4(+)-perfused liver (n = 6), 15N
      incorporation into glutamate and alanine (1.0-1.3 mumol/g), as well as
      progressive formation of [15N2]urea, was observed during the first 2 h of
      perfusion. In the second and third hour, hepatic concentrations of [omega
      15N]citrulline and [omega,omega'-15N]argininosuccinate increased to n.m.r.
      detectable levels (0.3-0.9 mumol/g). The [15N]aspartate pool was large in the
      absence of added ornithine, but on its addition was rapidly incorporated into
      argininosuccinate (n = 3). 4. In [15N]alanine-perfused liver, major metabolites
      were [15N]glutamate, [gamma-15N]glutamine and [15N]urea. Urea-cycle intermediates
      were undetectable. 5. The results suggest that, in intact liver provided with
      excess ammonia, low concentrations of cytosolic argininosuccinate synthetase and
      argininosuccinate lyase limited the rate of metabolite flux in the urea cycle. By
      contrast, in alanine-perfused liver at a physiological rate of urea synthesis,
      mitochondrial carbamoylphosphate synthetase was rate-limiting. 6. The potential
      utility of 15N n.m.r. for study of metabolite channelling through urea-cycle
      enzymes in intact liver is discussed.

PMID- 1445244
TI  - Zn(2+)-heparin interaction studied by potentiometric titration.
AB  - Measurement of the decrease in pH that accompanies the addition of Zn2+ to
      heparin in solution provided an indirect method of examining cation-polyanion
      interaction. Construction of plots analogous to isothermal saturation binding
      plots revealed the existence, for defined conditions of interaction, of a
      [heparin]-independent direct proportionality between the fraction of the maximal
      pH change occurring and the [Zn2+]/[heparin disaccharide] ratio. This accords
      with results from polarimetric examination of Ca(2+)- and Cu(2+)-heparin
      interactions. It suggests that, under the conditions used, cation-heparin
      interaction may result in the formation of a complex that exists in a colloid
      like phase, between which and the aqueous phase, exchange of cations does not
      follow simple solution-phase reversible equilibrium thermodynamic behaviour. The
      results suggest that the putative Zn(2+)-containing complex is less stable in the
      presence of NaCl than is the corresponding Ca(2+)-containing complex. Addition of
      Zn2+ to low concentrations of heparins is accompanied by the usual decrease in
      pH, followed by a removal of H+ from solution as the [Zn2+]/[heparin
      disaccharide] ratio increases, suggesting dissolution of the putative complex.
      This reversal of the initial pH change was not seen for most other cation-heparin
      interactions under the conditions studied.

PMID- 1445246
TI  - Characterization and purification of a novel dATP-binding protein in eukaryotes.
AB  - We characterized and purified an acidic dATP-binding protein, which, in its
      active form, resides in the nuclear fraction of a range of cells from mammals
      (including pig liver) and baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). This protein
      exhibits a high degree of specificity for the deoxy form of the naturally
      occurring nucleoside triphosphates and shows a marked preference for the purine
      deoxynucleoside triphosphates dATP and dGTP. The protein cleaves the terminal
      phosphate of dATP and appears to retain the dADP moiety of the nucleotide in a
      reaction that is resistant to both SDS and 8 M-urea. Fractionation of the nuclear
      preparation followed by non-denaturing PAGE and SDS/PAGE electrophoresis was
      sufficient to produce pure protein. The occurrence of this activity in all nuclei
      tested suggests that it plays an important role in nuclear metabolism. The
      specificity of the enzyme for deoxynucleoside triphosphates further suggests a
      role for this enzyme in DNA replication or repair, but the acidity of the protein
      argues against a direct interaction with DNA, and, indeed, the catalytic activity
      is not modulated by the inclusion of DNA in a variety of physical forms.

PMID- 1445245
TI  - Purification and characterization of an acetone-inducible cytochrome P-450 from
      hamster liver microsomes.
AB  - A form of cytochrome P-450 has been purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from
      the hepatic microsomes of Syrian golden hamsters treated with acetone. This P-450
      form, designated ha P-450j, had an M(r) of approximately 55,000, bound dimethyl
      sulphoxide and exhibited a CO-reduced absorbance maximum at 451 nm. The absolute
      spectra of its oxidized form indicated that ha P-450j was predominantly in the
      low-spin state. In a reconstituted system, ha P-450j showed relatively low
      catalytic activities towards 7-ethoxycoumarin, 7-ethoxyresorufin, aminopyrine,
      ethylmorphine and benzphetamine, whereas it catalysed the oxidation of aniline,
      acetone and thiobenzamide with a high catalytic-centre activity. In addition, ha
      P-450j catalysed at a high rate the high-affinity component of
      dimethylnitrosamine N-demethylase; in contrast, only the low-affinity component
      of diethylnitrosamine N-de-ethylase was efficiently catalysed. The addition of
      cytochrome b5 to the reconstitution system decreased the Km value for
      dimethylnitrosamine N-demethylase by a factor of 5 and increased the Vmax. value,
      and slightly enhanced the other activities. Thiobenzamide and
      diethyldithiocarbamate were found to be the most effective inhibitors of the ha-P
      450j-dependent aniline hydroxylation. Polyclonal antibodies against rat P-450j
      recognized ha P-450j in immunoblots of control and treated hamster liver
      microsomes. Treatment of hamsters with acetone increased the apparent abundance
      of ha P-450j in microsomes, whereas phenobarbital and beta-naphthoflavone did not
      induce it. Analysis of N-terminal amino acid sequences demonstrated that ha P
      450j has a high degree of sequence identity with rat P-450j. All the evidence
      presented in this study indicates that ha P-450j could represent the hamster
      orthologue of the previously described CYP2E1(s) of other species.

PMID- 1445247
TI  - Evaluation of hydrogen-bonding and enantiomeric P2-S2 hydrophobic contacts in
      dynamic aspects of molecular recognition by papain.
AB  - 1. 2-(N'-Acetyl-D-phenylalanyl)hydroxyethyl 2'-pyridyl disulphide (compound IV)
      (m.p. 59 degrees C; [alpha]D20 -6.6 degrees (c 1.2 in methanol)) was synthesized.
      2. The results of a study of the pH-dependence of the second-order rate constant
      (k) for its reaction with the catalytic-site thiol group (Cys-25) of papain (EC
      3.4.22.2) together with analogous kinetic data for the reactions of related time
      dependent inhibitors, notably the L-enantiomer of compound (IV) (compound III)
      and the L- and D-enantiomers of 2-(N'-acetylphenylalanylamino)ethyl 2'-pyridyl
      disulphide (compounds I and II respectively), were used to assess the
      contributions of the (P1)-NH ... O = C < (Asp-158) and (P2) > C = O ... H-N-(Gly
      66) hydrogen bonds and enantiomeric P2-S2 hydrophobic contacts in two
      manifestations of dynamic molecular recognition in papain-ligand association: (a)
      signalling to the catalytic-site region to provide for a (His-159)-IM(+)-H
      assisted transition state and (b) the dependence of P2-S2 stereoselectivity on
      hydrogen-bonding interactions outside the S2 subsite. The analysis involved
      determination of the reactivities of individual ionization states of the
      reactions (pH-independent rate constants, k) and associated macroscopic pKa
      values and difference kinetic specificity energies (delta delta GKS = 
      RT1n(k1/k2), where k1 is the pH-independent second-order rate constant for
      reaction with one inhibitor and k2 is the analogous rate constant in the same
      ionization state for reaction with another inhibitor so that, when the structural
      change provides that k2 > k1, delta delta GKS is positive. 3. The kinetic data
      further illuminate the nature of the interdependence of binding interactions in
      papain first noted by Kowlessur, Topham, Thomas, O'Driscoll, Templeton &
      Brocklehurst [(1989) Biochem. J. 258, 755-764] in the S2 subsite, S1-S2
      intersubsite and catalytic-site regions. Of particular note is the apparent
      dependence of the binding of the N-Ac-D-Phe moiety on the binding of the leaving
      group to (His-159)-Im+H and the fact that the resulting rate enhancement is more
      effective when (P1)-N-H is absent than when it is present. This result revealed
      by kinetic analysis goes beyond the conclusion suggested by model building that
      it is possible to make all of the binding contacts in complexes involving the D
      enantiomers [(II) and (IV)] as in those involving the L-enantiomers [(I) and
      (III)].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1445248
TI  - Taurolithocholate-induced Ca2+ release is inhibited by phorbol esters in isolated
      hepatocytes.
AB  - The monohydroxy bile acid taurolithocholate (TLC) causes a rapid and transient
      increase in free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in suspensions of rat
      hepatocytes similar to that elicited by the InsP3-dependent hormone vasopressin.
      The effect of the bile acid is due to a mobilization of Ca2+, independent of
      InsP3, from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Short-term preincubation of cells
      with the phorbol ester 4 beta-phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate (PMA),
      which activates protein kinase C (PKC), blocked the increase in [Ca2+]i induced
      by TLC, but did not alter that mediated by vasopressin. We obtained the following
      results, indicating that the effect of PMA is mediated by the activation of PKC.
      (1) Phorbol esters were effective over a concentration range where they activate
      PKC (IC50 = 0.5 nM); (2) phorbol esters that do not activate PKC did not inhibit
      the effects of TLC; (3) the permeant analogue oleoylacetylglycerol mimicked the
      inhibitory effect of PMA; (4) lastly, the inhibition of the TLC-induced Ca2+
      mobilization by phorbol esters was partially prevented by preincubating the cells
      with the PKC inhibitors H7 and AMG-C16. Preincubating hepatocytes with PMA had no
      effect on the cell uptake of labelled TLC, indicating that the phorbol ester does
      not interfere with the transport system responsible for the accumulation of bile
      acids. In saponin-treated liver cells, PMA added before or after permeabilization
      failed to abolish TLC-induced Ca2+ release from the ER. The possibility is
      discussed that PMA, via PKC activation, may alter the intracellular binding or
      the transfer of bile acids in the liver.

PMID- 1445249
TI  - Characterization of the binding of plasminogen activators to plasma membranes
      from human liver.
AB  - The binding of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) to membranes prepared
      from human liver was investigated, and a specific, saturable, high-affinity
      binding site (Kd = 3.4 nM) was identified. The binding of t-PA to liver membranes
      was not affected by an excess of D-mannose or D-galactose, or by active urokinase
      (u-PA), whereas binding of t-PA to membranes prepared from human HepG2 hepatoma
      cells was inhibited by u-PA. HepG2-membrane-bound t-PA was fully complexed to PA
      inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), whereas liver-membrane-bound t-PA was not complexed. Gel
      filtration on Sephacryl S300 of membrane proteins solubilized in deoxycholate
      revealed that high-affinity t-PA binding activity elutes at an apparent molecular
      mass of 40 kDa. Monoclonal antibodies specific for the growth factor and the
      kringle 2 domains inhibited the binding of t-PA to liver membranes and the
      catabolism of t-PA by rat hepatoma cells. Human liver membranes also bound u-PA;
      binding was inhibited by pro-u-PA, the N-terminal fragment of u-PA, but not by
      the 33 kDa form of u-PA or by t-PA. Our results show that human liver membranes
      contain a specific 40 kDa binding protein for t-PA that is different from the PAI
      1-dependent receptor described on HepG2 cells and the mannose receptor isolated
      from human liver.

PMID- 1445250
TI  - Mitogen-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of 41 kDa and 43 kDa proteins. Potential
      role in integrating multiple mitogenic signalling pathways.
AB  - We have examined the possible involvement of pertussis toxin (PT)-sensitive GTP
      binding protein and protein kinase C (PKC) in mitogen-induced tyrosine
      phosphorylation of the 41 kDa and 43 kDa cytosol proteins using PT-pretreated
      (inactivation of PT-sensitive GTP-binding protein) or phorbol 12-myristate 13
      acetate (PMA)-pretreated (depletion of PKC) mouse fibroblasts. The effects of the
      inactivation of PT-sensitive GTP-binding protein and the depletion of PKC on
      mitogen-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the proteins were similar and
      varied significantly and systematically in response to growth factors. The
      important finding was that such inhibitory effects of PT-sensitive GTP-binding
      protein inactivation and PKC depletion on protein tyrosine phosphorylation
      induced by each mitogen always correlated well with their inhibitory effects on
      each mitogen-stimulated DNA synthesis. Although the extent of platelet-derived
      growth-factor-induced phosphorylation of the proteins was decreased to approx.
      50% in PT- and PMA-pretreated cells compared with native cells, protein
      phosphorylation itself was not affected and occurred at identical sites on each
      protein in native, PT- and PMA-pretreated cells. These results suggest that: (1)
      41 kDa and 43 kDa proteins are located downstream of PT-sensitive GTP-binding
      protein and PKC in the mitogenic signalling pathways of growth factors, (2)
      protein phosphorylation occurs via a cascade of events which includes the
      activation of the receptor tyrosine kinases, PKC and other unidentified kinase(s)
      which directly participate(s) in the phosphorylation of the 41 kDa and 43 kDa
      proteins, and (3) their phosphorylation may play an important role in integrating
      multiple mitogenic signalling pathways.

PMID- 1445251
TI  - Kinetics of activation of the P4 promoter of pBR322 by the Escherichia coli
      cyclic AMP receptor protein.
AB  - The activation of transcription initiation from the P4 promoter of pBR322 by the
      Escherichia coli cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) has been investigated using a
      fluorescence abortive initiation assay. The effect of the cyclic-AMP/CRP complex
      on the linear P4 promoter was to increase the initial binding (KB) of RNA
      polymerase to the promoter by about a factor of 10, but the rate of isomerization
      of closed to open complex (kf) was unaffected. One molecule of CRP per promoter
      was required for activation, and the concentration of cyclic AMP producing half
      maximal stimulation was about 7-8 microM. Supercoiling caused a 2-3-fold increase
      in the rate of isomerization of the CRP-activated promoter, but weakened the
      initial binding of polymerase by about one order of magnitude. The unactivated
      supercoiled promoter was too weak to allow reliable assessment of kinetic
      parameters against the high background rate originating from the rest of the
      plasmid.

PMID- 1445252
TI  - Site-directed mutagenesis of the leech-derived factor Xa inhibitor antistasin.
      Probing of the reactive site.
AB  - Antistasin (ATS) is a leech-derived 119-amino-acid protein which exhibits potent
      and highly selective inhibition of coagulation Factor Xa. It inhibits Factor Xa
      according to a common mechanism of serine-proteinase inhibitors in which a
      conformationally rigid substrate-like reactive site is presented to the enzyme.
      In this study a recombinant version of ATS was expressed and purified utilizing a
      yeast expression system in order to probe the reactive site P1 (Arg-34) and P1'
      (Val-35) residues by site-directed mutagenesis. The results demonstrate the
      requirement for a positively charged residue in the P1 position of ATS, with an
      arginine residue preferred over a lysine, yielding K1 values of 61 pM and 1.28 nM
      respectively. Mutation of the P1 arginine residue to the non-polar amino acid
      leucine abolished its inhibitory potency toward Factor Xa. The role of the C
      terminal domain of ATS, which shares significant amino acid sequence identity
      with the N-terminal domain, was investigated by creating a second reactive site
      in the corresponding position of the C-terminal domain. The inhibitory activity
      of this mutant demonstrated that the C-terminal domain of ATS is not folded into
      the proper conformation necessary to create a functional inhibitory domain.

PMID- 1445253
TI  - An evolutionary perspective on glutathione transferases inferred from class-theta
      glutathione transferase cDNA sequences.
AB  - We report the cDNA sequence for rat glutathione transferase (GST) subunit 5,
      which is one of at least three class Theta subunits in this species. This
      sequence, when compared with that of subunit 12 recently published by Ogura,
      Nishiyama, Okada, Kajita, Narihata, Watabe, Hiratsuka & Watabe [(1991) Biochem.
      Biophys. Res. Commun. 181, 1294-1300] proves that Theta is a separate multigene
      class of GST with little amino acid sequence identity with Mu-, Alpha- or Pi
      class enzymes. The amino acid sequence identity of class-Theta subunits is highly
      conserved in rat, the fruitfly Drosophila, maize (Zea mays) and Methylobacterium,
      which suggests that this family is representative of the ancient progenitor GST
      gene and originates from the endosymbioses of a purple bacterium leading to the
      mitochondrion. The high conservation of class Theta brings into prominence that
      Alpha-, Mu- and Pi-class enzymes, which are not present in plants, derive from a
      Theta-class gene duplication before the divergence of fungi and animals and,
      given the binding properties of the Alpha-, Mu- and Pi-classes, suggests a role
      for these in the evolution of fungi and animals.

PMID- 1445254
TI  - Purification and properties of DNA polymerase from Bacillus caldotenax.
AB  - A thermostable DNA polymerase was prepared from Bacillus caldotenax by using a
      four-step chromatography procedure. The protein exists as a monomer of M(r)
      94,000, has a pI of 4.9 and has no associated 3'-5' or 5'-3'-exonuclease
      activities or endonuclease activity. The temperature optimum of the enzyme was
      about 70 degrees C and the pH for maximum activity was about 7.5. The enzyme has
      an absolute requirement for a bivalent cation, and maximum activity was obtained
      at the unusually high concentration of 70 mM-MgCl2. Mg2+ could be replaced by
      MnCl2 or CoCl2, with decreased activity, at the lower optimal concentrations of 1
      mM and 2.5 mM respectively. Enzyme activity was inhibited in the presence of
      2',3'-dideoxy-TTP, arabinosyl-CTP and aphidicolin. Enzyme activity was stimulated
      with KCl concentrations of about 100 mM, and concentrations of univalent salts
      above about 150 mM inhibited activity. The enzyme could use activated calf thymus
      DNA, poly(dA).p(dT)10 or primed single-stranded phage M13 DNA as a template and
      maximum activity was obtained with poly(dA).p(dT)10. The enzyme was inactive on
      unprimed single-stranded DNA, double-stranded DNA and polyribonucleotide
      template/primer. The apparent Km values for individual dNTPs, determined with the
      other dNTPs at saturating concentrations, were 5.7 microM (dCTP), 6.3 microM
      (dATP, dGTP) and 6.4 microM (dTTP). The Km value for the overall incorporation of
      each dNTP from an equimolar mixture of all four dNTPs was 24.7 microM. The kcat.
      value was about 1.05 s-1. The kcat./Km value was 0.16-0.18 M-1.s-1 for individual
      dNTPs and 0.04 for the incorporation of an equimolar mixture of all four dNTPs.
      Some of the properties of the enzyme show it may be classified as an alpha-Type
      DNA polymerase.

PMID- 1445255
TI  - The Caenorhabditis elegans unc-13 gene product is a phospholipid-dependent high
      affinity phorbol ester receptor.
AB  - The Caenorhabditis elegans unc-13 mutant is a member of a class of mutants that
      have un-coordinated movement. Mutations of the unc-13 gene cause diverse defects
      in C. elegans, including abnormal neuronal connections and modified synaptic
      transmission in the nervous system. unc-13 cDNA encodes a protein (UNC-13) of
      1734 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 198 kDa and sequence
      identity to the C1/C2 regions but not to the catalytic domain of the ubiquitously
      expressed protein kinase C family [Maruyama & Brenner (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad.
      Sci. U.S.A. 88, 5729-5733]. To characterize the phorbol ester binding site of the
      UNC-13 protein, cDNA encoding the C1/C2-like regions (amino acid residues 546
      940) was expressed in Escherichia coli and the 43 kDa recombinant protein was
      purified. Phorbol ester binding to the 43 kDa protein was zinc- and phospholipid
      dependent, stereospecific and of high affinity (Kd 67 nM). UNC-13 specific
      antisera detected a protein of approx. 190 kDa in wild-type (N2) but not in
      mutant (e1019) C. elegans cell extracts. We conclude that UNC-13 represents a
      novel class of phorbol ester receptor.

PMID- 1445256
TI  - Molecular-dynamics investigation of molecular flexibility in ligand binding.
AB  - The molecular flexibility of an inhibitor in ligand-binding process has been
      investigated by the mass-weighted molecular-dynamics simulation, a computational
      method adopted from the standard molecular-dynamics simulation and one by which
      the conformational space of a biomolecular system over potential energy barriers
      can be sampled effectively. The bimolecular complex of the aspartyl proteinase
      from Rhizopus chinensis, rhizopuspepsin, and an octapeptide inhibitor was
      previously studied in a mass-weighted molecular-dynamics simulation; the study
      has been extended for investigating the molecular flexibility in ligand binding.
      A series of mass-weighted molecular-dynamics simulations was carried out in which
      libration of the inhibitor dihedral angles was parametrically controlled, and
      threshold values of dihedral angle libration amplitudes were observed from
      monitoring the sampling of the enzyme binding pocket by the inhibitor in the
      simulations. The computational results are consistent with the general notion of
      molecular-flexibility requirement for ligand binding; the freedom of dihedral
      rotations of side-chain groups was found to be particularly important for ligand
      binding. Thus the critical degree of molecular flexibility which would contribute
      to effective enzyme inhibition can be obtained precisely from the modified
      molecular-dynamics simulations; the procedure described herein represents a first
      step toward providing quantitative measures of such a molecular-flexibility index
      for inhibitor molecules that have been otherwise targeted for optimal protein
      ligand interactions.

PMID- 1445257
TI  - Protein kinase C phosphorylation of cardiac troponin T decreases Ca(2+)-dependent
      actomyosin MgATPase activity and troponin T binding to tropomyosin-F-actin
      complex.
AB  - Effects of phosphorylation of bovine cardiac troponin T (TnT) by protein kinase C
      on the Ca(2+)-stimulated MgATPase activity of reconstituted actomyosin complex
      and the binding of TnT to tropomyosin(Tm)-F-actin were investigated. The Ca(2+)
      stimulated MgATPase of actomyosin containing phosphorylated TnT (1.8 mol of
      P/mol), compared with that containing unphosphorylated TnT, was decreased by up
      to 48%. Phosphorylation of TnT also decreased (up to 48%) its maximum binding to
      Tm-F-actin, which was accompanied by a decrease (up to 3.5-fold) in its apparent
      binding affinity. The findings indicate that the effects of phosphorylated TnT in
      decreasing actomyosin MgATPase might be secondary to its decreased interactions
      with the other components of the thin filament, representing a new mechanism
      underlying the negative inotropic responses of various cardiac preparations to
      protein kinase C-activating phorbol esters.

PMID- 1445258
TI  - Characterization of three osteogenesis imperfecta collagen alpha 1(I) glycine to
      serine mutations demonstrating a position-dependent gradient of phenotypic
      severity.
AB  - Type I collagen alpha 1(I) glycine to serine substitutions, resulting from G-to-A
      mutations, were defined in three cases of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). The Gly
      substitutions displayed a gradient of phenotypic severity according to the
      location of the mutation in the collagen triple helix. The most C-terminal of
      these, Gly565 to Ser, led to the lethal perinatal (type II) form of OI, whereas
      the more N-terminal mutations, Gly415 and Gly352 to Ser, led to severe OI (type
      III/IV) and moderate OI (type IVB) respectively. These data support the notion
      that glycine substitutions towards the C-terminus of the alpha 1(I) or alpha 2(I)
      chains will be more clinically severe than those towards the N-terminus. This
      results from the more disruptive effect of the mutations at the C-terminus on
      helix initiation and C- and N-terminal helix directional propagation. This
      generalization must be modified by considering the nature of the glycine
      substitution and the surrounding amino acid sequence, since the helix is composed
      of subdomains of differing stability which will affect the ability of helix re
      nucleation and propagation.

PMID- 1445259
TI  - Evidence for dissociation of gluconeogenesis stimulated by non-esterified fatty
      acids and changes in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in cultured rat hepatocytes.
AB  - In order to examine the role of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P2) in non
      esterified-fatty-acid-stimulated gluconeogenesis, Fru-2,6-P2 levels were measured
      in cultured rat hepatocytes under conditions mimicking the fasted state. After
      addition of either 1.5 mM-palmitate or 10 nM-glucagon, [U-14C]lactate
      incorporation into glucose increased 2-fold, but only glucagon suppressed Fru-2,6
      P2. Prevention of palmitate oxidation with a carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I
      inhibitor (2-bromopalmitate) diminished glucose production and Fru-2,6-P2 levels.
      Addition of exogenous glucose to the media increased Fru-2,6-P2 in a dose-related
      manner, which was further augmented by addition of palmitate. When Fru-2,6-P2
      levels were examined in cells cultured under conditions mimicking the fed state
      (significantly higher basal Fru-2,6-P2 levels and lower glucose production),
      palmitate oxidation was associated with a significant fall in Fru-2,6-P2. In
      conclusion, the present studies have demonstrated a dissociation between fatty
      acid-stimulated gluconeogenesis and changes in Fru-2,6-P2 in cultured rat
      hepatocytes. Further experiments suggest that the accumulation of intracellular
      hexose 6-phosphate as a result of fatty-acid-stimulated gluconeogenesis masks a
      putative inhibitory effect of fatty acids on Fru-2,6-P2 concentrations.

PMID- 1445260
TI  - Substrate specificity and distribution of UDP-GalNAc:sialylparagloboside N
      acetylgalactosaminyltransferase in the human stomach.
AB  - The detailed substrate specificity of the UDP-GalNAc:sialylparagloboside N
      acetylgalactosaminyltransferase to form the Sd(a+) blood group active
      carbohydrate determinant GalNAc beta 1-4(NeuAc alpha 2-3)Gal was studied using a
      membrane fraction prepared from human gastric fundic mucosa. Various sialosylated
      oligosaccharides and gangliosides were examined as acceptor substrates.
      Oligosaccharide substrates were fluorescence-labelled with 2-aminopyridine, and
      the transferase activity was quantified by h.p.l.c. using a reversed-phase
      column. The structures of the products were determined by glycosidase degradation
      and proton n.m.r. 3'-Sialyl-lactose (II3NeuAcLac), 3'-sialyl-lactotetraose
      (IV3NeuAcLc4), and 3'-sialyl-lactoneotetraose (IV3NeuAcnLc4) were good substrates
      for the beta 1-4GalNAc transferase in gastric fundic mucosa, but 6'-sialyl
      lactoneotetraose (IV6NeuAcnLc4) or 6'-sialyl-lactose (II6NeuAcLac) were not.
      Gangliosides with a terminal NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal residue such as GM3,
      sialylparagloboside, GM1b and GD1a were also studied. The activity of beta 1
      4GalNAc transfer to sialylparagloboside was much higher than that to GM2, GM1b or
      GD1a in spite of them having the same terminal residue. Measurement of the
      activity of the beta 1-4GalNAc transferase in biopsy specimens demonstrated that
      the activity was localized in gastric fundic mucosa and was absent in pyloric
      mucosa, intestinal metaplasia and gastric cancer tissue. Thus the beta 1-4GalNAc
      transferase present specifically in fundic mucosa required a NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal
      residue connected to either type-1-chain or type-2-chain oligosaccharides. In
      glycolipids, the acceptor specificity was restricted to NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1
      4GlcNAc because the NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3GalNAc structure in ganglio-series
      glycolipids was not a good acceptor substrate.

PMID- 1445261
TI  - The binding of amide substrate analogues to phospholipase A2. Studies by 13C
      nuclear-magnetic-resonance and infrared spectroscopy.
AB  - (R)-(2-dodecanamidoisohexyl)phosphocholine (DAHPC), labelled with 13C at the
      amide carbonyl group, has been synthesized and its binding to bovine pancreatic
      phospholipase A2 (PLA2) studied by n.m.r. and i.r. spectroscopy. Two-dimensional
      1H-n.m.r. spectra show that, in the presence of Ca2+, DAHPC binds to the active
      site of the enzyme in a similar manner to other phospholipid amide substrate
      analogues. The environment of the labelled carbonyl group has been investigated
      by a combination of 13C n.m.r. and difference-Fourier-transform i.r.
      spectroscopy. The carbonyl resonance shifts 3 p.p.m. downfield on the binding of
      DAHPC to PLA2. The carbonyl absorption frequency decreases by 14-18 cm-1,
      accompanied by a marked sharpening of the absorption band. These results indicate
      that the carbonyl bond undergoes significant polarization in the enzyme-ligand
      complex, facilitated by the enzyme-bound Ca2+ ion. This suggests that ground
      state strain is likely to promote catalysis in the case of substrate binding.
      Simple calculations, based on the i.r. data, indicate that the carbonyl bond is
      weakened by 5-9 kJ.mol-1. This is the first report of observation of the amide
      vibration of a bound ligand against the strong background of protein amide
      vibrations.

PMID- 1445262
TI  - Guanine nucleotide is essential and Ca2+ is a modulator in the exocytotic
      reaction of permeabilized rat mast cells.
AB  - Exocytosis from metabolically depleted permeabilized rat mast cells was measured
      in response to provision of Ca2+ and guanine nucleotide [GTP or guanosine 5'
      [gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S])]. For cells permeabilized in simple salt
      solutions (NaCl), both of these effectors were required to induce secretion.
      Exclusion of Mg2+ caused an increase in both the sensitivity of the system to GTP
      and the extent of secretion elicited, while having no such effects on secretion
      induced by GTP[S]. The effect of Mg2+ depletion on the ability of GTP to
      stimulate secretion is probably due to the dependence on Mg2+ of the GTPase
      activity of GE (a postulated GTP-binding protein which mediates exocytosis). This
      argues that a persistent stimulus to the G-protein is required to support
      secretion. Affinity for both GTP[S] and GTP is enhanced when the cells are
      permeabilized in zwitterionic electrolytes (glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid,
      glycine) instead of NaCl. Under these conditions, secretion occurs in response to
      provision of either GTP[S] [in the effective absence of Ca2+ (pCa 9)] or Ca2+ (in
      the absence of guanine nucleotide). Secretion induced by GTP[S] is strongly
      promoted by the presence of Mg2+ at concentrations in the millimolar range; this
      promotion by Mg2+ declines as the concentration of Ca2+ is elevated towards pCa
      7. At pCa 6, Mg2+ is without effect. Ca(2+)-induced secretion requires the
      provision of MgATP. Since this is further enhanced by low concentrations (< 100
      microM) and then inhibited by high concentrations of GDP, the essential role of
      ATP is likely to be in the maintenance of GTP via transphosphorylation by a
      nucleoside diphosphate kinase reaction. Thus, under conditions of high affinity
      (glutamate environment), GTP[S] alone is capable of inducing exocytosis. Ca2+
      acts in concert with guanine nucleotides: it enhances the rate and extent of
      secretion and increases the affinity for Mg2+ and guanine nucleotides in the
      activation of the GTP-binding protein (GE) which regulates exocytosis.

PMID- 1445263
TI  - Characterization of GLUT3 protein expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells.
AB  - We have expressed GLUT3 protein, an isoform of a facilitative glucose
      transporter, in Chinese hamster ovary cells by transfection of its cDNA using an
      expression vector. The expressed GLUT3 protein was detected by Western-blot
      analysis as a broad band of 45-65 kDa, indicating intensive glycosylation of the
      protein. The expressed GLUT3 protein was observed, by immunofluorescence
      staining, to be located mainly at the plasma membrane, and its expression was
      associated with a marked increase in glucose-transport activity. Kinetic analysis
      revealed that the Km value of GLUT3 protein for 3-O-methylglucose uptake was
      approx. 35% of that of GLUT1 protein, whereas the Km value of GLUT3 protein for 2
      deoxy-D-glucose uptake was very similar to that of GLUT1 protein. The Vmax. value
      of GLUT3 protein for 3-O-methylglucose and 2-deoxyglucose uptake was approx. 20
      50% of that of GLUT1 protein. GLUT3 protein was well photolabelled with
      [3H]cytochalasin B or a mannose derivative, 2-N-4-[3H](1-azi-2,2,2
      trifluoroethyl)benzoyl-1,3-bis-(D-mannos -4-yloxy)-2- propylamine. Thus GLUT3
      protein has very similar characteristics to GLUT1 protein including its
      subcellular localization, but exhibits lower Km and Vmax. values for 3-O
      methylglucose uptake.

PMID- 1445264
TI  - Trehalase from male accessory gland of an insect, Tenebrio molitor. cDNA
      sequencing and developmental profile of the gene expression.
AB  - A cDNA of alpha alpha-trehalase (EC 3.2.1.28) from a cDNA library of male bean
      shaped accessory gland of the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, has been
      isolated by the homology screening approach. Sequence analysis of the cDNA (1830
      bp) revealed that the cDNA encoded a protein of 555 amino acids with a calculated
      M(r) of 64457. The deduced amino acid sequence had significant similarities to
      rabbit small intestine and Escherichia coli trehalases. Northern blotting and
      semi-quantitative PCR analyses revealed that a trehalase transcript with about
      2.0 kb was abundant in bean-shaped accessory glands. In the glands, the amount of
      trehalase transcript increased from 1 to 2 days after adult ecdysis. These tissue
      and stage-specific gene expressions of trehalase corresponded to the tissue- and
      stage-specificity of trehalase activity.

PMID- 1445265
TI  - Involvement of intracellular Ca2+ and K+ in dissipation of the mitochondrial
      membrane potential and cell death induced by extracellular ATP in hepatocytes.
AB  - Isolated rat hepatocytes were incubated with extracellular ATP to induce a
      prolonged increase in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and a loss of viability within
      2 h. By using video-intensified fluorescence microscopy, the effects of exposure
      to extracellular ATP on [Ca2+]i, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and cell
      viability were determined simultaneously in individual living hepatocytes. The
      increase in [Ca2+]i on exposure to ATP was followed by a decreasing MMP; there
      were big differences between individual cells. Complete loss of the MMP occurred
      before cell death was observed. Omission of K+ from the incubation medium
      decreased the cytotoxicity of ATP; under these conditions, intracellular K+ was
      decreased by more than 80%. Treatment with nigericin also depleted intracellular
      K+ and decreased ATP-induced toxicity. Protection against loss of viability by
      means of a decrease in intracellular [K+] was reflected by maintenance of the
      MMP. These observations suggest that ATP-induced cell death may be caused by a
      mechanism that has been described for isolated mitochondria: after an increase in
      Ca2+ levels, a K+ influx into mitochondria is induced, which finally disrupts the
      MMP and leads to cell death.

PMID- 1445266
TI  - Structural differences between heparan sulphates of proteoglycan involved in the
      formation of basement membranes in vivo by Lewis-lung-carcinoma-derived cloned
      cells with different metastatic potentials.
AB  - This study addresses the characterization of heparan sulphates of the basement
      membrane proteoglycans in tumour formed after the subcutaneous implantation of
      Lewis-lung-carcinoma-derived different metastatic clones (P29, LM12-3 and LM60-D6
      clones with low, medium and high metastatic potentials respectively). Heparan
      sulphate proteoglycans (125-158 micrograms of hexuronate/g dry weight of tissue)
      were isolated from chondroitin ABC lyase digests of a proteoglycan fraction
      obtained after DEAE-Sephacel chromatography of tissue extracts. The proteoglycans
      were separated into three molecular species by Sepharose CL-4B chromatography
      followed by CsCl-density-gradient centrifugation: large proteoglycans with an
      estimated M(r) of 820,000-130,000, which consisted of two components with low (<
      1.34 g/ml; PGII-M) and high (> 1.37 g/ml; PGII-B) density, and a small
      proteoglycan with an M(r) of less than 80,000 (PGIII). Of these, only the PGII-M
      proteoglycan (34-37 micrograms of hexuronate/g dry weight) reacted with the
      antiserum against proteoglycan of Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm-tumour basement membrane,
      and represented, therefore, a basement-membrane proteoglycan. Digestion with
      heparan sulphate lyases I and II of the heparan sulphates (M(r) 36,000) from the
      PGII-M proteoglycan of the three tumours resulted in almost complete
      depolymerization to give six unsaturated disaccharides identified as 2-acetamido
      2-deoxy-4-O-(4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluron ic acid)-D-glucose, 2
      acetamido-2-deoxy-4-O-(4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluron ic acid)-6-O
      sulpho-D-glucose, 2-deoxy-2-sulphamino-4-O-(4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enopyrano
      syluronic acid)-D-glucose, 2-deoxy-2-sulphamino-4-O-(4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo-hex-4
      enopyrano syluronic acid)-6-O-sulpho-D-glucose, 2-deoxy-2-sulphamino-4-O-(4-deoxy
      2-O-sulpho-alpha-L-threo-hex-4- enopyranosyluronic acid)-D-glucose and 2-deoxy-2
      sulphamino-4-O-(4-deoxy-2-O-sulpho-alpha-L-threo-hex-4- enopyranosyluronic acid)
      6-O-sulpho-D-glucose. Comparison of the relative amounts of these disaccharides
      produced from the three tumour-derived heparan sulphates demonstrated that the
      degree of sulphation of the heparan sulphates correlated with the degree of
      morphological organization of the tumour basement membranes; the heparan sulphate
      from the more highly metastatic tumour with more highly organized basement
      membrane exhibited a higher degree of overall sulphation along the
      glycosaminoglycan chains, which was due to an increased content of the three
      repeating disaccharides having 6-O-sulphated glucosamine residues.

PMID- 1445267
TI  - Isolation and partial characterization of heparan sulphate proteoglycans from
      human hepatic amyloid.
AB  - Proteoglycans were isolated from human amyloidotic liver by extraction with
      guanidine, followed by trichloroacetic acid precipitation, DEAE-Sephacel ion
      exchange chromatography, and Sepharose CL-6B gel chromatography. A significant
      portion of the material was found to be free chondroitin/dermatan sulphate chains
      (30%), whereas the predominant part was heparan sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG)
      (70%). The approx. molecular mass of the HSPG was 200 kDa, as measured by gel
      electrophoresis and gel chromatography. The molecular mass of the core protein
      was shown to be 60 kDa by SDS/PAGE following de-aminative cleavage of the heparan
      sulphate chains. The heparan sulphate chains were liberated from the core protein
      by alkali treatment and found to have a molecular mass of approx. 35 kDa by
      Sepharose CL-6B gel chromatography. The core protein was shown, by
      immunoblotting, to react with a monoclonal antibody against bovine basement
      membrane HSPG. The presence of HSPG in amyloid deposits was further confirmed by
      immunohistochemistry on tissue sections from amyloidotic liver using the same
      antibody.

PMID- 1445268
TI  - Partial purification of a 6-methyladenine mRNA methyltransferase which modifies
      internal adenine residues.
AB  - Two forms of a 6-methyladenine mRNA methyltransferase have been partially
      purified using a T7 transcript coding for mouse dihydrofolate reductase as an RNA
      substrate. Both enzyme forms modify internal adenine residues within the RNA
      substrate. The enzymes were purified 357- and 37-fold respectively from nuclear
      salt extracts prepared from HeLa cells using DEAE-cellulose and phosphocellulose
      chromatography. The activity of the first form of the enzyme eluted from DEAE
      cellulose (major form) was at least 3-fold greater than that of the second (minor
      form). H.p.l.c. analysis of the hydrolysed, methylated mRNA substrates
      demonstrated that both forms of the enzyme produced only 6-methyladenine. The two
      forms of the enzyme differed in their RNA substrate specificity as well as in the
      dependence for a 5' cap structure. The 6-methyladenine mRNA methyltransferase
      activity was found to be elevated in HeLa nuclei as compared with nuclear
      extracts from rat kidney and brain. Enzymic activity could not be detected in
      nuclei from either normal rat liver or regenerating rat liver. In the case of the
      HeLa cell, activity could only be detected in nuclear extracts, with a small
      amount in the ribosomal fraction. Other HeLa subcellular fractions were void of
      activity.

PMID- 1445269
TI  - A recombinant hybrid anaphylatoxin with dual C3a/C5a activity.
AB  - By site-directed mutagenesis of a human complement factor C5a cDNA clone, we have
      designed a hybrid anaphylatoxin in which three amino acid residues in the C
      terminal sequence of human C5a were exchanged to create the native C-terminal
      human C3a (hC3a) sequence Leu-Gly-Leu-Ala-Arg. This hybrid anaphylatoxin rC5a-(1
      69)-LGLAR exhibited true C3a and C5a activity when tested in the guinea pig ileum
      contraction assay. Quantitative measurements of ATP release from guinea pig
      platelets revealed about 1% intrinsic C3a activity for this hybrid, while the C5a
      activity was essentially unchanged. Competitive binding assays confirmed that the
      rC5a-(1-69)-LGLAR mutant was able to displace radioiodinated rhC5a with a KI of
      approx. 40 nM and hC3a with a KI of approx. 3.7 microM from guinea pig platelets.
      Since the C-termini of both human C3a and C5a anaphylatoxins are known to
      interact with their respective receptors, we conclude that the same peptidic
      sequence, LGLAR, is able to bind to and activate two different receptors, the C3a
      receptor as well as the C5a receptor. This clone provides a novel tool for the
      identification of further receptor-binding residues in both anaphylatoxins, since
      any mutants may be tested for altered C3a and C5a activity simultaneously.

PMID- 1445270
TI  - Properties of a partially purified phosphodimethylethanolamine methyltransferase
      from rat brain cytosol.
AB  - The presence of cytosolic S-adenosylmethionine-dependent N-methyltransferase(s)
      activity(ies) capable of converting phosphoethanolamine into phosphocholine has
      been recently demonstrated in the rat brain. At least two enzymes are involved in
      the methylation of phosphoethanolamine to phosphocholine and these are separable
      by ammonium sulphate fractionation. The enzyme catalysing the last step of this
      methylation process is present in the 50-80% ammonium sulphate fraction. A 220
      fold purified enzyme has been obtained with sequentially employed Q-Sepharose
      fast flow and octyl-Sepharose CL4B column chromatography. The maximum enzyme
      activity was at pH 9.5. The Km values for S-adenosylmethionine, the methyl donor,
      and phosphodimethylethanolamine, the methyl acceptor, were 125 microM and 750
      microM respectively. This phosphodimethylethanolamine N-methyltransferase was
      found to be calcium-dependent, with a 4-fold increase in activity at 0.5 mM
      CaCl2. S-Adenosylhomocysteine at 0.5 mM caused 100% inhibition of the activity.
      The effects of various structural analogues on the phosphodimethylethanolamine N
      methyltransferase activity were also investigated and these results suggest that
      the enzyme is specific to the substrate. These results provide evidence for the
      existence of the pathway for the methylation of phosphoethanolamine to
      phosphocholine in rat brain cytosol.

PMID- 1445272
TI  - The fate of the prosegment in the acute-phase and programmed synthesis of
      sapecin, an antibacterial peptide of the flesh fly (Sarcophaga peregrina).
AB  - The nucleotide sequence of sapecin cDNA suggested that this antibacterial peptide
      of the flesh fly (Sarcophaga peregrina) is produced from preprosapecin by post
      translational processing. We examined the production of sapecin and its
      prosegment by radioimmunoassay under two different physiological conditions in
      which its gene is activated, assuming that the prosegment has some biological
      role. Results suggested that the prosegment is degraded selectively during
      production of sapecin. We also found that imaginal discs synthesize sapecin when
      cultured in the presence of 20-hydroxyecdysone.

PMID- 1445271
TI  - Functional alterations of type I insulin-like growth factor receptor in placenta
      of diabetic rats.
AB  - The presence of type I insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) receptors on placental
      membranes led to the hypothesis that these receptors might play a critical role
      in the rapid growth of this organ. Diabetes induces feto-placental overgrowth,
      but it is not known whether it modifies IGF-I receptor activity in fetal and/or
      placental tissues. To answer this question, we have partially purified and
      characterized placental receptors from normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic
      rats. In normal rats, binding of 125I-IGF-I to a 140 kDa protein corresponding to
      the alpha subunit of the receptor was observed in cross-linking experiments
      performed under reducing conditions. Stimulation by IGF-I induces the
      autophosphorylation of a 105 kDa phosphoprotein representing the beta subunit of
      the receptor. In rats made hyperglycaemic and insulinopenic by streptozotocin
      injection on day 1 of pregnancy, placental IGF-I receptor-binding parameters were
      not different from controls on day 20 of pregnancy. In contrast, the
      autophosphorylation and kinase activity of IGF-I receptors of diabetic rats were
      increased 2-3-fold in the basal state and after IGF-I stimulation. The present
      study indicates that the rat placental IGF-I receptor possesses structural
      characteristics similar to that reported for fetal-rat muscle, and suggests that
      the high-molecular-mass beta subunit could represent a type of receptor
      specifically expressed during prenatal development. In addition, it clearly
      demonstrates that diabetes induces functional alterations in IGF-I receptor
      kinase activity that may play a major role in the placental overgrowth in
      diabetic pregnancy.

PMID- 1445273
TI  - Primary structure and mitochondrial import in vitro of the 20.9 kDa subunit of
      complex I from Neurospora crassa.
AB  - The 20.9 kDa subunit of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) from
      Neurospora crassa is a nuclear-coded component of the hydrophobic arm of the
      enzyme. We have determined the primary structure of this subunit by sequencing a
      full-length cDNA and a cleavage product of the isolated polypeptide. The deduced
      protein sequence is 189 amino acid residues long and contains a putative membrane
      spanning domain. Striking similarity over a 60 amino-acid-residue domain with the
      M (matrix) protein of para-influenza virus was found. No other relationship with
      already known sequences could be detected, leaving the function of this subunit
      in complex I still undefined. The biogenetic pathway of this polypeptide was
      studied using a mitochondrial import system in vitro. The 20.9 kDa subunit
      synthesized in vitro is efficiently imported into isolated mitochondria, where it
      obtains distinct features of the endogenous subunit. Our results suggest that the
      20.9 kDa polypeptide is made on cytosolic ribosomes lacking a cleavable targeting
      sequence, interacts with the mitochondrial outer membrane (in a process that does
      not require an energized inner membrane), and is imported into mitochondria at
      contact sites. The 20.9 kDa subunit is then inserted into the inner membrane
      acquiring a topology similar to that of the already assembled subunit.

PMID- 1445274
TI  - Immunological detection of degradation intermediates of skeletal-muscle glycogen
      phosphorylase in vitro and in vivo.
AB  - Over 95% of the pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) in skeletal is bound to one protein,
      glycogen phosphorylase. This, and the fact that phosphorylase constitutes approx.
      5% of the soluble protein in skeletal muscle, introduce the possibility that PLP
      might be used as a specific label to identify degradation intermediates of the
      enzyme. In this investigation, we have developed immunological methods, using a
      monoclonal antibody to PLP and polyclonal antibodies to phosphorylase, to detect
      degradation intermediates in vitro and in vivo. We have identified a family of
      degradation intermediates of glycogen phosphorylase in the high-speed-supernatant
      fraction of mouse skeletal muscle. These peptides react with both types of
      antibodies and are in the size and concentration range expected for degradation
      intermediates in a model in which the committed step is followed by rapid
      clearance of the products. Changes in amounts of degradation intermediates are
      examined in physiological or pathological conditions in which the rate of
      degradation of phosphorylase is altered.

PMID- 1445276
TI  - Structural comparison between the mitochondrial aralkyl-CoA and arylacetyl-CoA N
      acyltransferases.
AB  - The aralkyl and arylacetyl transferases were purified to homogeneity from bovine
      kidney by a slight modification of a previous procedure. The M(r) of the
      arylacetyl transferase was estimated to be 33,500 by SDS/PAGE and that of the
      aralkyl transferase to be 33,750 by a combination of SDS/PAGE and gel-filtration
      analysis. N-Terminal-sequence analysis indicated a blocked N-terminus for the
      arylacetyl transferase and gave the following sequence for the aralkyl
      transferase: M-F-L-L-Q-G-A-Q-M-L-Q-M-L-E-K. Amino acid analysis revealed
      differences in composition between the two enzymes. Most notable was the fact
      that the aralkyl transferase had more methionine and leucine. This difference
      could be partially accounted for by assuming that the methionine-and-leucine-rich
      N-terminus was missing from the arylacetyl transferase. Chemical cleavage of the
      two enzymes at methionine residues using CNBr gave rise to several peptides for
      each enzyme. N-Terminal-sequence analysis of the 8000-M(r) peptide from the
      arylacetyl transferase gave a sequence with 69% similarity to the 9000-M(r)
      peptide from the aralkyl transferase. This was taken to indicate a common origin
      for the two enzymes.

PMID- 1445275
TI  - Glycation (non-enzymic glycosylation) inactivates glutathione reductase.
AB  - Non-enzymic binding of sugars to proteins (glycation) is a common biological
      phenomenon that is increased in diabetes. Most work has been directed towards
      structural proteins which may be present for many years and would continue to
      accumulate sugar residues. As glycation is a non-specific reaction, other
      proteins such as enzymes will also be susceptible to glycation and could well
      display altered activity. We investigated the effect of various sugars whose
      concentrations increase in diabetes in insulin-independent tissues on glutathione
      reductase, an enzyme that maintains the GSH level in cells. Glucose, glucose 6
      phosphate and fructose all displayed a time-dependent inhibition of glutathione
      reductase activity, suggesting that these sugars glycate this enzyme. Aspirin
      gave some protection against the loss of activity induced by glucose.

PMID- 1445277
TI  - Effects of insulin and phorbol esters on subcellular distribution of protein
      kinase C isoforms in rat adipocytes.
AB  - Effects of insulin and phorbol esters on subcellular distribution of protein
      kinase C (PKC) isoforms were examined in rat adipocytes. Both agonists provoked
      rapid decreases in cytosolic, and/or increases in membrane, immunoreactive PKC
      alpha, PKC-beta, PKC-gamma, and PKC-epsilon. Effects of phorbol esters on PKC
      alpha redistribution to the plasma membrane, however, were much greater than
      those of insulin. In contrast, insulin, but not phorbol esters, stimulated the
      translocation of PKC-beta to the plasma membrane, and provoked changes in PKC
      zeta redistribution. Neither agonist altered subcellular distribution of PKC
      delta, which was detected only in membrane fractions. Our findings indicate that
      insulin and phorbol esters have overlapping and distinctly different effects on
      the subcellular redistribution of specific PKC isoforms.

PMID- 1445278
TI  - Cell surface accessibility of GLUT4 glucose transporters in insulin-stimulated
      rat adipose cells. Modulation by isoprenaline and adenosine.
AB  - Insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity in rat adipocytes is inhibited by
      isoprenaline and enhanced by adenosine. Both of these effects occur without
      corresponding changes in the subcellular distribution of the GLUT4 glucose
      transporter isoform. In this paper, we have utilized the impermeant, exofacial
      bis-mannose glucose transporter-specific photolabel, 2-N-4-(1-azi-2,2,2
      trifluoroethyl)benzoyl-1,3-bis-(D-mannos- 4-yloxy)-2-propylamine (ATB-BMPA)
      [Clark & Holman (1990) Biochem. J. 269, 615-622], to examine the cell surface
      accessibility of GLUT4 glucose transporters under these conditions. Compared with
      cells treated with insulin alone, adenosine in the presence of insulin increased
      the accessibility of GLUT4 to the extracellular photolabel by approximately 25%,
      consistent with its enhancement of insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity;
      the plasma membrane concentration of GLUT4 as assessed by Western blotting was
      unchanged. Conversely, isoprenaline, in the absence of adenosine, promoted a time
      dependent (t1/2 approximately 2 min) decrease in the accessibility of insulin
      stimulated cell surface GLUT4 of > 50%, which directly correlated with the
      observed inhibition of transport activity; the plasma membrane concentration of
      GLUT4 decreased by 0-15%. Photolabelling the corresponding plasma membranes
      revealed that these alterations in the ability of the photolabel to bind to GLUT4
      are transient, as the levels of both photolabel incorporation and plasma membrane
      glucose transport activity were consistent with the observed GLUT4 concentration.
      These data suggest that insulin-stimulated GLUT4 glucose transporters can exist
      in two distinct states within the adipocyte plasma membrane, one which is
      functional and accessible to extracellular substrate, and one which is non
      functional and unable to bind extracellular substrate. These effects are only
      observed in the intact adipocyte and are not retained in plasma membranes
      isolated from these cells when analysed for their ability to transport glucose or
      bind photolabel.

PMID- 1445279
TI  - First determination of the secondary structure of purified factor VIII light
      chain.
AB  - The first analysis of the secondary structure of human factor VIII light chain
      was performed by c.d. spectroscopy. The purification process described in this
      paper allowed us to obtain the large amounts of purified factor VIII light chains
      required for c.d. experiments. Since this 80 kDa protein is non-covalently
      associated with a heavy chain to form the active molecule, isolated factor VIII
      light chains were obtained after immunoadsorption and dissociation of the
      immobilized active complexes by EDTA. Furthermore, factor VIII light chains were
      discriminated from the residual active complexes and the free heavy chains by a
      final ion-exchange-chromatography step. This f.p.l.c. analysis showed that factor
      VIII light chains were less electronegative than the active complexes. The
      results of conformational analysis by c.d. show that the protein possesses a high
      degree of regular secondary structure (58%) with approx. 22% of alpha-helix and
      36% of beta-strand structures. The protein was completely unfolded by 3 M
      guanidine hydrochloride. The results obtained from the analysis of c.d. spectra
      were compared with those predicted from three different statistical methods based
      on amino-acid sequence. The secondary structure information obtained from these
      methods was in good agreement with the c.d. results. These results were
      comparable with the secondary structure prediction of ceruloplasmin, a protein
      known to show sequence identity to factor VIII.

PMID- 1445280
TI  - Heterogeneity of L-alanine transport systems in brush-border membrane vesicles
      from rat placenta during late gestation.
AB  - The placental uptake of L-alanine was studied by using purified brush-border
      membrane vesicles from rat trophoblasts. Saturation curves were carried out at 37
      degrees C in buffers containing 100 mM (zero-trans)-NaSCN, -NaCl, -KSCN, -KCl, or
      -N-methyl-D-glucamine gluconate. The uncorrected uptake results were fitted by
      non-linear regression analysis to an equation involving one diffusional component
      either one or two saturable Michaelian transport terms. In the presence of NaCl,
      two distinct L-alanine transport systems were distinguished, named respectively
      System 1 (S-1; Vm1 about 760 pmol/s per mg of protein; KT1 = 0.5 mM) and System 2
      (S-2; Vm2 about 1700 pmol/s per mg; KT2 = 9 mM). In contrast, in the presence of
      K+ (KCl = KSCN) or in the absence of any alkali-metal ions (N-methyl-D-glucamine
      gluconate), only one saturable system was apparent, which we identify as S-2.
      When Na+ is present, S-1, but not S-2, appears to be rheogenic, since its maximal
      transport capacity significantly increases in the presence of an inside-negative
      membrane potential, created either by replacing Cl- with the permeant anion
      thiocyanate (NaSCN > NaCl) or by applying an appropriate K+ gradient and
      valinomycin. alpha-(Methylamino)isobutyrate (methyl-AIB) appears to be a
      substrate of S-1, but not of S-2. For reasons that remain to be explained,
      however, methyl-AIB inhibits S-2. We conclude that S-1 represents a truly Na(+)
      dependent mechanism, where Na+ behaves as an obligatory activator, whereas S-2
      cannot discriminate between Na+ and K+, although its activity is higher in the
      presence of alkali-metal ions than in their absence (Na+ = K+ > N-methyl-D
      glucammonium ion). S-2 appears to be fully developed 2 days before birth, whereas
      S-1 undergoes a capacity-type activation between days 19.5 and 21.5 of gestation,
      i.e. its apparent Vmax. nearly doubles, whereas its KT remains constant.

PMID- 1445281
TI  - Kinetic analysis of internalization, recycling and redistribution of atrial
      natriuretic factor-receptor complex in cultured vascular smooth-muscle cells.
      Ligand-dependent receptor down-regulation.
AB  - The kinetics of internalization, sequestration and metabolic degradation of
      atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)-receptor complex were studied in rat thoracic
      aortic smooth-muscle (RTASM) cells. These parameters were directly determined by
      measuring 125I-ANF binding to total, intracellular and cell-surface receptors.
      Pretreatment of cells with the lysosomotropic agent chloroquine and the energy
      depleter dinitrophenol led to an increase in the intracellular 125I-ANF
      radioactivity. After 60 min incubation at 37 degrees C, cell-associated 125I-ANF
      radioactivity fell rapidly in chloroquine-treated cells (> 85%) compared with the
      controls (< 45%). 125I-ANF radioactivity increased to a peak of 65% of the
      initial level within 15 min in chloroquine-treated cells compared with only 22%
      in the control cells. During the initial incubation period at 37 degrees C,
      chloroquine inhibited the release of both intact and degraded 125I-ANF in a time
      dependent manner. However, at later incubation times, the effect of chloroquine
      was diminished and release of both degraded and intact ligand was resumed.
      Extracellular unlabelled ANF did not affect the release of degraded 125I-ANF but
      it accelerated the release of intact ANF by a retroendocytotic mechanism. After
      the endocytosis, about 30-40% of ANF receptors were restored to the cell surface
      from the internalized pool of receptors. The restoration was blocked by
      chloroquine or dinitrophenol but not by cycloheximide. Exposure of RTASM cells to
      unlabelled ANF resulted in a time- and concentration-dependent loss of ANF
      receptors. Unlabelled ANF (10 nM) induced a loss of more than 52% of 125I-ANF
      binding, and a complete loss occurred at micromolar concentrations. It is
      inferred that ANF-induced down-regulation of its receptor resulted primarily from
      an increased rate in internalization and metabolic degradation of ligand-receptor
      complex by receptor-mediated endocytotic mechanisms.

PMID- 1445282
TI  - Oxidation of monohydric phenol substrates by tyrosinase. An oximetric study.
AB  - The purity of commercially available mushroom tyrosinase was investigated by non
      denaturing PAGE. Most of the protein in the preparation migrated as a single band
      under these conditions. This band contained both tyrosinase and dopa oxidase
      activity. No other activity of either classification was found in the
      preparation. Oxygen consumption by tyrosinase during oxidation of the monohydric
      phenol substrates tyrosine and 4-hydroxyanisole (4HA) was monitored by oximetry
      in order to determine the stoichiometry of the reactions. For complete oxidation,
      the molar ratio of oxygen: 4HA was 1:1. Under identical conditions, oxidation of
      tyrosine required 1.5 mol of oxygen/mol of tyrosine. The additional oxygen uptake
      during tyrosine oxidation is due to the internal cyclization of dopaquinone to
      form cyclodopa, which undergoes a redox reaction with dopaquinone to form
      dopachrome and dopa, which is then oxidized by the enzyme, leading to an
      additional 0.5 mol of oxygen/mol of original substrate. Oxygen consumption for
      complete oxidation of 200 nmol of 4HA was constant over a range of concentrations
      of tyrosinase of 33-330 units/ml of substrate. The maximum rate of reaction was
      directly proportional to the concentration of tyrosinase, whereas the length of
      the lag phase decreased non-linearly with increasing tyrosinase concentration.
      Activation of the enzyme by exposure to citrate was not seen, nor was the lag
      phase abolished by exposure of the enzyme to low pH. Michaelis-Menten analysis of
      tyrosinase in which the lag phase is abolished by pre-exposure of the enzyme to a
      low concentration of dithiothreitol gave Km values for tyrosine and 4HA of 153
      and 20 microM respectively.

PMID- 1445283
TI  - Enhanced expression of inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein in
      spontaneously hypertensive rats. Relationship to adenylate cyclase inhibition.
AB  - We have previously shown that the stimulatory effects of guanine nucleotides, N
      ethylcarboxamide-adenosine and other agonists on adenylate cyclase activity were
      diminished in aorta and heart sarcolemma of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)
      [Anand-Srivastava (1988) Biochem. Pharmacol. 37, 3017-3022]. In the present
      studies, we have examined whether the decreased response of these agonists is due
      to the defective GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins) which couple the receptors to
      adenylate cyclase, and have therefore measured the levels of G-proteins in aorta
      and heart from SHR and their respective Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) controls by using
      pertussis toxin (PT)- and cholera toxin (CT)-catalysed ADP-ribosylations and
      immunoblotting techniques using specific antibodies against G-proteins. The
      labelling with [32P]NAD+ and PT identified a 40/41 kDa protein in heart and aorta
      from WKY and SHR and was significantly increased in the hearts (approximately
      100%) and aorta (approximately 30-40%), from SHR as compared with WKY.
      Immunoblotting revealed an increase in the levels of the G-protein alpha-subunits
      Gi alpha-2 and Gi alpha-3 in heart and Gi alpha-2 in aorta, whereas no change in
      Go alpha was observed in heart from SHR and WKY. On the other hand, no
      differences were observed in CT labelling or immunoblotting of stimulatory G
      protein (Gs) in heart and aorta from WKY and SHR. In addition, CT stimulated the
      adenylate cyclase activity in heart sarcolemma from WKY and SHR to a similar
      extent. These results were correlated with adenylate cyclase inhibition and
      stimulation by various hormones. Angiotensin II (AII), atrial natriuretic factor
      (ANF) and oxotremorine-mediated inhibition was found to be greater in SHR as
      compared with WKY, whereas the stimulatory effects of adrenaline, isoprenaline,
      dopamine and forskolin were diminished in SHR aorta as compared to WKY. These
      results indicate that regulatory protein G(i) is more expressed in SHR, which may
      be associated with the decreased responsiveness of stimulatory hormones and
      increased sensitivity of inhibitory hormones to stimulate/inhibit adenylate
      cyclase activity. It may thus be suggested that the enhanced G(i) activity may be
      one of the mechanisms responsible for the diminished vascular tone and impaired
      myocardial functions in hypertension.

PMID- 1445284
TI  - Secretion by overexpression and purification of the water-soluble Streptomyces
      K15 DD-transpeptidase/penicillin-binding protein.
AB  - Though synthesized with a cleavable signal peptide and devoid of membrane
      anchors, the 262-amino-acid-residue Streptomyces K15 DD-transpeptidase/penicillin
      binding protein is membrane-bound. Overexpression in Streptomyces lividans
      resulted in the export of an appreciable amount of the synthesized protein (4
      mg/litre of culture supernatant). The water-soluble enzyme was purified close to
      protein homogeneity with a yield of 75%. It requires the presence of 0.5 M-NaCl
      to remain soluble. It is indistinguishable from the detergent-extract wild-type
      enzyme with respect to molecular mass, thermostability, transpeptidase activity
      and penicillin-binding capacity.

PMID- 1445285
TI  - Involvement of extracellular-matrix-degrading metalloproteinases in rabbit aortic
      smooth-muscle cell proliferation.
AB  - We investigated the influence of two structurally unrelated inhibitors of matrix
      degrading metalloproteinases, Ro 31-4724 and Ro 31-7467, on the primary
      proliferation of smooth-muscle cells from rabbit aortic explants. Both agents
      inhibited proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner, but did not affect
      cell viability. Smooth-muscle cells grown out from explants secreted 95 kDa and
      72 kDa gelatinase enzymes that were also inhibited in a concentration-dependent
      manner by Ro 31-4724 and Ro 31-7467. Interstitial collagenase and stromelysin
      were not detected. We conclude that metalloproteinases are likely to be involved
      in the initiation of smooth-muscle proliferation.

PMID- 1445286
TI  - How the EcoRI endonuclease recognizes and cleaves DNA.
AB  - One popular recombinant DNA tool is the EcoRI endonuclease, which cleaves DNA at
      GAATTC sites and serves as a paradigm for sequence specific DNA-enzyme
      interactions. The recently revised X-ray crystal structure of an EcoRI-DNA
      complex reveals EcoRI employs novel DNA recognition motifs, a four alpha-helix
      bundle and two extended chains, which project into the major groove to contact
      substrate purines and pyrimidines. Interestingly, pyrimidine contacts had been
      predicted based on genetic and biochemical studies. Current work focuses on the
      EcoRI active site structure, enzyme and substrate conformational changes during
      catalysis, and host-restriction system interactions.

PMID- 1445287
TI  - The matrix-degrading metalloproteinases.
AB  - The matrix-degrading metalloproteinases are an intriguing family of enzymes that
      have evolved to digest specific extracellular matrix components. The expression
      of these enzymes is very highly regulated and can be controlled transcriptionally
      by a number of growth factors, tumor promoters, oncogenes, and hormones. It is
      suggested that the coordinated regulation of matrix metalloproteinases and their
      inhibitors by these agents modify the integrity of the extracellular matrix.
      These modifications may, at least in part, be responsible for mediating the
      effects of these factors on complex physiological processes.

PMID- 1445288
TI  - Oscillations and waves of cytosolic calcium: insights from theoretical models.
AB  - Oscillations in cytosolic Ca2+ occur in a wide variety of cells, either
      spontaneously or as a result of external stimulation. This process is often
      accompanied by intracellular Ca2+ waves. A number of theoretical models have been
      proposed to account for the periodic generation and spatial propagation of Ca2+
      signals. These models are reviewed and their predictions compared with
      experimental observations. Models for Ca2+ oscillations can be distinguished
      according to whether or not they rely on the concomitant, periodic variation in
      inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Such a variation, however, is not required in
      models based on Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release. When Ca2+ diffusion is incorporated
      into these models, propagating waves of cytosolic Ca2+ arise, with profiles and
      rates comparable to those seen in the experiments.

PMID- 1445289
TI  - Use of the HPRT gene and the HAT selection technique in DNA-mediated
      transformation of mammalian cells: first steps toward developing hybridoma
      techniques and gene therapy.
AB  - In 1956, I decided to apply my experience in microbial genetics to developing
      analogous systems for human cell lines, including the selection of mutants with
      either a loss or gain of a biochemical function. For instance, mutants resistant
      to azahypoxanthine showed a loss of the HPRT enzyme (hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl
      transferase), whereas gain of the same enzyme was accomplished by blocking de
      novo purine biosynthesis with aminopterin, while supplying hypoxanthine and
      thymine (HAT selection). Using HAT selection, we: (i) genetically transformed
      HPRT- mutant cells to HPRT+ wild type by using DNA extracted from HPRT+ cells,
      and (ii) selected HPRT+ hybrid cells by fusing HPRT- D98/AH2 cells with skin
      cells. These approaches, which we dubbed in 1962 as a 'first step toward gene
      therapy', contributed to the later development of (i) cell fusion techniques,
      (ii) the development of monoclonal antibodies, (iii) routine transformation of
      mammalian cells with cloned genes, and (iv) methods for creating transgenic
      organisms.

PMID- 1445290
TI  - A real mouse for your computer.

PMID- 1445291
TI  - Two reactions are simultaneously catalyzed by a single enzyme: the arginine
      dependent simultaneous formation of two products, ethylene and succinate, from 2
      oxoglutarate by an enzyme from Pseudomonas syringae.
AB  - A single enzyme isolated from Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola PK2
      simultaneously catalyzed two reactions, namely, the formation of ethylene and
      succinate from 2-oxoglutarate, at a molar ratio of 2:1. In the main reaction, 2
      oxoglutarate was dioxygenated to produce one molecule of ethylene and three
      molecules of carbon dioxide. In the sub-reaction, both 2-oxoglutarate and L
      arginine were mono-oxygenated to yield succinate plus carbon dioxide and L
      hydroxyarginine, respectively, the latter being further transformed to guanidine
      and L-delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate. We propose a dual-circuit mechanism for
      the entire reaction, in which the binding of L-arginine and 2-oxoglutarate in a
      Schiff-base structure generates a common intermediate for two reactions.

PMID- 1445292
TI  - Double antenna structure of chicken prolactin receptor deduced from the cDNA
      sequence.
AB  - Chicken prolactin receptor (cPRLR) deciphered from the cDNA sequence showed a
      unique double antenna structure in its extracellular domain. The predicted cPRLR
      preprotein was composed of 831 amino acids and contained a signal peptide and a
      transmembrane region. The extracellular domain comprised 438 residues, and was
      divided into two tandemly repeated, highly homologous units, each of which
      corresponded to the extracellular domains of mammalian prolactin receptors. Both
      extracellular units of cPRLR possessed two structural features characteristic of
      the ligand binding units of cytokine/prolactin receptor family, namely two pairs
      of cysteine residues and a WSXWS motif. These findings strongly suggest that
      cPRLR contains two repeated ligand binding units, that is a double antenna
      structure. The cPRLR gene is expressed in a wide range of tissues of laying hen.

PMID- 1445293
TI  - Fatty acid-enhanced binding of flavin mononucleotide to bacterial luciferase
      measured by steady-state fluorescence.
AB  - Bacterial luciferase catalyzes the oxidation of reduced flavin mononucleotide and
      tetradecanal resulting in the emission of light. We have investigated the
      interactions of a recombinant luciferase from a terrestrial bacterium Xenorhabdus
      luminescens with the reaction products, FMN and myristic acid, using steady-state
      fluorescence spectroscopy. Quenching of the intrinsic fluorescence and FMN
      fluorescence on binding of FMN to luciferase was found to be greatly stimulated
      in the presence of myristic acid, corresponding to a reduction of more than 30
      fold in the FMN dissociation constant of the enzyme. In addition, the FMN
      luciferase complex exhibits distinct fatty acid-dependent fluorescence
      properties. These results indicate that luciferase forms a ternary complex with
      FMN and myristic acid with a significantly different conformation from that of
      the binary FMN-luciferase complex.

PMID- 1445294
TI  - Enhancing effect of wortmannin on muscarinic stimulation of phospholipase D in
      rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells.
AB  - Wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), enhanced
      carbachol-induced formation of [3H]phosphatidylethanol ([3H]PEt), a marker of
      phospholipase D (PLD) activity, in [3H]palmitic acid-labeled PC12 cells. The
      apparent EC50 value was 1.5 microM, and the effect was maximal at 3 microM and
      slightly attenuated at higher concentration. Wortmannin alone had no significant
      effect on [3H]PEt formation. The enhancing effect of wortmannin was observed at
      the initial increasing phase of [3H]PEt formation but not at the subsequent
      plateau phase. Wortmannin enhanced also phorbol ester-induced PLD activation.
      Although the precise mechanism remains to be clarified, these results suggest
      that MLCK may be involved in PLD regulation in PC12 cells.

PMID- 1445295
TI  - Structural analysis of human pyruvate kinase L-gene and identification of the
      promoter activity in erythroid cells.
AB  - The human pyruvate kinase (PK) L-gene is organized in 12 exons over 9.5
      kilobases, and the first and second exons are specifically transcribed to the R-
      and L-type PK mRNA. The 5'-flanking region upstream the first exon has two CAC
      boxes and four GATA motifs within 250 bp from the translational initiation codon.
      Comparison with the rat L-gene revealed four well-conserved elements in the
      region. The transient transfection demonstrated that the 270-bp upstream region
      was a powerful promoter in K562 cells, whereas deletion of the distal 150-bp
      sequences, which included three GATA motifs, resulted in drastic reduction of the
      activity. When the hypersensitive site 2 of the human beta-globin gene locus was
      joined to the promoter, the activity of the proximal 120-bp region was enhanced.
      We concluded that the proximal 120-bp region had a basal promoter activity and
      that the distal 150-bp region acted as an enhancer in erythroid cells.

PMID- 1445296
TI  - Cloning of a human DNA sequence that restores expression of hepatic functions in
      a dedifferentiated rat hepatoma cell.
AB  - In a study of the regulation of gene expression in liver cells, a strain of
      dedifferentiated cells (C2) derived from the rat hepatoma line H4IIEC3 was
      transfected with DNA from human liver. After growth of these C2 variants in a
      glucose-free medium, revertants were selected which were characterized by the
      expression of a complete set of liver functions. A 4.3 kb human DNA sequence was
      detected with an Alu sequence probe in cells of four independent revertant clones
      and was shown to be an extrachromosomal, covalently closed duplex DNA. This
      molecule, called HALF1 for reversion inducing sequence, was cloned and
      transfected into C2 cells. Analyses of the transfectants indicated a correlation
      between the introduction of this cloned genomic human DNA sequence and the
      recovery of hepatic traits.

PMID- 1445297
TI  - Cell killing and induction of manganous superoxide dismutase by tumor necrosis
      factor-alpha is mediated by lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid.
AB  - The signalling pathways utilized by tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF) to elicit its
      actions have been examined in TA1 adipogenic cells. A role for lipoxygenase
      metabolites of arachidonic acid as mediators of TNF action in the induction of c
      fos has been described. In this paper we report that acute cytotoxicity elicited
      by TNF, in the presence of cycloheximide (CHX), also utilizes this pathway since
      inhibitors of lipoxygenase action fully prevent TNF/CHX killing of several cell
      lines. Our data reveal that TNF induction of manganous superoxide dismutase
      (MnSOD) is also dependent upon lipoxygenase activity. Radical scavengers such as
      NAC and PDTC prevent TNF/CHX-induced cell killing and reduce MnSOD induction by
      TNF. Therefore, cell death by TNF/CHX treatment occurs via a pathway in which
      lipoxygenase products directly or indirectly operate via the generation of
      superoxide anions.

PMID- 1445298
TI  - Regulation of human cardiac myosin heavy chain genes: the effect of
      catecholamine.
AB  - The 5'-flanking regions of the alpha- and beta-cardiac myosin heavy chain (MyHC)
      genes were excised from the cosmid human genomic clones using Hind III and Xbal
      for the alpha-MyHC gene, and the Hind III and Hind III sites for the beta-MyHC
      gene. These fragments were linked to chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT)
      vector to generate a chimeric fusion gene. These fusion genes were subsequently
      transfected to neonatal rat cardiac cultured cells to analyze the CAT activity.
      The alpha-MyHC gene is preferentially expressed as compared to the beta-MyHC. In
      the presence of norepinephrine (NE) the beta-MyHC gene is remarkably induced
      (within 24 hours following the addition of norepinephrine to the cardiocyte
      culture). However, the alpha-MyHC is also induced. Specific alpha andrenergic
      antagonists such as terazosin (Tz) partially suppressed both the alpha- and beta
      MyHC genes as revealed by the CAT activity. These findings suggest that
      catecholamine does activate the human cardiac MyHC genes but does not
      differentiate the specific expression of either the alpha- or beta-MyHC genes.

PMID- 1445299
TI  - Glycosylation of annexin I and annexin II.
AB  - Human placental annexin I and annexin II were shown to be glycosylated by one
      dimensional affinity blotting with the lectin concanavalin A, which recognizes D
      mannose and D-glucose residues. Further evidence that annexin I and annexin II
      are glycosylated was provided by the finding that these proteins incorporated D
      [2,6-3H]mannose and D-[6-3H]glucose when they were biosynthesized by the human
      squamous carcinoma cell line SqCC/Y1. Annexin I and annexin II could be rapidly
      purified from a human placental membrane extract by concanavalin A-Sepharose,
      which indicated that these proteins contain two biantennary mannosyl residues.

PMID- 1445300
TI  - Rapid structural changes in nerve fibers evoked by electric current pulses.
AB  - Using the garfish olfactory nerve, the time-courses of lateral expansion
      (swelling) and birefringence changes in nerve fibers have been examined at the
      site of application of electric current pulses. The effects of various chemical
      agents on these non-electrical signs of rapid structural changes in the nerve
      fibers have been examined. These studies have shown that a pulse of outwardly
      directed current through the superficial layer evokes a fast increase, followed
      by a slow, gradual increase, in the water-content of the nerve fibers. The full
      significance of these findings in studies of the process of nerve excitation is
      discussed.

PMID- 1445301
TI  - Intracellular signal transduction for interleukin-1 beta-induced endothelin
      production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
AB  - The authors investigated the intracellular signal transduction for interleukin
      (IL)-1 beta-induced endothelin (ET) production by endothelial cells from cultured
      human umbilical vein (HUVEC). Cultured HUVEC released immunoreactive (iR)-ET into
      the media in a time-dependent manner and a significant increase of iR-ET
      production was observed by the addition of IL-1 beta. The stimulating effect of
      IL-1 beta on iR-ET production was respectively inhibited by protein kinase C (C
      kinase) inhibitor (H-7), Ca-calmodulin inhibitor (W-7), cyclic AMP-dependent
      protein kinase (A kinase) inhibitor (H-8) and tyrosine kinase inhibitor
      (genistain) in a dose-dependent fashion. The data suggested that intracellular
      signal transduction for IL-1 beta-induced iR-ET production were via such pathways
      as C kinase, A kinase, Ca-calmodulin and tyrosine kinase in combination or
      independently, though possible mediation by other pathways cannot be ruled out.

PMID- 1445302
TI  - Isolation and primary structure of urotensin II from the brain of a tetrapod, the
      frog Rana ridibunda.
AB  - A peptide related to urotensin II has been isolated in pure form from an extract
      of the brain of the European green frog, Rana ridibunda. The primary structure of
      the peptide was established as Ala-Gly-Asn-Leu-Ser-Glu-Cys-Phe-Trp-Lys-Tyr-Cys
      Val and this sequence was confirmed by chemical synthesis. Frog urotensin II
      contains an additional amino acid residue compared with fish urotensin II
      peptides but the structure of the cyclic region of the molecule has been fully
      conserved. The data show that urotensin II is not confined to the caudal
      neurosecretory system of fish but is present in the central nervous system of a
      tetrapod.

PMID- 1445303
TI  - NG-monomethyl-L-arginine causes nitric oxide synthesis in isolated arterial
      rings: trouble in paradise.
AB  - Arginine analogs are commonly used as inhibitors of the synthesis of endothelium
      derived relaxing factor, nitric oxide. However, their effect on nitric oxide
      levels is rarely measured. Using a chemiluminescence assay for nitric oxide, we
      found that NG-monomethyl-L-arginine enhanced, rather than reduced, nitric oxide
      synthesis in pulmonary arterial and aortic rings. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine
      inhibited relaxation to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator A23187 in aortic
      but not pulmonary arterial rings. In contrast, N omega-nitro-L-arginine did not
      stimulate nitric oxide synthesis and it inhibited relaxation to A23187 in all
      rings. We conclude that NG-monomethyl-L-arginine is a partial agonist for nitric
      oxide synthesis.

PMID- 1445304
TI  - Comparison of the aflatoxin B1-8,9-epoxide conjugating activities of two
      bacterially expressed alpha class glutathione S-transferase isozymes from mouse
      and rat.
AB  - The complementary DNAs of rat glutathione S-transferase (GST, EC 2.5.1.18) Yc1
      and of mouse Yc were expressed from a prokaryotic expression vector in E. coli.
      The purified proteins were analyzed for their activity toward aflatoxin B1-8,9
      epoxide (AFBO), the reactive intermediate of the fungal mycotoxin aflatoxin B1
      (AFB). The mouse Yc isozyme had about 50-fold higher conjugating activity toward
      AFBO than the rat Yc1 isozyme (144 nmol/mg/min versus 3.3 nmol/mg/min). The rat
      Yc1 isozyme had specific activities toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, cumene
      hydroperoxide and ethacrynic acid of 10.7, 0.98 and 0.92 mumol/mg/min,
      respectively, whereas the mouse Yc isozyme had specific activities of 5.7, 2.1
      and 0.1 mumol/mg/min for these substrates, respectively. These data provide
      further support for the hypothesis that the constitutive presence of the alpha
      class GST Yc isozyme in mouse liver protects mice from the hepatocarcinogenic
      effects of aflatoxin B1.

PMID- 1445305
TI  - Reduction-driven polypeptide folding by the delta Tt mechanism.
AB  - Poly(Gly-Val-Gly-Val-Pro), i.e., poly(GVGVP), exhibits composition and solute
      dependence of Tt, the temperature of the inverse temperature transition at which
      hydrophobic folding and assembly occur on raising the temperature. Importantly, a
      means whereby the value of Tt is lowered from above to below the working
      temperature becomes an isothermal means of driving folding and assembly, i.e., of
      achieving free energy transduction. Using poly[0.73(GVGVP),0.27(GK[NMeN]GVP)]
      where [NMeN] indicates N-methyl nicotinamide attached to the epsilon-NH2 of the
      Lys(K) residue, chemical and electrochemical reductions are found to remarkably
      lower the value of Tt; reduction can drive hydrophobic folding and assembly as
      effectively as decreasing ionization. Changing the redox state of a protein
      becomes yet another means of achieving free energy transduction by the delta Tt
      mechanism.

PMID- 1445306
TI  - Cholesterol ozonation products as biomarkers for ozone exposure in rats.
AB  - Cholesterol, 1, which is present in both the lung lining fluid and cell membranes
      of lung tissue, reacts with ozone in aqueous systems to give 3 beta-hydroxy-5-oxo
      5,6-secocholestan-6-al (2) as the major product. Reaction of 2 with 2,4
      dinitrophenyl hydrazine (DNPH) in aqueous solutions, liposomes or lung extracts
      affords the anti and syn DNPH derivatives of 2 (3b and 3c) and of the
      rearrangement product 3,5-dihydroxy-B-norcholestane-6-carboxaldehyde (3a). These
      derivatives also are detected in lung tissue extracts from rats exposed to 1.3
      ppm ozone for 12 hr.

PMID- 1445307
TI  - Non-peptidic anti-AIDS agents: inhibition of HIV-1 proteinase by disulfonates.
AB  - Based upon an earlier observation that sodium docosanedioate (NaO2C-(CH2)20
      CO2NA) weakly inhibits HIV-1 proteinase (IC50 12 microM), we have identified a
      class of more potent inhibitors (sulfonic acids) of this enzyme which are
      likewise dianionic at pH 5-6.5. Many of the compounds were moderately strong
      inhibitors of the enzyme (IC50 40nM-10 microM) and some have previously been
      shown to have anti-HIV activity in lymphocytes. Proteinase inhibition was
      dependent on the separation between sulfonate/carboxylate substituents,
      consistent with the hypothesis that negative charged ends of an inhibitor might
      form ionic bonds with Arg 8 and Arg 108 located at either end of the substrate
      binding groove of the enzyme. The binding mode remains to be established by
      structure elucidation. Results for enzyme inhibition are presented along with
      structure-activity relationships and evidence for pH dependent inhibition. The
      general observations reported here may be useful for developing more potent and
      selective non-peptidic proteinase inhibitors.

PMID- 1445308
TI  - Flavones are inhibitors of HIV-1 proteinase.
AB  - Substituted gamma-chromones were found to weakly inhibit HIV-1 proteinase, an
      important enzyme in the replication and processing of the AIDS virus. Chromones
      bearing hydroxyl substituents and a phenolic group at the 2-position (flavones)
      were the most active compounds and structure-activity relationships for a limited
      series of flavone inhibitors are presented. Dixon plots are reported and a
      possible mechanism for flavone-induced inhibition is proposed. The results are
      also compared with those for some structurally related non-peptidic inhibitors of
      HIV-1 proteinase. Since some flavonoid compounds have already been shown to have
      antiviral activity against AIDS, the present observations of anti-HIV-1
      proteinase activity may be particularly significant.

PMID- 1445309
TI  - Heat stress of cultured GC cells enhances triiodothyronine-induced growth hormone
      production by action within the 5'-flanking region of the rat growth hormone
      gene.
AB  - We studied the effect of incubation at 41 C on a clone of GC cells that had
      previously been stably transfected with a gene construct, pGHXGPT, containing 
      1800 to +8 of the rat growth hormone promoter fused to the structural gene for E.
      Coli xanthine guanine phosphoribosyl-transferase. The effect of incubation of the
      clone containing pGHXGPT at 41 C was to enhance triiodothyronine induction of
      growth hormone secretion (2-fold, p < 0.01) and of xanthine quanine
      phosphoribosyl-transferase activity (3-fold, p < 0.01). We conclude that the
      increase in triiodothyronine-induced growth hormone production during heat stress
      occurs by stimulation of the growth hormone promoter.

PMID- 1445310
TI  - Processing of atriopeptin prohormone by nonmyocytic atrial cells.
AB  - Atriopeptin (AP) is synthesized and stored in the mammalian atria as a 126 amino
      acid prohormone (AP126). Upon secretion, the prohormone undergoes site specific
      proteolysis within the atria to yield the carboxyl terminal 28 amino acid hormone
      (AP28). The atrial cell responsible for AP126 bioactivation has not yet been
      determined. Primary neonatal rat atrial cell cultures were generated with and
      without depletion of nonmyocytic cells. The molecular form of AP detected in the
      conditioned media of mixed cultures was determined to be AP126. Addition of
      dexamethasone to these cultures resulted in the appearance of a peptide that co
      migrated with AP28. In contrast, no AP126 processing was detected in the
      conditioned media of myocyte enriched cultures when grown in the presence of
      dexamethasone. Readdition of nonmyocytic atrial cells to myocyte enriched
      cultures successfully reconstituted the steroid induced AP126 processing.
      Incubation of recombinant AP126argarg with nonmyocytic atrial cell cultures
      resulted in the generation of AP28argarg. We conclude that a nonmyocytic atrial
      cell is responsible for AP126 processing in vitro.

PMID- 1445311
TI  - N epsilon(gamma-glutamyl)lysine crosslinks in the blood clot of the horseshoe
      crab, Limulus polyphemus.
AB  - Clots were allowed to form in samples of whole blood taken from the American
      horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, in the absence and presence of
      dansylcadaverine (16), and were analyzed for their contents of N epsilon(gamma
      glutamyl)lysine and gamma-glutamyl-dansylcadaverine. Clots obtained without
      dansylcadaverine yielded significant amounts of N epsilon(gamma-glutamyl)lysine
      product. Clots formed in the presence of dansylcadaverine yielded only gamma
      glutamyl-dansylcadaverine. Formation of these products reflects on the activity
      of transglutaminase released from the blood cells during coagulation.

PMID- 1445312
TI  - A peptide sequence on carcinoembryonic antigen binds to a 80kD protein on Kupffer
      cells.
AB  - Clearance of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) from the circulation is by binding to
      Kupffer cells in the liver. We have shown that CEA binding to Kupffer cells
      occurs via a peptide sequence YPELPK representing amino acids 107-112 of the CEA
      sequence. This peptide sequence is located in the region between the N-terminal
      and the first immunoglobulin like loop domain. Using native CEA and peptides
      containing this sequence complexed with a heterobifunctional crosslinking agent
      and ligand blotting with biotinylated CEA and NCA we have shown binding to an
      80kD protein on the Kupffer cell surface. This binding protein may be important
      in the development of hepatic metastases.

PMID- 1445313
TI  - Interaction of dopamine-beta-monooxygenase with chromaffin granule membrane
      lipids.
AB  - The interaction between bovine adrenal medullary dopamine-beta-monooxygenase and
      liposomes from chromaffin granule membrane lipids as a function of pH, lipid and
      salt concentration was studied by ultracentrifugation. Efficient adsorption of
      dopamine-beta-monooxygenase to liposomes occurs in the pH range 5.0-6.5 and at
      low ionic strength. The adsorption was not detected in the case of apoenzyme. The
      membrane dopamine-beta-monooxygenase forms a complex with liposomes more
      effective than soluble does. The data obtained lead to certain conclusions about
      the specificity of complex between the enzyme and liposomes.

PMID- 1445314
TI  - Determination of hippocampal protein kinase C using a frozen tissue method:
      comparison of synaptosomal and total activity in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice.
AB  - A slow freeze/fast thaw tissue preparation gave analogous hippocampal protein
      kinase C (PKC) activity to a fresh tissue preparation in both C57BL/6 and DBA/2
      mice. Both the frozen and fresh preparations demonstrated a 28% reduction in
      membrane-bound PKC activity in DBA compared to C57 mice which supports our
      previous findings (14). This DBA-associated reduction was found only in total PKC
      and not synaptosomal PKC activity suggesting that the PKC difference between C57
      and DBA mice may be primarily postsynaptic. This investigation shows that (1) PKC
      activity obtained from a slow freeze/fast thaw preparation is analogous to
      activity obtained from fresh tissue and (2) analysis of PKC activity in both a
      total and synaptosomal preparation may provide additional characterization of PKC
      differences such as that observed between C57 and DBA mice.

PMID- 1445315
TI  - The binding of plasminogen fragments to cultured human umbilical vein endothelial
      cells.
AB  - Glu-plasminogen, kringle 1-5, kringle 1-3, and miniplasminogen exhibited strong
      binding to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). On the other hand, no
      significant binding was obtained with microplasminogen and kringle 4. Kringle 1-5
      and miniplasminogen, which both contained kringle 5, specifically inhibited the
      binding of plasminogen to HUVEC while kringle 1-3 did not. The results implied
      plasminogen molecule contained at least two binding sites, with which it
      interacted HUVEC. The stronger binding site was located in kringle 5 and the
      weaker one was in kringle 1-3. Kringle 4 and the active site domain exhibited no
      significant binding to HUVEC. The interaction of plasminogen with HUVEC is mainly
      through binding site on kringle 5.

PMID- 1445316
TI  - Single-stranded DNA of 5'-upstream region of the rolC gene interacts with nuclear
      proteins of carrot cell cultures.
AB  - Using the gel retardation assay, proteins of carrot cells capable of binding to a
      single-stranded DNA of 5'-upstream region of the rolC gene were found. From
      competition experiments, these DNA-protein interactions were specific to single
      stranded nucleotide sequence of Ava S fragment (from -94 bp to +23 bp relative to
      the transcription initiation site). Methylation interference experiments showed
      that G residue at the position of -41 bases on the bottom strand was important
      for DNA-protein binding. This residue was located between CAAT box and TATAA box.
      Such specific interaction between single-stranded DNA and nuclear proteins may
      play a role in transcription by RNA polymerase II.

PMID- 1445317
TI  - Oxidation of nitric oxide by oxygen in biological systems monitored by
      porphyrinic sensor.
AB  - A porphyrinic sensor was used to monitor the reaction of nitric oxide (NO) with
      oxygen. In the absence of biological material, the reaction rate is independent
      of the initial concentration of NO (zero order) and depends only on O2
      concentration (first order). At physiologic concentration of NO and O2, the half
      life of nitric oxide is in order of minutes and decreased to seconds only in the
      presence of biological material (intact cells).

PMID- 1445318
TI  - Selective endothelial growth inhibition by tetracyclines that inhibit
      collagenase.
AB  - The potential of angiogenesis inhibitors as therapy for human diseases is limited
      by a lack of clinically available agents. We investigated the mechanism of the
      anti-angiogenesis effects of minocycline, a commonly used drug, and several
      derivatives. Endothelial cell proliferation was inhibited by several of these
      compounds. We found that inhibition was associated with inhibition of
      collagenase, did not require antibiotic activity, and was not related to
      cytotoxicity. Other microvessel-associated cells were unaffected. This
      endothelial antiproliferative effect is a potential mechanism of the anti
      angiogenic activity of minocycline.

PMID- 1445319
TI  - Kinetics of the sodium-dependent glutamine transporter in human intestinal cell
      confluent monolayers.
AB  - The intestinal epithelium metabolism of glutamine plays a critical role in inter
      organ nitrogen flow. Although it is known that glutamine is the primary oxidative
      energy source and nucleotide precursor in intestinal cells, the luminal uptake of
      glutamine by the apical surface of enterocytes is poorly understood. In this
      study we have uncovered the sodium-dependent transporter system responsible for L
      glutamine uptake by the apical membrane of a human intestinal epithelial cell
      line. The sodium-dependent Michaelis constant (Km) = 247 +/- 45 microM glutamine,
      and Jmax = 4.44 +/- 0.65 x 10(-9) mole min-1(mg protein)-1 (37 degrees C).
      Glutamine shares the transporter with alanine, as demonstrated by unlabeled
      glutamine inhibition of [3H]alanine uptake kinetics with a purely competitive
      type inhibition pattern, and glutamine inhibition Ki = 205 +/- 18 microM by Dixon
      analysis. The inhibition pattern for a series of amino acid analogs indicated
      that this intestinal apical membrane sodium-dependent transporter for glutamine
      is distinct from any other transport system found in membranes of non-intestinal
      cells.

PMID- 1445320
TI  - Casein kinase II-catalysed phosphorylation of calmodulin is altered by amino acid
      deletions in the central helix of calmodulin.
AB  - Calmodulin is phosphorylated by casein kinase II on Thr-79, Ser-81, Ser-101 and
      Thr-117. To determine the consensus sequences for casein kinase II in intact
      calmodulin, we examined casein kinase II-mediated phosphorylation of engineered
      calmodulins with 1-4 deletions in the central helical region (positions 81-84).
      Total casein kinase II-catalyzed phosphate incorporation into all deleted
      calmodulins was similar to control calmodulin. Neither CaM delta 84 (Glu-84
      deleted) nor CaM delta 81-84 (Ser-81 to Glu-84 deleted) has phosphate
      incorporated into Thr-79 or Ser-81, but both exhibit increased phosphorylation of
      residues Ser-101 and Thr-117. These data suggest that phosphoserine in the +2
      position may be a specificity determinant for casein kinase II in intact proteins
      and/or secondary structures are important in substrate recognition by casein
      kinase II.

PMID- 1445321
TI  - Tetracyclines inhibit intracellular muscle proteolysis in vitro.
AB  - Tetracycline antibiotics (TETs) have a recently discovered novel action:
      inhibition of extracellular metalloproteinase activity, especially that of
      collagenase and gelatinase. This property, now confirmed in 8 different
      laboratories using > 40 tissue sources, includes natural and semi-synthetic TETs
      as well as a chemically modified TET (CMT) devoid of antimicrobial activity. We
      have used 14C-Tyr biosynthetically labelled intracellular proteins in L-6
      myoblast culture as a test system to assess intracellular proteolysis. Starvation
      accelerates proteolysis, which can be suppressed by agents such as insulin or
      serum. Minocycline, doxycycline, and CMT all retarded the rate of intracellular
      protein degradation in a dose dependent manner. These agents also demonstrated
      marked synergism with insulin. A CMT derivative (pyrazole) stripped of one of its
      metal chelation sites and lacking anti-collagenase activity, also lost its
      antiproteolytic effect. CMT at physiologic concentrations (< or = 5
      micrograms/ml) had no effect on protein synthesis, but at 15 micrograms/ml
      (pharmacologic), a suppressive effect was noted. These findings demonstrate that
      TETs can inhibit protein degradation as well as synthesis in a mammalian muscle
      derived cell line.

PMID- 1445322
TI  - Selective inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase activities by H2O2 and
      vanadate in vitro.
AB  - Acute (10-30 min) treatment of intact rat hepatoma (Fao) cells with H2O2,
      inhibits in vivo protein tyrosine phosphatase activity. Vanadate markedly
      potentiates this effect although it has only trivial effects of its own. Here we
      show that H2O2 inhibits a protein tyrosine phosphatase activity, but not a p
      nitro phenyl phosphate hydrolysing activity, in cytosolic extracts of these
      cells. This effect is completely reversed by 10 mM dithiothreitol. Other oxidants
      have similar inhibitory effects. Vanadate inhibits the protein tyrosine
      phosphatase activity in vitro, and its effects are additive with those of H2O2.
      These findings suggest that H2O2 and vanadate interact with the protein tyrosine
      phosphatases at two independent sites. They also suggest that in intact cells
      H2O2 has a direct inhibitory effect on protein tyrosine phosphatase activity and
      an indirect effect of facilitating the entry of vanadate.

PMID- 1445323
TI  - Identification of sialic acids in cell adhesion molecule, contact site A from
      Dictyostelium discoideum.
AB  - It has been believed that Dictyostelium discoideum cell membranes contain no
      sialic acid. In this study, however, we found that contact site A, the cell
      adhesion molecule of D. discoideum, is a major glycoprotein containing sialic
      acids. This suggests that sialic acid in non-reducing terminal plays an important
      role in the cell adhesion in which contact site A is involved.

PMID- 1445324
TI  - Insulin and lipogenesis in rat adipocytes. I. Effect of insulin incubation on
      lipid synthesis by isolated rat adipocytes.
AB  - To assess the effect of insulin on lipid synthesis in isolated rat adipocytes,
      cells were preincubated for 3 h with high concentrations (16.6 nM) of the hormone
      and lipogenesis measured through 14C-acetate incorporation into lipids, analyzing
      at the same time the activity of some lipogenic enzymes. It was found that
      insulin induced not only a decrease in the number of insulin receptors but a 30%
      loss in basal and insulin-stimulated acetate incorporation into total lipids as
      well as a decrease in the activities of enzymes related to the novo fatty acid
      synthesis pathway as malic enzyme and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

PMID- 1445325
TI  - Molecular cloning in Escherichia coli, expression, and nucleotide sequence of the
      gene for the ethylene-forming enzyme of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola
      PK2.
AB  - The gene for the ethylene-forming enzyme of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola
      PK2 was found to be encoded by an indigenous plasmid, designated pPSP1. The gene
      for the ethylene-forming enzyme was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli
      JM109. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the clone revealed an open reading frame
      that encodes 350 amino acids (mol. wt. 39,444). In a comparison with other
      proteins, the homology score for the entire amino-acid sequence of the ethylene
      forming enzyme of Pseudomonas syringae versus ethylene-forming enzymes from
      plants and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases was low. However, functionally
      significant regions are conserved.

PMID- 1445326
TI  - A 16 amino acid synthetic peptide derived from human C3d triggers proliferation
      and specific tyrosine phosphorylation of transformed CR2-positive human
      lymphocytes and of normal resting B lymphocytes.
AB  - We demonstrate herein that p16, a 16 amino acid synthetic peptide derived from
      human C3d, which carried LYNVEA sequence of C3d reacting with CR2 and C3d present
      in trypsin-cleaved C3, triggered "in vitro" and "in vivo" phosphorylations and
      "in vitro" proliferation of human B lymphocytes, depending on the stage of cell
      differentiation. Indeed, p16 and C3dT induced "in vivo" tyrosine phosphorylation
      of pp105 and "in vitro" proliferation only of CR2-positive and not of CR2
      negative cell lines. In addition, p16 and C3dT also induced "in vivo" tyrosine
      phosphorylation of pp100 and "in vitro" proliferation of only small dense resting
      B lymphocytes and not other B lymphocyte subpopulations nor T lymphocytes. These
      data suggest that induction of pp100 and pp105 phosphorylation by p16 and C3dT
      could represent an early event associated with expression of CR2 in the
      regulation of human B lymphocyte proliferation.

PMID- 1445327
TI  - HIV-1 protease inhibitors containing statine: inhibitory potency and antiviral
      activity.
AB  - Several series of chemically different inhibitors of the HIV-1 aspartyl protease
      have been described. Nevertheless despite the high in vitro potency showed, in
      most cases these inhibitors are unable to inhibit viral replication in infected
      cells. Penetration of the inhibitors across the cell membrane might account for
      their low antiviral activity. The relationship between inhibitory potency,
      antiviral activity and chemical structures of a series of oligopeptides
      containing statine or statine derivatives are presented here.

PMID- 1445328
TI  - Statine based tripeptides as potent inhibitors of HIV-1 replication.
AB  - Starting from highly potent HIV-1 protease pepstatine analog inhibitors, we have
      tried to find the minimum consensus sequence which is necessary to conserve anti
      protease potency and antiviral activity. We describe here some statine based
      tripeptides which exhibit high affinity for the protease and are able to inhibit
      the reproductive cycle of HIV-1 in MT-4-infected cells.

PMID- 1445329
TI  - Production and ligand-binding characteristics of the soluble form of murine
      erythropoietin receptor.
AB  - A recombinant soluble form (sEPO-R) of erythropoietin (EPO) receptor (EPO-R) was
      produced by Chinese hamster ovary cells and isolated in high yield with the EPO
      fixed gel. Ligand binding assays were done using three methods; precipitation of
      sEPO-R radiolabeled EPO complex and competition of sEPO-R for the binding of
      radiolabeled EPO with the cellular EPO-R. The results showed a Kd of 17 nM which
      was much lower than those for cellular EPO-R. One N-glycosylation site exists in
      sEPO-R but the glycosylation did not affect the binding affinity to EPO. A
      complex with a molecular size that corresponded to a 1:1 complex of EPO and sEPO
      R was detected.

PMID- 1445330
TI  - Preferential cyclization of 2,3(S):22(S),23-dioxidosqualene by mammalian 2,3
      oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase.
AB  - Kinetic studies on the cyclization of 2,3(S)-oxido and 2,3(S):22(S),23
      dioxido[14C]squalene catalyzed by liver oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase revealed
      a specificity (in terms of V/Km) of the enzyme for the diepoxide. The specificity
      ratio was dependent on the enzyme preparation, i.e. purified or microsomal, and
      was highest (about 5) with the microsomal enzyme in the presence of supernatant
      protein factors. These results explain why, in the presence of cyclase
      inhibitors, the squalene epoxides can be channeled into a cholesterol
      biosynthesis regulatory pathway via 24(S),25-epoxylanosterol and 24(S),25
      epoxycholesterol.

PMID- 1445331
TI  - Sequence and methylation in the beta/A4 region of the rabbit amyloid precursor
      protein gene.
AB  - Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the accumulation of the beta/A4 fragment
      of the amyloid precursor protein in the hippocampal regions of the brain. We
      report here the isolation of genomic clones carrying exons 15, 16 and 17 of the
      beta/A4 coding region of the rabbit amyloid precursor protein gene. The complete
      sequence of these exons predicts that all three peptides are identical to their
      human counterparts. An unexpectedly high concentration of CpG dinucleotides seen
      in exon 15 were conserved and continued into the intron 15 region. MspI/HpaII
      southern blot analysis revealed the presence of a number of methylated CpG
      dinucleotides in the cloned region of the gene. These data suggest that the
      rabbit amyloid precursor protein gene could provide a new and useful model for
      the study of this important gene.

PMID- 1445332
TI  - A synthetic peptide corresponding to 86-93 of the human type I IL-1 receptor
      binds human recombinant IL-1 (alpha and beta) and inhibits IL-1 actions in vitro
      and in vivo.
AB  - A synthetic peptide corresponding to 86-93 of the human type I IL-1 receptor and
      its analogues bound human recombinant (hr) IL-1 (alpha and beta) and inhibited
      dose-dependently both Con A-stimulated proliferation of mouse spleen cells and
      hrIL-1 beta-stimulated formation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)
      positive multinucleated cells in rat bone marrow cell cultures. Furthermore, hrIL
      1 beta-induced mouse paw edema was dose-dependently inhibited by systemic
      administration (ip) of the synthetic peptide. These results suggest that one of
      the IL-1 binding sites of the human type I IL-1 receptor comes to the region of
      86-93 and the synthetic peptide having the ability to bind hrIL-1 (alpha and
      beta) blocks the biological activities of exogenous hrIL-1 beta and endogenous
      mouse IL-1.

PMID- 1445333
TI  - The measurement of activin/EDF in mouse serum: evidence for extragonadal
      production.
AB  - Many studies have shown that activin/EDF mediates local physiological events at
      various sites. In this study, the authors confirmed the presence of activin in
      mouse serum by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) monitored by a
      specific bioassay. The retention time of the active fraction in HPLC was
      identical to that of authentic activin A, and the activity was neutralized by
      follistatin. That the serum activin levels in ovariectomized and aged mice were
      decreased suggests that the serum activin was generated partly by ovary (35%),
      but also by extragonadal organs. Activin and inhibin are structurally closely
      related, and both are involved in many physiological processes including control
      of follicle stimulating hormone secretion by the pituitary. The regulation of
      serum activin, however, appeared to differ from that of inhibin.

PMID- 1445334
TI  - Identification of a highly conserved region at the 5' flank of the phospholamban
      gene.
AB  - Phospholamban is a protein that regulates the activity of the sarcoplasmic
      reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase. The rat phospholamban gene contains a single intron of
      6.5 kilobases which interrupts the 5' untranslated region. Primer extension and
      nuclease mapping analysis identified a major transcription initiation site 87
      nucleotides upstream of the first exon/intron junction. A highly conserved region
      was identified at the 5' flank of the phospholamban gene. This region contained a
      TATA motif at position -52 which bound nuclear extract, and a consensus CAAT
      motif at position -76. This highly conserved region may be important in the
      regulation of basal transcriptional activity.

PMID- 1445335
TI  - Analysis of IL-2 functional structure by multiple cysteine substitutions.
AB  - IL-2 has three cysteine residues. The cysteines at positions 58 and 105 of active
      IL-2 form an intramolecular disulfide bond while that at position 125 remains as
      a free form. To evaluate the importance of correct disulfide bond, mutant
      proteins (muteins) that have triple and double substitutions of cysteines with
      alanines, namely A58/105/125 and A58/125, were made by polymerase chain reaction
      method respectively. Thymidine incorporation assay on CTLL-2 cells showed that
      although these two muteins were only 0.5-2.0% as potent as that of wild type IL
      2, they were 50-200 fold more active than A58, a mutein that has substitution of
      cysteine at position 58 with alanine. Binding inhibition study showed that the
      relative affinity of muteins A58/125 and A58/105/125 for high affinity IL-2
      receptors was 5-25 fold higher than that of A58. These results suggest that the
      dramatic decrease in the activity of mutein A58 may result from the formation of
      an incorrect disulfide bond between the cysteines at positions 105 and 125.

PMID- 1445336
TI  - Atrial natriuretic peptide: direct effects on human red blood cell dynamics.
AB  - The ability to deform is an important feature of red blood cells (RBCs) for
      performing their function of oxygen delivery. Little is known about the hormonal
      regulation of RBC deformability. Here we report that human atrial natriuretic
      peptide (ANP) acts directly on human RBCs leading to the elevation of local
      bending fluctuations of the cell membrane. These changes are accompanied by an
      increase in the filterability of RBCs. These ANP effects were mimicked by cyclic
      GMP analogues, suggesting modulation of local membrane bending fluctuations and
      RBC filterability via a cyclic GMP-dependent pathway. The effect of ANP on the
      mechanical properties of RBCs suggests that ANP may increase the passage red
      blood cells through capillaries resulting in an improved oxygen delivery to the
      tissues.

PMID- 1445337
TI  - Elemental analysis of growth plate cartilage by synchrotron-radiation-induced X
      ray emission (SRIXE).
AB  - The elemental composition of growth plate cartilage from calf scapula has been
      studied by means of SRIXE. X-ray emission spectra were obtained from the resting,
      hypertrophic and calcified regions of cartilage; then, each element was mapped
      with a lateral definition of about 10 microns x 10 microns. Evidence was found
      for a homogeneous distribution of the elements in resting cartilage compared to
      changes in local concentration of some atoms in the hypertrophic-calcified
      tissue. In this zone Ca, Sr, Ni, Zn, S, reach the maximal concentration at the
      calcification front while Cu shows a uniform distribution. A Zn distribution
      similar to that of the Zn-containing enzyme alkaline phosphatase, the key enzyme
      of calcification, is found.

PMID- 1445338
TI  - Stimulation of phospholipase C by a mutationally activated G protein alpha 16
      subunit.
AB  - Alpha 16, a member of the alpha q subfamily of G protein alpha subunits, was
      recently identified in human hematopoietic cells. In order to elucidate the
      function of this novel alpha subunit, we cloned and mutagenized its cDNA to
      obtain a constitutively active protein. COS-1 cells were transfected with both
      wild-type and mutant cDNAs. Expression was confirmed by immunoblotting using a
      rabbit antiserum raised against the C-terminal decapeptide of alpha 16. The
      constitutively activated mutant alpha 16-R186C caused a two-fold increase in the
      formation of inositol trisphosphate in intact COS-1 cells, while the wild-type
      alpha 16 subunit had no effect. We conclude that alpha 16 is involved in coupling
      cell surface receptors of human hematopoietic cells to stimulation of
      phospholipase C.

PMID- 1445339
TI  - Identification and preliminary characterization of two human digitalis-like
      substances that are structurally related to digoxin and ouabain.
AB  - In order to characterize the structure of endogenous digitalis-like
      immunoreactive factor (DLIF), we utilized peritoneal dialysis fluid from patients
      with chronic renal failure as a source of endogenous digitalis-like
      immunoreactive factor (DLIF), and subjected it to one-step ion exchange
      chromatography, followed by one step reverse HPLC. Crude dialysis fluid contained
      0.09 ng/ml of DLIF, and using Amberlite XAD-2 chromatography we extracted 110 ng
      of DLIF from 800 ml of dialysis fluid. By applying this partially purified DLIF
      to our HPLC system, we discerned three peaks of DLIF activity, with retention
      times of 34, 58 and 63 minutes. The first peak overlapped the elution profile of
      ouabain, and the third peak co-eluted precisely with digoxin. The second DLIF
      peak was not in proximity to any of the digitalis-like markers employed. Thus,
      our results indicate that DLIF isolated from peritoneal dialysis fluid exists in
      three distinct forms, one of which resembles ouabain, and one which is identical
      to digoxin.

PMID- 1445340
TI  - [125I]EXP985: a highly potent and specific nonpeptide radioligand antagonist for
      the AT1 angiotensin receptor.
AB  - [125I]EXP985 is the first nonpeptide radioligand with high specific activity for
      the AT1 angiotensin receptor. The biochemical and pharmacological profiles of
      this ligand were determined using either ligand-receptor binding techniques in
      rat adrenal cortical microsomes or cellular Ca2+ mobilization in rat smooth
      muscle cells. Specific binding with 0.1 nM [125I]EXP985 increased slowly with
      time reaching an equilibrium at 60 min of incubation (22 degrees C). Scatchard
      analysis of the inhibition/binding data revealed a single class of binding sites
      having a Kd of 1.49 +/- 0.06 nM and a Bmax of 3.6 +/- 0.1 pmol/mg protein. These
      sites were saturable and the ligand-receptor complex dissociated with a t1/2 of
      58 min. The binding was inhibited by Ang peptides with the following order of
      potency and IC50 (nM): Ang II (3.7) > Ang III (69) > Ang I (3650), and by the
      nonpeptide AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan, with an IC50 of 3.2 nM. PD123177,
      an AT2 selective antagonist, showed minimal inhibitory effect. Specific binding
      of [125I]EXP985 was found on rat aortic smooth cells. Ang II-induced Ca2+
      mobilization in these cells was blocked by EXP985 in a noncompetitive manner.
      These data show that [125I]EXP985 (or its unlabeled) is a potent and highly
      specific radioligand or noncompetitive antagonist which represents a novel tool
      to further our understanding of the biochemistry of AT1 receptors.

PMID- 1445341
TI  - Differential regulation of phospholipase A2 by cytokines inhibiting bone
      formation and mineralization.
AB  - Treatment of fetal rat calvarial cells with interleukin-1 alpha, tumor necrosis
      factor-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta 1, or group II phospholipase A2
      inhibits the number of bone nodules formed in long-term cultures. These same
      mediators also inhibit the mineralization of fully developed bone nodules in a
      time and dose-dependent fashion. The pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1
      alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha cause a dose-dependent induction of rat
      calvarial cell phospholipase A2-II mRNA levels, suggesting that their effects on
      bone formation may be mediated indirectly by activation of this enzyme. In
      contrast, transforming growth factor-beta 1, which has more potent effects on
      bone formation than interleukin-1 alpha or tumor necrosis factor-alpha,
      suppresses basal levels of phospholipase A2-II mRNA, indicating a different
      mechanism of action for this cytokine.

PMID- 1445342
TI  - Escherichia coli genes involved in cell survival during dormancy: role of
      oxidative stress.
AB  - When Escherichia coli cells reach stationary phase of growth, specific gene
      products are synthesized that protect cells while dormant. "Aged" cells may
      remain viable in cultures for years. For example, agar cultures stored for 38
      years still had more than 10(5) viable cells/ml. However, when specific mutants
      were cultured, the population of these mutants dropped sharply after 4-10 days.
      This defect is termed "Stationary-Phase-Death". Each mutant strain was
      hypersensitive to near-ultraviolet radiation and other oxidative agents. Bovine
      catalase rescued many of the mutants from death in dormancy, suggesting that
      specific gene products protect "aged" cells against oxidative damage.

PMID- 1445343
TI  - Crystalline beta-cyclodextrin.12H2O reversibly dehydrates to beta
      cyclodextrin.10.5 H2O under ambient conditions.
AB  - In contact with mother liquor, crystalline beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) hydrate
      has composition approximately beta-CD.12H2O. If crystals are dried at ambient
      conditions (18 degrees C, approximately 50% humidity), the unit cell volume
      diminishes approximately 30 to 50 A3. X-ray structure analysis of a dry crystal
      (0.89 A resolution, 4617 data, R = 0.059) showed the composition beta-CD.10.5
      H2O, with approximately 5.5 water molecules in the beta-CD cavity (7 partially
      and 2 fully occupied sites) and approximately 5.0 between the beta-CD molecules.
      The positions of the beta-CD host and of most of the hydration waters are
      conserved during dehydration, but the occupancies of the waters in the beta-CD
      cavity diminish. Dry crystals put into solvent re-hydrate to the original form.
      The mechanism of de- and re-hydration is not evident.

PMID- 1445344
TI  - c-fos, c-jun and c-myc expressions are not growth rate limiting for the human MCF
      7 breast cancer cells.
AB  - Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) was 3 times more potent in pagating MCF-7
      cell proliferation than epidermal growth factor (EGF). IGF-I stimulated c-fos
      mRNA expression about 5 times less than EGF. Both growth factors were equipotent
      in inducing c-jun and c-myc mRNA expressions. The protein level of c-Myc
      correlated with the mRNA level. IGF-I and EGF stimulated the transcriptional
      activity dependent on the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-responsive element
      (TRE) to the same extent, when measured by the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase
      activity of a transiently transfected multiple TRE construct. These results
      strongly indicate that the expression levels of the measured proto-oncogenes do
      not correlate with the increase of growth stimulation by IGF-I and EGF and are
      not growth rate limiting for the human MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

PMID- 1445345
TI  - Activators of protein kinase C induce p34cdc2 histone H1 kinase stimulation in
      Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts.
AB  - Phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate and 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol, activators of protein kinase
      C (PKC) that stimulate DNA synthesis in serum-deprived Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts,
      induce histone H1 kinase activity associated with anti-cdc2 immunoprecipitates
      after a lag period of 15h, a time point close to G1/S boundary of the cell cycle
      in these cells. Downregulation of PKC does not affect the basal cdc2 kinase
      activity, but potently inhibits both phorbol dibutyrate- and dioctanoylglycerol
      induced cdc2 kinase activation. Phorbol dibutyrate induces a dramatic increase in
      the p34cdc2 protein level as well as the appearance of p35-p36 forms of cdc2 on
      Western blot. In PKC-downregulated cells, the p34 form of cdc2 remains elevated
      but p35-p36 forms do not appear upon phorbol dibutyrate stimulation. These
      results demonstrate that PKC activation leads to cdc2 kinase activation in
      mitogenically responsive Swiss 3T3 cells, and strongly suggest that both
      expression of p34cdc2 protein and its posttranslational modification(s) are
      involved in this process. Western blot analysis of PKC isozymes suggests that
      either PKC alpha, PKC delta or PKC epsilon may be involved in p34cdc2 kinase
      activation and mitogenesis.

PMID- 1445346
TI  - Induction of Krox-20 expression after focal cerebral ischemia.
AB  - Krox-20 is one of the transcription factors of "zinc finger" family. The
      expression of Krox-20 was investigated in a rat focal cerebral ischemia model by
      Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization. Northern blot analysis showed
      that ischemia for 30 min which caused little cortical infarction induced a 29
      fold increase in Krox-20 mRNA signal exclusively in the ischemic cortex. Ischemia
      for 90 min which led to large cortical infarction induced Krox-20 mRNA not only
      in the ischemic cortex but also in the ipsilateral hippocampus. The induction of
      Krox-20 mRNA was rapid, transient and appeared to be controlled at the
      transcriptional level, as indicated by nuclear run-on assays. The regional
      induction of Krox-20 mRNA was further confirmed by in situ hybridization. These
      results suggest that the expression of transcription factor genes may play a role
      in the post-ischemic changes of the injured brain.

PMID- 1445347
TI  - Mutational analysis of third cytoplasmic loop domains in G-protein coupling of
      the HM1 muscarinic receptor.
AB  - We measured dose-response curves for carbachol stimulation of phosphatidyl
      inositol (PI) turnover with mutants of the Hm1 muscarinic cholinergic receptor
      having various deletions from amino acids 219 to 358 of the large third
      intracellular (i3) loop (208 to 366). These deletions had only small or no
      effects on the ability of Hm1 transfected into HEK 293 cells to stimulate PI
      turnover. This result indicates that only small regions of 9 to 11 amino acids
      adjacent to trans-membrane domains (TMDs) 5 and 6 can be directly involved in G
      protein coupling. Point mutations were constructed to test the role of charged
      amino acids in these junctions. A triple point mutation of Hm1 (E214 A/ E216K/
      E221 K), which mimics the charge distribution in Hm2 (negatively coupled to cAMP)
      over the first 14 amino acids of i3, and a double point mutation in the N
      terminal junction, K359A/K361A, both failed to affect carbachol stimulated PI
      turnover. Therefore, charge distribution in the loop junctions appears to play a
      minor role in G protein coupling of Hm1 in HEK 293 cells.

PMID- 1445348
TI  - Human trifunctional protein deficiency: a new disorder of mitochondrial fatty
      acid beta-oxidation.
AB  - In this paper we report the identification of a new disorder of mitochondrial
      fatty acid beta-oxidation in a patient which presented with clear manifestations
      of a mitochondrial beta-oxidation disorder. Subsequent studies in fibroblasts
      revealed an impairment in palmitate beta-oxidation and in addition, a combined
      deficiency of long-chain enoyl-CoA hydratase, long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA
      dehydrogenase and long-chain 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase. The recent identification of
      a multifunctional, membrane-bound beta-oxidation enzyme protein catalyzing all
      these three enzyme activities (Carpenter et al. (1992) Biochem. Biophys. Res.
      Commun. 183, 443-448; Uchida et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 1034-1041)
      suggested an underlying basis for this peculiar combination of three enzyme
      deficiencies. We show by means of size-exclusion chromatography that there is,
      indeed, a deficiency of the multifunctional beta-oxidation enzyme protein in this
      patient.

PMID- 1445349
TI  - Multiple cis-acting elements of the proximal promoter region are required for
      basal level transcription of the H1(0) histone gene.
AB  - Basal level transcription of the mouse histone H1(0) gene is mediated by 531 base
      pairs of the promoter region. Deletion of the most distal upstream 80 bp of this
      fragment reduces transcription to very low values. By in vitro footprinting we
      demonstrate now that multiple factors bind to the DNA fragment localized between
      the 80 bp and the cap nucleotide. In addition to the presence of motifs for the
      binding of SP1, H1-box, H4TF-2 and TATA-box-factors, other not yet described
      protein-binding elements were identified. Internal deletions in the wild type
      promoter enclosing these motifs strongly restrict transcription. Furthermore,
      when one of these motifs was modified by site-directed mutagenesis a strong
      impairment of transcription followed. Thus for basal level transcription, in
      addition to the 80 bp distal fragment, cis-acting elements localized in the 450
      bp proximal promoter region are required.

PMID- 1445350
TI  - Intracellular [Ca2+] and K+ and Cl- efflux responses in submandibular cells of
      neonatal and adult rats.
AB  - The effects of graded doses (5 x 10(-8) to 10(-5)) acetylcholine on intracellular
      Ca2+ and on 86Rb and 36Cl efflux were compared in submandibular cell clusters of
      1 and 7 day-old and adult rats. Initial Ca2+ peaks were similar at agonists
      concentrations lower than 10(-7) M but the release of Rb+ and Cl- were smaller in
      cells of young animals. At higher agonist concentrations, Ca2+ peaks were higher
      in immature cells; however, initial Cl- (but not Rb+) efflux was similar to that
      of mature cells. Plateau Ca2+ levels were independent of age and agonist
      concentrations but the content of Cl- and Rb+ varied greatly and differences
      between age groups were less evident. These data confirm a dissociation between
      intracellular Ca2+ levels and Ca(2+)-mediated ion transport in immature salivary
      cells.

PMID- 1445351
TI  - In vitro induction of cecropin genes--an immune response in a Drosophila blood
      cell line.
AB  - The Drosophila melanogaster cell line mbn-2 was explored as a model system to
      study insect immune responses in vitro. This cell line is of blood cell origin,
      derived from larval hemocytes of the mutant lethal (2) malignant blood neoplasm
      (1(2)mbn). The mbn-2 cells respond to microbial substances by the activation of
      cecropin genes, coding for bactericidal peptides. The response is stronger than
      that previously described for SL2 cells, and four other tested Drosophila cell
      lines were totally unresponsive. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide, algal laminarin (a
      beta-1,3-glucan), and bacterial flagellin were strong inducers, bacterial
      peptidoglycan fragments gave a weaker response, whereas a formyl-methionine
      containing peptide had no effect. Experiments with different drugs indicate that
      the response may be mediated by a G protein, but not by protein kinase C or
      eicosanoids, and that it requires a protein factor with a high rate of turnover.

PMID- 1445352
TI  - PI-specific phospholipase C "alpha" from sheep seminal vesicles is a proteolytic
      fragment of PI-PLC delta.
AB  - Phosphatidylinositide-specific phospholipase C enzymes (PLCs) catalyze the
      conversion of the phosphoinositides to biologically important signal transducing
      molecules. These enzymes may be grouped into "families" which share similar
      structures and modes of regulation. The existence of a structurally distinct
      family of PLC termed "alpha" has been recently called into question. In the
      current paper we show by immunoblotting experiments that PLC "alpha" from sheep
      seminal vesicles is recognized by monoclonal antibodies raised against the delta
      1 isoform of bovine brain PLC, and appears to be derived from a higher molecular
      weight band at 85 kDa. We also show that antibodies raised against PLC alpha
      efficiently immunoprecipitate the 85-kDa PLC delta 1 isoform from bovine brain
      and Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts. These data provide strong evidence that the
      PLC alpha from sheep seminal vesicles is a proteolytic fragment of PLC delta 1.
      Thus, there is still no conclusive evidence for a separate "alpha" class of PLC.

PMID- 1445353
TI  - Platelet derived growth factor induces c-fos and c-myc mRNA in rat aortic smooth
      muscle cells in primary culture without elevation of intracellular Ca2+
      concentration.
AB  - Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) has been shown to induce c-fos and c-myc
      proto-oncogenes. In the present study, we investigated the effects of genistein,
      a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and NiCl2, a Ca2+ influx blocker, on PDGF-induced
      Ca2+ transient and on expression of c-fos and c-myc mRNA. In the presence of
      extracellular Ca2+, PDGF induced elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration
      ([Ca2+]i) and increases in c-fos and c-myc mRNA, as detected by reverse
      transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern hybridization. PDGF
      induced [Ca2+]i elevation was composed of an initial transient increase (first
      component) followed by steady state elevation (second component). Genistein (10
      microM) blocked the 1st, but not the 2nd, component of [Ca2+]i elevation induced
      by PDGF. NiCl2 (1 mM) and removal of extracellular Ca2+ inhibited the 2nd, but
      not the 1st, component. In the presence of 10 microM genistein and 1 mM NiCl2,
      PDGF induced c-fos and c-myc mRNA, although the [Ca2+]i elevation could be
      completely blocked by these two agents. These results indicate that elevation of
      [Ca2+]i is not a prerequisite condition for PDGF to induce c-fos and/or c-myc
      mRNA in rat aortic smooth muscle cells in primary culture.

PMID- 1445355
TI  - Molecular cloning and sequencing of an alternatively spliced form of the human
      thyrotropin receptor transcript.
AB  - In the present study, we report the molecular cloning and sequencing of an
      alternatively spliced form of the human thyrotropin receptor (hTSHR) mRNA
      transcript, which has previously been detected on Northern blot analysis of human
      thyroid cells. The smaller hTSHR cDNA, designated hTSHR cDNA-I, is approximately
      1 kb in size and encodes a protein of 253 amino acids. Comparison of the
      nucleotide sequence of hTSHR cDNA-I with available hTSHR genomic sequence data
      reveals that the cDNA-I contains exons 1-8 and unidentified DNA tract, presumably
      an intron. Thus, the hTSHR cDNA-I encodes for the N-terminal half of the
      extracellular domain of the hTSHR (approximately 60%). The truncated TSHR-I may
      be secreted and function as a TSH binding protein.

PMID- 1445354
TI  - Specific blockade of basic fibroblast growth factor gene expression in
      endothelial cells by antisense oligonucleotide.
AB  - The migration and proliferation of endothelial cells play a pivotal role in
      various vascular diseases. To elucidate the role of endogenous basic fibroblast
      growth factor (bFGF) produced within endothelial cells on cell growth, we
      introduced the antisense oligonucleotide complementary to bFGF mRNA into cultured
      bovine aortic endothelial cells by cationic liposome to block the production of
      autocrine bFGF. The treatment of the endothelial cells with the specific
      antisense oligomer efficiently inhibited the synthesis of bFGF with the
      concomitant suppression of endothelial proliferation, indicating the significant
      role of bFGF as an endothelial growth promotor. The neutralizing antibody against
      bFGF had no inhibition on basal DNA synthesis of the endothelial cells, in
      contrast to marked suppressive action of bFGF antisense oligomer. The results
      provide the new analytic and therapeutic implications in the use of the antisense
      methodology for the study of vascular biology.

PMID- 1445356
TI  - Unusual pressure dependence of the lateral motion of pyrene-labeled
      phosphatidylcholine in bipolar lipid vesicles.
AB  - The lateral mobility of a pyrene-labeled phosphatidylcholine probe in liposomes
      containing archaebacterial bipolar lipids has been studied isothermally as a
      function of pressure. The pressure-dependence of the probe mobility, R, is found
      to be slightly positive or zero in the temperature range of 17 - 48 degrees C. At
      temperatures > 48 degrees C, R becomes negative and decreases with temperature.
      The data indicate that lateral mobility only becomes appreciable at high
      temperatures. In addition, the R values obtained with other lipid membranes are
      much lower than that obtained with bipolar liposomes, implying that the membranes
      of archaebacterial liposomes are laterally immobile, as compared to other lipid
      membranes.

PMID- 1445357
TI  - Models of stratum corneum intercellular membranes: the sphingolipid headgroup is
      a determinant of phase behavior in mixed lipid dispersions.
AB  - During formation of the intercellular membranes of mammalian stratum corneum,
      sphingomyelin and glucosylceramide are converted enzymatically to ceramide. To
      model in isolation the possible effect of such a lipid modification on the phase
      behavior of the ensemble, we used proton and deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance
      to compare an equimolar dispersion of bovine brain sphingomyelin, cholesterol,
      and perdeuterated palmitic acid (at pH 6.2), with an equivalent dispersion in
      which bovine brain ceramide was substituted for sphingomyelin. While the
      sphingomyelin dispersions remain in a homogeneous fluid lamellar phase from 20-75
      degrees C under these conditions, those containing ceramide display complex
      polymorphism.

PMID- 1445358
TI  - Alternative splicing of the mouse amelogenin primary RNA transcript contributes
      to amelogenin heterogeneity.
AB  - A heterogeneous population of amelogenin proteins is derived from a single copy
      of the mouse amelogenin gene. To investigate the one gene--multiple protein
      enigma, we designed a study to distinguish between alternative splicing and
      proteolytic cleavage models. A pulse of [35S]methionine labeling demonstrated
      that multiple amelogenins are synthesized concurrently, a result consistent with
      an alternative splicing mechanism. Using reverse transcription and polymerase
      chain reaction we cloned a segment from the 5' end of a mouse amelogenin mRNA and
      connected it to a previously isolated abbreviated cDNA clone. Four additional
      cDNAs derived from alternatively spliced amelogenin mRNAs have been cloned and
      characterized. The five transcripts encode amelogenins 180, 156, 141, 74, and 59
      amino acids in length.

PMID- 1445359
TI  - Studies of the relationship between cell proliferation and cell death. II. Early
      gene expression during concanavalin A-induced proliferation or dexamethasone
      induced apoptosis of rat thymocytes.
AB  - Several data in the literature suggest that an intriguing relationship exists
      between cell proliferation and cell death. Accordingly, we studied the early
      expression of different genes in the same cells, i.e. rat thymocytes, undergoing
      cell proliferation upon stimulation with Concanavalin A or cell death following
      dexamethasone treatment. We showed that an early accumulation of c-fos, c-jun and
      c-myc mRNA occurred in both phenomena but with different kinetics. It can be
      speculated that the early induction of nuclear oncogenes is necessary to allow
      the later induction of other genes probably regulated at the transcriptional
      level by the AP-1 complex and/or by Myc protein. The accumulation of the
      transcript for another gene, i.e. poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase, an enzyme
      responsible for posttranslational modifications of several nuclear proteins,
      could instead be related to chromatin modifications occurring in both processes.

PMID- 1445360
TI  - Enhanced production of platelet-activating factor in stimulated rat leukocytes
      pretreated with triacsin C, A novel acyl-coA synthetase inhibitor.
AB  - Triacsin C, a product of Streptmyces sp. SK-1894, was previously reported as an
      inhibitor of long chain acyl-CoA synthetase. Pretreatment with triacsin C (500
      nM) for 1h enhanced production of platelet-activating factor in rat neutrophils,
      followed by stimulation with A23187 or fMLP. Amount of lyso-PAF was also
      augumented. Triacsin C alone did not increase PAF content and did not modulate
      enzymatic activities of acytransferase, cholinephosphotransferase,
      acetylhydrolase, acetyltransferase or phospholipase A2. These results suggest
      that triacsin C might enhance supply of substrate for PAF synthesis, i.e.
      accumulation of lyso-PAF by interfering reacylation pathway.

PMID- 1445361
TI  - Characterization of high mobility group protein binding to cisplatin-damaged DNA.
AB  - cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (cisplatin, CDDP) is a widely used
      chemotherapeutic agent. While many tumors are highly responsive to CDDP, certain
      tumors are resistant to this drug, limiting its efficacy. The anti-tumor activity
      of CDDP is believed to result from its coordination bonding to chromosomal DNA.
      Alterations in tumor cell sensitivity to CDDP may result from the presence or
      absence of protein(s) which specifically recognize CDDP-damaged DNA. We have
      developed a damaged-DNA affinity precipitation assay that allows the direct
      identification of cellular proteins that bind to CDDP-damaged DNA. Using this
      procedure, we have identified several proteins which specifically bind to CDDP
      damaged DNA. Two of these proteins have been identified as high mobility group
      proteins (HMG) 1 and 2 in the current report, we have characterized the binding
      of these proteins to CDDP-DNA. The calculated Kd of binding to CDDP-damaged DNA
      was 3.27 x 10(-10) for HMG1 and 1.87 x 10(-10) for HMG2. Using highly specific
      chemical modifying reagents, we have determined that Cys residues play an
      important role in protein binding. We also observed that HMG2 will bind to DNA
      modified with carboplatin and iproplatin although to a lesser extent than to DNA
      damaged with CDDP. Thus, our results indicate that HMG 2 binds with high affinity
      to DNA modified with therapeutically active platinum compounds. In addition, our
      findings suggest that thiol groups play an essential role in the binding of HMG1
      and HMG2 to CDDP-DNA.

PMID- 1445362
TI  - Phospholipase A2 activity is not involved in the tumor necrosis factor-triggered
      apoptotic DNA fragmentation in bovine aortic endothelial cells.
AB  - Using the arachidonic acid release as a probe of phospholipase A2 activity, we
      tested the involvement of this enzyme in the TNF-triggered apoptotic cell death
      in the bovine aortic endothelial cells. We observed that TNF induced a liberation
      of arachidonic acid from these cells which was comparable to that obtained from
      the L929 cells. An augmentation of the amount of released arachidonic acid or the
      reduction of the TNF-stimulated phospholipase A2 activity did not modify the TNF
      induced DNA fragmentation in the endothelial cells. We suggest that these events
      are not required for TNF apoptotic cytotoxicity in the endothelial cells.

PMID- 1445363
TI  - Human neutrophil proteinase 3: mapping of the substrate binding site using
      peptidyl thiobenzyl esters.
AB  - A series of peptidyl thiobenzyl esters was used to map the active site of human
      leukocyte proteinase 3. The steady-state kinetics parameters reveal the following
      features regarding the substrate specificity of proteinase 3 and its putative
      active site: (a) the preferred P1 residue is a small hydrophobic amino acid such
      as aminobutyric acid, norvaline, valine or alanine (in decreasing order of
      preference); (b) the enzyme has an extended active site; and (c) its active site
      is similar to that of the related serine proteinases leukocyte elastase and
      leukocyte cathepsin G.

PMID- 1445364
TI  - Up-regulation of MSH receptors by MSH in Cloudman melanoma cells.
AB  - MSH can up-regulate MSH binding capacity of cultured Cloudman melanoma cells in a
      dose- and time-dependent fashion. Binding is mediated through proteins exhibiting
      an apparent molecular weight of 50-53kDa, consistent with previous studies
      implicating them as the principal MSH receptors on Cloudman cells. Pre-incubation
      of cells with MSH stimulates expression of the receptor proteins both on the
      plasma membrane surface as well as in internal sites associated with coated
      vesicles. The effects of MSH are additive with those of UV light, suggesting that
      UV and MSH might stimulate receptor expression through separate mechanisms.

PMID- 1445365
TI  - Evidence that a ryanodine receptor triggers signal transduction in the
      osteoclast.
AB  - We have investigated the effect of the alkaloid ryanodine on the release of
      intracellularly stored Ca2+ in response to activation of the osteoclast Ca2+
      receptor by the surrogate agonist, Ni2+, Ni2+ (6 mM) in the presence of ethylene
      glycol bis-(aminoethyl ether) tetraacetic acid (EGTA) (1.2 mM) and valinomycin (5
      microM) induced a transient elevation of cytosolic [Ca2+] in fura 2-loaded
      osteoclasts. This transient was superimposed upon a small steady elevation of
      cytosolic [Ca2+] induced by the initial application of valinomycin alone.
      Ryanodine (10 microM) completely abolished such responsiveness. However,
      cytosolic [Ca2+] transients were restored when osteoclasts were depolarized by
      the extracellular inclusion of 100 mM-[K+] in the same solution. Thus, we
      demonstrate a sensitivity of the osteoclast signal transduction system to
      ryanodine for the first time to our knowledge.

PMID- 1445366
TI  - Molecular cloning and characterization of rabbit pancreatic triglyceride lipase.
AB  - Pancreatic lipase (triacylglycerol acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3) has been cloned
      from a gt11 cDNA library made from poly A+ RNA of adult rabbit pancreas.
      Pancreatic lipase (PL) assists the absorption of dietary triglycerides by
      hydrolyzing them at 1 and 3 positions to free fatty acids and 2-monoacylglycerol
      in the presence of bile acids and colipase in the intestinal lumen. Since rabbits
      are classifically used for the study of the diet induced changes in the lipid
      metabolism, as a prelude to studying the diet and age dependent changes in the
      expression of this enzyme, a full length PL cDNA clone was obtained from its
      pancreas. The coding region of rabbit pancreatic lipase cDNA consists of 1407
      base pairs contained in an open reading frame encoding 469 amino acids including
      the 16 that constitute the signal peptide. Northern blot analysis revealed a band
      around 1.5 kb. When rabbit enzyme is compared to other species, an over all
      homology of 70-80% was observed at the nucleotide level. High homology in the
      amino acid sequence and composition is also apparent between rabbit and other
      species like dog (65%), pig (76%) and rat (63%). Highest homology is found to be
      around active-site serine. The regions of homology with other species may help to
      define sites of interaction of lipase with co-lipase.

PMID- 1445367
TI  - Identification of jun-B as third member in human antioxidant response element
      nuclear proteins complex.
AB  - Deletion mutagenesis in human NAD(P)H:Quinone Oxidoreductase (NQO1) gene and
      transfection studies into mammalian cells identified a segment of DNA designated
      as human Antioxidant Response Element (hARE) responsible for high basal
      expression in tumor cells and its induction by beta-naphthoflavone (beta-NF). The
      twenty four base pairs of the hARE contains an essential cis-element AP1 binding
      site and has been shown to bind to jun-D and c-fos proteins from mouse hepatoma
      (Hepa-1) nuclear extract. In the present report, we have identified jun-B as the
      third major protein in the hARE-Hepa-1 proteins complex observed in the band
      shift assays.

PMID- 1445368
TI  - The role of protein kinase C in the induction of nitric oxide synthesis by murine
      macrophages.
AB  - The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the induction of nitric oxide synthesis by
      interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was investigated using two murine macrophage cell
      lines, J774 and RAW 264.7. Nitric oxide (NO) production was markedly reduced by a
      PKC inhibitor, Ro31-8220 in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation of cells with IFN
      gamma resulted in translocation of PKC to the cell membrane. Prolonged incubation
      of cells with a high concentration of phorbol ester, which down-regulated PKC
      activity, also reduced nitric oxide production. These findings provide evidence
      that PKC is involved in the induction of nitric oxide synthesis by IFN-gamma.

PMID- 1445369
TI  - Isolation of a novel nuclear glycoprotein from pig kidney.
AB  - A nuclear glycoprotein with an apparent Mr of 66,000 Da has been isolated from
      pig kidney chromatin after extraction with urea, guanidine-HCl and 2 M NaCl, and
      some of its structural features have been characterized. It belongs to the group
      of N-glycosylated proteins, which in the nucleus has so far received little
      attention. From its monosaccharide composition and recognition by lectins its
      oligosaccharides appear to be of high mannose and/or hybrid types. Some
      properties of its protein moiety suggest that it has a role in the packing of the
      DNA loops in the condensed chromatin.

PMID- 1445370
TI  - Calcium uptake by liver mitochondria from hypothyroid rats is inhibited in vitro
      by triiodothyronine.
AB  - The rate of Ca2+ uptake by liver mitochondria from hypothyroid and euthyroid rats
      was determined as a function of the mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi).
      At large values of delta psi Ca2+ uptake was a linear function of delta psi and
      its dependence on delta psi was the same in mitochondria from euthyroid and
      hypothyroid rats. However, at small values of delta psi the rates of Ca2+ uptake
      for mitochondria from euthyroid or hypothyroid rats deviated slightly from each
      other. Triiodothyronine (T3), at a concentration of 10 nM, inhibited the rate of
      Ca2+ uptake in vitro, suggesting that T3 in vivo may regulate mitochondrial Ca2+
      transport and thus alter the matrix free Ca2+ concentration, which has control
      over respiration.

PMID- 1445371
TI  - Purification and properties of urease from the cyanobacterium Anabaena
      cylindrica.
AB  - A purification procedure has been developed by which urease activity in extracts
      from the cyanobacterium Anabaena cylindrica was enriched 500-fold. The procedure
      involves MgSO4 precipitation at 55 degrees C and chromatography on
      hydroxylapatite and diethylaminoethyl sephadex. Its molecular weight was measured
      by sedimentation equilibrium in an airfuge to be 197,000 +/- 2000 with an
      estimated subunit molecular weight of 32,000 as determined by polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis. The pH- and temperature-dependence of the enzyme were determined
      and the activity found to be optimal at pH 8 and 30 degrees C, respectively. The
      concentration-dependence of the activation of the enzyme by Mg++ was measured, as
      were the effects on activity of a range of other metal ions.

PMID- 1445372
TI  - Effect of endotoxin on rat liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy.
AB  - Lipopolysaccharide administered intraperitoneally to rats just after partial
      (70%) hepatectomy at the dose from 0.04 to 4 mg/kg body weight inhibited the
      induction of thymidylate synthase and thymidine kinase which are rate-determining
      enzymes of DNA synthesis, resulting in the impairment of DNA synthesis in the
      regenerating liver. This effect may be due to the hepato-toxic nature of
      endotoxin.

PMID- 1445373
TI  - Molecular analysis of genetic mutation in electrophoretic variant of human
      lactate dehydrogenase-A(M) subunit.
AB  - An electrophoretic variant of lactate dehydrogenase-A (M) subunit was discovered
      in a patient with multiple myeloma. DNA analysis of the variant allele revealed a
      nucleotide substitution (transition) of C to T at codon 314 (CGT-TGT), and this
      mutation resulted in the replacement of an arginine by a cysteine (R314C). This
      amino acid replacement affects the net charge of the subunit and makes the LDH-A
      variant have a faster electrophoretic mobility. The responsible missense mutation
      created a new restriction site, AGGCCT, which can be simply detected by
      endonuclease AatI digestion. In addition, four synonymous substitutions with no
      amino-acid replacements were found at codons 51, 119, 163 and 175 in the LDH-A
      gene from the patient.

PMID- 1445374
TI  - Age-specific development of malate-aspartate shuttle in the liver and kidney of
      mice.
AB  - The activities of malate-aspartate shuttle enzymes were measured in the liver and
      kidney of 15-, 30-, and 60-day old mice. The results indicate that the activities
      (U/mg protein) of both isoenzymes (cytosolic and mitochondrial) of both malate
      dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase are significantly higher in the
      liver of 15-day old mice than in the liver of 30- and 60-day old animals.
      However, the shuttle enzymes showed a peak value in the kidney of 30-day old
      mice. In vitro reconstitution of malate-aspartate shuttle showed a similar
      pattern of activity in the tissues studied. These findings suggest that the
      activity of malate-aspartate shuttle is expressed differentially in these tissues
      of mice at different postnatal ages.

PMID- 1445375
TI  - Changes in ADP-ribosylation of rho-related protein by exoenzyme C3 from
      Clostridium botulinum with maturation in rat testis.
AB  - A rho-related protein, which was ADP-ribosylated by exoenzyme C3 from Clostridium
      botulinum, was found in both cytosol and membrane fractions of the testes of
      adult rats. This protein was observed in the cytosol fraction of the testes
      already in the newborn, did not significantly change in level up to about 7
      weeks, and thereafter became clearly reduced. In the membrane fraction, in
      contrast, the protein was not found in the newborn rats. These observations
      suggest that there are some relationships between the maturation of the testes
      and changes in the subcellular distribution of this rho-related protein.

PMID- 1445376
TI  - Six-base deletion occurring in messages of human cytochrome P-450 in the CYP2C
      subfamily results in reduction of tolbutamide hydroxylase activity.
AB  - We isolated and expressed a clone, hPA6, possibly corresponding to the CYP2C9
      cDNA. Compared with the other CYP2C9 cDNA clones, hPA6 showed a 6-nucleotide
      deletion near its middle. From the same cDNA library, we could also isolate
      another cDNA clone, named hPA22, which retained the 6 bases. For clarification of
      the effect of the 2-amino acid deletion resulting from the 6-base deletion on
      enzymatic activities, both clones were expressed in yeast. The expressed enzymes
      showed tolbutamide hydroxylase activities, and these activities were inhibited by
      antibodies against P-450-HM2, a probable CYP2C9. The activity of the enzyme
      encoded by hPA6 was lower than that encoded by hPA22; thus the 2-amino acid
      deletion in the CYP2C9 reduced the enzymatic activity.

PMID- 1445377
TI  - Cell proliferation-related production of matrix metalloproteinases 1 (tissue
      collagenase) and 3 (stromelysin) by cultured human rheumatoid synovial
      fibroblasts.
AB  - We investigated the effects of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), epidermal
      growth factor (EGF), and insulin on the cell proliferation of and the production
      of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) by rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts in order
      to determine the role of these agents in rheumatoid arthritis. PDGF stimulated
      rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts to increase DNA synthesis and the production of
      precursor forms of MMP-1 of M(r) = 53,000 and -3 of M(r) = 57,000. EGF and
      insulin also increased DNA synthesis and the production of these enzymes, but the
      amount of DNA or MMPs was smaller than that induced by PDGF. Since the production
      of matrix macromolecules and their degradation is essential for the remodelling
      of synovial tissue in rheumatoid arthritis, these data suggest that the
      production of MMP-1 and-3 by rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts in relation to cell
      proliferation plays an important role in the pathological process of rheumatoid
      arthritis.

PMID- 1445378
TI  - Decrease in immunoreactivity and vasoactivity of endothelin-1 after exposure to
      oxygen.
AB  - Endothelin-1 (ET-1) caused a dose-dependent contraction of porcine coronary
      arterial rings. Preincubation of ET-1 in oxygenated Krebs solution at 37 degrees
      C resulted in a progressive loss of the contractile activity and immunoreactivity
      of ET-1. The half-life of ET-1 contractile activity in oxygenated and non
      oxygenated buffer was 16.1 and 86.6 min., respectively. The molecular weight of
      ET-1 exposed to oxygen was identical to that of ET-1. These results indicate that
      during the contraction of smooth muscle preparations the levels of ET-1 in the
      tissue bath are steadily decreasing due to exposure to high pO2 levels.

PMID- 1445379
TI  - Purification and partial characterization of a trypsin inhibitor from chick
      skeletal muscle.
AB  - A protein capable of inhibiting trypsin and a number of other serine proteases
      was purified from chicken skeletal muscle. It has an apparent molecular weight of
      64,000 as determined by gel filtration. The inhibitor molecule binds trypsin at a
      molar ratio of 1:1 to form a stable complex, in which trypsin can be completely
      inhibited. In this complex, the inhibitor is extensively digested by trypsin but
      retains its inhibitory activity and tertiary structure by intramolecular
      disulfide bonds. In addition, its activity was found to markedly increase during
      development of embryonic muscle. The physiological role of this inhibitor,
      however, remains unknown.

PMID- 1445380
TI  - Cu(2+)-induced lipid oxidation in plasma: questionable relation between
      cholesterol oxidation and LDL modification.
AB  - Oxidatively modified low-density lipoproteins (LDL) may be involved in the
      process of cholesterol deposition in arteries. Because of their cytotoxicity,
      oxysterols resulting from cholesterol oxidation could be a contributing factor in
      this process. Studies in this area have generally been performed on purified LDL,
      but in our research whole plasma was exposed to the oxidizing action of copper.
      Oxidation of the ring structure, which is at the origin of oxysterols, apparently
      occurs once most polyunsaturated fatty acids have disappeared. Hydrated LDL
      density reaches a value identical to that obtained during oxidation of LDL by
      endothelial cells, whereas the ring structure remains unmodified.

PMID- 1445381
TI  - Allosteric activation by nucleotides of the inactive by phosphatase ornithine
      decarboxylase of Escherichia coli.
AB  - ODC was purified to homogeneity from E. coli K12 MG1655 strain transformed with a
      pBR322 plasmid carrying the ODC gene. This preparation was homogeneous as it was
      analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. From this preparation the
      amino-terminal sequence analysis was obtained. The native ODC of E. coli is
      activated by ATP, GTP, CTP and UTP at 10(-3) M concentration to around 170-300%.
      Our results indicate that the recombinant ODC is activated only by GTP and UTP at
      10(-3) M 370% and 300%, respectively. When the recombinant ODC was incubated with
      calf intestine alkaline phosphatase, this inactive ODC can be reversibly
      activated allosterically only by GTP or UTP at a concentration of 10(-6) or 10(
      5) M. That GTP or UTP can allosterically convert the inactive form of ODC to an
      active form suggests that these analogues may be the in vivo physiological
      regulators of ODC.

PMID- 1445382
TI  - Characterization of bovine heparin-binding neurotrophic factor (HBNF): assignment
      of disulfide bonds.
AB  - The topology of the disulfides in native heparin-binding neurotrophic factor
      (HBNF) isolated from bovine brain was studied by proteolytic digestion using
      trypsin, Asp-N endoproteinase and chymotrypsin and peptide mapping. Disulfide
      linked peptides were identified by automated Edman degradation. It has been shown
      that there are disulfide bonds between Cys15-Cys44, Cys23-Cys53, Cys30-Cys57,
      Cys67-Cys99 and Cys77-Cys109.

PMID- 1445383
TI  - Studies on variations of glycoproteins and lysosomal hydrolases in human uterine
      cervical carcinoma.
AB  - Variations of glycoprotein components such as hexose, hexosamine, and sialic acid
      and lysosomal glycosidases such as beta-D-glucosidase, beta-D-galactosidase, and
      N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase were studied in the tumor tissue from various
      stages of cervical carcinoma of the uterus. Carbohydrate components of
      glycoprotein were found to be markedly reduced, and the reduction was very much
      significant in hexosamine and sialic acid in the advanced stages. Lysosomal
      glycosidases exhibited a significant increase, and among them N-acetyl-beta-D
      glucosaminidase exhibited a prominent increase, in the advanced stages of
      cervical carcinoma of the uterus.

PMID- 1445384
TI  - Occurrence of free D-aspartic acid in marine macroalgae.
AB  - The biologically rare D-aspartic acid was found in extracts of marine macroalgae.
      DL-aspartic acid was isolated from the Phaeophyta, Hizikia fusiformis, by ion
      exchange chromatography, and crystallized from aqueous ethanol. It was
      characterized by optical-rotatory-dispersion analysis and reversed-phase HPLC
      analysis. The crystal consisted of equal amounts of D and L isomers. The presence
      of free D-aspartic acid was verified in 15 species from among 20 species of
      marine macroalgae by the same method (HPLC). Generally, Phaeophyta contained a
      high concentration of D-aspartic acid in contrast with the low concentration in
      Phycophyta and Rhodophyta. Particularly in Costaria costata, Hizikia fusiformis
      and Sargassum yezoensis, belonging to Phaeophyta, D-aspartic acid was found in
      concentrations proportional to those of L-aspartic acid.

PMID- 1445385
TI  - Anticoagulant action of rare earth metals.
AB  - Some of the lanthanides, the rare earth metals, lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce),
      neodymium (Nd), samarium (Sm), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er) and
      ytterbium (Yb) prolonged the clotting time of normal human plasma in a dose
      dependent manner when clotting was induced either by thromboplastin or by kaolin
      in the presence of cephalin and Ca2+. They also prolonged the activated factor X
      induced clotting time of platelet-rich plasma. The amidolytic activities of
      activated factor X and thrombin progressively decreased with increasing amount of
      rare earth metals. These results suggested that the rare earth metals appear to
      show their anticoagulant effect with mechanisms in part the inhibition of the
      enzymatic activities of both activated factor X and thrombin.

PMID- 1445386
TI  - Action of a nuclease from rat nuclei on UV-irradiated DNA.
AB  - An Mg(2+)-dependent nuclease was highly purified from rat-liver nuclei. The
      nuclease activity was enhanced in ultraviolet light (UV)-irradiated dsDNA, but
      not in unirradiated dsDNA. Irrespective of UV irradiation, ssDNA was readily
      cleaved by this enzyme. UV-irradiated plasmid DNA was incubated with this enzyme
      and subjected to the template primer activity assay with a Klenow polymerase.
      With increasing incubation time, the activity was enhanced in the circular
      relaxed and linear forms, but not in the superhelical form. These results implied
      that this enzyme excises UV-damaged sites in dsDNA to form single strand gaps for
      repair synthesis.

PMID- 1445387
TI  - Insulin and IGF1 receptors in a model renal epithelium: receptor localization and
      characterization.
AB  - Insulin and IGF1 stimulate transepithelial Na+ transport in the urinary bladder
      of the toad Bufo marinus, a model renal epithelium. The signal transduction
      mechanisms for the natriferic action are unknown. Ultrastructural techniques were
      used to localize both receptors and ligands in the epithelium. Electron
      microscopy using gold-labelled anti-insulin or anti-IGF1 receptor antibodies
      demonstrated the majority of the insulin receptors were associated with the
      basolateral membrane while IGF1 receptors were found on basolateral and apical
      membranes. Both insulin and IGF1 receptors were found in endosomes and on the
      membranes surrounding subapical granules. In intact tissues incubated with
      iodinated IGF1 or insulin, both ligands were associated with the basolateral
      membrane. IGF1 was internalized to a greater extent than insulin and only IGF1
      accumulated in cell nuclei.

PMID- 1445388
TI  - Polymeric ovotransferrin and its ability to bind and deliver iron to chick-embryo
      red blood cells.
AB  - Polymeric forms of hen ovotransferrin have been obtained by storage at 4 degrees
      C for 5 years or at 57 degrees C for 14 days and fractionated as dimers and
      tetramers by gel filtration on Sephadex. The ability of tyrosine to undergo
      nitration was reduced in the tetrameric protein, so that one could hypothesize
      that dityrosine formation is somewhat responsible of such polymerization process.
      Experimental data on the biological functionality showed that: i) dimeric
      ovotransferrin was able neither to bind nor to deliver iron; ii) tetrameric
      ovotransferrin was able to bind but not to deliver iron.

PMID- 1445389
TI  - Cholera toxin diminishes tyrosine kinase activity of the insulin receptor.
AB  - We have examined the effect of cholera toxin (CT) on the insulin receptor
      tyrosine kinase. Incubation of intact rat hepatoma cells FaO with CT (1
      microgram/ml/2h) inhibited insulin-induced receptor autophosphorylation by 30% in
      vivo. This effect persisted after receptor purification in vitro. CT did not
      alter hormone binding of the insulin receptor, indicating that the toxin affects
      signal transduction of insulin at the level of the receptor kinase. Experiments
      using chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected either with the human insulin
      receptor (HIR) or a mutant lacking the last 43 amino acids of the receptor beta
      subunit (HIR delta CT) showed, that the carboxy-terminal tail of the insulin
      receptor does not play a role in the suppressive effect of the toxin on the
      insulin receptor kinase.

PMID- 1445390
TI  - Relationship between Ca2+ and L-asparagine in the induction of ornithine
      decarboxylase in H-35 rat hepatoma cells.
AB  - The activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in H-35 hepatoma cells depleted of
      Ca2+ by washing with 2 mM EGTA increased 35-fold after incubating for 4 h in a
      simple salt-glucose solution containing 10 mM L-asparagine and only if Ca2+ was
      replenished. Actinomycin D (5 micrograms/ml) and cycloheximide (20 microM)
      reduced the stimulatory effect by 84 and 100% respectively. Increase of active
      enzyme protein was also demonstrated by a 3-fold increase in alpha
      difluoromethylornithine binding. Asparagine prolonged the half-life of induced
      ODC by 20% whereas Ca2+ reduced it by 32%. The observed inductive effects are not
      accounted for entirely by a direct influence of Ca2+ and asparagine on the
      turnover of ODC protein. These factors are likely to be parts of a signalling
      pathway leading to amplification of cellular ODC.

PMID- 1445391
TI  - Detection and characterization of mRNA and proteins encoded by human rab2 low
      molecular weight GTP-binding protein gene.
AB  - Three RNA species of 3.5, 2.4 and 1.4 kb were detected in all human
      hematopoietic, fibroblastic and tumor cell lines examined, as the mRNA of human
      rab2 gene presumably involved in intracellular transport. The mRNA differed in
      the length of the 3'-non-translated regions due to termination and/or processing
      at the alternative polyadenylation sites. The 1.4-kb rab2 RNA was predominant in
      Molt-4 and U-937 of mononuclear cell origin, while the 2.4-kb RNA was dominant in
      the other cells examined. The degradation of all rab2 RNA was similar and as slow
      as beta-actin RNA. The rab2 proteins were ubiquitously detected in the human
      cells as two phosphorylated peptides of major pp24rab2 and minor pp25rab2.
      pp25rab2 was slightly more phosphorylated than pp24rab2. Both rab2 proteins were
      abundantly detected in neural PC12 and NB3 cells, and mostly pp24rab2 was
      produced in the other human and rodent cells.

PMID- 1445392
TI  - Urea synthesis in rats fed diet containing kidney beans.
AB  - When rats were fed a diet containing kidney bean (Phaesolus vulgaris) urea
      excretion was increased 3-5 fold. Isolated liver mitochondria from rats fed the
      kidney bean diet produced 40% more citrulline in the presence of arginine than
      mitochondria isolated from control rats. Mitochondrial activities of urea cycle
      enzymes and N-acetylglutamate synthetase were similar in animals fed diets
      containing kidney bean or lactalbumin. The possible mechanisms causing acute urea
      production in rats fed with kidney bean are discussed.

PMID- 1445393
TI  - Interactions between the dopamine D2 receptor and GTP-binding proteins.
AB  - The dopamine D2 receptor in bovine brain striatum exists in a high- and a low
      affinity state for dopamine. The high-affinity state is believed to arise from
      coupling with a guanine nucleotide-binding protein, to be disrupted by the
      addition of GTP. We found that antibodies specific to the C-terminal region of
      the alpha-subunit of Go and Gi cause a shift from high- towards low-affinity,
      demonstrating that the C-terminus of G alpha is involved in the receptor G
      protein contact. Purification of the D2 receptor by affinity chromatography via
      immobilized agonists or antagonists results in the copurification of both Go and
      Gi proteins. However, this copurification is of a nonspecific nature and prevents
      the detection of putative specific receptor.G protein complexes.

PMID- 1445394
TI  - Changes in membrane fluidity during human liver development.
AB  - The physico-chemical properties of the hepatic plasma membrane during prenatal
      period of development and in adult human liver were studied. Fluorescence
      polarization studies using the lipid probe pyrene, clearly demonstrated a
      significant reduction in the membrane fluidity with liver maturation. Lipid
      analysis showed an age dependent reduction in lipid/protein ratio while there was
      an increase in membrane cholesterol throughout the prenatal period and in adult
      human liver which decreased the membrane fluidity. Hepatic plasma membrane from
      prenatal liver also showed a decrease in phosphatidyl choline/phosphatidyl
      ethanolamine ratio and an increase in sphingomyelin/phosphatidyl choline ratio.
      These results suggest that there is a gradual decrease in lipid content and
      membrane fluidity during the prenatal period of development which might regulate
      the differentiation of membrane associated function in human liver.

PMID- 1445395
TI  - Relationship between serum lipid peroxidation products in hypercholesterolemic
      subjects and vitamin E status.
AB  - The relationship of serum lipid peroxidation products in hypercholesterolemic
      subjects to their vitamin E intake was examined in 15 such subjects with no other
      associated significant disease process in a 3 month trial with vitamin E
      supplementation. These patients with elevated serum cholesterol levels also have
      elevated thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and lipid oxidation
      products (LOPS). Vitamin E supplementation of 800 IU daily normalized the lipid
      peroxidation products but did not significantly change serum lipids.

PMID- 1445396
TI  - Purification and characterization of N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosaminidase from
      Gallus domesticus.
AB  - Exoglycosidases modify carbohydrate epitopes on glycoproteins and glycolipids.
      The N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosaminidase from the domestic chicken, Gallus
      domesticus, is an important exoglycosidase which degrades the human blood group A
      epitope. This enzyme has never been demonstrably purified or thoroughly
      characterized. We have developed a technique to purify this enzyme to
      homogeneity. The isolated enzyme has a molecular weight of 49.1 kDa by SDS PAGE
      and 145.0 kDa by gel filtration. The enzyme is highly selective for PNP-N-acetyl
      alpha-D-galactosaminide and is inactive against other low molecular weight
      substrates. The enzyme hydrolyzes the terminal N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosaminide
      residues from blood group A2 erythrocytes. Protease activity is below detectable
      limits. The enzyme has a pH optima of 3.7, a pI of 8.15, is relatively unaffected
      by ionic strength, and is stable at 4 degrees C.

PMID- 1445397
TI  - Purification of a membraneous actin binding protein from bovine adrenal medulla.
AB  - An actin binding protein having a molecular mass of 39,000 was purified from the
      Triton extract of bovine adrenal medulla membrane fraction using DNase I affinity
      column and following chromatographies. Specific antibody was produced against the
      protein and immunoblotting analysis of tissue extract showed the purified protein
      was not a breakdown product of a larger protein and also showed the presence of
      this protein in bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells and rat
      pheochromocytoma cells (PC12). An immunoblotting analysis of membrane fractions
      treated with nucleotides and their analogues showed that this protein was
      specifically solubilized in the presence of GTP gamma-S.

PMID- 1445399
TI  - The Archaebacteria: biochemistry and biotechnology.

PMID- 1445398
TI  - Purification and properties of 2,3-dihydroxy-p-cumate-3,4-dioxygenase from
      Bacillus species.
AB  - 2,3-Dihydroxy-p-cumate-3,4-dioxygenase, an enzyme involved in the catabolism of p
      cymene, was purified to homogeneity from Bacillus species by affinity
      chromatography. Purification of the dioxygenase allowed the observation of the
      immediate ring cleavage product of 2,3-dihydroxy-p-cumate. The enzyme was
      optimally active at pH 8.2 and at 35 degrees C. The Km value for 2,3-dihydroxy-p
      cumate was 32 microM. The enzyme had a broad substrate specificity for 3
      substituted catechols. The activity of the enzyme was inhibited by heavy metals,
      sulphydryl inhibitors, iron-chelating agents, and substrate analogues. Fe2+ was
      suggested as a cofactor.

PMID- 1445400
TI  - What are the archaebacteria and why are they important?

PMID- 1445401
TI  - Halophilic malate dehydrogenase--a case history of biophysical investigations:
      ultracentrifugation, light-, X-ray- and neutron scattering.
AB  - Halophilic malate dehydrogenase (hMDH) from Haloarcula marismortui has been
      isolated, purified and characterized by biochemical and biophysical solution
      studies. A stabilization mechanism at extremely high concentrations of salt,
      based on the formation of co-operative hydrate bonds between the protein and
      hydrated salt ions, was suggested from thermodynamic analysis of native enzyme
      solutions. Recently the gene coding for hMDH was isolated and sequenced and an
      active enzyme cloned (F. Cendrin, J. Chroboczek, G. Zaccai, H. Eisenberg and M.
      Mevarech, unpublished work). A study of the crystal structure of hMDH in a high
      salt physiological medium is in progress (O. Butbul-Dym & J. Sussman, personal
      communication). Here we discuss in depth implications of these recent
      developments on our earlier results.

PMID- 1445402
TI  - Proteins from hyperthermophilic archaea: stability towards covalent modification
      of the peptide chain.

PMID- 1445403
TI  - Biotechnological potential of halobacteria.
AB  - The extremely halophilic archaebacteria (halobacteria) became an early focus of
      scientific interest owing to their role in salted food deterioration. In more
      recent times their peculiar physiology involving extreme adaptation to the salt
      environment and other unique features have allowed the development of other
      applied interests. Their similarities to eukaryotic cells at the level of cell
      division justifies their use in the prescreening for anti-cancer drugs, and some
      of their antigens could be used for cancer diagnosis. Their unique retinal
      proteins can be used as light-biosensors and the use of the purple membrane (pm)
      as reversible holographic medium has already been developed. Halobacterial
      enzymes are an extremely tough raw material for enzyme technology, particularly
      for applications in which the reaction mixture has very low water activity.
      Thanks to their peculiar lipids and to the production of polysaccharides by some
      halobacteria, their cultures could be used for enhanced oil recovery. Some
      halobacteria are excellent producers of industrially interesting biopolymers. The
      use of halobacteria as producers of polyhydroxyalkanoates, biological polyesters
      such as poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, with the properties of biodegradable
      thermoplastics, is being considered.

PMID- 1445404
TI  - Enzymes from thermophilic archaebacteria: current and future applications in
      biotechnology.
AB  - The one guaranteed property of enzymes isolated from extremely thermophilic micro
      organisms is their thermostability. Most significantly, almost any such enzyme
      will be more thermostable than the functionally similar enzyme from a lower
      temperature source. Thermostability is not an isolated property: resistance to
      heat denaturation imparts stability to a number of other denaturing influences
      (detergents, organic solvents, etc). These characteristics of hyperthermophilic
      enzymes are the most likely basis for the development of new biotechnological
      applications. A limited number of hyperthermophilic enzymes have found
      application in specialist biotechnological applications; others have visible
      potential in growing areas of biotechnology. Existing and potential applications
      are discussed using DNA manipulation enzymes, dehydrogenases, and esterases as
      examples.

PMID- 1445405
TI  - Thermoacidophilic archaebacteria: potential applications.

PMID- 1445406
TI  - Biotechnological potential of methanogens.
AB  - Methane produced microbiologically is currently used as an energy source,
      especially by cities and industries, albeit at a level far below its potential;
      the incentive is currently to save money on disposal costs for waste problems.
      Anaerobic digestion can be helpful in degrading several halogenated hydrocarbon
      wastes, and methanogens are partly responsible. Ethane instead of methane may be
      a future product of interest. Some pure cultures of methanogens may be suitable
      for production of B-12, or perhaps the speciality biochemical F420, a 5
      deazaflavin of interest to both methanogen and streptomyces researchers.
      Methanogens can cause a variety of problems, including biocorrosion, increased
      atmospheric methane, and ruminant nutrition loss. Studies of tropical wetlands,
      including rice paddies and swamps, and the study of a variety of ruminants in the
      tropics are particularly interesting and appropriate at this time, with respect
      to methane produced in these ecosystems. In some cases, it may be possible to
      control methane production by the use of inhibitors or ecological control
      mechanisms.

PMID- 1445407
TI  - Where next with the archaebacteria?

PMID- 1445408
TI  - Bioenergetics and autotrophic carbon metabolism of chemolithotrophic
      archaebacteria.

PMID- 1445409
TI  - Biochemistry of methanogenesis.

PMID- 1445410
TI  - Archaebacterial lipids: structure, biosynthesis and function.
AB  - The foregoing review of membrane lipids in archaebacteria has revealed a
      remarkable variety of polar lipids classes, including phospholipids, glycolipids,
      phosphoglycolipids and sulpholipids, all derived from the one basic core
      structure, diphytanylglycerol (1) and an equally remarkable set of novel pathways
      for their biosynthesis. Even with the relatively limited knowledge that we have
      of the physical properties of these lipids, it is clear that they are well
      adapted as membrane components to the particular environmental conditions of the
      three groups of archaebacteria, extreme halophiles, methanogens, and
      thermoacidophiles. However, much remains to be learned concerning the precise
      asymmetric arrangement of the lipids in the membrane bilayers or monolayers, the
      interaction of the lipids with the membrane proteins, and the function of this
      membrane lipid asymmetry with respect to ion transport, permeability to
      nutrients, proton transport and conductance, and energy transduction. Perhaps
      then these unusual lipids will not appear so strange and our knowledge of them
      will help us to understand the function of the more familiar lipids in the
      eubacteria and eukaryotes.

PMID- 1445411
TI  - The enzymology of archaebacterial pathways of central metabolism.
AB  - From a comparison of the pathways of central metabolism in the archaebacteria,
      eubacteria and eukaryotes, it is clear that the basic pathways were established
      before the divergence of the three kingdoms, but that the notable differences may
      provide important clues to their evolution. From these comparisons, enzymes found
      in all evolutionary groups have been chosen for detailed structural studies;
      given the range of extreme phenotypes found within the archaebacteria, these
      studies will be crucial to our understanding of the structural basis for protein
      stability and how such features may be engineered into a protein of choice.

PMID- 1445412
TI  - Progress in developing the genetics of the halobacteria.

PMID- 1445413
TI  - RNA polymerases and transcription in archaebacteria.

PMID- 1445414
TI  - Structure, function and evolution of the archaeal ribosome.

PMID- 1445415
TI  - Chromosome structure and DNA topology in extremely thermophilic archaebacteria.

PMID- 1445416
TI  - Alternative functional relationships between ELF field exposure and possible
      health effects: report on an expert workshop.
AB  - If exposure to 60 Hz fields poses risks to public health, the relationship
      between exposure and risk may involve something other than the product of field
      strength and time. Such alternative possible relations, or "effects functions,"
      are of great interest to epidemiologists, engineers, risk analysts, and
      regulators. A structured survey and workshop were used to explore whether leading
      researchers in bioelectromagnetics share similar views about alternative possible
      effects functions. Substantial agreement was found about several effects
      functions in a few specific contexts such as calcium-ion efflux and cell
      signalling, and biosynthesis pathways. No significant agreement emerged in many
      other contexts. No effects function possibilities were ruled out. Further effort
      of this sort was judged unlikely to yield greater consensus until more complete
      scientific understanding becomes available. However, a series of structured
      workshops on research planning and priority setting were judged to hold great
      potential for useful results.

PMID- 1445417
TI  - Rats are not aversive when exposed to 60-Hz magnetic fields at 3.03 mT.
AB  - Thirty-two male rats were tested in two replicates of an experiment to determine
      whether body currents induced by 60-Hz magnetic fields might lead to avoidance
      behavior comparable to that which results from exposure to strong 60-Hz electric
      fields. The test apparatus was a two-compartment Plexiglas shuttlebox enclosed in
      a sound-attenuating plywood chamber, which in turn was encompassed by two copper
      bus bars that, when energized, served as a source of 60-Hz magnetic fields.
      Location of the rat, and traverse activity in the shuttlebox were monitored by
      nine infra-red photo detectors equally spaced along the length of the apparatus.
      Rats were divided into 2 groups: 1 group of rats (n = 8 per group per replicate)
      was sham exposed while rats in the other group (n = 8 per group per replicate)
      were exposed to a 3.03 mT (30.3 G), 60-Hz magnetic field whenever they traversed
      to or were located on the side (L or R) predetermined as the exposed side. To
      control artifact incident to side preference, the side exposed (L or R) was
      alternated over the exposed rats. Each rat was tested individually in a 1-h
      session. A 2-factor ANOVA (exposed vs. control, replicate 1 vs. replicate 2)
      failed to reveal any significant effects due to either factor or to an
      interaction between factors. These data demonstrate that rats do not avoid
      exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields at a flux density of 3.03 mT and further imply
      that the avoidance by rats of high level 60-Hz electric fields is mediated by
      something other than the internal body currents induced by the exposure.

PMID- 1445418
TI  - Relative-risk-estimate bias and loss of power in the Mantel test for trend
      resulting from the use of magnetic-field point-in-time ("spot") measurements in
      epidemiological studies based on an ordinal exposure scale.
AB  - We assessed the merits of various point-in-time ("spot") measurement protocols in
      case-control studies based on an ordinal exposure scale. After classifying a
      number of houses on the basis of prolonged monitoring of the ambient, extremely
      low frequency (ELF) magnetic field, we determined the probability of
      misclassification for each "spot" measurement protocol. We calculated the effect
      of this misclassification on the relative risk estimates and on the Mantel test
      for trend. We found that classification based on a small group of point-in-time
      measurements allows an adequate estimate of the relative risk, although the
      statistical significance of the dose-response gradient may be seriously
      underestimated. However, the use of automated ambient-field monitors, which
      results in loss of information on spatial variability, can lead to similar
      consequences. Therefore, manually collected point-in-time measurements remain a
      viable option for exposure assessment.

PMID- 1445419
TI  - Increased sensitivity of the non-human primate eye to microwave radiation
      following ophthalmic drug pretreatment.
AB  - Previous studies in our laboratory have established that pulsed microwaves at
      2.45 GHz and 10 mW/cm2 are associated with production of corneal endothelial
      lesions and with disruption of the blood-aqueous barrier in the non-human primate
      eye. In the study reported here we examined ocular damage in monkeys (M. mulatta
      and M. fascicularis) following topical treatment with one of two ophthalmic drugs
      (timolol maleate and pilocarpine) that preceded exposure to pulsed microwaves.
      Anesthetized monkeys were sham exposed or exposed to pulsed, 2.45 GHz microwaves
      (10 microseconds, 100 pps) at average power densities of 0.2, 1, 5, 10, or 15
      mW/cm2 4 h a day for 3 consecutive days (respective SARs were 0.052, 0.26, 1.3,
      2.6, and 3.9 W/kg). Immediately before microwave exposure, one or both eyes were
      treated topically with one drop of 0.5% timolol maleate or of 2% pilocarpine.
      Following administration of a drug, we observed a significant reduction in the
      power-density threshold (from 10 to 1 mW/cm2) for induction of corneal
      endothelial lesions and for increased vascular permeability of the iris.
      Diagnostic procedures (in vivo specular microscopy and fluorescein iris
      angiography) were performed following each exposure protocol. In addition,
      increased vascular permeability was confirmed with horseradish peroxidase tracer
      techniques. Although we did not measure intraocular temperatures in experimental
      animals, the results suggest that a mechanism other than significant heating of
      the eye is involved. Our data indicate that pulsed microwaves at an average SAR
      of 0.26 W/kg, if administered after pretreatment with ophthalmic drugs, can
      produce significant ocular effects in the anesthetized primate.

PMID- 1445420
TI  - Effects of a 30 kV/m, 60 Hz electric field on the social behavior of baboons: a
      crossover experiment.
AB  - Using a crossover experimental design, we evaluated our earlier findings that
      exposure to a 30 kV/m, 60 Hz electric field for 12 hours per day, 7 days per week
      for 6 weeks produced significant changes in the performance rates of social
      behaviors among young adult male baboons. In the crossover experiment, the former
      control group was exposed to a 30 kV/m, 60 Hz electric field for 3 weeks. Only an
      extremely small, incidental magnetic field was generated by the exposure
      apparatus. We found that electric-field exposure again produced increases in the
      performance rates that index Passive Affinity, Tension, and Stereotypy. These
      findings, combined with results from our other electric-field experiments,
      indicate that exposure to strong electric fields, in the absence of associated
      magnetic fields, consistently produces effects that are expressed as increases in
      rates of performance of social behaviors in young adult male baboons.

PMID- 1445421
TI  - Uniform magnetic fields and double-wrapped coil systems: improved techniques for
      the design of bioelectromagnetic experiments.
AB  - A common mistake in biomagnetic experimentation is the assumption that Helmholtz
      coils provide uniform magnetic fields; this is true only for a limited volume at
      their center. Substantial improvements on this design have been made during the
      past 140 years with systems of three, four, and five coils. Numerical comparisons
      of the field uniformity generated by these designs are made here, along with a
      table of construction details and recommendations for their use in experiments in
      which large volumes of uniform intensity magnetic exposures are needed. Double
      wrapping, or systems of bifilar windings, can also help control for the non
      magnetic effects of the electric coils used in many experiments. In this design,
      each coil is wrapped in parallel with two separate, adjacent strands of copper
      wire, rather than the single strand used normally. If currents are flowing in
      antiparallel directions, the magnetic fields generated by each strand will cancel
      and yield virtually no external magnetic field, whereas parallel currents will
      yield an external field. Both cases will produce similar non-magnetic effects of
      ohmic heating, and simple measures can reduce the small vibration and electric
      field differences. Control experiments can then be designed such that the only
      major difference between treated and untreated groups is the presence or absence
      of the magnetic field. Double-wrapped coils also facilitate the use of truly
      double-blind protocol, as the same apparatus can be used either for experimental
      or control groups.

PMID- 1445422
TI  - Small integrating meter for assessing long-term exposure to magnetic fields.
AB  - A small, lightweight meter has been developed for magnetic-field measurements,
      particularly those needed for exposure-assessment purposes. This meter, known as
      the AMEX-3D, continuously measures all three axes of magnetic-flux density and
      electronically combines the data into a single estimate of cumulative exposure to
      the root-mean-square (rms) resultant flux density. The AMEX-3D weighs about 120
      g, measures 2.7 cm x 5.1 cm x 10.2 cm, and is battery powered. Two panel-mounted
      jacks are provided for measuring battery voltage and for reading cumulative
      exposure data from the unit. The instrument has, within 3 dB, a flat response to
      magnetic flux densities at all frequencies in its 30-1,000 Hz bandwidth. A
      detailed analysis of error sources in the AMEX-3D leads to an estimate of +/- 20%
      as the accuracy of the instrument over its dynamic range, which extends from 0.02
      to 15 microT. The AMEX-3D was tested in the field by asking electric-utility
      distribution linemen to wear AMEX-3D and EMDEX meters simultaneously while
      working. Agreement between the two measures of exposure was excellent.

PMID- 1445423
TI  - Statistical review of the henhouse experiments: the effects of a pulsed magnetic
      field on chick embryos.
AB  - This paper analyzes data from a study conducted by the United States Office of
      Naval Research on the effects of pulsed magnetic fields on chick embryos. The
      experiment involved incubation of eggs under carefully controlled conditions in
      six different laboratories. The original analysis included inappropriate
      statistical methodology for analyzing the experimental results. Since the
      conclusions from this study rest so heavily on the results of statistical
      analyses, choosing the proper methodology is imperative. The major aim of this
      paper then is to introduce more appropriate analytic tools and illustrate their
      use in the present context. Qualitatively our results agree with those of the
      original analysis; our findings about interactions between effects, however,
      makes interpretation of these effects more subtle. We apply linear logistic
      modeling to counts of damaged embryos, using as covariates factors corresponding
      to exposure, laboratory, incubator, run, and measurements of background
      radiation. This facilitates estimation of the size of the effects. The effects of
      laboratory, incubator, and run are explored both as fixed and random effects. We
      find statistically significant exposure and laboratory effects, in accordance
      with the original study. However, we also find that the inter-laboratory
      variation in exposure effect is at least as large as the exposure effect itself.
      The presence of such effects fundamentally alters the interpretation of the
      fitted model, as is graphically presented.

PMID- 1445424
TI  - Whole-body microwave dosimetry based on a single, gradient-layer calorimeter.
AB  - A simple, cost-effective, and accurate technique to measure the whole-body
      averaged specific absorption rate (SAR) in Sprague-Dawley rat carcasses by a
      single-gradient-layer calorimeter is described. The results of SAR determinations
      showed a highly linear relation between the average power density of the incident
      field (1.25 GHz) and the normalized heat loading of the carcasses.

PMID- 1445425
TI  - Currents induced in a model of a rat exposed to EMP in a parallel-plate line:
      calculations and experimental results.

PMID- 1445426
TI  - [Site-directed chemical restriction of a single-stranded DNA fragment by an
      alkylating derivative of the tetranucleotide d(pApGpCpA) in the presence of
      tetranucleotide effectors].
AB  - Alkylation of a single-stranded DNA 302-mer by a 5'-O-phosphoryl-[4-(N-2
      chloroethyl-N-methylamino)benzyl]amide derivative of the tetradeoxyribonucleotide
      d(pApGpCpA) in the presence of 3',5'-di-N-(2-hydroxyethyl) phenazinium
      derivatives of tetranucleotides as effectors led to specific chemical cleavage of
      the target at the guanosine residues of the sites ... pTpGppT. The reagent can be
      selectively addressed to one of three alkylation sites with the aid of a pair of
      tetranucleotide effectors flanking the chemically reactive tetranucleotide in the
      complex with the target DNA. The yield of the cleavage depends on the
      concentration of both the reagent and effectors, and can be enhanced, if a chain
      of two or more effectors from each side of the reagent is used. In this case,
      3',5'-di-Phn-tetranucleotide effectors are to immediately flank the reagent.

PMID- 1445427
TI  - [Study of the spatial structure of the duplex (Phn
      NH(CH2)NH)pd(CCAAACA).pd(TGTTTGGC) with covalently bound 10-(2
      hydroxyethyl)phenazine by in aqueous solution by 2D-(1)H-NMR and by limited
      molecular mechanics].
AB  - Detailed investigation of the spatial structure of duplex (Phn-NH(CH2)2NH) x
      pd(CCAAACA).pd(TGTTTGGC) having a covalently linked N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-phenazine
      in aqueous solution was continued by means of one- and two-dimensional 1H-NMR
      spectroscopy. Distances between the protons of the oligonucleotides as well as
      distances between the phenazinium and the nearest nucleotide groups protons were
      determined from the series of one-dimensional NOE experiments. The effective
      correlation time tau c determined for some proton pairs shows the phenazinium
      fragment to have greater internal motion than the heterocyclic bases. The
      deoxyribose protons coupling constants show the sugars to be in 2'-endo
      conformation. The restrained molecular mechanics have yielded a possible
      structure of duplex in the aqueous solution fitting the experimental set of
      interproton distances.

PMID- 1445428
TI  - [Directed mutagenesis of genes of some plant proteins].
AB  - Mutagenesis of two previously cloned plant genes, maize storage protein cZ22B1
      gene and barley Photosystem II protein D1 gene (psbA), was carried out. To
      improve the nutritional quality of zein, the DNA region corresponding to the
      protein sixth alpha-helix rod was substituted by a synthetic segment bearing
      three codon changes for Lys. Additional stabilization of this helix was achieved
      by three more codon changes for Glu. By means of oligonucleotide directed
      mutagenesis five different copies of psbA gene were obtained, bearing single
      codon change of Ser264 (wild type) for Gly, Ala, Cys, Asn, and Thr, respectively.
      These constructs can be used for studying functional topography of protein D1 and
      core region.

PMID- 1445429
TI  - [Physico-chemical and immunochemical characteristics of molecular forms of
      carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) not bound with concanavalin A].
AB  - A molecular form of CEA non-binding Con A (CEAnC) was isolated from colon
      adenocarcinoma metastases in liver as a fraction of CEA having no affinity to Con
      A-Sepharose. CEAnC was shown to be immunochemically identical to CEA, but to
      differ substantially with regard to the amino acid and sugar composition, and
      structure of the sugar moiety, possibly containing non only N-, but also O
      glycosyl carbohydrate chains. The antigens studied were also found to possess
      different spatial structures. The differences between CEA and CEAnC suggest CEAnC
      to be a new molecular form of CEA.

PMID- 1445430
TI  - [Protection of naturally susceptible animals against foot-and-mouth disease with
      a peptide, synthesized on a lysine matrix].
AB  - A peptide VP1-(142-158)-MAP (Multiple antigen peptide system) consisting of two
      parts: a lysine matrix made up of three levels of lysine residues coupled with
      each other and amino acid sequence 142-158 of VP1 of FMD virus strain A(22)550-
      has been synthesized. Guinea-pigs inoculated with 20 mkg of the peptide
      incorporated with Freund's complete adjuvant were protected against challenge
      with 500 ID50 of homologous FMD virus. Sheep were immunized with a single
      inoculation of the peptide in a dose of 1.0 mg. Cattle inoculated twice with 1.5
      mg of the peptide with incomplete adjuvant on the basis of synthetic oil
      developed high virus-specific antibody titres both after the first (5.3-7.6 log2
      ND50/0.1 ml) and the second inoculation (10.2-11.0 log2 ND50/0.1 ml). The peptide
      immunized animals were resistant to challenge with homologous virulent virus in a
      dose of 10(4) ID50. The immunogenic and protective capacities of the peptide VP1
      (142-158)-MAP were shown to be greater as compared with those of its linear
      analogue-peptide VP1-(141-160).

PMID- 1445431
TI  - [Transformation products of vitamin E and its analog--chroman C1 in an oxidizing
      ethyl linoleate medium].
AB  - Spirodimers, dimers, quinones of alpha-tocopherol and chroman C1 have been
      synthesized by the alpha-tocopherol and chroman Ci oxidation with K3[Fe(CN)6] and
      FeCl3. Products of the oxidative transformation of alpha-tocopherol and chroman
      Ci, viz. dimers, quinones and trimers, in the media of ethyllinoleate and nonane
      have been identified by HPLC, TLC, UV, IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The mechanism
      of the transformation and modifying activity of chromans under various oxidation
      conditions are discussed with regards to the experimental data.

PMID- 1445432
TI  - [Molecular and crystalline structure of 3'-methylamino-2',3'
      dideoxyribosylthymine--a potential inhibitor of HIV].
AB  - The structure of 3'-methylamino-2',3'-dideoxyribosylthymine [ddT(3'NHMe)] was
      determined by X-ray analysis. The space group is P2(1)2(1)2(1). Cell dimensions
      are: a 5.132(1), b 13.718(1), c 16.947(2) A, V 1193.2 A3, Z 4. The structure was
      solved by directed methods and refined by the full-matrix least square method to
      R 4.8%. The molecule of ddT(3'NHMe) has anti-conformation with respect to the
      glycosidic bond (chi (O4'-C1'-N1-C2) = -106.7 degrees), C3'-endo-C4'-exo
      puckering of the sugar moiety (P -28.8 degrees, psi m -31.5 degrees) and gauche
      gauche conformation about exocyclic C4'-C5' bond (psi(C3'-C4'-C5'-O5') 45.8
      degrees). The structure of ddT(3'NHMe) was compared with those of 3'-amino-3'
      deoxythymidine, 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine and natural thymidine.

PMID- 1445433
TI  - [Achievements and prospects of the directed search for antiviral agents in the
      nucleoside series and their derivatives].
AB  - Recent advances of antiviral drug design among nucleosides and their derivatives
      have been summarized. The first chapter deals with the history of nucleic acids
      components and further developments in this area. Next part discusses the
      mechanism of action of biologically active nucleosides: 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides,
      acyclic analogues, phosphonate derivatives and nucleoside antibiotics. The third
      chapter describes planning of complicated synthesis of nucleoside analogues from
      branched-chain sugars and stereo-specific formation of glycosidic bond upon
      synthesis of ribonucleoside and 2'-deoxyribonucleoside. The last part outlines
      further perspectives, i. e. preparation of antiviral compounds and use of
      nucleoside analogues in oligonucleotide synthesis.

PMID- 1445434
TI  - [The mechanism of anticholinesterase action of acetylene organophosphorus
      inhibitors].
AB  - Introduction of the triple bond in the leaving group of the organophosphorus
      inhibitor molecule gives a sharp raise of the inhibitor activity but does not
      change principal characteristics of the cholinesterase inhibition mechanism. The
      reactivation experiments suggest that inactivation of cholinesterases by these
      compounds occurs due to phosphorylating of the serine hydroxyl by the
      corresponding phosphoric acid. A close similarity was shown between acetylenic
      and saturated organophosphorus inhibitors in altering ka upon change of pH and
      tetraalkylammonium ions action. It is demonstrated that S-alkynyl esters of
      thioacetic acid are slowly hydrolyzed by acetylcholinesterase and cholinesterase
      without irreversible inhibition of the enzymes.

PMID- 1445435
TI  - [Pepsin in the enzymatic synthesis of esters and n-nitroanilide peptides].
AB  - Pepsin was shown to catalyze synthesis of esters or p-nitroanilides tri-, tetra-,
      penta- and hexapeptides of general formula Z-X-Y-B, where X = Ala-Phe, Phe-Met,
      Ala-Ala-Glu, Ala-Ala-Phe, Ala-Ala-Leu, Ala-Ala-Trp, Ala-Ala-Met. Y = Ala, Leu,
      Val, Phe, Arg, Ala-Ala, Gly-Gly, Leu-Ala-Ala, Phe-Ala-Ala. B = OMe, pNA. The
      reactions were carried out in dimethylformamide-water solutions at pH 4.6 by
      equimolar ratio of amino- and carboxyl components (with the exception of Arg-pNA
      taken in 2-fold excess). The amount of pepsin in the reaction approached 1:1700
      enzyme: substrate molar ratio although it might be improved--up to 1:3.10(5) for
      relatively long peptides.

PMID- 1445437
TI  - [Preparation of 5-(125)iodine-2'-deoxyuridine triphosphate and incorporation of
      the labeled nucleotide into DNA by polymerase chain reaction].
AB  - Radioiodine was substituted into deoxyuridine triphosphate by radioiodination of
      5-mercuri-2'-deoxyuridine triphosphate. The purified 125I-nucleotide was
      incorporated into DNA in reactions by the protocol of the polymerase chain
      reaction. The incorporation of the radioactive nucleotide required added
      thymidine triphosphate for the synthesis of full length molecules during the one
      minute elongation period. The iodine substituent in the DNA remained covalently
      bound during both heat and alkaline denaturation.

PMID- 1445436
TI  - [Synthesis and expression in Escherichia coli of the gene for the albumin-binding
      domain of Streptococcus protein G].
AB  - The chemical-enzymatic synthesis of a gene coding for A2B2 repeats of the albumin
      binding domain of streptococcal protein G has been accomplished. The codon usage
      of the natural gene has been modified to adapt an artificial sequence for the
      efficient translation in E. coli. The gene (238 b.p.) was cloned in the
      polylinker plasmid pUCL1 and then fused in frame to the 3'-terminus of the gene
      for the IgG-binding domain of staphylococcal protein A, which was earlier cloned
      in the expression plasmid pUCL2. A fused polypeptide composed of the E and B
      domains of protein A and A2B2 repeats of protein G was produced in E. coli cells
      under the lac promoter control. The resulted product was isolated by affinity
      chromatography on IgG-sepharose and (or) albumin-sepharose.

PMID- 1445438
TI  - [Change in the cleavage site of synthetic substrates of SsoII restriction
      endonucleases upon introduction of non-nucleotide inserts in the recognition
      segment].
AB  - The cleavage of synthetic DNA duplexes containing 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-dideoxy-D
      ribofuranose or 9-[1'-hydroxy-2'-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy]methylguanine (glG)
      residues instead of one of dG residues or one of the nucleosides of the central
      base pair of the recognition site by SsoII restriction endonuclease (decreases
      CCNGG) has been studied. It is found that the non-nucleotide insertions (except
      for glG) result in a change of the SsoII cleavage site and an increase of the
      efficiency of the cleavage. The novel noncanonical cleavage occurs at the
      phosphodiester bond adjoining the non-nucleotide insert from the 5'-end.

PMID- 1445439
TI  - Informed consent and the prescription of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine disclosure of side effects of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory
      drugs (NSAIDs) and to identify patient- and physician-specific factors associated
      with greater disclosure. METHODS: Forty-six encounters between rheumatologists
      and new adult outpatients who were prescribed an NSAID they had not been taking
      prior to the visit were audiotaped. Reviewers coded the NSAID prescribed,
      specific side effects mentioned, demographic features of patients and physicians,
      and patient clinical characteristics. Neither patients nor physicians were aware
      that side effect disclosure was being studied. RESULTS: A mean of 1.7 side
      effects was mentioned per encounter. Epigastric discomfort was mentioned in 72%
      of encounters, while other side effects, including hepatic, renal, hematologic,
      or central nervous system effects, were mentioned in < or = 15% of encounters.
      Three factors were identified as independent predictors of less disclosure of
      side effects: senior clinician (versus less experienced), patient not taking
      another NSAID immediately prior to the visit, and patient age < 40. Increased
      disclosure by less experienced clinicians occurred exclusively with patients who
      were taking another NSAID prior to the visit. CONCLUSION: Disclosure of side
      effects other than epigastric discomfort to patients who are prescribed a new
      NSAID is limited. Patients not taking NSAIDs previously, who presumably have the
      most to gain from such discussions, are told the least. These results have
      implications with regard to doctor-patient decision-making and malpractice
      litigation in the outpatient setting.

PMID- 1445440
TI  - Informed consent.

PMID- 1445441
TI  - Psychological well-being among people with recently diagnosed rheumatoid
      arthritis. Do self-perceptions of abilities make a difference?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Satisfaction with abilities and perceived importance of abilities are
      2 factors involved in the process of self-evaluation. We examined the role that
      these factors play in adjustment to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Data were
      collected, via telephone interview and mailed questionnaire, from 234 individuals
      with recently diagnosed RA. Disease severity information was obtained from
      participants' physicians. RESULTS: Consistent with study hypotheses, satisfaction
      was associated with psychological well-being only among those who viewed as very
      important the abilities being evaluated. CONCLUSION: These findings increase
      understanding of the conditions under which low levels of satisfaction are likely
      to be associated with psychological distress.

PMID- 1445442
TI  - Coping with arthritis. Current status and critique.
AB  - Our understanding of the complex role of coping in the psychological adjustment
      to arthritis has improved over the past decade. Studies have consistently
      demonstrated a relationship between certain coping strategies and psychological
      outcomes. However, unresolved problems in the methodology and theory concerning
      these studies cloud the picture, limiting the conclusions that can be drawn.
      There are general problems with the ways in which coping has been conceptualized
      and measured by researchers evaluating stress and coping, and there are problems
      more specific to the ways coping concepts and measures have been used to study
      patients with arthritis. A complete understanding of the relationship between
      coping and mental health in this population would have important theoretical and
      clinical implications. Such studies would serve as a model for investigations of
      stress and coping in patients with other illnesses, and would point to effective
      psychosocial interventions for improving the quality of life for this population.

PMID- 1445443
TI  - Defective hypothalamic response to immune and inflammatory stimuli in patients
      with rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)
      axis responses to immune/inflammatory stimuli in patients with rheumatoid
      arthritis (RA). METHODS: Diurnal secretion of cortisol and the cytokine and
      cortisol responses to surgery were studied in subjects with active RA, in
      subjects with chronic osteomyelitis (OM), and in subjects with noninflammatory
      arthritis, who served as controls. RESULTS: Patients with RA had a defective HPA
      response, as evidenced by a diurnal cortisol rhythm of secretion which was at the
      lower limit of normal in contrast to those with OM, and a failure to increase
      cortisol secretion following surgery, despite high levels of interleukin-1 beta
      (IL-1 beta) and IL-6. The corticotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test in the
      RA patients showed normal results, thus suggesting a hypothalamic defect, but
      normal pituitary and adrenal function. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that RA
      patients have an abnormality of the HPA axis response to immune/inflammatory
      stimuli which may reside in the hypothalamus. This hypothalamic abnormality may
      be an additional, and hitherto unrecognized, factor in the pathogenesis of RA.

PMID- 1445444
TI  - Scientific workshop on the biology and pathology of acquired connective tissue
      diseases.

PMID- 1445445
TI  - Regulation of synovial cell growth. Coexpression of transforming growth factor
      beta and basic fibroblast growth factor by cultured synovial cells.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate expression of transforming growth factor beta (TGF
      beta) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) by cultured rheumatoid arthritis
      (RA) synovial cells and to investigate their role as synovial cell mitogens.
      METHODS: Polypeptide growth factors were detected and identified by
      immunocytochemical staining and Western blot analysis. Messenger RNA (mRNA)
      transcripts encoding TGF beta and bFGF were identified by polymerase chain
      reaction analysis. The influence of neutralizing growth factor monoclonal
      antibodies (MAb) on RA synovial cell growth was investigated. TGF beta
      bioactivity was determined by Mv1Lu assay. RESULTS: Lysates of RA, as compared
      with normal, synovial cells contained greater amounts of TGF beta and bFGF.
      Western blot analysis identified a single TGF beta band (MW approximately 25 kd)
      in each of the cell lysates examined. Western blot analysis using MAb DE6
      identified a doublet of bFGF bands (MW approximately 18.0 kd) in normal synovial
      cell lysates and 4 bFGF bands (MW approximately 18.0, 22.0, 22.6, and 25.2 kd) in
      RA synovial cell lysates. RA and normal synovial cells expressed mRNA transcripts
      encoding TGF beta 1 but not TGF beta 2, and FGF-2 (basic FGF). Additional mRNA
      transcripts encoding FGF-5 and FGF-7 were expressed by RA, but not normal,
      synovial cells in culture. In contrast to MAb 1D11.16, which caused a dose
      dependent decrease in RA synovial cell growth, MAb DG2 (up to 100 micrograms/ml)
      had no effect on cell growth. CONCLUSION: RA and normal synovial cells cultured
      in serum-free medium express TGF beta 1 and native bFGF. However, only RA
      synovial cells in culture express higher molecular weight isoforms of bFGF. TGF
      beta 1 appears to regulate synovial cell growth in vitro through an external
      autocrine loop. Despite expression of high-affinity bFGF receptors on cultured
      synovial cells, the mechanisms by which bFGF modulates synovial cell growth are
      unknown.

PMID- 1445446
TI  - Quantitation of chondroitin 4-sulfate and chondroitin 6-sulfate in pathologic
      joint fluid.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between joint disease and the
      composition of chondroitin sulfate in the joint fluid, unsaturated disaccharide
      isomers of chondroitin 4-sulfate (delta di-4S) and chondroitin 6-sulfate (delta
      di-6S) were measured in joint fluids obtained from patients with osteoarthritis
      (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or traumatic arthritis (TA). METHODS: These
      pathologic joint fluids were digested with chondroitinase ABC, and the delta di
      4S and delta di-6S produced were determined by high performance liquid
      chromatography combined with fluorometry. RESULTS: Total content of delta di-4S
      plus delta di-6S was 71.8 +/- 30.0 nmoles/ml (mean +/- SD) in OA, 55.4 +/- 29.3
      nmoles/ml in RA, and 211 +/- 149 nmoles/ml in TA joint fluids. The ratio of delta
      di-6S to delta di-4S was 3.81 +/- 0.992 in OA, 1.13 +/- 0.527 in RA, and 5.75 +/-
      2.46 in TA joint fluids. Differences between groups were statistically
      significant. CONCLUSION: These results strongly suggest that the levels of
      chondroitin sulfate isomers and the delta di-6S: delta di-4S ratio in joint fluid
      reflect the proteoglycan metabolism of joint tissues, particularly of articular
      cartilage; hence, they could be used to diagnose joint diseases and to predict
      articular cartilage destruction from such joint diseases.

PMID- 1445447
TI  - Calcium-dependent cysteine proteinase (calpain) in human arthritic synovial
      joints.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the roles of calpains in the synovial joint in rheumatoid
      arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) and to verify the hypothesis that calpains
      present in the synovial fluid come from the synovium. METHODS: We performed
      immunohistochemical, biochemical, and immunoblotting analyses for calpains in
      synovial tissues, synovial cell cultures, and synovial fluids. RESULTS:
      Immunohistochemical staining of RA synovium demonstrated specific cytoplasmic
      staining of cells in the synovial lining layer, storomal fibroblasts, and
      endothelial cells. OA synovium showed almost the same intensity and distribution
      of calpain staining. DEAE-cellulose chromatography of RA and OA synovial extracts
      and synovial fluids showed a peak of caseinolytic activity attributable to
      calpain, as well as an inhibitory peak of calpastatin, a specific inhibitor
      protein of calpains. Immunoblotting using the anticalpain antibody from the
      calpain peak of RA and OA synovium and synovial fluid showed identity with the
      heavy subunit of calpain (80 kd). Similarly, calpain existed in the same form (80
      kd) in conditioned media (supernatant) obtained from synovial cell cultures, as
      well as in the synoviocytes. The total specific activity of the 2 calpains in the
      synovial fluid of RA patients was higher than that of calpastatin. CONCLUSION:
      The findings suggest that the extracellular appearance of calpains could be due
      to the secretion of these proteins from the synovial cells and that calpains may
      play a role in cartilage damage of RA and OA that occurs in synovial joints.

PMID- 1445448
TI  - Efficacy and safety of 10-deazaaminopterin in the treatment of rheumatoid
      arthritis. A one-year continuation, double-blind study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the long-term safety and efficacy of 10-deazaaminopterin
      (10-DAM) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A 1-year
      continuation of an initial 15-week randomized, double-blind clinical trial of 10
      DAM and methotrexate (MTX). RESULTS: 10-DAM (n = 10) and MTX (n = 8) had
      comparable safety and efficacy profiles. One 10-DAM-treated and 2 MTX-treated
      patients experienced transient side effects; 1 MTX-treated patient experienced
      recurrent nausea and discontinued MTX. CONCLUSION: 10-DAM appears to be as
      beneficial and as safe as MTX for the treatment of RA.

PMID- 1445449
TI  - The treatment of Wegener's granulomatosis with glucocorticoids and methotrexate.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify alternatives to daily low-dose cyclophosphamide (CYC) in
      the treatment of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). METHODS: An open-label pilot
      study of weekly low-dose methotrexate (MTX) plus glucocorticoids (GC) for
      treatment of patients with WG was performed. Twenty-nine patients who did not
      have immediately life-threatening disease were included. Outcome was determined
      by clinical characteristics, pathologic findings, course of illness, laboratory
      and radiographic findings, and successful withdrawal of GC therapy. RESULTS:
      Weekly administration of MTX (at a mean stable dosage of 20 mg) and GC resulted
      in marked improvement in 76% of the 29 patients. Remission was achieved in 69% of
      the patients, 7% improved but had intermittent smoldering disease that precluded
      total withdrawal of GC, and 17% had progressive disease within 2-6 months of
      starting the study treatment. Two patients who initially achieved remission later
      had relapses after GC was discontinued. Of those who remain in remission (mean
      followup time 14.5 months), 72% have not required GC for a mean period of 10
      months. CONCLUSION: Although standard therapy for WG (daily CYC and GC) has
      dramatically improved outcome in this often-fatal disease, treatment morbidity
      has led to attempts to identify effective interventions that have less toxicity.
      Weekly low-dose MTX was shown in this study to be a feasible alternative to CYC
      in patients whose illness was not immediately life-threatening or in whom prior
      CYC treatment was ineffective or produced serious toxicity. Although these
      results are preliminary, they are encouraging and justify further studies in
      which MTX, CYC, and other alternative therapeutic approaches are compared
      concurrently.

PMID- 1445450
TI  - Quantitative electroencephalography. A new approach to the diagnosis of cerebral
      dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Neuropsychiatric manifestations are common in patients with systemic
      lupus erythematosus (SLE), but accurate diagnosis is often difficult. We
      conducted a prospective study to determine the utility of neurometric
      quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) as an indicator of cerebral
      dysfunction in SLE patients. METHODS: Fifty-two SLE patients were divided into 4
      groups based on the results of neuropsychiatric evaluations. These included
      patients with objective evidence of neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE), patients with
      neuropsychiatric symptoms, patients with no evidence of NPSLE, and patients with
      a prior history of NPSLE: All QEEG findings were compared with data in an age
      regressed normative database and with findings in an independent sample of normal
      subjects. RESULTS: QEEG sensitivity was 87%, and specificity was 75%. QEEG
      results were abnormal in 74% of the SLE patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms
      and in 28% of the patients with no evidence of active NPSLE: QEEG profiles varied
      as a function of the severity and type of neuropsychiatric manifestation present.
      Within this patient population, QEEG was more sensitive than magnetic resonance
      imaging, computed tomography scanning, or conventional EEG. CONCLUSION:
      Neurometric QEEG may be a sensitive indicator of cerebral dysfunction in patients
      with NPSLE and can differentiate patients with diverse neuropsychiatric
      manifestations. When combined with a careful clinical history and evaluation,
      QEEG provides information that may be useful for the early detection of NPSLE and
      for serial evaluation of disease activity and treatment efficacy.

PMID- 1445451
TI  - The spectrum of pericardial tamponade in systemic lupus erythematosus. Report of
      ten patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the range of clinical manifestations and the outcome of
      pericardial tamponade in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
      METHODS: Patients with pericarditis and with pericardial tamponade were
      identified from our computerized database of 395 SLE patients. Medical records
      were reviewed to establish activity of SLE at the time of tamponade, as well as
      clinical and laboratory features, treatment, and outcome of the tamponade.
      RESULTS: Pericarditis occurred in 75 patients (19%), with 11 episodes of
      tamponade in 10 of them (13%; 2.5% of entire series). Tamponade was the initial
      manifestation of SLE in 4 patients. Seven episodes occurred during active lupus,
      with nephritis present in 6. Signs of venous congestion, including ascites and
      facial or peripheral edema, were the most common manifestation of tamponade.
      Pericardial fluid was exudative, and pericardial tissue demonstrated a range of
      findings including fibrinous and fibrotic changes, acute and chronic inflammatory
      infiltrates, and vascular proliferation. Tamponade was fatal in 1 patient, and 2
      patients each had recurrent effusions and pericardial thickening. CONCLUSION:
      Pericardial tamponade may occur at any point in the course of SLE, and should be
      considered in patients with unexplained signs of venous congestion. The
      differential diagnosis includes active SLE, uremia, and infection. Treatment with
      high-dose steroids and either pericardiocentesis or placement of a pericardial
      window is indicated, but recurrent effusions or pericardial thickening may
      develop.

PMID- 1445452
TI  - The effect of cyclosporin A on early and late stages of experimental lupus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of cyclosporin A (CSA) on the development of
      lupus in an experimental model. METHODS: Lupus was induced in naive mice
      following injection of a human anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) monoclonal
      antibody carrying the 16/6 idiotype (Id). CSA was injected into the mice at an
      early stage of the disease (2 months after immunization) and at a late stage (4
      months after immunization). RESULTS: CSA was found to have a suppressive effect
      on autoantibody production, as well as on the appearance of other disease
      manifestations, in the mice with lupus. The effects of the drug were more
      prominent when the mice were treated at an early stage. This was reflected by a
      dramatic decrease, to normal levels, in autoantibodies to dsDNA, histones,
      cardiolipin, Sm, RNP, SS-A/Ro, SS-B/La, and anti-DNA 16/6 Id. Similar effects on
      the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cell count, and urinary protein
      levels were noted. These data were supported by electron microscopy analysis
      showing a lack of immunoglobulin deposition in the kidneys of mice in which
      treatment was started early. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that, similar to
      findings in other autoimmune conditions (e.g., insulin-dependent diabetes
      mellitus), administration of CSA at an early stage in systemic lupus
      erythematosus may be more beneficial than if the drug is given at a later stage.

PMID- 1445453
TI  - Cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence and extent of cardiac involvement in systemic
      sclerosis (SSc) patients with no apparent cardiac symptoms. METHODS: Surface
      electrocardiography, ambulatory electrocardiography, radionuclide
      ventriculography, myocardial scintigraphy, and echocardiography were performed in
      18 patients. RESULTS: These studies demonstrated ventricular tachycardia in 1
      patient, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in 5, supraventricular tachycardia
      in 6, decreased left ventricular ejection fraction in 2, decreased right
      ventricular ejection fraction in 8, and stress-induced reversible myocardial
      perfusion abnormalities in 6. CONCLUSION: These observations demonstrate a high
      rate of cardiac abnormalities in SSc patients without cardiac symptoms.

PMID- 1445454
TI  - Restricted junctional usage of T cell receptor V beta 2 and V beta 13 genes,
      which are overrepresented on infiltrating T cells in the lips of patients with
      Sjogren's syndrome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clonality of T cell receptor (TCR) V beta 2- and V beta
      13-positive T cells, which are predominantly expressed in the lips of patients
      with Sjogren's syndrome (SS). METHODS: The junctional sequences of complementary
      DNA clones encoding TCR V beta 2 and V beta 13 genes were determined by the
      polymerase chain reaction. Forty-one V beta 2 and 45 V beta 13 clones established
      from the lips of 3 SS patients were sequenced. RESULTS: The V beta 2/J beta 2.3
      pair was enriched in 2 of the 3 patients (44% and 46% of the clones,
      respectively), and the V beta 13/J beta 2.1 sequence was dominant in 2 of the 3
      (23% and 45%). These pairs were not used preferentially in peripheral blood
      lymphocytes from the same patients. CONCLUSION: Infiltrating V beta 2- and V beta
      13-positive T cells from the lips of all 3 patients with SS were polyclonal, but
      the junctional usage of cells from 2 lip samples was restricted, compared with
      cells from peripheral blood. This suggests that not all expanded cells from the
      lips of SS patients are stimulated by superantigens.

PMID- 1445455
TI  - Serum anti-SS-B/La and IgA rheumatoid factor are markers of salivary gland
      disease activity in primary Sjogren's syndrome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify serologic markers of salivary gland disease activity in 43
      patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome. METHODS: Comparison of salivary gland
      biopsies (focus scores) and flow rates with serum concentrations of IgA and IgM
      rheumatoid factor (RF), total serum IgG, serum anti-SS-B/La antibodies, and the
      erythrocyte sedimentation rate. RESULTS: Serum anti-SS-B/La antibody levels
      correlated with focus scores (rs = 0.477, P < 0.0025). Serum IgA-RF
      concentrations correlated inversely with stimulated parotid gland salivary flow
      rates (rs = -0.394, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Measuring serum levels of anti-SS-B/La
      and IgA-RF would be useful when monitoring salivary responses in therapeutic
      trials, especially in patients with minimal salivary function.

PMID- 1445456
TI  - Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis presenting as
      Sjogren's syndrome.
AB  - A 63-year-old woman, in whom a diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome was initially
      made, proved to have systemic vasculitis with salivary gland involvement and
      necrotizing and crescentic glomerulonephritis. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic
      autoantibodies (ANCA) against myeloperoxidase were positive. ANCA-associated
      vasculitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of Sjogren's
      syndrome. A positive finding on immunoassay for ANCA against myeloperoxidase or
      proteinase 3 may help establish the diagnosis.

PMID- 1445457
TI  - Heavy and light chain composition of serum IgA and IgA rheumatoid factor in
      Henoch-Schonlein purpura.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To characterize the heavy and light chain composition of serum IgA and
      IgA rheumatoid factor (RF) in 34 children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP).
      METHODS: Serum IgA and IgA subclass concentrations were measured by radial
      immunodiffusion. IgA-RF and the light chain composition of serum IgA and IgA-RF
      were determined by enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: Serum IgA and IgA1 concentrations
      were higher in HSP patients than controls (P = 0.0001), but there was no
      difference in IgA2 concentrations between the two groups. IgA-RF was present in
      19 of 34 HSP patients; it was composed predominantly of IgA1. The kappa:lambda
      ratio of serum IgA was virtually identical in patients and controls, but the
      kappa:lambda ratio of IgA-RF was significantly higher than that of the serum IgA
      from the 19 IgA-RF seropositive patients (P = 0.0003). CONCLUSION: Serum IgA1 is
      preferentially increased in children with HSP, but the light chain composition of
      IgA is not different from that in controls. IgA-RF is common in HSP; it is
      composed predominantly of IgA1 and it is enriched in kappa light chains.

PMID- 1445458
TI  - Suppression of renal disease and arthritis, and prolongation of survival in MRL
      lpr mice treated with an extract of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Treatment of MRL-lpr/lpr mice with Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f
      (TWHf) to evaluate its effects on mortality, renal disease, and arthritis.
      METHODS: Mice were fed water (group A, control), TWHf (group B), or first water
      and then TWHf (group C) from age 7 weeks until age 21 weeks. RESULTS: Arthritis
      and glomerulonephritis were decreased in groups B and C mice, and survival was
      increased in group B mice. CONCLUSION: TWHf decreases the mortality rate, and
      severity of glomerulonephritis and arthritis in MRL-lpr/lpr mice.

PMID- 1445460
TI  - Radiologic vignette. Primary Madelung's deformity.

PMID- 1445459
TI  - Premature death with bladder outlet obstruction and hyperprolactinemia in New
      Zealand black X New Zealand white mice treated with ethinyl estradiol and 17 beta
      estradiol.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine causes of death, estrogen toxicity, and
      hyperprolactinemia in a murine model of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
      METHODS: Female New Zealand Black x New Zealand White (NZB x NZW) mice were
      implanted with ethinyl estradiol, 17 beta-estradiol, or empty capsules
      (controls). RESULTS: Estrogen-treated mice developed striking hyperprolactinemia
      and died prematurely with genitourinary complications. CONCLUSION: Implanted
      estrogens, including 17 beta-estradiol in a dose reported previously to stimulate
      SLE, contribute to premature death in NZB x NZW mice, through toxic effects.
      Estrogen therapy increases the level of prolactin, an immunostimulatory hormone.

PMID- 1445461
TI  - Management of asymptomatic Borrelia burgdorferi infection.

PMID- 1445462
TI  - Specific binding of lipocortin-1 (annexin I) to monocytes and neutrophils is
      decreased in rheumatoid arthritis.

PMID- 1445463
TI  - Genotypes of polymorphic arylamine N-acetyltransferase in systemic lupus
      erythematosus.

PMID- 1445464
TI  - Tophaceous gout as a fungating mass.

PMID- 1445465
TI  - T cell activation through CD3 molecules in patients with systemic lupus
      erythematosus.

PMID- 1445466
TI  - Interleukin-6 in scleroderma: comment on the article by Needleman et al.

PMID- 1445467
TI  - Sjogren's syndrome and assays for retroviral proteins: reply.

PMID- 1445468
TI  - Sjogren's syndrome and retroviral protein reactivity: reply.

PMID- 1445469
TI  - Auranofin, methotrexate, but no placebo: comment on the article by Williams et
      al.

PMID- 1445470
TI  - Are there subsets of autoantibodies to nuclear lamins?

PMID- 1445471
TI  - In vitro studies on the influence of L-ascorbic acid 2-[3,4-dihydro- 2,5,7,8
      tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-6yl-hy drogen phosphate]
      potassium salt on lipid peroxidation and phospholipase A2 activity.
AB  - The effects of L-ascorbic acid 2-[3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2- (4,8,12
      trimethyltridecyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-6yl-hydrogen phosphate] potassium salt (EPC
      K1, CAS 127061-56-7), a new compound for ischemia-reperfusion injuries, on lipid
      peroxidation and phospholipase A2 activity were studied in vitro using rat brain
      homogenates and human plasma. EPC-K1 inhibited phospholipase A2 activity in human
      plasma in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 7.3 x 10(-4) mol/l), whereas a
      mixture of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid did not exhibit this effect. In rat
      brain homogenates, EPC-K1 also inhibited lipid peroxidation in a concentration
      dependent manner (IC50 = 2.3 x 10(-6) mol/l). alpha-Tocopherol was less active
      than EPC-K1. These properties of EPC-K1 suggest that EPC-K1 may prove useful in
      the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion injuries.

PMID- 1445472
TI  - Enhancement of nerve fibre regeneration by nucleotides after peripheral nerve
      crush damage. Electrophysiologic and morphometric investigations.
AB  - The effect of nucleotide administration on the regeneration of myelinated nerve
      fibres following crush injury to the sciatic nerve of the rat was studied using
      both morphometric and electroneurophysiologic techniques. After a standardized
      localized crush lesion of the right sciatic nerve, rats were given nucleotides
      daily at a dosage of 3.0 mg/kg body wt uridine monophosphate (UMP), 2.5 mg/kg
      body wt cytidine monophosphate (CMP) or 3.0 plus 2.5 mg/kg body wt UMP plus CMP,
      respectively. Observations were made after 20, 40 and 60 days of nerve
      regeneration for comparison with age-matched crushed or nonoperated controls.
      Electroneurophysiologic studies of right sural nerves were performed as single
      fibre measurements. Morphometry was performed on semithin transverse sections of
      the right common peroneal nerve with a fully automatic interactive image analysis
      system. Forty days after crush injury the single fibre conduction velocity of all
      type II afferents in the UMP/CMP treated group was significantly accelerated.
      There was a trend (10% greater than or equal to p greater than or equal to 5%) to
      increase of mean efferent single nerve fibre function at this time. Morphometry
      of nerve fibres revealed a trend to enlargement of mean fibre area and mean fibre
      diameter related to increased myelin area and myelin thickness. After 60 days,
      there was a trend to increase of single fibre conduction velocity of all type II
      afferents in the UMP/CMP treated group. Automated morphometry revealed a
      significant increase for the following parameters: fibre area, fibre diameter,
      myelin area, myelin thickness and axon area.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445473
TI  - Effects of nicorandil on regional cerebral blood flow in patients with chronic
      cerebral infarction. Preliminary communication.
AB  - The effect of a single oral dose of nicorandil (N-2-(hydroxyethyl)-nicotinamide
      nitrate, CAS 65141-46-0) on the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was studied
      in 9 patients with cerebral infarction. The rCBF was measured by the Xe-133
      inhalation method before and after a single oral 10 mg dose of nicorandil. Mean
      arterial blood pressure (MABP) was mildly but significantly decreased. PeCO2 did
      not change significantly. Mean rCBF was significantly increased by 20.9% after
      administration of nicorandil (p less than 0.05). No significant correlation
      between percentage change in the MABP and percentage change in the rCBF was
      observed. These results indicate that nicorandil is not just a coronary
      vasodilator, but also possesses beneficial effects on the cerebral circulation in
      patients with cerebral infarction.

PMID- 1445474
TI  - Pretreatment anxiety level as differential predictor in outpatients with panic
      disorder.
AB  - The pretreatment anxiety level is supposed to be a very important unspecific
      treatment factor. Main purpose of this study is to test whether the patients'
      pretreatment anxiety level is a general or a specific predictor of treatment
      response and whether mildly, moderately, and severely anxious patients can be
      differentially characterized by other diagnostic and clinical variables. 103
      patients (37 males, 66 females; mean +/- sd age 35.6 +/- 9.5 years), a subsample
      of the Second Phase of the Cross-National Collaborative Panic Study, were
      included in the present study. A high positive correlation of initial anxiousness
      with the number of panic attacks at the end of treatment was found, moreover high
      positive correlations with most other baseline assessments. Initially severely
      anxious patients are the severest ill patients with the least treatment response,
      and that in all treatment groups. The pretreatment anxiety level predicts the
      number of panic attacks as well as the degree of avoidance behavior in both drug
      groups, whereas it predicts anticipatory anxiety intensity in the placebo group.

PMID- 1445475
TI  - Use of an in vitro absorption model system for predicting sustained release of
      verapamil.
AB  - It is shown that it is possible to characterize sustained release formulations in
      vitro using not only dissolution data but also an absorption model system. The
      mean dissolution time (MDT) has been shown to be a suitable parameter for
      evaluating sustained release formulations in vitro. t1/2 and mean residence time
      (MRT) have been shown to be convenient pharmacokinetic parameters for
      characterizing sustained release formulations. For comparing in vitro and in vivo
      results the quotients MDT normal/MDT retard and MRT normal/MRT retard do seem to
      be useful.

PMID- 1445476
TI  - Controlled study on the therapeutic efficacy of propionyl-L-carnitine in patients
      with congestive heart failure.
AB  - A double-blind phase II study of propionyl-L-carnitine (CAS 17298-37-2) versus
      placebo was carried out on a group of 60 patients with mild to moderate (II and
      III NYHA class) congestive heart failure. The group was made up of men and women
      aged between 48 and 73 years in chronic treatment with digitalis and diuretics
      for at least 3 months and who still displayed symptoms. Thirty of these patients
      were chosen randomly and for 180 days, 500 mg of propionyl-L-carnitine was orally
      administered, 3 times a day in addition to their usual treatment. At basal
      conditions and after 30, 90 and 180 days the maximum exercise time was evaluated
      using an exercise tolerance test performed on an ergometer bicycle and the left
      ventricular ejection fraction was tested by means of bidimensional
      echocardiography. After one month of treatment, the patients treated with
      propionyl-L-carnitine, compared to the control group, showed significant
      increases in the values of both tests, increases which became even more evident
      after 90 and 180 days. At the stated times the increases in the maximum exercise
      time were 16.4%, 22.9%, and 25.9%, respectively. The ventricular ejection
      fraction increased by 8.4%, 11.6% and 13.6%, respectively. On the basis of these
      results, having studied the particular mechanism of action of propionyl-L
      carnitine the authors conclude that it represents a drug of undoubted therapeutic
      interest in patients with congestive heart failure, in whom it could be
      efficaciously administered along with a standard pharmacological therapy.

PMID- 1445477
TI  - Pharmacokinetics and antihypertensive effect of oral pelanserin in renal
      hypertensive dogs.
AB  - The pharmacokinetics and antihypertensive effect of pelanserin (CAS 2208-51-7), a
      5-HT2- and alpha 1-antagonist, were studied during repetitive administration (0.5
      mg/kg, p.o., b.i.d.) in renal hypertensive dogs. After the first dose, pelanserin
      was absorbed reaching a Cmax value of 39.6 +/- 9.01 ng/ml at a tmax of 2.58 +/-
      0.74 h. The steady state of plasma levels was reached between the 3rd and 15th
      doses of pelanserin. Pharmacokinetic parameters calculated after the 47th dose of
      pelanserin were Cmax(ss) of 147.15 +/- 35.88 ng/ml at a tmax(ss) of 3.17 +/- 1.02
      h, AUC(0-12 h) of 593.80 +/- 106.96 ng.h/ml and a terminal half-life of 18.02 +/-
      2.94 h. The accumulation ratio determined as Cmin(ss)/Cmin1 was 2.36 +/- 0.43 and
      was similar to that calculated in basis to the terminal half-life 2.67 +/- 0.37.
      On the other hand, pelanserin produced blood pressure decrease with two different
      profiles. After the first dose an acute antihypertensive effect was observed
      which reached a maximum of 20 mmHg in about 3 h; then blood pressure recovered
      gradually arriving to basal values at 12 h. When administered repetitively,
      pelanserin produced a gradual reduction in blood pressure which reached its
      maximum at 15 days. After the last dose, blood pressure basal values were about
      20 mmHg lower than pretreatment levels and remained almost unchanged during 48 h
      after the last dose. It is concluded that pelanserin pharmacokinetic and
      pharmacodynamic profiles in dogs are adequate for an antihypertensive agent,
      therefore this drug possesses potential therapeutic usefulness in the treatment
      of hypertension.

PMID- 1445478
TI  - Relative efficacy and safety of loratadine, hydroxyzine, and placebo in chronic
      idiopathic urticaria.
AB  - The efficacy and safety of a new non-sedating antihistamine, loratadine
      (Clarityn, CAS 79794-75-5) 10 mg q.d., was compared to the classical
      antihistamine, hydroxyzine 25 mg t.i.d. and placebo in a 4-week (optional 12
      week) randomized, double-blind, multi-center study in 203 patients with chronic
      idiopathic urticaria. Efficacy evaluations included weekly physician and patient
      assessments of pruritus, overall disease condition, and therapeutic response to
      treatment. Loratadine and hydroxyzine were significantly more effective than
      placebo and clinically comparable to each other as measured by all efficacy
      evaluations at each visit. Loratadine was safe and well tolerated with sedation
      and dry mouth similar to placebo and significantly less than hydroxyzine.

PMID- 1445479
TI  - Percutaneous absorption of methylprednisolone aceponate after single and multiple
      dermal application as ointment in male volunteers.
AB  - Six healthy, elderly volunteers were treated once daily with Advantan ointment
      containing 0.1% of methylprednisolone aceponate (MPA, CAS 86401-95-8) in an area
      dose of 5 mg ointment/cm2 on a marked area of 80 cm2 of intact skin on the back
      for 14 days. The ointments used for treatment on days 1 and 8 contained 14C-MPA
      with a specific radioactivity of 2.5 MBq/mg MPA. Following the radioactive pulse
      doses, the concentrations of 3H-radioactivity in plasma and urine were monitored
      up to 48 h and 7 days, respectively. The concentration of 14C-radioactivity in
      the plasma did not exceed the limit of detection of 0.3 ng MPA-equiv./ml.
      Percutaneous absorption of MPA through intact skin was small (les than 1%) and
      did not change during repeated application, indicating that the penetration
      barrier is not influenced by the drug or the vehicle.

PMID- 1445480
TI  - Hypolipidaemic activity of a novel acyclic ansamycin derivative. Synthesis and
      pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies in rodents.
AB  - Certain classes of the antibacterial agent rifamycin SV have recently been shown
      to possess marked hypolipidaemic activity. An acyclic oxazolylrifamycin has been
      prepared and its hypolipidaemic properties evaluated; it was found to be
      significantly more potent when administered orally to Wistar and Sprague-Dawley
      rats than other previously described rifamycin hypolipidaemics. The plasma decay
      rate of a bolus of intravenously administered 125I-LDL (low density lipoprotein)
      was significantly greater in treated rats than in rats receiving vehicle alone,
      compatible with a drug-induced increase in LDL catabolism. A bolus of
      radiolabelled drug was rapidly removed from the circulation by the liver, the
      presumed target organ. Compound 3 constitutes the first example of a new class of
      acyclic hypolipidaemic ansamycins.

PMID- 1445481
TI  - Influence of protein binding on the metabolic clearance rate of synthetic
      progestins in the rat liver perfusion model.
AB  - Levonorgestrel (LN), 3-Keto-desogestrel (KDG), norethisterone (NET), and
      gestodene (GST) were investigated in the recirculating rat liver perfusion model.
      Progestins were dissolved in buffered salt solution (MI), BSA containing (MII) or
      HSA and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) containing medium (MIII) at a
      concentration of about 60 ng/ml. Each 3-5 female rat livers were perfused with
      MI, MII, and MIII for 1 h. Perfusion medium, liver biopsies and total bile were
      analyzed for progestin levels by specific radioimmunoassays. Protein binding
      characteristics were determined in media and tissue. In all experiments bile
      (remaining liver) contained less than 1% (3%) of respective progestin dose
      demonstrating an almost complete biotransformation of all drugs by rat livers,
      irrespective of used medium. With MI, metabolic clearance rates (MCRs) and half
      lives (t1/2) were not different for the four progestins. With MII, the actual
      progestin levels were generally higher than with MI, but half-lives were not
      changed. MCRs were close to the perfusion rate at the start of experiments but
      decreased to about 50%. MCRs of free and total drug levels were identical.
      Protein binding of 70-80% did not change with time. With MIII, the half-lives
      increased 1.5 fold (NET), 2.8 fold (KDG), 3.1 fold (GST) and 3.2 fold (LN) and
      MCRs accounted for 50-70% of perfusion rate at the beginning. The time courses of
      further MCR decreases were different for the various progestins and can be
      attributed to differences in specific binding of drugs to SHBG. Clearly, the
      presence of SHBG in MIII induced a shift of drug from liver tissue into the
      perfusion medium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445482
TI  - Pharmacokinetics and serum protein binding of gestodene and 3-keto-desogestrel in
      women after single oral administration of two different contraceptive
      formulations.
AB  - Two low-dose oral contraceptives, both containing the same dose of ethinyl
      estradiol (EE2, CAS 57-63-6) but different progestins--gestodene (CAS 60282-87-3)
      and desogestrel (CAS 54024-22-5), respectively--were administered to 18 women in
      a single dose, cross-over study. The serum concentrations of gestodene (GEST, one
      of the components of Femovan) and 3-keto-desogestrel (KDG) have been measured by
      specific radioimmuno-assays and the pharmacokinetics of both progestins were
      assessed. The serum protein binding of both compounds was also investigated and
      although the free fraction was the same for GEST and KDG, the distribution with
      respect to the binding proteins albumin and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)
      was slightly different. GEST was mainly bound to SHBG, while KDG was
      predominantly bound to albumin. Maximum concentrations of GEST were observed
      after 0.7 +/- 0.2 h and amounted to 4.9 +/- 2.4 ng/ml. A biphasic pattern of
      disposition was observed, with half lives of 0.13 +/- 0.06 h and 14.6 +/- 4.2 h,
      respectively. The AUC was 32.9 +/- 18.3 ng.ml-1.h. For KDG, maximum serum levels
      of 1.7 +/- 0.8 ng/ml were observed 1.5 +/- 0.8 h post administration. Drug levels
      declined with half-lives of 0.5 +/- 0.2 h and 17.0 +/- 9.3 h, respectively, and
      the AUC was 15.2 +/- 10.9 ng.ml-1.h.

PMID- 1445483
TI  - Pharmacokinetics and serum protein binding of 3-keto-desogestrel in women during
      three cycles of treatment with a low-dose combination oral contraceptive.
AB  - The serum concentrations of 3-keto-desogestrel have been measured in 43 women who
      took a low-dose oral contraceptive containing 30 micrograms ethinyl estradiol
      (CAS 57-63-6) together with 150 micrograms desogestrel (CAS 54024-22-5) for a
      period of 3 months. Basic pharmacokinetic parameters, like Cmax, tmax and AUC, as
      well as the serum protein binding of 3-keto-desogestrel were determined on days
      1, 10 and 21 of the first and the third treatment cycle, respectively. During
      cycle one, Cmax, AUC(0-4h) and AUC(0-24h) values on day 1 were 1.9 +/- 0.7 ng/ml,
      3.9 +/- 1.3 ng.ml-1.h and 12.4 +/- 5.7 ng.ml-1.h, respectively. These values
      increased to 4.7 +/- 2.0 ng/ml, 12.1 +/- 5.6 ng.ml-1.h and 47.3 +/- 26.0 ng.ml
      1.h on day 21. Within cycle 3, a similar, although less steep increase was
      observed for these parameters and there was practically no difference in the
      values of corresponding parameters on day 21 of both cycles. Throughout
      treatment, there was a redistribution of 3-keto-desogestrel with respect to the
      binding proteins albumin and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). During cycle 1,
      the free fraction decreased from 1.8% on day 1 to 1.1% on day 21, and the SHBG
      bound fraction increased at the same time from 40% to 62%, mainly at the expense
      of the albumin-bound fraction. During cycle 3, there were only minor changes as
      compared to cycle one. The observed changes in the serum protein binding were
      related to an increase in SHBG levels during the treatment period.

PMID- 1445484
TI  - Pharmacokinetics and protein binding of gestodene under treatment with a low-dose
      combination oral contraceptive for three months.
AB  - The serum concentrations of gestodene (CAS 60282-87-3) as well as the binding of
      this progestin to serum proteins were studied in 40 women who took a low-dose
      oral contraceptive (Femovan, Femodene) containing 30 micrograms ethinyl estradiol
      (CAS 57-63-6) and 75 micrograms gestodene for 3 months. On days 1, 10, and 21 of
      the first and the third treatment cycle, respectively, 7 blood samples were drawn
      before and up to 4 h after pill intake; additional samples were taken prior to
      morning ingestion of pill on days 2, 5, 11, 15 and 22 of these cycles. Gestodene
      levels were measured by means of a specific radioimmunoassay and were evaluated
      for Cmax, tmax, and AUC up to 4 and 24 h. Independent of the test day and the
      treatment cycle studied, mean maximum gestodene serum levels were found about 0.8
      to 0.9 h after pill intake. During the first treatment cycle, mean values of
      Cmax, AUC(0-4h), and AUC(0-24h) amounted to 4.3 ng.ml-1, 9.3 ng.ml-1.h, and 27.3
      ng.ml-1.h on test day 1; these values increased by 250-400% and by 300-500%,
      respectively, when days 10 and 21 were compared to day 1. On day 1 of the third
      treatment cycle, these pharmacokinetic parameters were higher by almost a factor
      of two as compared to the corresponding data obtained on the beginning of the
      first cycle whereas the increase of these values between day 1 and the subsequent
      test days (200-300%) was slightly lower in cycle 3 as compared to cycle
      1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445485
TI  - Synthesis of the orally macrofilaricidal and stable glycerolipidic prodrug of
      melphalan, 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-(4'(bis(2''-chloroethyl)amino)phenylalaninoyl)gl
      ycerol.
AB  - A new strategy is presented to develop macrofilaricidal compounds orally
      administered and able to concentrate in the lymphatic system. A diglyceride
      derivative of melphalan, 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-(4'(bis(2''
      chloroethyl)amino)phenylalaninoyl)gl y cerol, was synthesized. The esterification
      of melphalan by 1,3-dipalmitin allowed chemical stabilization of the alkylating
      agent in aqueous dispersion. No degradation of this prodrug was observed after a
      3-month storage of an aqueous dispersion at 4 degrees C. The filaricidal activity
      of the prodrug was compared with those of melphalan in vitro against adults,
      infective larvae and microfilariae of Molinema dessetae, and evaluated in vivo on
      Molinema dessetae infected Proechimy oris. In vitro, melphalan and the
      glycerolipidic prodrug were inactive against microfilariae but active at 1 mmol/l
      against infective larvae and adults. In vivo studies were performed with rodents
      subcutaneously inoculated with infective larvae from Aedes aegypti. The number of
      macrofilariae was significantly reduced following treatment with a single oral
      dose of the alkylating agent prodrug (0.082 mmol/kg).

PMID- 1445486
TI  - In vitro activity of taurolidine, chlorophenol-camphor-menthol and chlorhexidine
      against oral pathogenic microorganisms.
AB  - The antimicrobial activity of taurolidine (Taurolin, CAS 19388-87-5), a synthetic
      broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent and anti-toxin, and two conventional
      antiseptics, chlorophenol-camphor-menthol (CCM) and chlorhexidine digluconate
      (CHX) were compared using the serial dilution test on 10 potential oral
      pathogenic bacterial species. The minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal
      concentrations were lowest for CHX (MIC 0.03-0.12 mg/ml), followed by taurolidine
      (MIC 0.12-0.5 mg/ml) and CCM (MIC 0.5-2.0 mg/ml). However, if both bacterial
      efficacy and cytotoxicity are considered, only taurolidine achieves extensive
      bactericidal activity with tissue tolerability.

PMID- 1445487
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of nicotine and cotinine after application of two different
      nicotine patches under steady state conditions.
AB  - Tobacco use has resulted in major health related problems world-wide. Transdermal
      nicotine replacement therapy is one of the most promising strategies in smoking
      cessation. In the present trial the pharmacokinetic properties of two matrix
      patches (A and B) were characterized and compared after daily application on day
      4. Predose nicotine concentrations on day 4 with patch B were higher than with
      patch A (12.7 +/- 9.5 ng/ml vs. 8.3 +/- 5.3 ng/ml). With patch A there was a
      steeper increase up to the peak level, followed by a decline gradually up to 24
      h. 24 h after application predose levels were reached again, demonstrating
      absence of significant accumulation of nicotine. The calculated elimination half
      lives of nicotine (3.4 +/- 1.8 h after patch A and 3.3 +/- 2.0 h after patch B)
      were longer than after i.v. application (published values range from 40 to 120
      min). Under steady state cotinine concentrations remained constant.

PMID- 1445488
TI  - Resistance mechanisms in murine tumors with acquired multidrug resistance.
AB  - Mechanisms of multidrug resistance were studied in murine leukemia (L 1210) and
      sarcoma (Sa 180) tumors after pretreatment with anthracyclines in vivo. Despite
      identical pretreatment protocols, a considerable difference in the level of
      resistance between L 1210 and Sa 180 tumors was noted (for doxorubicin: 45-fold
      versus 340-fold; for daunorubicin: 51-fold versus 275-fold). However, no
      difference in mdr 1 gene-amplification and the overexpression of mdr 1-RNA or P
      glycoprotein was demonstrated. None of these parameters did increase by further
      treatment with a higher concentration of anthracyclines. Resistant sublines of Sa
      180 revealed an overexpression of glutathione S-transferase-pi (GST-pi) in
      comparison to the parental line, whereas in sensitive and resistant sublines of L
      1210 tumors the expression of GST-pi was similar. In order to study whether
      trifluoperazine can reverse the P-glycoprotein mediated component of multidrug
      resistance, trifluoperazine and doxorubicin were tested in vitro in L 1210 and Sa
      180 cells. In contrast to the complete reversal of resistance in L 1210 tumors,
      resistance in Sa 180 was only partly circumvented. However, by buthionine
      sulfoximine treatment, the toxicity of multidrug resistant Sa 180 tumors could be
      increased. It was possible to reverse the resistance of Sa 180 tumors completely
      by trifluoperazine plus buthionine sulfoximine. Thus, multidrug-resistant Sa 180
      tumors express different defense mechanisms whereas L 1210 tumors express only
      one defense mechanism (P-glycoprotein).

PMID- 1445489
TI  - Distribution of low density lipoprotein in the branch and non-branch regions of
      the aorta.
AB  - Atherosclerosis occurs focally in branch segments of the artery. Understanding
      why these segments are more susceptible to the development of the disease is at
      the root of understanding atherogenesis. We investigated accumulation of low
      density lipoprotein (LDL) in the branch and non-branch regions of the aorta to
      determine why the disease develops in branch regions. Abdominal aortas and their
      major branches were harvested from 36 rabbits. Rabbit LDL was prepared from whole
      blood and radiolabeled with 125I. The aorta was incubated with radiolabeled LDL
      in the lumen at 37 degrees C, under intraluminal pressure of 2-3 mmHg, for 1 h.
      Disks of 1.8 mm diameter were punched from the branch and non-branch regions of
      the aorta, cryosectioned and the sections counted in a gamma counter. Protein
      bound radioactivity was determined by TCA precipitation. LDL accumulation was
      highest towards the aortic intima and declined sharply towards the media. LDL
      accumulation at any given depth was higher in the branch than non-branch region.
      LDL accumulation in the intimal-medial sections was 87% higher in the branch than
      non-branch region. Total LDL accumulation in the branch was almost twice that in
      the non-branch region. Mean LDL accumulation was also greater in the branch than
      non-branch region. The aorta was significantly thicker at the branch. LDL
      distribution profiles indicate that LDL is present in a greater concentration and
      over a greater depth in the branch than non-branch region. The tendency of the
      branch region to accumulate LDL in greater amounts may explain its susceptibility
      to atherosclerotic lesion development.

PMID- 1445490
TI  - Effect of low-dose probucol therapy on LDL oxidation and the plasma lipoprotein
      profile in male volunteers.
AB  - The effect of 4 months of low-dose probucol treatment (250 mg/day) on LDL
      oxidation and on plasma-HDL cholesterol was studied in a prospective, double
      blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 26 male volunteers. LDL
      samples isolated at baseline and at 4 months were subjected to in vitro tests of
      LDL oxidation, involving copper-catalyzed, time-course experiments. For the
      placebo group, LDL oxidation did not significantly change over the 4-month
      period. However, in the probucol group, LDL oxidation was significantly inhibited
      at 4 months, as evidenced by assays measuring conjugated diene formation, lipid
      peroxide production and altered electrophoretic mobility of oxidized LDL. In
      fact, in the probucol group the 'lag-phase' of oxidation was prolonged 2.7-fold.
      Neither probucol nor placebo had a significant effect on plasma HDL-cholesterol:
      in the probucol group HDL-cholesterol fell from 37.7 +/- 7.4 mg/dl to 34.2 +/-
      8.3 mg/dl (percentage decrease -8.9), while in the placebo group plasma HDL
      cholesterol levels were 42.4 +/- 8.3 mg/dl and 40.9 +/- 7.0 mg/dl at baseline and
      4 months (percentage decrease -2.7). Therefore, a low dose of probucol (250
      mg/day) given daily seems to afford protection against the oxidative modification
      of LDL, and does not appear to exert any substantial effect on the plasma
      lipoprotein profile.

PMID- 1445491
TI  - Transforming growth factor-beta 1 and interleukin-1 beta stimulate LDL receptor
      activity in Hep G2 cells.
AB  - The effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and interleukin-1
      beta (IL-1 beta) on LDL receptor in Hep G2 cells was investigated. A greater than
      two-fold stimulation of the binding and internalisation of [125I]-labelled LDL at
      37 degrees C was observed after an 18-h incubation of the cells with TGF-beta 1
      at 50 ng/ml and IL-1 beta at 11,700 units/ml compared with control cells.
      Scatchard analysis of the binding of [125I]-labelled LDL at 4 degrees C after an
      18-h incubation of the cells with 1170 units/ml IL-1 beta and 5 ng/ml TGF-beta 1
      showed that they were both acting primarily by increasing LDL receptor number.
      The increase in LDL receptor activity could not be attributed to an increase in
      cell proliferation as TGF-beta 1 at concentrations from 0.05 ng/ml to 50 ng/ml
      had no significant effect on either cell number or [3H]thymidine incorporation
      into DNA whilst IL-1 beta inhibited DNA synthesis by more than 80% at a
      concentration of 11,700 units/ml but had significant effect on cell number.
      Cholesterol biosynthesis from [14C]acetate, in contrast to the stimulation of LDL
      receptor activity, was inhibited by approximately two-fold by incubation with TGF
      beta 1 at 50 ng/ml and IL-1 beta at 11,700 units/ml.

PMID- 1445492
TI  - Paradoxical response of plasma lipoprotein(a) in patients undergoing
      cardiopulmonary bypass.
AB  - Plasma lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein levels are known to decrease after
      major surgery. Coronary artery bypass surgery additionally involves use of
      extracorporeal circulation by use of a cardiopulmonary bypass pump, which
      necessitates hemodilution due to saline dextrose infusion to prime the pump. To
      investigate changes in lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins as well as
      changes in C-reactive protein and albumin we conducted a study on 22 patients
      undergoing cardiac surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass. Timed arterial blood
      samples were taken before, during and after cardiopulmonary bypass. At the onset
      and during cardiopulmonary bypass a rapid and significant fall was observed in
      all lipids and lipoproteins except lipoprotein(a) with recovery to near basal
      levels by 72 h for cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein
      cholesterol and albumin, while apolipoproteins AI and B remained below basal
      levels during the postoperative period up to 72 h. In contrast, lipoprotein(a)
      levels increased at the onset, doubled during cardiopulmonary bypass and remained
      elevated postoperatively. On the other hand, C-reactive protein levels fell at
      the onset and during cardiopulmonary bypass but they became markedly elevated
      postoperatively. When results were corrected for hemodilution, the response
      patterns remained unchanged. As lipoprotein(a) is both atherogenic and
      thrombogenic, its elevation during cardiopulmonary bypass may be clinically
      important.

PMID- 1445493
TI  - Acute physical exercise alters apolipoprotein E and C-III concentrations of apo E
      rich very low density lipoprotein fraction.
AB  - To evaluate the influence of exercise on the apolipoprotein (apo) composition of
      very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) subfractions, we exercised 6 sedentary men
      for 30 min, 1 h after a fatty meal. VLDL fractions from samples drawn 4, 6 and 8
      h post-prandially were separated from pre-stained plasma by high performance
      liquid chromatography and fractionated to apo E-poor (heparin-unbound) and apo E
      rich (heparin-bound) fractions. The postprandial peak area (volts) and apo E, C
      II and C-III concentrations (mg/dl) of post-exercise VLDL fractions were compared
      with corresponding postprandial values obtained at rest. Plasma triglycerides
      (TG) levels (mg/dl) were significantly lower 4 (P < 0.05), 6 (P < 0.02) and 8 h
      (p < 0.05) postprandially; the apo E-poor VLDL fraction was not modified by
      exercise and its apo concentrations were in the low range of detection; the apo E
      rich VLDL peak area significantly decreased 4 (P < 0.01), 6 (P < 0.01) and 8 h (P
      < 0.05) postprandially; the apo E concentration of apo E-rich VLDL was
      significantly lower 4 (P < 0.02) and 6 h (P < 0.05) postprandially; the apo C-III
      concentration of apo E-rich VLDL significantly increased, 4 and 6 h
      postprandially (P < 0.05). Apo E-rich VLDL is, presumably, the metabolically
      active fraction of the particle and may regulate plasma TG level following
      exercise. The metabolic role of apo E-poor VLDL remains to be defined.

PMID- 1445494
TI  - Probucol reduces plasma lipid peroxides in man.
AB  - Although primarily used as a lipid lowering drug, probucol also possesses anti
      oxidant activity and has been shown in animal models to inhibit or delay the
      progression of atherosclerosis. It has been suggested that this anti
      atherosclerotic effect may occur through inhibition of free radical oxidation of
      low density lipoprotein. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of
      probucol on free radical activity in hyperlipidaemic patients. Plasma lipid
      peroxides were measured before probucol treatment, at 4 and 12 weeks treatment
      and then 4 weeks after stopping probucol. Lipid peroxide concentrations were
      significantly reduced during and 4 weeks after stopping treatment with probucol,
      when compared with baseline values. There were no changes in plasma vitamin E
      concentrations. The results of this study indicate that probucol reduces lipid
      peroxidation in patients, an effect which may occur through a free radical
      scavenging action.

PMID- 1445495
TI  - Hageman factor and risk of myocardial infarction in middle-aged men.
AB  - In order to evaluate whether Hageman factor (XII) is increased in survivors of
      myocardial infarction and whether this in turn influences factor VII coagulant
      activity (VIIc), we examined the coagulation and lipoprotein profiles in 82
      subjects, 51 of whom had a definite history of myocardial infarction and 31
      healthy volunteers invited from a local general practice register for a
      cardiovascular screen. Both serum cholesterol (P = 0.03) and plasma fibrinogen
      levels (P = 0.02) were significantly elevated in cases compared with controls.
      There were no significant differences in coagulant activities, and in particular
      factor XII concentration was not significantly different between groups.
      Furthermore, in 47 of the subjects, 28 of whom had a history of myocardial
      infarction, a more detailed analysis, including measurement of VIIc after
      overnight incubation of plasma at 4 degrees C, was undertaken. Approximately half
      the subjects in either group showed some evidence of activation, though history
      of myocardial infarction was not in itself a significant predictor of this. All
      measures of XII concentration related positively to VIIc after cold activation,
      the strongest being the measure of amidolytic activity following activation of
      factor XII (XIIAm) (r = 0.5, P < 0.01). In addition, XIIa, a measure of activity
      due to enzymes derived from factor XII, related strongly to many of the measured
      lipoprotein variables, particularly VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides,
      supporting the hypothesis that negatively charged molecules such as free fatty
      acids on larger lipoprotein particles provide the contact surface necessary to
      activate factor XII. The findings confirm the importance of this alternative
      pathway in leading to activation of factor VII.

PMID- 1445496
TI  - Interferon-gamma suppresses PDGF production from THP-1 cells and blood monocyte
      derived macrophages.
AB  - Involvement of the immunological mechanisms in atherogenesis has recently been
      suggested by immunohistological detection of macrophages and T lymphocytes in
      atherosclerotic lesions. In the present study, we have investigated the
      regulatory effect of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a cytokine secreted by
      activated T cells, on the production and secretion of platelet-derived growth
      factor (PDGF) from macrophages in culture. The human monocytic leukemia cell
      line, THP-1, was treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 24 h to
      induce macrophage differentiation and PDGF production, and then various doses of
      recombinant human IFN-gamma (0-1000 I.U./ml) were added to the culture. After 48
      h, the conditioned medium and the cells were harvested and analyzed for PDGF
      production. PDGF-dependent mitogenic activity in the conditioned medium,
      estimated by neutralization of mitogenic activity with anti-PDGF antibody, was
      suppressed by IFN-gamma treatment. Radioimmunoassays for PDGF also revealed a
      decrease in both PDGF-AA and -BB in the conditioned medium with IFN-gamma
      treatment, whereas neither total cell DNA as an indication of cell number nor
      overall protein synthesis based on [3H]leucine incorporation were decreased.
      Northern analysis of total RNA extracted from the cells demonstrated that IFN
      gamma suppressed the level of PDGF mRNA. Analysis of mRNA degradation in the
      presence of actinomycin D demonstrated that the decrease in PDGF mRNA was not due
      to enhanced degradation of mRNA. A similar inhibitory effect of IFN-gamma on PDGF
      mRNA levels was also found in monocyte-derived macrophages cultured in the
      presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor. These results
      suggest that IFN-gamma modulates production and secretion of PDGF from
      macrophages and that the functions of macrophages in atherogenesis may be
      regulated by the cellular interactions between T cells and macrophages through
      the action of cytokines such as IFN-gamma.

PMID- 1445497
TI  - An oxidative mechanism is involved in high glucose-induced serum protein
      modification causing inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation.
AB  - In order to investigate the role of hyperglycemia on the development of
      atherosclerosis in diabetics, the effects of high glucose-induced modification of
      serum factors on the proliferation of bovine carotid artery endothelial cells
      were studied. Dialysates of high glucose-treated serum inhibit cell growth in a
      time- and glucose concentration-dependent manner. With 6 weeks of pretreatment,
      16.7 mM glucose causes a 47.2% inhibition in cell growth compared to 5.6 mM
      glucose (P < 0.001). Pretreatment of serum in the presence of reduced glutathione
      (0.5-1.0 mM), an antioxidant, significantly prevents the high glucose-induced
      inhibition without inhibiting the formation of early non-enzymatic glycosylation
      products. Dithiothreitol (7.5 mM) treatment after preincubation with glucose
      fully restores the glucose-induced inhibition. When the dialysates are
      fractionated according to molecular mass, the high glucose-induced inhibition is
      maximal in the MW fraction above 100 kDa. These data suggest that high glucose
      conditions facilitate the susceptibility of serum proteins to sulfhydryl
      oxidation forming disulfide crosslinks and this oxidative process may contribute
      to the inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation.

PMID- 1445498
TI  - Homocysteine catabolism: levels of 3 enzymes in cultured human vascular
      endothelium and their relevance to vascular disease.
AB  - Elevated plasma homocysteine enhances the risk of thrombosis and premature
      arteriosclerosis. We have assessed the activity of the 3 prime enzymes of
      homocysteine metabolism in cultured human venous endothelial cells, in a study of
      their possible protective roles. In cells from 4 individuals, cultured in
      Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium, the mean activity +/- S.D. of cystathionine
      beta-synthase (nmol of product/h per mg of cell protein, at 37 degrees C) was
      3.58 +/- 3.11 at pH 8.6. The assay used was our newly developed amino acid
      analyser-based procedure. The activity of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate:homocysteine
      methyltransferase at pH 7.4 was 4.12 +/- 1.25 and betaine:homocysteine
      methyltransferase (BHMT) was undetectable (< 1.4 nmol/h per mg protein). Cells
      were also cultured in a medium aimed at stimulating methionine biosynthesis,
      containing methionine-deficient Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium to which L
      homocystine (100 mumol/l) and methylcobalamin (1 mumol/l) had been added. In
      these cells 5-methyltetrahydrofolate:homocysteine methyltransferase activity
      increased to 7.95 +/- 1.45, P < 0.001, there was a non-significant decrease in
      cystathionine beta-synthase activity to 2.16 +/- 1.52 and BHMT activity was still
      undetectable. These cells were more resistant to in vitro homocysteine-induced
      detachment than were cells from the same line cultured in Dulbecco's modified
      Eagle medium alone. Our findings establish that human endothelial cells express 2
      of the 3 primary enzymes of homocysteine catabolism. They suggest that persons
      who are deficient in cystathionine beta-synthase or 5
      methyltetrahydrofolate:homocysteine methyltransferase activity may not only
      develop homocysteinemia, but also have vascular endothelium which is more
      susceptible to damage by homocysteine than persons with normal enzyme levels.

PMID- 1445499
TI  - Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Weekly clinicopathological
      exercises. Case 1-1992. A 34-year-old woman with dyspnea and multiple small
      cystic areas in the lungs.

PMID- 1445500
TI  - Results of a randomized trial of partner notification in cases of HIV infection
      in North Carolina.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We sought to compare two methods of notifying sex partners of
      subjects infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or persons who had
      shared needles with them (needle-sharing partners): "patient referral," in which
      the responsibility for notifying partners was left to the patient, and "provider
      referral," in which providers attempted to notify partners. METHODS: Names of sex
      partners and needle-sharing partners and information on how to locate them were
      obtained from consenting HIV-infected subjects identified in the HIV-testing
      programs at three public health departments in North Carolina. The subjects were
      randomly assigned to a patient-referral group (in which patients had the initial
      responsibility for notifying their partners) or a provider-referral group (in
      which the study counselor notified the partners). The success of attempts to
      notify partners was monitored by means of interviews with counselors conducted
      both in the field and at the health department. RESULTS: Of 534 HIV-positive
      persons identified at the health departments, 247 (46 percent) did not return for
      counseling after the test, 8 were counseled outside the study, and 117 (22
      percent) were ineligible. Of the 162 invited to participate, 88 (54 percent)
      declined and 74 (46 percent) agreed. The subjects were mostly male (69 percent),
      black (87 percent), homosexual or bisexual (76 percent of the men), and had a
      median age of 30 years. Thirty-nine were assigned to the provider-referral group
      and 35 to the patient-referral group. In the provider-referral group 78 of 157
      partners (50 percent) were successfully notified, whereas in the patient-referral
      group only 10 of 153 (7 percent) were notified. Of the partners notified by the
      counselors, 94 percent were not aware that they had been exposed to HIV. Overall,
      23 percent of the partners notified and tested were HIV-positive. CONCLUSIONS: In
      this trial, leaving the notification of partners up to the subjects (patient
      referral) was quite ineffective, despite the North Carolina law requiring that
      partners be notified. Partner notification by public health counselors (provider
      referral) was significantly more effective. Although the effectiveness of
      notification procedures is constrained by the accuracy of the information
      provided by HIV-infected patients, counselors who notify the partners of an
      infected patient can refer them to educational, medical, and support services
      targeted to persons at high risk for HIV infection and may encourage the adoption
      of less risky behavior.

PMID- 1445501
TI  - Nicotine enhances 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine neurotoxicity.
AB  - Epidemiologic evidence of an inverse relationship between cigarette smoking and
      Parkinson's disease suggests that a component of cigarette smoke protects against
      nigrostriatal degeneration. Nicotine, a major component of cigarette smoke, is
      similar in chemical structure to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine
      (MPTP) and is metabolized in part by the same enzymes that detoxify MPTP. We
      investigated the effect of chronic nicotine on MPTP neurotoxicity in two strains
      of mice and found that nicotine increases rather than decreases MPTP toxicity.
      These results are not compatible with the hypothesis that nicotine is that
      component of cigarette smoke that protects against nigrostriatal degeneration, at
      least in the MPTP experimental model of Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 1445502
TI  - Inhalation fever: a proposed unifying term for febrile reactions to inhalation of
      noxious substances.

PMID- 1445503
TI  - Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia using the CSEN.

PMID- 1445504
TI  - What is pediatrics?: prenatal medicine to young adult care.

PMID- 1445505
TI  - Endoscopic transanal resection of large villous tumours of the rectum.
AB  - Endoscopic transanal resection (ETAR) is an innovative approach in the management
      of low lying tumours of the rectum. We report our experience of this technique in
      six elderly patients (mean age 74 years) with large villous adenomas, situated
      between 2 and 12 cm from the anal verge. There were no complications. One patient
      with a circumferential tumour has been spared the more conventional operation of
      abdominoperineal excision. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 30 months (mean 16 months)
      during which two recurrences were detected. These were adequately treated by
      further ETARs. It is concluded that ETAR is a simple and well-tolerated procedure
      and is a useful addition to the surgeon's armamentarium.

PMID- 1445506
TI  - Assessment of the use of disposable skin staplers in bowel anastomoses to reduce
      laparotomy time in penetrating ballistic injury to the abdomen.

PMID- 1445507
TI  - Clonal origin of bladder cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer of the urinary bladder often present with
      metachronous tumors, appearing at different times and at different sites in the
      bladder. This observation has been attributed to a "field defect" in the bladder
      that allows the independent transformation of epithelial cells at a number of
      sites. We tested this hypothesis using molecular genetic techniques. METHODS: We
      examined 13 tumors from cystectomy specimens from four women, using a method that
      analyzes the pattern of X-chromosome inactivation to determine whether the tumors
      were derived from the same precursor cell. In addition, we analyzed allelic loss
      on autosomes to determine whether different tumors had the same genetic
      alterations. The alterations evaluated included the loss of chromosome 9q
      sequences (commonly found in superficial bladder tumors) and the loss of 17p and
      18q sequences (usually found only in advanced tumors). RESULTS: For each patient
      studied, all the tumors had inactivation of the same X chromosome, whereas normal
      bladder mucosa cells had random patterns of inactivation. Moreover, each tumor
      that could be evaluated from a given patient had lost the same allele on
      chromosome 9q, suggesting that the loss of this allele preceded the spread of
      neoplastic cells elsewhere in the bladder. The losses of chromosome 17p and 18q
      alleles, which are late events in tumor progression, were not common to different
      tumors from the same patient. CONCLUSIONS: A number of bladder tumors can arise
      from the uncontrolled spread of a single transformed cell. These tumors can then
      grow independently with variable subsequent genetic alterations.

PMID- 1445508
TI  - Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in perspective.

PMID- 1445509
TI  - Factors influencing cosmetic outcome and complication risk after conservative
      surgery and radiotherapy for early-stage breast carcinoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: The study was undertaken to assess the relationship among cosmesis and
      complications to factors related to disease presentation, surgical and
      radiotherapeutic technique, and adjuvant systemic therapy in conservative
      treatment for early-stage breast carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1982
      and 1988, 234 women with stage I/II breast carcinoma were treated with
      conservation therapy by a highly standardized protocol of limited excision and
      radiotherapy. Radiation boost and/or reexcision were determined by careful
      quantitation of the normal tissue margin around the primary tumor. Boosts to 20
      Gy were preferentially performed with interstitial iridium-192 (192Ir) implants.
      Axillary node dissections were performed in all patients aged less than 70 years.
      Adjuvant therapy consisted of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, (doxorubicin), and
      fluorouracil (CM[A]F) six to eight times for node-positive premenopausal women
      and tamoxifen for node-positive or -negative postmenopausal women. Median follow
      up was 50 months (range, 20 to 80 months). Cosmesis was graded by defined
      criteria, and complications were individually scored. RESULTS: Factors found to
      impact cosmesis adversely were palpable tumors (P = .046), volume of breast
      tissue resected (P = .027), reexcision of the tumor bed (P = .01), number of
      radiation fields (P = .03), radiation boost (P = .01), and chest wall separation
      (P = .01). There was a trend toward worse cosmesis (P = .062) in patients
      receiving tamoxifen. Cosmesis was not adversely affected by interstitial implant
      in spite of a higher prescribed dose. Factors influencing complication risk were
      axillary node dissection (P = .02), number of lymph nodes harvested (P = .05),
      and chemotherapy (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Optimal cosmesis and minimal
      complication risk require careful attention to the technical details of surgery
      and radiotherapy. The impact of systemic therapies needs to be more thoroughly
      examined.

PMID- 1445510
TI  - The centre thought to control sensory and motor activity in the early history of
      medicine.
AB  - In Ancient Greek medicine the heart instead of the brain was sometimes thought to
      be the organ co-ordinating sensory and motor activity. The history of the origin
      of this erroneous idea is outlined. The relative importance of observations and
      theory in early medical investigations is discussed, and the anatomical
      dissections leading to the establishment of the brain as the centre of sensory
      and motor function are described.

PMID- 1445511
TI  - Meatoscopy: a simple technique to examine the distal anterior urethra in men.
AB  - A common problem is to determine the site of the base of meatal warts in men and
      if the lesions will be suitable for the treatments available in genitourinary
      medicine (GUM) or sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinics. Formal endoscopy
      requires sterile conditions and is therefore an expensive procedure. A simple
      safe cheap alternative is meatoscopy using an auroscope with inflation. This
      allows inspection of the anterior urethra to a depth of 5 or 6 cm. With this
      technique 175 examinations were performed on 153 patients. Warts were confined to
      the lips in 27 (56%) of 48 patients with meatal warts; in an additional 5
      patients with meatal warts the warts arose from deep in the fossa navicularis and
      in 16 patients with meatal warts there were additional warts in the fossa
      navicularis invisible on clinical examination. No urethral warts were seen in 103
      patients without meatal warts, comprising 47 patients with external genital warts
      and 56 without any warts. It is concluded that meatoscopy should be undertaken in
      all patients with meatal warts to determine the site of their base and to assess
      if there are any more proximal warts. This should be done as soon as the meatal
      warts are seen, and urethritis has been excluded, so that appropriate treatment
      can be planned.

PMID- 1445512
TI  - Surgery for stroke: an update.
AB  - Carotid endarterectomy was the most common vascular procedure in the USA in the
      1980s. The last decade has witnessed a much-needed critical reappraisal of its
      role. Results from recent large-scale trials are now reported and will have a
      great influence on patient management.

PMID- 1445514
TI  - Oral sex and recurrent vulvo-vaginal candidiasis.

PMID- 1445513
TI  - Medical Research Council trial of treatment of hypertension in older adults:
      principal results. MRC Working Party.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To establish whether treatment with diuretic or beta blocker in
      hypertensive older adults reduces risk of stroke, coronary heart disease, and
      death. DESIGN: Randomised, placebo controlled, single blind trial. SETTING: 226
      general practices in the MRC general practice research framework. SUBJECTS: 4396
      patients aged 65-74 randomised to receive diuretic, beta blocker, or placebo.
      Patients had mean systolic pressures of 160-209 mm Hg and mean diastolic
      pressures less than 115 mm Hg during an eight week run in and were not taking
      antihypertensive treatment. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomised to atenolol 50
      mg daily; hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg or 50 mg plus amiloride 2.5 mg or 5 mg daily;
      or placebo. The regimens were adjusted to achieve specified target pressures.
      Mean follow up was 5.8 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Strokes, coronary events,
      and deaths from all causes. RESULTS: Both treatments reduced blood pressure below
      the level in the placebo group. Compared with the placebo group, actively treated
      subjects (diuretic and beta blocker groups combined) had a 25% (95% confidence
      interval 3% to 42%) reduction in stroke (p = 0.04), 19% (-2% to 36%) reduction in
      coronary events (p = 0.08), and 17% (2% to 29%) reduction in all cardiovascular
      events (p = 0.03). After adjusting for baseline characteristics the diuretic
      group had significantly reduced risks of stroke (31% (3% to 51%) p = 0.04),
      coronary events (44% (21% to 60%), p = 0.0009), and all cardiovascular events
      (35% (17% to 49%), p = 0.0005) compared with the placebo group. The beta blocker
      group showed no significant reductions in these end points. The reduction in
      strokes was mainly in non-smokers taking the diuretic. CONCLUSION:
      Hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride reduce the risk of stroke, coronary events, and
      all cardiovascular events in older hypertensive adults.

PMID- 1445515
TI  - Lingual nerve injury following laryngoscopy.

PMID- 1445516
TI  - Advanced Chinese NiTi alloy wire and clinical observations.
AB  - Chinese NiTi wire was studied on the bench with six other nickel-titanium-alloy
      wires. Bending and torsional tests were conducted and temperatures of phase
      transformation compared. The Chinese NiTi wire was found to have a low stiffness,
      high springback and constant bending and torsional moments on unloading, in a
      very large deformation region. It can produce a gentle, nearly constant force.
      These factors make it desirable for clinical application. Included in this paper
      are clinical observations of case selected from over 100 patients in current
      treatment with Chinese NiTi wires. Chinese NiTi wire reduced the leveling and
      alignment phase of treatment without discomfort to the patient. Chinese NiTi wire
      can be used in both children and adults.

PMID- 1445517
TI  - Bacteremia and fungemia of unknown origin in adults.
AB  - Two hundred fifteen (23%) of 955 episodes of bacteremia (defined as including
      fungemia) detected in adult patients during 2 years were of unknown origin. Sixty
      six percent of episodes of unknown origin were hospital acquired. The median age
      of patients with bacteremia of unknown origin was 65 years, and their most common
      underlying disorders were solid malignancy (28% of patients) and diabetes
      mellitus (18%). Only three factors were associated with bacteremia of unknown
      origin (as opposed to episodes with a known source): peripheral venous
      catheterization, hemodialysis, and plasmapheresis. Gram-negative bacteria were
      isolated from the blood in 62% of episodes of unknown origin; 10% of episodes
      were polymicrobial. Staphylococci were isolated from 67% of patients undergoing
      hemodialysis and from 37% of those with diabetes; Pseudomonas species from 15% of
      patients with hospital-acquired episodes; and Candida species from 21% of
      patients with a central venous catheter. Fifteen percent of episodes in cancer
      patients were polymicrobial. Empirical antibiotic treatment was inappropriate in
      49% of episodes of unknown origin and in 35% of episodes with a known source (P
      less than .001). Death rates were 44% and 25% in episodes of unknown and known
      origin, respectively. An unknown source of bacteremia was independently
      associated with a fatal outcome.

PMID- 1445518
TI  - The strange case of Ms Elizabeth Trevers who was affrighted to an astonishment.

PMID- 1445519
TI  - Trying times for human insulin.
AB  - The introduction of human insulin to treat diabetics seemed straightforward. What
      can account for the problems that have followed?

PMID- 1445520
TI  - Maimers, killers, and the universal death rate.

PMID- 1445521
TI  - The causes of low back pain.

PMID- 1445522
TI  - Ethical responsibilities toward wildlife.

PMID- 1445523
TI  - The comparative strengths of commercial glass-ionomer cements with and without
      metal additions.
AB  - Metal reinforced glass-ionomer cements are said to possess superior mechanical
      properties when compared to non-metal reinforced glass-ionomer cements. However,
      the literature to date does not always support this view, owing to the variety of
      materials and test methods employed. In this study the mechanical properties of
      three reinforced and three standard materials were tested using the standard
      specification tests of compressive and diametral strength in addition to tensile
      strength using the four point bend test. The tensile strength was also measured
      using the shell test in order that this test, which on theoretical grounds is
      more suited to these materials, may be evaluated. Six specimens of each material
      were prepared for each of the test modalities resulting in the conclusion that
      the addition of metal to glass-ionomer cements can markedly increase the strength
      of the materials. However, the method of fusing the metal to the glass rather
      than by simple addition does not produce any advantages in strength. In this
      evaluation one reinforced material was significantly stronger than all other
      materials in all four test modalities. The compressive strength test which
      appears in most standards does not appear to be very discriminatory. Of the
      tensile tests, which have more clinical significance, the results of the
      diametral strength tests, which are included in some standards, appear to be at
      variance with the other two tensile tests, suggesting that the flexural or shell
      test would be more appropriate.

PMID- 1445524
TI  - Interpreting Canada: models, mind-sets, and myths.

PMID- 1445525
TI  - Pneumococcal vaccine for Olympic athletes and visitors to Spain.

PMID- 1445526
TI  - ABC of colorectal diseases. Investigation of colorectal disorders.

PMID- 1445527
TI  - Study of diagnostic accord between general practitioners and an ophthalmologist.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To identify diagnostic accord and disagreement between general
      practitioners and an ophthalmologist and thereby determine how undergraduate and
      non-specialist postgraduate ophthalmic training could be improved. DESIGN:
      Comparison of diagnosis of presenting conditions by general practitioners and one
      ophthalmologist in patients consulting general practitioners for ophthalmic
      problems during March 1989 to February 1990. SETTING: 12 general practices in
      west Nottingham. PATIENTS: 1474 patients presenting to the study general
      practitioners with new ophthalmic conditions or new episodes of recurrent
      conditions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Diagnoses of general practitioners and
      ophthalmologist. RESULTS: 1121 (76%) of patients with eye problems agreed to see
      the ophthalmologist and most were seen within three days. Sufficient data for
      comparison were available on 1103 patients. Diagnostic agreement was found in 638
      cases (58%), but potentially serious misdiagnosis was found in only 15 cases;
      management in three of these cases would have ensured later identification. Most
      commonly confused conditions were infective and allergic conjunctivitis,
      blepharitis, and dry eyes. General practitioners assessed visual acuity in only
      114 cases yet eight of the 15 patients seriously misdiagnosed had reduced acuity,
      an important diagnostic sign. CONCLUSIONS: Most ophthalmic disease seen in
      general practice does not require specialised equipment for diagnosis. Most cases
      of misdiagnosis have no serious consequences for the patient. Undergraduate and
      postgraduate training in ophthalmology should ensure that common conditions can
      be easily differentiated and more serious conditions identified and referred.

PMID- 1445528
TI  - Long-term weight control: the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute funded
      multimodal intervention study.

PMID- 1445529
TI  - U.S. health care dilemma. Some suggestions for solution.

PMID- 1445530
TI  - The sealants question.

PMID- 1445531
TI  - A new link in the brain's defenses.

PMID- 1445532
TI  - Cigarette smoking and small irregular opacities.

PMID- 1445533
TI  - [Hepatitis B and C, HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections in the gypsy population].

PMID- 1445534
TI  - Benefits of violence prevention for African-American youth.

PMID- 1445535
TI  - Public health heresy.

PMID- 1445536
TI  - Hospital admission and benzodiazepine use.

PMID- 1445537
TI  - Site distribution of colorectal cancer.

PMID- 1445538
TI  - Gastrointestinal lipoma.

PMID- 1445539
TI  - Treatment of leg ulcers with allogeneic cultured keratinocyte-collagen dressings.

PMID- 1445540
TI  - Testing for fecal occult blood.

PMID- 1445541
TI  - Radiographic ordering agreement.

PMID- 1445542
TI  - Nursing perspective is critical part of NP graduate education.

PMID- 1445543
TI  - The impact of managed care on physicians.

PMID- 1445544
TI  - The evidence that a serotonergic mechanism plays an important role in cryogenic
      brain injury: are the results conclusive?

PMID- 1445545
TI  - International reference preparation for anti-measles serum.

PMID- 1445546
TI  - Hypoxia after dental anaesthesia.

PMID- 1445547
TI  - Irrational and pregnant.

PMID- 1445548
TI  - Opinions on responsibility toward wildlife.

PMID- 1445549
TI  - The value of secondary healing.

PMID- 1445550
TI  - Secondary healing after Mohs chemosurgery.

PMID- 1445551
TI  - Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) may significantly alleviate the vasospasm
      that often follows subarachnoid hemorrhage.

PMID- 1445552
TI  - Use of fibrin glue for partial nephrectomy.

PMID- 1445553
TI  - Umbilical artery flow velocity after vibratory acoustic stimulation.

PMID- 1445554
TI  - Predicting difficult intubation.

PMID- 1445555
TI  - Timing of surgery in congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

PMID- 1445556
TI  - Endoscopic transanal resection of large villous tumours of the rectum.

PMID- 1445557
TI  - 'The comparative strengths of commercial glass ionomer cements with and without
      metal additions'.

PMID- 1445558
TI  - Electrocoagulation in intrameatal warts.

PMID- 1445559
TI  - Antimicrobial prophylaxis in gynecologic and obstetric surgery.

PMID- 1445560
TI  - Group C streptococci: a current view.

PMID- 1445561
TI  - Ethical problems in genetic linkage studies.

PMID- 1445562
TI  - Physician ownership/referral arrangements.

PMID- 1445563
TI  - Diagnostic coronary arteriography.

PMID- 1445564
TI  - Caudate hyperdensities.

PMID- 1445565
TI  - Small sac size as a predictor of poor fetal outcome.

PMID- 1445566
TI  - Implantation of the tongue and floor of mouth--what factors really do contribute
      to necrosis?

PMID- 1445567
TI  - Re: Which dressing for split-thickness skin graft donor sites?

PMID- 1445568
TI  - Nucleotide sequence analysis and serologic characterization of the Mycobacterium
      intracellulare homologue of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 19 kDa antigen.
AB  - Disseminated Mycobacterium avium/Mycobacterium intracellulare complex (MAC)
      disease is a frequent complication in patients with the acquired immune
      deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In this report, we present the nucleotide sequence of
      the M. intracellulare MI22 gene. Computer sequence comparisons reveal that the
      MI22 gene, which encodes a serologically active protein, has 78% DNA sequence
      identity and 77% protein sequence identity with the seroreactive 19 kDa
      Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipoprotein antigen. Southern blot hybridizations
      indicate that an MI22 gene probe binds similar-sized restriction fragments in M.
      tuberculosis and M. intracellular genomic DNA. In addition, immunoblot analyses
      demonstrate that MI22 is recognized by sera from tuberculosis patients. These
      data further support the existence of 19 kDa MAC and M. tuberculosis protein
      homologues. Phase partitioning experiments and the presence of a consensus lipid
      modification site in the deduced MI22 protein sequence strongly suggest that M122
      is also a lipoprotein. Comparative analyses of these mycobacterial antigenic
      homologues may provide the basis for the design of species-specific diagnostic
      reagents.

PMID- 1445569
TI  - Take two spider webs & call me in the morning. Southern folk medicine.

PMID- 1445570
TI  - Transdifferentiation of macrophages into fibroblasts as a result of Schistosoma
      mansoni infection.
AB  - The possibility of transdifferentiation of macrophages into fibroblasts which
      could be at the origin of fibrotic tissue in schistosome-infected mice was
      studied using immunocytochemical techniques. Macrophage cell samples extracted
      from the peritoneal cavity of schistosome-infected mice were fractionated on a
      Percoll gradient. The cultures were purified by treatment with a trypsin solution
      to eliminate any fibroblasts possibly collected along with the macrophages.
      Immunocytochemical methods were then used to characterize the cells at different
      points in time. The fibroblastic property of the morphologically transformed
      cells was confirmed by their positive labeling with the anti-procollagen
      antibody. However, these cells still possessed the mac-1 and mac-2 antigens which
      characterize the monomacrophage line.

PMID- 1445571
TI  - ECT and delirium in Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 1445572
TI  - For and against Eusol.

PMID- 1445573
TI  - MRC trial of treating hypertension in older adults.

PMID- 1445574
TI  - Altitude induced illness.

PMID- 1445576
TI  - Best interests.

PMID- 1445575
TI  - House dust mite avoidance--the right way to go forward.

PMID- 1445577
TI  - Clozapine treatment of polydipsia: a prolactin connection?

PMID- 1445578
TI  - Compensation for injury--re-appraisal.

PMID- 1445579
TI  - Charges of sexual harassment at NIMH.

PMID- 1445580
TI  - SEC22 and SLY2 are identical.

PMID- 1445581
TI  - U.S. health care dilemma.

PMID- 1445582
TI  - Increase in kidney 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine level with the progression of renal
      failure.

PMID- 1445583
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of knee injuries.

PMID- 1445584
TI  - Reliability of the slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship as
      individual index of myocardial inotropic state.

PMID- 1445585
TI  - Doctors and control of major releases of chemicals.

PMID- 1445586
TI  - Hazards of transmission of HIV during invasive procedures.

PMID- 1445587
TI  - Organophosphorus compound poisoning.

PMID- 1445588
TI  - Flow cytometry in the study of the interaction between murine macrophages and the
      protozoan parasite Leishmania amazonensis.
AB  - A flow cytometry method was adapted to study interaction between murine
      macrophages and Leishmania amazonensis. Using this method it was possible to
      detect internalization of parasites through an increase in macrophage granularity
      (side scatter), with the latter indicating the presence of parasites inside
      parasitophorus vacuoles. A quenching technique was used to confirm the
      feasibility of the method and to distinguish between internalized and externally
      attached parasites. Experiments using fixed-labeled and killed-unlabeled
      parasites gave similar results, demonstrating that granularity was an adequate
      parameter in the study of parasite-macrophage interaction, when compared with
      labeling methods. Experiments that measured internalization using only the
      increase in macrophage granularity as an indicator showed that living L.
      amazonensis was internalized to a greater extent than killed-unlabeled parasites.
      This finding suggests that the parasite has an active role in the process of
      internalization. The 2 methods in combination, flow cytometry and labeling, can
      be used to study murine peritoneal cell-L. amazonensis interactions and to sort
      phagocytosing and nonphagocytosing subpopulations of macrophages for further
      studies.

PMID- 1445589
TI  - Hypophosphataemia, delirium and cardiac arrhythmia in anorexia nervosa.

PMID- 1445590
TI  - Surgical management of spastic diplegia.

PMID- 1445591
TI  - Alcohol and addictions.

PMID- 1445592
TI  - Manchonnage--an aortic anastomotic ePTFE sleeve.

PMID- 1445593
TI  - Ideal versus operational values for health care.

PMID- 1445594
TI  - Sleep disturbance in children with growth hormone deficiency.
AB  - We examined the effects of growth hormone (GH) deficiency on sleep development by
      performing all-night polysomnography in three female children with GH deficiency
      (GHD). The percentage of REM sleep seemed to be reduced before the treatment in 2
      cases, and human GH (hGH) compensation slightly increased it. Submental twitch
      movements (mTMs), i.e., body movements during sleep localized in the submental
      muscle and lasting less than 0.5 seconds, were commonly disturbed in the three
      patients. Rapid eye movements in REM sleep (REMs) were reduced before the therapy
      in one case, this decrease being reversed on hGH compensation. REMs also seemed
      to increase after hGH treatment in the other two cases. Dopamines and cholinergic
      muscarinic agonists can cause GH release, while mTMs and REMs might be related to
      dopaminergic and cholinergic systems in the human brain. It is intriguing that
      GHD, and the disturbance of mTMs and REMs coexisted in children with GHD. Since a
      relatively poor social outcome in patients with GHD has been reported, even after
      hGH compensation, it is important to monitor their neurological development by
      means of evaluation of their sleep disturbance.

PMID- 1445595
TI  - Inhibition of rat tissue kallikrein gene family members by rat kallikrein-binding
      protein and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor.
AB  - The regulation of tissue kallikrein activity by plasma serine proteinase
      inhibitors (serpins) was investigated by measuring the association rate constants
      of six tissue-kallikrein family members isolated from the rat submandibular
      gland, with rat kallikrein-binding protein (rKBP) and alpha 1-proteinase
      inhibitor (alpha 1-PI). Both these serpins inhibited kallikreins rK2, rK7, rK8,
      rK9 and rK10 with association rate constants in the 10(3)-10(4) M-1.s-1 range,
      whereas only 'true' tissue kallikrein rK1 was not susceptible to alpha 1-PI. This
      results in slow inhibition of rK1 by plasma serpins, which could explain why this
      kallikrein is the only member of the gene family identified so far that induces a
      transient decrease in blood pressure when injected in minute amounts into the
      circulation.

PMID- 1445596
TI  - Mother-to-infant transmission of human immunodeficiency virus by breast milk:
      presumed innocent or presumed guilty?
AB  - This article reviews the virological and epidemiological data available on
      transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) by breast milk.
      Colostrum and breast milk are considered major modes of transmission for many
      animal retroviruses as well as human T-cell leukemia virus, mainly as the
      consequence of ingestion of infected cells. Several cases that strongly suggest
      transmission of HIV-1 through breast-feeding have now been reported. In addition,
      recent evidence suggests that postpartum HIV-1 seroconversion of a mother may be
      associated with a high risk of postnatal transmission to offspring via breast
      milk. Preventive measures such as pasteurization of breast milk have not been
      fully examined. While the World Health Organization continues to promote breast
      feeding in areas where no safe alternative exists, the Centers for Disease
      Control recommends that American women who are infected by HIV-1 not practice
      breast-feeding if a safe alternative is available. Large-scale, carefully
      controlled, prospective studies of the risk of HIV-1 infection associated with
      breast-feeding are of the utmost priority. Feasible and ethically acceptable
      feeding alternatives should be developed for countries where formula feeding has
      a strong negative effect on child morbidity and mortality.

PMID- 1445597
TI  - Clinical breast cancer, new developments in selection and endocrine treatment of
      patients.
AB  - Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor among women, comprising an
      estimated 24% of all cancer cases and 18% of all cancer deaths. At least half of
      the patients with primary breast cancer will ultimately die by metastatic
      disease. The tumor characteristics, the natural course of the disease and the
      response to therapy vary strongly. A number of recently detected cell biological
      parameters such as oncogenes/suppressor genes, growth factors and secretory
      proteins are more or less important prognostic factors, because they influence
      the characteristics and behavior of a tumor with respect to metastatic pattern,
      extent of cellular differentiation, growth rate and response to treatment.
      However, there is no clear consensus how best to identify patients at high or low
      risk. In our experience c-myc amplification and pS2 protein are strong
      prognosticators for relapse rate, while in advanced disease (apart from a
      negative estrogen/progesterone receptor/pS2 status) amplification of HER2/neu is
      a good prognosticator for failure to endocrine therapy. In the diagnosis of
      breast cancer, in vivo imaging of tumors by labeled hormones or other factors
      also forms a new development which might have implications for treatment too.
      With respect to treatment both endocrine and chemotherapy can cure a minority of
      patients with micrometastases, but in patients with advanced disease only a
      prolongation of (progression-free) survival can be reached. Response rates
      decrease with increasing tumor load. In the past decade a number of interesting
      new endocrine agents has been developed such as new (pure) (anti)steroidal
      agents, vitamins, aromatase inhibitors, analogs of peptide hormones, prolactin
      inhibitors and growth factor antagonists. However, less is known on the
      (potential) interaction between hormones, chemotherapeutic agents, retinoids,
      cytokins, growth factor antagonists and irradiation. Rapid detection of new
      powerful combination therapies are needed to improve treatment results during the
      nineties.

PMID- 1445598
TI  - Pharmacological profile of TCV-309--a potent PAF antagonist.
AB  - TCV-309 potently and specifically inhibited the diverse biological actions of PAF
      such as platelet aggregation, hypotension, increased vascular permeability,
      bronchoconstriction and death. TCV-309 did not cause hemolysis or vascular
      irritation. TCV-309 showed beneficial effects on experimental endotoxic shock,
      anaphylactic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

PMID- 1445599
TI  - Postantibiotic effect of amikacin and rifapentine against Mycobacterium avium
      complex.
AB  - Postantibiotic effect (PAE) has received little attention in the therapy of
      chronic intracellular infections, such as those caused by mycobacteria. Amikacin
      is active therapeutically against Mycobacterium avium complex, even though serum
      levels exceed the MIC for only a few hours. To determine the PAE of amikacin and
      rifapentine for M. avium, bacteria were exposed to concentrations of 1x, 4x, and
      10x the MIC of each drug for up to 120 min. Regrowth of M. avium was compared
      with similarly diluted untreated cultures. No PAE was observed on an inoculum of
      10(4) bacteria when rifapentine was used at 5x MIC, although a slight inhibition
      of growth was obtained at 10x MIC for 2 h. For amikacin, PAE was observed up to
      48 h at concentrations of 4x and 8x MIC and exposure times of 30-120 min. A PAE
      of 22 h was seen with 10(7) cfu of M. avium during incubation for 30 min with
      amikacin at 4x MIC. These results show that amikacin, unlike rifapentine, has a
      long PAE against M. avium.

PMID- 1445600
TI  - Cloning of a subunit of yeast RNA polymerase II transcription factor b and CTD
      kinase.
AB  - Yeast RNA polymerase II initiation factor b copurifies with three polypeptides of
      85, 73, and 50 kilodaltons and with a protein kinase that phosphorylates the
      carboxyl-terminal repeat domain (CTD) of the largest polymerase subunit. The gene
      that encodes the 73-kilodalton polypeptide, designated TFB1, was cloned and found
      to be essential for cell growth. The deduced protein sequence exhibits no
      similarity to those of protein kinases. However, the sequence is similar to that
      of the 62-kilodalton subunit of the HeLa transcription factor BFT2, suggesting
      that this factor is the human counterpart of yeast factor b. Immunoprecipitation
      experiments using antibodies to the TFB1 gene product demonstrate that the
      transcriptional and CTD kinase activities of factor b are closely associated with
      an oligomer of the three polypeptides. Photoaffinity labeling with 3'-O-(4
      benzoyl)benzoyl-ATP (adenosine triphosphate) identified an ATP-binding site in
      the 85-kilodalton polypeptide, suggesting that the 85-kilodalton subunit contains
      the catalytic domain of the kinase.

PMID- 1445601
TI  - [European network of quality assurance in nursing].

PMID- 1445602
TI  - [Nursing care of the elderly. Moral and ethical problems].
AB  - The article deals with moral and ethical issues involved in nursing care of the
      elderly during their hospitalization. Nursing interventions resulted in
      iatrogenic complications as well as nursing dilemmas are also discussed.

PMID- 1445603
TI  - [Chronic hemodialysis treatment of patients older than 74 years. An
      epidemiological study in 16 renal units in Northern Greece].
AB  - In a review of 1057 patients who started receiving chronic haemodialysis
      treatment during the last decade in 16 renal units of Northern Greece only 25
      patients (2.36%) were found to be older than 74 years at start of haemodialysis
      treatment. The most common cardiovascular problems in these elderly patients were
      angina pectoris in 9 and difficulties in fistula creation in 10 patients.
      Arterial hypertension was present in 7 patients. The first year survival rate was
      55.5%. Cardiovascular episodes were the commonest cause of death among the 14
      patients who died. We conclude that during the last decade in Northern Greece,
      among patients receiving chronic haemodialysis treatment, only a few started
      treatment after the age of 74 years and although they had significant cardiac and
      vascular problems their first year survival rate was acceptable.

PMID- 1445604
TI  - [Effects of acute myocardial infarction on the patient's and the family's way of
      life].
AB  - During the last decade, the relation between psychosocial factors and patient's
      personality in front of the risk of an acute myocardial infarction and his health
      progress after the infarction has fully been investigated. The patient's
      personality and a number of factors related to his job-carrier and family
      environment have been proved to be very important. The effect of patient's
      behaviour, educational level, social and psychological status in the progress of
      coronary heart disease have especially pointed out. The myocardial infarction is
      a serious disease which can alter the patient and his close family's way of life
      due to its financial among the other consequences. This influences the members of
      the family as an entity and alters their life in many ways. The present study
      aims to investigate how the myocardial infarction as an expected or unexpected
      event affects differently and at which degree the behaviour of patient's family.

PMID- 1445606
TI  - [Nursing care research on the evaluation of elderly patients].
AB  - Research in nursing of elderly patients refers to the investigation of their
      special needs as well as the context and methods for this kind of care to be
      provided. Reports published on nursing needs are rare. Clinical nursing
      evaluation of elderly patients and relevant research studies are briefly
      reviewed.

PMID- 1445605
TI  - [Study of clean versus aseptic technique of tracheotomy care based on the level
      of pulmonary infection].
AB  - The purpose of this research study was to determine whether the clean technique
      of tracheotomy care is the same, or more, secure from the aseptic, by testing the
      difference in the level of postoperative pulmonary infection between
      tracheotomized patients receiving aseptic and those receiving clean tracheotomy
      care. The sample consisted of 103 patients with tracheotomy (transient or
      permanent) from ENT or IC units of four big hospitals of Athens. The level of the
      patient's pulmonary infection was defined using the Weighted Level of Pulmonary
      Infection Tool, which was constructed especially for this research study. The
      data were analysed using the x2 statistical test, and the coefficients phi,
      Cramer's V and Kendall's, while, with the same statistics, the relationship
      between certain important external variables and the dependent variable was
      examined. The findings indicated that no statistically significant difference
      exists between clean and aseptic technique as to the level of pulmonary infection
      when used for tracheotomy postoperative care of tracheotomized patients.

PMID- 1445607
TI  - [The present status of interpleural analgesia].
AB  - Since the introduction of interpleural administration of local anaesthetics by
      Kvalheim and Reiestad in 1984, this technique has been applied to treat
      postoperative pain after cholecystectomy, renal, thoracic and unilateral
      abdominal surgery. Other indications are pain control in patients who suffered
      multiple rib fractures and in patients with chronic pain due to pathological
      processes in the pancreas. Due to the fact that interpleural analgesia is
      considered a new anaesthetic procedure, a number of questions still have to be
      answered regarding the mechanism of action, the appropriate local anaesthetic
      solution to be employed and, most importantly, the benefit/risk ratio associated
      with this technique. The purpose of this review article is to give a detailed
      account of the knowledge and obtained clinical experiences present to date
      regarding interpleural analgesia, and to give a critical evaluation of this
      method.

PMID- 1445608
TI  - [Anaphylactoid reactions to muscle relaxants].
AB  - Anaphylactoid (i. e. anaphylactic-like) reactions have been estimated to occur in
      between one in 600 and one in 1,000 general anaesthesias. Two thirds of these
      reactions are caused by neuromuscular blocking drugs used during anaesthesia. An
      anaphylactoid potential is inherent in all muscle relaxants, albeit to a varied
      extent, reflecting an obligatory feature of their molecular structure (quaternary
      ammonium groups) and common physicochemical characteristics. Hence, also newer
      relaxants are not void of anaphylactoid risk. In Britain, the recent availability
      of drug-specific radioallergosorbent tests (RAST) has initiated much controversy
      on preanaesthetic antibody screening and possible medicolegal consequences. Since
      every anaesthetist must expect to be faced with such an unforeseen and
      occasionally life-threatening reaction, the characteristic clinical
      manifestations, basic therapeutic strategies and current opinion on underlying
      pathophysiological mechanisms are summarized in this review article. Based on the
      recommendations of the British National Adverse Anaesthetic Reaction Advisory
      Service (NAARAS), essential diagnostic procedures during and after anaphylactoid
      events are discussed. Finally, prophylactic precautions including the
      preoperative administration of H1- and H2-antihistamines are recommended.

PMID- 1445609
TI  - [Nifedipine prolongs a neuromuscular blockade caused by atracurium].
AB  - Calcium entry blockers are now widely employed in the treatment of cardiovascular
      diseases and perioperative hypertension. In patients with coronary heart disease
      nifedipine therapy should be continued perioperatively to avoid coronary artery
      spasm. Animal experiments have demonstrated that calcium entry blockers
      potentiate the neuromuscular blockade induced by nondepolarizing blocking agents.
      In patients, an atracurium-induced neuromuscular depression is prolonged by
      intravenous nifedipine. In this prospective clinical study we evaluated the
      effect of chronic oral nifedipine therapy on the duration of neuromuscular block
      by atracurium. Sixty patients anaesthetized with isoflurane in nitrous
      oxide/oxygen were recruited for this study. Thirty of these were on chronic oral
      nifedipine therapy and received their normal morning dose before premedication.
      The control consisted of 30 patients of similar age and status but not taking any
      calcium entry blockers. Monitoring included noninvasive blood pressure, heart
      rate, pharyngeal temperature, physical breathing parameters and neuromuscular
      transmission with a Datex Relaxograph TM ("train of four"-principle). After
      inducing hypnosis 0.5 mg/kg atracurium were administered for muscular relaxation.
      The duration of block from administration of the relaxant to recovery of first
      twitch height (T1) to 25% of control twitch height was registered as duration of
      initial block. When T1 reached 25% a repetition dose of 0.2 mg/kg atracurium was
      injected. The time till recovery of T1 to 25% was recorded as the duration of the
      repetition dose. Results were compared using Student's t-test for unpaired data.
      There was a significant prolongation of the duration of initial block from 38 min
      +/- 10 min in the control group to 46 min +/- 8 min in the therapy group (P <
      0.01). The duration of the repetition dose rose from 30 min +/- 8 min in the
      control group to 38 min +/- 7 min in the therapy group (P < 0.001). Daily
      nifedipine doses varied from 10 mg in the morning to 40 mg divided into single
      doses with no influence on the prolongation of neuromuscular block. Our results
      confirm previous assumptions of synergistic effects of nifedipine and
      neuromuscular blocking drugs in patients. Chronic oral nifedipine therapy
      potentiates neuromuscular blockade by atracurium as does nifedipine
      intravenously. This effect should be considered in the treatment of
      cardiovascular diseases with nifedipine in the perioperative period.

PMID- 1445610
TI  - Pyrazolo[3,4-d][1,2,3]triazole-1-carboxamides and 5-alkylaminopyrazolo[3,4
      d]oxazoles: synthesis and evaluation of the in vitro antifungal activity.
AB  - A series of N-alkyl-N'-(4-diazo-5-pyrazolyl)-ureas (4) was thermally and
      photochemically converted into pyrazolo [3,4-d][1,2,3]triazole derivatives (5,6)
      and 5-alkylaminopyrazolo[3,4-d]oxazoles (7) respectively. The products were
      tested for in vitro antifungal activity against Fusarium culmorum, Botrytis
      cinerea, Phoma betae, Pythium ultimum, Sclerotinia minor and Rhizoctonia solani.
      The MIC and ED50 values of compound (6) against some of the test fungi were
      comparable to those of the reference fungicides iprodione and mancozeb.

PMID- 1445611
TI  - Pyrimidoacridine derivatives as potential antitumor agents.
AB  - A series of some N-alkylaminoalkyl derivatives of pyrimido[5,6,1-d,e]acridine
      1,3,7-trione (3) was synthesized as new potential antitumor drugs, starting from
      the suitable 9,10-dihydro-9-oxo-4-acridinecarboxamides and using phosgene as
      cyclizing agent. 1-(9,10-dihydro-9-oxo-4-acridinecarbonyl)-3-alkyl-2-imidazolido
      nes were also obtained as side products. The final products 3 and some
      carboxamides were tested "in vitro" against L 1210 leukemia and "in vivo" against
      P388 leukemia. Of the tested compounds, one is active "in vivo", another shows
      significant cytotoxic activity "in vitro", but is inactive or toxic "in vivo".

PMID- 1445612
TI  - Studies on anti-Candida agents with a pyrrole moiety. Synthesis and
      microbiological activity of some [(1-alkyl),(1-aryl) and (1-benzyl)-5-aryl-3
      carboxamido-2-methyl]pyrrole derivatives.
AB  - The synthesis of some [(1-alkyl),(1-aryl) and (1-benzyl)-5-aryl-3-carboxamido-2
      methyl]pyrrole derivatives is reported. Their activity against Candida strains
      has been assessed and the structure-activity relationships for these compounds
      are discussed.

PMID- 1445613
TI  - Synthesis and antimycobacterial activity of some 2-pyridinecarboxyamidrazone
      derivatives.
AB  - A series of N1-aryliden-2-pyridincarboxyamidrazone derivatives was prepared. Some
      of the synthesized compounds showed interesting in vitro antimycobacterial
      activity against some strains of Mycobacterium and clinical isolates of
      Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

PMID- 1445614
TI  - Simultaneous determination of amiodarone and desethylamiodarone in human plasma
      by high performance liquid chromatography.
AB  - A rapid, sensitive and specific reversed phase HPLC method for the simultaneous
      assay of amiodarone and its major metabolite desethylamiodarone in human serum
      has been developed. This method is suitable for pharmacokinetic studies and for
      monitoring of the drug and metabolite concentrations in serum of patients on both
      short and long-term therapy with amiodarone.

PMID- 1445615
TI  - Stability study of cloxacillin in an oily suspension, by high performance liquid
      chromatography.
AB  - A high performance liquid chromatography method, using spectrophotometric
      detection (254 nm) has been developed for the analysis of cloxacillin in an oily
      suspension. Analysis was performed by isocratic elution with 0.02M potassium
      dihydrogen phosphate solution, methanol, 50/50 (V/V). The method was specific,
      linear, accurate (99.8 +/- 1.4%) and precise (less than 1.0%). A stability study
      of cloxacillin in the formulation, showed that about 10% degradation occurred for
      6 months storage at room temperature, when lyophilized sodium cloxacillin was
      used. On the contrary, when sodium cloxacillin obtained by precipitation from non
      aqueous solvent was used, about 6% degradation appeared in the drug for 3 years
      storage in the same conditions.

PMID- 1445616
TI  - HPLC detection of thioperamide from biological samples and its determination in
      rat blood and brain after systemic administration.
AB  - Thioperamide is a potent and selective antagonist on histamine H3 receptors. A
      method for its isolation and quantitation by HPLC from rat plasma and brain
      samples has been developed. Using this technique, thioperamide concentrations in
      rat plasma and brain were measured after systemic administration, in order to
      evaluate its persistence in blood and its ability to cross the blood-brain
      barrier. We observed that, at a dose of 60 mg/Kg, thioperamide undergoes a slow
      elimination from plasma, with a half-life of 10 hours, and can readily cross the
      blood-brain barrier.

PMID- 1445617
TI  - Simultaneous quantitative determination of calcium leucovorin and parabens in
      lyophilized ampoules by derivative spectroscopy.
AB  - A simple and rapid procedure for quantitation of Calcium Leucovorin and parabens
      simultaneously in lyophilized ampoules formulation by "zero crossing" first-order
      derivative spectroscopy was developed. The ampoules content was dissolved in a
      mixture water/ethanol (50/50) and first-derivative spectra were recorded. The
      absolute values of the derivative at 312 nm for the determination of Calcium
      Leucovorin and between 244 and 246 nm for the determination of parabens were
      measured. The method is linear, quantitative and reproducible.

PMID- 1445618
TI  - Researches on psychotropic agents. IV. Synthesis and neuropsychopharmacological
      effects of 1,3,4,14 b-tetrahydro-10-methyl-2H,10H- pyrazino[2,1-d] pyrrolo[1,2
      b][1,2,5]benzotriazepine and its derivatives.
AB  - The synthesis and neuropsychopharmacological properties of new 1,3,4,14b
      tetrahydro-2H,10H-pyrazino [2,1-d] pyrrolo [1,2-b] [1,2,5] benzotriazepine
      derivatives related to antidepressant agent aptazepine are reported. The new
      derivatives displayed sedative-miorelaxant activity in mice, but no significant
      antagonist effect on clonidine blockade of phenylquinone-induced abdominal
      constriction. Among test compounds 4a, 4l and 4n showed high antinociceptive
      effect on the hot-plate test and compound 4e protected from death and convulsion
      all the electroshocked animals.

PMID- 1445619
TI  - Linking cellular injury to gene expression and human proliferative disorders:
      examples with the PDGF genes.

PMID- 1445620
TI  - Mutational analysis of a dominant oncogene (c-Ki-ras-2) and a tumor suppressor
      gene (p53) in hamster lung tumorigenesis.
AB  - In human lung cancers, alterations of both a dominant oncogene (ras) and a tumor
      suppressor gene (p53) have been identified. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
      analysis of mRNA was used to amplify the c-Ki-ras-2 and p53 genes from Syrian
      golden hamsters. The PCR products were confirmed by predicted-size analysis,
      probing with nonradioactive (biotin-labeled) oligonucleotides, and direct
      sequencing. Lung tumors were produced in hamsters by repeated injections of 4
      (methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). Of six tumors examined, three
      (50%) had mutations in codon 12 of Ki-ras. Examination of the conserved regions
      of p53 revealed no mutations. We conclude that NNK-induced carcinogenesis in the
      hamster results in characteristic alterations of Ki-ras but may not necessarily
      involve the p53 gene.

PMID- 1445621
TI  - Role of activator protein-1 and methylation function in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol
      13-acetate--mediated inhibition of differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia
      cells.
AB  - Friend erythroleukemia cells (FELCs) differentiate after hexamethylene-bis
      acetamide treatment. This differentiation is characterized by an increase in beta
      globin gene expression that is followed by appearance of the hemoglobin. Phorbol
      ester tumor promoters, such as 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA),
      inhibit differentiation of TPA-sensitive cells but not TPA-resistant cells. We
      have shown that the increase in beta-globin expression is inhibited by TPA in a
      TPA-sensitive clone but not in a TPA-resistant clone. To study the molecular
      mechanisms of regulation of gene expression by TPA, we examined the possible
      involvement of gene methylation and the TPA-responsive element (TRE). Both clones
      showed similar patterns of methylation around the beta-globin gene. Moreover, TPA
      induced TRE binding and TRE enhancer activity were similar in both variants.
      These results suggest that the TPA inhibition of induced differentiation may not
      be explained by regulation of the methylation state. The activator protein-1 also
      does not play a crucial role in the sensitivity of FELCs to TPA.

PMID- 1445622
TI  - 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate--induced levels of AP-1 proteins: a 46-kDa
      protein immunoprecipitated by anti-fra-1 and induced in promotion-resistant but
      not promotion-sensitive JB6 cells.
AB  - Neoplastic transformation and transcriptional activation by activator protein-1
      (AP-1) complex are stimulated by tumor-promoting agents in promotion-sensitive
      (P+) but not promotion-resistant (P-) mouse epidermal JB6 cells in culture. This
      implicates AP-1 as a specific regulator of signal transduction pathways in the
      promotion phase of neoplastic transformation. We therefore hypothesized that the
      defective P- responsiveness may be due to limiting levels of AP-1 protein
      components in those cells. In this investigation, steady-state levels of AP-1
      protein components were measured by immunoprecipitating proteins from 12-O
      tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-treated P+ and P- cells to discern what may
      limit the AP-1 response. Whereas the AP-1 proteins junB, junD, and fosB did not
      show differential basal or TPA-inducible levels in P+ and P- cells, a 46-kDa
      species precipitated by anti-fra-1 antibody was TPA-inducible in P- cells but not
      in P+ cells, and c-jun protein was present at higher levels in TPA-treated and
      untreated P+ cells than in P- cells. These data raise the possibility that the 46
      kDa fra-1-related protein may be a negative modulator of AP-1 activity and
      suggest that elevated levels of this 46-kDa species and limiting levels of c-jun
      may significantly impair AP-1 function or transformation response in P- cells or
      both.

PMID- 1445623
TI  - Simplified dosing and monitoring of vancomycin for the burn care clinician.
AB  - Vancomycin has excellent activity against Gram-positive bacteria and is often
      selected for use in the infected burn patient. Because of multiple-compartment
      pharmacokinetics, vancomycin serum concentrations can decrease dramatically in a
      short time period following the end of an intravenous infusion. This accounts for
      the widely divergent recommendations for serum vancomycin peak concentrations,
      e.g. from 15 mg/l up to 80 mg/l, when the time for blood sampling following the
      end of intravenous infusion is different. It is in general not necessary to
      monitor vancomycin peak concentrations, not only because its toxic potential is
      overrated but also because potential toxicity and therapeutic efficacy are
      correlated with trough concentrations. Post-distribution 'peak' concentrations
      are generally only useful for determining the optimal dosing interval for
      patients with impaired renal function. A dosing and monitoring paradigm for
      vancomycin therapy in burned adults has been devised for burn care clinicians. It
      provides suggested dose and dosing intervals based on body weight and creatinine
      clearance, with specific recommendations for regimen modification based upon the
      results of trough serum concentration determinations.

PMID- 1445624
TI  - Dynamic balance changes between elastase and antiprotease in the early stages
      after smoke inhalation injury.
AB  - Following the use of a rabbit smoke inhalation injury model established in this
      institute, there were marked reductions in elastase activities in neutrophils and
      alveolar macrophages; rapid increases in elastase activity in broncho-alveolar
      lavage fluid (BALF); reductions of serum trypsin inhibitory capacity; a decrease
      of Pao2 and an increase of PaCO2, and marked increases of lung water volume.
      Significant correlations were found between the increased extravascular lung
      water content and the rising elastase activity in BALF. It seems probable that
      the imbalance between elastase and antiprotease played an important role in the
      development of acute lung injury after smoke inhalation.

PMID- 1445625
TI  - Predicting survival in burned patients.
AB  - Data pertaining to 562 consecutive admissions for burn treatment were analysed to
      identify factors related to survival. Besides socioeconomic, demographic and burn
      related variables, three indices to measure burn severity, were proposed and
      evaluated with the help of multiple regression and discriminant analyses. The
      results of multiple regression analysis showed that one of the proposed indices,
      total burned surface (TBS), based on presence or absence of burn injury on 11
      different body sites, turned out to be the best single predictor of survival. TBS
      alone accounted for 64.5 per cent of the total variance in survival variable.
      Combined use of TBS with type and severity of burn, age, sex, etc. did not
      appreciably raise the value of R2. The results of the discriminant analysis
      yielded a cut-off point of 20 TBS score which provided maximum separation between
      survivors and fatalities. Using this cut-off point (20 per cent) the TBS index
      provided the correct prediction of the eventual survival status in about 93 per
      cent of 562 patients. This cut-off point score of 20 was cross-validated on an
      independent sample of 924 cases. The prediction in 79 per cent of patients could
      be made correctly.

PMID- 1445626
TI  - Cutaneous copper and zinc losses in burns.
AB  - To measure the exudative cutaneous copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) losses in burns, 10
      patients, aged 36 +/- 9 years (mean +/- s.d.) with burns covering 33 +/- 10 per
      cent of the total body surface area, were studied from the first postburn day
      (D1) until D7. All intakes and losses were analysed for Cu, Zn and nitrogen (N)
      content. Cutaneous losses were extracted from textiles surrounding the patients.
      Urinary excretions were 0.12 +/- 0.06mg/24h for Cu, 0.9 +/- 0.6mg/24h for Zn, and
      14.1 +/- 4.4g/24h for N. Mean daily exudative losses through wound seepage from
      D1 to D7 were 4.7 +/- 2.1mg/24h for Cu, 27.1 +/- 14.4mg/24h for Zn, and 8.7 +/-
      3.8g/24h for N. The cumulated mean losses over 7 days were 37mg for Cu, and 212mg
      for Zn, representing respectively 20-40 per cent and 5-10 per cent of normal body
      content. Serum Cu and Zn levels were strongly depressed. The urinary Cu/N ratios
      correlated with clinical improvement. We conclude that the exudative Cu and Zn
      losses during the first week postburn contribute significantly to the increased
      nutrient requirements in burns.

PMID- 1445627
TI  - Formation of gastrocnemius [3H]polyinositol phosphates in response to burn
      trauma.
AB  - The purpose of this report was to see if changes in polyinositol phosphates
      occurred with increasing percentage body surface area (% BSA) burn. Burn injury
      was applied to predefined areas of the dorsal and ventral skin surface of mice.
      After a 10-min stimulation period involving muscle twitch, polyinositol phosphate
      levels at 3 weeks postburn were measured by the incorporation of myo[2
      3H]inositol with separation of the phosphates by anion-exchange chromatography.
      Analysis of variance was used for all statistical evaluations. In gastrocnemius
      muscle an increase (P < 0.001) occurred for levels of [3H]inositol, inositol-1,
      phosphate (I1P), and inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (I1,4,5P3) for the 50 per cent
      BSA burn group. However, levels of inositol-1;4,biphosphate (I1,4P2) decreased (P
      < 0.001). Positive correlations were found between [3H]inositol, I1P and IP3 and
      50 per cent BSA burn. A negative correlation between I1,4P2 and percentage BSA
      burn was found. These data provide evidence that polyinositol phosphate
      metabolism in skeletal muscle was altered due to large burn size.

PMID- 1445628
TI  - Effect of chronic interleukin-2 treatment on RES phagocytic activity in the rat.
AB  - The effect of chronic interleukin-2 (IL-2) injection upon reticuloendothelial
      system (RES) function in the rat has been determined. Seven-day treatments with
      two doses of human recombinant IL-2 resulted in a dramatic reduction in the
      phagocytic uptake of the liver and spleen, while increasing the weight of both
      organs. There were dramatic histological changes in the intestine, liver and
      spleen as well. These results suggest that the chronic use of IL-2 can result in
      hepatic dysfunction, which is associated with altered RES phagocytic function.

PMID- 1445629
TI  - Microskin grafting of rabbit skin wounds with Biobrane overlay.
AB  - Biobrane was used to overlay micrografts and the wound using the microskin
      grafting technique with an expansion ratio of 10:1 in 16 rabbits. The rabbits
      were divided randomly into four groups, with four rabbits in each group, for
      evaluating the wound conditions on days 7, 10, 12 and 14. Histological
      examination of the removed Biobrane showed a variable degree of entrapment of
      inflammatory cells within the nylon fabric. Biobrane adhered well to the wounds
      although many wrinkles containing fluid accumulations were noted on day 7. By 10,
      12 and 14 days all the wounds become dry and their Biobrane adhered completely.
      Histological examination of the grafted wound on day 7 showed active
      proliferation and spread of micrografts. In the later groups, the neoepidermis
      increased in thickness and differentiated into skin with a normal texture. On day
      10, the wounds were almost completely resurfaced with neoepithelium. The growth
      of these grafts progressed smoothly as the adherent Biobrane was kept on the
      wound for 12 or 14 days. In these animal studies, the overlain Biobrane provided
      favourable conditions for the successful growth of micrografts.

PMID- 1445630
TI  - Fibrin glue in the treatment of dorsal hand burns.
AB  - This paper analyses two groups of patients with only dorsal hand burns: groups I
      contains patients with a total of 15 burned hands and group II patients with 12
      hand burns. The patients in group I were all treated by full sheet skin grafts
      using a two-component fibrin glue. Patients in group II underwent the traditional
      operative treatment without fibrin glue and the same postoperative physical
      therapy programme. After follow-up periods of 6-11 months (group I) and 12-21
      months (group II), we investigated in both groups, grip strength, key pinch,
      mobility, two-point discrimination and with the Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments.
      Our results prove that after the respective follow-up periods group I patients
      developed far better results for two-point discrimination, touch recognition and
      mobility.

PMID- 1445631
TI  - Increased survival rate in patients with massive burns.
AB  - A review of 113 patients with massive burns treated in our centre from 1970 to
      1989 is presented. There were 57 adults patients with massive burns (> or = 50
      per cent TBSA) in 1980-89 who were compared with 56 patients with similar massive
      burns in the period between 1970 and 1979. The results show a significant
      improvement (P < 0.01) in survival rate of the more recent patients. The
      increased survival rate is attributed to improvements in the early treatment of
      inhalation injury, sepsis and multiorgan failure.

PMID- 1445632
TI  - Wound healing of burns in rats treated with a new amino acid copolymer membrane.
AB  - A new amino acid copolymer (leucine + methylglutamate) membrane which is
      moderately permeable to water vapour, impermeable to bacteria, non-biodegradable
      and stable, has been developed as a burn wound covering. In an experimental model
      in the rat, excised burn lesions were covered either with the membrane or with
      conventional petrolatum-impregnated gauze. Morphometric analyses and histological
      investigations performed on days 7, 14, 21 and 42, suggested a significantly
      increased rate of healing for wounds covered with the polymeric membrane as
      compared with those covered with impregnated gauze. No wound dessication, fluid
      retention or exudate was observed under the membrane due to its moderate
      permeability to water vapour. The wounds covered with impregnated gauze also
      showed a marked inflammatory response in the granulation tissue, which remained
      even at day 42. This appearance was very different from a normal dermis or a
      polymeric membrane treated dermis.

PMID- 1445633
TI  - A technique of haemostasis of the extremities after debridement of burn wounds.
AB  - A technique used to achieve prompt haemostasis in burned wounds of the
      extremities is described. After tangential debridement using a tourniquet,
      thrombin solution (1000 units in 1 ml of saline solution) is applied on the
      entire wound. Immediately after removing the tourniquet; the wound is tightly
      wrapped with a thin plastic film and a pressure bandage over the entire wound.
      The pressure bandage is kept on for approximately 10 min after removing the
      tourniquet. With this procedure, haemostasis of the capillary oozing can be
      promptly and completely achieved. Furthermore, arterial and venous haemostasis
      can also be achieved, with clots present at the arterial and venous haemorrhagic
      points. As these clots can be removed easily, ligation or electrocoagulation is
      necessary. This technique is especially useful for haemostasis in a wound of the
      extremity after tangential excision leading to decreasing blood loss.

PMID- 1445634
TI  - Burns as a result of domestic accidents and their prevention.
AB  - Over a 1-year period (October 1990 to October 1991), 100 patients with burns due
      to domestic accidents have been admitted to our Burn Unit. The total number of
      burn admissions was 238. There is a relative abundance of data in the burn
      literature, clearly depicting local characteristics and peculiarities in
      different countries or societies. Our purpose is to present some statistical,
      epidemiological and socioeconomic data from Greek society, as well as to compare
      data from other countries.

PMID- 1445635
TI  - Experience of a chemical burn due to 3,5-dichloro 2,4,6-trifluoropyridine.
AB  - An example is reported of a burn caused by cutaneous exposure to 3,5-dichloro
      2,4,6-trifluoropyridine (DCTFP) involving 25 per cent of the body surface. A
      striking feature was the development of the appearance of the burn over the first
      72h postinjury. Healing was nevertheless spontaneous. The management of the
      injury is discussed.

PMID- 1445636
TI  - Burns of the skull with underlying intracranial meningioma.
AB  - A 68-year-old white-skinned male fell head first into a fireplace while having a
      seizure. Extensive burns of the skull were sustained requiring removal of the
      necrotic bone. The patient had an underlying meningioma. Healing of the skull was
      obtained using a latissimus dorsi flap. After the scalp was completely healed,
      the meningioma was successfully resected with significant improvement in the
      patient's mental function.

PMID- 1445637
TI  - Trapezius myocutaneous flap for reconstruction of a large scalp defect following
      the excision of postburn scar carcinoma (Marjolin's ulcer).
AB  - The successful use of a trapezius myocutaneous flap to cover a large scalp defect
      resulting from the excision of a postburn Marjolin's ulcer is described. The
      exposed dura was covered with a good functional and cosmetic result.

PMID- 1445638
TI  - Accidental pressure cooker lid blow-out.

PMID- 1445639
TI  - [Resources and quality of Chinese drug guipi].

PMID- 1445640
TI  - [Macrological identification of Chinese drug dangshen (radix Codonopsis)].
AB  - Macrological characters of 17 reference crude drugs from Codonopsis and
      Campanumoea were observed. Identification of 110 samples collected from 18
      provinces of China indicated that more than 70 percent of the commercial Dangshen
      is derived from Codonopsis pilosula.

PMID- 1445641
TI  - [Identification of Chinese traditional drug baijiangcao by ultraviolet spectrum].

PMID- 1445642
TI  - [Growth regularities of yujin (Curcuma longa L.)].
AB  - Based on the characteristics of leaf, root and tuber growth as well as dry matter
      accumulation, the ontogeny of Yujin is divided into 4 stages. The growth and
      correlation among the leaf, root and tuber as well as accumulation of essential
      oils and curcumins have also been studied.

PMID- 1445643
TI  - [Determination of magnolol and honokiol in different processed samples of houpo
      by HPLC method].
AB  - HPLC was applied to determine and compare 17 samples of Houpo processed in
      different ways: sauted with ginger juice, dipped with ginger juice, boiled with
      ginger juice, and so on. The results provide a scientific basis for screening the
      best processing technology of Houpo.

PMID- 1445644
TI  - [Thin layer chromatography for identification of 9 species of traditional Chinese
      medicine in baihe gujin tang granules].
AB  - Baihe Gujin Tang granules are mainly composed of nine species of traditional
      Chinese medicine and other admixtures, so the composition is very complex. In
      order to confirm the presence of each traditional Chinese medicine in the
      preparation, a thin layer chromatographic method was developed successfully for
      analysis of Scrophulariae, Platycodon, Paeoniae and Glycyrrhizae.

PMID- 1445645
TI  - [Granule-making technology for preparing luohanguo chrysanthemum granule medicine
      with orthogonal design].
AB  - L9 (3(4)) orthogonal design was adopted to inspect the consumption of white
      sugar, water and ethanol and the duration of raw material mixing in relation to
      the granule-attaining rate in preparing Luohanguo-Chrysanthemum granule medicine.
      The result shows that with a consumption of 170 kg of white sugar, 6000 ml of
      water and 800 ml of ethanol and a duration of 8 minutes, the granule attaining
      rate reaches about 80%.

PMID- 1445646
TI  - [Chemical constituents of Lysionotus].

PMID- 1445647
TI  - [Chemical constituents of Actinidia kolomikta (Rupr. et Maxim.) Planch].
AB  - Two crystalline components I and II were isolated from the roots of Actinidia
      kolomikta. I was identified as delta 7-stigmasterol and II was named alpha
      kolomiktriose and elucidated as 2, 3-di-0-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-alpha-D
      galactopyranose on the basis of spectral data (13C NMR, 1H NMR, IR and EI-MS).

PMID- 1445648
TI  - [Chemical components of the leaves of Pistacia Chinensis Bge].
AB  - Six compounds have been isolated from the leaves of Pistacia chinensis, a species
      of Anacardiaceae family. Their structures were identified on the basis of UV, IR,
      NMR, and MS as gallic acid, m-digallic acid, quercetin, 6-0-galloyl arbutin
      quercitrin and quercetin-3-0(6''-galloyl)-beta-D-glucosides.

PMID- 1445649
TI  - [Pharmacokinetics of sinomenine by HPLC].
AB  - Pharmacokinetics of sinomenine in rabbit was studied by reverse-phase HPLC
      method. After i.v. injection of 20 mg/kg of sinomenine to rabbits, the
      pharmacokinetic characteristics were found to fit a two-compartment open model.

PMID- 1445650
TI  - [The effects of dachengqi decoction, shaogan decoction, emodin and sennoside on
      the histamine level of intestinal mucosa in intestinally obstructed rats].
AB  - The experimental intestinal obstruction model was made by partly ligating the
      ileum in rat. The histamine levels of obstruction groups (8.14 +/- 2.28
      micrograms/g) were obviously lower than those of control groups (P < 0.01). After
      administration of Dachengqi decoction, Shaogan decoction, emodin and sennoside,
      the levels of histamine were significantly higher than those of obstruction
      groups, but there were no significant differences as compared with control
      groups.

PMID- 1445651
TI  - [Hypoglycemic effect of fructus Ligustri Lucidi].
AB  - The decoction of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) 15.30 g/kg ig for 10 days
      significantly decreased the blood glucose level in normal mice. FLL 30 g/kg
      before or after the treatment of alloxan also decreased the blood glucose level
      in alloxan diabetic mice. The elevation of blood glucose level induced by
      adrenaline or glucose was antagonized by FLL.

PMID- 1445652
TI  - [A survey of adverse effects of Chinese herbal drugs in China, 1915-1990].

PMID- 1445653
TI  - A new role for the cerebellum in cognitive operations.
AB  - Over the last 2 centuries, the predominant view of the cerebellum has been that
      it is part of a motor control system. Evidence is now presented that the
      neocerebellum, the evolutionarily newest region of the cerebellum, may also be
      involved in a key mental operation: the voluntary shift of selective attention
      between sensory modalities. It is theorized that this newly recognized function
      may operate via previously described sensory modulation properties of the
      cerebellum and its many connections with areas known to be important for
      selective attention, such as the pulvinar, the superior colliculus, and the
      parietal and frontal cortices.

PMID- 1445654
TI  - Cerebellar stimulation as an unconditioned stimulus in classical conditioning.
AB  - Rabbits were implanted with chronic stimulating electrodes in white matter
      underlying lobule HVI of the cerebellar cortex. Stimulation elicited movements of
      the face or neck and, when paired with a tone conditioned stimulus (CS), produced
      learning comparable to that seen with peripheral unconditioned stimuli (USs). CS
      alone trials produced extinction. Reinstatement of paired trials produced
      reacquisition with savings. Additional groups received either explicitly or
      randomly unpaired CS-US trials before paired conditioning. Low-frequency
      responding during these sessions indicated that the paired training results were
      associative and not due to pseudoconditioning or sensitization. Explicitly
      unpaired sessions retarded learning on subsequent paired trials compared with
      groups that received either randomly unpaired or no CS-US preexposure. These
      results are interpreted in terms of the role of the cerebellum and associated
      pathways in classical conditioning of motor responses.

PMID- 1445655
TI  - Hippocampus, fimbria-fornix, amygdala, and memory: object discriminations in
      rats.
AB  - Rats with lesions of the fimbria-fornix, hippocampus, or hippocampus and amygdala
      were tested in object discriminations commonly used with monkeys. Two 1-pair
      object discriminations were learned preoperatively and tested postoperatively.
      Additional postoperative testing included acquisition of a third 1-pair object
      discrimination, an 8-pair concurrent object discrimination, and spatial
      alternation. All lesions impaired performance in the 8-pair object discrimination
      and in spatial alternation but not in the 1-pair object discriminations. Data
      from this study and from previous studies indicate that the hippocampus in both
      rats and monkeys has an important role in the mnemonic processes required for
      concurrent object discriminations and that variations of the procedure for
      concurrent object discriminations can be an effective tool for investigating
      hippocampal function.

PMID- 1445656
TI  - Complementary roles of the orbital prefrontal cortex and the perirhinal
      entorhinal cortices in an odor-guided delayed-nonmatching-to-sample task.
AB  - Continuing efforts toward designing odor-guided tasks for rats that are similar
      in memory demands to tasks used typically with primates have resulted in the
      development of a continuous delayed-nonmatching-to-sample (cDNM) task that is
      guided by olfactory stimuli. The results indicate that normal subjects acquire
      the cDNM task rapidly and that subsequent performance deteriorates with increases
      in memory delay or interitem interference. Moreover, different aspects of cDNM
      performance were shown to be differentially sensitive to selective lesions of the
      orbitofrontal and parahippocampal areas. Orbitofrontal cortex lesions
      disproportionately impaired cDNM acquisition; delay performance was impaired only
      under conditions of elevated levels of interitem interference. Combined
      perirhinal and entorhinal cortical lesions had no effect on cDNM acquisition but
      impaired cDNM performance at longer delays across all levels of interference.
      Fornix lesions did not impair either acquisition of cDNM or subsequent
      performance across long delays and increased interference. This pattern of
      impaired and spared capacities is similar to that observed in monkeys after
      lesions of analogous areas and is consistent with the notion that the prefrontal
      cortical system contributes preferentially to learning general task "rules" such
      as the nonmatching rule that is inherent in cDNM, whereas the perirhinal and
      entorhinal cortical areas are involved in the intermediate-term maintenance of
      memories for specific information.

PMID- 1445657
TI  - Increased training in an aversively motivated task attenuates the memory
      impairing effects of posttraining N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced amygdala lesions.
AB  - This study was designed to examine the effect of variations in the amount of
      preoperative training on the retention deficit produced by posttraining lesions
      of the amygdaloid complex (AC). Rats received 1, 10, or 20 training trials in a
      footshock-motivated escape task 7 days before receiving N-methyl-D-aspartate
      lesions of the AC. Inhibitory avoidance retention performance, which was measured
      4 days postoperatively, indicated that increased training improved retention in
      AC-lesioned animals as well as in control animals. The retention performance of
      AC-lesioned animals was impaired when compared with that of controls; however,
      the impairment was partially attenuated by increased preoperative training. The
      finding that AC-lesioned animals displayed greater locomotor activity on the
      retention test compared with nonlesioned controls suggests that the increased
      activity may have contributed to the impaired inhibitory avoidance retention
      performance. Two days after the retention test, some of the AC-lesioned animals
      were subsequently trained on a continuous multiple-trial inhibitory avoidance
      response in the same apparatus. AC lesions did not block acquisition or retention
      of the task. These findings suggest that the amygdala may not be a critical site
      for the permanent changes mediating stimulus-affect associations based on
      extensive training.

PMID- 1445658
TI  - Effects of unilateral parietal lesions on spatial localization in the rat.
AB  - In the first of two experiments, rats with left or right parietal lesions and
      controls were tested in place and landmark navigation in the water maize. Right
      parietal lesions resulted in deficits in both tasks, but especially landmark
      navigation. Lateralized effects appeared mainly in latency to find the platform.
      Experiment 2 investigated the role of the corpus callosum. Split-brain rats with
      unilateral parietal lesions were tested on the same two tasks. Place and landmark
      deficits were particularly severe, but lateralization was weaker. Callosum
      section had its own effect, impairing the learning of both tasks. There appear to
      be additive effects of unilateral cortical lesions and bisection of the
      hemispheres. The impairment from left lesions equaled the right-lesion deficit
      because of the interruption of compensatory information from the intact right
      hemisphere and the effect of callosum section itself.

PMID- 1445659
TI  - Effects of prenatal exposure to cocaine on conditional discrimination learning in
      adult rats.
AB  - Adult male rats that were gestationally exposed to cocaine and control offspring
      were trained on an instrumental conditioning task for assessment of the
      acquisition and reversal of an appetitive conditional discrimination based on
      olfactory cues. Offspring were derived from Sprague-Dawley dams that had received
      subcutaneous injections of 40 mg/kg/3 cc cocaine hydrochloride (C40) daily on
      Gestational Days 8-20, pair-fed (PF) dams that were injected with saline,
      nutritional control dams (NC) that had received saline injections, and nontreated
      control dams (LC). There were no differences among the prenatal treatment groups
      in acquisition of the barpress response or response rate throughout all phases of
      training. All prenatal treatment groups required approximately the same number of
      sessions to criterion on the initial odor discrimination. In contrast, adult C40
      offspring required more sessions to acquire the reversal of the conditional
      discrimination than did animals from the other treatment groups (PF, NC, and LC).
      In addition, even at criterion performance for acquisition of the reversal
      discrimination, C40 animals exhibited lower accuracy on the first 10 responses
      and made significantly more errors before the first reward. Taken together with
      previous results, these findings suggest that gestational exposure to cocaine
      results in long-lasting alterations in performance on conditioning tasks that are
      evident early in life and that persist into adulthood.

PMID- 1445660
TI  - Circadian modulation of the rat acoustic startle response.
AB  - The acoustic startle response (ASR) of male rats was measured during several
      sessions over a 24-hr period in both a light-dark cycle and a constant-dark
      condition. Each session consisted of 10 trials each at 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120
      dB white noise. The results indicate robust daily and circadian modulation of ASR
      amplitude that consist of an approximately twofold nocturnal increase at
      eliciting-stimuli intensities above 80 dB. Similar results were observed in
      female rats in constant-dark conditions. To determine whether daily changes in
      auditory thresholds were responsible for the observed modulation, ASR reflex
      modification procedures were used. These procedures were designed to measure
      auditory thresholds at frequencies of 10 and 40 kHz at several times of day. The
      results suggest a lack of significant circadian differences in auditory
      thresholds at these frequencies. This study demonstrates a novel role of the rat
      circadian system in the modulation of ASR amplitude.

PMID- 1445661
TI  - The habenular complex mediates hormonal stimulation of maternal behavior in rats.
AB  - The role of the habenular complex (Hbc) in the hormonal onset and nonhormonal
      maintenance of maternal behavior in rats was examined. In Experiment 1, bilateral
      lesions were produced in the Hbc on Gestational Day (GD) 12. On GD 16, animals
      were hysterectomized-ovariectomized and given estradiol benzoate (EB); they were
      then tested for maternal behavior 48 hr later. Hbc lesions delayed the appearance
      of all components of maternal behavior for several days. In Experiment 2, large
      Hbc lesions that were produced on Postpartum Day 4 caused only 1- or 2-day
      deficits in maternal behavior. These data suggest that the Hbc mediates the
      hormonal onset of maternal behavior. During the postpartum period, however, the
      importance of the Hbc for maternal behavior diminishes as the hormones of
      pregnancy become less important.

PMID- 1445663
TI  - Executive summary of the AIDS Research Advisory Committee. The staff of the
      National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

PMID- 1445662
TI  - Opioid control of the fetal stretch response: implications for the first suckling
      episode.
AB  - Upon their first experience with milk, fetal rats express a stretch response that
      is similar to the postnatal behavior exhibited by infant rats at the nipple.
      Fetuses also possess a functional opioid system that is activated by prenatal
      milk exposure. The opioid receptor antagonist naloxone and the specific kappa
      antagonist nor-binaltorphimine blocked the stretch response and prevented the
      increase in rearlimb activity that is typically induced by milk. The mu
      antagonist beta-funaltrexamine blocked the stretch while permitting the
      expression of rearlimb activity. The kappa agonist U50,488 promoted rearlimb
      activity in the absence of milk, whereas the mu agonist [D-Ala2,NMe-Phe4,Gly5-ol]
      enkephalin (DAMGO) exerted little influence on fetal behavior. Fetuses pretreated
      with U50,488 stretched to nonmilk stimuli (saline or lemon), but fetuses
      pretreated with DAMGO did not. Opioid activation is part of a chain of events
      that culminates in the fetal stretch response and may be important in promoting
      milk ingestion during the newborn's first suckling episode.

PMID- 1445664
TI  - Phase I cancer trials: limitations and implications.
AB  - The goal of Phase I clinical trials is to establish a maximum tolerated dose
      (MTD) and a tolerable dose range for future efficacy testing. Various issues
      include schedule of drug delivery, starting dose, number of patients to be
      tested, pitfalls in the selection of MTD, risk:benefit ethical issues, and the
      problems introduced by patient heterogeneity. Statistical evaluation of various
      Phase I strategies illustrate the limitations of various approaches in terms of
      patient expectations regarding efficacy and the scientific goals of such trials.
      Patients should be given the opportunity to receive the drug at more than one
      single dose level.

PMID- 1445665
TI  - A gelonin-containing immunotoxin directed against human breast carcinoma.
AB  - Toxins may be specifically directed to tumor cells and the toxins' potency
      greatly increased by covalent conjugation to monoclonal antibodies recognizing
      tumor-associated antigens. Antibody 15A8, an immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) subclass
      anti-human breast carcinoma murine monoclonal antibody and gelonin, a plant
      toxin, were covalently modified with N-succimindyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)
      proprionate and iminothiolane, respectively, and allowed to cross-link. 15A8
      gelonin conjugates were purified from unreacted antibody and free gelonin by gel
      filtration and blue sepharose chromatography. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the final product contained two
      bands corresponding to antibody:gelonin conjugates of 1:1 (predominant) and 1:2.
      There were no contaminating amounts of free antibody or free toxin in the
      preparation. The yield of the final purified 15A8-gelonin conjugate was
      approximately 20% based on the amount of starting antibody. The protein synthesis
      inhibitory activity of the immunoconjugate was assessed by in vitro rabbit
      reticulocyte translation assay. This functional activity was normalized to that
      of unmodified gelonin for use in in vitro antiproliferative assays against
      antigen-negative (Hs294t human melanoma) and antigen-positive (ME-180 human
      cervical carcinoma) cell lines. Antigen-negative Hs294t cells incubated for 72
      hours with 15A8-gelonin immunotoxin showed no increased cytotoxicity compared
      with HS294t cells exposed to free gelonin alone. However, the immunotoxin was
      preferentially toxic to antigen-positive ME-180 cells; over 5 logs greater cell
      kill was observed after 72 hours exposure to 15A8-gelonin than after the same
      exposure to gelonin alone. Various lysosomotropic agents augmented 15A8-gelonin
      cytotoxicity; the most effective potentiating agent appeared to be monensin. In
      addition, the chemotherapeutic agents L-phenylalanine mustard (L-PAM), 5
      fluorouracil, vincristine, and bleomycin, and the biological response modifiers
      interferon-alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were shown to augment 15A8
      gelonin cytotoxicity. Should in vivo pharmacology and therapeutic studies confirm
      these in vitro findings, 15A8-gelonin conjugate may be a potent agent for therapy
      of cancer in man.

PMID- 1445666
TI  - Our experience with interferon alpha: renal cell carcinoma.
AB  - Our 3-year clinical experience using recombinant interferon (rIFN) alpha-C in
      patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is summarized. This type of
      IFN is a new subspecies of the IFN-alpha protein family. Its specific activity is
      1-2 x 10(9) U/mg protein, the highest among IFN-alpha species presently
      available. Pharmacokinetic study indicated good bioavailability of the
      preparation from the intramuscular injection. A phase II study was performed to
      assess the response rate related to rIFN-alpha C at a low dosage. A dose of 3 x
      10(6) U daily was administered, followed by 3 x 10(6) U/m2 every other day to
      avoid severe toxicity. Among 33 treated patients, a partial remission rate of
      9.7% and stable disease rate of 25.8% were achieved. Side effects were usually
      mild and the treatment was well tolerated by the patients. However, mental
      deterioration and behavioral changes were observed in five patients with RCC
      treated by rIFN-alpha C and were related to neurotoxicity of IFN. The role of
      vinblastine in addition to IFN in the treatment of RCC was assessed in nine
      patients who had failed on IFN alone. No response was observed. It appeared that
      vinblastine had little if any effect in being added to IFN as second-line
      therapy. We conclude that rIFN-alpha C has moderate activity in the treatment of
      RCC. Familiarity with the possible toxicity of this agent will lead to more
      careful management of patients.

PMID- 1445667
TI  - Our experience with interferon alpha: metastatic malignant melanoma.
AB  - Interferon-alpha and dacarbazine combination is a milestone in the treatment of
      metastatic malignant melanoma. Objective response rate ranged from 3% to 25%. Our
      phase II study included 34 patients; the overall response was 29.4%. Median time
      of survival of the responders was significantly longer than that of the
      nonresponders. Nine of the 34 patients had previously progressed on interleukin-2
      (IL-2) and dacarbazine treatment, or had been withdrawn because of unacceptable
      toxicity. Two patients (22.2%) achieved partial responses. There seemed to be no
      cross-resistance between the two biologic response modifiers. Successful
      treatment of melanoma patients by interferon resulted in complete disappearance
      of all extracerebral lesions, but left the brain vulnerable to involvement by
      metastases, and was frequently a site of relapse. Brain irradiation is suggested
      by several investigators to prevent cerebral involvement. Ongoing protocols are
      an adjuvant treatment for high-risk patients and combination of interferon-alpha,
      IL-2, dacarbazine and cisplatinum for metastatic melanoma after failure of
      interferon-dacarbazine regimen.

PMID- 1445668
TI  - Interferon-alpha induced autoimmune hepatitis in a patient with Philadelphia
      chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia with cytogenetically normal T
      lymphocytes.
AB  - We report the occurrence of autoimmune hepatitis after treatment with interferon
      alpha in a patient with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid
      leukemia. Cytogenetic and molecular genetic studies of the T lymphocytes in this
      patient demonstrated that the T lymphocytes were not part of the leukemic clone.
      The role of interferon in the production of autoimmune abnormalities is reviewed.

PMID- 1445669
TI  - Phytochemicals potentiate interleukin-2 generated lymphokine-activated killer
      cell cytotoxicity against murine renal cell carcinoma.
AB  - The success of adoptive immunotherapy using recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and
      lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells in several cancers has been hampered by
      severe toxicity associated with high doses of rIL-2. Methods that reduce the
      dosage of rIL-2 without loss of clinical efficacy are needed. In this study we
      determined the in vitro effect of a phytochemical immune modulator, Astragalus
      membranaceus (AM), and two fractions isolated by high-performance liquid
      chromatography on the cytotoxicity of rIL-2-generated LAK cells against a murine
      renal cell carcinoma. Our results indicated a 10-fold potentiation of rIL-2
      generated LAK cell cytotoxicity manifested by tumor cell lysis of 88% in the
      group with 100 U/ml of rIL-2 plus AM versus 86% in the group with 1,000 U/ml of
      rIL-2 alone. Potentiation was obtained with the purified fractions as well. A
      significantly reduced number of LAK cells was required to achieve the tumor
      cytotoxicity after LAK cell generation with rIL-2 plus the phytochemicals as
      compared with rIL-2 alone. Our data indicate that AM is an effective immune
      modulator, capable of potentiating in vitro the antitumor activity of rIL-2
      generated LAK cells.

PMID- 1445670
TI  - Application of Corynebacterium cutis lysate as an immune stimulant in cattle.
AB  - An ultrasonicated lysate of Corynebacterium cutis (Ultracorn, Virbac, France) was
      administered to 10-day-old calves, 5-month-old calves, and pregnant dams kept
      under Egyptian environmental conditions. Ninety-five calves and 50 dams were used
      in the study. All animals were treated with 2 ml/100 kg body weight of killed C
      cutis. Its effects on body weight gain and on calf mortality and morbidity were
      recorded. The results obtained showed that treated calves had greater weight
      gains, reduced susceptibility to common viral pathogens, and lower mortality.
      When given simultaneously with rinderpest vaccine, an immunopotentiating or
      adjuvant effect was seen. Thus, treated calves had higher neutralizing antibody
      titers to rinderpest as compared with untreated calves. When administered to
      pregnant cows in the last month of pregnancy, the offspring of these animals had
      higher birth weight, better weight gain, and reduced morbidity.

PMID- 1445671
TI  - Recombinant interleukin-2 significantly increases the survival of mice with
      peritonitis, but not acute Staphylococcus aureus peritoneal infection.
AB  - The effect of recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2) on survival of mice with
      peritonitis and acute Staphylococcus aureus strain 5/2 infection was studied. rIL
      2 was ineffective in the case of acute infection when administered simultaneously
      with LD95 dose of bacteria. The antibiotics (gentamycin or a combination of
      penicillin and streptomycin) administered in the same fashion cured 100% of
      animals. rIL-2 proved to be a potent healing agent in the two of three models of
      S aureus peritonitis. In this case animals received bacteria at days 0 and 2, 4,
      or 6. rIL-2 was injected at day 0 (group 1), days 0 and 2 (group 2), and days 0,
      2, and 4 (group 3). Treatment with rIL-2 was ineffective in group 1; however, in
      groups 2 and 3 rIL-2 increased the survival up to 90% (in comparison with 30% in
      the untreated animals of group 2 and 64% in group 3). On the contrary,
      administration of antibiotics instead of rIL-2 in the group 3 decreased survival
      to 25%. The perspectives of rIL-2 use in the treatment of bacterial peritonitis,
      including purous ones, and the cases complicated by immunodepression, are
      discussed.

PMID- 1445672
TI  - Structure of sp-9-hydroxy-9-pivaloylfluorene, product of base-catalyzed
      autoxidation of ap-9-pivaloylfluorene.
AB  - 1-(9-Hydroxyfluoren-9-yl)-2,2-dimethyl-1-propanone, C18H18O2, M(r) = 266.34,
      orthorhombic, Pbcn, a = 18.917 (10), b = 11.843 (8), c = 13.177 (7) A, V = 2952
      (5) A3, Z = 8, Dx = 1.198 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71069 A, mu = 0.72 cm-1,
      F(000) = 1136, T = 296 K, R = 0.044 for 1042 unique observed reflections.
      Conversion of ap-9-pivaloylfluorene, ap-(I), into lithiated (I)-9-anion followed
      by the addition of MeOH, then H2O, led to unexpected hydroxylation to provide 20
      40% of sp-9-hydroxy-9-pivaloyfluorene, sp-(II), and 60-80% recovery of ap-(I).
      The singular sp conformation of (II) in solution suggested by NMR was confirmed
      in the crystalline state by X-ray diffraction which showed the O(1)-C(9)-C(10)
      O(2) torsion angle approximately 0 degrees and the C(10) = O(2)...H(9)-O(1) non
      bonding distance 1.95 (4) A, suggesting strong intramolecular hydrogen bonding in
      this conformation.

PMID- 1445673
TI  - Absolute configuration of (-)-alpha-acetylmethadol hydrochloride.
AB  - beta-[2-(Dimethylamino)propyl]-alpha-ethyl-beta-phenylbenzeneethanol+ ++ acetate
      ester hydrochloride, C23H32NO2+. Cl-.H2O, M(r) = 407.9, monoclinic, P2(1), a =
      15.608 (4), b = 8.637 (2), c = 17.273 (5) A, beta = 97.71 (2) degrees, V = 2307.4
      (1) A3, Z = 4 (two methadol hydrochlorides and two water molecules per asymmetric
      unit), Dx = 1.17 Mg m-3, lambda (Cu K alpha) = 1.54184 A, mu = 1.64 mm-1, F(000)
      = 880, T = 295 K, final R = 0.069, wR = 0.064 for 2559 independent observed
      reflections. Both asymmetric C atoms in the two independent methadol molecules
      are 'S'. Of the two N-H moieties one acts as a hydrogen-bond donor to a Cl atom
      (N-H = 1.21, H...Cl = 1.85, N...Cl = 3.03 A, N-H...Cl = 162.3 degrees) and the
      other is a donor to a water molecule (N-H = 0.90, H...O = 2.06, N...O = 2.80 A, N
      H...O = 138.2 degrees). In addition, both water molecules hydrogen bond to both
      Cl atoms with O...Cl distances in the range 3.06-3.36 A. A comparison of torsion
      angles for the two independent methadol molecules indicates that there is very
      little stereochemical similarity between them.

PMID- 1445674
TI  - Structure of cis,cis-4,6-diphenyl-2-(2-propenyl)-1,3-dioxa-2-phosphorinane 2
      oxide.
AB  - C18H19O3P, M(r) = 314.32, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 5.726 (6), b = 14.234 (7), c =
      20.08 (1) A, beta = 92.54 (7) degrees, V = 1635 (4) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.277 g cm-3,
      lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71069 A, mu = 1.71 cm-1, F(000) = 664, T = 296 K, R =
      0.042, 1813 unique observed reflections. The X-ray structure determination of the
      title compound shows that the dioxaphosphorinane ring has a chair conformation in
      which the phosphoryl O atom (P=O) is equatorial, which explains the absence of
      substantial NMR deshielding by its P=O group on H(4) and H(6), which are axial.

PMID- 1445675
TI  - Structure of a chiral intermediate in the synthesis of (+)-19-epiajmalicine.
AB  - [2S*-(2 beta,3 alpha,6 alpha,12b beta)]-Methyl 3-acetyl-1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b
      octahydro-6-methoxycarbonyl-indolo+ ++[2,3-a] quinolizine-3-ethanoate,
      C22H26N2O5, M(r) = 398.46, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 9.463 (2), b = 11.251
      (3), c = 18.871 (6) A, V = 2009.2 (9) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.32 g cm-3 (178 K),
      lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.7107 A, mu = 0.8762 cm-1, F(000) = 848, T = 178 K, R =
      0.0536 for 1673 reflections [Fo > or = 6 sigma (Fo)]. Molecules are hydrogen
      bonded along the 2(1)-screw axis parallel to a. The hydrogen-bond geometric
      parameters for N12-H12...O19 (related by 0.5 + x, 1.5 - y, 1 - z) are N...O 2.986
      (6), H...O 2.30 (5) A, N-H...O 161 (5) degrees. The C and D rings are trans fused
      with ring-junction torsion angles of -39.6 (5) and 63.8 (5) degrees for C12a-C12b
      N5-C6 and C1-C12b-N5-C4, respectively. The conformation of the C ring is half
      chair with N5 and C6 -0.168 (4) and 0.552 (5) A, respectively, out of the plane
      defined by the remaining four atoms of the ring. The D ring is in the chair
      conformation.

PMID- 1445676
TI  - (2S-[2 alpha,3 alpha,3a beta,6 beta(R*),7 alpha, 7a alpha])-6-(3-benzyloxy-2
      propyl)-2-hydroxy-2,3,7-trimethylhexahydro-4H- furo [3,2-c]pyran-4-one, a
      rearrangement product of pyranone derivatives in the tirandamycin A series.
AB  - The six- and five-membered heterocyclic rings are cis-fused and adopt twist-boat
      and half-chair conformations, respectively. The average bond distances are: Csp3
      Csp3 1.520 (6), Csp3-Csp2 1.494 (6), C-Cbenz 1.360 (10) and Csp3-O 1.425 (5) A;
      the C = O and Csp2-O bond lengths are 1.214 (5) and 1.324 (5) A, respectively.

PMID- 1445677
TI  - Structure of pentaamminechlororuthenium(III) bisulfate tetrahydrate.
AB  - [RuCl(NH3)5](HSO4)2.4H2O, M(r) = 487.88, triclinic, P1, a = 10.0422 (5), b =
      14.1044 (7), c = 6.3273 (6) A, alpha = 100.369 (5), beta = 98.655 (6), gamma =
      81.354 (4) degree, V = 864.5 (3) A3, Z = 2, Dm = 1.86 (1), D chi = 1.874 g cm-3,
      lambda(MO K alpha) = 0.71073 A, mu = 13.3 cm-1, F(000) = 498, T = 296 (1) K, R =
      0.025 for 4622 unique reflections with I greater than 3 sigma(I). The structure
      contains (NH3)5RuCl2+ cations, bisulfate anions and solvate water molecules all
      linked by an extensive hydrogen-bonding network. Each Ru ion is coordinated in a
      distorted octahedral fashion by five ammonia molecules and a chloride ion. The Ru
      -Cl distance [2.3742 (5) A] is typical for RuIII--Cl linkages. The Ru--NH3
      distances span a narrow range [2.096 (2)-2.119 (2) A] and provide no evidence for
      a trans effect.

PMID- 1445678
TI  - A chiral N-crotonyloxazolidinone Diels-Alder adduct.
AB  - (4S)-4-Benzyl-3-[(4S,5S)-(1-methoxy-5-methylcyclohexen-4- yl)carbonyl]-2
      oxazolidinone, C19H23NO4, M(r) = 329.40, monoclinic, P2(1), a = 11.453 (3), b =
      7.163 (4), c = 11.929 (2) A, beta = 111.86 (2) degree, V = 908.3 (5) A3, Z = 2, D
      chi = 1.20 g cm-3, lambda (Mo K alpha) = 0.71073 A, mu = 0.79 cm-1, F(000) = 352,
      T = 297 K, R = 0.034 for 885 reflections with Fo2 greater than 0. The molecule is
      extended in the crystal; there is a small twist, -13.1 (2) degree, about the
      amide-like C--N bond joining the oxazolidinone ring to the carbonyl group. The
      configurations at the two optical centers in the cyclohexene ring confirm the
      anticipated stereospecificity of the Diels-Alder cycloaddition synthesis.

PMID- 1445679
TI  - Structure of 2,5:3,4-dianhydro-D-altritol.
AB  - 3,6-Dioxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,4-dimethanol, C6H10O4, M(r) = 146.1,
      orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 7.6209 (2), b = 9.1292 (3), c = 9.6135 (5) A, V
      = 668.8 (1) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.451 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71073 A, mu =
      1.15 cm-1, F(000) = 312, T = 298 K, R = 0.029 for 1280 observations with I
      greater than 3 sigma(I) (of 1695 unique data). The tetrahydrofuran ring has the
      envelope conformation, OE, with P of 94.3 degrees and tau m = 24.0 degrees. C
      atoms deviate from their best plane by +/- 0.0006 (1) to 0.010 (1) A, and the O
      atom lies 0.331 (1) A from that plane. The epoxide O atom is syn to the
      tetrahydrofuran O atom. Each hydroxy group is involved in intermolecular hydrogen
      bonding both as donor and acceptor. The two hydrogen bonds have O...O distances
      of 2.743 (1) and 2.729 (1) A, and angles about H of 166.3 (12) and 172 (2)
      degrees, respectively.

PMID- 1445681
TI  - 3D structure determination from electron-microscope images: electron
      crystallography of staurolite.
AB  - Resolution of better than 2 A has been obtained in many crystals by high
      resolution electron microscopy. Although this resolution is sufficient to resolve
      interatomic spacings, structures are traditionally interpreted by comparing
      experimental images with contrast calculations. A drawback of this method is that
      images are 2D projections in which information is invariably obscured by overlap
      of atoms. 3D electron crystallography, developed by biophysicists to study
      proteins, has been used to investigate the crystal structure of staurolite.
      Amplitudes and phases of structure factors are obtained experimentally from high
      resolution images (JEOL ARM 1000 at the National Center for Electron Microscopy
      at LBL), taken in different directions from thin regions where dynamic scattering
      is minimal. From images in five orientations (containing 59 independent
      reflections to a resolution of 1.38 A), a 3D electron potential map is
      constructed which resolves clearly all cations (Al, Si, Fe, including those with
      partial occupancy) and all O atoms. This method has great potential in crystal
      structure determinations of small domains in heterogeneous crystals which are
      inaccessible to X-ray analysis. It is estimated that 3D structure determinations
      should be possible on regions only about ten unit cells wide and should resolve
      not only atom positions but also site occupancies. The method is also applicable
      to space-group determination.

PMID- 1445680
TI  - Structure of a tricyclic subunit of manzamine A.
AB  - (4a alpha,7a beta,10a beta)-2-Benzyl-1,2,3,4,4a,7,7a,8,9,10-decahydro-8,8-
      dimethylpyrrolo[2,3-i]isoquinolinium iodide, C20H29N2+.I-, M(r) = 424.37,
      monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 9.441 (4), b = 10.378 (4), c = 20.023 (9) A, beta =
      91.56 (3) degrees, V = 1961 (1) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.44 g cm-3 (188 K), lambda(Mo K
      alpha) = 0.7107 A, mu = 16.16 cm-1, F(000) = 864, T = 188 K, R = 0.0288 for 3070
      reflections [Fo greater than or equal to 4 sigma(Fo)]. The crystal structure
      determination was undertaken in order to establish the configuration around C10a.
      The rings of the isoquinoline group are trans, with the pyrrole moiety cis fused.
      The A ring is in the chair conformation, while the cyclohexene ring, B, is in the
      boat conformation owing to the cis fusion of the five-membered pyrrole ring. The
      pyrrole ring, C, assumes the half-chair conformation. The C-N bonds of the
      quaternary N atom, N8, are longer than those of the tertiary N atom, N2 [1.517
      (2) for N8 and 1.463 (2) A for N2].

PMID- 1445682
TI  - Polarized dispersion, glide-rule-forbidden reflections and phase determination in
      barium bromate monohydrate.
AB  - Reflections forbidden by a glide-plane rule are observed in diffraction
      experiments with a crystal of barium bromate monohydrate using linearly polarized
      synchrotron radiation with wavelength near the bromine K-absorption edge. Their
      intensities change with azimuth in agreement with equations derived using a
      tensor model of the anomalous scattering of the bromate ion and are consistent in
      scale with earlier measurements of that tensor in sodium bromate. The intensity
      of each forbidden h0l reflection gives the magnitude and phase of the bromine
      part of the structure factor of the allowed 2h,0,2l reflection. The x and z
      coordinates of the Br atom determined from such data for 11 reflections are
      within 0.02 A of those from two crystal structure determinations.

PMID- 1445683
TI  - Improving multiple isomorphous replacement phasing by heavy-atom refinement using
      solvent-flattened phases.
AB  - Solvent flattening of macromolecular MIR electron density maps is frequently used
      to improve the quality of the phases and the interpretability of resultant
      electron density maps. A new method is presented by which the heavy-atom
      parameters of isomorphous derivatives are refined against these same solvent
      flattened phases and is shown to enhance convergence of the parameters by
      decoupling heavy-atom-parameter adjustment from parent-phase calculation. This
      approach is described here in the first example of its application in the
      solution of the glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase-tRNA(Gln)-ATP co-crystal structure.

PMID- 1445684
TI  - Heavy-atom refinement against solvent-flattened phases.
AB  - A new algorithm for refinement of heavy-atom parameters is defined by an
      iterative procedure where external phases are provided by density modification.
      This algorithm is applied to two cases, tRNA(Asp) and the complex between
      tRNA(Asp) and aspartyl-tRNA synthetase. In the first case, where the structure
      was solved by multiple isomorphous replacement (MIR) methods, it was found that
      the new method gives accurate values for the native-derivative scale and four
      occupancy of heavy-atom sites. Position refinement was more delicate and it
      needed to be handled in a restricted resolution range. In the second case, where
      a similar method was used in the early stages of solving the phase problem, it
      slightly decreased the phase error. It was followed by an improvement of the
      density-modification masks, which led to better maps at higher resolution.

PMID- 1445685
TI  - A gas-chromatographic determination of the ppb levels of volatile halogenated
      hydrocarbons in water for injections.
AB  - Some volatile halogenated hydrocarbons have been found in commercial large volume
      parenterals (LVPs) prepared from untreated or treated (disinfected) water. To
      monitor the presence of volatile halogenated hydrocarbons in the source water and
      also in the water for injections, a low cost and sufficiently simple procedure
      has been developed, specifically for the following components: 1,1,1
      trichloroethane, 1,1,2 trichloroethylene, 1,1,2,2 tetrachloroethylene, carbon
      tetrachloride, chloroform, dichlorobromomethane and dibromochloromethane. A Head
      space technique coupled with ECD-gaschromatography was used. The procedure is
      thoroughly discussed in the article, including the results of a ring test for a
      preliminary validation of this method.

PMID- 1445686
TI  - New oral system for timing-release of drugs.
AB  - Polymeric barriers applied by compression have already been used to control drug
      release rate from matrix tablets. In this paper, polymeric barrier layers, used
      to prepare and develop a new device able to release the drug after a programmable
      period of time, are described. Some matrix core formulations, containing Trapidil
      or Sodium Diclofenac as a model drug, were dry-coated using either a swellable or
      an erodible shell. This coating prevents drug release from the core until the
      polymeric layer is not completely eroded or swollen. The time-lag can be modified
      by changing the barrier formulation and/or the coating thickness. Also drug
      release profiles (release rate and kinetics), can be widely modified changing the
      barrier layer characteristics.

PMID- 1445687
TI  - [A new inclusion complex of silibinin and beta-cyclodextrins: in vitro
      dissolution kinetics and in vivo absorption in comparison with traditional
      formulations].
AB  - The very low bioavailability of silybinin, the main constituent of silymarin, so
      far prevented the development of an oral pharmaceutical specialty based on this
      active ingredient. To overcome this difficulty, an inclusion complex between
      Silybinin and beta-Cyclodextrin was prepared. The new complex was compared in
      vitro tests (dissolution rate) and in a in vivo test (rat bile elimination) with
      silybinin, silymarin and one traditional formulation based on silybinin. The
      results show a dramatic increase in the dissolution rate of the complex (> 90%
      within 5 min) respect to the silybinin that confirm to be practically insoluble
      (< 5%). The in vivo results agree with the dissolution rates; after
      administration of the silybinin complex p.o., the silybinin concentration in the
      rat bile was near 20 times more than after administration of silybinin as is or
      in a traditional formulation. In the last two cases, the silybinin concentration
      was even 6 times less than after administration of the same amount of silymarin.
      These data show that the beta-CD complex solved the problem of the
      bioavailability of silybinin which, in the traditional formulation utilised as
      reference, proved to be not bioavailable.

PMID- 1445688
TI  - Stability of phenobarbital sodium in liquid pharmaceutical preparations.
AB  - Shelf-lives of liquid pharmaceutical preparations (injectable and oral solution)
      containing phenobarbital sodium, commercially available in Brazil, were predicted
      by accelerated stability test using isothermal method (at 37 degrees C, 50
      degrees C and 75 degrees C). Data obtained in high temperature studies using
      Arrhenius relation were applied to predict shelf-lives at room temperature. The
      shelf-lives were calculated by linear regression analysis. UV difference
      spectrophotometry was used for phenobarbital determination. Thin-layer
      chromatography was used for separation and identification of
      phenylethylacethylurea, the main degradation product of phenobarbital.

PMID- 1445690
TI  - The microbial controls of antiseptics and disinfectants by membrane filtration:
      experimental evaluation of the interferences.
AB  - Microbiological investigations made by membrane filtration method on antiseptics
      and disinfectants demonstrated that the filtering membranes present very
      frequently a remarkable antimicrobial activity, even after washing with 300 ml of
      peptone water according to the guidelines of the Pharmacopoeia. The observed
      phenomena (appearance of inhibition zones, disappearance or decrease of the
      number of colonies forming units, release of antimicrobial properties to the
      cultural broths) can seriously diminish the validity of microbiological controls
      of antiseptics and disinfectants.

PMID- 1445689
TI  - Standardization of process parameters for salbutamol sulphate microcapsules
      coated with cellulose acetate phthalate and computation of in-vitro release
      kinetics.
AB  - Salbutamol sulphate, a bronchodilatatory drug for asthma, is encapsulated by
      Emulsion-Solvent-Evaporation technique using cellulose acetatephthalate as
      coating polymeric material. Different process parameters like Stirring Speed,
      Drug-Polymer Ratio, Solvent-Polymer Ratio, Internal Phase-External Phase Ratio,
      Effects of Temperature, and of Surfactants have been studied to standardise the
      process. At optimal condition of process parameters maximum encapsulation
      efficiency is obtained and microcapsules produced are free flowing and spherical.
      The dissolution of the microcapsules is carried out and the data obtained from in
      vitro dissolution profile are computed in the light of different kinetic models.
      Diffusion coefficient (Da) and diffusivity rate constant (KBL) are evaluated with
      the help of Baker-Lonsdale model.

PMID- 1445691
TI  - [Pharmacology of escin, a saponin from Aesculus hyppocastanum L. II.
      Pharmacodynamics of escin. Chapter I].

PMID- 1445692
TI  - Oncogene activation in rheumatoid synovium.
AB  - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic disorder that is dominated by the
      debilitating sequelae associated with the progressive destruction of articular
      joints. The molecular and cellular basis of rheumatoid joint destruction is
      characterized by an abnormal expression of oncogenes modulating cellular
      proliferation and the induction of lysosomal and metalloproteinases. Based on the
      observation that the synovial hyperplasia in RA is associated with the
      proliferation of transformed-appearing synovial lining cells and an
      overexpression of such oncogenes, the possibility that a hitherto unknown HTLV
      related retrovirus is involved in the etiopathogenesis of RA is discussed.

PMID- 1445693
TI  - Factors affecting quantitative assessment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa adherence to
      buccal epithelial cells.
AB  - The influence of experimental protocol on estimation of adherence of P.
      aeruginosa to buccal epithelial cells is highlighted. Use of membrane filtration
      to remove non-adherent bacteria was significantly affected by membrane pore size
      and rinse volume, but was not affected by inoculum size or test isolate. Even
      with optimum filtration conditions, over 58% of the non-adherent bacterial
      population were retained on the filters. Separation of non-adherent bacteria was
      greatly improved when density centrifugation was employed, with less than 30% of
      non-adherent bacteria present in the buccal epithelial suspension. Adherence
      values measured by a radiological and fluorometric method were significantly
      higher than those determined by microscopic counting. Radiological assays had the
      lowest variance. Gradient centrifugation was used to prepare a standard
      suspension of buccal epithelial cells. However, cells collected on different days
      showed significantly different adherence measurements. Adherence of bacteria to
      trypsinized buccal epithelial cells and to buccal epithelial cells from cystic
      fibrosis patients was similar, whereas adherence to normal buccal epithelial
      cells was significantly lower.

PMID- 1445694
TI  - Descriptive epidemiology of infections due to thermotolerant Campylobacter spp.
      in Norway, 1979-1988.
AB  - This report reviews the first ten years of Campylobacter surveillance in Norway.
      During 1979-1988, a total of 3,545 isolates of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp.
      were reported. The isolation rate increased from 1.8 per 100,000 persons per year
      in 1979 to 13.1 in 1988. The highest isolation rate for both sexes occurred
      during the first five years of life (31.0 per 100,000). A smaller second peak was
      detected in the age group 15-24 years (11.1 per 100,000). The male-to-female
      ratio was 1.52:1 for infants less than five years of age, compared with a ratio
      of 1.35:1 for all ages combined. Thirty-eight percent of the infections had most
      probably been acquired abroad. The isolation rate in urban areas (12.4 per
      100,000) was over twice that observed in rural agricultural municipalities (5.5
      per 100,000). However, this difference was largely due to a higher proportion of
      imported cases in urban areas, only small variations in isolation rate were
      observed when imported cases were excluded. The seasonal distribution of
      Campylobacter isolates showed a peak during the warm months of the year. Travel
      activity during summer holidays did not account for this trend, since the summer
      peak became even more pronounced when imported cases were excluded. A north-south
      gradient in the seasonality was observed; when domestic cases were considered,
      the summer peak became more accentuated with increasing latitude reaching a
      maximum in subarctic areas. This might be explained by corresponding variations
      in occurrence of campylobacters in surface water sources.

PMID- 1445695
TI  - Capsular polysaccharide is linked to the outer surface of type 6A pneumococcal
      cell walls.
AB  - The in situ attachment of capsular polysaccharide of type 6A pneumococci was
      examined by immunoelectron microscopy using anti-type 6A monoclonal antibody. The
      result discloses an asymmetrical cross-section of pneumococcal cell walls because
      capsular polysaccharides are located on the outer surface of the walls only, in
      contrast to the cell wall polysaccharide, which has been shown to be located on
      both surfaces.

PMID- 1445696
TI  - Serum levels of fetal antigen 2 in hyperthyroidism and primary
      hyperparathyroidism.
AB  - Serum concentration of fetal antigen 2 (FA2) in patients with hyperthyroidism (n
      = 18) (median: 12.9 mAU/l; range: 3.2-22.4 mAU/l) was significantly (p < 0.002)
      higher than in age- and sex-matched healthy controls (median: 4.1 mAU FA2/l;
      range: 2.4-10.0 mAU FA2/l). Serum FA2 was positively correlated with thyroxine
      (T4) (Rs = 0.51; p < 0.05), triiodothyronine (T3) (Rs = 0.64; p < 0.01), bone-Gla
      protein (BGP) (Rs = 0.70; p < 0.01), total alkaline phosphatase (total-AP) (Rs =
      0.62; p < 0.01), bone isoenzyme alkaline phosphatase (bone-AP) (Rs = 0.63; p <
      0.01), N-terminal procollagen type III (PIIINP) (Rs = 0.65; p < 0.01) and urine
      OH-proline (OHP) (Rs = 0.79; p < 0.01). In patients with hyperparathyroidism the
      pretreatment levels of FA2 (n = 8) (median: 17.6 mAU/l; range: 5.2-35.0 mAU/l)
      were significantly (p < 0.001) higher than those of age- and sex-matched controls
      (median: 3.7 mAU FA2/l; range: 3.4-9.0 mAU/l). The pretreatment level of FA2 was
      positively correlated with the parathyroid hormone (PTH) (Rs = 0.80; p < 0.05).
      Following surgical treatment the serum concentrations of FA2, PTH, and BGP
      decreased compared to pretreatment levels and the fall in these three parameters
      revealed parallelism. These data indicate that serum FA2 can be used as a marker
      in the evaluation of metabolic bone diseases.

PMID- 1445697
TI  - Haemagglutination patterns of Helicobacter pylori. Frequency of sialic acid
      specific and non-sialic acid-specific haemagglutinins.
AB  - Thirty-two Helicobacter pylori strains were screened for haemagglutination (HA)
      activity with erythrocytes of 11 different animal species. Twenty-three strains
      (72%) that agglutinated human erythrocytes exhibited a broad-spectrum HA profile.
      Human, guinea pig and bovine erythrocytes high in sialoglycoconjugates were
      strongly agglutinated by most strains. Except for two, seven strains (22%) that
      did not agglutinate human erythrocytes exhibited a narrow-spectrum HA profile,
      commonly not inhibitable by sialoglycoconjugates or N-acetylneuraminlactose
      (NANLac). Strains were classified into three major HA classes. HA of 10 strains
      (31%) in class I was inhibited by different combinations of NANLac, orosomucoid
      or fetuin, but not by asialofetuin, suggesting the presence of sialic acid
      specific HAs probably recognizing NeuAc alpha-(2-3)- Gal isomer. Twelve strains
      (38%) in class II exhibited a different receptor specificity binding to different
      combinations of NANLac, orosomucoid and fetuin, as well as asialofetuin. No
      inhibition was observed with 10 strains (31%) in class III; thus, this receptor
      seems different from both the other classes. Of 21 strains (66%) in classes I and
      II, HA of 11 strains (34%) was inhibited with NANLac, 14 strains (44%) with
      orosomucoid and 15 strains (47%) with fetuin. The great heterogeneity observed in
      HA patterns indicates that the HAs of different strains may recognize a
      heterogeneous class of sialoglycoconjugates on the erythrocyte membrane.

PMID- 1445698
TI  - Ultrastructural morphometric analysis of human blood platelets exposed to minimal
      handling procedures.
AB  - A detailed morphometric study of normal human blood platelets is described. The
      purpose has been to evaluate the morphological characteristics of platelets
      exposed to minimal handling procedures in order to obtain an optimal basis for
      the appraisal of platelets in disease. Blood from 10 healthy volunteers was
      collected directly into buffered glutaraldehyde and processed for electron
      microscopy. This platelet fixation procedure resulted in excellent preservation
      of resting platelet ultrastructure with one exception: the dense bodies. Compared
      to platelets fixed following washing procedures, our directly fixed platelets
      comprised fewer pseudopods and contained more glycogen. An unexpected feature of
      the open canalicular system was the apparent release of blisters interpreted as
      microvesicles. Employing a computerized image analyzer, 300 of the platelets were
      examined morphologically. The morphometric data thus obtained were analyzed
      statistically, resulting in a set of standard values for morphological
      characteristics of human platelets which we have found useful in subsequent
      evaluations of platelet morphology in disease. Significant inter-individual
      variance was, however, detected in two instances, in the section area of the
      alpha granules, as well as the area fraction of platelet sections occupied by
      channels of the open canalicular system (OCS). This should be taken into
      consideration when appraising platelet ultrastructure in health and disease.

PMID- 1445699
TI  - Tumours in Iceland. 16. Malignant tumours of the stomach. Histological
      classification and description of epidemiological changes in a high-risk
      population during 30 years.
AB  - Iceland is one of the high-risk countries for stomach cancer. During the period
      1955-84 the incidence declined from 76 to 28 per 10(5) p.a. for males and from 30
      to 12 for females. Tissue material from the primary site in 978 males and 448
      females was available for histological typing. By the WHO classification tubular
      carcinoma was most frequent in both sexes, 66% in males and 63% in females, and
      signet-ring carcinoma second, 13% in males and 16% in females. By the Lauren
      classification in males 78.1% were intestinal and 16.5% diffuse carcinomas, and
      in females 73.1% were intestinal and 20.7% diffuse carcinomas. The decline in
      stomach cancer in Icelanders has mostly affected the intestinal type of tumour
      (Lauren) and the tubular type of tumour (WHO). Diffuse type tumours (Lauren) have
      declined slightly. This supports the theory that intestinal carcinomas are more
      influenced by environmental and especially dietary factors, and that diffuse
      carcinomas are more influenced by other as yet unknown factors. For
      epidemiological studies both histological classifications have their value, the
      WHO especially in that it is based on standard histopathological criteria and the
      Lauren especially in that it only includes two tumour types. The WHO
      classification can roughly be transcribed to the Lauren classification as
      tubular, mucinous and papillary carcinomas fall into the group of intestinal
      tumours, and signet-ring and more than half of undifferentiated carcinomas into
      the group of diffuse tumours.

PMID- 1445700
TI  - Tumours in Iceland. 17. Malignant tumours of the oesophagus. Histological
      classification and epidemiological considerations.
AB  - We studied all primary malignancies of the oesophagus diagnosed in Iceland
      between 1955 and 1984 and reclassified tumours where histological material was
      available using the WHO classification system. Of a total of 329 tumours
      diagnosed in the time period, seven were excluded for various reasons. Of the
      remaining 322 tumours, 178 were in males and 144 in females. The age standardized
      incidence was 5.3/10(5) for males and 3.1/10(5) for females. The incidence of
      oesophageal tumours decreased for both sexes during the time period under
      investigation. Of 250 reclassified tumours (142 in males and 108 in females),
      squamous cell carcinomas comprised 81.6%. If the undifferentiated tumours are
      excluded, the squamous group accounted for 89.1% of the remaining tumours. Small
      cell carcinomas comprised 3.2% of all cases, which was higher than expected. Most
      of the tumours appear to be located in the middle part of the oesophagus. The
      vast majority of resected tumours extended through the wall of the oesophagus. A
      relatively higher proportion of tumours was confined to the submucosal or
      muscular layers in the latter half of the period. In conclusion, the
      epidemiological data in our study appear to resemble what is observed in the
      other Nordic countries for oesophageal tumours, except for slightly higher
      overall incidence in Iceland, especially for women.

PMID- 1445701
TI  - Detection of gastrin mRNA by in situ hybridization using radioactive- and
      digoxigenin-labelled probes: a comparative study.
AB  - The hormone gastrin is mainly produced by the G cells of the antral mucosa and
      plays a major role in the regulation of digestive mucosal growth. Since it
      permits identification of cell types containing mRNA, in situ hybridization (ISH)
      appears to be an interesting method for studying gastrin-producing tissues. In
      this study, in situ detection of gastrin mRNA has been carried out on frozen
      sections of four human normal antral mucosa samples and of six colonic carcinomas
      removed from patients with high levels of plasma gastrin, using a gastrin
      oligonucleotidic DNA probe. We have compared the results provided respectively by
      the [35s] labelling and the digoxigenin labelling of the synthetic probe.
      Positive cells were found in each normal sample analysed with radioactive- as
      well as digoxigenin-labelled antisense probes. The total number of cells
      expressing gastrin mRNA appeared slightly higher with the [35s]-labelled probe,
      while the digoxigenin-labelled probe gave a better definition of positive
      signals. In contrast, neither radioactive nor cold probes gave positive signals
      in the six colonic carcinoma samples, although gastrin expression had been
      demonstrated in these tumours using a reverse transcriptase-PCR method. These
      results show that, although ISH does not seem sensitive enough to allow the
      detection of very low levels of gastrin expression, it would appear to be a
      reliable method for visualizing gastrin mRNA in human antral mucosa.

PMID- 1445702
TI  - beta-lactamases in Shigella.
AB  - The occurrence of resistance and production of beta-lactamases was investigated
      in 60 Shigella strains. Ampicillin resistance was found in 28 (47%) of the
      isolates, the resistance being more frequent in Sh. flexneri than in Sh. sonnei.
      All strains were susceptible to cefotaxime, mecillinam, and ciprofloxacin. The
      beta-lactamases produced by Shigella were similar to TEM-1, OXA-1, or the low
      level chromosomally mediated cephalosporinase produced by Escherichia coli. The
      beta-lactamases produced by Sh. flexneri were most often the OXA-1-like enzymes.

PMID- 1445703
TI  - Factors to be considered in the evaluation of bioavailability and bioequivalence
      of topical formulations.
AB  - In this paper, an attempt is made to find functional definitions of
      bioavailability and bioequivalence for topical products and to examine critical
      factors that influence topical bioavailability and bioequivalence. A physical
      model approach for quantifying the problem and increasing our understanding is
      presented here. The key assumptions are (1) that the target site is in the lower
      epidermis (basal layer) or in the dermis, and (2) that it is the thermodynamic
      activity (i.e., the free drug concentration, C*, of the active drug species) at
      the target site that is the true correlate of drug effectiveness. Studies
      initiated to implement the physical model approach involved first validating a
      'three-tiered' model for finite dose drug uptake/transport in skin with
      experimentally determined input parameters (partition coefficient, K, and steady
      state permeability coefficients, P, for the stratum corneum, viable epidermis,
      and dermis). Hydrocortisone was used as the model drug with hairless guinea pig
      skin as the model membrane. The physical model is used to show, via the C*
      concept, how formulation factors may influence bioavailability and
      bioequivalence. Finally, a method is presented for predicting the efficacy of
      topical formulations employing appropriate in vitro data and physical model
      calculations.

PMID- 1445705
TI  - Topical and systemic absorption of sodium pyrithione following topical
      application to the nails of the rhesus monkey.
AB  - A study was performed to investigate the local penetration into the nail, the
      systemic absorption into the rest of the body, and the routes of excretion of
      sodium pyrithione following topical application to the nail. Approximately 20
      microliters of a film-forming 3% sodium 14C-pyrithione solution was applied once
      daily to 5 fingernails and 5 toenails of 4 rhesus monkeys for 6 or 7 days.
      Following dose removal on study day 7, 2 animals were sacrificed, and the treated
      nails were analyzed for radioactivity. The other 2 monkeys received the topical
      dose for 1 more day and were monitored during the postdosing period. Sodium 14C
      pyrithione was absorbed slowly into and across the nail following topical
      application, with the nails serving as reservoirs for the drug. Further evidence
      of the slow movement of sodium pyrithione across the nail was provided by peak
      plasma 14C equivalents obtained on day 9, 1 day after the last dose had been
      removed from the nails. Only slight drug concentrations were measurable in
      plasma, with no radioactivity observed beyond day 12. The urinary excretion data
      exhibited a delay in peak urinary excretion (days 8 and 9), and an elimination
      half-life of 2 days, so that approximately 90% of the absorbed drug was
      eliminated within 1 week following treatment. Including a minor excretion pathway
      through the feces, total excretion as a percent of dosage was 8.5%, indicating
      that less than 10% of the applied topical dose of sodium pyrithione was absorbed
      systemically.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445704
TI  - Absorption and metabolism of topically applied testosterone in an organotypic
      skin culture.
AB  - The Living Skin Equivalent (LSE) is an organotypic coculture of human dermal
      fibroblasts in a collagen-containing matrix and a stratified epidermis composed
      of human epidermal keratinocytes. In order to establish the feasibility of using
      this in vitro system as a model for cutaneous biotransformation, the metabolic
      fate of topically applied testosterone (T) was monitored in the LSE. After a 24
      hour exposure period (37 degrees C) to radiolabelled T, LSE extracts analyzed by
      high-performance thin-layer chromatography showed that approximately 50% of the
      applied T had been metabolized. Identified metabolites included bands which
      comigrated with polar metabolites and products of T 5 alpha-reductase. The
      general distribution of the observed metabolites was similar to that obtained
      using biopsied human skin. The rates of T penetration (32 degrees C) through the
      LSE were monitored after application of T in two vehicles (water and petrolatum)
      and yielded permeability constants (Kps) of 29 and 1.6 x 10(-3) cm/h,
      respectively. These Kp values were 4- to 6-fold higher than those reported for
      human abdominal skin, and reflect the vehicle-related shift in penetration seen
      in human skin. The Kp values for two additional steroids, estradiol and
      hydrocortisone, and for T were also determined at 22 degrees C and compared to
      published Kp values. These Kp values in the LSE were, respectively, 63-, 187- and
      35-fold higher than those reported for human skin. The data suggest that compared
      to human skin the LSE has only a partial barrier function to the passage of test
      chemicals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445706
TI  - The possibility of lidocaine ion pair absorption through excised hairless mouse
      skin.
AB  - The purpose of the present research was to test the ion pair absorption
      hypothesis with respect to the topical route of drug delivery. The experiment
      consisted of preparing various lidocaine-n-alkanoate ion pairs, then
      characterizing them by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, elemental analysis
      and conductivity. Percutaneous absorption studies through excised hairless mouse
      skin were carried out using ethanolic solution of radiolabeled 14C-lidocaine
      octanoate, 14C-lidocaine-decanoate and 14C-lidocaine-dodecanoate. Studies were
      conducted under steady-state conditions using Bronaugh's flow-through apparatus
      and normal saline as the receptor fluid. Ethanolic solution of a lidocaine base
      served as a control. The apparent differences in flux between lidocaine and the
      various ion pairs were statistically significant (p less than 0.05). The
      differences among the fluxes of the various ion pairs were not statistically
      significant (p greater than 0.05), nor were the differences in lag times (p
      greater than 0.05). The difference between the flux values of lidocaine-1-14C
      dodecanoate and 14C-lidocaine-dodecanoate infers that lidocaine-dodecanoate did
      not cross the excised, full-thickness, hairless mouse skin as an intact 1:1 ion
      pair. The formation of weakly associated ion pairs was suggested by the apparent
      low-association constants (Ka = 15-17 liters/mol) obtained at 25 degrees C in
      methanol by conductometric analysis.

PMID- 1445707
TI  - In vivo microdialysis estimation of histamine in human skin.
AB  - Microdialysis, a new bioanalytical sampling technique, enables the measurement of
      substances in the extracellular space. This study investigates the use of the
      technique in the in vivo measurement of histamine levels in human skin.
      Microdialysis probes are equipped at the tip with a semipermeable polycarbonate
      membrane which permits the passive diffusion of substances. 16 probes were
      inserted, via a guide, into the skin of the ventral forearm of 8 patients or
      volunteers. The probe was perfused at a flow of 5 microliters/min, with samples
      being collected at intervals of 10 min and analysed by RIA technique. The mean
      histamine level in the first 10-min sample following probe insertion was 39.4 nM.
      The mean histamine value fell with successive 10-min samples (8.8, 4.6, 2.3 nM).
      An equilibration period of 40 min following probe insertion is suggested for
      histamine studies, where provocation of the skin is to be performed.
      Microdialysis appears to be a promising new tool for quantitative and
      chronological studies of cutaneous inflammatory mediators.

PMID- 1445708
TI  - Repeated application of dinitrochlorobenzene to the ears of sensitized guinea
      pigs: a preliminary characterization of a potential new animal model for contact
      eczema in humans.
AB  - We have evaluated a subchronic model of contact hypersensitivity in the guinea
      pig to mimic human chronic/recurrent eczema. Repeated challenges of the ears of
      previously sensitized guinea pigs with 0.1% dinitrochlorobenzene (once a week for
      4 weeks) induced a typical oedema response, which increased during the first 48 h
      after each challenge. Crusts were detectable (48 h after challenge) and
      histological observations (72 h after challenge) revealed hyperplasia,
      papillomatosis, hyperkeratosis and some mononuclear cell infiltrates in the
      dermis. In agreement with clinical observations in humans, topical treatment of
      challenged animals with corticosteroid (1% hydrocortisone) reduced the oedema,
      hyperplasia, papillomatosis, and leucocyte infiltrates, while application of 5%
      bufexamac (a non-steroidal drug) was associated with a slight enhancement of the
      inflammatory response. Thus, this model presents clinical and histological
      similarities with human eczema. Its pharmacological relevance is also suggested,
      although further investigations are required to better define its selectivity.

PMID- 1445709
TI  - [Carpal tunnel syndrome: clinical , electromyographic and therapeutic aspects].

PMID- 1445710
TI  - [The results of drug holiday in Parkinson's disease].
AB  - The transitory suppression of L-dopa in patients with advanced Parkinson's
      disease improves motor response upon reintroduction of the drug although this
      improvement is not constant. The degree and duration of clinical improvement
      obtained following L-dopa drug holiday were studied and the factors which may
      intervene in the result of 32 patients with Parkinson's disease were analyzed.
      Improvement was found in 100% (24.9 +/- 6.7%) with significant differences being
      observed in the degree of disability (p < 0.05) and the final decrease of the
      doses of L-dopa (p < 0.05). Improvement was maintained during 10.3 +/- 7.9 weeks.
      Linear regression studies did not show any relation between the length of the
      drug holiday, longer than 4 days, and the degree and maintenance of improvement
      or final decrease of the doses of L-dopa. The authors consider this procedure
      useful in patients with important fluctuations in treatment response or with
      important refractory side effects to other measures.

PMID- 1445711
TI  - [Carotid surgery in Spain. Analysis of 2 national inquiries].

PMID- 1445712
TI  - [Treatment with ubiquinone in Kearns-Sayre syndrome. Improvement in ocular
      motility and visual evoked potentials].
AB  - In 1985 Ogasahara observed that treatment with ubiquinone produced improvement in
      the cardiac conduction and the metabolism of the lactic and pyruvic acids in the
      Kearns-Sayre syndrome. The results of the administration of 150 mg/day of
      ubiquinone for 3 years in a patient diagnosed with the Kearns-Sayre syndrome is
      described. The patient improved notably in strength, ocular movement, visual
      evoked potentials and in the metabolism of lactic and pyruvic acids. Other
      beneficial effects reported in the literature have been improvement of ataxia and
      the somato-sensitive evoked potentials. No side effects have been described.

PMID- 1445713
TI  - [Rhombencephalitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes].
AB  - The observation of an abscess in the brain stem and cerebellum due to Listeria
      monocytogenes is presented. The patient was a 55 year old diabetic, alcoholic,
      gastrectomized male in whom a febrile and meningeal syndrome developed. Three
      days later he had a progressive unilateral dysfunction of the cranial nerves. The
      cerebrospinal fluid showed pleocytosis of the polymorphonuclear cells, an
      increase in proteins and low glucose in relation with the glycemia. No
      parenchymatous lesion was observed upon emergency computerized tomography.
      Magnetic resonance imaging showed a hyper-signal lesion in the brain stem and
      cerebellum with a contrast enhancement in ring. Following antibiotic treatment
      the clinical evolution of the patient was favorable with slight focal sequelae
      persistent at discharge. A review of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations
      and treatment of this infection is carried out.

PMID- 1445714
TI  - [Binswanger disease and antiphospholipid antibodies].

PMID- 1445715
TI  - [Primary cerebral T-cell lymphoma in a previously healthy patient].

PMID- 1445716
TI  - [Cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent patient: efficacy of fluconazole].

PMID- 1445717
TI  - [Painful ophthalmoplegia associated with infectious mononucleosis].

PMID- 1445718
TI  - [Agenesia of the corpus callosum associated with cerebellar vascular
      malformation].

PMID- 1445719
TI  - [Sneddon's syndrome and antiphospholipid antibodies].

PMID- 1445720
TI  - [Neurophysiologic evaluation in patients with Behcet's disease].

PMID- 1445721
TI  - Amino acid substitution of proteins coded for in mitochondrial DNA during
      mammalian evolution.
AB  - Three Markov models (Dayhoff, Proportional and Poisson models; Hasegawa et al.,
      1992a) for amino acid substitution during evolution were used for maximum
      likelihood analyses of proteins coded for in mitochondrial DNA in estimating a
      phylogenetic tree among human, bovine and murids (mouse and rat) with chicken as
      an outgroup. It turned out that Dayhoff model is the most appropriate model among
      the alternatives in approximating the amino acid substitutions of proteins coded
      for in mitochondrial DNA. In spite of the presence of the complete sequence data
      of mitochondrial genomes, we could not resolve the trichotomy among human, bovine
      and murids, probably because the time length separating two branching events
      among these three lines was short and because chicken is too distant from mammals
      to be used as an outgroup. It was suggested that the average substitution rate of
      amino acids coded for in mitochondrial DNA is lower along the bovine line than
      those along the human or murid lines. Advantages of amino acid sequence analysis
      over nucleotide sequence analysis in phylogenetic study were discussed.

PMID- 1445722
TI  - Compensatory changes in silver-stainability of nucleolar organizer regions in
      mice.
AB  - Silver-stainability of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) that contain genes for
      ribosomal RNA (rDNA) was investigated using two mouse strains, BALB/cCrSlc and
      MOA, and their hybrid progeny. The patterns of segregation of the rDNA clusters
      were analyzed in terms of chromosomal C-banding and by use of a polymorphic probe
      for the variable region in backcrossed N2 and N3 individuals. The results
      indicate that the intensity of Ag-NOR staining is stably inherited in most of the
      rDNA clusters, irrespective of different genetic backgrounds. In some clusters,
      such as those on chromosome 12 of BALB/cCrSlc, a modulation of the intensity is
      observed. This modulation seems to be due to compensatory activation via a change
      in the number of actively transcribed genes. The change from silver-negative to
      silver-positive staining of the NOR of chromosome 12 of BALB/cCrSlc was
      correlated with demethylation of the genes.

PMID- 1445723
TI  - Cytological mapping of Om mutants of Drosophila ananassae.
AB  - Semidominant, optic morphology (Om) mutants in Drosophila ananassae have been
      genetically mapped to at least 25 loci throughout the genome (Hinton, 1984;
      1988). Among them, four X-linked Om mutants were proved to be associated with the
      insertion of a transposable element, tom (Shrimpton et al., 1986; Tanda et al.,
      1988). In the present study, cytological mapping of autosomal Om mutants was
      carried out by in situ hybridization to polytene chromosomes using a cloned tom
      element as a probe. The cytological site for each autosomal Om mutant has been
      determined to a single band of the salivary gland chromosomes.

PMID- 1445724
TI  - Radiation from Chernobyl and risk of childhood leukaemia.

PMID- 1445725
TI  - Trends in mortality from malignant cutaneous melanoma in The Netherlands, 1950
      1988.
AB  - This paper presents an analysis of trends in mortality from malignant melanoma of
      the skin in The Netherlands, 1950-1988. Statistical analyses show that time
      period effects are needed to describe the mortality trends in The Netherlands.
      Because this contrasts with reports from other countries, in which the trends
      were ascribed to a cohort effect only, log-linear models including the three
      factors age, time period and birth cohort, were fitted to the data. To be able to
      separate time period effects from birth cohort effects we assumed a mathematical
      function for the mortality rates in relation to age. The results obtained in this
      way indicate that time period effects increased up to 1970. An increase of birth
      cohort effects is seen for cohorts born between 1900 and 1955. For cohorts born
      after 1955 the mortality from melanoma seems to decrease. The most plausible
      explanation for the time period effect probably is improvement in death
      certification.

PMID- 1445726
TI  - Diet and colorectal cancer: results of two case-control studies in Russia.
AB  - Two case-control studies of diet and colorectal cancer were conducted in Moscow
      and Khabarovsk. The Moscow study comprised 100 cases of colorectal cancer and 100
      neighbourhood controls. The Khabarovsk study consisted of 117 cases of colorectal
      cancer and 117 population controls. A history of the usual dietary intake one
      year prior to interview was taken using a food frequency questionnaire. Effects
      were adjusted in analysis for energy intake and education. Significantly reduced
      risks were observed with high intakes of cellulose (P = 0.001), beta-carotene (P
      = 0.002), vitamin C (P = 0.007), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (P = 0.004),
      cholesterol (P = 0.04), and with a high ratio of PUFA to saturated fatty acids
      (SFA) (P = 0.002). Significant increases in risk were observed in association
      with high ratios of intakes of protein to cellulose (P = 0.002) and of fat to
      cellulose (P = 0.008). High intake of total fat was associated with non
      significant decrease in the risk (P = 0.12), while high intake of SFA resulted in
      statistically non-significant increase in risk (P = 0.40). Significant reductions
      in risk were associated with high frequencies of consumption of vegetables (P =
      0.001) and fruit (P = 0.009). There were results suggestive of a decreased risk
      with a high frequency of milk consumption (P = 0.06) and an increased risk in
      association with a ratio of meat to vegetable frequencies (P = 0.09). After
      adjustment among factors effecting risk of colorectal cancer statistically
      significant increase in the risk was seen only for protein/cellulose ratio and
      significant protective effect for PUFA/SFA ratio, beta-carotene and vegetable
      consumption.

PMID- 1445727
TI  - Metabolic response of AH13r rat tumours to cyclophosphamide as monitored by pO2
      and pH semi-microelectrodes.
AB  - The composition of the microenvironment has an important influence on the
      cellular response to cytotoxic agents. Using pH and pO2 semi-microelectrodes, we
      have monitored metabolic changes in AH13r rat tumours as a function of time after
      subcurative chemotherapy. Prior to therapy, tumours contained large areas
      considered hypoxic (mean pO2 approximately 4 mmHg) and are characterised by a
      marked accumulation of acidic metabolites (mean pH 6.65). Administration of
      cyclophosphamide (40 mg/kg body weight) resulted in tumour regression to 15% of
      pretreatment volumes and a growth delay of 12 days. Concomitant with volume
      reduction, tumours became reoxygenated (mean pO2 approximately 7 mmHg), with
      maximum values being reached within 2-4 days, paralleled by a shift of pH to more
      alkaline values (0.17 U on average). These changes coincided with the development
      of subtotal necrosis. During early tumour regrowth, the pH and pO2 histograms
      returned to control values. These data corroborate and extend the results of
      previous studies in which noninvasive techniques had been applied for the
      monitoring of treatment-induced metabolic changes in malignant tumours in vivo.
      In addition, these results support the notion that the effectiveness of
      anticancer therapy might be improved by selecting and scheduling therapeutic
      agents in consideration of physiological changes caused by preceding courses of
      treatment.

PMID- 1445728
TI  - Survival trends for neuroblastoma patients in Finland: negative reflections on
      screening.
AB  - Based on 257 neuroblastoma patients in the age group 0-14 years and reported to
      the Finnish Cancer Registry, the 5-year cumulative survival rates have improved
      from 15% in the 1950s to 57% in 1980-1986. The potential benefit of screening for
      neuroblastoma was assessed on the basis of these nationwide survival trends. It
      is likely that any decrease in the overall neuroblastoma mortality due to
      screening would be small, because the survival rates of the Finnish neuroblastoma
      patients are already, even without screening, similar to those in Japan, which
      has a nationwide public health policy to screen for neuroblastoma.

PMID- 1445729
TI  - Effect of dequalinium on K1735-M2 melanoma cell growth, directional migration and
      invasion in vitro.
AB  - Cationic lipophilic compounds have an antiproliferative effect on certain tumour
      systems in vitro and in vivo. We have investigated whether the cationic
      lipophilic compound dequalinium affects not only proliferation but also motility
      and invasion of the highly metastatic and highly invasive melanoma cell line
      K1735-M2. Proliferation was assessed in monolayer cultures and in multicellular
      spheroids, motility was estimated in the assay of directional migration, and
      invasiveness was tested through confrontation cultures of tumour multicellular
      spheroids with embryonic chick heart tissue evaluated by computerized image
      analysis. 2 mumol/l dequalinium impaired melanoma cell proliferation, reduced
      directional migration and significantly blocked invasion in vitro. On the
      ultrastructural level, dequalinium caused obvious changes in mitochondria of both
      melanoma and embryonic chick heart cells. The mechanisms of the
      antiproliferative, antimigrating and antiinvasive effects remain to be
      determined. Inhibition of protein kinase C, calmodulin antagonism, DNA
      intercalation and/or direct effects on mitochondrial functions may be considered.

PMID- 1445730
TI  - Long-term stability of 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid admixtures.
AB  - 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and d,1-folinic acid (FA) are used in association to treat
      a wide variety of malignancies. The stability and the compatibility of 5-FU and
      FA in combination in intravenous admixtures were studied under various storage
      conditions and with drug concentrations matching their clinical use (0.9% sodium
      chloride, 5% dextrose, protected from light or not). 5-FU and FA concentrations
      (mg/ml) were 6.5 or 50 and 4.0 or 30.8, respectively. Successive aliquots of the
      drugs mixtures were withdrawn during 60 h from 500 ml glass bottles and 500 ml
      polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bags (at room temperature) and during 120 h from
      cassettes (at 32 degrees C). Drug concentrations were measured by high
      performance liquid chromatography. For all conditions tested, the changes in 5-FU
      and FA relative to the initial concentrations remained within the assay
      reproducibility (10%). In complement, infrared Fourier transformation
      spectrophotometry has not shown a significant fixation of FA or 5-FU on the PVC
      bags, in all tested conditions. Under the conditions examined above 5-FU and FA
      can be mixed in the same container for their use in cancer chemotherapy. This can
      have practical consequences by simplifying the widely used treatment protocols
      associating 5-FU and FA.

PMID- 1445731
TI  - Serum osteocalcin in the management of myeloma.
AB  - We have measured serum osteocalcin, a vitamin K-dependent glycoprotein
      synthesised by osteoblasts in 62 patients, 49 with myeloma, 26 at presentation
      and 23 previously treated, 7 with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia (WM), and 6
      with monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance (MGUS). Osteocalcin levels
      were normal in WM and MGUS. High values were found in 5/26 (19%) patients with
      myeloma at presentation. There was no relationship between serum osteocalcin and
      stage of disease. Osteocalcin was normal in all patients in plateau phase,
      falling to low levels in relapsed patients who failed to respond to further
      treatment. Serum osteocalcin may be a useful indicator of bone metabolism in
      myeloma.

PMID- 1445732
TI  - Phase II study of fotemustine in advanced soft tissue sarcomas. A trial of the
      EORTC Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group.

PMID- 1445733
TI  - CA 15.3 determination in patients with breast cancer: clinical utility for the
      detection of distant metastases.
AB  - In 81 healthy women, 26 pregnant women, 25 patients with fibrocystic disease and
      144 breast cancer patients, the overall diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of
      the CA 15.3 test was 27 and 97%, respectively. The positive and negative
      predictive values were 93 and 43%. In 150 node-negative patients taking part in a
      chemoprevention trial CA 15.3 was assayed at baseline and every 4 months for a
      median follow-up of 24 months (range 4-48). In these patients, 5 had local
      recurrences, 1 had a regional recurrence, 9 had distant metastases and 3
      developed cancer in the contralateral breast. Among the patients with
      recurrences, those with distant metastases showed the highest ratio of CA 15.3
      increase (8/9); in local and regional recurrences, this ratio was lower (2/6).
      The patients with contralateral breast cancer had no significant increase in CA
      15.3. Patients in whom metastases were detected showed an increase in CA 15.3 4
      48 months before clinical or instrumental detection of the metastases.

PMID- 1445734
TI  - Diethylstilboestrol: II, pharmacology, toxicology and carcinogenicity in
      experimental animals.
AB  - Diethylstilboestrol (DES) exerts several toxic effects in experimental animals,
      by mechanisms which are still unclear. The genotoxicity of the drug has been
      attributed to a quinone metabolite and is mainly clastogenic, including sister
      chromatid exchange, unscheduled DNA synthesis, chromosomal aberrations,
      disruption of mitotic spindle and aneuploidy. There is evidence that genotoxic
      effects may occur also transplacentally. Intrauterine and early postnatal
      exposure to DES can cause a variety of dysplasias. In the offspring of female
      mice exposed to DES during pregnancy, histological changes are observed in the
      vaginal and cervical epithelium, the endometrium, the ovary, the testis and the
      epididymis. Prenatal exposure of rats to DES led to decreased litter size and to
      urethrovaginal cloaca, penile and testicular hypoplasia, and cryptorchidism.
      Vaginal ridging, vaginal adenosis, testicular hypoplasia and cryptorchidism have
      been observed in rhesus monkeys following prenatal exposure. There is sufficient
      evidence that diethylstilboestrol is carcinogenic in experimental animals, after
      either prenatal or postnatal exposure. Mice show a similar type of
      carcinogenicity to that observed in humans, target organs being vagina, cervix,
      uterus, ovary, mammary gland and testis. In rats, prenatal exposure to DES
      produces mostly mammary and pituitary tumours, but also some tumours of the
      vagina. Hamsters develop tumours of vagina, cervix, endometrium, epididymis,
      testis, liver and kidney. DES induces ovarian papillary carcinomas in dogs, and
      malignant uterine mesotheliomas in squirrel monkeys. Some experimental evidence
      points to the possibility of a transgenerational carcinogenic effect, since
      prenatal treatment of mice with DES is followed by an increased incidence of
      uterine and ovarian carcinomas in the second-generation descendants. Experimental
      results could have been used to predict the adverse effects of DES observed in
      humans in the early 1970s: DES had been reported to be carcinogenic in mice in
      the 1930s, while experiments in the 1960s had provided evidence that exposure
      during pregnancy could result in an increased cancer risk in the progeny.

PMID- 1445735
TI  - Long term effects of tamoxifen. Biological effects of Tamoxifen Working Party.
AB  - A total of 153 breast cancer patients who participated in two trials of adjuvant
      tamoxifen and who had not recurred were recruited into a study of the long term
      effects of tamoxifen. There were 60 controls (no tamoxifen), 73 ex-users (mostly
      for 2 years) and 20 current users (median treatment duration 72 months) and the
      median follow-up time was 7 years. A wide ranging study of lipids, hormones, bone
      density and haemostasis was undertaken. When compared with controls, current
      users had lower cholesterol levels (especially low density cholesterol), and
      increased triglyceride levels. Thyroid hormones were higher and sex hormone
      binding globulin was almost doubled. Bone density was non-significantly higher,
      clotting times were slightly shorter and fibrinogen and antithrombin III levels
      were reduced. However few of these changes persisted in ex-users, suggesting that
      most of the biological effects of treatment are reversible on cessation of
      treatment. This is reassuring for potentially negative side-effects, but also
      indicates that potentially positive 'side-effects' such as cholesterol lowering
      only occur while on active treatment.

PMID- 1445736
TI  - Role of mitochondria in carcinogenesis.

PMID- 1445738
TI  - Left handedness and breast cancer.

PMID- 1445737
TI  - Left handedness and breast cancer risk.

PMID- 1445739
TI  - Cell kinetics in management of ovarian cancer.

PMID- 1445740
TI  - Chemotherapy induced amenorrhoea in a randomised trial of adjuvant chemotherapy
      duration in breast cancer.
AB  - We have previously reported the results of a clinical trial in patients with
      stage II breast cancer which compared a 12 week chemohormonal regimen with a 36
      week chemotherapy regimen. Both pre and post menopausal women were entered. The
      12 week regimen was inferior both in terms of disease-free survival and overall
      survival. The effect of chemotherapy on menstrual function was prospectively
      documented in 95 of 114 premenopausal women at 3 of the 4 participating centres.
      67 of the 95 women (70.5%) developed permanent amenorrhoea. There was a
      statistically significant difference in the rate of induced amenorrhea between
      the 12 week and the 36 week groups; 23/42 vs. 44/53, respectively (P = 0.003).
      Recurrence and mortality rates were lower in the patients who became amenorrheic;
      38% vs. 57% (P = 0.03) and 18% vs. 32% (P = 0.17), respectively. Similar trends
      were observed within treatment groups. The effect of induced amenorrhoea on
      outcome was seen predominantly in patients under 40 years old. These results
      suggest that the induction of ovarian failure is a potential mechanism for the
      observed effect of adjuvant chemotherapy in these patients. The difference in the
      ovarian failure rates between groups may be a possible explanation for the
      inferiority of the 12 week regimen.

PMID- 1445741
TI  - Early stage Hodgkin's disease: ten-year results of a non-randomised study with
      radiotherapy alone or combined with MOPP.
AB  - From September 1976 to June 1982, 201 consecutive patients with stage I (A and B)
      IIA Hodgkin's disease were stratified in two groups according to prognostic
      factors. The F group included 116 patients with favourable presentation: they
      were staged with laparotomy and treated with subtotal or total nodal radiotherapy
      alone. The U group included 85 cases with unfavourable presentation who were
      staged by laparoscopy and treated with 3MOPP (mechlorethamine, vincristine,
      procarbazine, prednisone)-radiotherapy-3MOPP. At 10 years the F group showed a
      freedom from progression (FFP) of 71% with significant difference between stage I
      and II (85% vs. 59%; P = 0.003) and an overall survival of 84%. The results of
      the U group were: FFP 83%, overall survival 74%, and the findings were not
      influenced by stage. FFP in patients with bulky vs. not bulky lymphoma was 70%
      vs. 87% (P = 0.04). No secondary acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia developed among
      patients treated with radiotherapy and in continuous complete remission, while
      acute leukaemia occurred in the F group patients who received salvage
      chemotherapy (4 of 31 cases) and in the U group (3 of 85 cases). Present results
      confirm the usefulness of radiotherapy alone in favourable pathological stage IA.
      All other disease stages will require a different strategy that should consist of
      radiotherapy combined with short-term effective regimens, such as ABVD
      (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and decarbazine) or VBM (vinblastine,
      bleomycin and methotrexate) to reduce the incidence of MOPP-associated gonadal
      dysfunction and leukaemogenesis.

PMID- 1445742
TI  - Prognosis of lymphoma from a fine-needle aspirate.
AB  - The prognostic value of S-phase fraction (SPF) determined by flow cytometry from
      a fine-needle aspirate was investigated in a prospective series of 52 non-Hodgkin
      lymphomas. The aspirates were drawn either at diagnosis (n = 16) or at lymphoma
      recurrence (n = 36). Patients with lymphoma with a large SPF (> 10%, n = 24) had
      only a 21% 3-year survival rate corrected for intercurrent deaths as calculated
      from the date of aspiration, whereas a smaller SPF was associated with a 71% 3
      year survival rate (n = 28, P = 0.0009). SPF size also correlated with Working
      Formulation grading (P = 0.002). In a multivariate analysis the relative risk of
      death from lymphomas with a large SPF was 4.01 (1.60-10.1), whereas histological
      grading, age, and sex had no additional independent prognostic value. SPF
      determined from a fine needle aspirate had unexpectedly good prognostic value,
      and the result suggests that the method is of clinical importance.

PMID- 1445743
TI  - Anticancer drug screening and discovery in the 1990s: a European perspective.

PMID- 1445744
TI  - A pilot study of intensive cyclophosphamide, epirubicin and fluorouracil in
      patients with axillary node positive or locally advanced breast cancer.
AB  - A multicentre pilot study has been conducted to determine an intensive regimen of
      cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and fluorouracil which was tolerable and acceptable
      to patients with node positive breast cancer. Consecutive patients with operable
      axillary node positive breast cancer (T1-3, N1-2, M0), 266 patients, or locally
      advanced breast cancer (T4), 22 patients, were treated with cyclophosphamide post
      operatively for 14 days and epirubicin and fluorouracil, both intravenously on
      days 1 and 8. Each cycle was repeated monthly for 6 months. Dosages were
      increased according to predetermined guidelines. Outcome measures were admission
      to hospital for febrile neutropenia and change in cardiac function as assessed by
      radionuclide angiography. The first 46 patients were treated at the doses of
      cyclophosphamide = 75 mg/m2, epirubicin = 50 mg/m2, fluorouracil = 375 mg/m2
      (level 1), then 42 patients at cyclophosphamide = 75 mg/m2, epirubicin = 50 mg/m2
      and fluorouracil = 500 mg/m2 (level 2), 69 patients at cyclophosphamide = 75
      mg/m2, epirubicin = 60 mg/m2, and fluorouracil = 500 mg/m2 (level 3), and 42
      patients at cyclophosphamide = 75 mg/m2, epirubicin = 70 mg/m2, and fluorouracil
      = 500 mg/m2 with concurrent antibiotics (level 4). The rates of febrile
      neutropenia were 8.7% (level 1), 7.1% (level 2), 18.8% (level 3), and 31% (level
      4), respectively, P = 0.002. Accrual to level 4 was discontinued according to
      study guidelines and a further 89 patients were recruited at level 3 dosages with
      antibiotic prophylaxis (level 3a), resulting in a 5.6% rate of febrile
      neutropenia. The difference in febrile neutropenia rates between levels 3 and 3a
      was statistically significant. There were no toxic deaths and 2 cases of heart
      failure. In conclusion, through a careful dose-finding study in patients with
      operable or locally advanced breast cancer, an intensive epirubicin-containing
      adjuvant regimen has been established which is presently being compared with
      standard CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil) chemotherapy in a
      randomised trial. In addition, this study suggests that antibiotic prophylaxis
      reduces the risk of febrile neutropenia in breast cancer patients receiving
      intensive chemotherapy.

PMID- 1445745
TI  - Prognostic importance of various clinicopathological features in papillary
      thyroid carcinoma.
AB  - The influence of various pathological features on tumour recurrences and cancer
      deaths has been studied in 173 consecutive cases of surgically treated papillary
      thyroid carcinoma recorded in 1971-1985. During the follow-up (median 7.3 years),
      18.6% of the 161 radically treated patients had recurrent disease, and 8.7% died
      of thyroid cancer. In the univariate life-table analysis, recurrence-free
      survival was significantly related to age, pTNM category, tumour size, presence
      of certain growth patterns, tumour necrosis, tumour infiltration in surrounding
      thyroid tissue and thyroid gland capsule, lymph node metastases, presence of
      extra-nodal tumour growth and number of positive lymph nodes, whereas only tumour
      diameter, thyroid gland capsular infiltration and presence of extra-nodal tumour
      growth remained as significant prognostic factors in the multivariate analysis.
      Regarding thyroid cancer deaths, sex, age, pTNM category, radicality of surgical
      treatment, tumour diameter, macroscopic appearance, cellular atypia, tumour
      necrosis, thyroid gland capsular infiltration, vascular invasion, extra-thyroidal
      extension and lymph node metastases were all significant variables in the
      univariate analysis. However, only sex, age, radicality of surgical treatment and
      vascular invasion were found to be significant predictors of thyroid cancer
      deaths in the final multivariate Cox model, whereas cellular atypia and necrosis
      showed a borderline significance. Our study thus documents the independent
      importance of certain histological features for morbidity and mortality in
      surgically treated cases of papillary thyroid cancer.

PMID- 1445746
TI  - Treatment of melphalan-resistant multiple myeloma with vincristine, BCNU,
      doxorubicin, and high-dose dexamethasone (VBAD).
AB  - A total of 65 patients (35 male/30 female) with multiple myeloma primarily (33)
      or secondarily (32) resistant to melphalan and prednisone were treated with
      vincristine, carmustine (BCNU), doxorubicin, and high-dose dexamethasone (VBAD)
      at 4-week intervals. Among 60 evaluable patients the overall response was 36.6%
      (21.6% objective response plus 15% improvements). The response rate was
      significantly higher in primarily resistant patients than in those becoming
      resistant after a prior response (48.4 vs. 24.1%, P < 0.05). The median duration
      of response was 17.5 months. When survival of responders and non-responders were
      compared by the conventional method, a highly significant difference was observed
      (P < 0.001). However, using the Mantel and Byar procedure and the landmark
      method, only a trend for longer survival in the responders was registered. These
      results indicate that although VBAD is effective in at least one third of
      patients with advanced multiple myeloma resistant to melphalan, its impact on
      survival is limited.

PMID- 1445747
TI  - Prediction of superficial bladder cancer by nuclear image analysis.
AB  - A cohort of 270 superficial transitional cell bladder tumours (Ta-T1) was
      followed-up for over 8 years. WHO grade, papillary status and six nuclear factors
      were related to progression, recurrence-free survival (RFS) and bladder cancer
      related survival (BS) during the follow-up period. Mean nuclear area (NA),
      standard deviation of nuclear area (SDNA), nuclear perimetry (PE), standard
      deviation of nuclear perimetry (SDPE), shortest nuclear axis (Dmin) and longest
      nuclear axis (Dmax) were significantly related to WHO grade and papillary status
      (P < 0.0001). All the nuclear factors were related significantly to progression
      in univariate analysis (P < 0.01) whereas in a multivariate analysis WHO grade (P
      < 0.0001) and papillary status (P = 0.048) included independent prognostic
      information. RFS was related to PE (P = 0.009), SDPE (P = 0.013), Dmin (P =
      0.021), Dmax (P = 0.028) and SDNA (P = 0.029). In papillary tumours SDPE (P =
      0.007) and Dmin (P = 0.024) predicted RFS. BS was related to WHO grade, papillary
      status, NA, SDNA, PE, Dmax, Dmin (all P < 0.0001) and to SDPE (P = 0.003). In
      papillary tumours PE (P < 0.0001), Dmax (P = 0.0022), Dmin (P = 0.0027), WHO
      grade (P = 0.0036), NA (P = 0.0005), SDNA (P = 0.0355) and SDPE (P = 0.0718)
      predicted BS. In multivariate analysis SDPE (P = 0.029) predicted RFS and
      survival was related to WHO grade (P < 0.001) and PE (P = 0.014) independently.
      In papillary tumours only Dmax (P = 0.001) predicted survival independently. The
      results show that superficial papillary transitional cell bladder tumours can be
      efficiently categorised into prognostic groups by nuclear image analysis and the
      results provide a new classification system for superficial papillary bladder
      tumours. Tumours with high nuclear factor values should be considered for radical
      primary therapy and adjuvant therapy after transurethral resections.

PMID- 1445748
TI  - Tissue polypeptide antigen in breast cancer cytosol: a new effective prognostic
      indicator.
AB  - Since 1982 we have been evaluating oestrogen and progesterone receptors (PgR),
      cathepsin D and the cytosolic levels of the tumour marker, tissue polypeptide
      antigen (TPA), in 257 patients radically resected for breast cancer (follow-up 24
      81 months). TPA was measured by an immunoradiometric assay previously validated
      for cytosol. No significant associations were found between cytosolic TPA and
      age, tumour size, lymph-node status, receptor status and cathepsin D. TPA+ cases
      showed a significantly longer disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival
      (OS) than TPA-patients (log-rank P < 0.0001). The prognostic value of cytosolic
      TPA was also demonstrated after stratification by nodal status, PgR and cathepsin
      D. The prognostic value of TPA was independent of the other prognostic
      indicators, being the most powerful among the evaluated indices (Cox multivariate
      analysis: chi 2 15.5 for DFS, 11.4 for OS). We conclude that cytosolic TPA is a
      powerful additional prognostic factor in primary breast cancer. Its prognostic
      role should therefore be extensively evaluated.

PMID- 1445749
TI  - Tumour infiltrating lymphocytes as an independent prognostic factor in
      transitional cell bladder cancer.
AB  - The prognostic value of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) was assessed in a
      cohort of 514 patients with a transitional cell bladder cancer (TCC) during a
      follow up period of over 9 years. The density of TIL were positively correlated
      to WHO grade (P < 0.0001), non-papillary growth architecture (P < 0.0001),
      morphometric nuclear factors (P < 0.007) and volume corrected mitotic index (M/V
      index) (P < 0.0001). Dense TIL predicted progression in Ta-T1 tumours (P <
      0.0006) whereas in a multivariate analysis they had no independent predictive
      value. Dense TIL were related to short recurrence-free survival in Ta-T1 tumours
      in a univariate analysis (P = 0.06) as well as in a multivariate analysis (P =
      0.005). Dense TIL predicted unfavourable prognosis in the entire cohort (P =
      0.0316) and in papillary tumours (P = 0.062) whereas in nodular tumours TIL were
      a sign of good prognosis (P = 0.0141). Also in T3-T4 tumours TIL were related to
      less aggressive behaviour of TCC (P = 0.0259). In a multivariate analysis
      including clinical stage (T-category), WHO grade, papillary status, six
      morphometric nuclear factors and M/V index dense TIL were a highly significant
      indicator of a favourable prognosis (P = 0.007). Particularly TIL categorized
      rapidly proliferating TCC into prognostic groups (P = 0.001). The results show
      that TIL are a sign of efficient host defence mechanisms in TCC and TIL predict a
      favourable prognosis in invasive TCC.

PMID- 1445750
TI  - Relations between epidermal growth factor receptor and oestrogen and progesterone
      receptors in breast cancers of premenopausal and postmenopausal patients in
      Kuwait.
AB  - The levels of cell membrane epidermal growth factor receptor EGFR and cytosol (c)
      and nuclear (n), oestrogen (E) and progesterone (P) receptors (R) were determined
      in 132 specimens of primary breast cancers. In the tumours of postmenopausal
      women an inverse significant correlation was demonstrated between the
      concentrations of EGFR vs. ERc, ERn, and PRc while no such correlation was noted
      in the tumours of premenopausal women. Premenopausal and postmenopausal EGFR
      positive tumours (> or = 10 fmol/mg membrane protein) could be regarded as
      homogenous with respect to the concentration of ER and PR whose mean values were
      low and without being significantly different. EGFR negative tumours were
      heterogeneous with respect to the ER and PR concentrations. Postmenopausal EGFR
      negative (< 10 fmol/mg membrane protein) tumours had evidently higher mean values
      of ER and PR than premenopausal EGFR negative tumours, but these differences were
      statistically significant for oestrogen receptors only. The levels of ER and PR
      of premenopausal EGFR negative tumours were approximated to the corresponding
      levels of EGFR positive tumours.

PMID- 1445751
TI  - Childhood leukaemia following the Chernobyl accident: the European Childhood
      Leukaemia-Lymphoma Incidence Study (ECLIS).
AB  - The objective of the European Childhood Leukaemia-Lymphoma Incidence Study
      (ECLIS) is to investigate trends in incidence rates of childhood leukaemia and
      lymphoma in Europe, in relation to the exposure to radiation which resulted from
      the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in April 1986. In this first
      report, the incidence of leukaemia in children aged 0-14 is presented from cancer
      registries in 20 European countries for the period 1980-1988. Risk of leukaemia
      in 1987-1988 (8-32 months post-accident) relative to that before 1986, is
      compared with estimated average dose of radiation received by the population in
      30 geographic areas. The observed changes in incidence do not relate to exposure.
      The period of follow-up is so far rather brief, and the study is planned to
      continue for at least 10 years.

PMID- 1445752
TI  - In vitro and in vivo antitumoral activity of alkylphosphonates.
AB  - Hexadecylphosphocholine is a new antitumour agent with a highly selective
      activity in chemically induced mammary tumours. It was suggested, that
      hexadecylphosphocholine is a pro-drug, cleavable by phospholipases C and/or D,
      creating hexadecanol or hexadecylphosphate as the active principle. To test this
      hypothesis, the antineoplastic activity of three alkylphosphonates, cleavable
      either by phospholipase C or D, are compared with those of the parent compound,
      hexadecylphosphocholine. Cell culture experiments, in which radiolabelled
      alkylphosphonates were incubated with a neoplastic cell line, showed no
      metabolism even after 3 days of incubation. In in vivo experiments with
      dimethylbenzanthracene-induced rat mammary carcinomas, all three
      alkylphosphonates showed antineoplastic activity, although none of them reached
      the high activity of hexadecylphosphocholine. These results indicate that the
      antitumoral activity of alkylphosphocholines and alkyl lysophosphatidylcholines
      is due to direct toxicity and not dependent on metabolism by phospholipases C or
      D or related enzymes.

PMID- 1445753
TI  - Influence of aw value and storage temperature on the multiplication and
      enterotoxin formation of staphylococci in dry-cured raw hams.
AB  - Growth and enterotoxin A production in dry-cured raw ham, with different aw and
      pH values, was investigated for Staphylococcus aureus strain FRJ-100 over a
      temperature range of 20-35 degrees C when stored for up to 7 days. Enterotoxin
      production took place at all temperatures tested in the meat of ham that was
      cured, but not dried (aw 0.95). In dry-cured raw ham with an aw-value of about
      0.92, and stored at 20 degrees C, no enterotoxin production was detectable within
      the 7-day storage period, whereas enterotoxin was produced at the higher
      temperatures. In ham with an aw of about 0.89, enterotoxin was produced only when
      stored for 7 days at 35 degrees C. Critical points for S. aureus multiplication
      and enterotoxin-formation during production and storage of dry-cured raw ham are
      discussed.

PMID- 1445754
TI  - Detection of Clostridium botulinum in natural sweetening.
AB  - Various sugar products were examined for contamination with C. botulinum spores.
      Type A, B and C spores were detected in three of 56 samples of sugar for
      apiculture, which may attest the significance of bee-feed as a source of
      contamination of honey. The heavy contamination of honey with C. botulinum spores
      sometimes encountered, however, can not be explained unless some other factors,
      e.g., that allowing germination and multiplication of the spores somewhere during
      honey production, are found. Type A spores were detected in some samples of raw
      sugar and molasses and also in two of 41 samples of brown sugar lump, but not in
      refined sugar or other various samples taken at a sugar factory or in sugar cane
      left on the field in Okinawa. The fact that some natural sweetenings are
      contaminated with C. botulinum spores, even in low concentrations, may be food
      hygienically important.

PMID- 1445755
TI  - Fungi causing thread mould spoilage of vacuum packaged Cheddar cheese during
      maturation.
AB  - Thread mould is a defect which occurs sporadically in maturing vacuum packaged
      Cheddar cheese, caused by the growth of fungi in folds and wrinkles of the
      plastic film in which the cheese is packaged. Fungi were isolated and identified
      from 110 Cheddar cheese blocks exhibiting typical thread mould defects. The major
      causative species were found to be Cladosporium cladosporioides, Penicillium
      commune, C. herbarum, P. glabrum and a Phoma species. Yeasts were also frequently
      isolated from the cheese, the majority belonging to the genus Candida. Fungal
      species which can cause thread mould defects were also found in the cheese
      factory environment, on cheesemaking equipment, in air, and in curd and whey,
      providing a wide range of potential sources of contamination.

PMID- 1445756
TI  - Variation in growth kinetics and phenotype of Aeromonas spp. from clinical, meat
      processing and fleshfood sources.
AB  - Sixty-four strains of motile aeromonads (A. hydrophila, A. sobria and A. caviae),
      isolated from clinical meat processing and ready-to-eat fleshfood sources, and
      the A. hydrophila type strain were tested with respect to their growth kinetics
      at 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C, and the reported indicators of pathogenicity:
      autoagglutination and haemolysis (tested using a CAMP reaction). Between the
      species, A. caviae grew the fastest at 37 degrees C and had the highest
      percentage of strains not able to grow at 4 degrees C (after 200 h incubation).
      Within the species, food-derived strains of A. hydrophila were better adapted to
      growth at lower temperatures than those from clinical or meat processing sources.
      Clinical strains of A. hydrophila autoagglutinated more frequently than those
      from other sources, but not differences in CAMP reactions were noted. Aeromonas
      caviae and A. sobria isolates appeared to be homogeneous with respect to growth
      kinetics at the temperatures tested. A comparison of the growth kinetics of the
      A. hydrophila type strain and a food-derived A. hydrophila strain clearly
      reflected the latter's enhanced ability to grow at low temperatures.

PMID- 1445757
TI  - Identification and characterization of two bacteriocin-producing strains of
      Lactococcus lactis isolated from vegetables.
AB  - Isolated from mixed salad and fermented carrots, 123 strains of lactic acid
      bacteria were screened for bacteriocin production. Two strains, D53 and 23,
      identified as Lactococcus lactis by DNA-DNA hybridizations, produced heat stable
      bacteriocins which were resistant to trypsin and pepsin, but were inactivated by
      alpha-chymotrypsin and proteinase K. The bacteriocins were active from pH 2 to 9
      and inhibited species of Listeria, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Pediococcus,
      Leuconostoc, Carnobacterium, Bacillus and Staphylococcus. Strain D53 produced
      bacteriocin at pH values of 4.5-8.0 and from 10 to 37 degrees C.

PMID- 1445758
TI  - Incidence of Listeria monocytogenes in fresh foods in Barcelona (Spain).
AB  - From September 1989 to March 1990, a study of Listeria spp. was carried out on
      311 samples of raw foodstuffs from markets and other establishments in the city
      of Barcelona. These foodstuffs included vegetables (103 samples), minced meats
      from pork, beef and poultry (168 samples) and bivalve molluscs (40 samples). L.
      monocytogenes was isolated in 7.8% of the vegetable samples, 17.3% of the minced
      meats and in 7.5% of bivalve molluscs. The most frequent serovars were 1/2 and 4.
      Other species isolated were L. innocua, L. welschimeri and L. seeligeri.

PMID- 1445759
TI  - The incidence of Listeria species in retail foods in Japan.
AB  - Meat, fish and vegetable products obtained at retail shops in or around Tokyo
      were examined for Listeria contamination. Listeria spp. were isolated from 43
      (56.6%) out of 76 samples of meat products. L. monocytogenes occurred in 26 (34%)
      of the samples, L. monocytogenes was isolated from 7 (6.1%) out of 114 samples of
      fish and fish products including 'ready-to-eat' foods. Listeria was not isolated
      from any of 21 samples of vegetable and vegetable product including 'ready-to
      eat' foods investigated.

PMID- 1445760
TI  - The ability of the ropy slime-producing lactic acid bacteria to form ropy
      colonies on different culture media and at different incubation temperatures and
      atmospheres.
AB  - The ability of the ropy slime-producing lactic acid bacteria to form ropy
      colonies aerobically and anaerobically on APT, MRS, MRS-S and Rogosa SL agars at
      15, 20 and 30 degrees C was tested. Wide variation was observed in the proportion
      of ropy colonies produced with different culture methods and different test
      periods. The percentage of viscous colonies was usually highest at 15 degrees C.
      No suitable uniform method for all strains was found; and the results varied
      according to the bacterial strain studied. For testing purposes, use of the
      method producing the highest proportion of ropy colonies for each bacterial
      strain is recommended.

PMID- 1445761
TI  - Classification of ropy slime-producing lactic acid bacteria based on DNA-DNA
      homology, and identification of Lactobacillus sake and Leuconostoc amelibiosum as
      dominant spoilage organisms in meat products.
AB  - The classification of lactic acid bacteria able to cause ropy slime on vacuum
      packed cooked meat products was carried out based on DNA-DNA homology. The ropy
      slime-producing lactobacilli were identified as strains of Lactobacillus sake and
      the ropy slime-producing leuconostocs, such as Leuconostoc amelibiosum and
      Leuconostoc mesenteroides.

PMID- 1445762
TI  - Decontamination with lactic acid/sodium lactate buffer in combination with
      modified atmosphere packaging effects on the shelf life of fresh poultry.
AB  - The effect of the treatment with various concentrations (2%, 5%, 7.5% and 10%
      w/v) of lactic acid/sodium lactate buffer (pH 3.0) combined with modified
      atmosphere packaging (MAP) (90% CO2/10% O2) on the shelf life and organoleptic
      quality of fresh chicken legs stored at 6 degrees C was investigated. The CO2
      concentration of all samples packed in modified atmosphere (MA) decreased during
      the first 3 days of storage, followed by a gradual increase after the third day,
      while O2 showed a corresponding decrease. The buffering capacity of the buffer
      systems seem to be sufficient to maintain a low pH of the skin during storage.
      Legs treated with 2, 5, 7.5, and 10% (w/v) lactic acid/sodium lactate buffer (pH
      3.0) combined with MAP have a shelf life at 6 degrees C of 14, 15, 16 and 17
      days, respectively. The shelf life when the product was not treated with lactic
      acid was 1, 2.3 and 4 days shorter, respectively.

PMID- 1445763
TI  - Incidence and coincidence of Listeria spp., motile aeromonads and Yersinia
      enterocolitica on ready-to-eat fleshfoods.
AB  - A survey for the presence of Listeria spp., Yersinia enterocolitica and motile
      aeromonads in 203 samples of ready-to-eat fleshfoods purchased from retail
      outlets was conducted. Overall, 39.4%, 3.4% and 23.2% of samples were positive
      for the presence of Listeria spp., Y. enterocolitica and motile aeromonads
      respectively. Two factors have been identified as contributing to contamination
      of fleshfoods by these cold-tolerant bacteria. These are (i) the method of sale;
      delicatessen-bought foods were notably more contaminated than similar products
      bought pre-packaged, and (ii) the method of preservation. For motile aeromonads
      fermented foods were the least contaminated, whereas smoked and cooked products
      had similar incidence rates. For L. monocytogenes, significantly more (41.9%)
      smoked products were contaminated than fleshfoods preserved by other methods. For
      Y. enterocolitica, only cooked products were contaminated. In the case of cooked
      fleshfoods it must be assumed that most contamination occurs post-cooking and
      that contamination rates are increased by poor food handling procedures. Of the
      three possible pairwise combinations of these organisms, the coincidence of Y.
      enterocolitica and motile aeromonads was the only one that differed significantly
      from a random distribution (P less than 0.001), indicating that fleshfoods
      contaminated with Y. enterocolitica are probably also contaminated by motile
      aeromonads.

PMID- 1445764
TI  - Is any strain of Listeria monocytogenes detected in food a health risk?
AB  - Listeria spp. have been isolated from various food items. This fact does not mean
      in any case a true health risk. A balanced appraisal should be based on
      quantitative as well as qualitative aspects. Actually, there is still an open
      debate whether a limited number of Listeria has to be tolerated at least in
      certain food items. In addition, the pathogenic potency of an isolate may be put
      into account. Pathogenicity of various Listeria spp. definitely varies. Most
      Listeria spp., except Listeria monocytogenes, can be regarded as harmless to man.
      Also, not all strains of L. monocytogenes are pathogenic: rough variants possess
      only reduced virulence; non-hemolytic mutants have completely lost their
      pathogenic potency. Furthermore, several other virulence factors may be lost
      under natural conditions, so that among the majority of hemolytic, pathogenic
      isolates there may be others which are non-pathogenic or of low virulence only.
      Unfortunately, these strains actually cannot be recognized and characterized by
      common laboratory tests, so that animal pathogenicity seems to be the only way to
      get a final conclusion on the health risk of an isolate of L. monocytogenes from
      any food. The problem raised by this is which animal test is able to predict a
      true health risk either for normal hosts or for immunocompromised patients?

PMID- 1445765
TI  - Characterization and partial purification of a bacteriocin produced by
      Leuconostoc carnosum LA44A.
AB  - Twenty Leuconostoc strains isolated from vacuum packaged Vienna-type sausages
      were screened for antagonistic activity against various Gram-positive organisms
      (including Listeria spp.). One of the three strains exhibiting inhibitory
      activity was chosen for further investigation. This strain was identified as
      Leuc. carnosum and the inhibitory substance produced was named carnosin. Carnosin
      was inactivated by trypsin but not by catalase or other non-proteolytic enzymes
      tested. Carnosin retained activity after heating at 100 degrees C for 20 min,
      whereas heating at 121 degrees C for 15 min resulted in complete loss of
      activity. Carnosin was active at pH values ranging from 2 to 9. Carnosin activity
      was not detectable until cells were in the late log-phase of growth. At low
      temperatures (4 degrees C), higher cell densities were required before carnosin
      activity could be detected. Carnosin was active against various lactic acid
      bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium and against Listeria
      spp. Difficulties in purification were reduced by growing Leuc. carnosum in a
      modified MRS medium, having 50% of the normal peptone concentration and no Tween
      or meat extract. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of
      partially purified carnosin indicated that it has a molecular mass between 2510
      and 6000 Da. Yet, retention of activity after exhaustive dialysis suggested a
      molecular mass > 14kDa. It is hypothesized that carnosin forms large active
      complexes which can be dissociated to small (active) components.

PMID- 1445766
TI  - Evaluation of the MPN, Anderson-Baird-Parker, Petrifilm E. coli and Fluorocult
      ECD method for enumeration of Escherichia coli in foods of animal origin.
AB  - Commercially available beta-D-glucuronidase (GUR) based methods, Petrifilm E.
      coli (PEC) and Fluorocult ECD (FECD), and ISO standard MPN and Anderson-Baird
      Parker (ABP) procedures were evaluated for routine enumeration of E. coli in
      naturally contaminated foods of animal origin. The methods concerned were
      classifiable in a sequence of best qualities for: production, MPN > ABP = PEC =
      FECD; costs, FECD > ABP = PEC > MPN; time per measurement, ABP = PEC = FECD >
      MPN; practical use, PEC > FECD > ABP > MPN; detection at low contamination, MPN >
      ABP = PEC > FECD. The ABP and PEC method appeared useful for routine counting of
      E. coli in raw meat, poultry and meat products, whereas the MPN procedure turned
      out to be more sensitive, however, impractical and considerably more expensive.
      The FECD method was inexpensive although suitable for the enumeration of E. coli
      at higher contamination level (> 50 cfu/g). The indole and MUG indicators both
      applied to demonstrate E. coli with the ABP or FECD method proved to be equal in
      specificity.

PMID- 1445767
TI  - Heat-resistant fungi in the soil.
AB  - The occurrence of heat-resistant fungi has been demonstrated in samples of soil
      from the Slovak Republic. The heat-resistant species isolated were Byssochlamys
      nivea, Dichotomomyces cejpii, Eupenicillium baarnense, Neosartorya fischeri,
      Talaromyces avellaneus, Tal. bacillisporus, Tal. emersonii, Tal. flavus, Tal.
      trachyspermus, Tal. wortmanii, Botryotrichum piluliferum, Gilmaniella humicola
      and Nodulisporium sp. Some of them were isolated for the first time from
      Czechoslovakian soil. For the various soil samples examined, the occurrence of
      heat-resistant fungi varied qualitatively and quantitatively. Further research is
      needed to identify conditions affecting the occurrence of heat-resistant fungi in
      soil.

PMID- 1445768
TI  - Sakacin M, a bacteriocin-like substance from Lactobacillus sake 148.
AB  - The antagonistic activity of Lactobacillus sake 148 was evaluated during its
      growth on complex broth media and in a semisynthetic defined medium (SDM) with
      various supplements. The antagonistic activity was a growth-associated property,
      being detected and quantified when L. sake 148 was grown at either 4, 8, 16, 25
      or 32 degrees C. The concentrated culture supernatant of L. sake 148 was
      subjected to purification by lyophilization and gel filtration. The purification
      procedure resulted in a small increase in its specific activity (7-fold) and in a
      low recovery of the original inhibitory activity (8%). Gel filtration analysis of
      the partially purified activity on Sephadex G-50 revealed an apparent molecular
      weight of 4640. The partially purified antagonistic activity of L. sake 148 was
      destroyed by treatment with proteolytic enzymes. However, the antagonistic
      activity was resistant to heat, having D-values at 121, 135 and 150 degrees C of
      23.8, 17.4 and 15.2 min, respectively.

PMID- 1445769
TI  - Is thermotolerance correlated to heat-shock protein synthesis in Lactococcus
      lactis subsp. lactis?
AB  - Exposure of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis cells to a heat shock at 40 degrees
      C for 30 min induces thermotolerance, the increased ability of bacterial cells to
      survive exposure to lethal temperature (52 degrees C for 25 min). This transient
      state of thermal resistance is accompanied, as in Escherichia coli, by the
      synthesis of a new set of specific proteins termed heat-shock proteins (Hsps).
      Pre-treatment of the bacterial cells by antibiotics (streptomycin, spiramycin,
      kanamycin and erythromycin) known to act on translation, induces the major Hsps
      synthesis but no thermal protection; conversely, puromycin and amino acid
      analogues treatments, known to produce abnormal and incomplete peptides, triggers
      the thermotolerance state without inducing significant Hsps synthesis. These
      results demonstrate that heat-shock response and induced thermotolerance are not
      tightly correlated phenomena in L. lactis subsp. lactis.

PMID- 1445770
TI  - Mycological condition of maize products.
AB  - Maize and maize-related products were investigated in a collaborative study for
      viable moulds and antigenic extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) produced by
      Aspergillus and Penicillium species. In addition, the samples were tested for the
      presence of aflatoxin B1. All maize products, with the exception of the heat
      processed products, contained viable moulds on an average of (log10 values) 3.3
      +/- 0.7 colony-forming units per gram. In most samples a mixed mould flora was
      present. Species of the genus Fusarium were dominant, followed by Aspergillus,
      Eurotium and Penicillium. The mould colony count correlated positively with the
      presence of antigenic extracellular polysaccharides produced by species of
      Aspergillus and Penicillium. Gamma irradiation did not affect the detection of
      antigenic extracellular polysaccharides. Aflatoxin B1 was detected in two out of
      35 samples; these contained 0.6 and 0.8 microgram/kg. From one of these aflatoxin
      B1-containing samples, Aspergillus flavus was isolated.

PMID- 1445771
TI  - Differentiation of Listeria monocytogenes isolates by using plasmid profiling and
      multilocus enzyme electrophoresis.
AB  - Three hundred and seven Listeria monocytogenes isolates from various origins
      (clinical sources, raw chicken, seafoods, dairy and meat products and processing
      environments) were screened for plasmids. The overall frequency of L.
      monocytogenes isolates containing plasmids was 77%. The highest percentages of
      plasmid positive isolates were found from meat (89%), chicken (81%) and dairy
      products (64%), while clinical isolates had the lowest plasmid percentage (28%).
      Seven sizes of plasmids (21, 24, 27, 35, 40, 47 and 52 MDa) were distinguished.
      All sizes were represented in the meat isolates, clinical isolates contained only
      two of the plasmid sizes, while several different sizes of plasmids were found in
      the isolates from other origins. Plasmid profiling divided the isolates into ten
      plasmid pattern types. Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis of 75 isolates
      demonstrated 12 distinctive multilocus genotypes (ETs) which clustered into two
      groups: cluster A including serotype 1 and 4 isolates, and isolates not typable
      by Difco antisera serotype 1 and 4, and cluster B containing only serotype 1
      isolates. No relationship between ETs and plasmid profiles could be demonstrated.

PMID- 1445772
TI  - Removal of Yersinia enterocolitica from fresh parsley by washing with acetic acid
      or vinegar.
AB  - Different washing procedures and solutions were applied to fresh parsley and the
      effect on artificially contaminated Y. enterocolitica and the natural population
      of aerobic bacteria was determined. Dipping the parsley containing 10(7) Y.
      enterocolitica per gram into the 2% (v/v) acetic acid or 40% (v/v) vinegar
      solutions for 15 min exerted pronounced bactericidal effect against this
      organism. No viable aerobic bacteria were recovered after 30 min dip in 5% (v/v)
      acetic acid, whereas vinegar led to 3-6 log10 cycles decrease in the number of
      aerobic bacteria depending on vinegar concentration and holding time.

PMID- 1445773
TI  - Impedance detection of Salmonella in processed animal protein and meat.
AB  - The impedance technique showed a detection rate (95%) equal to that of
      conventional enrichment for raw meat contaminated with Salmonella. For processed
      animal protein samples impedance was less sensitive. A commercially available
      Easter and Gibson impedance medium used for the selective enrichment of
      salmonellae proved superior to the laboratory prepared equivalent for the
      detection of Salmonella in processed animal protein. The rate of false-positive
      results with the impedance technique was high.

PMID- 1445774
TI  - ABMT shows no benefits for three high-risk cancers.

PMID- 1445775
TI  - Gene mapping may yield insights into breast cancer development.

PMID- 1445776
TI  - Cell therapy may be useful in BMT, HIV, and kidney cancer.

PMID- 1445777
TI  - Pros and cons of fluoxetine for the depressed cancer patient.
AB  - When major depression develops in patients with cancer, specific antidepressant
      treatment should be initiated. Fluoxetine (Prozac) is one of several effective
      treatments for depression; it is currently the most frequently prescribed
      antidepressant in the United States. Unfortunately, the information from studies
      and reports regarding the use of fluoxetine in patients with cancer is limited.
      This article reviews the properties, drug interactions, and side-effect profiles
      of fluoxetine and the other antidepressants most relevant to the care of cancer
      patients. Also discussed are strategies for the prudent prescription of
      fluoxetine, the tricyclic antidepressants, and the psychostimulants in depressed
      cancer patients.

PMID- 1445778
TI  - The human genome project and clinical medicine.
AB  - Genetic research has already begun to pay clinical dividends, as investigators
      have successfully isolated disease genes, including those responsible for
      Duchenne muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, and the fragile X syndrome. This
      last disorder appears to be associated with the progressive amplification of a
      short, repeated DNA sequence, a mechanism that may also occur at other
      cytogenetically fragile sites and in other genetic disorders or neoplasias. This
      article reviews genetic mapping techniques being used by the Human Genome
      Project, methods for identifying disease genes, and clinical applications. It
      also includes discussions of mutation detection, diagnosis, and gene therapy.

PMID- 1445779
TI  - Adjuvant therapy of rectal cancer.
AB  - The treatment of rectal cancer has gradually evolved based on our knowledge of
      the failure patterns. Although results with surgery alone are good in patients
      with disease limited to the bowel wall and with no lymph node spread, surgery
      alone is less effective for more advanced disease. Treatment strategies that
      combine pelvic radiation therapy and 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy regimens
      have significantly improved local recurrence rates and overall survival results
      for patients with disease extending through the bowel wall or those with positive
      lymph nodes. Recent studies suggest that methyl CCNU can be dropped from
      chemotherapy regimens without loss of efficacy. Newer strategies being
      investigated include modulations of 5-fluorouracil with agents such as leucovorin
      and levamisole, possibly in combination, and continuous infusions of 5
      fluorouracil.

PMID- 1445780
TI  - Isolation and characterization of cDNA encoding a spicule matrix protein in
      Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus micromeres.
AB  - A cDNA clone, termed pHPSMC, was obtained from the Japanese sea urchin
      Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus, and it was found to be highly homologous in sequence
      to the spicule matrix protein cDNA of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (Sucov et
      al., Dev. Biol. 120: 507-519, 1987). During early embryogenesis, mRNA
      complementary to pHPSMC appeared in gastrulae and remained at a similar level
      until the pluteus stage. In situ hybridization revealed that the mRNA was
      localized exclusively in primary mesenchyme cells in gastrulae. pHPSMC mRNA was
      detected in micromeres in vitro after 48 h of culture, but it was not found in
      blastomeres immediately after isolation. These features suggested that pHPSMC
      represents the spicule matrix protein cDNA cognate in Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus.
      In the derived polypeptide, we detected a domain containing a tandemly repeated
      13-amino acid sequence as did Sucov et al. (1987). Unexpectedly, the sequence of
      the repeated element was completely different from that originally reported for
      Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, but it was very similar to the corrected sequence
      that appeared recently.

PMID- 1445781
TI  - Hydrocortisone perturbs the cell proliferation pattern during feather
      morphogenesis: evidence for disturbance of cephalocaudal orientation.
AB  - In this study, we have monitored the spatial distribution of S-phase cells during
      successive stages of normal feather morphogenesis using the specific marker BrdU.
      We also disturbed the development program by administration of hydrocortisone on
      the chorioallantoic membrane of 6.5-day chick embryos and examined the resulting
      pattern of BrdU incorporation. Our results show that a specific spatio-temporal
      pattern of cell proliferation occurs during successive stages of feather
      development and that this pattern accounts for the growth of feather buds
      according to the cephalocaudal orientation. Our experimental analysis showed that
      the stage-dependent alteration of feather morphogenesis (as shown by Zust, Ann.
      Embryol. Morphogen. 4, 1971 and confirmed by Demarchez et al., Dev. Biol. 106,
      1984), is based on a stage-dependent alteration of the proliferation pattern in
      the epidermis. Forty-eight hours after treatment, non-induced epidermis ceases
      DNA synthesis and is unable to form placodes. Induced epidermis at the placodal
      and dermal condensation stages fails to produce the cohorts of S-phase cells
      responsible for the caudal outgrowth and the slanting shape of the buds. These
      young buds display anarchic proliferation in the whole epidermis possibly
      resulting in the appearance of "curly" feathers. Together, these results show the
      importance of the spatial pattern of ectodermal and mesodermal cell proliferation
      during the normal feather morphogenesis. Moreover, they corroborate the
      particular role of epidermis both in the establishment of feather rudiments and
      in the cephalocaudal orientation of the feathers.

PMID- 1445782
TI  - Purification and localization of p10, a novel protein that increases in nymphal
      regenerating legs of Periplaneta americana (American cockroach).
AB  - Content of a protein with a molecular mass of 10 kDa (p10) was found to increase
      significantly in regenerating legs of the American cockroach (Periplaneta
      americana). This protein was purified to homogeneity from a homogenate of
      regenerating legs. Partial amino acid sequencing indicated that p10 is a novel
      protein. Immunoblotting showed that its content in regenerating legs was 30 times
      that in normal legs, and decreased significantly when leg regeneration was
      complete. An immunofluorescence study revealed that p10 localizes exclusively on
      the external side of newly formed epidermis of regenerating legs.

PMID- 1445783
TI  - Analysis of a unique molecule responsible for regeneration and stabilization of
      differentiated state of tissue cells.
AB  - In Wolffian regeneration in the newt, a functional lens can be regenerated
      through cellular transdifferentiation of the pigmented epithelium of the mid
      dorsal marginal iris. A novel monoclonal antibody, 2NI-36 mAb, generated in our
      laboratory has been utilized as a highly useful probe to study newt lens
      regeneration. The antigen molecule against this 2NI-36 mAb (2NI-36) became
      temporarily undetectable only at the site of lens regeneration. Moreover, the
      ventral iris pieces expressed the ability to differentiate a lens when pretreated
      with this monoclonal antibody and implanted in lentectomized eyes (Eguchi, Cell
      Differ. Dev. 25, Suppl., 1988). We have investigated the distribution of 2NI-36
      in newt tissues. 2NI-36 was not specific to iris pigmented epithelium and
      distributed in many different kinds of mesodermal tissues, including dermis,
      blood vessel, mesonephros and so forth. 2NI-36 was also detected in either cell
      surface or intercellular spaces of cultured pigmented epithelial cells when they
      organized an epithelial cell sheet. Western blot analysis showed that 2NI-36 had
      the molecular weight of 50-200kD and was completely digested by trypsin,
      suggesting that 2NI-36 was a glycoprotein with many carbohydrate chains. It was
      also revealed by Western blot analysis that all the tissues in which 2NI-36 could
      be detected expressed this molecule similar to that in the iris epithelium. We
      expect that 2NI-36 is a glycoprotein expressed by various newt tissues and is
      functional to stabilize the differentiated state of each tissue cell in the same
      way as observed in the iris pigmented epithelial cells.

PMID- 1445784
TI  - Expression and distribution of regeneration-responsive molecule during normal
      development of the newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster.
AB  - We have investigated the expression and distribution of the regeneration
      responsive molecule, 2NI-36, the loss of which is responsible for initiation of
      dedifferentiation of dorsal marginal iris pigmented epithelial cells to
      regenerate a lens. In the process of the normal development of the newt, the
      expression of 2NI-36 could not be detected in embryos at the early developmental
      stages, i.e., cleavages, gastrulation and neurulation, nor through later
      developmental stages to tail-bud, even though organogenesis was occurring. 2NI-36
      was not detectable in any tissues until embryos reached developmental stage 40
      (before hatching). In hatched larvae around developmental stage 46, strong
      expression of 2NI-36 was observed in several tissues including the vascular
      endothelium, the pigmented epithelium and the inner layer of skin epidermis.
      Moreover, 2NI-36 was present on the cell surface of these tissue cells. In
      conclusion, when the embryos hatch out to become swimming larvae that can feed by
      themselves, 2NI-36 begins to be expressed in some kinds of differentiated
      tissues. These results suggest that the function of 2NI-36 might be related to
      the completion of morphogenesis in development and also to the stabilization of
      the differentiated state of newly formed tissue cells.

PMID- 1445785
TI  - Post-fertilization changes in Discoglossus pictus (Anura) eggs result in the
      formation of a capsular chamber where the egg rotates.
AB  - Discoglossus pictus is one of the few anurans with an egg where a capsular
      chamber forms as a consequence of fertilization; the egg with its vitelline
      envelope rotates in this chamber according to gravity. We investigated the
      formation of the capsular chamber through various experimental cytochemical and
      ultrastructural approaches, and found that it is the product of plug
      liquefaction. The plug is a lens-shaped jelly coat typical of Discoglossus, and
      covering only part of the egg animal half. About 15 min after fertilization,
      granular material coming from the egg enters the plug, which gradually dissolves
      and, once liquefied, reorganizes itself around the entire egg, thus forming the
      chamber. This process goes through stages of rearrangement of the 25-A- and 250-A
      thick filaments which constitute the plug matrix. The material entering the plug
      derives from the exocytosis of two vacuole types, with electron transparent and
      granular PAS-positive contents. Liquefaction of the plug correlates with the
      reduction of disulfide bonds present in its matrix. Furthermore, in vitro tests
      showed that the substances released from the egg are active in selectively
      dissolving only the plug, and lose activity upon boiling.

PMID- 1445786
TI  - Alterations in biosynthetic accumulation of collagen types I and III during
      growth and morphogenesis of embryonic mouse salivary glands.
AB  - We examined the biosynthetic patterns of interstitial collagens in mouse
      embryonic submandibular and sublingual glands cultured in vitro. Rudiments
      explanted on day 13 of gestation and cultured for 24, 48, and 72 h all
      synthesized collagen types I, III, and V. However, while the total incorporation
      of label into collagenous proteins did not change over the three-day culture
      period, the rate of accumulation of newly synthesized types I and III did change.
      At 24 h, the ratio of newly synthesized collagen types I:III was approximately 2,
      whereas at 72 h, the ratio was approximately 5. These data suggest that collagen
      types I and III may be important in initiation of branching in this organ, but
      that type I may become dominant in the later stages of development and in
      maintenance of the adult organ.

PMID- 1445787
TI  - Relationship between innervation and forelimb regenerative capacity in the
      postmetamorphic pond frog Rana brevipoda porosa.
AB  - The limb regenerative capacity and the quantity of innervation (the percentage of
      a cross-sectional area of amputation forelimb stump occupied by nerves) in the
      pond frog, Rana brevipoda porosa, was investigated in postmetamorphic froglets
      and adults of various sizes by means of amputating forelimbs through the
      zeugopodium. Nearly all the amputated limbs of newly metamorphosed froglets, 18
      19 mm in snout-vent length, showed heteromorphic regeneration. However, the
      larger the body size, the lower the presence of limb regeneration. Limb
      regenerative capacity was completely lost in froglets and adults with snout-vents
      larger than 35 mm. The quantity of innervation of limbs was highest in newly
      metamorphosed froglets, gradually decreasing with growth. The nerve quantity in
      adults with a snout-vent length between 60-67 mm was approximately half that of
      the froglets. When the nerve supply was augmented by deviating ipsilateral
      sciatic nerve bundles to the forelimb stump, almost all limbs, which were usually
      non-regenerative with normal innervation, regenerated heteromorphically. These
      results show that the decline in limb regenerative capacity during
      postmetamorphic growth is in part attributable to the reduction in innervation
      levels to below the threshold level required for regeneration.

PMID- 1445788
TI  - Study of yolk precursor transport in the avian ovary with the use of horseradish
      peroxidase.
AB  - Ovaries of adult Japanese quails were exposed in vivo to the exogenous protein
      horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for varying lengths of time to investigate
      ultrastructurally the permeability of the wall of these follicles, the protein
      uptake capacity of granulosa and oocyte and the kinetics of protein uptake in
      different stages. There is a sudden increase in permeability of the follicle wall
      from previtellogenesis to vitellogenesis. This is not due to a loss of sealing
      (tight) junctions in the granulosa cell layer, but is probably related to a
      permeability change in the basement membrane. The transition from the slow growth
      phase to the rapid growth during vitellogenesis is accompanied by a limited
      widening of the intercellular channels and the concomitant development of a
      complex endocytotic apparatus in the ooplasm. The slowing down of yolk deposition
      during the last day before ovulation is accompanied by a narrowing of the
      intercellular channel width. The granulosa cells show a high intracellular HRP
      uptake during intermediary yolk formation. Transcytosis through the granulosa
      cannot be excluded but is probably a minor pathway at certain stages. The light
      microscopically detectable uptake of HRP by the oocyte coincides with the start
      of exogenous vitellogenesis. After 90 sec of exposure to HRP (intravenous
      injection) the tracer can be found in the intercellular channels of the granulosa
      and in superficially located yolk spheres. On the other hand it takes 10 min for
      the tracer to traverse the cortex of the oocyte.

PMID- 1445789
TI  - N-glycosylated proteins interfere with the first cellular migrations in early
      chick embryo.
AB  - Cell adhesion and migration properties which are known to play a crucial role in
      developmental events seem to be modulated by variations in glycosylation of
      glycoproteins. In the chick embryo, the extracellular matrix (ECM) appears as a
      loose meshwork of fibrillar material in the space between the epiblast and the
      hypoblast shortly before the first major cell migrations start. Chick embryos
      treated with tunicamycin (TN), a specific inhibitor of N-linked glycosylation of
      proteins, show little or no ECM, diminished cell adhesion and a dramatic
      alteration in the architecture of the epiblast and of the hypoblast. The first
      major cell migrations which signal the onset of PS and gastrula formation are
      inhibited irreversibly in these embryos. Tunicamycin induces a substantial change
      in the labeling pattern with change in mobility of some polypeptides and with the
      induction or marked accentuation of multiple charged species (isoforms) of
      polypeptides different from these already present in the control blastoderm. The
      N-linked glycosylation of protein(s) that are synthesized during the interaction
      of the epiblast and of the hypoblast seem to play a critical role in cell
      adhesion and in the morphogenetic movements of gastrulation in the early chick
      embryo.

PMID- 1445790
TI  - Unilateral renal agenesis in chick embryos: a model for chronic renal
      insufficiency.
AB  - Although renal agenesis and dysgenesis are relatively common and significant
      birth defects, no animal model to date has been utilized to adequately study
      these developmental pathologies. Blockage of the migration of the mesonephric
      duct in Day 2 chick embryos results in unilateral renal agenesis (URA) on the
      operated side, thus providing a model of chronic renal insufficiency. Embryos
      with URA respond with an increase in the rate of growth of the remaining meso-
      and metanephric kidney. The allometric scaling of single (left) kidney weight to
      total body weight in control embryos is KM = 3.48M0.98 compared to KM = 3.02M1.16
      in embryos with URA. In addition, embryos with URA exhibit a progressively
      polycystic mesonephros with distinct glomerulonephritis and expansion of the
      renal tubules. These renal changes are insufficient for normal urine (allantoic
      fluid) production and oliguria persists throughout incubation. While mortality is
      unaffected by URA in embryos up to Day 14 of incubation, there is a steady
      increase in mortality after Day 14; no chick embryo with URA lives beyond Day 18
      of the 21-day incubation period.

PMID- 1445791
TI  - The human placenta becomes haemochorial at the 13th week of pregnancy.
AB  - Histological specimens of recent implantation sites are the basis of our current
      concept on human embryo implantation and placental development. In the Carnegie
      Collection maternal red blood cells were detected early in the primitive
      intervillous space (10th-12th day after conception). These cells were localized
      to the trophoblastic lacunae and originated from distended peripheral maternal
      sinusoids (Kaufmann, 1981). The classical theory states that progressively more
      and more maternal vessels are tapped. A true maternal blood flow is established
      around the 29th day. Dynamic investigations of human placental development in
      vivo are scarce and hampered by ethical considerations and the absolute
      requirement to refrain from using non aggressive and potentially harmful
      techniques. Despite these limitations such studies provide new insights that
      surprisingly contradict our previously and seemingly definitely established
      knowledge of the early phases of placental vascularization, and lead us to
      conclude that there is an absence of maternal blood circulation in the
      intervillous placental space (IVS) during the 12 first weeks of human pregnancy.

PMID- 1445792
TI  - Advances in the detection of ploidy differences in cancer by in situ
      hybridization.
AB  - Three main techniques allow the detection of changes in the cellular genomic
      content. The karyotyping procedure on metaphase spreads can give specific
      information on chromosome number and structural chromosome changes, but analyses
      are restricted to a limited number of chromosome spreads. Furthermore, cell
      culturing of (in particular solid) cancer specimens can result in selection of a
      minor tumour cell population with a high proliferative capacity. On the other
      hand, flow cytometry allows the analyses of large numbers of cells, but does not
      detect small variations in the DNA content or structural changes. The fluorescent
      in situ hybridization (FISH) procedure combines the advantages of the two former
      procedures, in that relatively large numbers of cells can be analysed easily and
      specific chromosomal changes can be detected.

PMID- 1445793
TI  - Identification and fate of a marker chromosome in methotrexate-resistant V79,B7
      cells by flow karyotyping and sorting, metaphase analysis and in situ
      hybridization.
AB  - The chromosomes from a methotrexate (MTX)-resistant and its parental V79,B7
      Chinese hamster cell line were analysed by the combined use of flow karyotyping
      and sorting, metaphase analysis and in situ hybridization with a probe for the
      dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene responsible for methotrexate resistance. A
      marker chromosome with an elongated arm carrying the amplified DHFR gene was
      identified by in situ hybridization of metaphase cells of the methotrexate
      resistant line. In the flow karyotype the marker chromosome was found as an
      additional peak with a higher DNA content compared with the largest chromosome of
      the sensitive line. This was additionally verified by G-banding of the
      chromosomes sorted from the marker peak. Several other chromosomal rearrangements
      not associated with the amplified gene could be identified in the methotrexate
      resistant line by the combined use of flow karyotyping and metaphase analysis.
      The fate of the original marker chromosome was studied in cells growing several
      weeks in the absence of methotrexate, comparing flow karyotyping and metaphase
      analysis. The original marker chromosome was lost in about 50% of the cells after
      5 weeks and in about 60% of the cells after 8 weeks; between 80 and 90% of the
      cells, however, contained marker chromosomes of various sizes. The MTX-resistance
      decreased in parallel during loss of the original marker chromosome. In
      conclusion, the study shows that the power of cytogenetic analysis is improved by
      the combined use of conventional cytogenetics, molecular cytogenetics and flow
      cytometry.

PMID- 1445794
TI  - Spontaneous regression of residual tumour burden: prediction by Monte Carlo
      simulation.
AB  - Current cancer treatment protocols are designed to release the tumour burden down
      to a small number of cells. In this study, we use Monte Carlo simulations to show
      that small populations of cells with intrinsic cell loss rates comparable to the
      cell loss rates observed clinically in human tumours, may regress spontaneously.
      Large populations of cells tend to grow under the same conditions of cell loss
      that result in extinction of small clones. Furthermore, minor variations in the
      intrinsic cell death probability near 0.50 result in large differences in the
      number of surviving cells calculated at the 100th generation. When Monte Carlo
      simulations of clonal growth resulted in clones with large populations (> 50
      cells), the population as a whole behaved in a deterministic fashion (logarithmic
      growth) similar to those observed in clinically observed neoplasms and consistent
      with other published models of tumour growth. These findings provide a plausible
      explanation for the clinically observed failure of tumours to recur in instances
      where tumour burden remains following cancer therapy. The findings also
      demonstrate the usefulness of the Monte Carlo method to simulate biologic events
      in populations where the fate of each member of a population can be modeled
      probabilistically.

PMID- 1445795
TI  - S phase, an evolutionary chromatin condensation state from G1 to G2, in a breast
      epithelial cell line.
AB  - In order to better understand the changes in DNA organization during the cell
      cycle, we quantified the chromatin texture of breast epithelial cells and
      followed its evolution through a cell cycle. The diversity of quiescent cell
      states led us to limit this study to proliferating cell phases, and to choose a
      cell line with no G0 cells, the MDA AG cell line. We recently developed a
      methodology for characterizing in situ the cell cycle of breast epithelial cell
      lines using a cell image processor. This method is based on 15 densitometric and
      texture parameters computed on individual Feulgen-stained nuclei and on
      multiparametric analysis of the resulting data. Chromatin pattern assessment is
      based on nine texture parameters measured from grey-level co-occurrence and run
      length section matrices. In the present study, texture parameter computation
      showed gradual and progressive modifications of nuclear texture. While
      discrimination of G1, G2 and M phases was possible, we could not discriminate G1
      from S and S from G2. The chromatin pattern (defined by these nine parameters) in
      the G1 and early S phases, on the one hand, and in the late S and G2 phases, on
      the other hand, were similar. The parameter values of cells in the S phase
      progressively increased from G1 to G2. Two interphase chromatin condensation
      states were distinguished in these breast cells: a base state characteristic of a
      prereplicative stage and a very granular state characteristic of a
      postreplicative stage. We hypothesized that S cells are a blend of these two
      states, the evolution of a non-duplicated state toward a duplicated one.

PMID- 1445796
TI  - Flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle in chronic gastritis.
AB  - Flow cytometric cell cycle analysis was recorded in gastric biopsy specimens from
      patients with normal gastric mucosa (GM), superficial gastritis (SG) and chronic
      atrophic gastritis (CAG). Cell-cycle analysis showed significantly higher
      percentages of cells in S- and S+G2/M-phase in CAG than in SG and normal GM (P <
      0.0001). Moreover, CAG with severe or moderate atrophy showed significantly
      higher percentages of cells in S-phase (P < 0.05) and S+G2/M-phase (P < 0.02)
      than CAG with mild atrophy in antrum. In fundus, even if this increase was
      observed, it did not reach statistical significance. Consideration of concomitant
      pathologic findings such as oesophagite, gastric or duodenal ulcer, duodenite or
      benign polyp allowed a better differentiation of CAG both in antrum and in
      fundus. Significantly higher S-phase was observed in CAG with severe or moderate
      atrophy than in CAG with mild atrophy (P < 0.05). No statistically significant
      results were observed in patients with normal gastric mucosa or chronic gastritis
      and a concomitant pathologic finding.

PMID- 1445797
TI  - Nuclear DNA ploidy in mammary carcinomas; using nuclear size as co-parameter
      reveals more complex patterns.
AB  - Static DNA measurements using nuclear size as a co-parameter have been made on
      cell populations from 106 consecutive patients with proper imprints from fresh
      tumour tissues or fine-needle aspirates. When DNA content is plotted against the
      nuclear size of each individual cancer cell in a scatter diagram, different
      patterns are found. These patterns indicate the presence of subpopulations, which
      may be overlooked using conventional flow cytometric analysis or other techniques
      relying only on the nuclear DNA content. The presence of these subpopulations
      might, in addition, interfere with a correct definition and estimation of the
      percentage of S-phase cells.

PMID- 1445798
TI  - Induction of AP-1 transcription factor components during T-cell activation by
      interleukin 1 and phorbol esters.
AB  - We have examined the effect of interleukin 1 (IL-1) and phorbol esters [12-O
      tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)] on the expression of various components of
      the AP-1 transcription factor complex during T-cell activation. We previously
      found that a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene driven by the
      collagenase TPA responsive element was expressed upon stimulation of T-cells by
      TPA and that this expression was enhanced when IL-1 was added as a costimulant;
      IL-1 alone had no effect on TPA responsive element-chloramphenicol
      acetyltransferase expression. In this study, we have found that stimulation of T
      cells by IL-1 and TPA is accompanied by activation of a subset of immediate early
      genes that comprise the AP-1 transcription factor complex. junB and fosB were
      rapidly induced following stimulation with TPA. Although the levels of other fos
      related mRNAs were also elevated, their maximal induction was delayed by
      approximately 5 h. IL-1 alone had little or no effect, but enhanced TPA induced
      transcription and steady-state levels of these mRNAs. The expression of fos and
      jun during T-cell activation was accompanied by increased specific binding of
      JunB, FosB, and fos-related antigen containing complexes to the TPA responsive
      element. These findings indicate that the synergistic effect of IL-1 and TPA on
      AP-1 mediated gene expression is due, in part, to the ability of IL-1 to enhance
      the expression of genes encoding specific AP-1 transcription factor
      components.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445799
TI  - Analysis of glutathione transferase P gene regulation with liver cells in primary
      culture.
AB  - Glutathione transferase P (GST-P) gene is specifically and highly activated
      during rat chemical hepatocarcinogenesis. We have previously cloned the GST-P
      gene and have identified putative regulatory regions. To further explore
      regulatory mechanisms, deletion constructs of the GST-P gene fused to the
      chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) structural gene were introduced into
      primary cultured rat hepatocytes by electroporation, and their activity was
      determined. The expression of the GST-P-CAT fusion gene is quite low in these
      cells as compared to that in both a rat fibroblast cell line, 3Y1 cells, and a
      rat hepatoma cell line, dRLh84. The presence of the strong enhancer GPEI did not
      elicit any enhancing activity at its original position, or when it was located 3'
      of the CAT gene, although this element does enhance CAT activity significantly
      when located adjacent to the promoter. Cotransfection of neither c-jun nor c-fos
      expression vector, nor both vectors, could enhance the CAT activity, even though
      GPEI consists of two phorbol ester response element-like sites. Furthermore, the
      expression of jun family gene was not correlated with GST-P gene expression
      either in primary cultured hepatocytes or in hepatoma cell lines.

PMID- 1445800
TI  - The ERGB/Fli-1 gene: isolation and characterization of a new member of the family
      of human ETS transcription factors.
AB  - All cellular ets proteins contain a region of high amino acid identity to those
      found in the last two exons of the ets-1 gene (C domain). We have identified and
      characterized a new member of the human ETS gene family, ERGB. The ERGB gene
      shows extensive amino acid identity to the human ERG and the mouse Fli-1 genes.
      The ERGB gene is found to be transcriptionally active in a variety of human cell
      lines and tissues, in contrast to the more restrictive expression pattern of the
      ERG gene. The ERGB gene encodes for a 3.2-kilobase mRNA containing an open
      reading frame of 451 amino acids. The ERGB gene, like human ETS1, is located on
      chromosome 11 and is transposed to chromosome 4 as a result of the translocation
      t(4;11) associated with leukemia. Pulse-field gel analysis suggests that ETS1 and
      ERGB are more than 200 kilobases apart. Similar to the other members of the ets
      family (ets 1, ets 2), this new member is also able to trans-activate
      transcription of a reporter gene linked to the ETS-binding sequences derived from
      either the GATA-1 promoter or an optimal Ets-binding site.

PMID- 1445801
TI  - Signal transduction defect appears to be the cause of rat prostate cancer cell
      fibroblast growth factor insensitivity.
AB  - Using monolayer cultures of clonally isolated C3 and T5 rat prostate cancer
      cells, we determined that acidic (aFGF) and basic (bFGF) fibroblast growth
      factors profoundly enhanced T5 cell thymidine incorporation with half-maximum
      stimulation at 0.53 and 0.35 ng/ml, respectively. In contrast, aFGF or bFGF
      enhancement of C3 cell thymidine incorporation was about 5% of that of T5 cells,
      and effects were principally mitogen concentration independent. Saturation
      analyses and cross-linking studies established that both C3 and T5 cells
      contained high-affinity FGF receptors of 120 and 145 kilodaltons and that
      receptor content and Kd of C3 and T5 cells were comparable. aFGF or bFGF
      stimulation of T5 cell thymidine incorporation profoundly decreased as cell
      plating density was reduced from 1.5 x 10(5) to 1.0 x 10(4) cells/well. The
      modest response of C3 cells to either aFGF or bFGF also decreased as cell plating
      density was reduced. Because heparin preserves FGF biological activity and
      enhances bFGF binding to high-affinity FGF receptors, we examined the effect of
      heparin on FGF stimulation of C3 cell thymidine incorporation. We found that
      changes in cell plating density and/or medium heparin concentration had variable,
      inconsistent effects. These were C3 cell plating density associated and included
      inhibition or modest enhancement of FGF effects. Binding analyses established
      that high-affinity bFGF binding of C3 and T5 cells immediately prior to assessing
      FGF-stimulated thymidine incorporation was comparable and independent of cell
      plating density, implying that C3 cell FGF insensitivity was not attributable to
      differences in C3 and T5 cell FGF receptor content at the time of mitogen
      stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445802
TI  - Myb expression is higher in malignant human colonic carcinoma and premalignant
      adenomatous polyps than in normal mucosa.
AB  - Expression of the protooncogene c-Myb protein was assessed in normal mucosa and
      in tumor samples resected from six patients. We found that the tumor samples
      always expressed higher levels of full length Myb protein than the normal tissue.
      This contrasts with the situation in c-myb-associated hemopoietic malignancies of
      the mouse and chicken, in which Myb proteins are generally amino or carboxyl
      truncated. Tissues from five patients with colonic adenomatous polyps were also
      examined and found to express levels of Myb that were, in general, intermediate
      between those found in normal tissues and tumors. Of particular interest is that
      the more dysplastic polyps displayed higher Myb levels. In one patient with
      carcinoma and multiple colonic polyps, some polyps had intermediate levels of
      Myb, whereas one polyp with carcinoma in situ expressed tumor-like levels of Myb.
      To directly test the hypothesis that Myb expression may be important in
      determining the rate of colonic cell proliferation, we examined three colonic
      carcinoma cell lines and one polyp cell line. We found that the cell lines with
      the most rapid doubling times exhibited the highest Myb levels. In addition, we
      show that antisense myb oligonucleotides retard the proliferation of one of these
      colonic cell lines which expresses the highest level of Myb.

PMID- 1445804
TI  - Growth factors, receptor kinases, and protein tyrosine phosphatases in normal and
      malignant melanocytes.
AB  - Normal human melanocyte proliferation and differentiation is dependent on
      stimulation of one of three growth factor/receptor systems. They are fibroblast
      growth factor (FGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and mast cell growth factor
      (MGF), which activate the FGF receptor, c-Met, and c-Kit, respectively, known to
      be receptor tyrosine kinases. In contrast, human melanoma cells from primary
      nodular and metastatic lesions grow autonomously partially because of
      inappropriate production of basic FGF (bFGF) and continuous activation of the
      bFGF-receptor kinase. Activation of transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinases in
      melanocytes stimulates not only proliferation but also the expression of
      pigmentation. Melanoma cells constitutively express several tyrosyl
      phosphorylated proteins that in normal melanocytes are stimulated in response to
      growth factors. This high level of phosphorylation was not due to either the
      presence of constitutively active Kit kinase and Met kinase nor to the absence of
      any of several known protein tyrosine phosphatases. Because bFGF by itself does
      not transform melanocytes to melanomas, there must be additional cooperating
      factors that confer the malignant phenotype to pigment cells.

PMID- 1445803
TI  - Protein kinase C beta gene expression is associated with susceptibility of human
      promyelocytic leukemia cells to phorbol ester-induced differentiation.
AB  - To study the signal transduction pathway leading to phorbol 12-myristate 13
      acetate (PMA)-induced differentiation in human promyelocytic HL-60 leukemia
      cells, we examined the expression of protein kinase C (PKC) isozyme genes in HL
      60 cells that are susceptible or resistant to PMA-induced differentiation. The
      PKC-alpha, -beta, -gamma, -delta, epsilon, and -zeta transcript levels were
      assessed by Northern blotting, and the PKC-alpha, -beta, and -gamma protein
      levels were examined by immunoblotting. The PMA-resistant cell variants HL-525
      and HL-534 were found to be deficient in the PKC-beta isozyme RNA and protein as
      compared with the PMA-susceptible HL-60 and HL-205 cell lines. In addition, a
      "delta-like" PKC RNA species identified in these cells demonstrated a reduced
      abundance in the HL-525 and HL-534 cells. Southern blot analysis indicated that
      the observed reduction in PKC-beta gene expression does not appear to be due to a
      gross deletion or rearrangement of the gene. The expression of the early response
      genes junB, c-fos, and c-jun was attenuated in PMA-treated HL-525 and HL-534
      cells as compared to the PMA-treated HL-60 and HL-205 cells. These results
      suggest that the signal transduction pathway that leads to PMA-induced
      differentiation in the HL-60 cell system requires PKC-beta and/or delta-like PKC
      for the proper expression of the early response genes, and ultimately the
      expression of genes that define the mature state.

PMID- 1445805
TI  - Proinflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines in multiple sclerosis and central
      nervous system acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
AB  - While certain cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha
      (TNF-alpha), IL-6, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) may be involved
      in pro- and anti-inflammatory events in the central nervous system (CNS) of
      patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and CNS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
      (AIDS), there is not uniform consensus as to whether they are elevated or even
      detectable in all compartments of the body such as serum, cerebrospinal fluid
      (CSF), and tissue. Furthermore, if they are elevated in these diseases, there are
      no data as to whether they regulate the disease process itself. Myelin damage in
      MS is a punctate demyelination; in AIDS, it is a diffuse myelin pallor or
      dysmyelination. Oligodendrocytes are destroyed in MS but not CNS AIDS, suggesting
      a different mechanism for myelin loss in the two diseases. These different
      pathologies may provide clues about the role of macrophages, microglia, and/or
      the toxic products they produce in putatively giving rise to myelin damage. The
      stimuli that trigger such a destructive response by macrophages or glial cells
      and/or the regulation of the toxic events in the two diseases we would predict to
      be different. In MS, an effector cell-mediated lesion production and
      oligodendrocyte cell destruction seem to occur. We hypothesize that the effector
      is the inflammatory blood macrophage and/or microglial cell induced and promoted
      to its cytotoxic activity by a collaboration of neurotransmitters and cytokines.
      In CNS AIDS, virus-induced toxic products of glia and their diffusion through
      white and gray matter areas of the brain have been suggested. Such soluble
      mediators would then compromise metabolic processes of neurons and glia without
      widespread target cell loss.

PMID- 1445806
TI  - Interactions of cytokines with the hypothalamus-pituitary axis.
AB  - Major humoral mechanisms include the endocrine and immune systems, and there is
      substantial literature describing interactions between these systems during
      infection and inflammatory processes. Within the brain, such interactions are
      less well known. One major brain function altered during infection and
      inflammation and by several endocrine hormones is sleep. These changes in sleep
      provide a useful illustration of the interactions between cytokines and the
      hypothalamus-pituitary axis (HPA). Experimental evidence is reviewed that
      illustrates the interaction of cytokines, especially interleukin-1 (IL-1), with
      the HPA in regard to their effect on sleep. The evidence linking IL-1, growth
      hormone-releasing hormone/growth hormone, and corticotropin-releasing hormone to
      sleep regulation is reviewed. There is also evidence that shows that these two
      major sleep-regulatory systems are linked to each other.

PMID- 1445807
TI  - Natural regulators of T-cell lymphokine production in vivo.
AB  - The mammalian immune system possesses the intrinsic capacity to evoke a wide
      variety of functionally distinct effector mechanisms following stimulation by a
      particular antigenic substance. Such diversity in available responses is
      absolutely essential to the immunocompetent host, which must continually deal
      with a diverse set of potential pathogens within its ever-changing environment.
      The development of appropriate types of immune responses, therefore, represents a
      highly dynamic process that requires that an equivalent consideration be given to
      a large array of components, any one of which is capable of modulating the final
      outcome. While the nature and complexity of the antigen(s), plus the
      intracellular or extracellular mode of presentation, provide specificity and some
      selection to the developing process, the route of antigen entry, as well as the
      physiological status of the host at the time of antigen insult, also contribute
      significantly to the formation of any immune response. The overall objective of
      this article is to introduce the concept that platelet-derived growth factor
      (PDGF) (either preformed or synthesized in response to stimulation), plus a
      number of steroid hormones (some of which are end-organ metabolized at local
      tissue sites), can all play significant roles in the genesis of immunologic
      responses in vivo.

PMID- 1445808
TI  - Presentation of three different viral peptides is determined by common structural
      features of the human lymphocyte antigen-A2.1 molecule.
AB  - To assess whether similar or dissimilar molecular features of class I human
      lymphocyte antigen (HLA) molecules determine the presentation of structurally
      diverse peptides, we have examined the influence of different pockets within the
      HLA-A2.1 molecule on the presentation of three different viral peptides. The
      influenza virus M1 58-66, HTLV-I Tax peptide 12-19, and HCMV gB 619-628 are
      minimal peptides that induce HLA-A2.1-restricted non-cross-reactive CTL
      responses. The influence of distinct structural features of HLA-A2.1 on peptide
      presentation was analyzed using a panel of 14 HLA-A2 mutants each with single
      amino acid substitutions in one of six pockets that are located in the peptide
      binding site. Ten of the 14 mutants showed concordant effects on the presentation
      of all three peptides to their peptide-specific CTL lines. Four of the mutants
      had a negative effect on the presentation of only one or two of these viral
      peptides. These findings indicate that common structural features in HLA-A2
      determine the binding and conformation of different peptides, and help to provide
      a plausible explanation for how diverse peptides bind to HLA-A2.

PMID- 1445809
TI  - Immunobiology of primary murine melanomas.
AB  - Primary cutaneous melanomas can be induced in inbred mice by applying a dose of
      dimethylbenz[a]anthracene to the skin of 4-day-old mice, and then applying
      repeated doses of a tumor promoter to the same site over a long period of time.
      Preliminary experiments suggest that the final incidence of melanomas is strongly
      influenced by the age at which the initiating dose of carcinogen is applied.
      Melanomas induced by this method in C3H mice are immunogenic and exhibit a high
      degree of cross-reactivity when tested by immunization and challenge in vivo.
      Exposing the mice to ultraviolet (UV) radiation during carcinogenesis
      dramatically accelerates the appearance of melanoma. We are attempting to
      determine how UV radiation potentiates melanoma induction by studying the growth
      of melanoma cells transplanted into UV-irradiated skin. Our studies suggest that
      UV irradiation accelerates the outgrowth of melanoma cells by means of a local,
      immunosuppressive effect on the skin. However, this effect is distinct from the
      ability of UV irradiation to alter epidermal Langerhans cells and interfere with
      the induction of contact hypersensitivity responses. We postulate that UV
      irradiation augments melanoma development by interfering with the efferent arm of
      the immune response in the UV-irradiated site.

PMID- 1445810
TI  - Tumor-specific antigens of mouse tumors.
AB  - This article reviews the serological analysis of cell surface antigens of
      chemically induced sarcomas of murine origin. This analysis, which was aimed at
      molecular characterization of the highly restricted tumor specific
      transplantation antigens of sarcomas, led to the initial biochemical
      identification and characterization of p53. The results of this early study
      clearly pointed to p53 as playing a key role in cellular proliferation and
      transformation. Current research of the tumor-specific or -associated antigens of
      chemically-induced sarcomas and melanomas of murine origin is also discussed.

PMID- 1445811
TI  - The use of congenitally immunodeficient mice to study human tumor metastases and
      immunotherapy.
AB  - Congenitally immunodeficient strains of mice have proven valuable in the
      development of relevant models to study human tumor biology, metastases, and
      immunotherapy. Local invasion and extensive multiorgan metastases in athymic mice
      have been obtained following orthotopic implantation or onplantation of
      histologically intact fragments of human tumors. In C.B-17 severe combined
      immunodeficient (SCID) mice or in triple immunodeficient, beige/nude/xid (BNX)
      mice, the development and spread of inoculated human leukemia/lymphoma and/or
      melanoma have mimicked, in some cases, those observed in patients. Reports of
      reconstitution of SCID and BNX mice with human myeloid or lymphoid cells have
      suggested that these models might be useful for the study of human immune
      responses to autologous tumors in vivo. The severe immunocompromised status of
      these mice have also led to evaluations of the therapeutic efficacy of adoptively
      transferred, tumor-reactive human T cells. In this report, we review the
      pertinent information currently available on the use of congenitally
      immunodeficient mice in studies of human cancer biology and treatment.

PMID- 1445812
TI  - In vitro growth patterns of normal human melanocytes and melanocytes from
      different stages of melanoma progression.
AB  - Based on the clinicopathological classification of distinct stages of tumor
      progression in the melanocytic system, we have investigated the in vitro growth
      patterns and requirements of normal melanocytes and melanocytes isolated from
      different lesions of melanoma progression. Normal melanocytes depend on a
      combination of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) or insulin, 12-O-tetradecanoyl
      phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), and
      basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for in vitro proliferation. Nevus cells
      display a reduced need for TPA and are largely independent of bFGF. Both
      melanocytes and nevus cells have a finite lifespan in vitro and show no
      spontaneous transformation, whereas melanoma cells can be grown indefinitely in
      vitro. Cells from primary melanomas require only IGF-I or insulin for continuous
      growth, and metastatic melanoma cells can proliferate in base medium without
      addition of any growth factors or proteins. This progressive growth autonomy is
      paralleled by an increased competence for endogenous growth factor production.
      Among these growth factors, bFGF and melanoma growth-stimulatory activity (MGSA)
      act in an autocrine fashion. Melanoma-derived growth factors without apparent
      autocrine function, such as platelet-derived growth factor A and B (PDGF-A and
      PDGF-B) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), might still be
      important for melanoma growth by stimulating surrounding normal fibroblasts,
      endothelial cells, or keratinocytes to secrete growth-promoting factors. The
      significance of growth factors such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)
      and melanoma-inhibiting activity II (MIA II), which have a potentially negative
      autocrine function, remains unknown. The successful propagation of melanocytic
      cells of all stages of melanoma progression has yielded valuable insight into the
      mechanisms of growth regulation and malignant transformation.

PMID- 1445813
TI  - Recognition of shared melanoma antigens by human tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.
AB  - We have established that melanomas express shared tumor antigens (Ags) that can
      be recognized by T cells if presented in the context of self-MHC molecules. Tumor
      infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from six melanoma patients were tested for lysis
      of large panels of HLA-matched or unmatched targets representing a variety of
      tissue types. Lysis was specific for allogeneic melanomas sharing at least one
      HLA-A, -B, or -C Ag with TILs, and demonstrated commonly expressed tumor Ags.
      Similar findings were obtained when cytokine secretion by TILs was used to
      indicate specific Ag recognition. Transfection of the HLA-A2.1 gene into HLA-A2-
      melanoma lines conferred susceptibility to lysis by HLA-A2 restricted melanoma
      TILs, demonstrating expression of common tumor Ags among patients of diverse HLA
      types. These findings have important implications for developing broadly
      applicable cancer immunotherapies such as vaccines.

PMID- 1445814
TI  - The effect of environmental temperature and humidity on 24 h energy expenditure
      in men.
AB  - The effects of environmental temperature and humidity and their interaction on 24
      h energy expenditure were measured using whole-body indirect calorimetry in eight
      normal-weight young men who wore standardized light clothing and followed a
      controlled activity regimen. A randomized-block experimental design was used,
      with temperature effects assessed by measurements at 20, 23, 26 and 30 degrees,
      while humidity was altered from ambient (50-65% relative humidity) to high (80
      93% relative humidity) at 20 and 30 degrees only. There was no significant effect
      of humidity on 24 h energy expenditure at the two extreme temperatures in this
      range, though when periods of sleep and exercise were excluded the energy
      expenditure at high humidity was significantly higher than that ambient humidity
      (P < 0.02). The effect of temperature at ambient humidity levels showed lower
      values at 23 and 26 degrees than at 20 and 30 degrees (P < 0.02). The effect of
      temperature was not equally apparent in all components of the 24 h energy
      expenditure, as sleeping metabolic rate and the energy cost of walking and
      cycling showed no significant effect of temperature over this range. This raises
      the possibility that the effects of temperature are attributable to behavioural
      changes during the waking portion of the day rather than any non-shivering
      thermogenic mechanisms at tissue level.

PMID- 1445815
TI  - Compensatory growth in broiler chicks fed on Lemna gibba.
AB  - The growth of broiler chickens on diets containing various levels of Lemna gibba
      was evaluated. Groups of broiler chicks were fed on diets containing 0-400 g
      Lemna gibba/kg for 3 weeks. These chickens were then changed to standard diets
      for a further 2 weeks. As the level of Lemna gibba increased, feed consumption
      and weight gain decreased. However, when diets were changed to the standard diet,
      compensatory growth was observed. In a second experiment, diets were formulated
      with a metabolizable energy of 5.02 MJ (1200 kcal)/kg Lemna gibba and included a
      finer-milled Lemna gibba. Chickens were fed on diets containing 0-300 g Lemna
      gibba/kg for 4 weeks. Each group was then divided into two subgroups. For the
      next 2 weeks one of these sub-groups was maintained on the experimental (Lemna
      gibba) diets (LL), while the other sub-group was changed to a standard diet (LS).
      Bird fed at levels above 150 g Lemna gibba/kg had decreased consumption and
      weight gain. These birds when changed to a standard diet tended to have increased
      weight gain compared with chickens continuously fed standard rations. LS birds
      had significantly higher weight gains and feed consumption and lower feed
      conversion than LL birds. In contrast to older birds, chicks fed on Lemna gibba
      at high concentrations showed growth retardation. When changed back to a standard
      diet they demonstrated normal or compensatory growth.

PMID- 1445816
TI  - Effects of repeated gestation and lactation on milk n-6 fatty acid composition in
      rats fed on a diet rich in 18:2n-6 or 18:3n-6.
AB  - The present study examined the effect of repeated gestation and lactation on the
      levels of long-chain n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in rat milk fat, and
      examined whether such levels might be modulated by supplementing the diet of the
      lactating dams with either (g/kg) 50 safflower oil (SFO; containing 800 g 18:2n
      6/kg), or 50 evening primrose oil (EPO; containing 720 g 18:2n-6 and 90 g 18:3n
      6/kg). The milk was collected at three different times (days 1, 8 and 15) in each
      given lactation period from female Sprague-Dawley rats which were successively
      bred for four pregnancies and lactations. Results showed that dietary fat and
      breeding frequency had no significant effects on milk triacylglycerol content,
      but they modified the pattern of milk fatty acids in both triacylglycerol and
      phospholipid fractions. After three or four successive breedings rats fed on EPO
      produced milk containing less saturated but more monounsaturated and
      polyunsaturated fatty acids compared with those fed on SFO. During the course of
      lactation the levels of n-6 metabolites, e.g. 18:3n-6, 20:3n-6 and 20:4n-6, in
      milk fat declined progressively. However, they were consistently higher in the
      EPO group than in the SFO group. These findings suggest that the levels of long
      chain n-6 metabolites in the milk fat may be increased through supplementing the
      maternal diet with 18:3n-6.

PMID- 1445817
TI  - The intake, digestion and protein degradation of grazed herbage by early-weaned
      lambs.
AB  - Sixty-four intact lambs and twenty-four lambs fitted with a duodenal cannula were
      weaned at 6 weeks of age and grazed pure species swards of either lucerne
      (Medicago sativa), white clover ((Trifolium repens), ryegrass (Lolium perenne) or
      prairie grass (Bromus catharticus) for 6 weeks. Intake and duodenal digesta flow
      were estimated when lambs were 8 and 12 weeks of age. Lambs grazing the two
      legume species grew at a similar rate, as did lambs grazing the two grass
      species. Legumes promoted a 38% higher growth rate than grasses. The higher
      growth rate of lambs grazing legumes was associated with a 36% higher digestible
      organic matter intake (DOMI; 29.5 and 21.7 g/kg body-weight per d for legume and
      grass respectively) and a 33% higher duodenal non-ammonia-nitrogen (NAN) flow
      (1.22 and 0.92 g/kg body-weight per d respectively). There was no species
      difference in the site of organic matter digestion; on average 0.56 of DOMI was
      apparently digested in the rumen and 0.77 of DOMI was truly digested in the
      rumen. There was no difference in duodenal NAN flow, relative to DOMI (average,
      43 g/kg) or to organic matter apparently digested in the rumen (80 g/kg).
      Similarly, there was no difference in microbial N flow relative to duodenal NAN
      (0.50 g/g) and organic matter apparently (41 g/kg) or truly (29 g/kg) digested in
      the rumen. It was concluded that the higher growth rates achieved by lambs
      grazing legumes were due to higher intakes which increased the total quantity of
      nutrients supplied despite more protein being lost in the rumen of lambs
      consuming legumes.

PMID- 1445818
TI  - Acetylation of peptides inhibits their degradation by rumen micro-organisms.
AB  - Proteins and peptides were acetylated using acetic anhydride in order to block
      their N-terminal amino groups and thereby to prevent their hydrolysis by rumen
      microbial aminopeptidases. The effects of acetylation on peptide breakdown and
      ammonia production were determined by incubating unmodified and acetylated
      substrates with sheep rumen micro-organisms in vitro. Ammonia production from
      casein and lactalbumin was affected little by acetylation, but acetylation of the
      corresponding enzymic hydrolysates caused ammonia production to be more than
      halved after 3-6 h incubation. Estimation of peptides remaining in rumen fluid
      showed that the decreased ammonia production was a consequence of peptides being
      hydrolysed more slowly. Acetylated Ala-Ala, Ala-Ala-Ala (Ala3), Leu-Gly-Gly, Phe
      Gly-Gly and Val-Gly-Ser-Glu survived incubation with rumen fluid in vitro for 6
      h, whereas almost none of the corresponding unmodified peptides was present at 6
      h. The protection afforded to larger pure peptides was less reliable: for
      example, 72% of acetylated bradykinin was hydrolysed after 1 h. N-Acetyl Ala3 had
      only a minor inhibitory effect on the breakdown of Ala3 and Ala4, suggesting that
      although acetyl peptides were broken down more slowly than unmodified peptides
      they did not inhibit peptidase activity.

PMID- 1445819
TI  - Responses in tissue protein synthesis to sub- and supra-maintenance intake in
      young growing sheep: comparison of large-dose and continuous-infusion techniques.
AB  - In ten lambs (average live weight 33 kg), five offered 300 g/d (approximately 0.6
      x maintenance; L) and five 900 g/d (1.8 x maintenance; H), tissue protein
      synthesis was measured by three procedures simultaneously. The techniques
      involved continuous infusion of [U-14C]phenylalanine and [1-13C]leucine over 7-8
      h followed by a terminal large dose of [15N]phenylalanine during the last 30 or
      60 min. Rates of protein synthesis were then calculated based on the free amino
      acid or oxo-acid isotopic activity in either arterial, iliac venous blood or
      tissue homogenate for the continuous-infusion studies, or on plasma or tissue
      homogenate for the large-dose procedure. For muscle (> 99%), and to a lesser
      extent skin (85-93%), effective flood conditions were achieved with the
      [15N]phenylalanine but were either not established or maintained for liver and
      tissues of the gastrointestinal tract (< 50%). The large dose of phenylalanine
      also caused changes in the concentration and isotopic activity of blood leucine
      and 4-methyl-2-oxo-pentanoate. Based on the assumption that the large-dose
      procedure yields the closest value for the true rate of protein synthesis (L
      1.97%/d, H 2.85%/d) then, for muscle, only values based on the homogenate as
      precursor gave comparable results for both leucine (L 1.83%/d, H 3.01%/d) and
      phenylalanine (L 1.67%/d, H 2.71%/d) continuous infusion. The values based on the
      arterial or venous amino or oxo-acid were significantly less, more so at the
      lower intake. In contrast, for skin, a tissue dominated by export protein
      synthesis, values from the large-dose procedure (L 6.37%/d, H 10.98%/d) were
      similar to those derived with arterial or venous metabolites as precursor (L 5.23
      and 6.93%/d, H 9.98 and 11.71%/d for leucine), but much less than those based on
      homogenate data. Based on the large-dose technique, protein synthesis increased
      with intake in muscle (P < 0.001), skin (P = 0.009) and liver (26.7 v. 30.5%/d; P
      = 0.029). The contributions of muscle and skin to total protein synthesis were
      approximately equal. The incremental efficiency of conversion for muscle of
      synthesized protein into deposition appeared to be similar to values reported for
      rodents.

PMID- 1445820
TI  - Effect of food intake on hind-limb and whole-body protein metabolism in young
      growing sheep: chronic studies based on arterio-venous techniques.
AB  - Whole-body protein synthesis, estimated by the irreversible loss rate procedure,
      and hind-leg protein metabolism determined by arterio-venous techniques were
      monitored in response to three nutritional conditions (approximately 0.6, 1.2 and
      1.8 x energy maintenance (M)) in ten wether lambs (33 kg average live weight). In
      all lambs and treatments measurements were based on radiolabelled phenylalanine,
      but the terminal procedures (five at 0.6 x M and five at 1.8 x M) also included
      infusion of [1-13C]leucine; this permitted comparison of amino acids catabolized
      (leucine) and non-metabolized (phenylalanine) by the hind-limb tissues. Whole
      body protein synthesis increased with intake and the relationship with energy
      expenditure was slightly lower than that reported previously for pigs and cattle.
      The efficiency of protein retention:protein synthesis did not exceed 0.25 between
      the two intake extremes. Effects of intake on amino acid oxidation were similar
      to those observed for cattle. Hind-limb protein synthesis also increased
      significantly (P < 0.001) in response to intake. Estimates of protein gain, from
      net uptake values, indicated that the tissues made a greater proportional
      contribution to total protein retention above M and to protein loss below M,
      emphasizing the role played by muscle tissue in providing mobile protein stores.
      The rates of protein synthesis calculated depended on the selection of precursor
      (blood) metabolite, but rates based on leucine always exceeded those based on
      phenylalanine when precursor from the same pool was selected. The incremental
      efficiency of protein retained:protein synthesis was apparently unity between 0.6
      and 1.2 x M but 0.3 from 1.2 to 1.8 x M. Blood flow through the iliac artery was
      also proportional to intake. Leucine and oxo-acid catabolism to carbon dioxide
      increased with intake such that the metabolic fate of the amino acid was
      distributed in the proportion 2:1 between protein gain and oxidation. The rates
      of oxidation were only 1-3% the reported capacity of the rate-limiting
      dehydrogenase enzyme in muscle, but sufficient enzyme activity resides in the
      hind-limb adipose tissue to account for such catabolism.

PMID- 1445821
TI  - Impairment of cysteine synthesis from methionine in rats exposed to surgical
      stress.
AB  - The activity of liver cystathionase (EC 4.4.1.1) was decreased after 3 d of
      stress induced by surgery. The rate of L-cysteine synthesis from L-methionine was
      significantly higher in isolated hepatocytes from controls than in hepatocytes
      from rats suffering from surgical stress. The half-life of L-[2(n)-3H]methionine
      was significantly higher in rats submitted to surgical stress than in controls.
      Plasma L-methionine:L-cystine ratio was higher in stressed rats than in controls.
      L-cystine uptake was significantly increased in the surgically-stressed rats when
      compared with the controls. All these facts are consistent with the hypothesis
      that the observed inhibition of cystathionase is physiologically important and
      that L-cysteine might be considered as an essential amino acid in cases of
      surgical stress.

PMID- 1445822
TI  - The cholesterol-raising effect of coffee in the Syrian hamster.
AB  - Adult male Syrian hamsters were fed on a high-fat diet with or without access to
      boiled coffee. Plasma total, low-density-lipoprotein- and high-density
      lipoprotein-cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations were increased by the
      coffee and very-low-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations were lowered.
      It is concluded that the Syrian hamster is a suitable animal model in which to
      study the hypercholesterolaemic effect of coffee.

PMID- 1445823
TI  - Lipid composition and fluidity of the erythrocyte membrane in copper-deficient
      rats.
AB  - The influence of dietary copper on lipid composition, phospholipid fatty acid and
      protein profiles and fluidity of the erythrocyte membranes of rats is reported.
      In general Cu deficiency in rats induced some changes in the phospholipid-fatty
      acid profile of erythrocyte membranes when compared with Cu-adequate animals.
      Stearic (18:0) and docosadienoic (22:2n-3) acids contents, for example, were
      significantly increased (P < 0.001) while oleic (18:1n-9) and linolenic (18:3n-3)
      acid contents were significantly depressed (P < 0.001) as a result of Cu
      deficiency. Moreover the cholesterol:phospholipids molar ratio and the
      cholesterol (mol):membrane proteins (mg) ratio in Cu-deficient rats were, to
      different degrees, significantly lower than in animals fed on Cu-adequate diets.
      In addition, diets deficient in Cu led to a reduction in erythrocyte membrane
      fluidity (P < 0.001) as assessed by the intramolecular excimer fluorescence of
      1,3-di(1-pyrenyl) propane. However, no significant alteration in the
      phospholipid:protein ratio was observed as a result of differences in dietary
      treatment. The pattern of erythrocyte membrane proteins obtained with sodium
      dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis did not seem to be influenced
      by Cu-deficient diets.

PMID- 1445824
TI  - Glycaemic index of conventional carbohydrate meals.
AB  - The glycaemic index (GI) and the triacylglycerol response were measured in thirty
      non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients given 50 g portions of five
      different conventional Indian meals containing semolina (Triticum aestivum)
      cooked by two different methods, or combinations of semolina and pulse (black
      gram dhal (Phaseolus mungo), green gram dhal (Phaseolus aureus) or Bengal gram
      dhal (Cicer arietum)). There were no significant differences among meals in mean
      GI except for meals based on roasted semolina or semolina-black gram dhal.
      Compared with the blood glucose response for a 50 g glucose load, only meals
      based on steam-cooked semolina and semolina-Bengal gram dhal elicited a
      significantly lower response at 1 h postprandially, and only meals based on
      semolina-black gram dhal at 2 h postprandially. No significant differences were
      found among the meals in the triacylglycerol-response.

PMID- 1445825
TI  - The effects of feed intake and purified cellulose on the endogenous ileal amino
      acid flow in growing pigs.
AB  - The effects of level of feed intake (0.8, 1.2 and 1.6 kg/d) and body-weight of
      the pig (49 and 92 kg) in Expt 1, and dietary neutral-detergent fibre (NDF; 30,
      60, 90, 120 and 150 g/kg) in Expt 2 on the endogenous ileal flow of amino acids
      (AA) and nitrogen were studied with protein-free diets into which purified wood
      cellulose was incorporated at the expense of maize starch. In Expt 1, one of the
      protein-free diets containing 90 g NDF/kg was used. Female pigs were fitted with
      a simple 'T' cannula at the terminal ileum. In Expt 1, the endogenous ileal AA
      and N flow, expressed as g/kg dry matter (DM) intake, decreased significantly (P
      < 0.05) with increasing DM intake, except for proline. By contrast, the values
      expressed as g/d remained constant. There was no significant difference in
      endogenous ileal flow (P > 0.05) between initial body-weights of 45 and 90 kg
      except for histidine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine and serine, in
      which the ileal flow determined at the higher body-weight was significantly
      higher (P < 0.05). In Expt 2, the effects of dietary cellulose levels on the
      endogenous ileal flow of AA and N were not significant (P > 0.05), although the
      values tended to increase as dietary cellulose levels increased for most AA and
      for N. It is concluded that the daily endogenous ileal flow of AA and N remains
      relatively similar at different DM intake and cellulose levels. Therefore,
      correction of apparent ileal digestibility of AA and N to the true ileal
      digestibility should be made with the endogenous ileal flow values expressed on a
      daily amount basis, not the values expressed on a DM intake basis.

PMID- 1445826
TI  - The effects of ispaghula on rat caecal fermentation and stool output.
AB  - The colonic fermentation of ispaghula, a mucilage from Plantago ovata composed
      mainly of arabinoxylans, and its effects on stool output and caecal metabolism
      were investigated. Four groups of eight rats were fed on a basal diet (45 g non
      starch polysaccharides/kg) for 28 d. The diet was then supplemented with
      ispaghula (g/kg; 0, 5, 15 or 50) for 28 d. Ispaghula increased stool dry weight
      and apparent wet weight but faecal water-holding capacity (amount of water held
      per g dry faecal material at 0.2 mPa) was unchanged. The extent of faecal drying
      in the metabolism cages was measured for rats fed on the basal diet and 50 g
      ispaghula/kg diet. At the faecal output levels encountered, only an 8% loss of
      wet weight would be predicted over 24 h and this was independent of diet. Faecal
      short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentration did not change but SCFA output
      increased. The molar proportion of SCFA as propionic acid increased and faecal pH
      was reduced. Values from pooled faecal samples suggested that approximately 50%
      of the ingested ispaghula was excreted by the 50 g ispaghula/kg diet group.
      Diaminopimelic acid (a constituent of bacterial cells) concentrations fell but
      output was unchanged indicating no change in bacterial mass. Similar changes were
      seen in the caecal contents but caecal pH and SCFA were unaffected. Ispaghula
      increased both caecal and colonic tissue wet weight and colonic length. Our
      results suggest that ispaghula is partly fermented in the rat caecum and colon,
      and loses its water-holding capacity. However, it is still an effective stool
      bulker and acts mainly by increasing faecal water by some unknown mechanism.

PMID- 1445827
TI  - Comparison of the effects of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) organic cyanide
      and inorganic cyanide on muscle and bone development in a Nigerian breed of dog.
AB  - Effects of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)-borne organic cyanide and inorganic
      cyanide in the form of sodium cyanide on bone and muscle development were
      investigated in eighteen dogs of Nigerian breed. After 16 weeks of stabilization
      in the laboratory from the time of purchase when the dogs were fed on the same
      diet, they were randomly assigned to three experimental groups of six dogs each.
      The control group was fed on rice while the other two groups were fed on either
      cassava (gari) or rice plus cyanide. The three diets were made isoenergetic and
      isonitrogenous by varying the quantity of meat incorporated into them. The
      results obtained after 14 weeks of feeding the respective diets indicated that
      there was retardation of muscle development in the gari-fed dogs. This may have
      resulted from gluconeogenesis from muscle protein associated with suppression of
      production of insulin by the pancreas in this group. The results indicated also
      that the effects of inorganic dietary cyanides on muscle development were
      different. Both forms of dietary cyanides, however, had no adverse effect on bone
      development.

PMID- 1445828
TI  - Nutritional outcome and immunocompetence in mice fed on a diet containing raw
      field beans (Vicia faba, var. minor) as the source of protein.
AB  - Feeding growth mice on diets containing raw field beans (Vicia faba var. minor)
      as the only source of protein brought about an impairment in growth, muscle mass
      and liver weight. No changes in food consumption were observed, but the food
      intake:weight gain ratio was increased in those animals. Plasma protein,
      triacylglycerols and cholesterol values were not affected by the dietary
      treatment although serum glucose and zinc levels fell after legume intake as well
      as the number of circulating erythrocytes. The relative enlargement of thymus and
      spleen in the legume-fed mice was apparently accompanied by a reduction in the
      cell number and an increase in cell size, while the protein synthesis capacity
      followed differentiated patterns in both tissues when assessed through protein,
      DNA and RNA determinations. The haemagglutination titres and the number of
      rosette-forming cells were lower in those animals fed on the field bean diet as
      well as the splenic lymphocyte responses to phytohaemagglutinin, Concanavalin A
      or lipopolysaccharide mitogens used to evaluate the functional status of T and B
      lymphocytes. The present study describes, apparently for the first time in mice,
      the involvement of field bean intake in some immunological disturbances affecting
      both humoral- and cell-mediated aspects of the immune response.

PMID- 1445829
TI  - Influence of low dietary lipid content on anorexia and [14C]glucose uptake in the
      intestine of zinc-deficient mice.
AB  - Zinc deficiency was induced in adult male mice by feeding them for 8 weeks on a
      purified semi-synthetic Zn-deficient diet (ZD) containing 90 g lipid/kg (60 g
      maize oil plus 30 g cod-liver oil). One group was then fed on a low-lipid Zn
      deficient diet (ZDLR) containing 30 g cod-liver oil/kg as the sole lipid source
      for a further 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment the stomach clearance rate,
      daily food intake, body-weight gain and [14C]glucose uptake in the intestine were
      significantly higher in group ZDLR than in mice that continued eating the Zn
      deficient lipid-adequate diet ZD, and were comparable to results for a group
      given a Zn-supplemented diet. These results suggest that the pathogenesis of
      anorexia, nutrient malabsorption and growth retardation are secondary to lipid
      malabsorption resulting from Zn deficiency.

PMID- 1445830
TI  - Erythrocytes, erythrocyte membranes, neutrophils and platelets as biopsy
      materials for the assessment of zinc status in humans.
AB  - During a controlled zinc depletion-repletion study, fifteen men aged 25.3 (SD
      3.3) years were fed on a low-Zn diet with high phytate:Zn and phytate x
      calcium:Zn molar ratios for 7 weeks, followed by a 2 week repletion period when
      30 mg supplemental Zn/d was given. Changes in plasma, urine, and hair Zn
      concentrations, taste acuity, and cellular immune response confirmed the
      development of mild Zn deficiency. Zn concentrations in neutrophils, platelets,
      erythrocytes and erythrocyte membranes, mean platelet volume, and activities of
      alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) and alpha-D-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.24) in
      neutrophils did not respond to changes in Zn status. In contrast, alkaline
      phosphatase activity in erythrocyte membranes showed a significant decline which
      was consistent in all subjects (nmol product formed/min per mg protein; baseline
      v. 7-week Zn depletion, 0.656 (SD 0.279) v. 0.506 (SD 0.230), at 7 weeks; P <
      0.05); neutral phosphatase activity remained unchanged. Alkaline phosphatase
      activity in erythrocyte membranes may be a potential index of Zn status in
      humans.

PMID- 1445831
TI  - Efficacy of massive oral doses of retinyl palmitate and mango (Mangifera indica
      L.) consumption to correct an existing vitamin A deficiency in Senegalese
      children.
AB  - Administration of large oral doses of retinyl palmitate has become the most
      widely practised vitamin A deficiency prevention strategy in developing
      countries. We conducted a follow-up study among 220 Senegalese children aged 2-7
      years suffering from moderate undernutrition to determine the efficacy of vitamin
      A treatment on their vitamin A status assessed by biochemical and cytological
      (impression cytology with transfer) methods. The first examination (T = 0
      m[onth]) was carried out during April 1989, before the mango (Mangifera indica
      L,) harvest. The second examination (T = 2 m) was carried out 2 months after
      vitamin A treatment during June 1989 when ripe mangoes become widely available.
      Conjunctival cells of the eyes of the children with or without ocular
      inflammation were responsive to vitamin A administration (P < 0.01). There was a
      significant increase (P < 0.001) in mean serum retinol and beta-carotene levels
      between T = 0 m and T = 2 m. Mean serum retinol-binding protein (RBP) and
      transthyretin (TTR) levels did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) at T = 0 m and
      T = 2 m. Despite the intake of vitamin A, 54% of the children who had abnormal
      cytology at T = 0 m remained abnormal at T = 2 m. This was due to inadequate
      levels of TTR and RBP, presumably due to the cereal diet eaten by the Senegalese
      population. children with abnormal eye cytology had lower serum retinol levels
      than those with normal eyes at T = 0 m, and beta-carotene values did not
      correlate with eye cytological abnormalities at T = 0 m. Children with normal
      cytology had higher serum retinol and also beta-carotene levels than those with
      abnormal cytology after massive oral doses of vitamin A and consumption of
      mangoes at T = 2 m. Retinyl palmitate may, therefore, only lead to partial
      cytological improvement due to a lack of retinol-carrier proteins but dietary
      beta-carotene may also be involved.

PMID- 1445832
TI  - Importance of specific adenosine N7-nitrogens for efficient cleavage by a
      hammerhead ribozyme. A model for magnesium binding.
AB  - Five modified hammerhead ribozyme/substrate complexes have been prepared in which
      individual adenosine N7-nitrogens have been excised. The modified complexes were
      chemically synthesized with the substitution of a single 7-deazaadenosine (c7A)
      base analogue for residues A11, A14, A26, A27, or A28. Two of the base analogues,
      c7A11 and c7A14, occur in a 19-mer ribozyme, while the remaining three residues,
      c7A26, c7A27, and c7A28, are present in a 24-mer substrate. Under stoichiometric
      conditions, four of the complexes are cleaved with relatively little change in
      rate when compared with that of the native complex. However, the relative rate
      for the c7A11 complex is some 35-fold slower than that of the native complex.
      Steady-state kinetic analyses indicate that the cleavage efficiencies, as
      measured by kcat/KM, for the c7A14, c7A26, c7A27, and c7A28 complexes are reduced
      18-fold, 10-fold, 34-fold, and 16-fold, respectively. These reductions in
      cleavage efficiency are primarily a result of lower kcat values. By comparison,
      the cleavage efficiency of the c7A11 complex is reduced more than 200-fold
      relative to that of the native complex, again primarily as a result of a lower
      kcat value. The results suggest that the N7-nitrogen of A11 in the hammerhead
      ribozyme/substrate complex is critical for efficient cleavage activity. The
      results of the present work, in combination with those from previous reports,
      indicate that five critical functional groups are located within the tetrameric
      sequence G10A11U12G13. A preliminary model for the binding of a single magnesium
      cofactor to this portion of the sequence is proposed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1445833
TI  - PKC epsilon is involved in granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor
      signal transduction: evidence from microphysiometry and antisense oligonucleotide
      experiments.
AB  - We have used microphysiometry and antisense methodology to show that the epsilon
      isoenzyme of protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in the signal transduction
      pathway of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in a human
      bone marrow cell line, TF-1. These cells require GM-CSF or a related cytokine for
      proliferation. When the cells are appropriately exposed to GM-CSF, they exhibit a
      burst of metabolic activity that can be detected on the time scale of minutes in
      the microphysiometer, a biosensor-based instrument that measures the rate at
      which cells excrete protons. These cells express PKC alpha and -epsilon, as
      determined by Western blot analysis. Treatment with isoenzyme-specific antisense
      oligonucleotides inhibits expression appropriately, but only inhibition of PKC
      epsilon appreciably diminishes the burst of metabolic activity induced by GM-CSF.
      Consistent with the involvement of PKC epsilon, GM-CSF appears to activate
      phospholipase D and does not cause a detectable increase in cytosolic [Ca2+].

PMID- 1445834
TI  - A repair system for 8-oxo-7,8-dihydrodeoxyguanine.
AB  - Active oxygen species can damage DNA and may play a role in aging and
      carcinogenesis. We have tested MutY glycosylase for activity on undamaged
      mispairs as well as mispairs formed with the oxidatively damaged substrates, 8
      oxo-7,8-dihydrodeoxyguanine (GO) or 8-oxo-7,8-dihydrodeoxyadenine (AO). MutY acts
      as a glycosylase on four of the heteroduplexes tested, A/G, A/GO, A/C, and A/AO,
      removing the undamaged adenine from each substrate. Genetic data suggest that the
      primary substrate for MutY glycosylase in vivo is the A/GO mispair. We present
      biochemical evidence demonstrating that MutY glycosylase is an important part of
      a repair system that includes the MutM and MutT proteins. The GO repair system is
      dedicated to the repair of the oxidatively damaged guanine and the mutations it
      can induce.

PMID- 1445835
TI  - Evidence that a minor groove-binding peptide and a major groove-binding protein
      can simultaneously occupy a common site on DNA.
AB  - Affinity cleaving proteins have been synthesized based on the DNA-binding domain
      of the yeast transcriptional activator GCN4 with the DNA cleaving moiety Fe.EDTA
      attached at the NH2 terminus [Oakley, M. G., & Dervan, P. B. (1990) Science 248,
      847]. Cleavage patterns generated by Fe-EDTA-GCN4(226-281) bound to the DNA sites
      5'-CTGACTAAT-3' and 5'-ATGACTCTT-3' reveal that the NH2 termini of the GCN4 DNA
      binding domain are located in the major groove of DNA, 9-10 base pairs apart,
      consistent with a Y-shaped dimeric structure. 1-Methylimidazole-2-carboxamide
      netropsin (2-ImN) is a designed synthetic peptide which binds in the minor groove
      of DNA at 5'-TGACT-3' sites as an antiparallel, side-by-side dimer [Mrksich, M.,
      Wade, W. S., Dwyer, T. J., Geierstanger, B. H., Wemmer, D.E., & Dervan, P. B.
      (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 7586]. Through the use of Fe.EDTA
      GCN4(226-281) as a sequence-specific footprinting agent, it is shown that the
      dimeric protein GCN4-(226-281) and the dimeric peptide 2-ImN can simultaneously
      occupy their common binding site in the major and minor grooves of DNA,
      respectively. The association constants for 2-ImN in the presence and in the
      absence of Fe.EDTA-GCN4(226-281) are found to be similar, suggesting that the
      binding of the two dimers is not cooperative.

PMID- 1445836
TI  - Photoreactions of thymine and thymidine with N-acetyltyrosine.
AB  - We report here the photoinduced formation of a thymine-N-acetyltyrosine adduct.
      Irradiation of dilute solutions of thymine in the presence of N-acetyltyrosine
      (NAT) leads to the formation of N-acetyl-4-hydroxy-3-(6-hydrothymin-5
      yl)phenylalanine (I), isolated as a mixture of the 5R and 5S diastereoisomers;
      the photoreaction occurs when irradiation is done either at lambda = 254 nm or at
      wavelengths of lambda > 290 nm. Irradiation of thymidine in the presence of NAT
      and of thymine in the presence of tyrosine leads to analogous photoadducts. The
      photoreaction of thymine with NAT is completely quenched by oxygen and cannot be
      sensitized by acetone. The likely mechanism involves initial photoionization of
      the amino acid and deprotonation to form the phenoxyl radical. Thymine then
      probably captures the released aqueous electron, leading to protonation at C6 of
      the resulting radical anion. Combination of the phenoxyl and 5,6-dihydrothymin-5
      yl radicals would then lead to formation of the final products. The quantum yield
      for production of the thymine-NAT adduct at pH 7.8 was estimated to be about 5.5
      x 10(-4), while a value of 2.3 x 10(-3) was estimated for production of
      corresponding thymidine adduct at pH 8.1. The dependence of the quantum yield for
      adduct formation on pH has been determined for both the thymine and thymidine
      reactions with NAT; the maxima in the quantum yield profiles occur at pH 8-8.5,
      while appreciable values were measured at pH 7.5. We have also demonstrated that
      a similar reaction occurs when tyrosine is located within a peptide.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445837
TI  - Influence of pH on the equilibrium association constants for
      oligodeoxyribonucleotide-directed triple helix formation at single DNA sites.
AB  - The energetics of oligodeoxyribonucleotide-directed triple helix formation for
      the pyrimidine.purine.pyrimidine structural motif were determined over the pH
      range 5.8-7.6 at 22 degrees C (100 mM Na+ and 1 mM spermine) using quantitative
      affinity cleavage titration. The equilibrium binding constants for 5'
      TTTTTCTCTCTCTCT-3' (1) and 5'-TTTTTm5CTm5CTm5CTm5CTm5CT-3' (2, m5C is 2'-deoxy-5
      methylcytidine) increased by 10- and 20-fold, respectively, from pH 7.6 to 5.8,
      indicating that the corresponding triple-helical complexes are stabilized by 1.4
      and 1.7 kcal.mol-1, respectively, at the lower pH. Replacement of the five
      cytosine residues in 1 with 5-methylcytosine residues to yield 2 affords a
      stabilization of the triple helix by 0.1-0.4 kcal.mol-1 over the pH range 5.8
      7.6. An analysis of these data in terms of a quantitative model for a general pH
      dependent equilibrium transition revealed that pyrimidine oligonucleotides with
      cytidine and 5-methylcytidine form local triple-helical structures with apparent
      pKa's of 5.5 (C+GC triplets) and 5.7 (m5C+GC triplets), respectively, and that
      the oligonucleotides should bind to single sites on large DNA with apparent
      affinity constants of approximately 10(6) M-1 even above neutral pH.

PMID- 1445838
TI  - A magnesium-induced conformational transition in the loop of a DNA analog of the
      yeast tRNA(Phe) anticodon is dependent on RNA-like modifications of the bases of
      the stem.
AB  - Two single-stranded DNA heptadecamers corresponding to the yeast tRNA(Phe)
      anticodon stem-loop were synthesized, and the solution structures of the
      oligonucleotides, d(CCAGACTGAAGATCTGG) and d(CCAGACTGAAGAU-m5C-UGG), were
      investigated using spectroscopic methods. The second, or modified, base sequence
      differs from that of DNA by RNA-like modifications at three positions; dT
      residues were replaced at positions 13 and 15 with dU, and the dC at position 14
      with d(m5C), corresponding to positions where these nucleosides occur in
      tRNA(Phe). Both oligonucleotides form intramolecular structures at pH 7 in the
      absence of Mg2+ and undergo monophasic thermal denaturation transitions (Tm = 47
      degrees C). However, in the presence of 10 mM Mg2+, the modified DNa adopted a
      structure that exhibited a biphasic "melting" transition (Tm values of 23 and 52
      degrees C) whereas the unmodified DNA structure exhibited a monophasic
      denaturation (Tm = 52 degrees C). The low-temperature, Mg(2+)-dependent
      structural transition of the modified DNA was also detected using circular
      dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. No such transition was exhibited by the unmodified
      DNA. This transition, unique to the modified DNA, was dependent on divalent
      cations and occurred most efficiently with Mg2+; however, Ca2+ also stabilized
      the alternative conformation at low temperature. NMR studies showed that the
      predominant structure of the modified DNA in sodium phosphate (pH 7) buffer in
      the absence of Mg2+ was a hairpin containing a 7-nucleotide loop and a stem
      composed of 3 stable base pairs. In the Mg(2+)-stabilized conformation, the loop
      became a two-base turn due to the formation of two additional base pairs across
      the loop.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445839
TI  - The role of 5-methylcytidine in the anticodon arm of yeast tRNA(Phe): site
      specific Mg2+ binding and coupled conformational transition in DNA analogs.
AB  - The tDNA(Phe)AC, d(CCAGACTGAAGAU13m5C14U15GG), with a DNA sequence similar to
      that of the anticodon stem and loop of yeast tRNA(Phe), forms a stem and loop
      structure and has an Mg(2+)-induced structural transition that was not exhibited
      by an unmodified tDNA(Phe)AC d(T13C14T15) [Guenther, R. H., Hardin, C. C.,
      Sierzputowska-Gracz, H., Dao, V., & Agris, P. F. (1992) Biochemistry (preceding
      paper in this issue)]. Three tDNA(Phe)AC molecules having m5C14, tDNA(Phe)AC
      d(U13m5C14U15), d(U13m5C14T15), and d(T13,5C14U15), also exhibited Mg(2+)-induced
      structural transitions and biphasic thermal transitions (Tm approximately 23.5
      and 52 degrees C), as monitored by CD and UV spectroscopy. Three other
      tDNA(Phe)AC, d(T13C14T15), d(U13C14U15), and d(A7;U13m5C14U15) in which T7 was
      replaced with an A, thereby negating the T7.A10 base pair across the anticodon
      loop, had no Mg(2+)-induced structural transitions and only monophasic thermal
      transitions (Tm of approximately 52 degrees C). The tDNA(Phe)AC d(U13m5C14U15)
      had a single, strong Mg2+ binding site with a Kd of 1.09 x 10(-6) M and a delta G
      of -7.75 kcal/mol associated with the Mg(2+)-induced structural transition. In
      thermal denaturation of tDNA(Phe)AC d(U13m5C14U15), the 1H NMR signal assigned to
      the imino proton of the A5.dU13 base pair at the bottom of the anticodon stem
      could no longer be detected at a temperature corresponding to that of the loss of
      the Mg(2+)-induced conformation from the CD spectrum. Therefore, we place the
      magnesium in the upper part of the tDNA hairpin loop near the A5.dU13 base pair,
      a location similar to that in the X-ray crystal structure of native, yeast
      tRNA(Phe).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445840
TI  - Cyclopropane fatty acid synthase of Escherichia coli: deduced amino acid
      sequence, purification, and studies of the enzyme active site.
AB  - Cyclopropane fatty acid (CFA) synthase of Escherichia coli catalyzes a
      modification of the acyl chains of phospholipid bilayers. We report (i)
      identification of the CFA synthase protein, (ii) overproduction (> 600-fold) and
      purification to essential homogeneity of the enzyme, and (iii) the amino acid
      sequence of CFA synthase as deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the cfa gene.
      CFA synthase was overproduced by use of the T7 promoter/RNA polymerase system
      under closely defined conditions. The enzyme was readily purified by a two-step
      procedure requiring only ammonium sulfate fractionation and binding to
      phospholipid vesicles followed by flotation in sucrose density gradients. The
      deduced amino acid sequence predicts a protein of 43,913 Da (382 residues) that
      lacks long hydrophobic segments. The CFA synthase sequence has no significant
      similarity to known proteins except for sequences found in other enzymes that
      utilize S-adenosyl-L-methionine. We also report inhibitor studies of the enzyme
      active site.

PMID- 1445841
TI  - Effects of mutations near the bacteriochlorophylls in reaction centers from
      Rhodobacter sphaeroides.
AB  - Mutations were made in four residues near the bacteriochlorophyll cofactors of
      the photosynthetic reaction center from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. These mutations,
      L131 Leu to His and M160 Leu to His, near the dimer bacteriochlorophylls, and
      M203 Gly to Asp and L177 Ile to Asp, near the monomer bacteriochlorophylls, were
      designed to result in the placement of a hydrogen bond donor group near the ring
      V keto carbonyl of each bacteriochlorophyll. Perturbations of the electronic
      structures of the bacteriochlorophylls in the mutants are indicated by additional
      resolved transitions in the bacteriochlorophyll absorption bands in steady-state
      low-temperature and time-resolved room temperature spectra in three of the
      resulting mutant reaction centers. The major effect of the two mutations near the
      dimer was an increase up to 80 mV in the donor oxidation-reduction midpoint
      potential. Correspondingly, the calculated free energy difference between the
      excited state of the primary donor and the initial charge separated state
      decreased by up to 55 mV, the initial forward electron-transfer rate was up to 4
      times slower, and the rate of charge recombination between the primary quinone
      and the donor was approximately 30% faster in these two mutants compared to the
      wild type. The two mutations near the monomer bacteriochlorophylls had minor
      changes of 25 mV or less in the donor oxidation-reduction potential, but the
      mutation close to the monomer bacteriochlorophyll on the active branch resulted
      in a roughly 3-fold decrease in the rate of the initial electron transfer.

PMID- 1445842
TI  - 13C magic angle spinning NMR study of the light-induced and temperature-dependent
      changes in Rhodobacter sphaeroides R26 reaction centers enriched in [4'
      13C]tyrosine.
AB  - Solid-state 13C magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR has been used to investigate
      detergent-solubilized photosynthetic reaction centers of Rhodobacter sphaeroides
      R26, selectively enriched in [4-13C]-tyrosine. The reaction centers were frozen,
      in the dark and while subject to intense illumination, and studied at
      temperatures between approximately 215 and approximately 260 K. The signal
      consists of at least seven narrow lines superimposed on a broad doublet. The
      chemical shift anisotropy is similar to that for crystalline tyrosine. The two
      narrowest resonances, corresponding to signals from individual tyrosines, are 28
      +/- 5 Hz wide, comparable to what is observed for quaternary carbons in linearly
      elastic organic solids. The line width as well as the chemical shift of these
      signals is essentially independent of temperature. This provides strong evidence
      for an unusually ordered, well-shielded, and structurally, electrostatically, and
      thermodynamically stable interior of the protein complex without structural
      heterogeneities. As the temperature is lowered, additional signal from the labels
      develops and the natural abundance resonances from the detergent broaden,
      providing evidence for considerable flexibility at the exterior of the protein
      complex and in the detergent belt at the higher temperatures. In addition, the
      NMR provides evidence for an electrostatically uniform and neutral complex, since
      the total dispersion in isotropic shifts for the labels is < 5 ppm and
      corresponds to electron density variations of less than 0.03 electronic
      equivalents with respect to tyrosine in the solid state or in solution. When the
      sample is frozen while subject to intense illumination, a substantial part of the
      protein is brought into the charge-separated state P.+QA.-. At least three sharp
      resonances, including the narrowest lines, are substantially reduced in
      intensity. It is argued that this effect is caused by the electronic spin density
      associated with the oxidized primary donor P.+. These results strongly suggest
      that the environment of the special pair is extremely rigid and question the role
      of protein conformational distortions during the primary photoprocess.

PMID- 1445843
TI  - Qy-excitation resonance Raman scattering from the special pair in Rhodobacter
      sphaeroides reaction centers. Implications for primary charge separation.
AB  - Qy-excitation resonance Raman (RR) spectra are reported for reaction centers
      (RCs) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1. The RR spectra were acquired for both
      chemically reduced and oxidized RCs at 25 and 201 K by using a variety of
      excitation wavelengths in the range 800-920 nm. This range spans the Qy
      absorption bands of the special pair (P) and the accessory bacteriochlorophylls
      (BChls). The RR studies indicate that both P and the accessory BChls exhibit rich
      RR spectra in the 30-1800-cm-1 region. For both types of pigments, at least 20
      bands are observed in the 30-750-cm-1 range. Although the frequencies of the
      modes of P and the accessory BChls are different, it is possible to make one-to
      one correlations of the bands observed for the two types of pigments. This result
      suggests that the vibronically active low-frequency modes of P are derived from
      monomer-like vibrations (although they may be coupled monomer-like modes) rather
      than being vibrations resulting from the additional degrees of freedom present in
      the dimer. A plausible set of vibrational assignments for the low-frequency modes
      of both P and the accessory BChls is proposed on the basis of a semiempirical
      normal coordinate calculation. Comparison of the RR intensities of the low
      frequency modes of P with those of the analogous modes of the accessory BChls
      indicates that the intensities of the modes of the former pigments are
      considerably larger than those of the latter. Collectively, the spectral data
      indicate that a large number of low-frequency modes of P are strongly coupled to
      the Qy electronic transition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445844
TI  - Interaction of CPa-1 with the manganese-stabilizing protein of photosystem II:
      identification of domains on CPa-1 which are shielded from N-hydroxysuccinimide
      biotinylation by the manganese-stabilizing protein.
AB  - The structural organization of photosystem II proteins has been investigated by
      use of the amino group-labeling reagent N-hydroxysuccinimidobiotin (NHS-biotin)
      and calcium chloride-washed photosystem II membranes. We have previously shown
      that the presence of the extrinsic, manganese-stabilizing protein on photosystem
      II membranes prevents the modification of lysyl residues located on the
      chlorophyll protein CPa-1 (CP-47) by NHS-biotin [Bricker, T. M., Odom, W. R., &
      Queirolo, C. B. (1988) FEBS Lett. 231, 111-117]. Upon removal of the manganese
      stabilizing protein by calcium chloride-washing, CPa-1 can be specifically
      modified by treatment with NHS-biotin. Preparative quantities of biotinylated CPa
      1 were subjected to chemical cleavage with cyanogen bromide. Two major
      biotinylated peptides were identified with apparent molecular masses of 11.8 and
      15.7 kDa. N-terminal sequence analysis of these peptides indicated that the 11.8
      kDa peptide was 232G-330M and that the 15.7-kDa peptide was 360P-508V. The 15.7
      kDa CNBr peptide was subjected to limited tryptic digestion. The two smallest
      tryptic fragments identified migrated at apparent molecular masses of 9.1
      (nonbiotinylated) and 7.5 kDa (biotinylated). N-terminal sequence analysis and
      examination of the predicted amino acid sequences of these peptides suggest that
      the 9.1-kDa fragment was 422R-508V and that the 7.5-kDa fragment was 360P-421A.
      These results strongly suggest that two NHS-biotinylated domains, 304K-321K and
      389K-419K, become exposed on CPa-1 when the manganese-stabilizing protein is
      removed by CaCl2 treatment. Both of these domains lie in the large extrinsic loop
      E of CPa-1.

PMID- 1445845
TI  - Photosystem II function and integrity in spite of drastic protein changes in a
      conserved region of the D2 protein.
AB  - D1 and D2 are structurally related proteins forming the core of the photosystem
      II reaction center. The two proteins have several loop regions including an
      extended stroma-exposed loop between transmembrane helix D and parallel helix de.
      This loop (the D-de loop) is phylogenetically conserved in both proteins. The
      role of the D-de loop in photosystem II was studied in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
      by constructing a chimeric D2 protein in which the stroma-exposed loop of D1
      replaced that of D2. In one of the transgenic lines, a single-base deletion
      shifted the reading frame of the chimeric gene leading to loss of D2 accumulation
      and photosystem II assembly. Selection for spontaneous reversion to
      photoautotrophy yielded several suppressor mutants, five of which were analyzed.
      In all, further frameshifts in the inserted loop piece restored the original
      reading frame allowing readthrough to the normal carboxy terminus. However, the
      sequences in the restored D-de loop varied widely among the mutants. Changes
      ranged from a deletion of one amino acid residue to an insertion of 31, while the
      net charge of the D-de loop increased by up to 12 units. Mutant electron transfer
      rates and photoautotrophic growth were only mildly affected as compared to wild
      type. Nevertheless, in all mutants, the hydropathy profile of the stroma-exposed
      D-de loop region maintained its hydrophilic character including turns in similar
      locations. We conclude that the stroma-exposed, D-de loop of the D2 protein can
      accommodate drastic composition and size changes without extensive functional
      consequences in photosystem II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445846
TI  - Oligomeric properties of alpha-dendrotoxin-sensitive potassium ion channels
      purified from bovine brain.
AB  - Neuronal acceptors for alpha-dendrotoxin (alpha-DTX) have recently been purified
      from mammalian brain and shown to consist of two classes of subunit, a larger
      (approximately 78,000 M(r)) protein (alpha) whose N-terminal sequence is
      identical to that of a cloned, alpha-DTX-sensitive K+ channel, and a novel M(r)
      39,000 (beta) polypeptide of unknown function. However, little information is
      available regarding the oligomeric composition of these native molecules. By
      sedimentation analysis of alpha-DTX acceptors isolated from bovine cortex, two
      species have been identified. A minority of these oligomers contain only the
      larger protein, while the vast majority possess both subunits. Based on accurate
      determination of the molecular weights of these two forms it is proposed that
      alpha-DTX-sensitive K+ channels exist as alpha 4 beta 4 complexes because this
      combination gives the best fit to the experimental data.

PMID- 1445847
TI  - Acidic interaction of the colicin A pore-forming domain with model membranes of
      Escherichia coli lipids results in a large perturbation of acyl chain order and
      stabilization of the bilayer.
AB  - 2H and 31P NMR techniques were used to study the effects on acyl chain order and
      lipid organization of the well-characterized pore-forming domain of colicin A (20
      kDa thermolytic fragment of colicin A) upon insertion in model membrane systems
      derived from the Escherichia coli fatty acid auxotrophic strain K 1059, which was
      grown in the presence of [11,11-2H2]-labeled oleic acid. Addition of the protein
      to dispersions of the E. coli total lipid extract, in a 1/70 molar ratio of
      peptide to lipids, resulted in a large pH-dependent decrease in quadrupolar
      splitting of the 2H NMR spectra. The decrease of the quadrupolar splitting
      obtained at the various pH values was correlated with the pH dependence of the
      insertion of the protein in monolayer films using the same E. coli lipid
      extracts. The pK governing the perturbing effects on the order of the fatty acyl
      chains was around 5, in agreement with the values of the pH-dependent
      conformational changes of the pore-forming domain of colicin A required for
      membrane insertion as reported by van der Goot et al. [(1991) Nature 354, 408
      410]. 31P NMR measurements show that the bilayer organization remains intact upon
      addition of the protein to dispersions of lipid extract. Surprisingly, 31P NMR
      measurements as a function of temperature indicate that the pore-forming domain
      of colicin A even stabilizes bilayer lipid structure at pH 4. Both the large
      effect of the protein on acyl chain order and its bilayer-stabilizing activity
      are indicative of a surface localization of the protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445848
TI  - Cell-surface fucosylation and magnetic resonance spectroscopy characterization of
      human malignant colorectal cells.
AB  - Proton (1H) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been used to distinguish
      lowly and highly tumorigenic human malignant colorectal cell lines based on
      differences in lipid, choline, and fucose resonances. The spectral patterns were
      comparable with those obtained for human colorectal biopsy specimens, indicating
      that cells grown in vitro are suitable for documenting colorectal tumor biology.
      For the first time, two-dimensional (2D) correlation spectroscopy (COSY) has been
      used to assess the fucosylation state on the surface of intact viable cells, and
      differences were recorded between the highly and lowly tumorigenic cell lines.
      Four methyl-methine cross-peaks were assigned to covalently linked fucose on the
      basis of increases in volume following the addition of free fucose. Both cell
      lines incorporated the same amount of exogenous free fucose as determined
      chemically, but the COSY spectra indicated that the fucose was distributed
      differently by each cell line. Of the four sites containing MR-visible bound
      fucose, one was common to both cell lines, two characteristic of the highly
      tumorigenic line, and the remaining site unique to the lowly tumorigenic cells.
      Material released from the highly tumorigenic cells in response to increased cell
      density was also fucosylated (whereas shed material from lowly tumorigenic cells
      was not), suggesting a biological role for shed fucosylated antigens in tumor
      aggression.

PMID- 1445849
TI  - Structure of a novel sulfate-containing mycobacterial glycolipid.
AB  - We described previously the unusual structures of the two major C-mycoside
      glycopeptidolipids from Mycobacterium fortuitum biovar. peregrinum. More polar
      glycolipids, potentially more interesting in terms of antigenicity, were also
      present in the strains. A combination of FAB mass spectrometry, NMR, chemical
      analyses, and radiolabeling was successfully applied to these glycolipids to
      arrive at the unexpected and novel structure for the more polar compound. This
      consisted of the "orthodox" basic structure of the apolar C-mycosides, modified
      at the alaninol end by the presence of a sulfate group on position 2 of a 3,4-di
      O-methylrhamnosyl residue. This novel and second class of sulfate-containing
      mycobacterial glycolipid may provide a chemical basis for the differentiation and
      classification of members of the M. fortuitum complex, the main group causing
      human diseases among the many fast-growing mycobacteria widely distributed in
      nature.

PMID- 1445850
TI  - Regulation of the concentration of pre beta high-density lipoprotein in normal
      plasma by cell membranes and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity.
AB  - A minor fraction of plasma high-density lipoprotein (pre beta-1 HDL) has been
      shown to promote cholesterol efflux from peripheral cell membranes [Castro, G.
      R., & Fielding, C. J. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 25-29]. When isolated native plasma
      is incubated at 37 degrees C, this fraction is specifically decreased. On the
      other hand, the level of plasma pre beta-1 HDL is fully protected in the presence
      of even very low levels of fibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells, or
      macrophages. Blood cells were completely inactive in maintaining plasma pre beta
      1 HDL levels in the absence of peripheral cells, even at the relatively high
      levels present in whole blood. The loss of pre beta-1 observed in isolated plasma
      was dependent upon lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity. These
      data suggest that reverse cholesterol transport catalyzed by pre beta-1 HDL, and
      subsequent LCAT-mediated cholesterol esterification, is directly dependent upon
      the interaction between this HDL species and competent peripheral cells.

PMID- 1445851
TI  - Interactions of retinol with binding proteins: studies with retinol-binding
      protein and with transthyretin.
AB  - The interactions within the molecular complex in which retinol circulates in
      blood were studied. To monitor binding between retinol-binding protein (RBP) and
      transthyretin (TTR), TTR was labeled with a long-lived fluorescence probe
      (pyrene). Changes in the rotational volume of TTR following its association with
      RBP were monitored by fluorescence anisotropy of the probe. Titration of TTR with
      holo-RBP revealed the presence of 1.5 binding sites characterized by a
      dissociation constant Kd = 0.07 microM. At 0.15 M NaCl, binding of RBP to TTR
      showed an absolute requirement for the native ligand, retinol. At higher ionic
      strength (0.5 M NaCl), RBP complexed with retinal also bound to TTR with high
      affinity (Kd = 0.134 microM). RBP containing retinoic acid did not bind to TTR
      even at the high salt concentration. The data suggest that the TTR binding site
      on RBP is in close proximity to the retinoid binding site and that the head group
      of retinoic acid, when bound to RBP, presents steric hindrance for the
      interactions with TTR. The implications of the data for selectivity in retinoid
      transport in the circulation are discussed. The kinetics of the steps leading to
      complete dissociation of the retinol-RBP-TTR complex was also studied. The first
      step of this process was dissociation of retinol, which had a rate constant of
      0.06/min. Following loss of retinol, the two proteins dissociate. The rate of
      dissociation is slow (k = 0.055/h), however, indicating that the complex apo-RBP
      TTR will be an important factor in regulating serum levels of retinol.

PMID- 1445852
TI  - Mechanism of binding of the new antimitotic drug MDL 27048 to the colchicine site
      of tubulin: equilibrium studies.
AB  - MDL 27048 [trans-1-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-2- methyl-2
      propen-1-one] fluoresces when bound to tubulin but not in solution. This effect
      has been investigated and found to be mimicked by viscous solvents. Therefore,
      MDL 27048 appears to be a fluorescent compound whose intramolecular rotational
      relaxation varies as a function of microenvironment viscosity. The binding
      parameters of MDL 27048 to tubulin have been firmly established by fluorescence
      of the ligand, quenching of the protein fluorescence, and gel equilibrium
      chromatography. The apparent binding equilibrium constant was (2.75 +/- 0.45) x
      10(6)M-1, and the binding site number was 0.81 +/- 0.12 (10 mM sodium phosphate
      0.1 mM GTP, pH 7.0, at 25 degrees C). The binding is exothermic. The binding of
      MDL 27048 overlaps the colchicine and podophyllotoxin binding sites. Binding of
      MDL 27048 to the colchicine site was also measured by competition with MTC [2
      methoxy-5-(2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl)-2,4,6-cycloheptatrien-1-one] , a well
      characterized reversibly binding probe of the colchicine site [Andreu et al.
      (1984) Biochemistry 23, 1742-1752; Bane et al., (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 7391
      7398]. In contrast with close analogues of colchicine, MDL 27048 and
      podophyllotoxin neither affected the far-ultraviolet circular dichroism spectrum
      of tubulin, within experimental error, nor induced tubulin GTPase activity. Like
      podophyllotoxin, an excess of MDL 27048 over tubulin induced no abnormal
      cooperative polymerization of tubulin, which is characteristic of colchicine
      binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445853
TI  - Fluorescence stopped-flow study of the interaction of tubulin with the
      antimitotic drug MDL 27048.
AB  - The kinetics of the binding of MDL 27048 to tubulin have been studied by
      fluorescence stopped flow. The binding is accompanied by a fluorescence increase.
      The time course can be described by a sum of two exponentials, assumed to be due
      to the presence of two major tubulin isoforms. The observed rate constants depend
      in a nonlinear way on the concentration of MDL in pseudo-first-order conditions.
      This concentration dependence can be described by the presence of a fast
      equilibrium of low affinity, followed by an isomerization of the initial complex.
      The dissociation kinetics have been studied by displacement experiments, in which
      MTC was used as a competitive ligand. The reaction enthalpy change for the first
      binding equilibrium and the activation energies for the forward and reverse steps
      of the isomerization were determined from the temperature dependence. This was
      possible for the two tubulin isotype populations. The kinetics of the binding of
      MDL to tubulin are slowed down in the presence of 3',4',5'
      trimethoxyacetophenone, a fast binding analog of the colchicine A-ring, but are
      not influenced by the binding of tropolone methyl ether, indicating that the
      binding site of MDL has the A-subsite in common with colchicine, but not the C
      subsite.

PMID- 1445854
TI  - Rat insulin-degrading enzyme: cleavage pattern of the natriuretic peptide
      hormones ANP, BNP, and CNP revealed by HPLC and mass spectrometry.
AB  - The degradation of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide
      (BNP), and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) by insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) has
      been investigated. As revealed by high-performance liquid chromatography, all
      three peptides are sequentially cleaved at a limited number of sites, the latter
      of which were identified by mass spectrometric analyses. The studies revealed
      that ANP is preferred as substrate over BNP and CNP. ANP degradation is rapidly
      initiated by hydrolysis at the Ser25-Phe26 bond. Three additional cleavage sites
      were identified in ANP after prolonged incubation with IDE; in contrast, three
      and two bonds were hydrolyzed in BNP and CNP, respectively. Analysis of the nine
      cleavage sites shows a preference for basic or hydrophobic amino acid residues on
      the carboxyl side of a cleaved peptide bond. In contrast to most of the peptide
      fragments generated by IDE activity, the initial ANP cleavage product, F-R-Y, is
      rapidly degraded further by cleavage of the R-Y bond. Cross-linking studies with
      125I-ANP in the presence of sulfhydryl-modifying agent indicate that IDE activity
      is inhibited at the level of initial substrate binding whereas metal-ion
      chelating agents only prevent hydrolysis. On the basis of its structural and
      enzymatic properties, IDE exhibits striking similarity to a number of recently
      described endopeptidases.

PMID- 1445855
TI  - Determination of the solution structure of a platelet-adhesion peptide of von
      Willebrand factor.
AB  - Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in combination with
      distance geometry (DG) and dynamical simulated annealing (DSA) calculations have
      been used to determine the tertiary solution structure of a synthetic 29-residue
      fragment of von Willebrand factor (vWF). This fragment (D514-E542) represents an
      adhesion site on vWF for its platelet receptor, the glycoprotein Ib-IX complex
      (GP Ib-IX). The NMR data yielded 109 interproton distance measurements and two
      chi 1 dihedral angle constraints for use in DG and DSA calculations. Most
      prominent in the calculated family of solution structures was an amphipathic,
      right-handed alpha-helix in the C-terminal segment of the peptide. We propose
      that this highly structured region may be important for the specific molecular
      interaction of vWF with the GP Ib-IX complex.

PMID- 1445856
TI  - Perturbation of the equilibrium between open and closed conformations of the
      periplasmic C4-dicarboxylate binding protein from Rhodobacter capsulatus.
AB  - A kinetic and thermodynamic analysis has been carried out on the conformational
      transitions of the periplasmic C4-dicarboxylate binding protein (DctP) from the
      photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus. This protein is distinct from
      other periplasmic binding proteins characterized to date in that the transition
      between the putative closed-unliganded (BP1) and open-unliganded (BP2)
      conformations is slow compared to the rate of ligand binding [Walmsley, A. R.,
      Shaw, J. G., & Kelly, D. J. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 8064-8072]. Using stopped
      flow fluorescence techniques, we have probed the conformational dynamics of the
      closed to open transition of DctP in the absence and presence of ligand. Both the
      forward rate constant for the BP1 to BP2 interconversion (k1) and the fumarate
      dissociation rate constant (k-3) were found to increase in a biphasic manner
      between pH 5 and pH 11. The data were fitted to a two-pKa function which gave pKa
      values of 10.3 and 5.4 for the BP1 to BP2 interconversion and 8.9 and 4.5 for the
      closed-liganded (BP3L) to open-liganded (BP2L) transition. An increase in ionic
      strength at constant pH resulted in a hyperbolic increase in both k1 and k-3 to
      maximal rates that were similar in each case to the values obtained in pH
      variation experiments. Measurement of the temperature dependencies of k1 and k-3
      also gave similar activation energies. Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy
      changes were determined for the open to closed transitions of DctP in both the
      presence and absence of ligand.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445857
TI  - Cooperative oxygen binding, subunit assembly, and sulfhydryl reaction kinetics of
      the eight cyanomet intermediate ligation states of human hemoglobin.
AB  - Correlations between the energetics of cooperativity and quaternary structural
      probes have recently been made for the intermediate ligation states of Hb
      [Daugherty et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. US 88, 1110-1114]. This has led
      to a "molecular code" which translates configurations of the 10 ligation states
      into switch points of quaternary transition according to a "symmetry rule"; T-->R
      quaternary structure change is governed by the presence of at least one heme-site
      ligand on each of the alpha beta dimeric half-molecules within the tetramer [see
      Ackers et al. (1992) Science 255, 54-63, for summary]. In order to further
      explore this and other features of the cooperative mechanism, we have used oxygen
      binding to probe the energetics and cooperativities for the vacant sites of the
      cyanomet ligation species. We have also probed structural aspects of all eight
      cyanomet ligation intermediates by means of sulfhydryl reaction kinetics. Our
      oxygen binding results, obtained from a combination of direct and indirect
      methods, demonstrate the same combinatorial aspect to cooperativity that is
      predicted by the symmetry rule. Overall oxygen affinities of the two singly
      ligated species (alpha +CN beta)(alpha beta) and (alpha beta +CN)(alpha beta)
      were found to be identical (pmedian = 2.4 Torr). In contrast, the doubly-ligated
      species exhibited two distinct patterns of oxygen equilibria: the asymmetric
      species (alpha +CN beta +CN)(alpha beta) showed very high cooperativity (nmax =
      1.94) and low affinity (pmedian = 6.0 Torr), while the other three doubly-ligated
      species showed diminished cooperativity (nmax = 1.23) and considerably higher
      oxygen affinity (pmedian = 0.4 Torr). Extremely high oxygen affinities were found
      for the triply-ligated species (alpha +CN beta +CN)(alpha beta +CN) and (alpha
      +CN beta +CN)(alpha +CN beta) (pmedian = 0.2 Torr). Their oxygen binding free
      energies are considerably more favorable than those of the alpha and beta
      subunits within the dissociated alpha beta dimer, demonstrating directly the
      quaternary enhancement effect, i.e., enhanced oxygen affinity at the last binding
      step of tetramer relative to the dissociated protomers. Oxygen binding free
      energies measured for the alpha subunit within the isolated (alpha beta +CN)
      dimer and for the beta subunit within the isolated (alpha +CN beta) dimer sum to
      the free energy for binding two oxygens to normal hemoglobin dimers (-16.3 +/-
      0.2 versus -16.7 +/- 0.2, respectively), arguing against cooperativity in the
      isolated dimer. Correlations were established between cooperative free energies
      of the 10 cyanomet ligation microstates and the kinetics for reacting their free
      sulfhydryl groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1445858
TI  - Temperature and guanidine hydrochloride dependence of the structural stability of
      ribonuclease T1.
AB  - The thermal unfolding of ribonuclease T1 has been studied by high-sensitivity
      differential scanning calorimetry as a function of temperature, [GuHCl], and
      scanning rate. The destabilizing effect of GuHCl has revealed that the kinetics
      of the unfolding transition become extremely slow as the transition temperature
      decreases. At pH 5.3 and zero GuHCl, the unfolding transition is centered at 59.1
      degrees C; upon increasing the GuHCl concentration, the transition occurs at
      lower temperatures and exhibits progressively slower kinetics; so, for example,
      at 3 M GuHCl, the transition temperature is 40.6 degrees C and is characterized
      by a time constant close to 10 min. Under all conditions studied (pH 5.3, pH 7.0,
      [GuHCl] < 3 M), the transition is thermodynamically reversible. The slow kinetics
      of the transition induce significant distortions in the shape of the transition
      profiles that can be mistakenly interpreted as deviations from a two-state
      mechanism. Determination of the thermodynamic parameters from the calorimetric
      data has required the development of an analytical formalism that explicitly
      includes the thermodynamics as well as the kinetics of the transition. Using this
      formalism, it is shown that a two-state slow-kinetics model is capable of
      accurately describing the structural stability of ribonuclease T1 as a function
      of temperature, GuHCl concentration, and scanning rate. Multidimensional analysis
      of the calorimetric data has been used to estimate the intrinsic thermodynamic
      parameters for protein stability, the interaction parameters with GuHCl, and the
      time constant for the unfolding transition and its temperature dependence.

PMID- 1445859
TI  - The hydrophobic core of Escherichia coli thioredoxin shows a high tolerance to
      nonconservative single amino acid substitutions.
AB  - A set of single amino acid substitutions has been constructed at positions Leu42
      and Leu78 in the hydrophobic core of Escherichia coli thioredoxin. This protein
      is required for the in vivo assembly of filamentous bacteriophages such as M13.
      Almost all the mutants retain this activity regardless of the change in size,
      hydrophobic nature, or charge of the substitution. Determination of the free
      energies of unfolding of the mutants containing charged residues shows that these
      are significantly destabilized as would be expected from simple considerations of
      the hydrophobic effect. Thioredoxin therefore represents a class of proteins
      where the often observed correlation between a particular biological activity and
      thermodynamic stability is not evident for single mutants in the all-or-none
      assay used. Native thioredoxin is very stable. Thus, structurally single mutants
      may not perturb the folding equilibrium or the dynamic behavior sufficiently for
      the effects to be sensed in vivo.

PMID- 1445860
TI  - Synthesis of 3'-C-methyladenosine and 3'-C-methyluridine diphosphates and their
      interaction with the ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase from Corynebacterium
      nephridii.
AB  - Two nucleoside diphosphate analogs, 3'-C-methyl-ADP and 3'-C-methyl-UDP, have
      been tested as substrate and/or allosteric effectors using the adenosylcobalamin
      dependent ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase of Corynebacterium nephridii.
      Neither analog was a substrate for the reductase. However, they did function as
      allosteric effectors and as inhibitors of the reduction of ADP and UDP,
      respectively. The nucleotide analogs did not stimulate the hydrogen exchange
      reaction between [5'-3H2]adenosylcobalamin and the solvent, indicating that the
      cleavage of the 3'-carbon-hydrogen bond is a prerequisite for the exchange
      reaction. A reinvestigation of the requirements for the exchange reaction
      revealed that the deoxyribonucleoside diphosphate products are very effective
      promoters of this reaction. Indeed, the deoxyribonucleoside diphosphates were
      found to be more effective in promoting the exchange reaction than the
      ribonucleoside diphosphate substrates. In contrast, the deoxyribonucleoside
      triphosphate effectors, dATP, dUTP, and dTTP, were only marginally effective as
      promoters of this reaction.

PMID- 1445861
TI  - Role of serine 214 and tyrosine 171, components of the S2 subsite of alpha-lytic
      protease, in catalysis.
AB  - The function of a hydrogen bond network, comprised of the hydroxyl groups of Tyr
      171 and Ser 214, in the hydrophobic S2 subsite of alpha-lytic protease, was
      investigated by mutagenesis and the kinetics of a substrate analog series. To
      study the catalytic role of the Tyr 171 and Ser 214 hydroxyl groups, Tyr 171 was
      converted to phenylalanine (Y171F) and Ser 214 to alanine (S214A). The double
      mutant (Y171F: S214A) also was generated. The single S214A and double Y171F:S214A
      mutations cause differential effects on catalysis and proenzyme processing. For
      S214A, kcat/Km is (4.9 x 10(3))-fold lower than that of wild type and proenzyme
      processing is blocked. For the double mutant (Y171F:S214A), kcat/Km is 82-fold
      lower than that of wild type and proenzyme processing occurs. In Y171F, kcat/Km
      is 34-fold lower than that of wild type, and the proenzyme is processed. The data
      indicate that Ser 214, although conserved among serine proteases and hydrogen
      bonded to the catalytic triad [Brayer, G. D., Delbaere, L. T. J., & James, M. N.
      G. (1979) J. Mol. Biol. 131, 743], is not essential for catalytic function in
      alpha-lytic protease. A substrate series (in which peptide length is varied)
      established that the mutations (Y171F and Y171F:S214A) do not alter enzyme
      substrate interactions in subsites other than S2. The pH dependence of kcat/Km
      for Y171F and Y171F:S214A has changed less than 0.5 unit from that of wild type;
      this suggests the catalytic triad is unperturbed. In wild type, hydrophobic
      interactions at S2 increase kcat/Km by up to (1.2 x 10(3))-fold with no effect on
      Km.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445862
TI  - Purification and characterization of the human stromelysin catalytic domain
      expressed in Escherichia coli.
AB  - Human stromelysin is a member of the matrix metalloproteinase family involved in
      connective tissue degradation. The stromelysin catalytic domain (SCD) lacking
      both propeptide and C-terminal fragment was expressed in Escherichia coli in
      soluble and insoluble forms. The insoluble SCD was refolded to the active form in
      high yield. The protein showed remarkable thermal stability and was able to
      cleave a thiopeptolide substrate and its natural substrate proteoglycan. The
      stable and active 20-kDa protein provides an opportunity to elucidate the
      structure as well as the mechanism of catalysis and inhibition for matrix
      metalloproteinases.

PMID- 1445863
TI  - Energy transfer (deazaflavin-->FADH2) and electron transfer (FADH2-->T <> T)
      kinetics in Anacystis nidulans photolyase.
AB  - DNA photolyases catalyze the photocycloreversion of cyclobutane pyrimidine
      dimers. The enzyme from the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans contains two
      chromophores, 1,5-dihydroflavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH2) and 7,8-didemethyl-8
      hydroxy-5-deazariboflavin (8-HDF). The photophysical/photochemical reactions
      leading to DNA repair were investigated by using time-resolved and steady-state
      fluorescence spectroscopy. It was found that the excited singlet state of 8-HDF
      transfers energy to FADH2 at a rate of 1.9 x 10(10) s-1 and a quantum yield of
      0.98. Using the Forster equation for long-range energy transfer and assuming
      random orientations of the donor and acceptor the interchromophore distance was
      calculated to be 15 A. The excited singlet FADH2 which forms either by energy
      transfer from 8-HDF or by direct absorption of a photon has a lifetime of 1.8 ns
      in the absence of substrate and 0.14 ns in the presence of the photodimer
      indicating electron transfer from the FADH2 excited singlet state to the dimer at
      a rate of 6.5 x 10(9) s-1 and quantum efficiency of 92%.

PMID- 1445864
TI  - Glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase: anomalous enantiomeric reaction and
      enzyme mechanism.
AB  - Glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase (GSA-AT) catalyzes near 50% conversion
      of the racemic mixture of GSA to 5-aminolevulinate (ALA), indicating quantitative
      use of the L-glutamate-derived natural (S)-enantiomer as substrate. This enzymic
      reaction has been extensively studied with (R,S)-GSA because it is readily
      purified in high yields following ozonolysis of racemic 4-vinyl-4-aminobutyric
      acid. However upon addition of (R,S)-GSA, GSA-aminotransferase is converted to
      the pyridoxal-P or internal aldimine form (418 nm) and not rapidly cycled back to
      the original pyridoxamine-P, as predicted by the rate of product (ALA)
      accumulation. Addition of the putative intermediate, (R,S)-4,5-diaminovalerate
      (DAVA), eliminates this rapid conversion of the enzyme by (R,S)-GSA to the
      internal aldimine and stimulates initial rates of ALA synthesis (2-3-fold) and
      results in corresponding increases in apparent equilibrium concentrations of ALA.
      These results indicate that DAVA is rate limiting and suggest anomalous
      reactivity of (R)-GSA. Steady-state and spectral kinetic experiments with
      individual purified enantiomers confirm anomalous reactivity of (R)-GSA: in the
      case of (S)-GSA, spectral changes are lesser in amplitude and at least 1 or 2
      orders of magnitude more rapid. Only (S)-GSA yielded significant amounts of ALA.
      Since (R)-GSA is an apparent substrate in the first half-reaction, the resulting
      (R)-DAVA is either inactive or a poor substrate in the second half-reaction.

PMID- 1445865
TI  - Iron metabolism--new perspectives in view.

PMID- 1445866
TI  - Cooperative binding is not required for activation of muscle phosphorylase.
AB  - Muscle and liver glycogen phosphorylase isozymes differ in their responsiveness
      to the activating ligand AMP. The muscle enzyme, which supplies glucose in
      response to strenuous activity, binds AMP cooperatively, and its enzymatic
      activity becomes greatly enhanced. The liver isozyme regulates the level of blood
      glucose, and AMP is not the primary activator. In muscle glycogen phosphorylase,
      the residue proline 48 links two secondary structural elements that bind AMP.
      This amino acid residue is replaced with a threonine in the liver isozyme; unlike
      the muscle enzyme, liver binds AMP noncooperatively, and the enzymatic activity
      is not greatly increased. We have substituted proline 48 in the muscle enzyme
      with threonine, alanine, and glycine and characterized the recombinant enzymes
      kinetically and structurally to determine if proline at this position is critical
      for cooperative AMP binding and activation. Importantly, all of the engineered
      enzymes were fully activated by phosphorylation, indicating that enzymatic
      activity was not compromised. Only the mutant enzyme with alanine at position 48
      responds like the wild-type enzyme to the presence of AMP, indicating that
      proline is not absolutely required for full cooperative activation. The
      substitution of either threonine or glycine at this position, however, creates
      enzymes that no longer bind AMP cooperatively. The enzyme with threonine at
      position 48 further mimics the liver enzyme, in that the maximal enzymatic
      activity is also reduced. Significantly, the glycine substitution caused the
      enzyme to be fully activated by AMP, although binding was not cooperative. The
      hyperactivation of the glycine mutant by AMP suggests that the total free energy
      of activation has decreased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445867
TI  - Tracking conformational states in allosteric transitions of phosphorylase.
AB  - An intrinsic molecular property of a protein domain can be determined by
      calculating its principal axes from the inertia tensor matrix. The mass-weighted
      principal axes can be used to calculate an ellipsoid representing the shape of
      the protein domain, providing an easy means of visualizing domain movements. Most
      importantly, the mass-weighted principal axes provide an intuitive means of
      characterizing domain relationships within a protein, as well as the disposition
      of domains in different protein conformers. Thus, this method provides a simple,
      quantitative description of differences of domain positions within various
      protein structures. We show the utility of this method by characterizing the
      quaternary and tertiary differences as observed in eight structures of
      phosphorylated or dephosphorylated glycogen phosphorylase with different
      effectors bound. This analysis revealed domain movements which were
      characteristic of the activated phosphorylase structures. The monomers of the
      phosphorylase dimer were found to move apart by a 2.5-A translation and to rotate
      apart, in three orthogonal directions, by a minimum of 3.2 degrees. Analysis of
      the three domains within the phosphorylase monomer showed that both simple and
      complex domain movements occur and that multiple domain configurations are
      energetically stable. We suggest that the C-terminal domain of phosphorylase
      moves along a simple path in the transition from an inactive to active
      conformation. The direction of translation and rotation is consistent, but the
      magnitude is variable. In contrast, this analysis showed that the activation
      domain did not behave as a rigid body, and therefore, the motion of this domain
      is not as easily characterized.

PMID- 1445868
TI  - Crystal structure of papain-succinyl-Gln-Val-Val-Ala-Ala-p-nitroanilide complex
      at 1.7-A resolution: noncovalent binding mode of a common sequence of endogenous
      thiol protease inhibitors.
AB  - Succinyl-Gln-Val-Val-Ala-Ala-p-nitroanilide corresponding to a common sequence of
      endogenous thiol protease inhibitors is a noncompetitive reversible inhibitor of
      papain. In order to elucidate the binding mode of the inhibitor at the atomic
      level, its complex with papain was crystallized at ca. pH 7.0 using the hanging
      drop method, and the crystal structure was analyzed at 1.7-A resolution. The
      crystal has space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with a = 43.09, b = 102.32, c = 49.69 A,
      and Z = 4. A total of 47,215 observed reflections were collected on the imaging
      plates using the same single crystal, and 19,833 unique reflections with Fo >
      sigma (Fo) were used for structure determination and refinement. The papain
      structure was determined by use of the atomic coordinates of papain previously
      reported, and then refined by the X-PLOR program. The inhibitor molecule was
      located on a difference Fourier map and fitted into the electron density with the
      aid of computer graphics. The complex structure was finally refined to R = 19.6%
      including 118 solvent molecules. The X-ray analysis of the complex crystal shows
      that the inhibitor is located at the R-domain side, not in the center of the
      binding site created by the R- and L-domains of papain. Such a binding mode of
      the inhibitor explains well the biological behavior that the inhibitor exhibits
      against papain. Comparison with the structure of papain-stefin B complex
      indicates that the structure of the Gln-Val-Val-Ala-Gly sequence itself is not
      necessarily the essential requisite for inhibitory activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445869
TI  - Structural comparison suggests that thermolysin and related neutral proteases
      undergo hinge-bending motion during catalysis.
AB  - Crystal structures are known for three members of the bacterial neutral protease
      family: thermolysin from Bacillus thermoproteolyticus (TLN), the neutral protease
      from Bacillus cereus (NEU), and the elastase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAE),
      both in free and ligand-bound forms. Each enzyme consists of an N-terminal and C
      terminal domain with the active site formed at the junction of the two domains.
      Comparison of the different molecules reveals that the structure within each
      domain is well conserved, but there are substantial hinge-bending displacements
      (up to 16 degrees) of one domain relative to the other. These domain motions can
      be correlated with the presence or absence of bound inhibitor, as was previously
      observed in the specific example of PAE [Thayer, M.M., Flaherty, K.M., & McKay,
      D.B. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 2864-2871]. The binding of inhibitor appears to
      be associated with a reduction of the domain hinge-bending angle by 6-14 degrees
      and a closure of the "jaws" of the active site cleft by about 2 A.
      Crystallographic refinement of the structure of thermolysin suggests that
      electron density seen in the active site of the enzyme in the original structure
      determination probably corresponds to a bound dipeptide. Thus, the crystal
      structure appears to correspond to an enzyme-inhibitor or enzyme-product complex,
      rather than the free enzyme, as has previously been assumed.

PMID- 1445870
TI  - Role of histidine-40 in ribonuclease T1 catalysis: three-dimensionalstructures of
      the partially active His40Lys mutant.
AB  - Histidine-40 is known to participate in phosphodiester transesterification
      catalyzed by the enzyme ribonuclease T1. A mutant enzyme with a lysine replacing
      the histidine-40 (His40Lys RNase T1) retains considerable catalytic activity
      [Steyaert, J., Hallenga, K., Wyns, L., & Stanssens, P. (1990) Biochemistry 29,
      9064-9072]. We report on the crystal structures of His40Lys RNase T1 containing a
      phosphate anion and a guanosine 2'-phosphate inhibitor in the active site,
      respectively. Similar to previously described structures, the phosphate
      containing crystals are of space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with one molecule per
      asymmetric unit (a = 48.27 A, b = 46.50 A, c = 41.14 A). The complex with 2'-GMP
      crystallized in the lower symmetry space group P2(1), with two molecules per
      asymmetric unit (a = 49.20 A, b = 48.19 A, c = 40.16 A, beta = 90.26). The
      crystal structures have been solved at 1.8- and 2.0-A resolution yielding R
      values of 14.5% and 16.0%, respectively. Comparison of these His40Lys structures
      with the corresponding wild-type structures, containing 2'-GMP [Arni, R.,
      Heinemann, U., Tokuoka, R., & Saenger, W. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 15358-15368]
      and vanadate [Kostrewa, D., Hui-Woog Choe, Heinemann, U., & Saenger, W. (1989)
      Biochemistry 28, 7692-7600] in the active site, respectively, leads to the
      following conclusions. First, the His40Lys mutation causes no significant changes
      in the overall structure of RNase T1; second, the Lys40 side chains in the mutant
      structures occupy roughly the same space as His40 in the corresponding wild-type
      RNase T1 structures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445871
TI  - 4Ca2+.troponin C forms dimers in solution at neutral pH that dissociate upon
      binding various peptides: small-angle X-ray scattering studies of peptide-induced
      structural changes.
AB  - Small-angle X-ray scattering data have been measured for rabbit skeletal muscle
      troponin C and its complexes with the venom peptides melittin and mastoparan as
      well as synthetic peptides based on regions of the troponin I sequence implicated
      in troponin C binding. At the neutral pH used in this study (pH 6.8), troponin C
      shows a tendency to form dimers in the presence of 4 mol equiv of Ca2+, but is
      monomeric in solution when 2 or less mol equiv of Ca2+ is present. The
      4Ca2+.troponin C dimers dissociate upon binding melittin, mastoparan, and
      peptides based on residues 96-115, 1-30, and 1-40 in the troponin I sequence.
      This result suggests that the peptide-binding sites overlap with the regions of
      contact between troponin C molecules forming a dimer. Like the structurally
      homologous calcium-binding protein calmodulin, troponin C shows conformational
      flexibility upon binding different peptides. Upon binding melittin, troponin C
      contracts in a similar manner to calmodulin when it binds peptides known to form
      amphiphilic helices (e.g., melittin, mastoparan, or MLCK-I). In contrast,
      mastoparan binding to troponin C does not result in a contracted structure. The
      scattering data indicate troponin C also remains in an extended structure upon
      binding the inhibitory peptides having the same sequence as residues 96-115 in
      troponin I.

PMID- 1445872
TI  - NMR studies of defensin antimicrobial peptides. 1. Resonance assignment and
      secondary structure determination of rabbit NP-2 and human HNP-1.
AB  - Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been used to make
      resonance assignments of the proton spectra of two defensin antimicrobial
      peptides, human neutrophil peptide HNP-1 and rabbit neutrophil peptide NP-2. The
      secondary structures of these peptides were determined from analysis of the
      proton-proton NOEs and from the positions of slowly exchanging amide protons.
      Both peptides contain a long stretch of a double-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet
      in a hairpin conformation that contains a beta-bulge, a short region of triple
      stranded beta-sheet, and several tight turns. The NMR results clearly show that
      HNP-1 forms a dimer or higher order aggregate in solution and that Pro8 exists as
      a cis peptide bond. The NMR data on these peptides are compared with NMR data for
      a homologous peptide NP-5 [Bach, A. C., Selsted, M. E., & Pardi, A. (1987)
      Biochemistry 26, 4389-4397]. Analysis of the conformation-dependent proton
      chemical shifts shows that it is not possible to confidently judge the structural
      similarity of the three defensins from chemical shift data alone. However,
      comparison of the 3JHN alpha coupling constants in NP-2 and NP-5 indicates that
      the backbone conformations for these peptides are very similar. A more detailed
      comparison of the solution conformations of the defensins peptides is made in the
      following paper in this issue where the NMR data are used as input for distance
      geometry and molecular dynamics calculations to determine the three-dimensional
      structures of HNP-1 and NP-2.

PMID- 1445873
TI  - NMR studies of defensin antimicrobial peptides. 2. Three-dimensional structures
      of rabbit NP-2 and human HNP-1.
AB  - The solution structure of two homologous naturally occurring antimicrobial
      peptides, rabbit defensin NP-2 and human defensin HNP-1, have been determined by
      two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, distance geometry, and
      restrained molecular dynamics calculations. The structure of these defensins
      consists of an antiparallel beta-sheet in a hairpin conformation, a short region
      of triple-stranded beta-sheet, several tight turns, and a loop region that has a
      well-defined local structure but with a global orientation that is not well
      defined with respect to the rest of the molecule. The solution structures of
      these two peptides are compared with the solution and crystal structures of two
      other homologous defensins. The structures for the defensins are also compared
      with known structures of other naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides.

PMID- 1445874
TI  - Mutation of the heme-binding crevice of flavocytochrome b2 from Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae: altered heme potential and absence of redox cooperativity between
      heme and FMN centers.
AB  - Kinetic and thermodynamic properties of yeast flavocytochrome b2 (EC 1.1.2.3) are
      modified by the product pyruvate, which binds to the flavosemiquinone (FSQ) form
      of the prosthetic flavin and decreases the thermodynamic driving force for
      electron transfer from FSQ to heme. Pyruvate inhibits flavocytochrome b2, but the
      catalytic competence of pyruvate-ligated FSQ in intramolecular electron transfer
      to heme is unclear; one kinetic study suggested pyruvate prevented this reaction
      [Tegoni, M, Janot J.-M., & Labeyrie, F. (1990) Eur. J. Biochem. 190, 329-342],
      while laser flash photolysis indicated pyruvate was essential [Walker, M. C., &
      Tollin, G. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 5546-5555]. To address this problem, wild-type
      (WT) and mutant (L36I) flavocytochromes b2 have been expressed in Escherichia
      coli. Both forms incorporated heme and FMN prosthetic groups and were
      catalytically active. The mutation L36I was a conservative substitution within
      the heme-binding crevice and was designed to alter the midpoint potential (Em) of
      the heme to alter the pyruvate-FSQ/heme equilibrium. Potentiometric titrations
      yielded Em values (pH 7.0, 25 degrees C) of +8 and -28 mV for WT and L36I forms,
      respectively. The FMN midpoint potentials in the absence of pyruvate (-58 mV, n =
      2) were identical within experimental error in WT and L36I species and were also
      identical (+5 mV, n = 1) in the presence of pyruvate. These results indicated the
      absence of redox cooperativity between FMN and heme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1445875
TI  - Genetic variants in the putidaredoxin-cytochrome P-450cam electron-transfer
      complex: identification of the residue responsible for redox-state-dependent
      conformers.
AB  - Camphor is hydroxylated in Pseudomonas putida by a three-component system
      comprised of an oxidase, cytochrome P-450cam, and a two-protein electron-transfer
      chain, putidaredoxin and putidaredoxin reductase [Tyson et al. (1972) J. Biol.
      Chem. 274, 5777-5784]. The enzymatic removal of putidaredoxin's C-terminal
      tryptophan is known to cause a much reduced rate of enzymatic activity in the
      reconstituted camphor hydroxylase system [Sligar et al. (1974) Proc. Natl. Acad.
      Sci. U.S.A. 71, 3906-3910]. To further study the role of tryptophan in the
      association and/or electron-transfer reactions of putidaredoxin, the gene coding
      for the iron-sulfur protein was altered so that the tryptophan codon was either
      deleted or replaced by Phe, Tyr, Asp, Leu, Val, or Lys. Although the initial
      evaluation of these variant proteins [Davies et al. (1990) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 112,
      7396-7398] showed much reduced velocities of electron transfer between P-450cam
      and the nonaromatic C-terminal proteins, the relative contributions of the
      binding specificity and intracomplex electron-transfer rates were not addressed.
      We report here a complete kinetic characterization of these proteins where the
      dependence of the rate constant on the putidaredoxin concentration was used to
      determine the intracomplex electron-transfer rate constants and the association
      energies for all the putidaredoxins in both oxidation states. The sum of forward
      and reverse intracomplex electron-transfer rate constants varies from 4.90 s-1
      for the Lys C-terminal variant to 172 s-1 for the native protein.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445876
TI  - A kinetic study of the folding of staphylococcal nuclease using size-exclusion
      chromatography.
AB  - The kinetics of the hydrodynamic volume change accompanying the reversible
      unfolding of staphylococcal nuclease have been observed by size-exclusion
      chromatography at 4 degrees C and pH 7.0 using the denaturant guanidine
      hydrochloride. The observed chromatographic profiles have been simulated by a six
      component unfolding/refolding mechanism using a consistent set of equilibrium and
      kinetic parameters. The native protein is an equilibrium mixture of the cis and
      trans isomers of the peptide bond preceding proline-117. The native conformation
      containing the cis isomer dominates the equilibrium mixture, is more stable, and
      unfolds more slowly at its transition midpoint. The denatured protein is an
      equilibrium mixture of at least four components, the cis/trans isomers of proline
      117 and one of the five remaining prolines. The dominant refolding pathway is
      initiated from the denatured component containing the trans isomer of proline
      117. The six-component mechanism is consistent with tryptophan fluorescence
      kinetic measurements of the wild-type protein and with chromatographic
      measurements of a mutant P117G protein.

PMID- 1445877
TI  - Slowly interchanging conformers of bovine neurophysin-I in the unliganded dimeric
      state.
AB  - The effect of neurophysin dimerization on Tyr-49, a residue adjacent to the
      hormone-binding site, was investigated by proton NMR in order to analyze the
      basis of the dimerization-induced increase in neurophysin hormone affinity.
      Dimerization-induced changes in Tyr-49 resonances, in two unliganded bovine
      neurophysins, suggested that Tyr-49 perturbation is an intrinsic consequence of
      dimerization, although Tyr-49 is distant from the monomer-monomer interface in
      the crystalline liganded state. To determine whether this perturbation reflects a
      conformational difference between liganded and unliganded states that places Tyr
      49 at the interface in the unliganded state, or a dimerization-induced change in
      secondary (2 degrees) or tertiary (3 degrees) structure, the more general
      structural consequences of dimerization were further analyzed. No change in 2
      degrees structure upon dimerization was demonstrable by CD. On the other hand, a
      general similarity of regions involved in dimerization in unliganded and liganded
      states was indicated by NMR evidence of participation of His-80 and Phe-35 in
      dimerization in the unliganded state; both residues are at the interface in the
      crystal structure and distant from Tyr-49. Consistent with a lack of direct
      participation of Tyr-49 at the monomer-monomer interface, dimerization induced at
      least two distinct slowly exchanging environmental states for the 3.5 ring
      protons of Tyr-49 without significantly increased dipolar broadening relative to
      the monomer. Two environments were also found in the dimer of des-1-8 neurophysin
      I for the methyl protons of Thr-9, another residue distant from the monomer
      monomer interface and close to the binding site in the liganded state.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445878
TI  - Identification of the ubiquinone-binding site of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase
      (complex I) from Neurospora crassa.
AB  - In order to localize the ubiquinone-binding site of complex I (NADH:ubiquinone
      oxidoreductase), a novel photoreactive ubiquinone analogue (Q0C7ArN3) has been
      synthesized. It is shown that the direct chemical precursor of this analogue
      (Q0C7ArNO2) and the analogue itself are accepted as substrates in an enzyme assay
      utilizing ubiquinone-depleted mitochondrial membranes of Neurospora crassa. The
      activity of the enzyme applying these derivatives is inhibited by 50% at a
      concentration of 9 and 20 microM rotenone. Photoaffinity labeling experiments
      were performed with both isolated complex I and whole mitochondrial membranes of
      N. crassa under various conditions. In each of these experiments a protein
      subunit with an apparent molecular mass of about 9.5 kDa was labeled with high
      specificity. Radioactive labeling was totally prevented by the addition of
      ubiquinone-2 at concentrations higher than 500 microM but was not affected by
      comparable concentrations of rotenone or other hydrophobic substances. In the
      labeling experiments using whole membranes, the labeling signal was dramatically
      increased in the presence of 1.5 mM NADH. These results strongly suggest that the
      ubiquinone analogue interacts specifically with the enzyme.

PMID- 1445879
TI  - Characterization of the 9.5-kDa ubiquinone-binding protein of NADH:ubiquinone
      oxidoreductase (complex I) from Neurospora crassa.
AB  - A small polypeptide subunit of the NADH:ubiquinone reductase (complex I) from
      Neurospora crassa has been identified by photoaffinity labeling to participate in
      the binding of ubiquinone [Heinrich, H., & Werner, S. (1992) Biochemistry
      (preceding paper in this issue)]. This polypeptide is further characterized by
      its primary structure and by an assessment of its localization within complex I.
      A lambda gt11 cDNA expression library was screened using a specific antibody
      directed against this individual subunit of complex I. Two groups of clones,
      coding for polypeptide subunits of the appropriate apparent molecular weight,
      were isolated. One group was shown to contain the relevant recombinants. The
      derived amino acid sequence for the 9.5-kDa ubiquinone-binding polypeptide shows
      a similarity with a putative ubiquinol-binding subunit (also a 9.5-kDa
      polypeptide) from complex III of bovine heart [Usui, S., Yu, L., & Tu, C.-A.
      (1990) Biochemistry 29, 4618-4626]. The polypeptide has a hydrophobic stretch of
      a sufficient length to span the membrane. It resists against extraction with NaBr
      or Na2CO3, and therefore probably is buried in the so-called hydrophobic membrane
      portion of complex I. This nuclearly-encoded subunit lacks a typical cleavable
      presequence and is imported into isolated mitochondria by a membrane potential
      dependent process.

PMID- 1445880
TI  - Photooxidation of cytochrome b559 in oxygen-evolving photosystem II.
AB  - Cytochrome b559 (cyt b559) is an intrinsic and essential component of the
      photosystem II (PSII) protein complex, but its function, stoichiometry, and
      electron-transfer kinetics in the physiological system are not well-defined. In
      this study, we have used flash-detection optical spectroscopy to measure the
      kinetics and yields of photooxidation and dark reduction of cyt b559 in
      untreated, O2-evolving PSII-enriched membranes at room temperature. The dark
      redox states of cyt b559 and the primary electron acceptor, QA, were determined
      over the pH range 5.0-8.5. Both the fraction of dark-oxidized cyt b559 and dark
      reduced QA increased with increasing acidity. Consistent with these results, an
      acid-induced drop in pH from 8.5 to 4.9 in a dark-adapted sample caused the
      oxidation of cyt b559, indicating a shift in the redox state during the dark
      reequilibration. As expected from the dark redox state of cyt b559, the rate and
      extent of photooxidation of cyt b559 during continuous illumination decreased
      toward more acidic pH values. After a single, saturating flash, the rate of
      photooxidation of cyt b559 was of the same order of magnitude as the rate of S2QA
      charge recombination. In untreated PSII samples at pH 8.0 with 42% of cyt b559
      oxidized and 15% of QA reduced in the dark, 4.7% of one copy of cyt b559 was
      photooxidized after one flash with a t1/2 of 540 +/- 90 ms. On the basis of our
      previous work [Buser, C. A., Thompson, L. K., Diner, B. A., & Brudvig, G. W
      (1990) Biochemistry 29, 8977] and the data presented here, we conclude that Sn+1,
      YZ., and P680+ are in redox equilibrium and cyt b559 (and YD) are oxidized via
      P680+. After a period of illumination sufficient to fully reduce the
      plastoquinone pool, we also observed the pH-dependent dark reduction of
      photooxidized cyt b559, where the rate of reduction decreased with decreasing pH
      and was not observed at pH < 6.4. To determine the direct source of reductant to
      oxidized cyt b559, we studied the dark reduction of cyt b559 and the reduction of
      the PQ pool as a function of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU)
      concentration. We find that DCMU inhibits the reduction of cyt b559 under
      conditions where the plastoquinone pool and QA are reduced. We conclude that QB-.
      (H+) or QBH2 is the most likely source of the electron required for the reduction
      of oxidized cyt b559.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1445881
TI  - Escherichia coli F1-ATPase can use GTP-nonchaseable bound adenine nucleotide to
      synthesize ATP in dimethyl sulfoxide.
AB  - Escherichia coli F1-ATPase contained 3 mol of tightly-bound adenine
      nucleotide/mol enzyme. A further 3 mol could be loaded by incubation of the
      enzyme with ATP. The unloaded enzyme was designated as a F1[2,1] type on the
      basis of the ability of GTP to displace 1 mol of adenine nucleotide/mol of F1
      [Kironde, F.A.S., & Cross, R.L. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 12544-12549]. The
      loaded enzyme was designated F1[3,3] since GTP could displace 3 of the 6 mol of
      bound adenine nucleotide/mol of F1. Incubation of F1[2,1], F1[2,0], and F1[3,0]
      with phosphate in the presence of 30% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide led to the
      synthesis of ATP from endogenous bound ADP. Hydrolysis of newly synthesized ATP
      occurred on transfer of the F1 from 30% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide to an entirely
      aqueous medium. Thus, synthesis and hydrolysis of ATP can occur at GTP
      nonchaseable adenine nucleotide binding sites, and these sites in dimethyl
      sulfoxide are not necessarily equivalent to noncatalytic sites.

PMID- 1445882
TI  - Site-directed mutagenesis of the CPa-1 protein of photosystem II: alteration of
      the basic residue pair 384,385R to 384,385G leads to a defect associated with the
      oxygen-evolving complex.
AB  - The psbB gene encodes the intrinsic chlorophyll-a binding protein CPa-1 (CP-47),
      a component of photosystem II in higher plants, algae, and cyanobacteria.
      Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis was used to introduce mutations into a
      segment of the psbB gene encoding the large extrinsic loop region of CPa-1 in the
      cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Altered psbB genes were introduced
      into a mutant recipient strain (DEL-1) of Synechocystis in which the genomic psbB
      gene had been partially deleted. Initial target sites for mutagenesis were
      absolutely conserved basic residue pairs occurring within the large extrinsic
      loop. One mutation, RR384385GG, produced a strain with impaired photosystem II
      activity. This strain exhibited growth characteristics comparable to controls.
      However, at saturating light intensities this mutant strain evolved oxygen at
      only 50% of the rate of the control strains. Quantum yield measurements at low
      light intensities indicated that the mutant had 30% fewer fully functional
      photosystem II centers than do control strains of Synechocystis. Immunological
      analysis of a number of photosystem II protein components indicated that the
      mutant accumulates normal quantities of photosystem II proteins and that the
      ratio of photosystem II to photosystem I proteins is comparable to that found in
      control strains. Upon exposure to high light intensities the mutant cells
      exhibited a markedly increased susceptibility to photoinactivation. However, Tris
      treated thylakoid membranes from both the mutant and wild-type exhibited
      comparable rates of photoinactivation. Thylakoid membranes isolated from
      RR384385GG exhibited only 15% of the H2O to 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol electron
      transport rate observed in wild-type strains.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445884
TI  - Kinetic properties of enzyme populations in vivo: alkaline phosphatase of the
      Escherichia coli periplasm.
AB  - Studies were conducted to determine the role that diffusion may play in the in
      vivo kinetics of the Escherichia coli periplasmic enzyme, alkaline phosphatase
      (AP, encoded by the gene pho A). Passive diffusion of solutes, from solution into
      the periplasm, is thought to occur mainly through porins in the outer membrane.
      The outer membrane therefore serves as a diffusion barrier separating a
      population of periplasmic enzymes from bulk substrate. E. coli strains containing
      a plasmid with the pho A gene linked to the lac promoter were used in this study
      in order to vary the amount of enzyme per cell. Alkaline phosphatase assays were
      conducted with intact cells, and the substrate concentration at half-maximum
      velocity (normally the Km for the enzyme) was determined as a function of enzyme
      concentration per cell. The results showed that diffusion of substrate to the
      enzyme caused as much as a 1000-fold change in this parameter, compared to that
      of purified enzyme. This suggested that diffusion was the rate-limiting step of
      the enzymatic reaction in these cells. In agreement with this type of reaction,
      Eadie-Hofstee and Lineweaver-Burk plots were not linear. At their extremes, these
      plots represented two types of kinetics. At high substrate concentration,
      equilibrium of substrate between bulk solution and the periplasm was achieved,
      and the kinetic properties conformed to Michaelis-Menten. At low substrate
      concentrations, there were a large number of free (unbound) enzymes, and each
      substrate molecule that entered the periplasm, through the diffusion barrier,
      resulted in product formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445883
TI  - Role of internal thermodynamics in determining hydrogen tunneling in enzyme
      catalyzed hydrogen transfer reactions.
AB  - Previous investigations have indicated a role for hydrogen tunneling in the yeast
      alcohol dehydrogenase catalyzed oxidation of benzyl alcohol [Cha, Y., Murray, C.
      J., & Klinman, J. P. (1989) Science 243, 1325] and the bovine plasma amine
      oxidase catalyzed oxidation of benzylamine [Grant, K.L., & Klinman, J. P. (1989)
      Biochemistry 28,6597]. In the present studies, values of protium to tritium and
      deuterium to tritium isotope effects and their temperature dependencies have been
      measured using ring-substituted substrates for yeast alcohol dehydrogenase and
      bovine plasma amine oxidase, revealing tunneling in each case. The results of
      these studies indicate that hydrogen tunneling is a general phenomenon and is not
      limited to enzyme reactions with degenerate energy levels for bound substrates
      and products. An analysis of internal thermodynamics in the yeast alcohol
      dehydrogenase reaction shows that tunneling occurs when delta H degrees is
      endothermic and that the degree of tunneling appears to increase as delta H
      degrees decreases toward zero.

PMID- 1445885
TI  - MgATP and fructose 6-phosphate interactions with phosphofructokinase from
      Escherichia coli.
AB  - A thermodynamic linked-function analysis is presented of the interactions of
      MgATP and fructose 6-phosphate (Fru-6-P) with phosphofructokinase (PFK) from
      Escherichia coli in the absence of allosteric effectors. MgATP and Fru-6-P are
      shown to bind in random fashion by product inhibition of the back-reaction as
      well as by the kinetically competent binding of each ligand individually as
      monitored by the consequent changes in the intrinsic fluorescence of E. coli PFK.
      When Fru-6-P is saturating, the dissociation of MgATP is sufficiently slow that
      it cannot achieve a binding equilibrium in the steady state, causing the observed
      Km (49 microM) to significantly exceed the Kd (1.7 microM) deduced from a
      thermodynamic linkage analysis. The following features distinguish the
      interactions of MgATP and Fru-6-P with E. coli PFK: MgATP and Fru-6-P antagonize
      each other's binding to the enzyme in a saturable manner with an overall apparent
      coupling free energy equal to +2.5 kcal/mol at 25 degrees C; MgATP induces
      positive cooperativity in the Fru-6-P binding profile, with the Hill coefficient
      calculated from the Fru-6-P binding curves reaching a maximum of 3.6 when MgATP
      is saturating; and MgATP exhibits substrate inhibition at low concentrations of
      Fru-6-P. Simulations based upon the rate equation pertaining to a two-active
      site, two-substrate dimer indicate that these features can all result from two
      independent couplings: an antagonistic MgATP-Fru-6-P coupling extending at least
      in part between active sites and a MgATP-induced Fru-6-P-Fru-6-P
      coupling.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445886
TI  - Roles of residues 129 and 209 in the alteration by cytochrome b5 of hydroxylase
      activities in mouse 2A P450S.
AB  - Cytochrome b5 stimulates the coumarin 7-hydroxylation activity of P450coh. A
      mutation of Arg-129 in P450coh, however, abolishes the stimulation. Moreover,
      this mutant P450coh binds loosely to cytochrome b5-conjugated Sepharose 4B,
      whereas wild-type P450coh binds tightly. Consistent with this, the mutation
      increases the Ka value for b5 binding approximately 6-fold. The identity of
      residue 209 also alters the stimulation of the activity of P450coh depending on
      the type of the substrates used and products formed. Coumarin 7-hydroxylation
      activity is greatly stimulated by cytochrome b5 only when Phe is at position 209,
      while cytochrome b5 stimulates testosterone hydroxylation activity of P450coh in
      which Phe, Asn, Ser or Lys substitutes residue 209. P450coh changes its rate of
      hydrogen peroxide formation depending on the identity of residue 209 and
      substrate used. Cytochrome b5 decreases the hydrogen peroxide formation of some
      P450coh whose activities are stimulated by the cytochrome; however, the decrease
      does not always result in stimulating the activity. The results indicate,
      therefore, that residues 129 and 209 play different roles in stimulating P450coh
      activity by cytochrome b5; Arg-129 is a key residue in the cytochrome b5-binding
      domain and is essential for the stimulation. Residue 209, however, alters the
      efficiency of electron transport for substrate oxidation as a residue which
      resides near the sixth ligand of heme and in the substrate-binding site.

PMID- 1445887
TI  - Donor-acceptor tetrahydrochrysenes, inherently fluorescent, high-affinity ligands
      for the estrogen receptor: binding and fluorescence characteristics and
      fluorometric assay of receptor.
AB  - We have examined the binding behavior and fluorescence characteristics of a
      series of novel ligands for the estrogen receptor (ER). These ligands are
      derivatives of 5,6,11,12-tetrahydrochrysene (THC), a structure that embodies a
      stilbene chromophore, found in many nonsteroidal estrogens, within a rigid
      tetracyclic system where it cannot easily be distorted from planarity, thus
      providing the conjugation and rigidity required for efficient fluorescence.
      Additional steric bulk, as trans-disposed ethyl substituents at the internal C-5
      and C-11 positions, is required for the highest relative binding affinity (RBA),
      and the trans-5,11-diethyl-2,8-dihydroxy-THC derivative binds to ER with an
      affinity greater than that of estradiol. The replacement of one of the phenolic
      hydroxyl groups of this THC derivative with an electron-withdrawing group (COMe,
      COOMe, CONH2, CN, or NO2) yields unsymmetrical THCs with binding affinities 15
      40% that of estradiol (E2). The fluorescence emission shifts from about 380 nm
      for the dihydroxy THC to 475-688 nm for the donor-acceptor THCs. The emission of
      these donor-acceptor THCs is highly solvatochromic and shifts to longer
      wavelengths as the solvent polarity increases. In ethanol, the fluorescence
      quantum yield of the first four of these compounds is high (phi f = 0.43-0.69),
      but the fifth compound, the nitro-THC, is almost nonemissive in protic solvents.
      When they are incubated with protein solutions containing ER (approximately 10(
      9) M), the emission from the donor-acceptor THCs bound specifically to ER is in
      the 500-570-nm range, whereas fluorescence from non-receptor-bound fluorophores
      is in the 425-460-nm range. Thus, fluorescence from these probes bound
      specifically to ER could be measured under equilibrium conditions as well as
      after the removal of free and non-receptor-bound material by treatment with
      charcoal-dextran. This is one of the first demonstrations of ligands whose
      fluorescence is distinctly different when free, when bound to ER, or when bound
      to non-receptor proteins. It is also the first demonstration of ER assay by
      fluorescence under equilibrium conditions.

PMID- 1445888
TI  - Tissue-specific alternative splicing of the first exon generates two types of
      mRNAs in human aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase.
AB  - Aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase (AADC) is an enzyme that plays an essential
      role in synthesizing catecholamines and serotonin in neuronal and endocrine
      tissues. AADC has also been detected in other nonneuronal tissues including liver
      and kidney, although its physiological role in nonneuronal tissues has not yet
      been defined. Previously we have cloned a human AADC cDNA from a neuronal tissue
      (pheochromocytoma) [Ichinose, H., Kurosawa, Y., Titani, K., Fujita, K., &
      Nagatsu, T. (1989) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 164, 1024-1030] and the
      corresponding genomic DNA [Sumi-Ichinose, C., Ichinose, H., Takahashi, E., Hori,
      T., & Nagatsu, T. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 2229-2238]. Here we present isolation
      and characterization of AADC cDNA and genomic DNA from a nonneuronal tissue
      (human liver). The nonneuronal and neuronal AADC mRNAs differed only in the
      region corresponding to the untranslated first exon. The first exon for the
      nonneuronal-type mRNA was located 4.2 kilobases upstream to that for the neuronal
      type mRNA and 22 kilobases from exon 2, to which it is spliced. Determination of
      the transcription initiation site indicated that the length of the nonneuronal
      type exon 1 was 200 bp. A TATA box-like motif was located between positions -26
      and -20 from the transcription initiation site. These results showed that an
      alternative usage of the first exon in the 5'-untranslated regions produces two
      types of mRNAs in AADC and suggested that alternative splicing would regulate the
      tissue-specific expression of AADC.

PMID- 1445889
TI  - Requirement of zymogen modification for activation of porcine plasminogen.
AB  - In physiological salt solutions, porcine plasminogen is refractory to activation
      by urokinase or trypsin and to proteolysis at Lys77 by plasmin or trypsin.
      Plasminogen becomes a substrate for urokinase (at Arg560), plasmin (at Lys77),
      and trypsin (at both bonds) if chloride ion is removed or if 6-aminohexanoate
      (2.5 mmol/L) is added. Irrespective of salts, activation of des(1-77)plasminogen
      is as efficient as activation of des(kringle1-4)plasminogen and is inhibited 50%
      by 2.5 mmol/L 6-aminohexanoate. In solutions lacking chloride or containing 6
      aminohexanoate, plasminogen, des(1-77)plasminogen, and des(kringle1-4)plasminogen
      show no tendency to saturate urokinase in physiologically relevant concentrations
      (10 mumol/L). The findings are interpreted as indicating that plasminogen
      requires modification, either by proteolysis or by ligands, for activation.

PMID- 1445890
TI  - Direct measurement of the weak interactions between a mouse Fc receptor (Fc gamma
      RII) and IgG1 in the absence and presence of hapten: a total internal reflection
      fluorescence microscopy study.
AB  - Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) has been used to
      directly measure the weak dissociation constants of IgG with a mouse IgG receptor
      (moFc gamma RII) that has been purified and reconstituted into substrate
      supported planar membranes. Dissociation constants were measured for three
      different mouse monoclonal anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgG1 antibodies and for
      polyclonal mouse IgG, in the absence and presence of saturating amounts of hapten
      (DNP-glycine). The dissociation constant for polyclonal mouse IgG was 3 microM,
      which agrees well with previous results. The dissociation constants for the three
      monoclonal antibodies with moFc gamma RII ranged from 2 microM to 3 microM and
      were not statistically different, suggesting that changes in moFc gamma RII
      dissociation constants which may exist within the IgG1 subclass are less than the
      error of the TIRFM measurements (approximately 20%). The measured IgG1-moFc gamma
      RII dissociation constants were not different for individual monoclonal
      antibodies in the absence or presence of saturating concentrations of DNP
      glycine, directly showing that possible allosteric changes which might occur upon
      hapten binding and affect the equilibrium characteristics of Fc receptor binding
      are small. This work demonstrates a new approach for quantitatively examining the
      effects of solution components on weak receptor-ligand interactions.

PMID- 1445891
TI  - Energetics of thrombin-fibrinogen interaction.
AB  - The kinetic mechanism of thrombin-fibrinogen interaction has been elucidated by
      steady-state measurements of synthetic substrate hydrolysis by human alpha
      thrombin in the presence of human fibrinogen used as a competitive inhibitor and
      sucrose used as a viscogenic agent. Sucrose greatly affects the FKm for thrombin
      fibrinogen interaction, without altering the intrinsic properties of the system.
      Under conditions of pH 7.5 and 0.1 M NaCl, fibrinogen behaves like a sticky
      substrate for thrombin, with acylation being comparable to dissociation in the
      temperature range 20-37 degrees C. In the same temperature range, deacylation is
      much faster than acylation. The van't Hoff enthalpy of binding for thrombin
      fibrinogen interaction is -24 +/- 3 kcal/mol and the entropy is -55 +/- 11 cal
      mol-1 deg-1. A chemical compensation effect is present in the binding of
      fibrinogen and synthetic amide substrates to thrombin, with the delta H and delta
      G values being linked through a linear relationship.

PMID- 1445892
TI  - FTIR spectroscopic studies of the conformation and amide hydrogen exchange of a
      peptide model of the hydrophobic transmembrane alpha-helices of membrane
      proteins.
AB  - The conformation and amide hydrogen exchangeability of the hydrophobic peptide
      Lys2-Gly-Leu24-Lys2-Ala-amide were studied by Fourier transform infrared
      spectroscopy. In these studies information on the secondary structure of the
      peptide was obtained from an examination of the contours of both the amide I and
      amide II absorption bands. The conformationally sensitive amide I and amide II
      regions of the infrared spectra suggest that the peptide is predominantly alpha
      helical and that it contains some non-alpha-helical structures which are probably
      in an extended conformation. Studies of the exchangeability of the amide protons
      of the peptide indicate that there are two populations of amide protons which
      differ markedly with respect to their exchangeability with the bulk solvent
      phase, whether the peptide is dissolved in methanol or dispersed in hydrated
      lipid bilayers. One population of amide protons is very readily exchangeable, and
      our data suggest that it arises primarily but not exclusively from the extended
      regions of the peptide. The other population exchanges very slowly with the bulk
      solvent and appears to originate entirely from the alpha-helical domain of the
      peptide. This latter population is virtually unexchangeable when the peptide is
      dispersed in hydrated phosphatidylcholine bilayers but can be largely exchanged
      when the peptide is solubilized with methanol. We suggest that this slowly
      exchanging population of amide protons arises from the central part of the
      hydrophobic polyleucine core which forms a very stable alpha-helix that would be
      deeply buried in the hydrophobic domain of hydrated lipid bilayers.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445893
TI  - Interaction of a peptide model of a hydrophobic transmembrane alpha-helical
      segment of a membrane protein with phosphatidylcholine bilayers: differential
      scanning calorimetric and FTIR spectroscopic studies.
AB  - High-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform
      infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to study the interaction of a synthetic
      model hydrophobic peptide, Lys2-Gly-Leu24-Lys2-Ala-amide, and members of the
      homologous series of n-saturated diacylphosphatidylcholines. In the low range of
      peptide mole fractions, the DSC thermograms exhibited by the lipid/peptide
      mixtures are resolvable into two components. One of these components is fairly
      narrow, highly cooperative, and exhibits properties which are similar to but not
      identical with those of the pure lipid. In addition, the fractional contribution
      of this component to the total enthalpy change, the peak transition temperature,
      and cooperativity decrease with an increase in peptide concentration, more or
      less independently of acyl chain length. The other component is very broad and
      predominates in the high range of peptide concentration. These two components
      have been assigned to the chain-melting phase transitions of populations of bulk
      lipid and peptide-associated lipid, respectively. Moreover, when the mean
      hydrophobic thickness of the PC bilayer is less than the peptide hydrophobic
      length, the peptide-associated lipid melts at higher temperatures than does the
      bulk lipid and vice versa. In addition, the chain-melting enthalpy of the broad
      endotherm does not decrease to zero even at high peptide concentrations,
      suggesting that this peptide reduces but do not abolish the cooperative
      gel/liquid-crystalline phase transition of the lipids with which it is in
      contact. Our DSC results indicate that the width of the phase transition observed
      at high peptide concentration is inversely but discontinuously related to
      hydrocarbon chain length and that gel phase immiscibility occurs when the
      hydrophobic thickness of the bilayer greatly exceeds the hydrophobic length of
      the peptide. The FTIR spectroscopic data indicate that the peptide forms a very
      stable alpha-helix under all of our experimental conditions but that small
      distortions of its alpha-helical conformation are induced in response to any
      mismatch between peptide hydrophobic length and bilayer hydrophobic thickness.
      These results also indicate that the peptide alters the conformational
      disposition of the acyl chains in contact with it and that the resultant
      conformational changes in the lipid hydrocarbon chains tend to minimize the
      extent of mismatch of peptide hydrophobic length and bilayer hydrophobic
      thickness.

PMID- 1445894
TI  - Are membrane enzymes regulated by the viscosity of the membrane environment?
AB  - We have examined the idea that membrane enzymes are regulated by the viscosity of
      surrounding lipids using data compiled from the literature for the effect of the
      change in membrane viscosity ([symbol: see text]) at the gel- to liquid-crystal
      phase transition on the activities of several enzymes. The analysis was not
      extended explicitly to the problem of viscosity-dependent regulation of membrane
      enzymes in liquid-crystalline lipids because of the absence of exact data for
      values of [symbol: see text] in liquid-crystalline phases of variable
      composition. For most membrane enzymes studied, energies of activation are
      discontinuous, while kcat is continuous, at the main-phase transition. We
      consider that the energy of activation contains terms related to the height of
      the chemical barrier to reaction and terms due to the mechanical properties of
      the bilayer, such as the work of expansion during the catalytic cycle and the
      temperature dependence of [symbol: see text]. We find that the differences in
      energies of activation, above and below the break points in Arrhenius plots, are
      orders of magnitude larger than can be accounted for by the above mechanical
      factors. Thus, discontinuities in energies of activation at the phase transition
      appear to reflect changes in the chemical barrier to reaction, which is
      independent of [symbol: see text]. The theorectical analysis indicates too that
      values of [symbol: see text] for bilayers in the liquid-crystalline phase would
      have to be several orders of magnitude larger than those for gel phases in order
      to provide a basis for viscosity-dependent regulation of membrane enzymes in
      liquid-crystalline phases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445895
TI  - Cloning of the gene coding for a human receptor for formyl peptides.
      Characterization of a promoter region and evidence for polymorphic expression.
AB  - Recently we reported that, in HL-60 cells, transcription of the formyl peptide
      receptor (FPR) gene can be up- and downregulated by agents that induce
      differentiation of HL-60 cells into neutrophils. To begin studying the mechanisms
      involved in regulation of FPR gene expression, we cloned two human cDNAs and the
      gene coding for FPR. The genomic clone (pINF14) contained a 14.5-kb insert. A 2.7
      kb EcoRI fragment was obtained from pINF14 that hybridized with an FPR open
      reading frame probe. The EcoRI fragment was sequenced and found to contain an
      intronless FPR open reading frame. Sequence alignment of the EcoRI genomic
      fragment with the FPR cDNA revealed that the first 31 bases of 5' untranslated
      FPR cDNA were not represented in the genomic fragment. Furthermore, a splicing
      consensus sequence was present in the genomic fragment at the site of divergence
      with the cDNA sequence. Restriction mapping and Southern blot analysis identified
      a 121-bp fragment that contained the sequence corresponding to the first 31 bases
      of 5' untranslated FPR cDNA. An additional (previously undescribed) 15-bp cDNA
      sequence in the 5' end of FPR were identified using an anchored polymerase chain
      reaction. This sequence was also contained in the genomic 121-bp fragment. This
      121-bp fragment was located 5.2 kb (intron) upstream of the FPR open reading
      frame. It contained an unusual TATA box and displayed transcriptional activity in
      vitro and in vivo. Potential binding sites for AP-1 and glucocorticoid receptor
      were identified upstream of the putative TATA box.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1445896
TI  - Effects of the presence of an aldehydic abasic site on the thermal stability and
      rates of helix opening and closing of duplex DNA.
AB  - The presence of an abasic site in duplex DNA lowers the thermodynamic stability,
      as monitored by the optical melting temperature, and decreases the rate of imino
      proton exchange with water, by about an order of magnitude, as monitored by
      direct measurement of both the exchange lifetimes and the imino proton T1S. The
      exchange lifetimes of the imino protons with water as a function of base catalyst
      concentration were analyzed to determine the origin of the effect of the abasic
      site on imino exchange lifetimes. Analysis of the results showed that the helix
      opening rate is not significantly changed by the presence of an abasic site. The
      differences in exchange lifetimes are attributed to a faster helix closing rate
      in the presence of an abasic site. The faster rate of helix closing may be an
      important contribution to the stability of abasic sites in duplex DNA to base
      catalyzed elimination reaction. It is noted that duplex DNAs containing analogues
      of the aldehydic abasic site apparently do not exhibit these exchange lifetime
      effects.

PMID- 1445897
TI  - Base-selective oxidation and cleavage of DNA by photochemical cosensitized
      electron transfer.
AB  - A photochemical mechanism for single-strand cleavage of DNA is proposed in which
      a photoexcited intercalator transfers an electron to an externally bound
      cosensitizer. Once formed, the oxidized intercalator oxidizes an adjacent base,
      creating a charge-separated complex from which reactions leading to cleavage of
      the sugar-phosphate backbone occur in competition with back electron transfer.
      Using ethidium bromide (EB) as the intercalator and methyl viologen (MV) as the
      externally bound cosensitizer, a 10-fold enhancement in the rate of single-strand
      break formation was found in pBR322 DNA over that for EB alone using 488-nm
      excitation. The rate of cleavage correlated with the amount of MV bound to DNA.
      In accord with the expected redox properties of the one-electron-oxidized EB and
      the DNA bases, cleavage occurs selectively at guanines. Although the reaction
      proceeds in nitrogen-purged solutions, the rate of cleavage in air-saturated
      solutions was enhanced 2-fold. Treatment of irradiated samples with alkali leads
      to a 2-fold increase in the yield of single-strand breaks. These results support
      a mechanism in which cleavage occurs by selective oxidation of guanines in DNA,
      initiated by photochemical cosensitized electron transfer from intercalated EB to
      externally bound MV, and may provide a basis for the development of light
      activated base-selective DNA cleaving agents.

PMID- 1445898
TI  - Oxygen radical-mediated DNA damage by redox-active Cr(III) complexes.
AB  - The mechanism of DNA damage induced by Cr(III) complexes is currently unknown
      even though it is considered to be the ultimate biologically active oxidation
      state of chromium. In this study, we have employed the Salmonella reversion assay
      to identify mutagenic Cr(III) complexes. Cyclic voltammetry was used to
      differentiate the redox kinetics between mutagenic and selected nonmutagenic
      Cr(III) species. Plasmid relaxation of supercoiled DNA was employed to show in
      vitro interactions with plasmid DNA and correlate the interactions with the
      electrochemical behavior and biological activity. The results of this study
      demonstrate that the mutagenic Cr(III) complexes identified in the Salmonella
      reversion assay display characteristics of reversibility and positive shifts of
      the Cr(III)/Cr(II) redox couple consistent with the ability of these Cr(III)
      complexes to serve as cyclical electron donors in a Fenton-like reaction. These
      same mutagenic complexes display an ability to relax supercoiled DNA in vitro,
      presumably by the induction of single-strand breaks. Nonmutagenic complexes were
      selected to test different ligands to determine how the ligand directs the
      activity of Cr(III) complexes. All nonmutagenic complexes tested thus far have
      shown classical irreversibility, more negative reduction potentials, and an
      inability to relax supercoiled plasmid DNA. These results suggest that the
      mechanism by which chromium complexes potentiate mutagenesis involves an oxygen
      radical as an active intermediate. These data also demonstrate the effect of
      associated ligands with regard to the ability of a metal to generate an active
      redox center.

PMID- 1445899
TI  - Substituent position dictates the intercalative DNA-binding mode for anthracene
      9,10-dione antitumor drugs.
AB  - Molecular modeling studies [Islam, S.A., Neidle, S., Gandecha, B.M., Partridge,
      M., Patterson, L.H., & Brown, J.R. (1985) J. Med. Chem. 28, 857-864] have
      suggested that anthracene-9,10-dione (anthraquinone) derivatives substituted at
      the 1,4 and 1,8 positions with-NH(CH2)2NH(CH2CH3)2+ side chains intercalate with
      DNA with both substituents in the same groove (classical intercalation) while a
      similarly substituted 1,5 derivative intercalates in a threading mode with one
      side chain in each groove. Modeling studies also suggested that anthracene-9,10
      dione (anthraquinone) derivatives substituted at the 2,6 positions with 
      NHCO(CH2)R (where R is a cationic group) should bind to DNA by the threading
      mode, and several such derivatives have been synthesized [Agbandjie, M., Jenkins,
      T.C., McKenna, R., Reszka, A., & Neidle, S. (1992) J. Med. Chem. 35, 1418-1429].
      We have conducted stopped-flow kinetics association and dissociation experiments
      on the interaction of these anthraquinones with calf thymus DNA and with DNA
      polymers with alternating AT and GC base pairs to experimentally determine the
      binding mode and how the threading mode affects intercalation rates relative to
      similarly substituted classical intercalators. The binding modes, determined by
      analysis of relative rates, energies of activation, and effects of salt
      concentration on association and dissociation rate constants, agree completely
      with the modes predicted by molecular modeling methods. Association and
      dissociation rate constants for the threading mode are approximately a factor of
      10 lower than constants for the classical intercalation mode, and the two modes,
      thus, have similar binding constants. Variations in rate constants for changes in
      cationic substituents at the 2 and 6 positions of the anthraquinone ring were
      surprisingly small.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445900
TI  - Elsamicin A can convert the Z-form of poly[d(G-C)] and poly[(G-m5C)] back to B
      form DNA.
AB  - The interaction of poly[(G-C)] and poly[d(G-m5C)] with the antitumor antibiotic
      elsamicin A, which binds to alternating guanine + cytosine tracts in DNA, has
      been studied under the B and Z conformations. Both the rate and the extent of the
      B-to-Z transition are diminished by the antibiotic, as inferred by spectroscopic
      methods under ionic conditions that otherwise favor the left-handed conformation
      of the polynucleotides. Moreover, elsamicin converts the Z-form DNA back to the B
      form. The circular dichroism data indicate that elsamicin binds to poly[d(G-C)]
      and poly[d(G-m5C)] to form a right-handed bound elsamicin region(s). The
      transition can be followed by changes of the molar ellipticity at 250 nm, thus
      providing a convenient wavelength to monitor the Z-to-B conformational change of
      the polymers as elsamicin is added. The elsamicin A effect might be explained by
      a model in which the antibiotic binds preferently to a B-form DNA, playing a role
      as an allosteric effector on the equilibrium between the B and Z conformations,
      thus favoring the right-handed one.

PMID- 1445901
TI  - Purification and characterization of a Neu5Ac alpha 2-->6Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc and
      HSO3(-)-->6Gal beta 1-->GlcNAc specific lectin in tuberous roots of Trichosanthes
      japonica.
AB  - Two lectins were purified from tuberous roots of Trichosanthes japonica. The
      major lectin, which was named TJA-II, interacted with Fuc alpha 1-->2Gal
      beta/GalNAc beta 1-->groups, and the other one, which passed through a porcine
      stomach mucin-Sepharose 4B column, was purified by sequential chromatography on a
      human alpha 1-antitrypsin-Sepharose 4B column and named TJA-I. The molecular mass
      of TJA-I was determined to be 70 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel
      electrophoresis. TJA-I is a heterodimer of 38-kDa (36-kDa) and 32-kDa (30-kDa)
      subunits with disulfide linkage(s), and the difference between 38 and 36 kDa, and
      between 32 and 30 kDa, is due to secondary degradation of the carboxyl-terminal
      side. It was determined by equilibrium dialysis that TJA-I has four equal binding
      sites per molecule, and the association constant toward tritium-labeled Neu5Ac
      alpha 2-->6Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc beta 1-->3Gal beta 1-->4GlcOT is Ka = 8.0 x 10(5)
      M-1. The precise carbohydrate binding specificity was studied using
      hemagglutinating inhibition assay and immobilized TJA-I. A series of
      oligosaccharides possessing a Neu5Ac alpha 2-->6Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc or HSO3(-)-
      >6Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc group showed tremendously stronger binding ability than
      oligosaccharides with a Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc group, indicating that TJA-I
      basically recognizes an N-acetyllactosamine residue and that the binding strength
      increases on substitution of the beta-galactosyl residue at the C-6 position with
      a sialic acid or sulfate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445902
TI  - Determination of the glycosylation patterns, disulfide linkages, and protein
      heterogeneities of baculovirus-expressed mouse interleukin-3 by mass
      spectrometry.
AB  - The primary structure of mouse interleukin-3 (IL-3) expressed by recombinant
      baculovirus-infected silkworm (Bombyx mori) larvae was analyzed by subjecting
      isolated IL-3 derived peptides to liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry. Two
      species of IL-3 were isolated from the silkworm hemolymph by reverse-phase high
      pressure liquid chromatography. The major component has M(r)20-22 x 10(3) as
      determined by SDS-PAGE. Liquid secondary ion mass spectrometric analysis was
      carried out on the reduced tryptic and endopeptidase lysyl-C peptides of
      glycosylated and deglycosylated IL-3. These studies provided evidence that (1)
      Asn-16 is heterogeneously glycosylated with four different oligosaccharides, (2)
      Asn-86 is either nonglycosylated or has attached to it one oligosaccharide, (3)
      the N-glycosylation sites Asn-44 and Asn-51 are not glycosylated, and (4) there
      is no O-glycosylation. Liquid secondary ion mass spectrometric analysis of the
      unreduced tryptic peptides provided evidence for disulfide linkages between Cys
      140 and Cys-79 or Cys-80 and between Cys-17 and Cys-79 or Cys-80. In comparison
      to the major component, a minor IL-3 species (M(r) 17-19 x 10(3) by SDS-PAGE)
      isolated from the hemolymph showed no difference with respect to the
      glycosylation pattern or the disulfide linkages, but it was cleaved between Ala
      127 and Ser-128, and only a disulfide linkage between Cys-140 and Cys-79 or Cys
      80 held the molecule together.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445903
TI  - Interfacial conformation of dipalmitoylglycerol and
      dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine in phospholipid bilayers.
AB  - Diacylglycerols are minor constituents of membrane lipids, yet are essential in
      the activation and membrane association of protein kinase C. Solid-state 13C NMR
      experiments have been used to characterize the orientation of the glycerol
      backbone of dipalmitoylglycerol (DPG) and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)
      in egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) bilayers. The 13C NMR spectra of both DPG and
      DPPC specifically 13C-labeled at the sn-2 chain carbonyl exhibit a single narrow
      resonance (approximately 2 ppm) in liquid-crystalline egg PC bilayers. In
      contrast, specific 13C-labeling of both the sn-1 and sn-2 chain carbonyls results
      in an additional broad component (24-32 ppm) with an axially symmetric line
      shape. These data reveal that DPG has a distinct motionally-averaged structure in
      PC bilayers that is similar to that of DPPC and is not significantly affected by
      the absence of the large polar PC headgroup. The NMR line shapes are roughly
      consistent with the results of previous FTIR and NMR studies that indicate the sn
      1 chain extends from the C1 carbon of the glycerol backbone into the hydrophobic
      interior of the bilayer, while the sn-2 chain first extends parallel to the
      bilayer surface and incorporates a bend at the ester linkage in order to keep the
      sn-1 and sn-2 chains parallel. However, the data suggest that the time-averaged
      orientation of the glycerol backbone is tilted from the bilayer normal, in
      contrast to the nearly parallel orientation observed in the crystal structures of
      phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylethanolamines or the perpendicular
      orientation observed in the crystal structures of diacylglycerols.

PMID- 1445904
TI  - Origin of the chlorophyll b formyl oxygen in Chlorella vulgaris.
AB  - Chlorophyll (Chl) b is an accessory light-harvesting pigment of plants and
      chlorophyte algae. Chl b differs from Chl a in that the 3-methyl group on ring B
      of chl a is replaced by a 3-formyl group on Chl b. The present study determined
      the biosynthetic origin of the Chl b formyl oxygen in in vivo labeling
      experiments. A mutant strain of the unicellular chlorophyte Chlorella vulgaris,
      which can not synthesize Chls when cultured in the dark but rapidly greens when
      transferred to the light, was grown in the dark for several generations to
      deplete Chls, and then the cells were transferred to the light and allowed to
      form Chls in a controlled atmosphere containing 18O2. Chl a and Chl b were
      purified from the cells and analyzed by high-resolution mass spectroscopy.
      Analysis of the mass spectra indicated that over 76% of the Chl a molecules had
      incorporated an atom of 18O. For Chl b, 58% of the molecules had incorporated an
      atom of 18O at one position and 34% of the molecules had incorporated an atom of
      18O at a second position. These results demonstrate that the isocyclic ring keto
      oxygen of both Chl a and Chl b, as well as the formyl oxygen of Chl b, is derived
      from O2.

PMID- 1445905
TI  - Structure of the hirulog 3-thrombin complex and nature of the S' subsites of
      substrates and inhibitors.
AB  - The X-ray crystallographic structure of the human alpha-thrombin complex with
      hirulog 3 (a potent, noncleavable hirudin-based peptide of the "hirulog" class
      containing a beta-homoarginine at the scissile bond), which is isomorphous with
      that of the hirugen-thrombin crystal structure, was solved at 2.3-A resolution by
      starting with a model for thrombin derived from the hirugen-thrombin complex and
      was refined by restrained least squares methods (R = 0.132). Residues of hirulog
      3 were well-defined in the electron density, which included most of the
      pentaglycine linker and the C-terminal helical turn that was disordered in a
      related structure of thrombin with hirulog 1. The interactions of D-Phe1'-Pro2'
      beta-homoArg3' with the active site of thrombin were essentially identical to
      those of related structures of PPACK- (D-Phe-Pro-Arg chloromethyl ketone) and
      hirulog 1-thrombin, with the guanidinium function of the arginyl P1 residue
      forming a hydrogen-bonding ion pair with Asp189 of the S1 site. A noticeable
      shift in the CA atom of beta-homoArg3' due to the methylene insertion displaces
      the scissile bond from attack by Ser195, thus imparting proteolytic stability to
      the beta-homoArg hirulog derivative. Resolution of the pentaglycine spacer,
      linking N- and C-terminal functional domains into a single oligopeptide bivalent
      inhibitor, permitted delineation of corresponding S' subsites of thrombin. The
      position of Gly4' (P1') is stabilized by three hydrogen bonds with His57, Lys60F,
      and Ser195, while the conformational angles maintained in a strained, nonallowed
      configuration for non-glycyl amino acids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445906
TI  - Calcium-linked self-association of human complement C1s.
AB  - The weight-average molecular weight of C1s, an activated serine protease
      subcomponent of human complement C1, has been measured by means of sedimentation
      equilibrium over a wide range of both protein and calcium ion concentrations. The
      combined data may be accounted for quantitatively by a simple model for Ca(2+)
      dependent self-association of C1s to a dimer. According to this model, the
      monomer contains a single Ca2+ binding site with K approximately equal to 3 x
      10(5) M-1, and the dimer contains three independent Ca binding sites, two having
      a Ca2+ affinity lower than that of the monomer (K approximately equal to 3 x
      10(4) M-1). The third binding site in the dimer, which presumably lies at the
      interface between the two amino-terminal alpha domains, has a higher Ca2+
      affinity (K approximately equal to 1 x 10(8) M-1) and provides the driving force
      for C1s dimerization in the presence of calcium.

PMID- 1445907
TI  - Thrombin is a Na(+)-activated enzyme.
AB  - The amidase activity of human alpha-thrombin has been studied at steady state as
      a function of the concentration of several chloride salts, at a constant ionic
      strength I = 0.2 M. All kinetic steps of the catalytic mechanism of the enzyme
      have been solved by studies conducted as a function of relative viscosity of the
      solution. Among all monovalent cations, Na+ is the most effective in activating
      thrombin catalysis. This effect is observed with different amide substrates and
      also with gamma-thrombin, a proteolytic derivative of the native enzyme which has
      little clotting activity but retains amidase activity toward small synthetic
      substrates. The specific effects observed as a function of Na+ concentration are
      indicative of a binding interaction of this monovalent cation with the enzyme.
      The basis of this interaction has been explored by measurements of substrate
      hydrolysis collected in a three-dimensional matrix of substrate concentration,
      relative viscosity, and Na+ concentration, keeping the ionic strength constant
      with an inert cation such as choline or tetraethylammonium. The data have
      globally been analyzed in terms of a kinetic linkage scheme where Na+ plays the
      role of an allosteric effector. The properties of the enzyme change drastically
      upon binding of Na+, with substrate binding and dissociation, as well as
      deacylation, occurring on a time scale which is 1 order of magnitude faster. The
      apparent association constants for Na+ binding to the various intermediate forms
      of the enzyme have all been resolved from analysis of experimental data and are
      in the range of 50-100 M-1 at 25 degrees C. Studies conducted at different
      temperatures, in the range 15-35 degrees C, have revealed the enthalpic and
      entropic components of Na+ binding to the enzyme. The results obtained from
      steady-state measurements are supported by independent measurements of the
      intrinsic fluorescence of the enzyme as a function of Na+ concentration at a
      constant ionic strength I = 0.2 M, over the temperature range 15-35 degrees C.
      These measurements are indicative of a drastic conformational change of the
      enzyme upon Na+ binding to a single site. The energetics of Na+ binding derived
      from analysis of fluorescence measurements agree very well with those derived
      independently from steady-state determinations. It is proposed that thrombin
      exists in two conformations, slow and fast, and that the slow-->fast transition
      is triggered by binding of a monovalent cation. The high specificity in thrombin
      activation found in the case of Na+ is the result of its higher affinity compared
      to all other monovalent cations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1445908
TI  - Photoreaction of bacteriorhodopsin at high pH: origins of the slow decay
      component of M.
AB  - The absorption spectrum of light-adapted purple membrane in 3 M KCl is dependent
      on temperature even in the room temperature region. Temperature-induced
      difference spectra at various pH values suggested that the trans isomer of
      bacteriorhodopsin, bR570, is in thermal and/or photodynamic equilibrium with
      several different conformers. The major second conformer occurring at neutral pH
      had the same spectroscopic properties as the 13-cis isomer, and its content at 35
      degrees C was estimated to be more than 20%. Heterogeneity in the protein
      conformation became more significant above pH8, where temperature-induced
      difference spectra exhibited a negative peak at 580 nm and a positive peak at 296
      nm. This absorption change is very similar to that observed upon the formation of
      the N intermediate, suggesting that an N-like conformer occurs at high pH and
      temperature. A significant temperature dependence was also seen in the M decay
      kinetics at high pH, which were described by two decay components; i.e., the fast
      decaying M (Mf) was predominant at low temperature, but the amplitude of the slow
      component (M(s)) increased with increasing temperature. It is suggested that M(s)
      is generated upon excitation of the N-like conformer, in which the residue (Asp
      96) usually acting as a proton donor to the Schiff base is deprotonated. The N
      like conformer could be N itself, because M(s) was enhanced when N was
      accumulated by background light. A strong correlation between the amplitude of
      M(s) and the concentration of N was also revealed by the accumulation kinetics of
      Mf, M(s), and N after the onset of continuous actinic light.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445909
TI  - Partial reactions of bacterial D-amino acid transaminase with asparagine
      substituted for the lysine that binds coenzyme pyridoxal 5'-phosphate.
AB  - In bacterial D-amino acid transaminase (EC 2.6.1.21) replacement of Lys-145,
      which is covalently linked to the coenzyme pyridoxal 5'-phosphate in the wild
      type enzyme, by an Asn residue gave a mutant enzyme (K145N) that slowly performed
      each half-reaction, as determined by spectral measurements. With the wild-type
      enzyme, the kinetics of these events were so rapid that pre-steady-state
      conditions were needed for their determination. The internal aldimine between
      coenzyme and Lys-145 was rapidly reduced with NaCNBH3 in the wild-type enzyme,
      whereas in the mutant enzyme the coenzyme, which is not covalently linked to the
      protein, was more resistant to reduction; the reduced forms of both wild-type and
      mutant enzymes were inactive. With large amounts of the K145N mutant enzyme and
      either amino acid or keto acid substrate alone, the formation of some reaction
      intermediates, i.e., the external aldimine with D-alanine and the ketimine with
      alpha-ketoglutarate, can be measured by conventional spectroscopy. Suicide
      substrates also induced slow spectral shifts of the E-PLP form of the enzyme. For
      the K145N enzyme, exogenous amines affected only the rate of the
      transaldimination but not the removal of the alpha-proton of the substrate. These
      results suggest that in the mutant enzyme some amino acid side chain other than
      Lys-145 performs this function. In order to identify this site, the K145N mutant
      enzyme was completely inactivated by the radiolabeled suicide substrate D-serine.
      Peptide mapping of tryptic digests showed that Lys-267 was the modified
      site.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445910
TI  - DNA ligase I from Saccharomyces cerevisiae: physical and biochemical
      characterization of the CDC9 gene product.
AB  - Genetic studies have previously demonstrated that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae
      CDC9 gene product, which is functionally homologous to mammalian DNA ligase I, is
      required for DNA replication and is also involved in DNA repair and genetic
      recombination. In the present study we have purified the yeast enzyme. When
      measured under denaturing conditions, Cdc9 protein has a polypeptide molecular
      mass of 87 kDa. The native form of the enzyme is an 80-kDa asymmetric monomer.
      Both estimates are in good agreement with the M(r) = 84,406 predicted from the
      translated sequence of the CDC9 gene. Cdc9 DNA ligase acts via the same basic
      reaction mechanism employed by all known ATP-dependent DNA ligases. The catalytic
      functions reside in a 70-kDa C-terminal domain that is conserved in mammalian DNA
      ligase I and in Cdc17 DNA ligase from Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The ATP analog
      ATP alpha S inhibits the ligation reaction, although Cdc9 protein does form an
      enzyme-thioadenylate intermediate. Since Cdc9 DNA ligase exhibited the same
      substrate specificity as mammalian DNA ligase I, this enzyme can be considered to
      be the DNA ligase I of S. cerevisiae. There is genetic evidence suggesting that
      DNA ligase may be directly involved in error-prone DNA repair. We examined the
      ability of Cdc9 DNA ligase to join nicks with mismatches at the termini.
      Mismatches at the 5' termini of nicks had very little effect on ligation, whereas
      mismatches opposite a purine at 3' termini inhibited DNA ligation. The joining of
      DNA molecules with mismatched termini by DNA ligase may be responsible for the
      generation of mutations.

PMID- 1445911
TI  - Substrate specificity of the isoprenylated protein endoprotease.
AB  - Proteins containing a CAAX motif at their carboxyl termini are subject to
      isoprenylation at the cysteine residue. Proteolytic trimming of isoprenylated
      proteins is essential in the activation of these proteins. A microsomal
      endopeptidase activity has been identified which cleaves all-trans farnesylated
      cysteine containing tetrapeptides between the modified residue and the adjacent
      amino acid to liberate the modified cysteine residue and an intact tripeptide.
      Structure/activity studies are reported here on this endopeptidase activity which
      are consistent with the premise that this protease is identical to the one
      normally involved in the cellular isoprenylation pathway. The protease only
      processes peptides which possess an isoprenyl moiety. Within the isoprenyl
      series, the enzyme hydrolyzes all-trans-farnesyl-, all-trans-geranylgeranyl-, and
      geranyl-containing peptides. The protease also recognizes the AAX sequence,
      because the protease behaves either stereospecifically or stereoselectively with
      respect to the individual amino acids of the tripeptide. The enzyme only
      measurably hydrolyzes isoprenylated peptides possessing L-amino acids at C and A.
      On the other hand, there is a small but measurable hydrolysis of isoprenylated
      peptides containing a D-amino acid at X.

PMID- 1445912
TI  - Solvent isotope partitioning: a new kinetic tool for the determination of
      desorption rates of reactant water from enzyme-substrate complexes in proteases.
AB  - The rates of desorption of the substrate water from the binary enzyme-H2O and
      ternary enzyme-H2O-(peptide)substrate complexes for the two hydrolases, porcine
      pepsin and thermolysin, have been investigated using a novel technique, solvent
      isotope partitioning. The experimental design of this method was based on the
      protocol of Rose et al. [Rose, I. A., O'Connell, E. L., Litwin, S., & BarTana, J.
      (1974) J. Biol. Chem. 249, 5163-5168] wherein the binary enzyme-H2(18)O complex
      established in the "pulse" solution was diluted into a "chase" solution
      containing variable concentrations of peptide substrates in a large pool of
      H2(16)O. The extent of trapping of H2(18)O within the respective E-H2(18)O and E
      H2(18)O-(peptide)substrate complexes was determined from mass spectrometric
      analysis of the hydrolytic products. Our data have shown that the substrate water
      molecule of pepsin is not exclusively retained in the catalytic cycle and it
      desorbs from the apo- and substrate-bound complexes at rates that are at least 10
      and 4 times faster, respectively, than that of product formation. Similarly, the
      low trapping of H2(18)O in the carboxylic product of the thermolysin reaction is
      a consequence of the ready desorption of H2(18)O from the ternary E-H2(18)O
      (peptide)substrate complex and the binary E-H2(18)O complex. We attribute these
      results to the loss of the reactant water molecule due to desolvation of the
      enzyme's active site upon substrate binding.

PMID- 1445913
TI  - Intramolecular subunit interactions between insulin and insulin-like growth
      factor 1 alpha beta half-receptors induced by ligand and Mn/MgATP binding.
AB  - We have previously demonstrated that isolated insulin and IGF-1 alpha beta half
      receptors can be reconstituted into a functional alpha 2 beta 2 hybrid receptor
      complex [Treadway et al. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 21450-21453]. In the present
      study, we have examined this assembly process by determining the effect of ligand
      occupancy and Mn/MgATP binding on the dimerization of mutant and wild-type
      insulin and IGF-1 alpha beta half-receptors. IGF-1 or Mn/MgAMPPCP binding to wild
      type IGF-1 alpha beta half-receptors resulted in the specific assembly of the
      alpha beta half-receptors into an alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric IGF-1
      holoreceptor complex. Similarly, insulin binding to the kinase-deficient mutant
      (A/K1018) insulin alpha beta half-receptor also resulted in the specific assembly
      into an alpha 2 beta 2 holoreceptor complex. In contrast, Mn/MgAMPPCP treatment
      of A/K1018 mutant insulin alpha beta half-receptors did not induce heterotetramer
      assembly, consistent with the inability of this mutant receptor to bind ATP. The
      ability of the insulin alpha beta receptors to assemble with the IGF-1 alpha beta
      half-receptors was used to examine the intermolecular subunit interactions
      responsible for dimerization. In the presence of Mn/MgAMPPCP, the wild-type
      insulin and wild-type IGF-1 alpha beta half-receptors were observed to assemble
      into an insulin/IGF-1 alpha 2 beta 2 hybrid receptor complex. Similarly, a
      combination of insulin and IGF-1 induced hybrid receptor formation between wild
      type IGF-1 and A/K1018 mutant insulin alpha beta half-receptors.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445914
TI  - An investigation of the sequence-specific interaction of cis
      diamminedichloroplatinum(II) and four analogues, including two acridine-tethered
      complexes, with DNA inside human cells.
AB  - The sequence specificity of DNA damage caused by cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)
      (cisplatin) and four analogues in human (HeLa) cells was studied using Taq DNA
      polymerase and a linear amplification system. The primer extension is inhibited
      by the drug-DNA adducts, and hence the sites of these lesions can be analyzed on
      DNA sequencing gels. The repetitive alphoid DNA was used as the target DNA in
      human cells. A comparison was made between adduct formation in human cells and in
      purified DNA. The sequence-specific position and relative intensity of damage was
      similar in both systems for cisplatin, dichloro(ethylenediammine)platinum(II)
      (PtenCl2), and N-[3-N-(ethylenediamino)propyl]acridine-4-carboxamidedichloropl
      atinum(II) (4AcC3PtenCl2). However, no DNA damage could be detected in cells for
      trans-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (transPt) or N-[3-N
      (ethylenediamino)propyl]acridine-2-carboxamide-dichloroplat inum(II)
      (2AcC3PtenCl2) despite the ability of these latter analogues to damage purified
      DNA. Cisplatin, PtenCl2, and 4AcC3PtenCl2, which significantly damaged DNA inside
      cells, also show antitumor activity in mouse models. However, transPt and
      2AcC3PtenCl2, which did not detectably damage DNA inside cells, did not show such
      antitumor activity. This correlation between intracellular DNA damaging ability
      and in vivo antitumor activity indicates the potential use of the human cells/Taq
      DNA polymerase/linear amplification technique as a convenient method for
      screening new cisplatin analogues for useful chemotherapeutic activity.

PMID- 1445915
TI  - Sequence specificity of psoralen photobinding to DNA: a quantitative approach.
AB  - The effects of different DNA sequences on the photoreaction of various
      furocoumarin derivatives was investigated from a quantitative point of view using
      a number of self-complementary oligonucleotides. These contained 5'-TA and 5'-AT
      residues, having various flanking sequences. The furocoumarins included classical
      bifunctional derivatives, such as 8-methoxy- and 5-methoxypsoralen, as well as
      monofunctional compounds, such as angelicin and benzopsoralen. Taking into an
      account the thermodynamic constant for noncovalent binding of each psoralen to
      each DNA sequence, the rate constants for the photobinding process to each
      fragment were evaluated. The extent of photoreaction is greatly affected by the
      DNA sequence examined. While sequences of the type 5'-(GTAC)n are quite reactive
      towards all furocoumarins, 5'-TATA exhibited a reduced rate of photobinding using
      monofunctional psoralens. In addition terminal 5'-TA groups were the least
      reactive with 5- and 8-methoxypsoralen, but not with angelicin or benzopsoralen.
      Also 5'-AT-containing fragments exhibited remarkably variable responses toward
      monofunctional or bifunctional psoralen derivatives. As a general trend the
      photoreactivity rate of the former is less sequence-sensitive, the ratio between
      maximum and minimum being less than 2 for the examined fragments. The same ratio
      is about 3.4 for 8-methoxypsoralen and 6.2 for 5-methoxypsoralen. This approach,
      in combination with footprinting studies, appears to be quite useful for a
      quantitative investigation of the process of covalent binding of psoralens to
      specific sites in DNA.

PMID- 1445916
TI  - Secondary structure and interactions of the packaged dsDNA genome of
      bacteriophage P22 investigated by Raman difference spectroscopy.
AB  - Vibrational spectra of the double-stranded DNA genome of bacteriophage P22 in
      packaged and unpackaged states are compared by digital difference Raman
      spectroscopy. The difference Raman spectrum, which is sensitive to structural
      changes at the level of < 2% of a given nucleotide type, reveals the effects of
      packaging upon sugar pucker, glycosyl orientation, phosphodiester geometry, base
      pairing, base stacking, and the electrostatic environment of DNA phosphate
      groups. For both packaged and unpackaged states, the experiments were performed
      on aqueous solutions at 25 degrees C containing effective P22 DNA concentrations
      of 30-50 mg/mL in 200 mM NaCl + 10 mM MgCl2 + 10 mM Tris at pH 7.5. At the
      experimental conditions employed, the B-form secondary structure of unpackaged
      P22 DNA is minimally perturbed by packaging the viral genome in the virion
      capsid. However, the electrostatic environment of DNA phosphates is dramatically
      altered with packaging. Specifically, we find the following: (1) C2'-endo sugar
      pucker and anti glycosyl orientations are conserved for all nucleosides. (2)
      Watson-Crick base pairing is essentially completely retained. (3) Alternative
      secondary structures, whether right- (A or C form) or left-handed (Z form), are
      not evident in either the packaged or unpackaged viral genome. (4) Small Raman
      hyperchromic effects (< 10%) observed for certain marker bands of dG, dA, and dT
      in the packaged state of P22 DNA suggest slightly reduced base-stacking
      interactions with packaging. These are consistent with previously reported UV
      hyperchromic effects, but the Raman spectrum shows that they are not associated
      with either base unpairing or strand separation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445917
TI  - Secondary structure of the self-cleaving RNA of hepatitis delta virus:
      applications to catalytic RNA design.
AB  - A model for the secondary structure of the self-cleaving RNA from hepatitis delta
      virus was tested. Specific base changes were introduced in each of four regions
      with the potential for base-pairing (stems I-IV), and for each variant sequence,
      a rate constant for cleavage was determined. In each stem, mutations that would
      interfere with Watson-Crick base-pairing also reduced the first-order rate
      constants by 10-10(4)-fold relative to the unmodified version. Within stems I and
      II and a shortened form of stem IV, compensatory changes resulted in rates of
      cleavage equal to or greater than the unaltered ribozyme sequence. Stem III
      compensatory mutants cleaved faster than the uncompensated mutants although they
      were not as active as the natural sequence, suggesting additional sequence
      dependent requirements within this region. Structure probing of RNA containing
      the stem II mutations provided an independent confirmation of stem II in the
      ribozyme. The predictive value of the model was tested by designing two trans
      acting ribozymes which were circularly permuted composites of genomic,
      antigenomic, and unique sequences. The core of these two catalytic RNAs was the
      same, but they otherwise differed in that, in one of them, a constraining
      tetraloop sequence was added to stem II. Both ribozymes catalyzed the trans
      cleavage of a substrate oligoribonucleotide, thus providing additional evidence
      for stem II and the proposed structure in general.

PMID- 1445918
TI  - Amino acid-specific ADP-ribosylation: structural characterization and chemical
      differentiation of ADP-ribose-cysteine adducts formed nonenzymatically and in a
      pertussis toxin-catalyzed reaction.
AB  - ADP-ribosylation is a posttranslational modification of proteins by amino acid
      specific ADP-ribosyltransferases. Both pertussis toxin and eukaryotic enzymes ADP
      ribosylate cysteine residues in proteins and also, it has been suggested, free
      cysteine. Analysis of the reaction mechanisms of cysteine-specific ADP
      ribosyltransferases revealed that free ADP-ribose combined nonenzymatically with
      cysteine. L- and D-cysteine, L-cysteine methyl ester, and cysteamine reacted with
      ADP-ribose, but alanine, serine, lysine, arginine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, 2
      mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, and glutathione did not. The 1H NMR spectrum of
      the product, along with the requirement for both free sulfhydryl and amino groups
      of cysteine, suggested that the reaction produced a thiazolidine linkage. ADP
      ribosylthiazolidine was labile to hydroxylamine and mercuric ion, unlike the ADP
      ribosylcysteine formed by pertussis toxin and NAD in guanine nucleotide-binding
      (G-) proteins, which is labile to mercuric ion but stable in hydroxylamine. In
      the absence of G-proteins but in the presence of NAD and cysteine, pertussis
      toxin generated a hydroxylamine-sensitive product, suggesting that a free ADP
      ribose intermediate, expected to be formed by the NADase activity of the toxin,
      reacted with cysteine. Chemical analysis, or the use of alternative thiol
      acceptors lacking a free amine, is necessary to distinguish the enzymatic
      formation of ADP-ribosylcysteine from nonenzymatic formation of ADP
      ribosylthiazolidine, thereby differentiating putative NAD:cysteine ADP
      ribosyltransferases from NAD glycohydrolases.

PMID- 1445919
TI  - Conformational properties of the beta(400-436) and beta(400-445) C-terminal
      peptides of porcine brain tubulin.
AB  - Two peptides from the C-terminal region of the major beta-tubulin isotype (400
      436 and 400-445) that include the critical areas for interaction with MAP2 and
      tau were examined to determine their conformations in aqueous solution. Despite a
      high theoretical potential for alpha-helix formation, CD spectroscopy showed that
      these peptides consisted primarily of random coil with some reverse turn. This
      was unaffected by the presence of counterions to the negatively charged side
      chains (Ca2+, Mg2+), but did change when the side-chain charges were neutralized
      by lowering the pH; under these conditions, the alpha-helix content of the longer
      peptide rose to 25% and the C-terminal truncated peptide to 15%. The peptides
      also adopt alpha-helical structure in the presence of trifluoroethanol, the
      truncated peptide again attaining a lower maximum percentage. The beta(400-445)
      peptide was also studied by 1-D and 2-D NMR techniques. The results indicate that
      at pH 5.6 or 7 in an aqueous solution the peptide is extremely flexible and lacks
      regular secondary structure, consistent with the CD results. Both peptides
      inhibited microtubule-associated protein-stimulated tubulin assembly, with the
      longer peptide being about 4 times as inhibitory as the smaller peptide. Neither
      was inhibitory in the absence of microtubule-associated proteins, indicating that
      interaction with this species was necessary for inhibition. The greater activity
      of the longer peptide could be due to the extra negative charges in this peptide
      and/or the greater tendency of this peptide to form an alpha-helical structure
      under the appropriate conditions.

PMID- 1445920
TI  - Calcium-dependent regulation of caldesmon by an 11-kDa smooth muscle calcium
      binding protein, caltropin.
AB  - Caldesmon from chicken gizzard muscle has been examined for its ability to
      interact with caltropin using affinity chromatography and the fluorescent probe
      acrylodan. The action of caltropin on the inhibitory effect of caldesmon on
      actomyosin ATPase was also studied. Like calmodulin, caltropin could release the
      inhibitory effect of caldesmon in the presence of Ca2+. Complete reversal was
      obtained when 1 mol of caltropin was added per mol of caldesmon. When caldesmon
      was applied to caltropin-Sepharose in the presence of Ca2+, most of the caldesmon
      was bound to the column and could be eluted with EGTA, indicating that there is a
      direct interaction between caldesmon and caltropin. Acrylodan-labeled caldesmon,
      when excited at 375 nm, had an emission maximum at 504 nm. Addition of caltropin
      in the presence of Ca2+ resulted in a nearly 50% increase in fluorescence
      intensity, and this was accompanied by a blue shift in the emission maximum
      (i.e., lambda em,max 492 nm), suggesting that the probe now occupies a more
      nonpolar environment. Titration of caltropin with labeled caldesmon indicated a
      strong affinity for this protein (Kd was in the order of 8 x 10(-8)-2 x 10(-7)
      M). However, when caltropin was added to labeled caldesmon in the presence of
      EGTA, there was no indication of any interaction. Caltropin was at least as
      potent as calmodulin, if not better, in reversing the inhibitory effect of
      caldesmon in the presence of calcium, making it a potential Ca2+ factor in
      regulating caldesmon in smooth muscle.

PMID- 1445921
TI  - Binding of Ca2+ to sulfogalactosylceramide and the sequential effects on the
      lipid dynamics.
AB  - Sulfogalactosylceramide (SGC) is a sulfoglycolipid commonly found in epithelial
      cells and most animal germ cells. Its cellular function in sperm is unknown,
      although it has been implicated in cation transport in epithelial cells. The
      purpose of this study was to determine the lipid dynamic effects of Ca2+ binding
      to SGC. High-pressure Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used in this
      study. Our spectral results showed that Ca2+ bound to the sulfate moiety of SGC.
      Moreover, Ca2+ binding weakened the hydrogen bonding of the polar head region of
      SGC and the hydrocarbon chains became more disordered as revealed by an increase
      in the correlation field splitting pressure of SGC. Consequently, Ca2+ binding to
      SGC would increase the fluidity of SGC multibilayers. However, the presence of an
      alpha-hydroxyl group on the SGC fatty acid was found to strengthen the hydrogen
      bonding of the polar head region and as a consequence reduced the Ca(2+)-enhanced
      hydrocarbon chain disorder. Experimental approaches, described in this paper,
      serve as a model for further studies of the effects of Ca2+ binding on the
      dynamics of membranes containing SGC or other sulfatides.

PMID- 1445922
TI  - Charge repulsion in the conformational stability of melittin.
AB  - Electrostatic repulsion between positively charged groups has been suggested to
      be critical in determining the conformation of melittin. To clarify the role of
      repulsive forces, we prepared a series of succinylated melittins, an acetylated
      melittin, and a synthetic melittin mutant, with various degrees of charge
      repulsion. The conformation of the melittin derivatives was examined by far-UV
      circular dichroism under various conditions of pH and salt at 20 degrees C. The
      stability of the tetrameric helical state was found to be dependent on the net
      charge of the peptides. The charge repulsive forces destabilized the helical
      state of intact melittin by 600 cal/(charge.mol of tetramer). This value was
      close to the corresponding one (450 cal/(charge.mol)) obtained for the acidic
      molten globule of horse cytochrome c [Goto, Y., & Nishikiori, S. (1991) J. Mol.
      Biol. 222, 679-686], which has a molecular weight and a net charge comparable to
      those of the tetrameric melittin. Small-angle X-ray scattering of the tetrameric
      melittin and the molten globule of cytochrome c showed that the two states are
      also comparable to each other in the radius of gyration. These results suggest
      that the contribution of electrostatic repulsion to the conformational stability
      of melittin is similar to that of the molten globule.

PMID- 1445923
TI  - Three-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance structures of mouse epidermal growth
      factor in acidic and physiological pH solutions.
AB  - The three-dimensional structures of epidermal growth factors (EGF) previously
      reported were all in acidic solutions (pH 2.0-3.2), at which pHs EGF cannot bind
      to the receptor. Here we studied the structure of mouse EGF at pH 6.8, where EGF
      is physiologically active, and compared it with the structure at pH 2.0 by CD and
      NMR. From pH dependence of CD spectra and a comparison between the chemical
      shifts of the proton resonances at pH 6.8 and 2.0, the conformations at two pHs
      were found to be nearly identical except for the C-terminal tail region. The
      three-dimensional structures at pH 6.8 and 2.0 were determined independently by a
      combination of two-dimensional 1H NMR and stimulated annealing calculations using
      the program XPLOR. The calculations were based on 261 distance constraints at pH
      6.8 and 355 distance and 24 torsion angle constraints at pH 2.0. The
      conformational difference of the C-terminal domain (residues 33-50) was detected
      between the two structures, which were supported by CD and the chemical shift
      comparison. The positions of the side chains of Leu47, Arg48, Trp49, and Trp50
      are changed probably by the effect of the deprotonation of Asp46. Considering the
      fact that Leu47 is essential in EGF binding to the receptor, this conformational
      difference may be important in receptor recognition.

PMID- 1445924
TI  - Nonlocal structural perturbations in a mutant human insulin: sequential resonance
      assignment and 13C-isotope-aided 2D-NMR studies of [PheB24-->Gly]insulin with
      implications for receptor recognition.
AB  - Insulin's mechanism of receptor binding is not well understood despite extensive
      study by mutagenesis and X-ray crystallography. Of particular interest are
      "anomalous" analogues whose bioactivities are not readily rationalized by crystal
      structures. Here the structure and dynamics of one such analogue (GlyB24-insulin)
      are investigated by circular dichroism (CD) and isotope-aided 2D-NMR
      spectroscopy. The mutant insulin retains near-native receptor-binding affinity
      despite a nonconservative substitution (PheB24-->Gly) in the receptor-binding
      surface. Relative to native insulin, GlyB24-insulin exhibits reduced
      dimerization; the monomer (the active species) exhibits partial loss of ordered
      structure, as indicated by CD studies and motional narrowing of selected 1H-NMR
      resonance. 2D-NMR studies demonstrate that the B-chain beta-turn (residues B20
      23) and beta-strand (residues B24-B28) are destabilized; essentially native alpha
      helical secondary structure (residues A3-A8, A13-A18, and B9-B19) is otherwise
      maintained. 13C-Isotope-edited NOESY studies demonstrate that long-range contacts
      observed between the B-chain beta-strand and the alpha-helical core in native
      insulin are absent in the mutant. Implications for the mechanism of insulin's
      interaction with its receptor are discussed.

PMID- 1445925
TI  - Proton NMR investigation of the oxidized three-iron clusters in the ferredoxins
      from the hyperthermophilic archae Pyrococcus furiosus and Thermococcus litoralis.
AB  - The 3Fe forms of ferredoxins (Fd) from the hyperthermophilic archaebacteria
      Pyrococcus furiosus (Pf) and Thermococcus litoralis (Tl) have been investigated
      by 1H NMR. A combination of one-dimensional nuclear Overhauser and two
      dimensional NOESY and bond correlation spectroscopy provides the assignment of
      the aromatic residues, one conserved valine, and the location of the signals for
      each of the three cysteines coordinated to the clusters. Dipolar contacts between
      the Trp 2 and Tyr 46 in Pf Fd and from an invariant phenylalanine to an invariant
      valine and a cluster cysteine in both Fd confirm a folding pattern for these
      proteins that is very similar to that of the crystallographically characterized
      ferredoxin from the mesophile Desulfovibro gigas. The sequence-specific
      assignment of the buried cysteine near the invariant phenylalanine has been made.
      The temperature dependence of the contact-shifted cysteinyl residues reveals a
      distinct 2:1 asymmetry in the magnetic coupling among the three high-spin ferric
      ions, in that one cysteine exhibits Curie behavior, while the other two cysteines
      display anti-Curie behavior. These magnetic properties are rationalized
      qualitatively on the basis of a magnetic coupling scheme where two iron couple to
      yield an intermediate spin of 2 which couples to the remaining S = 5/2 iron to
      yield the total cluster spin 1/2. This magnetic asymmetry appears to be a
      characteristic feature of oxidized 3 Fe clusters. Pf Fd also undergoes a dynamic
      equilibrium between two alternate forms that differ slightly in the environment
      of two of the coordinated cysteines. Analysis of the pattern of the contact
      shifts for the three cysteines in the two ferredoxins suggests that the cysteine
      coordinated to the unique iron does not have the same sequence origin.

PMID- 1445926
TI  - Glycine transformation of Ca2+ oscillations into a sustained increase parallels
      potentiation of insulin release.
AB  - Increase of the glucose concentration from 3 to 11 mM resulted in a triphasic
      release of insulin from perifused ob/ob-mouse beta-cells. A slight inhibition was
      followed after 2 min by a marked peak and a less pronounced sustained response.
      At the lower glucose concentration glycine had only marginal effects. However, in
      the presence of 11 mM glucose, 1-10 mM glycine triggered an immediate and dose
      dependent response with an initial peak of insulin release followed by sustained
      stimulation. In individual beta-cells, rise of the glucose concentration from 3
      to 11 mM induced initial lowering of the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i)
      followed by large amplitude oscillations from a level of 50-90 nM to peak values
      exceeding 300 nM. Already at a concentration of 1 mM, glycine transformed the
      oscillatory pattern into a sustained level with increase of time-average [Ca2+]i.
      This elevation became more pronounced in the presence of 10 mM glycine. The
      effects of glycine on insulin release and [Ca2+]i required extracellular Na+ and
      were reproduced with the N-methyl analogue sarcosine. It is suggested that
      glycine potentiation of secretion reflects the elevation of time-average [Ca2+]i
      both by increased entry and reduced elimination of the cation from the cytoplasm.

PMID- 1445927
TI  - Modulation of mitomycin C resistance by glutathione transferase inhibitor
      ethacrynic acid.
AB  - This study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanism(s) of cross-resistance (4.9
      fold) to mitomycin C (MMC) in a multi-drug-resistant cell line, P388/R-84.
      Intracellular accumulation of MMC by sensitive (P388/S) and P388/R-84 cells was
      comparable. Despite a 32% reduction in NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase activity
      (responsible for MMC activation) in P388/R-84 cells, the rate of MMC bio
      reduction by sensitive and resistant cells was similar. These results suggested
      that MMC resistance in P388/R-84 cell line must depend on factors other than
      impaired drug accumulation or bio-activation. Recent studies suggest that
      glutathione transferase (GST) dependent drug detoxification also contributes to
      cellular resistance of a variety of alkylating agents. Even though overexpression
      of GST has been noted in some MMC resistant tumor cells, it is not known if its
      level affects sensitivity to MMC. We have, therefore, determined the effect of
      ethacrynic acid (an inhibitor of GST activity) treatment on MMC cytotoxicity in
      P388/R-84 cells, which have about 2-fold higher GST activity than P388/S cells.
      The IC50 value for the inhibition of GST activity in vitro by ethacrynic acid
      (EA) was 16.5 microM (5 micrograms/ml). A depletion in intracellular GSH was also
      observed by treating P388/R-84 cells with EA alone or in combination with MMC. A
      non-toxic concentration of EA (1 microgram/ml; 3.3 microM) increased MMC
      cytotoxicity by 36% in P388/R-84 cells. MMC cytotoxicity was increased 2-fold by
      EA treatment in glutathione (GSH)-depleted P388/R-84 cells. These results suggest
      that GST mediated drug inactivation may represent another important mechanism of
      MMC resistance.

PMID- 1445928
TI  - The interaction of tetanus toxin with intact bovine adrenal chromaffin cells:
      binding of toxin and subsequent inhibition of catecholamine release.
AB  - Tetanus toxin (about 1 nM) inhibits 70% of the nicotine-evoked release of
      catecholamines from intact adrenal medullary chromaffin cells after 20 h of
      incubation and 30% of the K(+)-evoked release. Inhibition of Ca(2+)-evoked
      release from detergent-permeabilized cells requires higher concentrations of
      toxin (about 1 microM) toxin, but is maximal after 12 min. Preincubation of the
      intact cells with ganglioside GT1 in the absence of toxin also inhibits evoked
      secretion. 125I-labelled toxin bound specifically to these cells; the binding
      capacity was greater at pH 6 (about 1 pmol toxin/mg cell protein) than at pH 7.4
      (about 0.25 pmol). In both cases there were at least two binding components: one
      of high affinity (Kd about 1 nM) accounting for about 20% of total binding and
      one of lower affinity (Kd 10-20 nM). Preincubation of the cells with ganglioside
      increased the binding capacity, but did not affect the Kd of the lower affinity
      component. Similar observations could be made when binding was measured
      immunocytochemically. Extraction of gangliosides from chromaffin cells and
      overlay experiments with radiolabelled toxin showed that, as well as GM3, the
      major ganglioside component of chromaffin cell membranes, a ganglioside having
      the chromatographic mobility of GT1 was a major ligand for toxin.

PMID- 1445929
TI  - Inhibition of platelet adhesion and thrombus formation on a collagen-coated
      surface by novel carbamoylpiperidine antiplatelet agents.
AB  - The inhibitory effect of two novel antiplatelet agents, 1,10-bis[3-(N,N
      diethylcarbamoyl)piperidino]decane dihydrobromide (G-110) and 1,6-bis[3-(N,N
      diethylcarbamoyl)piperidino]hexane dihydrobromide (G-112), on platelet adhesion
      and subsequent aggregation on collagen-coated surface was evaluated under
      controlled flow. Glass coverslips coated with bovine fibrillar collagen type I
      were exposed to heparinized human whole blood that had been preincubated with
      either aqueous solutions of one of the two carbamoylpiperidine congeners or
      corresponding amounts (1.0-4.0 microliters/ml blood) of distilled water, at a
      wall shear rate of 1000 s-1, in a parallel-plate perfusion chamber.
      Epifluorescence video microscopy with a microphotometric measurement technique
      was used to visualize and quantify deposition of fluorescently-labeled platelets
      from flowing whole blood onto the collagen-coated surface. At concentrations of
      100 and 200 microM, G-110 inhibited platelet accumulation by 30 +/- 9% (+/- S.E.)
      and 63 +/- 3% (+/- S.E.), respectively; while G-112 reduced platelet deposition
      by 19 +/- 3% (+/- S.E.) and 31 +/- 2% (+/- S.E.) at concentrations of 200 and 400
      microM, respectively. Digital image processing techniques were used to analyze
      the dynamics of thrombus growth on the collagen-coated surfaces. It was found
      that the compounds reduced the rate of thrombus growth by impeding both surface
      coverage and the number of platelets per thrombus in a concentration-dependent
      manner. This study, together with others on related compounds GT-12, BPAT-117 and
      BPAT-143, corroborates the nature of pivotal features in the molecular structure
      of carbamoylpiperidine and nipecotoylpiperazine derivatives which enhance
      desirable antithrombotic effects, e.g. intramolecular distance between two
      tertiary amines (ring nitrogens) and levels of hydrophobicity.

PMID- 1445930
TI  - Effects of cycloheximide, brefeldin A, suramin, heparin and primaquine on
      proteoglycan and glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis in human embryonic skin
      fibroblasts.
AB  - (1) We have isolated radiolabelled proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans produced
      by human embryonic skin fibroblasts in the presence of (a) cycloheximide to
      inhibit protein synthesis or (b) brefeldin A to impede transport between the
      endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex or (c) suramin, heparin or primaquine
      to interfere with internalization, recycling and degradation. Effects on
      glycosaminoglycan synthesis were assayed separately by using exogenous p
      nitrophenyl beta-D-xylopyranoside (and [3H]galactose) or 125I-labelled p
      hydroxyphenyl beta-D-xylopyranoside as initiators. (2) Inhibition of protein
      synthesis or blocking of transport to the Golgi complex prevented production of
      most of the proteoglycans with one exception: Cell-associated heparan sulphate
      proteoglycan was still produced at 20% of the control level. (3) Treatment with
      suramin or heparin resulted in decreased deposition of proteoglycan in the
      pericellular matrix but increased accumulation of cell-associated proteoglycan.
      Primaquine blocked all proteoglycan synthesis. (4) In the presence of
      cycloheximide, exogenous beta-D-xyloside initiated galactosaminoglycan
      production. In contrast, in brefeldin A-treated cells, synthesis was completely
      abolished. Not even formation of the linkage-region trisaccharide could be
      detected. (5) These results suggest that exogenous xyloside enters the
      endoplasmic reticulum and is subsequently transported to the trans-Golgi complex
      where all further steps involved in glycosaminoglycan assembly takes place. (6)
      Heparan sulphate proteoglycan produced by brefeldin A-treated cells could be
      derived from (a) an intracellular pool of preformed core protein located to the
      trans-Golgi complex, or (b) resident proteoglycan that was either
      deglycanated/reglycanated or chain-extended. As combined treatment with suramin
      and brefeldin A markedly reduced cell-associated proteoglycan production, the
      latter possibility is favoured.

PMID- 1445931
TI  - Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of the central nervous system of Drosophila.

PMID- 1445932
TI  - Molecular dynamics of luteinizing hormone receptors on rat luteal cells.
AB  - To better understand the in situ organization of the luteinizing hormone receptor
      on rat luteal cells, we have examined the molecular motions of this receptor
      following binding of ovine luteinizing hormone (oLH) or human chorionic
      gonadotropin (hCG). Fluorescence photobleaching recovery (FPR) measurements of LH
      receptor lateral diffusion were performed using tetramethylrhodamine
      isothiocyanate (TRITC)-derivatized oLH or hCG as a probe. These experiments
      indicate that TRITC-oLH occupied LH receptors on luteal cells obtained from
      superovulated female rats have a lateral diffusion coefficient D of (1.7 +/-
      0.6).10(-10) cm2s-1 at 27 degrees C with fluorescence recovery after
      photobleaching of 46 +/- 5%. In similar experiments, binding of TRITC-hCG caused
      a significant decrease in LH receptor lateral diffusion; fluorescence recovery
      after photobleaching was less than 20%. To determine whether hCG-occupied
      receptors might exist in large aggregates, we measured the rotational correlation
      times (RCT) of hCG and oLH bound to the LH receptor on intact cells using single
      cell polarized fluorescence depletion (PFD). At 4 degrees C, LH receptors
      occupied by eosin isothiocyanate (EITC)-hCG exhibited a slower RCT (64
      microseconds) than did receptors occupied by EITC-oLH (43 microseconds). At this
      temperature both TRITC-oLH and TRITC-hCG occupied LH receptors were laterally
      immobile. These FPR and PFD results suggest that the molecular motions of the
      luteal cell LH receptor are significantly modulated by the subtle structural
      differences in various bound gonadotropins.

PMID- 1445933
TI  - trans-5-prostaglandin E2 stimulates plasminogen activation by tissue-type
      plasminogen activator.
AB  - The effect of trans-5-prostaglandin E2 (trans-PGE2) on fibrinolysis was examined
      in vitro using synthetic chromogenic substrate S-2251. trans-PGE2 was found to
      enhance plasminogen (PLG) activation mediated by tissue-type plasminogen
      activator (tPA). The enhancing effect was dependent on the concentration of trans
      PGE2. cis-PGE2 and the other PGs (PGE1 and PGI2) did not show such an effect as
      trans-PGE2, despite to the fact that their structures are similar to that of
      trans-PGE2. trans-Configuration around the double bond at the 5-position seems to
      be important in the enhancement of the fibrinolytic activity.

PMID- 1445934
TI  - Activators of protein kinase C decrease serotonin transport in human platelets.
AB  - Treatment of human platelets with activators of protein kinase C (PKC) for 5-20
      min resulted in substantial reductions in the rate of platelet serotonin (5-HT)
      transport. The mean Vmax observed after 5 min treatment with 1 microM 4-beta-12
      tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (beta-TPA) was 66% (n = 16, P = 0.0001) of the
      control value. 5 min of treatment with 1 microM mezerein reduced uptake to 78% (n
      = 3, P = 0.01) of control. Both beta-TPA and mezerein had little effect on the Km
      of transport and had EC50 values of approx. 100 mM when a 20-min treatment period
      was used. The maximum effects of both were reached at approx. 20 min and could be
      blocked with staurospine. The beta-TPA effect was stereospecific, as alpha-TPA
      did not alter platelet 5-HT uptake. Although the PKC activators may have altered
      transmembrane ion-gradients for Na+ and Cl-, which are co-transported with 5-HT,
      minimizing ion-gradient changes had little effect on the observed reductions in
      transport. The PKC activators also had little or no effect on platelet 5-HT
      release or on the number (Bmax) of 5-HT transporters expressed at the platelet
      surface. The data indicate that PKC activation may down-regulate the activity of
      the 5-HT transporter in platelets. Apparently, most of this effect is mediated
      through mechanisms other than changes in ion-gradients, reductions in the number
      of available transporters, or increased 5-HT release. The apparent regulation of
      5-HT transport by PKC may have important implications in platelet and neuronal
      functioning.

PMID- 1445935
TI  - Phytohormonal regulation of S-adenosylmethionine synthetase by gibberellic acid
      in wheat aleurones.
AB  - Gibberellic acid (GA3) brought about a 3-fold stimulation of AdoMet synthetase
      activity in wheat aleurones. At the qualitative level, three isozymes of AdoMet
      synthetase were observed by DE-52 chromatography in GA3-treated wheat aleurones.
      In contrast, the control wheat aleurones showed a single isozyme. Thus the
      phytohormone (GA3, 1 microM) induced two additional isozymes of AdoMet synthetase
      in wheat aleurones. The activity of all the three isozymes in GA3-treated
      aleurones was considerably decreased by the simultaneous presence of abscisic
      acid (ABA, 10 microM). Cycloheximide (20 micrograms/ml) also significantly
      lowered the levels of the three isozymes of AdoMet synthetase in Ga3-treated
      aleurones, thereby suggesting the requirement of de-novo protein synthesis for
      the complete induction of isozymes. However, wheat aleurones excised from
      embryonated wheat seeds, did not require the application of GA3 for the induction
      of two additional isozymes of AdoMet synthetase. Apparently, the transport of GA3
      from the embryo to aleurones induced two new isozymes of AdoMet synthetase. Three
      isozymes of AdoMet synthetase were also observed in wheat embryos excised from
      germinated wheat grains, without exogenous application of GA3. The molecular
      weight of all the three isozymes of AdoMet synthetase in wheat system is 181,000.
      The molecular weight of the subunit of the enzyme is 84,000. The dimeric nature
      of AdoMet synthetase was established by SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified enzyme.
      In-vitro hybridization of two flanking isozymic peaks I and III by NaCl-freeze
      thaw method resulted in the appearance of an additional middle activity peak
      (isozyme II). However, no additional isozymic peaks were generated when isozymic
      peaks I and III were individually given a freeze-thaw treatment. Thus the
      flanking isozymic peaks I and III represent homodimers that differed in their net
      charge. In contrast, the middle isozymic activity peak II, when subjected to NaCl
      freeze-thaw treatments yielded two additional isozymic peaks, I and III, thereby
      suggesting its heterodimeric nature. We envisage that the three isozymes in GA3
      treated wheat aleurone layers are formed by the random dimerization of two
      classes of enzyme subunits. The two enzyme subunits which differ in their net
      charge could be the product of two genes of AdoMet synthetase (SAM1 and SAM2).
      Based on this assumption, we propose that a single isozyme I in water imbibed
      control wheat aleurones is the product of SAM1 gene of AdoMet synthetase. The
      occurrence of three isozymes in GA3-treated aleurones could be ascribed to the
      expression of an alternate gene of AdoMet synthetase (SAM2 gene).(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1445936
TI  - Conservation of sequences of subunits of mitochondrial complex I and their
      relationships with other proteins.

PMID- 1445937
TI  - Thermoluminescence and flash-induced oxygen yield in herbicide resistant mutants
      of the D1 protein in Synechococcus PCC7942.
AB  - Several strains of Synechococcus PCC7942 carrying point mutations in the gene
      psbA were studied by thermoluminescence and polarographic measurement of flash
      induced oxygen yield. The following results were obtained: (a) Replacement of Ser
      264 in D1 by Ala (mutant Di1) or Gly (mutant G264) resulting in DCMU and atrazine
      resistance leads to a downshift of the thermoluminescence (TL) B-band peak
      temperature from 40 degrees C in wild-type thylakoids to about 30 degrees C. In
      dark adapted samples of both mutants the TL and oxygen yield pattern induced by a
      train of single turnover flashes were strongly damped indicative of a high miss
      factor. (b) In contrast to Ser-264 mutants, replacement of Phe-255 in D1 by Tyr
      (mutant Tyr5) induced strong resistance to atrazine but not to DCMU and did not
      affect the peak termperature of the B-band and the flash-induced TL and oxygen
      yield patterns. In this respect mutant Tyr5 resembles the wild type. (c) No
      significant differences have been found between strains with single site
      mutations in psbAI and normal psbAII/psbAIII genes, and strains with same
      mutations in psbAI but additional deletion of psbAII and psbAIII. Obviously in
      strains were psbAI is present, PS II complexes containing gene products of psbAII
      and psbAIII are not assembled in detectable amounts. (d) Strains with double
      mutations at positions 264 and 255 display a downshift of the B-band peak
      temperature. Their oscillatory patterns of B-band intensity and oxygen yield are
      highly damped. This behaviour is similar to strains D1 and G264 which are
      modified at position 264 only. We extend reports on additivity of mutation
      effects on herbicide binding to binding of QB. (e) Mutations at the QB site not
      only influence the binding of QB and herbicides but also change the
      thermoluminescence quantum yield and the lifetimes of the redox states S2 and S3
      of the water oxidase. This finding might indicate long ranging effects on
      Photosystem II exerted by structural modifications of the QB site. From these
      data we conclude that Ser-264 is essential for binding of atrazine, DCMU and QB,
      whereas Phe-255 is involved in atrazine binding and its substitution by Tyr does
      not markedly affect QB or DCMU binding in Synechococcus PCC7942.

PMID- 1445938
TI  - Added subunit beta of CF1 as well as gamma/delta/epsilon restore
      photophosphorylation in partially CF1-depleted thylakoids.
AB  - We investigated the ability of subunits beta, gamma, delta, and epsilon of CF1,
      the F1-ATPase of chloroplasts, to interact with exposed CF0 in EDTA-treated,
      partially CF1-depleted thylakoid membranes. We measured the ability of subunits
      beta, gamma, delta, and epsilon to stimulate the rate of photophosphorylation
      under continuous light and, for subunit beta, also the ability to diminish the
      proton leakage through exposed CF0 by deceleration of the decay of electrochromic
      absorption transients under flashing light. The greatest effect was caused by
      subunit beta, followed by gamma/delta/epsilon. Pairwise combinations of gamma,
      delta, and epsilon or each of these subunits alone were only marginally
      effective. Subunit gamma from the thermophilic bacterium PS 3 in combination with
      chloroplast delta and epsilon was as effective as chloroplast gamma. The finding
      that the small CF1 subunits in concert and the beta subunit by itself
      specifically interacted with the exposed proton channel CF0, qualifies the
      previous concept of subunit delta acting particularly as a plug to the open CF0
      channel. The interactions between the channel and the catalytic portion of the
      enzyme seem to involve most of the small, and at least beta of the large
      subunits.

PMID- 1445939
TI  - The effect of delta mu H+ on the interaction of rotenone with complex I of
      submitochondrial particles.
AB  - The inhibition by rotenone of the forward (NADH-oxidase) and reverse (delta mu
      H(+)-dependent succinate-NAD+ reductase activities of submitochondrial vesicles
      was measured. The inhibition of NADH-oxidase, measured in the presence of
      uncoupler, followed a monophasic inhibition curve with Ki < or = 2 nM. The
      reverse electron flow was only partially (40%) inhibited at these rotenone
      concentrations. The rest of the activity was less sensitive to the inhibitor (Ki
      approximately 30 nM). The lower affinity for the inhibitor of the reverse
      electron flow is a consequence of enhanced rate of rotenone dissociation caused
      by the high delta mu H+ value required for this reaction. The analysis of the
      results indicates that the AS-SMP preparation consists of two subpopulations: one
      with a relatively low degree of coupling, which exhibits high sensitivity to
      rotenone and the other which is highly coupled with lower affinity to the
      inhibitor.

PMID- 1445940
TI  - Prediction of transmembrane topology of F0 proteins from Escherichia coli F1F0
      ATP synthase using variational and hydrophobic moment analyses.
AB  - The a subunit, a membrane protein from the E. coli F1F0 ATP synthase has been
      examined by Fourier analysis of hydrophobicity and of amino-acid residue
      variation. The amino-acid sequences of homologous subunits from Vibrio
      alginolyticus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Neurospora crassa, Aspergillus nidulans,
      Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Candida parapsilosis were used in the variability
      analysis. By Fourier analysis of sequence variation, two transmembrane helices
      are predicted to have one face in contact with membrane lipids, while the other
      spans are predicted to be more shielded from the lipids by protein. By Fourier
      analysis of hydrophobicity, six amphipathic alpha-helical segments are predicted
      in extra-membrane regions, including the region from Glu-196 to Asn-214. Fourier
      analysis of sequence variation in the b- and the c-subunits of the Escherichia
      coli F1F0 ATP synthase indicates that the single transmembrane span of the b
      subunit and the C-terminal span of the c subunit each have a face in contact with
      membrane lipids. On the basis of this analysis topographical models for the a-
      and c-subunits and for the F0 complex are proposed.

PMID- 1445941
TI  - Microtubule organization by cross-linking and bundling proteins.
AB  - To understand microtubule function the factors regulating their spatial
      organization and their interaction with cellular organelles, including other
      microtubules, must be elucidated. Many proteins are implicated in these
      organizational events and the known consequences of their actions within the cell
      are increasing. For example, the function of microtubule bundles at the surfaces
      of polarized cells has recently received attention, as has the action in cortical
      rotation of a transient arrangement of microtubules found beneath the vegetal
      surface of fertilized frog eggs. The in vivo association of microtubules during
      early Xenopus oogenesis has added interest as microtubules bundled in cell-free
      extracts are protected against the action of a severing protein found in this
      animal. A 52 kDa F-actin bundling protein purified from Physarum polycephalum
      organizes microtubules and causes the cobundling of microtubules and
      microfilaments. These observations, in concert with others that are presented,
      emphasize the diversity within the family of microtubule cross-linking proteins.
      The challenge is to determine which proteins are relevant from a physiological
      perspective, to ascertain their molecular mechanisms of action and to describe
      how they affect cytoplasmic organization and cell function. To realize this
      objective, the proteins which cross-link and bundle microtubules must be
      investigated by techniques which reveal different but related aspects of their
      properties. Cloning and sequencing of genes for cross-linking proteins, their
      subcellular localization especially as microtubule-related changes in cell
      morphology are occurring and the application of genetic studies are necessary.
      Study of the neural MAP provides the best example of just how powerful current
      experimental approaches are and at the same time shows their limits. The neural
      MAP have long been noted for their enhancement of tubulin assembly and
      microtubule stability. Their spatial distribution has been studied during the
      morphogenesis of neural cells. Sequencing of cloned genes has revealed the
      functional domains of neural MAP including carboxy-terminal microtubule-binding
      sites. Similarities to microtubule binding proteins from other cell types
      stimulate interest in the neural MAP and further suggest their importance in
      microtubule organization. For example, MAP4 enjoys a wide cellular distribution
      and has microtubule-binding sequences very similar to those in the neural MAP.
      Moreover, the nontubulin proteins of marginal bands are immunologically related
      to neural MAP, indicating shared structural/functional domains. Even with these
      findings the mechanism by which neural MAP cross-link microtubules remains
      uncertain. Indeed, some researchers express doubt that microtubule cross-linking
      is actually a function of neural MAP in vivo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1445943
TI  - Purine nucleoside phosphorylase from bovine lens: purification and properties.
AB  - Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (purine nucleoside: orthophosphate
      ribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.1) was purified 38,750-fold to apparent
      electrophoretic homogeneity from bovine ocular lens. The enzyme appears to be a
      homotrimer with a molecular weight of 97,000, and displays non-linear kinetics
      with concave downward curvature in double-reciprocal plots with orthophosphate as
      variable substrate. The analysis of the kinetic parameters of bovine lens purine
      nucleoside phosphorylase, determined both for the phosphorolytic activity on
      nucleosides and for ribosylating activity on purine bases, indicates the
      occurrence of a rapid equilibrium random Bi-Bi mechanism with formation of
      abortive complexes. The effect of pH on the enzyme activity and on the
      sensitivity of the enzyme to photoinactivation, as well as the effect of thiol
      reagents on the enzyme activity and stability, strongly suggest the involvement
      of histidine and cysteine residues in the active site. From the measurements of
      the kinetic parameters at different temperatures, heats of formation of the
      enzyme-substrate complex for guanosine, guanine, orthophosphate and ribose 1
      phosphate were determined. Activation energies of 15,250 and 14,650 cal/mol were
      obtained for phosphorolysis and synthesis of guanosine, respectively.

PMID- 1445942
TI  - Multinuclear NMR studies of the trp-repressor.
AB  - The binding of the corepressor, L-tryptophan, to the Escherichia coli trp
      aporepressor in solution has been examined by 13C- and 19F-NMR spectroscopy. The
      binding of a number of tryptophan analogues have been studied by equilibrium
      dialysis. Evidence is presented that support the crystallographic studies
      (Schevitz, R. W., Otwinowski, Z., Joachimiak, A., Lawson, C. L. and Sigler, P. B.
      (1985) Nature 317, 782-786) that Val-58 is within the ring currents of the bound
      tryptophan and also close in space to the indole 5'-position, on the basis of
      heteronuclear 19F(1H)-NOE experiments. The tryptophan carboxylate is in hydrogen
      bonding distance to a highly positively charged residue, probably Arg-54 and this
      bond strengthens on formation of the trp-repressor-DNA complex.

PMID- 1445944
TI  - An immunochemical assay model system for the sensitive detection of pyruvate
      dehydrogenase complex (PDHc) and its decarboxylating subunit pyruvate
      dehydrogenase (E1).
AB  - An immunochemical enzyme immunoassay model system was developed and compared for
      maximum sensitivity with a radioimmunoassay method and the classic enzyme
      activity method for the detection of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHc) and
      its decarboxylating subunit, pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1), isolated from
      Escherichia coli. Cross-linked large molecular weight antibody-enzyme conjugate
      systems are compared with heterobifunctional singular antibody conjugates
      substituted with high levels of horseradish peroxidase. Both polyclonal and
      monoclonal antibodies generated to the Escherichia coli PDHc and E1 antigens were
      used to develop a double-antibody sandwich microtiter plate enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay. It is demonstrated that a double sandwich immunochemical
      assay system can be quantitative for PDHc, can detect PDHc in crude cell lysates
      and has levels of sensitivity of 2.0.10(-16) mol for the detection of PDHc. This
      assay model system provides specific antibody selection criteria and coupling
      methods needed to select specific antisera that cross-react with human PDHc. This
      rapid and sensitive immunochemical assay method clearly demonstrates that
      sensitive mass assay systems can be developed for the detection of PDHc.
      Different from Western blot, this methodology could be used to generate mass
      assays which could be applied to the rapid detection of mammalian antigens
      (employing the corresponding antibodies) implicated in a number of pyruvate
      dehydrogenase deficiencies associated with human disorders.

PMID- 1445945
TI  - Nucleophile specificity in alpha-chymotrypsin- and subtilisin-(Bacillus subtilis
      strain 72) catalyzed reactions.
AB  - Nucleophilic properties of amino-acid amides were studied systematically in acyl
      transfer reactions catalyzed by alpha-chymotrypsin and subtilisin from Bacillus
      subtilis strain 72 (subtilisin 72) using Mal-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-PheOMe as the acyl
      group donor. In alpha-chymotrypsin-catalyzed reactions, the nucleophile
      reactivities increase in the following order: D-AlaNH2 < GlyNH2 < L-AlaNH2 < L
      SerNH2 < L-ThrNH2 < L-HisNH2 < L-ValNH2 < L-LeuNH2 < L-TrpNH2 < L-MetNH2 < L
      NvaNH2 < L-PheNH2 < L-IleNH2 < L-TyrNH2 < L-ArgNH2. In reactions catalyzed by
      subtilisin 72, the reactivities increase as follows: L-LeuNH2 < L-IleNH2 < L
      ThrNH2 < L-ArgNH2 < L-TrpNH2 < L-NvaNH2 < L-ValNH2 < L-MetNH2 < L-AlaNH2 < L
      SerNH2 < D-AlaNH2 < GlyNH2. In alpha-chymotrypsin-catalyzed reactions,
      hydrophobic interactions are entirely responsible for the differences between the
      reactivity of the nucleophiles for amides of all the amino-acids tested with the
      exception of D-AlaNH2, L-ArgNH2 and L-TyrNH2. In reactions catalyzed by
      subtilisin 72, amino-acid side-chain characteristics and the nucleophile
      reactivities are not related. The data obtained show the low selectivity of the
      S1' subsite of subtilisin 72 and high specificity of this subsite in alpha
      chymotrypsin.

PMID- 1445946
TI  - Purification and characterization of a low M(r) GTP-binding protein, c25KG, from
      human platelet membranes.
AB  - A low M(r) GTP-binding protein with a M(r) of 26,000 has been purified from a
      sodium cholate extract of human platelet membranes by using an antibody raised
      against a synthetic peptide of c25KG, which was previously purified from human
      platelet cytosol (Nagata, N., et al. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 17000-17005). The
      M(r) of membranous c25KG (m-c25KG) was slightly higher than that from cytosolic
      c25KG (M(r) 25,000) and calculated to be 26,000. It was suggested that m-c25KG
      contains an equimolar amount of GDP. The purified protein could bind approx. 1
      mol of [35S]guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate)(GTP gamma S)/mol of protein, with a
      Kd value of 50 nM. [35S]GTP gamma S-binding to this protein was inhibited by GTP
      and GDP, but not by ATP and ADP, showing that the binding is specific for
      guanine. In the presence of 10 mM Mg2+, the dissociation of [8,5'-3H]GDP from the
      m-c25KG occurred with a rate of 0.01 min-1. The rate of release of Pi from [gamma
      32P]GTP-bound m-c25KG was calculated to be 0.03 min-1. These results indicate
      that c25KG is also present in membrane fraction of human platelet which has very
      similar biochemical properties in those of the cytosolic type.

PMID- 1445947
TI  - Expression of a hyperthermophilic aspartate aminotransferase in Escherichia coli.
AB  - The gene for an archaebacterial hyperthermophilic enzyme, aspartate
      aminotransferase from Sulfolobus solfataricus (AspATSs), was expressed in
      Escherichia coli and the enzyme purified to homogeneity. A suitable expression
      vector and host strain were selected and culture conditions were optimized so
      that 6-7 mg of pure enzyme per litre of culture were obtained repeatedly. The
      recombinant enzyme and the authentic AspATSs are indistinguishable: in fact, they
      have the same molecular weight, estimated by means of SDS-PAGE and gel
      filtration, the same Km values for 2-oxo-glutarate and cysteine sulphinate and
      the same UV-visible spectra. Moreover, recombinant AspATSs is thermophilic and
      thermostable just as the enzyme extracted from Sulfolobus solfataricus. The
      protocol described may be used to produce thermostable arachaebacterial enzymes
      in mesophilic hosts.

PMID- 1445948
TI  - Plant cytosolic pyruvate kinase: a kinetic study.
AB  - The kinetic properties of cytosolic pyruvate kinase (PKc) from germinating castor
      oil seeds (COS) have been investigated. From experiments in which the free Mg2+
      concentration was varied at constant levels of either the complexed or free forms
      of the substrates it was determined that the true substrates are the free forms
      of both phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and ADP. This conclusion is corroborated by the
      quenching of intrinsic PKC tryptophan fluorescence by free PEP and ADP. Mg2+ is
      bound as the free bivalent cation but is likely released as MgATP. The
      fluorescence data, substrate interaction kinetics, and pattern of inhibition by
      products and substrate analogues (adenosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) for ADP and
      phenyl phosphate for PEP) are compatible with a sequential, compulsory-ordered,
      Tri-Bi type kinetic reaction mechanism. PEP is the leading substrate, and
      pyruvate the last product to abandon the enzyme. The dissociation constant and
      limiting Km for free PEP (8.2 to 22 and 38 microM, respectively) and the limiting
      Km for free ADP (2.9 microM) are considerably lower than those reported for the
      non-plant enzyme. The results indicate that COS PKc exists naturally in an
      activated state, similar to the fructose 1,6-bisphosphate-activated yeast enzyme.
      This deduction is consistent with a previous study (F.E. Podesta and W.C. Plaxton
      (1991) Biochem. J. 279, 495-501) that failed to identify any allosteric
      activators for the COS PKc, but which proposed a regulatory mechanism based upon
      ATP levels and pH-dependent alterations in the enzyme's response to various
      metabolite inhibitors. As plant phosphofructokinases display potent inhibition by
      PEP, the overall rate of glycolytic flux from hexose 6-phosphate to pyruvate in
      the plant cytosol will ultimately depend upon variations in PEP levels brought
      about by the regulation of PKc.

PMID- 1445949
TI  - Catalytic oxidation of 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanine by tyrosinase:
      identification and evolution of intermediates.
AB  - The oxidation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa) by O2 catalyzed by tyrosinase
      yields 4-(2-carboxy-2-aminoethyl)-1,2-benzoquinone, with its amino group
      protonated (o-dopaquinone-H+). This evolves non-enzymatically through two
      branches (cyclization and/or hydroxylation), whose respective operations are
      determined by pH. The hydroxylation branch of o-dopaquinone-H+ only operates
      significantly at pH < or = 5.0 and involves the accumulation of 2,4,5
      trihydroxyphenylalanine (topa), which has been detected by high-performance
      liquid chromatography (HPLC). This last compound is also a substrate of
      tyrosinase. The oxidation of topa by both tyrosinase and periodate yields 5-(2
      carboxy-2-aminoethyl)-4-hydroxy-1,2-benzoquinone, with its amino group protonated
      (o-topaquinone-H+), which is red (RTQH) (lambda max 272-485 nm) at pH 7.0 and
      yellow (TTQH) (lambda max 265-390 nm) at pH 3.0. This is based on pKa 4.5 of the
      2-OH group of the benzene ring of o-topaquinone-H+, as derived from
      spectrophotometric and HPLC assays. At physiological pH, RTQH undergoes
      deprotonation of the ammonium group of the side chain to yields RTQ, which
      cyclize into 2-carboxy-2,3-dihydroxyindolen-5,6-quinone (dopachrome), with a 1:1
      stoichiometry and first-order kinetics. The evolution of RTQH has been analyzed
      by spectrophotometry, HPLC, cyclic voltammetry and constant potential
      electrolytic assays. From HPLC assays, the value of the first-order constant for
      the evolution of RTQH at pH 7.0 (kRTQHapp 4.83 x 10(-5) s-1), as well as of the
      rate constant for the cyclization step of RTQ (kRTQc 2.53 x 10(-3) s-1) were
      determined.

PMID- 1445950
TI  - Glycyrrhetinic acid bound to 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in rat liver
      microsomes.
AB  - A binding protein which exhibits high affinity to [3H]glycyrrhetinic-acid in the
      rat liver microsomal fraction was solubilized with 0.2% Triton DF-18 and then
      purified to homogeneity. The equilibrium dissociation constant of the
      [3H]glycyrrhetinic-acid binding reaction and the maximal concentration for the
      binding of the purified protein, as determined by Scatchard plot analysis, were
      27.6 nM and 7.79 nmol/mg protein, respectively. The molecular mass of the subunit
      (34 kDa) and 30 amino acids of N-terminal sequence of the purified protein were
      entirely the same as those of the reported 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
      (11 beta-HSD). In each purification step, the recovery and purification (fold) of
      the glycyrrhetinic-acid binding activity corresponded to the values of 11 beta
      HSD activity. These results show that the purified [3H]glycyrrhetinic-acid
      binding protein is 11 beta-HSD. From the molecular mass of 11 beta-HSD (135 kDa)
      and the maximal concentration of the binding site, it was calculated that one
      glycyrrhetinic acid molecule binds to one 11 beta-HSD molecule. The inhibitory
      effects of various glycyrrhetinic-acid derivatives on [3H]glycyrrhetinic acid
      binding and 11 beta-HSD activity indicate that the C30-carboxyl and C11-carbonyl
      groups of glycyrrhetinic acid are the principal structures for the 11 beta-HSD
      inhibition.

PMID- 1445951
TI  - A 1H-NMR study of the interactions between rat tissue kallikrein and two peptide
      inhibitors.
AB  - The 1H-NMR spectra have been obtained for rat submandibular kallikrein in the
      absence and presence of inhibitors. Two competitive inhibitors were investigated,
      the tripeptide leupeptin (a potent inhibitor with Ki 0.5 microM) and a
      hexapeptide (a much weaker, substrate-analogue inhibitor with Ki 380 microM).
      Analysis of the NMR spectra showed that binding of leupeptin to kallikrein led to
      a change in the conformation of the enzyme, whereas binding of the substrate
      analogue to the enzyme produced no such change and may have resulted in a
      conformational change of the inhibitor.

PMID- 1445952
TI  - What methods of pediatric pain management can be incorporated into a generalist's
      anesthesia practice?
AB  - Historically, pain in ill and injured pediatric patients has not been recognized
      or attended to. Subsequently, children often suffer in silence. Caretakers are
      often fearful to intervene aggressively to alleviate pain. A critical evaluation
      and integrative approach to the treatment of pediatric pain has only recently
      emerged, and curricula addressing the physiologic, behavioral, and biochemical
      differences related to pain has only recently been instituted in some medical
      schools and pediatric training programs. Children deserve special consideration
      in pain management since they may not be capable of comprehending the need for
      painful procedures and may not have learned strategies to cope with them. The
      importance of a comprehensive evaluation can not be overstated. The anesthetist
      can be of great assistance in pain management of the pediatric surgical patient
      by assessing his patient's postoperative pain needs and planning his/her
      anesthetic technique and recovery room course accordingly. Research in pediatric
      pain is still in its infancy, with crucial issues yet to be addressed. One of the
      most important is how to individualize the treatment of pain. We also need to
      learn more about children's natural coping styles and how parents and health care
      providers can enhance their effectiveness in contributing to the therapeutic
      team. It is hoped that readers will notice their patient's behaviors a little
      more closely, think about the extent of their private suffering, and become
      willing to offer a more studied, justifiable, and aggressive approach to
      pediatric pain management.

PMID- 1445953
TI  - A study of six common neuroanesthesia cases.
AB  - Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) provide anesthesia to a wide
      spectrum of patients, including those undergoing various neurosurgical
      procedures. While some CRNAs specialize in neuroanesthesia, most are involved on
      a more episodic basis. Using a case study format, this article reviews the
      pathophysiology associated with six common neurologic conditions the general
      practice CRNA may encounter. Important anesthesia considerations for each
      condition are discussed.

PMID- 1445954
TI  - Central anticholinergic syndrome in a pediatric patient following transdermal
      scopolamine patch placement.
AB  - A 9-year-old child was admitted to the hospital with congenital left
      ureteropelvic junction obstruction with massive left pyelocaliectasis and
      underwent dismembered pyeloplasty of the left kidney under general anesthesia
      without complications. Postoperatively, the child was placed on patient
      controlled analgesia, with morphine as the drug of choice. The patient was
      discharged to the ward with adequate pain control and no complaints of nausea or
      vomiting. Once on the ward, a transdermal scopolamine patch was placed for nausea
      and vomiting. More than 24 hours after patch placement, the child experienced
      central anticholinergic syndrome (CAS) with hallucinations and incontinence. The
      scopolamine patch was promptly removed, and all symptoms of CAS rapidly ceased. A
      transdermal scopolamine patch should not be used in the pediatric population, and
      with extreme caution in the elderly. Treatment of CAS includes prompt removal of
      the patch, cleansing of the area, and possible physostigmine administration.

PMID- 1445955
TI  - Ketorolac as a preoperative nonnarcotic analgesic to enhance anesthesia and
      postanesthesia recovery.
AB  - The benefits of using ketorolac as a preoperative intramuscular (IM) non-narcotic
      analgesic are described and illustrated by the presentation of two case reports.
      Case Summary--Patient 1: A 53-year-old female who had experienced refractory
      nausea and vomiting after six previous exposures to anesthesia presented for
      outpatient ureteroscopy and dilatation of strictures. Instead of using an opiate
      narcotic, ketorolac 60 mg IM was given 1 hour before induction as the analgesic
      portion of anesthesia. Case Summary--Patient 2: A 65-year-old male with mild
      chronic obstructive lung disease presented for extracorporeal shock wave
      lithotripsy (ESWL). To avoid the respiratory depression associated with opioid
      narcotics, ketorolac 60 mg IM was given as an analgesic 1 hour before the ESWL
      procedure.

PMID- 1445957
TI  - Representation by organized labor unions may no longer be an effective solution
      to providing employment security to CRNAs in the 1990s.

PMID- 1445956
TI  - Professional wake-up call: health care reform legislation.

PMID- 1445958
TI  - Changed purine nucleotide concentrations and enzyme activities in erythrocytes of
      haemodialysis patients undergoing erythropoietin therapy.
AB  - Therapy of renal anaemia in haemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure by
      application of recombinant human erythropoietin leads to an increase of the
      haematocrit. Rejuvenation of the erythrocyte population results in a decrease of
      the median density (D50), an increase of cell age-dependent enzyme activities,
      such as aspartate aminotransferase, and elevated concentrations of purine
      nucleotides in the erythrocytes. After density gradient separation of erythrocyte
      populations into cell age-dependent fractions, the concentrations of adenosine-5'
      triphosphate, guanosine-5'-triphosphate and guanosine-5'-diphosphate were be
      found to be elevated by 25-100% in all cell fractions from haemodialysis
      patients, compared with a healthy control group. Therapy of haemodialysis
      patients with recombinant human erythropoietin leads to further increase (65%) of
      ATP in the younger (low density) cells, but not in the older (high density)
      cells. The elevated concentrations of ATP and total adenine nucleotides during
      recombinant human erythropoietin therapy possibly result in improved
      deformability of erythrocytes. The data point to an enhancement of the proportion
      of younger erythrocytes, but not to an improvement of the reduced life span of
      erythrocytes of haemodialysis patients during therapy with recombinant human
      erythropoietin.

PMID- 1445959
TI  - Comparison of markers of coagulation activation in patients under oral
      anticoagulation at different levels.
AB  - Three groups of patients receiving oral anticoagulation treatment were evaluated.
      The groups consisted of patients with mechanical heart valve prosthesis (n = 60),
      patients after coronary bypass graft surgery (n = 60) and patients using oral
      anticoagulation after deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism (n = 60). The
      patient groups were subdivided into three groups of 20 patients, each group
      receiving different levels of oral anticoagulation as indicated by the
      international normalized ratio (INR). Prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, thrombin
      antithrombin III complexes and fibrin monomers were determined as coagulation
      activation makers. The prothrombin fragments 1 + 2 were INR dependent in all
      groups whereas the thrombin-antithrombin III values were only INR dependent in
      the group of patients with mechanical heart valve prosthesis. For fibrin monomers
      no correlation with the INR levels could be found. These results indicate that
      prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 is the only laboratory quantity of the three, which
      provides a suitable index of low thrombin activity during anticoagulation
      therapy.

PMID- 1445960
TI  - Coagulation and fibrinolysis markers in seminal plasma of patients under
      evaluation for involuntary childlessness.
AB  - Semen specimens from four groups of patients were evaluated for coagulation and
      fibrinolysis factors: a group of patients with infertile semen and involuntary
      childlessness (n = 35), a group with fertile semen and involuntary childlessness
      (n = 39), a group with fertile semen and proven fertility before vasectomy (n =
      34) and a group with infertile semen after vasectomy (n = 147). The third patient
      group with proven fertility before vasectomy was considered as a control group.
      Only small amounts of fibrinogen, factor VIII:c, plasminogen, antithrombin III,
      fibrin monomers and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 were detected in seminal
      plasma. The thrombin-antithrombin III, D-dimer and tissue plasminogen activator
      regular concentrations were measured and the D-dimer/thrombin-antithrombin III
      ratios calculated. The reference ranges were assessed and the quantities were
      compared in the different patient groups. Significant differences were
      demonstrated between the prevasectomy group (= control group) and both the
      postvasectomy and the infertility groups with respect to D-dimer and D
      dimer/thrombin-antithrombin III ratio. We conclude that both coagulation and
      fibrinolysis play a part in coagulum formation and liquefaction of seminal
      plasma. The balance between coagulation and fibrinolysis (expressed as D
      dimer/thrombin-antithrombin III ratio) was significantly different between the
      control group and the three patient groups. The coagulation/fibrinolysis balance
      was impaired in the semen from post vasectomy patients and from those with
      involuntary childlessness and the D-dimer/thrombin-antithrombin III ratios in
      both these patient groups were very similar.

PMID- 1445961
TI  - Structural and functional characterization of plasma fibronectin in patients with
      essential mixed cryoglobulinaemia.
AB  - Experimental studies suggest that plasma fibronectin may be involved in the
      cryoprecipitation of cryoglobulins in essential mixed cryoglobulinaemia; reduced
      plasma concentrations of the glycoprotein have been shown in the disease. The
      present work was undertaken in order to verify this latter finding and to detect
      a possible structural alteration of plasma fibronectin as result of enzymatic
      digestion of the molecule in vivo. This could, in turn, induce a decreased
      reactivity of the protein in immunometric assays and a reduced opsonic activity,
      which is normally due to the affinity of fibronectin to the C1q component of
      complement. Moreover, since a polymorphic variant of fibronectin has been
      described in plasma during experimental vascular injury and in patients with
      autoimmune vascular diseases, the aim of this study was also to verify the
      presence of a polymorphism of the glycoprotein in cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis.
      Twenty seven patients with essential mixed cryoglobulinaemia and 26 normal
      subjects were included in the study. Significantly reduced concentrations of
      plasma fibronectin, as assessed by ELISA, were found in patients when compared
      with controls (231.7 +/- 15.3 vs 316.1 +/- 16.6 mg/l, P less than 0.0002). In
      contrast, when affinity-purified plasma fibronectin from 10 patients with
      essential mixed cryoglobulinaemia and 8 healthy subjects were analysed by western
      blotting, employing a panel of five monoclonal antibodies to different regions of
      the molecule, no differences were observed between patients and controls,
      suggesting integrity of the glycoprotein in the disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1445962
TI  - Enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway in glutathione-regulated membrane
      protection in beta-thalassaemia.
AB  - The mass concentrations of whole blood reduced glutathione and catalytic activity
      concentrations of the enzymes, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49),
      glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2) and glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.9) were
      analysed in 25 cases of homozygous beta-thalassaemia, 20 cases of heterozygous
      beta-thalassaemia and 10 controls. The results showed a significant elevation of
      reduced glutathione and enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway in homozygous
      beta-thalassaemia, indicating the existence of an enzyme-regulated glutathione
      turnover system in the overt state to combat the augmented red cell membrane
      damage due to auto-oxidant threat. However, in heterozygous beta-thalassaemia,
      reduced glutathione was increased, but there was no similar elevation of enzymes
      except for glutathione peroxidase.

PMID- 1445963
TI  - Multicentre evaluation of a two-step automated enzyme immunoassay of free
      thyroxine.
AB  - The two-step enzymatic immunoassay of free thyroxine (IMx FT4, Abbott
      Laboratories, Chicago, IL) was studied in three centres. The assay involved a
      fluorimetric measurement and took 45 minutes using a completely automated
      procedure. The results were compared with those from the free thyroxine two-step
      radioimmunoassay and with the "calculation" of free thyroxine. The analytical
      precision was found to be excellent if the analyser was correctly set. The IMx
      FT4 assay seemed unaffected by increased concentrations of albumin and of non
      esterified fatty acids (oleic acid) up to 5 mmol/l. The euthyroid reference
      interval, defined as that including 95% of 194 control subjects, was 12-21
      pmol/l. A limited overlap existed between euthyroid and hyperthyroid patients,
      but a larger one was seen between the euthyroid and hypothyroid population, the
      latter including subclinical hypothyroidism. IMx FT4 results agreed well when
      compared with those from two-step radioimmunoassays. The IMx FT4 technique gave
      rise to a low percentage of elevated results in patients being treated with
      heparin, but was undisturbed by autoantibodies to thyroxine and triiodothyronine
      which were present in one hypothyroid patient.

PMID- 1445964
TI  - Proposal of standard methods for the determination of enzyme catalytic
      concentrations in serum and plasma at 37 degrees C. III. Glutamate dehydrogenase
      (L-glutamate: NAD(P)+ oxidoreductase (deaminating), EC 1.4.1.3). Working Group on
      Enzymes.

PMID- 1445965
TI  - Ziskind-Somerfeld Research Award 1992. Endogenous biochemical abnormalities in
      affective illness: therapeutic versus pathogenic.
AB  - Examination of the neurobiology of psychiatric illness in general, and of
      affective disorders in particular, reveals a variety of associated biochemical
      abnormalities. These have generally been assumed to be part of the pathological
      process or secondary to it, and thus deserving of therapeutic efforts aimed at
      reversal. However, recent clinical and preclinical data suggest that some
      alterations occurring in the affective disorders may be compensatory and
      adaptive; that is, part of an endogenous therapeutic mechanism rather than part
      of the evolving disease process. For example, the symptom of sleep loss in
      depression seems to fall under this rubric inasmuch as sleep deprivation induces
      mood improvement in depressed patients. Preclinical data are presented that
      another primary pathological process--the occurrence of kindled seizures--can
      evoke endogenous compensatory processes that are either anticonvulsant in their
      own right, or enable the anticonvulsant effects of a drug such as carbamazepine.
      It may be that some biochemical abnormalities occurring in affective illness are
      similarly adaptive. As one example, increased thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
      has been reported in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of depressed patients. This
      elevation of TRH and the resulting neuroendocrine profile may be part of an
      endogenous counter-regulatory process aimed at mood improvement. Again,
      preclinical seizure models are supportive in that TRH not only is induced
      following repeated seizures, but also exerts anticonvulsant effects on these same
      seizures. In an analogous fashion, TRH elevations in depressed patients may also
      exert ameliorating effects on depressive symptomatology. This formulation
      presents directly testable hypotheses that could importantly impact on our
      understanding of the pathophysiology of affective disorders, and suggests novel
      therapeutic strategies through the enhancement of endogenous compensatory
      mechanisms.

PMID- 1445966
TI  - Cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, and sedative responses to four graded doses of
      clonidine in a placebo-controlled study.
AB  - Effects of four doses of the alpha 2-receptor agonist clonidine (CLO) (0.25, 0.5,
      1, and 2 micrograms/kg IV) and placebo were studied in seven healthy men who
      volunteered in a double-blind randomized design in order to delineate possible
      presynaptic and postsynaptic components in the mechanism of action of CLO. Blood
      pressure, heart rate, plasma noradrenaline (NOR), plasma 3-methoxy-4
      hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), plasma growth hormone (GH), and subjective sedation
      were monitored for a period of 1 hr following infusion of CLO. NOR and MHPG were
      also analyzed in urine, collected at 1 and 4 hr after the infusions. Dose
      dependent decrements were observed in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and
      plasma NOR levels, and dose-dependent increases in subjective sedation and plasma
      GH. CLO did not influence plasma MHPG levels, whereas only urinary MHPG excretion
      was reduced 4 hr after infusion of 2 micrograms/kg CLO. Because no obvious
      differences between dose-response relations of plasma NOR (believed to be a
      presynaptic and peripheral effect), blood pressure (believed to be mainly a
      central presynaptic and postsynaptic effect), and subjective sedation (believed
      to be a central and probably postsynaptic effect) were observed, our results do
      not provide simple parameters to discern the multiple mechanisms of action of
      CLO. However, at a dose of 0.5 micrograms/kg CLO (a dose lower than that
      generally used) clear effects on plasma NOR, blood pressure, and sedation, but
      not on plasma GH (a central postsynaptic effect) or urinary MHPG (a presynaptic
      effect), were observed. When using CLO as a challenge test in psychiatric
      disorders, a design with 0.5 micrograms/kg CLO, in addition to the traditional 2
      micrograms/kg CLO, may provide more information to characterize discrete
      abnormalities in the noradrenergic system at the level of the brainstem, the
      pituitary, or the peripheral sympathetic nervous system.

PMID- 1445967
TI  - Pain perception in self-injurious patients with borderline personality disorder.
AB  - Pain ratings during the cold pressor test were significantly lower in female
      inpatients with borderline personality disorder who report that they do not
      experience pain during self-injury (BPD-NP group, n = 11), compared with similar
      patients who report that they do experience pain during self-injury (BPD-P group,
      n = 11), and normal female subjects (n = 6). Pain ratings were not significantly
      different in the BPD-P and normal control groups. Self-report ratings of
      depression, anger, anxiety, and confusion were significantly lower, and ratings
      of vigor significantly higher following the cold pressor test in the BPD-NP
      group, but not in the BPD-P group. Only anxiety was significantly lower in the
      normal control group following the cold pressor test. The implications and
      limitations of these preliminary findings are discussed.

PMID- 1445968
TI  - Beta endorphin levels during heroin, methadone, buprenorphine, and naloxone
      challenges: preliminary findings.
AB  - Beta endorphin (BE) is a polypeptide agonist for the brain's endogenous opioid
      system. Levels of BE are elevated by opioid antagonists such as naloxone and
      depressed by short-acting agonists such as heroin and morphine; they become
      normalized during steady-state methadone. Buprenorphine (BUP) is a partial opioid
      agonist whose effects on BE levels were examined in six former heroin addicts and
      14 methadone-maintained patients before and after being switched to sublingual
      BUP 2 mg daily for 1 month. In six former methadone-treated subjects BE levels
      also were measured after stopping BUP and after naloxone challenge. Levels of BE
      were not significantly lower in subjects started on BUP after stopping heroin (n
      = 6) (8.0 versus 8.1 ng/ml) or in subjects started on BUP after stopping
      methadone (n = 14) (11.6 vs 15.6 ng/ml). However, BE levels were lower on BUP
      than after naloxone challenge (n = 6) (7.0 versus 34.9 ng/ml). Levels of BE did
      not significantly change between the first 2 weeks ("early") and "later,"
      although BE levels on methadone significantly correlated with BE levels on BUP in
      the "early" but not the "later" phase. The BE levels on BUP also did not differ
      from BE levels of unmedicated normals.

PMID- 1445969
TI  - Neuropsychological function and REM sleep in schizophrenic patients.
AB  - To test the hypothesis that rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in schizophrenic
      patients is associated with cognitive function, we studied 18 schizophrenic
      inpatients by means of electroencephalograms taken during sleep in their own
      hospital beds after a minimum 2-wk medication withdrawal period. Patients
      underwent neuropsychological tests to measure memory function and other aspects
      of cognitive performance. REM sleep measures demonstrated positive and negative
      correlations with cognition and memory measures, depending on when REM occurred
      after sleep onset. Minutes of REM sleep and REM density in the first period
      correlated negatively with performance, while REM minutes occurring after the
      first REM period correlated positively with neuropsychological performance.
      Further work should test whether phasic REM sleep regulation at the beginning of
      the night plays a compensatory role for neuropsychological dysfunction in
      schizophrenics.

PMID- 1445970
TI  - Lactate sensitivity in sleeping panic disorder patients and healthy controls.

PMID- 1445971
TI  - Intravenous cocaine challenges during naltrexone maintenance: a preliminary
      study.

PMID- 1445972
TI  - Infections caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae strain TWAR.

PMID- 1445973
TI  - Impaired activity of natural killer cells in patients with acute brucellosis.
AB  - Researchers have claimed that natural killer (NK) cells are involved in the
      mechanisms of defense of the host against infections. We have investigated the
      activity of NK cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) from 12
      patients for whom acute brucellar infection has been diagnosed and from 14
      healthy controls. The sera of eight of the patients were also analyzed 3 months
      after initiation of a 45-day course of antibiotic treatment, at which time they
      had no evidence of relapse. PBMNC from patients with acute brucellar infection
      showed a significantly depressed NK cell activity (P < .01) when compared with
      those from healthy controls; this depressed activity was not related to a
      deficient number of NK cells since the numbers of CD56+ and CD16+ cells present
      in PBMNC were similar in patients and controls. Incubation of PBMNC from patients
      with acute brucellar infection with recombinant interleukin-2, but not with
      interferon-gamma, can correct this impaired cytotoxic activity. In treated
      patients, there was a significant enhancement (P < .05) and normalization of the
      previously defective NK cell activity. It is concluded that acute brucellar
      infection is associated with a deficient cytotoxic activity of NK cells that can
      be overcome by in vitro incubation with interleukin-2 and that reverts to normal
      after antibiotic treatment.

PMID- 1445974
TI  - Anaerobic osteomyelitis in patients with Gaucher's disease.
AB  - Bone involvement in patients with Gaucher's disease is common, and some of its
      clinical manifestations may resemble acute osteomyelitis. In addition, many
      studies have emphasized the high risk of secondary infection when surgical
      procedures are performed at the site of the involved bone. Nevertheless, these
      infections have never been well documented in the literature. Presentation of a
      patient with Gaucher's disease and osteomyelitis due to Prevotella (Bacteroides)
      melaninogenica provided us the opportunity to review 10 other similar case
      reports documented in the literature since 1966. This review suggests that acute
      hematogenic osteomyelitis is an uncommon complication of Gaucher's disease, but
      it is of interest that in most cases it is due to unusual organisms, particularly
      anaerobes.

PMID- 1445975
TI  - Imported malaria in the Bronx: review of 51 cases recorded from 1986 to 1991.
AB  - The cases of 51 patients with malaria seen at the Albert Einstein College of
      Medicine hospitals from January 1986 to June 1991 are reviewed. Thirty-five
      patients acquired infection on journeys to their country of origin. Of these 35
      patients, 83% of whom had lived in the United States for > or = 2 years, only 17%
      received antimalarial prophylaxis. Ten of the 51 patients were born and raised in
      the United States, and 70% received prophylaxis (P < .01). Six of the 51 patients
      were visitors to the United States from areas endemic for malaria. Overall, 64%
      of patients acquired malaria in West Africa, south of the Sahara; 20% in Asia; 8%
      in Ecuador; 6% in Haiti; and 4% in the Middle East. The majority of infections
      were due to Plasmodium falciparum. Six patients traveled to a zone endemic for
      malaria while pregnant, and none received prophylaxis. In nine of 13 patients who
      received prophylaxis, there was inadequate dosing or poor compliance. Individuals
      born in regions endemic for malaria are at high risk of acquiring malaria on
      return to their countries of origin and are less aware of the need for malaria
      prophylaxis than are other travelers.

PMID- 1445976
TI  - Azole therapy for trichosporonosis: clinical evaluation of eight patients,
      experimental therapy for murine infection, and review.
AB  - We studied the in vivo antifungal activity of azoles in humans and in a murine
      model of disseminated trichosporonosis. Eight patients infected with Trichosporon
      species were treated with fluconazole, SCH 39304, or miconazole for 2-26 weeks.
      Four patients had fungemia, two patients had disseminated trichosporonosis, and
      one patient each had soft-tissue infection and cystitis. Response of
      trichosporonosis to azoles was seen in all eight patients, although one patient
      died with disseminated aspergillosis while still receiving SCH 39304. A
      literature review indicated that responses to ketoconazole or miconazole were
      noted in four patients with trichosporonosis. In the experimental infection,
      amphotericin B, SCH 39304, and fluconazole were effective in prolonging survival
      and reducing fungal counts in the kidneys of mice infected with a clinical strain
      of Trichosporon beigelii. Fluconazole but not amphotericin B prolonged survival
      of mice infected with a clinical strain of Trichosporon capitatum. We conclude
      that azoles represent effective therapy for infection with Trichosporon species.

PMID- 1445977
TI  - Persistence of serum antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in patients treated for
      Lyme disease.
AB  - To determine if antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi persist after antibiotic
      treatment, we recalled 32 patients with Lyme disease from a primary care practice
      a mean of 16 months after treatment and analyzed initial and follow-up serum
      samples by ELISA and immunoblot assays. Of the eight patients whose initial serum
      specimens were positive for IgM antibody by ELISA, three had positive titers of
      IgM antibody at follow-up; of the 23 patients whose initial serum specimens were
      positive for IgG antibody by ELISA, 19 had positive titers of IgG at follow-up.
      Of the five patients whose initial serum specimens were positive for IgM antibody
      by immunoblot, two had positive titers of IgM antibody at follow-up; of the 30
      patients whose initial serum specimens were positive for IgG antibody by
      immunoblot, 29 had positive titers of IgG antibody at follow-up. The bands on the
      IgG immunoblot remained remarkably constant during the period from analysis of
      the initial specimen to that of the follow-up specimen. Nine of the 32 patients
      had persistent or recurrent symptoms, and ELISA and immunoblot were not helpful
      for identifying these nine patients.

PMID- 1445978
TI  - Capsular types of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from blood and CSF during
      1982-1987.
AB  - Knowledge about the type distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae is fundamental
      to ensure an effective formulation of pneumococcal vaccine, especially with the
      possibility of producing a polysaccharide-protein-conjugated vaccine for the
      prevention of invasive disease in children. During the 6-year period 1982-1987,
      we received and typed 10,298 isolates from patients with invasive pneumococcal
      disease: 7,812 (76%) from blood and 2,486 (24%) from CSF. Of all isolates, 81%
      were recovered from individuals in Europe and 23% were from children. In order of
      frequency, S. pneumoniae types 6A + 6B, 14, 18C, 19F, 1, 7F, 23F, 19A, 4, and 5
      were most commonly isolated from children, and types 3, 1, 14, 7F, 4, 6A + 6B, 8,
      23F, 9V, and 19F, from adults. The pneumococcal types in the currently available
      23-valent vaccine represented 87% of all isolates in this study, but the
      proportion of vaccine types varied somewhat with age and source. In all
      pneumococcal groups included in the vaccine, the vaccine types represented > 80%
      of the isolates, except in groups 6, 15, and 18.

PMID- 1445979
TI  - Extraparenchymal neurocysticercosis: report of five cases and review of
      management.
AB  - Neurocysticercosis due to parenchymal cysts carries a good prognosis regardless
      of therapy. Extraparenchymal neurocysticercosis (including ventricular, spinal,
      and subarachnoid types) carries a poorer prognosis. Most extraparenchymal cases
      present with hydrocephalus. Medical treatment alone in doses and schedules
      developed for parenchymal disease is frequently unsuccessful. For ventricular
      disease, most cases can be managed with shunting procedures either alone or
      together with the administration of antiparasitic agents (e.g., praziquantel or
      albendazole), without extirpation of the cysts. Subarachnoid disease was formerly
      associated with a case fatality rate of about 50%. However, with the combination
      of shunting procedures for hydrocephalus, antiparasitic agents, and, in some
      cases, surgical extirpation of the cysts, the prognosis is much improved. Spinal
      cysticercosis can be either leptomeningeal (which responds like subarachnoid
      disease) or intramedullary. For all forms of neurocysticercosis, the role of
      antiparasitic agents needs to be better defined.

PMID- 1445980
TI  - Chronic fatigue syndrome.
AB  - Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is defined by symptoms and diagnosed without any
      objective diagnostic tests. Risk factors for developing CFS may include
      infection, psychiatric disorders, and allergies. Modest dysfunction of multiple
      organ systems, including the immune, central nervous, endocrine, and muscular
      systems, have been identified in cases of CFS. Symptoms of various organic,
      psychiatric, and poorly understood disorders overlap those of CFS. There is no
      known cure for CFS; however, exercise, counseling, and medications may provide
      symptomatic relief.

PMID- 1445981
TI  - beta-Lactam resistance in gram-negative bacteria: global trends and clinical
      impact.
AB  - Microbial drug resistance is an inescapable consequence of the utilization of
      antimicrobial agents in a given environment. Nowhere is the importance of
      resistance more evident than among agents of the beta-lactam family. Trends
      toward increased resistance can be seen among fastidious gram-negative bacteria
      like Haemophilus influenzae, where ampicillin resistance varies from 1% to 64%
      globally. For Escherichia coli, ampicillin resistance has risen to > or = 50% in
      high-risk populations, and resistance to third-generation cephalosporins is now
      being seen in certain areas. Inducible beta-lactamases have been responsible for
      increasing multiple beta-lactam resistance among certain Enterobacteriaceae and
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and this has been associated with increased use of newer
      cephalosporins. Xanthomonas maltophilia with its two inducible beta-lactamases is
      becoming an increasingly important nosocomial pathogen, especially in areas of
      heavy imipenem utilization. Only through the recognition of factors associated
      with increasing resistance and the mechanisms responsible can strategies be
      designed for minimizing beta-lactam resistance.

PMID- 1445982
TI  - Antibiotic-induced release of endotoxin: a reappraisal.
AB  - A three- to 20-fold increase in the total concentration of endotoxin occurs as a
      consequence of antibiotic action on gram-negative bacteria both in vitro and in
      vivo. There is considerable overlap between the effect of beta-lactam antibiotics
      and non-beta-lactam antibiotics. Moreover, there is an unexplained delay between
      the lethal activity of antibiotics and the release of endotoxin. Hence, the
      mechanism whereby antibiotic action leads to the release of endotoxin is unclear,
      and mechanisms other than bacterial lysis warrant consideration. The evidence
      that the release of endotoxin has clinical importance is conflicting, and the
      issue is unresolved. However, nonlytic release may have implications for the
      therapeutic efficacy of antiendotoxin immunotherapy. Although frequently cited in
      the context of the antibiotic-induced release of endotoxin, a number of important
      differences pertain to conditions, such as the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction and
      the tumor lysis syndrome, for which there is clear evidence of an initial
      deterioration with effective therapy.

PMID- 1445983
TI  - Significant infections due to Bacillus species following abrasions associated
      with motor vehicle-related trauma.
AB  - Non-anthracis Bacillus species are ubiquitous gram-positive spore-forming
      organisms that were once believed to be nonpathogenic but are now recognized as
      causing a variety of infections. We report a new aspect of trauma associated with
      bacillus infection: clinically significant infection by Bacillus species in
      patients who are involved in motor vehicle accidents and sustain injury related
      to road contact. Cases were evaluated retrospectively from May 1990 through
      December 1991. Four patients who had documented infections with Bacillus species
      and who were involved in motor vehicle accidents associated with road trauma were
      identified during this period. The antibiotic susceptibility profile of the
      Bacillus species consistently demonstrated resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics.
      This series of cases illustrates an additional aspect of disease associated with
      bacteria of the Bacillus species that should be considered for patients who have
      sustained injuries from motor vehicle accidents associated with road trauma.

PMID- 1445984
TI  - Pseudallescheria boydii endocarditis of the pulmonic valve in a liver transplant
      recipient.
AB  - We describe a case of Pseudallescheria boydii endocarditis involving the pulmonic
      valve in an orthotopic liver transplant recipient. The patient required
      transplantation because of hepatic failure secondary to chronic active hepatitis
      B. His postoperative course was complicated by surgery for gastric and duodenal
      ulcers, persistent fever, and, ultimately, sepsis leading to oliguric renal
      failure. Two days before death, the patient experienced complete heart block, and
      an echocardiogram revealed pulmonic valve thickening and an endocardial mass
      along the left side of the septum. At autopsy the patient was found to have a
      vegetation on the pulmonic valve and a septal abscess. There were multiple fungal
      emboli found throughout other organs, and P. boydii was obtained on culture. This
      unique association between pulmonic valve endocarditis and myocardial septal
      abscess is discussed. In addition, review of the five previous cases of P. boydii
      endocarditis reveals that this rare infection is associated with
      immunosuppression and prosthetic devices.

PMID- 1445985
TI  - Concomitant esophageal and penile ulcerations healed with steroid therapy in a
      patient with AIDS: case report.
AB  - A 50-year-old man with AIDS developed concomitant esophageal and penile
      ulcerations. An etiology could not be found despite intensive investigation. Both
      ulcers healed after treatment with corticosteroids. To our knowledge, such a
      situation has been described only for aphthous ulcerations involving the mouth,
      oropharynx, or esophagus.

PMID- 1445986
TI  - Cefotetan-induced immune hemolytic anemia.
AB  - Immune hemolytic anemia due to a drug-adsorption mechanism has been described
      primarily in patients receiving penicillins and first-generation cephalosporins.
      We describe a patient who developed anemia while receiving intravenous cefotetan.
      Cefotetan-dependent antibodies were detected in the patient's serum and in an
      eluate prepared from his red blood cells. The eluate also reacted weakly with red
      blood cells in the absence of cefotetan, suggesting the concomitant formation of
      warm-reactive autoantibodies. These observations, in conjunction with clinical
      and laboratory evidence of extravascular hemolysis, are consistent with drug
      induced hemolytic anemia, possibly involving both drug-adsorption and
      autoantibody formation mechanisms. This case emphasizes the need for increased
      awareness of hemolytic reactions to all cephalosporins.

PMID- 1445987
TI  - Factors influencing prognosis in bacteremia due to gram-negative organisms:
      evaluation of 448 episodes in a Turkish university hospital.
AB  - A total of 448 episodes of bacteremia due to gram-negative organisms observed
      during the 7-year period between 1983 and 1989 at Hacettepe University Hospitals
      were studied for evaluating the factors influencing the prognosis. The overall
      mortality rate was 45.0%. The mortality rates were not significantly different in
      "rapidly fatal" and "ultimately fatal" disease groups (48.3% and 45.5%,
      respectively), whereas it was significantly less (34.8%) in the "nonfatal"
      disease group compared with the "rapidly fatal" category. There were great
      differences in the mortality rates among different diseases within the same
      disease category. Shock, multi-organ failure, source of infection, hospital
      service, appropriateness of antibiotic therapy, and place of acquisition of
      infection were found to affect prognosis significantly in multivariate analysis.
      In conclusion, the identification of prognostic factors is a further step for
      making necessary interventions in reducing the mortality rate associated with
      bacteremia due to gram-negative organisms. Underlying disease is still an
      important prognostic factor; however, a new approach is needed for classification
      of underlying diseases.

PMID- 1445988
TI  - Acute renal failure in patients with severe falciparum malaria.
AB  - Since 1988 in this referral center for severe cases of malaria for South Vietnam,
      a specialist team has managed malaria-associated renal failure (MARF) with
      peritoneal dialysis, and the mortality rate of MARF has fallen from 75% (78 of
      104) to 26% (27 of 104) (P < .0002). Sixty-four patients with MARF (of whom 12
      died) were compared to 66 patients with severe malaria whose serum creatinine
      levels remained < 250 mumol/L (six died). MARF had the clinical and biochemical
      features of acute tubular necrosis and was significantly associated with liver
      dysfunction (P < .05). A fatal outcome was associated significantly with anuria,
      a short history of illness, multisystem involvement, and high parasitemia. Most
      patients died from complications related to renal failure. Recovery of renal
      function was unrelated to parasitemia or hemoglobinuria; the median (range) time
      until urine output exceeded 20 mL/(kg.d) was 4 (0-19) days, and the time (mean +/
      SD) for serum creatinine level to return to normal was 17 +/- 6 days. MARF can
      be managed effectively by prompt and careful peritoneal dialysis, but more
      effective dialysis or diafiltration might reduce the mortality rate further.

PMID- 1445989
TI  - In utero infection due to Pasteurella multocida.

PMID- 1445990
TI  - Pseudoinfection due to Tsukamurella paurometabolum.

PMID- 1445991
TI  - Primary abscess of the psoas muscle caused by Streptococcus milleri.

PMID- 1445992
TI  - Use of zidovudine following occupational exposure to human immunodeficiency
      virus.

PMID- 1445993
TI  - QSAR, diagnostic statistics and molecular modelling of 1,4-dihydropyridine
      calcium antagonists: a difficult road ahead.
AB  - Quantitative structure-activity relationships of a series of substituted 1,4
      dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonists were studied. The analysis is
      difficult because of the problem of multicollinearity of substituent parameters,
      a high-leverage point, and position-dependent grouped observations. Canonical
      regression appears to be the method of choice. With respect to a maximum
      activity, it was shown that the following rank order of substituent parameters
      exists: Lipophilicity approximately ortho-position > inductivity > minimum width
      > meta-position. The molecular conformation of antagonists does not differ
      markedly (with exception of nifedipine derivatives and nimodipine), but
      differences seem to exist between the antagonists and the activator BAY K 8644.

PMID- 1445994
TI  - Evaluation of some N-acyl analogues of 3,5-bis(arylidene)-4-piperidones for
      cytotoxic activity.
AB  - The synthesis of fourteen N-acyl derivatives of two 3,5-bis(arylidene)-4
      piperidones was accomplished and these compounds were evaluated against L1210
      leukemia cells in vitro. With one exception, the compounds had IC50 values of
      less than 10 microM and six of them had IC50 figures in the 0.2-0.6 microM range
      which were comparable to a reference drug melphalan. Twelve of the sixteen
      compounds showed specificity for human leukemia cell lines in the NCI in vitro
      screen. Studies using 1H NMR spectroscopy revealed that solutions of three N
      acetylated compounds underwent deamination and possibly other reactions, the
      deaminated product itself being unstable in the solvent used.

PMID- 1445995
TI  - Synthesis and antinociceptive activity of 1-[2-(pyridyl)ethyl] and 1-[2
      (dihydropyridyl)ethyl] analogues of fentanyl.
AB  - The syntheses and antinociceptive activities of all three isomeric 1-[2
      (pyridyl)ethyl]-4-(propionanilido)-piperidine isosteres (11a-c) of fentanyl (1)
      are described. The 2- (11a), 3- (11b) and 4-pyridyl (11c) isomers exhibited 10, 2
      and 0.2 times the antinociceptive activity of fentanyl, respectively. The ED50
      values for 11a, 11b, 11c and fentanyl in the rat 4% NaCl-induced writhing test
      were 0.00023, 0.00085, 0.0087 and 0.0021 mg/kg sc, respectively. The 3-pyridyl
      (11b) and 4-pyridyl (11c) compounds were further elaborated to the 6-phenyl-1,6
      dihydropyridine (12), C-2 H, Me, n-Bu and Ph 1,2-dihydropyridine (13a-d)
      analogues having a phenoxycarbonyl substituent on the dihydropyridine ring
      nitrogen. The most active compound in this series was 1-(2-[3-(1-phenoxycarbonyl
      6-phenyl-1,6-dihydropyridyl)ethyl ])-4- (propionanilido)piperidine (12), which
      provided a 58% inhibition of writhing at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg sc. 1-(2-[4-(1
      phenoxycarbonyl-1,2-dihydropyridyl)ethyl])-4- (propionanilido)piperidine (13a)
      exhibited an ED50 of 1.3 mg/kg sc, indicating a decrease in antinociceptive
      activity of about a 100 fold relative to the parent 4-pyridyl compound (11c). The
      dihydropyridine analogues 12 and 13 exhibit substantial antinociceptive activity
      relative to meperidine (ED50 = 0.6 mg/kg sc). The muscular rigidity effect
      induced by the pyridine compounds (11a-c) at a dose of 4 mg/kg sc, was not
      illicited by the dihydropyridine analogues at the same dose, or at a high dose of
      40 mg/kg sc (13a). Compounds 12 and 13 may therefore be useful lead compounds for
      the development of more useful 4-anilidopiperidines if the antinociceptive
      activity can be dissociated from the muscular rigidity effect.

PMID- 1445996
TI  - Synthesis and calcium channel antagonist activity of dialkyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6
      dimethyl-4-[3-(1-methoxy-carbonyl-4-substituted-1,4- dihydro-pyridyl)]-3,5
      pyridinedicarboxylates.
AB  - A novel class of dialkyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-[1- methoxycarbonyl-4-(H,
      Me, n-Bu or Ph)-1,4-dihydropyridyl])-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylates (3-29) were
      synthesized and evaluated as calcium channel antagonists using the muscarinic
      receptor mediated Ca2+ dependent contraction of guinea pig ileal longitudinal
      smooth muscle (GPILSM). The differences in activity among members of this new
      class of compounds was less than one log unit (IC50 range of 8.25 x 10(-6) to
      4.36 x 10(-7) M), relative to the reference drug nifedipine (IC50 = 1.43 x 10(-8)
      M). Compounds possessing symmetrical C-3(5) diethoxycarbonyl ester substituents
      generally exhibited optimum activity. The R3 substituent (H, Me, n-Bu, Ph) at the
      4-position of the 4-[3-(1-methoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydropyridyl)] moiety was a
      determinant of activity. In symmetrical diester compounds, a R3 H substituent
      provided optimum activity for Me, i-Bu and t-Bu dialkyl ester analogues, whereas
      a R3 Ph substituent provided optimum activity for Et and i-Pr symmetrical
      diesters. The test results indicate the 4-[3-(1-methoxycarbonyl-4-substituted-1,4
      dihydropyridyl)] substituent in this new class of compounds is bioisosteric with
      a 4-(3-nitrophenyl), or a 4-(3-pyridyl) substituent in classical 1,4
      dihydropyridine antagonists. Compounds possessing large symmetrical dialkyl ester
      substituents (i-Bu, t-Bu), in conjunction with a 4-[3-(1-methoxycarbonyl-4-methyl
      1,4-dihydropyridyl)] substituent, permanently inhibited recovery of the KCl
      induced response in GPILSM.

PMID- 1445997
TI  - Environmental carcinogens that may be involved in human breast cancer etiology.

PMID- 1445998
TI  - Formation, characterization, and toxicity of the glutathione and cysteine
      conjugates of toxic heptapeptide microcystins.
AB  - Microcystins LR, YR, and RR, cyclic heptapeptide hepatotoxins produced by
      cyanobacteria, were synthetically converted into glutathione (GSH) and cysteine
      (Cys) conjugates. Fast atom bombardment mass spectra showed [M + H]+ ions
      corresponding to GSH and Cys conjugates of microcystins LR, YR, and RR for the
      obtained compounds. 1H NMR spectral analyses revealed that two singlet signals of
      olefinic protons of N-methyldehydroalanine (Mdha) in microcystins disappeared in
      the conjugates, confirming that thiols of GSH and Cys added nucleophilically to
      the alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl of the Mdha moiety. On examination of the
      50% lethal dose (LD50) with intravenous injection using mice, both GSH and Cys
      conjugates showed reduction in toxicity compared with microcystins, but their
      toxicity still remained. Microcystin LR and its GSH conjugate were separated and
      identified in a standard mixture by using a frit-fast atom bombardment liquid
      chromatography/mass spectrometry (Frit-FAB LC/MS) method. Obtained conjugates in
      the present study would be important compounds as the standard samples for study
      of metabolism of microcystins, and the Frit-FAB LC/MS method would be applicable
      to mass spectrometric identification of metabolites of microcystins.

PMID- 1445999
TI  - Synthesis of 2'-deoxy-7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanosine and 2'-deoxy-7,8-dihydro-8
      oxoadenosine and their incorporation into oligomeric DNA.
AB  - Reliable methods have been developed for the synthesis of the 3'-O
      [(diisopropylamino) (2-cyanoethoxy)phosphino]-5'-O-(4,4'- dimethoxytrityl)
      derivatives of 2'-deoxy-7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanosine (8-oxo-dGuo, 1) and 2'-deoxy
      7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenosine (8-oxo-dAdo, 2), and for the efficient incorporation
      of the latter into oligomeric DNA. Both methods rely on the conversion of the 2'
      deoxy-8-bromopurine nucleosides 3 and 10 to their corresponding 2'-deoxy-8
      (benzyloxy) nucleosides 4 and 12 followed by catalytic hydrogenation to generate
      the 8-oxo function at the C-8 position. The preparation of the phosphoramidites 8
      and 19 required for the synthesis of a series of DNA oligomers was carried out
      under strictly anhydrous conditions. Failure to keep the systems dry resulted in
      great difficulties during the purification procedures, and erratic results when
      DNA synthesis was attempted. In the preparation of the DNA itself, it was found
      to be extremely important during the ammonia deprotection step to add an
      antioxidant. Otherwise aerial oxidation resulted in almost complete loss of the
      oligomer. However, when these special conditions were followed, oligomeric DNA
      containing 8-oxo-dGuo and 8-oxo-dAdo residues could be prepared in excellent
      yield. Analysis of selected DNA oligomers by enzymatic degradation and mass
      spectroscopic analysis confirmed the designated sequences and compositions.

PMID- 1446000
TI  - A study of inactivation reactions of N-acetylcysteine with mucochloric acid, a
      mutagenic product of the chlorination of humic substances in water.
AB  - The Salmonella typhimurium (TA100) mutagenic compound, mucochloric acid [3,4
      dichloro-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MCA)], was inactivated by in vitro N
      acetylcysteine (NAC). The reaction of MCA with NAC at pH7 was second order and
      gave products 4, 5, and 6a that resulted from the displacement of chlorine from C
      3 or C-4 of MCA. The sodium borohydride treatment of product 4 gave the same
      product (7) as was obtained by treating 3,4-dichloro-2(5H)-furanone with NAC. The
      treatment of MCA with (R)-(+)-cysteine gave the bicyclic product 9a, in which the
      two chlorine atoms of MCA were still present. This product was slightly more
      mutagenic than MCA, whereas product 5 was less mutagenic than MCA and product 4
      was nonmutagenic in the Salmonella typhimurium (TA100) assay.

PMID- 1446001
TI  - Studies on 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine derivatives as potential monoamine oxidase
      inactivators.
AB  - The Parkinsonian-inducing neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine
      (MPTP) and close structural analogs are the only known cyclic tertiary amines
      with good monoamine oxidase substrate properties. In addition to its excellent
      substrate properties, MPTP is a mechanism-based inactivator of monoamine oxidase
      B (MAO-B). In an attempt to exploit the special interactions between this cyclic
      tertiary allylamine and MAO-B, we have initiated studies to evaluate the
      enzymatic and biological properties of MPTP analogs bearing functional groups
      which are known to mediate the metabolism-dependent inactivation of this enzyme.
      This paper describes the synthesis, enzyme substrate/inhibitor properties, and
      neurotoxic/neuroprotective properties of 1-cyclopropyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6
      tetrahydropyridine, the corresponding acyclic secondary amine (E)-4-cyclopropyl-2
      phenyl-2-butene, and 4-cyclopropyl-1-methyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine.

PMID- 1446002
TI  - 1,N2-ethenodeoxyguanosine: properties and formation in chloroacetaldehyde-treated
      polynucleotides and DNA.
AB  - 1,N2-Etheno-2'-deoxyguanosine (1,N2-epsilon dGuo), not previously reported as a
      product of chloroacetaldehyde (CAA) reaction, has been synthesized and
      characterized. Reaction of deoxyguanosine with CAA in dimethylformamide in the
      presence of K2CO3 led to preparation of pure 1,N2-epsilon dGuo with 55% yield.
      pKa values are 2.2 and 9.2. The anionic form of the compound exhibits weak but
      defined fluorescence; the intensity is similar to that of N2,3-etheno-2'
      deoxyguanosine (N2,3-epsilon dGuo) at neutrality. The stability of the glycosyl
      bond of 1,N2-epsilon dGuo (t1/2 = 2.3 h at 37 degrees C, pH 1) is 10-fold greater
      than of unmodified deoxyguanosine and at least one thousand-fold greater than of
      isomeric N2,3-epsilon dGuo. Reaction of CAA with model polynucleotides indicates
      that hydrogen bonding of guanine residues in the double-stranded structures is,
      as expected, an important factor in the formation of 1,N2-ethenoguanine. In
      contrast, the formation of isomeric N2,3-ethenoguanine is relatively independent
      of whether the DNA is single- or double-stranded. In salmon sperm DNA, reacted
      with CAA at neutrality, the formation of 1,N2-ethenoguanine could be
      demonstrated. However, we find the efficiency of formation of this adduct in
      double-stranded DNA to be lower than that of all other etheno derivatives.

PMID- 1446003
TI  - Metabolism of nicotine by human liver microsomes: stereoselective formation of
      trans-nicotine N'-oxide.
AB  - Liver microsomes from humans catalyze the NADPH-dependent oxidation of (S)
      nicotine. The principal product is the 5'-carbon atom oxidation product, nicotine
      delta 1',5'-iminium ion, which is efficiently converted to the gamma-lactam
      derivative cotinine in the presence of aldehyde oxidase. Another major product is
      nicotine N'-oxide. In contrast to previous reports describing in vitro or in vivo
      studies, formation of only trans-nicotine N'-oxide was observed. Demethylation of
      nicotine was not observed. Studies on the biochemical mechanism of nicotine 5
      carbon atom oxidation strongly implicate one major cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme
      (i.e., P-450 2A6) as largely responsible for delta 1',5'-iminium ion formation.
      Stereoselective formation of trans-nicotine N'-oxide may be catalyzed in large
      part by the flavin-containing monooxygenase (form II). These conclusions are
      based on the effects of alternate substrates for the flavin-containing
      monooxygenase, heat inactivation studies, immunoblot studies, and selective
      substrates for cytochromes P-450. The results suggest that (S)-nicotine trans N'
      oxygenation and delta 1',5'-iminium ion formation may be selective probes of
      human liver flavin-containing monooxygenase form II and cytochrome P-450 2A6
      activities, respectively, useful for in vivo phenotyping of humans.

PMID- 1446004
TI  - The reactions of cis-[Pt(NH3)2(H2O)2]2+ with L-(+)-cystathionine and seleno-L
      methionine: potential relevance to the molecular basis of cisplatin toxicity.
AB  - NMR spectroscopic studies indicate that the hydrolysis product of cisplatin, cis
      [Pt(NH3)2-(H2O)2]2+, reacts readily with the important intracellular thiol L-(+)
      cystathionine and the amino acid derivative seleno-L-methionine. In both cases,
      the formation of six-membered mononuclear S,N- or Se, N-chelate rings was
      established on the basis of [1H], [13C], [77Se], [195Pt], and [13C]-(1H) DEPT
      (distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer), COSY (correlation
      spectroscopy), heterocorrelation, and NOE (nuclear Overhauser effect) difference
      NMR experiments. The formation of these products suggests that related in vivo
      processes may play a significant role in the toxicity of cisplatin. The potential
      loss of NH3 in such platinum complexes may lead to additional products over time.

PMID- 1446005
TI  - Damage to human alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor by aqueous cigarette tar extracts
      and the formation of methionine sulfoxide.
AB  - The effects of aqueous extracts of cigarette tar (ACT) on human alpha-1
      proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1PI) are examined by determining alterations in the
      elastase inhibitory capacity (EIC), amino acid residue content, and
      electrophoretic behavior of the protein. Hydrogen peroxide generated in ACT by
      autoxidative processes accounts for the major portion of the loss of EIC. This is
      indicated by several lines of evidence, including the fact that anaerobic
      incubations of ACT with alpha 1PI cause negligible loss of EIC. The hydrogen
      peroxide content of the ACT was estimated by measuring the ability of the
      extracts to oxidize methionine to methionine sulfoxide; hydrogen peroxide
      concentrations that model those in ACT cause a similar loss in EIC. Exposure of
      alpha 1PI to ACT leads to methionine sulfoxide as the only detectable amino acid
      residue modification and explains the loss of EIC. This is the first report to
      directly demonstrate methionine sulfoxide formation in alpha 1PI exposed to
      cigarette smoke components in vitro. Similar amounts of methionine sulfoxide are
      found in alpha 1PI exposed to hydrogen peroxide at the concentrations predicted
      to be formed in ACT. Nondenaturing PAGE reveals that alpha 1PI exposed to ACT,
      but not hydrogen peroxide, shows changes in electrophoretic behavior; the changes
      are nonoxidative in nature and are not related to the loss of EIC. Studies on the
      effect of chelators on ACT-mediated damage to alpha 1PI indicate some role for
      metal ions; however, none of the chelators completely protect alpha 1PI.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446006
TI  - Structures of three new homotyrosine-containing microcystins and a new
      homophenylalanine variant from Anabaena sp. strain 66.
AB  - A hepatotoxic strain of cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. 66 was isolated from a
      hepatotoxic water bloom sample in Lake Kiikkara, Finland. Four cyclic
      heptapeptide hepatotoxins were isolated and purified by HPLC from cultured cells
      of this organism. The structures of three new homotyrosine (Hty) containing
      toxins, [Dha7]microcystin-HtyR (Dha = dehydroalanine) (1), [D
      Asp3,Dha7]microcystin-HtyR (2), and [L-Ser7]microcystin-HtyR (3), were assigned,
      based upon amino acid analyses using both a Waters Pico Tag HPLC system and
      chiral capillary GC, 1H NMR, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS), and
      collisionally induced tandem FABMS. A new homophenylalanine (Hph) variant of 1,
      [Dha7]microcystin-HphR (4), was also obtained as a minor component. Compound 3 is
      most likely a biosynthetic precursor of 1. The four new toxins did not have an N
      methyl group at the dehydroamino acid or its precursor unit.

PMID- 1446007
TI  - Comparison of metabolism and toxicity to the structure of the anticancer agent
      sulofenur and related sulfonylureas.
AB  - The metabolic formation of p-chloroaniline from the oncolytic agent sulofenur [N
      (5-indanesulfonyl)-N'-(4-chlorophenyl)urea, LY186641,] and from similar diaryl
      substituted sulfonylureas, and its possible relevance to the compound's toxicity,
      was studied. In previous studies it was found that significant amounts of
      metabolites such as 2-amino-5-chlorophenyl sulfate (II), which is also a
      metabolite of p-chloroaniline, are formed from sulofenur in mice, rats, monkeys,
      and humans. The metabolism of N-(4-tolyl)-N'-(2-hydroxy-4-chlorophenyl)-urea (V)
      was studied, and V was not found to be an intermediate in the metabolic formation
      of II from the sulfonylurea N-(4-tolyl)-N'-(4-chlorophenyl)urea (LY181984, III).
      The amounts of this p-chloroaniline metabolite (II) formed in C3H mice from a
      series of diarylsulfonylureas were found to correlate with the compound's
      propensities to form methemoglobin, one notable toxicity of p-chloroaniline. This
      metabolism was also found to correlate with the structure of the arylsulfonyl
      moiety of the sulfonylurea. Other evidence supports the hypothesis that p
      chloroaniline is directly formed by metabolism of sulfofenur and similar
      diarylsulfonylureas as well. Metabolic formation of p-chloroaniline thus appears
      to be a plausible explanation for the methemoglobinemia and anemia found to be
      dose-limiting toxicities of sulofenur in Phase I trials.

PMID- 1446008
TI  - Inhibition of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone pulmonary metabolism
      and tumorigenicity in mice by analogues of the investigational chemotherapeutic
      drug 4-ipomeanol.
AB  - 4-Ipomeanol (IPO) is an investigational chemotherapeutic drug with specific
      toxicity toward the lung. It is metabolically activated to reactive intermediates
      by cytochrome P450 enzymes present in Clara cells. 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3
      pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is a highly carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamine
      with organo-specificity for the lung. Like IPO, which it resembles structurally,
      it is metabolically activated by cytochrome P450 enzymes of rat Clara cells. We
      synthesized nontoxic analogues of IPO and tested their activities as inhibitors
      of the metabolism and tumorigenicity of NNK. The IPO analogues synthesized were 4
      hydroxy-1-phenyl-1-pentanone (HPP), 7-hydroxy-1-phenyl-1-octanone (HPO), 4
      hydroxy-1-(2-thienyl)-1-pentanone (HTP), and 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-pentanone
      (HPYP). When added to A/J mouse lung microsomal incubations, all compounds
      significantly inhibited the oxidative pathways of NNK metabolism--alpha
      hydroxylation and pyridine N-oxidation--to varying extents. Inhibition of
      carbonyl reduction of NNK was generally less effective. Inhibition of alpha
      hydroxylation by IPO, HPP, and HTP was more pronounced in incubations with lung
      microsomes than with liver microsomes. None of the IPO analogues showed
      significant toxicity when given to A/J mice at a dose of 25 mumol; IPO itself was
      lethal at this dose. HPP and HPO, at doses of 25 mumol, significantly inhibited
      lung tumor multiplicity in mice treated with NNK; the other analogues and IPO
      itself were ineffective. The results of this study provide new leads for
      development of inhibitors of NNK metabolism and chemical probes for the active
      site of P450 enzymes in Clara cells.

PMID- 1446009
TI  - Neuropathy target esterase inhibitors: 2-alkyl-, 2-alkoxy-, and 2-(aryloxy)-4H
      1,3,2-benzodioxaphosphorin 2-oxides.
AB  - The standard probes used earlier to study neuropathy target esterase (NTE) are
      N,N'-diisopropyl phosphorofluorodiamidate (mipafox), diisopropyl
      phosphorofluoridate (DFP), 2-(2-methylphenoxy)-4H-1,3,2-benzodioxaphosphorin 2
      oxide (2-CH3C6H4O-BDPO) (the neurotoxic metabolite of tri-o-cresyl phosphate),
      and dipentyl 2,2-dichlorovinyl phosphate (DDP) with I50s for hen brain enzyme of
      7000, 700, 29, and 3 nM, respectively. NTE phosphorylated by DFP and DDP is
      proposed to undergo alkylation on aging, and this probably also occurs with 2
      CH3C6H4O-BDPO. Optimized probes for NTE should meet the following specifications:
      highest potency achievable; rapid aging perhaps associated with alkylation;
      preferably a phosphonate so there are only two leaving groups. An attempt was
      made to achieve these goals in the 4H-1,3,2-benzodioxaphosphorin 2-oxide series
      by synthesis of 49 analogs systematically varied in the 2-alkyl, 2-alkoxy, or 2
      (aryloxy) substituent. Special precautions are required in synthesis of BDPO
      derivatives because of their potential hazard on human exposure. Thirty of these
      compounds had NTE I50s lower than 3 nM. Representative high-potency NTE
      inhibitors in each series are [2-substituent,I50 (nM) for hen and human brain
      NTE, respectively]: octyl, 0.25 and 0.18; nonyloxy, 0.89 and 0.98; 4
      propylphenoxy, 0.82 and 0.77. In comparing these compounds, although the octyl
      analog is the most potent in vitro NTE inhibitor, the propylphenoxy compound is
      the most effective in vivo NTE inhibitor and delayed neurotoxicant in hens. These
      benzodioxaphosphorins are improved probes for investigations on NTE
      phosphorylation and alkylation in relation to delayed neurotoxicity.

PMID- 1446010
TI  - Identification of individual benzo[c]phenanthrene dihydrodiol epoxide-DNA adducts
      by the 32P-postlabeling assay.
AB  - Purine deoxyribonucleoside 3'-phosphates were reacted separately with the four
      configurational isomers of benzo[c]phenanthrene 3,4-dihydrodiol 1,2-epoxide.
      Products resulting from the cis and trans opening of the epoxide ring by the
      exocyclic amino groups of deoxyadenosine and deoxyguanosine 3'-phosphates were
      separated by high-pressure liquid chromatography and identified by comparison of
      the observed circular dichroism spectra with the known spectra for the
      corresponding nucleoside adducts. The 16 structurally identified
      benzo[c]phenanthrene-purine deoxyribonucleoside 3'-phosphate adducts were then
      separately postlabeled according to the Randerath method, and the positions of
      the individual bisphosphates were mapped by thin-layer chromatography.
      Chromatographic conditions were developed that allowed separation of the four
      adducts for 3 of the 4 dihydrodiol epoxide isomers.

PMID- 1446011
TI  - Identification of N-(Deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo [4,5
      b]pyridine as the major adduct formed by the food-borne carcinogen, 2-amino-1
      methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine, with DNA.
AB  - The covalent binding of the N-acetoxy-, N-hydroxy-, and nitro derivatives of the
      food-borne carcinogen 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) to
      2'-deoxyribonucleosides or DNA was investigated in vitro and in vivo. N-Acetoxy
      PhIP reacted with deoxyguanosine (dG), but not with the other
      deoxyribonucleosides, to form N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-PhIP (dG-C8-PhIP), whose
      structure was determined by NMR and mass spectral analyses and by ultraviolet
      absorption and pH-solvent partitioning characteristics. While reaction of N
      acetoxy-PhIP with calf thymus DNA at pH 5.0 yielded 5.38 +/- 1.16 nmol of bound
      PhIP residues/mg of DNA, N-hydroxy-PhIP gave only 0.13-0.23 nmol binding/mg of
      DNA under identical reaction conditions. Nitro-PhIP produced no detectable
      binding under these conditions. HPLC analysis of 1-butanol extracts of
      enzymatically hydrolyzed DNA that had been modified by N-acetoxy-PhIP in vitro
      showed a major adduct which coeluted with and had an ultraviolet absorption and a
      mass spectrum that were identical to that of authentic dG-C8-PhIP. 32P
      Postlabeling analysis of DNA isolated from colon, pancreas, lung, heart, and
      liver of rats treated orally with PhIP revealed the presence of a major PhIP-DNA
      adduct. This adduct had chromatographic properties identical to that of the 32P
      labeled bis(phosphate) derivative of dG-C8-PhIP and represented 35-45% of the
      total adducts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446012
TI  - Reaction of alpha-acetoxy-N-nitrosopiperidine with deoxyguanosine: oxygen
      dependent formation of 4-oxo-2-pentenal and a 1,N2-ethenodeoxyguanosine adduct.
AB  - The six-membered heterocyclic nitrosamine N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP) is an
      esophageal carcinogen in the rat whereas its five-membered homologue N
      nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR) is a liver carcinogen. These contrasting organo
      specificities may be due to differences between NPIP and NPYR in their metabolic
      activation to intermediates which bind to DNA. Previous studies have shown that
      the metabolic activation of NPYR to DNA binding products occurs through alpha
      hydroxylation. DNA adducts of NPIP have not been characterized. Therefore, we
      began our studies by investigating the reaction of alpha-acetoxyNPIP with
      deoxyguanosine. A major adduct, detected by high-performance liquid
      chromatography with UV detection, was characterized by its UV, 1H-NMR, and MS as
      7-(2-oxopropyl)-5,9-dihydro-9-oxo-3-beta-D-deoxyribofuranosylimidazo+ ++[1,2-a]
      purine. This 7-(2-oxopropyl)-substituted 1,N2-ethenodeoxyguanosine adduct was
      formed by reaction of 4-oxo-2-pentenal (3-acetylacrolein) with the 1 and N2
      positions of deoxyguanosine. Since the formation of 4-oxo-2-pentenal from alpha
      acetoxyNPIP was unexpected, we investigated the solvolysis of alpha-acetoxyNPIP
      in more detail. Major products formed in incubations of alpha-acetoxyNPIP for 7
      24 h in phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) at 37 degrees C included 4-oxo-2-pentenal (11
      21% yield), 4-hydroxypentanal (18-22%), and 5-hydroxypentanal (27-29%). The
      formation of 4-oxo-2-pentenal required O2. The results of this study demonstrate
      some unique features of the chemistry of alpha-acetoxyNPIP and the resulting
      deoxyguanosine adducts which may be related to the carcinogenic activity of NPIP.

PMID- 1446013
TI  - Identification of a cysteinyl adduct of oxidized 3-methylindole from goat lung
      and human liver microsomal proteins.
AB  - 3-Methylindole is a selective pneumotoxin that is oxidized by cytochrome P-450
      enzymes to a reactive intermediate. 3-Methyleneidolenine, a methylene imine
      electrophile, is the postulated reactive intermediate, and it binds to proteins,
      a reaction that probably initiates the pneumotoxicity of 3-methylindole.
      Thioether adducts of this electrophile are formed with glutathione in vitro, but
      the identity of the adducted electrophile with amino acid residues of microsomal
      proteins had not previously been determined. 3-Methylindole was incubated with
      NADPH and goat lung or human liver microsomal proteins, and the proteins were
      hydrolyzed. 3-(Cystein-S-ylmethyl)indole was isolated and identified as the major
      amino acid adduct of 3-methyleneindolenine, demonstrating that cysteine thiols
      preferentially attack the exocyclic methylene position and result in a covalently
      (thioether) attached 3-methylindole residue to these pulmonary and hepatic
      proteins. These results demonstrate that the putative methylene imine
      intermediate is indeed the active electrophile that binds to proteins and
      presumably initiates the toxic events.

PMID- 1446014
TI  - Pentahaloethane-based chlorofluorocarbon substitutes and halothane: correlation
      of in vivo hepatic protein trifluoroacetylation and urinary trifluoroacetic acid
      excretion with calculated enthalpies of activation.
AB  - The hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HCFC
      123) and 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124) and the hydrofluorocarbon
      (HFC) pentafluoroethane (HFC-125) are being developed as substitutes for
      chlorofluorocarbons that deplete stratospheric ozone. The structural similarity
      of these HCFCs and HFCs to halothane, which is hepatotoxic under certain
      circumstances, indicates that the metabolism and cellular interactions of HCFCs
      and HFCs must be explored. In a previous study [Harris et al. (1991) Proc. Natl.
      Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 1407], similar patterns of trifluoroacetylated proteins
      (TFA-proteins) were detected by immunoblotting with anti-TFA-protein antibodies
      in livers of rats exposed to halothane or HCFC-123. The present study extends
      these results and demonstrates that in vivo TFA-protein formation resulting from
      a 6-h exposure to a 1% atmosphere of these compounds follows the trend: halothane
      approximately HCFC-123 much greater than HFC-124, greater than HFC-125. The
      calculated enthalpies of activation of halothane, HCFC-123, HCFC-124, and HFC-125
      paralleled the observed rate of trifluoroacetic acid excretion in HCFC- or HFC
      exposed rats. Exposure of rats to a range of HCFC-123 concentrations indicated
      that TFA-protein formation was saturated at an exposure concentration between
      0.01% and 0.1% HCFC-123. Deuteration of HCFC-123 decreased TFA-protein formation
      in vivo. Urinary trifluoroacetic acid excretion by treated rats correlated with
      the levels of TFA-proteins found after each of these treatments. No TFA-proteins
      were detected in hepatic fractions from rats given 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC
      134a), which is not metabolized to a trifluoroacetyl halide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446015
TI  - Metabolism of benzimidazoline-2-thiones by rat hepatic microsomes and hog liver
      flavin-containing monooxygenase.
AB  - The metabolism of benzimidazoline-2-thione (I) and the 1-methyl (II) and 1,3
      dimethyl (III) derivatives was studied to elucidate the mechanisms of hepatic
      oxidation for this class of thionosulfur-containing xenobiotics. NADPH-dependent
      metabolism of I, II, and III to the corresponding benzimidazoles Ia, IIa, and
      IIIa, respectively, was observed in dexamethasone-pretreated rat hepatic
      microsomes. III was the only thiocarbamide converted to an amide metabolite
      (IIIb). The effects of heat and 1-aminobenzotriazole pretreatment suggested that
      rat hepatic microsomal metabolism of I was catalyzed by the flavin-containing
      monoxygenase (FMO) only and that of II and III by both FMO and cytochrome P450
      isozymes (P450). Addition of 5.0 mM glutathione (GSH) blocked formation of all
      metabolites from I, II, and III. Highly purified hog liver FMO catalyzed
      formation of all metabolites observed in rat hepatic microsomal systems.
      Incubation of III with either rat liver microsomes or with highly purified hog
      liver FMO in the presence of [18O]water led to ca. 50% incorporation of [18O]
      into IIIb. When [18O] molecular oxygen was used, ca. 8% incorporation of [18O]
      into IIIb was observed. Highly purified hog liver FMO also converted I-III to
      chemically reactive species that covalently bound to protein thiols. In the
      presence of hog liver FMO, the covalent binding pattern of radiolabeled I-III to
      bovine serum albumin was essentially identical to that observed for rat hepatic
      microsomes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446016
TI  - [Effects of N-phthalamoyl-L-glutaminic acid, a selective agonist of NMDA
      receptor, on binding of 3H-L-glutamate with synaptic membranes of the
      hippocampus].
AB  - In the present investigation the interaction of a novel selective NMDA receptors
      agonist, N-phthalamoyl-L-glutamic acid (PhGA), with the synaptic membranes
      preparation of human hippocampus was examined against NMDA. It was established
      that there are two binding sites of 3H-L-Glu, Kd1 = 0.35 +/- 0.11 nM, Bmax1 = 6.5
      +/- 2.3 pmol/mg and Kd2 = 51 +/- 12 nM, Bmax2 = 98 +/- 17 pmol/mg. The inhibition
      constants (Ki) were calculated for NMDA and PhGA and were equal: Ki(NMDA) = 19
      microM, Ki (PhGA) = 13 microM, respectively. It was concluded that PhGA is the
      partial agonist of the NMDA receptors.

PMID- 1446017
TI  - [Biogenic amines in brain structures of rats of different zoo-social rank during
      immobilization stress].
AB  - The content of monoamines and their metabolites in different parts of the brain:
      mesencephalic reticular formation, locus coeruleus, sensomotor cortex was studied
      by high-performance liquid chromatography in rats with different zoo-social
      position. Content of dopamine and serotonin in the brain structures studied was
      found to be different in dominants and subdominants. Maximal changes of
      monoamines under immobilization stress were observed in dominants.

PMID- 1446018
TI  - [Hypoxemia, acid-base balance shifts and blood system reactions in adaptation
      mechanisms].
AB  - Experiments were carried out on nonanesthetized and anesthetized dogs with open
      chest. Intravenous norepinephrine infusion (0.1 microgram/kg body weight/min
      during 25 minutes) simulated physiological stimulation of sympathetic nervous
      system. In all the cases it was associated with a significant arterial oxygen
      tension reduction that could be considered as a reaction with an antioxidant
      trend. At the same time the acid--base balance parameters shift directed to
      metabolic acidosis was seen that correlated with the hypoxemia significance.
      Recorded blood picture changes--hemoglobin and hematocrit increase as well as
      blood sedimentation rate lowering--improved both oxygen transport and
      utilization.

PMID- 1446019
TI  - [Sex differences in response to adrenaline in white rats].
AB  - Dynamics of changes of and plasma corticosterone was studied in both male and
      female rats after intraperitoneal injections of adrenaline at a dose of 20
      micrograms per 100 g body weight. The control rats were injected with saline.
      Animals were decapitated 10, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 min after the injections.
      The specific effect of adrenaline was revealed in the first 10 min of adrenaline
      injection. This effect was significantly increased to 30-60 min after termination
      of saline--induced activation of the pituitary-adrenal axis. Both saline and
      adrenaline caused more significant increases in corticosterone levels in female
      rats than in male ones. There was a significant delay in the return of
      corticosterone to resting levels in males compared to that in females. It is
      supposed that the almost two-fold difference in peak plasma corticosterone
      concentrations observed after stressors may be associated with increased
      responsiveness of the female hypothalamus with respect to adrenaline secretion.

PMID- 1446020
TI  - [Use of thermo- and acid-stable proteinase inhibitor to suppress proteolytic
      activation in pulmonary inflammation].
AB  - A comparative study of thermo-acid stable proteinase inhibitor from rabbit serum
      and commercial drug contrykal was made on rats and in vitro experiments. Both
      inhibitors in equal doses effectively suppress proteolytic activity during
      initiation of lung inflammation. It was shown that the thermo-acid stable
      inhibitor possesses higher than contrykal, antielastase activity. A high effect
      of the acid stable inhibitors in the treatment of lung disease is suggested.

PMID- 1446021
TI  - [Effects of blood platelets on generation of free radicals by leukocytes].
AB  - The paper is concerned with studies on generation of free radicals by donor
      leukocytes in plasma rich or poor in platelets. NBT test and chemiluminescence
      were employed. Platelets are shown to inhibit generation of free radicals.
      Changes in free radicals generation were studied under stimulation by zymosan and
      addition of washed platelet fraction. The conclusion is made that platelets
      inhibit leukocyte generation of free radicals by adsorption factors necessary for
      this process from plasma.

PMID- 1446022
TI  - [Isoform pattern of inducible HSP 70 in the rat myocardium after heat shock].
AB  - The hsp 70 content was measured in the myocardium of a control rat group, in the
      group of rats 24 hours following a heat shock and in the group of rats 48 hours
      after a heat shock. In 24 hours after the heat shock, a major inducible hsp 70
      with molecular weight of 71 kDa and pI about 5.8 occurred which was utterly
      absent in myocardial cytosol from control animals. In addition, there was an
      increase in polypeptide fraction with molecular weight of 73 kDa and pI about 5.6
      (HSX73). In 48 hours after the heat shock, first the inducible hsp 70 with
      molecular weight of 71 kDa and pI about 5.8 disappeared which was found in 24
      hours; secondly, HSX73 decreased to the control level and, thirdly, several
      isoforms pronouncedly accumulated with molecular weight of about 71 kDa and pI
      ranging from 5.9 to 6.3. Thus, the isoform composition of stress proteins induced
      by heat shock strongly depends on the time after the stress exposure.
      Furthermore, the accumulation of more acidic isoforms precedes the accumulation
      of alkaline ones.

PMID- 1446023
TI  - [Prevention of postischemic lesions of the myocardium using liposomes].
AB  - The experiments on dogs showed that 60-min blood flow restriction in the left
      coronary artery branch resulted in pumping and contractile heart dysfunctions.
      The removal of the blood flow barrier caused reinforcement of the above
      dysfunctions. The administration of 50 mg/kg liposome prior to reperfusion
      improved pumping and contractile heart functions and allowed maintenance of
      stable hemodynamics during the reperfusion.

PMID- 1446024
TI  - [Effects of different doses of perfluorocarbon emulsion on hemodynamics and
      contractility of ischemic heart].
AB  - The effect of different doses of perfluorocarbon emulsion (5, 10, and 15 ml/kg)
      on the hemodynamics and contractility of heart was studied on anesthetized dogs.
      The emulsion was introduced intravenously by the 60th minute of acute myocardium
      ischemia caused by partial coronary occlusion. When pO2 = 120 mm Hg, the emulsion
      was efficient only at doses of 10 and 15 ml/kg (an increase in cardiac ejection,
      in the rate of contraction and relaxation of the myocardium, reduction of
      vascular resistance). However, the efficiency of the emulsion at a dose of 15
      ml/kg was lower, possibly, due to hypervolemia and cardiodepressive effect of
      introduction of excess quantity of the surface-active substance proxanol, a
      component of the emulsion.

PMID- 1446025
TI  - [Activity of antioxidants in serum of animals with experimental crush syndrome].
AB  - Ischemia of soft tissues in crush syndrome results in activation of free radical
      oxidation processes, which negatively effect the functions of many biological
      systems. The presence of antioxidant system in the body can inhibit the action of
      free radicals. Antiradical effect of this system is seen in vitamin K, ubiquinone
      and ascorbic acid. The results of the experiment showed that the quantity of
      vitamin K, ubiquinone and ascorbic acid increases in the serum of blood after
      decompression of soft tissues in 14 hours, three and seven days. This fact
      supports an active participation of antioxidant system in the pathogenesis of
      crush syndrome.

PMID- 1446026
TI  - [Determination of esterase activity of human and animal serine proteinases using
      fluorogenic esters of amino acids as substrates].
AB  - Two fluorogenic derivatives of amino acids are proposed as substrates for the
      purpose of enzymatic assay: N-benzyloxycarbonyl-phenylalanine-4-methyl
      umbelliferyl ester (substrate-1) and tert-butyloxycarbonyl-alanine-4-methyl
      umbelliferyl ester (substrate-II). Chymotrypsin-like (hydrolysis of substrate-1),
      elastase-like (hydrolysis of substrate-II) esterase activity of bovine pancreatic
      chymotrypsin, activities of cathepsin G and elastase from human, porcine and rat
      neutrophils and esterase activity of human, porcine and rat serum were assayed.
      Differences in the level of chymotrypsin-like and elastase-like activities of
      human, porcine and rat serum were established. Activities of purified elastase
      and cathepsin G from human and animal neutrophils were shown to have no
      significant distinctions.

PMID- 1446027
TI  - [Cytoplasmic casein kinase 2 and its substrate proteins in the brain in
      Alzheimer's disease].
AB  - The absence of casein kinase 2 on blots of temporal cortex extracts from
      Alzheimer's disease patients (ADP) was shown using antiserum to casein kinase 2.
      Casein kinase 2 activity towards endogenous substrates and casein is 2-5 times
      less in ADP brain in comparison to normal controls. The fractions of heparin
      binding proteins, containing protein substrates for phosphorylation, were
      isolated from temporal cortex of ADP and normal controls. The total amount of
      heparin-binding proteins from ADP brains is less than from control brains, and
      the polypeptide composition of these fractions is much more poop.

PMID- 1446028
TI  - [Modulating effects of adenosine on the process of human platelet activation].
AB  - The inhibitory effect of adenosine on aggregation of human platelets activated by
      platelet activating factor (PAF), ADP and serotonin (5-HT) were examined using
      native platelets from blood of volunteers. Platelet aggregation was determined by
      Born's method. Effective adenosine concentrations (IC50) which had inhibited
      platelet aggregation were found to be 0.63 +/- 0.11, 1.47 +/- 0.31 and 0.64 +/-
      0.18 microM, respectively. It was shown that 10 microM adenosine inhibited PAF
      induced platelet aggregation completely. The same adenosine concentration blocked
      ADP- and 5-HT-induced aggregation only partially. Adenosine is physiological
      inhibitor of human platelet aggregation in administration of PAF, ADP and 5-HT.
      Specific characteristics of adenosine modulating effect on these ligands was
      elicited.

PMID- 1446029
TI  - [Induction of monooxygenase system and incorporation of radioactivity from 2-14C
      lysine into proteins of rat liver microsomes under the action of phenobarbital
      and the background of lysine, methionine, threonine and vitamin A, C and E
      deficiencies].
AB  - The effect of diet on induction of monooxygenases and distribution of
      radioactivity from 2-14-C-lysine in fractions of liver homogenate, muscle
      homogenate and blood of male rats treated with phenobarbital (80 mg/kg, three
      days) was studied. 2-14-C-lysine was injected intraperitoneally 24 h before the
      first injection of phenobarbital. It was demonstrated that monooxygenase
      induction, increase of relative liver weight and incorporation of radioactivity
      from 2-14-C-lysine into fractions of liver homogenate in phenobarbital-treated
      rats fed diet deficient in lysine, methionine, threonine and vitamins A, C and E
      were more pronounced as compared with the similarly treated rats which were fed a
      balanced diet. The possibility of mobilization of deficient essential components
      to liver from other organs and tissues for maintenance of monooxygenase induction
      is discussed.

PMID- 1446030
TI  - [A combined effect of cortisol and concanavalin A on calcium ion contents in
      thymic lymphocytes].
AB  - The influence of hydrocortisone (1-10 microM) on mitogen-induced Ca level was
      studied in cytoplasma thymocytes of rat. The investigation was conducted with the
      use of fluorescence technique (FURA-2AM). A specific Ca-blocking effect of the
      hormone was observed in the thymocytes of intact animals. Hydrocortisone did not
      change Ca-response of mitogen-stimulated hormone-resistant thymic lymphocytes. A
      conclusion was made about applicability of this method to assess the response of
      the cells to glucocorticoids in vitro.

PMID- 1446031
TI  - [Study of the role of different types of glutamate receptors in spatial memory in
      rats].
AB  - A comparative study was performed to assess effects of different antagonists of
      glutamate receptors on spatial discrimination of rats in 8-arm radial and water
      mazes. Noncompetitive NMDA receptor blocker MK-801 in the dose 0.10 mg/kg and
      higher impaired the accuracy of performance in radial maze, whereas in the doses
      0.05--0.30 mg/kg in water maze. Quisqualate IAMPA- and 2-amino-4
      phosphonobutyrate (2-APB) I antagonists glutamate diethyl ester (250--500 mg/kg)
      and 2-APB (50--100 mg/kg), respectively, only increased time to complete radial
      maze performance and failed to alter choice accuracy. Both antagonists at the
      same doses did not affect performance of water maze task. The involvement of each
      type of glutamate receptors in different stages of spatial discrimination process
      in rats was discussed.

PMID- 1446032
TI  - [Spectral analysis of the effects of nomifensine on bioelectric activity of the
      rat brain].
AB  - The influence of nomifensine on bioelectrical activity of sensorimotor cortex,
      dorsal hippocamp and lateral hypothalamus in conscious rats in free behavior was
      studied. The pharmacological and EEG analysis of nomifensine action on EEG power
      spectra by Fourier technique was measured. It was established that nomifensine
      evoked an increase and stabilization of the dominant peak in EEG spectra in the
      left and right cortex and in the left hippocamp, while in the other ranges of
      frequency a decrease was observed. The effects on hypothalamus was opposite--EEG
      power spectra decreased in all the ranges. The authors conclude that nomifensine
      evokes higher level of wakefulness, vigilance of the animals. This is likely to
      underlie neurophysiological mechanisms of optimal behavior due to stimulants of
      CNS, including nomifensine.

PMID- 1446033
TI  - [Effects of chorionic gonadotropin on dynamics of primary immune response].
AB  - The effect of chorionic gonadotropin (CG) on primary immune response was
      estimated according to the level of direct and indirect plaque-forming cells
      (PFC) on day 5, 8 and 12 after immunization of non-castrated and ovariectomized
      female mice of CBA strain. It was established, that on the 5th day CG (40-200 IU)
      did not influence the direct PFC level in ovariectomized animals, but stimulated
      them in non-ovariectomized mice (40 IU). In ovariectomized animals the selective
      immunodepressive effect of hormone on the IgG-PFC formation processes has been
      revealed. The CG effect depended on the time of PFC number examination as well as
      on the hormone dose. In non-castrated animals, where immunomodulating CG effects
      are partially mediated by ovarian hormones, the injection of hormone only in the
      dose of 200 IU significantly lowered the number of IgM and IgG-PFC. It is
      suggested, that sex steroids on the late stages of PFC formation, when the
      processes of isotype antibody synthesis switch take place, appear to be
      synergists of CG immunodepressive effect.

PMID- 1446034
TI  - [Lymphocyte subpopulation state of the human lung during prenatal development].
AB  - Distribution of surface lymphocyte markers was assessed in foetus lung by
      cytofluorimetry using monoclonal antibodies produced by "Ortho Diagnostic
      systems" and "Becton Dickinson". Seven lymphocyte subpopulations were detected in
      developing lungs even at the pseudoglandular stage (8-15 weeks). There was a
      significant increase in these lymphocyte subpopulations in canalicular stage.
      Quantity of T3+ cells increased 8-fold and B-cells 10-fold. There was a tendency
      to increased number of cortical thymocytes (T6+), and to decreased ratio T6+/T3+
      lymphocytes. The ratio of immunoregulatory lymphocyte subpopulations (T4+/T8+)
      resembled that of these subpopulations in adult human lung rather than in cord
      blood. In canalicular stage the share of lung lymphoid cells in S-phase was
      decreased.

PMID- 1446035
TI  - [Role of histamine receptors of mouse and guinea pig peritoneal leukocytes in the
      pathogenetic effect of Yersinia pestis adenylate cyclase].
AB  - The effect of purified preparation of adenylate cyclase isolated from Y. pestis
      on peritoneal leukocytes of white mice and guinea pigs was investigated. Y.
      pestis adenylate cyclase was shown to accomplish its pathogenic action via
      histamine-specific receptors on the surface of eukaryotic cells. The involvement
      of H1 and H2 histamine receptors on target cells in the adenylate cyclase action
      leading to development of plague infection is discussed.

PMID- 1446036
TI  - [Immunity and the stage of carcinogenesis progression (experimental bases of the
      concept)].

PMID- 1446037
TI  - [Quantitative determination of anthracycline antibiotic binding with DNA].
AB  - A new method of quantitative intravital assessment of anthracyclines accumulation
      and binding with DNA in alive cells has been developed. For this purpose DNA
      specific fluorescent dye Hoechst 33258 was used. Extent of fluorescence quenching
      of bound with DNA dye correlated with binding of daunomycin with cell DNA after
      mixing solutions of the drug and cells. It allowed us to determine quantity of
      drug molecules bound with DNA in the cells during the time.

PMID- 1446038
TI  - [Differences in anti-oncogene p53 expression in human monocytes and lymphocytes
      in vitro].
AB  - The p53 gene has been associated with malignant transformation as well as "anti
      oncogene" activity. In the present report expression of p53 in resting and
      activated human blood monocytes and lymphocytes is analyzed. It is found that
      human monocytes freshly isolated by continuous percoll gradient centrifugation
      contained detectable level of p53 mRNA. Stimulation of monocytes by potent
      activation inducer Staphylococcus Aureus Cowan I for 3-5 hr caused disappearance
      of r53 mRNA. In contrast, induction of high level of TNF-alpha mRNA was detected.
      Addition of cycloheximide had no effect on p53 mRNA content in stimulated
      monocytes, and caused disappearance of mRNA in resting cells. In lymphocytes
      cultures p53 mRNA was absent in freshly isolated cells and in resting lymphocytes
      cultured for 20 hr. Activation of lymphocytes by lectin caused accumulation of
      p53 mRNA. We suggest that r53 gene regulation and functions might be different in
      human monocytes and lymphocytes.

PMID- 1446039
TI  - [Physicochemical and functional properties of hemoglobin of mice infected with
      Ehrlich's carcinoma].
AB  - Injection of white mice with Ehrlich's carcinoma triggers an increase in the mice
      blood erythrocyte fraction suspended in the 14% sucrose concentration zone. As
      established by acid erythrograms, a quantitative increase of this red blood cell
      population is due to an increased rate of erythroblast maturation and occurrence
      of immature cell forms in the blood stream. As shown by alkali denaturation of
      hemoglobin, tumour development causes an increase in alkali-resistant hemoglobin
      fraction in the erythrocytes. On the basis of the data on alkali denaturation of
      hemoglobin, it is suggested that in the infected mice increased rate of
      erythrocyte maturation go in line with selective binding of alkali resistant
      hemoglobin fraction to red cell membrane.

PMID- 1446040
TI  - [Mouse serum inhibition of cytotoxicity of goat antibodies against mouse
      thymocytes].
AB  - It is shown that the serum of Balb/c, C57Bl/6 and F1(C57Bl/6 x CBA) mice inhibits
      cytotoxicity of goat antithymocyte antibodies. The addition of the serum into the
      incubation medium increases the proportion of alive cells from -5% up to 95%.
      Cytotoxicity was also inhibited by the globulin fraction of the mice serum. It is
      suggested that normal mice serum contains factors which block cytotoxicity of
      antibodies against antigen host determinants.

PMID- 1446041
TI  - [Development of long-term post-tetanic potentiation and changes in S-100 protein
      contents in hippocampal slices of rats in different functional states].
AB  - Male rats of the strains with low (LE) high excitability (HE) of the nervous
      system have been used in this study. Half of the animals of each strain were
      neurotized in accordance with the Hecht's scheme. In the hippocampal slices of
      the non-neurotized LE rats there was a significant increase of the populational
      spike amplitude during development of LTP as compared with the opposite group of
      the animals. The LTP formation in the LE strain of rats caused a decrease in the
      S-100 protein content in the water-soluble, and an increase in the membrane-bound
      fraction of the protein. Similar results we have observed with the non-inbred
      Wistar rats but not with the HE strain of the animals. The levels of the water
      soluble S-100 protein fraction were also higher in the hippocampuses and
      entorenal cortices, but not in the cerebellae of the LE strain, as compared with
      the HE strain of the rats. No differences have been found in the membrane-bound
      fraction of S-100 protein.

PMID- 1446042
TI  - [Effects of acyclic analogs of atrial natriuretic factor on proliferative
      processes of the epithelial tissue in white rats].
AB  - The effect of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) synthetic linear truncated
      analogues AP-H-6-OH and AP-FOR-6-OH on corneal, skin, duodenum and colon
      epithelium proliferation has been studied on male rats. The epithelium mitotic
      activity and DNA synthesis were evaluated 4 and 24 h after intraperitoneal
      injection of 10 or 100 micrograms/kg peptides. In a dose of 10 micrograms/kg both
      ANF synthetic analogues inhibited proliferation processes in corneal epithelium,
      but activated the DNA synthesis in duodenum and colon epithelium. AP-FOR-6-OH (10
      micrograms/kg) decreased the mitotic activity of skin epithelium and increased
      the silver grain density over the cell nuclei at the same time. 100 micrograms/kg
      ANF analogues stimulated cell mitogenesis in all organs studied. According to the
      data obtained ANF linear truncated analogues influence on epithelium
      proliferation is similar to effector of previously studied cyclic atriopeptin AP
      II.

PMID- 1446043
TI  - [Fast transport of proteins in the axons of spinal cord motor neurons in rats
      adapted and unadapted to physical loading].
AB  - The prolonged nonintensive swimming without load (12+ +2 h) provoked a decrease
      of the rate of fast axonal transport in the motor fibres of the sciatic nerve by
      18% and of the overall amount of transported proteins 2-fold as compared with
      control. The relatively short-term but more intensive activity (swimming with the
      load 1/11 of body weight during 60+ +10 min.) results in an increase of the rate
      by 10% and the overall amount of fast transported proteins 2-fold. Daily swimming
      (3 h. without load and 10-15 min. with load) during 20 days returns the above
      parametres to the controls. The compensative-adaptive changes of fast anterograde
      transport are the fact that may be involved in trophic communication between
      neuron and target cell.

PMID- 1446044
TI  - [Proliferation and differentiation of nerve cells of the human NN. supraopticus
      et paraventricularis transplanted to the brain of adult rats].
AB  - Human fetal hypothalamic neurosecretory cells (NSC) were studied after
      transplantation into the third ventricle of the adult rat brain. 3H-thymidine
      uptake data have shown that the time of origin and proliferation of NSC of
      grafted tissue and of supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei in normal
      embryogenesis was similar. Specific staining revealed that the start of
      neurosecretory function in grafted tissue corresponded to the date when NSC began
      functioning in normal ontogenesis.

PMID- 1446045
TI  - [Effects of male sex hormones on specific uptake and release of 3H-serotonin in
      the rat hypothalamus in vitro].
AB  - With the use of "isotopic method" a study was made of the main parameters of
      functional activity of serotoninergic elements of hypothalamus--the specific
      uptake and release of 5-OT. The animals used were sexually mature rats castrated
      on the first postnatal day. In sexually mature intact males the specific uptake
      of 3H-5-OT by serotoninergic structures of the anterior hypothalamus was
      significantly lower than in females. Castration of animals on the first day of
      life resulted in the increase of specific 5-OT uptake in sexually mature males up
      to that observed in females. There were no differences between the sexes in the
      rate of spontaneous release of 5-OT. However, response to K(+)-depolarization in
      the anterior hypothalamus of intact males was significantly lower than that in
      females. In the hypothalamus of males castrated neonatally the amplitude of the
      response to the effect of the depolarizing agent was increase up to the level
      observed in females. By the results obtained it is indicated that elimination of
      the effect of male hormones on the first postnatal day results in the increase of
      5-OT uptake and release in the hypothalamus of sexually mature rat males.

PMID- 1446046
TI  - [In vitro phenomenon of beta cell migration from fetal calf pseudoislets].
AB  - Pseudoislets--pancreatic microfragments containing a lot of beta-cells and
      capable of insulin secretion in vitro-were obtained from 12 fetal calf pancreata
      by the use of collagenase. Morphological and functional changes of the
      pseudoislets were studied during culture. We found a rapid migration of beta
      cells out of the pseudoislets to the bottom of plastic tissue culture plates.
      This process was accompanied by a significant decrease of insulin-secreting
      capacity of the floating microfragments. This should be taken into consideration
      in cases when pseudoislets are prepared for transplantation in order to avoid
      beta-cell loss.

PMID- 1446047
TI  - [Ultrastructural and cytochemical changes in the rat liver during hypoxia
      tolerance training].

PMID- 1446048
TI  - Should women with node-negative breast cancer receive adjuvant chemotherapy?-
      Insights from a decision analysis model.
AB  - The use of adjuvant chemotherapy in women with node-negative breast cancer has
      been controversial and actively debated since the 1988 National Cancer Institute
      Clinical Alert. We developed a decision analysis model that used the results of
      available randomized controlled trials to assess the potential clinical and
      financial effects of using adjuvant chemotherapy for groups of 45-year-old and 60
      year-old women. Using the baseline assumptions, we found that chemotherapy
      increases quality adjusted life expectancy and survival by a substantial amount
      at a cost comparable to most accepted medical interventions. The model highlights
      the uncertainties in duration of benefit from therapy, the need for refinements
      in risk stratification, the importance of patient preferences about toxicity and
      benefit, and the need for accurate cost-accounting for oncologic therapies.
      Decision analysis complements other methods for information gathering, analysis,
      and synthesis used in clinical research. With the increasing focus on the
      effectiveness of medical interventions, decision analysis will be an important
      tool for oncologists to understand.

PMID- 1446050
TI  - Proliferative activity of breast cancers increases in the course of genetic
      evolution as defined by cytogenetic analysis.
AB  - The prognostic value of proliferative activity and its relationship with steroid
      hormone receptors and histopathological grade have been demonstrated for breast
      cancers. However, nothing is known about the underlying mechanisms. In order to
      understand the chronology of the appearance of increased proliferative
      activities, we used a series of 760 consecutive breast cancers for which we had
      obtained S-phase fractions (SPFs) by DNA flow cytometry. When the absolute
      difference from a DNA index of 1.00 was compared to SPFs, a significant positive
      correlation was obtained (r = 0.39, p < 0.0001), indicating that the probability
      of observing a high SPF increases when tumors progressively deviate from
      diploidy. A highly significant correlation was observed for the hyperploid group
      when hypertetraploid tumors were excluded, as the SPFs increased progressively as
      the DNA indices decreased from 2.00 to 1.30. This observation suggested a
      relationship with the evolution of chromosomal abnormalities as determined by
      cytogenetic analysis. Indeed, in a subset of 52 cases for which sufficient
      metaphases were available, there was a highly significant correlation between the
      SPF values and the proportion of rearranged chromosomes in the tumor cells (r =
      0.60, p < 0.0001). When SPFs were separated into low or high using the median
      value (4.5%), a correlation also existed with the genetic evolution, since they
      increased from diploidy to hypodiploidy and then, after endoreduplication, from
      tetraploidy towards triploidy, as determined by the chromosome counts. Our
      results substantiate the relationship between proliferative activity and steroid
      hormone receptors which follow the same model.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446049
TI  - Contraceptive steroids and the mammary gland: is there a hazard?--Insights from
      animal studies.
AB  - The safety of synthetic steroid hormones to be used for contraception in the
      human female is tested in rats, beagle dogs, and (once marketing starts) in
      monkeys. Because early studies did not show a mammary tumor stimulating effect in
      the human, in contrast to findings in the dog, many objections have been raised
      to the use of the dog for these toxicity studies. It has been claimed that the
      dog is unique in its sensitivity to the mammary tumor promoting effect of
      progestins and that this tumorigenic effect results from progestin-induced growth
      hormone (GH) induction. A thorough review of the literature does not support
      these claims. Tumor stimulatory effects of progesterone or synthetic progestins
      can be observed under some conditions in rodents as well as in cats and monkeys.
      In addition, recent evidence suggests a role for progesterone in mammary
      tumorigenesis in the human, and contraceptive steroids may also not be completely
      without risk. While the suggested role for GH in dog mammary tumorigenesis is far
      from proven, such a role cannot be excluded in the other species. Whether tumor
      stimulatory effects of sex steroids are based upon induction of proliferation in
      target cells or upon genotoxic effects or both is not yet certain.

PMID- 1446051
TI  - Breast tumor-derived factors stimulate reduction of estrone to estradiol in
      nonmalignant breast tissue.
AB  - This study examines the paracrine influence by human breast carcinoma cells (UISO
      BCA-1) on nonmalignant breast tissue in vitro. The 17 beta-OH-SDH-mediated
      reductive pathway (estrone-->estradiol) was significantly increased in
      nonmalignant breast tissue coincubated with human breast carcinoma cells,
      compared to control tissues incubated in the media alone. No influence on the
      enzyme activity was noticed in coincubated breast cancer cells. Preincubation of
      breast cancer cells with estradiol (10(-8) M) significantly decreased the enzyme
      activity in coincubated nonmalignant breast tissue, which was restored to control
      levels by addition of R5020 (10(-8) M), tamoxifen (10(-6) M), or a combination of
      both. In nonmalignant tissues incubated in the presence of growth factor TGF
      alpha, enzyme activity was reduced to between 46% and 76%. No other growth
      factors (IGF I, IGF II, PDGF) influenced enzyme activity. In nonmalignant tissues
      incubated with malignant tumor cytosol, enzyme activity was increased in 16%
      cases, inhibited in 21%, and not significantly changed in 63%. The data from the
      present study suggest that factors produced by breast carcinoma cells may
      influence interconversion of estradiol in nonmalignant tissue. In patients,
      factors produced by malignant tumor mass may have paracrine influence on
      surrounding nonmalignant breast tissue and, thereby, may influence the estrogen
      availability to tumor mass.

PMID- 1446052
TI  - Influence of aminoglutethimide on plasma oestrogen levels in breast cancer
      patients on 4-hydroxyandrostenedione treatment.
AB  - The clinical and biochemical effects of combined treatment with the two aromatase
      inhibitors aminoglutethimide and 4-hydroxyandrostenedione were evaluated in 10
      patients suffering from advanced breast cancer. All patients had become resistant
      to treatment with one of the drugs before having combined treatment. Seven
      patients progressing on 4-hydroxyandrostenedione who had aminoglutethimide added
      to their treatment and achieved a further suppression of plasma oestradiol by a
      mean of 40.0% (p < 0.05). Plasma oestrone was suppressed by a mean of 40.6% (p <
      0.025) and plasma oestrone sulphate was suppressed by a mean of 63.6% (p <
      0.025). Two of the patients, neither of whom had responded to 4
      hydroxyandrostenedione alone, experienced objective tumour regression when
      aminoglutethimide was given in concert. Three patients progressing on
      aminoglutethimide who had 4-hydroxyandrostenedione added showed no further
      suppression of their plasma oestrogen levels, and no tumour regression was
      observed. These findings suggest a dose-response relationship between plasma
      oestrogen suppression at low postmenopausal levels and objective tumour response
      in breast cancer.

PMID- 1446053
TI  - Cytosol cathepsin-D content and proliferative activity of human breast cancer.
      The Comitato Italiano per il Controllo di Qualita del Laboratorio in Oncologia.
AB  - Mitogenic properties have been demonstrated in vitro for the lysosomal acidic
      protease cathepsin-D (cath-D). We investigated possible relationships between
      cath-D cytosol cell content and tumor proliferative activity in a series of 129
      operable breast cancer patients. For total cytosol cath-D evaluation, a solid
      phase two-site immunoradiometric assay was utilized on tumor cell cytosol
      obtained for hormone receptor assay (DCC method). The percentage of S-phase cells
      was analyzed by 3H-thymidine autoradiographic assay. Median 3H-thymidine Labeling
      Index (3H-Tdr-LI) of the series was 2.7%; median cath-D content resulted 57
      pmol/mg of protein cytosol and was significantly higher in node-positive with
      respect to the node-negative subgroup (p < 0.03). When classified in low,
      intermediate or high tumor cath-D content and slow or fast proliferative activity
      (cut-off: median values of the series), no significant agreement was found
      between the two variables. Statistical analysis, however, showed that a
      significant inverse correlation existed in node positive tumors between cath-D
      and 3H-Tdr-LI values which was even more evident in N-positive high estrogen
      receptor-positive (ER+) cases (coefficient of correlation = 0.6828; p = 0.0001).
      Cytosol cath-D content cannot be generally proposed as a direct marker of
      proliferative activity for operable breast cancer.

PMID- 1446054
TI  - In memoriam--William L. McGuire.

PMID- 1446055
TI  - Immunohistochemical reaction to human milk fat globule antibodies and breast
      cancer differentiation.
AB  - Immunohistochemical studies of human breast cancers using human milk fat globule
      (HMFG) antibodies are divergent regarding the association with histologic
      differentiation. To clarify this association 392 tumors were assessed using two
      antibodies, HMFG-1 and HMFG-2. In half the tumors studied the tissue reaction to
      both antibodies was the same and in 63% the site of reaction was identical. Using
      both univariate and multivariate statistics, a highly significant association was
      recorded between membrane staining and well differentiated cancers and
      cytoplasmic staining and poor differentiation. Well differentiated tumors
      contained significantly more reactive cells. Complementing these findings was the
      association between age at diagnosis, tumor stage, and estrogen receptor status
      and differentiation. It is possible that immunohistochemical analysis with HMFG
      antibodies will provide better characterization of tumor differentiation than
      morphologic interpretation.

PMID- 1446056
TI  - Secretion of breast gross cystic disease fluid proteins by T47D breast cancer
      cells in culture--modulation by steroid hormones.
AB  - The effect of steroid hormones on modulating the secretion rates of three human
      breast gross cystic disease fluid proteins (GCDFP-15, GCDFP-24, and GCDFP-44) by
      T47D breast carcinoma cells in tissue culture was evaluated. Androgens
      (dihydrotestosterone or fluoxymesterone) were capable of stimulating the
      secretion rates for all three GCDFP's while showing a minimal trend toward
      slowing the growth rate of T47D cells. This is the first study which shows that
      androgens can specifically stimulate all three of the major breast GCDFP's
      concomitantly. Progesterone, and three synthetic progestins, all showed
      inhibition of the growth rate of T47D cells while causing enhancement of the
      secretion of GCDFP-15 and GCDFP-44, and only minimal effect on the secretion rate
      of GCDFP-24. Estradiol was essentially neutral to the growth rate of the T47D
      cells in our test system. Estradiol did cause a mild enhancement of GCDFP-44
      secretion rate, with no appreciable effect on GCDFP-15 or GCDFP-24 secretion
      rates. These findings suggest that an androgenic stimulus may be involved in the
      secretion of GCDFP's associated with breast gross cystic disease.

PMID- 1446057
TI  - Characterization of two human mammary carcinomas, MT-1 and MT-3, suitable for in
      vivo testing of ether lipids and their derivatives.
AB  - The human mammary carcinomas MT-1 and MT-3 originate from surgical material and
      were transplanted in nude mice. Both tumors have been classified as estradiol-
      and progesterone receptor-negative. Therapeutic doses of hormones and anti
      hormones remained without growth inhibitory effect. MT-1 and MT-3 proved to be
      sensitive to conventional cytostatic drugs used for treatment of mammary
      carcinomas; striking is their sensitivity to ether lipids. Therefore, they are
      considered suitable tumor models for this class of substances.

PMID- 1446059
TI  - High-tech equipment used in your quality program.

PMID- 1446058
TI  - Control of proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells in a commercial preparation
      of charcoal-stripped adult bovine serum.
AB  - A commercial preparation of charcoal-stripped adult bovine serum was used to
      culture MCF-7 cells in estrogen-free media. Use of this stripped adult bovine
      serum represents an alternative to calf serum which is in more limited supply,
      and saves charcoal-stripping of serum in the laboratory, which can be a rate
      limiting step in the preparation of materials for estrogen-free tissue culture.
      MCF-7 cell proliferation was controlled by estrogens, epidermal growth factor
      (EGF) and lithium chloride in adult bovine serum as well as in standard media
      prepared with charcoal-stripped calf serum, and approximately the same fold
      increase in response to the tested agents was observed in the two sera. Although
      the growth rates were lower in media prepared with adult bovine serum, MCF-7
      cells in both media exhibited the same sensitivities in dose-responses to these
      three mitogens. Levels of estrogen and progesterone receptors, and the magnitude
      of estrogen-dependent stimulation of the progesterone receptors, were similar in
      cells maintained in both sera. Therefore, a commercially stripped adult bovine
      serum can be used to replace calf serum in the study of estrogenic responses and
      the control of proliferation in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

PMID- 1446060
TI  - Interdisciplinary guidelines for the management of acute pain: implications for
      quality improvement.

PMID- 1446061
TI  - Selecting and using computer application software for quality assessment and
      improvement.

PMID- 1446062
TI  - Using a database management system to manage quality assurance data.

PMID- 1446063
TI  - Automated data entry and analysis for unit-based quality assurance programs.

PMID- 1446064
TI  - Computerized quality assurance monitoring: a collaborative project.

PMID- 1446065
TI  - Protecting patient confidentiality in the pursuit of the ultimate computerized
      information system.

PMID- 1446066
TI  - A study of clients' perceived needs in a nursing center.

PMID- 1446067
TI  - Quality: a concept of importance to nursing.

PMID- 1446068
TI  - Quality-driven information systems: a time to act.

PMID- 1446069
TI  - Program evaluation of a school-based clinic: one method of demonstrating
      effectiveness.

PMID- 1446070
TI  - Emphasis on quality assessment and improvement activities.

PMID- 1446071
TI  - An indirect mechanism by which a protein from the male gonad hastens salivary
      gland degeneration in the female ixodid tick, Amblyomma hebraeum.
AB  - In the adult female tick, Amblyomma hebraeum Koch (Acari: Ixodidae), salivary
      gland degeneration is triggered by an ecdysteroid, provided the female is above a
      critical weight (approximately 300-400 mg). In mated females, salivary gland
      degeneration is virtually complete within 4 days of detachment from the host. In
      virgin females, salivary gland degeneration is delayed by 4 days. This delay can
      be reversed by the injection of a male reproductive tract homogenate directly
      into the hemocoel. In this study, we consider a possible mechanism of action for
      this "male factor." Once mated, male factor likely gains access to its target
      tissue(s) as a humoral factor. Male factor, however, appears not to act by
      sensitizing the salivary glands to the action of ecdysteroids. Instead, it
      appears to act by accelerating the appearance of ecdysteroids in the hemolymph.

PMID- 1446072
TI  - Sequence accuracy of large DNA sequencing projects.
AB  - Very little information has been accumulated regarding the likely accuracy of
      final or consensus DNA sequence data. With the large-scale efforts anticipated
      for the Human Genome Project, the subjective determination of final sequence must
      eventually be replaced with more objective, automatic methods. This will require
      a much better understanding of the nature of error in raw sequencing data and its
      impact on the determination of the final sequence. This paper describes a start
      at defining the error model of large-scale sequencing efforts based on random
      subcloning strategies.

PMID- 1446073
TI  - An estimate of the sequencing error frequency in the DNA sequence databases.
AB  - We have examined vector sequences fortuitously present in the EMBL sequence
      database as contaminating parts of submitted sequences, and found a sequencing
      error frequency of 3.55% in this subset of release 27 of the database. We discuss
      the possibility that this value may be representative for corresponding errors in
      the database as a whole.

PMID- 1446074
TI  - Closely linked H2B genes in the marine copepod, Tigriopus californicus indicate a
      recent gene duplication or gene conversion event.
AB  - Two nonallelic histone gene clusters were characterized in the marine copepod,
      Tigriopus californicus. The DNA sequence of one of the clusters reveals six genes
      in the contiguous arrangement of H2B, H1, H3, H4, H2B and H2A. The order of genes
      within the second cluster is H3, H4, H2B and H2A. There is no evidence for the
      presence of an H1 gene in this cluster. Comparison of the three copepod H2B genes
      reveals a high degree of similarity between the 5' upstream regions and between
      the amino terminal halves of the two H2B genes found within the same cluster.
      From these data we infer that gene duplication and/or gene conversion events
      occurred within this cluster in the recent past.

PMID- 1446075
TI  - The nucleotide sequence of the human transcription factor HTF4a cDNA.
AB  - A partial cDNA has previously been isolated that encodes HTF4, a new member of
      the basic helix-loop-helix family of DNA binding proteins. We have reconstructed
      a full cDNA, designated HTF4a cDNA, which spans the entire HTF4 coding region.
      The 5' end of the reconstructed cDNA includes an open reading frame encoding a
      117-residue polypeptide. Three closely spaced ATG codons in the major open
      reading frame may potentially serve as sites of initiation for HTF4a synthesis,
      to yield proteins that contain 682, 675, and 657 amino acid residues,
      respectively. Pairwise dot matrix analysis indicates that there are at least
      three distinct human genes which encode proteins related to the Drosophila
      daughterless.

PMID- 1446076
TI  - The nucleotide sequence between genes 31 and 30 of bacteriophage T4.
AB  - The nucleotide sequence of the 2994 bp T4 phage DNA fragment between genes 31 and
      30 is presented. The fragment contains 7 complete open reading frames in the
      direction of early transcription and two early promoters, PE128.6 and PE128.2,
      which we show to cause difficulties in cloning DNA from this genomic region. Our
      data complete the nucleotide sequence and the organization of genes in the
      genomic region between T4 genes 31 and 30.

PMID- 1446077
TI  - Nucleotide sequence of bovine interleukin-6 cDNA.
AB  - We report the cloning of bovine interleukin-6 (IL-6) cDNA. The clone was isolated
      from a bovine-leukemia virus (BLV)-induced B cell-lymphosarcoma cDNA library
      cloned in the bacteriophage lambda gt11. The cDNA encodes a full length IL-6
      protein made of 208 amino acids with 65, 53, 42 and 42% homology to published
      sequences of porcine, human, mouse and rat IL-6, respectively. The significance
      of IL-6 expression in a BLV-induced tumor is briefly discussed.

PMID- 1446078
TI  - Dysplasia, an ongoing controversy highlighted by objective measurements?

PMID- 1446079
TI  - Classification of autosomal dominant palmoplantar keratoderma: past-present
      future.

PMID- 1446080
TI  - Prognosing melanomas: the argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region approach.
AB  - Staining of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) is a histological
      technique that has been assayed on a vast array of cutaneous tumors in order to
      help distinguish benign from malignant lesions. In a number of papers, malignant
      melanomas have been found to have a higher number of black nucleolar and
      extranucleolar dots (i.e. AgNORs) than benign nevi, including Spitz nevus. The
      technique may be used for prognostic purposes, as a recent paper suggests.
      Melanomas with more than 3.62 AgNORs/cell have a higher probability to develop
      metastasis than melanomas with fewer AgNORs. The problems such an apparently
      simple, fast and reproducible technique may pose are discussed in detail.

PMID- 1446081
TI  - L-tryptophan ingestion does not induce progressive systemic sclerosis
      (scleroderma).
AB  - A retrospective analysis of 153 patients suffering from progressive systemic
      sclerosis failed to show any correlation between either onset or worsening of the
      disease and L-tryptophan ingestion. Only one woman developed typical
      acrosclerosis without signs of the eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome during exposure
      to the drug.

PMID- 1446082
TI  - Staphylococcus aureus leukocidin: a new virulence factor in cutaneous infections?
      An epidemiological and experimental study.
AB  - Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a Staphylococcus aureus (SA) exotoxin, which
      kills human granulocytes and monocytes in vitro. Among 43 SA strains from
      cutaneous infections, 12 were PVL producers, whereas among 49 blood culture
      strains, only 1 produced PVL. Most PVL-producing strains (11/22) came from 22
      primitive cutaneous infections, especially furuncles and abscesses, while only 1
      PVL-producing strain came from 21 secondary infections of dermatoses such as
      bullous or pruritic diseases. Intradermal injections of PVL in rabbits induced
      edema, erythema and necrosis; histopathological changes at the injection sites
      consisted mainly in leukocytoclasis and vascular necrosis. All changes were dose
      dependent, and previous immunization of rabbits partially neutralized PVL-induced
      effects. Production of PVL in vivo after injections of bacteria seems to be low,
      and the histopathological lesions induced in the rabbit skin do not appear to be
      specifically related to PVL activity. However, PVL is a good candidate as a new
      virulence factor in cutaneous SA infections.

PMID- 1446083
TI  - Extensive variant of cutaneous amyloidosis: report of a case with electron
      microscopic and immunohistochemical studies of the basement membrane zone at
      sites of amyloid production.
AB  - A 60-year-old Japanese female developed widespread lichenoid eruptions with
      pigmentation, which initially appeared in preceding erythematous skin lesions due
      to dermatomyositis. Thioflavine T and Dylon stainings, electron microscopy and
      immunohistochemistry revealed that thick amyloid deposits were present in the
      papillary dermis particularly beneath the epidermis. Autopsy showed no evidence
      of systemic amyloidosis. Electron microscopy of the lesional skin disclosed the
      disturbance of lamina densa formation in the epidermal basement membrane zone
      (BMZ). There was disruption and dissociation of the lamina densa from the basal
      cell, and a lamina-densa-like substance was found in the amyloid deposits.
      Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy showed that type IV and VII
      collagens, LDA-1 antigen (a noncollagenous component of the BMZ) and laminin were
      distributed in irregular thick deposits along the BMZ and were also present
      within the amyloid itself. These findings indicate that morphological and
      immunohistochemical abnormalities of the lamina densa may be involved in amyloid
      production at the interface of the epidermis and dermis, at least in this case.

PMID- 1446084
TI  - Derivation of a dysplasia index for epidermal neoplasia.
AB  - Measurements have been performed on histological sections of normal, paralesional
      and affected skin of patients with solar keratoses in an attempt at
      quantification of the degree of dysplasia. Features of dysplasia, including the
      epidermal thickness, the nuclear fraction and nuclear size distribution and
      shape, have been individually derived and incorporated into a formula designed to
      reflect the degree of dysplastic change within the epidermis. Application of this
      'index of dysplasia' has been shown to differentiate lesional epidermis from that
      of the surrounding and normal non-sun-exposed skin. In addition, this index
      correlated well with independent dermatopathologists' assessments of the degree
      of dysplasia.

PMID- 1446085
TI  - Progressive facial hemiatrophy: report of five cases and biochemical analysis of
      connective tissue.
AB  - Five cases of progressive facial hemiatrophy (PFH) are reported. A nonindurated
      depression on normal-colored skin was observed in the cheeks of 3 subjects, and 2
      patients showed indurated, pigmented atrophic lesions associated with linear
      scleroderma or generalized morphea. Lipoatrophy with mild subcutaneous fibrosis
      was observed histologically in the patients with nonindurated depressions. In
      contrast, the patients with indurated lesions exhibited a marked dermal fibrosis
      and the disappearance of appendices in the dermis. When compared with unaffected
      skin used as a control, collagen and glycosaminoglycan contents were not
      different in diseased areas. However, the dermatan sulfate/hyaluronic acid ratio
      was increased 1.5- to 3.2-fold in PFH patients regardless of their clinical and
      histological differences. These results suggest that both types of PFH may be
      based on a similar connective tissue disorder.

PMID- 1446086
TI  - Decreased peripheral blood eosinophil counts in severe psoriatic patients treated
      with low-dose cyclosporine A.
AB  - We report a clinical observation, a statistically significant decrease in
      peripheral blood eosinophils in patients treated with low-dose cyclosporine A for
      severe psoriasis 225/microliters at baseline to 114/microliters at week 12 (p =
      0.04). We discuss the potential significance of this clinical finding.

PMID- 1446087
TI  - Palmoplantar orthokeratotic filiform hyperkeratosis in a patient with associated
      Darier's disease. Classification of filiform hyperkeratosis.
AB  - We present here the third published case of palmoplantar orthokeratotic filiform
      hyperkeratosis of particular clinical interest because of associated Darier's
      disease. We propose a classification of filiform hyperkeratosis in three groups
      on the basis of the topography (i.e. palmar and plantar, disseminated with
      palmoplantar sparing and linear) and the histology (i.e. porokeratosis or
      orthokeratosis) of the lesions. This keratinization disorder does not seem to be
      a specific disease entity but rather a syndrome secondary to various disorders.

PMID- 1446088
TI  - Inflammatory familial palmoplantar keratoderma: Greither's disease?
AB  - A case of a familial palmoplantar inflammatory keratoderma with autosomal
      dominant inheritance is reported. Associated clinical features included vasomotor
      troubles and hyperhidrosis consistent with a diagnosis of Greither's disease.
      Light microscopy was nonspecific. Electron microscopy showed aggregated
      tonofilaments around the nucleus, without true clumps. Desmosomes were numerous
      and cell-cell junctions showed an imbricated pattern, well demonstrated in the
      stratum corneum. The diagnosis of Greither's keratoderma is discussed.

PMID- 1446089
TI  - Coexistence of apparent transverse leukonychia (Muehrcke's lines type) and
      longitudinal melanonychia after 5-fluorouracil/adriamycin/cyclophosphamide
      chemotherapy.

PMID- 1446090
TI  - Perianal streptococcal cellulitis: treatment with topical mupirocin.

PMID- 1446091
TI  - Minocycline in granulomatous cheilitis: experience with 6 cases.

PMID- 1446092
TI  - A meta-analysis of studies carried out between 1946 and 1988 concerned with the
      efficacy of speech and language therapy treatment for aphasic patients.
AB  - An examination of the empirical evidence for the efficacy of speech and language
      therapy treatment for adult aphasic patients is undertaken with the aid of meta
      analysis which affords a statistical method of systematic data summary and
      synthesis. Patient characteristics and treatment outcomes are correlated to
      identify factors that contribute to the demonstration of a treatment effect. One
      of the most striking results of this retrospective study was the identification
      of the overwhelming failure to report data or include, in experimental controls,
      variables that might crucially affect outcome.

PMID- 1446093
TI  - Developmental verbal dyspraxia. I: A review and critique.
AB  - Developmental verbal dyspraxia is examined from four perspectives: clinical,
      phonetic, linguistic and cognitive. The paper critically discusses the problems
      encountered when criteria for identifying acquired speech disorders in the adult
      population are applied to children's speech difficulties without modifications.
      It is argued that studies of verbal dyspraxia in children have ignored the
      unfolding nature of this condition and that a developmental perspective has been
      lacking in the literature. A need for the inclusion of appropriate control groups
      and longitudinal case studies is identified. The issue and process of
      differential diagnosis are addressed and a checklist of criteria for identifying
      developmental verbal dyspraxia is included. It is noted that this process will
      inevitably be lengthy with data needed from different aspects of a child's
      development. Phonetic characteristics alone may not be sufficient to recognise
      this medical condition with its complex psycholinguistic and educational
      consequences.

PMID- 1446094
TI  - Developmental verbal dyspraxia. II: A developmental perspective on two case
      studies.
AB  - A longitudinal study of the speech errors of two school-age children with what
      was described as developmental verbal dyspraxia is presented. By comparing them
      with a group of normally developing children matched on articulation age, it was
      possible to identify speech errors not typical of earlier speech development,
      involving problems with syllable structure planning and vocal tract coordination.
      The speech-disordered children could produce more words correctly than the
      controls, but, when they did make speech errors, these were more serious than
      those found in the younger children. The speech-disordered children were followed
      up 4 years later. Although their speech had improved, they presented with the
      same profile of error types. They had increased intelligibility by adding more
      word-specific articulations but still had difficulties with novel and complex
      material. The adoption of a developmental framework in this study allowed the
      identification of different levels of breakdown within the speech production
      process. The case-study method is recommended to investigate how these levels may
      interact and the clinical implications of the findings are outlined.

PMID- 1446095
TI  - The predictive validity and accuracy of a screening test for language delay and
      auditory perceptual disorder.
AB  - Infants (321) who had been screened for language delay and auditory perceptual
      problems at 9 months of age were evaluated 1 year later. Of these infants 88.6%
      were correctly classified as at-risk or not-at-risk of delayed linguistic
      development. The correlation between performance on the screen and on a language
      scale was 0.49. The great majority of those with receptive and expressive delay
      continued to show problems at 2 years of age, whereas half of those with
      expressive delay alone were within normal limits. No evidence was found that a
      history of fluctuating hearing loss contributed to the development of either
      language delay or auditory perceptual problems.

PMID- 1446096
TI  - The communication abilities of 2- to 4-year-old twins.
AB  - The speech and language abilities of pre-school multiple-birth children (MBC) are
      often reported to be impaired. In this study, teh syntactic, semantic, pragmatic,
      articulation and phonological skills of 19 sets of MBC were assessed. The
      comparisons made were between MBC and matched singleton controls, between
      siblings within multiple-birth sets, and for each multiple-birth child with
      different conversational partners (sibling versus speech and language therapist).
      The results indicated that the MBC performed more poorly than the singleton
      controls on measures of syntax and phonology. Whilst there were quantitative and
      qualitative similarities between siblings' linguistic abilities, their
      phonologies were not identical, and the MBC's speech and language changed with
      different conversational partners. The implications of the results for the
      existence of 'twin language', choice of language sample for assessment of
      functional communication and the need for preventive intervention programmes are
      discussed.

PMID- 1446097
TI  - Speech control in persistent tardive dyskinesia: a case study.

PMID- 1446098
TI  - A simple nasal anemometer for clinical purposes.
AB  - There is a need for clinical methods which give more direct information about the
      behaviour of the velopharyngeal mechanism in natural speech than do the
      examination methods normally applied to patients suffering from velopharyngeal
      insufficiency. One possibility is the recording of nasal airflow in order to
      detect nasal emission of air. The purpose of the present study is to examine the
      qualities and the characteristics of a simple and cheap nasal anemometer. As this
      type of flowmeter is considered less reliable than most other flowmeters, its
      limitations must be clearly understood and accounted for in drawing conclusions.
      Therefore, nasal airflow in speech obtained with this flowmeter is discussed in
      relation to nasal airflow obtained by the more reliable pneumotachograph and in
      relation to nasal airflow data found in the literature. The tests made here
      suggest that, at least for the type of speech material and measurements used in
      the present study, reliable nasal airflow data can be obtained by the anemometer.

PMID- 1446099
TI  - Can the Lombard effect be used to improve low voice intensity in Parkinson's
      disease?
AB  - Low voice intensity is a common problem in Parkinson's disease. It is typically
      resistant to drug therapy and often persists despite extensive behavioural speech
      and language therapy. Based on previous findings that masking noise will produce
      a consistent increase in voice intensity in most normal individuals, the effects
      of white masking noise, presented at a sound pressure level of 90 dB, was
      examined in 10 parkinsonian patients with low voice intensity. Results indicated
      that all Parkinson's disease patients showed a marked increase in their voice
      intensity. Given this finding, it is proposed that masking noise may be an
      effective treatment for reduced voice intensity in parkinsonian speakers,
      particularly with the future adaptation of portable voice-activated maskers, such
      as the Edinburgh Masker.

PMID- 1446100
TI  - Vocal attrition related to idiosyncratic dysphonia: re-analysis of survey data.
AB  - In a recent survey study it was found that female army instructors were
      significantly more likely to suffer from symptoms of vocal attrition than new
      female recruits, supporting the clinical impression that those who are engaged in
      a vocally taxing vocation are at higher risk for vocal attrition than those who
      are not. In the present study we found that instructors who reported having
      rapid, excessive or loud speech, or a combination of these, were significantly
      more likely to report symptoms of vocal attrition than instructors who reported
      not having these speech habits. Difference in prevalence of vocal attrition
      symptoms among recruits with and without these speech habits was statistically
      non-significant. The present findings confirm the clinical impression that
      idiosyncratic dysphonia can increase the risk of vocal attrition, especially in
      people who are engaged in a vocally demanding profession or vocation.

PMID- 1446101
TI  - An evaluation study of voice therapy in non-organic dysphonia.
AB  - Thirty patients diagnosed as suffering from non-organic dysphonia were assigned
      to one of three treatment groups: direct therapy, indirect and no treatment for a
      period of 8 weeks. Therapeutic outcome was evaluated by independent judges,
      patient self-evaluation, electrolaryngograph ratings and measures of fundamental
      frequency. The direct treatment group showed the most significant improvement in
      the return to normal voice functioning followed by the indirect treatment group.
      One patient in the control group showed improvement without any intervention.
      This study provides evidence in support of the effectiveness of both direct and
      indirect therapy in the treatment of non-organic dysphonia and raises questions
      concerning individual patient responses to these approaches.

PMID- 1446102
TI  - A survey of the communication-impaired population of Tayside.
AB  - There are few published surveys that are designed specifically to describe the
      total population of clients with communication disorders who might potentially
      benefit from the use of a communication aid. Such data, however, would be useful
      in planning the funding and staffing of rehabilitation services in a region.
      Figures are also needed to identify populations whose needs are currently not
      being met and thus to establish areas of future developments both for service and
      research purposes. The survey reported here was carried out as part of a project
      concerned with the provision of augmentative communication to the neurologically
      impaired child and young adult. It was intended to produce a broad description of
      the communication-impaired population in Tayside. The survey was then used to
      identify detailed information about clients who may benefit from using a
      communication aid, and it also highlighted some provision and research issues.
      Access to communication aids for the non-speaking population was found to have
      been restricted by lack of funding, resources and opportunities for training for
      therapists in the use of augmentative and alternative communication. Future
      research and development should particularly address the needs of the aphasic
      population whose needs were not found to be met by currently available
      communication aids.

PMID- 1446103
TI  - Metalinguistic awareness of nuclear accent and of compound stress in an 8 year
      old.

PMID- 1446104
TI  - JMRI 1933: where to now?

PMID- 1446105
TI  - Routine quantitative analysis of brain and cerebrospinal fluid spaces with MR
      imaging.
AB  - A computerized system for processing spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging
      data was implemented to estimate whole brain (gray and white matter) and
      cerebrospinal fluid volumes and to display three-dimensional surface
      reconstructions of specified tissue classes. The techniques were evaluated by
      assessing the radiometric variability of MR volume data and by comparing
      automated and manual procedures for measuring tissue volumes. Results showed (a)
      the homogeneity of the MR data and (b) that automated techniques were
      consistently superior to manual techniques. Both techniques, however, were
      affected by the complexity of the structure, with simpler structures (eg, the
      intracranial cavity) showing less variability and better spatial correlation of
      segmentation results between raters. Moreover, the automated techniques were
      completed for whole brain in a fraction of the time required to complete the
      equivalent segmentation manually. Additional evaluations included interrater
      reliability and an evaluation that included longitudinal measurement, in which
      one subject was imaged sequentially 24 times, with reliability computed from data
      collected by three raters over 1 year. Results showed good reliability for the
      automated segmentation procedures.

PMID- 1446106
TI  - Phase-contrast MR angiography of vascular malformations of the spinal cord at 0.5
      T.
AB  - Preliminary experience with phase-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) angiography at
      0.5 T applied in 12 cases of vascular malformations of the spinal cord is
      reported. There were six intramedullary arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), four
      perimedullary fistulas, and two dural arteriovenous fistulas with perimedullary
      drainage, all proved with x-ray angiography. The small size of the vessels and
      their location within a bony structure presented a technical challenge.
      Serpentine vascular signal patterns were identified within the spinal canal in
      all cases, showing good correlation with the x-ray angiographic pattern. Relative
      to spin-echo images, MR angiograms allowed better visualization of the venous
      drainage. The nidus of intramedullary AVMs was more difficult to recognize. The
      ability to manipulate the velocity-encoding value allows better characterization
      of flow speed. The results underline the two dimensions of the phase-contrast
      technique, which provides both anatomic images and dynamic information about
      vascular malformations. MR angiography does not replace selective x-ray
      angiography, which is indispensable for therapeutic strategy (endovascular
      procedure or surgery), but it can be considered a valuable alternative to x-ray
      angiography during follow-up.

PMID- 1446107
TI  - MR angiography with a cardiac-phase--specific acquisition window.
AB  - A method for cardiac-phase-specific magnetic resonance (MR) angiography is
      presented. An electronics module permits incrementing of phase-encoding gradients
      and storage of incoming data only during a chosen portion of the cardiac cycle.
      Suppression of stationary material is maintained by delivering radio-frequency
      pulses at constant TR throughout the cycle. Imaging of a pulsatile flow phantom
      demonstrates that acquiring data only during systole substantially increases the
      signal intensity of flowing material. In addition, phase-encoding ghost artifacts
      are eliminated from the neighborhood of the vessel. Image acquisition time is
      minimized by acquiring only the low-frequency phase-encoding lines in the cardiac
      phase-specific mode. In healthy volunteers, greatly improved MR angiograms of the
      lower extremities are obtained. Fat saturation and magnetization transfer further
      enhance vessel/background contrast. Acquiring data only during systole ensures
      rapid inflow for all phase-encoding lines, permitting a near-longitudinal section
      orientation without in-plane saturation. This substantially reduces total
      acquisition time relative to axial acquisition.

PMID- 1446108
TI  - Correlation of MR changes with Doppler US measurements of blood flow in
      exercising normal muscle.
AB  - Muscle data from phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy and hydrogen
      1 MR imaging and popliteal artery data from duplex Doppler ultrasound were
      compared during an exercise test of the anterior compartment of the leg, in nine
      healthy volunteers. Significant variations (mean +/- standard deviation) were
      observed at the end of exercise versus rest in intracellular pH (pHi) (6.32 +/-
      0.02 vs 7.02 +/- 0.04, P < .001), T2 (38.2 msec +/- 2.3 vs 29.5 msec +/- 1.1, P <
      .001), and popliteal output (652 mL/min +/- 232 vs 149 mL/min +/- 65, P < .001).
      These variables showed the following significant correlations at the end of
      exercise: T2 and pHi (r = -.784, P < .01), T2 and popliteal output (r = .737, P <
      .03), and pHi and popliteal output (r = -.902, P < .001). However, during
      recovery, the T2 curve was significantly different from those of pHi and
      popliteal output. This suggests that even if circulatory conditions play a role
      in the maximum T2 variation during exercise, they do not directly explain T2
      changes. Furthermore, the correlations involving pHi suggest the role of the
      metabolism of exercising muscle in transcapillary fluid movement.

PMID- 1446109
TI  - Magnetization-prepared MR angiography with fat suppression and venous saturation.
AB  - Magnetization-prepared magnetic resonance (MR) angiography (MPMRA) is an inflow
      based two-dimensional (2D) imaging sequence in which a preparation phase precedes
      rapid image acquisition. For maximal blood/tissue contrast, an inversion-recovery
      preparation nulls signal from static tissue. If needed, a second inversion
      suppresses signal from fat. Fully magnetized blood flows in after the inversion
      pulse(s), providing high signal intensity. The centric phase-encoding order,
      which ensures that the initial contrast is reflected in the image set, requires
      the use of a modified venous saturation technique. The sequence is described and
      its performance assessed with regard to (a) depiction of in-plane flow, (b) fat
      suppression, and (c) venous saturation. Phantom and volunteer studies showed good
      performance in all three areas. MPMRA images, acquired in just 2-4 seconds per
      image, had a blood/tissue contrast-to-noise ratio nearly twice that of standard
      2D time-of-flight MR angiograms, acquired in 5-7 seconds. The technique is
      promising for restless patients and in anatomic areas plagued by motion
      degradation.

PMID- 1446110
TI  - Effects of acceleration on the accuracy of MR phase velocity measurements.
AB  - Acceleration in blood flow can affect the accuracy of phase velocity
      measurements. Convective acceleration is due to changes in flow geometry and is
      independent of the time-varying acceleration caused by flow pulsatility. To
      analyze the effects of convective acceleration on flow velocity measurements,
      phase velocity measurements were obtained in steady laminar flow in the
      convergent segment of a 90%, hourglass-shaped stenosis phantom at a Reynolds
      number of 1,500. Measurements at the stenosis indicated that convective
      acceleration caused the measured values of average cross-sectional velocity to
      deviate as much as 37% from the theoretical values. The magnitude of the error
      could be accounted for by including the convective acceleration term in the phase
      shift equation. Convective acceleration effects should not be ignored in flow
      velocity measurements through stenoses, even when time-dependent acceleration due
      to flow pulsatility can be neglected.

PMID- 1446111
TI  - MR imaging-histopathologic correlation of thermal injuries induced with
      interstitial Nd:YAG laser irradiation in the chronic model.
AB  - Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-histopathologic correlation of thermal injuries
      induced with interstitial laser irradiation was performed in a chronic model up
      to 12 weeks after laser exposure. T2-weighted MR images showed irreversible
      coagulative necrosis as a low-signal-intensity area. A higher-intensity
      surrounding area, corresponding to edema, was also present in acute lesions on T2
      weighted images. Serial studies of the chronic model showed that a substantial
      portion of the interstitial edema zone progressed to coagulative necrosis up to 7
      days after laser irradiation. This necrotic zone decreased in size beyond 2
      weeks, presumably through biologic healing. MR imaging and pathologic findings
      correlated well in the chronic model. MR imaging has the potential to depict
      acute, irreversible thermal damage even before morphologic change is seen at the
      standard pathologic examination. Recognizing the dynamics of tissue response to
      interstitial laser irradiation on MR images is valuable for estimation of true
      lesion volume.

PMID- 1446112
TI  - Dynamic image reconstruction: MR movies from motion ghosts.
AB  - It has been previously shown that an image with motion ghost artifacts can be
      decomposed into a ghost mask superimposed over a ghost-free image. The present
      study demonstrates that the ghost components carry useful dynamic information and
      should not be discarded. Specifically, ghosts of different orders indicate the
      intensity and phase of the corresponding harmonics contained in the quasi
      periodically varying spin-density distribution. A summation of the ghosts
      weighted by appropriate temporal phase factors can give a time-dependent dynamic
      image that is a movie of the object motion. This dynamic image reconstruction
      technique does not necessarily require monitoring of the motion and thus is easy
      to implement and operate. It also has a shorter imaging time than point-by-point
      imaging of temporal variation, because the periodic motion is more efficiently
      sampled with a limited number of harmonics recorded in the motion ghosts. This
      technique was tested in both moving phantoms and volunteers. It is believed to be
      useful for dynamic imaging of time-varying anatomic structures, such as in the
      cardiovascular system.

PMID- 1446113
TI  - Altered phase-encoding order for reduced sensitivity to motion in three
      dimensional MR imaging.
AB  - A method of reordering phase and slab encoding that can be used to address some
      of the inherent problems due to motion in three dimensional imaging is described
      and implemented. The method is shown to be more robust with respect to reducing
      artifacts resulting from several fundamental types of motion. It can be readily
      implemented on a standard magnetic resonance imager with essentially no increase
      in total imaging time. Results of simulations and phantom and in vivo experiments
      are presented.

PMID- 1446114
TI  - Correlation of MR imaging and histologic findings in mouse melanoma.
AB  - M2R melanoma tumors in male C57 black mice were used to correlate magnetic
      resonance (MR) images with the corresponding histologic slices and to determine
      if analysis of the achievable correlation can provide a basis for predicting
      gross histologic features with MR imaging alone. The MR imaging sections obtained
      at 4.7 T were each 680 microns thick, with an in-plane resolution of 195 microns.
      The distribution of melanin within the histologic slices correlated well with the
      high-signal-intensity regions on the T1-weighted images (T1WIs), while these
      regions had low signal intensity on the T2-weighted images (T2WIs), providing
      evidence that melanin or melanin-associated paramagnetic species are responsible
      for the observed proton relaxation rate enhancement. Viable melanoma cells
      typically showed intermediate signal intensity on T2WIs, T1WIs, and proton
      density images. Necrosis typically had high signal intensity on T2WIs, T1WIs, and
      proton-density images. Quantitation of the MR imaging results, followed by
      statistical analysis, demonstrated statistically significant differences between
      melanin-rich, viable-melanoma, and necrotic regions on MR images.

PMID- 1446115
TI  - MR imaging with spatially variable resolution.
AB  - In some situations it may be advantageous to produce "locally focused" magnetic
      resonance images that have nonuniform spatial resolution matching the expected
      local rate of spatial variation in the object. Because such an image has fewer
      pixels than a conventional image with uniformly high resolution, it can be
      reconstructed from fewer signals, acquired in less time. This can be done by
      using a highly convergent representation of the image as a sum of orthonormal
      functions with slow (fast) spatial variation in relatively homogeneous
      (heterogeneous) parts of the object. Since this series is shorter than a
      conventional truncated Fourier series, its terms can be calculated from a subset
      of the usual array of phase-encoded signals. The optimal choice of these phase
      encodings, which are usually scattered nonuniformly in k space, results in
      minimization of noise in the reconstructed image. The technique is illustrated by
      applying it to simulated data and to data from images of phantoms.

PMID- 1446116
TI  - Cardiac metabolism in patients with dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy:
      assessment with proton-decoupled P-31 MR spectroscopy.
AB  - Proton-decoupled phosphorus-31 heart spectroscopy was performed in healthy
      subjects (n = 9) and patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM, n = 9) or
      hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM, n = 8). The phosphocreatine (PCr)-to-adenosine
      triphosphate ratio (+/- one standard deviation) after correction for blood
      contribution and partial saturation was significantly lower in HCM patients
      relative to the control subjects (1.32 +/- 0.29 vs 1.65 +/- 0.26, P < .05) but
      not in DCM patients (1.52 +/- 0.58 vs 1.65 +/- 0.26). The inorganic phosphate
      (Pi) peak was resolved only in patients with the highest spectral quality.
      Myocardial pH was lower in HCM patients (n = 6) relative to control subjects (n =
      4) (7.07 +/- 0.07 vs 7.15 +/- 0.03, P < .05). The Pi/PCr ratio was higher in DCM
      (n = 3) and HCM (n = 6) patients relative to control subjects (n = 4) (0.29 +/-
      0.06 and 0.20 +/- 0.04, respectively, vs 0.14 +/- 0.06; P < .05). Elevated
      phosphodiester signal in DCM patients correlated with 2,3-diphosphoglycerate
      signal (r = .94), reflecting blood pool contamination. P-31 spectroscopy enabled
      detection of abnormalities in cardiac metabolism and determination of pH in
      patients with HCM and DCM.

PMID- 1446117
TI  - Does memory loss occur after MR imaging?
AB  - In four separate studies, the existence of specific memory loss after magnetic
      resonance (MR) imaging at 1.5 T was assessed by means of recognition and recall
      tests for faces, common objects, lexical items, and by digit span, in a pre-post
      paradigm. Although specific memory loss was demonstrated, it was shown that the
      loss was not due to the main magnetic field of the imager or to radio-frequency
      pulse sequences, but rather to probable psychological (not physical) factors. No
      gross or subtle memory changes could be attributed to MR imaging, because control
      groups showed similar patterns of memory loss.

PMID- 1446118
TI  - Laryngospasm after administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine.
AB  - Few serious adverse reactions associated with the use of gadopentetate
      dimeglumine in magnetic resonance imaging have been reported. The present case
      involves an 8-year-old girl who developed laryngospasm after administration of
      gadopentetate dimeglumine.

PMID- 1446119
TI  - Lumbar myelography with three-dimensional MR imaging.
AB  - A strongly T2*-weighted, three-dimensional (3D) PSIF (time-reversed FISP [fast
      imaging with steady-state precession]) gradient-echo magnetic resonance (MR)
      sequence, with postprocessing of the 3D data set with a maximum-intensity
      projection (MIP) algorithm, produced x-ray myelography-equivalent images. The
      method was tested in 10 healthy volunteers to optimize sequence parameters and
      was evaluated in 30 patients with proven lumbar disk disease. MIP myelograms,
      unlike two-dimensional MR images, could not show the pathologic disks themselves
      but clearly demonstrated the effect on the thecal sac, giving a clear overall
      view of its geometry and dimensions, especially when displayed in a cine loop.
      All 28 medial and mediolateral disk herniations could be visualized, whereas only
      three of eight intraforminal disk herniations were seen on MR myelograms.

PMID- 1446120
TI  - Occupational radiation exposure to interventional radiologists: a prospective
      study.
AB  - This study investigates the occupational radiation dose to interventional
      radiologists and the operator-controlled factors that may affect dose. Thirty
      interventional radiologists wore radiation badges over and under lead aprons for
      2 months and answered a questionnaire. The relationships between dose and
      caseload, case mix, experience, optional fluoroscopy features, lead apron type,
      and additional lead shielding were evaluated. Mean projected yearly dose (PYD)
      over lead was 49.1 mSv (1 mSv = 100 mrem) but was 66.6 mSv for persons performing
      1,000 or more cases per year (P = .027). Mean PYD under lead was 0.9 mSv but was
      1.3 mSv for persons with 0.5-mm lead coverage and 0.4 mSv for those with 1.0-mm
      lead coverage (P = .002). No other significant correlation was found. Conclusions
      are that caseload and apron thickness are the primary determinants of total body
      dose, that over-lead dose is high enough to warrant additional lead shielding for
      the head and neck, and that a double-thickness apron lowers under-lead dose by
      two-thirds. The large difference between under-lead and over-lead doses suggests
      that use of a collar badge alone for monitoring purposes is not predictive of
      total-body effective dose for this group of radiation workers.

PMID- 1446121
TI  - Life tables for clinical scientists.
AB  - The life-table, or Cutler-Ederer, method of survival analysis is a simple and
      efficient means of estimating the probability that the first instance of an event
      will occur in a given period of time in studies complicated by incomplete patient
      follow-up. This discussion is designed to acquaint the nonstatistician with the
      general concepts, assumptions, advantages, and disadvantages of life-table
      analysis. The arcane nature of the calculations frustrates attempts at
      simplification. A glossary of statistical terms and sample calculations are
      provided for interested readers.

PMID- 1446122
TI  - JVIR after Andrew.

PMID- 1446123
TI  - Long-term results of angioplasty in 110 patients with renal artery stenosis.
AB  - Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) is generally considered of
      little benefit in the treatment of ostial renal artery stenosis. This report
      contains long-term follow-up (> 12 months in all patients; mean follow-up, 38
      months) for 110 patients who underwent PTRA for treatment of ostial renal artery
      stenosis. There was no significant difference in patient benefit related to
      bilaterality or multiplicity of lesions treated or to renal function before
      angioplasty (P > .1). Although there was no statistically significant difference
      in benefit among groups of patients who received treatment, certain trends were
      apparent. The least benefit occurred in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes
      and those with symptoms or history of vascular disease in another organ system.
      Treatment of lesions with proportionately larger balloons did not result in
      greater benefit. Restenoses were redilated in 16 patients for whom initial
      treatment failed. Eleven of these were ostial restenoses. The ostial stenosis in
      one patient was redilated a second time. At the end of follow-up, primary,
      secondary, and tertiary clinical benefits were 48%, 57%, and 58%, respectively.
      This was not statistically different (P = .14) from a control group of 94
      patients with nonostial stenoses who had 68% long-term benefit. The authors
      conclude that ostial renal artery stenosis is not a contraindication to PTRA, and
      balloon angioplasty can play an important role in blood pressure control in this
      patient population.

PMID- 1446124
TI  - Prolonged binding of radiolabeled recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator
      after angioplasty and enclosed thrombolysis of the femoropopliteal arteries.
AB  - The authors measured the binding of indium-111-labeled recombinant tissue-type
      plasminogen activator (rt-PA) within the recanalized femoropopliteal segment
      after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and enclosed thrombolysis. In
      patients with long occlusions (n = 3), 91 micrograms of rt-PA was bound 1 hour
      after the procedure, and the half-time of the final washout curve averaged 114
      hours. After PTA in patients with multiple stenoses (n = 6), 45 micrograms of rt
      PA was bound, and the half-time averaged 32 hours. These values were
      significantly smaller than those in patients with occlusions (P < .01). In
      patients with a single stenosis (n = 4), 19 micrograms of rt-PA was bound, and
      the half-time averaged 5 hours. These values were significantly smaller than
      those in patients with multiple stenoses (P < .01). The progressive accumulation
      of rt-PA at the sites of PTA therapy is most likely related to increasing
      presence of fibrin with increasing lesion severity. Fibrin accumulation may be
      partly responsible for early failures after PTA in extensive lesions. Removal of
      this fibrin with enclosed thrombolysis might improve patency.

PMID- 1446125
TI  - Arterial embolization as definitive treatment for benign insulinoma of the
      pancreas.

PMID- 1446126
TI  - Preoperative embolization of the spleen in children with hypersplenism.
AB  - Splenomegaly associated with myelodysplastic disorders in children may be massive
      and can result in pancytopenia, abdominal discomfort, and respiratory distress.
      When these symptoms cannot be relieved by nonsurgical means, splenectomy may be
      indicated. Under such conditions, surgical splenectomy carries increased risks,
      as the thrombocytopenia is difficult to correct secondary to splenic
      sequestration. Additionally, the surgical anatomy is often distorted secondary to
      the massive spleen and dissection can be difficult. These factors can lead to
      uncontrollable hemorrhage. In an attempt to decrease intraoperative blood loss,
      the authors successfully performed preoperative splenic artery embolization in 11
      of 12 children (age range, 1-11 years) with pancytopenia due to hypersplenism.
      Hypersplenism requiring surgical splenectomy was due to leukemia (n = 9),
      myelodysplastic syndrome (n = 1), immune thrombocytopenia (n = 1), and
      osteopetrosis (n = 1). Embolization was performed under general anesthesia, prior
      to surgery, with gelatin sponge particles alone, Gianturco coils alone, or a
      combination of polyvinyl alcohol sponge particles and Gianturco coils.
      Embolization allowed for safe surgical splenectomy.

PMID- 1446127
TI  - Direct aneurysm puncture and coil occlusion: a new approach to peripancreatic
      arterial pseudoaneurysms.
AB  - A patient with pancreatitis complicated by a pseudoaneurysm in the pancreatic
      head was treated with a radiologic-surgical approach. At surgery, the phlegmon
      was exposed and treated by means of direct puncture and embolization with
      Gianturco coils under color Doppler flow imaging guidance.

PMID- 1446128
TI  - Fluoroscopically guided percutaneous gastrostomy in children.
AB  - Percutaneous gastrostomy was performed in 27 patients with ages ranging from 7
      months to 18 years (mean, 8 years). Patient weights ranged from 4.7 to 73 kg
      (mean, 25 kg). Access to the stomach was planned and achieved with only
      fluoroscopic guidance. The technical success rate was 100%. Major procedure
      related complications including death, sepsis, hemorrhage, peritonitis, or early
      tube removal did not occur. The minor complication of local skin infection
      occurred in six patients. Twenty-six patients (96%) tolerated tube feedings well.
      Mean follow-up was 184 days, and median follow-up was 103 days. At 30 days, 26
      patients (96%) were alive. Percutaneous gastrostomy under fluoroscopic guidance
      is a safe and effective method of obtaining long-term nonparenteral nutritional
      access in pediatric patients.

PMID- 1446129
TI  - Percutaneous gastrostomy and gastrojejunostomy after gastric surgery.
AB  - The authors reviewed their experience with percutaneous gastrostomy and
      gastrojejunostomy in 30 consecutive patients who had undergone prior gastric
      surgery consisting of either partial resections (n = 24) or alteration of normal
      gastric anatomy (n = 6). Parameters evaluated included indications for the
      procedure, procedural modifications, type of prior gastric surgery, major and
      minor procedural complications, tube efficacy, and follow-up data. Gastrostomy
      tubes were placed in 27 patients for enteral feeding and in three for
      decompression. The success rate (100%), as well as the prevalence of major (0%)
      and minor (23%) morbidity--transient fever, skin infection, and high gastric
      residuals--were similar to those reported in patients who had not undergone prior
      gastric surgery. Thirty-day mortality was 13% (four patients); no deaths were
      related to the gastrostomy tube placement. Minor procedural modifications such as
      an extra-long needle, a peel-away sheath, or additional rotational fluoroscopy
      were necessary in 18 patients (60%). Knowledge of the postsurgical gastric
      anatomy is crucial in this subset of patients. Prior gastric surgery is no longer
      a contraindication to percutaneous gastrostomy or gastrojejunostomy tube
      placement.

PMID- 1446130
TI  - Passive blood/contrast agent exchange in angiographic catheters and its effects
      on platelets.
AB  - A static column of contrast agent or saline in an angiographic catheter will
      passively exchange with blood during angiography. The authors investigated the
      time course of this exchange in 5.5- and 7-F polyethylene catheters inclined at
      various angles. Passive blood exchange occurred 2 cm into the catheters within 7
      15 seconds at most catheter tip angles, except for those catheters oriented so
      that their tips were nearly horizontal. In a separate series of experiments, the
      effect of contrast agent on platelet function and blood clotting was analyzed.
      The agent was sufficiently diluted in blood so as to simulate an angiographic
      procedure. The studies were performed in 60 cylindrical polyethylene containers
      with both unheparinized and heparinized blood. Use of an ionic contrast agent,
      more than a nonionic agent, lengthened the time for platelet aggregation (mean
      increases for ionic vs nonionic agents were 46.4 and 37.1 seconds, for
      unheparinized and heparinized blood, respectively), platelet adhesion to
      polyethylene surfaces (mean increases, 46.0 and 64.2 seconds), and platelet
      stimulated coagulation (mean increases, 38.5 and 43.9 seconds). Conventional,
      intermittent flushing with saline or filling the catheter with contrast agent may
      be insufficient to prevent blood from rapidly back-filling the catheter tips.
      Contrast agents (ionic more than nonionic) distributed in the patient's blood
      volume inhibit platelet coating of catheter lumens and/or blood clotting under
      such circumstances.

PMID- 1446131
TI  - Optimal central trapping (OPCETRA) vena caval filter: results of experimental
      studies.
AB  - The authors present the in vitro and in vivo results of use of a new vena caval
      filter, the optimal central trapping (OPCETRA) filter. The in vitro study was
      designed to compare the clot-trapping effectiveness of three filters: the
      OPCETRA, the stainless steel Greenfield, and the original Vena Tech-LGM.
      Standardized 3-mm, 5-mm, and 7-mm clots were captured in 66%, 100%, and 100% of
      cases, respectively, with the OPCETRA filter; in 34%, 82%, and 100% of cases with
      the Greenfield filter; and in 50%, 100%, and 100% of cases with the LGM filter.
      When filters were tilted 15 degrees, 100% of the 5-mm clots were trapped with the
      OPCETRA filter versus 50% with the Greenfield (P < 1.04 x 10(-9)) and 70% with
      the LGM (P < 1.78 x 10(-5)) filters. The in vivo animal study was designed to
      confirm ease of placement, tolerance, and effectiveness of the OPCETRA filter in
      sheep. Animals were separated into two groups: Group 1 underwent embolization
      through the femoral vein 40 days after filter implantation and were killed
      immediately; group 2 underwent embolization at 90 days and were killed 8 days
      later. In all cases pathologic analysis on the vena cava wall was performed after
      resection. The in vivo study demonstrated no tilting or migration with the
      OPCETRA filter. These encouraging results can be explained by the filter's
      hourglass shape, the number of arms, and the slow release of the filter at
      insertion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446132
TI  - Transvenous retrieval of misplaced stainless steel Greenfield filters.
AB  - Transvenous retrieval was attempted in five patients following surgical
      misplacement of stainless steel Greenfield filters. Four filters were located
      within the right atrium, and one was in the left hepatic vein. All retrievals
      were attempted within 5 days of placement. Retrieval was successful for the four
      filters in the right atrium and failed for the filter in the left hepatic vein.
      One air embolism occurred; this was the only filter- or retrieval-related
      complication. Transvenous retrieval is a safe and effective minimally invasive
      method of removing misplaced filters.

PMID- 1446133
TI  - Placement of dual bird's nest filters in an unusual case of duplicated inferior
      vena cava.
AB  - The authors describe an unusual variant of inferior vena cava duplication, with
      azygos continuation of the right vena cava and hemiazygos continuation of the
      left vena cava, discovered at cavography in a patient with pulmonary embolism.
      Following unsuccessful attempts to advance titanium Greenfield filters through
      tortuous iliac veins, bilateral Bird's Nest filters were placed successfully.

PMID- 1446134
TI  - Injection characteristics and downstream contrast material distribution of flush
      aortography catheters: in vitro study.
AB  - Performance of 11 commercially available 4- and 5-F aortic flush catheters was
      evaluated with respect to the extent of upstream injection, catheter motion, and
      downstream homogeneity of a 10-, 15-, and 20-mL/sec bolus of 76% meglumine sodium
      diatrizoate at room temperature. Tests were made in a pulsatile aortic flow model
      containing circulating fluid isoviscous to blood. The injection process was
      recorded on videotape. Homogeneity of the contrast material bolus was determined
      spectrophotometrically from samples collected from the center and each of the
      four quadrants of the vessel lumen. Upstream contrast material injection between
      1.5 and 7 cm in length emerged from all catheters; it was lowest with one of the
      "tennis racket" designs from one and a new spiral end-loop design (Halo) from
      another manufacturer. All catheters, except the most rigid and largest-caliber
      catheter (5.8 F) showed considerable shaft motion at the higher injection rates.
      Downstream contrast material mixing homogeneity was always best at the highest
      injection rate but altogether was better for the Halo catheter than for any other
      catheter tested. It is concluded that all tested 4- and 5-F aortic flush
      catheters show some undesirable features, but certain design modifications
      improve performance and comparative testing is helpful to distinguish such
      features.

PMID- 1446135
TI  - Arteriography for proximity of injury in penetrating extremity trauma.
AB  - Arteriography for proximity of injury was studied prospectively at a trauma
      center. Findings in 85 patients with penetrating extremity wounds were analyzed
      to determine the prevalence and types of vascular abnormalities seen with these
      injuries. Ninety-two limb segments were studied for 77 gunshot and 15 stab
      wounds. Arteriographic findings were positive in 24% overall but in only 5% for
      injuries confined to major vessels. A 60% positive rate was seen in a small
      subgroup of 10 patients with fractures due to gunshot wounds. The most frequently
      injured vessels were muscular branches of the deep femoral artery (59%); the most
      common injury was focal, non-occlusive spasm (42%). All patients were treated
      conservatively, without sequelae at follow-up. In this study, the vascular
      injuries found at arteriography for proximity of injury in penetrating trauma due
      to bullets of knives, particularly in the thigh, did not require surgical or
      radiologic intervention.

PMID- 1446136
TI  - Use of localizing wires for pulmonary nodules.

PMID- 1446137
TI  - Treatment of aneurysms with compression: historical perspective.

PMID- 1446138
TI  - The effects of intraluminal and extraluminal drug application on secretion and
      smooth muscle tone in the ferret liquid-filled trachea in vitro.
AB  - With the ferret liquid-filled trachea in vitro, intraluminal methacholine (MCh),
      phenylephrine (PE) and histamine (Hist) increased smooth muscle tone and
      salbutamol (Salb) decreased tone. Lysozyme output was increased by intraluminal
      MCh and PE. Albumin transport into the lumen was not altered by intraluminal
      Hist, Salb or PE. The concentration-response curves for smooth muscle contraction
      and for lysozyme output to extraluminal MCh lay to the left of those for
      intraluminal MCh. Indomethacin shifted the smooth-muscle response curves to MCh
      significantly to the left but did not significantly alter lysozyme output.
      Extraluminal MCh produced a concentration-dependent increase in albumin output
      whilst intraluminal MCh did so in one of three studies. Albumin output in
      response to MCh was not significantly altered by indomethacin. Thus, MCh has a
      less potent effect on smooth muscle and lysozyme secretion and, to a lesser
      extent, on epithelial albumin transport when given intraluminally. This may be
      because the epithelium restricts diffusion of the drug or due to the production
      of a non-prostanoid factor which inhibits smooth muscle responsiveness. Smooth
      muscle responsiveness is enhanced by blocking cyclooxygenase activity, suggesting
      MCh-induced release of a prostanoid with relaxant activity.

PMID- 1446139
TI  - Localization of immunoreactive endothelin and proendothelin in the human lung.
AB  - The endothelins are a family of three 21-amino-acid peptides: endothelin-1,
      endothelin-2 and endothelin-3. They are powerfully vasoactive, causing both
      contraction and relaxation of blood vessels. They are also active in the lung
      causing long lasting bronchoconstriction. Antibodies were raised in rabbits
      against the C-terminal heptapeptide of endothelin-1 (endothelin-1(15-21)) and to
      portions of the C-terminus of the human proendothelin-1(31-38), proendothelin
      2(31-37) and proendothelin-3(31-41 amide) and tested by enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay to determine their titre and cross-reactivity. We used these
      antibodies to determine the localization of mature endothelin in the adult human
      lung and to determine the distribution of each of the three proendothelins.
      Mature endothelin immunoreactivity was present in airway epithelia and submucosal
      glands throughout the lung. In the airway epithelia immunoreactive proendothelin
      1 and proendothelin-3 were detected, while immunoreactivity of all three isoforms
      was present in submucosal glands. Quantitative in vitro receptor autoradiography
      was used to locate specific endothelin binding sites. The rank order for density
      of endothelin binding site occurrence was: lung parenchyma greater than airway
      smooth muscle greater than airway epithelia. If immunoreactive endothelin is
      released onto these sites in vivo, endothelin may act as a paracrine mediator in
      the human lung.

PMID- 1446140
TI  - An in vivo preparation for measurement of plasma protein and lysozyme output in
      the ferret tracheal lumen.
AB  - An in-vivo ferret tracheal preparation has been developed to study the appearance
      in the liquid-filled trachea of fluorescein-labelled plasma proteins (FLP) and of
      lysozyme from submucosal gland serous cells. In order to investigate the
      influence of nervous activity on the appearance of FLP and lysozyme in the
      tracheal lumen, the effects of intraluminal bradykinin (an inflammatory mediator
      and sensory nerve stimulant), intraluminal capsaicin (a stimulant of C-fibres)
      and electrical stimulation of the cut peripheral end of the right cervical vagus
      nerve have been measured. Vagal stimulation (10 V, 10 Hz, 1 ms, 90-120 s)
      increased the secretory rate of lysozyme. It had no effect on FLP rate of output.
      Intraluminal bradykinin (100 microM) produced a small but significant increase in
      FLP output but had no effect on lysozyme secretion. Intraluminal capsaicin (33
      microM) had no effect on FLP output and had variable effects on lysozyme output.
      Tracheal pressure was increased by vagal stimulation but was unaffected by
      bradykinin and capsaicin. Thus, bradykinin increases plasma protein output,
      probably by an action on the epithelium, whilst vagal stimulation and capsaicin
      stimulate submucosal glands. This method could be used to determine the factors
      which alter the rate of movement of plasma proteins into the airway lumen and the
      secretion of submucosal glands in vivo.

PMID- 1446141
TI  - Relationship of airway responsiveness to agents causing bronchoconstriction and
      cough in sensitized guinea-pigs.
AB  - The relationship between airway responsiveness to bronchoconstrictor- and cough
      inducing stimuli has been examined in Ascaris suum-sensitized conscious guinea
      pigs. Guinea-pigs were sensitized to Ascaris suum [4000 PNU and 100 mg Al(OH)3
      i.p. on days 1 and 7] and then challenged with aerosolized antigen on days 21, 28
      and 35. At day 35, antigen-exposure produced an early bronchoconstrictor response
      (EBR) and in about 50% of the animals also a late bronchoconstrictor response
      (LBR) commencing 4-8 h later. The bronchial responsiveness to inhaled histamine
      was increased in sensitized guinea-pigs and increased further 20-24 h after acute
      antigen challenge. Guinea-pigs developing only EBR were equally sensitive to
      histamine as those having both EBR and LBR. In contrast, the cough and reflex
      bronchoconstriction produced by inhaled citric acid (0.40 M, acting on capsaicin
      sensitive sensory neurons) and cigarette smoke (3 min exposure; exciting both
      capsaicin-sensitive neurons and rapidly adapting stretch receptors) were not
      altered by sensitization. Furthermore, acute antigen challenge did not alter the
      effect of citric acid as measured 24 h later. The antigen-induced airway
      hyperresponsiveness to histamine was not accompanied by an altered sensitivity of
      airway sensory nerves mediating cough (and reflex bronchoconstriction),
      demonstrating that bronchial- (airway obstruction) and sensory- (cough)
      hyperresponsiveness involve separate and independent mechanisms.

PMID- 1446142
TI  - The effect of GR32191 (a thromboxane receptor antagonist) on airway
      responsiveness in asthma.
AB  - Airway responsiveness to methacholine was measured in nine subjects (22-53 years,
      seven male) with chronic stable asthma. All subjects were taking inhaled
      beclomethasone (less than 1000 micrograms daily). The mean baseline FEV1 was
      2.841 (77% of predicted) and the geometric mean PD20FEV1 was 31 micrograms. After
      a run-in period, the subjects were randomly allocated to two treatment periods
      with the specific thromboxane receptor antagonist GR32191, 40 mg four times daily
      for 3 weeks, and identical placebo capsules. A double-blind, placebo-controlled,
      cross-over design was employed with 4 weeks between the two treatment periods.
      Treatment with GR32191 did not result in any significant improvement in mean FEV1
      (2.941 after placebo and 2.861 after GR3219; F7.71 = 1.02, P greater than 0.1) or
      PD20FEV1 (24.3 micrograms after placebo and 38.5 micrograms after GR32191; F7.71
      = 0.59, P greater than 0.1). We conclude that thromboxane is not important in the
      maintenance of airway hyperresponsiveness in chronic asthma and that thromboxane
      receptor antagonists are unlikely to provide effective treatment for this group
      of patients.

PMID- 1446143
TI  - Role of endothelin in pulmonary function.

PMID- 1446144
TI  - Government health strategy: adding years to life.

PMID- 1446145
TI  - The nature of professional child abuse.

PMID- 1446146
TI  - Capillary blood glucose monitoring.
AB  - The complications associated with inaccurate capillary blood glucose monitoring
      and poor control of diabetes are well known. This article explores the research
      identifying potential causes of inaccurate testing, examines ways of minimizing
      error and investigates quality control issues.

PMID- 1446147
TI  - Chronic fatigue syndrome: cause, controversy and care.
AB  - There is much controversy as to whether chronic fatigue syndrome is a physical or
      a psychological illness. This article reviews the literature, explains where
      nursing stands in the controversy and makes suggestions for nursing care.

PMID- 1446148
TI  - Models of psychiatric consultation liaison nursing.
AB  - Recent developments in healthcare legislation have caused nurses to examine new
      and innovative styles of practice. Psychiatric consultation liaison nursing
      promotes collaboration among healthcare practitioners, raises standards of
      patient care and strengthens rather than negates the traditional role of the
      mental health nurse.

PMID- 1446149
TI  - Effects of mentorship on learners.
AB  - This small study was carried out in a unit for the care of the elderly to which
      second-level student nurses are allocated. No mentorship scheme was in operation
      in this unit and therefore the nursing officer, ward sisters, staff nurses and
      the nurse teacher in charge of the small school decided to compare the benefits
      of mentorship with non-mentorship.

PMID- 1446150
TI  - The Roper nursing model as an educational and research tool.
AB  - Models are thought to be of value as guides to professional practice; however,
      nursing models are often criticized. This article examines the concept of a model
      as a 'tool' and describes how the Roper model was used in a research project and
      proved to be both flexible and educationally sound as a teaching model.

PMID- 1446151
TI  - Nurses must learn to take risks.

PMID- 1446152
TI  - Passive euthanasia in palliative care.
AB  - Passive euthanasia is invariably practised in palliative care. This article aims
      to address the legal, moral and ethical implications of not hydrating dying
      patients and presents the results of a questionnaire assessing doctors'
      attitudes.

PMID- 1446153
TI  - Career development in intensive care: 1.
AB  - Nursing is becoming more specialized and leaner in terms of structure and
      therefore competition for positions is increasing. It is essential for nurses who
      are considering a career in intensive care to commence the planning process as
      early as possible. In this, the first of two articles, intensive care nursing and
      the career opportunities available will be examined.

PMID- 1446154
TI  - Patient satisfaction as a measure of quality in the care of the elderly.
AB  - This article examines the relevance of obtaining patients' views in the
      measurement of quality in nursing care. The literature on the selection of
      instruments that measure quality in the care of older people is reviewed.

PMID- 1446155
TI  - Casual dismissal of quality of life studies.

PMID- 1446156
TI  - Defining poverty.

PMID- 1446157
TI  - Effects of dipentylnitrosamine (DPNA) on the respiratory tract of rats.
AB  - Wistar rats (40 males and 40 females), treated over a period of 25 weeks with
      subcutaneous injections of dipentylnitrosamine (DPNA) at doses of 0, 62.5, 125
      and 250 mg/kg body weight showed dose-dependent, sex-related, proliferative and
      metaplastic alterations in the upper and lower respiratory tract within one year.
      The biologic behavior of the induced lung tumors is very similar to that of human
      lung adenocarcinomas.

PMID- 1446158
TI  - Differentiation of Clara cell (distal type) antigen in human fetal bronchial
      epithelial cell line (HFBE).
AB  - A human fetal bronchial cell line (HFBE) grew in an undifferentiated pattern
      under conventional culture conditions. Despite a somewhat fibroblastic shape,
      however, they still maintained an immuno-reactivity to cytokeratin,
      carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA). When grown
      on a collagen gel in a growth hormone-supplemented medium, their spindle shape
      became more conspicuous. With the additional supplement of 6 micrograms/ml
      vitamin A, most of the cells underwent differentiation by producing many bright
      inclusion bodies which proved to be strongly positive to periodic acid Schiff
      (PAS) and barely positive to alcian-blue (AB) staining. Electron microscopy
      revealed well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER), enlarged Golgi
      apparatus and many highly electron-dense secretory granules resembling those of
      Clara cells. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that HFBE cells cultured on
      collagen gel with vitamin A secreted products containing glycoconjugates of two
      different molecular weights. The higher molecular weight-product was identified
      as hyaluronic acid and the lower molecular weight-product as a mixture of neutral
      glycoproteins containing mainly N-linked glycoproteins whose glycans were of a
      complex type. While the secretion of hyaluronic acid was inhibited by vitamin A
      in a dose-dependent manner, that of the neutral glycoproteins was most enhanced
      by vitamin A in the range from the physiological concentration of 600 ng/ml to 6
      micrograms/ml. A monoclonal antibody (SEC-41) generated against the secretory
      products with the lower molecular weight detected a glycoprotein of approximately
      52 kd in the spent culture medium of differentiated HFBE cells. This antibody
      also reacted with the intra-cytoplasmic secretory granules in these cells. When
      tested on freeze-sectioned lung tissue, immunohistochemical reactivity of SEC-41
      antibody was confined to Clara cells, some type II pneumocytes in the adult lung
      and respiratory epithelial cells of the fetal lung tissue. Moreover, this
      antibody could detect the secretory glycoproteins in the broncho-alveolar lavages
      (BAL) of two human cases. This paper has clearly demonstrated that cells derived
      from human fetal bronchial epithelium can be cultivated in an undifferentiated
      precursor state and under appropriate culture conditions they can be stimulated
      to undergo differentiation into a Clara cell type.

PMID- 1446159
TI  - Immunohistochemical expression of monoclonal antibodies (epi-1 and myo-1) derived
      from human breast cancer against rat mammary tumors.
AB  - Immunohistochemical expression of monoclonal antibodies epi-1 and myo-1 derived
      from human breast cancer cell line (HBC-4W) was examined for DMBA-induced rat
      mammary tumors. Antibody epi-1 reacted with luminal epithelial cells while
      antibody myo-1 reacted with myoepithelial cells of the mammary glands in rats,
      respectively. The reactions with both antibodies were markedly visible, in
      particular, in the normal mammary gland, tumor-like lesions and benign epithelial
      mammary tumors in rats, which showed clear two-cell-type structures. Among
      malignant mammary tumors, adenocarcinoma was strongly positive with antibodies
      epi-1 and myo-1. However, squamous cell carcinoma and adenoacanthoma mainly
      reacted with antibody epi-1. On the other hand, the intercellular matrices of
      pleomorphic cell sarcoma and stromal areas of the normal mammary gland or
      epithelial tumors were positive with antibody myo-1.

PMID- 1446160
TI  - The rat esophagus: ultrastructure and radiological aspects of tissue response
      after 1320 nm Nd:YAG laser irradiation.
AB  - Morphological tissue response towards laser treatment was investigated in the
      esophagi of adult Wistar rats by light- and transmission electron microscopy. The
      specimens were fixed by perfusion immediately, 2 days and 14 days after laser
      treatment in order to assess different stages of the healing process. The
      epithelium of the lasercentre was completely destroyed in the immediate group.
      The connective tissue showed damaged cells, fused collagenous fibres and occluded
      blood vessels. Smooth muscle cells presented a vacuolated sarcoplasm and pycnotic
      nuclei. The cross striation of skeletal muscle cells had disappeared and their
      nuclei were karyolytic. In a distance of 4 mm from the lasercentre all wall
      tissues had an almost normal appearance. After 2 days the morphological feature
      of the lasercentre was the same as in the immediate group. In a distance of 2 mm
      some layers of flat and intact epithelial cells were observed below the necrotic
      epithelium. The adjacent connective tissue was infiltrated by inflammatory cells.
      After 14 days the formation of granulation tissue had caused an occlusion of the
      lumen in the lasercentre. In a distance of 2 mm the lumen was patent and the wall
      tissues had been partly restored. As the rat esophagus serves as a model for
      esophagotracheal fistulae in newborn children we assume the 1320 nm Nd:YAG laser
      to be a possible application in occlusion of these fistulae.

PMID- 1446161
TI  - Electron microscopic and 31-P NMR studies of ischemic injured rat livers during
      preservation and reflow.
AB  - Ischemic injury induced during preservation and reperfusion contributes to post
      operative failure in liver transplantation. Hepatic injury and recovery from
      preservation was studied in an isolated rat liver model reperfused with
      oxygenated erythrocytes. In order to correlate morphological and functional
      findings, 31-P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and electron microscopy
      were used to investigate metabolic and ultrastructural changes during 6 hours of
      reperfusion. Following cold preservation, EM's showed a primary sinusoidal cell
      injury, whereas the hepatocytes were well maintained. During reperfusion,
      hepatocytes displayed further damage. The simultaneous presence of vacuolarly
      degenerated mitochondria and mitochondria of increased activity was noted. 31-P
      NMP spectra demonstrated initially a partial ATP-recovery. The maximum level of
      60% of the control ATP-value could not be further increased. EM and 31-P NMR
      indicate that the progressive injury to the liver is due to microcirculatory
      malfunction induced by an endothelial cell damage, followed by injured
      hepatocytes themselves, and the consequent intracellular energy crisis that is
      produced.

PMID- 1446162
TI  - Hepatotoxicity of heated and oxygenated corn oil.
AB  - The present study was undertaken in rats to examine the hepatotoxicity of
      ingested heated and oxygenated corn oil. Activities of serum glutamic pyruvic
      transaminase markedly increased in the rats given heated and oxygenated corn oil
      for two weeks as compared with that of the control group. In the rats given
      heated and oxygenated corn oil, small fat droplets were found in the liver cells,
      but liver cell necrosis was not seen. Ultrastructurally, there was no conspicuous
      change in the liver cells, except for depletion of glycogen and dilatation of
      cisternae of rough and smooth surfaced endoplasmic reticulum. These experimental
      data show that ingestion of heated and oxygenated corn oil induces hepatic
      injury, and that the development of hepatic injury may relate to liver cell
      membrane damage due to active oxygen radicals contained in heated and oxygenated
      corn oil.

PMID- 1446163
TI  - Fluorenone and 2-benzoylfluorenone: different short-term effects on drug
      metabolizing liver enzymes and on cell proliferation.

PMID- 1446164
TI  - Endogenous and exogenous factors modifying the activity of human liver cytochrome
      P-450 enzymes.
AB  - Cytochrome P-450 dependent monooxygenases play a dual role for xenobiotic
      metabolism. On one hand they initiate the primary rate limiting step for the
      elimination of a bulk of drugs and organic chemicals. On the other hand they
      catalyze the formation of toxic metabolites from chemical carcinogens and many
      other toxic chemicals. Numerous studies have shown that their activity in animals
      is subject to the influence of various modifying factors, such as strain,
      species, sex, age, diurnal rhythm and the effect of enzyme inducers. Less is
      known about the influence of these factors on human cytochrome P-450 enzymes.
      Here we report the results of an extended study on human liver cytochrome P-450
      performed with liver biopsies of 178 individuals taken for diagnostic purposes.
      The enzymatic activity was determined by the aldrin epoxidase assay indicating a
      variety of enzymes inducible by phenobarbital and by glucocorticoid and
      androgenic hormones. The frequency histogram of individual aldrin epoxidase
      activities showed a unimodal distribution and a variation factor of 100 between
      maximal and minimal activity. Individuals with severe liver diseases, such as
      cirrhosis and fatty liver, exhibited a 50% loss of enzyme activity. Age and sex
      did not significantly influence the enzyme activity. No significant correlation
      was observable between the rate of aldrin epoxidation and debrisoquine 4
      hydroxylation, a prototype of a genetically controlled cytochrome P-450 reaction.
      We assume that the broad interindividual variation of epoxidase activities is
      more likely due to the influence of exogenous and endogenous inducers rather than
      to a genetic polymorphism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446165
TI  - Glutathione homeostasis and turnover in the totally hepatectomized rat: evidence
      for a high glutathione export capacity of extrahepatic tissues.
AB  - Glutathione (GSH) homeostasis and turnover were investigated in totally
      hepatectomized (HX) rats. A technique is described to remove the liver totally,
      with preservation of the hepatic portal and vena caval vasculature. Euglycemia
      could be maintained with hourly infusions of 50 mg 100 g-1 b.m. of glucose after
      bolus i.v. injection of glucose at the same dose. The efficiency of the animal
      model was demonstrated by examination of paraclinical blood parameters:
      progressive increases in total plasma bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase activity
      were noted after HX; the other parameters tested were predominantly in the normal
      range during the observation period of 6 hours. Histological examination revealed
      an acute but reversible impairment of intestine and kidneys. These results
      indicate that the surgical procedure and postoperative care were able to secure
      sufficient physiological conditions for the experiments over a longer period. 3
      to 6 hours after HX we observed a decreased but stable plasma GSH level in
      anhepatic rats (about 50% of the control value). The GSH levels of brain and
      kidney were not changed. With increasing time period after HX the heart and lung
      GSH levels were depressed. A small depression of muscle GSH concentration was
      observed 4 and 6 hours after HX. A progressive increase in the concentration of
      oxidized glutathione was seen in brain and kidney. Our observations could be
      indicative for a high GSH export capacity of extrahepatic tissues contributing
      about 50% of the total GSH influx into circulation. Probably, the skeletal
      musculature is an important GSH origin for plasma.

PMID- 1446166
TI  - Placental morphology and concentrations of glutathione (GSH and GSSG) and lipid
      peroxides (LPO) in two models of disturbed pregnancy of Uje:WIST rats.
AB  - Treatment of pregnant rats with heat-denaturated bacterial material (endotoxin
      model) or exposure to chronic restraint of prenatally lithium-treated pregnant
      dams (stress-model) were used as two models of disturbed pregnancy, both causing
      decreased fetal body mass. The quotient of fetal/placental mass was lowered in
      the endotoxin-group only. Placental mass and protein content were not changed
      significantly in both experimental groups, although a tendency to smaller
      placentae was noticed in the stress-group. Placental histology of the stress
      group did not differ from untreated controls. In the endotoxin-group an altered
      structure of the placental barrier was observed. Small decreases of GSH and GSSG
      in the endotoxin-group and of GSSG in the stress-group without significant
      changes of the GSH/GSSG relationship were measured in homogenates of the
      placental labyrinth. Moderate enhancement of LPO concentration occurred in the
      endotoxin-group and more distinctly in two litters of the stress-group, the
      latter being connected with high GSSG concentrations and low fetal/placental mass
      quotients.

PMID- 1446167
TI  - Proliferative glomerulonephritis in mice induced by sea snake (Aipysurus laevis)
      venom.
AB  - Aipysurus laevis venom has been shown to have a direct nephrotoxic effect in
      mice. A single subcutaneous injection (0.075 mg/kg body wt.) of the whole venom
      caused acute renal tubular degeneration and proliferative glomerulonephritis. The
      tubular changes appeared within 1 hour and remained for at least 14 days.
      Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis developed within 3-10 days, and is
      characterised by mild mesangial proliferation, mesangial and glomerular basement
      membrane deposits. This is followed by a partial resolution and subsequent
      mesangial sclerosis. The exact pathogenesis of venom-induced glomerulonephritis
      is not clear although it may have an immunological basis similar to that seen in
      human poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. It was not possible to clarify the
      nature of the deposits by conventional immunohistochemical stains.

PMID- 1446168
TI  - Epidermis-specific gene expression in Pachyphytum.
AB  - Transcripts of exclusively epidermis-specific expression were obtained by
      differential screening of a cDNA library prepared from isolated epidermis tissue
      of a succulent plant, Pachyphytum. Six transcripts were selected and
      characterized by RNA gel blot hybridization. Five cDNAs represented abundant
      mRNAs found exclusively in the epidermis. In situ hybridizations with three of
      these transcripts further substantiated their epidermal location. While two
      transcripts were present in all cells of the epidermis, one transcript was
      enriched in subsidiary cells of the stomatal complexes. All of the transcripts
      were highly expressed in the protoderm of the shoot apical meristem. DNA sequence
      determination indicated that the mRNAs identified represent novel sequences,
      encoding yet unknown plant functions. These transcripts, their control elements,
      and their encoded functions should help to advance our understanding of epidermal
      cell determination and differentiation.

PMID- 1446169
TI  - Rhizobium meliloti elicits transient expression of the early nodulin gene ENOD12
      in the differentiating root epidermis of transgenic alfalfa.
AB  - To study the molecular responses of the host legume during early stages of the
      symbiotic interaction with Rhizobium, we have cloned and characterized the
      infection-related early nodulin gene MtENOD12 from Medicago truncatula. In situ
      hybridization experiments have shown that, within the indeterminate Medicago
      nodule, transcription of the MtENOD12 gene begins in cell layers of meristematic
      origin that lie ahead of the infection zone, suggesting that these cells are
      undergoing preparation for bacterial infection. Histochemical analysis of
      transgenic alfalfa plants that express an MtENOD12 promoter-beta-glucuronidase
      gene fusion has confirmed this result and further revealed that MtENOD12 gene
      transcription occurs as early as 3 to 6 hr following inoculation with R. meliloti
      in a zone of differentiating root epidermal cells which lies close to the growing
      root tip. It is likely that this transient, nodulation (nod) gene-dependent
      activation of the ENOD12 gene also corresponds to the preparation of the plant
      for bacterial infection. We anticipate that this extremely precocious response to
      Rhizobium will provide a valuable molecular marker for studying early signal
      exchange between the two symbiotic organisms.

PMID- 1446170
TI  - A maize protein associated with the G-box binding complex has homology to brain
      regulatory proteins.
AB  - The G-box element is a moderately conserved component of the promoter of many
      inducible genes, including the alcohol dehydrogenase genes of Arabidopsis and
      maize. We used monoclonal antibodies generated against partially purified G-box
      binding factor (GBF) activity to characterize maize proteins that are part of the
      DNA binding complex. Antibodies interacted with partially purified maize GBF
      complexes to produce a slower migrating complex in the gel retardation assay.
      Immunoprecipitation experiments suggested that the protein recognized by the
      antibody is not a DNA binding protein in and of itself, but rather is associated
      with the DNA binding complex. These monoclonal antibodies were used to isolate
      cDNA clones encoding a protein that we have designated GF14. Maize GF14 contains
      a region resembling a leucine zipper and acidic carboxy and amino termini, of
      which the latter can form an amphipathic alpha-helix similar to known
      transcriptional activators such as VP16 and GAL4. Protein gel blot analysis of
      cell culture extract showed that a single, major protein of approximately 30 kD
      is recognized by anti-GF14; the protein is also present predominantly in the
      kernel and root. The deduced amino acid sequence of maize GF14 is more than 80%
      identical to Arabidopsis GF14 and Oenothera PHP-O, and is more than 60% identical
      to a class of mammalian brain proteins described as both protein kinase C
      inhibitors and activators of tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylases. GF14 is found
      in a variety of monocotyledons and dicotyledons, gymnosperms, and yeast. This
      suggests a deep evolutionary conservation of a potential regulatory protein
      associated with a core sequence found in the promoter region of many genes.

PMID- 1446172
TI  - Transactivation of geminivirus AR1 and BR1 gene expression by the viral AL2 gene
      product occurs at the level of transcription.
AB  - Tomato golden mosaic virus is a bipartite geminivirus whose genome is divided
      between two circular DNA molecules. DNA A encodes functions necessary for viral
      DNA replication and encapsidation, whereas DNA B provides functions needed for
      movement in the host. Previous studies have shown that the viral AL2 gene product
      transactivates expression of the coat protein gene (AR1). We have investigated
      the role of the AL2 protein in the regulation of B component gene expression and
      examined the transcriptional and post-transcriptional components of this
      regulation. We found that AL2 protein is required for efficient expression of
      both the AR1 and BR1 genes, but not the BL1 gene. A comparison of steady state
      transcript levels and transcript levels determined by nuclear run-on analysis
      showed that activation of AR1 and BR1 gene expression by the AL2 protein occurs
      primarily at the level of transcription. These results provide an explanation for
      the lack of infectivity demonstrated by AL2 mutants, and suggest that the AL2
      protein interacts with the cellular transcription machinery to activate the
      expression of rightward viral genes.

PMID- 1446171
TI  - TGA1 and G-box binding factors: two distinct classes of Arabidopsis leucine
      zipper proteins compete for the G-box-like element TGACGTGG.
AB  - Regulatory elements containing the sequence ACGT are found in several plant
      promoters and are recognized by various basic/leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins. The
      Arabidopsis G-box binding factor 1 (GBF1), initially identified by its ability to
      bind to the palindromic G-box (CCACGTGG), also interacts with the TGACGT motif if
      this hexamer sequence is followed by either the dinucleotide GG--as found in the
      Hex motif of the wheat histone 3 promoter--or GT. Here we describe the isolation
      of an Arabidopsis bZIP protein, denoted TGA1, that also recognizes ACGT
      containing sequences. However, TGA1 differs from members of the GBF family in the
      spectrum of base pair permutations flanking the ACGT sequence that are required
      for DNA binding. TGA1 primarily requires a TGACG motif and preferentially binds
      to those pentamers that are followed by a T residue. We show that although both
      TGA1 and GBF1 bind to the Hex motif (TGACGTGG), this binding can be distinguished
      on the basis of their specific DNA-protein contacts. Furthermore, TGA1 also
      differs from members of the GBF family in that it apparently does not form
      heterodimers with any member of this family.

PMID- 1446173
TI  - [Staphylococcus aureus nosocomial infections in an intensive care milieu (1985
      1989) in Tunis].
AB  - 221 strains of Staphylococcus aureus oxacillin resistant (MetiR) caused
      nosocomial infections were isolated from 1985 to 1989 in a medical intensive care
      unit. The survey of susceptibility to antibiotics was established according to
      the computerized data of disk susceptibility test. The resistance phenotypes to
      beta-lactams, aminoglycosides and macrolides were established for epidemiological
      study. S. aureus infections were mainly bacteraemia (31%) and peritonitis (12%).
      These isolates were resistant to oxacillin with a high level (mean MIC 386
      micrograms/ml). Their resistance phenotypes were MLSBc (constitutive resistance
      to macrolides, lincosamine and streptogramines B) in 53% and S + KGT (resistance
      to streptomycin, kanamycin, gentamicin and tobramycin) in 61%. All the isolates
      were susceptible to pristinamycin and vancomycin (MIC 0.1 and 2 micrograms/ml).
      These phenotypes related to the spread of multiply drug resistant strains were
      responsible of nosocomial outbreaks. Strains with the same pattern of resistance
      were isolated among the medical staff and in the environment. Infection control
      measures allowed to stop these outbreaks.

PMID- 1446174
TI  - [The reappearance of chancroid in Algeria].
AB  - After 35 observations of the chancroid observed in the department of dermato
      venereology of the University Hospital of Tlemcen (West Algeria) from August 1988
      to December 1991, we are led to analyze the flare of this sexual transmitted
      disease. The principal affected subjects are single male no older than 30 years,
      having had sexual intercourse with prostitutes (30/35). Less than 10 days (19/29)
      after the sexual contacts, the ulcer appears, and most often unique (25/35),
      mildly painful, accompanied frequently by adenopathies (31/35). The contamination
      took place mainly in Bel Abbes--city located at 90 km from Tlemcen--(12 cases),
      in Tlemcen (4 cases) and Morocco (5 cases). The treatment based on sulfonamides,
      erythromycin and tetracycline or doxycycline, has been constantly efficient. No
      concomitant HIV infection has been revealed. The chancroid is the first STD
      observed in our department in 1991, and also, the first cause for genital ulcer.

PMID- 1446175
TI  - [Drug sensitivity study of Plasmodium falciparum in the city of Yaounde
      (Cameroon)].
AB  - In July 1990, the in vitro chemosensitivity of 22 isolates of Plasmodium
      falciparum was assessed by an isotopic semi-microtest in Yaounde, Cameroon. Out
      of them, 54.5% were resistant to chloroquine, 28.6% to amodiaquine, 4.8% to
      quinine and 4.5% had a decrease of sensitivity to mefloquine. A strong positive
      correlation between the IC50 of the antimalarial drugs compared by pairs was
      detected.

PMID- 1446176
TI  - [Falciparum malaria in French residents in Yaounde].
AB  - In South Cameroon, malaria is a disquieting problem. It represented 2.6% of
      consultants and concerned each year 10% among French residents. We have included
      310 cases of Falciparum malaria between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 1990.
      There were 207 adults and 103 children with a mean age of 26 years. The duration
      of the stay was over one year in 137 cases and lower than 1 year in 183 patients.
      The chemoprophylaxis was correct in 194 patients according to the dose and
      duration. Forty-nine patients followed a combination of chloroquine and
      proguanil. Malaria attack was observed in 272 patients. Among them, there were 95
      children. A severe malaria occurred in 38 cases. Mean parasitemia was of 0.24%
      (range: 0.002-7.5%). Therapy regimen was quinine: 36 cases, halofantrine: 266
      cases, amodiaquine: 7 cases and association MFP (Fansimef) in 12 patients. The
      study shows the importance of malaria in an endemic area among expatriates
      despite the observance of chemoprophylactics regimens including proguanil.

PMID- 1446177
TI  - [Specifics of the epidemiology of urinary schistosomiasis in Mauritius].
AB  - Early observations on this disease were made in Mauritius by Chapotin (1812)
      before the discovery of Schistosoma haematobium. Bulinus cernicus, the snail
      intermediate host, one of the nine species within the B. forskali group, is
      restricted to the island and the disease is not occurring in the neighbouring
      islands of La Reunion and Rodrigues. Under laboratory conditions, the snail
      susceptibility to the Mauritian strain of S. haematobium has been demonstrated.
      But the infection rate of the snail remains very low and the transmission of the
      disease is sporadic except in three foci. Its occurrence is not linked with
      agriculture or irrigation but is closely related to other man/water contacts in
      the rivers. Without clinical significant signs, the disease, quite different of
      the historic description, is largely underestimate. The snail is well adapted to
      the climatic conditions on Mauritius with a remarkably resistance to long drought
      periods. In fact, distribution of snail and evolution of population size
      fluctuate dramatically. Canalization and drainage of rivers, streams and marches
      since the beginning of malaria outbreak, widespread use of pesticides during the
      antimalaria spraying campaigns, only overhead irrigation, permanent maintenance
      of the lined canal system, induced many ecological constraints to possible snail
      habitats. Without animal reservoir of infection, control of urinary
      schistosomiasis or even its eradication looks feasible through a large school
      case-finding eventually associated with mollusciciding activities in the main
      foci.

PMID- 1446178
TI  - [Autochthonous strongyloidiasis in the north of France].
AB  - The authors discuss four cases of indigenous strongyloidiasis, which were
      detected in northern France during the past twenty years. In our hemisphere, the
      limits of this helminthiasis range between the 50th and the 53rd parallels of
      latitude. In two cases, indoor contamination must be suspected; in the third
      case, transmission has been facilitated by insalubrity and crowding; the fourth
      case was related to the activities of a dustman in camping sites. Nose bleedings
      were noticed in two cases and the haemorrhagic manifestations in strongyloidiasis
      are mentioned.

PMID- 1446179
TI  - [Visceral leishmaniasis in Algeria. Cases reported of visceral leishmaniasis
      (1985-1990)].
AB  - Following their epidemiological studies of visceral leishmaniasis in Algeria, the
      authors report in this survey 1122 cases diagnosed in different hospitals of the
      country from 1985 to 1990. The authors mention that after a temporary decline
      observed during the last decade, they take part to a disquieting course of this
      disease.

PMID- 1446180
TI  - [Seroepidemiological study of visceral leishmaniasis in school children in the
      Iferouane oasis (Niger)].

PMID- 1446181
TI  - [The Anopheles fauna and the transmission of human malaria in Kinshasa (Zaire)].
AB  - A longitudinal epidemiological study of malaria and its vectors was conducted in
      Kinshasa. 264 night-bite collections on human bait (1,056 man nights) and 384
      collections of the house-resting fauna were carried out from April 1989 to
      October 1990. The anophelian fauna was identified and inventoried, 7 Anopheles
      species were found: Anopheles gambiae, An. funestus, An. paludis, An. hancocki,
      An. counstani, An. brunnipes, and An. nili. A single species, An. gambiae s. l.
      is responsible for the transmission of malaria, it represents 93.27% of the
      anopheline fauna. The average number of anophele bites man day was 16.28
      bites/man/night, it varied between 1 b/m/n in urban area to 26.05 b/m/n in semi
      rural area. The average of the sporozoite index for An. gambiae was 3.3%, but it
      varied from 0% in the urban area to 6.52% in the semi-rural area. The
      entomological inoculation rate (h) was 197 infective bites per year. This rate
      fluctuated from 1 infective bite each 128 nights in urban area to 1.7 infective
      night-bite in semi-rural area. Other epidemiological index were also determined:
      the level of daily survival rate (p = 8.75 days), the vectorial capacity of 17.97
      and the Macdonald's stability 3.5 bites on man taken by a vector during its
      entire lifetime.

PMID- 1446182
TI  - [Study of phlebotomus sandflies in Syria].
AB  - An entomological survey was carried out during 1986 in ten provinces of Syria
      representative of the main natural areas of this country. 932 sandflies were
      caught with aspirators in domestic resting sites. Captures are analysed for each
      species.

PMID- 1446183
TI  - [Survey of the infestation level of the Ixodes ricinus tick by Borrelia
      burgdorferi. Complimentary report].
AB  - In a recent report, we gave results of a 4 year consecutively survey (1987 to
      1990) of the level of Ixodes ricinus nymphs infested by Borrelia burgdorferi in
      two forests of the western part of France. This brought us to conclude that there
      was a relative stability for this level in course of time. Results of this survey
      kept on in 1991 oblige us to partly modify our conclusion, on account of an
      important dropping of the tick infection frequency in one of the two forests,
      this perhaps in connection with a large observed decreasing of the micromammals
      populations (but not of ticks ones) due probably to an exceptional drought during
      all the 1990 year.

PMID- 1446184
TI  - Screening children's hearing.

PMID- 1446185
TI  - ABR screening for acoustic neuromata: the role of rate-induced latency shift
      measurements.
AB  - The audiological assessment of patients considered 'at risk' for an acoustic
      neuroma is problematic when the patient has a severe hearing loss. The utility of
      ABR rate-induced latency shift (RLS) measurements was investigated in 189
      patients who had passed a conventional assessment and 31 patients with an
      acoustic neuroma. A test based on the RLS of wave V using rates of 11.1 s-1 and
      88.8 s-1 had a sensitivity of 89.5% and a specificity of 90.8% when applied with
      a dual interpretive criterion which included the loss of wave V at the higher
      rate. This test was included in an ABR screening protocol which had a sensitivity
      of 100% and a specificity of 97.9%. The RLS test requires no correction for age,
      sex, hearing loss or stimulus intensity and may be used in patients with severe
      hearing loss for whom other ABR tests are inappropriate.

PMID- 1446186
TI  - Temporal modulation transfer functions for band-limited noise in subjects with
      cochlear hearing loss.
AB  - The modulation depth required for the detection of sinusoidal amplitude
      modulation was measured as a function of modulation rate, giving temporal
      modulation transfer functions (TMTFs). The carrier was a one-octave wide noise
      centred at 2 kHz, and it was presented in an unmodulated background noise lowpass
      filtered at 5 kHz. Three subjects with unilateral cochlear hearing loss were
      tested. For each subject, the normal ear was tested both at the same sound
      pressure level (SPL) and at the same sensation level (SL) as the impaired ear.
      The TMTFs were essentially the same for the normal and impaired ears, both at
      equal SPL and at equal SL. The better ears of three subjects with bilateral
      cochlear losses were also tested. Again, TMTFs were essentially the same as
      obtained for normal ears. These results suggest that temporal resolution is not
      necessarily adversely affected by cochlear hearing loss, at least as measured by
      this task.

PMID- 1446187
TI  - An audit of hearing aid quality in Denmark.
AB  - This investigation was aimed towards an evaluation of the quality of hearing
      aids, dispensed from a National Hearing Health Service. During a twelve month
      period all subjects attending the hearing aid servicing section were recorded,
      and the reason for the visit noted. A total of 4450 people attended (45% males,
      55% females) with a median age of 71 years, range 8-99 years. Among these 60.4%
      of attendances could be ascribed to defective hearing aids. Among the defective
      hearing aids 20.6% had been used less than one year and 91.4% of the defective
      aids had been used less than four years, that is within the guarantee period. The
      recording demonstrated that specific series of aids have a defect rate of 6.6
      70.9% within the first year of use. A comparison between the frequency of defects
      in different types of hearing aids (BTE, ITE, ITC and other hearing aids) was
      performed indicating that there is a risk of 8.6% that BTE will be defective
      within one year of provision. As 20.6% of the applicants' defective hearing aids
      had been used less than one year, it is concluded that the quality of hearing
      aids should be improved; the hearing aid manufacturers' main categories for fault
      finding can be used in the audiological departments within the National Hearing
      Health Service; the recording offers valuable data on the quality of hearing
      aids, and specifically poor series can be revealed within a limited period.

PMID- 1446188
TI  - Latency stability of auditory brainstem responses in children aged 10-12 years
      compared with younger children and adults.
AB  - Previous articles have reported the results of using standard clinical procedures
      in our laboratory for testing auditory brainstem responses (ABR) in a repeated
      measures design, in order to quantify ABR latency and amplitude stability in
      normal young adults. In a subsequent paper, these findings were extended to
      include the results of similar procedures in a group of seven children ranging in
      age from 5 to 7 years. The current experiment involves repeated-measures ABRs in
      a group of nine children ranging in age from 10 to 12 years. Results indicate
      that while these older children show the expected similarities with adults in
      terms of ABR peak latencies, their latency stability values are in some cases
      significantly lower than adults. At the same time, ABR stabilities measured in
      the older children show some differences compared to data from the younger
      children studied previously. For all groups, the same types of patterns are
      observed: (1) significant differences contrasting the degree of between-subject
      v. within-subject latency stability; (2) clear individual differences
      characterizing subjects; (3) within-subject distinctions according to ear of
      stimulation; and (4) instances of good replicability of the 'latency-stability
      profiles' calculated for one set of repeated waveforms v. a second set collected
      later in testing.

PMID- 1446189
TI  - Recommended procedure for tympanometry. British Society of Audiology.

PMID- 1446190
TI  - Comparison of different methods of repair of long peripheral nerve defects: an
      experimental study.
AB  - In order to compare the performance of free nerve grafts, vascularised nerve
      grafts, and freeze-thawed muscle autografts for the repair of long nerve defects
      an experimental study was undertaken in the rabbit peroneal nerve. 5 cm defects
      were repaired using each method. Recovery of function was assessed after 250 days
      using sensory and motor physiology, and histological examination of the nerve.
      Reliable recovery occurred with both types of nerve graft but not with muscle
      grafts. Vascularised nerve grafts performed better than free nerve grafts on all
      parameters measured but this only reached statistical significance for sensory
      receptive areas and myelinated fibre diameters distal to the grafts. The role of
      each method of repair in peripheral nerve surgery is reviewed.

PMID- 1446191
TI  - Histomorphological observations on dermal repair in expanded rabbit skin: a
      preliminary report.
AB  - In 11 New Zealand rabbits, small tissue expanders were placed in a pocket between
      the dermis and the panniculus carnosus and inflated during a period of 10 days.
      Animals were killed immediately after the inflation procedure (Group I, N = 4),
      25 days thereafter (Group II, N = 5), and 35 and 55 days thereafter (Group III, N
      = 2). Dermal connective tissue architecture was studied by routine light
      microscopy. Specimens in group I showed a striking disturbance in polarity of the
      dermal collagen bundles. These changes were accompanied by a clear increase of
      cellular infiltration. In groups II and III, the collagen polarity showed a
      tendency to recover to normal, while cellular infiltration was decreased. The
      current findings indicate that there is a spontaneous repair of the damaged
      dermal collagen in expanded skin with time.

PMID- 1446192
TI  - The effects of ultraviolet irradiation on wound contraction in the hairless
      guinea pig.
AB  - Ultraviolet radiation has been shown to alter wound tensile strength and evoke a
      number of intracellular changes in fibroblasts. We examined the effects of
      relatively high doses of ultraviolet radiation on subsequent wound contraction of
      circular wounds in the hairless guinea pig model. Female hairless guinea pigs
      were divided into two experimental groups receiving 80 J/cm2 or 480 J/cm2 every
      other day for 16 weeks. Age-matched unirradiated animals were used as controls.
      After exposure, all animals had either a 4 mm punch biopsy (80 J/cm2) or a 2.4 cm
      diameter ((480 J/cm2) Groups 3 and 4) circular area excised from the dorsum. The
      extent of wound enlargement immediately following wounding of the irradiated
      animals was decreased as compared to the controls. The rate of wound contraction
      was significantly lower during early stages of wound contraction in each group of
      irradiated animals, and wound contraction was significantly slower overall in
      both groups of irradiated animals compared to controls.

PMID- 1446193
TI  - The beneficial effect of cyclosporin-A on the no-reflow phenomenon in rat skin
      island flaps.
AB  - The no-reflow phenomenon is one of the factors that increase morbidity in flap
      and replantation surgery. Prevention and treatment of the phenomenon is an area
      of intense current research. This study investigated the possible effect of
      cyclosporin administered systemically on survival of skin flaps subjected to
      ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Cyclosporin treated flaps showed a statistically
      significant increase in survival areas regardless of the time of infusion (p <
      0.01). These findings suggest that cyclosporin could be valuable in preventing or
      treating no-reflow in critical flaps. Possible mechanisms of action are
      discussed.

PMID- 1446194
TI  - The effect of continuous topical application of heparin on flap survival.
AB  - To evaluate the beneficial effects of heparin on flap survival area, an
      experimental study was carried out on dorsal flaps in rats. Topical applications
      of heparin, released from a silicone gel sheet onto the critical area (which
      generally necrosed without treatment), resulted in an increase in the flap
      survival area and rate as compared to controls (p < 0.01). When heparin was
      applied topically but solely to an area proximal to the critical area however, no
      increase in the survival area resulted.

PMID- 1446195
TI  - Mid-facial sensation following craniofacial surgery.
AB  - During mid-face advancement and correction of orbital dystopia, the infraorbital
      nerves are always stretched and displaced by the orbital floor osteotomies and
      bone displacement, and are at risk of damage. We have found no published work
      that has investigated the function of the infraorbital nerves following elective
      craniofacial procedures. In this study the cheek sensation and tooth sensibility
      in 20 patients who have had either mid-face advancement or correction of orbital
      dystopia was assessed. The function of the infraorbital nerve is largely
      undisturbed by the osteotomies and bone displacement performed during these
      procedures. A small proportion of patients could not feel cold in their anterior
      maxillary teeth, suggesting that there is damage to the anterior superior
      alveolar nerve branch of the infraorbital nerve.

PMID- 1446196
TI  - Critical analysis of methods of reconstruction of exenterated orbits.
AB  - Reconstructive procedures were used on 14 patients who had undergone orbital
      exenteration and radiotherapy for malignant tumours. All patients were tumour
      free after a follow-up of between 5 and 18 years. Reconstruction was carried out
      in 3 stages. In the first operation the orbit was filled, in the second the
      orbital rims and eyelids were shaped, and in the third a cavity for a static eye
      prosthesis was created. Critical assessment of results showed that the first
      stage alone produced a marked improvement in appearance and occluded existing
      fistulae. The subsequent procedures improved aesthetic results further.
      Difficulties were encountered from retraction of the tissues and insufficient
      tissue mobility.

PMID- 1446197
TI  - Tissue expansion in the treatment of tubular breast deformity.
AB  - Four cases of tubular breast deformity were treated using tissue expansion. The
      expanders were inserted through either an axillary or an infra-mammary approach
      in as low a position as possible. The expanders were then over-inflated and
      allowed to settle for a period of time before removal and insertion of a
      permanent implant. We present our experience using this technique and the
      complications and problems we had to deal with.

PMID- 1446198
TI  - Lignocaine vs bupivacaine in prominent ear correction: a controlled trial.
AB  - Thirty patients were assigned to two equal groups to compare the effects of ear
      infiltration with bupivacaine versus lignocaine prior to correction of prominent
      ears. There was a statistically significant decrease in narcotic requirement in
      the first 4 h postoperatively in the bupivacaine group, associated with a
      decrease in the antiemetic requirement. The choice of local anaesthetic did not
      significantly affect the incidence of vomiting.

PMID- 1446199
TI  - Wound sterilisation: cautery vs CO2 laser.
AB  - Al-Qattan et al. (1989) demonstrated that for difficult infected surgical wounds
      the CO2 laser was a much more effective sterilising agent than a standard
      surgical scrub (P < 0.005). This study compares the effectiveness of a standard
      electrocautery unit against that of the CO2 laser for wound sterilisation.
      Cautery sterilisation of infected wounds was found to be significantly superior
      to that of the CO2 laser (P < 0.05). Infection was noted in 4% of the cautery
      sterilised wounds and 12% of the wounds treated with CO2 laser. Case reports are
      also presented to demonstrate the clinical applications and effectiveness of this
      technique.

PMID- 1446200
TI  - One-stage repair of multiple bed sores.
AB  - Management of multiple bed sores which are deep and of large area presents a
      special challenge to the surgeon, especially when all the sores are within the
      same anatomical region. We are presenting our experience of one-stage repair of
      bed sores. Representative cases are discussed including a patient who needed four
      flaps to close the ulcers. There were no major complications in any of the
      patients. We advocate one-stage repair in selected patients.

PMID- 1446201
TI  - First dorsal metacarpal artery flap cover for extensive pulp defects in the
      normal length thumb.
AB  - Use of the first dorsal metacarpal artery flap to cover extensive pulp defects in
      the normal length thumb in five patients is described. The advantages of the
      procedure include provision of sensate cover of exposed distal phalanx to the tip
      of the thumb with minimal donor site morbidity. Its use, particularly in the
      older patient, with immediate postoperative mobilisation and the avoidance of
      nerve repair or more complicated microsurgical procedures, is discussed.

PMID- 1446202
TI  - Clinical characteristics of vascular leiomyoma of the upper extremity: report of
      11 cases.
AB  - Clinical features of vascular leiomyoma of the upper extremity which have not
      been described or have been described incorrectly are documented with a report of
      11 consecutive cases seen within the past 11 years. All patients were followed
      without recurrence or surgical morbidity. Vascular leiomyoma has been described
      as a painful nodule found more frequently on the extensor surfaces, but in our
      experience spontaneous or paroxysmal pain is exceptional and the tumour tends to
      be located on the volar surface when it is in the hand. In the digit, they tend
      to be found at the base away from the midline, and not seen distal to the DIP
      joint.

PMID- 1446203
TI  - The "lazy-V" de-epithelialised turn-over fasciocutaneous flap in the
      reconstruction of skin defects after tendo Achilles repair.
AB  - Few methods of closure of skin defects lying over the tendo Achilles have been
      described. The de-epithelialised turn-over flap is one of them but it cannot be
      used in the presence of a scar proximal to the defect. We describe a modification
      ("The Lazy-V") of the de-epithelialised turn-over flap which gives it a rotation
      arc, thus enhancing the versatility of the procedure. This modification is
      presented with an illustrative case report and a review of the literature.

PMID- 1446204
TI  - Supernumerary nostrils.
AB  - We encountered a rare case of four asymmetrical nostrils 10 years ago. The upper
      nostrils looked normal while the lower appeared as sinuses. The lower pair
      communicated with the nasal cavities but the upper pair was obliterated. There
      was a thick columella and an elongated continuous nasal septum separating the
      nasal cavities. The left nostril sill was thicker and situated higher than its
      counterpart. When the patient was 3 months old, the lower sinuses were trimmed
      and closed primarily, while the upper pair was perforated and kept patent with a
      silicone tube covered with a split thickness skin graft. Four years later, a
      revision was performed. Stages of operation were preferred as nasal growth was
      concerned. The result was satisfactory following 10 years of observation.

PMID- 1446205
TI  - Long term follow-up of a case of Kasabach-Merritt syndrome successfully treated
      with radiotherapy and corticosteroids.
AB  - Kasabach-Merritt syndrome is the association of thrombocytopenia, spontaneous
      bleeding, and enlargement of a haemangioma. It is caused by an intense, self
      perpetuating process of clot-formation and lysis within the abnormal vascular
      channels of the haemangioma, and results in consumption of platelets and clotting
      factors. Treatment involves ablation of the lesion with or without
      pharmacological manipulation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems. No
      single therapeutic modality is universally successful but a combination of
      radiotherapy and corticosteroids can result in a dramatic, immediate response
      with minimal long term complications.

PMID- 1446206
TI  - Flexor carpi radialis myocutaneous flap.

PMID- 1446207
TI  - Polyurethane foam covered prostheses.

PMID- 1446208
TI  - Interaction between verbal and gestural language in progressive aphasia: a
      longitudinal case study.
AB  - The objective of this longitudinal study is to investigate the on-line
      interaction between praxis and linguistic abilities in a progressive aphasia
      case. During 3 years of evolution, procedural discourse of a progressive aphasic
      patient was videotaped five times, allowing us to analyze the progression of both
      language and gestural production as well as the interaction between these two. We
      anticipated that, in the absence of apraxia, the patient would compensate for her
      speech deficit by producing progressively more and more meaningful gestures. Our
      compensatory hypothesis was confirmed but the compensation was not as efficient
      as one would expect given the absence of apraxia. With the progression of the
      speech deficit, the patient could not replace some verbs by pantomimes that were
      otherwise accompanying her discourse in the preceding testing sessions. We
      suggest that such a compensatory ability may constitute one important
      characteristic of the progressive aphasia syndrome.

PMID- 1446209
TI  - Impairment of temporal organization of speech in basal ganglia diseases.
AB  - Absolute and relative speech timing were examined in patients suffering from
      Parkinson's, Huntington's, and Wilson's disease. The task was to speak a standard
      sentence 10 times, first slowly, and then successively faster up to maximum rate.
      All patient groups had low maximal speech rates and showed decreased variability
      of speech rate. The duration of pauses between words was the same as in normals
      and the relative time structure of the test sentence was basically preserved. For
      comparison, two cases with nonfluent aphasia had even slower speech rates, large
      increases in pause duration, and major changes in relative speech timing. The
      results show the same type of alterations of the temporal organization of speech
      as those characteristic for rapid alternating limb movements in such patients.
      They support the view that the speech and skeletomotor systems share common
      neural control modes despite fundamental biomechanical differences. The common
      denominator between the speech and the skeletomotor disturbances in basal ganglia
      diseases may be the undamping and slowing of a fast central oscillator.

PMID- 1446210
TI  - Dissociation of mechanisms of reading in Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - The role of spelling-to-sound correspondence rules in oral word reading was
      investigated by asking patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and normal controls
      to read aloud pronounceable letter strings that do not happen to be real words.
      These pseudowords were of two types: those that have orthographically similar
      "neighbors," and those that have no neighbors. The patients with AD were mildly
      impaired relative to the normal controls in reading pseudowords with neighbors,
      but were markedly impaired in reading pseudowords with no neighbors. The results
      are interpreted as favoring a model of reading in which words and pseudowords are
      normally read via the same lexical mechanism. An ancillary route involving the
      conscious application of spelling-to-sound rules is available only to cognitively
      intact readers.

PMID- 1446211
TI  - Dissociation between linguistic and nonlinguistic gestural systems: a case for
      compositionality.
AB  - This paper addresses the issue of the separability of disorders of sign language
      from disorders of gesture and pantomime. The study of a left-lesioned deaf signer
      presents one of the most striking examples to date of the cleavage between
      linguistic signs and manual pantomime. The left-hemisphere lesion produced a
      marked sign language aphasia disrupting both the production and the comprehension
      of sign language. However, in sharp contrast to the breakdown of sign language,
      the ability to communicate in nonlinguistic gesture was remarkably spared. This
      case has important implications for our understanding of the neural mediation of
      language and gesture. We argue that the differences observed in the fractionation
      of linguistic versus nonlinguistic gesture reflect differing degrees of
      compositionality of systems underlying language and gesture. The compositionality
      hypothesis receives support for the existence of phonemic paraphasias in sign
      language production, illustrating structural dissolution which is absent in the
      production of pantomimic gesture. Understanding the neural encoding of
      compositional motoric systems may lead to a principled anatomical account of the
      neural separability of language and gesture. This case provides a powerful
      indication of the left hemisphere's specialization for language-specific
      functions.

PMID- 1446212
TI  - Hemispheric dissociation in judging semantic relations: complementarity for close
      and distant associates.
AB  - In two lateralized tachistoscopic experiments, we presented (i) pairs of nouns
      with close or distant semantic associations or (ii) pairs of nouns which were
      randomly matched and later rated by the subjects as to their semantic distance.
      In both experiments, words presented to the right visual field were more
      frequently judged as semantically close in meaning than words presented to the
      left visual field (LVF), whereas words presented to the LVF were more frequently
      judged as semantically distant. The results are discussed in relation to
      hemispheric language functions and current models of cerebral laterality.

PMID- 1446213
TI  - Educational level and the word frequency effect: a lexical decision
      investigation.
AB  - It is known that speed and accuracy in recognizing words are constrained by the
      frequency of occurrence of these words ("frequency effect"). This study examines
      the relationship between educational level and the word frequency effect. We
      postulated that individual exposure to words that are rated lower in frequency
      tables should be greater among subjects with higher education and therefore
      hypothesized that the magnitude of the frequency effect should not be as marked
      within such a population as among subjects with a lesser educational level. A
      total of 40 neurologically healthy adults, half with an average of 18 years of
      formal education and the other half with an average of 11 years, participated in
      a lexical decision experiment. Results confirmed our hypothesis; that is,
      significant frequency effects on reaction times were obtained in both groups but
      this effect was of greater magnitude for the less educated as opposed to the more
      educated subgroup. The significance of this finding is discussed by reference to
      current models of word recognition.

PMID- 1446214
TI  - Phrenological studies of aphasia before Broca: Broca's aphasia or Gall's aphasia?
AB  - The history of aphasia is usually taken to begin with Broca's (1861a,b) discovery
      of the correlation of aphemia with damage to the posterior inferior portion of
      the frontal lobes and the subsequent relation to left hemisphere. That there were
      prior, even biblical, references to aphasia is not in dispute, nor that,
      according to Benton and Joynt (1960), almost all the clinical forms of aphasia
      had been described prior to 1800. The significance of Broca's case studies,
      therefore, lies in the association of motor aphasia with focal pathology in the
      frontal lobe. This paper examines the status of aphasia localization prior to
      Broca, and, specifically, the extent to which Broca's discovery may have been
      anticipated by the phrenologists.

PMID- 1446215
TI  - Self-repair in dialogues of schizophrenics: effects of hallucinations and
      negative symptoms.
AB  - This paper concerns the discourse features of verbal hallucinations and negative
      symptoms of schizophrenia. A total of 46 schizophrenics, varying in verbal
      hallucination and in negative symptoms status, and 22 controls were tested on the
      Reporter Test. The frequency with which they issued inadequate instructions,
      attempted to repair the inadequacies, and the success of repairs were compared.
      We observed that schizophrenics, on the whole, issued more wrong and incomplete
      instructions. This was in part related to their worse working memory, but it was
      not affected by verbal hallucinations or negative symptoms. We observed, further,
      that schizophrenics had no particular problems monitoring messages for
      inadequacies. We did find, however, that schizophrenics with verbal
      hallucinations had a specific problem with self-repairing wrong instructions. We
      interpret these results in the framework of Hoffman's (1986b) plan disruption
      based model of verbal hallucinations; the Frith (1987) and Frith and Done (1988)
      internal monitoring model of positive and negative symptoms; and finally Frith
      and Frith's (1990) model of negative and positive schizophrenia and we use the
      results to specify the models.

PMID- 1446216
TI  - Everything is the same: a note on Caramazza and Hillis (1989) "The disruption of
      sentence production: some dissociations".

PMID- 1446217
TI  - Not everything is the same: some things are worse than others. A response to
      Tesak.

PMID- 1446218
TI  - Language lateralization in bilinguals: more not less is needed: a reply to
      Paradis (1990).
AB  - Paradis (1990) took an extremely pessimistic view of research to date looking at
      the lateralization of cerebral function in bilingual subjects. We, however, argue
      that some of his conclusions are, in fact, incorrect, while others speak more to
      the youth of the field. The problems in the latter body of work are now
      acknowledged and are being overcome. That the shortcomings are recognized seems
      to be more a case for satisfaction than of despair.

PMID- 1446219
TI  - The Loch Ness Monster approach to bilingual language lateralization: a response
      to Berquier and Ashton.
AB  - To continue to search for a difference in language lateralization between
      bilinguals and unilinguals is at best a futile task in the face of all the
      clinical evidence to the contrary and inconsistent experimental findings. No
      amount of refining of dichotic, tachistoscopic, or concurrent task procedures, or
      statistical sophistication, is likely to tap the differential reliance on
      pragmatic cues that might very well exist in some nonbalanced bilinguals.

PMID- 1446220
TI  - Polyclonal antibody localizes glia maturation factor beta-like immunoreactivity
      in neurons and glia.
AB  - A rabbit polyclonal antibody (91-01) was raised against recombinant human glia
      maturation factor beta (r-hGMF-beta). The antibody did not cross-react with a
      number of other growth factors on ELISA test. When compared with the monoclonal
      antibody G2-09 previously obtained, 91-01 immunoblotted the same protein band in
      rat brain extract. However, unlike G2-09 which immunostained only astrocytes and
      Bergmann glia, 91-01 stained neurons as well. Many but not all neurons in the
      central and peripheral nervous system were positive for GMF-beta. The larger cell
      population stained by the polyclonal antibody was most likely due to its
      increased sensitivity, although other explanations are possible. The presence of
      GMF-beta-like immunoreactivity in both neurons and glia raises the possibility of
      a wider range of cell-cell interaction than was previously considered.

PMID- 1446221
TI  - Amygdala stimulation produces two types of hippocampal afterdischarges in the
      urethane-anesthetized rat.
AB  - How seizures spread during epileptiform events has been the subject of intensive
      investigation over the years. The present study explored the relationship between
      the amygdala and the hippocampus during afterdischarges. Stimulating electrodes
      were placed in the amygdala and CA3 regions on the left side in urethane
      anesthetized rats. Recording microelectrodes were placed in the dentate gyrus on
      the left and the CA1 cell layer on the right. Afterdischarges were elicited by
      stimulus trains between 10 and 50 Hz to the amygdala. Most of the afterdischarges
      consisted of broad positive potentials in dentate gyrus and no shift of the DC
      potential. When the stimulus trains were repeated, the afterdischarge evolved,
      first by spreading to the contralateral side and then by the appearance of
      maximal dentate activation. The onset of maximal dentate activation was indicated
      by the appearance of bursts of large amplitude population spikes and a negative
      shift of the DC potential. These data demonstrate that two types of
      afterdischarges can be produced in the hippocampus of the anesthetized rat after
      amygdala stimulation. The observations support the hypothesis that maximal
      dentate activation represents synchronized reverberatory activity throughout the
      hippocampal-parahippocampal circuit and indicate that amygdala stimulation can
      access this circuit in the anesthetized animal.

PMID- 1446222
TI  - Suppression of nociceptive responses in parafascicular neurons by stimulation of
      substantia nigra: an analysis of related inhibitory pathways.
AB  - A total of 166 neurons in parafascicular nucleus (PF) were studied, 85 from
      intact animals, 72 following dorsal spinal cord transection (D.Sp.C.X.), and 9
      following complete transection of the spinal cord. Two patterns of nociceptive
      responses were identified following noxious stimulation and these responses were
      classified as 'nociceptive-on' and 'nociceptive-off' neurons, respectively. The
      effects of stimulating the substantia nigra (SNS) on the spontaneous and on the
      nociceptive evoked discharges were observed and compared in intact, D.Sp.C.X. and
      completely transected spinal cord rats. The results show that SNS significantly
      suppresses both the spontaneous and the nociceptive evoked discharges elicited by
      peroneal nerve stimulation. With an intact spinal cord, SNS suppressed both the
      spontaneous [-37 +/- 3.2% (P less than 0.05)] and the nociceptive evoked
      discharges [-52.8 +/- 2.8% (P less than 0.01)] of the 'nociceptive-on' cells
      respectively, while in the 'nociceptive-off' cells the same stimulation elicited
      an even more prominent suppression upon both discharges (-47.7 +/- 5.4%, P less
      than 0.01 and -64.9 +/- 5.0%, P less than 0.01), respectively. After D.Sp.C.X.,
      the suppressive effects on the 'nociceptive-on' cells following SNS were
      diminished (-28.1 +/- 3.5% and -36.9 +/- 2.6%, respectively) but not abolished,
      while in the 'nociceptive-off' cells, the inhibitory effects on SNS were
      unchanged. In addition, the suppressive effects of SNS on the spontaneous
      activity of PF neurons in cases with completely cut spinal cords remains
      unchanged. These results suggest that SNS modulates the spontaneous and the
      noxious evoked responses of the PF neurons by way of supraspinal connections
      besides the previously described descending projecting pathways.

PMID- 1446223
TI  - Effects of atropine on hippocampal theta cells and complex-spike cells.
AB  - The medial septal nuclei are essential for the naturally occurring hippocampal
      theta rhythm. Evidence that the rhythmic activity of the septum is carried via
      cholinergic afferents to the hippocampus has been: (a) the existence of a
      cholinergic septo-hippocampal projection, and (b) the sensitivity of one type of
      theta rhythm to antimuscarinic agents or cholinergic depletion. The muscarinic
      action of acetylcholine on pyramidal cells, however, is too slow to carry even a
      4 Hz signal. Recent in vitro studies have confirmed a fast excitatory response by
      some hippocampal interneurons to muscarinic agonists. In urethane anesthetized
      rats, iontophoretic application of atropine to 17 hippocampal theta cells
      (presumed interneurons) during the theta rhythm, reduced their firing rates to an
      average of 24% of control rates. The effect of iontophoretic atropine application
      to 4 CA1 complex-spike cells (presumed pyramidal cells) was a selective
      elimination of their bursting activity with no significant effect on overall
      firing rate. The data suggest that: (1) interneuronal firing, during the
      hippocampal theta rhythm, is dominated by an excitatory cholinergic input and not
      by excitatory collaterals of pyramidal cells; and (2) somatic burst firing by CA1
      pyramidal cells requires the presence of acetylcholine.

PMID- 1446224
TI  - Expression of the non-proliferation-specific protein, statin, in grey matter
      neuroglia of the aging rat brain.
AB  - The monoclonal antibody, S-44, identifies statin, a 57 kDa nuclear protein which
      appears to be expressed exclusively in non-proliferating cells. We previously
      demonstrated that in the aging rat corpus callosum approximately one third of
      neuroglia are statin-negative, suggesting the existence of an unexpectedly large
      cycling glial compartment. In the present study, double-labeling of individual
      cultured astroglia with [3H]thymidine and the S-44 antibody provided direct
      evidence for the non-proliferative status of statin-positive cells. The S-44
      antibody was used to immuno-localize statin and thereby determine growth
      fractions for neuroglia in various grey matter regions of 3-, 18-, and 33-month
      old rats. The proportion of statin-negative (cycling) cells for the three ages
      combined ranged from about 24% in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus to 38%
      in the molecular layer of the parietal cortex. In most regions surveyed total
      glial counts and proportions of statin-positive and -negative cells did not vary
      significantly as a function of advancing age. These results suggest that (i) as
      in corpus callosum, pools of cycling neuroglia in various grey matter regions are
      far in excess of those previously predicted by S-phase labeling with
      [3H]thymidine or BUdR, and (ii) ratios of proliferating-to-quiescent neuroglia
      are tightly regulated over much of the animal's adult life span. These conserved
      ratios may be used as markers of normal CNS senescence, and deviations thereof
      may indicate the presence and extent of intervening neuropathologic processes.

PMID- 1446225
TI  - Effect of pentobarbital on cerebral regional venous O2 saturation heterogeneity.
AB  - Observed venous O2 saturation inhomogeneity in the brain implies a microregional
      imbalance in O2 supply/consumption. We hypothesized that this heterogeneity
      should be decreased by pentobarbital anesthesia through a reduction in regional
      metabolic heterogeneity. Male, Long-Evans, approximately 350 g rats were either
      anesthetized with 50 mg/kg pentobarbital (n = 10) or used as a conscious control
      group (n = 10, catheters inserted two hours earlier under ether anesthesia). In
      each rat, regional cerebral blood flow was determined by [14C]iodoantipyrine and
      regional arterial and venous O2 saturation were determined by
      microspectrophotometry. In the PB group, the mean blood pressure (107 +/- 7
      Torr), heart rate (362 +/- 29/min), average cerebral blood flow (63 +/- 19
      ml/min/100 g), and average cerebral O2 consumption (3.7 +/- 1.2 ml O2/min/100 g)
      were lower than those values in the conscious group (128 +/- 15, 474 +/- 44, 112
      +/- 40, and 7 +/- 3), respectively. O2 extraction did not change after
      pentobarbital anesthesia. However, the dispersion of venous O2 saturation
      narrowed. The distribution of O2 saturations in 373 cerebral veins of
      anesthetized rats had a significantly reduced coefficient of variation [C.V. =
      100 x (S.D./mean) = 13] as compared to a C.V. of 18 in 320 veins in conscious
      rats. Thus, pentobarbital anesthesia reduced the microregional venous O2
      saturation inhomogeneity in the brain, creating a more uniform balance of oxygen
      supply and consumption.

PMID- 1446226
TI  - Extracellular dopamine in the rat striatum during ischemia and reperfusion as
      measured by in vivo electrochemistry and in vivo microdialysis.
AB  - The effects of transient global forebrain ischemia and reperfusion on striatal
      extracellular dopamine levels were analyzed using both in vivo electrochemistry
      and in vivo microdialysis in urethane-anesthetized rats. Electrochemical records
      showed that extracellular dopamine levels increased once during the period of
      ischemia, and a second time during reperfusion. This biphasic pattern was not
      detected by microdialysis, probably because of the relatively low time resolution
      of this technique. Microdialysis provided evidence that the voltammetric signal
      was a measure of dopamine, and also allowed measurement of the metabolites
      dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid, both of which decreased during
      ischemia. The biphasic dopamine pattern seen in rats is similar to that reported
      previously in gerbils, suggesting that it is a phenomenon common to transient
      ischemia and reperfusion across different species and models of transient global
      ischemia. This phenomenon may have important implications for therapeutic
      intervention in cerebral ischemia.

PMID- 1446227
TI  - Role for protein synthesis in the neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine in mice
      and rats.
AB  - The mechanism by which the amphetamines damage selectively nigrostriatal
      dopaminergic neurons in experimental animals remains uncertain. The observation
      that neuronal cell death during embryogenesis involves an activation of gene
      expression and new protein synthesis, coupled with recent reports indicating that
      the amphetamines are capable of inducing neuropeptide biosynthesis, offers a
      possible clue as to their neurotoxic mechanism of action. Based on these
      considerations, we evaluated the effects of two different inhibitors of protein
      synthesis, cycloheximide and anisomycin, on the long-term, amine-depleting
      effects of methamphetamine (METH) in mice and rats. Both inhibitors were found to
      block the amine-depleting effects of METH in these species. In other experiments,
      cycloheximide did not affect the functional integrity of dopaminergic or
      glutamatergic neurons, transmitter systems previously implicated in the
      neurotoxic mechanism of action of METH. These findings raise the possibility that
      the neuronal-damaging effects of METH are mediated via a synthesis of
      'neurotoxic' proteins.

PMID- 1446228
TI  - Post-ischemic administration of bifemelane hydrochloride prohibits ischemia
      induced depletion of the muscarinic M1-receptor and its mRNA in the gerbil
      hippocampus.
AB  - Parallel determinations of muscarinic cholinergic M1 receptor (M1-R) binding and
      of M1-R mRNA levels were carried out in the gerbil hippocampus 14 days after 5
      min of transient ischemia. Both were reduced in the ischemic tissue to about 50%
      of the levels found in sham-operated controls, indicating that the late loss of
      M1-R is probably dependent on decreased synthesis. Three administrations of
      bifemelane hydrochloride (15 mg/kg, i.p., just after ischemia and 6 and 12 h
      later) completely prevented neuronal death in the hippocampus and ischemia
      induced losses of hippocampal M1-R and its mRNA. Since vascular dementia may
      depend upon the ischemia-induced losses in cholinergic communication in the
      hippocampus, these findings suggest that it may be possible to prevent its
      occurrence by post-ischemic treatment with bifemelane hydrochloride.

PMID- 1446229
TI  - Non-photic phase shifting of the circadian activity rhythm of Syrian hamsters:
      the relative potency of arousal and melatonin.
AB  - This study investigated the relative potency of melatonin and arousal as
      Zeitgebers in the non-photic phase shifting of circadian rhythmicity in the adult
      Syrian hamster. Animals held under dim red light (DD) exhibited robust free
      running rhythms of wheel-running activity. Melatonin (1 mg/kg) or ethanolic
      saline vehicle, delivered manually by subcutaneous injection after removing the
      animal from its cage, resulted in phase advances of the activity rhythm. This
      effect was phase dependent, injections at CT 8 and 10 being effective (CT 12 =
      anticipated activity onset), whereas injection at CT 2, 6, 14 and 20 did not
      cause a shift. There was no significant difference between the magnitude or
      timing of phase shifts in response to injections of saline or melatonin. To
      determine whether the observed shifts were related to arousal of the animals
      induced by handling, a second group held under DD were fitted with chronic s.c.
      cannulae so that melatonin solution or vehicle could be delivered remotely at
      projected CT 10. Neither solution had any effect upon the free-running rhythm.
      However, when these animals received manual s.c. injection of saline or melatonin
      solution, they exhibited phase advances similar to those observed in Expt. 1.
      These results fail to support the hypothesis that melatonin can exert a
      chemically specific, acute phase-shifting action in the adult Syrian hamster.
      They do, however, demonstrate the potent effect of arousing stimuli upon the
      circadian clock in this species.

PMID- 1446230
TI  - Ca(2+)-dependent release of [3H]GABA in cultured chick retina cells.
AB  - Depolarization by K+ (50 mM) of cultured chick retina cells released 1.14 +/-
      0.28% of the accumulated [3H] gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the absence of
      Ca2+, but when 1.0 mM Ca2+ was present, the internal free calcium ion
      concentration [Ca2+]i rose by about 750 nM and the [3H]GABA release about doubled
      to a value of 2.22 +/- 0.2% of the total [3H]GABA. Nitrendipine (0.1 microM), a
      blocker of the L-type Ca2+ channels, blocked the [Ca2+]i response to K+
      depolarization by about 65%, and the omega-Conotoxin GVIA (omega-CgTx) (0.5
      microM), a blocker of the N-type of Ca2+ channels, inhibited by 27% the [Ca2+]i
      rise due to K+ depolarization. Parallel experiments showed that nitrendipine
      inhibits [3H]GABA release to the level observed in the absence of Ca2+, whereas
      omega-CgTx did not inhibit significantly the release of [3H]GABA. The results
      also show that the release of [3H]GABA due to K(+)-depolarization in the absence
      of Ca2+ can be totally blocked by 1-(2-(((Diphenylmethylene) amino)oxy)ethyl)
      1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-3-pyridine-carboxylic acid hydrochloride (NNC-711), an
      inhibitor of the GABA carrier. However, in the presence of Ca2+, NNC-711 blocks
      the release only by about 66%, corresponding to the Ca(2+)-independent release.
      Thus, it is concluded that [3H]GABA is released in chick retina cells by the
      exocytotic mechanism, which is Ca(2+)-dependent, and by reversal of the carrier,
      which is Ca(2+)-independent, in much the same way as has been found for other
      GABAergic neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446231
TI  - Topographical analysis of epileptiform potentials in rat somatosensory cortex:
      the interictal to ictal transition.
AB  - Large quantities of penicillin were applied to the face and forelimb region of
      rat somatosensory cortex, producing an epileptic focus with both electrographic
      and behavioral signs of seizures that regularly repeated over a period of several
      minutes. Epicortical potentials were recorded simultaneously from a 64 channel
      micro-electrode array (8 x 8 platinum electrodes) with inter-electrode distances
      of 0.5 mm, covering a 3.5 x 3.5 mm2 area centered on the penicillin injection
      site. Cluster analysis was used to classify successive epileptiform discharges
      into interictal, transitional, and ictal groups. Principal components analysis
      (PCA) was used to extract fundamental waveforms producing the spike complex in
      each group, and to estimate the locations and spatial extent of neuronal
      populations participating in epileptiform discharge. During all states of
      epileptic excitability, it was possible to account for over 90% of the variance
      in the epicortical potential waveforms using a model with only two spatially
      overlapping populations of cells. The location and spatial extent of the
      populations remained unchanged by the transition to seizures; the interictal and
      ictal states were distinguished only by changes in the timing and amplitude of
      potentials in the two putative neuronal populations. The present model, using
      only two stationary neuronal populations to reproduce all spatiotemporal patterns
      in the neocortical epileptogenic focus, is compared to models proposed by others
      in which epileptic discharge is thought to propagate sequentially through
      adjacent cortex. It is concluded that the initiation, maintenance, and
      termination of seizures in neocortex relies on mechanisms that are not
      necessarily reflected in changes in spatiotemporal interactions among
      epicortically recorded cell groups within the focus. These mechanisms may be
      distinguished from those responsible for the spread of seizures within neocortex.

PMID- 1446232
TI  - Anatomical evidence for genetic differences in the innervation of the rat spinal
      cord by noradrenergic locus coeruleus neurons.
AB  - Pontospinal noradrenergic neurons located in the A5, A6 (locus coeruleus, LC),
      and A7 cell groups are the major source of the noradrenergic innervation of the
      spinal cord. We have recently examined the specific terminations of these three
      cell groups in the spinal cord and found that the LC provides the major
      noradrenergic innervation of the ventral horn, while the A7 and A5 cell groups
      innervate the dorsal horn and intermediate zone, respectively. However, the
      results of similar experiments from another laboratory have shown that
      noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus primarily innervate the dorsal horn,
      while the A5 and A7 innervate the intermediate zone and the ventral horn. These
      conflicting results may be due to fundamental genetic differences between the
      rats used in our experiments (Sasco Sprague-Dawley) and those used by the other
      laboratory (Harlan Sprague-Dawley). This possibility was examined by determining
      the projections of coeruleospinal neurons in these two rat substrains using the
      anterograde tracer Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin. The results indicate that
      in Sasco rats the LC neurons project through the ipsilateral ventromedial
      funiculus and terminate almost exclusively in the medial part of laminae VII and
      VIII, the motoneuron pool of lamina IX, and lamina X. In contrast, LC neurons in
      Harlan rats project bilaterally through the superficial dorsal horn and the
      dorsolateral funiculus and terminate most heavily in dorsal horn laminae I-IV. In
      addition, the LC neurons of Sasco rats innervate cervical spinal cord segments
      more densely than lumbar spinal cord segments, while in Harlan rats the lumbar
      spinal cord is more densely innervated than the cervical spinal cord. These
      results indicate that the projections of coeruleospinal neurons in Sasco rats are
      fundamentally different from those in Harlan rats and suggest that noradrenergic
      LC neurons may have different physiological functions in these two rat
      substrains.

PMID- 1446233
TI  - Muscimol infused into the medial septal area impairs long-term memory but not
      short-term memory in inhibitory avoidance, water maze place learning and rewarded
      alternation tasks.
AB  - These experiments investigated the effects of injections of muscimol (1 or 5
      nmol), administered into the medial septal area prior to training, on memory
      tested at different retention delays after training in 3 tasks: an inhibitory
      avoidance task, a one-trial place learning task, and a rewarded alternation task.
      In all 3 tasks, intraseptal injections of muscimol did not impair memory
      performance at short retention delays, but impaired memory at the longer
      retention delays. These findings are consistent with the view that GABAergic
      regulation of the septohippocampal cholinergic system plays a selective role in
      the establishment of long-term memory.

PMID- 1446234
TI  - gamma-Aminobutyric acid immunoreactive structures in the nucleus tractus
      solitarius: a light and electron microscopic study.
AB  - gamma-Aminobutyric acid immunoreactive perikarya and boutons in the nucleus
      tractus solitarius of the cat were examined at both the light and electron
      microscopic level. Immunoreactive neurones were found predominantly in the
      parvocellular subdivision of the nucleus tractus solitarius and to a lesser
      degree in all the other subdivisions of the nucleus tractus solitarius and the
      dorsal vagal motonucleus. All the immunoreactive perikarya observed were similar
      in size and morphology. gamma-Aminobutyric acid immunoreactive boutons were
      observed throughout the nucleus tractus solitarius. However, in contrast to its
      high content of immunoreactive perikarya the parvocellular subdivision contained
      the lowest density of immunoreactive boutons. Ultrastructural examination of
      immunoreactive boutons in the different regions of the nucleus tractus solitarius
      revealed that they formed synaptic specializations, predominantly with dendritic
      shafts, all of which were of the symmetric type. This pattern of innervation was
      observed throughout the medial, commissural, ventrolateral and parvocellular
      subdivisions of the nucleus tractus solitarius.

PMID- 1446235
TI  - Medullary respiratory neurons in the guinea pig: localization and firing
      patterns.
AB  - The location and firing patterns of medullary respiratory neurons have been
      described in a small number of species. The cat has been the most widely studied
      species, but some potentially important differences have recently been noted in
      others. A more complete survey of species is required to determine the
      significance of these differences. We describe the location and firing patterns
      of respiratory neurons in the medulla of anesthetized, paralyzed and mechanically
      ventilated adult guinea pigs. Extracellular single-unit recordings were made from
      the medulla, their phase relationship with phrenic nerve activity used to define
      them as respiratory and their location marked with fast green. Respiratory units
      were concentrated ventrolateral to the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and
      within and surrounding the nucleus ambiguus (NA), corresponding to the dorsal
      respiratory group (DRG) and ventral respiratory group (VRG) of the cat,
      respectively. Most DRG respiratory units were inspiratory, while the VRG
      contained equal numbers of inspiratory and expiratory units. The DRG and VRG both
      contained early, late and constant-frequency inspiratory and expiratory units. In
      general, these findings are similar to those in other mammalian species examined,
      consistent with these basic aspects of the respiratory network being highly
      conserved.

PMID- 1446236
TI  - Characterization of interleukin-1 production by microglia in culture.
AB  - The production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) by cultured neonatal rat microglia was
      studied using the D10 cell assay. The results show that IL-1 was secreted in
      response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. IL-1
      production was specific to microglia and was not induced in astrocytes.
      Indomethacin, which is known to modulate the release of IL-1 from monocytes, had
      no effect on LPS-stimulated microglia. Aging of the microglia from two weeks to 4
      weeks in culture, however, reduced the release of IL-1 in response to LPS. Our
      data indicate that microglia are a major source of IL-1 and that the release of
      IL-1 depends on the presence of inflammatory mediators such as LPS and the age of
      the culture.

PMID- 1446237
TI  - Distribution and relative density of p75 nerve growth factor receptors in the rat
      brain as a function of age and treatment with antibodies to nerve growth factor.
AB  - It is clear that nerve growth factor (NGF) has a role in the central nervous
      system. In order to begin to determine the possible roles of NGF in the CNS,
      neonatal rats were given daily subcutaneous injections of antibodies to NGF (ANTI
      NGF) beginning at birth for a period of one month. By utilizing the monoclonal
      antibody, 192-IgG, which recognizes the p75 NGF receptor (NGFR), and standard
      immunohistochemical techniques we have localized p75 NGFR in variously aged ANTI
      NGF-treated animals and compared the anatomic localization and relative density
      of the p75 NGFR immunoreactive (p75 NGFR-I) regions to same age untreated and
      preimmune sera-treated littermates. We confirm previously reported localizations
      of p75 NGFR-I in the rat brain. In addition, we demonstrate that p75 NGFR-I
      levels of ANTI-NGF-treated rats found in the molecular, the granular and the
      Purkinje cell layers of the cerebellum, the vestibular nuclei, the spinal tract
      of V and the cochlear nuclei remain at lower concentrations compared to same-age
      control animals. We also demonstrate that p75 NGFR-I levels in the basal nucleus
      approaches background levels after ANTI-NGF treatment. We hypothesize that ANTI
      NGF biologically inactivates NGF, which over a period of 30 days results in
      decreased p75 NGFR-I. These results are consistent with neuronal loss in these
      regions following ANTI-NGF treatment. Furthermore, the immunological methods used
      to produce the specific deficits in the present study may have broader
      implications with respect to usefulness as a method for determining the
      dependency of CNS neuronal populations for a putative neurotrophic factor and as
      a method for the development of models of neurodegenerative diseases.

PMID- 1446238
TI  - Effect of chronic treatment with recombinant interleukin-2 on the central nervous
      system of adult and old mice.
AB  - We have studied the effects of chronic treatment with recombinant interleukin-2
      on the central nervous system of adult and old mice. Treatment with high doses of
      recombinant interleukin-2, on a schedule similar to that used in humans, was
      started at the age of 4 and 17 months, respectively, and ended 3 months later. At
      that time, all the mice were tested for acquisition of a passive-avoidance task
      and then sacrificed for histological examination. Three of the four groups
      (treated and control adults and control old mice) did not differ from one another
      in task performance or neuron density in frontal cortex, cerebellum, dentate
      gyrus or CA1-2, CA3, CA4 hippocampal areas. The old treated mice were unique in
      showing impairment of the mnesic functions and marked neuronal cell loss and
      degenerative changes limited to the hippocampal regions. Immunohistochemical
      studies did not show any significant amount of immunoglobulins in affected areas.
      Our results suggest that in old mice the impairment of the mnesic functions after
      recombinant interleukin-2 administration is due to hippocampal neuronal damage.

PMID- 1446239
TI  - The physiological effects of serotonin are mediated by the 5HT1A receptor in the
      cat's cerebellar cortex.
AB  - Serotonin is present in a fine beaded plexus in the cerebellar cortex of several
      mammalian species. In the cat, serotoninergic afferents arise from neurons
      located within the lateral, paramedian and peri-olivary reticular nuclei (Kerr
      and Bishop, J. Comp. Neurol., 304 (1991) 502-515). In addition to serotoninergic
      afferents, these same nuclei also contain a separate population of neurons that
      give rise to mossy fibers to the cerebellar cortex. Physiological studies have
      shown that mossy fibers are excitatory to their target neurons. The intent of the
      present study was to determine the physiological effects of serotonin in the
      cat's cerebellum in an in vivo preparation and to identify the receptor(s) that
      mediate the observed responses. Iontophoretic application of serotonin (5HT) onto
      Purkinje cells reduces the spontaneous firing rate of all cells tested (n = 12).
      Serotonin also blocks the excitatory effects elicited by the application of
      aspartate in 17 of 19 units tested and of glutamate (n = 62) in all cases. In
      addition, 5HT potentiated the inhibitory action of GABA (n = 12). Iontophoretic
      application of the 5HT1A agonists, 8-OH-DPAT and ipsapirone, mimic the
      suppressive action of serotonin in a dose-dependent manner. This response, as
      well as the 5HT mediated suppression are blocked by the application of spiperone,
      a 5HT1A antagonist. Compounds selective for the 5HT1C,2 and 3 receptors are
      physiologically ineffective. The present data are in partial agreement with
      previous studies in the rat's cerebellar cortex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446240
TI  - bFGF promotes the survival of entorhinal layer II neurons after perforant path
      axotomy.
AB  - Infusion of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) prevents the loss of
      cholinergic neurons in the septum/diagonal band of broca following fimbria-fornix
      transection. However, an in vivo test of whether bFGF will also rescue injured
      non-cholinergic or cortical neurons has not been carried out. Previous studies
      have shown that the majority of layer II stellate neurons utilize an excitatory
      amino acid as their neurotransmitter. In order to determine if bFGF acts on non
      cholinergic cortical neurons, a paradigm was developed to examine whether or not
      bFGF could spare layer II entorhinal stellate cells from axotomy induced death or
      atrophy. Axotomy of the medial entorhinal cortex fibers projecting to the dentate
      gyrus of the hippocampal formation via the perforant path lead to retrograde cell
      loss in entorhinal cortex. Fourteen or thirty days after a unilateral knife cut
      axotomy of the perforant path, layer II of medical entorhinal cortex showed a 28%
      decrease in large stellate neurons as well as many weakly stained, hollow cells
      compared to the non-lesioned side or naive controls. Layer IV neurons, however,
      which do not project via the perforant path, showed little detectable change in
      the number of cells ipsilateral to the knife-cut as compared to the contralateral
      side. Intraventricular infusion of bFGF over a period of 14 days reduced the 28%
      cell loss to less than 6%. Thus, bFGF is capable of preventing cortical neuronal
      loss and/or atrophy associated with retrograde degeneration of non-cholinergic
      neurons following axotomy.

PMID- 1446241
TI  - Effect of starvation on glycogen and glucose metabolism in different areas of the
      rat brain.
AB  - We have studied the changes in concentration of glycogen, glucose and the
      bisphosphorylated sugars, glucose 1,6-P2 and fructose 2,6-P2, in several rat
      brain regions during 72 h of starvation. The animals were killed by focused
      microwave irradiation. The activities of glycogen metabolizing enzymes in the
      different areas were measured. A large decrease in glycogen and glucose
      concentration was observed in all areas. The concentrations of bisphosphorylated
      sugars changed, suggesting that an increase in glycolysis could take place at the
      beginning of starvation, with blood glucose as a major energy source. Differences
      in metabolite concentration before starvation disappeared after 72 h. The
      activities of glycogen synthase, glycogen phosphorylase and glycogen
      phosphorylase kinase were similar in all areas, and they did not change during
      starvation.

PMID- 1446242
TI  - Identification of a sexually dimorphic neural population immunoreactive for
      calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the rat medial preoptic area.
AB  - The medial preoptic area (MPOA) of the rat exhibits morphological sex differences
      and is implicated in sex-specific functioning and behaviour. Using
      immunocytochemistry, the distribution and numbers of cells containing calcitonin
      gene-related peptide (CGRP) were examined in the MPOA of adult male and female
      rats. In the intact female rat, CGRP-immunoreactive (-IR) cells were found in a
      continuum within the MPOA extending from the caudal aspects of the organum
      vasculosum of the lamina terminalis through the anteroventral periventricular
      nucleus (AVPv) to the region of the medial preoptic nucleus (MPN). An additional
      small group of CGRP-IR cells was noted at the level of the caudal MPNin the
      ventrolateral (VL) region. Compared with males, the AVPv and MPN regions of the
      female contained over 25-fold more CGRP-IR cells (P < 0.01). The VL region
      contained similar numbers of CGRP-IR cells in both sexes. Ovariectomy 1 month
      earlier, with or without subsequent 17-beta estradiol treatment, had no effect on
      the numbers or distribution of CGRP-IR cells in the MPOA. Gonadectomy of male
      rats resulted in a significant increase (P < 0.01) in the numbers of CGRP-IR
      cells in the AVPv and MPN regions. Subsequent administration of testosterone
      propionate for 1 week reduced (P < 0.05) numbers of CGRP-IR cells to levels
      observed in the intact male. Neurones containing CGRP in the VL group were not
      altered by gonadal steroid manipulation. This study shows that CGRP neurones in
      the AVPv/MPN region are sexually dimorphic.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446243
TI  - Lesions of the medial septum which produce deficits in working/spatial memory do
      not impair long-term potentiation in the CA3 region of the rat hippocampus in
      vivo.
AB  - The effects of removing the septohippocampal pathway on the ability to induce
      long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA3 region of the hippocampus was examined in
      vivo in rats. The septal input to the hippocampus was destroyed by electrolytic
      lesioning of the medial septum (MS). Prior to electrophysiological investigation,
      working/spatial memory of lesioned and control rats was tested using an 8-arm
      radial maze task. Maze performance was significantly impaired in animals with MS
      lesions. LTP inducibility was examined in the commissural fimbrial fibre- and
      mossy fibre (mf)-CA3 pathways in MS-lesioned and control rats. The pre-tetanus
      values in MS-lesioned rats tended to be smaller than those in controls, in both
      pathways. High-frequency stimulation of the commissural fibres resulted in a
      sustained increase in the orthodromic population spike and EPSP amplitude in both
      control and MS-lesioned rats. The magnitude of potentiation was similar in both
      groups. In control rats, high-frequency stimulation of the mf potentiated the
      amplitude of both the population spike and EPSP; in MS-lesioned rats, the EPSP
      amplitude alone was significantly increased by mf high-frequency stimulation.
      Hippocampal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) content was severely reduced bilaterally
      in MS-lesioned rats with working/spatial memory impairments, indicating that the
      lesions were effective in destroying the cholinergic septohippocampal input.
      These findings suggest that, in contrast to working/spatial memory processes, LTP
      at CA3 synapses is not dependent upon the integrity of the septohippocampal
      pathway.

PMID- 1446244
TI  - Plasticity of GABAergic terminals in Deiters' nucleus of weaver mutant and normal
      mice: a quantitative light microscopic study.
AB  - This study reports on the developmental changes in size and the average density
      of GABAergic axonal boutons bordering on the somata of large neurons in the
      dorsal part of the lateral vestibular nucleus (Deiters' nucleus) in normal and
      mutant mice. Weaver mutants, PCD mutants and the corresponding wild types were
      used to test for size alterations and differences in the number of GABA
      immunopositive terminals. Hemicerebellectomized animals were examined in
      addition. Quantification of bouton profile size was performed from 30-microns
      thick vibratome and 0.5-micron Araldite-embedded semi-thin sections immunoreacted
      for GABA from 7 days postnatally up to an age of 9 months. Terminal density was
      determined at the 5-6 month stage from semi-thin sections only. Morphometric
      analysis over the lifetime of normal animals (B6CBA) revealed a progressive
      increase in the size of bouton profiles, which peaked at 5-6 months and reached
      sizes of 2-3 microns2. In weaver mutants a parallel development in terminal size
      was found to be present, but the size of the largest terminals exceeded those of
      the controls by 75-100%, reaching 3-6 microns2 with the same time course. PCD
      mutants, with an almost total absence of Purkinje cells had, on the contrary,
      small bouton profiles that reached a maximum of only 2 microns2. The
      hemicerebellectomized animals responded with decreased bouton profile size
      ipsilaterally. The terminal numbers per unit membrane length were surprisingly
      similar in wild types and weaver mutants, despite a reduction in Purkinje cells
      of almost 50% in the weaver anterior lobe.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446245
TI  - Cortical neurons inhibit basal and interleukin-1-stimulated astroglial cell
      secretion of nerve growth factor.
AB  - Primary cultures of neonatal rat cortical neurons and astrocytes synthesize and
      secrete nerve growth factor (NGF). Co-culturing neurons with astrocytes decreased
      NGF secretion in the co-cultures. The inhibition of co-culture NGF secretion was
      partially reversible upon selectively decreasing the number of neurons by
      glutamate treatment. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1) stimulated NGF secretion from
      astrocytes, and the magnitude of this secretion was decreased in the co-cultures.
      Thus, co-culture with neurons decreases astroglial cell secretion of NGF and down
      regulates astroglial responsiveness to IL-1.

PMID- 1446246
TI  - Octopamine selectively modifies the slow component of sensory adaptation in an
      insect mechanoreceptor.
AB  - The effects of octopamine were studied on the dynamic behavior of the sensory
      neuron in the cockroach femoral tactile spine. The neuron is a rapidly adapting
      mechanoreceptor in which adaptation occurs by elevation of the threshold for
      action potential encoding. The threshold follows increases or decreases of
      membrane potential, with a delay that involves two separate exponential
      components. Previous evidence has associated the slow component with sodium
      pumping and the fast component with sodium channel inactivation. Octopamine
      reversibly raised the resting threshold and increased but slowed the slow
      component. These data indicate that octopamine has specific effects on membrane
      ionic processes in insect sensory neurons.

PMID- 1446247
TI  - Dynamic analysis of drug action on in vitro reconstituted thyroid follicle by
      microinjection of tracer molecules and videomicroscopy.
AB  - Thyroid cells isolated from the gland by trypsinization are capable in culture of
      reconstituting histiotypic structures, the thyroid follicles. This morphological
      differentiation requires the presence of the main thyroid regulator; thyrotropin.
      We have analyzed some structural and functional aspects of in vitro reconstituted
      thyroid follicles (RTF) using microinjection of fluorescent probes and
      videomicroscopy. This experimental approach allowed to visualize biological
      processes and actions of drugs, signalling factors, etc. in living cells. We
      describe here some examples of what can be studied with this powerful still
      undervalued method. Microinjection of a cell-impermeant fluorescent probe of
      either high or low molecular mass into the lumen of RTF allowed to check the
      tightness of this compartment and therefore to analyze the control of tight
      junctions assembly. A small cell-impermeant probe like Lucifer Yellow
      microinjected into a cell was used to demonstrate and then to study the
      regulation of cell to cell communication via gap junctions. The presence of
      calcium in the lumen of RTF was detected by microinjection of a properly designed
      probe: Calcium Green which becomes fluorescent in the presence of the ligand. The
      lumen to cell transport or endocytosis of thyroglobulin, the thyroid prohormone,
      which is stored into the lumen of the follicles, is currently studied by
      microinjection of TRITC-labeled thyroglobulin. Coupled to image processing and
      videorecorder systems, kinetic analysis and quantitative measurements can be
      performed.

PMID- 1446248
TI  - Neural cells in culture: models for the purification and the study of the effects
      of growth factors.

PMID- 1446249
TI  - Neurotoxicity of macrophages infected by HIV1.

PMID- 1446250
TI  - Short-term in vitro and in vivo bioassays: their role in estimating the toxic
      potential of inhaled complex mixtures for humans.

PMID- 1446251
TI  - Use of mesothelial cell cultures to assess the carcinogenic potency of mineral or
      man made fibers.
AB  - Natural mineral fibers may produce pulmonary cancers and mesothelioma. In
      contrast with lung cancer, the incidence of fiber-induced mesothelioma is not
      enhanced in smokers compared to non smokers. It is therefore of special interest
      to use mesothelial cells to study the toxicity of natural or man made mineral
      fibers. Several years ago, we have developed a method to culture rat pleural
      mesothelial cells (RPMC). We have first studied the effects of asbestos fibers by
      the application of in vitro tests formerly developed to determine the
      genotoxicity and transforming potency of soluble xenobiotics. Moreover, we have
      determined whether RPMC expressed cytochromes P450 known to metabolize polycyclic
      aromatic hydrocarbons. This paper reviews the results obtained so far. It has
      been found that asbestos fibers produced a cell transformation and a genotoxicity
      characterized by the formation of aneuploid cells, abnormal anaphases,
      chromosomal aberrations and DNA repair (UDS). In addition, RPMC expressed
      different forms of cytochromes P450. It is nowadays suggested that the
      tumorigenic potency of asbestos fibers may be related to the fiber dimensions, to
      their surface properties and in vivo biopersistence; this term involves the fiber
      solubility in biological medium and the fiber epuration from the lung by
      clearance mechanisms. Experiments are now in progress to determine whether the in
      vitro effects are dependent on the fiber parameters suggested as playing a role
      in the carcinogenic potency.

PMID- 1446252
TI  - Tracheal epithelium in culture: a model for toxicity testing of inhaled
      molecules.
AB  - Rabbit trachea primary cultures have been developed as a model to evaluate the
      toxicity of noxious airborne pollutants. A mucociliary epithelium has been
      restored in vitro on collagen gel. Several general cytotoxicity assays (viability
      and growth inhibition) permit a first assessment for the acute toxicity of the
      tested molecules. More specific criteria such as measurement of the integrity of
      the epithelial barrier and inhibition of ciliary beat frequency allow to
      determine a specific impact of xenobiotics on the mucociliary epithelium in
      culture.

PMID- 1446253
TI  - In vitro study of gas effects on alveolar macrophages.
AB  - To evaluate the biological effects of gas pollutants on alveolar macrophages
      several in vitro systems have been developed. We described here an original
      method of cell culture in aerobiosis, which permitted direct contact between the
      atmosphere and the target cells. We studied the long term (24 h) and short term
      (30 min) effects of NO2 on alveolar macrophages. Our results demonstrated that
      exposure of alveolar macrophages to gas pollutants may be responsible for either
      cell injury or cell activation associated with the release of various bioactive
      mediators (superoxide anion, neutrophil chemotactic activity). Cell culture in
      aerobiosis opens new ways for the research on the biological effects of gas
      pollutants.

PMID- 1446256
TI  - Perifusion system: its use in the study of the neuroendocrine control of human
      pituitary tumoral cells.

PMID- 1446254
TI  - Receptors and transduction mechanisms in anterior pituitary: primary cultures,
      transfected clonal cells and human tumor derived cells.

PMID- 1446255
TI  - Hypophyseal cells model systems: the "GH" rat tumor-derived cell lines as a tool
      for the study of gene expression.

PMID- 1446257
TI  - The Sertoli cell in vivo and in vitro.
AB  - The Sertoli cell extends from the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubule
      towards its lumen; it sends cytoplasmic processes which envelop different
      generations of germ cells. The use of Sertoli cell culture began to develop in
      1975. To reduce germ cell contamination immature animals are generally used as
      Sertoli cell donors. Sertoli cell mitosis essentially occurs in sexually immature
      testes in mammals; mitosis of these cells is observed in vitro during a limited
      period of time. Sertoli cells in vivo perform an impressive range of functions:
      structural support of the seminiferous epithelium, displacement of germ cells and
      release of sperm; formation of the Sertoli cell blood-testis barrier; secretion
      of factors and nutrition of germ cells; phagocytosis of degenerating germ cells
      and of germ cell materials. Some of the Sertoli cell functions can be studied in
      vitro. The recent development of Sertoli cell culture on permeable supports (with
      or without extracellular matrix) has resulted in progress in understanding the
      vectorial secretion of several Sertoli cell markers. In addition to FSH and
      testosterone, several other humoral factors are known to influence Sertoli cell
      function. Furthermore, myoid cells bordering the tubules as well as germ cells
      are capable of regulating Sertoli cell activity. Sertoli cells are the most
      widely used testicular cells for in vitro toxicology. The testis is highly
      vulnerable to xenobiotics and radiations, yet the number of studies undertaken in
      this field is insufficient and should be drastically increased.

PMID- 1446258
TI  - Dual compartment (bicameral) culture: role of basement membrane in epithelial
      differentiation.
AB  - A number of years ago we reported that tight junctions between adjacent Sertoli
      cells subdivide the seminiferous epithelium into two compartments, basal and
      adluminal, thus forming the morphological basis of the blood-testis barrier. It
      is now generally believed that the special milieu created by the Sertoli cells in
      the adluminal compartment is essential for germ cell differentiation. In order to
      duplicate the compartmentalization that occurs in vivo, Sertoli cells were
      cultured in bicameral chambers on Millipore filters impregnated with a
      reconstituted basement membrane. Confluent monolayers of these cells were tall
      columnar (40-60 microns in height) and highly polarized. These Sertoli cell
      monolayers established electrical resistance that peaked when the Sertoli-Sertoli
      tight junctions developed in culture. In addition, the monolayers formed a
      permeability barrier to 3H-inulin and lanthanum nitrate. The bicameral chambers
      were utilized in a number of studies on protein secretion, and it was revealed
      that numerous proteins are secreted in a polarized manner. In another study,
      hormone-stimulated aromatase activity was measured in Sertoli cells grown on
      plastic culture dishes, plastic dishes coated with laminin or Matrigel, and in
      the bicameral chambers. Cell culture on basement membrane substrates decreased
      the FSH-dependent estrogen production. No estrogen production was observed when
      the Sertoli cells were cultured in the bicameral chambers. These results are in
      accord with the hypothesis that differentiated Sertoli cells lose their ability
      to metabolize androgen to estrogen in an hormone-dependent manner, whereas
      undifferentiated cells in culture, or in vivo, have a very active FSH-dependent
      aromatase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446259
TI  - Permeable collagen-glycosaminoglycan cross-linked copolymers for the study of
      biological responses of cocultured Sertoli and spermatogenic cells.
AB  - A novel collagen-glycosaminoglycan (C-GAG) substrate was developed to overcome
      the optical opacity of a HATF nitrocellulose substrate and to provide a more
      physiological permeable substrate for cocultured Sertoli and spermatogenic cells.
      Cocultures were prepared on optically transparent C-GAG discs attached to a
      polyester mesh to facilitate handling. Sertoli cells displayed a cuboidal-to
      columnar shape; a large number of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes
      connected by intercellular bridges were associated with basolateral and apical
      surfaces of Sertoli cells up to 12 days after plating. Rat Sertoli-spermatogenic
      cell cocultures have been used for testing the effect of toxicants on rat
      spermatogenesis in vitro. In our initial studies, we tested the effects of the
      toxicant gossypol on spermatogenic cells cocultured with Sertoli cells on non
      permeable (plastic) and permeable substrates (HATF nitrocellulose) under both
      standard culture conditions and during perifusion after achieving a continuous
      electrical-resistant cell monolayer. A selective mitochondrial structural damage
      was observed in spermatogenic cells (spermatogonia and spermatocytes) but not in
      the coexisting Sertoli cells. This damage was time- (15-60 min) and dose
      dependent (0.1-10 microM) and developed more rapidly under perifusion conditions.
      Similar mitochondrial damage was reported in the intact animal but required
      higher concentrations (mg) and longer administration time (months) for detection.
      Studies are in progress to evaluate the effect of additional toxic chemical
      agents on functional properties of Sertoli and spermatogenic cells in cocultures
      prepared on various classes of C-GAG substrates.

PMID- 1446260
TI  - The paracrine role of Sertoli cells on Leydig cell function.

PMID- 1446261
TI  - Endocrine cell excitability opens the way to novel pharmacological intervention:
      example of the anterior pituitary cell.

PMID- 1446262
TI  - Hormonogenesis in thyroid cells cultured on porous bottom chambers.
AB  - Different processes implied in thyroid hormonogenesis (thyroglobulin,
      thyroperoxidase and hydrogen peroxide generating system expressions) and their
      regulation by TSH and iodide have been studied using porcine thyroid cells
      cultured in porous bottomed chambers. This system allowed to reproduce the
      functional bipolarity. Cells form a tight and polarized monolayer. Both apical
      and basolateral poles of epithelial cells were independently accessible and the
      cell layer separated two compartments which can contain different media. A major
      polarized secretion of thyroglobulin into the apical compartment was observed; it
      was increased in the presence of TSH as well as the thyroglobulin synthesis and
      mRNA level. These TSH effects were the consequence of adenylcyclase stimulation.
      Active transport of iodide, iodination of thyroglobulin and hormonosynthesis took
      place only in the presence of TSH. These steps occurred at the apical pole of
      cells. In the culture chamber system, thyroglobulin was weakly iodinated (6 atoms
      of iodide per mole of thyroglobulin; in vivo up to 40 atoms per mole) but
      hormonogenesis efficiency was close to this one observed in vivo (40%). Iodide
      concentrations higher than 0.5 microM daily added to the basal medium inhibited
      iodination of thyroglobulin and hormonosynthesis. Some components contained in
      culture media were inhibitors for iodination when they were present in the apical
      medium such as vitamins, amino acids and phenol red. The culture system appears
      to be interesting for pharmacological and toxicological studies.

PMID- 1446263
TI  - Genetic influences on reproductive performance.
AB  - The potential for genetic improvement of reproductive performance in pigs is
      great. Improvement can be achieved by increased commercial use of F1 hybrid
      females produced by crossing lines with excellent reproductive performance and by
      selection within nucleus populations of these lines for improved reproduction as
      well a for growth and carcass characteristics. The value of incorporating
      reproductive traits in selection programs is critically dependent on the relative
      economic values of fat (or lean) and of extra pigs produced. There is widespread
      agreement that litter size is the first choice as both the selection objective
      and the criterion to improve reproductive performance, on economic, genetic, and
      ease of measurement grounds. Although there are few examples of successful
      response to selection for increased litter size in pigs (exceptions being the
      University of Nebraska selection experiment and results achieved by hyperprolific
      selection schemes), overall results do not suggest that selection for litter size
      is impossible, only that it is difficult with limited resources. Artificial
      insemination is being used increasingly by pig breeding companies to accelerate
      rates of genetic improvement and to improve dissemination. Combining data from
      genetically connected herds and analyzing with BLUP computer programs to make
      efficient use of information on relatives makes selection for litter size
      feasible while maintaining selection pressure for growth and carcass traits.
      Although selection for lifetime productivity is impractical today, the knowledge
      and data accumulated from successful breeding programs for litter size may help
      make it the selection objective of the future. Meanwhile, the search continues
      for useful indirect criteria for selection, from testis size to molecular
      markers, and scientists are working with highly prolific breeds of Chinese pigs
      to better understand the physiologic and genetic basis of large litter size.

PMID- 1446264
TI  - Biosecurity and minimal disease herds.
AB  - The minimal disease concept is a way of raising pigs so that some specific
      diseases are absent. Many bacteria and viruses can be transferred by pigs, air,
      or mechanical contact. To avoid contamination, the herd location should take into
      consideration disease transmission possibilities. Herd health status and source
      herd health status should be continuously monitored. To maintain herd health
      status, specific rules need to be followed for herd construction and
      establishment, compound perimeter, people movement, down time, animal
      transportation, feed use and delivery, vehicle movement, material, dead animal
      disposition, and rodent control. All new incoming animals should go through
      quarantine, and in some herds, safer methods such as AI, embryo transfer, MEW, or
      hysterectomy and fostering need to be used.

PMID- 1446265
TI  - Breeding and gestation facilities for swine. Matching biology to facility design.
AB  - The rate-limiting phase of commercial swine production is breeding. The design of
      the breeding/gestation facilities influences the capacity of the producer to
      efficiently manage the breeding stock around the time of service and during the
      postservice period. Thus, breeding design potentially affects total born litter
      size and farrowing rates. In general, with original construction and facility
      renovation, the three principal activities of the breeding/gestation phase of
      production, (1) boar exposure/estrus detection, (2) breeding, and (3) gestation
      and pregnancy detection, should be independently considered.

PMID- 1446266
TI  - Factors affecting the reproductive performance of the weaned sow.
AB  - The majority of sows return to estrus within 2 weeks after weaning. Swine
      practitioners attempt to optimize production by reducing the WEI. Some sows fail
      to resume estrous cyclicity after weaning; however, the endocrinologic
      pathogenesis of these anestrous sows is speculative. The average WEI is
      influenced by numerous factors, including season, environmental temperature,
      photoperiod, nutrition, stress, facility design, lactation length, and management
      practices. It is evident that the majority of these factors have a more profound
      influence on primiparous sows than on multiparous sows. Optimum protein and
      energy consumption by sows during lactation and after weaning and effective
      utilization of breeding facilities reduce the WEI. The precise roles of
      photoperiodic changes, elevated environmental temperatures, and stress in
      seasonal infertility remain poorly understood. Fortunately, current management
      techniques have reduced the WEI on most farms without instituting therapeutic
      measures.

PMID- 1446267
TI  - Mating management.
AB  - The mating management of pigs is conducted under a wide spectrum of management
      techniques because females are variously hand-mated, pen-mated, or artificially
      inseminated. Factors that may affect the onset of estrus when hand-mating are
      boar exposure, method of housing females after weaning, season, type of
      facilities, and parity. The expression of sexual behavior in both male and female
      pigs can be influenced by a variety of physiologic, psychological, and
      environmental factors. To optimize the efficiency of estrous detection, females
      should not receive boar stimuli just prior to estrous detection when either hand
      mated or artificially inseminated. When females are pen-mated, management
      procedures need to be employed to prevent an excessive number of estrous females
      from accumulating, which leads to a decrease in boar fertility.

PMID- 1446268
TI  - Artificial insemination in swine.
AB  - This article analyses the advantages and disadvantages of artificial insemination
      with semen purchased from a center as well as from the herd boars on the farm.
      Intensive swine production could benefit greatly by adapting artificial
      insemination with herd boars, particularly from savings in labor and boar
      numbers. The techniques for semen collection, extension, and insemination are
      described, and sources for equipment given. Expected results of artificial
      insemination are quoted from experiments and international field experience.

PMID- 1446269
TI  - Optimizing longevity in sows and boars.
AB  - Longevity of sows and boars affects the productivity and economics of the herd.
      Implement a culling program that is tailored to the specific needs of the
      producer and the characteristics of the farm. Evaluate the removal policies
      regularly, estimate the longevity of breeding animals, calculate the
      nonproductive sow days associated with culling, and determine the major causes of
      culling and death. Once a longevity problem and its extent have been identified,
      the underlying problems and predisposing factors can be more easily corrected.

PMID- 1446270
TI  - Managing the lactating sow for optimal weaning and rebreeding performance.
AB  - Management of the lactating sow influences milk production and subsequent
      reproduction through changes in nutrient intake. The management goal during
      lactation is to maximize feed intake. Decreasing the effective environmental
      temperature, increasing the nutrient density of the lactation diet, maintaining
      fresh adequate supplies of feed and water, and preventing excess weight gain
      during the prior gestation period will increase nutrient intake during lactation.
      Effective environmental temperature of the lactating sow can be maintained in the
      thermoneutral zone by using drip cooling, increased ventilation rates and
      flooring materials with superior conductive properties. Sow parity, genetics,
      litter size, and disease level will also influence feed intake. Management
      practices must account for these factors and, thus, should be tailored to
      individual farm situations to ensure adequate nutrient intake and prevent
      aberrations in subsequent reproductive performance.

PMID- 1446271
TI  - Management of replacement breeding animals.
AB  - In conclusion, replacement gilts should be finally selected before 110 kg body
      weight and should have been stimulated to reach puberty by this time. Currently,
      the best method for achieving this is ad libitum feeding and the correct use of
      boar exposure. However, whether ad libitum feeding will always be the best
      feeding strategy remains to be seen. The impressive success of selection programs
      and the potential for the use of growth promoters and repartitioning agents in
      the feeder barn may require that future replacements be identified at an early
      stage and raised under a separate feeding regimen. To produce a large first
      litter, gilts should be bred at their second estrus. There is unlikely to be any
      further increase in litter size by delaying mating to third estrus. A major
      consideration when choosing when to breed replacements is the length of their
      productive life. For many farms, this may be maximized by delaying breeding until
      the sow is 120 to 130 kg body weight with a minimum backfat depth of 18 mm. For
      the producer who is able to exert control over lactation condition loss, however,
      breeding replacements at about 110 kg body weight with backfat depths of 14 to 16
      mm should not adversely affect long-term performance. Although it is true that,
      under some conditions, the lean gilt may become a problem, it is equally true
      that her potential is as great as her fatter contemporaries. Whether this
      potential is realized is largely under the producer's control. Regarding the
      boar, nutritional management need not vary from that provided for gilts. However,
      if replacement boars are raised on-farm, it is of great importance that they be
      allowed to socially interact with other pigs. Failure to provide this opportunity
      will result in a boar with reduced libido.

PMID- 1446272
TI  - Nutrition for optimizing breeding herd performance.
AB  - Modern sows are younger and leaner at time of mating and probably have poorer
      appetites than sows of 10 to 15 years ago. Therefore, feeding strategies should
      aim to minimize weight loss and maintain a sow's body condition throughout her
      reproductive life. The efficiency with which gilts are introduced into the
      breeding herd is as important in economic terms as is the efficiency with which
      the sow returns to estrus after weaning. Gilts should be selected at 50 to 60 kg,
      and fed a 16% protein diet ad libitum until mated at their second estrus, when
      they weigh 115 to 120 kg and have 17 to 20 mm backfat. Flushing gilts before the
      onset of second or third estrus increases ovulation rate of restricted gilts to
      the levels achieved by gilts fed ad libitum. During gestation, maintenance
      represents 75 to 85% of total energy requirements. The aim should be to achieve
      20 to 25 mm backfat at farrowing. Increased feed intake from day 2 to 3 after
      mating will not increase embryo mortality. Feeding an extra 1 kg feed/sow/day for
      the last 10 days of gestation increases piglet birth weight slightly and prevents
      a loss of 1.5 to 2.0 mm of sow backfat. Wherever possible, sows should be fed ad
      libitum from the day after farrowing until weaning. Reduced feed intake by
      lactating sows, for whatever reason, results in excessive weight and condition
      loss. Excessive weight loss in lactation causes extended remating intervals, a
      lower percentage of sows returning to estrus within 10 days of weaning, reduced
      pregnancy rate, and reduced embryo survival. Ovulation rate is not affected by
      level of feed intake in lactation. It has been suggested that sows will have
      minimum weaning-to-service intervals when they weigh 150 kg or more at weaning.
      It is likely that the sow must be anabolic for about 10 days before she will
      exhibit postweaning estrus. The decision when to rebreed is made some time prior
      to weaning and is mediated by a host of substrates, hormones, and
      neurotransmitters. Sows with a delayed return to estrus also have a lower
      pregnancy rate and smaller subsequent litters. If sows lose considerable weight
      or condition during lactation, a high level of feeding in the postweaning period
      will improve embryo survival.

PMID- 1446273
TI  - Optimizing farrowing rate and litter size and minimizing nonproductive sow days.
AB  - The most universally accepted measure of reproductive performance is PSY.
      Excellence is achieved by reducing NPD, increasing liveborn litter size, and
      reducing preweaning mortality. To reduce NPD, farm management should be directed
      to improve farrowing rate. Matings that occur in late summer usually are less
      fertile as the result of the pig's normal seasonal variation. Confinement
      gestation stalls are the best prevention for the reduced farrowing rate caused by
      season. Liveborn litter size is the result of a mixture of genetic and management
      variables. F1 females have the highest heterosis. The management variables of age
      at first mating, wean-to-service interval, skip mating, lactation length, and
      parity all influence litter size.

PMID- 1446274
TI  - Stillbirths, mummies, abortions, and early embryonic death.
AB  - Stillbirths, mummies, abortions, and early embryonic death have a substantial
      impact on the profitability of a farm in both endemic and epidemic conditions.
      Fetal death is highly dependent on stage of gestation. Implantation occurs around
      day 14 postmating in sows, and fetal death of an entire litter at this time
      usually results in a regular return to service. If more than four embryos remain
      alive, the sow may go on to farrow normally. If fetal death occurs after
      implantation but before calcification (around 35 days gestation), the sow will
      either return to estrus at an irregular interval or will farrow a normal litter
      of reduced size. Although fetuses are normally resorbed prior to calcification,
      fetal death after that stage of development leads to mummification. Abortions are
      more directly related to maternal control of pregnancy than fetal failure.
      Stillbirths are those pigs that appear normal at birth but have lungs that do not
      float in water. Causes of fetal death can be divided into infectious and
      noninfectious categories. Infectious causes perhaps are overemphasized but are
      certainly important in epidemic situations. Some infectious causes of fetal death
      are primarily systemic maternal pathogens, whereas others may attack the fetus
      and/or placenta, directly such as PPV, PEV, PRV, SIRS virus, and Leptospira sp.
      Several other infectious agents have been associated with fetal death.
      Noninfectious causes of stillborns, mummies, abortions, and early embryonic death
      are most common in endemic situations. Most stillbirths are due to difficulty at
      or around parturition, primarily extended duration causing fetal anoxia.
      Environmental factors such as increased ambient temperature and seasonal
      infertility affect death rates, as do specific individual sow characteristics,
      nutritional factors, and toxicities. The causes of stillborns, mummies,
      abortions, and early embryonic death are often difficult to ascertain, but the
      potential rewards make investigation efforts worthwhile.

PMID- 1446275
TI  - Porcine urogenital disease.
AB  - Porcine urogenital disease is the result of an imbalance of the normal microflora
      of the urinary and reproductive tracts brought about by hormonal, environmental,
      and management-related stress factors. Production and economic losses can be
      substantial, and diagnosing and treating the problem can be frustrating. Through
      proper hygiene, facility design, and culling procedures, the severity of the
      problem can be minimized.

PMID- 1446276
TI  - Pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of lactational insufficiency in sows.
AB  - Lactational insufficiency is one of the major problems in swine production, and
      the consequences on the growth of the litter must be emphasized. Pathophysiology
      involves neuroendocrinologic interactions and the role of target organs such as
      the mammary glands, uterus, bladder, and gut. The complexity of these
      interactions and the fact that all interactions are not well understood leads to
      a broad approach. Some risk factors and their associations with lactational
      insufficiency are described to help the practitioner in the clinical approach to
      such a problem.

PMID- 1446277
TI  - Preweaning mortality.
AB  - A number of factors, both infectious and noninfectious, contribute to preweaning
      mortality in pigs. It is important to establish the causes of preweaning
      mortality and their distribution in investigating farm problems. The various
      causes, risk factors, and a step-by-step approach to solving the problem are
      discussed.

PMID- 1446278
TI  - Pharmacologic control of swine reproduction.
AB  - Current approaches to control fertile estrus and parturition in the pig are
      discussed. Techniques to induce estrus in acylic pigs (pregnant mare serum
      gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin) to synchronize estrus in cyclic
      females (progestins), and to control onset of ovulation (human chorionic
      gonadotropin) are described. Regimens that induce parturition (prostaglandins)
      and precipitate farrowings at more predictable times (oxytocin) are addressed.

PMID- 1446279
TI  - Financial evaluation and decision making in the swine breeding herd.
AB  - As the swine industry continues to evolve and develop a greater business
      orientation--one that demands justification of costs, benefits, and risk-exposure
      -the veterinarian will be confronted with the need to develop an economic basis
      to supplement the biologic. The profession should view such a challenge as an
      opportunity to broaden its role in serving the businesses that make up the
      industry. However, to be effective in such an expanded role requires that the
      veterinarian develop a good working knowledge of risk and risk management as well
      as the role played by economic evaluation techniques used in financial evaluation
      in the risk management process. Several potential advantages exist for the
      veterinarian who determines to expand his or her risk management role by using
      financial evaluation in the course of day-to-day practice routine: Additional
      service or consulting income may be generated through evaluating alternatives
      through decision analysis. Client confidence may be strengthened in the
      veterinarian and in the recommendations made. The costs of consulting services
      and health products for the client may be viewed as income-generators instead of
      being viewed solely as expenses. Referrals of additional progressive clients may
      be generated by satisfied current clients. The veterinarian may achieve personal
      satisfaction through substantiating his or her recommendation beyond clinical or
      experimental judgment. With the capability of using financial evaluation
      techniques in the evaluation and justification of recommendations comes
      significant responsibility. Reliance upon financial evaluation techniques as a
      more objective approach in the management of risk for clients carries with it an
      inherently greater degree of trust. Such trust must be deserved. The universal
      adage "garbage in, garbage out" applies directly to financial evaluation.
      Financial evaluation techniques have the potential to provide the decision-maker
      with objective and accurate analysis, improving the probability of choosing an
      optimal course of action for the business. However, the objectivity and accuracy
      achievable is highly dependent upon the quality and quantity of information used
      in the analysis. Veterinarians must be cognizant of the increased responsibility
      demand placed on those using financial evaluation techniques to direct the course
      of action for their clients. Financial evaluation tools are available to decision
      makers that may improve the objectivity of the decision-making process, providing
      for a greater degree of confidence in the expected outcome. Stated another way,
      these tools can reduce the number of surprises a decision-maker encounters as a
      result of the decisions made.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1446280
TI  - [Uses of vein to substitute tendon sheath in repair of flexor tendon in the "no
      man region"].

PMID- 1446281
TI  - [Le Fort I osteotomy in the correction of maxillary deformity].

PMID- 1446282
TI  - [Experiences of mammaplasty in 32 patients of macromastia and mammary descensus].
AB  - 32 patients with macromastia and mammary descensus have been treated since 1982
      by means of mammoplasty. The Mckissock's operation was modified to make the
      surgical procedure simple and rational, easy to grasp, safe and reliable.
      According to our experiences, the advantages of the operation, the complications
      and their prevention and management have been discussed in the present
      communication.

PMID- 1446283
TI  - [Reconstruction of breasts using transverse lower abdomen rectus myocutaneous
      flap. A report of 5 cases].

PMID- 1446284
TI  - [Clinical analysis of fluid resuscitation in severe burned patients with or
      without inhalation injury].
AB  - The amount of fluid resuscitation, estimated according to crystal-colloid for
      formula, were retrospectively studied in 55 cases of severe burned patients with
      or without inhalation injury. These cases were divided into two groups. One group
      consisted of patients with inhalation injury, while the another there was no
      inhalation injury. The result showed that patients in the former required 13.5%
      additional amount of fluids over the latter in the first 24 hours postburn, and
      this amount was mainly due to the additional requirement in the first 8 hour
      period. We propose that the amount required in severe burned patients with
      inhalation injury in the first 24 hours postburn should be appropriately
      increased, and special attention should be paid to the harmful effect of
      inadequate fluid resuscitation in the first 8 hour period. The amount of fluids
      required for resuscitation in severe burned patients with inhalation injury, as
      estimated according to crystal-colloid formula, should be increased by 13.5% in
      the first 24 hours, and 2/3 of the addition amount should be given in the first 8
      hours, with 1/3 of it in the second and third 8 hours postburn.

PMID- 1446285
TI  - [Repair of hypospadias using 2 newly designed island flaps].

PMID- 1446286
TI  - [Repair of flexion contracture of fingers with paired trapezoid skin flaps].

PMID- 1446287
TI  - [Transplantation of thin pedicle skin flap: a new method in the treatment of skin
      defect of hand (a report of 54 cases)].
AB  - We used the transplantation of the thin pedicle skin flap to repair the skin
      defect on the hand and claw hand due to scar contracture in 54 patients. The
      results were improved. The size of the skin flaps was 16-8 cm x 6-4 cm. The
      average time of division of the pedicle was 10.5 days. In comparison with the
      free skin graft with a preserved subcutaneous vascular network, the whole
      thickness free skin graft, the random pattern skin flap (local flap, fascio
      cutaneous flap and traditional skin flap), the axial pattern skin flap (including
      island skin flap and myocutaneous flap), showed that the thin pedicle skin flap
      was superior over them. The indications, blood circulation and the points for
      attention in the operation were discussed.

PMID- 1446288
TI  - [An experimental study of mitogen-stimulated blastogenic transformation and
      interleukin-2 in mice after burn injury].
AB  - In this study, mitogen-stimulated blastogenic transformation (MSBT) and
      interleukin 2 (IL-2) production by splenic lymphocytes in mice were measured at
      various time intervals after unanesthetized burn injury. The results showed that
      both MSBT and IL-2 production were suppressed after burn injury. There was a
      significant positive correlation between these two parameters. The postburn serum
      showed in vitro suppressive activity upon MSBT, IL-2 production and IL-2-IL-2R
      interaction of normal control. The results indicated that burn injury had a
      significant effect on lymphocytes.

PMID- 1446289
TI  - [Changes in malondialdehyde contents in serum and tissues after ischemia and
      reperfusion of the bowel in dogs].
AB  - The portal circulation was reduced to 50% for one hour by partially occluding the
      superior mesenteric artery, and the relationship between the changes in
      malondialdehyde (MDA) and multiple organ damage was studied. The results showed
      that there was a marked change in hepatic enzymology, with MDA values
      significantly elevated in serum and lung and liver tissues after the reperfusion
      when compared with controls. These results suggested that lipid peroxidation
      initiated by free oxygen radicals played an important role in the multiple organ
      damages, and the extent of organ damage was closely correlated with the contents
      of MDA in tissues.

PMID- 1446290
TI  - [Uses in fibronectin on eschar-excised wound to promote expansion of skin
      grafts].
AB  - Fibronectin was applied to wounds resulted from excision of burn eschars at
      different time intervals after burn in piglets, for the purpose of studying the
      effect of Fn in promoting the expansion of skin grafts which were laid on the
      wounds. Fn content in wound tissue was measured by means of ELISA, while tissue
      Fn and Type-III collagen localization was identified by immunohistochemical
      method ABC. The rate of the graft expansion was then measured by Automated
      Scanning Image Analyzer. The results showed that topical application of exogenous
      Fn on the wound could rapidly increase the density gradient of tissue Fn on the
      wound and promote expansion of skin grafts.

PMID- 1446291
TI  - [Effect of crystal No 4 of Polygonum cuspidatum on microcirculatory disturbances
      during burn shock].
AB  - A model of burn shock was reproduced in rat. The effects of crystal No 4 of
      Polygonum cuspidatum (p. c.) on microcirculation of spinotrapezius muscle in rat
      with burn shock were observed with a special Hitachi TV set with magnification of
      4000x. The changes in water content in tissues of lung and burned skin were
      measured. The survival time of burned animals was recorded. The aggregation of
      WBC and the degree of tissue damage in lung were examined in pathologic slides.
      The results showed that during burn shock the number of adhesive WBC in venules
      was about 8 times more than normal, the amount of open capillaries was reduced by
      3/5 of normal. There were apparent aggregation of WBC and tissue damage in the
      lung. The number of adhesive WBC was decreased by 80%, the amount of open
      capillary returned to near normal, and the aggregation of WBC and the degree of
      tissue damage in the lung were alleviated by administration of crystal No 4 of
      Polygonum cuspidatum. The survival time in p. c.-treated group was prolonged 1.9
      fold of that in n.s.-treated group. The results indicated that the decrease of
      WBC adherence was caused by, on the one hand, the increase of driving force and
      wall stress after treatment of p.c., and on the other hand, p. c. might affect
      some humoral factors which promoted WBC adherence.

PMID- 1446292
TI  - [Acceleration of epidermis proliferation by direct current stimulation (an
      experimental study)].
AB  - An experimental study was designed to evaluate the effect of direct current
      stimulation on the rate of epidermis proliferation using guinea pigs. In the
      study, two full thickness skin defects were made over the paravertebral region in
      each animal. The edges of wounds were transfixed. One of the wounds in each
      animal received the DC stimulation, and the other did not. The 44 animals were
      divided into four groups of eleven animals each, the stimulation strengths were
      10 muADC, 30 muADC, 50 muADC, 0 muADC respectively. The results showed that the
      rate of epidermal cell proliferation and wound healing with the DC stimulation
      were faster, especially on the side of the negative electrode, and the rate of
      healing of the unstimulated wound in animals which received stimulation in the
      contralateral wound was faster than that of wounds of control animals.

PMID- 1446293
TI  - [Plasmid fingerprinting technique analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated
      from a burn unit].
AB  - We used plasmid fingerprinting technique to analyse 50 strains of Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa isolated from our burn unit and 15 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
      from other wards. The results revealed that the carrier rate of R-plasmid was
      100%. All 50 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from burn units contained one
      plasmid with approximate molecular weight of 55 kb. Among 15 strains of
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa from other wards, 10 strains contained one plasmid with
      the same molecular weight. However, 3 strains were found to possess an additional
      12.5-kd plasmid and 2 strains contained 77-kb plasmid. This proves that R-plasmid
      carrying Pseudomonas aeruginosa is prevalent in the burn unit, and R-plasmid is
      disseminated in the hospital.

PMID- 1446294
TI  - [Hematopoietic response to thermal injury].

PMID- 1446295
TI  - [Study of the abnormal plasma proteins after burn injury].
AB  - In our previous study at least 4 abnormal bands were found in burned sera when
      analyzed by SDS-PAGE. In this paper further exploration of the characteristics of
      these abnormalities of burned sera were presented. By way of western blotting, 12
      kinds of antisera against different human proteins as detecting antibodies were
      used. Results showed that bands developed by anti-haptoglobin antiserum
      corresponded well with the abnormal bands in SDS-PAGE. If the burned serum was
      separated by ion-exchange chromatography and its collected eluates containing
      protein peaks were tested for the immunosuppressive activities on normal murine
      spleen lymphocytes, the immunosuppressive eluates were usually found in the 6th
      protein peak. When these immunosuppressive eluates were further analyzed by SDS
      PAGE and Western blotting, bands stained with anti-haptoglobin antiserum still
      coincided with the abnormal bands found in SDS-PAGE of burned serum. Result of
      this study suggests that one of the immunosuppressive factors found in burned
      serum may be a haptoglobin-like substance.

PMID- 1446296
TI  - [Lengthening of residual digit by gradual traction and bone grafting (a report of
      143 cases)].
AB  - Since 1985, a device for gradual traction was used for lengthening of 143
      residual digits in 75 patients. The average lengthening was 2.2 cm. This method
      is simple, safe, and effective. The advantages of this method over the previously
      exercised tubed bone graft and other digital lengthening methods are that the
      digit reconstructed by the gradual traction-lengthening method has the normal
      cutaneous structure, good sensation function, and better contour. Multiple digits
      can be reconstructed simultaneously. Because the periosteum at the osteotomy site
      is kept intact, the long term results are consistent.

PMID- 1446297
TI  - [Quantitative bacterial culture of subeschar tissue. A clinical study].
AB  - The relationship between the number of bacteria in the subeschar tissue and time,
      age, burn extent in 47 patients within a week after burn injury are presented.
      The results showed 1. There is a significant positive correlation between the
      number of bacteria in the subeschar tissue and time intervals following burn
      within the first week (r = 0.9839, P < 0.01); 2. In children (below 4 years) and
      patients over 45 years, there is a higher incidence of having bacterial counts of
      over 10(5)/gm of tissue than that of young and adolescent patients (P < 0.01); 3.
      There is a significant difference in subeschar bacterial count between major
      burns (> 30% TBSA) and smaller burns (< 30% TBSA P < 0.05); 4. Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa is one of the most frequent bacteria isolated, especially in major
      burns.

PMID- 1446298
TI  - Jesus Christ--the hope of nursing. Does He make a difference?

PMID- 1446300
TI  - Meaning in nursing.

PMID- 1446299
TI  - New horizons.

PMID- 1446301
TI  - Professional identity.

PMID- 1446302
TI  - 13C-CP/MAS NMR studies of the cyclomalto-oligosaccharide (cyclodextrin) hydrates.
AB  - The 13C-CP/MAS NMR spectra of cyclomaltohexaose (alpha-cyclodextrin) hexahydrate,
      cyclomaltoheptaose (beta-cyclodextrin) "undecahydrate", cyclomalto-octaose (gamma
      cyclodextrin) "octadecahydrate", and of the same materials at lower levels of
      hydration are compared with solution NMR data, structures obtained from single
      crystal diffraction studies, and with previous reports of the 13C-CP/MAS NMR
      spectra. The chemical shifts of the C-1 and C-4 resonances can be correlated with
      the conformation about the (1----4) linkage. The chemical shifts of the C-6
      resonances are also sensitive to hydrogen-bonding interactions, as shown by the
      spectral changes on loss of water from the structures. The results suggest that,
      for resonances of carbon atoms close to a centre of significant conformational
      change, chemical shifts may be predicted on the basis of conformation alone, but
      for the resonances of more distant atoms, changes in chemical shift due to
      conformational change may be masked by the effects of alterations in the local
      environment.

PMID- 1446303
TI  - A spacer-modified disaccharide as a photoaffinity reagent for the acceptor
      binding area of bovine (1----4)-beta-D-galactosyltransferase: comparison of its
      acceptor properties with those of other 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D
      glucopyranosides.
AB  - The spacer-modified disaccharide 1,10-di-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D
      glucopyranosyl)-2-azi-1,10- decanediol (10) that mimics the biantennary core
      heptasaccharide of N-glycoproteins has been synthesised. Compound 10 is an
      excellent acceptor in galactosyltransferase-catalysed galactosylation by UDP
      galactose, is superior (7-8-fold) to analogues that have only one GlcNAc unit,
      and is an efficient photoaffinity reagent for galactosyltransferase. In the
      presence of UDP-Gal, no photoaffinity labelling by 10 takes place, which agrees
      with the mechanism of galactosyltransferase action.

PMID- 1446304
TI  - Spacer-modified trisaccharide glycosides that mimic the biantennary Asn-linked
      oligosaccharide acceptor of (1----4)-beta-D-galactosyltransferase and can be used
      as competitive inhibitors and for irreversible deactivation.
AB  - The biantennary spacer-modified trisaccharide glycoside methyl 3,6-di-O-(2
      acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxyethyl)-alpha -D- mannopyranoside (5)
      was synthesised and used together with several 2-acylamino-2-deoxy-D-glucose
      derivatives in competition experiments with beta-D-galactosyltransferase.
      Compound 5 was an acceptor substrate (KM 0.18 mM) comparable to the biantennary
      core heptasaccharide of glycoproteins (KM 0.13 mM). Replacing the N-acetyl group
      by other N-acyl groups did not alter the kinetic parameters significantly. When
      the N-acyl group was iodoacetyl, the compound was an irreversible inhibitor.

PMID- 1446305
TI  - Conformational analysis of the anomeric forms of sophorose, laminarabiose, and
      cellobiose using MM3.
AB  - Relaxed-residue energy maps based on the MM3 force-field were computed for
      relative orientations of the pyranosyl rings of sophorose, laminarabiose, and
      cellobiose, respectively the (1----2)-beta-; (1----3)-beta-; and (1----4)-beta
      linked D-glucosyl disaccharides. Sixteen starting conformations of the rotatable
      exocyclic side-groups were considered for each molecule. All of the energy
      surfaces have two intersecting low-energy troughs and illustrate the importance
      of exo-anomeric effects in determining disaccharide conformation. Local minima
      were found by relaxed minimization without restriction. The energy surfaces of
      these disaccharides are very similar to the energy surfaces of their
      corresponding 6-methyltetrahydropyran analogues. There is good agreement between
      disaccharide structures having minimal MM3 energy and those found by
      crystallography.

PMID- 1446306
TI  - Structural characterization of a novel diglycosyl diacylglyceride glycolipid from
      Rhizobium trifolii ANU843.
AB  - A novel glycolipid was isolated by chloroform-methanol extraction of Rhizobium
      trifolii ANU843 cells. Compositional analysis, methylation studies, 1H NMR and
      spectroscopies led to the identification of a diglycosyl diacylglyceride: 1,2-di
      O-acyl-3-O-[alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----3)-O-alpha-D- mannopyranosyl]glycerol.
      Iso-hexadecanoic and anteiso-heptadecanoic acids were the predominant fatty acids
      esterifying the glyceryl moiety, but a microheterogeneity in fatty acid
      composition was found, resulting in at least five distinct molecular species of
      the glycolipid. Although widespread in plants, animals and Gram-positive
      bacteria, glycosyl glycerides have been seldom reported in Gram-negative bacteria
      and this work is the first evidence of their occurrence in the bacterial family
      Rhizobiaceae.

PMID- 1446307
TI  - Artificial antigens. Synthetic carbohydrate haptens immobilized on crystalline
      bacterial surface layer glycoproteins.
AB  - The crystalline surface-layer glycoproteins of Clostridium thermohydrosulfuricum
      L111-69, Bacillus stearothermophilus NRS 2004/3a and Bacillus alvei CCM 2051 were
      used for immobilization of spacer-linked blood group A-trisaccharide (alpha
      GalNAc(1----3)[alpha Fuc(1----2)]beta Gal) and of the spacer-linked, tumor
      associated T-disaccharide [beta Gal(1----3)alpha GalNAc]. The immobilization
      involved the glycan portions of surface-layer glycoproteins. Different activation
      methods were used, namely, periodate oxidation, or treatment with epichlorohydrin
      or divinyl sulfone, followed by coupling of the hapten under appropriate
      conditions. The resulting conjugates are useful for assessing the application
      potential of haptenated surface layer preparations as carrier/adjuvants for the
      induction of immunity to poorly immunogenic molecules.

PMID- 1446308
TI  - Structural elucidation of the capsular polysaccharide of E. coli serotype K47.
AB  - The capsular polysaccharide from Escherichia coli K47 was investigated using
      mainly methylation analysis and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and shown to have the
      following repeating unit: [Formula: see text]

PMID- 1446309
TI  - Structural variability in the glucuronoxylomannan of Cryptococcus neoformans
      serotype A isolates determined by 13C NMR spectroscopy.
AB  - Cryptococcus neoformans, the etiologic agent of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis,
      produces glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) as the major capsule component. Purified GXMs
      obtained from eight serotype A isolates of C. neoformans were treated by
      ultrasonic irradiation and then O-deacetylated prior to their comprehensive
      chemical analysis by GLC, GLC-MS, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The average xylose:
      mannose: glucuronic acid molar ratio of the eight isolates is 1.96 +/- 0.25:
      3.00: 0.58 +/- 0.10. Methylation analyses and 13C NMR spectroscopy show a general
      structure for GXM that is comprised of a linear (1----3)-alpha-D-mannopyranan
      substituted with beta-D-GlcpA and with beta-D-Xylp at O-2. Variable quantities of
      unsubstituted (1----3)-alpha-D-Manp were observed between the eight isolates
      studied. In several isolates some of the (1----3)-alpha-D-Manp residues are
      disubstituted with beta-D-GlcpA at O-2 and with beta-D-Xylp at O-4; this type of
      substitution was not previously thought to occur in serotype A isolates.
      Heterogeneity, between isolates, in the disposition of the substituents along the
      mannopyranan backbone was revealed by 13C NMR spectroscopy. The eight isolates,
      and three isolates previously studied, were each assigned to one of four distinct
      groups based on the 13C NMR chemical shifts of the anomeric carbons. Six of the
      eleven isolates gave identical spectra (Group I). The six major anomeric
      resonances from Group I were assigned to specific glycosidic linkages present in
      GXM. The remaining five isolates gave more complex spectra that are indicative of
      additional linkages and comprise the remaining three groups. Three of these five
      isolates contain substantial amounts of linkages previously thought to be
      distinctive of serotypes B and C, i.e., Manp residues that are 4-O-glycosylated
      with beta-D-Xylp. Methylation analyses only predicted an average repeating unit,
      whereas 13C NMR spectroscopy demonstrated that GXM from each isolate may be
      categorized into four groups by the occurrence of distinct sequences of
      carbohydrate residues.

PMID- 1446310
TI  - Negative-ion fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry of native gangliosides using
      a high-polar matrix system.

PMID- 1446311
TI  - The major capsular polysaccharide of Cryptococcus neoformans serotype B.

PMID- 1446312
TI  - The application of NMR-pattern-recognition methods to the classification of
      peracetylated oligosaccharide residues: effects of intraclass structure.

PMID- 1446313
TI  - Synthesis of disialoganglioside GD1 alpha and its positional isomer.
AB  - The first total syntheses of disialoganglioside GD1 alpha and its alpha 2-6
      positional isomer are described. Suitably protected pentasaccharide derivatives,
      derived from known pentasaccharide precursors, were selected as the glycosyl
      acceptors. Using our facile method of stereoselective alpha-glycosidation of
      sialic acid, these acceptors were coupled with methyl (methyl 5-acetamido-4,7,8,9
      tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-2-thio-D-glycero-D-galact o-2- nonulopyranosid)onate
      in acetonitrile medium in the presence of dimethyl(methylthio)sulfonium triflate
      (DMTST) to get the desired di-alpha-sialyl hexasaccharide derivatives in moderate
      yields. The hexasaccharide trichloroacetimidates upon coupling with (2S,3R,4E)-2
      azido-3-O-benzoyl-4-octadecene-1,3-diol gave the corresponding beta-linked
      sphingosine glycosides in high yields. These were subjected in sequence to
      selective reduction of the azido group and coupling of the thus formed amino
      group with octadecanoic acid, O-deacylation, and saponification of the methyl
      ester groups to obtain ganglioside GD1 alpha and its positional isomer having the
      main-chain residue 2-6 linked.

PMID- 1446314
TI  - Effects of drugs on body venous tone, as reflected by mean circulatory filling
      pressure.
AB  - The venous system is supremely important in the control of cardiac output. Drugs
      which affect the venous system have profound effects on haemodynamics. This
      review comments on the methods available for the determination of venous
      compliance, resistance, and unstressed volume and describes the mean circulatory
      filling pressure (MCFP) technique, its usefulness and limitations. The MCFP
      technique involves the measurement of central venous pressure during brief (5-7
      s) circulatory arrest. Mathematically, MCFP is inversely proportional to vascular
      compliance while experimentally, it is a primary determinant of venous return.
      The MCFP technique provides a reproducible and relatively non-traumatic means for
      the estimation of body venous tone in conscious and anaesthetised animals. Drugs
      examined by this technique include alpha and beta adrenoceptor agonists and
      antagonists, ganglionic blockers, vasoactive peptides (endothelin, vasopressin,
      angiotensin, neuropeptide Y), and vasodilators (hydralazine, nitroprusside,
      glyceryl trinitrate, calcium antagonists, and MCI-154).

PMID- 1446315
TI  - Role of adenosine receptor activation in myocardial infarct size limitation by
      ischaemic preconditioning.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aims were to examine the role of adenosine receptors in the
      mechanism of preconditioning in a chronic rabbit model of myocardial infarction;
      to assess whether the preconditioning effect is blocked by an adenosine receptor
      antagonist, 8-phenyltheophylline; and to determine whether an adenosine A1
      receptor agonist, R(-)N6-2-phenylisopropyl adenosine (R-PIA), mimics infarct size
      limitation by preconditioning. METHODS: Myocardial infarction was induced in male
      rabbits by occlusion of the left coronary artery for 30 min, which was followed
      by 72 h reperfusion. Before the 30 min ischaemia, rabbits were subjected to one
      of the following six protocols: (1) untreated control; (2) intravenous injection
      of 8-phenyltheophylline; (3) preconditioning with 5 min ischaemia; (4)
      pretreatment with 8-phenyltheophylline plus preconditioning; (5) intravenous
      injection of R-PIA; or (6) R-PIA plus atrial pacing (240.min-1). Infarct size and
      area at risk were determined by histology and fluorescent particles,
      respectively. RESULTS: Preconditioning significantly limited infarct size,
      normalised as a percent of area at risk (%IS/AR), to 19.2 (SEM 2.3)% v control
      value of 46.5(2.8)%. 8-Phenyltheophylline alone did not modify the %IS/AR, but
      its injection before preconditioning attenuated the preconditioning effect such
      that IS/AR = 34.4(2.5)%. While R-PIA did not achieve statistically significant
      myocardial salvage, R-PIA plus atrial pacing limited infarct size to 33.7(3.0)%
      (p<0.05 v control). The R-PIA group had severe hypotension and their infarct
      sizes were inversely correlated with diastolic blood pressure at reperfusion.
      There was no such correlation in the R-PIA plus pacing group in which bradycardia
      and hypotension induced by R-PIA were attenuated by atrial pacing. CONCLUSIONS:
      The infarct size limiting effect of preconditioning was attenuated by 8
      phenyltheophylline, and pretreatment with R-PIA was able to limit myocardial
      infarct size when severe hypotension was avoided by atrial pacing. These findings
      suggest that adenosine receptor activation plays a crucial role in the mechanism
      of preconditioning.

PMID- 1446316
TI  - Pretreatment with buflomedil enhances ventricular function by reducing the
      dysfunctional area after transient coronary artery occlusion.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate whether buflomedil (a drug used to treat
      peripheral vascular disease and which has a number of pharmacological actions
      potentially beneficial to dysfunctional myocardium) would preserve myocardial
      function after transient coronary artery occlusion followed by reperfusion.
      METHODS: The physiological response to a 15 min balloon occlusion of the left
      anterior descending coronary artery followed by 1 h of reperfusion was monitored
      in 17 placebo treated dogs and compared with that of 15 dogs which received 10
      mg.kg-1 of buflomedil. Buflomedil or its vehicle were given intravenously.
      Myocardial blood flow was assessed with radiolabelled microspheres and cardiac
      function was evaluated with quantitative contrast left ventriculography. RESULTS:
      Buflomedil did not affect baseline haemodynamic variables or contractile
      function. At the end of occlusion, there was no difference between dogs receiving
      vehicle compared with those receiving drug with respect to ejection fraction
      [33(SD 11)% v 34(11)%] or transmural blood flow [0.23(0.11) v 0.28(0.14) ml.g-1 x
      min-1]. However, at 30 min after reperfusion, ejection fraction was 89% of normal
      in the buflomedil group compared with 69% of normal in the placebo group (p <
      0.03). This difference was sustained 60 min after reperfusion, and was due in
      part to slightly enhanced flow during reperfusion and a decrease in the
      dysfunctional area (16 compared with 28 chords lower than -2 SD from the mean, p
      < 0.04) in the hearts of dogs receiving buflomedil. Areas at risk were equivalent
      (15.9% and 15.8% of the left ventricle, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results
      suggest that buflomedil and agents with similar modes of action may be beneficial
      in preserving ventricular function after transient ischaemia followed by
      reperfusion.

PMID- 1446317
TI  - Regional interaction and its effect on patterns of myocardial segmental
      shortening and lengthening during different models of asynchronous contraction in
      the dog.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine the effect of asynchrony and regional
      myocardial interaction on the pattern of segmental contraction and relaxation.
      METHODS: Three models of asynchrony were produced. Firstly the left anterior
      descending artery was abruptly occluded for 60 s. Secondly, the same artery was
      gradually occluded to produce four degrees of ischaemia based on the severity of
      the mechanical dysfunction. Finally, asynchrony was created by infusing
      isoprenaline (0.04 microgram.ml-1) into the left circumflex artery. Twelve
      anaesthetised beagles, weighing 16-21 kg, were used for the study. RESULTS: The
      patterns of contraction and relaxation were characterised by analysing the phases
      of shortening and lengthening, the peak lengthening rate (dL/dt), and the timing
      from the onset of systole to minimum systolic length. A consistent pattern of
      shortening and lengthening was evident during all three models of asynchrony.
      There were reciprocal relations between the extent of isovolumetric shortening in
      the normal segment and in the abnormal segment, and on occasion between the
      extent of isovolumetric shortening in the normal segment and the extent of
      isovolumetric lengthening in the same segment. Normal segments that showed
      minimal shortening or even some lengthening during isovolumetric systole tended
      to shorten beyond ejection, while segments that shortened significantly during
      isovolumetric contraction, lengthened earlier. Despite no change in isovolumetric
      shortening, segments also shortened after ejection when the opposite segment
      lengthened in late systole and early diastole. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of
      shortening and lengthening depends on the path of contraction or on its entire
      loading pattern throughout systole. It is also possible that during early
      isovolumetric systole a segment can either be unloaded or preloaded by an
      opposing segment.

PMID- 1446318
TI  - Antiarrhythmic effects of preconditioning in anaesthetised dogs and rats.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine the relationship of the duration of short
      coronary artery occlusions and of the reperfusion period to the extent of the
      antiarrhythmic effect of preconditioning. METHODS: A prolonged occlusion of a
      coronary artery in 102 anaesthetised rats and 55 anaesthetised dogs was preceded
      by a variable number of preconditioning coronary artery occlusions, of varying
      duration and with variable reperfusion periods between them and the prolonged
      occlusion. RESULTS: Preconditioning in both species reduced the severity of
      ischaemia induced arrhythmias, epicardial ST segment changes, and alterations in
      the degree of inhomogeneity of conduction during a subsequent prolonged coronary
      artery occlusion, provided that the reperfusion time was less than 30 min (in
      rats) and 1 h (in dogs). This antiarrhythmic effect of preconditioning was
      marked; eg, in dogs following two preconditioning occlusions survival from a
      combined ischaemia-reperfusion insult was 40% (cf, 0% in the controls).
      CONCLUSIONS: Short preconditioning periods of myocardial ischaemia protect the
      myocardium against the arrhythmogenic effects of a more prolonged occlusion. The
      optimum time for this preconditioning occlusion in rats is 3 min and protection
      is still apparent 30 min later. In dogs, the protective effect is especially
      clear with two short (5 min) coronary artery occlusions. The protection in this
      species lasts for less than 1 h.

PMID- 1446319
TI  - Effect of adrenaline on cardiac force-interval relationship.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to test the hypothesis that adrenaline affects the force
      interval processes. METHODS: The force-interval processes were studied in eight
      guinea pig papillary muscles (isometric force) and five anaesthetised dogs with
      atrioventricular block (maximum rate of rise of left ventricular pressure,
      LVdP/dtmax). The contractility indices were measured during pacing sequences in
      which a steady state was interrupted after a variable interval by a premature
      beat followed by an immediate return to the steady state. RESULTS: The
      relationship between contractility of the premature beat and the preceding
      interstimulus interval displays an approximately monoexponential initial rising
      phase, ie, mechanical restitution. With increasing adrenaline dosage in the
      isolated preparation there was always a significant increase in the force, and in
      its rate of rise with interval in some cases. Adrenaline had a variable
      accelerating effect on the time course of this mechanical restitution in isolated
      papillary muscles, but no effect in the dog preparation. In the isolated
      preparation adrenaline also slowed the decay in potentiation of the two beats
      immediately following the premature contraction. A slope of the relationship
      between the contractility of the second potentiated beat and that of the first
      was thus increased. This difference was not apparent in the intact preparation.
      CONCLUSIONS: The speeding up of mechanical restitution by adrenaline may be
      interpreted as reflecting the time course of reavailability of contractile
      activator. The slope of the relationship of contractility to that of the previous
      beat during the decay of postextrasystolic potentiation may be interpreted as the
      recirculation fraction of contractile activator; this is increased by adrenaline.
      However, in addition, adrenaline exerts an inotropic effect by another mechanism.

PMID- 1446320
TI  - Evaluation of reperfusion strategy for the globally ischaemic rat heart. Recovery
      of function and energy metabolism.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The sequelae of myocardial ischaemia can in principle be alleviated by
      repeated reperfusion, but the accumulation of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and
      the loss of interstitial adenosine may lead to adenylate depletion. Repeated
      oxidative stress could predispose the heart to reperfusion injury. The aim of
      this study was to investigate the effect of intermittent reperfusion on
      myocardial energetics and postischaemic function. METHODS: Isolated retrogradely
      perfused rat hearts were subjected to 20 min ischaemia, this being continuous in
      group I while the hearts in group II were reperfused for three 2 min periods at 5
      min intervals. Function and energy metabolism were evaluated during the
      postischaemic reperfusion. RESULTS: Considerable efflux of adenosine compounds
      was seen during the final reperfusion, this being greater in group I than in
      group II, at 6.6(SEM 0.9) v 2.0(0.4) mumol.g-1 dry weight (p < 0.01). Tissue AMP,
      inorganic phosphate, and adenosine catabolites were higher in group I than in II
      after the ischaemic insult (p < 0.02), and ATP was higher in group II at the end
      of the final reperfusion (p < 0.05). All the hearts recovered; however, in group
      I the rate-pressure product was lower than in group II. CONCLUSIONS: Repetitive
      reperfusion, although short in duration, is beneficial in ischaemia in terms of
      lower adenylate loss and better postischaemic recovery. This should be taken into
      consideration when designing clinical reperfusion interventions.

PMID- 1446321
TI  - Role of nitric oxide synthesis in the regulation of coronary vascular tone in the
      isolated perfused rabbit heart.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to study the effects on coronary vascular tone of three
      inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. METHODS: Studies were performed on
      isolated perfused hearts of 74 male New Zealand White rabbits fed normal
      laboratory diet. Resting coronary perfusion pressure was increased to 40-60 mm Hg
      with the thromboxane mimetic 9,11-dideoxy-9 alpha,11 alpha-methanoepoxy
      prostaglandin F2 alpha (U46619). The effects of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L
      NMMA), N-iminoethyl-L-ornithine (L-NIO), and NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L
      NAME) (0.3-300 microM) on resting coronary perfusion pressure were determined.
      The effects of these compounds, at concentrations that increased the resting
      perfusion pressure to a similar extent, on the fall in perfusion pressure induced
      by acetylcholine (0.1 microM) and glyceryl trinitrate (1 microM) were also
      investigated. In these studies the resting perfusion pressure was maintained at
      40-60 mm Hg by reducing the concentration of U46619. RESULTS: L-NMMA, L-NIO, and
      L-NAME induced concentration dependent increases in resting coronary perfusion
      pressure (n = 3-9, p < 0.05). L-NAME had the greatest potency and efficacy,
      increasing the resting pressure by 48.0(SEM 9.6) mm Hg at 30 microM. L-NIO and L
      NMMA increased perfusion pressure by 27.3(3.0) and 19.5(5.8) mm Hg respectively
      at the maximum concentration studied (300 microM). However, at concentrations
      that were equieffective on resting perfusion pressure (15 mm Hg increase), L-NMMA
      (100 microM), but not L-NIO (25 microM) or L-NAME (4 microM), significantly
      inhibited the fall in pressure induced by acetylcholine by 57.2(5.0)%, n = 6, p <
      0.05. This effect of L-NMMA++ was attributed to a shorter duration of fall and
      was reversed by L-arginine (300 microM). L-NMMA (100 microM) and L-NIO (25
      microM) potentiated the effect of glyceryl trinitrate by increasing the peak fall
      in perfusion pressure by 75.6(11.0)% and 68.8(24.1)% respectively (n = 6 for
      each, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The differential effects of the three inhibitors on
      resting coronary perfusion pressure and the acetylcholine induced fall in
      coronary perfusion pressure suggest that basal and stimulated NO synthesis may be
      differentially regulated. Reduction in the synthesis of endogenous NO by these
      compounds potentiates the glyceryl trinitrate induced fall in perfusion pressure,
      which may have important clinical implications.

PMID- 1446322
TI  - Activation of bovine endothelial thromboxane receptors triggers release of
      prostacyclin but not EDRF.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine the capacity of U46619 (a stable thromboxane A2
      mimetic) to mediate release of endothelium derived relaxing factor (EDRF) from
      bovine aortic endothelial cells, and compare the response to the U46619 dependent
      release of prostacyclin (PGI2). METHODS: Bovine aortic endothelial cells (AG4762)
      were cultured in vitro on microcarrier beads, which were then loaded onto a
      column and perfused. The cells were challenged with U46619, bradykinin, or the
      Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin in the perfusate, and measurements made of the release
      of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha (the stable hydrolysis product of PGI2, measured by
      radioimmunoassay) and EDRF (bioassay). Cells were also cultured on glass cover
      slips, loaded with Fura 2-AM, and measurements made of the rise in intracellular
      Ca2+ after challenge with U46619, bradykinin or ionomycin. RESULTS: U46619
      triggered release of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha but not EDRF from AG4762 cells, contrasting
      with bradykinin which released both 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha and EDRF. Ionomycin had
      little or no capacity to mimic and trigger release of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha, although
      ionomycin mediated large increases in intracellular Ca2+. In contrast,
      staurosporine (a putative inhibitor of protein kinase C) substantially inhibited
      the U46619 and bradykinin dependent release of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha. CONCLUSIONS: In
      contrast to bradykinin linked receptors on AG4762 endothelial cells, which are
      coupled to the release of both prostacyclin and EDRF, activation of thromboxane
      A2 receptors on these cells selectively triggers release of PGI2 but not EDRF.
      Further, based on the distinct effects of ionomycin and staurosporine, it appears
      that agonist stimulated PGI2 release from these cells is mediated predominantly
      by protein kinase C, rather than by rises in intracellular Ca2+. This observation
      contrasts with previously described mechanisms of PGI2 release from endothelium
      obtained from other sources.

PMID- 1446323
TI  - Hypoxic preconditioning of ischaemic canine myocardium.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to test whether a brief period of non-ischaemic hypoxia
      can precondition myocardium. METHODS: 60 anaesthetised adult mongrel dogs of
      either sex underwent 60 min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary
      artery, followed by 5 h reperfusion. In treated groups, hearts were either
      preconditioned with 5 min coronary perfusion with hypoxic blood [O2 content
      9.2(SEM 0.6) ml.litre-1] or 5 min occlusion followed by a 10 min reperfusion
      period prior to 60 min occlusion. The effect of these treatments on myocardial
      infarct size and regional contractile function was assessed. RESULTS: Infarct
      size, determined by tetrazolium staining, as a percentage of anatomical area at
      risk was markedly decreased in hypoxia preconditioned hearts, at 7.2(1.8)% v
      22.4(4.6)% in controls (p < 0.01), but did not differ from ischaemia
      preconditioned hearts [4.6(1.7)%; p < 0.01 v control]. Anatomical area at risk,
      expressed as a percentage of left ventricular mass, and collateral blood flow to
      the inner two thirds of the ischaemic wall did not differ among the groups.
      Regional contractile function was depressed following ischaemic preconditioning
      but not following hypoxic preconditioning. During reperfusion following 60 min
      occlusion, marked paradoxical systolic lengthening was evident in ischaemia
      preconditioned and control hearts but not in hypoxia preconditioned myocardium.
      CONCLUSIONS: Five minutes of hypoxic and ischaemic preconditioning were
      equipotent in preventing infarction, whereas ischaemic preconditioning caused a
      greater decrement in postischaemic contractile function.

PMID- 1446325
TI  - Nitric oxide and regulation of coronary vascular tone.

PMID- 1446324
TI  - Cardiac A2 adenosine receptors--influence of ischaemia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to detect cardiac A2 adenosine receptors through
      radioligand binding, and to assess the effect of ischaemia on these receptors.
      METHODS: Isolated working rat hearts were subjected either to aerobic perfusion
      or to global ischaemia. A membrane fraction was prepared from ventricular tissue,
      and 3H-5'-N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine (NECA) binding was determined in the
      presence of N6-cyclopentyl adenosine (CPA). A2 binding was calculated as the
      fraction of NECA binding displaced by 100 microM CPA but not displaced by 50 nM
      CPA. RESULTS: Analysis of A2 NECA binding according to single binding site model
      yielded Kd = 22.0 nM, Bmax = 34.0 fmol.mg-1 in control hearts; Kd = 49.7 nM, Bmax
      = 44.3 fmol.mg-1 in hearts subjected to 30 min ischaemia (p < 0.05 for difference
      in Kd). In the control group a two site model provided a significantly (p < 0.05)
      better fit (Kd = 5.6 and 183.7 nM, Bmax = 9.5 and 64.4 fmol.mg-1 for the high and
      low affinity sites respectively). The high affinity component of A2 NECA binding
      disappeared in the presence of the GTP analogue guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate,
      suggesting the existence of multiple coupling states of the receptor. In the
      ischaemic group no significant improvement in data fitting was obtained with the
      two site model. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide evidence of the existence of
      cardiac A2 adenosine receptors. Ischaemia modifies receptor properties and
      appears to affect chiefly the high affinity component of A2 binding, possibly by
      preventing receptor interaction with membrane G proteins.

PMID- 1446326
TI  - Hypoxic preconditioning of ischaemic myocardium.

PMID- 1446327
TI  - Nitric oxide and endotoxin shock.

PMID- 1446328
TI  - Coronary aneurysms: a case report and review.
AB  - This case report describes a large coronary aneurysm and poses questions
      regarding management. The discussion that follows addresses what is known about
      the natural history of and options for management of coronary aneurysms.

PMID- 1446329
TI  - Left main coronary artery aneurysm following percutaneous transluminal
      angioplasty: a report of a case and review of the literature.
AB  - Since its introduction in 1977, the number of PTCAs and its indications have
      grown. Along with more frequent usage, newer complications have been reported.
      Aneurysm of left main coronary artery is rare. This report describes the
      formation of a new non-obstructing aneurysm in the left main coronary artery
      after PTCA of left circumflex artery. The patient has had 7 yr of follow-up with
      a benign clinical course.

PMID- 1446330
TI  - Coronary artery aneurysm formation following directional coronary atherectomy.
AB  - Directional coronary atherectomy has recently become available to treat coronary
      stenosis by excision and removal of tissue. The optimal depth of resection by
      this method has not been determined and complications have occurred. This report
      describes the formation of a coronary aneurysm at an atherectomy site in an
      asymptomatic patient, a finding not reported previously.

PMID- 1446331
TI  - Case report: formation of vessel aneurysm after stand alone coronary excimer
      laser angioplasty.
AB  - Formation of aneurysms in coronary arteries can be observed following
      percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty but has not been reported
      previously after coronary excimer laser angioplasty in humans. Stand alone
      coronary excimer laser angioplasty was performed in a 49-year-old man with a 75%
      left anterior descending artery stenotic lesion and exertional angina,
      documenting a good angiographic result postintervention. Control angiography 6
      months after the procedure revealed an aneurysm distal to a 90% restenosis in the
      area of ablation.

PMID- 1446332
TI  - Aneurysmal formation after successful pulsed laser coronary angioplasty.
AB  - We report two cases of coronary artery aneurysmal formation as long term
      consequences of Ho:YAG and excimer laser coronary angioplasty. This case report
      suggests that pulsed laser angioplasty may result in severe vessel wall damage
      that may lead ultimately to aneurysmal formation.

PMID- 1446333
TI  - An unusual cause of recurrent angina two years after coronary artery bypass
      grafting: fistula between internal mammary artery graft to pulmonary vasculature.
AB  - A 55-year-old man developed recurrent angina pectoris 2 years after coronary
      artery bypass grafting. Cardiac catheterization demonstrated that the venous
      grafts were patent, but selective left internal mammary angiogram showed multiple
      fistulous connections between the internal mammary artery and the pulmonary
      vasculature of the left upper lobe. After surgical correction of the fistula, the
      angina resolved. Only three previous cases of acquired internal mammary artery
      graft fistulas draining to the pulmonary vasculature have been described. The
      etiology, clinical presentation, and management of an internal mammary artery
      fistula to the pulmonary vasculature are discussed.

PMID- 1446334
TI  - Balloon dilation of the completely occluded Blalock-Taussig anastomosis: a case
      report.

PMID- 1446335
TI  - Angioplasty of tortuous left internal mammary artery: description of a new
      technique.
AB  - Angioplasty of the distal anastomosis site of a markedly tortuous left internal
      mammary artery (LIMA)--anterior descending artery is described. Tortuosity of
      LIMA was negotiated using the Tracker-Seeker catheter guidewire system.
      Angioplasty was then performed using the conventional technique.

PMID- 1446336
TI  - Detachable balloon embolization of an iatrogenic aortocoronary arteriovenous
      fistula combined with aortocoronary bypass PTCA: a case report.
AB  - Coronary artery bypass surgery was performed in a 54-year-old male, and one of
      the grafts was inadvertently sutured to the vena cordis magna instead of to the
      left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Four years later the patient
      observed a progression of symptoms including episodes of angina pectoris at rest.
      Coronary angiography showed stenosis of one of the bypass grafts and notable
      dilatation of an iatrogenic arteriovenous (A-V) fistula. The stenosed bypass
      graft was dilated and the A-V fistula occluded by use of a detachable balloon.
      Embolization was performed rather than surgery, as the LAD was found to be a poor
      surgical target. The patient's symptoms improved after the procedure; he was
      followed for 18 months during which time his condition remained stable.

PMID- 1446337
TI  - Combined PTCA and microcoil embolization of a left internal mammary artery graft.
AB  - Internal mammary arteries are increasingly common conduits for coronary
      revascularization. Although infrequent, cardiologists are faced with a number of
      technical failures. We describe a case of combined PTCA to a LIMA insertion
      stenosis, along with coil embolization of a large unligated intercostal side
      branch. A complication of embolization is described along with angiographic
      follow-up.

PMID- 1446338
TI  - Interpretation of cardiac pathophysiology from pressure waveform analysis:
      pressure wave artifacts.

PMID- 1446339
TI  - Modified "kissing" atherectomy procedure with dependable protection of side
      branches by two-wire technique.
AB  - We report a new two-wire atherectomy technique for side branch protection. Newer,
      more resilient wire designs are capable of withstanding cutting forces of the
      Simpson atherocath device. This technique expands atherectomy application to
      lesions previously excluded from atherectomy as high risk lesions.

PMID- 1446340
TI  - Mobile catheterization laboratories.

PMID- 1446341
TI  - Clinical results and quality of life after percutaneous transluminal coronary
      angioplasty: a preliminary report.
AB  - To evaluate the effect of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
      on quality of life, data on symptomatic status, functional capacity, life
      satisfaction, and psychological wellness were collected on 102 patients at 1 day
      pre-PTCA and 2 months post-PTCA, and on the first 50 of these patients at 10
      months post-PTCA. There were highly significant changes (p < 0.001) in all
      quality of life measures between pre-PTCA and the 1st follow-up measurements. No
      further significant changes occurred in these measures between the 1st and 2nd
      follow-up measurements, indicating that the initial improvement in quality of
      life was sustained over this period. Data on primary success rate, complications,
      and pre- and post-PTCA risk factor scores are also reported.

PMID- 1446342
TI  - Improved quality of life after PTCA: generalizability and concerns.

PMID- 1446344
TI  - The cell nucleus, the unexplored organelle.

PMID- 1446343
TI  - Does the AHA/ACC task force grading system predict outcome in multivessel
      coronary angioplasty?
AB  - To assess the ACC/AHA task force grading system as a predictor of outcome in
      patients undergoing multivessel percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty we
      analyzed all failures (residual stenosis > 50%, Q-wave myocardial infarction,
      coronary artery bypass grafting during hospitalization, or death) in 97 patients
      with 328 stenoses. There were 70 males and 27 females; 60 patients had stable
      angina, and 37 had unstable angina. The mean number of lesions dilated per
      patient was 3.4 (range 2-8). The mean preangioplasty percent luminal diameter
      narrowing was 80 +/- 14%. Thirty-eight stenoses were AHA/ACC classification type
      A, 192 type B, and 98 type C. One hundred twenty-eight lesions were located in
      the left anterior descending artery or its distribution, 89 in the left
      circumflex, 96 in the right coronary artery, and 15 in other vessels. Procedural
      success (< 50% residual diameter narrowing and no major ischemic complications)
      was achieved in 266 lesions (81.1%). Major ischemic complications (death,
      myocardial infarction, or emergency bypass surgery) occurred in 8 patients (8.2%)
      and in-hospital mortality was 2%. Analysis on a per stenosis basis demonstrated
      84% success in type A, 89% in type B, and 64% in type C (p < 0.0001). When type B
      was divided into type B1 (1 type B characteristic) and type B2 (two or more type
      B characteristics) the success rate was 90% vs. 88% and the complication rate was
      1% vs. 2%, respectively (p = n.s.). Logistic regression analysis showed that the
      best single predictor of failed angioplasty was total occlusion > 3 months,
      followed by total occlusion < 3 months and severely angulated (> 90 degrees)
      segment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446345
TI  - Special issue: The cell nucleus, the unexplored organelle.

PMID- 1446346
TI  - The attachments of chromatin loops to the nucleoskeleton.
AB  - It is widely assumed by cell biologists that chromatin is looped by attachment to
      some nuclear skeleton. 'Structural' attachments might be mediated through
      specific sequences; these would be attached in most cells in an organism,
      underlying the basic structure of the mitotic chromosome and persisting
      throughout interphase. 'Functional' attachments might also exist, perhaps if
      active polymerases are attached to the skeleton and replication and transcription
      occur as DNA is reeled through them. Cells of different tissues--and even cells
      of the same tissue--would have different attachments of this type. Problems
      associated with demonstrating these two kinds of attachment are discussed. We
      find little good evidence for 'structural' attachments and explore the idea that
      'functional' attachments are the only kind that exist: 'functional' attachments
      involving active transcription units might be stable enough to organize chromatin
      during both interphase and mitosis, but 'dynamic' enough to allow duplication of
      attached sequences without disrupting loops.

PMID- 1446347
TI  - The transcribed template and the transcription loop in Balbiani rings.
AB  - The active Balbiani ring (BR) genes in the giant puffs in Chironomus salivary
      glands can be visualized in three dimensions within the cell nucleus. The
      chromatin template exhibits a dynamic structure: at the RNA polymerases the
      template is fully extended, while in between polymerases it can be packed into a
      nucleosome, a nucleosome filament, or even into a thick chromatin fiber, if the
      spacing between consecutive polymerases is large enough. Even in its extended
      state, the template harbours histone H1, and most likely also the core histones,
      indicating that the nucleosomes unfold and refold during transcription. Apart
      from the transcribed template, a transcription loop contains a thin, extended,
      apparently flexible and nucleosome-free fiber upstream of the gene, and a loosely
      coiled nucleosome filament downstream of the gene.

PMID- 1446348
TI  - DNA replication: the search for support.

PMID- 1446349
TI  - Synaptosomal complexes and the organization of chromatin during meiotic prophase.

PMID- 1446350
TI  - Intranuclear sorting and assembly of proteins.

PMID- 1446351
TI  - Localization of nuclear matrix core filament proteins at interphase and mitosis.
AB  - The gentle removal of chromatin uncovers a nuclear matrix consisting of two
      parts: a nuclear lamina connected to the intermediate filaments of the
      cytoskeleton and an internal matrix of thick, polymorphic fibers connecting the
      lamina to masses in the nuclear interior. This internal nuclear matrix can be
      further fractionated to uncover a highly branched network of 9 nm and 13 nm core
      filaments retaining some enmeshed bodies. The core filament network retains most
      of the nuclear RNA, as well as the fA12RNP antigen, and may be the most basic or
      core element of internal nuclear structure. One high molecular weight protein
      component of the core filament network, the H1B2 antigen, is normally masked in
      the interphase nucleus and is uncovered as the chromatin condenses at mitosis.
      This protein is associated with a fibrogranular network surrounding and connected
      to the chromosomes. The core filament-associated fA12 antigen also becomes
      associated with this perichromosomal network. We propose that the core filament
      nuclear matrix structure may not completely disassemble at mitosis but, rather,
      that parts remain as a structural network connected to chromosomes and other
      mitotic structures. These mitotic networks may, in turn, serve as the core
      structures on which the nuclear matrices of daughter cells are built.

PMID- 1446352
TI  - Three-dimensional immunogold labeling of nuclear matrix proteins in permeabilized
      cells.
AB  - A preembedment labeling procedure is described for the three-dimensional (3D)
      labeling of nuclear matrix proteins in permeabilized cells. The procedure is
      based on the use of ultra-small (1 nm) gold particles as a marker system. This
      marker penetrates the nucleus more efficiently than the conventionally used 5-10
      nm colloidal gold probes. Dehydration is performed by freeze-substitution to
      preserve the ultrastructure of the cell as optimally as possible. During freeze
      substitution the samples are stained by uranyl ions to stain the cellular
      material throughout the resin section. The 3D gold-labeled and uranyl-stained
      specimen is embedded in Epon resin and semi-thin (0.2-0.5 microns) sections are
      made for stereo electron microscopy. The applicability of this method is
      illustrated by the localization of nuclear matrix-associated nuclear bodies in
      permeabilized interphase and mitotic HeLa cells.

PMID- 1446353
TI  - Nuclear frameworks: concepts and operational definitions.

PMID- 1446354
TI  - Indonesia medicinal plants. III. On the constituents of the bark of Fagara rhetza
      (Rutaceae). (1): Alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, and acid amide.
AB  - Two new phenylpropanoids, named O-geranylsinapyl alcohol (1) and O
      geranylconiferyl alcohol (2), and a new acid amide, named hazeleamide (3), were
      isolated from the bark of Fagara rhetza (Rutaceae), an Indonesian medicinal plant
      from Flores Island, Indonesia. The chemical structures of 1, 2, and 3 have been
      elucidated on the basis of their chemical and physicochemical properties. Among
      the three new compounds, hazeleamide (3) was found to show a pungent taste and to
      exert a moderate antimalarial activity in an in vitro test system.

PMID- 1446355
TI  - Studies on the chemical modification of monensin. IV. Synthesis, sodium ion
      permeability, and biological activity of 7-O-acyl- and 7-O-alkylmonensins.
AB  - 7-O-Acyl-(4a-e) and 7-O-alkylmonensins (5a-d) were prepared from monensin (1).
      Their lipophilicity, sodium ion permeability in human erythrocytes, antibacterial
      activity and effect on rat tail artery were examined. There was a correlation
      between lipophilicity and sodium ion permeability as well as between
      lipophilicity and antibacterial activity. We also found that the compound having
      larger sodium ion permeability, showed stronger contraction of rat tail artery. 7
      O-Benzylmonensin (5c) exhibited higher lipophilicity and larger sodium ion
      permeability than monensin (1) among the tested monensin derivatives. In
      addition, antibacterial activity and contractile effect on rat tail artery of 5c
      were comparable to those of 1.

PMID- 1446356
TI  - Synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridine-5-phosphonates and their calcium-antagonistic
      and antihypertensive activities: novel calcium-antagonist 2
      [benzyl(phenyl)amino]ethyl 5-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-2-yl)
      1,4-dihydro-2,6-dim ethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-pyridinecarboxylate hydrochloride
      ethanol (NZ-105) and its crystal structure.
AB  - The effect of the 3-carboxylic-ester variation in 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene 3
      alkoxycarbonyl-4-aryl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-pyridinephosphonat es (1) was
      investigated with relation to the calcium-antagonistic and antihypertensive
      activities: the analogs containing the alkyl groups of not more than 12 carbons
      and an amino functionality in the carboxylic-ester moiety were synthesized to be
      examined for biological activities. Among them, 2-[benzyl(phenyl)amino]-ethyl 5
      (5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-2-yl)-1,4-dihydro-2, 6-dimethyl-4-(3
      nitrophenyl)-3-pyridine-carboxylate hydrochloride ethanol (NZ-105) showed
      particularly beneficial activities and was selected for further pharmacological
      studies and clinical development. Some aspects of the structure-activity
      relationships and solid-state structure of NZ-105 by X-ray crystallographic
      analysis were described.

PMID- 1446357
TI  - Synthesis and biological activities of optical isomers of 2-(4-diphenylmethyl-1
      piperazinyl)ethyl 5-(4,6-dimethyl-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-2-yl)-1,4-dihydro
      2,6-dim ethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-pyridinecarboxylate dihydrochloride (NIP-101).
AB  - Six optical isomers of 2-(4-diphenylmethyl-1-piperazinyl)ethyl 5-(4,6-dimethyl-2
      oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-2-yl)-1,4-dihydro-2, 6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3
      pyridinecarboxylate dihydrochloride (NIP-101, 1.2HCl.2H2O), a potent calcium
      antagonist, were successfully prepared by using optically active (2R,4R)-(-)- and
      (2S,4S)-(+)-2,4-pentanediols, and cis-2,4-pentanediol and optically active (S)
      (+)-2-methoxy-2-phenylethanol. Their proton nuclear magnetic resonance
      investigations demonstrate that the 1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane group is
      conformationally constrained around the C-P bond. Calcium-antagonistic and
      hypotensive activities of the optical isomers were examined and found to depend
      mainly on the absolute configuration at a stereogenic center in the 1,4
      dihydropyridine ring rather than the configuration of the 1,3,2
      dioxaphosphorinane moiety.

PMID- 1446358
TI  - Synthesis and crystal structure of optically active 2-[benzyl(phenyl)amino]ethyl
      5-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-2-yl)-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dim ethyl-4
      (3-nitrophenyl)-3-pyridinecarboxylate (NZ-105).
AB  - (S)-2-[Benzyl(phenyl)amino]ethyl 5-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-2
      yl)-1,4-dihydro-2, 6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-pyridinecarboxylate ((S)-NZ
      105) and R isomer were synthesized through the fractional crystallization of (S)
      2-Methoxy-2-phenylethyl 5-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-2-yl)-1,4
      dihydro-2, 6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-pyridinecarboxylate. Calcium antagonism
      activity was found to reside in the S isomer from single crystal X-ray
      diffraction analysis.

PMID- 1446359
TI  - Preparation and pharmacological evaluation of 4-(1,4-benzoquinon-2-yl)-4
      phenylbutanamides as potential cerebral protective agents.
AB  - A new series of 4-(1,4-benzoquinon-2-yl)-4-phenylbutanamides (2) were synthesized
      for evaluation of their pharmacological activities. All these compounds
      synthesized showed significant antilipidperoxidation (ALP) activities with brain
      homogenate in rats and some of them possessed a protective effect against
      hypobaric hypoxia in mice. Especially, a thiomorpholine derivative (2l, SUN-4757)
      showed a wide efficacy spectrum to a variety of experimental screening assays
      designed for cerebral protective agents, and it had a high LD50 value.

PMID- 1446360
TI  - Novel disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. I. Synthesis and antiarthritic
      activity of 2-(4-methylphenyl)benzothiazoles.
AB  - A series of 2-(4-methylphenyl)benzothiazoles was synthesized and evaluated using
      an adjuvant-induced arthritic rat model. This class of desired compounds
      affecting the immune response was found using hemagglutination assay. 4-Acetoxy-2
      (4-methylphenyl)benzothiazole (7m), KB-2683, was most potent in the adjuvant
      induced arthritic rat model and selected for further evaluation. In contrast to
      nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, compound 7m showed no antiinflammatory or
      analgesic activities. It did, however, show an immunomodulatory activity in
      enhanced delayed type hypersensitivity.

PMID- 1446361
TI  - Synthesis and antiallergy activity of [1,3,4]thiadiazolo[3,2-a]-1,2,3
      triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-9(3H)-one derivatives. II. 6-Alkyl- and 6
      cycloalkylalkyl derivatives.
AB  - A series of 6-alkyl- or 6-(cycloalkylalkyl)-[1,3,4]thiadiazolo[3,2- a]-1,2,3
      triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-9(3H)-ones 1b--o was synthesized from the corresponding
      1,3,4-thiadiazol-5-amines 3b--o and the antiallergic activities of the products
      were evaluated. Among the compounds 6-(2-cyclohexylethyl)- [1,3,4]thiadiazolo[3,2
      a]-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-9(3H)-one 1h, whose X-ray crystallographic
      stereostructure is shown, was found to be a promising new antiallergic agent,
      which has low toxicity and dual activity as a leukotriene D4 receptor antagonist
      and as an orally active mast cell stabilizer.

PMID- 1446362
TI  - Studies on antiinflammatory agents. I. Synthesis and pharmacological properties
      of 2'-phenoxymethanesulfonanilide derivatives.
AB  - Various 2'-phenoxymethanesulfonanilide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated
      for antiinflammatory and analgesic activities. Some compounds bearing an electron
      attracting substituent at the 4'-position strongly inhibited adjuvant-induced
      arthritis in rats and acetic acid-induced writhing syndrome in mice without
      causing gastro-intestinal irritation. Among them, 4'-cyano-(FK867) and 4'-acetyl
      (FK3311) 2'-(2,4-difluorophenoxy)methanesulfonanilides were selected as the
      candidates for further development.

PMID- 1446363
TI  - Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 1-substituted-methyl carbapenems.
AB  - The synthesis of the 1 alpha- and the 1 beta-substituted (fluoro, cyano, hydroxy
      and acetoxy)-methyl carbapenems having a 2-(1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)thiomethyl side
      chain are described, and their in vitro antibacterial activities are compared
      with the corresponding 1 beta-methyl carbapenems together with imipenem. The
      synthesis and antibacterial activity of the 1 beta-substituted (fluoro and cyano)
      methyl carbapenems having 2-(1-alkyl-4-pyridinio)thiomethyl side chains are also
      described.

PMID- 1446364
TI  - Syntheses and anti-inflammatory activity of novel oximes and O-acyloximes.
AB  - Novel oximes were prepared from the corresponding aldehyde or ketone in the usual
      way, and a number of oxime esters, O-lauroyl, O-2-pyridinecarbonyl, O-nicotinoyl,
      and O-isonicotinoyl oximes were synthesized by 1-ethyl-3-(3
      dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDCI)-4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) method or
      a mixed anhydride method, in our search for potent anti-inflammatory compounds.
      The anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds was assessed by the carrageenan
      induced paw edema assay in rats. The oximes (4, 5, and 13), O-lauroyloxime 1L, O
      nicotinoyloximes (1N, 2N, 3N, and 4N), O-isonicotinoyloxime 1I, and O-2
      pyridinecarbonyloxime 7P showed higher anti-inflammatory potency than aspirin, a
      prostaglandin cyclooxygenase inhibitor.

PMID- 1446365
TI  - Studies on cerebral protective agents. II. Novel 4-arylpyrimidine derivatives
      with anti-anoxic and anti-lipid peroxidation activities. (2).
AB  - In a search for new cerebral protective agents with anti-anoxic (AA) and anti
      lipid peroxidation (ALP) activities, a series of 4-arylpyrimidines, bearing an
      amino moiety in the C-5 position of the pyrimidine nucleus, was synthesized and
      tested for AA and ALP activities. Among them, 6-methyl-5-(4-methylpiperazin-1
      ylcarbonyl)-4-(3-nitrophenyl )-2-phenylpyrimidin e (41, FK360) was most effective
      on both assays and on arachidonate-induced cerebral edema in rats. Structure
      activity relationships in regard to AA activity of this series of compounds are
      also discussed.

PMID- 1446366
TI  - Synthesis and antiarrhythmic activity of 2,5-disubstituted 2,3-dihydro-1,2,5
      benzothiadiazepin-4(5H)-one 1,1-dioxides.
AB  - A series of 2,5-disubstituted 2,3-dihydro-1,2,5-benzothiadiazepin-4(5H)-one 1,1
      dioxide derivatives were prepared and evaluated for the antiarrhythmic effect on
      ouabain-induced arrhythmias in guinea pigs. Most of the synthesized compounds
      showed the antiarrhythmic activity in this primary screening system. Some of the
      compounds with 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl, 2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethyl and 2-oxo-2
      (morpholin-4-yl)ethyl moieties on the 5-position of 1,2,5-benzothiadiazepin-4(5H)
      one 1,1-dioxide exhibited a potent antiarrhythmic activity. The structure
      activity relationship of these compounds was discussed.

PMID- 1446367
TI  - Inhibitors of prostaglandin biosynthesis from Dalbergia odorifera.
AB  - The root heartwood of Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen (Leguminosae) is a Chinese
      medicinal drug (Japanese name koshinko) used for a stagnant blood syndrome
      (stagnation of disordered blood; Japanese, oketsu). In addition to 10 known
      compounds, five new phenolic compounds, isomucronustyrene and hydroxyobtustyrene
      (cinnamylphenols), (+)-isoduartin (isoflavan), odoriflavene (isoflav-3-ene) and (
      )-odoricarpan (pterocarpan) were isolated and their structures were elucidated on
      the basis of chemical and spectroscopic methods. Of the fifteen compounds
      isolated, cinnamylphenols, isoflavans, isoflavene and benzoic acid derivative
      significantly inhibited prostaglandin biosynthesis as well as platelet
      aggregation induced by arachidonic acid.

PMID- 1446368
TI  - Studies on absorption, distribution, excretion and metabolism of ginseng
      saponins. VIII. Isotope labeling of ginsenoside Rb2.
AB  - To clarify the pharmacokinetics of absorption, distribution and excretion of
      ginsenoside Rb2 (Rb2), one of the major saponins of the root of Panax ginseng,
      following oral administration to rats, a tritium (3H) labeling of Rb2 was
      examined. The C-12 position of Rb2 was labeled with 3H-sodium borohydride (3H
      NaBH4) and 12-3H Rb2 and 12-3H-epi Rb2 was synthesized. This method of specific
      position labeling of Rb2 may be applicable to other ginsenosides. In the near
      future, the pharmacokinetics of Rb2 in rats may be clarified with 3H labeled Rb2.

PMID- 1446369
TI  - Changes in enzymatic and membrane-adsorbing activities of sphingomyelinase from
      Bacillus cereus by modification with a polyethylene glycol derivative.
AB  - Sphingomyelinase (SMPLC) from Bacillus cereus was modified with a polyethylene
      glycol (PEG) derivative, methoxypolyethylene glycol-succinimidyl succinate (ss
      PEG). The molecular weight of the ss-PEG-modified SMPLC was calculated to be
      approx. 150 kDa by gel-filtration whereas that of the native enzyme, was 25 kDa.
      By this modification, the enzyme increased its thermostability and retained its
      hydrolytic activity toward 2-(N-hexadecanoylamino)-4-nitrophenylphosphocholine
      (HNP) and sphingomyelin (SM) in the mixed micelles with the surfactants such as
      Triton X-100 and sodium deoxycholate (SDC). However, the activity toward
      liposomal SM was significantly decreased, and all the enzyme activities toward
      bovine erythrocytes, including membraneous SM-hydrolyzing and hemolytic
      activities as well as the enzyme adsorption onto the erythrocyte membranes, were
      completely lost.

PMID- 1446370
TI  - Effect of metal ions on transcription of the ada gene which encodes O6
      methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase of Escherichia coli.
AB  - The effect of metal ions on transcription of the ada gene of Escherichia coli
      which is promoted by Ada protein in the presence of methylated deoxyribonucleic
      acid (DNA) was examined in a reconstituted system. Their effect on the O6
      methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGTase) activity of Ada protein was also
      examined. Ag+, Cd2+, Cu2+ and Hg2+ severely inhibited transcription of the ada
      gene at a dose which inhibited neither transcription of the lacUV5 gene nor
      MGTase activity. Zn2+ inhibited both transcription and MGTase activity in the
      same dose range. Al3+ and Fe3+ inhibited transcription of both ada and lacUV5
      genes without affecting the MGTase activity of Ada protein. Inhibitory mechanisms
      are discussed.

PMID- 1446371
TI  - Core structure of glycyrrhizan GA, the main polysaccharide from the stolon of
      Glycyrrhiza glabra var. glandulifera; anti-complementary and alkaline phosphatase
      inducing activities of the polysaccharide and its degradation products.
AB  - The controlled Smith degradation and limited hydrolysis of glycyrrhizan GA, a
      representative polysaccharide with remarkable phagocytosis-enhancing activity
      isolated from the stolon of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. var. glandulifera Reg. et Herd.
      were carried out. Methylation analyses of the primary and the secondary Smith
      degradation products and of the limited hydrolysis product indicated that the
      core structural features of glycyrrhizan GA include a backbone chain composed of
      beta-1,3-linked D-galactose residues. Three-fifths of the galactose units in the
      backbone carry side chains composed of beta-1,3- and beta-1,6-linked D-galactosyl
      residues at position 6. Anti-complementary and alkaline phosphatase-inducing
      activities of the polysaccharide, periodate oxidation-reduction and the
      controlled Smith degradation products were investigated, and the controlled Smith
      degradation product showed significant activity.

PMID- 1446372
TI  - Application of microdialysis for study of caffeine distribution into brain and
      cerebrospinal fluid in rats.
AB  - The usefulness of microdialysis was examined for the chronological determination
      of caffeine concentration in the brain and cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) following
      intravenous administration of caffeine in rats. The recovery percent of caffeine
      by microdialysis, the concentration ratio of caffeine in the dialysate against
      that in the brain tissue or CSF was determined. The recovery percent was proved
      to be constant at 5 different steady-state plasma concentrations of caffeine (0.1
      280 nmol/ml) and in different collecting periods of dialysate ranging from 30 s
      to 10 min. The mean recovery percent in the brain and CSF were 10.9 and 13.1%,
      respectively. Thus, microdialysis was proved useful for determination of drug
      concentration in the tissue and biological fluids with time resolution of more
      than 30 s. The microdialysis method was then applied for the chronological
      determination of caffeine concentration in the brain and CSF following
      intravenous bolus administration. The estimated caffeine concentration in the
      brain and CSF was the same as those obtained by direct determination in isolated
      brain and CSF, respectively. Transfer of caffeine from plasma to brain and CSF
      were further pharmacokinetically analyzed using a modified 2-compartment model.
      In this kinetic model, the transfer of caffeine between the CSF and brain was
      neglected, since the mutual transfer of caffeine was not detected in in vivo
      experiments. Calculated curves were well fitted on observed caffeine
      concentrations in the plasma, brain and CSF.

PMID- 1446373
TI  - Plasma alpha 1-acid glycoprotein concentration in rats with chemical liver
      injury.
AB  - The influence of liver injury on the plasma concentrations of alpha 1-acid
      glycoprotein (AGP) and albumin was examined in several different models of
      chemically-induced liver injury. The plasma AGP concentration in carbon
      tetrachloride (CCl4), allyl alcohol, bromobenzene, acetaminophen or N
      nitrosodimethylamine-induced liver injury was increased to 2-3.5 times the normal
      level at 24 h after the intoxication. The plasma AGP concentration was unchanged
      in ethionine-induced liver injury and was markedly decreased in galactosamine
      induced injury. The plasma albumin concentration was significantly decreased by
      the damage due to galactosamine, allyl alcohol or N-nitrosodimethylamine-induced
      liver injury, while no influence was observed by other hepatotoxin-induced liver
      injury. The plasma protein binding of propranolol was also determined in relation
      to the plasma concentrations of AGP and albumin in all the experimental models.
      Propranolol binding, expressed as bound to free ratio, showed a good correlation
      with the AGP concentration (r = 0.940; p < 0.001), but not with the albumin
      concentration.

PMID- 1446374
TI  - Syntheses of 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl beta-D-maltopentaosides with bulky
      modification and their application to the differential assay of human alpha
      amylases.
AB  - Four novel maltopentaosides, 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl O-(6-O-p-toluenesulfonyl
      alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1-->4)-tris[O- alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D
      glucopyranoside (4), 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl O-[6-O-(tert-butyldimethyl)silyl
      alpha-D- glucopyranosyl]-(1-->4)-tris[O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D-
      glucopyranoside (5), 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl O-[6-deoxy-6-(phenyl)sulfonyl-alpha-D
      glucopyranosyl]-(1-->4)-tris[O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D-
      glucopyranoside (10), and 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl O-(6-deoxy-6-phthalimido-alpha-D
      glucopyranosyl)- (1-->4)-tris[O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D
      glucopyranoside (11) were synthesized. Substrates 4, 5, 10, and 11 were
      hydrolyzed by human pancreatic alpha-amylase (HPA) from 1.1 to 2.9-fold faster
      than by human salivary alpha-amylase (HSA). Taking advantage of the difference in
      the hydrolytic rate of 5 (2.9-fold faster), we developed a new method for the
      differential assay of these two human alpha-amylases.

PMID- 1446375
TI  - Synthesis and antiplatelet activities of N-arylmethyl-3,4-dimethylpyrano[2,3
      c]pyrazol-6-one derivatives.
AB  - A series of new 1- and 2-arylmethyl-3,4-dimethylpyrano[2,3-c]pyrazol-6-one
      derivatives were synthesized and examined for their antiplatelet activities. Some
      of these compounds showed significant inhibitory activities. Among them, 1
      phenylmethyl-3,4-dimethylpyrano[2,3-c]pyrazol-6(1H)-one (4a), 2-(2'
      methoxyphenyl)methyl-3,4-dimethylpyrano[2,3-c]pyrazol-6(2H)- one (3e) and 2-(3'
      methoxyphenyl)methyl-3,4-dimethylpyrano[2,3-c]pyrazol-6-(2H) - one (3f) were the
      most effective. These inhibitors acted in a concentration-dependent manner. The
      antiplatelet effect of compound 3f is due to the inhibition of thromboxane A2
      formation and the blockade of thromboxane A2/prostaglandin endoperoxide receptor
      in washed rabbit platelets.

PMID- 1446376
TI  - Synthesis of a dibenz[b,e]oxepin-bovine serum albumin conjugate for
      radioimmunoassay of KW-4679 ((Z)-11-[3-(dimethylamino)propylidene]-6,11-
      dihydrodibenz[b,e]oxepin-2-acetic acid hydrochloride).
AB  - (Z)-11-[3-(Dimethylamino)propylidene]-2-(methoxycarbonyl)methyl-6, 11-
      dihydrodibenz[b,e]oxepin-9-acrylic acid (5) was prepared for application to the
      radioimmunoassay of KW-4679 (1, (Z)-11-[3-(dimethylamino)propylidene]-6,11
      dihydrodibenz[b,e ] oxepin-2-acetic acid hydrochloride). The acrylic acid moiety
      in the 9-position of 5 was employed for coupling with an amino group of bovine
      serum albumin (BSA) to provide 17. Subsequently, the conjugate 17 was treated
      with aqueous NaOH to hydrolyze the terminal methoxycarbonyl group in the 2
      position of the BSA conjugated 5. Antiserum raised against the antigenic BSA
      conjugate 4 finally obtained was specific for 1.

PMID- 1446377
TI  - Biologically active complexes of nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) with Schiff
      base ligand derived from the reaction of 2-aminopyridine and pyrrol-2
      carboxaldehyde--their synthesis and characterisation.
AB  - A new Schiff-base ligand N-(2'-pyrrylmethylidene)2-aminopyrimidine derived from
      the reaction of 2-amino pyrimidine and pyrrol-2-carboxaldehyde and its
      nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes have been synthesised and
      characterised on the basis of elemental analysis, molar conductance, infrared,
      electronic and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and magnetic
      susceptibility data. The ligand and its complexes when screened for antibacterial
      activity against bacterial species such as, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. In all cases, the activity substantially
      increased on complexation with metals.

PMID- 1446378
TI  - Precolumn derivatization of nucleotides based on fluorescent carbamate formation
      of the sugar moieties in high-performance liquid chromatography.
AB  - The fluorescence derivatization of nucleotides with 2-(5-chlorocarbonyl-2
      oxazolyl)-5,6-methylenedioxybenzo++  furan in the presence of sodium azide and
      the separation of the derivatives by high-performance liquid chromatography are
      described. The reagent reacts with 5'-terminal hydroxyl groups of nucleotides to
      produce the corresponding fluorescent carbamates. The derivatives of mono- and
      oligonucleotides are separated by chromatography on a reversed phase column
      (TSKgel ODS-80TM) and the derivatives of octa- and deca-nucleotides on a size
      exclusion column (TSKgel G3000SWXL). The detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio
      = 3) are 0.8-6.0 pmol on column. 5'Phosphorylated nucleotide also gives a
      fluorescent derivative after alkaline phosphatase-mediated dephosphorylation.

PMID- 1446379
TI  - Heat induced conformational changes generate mitogenicity to splenocytes by
      sclerogen from Sclerotinia sclerotiorum IFO 9395.
AB  - The fungal mitogen, sclerogen, obtained from sclerotia of Sclerotinia
      sclerotiorum IFO 9395 showed significant mitogenic activity to murine splenocytes
      after heat denaturation in relation to polymerization. To evaluate the conditions
      generating mitogenicity, we performed several chromatographic and spectral
      analyses. After heat denaturation of sclerogen, significant reduction of
      intrinsic fluorescence, significant changes on the ultraviolet absorption
      spectrum, significant changes on the circular dichroism spectrum, and an extreme
      change of the surface charge to anionic, were observed. These results strongly
      suggested that local as well as overall conformational changes of sclerogen
      associated with a high molecular mass and polyanionic charges are important in
      generating mitogenicity to murine splenocytes.

PMID- 1446380
TI  - Mannan-coated liposome delivery of gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid,
      a contrast agent for use in magnetic resonance imaging.
AB  - Gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA), a paramagnetic contrast
      agent for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was bound to stearylamine and
      incorporated into the liposomal membranes (Gd-DTPA liposomes). In addition, the
      Gd-DTPA liposomes were coated with mannan (cholesterol-aminoethylcarbamylmethyl
      mannan), a polysaccharide, to obtain the mannan-coated liposomes. An in vitro MRI
      study showed that the Gd-DTPA liposomes produced a greater intensity of contrast
      than did the Gd-DTPA solution with a reduced T1 relaxation time. Intravenous
      injection of the Gd-DTPA liposomes containing 153Gd or liposomes containing 153Gd
      or 14C-DTPA to mice showed an accumulation of Gd-DTPA primarily in the liver and
      lung. When the mannan-coated liposomes were administered, an increased uptake of
      Gd-DTPA by these tissues was demonstrated. The mannan-coated liposomes may
      enhance contrast of the liver in MRI at a lower dose of Gd-DTPA.

PMID- 1446381
TI  - Effect of oral pretreatment with antibiotics on the hydrolysis of salicylic acid
      tyrosine and salicylic acid-methionine prodrugs in rabbit intestinal
      microorganisms.
AB  - We examined the hydrolysis mechanism of salicylic acid-tyrosine (salicyl
      tyrosine) and salicylic acid-methionine conjugate (salicyl-methionine) in rabbits
      by exploring their behavior following intraduodenal and intracecal administration
      (72 and 36 mumol/kg, respectively: salicylic acid equivalent). A large amount of
      salicyl-methionine was absorbed following intraduodenal administration of salicyl
      methionine, without being metabolized to salicylic acid in the small intestinal
      mucosa. On the contrary, salicylic acid was detected in the blood following
      intraduodenal administration of salicyl-tyrosine, suggesting that salicyl
      tyrosine was metabolized in the small intestinal mucosa. After oral pretreatment
      of rabbits with kanamycin sulfate (6 x 400 mg) or tinidazole (6 x 160 mg), the
      hydrolysis of salicyl-tyrosine and salicyl-methionine following intracecal
      administration was inhibited significantly, indicating that the intestinal
      microorganisms were responsible for the biotransformation of these prodrugs.
      Furthermore, in rabbits orally pretreated with both kanamycin sulfate and
      tinidazole, a significant inhibition of salicylic acid formation from salicyl
      tyrosine and salicyl-methionine following intracecal administration was observed.

PMID- 1446382
TI  - Synthesis of new fluorescent nucleosides, 3-beta-D-ribofuranosylpyrazolo (3,2-i)
      purine derivatives and their cytotoxic activities.
AB  - The novel nucleosides 3-beta-D-ribofuranosylpyrazolo(3,2-i) purine (8) and their
      9-substituted bromo, nitro and amino compounds (3, 6 and 11) have been prepared
      from a fully protected 3-beta-D-ribofuranosyl(3,2-i)purine-9-carboxyamide 1 by
      bromodeamidation (ipso bromination). Compounds 3, 8 and 11 exhibited antileukemic
      activity against mouse leukemia L5178Y cells in culture, while the 9-substituted
      nitro, ester and amide compounds (6, 12 and 13) showed no cytotoxicity.

PMID- 1446383
TI  - Phagocytic cell function in recurrent endotoxemia in sheep.
AB  - Sepsis syndrome in severely traumatized patients is supposedly due to a blockade
      of the phagocytic cell system--for example, the reticulo endothelial system (RES)
      and polymorph nuclear leukocytes (PMNL), which cause insufficient elimination of
      bacterial substances (e.g., endotoxin). In contrast we found in a previous study
      using a model of acute endotoxemia that RES clearance is enhanced, while PMNL
      function gave evidence for decompensation. In order to clarify whether or not our
      results were just a matter of single dose endotoxemia, we have investigated RES
      and PMNL function in a sheep model with recurrent endotoxemia. A sheep receiving
      endotoxin at a dose of 1 microgram/kg body weight every 12 hours was monitored
      over a 5-day period. RES clearance was calculated by the half-life of Tc99
      phytate each day. The PMNL function was determined by measuring chemiluminescence
      (CL) of isolated PMNL and total blood. The half-life of Tc99 phytate decreased
      from 56 min to 44 min with endotoxin (P less than or equal to 0.01) the second
      day and further to 42 min (P less than or equal to 0.002) on the third day.
      Values then returned to baseline until the end of study. Zymosan induced and
      luminol enhanced CL response indicated an acute cellular exhaustion after the
      first endotoxin dose. Under subsequent endotoxin administration, a daily
      attenuation of the acute response was noted in combination with baseline opsonin
      capacity. Our results give evidence that also in recurrent endotoxemia RES
      function is characterized by a sufficient clearance, whereas the PMNL function
      remains decreased and therefore possibly is responsible for the well-known
      clinical post-traumatic septic complications.

PMID- 1446384
TI  - A novel xanthine derivative counteracting in vivo tumor necrosis factor alpha
      toxicity in mice.
AB  - The xanthine derivative A 802715 (1-(5-hydroxy-5-methyl)hexyl-3-methyl-7- propyl
      xanthine, Hoechst AG) caused dose-dependent protection against lipopolysaccharide
      (LPS)-induced lethal shock in mice. In animals which had received the compound,
      the LPS-induced increase of serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha) levels was
      not significantly affected. Protection against LPS-induced lethality was observed
      not only when A 802715 was given 1 hr before or simultaneously with LPS but also
      when administered 1 hr after LPS challenge. Administration of 200 mg/kg of the
      compound 1 hr before challenge also fully protected against lethal shock induced
      by intravenous administration of recombinant murine TNF alpha. It is concluded
      that A 802715 counteracts TNF alpha toxicity and that the drug bears the
      potential of therapeutic intervention in septic shock.

PMID- 1446385
TI  - Pyrimidine-enhanced purine uptake in hepatocytes and improved survival from
      hypovolemic shock.
AB  - To assess the effect of pyrimidines on the incorporation of purines into rat
      hepatocytes, monolayer preparations of hepatocytes were incubated with
      radiolabeled precursors and their uptake determined. The uptake of purine
      precursors (inosine monophosphate, inosine, and hypoxanthine) was 27.8 +/- 1.31
      nmoles per well, per 30 min. In the presence of added pyrimidines (uridine
      monophosphate, uridine, and orotate), this increased by 22%. Further enhancement
      (45%) was observed when L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) plus pyridoxal-5'
      phosphate was added to the purine/pyrimidine incubation medium. The effect of
      increased uptake of purines on survival after hypovolemic shock was also studied.
      Rats were bled to a blood pressure of 40 mmHg for 105 min and then treated with
      return of shed blood plus saline with or without purines and pyrimidines.
      Survival at 24 hr was 43% (15/35) in control animals, 66% (8/12) (P = 0.276) when
      treated with inosine monophosphate (IMP) and aspartate (60 mumoles/kg each), and
      83% (10/12) (P = 0.037) for IMP with aspartate and orotate treatment (60
      mumoles/kg each). Thus, the addition of orotate enhanced survival possibly by
      promoting salvage or by uptake of purines. Nucleotide concentrations in the
      livers of animals after shock which had received IMP and orotate demonstrated a
      return of both ATP and energy charge to normal, further indicating the value of
      this treatment.

PMID- 1446386
TI  - Kinin metabolism in the perfused ventilated rat lung. II: Influence of
      ventilation, perfusion, and perfusate composition variation on bradykinin
      metabolism in uninjured lung.
AB  - Bradykinin metabolism by peptidases of the pulmonary endothelium has been
      investigated in the previously uninjured, ventilated, and asanguinously perfused
      rat lung. The influence of short-duration (up to 20 min) abnormal ventilation and
      perfusion conditions on bradykinin metabolism was assessed. Neither variation of
      the oxygen concentration (0 to 45%) nor omission of carbon dioxide in the
      ventilatory gas altered bradykinin metabolism significantly. Tidal volume
      variation did not alter bradykinin metabolism, and exclusion of one lung from the
      perfusion circuit reduced the capacity to degrade bradykinin proportionately.
      Acidification of the perfusion medium to pH 5 did not alter bradykinin
      metabolism. Acetylsalicylic acid in the perfusate protected the lung from an
      otherwise irreversible pressure increase associated with high-dose bradykinin
      perfusion. Endotoxin and hydrogen peroxide in the perfusate did not alter
      bradykinin metabolism. However, ammonia in the ventilatory gas caused immediate
      pulmonary edema, diminished lung capacity to metabolize bradykinin and altered
      the pattern of bradykinin metabolic products. The pulmonary endothelium itself,
      in the absence of blood, maintains its capacity to metabolize bradykinin under an
      extraordinary range of conditions.

PMID- 1446387
TI  - Pentoxifylline treatment of sepsis in conscious Yucatan minipigs.
AB  - Recent evidence suggests that pentoxifylline (PTX) may be useful in the treatment
      of sepsis. We examined effects of PTX in a conscious swine model of sepsis.
      Yucatan minipigs (20-30 kg) were anesthetized and instrumented with catheters in
      the vena cava, aortic arch, pulmonary artery (Swan-Ganz thermodilution catheter),
      and peritoneum. Twenty-four hours after surgery, sepsis was induced by
      intraperitoneal (ip) injection of Escherichia coli bacteria (2 x 10(10) cfu/kg).
      Nonseptic pigs received intraperitoneal saline (5 ml/kg). PTX treatment (3
      mg/kg/hr, iv; 1 mg/ml in 0.9% saline) and maintenance fluid (5 ml/kg/hr, iv) were
      started with bacterial infusion. An additional 60 cc/kg 0.9% saline bolus was
      administered iv at 1 hr. Pigs were monitored before and 1, 2, 5, and 24 hr after
      bacterial injection. Intraperitoneal injection of bacteria led to significant
      reductions in blood pressure and cardiac output and elevations in pulmonary wedge
      pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance. These effects were attenuated by PTX
      treatment. All septic animals demonstrated elevated creatinine, blood urea
      nitrogen, circulating endotoxin (LPS), and tumor necrosis factor concentrations,
      reductions in white blood cell and platelet counts, and peritonitis. None of
      these responses was altered by PTX treatment. We conclude that PTX may prove to
      be a useful therapeutic tool in the early treatment of septic shock but is
      limited in the scope of its effects.

PMID- 1446388
TI  - Beneficial effects of SK&F 105809, a novel cytokine-suppressive agent, in murine
      models of endotoxin shock.
AB  - SK&F 105809 is a structurally novel dual inhibitor of lipoxygenase and
      cyclooxygenase-mediated arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, which has demonstrated
      antiinflammatory activity in rodent models of inflammation. In addition, the
      active metabolite of this compound, SK&F 105561, has been shown in vitro to
      inhibit the production of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) in human
      monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We report here that in vitro
      SK&F 105561 also blocks the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) from human
      monocytes (IC50 0.8-3 microM). Furthermore, in a murine model of endotoxin shock
      in which animals are injected with LPS in combination with D-galactosamine (D
      gal), SK&F 105809 (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg p.o.), delivered 30 min prior to LPS/D
      gal, caused a dramatic reduction in serum TNF (40-90%) and protected the animals
      from the lethal effects of this treatment. Similar results were obtained in a
      second model of endotoxin shock in which mice were sensitized with
      Propionibacterium acnes 10 days prior to LPS injection. In this system 100-fold
      higher levels of serum TNF are elicited than with the LPS/D-gal model. Treatment
      with SK&F 105809 (30 and 100 mg/kg p.o.) delivered 30 min prior to LPS resulted
      in 90-100% inhibition of serum TNF. Protection from the lethal effects of LPS was
      observed at these doses in the P. acnes/LPS model.

PMID- 1446389
TI  - Role of the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway in the changes in cerebrovascular
      reactivity following hemorrhagic hypotension and retransfusion.
AB  - We studied the involvement of the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway in the changes
      in cerebrovascular reactivity following hemorrhagic hypotension and
      retransfusion. Feline middle cerebral arteries were prepared from control animals
      killed under anesthesia and from anesthetised animals subjected to hemorrhagic
      hypotension (stepwise bleeding to 90, 70, and 50 mmHg, maintained for 20 min at
      each level) followed by retransfusion (20 min). Two-mm-long vessel segments were
      suspended in organ chambers containing Krebs-Henseleit solution (37 degrees C,
      gassed with 95% O2-5% CO2) for isometric force measurements. Contractions to
      noradrenaline (norepinephrine), relaxations to acetylcholine, ATP, adenosine, and
      SIN-1, a nitric oxide donor compound, were compared in the vessels of the control
      and hemorrhage-subjected animals. Contractile responses to noradrenaline were
      significantly enhanced after hemorrhage, whereas relaxations to acetylcholine,
      ATP, and adenosine were significantly reduced. Relaxations to SIN-1, however,
      remained unchanged. L-Arginine did not cause relaxations in control vessels but
      relaxed the arteries after hemorrhage and retransfusion. To clarify the
      involvement of the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway in these alterations, we
      studied the effect of exogenous application of L-arginine, the precursor of
      endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) and NG-nitro-L-arginine (NOLA), a
      competitive antagonist of the EDRF-producing enzyme on the vascular responses in
      vitro. Similar to the effect of hypotension and retransfusion, NOLA enhanced the
      noradrenaline-induced contractions and inhibited the acetylcholine-induced and
      purinoceptor-mediated relaxations in the control arteries. In the control vessels
      in vitro, L-arginine treatment did not modify any contractile or relaxant
      response. At the same time, in vitro L-arginine treatment inhibited the
      hemorrhagic hypotension-induced enhancement of the contractions to noradrenaline
      and restored the diminished relaxations to acetylcholine (but not to ATP or
      adenosine). In the vessels after hemorrhage, NOLA neither further enhanced the
      already markedly enhanced noradrenaline-induced contractions nor further
      inhibited the relaxations caused by ATP and adenosine. In the case of
      acetylcholine, however, NOLA caused a further inhibition of the relaxations. The
      effect of in vivo L-Arg infusion (30 mg/kg initial bolus and 10 mg/kg/min
      infusion) during hemorrhagic hypotension and retransfusion on the in vitro
      vascular reactivity was similar to that of the in vitro L-arginine treatment. The
      present study demonstrates that even short-lasting hemorrhagic hypotension
      combined with retransfusion markedly inhibits nitric oxide-mediated, agonist
      induced endothelium-dependent cerebrovascular responses. In vivo or in vitro L
      arginine treatment is able to restore normal responses to some agents.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1446390
TI  - Effect of alpha-adrenergic blockage on cellular Ca2+ during endotoxic shock.
AB  - The effect of alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonists, phentolamine, and prazosin
      on cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i, was studied in hepatocytes during
      endotoxic shock. Rats were given intravenous injections of endotoxin (20 mg/kg),
      phentolamine (3 mg/kg) plus endotoxin (20 mg/kg), or prazosin (5 mg/kg) plus
      endotoxin (20 mg/kg). They were sacrificed 5 hr later, at which time the
      endotoxin-injected rats showed signs of shock. Isolated hepatocytes were prepared
      and employed for the measurement of [Ca2+]i under basal and hormone-stimulated (1
      and 10 microM epinephrine) conditions by means of Quin 2 fluorescence technique.
      The apparent basal level of [Ca2+]i in endotoxic rat hepatocytes (mean +/- SE:
      482 +/- 31 nM) was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) than in phentolamine
      plus endotoxin (242 +/- 73) and prazosin plus endotoxin (240 +/- 43) groups. A
      significant increase in hepatocyte [Ca2+]i occurred with epinephrine in the
      phentolamine plus endotoxin and prazosin plus endotoxin groups, but not in the
      group receiving endotoxin alone. Endotoxic rats showed a mortality rate of 75%,
      whereas phentolamine plus endotoxin and prazosin plus endotoxin groups showed a
      mortality rate of 38% and 20% respectively. These data suggest that the
      protective effect of alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonists during endotoxic shock
      may be mediated, in part, by attenuating the entrance of Ca2+ into endotoxic
      liver cells.

PMID- 1446391
TI  - Cardiovascular response in canine endotoxic shock: effect of ibuprofen
      pretreatment.
AB  - Ibuprofen pretreatment increases arterial pressure and reduces mortality in
      endotoxic dogs. The increase in arterial pressure may be caused by increases in
      arterial resistance, arterial sphincter tone, or both. Thus it is not clear if
      ibuprofen pretreatment prevents the hemodynamic effects of endotoxemia or merely
      masks such effects by producing concomitant increases in arterial resistance.
      Accordingly, this study was performed to determine the effects of ibuprofen
      pretreatment on arterial pressure-flow relations and other measures of
      cardiovascular function in a canine model of endotoxic shock. In 19 pentobarbital
      anesthetized and splenectomized, closed-chest dogs, biventricular stroke volumes
      were measured with electromagnetic flow probes, and intrathoracic vascular and
      pleural pressures were measured with catheters. Instantaneous venous return
      curves (see Pinsky MR, J Appl Physiol 56:765, 1984) were generated during
      positive-pressure ventilation, and steady-state arterial pressure-flow relations,
      left ventricular function, peripheral vascular compliance, oxygen
      consumption/oxygen delivery ratio, and arterial blood lactate levels were
      measured during two sequential volume loading and removal (20 ml/kg) sequences.
      All but two dogs received a bolus infusion of Escherichia coli endotoxin (2
      mg/kg) between the two fluid challenge runs. Eleven of the 17 endotoxic dogs also
      received ibuprofen (15 mg/kg) immediately before the initial fluid challenge.
      Ibuprofen pretreatment abolished all hemodynamic effects of endotoxin, whereas in
      the untreated group endotoxin caused decreases in calculated arterial outflow
      pressure and in peripheral vascular capacitance. Oxygen consumption remained
      constant despite changes in oxygen delivery in the nonendotoxic dogs and in the
      ibuprofen-pretreated dogs, whereas oxygen consumption covaried with oxygen
      delivery in the endotoxic dogs not pretreated with ibuprofen. Arterial lactate
      levels were higher after endotoxin infusion (2.1 +/- 0.5 to 3.1 +/- 0.6
      mmol/liter; P less than 0.05 pre- to postvolume) but were not different between
      treatment groups. These data suggest that ibuprofen alters many, but not all, of
      the hemodynamic effects of endotoxin infusion in the dog.

PMID- 1446392
TI  - Malpractice in obstetrics: a contribution of cases in southern Italy.
AB  - Looking ahead to the abolition of many intra-European frontiers the Authors offer
      this contribution to the discussion of the medico-legal aspects of gynecological
      activity in the United Europe of 1993. It is to this end that they present the
      data from a review of the material which has been the subject of litigation on
      the part specialists in Southern Italy, also commenting on the case series in the
      light of the Italian provisions in force up to date.

PMID- 1446393
TI  - Retroperitoneal abscess and vena cava thrombosis following normal pregnancy and
      delivery.
AB  - A 24 year old primigravida underwent a normal pregnancy and delivery, and
      developed a retroperitoneal abscess and thrombosis of the vena cava late in the
      puerperium. A transvaginal drainage of the abscess was performed and the
      thrombosis of the vena cava treated with Heparin and thrombectomy. Full recovery
      was obtained.

PMID- 1446394
TI  - Eicosanoid production in human umbilical cord vessels: effect of 17 beta
      estradiol.
AB  - This study was designed to investigate the effects of 17 beta-estradiol on
      prostanoid formation from exogenous arachidonic acid in homogenates of human
      umbilical cord vessels. The veins produced more prostanoids than the arteries and
      predominantly 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. 17 beta-estradiol had no effect on the rate of
      production of prostanoids in either vessels. Thus, at least in our in vitro
      system, the regulation of the vascular tone by prostanoids seems not to be
      altered by the addition of 17 beta-estradiol.

PMID- 1446395
TI  - A case of segmental renal dysplasia incidentally discovered in an 18 year old
      woman during a gynecological surgical operation.

PMID- 1446396
TI  - Variations of lymphocyte sub-populations in vulvar condylomata during therapy
      with beta-interferon.
AB  - Several experiences induced us to consider genital HPV infection as an expression
      of a local immunodeficiency. The aim of our study was to research the effect of
      immunotherapy on the lymphocyte subpopulations and Langerhans cells in vulvar
      condyloma. Twenty women with persistent vulvar condylomata, treated with
      2,000,000 IU/die of beta-interferon for 15 days, were submitted to vulvar biopsy
      before and 2-5 months after medical treatment. The frozen sections obtained were
      assayed with the following monoclonal antibodies: OKT4 (T helper lymphocytes),
      OKT8 (T suppressor lymphocytes), OKB7 (B lymphocytes) and S-100 protein
      (Langerhans cells). Using a morphometric evaluation, the average number of both
      intraepithelial and stromal lymphocyte subsets and of the intraepithelial
      Langerhans cells was assessed. In all the biopsies preceding the medical
      treatment we found a low number of T helper lymphocytes both in the epithelium
      and stroma, with inversion of T4/T8 lymphocyte ratio and rare presence of
      Langerhans cells. In patients with a good therapeutic response (50-100% of
      condyloma reduction) we observed an increase in intraepithelial T4 lymphocytes
      and a decrease in both intraepithelial and stromal T8 lymphocytes. In cases with
      persistent disease after therapy, the histological pattern was similar to that
      observed in the first biopsy, with the exception of a significant increase in the
      average number of Langerhans cells. Our data correlate the clinical response to
      the immunotherapy with the histology of lymphocyte subsets in the vulvar
      condylomata. The increase in Langerhans cells observed in patients with negative
      response may be interpreted with a probable inability of these cells to promote
      the immune reaction.

PMID- 1446397
TI  - Myometrial hypertrophy and uterine metropathy without apparent organic cause:
      rate or responsibility.
AB  - Between 1971 and 1980 more than 6,000,000 hysterectomies were performed in the
      USA. Dysfunctional uterine hemorrhage with non tumoral uterus and hypertrophic
      characteristic has been one of the principal indications, without possibility of
      definition as a pathological entity with its own characteristics. With all these
      premises the Authors have attempted to see, by means of morphometric studies, the
      myocyte characteristics and the proportion and composition of the uterine wall
      and at the same time eventual hormone-dependence of this phenomenon. For this
      they turn to to determination of oestrogen and progesterone receptors.

PMID- 1446398
TI  - Carcinoma of the vulva: critical analysis of survival and treatment of
      recurrences.
AB  - Prognostic variables in vulvar cancer include: stage, lymph nodal status, tumour
      diameter, vascular space invasion, depth of invasion. Treatment must in the
      cost/benefit balance, be adequate to these prognostic variables and surgery is
      today the cornerstone in vulvar cancer management. In early stages it is possible
      to control the disease with personalized radical non-mutilant operations limiting
      the high incidence of complications of the past, without endangering the 5-year
      survival rate. The risk of relapses is related to some factors such as site of
      tumour growth, depth of tumoural infiltration, lymphnode involvement and vascular
      space involvement. Relapses appear earlier in the groin than in the primitive
      sites and cases with more than 3 effected nodes have a higher incidence of
      recurrences in any site. Survival in related to localization and time of
      relapses. The treatment of recurrence is personalized for different sites, almost
      always surgical, in local recurrences.

PMID- 1446399
TI  - A comparative study of propofol and thiopental as induction agents for elective
      caesarean section.
AB  - Twenty women for elective caesarean section received either propofol 2.3 mg/kgr
      or thiopental 4.4 mg/kgr for induction of general anaesthesia. Maintainance was
      similar for both groups. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were recorded non
      invasively before anaesthesia, during intubation, one and five minutes after
      intubation. There were no significant differences in haemodynamic response
      between the two groups. During intubation heart rate rose in both groups, but
      remained increased five minutes after tracheal intubation only in the thiopental
      treated women (p less than 0.05). There was no significant neonatal depression as
      assessed by Apgar Scores and blood gas analyses. Propofol appears to be a
      suitable alternative to thiopental as an induction agent for obstetric
      anaesthesia.

PMID- 1446400
TI  - Secondary post-partum haemorrhage: a recurrent condition?

PMID- 1446401
TI  - Plasma and amniotic fluid concentration of fibronectin during normal and diabetic
      pregnancy.
AB  - Fibronectin is a plasma glycoprotein which is involved in coagulation, platelet
      function, tissue repair and the vascular endothelial basement membrane. To
      ascertain the influence of pregnancy on plasma concentrations of fibronectin, we
      qualified plasma concentrations of fibronectin in normal pregnant women during
      the first, second and third trimester; at the time of delivery; and on the third
      day post partum, using a radial immunodiffusion plate procedure. The
      concentrations of fibronectin found in these samples were compared with the
      concentration of fibronectin in 20 pregnancies complicated by diabetes. Mean
      plasma concentrations of fibronectin rose significantly through pregnancy and
      were significantly higher during delivery. A decrease in the concentrations was
      noticed on the third post partum day. An even more significant decrease of
      maternal plasma concentrations was noticed during cesarean section in normal
      pregnancies as compared to the concentrations found at the time of normal
      delivery. Of the diabetic group of women studied, higher concentrations of plasma
      fibronectin were found at the time of cesarean section than at the time of
      delivery. Maternal plasma concentrations of fibronectin were significantly
      greater than amniotic fluid and umbilical cord plasma concentrations.

PMID- 1446402
TI  - Evidence for gene-environmental interactions in Utah families with hypertension,
      dyslipidaemia and early coronary heart disease.
AB  - 1. Among 45,258 Utah families surveyed, about 4% have a strong aggregation of
      early coronary disease. In detailed clinical evaluation, about 21% of such high
      risk coronary families were found to have familial dyslipidaemic hypertension
      (FDH) and about 3% were found to have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia
      (hFH). 2. Common and potentially modifiable environmental factors seem to play an
      important role in these high risk families. Non-genetic obesity promotes the
      expression of FDH. A high fat diet promotes the expression of FH. Cigarette
      smoking promotes earlier death in all coronary prone families. 3. Practical
      approaches are suggested for helping coronary prone pedigrees by applying our
      understanding of genetic and environmental factors that promote earlier coronary
      disease onset.

PMID- 1446403
TI  - Membrane fluidity as a genetic marker of hypertension.
AB  - 1. The purpose of the present study was to examine changes in membrane fluidity
      in hypertension by means of an electron spin resonance (ESR) and a spin labelling
      methods. 2. Erythrocytes from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and from
      patients with essential hypertension were examined and compared with those from
      age-matched normotensive controls. ESR spectra were obtained for a fatty acid
      spin label agent (5-nitroxide stearate) in the membranes. The values of outer
      hyperfine splitting (2T' parallel) and of order parameter (S) of the ESR spectra
      were significantly higher in erythrocytes from SHR and patients with essential
      hypertension than in those from normotensive controls. Similar results were
      obtained in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells of SHR. This finding shows that
      the membrane fluidity might be lower in SHR and in essential hypertension. 3.
      When Ca was loaded to erythrocytes with a Ca-ionophore (A23187), the parameters
      of the ESR spectra showed a greater increase (membrane fluidity was decreased) in
      SHR and in patients with essential hypertension than that in the normotensive
      controls. The Ca-induced alterations in membrane fluidity were not definitely
      observed in secondary hypertension. 4. These results suggest that the lower
      membrane fluidity might be a genetically determined abnormality of hypertension.
      The marked reduction of the membrane fluidity by Ca-loading in SHR and in
      essential hypertension might support the hypothesis that an abnormality of the Ca
      handling at cellular levels could affect physical properties of the biomembranes
      in genetic hypertension.

PMID- 1446404
TI  - Analysis of the apolipoprotein B3' hypervariable region in patients with
      essential hypertension.
AB  - 1. The typing of the apolipoprotein B 3' hypervariable region was investigated in
      hypertensive and normotensive subjects using rapid typing of a variable number of
      tandemly repeated short DNA sequences (VNTR) by the polymerase chain reaction. 2.
      In the DNA samples of 89 normotensive and 99 hypertensive patients, 13 different
      sized alleles were detected. The most frequent allele has 35 repeat units in both
      groups with frequencies of 0.624 and 0.596 in normotensive and hypertensive
      patients, respectively. Frequency distribution of 13 alleles was similar in both
      groups. 3. These results demonstrate no association between the apolipoprotein B
      gene polymorphism and essential hypertension.

PMID- 1446405
TI  - Salt and hypertension: revisited.
AB  - 1. There is only one known environmental factor that possibly could hold the key
      to much of the problem of 'essential' hypertension and this is salt. Without a
      high or moderately high salt intake, other environmental factors may be largely
      inoperative. The evidence, which still falls somewhat short of certainty, is
      briefly reviewed.

PMID- 1446406
TI  - Experimental studies on cardiovascular disorders and cellular Ca handling in
      shell-less chick embryos.
AB  - 1. Chick embryos rendered Ca deficient by long-term culture outside the eggshell
      develop hypertension/tachycardia. 2. In this study, the hypertension of the shell
      less (SL) chick embryo has been characterized by comparing their cardiovascular
      response to adrenergic drugs and cellular Ca handling function with normal (NL)
      embryos. 3. Before and after the administration of noradrenaline (NA),
      phentolamine (PA), isoproterenol (IP), and propranolol (PP), blood pressure and
      pulse rate were measured. 4. Baseline blood pressure was consistently higher in
      SL embryos. In both embryos, blood pressure was elevated by NA and PP, but
      lowered by IP and PA. Pharmacological sensitivity to NA and PA was higher in SL
      embryos. Serum Ca was lower in SL embryos, while myocardial calcium content was
      not different. At the cellular level, Ca handling was studied using red blood
      cells (RBC) from SL and NL embryos under varying osmotic and ionic conditions by
      analysing 45Ca uptake and cell volume regulation. 5. Two features of RBC Ca
      uptake were apparent: (i) Na-Ca exchange was functional since Ca uptake was
      dependent on external Na; (ii) Ca uptake was dependent on total ionic
      electrochemical gradient. The SL RBC had greater ion permeability, more active Na
      Ca exchange function and higher Ca pumping out capacity. 6. These systemic and
      cellular properties of the SL embryo indicate that it is a novel and useful
      experimental system to study the relationship between Ca homeostasis and the
      development of hypertension.

PMID- 1446407
TI  - Analysis of factors in hypertension: change of membrane fluidity in the arteries
      of spontaneously hypertensive and monocrotaline-injected rats.
AB  - 1. A change of membrane fluidity of a small piece of artery tissue was monitored
      by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy. 2. The measurement of carotid artery
      in situ revealed that a significant change in the peak position of the methylene
      absorbance was detected in the spontaneously hypertensive rat subjected to
      anoxia, but not in the Wistar-Kyoto rat carotid. The shift of a peak to the
      higher wavenumber position suggested that the averaged membrane fluidity of the
      artery was increased by the anoxic treatment. A similar change of membrane
      fluidity was also observed in a pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline.
      3. At 4 weeks after the injection of monocrotaline, the membrane fluidity was
      increased in the pulmonary artery tissue. 4. The change of membrane fluidity may
      be caused by the change of activity of phospholipases in the arteries with
      hypertension.

PMID- 1446408
TI  - The role of oxidized lipoproteins in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
AB  - 1. Oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL) has been suggested to play an important
      role in atherogenesis by facilitating the accumulation of lipids in macrophages.
      In vitro studies from this laboratory have shown that oxidized LDL is recognized
      not only by the specific receptor for it, but also by the receptor which is
      common for oxidized LDL and acetyl LDL. Probucol, originally developed as an
      antioxidant, prevents the oxidative modification of LDL in vitro. Recent studies
      by the authors show that probucol prevents the progression of atherosclerosis in
      homozygous Watanabe heritable hyperlipidaemic rabbits in vivo without any changes
      in plasma LDL cholesterol levels. 2. These results strongly suggest that
      oxidative modification of LDL could occur in vivo and probucol could slow the
      progression of atherosclerosis, without changes in plasma cholesterol levels. 3.
      In addition, recently the authors demonstrated that high density lipoprotein
      (HDL) particles are also oxidized. Once HDL particles were oxidized, they showed
      a lessened effect on the decrease of cholesteryl ester in foam cells, suggesting
      oxidative modification of HDL may stimulate development of atherosclerosis by
      limiting efflux of cholesterol from foam cells. Moreover, HDL particles from
      probucol-treated patients are hardly oxidized; subsequently, these HDL particles
      caused a marked efflux of cholesterol from foam cells.

PMID- 1446409
TI  - Gene-environment interaction in hypertension, stroke and atherosclerosis in
      experimental models and supportive findings from a world-wide cross-sectional
      epidemiological survey: a WHO-cardiac study.
AB  - 1. Genetic rat models of hypertension, such as spontaneously hypertensive rats
      (SHR) and in particular, stroke-prone SHR (SHRSP) are useful models for research
      on the genetic pathogenesis, gene-environment interaction and control of
      environmental factors for the prevention of hypertension and related
      cardiovascular diseases (CVD). 2. Since recent genetic analysis of hypertension
      in SHRSP indicated that one of the hypertensive genes related to salt-induced
      blood pressure (BP) rise was linked with the gene of the angiotensin-converting
      enzyme, gene-environment interaction is important in the humoral, neural,
      vascular and nutritional mechanisms of hypertension and CVD. 3. Extensive
      experimental studies in SHRSP by the authors have demonstrated nutritional
      factors counteracting directly or indirectly against the adverse effect of excess
      salt intake, such as K, Mg, Ca, dietary fibres, protein, some amino acids and
      fatty acids, etc.; they are therefore effective in preventing stroke, the typical
      complication of hypertension. 4. Experimental atherosclerotic models were
      established in SHRSP, which indicated also a gene-environment interaction in the
      pathogenesis of atherosclerosis at the cellular level of vascular smooth muscle
      cells. Excess salt intake accelerated cholesterol absorption from the intestine
      to induce arterial fat deposition as well as to active platelet aggregation by
      the mechanism of increased intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. 5. Based on such
      experimental findings on the hypertension and related CVD prevention, a cross
      sectional multicentre epidemiological 'CVD and Alimentary Comparison' Study (WHO
      CARDIAC Study) was designed to assess the relationship of biological markers of
      dietary factors with BP ('core' study) and major CVD mortalities ('complete'
      study) and has been successfully undertaken for the past 8 years in co-operation
      with 54 centres in 23 countries. 6. The results of 'core' study so far obtained
      by cross-centre simple linear regression analysis demonstrated adverse effects of
      body mass index and salt intake on BP in men and possible beneficial effects of
      Mg by within-centre multiple linear regression analysis. 7. Preliminary cross
      centre simple linear regression analysis of the 'complete' study indicated a
      positive correlation of serum cholesterol levels and negative correlation of
      serum phospholipid poly-unsaturated to unsaturated fatty acid ratios and 24 h
      urinary taurine excretion with coronary heart diseases mortality; a positive
      correlation of 24 h urinary Na and Na/K ratios and a negative correlation of
      serum cholesterol levels with stroke mortalities was indicated. 8. These
      epidemiological data confirmed mostly the applicability of experimental findings
      to the nutritional prevention of hypertension and CVD prevention.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1446410
TI  - Abnormal hsp70 gene expression: its potential key role in metabolic defects in
      hypertension.
AB  - 1. Abnormal heat stress gene hsp70 expression has been demonstrated in organs as
      well as in cultured cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats and mice. 2. The
      polymorphism of hsp70, which is localized in the major histocompatibility
      complex, appears to segregate with a significant portion of hypertension. 3.
      Abnormal hsp70 expression may lead to anomalies in its feedback regulation,
      particularly since the steady state level of heat stress protein HSP70 seems to
      be lower in hypertensive than in normal animals. 4. Another biological
      consequence could be a modification of the effectiveness of cortisol, which may
      be involved in metabolic components of the pathogenesis of hypertension.

PMID- 1446411
TI  - The association between salt sensitivity of blood pressure and family history of
      hypertension.
AB  - 1. The salt sensitivity index (SSI) and family history of hypertension were
      studied in 140 hospitalized patients with essential hypertension to clarify
      whether salt sensitivity of blood pressure is related to familial disposition to
      hypertension. 2. SSI was calculated by dividing the change of mean blood pressure
      by that of urinary sodium excretion when salt intake was restricted from 15 to
      less than 3 g/day. 3. Family history of hypertension was classified into three
      groups depending on the presence or absence of hypertension in the father, mother
      and siblings. 4. The group without a family history of hypertension showed a
      significantly lower SSI value than other groups. 5. In multiple regression
      analysis undertaken within each gender, SSI showed significant partial
      correlations with blood pressure and family history of hypertension in the female
      group (r = 0.402 and 0.265, respectively), whereas in the male group it showed a
      positive correlation only with blood pressure (r = 0.501). These results indicate
      that salt sensitivity of blood pressure is related to familial disposition to
      hypertension. This association was more apparent in the female than male group
      and its gender difference can be partially attributed to the fact that blood
      pressure in the female group is more sensitive to salt.

PMID- 1446412
TI  - Ethnic differences in salt sensitivity: genetic or environmental factors?
AB  - 1. The CARDIAC study, a world-wide cross-sectional epidemiological study on the
      relationship between alimentary factors and cardiovascular diseases, provided the
      initial evidence of ethnic differences in salt sensitivity; this was because
      despite much less urinary sodium excretion in Tanzania than in Brazil and the
      Japanese, the prevalence of hypertension was relatively higher in Tanzania than
      in the latter two populations. 2. To investigate this difference in salt
      sensitivity, a standardized clinical experiment was carried out: six to 13 male
      volunteers were placed on 2500 kcal basal diets containing 3 g salt/day. Eighteen
      grams of salt were added daily from the sixth to the 11th day in Tanzania and
      Brazil, while 22 g of salt were added in Japan. 3. Salt loading induced a
      significant rise in systolic blood pressure (SBP) on the second day of the high
      salt period (HSP) in Japan, the second and third day of HSP in Brazil, and all
      days of HSP in Tanzania. 4. Salt sensitivity was seen in 16.7% of the
      participants in Japan, 36.4% in Brazil and 46.2% in Tanzania. Further analysis of
      the effect of salt on blood pressure (BP) was carried out using the data from the
      CARDIAC study by multiple regression analysis. A within-centre comparison of
      fatty acid was also made. 5. The regression analysis revealed that the
      relationship of salt and blood pressure is more positively tight in Tanzania than
      Brazil and Japan after controlling for other confounding variables. Fatty acids
      in serum phospholipids contain significantly more palmitic acid and showed lower
      P/S ratios than those from Brazil and Japan.

PMID- 1446413
TI  - Quantitative analysis of the tracking of blood pressure and relative factors in
      childhood: Shimane Heart Study.
AB  - 1. In order to clarify the predictive factors of cardiovascular diseases caused
      by hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia in adults, a longitudinal
      epidemiological study was started in 1978. 2. This paper reports the results of
      research carried out from a quantitative analysis of the tracking of blood
      pressure and anthropometric parameters in children and adolescents using a
      tracking index. The index was calculated according to the changes in blood
      pressure quintiles for the whole population during the observation period. 3. The
      study population consisted of 5148 Japanese children living in the city of Izumo,
      who were examined every 3 years between the ages of 6 and 15 years old. 4.
      Although systolic blood pressure tracked weakly during childhood and adolescence,
      there was no significant relation between the tracking of systolic blood pressure
      and a family history of hypertension. 5. The tracking indices of the
      anthropometric parameters were better than those of systolic blood pressure, but
      the index of the left ventricular mass was similar to that of systolic blood
      pressure. 6. In conclusion the tracking of blood pressure might be determined by
      the tracking of bodyweight and height.

PMID- 1446414
TI  - Family history study on hypertension in Japan.
AB  - 1. Familial aggregation of hypertension was determined in 187 Japanese nuclear
      families. The necessary data on family and case history particularly concerning
      the hypertensive status were obtained by personal interviews of outpatients at
      six local hospitals, using a specifically designed questionnaire. 2. From the
      family history of the 187 living index children (single ascertainment), 134 pairs
      of parents were informative. Of 819 children, excluding index cases, the number
      of hypertensives, normotensives and status unknown were 224, 274 and 187,
      respectively. Individuals under 30 were classified as unknown. 3. For a child
      given the birth order, empirical risk to be hypertensive was calculated from the
      proportion of hypertensives to normotensives plus hypertensives. 4. Irrespective
      of parental mating types, among a simplex family of hypertension the index cases
      of the first-born child were more than the others. 5. There was no birth order
      effect in risk among multiplex families of hypertension. 6. There was no increase
      of hypertensive offsprings observed when the mother was hypertensive.

PMID- 1446415
TI  - The immune system in health and disease.
AB  - For an immune response against an eliciting antigen, innate and adaptive immune
      mechanisms interact to provide a specific and appropriate response characterized
      by self-non-self discrimination and memory. This non-random process involves
      antigen presentation followed by T cell recognition and activation with the
      elaboration of T cell-derived lymphokines. The nature and amount of lymphokine
      production from antigen-activated T cells then determines the predominant immune
      response (e.g. cytotoxicity versus antibody). Exogenous regulatory factors,
      including steroid hormones, prostaglandins, and cytokines, modulate immune
      responsiveness. How these regulatory factors influence the immune response during
      specific host-parasite interactions determines the predominant immune response to
      specific antigen. As the regulation of the immune response is unravelled, new and
      powerful immunomodulatory therapies will be developed and utilized to improve the
      immune response and host survival.

PMID- 1446416
TI  - The normal fetomaternal immune relationship.
AB  - The antigenic status of the preimplantation embryo is ill-defined and there are
      no clearly recognized maternal immune reactions against this early stage of
      development. Following implantation, the pregnant female shows evidence of immune
      recognition of her intrauterine allogeneic conceptus. In a proportion of
      pregnancies, particularly in multiparous women, there are maternal cytotoxic
      antibodies exhibiting specificity for the paternally inherited HLA antigens of
      the fetus. When these are undetectable there may be other antibodies that are non
      complement fixing and non-cytotoxic or antibodies that are not present as free
      molecules and incapable of identification in conventional assays. Anti-HLA
      antibodies pose no threat to the fetus, principally owing to their absorption by
      the placenta and, very likely, the harmless binding of any that do reach the
      fetal circulation. No potentially deleterious cytotoxic T lymphocyte generation
      occurs in most pregnancies. The extent to which this is due to maternal
      immunoregulatory control processes is not yet established. The fetal trophoblast
      is able to act as a protective barrier by virtue of unique properties, including
      a lack of conventional class I and class II HLA molecules, that render it
      insusceptible to immune attack. The nature and significance of any maternal
      recognition of non-HLA antigens on trophoblast await elucidation. Maternal immune
      cell traffic across the placenta occurs only at a very low level, if at all, in
      normal pregnancy. This may take place to a greater degree in some of the rare
      instances of fetal graft-versus-host disease, but this is complicated by the
      associated fetal immunodeficiency. Maternal IgG antibodies are transmitted across
      the placental trophoblast by receptor-dependent mechanisms to provide immediate
      protection for the neonate against environmental pathogens. Leakage of fetal
      erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets into the maternal circulation can elicit
      IgG isoantibodies that take advantage of the same mechanisms to gain access to
      the fetus, with pathological consequences. Autoantibodies in women with various
      disease states may similarly pass into the fetus but these normally produce only
      mild and transient effects. The development of the fetal immune system begins at
      an early stage of gestation. It is competent to respond to intrauterine
      infections from as early as 12 weeks and has full functional potential at birth.
      Maternally acquired IgG is available for up to 9 months of life until the
      infant's own immune system has been adequately primed and activated following
      first exposure to specific antigens. The normal fetomaternal immune relationship
      represents a remarkable harmonious association between two genetically disparate
      individuals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1446417
TI  - Complement and pregnancy: new insights into the immunobiology of the fetomaternal
      relationship.
AB  - Recent studies have revealed that human trophoblast expresses three membrane
      bound proteins which function specifically to regulate the activity of
      complement. These proteins are already known to be widely distributed in normal
      adult tissues where they protect host cells from damage resulting from the
      fortuitous deposition of activated complement components. Their activities are
      focused at two distinct steps in the complement pathway. Decay accelerating
      factor (DAF, CD55) and membrane co-factor protein (MCP, CD46) act at the level of
      the C3 convertase enzymes which activate C3 to C3b. A further protein, CD59,
      directly regulates the formation and function of the terminal cytolytic membrane
      attack complex (MAC) by specifically interacting with C8 and C9. These proteins
      appear to play an important role in the maintenance of normal human pregnancy.
      DAF, MCP and CD59 are all expressed where trophoblast surfaces are in contact
      with maternal blood and tissues and expression occurs from at least 6 weeks of
      gestation. The semi-allogeneic human conceptus therefore appears to be
      effectively protected from maternal complement-mediated damage arising either
      from alternative or classical pathway activation or in a bystander fashion
      following a response to microbial infection in the mother. Complement regulatory
      protein deficiency disorders with clinically demonstrable consequences especially
      in terms of haemolytic disease are known to exist and have proved valuable in
      establishing the biological role of these proteins in vivo. The demonstration of
      this new family of immunoregulatory proteins on trophoblast raises important
      questions about the potential involvement of these products in pregnancy
      pathologies.

PMID- 1446418
TI  - Immunological contributions to recurrent pregnancy loss.

PMID- 1446419
TI  - Obstetrical implications of antiphospholipid antibodies.

PMID- 1446420
TI  - Alloimmune conditions and pregnancy.
AB  - Transfer of fetal red blood cells and platelets to the maternal circulation can
      stimulate an immune response with production of immunoglobulin that can cross the
      placenta. Similarly, passage of maternal stem cells to an immunologically
      incompetent fetus can theoretically produce graft-versus-host disease. disease.
      Maternal sensitization to red blood cell antigens such as D and Kell can result
      in anaemia, hydrops, and death in an incompatible fetus. Current assessment of
      these pregnancies involves serial analysis of amniotic fluid bilirubin
      concentration, with umbilical cord blood sampling reserved for special
      circumstances; neither ultrasound or Doppler blood flow analysis are accurate in
      the prediction of fetal haematocrit. Intravascular transfusion is the treatment
      of choice for hydropic fetuses. Perinatal survival in non-hydropic fetuses is
      similar with either intravascular or intraperitoneal transfusion, and the choice
      of procedures is individualized. Isoimmune fetal thrombocytopenia is usually the
      result of maternal sensitization to the PlA1 antigen. There is significant risk
      of intracranial haemorrhage, both antepartum and during labour and delivery.
      Umbilical cord blood sampling at term can determine fetal platelet count and the
      need for platelet transfusion, and can aid in deciding the appropriate route of
      delivery.

PMID- 1446421
TI  - Autoimmune disease in pregnancy.

PMID- 1446422
TI  - Immunological aspects of pre-eclampsia.
AB  - The first pregnancy preponderance and apparent partner specificity of pre
      eclampsia suggest that it might have an immune aetiology. The pathogenesis of pre
      eclampsia is undefined although it is clear that it is a placental disorder. The
      maternal syndrome appears to be mediated by placental ischaemia secondary to
      spiral artery insufficiency. This leads to a hypothesis that pre-eclampsia is a
      two-stage disease. The first comprises processes that limit the size of the
      spiral arteries (poor placentation) or obstruct them (acute atherosis). Either or
      both may have immunological causes although there is no direct evidence. Factors
      limiting placentation could involve maternal immune intolerance of the fetal
      allograft, which in their most extreme expression could lead to immunologically
      mediated abortion. Thus pre-eclampsia may be part of a wider spectrum of
      pregnancy loss secondary to poor maternal immune accommodation of her genetically
      disparate fetus. The second stage involves the consequences of the ensuing
      placental ischaemia. The syndrome is currently tentatively ascribed to diffuse
      maternal endothelial dysfunction. There is less reason to invoke immunological
      mechanisms in the second stage although neutrophil activation could explain
      generalized endothelial damage. It should be clear that these conclusions are
      provisional and that the greatest need is for more investigation to eliminate the
      uncertainty which clouds our concepts.

PMID- 1446423
TI  - HIV infection in women.

PMID- 1446424
TI  - Contraception.
AB  - The principle of vaccination for the purposes of fertility regulation is
      scientifically elegant and socially compelling. Factors such as economic
      production, convenience of use, relatively long-lasting but reversible
      protection, low failure rate and the avoidance of mechanical devices or exogenous
      hormones make this approach a potentially attractive option for family planning
      programmes in both developing and developed countries. The major efforts in
      research and development have involved the prospect of active immunization
      against specific antigens of sperm, oocyte, zygote and early embryo, and the
      pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). Several anti-hCG vaccines
      have entered clinical trials. They operate by preventing or interrupting
      pregnancy at the peri-implantation stage probably by neutralizing the
      luteotrophic effect of hCG. The most refined vaccine is one directed against the
      unique C-terminal peptide on the beta-subunit of hCG. This vaccine provokes
      antibodies that are specific for hCG and do not cross-react with human
      luteinizing hormone (hLH). Preclinical studies in baboons and data from a phase I
      human trial indicate that this method is free of side-effects and provides the
      promise of a duration of effectiveness of up to 12 months. Future research will
      optimize the anti-hCG approach, utilize new vaccine delivery systems and broaden
      the spectrum of target antigens of potential utility for contraceptive vaccines.

PMID- 1446425
TI  - Overview and future perspectives.

PMID- 1446426
TI  - Hydroxylapatite-coated hip implants. Multicenter three-year clinical and
      roentgenographic results.
AB  - The application of a thin coating of hydroxylapatite to total hip implants has
      provided the opportunity to realize stable fixation of a press-fit prosthesis
      without a porous coating or an intervening fibrous tissue layer. This series
      consists of 436 total hip arthroplasties, of which 320 cases have a minimum two
      year follow-up period and 142 cases have a minimum three-year follow-up period.
      The femoral prosthesis used was a roughened titanium alloy with a 50-microns
      surface treatment of hydroxylapatite applied to the proximal one third. The
      acetabular components implanted included porous-coated implants (132),
      hydroxylapatite-coated acetabular shells of varying geometries (285), and bipolar
      implants (16). Analysis of the clinical results demonstrates a mean Harris Hip
      Score of 93 at six-months postarthroplasty, 95 at one and two years, and 96 at
      three years. At the three-year follow-up evaluation, 4.2% of patients complained
      of mild to moderate pain in the operative limb, whereas only 2.2% at two years
      and 1.4% at three years complained of activity-related thigh pain. The femoral
      mechanical loosening rate representing stems revised for aseptic loosening (two)
      plus roentgenographically unstable stems (zero) is 0.46%. Three hydroxylapatite
      coated acetabular cups (1%) have shown measurable migration at two years, but
      none have been revised for aseptic loosening. The roentgenographic evaluation
      provides evidence for excellent proximal femoral fixation with distal stress
      transfer. Radiolucencies typically occur around the uncoated distal tip of the
      femoral stem (74%), but rarely in the proximal hydroxylapatite-coated anterior
      (3%) and lateral (2%) zones. Femoral cancellous condensation characteristically
      is seen at the transition zone of hydroxylapatite coated-to-uncoated stems (86%),
      whereas up to 32% of cases show cortical hypertrophy at the medial distal stem.
      These roentgenographic changes are progressive from one through three years
      postoperatively.

PMID- 1446427
TI  - Acrylic fragmentation in total hip replacements and its biological consequences.
AB  - Loosening of total joint prostheses is in part related to the fragmentation of
      the acrylic cement mantle surrounding the prosthesis and the biologic
      consequences to the particulate acrylic. Fractographic studies of femoral cement
      mantles retrieved at revision surgery and autopsy showed frequent fractures in
      varying stages of development in the cement and wear at the fracture surfaces.
      Defects in the cement mantle, thin mantles, sharp corners on the prosthesis,
      separation at the cement mantle interface, and pores in the cement were
      frequently associated with cement fractures. The progressive fractures and wear
      led to the liberation of particulate acrylic debris into the surrounding tissues.
      The tissues at the bone-cement interface removed at revision surgery showed that
      a macrophage, giant-cell foreign-body granulomatous reaction occurs in response
      to the particulate, but not bulk cement. This tissue can produce a variety of
      chemical mediators of inflammation and bone resorption, and can resorb bone in
      organ cultures. A granulomatous tissue reaction with a very similar appearance
      can be produced in experimental animals using particulate-form
      polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), but not the bulk form of PMMA. The tissue reaction
      is not mediated by the classic cell or humeral immune mechanisms. Subcutaneous
      injection of particulate PMMA powder into fully immunocompetent C3Hf/SED mice as
      well as three strains of mice with progressive immunologic deficiencies
      (nude/nude, SCID, and triple deficient Nu-bg-XID/SED mice) led to a foreign-body
      reaction in all strains at five weeks as shown by histologic and
      immunohistochemical examination despite the differences in immune deficiency.
      This, along with the scarcity of lymphocytes in the human tissues, suggests that
      the biologic reactions to fragmented cement can be produced and sustained by
      nonimmune phagocytosis and activation by macrophages and giant cells without
      significant contribution by the immune system.

PMID- 1446428
TI  - Mechanisms of failure of modular prostheses.
AB  - The expectations of wear and longevity of total hip components are based in large
      part on Charnley's early work. The evolution of the total hip from the one-piece,
      all-polyethylene acetabular component and fixed-head femoral component to the
      myriad of parts that comprise many of today's total hip designs has brought with
      it an array of potential mechanisms for failure that were not present in the
      earlier design. The risk/benefit ratio of these new designs may need to be
      reevaluated based on the additional mechanisms for failure that they provide. One
      hundred eleven acetabular hip prostheses and 139 femoral prostheses, all of
      modular configuration, retrieved by surgeons in the field, and sent for
      histologic examination, were analyzed for this study. A number of component
      characteristics were found to be correlated to early failure. These included
      acetabular designs with thin polyethylene bearings, poor fixation of the
      polyethylene to the metal shell, and geometries that permitted a moment to be
      applied to the bearing insert, tending to cause it to rotate in the metal shell.
      Modular femoral components were observed to be susceptible to corrosion, with
      titanium-alloy stems mated to cast cobalt-alloy heads at greatest risk
      attributable to a galvanic effect. All modular connections of femoral and
      acetabular components are at risk for disassociation and fretting; therefore,
      clever design and precision machining are necessary to produce prostheses in
      which the benefits of modularity exceed the risks.

PMID- 1446429
TI  - Quantification of implant micromotion, strain shielding, and bone resorption with
      porous-coated anatomic medullary locking femoral prostheses.
AB  - Fourteen femora containing porous-coated anatomic medullary locking (AML) femoral
      prostheses were retrieved from 12 patients at autopsy. Clinical roentgenograms in
      13 femora showed bone remodeling changes, indicating that the implants were fixed
      by osseointegration. Under simulated physiologic loading, micromotion between the
      implant and the bone was measured using electrical displacement transducers
      connected to the implant and to the adjacent cortex. The micromotion between the
      implants at the areas of porous coating and the adjacent cortex in the one case
      of failed bone ingrowth measured 150 microns. Maximum relative motion between the
      cortex and the implant in the areas of porous coating for the 13 cases showing
      signs of bone ingrowth was 40 microns, and this was completely elastic relative
      displacement. With all implants, the micromotion between the cortex and the stem
      was always greatest over the uncoated portion of the stem. Four of the implants
      were proximally porous coated. With these, the micromotion was greater over the
      uncoated areas than with more extensively coated stems and was always greatest at
      the uncoated tip of the prosthesis. The amount of micromotion was directly
      related to the extent of porous coating on the implant. Maximum tip motion for
      the proximally coated implants was 210 micra, whereas for the fully porous-coated
      implants, it was 40 microns. In nine of the autopsies, the contralateral normal
      femur was obtained in addition to the femur containing the AML (the in vivo
      remodeled femur). These were used for comparative studies of strain shielding and
      femoral remodeling. Cortical strains were measured in the in vivo remodeled
      femora and were compared with measurements made in the contralateral normal
      femora before and following implantation of a stem identical to that present on
      the clinically treated side. The data showed major strain reductions in all the
      postmortem implanted normal femora. Comparison of the strain data from the
      postmortem implanted normal femora with those from the in vivo remodeled femora
      clearly indicated that extensive bone remodeling did not result in restoration of
      cortical strain levels anywhere near normal. Strain shielding continued to exist
      in all of the remodeled specimens, even up to 7.5 years after surgery. This
      strain shielding was associated with bone remodeling changes that resulted in
      regional reductions in bone mineral content that ranged from 7% to 78%. These
      observations are unique, important, and valuable in defining the in vivo function
      and clinical behavior of this type of porous-coated femoral component.

PMID- 1446430
TI  - Debris from cobalt-chrome cable may cause acetabular loosening.
AB  - To address the issue of nonunion with trochanteric osteotomy, surgeons have
      experimented with various modes of fixation, wire and cable being the two most
      popular. From a group of 643 primary cemented total hip arthroplasties performed
      by a single surgeon via the trans-trochanteric approach, minimum four-year
      roentgenographic follow-up evaluations were performed on 322 hips (50%). The
      method of fixation was stainless steel monofilament wire in 162 cases and Co-Cr
      cable in 160. Trochanteric union rates were 75% (122 patients) for the wire group
      and 79% (126 patients) for the cable. Breakage rates of the entire trochanteric
      fixation construction (all three wires or cables) were 43% (68 patients) for the
      wire and 12% (20 patients) for the cable. Unraveled cable was seen in 56% of the
      hips (90 patients), and in 47% of these hips, there were no broken cables.
      Blinded roentgenographic analysis of the acetabulum, preformed independently,
      revealed that loosening of the acetabulum in the cable group was greater than in
      the wire group. Cables offer no significant benefit over wires and may have
      potential adverse effects. Generation of significant particulate debris was noted
      roentgenographically, and marked reaction/destruction was found at the time of
      revision surgery.

PMID- 1446431
TI  - Ultrasonic technology in revision joint arthroplasty.
AB  - The development of ultrasonically driven tools for revision joint arthroplasty is
      presented. The data represent seven-years' experience and include information
      from laboratory investigation and clinical experience from 20 surgical cases.
      Whole bone torsional strength studies reveal no decrease in strength parameters
      after the removal of cement ultrasonically. Comparison studies demonstrate that
      ultrasonic tools allow more rapid completion of cement and prosthesis removal
      than traditional manual tools. Histologic studies using an in vivo canine model
      demonstrate no deleterious effects to endosteal bone where cement had been
      removed by ultrasound. Clinical studies indicate that the use of ultrasound
      facilitates the surgery and causes no cortical perforations; the creation of
      cortical windows was not necessary in all cases. Ultrasound is safe and
      efficacious in cement and prosthesis removal during revision surgery.

PMID- 1446432
TI  - Modular femoral stem removal during total hip arthroplasty using a universal
      modular stem extractor.
AB  - Removal of a modular head femoral prosthesis may be extremely difficult during
      revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). A universal modular stem extractor was
      developed that achieves a secure attachment to the stem taper, and applies
      tensile forces with a five-pound slaphammer. Clinical use indicates that this new
      device facilitates uncomplicated modular femoral stem removal.

PMID- 1446433
TI  - Segmental cement extraction at revision total hip arthroplasty.
AB  - Cement removal in revision total hip arthroplasty can be technically challenging.
      Traditional methods involve using a combination of chisels, power burrs, and
      drills, as well as windowing the femoral cortex to gain access to cement
      distally. These methods can be associated with femoral fracture or uncontrolled
      cortical perforation and bone loss. A new technique had been developed that
      permits segmental extraction of bone cement from the femoral canal. Fresh cement
      is introduced into the old cement mantle and a threaded rod is placed into the
      wet cement and held in place while the cement hardens. The thread-forming rod is
      then removed leaving a threaded channel in the cement. Extraction rods are then
      screwed 1.5 to 2.5 cm into the threaded channel. A slap hammer, which attaches to
      the opposite end of the extraction rod, is used to remove 1.5- to 2.5-cm segments
      of cement. Fifteen cases involving revision of cemented femoral components were
      analyzed using this system. Complete cement removal was achieved in 12 cases with
      much less damage to the femur when compared with conventional methods. In two
      cases, there was retained cement along the medial wall of the femur and, in one
      case, the plug could not be extracted using this system. There were no fractures
      or cortical perforations in this series.

PMID- 1446434
TI  - The removal of porous-coated femoral hip stems.
AB  - During a ten-year period, 70 porous-coated femoral hip components of several
      designs were removed for various reasons. Based on this experience, techniques
      for the removal of porous-coated stems have evolved and are described, including
      a newer method for the safe removal of extensively coated bone-ingrown stems.
      Preoperative roentgenograms were highly predictive of fixation mode as
      corroborated by intraoperative mechanical testing, gross inspection, and
      histologic examination. Stable implants (17 bone-ingrown and 11 fibrous tissue
      encapsulated) required interface access and division before their removal.
      Minimal bone damage was incurred, and in no case was reconstruction precluded by
      stem removal. There were no unplanned cortical perforations. Two minor femoral
      fractures occurred. The authors present an overall approach and specific surgical
      techniques that facilitate the safe removal of porous-coated femoral stems on a
      consistent basis.

PMID- 1446435
TI  - Articular geometry of the glenohumeral joint.
AB  - Little quantitative data exists defining the true shape of the humeral head and
      glenoid articular surfaces. This study uses a precise stereophotogrammetry (SPG)
      technique and provides highly accurate quantitative results for determining the
      three-dimensional geometry of glenohumeral joint articular surfaces, including
      their "sphericity", surface areas, cartilage thickness, and the difference in
      these quantities between the genders. Results indicate that glenohumeral joint
      surfaces may be approximated by a section of a sphere with small deviations from
      sphericity of less than 1% of the radius. Furthermore, results indicate that
      mating humeral head and glenoid articular surfaces are quite congruent and have
      radii within 2 mm in 88% of cases, and within 3 mm in all cases measured. The
      lack of anatomic stability of this joint is therefore not attributable to the
      relative shallowness or lack of congruence of the joint but rather to the small
      surface area of the glenoid which does not enclose the humeral head. Cartilage
      thickness results may partially explain perceptions of glenohumeral incongruity
      obtained from roentgenographic measurements where the glenoid appears flatter
      than the corresponding humeral head. Only when the actual articular cartilage
      surfaces are analyzed is it determined that the actual articulating surfaces do
      conform.

PMID- 1446436
TI  - Scapulothoracic motion in normal shoulders and shoulders with glenohumeral
      instability and impingement syndrome. A study using Moire topographic analysis.
AB  - Qualitative visual inspection and manual muscle testing are traditional methods
      of evaluation that may overlook subtle weakness of the axioscapular musculature.
      A modification of the standard technique of Moire topographic analysis of spinal
      deformity was applied to assess axioscapular muscle function in 51 subjects: 22
      asymptomatic individuals, 22 with shoulder instability, and seven with
      impingement syndrome. Static Moire evaluation demonstrated scapulothoracic
      asymmetry or increased topography in 14% of asymptomatic subjects, compared with
      32% and 57% in the instability and impingement groups, respectively. The dynamic
      Moire test demonstrated an abnormal Moire pattern in 18% of asymptomatic
      individuals, compared with 64% and 100% in the instability and impingement
      groups, respectively. Axioscapular muscle dysfunction is common with both
      instability and impingement syndrome of the shoulder, although it remains to be
      determined whether this represents a primary or secondary phenomenon.

PMID- 1446437
TI  - Hand and wrist function after external fixation of unstable distal radial
      fractures.
AB  - Twenty-eight patients with 31 fractures of the distal radius were treated by
      closed external fixation. The complication rate for this series was 50%. Anatomic
      results were acceptable but hand function at final review was disappointing,
      particularly in the measurement of grip strength and the patient's ability to
      perform the activities of daily living. There was a highly significant
      correlation between complications and poor functional outcome. Although external
      fixation can achieve restoration of normal anatomy, functional outcome may be
      poor because of the severity of the associated soft tissue injury.

PMID- 1446438
TI  - Congenital trigger digit.
AB  - Release of the sheath of the flexor tendon is the accepted solution for the
      problem of congenital trigger digits in children. A series of 27 patients with 37
      trigger digits were observed over a period of 18 years: the average follow-up on
      these patients was 46.9 months. Thirty-two thumbs, three long fingers, and two
      ring fingers showed locking and a degree of triggering. Thirty-three digits
      required surgery. The surgical treatment is simple and effective. The outcome in
      most cases shows that this is a conservative approach.

PMID- 1446439
TI  - Carpal canal stenosis in men with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome.
AB  - The carpal canal and carpal bones of 14 male patients with idiopathic carpal
      tunnel syndrome and 26 normal male controls were examined by computed tomography.
      When compared with the controls, there was significant stenosis of the proximal
      part but not of the distal part of the carpal canal. Carpal canal stenosis is an
      important etiologic factor in the development of idiopathic carpal tunnel
      syndrome in males.

PMID- 1446440
TI  - Bilateral diskoid medial menisci diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging: a case
      report.
AB  - A diskoid medial meniscus is a rare finding occurring in approximately 0.3% of
      the general population. Bilateral medial diskoid menisci are even less common,
      with only three other cases appearing in the literature. This may be the first
      reported case of bilateral medial diskoid menisci diagnosed by magnetic resonance
      imaging and verified at arthroscopy.

PMID- 1446441
TI  - Knee extensor mechanics after subtotal excision of the patella.
AB  - Two sets of six fresh frozen autopsy specimens were used to test the quadriceps
      force requirements for knee extension after sequential distal-to-proximal and
      proximal-to-distal excisions of the patella. The quadriceps force as a function
      of knee flexion angle was recorded for varying amounts of excision and compared
      with the results for total patellectomy. Excision of the proximal one half or
      less resulted in lower force requirements when compared with total patellectomy.
      The effects of removal of the proximal three-fourths length of patella were
      inconsistent and actually increased the force requirements in three knees. The
      effects of distal to proximal excisions indicate a biomechanical advantage to
      maintaining a fragment equal to at least three fourths the length of the proximal
      patella. Retaining a fragment of adequate size preserves at least some of the
      mechanical advantage provided by the intact patella.

PMID- 1446442
TI  - Fractures of the femur treated by intramedullary nailing using the fluted rod. A
      report of 193 consecutive cases.
AB  - One hundred ninety-three of 196 acute nonpathologic femoral shaft fractures were
      treated consecutively with intramedullary nailing using the fluted rod. Closed
      intramedullary nailing was used in 126 fractures, and an open technique was used
      in 67. This series includes 58 open fractures and 104 comminuted fractures. All
      fractures treated with the fluted rod united. Complications included three
      superficial infections (1.5%). Malrotation greater than 20 degrees was noted in
      six patients (3.1%). Significant shortening (5 cm), which required treatment,
      occurred in one patient. After initial resuscitation and evaluation, routine
      treatment included preoperative traction and a first-generation cephalosporin
      followed by accurate reduction and nailing of the fracture. The results of this
      series suggest that the fluted rod may be ideal for the treatment of most femoral
      shaft fractures.

PMID- 1446444
TI  - Intramedullary nailing of tibial nonunions.
AB  - Fifteen tibial nonunions, ranging nine months to 19 years after original injury,
      were treated with the Brooker intramedullary nail (IMN). The average number of
      previous failed surgeries was two. The fracture location ranged from several
      centimeters below the tubercle to 3 cm above the plafond. Twelve of 15 had bone
      grafting, and all 15 had fibular osteotomy at the time of the IMN procedure.
      Thirteen of 15 were reamed, and 11 of 15 were nailed open. Patients required an
      average of five postoperative days in the hospital, and 14 of 15 tibial nonunions
      healed uneventfully at an average of eight months after the IMN procedure. Weight
      bearing in a removable patellar-tendon-bearing (PTB) brace was encouraged in most
      cases by two to four weeks postoperative. One nonunion patent, traumatically
      refractured after rod removal, was treated at another hospital with dynamic
      compression plating and iliac crest bone graft; the fracture healed three months
      later but was considered an IMN treatment failure. There were no other
      significant complications. The IMN procedure encourages early return to function
      and reliably promotes union in even the most challenging and complex of tibial
      healing problems.

PMID- 1446443
TI  - Olecranon fractures. A clinical and radiographic comparison of tension band
      wiring and plate fixation.
AB  - Forty-one adult patients with displaced olecranon fractures were treated with
      open reduction internal fixation in a prospective, randomized study comparing
      tension band wiring (TBW) and plate fixation (PF). Plate fixation required longer
      operative time, but did not lead to an increased complication rate. Range of
      elbow motion at six months did not differ significantly between the two groups.
      Symptomatic metal prominence was frequently observed after TBW (42%), although
      true Kirschner wire (K-wire) migration was seen in only one patient.
      Postoperative loss of reduction, leading to a significant articular step-off or
      gap, was more frequent after TBW (53%) than after PF (5%). Tension band wiring
      resulted in 37% good clinical and 47% good roentgenographic results, as compared
      with PF, which resulted in 63% good clinical and 86% good roentgenographic
      results. Plate fixation should be carefully considered when planning open
      reduction and internal fixation of displaced olecranon fractures.

PMID- 1446445
TI  - Experimentally produced ankle fractures in autopsy specimens.
AB  - Twenty-six unembalmed lower-leg specimens were mounted in an experimental test
      device with the foot placed at a fixed degree of pronation/supination,
      dorsiflexion/plantar flexion, or both. Torque versus rotation curves were
      determined as each foot was externally rotated to failure. Torsional stiffness
      was determined for the first 20 degrees of external rotation, and energy to
      failure was noted at the point of initial failure. Anatomic dissection and
      roentgenographs delineated the degree of injury in all specimens. Gender had the
      greatest effect on both torque and energy parameters, and the injury pattern. In
      males, 67% of specimens had an oblique fibular fracture, torn anterior
      tibiofibular ligament, and torn deltoid ligament (SER2). In females, 45% had a
      transverse fibular fracture without syndesmotic or deltoid injury. Forty percent
      of females had the SER2 injury. Angle of supination/pronation did not correlate
      with a specific injury pattern. Peak axial load had a significant effect on
      stiffness, but increasing the load by more than three times body weight did not
      increase injury severity.

PMID- 1446446
TI  - The articular manifestations of Paget's disease of bone. A case report.
AB  - Disorders of joints are commonly associated with Paget's disease of bone but are
      often disregarded or attributed to the underlying Pagetic condition. The authors
      evaluated a 69-year-old man with extensive Paget's disease of bone, degenerative
      arthritis, calcific periarthritis, and gout. The degenerative arthritis and
      calcific periarthritis of the shoulders was originally mistaken for Paget's
      disease of the proximal humerus. The wrist arthritis was attributed to Paget's
      disease until evaluation of surgical pathology specimens showed intraarticular
      gouty granulomas. In evaluating and treating a patient with Paget's disease of
      bone, the orthopedic surgeon should be aware that the successful treatment of
      associated articular disorders may require therapeutic measures in addition to
      those used in treating the Paget's disease.

PMID- 1446447
TI  - In vitro bone-cell response to a capacitively coupled electrical field. The role
      of field strength, pulse pattern, and duty cycle.
AB  - Newborn rat calvarial bone cells were grown to confluence and subjected to a
      matrix of sine wave 60-kHz capacitively coupled electrical signals of various
      field strengths, pulse-burst patterns, and duty cycles. Both [3H] thymidine
      incorporation into DNA and alkaline phosphatase activity were evaluated in field
      strengths ranging from 0.0001 to 20 mV/cm, with pulse-burst patterns ranging from
      continuous to 5 milliseconds ON/495 milliseconds OFF, with daily duty cycles
      ranging from 0.25% to 25%. A significant increase in proliferation occurred in
      field strengths of 0.1, 1, and 20 mV/cm when the signal was applied continuously
      for six hours. Significant proliferation also occurred when the 20-mV/cm field
      was pulsed for six hours at 5 milliseconds ON/495 milliseconds OFF and at 5
      milliseconds ON/245 milliseconds OFF. No change in alkaline phosphatase activity
      occurred in the 20-mV/cm field with any signal. At 1 mV/cm, there was a
      significant decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity in the continuous signal
      and in the 5 milliseconds ON/62 milliseconds OFF signal; in the lower fields
      evaluated, there was an actual decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity with
      some of the signals. The field strength plays a dominant role in determining the
      bone-cell's proliferative response, and to a lesser extent the alkaline
      phosphatase activity response, to a capacitively coupled electric field. The
      pulse configuration and the duty cycle are also important, but only if the proper
      field strength is being applied to the cell.

PMID- 1446448
TI  - Changes in somatosensory-evoked potentials in limb lengthening. An experimental
      study on rabbits' tibiae.
AB  - To assess the influence of the rate and amount of distraction on the
      electrophysiologic function of the peripheral nerve during limb lengthening,
      somatosensory-evoked potential (SSEP) studies were performed on the hindlimbs of
      96 rabbits. In Group I, the tibiae were lengthened 0.35 mm per day; in Group II,
      0.7 mm per day; in Group III, 1.05 mm per day; and in Group IV, 1.4 mm per day.
      The studies were done preoperatively and then postoperatively, until six weeks in
      Group I, five weeks in Group II, four weeks in Group III, and three weeks in
      Group IV. As lengthening proceeded, the P1 (the first major positive peak)
      latency gradually increased, whereas the amplitude decreased. Significant
      amplitude changes were observed at six-weeks postsurgery in Group I, three weeks
      in Group II, two weeks in Group III, and one week in Group IV. Significant
      changes in P1 latency were observed at four weeks postsurgery in Group II, three
      weeks in Group III, and two weeks in Group IV. Greater percentage increases in
      tibial length corresponded to more marked changes in P1 latency and amplitude.
      The SSEP monitoring may serve as an effective tool for early detection of
      neurologic dysfunction during limb lengthening.

PMID- 1446449
TI  - Positive correlation between ulnar shortness (relative to the radius) and
      Kienbock's disease.

PMID- 1446450
TI  - A comparison of magnetic resonance imaging to bone scintigraphy in early
      traumatic ischemia of the femoral head.
AB  - In adult rabbits, a unilateral subcapital osteotomy of the femoral neck was
      performed to induce avascularity. One half of the osteotomy sites were fixed with
      a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatible absorbable pin and the other
      osteotomies had no fixation. The femoral heads were studied at three, five, and
      12 days with roentgenographs, bone scintigraphy, and MRI, and MRI only at four
      weeks and six weeks after osteotomy. Histologic studies were performed after
      imaging to evaluate the viability of the femoral heads. At three, five, and 12
      days after osteotomy, bone scintigraphy showed a decrease in uptake of
      radioisotope in the region of the femoral head on the operated side relative to
      the acetabulum and greater trochanter in 17 of 18 rabbits. A comparison of the
      surgically treated hip to the normal hip in fixed and unfixed osteotomies showed
      no change in the signal behavior of T1- or T2-weighted images in all rabbits Days
      3, 5, and 12 (n = 18) after operation. The rabbit femoral heads with fixation of
      the osteotomy 28 days after operation showed a decrease in signal intensity in
      the subcapital region of the femoral head. Six weeks after operation, the fixed
      femoral head shows a loss of signal in a portion of the femoral head near the
      osteotomy. The MRI signal intensity appears to increase in the unfixed femoral
      heads six weeks after operation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446451
TI  - Cortical strut allografts in the reconstruction of the femur in revision total
      hip arthroplasty. A basic science and clinical study.
AB  - Repeated total hip arthroplasties cause a loss of bone stock that will produce
      diminished component support, and can compromise implant function. There is,
      therefore, a compelling argument to return bone stock to the femur at the time of
      revision arthroplasty. Cortical strut allografts serve this purpose. They unite
      consistently and reliably, by 8.4 months on average. The overall rate of strut
      union is 96.6%. The sequence of healing events starts with round-off, followed by
      partial bridging and complete bridging. The repair process includes remodeling of
      the host femur, as well as the graft. Although there is variable resorption of
      some grafts, usually where not opposed to the host bone, there is also extension
      of others from host callus build-up such that, on average, there is no
      significant measurable loss of graft length or width. Most of the allograft
      struts, 78%, maintained a radiodense appearance. Clinical results of femoral
      revision with strut allografting have shown satisfactory end results compared
      with historic controls, with an average Harris score of 79.6 and a 2.7%
      subsidence rate. Of particular note is that the subsidence rate and clinical
      scores did not vary with the state of the preoperative femur, as has been shown
      repeatedly in the past. The canine model shows that the strut allografts are
      biologically active. Through mobilization of mesenchymal tissue, they are
      transformed into vascularized calluslike structures while maintaining good
      strength, and then further remodel to lamellar bone.

PMID- 1446452
TI  - Metal to metal total hip joint replacement using the Urist socket. An end result
      study. 1973.

PMID- 1446453
TI  - Charnley low-friction arthroplasty in the young patient.
AB  - One thousand three hundred forty-two Charnley low-friction arthroplasties (LFAs)
      were reviewed at an average of ten years four months after surgery. Patients'
      average age at surgery was 41 years. The clinical results at follow-up review
      remained excellent: 79% were pain free and 11% had no more than occasional
      discomfort. One hundred forty-one (10.5%) LFAs have been revised so far. Stem
      fracture has been completely eliminated. Revision for stem loosening has been
      reduced to below 1% and revision for socket loosening has also been reduced. The
      long-term problem remains socket wear--and with it--an increasing incidence of
      socket migration. Failure of component fixation is a short- and medium-term
      problem that has been improved by better component design and surgical technique.

PMID- 1446454
TI  - A knowledge-based computer-aided design and manufacturing system for total hip
      replacement.
AB  - A knowledge-based computer-aided design and manufacturing system (CAD-CAM) has
      been developed for total hip replacement. Knowledge-based refers to the fact that
      the design process is a computer program that has been provided with
      preprogrammed design rules. Compared with conventional CAD-CAM systems, the
      knowledge-based system is automated, requires less designer intervention, and
      increases the accuracy of the design process. The capabilities of the system make
      it ideal for the design of standard and custom total hip replacement. A full
      fill, press-fit custom total hip replacement has been designed using the
      knowledge-based system. The early clinical results of a series of 37 replacements
      in 31 patients is described in this paper.

PMID- 1446455
TI  - Development of a surgical robot for cementless total hip arthroplasty.
AB  - The long-term success of cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA) may depend on
      bone ingrowth into the porous-fixation surfaces of the implant. The ingrowth
      process is facilitated when the surgeon achieves a satisfactory fit for the
      prosthesis. Clinically or roentgenographically visible failure and persistent
      thigh pain after cementless THA remain significant problems, both of which may be
      alleviated by more precise preparation of the femoral canal and selection of an
      appropriately sized prosthesis. The objective of this study was to obtain an
      exact fit for the prosthesis through the use of an image-directed surgical robot
      for femoral canal preparation.

PMID- 1446456
TI  - Is it advantageous to strengthen the cement-metal interface and use a collar for
      cemented femoral components of total hip replacements?
AB  - The mechanism of initiation of loosening of cemented femoral components is now
      known. It is debonding at the cement-metal interface. Current data strongly
      support the concept that a collar and improvement of the cement-metal interface
      are valuable. Precoating and having a roughened surface proximally and distally
      on the stem contribute to extended longevity of the cement-metal interface. Using
      contemporary instrumentation, collar-calcar contact can be achieved regularly
      and, once achieved, is well maintained for years.

PMID- 1446457
TI  - The silver anniversary of The Hip Society. A brief history.

PMID- 1446458
TI  - The use of a collar and precoating on cemented femoral stems is unnecessary and
      detrimental.
AB  - Evidence is presented, largely from clinical sources, that a large collar is not
      necessary for the transfer of load to the proximal femur in cemented total hip
      arthroplasty. In fact, the use of a collar may have a number of deleterious side
      effects that cannot be predicted from theoretical analyses. Concern is also
      raised over the use of precoated femoral stems.

PMID- 1446459
TI  - Do we need to vacuum mix or centrifuge cement?
AB  - In total hip surgery, the goal of porosity reduction techniques in the
      preparation of acrylic bone cement is to provide a stronger, more fatigue
      resistant material between the implant and bone. Conventional mixing of
      polymethylmethacrylate bone cement produces porosity of 5% to 16%, whereas vacuum
      mixing or centrifugation reduces the porosity to a range of 0.1% to 3.4%.
      Multiple studies have demonstrated that this results in a cement that has a
      significant increase in static and dynamic testing to failure. Fracture of the
      cement mantle has been found as a part of the failure pattern in many total hip
      prostheses requiring revision for loosening. Vacuum mixing or centrifugation
      produces a stronger cement to resist the component of loosening caused by
      fracture of the cement mantle. Where failure occurs at the bone-cement interface,
      as in cemented acetabular migration, no improvements from porosity reduction
      would be expected. Along with enhanced femoral designs, improvements in cement
      technique with modern methods of bone preparation and administration of the
      cement have resulted in a marked improvement in clinical and roentgenographic
      loosening rates in cemented femoral components at medium-term follow-up periods
      of five to ten years. Intact total hip prostheses, retrieved for reasons other
      than loosening, at longer-term follow-up periods, have shown intact bone-cement
      interfaces. However, these specimens have also shown incipient cracks in the
      acrylic cement that emanate from and connect defects in the cement mantle and at
      the metal-cement interface. The use of a void-free, structurally stronger
      material is expected to improve the stability and longevity of the cement
      supporting femoral implants.

PMID- 1446460
TI  - Roentgenographic and mechanical performance of centrifuged cement in a simulated
      total hip arthroplasty model.
AB  - Roentgenographic analysis showed that centrifugation significantly reduced the
      gross and regional porosity of the cement compared with hand-mixed controls in a
      simulated total hip arthroplasty model. Static failure test of the prosthetic
      system demonstrated that the centrifuged cement had significantly greater
      strength than the hand-mixed cement. Under low-cycle fatigue tests of the same
      composite models, there was a trend for the centrifuged cement to be stronger
      than the hand-mixed specimens, although statistically it was not significant.
      Thus, centrifugation can reduce porosity and significantly improve the static
      strength of cement in a simulated in vitro total hip replacement model. When
      cement is used, any possible improvement in the physical properties of bone
      cement should be considered.

PMID- 1446461
TI  - Drug therapy of hyperlipidemia.

PMID- 1446462
TI  - Bronchoalveolar lavage. Let's focus on clinical utility.

PMID- 1446463
TI  - Weaning parameters. Are they clinically useful?

PMID- 1446464
TI  - Department of minimally invasive medical and surgical techniques.

PMID- 1446465
TI  - Perivascular fibrosis of muscular pulmonary arteries in chronic obstructive
      pulmonary disease.
AB  - We performed a morphometric analysis of peribronchiolar and perivascular fibrosis
      in lungs obtained at autopsy from six patients with chronic bronchitis, six with
      pulmonary emphysema, and four normal control subjects. The areas of fibrosis
      outside the smooth muscle layer of bronchioles and outside the external elastic
      lamina of muscular pulmonary arteries were measured and their thickness was then
      calculated by assuming a round airway or artery. Patients with chronic bronchitis
      had significantly thicker peribronchiolar fibrosis in bronchioles of 1 mm or less
      in diameter and also thicker perivascular fibrosis of the adjacent muscular
      pulmonary arteries than the other two groups. The extent of perivascular fibrosis
      was significantly correlated with peribronchiolar fibrosis only in the muscular
      pulmonary arteries adjacent to the bronchioles but not in those away from the
      bronchioles. These findings suggest direct extension of chronic inflammation from
      bronchioles to the adjacent muscular pulmonary arteries in chronic bronchitis but
      not in pulmonary emphysema. Such perivascular fibrosis might lead to sustained
      pulmonary hypertension.

PMID- 1446466
TI  - Nasal CPAP continues to improve sleep-disordered breathing and daytime
      oxygenation over long-term follow-up of occlusive sleep apnea syndrome.
AB  - To assess the effects of long-term nasal continuous positive airway pressure
      (CPAP) in occlusive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA), 17 patients with severe
      symptomatic OSA had repeated spirometry, arterial blood gases, and nocturnal
      polysomnograms off nasal CPAP after 3 to 46 months of treatment with nasal CPAP.
      Without loss of weight or change in respiratory mechanics, the ventilatory
      disturbance index fell from a mean of 87 events per hour to 57 events per hour (p
      < 0.0001), correlating with an improvement in mean nocturnal desaturation with
      sleep-disordered breathing events (r = 0.54, p = 0.03). Moreover, the daytime
      PaO2 rose significantly from a mean of 69 mm Hg to a mean of 82 mm Hg (P =
      0.0001) at follow-up. The rise in daytime PaO2 was not only due to the
      alleviation of daytime hypercapnea observed in eight of nine hypercapneic
      subjects since the P(A-a)O2 gradient also decreased significantly. The
      improvement in PaO2 correlated significantly with the number of months of CPAP
      therapy, suggesting a continuing effect over time (r = 0.58, p = 0.015). These
      results indicate that there is a reversible element of the severity of OSA and
      suggest a result of nasal CPAP therapy may be to reverse the adverse and time
      dependent effects of hypoxemia and sleep fragmentation on ventilatory control in
      severe OSA.

PMID- 1446467
TI  - Sleep-disordered breathing in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy using
      negative pressure ventilators.
AB  - We studied the occurrence of nocturnal disordered breathing events and O2
      desaturations in 12 patients with late-stage Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)
      using negative pressure ventilators. We also assessed the effects of O2
      supplementation and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on
      disordered breathing events in selected patients and examined sleep quality in a
      small subgroup. Average age was 23 + 2 years and FVC was 293 + 33 ml. Eleven of
      the 12 patients had more than five disordered breathing events per hour during
      nocturnal monitoring, and the lowest O2 saturation was < 85 percent in nine
      patients. Nasal O2 (2 L/min) during negative pressure ventilation in four
      patients did not alter the frequency of disordered breathing events, prolonged
      the mean and maximum durations of events, and failed to eliminate severe O2
      desaturations in two patients. Nasal CPAP was used in two patients during
      negative pressure ventilation and completely eliminated disordered breathing
      events in both. Overnight polysomnography during negative pressure ventilation in
      three patients demonstrated frequent awakenings that fell in frequency following
      elective tracheostomy in two patients and use of nasal CPAP in one. We conclude
      that negative pressure ventilation in patients with late-stage DMD is associated
      with frequent disordered breathing events and severe O2 desaturations in many
      patients. Concomitant use of O2 supplementation may prolong the events, but a
      switch to positive pressure ventilation or addition of nasal CPAP is effective
      therapy.

PMID- 1446468
TI  - The relationship between sleep apnea syndrome and hypothyroidism.
AB  - To evaluate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in patients
      with hypothyroidism, the prevalence of hypothyroidism in patients with OSAS, the
      possible factors predisposing to sleep-related breathing disorder in hypothyroid
      patients, and the effect of thyroid hormone in treating hypothyroidism associated
      with OSAS, we studied 65 patients with proven OSAS (apnea index [AI] > 5) and 20
      hypothyroid patients. All patients were monitored for one overnight sleep study
      using polysomnography (Grass 78). We found only two (3.1 percent) of 65 OSAS
      patients had thyroid hypofunction. Of 20 patients with hypothyroidism, two showed
      moderate to severe OSAS and three had mild OSAS. Patients with both
      hypothyroidism and OSAS had impaired respiratory drive, but this was corrected by
      thyroid hormone therapy. Patients with hypothyroidism without OSAS were younger
      and had a lower percentage of ideal body weight than those with both
      hypothyroidism and OSAS. All hypothyroid patients were snorers. Thyroid hormone
      replacement was effective in correcting snoring only after one year of therapy.
      We conclude the following: (1) an overnight sleep study is not necessary in every
      case of hypothyroidism; (2) thyroid function studies need not be done routinely
      for every OSAS patient; (3) thyroid hormone therapy is effective for OSAS but it
      takes longer to correct the snore than respiratory drive; and (4) age and body
      weight are related to the development of OSAS.

PMID- 1446469
TI  - Chronic persistent cough and clearance of esophageal acid.
AB  - Unexplained chronic persistent cough has been shown to be associated with
      increased episodes of otherwise asymptomatic gastroesophageal reflux; however,
      normal subjects without cough also exhibit some reflux. We postulate that the
      prompt clearance of refluxed acid from the esophagus may play an important role
      in the prevention of cough, and we sought to determine if patients with chronic
      cough have impaired clearance. Thirty patients with unexplained chronic cough
      underwent 24-h ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring. Compared to 12 matched
      control subjects, patients experienced significantly more episodes (all values
      expressed as median [range]) of reflux per 24 h (88.3 [5.0 to 338.0] vs 5.7 [0 to
      13.0]; p < 0.0001) and had impaired clearance of esophageal acid as measured by
      the duration of individual reflux episodes (3.0 [0.1 to 20.5] min per reflux vs
      0.7 [0 to 2.5] min per reflux; p < 0.01). We conclude that patients with chronic
      persistent cough have impaired clearance of esophageal acid.

PMID- 1446470
TI  - Pattern of non-ICU inpatient supplemental oxygen utilization in a university
      hospital.
AB  - Random assessments of SaO2 were performed via pulse oximetry in 274 hospitalized
      non-ICU patients prescribed supplemental O2 in a large tertiary care university
      hospital. In 507 assessments performed in patients inspiring the prescribed O2,
      426 were receiving excessive amounts of O2 to maintain a SaO2 > or = 92 percent.
      In 233 of these assessments, SaO2 was > or = 92 percent while breathing ambient
      air. In an additional 193 assessments, the concentration of inspired supplemental
      O2 was excessive to maintain a SaO2 > or = 92 percent. However, in 81 assessments
      performed in patients inspiring O2, the prescribed amount was insufficient to
      maintain SaO2 > or = 92 percent. These results indicate that O2 prescription in
      hospitalized non-ICU patients is excessive or not required in the majority of
      cases. Furthermore, routine use of pulse oximetry in hospitalized patients
      prescribed O2 may be useful in determining the continued need for supplemental O2
      and adjusting the proper concentration needed to avoid hypoxemia.

PMID- 1446471
TI  - Acute outcome of directional coronary atherectomy vs standard balloon angioplasty
      in de novo left anterior descending stenoses.
AB  - To assess the immediate outcome of directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) versus
      standard balloon angioplasty (PTCA) in de novo left anterior descending coronary
      stenoses, 25 consecutive atherectomies (22 men, 3 women) performed at The Toronto
      Hospital, between July 1990 and March 1991 were compared with 25 (14 men, 11
      women) temporally matched successful angioplasties. Coronary stenoses were
      analyzed by quantitative arteriography, using the Coronary Measurement System
      (Leiden, The Netherlands), with estimation of transstenotic hemodynamics by fluid
      dynamic equations. Before and after procedure qualitative blood flow (TIMI
      criteria) was also evaluated, as was intimal haziness and coronary dissection. In
      comparison to PTCA, coronary atherectomy produced less residual minimum stenotic
      diameter (DCA, 2.75 +/- 0.55 vs PTCA, 1.70 +/- 0.44 mm, p < 0.001), and relative
      percent diameter stenosis (DCA, 17.9 +/- 10.7 vs PTCA, 34.4 +/- 10.7 percent, p <
      0.001), with less transstenotic obstructive gradient (DCA, 0.2 +/- 0.2 vs PTCA,
      1.0 +/- 1.5 mm Hg, p < 0.05), and greater estimated stenotic flow reserve (DCA,
      4.86 +/- 0.15 vs PTCA, 4.50 +/- 0.48 x baseline, p < 0.05). Coronary atherectomy
      "normalized" TIMI flow patterns in virtually all patients (DCA, 2.96 +/- 0.20 vs
      PTCA, 2.72 +/- 0.45, p < 0.05), while creating less intimal haziness (DCA, 10/25
      [40 percent] vs PTCA, 23/25 [92 percent], p < 0.01), and coronary dissection
      (DCA, 6/25 [24 percent] vs PTCA, 16/25 [64 percent], p < 0.05). Therefore, when
      compared with standard balloon angioplasty, DCA produces less residual stenosis,
      better transstenotic hemodynamics, while decreasing the frequency of coronary
      artery damage, in de novo left anterior descending stenoses.

PMID- 1446472
TI  - Creatine kinase and creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme during and after exercise
      testing in normal and obese young people.
AB  - We report creatine kinase (CK) and CK-MB values during a cycloergometric test up
      to maximal work capacity in 10 normal subjects aged 20 to 39 years (mean body
      mass index, 22 kg/m2) and 11 obese patients aged 17 to 42 years (mean body mass
      index, 41 kg/m2), all without any cardiorespiratory diseases. Total CK was
      significantly higher in obese patients. The CK-MB was not significantly different
      between the two groups, except at the first recovery when it was increased in
      obese patients and decreased in normal subjects. These results could be due to
      more important total stress of the total musculature, especially cardiac, and
      especially cardiac musculature in obese patients during a physical effort.
      Considering the mean values of total CK of our obese patients, it may be possible
      that they have myocardial damage at percentages of CK-MB less than those of lean
      subjects generally accepted at more than 4 percent. Moreover, in obese heart
      patients myocardial distress during exercise testing may be present despite heart
      rate at peak exercise beneath the theoretic maximal.

PMID- 1446473
TI  - Using contrast material-enhanced echocardiography to identify abnormal pulmonary
      arteriovenous connections in patients with hypoxemia.
AB  - The phenomenon of abnormal pulmonary arteriovenous connections in patients with
      acquired lung disease rarely has been reported. We report three patients with
      acquired lung disease and hypoxia that did not respond to the administration of
      100 percent oxygen. Contrast-material-enhanced echocardiography demonstrated
      intrapulmonary right-to-left shunting in all three patients. These cases suggest
      that patients with hypoxia due to acquired lung disease may be screened by
      contrast-enhanced echocardiography to identify the presence and the location of
      anatomic right-to-left shunts.

PMID- 1446474
TI  - Postoperative atelectasis reexpansion by selective insufflation through a balloon
      tipped catheter.
AB  - Although treatment of refractory atelectasis has been improved by pulmonary
      insufflation through FOB with balloon cuff, low pulmonary compliance and high
      critical opening pressure of alveoli in the atelectatic areas require a more
      selective approach to prevent pressure dispersion to highly compliant zones. To
      achieve the highest insufflation selectivity and reduce patient discomfort, we
      have devised a small caliber balloon-tipped catheter to easily reach even the
      minor branches of the bronchial tree. This result was obtained by utilizing the
      performed curve of the catheter distal end after withdrawing the internal stylet.
      The catheter was introduced through the nostrils (16 patients) or through an
      endotracheal tube (two patients) and advanced under fluoroscopic guidance.
      Reexpansion of atelectatic areas was accomplished by repeated air injections
      through a 60-ml syringe. No complications were observed. Complete disappearance
      of x-ray film evidence of atelectasis was obtained in 15 patients and partial
      reexpansion in 3 patients.

PMID- 1446475
TI  - Can portable chest x-ray examination accurately diagnose lung consolidation after
      major abdominal surgery? A comparison with computed tomography scan.
AB  - PURPOSE: To prospectively quantify the degree of accuracy of portable chest x-ray
      film examination in the detection of postoperative lung consolidations. STUDY:
      Nineteen patients had a chest x-ray film and computed tomography (CT) scan the
      day before and 48 h following elective abdominal aortic replacement. RESULTS: The
      diagnosis of lung consolidations by x-ray film examination showed sensitivity of
      between 0.33 and 1.00, depending on the lung zone considered (lower at the lung
      bases). Specificity always was greater than 0.79. Radiologic lung volume
      decreased 16 percent postoperatively (p < 0.01) on average and noninflated
      parenchyma increased by a factor of 3 (p < 0.0001). Postoperatively, PaO2
      correlated with the amount of condensed lung by CT scan (p < 0.002). CONCLUSION:
      In postoperative conditions, x-ray film examination is a method which presents
      good specificity but poor sensitivity in the diagnosis of lung consolidations.

PMID- 1446476
TI  - Lung cancer in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection compared with
      historic control subjects.
AB  - Lung cancer infrequently may be associated with human immunodeficiency virus
      (HIV) infection. This retrospective case-control study was undertaken to
      determine if there were differences in age, sex, and stage distribution and in
      survival between HIV-positive and HIV-indeterminate lung cancer patients. We
      compared 19 patients with both pathologically verified lung cancer and HIV
      infection proved by serologic study with lung cancer patients with an
      indeterminate HIV status. All 19 HIV-positive lung cancer patients were men. This
      was significantly (p = 0.004) different from the 69 percent male preponderance in
      1,335 HIV-indeterminate lung cancer patients. Median ages of HIV-positive and HIV
      indeterminate patients were 48 and 61 years, respectively. HIV-positive patients
      were significantly (p = 0.0139) younger. Stage distribution was similar in both
      groups. Histologic features and smoking were not significantly different between
      the two groups. Survival data that were available in 16 HIV-positive patients
      were compared with 32 HIV-indeterminate control subjects matched for stage, age,
      sex, and race. The median survival was three months in the HIV-positive group and
      ten months in the HIV-indeterminate cohort. The survival was significantly
      different (p = 0.002). There were no one-year survivors in HIV-positive lung
      cancer patients.

PMID- 1446477
TI  - Increased inhaled bronchodilator vs increased inhaled corticosteroid in the
      control of moderate asthma.
AB  - Undertreatment of chronic asthma may reflect uncertainty as to how it may be best
      controlled. We compared the effects of increased inhaled corticosteroid vs
      regular inhaled bronchodilator in 32 adult asthmatics. During three 16-week
      treatment periods, comprising baseline inhaled corticosteroid (mean 505
      micrograms daily) and on-demand beta-agonist, baseline inhaled corticosteroid and
      increased (regularly scheduled four times daily) beta-agonist, and increased
      inhaled corticosteroid (mean 1478 micrograms daily) and on-demand beta-agonist,
      subjects recorded symptoms, morning and evening peak flow, and additional
      medication. Of 25 subjects whose control differed significantly between
      treatments with baseline vs increased corticosteroid, 22 (88 percent) favored the
      increased dosage (p < 0.001). Of 28 subjects whose control differed between
      treatments with regular beta-agonist vs increased corticosteroid, 24 (86 percent)
      were better controlled with increased inhaled corticosteroid and were worse with
      regular beta-agonist (p < 0.001). Only one quarter the number of exacerbations
      were experienced during treatment with increased inhaled corticosteroid. Upper
      airway adverse effects were minor and easily controlled. Hence, asthma with
      persistent symptoms was better controlled by increased inhaled corticosteroid
      therapy than by increased use of inhaled beta-agonist.

PMID- 1446478
TI  - Skeletal muscle metabolism in the chronic fatigue syndrome. In vivo assessment by
      31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous study of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has
      demonstrated a markedly reduced dynamic exercise capacity, not limited by cardiac
      performance and in the absence of clinical neuromuscular dysfunction, suggesting
      the possibility of a subclinical defect of skeletal muscle. METHODS: The in vivo
      metabolism of the gastrocnemius muscles of 22 CFS patients and 21 normal control
      subjects was compared during rest, graded dynamic exercise to exhaustion and
      recovery, using 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to reflect
      minute-to-minute intracellular high-energy phosphate metabolism. RESULTS:
      Duration of exercise was markedly shorter in the CFS patients (8.1 +/- 2.8 min)
      compared with the normal subjects (11.3 +/- 4.3 min) (p = 0.005). There were
      large changes in phosphocreatine (PCr), inorganic phosphate (Pi), and pH from
      rest to clinical fatigue in all subjects, reflecting the high intensity of the
      exercise. The temporal metabolic patterns were qualitatively similar in the CFS
      patients and normal subjects. There were early and continuous changes in PCr and
      Pi that peaked at the point of fatigue and rapidly reversed after exercise. In
      contrast, pH was relatively static in early exercise, not declining noticeably
      until 50 percent of total exercise duration was achieved, and reaching a nadir at
      2 min postexercise, before rapidly reversing. There were no differences in pH at
      rest (7.08 +/- 0.04 vs 7.10 +/- 0.04), exhaustion (6.85 +/- 0.17 vs 6.76 +/-
      0.17) or early (6.64 +/- 0.25 vs 6.56 +/- 0.24) or late recovery (7.09 +/- 0.04
      vs 7.10 +/- 0.05), CFS patients vs normal subjects, respectively (NS). Neither
      were there intergroup differences (NS) in PCr or Pi. Although, quantitatively,
      the changes in PCr, Pi, and pH were marked and similar in both groups from rest
      to exhaustion, the changes all occurred much more rapidly in the CFS patients.
      Moreover, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was significantly (p = 0.007) less at
      exhaustion in the CFS group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CFS and normal control
      subjects have similar skeletal muscle metabolic patterns during dynamic exercise
      and reach similar clinical and metabolic end points. However, CFS patients reach
      exhaustion much more rapidly than normal subjects, at which point they also have
      relatively reduced intracellular concentrations of ATP. These data suggest a
      defect of oxidative metabolism with a resultant acceleration of glycolysis in the
      working skeletal muscles of CFS patients. This metabolic defect may contribute to
      the reduced physical endurance of CFS patients. Its etiology is unknown. Whether
      CFS patients' overwhelming tiredness at rest has a similar metabolic
      pathophysiology or etiology also remains unknown.

PMID- 1446479
TI  - Lung cancer in young adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To define the basis for the conflicting reports on the prognosis of
      lung cancer in young adults. DESIGN: Retrospective review of lung cancer patients
      between 1977 and 1988. SETTING: Medical centers in Chicago (Northwestern Memorial
      Hospital), northern Israel (Rambam Medical Center), and northern Italy (S. Anna
      and U. of Pavia Hospitals). PATIENTS: Patients were < or = 45 years of age with a
      diagnosis of primary lung cancer identified from tumor registry records,
      pathology reports, and hospital charts, plus a sample of patients > 45 years of
      age. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In Chicago, younger patients had a higher
      incidence of chest pain, fever, and neurologic symptoms at presentation than the
      older patients, and fewer were asymptomatic. They also had more lower lobe
      lesions on chest roentgenogram, a higher incidence of adenocarcinoma, more
      advanced disease, an increased likelihood of receiving chemotherapy, and reduced
      survival (p < 0.03). The poorer prognosis was due to more advanced disease at
      presentation. In Israel, younger patients more frequently presented with stage I
      disease than the older patients and they had a higher incidence of
      adenocarcinoma, an increased likelihood of receiving treatment especially
      surgery, and better survival (p < 0.02). There were no differences between the
      two age groups for symptoms, symptom duration, and chest roentgenogram findings.
      Compared with the younger patients in Chicago and Israel, those from northern
      Italy had more squamous cell cancers and fewer adenocarcinomas, more commonly
      presented with stage I or II disease, received radiation therapy less frequently,
      and were given supportive care more often. Survival was low and comparable to
      that reported from Chicago. CONCLUSION: Differences exist in the clinical
      characteristics, pathologic findings, and prognosis of younger and older patients
      with lung cancer from the same region and of younger patients from different
      regions. The difference in prognosis is related in part to the stage of disease
      at presentation and the ability to undergo resectional surgery.

PMID- 1446480
TI  - Reduction of pulmonary surfactant in patients with human immunodeficiency virus
      infection and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
AB  - We assessed qualitative and quantitative differences in surfactant lipid
      composition of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in patients with acquired
      immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and Pneumocystis carinii (PC) pneumonia. Five
      normal volunteers and 27 patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
      infection underwent BAL for evaluation of possible pulmonary infection.
      Bronchoalveolar lavage studies in eight patients were negative for PC organisms,
      and 19 were positive. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was graded (mild vs moderate
      to severe) by initial alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient. Bronchoalveolar lavage
      fluid was centrifuged, the lipids were extracted from the supernatant, and total
      lipid profiles of dephosphorylated glycerolipids were analyzed as
      trimethylsilylether derivatives by high temperature gas-liquid chromatography.
      Phospholipase A2 levels were determined using a radiolabeled E coli membrane
      method. Compared to the normal volunteers (109 +/- 13 micrograms/5 ml) and the PC
      negative group (107 +/- 13 micrograms/5 ml), total BAL lipid was reduced for both
      the mild PC pneumonia group (73 +/- 10 micrograms/5 ml) and the moderate to
      severe PC pneumonia group (46 +/- 4 micrograms/5 ml). There was a parallel
      reduction of diacylglycerol lipids: normal volunteers, 52 +/- 7 micrograms/5 ml;
      PC negative, 52 +/- 9 micrograms/5 ml; mild PC pneumonia, 35 +/- 7 micrograms/5
      ml; and moderate to severe PC pneumonia, 15 +/- 2 micrograms/5 ml. Phospholipase
      A2 activity in moderate to severe PC pneumonia was twice that of the PC negative
      patients, and 30 times that for normals. The data demonstrate a marked diminution
      in surfactant glycerophospholipid in patients with AIDS and PC pneumonia and
      suggest a potential role for surfactant abnormality in the pathophysiology of
      this disease.

PMID- 1446481
TI  - Time course of pulmonary function before admission into ICU. A two-year
      retrospective study of COLD patients with hypercapnia.
AB  - Changes in cardiopulmonary function were retrospectively evaluated back to two
      years before acute exacerbations requiring ICU admission in 16 COLD patients with
      chronic hypercapnic respiratory insufficiency (age: 61 +/- 6 years, group A).
      Fifteen hypercapnic COLD patients matched for age, sex, lung function, and blood
      gas values not requiring an ICU admission in a period of two years, served as
      control subjects (age: 66 +/- 7, group B). Periodic assessments of spirometry,
      arterial blood gas values, echocardiography, body weight, and red blood cell
      count performed in stable state were compared for differences between groups and
      changes over a period of two years. The results indicated that basal body weight,
      rate of deterioration over time in FEV1, VC, blood gas values, bicarbonates, and
      RVD may be related to the necessity of ICU admission in COLD patients with
      hypercapnic respiratory insufficiency.

PMID- 1446482
TI  - Resuscitation from severe acute hypercapnia. Determinants of tolerance and
      survival.
AB  - A 46-year-old man underwent cosmetic facial surgery under general anesthesia. He
      was ventilated by mask with an oxygen-enriched gas mixture for 4 to 6 h and
      monitored by pulse oximetry. Despite adequate arterial saturation (SaO2 > 90
      percent) throughout the procedure, he remained in a deep coma after termination
      of anesthesia. Initial arterial blood gas analysis revealed a pH of 6.60 and a
      PaCO2 of 375 mm Hg. The patient was intubated and placed on mechanical
      ventilation. As his respiratory acidosis resolved, he regained consciousness
      quickly and recovered without any neurologic deficits. This case of record
      extreme hypercapnia and review of the literature demonstrates that survival is
      possible in acute severe respiratory acidosis as long as tissue anoxia and
      ischemia are prevented. We discuss the tissue effects of acute hypercapnia and
      newer aspects of the nature of intracellular pH regulation in critical tissues
      that afford considerable tolerance to acidosis. The dependence of these
      mechanisms upon active ion transport underscores the importance of adequate
      tissue oxygenation and perfusion.

PMID- 1446483
TI  - Large pericardial effusions in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
AB  - The increasing importance of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) as a
      cause of large, clinically significant pericardial effusions has not been well
      documented. To determine the frequency and characteristics of large AIDS
      associated pericardial effusions, we reviewed the records of 50 consecutive
      patients undergoing pericardiocentesis between 1985 and 1990; AIDS was the most
      common underlying illness and was present in 14 patients (28 percent). The
      pericardial fluid was diagnostic in three (21 percent) of the 14 cases (one
      bacterial, one positive for acid-fast bacilli, and one lymphoma). Of the 11
      patients with nondiagnostic fluid, one underwent a pericardial biopsy which
      revealed granuloma consistent with mycobacterial disease, four had active
      pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), and two responded clinically to anti-TB therapy.
      Thus, in 8 (57 percent) of the 14 patients with AIDS, there was either definitive
      or suggestive evidence of mycobacterial disease. We conclude that AIDS is now a
      common underlying illness associated with large pericardial effusions and that
      mycobacterial disease may frequently be the etiology.

PMID- 1446484
TI  - The relationship of clinical findings to CT scan evidence of adrenal gland
      metastases in the staging of bronchogenic carcinoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether, during the staging of newly diagnosed
      bronchogenic carcinoma, clinical indicators predict the presence or absence of
      adrenal metastases detected by computerized tomographic (CT) scans. DESIGN:
      Retrospective review of charts and roentgenograms. SETTING: Academic medical
      center. PATIENTS: Two hundred five consecutive patients diagnosed with
      bronchogenic carcinoma, of whom 173 had sufficient data available for analysis.
      MEASUREMENTS: Charts were reviewed for abnormalities in three clinical categories
      (signs, symptoms, and routine laboratory tests) and the presence of
      extrapulmonary tumor spread. The CT scans were reviewed for evidence of adrenal
      involvement by radiologists blinded to clinical findings. MAIN RESULTS: Thirty
      patients had abnormal adrenal glands on CT scan. In 26 the abnormality was
      believed to represent adrenal metastasis, whereas in four the CT findings were
      consistent with adrenal adenomas. The frequency of adrenal metastases varied with
      the number of positive, clinical findings (chi 2 = 105.4; p < 0.001). All 26
      patients with adrenal metastases had at least one clinical abnormality, and 21
      (81 percent had abnormalities in either two or all three clinical categories. In
      40 patients without any clinical indicators of widespread disease, none had CT
      evidence of adrenal metastases. The presence of adrenal metastases also varied
      with the extent of coexistent disease (chi 2 = 111.82; p < 0.001). Eighty-one
      percent (21) of the patients with and 18 percent of those without adrenal
      metastases had both intrathoracic and extrathoracic involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Our
      findings indicate that adrenal metastases are found in patients with a large
      tumor burden who have clinical indicators of widespread disease. We found no
      evidence of adrenal metastases by CT in any patient with a normal clinical
      evaluation. We conclude that CT scans through the adrenal glands are unnecessary
      when staging newly diagnosed bronchogenic carcinoma if the findings from the
      initial clinical evaluation are normal.

PMID- 1446485
TI  - Oscillatory mechanics of the respiratory system in neuromuscular disease.
AB  - Respiratory impedance measurements by means of the technique of forced
      oscillations together with spirometry and measurements of maximal mouth pressures
      were performed in 27 patients with a variety of neuromuscular disorders to assess
      the value of adding respiratory impedance measurements in the evaluation of lung
      function in neuromuscular disease. Using the technique of forced oscillations,
      impedance measurements are easily performed in physically disabled persons, since
      they require little active cooperation and no forced respiratory maneuvers.
      Normal respiratory impedance characteristics were found, although resistance
      values were somewhat higher than those found in normal subjects, signifying the
      absence of airflow limitation. Spirometric values were markedly reduced, as were
      maximal mouth pressures. No significant correlations were found between the
      forced expiratory volumes in 1 s (FEV1) and the impedance data. A strong
      curvilinear relationship was observed between Pemax and the RV/TLC ratio and a
      strong correlation existed between FEV1 and Premax. It is concluded from our
      study that forced oscillometry is a useful tool for the assessment or exclusion
      of airflow obstruction in patients with neuromuscular disorders when
      plethysmography is difficult to perform and forced expiratory flow-volume data
      reflect muscle weakness rather than airflow limitation.

PMID- 1446486
TI  - Efficacy of engineering controls in reducing occupational exposure to aerosolized
      pentamidine.
AB  - Aerosolized pentamidine administration may pose potential risks to health care
      workers exposed to fugitive drug and to infectious respiratory pathogens (eg,
      tuberculosis) generated by pentamidine-induced cough. Classic infection control
      methods may be applied to this problem, although the effectiveness of these
      measures in mitigating environmental pentamidine exposure is unknown. Lack of
      data fully characterizing pentamidine's mechanism of action or potential
      mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, or teratogenicity raises concern and suggests
      worker exposed and environmental contamination be minimized. We report herein on
      the efficacy of an aerosol containment hood in containing fugitive pentamidine
      aerosol during administration.

PMID- 1446487
TI  - Effect of inspiratory muscle fatigue on inspiratory muscle relaxation rates in
      healthy subjects.
AB  - Simple methods to diagnose inspiratory muscle fatigue in the clinical setting
      would be of considerable benefit. Inspiratory muscle relaxation rates are known
      to slow following induction of fatigue. Inspiratory muscle relaxation rates have
      been measured following a short sharp inspiratory effort against an occluded
      airway (sniffmouth) or through the unoccluded nostrils (sniffnostrils).
      Relaxation rates in the absence of fatigue are faster when sniffs are performed
      through the unoccluded nostrils. While both methods have been shown to be capable
      of detecting inspiratory muscle fatigue, there may be quantitative or qualitative
      differences between the two techniques in their ability to detect fatigue similar
      to the differences observed in the fresh state. Accordingly, we measured
      relaxation rates with the two sniff techniques in five healthy naive male
      subjects before and after induction of fatigue. Inspiratory muscle fatigue was
      induced by threshold loading at 80 percent of Pesmax until the subjects were
      unable to generate the target pressure. For those trials in which sniffnostrils
      were performed, the maximum relaxation rate from the esophageal pressure curve
      (MRRes) was significantly decreased following induction of fatigue in nine of ten
      trials, while the exponential time constant (taues) was significantly increased
      in all ten trials. In contrast, for those trials in which sniffmouth were
      performed, the MRRes was significantly decreased following induction of fatigue
      in only six of ten trials. Similarly, taues was significantly increased following
      induction of fatigue in only six of ten trials. In addition, the magnitude of
      change in the MRR or tau following induction of fatigue was quantitatively
      greater with sniffnostrils compared with sniffmouth. Similar findings were
      obtained when relaxation rates were measured from the diaphragmatic pressure
      tracing. In conclusion, changes in relaxation rate following induction of fatigue
      were quantitatively greater and more consistently observed when sniffs were
      performed through the unoccluded nostrils rather than against an occluded airway.

PMID- 1446488
TI  - Exercise testing, 6-min walk, and stair climb in the evaluation of patients at
      high risk for pulmonary resection.
AB  - To evaluate three types of exercise testing in prediction of death or prolonged
      mechanical ventilation after lung resection in high-risk patients, 16 patients
      underwent evaluation prior to resection. Eleven patients (group 1) had minor or
      no complications (arrhythmia, atelectasis, pneumonia) and five patients (group 2)
      died within 90 days of surgery. Exercise testing showed that group 1 had a longer
      6-min walk distance and a higher stair climb than group 2. The maximum oxygen
      uptake on a cycle ergometer was not significantly different between groups,
      although only ten patients completed this test. Group 1 had a significantly
      greater calculated oxygen uptake with stair climbing than group 2. A 6-min walk
      distance of greater than 1,000 feet and a stair climb of greater than 44 steps
      were predictive of successful surgical outcome. Preoperative exercise testing is
      a useful adjunct to traditional spirometric testing in evaluation of the high
      risk surgical patients.

PMID- 1446489
TI  - Venous hyperoxia after cardiac arrest. Characterization of a defect in systemic
      oxygen utilization.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Supranormal mixed venous oxygen saturation (mixed venous hyperoxia),
      although reported, has never been characterized in humans resuscitated from
      cardiac arrest (postarrest cardiogenic shock). By contrast, cardiogenic shock
      without cardiopulmonary arrest (primary cardiogenic shock) is accompanied by
      mixed venous hypoxia under similar conditions of low oxygen delivery (DO2). The
      appearance of mixed venous hyperoxia indicates an excessive supply relative to
      demand in perfused tissue or cellular impairment of oxygen utilization, ie, low
      systemic oxygen consumption (VO2). Failure to improve VO2 has been associated
      with a poor outcome in other shock states. STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates
      the clinical significance of mixed venous hyperoxia and its implications for
      impaired systemic oxygen utilization. The oxygen transport patterns in surviving
      and nonsurviving cardiac arrest patients are compared for their prognostic and
      therapeutic implications. STUDY DESIGN: Consecutive, nonrandomized series.
      SETTING: Large urban emergency department (ED). PARTICIPANTS: Adult normothermic,
      nontraumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients presenting to the ED who
      develop a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). INTERVENTIONS: On arrival to
      the ED, a fiberoptic catheter was placed in the central venous position for
      continuous central venous oxygen saturation monitoring (ScvO2). A proximal aortic
      catheter was placed via the femoral artery for blood pressure monitoring. Upon
      ROSC, the fiberoptic catheter was advanced to the pulmonary artery. Mean arterial
      pressure (MAP), cardiac index (CI), VO2, DO2, systemic oxygen extraction ratio
      (OER), and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI-dynes.s/cm5.m2) were measured
      immediately and every 30 min. The duration of cardiac arrest (DCA) in minutes and
      amount of epinephrine (milligrams) administered during ACLS was recorded.
      MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were entered into the study.
      Survivors (living more than 24 h) and nonsurvivors (living less than 24 h) were
      compared. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate an impairment of systemic oxygen
      utilization in postarrest cardiogenic shock patients. In spite of a lower DO2
      than survivors, the OER in nonsurvivors remained lower than expected. Venous
      hyperoxia is a clinical manifestation of this derangement. Epinephrine dose may
      have a causal relationship. The inability to attain a VO2 of greater than 90
      ml/min.m2 after the first 6 h of aggressive therapy was associated with a 100
      percent mortality in 24 h.

PMID- 1446490
TI  - Diagnostic value of hemosiderin-containing macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine if the hemosiderin content of BAL
      macrophages allows us to draw any differential diagnostic conclusions in a
      variety of lung diseases. PATIENTS AND STUDY DESIGN: One hundred one patients who
      underwent BAL for different diagnostic reasons were studied prospectively. MAIN
      RESULTS: The highest values for the hemosiderin score (HS) were found in patients
      with active alveolar hemorrhage and patients who had undergone heart
      transplantation for congestive heart failure. Compared to a control population,
      patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia or invasive aspergillosis had a
      higher HS than patients with bacterial pneumonia or mycobacterial lung infection.
      High or intermediate values for HS were more often found in patients with a low
      than in those with a normal platelet count. CONCLUSIONS: The differential
      diagnostic conclusions which can be based on an HS are limited.

PMID- 1446491
TI  - The effects of powered air supply to the respiratory protective device on
      respiration parameters during rest and exercise.
AB  - The common chemical warfare protective masks impose an excessive respiratory load
      on the wearer due to elevated breathing resistance and increased dead space. For
      patients with severe respiratory disease, the excessive respiratory effort may be
      intolerable. Besides, the substantial negative pressure created within the mask
      during inspiration may result in an inward leakage in individuals having
      difficulties with proper facial fitting of the mask. The purpose of the current
      investigation was to evaluate the effects of a blower, actively driving air,
      through the mask's filter, at a flow (mean +/- SD) of 42 +/- 2 L/min, on
      respiratory parameters during rest and moderate exercise. Ten healthy subjects of
      either sex participated in two experimental sessions, wearing the mask with and
      without the blower. Each session included 6 min of sitting at rest and 6 min of
      walking on a treadmill (3.2 mph, and 10 percent grade). In nine of the subjects,
      the active air supply produced a positive inspiratory pressure at rest (5 +/- 4
      vs -24 +/- 9 mm H2O peak inspiratory pressure with and without the blower,
      respectively, p < 0.0001). Inspiratory carbon dioxide concentration (FICO2) at
      rest was diminished (0.4 +/- 0.4 vs 1.3 +/- 0.7 percent with and without the
      blower, respectively; p < 0.01) while FIO2 increased from 19.5 +/- 0.7 percent to
      20.6 +/- 0.4 percent with the device (p < 0.01). These changes were associated
      with a significant decrease in respiratory rate (15 +/- 2 vs 18 +/- 3 per minute,
      p < 0.01). During exercise the blower barely decreased the negative inspiratory
      pressures, had no effect on other respiratory parameters measured, but
      significantly shortened the inspiratory/cycle-length time ratio (0.46 +/- 0.03 vs
      0.53 +/- 0.03, p < 0.005). The effects of active air supply were not different
      between male and female subjects. We conclude that the blower is expected to be a
      useful accessory to respiratory protective devices for patients with pulmonary
      disease.

PMID- 1446492
TI  - Liquid phase characteristics of bronchoalveolar lavage in primary Sjogren's
      syndrome.
AB  - We have previously reported that alveolitis correlates with clinical,
      roentgenologic, and functional parameters of pulmonary involvement in primary
      Sjogren's syndrome (1SS). In the present study, we analyzed the liquid phase
      characteristics of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in the same 19 patients with 1SS.
      Our results show that patients with "high alveolitis" (group A, BAL lymphocytes >
      15.2 percent) have increased values of total protein, albumin, IgA, and IgG and
      in their BAL fluid compared with patients with "low alveolitis" (group B) and
      control subjects. Also interleukin 2 (IL-2) was detected in more "high
      alveolitis" patients while IgM, IL-2R, and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) were
      detected only in this group. There were no differences between the two groups in
      serum values of all above factors as well as in the presence of rheumatoid
      factor, extractable nuclear antibodies, and antinuclear antibodies. The increased
      values of immunoglobulins and cytokines in the BAL fluid of patients with intense
      alveolitis, in the absence of serum differences, speak for their local production
      and suggest activation of local immune mechanism.

PMID- 1446493
TI  - Human pleural effusions are rich in matrix metalloproteinases.
AB  - We identified and characterized type IV collagenase and gelatinase activity in
      pleural fluid from 32 patients. The capacity to substantially degrade type IV
      collagen was demonstrated in every pleural sample. Comparable results were also
      noted for the degradation of a radiolabeled gelatin substrate. Gelatin gel
      zymography of the pleural fluids revealed two prominent zones of lysis at 66 kDa
      and 92 kDa. These were identified by specific polyclonal antibodies as human
      matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9. The concentration of MMP-2 in pleural
      fluid, as measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay, averaged 1,622 ng/ml whereas
      those of MMP-9 were 210 ng/ml. Substrate degradation activity was compared in
      both serum and pleural fluid from three patients and found to be similar. In
      serum this enzymatic activity was primarily due to MMP-9 whereas in pleural
      fluid, the predominant gelatinase was MMP-2. This was confirmed by immunoassay
      that showed that MMP-2 levels were two to five times higher in pleural fluid than
      in serum. We conclude that substantial amounts of MMP-2 and, to a lesser degree,
      MMP-9 are present in pleural effusions. The bioactivity and the immunoactivity of
      these enzymes did not help to distinguish among pleural fluids characterized as
      transudates, nonmalignant exudates, or malignant exudates. The differences in the
      distribution of these enzymes in pleural fluid and blood suggest that their
      presence is not due simply to the ultrafiltration of plasma, but rather to
      synthesis by the resident cells at the pleural surfaces.

PMID- 1446494
TI  - Prospective comparative study of ofloxacin or ethambutol for the treatment of
      pulmonary tuberculosis.
AB  - The efficacy of ofloxacin, rifampicin and isoniazid was prospectively compared
      with the regimen of ethambutol, rifampicin and isoniazid for the primary
      treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in 124 patients. All drugs were given orally
      daily for nine months. Culture conversion rates three months after starting
      treatment were 98 percent in the ofloxacin group and 94 percent in the ethambutol
      group; by six months all patients in both groups were culture-negative.
      Significant radiological improvement of pulmonary infiltrates was observed in 83
      percent of the ofloxacin group and 85 percent of the ethambutol group one year
      after starting treatment. No relapse in either group was observed during a two
      year follow-up period after the cessation of chemotherapy. Ofloxacin appears to
      be as useful as ethambutol in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis when either
      drug is combined with isoniazid and rifampicin.

PMID- 1446495
TI  - Diagnostic value of sialic acid in malignant pleural effusions.
AB  - In this study, we measured pleural fluid and serum sialic acid levels in 70
      consecutive patients hospitalized with pleural effusions and serum sialic acid
      concentrations in 20 healthy individuals chosen as control group. The cause of 26
      pleural effusions was malignancy, and diseases other than malignant neoplasms
      were determined as the cause of 44 cases. Mean serum sialic acid levels in the
      patients with malignancies were higher than the levels in patients with
      nonmalignant diseases and the control group. Mean sialic acid level in the
      patients with nonmalignant diseases was increased compared with control group,
      but this increase was not as high as that in the patients with malignancies. In
      the patients with malignant neoplasms, mean pleural fluid sialic acid content was
      also higher than that found in other diseases. Sialic acid concentration of
      pleural fluid was correlated with serum concentration. However, pleural fluid to
      serum sialic acid ratio in malignant diseases was greater than that in the
      others. The specificity and sensitivity of pleural fluid sialic acid level in
      excess of 0.075 mg/ml in distinguishing malignant effusions were 68 percent and
      77 percent, respectively. These values for pleural fluid/serum sialic acid ratio
      with the cut-off level of 0.7 were 55 percent and 65 percent. Our findings
      indicate that determination of sialic acid level in malignant pleural effusions
      has a diagnostic value.

PMID- 1446496
TI  - Multisystem organ failure predicts mortality of ICU patients with acute
      respiratory failure secondary to AIDS-related PCP.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of a variety of scoring systems to predict
      mortality of patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with acute
      respiratory failure (ARF) secondary to AIDS-related Pneumocystis carinii
      pneumonia (PCP). METHODS: All patients with AIDS-related PCP admitted to ICU at
      St. Paul's Hospital between January 1, 1985 and April 1, 1991 were reviewed. For
      each case, the following scores were calculated from data obtained within 24 h of
      ICU admission: acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II);
      acute lung injury score; AIDS score as described by Justice and Feinstein; and
      modified multisystem organ failure (MSOF) score. The serum lactate dehydrogenase
      (LDH) level was also recorded when obtained within 24 h of ICU admission.
      RESULTS: A total of 52 ICU admissions in 51 patients were studied. Overall
      mortality was 65 percent. Mortality increased with increasing MSOF (p < 0.05)
      score and LDH (p < 0.05). Based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC)
      curves, the MSOF score and the LDH were found to be good predictors of mortality.
      Multivariate logistic regression showed that the MSOF score was the only
      independent predictor of mortality (p < 0.05). The AIDS score, APACHE II, and the
      acute lung injury score were not significantly associated with mortality.
      Addition of the serum LDH level improved the performance of both the MSOF and
      AIDS scores, though the AIDS score plus LDH performed no better than the LDH
      alone. Of all the scores tested, the MSOF plus LDH level was the best (p < 0.005)
      predictor of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The modified MSOF score and the serum LDH
      level are the best predictors of mortality of patients admitted to ICU with ARF
      secondary to AIDS-related PCP. The performance of the MSOF score was enhanced
      when the LDH level was added. The AIDS score, APACHE II, and the acute lung
      injury score were not found to be useful in this group of critically ill
      patients.

PMID- 1446497
TI  - Reproducibility of weaning parameters. A need for standardization.
AB  - Although weaning parameters can accurately predict weaning outcome, variability
      of the measurements of these parameters has not been closely examined. In the
      current study, we examined the reproducibility of these parameters using a
      standardized technique. Before the weaning trial, maximal inspiratory pressure
      (PImax), minute ventilation (VE), respiratory frequency (f), tidal volume (VT),
      rapid shallow breathing index (f/VT), and vital capacity (VC) were obtained on
      three trials over a period of 15 min. The results of these parameters over three
      measurements were compared. There were no statistical differences in the values
      of PImax, VE, f, VT, and f/VT over three trials (p = 0.45, p = 0.37, p = 0.69, p
      = 0.64, p = 0.1, respectively). The VC was the only parameter that showed
      statistical differences among three trials (p < 0.05). For the group, respiratory
      frequency had the lowest coefficient of variation (COV = SD/mean x 100 percent)
      at 6.7 percent while the VC had the highest COV at 19.6 percent. We concluded
      that most weaning parameters of breathing pattern can be measured reliably with
      bedside instruments using a standard technique.

PMID- 1446498
TI  - A nurse-directed protocol using pulse oximetry to wean mechanically ventilated
      patients from toxic oxygen concentrations.
AB  - The usual method of weaning mechanically ventilated patients from high FIO2 in
      our ICU, in which housestaff ordered all ventilator changes in an unstandardized
      manner (control group), was compared to a nurse-directed protocol that used a
      single arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis and multiple pulse oximetry
      measurements. The protocol required an ABG to be obtained upon the initiation of
      intubation/mechanical ventilation, followed by pulse oximetry measurements
      obtained in accordance with a standardized timetable. Decreases in FIO2 were
      guided by these results. It was concluded that a nurse-directed oxygen weaning
      protocol utilizing a combination of a single ABG and multiple pulse oximetry
      measurements was safe, reduced the need for ABGs, and decreased the duration of
      patient exposure to toxic oxygen concentrations.

PMID- 1446499
TI  - Nitroprusside-related cyanide poisoning. Time (long past due) for urgent,
      effective interventions.

PMID- 1446500
TI  - Extracorporeal circulation as an alternative to open-chest cardiac compression
      for cardiac resuscitation.
AB  - Open-chest direct cardiac compression represents a more potent but highly
      invasive option for cardiac resuscitation when conventional techniques of closed
      chest cardiac resuscitation fail after prolonged cardiac arrest. We postulated
      that venoarterial extracorporeal circulation might be a more effective
      intervention with less trauma. In the setting of human cardiac resuscitation,
      however, controlled studies would be limited by strategic constraints.
      Accordingly, the effectiveness of open-chest cardiac compression was compared
      with that of extracorporeal circulation after a 15-min interval of untreated
      ventricular fibrillation in a porcine model of cardiac arrest. Sixteen domestic
      pigs were randomized to resuscitation by either peripheral venoarterial
      extracorporeal circulation or open-chest direct cardiac compression. During
      resuscitation, epinephrine was continuously infused into the right atrium, and
      defibrillation was attempted by transthoracic countershock at 2-min intervals.
      Systemic blood flows averaged 198 ml.kg-1.min-1 with extracorporeal circulation.
      This contrasted with direct cardiac compression, in which flows averaged only 40
      ml.kg-1.min-1. Coronary perfusion pressure, the major determinant of
      resuscitability on the basis of earlier studies, was correspondingly lower (94 vs
      29 mm Hg). Extracorporeal circulation, in conjunction with transthoracic DC
      countershock and epinephrine, successfully reestablished spontaneous circulation
      in each of eight animals after 15 min of untreated ventricular fibrillation. This
      contrasted with the outcome after open-chest cardiac compression, in which
      spontaneous circulation was reestablished in only four of eight animals (p =
      .038). We conclude that extracorporeal circulation is a more effective
      alternative to direct cardiac compression for cardiac resuscitation after
      protracted cardiac arrest.

PMID- 1446501
TI  - Mediastinal shift in an asymptomatic young man.

PMID- 1446502
TI  - Pleurodesis for nonmalignant pleural effusions. Recommendations.

PMID- 1446503
TI  - Predicting outcome after ICU admission. The art and science of assessing risk.

PMID- 1446504
TI  - The role of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in the selection of patients for
      cardiac transplantation.

PMID- 1446505
TI  - Dyspnea and muscle weakness in a 65-year-old woman.

PMID- 1446506
TI  - Thoracoscopic management of spontaneous pneumothorax.

PMID- 1446507
TI  - Lung sequestration. Diagnosis with ultrasound and triplex Doppler technique in an
      adult.
AB  - The application of chest US with triplex Doppler technique to detect the systemic
      feeding artery of lung sequestration in an adult patient is described. To our
      best knowledge, this is the first description of the use of this technique to
      diagnose pulmonary sequestration in adult patients. This 35-year-old man had
      necrotizing pneumonia with abscess formation at the left lower lobe. Chest US
      demonstrated a large tortuous vessel in the central part of the lesion. Spectral
      wave Doppler analysis showed that this vessel was a systemic feeding artery and
      had pulsatile arterial wave-form. The color Doppler mapping delineated the blood
      flow originating from the descending aorta and toward the lesion, thus confirming
      the diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration. We conclude that chest US with triplex
      Doppler technique is a valuable method in evaluating a patient with a pulmonary
      lesion who was thought to have lung sequestration before performing invasive
      aortography.

PMID- 1446508
TI  - Evolving aortic mass in a patient with sepsis and systemic embolization.
      Detection by transesophageal echocardiography.
AB  - An elderly patient with sepsis and systemic embolization is described. An
      intraluminal aortic mass was discovered by transesophageal echocardiography that
      appeared to be the source of infection in this patient. Transesophageal
      echocardiography can be a useful diagnostic test in patients with sepsis and
      systemic embolization of unknown etiology.

PMID- 1446509
TI  - Inflammatory pseudotumor of the heart with vasculitis and venous thrombosis.
AB  - Inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) is a tumor-like reactive lesion of unknown
      etiology. An unusual case of intracardiac IPT with multisystemic involvement,
      including leukocytoclastic vasculitis, polyarthritis, and inferior vena cava
      thrombosis in a 17-year-old boy is reported. This unique combination may suggest
      that immune/autoimmune factors are important in the pathogenesis of IPT.

PMID- 1446510
TI  - Utility of transesophageal echocardiography in the conservative management of
      prosthetic valve endocarditis.
AB  - Prosthetic valve endocarditis is a formidable complication following cardiac
      valve replacement. Surgical intervention has resulted in a significant reduction
      in mortality when certain complications prevail. We report two such cases of
      prosthetic valve endocarditis in which the use of transesophageal
      echocardiography permitted close surveillance during medical therapy and thus
      avoided the need for surgical intervention. Therefore, with the improved ability
      to monitor disease progression with transesophageal echocardiography, nonsurgical
      management of prosthetic valve endocarditis remains an option.

PMID- 1446511
TI  - Tension pneumopericardium in an infant.
AB  - Pneumopericardium in newborns is most often a complication of mechanical
      ventilation and frequently results in fatal cardiac tamponade. We report the case
      of a mechanically ventilated 33-day-old full-term gestation infant with
      interstitial pneumonitis who developed tension pneumopericardium. Treatment
      includes lowering peak inspiratory pressure and decompressing the pericardial
      space with tube drainage following pericardiocentesis.

PMID- 1446512
TI  - Intravenous pentamidine-induced bronchospasm.
AB  - A 41-year-old man with AIDS developed a recurrence of Pneumocystis carinii
      pneumonia and was treated with intravenous pentamidine. This was associated with
      a significant bronchospastic reaction requiring treatment with an antihistamine
      and an aerosolized beta-agonist therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first
      report of bronchospasm induced by intravenous pentamidine.

PMID- 1446513
TI  - Paradoxical bradycardia during exercise and hypoxic exposure. The possible direct
      effect of hypoxia on sinoatrial node activity in humans.
AB  - We describe a patient with pulmonary emphysema who developed paradoxical
      cardiodeceleration not only during incremental exercise associated with hypoxemia
      but also during progressive hypoxic challenge. Since coronary angiogram revealed
      no abnormality, this unique phenomenon seemed to be due to the direct effect of
      hypoxia on the sinus node activity.

PMID- 1446514
TI  - Malignant lymphoma in a patient with relapsing bronchiolitis obliterans
      organizing pneumonia.
AB  - A case of relapsing bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia complicated by
      malignant lymphoma (four years after the diagnosis) is reported in a 58-year-old
      woman. To our knowledge, such an association has not been described previously in
      detail in the literature.

PMID- 1446515
TI  - Reversible left ventricular dysfunction induced by recurrent ventricular
      tachycardia.
AB  - Two cases of transient LV dysfunction associated with VT are described. Both
      patients had a history of palpitations of several years' duration without
      symptoms of congestive heart failure. The reason for presentation was an increase
      in frequency and duration of palpitation. Decreased LV wall motion, observed by
      2DE, normalized shortly after treatment of the VT. Diffusely decreased LV wall
      motion is associated with frequent episodes of VT and may mimic DCM except that
      signs and symptoms of heart failure are absent.

PMID- 1446516
TI  - Coexistent sarcoidosis and HIV infection. A comparison of bronchoalveolar and
      peripheral blood lymphocytes.
AB  - A case of pulmonary sarcoidosis diagnosed in an human immunodeficiency virus
      (HIV)-infected man is reported. The transbronchial lung biopsy specimen revealed
      noncaseating granuloma. A comparison of the lymphocyte subsets in both peripheral
      blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed a pattern more typical of HIV
      infection than of classic sarcoidosis. A course of prednisone led to improvement
      in symptoms, roentgenographic findings, lung volumes, and diffusion capacity.

PMID- 1446517
TI  - Mediastinal bronchogenic cyst. A cause of upper airway obstruction.
AB  - Although bronchogenic cysts may involve the mediastinum, they have rarely been
      responsible for significant upper airway obstruction. We describe a young man who
      had a rapidly expanding cervical mass due to the migration of a mediastinal
      bronchogenic cyst. Flow-volume loops confirmed the presence of a variable
      intrathoracic obstruction. The patient rapidly developed respiratory failure
      requiring urgent intubation and surgical resection.

PMID- 1446518
TI  - Thoracoscopic Nd:YAG laser resection of a solitary pulmonary nodule.
AB  - Advances in endoscopic surgical techniques and laser technology have expanded the
      role of thoracoscopy. We report a thoracoscopic resection of a benign pulmonary
      lesion. A 44-year-old man underwent a successful Nd:YAG laser-assisted
      thoracoscopic resection of a peripheral lung hamartoma. The patient's
      postoperative course was uncomplicated. Thoracotomy with its attendant morbidity
      was avoided. Continued success with thoracoscopic resection will have a
      significant impact on the management of select patients with peripheral, solitary
      pulmonary nodules.

PMID- 1446519
TI  - Reversible cardiac arrest related to late-onset coronary spasm after a positive
      ergonovine test.

PMID- 1446520
TI  - Hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy with hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced
      by penicillin.
AB  - A 54-year-old Japanese man demonstrated a sultamicillin-induced hilar and
      mediastinal lymphadenopathy with hypersensitivity pneumonitis. A positive
      lymphocyte stimulation test for sultamicillin and a decreased CD4/CD8 ratio of
      lymphocytes in BAL fluid suggested that an alteration in cell-mediated mechanisms
      was responsible for the patient's symptoms.

PMID- 1446521
TI  - Giant thoracoabdominal lymphangioma with features of lymphangiomyoma.
AB  - A 15-year-old girl who presented with cough and dyspnea was found to have a
      mediastinal tumor that clinically resembled a lymphangioma. The tumor was unusual
      for its large size and its histologic features, which showed smooth muscle
      proliferation, generally considered a feature of lymphangiomyoma.

PMID- 1446522
TI  - Sterile mediastinal gas mimicking abscess in aortic aneurysm repair.
AB  - Six weeks after aortic aneurysm repair, computed tomography (CT) showed
      mediastinal gas where absorbable gelatin sponge (Gelfoam) was used. A leukocyte
      scan labeled with indium 111, however, was normal and surgical exploration showed
      no infection. Sterile gas collections may be seen following absorbable gelatin
      sponge use many weeks after surgery and 111In-labeled leukocyte scanning may be a
      useful differential test.

PMID- 1446523
TI  - Pulmonary Hodgkin's disease in HIV-infected patient. Diagnosis by bronchoalveolar
      lavage.
AB  - We report herein the pulmonary recurrence of Hodgkin's disease coincidental with
      a marked decrease in the peripheral blood CD4 lymphocyte count in an HIV
      seropositive patient with alveolar consolidation on chest roentgenogram. The
      diagnosis of lung parenchyma involvement was made by bronchoalveolar lavage cell
      analysis and illustrates the reliability of Reed-Sternberg cell identification in
      bronchoalveolar lavage for the diagnosis of pulmonary localization of Hodgkin's
      disease.

PMID- 1446524
TI  - Thoracoscopy forum: continuing dialogue.

PMID- 1446525
TI  - Thoracoscopy forum: continuing dialogue.

PMID- 1446526
TI  - Thoracoscopy forum: continuing dialogue.

PMID- 1446527
TI  - Thoracoscopy forum: continuing dialogue.

PMID- 1446529
TI  - Thoracoscopy forum: continuing dialogue.

PMID- 1446528
TI  - Thoracoscopy forum: continuing dialogue.

PMID- 1446530
TI  - Thoracoscopy forum: continuing dialogue.

PMID- 1446531
TI  - Hydatidosis with pericardial involvement.

PMID- 1446532
TI  - Air embolism during attempted central line placement.

PMID- 1446533
TI  - Apical Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia associated with HIV infection.

PMID- 1446534
TI  - Primary pulmonary hypertension in HIV infection.

PMID- 1446535
TI  - Diagnosis of mycobacterial mediastinal lymphadenopathy by transbronchial needle
      aspiration.

PMID- 1446536
TI  - The APACHE III prognostic system.

PMID- 1446537
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging of thymic squamous cell carcinoma.

PMID- 1446538
TI  - Reexpansion pulmonary edema.

PMID- 1446539
TI  - Pulmonary toxicity following exposure to methylene chloride and its combustion
      product, phosgene.

PMID- 1446540
TI  - Thoracoscopic talc poudrage. Comparison with tetracycline and use in Hodgkin's
      disease.

PMID- 1446541
TI  - Children of lesbian and gay parents.
AB  - This paper reviews research evidence regarding the personal and social
      development of children with gay and lesbian parents. Beginning with estimates of
      the numbers of such children, sociocultural, theoretical, and legal reasons for
      attention to their development are then outlined. In this context, research
      studies on sexual identity, personal development, and social relationships among
      these children are then reviewed. These studies include assessment of possible
      differences between children with gay or lesbian versus heterosexual parents as
      well as research on sources of diversity among children of gay and lesbian
      parents. Research on these topics is relatively new, and many important questions
      have yet to be addressed. To date, however, there is no evidence that the
      development of children with lesbian or gay parents is compromised in any
      significant respect relative to that among children of heterosexual parents in
      otherwise comparable circumstances. Having begun to respond to heterosexist and
      homophobic questions posed by psychological theory, judicial opinion, and popular
      prejudice, child development researchers are now in a position also to explore a
      broader range of issues raised by the emergence of different kinds of gay and
      lesbian families.

PMID- 1446542
TI  - Multiple influences on the acquisition and socialization of children's health
      attitudes and behavior: an integrative review.
AB  - An overview and synthesis of the literature documenting various influences on the
      socialization and acquisition of children's health attitudes and behavior is the
      focus of this review. Cognitive-developmental approaches to understanding
      children's health attitudes are presented, followed by an exploration of an
      individual differences perspective on children's acquisition of health attitudes
      and behavior. The influence of various socialization agents, including families,
      peers, schools, and the media, on children's acquisition of health attitudes and
      behavior is considered. Implications of these findings for social policy, future
      research, and modeling of child health attitudes and behavior are examined.

PMID- 1446543
TI  - The development of category-based induction.
AB  - In a category-based induction, knowing that a property is true of some category
      members leads one to conclude that the property is true of other category
      members. An example is: Cardinals have ulnar arteries. Therefore hawks have ulnar
      arteries. Recently, Osherson et al. (1990) demonstrated a number of phenomena
      involving category-based inductions, and proposed that these phenomena can be
      explained by variations in 2 processes: (a) the similarity between the premise
      category (cardinals in the above example) and the conclusion category (hawks in
      the above example), and (b) the degree to which the premise category "covers"
      (roughly, is similar to) instances of the lowest-level category that includes
      both the premise and conclusion categories (birds in the above example). The
      present paper traces the developmental course of the relevant phenomena and of
      the similarity and coverage processes that presumably underlie them. Studies 1
      and 2 demonstrated that the inductions made by kindergartners are sensitive only
      to the similarity between the premise and conclusion categories. Studies 3 and 4
      showed that second graders' inductions are sensitive to both premise-conclusion
      similarity and coverage, as long as there is no need actually to use a generated
      category that includes both the premise and conclusion categories. These
      developmental findings reveal an orderly process in the growth of category-based
      inductions, and also decompose the Osherson et al. model into 3 basic components
      that have not previously been explicitly distinguished.

PMID- 1446544
TI  - Infant information processing in relation to six-year cognitive outcomes.
AB  - As part of a longitudinal follow-up of full-terms and preterms, infant measures
      of information processing obtained at 7 months and 1 year were related to various
      6-year outcomes: general intelligence, language proficiency, early reading and
      quantitative skills, and several facets of perceptual organization (N = 91). 7
      month Visual recognition memory (VRM) was associated with 6-year performance in
      all domains, and 3 1-year measures--VRM, cross-modal transfer (CMT), and object
      permanence--were related to IQ and/or one or more specific outcomes (r's = .20 to
      .47). Many of the infant-childhood relations remain significant even with IQ
      partialed. Additionally, 7-month VRM and 1-year CMT scores were lower for infants
      who, at 6 years, were considered at risk for learning disabilities. Overall,
      measures from the first year of life predicted both specific cognitive abilities
      and IQ at 6 years; to some extent, the specific abilities were predicted
      independently of IQ.

PMID- 1446545
TI  - The relations between frontal brain electrical activity and cognitive development
      during infancy.
AB  - The relations between changes in the scalp-recorded electroencephalogram (EEG)
      and the development of the ability to perform successfully 2 cognitive tasks
      attributed to frontal lobe functioning were examined in 13 infants from 7 to 12
      months of age. Infants successful in performing the A-not-B task with
      increasingly longer delays across the second half of the first year of life
      showed changes in power in scalp-recorded brain electrical activity in the
      frontal region and an increase in anterior/posterior EEG coherence. Infants with
      rapid mastery of object retrieval did not differ in frontal EEG development from
      infants who exhibited the normal developmental progression in object retrieval
      performance. In a task examining inhibition of reaching to a novel toy, there
      were no differences in frontal EEG as a function of performance. Results from a
      cross-sectional sample revealed similar findings. These data confirm work with
      nonhuman primates on the importance of maturation of frontal cortex in the
      successful performance on certain tasks (A-not-B), but do not confirm nonhuman
      primate data on the importance of frontal cortex for other tasks (object
      retrieval). The data also suggest that the electroencephalogram may be useful as
      a noninvasive measure of central nervous system development during the first year
      of life.

PMID- 1446546
TI  - Integration of sequential information for shape perception by infants: a
      developmental study.
AB  - Perception of form by spatiotemporal integration was investigated in 3
      experiments. In the first, infants aged 8, 10, and 12 months were tested using a
      novelty-preference procedure to determine the earliest age at which recognition
      of rectilinear and curvilinear form occurred. Infants were shown a light-point
      tracing of the outline of a figure, followed by simultaneous presentation of 2
      test objects, one of the same shape as the tracing and one of a different shape.
      The tracing was double the size of the test objects. Only infants in the oldest
      group responded selectively by looking longer at the object of different shape.
      In the second experiment with 12-month-old infants only, it was shown that
      recognition of rectilinear, but not curvilinear, form occurred despite a
      difference in the orientation and size of tracing and object. Computer-generated
      tracings were used in the final experiment to compare form recognition for 2D and
      3D stimuli. Selective responding occurred only for the latter. These findings
      show that by 12 months infants perceive the correspondence between the figural
      properties of a tracing and its extended form, but that this perception is
      dependent on the provision of depth cues.

PMID- 1446547
TI  - Early ontogeny of vocal behavior of Japanese infants in response to maternal
      speech.
AB  - Discriminant analysis was used to distinguish statistically between the comfort
      state vocalizations uttered by Japanese infants following 5 different types of
      pitch contours of maternal speech. Ontogenetic changes of their vocal behaviors
      were investigated during the first 5 months of life. Structural variability in
      infant vocalizations across variants of maternal speech was found to be
      characterized by a set of quantifiable physical parameters. However, infant's age
      when a vocalization was recorded was not an important contributor. Successful
      attempts at cross-validation, in which the discriminant profiles derived from one
      sample of vocalizations were used to classify a second set of vocalizations,
      indicated that the result obtained was not an artifact of using the same data set
      to derive the profiles to test reclassification accuracy. Proportion of cross
      validated vocalizations that were misclassified decreased as age increased. The
      results of the present study demonstrate that a statistically significant
      relation exists between acoustic features of maternal speech and those of
      following infant vocalizations, and that such a relation strengthens over age.

PMID- 1446548
TI  - Intentional behavior and intentional communication in young free-ranging
      orangutans.
AB  - The goal of this study was to describe the ontogeny of the manipulation of an
      animate object (i.e., the mother) by young free-ranging orangutans within the
      context of food sharing. The food-sharing context is an important one in the
      development of object manipulation skills and social communication. 5 orangutans,
      ranging in age from 1 month to 5 years, were videotaped with their biological
      mothers for 18 hours over the course of 9 months. Systematic coding of the
      videotapes revealed that even young orangutans, 1-6 months old, used intentional
      (i.e., goal-directed) behaviors. When young orangutans directed behavior toward
      the mother in addition to the goal object then maternal responses were positive,
      resulting in the infant obtaining the food. Intentional communication, evident in
      gestures and consisting of an abbreviated action directed toward the mother, was
      found in the 3 oldest orangutans (2 1/2, 3 1/2, and 5 years of age). Cognitive
      competence and behavioral performance are considered from the developmental
      perspectives of Piaget and prelinguistic communication. The ability to use a
      communicative gesture as an intermediate means in the coordination of actions on
      a social agent with actions on an object is evident in young orangutans.

PMID- 1446549
TI  - Preterm children at early adolescence and continuity and discontinuity in
      maternal responsiveness from infancy.
AB  - Patterns in mother-child interaction from infancy to age 12 were investigated in
      a prospective, longitudinal study of 44 English-speaking mothers and their
      preterm children. Maternal responsiveness was assessed by home observations
      during infancy and the Family Interaction Q-Sort at age 12, derived from 2
      structured laboratory situations requiring cooperation of mother and child. A
      cluster of maternal behaviors of critical control toward the toddler was assessed
      at age 2 years. Children of mothers who were consistently more responsive during
      both infancy and early adolescence, as well as children whose mothers became more
      responsive by age 12, achieved higher IQ and arithmetic scores, had more positive
      self-esteem, and their teachers reported fewer behavioral and emotional problems
      than children of mothers who were consistently less responsive both during
      infancy and at age 12. Continuity in parenting behaviors was related to control
      and criticism beginning in the toddler period and not to degree of responsiveness
      to the infant.

PMID- 1446550
TI  - The contribution of mother-child and father-child relationships to the quality of
      sibling interaction: a longitudinal study.
AB  - Although several studies have now examined the relations between mother-child and
      sibling interaction, the role of fathers in the development of sibling
      relationships is noticeably absent. The present study included assessments of
      both mother-child and father-child interaction in order to examine the correlates
      of sibling conflict and cooperation. Home observations of parent-child and
      sibling interaction and reports of differential parental treatment were obtained
      for 30 families with 2 preschool children when the firstborns were approximately
      6 years old. Earlier assessments of infant-mother and infant-father attachments
      when firstborns were 12 and 13 months old, respectively, were also available, as
      were prior laboratory assessments of mothering and fathering when the oldest
      child was 3 years of age. Results suggested that sibling conflict and aggression
      were related to high levels of conflict between the mother and the 2 children at
      6 years, intrusive and overcontrolling mothering at 3 years, and an insecure
      infant-mother attachment. Facilitative and affectionate fathering, on the other
      hand, was associated with prosocial sibling interaction. Early relationship
      experiences between parents and their firstborn children had an enduring effect
      on the quality of sibling relationships and interacted with differential parental
      treatment in predicting sibling relationship outcomes.

PMID- 1446551
TI  - Self-regulatory mechanisms governing gender development.
AB  - This study tested predictions about development of gender-related thought and
      action from social cognitive theory. Children at 4 levels of gender constancy
      were assessed for their gender knowledge, personal gender standards, and gender
      linked behavior under different situational conditions. Irrespective of gender
      constancy level, all children engaged in more same-sex than cross-sex typed
      behavior. Younger children reacted in a gender stereotypic manner to peers'
      gender-linked behavior but did not regulate their own behavior on the basis of
      personal gender standards. Older children exhibited substantial self-regulatory
      guidance based on personal standards. They expressed anticipatory self-approval
      for same-sex typed behavior and self-criticism for cross-sex typed behavior.
      Their anticipatory self-sanctions, in turn, predicted their actual gender-linked
      behavior. Neither gender knowledge nor gender constancy predicted gender-linked
      behavior. These results lend support to social cognitive theory that evaluation
      and regulation of gender-linked conduct shifts developmentally from anticipatory
      social sanctions to anticipatory self-sanctions rooted in personal standards.

PMID- 1446552
TI  - Impact of parenting practices on adolescent achievement: authoritative parenting,
      school involvement, and encouragement to succeed.
AB  - This article examines the impact of authoritative parenting, parental involvement
      in schooling, and parental encouragement to succeed on adolescent school
      achievement in an ethnically and socio-economically heterogeneous sample of
      approximately 6,400 American 14-18-year-olds. Adolescents reported in 1987 on
      their parents' general child-rearing practices and on their parents' achievement
      specific socialization behaviors. In 1987, and again in 1988, data were collected
      on several aspects of the adolescents' school performance and school engagement.
      Authoritative parenting (high acceptance, supervision, and psychological autonomy
      granting) leads to better adolescent school performance and stronger school
      engagement. The positive impact of authoritative parenting on adolescent
      achievement, however, is mediated by the positive effect of authoritativeness on
      parental involvement in schooling. In addition, nonauthoritativeness attenuates
      the beneficial impact of parental involvement in schooling on adolescents
      achievement. Parental involvement is much more likely to promote adolescent
      school success when it occurs in the context of an authoritative home
      environment.

PMID- 1446553
TI  - Support from spouse as mediator and moderator of the disruptive influence of
      economic strain on parenting.
AB  - A model is presented regarding associations between economic strain, support from
      spouse, and quality of parenting. The model was tested using a sample of 451 2
      parent families, each of which included a seventh grader (age 12-13). Parent and
      adolescent reports, as well as observational ratings, were used as indicators of
      constructs. Analysis using structural equation modeling procedures indicated that
      level of spouse support was positively related to supportive parenting, whereas
      economic strain operated to undermine parental involvement. As posited, economic
      strain produced its effect through a direct relation with parenting and
      indirectly through its association with spouse support. These findings held for
      mothers and fathers, regardless of the gender of the child. Spouse support
      moderated the impact of economic strain on supportive parenting for mothers but
      not fathers. Possible explanations for this gender difference are presented.

PMID- 1446554
TI  - Social information processing in aggressive and depressed children.
AB  - Social information processing patterns of children who were identified as being
      aggressive or depressed, both, or neither were compared in order to address the
      issue of specificity and to explore whether children who are comorbid show a
      unique processing style. Subjects were 220 children in the third through sixth
      grade. Peer nomination and teacher ratings were used to assess level of
      aggression, and the Children's Depression Inventory was used to measure level of
      depression. Aggressive children showed a hostile attributional bias, were more
      likely to report that they would engage in aggressive behavior, and indicated
      that aggression would be easy for them. Depressed children similarly showed a
      hostile attributional bias, although they were more likely to attribute negative
      situations to internal, stable, and global causes. Depressed children also
      reported that they would be less likely to use assertive responses and that they
      expected that assertive behavior would lead to more negative and fewer positive
      outcomes. Children who were comorbid generally showed patterns similar to both
      aggressive and depressed children.

PMID- 1446555
TI  - Some consequences of early harsh discipline: child aggression and a maladaptive
      social information processing style.
AB  - Although a number of studies have reported a relation between abusive parental
      behavior and later aggressive behavior in the victim, many of these
      investigations have had methodological limitations that make precise
      interpretation of their results problematic. In the present study, we attempted
      to determine whether harsh parental discipline occurring early in life was
      associated with later aggression and internalizing behavior in children, using a
      prospective design with randomly selected samples to avoid some of these
      methodological difficulties. Structural equation modeling indicated a consistent
      relation between harsh discipline and aggression in 2 separate cohorts of
      children. This relation did not appear to be due to possible confounding factors
      such as child temperament, SES, and marital violence, although there was some
      indication in our data that the latter variables were related to child
      aggression. In addition, our analyses suggested that the effect of harsh
      discipline on child aggression may be mediated at least in part by maladaptive
      social information processing patterns that develop in response to the harsh
      discipline.

PMID- 1446556
TI  - Cognitive mechanisms in children's gender stereotyping: theoretical and
      educational implications of a cognitive-based intervention.
AB  - The study was designed to test the hypothesis derived from cognitive
      developmental theory that multiple classification skill plays an important role
      in children's gender stereotyping and in their processing of counterstereotypic
      gender information. Children (N = 75; 5-10 years) were matched on pretest
      measures of gender stereotyping and multiple classification skill and then
      assigned to: (1) multiple classification training using nonsocial stimuli, (2)
      multiple classification training using social stimuli, (3) a rule training
      intervention, or (4) a control intervention. Children who had acquired multiple
      classification skill via training with social stimuli and those children trained
      on rules for occupational sorting showed significantly more egalitarian
      responding on a subsequent measure of gender stereotyping and superior memory for
      counterstereotypic information embedded in stories. Additionally, children who
      had acquired multiple classification skill via training with nonsocial stimuli
      showed superior memory for counterstereotypic information, despite demonstrating
      no greater flexibility on the gender stereotyping measure. Both theoretical and
      educational implications of results are discussed.

PMID- 1446557
TI  - Beyond beliefs: parent and child behaviors and children's perceived academic
      competence.
AB  - Examined the relations of parent and child behaviors with children's perceptions
      of their academic competence. 74 high-achieving third-grade children, with
      varying levels of perceived academic competence, were observed working with
      mothers and fathers both on solvable tasks (Period 1) and during a period that
      included some unsolvable tasks (Period 2). Results indicated that children's
      perceived academic competence was positively related to father warmth, both at
      Period 1 and at Period 2. Children's perceived academic competence was also
      positively related to their own behavior when working with fathers at Period 2.
      Specifically, children with higher perceived academic competence showed more
      emotional restraint and were more self-reliant when working on tasks at Period 2
      than were children with lower perceived academic competence. The results indicate
      that there are systematic, observable correlates of children's self-reports of
      their perceived academic competence.

PMID- 1446558
TI  - The cross-ethnic equivalence of parenting and family interaction measures among
      Hispanic and Anglo-American families.
AB  - Recently there has been concern over the need for developmental research within
      ethnic minority populations and interest in family processes within, and
      variability across, ethnic groups. Unfortunately, most of the research using
      standard scales of family processes has sampled middle-class Anglo-Americans, and
      the potential absence of cross-ethnic measurement equivalence threatens the
      validity of the research using these scales with ethnic minority populations.
      This study reports confirmatory factor analyses and construct validity
      coefficients for several parenting and family interaction scales among Anglo
      American and Hispanic 8-14-year-old children and mothers. The findings indicate
      that the Children's Report of Parental Behavior Inventory (except the hostile
      control subscale), the Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale (open communication
      subscale only), and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales II
      appear to have sufficient cross-ethnic equivalence for English-speaking Hispanic
      samples. Further, the Family Routines Inventory and the problem communication
      subscale could benefit from additional scale development.

PMID- 1446559
TI  - Children's relationships with maternal grandparents: a longitudinal study of
      family structure and pubertal status effects.
AB  - This longitudinal study assessed the effects of parents' marital transitions and
      pubertal development on grandparent-grandchild relationships. 9- to 13-year-old
      children, their mothers, and maternal grandparents from 186 Caucasian, middle
      class families including 73 intact families, 64 mother-custody, single-parent
      families and 49 stepfamilies completed questionnaires focusing on the degree of
      children's "relationship involvement" (perceived closeness and frequency of
      contact) with maternal grandparents at 2 time periods 13 months apart. Children
      also completed questionnaires 9 months later during a third interview.
      Grandparents, and especially grandfathers, were more involved with grandchildren
      from single-parent families (supporting the "latent function" hypothesis). The
      pubertal status results supported the "emotional distancing" hypothesis for
      grandfather-granddaughter relationships (higher pubertal status, less
      involvement) and the "stress buffer" hypothesis for grandsons' relationships with
      both grandparents (greater change in physical development, more involvement and
      greater perceived closeness).

PMID- 1446560
TI  - Young children and television: the retention of emotional reactions.
AB  - In 6 experiments, we examined preschoolers' ability to interpret or remember the
      affective reactions of television characters. In 2 studies, children viewed a
      "Sesame Street" or "Cosby Show" segment, and then retold the story. In both,
      mention of the protagonists' affective states was low, with less than 1% of the
      reactions recalled. In 3 experiments (using muppet, cartoon, or human
      portrayals), we examined whether this low retention was due to an inability to
      interpret reactions, identify their emotional labels, or remember them across a
      short period. For muppet and cartoon shows, children accurately recognized labels
      for reactions immediately after portrayal, but showed significant reductions in
      recognition memory by the end of the show. For human portrayals, subjects showed
      accurate recognition immediately after presentation, as well as after the show.
      In a final experiment, free descriptions of the reactions were assessed. Correct
      description was significantly higher for basic emotions than complex emotions.

PMID- 1446561
TI  - Temperament, emotion, and cognition at fourteen months: the MacArthur
      Longitudinal Twin Study.
AB  - 200 pairs of twins were assessed at 14 months of age in the laboratory and home.
      Measures were obtained of temperament, emotion, and cognition/language.
      Comparisons between identical and fraternal twin correlations suggest that
      individual differences are due in part to heritable influences. For temperament,
      genetic influence was significant for behavioral observations of inhibition to
      the unfamiliar, tester ratings of activity, and parental ratings of temperament.
      For emotion, significant genetic influence was found for empathy and parental
      ratings of negative emotion. The estimate of heritability for parental report of
      expression of negative emotions was relatively high, whereas that for expression
      of positive emotions was low, a finding consistent with previous research. For
      cognition and language, genetic influence was significant for behavioral indices
      of spatial memory, categorization, and word comprehension. Shared rearing
      environment appears influential for parental reports of language and for positive
      emotions, but not for other measures of emotion or for temperament.

PMID- 1446562
TI  - The relations among infant temperament, security of attachment, and behavioral
      inhibition at twenty-four months.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to examine the relations among infant temperament,
      attachment, and behavioral inhibition. 52 infants were seen at 2 days, 5, 14, and
      24 months of age. Assessments were made of temperament at 2 days and 5 months of
      age, and attachment and behavioral inhibition were assessed at 14 and 24 months,
      respectively. EKG was recorded at each assessment, and measures of heart period
      and vagal tone were computed. Distress to pacifier withdrawal at 2 days of age
      was related to insecure attachment at 14 months. 2 types of distress reactivity
      at 5 months, reactivity to frustration and reactivity to novelty, were identified
      and related to high vagal tone. Attachment classification at 14 months was
      directly related to inhibited behavior at 24 months. Infants classified as
      insecure/resistant were more inhibited than those classified as
      insecure/avoidant. In addition, an interaction of infant reactivity to
      frustration and attachment classification was found to predict inhibition at 24
      months. Infants classified as insecure/resistant and who had not cried to the arm
      restraint procedure at 5 months were the most inhibited at 24 months. These
      findings are discussed in terms of hypotheses regarding multiple modes of
      distress reactivity and regulation in early infancy and their different social
      and behavioral outcomes.

PMID- 1446563
TI  - Psychophysiology in attachment interviews: converging evidence for deactivating
      strategies.
AB  - By asking the subject to consider a host of potentially threatening attachment
      related issues, the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) allows an assessment of
      different strategies for regulating the attachment system. These strategies can
      be assessed along the 2 dimensions of security/anxiety and
      deactivation/hyperactivation. The greatest inferential leaps may be in
      characterizing strategies as deactivating. For example, individuals using
      deactivating strategies often report extremely positive relationships with
      parents, display restricted recall of attachment memories, and play down the
      significance of early attachment experiences. If these descriptive features are
      guided by a strategy that requires diverting attention from attachment
      information, subjects employing this strategy should experience conflict or
      inhibition during the Attachment Interview. In the present study, skin
      conductance levels were monitored for 50 college students during a baseline
      period and throughout the Attachment Interview. Subjects employing deactivating
      strategies showed marked increases in skin conductance levels from baseline to
      questions asking them to recall experiences of separation, rejection, and threat
      from parents. This finding supports the notion that individuals employing
      deactivating attachment strategies experience conflict or inhibition during the
      Attachment Interview.

PMID- 1446564
TI  - Reliability and validity of behavior problem checklists as measures of stable
      traits in low birth weight, premature preschoolers.
AB  - Mothers, teachers, and assistant teachers completed the Richman Behavior
      Checklist (BCL) at ages 2 and 3 years and the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist
      for Ages 2-3 (CBCL 2-3) at 3 years for a large sample of low birth weight,
      premature children. Interinstrument correlations for total scores were moderate,
      higher for teachers and assistant teachers than for mothers, with moderate
      temporal stability for BCL scores. Interrater agreement for either total scores
      or classifications of clinically significant scores was moderately high between
      teachers and assistant teachers only, and children identified as disturbed by
      mothers versus teachers represent almost nonoverlapping groups. Furthermore, many
      more children were identified as disturbed using the BCL. The most powerful
      predictors of mothers' total CBCL 2-3 scores were HOME Inventory scores and self
      reported depression. The use of these scales in clinical and research contexts is
      discussed.

PMID- 1446565
TI  - Maturation of human fetal responses to vibroacoustic stimulation.
AB  - Maturation of human fetal response to vibroacoustic stimulation was examined in
      60 fetuses from 23 to 36 weeks gestational age. Subjects received vibroacoustic
      or no-stimulus control trials (randomly assigned) while fetal heart rate (FHR)
      was recorded and movement was observed on real-time ultrasound scan. Initially,
      at 26-28 weeks, a small FHR deceleration response occurred; subsequently, FHR
      acceleration responses occurred. From 29 weeks, 83%-100% of subjects responded
      with an FHR acceleration > or = 10 BPM on the first vibrator trial and
      accelerations were observed on 83%-92% of all vibrator trials. From 26 to 36
      weeks the percentage of fetuses responding with movement on the first vibrator
      trial increased from 58% to 100%; on all vibrator trials responses increased from
      53% to 94%. It was concluded that maturation of human fetal response to
      vibroacoustic stimulation begins at about 26 weeks gestation, increases steadily
      over a 6-week period, and reaches maturity at about 32 weeks.

PMID- 1446566
TI  - Adult tactile stimulation during face-to-face interactions modulates five-month
      olds' affect and attention.
AB  - 3 studies were designed to investigate infant responses to tactile stimulation
      during brief adult-infant interaction using a modified still-face (SF) procedure.
      When adults pose a neutral SF expression, infants decrease gazing and smiling at
      the adults, and some increase grimacing, relative to normal interaction periods.
      This SF effect was substantially reduced in Study 1 when mothers or strangers
      continued to touch infants during the SF period. In Studies 2 and 3, tactile
      versus visual and active versus passive aspects of adult touch were isolated
      during different SF periods. Visible, active adult hands unaccompanied by touch
      elicited infant attention, but not smiling, during the SF period. By contrast,
      active, not passive, adult touch substantially reduced the SF effect, even when
      the adult's hands were invisible. In the latter condition, infants continued to
      gaze and smile at the adult's SF. Thus, adult facial expressions are not the only
      modulator of infant affect and attention during social exchanges; adult touch
      appears to play an active role.

PMID- 1446567
TI  - Developmental change in infant categorization: the perception of correlations
      among facial features.
AB  - Previous studies indicated that the ability to detect correlations among
      attributes emerges between 7 and 10 months of age. In the present study, the
      generality of this developmental transition was examined. Using an infant-control
      habituation procedure, 48 7- and 10-month-old infants were tested for the
      perception of correlations among basic facial features. The developmental effects
      were replicated. Only the 10-month-old infants demonstrated their sensitivity to
      the pattern of correlation by generalizing to a novel face that preserved the
      experienced pattern of correlation, while showing increased attention to a face
      in which the pattern of correlation was violated. 7-month-old infants generalized
      to both test stimuli containing familiar features, regardless of the status of
      the correlation. Implications for face perception and the processing of
      categorical information are discussed.

PMID- 1446568
TI  - On wooden pillows: multiple classification and children's category-based
      inductions.
AB  - Previous research has indicated that preschoolers do not distinguish between
      properties that are generalizable within a given category and those that are not.
      2 possible general constraints on children's cognition are proposed to account
      for these findings. 3 studies are reported that argue against the presence of
      such general constraints. We examine preschoolers' understanding of the
      properties associated with material (e.g., wood, cotton) and object (e.g., chair,
      pillow) categories. In Study 1, subjects consistently made inductions based on
      the material compositions of items when asked to predict texture and fragility.
      In Study 2, the same subjects judged that items that shared material would share
      an unfamiliar dispositional property (e.g., gets sodden in water), but items that
      shared object kind would share a novel functional property (e.g., used for
      accelerating). Study 3 tested a younger sample of 3-year-olds and found the same
      sensitivity to category type, albeit with larger individual differences. By age
      3, children use different modes of categorization to generalize different kinds
      of phenomena. These results argue against general limitations on children's
      abilities to use categories to make inductions. Even when children lack specific
      theoretical knowledge, the ability to organize phenomena into domains allows
      children to recognize which categories are relevant in different situations. This
      understanding can provide a basis for the development of more specific theories.

PMID- 1446569
TI  - Comparison of the attachment rates of males of the ticks Amblyomma hebraeum and
      A. variegatum to cattle, sheep and rabbits in the absence of aggregation
      attachment pheromone.
AB  - Losses in domestic ruminants caused by heartwater (Cowdria ruminantium infection)
      in Zimbabwe and Mozambique are greater when the vector is Amblyomma hebraeum than
      when the vector is A. variegatum. It has been suggested that the epidemiology of
      the disease may be influenced by the rates at which unfed adults of these two
      tick species attach to uninfested hosts (i.e. in the absence of the male-produced
      aggregation-attachment pheromone [AAP]). In this study we confined unfed males of
      A. hebraeum and A. variegatum on uninfested cattle, sheep and rabbits and
      recorded their attachment rates. Males of both species attached more rapidly on
      cattle than on sheep or rabbits. Males of A. hebraeum attached more rapidly than
      males of A. variegatum on all three host species. The differences in the
      attachment rates between the two species were much greater on sheep and rabbits
      than on cattle. The findings suggest that in the absence of AAP, pioneer males of
      both tick species may attach to cattle, and pioneer males of A. hebraeum may also
      attach to sheep. The differences in the attachment rates of A. hebraeum and A.
      variegatum provide a possible explanation for observed differences in the
      epidemiology of heartwater associated with these two vector species.

PMID- 1446570
TI  - The effects of nutritional status of rabbits and sheep on their resistance to the
      ticks Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi and R. appendiculatus.
AB  - Rabbits and sheep were exposed to low- and high-protein diets and subsequently
      infested three times with adults of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and
      Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi. The mean weight of R.e. evertsi females which
      dropped from rabbits maintained on a high-protein diet decreased from 515.0 +/-
      24.9 mg (naive) to 381.5 +/- 25.0 (second infestation) to 340.3 +/- 23.3 mg
      (third infestation) while the weight of ticks fed on animals which were exposed
      to a low-protein diet did not change significantly (2.7%). The mean weight of
      engorged females of R. appendiculatus which completed their blood meal on rabbits
      (high protein) decreased from 520.9 +/- 31.8 (naive) to 369.3 +/- 39 mg (3rd
      infestation), a significant decrease of 29.1% compared to a 12.3% decrease in
      weight between the 1st and 3rd infestation of females fed on animals on a low
      protein diet. Rhipicephalus e. evertsi fed on sheep exhibited the same
      phenomenon. The mean decrease in weight of 4rd-infestation ticks which dropped
      from sheep fed lucerne was 26.2% compared to 16.6% for ticks from sheep which
      were fed on grass. Hosts maintained on a low-protein diet failed to acquire
      resistance to ticks, lost weight and developed anaemia while those on a high
      protein diet developed resistance, maintained weight and did not develop anaemia.
      The nutritional stress of the hosts and its application in South Africa are
      discussed.

PMID- 1446571
TI  - The identification of a shared immunogen present in the salivary glands and gut
      of ixodid and argasid ticks.
AB  - The identification of a 70-kDa immunogen present in salivary gland extracts of
      several ixodid species, namely Hyalomma truncatum (sweating-sickness-inducing
      (SS+) and non-inducing (SS-) strains), Hyalomma marginatum rufipes and
      Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, is reported. The immunogen was identified by
      Western blots using a monoclonal antibody of the IgM isotype directed against a
      70-kDa immunogen present in the salivary glands of (SS-) female H. truncatum
      ticks. Cross-reactivity with the gut of unfed adult ixodid ticks, Amblyomma
      hebraeum, Rhipicephalus simus simus, R. evertsi evertsi, Rhipicentor nuttali,
      H.m. rufipes, and salivary glands of adult argasid species, Ornithodoros savignyi
      and Ornithodoros moubata, was demonstrated using ELISA.

PMID- 1446572
TI  - Abnormal molecular weight profile of urinary protein in rats with streptozotocin
      induced diabetes.
AB  - A quantitative analysis of the molecular weight (MW) profile of urinary protein
      by SDS-PAGE was performed in streptozotocin (STZ)-injected, non-ketotic diabetic
      rats (DM group), diabetic rats receiving dipyridamole (DM-DIP group), normal rats
      (C group) and STZ-injected rats with near-normal glycemia due to insulin
      treatment (DM-INSULIN group). In the DM group, decrease of a small MW protein
      (SMWP) (MW 19.5 k) was found at 2.5 weeks, and an increase of larger MW proteins
      (LMWP) (MW 68 [albumin], 55 and 29 k) together with a decrease of SMWPs (MW 19.5
      and 15 k) was found at 15 weeks, as compared to the C group: the MW profile of
      urinary protein in the DM-INSULIN and C groups was indistinguishable. At 15
      weeks, creatinine clearance (Ccr) was significantly depressed and an increase in
      the mesangial matrix with electron dense deposits was evident in the DM group.
      The urinary protein abnormalities were partially corrected and the reduction of
      Ccr was absent in the DM-DIP group with no effect on glomerular morphology. STZ
      induced diabetes in rats is accompanied by a reduction of urinary SMWP, and a
      subsequent increase of LMWP and depression of Ccr: dipyridamole ameliorates
      urinary protein abnormalities and prevents the reduction of Ccr.

PMID- 1446573
TI  - Delayed onset and decreased incidence of diabetes in BB rats fed free radical
      scavengers.
AB  - We tested the hypothesis that free radicals play a role in the selective
      destruction of pancreatic beta-cells in BB/Wor rats. Diabetes-prone BB rats of
      both sexes and 40 days of age were divided into three groups. The control group
      was fed ad libitum Purina rat chow powder, while the experimental group was fed
      ad libitum the rat chow powder blended with a mixture of four known free radical
      scavengers: allopurinol, mercaptopropionylglycine, dimethylthiourea and Vitamin
      E. A third group was pair-fed 10 g chow powder/rat/day, since in earlier
      experiments we observed that rats on the experimental diet consumed only about 10
      g/rat/day. All rats were studied up to age 120 days. Body weight and food intake
      were measured daily. Urine was tested for glucose beginning at age 60 days. When
      glucosuria appeared, blood glucose and urinary ketones were measured. Body weight
      gain in the experimental and pair-fed groups was similar, but lower than the
      control group. Life table analysis of the data showed a decreased and a delayed
      onset of diabetes in the rats fed free radical scavengers. Thus, the results of
      this study demonstrated that calorie restriction and the related impaired growth
      did not affect the incidence of diabetes in the BB rat. In addition, the results
      suggested a role for free radicals in the spontaneous destruction of pancreatic
      beta-cells in the BB rat.

PMID- 1446574
TI  - Presence of autoimmunity to pancreatic antigens in a patient with fibrocalculous
      pancreatic diabetes.
AB  - A case of fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes (FCPD) is reported for which
      antibody and cellular immune characteristics were determined. The patient, a Thai
      woman, had serum islet cell antibodies (ICA) that were detected by both
      immunoperoxidase staining and an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
      (ELISA). Serum anti-human insulin antibodies were negative by a displacement
      ELISA. Lymphoproliferation assay against pancreatic antigen prepared from a blood
      group O cadaveric donor was positive. Increased CD8+ lymphocytes were observed
      using direct immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry. CD4+ T lymphocytes,
      B lymphocytes and NK cells were within normal levels. These findings provide
      evidence for autoimmunity to pancreatic antigens in a patient with fibrocalculous
      pancreatic diabetes.

PMID- 1446575
TI  - Effects of the combination of insulin and gliclazide compared with insulin alone
      in type 2 diabetic patients with secondary failure to oral hypoglycemic agents.
AB  - Twenty non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients on insulin therapy for more than 2
      months due to secondary failure to oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA) were
      additionally treated with gliclazide, 80 mg b.i.d., for 1 month and 160 mg b.i.d.
      for a further 2 months, while reducing insulin dose gradually according to
      glycemic control. At the end of the first month, fasting blood glucose had
      decreased from 12.8 +/- 0.7 to 9 +/- 0.8 mM (mean +/- standard error; P < 0.005)
      and thereafter remained stable. Insulin requirements decreased from 34.2 +/- 2.5
      to 18.3 +/- 3.2 U/day (P < 0.001). Three patients were able to cease insulin
      treatment altogether. A direct correlation was found between final insulin dose
      and previous duration of infusion monotherapy (r = 0.52; P < 0.05). C
      peptide/glucose score (fasting C-peptide/fasting BG x 100) increased from 0.11 +/
      0.03 to 0.21 +/- 0.05 (P < 0.05). We conclude that combined therapy reduces
      insulin requirement by increasing endogenous secretion, which may mainly affect
      hepatic glucose production as indicated by greater improvement in fasting vs.
      post-prandial blood glucose. This therapy could avoid hyperinsulinemia, which has
      been reported to be involved in macrovascular complications, and the additional
      haemovascular properties of gliclazide could make it more effective in such a
      combination.

PMID- 1446576
TI  - The association between clinical risk factors and outcome of diabetic foot
      ulcers.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to describe the association between clinical
      risk factors in diabetic patients with food ulcers in relation to outcome.
      DESIGN: A prospective study of 314 consecutively presenting diabetic patients
      with foot ulcers referred to the Department of Internal Medicine between July 1,
      1983 and June 30, 1987. All patients were followed to final outcome. SETTING: All
      patients were treated by the same multi-disciplinary foot care team at the
      Department of Medicine, both as in- and out-patients. Healing was defined as
      intact skin for at least 6 months. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-seven patients
      healed primarily, 77 after amputation, and 40 died unhealed. Signs of
      macroangiopathy were more common among patients who healed after amputation. The
      outcome was strongly related to age, though 43% of the patients with an age over
      80 years healed primarily. There was no difference in smoking habits between
      patients who healed primarily and those who required amputation to heal. Diabetic
      nephropathy was found in 26% of the patients and was strongly associated with
      amputation. Presence of retinopathy was found in 54% of the patients, but this
      finding was not related to the outcome. There were no differences in short-term
      metabolic control as assessed by hemoglobin A1c levels between patients who
      healed primarily and those who healed after amputation. CONCLUSION: The presence
      of diabetic foot ulcers was strongly associated with age and diabetic
      complications such as multiple cardiovascular disease and nephropathy, which were
      important factors related to amputation.

PMID- 1446577
TI  - Outcome of gestational diabetes in Bengali Asians living in an east London health
      district.
AB  - The characteristics and outcome of pregnancy complicated by gestational glucose
      intolerance are described in a consecutive series of 69 Bengali Asian patients
      and a parallel group of 22 Caucasian patients. The Bengali patients were older
      and of higher parity than the Caucasians and more frequently required insulin
      therapy. However, the outcome of pregnancy was similar in terms of antenatal
      clinic attendance, the number of antenatal hospital admissions, glycaemic
      control, birthweight and mode of delivery. Of those patients who attended for
      postnatal glucose tolerance test, 20% of the Bengali population demonstrated
      persisting abnormality of glucose tolerance, whereas no abnormalities were
      evident in the Caucasian group. These findings are consistent with the high
      prevalence and early age of onset of non-insulin-dependent diabetes in Asian
      populations. The World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria for the diagnosis of
      impaired glucose tolerance proved insufficiently sensitive for the diagnosis of
      gestational diabetes. This was particularly demonstrated by four patients with
      apparently normal glucose tolerance by WHO criteria who subsequently required
      insulin therapy.

PMID- 1446578
TI  - Effect of disease duration on cardiac autonomic reflexes in young patients with
      insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
AB  - The association of disease duration with deterioration of cardiovascular
      autonomic reflexes was studied in two groups of young patients with insulin
      dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The mean age of the patients in both groups
      was 31 years and the mean duration of the disease was 3 (n = 18) and 16 (n = 22)
      years. No significant difference in group means was seen in the test parameters
      of autonomic nerve function. However, five patients with long-term disease, but
      none with short-term disease, had test scores indicating cardiac autonomic
      neuropathy. It was concluded that (1) the duration of the disease has no overall
      effect on autonomic nerve function in young patients with IDDM, but (2) a few
      individuals with IDDM may have some precipitating factors leading to autonomic
      neuropathy in the course of the disease.

PMID- 1446579
TI  - The management of postpartum haemorrhage.

PMID- 1446580
TI  - CTSS: an interactive microcomputer program for the clinical screening of carpal
      tunnel syndrome. II. Statistical and computational aspects.
AB  - Details of the development and testing of a microcomputer-based statistical
      decision aid for screening carpal tunnel syndrome are given. The clinical and
      operational details have been reported in (14).

PMID- 1446581
TI  - Muscle conduction velocity and morphology after prolonged hypoxemia and diabetes
      in rats.
AB  - One of the electrophysiological abnormalities in the experimental rat model of
      chronic hypoxia (10% O2) and in the experimental rat model of diabetes is an
      increase in jitter in the stimulated single fibre EMG, which is thought to result
      from a primary disorder of the axon with its terminal branches. But muscle fibre
      alterations that influence the propagation of muscle action potentials can also
      increase jitter. The contribution of possible changes in muscle conduction
      velocity and muscle morphology to jitter were investigated in the present study.
      Muscle conduction velocities were determined and compared with the morphological
      properties of muscle fibers in muscles of control, chronic hypoxic and terminal
      stage diabetic rats. The mean muscle conduction velocities were in the same range
      in the three groups. The muscle fibre type composition and the mean muscle fibre
      diameters were about the same in the hypoxic and the control rats, whereas the
      muscles of the diabetic rats showed a higher percentage of intermediate type
      muscle fibres, which is suggestive of muscle degeneration, and a smaller mean
      muscle fibre diameter in comparison with muscles of the hypoxic and the control
      rats. It is concluded that the similarities between the electrophysiological
      properties of the muscles despite differences in their morphology, indicate that
      there is primary axonal degeneration in diabetic hypoxic rats.

PMID- 1446582
TI  - Automatic detection and measurement of EMG silent periods in masticatory muscles
      during chewing in man.
AB  - Silent periods are transient stops of muscle activity that are induced by
      mechanical or electrical stimulus. The current report describes a new algorithm
      which enables automatic detection and measurement of silent periods that occur in
      the EMG of human masticatory muscles during chewing efforts together with jaw
      positions in space at the occurrence of the silent periods. The EMG signal for
      detection of the silent period is modeled based on the observation of the EMG
      records induced from the jaw-closing muscles during chewing efforts in seven
      volunteer subjects. The algorithm for automatic detection and measurement of the
      EMG silent period has been applied successfully to real EMG data and the
      performance of the software was confirmed to be sufficiently reliable. The
      results of the analysis are stored in a biosignal database for possible clinical
      use.

PMID- 1446583
TI  - Subclinical neuropathy in children with inherited haemostasis disorders.
AB  - Motor and sensory conduction of the right peroneal and sural nerves was studied
      in 28 children (17 HIV seropositive) with inherited hemostasis disorders, without
      any symptoms of neuropathy. The amplitude ratio of the evoked muscle potential
      (EMP) at distal stimulation to that at proximal stimulation at the right peroneal
      nerve was also studied. Thirty healthy aged-matched children were used as
      controls. There was no statistically significant difference in the distal
      latency, amplitude and conduction velocity of motor and sensory nerves between
      patients and controls. On the contrary, a great diminution of amplitude of the
      EMP during proximal stimulation of nerve was observed in patients, statistically
      very significant, as compared to controls. This difference was independent of
      patients' age, severity of hemostasis defect or HIV status. In 9 patients the
      amplitude was within normal limits. Intraneural oozing due to trivial trauma is
      postulated as a possible mechanism of peroneal nerve lesion.

PMID- 1446584
TI  - Inadequacy of transcranial magnetic stimulation in the neurophysiologic
      assessment of Bell's palsy.
AB  - Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive procedure which to stimulate
      the brain cortex and the peripheral nerve pathways. A new technique was recently
      introduced to record the muscle action potential of facial muscles by means of
      transcranial magnetic stimulation of the facial nerve. The experimental data that
      was obtained indicate that this technique allows to stimulate the facial nerve
      above the stylomastoid foramen: a greater tract of the nerve can therefore be
      explored than what was possible with the traditional electrical stimulation at
      the mastoid. Until now no comparison data was available on the clinical
      usefulness of the two methods. We decided to study 14 normal controls and 26
      patients suffering from unilateral idiopathic facial palsy (Bell's palsy) and to
      submit these two groups to magnetic transcranial stimulation and electrical
      stimulation of the facial nerve in the mastoid region, to the purpose of
      observing where the nerve is stimulated by the magnetic impulse and which of the
      two techniques can be of accurate prognostic value in the study of the evolution
      of the clinical lesion. The electromyographic responses were elicited by the
      electrical stimulation at the mastoid and by transcranial stimulation after
      positioning the coil on the parieto-occipital scalp. A recording was taken from
      the ipsilateral orhicularis oculi muscle utilising two cupped electrodes. The
      latency and the amplitude of the compound muscle action potential were measured
      bilaterally in order to compare the results obtained on both the affected and the
      healthy sides. The patients were scheduled to two neurophysiological and clinical
      evaluations at about 30 days interval one from the other: the first test was not
      carried out before 20 days from the onset of the deficit; further clinical
      examination was carried out only 6 months later. The analysis of the results
      obtained in the normal controls submitted to transcranial magnetic stimulation
      indicate that the nerve is activated at the point where it originates from the
      brainstem. The study carried out showed that transcranial magnetic stimulation of
      the facial nerve, does not provide data which can be correlated to the clinical
      situation observed at the time of the study; furthermore, transcranial magnetic
      stimulation does not supply any prognostic data on the clinical evolution of the
      lesion.

PMID- 1446585
TI  - Cognition in homozygous beta-thalassemia disease: a multichannel auditory event
      related potential (P300) study.
AB  - Auditory Event-Related Potentials (AERP) were elicited in 25 beta-thalassemic
      patients, three days before and three days after a blood transfusion. The
      amplitude, latency and topographic distribution of P300 (P3) as well as N1, P2,
      N2 components were measured for the two assessment times. No significant
      differences in either amplitude, latency or topography were observed between the
      two situations, but thalassemic patients had significantly prolonged P3 latencies
      comparing to controls though none of them exceeded 3 standard deviations of the
      control mean values. Regarding P3 topography, 10 out of 25 patients showed a
      right centroparietal distribution area. It is concluded that information
      processing, as far as it is reflected in AERP components is impaired in
      thalassemic patients and blood transfusion have no significant influence in
      cognitive functions.

PMID- 1446586
TI  - Some conceptual remarks about supraspinal mechanisms in the control of voluntary
      and reflex motor activities.
AB  - The present paper analyses the supraspinal control of motor functions and
      sensorimotor integrations. Attention was paid mainly to three phenomena involved
      in these mechanisms: the Bereitschaftspotential, the long latency reflex
      responses and the short latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs). The study
      includes the problems of long loop motor control and dyscontrol, the gating
      process of SEPs by movement, the role of N18 component of SEP and the analysis of
      supraspinal modulation of the H-reflex excitability curve in healthy subjects and
      in patients with some cerebral dysfunction. It was found that the amplitude of
      the Bereitschaftspotential increased with peripheral nerve stimulation. The
      experiments have shown a positive relationship between the long latency reflex
      latencies and the distance of the corresponding muscle from the brain. The
      amplitude of the long latency reflex response was found to be higher and its
      synchronization better in phasic movements than in a slightly sustained
      contraction. The short latency somatosensory evoked potentials were distinctly
      attenuated by movement gating. By its wide spread negativity, the N18 component
      probably facilitates the cortical transfer of the long latency muscle response.
      The H-reflex excitability curves in patients with various cerebral dysfunction
      exhibited a characteristic course corresponding approximately to the degree of
      dysfunction in focal cerebral lesions, arterial hypertension and neurasthenias.

PMID- 1446587
TI  - Electrophysiological findings in poliomyelitis patients at the subacute phase.
AB  - Electrodiagnostic tests-needle EMG, nerve conduction and somatosentory evoked
      potential (SEP) studies of the upper and the lower limbs were performed in three
      patients during the subacute phase of poliomyelitis. Although poliomyelitis is
      traditionally considered a "pure motor" disease, involvement of the sensory
      system was demonstrated by prolonged sensory nerve conduction and by delayed
      latencies and amplitude asymmetries of SEPs obtained from the lower limbs.
      Sensory deficit in poliomyelitis is well known to exist during the acute phase of
      illness. The present report describes the electrophysiological findings in
      patients during the subacute phase, several months after onset of illness.
      Sensory nerve action potentials and sensory evoked potentials were abnormal,
      especially those elicited by lower limb stimulation although the patients had no
      overt signs of sensory loss at that time. The associated EMG findings are
      described, and the probable pathologic changes of the motor unit are discussed.

PMID- 1446588
TI  - Sympathetic skin response in spinal cord injured patients: preliminary report.
AB  - Sympathetic skin responses (SSRs) were recorded in six spinal cord injured
      patients. These SSRs were obtained at hands and feet, after electrical
      stimulation of the median or the posterior tibial nerves. Below the level of the
      lesion, SSRs had similar latencies than normal subjects, but were more
      inconstant, with a lesser amplitude and elicited after stronger stimulus
      intensity. The origin of these somatosympathetic reflexes are discussed. SSRs
      recordings seem to be a simple and suitable technique for investigation of the
      autonomic nervous system of the spinal cord injured patients.

PMID- 1446589
TI  - Complete ulnar innervation of the thenar muscles combined with normal sensory
      fibres in a subject with no peripheral nerve lesion.
AB  - A complete ulnar innervation of all thenar muscles, including the opponens, have
      to our knowledge been described only in patients with severe traumatic lesions of
      the median nerve. The present study reports a subject with exclusive ulnar
      innervation of the thenar muscles in the right hand. The patient had no
      anamnestic or objective signs of peripheral nerve lesions. While his sensory and
      motor ulnar nerve fibres were normal, electrophysiological examination of the
      right median nerve showed normal course of the sensory fibres but apparently no
      motor fibres to the thenar muscles.

PMID- 1446590
TI  - The effects of acute training status on reliability of integrated
      electromyographic activity and "efficiency of electrical activity" during
      isometric contractions: a case study.
AB  - "Efficiency of electrical activity" (EEA) is the measure of muscular force
      production per unit of neuromuscular electrical activity as measured by
      integrated electromyographic (IEMG) activity. To determine the effects of acute
      training status on day-to-day and within test reliability for both IEMG activity
      and EEA, one experienced weight trained male was observed on three separate days
      (age = 33 yrs., height = 172.7 cm, body weight = 81.4 kg). The first (I) and
      third (III) test days were preceded by 1-2 days rest from weight training, while
      the second test day (II) was preceded by 4 days of rest from weight training. Two
      external electrodes were placed on the right biceps brachii. EMG signals were
      rectified by an amplifier, while a signal gain of 5000 was utilized. Three
      different levels of isometric muscle activity using a dumbbell, were performed at
      25.0 N (2.55 kg), 87.3 N (8.90 kg), and 157.9 N (15.90 kg) of force. These
      resistances represented 12%, 42% and 76% respectively, of the subject's maximum
      capabilities. Five trials were performed at each resistance on each of the test
      days. Repeated measures ANOVAs (3 x 3) were used to determine differences between
      test days and loads (p < or = 0.05). Within day variations were determined by
      coefficient of variation (CV = SD/mean x 100%). The EEA for each test day was
      curvilinear, with greater forces exhibiting lower EEA. Test day II exhibited the
      greatest EEA, which may have been related to the acute training status of the
      subject.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446591
TI  - The parallel and the common k-NN rules for an analysis of electromyograms in
      spinal muscular atrophy of childhood.

PMID- 1446592
TI  - Tumor necrosis factor-alpha induces clustering in ovarian theca-interstitial
      cells in vitro.
AB  - Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) has been implicated in the regulation of
      steroidogenesis in theca-interstitial cells (TIC). The purpose of this study was
      to evaluate any change in TIC morphology during the time course of TNF-induced
      inhibition of LH-stimulated androstenedione production. Ovaries from immature
      hypophysectomized rats were enzymatically digested and highly purified TIC were
      obtained by density gradient centrifugation. TIC treated with TNF (0.1-10 ng/ml)
      demonstrated distinct clustering in the presence and absence of LH (50 ng/ml).
      The number of clusters and the mean area per cluster were greatest after 4 days
      as a result of treatment with 1 or 10 ng TNF/ml. In addition, a dose-dependent
      inhibition of LH-supported androstenedione production was induced by TNF. TNF
      also inhibited LH-induced androstenedione in TIC after 2, 4, or 6 days of
      continuous LH treatment, and TIC clustering still occurred. TIC clustering was
      impeded by the protein kinase inhibitor H7 at 10 microM; however, the protein
      kinase inhibitor, HA 1004 (5 microM), did not inhibit TNF-induced clustering in
      TIC. Since H7 blocked TNF induced clustering, but did not block TNF inhibition of
      LH stimulated androstenedione synthesis, it is suggested that alternate signal
      transduction pathways for TNF induced inhibition of LH-stimulated androstenedione
      and stimulation of clustering of TIC may exist. The results also indicate that
      the TNF-induced TIC clustering may be independent of the TNF-induced inhibition
      of LH-stimulated androstenedione production and states of LH-induced
      differentiation of TIC.

PMID- 1446593
TI  - Enhanced stimulation of follicle maturation and ovulatory potential by long
      acting follicle-stimulating hormone agonists with extended carboxyl-terminal
      peptides.
AB  - The induction of granulosa cell differentiation and follicle maturation is
      dependent upon the stimulatory actions of FSH. Our recent studies used
      recombinant DNA technology to fuse the carboxyl-terminal peptide (CTP) of hCG
      beta-subunit to the carboxyl-terminus of the FSH beta-subunit. The resulting FSH
      analog has identical in vitro receptor-binding and biological activities as wild
      type FSH (WT-FSH), but an increased circulating half-life. The present studies
      examined further the ability of FSH with one (FSH-CTP1) or two (FSH-CTP2)
      appended CTPs to promote granulosa cell differentiation and follicle ovulatory
      potential. WT-FSH, FSH-CTP1, and FSH-CTP2 were produced from Chinese hamster
      ovary cells transfected with the common alpha-subunit and respective beta
      subunit. Hormone concentrations were quantitated by RIA, and relative levels
      confirmed by radioligand receptor assay. Both FSH-CTP1 and FSH-CTP2 retained full
      FSH receptor-binding activity, but did not bind LH receptors. To compare in vivo
      bioactivity, immature estrogen-primed female rats received ip injections of FSH
      or the agonists at 0 and 24 h. At 48 h, substantial stimulation (up to 2.5-fold)
      of ovarian weight was induced by 1.0 and 3.0 IU/day FSH-CTP1 or FSH-CTP2, whereas
      a higher dose (10 IU/day) of WT-FSH was required for an 1.8-fold stimulation.
      Although the in vivo potencies of FSH-CTP1 and FSH-CTP2 were similar, FSH-CTPs
      were about 10-fold more potent than WT-FSH in inducing granulosa cell aromatase
      activity and LH receptors. We further reduced the frequency of hormone
      administration. Increasing doses (1-10 IU) of a single ip injection of FSH-CTP1
      resulted in dose-dependent increases in granulosa cell aromatase activity and LH
      receptor content 48 h later. Although a single injection (10 IU) of WT-FSH had no
      effect, the same total dose of WT-FSH administered as four 2.5-IU injections 12 h
      apart was effective. To test the ovulatory potential of ovarian follicles, rats
      received a single injection of FSH-CTP1, followed 52 h later by 5 IU hCG to
      induce ovulation. Although hCG did not induce ovulation in females receiving a
      single dose (10 IU) of WT-FSH, 20 +/- 2 and 43 +/- 5 ovulated ova/rat were found
      in animals primed with 3 and 10 IU FSH-CTP1, respectively. Because twice daily
      injections of WT-FSH (2.5 IU/injection) also increased the ovulatory potential of
      the ovary, the enhanced effectiveness of FSH-CTP1 appears to be related to its
      increased circulating half-life.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1446594
TI  - A radioimmunoassay of rat type I iodothyronine 5'-monodeiodinase.
AB  - A highly sensitive, specific, and reproducible RIA has been developed to measure
      rat type I iodothyronine 5'-monodeiodinase (5'-MD). A 16-amino acid peptide (LAP
      744) corresponding to a portion of the carboxy-terminal region of the rat liver
      5'-MD, as predicted from its cDNA, was synthesized, and rabbits were immunized
      with the peptide-BSA conjugate. In a final dilution of 1:15,000, our anti-5'-MD
      antibody bound about 30-35% of a tracer amount of [125I]LAP-744. The detection
      threshold of the RIA approximated 0.08 pmol LAP-744 or an equivalent amount of
      0.08 pmol 5'-MD. Rat liver and kidney microsomes produced dose-response curves
      that were essentially parallel to that of LAP-744. No inhibition of binding of
      [125I]LAP-744 to antibody was produced by 0.3 mg or less rat microsomal proteins
      from testes, heart, brain, muscle, spleen, intestine, lung, placenta, or fetal
      liver. Recovery of nonradioactive LAP-744 added to spleen microsomes averaged
      103%. The coefficient of variation averaged 4% within an assay and 11% between
      assays. In 16 normal rats studied, the mean (+/- SD) 5'-MD content was 2.4 +/-
      0.22 pmol/mg protein in liver microsomes and 2.5 +/- 0.27 pmol/mg protein in
      kidney microsomes. Fasting of the rat for 2-4 days was associated with a
      significant reduction in both the activity and the content of the 5'-MD in liver
      and kidney. Hypothyroidism was also associated with a significant decrease in the
      activity and content of 5'-MD in both tissues. Significant opposite changes were
      observed in these parameters in hyperthyroidism. Treatment of the rat with sodium
      ipodate for 3 days was associated with a significant decrease in both the
      activity and the content of 5'-MD in liver and kidney. A similar treatment of the
      rat with propylthiouracil induced a clear reduction in the activity of 5'-MD in
      liver and kidney, but the content of the enzyme was significantly increased in
      both tissues. Rats treated with aurothioglucose for 3 days exhibited a
      significant decrease in 5'-MD activity in liver and kidney microsomes, whereas
      the tissue content of 5'-MD was not affected. A similar treatment of the rat with
      methimazole had no significant effect on either the activity or the content of 5'
      MD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1446595
TI  - Distribution of cholecystokinin forms in intestinal secretory granule subtypes.
AB  - Peptides and proteins destined to be released in response to stimuli are found in
      the regulated secretory pathway. Substances in this pathway are packaged into
      secretory granules, wherein they are often rendered osmotically inactive by
      complexing to an oppositely charged molecule. The complexing mechanism employed
      by members of the cholecystokinin (CCK) peptide family is unknown, but the
      heterogenous charges of CCK peptides makes it possible that different CCK
      peptides have different abilities to form intragranular complexes. If the number
      of osmotically active intragranular CCK peptides varies, corresponding variations
      in secretory granule density should result, and when intestinal CCK secretory
      granules were purified on isotonic density gradients, four granule peaks were
      observed. Granules containing greater proportions of short CCK forms tended to
      have the lowest buoyant densities, suggesting that they contain a greater number
      of osmotically active molecules than granules of lower density and that short or
      all intragranular CCK forms are osmotically active. CCK secretory granules also
      contained novel CCK forms; in addition to previously characterized forms,
      granules contained a CCK form that appears to be CCK-6 and a form that could
      arise from cleavage of CCK-58 at position 4, 10, or 12. Because intragranular
      enzymes are responsible for peptide posttranslational processing, the
      intragranular CCK forms observed in the present study are likely to be authentic
      CCK-processing products. Finally, CCK sorting in intestine apparently differs
      from that in a rat medullary thyroid carcinoma cell line, in which CCK-22 and CCK
      33 are not found in the regulated secretory pathway.

PMID- 1446596
TI  - Reduction of alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate-induced hepatotoxicity by recombinant
      human hepatocyte growth factor.
AB  - Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent stimulator of DNA synthesis in
      cultured hepatocytes. To determine whether HGF has any activity in vivo, we have
      tested HGF in rats in which intrahepatic cholestasis was induced by acute
      administration of alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT). The hepatotoxic effects of
      a single injection of ANIT were manifested 48 h later as large increases in serum
      bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline
      phosphatase. These biochemical changes were accompanied by widespread periportal
      edema, hypertrophy of bile duct epithelium, and randomly scattered areas of
      liquifaction necrosis in the hepatic parenchyma. The increases in bilirubin,
      alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase
      were markedly attenuated when HGF was administered 30 min before ANIT and again
      at 6, 12, 24, 30, and 36 h after ANIT. In addition, this HGF dosing regimen
      completely prevented the occurrence of parenchymal lesions, although it had no
      effect on periportal histopathology. The effect of ANIT was dose dependent; a
      maximal response was observed at 320 micrograms/kg per injection, with an
      intermediate response at 105 micrograms/kg. Delaying the administration of HGF
      until 12 h after ANIT was as effective as when administration was begun 30 min
      before ANIT. Taken together these results show that HGF can prevent some aspects
      of ANIT hepatotoxicity.

PMID- 1446597
TI  - Paracrine regulation of adipose differentiation by arachidonate metabolites:
      prostaglandin F2 alpha inhibits early and late markers of differentiation in the
      adipogenic cell line 1246.
AB  - The effect of arachidonate metabolites on the differentiation of the adipogenic
      cell line 1246 was investigated. Among the metabolites examined, only
      prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) inhibited differentiation in a dose-dependent
      fashion with an ED50 of 3 x 10(-9) M. PGF2 alpha inhibited the mRNA expression of
      lipoprotein lipase, clone 154, and fatty acid-binding protein, which are early
      markers of differentiation, as well as glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase
      specific activity and triglyceride accumulation, which are late markers of
      differentiation. Chronic exposure of 1246 cells to PGF2 alpha before and during
      differentiation indicated that the cells that have just initiated their
      differentiation program were the most susceptible to the inhibitory effect of
      PGF2 alpha. Since 1246 cells produce PGs, we determined whether the PG produced
      by the cells influenced adipose differentiation. Cyclooxygenase inhibitors added
      to the culture medium stimulated differentiation of 1246 cells up to 18-fold
      depending on the type and concentration of inhibitor used. In contrast,
      lipoxygenase inhibitors had no effect. Treatment of 1246 cells with arachidonic
      acid resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell differentiation. Oleate or
      linoleate had no effect. These data indicate that PGF2 alpha inhibits early and
      late events of adipose differentiation and that the endogenous production of PGs
      (particularly PGF2 alpha) plays an important role as a negative paracrine or
      autocrine regulatory pathway of adipose differentiation.

PMID- 1446598
TI  - Phorbol ester activation of the protein kinase C pathway inhibits gonadotropin
      releasing hormone gene expression.
AB  - The effects of the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA), an
      activator of protein kinase C (PKC), and the PKC inhibitor staurosporine on GnRH
      secretion and mRNA levels were studied in GT1-7 hypothalamic neuronal cells. Dose
      response and time-course studies revealed that TPA (10(-8) M) acutely increased
      GnRH secretion 3-fold at 3-6 h, which then declined to baseline at 24 h, while it
      progressively decreased GnRH mRNA levels by 50% and 70% at 6 and 24 h,
      respectively. To ensure that these effects were due to activation and not down
      regulation of PKC, cells were treated for 30 min with TPA (10(-8) M). This brief
      exposure to TPA also resulted in a decrease (60%) in GnRH mRNA levels at 6 h,
      with a 1.5- to 2-fold increase in GnRH secretion compared to control values,
      suggesting that activation of PKC decreases the pretranslational expression of
      GnRH while increasing GnRH secretion. Additional studies measured PKC activity
      and documented a shift from a cytosolic to a membrane fraction after incubation
      with TPA, again supporting PKC activation. Exposure of GT1-7 cells to
      staurosporine (10(-8) M), a PKC inhibitor, resulted in no change in the level of
      GnRH mRNA or secretion at 6 h. However, incubation with both TPA and
      staurosporine prevented the decrease in GnRH mRNA levels and partially blocked
      the increase in GnRH secretion induced by TPA. We conclude that TPA, by
      activating the PKC pathway, acutely increases GnRH secretion, but dramatically
      decreases GnRH gene expression. The exact mechanism of these divergent effects on
      the synthesis and secretion of GnRH remain to be elucidated.

PMID- 1446599
TI  - Ontogeny of hepatic nuclear triiodothyronine receptor isoforms in the rat.
AB  - We have determined the contribution of the thyroid hormone receptor (TR) isoforms
      TR alpha 1 and TR beta 1 to the postnatal rise in rat hepatic nuclear T3-binding
      capacity. In agreement with previous studies, total hepatic nuclear binding
      capacity rose by about 8-fold from the 19th day of gestation to young adulthood
      at 2 months of age (0.10 +/- 0.03 to 0.86 +/- 0.17 pmol/mg DNA). The levels of
      specific TR species were measured by immunoprecipitation of T3-binding activity
      from hepatic extracts using a panel of antisera directed against specific regions
      of the TR isoforms. The difference between receptor immunoprecipitated with
      antibody against TR beta 1 and that precipitated with an antibody against an
      identical region in both TR beta 1 and TR alpha 1 was tentatively assumed to
      represent TR alpha 1. TR alpha 1 accounted for virtually all T3-binding activity
      in fetal liver on gestational day 19 (G19), increased by 2-fold shortly after
      birth, and remained constant thereafter. TR alpha 1 mRNA, on the other hand, was
      highest in concentration on G16 and fell by 50-75% in the adult. TR beta 1 was
      undetectable by immunoprecipitation of hepatic extracts from fetuses on G19.
      However, Northern analysis showed the presence of TR beta 1 mRNA in the fetal
      liver, which rose in concentration by 3- to 4-fold in late gestation and then
      remained constant. The contribution of TR beta 1 to total binding capacity rose
      to 33% and 40% on postnatal days 15 and 30, respectively, and to 80% in the adult
      liver. Immunohistochemical analyses of hepatic sections confirmed the presence of
      very low levels of TR beta 1 in fetal liver as early as G16 and G19, and a sharp
      rise in TR beta 1 protein concentration in the postnatal period. This indicated
      that the increase in TR beta 1-binding capacity results from increased TR beta 1
      mass. The increase in TR beta 1-binding capacity, thus, is due to increased
      translational efficiency of the beta 1 mRNA or stabilization of the TR beta 1
      protein. The prominence of TR alpha 1 in both rat fetal liver and fetal brain, as
      previously demonstrated in our laboratory, raises the possibility that this
      receptor isoform may carry out specialized functions in the fetus and that TR
      beta 1 subserves still other functions at later stages of development.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1446600
TI  - Mouse uterine stromal cells secrete a 30-kilodalton protein in response to
      coculture with uterine epithelial cells.
AB  - While uterine stromal cells (USC) appear to modify the function of uterine
      epithelial cells (UEC) under certain conditions in vivo, relatively little is
      known about the effect of epithelial cells on stromal cell differentiation and
      function. To determine if UEC modulate USC function in vitro, highly enriched (>
      95%) cultures of polarized UEC were first cultured on Matrigel-coated filters in
      serum-free medium until confluent, then cocultured with USC for up to 120 h.
      Subsequently, while maintaining both cell types in physically separate
      compartments, filters containing UEC were removed, and USC phenotypic markers
      assayed. Coculture with UEC did not affect the expression of two markers of USC
      differentiation (desmin and laminin), USC DNA content, [35S]methionine uptake, or
      total protein synthesis or secretion. However, coculture of USC with UEC or
      medium conditioned by UEC induced the secretion of a 30-kilodalton protein (p30)
      from USC as early as 24 h of coculture and through 120 h of coculture. In
      addition, secretion of a 60-kilodalton protein by USC was frequently observed in
      response to coculture with UEC. Neither the hormonal stage from which uterine
      cells were recovered, nor the addition of exogenous progesterone or estradiol
      modulated UEC-induced p30 secretion. Several purified growth factors
      (transforming growth factor-beta, epidermal growth factor, interleukin-1 alpha,
      and fibroblast growth factor) added to the serum-free culture medium failed to
      induce p30 secretion by USC. The p30-inducing activity in UEC-conditioned medium
      could not be abolished by either heat or trypsin treatment, suggesting that it is
      not a protein. Purified prostaglandin E2 or F2 alpha or platelet-activating
      factor did not induce p30 secretion by isolated USC. Of several epithelial and
      fibroblastic cell lines tested, UEC and a human uterine adenocarcinoma cell line
      (RL95-2) were the most effective in inducing p30 secretion by USC. Moreover, UEC
      also were able to modulate protein secretion by nonuterine murine fibroblast cell
      lines. Collectively, these data demonstrate that UEC can modulate USC function in
      vitro via a soluble factor(s).

PMID- 1446601
TI  - Pituitary extract causes aggregation and differentiation of rat mammary tumor
      MTW9/Pl cells.
AB  - Alkaline pituitary extracts (PE) of the mammosomatotropic tumor MtTW10
      differentiated cultured PRL-independent rat mammary tumor cells MTW9/Pl. Within
      24 h, MTW9 cells growing in suspension began to aggregate and adhere to the
      plastic dish. Cultured dispersed MTW9 cells were undifferentiated, but PE
      treatment resulted in organoid aggregates that exhibited glandular luminal
      structures and periodic acid-Schiff-positive material consistent with basement
      membrane formation. Morphometric examination of organoids demonstrated a
      reduction in nuclear and cell perimeters compared to those of untreated cells.
      Electron microscopy showed that the treatment resulted in polarization, nuclear
      changes, junctional complexes, secretory spaces, microvilli, and basement
      membrane formation. A disaggregated undifferentiated tumor now appeared as a
      differentiated adenocarcinoma. PE induced expression of laminin and milk protein,
      but failed to increase fibronectin expression. Extracts of MTOM (a variant of
      MtTW10 which secretes little PRL) and bovine pituitary also produced aggregation
      and adhesion of MTW9. A number of tissue extracts, growth factors, and hormones
      failed to produce such aggregation. Laminin, but not fibronectin, produced
      aggregation and adhesion similar to those produced by PE. Cycloheximide inhibited
      the aggregation effect of PE, but not that of laminin. PE was mitogenic for MTW9,
      but inhibition of proliferation by vinblastine did not inhibit the aggregation
      induced by PE. These observations suggest that the pituitary contains a novel
      factor that stimulates matrix synthesis, resulting in differentiation, possibly
      laminin induced.

PMID- 1446602
TI  - Specificity of steroid binding in New World primate B95-8 cells with a vitamin D
      resistant phenotype.
AB  - We recently described the existence of a competitive binding component in vitamin
      D-resistant New World primate cells that has a relatively low affinity (Kd,
      approximately 10(-8) M) but high capacity for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25
      (OH)2D3] compared to that possessed by the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Here we show
      that this binding component is capable of binding a vitamin D3 metabolite other
      than 1,25-(OH)2D3 as well as steroid hormones structurally disparate from vitamin
      D3 sterols. We studied the binding of [3H]1,25-(OH)2D3 and [3H]25-hydroxyvitamin
      D3 ([3H]25OHD3) in extracts of the vitamin D-resistant marmoset lymphoblastic
      cell line B95-8 in the presence and absence of potential competitive ligands,
      including 25OHD3, 1,25-(OH)2D3, 17 beta-estradiol, testosterone, and
      progesterone, at concentrations ranging from 1-100 nM. Compared to extracts
      containing the authentic VDR, extracts of B95-8 cells bound 180% more 1,25
      (OH)2D3 and 12-fold more 25OHD3 on a weight basis. The affinity of this binder
      for 25OHD3 was 2.2 times as great as its affinity for 1,25-(OH)2D3. Further, at
      concentrations approaching the Kd of this binder for 1,25-(OH)2D3, 25OHD3 was 3
      times more effective than 1,25-(OH)2D3 in competing with [3H]1,25-(OH)2D3 for
      binding. This binder eluted from a Sephadex G-100 column with an apparent mol wt
      of 58 kilodaltons, and pooled elution fractions from the column encompassing this
      mol wt range were capable of inhibiting binding of 1,25-(OH)2D3 to the VDR by
      65%. Competitive steroid binding analyses showed estradiol to be at least as
      effective as 1,25-(OH)2D3 in inhibition of [3H]1,25-(OH)2D3 binding; homologous
      binding studies with 17 beta-estradiol as labeled and competitive ligand
      demonstrated that concentrations of the gonadal steroid that successfully
      displaced [3H]1,25-(OH)2D3 also displaced 17 beta-[3H] estradiol. Using
      [3H]25OHD3 as the labeled ligand and a more extensive array of competitive
      ligands, the rank order of steroid binding was 25OHD3 > 1,25-(OH)2D3 > or =
      estradiol = progesterone = testosterone. These results suggest that the phenotype
      of steroid hormone resistance in New World primates may result from the
      overexpression of an intracellular 58-kilodalton protein(s) that interferes with
      the steroid-receptor interaction by competing for ligand binding.

PMID- 1446603
TI  - Analysis of pulsatile secretion of thyrotropin and growth hormone in the
      hypothyroid rat.
AB  - To characterize the role of TRH in the generation of TSH pulsatility as well as
      the effect of hypothyroidism on episodic GH secretion, blood was constantly
      withdrawn (30-60 microliters/min) from rats treated with 0.02% methimazole in the
      drinking water for 8-10 days. This treatment significantly reduced circulating
      levels of both T3 and T4 and elevated plasma TSH; however, since thyroid hormone
      titers were still detectable (T3, 39.6 +/- 5.3 vs. 89.8 +/- 5.3 ng/dl in
      euthyroid animals), methimazole-treated rats were referred to as being mildly
      hypothyroid. TSH was found to be secreted in secretory bursts, consisting of one
      to several peaks in these rats. Pulsar analysis of TSH secretory profiles
      revealed a mean pulse frequency of 2.8 pulses/h, a mean pulse amplitude of 10
      ng/pulse, and a mean pulse duration of 0.2 h. Euthyroid rats exhibited similar
      fluctuations of circulating TSH levels; however, due to the variability of the
      TSH RIA in the range of euthyroid TSH titers, no significant pulsatility was
      detected by Pulsar. Mean plasma TSH levels in eu- and hypothyroid rats were 2.3
      +/- 0.3 and 14.6 +/- 1.8 ng/ml, respectively. To confirm that the TRH antiserum
      (TRH-AS) used in the present study for passive immunization had sufficient
      binding capacity to absorb endogenous TRH release, euthyroid rats were pretreated
      with either normal rabbit serum or TRH-AS, followed by the injection of clonidine
      (100 micrograms/kg BW, iv). This alpha 2-adrenergic agonist caused a significant
      (P < 0.01) 12.7-fold rise in plasma TSH levels in normal rabbit serum-treated
      animals, which was completely abolished by TRH-AS pretreatment, indicating that
      clonidine stimulates TSH secretion via activation of hypothalamic TRH release.
      When TRH-AS was slowly infused into hypothyroid rats that were sampled frequently
      for the detection of TSH pulsatility, it caused a significant (60.3%; P < 0.01)
      decrease in mean TSH levels, with TSH titers approaching euthyroid concentrations
      1 h after the infusion of TRH-AS. The antiserum treatment also caused the
      disappearance of statistically significant (Pulsar) TSH secretory pulses. Mild
      hypothyroidism shifted the GH secretory profiles from a low frequency, high
      amplitude in euthyroid animals to a high frequency, low amplitude pattern in
      hypothyroid rats. Mean GH levels in hypothyroid rats were 76% lower than those in
      euthyroid controls. These findings show that TSH is secreted in a pulsatile
      fashion in the hypothyroid rat and that TRH is predominantly responsible for the
      generation of TSH pulsatility.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1446604
TI  - Correlation of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-receptor complex
      internalization with the sustained phase of FSH-induced calcium uptake by
      cultured rat Sertoli cells.
AB  - We have previously reported that synthetic peptide amides corresponding to
      regions of the beta-subunit of human FSH [hFSH-beta-(1-15) and hFSH-beta-(51-65)]
      have the ability to bind calcium and to facilitate its entry into liposomes. In
      the present study, we have examined the ability of synthetic peptides
      corresponding to the entire primary structure of hFSH-beta-subunit, to induce
      calcium influx in cultured rat Sertoli cells. Calcium (as 45Ca2+) uptake in
      response to 50 microM hFSH-beta-(1-15), hFSH-beta-(21-35), or hFSH-beta-(51-65)
      peptide amides was 2.5-, 2.4-, and 2.0-fold higher, respectively, than basal
      uptake. Pretreatment of Sertoli cells for 5 min with phenylarsine oxide (PAO, 80
      microM), an inhibitor of receptor-mediated endocytosis, significantly (P < 0.05)
      reduced 45Ca2+ influx in response to hFSH-beta-(1-15), hFSH-beta-(21-35), and
      hFSH-beta-(51-65). A delay of 20 min was required, however, before the inhibitory
      effect of PAO on 45Ca2+ uptake was observed. Specific binding of [125I] hFSH to
      receptor at 4 C was unaffected by PAO. After 2 h at 37 C, however, approximately
      1.6-fold more [125I]hFSH specifically bound at 4 C could be dissociated from the
      cell surfaces of PAO-pretreated Sertoli cell monolayers, compared to untreated
      monolayers. This result is consistent with an inhibitory effect of PAO on FSH
      receptor internalization. Chloroquine (at 100 microM), a lysosomotropic agent
      known to block FSH degradation, also significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited FSH
      induced 45Ca2+ uptake. Extending our earlier studies, these results suggest that
      the sustained (> 20 min) phase of FSH-induced calcium uptake, also seen in
      response to synthetic hFSH-beta-(1-15), hFSH-beta-(21-35), and hFSH-beta-(51-65)
      peptide amides, may occur as a consequence of FSH-receptor complex
      internalization and FSH degradation. Vesicular uptake of extracellular calcium,
      which accompanies internalization of FSH-receptor complexes, and release of
      channel-forming peptides by lysosomal hydrolysis of FSH suggests a novel
      mechanism whereby FSH increases intracellular calcium levels in Sertoli cells.

PMID- 1446605
TI  - Individual parathyroid cells exhibit cyclic secretion of parathyroid hormone and
      chromogranin-A (as measured by a novel sequential hemolytic plaque assay).
AB  - PTH and chromogranin-A (CgA) are the two major proteins secreted from the
      parathyroid gland. We investigated the secretory patterns of CgA and PTH using a
      sequential reverse hemolytic plaque assay (RHPA). The RHPA allows detection of
      hormone secretion from individual cells after a secretory stimulus. For the
      sequential RHPA, bovine parathyroid cells were mixed with protein-A-conjugated
      ovine erythrocytes (oRBC). Antiserum, either anti-PTH or anti-CgA, was added
      under optimal secretory conditions. The addition of complement caused lysis of
      oRBC surrounding hormone-secreting cells. In this stage (stage 1), individual
      cells were identified and indexed as secreting or nonsecreting cells. For stage
      2, a new lawn of oRBC was established, and a second RHPA was performed on the
      same population of cells, allowing for the detection of secretory patterns. In
      the single stage RHPA, about three fourths of the cells formed CgA plaques
      compared to only about half that formed PTH plaques, suggesting that CgA and PTH
      are not always cosecreted. In the sequential RHPA, of the cells that did not
      secrete CgA or PTH in stage 1, up to half secreted in stage 2. Of those cells
      that secreted in stage 1, up to one fourth did not secrete in stage 2. These
      results indicate that the parathyroid cells "cycled" between secretory and
      nonsecretory phases. Our experimental design precluded our obtaining unequivocal
      data on whether CgA is an autocrine/paracrine regulator of PTH secretion.

PMID- 1446606
TI  - Calbindin-D9K gene expression in the lung of the rat. Absence of regulation by
      1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and estrogen.
AB  - Calbindin-D9K (CaBP9K) is classically considered to be the molecular expression
      of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. The hormone is known to regulate the rat CaBP9K gene
      in duodenal tissue at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. This study
      shows that the CaBP9K gene is expressed in the rat lung, and that this expression
      is probably not vitamin D- or estrogen-dependent. The CaBP9K gene is not
      expressed in alveolar macrophages, but CaBP9K messenger RNA (mRNA) was localized
      by in situ hybridization in alveolar epithelial cells. CaBP9K mRNA was detected
      as early as the 20th day of gestation. The quantity of CaBP9K mRNA gradually
      increased during growth, from 1-77 days after birth, whereas the CaBP9K
      concentration dramatically increased from day 19 to day 20 of gestation. Vitamin
      D-deficient male rats (8 weeks old) were given a single injection of 1,25
      dihydroxyvitamin D3 (650 pmol/100 g body wt) and killed 1 h and 24 h after
      injection. The hormonal treatment resulted in a rise in duodenal CaBP9K mRNA, but
      no significant change in lung extracted CaBP9K mRNA. Mature ovariectomized rats
      were injected with 17 beta-estradiol (0.5 microgram/100 g body wt) and killed 24,
      48, and 72 h later. The CaBP9K mRNA concentration in the uterus was markedly
      dependent on estrogen; that of the lung was not. The factors regulating the
      CaBP9K gene expression in the lung remain to be determined.

PMID- 1446607
TI  - A cryptic peptide (160-169) of thyrotropin-releasing hormone prohormone
      demonstrates biological activity in vivo and in vitro.
AB  - TRH is synthesized as a precursor peptide containing five copies of the sequence
      Gln-His-Pro-Gly, QHPG, flanked by paired basic amino acids, and linked by other
      peptides. We tested one cryptic peptide, PPT (160-169, SFPWMESDVT), as a possible
      physiological regulator of pituitary activity in vivo. Male rats were cannulated
      (jugular) and received a single dose of either PPT or TRH (10(-8)-10(-6) M). PPT
      caused no consistent effects on either TSH or PRL secretion, while TRH stimulated
      the secretion of both hormones. However, PPT stimulated a dose-dependent increase
      in both pituitary TSH beta and PRL mRNA content at 240 min similar to TRH. In
      primary cultures of rat pituitaries, PPT stimulated a maximum 4-fold increase in
      TSH beta mRNA and a 2-fold increase in PRL mRNA in 4 h, while TRH increased both
      TSH beta and PRL mRNA approximately 3-fold. Again, PPT had no significant effect
      on TSH or PRL secretion into the medium. Thus, PPT appears to be a physiological
      regulator of both TSH and PRL synthesis, but, unlike TRH, does not act as a
      secretagogue.

PMID- 1446608
TI  - Androgens lower prostaglandin E2 levels in neonatal mouse bulbourethral gland in
      in vitro cultures.
AB  - The neonatal mouse bulbourethral gland (BUG) in vitro culture model is useful to
      study hormone-induced genitourinary (GU) tract growth and differentiation. Like
      the prostate, the BUG is a derivative of the urogenital sinus and may have
      relevance to understanding growth processes involved in normal and pathological
      GU tract development. Previous studies have reported androgen-induced elevation
      of prostaglandin E2 (PgE2) levels in mouse GU tract in vivo. PgE2 has been
      proposed to mediate neonatal GU tract masculinization. In our studies, tissues
      were obtained from neonatal male mice and cultured in serum-free Dulbecco's
      Modified Eagle's Medium-Ham's F-12 Medium (1:1) supplemented with varying
      concentrations of androgen. PgE2 levels were measured by RIA in the medium, and
      tissue specimens were cultured for 7 days or less. During this period, androgens
      induced proliferation and glandular morphogenesis in the BUGs. In the absence of
      androgen, tissue and medium PgE2 levels increased over 7 days. Significant (P <
      0.05) PgE2 increases over day 1 control values were observed from days 5-7 in
      tissues and on day 7 in media. During this same time period, androgen
      supplementation decreased PgE2 levels. Significant (P < 0.05) PgE2 decreases from
      day 1 cultures were observed from days 3-7 in tissues and on day 7 in media. PgE2
      was decreased significantly (P < 0.05) by androgen compared to control values
      from days 3-7 in tissues and from days 5-7 in media. On day 7 of culture, PgE2
      levels were significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited by androgen in a concentration
      dependent fashion in tissues and media. Maximal androgen-induced inhibition of
      PgE2 levels was 96% and 99% in tissues and media, respectively. Although the
      addition of indomethacin to control cultures markedly inhibited PgE2 production,
      BUG morphology was unaffected. In addition, the morphology of androgen-stimulated
      BUGs does not appear to be affected by the addition of exogenous PgE2. We
      conclude that although androgens induce development and decrease PgE2 levels,
      PgE2 does not appear to play a major role in in vitro BUG postnatal growth and
      morphogenesis. The BUG in vitro culture model may mimic growth and morphogenetic
      processes occurring in the human GU tract. Further understanding of the role of
      steroid hormones and PG metabolism may yield additional insight into
      developmental and proliferative GU tract disorders.

PMID- 1446609
TI  - Central hypothyroidism is associated with advanced age in male Fischer 344/N
      rats: in vivo and in vitro studies.
AB  - We investigated age-related alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid
      function in a series of in vivo and in vitro studies in 2-, 8-, 18-, and 24-month
      old male Fischer 344/N (F344/N) rats. Thyroid histology showed progressive
      follicular loss with advancing age; this was associated with significant and
      progressive decrements in plasma levels of free T4 and free T3, but not
      immunoreactive TSH, which remained unchanged with age. This was accompanied by a
      progressive age-dependent loss in in vivo responsivity of the thyrotroph to
      synthetic TRH and a paradoxically augmented response of GH to this peptide in the
      oldest rats. Steady state levels of prepro-TRH mRNA in the hypothalamic
      paraventricular nucleus were decreased with age, whereas TRH content in and in
      vitro secretion by whole hypothalami remained unchanged. Both anterior pituitary
      steady state TSH beta-subunit mRNA levels and TSH content were decreased with
      age. Taken together, these data suggest that aging in male F344/N rats is
      associated with a progressive, centrally mediated decrease in thyroid function.
      The relative contributions to this phenomenon of age-related alterations in supra
      hypothalamic and/or hypothalamic vs. pituitary thyrotropic function remain to be
      determined, as do the relationships between changes in hypothalamic-pituitary
      thyroid function and those in aging per se.

PMID- 1446610
TI  - Effects of luteinizing hormone on glucose metabolism in cumulus-enclosed bovine
      oocytes matured in vitro.
AB  - The effects of LH on glucose metabolism within cumulus cell-enclosed bovine
      oocytes were determined. Cumulus cell-enclosed bovine oocytes were matured in
      vitro (IVM) in control medium alone or supplemented with LH, FSH, or TSH, then
      individually assayed for the metabolism of D-[5-3H]glucose, D-[1-14C]glucose, D
      [6-14C]glucose, and D-[U-14C]glucose. Glycolytic activity was unchanged after IVM
      in 1 microgram LH/ml, but was greater (P < 0.05) after culture in 10 and 50
      micrograms LH/ml than the control value (1.34 +/- 0.13, 1.87 +/- 0.20, and 1.63
      +/- 0.14 vs. 1.19 +/- 0.13 nmol 3H2O/micrograms protein.3 h, respectively).
      Increased glycolytic activity was observed within cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes,
      but not in cumulus cell complexes from which the oocyte was removed. Also, no
      glycolysis was detected when denuded oocytes from any IVM treatment were assayed.
      Glycolytic activity was greater (P < 0.01) after IVM in LH (10 micrograms/ml) vs.
      TSH (0.5 microgram/ml), FSH (1.0 micrograms/ml), and control treatments (3.04 +/-
      0.10, 2.44 +/- 0.10, 2.33 +/- 0.10, and 2.13 +/- 0.10 nmol 3H2O/micrograms
      protein.3 h, respectively). Treatment with TSH also increased (P < 0.05)
      glycolytic activity compared to control values. Relative to control values after
      IVM, pentose cycle activity was 73.6% less, 2.9% higher, and 33.9% higher with
      LH, FSH, and TSH treatments, respectively. Total 14CO2 generated from D-[U
      14C]glucose did not differ between treatments. Glucose oxidation by the pentose
      cycle accounted for 30.5%, 29.7%, 40.7%, and 11.1% of the total 14CO2 production
      after IVM in control medium, FSH, TSH, or LH, respectively. Data indicate that
      IVM with LH results in increased glycolytic activity and mitochondrial glucose
      oxidation within cumulus cell-enclosed bovine oocytes, and that this may
      represent a mechanism by which LH enhances oocyte maturation.

PMID- 1446611
TI  - Glutamic acid decarboxylase messenger ribonucleic acid is regulated by estradiol
      and progesterone in the hippocampus.
AB  - Ovarian steroids modulate learning, memory, and epileptic seizure activity,
      functions that are mediated in part by the hippocampus. Normal function depends
      on precise interactions between the inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid
      (GABA)ergic and excitatory glutamatergic neurons of the hippocampus. To determine
      whether estradiol and progesterone interact with GABAergic neurons, the levels of
      mRNA for glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the rate-limiting enzyme for GABA
      synthesis, were measured by in situ hybridization histochemistry with 35S-labeled
      riboprobes complimentary to the feline GAD cDNA. The levels of mRNA for GAD were
      analyzed in selected region of the dorsal hippocampus and medial basal
      hypothalamus in ovariectomized, ovariectomized estradiol-treated, and
      ovariectomized estradiol- and progesterone-treated rats. In estradiol-treated
      rats, GAD mRNA levels increased in GABAergic neurons associated with the CA1
      pyramidal cell layer, but not in the stratum oriens of CA1 or any other region of
      the hippocampus. Estradiol plus progesterone treatment reversed the estradiol
      induced increase in GAD mRNA in CA1 and induced a small decrease in the hilus. No
      effect of estradiol or progesterone was observed in the dorsomedial,
      ventromedial, or arcuate nuclei of the hypothalamus. Estradiol or progesterone
      may alter cognitive performance and seizure activity by increasing or decreasing,
      respectively, the activity of GABAergic neurons in the hippocampus.

PMID- 1446612
TI  - Divergent roles of protein kinase C in luteinizing hormone biosynthesis versus
      release in rat anterior pituitary cells.
AB  - We previously demonstrated that protein kinase C (PKC) activators, i.e. L-alpha
      1,2-dioctanoyl glycerol (C8) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), mimic the
      stimulatory effects of GnRH on both LH glycosylation and release. To further
      evaluate the roles of PKC, we determined: 1) the interaction between PKC
      activator and GnRH; and 2) the effects of depleting cellular PKC with a high dose
      of PMA on LH glycosylation vs. release. Anterior pituitaries excised from
      ovariectomized rats were enzymatically dispersed and cultured. In series 1
      experiments, day 3 monolayer cells were incubated in the presence of radiolabeled
      precursors and GnRH (0, 1, or 100 nM), with or without C8 (200 microM). In series
      2 experiments, day 2 cells were pretreated with either PMA (1 microM) or vehicle
      (0.08% dimethyl sulfoxide) for 24 h and then incubated with diluent, GnRH (1 nM),
      or PMA (20 nM), and radiolabeled precursors for 4 h. LH translation and
      glycosylation were monitored by measuring incorporation of [14C]alanine ([14C]A)
      and [3H]glucosamine ([3H]GA), respectively, into LH. Immunoreactive LH (IRLH) was
      measured by RIA. In series 1 experiments, C8 increased basal release of IRLH,
      potentiated IRLH release stimulated by 1 nM GnRH, but not by 100 nM GnRH. C8
      elevated total [3H]GA-LH but had no additive effects with GnRH. In series 2
      experiments, PMA pretreatment inhibited subsequent PMA-stimulated IRLH release.
      However, PMA pretreatment did not affect GnRH-induced IRLH release even though
      PMA pretreatment decreased cellular IRLH content. In comparison, PMA pretreatment
      reduced both GnRH- and PMA-stimulated total [3H]GA-LH. PMA pretreatment had no
      effects on total [14C]A-LH in the presence of GnRH or PMA, but reduced the basal
      level. In summary, PKC activators had no additive effects on either IRLH release
      or LH glycosylation stimulated by a maximal dose of GnRH. However, PMA
      pretreatment decreased GnRH-induced LH glycosylation without depressing LH
      release. These results suggest differential roles of PKC in the actions of GnRH
      on LH glycosylation vs. LH release.

PMID- 1446613
TI  - In vivo growth hormone treatment stimulates secretion of very low density
      lipoprotein by the isolated perfused rat liver.
AB  - We have previously demonstrated in hepatocyte suspensions prepared after in vivo
      GH deprivation [hypophysectomy (hypox)] that rates of esterification of [1
      14C]oleic acid into triglyceride (TG) and phospholipid (PL) were diminished, and
      that these esterification rates were correspondingly restored by repletion with
      recombinant GH. The current studies were designed to determine if GH exerts a
      similar effect on the secretion of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), the
      primary plasma carrier of TG. We assessed rates of secretion of VLDL lipid and
      apoprotein by perfused livers prepared from cortisol/T3-replaced hypox female
      rats in the presence and absence of recombinant human (h) GH infusion. We also
      determined rates of synthesis and secretion of VLDL TG from infused [1-14C]oleic
      acid. After hypox, rates of secretion of VLDL lipid (TG, PL, and cholesterol) and
      apoprotein (total) were significantly decreased. In addition, VLDL secreted under
      these conditions was depleted of PL, relative to the other lipid components.
      Secretion of newly synthesized VLDL TG from [1-14C]oleic acid was also decreased;
      however, neither intracellular accumulation of labeled TG nor absolute tissue
      levels of TG were significantly changed. Conversely, GH treatment of hypox rats
      effectively restored rates of secretion of VLDL TG, PL, cholesterol (C) and
      apoprotein to control levels. These findings support the putative role of GH in
      regulating VLDL secretion in vivo by demonstrating that alterations in plasma GH
      are accompanied by changes in VLDL secretion. The findings further suggest that
      GH may regulate VLDL secretion by altering the amount of PL and/or apoprotein
      available for formation of the VLDL particle.

PMID- 1446614
TI  - Oxytocin/neurophysin-I messenger ribonucleic acid in bovine granulosa cells
      increases after the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge and is stimulated by LH in
      vitro.
AB  - Bovine granulosa cells express the oxytocin/neurophysin-I (OT/NP-I) gene and
      secrete OT in vitro. We have shown previously that bovine granulosa cells
      isolated from the preovulatory follicle after the LH surge secrete 20 times more
      OT over 5 days in culture than granulosa cells obtained before the surge. LH or
      FSH stimulates OT secretion in vitro by granulosa cells isolated before the LH
      surge. We also observed that granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles isolated
      before the LH surge respond to OT with an increase in progesterone secretion,
      suggesting that OT may be involved in regulating the follicular/luteal phase
      shift, or ovulation, in an autocrine fashion. The objective of this study was to
      determine whether the increase in OT secretion from granulosa cells after the LH
      surge is regulated at the level of mRNA accumulation, peptide synthesis, and/or
      peptide secretion. Bovine preovulatory follicles were obtained during the early
      follicular phase (approximately 36 h before the LH surge), during the
      midfollicular phase (approximately 12 h before the LH surge), or during the late
      follicular phase (after the LH surge). Total RNA isolated from granulosa cells
      and theca interna at the time of cell isolation or after culture with or without
      LH was subjected to Northern analysis for OT/NP-I mRNA and quantified by
      densitometry. OT/NP-I mRNA was not detectable or was barely detectable in
      granulosa cells collected during the early or midfollicular phase (n = 6 and n =
      4 follicles, respectively), but a strong hybridization signal was obtained from
      RNA isolated after the LH surge (n = 5 follicles; P < 0.01). In contrast, OT/NP-I
      mRNA was not detectable in theca interna before or after the LH surge. Although
      OT/NP-I mRNA was not detectable in granulosa cells isolated 24 h after
      prostaglandin F2 alpha injection, after 24 h in culture, a weak OT/NP-I mRNA
      hybridization signal was observed in RNA from granulosa cells in LH-containing
      cultures. After 72 h in culture, granulosa cells cultured in control, as well as
      in LH-containing medium, exhibited a strong signal for OT/NP-I mRNA, but
      granulosa cells treated with LH exhibited a stronger OT/NP-I hybridization signal
      than control cultures (P < 0.01). Theca interna did not yield any OT/NP-I
      hybridization signal initially, and none was induced in culture.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1446615
TI  - Effect of hypophysectomy on rat preadipocyte replication and differentiation.
AB  - The effects of hypophysectomy, which results in decreased fat pad weight, fat
      cell number, and new fat cell formation, on preadipocyte replication were
      examined. Perirenal and epididymal preadipocytes were cultured from
      hypophysectomized, sham-operated and unoperated 3-month-old rats. In cloned
      preadipocytes, hypophysectomy resulted in a 19% decrease in cloning efficiency
      and a 60% reduction in cell number after 3 weeks in culture. Perirenal cells
      underwent more extensive replication than epididymal cells. The mechanism of
      reduced replication following hypophysectomy differed from that of donor site:
      hypophysectomy resulted in an increased percentage of cells which underwent 2 or
      fewer population doublings at the expense of cells capable of more than 2
      doublings. However, donor site had little effect specifically on these slowly
      replicating preadipocytes; rather, perirenal preadipocytes underwent more
      extensive replication than epididymal cells because of the higher percentage of
      preadipocytes capable of 13 or more doublings in perirenal fat pads.
      Hypophysectomy did not result in decreased differentiation of preadipocytes.
      These observations are in accord with the hypothesis that hypophysectomy reduces
      fat cell number in maturing rats partly through an effect on preadipocyte
      replicative capacity. Additionally, it seems that more than one form of
      preadipocyte exists, the various forms having differing susceptibilities to
      factors such as pituitary function and anatomic site.

PMID- 1446616
TI  - Tissue-specific transcription start site usage in the leader exons of the rat
      insulin-like growth factor-I gene: evidence for differential regulation in the
      developing kidney.
AB  - The production of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in extrahepatic tissues
      supports both autocrine and paracrine functions and is regulated differently from
      that in liver, which supports endocrine function. In rat liver, transcription
      initiation primarily occurs at four distinct, widely separated sites in exon 1 of
      the IGF-I gene, whereas in exon 2, transcription initiation occurs at a cluster
      of sites. To understand the molecular basis for tissue-specific regulation of IGF
      I gene expression, we have mapped transcription start site usage in the following
      extrahepatic tissues: testes, lung, kidney, heart, brain, muscle, and stomach,
      with liver serving as a control. In adult rats, kidney and brain exhibited a
      pattern of exon 1 transcription similar to that seen in liver, i.e. roughly
      equivalent use of start sites 2 and 3. In contrast, testes and lung
      preferentially used start site 3, while stomach, heart, and muscle predominantly
      used start site 3. Start sites 1 and 4 were used in all tissues at extremely low
      levels. In those tissues studied in which exon 2 transcripts are expressed
      (testes, lung, stomach, and kidney), the pattern of exon 2 transcription
      initiation was identical to that in adult rat liver. During postnatal
      development, the use of all transcription start sites in exons 1 and 2 was
      coordinate in lung and stomach. Selection of transcription start sites in the
      kidney, on the other hand, was subject to regulation during postnatal
      development. Specifically, within exon 1, start site 3 was expressed
      constitutively throughout peri- and postnatal development. In contrast, the usage
      of start site 2 was not detected at late fetal or early postnatal stages, but
      appeared and rapidly increased only at the stage of weaning. Exon 2 transcripts
      in kidney also did not appear until the postnatal period. These data suggest
      tissue-specific and developmentally regulated transcription factors regulating
      IGF-I promoter activity or, alternatively, tissue-specific and developmental
      stage-dependent differences in the stability of IGF-I mRNAs resulting from the
      use of different transcription start sites. These different mRNAs may be of
      significance in the differential regulation of IGF-I production for autocrine or
      paracrine function.

PMID- 1446617
TI  - Effects of coadministered growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone and GH-releasing
      hexapeptide on maladaptive aspects of obesity in Zucker rats.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of chronic pharmacological
      stimulation of the pituitary gland on GH hyposecretion and other maladaptive
      aspects of obesity. Obese Zucker rats were coadministered GH-releasing hormone
      (GHRH; 3 micrograms/kg) and GH-releasing hexapeptide (GHRP-6; 300 micrograms/kg),
      a potent combination of synergistic GH secretagogues, once daily for 60
      consecutive days. Although pituitary weights and GH concentrations were higher in
      obese rats administered the peptides than in obese rats administered saline,
      stimulated GH secretion was lower in obese rats than in lean rats. However,
      compared to those in lean rats, plasma insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin
      concentrations were higher in the obese rats regardless of treatment. The GH
      secretagogues did not alter food intake or body weight gain in sexually mature
      obese rats, whereas body weight gain was significantly increased when they were
      administered to prepubertal obese rats. Although glucose tolerance was impaired
      in both groups of obese rats, it improved in obese rats administered GHRH and
      GHRP-6 compared to that in obese rats administered saline. On the other hand,
      plasma cholesterol concentrations were elevated in obese rats administered the GH
      secretagogues but not saline. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest
      that hyposensitivity to GHRH and GHRP-6 in obese Zucker rats results from high
      concentrations of plasma insulin-like growth factor-I that negatively feedback on
      stimulated GH secretion. Nonetheless, daily episodes of endogenous GH secretion
      resulting from chronic coadministration of GH secretagogues significantly
      influenced the pituitary gland as well as lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.

PMID- 1446618
TI  - Thyroxine binding to the apolipoproteins of high density lipoproteins HDL2 and
      HDL3.
AB  - Four preparations of high density lipoprotein HDL2, five of HDL3, and purified
      apolipoproteins apoA-I, apoA-IV, and apoE were photoaffinity labeled with
      [125I]T4 and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis. Gels were also immunoblotted with antiserum against apoA-I, apoA
      II, apoA-IV, apoE, or apo(a), and the immunostained membrane was then
      autoradiographed. In HDL2, the two major radioactive bands migrated near the
      origin of the resolving gel and at 28-31 kilodaltons (kDa). The first band,
      stained by anti-apo(a) and anti-apoB-100, accounted for 40-96% of the total
      radioactivity and was attributed to lipoprotein(a), which is isolated in the same
      density range as HDL2. The second band, stained by anti-apoA-I, accounted for 1
      57% [41-95% after correction for contaminating lipoprotein(a)] of the [125I]T4 in
      the resolving gel. In HDL3, the major radioactive band was identified as apoA-I
      and contained 93-94% of the [125I]T4 in the resolving gel. Minor radioactive
      bands in both HDL2 and HDL3 were identified as apoA-II (17-18 kDa), apoA-II
      monomer (7-10 kDa), apoE (36-38 kDa), and apoAII-apoE heterodimer (46 kDa). In
      addition, HDL3 contained apoA-IV (43 kDa). Photoaffinity labeling of isolated
      apoA-IV and apoE showed that each protein interacted with [125I]T4. In both HDL2
      and HDL3, photoaffinity labeling in the presence of unlabeled L-T4 (1-10 microM)
      showed inhibition, suggesting a Kd in the micromolar range. This inhibition
      varied among different apo bands of the same HDL2 or HDL3 preparation and among
      the same bands of different preparations. Labeling in the presence of heparin or
      other inhibitors of T4 binding to plasma proteins (furosemide, diclofenac, and
      mefenamic acid) showed that HDL2-associated apoA-I was more sensitive to
      inhibition than HDL3-associated apoA-I. In conclusion, 1) HDL2 and HDL3 carry T4
      mainly through apoA-I and secondarily through apoA-II and apoE. The inter- and
      intrasubclass variations in T4 binding and sensitivity to inhibitors can be
      explained by the known heterogeneity of HDL particles and possible differences in
      conformation of the apo. The findings reported here, that apo other than apoA-I
      and apoB exhibit saturable binding of T4, suggest that thyroid hormone
      lipoprotein interactions may have even wider physiological implications than
      previously appreciated.

PMID- 1446619
TI  - A surge of gonadotropin-releasing hormone accompanies the estradiol-induced
      gonadotropin surge in the rhesus monkey.
AB  - In several species, the ovulatory LH surge is preceded by a surge of GnRH.
      Although a role for estradiol in the initiation of the LH surge is well
      established in the primate, several observations in the rhesus monkey have
      questioned whether such an estradiol-induced neurosecretory event takes place. We
      report on GnRH measurements in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples obtained from
      the third ventricle of intact and ovariectomized (OVX) conscious rhesus monkeys
      during control periods and throughout the estradiol-induced positive feedback
      phase. In the first experiment, we measured control GnRH concentrations in CSF
      collected at 15-min intervals uninterruptedly for a period of 1-5 days in
      tethered OVX monkeys (n = 4) in their cages without steroid priming. As had been
      demonstrated previously with the same method in restrained animals, CSF from the
      third ventricle contained detectable amounts of GnRH. Spontaneous GnRH secretion
      was pulsatile; overall mean pulse interval was 67.4 (+/- 2.2 SE) min for a total
      of 177 GnRH pulses. During 2 periods (8 and 6 h) when simultaneous blood and CSF
      samples were obtained, 14 out of 15 GnRH pulses were accompanied by an LH pulse.
      To evaluate the effects of an estrogen challenge on GnRH secretion, estradiol
      benzoate (E2B; 330 micrograms) was given to 4 intact (5 experiments) and to 2 OVX
      monkeys. CSF collection was initiated 8-24 h before E2B injection and continued
      for 72-84 h thereafter. E2B administration resulted in a surge of LH and of GnRH
      in all but one experiment. The mean time of onset of the GnRH surge was 22.0 (+/-
      4.0) h after E2B, whereas that of the LH surge was 24.7 (+/- 3.4) h. In contrast
      to LH, which declined after a peak at 35.2 +/- 3.9 h, the increase in GnRH
      secretion persisted throughout most of the observation period. The magnitude of
      the GnRH response differed in the 2 groups; in the intact animals, mean peak GnRH
      concentration increased 8.9-fold but only 3.8-fold in the OVX monkeys. A similar
      GnRH surge was observed in 1 OVX monkey, receiving an iv infusion of E2, which
      produced more physiological concentrations of E2. In this animal, an initial
      suppression of GnRH concentration in the 24-48 h period after E2 (GnRH control,
      14.6 +/- 1.9; post-E2, 4.0 +/- 0.5 pg/ml) preceded the initiation of the GnRH
      surge which occurred at 54 h after E2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1446620
TI  - Differential actions of endothelin and gonadotropin-releasing hormone in
      pituitary gonadotrophs.
AB  - Endothelin (ET) and GnRH act through specific receptors to promote Ca2+
      mobilization and influx pathways in pituitary gonadotrophs. In the present study
      cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca2+]i) and secretory responses to these two agonists are
      compared. In single gonadotrophs, low concentrations of both agonists cause
      oscillatory [Ca2+]i responses after a latent period. Such responses usually
      consist of discrete transients arising from the normal resting level, but are
      sometimes super-imposed on an elevated basal calcium level. At high doses, ET-1
      and GnRH induce biphasic responses, composed of a spike phase followed by a
      plateau that often shows high frequency and low amplitude Ca2+ transients. The
      duration of the latent period and the frequency of the subsequent oscillations
      are correlated, and both are dependent on agonist concentration. The frequencies
      and amplitudes of Ca2+ spiking are also interrelated; increases in frequency are
      followed by more rapid decreases in the amplitude of the Ca2+ transients. After
      K(+)-induced depolarization, gonadotrophs retain their oscillatory Ca2+ responses
      to ET-1 and GnRH, with the same frequency as controls. Activation of protein
      kinase-C by phorbol esters does not alter the frequency of ET-induced Ca2+
      transients, but significantly reduces their amplitudes. In contrast, treatment
      with nanomolar concentrations of thapsigargin converts ET-induced oscillations
      into a biphasic response, suggesting that Ca(2+)-ATPase in the endoplasmic
      reticulum participates in the oscillatory mechanism. The two agonists differ in
      their threshold doses and concentration dependence, ET being significantly less
      potent than GnRH. Also, gonadotrophs stimulated by ET-1 exhibit different post
      treatment responsiveness than those exposed to GnRH. While GnRH-treated cells
      recover their full [Ca2+]i and secretory responses within 30 min as well as
      normal [Ca2+]i and secretory responses to ET-1, endothelin-treated cells are
      refractory to further stimulation with ET and exhibit either attenuated or
      enhanced Ca2+ and LH responses to GnRH, depending on the duration of exposure to
      ET-1 and the subsequent recovery period. These data indicate that both receptors
      use the same mechanism(s) for Ca2+ release, but have different capacities to
      generate, maintain, and reinitiate the Ca2+ signal.

PMID- 1446621
TI  - Quantification and cellular localization of ovine placental lactogen messenger
      ribonucleic acid expression during mid- and late gestation.
AB  - Ovine placental lactogen (oPL) is structurally similar to PRL, is a product of
      the chorionic epithelium, and has been implicated in playing a supportive role in
      fetal growth. This study examined the concentration and cellular location of oPL
      mRNA at five stages of pregnancy (days 60, 90, 105, 120, and 135) in 21 cross
      bred ewes, and results were compared to maternal and fetal serum oPL
      concentrations, cotyledonary DNA and actin mRNA concentrations, and total fetal
      weight. The concentration of oPL mRNA in fetal cotyledonary tissue increased (P <
      or = 0.05) from day 60 (15.4 pg/micrograms total cellular RNA) to day 120 (73.7
      pg/micrograms total cellular RNA) of gestation and then plateaued, whereas no
      significant changes occurred in the concentration of actin mRNA over the
      gestational ages examined. The concentration of DNA in cotyledonary tissue
      (micrograms per mg wet tissue) increased (P < or = 0.05) from days 60 through 120
      and remained constant through day 135, such that when oPL mRNA was expressed on a
      picogram per microgram DNA basis, no stage of gestation effect (P > or = 0.10)
      was observed. The maternal serum oPL concentration increased (P < or = 0.05) from
      day 60 (7.1 ng/ml) to day 105 (417.7 ng/ml), followed by a large but
      nonsignificant (P > or = 0.10) increase in maternal serum oPL occurring on day
      135 (902.0 ng/ml). Fetal serum oPL concentrations increased (P < or = 0.05) from
      day 60 (11.0 ng/ml) to day 90 (29.0 ng/ml) and then remained relatively constant.
      Maternal serum oPL (r = 0.68; P < or = 0.01) and cotyledonary oPL mRNA levels (r
      = 0.61; P < or = 0.05) were correlated with total fetal weight when adjusted for
      fetal number and gestational age, and together accounted for 80.6% (r2 value) of
      the variation found in total fetal weight. The correlation between fetal serum
      oPL concentrations and total fetal weight was nonsignificant (P < or = 0.10).
      Examination of placentome cross-sections by immunocytochemistry and in situ
      hybridization at the five gestational ages indicated that the chorionic
      binucleate cell was the sole source of oPL. These data provide evidence that,
      like maternal serum concentrations of oPL, oPL mRNA expression by chorionic
      binucleate cells increases until late gestation, whereas fetal serum
      concentrations of oPL plateau during midgestation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400
      WORDS)

PMID- 1446622
TI  - Leydig cell peroxisomes and sterol carrier protein-2 in luteinizing hormone
      deprived rats.
AB  - We investigated the effects of 8 days of LH withdrawal on rat Leydig cell
      peroxisomal volume, total and intraperoxisomal catalase and sterol carrier
      protein-2 (SCP2) contents, and LH-stimulated testosterone secretion in vitro.
      Three groups of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, i.e. control, TE-implanted
      (testosterone-17 beta-estradiol-filled Silastic implants to suppress LH), and
      TELH-implanted (TE-implanted and LH replacement via Alzet mini osmotic pumps),
      were used. After 8 days, Leydig cell organelle volumes (stereology),
      intraperoxisomal catalase and SCP2 contents (immunocytochemistry), LH-stimulated
      testosterone secretion by isolated Leydig cells in vitro (determined by RIA), and
      total catalase and SCP2 contents in equal numbers of Leydig cells (immunoblot
      analyses) were determined. Results showed that the TELH-implanted rats were
      identical to controls in every parameter tested. Testis volume and Leydig cell
      number per testis in control and TE-implanted rats were not significantly
      different; however, reductions (P < 0.05) were observed in the average volume of
      a Leydig cell (one third of controls) and the volume of Leydig cells per testis.
      All Leydig cell organelle volumes tested were significantly lower in TE-implanted
      rats than in the controls; however, the volumes of smooth endoplasmic reticulum
      (SER) and peroxisomes were the most reduced (lowered to one sixth of control
      values). LH-stimulated testosterone secretion per Leydig cell in vitro correlated
      well with these changes in the volumes of Leydig cell SER and peroxisomes.
      Intraperoxisomal catalase in Leydig cells was unchanged in TE-implanted rats,
      although immunoblotting demonstrated a loss of total catalase content (which
      reflected the reduction in the volume of peroxisomes). SCP2 in Leydig cells of TE
      implanted rats was undetectable with immunoblot analysis (explained by the
      reductions in Leydig cell peroxisome volume and intraperoxisomal SCP2). These
      results demonstrate that the organelles SER and peroxisomes and the protein SCP2
      in Leydig cells are more LH dependent than the other organelles (e.g.
      mitochondria, lysosomes) and protein catalase, respectively. Moreover, the
      findings of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that Leydig cell
      peroxisomes play a significant role in testosterone production.

PMID- 1446623
TI  - Identification, partial purification, and characterization of two guanosine
      triphosphate-binding proteins associated with insulin receptors.
AB  - We have previously suggested that at least two different G-proteins are involved
      in mediating insulin receptor functions. Here we identify and partially purify
      two G-proteins with apparent molecular masses of 41 and 67 kilodaltons (kDa) that
      interact with insulin receptors in rat adipocytes and human placenta. Treatment
      of isolated rat adipocytes with insulin inhibited pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP
      ribosylation of a 41-kDa G-protein in subsequently isolated plasma membranes by
      30.2 +/- 3.0% and in partially purified insulin receptor preparations by 35.6 +/-
      5.7%. There was no associated decrease in the concentration of the 41-kDa G
      protein in the plasma membranes, as determined by immunoblot with a common G
      alpha antibody. The common G alpha antibody also recognized a 67-kDa protein in
      the plasma membranes, the concentration of which was not affected by insulin.
      However, the 67-kDa protein was enriched in partially purified solubilized
      insulin receptor preparations. Two similar, 41- and 67-kDa G-proteins were
      identified in the wheat germ-purified insulin receptor preparations obtained from
      human placenta. Removal of these two G-proteins from insulin receptor
      preparations results in loss of the ability of insulin to stimulate receptor
      kinase activity. Addition of a fraction enriched with 41- and 67-kDa G-proteins
      to the G-protein-depleted insulin receptor restores the insulin sensitivity of
      the insulin receptor kinase activity. Furthermore, addition of G-protein-depleted
      insulin receptors to the fraction containing partially purified 41- and 67-kDa G
      proteins enhances pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of the 41-kDa G
      protein. These results indicate that either the 41- or 67-kDa G-protein, or both,
      interact with the insulin receptor mediating insulin receptor kinase activity.
      Such mutual interaction and regulation between the insulin receptor and G
      proteins could be an important component of the signal transduction mechanism for
      insulin.

PMID- 1446624
TI  - Multiple regulatory effects by transforming growth factor-beta on type I collagen
      levels in osteoblast-enriched cultures from fetal rat bone.
AB  - Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) stimulates bone formation in vivo and
      in vitro, related in part to an increase in type I collagen production. In
      osteoblast-enriched cultures from fetal rat bone, 24- to 48-h TGF beta 1
      treatment enhanced collagen synthesis rates by 2.5- to 6-fold, while it increased
      collagen accumulation by 5- to 10-fold. These effects were not accounted for by
      similar changes in acid-soluble radioisotope, cell number, or steady state type I
      procollagen transcripts. Basal collagen synthesis and accumulation were markedly
      reduced when mRNA transcription was blocked with alpha-amanitin, but the relative
      stimulatory effects of TGF beta 1 persisted in toxin-treated cultures. Newly
      synthesized collagen was rapidly secreted into the culture medium. While pulse
      chase studies demonstrated that total (medium plus cell-associated) collagen
      levels were stable throughout the 48-h period, TGF beta 1 increased the fraction
      of cell-associated collagen between 24-48 h, and this was partially blocked by
      alpha-amanitin, but not by antibody to fibronectin or beta 1-integrin subunit.
      TGF beta 1, therefore, has multiple effects on type I collagen in fetal bone
      derived cell cultures, including small increases in mRNA, large increases in
      polypeptide synthesis, and enhanced association of secreted collagen to the cell
      layer, which may require synthesis of extracellular components unrelated to
      fibronectin or the beta 1-integrin subunit.

PMID- 1446625
TI  - Testicular descent. III. The neonatal mouse gubernaculum shows rhythmic
      contraction in organ culture in response to calcitonin gene-related peptide.
AB  - The effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and CGRP 8-37 on the
      neonatal mouse gubernaculum were examined in organ culture, with the aim of
      seeing whether CGRP has a direct effect on the gubernaculum. A total of 440
      gubernacula were studied. Two hundred and fifty gubernacula were treated with
      CGRP in concentrations ranging from 0-714 nM/liter. With increasing doses of CGRP
      the percentage of gubernacula showing vigorous contraction increased from 18-50%.
      The total percentage of gubernacula showing any form of contraction increased
      from 76-96%. One hundred and fifty gubernacula were exposed to the CGRP analog
      CGRP 8-37. Increasing concentrations of CGRP 8-37 from 179-714 nM/liter decreased
      the rate of vigorous contraction from 18-4%. The percentage of gubernacula
      showing any degree of contraction decreased from 76-14%. Forty gubernacula
      removed from testicular feminization (TFM) mice were exposed to varying
      concentrations of CGRP. In the absence of exogenous CGRP no contractility was
      observed. By contrast, in the presence of CGRP the gubernacula showed vigorous
      contractility increasing from 38-90%. The total number of gubernacula showing
      contraction increased from 75-100%. These studies demonstrated that the neonatal
      mouse gubernaculum exhibits a high level of endogenous contractility, which can
      be enhanced in a dose responsive manner with exogenous CGRP. CGRP 8-37 caused a
      dose responsive inhibition. The androgen-insensitive gubernaculum from the TFM
      mouse showed no endogenous contraction, but on exposure to CGRP showed an
      enhanced rate of contractility. These results are consistent with the hypothesis
      that androgens may control gubernacular migration indirectly via release of CGRP
      from the genitofemoral nerve in the inguinoscrotal region. The failure of
      gubernacular motility in vitro and migration in vivo in the TFM mouse may
      indicate lack of CGRP release from the genitofemoral nerve.

PMID- 1446626
TI  - Photoperiodic induction in vitro: the dynamics of gonadotropin-releasing hormone
      release from hypothalamic explants of the Japanese quail.
AB  - The Japanese quail is a photoperiodic animal that under certain experimental
      conditions can respond to a single long day with a wave of LH secretion. Such a
      system offers an opportunity to analyze the photoneuroendocrine changes as they
      occur in real time, especially as all of the neural machinery (photoreceptor,
      clock, and GnRH system) is believed to lie within the hypothalamus. The first
      detectable rise in LH occurs at about hour 23 of the long day, and this single
      inductive event leads to prolonged LH secretion lasting for up to 2 weeks and
      peaking 2-4 days after the dawn of the long day. The size of the quail's
      hypothalamus is such that the entire structure, including both the GnRH cell
      bodies and the median eminence, can be cultured for some hours, and the rates of
      GnRH release measured therefrom. The present experiments used hypothalamic
      explants from quail at different times throughout the photoperiodic response,
      superfused them for up to 7.5 h in vitro, and measured the dynamics of GnRH
      release. A significant step increase of 80% in GnRH release occurred between
      hours 22.5 and 23 in quail that had been exposed to a long day: an equivalent
      change was not found in hypothalami taken from quail maintained only under short
      day lengths. In explants taken from quail at the peak of LH secretion (53 h after
      dawn of the long day), the rates of GnRH release were double those found in
      control quail not exposed to the long day. Explants taken 14 days after the long
      day, when LH secretion had subsided fully, showed no difference in GnRH release
      between photo-stimulated and control quail. These results suggest that
      photoperiodic induction involves a timed increase in GnRH release, and the rise
      at hour 23 is believed to represent photoperiodic induction actually taking place
      within the brain in vitro. They also suggest that the wave of LH secretion
      triggered by the single long day is, at least in part, a neuroendocrine or neural
      phenomenon; this confirms earlier indirect evidence to this effect.

PMID- 1446627
TI  - Effects of adrenal androgens on the transplantable human prostate tumor PC-82.
AB  - The potential of the adrenal androgens androstenedione (A) and
      dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to stimulate prostate tumor growth was investigated
      in the hormone-dependent human prostate tumor model PC-82, propagated in nude
      mice. Substitution of castrated mice bearing growth-arrested tumors with DHEA for
      28 days, resulting in peripheral levels of 9.2 +/- 1.7 nmol/liter (mean +/- SEM),
      led to a decline of tumor burden comparable to that observed in castrated
      controls. Intratumor testosterone (T) and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone were
      similar to those detected in the castrated group. In contrast, high-dose A
      supplementation (peripheral level of 13.5 +/- 1.3 nmol/liter) in androgen ablated
      tumor-bearing mice resulted in tumor growth, although less pronounced than in T
      resubstituted mice (T level of 18.8 +/- 1.5 nmol/l). Intraprostatic levels of
      androgens were not different between both groups. Substitution of castrated PC-82
      tumor-bearing mice with low-dose A (2.5 +/- 0.4 nmol/l) neither stimulated growth
      of tumors nor did it lead to regression of PC-82 tumors. Proliferative activity
      as estimated by BrdU incorporation (S-phase cells) was not induced in these
      tumors. In conclusion, DHEA does not have a stimulatory effect on growth of PC-82
      tumor tissue, but A is capable of inducing PC-82 tumor growth, most likely
      through peripheral conversion of A into T and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone.

PMID- 1446628
TI  - Regulation of the hepatic growth hormone receptor and serum growth hormone
      binding protein during pregnancy in the mouse: effects of litter size.
AB  - The regulation of hepatic GH receptor (GHR) and serum GH-binding protein (GHBP)
      during pregnancy in the mouse was investigated by manipulating the number of
      conceptuses carried by the dam. Animals carrying 1-4 conceptuses had
      significantly lower amounts of hepatic GHR (GH-binding activity) than mice
      carrying 10-13 conceptuses on days 9 and 13 of pregnancy. There was no
      significant difference in hepatic GHR on day 17 of pregnancy between animals
      carrying 1-4 and 10-13 conceptuses. Animals carrying 1-4 conceptuses had
      significantly lower concentrations of GHBP in serum than animals carrying 10-13
      conceptuses on days 9, 13, and 17 of pregnancy. The relative amounts of liver GHR
      and GHBP-encoding messages in animals with low and high conceptus numbers were
      investigated by Northern analysis. There were higher levels of both messages in
      animals carrying 10-13 conceptuses than in mice carrying 1-4 conceptuses. On day
      13 of pregnancy, animals carrying 10-13 conceptuses had significantly higher
      levels of GHBP-encoding message than animals carrying 1-4 conceptuses. Total
      hepatic mass was not significantly different between animals with low and high
      conceptus numbers. No significant difference was found in GHBP concentration
      between blood from the uterine vein and the trunk in 17-day pregnant animals.
      Mouse placental lactogen-I (mPL-I), mPL-II, GH, and corticosterone concentrations
      were measured by RIA and related to hepatic GHR activity and serum GHBP
      concentration. Hepatic GHR activity and serum GHBP concentration were
      significantly correlated with each other on days 9, 13, and 17 of pregnancy.
      Hepatic GHR activity was significantly correlated with mPL-I and mPL-II on day 9
      of pregnancy. GHBP concentration was significantly correlated with mPL-I and mPL
      II on day 9 of pregnancy and with mPL-II and GH on day 13 of pregnancy. Data are
      consistent with the hypothesis that mPL-I, mPL-II, and GH may affect hepatic
      expression of the GHR/GHBP gene during pregnancy in the mouse.

PMID- 1446629
TI  - Thyroid hormone synthesis in thyroglobulin secreted by porcine thyroid cells
      cultured on porous bottom chambers. Effect of iodide.
AB  - The long-term iodination of thyroglobulin secreted into the apical medium of
      thyroid cells cultured as monolayers on porous bottom chambers reached 5.87 +/-
      1.66 atoms of iodine/mol thyroglobulin after 11 days incubation in the presence
      of TSH (0.1 mU/ml) and iodide (0.5 microM) in the basal medium. This iodinated
      thyroglobulin contained thyroid hormones (T3 + T4) which involved 22.7% of the
      thyroglobulin iodine content. The iodoamino acid content was, in residues per
      mole, 2.2 +/- 0.35 for monoiodotyrosine, 0.74 +/- 0.04 for diiodotyrosine, 0.23
      +/- 0.04 for T4, and 0.098 +/- 0.02 for T3. Kinetic studies showed that a minimal
      level of iodination (2.05 +/- 0.26 atoms iodine/mol thyroglobulin) was necessary
      for hormonogenesis. A maximal level of iodination and hormonogenesis was obtained
      with 0.5 microM iodide added daily to the basal medium. In these conditions,
      hormonogenesis efficiency reached about 40% (a value close to this one observed
      in vivo). Above 0.5 microM iodide, both iodination and T4 synthesis were
      inhibited (28.3% and 73.9%, respectively, for 1 microM iodide). Our culture
      system makes it possible to demonstrate that this high iodide concentration in
      the basal medium did not increase apical iodide concentration above 10 microM but
      decreased apical thyroglobulin concentration. The inhibitory effect of iodide on
      hormonogenesis cannot be due to a competition with tyrosine residues of
      thyroglobulin for their binding to thyroperoxidase although it could be related,
      at least in part, to a decrease in protein synthesis.

PMID- 1446630
TI  - Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) gene expression and protein production
      during pubertal development of the seminiferous tubule: follicle-stimulating
      hormone-induced Sertoli cell bFGF expression.
AB  - The potential role of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) as a mediator of cell
      cell interactions in the growth and development of the testis was examined.
      Nuclease protection analysis was used to evaluate bFGF gene expression in the
      testis and other male reproductive tract tissues. bFGF expression was evident in
      seminal vesicle, prostate, epididymis, and, at low levels, testis of 20-day-old
      rats. The developmental expression of bFGF in whole testis and isolated somatic
      cells types was determined. Mesenchymal-derived peritubular cells and epithelial
      like Sertoli cells were isolated from prepubertal, midpubertal, and late pubertal
      rat testes. In whole testis, bFGF expression is predominant early in prepubertal
      testicular development and decreases with sexual maturity. Both freshly isolated
      peritubular and Sertoli cells express bFGF at relatively constant levels during
      pubertal development, with a slight suppression at the late pubertal stages.
      Freshly isolated mature Leydig cells also expressed low levels of bFGF. Cultured
      Sertoli and peritubular cells produced bFGF-like proteins, including 18- and 24
      kilodalton forms. Interestingly, FSH increased Sertoli cell bFGF gene expression
      and protein production. Previously, FSH and bFGF have been shown to stimulate
      immature Sertoli cell growth. The results of the current study suggest that the
      ability of FSH to regulate testis and Sertoli cell proliferation may in part be
      indirectly mediated through the local production and action of bFGF. bFGF has
      also previously been shown to localize in developing germinal cells. Therefore,
      FSH-induced Sertoli cell bFGF expression may mediate Sertoli-germinal cell
      interactions involved in the control of the spermatogenic process. Observations
      demonstrate the presence of bFGF at a time coinciding with active growth of the
      somatic cell populations of the seminiferous tubule. Potential roles for bFGF in
      the seminiferous tubule to consider include angiogenesis of the tubule,
      prepubertal Sertoli cell proliferation, and mediating Sertoli-germinal cell
      interactions.

PMID- 1446631
TI  - Effects of long-term infusions of dopa and carbidopa on renin and steroid
      secretion in the rat.
AB  - Plasma, kidney, and adrenal catecholamine concentrations were varied by infusing
      rats with L-dopa and/or carbidopa for 2 weeks. L-Dopa infusion (300
      micrograms/day) increased dopamine concentrations in plasma, adrenal zona
      glomerulosa, and kidney by 140%, 74%, and 224%, respectively: the dopamine
      content of the adrenal inner cortex plus medulla was not increased. Infusion of
      carbidopa alone had no detectable effect upon endogenous dopamine concentrations.
      Concomitant infusion (300 micrograms/day) of carbidopa with L-dopa blocked the
      rise in plasma and adrenocortical dopamine caused by L-dopa alone. Plasma
      aldosterone and plasma and kidney active renin concentrations were unaffected by
      L-dopa administration but plasma corticosterone and deoxycorticosterone (DOC)
      were significantly elevated (P < 0.05); increases in DOC appeared greater than
      those of corticosterone. These data cast doubt on the theory that dopamine is a
      physiological tonic inhibitor of aldosterone synthesis in rats. However, in the
      rat, stimulatory effects of L-dopa on plasma concentrations of precursors of
      aldosterone might be of physiological significance since DOC is a potent
      mineralocorticoid.

PMID- 1446632
TI  - Neuropeptide Y potentiates luteinizing hormone (LH)-releasing hormone-induced LH
      secretion only under conditions leading to preovulatory LH surges.
AB  - We recently demonstrated that neuropeptide Y (NPY) potentiates the ability of
      pulsatile LHRH infusions to restore LH surges in pentobarbital (PB)-blocked,
      proestrous rats. In the present study we determined if specific endocrine
      conditions are necessary for the expression of these direct pituitary effects of
      NPY. Facilitatory actions of NPY were examined in the absence of gonadal feedback
      [ovariectomy (OVX)], in the presence of negative gonadal feedback (metestrus),
      after estrogen priming of the pituitary gland [OVX plus 30 micrograms estradiol
      benzoate (EB) 2 days before experiments], and after treatments which evoke
      preovulatory-like LH surges (OVX plus EB and 5 mg progesterone or P the morning
      of experiments). Rats received jugular catheter implants the day before
      experiments. On the day of experiments, hourly blood samples were taken from 1100
      2100 h. At 1330 h, rats received injections of PB to block endogenous LHRH
      release, or saline. Every 30 min from 1400-1800 h, PB-treated rats received iv
      pulses of LHRH (15 ng/pulse) or saline, along with concurrent pulses of NPY (1 or
      5 micrograms/pulse) or saline. Plasma samples were analyzed by LH RIA. In all
      cases, pulsatile administration of 15 ng LHRH resulted in plasma LH levels that
      were significantly elevated above saline-treated, PB-blocked controls. Only in
      the case of EB+P-treated rats did coadministration of 5 micrograms NPY along with
      LHRH significantly enhance LHRH-stimulated LH secretion (P < 0.001). NPY had no
      effect on LHRH-stimulated LH secretion in OVX, OVX + EB-treated, or metestrous
      rats. Pulsatile administration of either dose of NPY alone did not stimulate LH
      release in any of the four groups examined. These results demonstrate that the
      facilitatory effects of NPY on LHRH-stimulated LH secretion can be manifest only
      under the endocrine conditions required to produce full, preovulatory-like LH
      surges, i.e. after estrogen and P treatment.

PMID- 1446633
TI  - Neuropeptide Y gene expression in the arcuate nucleus is increased during
      preovulatory luteinizing hormone surges.
AB  - Recent studies have suggested that neuropeptide Y (NPY) plays an important role
      in the induction of the preovulatory LH surge. The present study was performed in
      order to determine if a change in NPY gene expression within arcuate nucleus NPY
      neurons is associated with the generation of the preovulatory LH surge. In Exp 1,
      in situ hybridization was used to measure NPY messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in the
      arcuate nucleus of female rats at 0900 h and every 2 h from 1400-2200 h on the
      day of proestrus (PRO). Comparisons between groups showed a clear, stepwise
      increase in NPY gene expression throughout the day of PRO. At 1600 h, when LH
      values were significantly greater than 0900 h values, NPY mRNA labeling
      intensities in the arcuate nucleus were significantly greater than 0900 h levels
      (P < 0.01). By 1800 h, the time at which the LH surge peaked, NPY mRNA levels
      also peaked and were nearly 3-fold greater than levels observed at 0900 h (P <
      0.01). NPY mRNA levels at 2000 h and 2200 h remained elevated above 0900 h levels
      (P < 0.01) but by 2000 h had decreased significantly from 1800 h levels (P <
      0.05). In Exp 2, NPY mRNA levels were measured once again at 0900 h and 1800 h on
      PRO, and then at 0900 h and 1800 h on metestrus (MET), in order to determine if
      the change in gene expression seen in Exp 1 was unique to the day of PRO, or if
      it simply reflected a daily rhythm of gene expression in the nucleus. Analysis of
      mRNA levels showed no difference in NPY mRNA levels between 0900-1800 h on MET.
      Also, NPY mRNA levels at 0900 h and 1800 h on MET were significantly less than
      levels at 1800 h on PRO (P < 0.01). These results are consistent with the
      hypothesis that NPY neurons participate in the generation of LH surges through
      increased production of NPY and subsequent potentiation of the release and/or
      actions of LHRH.

PMID- 1446634
TI  - Aging abolishes the estradiol-induced suppression and diurnal rhythm of
      proopiomelanocortin gene expression in the arcuate nucleus.
AB  - The diurnal rhythms of many physiological functions are disrupted during aging.
      Underlying these disruptions are age-related alterations in the activity of
      neurotransmitters and/or their receptors. Estradiol has a significant influence
      on the pattern of the diurnal rhythms in neurotransmitter function, and
      responsiveness to estradiol changes with age. We assessed POMC mRNA levels in the
      arcuate nucleus of young, middle-aged, and old female rats to determine whether
      aging alters the diurnal rhythm of POMC gene expression in ovariectomized rats
      and/or changes the responsiveness to estradiol. In addition, we measured serum
      LH, PRL, and corticosterone levels to evaluate any age-associated interactions
      between these hormones and POMC mRNA levels. In young animals, estradiol
      treatment induced a diurnal rhythm and suppressed mean levels of POMC mRNA. In
      the middle-aged and old rats, the ability of estradiol to suppress POMC mRNA
      levels and to allow the expression of a diurnal rhythm of POMC mRNA was
      abolished. Although age-associated changes occurred in serum concentrations of
      LH, PRL, and corticosterone, they did not correlate with the changes in POMC gene
      expression. Therefore, our data demonstrate that age-related changes in
      hypothalamic POMC gene expression do not determine the changes in pituitary
      hormone secretion. Instead, they suggest that fundamental changes in diurnal
      function or in the biological clock underlie and differentially regulate the age
      related changes in POMC gene expression and LH, PRL, and corticosterone
      secretion.

PMID- 1446635
TI  - Neuropeptide Y release from the paraventricular nucleus increases in association
      with hyperphagia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
AB  - We tested the hypothesis that the hyperphagia observed in streptozotocin (STZ)
      induced diabetic rats is due to increased release of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the
      paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. In the first experiment, male
      rats were injected with STZ or vehicle (control) via the tail vein and 18-20 days
      later, NPY levels in seven hypothalamic sites and release in vitro from selected
      hypothalamic sites were evaluated. The results showed that in association with
      STZ-produced marked hyperglycemia and hyperphagia, NPY concentrations were
      increased in four hypothalamic sites, including the PVN. Evaluation of NPY
      release in vitro showed that both basal and KCl-induced release was significantly
      higher from the micro-dissected PVN of STZ-treated than control rats. A similar
      augmentation in the NPY efflux in vitro was detected from the median eminence
      arcuate nucleus, but not from the neighboring ventromedial nucleus of STZ-treated
      rats. In the second experiment, rats were treated with STZ or vehicle and
      received permanent push-pull cannula (PPC) in the PVN for evaluation of NPY
      release in vivo 18-21 days after STZ treatment. The results showed that mean NPY
      levels in the perfusates collected from the PVN of diabetic rats were
      significantly higher as compared to control rats. Since NPY is the most potent
      naturally occurring orexigenic signal and the PVN is an important initial site of
      NPY action in the stimulatory pathway regulating feeding, our findings of
      augmented PVN NPY release in vivo and in vitro are in accord with the hypothesis
      that increased NPY secretion in the PVN may be responsible for hyperphagia in
      diabetic rats.

PMID- 1446636
TI  - Regulation of human cytochrome P450scc and adrenodoxin messenger ribonucleic
      acids in JEG-3 cytotrophoblast cells.
AB  - Cycloheximide generally inhibits steroidogenesis, but has different effects on
      the accumulation of the mRNAs for various steroidogenic enzymes in different
      species, tissues, and cell lines. In bovine adrenocortical cells, cycloheximide
      prevents ACTH- or cAMP-induced accumulation of the mRNAs for cytochrome P450scc
      and adrenodoxin, but in human cells, cycloheximide induces the accumulation of
      adrenodoxin mRNA. To study the potential role of the 3'-untranslated regions, and
      especially the AU-rich regions, of adrenodoxin and P450scc mRNAs in cycloheximide
      sensitive regulation of mRNA accumulation, we constructed a series of vectors
      expressing P450scc or adrenodoxin mRNA with its own or each other's 3'
      untranslated sequences and transfected them into human JEG-3 cytotrophoblast
      cells. Removal of the AU-rich 3'-untranslated sequences of adrenodoxin mRNA and
      replacing them with the 3'-untranslated region of P450scc did not alter the
      abundance or apparent stability of this mRNA, or its inducibility by
      cycloheximide or cAMP. Substituting the AU-rich 3'-untranslated region of
      adrenodoxin mRNA (which contains three copies of the AUUUA sequence) for the 3'
      untranslated region of P450scc did not alter the inducibility of P450scc mRNA
      with forskolin. Inhibition of transcription with actinomycin-D elicited no
      difference in the adrenodoxin mRNA half-life in JEG-3 cells treated with
      forskolin, cycloheximide, or both. RNA polymerase run-on assays show little
      effect of forskolin on adrenodoxin gene transcription, while P450scc gene
      transcription was induced. These data suggest that the principal means for
      regulating P450scc mRNA is transcriptional, while the principal regulation of
      adrenodoxin is posttranscriptional. This posttranscriptional regulation of
      adrenodoxin mRNA is not mediated by the AUUUA sequences or other segments of the
      3'-untranslated region.

PMID- 1446637
TI  - Human thymocytes express a prolactin-like messenger ribonucleic acid and
      synthesize bioactive prolactin-like proteins.
AB  - Recent evidence has demonstrated an important immunoregulatory role for pituitary
      PRL. Moreover, PRLs have been identified as products of transformed human
      lymphocyte cell lines and normal murine lymphocytes, and implicated as regulators
      of their proliferative responses. However, PRL synthesis by normal human
      lymphocytes has not yet been reported. Here we demonstrate that human thymocytes
      and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) synthesize PRL in primary culture. The
      principal form produced by thymocytes is 24 kilodaltons (kDa), essentially the
      same size as pituitary PRL, while PBL produced a 27-kDa variant. Size
      heterogeneity was evident, with products detected ranging from 21-29 kDa in
      various tissue samples, a phenomenon also found to occur in human pituitary and
      decidual PRL. Thymocytes and PBLs also synthesized a low mol wt form (11 kDa)
      that was released into culture supernatants concurrently with the larger PRL. The
      24- and 11-kDa forms expressed PRL-like bioactivity in the Nb2 node lymphoma
      bioassay, further supporting their PRL-like nature. Expression of these PRLs was
      regulated by mitogen stimulation in thymocytes, but was constitutively produced
      in PBL. Northern blot analysis of thymocyte RNA using a human PRL cDNA probe
      detected a single PRL-like mRNA, which was significantly larger than human
      pituitary PRL mRNA. This was constitutively present in unstimulated thymocytes.
      Taken together, these data demonstrate that normal human lymphocytes synthesize
      bioactive PRLs similar in size to those produced by the pituitary. The presence
      of a single PRL mRNA suggests that the size variation observed in these proteins
      is probably due to posttranslational modification, such as proteolysis and
      glycosylation.

PMID- 1446638
TI  - Regulation of 3-ketosteroid reductase messenger ribonucleic acid levels and 3
      beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5-delta 4-isomerase activity in rat liver
      by sex steroids and pituitary hormones.
AB  - We have recently characterized three types of complementary DNA clones encoding
      predicted isoenzymes of the rat 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5-delta
      4 isomerase (3 beta-HSD) family. Transient expression in nonsteroidogenic cells
      reveals that the type III isoenzyme specific for male liver does not display
      oxidative activity for classical substrates of 3 beta-HSD, in contrast to the two
      other 3 beta-HSD isoenzymes, thus showing exclusively 3-ketosteroid reductase (3
      KSR) activity. In order to better understand the sex-specific control of 3 beta
      HSD activity and type III 3-KSR gene expression in rat liver, we have studied in
      adult animals of both sexes the effect of sex steroids and hypophysectomy,
      pituitary implants, PRL, and GH on type III 3-KSR messenger RNA (mRNA) levels and
      3 beta-HSD/delta 5-delta 4 isomerase activity as measured by the conversion of
      [14C]dehydroepiandrosterone into [14C] delta 4-androstenedione. Ribonuclease
      protection assay using types I-, II-, and III-specific complementary RNA probes
      reveals that type III transcripts are the only species detectable in liver RNA
      extracted from intact males, whereas no hybridization signal was detectable with
      any of the three probes in intact female liver RNA. In males, 15 days after
      castration, liver type III 3-KSR mRNA levels decreased by 80% compared to intact
      controls, whereas 3 beta-HSD activity was reduced by 48%. Administration of
      dihydrotestosterone (DHT) increased by 8.25-fold type III 3-KSR mRNA
      concentration and completely reversed the inhibitory effect of orchiectomy on 3
      beta-HSD activity. In ovariectomized animals, treatment with DHT markedly
      increased type III 3-KSR mRNA accumulation and 3 beta-HSD activity, thus leading
      to values similar to those measured in intact males. Simultaneous treatment with
      17 beta-estradiol almost completely abolished the stimulatory effect of DHT in
      female rats, whereas no significant effect was seen in males. Twenty-four days
      after hypophysectomy, type III 3-KSR mRNA levels were decreased by 50-55% in
      males, whereas in females these transcripts markedly increased from undetectable
      to 28-36% of the value measured in intact male rats. Treatment with DHT or 17
      beta-estradiol for a period of 9 days starting 15 days after hypophysectomy had
      no effect in male and female rats. On the other hand, treatment with ovine PRL (1
      mg, twice daily) had no effect in males but completely blocked the elevation of
      type III 3-KSR mRNA levels and 3 beta-HSD activity observed after hypophysectomy
      in females.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1446639
TI  - Regulation of androgen receptor expression in the human heterotransplantable
      prostate carcinoma PC-82.
AB  - In vivo effects of androgen withdrawal and substitution on human androgen
      receptor (hAR) expression were evaluated in the androgen-dependent human
      prostatic carcinoma tumor line PC-82. By application of several antibodies
      reactive with different epitopes of the hAR molecule, hAR protein expression was
      studied in tumor transplants by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. hAR
      messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were quantitated in PC-82 tumor tissue with a S1
      nuclease protection assay. Most PC-82 tumor cells (> 97%) from testosterone
      supplemented mice displayed nuclear hAR protein expression immunohistochemically.
      The almost complete reduction of nuclear hAR immunoreactivity within 5 days after
      androgen withdrawal (< 10%) was restored after androgen substitution within 1
      day. The immunochemical data were confirmed by Western blot analysis. In
      contrast, no significant changes were observed in hAR mRNA content of PC-82 cells
      after 5 days of androgen withdrawal. Correlating hAR expression with
      proliferative activity of PC-82 tumor tissue during endocrine manipulation, a
      rapid, castration-induced decline of the percentage of bromodeoxyuridine-labeled
      cells accompanied the loss of hAR. Androgen substitution in castrated male mice
      restored the proliferative activity. However, this increase of proliferative
      activity lagged at least 24 h behind the normalization of the hAR protein level.
      In contrast to the steroid receptor down-regulation by homologous ligands
      observed in other experimental models, our data support the concept of hAR up
      regulation by androgen. Since the hAR mRNA content of PC-82 tumor tissue was
      hardly affected by castration, expression of the hAR in PC-82 is thought to be
      modulated by translational and/or posttranslational mechanisms.

PMID- 1446640
TI  - Renal growth hormone receptor gene expression: relationship to renal insulin-like
      growth factor system.
AB  - In order to elucidate potential sites of direct GH action on the kidney, we used
      in situ hybridization to localize GH receptor (GHR) gene expression during the
      course of development and in the adult rat. In order to illuminate potential
      interactions between GH and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in regulating
      renal function, we compared the anatomical localization of GHR messenger RNA
      (mRNA) with that for the IGF-I receptor and for IGF-I in the rat kidney. Low
      levels of GHR mRNA were present in the kidney from before birth and increased in
      abundance until postnatal day 40. Hypophysectomy resulted in a decrease and GH
      treatment resulted in an increase in renal GHR mRNA levels. Renal GHR mRNA was
      most abundant in the proximal straight tubule, with lesser levels present in the
      medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL), and it was not detected in the glomerulus
      or inner medulla. In contrast, IGF-I receptor mRNA was concentrated in the
      glomerulus, distal nephron and collecting system. The only point of convergence
      for GHR and IGF-I receptor mRNAs was in the MTAL, where IGF-I mRNA was localized.
      This segregation of GHR and IGF-I receptor gene expression in the kidney suggests
      that each hormone has distinct spheres of action along the nephron, with GH
      acting directly on the proximal straight tubule, whereas IGF-I may act on the
      glomerulus, distal nephron, and collecting duct. GHR expression in the MTAL,
      which is the site of renal IGF-I synthesis, supports the view that GH has a
      direct effect on renal IGF-I synthesis. Finally, it appears that in the kidney,
      as in other GH-sensitive tissues, GH may regulate its receptor levels.

PMID- 1446641
TI  - Ouabain as an amplifier of mineralocorticoid-induced hypertension.
AB  - Ouabain has recently been reported to be an endogenous Na, K-ATPase inhibitor. To
      evaluate whether it exerts hypertensive action itself or amplifies the
      hypertensive action of small doses of mineralocorticoids, 5 mg
      deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA), 1 mg ouabain, or a combination of both were
      injected into mononephrectomized rats weekly for 6 weeks, and changes in blood
      pressure were evaluated. The blood pressures of control, DOCA-treated, ouabain
      treated, and the combination treatment group at the sixth week were 138 +/- 3
      (SE), 160 +/- 6, 144 +/- 6, and 201 +/- 14 mmHg, respectively. The blood pressure
      of rats given DOCA or ouabain alone was not significantly different from that of
      controls. In contrast, the blood pressure of rats given the combination of DOCA
      and ouabain was significantly higher than that of control rats and those given
      DOCA or ouabain separately. Cardionephromegaly and histopathological changes
      found in rats given the combination of DOCA and ouabain were consistent with the
      effects of an elevation of blood pressure. Further evaluation revealed that the
      amplification effect of ouabain on the hypertensive action of DOCA was dose
      dependent, with the minimum dose that caused the amplification effect being 0.25
      mg/week. These results indicate that ouabain, although devoid of hypertensive
      action itself, amplifies the hypertensive action of small doses of DOCA and can
      cause a hypertensive state similar to that induced by larger doses of DOCA. It is
      inferred that the amplification effect of ouabain on mineralocorticoids is
      important in the genesis of hypertension.

PMID- 1446642
TI  - Characterization of the short isoform of the growth hormone receptor synthesized
      by rat adipocytes.
AB  - Two mRNA transcripts that are believed to be alternately spliced products of the
      GH receptor gene have been reported in a variety of rat tissues. The smaller (1.2
      kilobases) transcript was cloned from an adipocyte library, sequenced, and found
      to encode a protein identical to the soluble GH-binding protein (GHBP) in plasma.
      An assay that is specific for the short isoform of the GH receptor, often
      referred to as the GHBP, has been developed using a rabbit antiserum that
      recognizes the unique amino acid sequence at its carboxyl end. The assay depends
      upon immunoprecipitation of a complex consisting of [125I]human GH, the binding
      protein, antiserum, and protein-A cross-linked to agarose beads. To validate the
      assay, samples of rat plasma were analyzed and found to contain sufficient
      binding protein to bind 1.46 pmol (32 ng) GH/ml, with an affinity of 2.7 x 10(9)
      M-1. In adipocyte extracts, binding protein activity was sufficient to bind 61
      fmol GH/g tissue, with an affinity of 2.3 x 10(9) M-1. The binding protein was
      found primarily in the particulate fraction of adipocytes, and it is estimated
      that adipocytes contain approximately 7000 copies of the binding protein/cell.
      Only 10% of the binding activity was present in the high speed supernatant of
      adipocyte homogenates, and soluble binding protein did not appear to be released
      into the incubation medium when adipocytes were incubated in vitro. A 50
      kilodalton (kDa) 35S-labeled protein that may be a glycosylated form of the
      binding protein was immunoprecipitated from both the soluble and particulate
      fractions of adipocyte extracts by the antiserum, and addition of the synthetic
      peptide antigen blocked immunoprecipitation of this protein. A 150-kDa protein in
      the high speed supernatant fraction was also specifically immunoprecipitated by
      the antiserum. Although it is unlikely to be a glycosylated form of the binding
      protein, it may cross-react with the antiserum or perhaps be coprecipitated,
      because it interacts with the binding protein. In addition, 38- and 42-kDa bands
      were specifically immunoprecipitated from the detergent-treated particulate
      fraction of adipocyte extracts that were enriched for the binding protein by
      adsorption to immobilized GH. We conclude that 1) adipocytes synthesize the short
      isoform of the GH receptor, and that this protein is primarily associated with a
      membrane fraction of the cells; and 2) the GHBP expressed in adipocytes is not
      released into the incubation medium and differs in size from the GHBPs in rat
      plasma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1446643
TI  - Characterization of epidermal growth factor in mouse testis.
AB  - Considerable evidence exists to suggest that epidermal growth factor (EGF)
      influences spermatogenesis directly. The tissue source of this EGF, however, is
      not yet clear. In this study we examine whether the testis itself can serve as a
      source of EGF. Gel filtration fractions of acid extracted testes exhibited the
      ability to displace 125I-EGF from testis membranes. The testicular fractions
      containing the 125I-EGF displacement activity coeluted within the same range as
      those of submandibular gland (SG) fractions containing mature EGF and prepared in
      an identical fashion. Next, we employed specific antisera probes to investigate
      first, whether the testis synthesizes this EGF displacement activity and second,
      to determine the cell distribution of the testicular EGF. Two types of antisera
      probes were employed: 1) commercially available antisera to mature EGF (EGFm),
      i.e. the 6,000 M(r) peptide, and 2) polypeptide specific antisera to the C
      terminus of the EGF precursor (EGFp), i.e. the 140,000 M(r) integral membrane
      molecule which exhibits seven EGF-like repeats in addition to the EGFm. Metabolic
      labeling of testis with 35S-methionine was performed, followed by
      immunoprecipitation with the anti-EGFm antisera. Parallel studies using kidney
      and SG were used as positive controls. Fluorograms exhibited a prominent band at
      M(r) 140,000 for testis and kidney, corresponding to the EGFp. There was, in
      addition, a M(r) 50,000 band present for the testis. In SG, a band at M(r) 6,000,
      corresponding to EGFm, in addition to bands at M(r) 21,000 and 46,000 were
      observed also. Immunoblotting of testis, kidney, and SG membrane preparations
      with the specific antisera to either the EGFm or EGFp also resulted in
      identifying the EGFp at M(r) 140,000, as well as other lower mol wt bands.
      Preadsorption of anti-EGFm antisera with excess EGFm eliminated all of the
      specific bands that were immunoblotted. Peroxidase immunocytochemistry of testis,
      kidney, and SG was also performed using the specific antisera to either EGFm or
      EGFp. EGFp and EGFm staining in SG and kidney was identical to previously
      published results in which the distribution of EGFm in these tissues was
      established. In testis, EGFm immunostaining showed positive results in Sertoli
      cells, pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids. In contrast, EGFp
      immunostaining was limited to pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids. These
      results suggest that the testis must now be included in the list of tissues
      capable of synthesizing EGFp. Specifically, EGFp synthesis appears limited to the
      post meiotic germ cells.

PMID- 1446644
TI  - Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) messenger ribonucleic acid is expressed in
      steroidogenic cells of the developing ovine adrenal gland: evidence of an
      autocrine/paracrine role for IGF-II.
AB  - Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are potent mitogenic and differentiation
      promoting factors that regulate the growth and development of many fetal tissues.
      Their role in the development of the adrenal gland and activation of its function
      is not known. The latter is crucial in providing the stimulus for the maturation
      of various fetal organs and determines the onset of parturition in sheep. To
      examine the hypothesis that IGFs are important autocrine/paracrine regulators of
      fetal adrenal development in vivo, we localized IGF-I and IGF-II mRNAs and
      peptides in the adrenal glands of developing sheep fetuses and correlated the
      cellular distribution with localization of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase,
      tyrosine hydroxylase, and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase enzymes by
      immunohistochemistry. Adrenal glands from 60- to 75-day-old (n = 4), 100- to 110
      day-old (n = 4), 120- to 130-day-old (n = 4), and 145- to 147-day-old (term; n =
      4) fetal sheep and 1- to 4-day-old newborn lambs (n = 4) were dissected and
      either snap-frozen or fixed. Total RNAs were subjected to Northern analysis using
      ovine IGF-I and IGF-II cDNA probes. Seven IGF-II transcripts of 1.2-6.0 kilobases
      (kb) were identified in the adrenal glands of fetuses at all gestational ages,
      and in the newborn. By densitometry, the abundance of IGF-II mRNA was highest in
      the fetal adrenal gland at 60 days, decreased slightly between 60 and 100 days,
      remained relatively constant until term, and decreased significantly after birth.
      At all gestational ages, IGF-II mRNA was detectable in significantly greater
      abundance than IGF-I mRNA. IGF-I and IGF-II mRNAs were localized by in situ
      hybridization using 35S-labeled anti-sense cRNA probes, and the peptides by
      immunohistochemistry using specific antisera. Low levels of IGF-I mRNA were
      detected in the zona fasciculata, but not in the zona glomerulosa. There was
      strong hybridization of the IGF-II cRNA to the zona glomerulosa and fasciculata
      and to the capsule. The hybridization signal was greater in the zona fasciculata
      than in the zona glomerulosa. IGF-II mRNA was also detected in groups of cells
      within the medulla. Localization of IGF-II mRNA by in situ hybridization
      correlated well with the distribution of IGF-II immunoreactivity and with 3 beta
      hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-positive cells in the cortex and in groups of cells
      within the medulla.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1446645
TI  - Establishment of a folliculo-stellate-like cell line from a murine thyrotropic
      pituitary tumor.
AB  - An isologously transplantable mouse thyrotropic pituitary tumor (TtTb) that had
      been induced by radiothyroidectomy was found to form lobules composed of
      parenchymal glandular cell elements. The surfaces of these lobules were covered
      by stellate cells bearing long processes that gave a strong immunopositive
      reaction with a specific antiserum against glial fibrillary acidic protein
      (GFAP). GFAP was also positive in pituitary folliculo-stellate cells (FS cells).
      Since in the anterior pituitary gland, no other cellular component showing
      positive staining with anti-GFAP antibody was observed, it seems probable that
      the GFAP-positive cells in the thyrotropic tumor are related to the FS cells in
      the anterior pituitary. Upon cultivation of the thyrotropic tumor, cells with
      long processes appeared. These cells showed strong staining for GFAP and were
      dependent on basic fibroblast growth factor for cell growth. By repeated passage,
      the GFAP-positive cells became a stably growing immortal cell line, which was
      tentatively named TtT/GF. Since the characteristics of TtT/GF were similar to
      those of FS cells in the anterior pituitary, i.e. the presence of many lysosomes
      and numerous intermediate filaments in the cytoplasm, phagocytic activity,
      follicle formation, and GFAP and S-100 protein positivity, we suggest that TtT/GF
      cells are derived from pituitary FS cells.

PMID- 1446646
TI  - In vitro ligand binding of 125I-recombinant human activin A to the female rat
      brain.
AB  - Activin has been localized within cells and terminals in the brain. However,
      little is known about the site of action of this hormone within the brain. In the
      present study in vitro ligand autoradiography was used to determine the
      distribution of high affinity binding sites for 125I-rh activin A in rat brain.
      The highest density of binding sites were concentrated in the amygdala and other
      forebrain limbic structures. Binding was saturable in selected amygdala nuclei
      with an apparent Kd of approximately 0.2 nM. 125I-rh activin A binds specifically
      in regions known to contain terminals immunoreactive for this hormone, and also
      at sites distinct from the location of activin A containing neuronal terminals
      (e.g. the ventral limbic system).

PMID- 1446647
TI  - Nuclear localization and hepatic zonation of rat "spot 14" protein:
      immunohistochemical investigation employing anti-fusion protein antibodies.
AB  - S14 protein and mRNA levels are rapidly regulated by hormones and diet. We have
      purified a 45-Kd fusion protein from lysates of transformed E. coli that includes
      the entire S14 polypeptide. Affinity-purified rabbit anti-fusion protein
      antibodies were used in immunohistochemistry to determine the distribution of S14
      protein across the hepatic lobule, and to reassess its intracellular location. In
      hyperthyroid liver, S14 protein clustered near the central venous zone, and was
      not detectable in the periportal area of the acinus. The signal in perivenous
      hepatocytes was primarily nuclear in location, in stark contrast to previous
      subcellular fractionation studies. Visualization of identical hepatic
      distribution and subcellular localization employing anti-synthetic peptide
      antiserum provided evidence for the specificity of the immunostaining, as did
      attenuation of the signal by preincubation of the antibody with its antigen. No
      staining was observed in sections of heart or hypothyroid liver, as expected from
      the low levels of S14 protein in those tissues. The data indicate that induction
      of S14 protein expression by T3 occurs through enhanced expression by perivenous
      hepatocytes, rather than by recruitment of cells in more peripheral zones of the
      lobule. Nuclear localization of the S14 protein by immunohistochemistry suggests
      that it is lost from nuclei during standard fractionation procedures, and prompts
      consideration of a role for S14 in regulation of nuclear structure and/or
      function.

PMID- 1446648
TI  - Ultrastructural evidence for a paracrine regulation of the rat adrenal cortex
      mediated by the local release of catecholamines from chromaffin cells.
AB  - The adrenal glands of perfusion fixed rats were investigated by light and
      electron microscopy. Within the rat adrenal cortex occurred rays and islets of
      chromaffin cells which were in close contacts with cortical cells on the electron
      microscopical level. We achieved to catch the process of exocytosis from a
      chromaffin cell located within the zona glomerulosa in direct apposition with an
      adrenocortical cell. The documentation of an exocytotic process from a chromaffin
      cell neighbouring a cortical cell provides direct evidence in support of a
      paracrine regulation of the cortex mediated by chromaffin cells.

PMID- 1446649
TI  - Effect of a phorbol ester on immunoreactive endothelin-1 release from cultured
      porcine aortic endothelial cells.
AB  - This study was designed to examine how protein kinase C (PKC) regulates the
      release of endothelin-1 (ET-1) from cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells. We
      measured the release of immunoreactive (IR)-ET-1 from cells cultured for up to 72
      h in the presence or absence of a phorbol ester TPA. The release of IR-ET-1 from
      control cells (no TPA) increased according to time for up to 72 h. In the
      presence of TPA, the release of IR-ET-1 from the cells was higher than the
      control level for up to 8 h, but was lower thereafter and reached a plateau after
      48 h. TPA dose-dependently stimulated IR-ET-1 release during incubation for 4 h,
      but suppressed it after incubation for 72 h. Stimulation of PKC by diacylglycerol
      mimicked the early (4 h) action of TPA. On the other hand, pretreatment of cells
      with TPA to downregulate PKC significantly suppressed basal and thrombin- or FCS
      stimulated IR-ET-1 release. These findings suggest that the activation of PKC is
      related to the stimulation of ET-1 release and that down-regulation of PKC leads
      to the suppression of ET-1 release from cultured endothelial cells.

PMID- 1446650
TI  - Type A-insulin resistance with lipopexia on extremities: a case report.
AB  - We present the unusual case of a 17-year-old female with insulin-resistant
      diabetes, acanthosis nigricans, hirsutism, amenorrhea, dental dysplasia and
      lipopexia on the extremities. She had been diagnosed as having border line
      diabetes with hyperinsulinemia at age 12 when she was not obese and diabetes
      mellitus at age 13. On admission, she was obese and had lipopexia only on the
      extremities. The presence of hyperinsulinemia and poor response to exogenous
      insulin suggested severe insulin resistance. Insulin binding to transformed B
      lymphoblasts derived from her was extremely low compared to the normal control,
      showing decreased receptor affinity. Her parents and sister exhibited
      hypersecretion of insulin in response to a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Her
      mother was diabetic, and her father and sister had border line diabetes, whereas
      her brother had a normal response. These findings support strongly the diagnosis
      of a type A syndrome with severe insulin resistance associated with lipopexia on
      the extremities. A genetic defect in the insulin receptor gene may be
      responsible.

PMID- 1446651
TI  - Differences in pathological findings and growth hormone responses in patients
      with growth hormone-producing pituitary adenoma.
AB  - Plasma growth hormone (GH) responses to various stimuli were examined in 21
      patients with GH-producing pituitary adenomas, classified into three types by the
      immunohistochemistry of cytokeratin and the glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit
      distribution. Seven type 1 adenomas were exclusively composed of cells in which
      the cytokeratin formed a dot-like pattern; they were chromophobic to hematoxylin
      and eosin (H&E), occasionally positive for GH, and almost completely negative for
      the alpha-subunit. Thirteen type 2 adenomas were composed of cells with
      cytokeratin that had a perinuclear distribution; they were eosinophilic to H&E,
      and diffusely positive for both GH and the alpha-subunit. One patient had a type
      3 adenoma which had a mixed pattern of intracellular cytokeratin distribution and
      was chromophobic and eosinophilic to H&E. Clinically, type 1 is characterized by
      earlier onset, larger tumor size, and more frequent aggressive extension.
      Paradoxical GH responses to TRH and OGTT were seen in 1 of 6 patients (16.7%) of
      type 1 and 8 of 9 patients (88.9%) of type 2, and 0% of type 1 and 62.5% of type
      2, respectively. Type 2 cases showed higher plasma GH response to GH-releasing
      hormone, and a tendency to greater suppression of plasma GH by bromocriptine
      compared with type 1. Octreotide acetate administration revealed that the
      nadir/basal ratio of plasma GH levels was 42.9 +/- 6.6% in type 1 and 13.5 +/-
      5.8% in type 2. These results suggest that there is a pathophysiological
      difference between these two distinct types of GH-producing pituitary adenomas.

PMID- 1446652
TI  - Translation of rat ovarian mRNA to two 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
      isozymes in Xenopus oocytes.
AB  - 20 alpha-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20 alpha-HSD) in rat luteal tissue
      catalyzes the conversion of progesterone into a biologically inactive steroid, 20
      alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one (20 alpha-OHP) and depletes the output of
      progesterone into the circulation. An increase in 20 alpha-HSD activity in luteal
      tissue is therefore a prerequisite for the regression of functional corpora lutea
      in rats. We have reported that ovarian 20 alpha-HSD is composed of two isoforms
      (HSD1 and HSD2). In this study, among batches of ovaries collected randomly
      during the estrous cycle, we selected two batches (batches A and B): the cytosol
      preparation from batch A contained both HSD1 and HSD2 activities, whereas that
      from batch B contained only HSD1 activity. From these 2 batches, we extracted
      mRNA, and each mRNA preparation was subjected to translation in Xenopus oocytes.
      The translation products of batch A exhibited both HSD1 and HSD2 activities, and
      those of batch B only HSD1 activity in accordance with the enzymatic activities
      observed in the respective cytosolic preparations. The results are compatible
      with the presence of two distinct mRNAs coding HSD1 and HSD2, and if so their
      transcription will be regulated separately according to the functional state of
      the ovary.

PMID- 1446653
TI  - Thyrotoxicosis with low serum total T3 level in patients with destructive
      thyroiditis and non-thyroidal illness.
AB  - The serum total T3 level, evaluated in 687 patients with thyrotoxicosis diagnosed
      by an elevated serum free T4 level and suppressed serum TSH level, was found to
      be high in 98.1% and normal in 1.9% of 592 patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism,
      and high in 75.8%, normal in 21.1% and low in 3.2% of 95 patients with
      destructive thyroiditis. Non-thyroidal illness was found in about a third of the
      patients with thyrotoxicosis and a normal serum total T3 level. The serum total
      T3 level was low with elevated serum thyroglobulin and reverse T3 levels in three
      patients with severe non-thyroidal illness, in whom the thyroidal radioactive
      iodine uptake was suppressed and the thyrotoxicosis resolved spontaneously with a
      normalization of the serum total T3 level after recovery from the destructive
      thyroiditis and non-thyroidal illness. It is therefore concluded that
      thyrotoxicosis with a low serum total T3 level, partially due to associated non
      thyroidal illness, is more frequently found in patients with destructive
      thyroiditis than in those with Graves' hyperthyroidism.

PMID- 1446654
TI  - Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus accompanied by nephrocalcinosis and renal
      failure.
AB  - Renal failure was found in a five-year-old patient who had been treated with
      insulin since he was diagnosed as having insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
      (IDDM) at 3 years of age. Laboratory data showed that his renal failure was
      caused by a renal tubular dysfunction. The autopsy findings of his pancreas were
      compatible with those of IDDM. The kidneys were atrophied with an innumerable
      number of crystals in the proximal tubuli. Staining by Kossa indicated that the
      crystals contained calcium salt. The calcium content of his kidneys was
      significantly higher than that of control. The nephrocalcinosis seems to be
      caused by hypercalciuria associated with IDDM.

PMID- 1446655
TI  - Resolution of possible paradoxical responses of gonadotropins to thyrotropin
      releasing hormone with bromocriptine therapy in a patient with follicle
      stimulating hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma.
AB  - We report the effectiveness of bromocriptine therapy in resolving the abnormal
      responses of plasma FSH and LH to TRH in a 70-year-old male with FSH-secreting
      pituitary macroadenoma who had unsuccessful transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. In
      the pre-treatment and post-operative periods, respectively, basal plasma levels
      of FSH were increased to 88.7 and 65.6 mIU/ml (normal range; 8.5-32.4) but those
      of plasma LH were normal being 7.0 and 4.1 mIU/ml; (normal range; 4.1 to 14.0).
      The responses of plasma FSH and LH to LHRH were exaggerated and their paradoxical
      responses to TRH were highly suggested. During the bromocriptine therapy, the
      basal level of plasma FSH was normalized and that of plasma LH remained normal.
      The magnitude of FSH and LH responses to LHRH decreased and their paradoxical
      responses to TRH were completely resolved.

PMID- 1446656
TI  - Pre-Cushing's syndrome: a case report.
AB  - A 67-year-old man affected by prostate cancer was incidentally found to have a
      nodular enlargement of the left adrenal gland without apparent changes in
      hormonal status. The adrenal mass was found to be scintigraphically active, the
      radiolabelled compound being concentrated in its context with a consensual
      suppression of the contralateral uptake. The patient underwent a resection of the
      adrenal tumor. Histologically and biochemically, the adrenal mass was found to be
      a non-functioning adenoma. The radioisotopic uptake along with the non-hormonal
      activity prompted us to call this tumor "Pre-Cushing's syndrome" of the adrenal
      cortex.

PMID- 1446657
TI  - Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenoma: a case report.
AB  - We report a 44-year-old male with a thyrotropin (TSH)-secreting pituitary
      adenoma. Based serum free triiodothyronine (FT3, 12.1 pmol/l) and free thyroxine
      (FT4, 28 pmol/l) were increased with normal basal TSH (3.1 mU/l). There was
      impaired TSH response to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) test. Serum TSH was
      suppressed to 59% of the basal level after oral administration of 1.4 mg 3,3'-5
      triiodothyroacetic acid (triac), whereas no suppression was observed after 75
      micrograms daily administration of triiodothyronine (T3). Serum concentrations of
      alpha-subunit of TSH (TSH-alpha) and TSH-alpha/TSH molar ratio were high, being
      1.95 micrograms/l, and 4.4, respectively. Pituitary CT and MRI scan showed the
      presence of a macroadenoma in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.
      Histopathology of the excised pituitary confirmed the diagnosis of a TSH
      producing adenoma. A positive correlation between TSH and FT3 (r = 0.66, P less
      than 0.01) or FT4 (r = 0.54, P less than 0.01) was observed in serial sera
      obtained before and after operation.

PMID- 1446658
TI  - Binding of thyrotropin to lentil lectin is unchanged by thyrotropin-releasing
      hormone administration in three patients with thyrotropin-producing pituitary
      adenomas.
AB  - Glycoproteins have increased affinity for lentil lectin when fucose residues are
      bound to N-acetylglucosamine in the "core region" of their asparagine-linked
      oligosaccharides. In three patients with thyrotropin (TSH)-producing pituitary
      tumors, the proportion of serum TSH isoforms that bound to lentil (70.8% +/- 15%)
      was higher than that seen for TSH from normal persons (32.5 +/- 8%). Unlike
      normal subjects, the concentration of TSH circulating in the tumor patients after
      acute administration of TSH-releasing hormone (TRH) did not rise, and the TSH did
      not exhibit increased binding to lentil compared to basal TSH. The TSH binding to
      lentil in one tumor patient decreased after metoclopramide, but TSH binding to
      lentil generally remained unchanged after metoclopramide or L-dopa
      administration. We conclude that human thyrotropic tumor tissue, unlike normal
      thyrotrophs, generally fails to release more highly fucosylated isoforms of TSH
      after pharmacologic stimulation, perhaps because the tumor tissue is less readily
      modulated by endocrine stimuli, or because the TSH is already relatively highly
      fucosylated.

PMID- 1446659
TI  - Testosterone regulates epidermal growth factor levels in the thyroid gland of
      hypothyroid mice.
AB  - The effects of testosterone (TP) and thyroxine (T4) on the level of epidermal
      growth factor (mEGF) in the thyroid were compared in a hypothyroid mouse model.
      Groups of five adult female BALB/c mice were given a "severe" hypothyroid regimen
      consisting of an iodine deficient diet together with oral and s.c
      propylthiouracil (PTU). Sialoadenectomy or sham operation was performed after 18
      days on the hypothyroid regimen. The mice convalesced on normal diet for 5 days
      and beginning from day 23 received either T4, 1 ug/g or 2 ug/g, s.c daily or TP,
      0.3 mg or 0.75 mg, i.m. every third day until day 33, while continuing the
      hypothyroid regimen. Control mice received normal diet and vehicles for the
      various injections. The mice were killed on day 33 and thyroidal EGF levels
      determined by radioimmunoassay. The mean+S.E. levels of mEGF in the thyroid were
      10.12 +/- 1.75 ng/mg protein (control), 3.82 +/- 0.67 ng/mg (hypothyroid; p <
      0.01), 3.07 +/- 1.52 (T4, 1 ug/g; p < 0.02), 2.59 +/- 0.46 ng/mg (T4, 2 ug/g; p <
      0.01), 8.58 +/- 2.48 (TP, 0.3 mg), and 9.65 +/- 1.86 (TP, 0.75 mg). Thus
      thyroidal mEGF levels decreased significantly in all groups except those
      subsequently treated with testosterone; T4 was ineffective in reversing the
      tissue depletion of mEGF in this model. These results show that mEGF levels in
      the thyroid could be depleted by hypothyroidism and may also be androgen
      responsive.

PMID- 1446660
TI  - Vasoactive intestinal peptide enhances thyroidal iodide uptake during dietary
      iodine deficiency.
AB  - The presence of vasoactive intestinal peptide and neuropeptide Y in thyroid
      nerves and their effects on thyroid blood flow are well known. However, the
      effects of these two neuropeptides on the various processes involved in thyroid
      hormone biosynthesis and release have not been fully explored. We have now tested
      these two peptides for effects on an early step in thyroid hormone biosynthesis,
      namely iodide uptake, a process which is comprised of trapping and
      organification. In these experiments, we have used anesthetized adult male rats
      pretreated with thyroxine or fed a low iodine diet to increase thyroidal
      sensitivity. Vasoactive intestinal peptide significantly increased iodide uptake
      in rats fed an iodine deficient diet but not in those fed a normal iodine diet.
      This effect disappeared if animals were pretreated with propylthiouracil.
      Neuropeptide Y did not alter iodide uptake in rats on either the low or the high
      iodine diet, regardless of the presence or absence of propylthiouracil. The
      effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide on iodide uptake could be due to its
      influence on the organification of iodine, or on thyroid blood flow, or on both
      processes.

PMID- 1446661
TI  - Detection of albumin binding abnormalities in sera of patients with familial
      dysalbuminaemic hyperthyroxinaemia using isoelectric focusing.
AB  - Definitive diagnosis of familial dysalbuminaemic hyperthyroxinaemia (FDH)
      requires finding a high concentration of [125I]T4 bound to albumin. We used
      isoelectric focusing (IEF) in agarose gels to study the sera of three members of
      a family with FDH and compared the distribution of [125I]T4 obtained by IEF with
      that obtained by conventional agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE). Both IEF and AGE
      confirmed the diagnoses of FDH. In case #1, the % [125I]T4 bound to albumin was
      15.2 and 20.0, with IEF and AGE, respectively, in case #2 23.6 and 26.5, and in
      case #3, 22.1 and 23.0, compared to normal controls of 5.9 and 7.4, respectively.
      IEF has not previously been used to diagnose FDH, to our knowledge. IEF has the
      advantage of eliminating TBG interference with albumin migration, which can
      potentially complicate the diagnosis of FDH when the AGE method is used. To date,
      reverse flow electrophoresis, a more cumbersome method with poorer resolution
      than IEF, has been utilized to eliminate TBG interference. IEF, in agarose gels,
      is a relatively simple and accurate method to diagnose FDH, and avoids artifacts
      which may be encountered with AGE.

PMID- 1446662
TI  - A point mutation of low-density-lipoprotein receptor causing rapid degradation of
      the receptor.
AB  - The exons of the low-density-lipoprotein-(LDL)-receptor gene from a Japanese
      patient with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia were amplified by the
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and their nucleotide sequences were determined.
      A point mutation from G to C was found in exon 9, which was expected to change
      Asp at position 412 to His. This amino acid change occurred within the epidermal
      growth-factor-precursor homology domain of the LDL receptor, slightly impairing
      the processing from the precursor to the mature form and causing rapid
      degradation of the mature form in the fibroblasts of the patient. The mutant LDL
      receptor gene transfected into COS-1 cells expressed a LDL-receptor protein with
      the same properties as the protein expressed in the fibroblasts of the patient;
      impaired processing and rapid degradation of the synthesized receptor protein.
      The mutation was identified in family members of the patient by dot-blot
      hybridization of PCR-amplified DNA with the mutant oligonucleotide. The family
      members carrying the mutant gene showed higher serum cholesterol levels than the
      others. However, their cholesterol levels were also greatly influenced by the
      apolipoprotein-E phenotype.

PMID- 1446663
TI  - Investigation of the mechanism of non-turnover-dependent inactivation of purified
      human 5-lipoxygenase. Inactivation by H2O2 and inhibition by metal ions.
AB  - Human 5-lipoxygenase is a non-heme iron protein which is reported to be highly
      unstable in the presence of oxygen. The results of this investigation demonstrate
      that H2O2 generated during air oxidation of thiols is the main factor in non
      turnover-dependent inactivation of purified recombinant human 5-lipoxygenase for
      the following reasons: catalase protects against oxygen-dependent inactivation of
      the enzyme in the presence of dithiothreitol; the active, stable enzyme can be
      prepared under aerobic conditions with the exclusion of dithiothreitol and
      contaminating metal ions; 10 microM H2O2 causes the rapid inactivation of the
      enzyme. The native (ferrous) enzyme is approximately seven times more sensitive
      to inactivation by H2O2 than the ferric enzyme, suggesting that the mechanism of
      inactivation involves a Fenton-type reaction of the ferrous enzyme with H2O2,
      resulting in the formation of an activated oxygen species. Purification of 5
      lipoxygenase under aerobic conditions (no dithiothreitol) results in an increase
      in both the specific activity of the purified protein [up to 70 mumol 5(S)
      hydroperoxy-6-trans-8, 11, 14-cis-icosatetraenoic acid (5-HPETE)/mg protein] and
      in the ratio of specific activity to enzyme iron content compared to enzyme
      purified under anaerobic conditions in the presence of dithiothreitol. The
      reaction of the highly active 5-lipoxygenase enzyme shows a dependence on
      physiological intracellular calcium concentrations, half-maximal product
      formation being obtained at 0.9 microM free Ca2+. The maximal enzyme activity is
      also dependent on EDTA and dithiothreitol and low amounts of carrier protein, as
      well as the known activators PtdCho and ATP. Ca2+ can be substituted by Mn2+,
      Ba2+ and Sr2+, although lower levels of stimulation are obtained. 5-Lipoxygenase
      is strongly inhibited by low concentrations (< or = 10 microM) of Zn2+ and Cu2+.
      The inhibition by Cu2+ is apparently irreversible, whereas that by Zn2+ is slowly
      reversed (t1/2 = 2 min) in the presence of excess EDTA. These observations on the
      mechanism of non-turnover-dependent inactivation of 5-lipoxygenase, and the
      optimisation of assay conditions, have facilitated the purification of large
      quantities of relatively stable enzyme that will be useful for further kinetic
      and physical studies.

PMID- 1446664
TI  - Nuclear-magnetic-resonance analysis of the capsular antigen of Actinobacillus
      pleuropneumoniae serotype 9. Its identity with the capsular antigen of
      Escherichia coli K62 (K2ab), Neisseria meningitidis serogroup H and Pasteurella
      haemolytica serotype T15.
AB  - The specific capsular antigen of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 9 was
      characterized by one-dimensional and two-dimensional high-field nuclear-magnetic
      resonance methods, and by chemical analyses, as a teichoic-acid-type polymer of a
      repeating unit having the structure [formula: see text] The basic polymer
      structure is identical to capsular antigens of Neisseria meningitidis group H,
      Escherichia coli K62 (K2ab) and Pasteurella haemolytica serotype T15.

PMID- 1446665
TI  - The 70-kilodalton heat-shock proteins of the SSA subfamily negatively modulate
      heat-shock-induced accumulation of trehalose and promote recovery from heat
      stress in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - In the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the disaccharide trehalose is a stress
      related metabolite that accumulates upon exposure of cells to heat shock or a
      variety of non-heat inducers of the stress response. Here, we describe the
      influence of mutations in individual heat-shock-protein genes on trehalose
      metabolism. A strain mutated in three proteins of the SSA subfamily of 70-kDa
      heat-shock proteins (hsp70) overproduced trehalose during heat shock at 37
      degrees C or 40 degrees C and showed abnormally slow degradation of trehalose
      upon temperature decrease from 40 degrees C to 27 degrees C. The mutant cells
      were unimpaired in the induction of thermotolerance; however, the decay of
      thermotolerance during recovery at 27 degrees C was abnormally slow. Since both a
      high content of trehalose and induced thermotolerance are associated with the
      heat-stressed state of cells, the abnormally slow decline of trehalose levels and
      thermotolerance in the mutant cells indicated a defect in recovery from the heat
      stressed state. A similar albeit minor defect, as judged from measurements of
      trehalose degradation during recovery, was detected in a delta hsp104 mutant, but
      not in a strain deleted in the polyubiquitin gene, UB14. In all our experiments,
      trehalose levels were closely correlated with thermotolerance, suggesting a
      thermoprotective function of trehalose. In contrast, heat-shock proteins, in
      particular hsp70, appear to be involved in recovery from the heat-stressed state
      rather than in the acquisition of thermotolerance. Cells partially depleted of
      hsp70 displayed an abnormally low activity of neutral trehalase when shifted to
      27 degrees C after heat shock at 40 degrees C. Trehalase activity is known to be
      under positive control by cAMP-dependent protein kinases, suggesting that hsp70
      directly or indirectly stimulate these protein-kinase activities. Alternatively,
      hsp70 may physically interact with neutral trehalase, thereby protecting the
      enzyme from thermal denaturation.

PMID- 1446666
TI  - Amino acid and DNA sequences of an extracellular basic protease of Dichelobacter
      nodosus show that it is a member of the subtilisin family of proteases.
AB  - A DNA fragment encoding an extracellular basic protease (pI approximately 9.5)
      from Dichelobacter nodosus, a Gram-negative obligate anaerobe and the causative
      agent of ovine footrot, has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and
      sequenced. E. coli harbouring a plasmid with a 3-kb DNA fragment containing the
      D. nodosus basic-protease gene exhibited proteolytic activity when tested on skim
      milk plates. The sequence of the native basic protease isolated from D. nodosus
      was also determined by direct amino acid sequencing. Comparison of the deduced
      sequence of the primary translation product (603 residues) and that of the native
      protease (344 residues) indicates that the protease is synthesized as a precursor
      molecule, containing a signal peptide (21 residues), a 111 amino acid pro-peptide
      and a 127 residue C-terminal extension which is subsequently processed to the
      mature active form. Comparison of the D. nodosus basic protease sequence with
      that of other serine proteases showed that it is related to the subtilisin family
      of proteases with strong conservation of sequence identity around the catalytic
      site residues. A remarkable similarity in structure was found to the serine
      protease of Xanthomonas campestris, a plant pathogen, with respect to the length
      of the precursor segments, conservation of disulfide bridges and approximately
      50% sequence identity of the mature proteases.

PMID- 1446667
TI  - Protection by glutathione and other thiol compounds against the loss of protein
      thiols and tocopherol homologs during microsomal lipid peroxidation.
AB  - Microsomes from rat liver were used to investigate the mechanisms by which thiol
      compounds protect cellular membranes against damage from oxidants. Glutathione
      (GSH), dihydrolipoate and dithioerythritol, but not cysteine, ameliorated the
      loss of thiol groups of microsomal proteins attacked by Fe/ADP/NADPH or
      Fe/ADP/ascorbate prooxidant systems. The protection by GSH, but not
      dihydrolipoate or dithioerythritol, appeared to be enzymic since it was lost
      after microsomes were heated or treated with trypsin. The blocking of microsomal
      protein thiols with N-ethylmaleimide also diminished the protective effect of
      GSH. Lipid peroxidation, as assessed by chemiluminescence and vitamin-E loss, was
      inhibited in parallel with the protection of protein thiols. In microsomes
      lacking vitamin E, the protection of protein thiols by exogenous thiols was
      diminished. However, the GSH-dependent protection of vitamin E showed no
      preference for alpha-tocopherol over other tocopherol homologs. It is suggested
      that a GSH-dependent enzyme maintains protein thiols in the face of oxidative
      damage during microsomal peroxidation. A maintenance of protein thiols might not
      only protect important metabolic functions, but may also afford an antioxidant
      capacity to membranes, and account for one facet of the GSH-dependent inhibition
      of lipid peroxidation.

PMID- 1446668
TI  - Control of the metabolic flux in a system with high enzyme concentrations and
      moiety-conserved cycles. The sum of the flux control coefficients can drop
      significantly below unity.
AB  - In a number of metabolic pathways enzyme concentrations are comparable to those
      of substrates. Recently it has been shown that many statements of the 'classical'
      metabolic control theory are violated if such a system contains a moiety
      conserved cycle. For arbitrary pathways we have found: (a) the equation
      connecting coefficients CEiJ (obtained by varying the Ei concentration) and CviJ
      (obtained by varying the kicat), and (b) modified summation equations. The sum of
      the enzyme control coefficients (equal to unity under the 'classical' theory)
      appears always to be below unity in the systems considered. The relationships
      revealed were illustrated by a numerical example where the sum of coefficients
      CEiJ reached negative values. A method for experimental measurements of the above
      coefficients is proposed.

PMID- 1446669
TI  - Interleukin-1 beta and transforming growth factor-beta 2 enhance cytosolic high
      molecular-mass phospholipase A2 activity and induce prostaglandin E2 formation in
      rat mesangial cells.
AB  - Interleukin-1 beta induces gene expression and secretion of group-II
      phospholipase A2 and release of prostaglandin E2 from rat mesangial cells. The
      interleukin-1 beta-induced synthesis of group-II phospholipase A2 is prevented by
      transforming growth factor-beta 2, whereas transforming growth factor-beta 2
      potentiated the interleukin-1 beta-evoked prostaglandin E2 production.
      Transforming growth factor-beta 2 itself did not induce synthesis of group-II
      phospholipase A2, although it stimulated prostaglandin E2 formation. Here we
      describe the effect of interleukin-1 beta and transforming growth factor-beta 2
      on a cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity and prostaglandin E2 formation in rat
      mesangial cells. Based on the resistance to dithiothreitol and migration profiles
      on a Mono-Q anion-exchange column and a Superose 12 gel-filtration column, the
      cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity was assigned to a high-molecular-mass
      phospholipase A2. Measured with 1-stearoyl-2-[1-14C]arachidonoylglycero
      phosphocholine as substrate, both interleukin-1 beta and transforming growth
      factor-beta 2 enhanced the high-molecular-mass phospholipase A2 activity. The
      stimulation of rat mesangial cells with interleukin-1 beta and transforming
      growth factor-beta 2 was time- and dose-dependent with maximal cytosolic
      phospholipase A2 activities at 10 nM and at 10 ng/ml respectively, after 24 h of
      stimulation. Under these conditions, interleukin-1 beta and transforming growth
      factor-beta 2 enhanced the cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity 2.2 +/- 0.6-fold
      and 2.5 +/- 0.6-fold, respectively. These results strongly suggest that an
      enhanced cytosolic high-molecular-mass phospholipase A2 activity is involved in
      the formation of prostaglandin E2 mediated by transforming growth factor-beta 2.
      Whether interleukin-1 beta induced group-II phospholipase A2 and/or interleukin-1
      beta-enhanced cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity is involved in prostaglandin E2
      formation in rat mesangial cells is discussed.

PMID- 1446670
TI  - Isolation and functional analysis of histidine-tagged elongation factor Tu.
AB  - The study of the structure/function relationships of the Escherichia coli
      elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) via mutagenesis has been hampered by difficulties
      encountered in separating the mutated factor from other proteins, in particular
      native EF-Tu. Here we describe a novel system for the purification of EF-Tu
      mutant species, based on metal-ion affinity chromatography. To facilitate rapid
      and efficient purification we designed a recombinant EF-Tu with an additional C
      terminal sequence of one serine and six histidine residues. A cell extract
      containing the His-tagged EF-Tu (EF-TuHis) is applied to a Ni(2+)
      nitrilotriacetic acid column. EF-TuHis can be selectively eluted with an
      imidazole containing buffer, yielding a preparation of more than 95% purity, free
      of wild-type EF-Tu. In-vitro and in-vivo functional analyses show that EF-TuHis
      resembles the wild-type EF-Tu, which makes this one-step isolation procedure a
      promising tool for the study of the interactions of mutant EF-Tu with the various
      components of the elongation cycle. The new isolation procedure was successfully
      applied for the purification of a mutant EF-TuHis with a Glu substitution for
      Lys237, a residue possibly involved in the binding of aminoacyl-tRNA.

PMID- 1446671
TI  - Synthetic peptides as antagonists of the anaphylatoxin C3a.
AB  - Peptide compounds resembling the receptor-binding C-terminal domain of the
      anaphylatoxic peptide C3a were synthesized to examine two kinds of C3a
      antagonism: (a) specific desensitization of C3a-sensitive cells and (b)
      competitive binding to the C3a receptor. We used guinea-pig platelets, which
      express a C3a receptor and specifically release ATP upon stimulation, to evaluate
      the actions of the C3a analogues. The ATP liberation can be inhibited by
      pretreatment (i.e. desensitization) of the guinea-pig platelets with
      substimulatory concentrations of C3a or its analogues. Compared to C3a, several
      peptides were found with at least a tenfold greater difference between the
      required concentrations for C3a-specific half-maximal desensitization (DD50) and
      half-maximal platelet activation (ED50). The most potent compounds were YAAALKLAR
      and Fmoc-EAALKLAR (Fmoc: 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl) with an ED50/DD50 of 140 +/-
      28 and 80 +/- 17, respectively (mean +/- standard deviation). The ED50/DD50 of
      human C3a was found to be only 6 +/- 2. Some C3a derivatives were also tested in
      competitive binding studies for their ability to compete with C3a for receptor
      sites on guinea-pig platelets. Three of them were considered partial antagonists
      [YRRGRCGGLCLAR, YRRGRXCGGLCLAR and YRRGRXCGALCLAR (X = 6-aminohexanoyl)] because
      their Ki were smaller than their ED50 (Ki/ED50 = 0.6 +/- 0.3, 0.5 +/- 0.1 and 0.4
      +/- 0.2, respectively). Interestingly, the last two compounds also had ED50/DD50
      values greater than 60. Common to all three peptides are N-terminal arginine-rich
      sequences and intramolecular disulfide bridges which introduce conformational
      constraint.

PMID- 1446672
TI  - Study of polynucleotide conformation by resolution-enhanced ultraviolet
      spectroscopy poly(rC) and poly(dC).
AB  - Self-deconvolution and the fourth derivative of ultraviolet absorption spectra
      have been used to study stacked single-stranded and double-helix structures of
      different cytosine-containing polynucleotides for the first time. These compounds
      were studied under different solution conditions (pH and organic solvents) and at
      low temperatures. The red shift of the lower band (B2u band plus possibly some n-
      >pi* transition) of the absorption spectra in the cytosine-containing
      polynucleotides and the appearance of new peaks in the deconvoluted and
      derivative spectra in the 280-310 nm region are attributed mainly to cytosine
      cytosine stacking interactions. In particular, the fourth-derivative peaks at
      wavelengths higher than 290 nm can be associated to coupling of electronic
      transitions of cytosine bases. The nature of the electronic transitions producing
      the absorption bands which are resolved in the aforementioned fourth-derivative
      peaks is discussed. It is concluded that the resolution-enhancement techniques
      used in this work, i.e. self-deconvolution and fourth derivative, complement each
      other and are useful methods to study structural changes of single-stranded and
      double-stranded polynucleotides allowing, at the same time, more information to
      be obtained about specific stacking interactions than classical absorption
      spectrophotometry.

PMID- 1446673
TI  - Alpha-crystallin exists in a non-spherical form. A study on the rotational
      properties of native and reconstituted alpha-crystallin.
AB  - Native alpha-crystallin, obtained from the cortex of calf lenses with FPLC
      (Pharmacia) was characterized by means of transient-electric-birefringence
      measurements and ultraviolet linear-dichroism spectroscopy. These techniques were
      also performed on 6-M-urea-dissociated and reconstituted alpha-crystallin.
      Transient-electric-birefringence measurements offer the possibility to
      characterize the often observed, but usually neglected, non-spherical occurrences
      of alpha-crystallin in more detail. Although not distinguishable with size
      exclusion chromatography, we could identify at least two different classes of
      both native and reconstituted alpha-crystallin, from which at least one consists
      of non-spherical molecules. The results are compared with those obtained with
      electron microscopy using different staining methods. From the three independent
      techniques used we find evidence that a fraction of the alpha-crystallin exists
      in a more extended quaternary structure. The results are difficult to explain
      with a concentric three-layer model for alpha-crystallin as proposed by Tardieu
      et al. [Tardieu, A., Laporte, D., Licinio, P., Krop, B. & Delaye, M. (1986) J.
      Mol. Biol. 192, 711-724].

PMID- 1446674
TI  - Calorimetric measurements of thermal denaturation of stefins A and B. Comparison
      to predicted thermodynamics of stefin-B unfolding.
AB  - Thermal denaturation of two homologous proteins, low-M(r) cysteine-proteinase
      inhibitors stefins A and B, has been investigated by microcalorimetry.
      Calorimetric enthalpies, as well as the temperatures at maximum heat capacity,
      were determined as a function of pH for each protein. Transitions were found
      reversible at all pH values examined (5.0, 6.5, 8.1) for the thermally more
      stable stefin A, in contrast to stefin B. Stefin B shows a sharp irreversible
      transition around 65 degrees C at pH 6.5 and 8.1, probably due to unfolding of a
      dimeric state followed by oligomerisation. At pH 5.0, both proteins exhibit a
      reversible transition with temperatures of half-denaturation at 50.2 degrees C
      and 90.8 degrees C for stefins B and A, respectively. The calorimetric
      enthalpies, which equal the van't Hoff enthalpies to within 10%, are 293 kJ/mol
      and 490 kJ/mol for stefins B and A, respectively. Using the predictive method of
      Ooi and Oobatake (1991) [Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 88, 2859] the thermodynamic
      functions of unfolding were calculated for stefin B, whose three-dimensional
      structure has been determined. The calculated enthalpy, heat-capacity change on
      unfolding and the temperature of half denaturation compare well to the
      microcalorimetric data.

PMID- 1446675
TI  - Inhibition of chloroplast ATPase by the K+ channel blocker alpha-dendrotoxin.
AB  - Possible structural and functional similarities between the channel part, CF0, of
      chloroplast ATPase (CF0CF1) and ion channels permeable to monovalent cations were
      investigated using high-affinity toxins mainly targeted against voltage-sensitive
      K+ channels. In particular, the effect of the K(+)-channel blocker alpha
      dendrotoxin and the crude scorpion venom of Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus (LQ
      venom) on ATP synthesis in thylakoid membranes and in CF0CF1-containing liposomes
      was characterised. Alpha-dendrotoxin (K(i) approximately 5.05 microM) and the LQ
      venom (K(i) approximately 1.55 micrograms/ml) specifically inhibited ATP
      synthesis in thylakoid membranes and in CF0CF1-containing liposomes. Our results
      show that alpha-dendrotoxin and peptides of the LQ venom with an apparent
      molecular mass of about 4.0 kDa, probably isoforms of charybdotoxin, specifically
      bind to CF0CF1. This binding was reversible and induced a high leak conductance
      for H+ through CF0. The Ca(2+)-dependent ATPase activity of the isolated soluble
      part of CF0CF1 (CF1) was completely inhibited by 1 microM alpha-dendrotoxin,
      while the crude LQ venom, at concentrations up to 10 micrograms/ml, had no affect
      on ATPase activity. The concentration dependence of the inhibition by alpha
      dendrotoxin indicates that approximately 2 mol alpha-dendrotoxin bind/mol CF0CF1
      and 1 mol alpha-dendrotoxin/mol CF1. Known inhibitors of H(+)-flow-through CF0
      acted in the presence of alpha-dendrotoxin synergistically.
      Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and venturicidin, in contrast to their known effect of
      blocking H(+)-flow-through CF0, increased the leak conductance through CF0 in the
      presence of alpha-dendrotoxin drastically. This uncoupling effect indicates that
      their normal mode of blocking is a secondary effect. Binding of the inhibitors to
      their respective sites apparently does not affect the proton pathway in CF0, but
      induces a conformation which closes the channel part for H+. Protein sequence
      comparison between the known binding site of charybdotoxin in the shaker K+
      channel from Drosophila [MacKinnon, R. & Heginbotham, L. (1990) Neuron 5, 767
      771] and the choroplast ATPase showed that subunit III reveals a significant
      similarity (64%) in parts of its sequence (Gln28-Leu53) to the helix 5 and helix
      6 (S5-S6) linker region (Ala413-Cys462; the charybdotoxin-binding site) of the
      shaker K+ channel. According to secondary-structure predictions, the homologous
      sequences in subunit III and the shaker K+ channel represent putative hydrophilic
      loops connecting two transmembrane alpha-helices. Apparently the shaker K+
      channel and subunit III share significant topological features in these
      hydrophilic loops which may be part of the respective channel entrance.

PMID- 1446676
TI  - Kinetics of ATP synthesis catalyzed by the H(+)-ATPase from chloroplasts (CF0F1)
      reconstituted into liposomes and coreconstituted with bacteriorhodopsin.
AB  - The H(+)-ATPase from chloroplasts (CF0F1) was isolated, purified and
      reconstituted into liposomes from phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidic acid. A
      transmembrane pH difference, delta pH, and a transmembrane electric potential
      difference, delta psi, were generated by an acid/base transition. The rate of ATP
      synthesis was measured at constant delta pH and constant delta psi as a function
      of temperature between 5 degrees C and 45 degrees C. The activation energy was 55
      kJ mol-1. CF0F1 was coreconstituted with bacteriorhodopsin at a molar ratio of
      approximately 1:170 in the same type of liposomes. Illumination of the
      proteoliposomes leads to proton transport into the vesicles generating a constant
      delta pH = 1.8. The dependence of the rate of ATP synthesis on ADP concentration
      was measured with CF0F1 in the oxidized state, E(ox), and in the reduced state,
      E(red). The results can be described by Michaelis-Menten kinetics with the
      following parameters: Vmax = 0.5 s-1, Km = 8 microM for E(ox) and Vmax = 2.0 s-1,
      Km = 8 microM for E(red).

PMID- 1446677
TI  - Contribution of de-novo and salvage synthesis to the uracil nucleotide pool in
      mouse tissues and tumors in vivo.
AB  - The relative contribution of de-novo and salvage synthesis to tissue pyrimidine
      nucleotide pools is an important parameter in the rational design of anti
      pyrimidine therapies, but has not been measured in vivo. We have measured the
      contribution of de-novo synthesis to the total acid-soluble uracil nucleotide
      pool in mouse tissues by analysis of the incorporation of label after intra
      peritoneal infusion of L-[15N]alanine. The contribution of salvage synthesis was
      measured by the incorporation of radiolabel after intravenous infusion of
      [14C]uridine. The results show that de-novo synthesis makes the larger
      contribution to the intestine uracil nucleotide pool, salvage synthesis makes the
      larger contribution to the kidney pool, and de-novo and salvage synthesis make
      roughly equal contributions to the liver pool. In tumors studied (L1210, P388,
      B16, Nettesheim), the contribution of de-novo synthesis was at least five times
      the contribution of salvage synthesis. The measurements were repeated 24 hours
      after a 400-mg/kg dose of N-phosphonacetyl-L-aspartic acid. De-novo synthesis was
      substantially inhibited in all tissues and tumors after this treatment, although
      significant residual activity was observed in the intestine and L1210 cells.
      Nettesheim carcinoma was the only tumor or tissue to show a significant increase
      in salvage synthesis after N-phosphonacetyl-L-aspartic acid treatment.

PMID- 1446678
TI  - Effect of 2-mercaptoethanol on glutathione levels, cystine uptake and insulin
      secretion in insulin-secreting cells.
AB  - The role of glutathione (GSH) in the differentiated state of insulin-secreting
      cells was studied using 2-mercaptoethanol as a means of varying intracellular GSH
      levels. 2-Mercaptoethanol (50 microM) caused a marked increase of GSH in two rat
      insulinoma cell lines, RINm5F and INS-1, the latter being dependent on the
      presence of 2-mercaptoethanol for survival in tissue culture. The effect of 2
      mercaptoethanol on GSH was shared by other thiol compounds. Since in other cell
      types 2-mercaptoethanol is thought to act on cystine transport, thereby
      increasing the supply of cysteine for GSH synthesis, we have studied [35S]cystine
      uptake in INS-1 cells. At equimolar concentrations to cystine, 2-mercaptoethanol
      caused stimulation of [35S]cystine-uptake. The effect persisted in the absence of
      extracellular Na+, probably suggesting the involvement of the Xc- carrier system.
      INS-1 cells with a high GSH level, cultured 48 h with 2-mercaptoethanol,
      displayed a lower cystine uptake than control cells with a low GSH content. The
      effect of variations of the GSH levels on short-term insulin release was studied.
      No alteration of glyceraldehyde-induced or KCl-induced insulin release in RINm5F
      cells was detected. In contrast, both in islets and in INS-1 cells, a high GSH
      level was associated with a slightly lower insulin release. In INS-1 cells the
      effect was more marked at low glucose concentrations, resulting in an improved
      stimulation of insulin secretion. On the other hand, in islets, a decrease in the
      incremental insulin release evoked by glucose was seen. As in other cell types,
      oxidized glutathione (GSSG) was less than 5% of total GSH, and in INS-1 cells no
      change in the GSH/GSSG ratio was detected during glucose-induced or 3-isobutyl-1
      methylxanthine-induced insulin release. In conclusion, 2-mercaptoethanol
      dependent INS-1 cells, as well as RINm5F cells and islets of Langerhans, display
      a low capacity in maintaining intracellular levels of GSH in tissue culture
      without extracellular thiol supplementation; 2-mercaptoethanol possibly acts by
      promoting cyst(e)ine transport; changes in GSH levels caused a moderate effect on
      the differentiated function of insulin-secreting cells.

PMID- 1446679
TI  - Characterization of a nitric-oxide-catalysed ADP-ribosylation of glyceraldehyde-3
      phosphate dehydrogenase.
AB  - Auto-ADP-ribosylation of the glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate
      dehydrogenase (GraPDH) has recently been demonstrated to be dramatically
      stimulated in the presence of nitric oxide. In order to obtain insight into the
      sequence of events leading to ADP-ribosylation of GraPDH, we studied the target
      amino acid, the nucleotide cofactor requirement, pH dependency and the
      stoichiometry of the reaction. Basal as well as stimulated ADP-ribose transfer is
      inhibited by the SH-group alkylating reagent, N-ethylmaleimide. Furthermore, the
      radiolabel of auto-[32P]ADP-ribosylated GraPDH is removed by treatment with
      HgCl2, suggesting an ADP-ribose-cysteine bond. Several indirect and direct
      mechanistic considerations point to NAD+ as the only cofactor for the ADP
      ribosylation reaction, excluding the possibility of a reaction sequence involving
      a NAD-glycohydrolase(s) followed by nonenzymatic ADP-ribose transfer to GraPDH.
      Optimal ADP-ribosylations were carried out at alkaline pH values using 10 microM
      free NAD+ as the sole nucleotide cofactor. Bovine serum albumin with an S
      nitrosylated SH group can serve as a model of ADP-ribose transfer from NAD+ and
      suggests that the nitric-oxide-modified SH group (S-nitrosylated SH group) is a
      prerequisite for the reaction.

PMID- 1446680
TI  - The use of alternative substrates in the characterization of actin-methylating
      and carnosine-methylating enzymes.
AB  - Actin isolated from nearly every eukaryotic species contains approximately 1 mol
      3-methylhistidine/mol protein. His73 in actin has been shown, by protein
      sequencing, to be the site of methylation. The methylation occurs enzymically and
      post-translationally. A rabbit skeletal muscle myofibrillary fraction has
      previously been shown to contain a histidine methyltransferase activity that is
      actin specific. Detailed study of this enzyme has been hampered by lack of a
      suitable substrate assay. Naturally occurring actins are poor substrates for the
      enzyme, presumably due to prexistent methylation at His73. In this study, two
      potential alternative substrates have been investigated. These are a chicken beta
      actin expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with 80 amino acids of an
      influenza protein, NS1, and a synthetic peptide, Tyr-Pro-Ile-Glu-His-Gly-Ile-Ile
      Thr, corresponding to residues 69-77 of actin. Both substrates were covalently
      methylated at histidine residues in the presence of S-adenosylmethionine and
      partially purified enzyme fractions from rabbit muscle. In methylation
      experiments employing the fusion actin in the form of inclusion bodies, 3
      methylhistidine is the major product, as is the case when soluble muscle or non
      muscle actin is used. However, for the synthetic peptide, the methylated product
      primarily contained 1-methylhistidine and only a small amount of the isomeric 3
      methylhistidine. Further investigations revealed that the peptide was recognized
      by carnosine N-methyltransferase, another histidine methyltransferase found in
      muscle tissue. Carnosine N-methyltransferase appears to copurify with the actin
      methylating enzyme in preliminary fractionation experiments. Separation of the
      two methyltransferase activities is described.

PMID- 1446681
TI  - The human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line A204 lays down a highly insoluble matrix
      composed mainly of alpha 1 type-XI and alpha 2 type-V collagen chains.
AB  - The biosynthesis of collagen by the A204 cell line was examined using polyclonal
      antibodies raised against collagen type V and type XI. The study of the pepsin
      digested collagen showed that it is composed mainly of alpha 1(XI) and alpha 2(V)
      collagen chains in an apparent 2:1 ratio, suggesting the formation of heterotypic
      molecules [alpha 1(XI)]2 alpha 2(V). The existence of this chain stoichiometry
      was further demonstrated by immunoprecipitation of the molecule with an antibody
      recognizing alpha 2(V) but not alpha 1(XI) collagen chains. Electron microscopy
      analyses of 24-h cultures showed that this matrix is composed of thin fibrils,
      that can be decorated with immunogold-labelled anti-(type-V collagen) IgG, but
      not with anti-(type-XI collagen) IgG. The collagen matrix laid down by A204 cells
      is highly insoluble. In the presence of beta-aminopropionitrile, an inhibitor of
      lysyl oxidase, only a small proportion of intact collagen could be extracted
      without proteolytic treatment. Immunoblotting of intact medium collagen from
      cultures performed in the presence of beta-aminopropionitrile showed four
      distinct bands with each antibody. The migration of the bands, stained with anti
      (type-V collagen) IgG, had apparent molecular masses of 127, 149, 161 and 198 kDa
      (compared to globular standards) while the bands stained with anti-(type-XI
      collagen) IgG had apparent masses of 145, 182, 207 and 225 kDa. These data
      indicate that type-V and type-XI collagen chains can assemble in heterotypic
      isoforms. In this system, the synthesized isoforms are able to aggregate into a
      highly cohesive matrix and they undergo a proteolytic processing closely similar
      to that of other fibrillar collagens.

PMID- 1446682
TI  - The Soret magnetic circular dichroism of ferric high-spin myoglobins. A probe for
      the distal histidine residue.
AB  - To find a simple criterion for the presence of the distal (E7) histidine residue
      in myoglobins and hemoglobins, the Soret magnetic-circular-dichroic spectra were
      examined for ferric metmyoglobins from various species. A distinct and symmetric
      dispersion-type curve was obtained for myoglobins containing the distal
      histidine, whereas a relatively weak and unsymmetric pattern was observed for
      myoglobins lacking this residue, such as those from three kinds of gastropodic
      sea molluscs, a shark and the African elephant. The magnetic-circular-dichroic
      spectra obtained would thus be a direct reflection of the presence or absence of
      a water molecule at the sixth coordinate position of the heme iron(III), this
      axial water ligand being stabilized by hydrogen-bond formation to the distal
      histidine residue. On the basis of these Soret magnetic-circular-dichroic
      signals, we also examined the structure of a protozoan myoglobin (or a monomeric
      hemoglobin) from Paramecium caudatum of particular interest for the evolution of
      these proteins from protozoa to higher animals.

PMID- 1446683
TI  - Purification of assembly-competent tubulin from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - We have developed a straightforward, two-step procedure to isolate highly
      purified yeast tubulin that reproducibly assembles into microtubules. The
      starting extracts are obtained from cells genetically engineered to overproduce
      both the alpha and beta subunits of tubulin, under control of the galactose
      promoter, to approximately 10-times wild-type levels. The first step of
      purification is carried out with the high-speed supernatant of lysed cells loaded
      onto a DEAE-Sephadex column; after this step the tubulin preparation is
      approximately 30% pure. In the second step, the tubulin fractions are loaded onto
      an immunoaffinity column prepared by coupling the anti-(alpha-tubulin) monoclonal
      antibody YL 1/2 to Sepharose-4B. Following elution with 0.8 M KCl, the tubulin
      present in the peak is 90% pure. Upon addition of porcine brain microtubule
      associated proteins or DEAE-dextran, this tubulin preparation is functionally
      active for assembly into microtubules, as visualized by electron microscopy on
      negatively stained samples. Virtually identical microtubule structures are
      produced in parallel experiments on the assembly of yeast or porcine brain
      tubulin, with differences observed only at acidic pH values. Overall, this
      relatively simple procedure provides a useful tool for the production of
      functional tubulin suitable both for structural studies and for investigations of
      the assembly process.

PMID- 1446684
TI  - Nuclear substrates of protein kinase C.
AB  - Starting from the finding that, for neuronal cells, the nuclear-membrane
      associated protein kinase C (PKC) is the so-called 'membrane inserted',
      constitutively active form, we attempted to identify substrates of this nuclear
      PKC. For this purpose, nuclear membranes and other subcellular fractions were
      prepared from bovine brain, and in-vitro phosphorylation was performed. Several
      nuclear membrane proteins were found, the phosphorylation of which was inhibited
      by specific PKC inhibitors and effectively catalyzed by added PKC. Combining the
      methods of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, in-situ digestion, reverse-phase
      HPLC and microsequencing, two of these nuclear PKC substrates were identified;
      the known PKC substrate Lamin B2, which serves as a control of the approach and
      the nucleolar protein B23. Our data suggest, that, for B23, Ser225 is a site of
      phosphorylation by PKC.

PMID- 1446685
TI  - The effect of metal binding on the structure of annexin V and implications for
      membrane binding.
AB  - The structure of annexin V, crystallised in the presence of two calcium or barium
      ions for each protein molecule, was solved by molecular replacement to 0.24 nm
      resolution. The two metal ions are found in domains I and IV, i.e. on the same
      side of the channel that lies in the centre of the molecule. The structures of
      the barium and calcium form are extremely close, the only differences localised
      in the metal-binding sites that lie on the surface of the molecule. The
      occupancies of the metal ions, however, are lower for barium than for calcium,
      expressing the lower affinity of the protein for the former. The packing of the
      annexin molecules in the crystal asymmetric unit may represent a model for the
      calcium driven association of membrane-bound annexins that leads to membrane
      fusion.

PMID- 1446686
TI  - Purification and characterization of rat brain cytosolic 3,5,3'-triiodo-L
      thyronine-binding protein. Evidence for binding activity dependent on NADPH, NADP
      and thioredoxin.
AB  - A rat brain cytosolic 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine-(T3)-binding protein (CTBP) was
      purified using, successively, carboxymethyl-Sephadex, DEAE-Spherodex, T3
      Sepharose-4B affinity chromatography and Sephacryl S-200. The molecular mass
      determined by SDS/PAGE wa 58 kDa. The binding characteristics determined by
      Scatchard analysis revealed a single class of binding sites with a Ka of 1.56 nM
      1 and a maximal binding capacity of 7500 nmol T3/g protein. The relative binding
      affinities of iodothyronine analogues were D-T3 > L-T3 > L-T4 > 3,3'-5
      triiodothyroacetic acid > reverse T3. The optimum pH for binding was 7.5.
      Purified brain CTBP was reversibly inactivated by charcoal. NADPH, NADP and
      thioredoxin restored binding activity to a level higher than that of the control;
      this effect was concentration dependent. Maximal activation was observed at 25 nM
      NADPH. NADP was effective only in the presence of 1 mM dithiothreitol; maximal
      activity was obtained at 10 nM NADP. At concentrations higher than 50 nM NADP,
      the binding gradually decreased. Thioredoxin in the presence of 1 mM
      dithiothreitol activated CTBP; maximal binding was obtained with 4 microM
      thioredoxin. In the presence of NADPH, NADP or thioredoxin the maximal binding
      capacity increased 2-4 times and the Ka was 2.6 nM-1. These results show that the
      activity of purified cytosolic brain T3-binding protein may be modulated by
      NADPH, NADP or thioredoxin.

PMID- 1446687
TI  - Coordination and internal exchange of two DNA molecules in a RecA filament in the
      presence of hydrolysing ATP. Information on ATP-RecA-DNA structure from linear
      dichroism spectroscopy.
AB  - Solution structure of complexes between DNA and recombinase RecA from Escherchia
      coli, in the presence of the physiological cofactor ATP, is probed by flow linear
      dichroism (LD) spectroscopy. A problem of ADP accumulation which promotes
      dissociation of DNA-RecA is circumvented by using an ATP-regenerating system. The
      LD features indicate that the local structure of the complex is very similar to
      that found in the presence of the non-hydrolysable analog of ATP, adenosine-5'-O
      [gamma-thio]triphosphate (ATP[gamma S]); the DNA bases are oriented with their
      planes preferentially perpendicular to the long axis of the filament, while the
      indole chromophores of the two tryptophan residues of RecA are rather parallel to
      this reference direction. A much smaller overall amplitude of the LD spectrum,
      compared to ATP[gamma S], is interpreted as a result of fast dissociation of RecA
      due to hydrolysis of ATP, producing transiently naked DNA regions which act like
      flexible joints, diminishing the macroscopic orientation of the RecA filaments.
      However, the ATP hydrolysis is not found to prevent simultaneous accommodation of
      two non-complementary DNA molecules in the RecA complex, as judged from the LD
      behaviour upon successive addition of two different polynucleotides or modified
      DNA strands. A notable difference from corresponding complexes formed with
      ATP[gamma S] is that, in the presence of ATP hydrolysis, the order in which the
      two DNA molecules have been added is insignificant as judged from virtually
      identical resulting structures; this observation indicates that exchange of DNA
      occurs between the two DNA accommodation sites within the RecA filament.

PMID- 1446688
TI  - Improvement in the heterogeneous N-termini and the defective N-glycosylation of
      human interleukin-6 by genetic engineering.
AB  - Recombinant human interleukin-6 (IL-6), expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells,
      has heterogeneous N-termini of Ala1 and Val3, as does naturally occurring IL-6.
      This heterogeneity is thought to be caused by difficulty in cleavage of the
      signal sequence. To obtain homogeneous IL-6, Pro at -1 was exchanged for Ala by
      site-directed mutagenesis. Alternatively, the signal sequence was replaced with
      that of human granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor. In both cases, the IL-6
      designed to start with Ala1 was still heterogeneous, while the IL-6 designed to
      start with Val3 showed a homogeneous N-terminus. It is suggested that the
      heterogeneity of the N-terminus is caused not only by the signal sequence, but
      also by the succeeding sequences of the mature protein. Only a portion of
      recombinant human IL-6 is N-glycosylated. Asn46, being exchanged for Gln by site
      directed mutagenesis, was confirmed to be partially N-glycosylated. The defective
      N-glycosylation was assumed to be caused by interference or tension from a
      disulfide bond near the N-glycosylation site. To verify this hypothesis, the
      Cys45 and Cys51 forming the disulfide bond were exchanged for Ser. The N
      glycosylated species became predominant upon this substitution, suggesting that
      formation of the disulfide bond is a cause of the defective N-glycosylation.

PMID- 1446689
TI  - Aminopeptidase P from human leukocytes.
AB  - Cytosolic aminopeptidase P was obtained in highly purified form from human
      leukocytes by a four-step procedure. Buffy coats were the starting material. A
      M(r) of 140,000 was obtained by size-exclusion HPLC for the native enzyme. As
      shown by SDS/PAGE under reducing and denaturing conditions, the enzyme consisted
      of likely identical subunits with M(r) of 71,000. Purified aminopeptidase P
      cleaved off, specifically and efficiently, the N-terminal residues from peptides
      with N-terminal Xaa-Pro sequences. The penultimate proline was not replaceable by
      hydroxyproline, alanine and glycine in di-, tri- and tetrapeptides. Polyproline
      was not hydrolyzed. Dipeptides were cleaved (Arg-Pro, Phe-Pro > Trp-Pro > Pro
      Pro) although slower than longer peptides. Cleavage was observed of several
      biologically active peptides; C-terminal fragment (residues 201-206) of C
      reactive protein, oxytocin fragment Tyr-Pro-Leu-Gly, morphiceptin, peptide Gly
      Pro-Arg-Pro (inhibitor of fibrin polymerization) and kentsin. In addition,
      cleavage of a protein, interleukin-6, was also demonstrated. Aminopeptidase P was
      maximally activated by Mn2+, and to a lesser extent by Co2+. The activity was
      optimal at pH 8. Ni2+, Zn2+ and especially Cd2+ caused marked inhibition. EDTA,
      1,10-phenantroline and dithiothreitol were also inhibitory. Carbobenzoxy
      phenylalanine, as well as several N-carbobenzoxy-proline-containing peptides,
      caused partial inhibition. The observed resistance of Gly-Pro, Pro-Gly, Pro-Phe
      and Pro-Ile to hydrolysis by the purified enzyme strongly indicates absence of
      known proline-specific dipeptidases in the aminopeptidase-P preparation.

PMID- 1446690
TI  - Factorial invariance issues in the study of adult personality: an example using
      Levenson's locus of control scale.
AB  - Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine factorial invariance across
      young, middle-aged, and elderly age groups, using Levenson's multidimensional
      locus of control (LoC) scale, which measures beliefs in Internal Control (I),
      Control by Powerful Others (P), and Chinese (C). Data were obtained from 563
      individuals ranging in age from 25 years to 75 years of age who resided in
      Southeastern Louisiana. Results indicated that Levenson's 3-factor
      conceptualization of control was not a valid representation of the samples'
      responses. A model that specified the elimination of 17 unreliable items and the
      formation of both an internal and an external control factor that was based on
      the seven remaining I and P items provided an adequate fit to the data for the
      three age groups, though when additional constraints were specified, factorial
      invariance was not demonstrated. The 7-item I and P factor model generated a
      pattern of relationships with other measures which was similar to the pattern
      found if all items of the I and P scales were used.

PMID- 1446691
TI  - An adult developmental study of the encoding of spatial location.
AB  - The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that there is a
      differential deficit in the ability to encode contextual information with
      increasing age. Young, middle-aged, and elderly adults were shown target words in
      various quadrants of a computer screen (contexts) and were told to either (a)
      remember the words and their locations, (b) remember the words, or (c) tell
      whether the words referred to something that was alive or not. Following
      presentation of the words, subjects were given a recognition test for the words
      and were asked to identify the quadrant in which each word had been presented. If
      older adults have a contextual encoding deficit, than an interaction between age
      and instruction condition would be expected in memory for quadrants. Older adults
      would be expected to perform better relative to younger adults when the locations
      were target information (intentionally learned) than when they were contextual
      (not intentionally learned). Since such an interaction was not obtained, the
      results provide no support for the hypothesis that the elderly have an encoding
      deficit that is specific to contextual information.

PMID- 1446692
TI  - Self-judged comprehension in adults: effects of age and skill.
AB  - We used an error detection paradigm to examine the effects of skill on young (M =
      23.74) and old (M = 68.87) adults' self-judged comprehension of texts. Skill was
      defined as the ability to evaluate comprehension by detecting text problems.
      Multiple regression results indicated that problematic texts produced lower
      comprehension judgments for older readers, regardless of level of skill, than for
      younger readers. Only more skilled younger readers tended to lower their
      comprehension judgments for problematic text. Younger adults who were less
      skilled at evaluating their comprehension assessed their comprehension as
      superior to their more skilled peers. Less skilled older adults appear to know,
      better than less skilled younger adults, when they do not comprehend a text.
      Research is needed to examine older adults' perceived self-efficacy and use of
      regulation strategies to resolve comprehension failures.

PMID- 1446693
TI  - Age-related differences in adults' macrospatial cognitive processes.
AB  - Young and elderly adults' performance was compared on the Landmark Selection
      Task, designed to assess perceptual selection, and the Scrambled Route Task,
      designed to assess temporospatial integration. Age-related performance decrements
      were found on both tasks. Subjects' scores on psychometric tests hypothesized as
      involving some of the same processes as these experimental tasks yielded positive
      correlations to measures of task performance. Unexpectedly, self-estimates of
      wayfinding and distance estimation skills were negatively correlated to
      experimental task performance for elderly adults. Results were discussed in the
      context of declines in the effectiveness of selective attention, which is
      considered critical to perceptual selection, and in the proficiency of working
      memory, which is considered central to temporospatial integration.

PMID- 1446694
TI  - Variation in external context and adult age differences in action memory.
AB  - Adult age differences were determined for the memory and retention of the content
      of actions. Variation in the physical context from the time of performance of the
      actions to the time of testing for their memory had no effect for either young or
      elderly adult subjects on the recall or the recognition of the actions either
      shortly after acquisition or 24 hours later. Both young and elderly subjects
      showed significant forgetting of actions over a 24-hour retention interval as
      measured by recall.

PMID- 1446695
TI  - Continuously distributed random variables in factorial designs.
AB  - Age as a variable in lifespan research usually is sampled as several age blocks
      which, in turn, are combined with additional variables in a factorial design.
      Sampling a continuous variable in discrete blocks increases the difficulty in
      obtaining adequate sampling, reduces power, and prevents a fine grain analysis of
      age x treatment interactions. Age can be sampled as a continuously distributed
      variable, factorially combined with treatment groups, and analyzed as an analysis
      of variance by the use of regression analysis and comparison of multiple R2
      coefficients. The advantages of such a sampling strategy include both practical
      sampling advantages as well as statistical advantages when compared with the
      usual sampling approach.

PMID- 1446696
TI  - Adult age differences in the storage of information in working memory.
AB  - The performance of 97 young and 91 old persons were compared to determine if a
      deficiency in working memory resources for processing, storage, or allocation
      could be detected. Persons simultaneously performed a storage and one of two
      processing tasks while instructed to allocate resources to processing, storage,
      or both tasks. The storage task involved remembering the names of one, three, or
      five persons. Processing tasks involved solving addition problems presented on
      flashcards or answering common knowledge questions. Results showed increased age
      differences on the storage task as demands for resources increased but no
      differences on processing tasks. Individuals seemed unable to allocate resources
      as instructed. A comparison of young-old and old-old groups showed the same
      results as those obtained comparing young and old groups and support the
      hypothesis of a deficiency of storage, but not processing, resources in working
      memory for old, especially old-old, adults.

PMID- 1446697
TI  - Age differences in sensitivity, response bias, and reaction time on a visual
      discrimination task.
AB  - Twelve young adults (age 21-25 years) and twelve older adults (age 57-65 years)
      performed a visual discrimination task (parallel lines) in which the following
      factors were manipulated: the difference in the length of the lines (3% and 9%),
      signal exposure duration (150, 750, and 2000 ms), and presentation modality
      (simultaneous and successive). The effect of repeating the task over three blocks
      was also controlled. Reaction time, sensitivity (d'), the decision criterion
      (beta), and the level of confidence the subjects had in their responses were
      measured and analyzed. The reaction time of the older subjects was longer than
      for younger ones. The difference remained constant across conditions. Signal
      detection analysis indicated that the ability to discriminate, as measured by d',
      was the same, on the whole, in the two age groups, but the sensitivity of the
      older was more affected by signal exposure duration than that of their younger
      counterparts. Contrary to what might have been expected, the older subjects used
      a more risky decision criterion than the younger subjects (preferring false
      alarms to omissions) and did not have significantly less confidence in their
      responses. Task repetition led to reduced reaction times and to a slightly higher
      level of confidence, but no age-related effects were found. The findings suggest
      that, in addition to a perceptual compensatory component, the longer reaction
      times of the older subjects include a decision-making component not necessary for
      their level of discrimination accuracy. The outcome of a lower criterion in the
      older group supports other findings according to which a more conservative
      decision strategy is not a general, systematic feature of the aged.

PMID- 1446698
TI  - Age cohort differences in the ability to perform closure on degraded figures.
AB  - Young (17-26) and old (60-80) men and women performed a perceptual closure task
      for degraded line drawings under three conditions of prior picture knowledge
      (exact, similar, no prior knowledge) and two conditions of perceptual noise
      (contour or detail drawings) resulting in six levels of task difficulty. Young
      and old subjects took equal advantage prior knowledge conditions, however, old
      subjects required a greater percentage of picture and more time to make closure
      under all conditions when compared to young subjects. To test the perceptual
      slowing hypothesis, old subject performance was regressed on that of young across
      three levels of task difficulty. The slope of these regression equations
      supported the notion of a perceptual slowing hypothesis to explain age cohort
      differences.

PMID- 1446699
TI  - Aging, narrative organization, presentation mode, and referent choice strategies.
AB  - We examined age differences in referent choice strategies when narrative
      organization and presentation mode taxed working memory. Readers could use the
      following cues to choose referents for an ambiguous pronoun: (a) thematic cue
      (main/minor character), (b) foreground cue (character in main/subordinate
      clause), and (c) recency of mention of character. Subjects read short narratives
      with a critical sentence that mentioned the main character in the main clause of
      the critical sentence (congruent condition) or in the subordinate clause of this
      sentence (incongruent condition). They chose the main or minor character as
      referent for a pronoun in the next (target) sentence. Experiment 1 examined how
      older and young readers use these cues with the Memory narrative presentation
      (target sentence presented on a separate page from the rest of the narrative).
      Young readers used similar strategies as those in Morrow (1985), where narrative
      presentation did not tax memory. Thus, the Memory presentation had little
      influence on their strategies. However, older readers were less consistent and
      tended to split in choosing the two characters. In Experiment 2, where narrative
      presentation did not tax working memory, older readers used similar strategies to
      the young readers in Experiment 1. Experiment 3 found that elders reading
      narratives with the Memory presentation recalled the nonpreferred character name
      after the narrative, suggesting that both characters were accessible from working
      memory. The study suggests that the Memory presentation mode in Experiment 1
      interfered with elders' consistent use of narrative cues in choosing referents,
      especially when these cues conflict.

PMID- 1446700
TI  - Object recognition by component features: are there age differences.
AB  - This study extended aspects of Biederman's (1987) recognition-by-components (RBC)
      theory to the analysis of age differences in the recognition of incomplete
      visually-presented objects. RBC theory predicts that objects are recognizable or
      recoverable under conditions of fragmentation if a sufficient amount of essential
      structural information remains available. Objects are rendered nonrecoverable by
      the omission or obstruction of essential structural features at vertices and
      areas of concavity. Fifteen young adults and 15 older adults participated in a
      study of the effects of amount (25%, 45%, 65%) and type of fragmentation
      (recoverable, nonrecoverable) on object naming. Age-related declines in
      recognizing incomplete objects were associated with the amount of fragmentation,
      but type of fragmentation did not affect the performance of older adults. For the
      young adults, accuracy of performance was affected by both amount and type of
      fragmentation, consistent with Biederman's RBC theory. These results were
      interpreted as suggesting that age-related declines in perceptual closure
      performance have to do with non-structural factors such as the ability to
      inferentially augment degraded or missing visual information.

PMID- 1446701
TI  - In vivo priming of cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in relation to in vitro up
      regulation of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules by short
      synthetic peptides.
AB  - Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) recognize target antigens as short peptides
      presented by major histocompatibility complex class I molecules (MHC-I).
      Externally added peptides can sensitize target cells by binding directly to MHC-I
      without any need for internal processing. Those which are similar in length to
      endogenously processed peptides are more potent in this respect than slightly
      longer peptides. Peptide MHC-I interactions can also be reflected as up
      regulation of MHC-I in vitro on certain cells. We have compared the capacity of
      Db, Kb- and Ld-binding peptides, which are slightly different in length, to up
      regulate MHC-I in vitro with their immunogenicity in vivo, in relation to
      generation of CTL responses. A clear correlation between these two different
      functions was found. We have also modified a 9-mer Db-binding peptide by adding
      cystein to the amino terminus and lysine to the amino- or carboxy terminus and
      studied the effects on MHC-I up-regulation and in vivo immunogenicity. Cystein
      and lysine contain reactive groups which are likely to influence the binding of
      modified peptides into the antigen-binding groove of Db. These small
      modifications of the optimal 9-mer peptide strongly influenced their functions
      but still there was a correlation between MHC-I up-regulation and CTL responses.
      Up-regulation of MHC-I in vitro may reflect a capacity of peptides to accumulate
      on the surface of particular antigen-presenting cells in vivo.

PMID- 1446702
TI  - Immunomodulation of streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis. Identification of
      inflammatory cells and regulatory T cell subsets by mercuric chloride and in vivo
      CD8 depletion.
AB  - Streptococcal cell wall (SCW)-induced arthritis is a chronic, erosive
      polyarthritis which can be induced in susceptible Lewis rats by one
      intraperitoneal injection of a sterile, aqueous suspension of SCW. The chronic
      phase of the disease is dependent on T cells. Mercuric chloride is an
      immunomodulating agent, causing autoimmunity in BN rats, but an OX8+ cell
      mediated immunosuppression in Lewis rats. Therefore, we investigated the effect
      of mercuric chloride, whether or not combined with in vivo OX8 depletion, on SCW
      induced arthritis in Lewis rats. We show that (a) depletion of OX8+ cells leads
      to a more chronic arthritis with a more rapid onset, (b) treatment with mercuric
      chloride induces a rapidly developing disease which is not chronic, and (c)
      treatment with mercuric chloride and OX8+ cell depletion induces an arthritis
      with a very rapid onset and enhanced chronicity. Together with histological data
      this suggests an important role for OX8+ T cells in controlling both the acute
      and chronic phase of the disease. In addition, mercuric chloride seems to induce
      an early activation of T cells resulting in an enhanced onset of disease, which
      is controlled later by enhanced activation of OX8+ cells.

PMID- 1446703
TI  - Interferon-alpha prevents endotoxin-induced mortality in mice.
AB  - Endotoxins, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) moieties on the bacterial cell wall,
      cause many of the pathological features of Gram-negative septicemia. Tumor
      necrosis factor (TNF), primarily a product of monocyte/macrophages, has been
      shown to mediate many of the pathophysiological effects of endotoxin. Kupffer
      cells, the largest macrophage population in the body, release TNF when stimulated
      by LPS in vitro. A recombinant human hybrid interferon-alpha A/D (rIFN-alpha)
      markedly inhibited this LPS-elicited TNF production by Kupffer cells. The effects
      of rIFN-alpha were further tested in C57BL/6 mice receiving a lethal dose (400
      micrograms/mouse) of LPS. All LPS-treated mice died within 2 days. Pretreatment
      with rIFN-alpha 1 h before LPS challenge improved the survival at 3 days to 22%
      (5/23, p < 0.04). In contrast, rIFN-alpha was more effective when administered 20
      min after LPS injection, increasing the survival rate to 81% (13/16, p < 0.0001).
      TNF mRNA expression in the liver and spleen 50 min after LPS challenge, and
      plasma TNF 1.5 h after LPS were also reduced by either pretreatment or post
      treatment with rIFN-alpha. Subsequently, experiments were carried out to test the
      efficacy of delayed rIFN-alpha treatment. A significant protective effect was
      still apparent when rIFN-alpha was administered 6, 10 and even 14 h (81%, 62% and
      28% survival, respectively) after LPS challenge when serum TNF levels had already
      returned to near baseline. These experimental results suggest that rIFN-alpha
      might have a therapeutic potential for the prevention and treatment of the
      deleterious effects associated with endotoxemia besides mechanisms initially
      blocking TNF production.

PMID- 1446704
TI  - Functional role of alpha 2/beta 1 and alpha 4/beta 1 integrins in leukocyte
      intercellular adhesion induced through the common beta 1 subunit.
AB  - Whereas all of the integrins in the VLA protein subfamily are involved in cell
      extracellular matrix interactions, only VLA-4 (through the alpha 4 subunit) has
      been implicated in the triggering of intercellular adhesion. Here we describe
      that the VLA protein beta 1 subunit (CD29) is also involved in the induction of
      homotypic cell aggregation. We have obtained three novel anti-beta 1 monoclonal
      antibodies (mAb) with the ability to induce cell aggregation on different
      leukocyte cell types. These mAb recognize an antigenic site on the common beta 1
      chain of VLA proteins which is topographically and/or functionally distinct from
      other epitopes previously defined by several prototype anti-beta 1 mAb. Induction
      of cell aggregation by anti-beta 1 mAb is epitope specific, isotype and Fc
      independent, and displays kinetics similar to alpha 4-mediated aggregation. This
      cell aggregation requires an intact cellular metabolism, the presence of divalent
      cations in the extracellular medium, and the integrity of the cytoskeleton. We
      also have found that the Na+/H+ antiporter may be essential for this process. For
      Ramos cells, which bear only the VLA alpha 4/beta 1 heterodimer, intercellular
      adhesion induced through the VLA-beta 1 chain could be selectively inhibited by
      other anti-beta 1 mAb as well as by anti-alpha 4 mAb. Interestingly, anti-beta 1
      mAb which induced strong aggregation of VLA-alpha 2- or VLA-alpha 4-transfected
      K562 cells, had minimal effect on the alpha 2- alpha 4- alpha 5+ K562 cell line.
      Furthermore, the beta 1-mediated induction of cell aggregation on alpha 2-K562-
      and alpha 4-K562-transfected cells was blocked by preincubation with either anti
      alpha 2 or anti-alpha 4 mAb, respectively, as well as by other anti-beta 1 mAb.
      Interestingly, parental K562 cells were able to interact with both alpha 2- and
      alpha 4-transfected K562 cells, thus suggesting that counter-receptors for both
      integrins (VLA-2 and VLA-4) might exist on these cells. Together these results
      provide strong evidence supporting the involvement of alpha 2/beta 1 and alpha
      4/beta 1 heterodimers in intercellular interactions and underline the pivotal
      role of the common beta 1 chain of VLA proteins in the integrin-mediated
      induction of cell aggregation.

PMID- 1446705
TI  - Binding of T cell receptor to major histocompatibility complex class II-peptide
      complexes at the single-cell level results in the induction of antigen
      unresponsiveness (anergy).
AB  - Using dispersion cultures performed in semi-solid medium we demonstrate here that
      the interaction of T cell antigen receptor molecules with Ia-peptide complexes on
      the same cell surface results in T cell activation, without the production of
      lymphokines. This recognition of antigen at the single-cell level, induced a
      state of anergy which was not due to a decrease of surface T cell antigen
      receptor/CD3 complexes. The induction of anergy by peptide could not be prevented
      by the addition of various co-stimulatory signals, including antibodies to CD28,
      or CD2, high doses of interleukin-2 or phorbol ester.

PMID- 1446706
TI  - Vaccination or tolerance to prevent diabetes.
AB  - Experiments with transgenic mice expressing the glycoprotein (GP) of lymphocytic
      choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) under the control of the rat insulin promoter (RIP)
      have demonstrated that potentially self-reactive T cells that normally ignore
      self peptides may nevertheless be induced by self peptides or "cross-reactive"
      foreign (e.g. viral) peptides that arise in the host in an immunogenic form; once
      activated these potentially self-reactive T cells may cause autoaggressive
      diseases (e.g. diabetes). The possibility of vaccinating against such T cell
      mediated immunopathological diseases was evaluated in the RIP-GP transgenic mouse
      line Bln. Any attempt to vaccinate with the self antigen itself (e.g. recombinant
      vaccinia virus expressing LCMV-GP) failed to protect mice from disease. However,
      immunization with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing LCMV-nucleoprotein
      (vacc-NP) as a non-GP LCMV vaccine was able to modulate the immune response and
      prevented autoaggressive disease in a MHC-dependent fashion. In contrast,
      tolerance induction neonatally or, more generally applicable, by lethal
      irradiation and reconstitution with neo-self antigen-expressing bone marrow cells
      always resulted in prevention of virally induced diabetes in this model
      situation.

PMID- 1446707
TI  - Immunoglobulin kappa light chain germ-line transcripts in human precursor B
      lymphocytes.
AB  - B lymphoblastoid cell lines (BLCL), established from bone marrow and peripheral
      blood mononuclear cells from two severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)
      patients, manifested a complete absence of genomic rearrangements of the
      immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy (H) and light (L) chain loci. The BLCL contained germ
      line transcripts of the Ig kappa region locus of approximately 1.2 kilobase (kb).
      By cDNA cloning and sequence analysis the transcripts were shown to consist of a
      C kappa segment, a J kappa 1 gene segment, 160 base pairs (bp) of J kappa 1 5'
      intervening sequence, containing the heptamer/nonamer recombination recognition
      sequences and at the 5' end a 523-bp segment designated human kappa zero, The
      first 206 bp of this 5' segment were homologous to the reported murine kappa zero
      region. Genomic restriction mapping and DNA sequence analysis demonstrated that
      the human kappa zero segment is located approximately 4 kb upstream of J kappa 1.
      The kappa zero segment contains a putative promoter region with an OCT2 binding
      site, and has a splice donor site to accomplish splicing to an acceptor site 160
      bp upstream of J kappa 1. Expression of the kappa zero gene segment was found in
      BLCL derived from normal fetal bone marrow, in which both Ig kappa loci were in
      the germ-line configuration. These findings indicate that the described
      transcripts are not only present in SCID, but also in normal developing pre-B
      lymphocytes. The expression of germ-line Ig kappa L chain transcripts may be
      associated with the locus becoming accessible to gene rearrangement.

PMID- 1446708
TI  - Modulation of oral tolerance to ovalbumin by cholera toxin and its B subunit.
AB  - Oral administration to mice of ovalbumin (OVA), if given together with cholera
      toxin (CT) or its B subunit (CTB) prevented the hyporesponsiveness to OVA
      subsequently injected parenterally. Oral immunization with CT plus OVA or OVA
      plus CTB in fact primed the immune system, inducing a stronger response to a
      subsequent parenteral injection of OVA with complete Freund's adjuvant than in
      mice prefed only with OVA or with saline. Oral CT plus OVA also induced good
      serum IgG1 and IgA anti-OVA responses, with slightly (not significant) decreased
      IgG2a and IgG2b responses. Our in vivo findings agree well with earlier in vitro
      data from others, including CT inhibition of the Th1 CD4+ T cell subset and with
      CT effect on B cells (induction of LPS-stimulated IgM+ B cells to undergo
      increased switch differentiation to IgG1- and IgA-secreting cells).

PMID- 1446709
TI  - Induction of primary anti-viral cytotoxic T cells by in vitro stimulation with
      short synthetic peptide and interleukin-7.
AB  - The present study investigated whether a short synthetic peptide NPP, with a
      modified sequence (147-158 R156-) derived from influenza A virus nucleoprotein
      with high affinity for Kd major histocompatibility complex class I molecules,
      could induce primary influenza virus-specific cytotoxic T (Tc) cells in vitro.
      Naive BALB/c (H-2d) splenocytes did not respond to the stimulation with only NPP
      with the generation of effector Tc cells specific for influenza A virus-infected
      target cells in vitro. However, they were able to do so if cultured with NPP in
      the presence of IL-7. IL-7 activity in this system differed significantly from IL
      2 activity in the specificity of the effect. The use of exogenous IL-2, instead
      of IL-7, with NPP resulted in the induction of lytic cells that lysed both
      influenza virus-infected and uninfected syngeneic target cells. These results
      suggest that IL-7 is a potent regulatory cytokine in the antigen-specific
      activation of resting naive Tc cell precursors and may provide the necessary
      conditions for the induction of human primary Tc cells in vitro.

PMID- 1446710
TI  - Peritoneal exudate lymphocyte and mixed lymphocyte culture hybridomas are
      cytolytic in the absence of cytotoxic cell proteinases and perforin.
AB  - We have utilized the sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine
      whether cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) hybridomas generated from peritoneal exudate
      lymphocytes (PEL) and mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC) express transcripts for
      perforin and the cytotoxic cell proteinases CCP1 to CCP5. We could readily detect
      less than one transcript per cell using this methodology. Cytolytic activity
      could be induced to varying levels in four of the five hybridoma clones tested.
      With the exception of low level CCP2 expression in the MLC hybridoma MD45
      following antigen stimulation, all of the hybridomas could be stimulated to
      function as potent cytolytic cells in the complete absence of perforin or CCP
      transcripts. PCR analysis utilizing actin primers indicated that all samples
      contained material which could be reverse transcribed and PCR-amplified. These
      results support the argument that populations of lymphocytes do exist that are
      capable of target cell lysis by an alternative mechanism not involving perforin
      and CCP.

PMID- 1446711
TI  - Cocaine and dopamine differentially protect [3H]mazindol binding sites from
      alkylation by N-ethylmaleimide.
AB  - The binding of cocaine, d-amphetamine and dopamine to the site on the dopamine
      transporter labeled by [3H]mazindol was investigated in rat striatal membranes. N
      Ethylmaleimide inhibited about 95% of the specific binding of 5 nM [3H]mazindol
      in a concentration-dependent manner. The effect of 10 mM N-ethylmaleimide was
      completely prevented by cocaine (EC50 of 3 microM), but neither 300 microM
      dopamine nor d-amphetamine afforded any significant protection. On the other
      hand, high concentrations of cocaine, d-amphetamine and dopamine provided similar
      protection against inhibition by 0.1 mM N-ethylmaleimide. Taken together these
      data support the hypothesis that a significant portion of the cocaine binding
      domain on the transporter is distinct from that of either dopamine or
      amphetamine. This distinction may be sufficient to allow properly designed drugs
      to prevent cocaine binding without inhibiting DA transport.

PMID- 1446712
TI  - Evidence for mutually exclusive binding of cocaine, BTCP, GBR 12935, and dopamine
      to the dopamine transporter.
AB  - The present study addressed the possibility that there are distinct but
      allosterically interacting populations of binding sites for dopamine/cocaine and
      BTCP/GBR (N-[1-(2-benzo[b]thiophenyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine/1-(2-diphenylmethox y)
      - ethyl]-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine) (selective dopamine uptake blockers) on
      the dopamine transporter in the rat striatum. Dopamine uptake sites were labeled
      in vitro with the cocaine analog [3H]CFT (2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4
      fluorophenyl)-tropane), and the inhibition of binding by CFT or cocaine was
      measured. A graphic method was adopted for studying shifts in inhibitory potency
      resulting from the addition of a second compound. Under the conditions used, the
      co-presence of dopamine, GBR 12935, or BTCP decreased the inhibitory potency of
      CFT or cocaine to the extent predicted by a model in which all compounds bind to
      the same site or the binding of all compounds is mutually exclusive. No evidence
      for negative allosteric interactions between CFT and BTCP was found in
      experiments comparing inhibition of [3H]CFT binding by BTCP at a low and high
      concentration of [3H]CFT.

PMID- 1446713
TI  - The positive inotropic calcium sensitizer EMD 53998 antagonizes phosphate action
      on cross-bridges in cardiac skinned fibers.
AB  - The diazinone derivative EMD 53998 sensitizes skinned myocardial fibers to Ca2+
      and enhances maximal calcium-activated force (pCa = 4.5) by approximately 100%;
      the EC50 is 10 microM in the absence and about 30 microM in the presence of added
      inorganic phosphate (10 mM). Although concentrations of added phosphate as low as
      0.5 mM inhibit force, at high concentrations of EMD 53998 (> or = 50 microM),
      phosphate only inhibits at concentrations exceeding 20 mM. These data suggest
      that the effects of EMD 53998 and phosphate are mutually antagonistic.
      Importantly, both EMD 53998 and phosphate had similar effects on force generation
      in troponin I-depleted (Ca(2+)-independent) skinned fibers, thus demonstrating
      that these compounds are likely to affect cross-bridges directly and not via the
      Ca(2+)-regulatory system.

PMID- 1446714
TI  - High basal expression of zif268 in cortex is dependent on intact noradrenergic
      system.
AB  - The transcription factor Zif268 displays high basal levels of expression in
      cortex that appear to be dependent on physiological synaptic activity. We report
      that selective lesions of the noradrenergic system induced by DSP4 markedly
      suppress basal zif268 mRNA levels in cortex. Accordingly, the noradrenergic
      system which projects extensively to the cortex and is tonically active may play
      a key role in maintaining normal patterns of gene expression in target neurons.

PMID- 1446715
TI  - Antisense oligonucleotide eliminates in vivo expression of c-fos in mammalian
      brain.
AB  - Immediate-early genes such as c-fos and NGFI-A are rapidly and transiently
      expressed in the striatum following amphetamine administration in vivo. Here we
      show that direct infusion of an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to c-fos into
      striatum will reduce amphetamine-induced production of Fos-like immunoreactivity
      without affecting NGFI-A expression. These results suggest that it is possible to
      use antisense technology to study the role of immediate-early genes in specific
      sites in the brain in vivo.

PMID- 1446716
TI  - Immunological and neurobiochemical alterations induced by repeated oral exposure
      of phenol in mice.
AB  - Phenol, a major metabolite of benzene, is a potentially immunotoxic and
      neurotoxic substance of environmental significance. Male CD-1 mice were
      continuously exposed to 0, 4.7, 19.5, and 95.2 mg phenol/l in drinking water for
      4 weeks. Various immune functions were evaluated and levels of selected
      neurotransmitters and metabolites measured in discrete brain regions. The doses
      of phenol did not produce any overt clinical signs of toxicity; peripheral red
      blood cell counts and hematocrits decreased. A dose of 95.2 mg/l suppressed the
      stimulation of cultured splenic lymphocytes by lipopolysaccharide, pokeweed
      mitogen, and phytohemagglutinin and the response in mixed lymphocyte cultures.
      The two high doses suppressed antibody production response to the T cell
      dependent antigen (sheep erythrocytes), as determined by plaque-forming cells,
      and serum antibody levels. Mice treated with phenol had lower levels of
      neurotransmitters in several brain regions. In the hypothalamus, a major
      norepinephrine-containing compartment, the concentrations of norepinephrine
      significantly decreased by 29 and 40% in groups dosed with 19.5 and 95.2 mg/l,
      while dopamine concentrations decreased in the corpus striatum by 21, 26, and 35%
      at 4.7, 19.5 and 95.2 mg/l, respectively. Phenol also decreased 5
      hydroxytryptamine in the hypothalamus, medulla oblongata, midbrain and corpus
      striatum. Levels of monoamine metabolites decreased in the hypothalamus (5
      hydroxyindoleacetic acid), midbrain (vanillylmandelic acid), corpus striatum
      (vanillylmandelic acid and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid), cortex (vanillylmandelic
      acid), and cerebellum (dihydroxyphenylacetic acid).

PMID- 1446717
TI  - Effects of cholesterol and oxysterols on gap junctional communication between
      human smooth muscle cells.
AB  - Intercellular communication is considered to play an essential role in
      maintaining and controlling cell growth, cell differentiation and homeostasis.
      Cell-cell communication can be regulated by factors that influence gap junctional
      function. In this study it was demonstrated that cholesterol and oxidized
      cholesterol have the potential to modulate gap junctional communication between
      human smooth muscle cells in an opposite way. Cholesterol supplementation to
      human smooth muscle cells resulted in an increase of gap junctional communication
      up to 130% with regard to the control values. However, autooxidized cholesterol
      inhibited gap junctional communication more than 40%. Testing of several pure
      cholesterol oxidation derivates on gap junctional communication demonstrated that
      all of them were capable to inhibit intercellular communication in the order 25
      hydroxycholesterol greater than cholestan-3 beta,5 alpha,6 beta-triol greater
      than 7-ketocholesterol greater than cholesterol 5,6 alpha-epoxide. The cell-cell
      communication-inhibiting potency of these oxysterols is in accordance with their
      atherogenic potency. This implies that cholesterol oxidation products, instead of
      pure cholesterol, can be promoting factors in the atherogenesis by influencing
      gap junctional communication between arterial smooth muscle cells, the target
      cells of atherosclerotic lesions.

PMID- 1446718
TI  - Eosinophil peroxidase and 125I- ion binding in guinea-pig trachea.
AB  - The present study further characterizes ascorbic acid-dependent 125I- ion binding
      in guinea-pig trachea. Binding of 125I- ion in the presence of ascorbic acid was
      detected at the epithelial/submucosal interface, apparently involving individual
      cells containing peroxidase enzyme. A similar binding pattern was observed when
      hydrogen peroxide was substituted for ascorbic acid. Binding could be inhibited
      by the addition of the H2O2 degrading enzyme catalase or the peroxidase inhibitor
      thiourea. Results demonstrated that this binding was dependent upon the addition
      of, or endogenous production of hydrogen peroxide and its metabolism via airway
      eosinophil peroxidase. The relevance of this anomalous iodine binding phenomenon
      to radioiodinated ligand binding studies is discussed.

PMID- 1446719
TI  - Pharmacological aspects of arthritis induced by a muramyl dipeptide analogue in
      rats.
AB  - Fourteen consecutive daily subcutaneous injections of 4 mg/kg of the muramyl
      dipeptide analogue MDP-Lys(L18) into rats caused arthritis characterized by
      swelling of the tarsal joint, increases in lymphocytes and monocytes in the
      peripheral blood, and elevated serum immunoglobulin G (IgG). The present study
      was performed to evaluate the effects of indomethacin, phenylbutazone,
      dexamethasone, D-penicillamine, aurothioglucose, cyclophosphamide and cyclosporin
      A on this arthritis. Administration of indomethacin, phenylbutazone or
      dexamethasone inhibited the development of the tarsal joint swelling, suggesting
      that prostaglandins may be involved in the pathogenesis of the arthritis.
      Cyclophosphamide reduced the arthritis, together with decreases in the lymphocyte
      count and the serum IgG level. Cyclosporin A worsened the arthritis in a dose
      dependent manner and increased the neutrophil count without raising the serum IgG
      level, but inhibited the induction of adjuvant arthritis in rats with
      Mycobacterium bacilli. MDP-Lys(L18) may therefore induce arthritis differing in
      mechanism from adjuvant arthritis.

PMID- 1446720
TI  - Inhalation of carbon monoxide does not accelerate arteriosclerosis in cockerels.
AB  - The effects of chronic exposure to moderate levels of carbon monoxide (CO) upon
      the augmentation of arteriosclerotic plaque development were investigated in a
      series of in vivo studies. Cockerels were exposed to carefully regulated CO
      levels in dynamic exposure chambers. The plaque volume percentage in the aortic
      walls of experimental and control animals was determined by point-counting.
      Chronic CO inhalation, at levels up to 200 ppm, did not stimulate
      arteriosclerotic plaque development (at 200 ppm CO, carboxyhemoglobin (COHb)
      levels 10 min after exposures ended were 11-12%). When administered concomitantly
      with cholesterol feeding, CO did not augment plaque development. When
      administered after either carcinogen-associated or diet-promoted plaque size
      increases had occurred, CO elicited no further plaque size increases. Thus, in
      this animal model, daily exposures to moderately high CO levels were without
      discernable effect upon arteriosclerotic plaque development, although high COHb
      levels were attained.

PMID- 1446721
TI  - The nitromethylene heterocycle 1-(pyridin-3-yl-methyl)-2-nitromethylene
      imidazolidine distinguishes mammalian from insect nicotinic receptor subtypes.
AB  - Effects of the insecticidal compound 1-(pyridin-3-yl-methyl)-2-nitromethylene
      imidazolidine (PMNI) on different subtypes of the nicotinic acetylcholine
      receptor were studied in voltage-clamped locust thoracic ganglion neurons, mouse
      BC3H1 muscle cells and mouse N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells. In locust neurons 10
      microM PMNI induced agonistic effects and subsequent complete block of 1 mM
      acetylcholine-induced inward currents. The same concentration of PMNI produced no
      significant agonistic and antagonistic effects on the endplate type nicotinic
      receptor in BC3H1 cells. Neuronal type nicotinic receptor operated ion currents
      in N1E-115 cells were blocked by 10 microM PMNI to 50% of the control value,
      while agonistic effects were not observed. The differential action of PMNI
      designates this compound as a potential new tool to distinguish between subtypes
      of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

PMID- 1446722
TI  - Genetically engineered V79 Chinese hamster cells for stable expression of human
      cytochrome P450IA2.
AB  - V79 Chinese hamster cells were genetically engineered for stable expression of
      human P450IA2. Full length cDNA, encoding human P450IA2, was inserted into an
      SV40 early promoter containing eukaryotic expression vector and cointroduced with
      the selection marker neomycin phosphotransferase (conferring resistance to the
      neomycin derivative G418) into V79 Chinese hamster cells. The recombinant
      expression vector was introduced into two different V79 sublines, one expressing
      an endogenous acetyltransferase (V79-NH), the other not (V79-MZ). The presence of
      human cytochrome CYP1A2 cDNA in the G418 resistant V79 cell clones was confirmed
      by Southern blotting. The transcription of the cDNA into mRNA was detected by
      Northern blotting and the translation into an authentic cytochrome P450IA2
      protein was shown by Western blotting. The enzymatic activity in these cells was
      determined by the cytochrome P450IA2-dependent methoxy-, ethoxy-, benzoxy-, and
      pentoxyresorufin dealkylation activity.

PMID- 1446723
TI  - Mechanisms of thrombocytopenia in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases.
AB  - Different factors are involved in the development of thrombocytopenia in patients
      with lymphoproliferative disorders. Significant correlation was detected between
      the number of megakaryocytes in bone marrow and platelet count (r = 0.485, p =
      0.002, n = 37) and significant difference between the number of megakaryocyte in
      patients with normal platelet count (> 200,000/microliters) and patients with
      marked thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 100,000/microliters). All patients in
      the latter group (n = 15) had a relatively low number of megakaryocytes. Low but
      significant reverse correlation was found between the level of platelet
      associated IgG (PA-IgG) and platelet count (r = -0.249, p = 0.024, n = 82) and
      significant difference between the mean levels of PA-IgG in the groups of
      patients with platelet count > 200,000/microliters and < 100,000/microliters. PA
      IgG were increased in 46% of patients in the total group and in 65% of patients
      with platelet count < 100,000/microliters. The correlation between platelet count
      and PA-IgG was about 2 times higher in splenectomized (r = -0.549, p = 0.005, n =
      24) than nonsplenectomized patients. All splenectomized patients with platelet
      count < 100,000/microliters (n = 8) had a significant increase in PA-IgG. Serum
      antibodies were detected in only 7% of tested patients. This group was
      characterized by severe thrombocytopenia (in 6 of 10 patients--platelet count <
      50,000/microliters) and a high incidence of haemorrhages (in 5 of 10 patients).
      Thus the depression of platelet production was suggested to be the basic cause of
      thrombocytopenia in lymphoproliferative disorders. Involvement of immune
      mechanisms was revealed in a large number of patients and correlated with a
      deeper and more complicated thrombocytopenia.

PMID- 1446724
TI  - Reduced erythropoietin response to anaemia in elderly patients with normocytic
      anaemia.
AB  - We studied the effect of age on the relationship between haemoglobin and serum
      erythropoietin (EPO) levels in anaemic patients. 568 patients over 70 years of
      age were compared with 137 patients under 70 and a reference group of 144
      patients of all ages with proven iron deficiency. EPO was measured using a
      radioimmunoassay. We found that elderly patients with a normocytic anaemia (N =
      375) had a statistically lower EPO response than younger patients with normocytic
      anaemia (N = 61) (p < 0.05) or patients of all ages with iron-deficiency anaemia
      (p < 0.05). There was no difference between the sexes. Elderly patients with
      microcytic or macrocytic anaemia had a normal EPO response as compared to the
      "gold standard" of iron deficiency. These findings suggest that a proportion of
      elderly patients with normocytic anaemia has an impaired EPO response.

PMID- 1446725
TI  - Expression of adhesion antigens of human bone marrow megakaryocytes, circulating
      megakaryocytes and blood platelets.
AB  - There is evidence that mature megakaryocytes migrate into sinusoids, enter the
      blood and fragment in the vascular bed. We wondered whether differences in
      expression of adhesion antigens could be associated with the egress of
      megakaryocytes from bone marrow into the peripheral blood or the fragmentation
      into platelets. Megakaryocytes from human marrow were purified by counterflow
      centrifugal elutriation followed by a glycoprotein Ib-dependent agglutination
      procedure. Megakaryocytes from central venous blood and pulmonary arteries were
      purified by counterflow centrifugal elutriation alone. Adhesion antigens were
      labelled in an immunohistochemical assay. Both bone marrow megakaryocytes and
      platelets from healthy volunteers stained > 75% positive for CD36, CD41, CD42,
      Cdw49b (alpha subunit VLA2), Cdw49e (alpha subunit VLA5), Cdw49f (alpha subunit
      VLA6) and CD62. Circulating megakaryocytes, although > 75% positive for CD41,
      had, unlike platelets and bone marrow megakaryocytes, a reduced and remarkable
      heterogeneous (5-100% positive) labelling with antibodies against Cdw49b, Cdw49e,
      Cdw49f. These results could be confirmed by comparing the bone marrow
      megakaryocytes, circulating megakaryocytes and platelets from 7 patients that
      were recovered and processed at the same time. Morphologically mature,
      circulating megakaryocytes have, unlike bone marrow megakaryocytes, a
      heterogeneous expression of adhesion antigens, especially of Cdw49b, Cdw49e, and
      Cdw49f.

PMID- 1446726
TI  - Electrokinetic behaviour and surface sialic acid status of blood platelets in
      essential thrombocythaemia (ET).
AB  - We have previously reported, for platelets from patients with idiopathic
      thrombocytopenic purpura, that there was in increased electrophoretic mobility
      that was related to their increased sialic acid content. Heterogeneity in the
      circulating platelet pool of patients with essential thrombocythaemia (platelet
      counts 600-1000 x 10(9)/l) has also been investigated by preparative continuous
      flow electrophoresis (CFE). The surface charge-dependent separation profiles of
      all the patients' platelets showed marked anodal shifts compared with the
      profiles of platelets from age- and sex-matched control subjects separated under
      identical conditions. The increase above normal in the net electronegativity of
      the patients' platelets could not be accounted for by differences in surface
      neuraminidase-labile or total platelet sialic acid content.

PMID- 1446727
TI  - Results in hairy-cell leukemia patients treated with alpha-interferon: predictive
      prognostic factors.
AB  - Fourty-four evaluable patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) were treated with
      human lymphoblastoid alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN), at a dose of 3 x 10(6) Units a
      day for 12-18 months while 18 of them continued to receive a three times per week
      schedule at the same dose as maintenance treatment. Eighteen percent of patients
      achieved complete response, 64% partial response, and 18% minor response with a
      median duration of 37.5, 22.9 and 3.5 months respectively. Twenty patients (45%),
      all partial or minor responders, subsequently had progression of the disease. The
      progression occurred more frequently in patients who presented at diagnosis with
      a hairy-cell index value > 0.50 than in those who presented with a hairy-cell
      index < 0.50: 14/26 (54%) versus 2/11 (18%) respectively. In addition, the
      progression rate was more evident in "non-maintained" than in "maintained"
      patients: 16/26 (61.5%) versus 4/18 (22%). Restarting alpha-IFN treatment in 16
      of the 20 progressed patients proved effective only in 9 of them. From these
      findings it appears that a low hairy-cell index at diagnosis correlates favorably
      with a good hematological response. Furthermore, continuous therapy with alpha
      IFN seems very useful in reducing the progression of the disease, in particular
      in patients with a very high hairy-cell index at diagnosis.

PMID- 1446728
TI  - Treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes with human granulocytic-macrophage colony
      stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or GM-CSF combined with low-dose cytosine
      arabinoside.
AB  - In a phase II study, 21 patients with MDS (RAEB, RAEBt, CMML and RA and RAS with
      severe cytopenia) were randomized to be treated with 3 courses of GM-CSF (3
      micrograms/kg/day s.c.) alone (11 patients) or in combination with AraC (20
      mg/m2/d s.c.) (10 patients) for 14-d periods, interrupted by 14-d rest periods.
      Eight patients discontinued the treatment. In the GM-CSF group a marked increase
      in WBC and neutrophil counts during each course of treatment administration were
      seen in most patients. Platelet counts decreased in 14 of 24 courses of treatment
      in the GM-CSF plus AraC group but in none of the GM-CSF group. Although the
      changes in the circulating blood cells were transient and the counts tended to
      return to the pretreatment levels during the rest periods, some more durable
      effects were seen. In 3/6 patients of the GM-CSF group who completed the designed
      treatment, both WBC and neutrophils remained elevated above the pretreatment
      levels throughout the 3-month period of treatment, while in one of them
      thrombocytopenia improved considerably. In the GM-CSF plus AraC group, 4 out of
      the 7 patients who completed the treatment showed an improvement of neutropenia
      as well as anaemia. In these 4 patients the BM percentage of blasts was also
      decreased. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that GM-CSF given
      intermittently improves leukopenia in some patients with MDS. In addition, the
      administration of GM-CSF seems to prevent granulocytopenia of concurrent AraC
      treatment and may be of benefit in the treatment of these diseases.

PMID- 1446729
TI  - Transfusion problems in patients with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia.

PMID- 1446730
TI  - Cyclical haemopoiesis in association with familial refractory anaemia: cycling of
      progenitors and serum growth factor concentrations.

PMID- 1446731
TI  - All-trans retinoic acid toxicity.

PMID- 1446732
TI  - Sequential administration of OKT3 (anti-CD3) and interleukin-2 in two patients
      with chemoresistant hematological disease.

PMID- 1446733
TI  - Polycythaemia and hyperparathyroidism: a fortuitous association?

PMID- 1446734
TI  - Sweet's syndrome associated with inversion of chromosome 3q in a patient with
      refractory anemia.

PMID- 1446735
TI  - Identification of nuclear factors which interact with the 5' flanking region of
      the EF-1 alpha O gene in Xenopus laevis.
AB  - The EF-1 alpha O gene of Xenopus laevis is a stage-specific gene, being
      transcribed in oogonia and oocytes, but not in postmeiotic germ cells and
      terminally differentiated cells. We found that two trans-acting factors from
      oocyte nuclear extract are able to interact with a DNA sequence in the 5'
      upstream region of the EF-1 alpha O gene. Methylation interference experiments
      suggested that the two factors recognised the same DNA element. Gel retardation
      assays indicated that part of the protein binding site could be confined to a 21
      bp sequence, located between -51 and -72, relative to the cap site.
      Interestingly, this region shares great homology to a negative regulatory segment
      in the promoter of the TFIIIA gene, another developmentally regulated gene.

PMID- 1446736
TI  - Interferon-mediated intracellular signalling. Modulation of different
      phospholipase activities in Burkitt lymphoma cells.
AB  - The effect of interferon-alpha on Daudi lymphoma cells either sensitive or
      resistant to the action of this cytokine has been analysed in terms of
      phospholipase C (PLC) and D (PLD) activities. Results have shown a combined
      modulation of PIP2-specific phospholipase C and phospholipase D. In particular, a
      decreased activity of PIP2-specific PLC has been found, concomitant to a PLD
      mediated phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis, suggesting that the intracellular
      signalling activated by interferon in Daudi cells involves a phospholipase
      D/phosphohydrolase pathway.

PMID- 1446737
TI  - Xenopus laevis oocyte G alpha subunits mRNAs. Detection and quantitation during
      oogenesis and early embryogenesis by competitive reverse PCR.
AB  - The expression of mRNAs coding for different Xenopus laevis oocyte G alpha
      subunits was analyzed by the PCR technique. Using the nucleotide sequences of
      five previously cloned cDNAs for oocyte G alpha subunits [FEBS Lett. 244, 188
      192, 1989; FEBS Lett. 268, 27-31, 1990] and the highly sensitive reverse PCR
      reaction we found that G alpha o, G alpha i-1, G alpha i-3 and G alpha s species
      are present in oocyte stage VI, G alpha o mRNA being the most abundant
      transcript. G alpha o mRNA was further quantitated through oogenesis,
      unfertilized eggs and early embryogenesis stages by a competitive PCR reaction
      using an 'in vitro' deleted G alpha o mRNA as the internal standard. Using this
      approach we found that Xenopus G alpha o mRNA levels were constant during
      oogenesis and unfertilized eggs at a concentration of 3.5 pg of mRNA/stage (5 x
      10(5) molecules) and diminish gradually during early embryogenesis, reaching a
      level of 0.3 pg in the gastrula stage. These findings show that oocyte G alpha o,
      and perhaps the rest of the alpha subunits, are expressed as maternal mRNAs and
      could play an important role in signal transduction at the beginning of oocyte
      cell differentiation.

PMID- 1446738
TI  - Expression, characterization and purification of soluble G-protein beta gamma
      dimers composed of defined subunits in baculovirus-infected insect cells.
AB  - Recombinant beta 1 gamma 2 dimers of signal-transducing guanine nucleotide
      binding proteins (G-proteins) carrying a mutation known to block isoprenylation
      of the gamma 2 subunit were expressed as a soluble protein in baculovirus
      infected insect cells. The soluble beta gamma dimer was analyzed by sucrose
      density gradient centrifugation and purified to near homogeneity in the absence
      of detergents. The sedimentation velocity studies gave an S20,w value of 4.1 +/-
      0.4 S. The two subunits segregated as a dimer upon sucrose density gradient
      centrifugation and purification by sequential ion exchange and hydroxylapatite
      chromatography. The results show that baculovirus-infected insect cells can be
      employed for high level production of pure G-protein beta gamma dimers suitable
      for functional and structural characterization.

PMID- 1446739
TI  - The primary structure of a PYY-related peptide from chicken intestine suggests an
      anomalous site of cleavage of the signal peptide in preproPYY.
AB  - Although the amino acid sequence of members of the pancreatic polypeptide (PP)
      family of regulatory peptides has been poorly conserved during vertebrate
      evolution, the overall length of the peptides (36 amino acid residues) has
      remained constant. Nucleotide sequence analysis of cloned cDNAs and/or genomic
      fragments has shown the PP-related sequence immediately follows the signal
      peptide in the prepropeptides. A peptide tyrosine-tyrosine (PYY)-related peptide
      with 37 residues has been isolated from the chicken intestine, and its primary
      structure was established as: Ala-Tyr-Pro-Pro-Lys-Pro-Glu-Ser-Pro-Gly10-Asp-Ala
      Ala-Ser-P ro-Glu-Glu-Ile-Ala-Gln20-Tyr-Phe-Ser-Ala-Leu-Arg-His-Tyr-Il e-Asn30-Leu
      Val-Thr-Arg-Gln-Arg-Tyr.CONH2. The presence of an additional alanine residue at
      the NH2-terminus of the peptide suggests that the site of cleavage of the signal
      peptide in chicken preproPYY is different from the site of cleavage in other PP
      family prepropeptides.

PMID- 1446740
TI  - Three-dimensional structure of apotransketolase. Flexible loops at the active
      site enable cofactor binding.
AB  - The structure determination of apotransketolase and the comparison of its three
      dimensional structure with that of the holoenzyme has revealed that no large
      conformational changes are associated with cofactor binding. Two loops at the
      active site are flexible in the apoenzyme which enables ThDP to reach its binding
      site. Binding of the cofactor induces defined conformations for these two loops
      at the active site. One of these loops is directly involving in binding of the
      cofactors, Ca2+ and ThDP. This loop acts like a flap which closes off the
      diphosphate binding site. After binding of the cofactor, residues of this loop
      form interactions to residues of loop 383-398 from the second subunit. These
      interactions stabilize the conformation of the two loops from a flexible to a
      'closed' conformation.

PMID- 1446741
TI  - The length of the interdomain region of the L7/L12 protein is important for its
      function.
AB  - Several mutated L7/L12 proteins with changed interdomain regions were obtained.
      The results showed that the flexible region comprising the 39-52 amino acid
      residues is functionally important. Its length, but not its amino acid
      composition, is crucial for the function.

PMID- 1446742
TI  - A laser flash absorption spectroscopy study of Anabaena sp. PCC 7119 flavodoxin
      photoreduction by photosystem I particles from spinach.
AB  - Electron transfer from P700 in photosystem I (PSI) particles from spinach to
      Anabaena sp. PCC 7119 flavodoxin has been studied using laser flash absorption
      spectroscopy. A non-linear protein concentration dependence of the rate constants
      was obtained, suggesting a two-step mechanism involving complex formation (k =
      3.6 x 10(7) M-1.s-1) followed by intracomplex electron transfer (k = 270 s-1).
      The observed rate constants had a biphasic dependence on the concentrations of
      NaCl or MgCl2, with maximum values in the 40-80 mM range for NaCl and 4-12 mM for
      MgCl2. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the kinetics of PSI
      dependent flavodoxin photoreduction have been determined.

PMID- 1446743
TI  - Mode of action of the Spiroplasma CpG methylase M.SssI.
AB  - The cytosine DNA methylase from the wall-less prokaryote, Spiroplasma strain MQ1
      (M.SssI) methylates completely and exclusively CpG-containing sequences, thus
      showing sequence specificity which is similar to that of mammalian DNA
      methylases. M.SssI is shown here to methylate duplex DNA processively as judged
      by kinetic analysis of methylated intermediates. The cytosine DNA methylases,
      M.HpaII and M.HhaI, from other prokaryotic organisms, appear to methylate in a
      non-processive manner or with a very low degree of processivity. The Spiroplasma
      enzyme interacts with duplex DNA irrespective to the presence of CpG sequences in
      the substrate DNA. The enzyme proceeds along a CpG-containing DNA substrate
      molecule methylating one strand of DNA at a time.

PMID- 1446744
TI  - Interrelations of M-intermediates in bacteriorhodopsin photocycle.
AB  - The photocycles of the wild-type bacteriorhodopsin and the D96N mutant were
      investigated by the flash-photolysis technique. The M-intermediate formation (400
      nm) and the L-intermediate decay (520 nm) were found to be well described by a
      sum of two exponents (time constants, tau 1 = 65 and tau 2 = 250 microseconds)
      for the wild-type bR and three exponents (tau 1 = 55 microseconds, tau 2 = 220
      microseconds and tau 3 = 1 ms) for the D96N mutant of bR. A component with tau =
      1 ms was found to be present in the photocycle of the wild-type bacteriorhodopsin
      as a lag-phase in the relaxation of photoresponses at 400 and 520 nm. In the
      presence of Lu3+ ions or 80% glycerol this component was clearly seen as an
      additional phase of M-formation. The azide effect on the D96N mutant of bR
      suggests that the 1-ms component is associated with an irreversible
      conformational change switching the Schiff base from the outward to the inward
      proton channel. The maximum of the difference spectrum of the 1-ms component of
      D96N bR is located at 404 nm as compared to 412 nm for the first two components.
      We suggest that this effect is a result of the alteration of the inward proton
      channel due to the Asp96-->Asn substitution. Proton release measured with
      pyranine in the absence of pH buffers was identical for the wild-type bR and D96N
      mutant and matched the M-->M' conformational transition. A model for M rise in
      the bR photocycle is proposed.

PMID- 1446745
TI  - Specific antiviral activities of the human alpha interferons are determined at
      the level of receptor (IFNAR) structure.
AB  - Differences in activity among the family of human IFNs alpha are much reduced if
      these ligands are assayed on bovine cells. In particular, the activity of IFN
      alpha D is much higher on bovine than on human cells. To examine these
      differences, the bovine counterpart of the human IFNAR has been cloned and
      expressed in a human cell line. The transfected cell line now recognizes the
      human IFN alpha D as a high-specific-activity IFN subtype, indicating that the
      differences in sensitivity between the bovine and human cells to the human IFN
      alpha lie in the structure of the IFNAR chain rather than in the other components
      of the functional receptor.

PMID- 1446746
TI  - In vitro biosynthesis of lactase in preweaning and adult rabbit.
AB  - Lactase is synthesized as a high-mannose large precursor (200 kDa) which is
      subsequently complex-glycosylated (215 kDa) and split into the 150 kDa mature
      form. The regulatory mechanisms responsible for the decline of activity at
      weaning are not yet known. We have set up in vitro cultures of intestinal mucosa
      from suckling and adult rabbit and found that suckling and adult animals
      synthesize the same four forms of lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) but with a
      different distribution. In the proximal adult small intestine there is very
      little 180 kDa form, which is most probably a product of the 215 kDa complex
      glycosylated precursor. The 180 kDa form comprises a greater percentage of total
      LPH in the middle of the small intestine in adult and particularly in suckling
      rabbits. In the latter tissue this form is apparently more stable than in the
      adult tissue. Posttranscriptional control of lactase synthesis is therefore
      different in the various parts of the adult small intestine, and it is different
      in the suckling as compared to adult tissue.

PMID- 1446747
TI  - The levels of lactase and of sucrase-isomaltase along the rabbit small intestine
      are regulated both at the mRNA level and post-translationally.
AB  - We determined along the small intestine of young and adult rabbits the activities
      of lactase (LPH) and sucrase (SI), the levels of their cognate mRNAs, and
      examined the in vitro biosynthesis of LPH and pro-SI. Lactase activity is low in
      the proximal 1/3 of the intestine, whereas the mRNA levels are high. However, the
      rates of biosynthesis of the LPH forms correlated well with the steady-state
      levels of LPH mRNA in all segments, indicating that factor(s) acting post
      translationally produce a decline in brush border LPH in the proximal small
      intestine. These factor(s) are not involved in the processing of pro-LPH to
      mature LPH, since the relative amounts of the various forms of LPH are almost the
      same along the small intestine. Unexpectedly, we find that also for SI the ratio
      of activity to mRNA is low in proximal intestine. The biosynthesis of pro-SI
      correlates with the steady-state levels of its mRNA. Hence, the steady-state
      levels of LPH and SI along the small intestine are regulated both by mRNA levels
      and by posttranslational factor(s).

PMID- 1446749
TI  - Enflurane is a potent inhibitor of high conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels
      of Chara australis.
AB  - The volatile anaesthetic, enflurane, is commonly used in surgery for inducing the
      state of general anaesthesia. It is assumed, that general anaesthetics act on ion
      channels, but little is known of how they do so and what kinds of channels are
      sensitive. We found, that enflurane inhibits a large conductance Ca(2+)-activated
      K+ channel of the green alga, Chara australis. Effects occur at clinically
      relevant concentrations are fully reversible. The actions of enflurane are
      distinct from those of charybdotoxin and tetraethylammonium, which are well known
      blockers of this channel type. Kinetic analysis of single-channel data
      demonstrates multiple effects of enflurane on the channel protein.

PMID- 1446748
TI  - Maturation of human lactase-phlorizin hydrolase. Proteolytic cleavage of
      precursor occurs after passage through the Golgi complex.
AB  - Maturation of human intestinal lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) requires that a
      precursor (pro-LPH) be proteolytically processed to the mature microvillus
      membrane enzyme (m-LPH). The subcellular site of this processing is unknown.
      Using low-temperature experiments and brefeldin A (BFA), intracellular transport
      was blocked in intestinal epithelial cells. In Caco-2 cells incubated at 18
      degrees C, pro-LPH was complex-glycosylated but not cleaved, while at 20 degrees
      C small amounts of proteolytically processed LPH were observed. These data
      exclude a pre-Golgi proteolytic event. BFA completely blocked proteolytic
      maturation of LPH and lead to an aberrant form of pro-LPH in both Caco-2 cells
      and intestinal explants. Therefore, proteolytic processing of LPH is a post-Golgi
      event, occurring either in the trans-Golgi network, transport vesicles, or after
      insertion of pro-LPH into the microvillus membrane.

PMID- 1446750
TI  - C-type natriuretic peptide in bovine chromaffin cells. The regulation of its
      biosynthesis and secretion.
AB  - We report here the regulation of the biosynthesis and the secretion of C-type
      natriuretic peptide (CNP) in cultured bovine chromaffin cells. The combined
      treatment with protein kinase A and -C activators induced a 6-fold increase of
      intracellular levels of CNP-(1-103). The biosynthesized CNP-(1-103) was co
      released with its mature forms, typically CNP-(51-103), upon stimulation by
      nicotine or depolarizing agents. This confirms the neuropeptidic character of
      this third member of the natriuretic peptide family, which might act as a
      neuromodulator or neurotransmitter.

PMID- 1446751
TI  - Specific cleavage of DNA at CG sites by Co(III) and Ni(II) desferal complexes.

PMID- 1446752
TI  - Inhibition by spermine of the inner membrane permeability transition of isolated
      rat heart mitochondria.
AB  - The effect of spermine on the permeability transition of the inner mitochondrial
      membrane of isolated rat heart mitochondria was evaluated. The permeability
      transition was triggered using a series of agents (t-butyl hydroperoxide,
      phenylarsine oxide, carboxyatractylate, and elevated Ca2+ and inorganic phosphate
      concentrations), and was monitored via Ca(2+)-release, mitochondrial swelling and
      pyridine nucleotide oxidation. By all three criteria, spermine inhibited the
      transition. A C50 of 0.38 +/- 0.06 (SD) mM was measured for inhibition.

PMID- 1446753
TI  - Screening for retinopathy of prematurity.

PMID- 1446754
TI  - Natural history of retinopathy of prematurity: a prospective study.
AB  - The natural history of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has been studied
      prospectively in 572 infants < or = 1,700 g birthweight using a protocol designed
      specifically to investigate the subtle features of this condition. Acute ROP
      developed in 50.9%. All ROP stages 1 and 2 underwent complete resolution and of
      the 27 (4.7%) infants with stage 3/4 disease, cicatricial sequelae developed in
      six. Incidence and severity increased with decreasing birthweight and gestational
      age. Onset was not confined to the temporal retina but exhibited a predilection
      to start first in the nasal retina of the most immature neonate. The vertical
      retinal regions were relatively spared. Retinal arteriolar tortuosity developed
      around three months postnatally and was related to ROP severity but not its
      presence. The age at onset and rate of progression of retinopathy were largely
      determined by the stage of development but were also modified by systemic and
      local factors. The relevance of these findings to ROP screening is discussed.

PMID- 1446755
TI  - Rational choice of therapy in primary open angle glaucoma.

PMID- 1446756
TI  - Ocular hypertension: correlation of anterior chamber angle width and risk of
      progression to glaucoma.
AB  - Twenty five patients with ocular hypertension (OH) and a narrow angle and 34
      patients with OH and an open angle were followed for an average of six years. One
      eye of each patient had been randomly assigned to treatment with topical timolol.
      A shallow axial anterior chamber depth and a narrow angle (van Herick Grade 2 or
      less) was associated with the development of angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) in the
      narrow angle group, but the open angle group developed significantly more visual
      field loss. Nine patients (36%) in the narrow angle group developed ACG, and nine
      patients (26.5%) in the open angle group developed glaucomatous discs and field
      loss. The reduction in intraocular pressure due to topical timolol was equal in
      the narrow angle and the open angle groups, but topical timolol did not protect
      against the development of angle-closure glaucoma or visual field loss.

PMID- 1446757
TI  - Laser microsclerostomy for primary open angle glaucoma: a review of laser
      mechanisms and delivery systems.
AB  - A number of different lasers and delivery systems are currently used in
      experimental sclerostomy procedures. These are discussed with reference to their
      performance in terms of cutting accuracy and trauma to the adjacent tissues.
      Lasers emitting wavelengths close to the absorption peaks of water in the mid
      infrared region and organic polymers in the far ultraviolet region have a short
      absorption pathlength in the sclera and produce the least adjacent thermal tissue
      trauma. These ablating lasers cannot be delivered gonioscopically, and contact
      endoscopic techniques trap hot expanding gases within the forming sclerostomy
      channel causing secondary thermal and mechanical damage. Optimal results should
      be obtained using an ablating laser delivered either through an open mask or a
      modified endoscopic system incorporating an adequate exhaust mechanism.

PMID- 1446758
TI  - The association of iridoschisis and primary angle-closure glaucoma.
AB  - Twelve patients with iridoschisis in one or both eyes were studied to determine
      the clinical features of the condition and to examine the relationship of
      iridoschisis to primary angle-closure glaucoma. A spectrum of iris pathology,
      from subtle intrastromal atrophy to extensive splitting of the anterior layer of
      iris with fibrillar disintegration, was found in the affected and fellow eyes.
      Gonioscopy revealed partial or complete angle closure, particularly involving the
      superior angle, in all patients. Seven had glaucomatous disc damage and five had
      normal discs. The mean axial length and anterior chamber depth measurements in
      patients with iridoschisis were similar to those found in matched patients with
      primary angle-closure glaucoma but were significantly less than the measurements
      found in matched normals (p < 0.001). This study suggests that iridoschisis is an
      unusual manifestation of iris stromal atrophy and results from intermittent or
      acute elevation of intraocular pressure. Primary angle-closure glaucoma should be
      excluded in patients who present with iridoschisis.

PMID- 1446759
TI  - Doppler carotid artery studies in asymmetric glaucoma.
AB  - Doppler carotid artery studies were performed in 12 glaucoma patients with marked
      asymmetry in bilateral visual field loss. The resistance index and the
      pulsatility index of the internal carotid artery velocity waveforms were
      significantly greater on the same side as the eye with the greater visual field
      loss. The increased resistance to blood flow in the internal carotid artery on
      the side with advanced field loss might predispose the eye on this side to the
      effects of raised intraocular pressure by causing a reduction in the perfusion
      pressure at the optic nerve head. The role of ocular perfusion pressure in the
      pathogenesis of glaucoma is discussed. More extensive studies are necessary.

PMID- 1446760
TI  - Comparative evaluation of the Allergan Humphrey 570 and Canon RK-1
      autorefractors: I. Objective autorefraction in normal subjects.
AB  - Fifty normal subjects were studied comparing objective autorefraction using the
      Allergan Humphrey 570 (AH 570) and Canon RK-1 autorefractors in terms of ease of
      operation, the time taken and their accuracy compared with clinical refraction.
      Both the autorefractors were equally easy to operate but the AH 570 was quicker.
      Objective autorefraction with the AH 570 was more accurate than using the Canon
      RK-1 especially with respect to spherical equivalence, sphere power and cyclinder
      axis: approximately 80% of the values were within 0.51 dioptres or 11 degrees of
      clinical refraction compared to approximately 60% for the Canon RK-1. The
      possible reasons for the superior performance of the AH 570 are discussed.

PMID- 1446761
TI  - Comparative evaluation of the Allergan Humphrey 570 and Canon RK-1
      autorefractors: II. Objective autorefraction in pseudophakes.
AB  - Fifty patients (50 eyes) with posterior chamber intraocular lenses and a best
      corrected visual acuity of at least 6/12 were studied. The Allergan-Humphrey 570
      (AH-570) and Canon RK-1 autorefractors were compared in terms of ease of
      operation, time taken and their accuracy relative to clinical refraction. Both
      the autorefractors were equally easy to operate but the AH-570 was quicker. The
      AH-570 had a higher percentage of eyes within 11 degrees of clinically determined
      cylinder axis while the Canon RK-1 had a higher percentage of patients within
      0.51 diopters of spherical equivalence, sphere power and cylinder power as
      determined by clinical refraction. This difference in the accuracy of objective
      autorefraction was not statistically significant; the clinical significance is
      uncertain.

PMID- 1446762
TI  - The effects of adrenaline, hyaluronidase and age on peribulbar anaesthesia.
AB  - In a prospective, randomised, masked trial, 91 patients undergoing intraocular
      surgery received an anaesthetic mixture containing lignocaine hydrochloride 2%
      and bupivacaine hydrochloride 0.5%. In addition group 1 had hyaluronidase (50
      i.u./ml) and adrenaline (1:200,000), group 2 had hyaluronidase alone, group 3 had
      adrenaline alone and group 4 had neither. The groups were compared regarding the
      quality of operating conditions. Hyaluronidase had a substantial beneficial
      effect though there was no significant difference related to the use of
      adrenaline. Anaesthesia was less effective in patients under the age of 65 years.

PMID- 1446763
TI  - Peribulbar anaesthesia: failure to abolish the oculocardiac reflex.
AB  - Peribulbar anaesthesia is a form of regional anaesthesia which has been used with
      increasing popularity in cataract surgery. Recently indications for its use have
      been extended to include surgery for vitreo-retinal disease and strabismus. This
      study shows that in nine of 11 patients in whom the oculocardiac reflex was
      stimulated by traction on an extra-ocular muscle, peribulbar anaesthesia failed
      to abolish the reflex. In each of these patients, the reflex manifested as a
      bradycardia. In one subject, the bradycardia was profound, showing no QRS complex
      for five seconds. We recommend that cardiac rhythm be monitored throughout
      procedures performed under peribulbar anaesthesia, and that a vagolytic agent be
      available for immediate use.

PMID- 1446764
TI  - Extracapsular cataract extraction in diabetics with rubeosis iridis.
AB  - We reviewed thirteen operated eyes (twelve diabetic patients) with rubeosis
      iridis who underwent extracapsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens
      implantation. Prior to surgery five had active proliferative retinopathy (APR),
      and eight had non-proliferative retinopathy (NPR), either quiescent proliferative
      retinopathy (QPR) or background retinopathy (BR). No case with APR was visually
      improved by surgery. Three cases with NPR achieved a visual acuity of 6/12. After
      surgery, vitreous haemorrhage or progression of proliferative retinopathy
      occurred in three cases with APR. Early postoperative fibrinous uveitis was
      severe in eyes with APR, resulting in permanent fibrin membrane formation in
      four. We suggest a significant prognostic indicator in diabetic cataract
      extraction with rubeosis iridis is the status of the underlying retinopathy. With
      NPR, postoperative visual acuity may be good and early postoperative
      complications less severe. In the presence of APR the visual outcome is poor,
      progression of retinopathy likely and early postoperative fibrinous uveitis may
      be severe enough to prevent postoperative panretinal photocoagulation. Maximum
      preoperative panretinal ablation is essential in these cases.

PMID- 1446765
TI  - Occlusion for amblyopia: a comprehensive survey of outcome.
AB  - The results of a long term follow up of all patients from a single health
      district started on occlusion for amblyopia in 1983 are reported. Three hundred
      and sixty-eight patients started treatment, their average age was four years
      seven months, the average amount of daily occlusion was 1.5 hours and the average
      length of follow up was 31 months. 37% of cases achieved a final visual acuity of
      6/9 or better and another 33% a visual acuity of 6/12 or 6/18.23% did not achieve
      6/18 and treatment of these patients was regarded as failure. Data for the
      remainder (7%) were incomplete. The success rate of occlusion treatment varied
      little with the age of starting treatment. The group with combined strabismus and
      anisometropia responded least well to treatment.

PMID- 1446766
TI  - Factors related to the final visual outcome of 425 patients with traumatic
      hyphema.
AB  - A retrospective study of the visual outcome of 425 in-patients with traumatic
      hyphaema has been conducted. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that after
      adjusting for age, sex and pre-existing poor vision, the size of hyphaema on
      presentation and the presence of retinal damage were significant predictors of a
      worse final visual outcome (p = 0.00003 and 0.00001 respectively). Topical
      steroid and/or cycloplegic medication, and the occurrence of secondary
      haemorrhage did not influence the final visual outcome after adjustment for the
      other variables. These data illustrate, in an unselected sequential population of
      patients, the role of these factors in terms of final visual outcome following
      hyphaema from blunt ocular trauma.

PMID- 1446767
TI  - Factors related to the incidence of secondary haemorrhage in 462 patients with
      traumatic hyphema.
AB  - In a retrospective study of 462 in-patients with traumatic hyphema, secondary
      haemorrhage occurred in 8.7% of patients. A multivariate analysis demonstrated
      that the size of hyphaema on presentation and the presence of retinal damage did
      not affect the probability of secondary haemorrhage. The incidence of secondary
      haemorrhage was found to decrease by approximately half with the use of topical
      steroid (p = 0.005), but did not appear to be influenced by the use of
      cycloplegics. These data indicate in an unselected sequential population of
      patients, the therapeutic importance of topical steroid in the treatment of blunt
      ocular trauma.

PMID- 1446768
TI  - Transient vessel wall sheathing in acute retinal vein occlusions.
AB  - Three cases are reported which had features similar to, and evolved in a pattern
      consistent with central retinal vein occlusions and a fourth case is reported
      which behaved as a hemispheric vein occlusion. However, they differed from
      classic retinal vein occlusions by having prominent sheathing of the retinal
      venous vasculature at presentation, which in all four cases resolved within three
      weeks. There was no evidence for any of these cases having an inflammatory
      vasculitis. The significance of this transient sheathing is uncertain.

PMID- 1446769
TI  - Migrating scleral explants.
AB  - Anterior migration of an extrascleral explant is an uncommon complication
      following buckling procedures. We report five patients where the explant
      cheesewired through the rectus muscle insertion following retinal detachment
      surgery. Muscles were not disinserted at the time of surgery in any case. Ocular
      motility problems were only seen in two patients. The probable mechanisms of this
      hitherto unreported complication are discussed.

PMID- 1446770
TI  - The Purkinje vascular entoptic test: a halogen light gives better results.
AB  - The Purkinje vascular entoptic test is a test of macular function which employs a
      light directed through the sclera illuminating the fundus. This light casts
      shadows of retinal blood vessels on to posterior pole photoreceptors. When the
      light source is moved, a patient with a good macular function should be able to
      see a negative image of his or her retinal blood vessels. We evaluated the
      Purkinje test in eyes with clear ocular media. A bright 3.5 watt halogen
      rechargeable transilluminator was used instead of a pen torch as previously
      described. Sixty-eight patients (129 eyes) attending a diabetic eye clinic, were
      tested. The test correctly identified 91% of eyes with good macular function and
      77% of eyes with poor macular function (visual acuity 6/24 or poorer). If a
      vascular pattern was seen, it was probable (0.89) that good macular function was
      present. If no vascular pattern was seen, it was probable (0.80) that the eye had
      poor macular function (chi 2 = 60.14, P = < 0.001). Our results were superior to
      those previously reported. We attribute the increased accuracy of our test to the
      brighter light source used.

PMID- 1446771
TI  - Primary lymphoplasmacytoma of the conjunctiva.
AB  - We report the case of an 80-year-old patient with isolated lymphoplasmacytoma of
      the conjunctiva. Only five other such cases have been previously reported in the
      literature. In all six patients, the disease remained limited and no sign of
      systemic disease could be found after prolonged follow-up. As isolated
      plasmacytoma of the conjunctiva seems to be benign, treatment of such tumours
      should be conservative.

PMID- 1446772
TI  - Ocular manifestations of Noonan syndrome.
AB  - Noonan syndrome is a genetic condition inherited in an autosomally dominant
      manner, characterised by congenital heart disease, short stature, abnormal facies
      and the somatic features of Turner's syndrome, but a normal Karyotype. The
      ophthalmological and orthoptic findings on 58 patients with Noonan syndrome are
      reported. External features were hypertelorism (74%), downward sloping palpebral
      apertures (38%), epicanthic folds (39%) and ptosis (48%). The orthoptic
      examination revealed strabismus in 48%, refractive errors in 61%, amblyopia in
      33%, and nystagmus in 9% of cases. Sixty-three per cent of cases had anterior
      segment changes consisting of: Prominent corneal nerves (46%), anterior stromal
      dystrophy (4%), cataracts (8%) and panuveitis (2%). Fundal changes occurred in
      20% of the study group, including optic nerve head drusen, optic disc hypoplasia,
      colobomas and myelinated nerves. Forty-seven per cent required non surgical
      treatment and a further 16% had undergone surgery for strabismus or ptosis. Only
      three patients had no visual defects. With such a high incidence of ophthalmic
      abnormalities it is clearly important that children with Noonan syndrome are
      screened by an ophthalmologist at an early age.

PMID- 1446773
TI  - Conjunctival lymphoedema in Turner's syndrome.

PMID- 1446774
TI  - Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) differentially regulates the production of IL-2 and IL-3
      by murine immune T-cells.
AB  - Eicosanoids are important mediators of inflammation, and have been shown to have
      potent, and usually suppressive immunoregulatory activities. In the paper, we
      have examined the role of prostaglandin (PGE2) production in the regulation of
      two cytokines, IL-2 and IL-3, which both play a key role in contact sensitivity
      and delayed type hypersensitivity reactions. In agreement with previous studies,
      we demonstrate that prostaglandins down-regulate IL-2 production in the system.
      Unexpectedly, however, IL-3 levels are enhanced in the presence of the
      prostaglandin PGE2 and conversely, are inhibited by treatment with aspirin, a
      potent inhibitor of prostaglandin metabolism. The implications of this result in
      terms of the immunoregulatory role of PGs will be discussed.

PMID- 1446775
TI  - Enzyme ultracytochemical demonstration of Ca(++)-ATPase in the rat cerebral
      cortex.
AB  - The localization of Ca(++)-ATPase activity was investigated in the rat cerebral
      cortex using an ultracytochemical method. Our cytochemical procedure for the
      detection of enzyme activity is based on an incubation medium consisting of
      tricine buffer, ATP-disodium salt as substrate, cerium chloride as capturing
      agent, CaCl2, and levamisole as a nonspecific alkaline phosphatase inhibitor.
      Final pH was 7.4. Reaction products showing Ca(++)-ATPase activity were localised
      on the pre- and postsynaptic plasma membrane in association with synaptic
      vesicles, postsynaptic dendrites and on the axolemma in myelinated nerve fibres.
      The verification of the main enzymatic properties of Ca(++)-ATPase localization
      activity is the subject of the following report.

PMID- 1446776
TI  - In vitro enhanced destruction of erythrocytes as a result of their chlorination.
AB  - Subarachnoidal haemorrhage is followed by accumulation of granulocytes and
      macrophages in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). As a result erythrocytes are destroyed
      and removed from CSF. Activated granulocytes chlorinate many species including
      erythrocytes. It has been shown that chlorinated erythrocytes are more sensitive
      to phagocytosis by macrophages than the native ones.

PMID- 1446777
TI  - Differentiated reaction of different types of antheridial cells in Chara vulgaris
      to the changes in light conditions during 24 hours.
AB  - Circadian rhythm of activity of 3H-leucine incorporation into antheridial cells
      of Chara vulgaris, in natural photoperiod was compared with changes in mitotic
      activity of antheridial filament cells which form spermatozoids. Three types of
      cells functionally connected with each other i.e. manubria, capitular cells and
      antheridial filaments indicate high amplitude (80-90%) changes in circadian
      translational activity and some similarities in their course. The shield cells
      are characterized by small circadian changes in translational activity in the
      range of 15-30% and their different rhythm. Manubria, which are the secretive
      cells indicated the highest dependence of the dynamic of translational activity
      on the time of day. Their high activity overlaps light phase, low activity--dark
      phase. The reaction of capitular cells to day/night change is delayed in
      comparison with the reaction of manubria, and that of antheridial filaments is
      delayed in comparison with the capitular cells reaction. The assumption was set
      forth that manubria play the role of oscillators (starttercells) which induce the
      wave of changes translocating to the other cells functionally and spatialy
      connected with them. The course of the wave of antheridial filaments mitotic
      activity suggests that a distinct drop in MI in the morning may be the result of
      the lack of the factors necessary for initiation of the mitosis, dependent on
      light-induced high translational activity of antheridial cells.

PMID- 1446778
TI  - A comparison of the proliferative activity of astrocytes and astrocyte-like cells
      expressing vimentin in the injured mouse cerebral hemisphere.
AB  - After an unilateral injury of the cerebral hemisphere, 28 nice were injected with
      3H thymidine at different intervals following the injury. Thereafter, the
      distribution of autographically labelled astrocytes expressing glial fibrillary
      protein (GFAP) and astrocyte-like cells expressing vimentin were recorded within
      the region of injury. Proliferative activity of the two cell types started at the
      same time, i.e. 24 h. after injury, reached its maximum on day 4, and returned to
      normal level after the 8th posttraumatic day. However, on day 4 the number of
      proliferating GFAP-positive astrocytes was about 50% higher than that of vimentin
      positive cells. This was regarded as a proof of the concept that a significant
      number of astrocytes did not express vimentin during its mitotic cycle. Those
      facts were considered as an evidence against the hypothesis that a reactive
      astrocyte division induces a two-stage increase in the cytoskeletal proteins
      level with the elevated synthesis of vimentin preceding that of GFAP.

PMID- 1446779
TI  - LH as a modulator of cytoskeleton arrangement and steroidogenic function in
      Leydig cells in vitro.

PMID- 1446780
TI  - Transfected endometrial cultured cells: a system to study gene-regulation by
      estrogens.
AB  - Glandular epithelial (GE) and stromal cells were isolated from guinea-pig
      endometrium, cultured and subcultured separately. At the end of subculture, the
      purity of each cell population was higher than 95% and cells displayed a high
      level of estrogen receptors. Calcium phosphate transfection conditions were
      defined using a control plasmid containing the bacterial CAT gene driven by viral
      promoter and enhancer sequences. Transfection experiments were performed with
      other plasmids in which CAT gene was linked to different estrogen response
      elements (EREs) derived from those of vitellogenin genes. CAT activity was
      significantly increased by estradiol-17 beta treatment only when GE or stromal
      cells were transfected with plasmids containing EREs previously reported as
      functional EREs in other cell types. This induction was abolished by ICI 164,384
      diethylstilbestrol was as effective as estradiol-17 beta for CAT induction and
      estradiol-17 alpha was ineffective. Transiently transfected endometrial cells in
      subculture are a suitable system to study the estrogen effect on gene regulatory
      elements.

PMID- 1446781
TI  - Single and dual hormone secretors in GH3 cultures respond differently to
      hypothalamic factors.
AB  - Recent studies using both normal and tumoral pituitary cell cultures have
      demonstrated that growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) secreting populations
      contain cells which release either one or both of these hormones. In order to
      determine whether these two cell types can be differentially regulated by
      hypothalamic factors we performed the following study employing plaque assays for
      GH and PRL. Using cultures of GH3 cells, a rat tumor cell line which contains
      both of these cell types, we found that the hypothalamic factors vasoactive
      intestinal peptide (VIP) and thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) when used
      together had a greater influence on plaque formation than when each was used
      individually. This suggested that cells were present in culture that responded to
      one peptide but not the other. Estradiol-treated cultures (which contain only
      dual-secreting cells) were then evaluated for VIP and TRH responsiveness and
      found to respond to TRH but not VIP. Finally, we assessed the peptide sensitivity
      of cultures that were exposed to a conjugate of VIP and the A-chain of ricin (a
      potent cytotoxin). In addition to eliminating VIP-responsive cells, this
      treatment markedly reduced the proportions of cells secreting GH-only while
      having no appreciable influence on dual-hormone secretors. When taken together,
      our findings indicate that single and dual secretors respond differently to at
      least two hypothalamic secretagogues and suggest that regulatory differences
      between these cell types may be important in the control of GH and PRL secretion.

PMID- 1446782
TI  - Autoinduction of thyroid hormone receptor during metamorphosis is reproduced in
      Xenopus XTC-2 cells.
AB  - To determine if the autoinduction of thyroid hormone receptor (TR) alpha and beta
      mRNAs during metamorphosis in Xenopus tadpoles can be reproduced in cultured
      cells, we have screened four Xenopus cell lines (XTC-2, XL-177, XL2 and Kr) for
      receptor transcripts and their response to thyroid hormone. Exposure of XTC-2
      cells to 10(-9) M triiodothyronine (T3) for 24 h upregulated TR alpha and beta
      mRNAs by 2-4- and 10-40-fold, respectively. In view of the marked similarity of
      the differential distribution of the two transcripts and their upregulation by T3
      to the pattern of autoinduction seen in whole tadpoles, the process was studied
      in greater detail in XTC-2 cells. The time-course of autoinduction of TR alpha
      and beta mRNAs in these cells also resembled that in vivo, the two transcripts
      being significantly induced by 3-6 h after T3. Dose-response to T3, and the
      relative responses to its active and inactive analogs, confirmed that the process
      of autoinduction was initiated by thyroid hormone receptor with the same
      functional characteristics as that found in all amphibian and mammalian tissues.
      Experiments performed with cycloheximide suggested that intermediary protein(s)
      were involved in autoinduction, so that TR genes cannot be considered as
      'immediate early' genes for this process. The possible advantages of studying
      thyroid hormone action in metamorphosis in XTC-2 cells are briefly discussed.

PMID- 1446783
TI  - Isolation of luteinising hormone receptor binding inhibitor from bovine corpus
      luteum.
AB  - A luteinising hormone receptor binding inhibitor (LHRBI) has been purified from
      bovine corpus luteum (CL). Steroid-free extract of the CL was subjected to
      successive chromatographies on Sephadex G-50, Q-Sepharose, Orange A dye and metal
      chelate affinity columns followed by high performance-reverse phase and gel
      filtration columns. Purification was monitored by the ability of the fractions to
      inhibit the binding of 125I-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to porcine
      granulosa cells in vitro. The final isolate showed an 8000-fold enrichment of
      activity. It was also capable of inhibiting porcine granulosa cell secretion of
      estradiol and progesterone (P) in vitro. Administration of LHRBI into follicle
      stimulating hormone (FSH)-stimulated, immature rats strongly inhibited the
      ovarian ovulatory response to hCG as revealed by decreased P levels and the
      number of ova released. The M(r) of LHRBI as assessed by sodium dodecyl sulphate
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was ca. 15 kDa and the pI was between 5.0 and
      5.5.

PMID- 1446784
TI  - Identification of G protein alpha subunit mutations in human growth hormone (GH)-
      and GH/prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors by single-strand conformation
      polymorphism (SSCP) analysis.
AB  - We have applied the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and single-strand
      conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP) to detect activating mutations in the
      Gs alpha subunit gene, amplifying genomic DNA extracted from growth hormone (GH)-
      and GH/prolactin (PRL)-secreting human pituitary tumors. Of 15 tumors tested six
      contained mutations in the analyzed regions of the Gs alpha. SSCP analysis
      revealed band shift in exon 8 in four GH- and in one GH/PRL-secreting tumors, and
      in exon 9 in one GH/PRL-secreting tumor. Direct sequencing of PCR reaction
      products identified the mutations as R201-H, R201-S and R201-C in exon 8 and Q227
      L in exon 9. These results show the efficacy of PCR/SSCP analysis in the
      detection of G protein mutations and extend the generalization that these sites
      are hot spots in tumor-inducing mutations.

PMID- 1446785
TI  - Thyroid hormone stimulates glucose transport and GLUT1 mRNA in rat Sertoli cells.
AB  - The transport of 2-deoxyglucose (dGlc) by cultured rat Sertoli cells was
      stimulated by L-triiodothyronine (T3) in a time and dose-dependent manner. The
      lag-time was of about 6 h, the half-maximal dose (ED50) was 0.47 nM, which
      correlates with the Kd of the nuclear T3 receptor of rat Sertoli cells (Kd = 1-2
      nM), and the stimulation was maintained up to 24 h. The effect was specific, as
      judged by the order of potency of T3 analogs. Cycloheximide prevented the
      stimulatory effect without affecting the basal uptake. T3 stimulated the uptake
      of the glucose analog 3-O-methylglucose (MeGlc) with the same order of potency as
      that of dGlc. The ontogenetic profile of the T3 effect coincides with that of T3
      nuclear receptors in rat Sertoli cells. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that
      Sertoli cells express the erythrocyte/brain glucose transporter isoform (GLUT1)
      but not the adipose/muscle isoform (GLUT4). T3 treatment (10(-7) M for 24 h)
      induces an increase of GLUT1 mRNA level comparable to that of glucose analog
      uptake. These results suggest that thyroid hormone stimulates glucose transport
      by increasing the synthesis of new glucose transporter units and give further
      evidence for a direct effect of thyroid hormone in the modulation of Sertoli cell
      functions.

PMID- 1446786
TI  - Membrane transport of thyroid hormone in the human choriocarcinoma cell line,
      JAR.
AB  - We studied uptake of L-triiodothyronine (T3) by the human choriocarcinoma cell
      line, JAR. Uptake was time dependent with a half-time of 56.2 +/- 7.2 min (mean
      +/- SEM, n = 4). A non-saturable component accounted for about 24% of total
      uptake. We found a single saturable uptake mechanism with a calculated Michaelis
      constant (Km) of 586 +/- 206 nM (n = 9) and a corresponding maximum velocity of
      17.0 +/- 5.7 pmol/min per mg protein (n = 9), values similar to those we have
      described recently in cultured normal human trophoblast cells. Uptake was
      dependent on temperature and intracellular energy, being reduced at lower
      temperatures and in the presence of potassium cyanide. It was independent of the
      Na+ gradient across the cell membrane and the presence of Na+ in the external
      medium, but was affected by the cell membrane potential.

PMID- 1446787
TI  - A distal region enhances the prolactin induced promoter activity of the rabbit
      alpha s1-casein gene.
AB  - Casein gene expression is induced in the rabbit mammary gland by prolactin (PRL).
      alpha s1-casein is the major casein secreted into milk. In order to define the
      position of the DNA sequences involved in the control of rabbit alpha s1-casein
      gene regulation by PRL, chimeric genes were constructed between upstream regions
      of the rabbit alpha s1-casein gene and the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase
      (CAT) reporter gene. A series of 5'-deleted fusion genes was obtained by nuclease
      digestion of the alpha s1-casein gene upstream region. These gene constructs were
      transfected into rabbit primary mammary cells, or cotransfected in CHO cells with
      the plasmid coding for the rabbit mammary receptor (PRL-R). A regulatory region
      has been located between nt -3768 and -3155. This region enhances the prolactin
      induced promoter activity of the alpha s1-casein gene. It might possess or
      cooperate with prolactin responsive elements located further downstream in the
      alpha s1-casein gene.

PMID- 1446788
TI  - Role of local environmental factors in determining tissue-specific effects of
      estrogen: examination of uterine tissues transplanted to brain.
AB  - Estrogen stimulates uterine epithelial cells to divide, but not estrogen
      concentrating neurons in the adult brain. This effect correlates with recent
      evidence that estrogen can induce the expression of certain growth-related genes
      in uterus which are not directly induced by estrogen in the adult brain. The
      possibility that local diffusible factors play a major role in determining tissue
      specific effects of estrogen was examined by transplanting uterine tissues into
      the brain, muscle and kidney of adult rats and then comparing the effects of
      estrogen on the incorporation of [3H]thymidine and the expression of Fos-, cdc2-
      and Rb-like immunoreactivity (IR) on native and transplanted uterine tissues, as
      well as in estrogen-concentrating regions of the brain adjacent to the uterine
      grafts. In native uteri, estrogen treatment stimulated Fos-, cdc2-, and Rb-like
      IR, as well as [3H]thymidine incorporation, within lumenal and glandular
      epithelial cells. All of these effects were estrogen responsive--no
      immunoreactive staining within uterine epithelial cells and no signs of
      epithelial cell proliferation were observed in the native uteri of non-estrogen
      treated animals. When uterine tissues were transplanted to brain, Fos-, cdc2-,
      and Rb-like IR epithelial cells, as well as many [3H]thymidine-incorporating
      uterine epithelial cells, were observed in all estrogen-treated animals and in
      some non-estrogen-treated animals as well. Identical results were obtained when
      uterine tissues were transplanted to skeletal muscle, but not to kidney (in the
      kidney, transplanted epithelial cells expressed all four parameters but only in
      estrogen-treated animals, comparable to the native uterus). In contrast, estrogen
      did not stimulate cell division and did not induce Fos-, cdc2-, or Rb-like IR
      within estrogen-concentrating neuronal regions of the ventromedial hypothalamus.
      In addition, the presence of uterine tissue in the brain did not confer the
      ability of estrogen to stimulate any of these parameters within nearby, estrogen
      concentrating regions. These data suggest that there are factors in brain and
      muscle which can allow uterine epithelial cells to divide in the absence of
      estrogen. There was no evidence of a diffusible factor in brain which inhibits
      uterine epithelial cell division, nor of a diffusible factor in uterus which can
      confer estrogenic stimulation of growth-related genes and cell division to
      central nervous system neurons. In addition, the data provide the first evidence
      for estrogen regulation of cdc2 and Rb expression in normal uterus.

PMID- 1446789
TI  - Thyroid hormone response of slow and fast sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase mRNA
      in striated muscle.
AB  - The thyroid status markedly influences the contractile function of muscle, and
      changes in the activity of the Ca2+ ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR)
      contribute to these alterations. Two separate genes encode the major isoforms of
      SR Ca2+ ATPase. In fast skeletal muscle, sarcoplasmic endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+
      ATPase type 1 (SERCa1) presents the major isoform, whereas in slow skeletal
      muscle SERCa type 2 (SERCa2) predominates. Cardiac muscle contains only SERCa2.
      To examine the mechanisms responsible for changes in contractile function, we
      quantitated SERCa1 and SERCa2 mRNA levels in fast extensor digitorum longus
      muscle (EDL), slow soleus muscle, and cardiac muscle in rats of different thyroid
      status. Hypothyroidism led in soleus to a marked decrease in SERCa1 mRNA and
      SERCa2 mRNA levels, in cardiac muscle SERCa2 mRNA decreased markedly, as
      previously shown by us, and in EDL SERCa1 mRNA decreased. These findings are
      compatible with a hypothyroidism induced decrease in SR Ca2+ ATPase activity and
      a delay in muscle relaxation. In contrast, SERCa2 mRNA of EDL, representing only
      a small percent of total SERCa mRNA in this muscle, increased to 175% of control
      values. Muscle specific and SERCa gene specific changes also occur after acute
      triiodothyronine (T3) administration to hypothyroid rats. T3 does not induce a
      significant change in SERCa1 or SERCa2 mRNA levels in soleus, but in the heart
      SERCa2 mRNA increases about 3-fold. In EDL, T3 increases SERCa1 mRNA from a
      hypothyroid level of 59 +/- 6% to 138 +/- 4% of control values but SERCa2 mRNA is
      decreased to 75 +/- 5% of control levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446790
TI  - A synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acids 9-30 of the extracellular domain
      of the follitropin (FSH) receptor specifically binds FSH.
AB  - As deduced on the basis of cloning experiments, the putative extracellular domain
      of pituitary glycoprotein hormone (lutropin (LH), thyrotropin (TSH), and FSH)
      receptors (rec) is sufficiently large to suggest involvement in hormone binding.
      Comparison of the amino acid sequences of the extracellular domains of the
      glycoprotein hormone receptors indicates that the FSH receptor has a peptide
      sequence in the external domain close to the amino terminus (residues 9-30) which
      has no sequence homology to receptors for LH or TSH. To examine whether this
      region is involved in FSH-receptor interaction, we studied the hormone-binding
      properties of a corresponding synthetic peptide in several systems. (1) Binding
      of 125I-hFSH to receptor-containing bovine testis membranes was inhibited by
      preincubation with FSH rec-(9-30) peptide amide in a concentration-dependent
      manner. (2) 125I-labeled rec-(9-30) peptide amide bound to ovine, bovine, or
      human FSH preparations, and the binding was inhibited by solubilized bovine FSH
      receptor. 125I-labeled rec-(9-30) peptide amide, however, did not bind to LH or
      TSH. (3) 125I-hFSH bound to unlabeled rec-(9-30) peptide amide, and the binding
      was inhibited by excess unlabeled FSH, but not by LH or TSH. (4) Scatchard
      analysis indicated that the FSH rec-(9-30) peptide amide contained a single class
      of FSH binding sites with a Ka = 1.1 x 10(6) M-1. (5) The binding of 125I-labeled
      rec-(9-30) peptide amide to hFSH, bFSH or oFSH was effectively inhibited by
      rabbit polyclonal antibodies raised against rec-(9-30) peptide amide but not by
      preimmune rabbit serum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446791
TI  - Perspectives in diabetes. Islet transplantation with immunoisolation.
AB  - Immunoisolation is a potentially important approach to transplanting islets
      without need for immunosuppressive drugs. Immunoisolation systems have been
      conceived in which the transplanted tissue is separated from the immune system of
      the host by an artificial barrier. These systems offer a solution to the problem
      of human islet procurement by permitting use of islets isolated from animal
      pancreases. The devices used are referred to as biohybrid artificial organs
      because they combine synthetic, selectively permeable membranes that block immune
      rejection with living transplants. Three major types of biohybrid pancreas
      devices have been studied. These include devices anastomosed to the vascular
      system as AV shunts, diffusion chambers, and microcapsules. Results in diabetic
      rodents and dogs indicate that biohybrid pancreas devices significantly improve
      glucose homeostasis and can function for more than a year. Recent progress made
      with this approach is discussed, and some of the remaining problems that must be
      resolved to bring this technology to clinical reality are addressed.

PMID- 1446792
TI  - Experimental transplantation with principal islets of teleost fish (Brockmann
      bodies). Long-term function of tilapia islet tissue in diabetic nude mice.
AB  - Certain teleost fish have macroscopically visible islets called BBs that are
      anatomically discrete. BBs were harvested from Oreochromis nilotica (tilapia)
      with microscissors, divided, and cultured overnight at 37 degrees C before
      transplantation into STZ-induced diabetic nude mice. Each mouse received BB
      fragments from 3-5 fish weighing in aggregate approximately 1.7 kg. Non-FPGs were
      monitored 5 days/wk. Recipients remained normoglycemic (plasma glucose < 11.1 mM)
      for 50 days posttransplantation. Mice bearing 50-day-old grafts had essentially
      normal GTTs. Left nephrectomies then were performed to remove the grafts, and
      plasma glucose levels in recipient mice rose to > 22.2 mM. Histological
      examination of graft-bearing kidneys showed viable, vascularized islet tissue
      containing numerous well-granulated beta-cells; examination of recipient native
      pancreases revealed small islets composed predominantely of non-beta-cells.

PMID- 1446793
TI  - Induction of resistance to endothelin-1's biochemical actions by elevated glucose
      levels in retinal pericytes.
AB  - Because retinal pericytes have contractile properties and are affected by
      diabetes, we have studied the responsiveness of pericytes to ET-1, a potent
      vasoconstrictor, in the presence of various concentrations of glucose. Cultured
      calf retinal pericytes were exposed to glucose levels of 5.5 or 25 mM for up to 8
      days. Radioreceptor studies that used [125I]ET-1 showed that pericytes contained
      high-affinity binding sites with Kd of 3 x 10(-10) M, and these binding
      affinities were unaffected by glucose concentration. Receptor number appears to
      be elevated, but this increase was NS. Responsiveness of pericytes to ET-1 was
      studied with respect to stimulation of DAG and IP3 levels and PKC activities. In
      contrast to receptor binding, exposure to 25 mM glucose for > 6 days blunted
      pericyte responsiveness to ET-1. The time course of ET-1 stimulation as measured
      by [3H]glycerol labeling, and IP3 level showed a 98% increase in [3H]DAG at 10
      min and a fourfold increase for IP3, respectively. Cells exposed to 25 mM glucose
      only had a 32% increase for DAG, and no increase for IP3 was observed. Dose
      response studies on the stimulation of [3H]DAG increase showed the range of ET
      1's effect to be between 10(-9) and 10(-7) M. At maximum, cells exposed to 5.5 mM
      glucose had a 70% increase versus only a 30% increase in those exposed to 25 mM
      glucose. Similarly, ET-1 only increased the total DAG levels in pericytes exposed
      to 5.5 mM glucose by 41%. PKC activity also was measured because DAG is one of
      its cellular activators.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446794
TI  - Pathogenic factors responsible for glucose intolerance in patients with NIDDM.
AB  - To define the pathogenic factors responsible for glucose intolerance in NIDDM, we
      estimated insulin secretory capacity, SI, and SG in 11 healthy, nondiabetic
      subjects and 9 NIDDM patients who had no SI impairment. All subjects studied were
      nonobese and normotensive. Each underwent a 75-g OGTT and a modified FSIGT:
      glucose was administered (300 mg/kg body weight), and insulin was infused (20
      mU/kg over 5 min) from 20 to 25 min after the administration of glucose. SI and
      SG were estimated by Bergman's minimal-model method. The insulin response to oral
      glucose was significantly lower in NIDDM patients than in normal control
      subjects. First-phase insulin secretion expressed as the integrated area of
      plasma insulin above the basal level during the first 20 min was much smaller in
      NIDDM subjects (214 +/- 112 pM.min) than in control subjects (4643 +/- 885
      pM.min, P < 0.01). SI was not statistically different in normal control subjects
      (1.27 +/- 0.18 x 10(-4) min-1.pM-1) versus diabetic patients (1.62 +/- 0.33 x 10(
      4) min-1.pM-1). However, SG was significantly lower in diabetic subjects (1.11 +/
      0.17 x 10(-2) min-1) than in control subjects (2.35 +/- 0.26 x 10(-2) min-1, P <
      0.01). These results suggest that impaired insulin secretion and decreased SG are
      the factors responsible for glucose intolerance of Japanese NIDDM patients with
      normal insulin sensitivity. Because SI and SG are the factors responsible for
      glucose intolerance of NIDDM patients with insulin resistance, it is conceivable
      that decreased SG is common in NIDDM patients regardless of their SI index.

PMID- 1446795
TI  - Lactate production and pyruvate dehydrogenase activity in fat and skeletal muscle
      from diabetic rats.
AB  - This study was initiated to explore the possibility that an increase in the
      supply of gluconeogenic precursors contributes to the overproduction of glucose
      by the liver in NIDDM patients. To address this issue, a form of experimental
      NIDDM was produced in rats by injecting a low dose (38 mg/kg) of STZ and
      comparing lactate and alanine production and PDH activity in skeletal muscle and
      isolated adipocytes from normal and diabetic rats. Skeletal muscle lactate
      production was measured by using a hindlimb perfusion technique and was
      significantly greater (P < 0.01) in the diabetic rats compared with two groups of
      control rats: one perfused at normal glucose levels and the other perfused at
      glucose concentrations comparable with those observed in diabetic rats. Alanine
      production by hindlimb from diabetic rats was 46% greater than hindlimbs from
      control rats perfused at normal glucose levels (P < 0.01) but was not
      significantly greater than control rats perfused at diabetic glucose levels. The
      percentage of glucose converted to lactate by muscle from both control groups was
      4-5%, significantly lower than the 18% conversion rate observed in diabetic
      animals (P < 0.001). An increase in the ratio of lactate produced/glucose
      transport by isolated adipocytes from diabetic rats also was observed when
      measured in both the basal state (0.65 +/- 0.12 vs. 0.15 +/- 0.03, P < 0.01) and
      in the presence of maximal amounts of insulin (0.15 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.04 +/- 0.01, P
      < 0.02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446796
TI  - Role of cytosolic Ca2+ in impaired sensitivity to glucose of rat pancreatic
      islets exposed to high glucose in vitro.
AB  - Sustained exposure to high concentrations of glucose selectively impairs the
      ability of pancreatic islets to secrete insulin in acute glucose stimulation. In
      order to evaluate the interrelationship between impaired insulin secretion and
      the dynamics of the cytosolic free Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i), we have investigated the
      effect of high glucose exposure on both [Ca2+]i dynamics in single rat beta-cells
      and insulin release from rat pancreatic islets. Islets cultured at a high glucose
      concentration (16.7 mM) for 24 h showed significant reductions of the 16.7 mM
      GSIR compared with islets cultured at a normal glucose concentration (5.5 mM)
      (3.38 +/- 0.24 vs. 4.26 +/- 0.34%, respectively, P < 0.05). The capacity of
      glucose to raise the [Ca2+]i level also was significantly reduced in the beta
      cells maintained for 24 h at 16.7 mM glucose (P < 0.001). An additional culture
      in the medium with 5.5 mM glucose for 16 h restored both the GSIR and the [Ca2+]i
      response of islets cultured at high glucose. On the other hand, insulin release
      and [Ca2+]i rise in response to 20 mM L-Arg were well preserved. These
      observations confirm that exposure of pancreatic beta-cells to high glucose
      concentrations induces a selective reduction of the GSIR and, further, shows that
      this impaired response is reversibly restored by an additional culture with
      normal glucose. We also suggest that the inability of glucose to provoke a
      [Ca2+]i rise, which is observed in the beta-cells exposed to high glucose, may be
      responsible for the selective impairment of the GSIR.

PMID- 1446797
TI  - Insulin induces the translocation of GLUT4 from a unique intracellular organelle
      to transverse tubules in rat skeletal muscle.
AB  - Skeletal muscle surface membrane is constituted by the PM domain and its
      specialized deep invaginations known as TTs. We have shown previously that
      insulin induces a rapid translocation of GLUT4s from an IM pool to the PM in rat
      skeletal muscle (6). In this study, we have investigated the possibility that
      insulin also stimulates the translocation of GLUT4 proteins to TTs, which
      constitute the largest area of the cell surface envelope. PM, TTs, and IM
      components of control and insulinized skeletal muscle were isolated by
      subcellular fractionation. The TTs then were purified further by removing
      vesicles of SR origin by using a Ca-loading procedure. Ca-loading resulted in a
      five- to sevenfold increase in the purification of TTs in the unloaded fraction
      relative to the loaded fraction, assessed by immunoblotting with an anti-DHP
      receptor monoclonal antibody. In contrast, estimation of the content of Ca(2+)
      ATPase protein (a marker of SR) with a specific polyclonal antibody revealed that
      most, if not all, SR vesicles were recovered in the Ca-loaded fraction. Western
      blotting with an anti-COOH-terminal GLUT4 protein polyclonal antibody revealed
      that acute insulin injection in vivo (30 min) increased the content of GLUT4 (by
      90%) in isolated PMs and markedly enhanced (by 180%) GLUT4 content in purified
      TTs. Importantly, these insulin-dependent changes in GLUT4 content of PM and
      purified TTs were seen in the absence of changes in the alpha 1-subunit of the
      Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, a surface membrane marker.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446798
TI  - Improved specificity of ICA assays in the Fourth International Immunology of
      Diabetes Serum Exchange Workshop.
AB  - The goal of the Fourth International Workshop for Standardization of ICA
      Measurements was to determine the specificity of ICA assays and their ability to
      distinguish between control sera (n = 57) and sera from IDDM-related individuals-
      representing relatives of IDDM patients (n = 21), healthy individuals who later
      developed IDDM (n = 8), or newly diagnosed IDDM patients (n = 23). Results from
      28 laboratories were analyzed. The mean specificity (percentage of control sera
      reported as negative) among 27 laboratories was 91%, including 6 laboratories
      with 100% specificity. Nevertheless, 78% of laboratories found at least one
      control sample > 0 JDF U. Among samples from first-degree relatives, the mean
      concordance was 86%, including three sera found negative (0 JDF U) by all
      laboratories. Among individuals who later developed diabetes, the mean
      concordance was 93%, with two sera found positive by 100% of laboratories. In
      sera from newly diagnosed IDDM patients, the mean concordance was 82%. Three sera
      were found positive and one serum negative by all laboratories. The JDF U of the
      sera considered to be positive were significantly greater than each laboratory's
      average for the controls. In conclusion, the results from laboratories
      participating in the Fourth International ICA Workshop demonstrated excellent
      specificity, good concordance, and an ability to separate control sera from
      defined, IDDM-related subjects.

PMID- 1446799
TI  - The metabolic profile of NIDDM is fully established in glucose-tolerant offspring
      of two Mexican-American NIDDM parents.
AB  - NIDDM patients with overt fasting hyperglycemia are characterized by multiple
      defects involving both insulin secretion and insulin action. At this point of the
      natural history of NIDDM, however, it is difficult to establish which defects are
      primary and which are acquired secondary to insulinopenia and chronic
      hyperglycemia. To address this question, we have studied the glucose-tolerant
      offspring (probands) of two Mexican-American NIDDM parents. Such individuals are
      at high risk for developing NIDDM later in life. The probands are characterized
      by hyperinsulinemia in the fasting state and in response to both oral and
      intravenous glucose. Insulin-mediated glucose disposal (insulin clamp technique),
      measured at two physiological levels of hyperinsulinemia (approximately 240 and
      450 pM [approximately 40 and 75 microU/ml]), was reduced by 43 and 33%,
      respectively. During both the low- and high-dose insulin clamp steps, impaired
      nonoxidative glucose disposal, which primarily represents glycogen synthesis, was
      the major defect responsible for the insulin resistance. During the lower dose
      insulin clamp step only, a small decrease in glucose oxidation was observed. No
      defect in suppression of HGP by insulin was demonstrable. The ability of insulin
      to inhibit lipid oxidation (measured by indirect calorimetry) and plasma FFA
      concentration was impaired at both levels of hyperinsulinemia. These results
      indicate that the glucose-tolerant offspring of two NIDDM parents are
      characterized by hyperinsulinemia and manifest all of the metabolic abnormalities
      that characterize the fully established diabetic state, including insulin
      resistance, a major impairment in nonoxidative glucose disposal, a quantitatively
      less important defect in glucose oxidation, and a diminished insulin-mediated
      suppression of lipid oxidation and plasma FFA concentration.

PMID- 1446800
TI  - Glucose transporters of rat peripheral nerve. Differential expression of GLUT1
      gene by Schwann cells and perineural cells in vivo and in vitro.
AB  - Expression of GLUTs in rat peripheral nerve was first studied at the mRNA level
      with Northern transfer analysis with cDNAs specific for GLUT1, GLUT2, GLUT3, and
      GLUT4. GLUT1 mRNA was the only GLUT mRNA detectable in rat sciatic nerve. In situ
      hybridization localized this mRNA to the perineurium and to some endo- and
      epineurial capillaries. Indirect immunofluorescence stainings demonstrated that
      GLUT1 protein epitopes were concentrated primarily in the perineurium and
      endoneurial capillaries. Also, some Schwann cells, a few epineurial capillaries,
      and medium-sized blood vessels showed a faintly positive immunoreaction. All cell
      types present in primary cultures initiated from rat sciatic nerve (perineurial
      cells, Schwann cells, and fibroblasts) expressed GLUT1 protein in vitro. Thus,
      Schwann cells, which expressed GLUT1 only occasionally at a low level in vivo,
      have the potential to express GLUT1 at a markedly higher level under cell culture
      conditions. Incubation of the cultures in 25 mM D-glucose for 7 days caused a 39%
      reduction in the amount of immunodetectable GLUT1 protein, and a marked (34%)
      decrease of GLUT1 mRNA compared with cultures incubated in 5.5 mM D-glucose.
      Interestingly, the reduction of [3H]-2-DG uptake in the same cultures exceeded
      70%, suggesting that the reduced amount of GLUT1 protein alone did not explain
      the marked reduction in glucose uptake in these cultures. Immunostaining of the
      cell cultures suggested that perineurial cells were the main target for the
      glucose-induced decrease of GLUT1 protein.

PMID- 1446801
TI  - Intermittent hypoglycemia impairs glucose counterregulation.
AB  - IDDM patients who maintain strict glycemic control have impaired
      counterregulatory hormone and symptomatic responses to hypoglycemia. To test the
      hypothesis that intermittent exposure to hypoglycemia plays an etiological role
      in these defective responses, we produced 4 consecutive daily episodes of
      hypoglycemia in 10 healthy, nondiabetic volunteers by using the insulin clamp
      technique. Fasting (5.3 +/- 0.1 vs. 5.4 +/- 0.1 mM) and nadir (2.3 +/- 0.1 vs.
      2.4 +/- 0.1 mM) glucose levels achieved during insulin infusion did not differ on
      study days 1 and 4. In contrast, the glucose levels required to stimulate an
      increase in EPI (2.8 vs. 3.1 mM), glucagon (2.8 vs. 3.2 mM), cortisol (2.4 vs.
      2.9 mM), GH (2.6 vs. 3.0 mM), and autonomic hypoglycemic symptoms (2.2 vs. 2.5
      mM) were all significantly lower on study day 4 versus study day 1 (P < 0.005
      0.05). Basal levels of EPI and cortisol, but not glucagon, GH, or NE also were
      reduced on the final study day. We conclude that intermittent hypoglycemia can
      result in attenuation of the hormonal and symptomatic responses to insulin
      induced hypoglycemia and may contribute to the defective counterregulatory
      responses in patients with well-controlled IDDM.

PMID- 1446802
TI  - CD8 T cells are not required for islet destruction induced by a CD4+ islet
      specific T-cell clone.
AB  - A panel of CD4+ T-cell clones has been isolated from the spleen and lymph nodes
      of diabetic NOD mice. These clones have been shown to be islet-specific both in
      vivo and in vitro. One of the clones, BDC-6.9, initiates extensive damage to
      islet tissue when placed adjacent to an NOD islet graft that has been used to
      reverse diabetes in (CBA x NOD)F1 recipients or when injected intraperitoneally
      into such animals. In this study, we show that BDC-6.9 T cells can initiate islet
      destruction in the absence of detectable CD8 T cells either in the periphery or
      in the lesion that develops after the transfer of the cloned islet-reactive T
      cells.

PMID- 1446803
TI  - Polygenic nature of spontaneous diabetes in the rat. Permissive MHC haplotype and
      presence of the lymphopenic trait of the BB rat are not sufficient to produce
      susceptibility.
AB  - We describe the phenotypic characteristics of animals in the fifth backcross
      intercross generation of a breeding program in which the RT1 u haplotype and the
      phenotypic trait responsible for the T-lymphopenia of BB rats have been
      transferred to the ACI background. In this generation of animals, 24% were
      lymphopenic with decreased numbers of PBL expressing CD5, TCR alpha, and RT6. The
      PBL of the lymphopenic animals had a decreased mitogenic response to ConA. All of
      the nonlymphopenic animals were homozygous for RT6.2. Phenotypic analysis of
      intestinal IEL revealed that this was also the case for the lymphopenic animals.
      Moreover, IEL of the lymphopenic animals exhibited a pattern of staining
      (increased numbers of TCR alpha beta+CD4+CD8+ and decreased numbers of TCR alpha
      beta+CD4-CD8+) similar to that of BB DP animals. The ACI.1U(BB)-lymphopenic
      animals, although having two of the genetic traits associated with the expression
      of spontaneous diabetes mellitus, uniformly fail to develop diabetes. Breeding
      studies in which these animals were crossed with BB and hBB rats suggest that
      other genes are necessary for development of overt diabetes.

PMID- 1446804
TI  - Reevaluation of autoantibodies to islet cell membrane in IDDM. Failure to detect
      islet cell surface antibodies using human islet cells as substrate.
AB  - Since their demonstration in 1975, ICSAs have been proposed as serological
      markers and pathogenic elements in IDDM. ICSAs are detected in the sera of most
      newly diagnosed IDDM patients by indirect IFL that uses viable preparations of
      rat islet or insulinoma cells as substrate, but they also can be detected by
      using human insulinoma or fetal islet cells. We have tried to demonstrate ICSAs
      in the sera of 31 newly diagnosed diabetic patients, including 6 positive samples
      on human fetal islet cells, which used their natural target for the first time:
      normal human islet cells. In spite of using different types of preparations of
      these cells (i.e., freshly dispersed cell suspensions, monolayer cultures, or
      dispersed islets after culture), ICSAs could not be detected by IFL under the UV
      microscope, nor by flow cytometry. In contrast, 9 of 29 of the sera gave a
      positive staining on the RIN rat insulinoma cells. In an attempt to establish
      whether the putative ICSA autoantigen is present in the surface of human islet
      cells in the diabetic pancreas, the insulitis microenvironment was emulated by
      exposing the islets to three types of stress: 1) cytokines (IFN-gamma and TNF
      alpha); 2) heat shock; and 3) hyperglycemia. However, diabetic sera failed again
      to recognize membrane antigens on the islet cells after either of these
      treatments. Neither were islet cells from a newly diagnosed diabetic patient
      stained by its autologous serum (ICA titer > 80 JDF U). These results suggest
      that ICSA autoantigen is not expressed in the membrane of human islet cells and
      therefore raises doubts about their proposed pathogenic role.

PMID- 1446805
TI  - Sib-pair analysis of adenosine deaminase locus in NIDDM.
AB  - Recently, linkage between the ADA gene locus and MODY, a subtype of NIDDM, has
      been reported. The possibility that the region of chromosome 20q containing the
      ADA locus also may play a role in susceptibility to NIDDM needs to be
      investigated. Therefore, we examined the linkage between the ADA locus and NIDDM
      in affected siblings of 50 European white diabetic pedigrees--21 Italian and 29
      British. Departure from independent segregation of the disease and an Alu VpA
      polymorphism within the 5' flanking region of the ADA locus was tested in the
      affected sib-pairs with the APM statistical method. After DNA amplification by
      the PCR and PAGE, five alleles were identified in the ALU VpA tract at the ADA
      locus in the two populations. Allele frequencies did not differ significantly
      between the two populations (chi 2 = 2.426, P > 0.05 [NS]). Analysis of the 50
      diabetic sib sets, and independently of the Italian and British groups of
      affected sib pairs, revealed no segregation distortion between the marker locus
      and NIDDM. We conclude that mutations within or around the ADA locus are unlikely
      to play a major role in the etiology of NIDDM.

PMID- 1446806
TI  - PGE2 prevents anomalies induced by hyperglycemia or diabetic serum in mouse
      embryos.
AB  - Both a high level of D-glucose in the medium and serum from a diabetic rat can
      induce neural-tube fusion defects and growth retardation in cultured mouse and
      rat embryos. To test our hypothesis that a deficiency of PGs may be involved in
      the mechanism of hyperglycemia- and diabetic serum-induced teratogenesis and
      growth retardation, we added PGE2 to the medium of a whole mouse embryo culture
      containing either normal rat serum and 52.7 mM D-glucose (hyperglycemic) or
      diabetic rat serum and 22.2 mM D-glucose (diabetic). After a 24-h culture, 94% of
      hyperglycemic embryos and 81% of diabetic embryos had neural-tube fusion defects;
      in addition, the number of somites, the morphological score, and the protein
      content of the embryos were significantly lower than those of controls.
      Supplementing the medium with PGE2 at concentrations of 0.028-28.4 nM
      (hyperglycemic) or 28.4 nM (diabetic) significantly reduced the incidence of
      neural-tube defects and increased the number of somites, the morphological score,
      and the protein content. These results strongly support the hypothesis that the
      teratogenicity of diabetic serum, as well as the teratogenic action of
      hyperglycemic culture, are mediated through a deficiency of PGs.

PMID- 1446807
TI  - Longitudinal study of plasma lipoproteins and hormones during pregnancy in normal
      and diabetic women.
AB  - Plasma lipoproteins were studied longitudinally at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
      trimester of gestation and at postpartum and postlactation in 12 age-matched PGDM
      women, 9 GDM women, and 12 healthy control subjects. FPG and HbA1c were higher in
      every case in PGDM women than in control subjects, whereas in GDM patients,
      glucose was augmented only after parturition. FFA and beta-hydroxybutyrate levels
      were higher in both PGDM and GDM patients than in control subjects during
      gestation but not after parturition. Total TGs and VLDL, LDL, and HDL TGs
      increased with gestational time in the three groups and declined at postpartum,
      and although total cholesterol and VLDL, LDL, and HDL cholesterol followed a
      similar trend, their rise was less pronounced, and the decline after parturition
      was slower than that of the TGs in the three groups, with no difference among
      them. The VLDL TG/cholesterol ratio declined in the three groups at the 3rd
      gestational trimester, whereas in both LDL and HDL, the TG/cholesterol ratio, but
      not the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio, increased during gestation in the three
      groups, indicating a specific enrichment of TGs in these particles. The increase
      in apoA-I and apoB with gestation was parallel to the respective changes in HDL
      and LDL cholesterol and, again, no difference was observed between the three
      groups. Plasma levels of beta-estradiol, progesterone, and prolactin increased
      sharply with gestation and declined at postpartum in the three groups, but
      absolute values of beta-estradiol and prolactin, at the three trimesters of
      gestation, were lower in PGDM patients, but progesterone levels were lower than
      controls in GDM women only at the 3rd trimester. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1446808
TI  - Intrathymic islet cell transplantation reduces beta-cell autoimmunity and
      prevents diabetes in NOD/Lt mice.
AB  - Intrathymic transplantation of syngeneic islets into adolescent NOD/Lt mice was
      performed to establish whether the thymus would serve as an immunoprivileged site
      for beta-cell engraftment, and whether this treatment would prevent the
      development of diabetes by eliciting tolerance to islet antigens. Intrathymic
      injection of cells from 200 NOD islets into 4-wk-old female NOD/Lt mice produced
      a significant reduction in the severity of insulitis at 24 wk of age.
      Furthermore, diabetes development was strongly suppressed (11% incidence)
      compared with controls (100% incidence). Both thymus histology and thymic insulin
      content revealed a rapid loss of the implanted beta-cells with < 1% remaining 1
      wk posttransplantation. Despite the rapid loss of thymus-implanted islet cells,
      evidence for tolerance induction to islet cell antigens was obtained by adoptive
      transfer of splenic leukocytes from these mice into NOD-scid/scid recipients.
      After adoptive transfer of splenic leukocytes from 24-wk-old untreated
      prediabetic donors, 4 of 5 NOD-scid/scid recipients developed diabetes within 4
      wk, and none of the recipients became diabetic after transfer of splenocytes from
      intrathymic islet-implanted donors. Intrathymic islet transplantation did not
      lead to reduction of sialitis in females with reduced severity of insulitis,
      indicating that the protective effect was tissue specific. This also was
      reflected in adoptive transfer experiments, because equal severity of sialitis
      was observed in NOD-scid/scid recipients of spleen cells from either islet
      transplanted or control NOD/Lt mice. In conclusion, the data suggest that
      intrathymic injection of islet cells prevents diabetes by stimulating
      immunological tolerance to beta-cells.

PMID- 1446809
TI  - [Immunogenetics of immunoglobulins in domestic mink. VII. Features of phenotypic
      expression of gamma-heavy chain constant region allotypes mask linkage of IgCH
      genes].
AB  - Reduced expressivity and penetrance of allotypes H2-H4 and the regulation of
      allotype H6 expression by regulatory gene concealed the linkage of mink C genes
      in statistical analyses. Their linkage was demonstrated by di- and polyhybrid
      test crosses with 3, 4 and more generations.

PMID- 1446810
TI  - [Variability of polymorphic gene markers in Buryat and Russian newborns from Ulan
      Ude].
AB  - Variability of ten polymorphic loci (ABO, RhD, PGD, ACP, PGM1, GLO, ESD, ADA, GC,
      TF) was studied in 326 Buryat and 310 Russian newborns from Ulan-Ude city. Marked
      differences between two groups were observed in the distributions of allelic
      frequencies of ABO, RhD, PGD, ACP, PGM1, GLO, ESD, GC loci. Genetic similarities
      between Buryat and other mongoloids were estimated. Close similarity was observed
      between Buryat, Mongols, Yakut and Kyzyl.

PMID- 1446811
TI  - [Distribution of abnormal hemoglobins S and C in the Republic of Guinea].
AB  - Distribution of the HbS and HbC in the Guinean Republic was determined by the
      analysis of the excerption of 2213 inhabitants representing different ethnic
      groups of the country. It was found that the mean frequency of the HbS
      heterozygotes is 21.2 +/- 0.9% and of the HbC heterozygotes is 2.6 +/- 0.3%.
      Among major nationalities of the country the frequencies of the HbS heterozygotes
      make up 21.0 +/- 1.9% for the Fulbe, 22.2 +/- 1.6% for the Malinke and 26.5 +/-
      1.6% for the Susu and frequencies of the HbC heterozygotes make up 3.0 +/- 0.8%
      for the Fulbe, 2.5 +/- 0.6% for the Malinke and 1.6 +/- 0.4% for the Susu.
      Relative viability of the HbS and HbC carriers for major Guinean nationalities is
      estimated. The relative fitnesses account is 1.05-1.13 for HbC heterozygotes and
      1.07-1.16 for HbC heterozygotes.

PMID- 1446812
TI  - [A line of Chinese hamster cells containing human chromosome 18].

PMID- 1446813
TI  - [Role of activated cellular c-Ha-ras-1 oncogene in the mutagenic effect of the
      plasmid pEJ6.6].
AB  - The role of the activated oncogene c-Ha-ras-1 from human bladder carcinoma
      integrated into the pEJ6.6 plasmid in the mutagenic effect of the plasmid was
      studied in Chinese hamster cells. The frequency of hypoxanthine
      phosphoribosyltransferase defective (HPRT-) mutants after treatment with pEJ6.6
      containing an active c-Ha-ras-1 exceeded that in control dishes treated with a
      derivative of pEJ6.6 plasmid with an inactivated oncogene. The inactivation was
      achieved by introducing a deletion into the coding region of the oncogene. The
      mutagenic effect was rather weak but statistically significant. Thus, the data
      obtained show that the mutagenic activity of pEJ6.6 plasmid is determined by its
      oncogene. The role of mutagenic effects of activated cellular oncogenes in
      malignant transformation is discussed.

PMID- 1446814
TI  - [Dependence of mutagenic activity of heterocyclic analogs of pyrene on their
      chemical structure].
AB  - Comparative mutagenic activity of 6 heterocyclic analogs of pyrene was studied.
      The highest activity was revealed for 2,7-dinitro-4,9-dioxy-5,10-dioxo-4,5,9,10
      tetrahydro-4,9- diazapyrene (2,7-DN-DDTDP) and 2,7-dinitro-5,10-dioxo-4,9
      dioxapyrene (2,7-DN-DDP) which induced mutations in the tester strain Salmonella
      typhimurium TA98 and TA100. High mutagenicity of 2,7-DN-DDTDP and 2,7-DN-DDP is
      conditioned by reduction of nitro groups in the 2,7 position. The carbonyl groups
      in the 5,10 position were believed to cause bifunctional activity of 2,7-DN-DDTDP
      and 2,7-DN-DDP and to promote deletion of two G-C in the D3052 site.

PMID- 1446815
TI  - [Activity of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) in embryonic livers from twin
      minks].
AB  - Ag-NOR patterns were studied in hepatocytes from nine mink embryo siblings,
      including a pair of monochorionic (presumably monozygotic, MZ) twins. Both the
      number and the size of Ag-NORs per cell were found to be identical in MZ twins.
      All the other sibs had the patterns different from each other and from the MZ
      ones. The conclusion is that the NORs activity is a strongly inherited character
      and the Ag-NOR pattern can be used as a reliable genetic marker to distinguish
      the twin zygosity.

PMID- 1446816
TI  - [Influence of mutations in the suppressor of hairy wing and modifier of MDG4 loci
      on phenotype expression of super-unstable alleles at the yellow locus of
      Drosophila melanogaster].
AB  - A number of super-unstable systems were obtained earlier by the induction of P-M
      hybrid dysgenesis in the strains with a mobilized Stalker. One of the super
      unstable mutations appeared at the yellow locus of Drosophila melanogaster on the
      background of preexisting y mutation. The latter had been induced by mdg4
      insertion into the regulatory region of the yellow locus. The suppressor genes of
      Hairy wing and modifier of mdg4 are known to encode proteins which bind to the
      mdg4 enhancer and are involved in the control of its transcription. A large
      spectrum of yellow alleles was obtained in super-unstable systems which could be
      recognized by the intensity of pigmentation in twelve different areas of the
      cuticle. Combining of these alleles with su(Hw) and mod(mdg4) mutations followed
      by the study of phenotype changes demonstrated that the same regulatory protein
      may influence expression of the gene in opposite directions.

PMID- 1446817
TI  - [Modification of drug mutagenicity by their immobilization. Effect of prostatilen
      immobilized in polyvinyl alcohol in mice].
AB  - Mutagenic drug effect of prostatilen and the possibility of modification were
      analysed in the sperm head anomalies (SHA) and the bone marrow cell aberrations
      (CA) tests in Mus musculus. It was found that intraperitoneal injection of 2.5
      micrograms of prostatilen induced no significant increase in SHA and CA
      frequencies, the dose of 5 micrograms inducing both SHA and CA. Ultrafiltration
      of prostatilen led to decrease in its mutagenicity in the SHA test.
      Immobilization of the drug (5 and 10 micrograms) in polyvinyl alcohol reduced SHA
      and CA frequencies, the former decreasing to the control level.

PMID- 1446818
TI  - Construction and characterisation of a yeast artificial chromosome library
      containing two haploid Beta vulgaris L. genome equivalents.
AB  - We have constructed a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) library using high
      molecular-weight DNA prepared from agarose-embedded protoplasts of a sugar beet
      (Beta vulgaris L.) cell suspension line, Ar+. This library contains 15,000 clones
      with an average insert size of 140 kb. Based on a sugar beet haploid genome size
      of 1.1 x 10(3) Mb it should represent approximately two haploid genome
      equivalents. The library is organised as an ordered array in duplicate microtitre
      plates. High-density filters, each containing 864 YAC clones, have been screened
      in colony hybridisation experiments. In this way, sugar beet YAC clones have been
      identified containing chloroplast DNA, mitochondrial DNA and two satellite DNAs.
      Ten pools of DNA from 1500 individual YAC clones have also been prepared for
      rapid PCR screening of the library. Using this approach, in combination with
      colony hybridisation, we have been able to isolate sugar beet YAC clones
      containing a transcribed low-copy-number gene.

PMID- 1446819
TI  - Trans-splicing of an early embryo mRNA in Litomosoides carinii, coding for the
      major microfilarial sheath protein gp22.
AB  - Both genomic and cDNA clones have been isolated encoding the major sheath
      glycoprotein, gp22, of Litomosoides carinii microfilariae. The mature gp22 mRNA
      is shown to result from both trans-splicing of a 22-nucleotide 5'-leader sequence
      to an acceptor site at position 313 of the pre-mRNA, immediately upstream from
      the start codon, and from cis-splicing of a 117-nt intron located within the
      coding sequence. Cis-splicing precedes the trans-splicing reaction. The gp22
      reading frame of 148 codons has the inferred structure of a prepro-protein and
      includes a leader peptide and a pro-segment ahead of the known N terminus of the
      mature, extracellular protein of 105 amino acids. The N-terminal part of that
      protein contains five repeats of an elastin-related pentapeptide sequence, which,
      together with a proline-threonine segment between two Cys clusters in the center
      and at its C terminus, may cause an elongated conformation with an apparent
      molecular size of 22 kDa in contrast to the calculated M(r) of 11,200.

PMID- 1446820
TI  - Conservation of gene organization and trans-splicing in the glyceraldehyde-3
      phosphate dehydrogenase-encoding genes of Caenorhabditis briggsae.
AB  - The genes encoding body-wall-specific glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase
      from Caenorhabditis briggsae were sequenced and compared to the homologous genes
      from Caenorhabditis elegans. The direct tandem organization of these genes, gpd-2
      and gpd-3, and the size and location of the two introns in each gene are the same
      in C. elegans and C. briggsae. Primer-extension studies demonstrated that the two
      genes in C. briggsae are trans-splice differentially with the same splice leader
      (SL) RNAs as are observed in C. elegans. The gdp-2 gene is trans-spliced with SL1
      while gdp-3 is trans-spliced with SL2. Significant sequence conservation was
      observed within the promoter regions of each species and may indicate those
      regions responsible for body-wall-muscle-specific gene expression and/or
      differential trans-splicing. Comparisons of the sequences suggest that the tandem
      repeat of the genes has been subjected to concerted evolution and that C.
      briggsae and C. elegans diverged much earlier than would be anticipated based on
      morphological similarities alone. Finally, an open reading frame found several
      hundred nucleotides upstream from gpd-2, in both species, appears to be
      homologous to the ATP synthase subunit, ATPase inhibitor protein, from bovine
      mitochondria.

PMID- 1446821
TI  - Regulatory elements and transcriptional regulation by testosterone and retinoic
      acid of the rat nerve growth factor receptor promoter.
AB  - The low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor (LNGFR) is a membrane-associated
      glycoprotein which is thought to participate in some of the biological activities
      of nerve growth factor (NGF). Expression of the LNGFR gene is known to be
      regulated both during development and in response to various agents in cell
      culture. However, molecular mechanisms responsible for the regulation have not
      been described. We report here an analysis of a 4.8-kb sequence from the 5'
      flanking region of the rat LNGFR gene. Several regulatory elements were
      identified in this region by transfection of plasmid constructs containing
      sequences from LNGFR fused to a bacterial cat reporter gene. The proximal part of
      the promoter region (0.4-kb) was shown to be sufficient to support cat expression
      in all cell types used. A silencer element located between -1.5 kb and -1.8 kb
      from the start of translation, as well as an enhancer element in more upstream
      regions of the promoter, were identified in the phaeochromocytoma cell line,
      PC12, and in the Sertoli cell line, TM4, that express the LNGFR gene. Treatment
      of TM4 cells with retinoic acid (RA) increases the level of LNGFR mRNA twofold,
      while testosterone treatment results in a tenfold decrease. Regions of the
      promoter responsive to testosterone and RA in TM4 cells were found at -610 to 
      860 bp and -1840 to -4800 bp upstream from the translation start codon,
      respectively. A RA-responsive element active in PC12 cells is located between bp 
      610 to -860 from the start codon.

PMID- 1446822
TI  - Cloning of the goat beta-casein-encoding gene and expression in transgenic mice.
AB  - The goat beta-casein-encoding gene (CSN2), which encodes the most abundant
      protein of goat milk, has been cloned and sequenced. The intron/exon organization
      of the 9.0-kb goat CSN2 gene is similar to that of other CSN2 genes. Expression
      of the goat gene was principally restricted to the mammary gland of lactating
      transgenic animals. A low level of expression was also observed in skeletal
      muscle and skin. In contrast to a rat CSN2 transgene [Lee et al., Nucleic Acids
      Res. 16 (1988) 1027-1041], the goat gene was expressed to a high degree in the
      lactating mammary gland. Differences in the content or context of regulatory
      elements may account for the enhanced performance of the goat relative to the rat
      CSN2 gene in transgenic mice.

PMID- 1446823
TI  - Transgenic pigs carrying cDNA copies encoding the murine Mx1 protein which
      confers resistance to influenza virus infection.
AB  - An important aspect of gene transfer into farm animals is the improvement of
      disease resistance. The mouse Mx1 protein is known to be sufficient to confer
      resistance to influenza viruses. Gene constructs containing the mouse Mx1 cDNA
      controlled by the human metallothionein IIA promoter (hMTIIA::Mx), the SV40 early
      enhancer/promoter region (SV40::Mx) and the mouse Mx1 promoter (mMx::Mx) were
      transferred into pigs. The results of the gene transfer experiments with the
      hMTIIA::Mx and the SV40::Mx constructs indicate that the permanent high-level
      synthesis of Mx1 might be deleterious to the organism: the gene transfer
      efficiency was surprisingly low, and all transgenic piglets born had
      rearrangements in their transgene copies that abolished protein synthesis. The
      use of the interferon (IFN)- and virus-inducible mMx::Mx construct resulted in
      normal gene transfer efficiency. Two transgenic pig lines could be established
      which expressed IFN-inducible mouse Mx1 mRNA. Extensive protein analysis did not
      detect mouse Mx1 in IFN-treated transgenic animals.

PMID- 1446824
TI  - Combinatorial functions of two chimeric antibodies directed to human CD4 and one
      directed to the alpha-chain of the human interleukin-2 receptor.
AB  - The general feasibility of chimerization of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has
      already been shown for a large number of them. In order to evaluate in vitro
      parameters relevant to immunosuppressive therapy, we have chimerized and
      synthesized two anti-CD4 mAbs recognizing two different epitopes on the human T
      lymphocyte antigen, CD4. The chimerized mAbs are produced at levels corresponding
      to those of the original hybridoma cell lines. With respect to activation of
      human complement, the individual Abs are negative; however, when used in
      combination, complement activation was performed. When applied in combination,
      they were found to modulate the CD4 antigen, whereas the individual mAb do not
      display this property. Individually they mediate an up to 60% inhibition of the
      mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). However, by combination of an anti-CD4 mAb with
      one directed against the alpha-chain of the human IL2 receptor, nearly 100%
      inhibition of the MLR was achieved, even with reduced dosage of the mAbs. Our
      data suggest that the combination of an anti-CD4 mAb and an anti-IL2R alpha chain
      mAb is more effective with respect to immunosuppression than each mAb by itself,
      indicating that this mAb cocktail could be a new strategy for immunosuppressive
      therapy.

PMID- 1446825
TI  - Intrahelical pseudoknots and interhelical associations mediated by mispaired
      human minisatellite DNA sequences in vitro.
AB  - The human minisatellite arrays, 33.6 and 33.15, consist of tandem reiterations of
      a 37-nucleotide (nt) and a 16-nt repeat unit sequence, respectively, both of
      which contain a majority of purine bases on one strand. Knot-like tertiary
      structures, which mapped to the cloned arrays, were observed by electron
      microscopy (EM) in homoduplex molecules produced by denaturation and reannealing
      in vitro. They result from a primary hybridization between misaligned repeat
      units of the array, forming a slipped-strand structure with staggered single
      stranded DNA loops, followed by a secondary hybridization between repeat units in
      the two loops. Depending on the relative alignment of the loops when they
      hybridize, a particular form of intrahelical pseudoknot is produced. Theta
      shaped, figure-of-eight, and bow-shaped structures were the most common
      conformational isomers observed in homoduplexes flattened into two dimensions
      during EM preparation. At the site of a bow-shaped structure, a conformation
      dependent bend of approximately 60 degrees between the flanking DNA segments is
      induced; the other conformations generally do not deflect the line of the main
      DNA axis. Paired loops, similar to the bow-shaped structure, were apically
      situated in some supercoiled plasmids containing the 33.6 array. Both plasmids
      formed intermolecular associations, consisting of two (or more) homoduplex
      molecules held together at or immediately adjacent to a nexus which mapped to the
      minisatellite sequences. These associations might arise either by interhelical
      hybridization between arrays or by knot-like structures interfering with branch
      migration of chi-form Holliday junctions.

PMID- 1446826
TI  - A human endogenous long terminal repeat provides a polyadenylation signal to a
      novel, alternatively spliced transcript in normal placenta.
AB  - We have been investigating the impact that the long terminal repeats (LTRs) of
      the RTVL-H family of human endogenous retroviral-like elements may have on the
      expression of adjacent cellular genes. Using a differential hybridization
      strategy, we have screened a cDNA library from a normal full-term human placenta
      and have identified two clones containing non-RTVL-H-related cellular sequences
      that have been polyadenylated within an RTVL-H LTR. One of these clones, cPj-LTR,
      contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 223 amino acids. Southern analysis
      indicated that the corresponding gene, termed PLT, is most probably a single
      multi-exon locus and that related sequences are present in the mouse genome,
      suggesting that this gene has been evolutionarily conserved. Database searches
      detected no significant homology to previously published sequences, indicating
      that PLT is a novel gene. Northern analysis identified several PLT-related
      transcripts in placental RNA samples, one of which is associated with the LTR.
      The presence of this PLT-LTR fusion transcript in normal placenta was also
      confirmed by PCR. Additional hybridization studies with RNAs from various cell
      lines suggested that the PLT locus is differentially expressed in different cell
      types. To investigate the structure of the non-LTR-associated PLT-related
      transcripts, additional clones were isolated from the placental cDNA library.
      Analysis of these clones suggests that the PLT mRNA undergoes alternative
      splicing at its 3' end, with polyadenylation within an RTVL-H LTR occurring in
      one of the resulting transcripts.

PMID- 1446827
TI  - Production and secretion of high levels of recombinant human acetylcholinesterase
      in cultured cell lines: microheterogeneity of the catalytic subunit.
AB  - To allow for structural analysis of the human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE)
      subunit, a series of eukaryotic vectors was designed for efficient expression.
      Several eukaryotic multicistronic expression vectors were tested in various
      mammalian cell lines. All expression vectors contained the selectable neo gene
      under control of a weak promoter, while the hAChE cDNA was under control of the
      cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate-early or Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat
      (RSV LTR) or simian virus 40 (SV40) early promoters. Optimal production and
      secretion of recombinant hAChE (rehAChE) was achieved in the embryonal kidney 293
      cell line transfected either with the RSV-hAChE or with CMV-hAChE expression
      vectors. Clones expressing and secreting as much as 5-25 pg of enzyme per cell
      per 24 h were obtained without resorting to coamplification techniques or
      continuous maintenance of cells under selective pressure. The purified (specific
      activity of 6000 units per mg protein) homodimer and tetramer enzyme molecules
      displayed typical AChE biochemical properties: a Km value of 120 microM for
      acetylthiocholine; a kcat value of 3.9 x 10(5)/min, and selective by AChE
      specific inhibitors. Catalytic subunit dimers (130 kDa) exhibit differential N
      glycosylation patterns, and upon reduction resolve into 67- and 70-kDa monomeric
      subunits. These two forms appear as a single discrete 62-kDa band following
      deglycosylation by N-glycanase. The N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of
      the purified mature enzyme suggests the existence of two alternative cleavage
      sites for the removal of the signal peptide, in which the 'mature' position 1 is
      either Ala31 or Gly33. Both of these positions conform with the consensus signal
      peptide recognition sequences and demonstrate bidirected processing of signal
      peptides on a native molecule.

PMID- 1446828
TI  - Cloning and characterization of the ADH5 gene encoding human alcohol
      dehydrogenase 5, formaldehyde dehydrogenase.
AB  - Human chi-alcohol dehydrogenase (chi-ADH) is a zinc-containing dimeric enzyme
      responsible for the oxidation of long-chain alcohols and omega-hydroxyfatty
      acids. Class-III ADHs, of which chi-ADH is the prototype, are widely produced and
      well conserved during evolution. This suggests that they fulfill important
      housekeeping roles in cellular metabolism. Recent evidence suggests that class
      III ADH and formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FDH) are the same enzyme. We have
      isolated and characterized two overlapping genomic clones that cover the entire
      ADH5 (FDH) gene. ADH5 is composed of nine exons and eight introns. Two major
      transcription start points were identified by primer extension. The 5'
      nontranslated region is unusual in that it contains two additional upstream ATG
      codons, which would encode peptides of 20 and 10 amino acids. Neither of the
      upstream ATGs is in a good context for translation initiation, whereas the ATG
      initiating &khgr;-ADH is in a favorable context. The 5' region of ADH5 is a CpG
      island; it is extremely G+C rich and has many CpG doublets. It does not contain
      either a TATA box or a CAAT box. This is consistent with ubiquitous expression,
      and contrasts with the promoters of all previously cloned ADH genes, which are
      expressed in a tissue-specific manner. The 5' region of ADH5 contains consensus
      binding sites for the transcriptional regulatory proteins, Sp1, AP2, LF-A1, NF-1,
      NF-A2, and NF-E1. A 1.5-kb upstream fragment from ADH5 was able to drive the
      transcription of a cat reporter gene at high levels in monkey kidney cells (CV
      1). Several processed pseudogenes were also isolated.

PMID- 1446829
TI  - Expression of the human ADH2 gene: an unusual Sp1-binding site in the promoter of
      a gene expressed at high levels in liver.
AB  - The sequence 5'-GTGGGTGTGGC (G3T) is important for the efficient initiation of
      transcription from the human ADH2 promoter. We show here that the purified
      transcription factor Sp1 binds with high affinity to the G3T site of ADH2
      (encoding beta beta-alcohol dehydrogenase), even though the G3T sequence does not
      contain the canonical Sp1-binding site, GGGCGG. Proteins from mouse liver nuclei
      and purified Sp1 both footprint the same sequence of the ADH2 promoter with
      similar patterns. UV crosslinking demonstrates that the major G3T-binding protein
      in the liver extract is similar in size to Sp1. Mouse liver nuclear extract
      resembles purified Sp1 in its relative binding affinity to a series of
      oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing either the Sp1-binding site or variants of
      the G3T sequence. These data indicate that the G3T sequence can interact with Sp1
      and that Sp1 may be important in the expression of ADH2. The G3T sequence from
      the closely related ADH3 gene (encoding gamma gamma-alcohol dehydrogenase)
      differs from that of ADH2 in the first two nucleotides; it binds both the liver
      protein and purified Sp1 with lower affinity. This might explain why ADH3 is
      expressed at lower levels than ADH2 in the liver.

PMID- 1446830
TI  - Affinity purification of histidine-tagged proteins transiently produced in HeLa
      cells.
AB  - In order to produce eukaryotic proteins in a functional state, it is often
      necessary to use eukaryotic instead of prokaryotic expression systems. We have
      designed vectors which can be employed to express either N- or C-terminally
      histidine-tagged proteins in transiently transfected eukaryotic cells. The
      histidine tag allows the rapid enrichment of these proteins by metal chelate
      affinity chromatography in a native and functional state. Yields of up to 5
      micrograms protein/5 x 10(7) cells were achieved.

PMID- 1446831
TI  - Characterization of a gene that encodes a homologue of protein kinase in
      Arabidopsis thaliana.
AB  - Cloning and analysis of a gene that encodes a homologue of protein kinase (PK)
      from Arabidopsis thaliana is reported. Oligodeoxyribonucleotides (oligos)
      corresponding to conserved regions in catalytic domains of various PKs were used
      for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with genomic DNA from A.
      thaliana as template, in an attempt to identify genes encoding PK in plants. We
      obtained several amplified DNA fragments that encoded part of a PK. We screened a
      genomic DNA library of A. thaliana with these oligos or PCR fragments as probes.
      Three genomic clones were obtained and one of them, named Atpk7, was sequenced
      and analyzed. Atpk7 was demonstrated by PCR to contain an intron. The mRNA
      transcribed from Atpk7 was detected predominantly in root tissue by Northern blot
      analysis. The transcription start point was determined by primer extension. The
      deduced amino acid (aa) sequence of the putative product of Atpk7 resembles those
      of S6 kinases, cyclic nucleotide-dependent PKs and calcium-dependent PKs. From
      this comparison of aa sequences, the ATPK7 protein is considered to be a member
      of a novel subfamily of Ser/Thr PKs in plants.

PMID- 1446832
TI  - Cloning and characterization of cDNAs coding for heavy and light chains of a
      monoclonal antibody specific for pre-S2 antigen of hepatitis B virus.
AB  - Binding specificity of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) (kappa, gamma 2b) H8 which can
      react with the pre-S2 peptide of hepatitis B virus (HBV) was determined by
      Western blot analyses. From the hybridoma cell line secreting mAb H8, poly(A)+
      RNA was prepared and used as a template for cDNA synthesis and cloning. Full
      length cDNAs coding for the heavy and kappa light chains of the mAb were cloned
      from the cDNA library and characterized by nucleotide (nt) sequence analyses and
      N-terminal amino acid sequencing. The sequence analyses revealed that both heavy
      and light chain-specific cDNAs are functional, and the variable regions of the
      heavy and light chains are members of mouse heavy chain subgroup III(c) and light
      chain group I, respectively. Comparison of the nt sequences with mouse
      immunoglobulin genes listed in the GenBank data base show that the cDNAs have not
      been previously reported. The cDNAs will be used for the construction of a
      therapeutic antibody for HBV infection.

PMID- 1446833
TI  - Cloning and sequencing of the cDNA encoding tyrosinase of the Japanese pond frog,
      Rana nigromaculata.
AB  - We cloned and sequenced the cDNA encoding tyrosinase (TYN) of the Japanese pond
      frog, Rana nigromaculata. The 3511-bp cDNA contained a 54-bp 5'-noncoding region,
      a 1596-bp open reading frame encoding TYN of 532 amino acids (aa), and a 1861-bp
      3'-noncoding region. The aa sequence of frog TYN predicted from the cDNA sequence
      was homologous to that of mouse and human TYNs. The aa sequence including the
      copper-binding domain, which is likely the active center of TYN, was highly
      conserved among these three species and Neurospora crassa, Streptomyces
      antibioticus, and S. glaucescens. The frog TYN also contains possible
      glycosylation sites and conserved Cys at sites similar to those in the mouse and
      human TYNs. There are two hydrophobic regions at the N-terminus and near the C
      terminus, which are likely the signal (leader) peptide and a transmembrane
      domain, respectively.

PMID- 1446834
TI  - The use of a wild-type dihydrofolate reductase-encoding cDNA as a dominant
      selectable marker and induction of expression by methotrexate.
AB  - The cDNA (DHFR) encoding the wild-type (wt) dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) was
      used as a dominant selectable marker in the transfection of murine hybridoma
      Sp2/0-Ag14 cells by protoplast fusion. The initial clones contained 100-400
      copies of integrated plasmid DNA, and the high level of wt DHFR protein produced
      enabled the cells to survive the drug selection at 100 nM methotrexate (MTX). The
      expression of the gene of interest was several fold higher than when the mutant
      DHFR with decreased MTX binding was used as the selection marker, presumably
      because the clones were more sensitive to the stress induced by MTX. When the
      clones were propagated at higher concentrations of MTX, expression of both DHFR
      and the gene of interest increased. This induction is freely reversible, and we
      have shown that it is controlled at the transcriptional level, by nuclear run-off
      transcription assays.

PMID- 1446835
TI  - A rat brain-derived neurotrophic factor-encoding gene generates multiple
      transcripts through alternative use of 5' exons and polyadenylation sites.
AB  - As a first step toward clarification of the transcriptional controls of the gene
      encoding brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), we cloned and sequenced a rat
      genomic DNA fragment carrying this gene. RNA blotting analysis using a probe
      derived from the 3'-flanking region of BDNF revealed that alternative use of 3'
      polyadenylation sites generates at least two BDNF transcripts that differ in the
      size of the 3'-noncoding region. Furthermore, sequence analysis of the 5'-end of
      the BDNF cDNA revealed the presence of at least six different types of
      transcripts which were probably derived through alternative use of the multiple
      5'-exons. Therefore, a single BDNF gene could produce multiple types of
      transcripts with different noncoding sequences through alternative use of both 5'
      exons and 3'-transcription termination sites.

PMID- 1446836
TI  - The human ribosomal protein S6 gene: isolation, primary structure and location in
      chromosome 9.
AB  - Using PCR cloning we isolated the first intron of the human ribosomal protein S6
      gene (hRPS6). By screening the human HeLa cell cDNA library in lambda ZAPII
      vector (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA), we identified and sequenced a partially
      spliced pre mRNA copy of hRPS6. The complete hRPS6 gene was isolated from a
      lambda DASH library with an intron-specific probe. The gene and flanking regions
      were sequenced, and the mRNA 5' end was mapped by primer extension experiments.
      The hRPS6 gene has 6 exons and 5 introns and is 3.6 kb long. Using intron
      specific primers in PCR and a panel of human-hamster cell lines we localized the
      hRPS6 gene in human chromosome 9.

PMID- 1446837
TI  - Cloning and sequencing of a human cDNA coding for dihydroorotate dehydrogenase by
      complementation of the corresponding yeast mutant.
AB  - Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHOdehase, EC 1.3.3.1) catalyses the fourth
      enzymatic step in de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis. A truncated human cDNA
      encoding this enzyme was isolated from a HeLa cell cDNA library by functional
      complementation of a corresponding deletion mutant from the yeast, Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae. The complementing clone contained a 1.5-kb poly(A)(+)-tailed insert
      with a 1191-bp open reading frame, hybridising with a unique human mRNA of 1.6
      kb. The deduced amino acid sequence has 54%, 46% and 42% identity with
      Arabidopsis thaliana, Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Escherichia coli DHOdehases,
      respectively. In contrast, it has only 21% identity with the S. cerevisiae
      enzyme, which probably reflects the cytosolic location of the enzyme in the
      latter organism.

PMID- 1446838
TI  - Cloning and sequencing of a jack bean urease-encoding cDNA.

PMID- 1446839
TI  - HMOs: 'medicine, Soviet style'?

PMID- 1446840
TI  - FDA user fee may speed approval of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's drugs.

PMID- 1446841
TI  - Diagnostic clues can help identify patients with renal artery stenosis.

PMID- 1446842
TI  - COPD: primary care management with drug and oxygen therapies.
AB  - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease related in most cases to extensive
      cigarette smoking is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients
      age 55 and older. Smoking cessation, inhaled anticholinergic therapy, and oxygen
      supplementation (when indicated) are primary treatment modalities. Nicotine
      administration via a transdermal system or polacrilex is the pharmacologic method
      of choice for smoking cessation. Concomitant group psychotherapy increases the
      likelihood of success. Beta agonists, mucolytics, and antibiotics can be useful
      in selected subgroups. Steroids and theophylline are controversial in COPD and
      should be used with caution. Prognostic indicators, such as degree of reversible
      airway disease, aid in long-term care decisions.

PMID- 1446843
TI  - Controversies in the management of cerebrovascular disease in older patients.
AB  - Several ongoing studies are evaluating the optimal management of patients with
      cerebrovascular disease. The Carotid Artery Stenosis with Asymptomatic Narrowing:
      Operation Versus Aspirin (CASANOVA) study has shown that carotid endarterectomy
      is not recommended for asymptomatic patients with less than 90% carotid stenosis.
      The North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) and the
      European Carotid Surgical Trial (ECST) have demonstrated that endarterectomy
      should be considered for patients who had recent carotid artery territory
      ischemic symptoms associated with angiographically defined stenosis of greater
      than 70%. These and other trials are expected to provide further data regarding
      management of cerebrovascular disease, including treatment of those patients with
      moderate (30 to 69%) carotid stenosis. Until that time, treatment decisions must
      be made on a case-to-case basis.

PMID- 1446844
TI  - Healthier lifestyles: how to motivate older patients to change.
AB  - A 1- to 3-minute clear discussion by the family physician of the risks of
      unhealthy lifestyles has been found to be quite successful in countering
      patients' denial of personal risk. Studies indicate that the physician's
      authority lends credibility to the need to make a change and is a strong
      motivator. An office-based physician counseling model has proven effective in
      motivating older patients to adopt healthier lifestyles. The model includes four
      basic steps: patient assessment, discussion of risk and delivery of a message to
      change, a prescription for change (planning and carrying out of a behavior change
      strategy), and prevention of relapse through a maintenance program.

PMID- 1446845
TI  - Clinton and healthcare reform: what to watch for in the first 100 days.

PMID- 1446846
TI  - Extracellular-superoxide dismutase type C (EC-SOD C) reduces myocardial damage in
      rats subjected to coronary occlusion and 24 hours of reperfusion.
AB  - Extracellular-superoxide dismutase type C (EC-SOD C) is a secretory SOD isoenzyme
      which, in contrast to the intracellular CuZn SOD, has affinity to the endothelium
      and a long vascular half-life. In the present study, the effects of EC-SOD C and
      CuZn SOD on reperfusion-induced myocardial damage were determined in rats
      subjected to 10 min of left coronary artery ligation followed by 24 h of
      reperfusion. Recombinant human EC-SOD C (rh-EC-SOD C) or the corresponding volume
      of the vehicle was administered after completion of the coronary ligation. CuZn
      SOD was given in two equal doses, the first dose directly after ligation and the
      second one 6 h later. At the end of the reperfusion period the myocardial damage
      was quantified by measuring the creatine kinase concentration (CK) in the
      reperfused part of the left ventricular free wall (LVFW), and expressed as a
      percentage of the concentration in the non-ischemic septum. In the group given
      the vehicle, 47 +/- 10 (mean +/- SD) of the CK remained in the reperfused LVFW.
      In the rats receiving rh-EC-SOD C the corresponding values for each dose: 1.4,
      4.2 and 12.6 mg/kg were 55 +/- 12 (ns), 55 +/- 12 (ns) and 65 +/- 12% (p less
      than 0.05, vs. vehicle, Dunnett's multiple comparison test), respectively.
      Administration of CuZn SOD (2 x 10 mg/kg) resulted in 58 +/- 16% (ns) CK
      remaining in the LVFW.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446847
TI  - Thioctic acid protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury in the isolated
      perfused Langendorff heart.
AB  - Antioxidant properties of thioctic and dihydrolipoic acid have been demonstrated
      in membranes and low density lipoproteins (LDL) in vitro. In vivo studies with
      dietary supplementation of thioctic acid to rats showed that it can also protect
      tissues against oxidative damage. Presumably, this action is due to a thioctic
      acid dihydrolipoic acid (TA/DHLA) coupled antioxidant mechanism, which enhances
      the activity of other antioxidants (i.e. ascorbate, alpha-tocopherol) by
      regenerating them from their radical form. In the present study, thioctic acid
      proved to protect against ischemia/reperfusion injury to Langendorff perfused
      hearts. Hearts isolated from rats fed thioctic acid and subjected to ischemia
      exhibited better mechanical recovery (left ventricular developed pressure) after
      reperfusion and lower lactate dehydrogenase leakage. Thioctic acid
      supplementation also decreased the appearance of fluorescent lipid peroxidation
      products after ischemia/reperfusion, lowered the rate of 2,2'-azobis-(2,4
      dimethylvaleronitrile) (AMVN) induced lipid peroxidation in heart homogenates,
      and prevented the loss of alpha-tocopherol. The total sulfhydryl group content in
      thioctic acid fed animals was higher and the decrease due to ischemia-reperfusion
      was not as marked in this group as observed in the control. These results show
      that dietary supplementation with thioctic acid in vivo provides protection
      against ischemia/reperfusion injury in the Langendorff heart model.

PMID- 1446848
TI  - New forms of treatment for inflammatory bowel disease.

PMID- 1446849
TI  - Trophic effect of gastrin on the enterochromaffin like cells of the rat stomach:
      establishment of a dose response relationship.
AB  - Gastrin was given to rats by continuous subcutaneous infusion through implanted
      osmotic minipumps in doses covering a wide range of the dose response
      relationship for gastrin with regard to the trophic effect on the
      enterochromaffin like cells of the oxyntic mucosa. Thirty five rats were divided
      into five groups (each of seven rats), one group receiving a control solution of
      1% albumin, the others receiving gastrin in 1% albumin at doses of 2.5, 5, 10,
      and 15 micrograms/kg/h, respectively. The plasma gastrin concentrations in the
      various groups increased in the same order of magnitude as expected from the
      gastrin doses given. Gastrin induced a dose dependent increase in
      enterochromaffin like cell density, oxyntic mucosal histamine concentration and
      histidine decarboxylase activity up to the dose of 5 micrograms/kg/h, where the
      increase levelled off. Hence, the dose response relationship for the trophic
      effect of gastrin on the enterochromaffin like cells seems to follow a polynomial
      rather than a linear function. These findings may also contribute to the
      understanding of the trophic effect of gastrin on enterochromaffin like cells in
      man with conditions associated with hypergastrinaemia.

PMID- 1446850
TI  - Gastric B-cell mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: a clinicopathological
      study in 56 patients.
AB  - Clinico-pathological features of 56 patients with primary gastric lymphoma were
      evaluated retrospectively. All cases were regraded according to a classification
      of Isaacson et al into high grade and low grade B-cell mucosa associated lymphoid
      tissue lymphoma. A third group of mixed grade was recognised in 11 patients with
      low grade who also had occasional areas of high grade. Low grade and mixed grade
      patients had a 100% actuarial survival at 156 months, which was significantly
      better (p < 0.01) than that of 52% for patients with high grade disease.
      Different treatment methods--surgery, chemotherapy, or a combination of both--did
      not significantly affect survival. Low grade tumours occurred mainly in men with
      a history of several years, and who presented with non-specific gastric symptoms
      without remarkable exploratory or laboratory findings: most patients were in
      stage IE-IIE and achieved remission and cure. High grade can have a shorter
      history, systemic symptoms, abnormal exploratory and laboratory findings, gastric
      tumour masses, stage IV disease, and a worse outcome. The only significant
      prognostic factors for survival were the type of lymphoma and stage IV disease.
      These findings support the Isaacson classification system which separates two
      extreme groups of gastric lymphomas with different morphology, behaviour, and
      outcome. The presence of limited areas of high grade in a specimen showing low
      grade does not change the outcome but suggests that primary gastric lymphoma
      forms a continuum between these extreme types.

PMID- 1446851
TI  - Changing pattern of gastric cancer in Oxfordshire.
AB  - This study compares the incidence rates of histologically confirmed gastric
      carcinoma in Oxfordshire in two five year periods (1960-64, 1984-88). Data were
      available for 215 patients in the first period, and 200 in the second. The
      overall incidence fell from 18/100,000 to 15/100,000 but when analysed for site,
      the incidence of antral tumours fell from 10 to 4.5/100,000. In contrast, there
      was an increase from 2.8 to 5.2/100,000 of tumours of the cardia. These changes
      were more pronounced in men. There was a marked association between smoking and
      tumours of the cardia (relative risk 4.5). Helicobacter pylori was associated
      with 37.5% of tumours in the 1960s series compared with 25% in the later series.
      The changing patterns of incidence of gastric carcinoma may, in part, be related
      to changes in smoking habits and perhaps a change in incidence of H pylori
      infection.

PMID- 1446852
TI  - Early gastric cancer: 46 cases treated in one surgical department.
AB  - Forty six consecutive patients with early gastric cancer were treated between
      1970 and 1990. The proportion of cases of early gastric cancer increased
      significantly (p < 0.01) from 1% of all cases in the first five year period to
      15% in the last five year period, because of greater awareness of the condition
      and more widespread use of endoscopy. There were 33 men and 13 women, of median
      age 69 years (range 38-86). Most patients (91%) presented with symptoms
      indistinguishable from those of peptic ulceration. The median duration of
      symptoms was four months (range 0.1-36 months). All 46 patients were treated
      surgically. Three patients (6.5%) died after operation and a further 10 (22%)
      suffered postoperative complications. None of the surviving patients has been
      lost to follow up and 25 have been followed up for a minimum period of five
      years. Five year survival by life table analysis was 98%. These findings suggest
      that in Britain in the 1990s, as in Japan, it may be possible to diagnose an
      increasing proportion of patients with gastric cancer at a relatively early
      pathological stage, when most patients can be cured by radical surgical resection
      with lymphadenectomy.

PMID- 1446853
TI  - Evidence of clonal variants of Helicobacter pylori in three generations of a
      duodenal ulcer disease family.
AB  - Nine members of a family with a high incidence of duodenal ulcer disease were
      studied by interview, examination of hospital records, endoscopy, and antral
      biopsy. Helicobacter pylori was confirmed by CLO test, histology and culture. DNA
      extraction from pure isolates of H pylori was possible in six family members and
      strain typing was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism. DNA
      restriction digestion was followed by vacublotting and then DNA hybridisation,
      using a cDNA probe complimentary to H pylori rRNA cistrons. Eight of the nine
      family members were H pylori positive by CLO test and histology. Five had
      duodenal ulcer disease. Three family members (one from each generation) harboured
      clonal variants of a single parent strain of H pylori but only two had duodenal
      disease. The other three members harboured different strains. Intrafamilial
      clustering of clonal variants of H pylori occurs in some duodenal ulcer disease
      families. Family members however, may develop duodenal disease irrespective of
      the colonising strain.

PMID- 1446854
TI  - Eighteen month follow up of Helicobacter pylori positive children treated with
      amoxycillin and tinidazole.
AB  - Sixty three children with dyspepsia (mean age 12 years, range one to 18, M/F
      41/22) were Helicobacter pylori positive by histology of gastric antral biopsy
      specimens and were treated with a six week course of amoxycillin (50 mg/kg) and
      tinidazole (20 mg/kg). The endoscopic diagnoses were: normal (16), nodular
      gastritis (19), oesophagitis (four), duodenal ulcer (13), and gastric ulcer (11).
      H pylori was eradicated in 54 (87%) and histological gastritis resolved in 51 and
      was improved in the other three. Repeat investigation was offered at six monthly
      intervals. Reinfection was found in three of 34 (9%) at six months, in none of 22
      at 12 months, and in two of 18 (11%) at 18 months, yielding an 18 month
      cumulative relapse rate of 20%. Children with persisting infection despite
      treatment remained positive during follow up. Serum H pylori IgG concentrations
      fell after treatment (p < 0.001), and for individual children during follow up
      there was a progressive decline, but an increased concentration indicated
      recurrence. After eradication of H pylori by combined amoxycillin and tinidazole
      treatment, only a minority of children relapse during the ensuing 18 months.

PMID- 1446855
TI  - Fasting hypochlorhydria with gram positive gastric flora is highly prevalent in
      healthy old people.
AB  - Fifteen healthy old people mean age 84 years (range 80-91 years), were examined
      to assess the effect of advanced age on the microecology of the upper
      gastrointestinal tract. Twelve of 15 (80%) were hypochlorhydric with pH 6.6 (0.3)
      (mean (SEM) and a mean bacterial count of 10(8) colony forming units (CFU) per ml
      (range 10(5)-10(10)) in fasting gastric aspirate. Normochlorhydric subjects had
      low counts (< or = 10(1) CFU/ml). The microbial flora was dominated by viridans
      streptococci, coagulase negative staphylococci, and Haemophilus sp. Only one
      subject harboured significant concentrations of Gram negative bacilli with
      Escherichia coli (10(4-5) CFU/ml) and Klebsiella (10(4-5)). Strict anaerobes were
      not found. The total concentration of short chain fatty acids in gastric aspirate
      was 10.6 (2.9) mmol/l (mean (SEM). Absence of significant, intraluminal
      fermentation of xylose to CO2 was shown by the 14C-d Xylose breath test, and
      ambulatory manometry showed preserved fasting motility pattern of the small
      intestine. Serum immunoglobulins were normal. Advanced age is accompanied by
      fasting hypochlorhydria and colonisation with mainly Gram positive flora in the
      upper gut. Other factors than old age and fasting hypochlorhydria are required
      for colonisation with Gram negative bacilli.

PMID- 1446856
TI  - Concentrations of 5-ASA and Ac-5-ASA in human ileocolonic biopsy homogenates
      after oral 5-ASA preparations.
AB  - Intramucosal 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and acetylated 5-ASA (Ac-5-ASA)
      concentrations were determined in ileocolonic biopsy specimens from 61 patients
      with irritable bowel syndrome treated for one week with near equimolar doses of
      different slow release preparations of 5-ASA (Claversal, Asacol, or Pentasa) or
      azo-bound drugs (Salazopyrin, Dipentum). The transit time in these patients was
      accelerated by a laxative, metoclopramide, and colonic lavage. The presence of 5
      ASA in the mucosa was confirmed by autofluorescence. The highest concentrations
      of 5-ASA were obtained after Asacol (mean (SEM), 298.5 (37.3) ng/mg wet wt),
      followed by Claversal 500 mg (108.8 (11.7) ng/mg wet wt) and Pentasa (25.7 (2.2)
      ng/mg wet wt). Very low concentrations only were observed after Claversal 250 mg
      (0.3 (0.03) ng/mg wet wt), Salazopyrine (1.2 (0.1) ng/mg wet wt), and Dipentum
      (11.0 (3.2) ng/mg wet wt). The results for Ac-5-ASA were similar but the
      concentrations were generally lower. Serum concentration-time curves over eight
      hours were obtained from 34 healthy volunteers after a single oral dose of 400 to
      500 mg of the different drugs. For the slow release forms, an apparently inverse
      relationship was found between the area under the curve of the serum
      concentrations and the intramucosal concentrations, supporting the importance of
      the local availability of the drug. This inverse relationship was absent for the
      azo-bound drugs. Colonic washout induced mechanical removal of intraluminal 5-ASA
      with a secondary disturbance in absorption resulting in a rapid decline in the
      serum concentrations. However, only for Dipentum did this result in significantly
      lower 5-ASA mucosal concentrations. This is the first reported attempt to
      evaluate the mucosal availability of 5-ASA after different oral preparations. It
      shows that where transit time is accelerated higher mucosal concentrations occur
      after slow release preparations (except for Claversal 250 mg) than after azo
      bound drugs. Additional studies are necessary to correlate these concentrations
      with clinical effects.

PMID- 1446857
TI  - Comparison of 5-aminosalicylic acid and N-acetylaminosalicylic acid uptake by the
      isolated human colonic epithelial cell.
AB  - Isolated human colonic epithelial cell suspensions were incubated with either 0.1
      mM 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) or 0.1 mM acetylaminosalicylic acid (Ac-ASA) for
      up to two hours. Intra- and extracellular 5-ASA and Ac-ASA were measured by high
      performance liquid chromatography. Mean 5-ASA uptake in one hour was 160.5 nmol/g
      dry weight, compared with an Ac-ASA uptake of only 5.75 nmol/g dry weight. No
      unchanged 5-ASA was detected inside the cell. Repeated washing had no effect on
      the intracellular Ac-ASA concentration. This discrepancy in drug uptake may
      explain why Ac-ASA seems to be ineffective when given to patients with ulcerative
      colitis.

PMID- 1446858
TI  - Tests of renal function in patients with quiescent colitis: effects of drug
      treatment.
AB  - Mesalazine has structural similarities to aspirin and phenacetin and is
      nephrotoxic when given intravenously in high doses to rats. A number of cases of
      nephrotoxicity has been reported recently in patients taking oral mesalazine.
      Sensitive indicators of renal function in a group of patients maintained on long
      term, delayed release mesalazine and a comparable group on sulphasalazine have
      been studied. Sixty two patients (32 men, aged 28-82 years) with quiescent
      colitis were studied. Thirty four had been maintained on delayed release
      mesalazine 1.6 (0.8-2.4) g/day for 2.9 (0.5-6.9) years and 28 on sulphasalazine 2
      (2-3) g/day. Groups were comparable for age, sex, disease duration, and disease
      extent. Renal function was assessed by: urine microscopy; creatinine clearance;
      the urinary excretion of two markers of glomerular toxicity, albumin and
      transferrin; and the urinary excretion for two markers of tubular toxicity, N
      acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and alpha 1-microglobulin. There were no
      significant differences in renal function between the two treatment groups.
      Furthermore, no correlations were found between measures of renal function and
      either cumulative mesalazine dose or mesalazine treatment duration. In this
      study, long term maintenance treatment with delayed release mesalazine was no
      more nephrotoxic than continued treatment with sulphasalazine.

PMID- 1446859
TI  - Inhibition of binding of interferon-gamma to its receptor by salicylates used in
      inflammatory bowel disease.
AB  - 5-Aminosalicylic acid (5ASA), 4ASA, their N-acetylated metabolites N-acetyl-5ASA
      and N-acetyl-4ASA, olsalazine, and colchicine impair interferon-gamma (IFN gamma)
      induced HLA-DR expression on a colonic cell line, HT-29. The mechanism of this
      effect is now reported. HT-29 cells were cultured with 50 U/ml IFN gamma with or
      without drug, and northern blot analysis was performed using a probe for the beta
      chain of the DR molecule. IFN gamma led to a noticeable increase in HLA-DR mRNA
      which was attenuated by the drugs. Analysis of the specific binding of increasing
      concentrations of 125I-IFN gamma by non-linear regression showed a Kd of 1.35 x
      10(-10) M and 2.3 x 10(5) binding sites per HT-29 cell. Binding of 125I-IFN gamma
      was reduced by incubation with increasing concentrations of unlabelled IFN gamma
      but not with IFN alpha. Incubation with therapeutic concentrations of drugs led
      to the following reductions in binding: 10 mM 5ASA, 20% (p < 0.001); 10 mM N
      acetyl-5ASA, 24% (p < 0.01); 10 mM 4ASA, 21% (p < 0.005); 10 mM N-acetyl-4ASA,
      29% (p < 0.001); and 1 mM olsalazine, 29% (p < 0.001). Colchicine (10(-7) M) and
      10(-5) M prednisolone had no effect. Incubation with higher concentrations of the
      drugs revealed a dose-response effect on binding with complete inhibition by 100
      mM 4ASA and 10 mM olsalazine, and lesser degrees of inhibition by 100 mM 5ASA, N
      acetyl-5ASA, and N-acetyl-4ASA. At concentrations found in the rectal lumen, the
      salicylates used in inflammatory bowel disease impair the binding of IFN gamma to
      its receptor on colonic epithelial cells.

PMID- 1446860
TI  - IgG subclass distribution in serum and rectal mucosa of monozygotic twins with or
      without inflammatory bowel disease.
AB  - Serum samples from 26 monozygotic twin pairs concordant or discordant with regard
      to inflammatory bowel disease, and rectal biopsies from 42 twins of the same
      subject group, were examined for IgG subclasses. They were all compared with
      normal controls. Almost all affected twins were in clinical remission. Paired
      immunofluorescence staining of the rectal mucosa showed that those with
      ulcerative colitis had a significantly higher (p < 0.01) proportion of IgG1
      producing mucosal immunocytes than normal controls (78.1% v 55.9%). Conversely,
      the IgG2 cell fraction was significantly reduced (15.9% v 34.6%). Healthy twins
      from ulcerative colitis pairs tended to show a raised proportion of IgG1 cells
      and the IgG2 cell fraction was significantly reduced (p < 0.05). In discordant
      ulcerative colitis twin pairs, no difference appeared in the cellular IgG
      subclass pattern between healthy and affected twins. Furthermore, the proportion
      of IgG1 in these healthy and diseased twins showed good correlation (T = 0.867).
      The results in rectal mucosa of twins with Crohn's disease were widely scattered
      and affected twins did not differ significantly from normal controls. Healthy
      twins, however, showed a marginally raised IgG1 cell proportion, but no
      correlation was seen between the IgG subclass fractions in discordant Crohn's
      disease twin pairs. The serum concentrations of IgG1 and IgG2 did not differ from
      normal controls in twins of either category. These results suggested that in
      ulcerative colitis, the aberrant mucosal production of IgG1 and IgG2 does not
      depend on active disease, but is apparently at least partially explained by a
      genetic impact. Conversely, the mucosal IgG subclass pattern in Crohn's disease
      appears to be determined mainly by exogenous variables.

PMID- 1446861
TI  - Plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid pattern in active inflammatory bowel disease.
AB  - Plasma fatty acid patterns were assessed by gas liquid chromatography in 73
      patients with active inflammatory bowel disease and 107 healthy controls. The
      influence of the disease activity on fatty acid profile was also investigated.
      Plasma fatty acid patterns in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's
      disease were similar. Plasma C18:3n3 and C22:6n3 were significantly higher in
      active ulcerative colitis (p = 0.0143 and p < 0.00001 respectively) and in
      Crohn's disease (p < 0.00001 for both) than in controls, whereas C20:3n6 was
      significantly lower in patients than in controls, both in ulcerative colitis (p =
      0.0001) and in Crohn's disease (p = 0.0041). In more severe disease, plasma
      polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations fell with a significant stepwise
      decrease in the desaturation index (p = 0.0031 in ulcerative colitis and p =
      0.0355 in Crohn's disease). Even in patients with severe disease, however, plasma
      n3 fatty acids (C18:3n3 and C22:6n3) never fell below those of healthy controls.
      These findings suggest that in active inflammatory bowel disease, an increased
      biosynthesis might coexist with an increased consumption of polyunsaturated fatty
      acids. These observations may be of relevance in the pathogenesis of the disease
      as polyunsaturated fatty acids are involved in tissue eicosanoid synthesis and
      cellular membrane function, including that of immunocompetent cells. These
      results also question the rationale of using n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in
      the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

PMID- 1446862
TI  - Prevalence of anti-neutrophil antibody in primary sclerosing cholangitis and
      ulcerative colitis using an alkaline phosphatase technique.
AB  - The detection of a nuclear anti-neutrophil antibody in patients with primary
      sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), using an immunoperoxidase technique, was recently
      reported by us. Subsequently, detection of a cytoplasmic anti-neutrophil antibody
      was reported by others, using a two stage procedure of enzyme linked
      immunosorbent assay followed by an immunofluorescent method. Detection of
      cytoplasmic anti-neutrophil antibody in PSC, which, in contrast to that two stage
      procedure, uses a simple one step immuno-alkaline phosphatase method is now
      reported. Normal human neutrophils were cytocentrifuged, ethanol fixed, and then
      incubated with coded patients' sera. Rabbit anti-human immunoglobulin conjugated
      with alkaline phosphatase was used to detect the bound antibody. Fast red was
      used to visualise the reaction. Twenty three of 30 (77%) PSC patients showed
      positive granular cytoplasmic staining (with some perinuclear accentuation) with
      a network of cytoplasmic filaments. Fifteen of 45 (33%) ulcerative colitis
      patients and 1 of 3 chronic active hepatitis patients showed similar staining.
      Thirty five of 152 patients with ulcerative colitis, chronic active hepatitis,
      and a variety of other liver diseases showed a different pattern of cytoplasmic
      labelling, with no surrounding filaments. Seventy nine patients, including seven
      PSC patients and 33 normal subjects, were negative. In comparison, 86% of PSC
      patients, 57% of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, 50% of normal subjects,
      and well over 60% of patients with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, alcoholic
      liver disease, and chronic active hepatitis were positive using the one step
      immunofluorescent method. This method is more specific for PSC than those
      described in recent reports and may be of diagnostic importance.

PMID- 1446863
TI  - Sclerosing cholangitis and biliary tract calculi--primary or secondary?
AB  - The clinical features of 61 patients with sclerosing cholangitis were reviewed.
      This group included 23 patients with biliary tract calculi, commonly considered
      as excluding the diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis. The aim of this
      study was to compare these 23 patients (group A) with 38 patients with sclerosing
      cholangitis free of calculi (group B). Both groups had the following features in
      common: (i) age at presentation, (ii) incidence of inflammatory bowel disease,
      (iii) extent of radiological disease, (iv) prevalence of HLA-B8 and DR3
      haplotype, (v) incidence of cholangiocarcinoma, and (vi) progression to hepatic
      transplantation (mean follow up 49.9 months). All patients in group A were
      symptomatic at diagnosis compared with 23 of the 38 patients (61%) in group B.
      Recurrent ascending cholangitis occurred in 12 patients in group A (52%) and two
      patients (5%) in group B. The similarity between the two groups was maintained
      when the nine patients in group A who developed calculi after sclerosing
      cholangitis was diagnosed were excluded. It is concluded that choledocholithiasis
      is part of the spectrum of primary sclerosing cholangitis and that it is not
      necessary to invoke choledocholithiasis as the initial lesion of the bile ducts
      in such patients.

PMID- 1446864
TI  - Factors related to early mortality in cirrhotic patients bleeding from varices
      and treated by urgent sclerotherapy.
AB  - Variceal haemorrhage in cirrhotic patients carries a high early mortality even
      when balloon tamponade or emergency sclerotherapy are applied. The aim of this
      study to identify patients dying within six weeks of their first variceal
      haemorrhage. One hundred and twenty one patients with parenchymal cirrhosis
      presenting with the first variceal bleeding episode between June 1983 and
      December 1988 were studied. Nineteen patients were excluded for various reasons.
      Emergency sclerotherapy was carried out in cases of active bleeding or where
      there were endoscopic signs of recent bleeding, and then regularly repeated
      afterwards. Of the 24 variables studied and included in a multivariate analysis
      using a logistic regression model, three had an independent prognostic value:
      encephalopathy, prothrombin time, and the number of blood units transfused within
      the 72 hours of time zero. The subsequent regression equation was able to predict
      89% of the patients who will die and 97% of the patients who will still be alive
      six weeks after their first variceal haemorrhage treated by sclerotherapy. Pugh
      score was less discriminatory than these last three variables in terms of
      accuracy of adjustment, goodness of fit to the model, receiver operating
      characteristic curves, and percentage correct prediction. To measure the accuracy
      of the prediction rule, our model was applied to another series of 28 cirrhotic
      patients admitted with their first variceal bleeding during the next period
      (January 1989 to May 1990). Death and survival were correctly predicted in
      respectively 82% and 94% of the cases. The use of this score is recommended for
      the selection of patients with high early mortality after variceal bleeding
      despite sclerotherapy, and for the design of new therapeutic trials.

PMID- 1446865
TI  - Splenic function in alcoholic liver disease.
AB  - Splenic function was assessed in 42 patients with alcoholic liver disease by
      counting the percentage of erythrocytes with indentations or pits, seen by
      differential interference contrast microscopy. These pits represent cellular
      debris normally removed by the spleen. The findings were compared with 42 age and
      sex matched controls. Mean (SEM) pitted red cell counts in the patients was 2.7
      (0.4)% and in the controls 0.7 (0.07)% (p < 0.001). In all of the eight reformed
      drinkers (five with biopsy proven cirrhosis), cell counts were normal. Six
      patients with alcoholic liver disease had had serious infections within the past
      year. Of these, one had had a recent pneumococcal pneumonia and another of the
      patients died from overwhelming pneumococcal septicaemia. Both of these patients
      had evidence of functional hyposplenism as judged by high pitted erythrocyte
      counts. A total of 18 patients were considered to have pitted red cell counts
      above the normal, and 11 of these had proven cirrhosis and/or gross ascites. This
      study is the first to show the presence of functional hyposplenism in alcoholic
      liver disease and provides further evidence of the predisposition that these
      patients have to infection. At present, it is unclear whether the hyposplenism is
      a direct toxic effect of alcohol or the result of cirrhosis; further studies are
      warranted.

PMID- 1446866
TI  - Recurrence of hepatitis B and delta hepatitis after orthotopic liver
      transplantation.
AB  - The clinical course of 10 liver transplant recipients who had hepatitis B virus
      (HBV) and five recipients with HBV and D (delta) infection before transplantation
      is described. Six patients who underwent eight transplants died. The estimated
      one and two year survival rates in patients with HBV only before transplantation
      were 74% and 67% respectively. The estimated one and two year survival in
      patients with HBV and HDV infection beforehand was 100%. Graft infection by HBV
      occurred in 8 of 10 patients infected with HBV only; and in 4 of 5 patients with
      previous HBV and HDV infection. There was a widely variable time from
      transplantation to the appearance of HBV markers in liver or serum, ranging from
      6-331 days. Hepatitis D antigen (HDAg) appeared in three grafts very rapidly
      after transplantation at 4, 8, and 37 days respectively. Graft infection by HBV
      was accompanied by significant liver injury in six allografts in five recipients.
      In particular, there was a striking morphological appearance in five infected
      livers in which the hepatocytes became progressively enlarged and distorted as
      they accumulated huge amounts of hepatitis B surface and core antigens (HBsAg,
      HBcAg). These features were accompanied by pericellular fibrosis and cholestasis
      but little associated inflammation. This syndrome carried a poor prognosis. A
      gradual progression to cirrhosis occurred in one additional liver. Finally,
      recurrent HBV infection was a principal or a contributing factor in all deaths.
      The presence of HBcAg and inflammation in he native liver increased the risk of
      HBV induced tissue damaged in the graft whereas HDV infection in the host liver
      seemed to reduce the risk of significant HBV induced tissue damage in the
      allograft. These data suggest that post transplant HBV infection is accompanied
      by a variety of changes in the liver allograft, some of which are unique to the
      transplanted liver and may result in impaired allograft function.

PMID- 1446867
TI  - Liver disease in a district hospital remote from a transplant centre: a study of
      admissions and deaths.
AB  - The profile of liver disease admissions and associated deaths in a district
      general hospital was studied to determine whether patients with end stage liver
      disease are appropriately referred for consideration of liver transplantation.
      Admission details were provided by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys
      (OPCS) and their accuracy was assessed by case note analysis. According to OPCS,
      77 patients with liver disease were admitted on 113 occasions between 1 January
      1987 and 31 December 1989. The case notes of 74 (96%) were retrieved and
      examined. Only 64 (86%) had primary liver disease. Twenty four (31%) died of
      liver failure. Alcohol was the aetiological agent in two thirds. According to
      accepted criteria, 11 patients were suitable for liver transplant assessment but
      only three had been referred to a transplant centre. Of the remaining eight, five
      died during the study period. Two of the three patients referred died without
      transplantation; one underwent transplant and survived. There is discrepancy
      between OPCS data and true disease aetiologies, with approximately 40% under
      reporting of alcoholic liver disease. If this population is representative of the
      situation nationally, substantial numbers of patients with end stage liver
      disease might benefit from liver transplantation, but are not referred to a
      centre.

PMID- 1446868
TI  - Effect of lipid infusion on bile composition and lithogenicity in patients
      without cholesterol gall stones.
AB  - A prospective study was performed to investigate the effect of short term lipid
      infusion on bile composition and its lithogenicity in humans. Thirty five
      patients shown to be free of cholesterol gall stones participated in the study.
      Starting 48 hours before surgery they were infused randomly with a lipid emulsion
      of either long chain triglycerides (LCT) or a mixture of medium and long chain
      triglycerides (MCT/LCT) (50%/50%) for six hours each 24 hours. A group of
      patients infused with a solution of 5% glucose in NaCl 0.9% served as a control.
      Bile samples were obtained by puncture of the gall bladder during operation. Both
      lipids caused an increase in biliary cholesterol and phospholipids but this
      effect was more pronounced and significant (p < 0.001) only with the MCT/LCT
      emulsion. The fatty acid composition of biliary phospholipids was not affected by
      either lipid infusion. The cholesterol saturation index increased significantly
      (p < 0.005) with the MCT/LCT emulsion and there was shortening in the nucleation
      time but this was not significant. There was no effect on the distribution of
      cholesterol between micelles and vesicles. This study shows that infusion of
      MCT/LCT lipid emulsion can cause lithogenic changes in bile composition in humans
      and may thus contribute to sludge formation and cholelithiasis during long term
      parenteral nutrition.

PMID- 1446869
TI  - Increased activity of ionised calcium in gall bladder bile in gall stone disease.
AB  - The actual activity of ionised calcium (Ca2+) in gall bladder bile determined
      with an ion-selective electrode was significantly higher in patients with gall
      stone disease (n = 15) than in patients without gall stones (n = 10) (0.43
      mmol/kg v 0.31 mmol/kg; p < 0.05). No change in the Ca2+ activity in any of the
      gall bladder bile samples was observed during equilibration with CO2. During
      titration with HCl/NaOH, however, the Ca2+ activity fell with increasing pH in a
      biphasic manner, with the breaking point occurring at a significantly lower
      median pH in patients with gall stones than in patients without (pH 7.1 v 8.2; p
      < 0.0001). The combination of a higher activity of calcium in bile and
      precipitation of bile salts taking place at a lower pH in patients with gall
      stone disease than in patients without gall stones suggests a major role for
      calcium and pH in the pathogenesis of gall stones. Strict anaerobic sampling is
      not necessary for the measurements of Ca2+ in gall bladder bile, because the Ca2+
      was not significantly affected by the changes in pCO2. The metabolic studies
      suggest, however, that simultaneous measurements of the activity of Ca2+ and pH
      is important in order to interpret data for the calcium activity in gall bladder
      bile.

PMID- 1446870
TI  - Value of exfoliative cytology for investigating bile duct strictures.
AB  - The cause of a biliary tract stricture may be difficult to determine
      radiologically. Exfoliative biliary cytology was evaluated in 62 patients (median
      age 65 years, range 30-94) with biliary tract strictures presenting to the
      Hepatobiliary Unit between January 1984 and December 1989. Bile samples were
      taken during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in 42
      patients, percutaneous cholangiography in 14, and both in six. The site of
      stricturing was upper third of the bile duct in 43% (n = 27), middle third in 10%
      (n = six), and lower third in 47% (n = 29). Of the 47 patients with radiological
      appearances of a malignant stricture, 22 (47%) had histological confirmation by
      biopsy either under computed tomography guidance, at endoscopy, at operation, or
      at necropsy. Fourteen of the 47 patients had positive cytology (30%). In seven
      patients cytology alone established the presence of malignancy (15%) and in the
      other seven positive cytology was confirmed by histology. The addition of
      cytology to tissue biopsy therefore allowed malignancy to be confirmed in 29 of
      the 47 patients (62%). None of the 15 patients subsequently shown to have benign
      disease had positive cytology. Sensitivity of the technique was 30% and
      specificity 100%. Samples for exfoliative cytology are simple to obtain, the
      results are highly specific and should be a routine part of the investigation of
      biliary strictures.

PMID- 1446871
TI  - Management of common bile duct stones with a biliary endoprosthesis. Report on 40
      cases.
AB  - Endoscopic placement of a biliary endoprosthesis has been proposed for the
      management of choledocholithiasis when stone extraction is difficult or
      considered hazardous. Over a two year period this approach was used in 40 such
      patients. There were 24 women and 16 men with a median age of 76 years. In seven
      patients with severe cholangitis no attempt was made to extract the stones.
      Twenty three (57.5%) patients underwent a sphincterotomy and four (10%) needle
      knife papillotomy. The endoprosthesis insertion was considered a temporary
      measure in 13 (32.5%) patients and definitive treatment in 27 (67.5%). Bile duct
      drainage was established in all patients. Early complications occurred in six
      patients (15%), but were without sequelae. Late complications developed in eight
      (20%) of the patients and included biliary colic (four), cholangitis (three), and
      cholecystitis (one). Two patients (one cholangitis and one cholecystitis) died as
      a consequence of the complication. Only patients without a sphincterotomy
      developed cholangitis. A total of eight patients (20%) underwent surgery (one as
      an emergency) and nine a repeat endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography
      (two as an emergency) to clear the duct. The remaining 23 patients are
      asymptomatic at a median of 13 months (range five to 24 months). Biliary
      endoprosthesis insertion for choledocholithiasis is an important alternative
      means of establishing drainage in selected cases, and is probably the optimum
      method of management for the elderly and or debilitated patients with previous
      cholecystectomy. Caution must be exercised, however, in patients with an in situ
      gall bladder.

PMID- 1446872
TI  - Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of bile duct stones: a single institution
      experience.
AB  - Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy treatment with Dornier HM3 or MPL 9000
      machines was applied in 37 patients with problematic bile duct stones. General
      anaesthesia was not required. After one extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy
      session 14/37 patients (38%) were spontaneously stone free, and additional
      endoscopic extraction (eight of 37) and retreatments with extracorporeal shock
      wave lithotripsy (seven cases) increased the stone free rate to 29/37 (78%). In
      three patients with intrahepatic stones, the bile ducts could not be evaluated
      decisively at cholangiography and ultrasonography, but they were all symptom free
      at 15 to 38 months follow up. If these three patients are added to the
      radiologically stone free patients, the overall clinical success rate was 32/37
      (86%). There were no serious complications, hospital admissions, or 30 day
      mortality as a result of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or endoscopic
      procedures. It is concluded that extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a
      valuable adjunct to the non-surgical treatment of bile duct stones.

PMID- 1446873
TI  - Familial coexistence of achalasia and non-achalasic oesophageal dysmotility:
      evidence for a common pathogenesis.
AB  - In five of seven siblings of healthy parents, dysphagia developed during
      adolescence or early adult life. A barium swallow was normal in one patient but
      showed appearances considered to be consistent with achalasia in all others.
      Oesophageal manometry was successfully performed in four of the five patients,
      including the patient with symptoms but normal radiological appearance. One
      patient had achalasia, two had oesophageal body motor dysfunction associated with
      a hypertensive, but normally relaxing lower oesophageal sphincter, and one had
      diffuse oesophageal spasm alone. The occurrence of three different oesophageal
      dysmotility disorders within members of a single sibship suggests that these
      conditions are intimately related and probably genetically determined as an
      autosomal recessive trait.

PMID- 1446874
TI  - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced jejunal and colonic diaphragm
      disease: a report of two cases.
AB  - Two patients with intestinal submucosal diaphragm disease associated with non
      steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are presented. The jejunum was affected in one,
      and in the other the ascending colon. Most previously reported cases have shown
      ileal disease and no case to date has shown involvement of the colon. The reasons
      for the localisation of these diaphragms remain unclear.

PMID- 1446875
TI  - Ulcerative colitis complicated by Wenckebach atrioventricular block.
AB  - Extracolonic manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease are common and diverse.
      Cardiac complications, however, are rare and of these pericarditis is the most
      frequently described association. A 57 year old man with a 20 year history of
      ulcerative colitis presented with a four day history of retrosternal chest pain
      and exertional dyspnoea. Electrocardiogram showed Wenckebach atrioventricular
      block. Three days later he developed bloody diarrhoea and sigmoidoscopy showed
      active proctocolitis. He was treated with oral prednisolone after which the chest
      pain and diarrhoea settled within 48 hours. At outpatient review two weeks later
      he was completely well and the electrocardiogram had returned to normal.

PMID- 1446876
TI  - Sclerosing cholangitis associated with multifocal fibrosis: a case report.
AB  - The association of sclerosing cholangitis, retroperitoneal fibrosis, and Riedel's
      thyroiditis has been reported twice before, and on both occasions the authors
      successfully used steroids to control the fibrotic process. A further case of
      fibrosis with this triad of organ involvement in which a combination of surgery
      and steroid treatment has arrested disease progression is described. This
      suggests an inappropriate immune response in this type of fibrotic overlap
      syndrome.

PMID- 1446877
TI  - Piroxicam induced submassive necrosis of the liver.
AB  - Several widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been reported as
      causing severe hepatitis. Three cases of severe acute hepatitis have been
      reported in association with piroxicam. A fatal submassive necrosis that occurred
      in a 68 year old lady who had received piroxicam for 15 months is described. A 48
      year old man who developed submassive hepatic necrosis six weeks after beginning
      piroxicam but was successfully treated with orthotopic liver transplantation is
      also reported. Piroxicam may induce submassive necrosis of the liver, probably as
      an idiosyncratic reaction.

PMID- 1446878
TI  - Ultrarapid urease test.

PMID- 1446879
TI  - [Effects of ambroxol HCl on the guinea pig tracheal mucous secretion and the rat
      pulmonary surfactant secretion].
AB  - The effects of orally administered ambroxol HCl (ambroxol) on guinea pig tracheal
      mucous secretion and rat pulmonary surfactant secretion were investigated
      histologically and biochemically. Ambroxol significantly increased the number of
      active goblet cells in guinea pig tracheal epithelium and total
      mucopolysaccharide level. Moreover, ambroxol significantly increased the neutral
      mucopolysaccharide level and PAS-positive substance in the guinea pig tracheal
      submucosal glands. Ambroxol did not show a significant effect on the content of
      the total phosphatidylcholine in rat lung lavage fluid, while ambroxol
      significantly increased the ratio of disaturated phosphatidylcholine to total
      phosphatidylcholine. From these results, it is suggested that ambroxol increases
      both the tracheal mucous secretion, especially the neutral mucopolysaccharide,
      and pulmonary surfactant secretion and these effects reflect part of the
      expectorant mechanism of the drug.

PMID- 1446880
TI  - [Effects of drugs on the convulsions induced by the combination of a new
      quinolone antimicrobial, enoxacin, and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug,
      fenbufen, in mice].
AB  - The effects of drugs on the convulsions induced by the combination of a new
      quinolone antimicrobial, enoxacin, and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug,
      fenbufen, were studied in mice. The combination of enoxacin at 30 or 100 mg/kg,
      p.o. and fenbufen at 100 mg/kg, p.o. induced convulsions; and the mice died as a
      result of the convulsions. Pretreatment with either phenobarbital, phenytoin,
      valproic acid intraperitoneally, or morphine intravenously did not influence the
      convulsions. A high dose of diazepam or clonazepam prolonged the survival time,
      but could not prevent the mice from dying. After the occurrence of convulsions
      induced by enoxacin with fenbufen, administration of the excitatory amino acid
      antagonist MK-801 at 1 mg/kg, i.v. extended the survival time, even though all
      the mice died as a result of the convulsions. Simultaneous intravenous injections
      of MK-801 and diazepam suppressed the convulsions. This suppression was stronger
      than that produced by MK-801 or diazepam, injected separately. However, no mouse
      survived at the end. From these results, participation of both GABA-ergic and
      excitatory amino acidergic systems in the convulsions induced by enoxacin and
      fenbufen was discussed.

PMID- 1446881
TI  - [Analgesic effects of Tsumura-shuuji-bushi-matsu and mesaconitine].
AB  - "Tsumura-shuuji-bushi-matsu" (TJ-3021) is a herbal medicine produced from Aconiti
      tuber through autoclaving to decrease its toxicity. In this study, the analgesic
      effects of TJ-3021 and mesaconitine (MA) was examined in rats and mice. TJ-3021
      (300 mg/kg, p.o.) or MA (0.5 mg/kg, p.o.) depressed the acetic acid-induced
      writhing significantly. In Randall-Selitto's method, TJ-3021 (1000 mg/kg)
      increased the pain threshold ratio in the inflamed foot significantly but not in
      the normal foot. In the hot plate method or on adjuvant-induced arthritic pain,
      TJ-3021 (1000 mg/kg) significantly increased the pain threshold, and its effect
      was less than that of "nama-bushi-matsu" (TNB), which was produced from the same
      Aconiti tuber without autoclaving. Repeated cold stress (RCS) for 65.5 hr
      decreased the pain threshold ratio on the paw pressure in rats by 60%. TJ-3021
      (300 mg/kg) significantly increased the pain threshold ratio in RCS rats, and its
      activity was almost the same degree as that of TNB. MA (0.5 mg/kg) significantly
      increased the pain threshold ratio in RCS rats or on the adjuvant-induced
      arthritic pain; and in RCS rats, it was more potent than morphine (1 mg/kg,
      p.o.).

PMID- 1446882
TI  - [The vasospasmolytic effects of nicorandil, cromakalim and pinacidil on 3,4
      diaminopyridine-induced phasic contractions in canine coronary arteries as an
      experimental vasospasm model].
AB  - The spasmolytic mechanisms of nicorandil, a novel antianginal drug, were
      investigated using 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP)-induced phasic contractions of
      isolated canine coronary arteries in comparison with those of cromakalim and
      pinacidil. Nicorandil (10(-4) M), cromakalim (10(-6) M) and pinacidil (10(-5) M)
      suppressed the phasic contractions. Pretreatment with glibenclamide (10(-6) M), a
      specific blocking agent of ATP-sensitive K+ channel, eliminated the suppression
      of phasic contractions by these drugs; glibenclamide completely eliminated the
      suppression by cromakalim, while the eliminations against nicorandil and
      pinacidil were incomplete. The recoveries of peak tensions were only 56.8% and
      76.1% for nicorandil and pinacidil, respectively. Nicorandil and pinacidil may
      suppress the phasic contractions via K+ channel opening and additional
      mechanisms. Methylene blue (10(-7)-10(-5) M) alone, a guanylate cyclase
      inhibitor, had no effect on the suppression of phasic contractions by nicorandil.
      In the presence of glibenclamide (10(-6) M), however, the pretreatment with
      methylene blue significantly augmented the recovery of peak tension for
      nicorandil. These results indicate that K+ channel openers may suppress the
      phasic contractions induced by 3,4-DAP via ATP-sensitive K+ channels, and that
      additionally, nicorandil may suppress the phasic contractility through guanylate
      cyclase stimulation, as a nitrate.

PMID- 1446884
TI  - [Inhibitory effects of Siamese Tinospora crispa extracts on the carrageenin
      induced foot pad edema in rats (the 1st report)].
AB  - The naturally occurring Tinospora crispa (T.c.) at Chiang Mai in Thailand has
      been found to inhibit carrageenin-induced foot pad edema. Compared with the
      control group, oral administration of the 50% methanol extract (10 mg/kg) from
      its stems inhibited the edema by 38% in volume, which was induced 4 hr after
      stimulation by carrageenin in rats. This inhibitory effect on edema formation has
      been most significant in the n-butanol soluble fraction compared with the ethyl
      ether- or water-soluble ones, and the action of the n-butanol fraction has been
      observed in a dose-dependent manner in the range of 1 to 30 mg/kg, p.o.
      Administration of this fraction by the s.c., or i.p. route also inhibited the
      carrageenin-induced edema formation to the same degree as that by the oral route.
      The 3 mg/kg, s.c. dosage of the fraction corresponds roughly to 250 mg/kg
      sulpyrine and 10 mg/kg diphenhydramine, s.c. Moreover, the fraction administered
      i.v. also reduced LPS-induced fever in rabbits, and had an antagonistic effect
      equivalent to 100 mg/kg sulpyrine and 1 mg/kg morphine hydrochloride (in i.p.
      administration). The comprehensive anti-inflammatory substance(s) contained in
      T.c. stems are moderately non-polar compounds soluble in n-butanol and absorbable
      from both walls of the gut and vessels. The usefulness of a modified dosage of
      this plant extract for clinical treatment of various types of inflammation is
      highly suggested.

PMID- 1446883
TI  - [Effects of tiropramide hydrochloride on the isolated detrusor and intravesical
      pressure of the bladder in situ in rats].
AB  - The effects of tiropramide on the isolated detrusor and intravesical pressure of
      the bladder in situ in rats were compared with those of flavoxate, oxybutynin and
      terodiline. The IC50 values (x 10(-5) M) of tiropramide for carbachol (CCh)-, K+
      (60 mM)-, Ba2+ (10 mM)-, and electrical stimulation-induced contractions were
      3.6, 4.2, 5.8, and 2.9, respectively. The four antispasmodics used (2 and 4
      mg/kg, i.v., each) abolished the rhythmic bladder contractions in situ in
      anesthesized rats. Of the four compounds, oxybutynin was most potent and no
      significant differences were observed between the inhibitory effects of
      tiropramide, flavoxate and terodiline. The administration of flavoxate (30 and 60
      mg/kg) into the duodenum little influenced the rhythmic bladder contractions.
      Tiropramide, flavoxate, oxybutynin and terodiline (8 and 12 mg/kg, i.v., each)
      dose-dependently prolonged the time to the volume-evoked micturition reflex, and
      the activity of tiropramide was not statistically different from those of the
      other three antispasmodics. Under unilateral pelvic and bilateral hypogastric
      nerve transection, both of the contractions induced by electrical stimulation of
      the peripheral and central cut ends of the pelvic nerve were dose-dependently
      inhibited to the same extent by tiropramide and terodiline. These results suggest
      that the effects of tiropramide on the function of urinary bladder in rats may be
      mainly due to direct actions on the smooth muscle, and that tiropramide is more
      potent than flavoxate and less potent than oxybutynin and terodiline.

PMID- 1446885
TI  - [Effects of Gomishi and Shosaiko-to on lipid peroxidation of rat brain].
AB  - Gomishi and Shosaiko-to were administered to the rats at a dose of 10-100 mg/kg
      daily for 2 weeks, and their effects on lipid peroxidation of rat brain were
      compared with that of alpha-tocopherol. Administration of Gomishi and Shosaiko-to
      showed almost the same suppressive action on the lipid peroxidation. Gomishi and
      Shosaiko-to exhibited a radical-trapping action on a stable free radical, 1, 1
      diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), which was estimated photometrically. The
      effects of Gomishi or Shosaiko-to at concentrations of 10(-3) to 10(-5)g/ml on
      lipid peroxidation of rat brain homogenates were investigated. The lipid
      peroxidation was inhibited by the addition of these drugs, and the suppressive
      effect was also dependent on the concentration. These suppressive effects with
      Shosaiko-to were stronger than those of Gomishi. These results suggest that the
      radical trapping action of Gomishi or Shosaiko-to is the likely mechanism
      suppressing brain lipid peroxidation; Particularly, the suppressive effect on the
      brain's lipid peroxidation by Shosaiko-to is at least in part due to its radical
      trapping action and inhibition of O2-. production.

PMID- 1446886
TI  - [Effects of traditional Chinese medicines (dai-saiko-to, sho-saiko-to and hachimi
      zio-gan) on spontaneously diabetic rat (WBN/Kob) with experimentally induced
      lipid and mineral disorders].
AB  - To clarify the therapeutic effects of several traditional Chinese medicines to
      improve disorders of carbohydrate, lipid and mineral metabolism, spontaneously
      diabetic rats (WBN/Kob) were treated with Vit. D2, 1 x 10(5) I.U./kg b.w./day,
      for 4 days, and then fed a hyperlipidemic diet containing traditional Chinese
      medicines for 6 weeks. The following results were obtained: 1) In the diabetic
      rats, the 3 traditional Chinese medicines further decreased the blood glucose
      level at 120 min after glucose loading in the glucose tolerance test. 2) The
      drugs increased the inorganic phosphate in the liver and normalized mineral
      metabolic disorder. 3) Hachimi-zio-gan decreased the cholesterol content in the
      kidney, and Sho-saiko-to decreased the cholesterol content in the elastin
      fraction (elastin-cholesterol) of the kidney. Such experimental results suggest
      that traditional Chinese medicines may be effective against the pathological
      conditions of diabetes mellitus that involve disorders of lipid and mineral
      metabolism.

PMID- 1446887
TI  - [Effects of sodium hyaluronate on the nociceptive response of rats with
      experimentally induced arthritis].
AB  - Antinociceptive effects of sodium hyaluronate (Na-HA) were studied on the basis
      of improvement in the graded abnormal gait elicited by arthritis induced by intra
      articular administration of monosodium urate crystal (MSU) to rats. One hour
      before MSU injection, intra-articular administration of a 1.0% solution of Na-HA
      with different molecular weights, ranging from 4.70 x 10(5) to 2.02 x 10(6) (HA
      200), improved the score of abnormal gait in a molecular weight-dependent manner
      in the experimental arthritis model. Similarly, administrations of HA-200 at
      concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1.0% prior to MSU treatment resulted in
      improvement of the score in abnormal gait in a dose-dependent manner. To
      elucidate the antinociceptive mechanisms of Na-HA, effects of pretreatment with
      Na-HA (1.0%) of different molecular weights on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and
      bradykinin (BK) releases in synovial fluid 3 hr after MSU injection were studied.
      Increases in PGE2 and BK concentration in the synovial fluid were depressed in a
      molecular weight-dependent manner by Na-HA (1.0%) pretreatment. These results
      indicate that Na-HA attenuates the nociceptive responses inflicted by the MSU
      induced arthritis. Such an antinociceptive effect may be due to the inhibition of
      PGE2 and BK synthesis in the synovial joint of rats.

PMID- 1446888
TI  - A calcium-binding protein in bile and gallstones.
AB  - Calcium salts are often present in the center of all types of gallstones. Matrix
      proteins are known to be essential for biomineralization and may therefore also
      be important in the formation and growth of gallstones. Other researchers have
      described an anionic peptide fraction of a biliary lipoprotein complex in bile
      and a low-molecular weight acidic glycoprotein present in gallstones. Our goal
      was to determine whether such a protein was present in bile and whether this
      protein has any calcium-binding properties. We identified a pigment-associated,
      highly acidic protein that precipitates from bile on addition of CaCl2 0.5 mol/L.
      In addition, the protein is selectively concentrated in cholesterol and pigment
      stones. We have, therefore, confirmed the findings of these other researchers,
      and we have extended the study of this protein's interactions with calcium.
      Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrates a single
      band (molecular weight < or = 14 kD) that reacts positively with cationic stains.
      The protein was shown to inhibit the precipitation of CaCO3 from a supersaturated
      solution. The capacity to bind calcium was further confirmed by autoradiography
      with 45Ca++ and by a membrane adsorption-binding assay. Calcium-induced
      aggregation was demonstrated by equilibrium dialysis and by quasielastic light
      scattering studies. Protein measured by Lowry's assay method and amino acid
      analysis constitutes only 2% to 4% of the harvested material. We speculate that a
      substantial lipid component may also be present.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446889
TI  - Hepatitis B virus precore mutants are identical in carriers from various ethnic
      origins and are associated with a range of liver disease severity.
AB  - Hepatitis B virus carriers in Israel are mostly HBeAg negative, of whom 5% to 10%
      have circulating hepatitis B virus. Recently, a hepatitis B virus variant with a
      stop codon in the precore region was identified, and it was suggested that
      specific mutations are associated with fulminant or severe chronic active
      hepatitis. We have analyzed serum samples from HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative
      patients by polymerase chain reaction, using primers spanning the precore/core
      region. Nucleotide sequence analysis (by direct sequencing) from amplified
      hepatitis B virus DNA demonstrated that viral genomes from all HBeAg-negative
      patients contain G to A mutation (nucleotide 1896), leading to the formation of a
      stop codon. An additional G to A mutation was identified three nucleotides
      downstream (nucleotide 1899). These patients are of various ethnic origins, with
      no unique clinical characteristics and with normal liver histology, chronic
      hepatitis or cirrhosis. No mutation at the precore/core region was observed in
      the HBeAg-positive patients. In conclusion, the precore mutations identified in
      hepatitis B virus carriers in Israel are identical regardless of the carrier's
      ethnic origin and are associated with mild-to-severe liver disease.

PMID- 1446890
TI  - Prevalence, classification and natural history of gastric varices: a long-term
      follow-up study in 568 portal hypertension patients.
AB  - To determine the prevalence and natural history of gastric varices, we
      prospectively studied 568 patients (393 bleeders and 175 nonbleeders) with portal
      hypertension (cirrhosis in 301 patients, noncirrhotic portal fibrosis in 115
      patients, extrahepatic portal vein obstruction in 117 patients and hepatic venous
      outflow obstruction in 35 patients). Primary (present at initial examination)
      gastric varices were seen in 114 (20%) patients; more were present in bleeders
      than in non-bleeders (27% vs. 4%, respectively; p < 0.001). Secondary (occurring
      after obliteration of esophageal varices) gastric varices developed in 33 (9%)
      patients during follow-up of 24.6 +/- 5.3 mo. Gastric varices (compared with
      esophageal varices) bled in significantly fewer patients (25% vs. 64%,
      respectively). Gastric varices had a lower bleeding risk factor than did
      esophageal varices (2.0 +/- 0.5 vs. 4.3 +/- 0.4, respectively) but bled more
      severely (4.8 +/- 0.6 vs. 2.9 +/- 0.3 transfusion units per patient,
      respectively). Once a varix bled, mortality was more likely (45%) in gastric
      varix patients. Gastric varices were classified as gastroesophageal or isolated
      gastric varices. Type 1 gastroesophageal varices (lesser curve varices) were the
      most common (75%). After obliteration of esophageal varices, type 1
      gastroesophageal varices disappeared in 59% of patients and persisted in the
      remainder; bleeding from persistent gastroesophageal varices was more common than
      it was from gastroesophageal varices that were obliterated (28% vs. 2%,
      respectively; p < 0.001). Type 2 gastroesophageal varices, which extend to
      greater curvature, bled often (55%) and were associated with high mortality. Type
      1 isolated gastric varices patients had only fundal varices, with a high (78%)
      incidence of bleeding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446891
TI  - The effect of oral-administered lactulose on colonic nitrogen metabolism and
      excretion.
AB  - The influence of lactulose on organic acid fermentation, nitrogen metabolism and
      excretion in the colon associated with its mechanism of action on hepatic
      encephalopathy was investigated. Orally administered lactulose in increasing
      amounts (0 to 20 to 40 to 80 to 160 gm/day) to 12 healthy volunteers decreased
      ammonia production in 16.6% fecal homogenates incubated 6 hr and 24 hr at 37
      degrees C (mean +/- S.E.M.: from 7 +/- 1 to 0 +/- 0 and from 13 +/- 2 to 0 +/- 0
      mmol/L, respectively). Every dose of lactulose was given for 3 days with
      intervals of 1 to 2 wk, and 24-hr stools were collected on day 3. Fecal
      concentrations of ammonia decreased (from 50 +/- 9 to 11 +/- 3 mmol/L), but
      ammonia excretions increased (from 6 +/- 2 to 17 +/- 4 mmol/24 hr). Total fecal
      concentrations of nitrogen decreased (from 1,043 +/- 78 to 300 +/- 136 mmol/L),
      but excretions of nitrogen increased fourfold (from 111 +/- 21 to 457 +/- 113
      mmoL/24 hr) because of the increase in stool mass. Fecal pH declined (from 6.9 +/
      0.1 to 4.9 +/- 0.1), but total organic acids (short-chain fatty acids and DL
      lactate; range = 105 to 148 mmol/L) and osmolality in feces (417 to 450 mOsm/L)
      did not change, although the colonic fermentation of lactulose had a major impact
      on the proportions between the nontoxic acetate (increased from 65% +/- 2% to 89%
      +/- 3%) and the potentially neurotoxic 3-6-carbon fatty acids (decreased from 35%
      +/- 2% to 11% +/- 2%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446892
TI  - Pulmonary hemorrhage and glomerulonephritis in primary biliary cirrhosis.
AB  - We observed life-threatening intrapulmonary hemorrhages and focal proliferative
      glomerulonephritis in a 41-yr-old woman with primary biliary cirrhosis. The
      severity of the symptoms necessitated blood transfusions and mechanical
      ventilation; the patient improved with the help of corticosteroid therapy. No
      formal evidence of either Goodpasture's syndrome or any other well-defined
      systemic vasculitis could be found. Neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were
      initially positive and became undetectable after 3 mo of immunosuppressive
      treatment without relapse. This association has not been described previously and
      may be added to the list of extrahepatic immune-mediated conditions associated
      with primary biliary cirrhosis.

PMID- 1446893
TI  - Pallidal hyperintensity on magnetic resonance imaging in cirrhotic patients:
      clinical correlations.
AB  - Patients with cirrhosis show increased signal intensity in the globus pallidus on
      T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. This abnormal appearance of
      the basal ganglia has been related to the severity of liver failure and to the
      presence of portal-systemic shunting, although its cause and clinical
      significance remain unknown. We prospectively assessed the metabolic,
      neurological and neuropsychological statuses of 30 stable cirrhotic patients and
      correlated these clinical variables with computed measurements of globus pallidus
      signals. Some metabolic variables denoting disease severity appeared to be
      significantly related to image changes, although the strongest association was
      found with plasma ammonia levels. After adjustment for ammonia level, on multiple
      regression analysis, the other variables were not significant. Furthermore,
      pallidal changes were associated with specific neurological symptoms and
      neurological functions, symptoms and functions that also had a significant
      correlation with ammonia levels. Our findings suggest that globus pallidus signal
      abnormality could arise as a marker of brain impairment related to
      hyperammonemia.

PMID- 1446894
TI  - Variability of atrial natriuretic peptide plasma levels in ascitic cirrhotics:
      pathophysiological and clinical implications.
AB  - Ascitic cirrhotic patients are a heterogenous population with respect to factors
      that may affect plasma human atrial natriuretic peptide levels (such as degree of
      plasma volume and plasma levels of angiotensin II, vasopressin and
      norepinephrine). Thus the proven variability of plasma human atrial natriuretic
      peptide values in ascitic cirrhotic patients may be due also to the selection of
      patients, not only to the study conditions. The response to standardized stepped
      care medical treatment of ascites makes it possible to characterize ascitic
      cirrhotic patients with different patterns of renal sodium excretion, intrarenal
      sodium handling, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone and thus, probably,
      effective circulating volume. Consequently, we evaluated human atrial natriuretic
      peptide plasma levels in controls (n = 23), in ascitic cirrhotic patients who
      underwent spontaneous diuresis (group A, n = 7) and in cirrhotic patients who
      required diuretic treatment (group B, n = 44). The last group was then divided
      into two subgroups. Subgroup B-R (n = 25) included patients who responded to
      spironolactone alone, whereas subgroup B-NR (n = 19) included patients who did
      not respond to 500 mg/day spironolactone. All patients were maintained on
      identical normocaloric restricted sodium intake (80 mEq/day) throughout the
      study. Ascitic cirrhotic patients, as a whole, had higher values of human atrial
      natriuretic peptide than did controls (70.8 +/- 46.6 pg/ml vs. 41.7 +/- 16.3
      pg/ml, p < 0.025). No difference was found in human atrial natriuretic
      peptide/plasma renin activity between the two groups (87 +/- 160 pg/ng/hr vs. 44
      +/- 73 pg/ng/hr, p = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446896
TI  - Hepatic mitochondrial glutathione depletion and progression of experimental
      alcoholic liver disease in rats.
AB  - Long-term ethanol feeding has been shown to selectively reduce hepatic
      mitochondrial glutathione content by impairing mitochondrial uptake of this
      thiol. In this study, we assessed the role of this defect in evolution of
      alcoholic liver disease by examining the mitochondrial glutathione pool and lipid
      peroxidation during progression of experimental alcoholic liver disease to
      centrilobular liver necrosis and fibrosis. Male Wistar rats were intragastrically
      infused with a high-fat diet plus ethanol for 3, 6 or 16 wk (the duration that
      resulted in induction of liver steatosis, necrosis and fibrosis, respectively).
      During this feeding period, the cytosolic pool of glutathione remained unchanged
      in the ethanol-fed animals compared with that in pair-fed controls. In contrast,
      the mitochondrial pool of glutathione selectively and progressively decreased in
      rats infused with ethanol for 3, 6 or 16 wk, by 39%, 61% and 85%, respectively.
      Renal mitochondrial glutathione level remained unaffected throughout the
      experiment. Serum ALT levels increased significantly in the ethanol-fed rats at 6
      wk and remained elevated at 16 wk. In the mitochondria with severely depleted
      glutathione levels at 16 wk, enhanced lipid peroxidation was evidenced by
      increased malondialdehyde levels. Thus a progressive and selective depletion of
      mitochondrial glutathione is demonstrated in the liver in this experimental model
      of alcoholic liver disease and associated with mitochondrial lipid peroxidation
      and progression of liver damage.

PMID- 1446897
TI  - Liver regeneration and the effect of exogenous putrescine on regenerative
      activity after partial hepatectomy in cirrhotic rats.
AB  - There are conflicting data regarding the ability of the liver to regenerate after
      partial hepatectomy in animals and humans with cirrhosis. The purpose of this
      study was to document liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in a carbon
      tetrachloride rat model of cirrhosis and to determine whether exogenous
      putrescine, a polyamine that has been reported to stimulate liver regeneration in
      animal models of acute liver failure, enhances regenerative activity in
      cirrhosis. Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis were produced by weekly intragastric
      gavage with carbon tetrachloride in 130 adult male rats. Vehicle-gavaged rats (n
      = 12) served as healthy controls. At surgery and at 4 and 8 hr after 70%
      hepatectomy, rats received normal saline solution or 1 or 10 mg/kg putrescine by
      intraperitoneal injection. Another group (n = 32) of carbon tetrachloride-treated
      rats was given putrescine (100 mg/kg) or normal saline solution twice daily for
      10 days before partial hepatectomy and at 0, 4 and 8 hr after partial
      hepatectomy. Liver regeneration was documented 24 and 48 hr after partial
      hepatectomy on the basis of restitution of liver mass, ornithine decarboxylase
      activity and [3H]thymidine incorporation into liver DNA. Automated image analysis
      of the resected liver specimens separated carbon tetrachloride-treated rats into
      two subgroups: those with bridging fibrosis (fibrotic group) and those with
      micronodular cirrhosis (cirrhotic group). Restitution of liver mass and ornithine
      decarboxylase activity at 24 and 48 hr after partial hepatectomy were similar to
      carbon tetrachloride-treated rats (both fibrotic and cirrhotic) and vehicle
      treated healthy controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446895
TI  - Preformed lymphocytotoxic antibodies: the effects of class, titer and specificity
      on liver vs. heart allografts.
AB  - The effect on liver and heart allograft survival (ACI rats to Lewis rats) was
      studied after three methods of recipient presensitization and after different
      intervals between sensitization and transplantation. With comparable
      lymphocytotoxic antibody titers, liver allografts always survived longer than
      heart grafts. The titer, class and specificity of the antibodies varied with the
      method of sensitization. Four skin grafts produced IgG and IgM lymphocytotoxic
      antibody titers of 1:2,000 to 4,000. The IgG fraction was shown to have hepatic
      vascular endothelial specificity by indirect immunofluorescence. These primed
      recipients hyperacutely rejected both heart and liver allografts, which showed
      vascular deposition of IgG antibodies. Survival of either kind of graft was
      inversely proportional to the lymphocytotoxic antibody titer and length of time
      after placement of the last skin graft. Presensitization with a single
      heterotopic heart graft produced an even higher mixed IgG and IgM lymphocytotoxic
      antibody titer of 1:8,000 but with less IgG vascular endothelial specificity.
      These animals also hyperacutely rejected heart or liver grafts with tissue
      deposition of IgG but less consistently and with a weaker correlation with
      lymphocytotoxic antibody titers and time after sensitization. Sensitization with
      two pretransplant blood transfusions produced the lowest titer (1:500 to 1,000)
      and the least IgG vascular endothelial specificity. Liver allograft survival was
      routinely enhanced in these animals, and little effect was seen on heart grafts.
      Collectively, the experiments showed that the liver is not only resistant to
      antibody-mediated rejection relative to the heart but is more easily
      enhanced.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446898
TI  - Hemodynamic effects of calibrated stenosis of the superior mesenteric artery in
      conscious rats with portal vein stenosis.
AB  - Because superior mesenteric arterial blood flow is increased in portal
      hypertension and plays a role in elevated portal pressure, mechanical reduction
      of artery diameter should induce decreases in portal pressure and superior
      mesenteric arterial blood flow. In this study, calibrated superior mesenteric
      artery stenosis (induced with a 22-gauge needle) was performed in rats
      simultaneously with portal vein stenosis or 2 wk after creation of portal vein
      stenosis. Hemodynamic studies were performed 3 wk after induction of portal vein
      stenosis in conscious, unrestrained rats. At that time, neither weight loss nor
      digestive tract alterations were observed in rats with arterial stenosis. In
      neither group of rats with arterial stenosis was portal tributary blood flow
      significantly different from that of normal rats; nor was it significantly lower
      than in rats with portal vein stenosis without arterial stenosis. In both groups
      of rats with arterial stenosis, portal pressure was significantly lower (12.1 +/-
      1.6 mm Hg and 12.5 +/- 1.8 mm Hg, respectively) than in rats subjected to portal
      vein stenosis (15.4 +/- 1.5 mm Hg) but significantly higher than in controls (7.2
      +/- 1.0 mm Hg). In rats with arterial stenosis, cardiac index was also
      significantly lower than that in rats with portal vein stenosis but higher than
      that in controls. In conclusion, this study shows that both early and late
      superior mesenteric artery stenosis significantly reduce the degree of portal
      hypertension and the hyperkinetic state of rats with extrahepatic portal
      hypertension. Thus we can speculate that superior mesenteric artery stenosis
      might provide a new therapeutic approach for portal hypertension.

PMID- 1446899
TI  - Role of mesenchymal cell populations in porcine serum-induced rat liver fibrosis.
AB  - The role of liver mesenchymal cell populations in porcine serum-induced rat liver
      fibrosis were studied morphologically and immunohistochemically. Five-week-old
      rats were intraperitoneally injected with porcine serum twice a week and examined
      at various intervals between 3 and 24 wk after the initial injection. At an early
      phase, numbers of fibroblasts and extracellular matrix increased in the walls of
      central veins and in portal and capsular connective tissues. In the walls of
      central veins, the number of "second-layer cells" (i.e., the fibroblasts located
      at the second layer of the wall) increased. Connective tissue septa, accompanying
      some fibroblasts, extended from these interstitial tissues into the hepatic
      parenchyma, and their foremost edges came into direct contact with the
      perisinusoidal stellate cells. The sinusoids adjacent to the newly formed septa
      collapsed and later disappeared; this process resulted in the formation of
      hepatic limiting plates along the septa. At a more advanced stage, the
      interstitial fibroblasts and septal cells-which were derived from interstitial
      fibroblasts and the stellate cells-increased and became multilayered,
      constructing three-dimensional cell networks. These networks, together with
      increased collagen fibrils and elastic fibers, constitute the fibrotic dense
      connective tissue. In the control rat, smooth muscle cells were positive on
      vimentin, desmin and smooth muscle-alpha-actin staining. The stellate cells,
      second-layer cells, capsular and portal fibroblasts were shown to be vimentin and
      desmin positive and smooth muscle-alpha-actin negative. In the fibrotic liver,
      septal(fibroblastic) cells were vimentin and desmin positive and smooth muscle
      alpha-actin negative. We conclude that not only the perisinusoidal stellate cells
      but also the interstitial fibroblasts, including the second-layer cells, play
      substantial role in the development of porcine serum-induced septal fibrosis in
      rat liver.

PMID- 1446900
TI  - Resident mast cells are the main initiators of anaphylactic leukotriene
      production in the liver.
AB  - During anaphylaxis the sensitized liver can have substantial capacity for
      leukotriene production. However, the intrahepatic cellular source for these
      potent eicosanoid mediators has been unclear so far. We therefore analyzed the
      appropriate role of resident liver cells in organ-specific generation of
      leukotrienes by immunohistochemical localization of 5-lipoxygenase, by
      measurement of cysteinyl leukotriene production in animals or isolated livers and
      by histochemical monitoring of mast cells in rat, guinea pig and mouse livers,
      respectively. During anaphylaxis in vivo, these species all generated large
      amounts of leukotrienes. Immunohistochemistry with rat liver demonstrated
      resident mast cells as the predominant cell type in liver containing 5
      lipoxygenase. Rat and guinea pig livers contained numerous mast cells and
      produced substantial amounts of leukotrienes on antigen challenge; in contrast,
      mouse livers neither showed detectable mast cells nor generated leukotrienes when
      stimulated analogously. Infusion of histamine or serotonin (1 mmol/L each) or of
      the degranulating substance P (8 mumol/L) did not elicit leukotriene generation
      in rat livers. Furthermore, substantial degranulation of liver mast cells by
      compound 48/80 (0.5 mg/kg body mass) was paralleled by only modest leukotriene
      formation (63 +/- 10 pmol in bile/kg body mass/30 min). These results indicate
      that during anaphylaxis mast cells are the main intrahepatic cells initiating
      leukotriene production and that such leukotriene generation is likely to be
      independent of mast cell degranulation or the release of histamine or serotonin.

PMID- 1446902
TI  - Does albumin regulate albumin?

PMID- 1446901
TI  - APF/CBP, an anionic polypeptide in bile and gallstones that may regulate calcium
      salt and cholesterol precipitation from bile.

PMID- 1446903
TI  - ADH1, 2 and 3: genes whose times have come.

PMID- 1446904
TI  - Thymic factor X treatment of chronic hepatitis B.

PMID- 1446905
TI  - United States' tort costs continue to escalate.
AB  - Tort costs in the United States totaled $132 billion in 1991, or 2.3% of the
      nation's total economic output; and medical malpractice accounted for $9.1
      billion of that total, according to new data from Tillinghast, a division of
      Towers Perrin, New York City.

PMID- 1446906
TI  - Cancer at the crossroads.
AB  - A number of elements are transforming cancer care in hospitals. First is ongoing,
      rapid technological advance: Experts contend that biotechnology therapies will
      shift the site of cancer treatment from external, systemic treatments like
      radiation and chemotherapy, to targeted, tumor-specific drugs that boost the
      immune system. That change alone holds many implications for oncology management.
      In addition, an aging population, longer cancer survival rates, reimbursement
      concerns, and the increasing involvement of patients and their families in
      treatment decision making, will all have an impact on the way cancer care is
      designed and delivered. The time to plan, say experts, is now. Meanwhile,
      innovative treatment plans, patient care approaches, and collaborative efforts
      among institutions are moving hospital oncology into the 1990s in a dramatic way.

PMID- 1446907
TI  - Are trustees prepared to lead through health reform maze?
AB  - Not all hospital trustees realize the vital leadership role they must play as
      their hospitals move toward the future, say CEOs. As a result, executives
      understand that they have a major educative role to play in bringing their boards
      up to speed on health care reform issues--quickly.

PMID- 1446908
TI  - New AHA guidebook provides framework for implementing clinical practice
      guidelines.
AB  - A new guidebook from the AHA promises to help hospitals move from the abstract to
      day-to-day clinical practice when it comes to adopting clinical practice
      guidelines. At the same time, new federal guidelines offer another source from
      which hospitals can directly receive new information.

PMID- 1446909
TI  - Healthy investor interest in non-rated hospital bonds.
AB  - Despite persistent rumors of a "credit crunch," tax-exempt financing remains a
      viable source of capital for many hospitals that can't obtain investment-grade
      ratings. In fact, say experts, there's still strong investor interest in debt
      issued by lower-credit quality hospitals.

PMID- 1446910
TI  - CEOs link IS visions to hospital strategic plans.
AB  - More and more hospital CEOs are recognizing the importance of aligning the goals
      for their information systems with those of their strategic plans. In addition,
      information management experts offer advice on how CEOs can participate in IS
      selections without getting bogged down in details.

PMID- 1446911
TI  - Report outlines 'best practices' for surgery units.

PMID- 1446912
TI  - Survey shows gaps in competencies of new RNs.

PMID- 1446913
TI  - Malpractice risk the same for female and male ob/gyns.

PMID- 1446914
TI  - MD-directed critical pathways: it's time.

PMID- 1446915
TI  - Prolactin as an immunoregulatory hormone in mammals and birds.
AB  - The immunoregulatory function of prolactin (PRL) and the mechanism of its action
      in mammals seem to be well documented. Reciprocal interdependence between PRL
      secretion and immune system function is essential for normal ontogeny,
      development and aging. PRL receptors in lymphocytes participate in the
      transduction of its regulatory signal into the intracellular enzymatic machinery
      including that of the nucleus, leading to the expression of some genes and to the
      synthesis of new proteins. Activation of phosphoinositide turnover and subsequent
      increase in protein kinase-C activity seems to be a possible mechanism acting in
      the regulatory influence of PRL on mammalian immune cells. These cells in turn,
      under mitogen or antigen stimulation, secrete a substance with PRL-like activity.
      The regulatory function of PRL within the avian immune system is less well known,
      but it seems to have some features in common with those in mammals. Direct
      mitogenic action on thymocytes and splenocytes in the chicken might indicate the
      existence of PRL receptors in these cells and could explain the immunostimulatory
      effect of PRL observed in vivo, which is dependent on the time of hormone
      administration. As the avian PRL stimulates mitogenesis of rat Nb2 lymphoma
      cells, the mechanism of direct PRL action on immune cells in mammals and birds
      seems to be similar. PRL in chickens also modifies the level and the diurnal
      rhythm of corticosterone which, in turn, influences the immunoregulatory effect
      exerted by PRL. Thus, PRL seems to be an important factor, influencing directly
      or indirectly the avian immune system.

PMID- 1446916
TI  - Melatonin induced increase in gamma-interferon production by murine splenocytes.
AB  - Previously, we demonstrated that production of gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN) by
      the mouse splenocytes isolated at night was higher than from those isolated in
      the morning. In this paper we show that melatonin increased gamma-IFN production
      by murine splenocytes. Moreover, this stimulating effect was significantly higher
      (10 times) in the cells isolated at night than in those isolated in the morning
      (2 times).

PMID- 1446917
TI  - Chemo-immunotherapy in patients with metastatic melanoma using sequential
      treatment with dacarbazine and recombinant human interleukin-2: evaluation of
      hematologic and immunologic parameters and correlation with clinical response.
AB  - We have treated 18 patients with metastatic malignant melanoma (MM) with high
      dose IL-2 administered by continuous iv infusion in combination with dacarbazine
      (DTIC), and correlated the clinical response with various hematologic and
      immunologic parameters. Two regimens differing in the sequence of treatment were
      employed, and 1-6 treatment cycles were given, depending on patient response. Two
      patients had a complete response (CR, 46+m, 14m), two patients a partial response
      (PR, 16m,6m), one a minimal response and four had a stable disease lasting 2-7
      months, thus the response rate (CR+PR) was 22%. None of the following parameters,
      tested prior to initiation of the therapy and 1-2 days after termination of each
      course of IL-2, correlated with the clinical response: WBC counts (total and
      differential), levels of blood CD4 and CD8 T cells, NK cells, monocytes and B
      cells, production of IL-1 and IL-1 inhibitor by monocytes, responsiveness to 3
      mitogens, NK/LAK cell activity, and serum levels of IL-1 alpha, IL-2, soluble IL
      2 receptor, and TNF alpha. The only prognostic parameter was the greater increase
      in the level of IL-2 receptor (Tac)-bearing lymphocytes in the responding
      patients after 1-3 cycles of IL-2. The data suggests that non-specific immune
      parameters have no prognostic value for patients undergoing IL-2-based
      immunotherapy.

PMID- 1446918
TI  - Global degranulation of rat mast cells stimulated with DNP-polystyrene.
AB  - Mediator release was studied in rat peritoneal mast cells sensitized with a mouse
      monoclonal anti-DNP IgE antibody, and stimulated with DNP-ornithine covalently
      attached to radio-derivatized polystyrene petri dishes. Cells releasing serotonin
      at maximal rates were investigated by transmission electron microscopy.
      Generalized exocytosis of granules could be observed, suggesting non-directional
      release of mediators, and non-compartmentalized action of second messengers in
      mast cells stimulated with polystyrene-bound DNP. Stimulation of sensitized mast
      cells by DNP covalently bound to the rigid polystyrene surface is consistent with
      extrinsic mechanisms proposed for Fc(epsilon)RI receptor action, and suggests
      that internalization of Fc(epsilon)RI is not needed for triggering cell
      degranulation.

PMID- 1446919
TI  - Phagocytosis and microbicidal capacity of human monocytes in the course of HIV
      infection.
AB  - Phagocytosis and bactericidal activity of human monocytes were studied in
      asymptomatic HIV carriers and in patients with clinically apparent HIV infection,
      diagnosed as persistent generalised lymphadenopathy (PGL) or AIDS-related complex
      (ARC). Monocytes of asymptomatic HIV carriers manifested no significant changes
      while a decreased phagocytosis was shown by monocytes in the majority of patients
      with PGL or ARC. The latter patients also exhibited a decreased bactericidal
      activity of the cells. Tuftsin and even serum from healthy donors were found to
      normalise the disturbed monocyte function, the effect of tuftsin being more
      pronounced. Nevertheless, the examined sera contained neither factors which could
      stimulate nor factors which could inhibit phagocytosis. The obtained results
      indicated that the productive phase of HIV infection is associated with disturbed
      phagocytosis and disturbed microbicidal activity of monocytes, reflecting
      deficiency of serum factor(s) needed for the normal function of the cells.

PMID- 1446920
TI  - Degenerative changes in the A375 melanoma line induced by transforming growth
      factor beta 1.
AB  - A375 human melanoma cell cultures grown in the presence of TGF beta contained
      greatly reduced cell numbers and exhibited drastic alterations in cell morphology
      compared to the control cultures. Preincubation of the cells with the cytokine
      for only 18 h was sufficient to induce these changes irreversibly. Examination of
      TGF beta-treated cells in the electron microscope revealed large numbers of lipid
      filled vacuoles in the cytoplasm, greatly contracted nuclei and some loss of the
      otherwise abundant microvilli. Thus TGF beta may have a direct toxic effect on
      the A375 melanoma cells.

PMID- 1446921
TI  - Fast filtration enzyme immunoassay for haptens.
AB  - An immunometric method for determination of hapten concentration in fluids has
      been developed. High-affinity hapten-specific enzyme-labeled monoclonal
      antibodies are mixed with a sample containing hapten, then the mixture is
      filtered through a membrane with immobilized hapten. The level of enzyme activity
      retained by the membrane is inversely proportional to the concentration of hapten
      in a sample. The assay has been developed for theophylline, digoxin and
      phenobarbital. The coefficient of variation is less than 5% and the test takes
      about 2 min.

PMID- 1446922
TI  - Specific anti-A responses of SCID mice populated with human lymphoid cells from
      peripheral blood, umbilical cord, bone marrow and spleen after immunization with
      group A erythrocytes [corrected].
AB  - Mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) were injected i.p. with 10 x
      10(6) or 50 x 10(6) human leukocytes obtained from adult peripheral blood,
      umbilical cord blood, bone marrow and spleen from six group O individuals,
      together with allogeneic group A erythrocytes. Mice were bled every two weeks and
      levels of human IgG, IgM and anti-A were determined in the murine plasma. Spleen
      cells elicited the highest Ig levels (up to 5.2 mg/ml IgG) and umbilical cord the
      least (0-0.16 mg/ml IgG); maximum IgG levels were obtained at about 6-8 weeks
      after injection. Anti-A was detected in mice receiving adult peripheral blood or
      spleen leukocytes and immunizing erythrocytes 4-6 weeks after injection. Mice
      injected with the higher dose of leukocytes gave the best anti-A responses, but
      were more likely to develop tumours after 8 weeks.

PMID- 1446923
TI  - Tetrapeptide QDPR is a minimal immunodominant epitope within the preS2 domain of
      hepatitis B virus.
AB  - A hepatitis B virus preS2 deletion library with the preS2 sequence fused to the
      coat protein of the RNA phage fr (fr CP) as a carrier has been constructed and
      used for the approximate localization of epitope recognized by a panel of murine
      monoclonal anti-preS2 antibodies. DNA copies of putative preS2 epitopes were
      synthesized and cloned within the fr CP gene. Tetrapeptide Gln-Asp-Pro-Arg (QDPR)
      corresponding to the preS (132-135) sequence was found to be the minimal
      sufficient recognition site for one of the monoclonal antibodies, S26. The
      closely related tetrapeptide EDPR did not mimic the epitope activity of QDPR.

PMID- 1446924
TI  - Characterization of IgM molecules in light-chain deficient variants of a B-cell
      tumor.
AB  - Characterization of a membrane-IgM-negative variant cell line derived from the
      murine B-cell line 38C-13 revealed the absence of light chains and the presence
      of polypeptides with an apparent molecular size of 18 kDa and 14 kDa, previously
      denoted omega and iota and characteristic of pre-B cells. These polypeptides
      assemble with the mu chains into complexes with apparent molecular sizes of about
      100 kDa and 200 kDa. It has been previously shown that light-chain-deficient
      variants of the 38C cell line undergo 'secondary' light chain rearrangements. It
      is suggested, therefore, that complexes of mu and the 'surrogate' light chains
      omega and iota play a role in this process. As these complexes do not reach the
      cell surface we would like to propose that the mechanism of secondary
      rearrangement is intracellularly controlled.

PMID- 1446926
TI  - Association of injury with neuropathic bone and joint disease.

PMID- 1446925
TI  - In vitro immune recognition of synthetic peptides from the Plasmodium falciparum
      CS protein by individuals naturally exposed to different sporozoite challenge.
AB  - The impact of duration and intensity of sporozoite challenge on the in vitro cell
      immune response to synthetic peptides of the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of
      Plasmodium falciparum was investigated in residents of a malaria endemic area in
      Burkina Faso (West Africa). Lymphocyte proliferation and interferon-gamma (IFN
      gamma) production were used to assess immune recognition of synthetic peptides
      corresponding to the polymorphic Th2R and Th3R regions, to the conserved CS.T3
      sequence and to NANP and degenerate NVDP repeats. Immune responses were measured
      in adults and children from a village where they received more than 100
      sporozoite inoculations per year and in adults living in a town, exposed to a 10
      100 times lower challenge. A lifetime intense exposure apparently increased the
      ability to proliferate in response to most peptides in the rural adults, who all
      produced antibodies to NANP repeats. Surprisingly, cell cultures from these
      subjects seldom contained appreciable levels of IFN-gamma. In the urban adults,
      possibly due to the moderate challenge they are exposed to, significant
      differences in the proliferative potentials of the peptides could be detected.
      The highest stimulation indices were obtained with the genetically unrestricted
      CS.T3 peptide. Remarkably, proliferative responses to Th2R and Th3R appeared to
      be correlated with the humoral response to the CS protein, indicating a T helper
      significance of the epitopes. The differing proliferative potential of the
      polymorphic epitopes in the urban adults suggests that polymorphism might delay
      the development of immune responsiveness under conditions of sporadic
      transmission. The children from the highly malarious village displayed the lowest
      proliferative scores, accompanied by a high prevalence of antibodies to NANP
      repeats. On the basis of these findings, the hypothesis is proposed that a pure B
      cell reactivity to NANP repeats could ontogenetically precede the mounting of a
      conventional T-B cooperative immune response.

PMID- 1446927
TI  - Ipsilateral fractures of the femur and tibia.
AB  - From October 1987 to September 1990, 32 patients with ipsilateral fractures of
      the femur and the tibia were treated. There were 20 men and 12 women with a mean
      age of 27 years (range 18-75 years). All were caused by road accidents. There
      were 7 femoral and 22 tibial open fractures. The management of the fractures was
      partially the same. The tibial fractures were reduced and stabilized by a
      unilateral external fixator, while in 29 out of 32 femoral fractures, a closed
      intramedullary nailing was performed. The remaining three patients with an open
      grade III fracture were initially treated by external fixation, with two of them
      converted into nailing. The time of hospitalization ranged from 12 to 105 days
      (mean 30 days). The femoral fractures healed in an average of 15.5 weeks, while
      the tibial fractures healed in 18.5 weeks. The evaluation of our results was made
      according to Karlstrom and Olerud's criteria. We achieved 81 per cent excellent
      or good results and 19 per cent acceptable or poor, in a follow-up time of 19.5
      months.

PMID- 1446928
TI  - The 'stove-in shoulder': results of treatment by early mobilization.
AB  - The 'stove-in shoulder' is an injury in which the scapula is fractured and the
      lateral fragments are displaced medially. Out of 10 patients, eight treated by
      early mobilization regained full shoulder function within 1 year.

PMID- 1446929
TI  - Resuscitation in northern Iraq.
AB  - The principles of Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) were adopted by a Royal
      Navy surgical team deployed to northern Iraq. Over a 6-week period, 18 casualties
      of both military and civil trauma required active resuscitation, 10 being under
      the age of 16 years. Triage of multiple casualties was necessary on three
      occasions. Two patients died. It was difficult to exclude cervical spine injury.
      Venous cut-down was frequently unsuccessful, so that internal jugular vein
      cannulation was life-saving. Crystalloid was used as the primary infusion without
      apparent disadvantage. Cross-matched blood was unavailable and one patient died
      with haemolysis after massive transfusion. Hypothermia was a problem despite the
      high environmental temperature. Laboratory and radiological facilities were
      extremely limited. Non-medical staff were trained most effectively to assess
      vital signs, although sophisticated monitors became available. These problems are
      discussed and compared with previous experience. Recommendations are made to
      improve future outcome.

PMID- 1446930
TI  - The use of power tools in the insertion of cortical bone screws.
AB  - Cortical bone screws are commonly used in fracture surgery, most patterns are non
      self-tapping and require a thread to be pre-cut. This is traditionally performed
      using hand tools rather than their powered counterparts. Reasons given usually
      imply that power tools are more dangerous and cut a less precise thread, but
      there is no evidence to support this supposition. A series of experiments has
      been performed which show that the thread pattern cut with either method is
      identical and that over-penetration with the powered tap is easy to control. The
      conclusion reached is that both methods produce consistently reliable results but
      use of power tools is much faster.

PMID- 1446931
TI  - Management of childhood femoral neck fractures.
AB  - Forty-three children with displaced transcervical femoral fractures were reviewed
      at a mean follow-up of 7.2 years and results were assessed using Ratliff's
      criteria. Of 22 patients treated by internal fixation alone, 10 had good, 6 had
      fair and 6 had poor results. The results in 21 children treated by internal
      fixation along with primary transverse intertrochanteric undisplaced osteotomy
      were: 14 good, 5 fair and 2 poor, but none improved to a statistically
      significant level (P = 0.139). However, the osteotomy improved the fracture union
      significantly and no delayed union or non-union was noted in this group (P =
      0.05). There were no complications related to the osteotomy itself.

PMID- 1446932
TI  - The importance of clinical details when reporting accident and emergency
      radiographs.
AB  - The effect of clinical information on the accuracy of reporting accident and
      emergency (A&E) radiographs was studied in two A&E officers and five radiologists
      involved in their daily reporting. Each was shown 50 sets of radiographs, 30
      subtle fractures and 20 controls. In one half the clinical history and precise
      localization was provided, and in the other half no such information was given.
      After an interval of 6 months the radiographs were viewed again with the amount
      of information reversed. The observers were asked to determine the presence of
      injury, describe its site, and indicate how sure they were of their diagnosis.
      Correct diagnosis was improved from 72.3 per cent to 80.3 per cent overall, and
      from 68.1 per cent to 81.4 per cent in the fracture group. All observers improved
      their performance with clinical details. The results confirm that accurate
      clinical details improve injury location.

PMID- 1446933
TI  - The dynamic ASIF-BM tubular external fixator in the treatment of open fractures
      of the shaft of the tibia.
AB  - The dynamic ASIF-BM external fixator incorporates telescopic tubes for axial
      dynamization and angled bayonet screws to keep the tubes parallel to the bone
      axis, that is essential for gliding, and adjustment of rotation. The results
      after treatment of 70 type II and III open tibial fractures with static ASIF and
      dynamic ASIF-BM frames were analysed. Of the fractures, 32 were treated with the
      delta ASIF static frame, the other 38 with delta and uniplanar dynamic ASIF-BM
      frames. The groups were found to be comparable. The results of the study confirm
      that tubular external fixation is a safe method for treating the bone and soft
      tissue lesions in such fractures. The comparative study shows that axial
      compression, using the ASIF-BM device, with early weight bearing, gave a higher
      rate of union (97 per cent against 87 per cent with the ASIF frame), a shorter
      healing time (19 weeks against 29 weeks with the ASIF frame) and a decreased need
      for bone grafting (21 per cent against 84 per cent with the ASIF frame). The
      incidence of pin track infection was also decreased in dynamic frames. Thus it
      seems that the ASIF-BM dynamic fixator has a valuable part to play as a
      definitive mode of therapy for severe open fractures of the tibial shaft.

PMID- 1446934
TI  - A study of diaphyseal fracture repair using tissue isolation techniques.
AB  - The repair of an osteotomy of the rabbit tibia was studied by arterial
      radiography and by histology following selective isolation of the potential
      sources of the fracture callus. The periosteum was isolated by reaming and
      nailing the medullary cavity and the bone marrow was isolated by applying a
      Silastic sheath around the shaft. The results revealed certain features of
      periosteal and medullary healing.

PMID- 1446935
TI  - Death in hospital after head injury without transfer to a neurosurgical unit:
      who, when, and why?
AB  - Most studies of hospital deaths after head injury have been in patients
      transferred to neurosurgical units (NSU), but over 90 per cent of hospitalized
      head-injured patients are not transferred and some of these die. To assess the
      effectiveness of triage of seriously head-injured patients in Glasgow, we studied
      270 patients who died after head injury in any of the six Glasgow general
      hospitals during 1979-1988 and who were not transferred to the regional NSU. The
      proportion of fatal cases of head injury who had not been to the NSU fell from 69
      per cent in 1971-1975 to 45 per cent in 1979-1988. Most of the untransferred
      patients were elderly, and most died from irremediable injuries or complications.
      Although 31 (11 per cent) had a significant intracranial haematoma, only seven of
      these might have been salvaged by neurosurgical intervention. Seven other
      patients died from potentially preventable extracranial injuries or
      complications. These findings suggest that a relatively satisfactory level of
      triage of seriously head-injured patients has been achieved, by promoting
      effective communication between neurosurgeons and other specialists, and by a
      continuous programme of audit and education.

PMID- 1446936
TI  - Paraplegia and traumatic rupture of the aorta: a disease process or surgical
      complication?
AB  - Surgical repair of traumatic rupture of the aorta results in an excellent
      survival rate especially among the young, although paraplegia continues to be a
      serious postoperative complication. The authors present nine cases admitted to
      Stoke Mandeville Hospital, England, including detailed post-mortem findings on
      one of the cases. Although it was difficult to be certain of the patients'
      general and neurological status prior to surgery, as it was not well documented
      in the patients' case notes, it was evident that systemic hypotension and poor
      distal aortic perfusion were responsible for the disabling complication. A review
      of the initial medical management of these patients and the surgical techniques
      employed in repairing such injuries is urgently needed.

PMID- 1446937
TI  - Anterior dislocation of the shoulder: a simple method of reduction.
AB  - An effective method for reducing anterior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint
      which does not require either sedation or traction is described. The patient
      performs the manoeuvre. A series of 32 consecutive patients were treated by this
      method. Easy reduction was achieved in 72 per cent, with no complications and
      patients spent less than half as long in the accident and emergency department as
      when it is not successful. We recommend this simple technique as a first method
      of reduction in patients presenting to accident and emergency departments.

PMID- 1446938
TI  - A gentle method of reducing traumatic dislocation of the hip.

PMID- 1446939
TI  - Serum c-reactive protein in patients with serious trauma.
AB  - Daily serum c-reactive protein (CRP) concentration was monitored in 98 patients
      (26 female) admitted to the Major Injuries Unit (MIU) at Birmingham Accident
      Hospital following serious trauma. The mean (SD) increase in CRP concentration
      for 79 survivors and 19 non-survivors between days 1 and 2 after trauma were 69.5
      (74.6) and 111.8 (59.0) mg/l/24 h, respectively (P = < 0.001). By day 4 after
      trauma the mean serum CRP concentrations for survivors and non-survivors were
      150.9 (76.9) and 233.4 (100.8) mg/l (P < 0.001), respectively. Injury severity
      data were available for 50 patients. The mean (range) injury severity score was
      25.2 (4-50), Glasgow coma scale 10.4 (3-15), revised trauma score 6.5 (3.39-7.8)
      and predicted survival 0.78 (0.02-0.99). Univariate regression analysis of serum
      CRP on days 1-5 after injury against revised trauma score and injury severity
      score, revealed an inverse correlation between day 1 serum CRP and Glasgow Coma
      Score (r = -0.306, P < 0.05), but no correlation with injury severity score or
      predicted survival on any of the study days. The lack of correlation between
      serum CRP and injury severity or predicted survival, and the strong association
      with actual survival, suggests that the acute inflammatory response to serious
      trauma and subsequent complications, is an important determinant of outcome.

PMID- 1446940
TI  - Small intestinal perforation following minor trauma.
AB  - Small intestinal perforation occurred in two patients aged 70 years and 88 years
      who had experienced minor trauma by tripping or falling on the pavement. They
      both developed signs of generalized peritonitis and at laparotomy were found to
      have perforated the mid ileum. There was no sign of direct abdominal trauma but
      they had suffered minor facial trauma as a result of the fall.

PMID- 1446941
TI  - Correlation between injury severity scores and subjective ratings of injury
      severity: a basis for trauma audit.
AB  - A retrospective review of 1900 road accident victims attending the emergency
      departments of two Melbourne hospitals was undertaken to identify Injury Severity
      Score levels which could distinguish between minor, moderate, severe and critical
      injury. Injuries scoring ISS 6 or below were designated 'minor' because they were
      associated with a low risk of requiring admission to hospital. Case notes of
      patients scoring above ISS 6 were then reviewed by a panel of clinicians, who
      independently rated each patient's overall injury severity as moderate, severe or
      critical according to what was recorded in the notes and their 'clinical'
      judgement. ISS values were compared with clinicians' ratings. Measures of each
      clinician's individual rating consistency, and correlation between pairs of
      clinicians with respect to inter-rater consistency, were made. By combining data
      from both hospitals it emerged that 'moderate' injury corresponded to ISS 8-13,
      'severe' to ISS 14-20 and 'critical' to ISS 21 and above. These ISS breakpoints
      will be useful in selecting groups of injured patients for future trauma audit
      studies.

PMID- 1446942
TI  - Cracking of the femoral shaft by the gamma nail.

PMID- 1446943
TI  - The cost of home delivery.

PMID- 1446944
TI  - Ruptured calcified tendo Achilles: successful non-operative treatment.

PMID- 1446945
TI  - 'Quadriplane' fracture of the distal tibia: a triplane fracture with a double
      metaphyseal fragment.

PMID- 1446946
TI  - Mountain bike injury to the abdomen, transection of the pancreas and small bowel
      evisceration.

PMID- 1446947
TI  - An irreducible medial cuneiform fracture-dislocation.

PMID- 1446948
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging of AO/ASIF stainless steel and titanium implants.

PMID- 1446949
TI  - Drill bit failure with implant involvement--an intraoperative complication in
      orthopaedic surgery.
AB  - This paper aims to investigate whether drill bit fragments which are in contact
      with an implant behave differently to those without contact to the implant and if
      so in what way. There is particular emphasis on whether two metals in contact are
      subject to corrosion and whether the products of such a corrosion lead to
      undesirable tissue reactions. The orthopaedic surgeon must know whether a drill
      bit fragment should be removed if it is in contact with an implant, in
      particular, whether there will be negative consequences for the tissue if it is
      left in the body. It is necessary to establish how much additional trauma is
      justified in removing a broken fragment and how the surgeon can determine
      intraoperatively whether there is contact between the fragment and the implant.
      Finally, this investigation aims to establish whether the fragment can be left in
      the body until implant removal or whether it can be left permanently in situ.

PMID- 1446950
TI  - Magnetic resonance of the musculoskeletal system.

PMID- 1446951
TI  - Quantitative computed tomography: from linear absorption coefficients to bone
      mass.

PMID- 1446952
TI  - Drill bit failure without implant involvement--an intraoperative complication in
      orthopaedic surgery.
AB  - The aetiology, frequency and consequences of drill bit failure during surgical
      intervention in human and animal bone tissue are investigated and discussed to
      provide the surgeon confronted with this problem with a scientifically based
      procedure. The literature on this subject is rather inadequate, i.e. only one
      publication in the last decade could be found dealing with this topic and this
      was a veterinary case. The Laboratory for Experimental Surgery in Davos has
      received several enquiries from the medical profession worldwide as to correct
      procedure in the case of drill bit failure. Three sources of information were
      investigated in order to furbish a reply to these enquiries, these were the
      AO/ASIF documentation centre in Berne, a survey of 280 surgeons and orthopedic
      doctors in Switzerland and a survey of 83 AO/ASIF foundation members. One broken
      tap (tool steel) was removed two years after the operation and metallographic
      investigations carried out. A frequency of 3 drill bit failure per 1000 internal
      fixations (0.3%) is apparent in nearly all data. The reasons for drill bit
      failure were investigated. Drill bit failure occurs more frequently in the
      proximal femur and when using angled plates. On the basis of this enquiry the
      following guidelines can be offered to the surgeon. A broken drill bit which is
      not in contact with an implant can be left in the body without any risk of
      delayed recovery. However, if the drill fragment is situated near a joint or if
      it can be easily removed without further trauma to the bone, then it should be
      removed. Once the fracture has healed the broken drill bit should be removed
      along with the implant provided no exceptional difficulties are involved.

PMID- 1446953
TI  - Creatine kinase (CK) and creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) activity in serum
      before and after intravenous salbutamol administration of patients with bronchial
      asthma.
AB  - The effect of salbutamol, a selective beta 2-adrenergic agonist, on creatine
      kinase (CK) and creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) activity in serum of 20
      asthmatic patients was investigated. Venous blood was obtained 30 min, 2 h and 4
      h after 0.5 mg salbutamol intravenous injection of 0.5 mg salbutamol. Total
      creatine kinase activity was assayed on a Technico RA-1000 analyzer with the IFCC
      recommended method. CK-MB activity was determined using a centrifugal analyzer
      (Cobas Fera, Roche, Switzerland). Reagent kits were provided by Boehringer
      Mannheim (FRG). We observed no increase of CK-activity after salbutamol, and
      found a statistically significant increase of CK-MB activity. Serum CK-MB
      activity before treatment was 13 +/- 10/IU/l after 30 minutes drug, 31.8 +/- 19
      IU/l after 2 h 27.2 +/- 17.79 and after 4 h 22.6 +/- 12 IU/l. We conclude that
      salbutamol exerts a cardiotoxic effect.

PMID- 1446954
TI  - Tissue reaction after intramuscular injection of liposomes in mice.
AB  - Liposomes are effective carrier systems for prolonged drug release. As all other
      drug formulations for parenteral use, the safety of liposomal formulations should
      be established before clinical application. In this study, some safety aspects of
      intramuscularly injected (single dose) "gel-state" type liposomes and the ability
      of liposome encapsulation to diminish irritating effects of intramuscularly
      applied drugs were studied by histopathological analysis over a period of 14 days
      in mice. Injection of saline solution showed no tissue reaction at the injection
      site. Intramuscular injection of liposomes alone showed an infiltrative reaction
      consisting of a population of macrophages. Within this population fat cells were
      present. In time, the population of macrophages present at the injection site was
      largely replaced by loose connective tissue. Novaminsulfon (NS) injected
      intramuscularly in "free" form is a strongly irritating drug, causing hemorrhage,
      cell necrosis, inflammatory reactions and eventually fibrosis. However, NS being
      encapsulated in liposomes was hardly more irritating than liposomes alone. The
      same was true for liposome-encapsulated chloroquine and free chloroquine. When
      sustained-release of a drug is therapeutically desirable, the parenteral
      application of a liposome-encapsulated formulation can be considered for drugs,
      in particular for those drugs causing tissue injury at the injection site.

PMID- 1446955
TI  - A correlation between digoxin plasma concentrations and systolic time intervals
      in hospitalized congestive heart failure patients.
AB  - Plasma digoxin level is at best an indirect measure of pharmacological response
      to digoxin in patients being treated for congestive heart failure. Systolic time
      interval (STI) measurement reflecting left ventricular function at the
      physiological site of action of digoxin, is both more direct and non-invasive.
      With a portable instrument to measure systolic time intervals, the measurement
      can also be convenient for hospital staff. A portable electrocardiogram (ECG)
      machine was modified to mimic the capabilities of a large, multichannel model.
      Upon satisfactory evaluation, it was employed in the collection of systolic time
      interval data from five hospitalized patients undergoing digoxin treatment. An
      attempt was made to show a relationship between STI indices and digoxin plasma
      concentrations. Additionally, a statistical comparison was made of change in STI
      (delta STI) and plasma digoxin concentration both before and after drug
      administrations. The change in pre-ejection period (delta PEP) values show a
      significant difference over the changes in total electromechanical systole (delta
      QS2) and the changes in left ventricular ejection time (delta LVET). In three
      congestive heart failure patients, the time course of the change in plasma
      concentration showed good correspondence with delta PEP.

PMID- 1446956
TI  - Failure of predicted creatinine clearance equations in HIV-seropositive patients.
AB  - The Cockcroft and Gault (CG) [1976] method of predicted creatinine clearances
      (CCR) accurately predicts measured 24-hour CCR values in healthy volunteers. The
      present study compared the relationship between measured and predicted CCR
      through 5 methods: CG, J1 [Jelliffe 1971], J2 [Jelliffe 1973], M [Mawer et al.
      1972], and H [Hull et al. 1981], in 42 HIV-seropositive patients: 21 ARC/21 AIDS,
      35M/7F, 26 homosexual/16 intravenous drug users, age: 37 +/- 7 years, actual body
      weight: 74 +/- 14 kg, CD4: 0.286 +/- 0.185 x 10(9) cells per liter (mean +/- SD).
      Measured CCR values poorly correlated with serum creatinine levels (r = -0.35; p
      < 0.01). The average measured CCR was 106 +/- 29 ml/min compared with 94 +/- 21
      (CG; r = 0.49), 78 +/- 13 (J1; r = 0.41), 77 +/- 14 (J2; r = 0.44), 97 +/- 21 (M;
      r = 0.51) and 95 +/- 17 ml/min (H; r = 0.32). Standardization to body surface
      area or lean body weight or stratification by patient factors (gender, disease
      stage, risk factors, drug treatment) did not improve correlations. However,
      patients with normal microalbumin excretion rates had more predictable CCR values
      compared with those who had excess excretion, suggesting the influence of HIV
      associated nephropathy on CCR estimation. Since all predicted CCR equations
      consistently underestimated actual values, these equations should be used with
      caution in estimating measured CCR in HIV-seropositive patients.

PMID- 1446957
TI  - Morning vs evening effects of intrapulmonary administration of heparin in healthy
      men.
AB  - Calcium heparin in a dose of 13,200-15,300 U was administered in 8 healthy men,
      aged 26-54, by inhalation at 8:00 or 20:00, where each study was separated by a
      minimum of three weeks interval. Serum coagulation variables, lipids,
      electrolytes and enzymes were measured before inhalation, 2 h later and after 48
      h. Following heparin inhalation changes both in coagulation variables and less
      distinct in lipids variables were noted at both test times, but no morning
      evening differences were observed, with the exception of cholesterol and HDL.

PMID- 1446958
TI  - Clinical effect of indolidan in congestive heart failure.
AB  - Indolidan (IN) experimentally inhibits type IV phosphodiesterase. It was
      administered to twelve patients (age 64 +/- 15 years) with New York Heart
      Association (NYHA) class 2-3 congestive heart failure in which digoxin and
      diuretic therapy were continued. IN was administered i.v. at 1,180 +/- 340
      micrograms (15 micrograms/kg) over two hours. After 24 hours, IN was given p.o.
      at 231 +/- 44 micrograms. The time course effect of IN i.v. revealed an increase
      in cardiac index and a decrease in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and blood
      pressure. Daily oral administration of IN or placebo was carried out for up to 3
      months. There were no significant hemodynamic changes of chronically administered
      IN. The maximum oxygen uptake increased in placebo relative to IN therapy. IN
      tended to be arrhythmogenic as evidenced by a general increased frequency of
      ventricular premature contractions of both single and paired type. Therefore, IN
      had some hemodynamic efficacy on acute i.v. and p.o. administration but not
      during chronic therapy, and there was negative safety features of arrhythmias.

PMID- 1446959
TI  - Investigation of the bioequivalence of two carbamazepine sustained-release
      formulations in healthy subjects.
AB  - A bioavailability study of two commercial carbamazepine sustained-release
      formulations was carried out in 14 healthy male subjects in order to compare
      plasma concentration/time profiles and to determine the relative bioavailability
      of carbamazepine (CBZ). This randomized study had a single-dose, crossover design
      and consisted of two trial periods separated by a three-week wash-out period. A
      sensitive, validated HPLC method was used to analyze plasma carbamazepine levels.
      Bioequivalence was only accepted for the test (Timonil 600 retard from Desitin
      Arzneimittel GmbH) and reference preparations (T and R) if the 90% confidence
      interval (parametric or non-parametric) for the ratios of the median values of
      the target variables was completely within the bioequivalence range. The
      following values were found for relative bioavailability: T/R: AUC = 109.6 (101.5
      116.5)%, MRT = 96.4 (92.0-100.4)%, HVD = 92.4 (85.0-97.8)%. Applied to these
      pharmacokinetic data, the requirements for bioequivalence are met when the
      inclusion rule is used.

PMID- 1446960
TI  - Psychotherapy and addiction: a survey of journals.
AB  - A content analysis was done on 1,239 articles published from 1984 to 1987 in
      seven leading alcohol and addiction journals to ascertain the frequency of
      articles on psychotherapeutic treatment published relative to other treatments
      for alcohol and drug dependence. Therapeutic intervention articles account for
      less than 10% and psychotherapy treatment articles for less than 3% of the
      articles analyzed. Postulations such as the effects of a prevailing acceptance of
      the disease model to level of practitioner sophistication are made about this
      relatively small number. Nontherapeutic treatment articles are classified
      according to research methodology. Suggestions for research are made.

PMID- 1446961
TI  - Profiles of alcoholics according to the SCL-90-R: a confirmative study.
AB  - The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) has often been used in studies of
      alcoholic populations. Based on findings reported in the literature and data
      gathered on 712 alcoholics in treatment, this paper investigates the general
      trends in the responses of alcoholics to the SCL-90-R. On global measures as well
      as on each of the symptom scales, the scores of alcoholic groups reveal a
      symptomatology two to five times as severe as that observed in the general
      population. The Psychoticism dimension shows the most marked divergence with the
      general population. In almost each of the study groups, the Depression Scale
      registers the highest scores, followed by Obsessive-Compulsive, Interpersonal
      Sensitivity, and Anxiety.

PMID- 1446962
TI  - Substance use/misuse among female prostitutes and female arrestees.
AB  - The literature has documented the correlation between prostitution and drug
      use/misuse. This study probed demographics, drug use experimentation and
      frequency, age of first drug use, and drug use treatment among 53 female
      prostitutes and 47 female arrestees. The results indicated that: 1) prostitutes
      were likely to drop out of school; 2) significantly more prostitutes had tried
      drugs, had used drugs with greater frequency and had begun drug/alcohol use at
      younger ages. These results imply that: 1) early drug/alcohol use and withdrawal
      from school could leave young women vulnerable and at higher risk of becoming
      involved in prostitution; and 2) drug use treatment and intervention needs to
      begin at younger ages.

PMID- 1446963
TI  - Symptom reduction and sobriety in the male alcoholic.
AB  - The relationship between subjective symptom reduction and sobriety was studied
      for 82 male alcoholics who had completed an inpatient Alcoholic Rehabilitation
      Unit that included six or more biofeedback/relaxation sessions. Specific symptom
      relief for anxiety was significantly correlated with sobriety. In addition, the
      reduction of symptoms showed a positive trend with sobriety. The discussion
      focuses on the relationship of anxiety-related symptoms and alcohol abuse.

PMID- 1446964
TI  - The age of alcohol onset and alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use patterns: an
      analysis of drug use progression of young adults in New York State.
AB  - The authors extend the gateway theory by examining the relationship between the
      onset age of alcohol and the progression of drug use (alcohol, cigarettes, and
      marijuana) among 16 to 24 year old young adults residing in New York State. Logit
      analysis is employed to estimate the impact of the early onset of alcohol use on
      the subsequent use of other drugs. The findings suggest that alcohol use
      increases the chance of using cigarettes and marijuana, and alcohol-cigarette use
      significantly increases the likelihood of using marijuana. The early onset of
      alcohol use affects the current use of alcohol and other drugs; the impact is the
      strongest when the onset is initiated in a posited critical age period between 13
      and 16.

PMID- 1446965
TI  - Sexual dysfunction and psychological distress in methadone maintenance.
AB  - We administered the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory to 25 methadone
      maintenance patients who had been on a stable dose of methadone for at least 2
      months, and obtained ratings of depression and anxiety, levels of sex hormones,
      and liver function tests. Five subjects with significantly lower Global Sexual
      Satisfaction Index scores (p < .0001) had more psychological symptoms, higher
      methadone doses, poorer body image, and less sexual drive and satisfaction, but
      normal fund of sexual information and lifetime experience. Sexual dysfunction
      among methadone maintenance patients may be due to coexisting psychiatric
      problems rather than caused by opiates. Methadone patients presenting with sexual
      dysfunction should receive psychiatric evaluation.

PMID- 1446966
TI  - Effect of alkylation with different sized substituents on thermal stability of
      lysozyme.
AB  - The amino groups of hen egg white lysozyme were reductively alkylated by the
      reaction with aliphatic aldehydes of various chain lengths and with two aldehydes
      of different steric hindrance at pH 7.5 and 4 degrees for 3 h. About four of the
      original six lysine residues were modified by the reaction with acetaldehyde, n
      butylaldehyde or n-hexylaldehyde. About three lysine residues were 2,2
      dimethylpropylated with trimethylacetaldehyde while a single residue was modified
      with benzaldehyde. The thermal stabilities of these alkylated lysozymes were
      investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at different acidic pH
      values. Alkylation thermally destabilized the proteins, depending not only on the
      extent of modification but also on the size of the substituent. The alkylated
      derivatives were 8-19 kJ/mol less stable than native lysozyme at 25 degrees and
      pH 3.0. The temperature dependences of the activities of the alkylated lysozymes
      against ethylene glycol chitin indicated that the orders of the optimum
      temperatures and the maximum activities were exactly the same as the order of the
      thermal stabilities.

PMID- 1446967
TI  - Hydrolysis of peptide esters by different enzymes.
AB  - The combined use in peptide synthesis of the Fmoc-group with methyl, benzyl or p
      nitro benzyl esters is not practical because of the elimination of the Fmoc-group
      under basic conditions and by catalytic hydrogenation. Nevertheless the solution
      synthesis of peptides requires those combinations in some cases. For this purpose
      we have investigated enzymatic hydrolysis of some tri and tetrapeptide esters.
      The hydrolysis were carried out under pH-control. We measured deprotection of the
      carboxyl group by thermitase, porcine liver esterase, carboxypeptidase A and
      alpha-chymotrypsin. The main problems are to suppress proteolytic degradation of
      the peptide bond and to bring the protected peptides into solution. To solve both
      problems we used dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide as cosolvents. The
      ratios between esterolytic and proteolytic activity were estimated under various
      cosolvent concentrations. Advantages of this method are to avoid side reactions
      of alkaline instable side chains (e.g. asparagine, glutamine), cleavage of base
      labile protecting groups and racemization by alkaline saponification. The
      enzymatic deprotection was followed by HPLC, HPTLC and titration. On a
      preparative scale this method gives good yields and sufficiently pure products.

PMID- 1446968
TI  - Unexpected racemization of proline or hydroxy-proline phenacyl ester during
      coupling reactions with Boc-amino acids.
AB  - When L-proline or O-benzyl-trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline phenacyl ester was coupled
      with Boc-amino acids in dimethylformamide using water-soluble carbodiimide (WSCI)
      in the presence of anhydrous 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) as coupling reagents,
      extensive racemization was observed at the C alpha of the proline or hydroxy
      proline residue. The extent of racemization was measured by HPLC after the
      coupling with Boc-L-Leu-OH in the presence or absence of HOBt. The extent of
      racemization increased when HOBt was added to the reaction mixture, but greatly
      decreased when it was not, indicating that HOBt was needed for inducing
      racemization. Almost no racemization was observed when the coupling reaction was
      carried out by the mixed anhydride procedure in tetrahydrofuran or by the
      carbodiimide method in dichloromethane without using HOBt. In the case of
      coupling reactions with ordinary L-amino acid phenacyl esters, no racemization
      was observed. Examination of some model systems yielded sufficient evidence to
      prove that HOBt is an efficient catalyst for racemizing proline or hydroxy
      proline phenacyl ester not only in the stage of cyclic intermediate formation but
      also in the opening of the ring structure. Thus, the racemization reaction was
      found to be closely related to the formation of the cyclic carbinol-amine
      derivative.

PMID- 1446969
TI  - Synthesis of optically pure C alpha-methyl-arginine.
AB  - Optically pure L-(+)-C alpha-methyl-arginine and D-(-)-C alpha-methyl-arginine
      were synthesized. Experimental results indicated that DL-C alpha-methyl-arginine
      methyl ester could be resolved by trypsin, but workup posed a technical
      difficulty. Chemical resolution at the stage of DL-C alpha-methyl-ornithine,
      followed by selective guanidination using N,N'-di-Cbz-S-methylisothiourea and
      hydrogenolysis provided a effective and practical method for the synthesis of
      optically pure C alpha-methyl-arginine.

PMID- 1446970
TI  - Predicted secondary structure of bovine prothrombin fragment 1 and related
      proteins in different environments by circular dichroism spectroscopy.
AB  - Circular dichroism spectroscopy was used to investigate the structure of bovine
      prothrombin fragment 1 (BF1) and related proteins in several environments. The
      conformational change induced in BF1 by the addition of Mg[II] ions was found to
      be different from that induced by Ca[II] or Sr[II]. The Ca[II] and Sr[II]
      conformations appear to differ only slightly from the apo-metal conformation. The
      conformation of the 1-45 fragment of prothrombin, however, is markedly different
      than the conformation of the same fragment in the presence of either Ca[II] of
      Mg[II]; both of the latter structures differ substantially from one another. The
      presence of phospholipids has almost no effect on the structure of either BF1 or
      the 1-45 fragment; in the presence of both phospholipids and Ca[II] a structural
      change is seen for the 1-45 fragment but not BF1 (relative to the protein alone).
      The addition of phospholipids to the Mg[II]/BF1 structure did not induce a CD
      detectable conformational change, while the addition of phospholipids to the
      Ca[II]/BF1 or Sr[II]/BF1 structures induced a change to a conformation similar in
      secondary structure composition to the relative apometal structures.

PMID- 1446971
TI  - Conformationally biased analogs of oxytocin.
AB  - Four diastereomeric analogs of oxytocin containing substituted phenylalanine in
      position 2 were synthesized. This modified phenylalanine side chain contained one
      methyl group attached to the beta-carbon and the second one at the 2' position of
      the aromatic ring. All analogs were found to be inhibitors of uterotonic activity
      of oxytocin with pA2 values ranging from 6.0 to 8.3; the most potent one (pA2 =
      8.3) contained dimethylphenylalanine of the D-erythro configuration.

PMID- 1446972
TI  - Design of potent substrate-analogue inhibitors of canine renin.
AB  - Through a systematic study of structure-activity relationships, we designed
      potent renin inhibitors for use in dog models. In assays against dog plasma renin
      at neutral pH, we found that, as in previous studies of rat renin inhibitors, the
      structure at the P2 position appears to be important for potency. The
      substitution of Val for His at this position increases potency by one order of
      magnitude. At the P3 position, potency appears to depend on a hydrophobic side
      chain that does not necessarily have to be aromatic. Our results also support the
      approach of optimizing potency in a renin inhibitor by introducing a moiety that
      promotes aqueous solubility (an amino group) at the C-terminus of the substrate
      analogue. In the design of potent dog plasma renin inhibitors, the influence of
      the transition-state residue 4(S)-amino-3(S)-hydroxy-5-cyclohexylpentanoic acid
      (ACHPA)-commonly used as a substitute for the scissile-bond dipeptide to boost
      potency-is not obvious, and appears to be sequence dependent. The canine renin
      inhibitor Ac-paF-Pro-Phe-Val-statine-Leu-Phe-paF-NH2 (compound 15; IC50 of 1.7 nM
      against dog plasma renin at pH 7.4; statine, 4(S)-amino-3(S)-hydroxy-6
      methylheptanoic acid; paF, para-aminophenylalanine) had a potent hypotensive
      effect when infused intravenously into conscious, sodium-depleted, normotensive
      dogs. Also, compound 15 concurrently inhibited plasma renin activity and had a
      profound diuretic effect.

PMID- 1446973
TI  - Efficient solution-phase synthesis of multiple O-phosphoseryl-containing peptides
      related to casein and statherin.
AB  - The multiple Ser(P)-containing peptides, H-Ser(P)-Ser(P)-Ser(P)-Glu-Glu-NHMe.TFA,
      H-Asp-Ser(P)-Ser(P)-Glu-Glu-NHMe.TFA and H-Glu-Ser(P)-Ser(P)-Glu-Glu-NHMe.TFA
      were prepared by the use of Boc-Ser(PO3Ph2)-OH in the Boc mode of solution phase
      peptide synthesis followed by platinum-mediated hydrogenolytic de-protection of
      the Ser(PO3Ph2)-containing peptides. The protected peptides were assembled using
      the mixed anhydride coupling methods with 40% TFA/CH2Cl2 used for removal of the
      Boc group from intermediate Boc-protected peptides.

PMID- 1446974
TI  - Design and inhibitory properties of synthetic Bowman-Birk loops.
AB  - A cyclic tridecapeptide based on the sequence of an anti-tryptic loop of a Bowman
      Birk inhibitor was synthesized, and demonstrated to be active as an inhibitor of
      trypsin. Molecular modeling of this sequence suggested an improved sequence which
      demonstrated an order of magnitude improvement in the inhibitory constant.

PMID- 1446975
TI  - Reactive oxygen species as regulators of human neutrophil and fibroblast
      interstitial collagenases.
AB  - The effects of various reactive oxygen species on latent human neutrophil and
      fibroblast-type interstitial collagenases were studied. Latent human neutrophil
      collagenases (proMMP-8) was efficiently activated by hypochlorous acid and
      hydrogen peroxide and less efficiently by the serine proteinases trypsin and
      chymotrypsin. Human plasmin and plasma kallikrein did not activate latent human
      neutrophil collagenase. The activation of latent human neutrophil collagenase by
      hypochlorous acid and hydrogen peroxide corresponded to the activation obtained
      with the other known non-proteolytic activators phenylmercuric chloride and gold
      thioglucose. The activation by hydrogen peroxide was inhibited by mannitol and
      desferoxamine, suggesting a localized Fenton-type reaction to be responsible for
      the generation of hydroxyl radical and/or hydroxyl radical-like reactive oxygen
      pathway of neutrophil procollagenase does not involve plasmin and plasma
      kallikrein, which are efficient proteolytic activators of latent fibroblast-type
      procollagenase (proMMP-1). Fibroblast procollagenase was also slightly activated
      by hypochlorous acid and gold thioglucose. Thus neutrophil procollagenase seems
      to prefer non-proteolytic means of activation and reactive oxygen species can be
      regarded as potent activators in vivo. Synovial-fluid neutrophils from rheumatoid
      arthritis patients were found to release collagenase in 30% active form when
      compared to same patients' peripheral blood neutrophils, which released
      collagenase in completely latent form. This may indicate that the triggering of
      neutrophil at the site of inflammation in vivo involves initial oxidative
      activation of collagenase upon the degranulation process.

PMID- 1446976
TI  - Induction of Fc epsilon RII/CD23 on PHA-activated human peripheral blood T
      lymphocytes and association of fyn tyrosine kinase with Fc epsilon RII/CD23.
AB  - Despite the evidence for the expression of Fc epsilon RII/CD23, a glycoprotein
      that is a low-affinity Fc receptor for IgE, obtained on T cell lines and some
      pathological T cells, that of Fc epsilon RII/CD23 on normal human T cells is
      still unclear. We studied the emergence of T cells bearing Fc epsilon RII/CD23 in
      short-term culture of normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated
      with 15 microliters/ml phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Using two-dimension flow
      cytometry, more than 10% of Fc epsilon RII/CD23(+) cells were shown to co-express
      CD3 antigen. Both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells expressed Fc epsilon RII/CD23. The
      expression of mRNA for Fc epsilon RII/CD23 on PHA and IL-4 stimulated PBMC was
      demonstrated by northern blotting and in-situ hybridization. The mechanism of
      signal transduction through Fc epsilon RII/CD23 was dissected by transfection of
      cDNA coding for Fc epsilon RII to the human natural killer-like cell line YT,
      activation of which was easily detected by the induction of interleukin-2
      receptor/p55 (Tac). Cross-linking of Fc epsilon RII/CD23 with H107 anti-Fc
      epsilon RII monoclonal antibody enhanced IL-2R/p55 expression on YT cells
      transfected with Fc epsilon RII cDNA (YTSER). A possible involvement of protein
      tyrosine kinase in the Fc epsilon RII-mediated signal transduction was studied
      using YTSER. Fc epsilon RII was physically associated with an src-family tyrosine
      kinase p59fyn and not with p56lck, which was also found in YT cells. Recently it
      was reported that p59fyn was associated with T-cell antigen receptor. Our results
      collectively suggest the multiple function of p59fyn which may be implicated in
      the Fc epsilon RII-mediated activation signal in YT cells.

PMID- 1446977
TI  - Pefloxacin and immunity: cellular uptake, potentiation of macrophage phagocytosis
      and intracellular bioactivity for Klebsiella pneumoniae.
AB  - Antibiotic potentiation of host defence mechanisms may be of potential clinical
      importance in the outcome of infections. Therefore the effect of pefloxacin upon
      the interaction of in vitro of human macrophages with Klebsiella pneumoniae, by
      assays of antibiotic cellular uptake, bacterial phagocytosis and intracellular
      killing, was examined. The results indicated that pefloxacin was well
      concentrated by phagocytes at all the concentrations tested. The uptake proceeded
      rapidly and was not affected either by cell viability or physiological
      environmental temperature. Synergistic phagocytosis and intracellular killing of
      K. pneumoniae was observed in the presence of macrophages and subinhibitory
      concentrations (one-half MIC) of pefloxacin. Pretreatment of bacteria with
      pefloxacin led to an increase in both bacterial uptake and microbicidal activity
      of phagocytes. Exposure of the macrophages to pefloxacin did not affect any
      phagocyte functions.

PMID- 1446978
TI  - Changes of rabbit platelet function following simultaneous administration of
      Ticlopidine hydrochloride and Argipidine (MD-805).
AB  - Ticlopidine hydrochloride and Argipidine were administered simultaneously to
      rabbits and the changes in platelet function and coagulation-fibrinolysis were
      determined. Ticlopidine hydrochloride and Argipidine did not give rise to an
      additive or synergistic effect on the ADP-induced platelet aggregation. However,
      simultaneous administration of Argipidine and Ticlopidine hydrochloride
      significantly inhibited the collagen-induced platelet aggregation, as compared to
      the effect of single administration of Ticlopidine hydrochloride at 60 min after
      intravenous administration of Argipidine. Furthermore, at 90 min after the
      intravenous administration, the PAF-induced platelet aggregation in the
      simultaneous administration was significantly different from that in each
      individual administration. These results suggested that the effect of
      simultaneous administration on the platelet aggregation was dependent largely on
      the effect of Ticlopidine hydrochloride alone.

PMID- 1446979
TI  - Updating on in-vivo and in-vitro effects of heparin and other glycosaminoglycans
      (mesoglycan) on arterial endothelium: a morphometrical study.
AB  - Glycosaminoglycans, which include heparin, heparansulfate and dermatansulfate,
      are substances that exhibit many significant biological activities. In-vitro and
      in-vivo experiments for studying the effects of heparin and an association of
      heparan-like glycosaminoglycan and dermatansolfate (mesoglycan) on aortic
      arterial endothelium were performed. The studies were developed by means of
      computerized morphometric techniques. The in-vitro tests, performed on bovine
      aortic endothelial cells, have revealed an increase in survival rate, enhancement
      of cell density at confluence, and increase of nucleus/cytoplasm ratio, after "in
      vitro" administration of heparin or mesoglycan. The in-vivo tests have revealed a
      minor development of aortic intimal lipid deposition in mesoglycan-treated
      hypercholesterolaemic rabbits. Our morphometrical results confirmed by
      statistical tests strongly support the data collected in the literature over many
      years on the protective effects of mesoglycan and heparin on endothelium.

PMID- 1446980
TI  - Pollen gene expression: molecular evidence.

PMID- 1446981
TI  - Gametophytic self-incompatibility: biochemical, molecular genetic, and
      evolutionary aspects.

PMID- 1446982
TI  - Sporophytic self-incompatibility systems: Brassica S gene family.

PMID- 1446983
TI  - Sporophytic self-incompatibility systems: S gene products.

PMID- 1446984
TI  - Incidence of headache and severity of head injury.
AB  - The relationship between the incidence of post-traumatic headache and the
      severity of head injury has been a controversial issue. The milder the head
      injury, the more frequently severe headache is noted as a symptom. To investigate
      this relationship, 121 civilians were investigated using simplified
      classifications of the grade of headache, type of injury (mild or severe),
      cervical X-ray and head CT findings, and clinical history. All the subjects were
      claiming compensation for work-related injuries. In the mildly injured group,
      46/64 patients complained of severe headache, while only 19/57 had severe
      headache in the severely injured group (p < 0.001). Abnormal findings on the
      cervical X-ray films including degenerative changes were more frequent in the
      severe headache group (p < 0.02). CT abnormalities correlated positively with the
      severity of head injury (p < 0.001), but showed an inverse relationship with the
      incidence of headache (p < 0.01). Mentally impaired patients also complained of
      headache less frequently (p < 0.01). On the basis of these results, possible
      organic mechanisms related to the pathogenesis of post-traumatic headache are
      discussed.

PMID- 1446985
TI  - Assessment of chronic refractory headache: the role of the MMPI-2.
AB  - We investigated the utility of the newly revised version of the Minnesota
      Multiphasic Personality Inventory, the MMPI-2, for assessing psychopathology in
      three diagnostic headache groups, Post Traumatic, Status Migrainosus, and Status
      Migrainosus with Analgesic Rebound. We also investigated whether distinct
      clusters of headache sufferers could be identified using the MMPI-2 clinical
      scales, and whether these clusters coincide with headache diagnosis. Eighty-one
      patients in treatment at the Houston Headache Clinic were diagnosed and
      administered the MMPI-2. Significant levels of psychopathology were found in all
      three diagnostic groups. Furthermore, Cluster analysis identified three clusters
      of patients with equal proportions of patients from the three diagnostic groups.
      Cluster 1 patients were abnormally high on many MMPI-2 clinical scales; Cluster 2
      patients showed more moderate elevations, and Cluster 3 patients had essentially
      normal profiles. We concluded that the MMPI-2 offers additional information not
      available through medical diagnosis alone. Thus, it is crucial to include
      psychological assessment in any comprehensive evaluation of chronic headache
      patients. Further implications for treatment planning and effectiveness are
      discussed.

PMID- 1446986
TI  - Cerebrospinal fluid pressure and venous pressure in "dynamite headache" and
      cluster headache attacks.
AB  - Six patients with episodic cluster headache were investigated as to blood
      pressure, heart rate, cerebrospinal fluid pressure (Pcsf) and frontal vein
      pressure (Pvf) during five nitroglycerin (NG) provoked attacks and one
      spontaneous attack. In a seventh studied patient the NG failed to provoke an
      attack. The earlier reported decrease of systolic blood pressure and increase of
      diastolic blood pressure and heart rate after NG administration were also found
      in these patients. The "dynamite headache" was related to the start and duration
      of an increase of the cerebrospinal fluid pressure. There was no relationship
      between the start or the maximum pain of the cluster headache attack and changes
      in Pcsf or Pvf. On breathing oxygen during a cluster headache attack, there was a
      decrease of Pcsf but in some patients a temporary increase of Pvf was observed,
      which possibly indicates that oxygen simultaneously attains constriction of
      arteries and veins.

PMID- 1446987
TI  - Chronic daily headache: long-term prognosis following inpatient treatment with
      repetitive IV DHE.
AB  - We retrospectively studied the long-term (2-year) outcome of 50 consecutive
      patients admitted to our inpatient headache program because of chronic daily
      headache (CDH) associated with the overuse of analgesics, ergotamine, or both.
      They had been detoxified, given repetitive intravenous dihydroergotamine (IV DHE)
      and prophylactic medications as part of the program, and had become headache-free
      on this regimen. At the time of admission, 37 of the 50 patients had transformed
      migraine (TM), 12 had new daily persistent headache (NDPH), and 1 had chronic
      tension-type headache; 29 of the patients with TM, 7 of those with NDPH, and the
      single patient with chronic tension-type headache had coexistent migraine.
      Substances abused, alone or in combination, included: caffeine in 39 patients
      (av. 441 mg/d), acetaminophen in 32 (av. 2187 mg/d), aspirin in 24 (av. 1807
      mg/d), ibuprofen in 9 (av. 1156 mg/d), narcotics in 7 (av. 10.1 mg morphine
      equivalents/d) and ergotamine in 11 (av. 2.3 mg/d). Twenty patients were using
      preventive medication at the time of admission. Follow-up evaluations were
      performed at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after discharge. Forty-three patients were
      analyzed at 3 months. Of these, 44% had an excellent or good result and 28% a
      fair result; 3 were overusing analgesics. At 24 months, 39 patients were
      analyzed: 59% had a good or excellent result and 28% a fair result; 5 were
      overusing analgesics, 4 of whom were doing poorly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1446988
TI  - Cerebral blood flow in migraine with aura: a transcranial Doppler sonography
      study.
AB  - Transcranial Doppler sonography examination was performed on 44 patients with
      migraine with aura and 88 controls. All patients were investigated in headache
      free periods and 10 of them also during a migraine attack. During the headache
      free period a not significant increase of mean flow velocity in patients compared
      to controls was obtained. The pulsatility index (PI) mean values were also higher
      in patients than in controls and the differences were significant in the MCA (p <
      0.05). No difference between right and left side was observed. During the attack
      the mean flow velocity (MFV) decreased in all arteries but the decrease was
      significant only in MCA and ACA (p < 0.05). The mean PI increased in all arteries
      but not significantly. These variations were observed both on the headache and
      contralateral side. Nevertheless, the MFV decrease in all arteries was observed
      in four patients only. In four patients the MFV decrease was found in the
      anterior arteries and the MFV increase in the posterior arteries, while in two
      patients the MFV increase was observed both in the anterior and posterior
      arteries. The correlation between the variations of MFV values during the attacks
      and the time interval from the onset of attacks showed that the PCA and BA flow
      velocities were increased in patients examined between 0.5 and 3 hours, while an
      increase in MCA and ACA flow velocities were observed only in patients examined
      after 1.5 hours.

PMID- 1446989
TI  - Self-administration of parenteral ketorolac tromethamine for head pain.
AB  - Sixty-one separate self-injections of ketorolac tromethamine (Toradol) by 16
      patients diagnosed with episodic migraine with or without aura were evaluated
      over a 90-day period for safety, efficacy of pain reduction, and the ability of
      this therapy program to prevent the necessitation of emergency room acute care.
      Prior to initiation of treatment, patients were formally instructed on
      intramuscular injection techniques by a member of our nursing staff. Patients
      were instructed to call upon the onset of a severe headache interfering with
      daily functioning and, then, were permitted to proceed with the injection.
      Headache intensity ratings were collected prior to injection and intermittently
      for the following twenty-four hours. The results demonstrate safety and efficacy
      of this form of therapy. A significant percent of ketorolac usages (64%) resulted
      in a good response and significant reduction in head pain. Twenty-three percent
      of ketorolac usages resulted in a mild response and only 13% of usages provided
      no relief. Furthermore, 13% of all usages failed to prevent the necessitation for
      emergency room treatment. The results are discussed in terms of the impact of
      self-injection on pain relief and substantial cost-reduction by decreasing
      emergency room utilization.

PMID- 1446990
TI  - Outpatient repetitive intravenous dihydroergotamine.
AB  - The efficacy of the repetitive intravenous dihydroergotamine (DHE) inpatient
      protocol for refractory headache is well established. We conducted a
      retrospective and prospective study of long-term headache patients at our clinic
      to evaluate this regimen in an outpatient setting. Treatment consisted of oral
      metoclopramide and four doses of DHE, with the total dose equaling 4 mg.,
      administered over two days. Patients were followed for up to 10 weeks while they
      continued to receive prophylactic medication. Responsiveness was rated in terms
      of decreased frequency or severity of headache: excellent (75% to 100%), moderate
      (50-75%), mild (25-50%), and none (0-25%). In the retrospective study, 69%
      (43/62) of patients with chronic daily muscle-contraction-type headache and
      severe migraine had an excellent response at two days. An excellent or moderate
      response was sustained over three weeks in 65% (32/49) of the study group (13
      patients were dropped from the study for failing to comply with record keeping
      requirements). At the 6- and 10-week follow-up evaluations, the majority of
      patients (76% and 70%, respectively) reported mild or no relief. Among patients
      with refractory daily headache or frequent severe migraine studied prospectively,
      80% (28/35) reported an excellent response at two days. After six weeks, 66%
      (23/35) showed excellent or moderate relief. For both groups combined, 73%
      (71/97) of patients showed an excellent response to DHE at two days, with 43%
      (33/77) sustaining excellent or moderate relief at six weeks. Side effects,
      including nausea, leg cramps, facial flushing, increased blood pressure,
      diarrhea, burning at the injection site, and tightness in the throat and/or
      chest, were generally mild and transient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1446992
TI  - Flunarizine in migraine: a double-blind placebo-controlled study (in a Saudi
      population).
AB  - We evaluated the effect of flunarizine (Fz) (10 mg/d) on migraine in a double
      blind placebo-controlled design. The attacks' frequency, duration, severity and
      associated symptoms were compared before and after treatment. Forty-two patients
      completed a three-month trial period; 21 patients received Fz and 21 placebo.
      Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between Fz and placebo (p >
      0.05). In this study Fz was not more efficient than placebo in migraine.

PMID- 1446991
TI  - Unilateral headache with features of hemicrania continua and cervicogenic
      headache--a case report.
AB  - A case is presented which has features of Cervicogenic Headache and of Hemicrania
      Continua. A sudden maneuver of the neck and later a greater occipital nerve
      block, both resulted in relief of the pain. A cervical cause is suggested.

PMID- 1446993
TI  - "Raynaud's disease" in migraineurs: one entity or two?
AB  - Two cases are reported of patients who were diagnosed as having both migraine and
      Raynaud's disease. Because they were able to achieve effective control of both
      headaches and extremity temperature after undergoing a comprehensive approach-
      utilizing medication, biofeedback, and psychotherapy--it is suggested that both
      conditions are manifestations of the same disorder. It is recommended that a
      first step in approaching concurrent diagnoses of this type involve combined
      treatment as is often used in response to the singular diagnosis of migraine.

PMID- 1446994
TI  - Ear pain due to cervical spine arthritis: treatment with cervical facet
      injection.

PMID- 1446995
TI  - Ergotamine-metoclopramide for migraine: is it enough?

PMID- 1446996
TI  - The relationship of resting and exercise blood pressure in subjects with
      essential hypertension before and after drug treatment with propranolol.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between clinic resting blood pressure
      (BP) and exercise BP in subjects with established essential hypertension during
      placebo and propranolol-treated phases. DESIGN: Prospective, placebo-controlled,
      cross-over trial. SETTING: University-affiliated medical center. PATIENTS: A
      convenience sample of 38 patients with essential hypertension, 34 men and four
      women, who ranged in age from 22 to 62 years (mean = 44 years, SD = 10.7).
      Subjects were diagnosed with mild to moderate diastolic or mixed
      systolic/diastolic essential hypertension at least 1 year before study entry.
      They had no clinical evidence of secondary hypertension, diabetes, heart, liver,
      pulmonary, or renal disease. OUTCOME MEASURES: Resting and exercise BP.
      INTERVENTION: Antihypertensive medication was tapered off and subjects were free
      of all prescription drug treatment for 2 weeks. They received placebo for an
      additional 2 weeks. Subjects then received treatment with propranolol at a dose
      necessary to control resting blood pressure for 4 to 6 weeks. At the end of both
      the untreated and treated phases, subjects were given a graded maximal exercise
      test on a bicycle ergometer. RESULTS: Propranolol effectively reduced mean
      resting and maximal exercise BP. The nonsignificant correlation between clinic
      resting and maximal exercise systolic BP was low in both phases. The correlation
      between clinic resting and maximal exercise diastolic BP was only moderate, but
      statistically significant (untreated, r = 0.43; p < 0.01; treated, r = 0.53; p <
      0.001). For systolic BP or diastolic BP, there were no significant relationships
      between percent drop in BP because of propranolol at rest or maximal exercise.
      Clinic resting BP was not a valid predictor of maximal exercise BP. Degree of
      control of clinic resting BP was not a valid predictor of control observed at
      maximal exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Resting BP should not be used as a predictor of BP
      during maximal exercise in the untreated condition or with treatment with
      propranolol.

PMID- 1446997
TI  - Effects of ventricular ectopy on sinus R-R intervals in patients with advanced
      heart failure.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of ventricular ectopy on subsequent sinus R-R
      intervals. DESIGN: Comparative, repeated-measures design. SETTING: University
      medical center. SUBJECTS: Ten consecutive sinus R-R intervals and their standard
      deviations before and after ventricular ectopy from 24-hour ambulatory
      electrocardiogram recordings were obtained from 25 patients with heart failure
      (left ventricular ejection fraction 0.18 +/- 0.08; New York Heart Association
      Functional Class III-IV) and three healthy subjects. RESULTS: The effects of 7564
      single ventricular ectopic beats, 272 ventricular couplets, and 49 episodes of
      ventricular tachycardia in the patients with heart failure and 1369 single
      ventricular ectopic beats in the three healthy subjects were evaluated. Repeated
      measures ANOVA indicated no significant differences in sinus R-R intervals
      immediately before or after ventricular ectopy. Standard deviation of sinus R-R
      intervals before and after ventricular ectopy did not differ significantly.
      CONCLUSIONS: Ventricular ectopy does not significantly alter subsequent sinus R-R
      intervals and is unlikely to affect measurement of heart rate variability,
      particularly by techniques that use standard deviation methods.

PMID- 1446998
TI  - Attention versus avoidance: attributional search and denial after myocardial
      infarction.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: In this study the focus was on two strategies: denial (an avoidant
      strategy) and causal thinking (an attention strategy) and their relationships to
      affect after myocardial infarction. DESIGN: Descriptive, correlational. SETTING:
      Large rural medical center. SAMPLE: The sample comprised 152 recently
      hospitalized patients with first-time myocardial infarction. MEASURES: A denial
      scale, a question about causal thinking, and an affect adjective checklist
      measuring anxiety, hostility, and depression. RESULTS: Denial had a weak but
      significant negative correlation with anxiety (r = -0.18, p < 0.05). However,
      denial was not significantly related to either depression or hostility.
      Regression analysis indicated that both denial (F = 4.84, p = 0.02) and the
      interaction of denial with causal search (f = 4.77, p = 0.009) were predictors of
      affect. The interaction indicated that those with high denial who had not
      searched for a cause were least anxious. A large number of subjects used both
      attention and avoidant strategies. CONCLUSIONS: The main effect for denial
      suggests that avoidance is a more effective strategy for reducing anxiety after
      myocardial infarction than causal search, an attention strategy. However, the
      fact that many subjects used both strategies suggests that they are not mutually
      exclusive in the process of adaptation after a heart attack.

PMID- 1446999
TI  - Does overprotection cause cardiac invalidism after acute myocardial infarction?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine if overprotection on the part of the patient's family and
      friends contributes to the development of cardiac invalidism after acute
      myocardial infarction. DESIGN: Longitudinal survey. SETTING: Nine hospitals in
      the southwestern United States. SUBJECTS: One hundred eleven patients who had
      experienced a first acute myocardial infarction. Subjects were predominantly
      male, older-aged, married, caucasian, and in functional class I. Eighty-one
      patients characterized themselves as being overprotected (i.e., receiving more
      social support from family and friends than desired), and 28 reported receiving
      inadequate support. Only two patients reported receiving as much support as they
      desired. OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-esteem, emotional distress, health perceptions,
      interpersonal dependency, return to work. RESULTS: Overprotected patients
      experienced less anxiety, depression, anger, confusion, more vigor, and higher
      self-esteem than inadequately supported patients 1 month after myocardial
      infarction (p < 0.05). Inadequately supported patients were more dependent 4
      months after the event. CONCLUSIONS: Overprotection on the part of family and
      friends may facilitate psychosocial adjustment in the early months after an acute
      myocardial infarction rather than lead to cardiac invalidism.

PMID- 1447000
TI  - Coronary care patients' and nurses' perceptions of important nurse caring
      behaviors.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship of patient-perceived and nurse-perceived
      caring behaviors. DESIGN: Descriptive. SETTING: Three not-for-profit hospitals in
      a large metropolitan western city. SUBJECTS: Thirty coronary care patients and 30
      coronary care nurses. METHOD: Larson's nurse caring behaviors (CARE-Q) were rank
      ordered by the Q-sort method. RESULTS: The patient's study group perceived
      behaviors that involved technology as most important, which differed from nurses,
      who perceived listening as the most important caring behavior. CONCLUSIONS: This
      study supports the findings of other researchers that patients' and nurses'
      perceptions of important nurse caring behaviors are divergent.

PMID- 1447001
TI  - Perceived stress and coping strategies among families of cardiac transplant
      candidates during the organ waiting period.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To explore and describe perceived stress and coping strategies among
      families of candidates for cardiac transplant during the organ waiting period.
      DESIGN: This descriptive, multiinstitutional study was guided by the T-Double
      ABCX Model of Family Adjustment and Adaptation (McCubbin & Thompson, 1987).
      SETTING: Five tertiary care centers with transplant programs in three
      Southeastern cities. SUBJECTS: Thirty-eight family members of patients on the
      active list for cardiac transplantation, including 35 women and three men with a
      mean age of 44 years (SD = 13.17). Subjects had a family member on the waiting
      list for a mean of 6.5 months. INSTRUMENTS: Family members completed the
      following three instruments: (1) Family Inventory of Life Events and Changes
      (FILE), (2) Family Crisis Oriented Personal Scale (FCOPES), and (3) Family
      Perception of the Transplant Experience Scale (FPTES). RESULTS: Stress: 53% and
      47% of respondents indicated that they were experiencing moderate and low degrees
      of stress, respectively. Coping: Family members used more coping mechanisms than
      normative subjects in the literature. Coping strategies used in order of
      decreasing frequency: (1) knowing our family has the strength to solve our
      problems, (2) facing problems head-on, and (3) seeking support from friends.
      Appraisal: Mean score of 32.13 reflects subjects' positive perception of the
      pretransplant experience. The three statements with which the subjects most
      strongly agreed: (1) heart illness has changed roles of family members, (2)
      family member will survive the transplant operation; and (3) this is an
      experience that could bring out the family's strengths. CONCLUSIONS: An increase
      in the number of coping strategies used with low to moderate stress levels
      suggests the effectiveness of coping strategies in mediating stress. The
      preference for active rather than passive coping strategies may be reflective of
      the selection criteria for transplant candidates or nursing interventions during
      this period to minimize stress and promote family coping.

PMID- 1447002
TI  - The Glasgow Coma Scale: time for change.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To summarize and evaluate evidence on the psychometric properties of
      the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). RESULTS: This instrument attempts to capture the
      phenomenon of consciousness with three gross indicators of nervous system
      function. Although the GCS does capture consciousness to a limited extent and has
      pragmatic utility for practitioners, it suffers serious limitations for clinical
      monitoring and prediction and is being eclipsed by a variety of other
      instruments. CONCLUSION: In spite of its acknowledged shortcomings and the
      emergence of parallel instruments with greater reliability and validity, the GCS
      continues to enjoy a privileged, but unwarranted, position in clinical and
      investigational contexts.

PMID- 1447003
TI  - Analysis of motor vehicle crash data in an urban trauma center: implications for
      nursing practice and research.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the incidence of risk behaviors (safety restraint use and
      alcohol use) and demographic characteristics of motor vehicle crash victims.
      DESIGN: Retrospective, descriptive, correlational. SETTING: One major, urban,
      Level 1 trauma center. SUBJECTS: The medical records of 864 motor vehicle crash
      victims (drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bicycle riders, and motorcycle riders)
      admitted to the trauma center between July 1, 1989, and June 30, 1990, were
      reviewed. RESULTS: Eighty-two percent of motor vehicle occupants (403 drivers and
      passengers) were not wearing safety restraints at the time of the crash. Thirty
      six percent of drivers (92) and 42% (47) of pedestrians were intoxicated on
      admission to the trauma center. Failure to use safety restraints was associated
      with alcohol use in this population. Subjects who engaged in risk behaviors were
      predominantly adolescent and young adult males. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest
      the need for further research into correlates of risk behaviors and interventions
      to prevent future injury related to these behaviors.

PMID- 1447004
TI  - Perceived uncertainty, physical symptoms, and negative mood in hospitalized
      patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether perceived uncertainty and physical symptoms were
      related to negative mood in hospitalized patients with chronic bronchitis and/or
      emphysema. DESIGN: Descriptive correlational. SETTING: Five large teaching
      hospitals in a city in central Canada. SUBJECTS: The sample consisted of 15 men
      and 11 women ranging in age from 53 to 86 years. INSTRUMENTS: Mishel Uncertainty
      in Illness Scale; Somatic Scale of the Bronchitis Emphysema Symptom Checklist;
      and Tension, Depression and Anger Subscales of the Profile of Mood States.
      RESULTS: Only the variable of physical symptoms contributed to the negative mood
      of the subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, explaining 21% of the
      variance (p < 0.02). Of the four symptom categories measured (fatigue, dyspnea,
      congestion, and peripheral-sensory disturbance), only fatigue was a significant
      predictor (p < 0.006) of negative mood, accounting for 28% of the variance.
      CONCLUSION: Negative mood is evidence of impaired coping. The finding that
      fatigue contributed to negative mood provides support for the theoretic
      prediction that low energy interferes with an individual's ability to cope with a
      stressful situation.

PMID- 1447006
TI  - Empty Wenckebach pauses.

PMID- 1447005
TI  - Ventilator-assisted patient vocalization with positive end-expiratory pressure
      and tracheostomy cuff leak: a brief report.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To enable vocalization in a tracheostomized ventilator-assisted
      patient without compromising pulmonary status. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING:
      University-affiliated nonprofit hospital. PATIENT: A 62-year-old man with a
      medical history of metastatic lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary
      disease received mechanical ventilation for 24 days. On the twenty-first day of
      ventilation the patient requested in writing the desire to vocalize with his
      family. INTERVENTION: Flow-generated positive end-expiratory pressure of +3 cm of
      water (PEEP of 3 cm H2O) was applied to the patient's airway and the tracheostomy
      cuff was slowly deflated to create a cuff leak. The patient was instructed to
      phonate the letter /a/ until the sound became audible. Lack of voice intensity
      necessitated PEEP titration of 1 cm H2O increments until 8 cm H2O of PEEP
      intensified the voice. CONCLUSION: During each session, the patient was able to
      vocalize clearly, without complications, as measured by the physiologic
      parameters: heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation
      determined by oximetry.

PMID- 1447007
TI  - Special requirements for residency training in radiation oncology. Radiation
      Oncology Subcommittee of the Residency Review Committee for Radiotherapy.

PMID- 1447008
TI  - Education in radiation oncology in Europe.
AB  - The outcome of an inventory among 22 European countries with respect to the
      radiotherapy facilities and the training of new radiation oncologists in each
      country is described. The radiotherapeutic profession, which mostly prescribes
      also cytostatics or hormones, has become well-regulated in the last 20 years.
      Most radiation oncologists are also involved in the diagnostic work-up and follow
      up of the cancer patient. The numbers of radiotherapists and other staff,
      treatment capacities, and patients are given. The training for radiation
      oncologists is mostly taken at the university centers, but the curricula are
      rather diverse.

PMID- 1447009
TI  - Training in radiation oncology in the United Kingdom.

PMID- 1447010
TI  - Principles of radiation oncology training and manpower requirements in Canada.

PMID- 1447011
TI  - Training in radiotherapy in The Netherlands.
AB  - The training in radiotherapy in The Netherlands is an example of a master
      apprentice system. In this overview we will discuss the organization and describe
      the official bodies involved in the Dutch training programs. Also the contents
      and the system of accreditation are presented.

PMID- 1447012
TI  - Swedish requirements for residency training in oncology.

PMID- 1447013
TI  - Training curriculum in oncology in France. Conseil des Enseignants de
      Radiotherapie Oncologie (CERO).

PMID- 1447014
TI  - Residency training in radiation oncology; radiation biology and cancer biology.

PMID- 1447015
TI  - Radiation physics instruction for residents.

PMID- 1447017
TI  - Accreditation of radiation oncology in the United States.

PMID- 1447016
TI  - Residency training for medical physicists.

PMID- 1447018
TI  - Specific requirements for the accreditation of residency programs in Canada.

PMID- 1447019
TI  - Accreditation process in the United Kingdom.

PMID- 1447020
TI  - Higher training and continuing medical education in radiation oncology in the
      United Kingdom.

PMID- 1447021
TI  - International comparison of postgraduate medical education in radiation oncology.
AB  - Despite variances in length, scope and content of postgraduate medical education
      in radiation oncology, there is a thread of commonality that runs through all
      programs. Aside from the emphasis on internal medicine in Canada and the emphasis
      on technical radiotherapy in the United States, it is surprising how little
      different content and duration of training are between the two countries.
      Similarly, there is movement to standardize training in radiation oncology in
      Europe that parallels the development of the European Community and the desire of
      physicians to cross borders.

PMID- 1447022
TI  - Policy statement on the accreditation of subspecialty programs.

PMID- 1447023
TI  - Brachytherapy as a model for subspecialization within radiation oncology.

PMID- 1447024
TI  - Pediatric radiation oncology--subspecialty training?

PMID- 1447025
TI  - Subspecialization in radiation oncology: impact of stereotactic radiosurgery.

PMID- 1447026
TI  - Is a fourth year necessary? The need for subspecialization: total body
      irradiation.
AB  - Although the number of radiation oncologists performing TBI procedures has
      increased in the last decade and there exists a significant body of unique
      medical knowledge pertinent to its use, there is little cohesiveness as a
      discipline within radiation oncology. There are no specific societies, journals,
      and no hospital divisions devoted to this area. Therefore, I content that
      subspecialty accreditation is not justified at this time. However, there are many
      fascinating scientific questions at the cellular, tissue, and clinical level
      which remain to be answered with regard to TBI, making it an exciting area for
      both laboratory and clinical research. Specialized training should be offered by
      institutions with expertise as a possible research year for residents and/or
      fellows who have a particular interest in pursuing an academic career along these
      lines.

PMID- 1447027
TI  - The need for subspecialization: intraoperative radiation therapy.
AB  - Intraoperative radiation therapy represents a technically complex branch of
      radiation oncology which is undergoing intensive study. Further results of
      randomized Phase III trials must be available before IORT is established as an
      effective modality. The majority of residency training programs do not have IORT
      available and the use of IORT is not required for initial certification in
      radiation oncology. Residents could be educated in the principal concepts and the
      technical details of IORT and should be knowledgeable in the results of clinical
      trials in IORT. At the present time the leading investigators in IORT should
      consider offering a special research year or fellowship training in an
      appropriate residency training facility. If Phase III trials of IORT prove
      positive in a number of sites it is likely that this modality will become
      mainstream and then training in IORT should be required of all radiation oncology
      residents. Certainly there is insufficient evidence for subspecialty
      certification in IORT at the present time. However, one should not construe from
      this statement that special training in IORT is not required for its appropriate
      use. On the contrary, given the potential for morbidity and yet to be proven
      efficacy, special training in IORT should be undertaken in centers of excellence
      in IORT and patients treated with IORT should be entered in clinical trials
      whenever possible.

PMID- 1447028
TI  - Training in systemic radiation therapy.

PMID- 1447029
TI  - Is a fourth year necessary in radiation oncology training? Different models and
      funding mechanisms.

PMID- 1447030
TI  - The case for a three year residency program in radiation oncology.

PMID- 1447031
TI  - Results of the in-training examination of the American College of Radiology for
      Residents in RAdiation Oncology.

PMID- 1447032
TI  - The role of residents in residency training.

PMID- 1447033
TI  - Review of the manpower issue in radiation oncology.

PMID- 1447034
TI  - Seminoma of the testis: long-term beneficial and deleterious results of
      radiation.
AB  - PURPOSE: The followup of 387 patients in a USA national survey of seminoma
      treated with radiation in 1973 and 1974 has been extended beyond 15 years to
      assess the long-term benefits and problems resulting from treatment. RESULTS:
      Survival at 15 years is 83% for Stage I, 68% for Stage II; freedom from
      recurrence at 15 years is 93% for Stage I, 96% for Stage II; NED survival at 15
      years is 80% for Stage I, 68% for Stage II; cause specific freedom from cancer
      death is 98% for Stage I and 97% for Stage II at 15 years. Second malignancy
      rates were 8% at 15 years, and observed in 14 patients versus 4.2 expected (p <
      .001). Deaths due to these second cancers were also increased with seven observed
      versus two expected (p < .01). Non-cancer intercurrent disease death occurred in
      23 patients versus 7.5 expected (p < .01). The most frequent cause was cardiac
      death which appeared in 10 patients versus 4.4 expected (p < .05) and 8 of the 10
      patients received mediastinal radiation. Two additional patients died of
      pulmonary fibrosis after mediastinal radiation. Mediastinal radiation correlated
      with all intercurrent disease and cardio-pulmonary deaths (p < .05), but not with
      second malignancies. With the exception of one, all patients experiencing cardiac
      death after mediastinal irradiation were 40 years or older at the time of
      treatment, with a range of 32-58 years and a mean interval to death of 9.8 years.
      CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations for the future management of seminoma include:
      reducing the irradiated volume in the treatment of Stage I patients, completely
      eliminating mediastinal radiation in the treatment of patients with Stage IIA
      seminoma and treating patients with Stage IIB seminoma with chemotherapy.
      Radiation dose should not exceed 30 Gy for Stage I or 35 Gy for Stage IIA.

PMID- 1447035
TI  - Impact of adjuvant therapy on locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the stomach.
AB  - From 1975 to 1988, 120 consecutive patients with locally advanced (T3/T4 or
      N1/N2) adenocarcinoma of the stomach underwent attempted curative resection.
      Seventy patients were treated with surgery alone while 50 patients also received
      adjuvant therapy consisting of either chemotherapy (5-FU/FAM) alone, radiation
      therapy alone, or chemotherapy+radiation therapy. Adjuvant therapy was tolerated
      relatively well with only one patient experiencing a grade 3 (RTOG/EORTC)
      toxicity, and none experiencing grade 4/5 toxicity. In patients with T3/T4
      tumors, the median survival was 10 months for surgery alone as compared to 18
      months for the adjuvant treatment group, and a 5-year survival of 10% versus 24%
      in the adjuvant therapy group (p = .01). In patients with lymph node positive
      disease, the median survival was 10 months in patients treated with surgery as
      compared to 15 months for those treated with adjuvant therapy, and a 5-year
      survival of 8% for surgery alone versus 16% for the adjuvant therapy group (p =
      .04). Patients having both T3/T4 tumor and positive lymph nodes had a median
      survival of 9 months with surgery versus 13 months for the adjuvant therapy
      group, and a 5-year survival of 4% versus 22% (p = .03) for the adjuvant group.
      Seventy-four patients were evaluable for pattern of relapse. Thirty developed
      locoregional recurrence; 17 of 38 (45%) in the surgery alone group and 13 of 36
      (36%) in the adjuvant therapy group. The improvement in local control in the
      adjuvant group was totally accounted for by the group receiving both chemotherapy
      and radiation therapy, in which the recurrence rate was 19%. Statistically
      significant improvement in the 2-year local control rate was limited to patients
      with negative surgical margins who received radiation, 93%, versus those who did
      not, 55% (p = 0.03). The modest improvement in survival seen in patients
      receiving adjuvant therapy appears to be related to improved local control. No
      improvement in the rate of distant failure was seen. Chemotherapeutic regimens
      used seem to be critical in enhancing the effects of radiation in improving local
      control and survival. Results may be further improved by the extended use of
      intraoperative radiation.

PMID- 1447036
TI  - Enhanced induction of tissue-type plasminogen activator in normal human cells
      compared to cancer-prone cells following ionizing radiation.
AB  - Normal human fibroblast (i.e., GM2936B, GM2907A, and IMR-90) and cancer-prone
      human fibroblast (i.e., Fanconi's anemia, Bloom's syndrome, and Ataxia
      telangiectasia) cells demonstrated the induction of intracellular and
      extracellular levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) at 6 and 12 hr,
      respectively, following ionizing radiation. Induced t-PA enzymatic activities
      following ionizing radiation were blocked by actinomycin D treatments. t-PA
      enzymatic activities were induced over 14-fold in Ataxia telangiectasia cells,
      over 9-fold in Bloom's syndrome cells, and over 6-fold in Fanconi's anemia cells,
      as compared to normal human fibroblasts. Similarly, the induction of t-PA mRNA
      levels in cancer-prone cells were between 5- to 10-fold higher than those
      observed in normal cells following equitoxic doses of ionizing radiation.
      Temporal induction of t-PA mRNA levels for normal and cancer-prone human cells
      were consistent with quantifiable enzymatic activities. The elevated induction of
      an intracellular protease (i.e., t-PA) in cancer-prone human cells is reminiscent
      of an "SOS"-like response observed in yeast and bacteria.

PMID- 1447037
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of intratumoral RK-28, a new hypoxic radiosensitizer.
AB  - RK-28 is one of the new hypoxic cell radiosensitizers being developed in Japan
      and has been tested clinically. To reduce its toxicity and increase its
      sensitizing activity, intratumoral injection of RK-28 was performed during
      intraoperative radiation therapy for pancreatic cancer. This report presents the
      results of pharmacokinetic studies performed in 10 of the 17 patients who were
      administrated intravenous or intratumoral RK-28 during intraoperative radiation
      therapy. No adverse effects were noted following intravenous or intratumoral
      injection of the drug. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated several metabolites
      of RK-28 in both serum and tumor tissues. After intratumoral injection, the tumor
      drug concentration ranged from 123 micrograms/g to 9,292 micrograms/g just after
      intraoperative radiation therapy (30-50 min after injection of the compound),
      while the serum concentration ranged from 4.1 to 9.8 micrograms/ml. The tumor
      drug concentration was 23.3 micrograms/g at 45 min after intravenous injection of
      RK-28. Thus, intratumoral injection of RK-28 was superior to intravenous
      administration in this pharmacokinetic study. The combination of intraoperative
      radiation therapy and intratumoral injection of RK-28 appears to be a feasible
      treatment method.

PMID- 1447038
TI  - Elimination of dose-rate effects by mild hyperthermia.
AB  - PURPOSE: Preferential amplification of low dose-rate irradiation toxicity in
      tumor cells is one way of improving presently applied brachytherapy. Low
      temperature hyperthermia applied to a tumor volume during irradiation is one
      candidate for reaching this goal. The ranges of relevant temperatures and dose
      rate have been determined in a tissue culture system. In addition, the role of
      inhibition of sublethal damage repair in inhibition of dose-rate sparing has been
      investigated. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Dose-rate modification by long duration,
      mild hyperthermia was investigated in rat 9L gliosarcoma cells at dose-rates
      between 0.0833 and 132 Gy/hr. Enhancement of toxicity was measured using the
      colony formation technique. RESULTS: A biphasic dose-rate effect curve was
      observed when cells were irradiated at 37 degrees C. The dose required to kill
      99% of cells irradiated at 37 degrees C increased sharply between 20 and 5 Gy/hr
      and also below 1 Gy/hr. When cells were irradiated at 41 degrees C, dose-rate
      sparing disappeared from 132 to 0.0833 Gy/hr. Elimination of dose-rate sparing
      appeared to be caused by both inhibition of sublethal damage repair and blockage
      of cell proliferation. The temperature threshold for sensitizing low dose-rate
      irradiation was determined at temperatures between 24 degrees C and 41 degrees C
      during 0.5 Gy/hr irradiation. Temperature dependent sensitization occurred above
      39 degrees C. The mechanisms by which low temperature hyperthermia sensitizes low
      dose-rate irradiation was investigated using split dose experiments. Survival
      curve shoulder recovery was inhibited when cells were incubated at 41 degrees C
      between acute irradiations. This effect appeared to be caused by both inhibition
      of recovery from sublethal damage from the first radiation and preheating
      sensitization of the second irradiation. In single acute dose experiments,
      sensitization from preheating at 41 degrees C increased gradually over a 6 hr
      period. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism by which 41 degrees C hyperthermia sensitizes
      low dose-rate irradiation is inhibition of radiation repair at medium dose rates
      and inhibition of repair and proliferation at very low dose rates. If low
      temperature hyperthermia is able to sensitize human tumor cells to brachytherapy
      similar to what has been described with 9L gliosarcoma cells, the addition of
      this modality could potentially greatly improve presently applied therapy.

PMID- 1447039
TI  - Consideration of radiation quality in treatment planning with p(66)/Be(40)
      neutrons.
AB  - A thorough microdosimetric investigation of a p(66)/Be(40) neutron therapy beam
      has been performed employing a commercial tissue equivalent proportional counter.
      Using y* as a monoparameter of radiation quality, variations in the potency of
      the beam have been discerned with spatial position and for different field sizes
      in a water phantom. The identified variations with depth are attributed solely to
      changes in the character of the neutron component of the beam. When increasing
      the field size, neutron effects are tempered by an increasing photon component.
      To accommodate these quality changes in the prescription of absorbed dose, the
      concept of effective dose is invoked and elementary expressions are proposed to
      assess this quantity. A simple four-field treatment plan is calculated to show
      that if unaccounted for, the quality changes with depth alone would result in a
      4% discrepancy between the prescribed and effective dose delivered to the tumor
      volume. The implications for optimum dose delivery in clinical practice are
      discussed in terms of these findings.

PMID- 1447041
TI  - Subspecialization in radiation oncology.

PMID- 1447040
TI  - Recent patterns of growth in radiation therapy facilities in the United States: a
      patterns of care study report.
AB  - The Patterns of Care Study conducted its seventh survey of radiation oncology
      facilities with megavoltage equipment. The aims were to identify the basic
      structural characteristics of the radiation oncology specialty, to allow
      comparison with previous surveys, to identify trends in the patterns of equipment
      and personnel usage, and to measure the capabilities of facilities to deliver
      modern radiotherapy. All radiation oncology facilities in the United States and
      Puerto Rico were surveyed. Multiple mailings and calls yielded identification of
      and responses from virtually all facilities doing megavoltage radiotherapy. The
      survey collected information on equipment, patient load, personnel, and types of
      procedures performed. The complete census was reviewed, summarized, and compared
      to previous surveys. Results for 1990 showed 1321 facilities, (938 hospital
      based, 350 freestanding, 33 federal), 492120 new patients, and 2397 treatment
      machines (1893 linear accelerators or betatrons and 504 cobalt machines). The
      number of facilities and total machines increased rapidly with most of the
      increase in facilities occurring in the freestanding category. The number of
      cobalt units declined, while the number of linear accelerators increased. The
      results also showed that 6% of facilities did not have the capability of
      simulating patients and 7% of facilities did not have treatment planning
      capability. Of all facilities 9% reported doing intraoperative radiation therapy
      and 18% doing hyperthermia. For recent years in the specialty of radiation
      oncology the number of facilities and treatment machines increased at a more
      rapid rate than the number of new patients.

PMID- 1447042
TI  - Japanese system for training radiation oncologists.

PMID- 1447043
TI  - Response to the residency match in radiation oncology.

PMID- 1447044
TI  - The "bottom line"--response to Dr. Hanks.

PMID- 1447045
TI  - [Nursing record for maternal health care. Evaluation of a study].

PMID- 1447046
TI  - [Report from a seminar on active birth].

PMID- 1447047
TI  - ["Women's psychological development". Report from a day course in the Institute
      for Women's Psychology].

PMID- 1447048
TI  - [Abortion problem in a comparative study: Sweden--Italy].

PMID- 1447050
TI  - [Psychological acute care for newborn infants].

PMID- 1447049
TI  - [Symphysiotomy--a forgotten but life-saving procedure].

PMID- 1447051
TI  - [Psychological support during childbirth].

PMID- 1447052
TI  - [Bath after rupture of membranes].

PMID- 1447053
TI  - [I love you my little baby...].

PMID- 1447054
TI  - A comparison of the sensitivity of wound-infecting species of bacteria to the
      antibacterial activity of manuka honey and other honey.
AB  - Both honey and sugar are used with good effect as dressings for wounds and
      ulcers. The good control of infection is attributed to the high osmolarity, but
      honey can have additional antibacterial activity because of its content of
      hydrogen peroxide and unidentified substances from certain floral sources. Manuka
      honey is known to have a high level of the latter. Seven major wound-infecting
      species of bacteria were studied to compare their sensitivity to the non-peroxide
      antibacterial activity of manuka honey and to a honey in which the antibacterial
      activity was primarily due to hydrogen peroxide. Honeys with activity in the
      middle of the normal range were used. A comparison of the median response of the
      various species of bacteria showed no significant difference between the two
      types of activity overall, but marked differences between the two types of
      activity in the rank order of sensitivity of the seven bacterial species. The non
      peroxide antibacterial activity of manuka honey at a honey concentration of 1.8%
      (v/v) completely inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus during incubation
      for 8 h. The growth of all seven species was completely inhibited by both types
      of honey at concentrations below 11% (v/v).

PMID- 1447055
TI  - Evaluation of antimicrobial interactions between chlorhexidine, quaternary
      ammonium compounds, preservatives and excipients.
AB  - The antimicrobial interactions of 49 combinations of chlorhexidine, quaternary
      ammonium compounds, preservatives and excipients were evaluated by the method of
      Berenbaum and the checkerboard titration method, with Staphylococcus aureus CIP
      53154 and Escherichia coli CIP 54127 as test strains. MIC determinations were
      carried out as a preliminary step, and relative growth intensity was used to
      describe the bacteriostatic activity of surface-active agents (Amonyl 380 BA,
      Amonyl 671 SB). In the study of combinations, results were interpreted with
      Fractional Inhibitory Concentration indexes and represented by isobolograms. A
      fair correlation was shown between the method of Berenbaum and the checkerboard
      titration method. Combinations between chlorhexidine, cetrimonium bromide and
      benzalkonium chloride were synergistic or additive; combinations of antiseptics
      and preservatives were generally not antagonistic. The methods were also well
      adapted to the study of interactions involving surface-active agents, a critical
      problem in the formulation of topical antimicrobial agents.

PMID- 1447056
TI  - Inhibition of Shigella sonnei by Lactobacillus casei and Lact. acidophilus.
AB  - The protective effect of feeding milk fermented with a mixture of Lactobacillus
      casei and Lact. acidophilus against Shigella sonnei was studied. There was a 100%
      survival rate in mice fed for 8 d with fermented milk and then dosed orally with
      Sh. sonnei. The survival rate in control mice was approximately 60% after 21 d.
      Colonization of the liver and spleen with Sh. sonnei was markedly inhibited by
      pretreatment with fermented milk. Differences in cell counts of 2-3 log units
      between treated and control mice were always obtained, shigellas were not
      detected in these organs by the 10th day in treated mice, while high levels were
      maintained in the controls. Higher levels of anti-shigella antibodies were found
      both in sera and in small intestinal fluid of mice treated with fermented milk,
      suggesting that the protective immunity could be mediated by the mucosal tissue.
      These results suggest that milk fermented with Lact. casei and Lact. acidophilus
      could be used as a prophylactic against gastrointestinal infections by shigellas.

PMID- 1447057
TI  - Contaminated marine wounds--the risk of acquiring acute bacterial infection from
      marine recreational beaches.
AB  - An animal model was used to determine the potential for causing wound infections
      of bacteria isolated from marine recreational beaches in Hong Kong. Water samples
      were characterized physically, chemically and bacteriologically and used to
      inoculate artificially-induced wounds in rats. Morbidity and mortality correlated
      significantly (P < 0.01) with MacConkey plate counts and faecal coliform counts
      (membrane filtration) and inversely with salinity of the water. The majority of
      deaths were due to infection caused by marine and estuarine bacteria rather then
      enteric organisms. A total of 318 bacterial strains was isolated from the wounds
      and blood of animals inoculated with seawater, of which 242 were marine/estuarine
      (predominantly Vibrio spp., Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas putrefaciens)
      and 40 were enterobacteria. The virulence of the animal strains were comparable
      with those from clinical sources.

PMID- 1447058
TI  - Identification and composition of the tonsillar and anal enterococcal and
      streptococcal flora of dogs and cats.
AB  - Enterococcus faecalis was the most frequently isolated enterococcal species from
      anal swabs and tonsils of dogs and cats, although in the anal samples from dogs
      Ent. hirae was found almost as often as Ent. faecalis. Most Ent. faecium strains
      from dog tonsils differed from those associated with humans and other animals in
      that they fermented sorbitol. Typical Ent. avium as well as atypical Ent. avium
      like strains were seen in dogs, while the related species Ent. raffinosus was
      associated with cat tonsils. Enterococcus cecorum also occurred mainly in cats.
      Certain atypical strains, presumptively identified as Ent. cecorum, shared
      characteristics with Ent. columbae. The most frequent streptococcal species in
      tonsils of cats and dogs were Streptococcus suis and Strep. canis. Streptococcus
      canis and Strep. bovis predominated in anal swabs. The canine Strep. suis
      differed from the common porcine strains in fermenting mannitol. Forty-seven of
      the 288 isolates examined could not be identified or related to known species.
      The characteristics of two groups of these bacteria, provisionally called 'Ton 31
      group' and 'O7 group' are described.

PMID- 1447059
TI  - Analysis of polar lipids from some representative enterobacteria, Plesiomonas and
      Acinetobacter by fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry.
AB  - Fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) was used to analyse lipid
      extracts of bacteria to assess its usefulness for analysing anionic phospholipids
      of potential chemotaxonomic value. The following micro-organisms were tested:
      Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Acinetobacter sp., Citrobacter freundii,
      Enterobacter cloacae (2 strains), Escherichia coli (3 strains), Hafnia alvei,
      Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Morganella morganii, Plesiomonas
      shigelloides, Proteus mirabilis (3 strains), Serratia liquefaciens and Serratia
      marcescens. Negative-ion spectra provide data for twenty-seven major carboxylate
      anions (m/z 209-325) and for thirty-seven major phospholipid anions (m/z 645
      774). Generally, the largest carboxylate peaks were due to 16:1, 16:0, cyc17 and
      18:1 while the largest phospholipid anion peaks were due to PE(32:1), PE(33:1),
      PE(34:1), PE(34:2), PG(30:2), PG(31:2), PG(32:2), PG(34:1) and PS(33:0). However,
      quantitative differences were observed. For example, Acinetobacter lacked PE
      (33:1) but had exceptionally high peaks at m/z 748, PS(33:0), and m/z 281,
      octadecanoate. Unknown 'carboxylate' peaks were detected at m/z 254, 256, 261,
      268, 282 and 301. In some cases, unknown peaks appeared to constitute possible
      homologous series being separated by delta m/z of 14(identical to methylene). For
      chemotaxonomic purposes, the complexity of the data required numerical analysis.
      Using the Pearson coefficient of linear correlation, as a measure of association,
      it was possible to compare all strains analysed. Typical results for strain
      comparisons were as follows: Ent. cloacae vs Ent. cloacae, r = 0.90 (Ent. cloacae
      vs Ac. calcoaceticus, r = 0.46). Thus FAB-MS represents an excellent means of
      obtaining large quantities of data on polar lipids of a range of bacterial
      isolates, which may be suitable for chemotaxonomic purposes.

PMID- 1447060
TI  - Characterization of bacteria by multiparameter flow cytometry.
AB  - An arc-lamp based flow cytometer was used to obtain high resolution measurements
      of the light scattering characteristics and DNA contents of eight different
      bacteria. Light scatter profiles of bacteria are a useful first step when flow
      cytometry is used to characterize organisms. Scanning and transmission electron
      microscopy of the bacterial samples demonstrate that the structural basis of the
      light scattering profiles is not always clear, i.e. some organisms appear to have
      anomalous light scattering characteristics. The use of a third measurement
      parameter, DNA content, allowed much better discrimination of the organisms. Flow
      cytometry shows great promise as a method for the rapid discrimination and
      identification of bacterial populations.

PMID- 1447061
TI  - Interpretation of EMG spectral alterations and alteration indexes at sustained
      contraction.
AB  - Alterations of the electromyographic power spectrum have been studied extensively
      to assess fatigue development in the neuromuscular system. Usually, a data
      reduction has been applied to create an index based on the mean power frequency
      or the median frequency. The physiological origin of the spectrum alterations has
      been (and to some extent still is) incompletely known. However, during the 1980s,
      substantial progress has been made in this field. The factors affecting the
      electromyographic power spectrum discussed in this review are action potential
      velocity decrease, firing statistics alterations, action potential modification,
      muscle temperature, additional recruitment at fatigue, and force level. Their
      impact on three commonly used fatigue indexes, mean power frequency, median
      frequency, and zero crossing rate, is also reviewed.

PMID- 1447062
TI  - Role of atrial natriuretic peptide in systemic responses to acute isotonic volume
      expansion.
AB  - Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) may activate multiple mechanisms that protect
      against circulatory volume overload. We hypothesized that a temporal relationship
      exists between increases in cardiac filling pressure and plasma ANP concentration
      and also between ANP elevation and vasodilation, fluid movement from plasma to
      interstitium, and increased urine volume (UV). We infused 30 ml/kg isotonic
      saline at 100 ml/min in seven supine male subjects and monitored responses for 3
      h postinfusion. Right atrial pressure (RAP) was measured via a central catheter.
      ANP (pmol/l) was measured by radioimmunoassay. Transcapillary fluid transport
      (TFT) equaled infused volume minus UV, insensible fluid loss, and change in
      plasma volume (PV, measured with Evan's blue). Systemic vascular resistance (SVR)
      was calculated as (mean arterial pressure-RAP)/cardiac output (determined by
      acetylene rebreathing). Plasma oncotic pressure (OP) was measured directly.
      During infusion, mean TFT (+/- SE) increased from net reabsorption during control
      of 111 +/- 27 ml/h to net filtration of 1,219 +/- 143 ml/h (P < 0.01). At end
      infusion, mean RAP, heart rate, and PV exhibited peak increases of 146, 23, and
      27%, respectively. Concurrently, SVR and OP achieved nadirs 29 and 31% below
      control, respectively. Mean plasma ANP and UV peaked (45 and 390%, respectively)
      at 30 min postinfusion. Systemic vasodilation and capillary filtration resulted
      from and compensated for infusion-induced circulatory pressure increases and
      hemodilution. By 1 h postinfusion, most cardiovascular variables had returned
      toward control levels, and net reabsorption of extravascular fluid
      ensued.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447063
TI  - Effect of physical training on insulin response to intravenous glucose in male
      peripubertal rats.
AB  - This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of regular endurance-type
      exercise (i.e., swimming) on glucose tolerance and glucose-stimulated insulin
      response (GSIR) in 55- and 90-day-old peripubertal male rats. Intravenous glucose
      tolerance tests (0.5 g/kg) were done in four groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats:
      two groups of trained (TR; 55- and 90-day-old) and two groups of age- and weight
      matched untrained (UNTR) rats. The UNTR rats were subjected to a continuous food
      restriction to maintain body weights equal to those of the TR rats. Rats were
      received in our laboratory after weaning at 21 days of age and were evaluated 48
      h after the last exercise bout. No significant differences in body weights were
      found between TR and UNTR rats, at the age of either 55 or 90 days. A significant
      (P < 0.01) decrease in the mean integrated area under the glucose and insulin
      curves was observed in TR compared with UNTR groups in 55- as well as 90-day-old
      rats. These results indicate that exercise training in male rats improves the
      glucose tolerance and GSIR before and during puberty (21-90 days) independently
      of a reduction in body weight gain.

PMID- 1447064
TI  - Hypohydration affects forearm vascular conductance independent of heart rate
      during exercise.
AB  - Elevated body core temperature stimulates cutaneous vasodilation, which can be
      modified by nonthermal factors. To test whether hypohydration affects forearm
      vascular conductance discretely from relative alterations in heart rate (HR),
      eight trained cyclists exercised progressively for 20 min each at 60, 120, and
      180 W [approximately 22, 37, and 55% of maximal cycling O2 consumption (VO2peak),
      respectively] in a warm humid environment (dry bulb temperature 30 degrees C; wet
      bulb temperature 24 degrees C). Esophageal temperature and forearm blood flow
      were measured every 30 s, and mean arterial pressure and HR were measured at rest
      and during each exercise intensity (minutes 15, 35, and 55). In the hypovolemic
      (HP) compared with the euvolemic (EU) state, blood volume was contracted by 24-h
      fluid restriction an average of 510 ml, and this difference was sustained
      throughout exercise. The esophageal temperature and HR responses were similar
      between EU and HP states at 60 and 120 W but were significantly (P < 0.05) higher
      in HP by the end of 180 W. In contrast, the forearm blood flow response was
      significantly (P < 0.05) depressed during exercise at 120 and 180 W in HP,
      whereas mean arterial pressure remained similar between conditions. When body
      core temperature is elevated in a hypohydrated state, forearm vascular
      conductance is reduced at exercise intensities of approximately 37% VO2peak,
      which is independent of relative changes in HR. These findings are consistent
      with the notion that during exercise an attenuated cutaneous vasodilation is
      elicited by alterations in regionalized sympathetic outflow, which is
      unaccompanied by activation of cardiac pacemaker cells.

PMID- 1447065
TI  - Estrogen replacement in middle-aged women: thermoregulatory responses to exercise
      in the heat.
AB  - Thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and body fluid responses during exercise in the
      heat were tested in five middle-aged (48 +/- 2 yr) women before and after 14-23
      days of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). The heat and exercise challenge
      consisted of a 40-min rest period followed by semirecumbent cycle exercise
      (approximately 40% maximal O2 uptake) for 60 min. At rest, the ambient
      temperature was elevated from a thermoneutral (dry bulb temperature 25 degrees C;
      wet bulb temperature 17.5 degrees C) to a warm humid (dry bulb temperature 36
      degrees C; wet bulb temperature 27.5 degrees C) environment. Esophageal (Tes) and
      rectal (Tre) temperatures were measured to estimate body core temperature while
      arm blood flow and sweating rate were measured to assess the heat loss response.
      Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were measured to evaluate the
      cardiovascular response. Blood samples were analyzed for hematocrit (Hct),
      hemoglobin ([Hb]), plasma 17 beta-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), protein, and
      electrolyte concentrations. Plasma [E2] was significantly (P < 0.05) elevated by
      ERT without affecting the plasma [P4] levels. After ERT, Tes and Tre were
      significantly (P < 0.05) depressed by approximately 0.5 degrees C, and the Tes
      threshold for the onset of arm blood flow and sweating rate was significantly (P
      < 0.05) lower during exercise. After ERT, heart rate during exercise was
      significantly lower (P < 0.05) without notable variation in mean arterial
      pressure. Isotonic hemodilution occurred with ERT evident by significant (P <
      0.05) reductions in Hct and [Hb], whereas plasma tonicity remained
      unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447066
TI  - Nocturnal variations in human lower leg subcutaneous blood flow related to sleep
      stages.
AB  - Nocturnal subcutaneous adipose tissue blood flow rate was measured in the lower
      legs of 10 normal human subjects together with systemic arterial blood pressure,
      heart rate, and registration of sleep stages under ambulatory conditions. The
      133Xe washout technique, portable CdTe(Cl) detectors, and a portable data storage
      unit were used for measurement of blood flow rates. The sleep recordings were
      performed with a portable computerized sleep analysis system. In accordance with
      the results of previous studies, a hyperemic blood flow rate phase (mean increase
      140%) for 100 min was observed approximately 60 min after the subjects went to
      bed. The moment of onset of the hyperemic phase was closely related to the moment
      of onset of the first episode of deep sleep (stages 3 and 4). There was a
      significant (P < 0.01) overrepresentation of deep sleep in the hyperemic phase
      compared with adjacent phases, and rapid-eye-movement sleep predominantly
      occurred in the latter part of the night, when the subcutaneous blood flow rate
      was stable. The results of the present study are in accordance with current
      theories of the interrelationship between the thermoregulatory and the arousal
      state control systems and, thus, might suggest that the nightly subcutaneous
      hyperemia represents a thermoregulatory effector mechanism.

PMID- 1447067
TI  - A second postcooling afterdrop: more evidence for a convective mechanism.
AB  - An attempt was made to demonstrate the importance of increased perfusion of cold
      tissue in core temperature afterdrop. Five male subjects were cooled twice in
      water (8 degrees C) for 53-80 min. They were then rewarmed by one of two methods
      (shivering thermogenesis or treadmill exercise) for another 40-65 min, after
      which they entered a warm bath (40 degrees C). Esophageal temperature (Tes) as
      well as thigh and calf muscle temperatures at three depths (1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 cm)
      were measured. Cold water immersion was terminated at Tes varying between 33.0
      and 34.5 degrees C. For each subject this temperature was similar in both trials.
      The initial core temperature afterdrop was 58% greater during exercise (mean +/-
      SE, 0.65 +/- 0.10 degrees C) than shivering (0.41 +/- 0.06 degrees C) (P <
      0.005). Within the first 5 min after subjects entered the warm bath the initial
      rate of rewarming (previously established during shivering or exercise,
      approximately 0.07 degrees C/min) decreased. The attenuation was 0.088 +/- 0.03
      degrees C/min (P < 0.025) after shivering and 0.062 +/- 0.022 degrees C/min (P <
      0.025) after exercise. In 4 of 10 trials (2 after shivering and 2 after exercise)
      a second afterdrop occurred during this period. We suggest that increased
      perfusion of cold tissue is one probable mechanism responsible for attenuation or
      reversal of the initial rewarming rate. These results have important implications
      for treatment of hypothermia victims, even when treatment commences long after
      removal from cold water.

PMID- 1447068
TI  - Catecholamines in turkeys with alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy.
AB  - Although alcoholic cardiomyopathy has been difficult to reproduce in animals,
      turkeys fed 5% ethanol develop a dilated congestive cardiomyopathy. We therefore
      used this model to examine the adrenergic response to left ventricular
      dysfunction induced by alcohol. In normal turkeys, norepinephrine in kidneys
      decreased markedly with age from 1 day to 2 mo, with a similar but less dramatic
      decrease in cardiac norepinephrine. By 2 mo, chronic alcohol ingestion depleted
      cardiac norepinephrine compared with controls (217 +/- 22 vs. 316 +/- 41 ng/g, P
      < 0.05), even though cardiac norepinephrine is relatively low in turkeys compared
      with many other animals and humans. Norepinephrine in aorta was also decreased
      with alcohol administration, but kidney norepinephrine was unaffected. Dopamine
      was unaltered in any of the organs studied. Plasma norepinephrine is normally
      high in turkeys with arterial levels greater than venous (2,898 +/- 746 vs. 1,987
      +/- 531 pg/ml at 2 mo). Venous plasma norepinephrine did not differ from control
      (2,595 +/- 547 pg/ml) after 2 mo of alcohol. Thus, as in humans, cardiomyopathy
      in alcohol-fed turkeys is associated with reduced cardiac norepinephrine, but
      unlike humans with cardiomyopathy, circulating norepinephrine remains normal.

PMID- 1447069
TI  - Tracheal blood flow and luminal clearance of 99mTc-DTPA in sheep.
AB  - Tracheal blood flow and 99mTc-labeled diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)
      clearance were measured in the sheep trachea in vivo. The tracheal arteries were
      isolated and perfused. An isolated segment of tracheal lumen was filled with
      Krebs-Henseleit solution containing 99mTc-DTPA, and radioactivity was measured in
      blood from a catheterized tracheal vein. Infusions at constant pressure of
      methacholine (n = 5), albuterol (n = 6), and histamine (n = 5) increased arterial
      inflow [+250 +/- 73.0, +74.2 +/- 22.9, +68.9 +/- 39.2% (SE), respectively] and
      venous outflow (+49.5 +/- 13.8, +11.6 +/- 4.5, +6.2 +/- 13.9%) but decreased
      99mTc-DTPA output (-36.8 +/- 8.4, -20.4 +/- 6.2, -58.1 +/- 11.7%) and
      concentration (-53.9 +/- 10.1, -27.3 +/- 7.5, -49.3 +/- 14.4%). Phenylephrine (n
      = 9) decreased arterial inflow (-49.4 +/- 10.0%) and venous outflow (-4.1 +/-
      5.9%) but increased 99mTc-DTPA output (+74.6 +/- 44.2%) and concentration (+94.4
      +/- 56.6%). When the tracheal arteries were initially perfused at constant flow
      and the flow rate was then changed, 50% increases in flow (n = 5) increased
      perfusion pressure (+35.9 +/- 2.2%) and venous outflow (+10.5 +/- 3.8%) but
      decreased 99mTc-DTPA output (-24.4 +/- 7.8%) and concentration (-30.4 +/- 8.8%).
      Decreases in flow of 50% (n = 3) and 100% (n = 10) decreased perfusion pressure (
      34.2 +/- 4.2, -80.1 +/- 3.5%, respectively) and venous outflow (-11.0 +/- 4.8, 
      29.7 +/- 7.2%) but increased 99mTc-DTPA output (+45.9 +/- 27.5, +167.4 +/- 70.4%)
      and concentration (+64.7 +/- 26.7, +305.7 +/- 110.2%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1447071
TI  - Potassium and ventilation during incremental exercise in trained and untrained
      men.
AB  - The present investigation was undertaken to examine the relationship between
      plasma potassium (K+) and ventilation (VE) during incremental exercise. Blood
      lactate (La-) was also measured, and its relationship with VE was similarly
      examined. Eight endurance-trained triathletes (ET) and eight active but untrained
      men (UT) performed an incremental cycling test to volitional fatigue. Maximal
      oxygen uptake (VO2max) and oxygen uptake (VO2) at lactate threshold (LT) were
      higher (P < 0.05) in ET (VO2max 4.60 +/- 0.10 l/min, LT 2.77 +/- 0.85 l/min) than
      in UT (VO2max 3.79 +/- 0.11 l/min, LT 1.94 +/- 0.60 l/min). There were
      significant (P < 0.05) correlations between VE and K+ (UT 0.87, ET 0.77) and
      between VE and La- (UT 0.88, ET 0.85). In ET compared with UT, VE was lower (P <
      0.05) at 330 W, K+ was lower at 300 and 330 W, and La- was lower at all work
      loads > 90 W. These results suggest that K+ may make an important contribution to
      the regulation of ventilation during incremental exercise and that endurance
      training attenuates the K+ response to that exercise.

PMID- 1447070
TI  - Myosin heavy chain composition in the rat diaphragm: effect of age and exercise
      training.
AB  - Increases in aerobic capacity in both young and senescent rats consequent to
      endurance exercise training are now known to occur not only in locomotor skeletal
      muscle but also in diaphragm. In the current study the effects of aging and
      exercise training on the myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition were determined in
      both the costal and crural diaphragm regions of female Fischer 344 rats. Exercise
      training [treadmill running at 75% maximal oxygen consumption (1 h/day, 5 day/wk,
      x 10 wk)] resulted in similar increases in plantaris muscle citrate synthase
      activity in both young (5 mo) and old (23 mo) trained animals (P < 0.05).
      Computerized densitometric image analysis of fast and slow MHC bands revealed the
      ratio of fast to slow MHC to be significantly higher (P < 0.005) in the crural
      compared with costal diaphragm region in both age groups. In addition, a
      significant age-related increase (P < 0.05) in percentage of slow MHC was
      observed in both diaphragm regions. However, exercise training failed to change
      the relative proportion of slow MHC in either the costal or crural region.

PMID- 1447072
TI  - Effect of a regional increase in alveolar pressure on pulmonary blood flow.
AB  - We examined whether wedging a catheter (0.5 cm OD) into a subsegmental airway in
      dog (n = 6) or pig lungs (n = 5) and increasing pressure in the distal lung
      segment affected pulmonary blood flow. Dogs and pigs were anesthetized and
      studied in the prone position. Pulmonary blood flow was measured by injecting
      radiolabeled microspheres (15 microns diam) into the right atrium when airway
      pressure (Pao) was 0 cmH2O and pressure in the segment distal to the wedged
      catheter (Ps) was 0, 5, or 15 cmH2O and when Pao = Ps = 15 cmH2O. The lungs were
      excised, air-dried, and sectioned. Blood flow per gram dry weight normalized to
      cardiac output to the right or left lung, as appropriate, was calculated for the
      test segment, a control segment in the opposite lung corresponding anatomically
      to the test segment, the remainder of the lung containing the test segment (test
      lung), and the remainder of the lung containing the control segment (control
      lung). The presence of the catheter reduced blood flow in the test segment
      compared with that in the control segment and in the test lung. Blood flow was
      not affected by increasing pressure in the test segment. We conclude that, in
      studies designed to measure collateral ventilation in dog lungs, the presence of
      the wedged catheter is likely to have a greater effect on blood flow than the
      increase in pressure associated with measuring collateral airway resistance.

PMID- 1447073
TI  - Stress relaxation of the respiratory system in developing piglets.
AB  - To characterize the effect of postnatal development on the viscoelastic behavior
      of the respiratory system, we quantified the amplitude and time course of stress
      relaxation in the lungs and chest wall of seven newborn and eight 8-wk-old
      anesthetized piglets. Stress relaxation was distinguished from other dissipative
      pressure losses by performing airway occlusions at various constant inspiratory
      flows and fitting the pressure decays that ensue during the occlusions to a
      double-exponential function. We found that the amplitude of stress relaxation
      related linearly to the increase in elastic recoil (and, by extension, in the
      volume) of the lungs, chest wall, and respiratory system during the inflations
      preceding the occlusions. On the average, the slope of this relationship was 38
      44% lower in the 8-wk-old than in the newborn piglets for the lungs and was not
      different for the chest wall. The time course of stress relaxation, expressed as
      a time constant, was not influenced by age. Our results indicate that respiratory
      system viscoelasticity is sensitive to the geometric and structural changes
      experienced by the lungs during the period of rapid somatic growth that follow
      birth in most mammals.

PMID- 1447074
TI  - Clearance of different-sized proteins from the alveolar space in humans and
      rabbits.
AB  - Investigation of the clearance of proteins from the air spaces is important for
      an understanding of the resolution of pulmonary edema and also because of current
      interest in delivery of therapeutic peptides via the distal air spaces. Few
      experimental studies have examined the size dependence for alveolar clearance of
      large macromolecules; there have been no human studies. In anesthetized rabbits,
      we measured clearance of cyanocobalamin and different-sized human proteins
      instilled into the air spaces. After 8 h, the amounts of instilled tracer
      recovered in the lungs were [57Co]cyanocobalamin, 19.4 +/- 3.0% (Stokes radius
      0.65 nm); 125I-labeled insulin, 64.6 +/- 3.9% (1.2 nm); 131I-labeled albumin,
      87.0 +/- 4.0% (3.5 nm); and 125I-labeled immunoglobulin G, 91.8 +/- 3.3% (5.5 nm)
      (P < 0.05). Sieving of different-sized proteins occurred across the alveolar
      epithelial barrier because tracer concentrations in air space lavage fluid after
      8 h were decreased more for the smaller tracers than the larger ones. Size
      selectivity for alveolar protein clearance in humans with resolving alveolar
      edema was investigated by measuring the changes in albumin and total protein
      concentration. The fraction of total protein concentration made up of albumin was
      greater in the edema fluid than in the plasma initially. The albumin fraction
      decreased with time in 9 of 10 patients with resolving edema, from 0.62 +/- 0.2
      to 0.58 +/- 0.10 (P < 0.05) after 10 +/- 5 h. Thus both rabbit studies and human
      studies provide evidence for size-dependent clearance of protein from the air
      spaces of the lung.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447075
TI  - Retrofacial lesions: effects on CO2-sensitive phrenic and sympathetic nerve
      activity.
AB  - We made unilateral chemical (10- or 50-nl microinjections; 4.7 mM kainic acid) or
      electrolytic (5-15 mA; 15 s) lesions in a region of the rostral ventrolateral
      medulla (VLM) caudal to the retrotrapezoid nucleus in 10 decerebrate, paralyzed,
      vagotomized, and servo-ventilated cats. The lesions were 3.0-4.2 mm lateral to
      the midline, within 2 mm caudal to the facial nucleus, and within 2.5 mm of the
      VLM surface. Four control injections (mock cerebrospinal fluid and fluorescent
      beads alone) produced small and inconsistent effects over 3-5 h. The predominant
      effect of the lesions was a significant decrease in baseline integrated phrenic
      nerve amplitude (PNA) (apnea in 2 cases), total respiratory cycle duration, and
      the response to increased CO2 (slope < 15% of control in 3 cases). The
      respiratory-related peak amplitude of the integrated sympathetic signal, blood
      pressure, and the sympathetic nerve activity response to CO2 were also decreased
      after the majority of lesions. Not all lesions produced all effects, and some
      lesions resulted in increased PNA and respiratory cycle duration. The lesioned
      region appears functionally to represent a caudal extension of the retrotrapezoid
      nucleus containing neurons necessary for normal baseline PNA and CO2 sensitivity.
      In addition, it contains neurons involved in the determination of resting
      respiratory frequency and normal sympathetic activity and blood pressure. The
      pattern of mixed responses among animals suggests that a heterogeneity of
      function is present within a relatively small VLM region.

PMID- 1447076
TI  - Pretreatment with catalase or dimethyl sulfoxide protects alloxan-induced acute
      lung edema in dogs.
AB  - We tested the preventive effects of catalase, an enzymatic scavenger of hydrogen
      peroxide, or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a hydroxyl radical scavenger, on
      intravenous alloxan-induced lung edema in four groups of pentobarbital sodium
      anesthetized, ventilated dogs for 3 h: saline (20 ml.kg-1.h-1) infusion alone (n
      = 5), alloxan (75 mg/kg) + saline infusion (n = 5), catalase (150,000 U/kg) +
      alloxan + saline infusion (n = 5), or DMSO (4 mg/kg) + alloxan + saline infusion
      (n = 5). Catalase or DMSO significantly prevented the increase in plasma
      thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha over 3 h after alloxan and the
      accumulation of extravascular lung water after 3 h [3.95 +/- 0.52 (SE) g/g with
      catalase, 3.06 +/- 0.42 g/g with DMSO] but not early pulmonary arterial pressor
      response. An electron microscopic study indicated that catalase or DMSO
      significantly reduced the endothelial cellular damages after alloxan. These
      findings strongly suggest that hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical are major
      mediators responsible for intravenous alloxan-induced edematous lung injury in
      anesthetized ventilated dogs.

PMID- 1447077
TI  - Oxidation of exogenous medium-chain free fatty acids during prolonged exercise:
      comparison with glucose.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to compare the oxidation rate of exogenous 13C
      labeled medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCT) with that of an isocaloric amount of
      exogenous [13C]glucose and to evaluate their respective effects on endocrine and
      metabolic responses to moderate prolonged exercise. To take into account changes
      in isotopic composition of 13CO2 arising from oxidation of endogenous substrates
      because of exercise and/or substrate ingestion that overestimates the oxidation
      rate of exogenous substrates, two levels of 13C enrichment were used for each
      substrate. Six young healthy males (20-26 yr of age) completed five 2-h periods
      of exercise at 65 +/- 3% maximal O2 uptake (VO2max) on a cycle ergometer at 7-day
      intervals: one control exercise with water ingestion, two trials with ingestion
      of 25 g of [13C]MCT (trioctanoate) 1 h before exercise, and two trials with 57 g
      of [13C]glucose (dissolved in 1,000 ml of water) ingested during exercise.
      Exogenous MCT and glucose began to be oxidized within the first 30 min of
      exercise, and the oxidation rate increased progressively until the end of
      exercise for both substrates. Over the 2-h period of exercise, 13.6 +/- 3.5 g of
      ingested MCT and 36.4 +/- 8.2 g of exogenous glucose were oxidized, which
      represent 54 and 64%, respectively, of the total amount ingested. The
      contribution of MCT (119 +/- 31 kcal) and glucose (140 +/- 36 kcal) was not
      significantly different and represented 7 and 8.5%, respectively, of the total
      energy expenditure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447078
TI  - Influence of graded dehydration on hyperthermia and cardiovascular drift during
      exercise.
AB  - This investigation determined the effect of different rates of dehydration,
      induced by ingesting different volumes of fluid during prolonged exercise, on
      hyperthermia, heart rate (HR), and stroke volume (SV). On four different
      occasions, eight endurance-trained cyclists [age 23 +/- 3 (SD) yr, body wt 71.9
      +/- 11.6 kg, maximal O2 consumption 4.72 +/- 0.33 l/min] cycled at a power output
      equal to 62-67% maximal O2 consumption for 2 h in a warm environment (33 degrees
      C dry bulb, 50% relative humidity, wind speed 2.5 m/s). During exercise, they
      randomly received no fluid (NF) or ingested a small (SF), moderate (MF), or large
      (LF) volume of fluid that replaced 20 +/- 1, 48 +/- 1, and 81 +/- 2%,
      respectively, of the fluid lost in sweat during exercise. The protocol resulted
      in graded magnitudes of dehydration as body weight declined 4.2 +/- 0.1, 3.4 +/-
      0.1, 2.3 +/- 0.1, and 1.1 +/- 0.1%, respectively, during NF, SF, MF, and LF.
      After 2 h of exercise, esophageal temperature (Tes), HR, and SV were
      significantly different among the four trials (P < 0.05), with the exception of
      NF and SF. The magnitude of dehydration accrued after 2 h of exercise in the four
      trials was linearly related with the increase in Tes (r = 0.98, P < 0.02), the
      increase in HR (r = 0.99, P < 0.01), and the decline in SV (r = 0.99, P < 0.01).
      LF attenuated hyperthermia, apparently because of higher skin blood flow,
      inasmuch as forearm blood flow was 20-22% higher than during SF and NF at 105 min
      (P < 0.05). There were no differences in sweat rate among the four trials. In
      each subject, the increase in Tes from 20 to 120 min of exercise was highly
      correlated to the increase in serum osmolality (r = 0.81-0.98, P < 0.02-0.19) and
      the increase in serum sodium concentration (r = 0.87-0.99, P < 0.01-0.13) from 5
      to 120 min of exercise. In summary, the magnitude of increase in core temperature
      and HR and the decline in SV are graded in proportion to the amount of
      dehydration accrued during exercise.

PMID- 1447079
TI  - Theoretical analysis of occlusion techniques for measuring pulmonary capillary
      pressure.
AB  - We have developed a model including three serial compliant compartments
      (arterial, capillary, and venous) separated by two resistances (arterial and
      venous) for interpreting in vivo single pulmonary arterial or venous occlusion
      pressure profiles and double occlusion. We formalized and solved the
      corresponding system of equations. We showed that in this model 1) pulmonary
      capillary pressure (Pc) profile after arterial or venous occlusion has an S
      shape, 2) the estimation of Pc by zero time extrapolation of the slow component
      of the arterial occlusion profile (Pcao) always overestimates Pc, 3)
      symmetrically such an estimation on the venous occlusion profile (Pcvo) always
      underestimates Pc, 4) double occlusion pressure (Pcdo) differs from Pc. We
      evaluated the impact of varying parameter values in the model with parameter sets
      drawn either from the literature or from arbitrary arterial and venous pressures,
      being respectively 20 and 5 mmHg. Resulting Pcao-Pc differences ranged from 0.4
      to 5.4 mmHg and resulting Pcvo-Pc differences ranged from -0.3 to -5.0 mmHg. Pcdo
      Pc was positive or negative, its absolute value in general being negligible (<
      1.1 mmHg).

PMID- 1447080
TI  - Effect of the pericardium on atrial systolic function.
AB  - The effect of pericardial constraint on atrial systolic function was investigated
      in nine acutely instrumented anesthetized dogs. Left and right atrial pressures
      were recorded by high-fidelity catheters; auricular diameters and free wall
      segment lengths were measured by sonomicrometry. Atrial function curves were
      constructed by relating atrial systolic dimensional shortening to atrial end
      diastolic pressure during progressive volume loading. With the pericardium
      closed, the function curves were shifted markedly downward and rightward, such
      that atrial systolic shortening was reduced at any given pressure. There was a
      concomitant leftward and upward shift of the atrial end-diastolic pressure
      dimension relationship. The relationship between atrial systolic shortening and
      atrial end-diastolic dimension was not shifted. These results suggest that the
      apparent depression of atrial systolic function with the pericardium closed is
      due to a restrictive effect of the pericardium on atrial filling. In conclusion,
      in the acutely dilated heart, the pericardium restricts atrial filling and thus
      causes a reduction in atrial systolic contribution to ventricular filling.

PMID- 1447081
TI  - Effects of simulated microgravity (HDT) on blood fluidity.
AB  - Exposures to microgravity and head-down tilt (HDT) produce similar changes in
      body fluid. This causes an increase in hematocrit that significantly affects
      hemorheological values. Lack of physical stimulation under bed rest conditions
      and the relative immobility of the crew during spaceflight also affects the blood
      fluidity. A group of six healthy male subjects participated as volunteers, and
      blood samples were collected 10 days before, on day 2 and day 9, and 2 days after
      the HDT phase. Blood rheology was quantified by plasma viscometry, red cell
      aggregability, and red cell deformability. A reduced red cell deformability, an
      indication of the diminished quality of the red blood cells, was measured under
      HDT conditions that finally led to the so-called "space flight anemia." Enhanced
      red cell membrane fragility induced by diminished physical activity and an
      increase in hemoglobin concentration are responsible for this effect. Plasma
      viscosity is reduced as a result of diminished plasma proteins. However, despite
      the reduction in plasma proteins, including fibrinogen, alpha 2-macroglobulin,
      and immunoglobulin M, red cell aggregation was enhanced, principally because of
      the increase in hematocrit. Our results of hemorheological alterations under HDT
      conditions may help to elucidate the formerly documented hematologic changes
      during spaceflight.

PMID- 1447082
TI  - Effect of zymosan-activated plasma on the deformability of rabbit
      polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
AB  - Intravascular infusion of inflammatory mediators causes a sudden neutropenia due
      to the sequestration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) within the
      microvasculature of the lung and other organs. This sequestration could be due to
      a decrease in the ability of PMN to deform and pass through the narrow capillary
      bed. The purpose of this study was to determine if the complement fragments
      present in zymosan-activated plasma (ZAP) caused a rapid stiffening of PMN. The
      PMN deformability was determined by measuring the pressure required to pass PMN
      through a polycarbonate filter containing 5-micron pores at a constant flow rate
      as well as the extraction of PMN compared with red blood cells and 125I-labeled
      albumin by the filter. The role of the cytoskeleton in PMN deformation was
      examined in studies where F-actin formation was inhibited using cytochalasin B or
      microtubule assembly was inhibited using colchicine. The results showed that
      treatment with ZAP induced a rapid decrease in PMN deformability. Inhibiting the
      formation of F-actin made the unstimulated PMN more deformable and reduced the
      stiffening induced by ZAP. In contrast, inhibition of microtubule reassembly did
      not alter either normal deformability or the ZAP-induced decrease in
      deformability. In vivo, colchicine increased normal PMN margination but did not
      inhibit the rapid sequestration of PMN induced by infusion of ZAP. These studies
      indicate that ZAP induces a rapid decrease in PMN deformability that is mediated
      through the cytoskeleton. They suggest that this decrease is due to the
      polymerization of F-actin.

PMID- 1447083
TI  - Hypoxia-induced downregulation of beta-adrenergic receptors in rat heart.
AB  - To test the desensitization hypothesis of cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors (beta
      AR) in chronic hypoxia, the effect of 1, 3, 7, 15, and 21 days of exposure to
      hypobaric hypoxia (380 Torr) was evaluated in Wistar rats. Exposure to hypoxia
      for 1-15 days did not induce any change in right and left ventricular beta-AR
      density (Bmax) determined with [125I]iodocyanopindolol or in antagonist affinity.
      After 21 days, Bmax decreased by 24% in the left ventricle. In contrast, no
      change in beta-AR was shown in the right hypertrophied ventricle. Agonist
      affinity in the left ventricle was not altered, as shown by the analysis of
      displacement curves of isoproterenol (normoxia 185 +/- 26 nM, hypoxia 170 +/- 11
      nM). Moreover, there was no significant decrease in adenylate cyclase activity
      (pmol.mg-1.min-1) in the left ventricle. In the right ventricle, a 21-day
      exposure to hypoxia led to a decrease in basal and maximal activity when
      stimulated by isoproterenol. A decrease in tissue norepinephrine content was
      observed after 7 days of hypoxia. In conclusion, these data support the beta-AR
      downregulation hypothesis as one of the mechanisms of myocardial adaptation to
      high altitude occurring after 2-3 wk of exposure to hypoxia. The regulation
      pathways of beta-AR may differ between left nonhypertrophied and right
      hypertrophied ventricles. No evidence of profound abnormality of signal
      transduction was shown.

PMID- 1447084
TI  - Cytokine immunoreactivity in plasma does not change after moderate endurance
      exercise.
AB  - We investigated whether increased concentrations of circulating cytokines may be
      responsible for exercise-induced priming of blood neutrophils (J. A. Smith et al.
      Int. J. Sports Med. 11: 179-187, 1990). The plasma concentrations of tumor
      necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin- (IL) 1 beta, IL-6, granulocyte-macrophage
      colony-stimulating factor, and neopterin in trained and untrained human subjects
      were measured by immunoassay before and after 1 h of cycling at 60% of maximal
      oxygen uptake. C-reactive protein and creatine kinase (CK) were also measured
      before and 24 h after exercise as markers of the "acute-phase response" and
      muscle damage (C. Taylor et al. J. Appl. Physiol. 62: 464-469, 1987),
      respectively. The small changes in the plasma concentrations of cytokines or
      neopterin observed after exercise in both trained and untrained subjects were not
      significantly different to those found in a control group of nonexercised
      subjects. However, untrained subjects did exhibit an acute-phase response (P =
      0.04) 24 h after exercise without additional release of CK into plasma. Baseline
      training differences were confined to a twofold elevation in CK activity (P =
      0.04). The results show that circulating cytokines are unlikely to be responsible
      for the priming of neutrophil microbicidal activity observed after moderate
      endurance exercise (J. A. Smith et al. Int. J. Sports Med. 11: 179-187, 1990).

PMID- 1447085
TI  - Effect of bilateral vagotomy on oxygenation, arousal, and breathing movements in
      fetal sheep.
AB  - To investigate the effects of bilateral cervical vagotomy on arousal and
      breathing responses, we studied eight sham-operated and eight chronically
      instrumented unanesthetized vagotomized sheep fetuses between 136 and 144 days of
      gestation (term approximately 147 days). Each fetus was instrumented to record
      sleep states, diaphragmatic electromyogram, blood pressure, pH, and blood gas
      tensions. In a randomized order, fetal lungs were distended with four different
      O2 concentrations: 0 (100% N2), 21, 50, and 100% at a continuous positive airway
      pressure of 30 cmH2O via an in situ Y-endotracheal tube. Under control
      conditions, inspiratory time and the duration of the single longest breathing
      episode decreased from 598 +/- 99 (SD) ms and 24 +/- 10 min in sham group to 393
      +/- 162 ms and 11.0 +/- 3.0 min in vagotomized group (P = 0.04 and 0.033),
      respectively. In response to lung distension with 100% N2, breathing time
      decreased from 44 +/- 17 to 20 +/- 18% (P = 0.045) in sham-operated fetuses,
      whereas it remained unchanged in the vagotomized group. In response to 100% O2,
      fetal arterial PO2 increased in five of eight fetuses sham-operated from 18.2 +/-
      5.1 to 227 +/- 45 Torr (P = 0.0001) and in six of eight vagotomized fetuses from
      18.5 +/- 4.4 to 172 +/- 39 Torr (P < 0.001). Although arousal was observed in all
      oxygenated fetuses at the onset of breathing, the duration of arousal was
      markedly attenuated in vagotomized fetuses (14 +/- 10 vs. 46 +/- 29 min in sham
      group; P = 0.024). Frequency and amplitude of breathing and respiratory output
      (frequency x amplitude) increased only in sham group (P = 0.02, 0.004, and
      0.0002, respectively). We conclude that in response to lung distension and
      oxygenation, arousal and stimulation of breathing during active and quite sleep
      are critically dependent on intact vagal nerves.

PMID- 1447086
TI  - Effects of catecholamines and potassium on cardiovascular performance in the
      rabbit.
AB  - Resting subjects risk cardiac arrest if plasma potassium ([K+]p) is raised
      rapidly to 7-9 mM, but brief bouts of exhaustive exercise in healthy subjects can
      give similar [K+]p without causing cardiac problems. We investigated the effects
      of [K+]p and catecholamines on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and mean aortic flow
      (MAF) in anesthetized rabbits and on maximum output pressure (MOP) in isolated
      working rabbit hearts. In six rabbits, hyperkalemia (11.4 +/- 0.4 mM) caused a
      fall in SBP from 116 +/- 6 to 49 +/- 6 mmHg and in MAF from 373 +/- 30 to 181 +/-
      53 ml/min (P < 0.01). Raising [K+]p (11.6 +/- 0.3 mM) with norepinephrine (NE)
      (1.3 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 iv), however, increased SBP from 108 +/- 7 to 150 +/-
      6 mmHg (P < 0.01) and MAF from 347 +/- 42 to 434 +/- 35 ml/min (P < 0.01). In 19
      isolated working hearts, perfusion with 8 mM K+ Tyrode and then 12 mM K+ Tyrode
      reduced MOP from 87 +/- 3 (control 4 mM K+) to 67 +/- 3 (8 mM K+) and 51 +/- 2
      cmH2O (12 mM K+) (P < 0.01); 12 mM K+ Tyrode with 0.08 microM NE or epinephrine,
      however, increased MOP from 67 +/- 6 (in 8 mM K+) to 85 +/- 6 cmH2O (NE) and from
      58 +/- 2 to 76 +/- 5 cmH2O (epinephrine) (P < 0.01). Catecholamines may therefore
      play a key role in protecting the heart from exercise-induced hyperkalemia.

PMID- 1447087
TI  - Continuous measurement of Na concentration in CSF during gastric water infusion
      in dehydrated rats.
AB  - To assess the differential stimulus to central and intravascular osmoreceptors
      during recovery from thermal dehydration, we measured Na concentrations in
      cerebrospinal fluid ([Na]CSF) and plasma ([Na]p) continuously and compared these
      during simulated drinking by gastric water infusion (INF) in euhydrated and
      thermally dehydrated rats under anesthesia. Continuous measurement of [Na]CSF was
      obtained with a double-barreled Na electrode placed in the lateral ventricle.
      Continuous measurement of [Na]p was obtained from a flow cell Na electrode in an
      extracorporeal shunt. Measurements were made during 10 min of INF (2.5 ml/100 g
      body wt) into the stomach and during 20 min of recovery. Changes in [Na]CSF
      always lagged behind those in [Na]p and were quantitatively smaller after INF.
      The decrease in [Na]CSF occurred sooner in dehydrated than in euhydrated rats in
      response to the decrease in [Na]p (P < 0.01). These results suggest that water
      and/or Na movement between blood and CSF is accelerated during restitution from
      thermal dehydration, acting to prevent overhydration during the early phase of
      rehydration.

PMID- 1447088
TI  - Developmental changes in sequential activation of laryngeal abductor muscle and
      diaphragm in infants.
AB  - In animals and human adults, upper airway muscle activity usually precedes
      inspiratory diaphragm activity. We examined the interaction of the posterior
      cricoarytenoid muscle (PCA), which abducts the larynx, and the diaphragm (DIA) in
      the control of airflow in newborn infants to assess the effect of maturation on
      respiratory muscle sequence. We recorded tidal volume, airflow, and DIA and PCA
      electromyograms (EMG) in 12 full-term, 14 premature, and 10 premature infants
      with apnea treated with aminophylline. In most breaths, onset of PCA EMG activity
      preceded onset of DIA EMG activity (lead breaths). In all subjects, we also
      observed breaths (range 6-61%) in which PCA EMG onset followed DIA EMG onset (lag
      breaths). DIA neural inspiratory duration and the neuromechanical delay between
      DIA EMG onset and inspiratory flow were longer in lag than in lead breaths (P <
      0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). The frequency of lag breaths was greater in the
      premature infants [33 +/- 4% (SE)] than in either the full-term infants (21 +/-
      3%, P < 0.03) or the premature infants with apnea treated with aminophylline (16
      +/- 2%, P < 0.01). We conclude that the expected sequence of onset of PCA and DIA
      EMG activity is frequently disrupted in newborn infants. Both maturation and
      respiratory stimulation with aminophylline improve the coordination of the PCA
      and DIA.

PMID- 1447089
TI  - A new animal model for modulating myosin isoform expression by altered mechanical
      activity.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to develop a new rodent model that is capable of
      delineating the importance of mechanical loading on myosin heavy chain (MHC)
      isoform expression of the plantar and dorsi flexor muscles of the ankle. The
      essential components of this system include 1) stimulating electrodes that are
      chronically implanted into a muscle, allowing for the control of the activation
      pattern of the target muscle(s); 2) a training apparatus that translates the
      moment of the ankle into a linear force; and 3) a computer-controlled Cambridge
      310 ergometer. The isovelocity profile of the ergometer ensured that the medial
      gastrocnemius (MG) produced forces that were > 90% of maximal isometric force
      (Po), and the eccentric contractions of the tibialis anterior (TA) were typically
      120% of Po. Both the concentric and eccentric training programs produced
      statistically significant increases in the muscle mass of the MG (approximately
      15%) and TA (approximately 7%) as well as a decrease in myofibrillar
      adenosinetriphosphatase activity. Both the white and red regions of the MG and TA
      exhibited significant increases in the relative content of the type IIa MHC and
      concomitant decreases in type IIb MHC expression. Although the red regions of the
      MG and red TA contained approximately 10% type I MHC, the training programs did
      not affect this isoform. It appears that when a fast-twitch muscle is stimulated
      at a high frequency (100 Hz) and required to contract either concentrically or
      eccentrically under high loading conditions, the expression of the type IIa MHC
      isoform will be upregulated, whereas that of the type IIb MHC will be
      concomitantly downregulated.

PMID- 1447090
TI  - Reliability of extravascular lung thermal volume measurements by thermal
      conductivity technique in sheep.
AB  - We tested the accuracy, sensitivity, and reproducibility of a new lung water
      computer, based on the thermal conductivity technique, in 22 anesthetized closed
      chest ventilated sheep with different treatments: 1) controls (n = 8), 2) 0.05
      ml/kg of oleic acid + 100 ml/kg of lactated Ringer solution (n = 6), and 3)
      airway instillation of saline [3.1 +/- 1.3 (SD) g/kg, n = 8]. After 4 h, we
      determined the extravascular lung water gravimetrically. We found a significant
      overall correlation between the final extravascular lung thermal volume and the
      gravimetric extravascular lung mass (P < 0.001). Although the average ratio of
      extravascular lung thermal volume to extravascular lung mass was 0.97 +/- 0.25
      ml/g for all groups, the computer overestimated extravascular lung mass in
      controls by 10% (17 g) and underestimated it in sheep with oleic acid by 15% (95
      g) and in sheep with airway instillation by 8% (37 g). The computer also
      underestimated the small quantities of saline placed via the airway in the
      alveolar space by 75% (61 g). Reproducibility of three consecutive measurements
      was 4.3% (SE). We conclude that the thermal conductivity technique has an ability
      to detect the baseline extravascular lung mass but has a poor ability to detect
      an accurate increment of the extravascular lung water under poor tissue perfusion
      in anesthetized ventilated sheep.

PMID- 1447091
TI  - Turnover of hyaluronan in the rabbit pleural space.
AB  - Hyaluronan influences lung fluid balance. The clearance of lung hyaluronan by way
      of the pulmonary lymphatics and the pleural space is increased when fluid flux
      into the interstitium is increased. The purpose of this study was to determine
      the rate at which hyaluronan is removed from the pleural space. We injected
      hyaluronan, labeled with tritium in the acetyl group, into the pleural space of
      six rabbits. The appearance of [3H]H2O in serum was measured over time to
      calculate the turnover rate of hyaluronan. We found that the half-lives ranged
      between 8 and 15 h and were positively related to the amount of hyaluronan
      injected. At the end of the experiment, the contralateral pleural space was
      irrigated to determine the amount of pleural space hyaluronan, which was 0.3
      micrograms/kg body wt.

PMID- 1447092
TI  - Postnatal development of the denervated lung in normoxia, hypoxia, or hyperoxia.
AB  - We asked whether lung innervation was essential for the normal postnatal
      development of the lung in conditions of normoxia, hypoxia, or hyperoxia. Litters
      of newborn rats were assigned to a normoxic [inspired oxygen partial pressure
      (PIO2) = 150 Torr, eight litters], hypoxic (PIO2 = 100 Torr, nine litters), or
      hyperoxic (PIO2 = 360 Torr, nine litters) group. Each litter consisted of 12
      pups. Two days after birth, one-third of the litter had the vagus and sympathetic
      trunk cut in the neck on the left side [left denervated (L)], one-third was
      denervated on the right side (R), and one-third was sham-operated (S). From day
      3, all pups were exposed to the designed PIO2, until day 8 or days 21-22. Almost
      all rats, whether S, R, or L, survived in normoxia and hyperoxia, whereas in
      hypoxia survival at day 22 of R and L was approximately 60-65%. Body growth was
      the same in S, R, and L and less in hypoxia than in normoxia or hyperoxia. At
      days 8 and 22, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration, heart and lung dry and
      wet weights, and lung DNA content did not differ among S, R, and L, whether the
      pups were raised in normoxia, hypoxia, or hyperoxia. At days 21-22, aerobic
      metabolism and breathing pattern, both measured during air breathing, as well as
      compliance of isolated lungs, were also similar among S, R, and L for each of the
      conditions in which the pups were raised.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447093
TI  - Pulmonary vascular reactivity and hemodynamic changes in elastase-induced
      emphysema in hamsters.
AB  - Changes in pulmonary hemodynamics and vascular reactivity in emphysematous
      hamsters were studied in an isolated lung preparation perfused at constant flow
      with blood and 3% dextran. Hamsters were treated with intratracheal porcine
      pancreatic elastase at 70 days of age, and experimental studies were conducted at
      1, 3, and 8 mo after treatment. Baseline pulmonary arterial pressure in elastase
      treated lungs was increased compared with saline-treated control lungs 1 mo after
      treatment, but this increase did not progress at 3 and 8 mo. Increases in
      pulmonary arterial pressure in elastase-treated lungs were temporally correlated
      with the morphological development of emphysema and right ventricular
      hypertrophy; both of these were evident at 1 mo after treatment and showed little
      change thereafter. Pressor responses to hypoxia and angiotensin II were not
      different between elastase-treated and control lungs at 1 and 3 mo. At 8 mo,
      however, pressor responses in emphysematous lungs to 0% O2 (but not to
      angiotensin II) were significantly increased. This was the result of a lack of
      the normal age-related fall in the hypoxic pressor response. Our results suggest
      that the right ventricular hypertrophy found in these emphysematous animals
      results from a chronically increased pulmonary vascular resistance. Furthermore,
      increases in pulmonary vascular resistance in the early development of emphysema
      are likely a result of the loss of vascular beds and supporting connective
      tissue.

PMID- 1447094
TI  - Mechanical properties of human bronchial smooth muscle in vitro.
AB  - The in vitro mechanical properties of smooth muscle strips from 10 human main
      stem bronchi obtained immediately after pneumonectomy were evaluated. Maximal
      active isometric and isotonic responses were obtained at varying lengths by use
      of electrical field stimulation (EFS). At the length (Lmax) producing maximal
      force (Pmax), resting tension was very high (60.0 +/- 8.8% Pmax). Maximal
      fractional muscle shortening was 25.0 +/- 9.0% at a length of 75% Lmax, whereas
      less shortening occurred at Lmax (12.2 +/- 2.7%). The addition of increasing
      elastic loads produced an exponential decrease in the shortening and velocity of
      shortening but increased tension generation of muscle strips stimulated by EFS.
      Morphometric analysis revealed that muscle accounted for 8.7 +/- 1.5% of the
      total cross-sectional tissue area. Evaluation of two human tracheal smooth muscle
      preparations revealed mechanics similar to the bronchial preparations. Passive
      tension at Lmax was 10-fold greater and maximal active shortening was threefold
      less than that previously demonstrated for porcine trachealis by us of the same
      apparatus. We attribute the limited shortening of human bronchial and tracheal
      smooth muscle to the larger load presumably provided by a connective tissue
      parallel elastic component within the evaluated tissues, which must be overcome
      for shortening to occur. We suggest that a decrease in airway wall elastance
      could increase smooth muscle shortening, leading to excessive responses to
      contractile agonists, as seen in airway hyperresponsiveness.

PMID- 1447095
TI  - In vivo and in vitro correlation of trachealis muscle contraction in dogs.
AB  - Maximal trachealis muscle shortening in vivo was compared with that in vitro in
      seven anesthetized dogs. In addition, the effect of graded elastic loads on the
      muscle was evaluated in vitro. In vivo trachealis muscle shortening, as measured
      using sonomicrometry, revealed maximal active shortening to be 28.8 +/- 11.7%
      (SD) of initial length. Trachealis muscle preparations from the same animals were
      studied in vitro to evaluate isometric force generation, isotonic shortening, and
      the effect of applying linear elastic loads to the trachealis muscle during
      contraction from optimal length. Maximal isotonic shortening was 66.8 +/- 8.4% of
      optimal length in vitro. Increasing elastic loads decreased active shortening and
      velocity of shortening in vitro in a hyperbolic manner. The elastic load required
      to decrease in vitro shortening to the extent of the shortening observed in vivo
      was similar to the estimated load provided by the tracheal cartilage. We conclude
      that decreased active shortening in vivo is primarily due to the elastic
      afterload provided by cartilage.

PMID- 1447096
TI  - Immune responses and increased training of the elite athlete.
AB  - Ten elite male runners (age, 29.8 +/- 1.7 yr; maximum oxygen consumption, 65.3 +/
      4.9 ml.kg-1.min-1; 10-km times, 31 min 43 s +/- 1 min 46 s) deliberately
      increased training schedules by an average of 38% for 3 wk. Resting heart rate
      and maximal oxygen intake were unchanged, but the heart rate response to acute
      exercise was decreased. Following heavy training, blood samples taken at rest
      showed trends to a decreased helper/suppressor cell ratio, an increased
      phytohemagglutinin (PHA)- and concanavalin (ConA)-stimulated lymphocyte
      proliferation, and a decreased production of immunoglobulins IgG and IgM. Whereas
      PHA-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation was initially unchanged by acute
      exercise, after 3 wk of heavy training the same acute exercise caused an 18%
      suppression of proliferation. Acute exercise following heavy training did not
      alter pokeweed-stimulated IgG or IgM synthesis. There was no correlation between
      changes in lymphocyte subpopulations, helper/suppressor ratios, and mitogen
      induced cellular proliferation. The immune system of endurance-trained athletes
      at rest seemed to tolerate the stress of heavy training, but superimposition of a
      bout of acute exercise on the chronic stress of heavy training resulted in
      immunosuppression, which was transient and most likely not of clinical
      significance.

PMID- 1447097
TI  - Development of mucociliary transport in the postnatal ferret trachea.
AB  - Little is known of the developmental aspects of mucociliary transport. Previous
      studies have documented that newborn ferret trachea has very few ciliated cells
      but numerous immature secretory cells in the epithelium and only rudimentary
      submucosal glands. Rapid and complete maturation occurs in the first postnatal
      month. This study examines mucociliary transport during this period of rapid
      maturation. We made direct observations of particle movement across the
      epithelium of ferret tracheas. No mucus transport could be demonstrated on the
      first day of life. Transport was discernible, although sporadic and slow, by 7
      days and reached adult levels (10.7 +/- 3.7 mm/min) by 28 postnatal days. The
      emergence of transport capability correlated well with previously described
      developmental changes in ciliation, mucus secretion, and ion permeability and
      transport. Threshold mucus transport occurred at 1 wk of age when 20-25% of the
      surface cells are ciliated. The neonatal ferret appears to be a useful model for
      assessing integrated epithelial structure-function relationships that are
      important not only during early development but also during repair after airway
      injury involving deciliation.

PMID- 1447098
TI  - Rat cardiovascular responses to whole body suspension: head-down and non-head
      down tilt.
AB  - The rat whole body suspension technique mimics responses seen during exposure to
      microgravity and was evaluated as a model for cardiovascular responses with two
      series of experiments. In one series, changes were monitored in chronically
      catheterized rats during 7 days of head-down tilt (HDT) or non-head-down tilt (N
      HDT) and after several hours of recovery. Elevations of mean arterial (MAP),
      systolic, and diastolic pressures of approximately 20% (P < 0.05) in HDT rats
      began as early as day 1 and were maintained for the duration of suspension. Pulse
      pressures were relatively unaffected, but heart rates were elevated approximately
      10%. During postsuspension (2-7 h), most cardiovascular parameters returned to
      presuspension levels. N-HDT rats exhibited elevations chiefly on days 3 and 7. In
      the second series, blood pressure was monitored in 1- and 3-day HDT and N-HDT
      rats to evaluate responses to rapid head-up tilt. MAP, systolic and diastolic
      pressures, and HR were elevated (P < 0.05) in HDT and N-HDT rats during head-up
      tilt after 1 day of suspension, while pulse pressures remained unchanged. HDT
      rats exhibited elevated pretilt MAP and failed to respond to rapid head-up tilt
      with further increase of MAP on day 3, indicating some degree of deconditioning.
      The whole body suspended rat may be useful as a model to better understand
      responses of rats exposed to microgravity.

PMID- 1447099
TI  - Acute heat stress protects rats against endotoxin shock.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine 1) whether prior (24-h) heat stress
      could render rats cross-resistant to the lethal activity of bacterial
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 2) whether this acquired state of resistance is
      associated with endotoxemia during the heat stress event. Four groups (n =
      7/group) of rats were examined: 1) saline treated, 2) LPS treated, 3) heat
      stressed and saline treated, and 4) heat stressed and LPS treated. Saline or LPS
      (Escherichia coli, serotype 0111:B4, 20 mg/kg body wt) was given intravenously 24
      h after exposure to heat (ambient temperature 47-50 degrees C, relative humidity
      30%) for heat-stressed rats and at the same time of day for nonheated rats;
      survival was monitored for 48 h. Thermal responses were similar (P > 0.05);
      values for maximum core temperature (Tc) and time above Tc of 40 degrees C were
      42.7 +/- 0.1 and 42.6 +/- 0.1 degrees C (SE) and 44.0 +/- 2.1 and 47.9 +/- 3.7
      (SE) min for the heat-stressed saline-treated and heat-stressed LPS-treated rats,
      respectively. Administration of LPS to nonheated rats resulted in 71.4% (5 of 7
      rats) lethality. In contrast, all (7 of 7) rats subjected to a single nonlethal
      heat stress event 24 h before LPS treatment survived (P < 0.05). Endotoxin was
      not detected in arterial plasma immediately after heat stress in rats (n = 6)
      exposed to a Tc of 42.9 +/- 0.1 degrees C. These findings demonstrate that acute
      heat stress can protect rats from the lethal activity of LPS.

PMID- 1447100
TI  - Muscle sympathetic nerve responses to static leg exercise.
AB  - Previous studies of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) during static
      exercise have employed predominantly the arms. These studies have revealed
      striking increases in arm and leg MSNA during static handgrip (SHG) and
      postexercise circulatory arrest (PECA). The purpose of this study was to examine
      MSNA during static leg exercise (SLE) at intensities and duration commonly used
      during SHG followed by PECA. During 2 min of SLE (static knee extension) at 10%
      of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC; n = 18) in the sitting position, mean
      arterial pressure and heart rate increased significantly. Surprisingly, MSNA in
      the contralateral leg did not increase above control levels during SLE but rather
      decreased (23 +/- 5%; P < 0.05) during the 1st min of SLE at 10% MVC. We compared
      MSNA responses to SHG and SLE (n = 8) at 30% MVC. SHG and SLE elicited comparable
      increases (P < 0.05) in arterial pressure and heart rate, but SHG elicited
      significant increases in MSNA, whereas SLE did not. During PECA after SHG and
      SLE, mean arterial pressure remained significantly above control. However, MSNA
      was unchanged during PECA after SLE but was significantly greater than control
      during PECA after SHG. Because previous studies have indicated differences in
      MSNA responses to the arm and leg, we measured arm and leg MSNA simultaneously in
      six subjects during SLE at 20% MVC and PECA. During SLE and PECA, MSNA in the
      contralateral arm and leg did not differ significantly from each other.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447101
TI  - A model of ventilatory instability induced in the unrestrained rat.
AB  - A classic conditioning paradigm was used to examine the hypothesis that
      perturbations during sleep in the neonate rat can have a lasting impact on
      breathing. During the first 4 wk of life, stimuli were presented to rats during
      behaviorally defined sleep. In a conditioned hypoxic (CH) group, brief periods of
      hypoxic gas were used as the unconditioned stimulus. Tactile and auditory stimuli
      were used as the conditioned stimuli. In a conditioned control (CC) group, air
      was used as the unconditioned stimulus. A third group of unconditioned control
      (UC) rats was not exposed to the conditioning paradigm. Animals were provided
      routine care for 3.5 mo; ventilation was then assessed using plethysmography.
      Conditioning during neonatal life produced increased ventilatory irregularities
      and apnea during behaviorally defined sleep in adult rats. Both CH and CC rats
      showed a significantly greater number of apneic events compared with UC rats.
      Over a 2-h sleep period, CH rats exhibited a total of 105.1 +/- 9.4 (SE) apneic
      events, CC rats 69.4 +/- 4.2 events, and UC rats 42.1 +/- 3.1 events [F(2,18) =
      25.568; P < 0.0001]. These findings suggest that experiences in the first few
      weeks of life will alter ventilatory patterning in the adult animal.

PMID- 1447102
TI  - Distribution of systemic blood flow in lambs with an aortopulmonary shunt during
      strenuous exercise.
AB  - We studied regional blood flows with radioactive-labeled microspheres in 12 7-wk
      old lambs with an aortopulmonary left-to-right shunt [59 +/- 3% (SE) of left
      ventricular (LV) output] and in 11 control lambs, at rest and during exercise at
      80% of predetermined peak O2 consumption. At rest, systemic blood flow was
      similar in the two groups. Blood flow to the heart and diaphragm was
      substantially higher in the shunt than in the control lambs. Blood flow to the
      other organs was not significantly different between the two groups. During
      exercise, systemic blood flow increased substantially but less in shunt (81%)
      than in control lambs (134%). Blood flow to the heart and diaphragm increased,
      that to the heart still being higher in shunt than in control lambs. Blood flow
      to the brain did not change, whereas that to the kidneys and splanchnic organs
      decreased to the same extent (25%) in shunt and control lambs. Intrahepatic and
      intrarenal blood flow redistribution in the shunt lambs persisted during
      exercise. In conclusion, myocardial blood flow is not increased at the expense of
      one particular organ, nor is it associated with an essential change in exercise
      induced redistribution in shunt lambs.

PMID- 1447103
TI  - Ventilation is stimulated by small reductions in arterial pressure in the awake
      dog.
AB  - Changes in arterial pressure commonly accompany respiratory adaptations. The
      purpose of this study was to determine, in awake dogs (n = 6), the degree to
      which small acute decreases in arterial pressure affect ventilation and acid-base
      balance. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was reduced by 6 +/- 2, 10 +/- 3, and 16 +/
      2% by intravenous infusion of sodium nitroprusside for sequential 20-min
      periods. In another experiment, the ventilatory response to hypercapnia was
      determined during MAP reduction of 16 +/- 3%. Step reductions in MAP were
      accompanied by increases in minute ventilation (maximum increase 152 +/- 75%) and
      step reductions in arterial PCO2 (PaCO2; maximum reduction -4.8 +/- 0.8 Torr).
      Although eupneic PaCO2 threshold was lowered during MAP reduction, ventilatory
      sensitivity to CO2 remained unchanged. Despite the lowered PaCO2, arterial [H+]
      remained constant (acid-base balance was maintained) as a result of a concurrent
      decrease in strong ion difference. Plasma renin activity increased during MAP
      reduction (93 +/- 39%) and may have contributed to the increase in minute
      ventilation, inasmuch as angiotensin II can stimulate respiration by a central
      mechanism. Evidence is provided that nitroprusside is unlikely to be a primary
      factor in these hypotensive responses. We conclude that relatively modest
      decreases in MAP have a consistent stimulatory effect on respiratory control.
      Therefore it is important to take into account effects of small changes in MAP
      when interpreting mechanisms for respiratory responses in awake animals.

PMID- 1447104
TI  - A respiratory sensory reflex in response to CO2 inhibits breathing in preterm
      infants.
AB  - Traditionally, the increase in ventilation occurring after approximately 4 s of
      CO2 inhalation in preterm infants has been attributed to an action at the
      peripheral chemoreceptors. However, on a few occasions, we have observed a short
      apnea (2-3 s) in response to 3-5% CO2 in these infants. To test the hypothesis
      that this apnea reflects a respiratory sensory reflex to CO2, we gave nine
      preterm infants [birth wt 1.5 +/- 0.1 (SE) kg, gestational age 31 +/- 1 wk] 7-8%
      CO2 while they breathed 21% O2. To study the dose-response relationship, we also
      gave 2, 4, 6, and 8% CO2 to another group of seven preterm infants (birth wt 1.5
      +/- 0.1 kg, gestational age 31 +/- 1 wk). In the first group of infants, minute
      ventilation during 21% O2 breathing (0.232 +/- 0.022 l.min-1.kg-1) decreased
      after CO2 administration (0.140 +/- 0.022, P < 0.01) and increased with CO2
      removal (0.380 +/- 0.054, P < 0.05). This decrease in ventilation was related to
      an apnea (12 +/- 2.6 s) occurring 7.7 +/- 0.8 s after the beginning of CO2
      inhalation. There was no significant change in tidal volume. In the second group
      of infants, minute ventilation increased during administration of 2, 4, and 6%
      CO2 but decreased during 8% CO2 because of the presence of an apnea. These
      findings suggest that inhalation of a high concentration of CO2 (> 6%) inhibits
      breathing through a respiratory sensory reflex, as described in adult cats (H. A.
      Boushey and P. S. Richardson. J. Physiol. Lond. 228: 181-191, 1973).(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447105
TI  - Hormonal responses to exercise during moderate cold exposure in young vs. middle
      age subjects.
AB  - The influence of moderate cold exposure on the hormonal responses of atrial
      natriuretic factor (ANF), arginine vasopressin (AVP), catecholamines, and plasma
      renin activity (PRA) after exhaustive exercise was studied in 9 young and 10
      middle-aged subjects. Exercise tests were randomly performed in temperate (30
      degrees C) and cold (10 degrees C) environments. Heart rate, oxygen consumption,
      and peripheral arterial blood pressure were measured at regular intervals. Blood
      samples were collected before and immediately after exercise at 30 or 10 degrees
      C. Plasma sodium and potassium concentrations as well as hemoglobin and
      hematocrit were measured, and the change in plasma volume was calculated. At rest
      and during exercise, oxygen consumption was similar during exposure to both
      temperate and cold temperatures. During submaximal exercise intensities, the rise
      in heart rate was blunted while the increase in systolic blood pressure was
      significantly greater at 10 than at 30 degrees C. The increases in plasma sodium
      and potassium concentrations after exhaustion were similar between environments,
      as was the decrease in plasma volume. In both groups, all plasma hormones were
      significantly elevated postexercise, with the AVP response similar at 10 and 30
      degrees C. However, the norepinephrine and ANF responses were significantly
      greater while the PRA response was significantly reduced at 10 degrees C. In the
      middle-aged subjects the epinephrine response to exercise was higher at 10 than
      at 30 degrees C. The greater ANF and reduced PRA responses to exercise in the
      cold may have resulted from central hemodynamic changes caused by cold-induced
      cutaneous vasoconstriction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447106
TI  - Cardiac cycle length variability in ponies at rest and during exercise.
AB  - We evaluated cardiac cycle length variability in ponies at rest and during
      strenuous exercise with and without premedication with atropine. In the absence
      of premedication, cardiac cycle length at rest was 1,112 +/- 53 ms, the
      individual cardiac cycle length standard deviation (SDCL) was 75 +/- 23 ms, and
      the individual cycle length coefficient of variation (CVCL) was 6.32 +/- 1.62.
      Exercise significantly decreased (P < 0.05) all three indexes (290 +/- 9 ms, 5 +/
      1 ms, and 1.65 +/- 0.20, respectively). Atropine premedication significantly
      reduced resting cardiac cycle length (685 +/- 46 ms), SDCL (10 +/- 2 ms), and
      CVCL (1.45 +/- 0.19) compared with nonpremedicated values. Cardiac cycle length
      was significantly decreased by exercise after atropine premedication, but no
      statistically significant changes occurred in SDCL or CVCL. Thus, although
      considerable cardiac cycle length variability exists in nonpremedicated ponies at
      rest, it is nearly completely abolished by strenuous exercise. The absence of
      significant differences between the indexes of variability during exercise
      without premedication, at rest after atropine, and during exercise after atropine
      indicates that cardiac cycle length variability in the pony is mediated primarily
      through activity of the parasympathetic system.

PMID- 1447107
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging and electromyography as indexes of muscle function.
AB  - Electromyography (EMG) is commonly used to determine the electrical activity of
      skeletal muscle during contraction. To date, independent verification of the
      relationship between muscle use and EMG has not been provided. It has recently
      been shown that relaxation- (e.g., T2) weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI)
      of skeletal muscle demonstrate exercise-induced contrast enhancement that is
      graded with exercise intensity. This study was conducted to test the hypothesis
      that exercise-induced magnetic resonance (MR) contrast shifts would relate to EMG
      amplitude if both measures reflect muscle use during exercise. Both MRI and EMG
      data were collected for separate eccentric (ECC) and concentric (CON) exercise of
      increasing intensity to take advantage of the fact that the rate of increase and
      amplitude of EMG activity are markedly greater for CON muscle actions. Seven
      subjects 30 +/- 2 (SE) yr old performed five sets of 10 CON or ECC arm curls with
      each of four resistances representing 40, 60, 80, and 100% of their 10 repetition
      maximum for CON curls. There was 1.5 min between sets and 30 min between bouts (5
      sets of 10 actions at each relative resistance). Multiple echo, transaxial T2
      weighted MR images (1.5 T, TR/TE 2,000/30) were collected from a 7-cm region in
      the middle of the arm before exercise and immediately after each bout. Surface
      EMG signals were collected from both heads of the biceps brachii and the long
      head of the triceps brachii muscles. CON and ECC actions resulted in increased
      integrated EMG (IEMG) and T2 values that were strongly related (r = 0.99, P <
      0.05) with relative resistance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447108
TI  - Dehydrogenase conversion to oxidase and lipid peroxidation in brain after carbon
      monoxide poisoning.
AB  - The conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase to xanthine oxidase and lipid
      peroxidation were measured in brain from carbon monoxide- (CO) poisoned rats.
      Sulfhydryl-irreversible xanthine oxidase increased from a control level of 15% to
      a peak of 36% over the 90 min after CO poisoning, while the conjugated diene
      level doubled. Reversible xanthine oxidase was 3-6% of the total enzyme activity
      over this span of time but increased to 31% between 90 and 120 min after
      poisoning. Overall, reversible and irreversible xanthine oxidase represented 66%
      of total enzyme activity at 120 min after poisoning. Rats depleted of this enzyme
      by a tungsten diet and those treated with allopurinol before CO poisoning to
      inhibit enzyme activity exhibited no lipid peroxidation. Treatment immediately
      after poisoning with superoxide dismutase or deferoxamine inhibited lipid
      peroxidation but had no effect on irreversible oxidase formation. Biochemical
      changes only occurred after removal from CO, and changes could be delayed for
      hours by continuous exposure to 1,000 ppm CO. These results are consistent with
      the view that CO-mediated brain injury is a type of postischemic reperfusion
      phenomenon and indicate that xanthine oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species are
      responsible for lipid peroxidation.

PMID- 1447109
TI  - Factors affecting blood pressure during heavy weight lifting and static
      contractions.
AB  - Brachial arterial pressure was directly recorded in 31 healthy male volunteers
      through protocols examining the effects of the Valsalva maneuver, muscle size and
      strength, contraction force, contraction type (concentric, isometric, eccentric),
      changes in joint angle, and muscle fatigue on the blood pressure response to
      resistance exercise. Weight lifting at the same relative intensity produced
      similar increases in blood pressure, regardless of individual differences in
      muscle size or strength. Concentric, isometric, or eccentric exercise at the same
      relative intensity caused similar increases despite differences in force
      production. In weight lifting, the greatest increase in blood pressure occurred
      at the joint angle corresponding to the weakest point in the strength curve and
      the least at the angle corresponding to the strongest point. Isometric
      contractions of the same relative intensity at different joint angles produced
      identical blood pressures despite differences in absolute force production. When
      subjects attempted to maintain a maximum isometric contraction for 45 s, the
      blood pressure increase remained the same despite a marked diminution in force.
      Thus the magnitude of the blood pressure response depends on the degree of effort
      or central command and not actual force production. A brief Valsalva maneuver,
      which exaggerates the increase in blood pressure, is unavoidable when desired
      force production exceeds approximately 80% maximum voluntary contraction.

PMID- 1447110
TI  - Respiratory transfer impedance and derived mechanical properties of conscious
      rats.
AB  - A setup is described for measuring the respiratory transfer impedance of
      conscious rats in the frequency range 16-208 Hz. The rats were placed in a
      restraining tube in which head and body were separated by means of a dough neck
      collar. The restraining tube was placed in a body chamber, allowing the
      application of pseudorandom noise pressure variations to the chest and abdomen.
      The flow at the airway opening was measured in a small chamber connected to the
      body chamber. The short-term reproducibility of the transfer impedance was tested
      by repeated measurements in nine Wistar rats. The mean coefficient of variation
      for the impedance did not exceed 10%. The impedance data were analyzed using
      different models of the respiratory system of which a three-coefficient
      resistance-inertance-compliance model provided the most reliable estimates of
      respiratory resistance (Rrs) and inertance (Irs). The model response, however,
      departed systematically from the measured impedance. A nine-coefficient model
      best described the data. Optimization of this model provided estimates of the
      respiratory tissue coefficients and upper and lower airway coefficients. Rrs with
      this model was 13.6 +/- 1.0 (SD) kPa.l-1.s, Irs was 14.5 +/- 1.3 Pa.l-1.s2, and
      tissue compliance (Cti) was 2.5 +/- 0.5 ml/kPa. The intraindividual coefficient
      of variation for Rrs and Irs was 11 and 18%, respectively. Because most of the
      resistance and inertance was located in the airways (85 and 81% of Rrs and Irs,
      respectively), the partitioning in tissue and upper and lower airway components
      was rather poor. Our values for Rrs and Irs of conscious rats were much lower and
      our values for Cti were higher than previously reported values for anesthetized
      rats.

PMID- 1447111
TI  - Comparison of upper and lower airway responses of two sensitized rat strains to
      inhaled antigen.
AB  - The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationships between upper
      airways responses and pulmonary responses of two strains of highly inbred rats to
      inhaled antigen. To do this we measured the upper and lower airways resistance
      for 60 min after challenge of Brown-Norway rats (BN; n = 13) and an inbred rat
      strain (MF; n = 11), derived from Sprague-Dawley, with aerosolized ovalbumin
      (OA). Rats were actively sensitized with OA (1 mg sc) using Bordetella pertussis
      as an adjuvant. Two weeks later the animals were anesthetized and challenged.
      Tracheal pressure, esophageal pressure, and airflow were measured, from which
      total pulmonary resistance was partitioned into upper airway and lower pulmonary
      resistance (RL). The peak upper airway response to inhaled OA was similar in BN
      (1.89 +/- 0.66 cmH2O.ml-1.s; n = 7) and MF (2.85 +/- 0.68 cmH2O.ml-1.s; n = 6).
      The lower airway response to OA challenge was substantially greater in BN, and RL
      changed from 0.07 +/- 0.01 to 0.34 +/- 0.13 (n = 6; P < 0.05). The MF did not
      have any significant increase in RL after challenge; the baseline RL was 0.12 +/-
      0.02 and only reached a peak value of 0.15 +/- 0.05 (n = 5; P = NS). Lower airway
      responsiveness of BN (n = 10) to serotonin, an important mediator early allergic
      airway responses, was similar to MF (n = 7).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447112
TI  - Diaphragmatic microcirculation during halothane and isoflurane exposure in
      pentobarbital-anesthetized rats.
AB  - We investigated the effects of halothane and isoflurane on diaphragmatic
      microcirculation in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats by in vivo video microscopy.
      After a baseline period, rats were randomly allocated into three groups according
      to administration of 0.5, 0.75, and 1 minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) of
      either halothane (group Hal, n = 16), isoflurane (group Iso, n = 14), or no
      halogenated agent (group C, n = 20) in three succeeding steps of 15 min. Mean
      arterial blood pressure (MAP), arteriolar diameters, and functional capillary
      density were analyzed in the last 3 min of each step. MAP remained unchanged in
      group C but decreased in a dose-dependent manner in both halogenated receiving
      groups. MAP was significantly lower in rats breathing Hal compared with those
      breathing Iso. Arterioles were classified in second (A2, n = 39), third (A3, n =
      24), and fourth (A4, n = 30) order according to their relative location in the
      network. No changes in A2 and A3 diameters were noted in either group. A4
      diameters remained unchanged in groups C and Iso, whereas a significant reduction
      was found in group Hal at 0.75 and 1 MAC exposure (P < 0.05 compared with
      baseline and with groups C and Iso, respectively). During Iso exposure,
      functional capillary density was not significantly different when compared with
      baseline and group C, whereas in group Hal it decreased significantly at 0.5,
      0.75, and 1 MAC, amounting to 61.1 +/- 9, 30.7 +/- 10.3, and 22.8 +/- 6.3%,
      respectively, of baseline (P < 0.01 vs. baseline and P < 0.05 vs. groups Iso and
      C for 0.75 and 1 MAC).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447113
TI  - Chest wall distortion and discharge of pulmonary slowly adapting receptors.
AB  - We assessed the effects of chest wall distortion, changes in lung volume, and
      abolition of airway smooth muscle tone on the discharge patterns of 92 pulmonary
      slowly adapting receptors (SAR) in decerebrate, spontaneously breathing cats.
      Distortion resulted from their inspiratory efforts against an occluded airway at
      functional residual capacity and at increased end-expiratory lung volumes.
      Approximately 40% of SAR increased discharge frequencies during occlusions.
      Modulation of SAR discharge during occlusions persisted after administration of
      atropine to eliminate airway smooth muscle tone. Phasic modulation of SAR
      discharge was eliminated during no-inflation tests after paralyzing the cats and
      ventilating them on a cycle-triggered pump. We conclude 1) parasympathetic
      modulation of airway smooth muscle tone makes no obvious contribution to SAR
      discharge in spontaneously breathing cats; 2) the no-inflation test (withholding
      of lung inflation during neural inspiration) in paralyzed and ventilated cats is
      a valid test for the presence of projections from SAR to medullary respiratory
      neurons; and 3) in the absence of tidal volume changes, distortion stimulates
      some SAR. Sensory feedback from receptors in the lung, not just those in the
      chest wall, may therefore provide information about abnormal chest wall
      configurations.

PMID- 1447114
TI  - Discharge patterns of phrenic motoneurons during fictive coughing and vomiting in
      decerebrate cats.
AB  - In decerebrate, paralyzed, and ventilated cats, we recorded the activity of 100
      spontaneously active phrenic motor axons during the increased phrenic discharges
      characteristic of fictive vomiting (FV) and coughing (FC). During control
      respiratory cycles, approximately one-half the neurons were recruited in the
      first decile of inspiration; recruitment continued throughout inspiration. During
      FV, the duration of phrenic discharge was halved; 20 of 26 motoneurons studied
      were recruited in the first decile of the burst. During FC, recruitment times did
      not change compared with control, although the duration of the phrenic burst
      doubled. Discharge frequencies increased and recruitment order of phrenic
      motoneurons was virtually unaffected during FC and FV. Limited recruitment of
      previously inactive neurons in the filaments from which we recorded was found
      during FV and FC. During FV, 1 previously inactive motoneuron was recruited in 16
      filaments containing 25 spontaneously active motor axons. During FC, 3 new
      motoneurons were recruited in addition to the 64 already active in 35 filaments.
      Recruitment during FV and FC was absent even when recording from filaments known,
      on the basis of antidromic activation, to contain inactive motor axons. During
      FV, 10 of 26 motoneurons began their discharges with doublets (interspike
      interval < 10 ms); doublets occurred in only 4 of 67 motoneurons during FC.
      Already active phrenic motoneurons contributed to the intense phrenic activity
      associated with both respiratory (coughing) and nonrespiratory (vomiting)
      behavior by increases in discharge frequency, earlier recruitment, and doublets;
      the contribution of previously quiescent motoneurons remains uncertain.

PMID- 1447115
TI  - Phosphocreatine hydrolysis by 31P-NMR at the onset of constant-load exercise in
      humans.
AB  - The kinetics of phosphocreatine (PC) breakdown in human plantar flexors at the
      onset of constant-load aerobic exercise was determined by high-resolution 31P
      nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMRS). The half time of the process
      (t1/2PC) was obtained by fitting curves (n = 13) from five subjects at various
      aerobic work loads for which muscle pH was not different from that at rest.
      Steady-state PC concentration ([PC]) was not < 70% of the resting value and was
      linearly related to the work load (w) ([PC] = -3.01 +/- 0.08 w + 1 (r = 0.48, 2P
      < 0.1)). The average t1/2PC was 16.2 s and was independent of work load. Because
      the half time of the muscle PC kinetics reflects the half time of the O2 uptake
      (MO2) kinetics (t1/2MO2), the latter is equal to that found earlier in the
      isolated perfused dog gastrocnemius. Whereas in the dog the above t1/2MO2
      compares well with the homologous half time of the O2 uptake at the alveolar
      level, in humans such equivalence is found only at extremely low work loads, when
      the transient contribution by anaerobic glycolysis is negligible.

PMID- 1447116
TI  - Effects of unilateral hyperinflation on the interpulmonary distribution of
      pleural pressure.
AB  - Motivated by single lung transplantation, we studied the mechanics of the chest
      wall during single lung inflations in recumbent dogs and baboons and determined
      how pleural pressure (Ppl) is coupled between the hemithoraces. In one set of
      experiments, the distribution of Ppl was inferred from known volumes and elastic
      properties of each lung. In a second set of experiments, costal pleural liquid
      pressure (Pplcos) was measured with rib capsules. Both methods revealed that the
      increase in Ppl over the ipsilateral or inflated lung (delta Ppli) is greater
      than that over the contralateral or noninflated lung (delta Pplc). Mean d(delta
      Pplc)/d(delta Ppli) and its 95% confidence interval was 0.7 +/- 0.1 in dogs and
      0.5 +/- 0.1 in baboons. In a third set of experiments in three dogs and three
      baboons, we prevented sternal displacement and exposed the abdominal diaphragm to
      atmospheric pressure during unilateral lung inflation. These interventions had no
      significant effect on Ppl coupling between the hemithoraces. We conclude that
      lungs of unequal size and mechanical properties need not be exposed to the same
      surface pressure, because thoracic midline structures and the lungs themselves
      resist displacement and deformation.

PMID- 1447117
TI  - Longitudinal distribution of ozone absorption in the lung: quiet respiration in
      healthy subjects.
AB  - The objective of this research was to develop a bolus-response method for the
      noninvasive determination of O3 distribution in the human lung. A previously
      developed O3 analyzer and bolus generator were incorporated in a computer
      controlled inhalation system, and measurements of O3 absorption from inhaled 10
      ml boluses with a peak O3 concentration of 4 ppm were carried out on nine
      previously unexposed healthy male subjects engaged in quiet oral breathing. The
      fraction of O3 absorbed during a single breath was measured over a range of
      airway penetrations from 20 to 200 ml, with inspiratory and expiratory flows
      fixed at a nominal value of 250 ml/s. The resulting data indicated that 50% of
      the inhaled O3 was absorbed at a penetration of 70 ml, which roughly corresponds
      to the upper airways, and essentially complete absorption occurred at a
      penetration of 180 ml, which roughly corresponds to the 16th airway generation,
      the beginning of the proximal alveolar region. This compares favorably with the
      results of direct-sampling methods, which indicated that 40.4% of continuously
      inhaled O3 is removed by the extrathoracic airways (Gerrity et al. J. Appl.
      Physiol. 65: 393-400, 1988). The computation of an absorption rate constant, Ka,
      revealed that the efficiency of O3 uptake increased with longitudinal position
      throughout most of the conducting airways but began to fall off at a penetration
      of 160 ml.

PMID- 1447118
TI  - A 31P-NMR study of tissue respiration in working dog muscle during reduced O2
      delivery conditions.
AB  - To investigate the role of tissue oxygenation as one of the control factors
      regulating tissue respiration, 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P
      NMR) was used to estimate muscle metabolites in isolated working muscle during
      varied tissue oxygenation conditions. O2 delivery (muscle blood flow x arterial
      O2 content) was varied to isolated in situ working dog gastrocnemius (n = 6) by
      decreases in arterial PO2 (hypoxemia; H) and by decreases in muscle blood flow
      (ischemia; I). O2 uptake (VO2) was measured at rest and during work at two or
      three stimulation intensities (isometric twitch contractions at 3, 5, and
      occasionally 7 Hz) during three separate conditions: normal O2 delivery (C) and
      reduced O2 delivery during H and I, with blood flow controlled by pump perfusion.
      Biochemical metabolites were measured during the last 2 min of each 3-min work
      period by use of 31P-NMR, and arterial and venous blood samples were drawn and
      muscle blood flow measured during the last 30 s of each work period. Muscle [ATP]
      did not fall below resting values at any work intensity, even during O2-limited
      highly fatiguing work, and was never different among the three conditions. Muscle
      O2 delivery and VO2 were significantly less (P < 0.05) at the highest work
      intensities for both I and H than for C but were not different between H and I.
      As VO2 increased with stimulation intensity, a larger change in any of the
      proposed regulators of tissue respiration (ADP, P(i), ATP/ADP.P(i), and
      phosphocreatine) was required during H and I than during C to elicit a given VO2,
      but requirements were similar for H and I.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447119
TI  - Ventilatory failure induced by tracheal banding in the hamster.
AB  - Previous animal models of hypercapnic ventilatory failure are limited in that the
      resistive load has only been applied acutely and often in anesthetized animals.
      We therefore developed a chronic animal model of hypercapnic ventilatory failure
      by increasing airway resistance via tracheal banding over several days. To test
      the efficacy of this model, we compared arterial blood gases, pulmonary function,
      and internal area of the trachea 6 days after the banding or sham procedure in 20
      hamsters. Six days later, banded animals had an increased airway resistance as
      indicated by a 66% reduction in internal cross-sectional area of the trachea and
      a 6.5-fold increase in pulmonary resistance compared with control hamsters. The
      increased airway resistance resulted in a severe respiratory acidosis and
      hypoxemia in the awake banded hamsters. Banded hamsters were also hyperinflated.
      This animal model will be useful for investigating the various mechanisms that
      contribute to hypercapnic ventilatory failure and interventions that may promote
      recovery.

PMID- 1447120
TI  - Transvalvular left ventricular pressure measurement in the isolated working rat
      heart.
AB  - A method of continuously measuring left ventricular (LV) pressure in an isolated
      buffer-perfused working rat heart is described. Transvalvular placement of a
      micromanometer through the aorta is the unique feature of this procedure.
      Advantages include catheter stability and lack of myocardial trauma. Changes in
      cardiac function were quantified by exposing hearts to either isoproterenol (10(
      9) M) or halothane (1.5% vol/vol). To examine if any obstruction to LV outflow
      was caused by the micromanometer, cardiac performance was assessed during
      pullback from the ventricle to the aorta. Complications such as aortic
      insufficiency and ventricular arrhythmias were also studied. The results indicate
      that the transvalvular placement of a micromanometer can provide continuous, high
      fidelity reproduction of LV pressure in this small-organ preparation. The
      presence of the micromanometer did not significantly alter cardiac performance,
      and proper catheter placement was achieved easily in a high percentage (> 90%) of
      cases.

PMID- 1447121
TI  - Neutrophil retention during a single transit through the pulmonary circulation.
AB  - Our laboratory has previously reported that 70-80% of polymorphonuclear cells
      (PMNs) are delayed with respect to erythrocytes (RBCs) in a single pass through
      the lungs of dogs, whereas only 5-15% of PMNs are delayed in a single pass
      through human lungs. Because these results were obtained using a direct blood
      sampling method in animals and an indirect gamma camera method in humans, the
      reported differences could be related to differences in measurement technique.
      The present study was designed to settle this question by comparing both
      techniques in a single species. The results show that the gamma camera technique
      previously used in humans underestimates the retention of PMNs with respect to
      RBCs during a single pass through the lung. They also show that this problem can
      be corrected by modifying the analysis of the data obtained using the gamma
      camera. We conclude that the pulmonary circulation retains PMNs with respect to
      RBCs to a comparable degree in animals and humans.

PMID- 1447122
TI  - IL-1 receptor antagonist release is regulated differently in human alveolar
      macrophages than in monocytes.
AB  - These studies compared the release of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 RA)
      from alveolar macrophages and peripheral blood monocytes. The cells were cultured
      in medium containing various amounts of heat-inactivated fetal calf serum (FCS),
      granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), lipopolysaccharide
      (LPS), and immunoglobulin G (IgG). In serum-free medium alone, IL-1 RA release
      was similar from macrophages and monocytes. Increasing FCS concentration caused a
      significant upregulation of IL-1 RA release in macrophages but not in monocytes.
      GM-CSF caused a small increase in both cell types. LPS caused downregulation of
      IL-1 RA release from monocytes but not from macrophages. IgG did not affect IL-1
      RA release in either cell group. These studies demonstrate that regulation of IL
      1 RA release is different in monocytes and macrophages.

PMID- 1447123
TI  - Evans blue (T-1824) and albumin clearances.

PMID- 1447124
TI  - Chromosomal insertion sites for phages and plasmids.

PMID- 1447125
TI  - Identification and characterization of the smbA gene, a suppressor of the mukB
      null mutant of Escherichia coli.
AB  - The mukB gene encodes a protein involved in chromosome partitioning in
      Escherichia coli. To study the function of this protein, we isolated from the
      temperature-sensitive mukB null mutant and characterized 56 suppressor mutants
      which could grow at 42 degrees C. Ten of the mutants also showed cold-sensitive
      growth at 22 degrees C. Using one of the cold-sensitive mutants as host, the wild
      type of the suppressor gene was cloned. The cloned suppressor gene complemented
      all of the 56 suppressor mutations. DNA sequencing revealed the presence of an
      open reading frame of 723 bp which could encode a protein of 25,953 Da. The gene
      product was indeed detected. The previously undiscovered gene, named smbA
      (suppressor of mukB), is located at 4 min on the E. coli chromosome, between the
      tsf and frr genes. The smbA gene is essential for cell proliferation in the range
      from 22 to 42 degrees C. Cells which lacked the SmbA protein ceased
      macromolecular synthesis. The smbA mutants are sensitive to a detergent, sodium
      dodecyl sulfate, and they show a novel morphological phenotype under
      nonpermissive conditions, suggesting a defect in specific membrane sites.

PMID- 1447126
TI  - Expression and regulation of the RepA protein of the RepFIB replicon from plasmid
      P307.
AB  - The control of RepFIB replication appears to rely on the interaction between an
      initiator protein (RepA) and two sets of DNA repeat elements located on either
      side of the repA gene. Limited N-terminal sequence information obtained from a
      RepA:beta-galactosidase fusion protein indicates that although the first residue
      of RepA is methionine, the initiation of translation of RepA occurs from a CTG
      codon rather than from the predicted GTG codon located further downstream.
      Overexpressed RepA in trans is capable of repressing a repA:lacZ fusion plasmid
      in which the expression of the fusion protein is under the control of the repA
      promoter. The repA promoter has been located functionally by testing a series of
      repA:lacZ fusion plasmids. Both in vivo genetic tests and in vitro DNA-binding
      studies indicate that repA autoregulation can be achieved by RepA binding to one
      or more repeat elements which overlap the repA promoter sequence.

PMID- 1447127
TI  - Bacterial metabolism of naphthalene: construction and use of recombinant bacteria
      to study ring cleavage of 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene and subsequent reactions.
AB  - The reactions involved in the bacterial metabolism of naphthalene to salicylate
      have been reinvestigated by using recombinant bacteria carrying genes cloned from
      plasmid NAH7. When intact cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 carrying DNA
      fragments encoding the first three enzymes of the pathway were incubated with
      naphthalene, they formed products of the dioxygenase-catalyzed ring cleavage of
      1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene. These products were separated by chromatography on
      Sephadex G-25 and were identified by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance
      spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as 2-hydroxychromene-2
      carboxylate (HCCA) and trans-o-hydroxybenzylidenepyruvate (tHBPA). HCCA was
      detected as the first reaction product in these incubation mixtures by its
      characteristic UV spectrum, which slowly changed to a spectrum indicative of an
      equilibrium mixture of HCCA and tHBPA. Isomerization of either purified product
      occurred slowly and spontaneously to give an equilibrium mixture of essentially
      the same composition. tHBPA is also formed from HCCA by the action of an
      isomerase enzyme encoded by plasmid NAH7. The gene encoding this enzyme, nahD,
      was cloned on a 1.95-kb KpnI-BglII fragment. Extracts of Escherichia coli JM109
      carrying this fragment catalyzed the rapid equilibration of HCCA and tHBPA.
      Metabolism of tHBPA to salicylaldehyde by hydration and aldol cleavage is
      catalyzed by a single enzyme encoded by a 1-kb MluI-StuI restriction fragment. A
      mechanism for the hydratase-aldolase-catalyzed reaction is proposed. The
      salicylaldehyde dehydrogenase gene, nahF, was cloned on a 2.75-kb BamHI fragment
      which also carries the naphthalene dihydrodiol dehydrogenase gene, nahB. On the
      basis of the identification of the enzymes encoded by various clones, the gene
      order for the nah operon was shown to be p, A, B, F, C, E, D.

PMID- 1447128
TI  - Rhizobium nodM and nodN genes are common nod genes: nodM encodes functions for
      efficiency of nod signal production and bacteroid maturation.
AB  - Earlier, we showed that Rhizobium meliloti nodM codes for glucosamine synthase
      and that nodM and nodN mutants produce strongly reduced root hair deformation
      activity and display delayed nodulation of Medicago sativa (Baev et al., Mol.
      Gen. Genet. 228:113-124, 1991). Here, we demonstrate that nodM and nodN genes
      from Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae restore the root hair deformation
      activity of exudates of the corresponding R. meliloti mutant strains. Partial
      restoration of the nodulation phenotypes of these two strains was also observed.
      In nodulation assays, galactosamine and N-acetylglucosamine could substitute for
      glucosamine in the suppression of the R. meliloti nodM mutation, although N
      acetylglucosamine was less efficient. We observed that in nodules induced by nodM
      mutants, the bacteroids did not show complete development or were deteriorated,
      resulting in decreased nitrogen fixation and, consequently, lower dry weights of
      the plants. This mutant phenotype could also be suppressed by exogenously
      supplied glucosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, and galactosamine and to a lesser
      extent by glucosamine-6-phosphate, indicating that the nodM mutant bacteroids are
      limited for glucosamine. In addition, by using derivatives of the wild type and a
      nodM mutant in which the nod genes are expressed at a high constitutive level, it
      was shown that the nodM mutant produces significantly fewer Nod factors than the
      wild-type strain but that their chemical structures are unchanged. However, the
      relative amounts of analogs of the cognate Nod signals were elevated, and this
      may explain the observed host range effects of the nodM mutation. Our data
      indicate that both the nodM and nodN genes of the two species have common
      functions and confirm that NodM is a glucosamine synthase with the biochemical
      role of providing sufficient amounts of the sugar moiety for the synthesis of the
      glucosamine oligosaccharide signal molecules.

PMID- 1447129
TI  - Scattering of the rRNA genes on the physical map of the circular chromosome of
      Leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae.
AB  - Leptospira interrogans is a pathogenic bacterium with a low G+C content (34 to
      39%). The restriction enzymes NotI, AscI, and SrfI cut the chromosome of L.
      interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae into 13, 3, and 5 fragments separable by
      one- and two-dimensional pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The genome is
      composed of a circular 4.6-Mbp chromosome and a 0.35-Mbp extrachromosomal
      element. A physical map of the chromosome was constructed for NotI, AscI, and
      SrfI by using single and double digests, or partial NotI digests obtained at
      random or by cross-protection of NotI sites by FnuDII methylase, and linking
      clones. rRNA genes were found to be widely scattered on the chromosome.

PMID- 1447130
TI  - Possible role of Escherichia coli penicillin-binding protein 6 in stabilization
      of stationary-phase peptidoglycan.
AB  - Plasmids for high-level expression of penicillin-binding protein 6 (PBP6) were
      constructed, giving rise to overproduction of PBP6 under the control of the
      lambda pR promoter in either the periplasmic or the cytoplasmic space. In
      contrast to penicillin-binding protein 5 (PBP5), the presence of high amounts of
      PBP6 in the periplasm as well as in the cytoplasm did not result in growth as
      spherical cells or in lysis. Deletion of the C-terminal membrane anchor of PBP6
      resulted in a soluble form of the protein (PBP6s350). Electron micrographs of
      thin sections of cells overexpressing both native membrane-bound and soluble PBP6
      in the periplasm revealed a polar retraction of the cytoplasmic membrane.
      Cytoplasmic overexpression of native PBP6 gave rise to the formation of membrane
      vesicles, whereas the soluble PBP6 formed inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm. Both
      the membrane-bound and the soluble forms of PBP6 were purified to homogeneity by
      using the immobilized dye Procion rubine MX-B. Purified preparations of PBP6 and
      PBP6s350 formed a 14[C]penicillin-protein complex at a 1:1 stoichiometry. The
      half-lives of the complexes were 8.5 and 6 min, respectively. In contrast to
      PBP5, no DD-carboxypeptidase activity could be detected for PBP6 by using
      bisacetyl-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala and several other substrates. These findings led us
      to conclude that PBP6 has a biological function clearly distinct from that of
      PBP5 and to suggest a role for PBP6 in the stabilization of the peptidoglycan
      during stationary phase.

PMID- 1447132
TI  - Resolution and some properties of enzymes involved in enantioselective
      transformation of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol to (R)-3-chloro-1,2-propanediol by
      Corynebacterium sp. strain N-1074.
AB  - During the course of the transformation of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (DCP) into (R)
      3-chloro-1,2-propanediol [(R)-MCP] with the cell extract of Corynebacterium sp.
      strain N-1074, epichlorohydrin (ECH) was transiently formed. The cell extract was
      fractionated into two DCP-dechlorinating activities (fractions Ia and Ib) and two
      ECH-hydrolyzing activities (fractions IIa and IIb) by TSKgel DEAE-5PW column
      chromatography. Fractions Ia and Ib catalyzed the interconversion of DCP to ECH,
      and fractions IIa and IIb catalyzed the transformation of ECH into MCP. Fractions
      Ia and IIa showed only low enantioselectivity for each reaction, whereas
      fractions Ib and IIb exhibited considerable enantioselectivity, yielding R-rich
      ECH and MCP, respectively. Enzymes Ia and Ib were isolated from fractions Ia and
      Ib, respectively. Enzyme Ia had a molecular mass of about 108 kDa and consisted
      of four subunits identical in molecular mass (about 28 kDa). Enzyme Ib was a
      protein of 115 kDa, composed of two different polypeptides (about 35 and 32 kDa).
      The specific activity of enzyme Ib for DCP was about 30-fold higher than that of
      enzyme Ia. Both enzymes catalyzed the transformation of several halohydrins into
      the corresponding epoxides with liberation of halides and its reverse reaction.
      Their substrate specificities and immunological properties differed from each
      other. Enzyme Ia seemed to be halohydrin hydrogen-halide-lyase which was already
      purified from Escherichia coli carrying a gene from Corynebacterium sp. strain N
      1074.

PMID- 1447131
TI  - Identification, isolation, and structural studies of the outer membrane
      lipopolysaccharide of Caulobacter crescentus.
AB  - The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of the outer membrane of Caulobacter crescentus was
      purified and analyzed. Two distinct strains of the species, NA 1000 and CB2A,
      were examined; despite differences in other membrane-related polysaccharides, the
      two gave similar LPS composition profiles. The LPS was the equivalent of the
      rough LPS described for other bacteria in that it lacked the ladder of
      polysaccharide-containing species that results from addition of variable amounts
      of a repeated sequence of sugars, as detected by gel electrophoresis in smooth
      LPS strains. The purified LPS contained two definable regions: (i) an
      oligosaccharide region, consisting of an inner core of three residues of 2-keto-3
      deoxyoctonate, two residues of alpha-L-glycero-D-mannoheptose, and one alpha-D
      glycero-D-mannoheptose unit and an outer core region containing one residue each
      of alpha-D-mannose, alpha-D-galactose, and alpha-D-glucose, with the glucose
      likely phosphorylated and (ii) a region equivalent to the lipid A region of the
      archetype, consisting primarily of an esterified fatty acid, 3-OH-dodecanoate.
      The lipid A-like region was resistant to conclusive analysis; in particular,
      although a variety of analytical methods were used, no amino sugars were
      detected, as is found in the lipid A of the LPS of most bacteria.

PMID- 1447133
TI  - Expression of the repA1 gene of IncFII plasmid NR1 is translationally coupled to
      expression of an overlapping leader peptide.
AB  - Examination of a group of mutants of plasmid NR1 that had lost the expression of
      IncFII plasmid incompatibility (Inc-) revealed a group that had also lost
      replication proficiency (Rep-). These mutants were obtained from plasmids in
      which the NR1 replication control region was present in a cointegrate with
      plasmid pBR322. Whereas the wild-type parental cointegrate plasmid was capable of
      replicating in a polA host owing to the PolA independence of NR1 replication, the
      mutants were not able to transform a polA host. Losses of both expression of
      IncFII plasmid incompatibility and replication proficiency were found to result
      from the same single base-pair substitution in four independently isolated Inc-
      Rep- mutants. The mutation inactivates promoter PE for the transcription of RNA
      E, a trans-acting repressor of translation of the essential RepA1 replication
      initiation protein of NR1. Although the loss of RNA-E synthesis had been expected
      to increase the expression of repA1, the efficiency of translation of repA1 mRNA
      from these mutants was at least 100-fold lower than that from the wild type, as
      revealed by repA1-lacZ translational fusions. The PE mutation introduced a stop
      codon into a 24-amino-acid reading frame that precedes the repA1 gene and
      terminates just 2 bp downstream from the repA1 start codon. This putative leader
      peptide was also expressed in a lacZ translational fusion, and its expression was
      reduced by a factor of 10(4) by the PE mutation. The expression of the leader
      peptide and the expression of repA1 were regulated by RNA-E. These results
      suggest that the expression of repA1 is coupled to the translation of the leader
      peptide and that the repression of repA1 translation by RNA-E may occur via
      inhibition of the translation of the leader peptide.

PMID- 1447134
TI  - Carbon and energy metabolism of atp mutants of Escherichia coli.
AB  - The membrane-bound H(+)-ATPase plays a key role in free-energy transduction of
      biological systems. We report how the carbon and energy metabolism of Escherichia
      coli changes in response to deletion of the atp operon that encodes this enzyme.
      Compared with the isogenic wild-type strain, the growth rate and growth yield
      were decreased less than expected for a shift from oxidative phosphorylation to
      glycolysis alone as a source of ATP. Moreover, the respiration rate of a atp
      deletion strain was increased by 40% compared with the wild-type strain. This
      result is surprising, since the atp deletion strain is not able to utilize the
      resulting proton motive force for ATP synthesis. Indeed, the ratio of ATP
      concentration to ADP concentration was decreased from 19 in the wild type to 7 in
      the atp mutant, and the membrane potential of the atp deletion strain was
      increased by 20%, confirming that the respiration rate was not controlled by the
      magnitude of the opposing membrane potential. The level of type b cytochromes in
      the mutant cells was 80% higher than the level in the wild-type cells, suggesting
      that the increased respiration was caused by an increase in the expression of the
      respiratory genes. The atp deletion strain produced twice as much by-product
      (acetate) and exhibited increased flow through the tricarboxylic acid cycle and
      the glycolytic pathway. These three changes all lead to an increase in substrate
      level phosphorylation; the first two changes also lead to increased production of
      reducing equivalents. We interpret these data as indicating that E. coli makes
      use of its ability to respire even if it cannot directly couple this ability to
      ATP synthesis; by respiring away excess reducing equivalents E. coli enhances
      substrate level ATP synthesis.

PMID- 1447135
TI  - In vitro transcription from the Escherichia coli ilvIH promoter.
AB  - Lrp (leucine-responsive regulatory protein) activates the expression of the
      Escherichia coli ilvIH operon in vivo and mediates the repression of the operon
      by exogenous leucine. In previous studies, operon expression in vivo was measured
      with transcriptional fusions of lacZ to the ilvIH promoter. Here, ilvIH mRNA was
      measured directly by primer extension. The steady-state level of ilvIH mRNA was
      11-fold higher in a wild-type parent strain than in a derivative lacking Lrp. A
      two-step procedure was developed for measuring ilvIH mRNA synthesized in vitro.
      RNA was synthesized with plasmid templates and purified RNA polymerase, and then
      ilvIH mRNA was measured by primer extension. In vitro, mRNA synthesis was
      initiated at two sites, one corresponding to the in vivo site (promoter P1) and
      the other corresponding to a site about 60 bp further upstream (promoter P2).
      Purified Lrp stimulated transcription two- to fivefold from promoter P1, whereas
      it decreased transcription more than fivefold from promoter P2. Transcription
      from promoter P1 was stimulated by Lrp with templates containing the wild-type
      ilvIH promoter but not with templates containing mutations in an Lrp binding
      site. Furthermore, under at least some conditions, leucine reversed the
      stimulatory effect of Lrp. Taken together with the results of mutational
      analyses, these results establish that Lrp acts directly to stimulate
      transcription from the ilvIH promoter. Furthermore, they suggest that the ilvIH
      promoter is recognized by a sigma 70 RNA polymerase.

PMID- 1447136
TI  - N5-methyl-tetrahydromethanopterin:coenzyme M methyltransferase of Methanosarcina
      strain Go1 is an Na(+)-translocating membrane protein.
AB  - To determine the cellular localization of components of the methyltransferase
      system, we separated cell extracts of Methanosarcina strain Go1 into cytoplasmic
      and inverted-vesicle fractions. Measurements demonstrated that 83% of the
      methylene-tetrahydromethanopterin reductase activity resided in the cytoplasm
      whereas 88% of the methyl-tetrahydromethanopterin:coenzyme M methyltransferase
      (methyltransferase) was associated with the vesicles. The activity of the
      methyltransferase was stimulated 4.6-fold by ATP and 10-fold by ATP plus a
      reducing agent [e.g., Ti(III)]. In addition, methyltransferase activity depended
      on the presence of Na+ (apparent Km = 0.7 mM) and Na+ was pumped into the lumen
      of the vesicles in the course of methyl transfer from methyl
      tetrahydromethanopterin not only to coenzyme M but also to hydroxycobalamin. Both
      methyl transfer reactions were inhibited by 1-iodopropane and reconstituted by
      illumination. A model for the methyl transfer reactions is presented.

PMID- 1447137
TI  - Characterization of a high-affinity iron transport system in Acinetobacter
      baumannii.
AB  - Analysis of a clinical isolate of Acinetobacter baumannii showed that this
      bacterium was able to grow under iron-limiting conditions, using chemically
      defined growth media containing different iron chelators such as human
      transferrin, ethylenediaminedi-(o-hydroxyphenyl)acetic acid, nitrilotriacetic
      acid, and 2,2'-bipyridyl. This iron uptake-proficient phenotype was due to the
      synthesis and secretion of a catechol-type siderophore compound. Utilization
      bioassays using the Salmonella typhimurium iron uptake mutants enb-1 and enb-7
      proved that this siderophore is different from enterobactin. This catechol
      siderophore was partially purified from culture supernatants by adsorption
      chromatography using an XAD-7 resin. The purified component exhibited a
      chromatographic behavior and a UV-visible light absorption spectrum different
      from those of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid and other bacterial catechol
      siderophores. Furthermore, the siderophore activity of this extracellular
      catechol was confirmed by its ability to stimulate energy-dependent uptake of
      55Fe(III) as well as to promote the growth of A. baumannii bacterial cells under
      iron-deficient conditions imposed by 60 microM human transferrin. Polyacrylamide
      gel electrophoresis analysis showed the presence of iron-regulated proteins in
      both inner and outer membranes of this clinical isolate of A. baumannii. Some of
      these membrane proteins may be involved in the recognition and internalization of
      the iron-siderophore complexes.

PMID- 1447138
TI  - Alginate synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: environmental regulation of the
      algC promoter.
AB  - The exopolysaccharide alginate is a major virulence factor of Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa strains that infect the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. The
      synthesis of alginate is almost uniquely associated with the pathogenicity of P.
      aeruginosa within the environment of the cystic fibrosis lung. The gene algC is
      one of the essential alginate biosynthetic genes and codes for the enzyme
      phosphomannomutase. In this report, we present data on the transcriptional
      regulation of algC expression. The activity of the algC promoter is modulated by
      the response regulator, AlgR1, a member of the two-component signal transduction
      protein family, which also regulates other alginate-specific promoters. In both
      mucoid (alginate-positive) and nonmucoid (alginate-negative) P. aeruginosa
      strains, transcriptional activation of algC increased with the osmolarity of the
      culture medium. This osmolarity-induced activation was found to be dependent on
      AlgR1. AlgR1 was found to interact directly with the algC promoter. Deletion
      mapping, in conjunction with mobility shift assays, showed that AlgR1
      specifically bound with two regions of algC upstream DNA. A fragment spanning
      nucleotide positions -378 to -73 showed strong specific binding, while a fragment
      located between positions -73 and +187 interacted relatively weakly with AlgR1.
      Phosphorylation of the AlgR1 protein resulted in the stimulation of its in vitro
      ability to bind to the algC promoter region (a fragment spanning nucleotides -378
      to -73). Transcription from the algC promoter, which has significant homology
      with the RNA polymerase sigma-54 (RpoN) recognition sequence, decreased in an
      rpoN mutant of P. aeruginosa.

PMID- 1447139
TI  - Evidence for ATP binding and double-stranded DNA binding by Escherichia coli RecF
      protein.
AB  - RecF protein is one of the important proteins involved in DNA recombination and
      repair. RecF protein has been shown to bind single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) in the
      absence of ATP (T. J. Griffin IV and R. D. Kolodner, J. Bacteriol. 172:6291-6299,
      1990; M. V. V. S. Madiraju and A. J. Clark, Nucleic Acids Res. 19:6295-6300,
      1991). In the present study, using 8-azido-ATP, a photo-affinity analog of ATP,
      we show that RecF protein binds ATP and that the binding is specific in the
      presence of DNA. 8-Azido-ATP photo-cross-linking is stimulated in the presence of
      DNA (both ssDNA and double-stranded DNA [dsDNA]), suggesting that DNA enhances
      the affinity of RecF protein for ATP. These data suggest that RecF protein
      possesses independent ATP- and DNA-binding sites. Further, we find that stable
      RecF protein-dsDNA complexes are obtained in the presence of ATP or ATP-gamma-S
      [adenosine-5'-O-(3-thio-triphosphate)]. No other nucleoside triphosphates served
      as necessary cofactors for dsDNA binding, indicating that RecF is an ATP
      dependent dsDNA-binding protein. Since a mutation in a putative phosphate-binding
      motif of RecF protein results in a recF mutant phenotype (S. J. Sandler, B.
      Chackerian, J. T. Li, and A. J. Clark, Nucleic Acids Res. 20:839-845, 1992), we
      suggest on the basis of our data that the interactions of RecF protein with ATP,
      with dsDNA, or with both are physiologically important for understanding RecF
      protein function in vivo.

PMID- 1447140
TI  - Cloning and sequencing of a gene encoding a 21-kilodalton outer membrane protein
      from Bordetella avium and expression of the gene in Salmonella typhimurium.
AB  - Three gene libraries of Bordetella avium 197 DNA were prepared in Escherichia
      coli LE392 by using the cosmid vectors pCP13 and pYA2329, a derivative of pCP13
      specifying spectinomycin resistance. The cosmid libraries were screened with
      convalescent-phase anti-B. avium turkey sera and polyclonal rabbit antisera
      against B. avium 197 outer membrane proteins. One E. coli recombinant clone
      produced a 56-kDa protein which reacted with convalescent-phase serum from a
      turkey infected with B. avium 197. In addition, five E. coli recombinant clones
      were identified which produced B. avium outer membrane proteins with molecular
      masses of 21, 38, 40, 43, and 48 kDa. At least one of these E. coli clones, which
      encoded the 21-kDa protein, reacted with both convalescent-phase turkey sera and
      antibody against B. avium 197 outer membrane proteins. The gene for the 21-kDa
      outer membrane protein was localized by Tn5seq1 mutagenesis, and the nucleotide
      sequence was determined by dideoxy sequencing. DNA sequence analysis of the 21
      kDa protein revealed an open reading frame of 582 bases that resulted in a
      predicted protein of 194 amino acids. Comparison of the predicted amino acid
      sequence of the gene encoding the 21-kDa outer membrane protein with protein
      sequences in the National Biomedical Research Foundation protein sequence data
      base indicated significant homology to the OmpA proteins of Shigella dysenteriae,
      Enterobacter aerogenes, E. coli, and Salmonella typhimurium and to Neisseria
      gonorrhoeae outer membrane protein III, Haemophilus influenzae protein P6, and
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa porin protein F. The gene (ompA) encoding the B. avium 21
      kDa protein hybridized with 4.1-kb DNA fragments from EcoRI-digested, chromosomal
      DNA of Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella bronchiseptica and with 6.0- and 3.2
      kb DNA fragments from EcoRI-digested, chromosomal DNA of B. avium and B. avium
      like DNA, respectively. A 6.75-kb DNA fragment encoding the B. avium 21-kDa
      protein was subcloned into the Asd+ vector pYA292, and the construct was
      introduced into the avirulent delta cya delta crp delta asd S. typhimurium chi
      3987 for oral immunization of birds. The gene encoding the 21-kDa protein was
      expressed equivalently in B. avium 197, delta asd E. coli chi 6097, and S.
      typhimurium chi 3987 and was localized primarily in the cytoplasmic membrane and
      outer membrane. In preliminary studies on oral inoculation of turkey poults with
      S. typhimurium chi 3987 expressing the gene encoding the B. avium 21-kDa protein,
      it was determined that a single dose of the recombinant Salmonella vaccine failed
      to elicit serum antibodies against the 21-kDa protein and challenge with wild
      type B. avium 197 resulted in colonization of the trachea and thymus with B.
      avium 197.

PMID- 1447141
TI  - The gene coding for 3-deoxy-manno-octulosonic acid transferase and the rfaQ gene
      are transcribed from divergently arranged promoters in Escherichia coli.
AB  - The gene kdtA in Escherichia coli codes for 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid
      transferase, the enzyme responsible for attachment of the two 3-deoxy-D-manno
      octulosonic acid residues that constitute the link between lipid A and the core
      oligosaccharide of the lipopolysaccharide. Cloning and subsequent sequencing of
      the region upstream of kdtA revealed an open reading frame identified as the
      first gene (rfaQ) in an rfa gene cluster. The kdtA and rfaQ transcripts were
      identified, and the 5' ends of the transcripts were mapped by primer extension.
      Two main, divergently arranged promoters were found. These promoters generated
      transcripts with 5' ends separated by 289 bases. That the two divergent
      transcripts from the identified promoters represent the kdtA and rfaQ transcripts
      was confirmed by fusing different parts of the intergenic region between the
      promoterless lacZ and phoA genes in promoter-screening plasmid pCB267.

PMID- 1447142
TI  - Differential activities of bacteriophage depolymerase on bacterial
      polysaccharide: binding is essential but degradation is inhibitory in phage
      infection of K1-defective Escherichia coli.
AB  - Host range mutants were derived from bacteriophages PK1A and PK1E specific for
      the K1 polysialic acid capsule of Escherichia coli. The mutants were selected for
      their ability to infect E. coli bacteria with a low level of the K1 capsule. A
      specific loss of the cleaving activity of the phage endosialidase was observed in
      all the mutants, while the ability to bind specifically to the polysialic acid
      capsule was retained. The results indicate that the polysaccharide-binding
      activity of the bacteriophage enzyme is essential for the infection process. The
      cleaving activity, in contrast, is required for the penetration of the dense
      polysaccharide of wild-type bacteria but is inhibitory in the infection of
      bacteria with a sparse capsular polysaccharide.

PMID- 1447143
TI  - Derivation of a physical map of the chromosome of Bordetella pertussis Tohama I.
AB  - We have used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to derive a restriction map of the
      chromosome of Bordetella pertussis for the enzymes XbaI, SpeI, PacI, and PmeI,
      which cleave 25, 16, 2, and 1 times, respectively. The apparent size of the
      genome is 3,750 kb. The positions of genes for major virulence determinants in
      the vir regulon and of some housekeeping genes were determined. Apart from the
      previously known linkage of the vir and fha loci, no significant linkage of
      virulence genes was demonstrated.

PMID- 1447144
TI  - Cloning of the Escherichia coli sor genes for L-sorbose transport and metabolism
      and physical mapping of the genes near metH and iclR.
AB  - The sor genes for L-sorbose (Sor) degradation of Escherichia coli EC3132, a wild
      type strain, have been cloned on a 10.8-kbp fragment together with parts of the
      metH gene. The genes were mapped by restriction analysis, by deletion mapping,
      and by insertion mutagenesis with Tn1725. Seven sor genes with their
      corresponding gene products have been identified. They form an operon (gene order
      sorCpCDFBAME) inducible by L-sorbose, and their products have the following
      functions: SorC (36 kDa), regulatory protein with repressor-activator functions;
      SorD (29 kDa), D-glucitol-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; SorF and SorB (14 and 19
      kDa, respectively), and SorA and SorM (27 and 29 kDa, respectively), two soluble
      and two membrane-bound proteins, respectively, of an L-sorbose phosphotransferase
      transport system; SorE (45 kDa), sorbose-1-phosphate reductase. The sor operon
      from E. coli EC3132 thus is identical to the operon from Klebsiella pneumoniae
      KAY2026. On the basis of restriction mapping followed by Southern hybridization
      experiments, the sor genes were mapped at 91.2 min on the chromosome, 3.3 kbp
      downstream of the metH-iclR gene cluster, and shown to be transcribed in a
      counterclockwise direction. The chromosomal map of the Sor+ strain EC3132 differs
      from that of the Sor- strain K-12 in approximately 8.6 kbp.

PMID- 1447145
TI  - Elucidation of the complete Azorhizobium nicotinate catabolism pathway.
AB  - A complete pathway for Azorhizobium caulinodans nicotinate catabolism has been
      determined from mutant phenotype analyses, isolation of metabolic intermediates,
      and structural studies. Nicotinate serves as a respiratory electron donor to O2
      via a membrane-bound hydroxylase and a specific c-type cytochrome oxidase. The
      resulting oxidized product, 6-hydroxynicotinate, is next reduced to 1,4,5,6
      tetrahydro-6-oxonicotinate. Hydrolytic ring breakage follows, with release of
      pyridine N as ammonium. Decarboxylation then releases the nicotinate C-7 carboxyl
      group as CO2, and the remaining C skeleton is then oxidized to yield glutarate.
      Transthioesterification with succinyl coenzyme A (succinyl-CoA) yields glutaryl
      CoA, which is then oxidatively decarboxylated to yield crotonyl-CoA. As with
      general acyl beta oxidation, L-beta-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, acetoacetyl-CoA, and
      finally two molecules of acetyl-CoA are produced. In sum, nicotinate is
      catabolized to yield two CO2 molecules, two acetyl-CoA molecules, and ammonium.
      Nicotinate catabolism stimulates Azorhizobium N2 fixation rates in culture.
      Nicotinate catabolism mutants still able to liberate pyridine N as ammonium
      retain this capability, whereas mutants so blocked do not. From, mutant analyses
      and additional physiological tests, N2 fixation stimulation is indirect. In N
      limited culture, nicotinate catabolism augments anabolic N pools and, as a
      consequence, yields N2-fixing cells with higher dinitrogenase content.

PMID- 1447146
TI  - Roles of CatR and cis,cis-muconate in activation of the catBC operon, which is
      involved in benzoate degradation in Pseudomonas putida.
AB  - In Pseudomonas putida, the catBC operon encodes enzymes involved in benzoate
      degradation. Previous studies have determined that these enzymes are induced when
      P. putida is grown in the presence of benzoate. Induction of the enzymes of the
      catBC operon requires an intermediate of benzoate degradation, cis,cis-muconate,
      and a regulatory protein, CatR. It has been determined that CatR binds to a 27-bp
      region of the catBC promoter in the presence or absence of inducer. We have
      called this the repression binding site. In this study, we used a gel shift assay
      to demonstrate that the inducer, cis,cis-muconate, increases the affinity of CatR
      for the catBC promoter region by 20-fold. Furthermore, in the absence of cis,cis
      muconate, CatR forms two complexes in the gel shift assay. The inducer cis,cis
      muconate confers specificity primarily for the formation of complex 2. DNase I
      footprinting showed that an additional 27 bp of the catBC promoter region is
      protected by CatR in the presence of cis,cis-muconate. We have named this second
      binding site the activation binding site. Methylation interference footprinting
      determined that in the presence or absence of inducer, five G nucleotides of the
      catBC promoter region were necessary for CatR interaction with the repression
      binding site, while a single G residue was important for CatR interaction with
      the activation binding site in the presence of cis,cis-muconate. Using polymerase
      chain reaction-generated constructs, we found that the binding of CatR to the
      repression binding site is independent of the activation binding site. However,
      binding of CatR to the activation binding site required an intact repression
      binding site.

PMID- 1447147
TI  - Environmental conditions affect transcription of the pectinase genes of Erwinia
      chrysanthemi 3937.
AB  - To depolymerize plant pectin, the phytopathogenic enterobacterium Erwinia
      chrysanthemi produces a series of enzymes which include a pectin-methyl-esterase
      encoded by the pem gene and five isoenzymes of pectate lyases encoded by the five
      genes pelA, pelB, pelC, pelD, and pelE. We have constructed transcriptional
      fusions between the pectinase gene promoters and the uidA gene, encoding beta
      glucuronidase, to study the regulation of these E. chrysanthemi pectinase genes
      individually. The transcription of the pectinase genes is dependent on many
      environmental conditions. All the fusions were induced by pectic catabolic
      products and responded, to different degrees, to growth phase, catabolite
      repression, temperature, and nitrogen starvation. Transcription of pelA, pelD,
      and pelE was also increased in anaerobic growth conditions. High osmolarity of
      the culture medium increased expression of pelE but decreased that of pelD; the
      other pectinase genes were not affected. The level of expression of each gene was
      different. Transcription of pelA was very low under all growth conditions. The
      expression of the pelB, pelC, and pem genes was intermediate. The pelE gene had a
      high basal level of expression. Expression of pelD was generally the most
      affected by changes in culture conditions and showed a low basal level but very
      high induced levels. These differences in the expression of the pectinase genes
      of E. chrysanthemi 3937 presumably reflect their role during infection of plants,
      because the degradation of pectic polymers of the plant cell walls is the main
      determinant of tissue maceration caused by soft rot erwiniae.

PMID- 1447148
TI  - Role of methionine and formylation of initiator tRNA in initiation of protein
      synthesis in Escherichia coli.
AB  - We showed recently that a mutant of Escherichia coli initiator tRNA with a CAU-
      >CUA anticodon sequence change can initiate protein synthesis from UAG by using
      formylglutamine instead of formylmethionine. We further showed that coupling of
      the anticodon sequence change to mutations in the acceptor stem that reduced
      Vmax/Km(app) in formylation of the tRNAs in vitro significantly reduced their
      activity in initiation in vivo. In this work, we have screened an E. coli genomic
      DNA library in a multicopy vector carrying one of the mutant tRNA genes and have
      found that the gene for E. coli methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS) rescues,
      partially, the initiation defect of the mutant tRNA. For other mutant tRNAs, we
      have examined the effect of overproduction of MetRS on their activities in
      initiation and their aminoacylation and formylation in vivo. Some but not all of
      the tRNA mutants can be rescued. Those that cannot be rescued are extremely poor
      substrates for MetRS or the formylating enzyme. Overproduction of MetRS also
      significantly increases the initiation activity of a tRNA mutant which can
      otherwise be aminoacylated with glutamine and fully formylated in vivo. We
      interpret these results as follows. (i) Mutant initiator tRNAs that are poor
      substrates for MetRS are aminoacylated in part with methionine when MetRS is
      overproduced. (ii) Mutant tRNAs aminoacylated with methionine are better
      substrates for the formylating enzyme in vivo than mutant tRNAs aminoacylated
      with glutamine. (iii) Mutant tRNAs carrying formylmethionine are significantly
      more active in initiation than those carrying formylglutamine. Consequently, a
      subset of mutant tRNAs which are defective in formylation and therefore inactive
      in initiation when they are aminoacylated with glutamine become partially active
      when MetRS is overproduced.

PMID- 1447149
TI  - Escherichia coli B lacks one of the two initiator tRNA species present in E. coli
      K-12.
AB  - We show that the metY locus which specifies tRNA(2fMet) in Escherichia coli K-12
      specifies tRNA(1fMet) in E. coli B. This conclusion is based on results of
      Southern blot analysis of E. coli B and K-12 DNAs and on polymerase chain
      reaction amplification, cloning, and sequencing of an approximately 200-bp region
      of DNA corresponding to the metY loci of E. coli B and E. coli K-12. We also show
      that the metY locus of E. coli B is transcriptionally active. E. coli strains
      transformed with the multicopy plasmid vector pUC19 carrying the metY locus of E.
      coli B overproduce tRNA(1fMet) in E. coli B and E. coli K-12 in contrast to
      strains transformed with pUC19 carrying the corresponding locus from E. coli K
      12, which overproduce tRNA(2fMet).

PMID- 1447150
TI  - The a locus governs cytoduction in Ustilago maydis.
AB  - We have developed a cytoduction assay to measure cell fusion quantitatively in
      the basidiomycete corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis. This assay employs a mutation
      conferring resistance to oligomycin that exhibits non-Mendelian inheritance and
      presumably affects the mitochondrial genome. After auxotrophic olir cells are
      mixed with prototrophic olis cells, prototrophic olir cells can be detected at a
      significant frequency after several hours of incubation, reaching a maximum of
      10% of the total prototrophs in the mixture after 18 h. We demonstrate that this
      cell fusion event occurs only if the mating partners have different alleles of
      the a mating-type locus and is not influenced by the b locus. These studies
      support the view that the a locus but not the b locus controls establishment of
      the filamentous, pathogenic state.

PMID- 1447151
TI  - The Dictyostelium discoideum spore germination-specific cellulase is organized
      into functional domains.
AB  - During Dictyostelium discoideum spore germination, degradation of the cellulose
      containing spore wall is required to allow the amoeba to emerge. The CelA gene,
      which is transcribed and expressed exclusively during spore germination, codes
      for a 705-amino-acid protein that has cellulase activity [endo-(1,4)-beta-D
      glucanase]. Amoebae transformed by a vector containing the CelA coding sequence
      or portions of it transcribed from a heterologous promoter expressed and secreted
      full-length or suitably truncated proteins during vegetative growth when, under
      normal conditions, these proteins are not made. The gene constructs divided the
      CelA protein into three domains: a 461-amino-acid N-terminal region that has
      significant similarity to those of other cellulases and that has been shown to be
      the catalytic domain; a contiguous 91-residue repeat containing the motif
      threonine-glutamic acid-threonine-proline, which is glycosylated; and, joined to
      the repeat, a C-terminal 153-amino-acid sequence that most probably defines a
      cellulose-binding domain.

PMID- 1447152
TI  - Cell surface carbohydrates of microaerobic, nitrogenase-active, continuous
      cultures of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain 32H1.
AB  - A continuous culture system was developed to examine the cell surface
      carbohydrates of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain 32H1. When cultures were shifted from
      aerobic to microaerobic growth conditions, nitrogenase activity was induced and
      extracellular polysaccharide levels were greatly reduced; however, the levels of
      cell-associated cyclic beta-1,6 -1,3 glucans were found to be essentially
      unchanged.

PMID- 1447153
TI  - Escherichia coli mraR gene involved in cell growth and division.
AB  - The mraR gene, which has a coding frame of 363 bp and lies close to and upstream
      of the ftsI gene of Escherichia coli, is involved in both cell division and cell
      lysis. It is thought to function in regulating the two distinct steps of the cell
      cycle, as two different one-base mutations in this unique gene caused different
      phenotypical changes in the cell. Comparison of nucleotide sequences of the
      mutant type mraR DNAs with the wild type suggested that filamentation of the cell
      was caused by a mutation in the putative start codon, whereas lysis of the cell
      was caused by a mutation which led to a change of one internal glutamate residue
      to lysine.

PMID- 1447154
TI  - Multiple antibiotic susceptibility associated with inactivation of the prc gene.
AB  - A Tn5 insertion which led to increased susceptibility to multiple drugs,
      including tetracycline, chloramphenicol, nalidixic acid, erythromycin,
      spectinomycin, norfloxacin, and novobiocin, was identified in Escherichia coli.
      Cloning and sequence studies showed that the insertion was in the previously
      identified prc gene at min 40.4. The prc product is known to function as a
      protease linked to processing of penicillin-binding protein 3 and lambda
      repressor and when absent to allow some leakage of periplasmic constituents.
      Complementation studies with the prc gene on plasmids showed complete recovery of
      parental levels of susceptibility to all drugs except chloramphenicol, with which
      only partial reversion to wild-type levels was observed.

PMID- 1447155
TI  - A second gene for a secreted aspartate proteinase in Candida albicans.
AB  - The gene (PRA11) encoding a secreted aspartate proteinase of Candida albicans has
      been cloned and sequenced. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of
      PRA11 are 77 and 73% identical, respectively, with the reported sequences of
      PRA10 also cloned from C. albicans. Southern analyses indicated that the genome
      of each strain examined (ATCC 10231 and ATCC 10261) contains PRA10 and PRA11.
      Northern (RNA) analyses showed that PRA11 was expressed at a much higher level
      than was PRA10 when secretion of the proteinase by strain ATCC 10261 was induced
      with albumin.

PMID- 1447156
TI  - TerF, the sixth identified replication arrest site in Escherichia coli, is
      located within the rcsC gene.
AB  - We report the existence of a sixth replication arrest site, TerF, that is located
      within the coding sequences of the rcsC gene, a negative regulator of capsule
      biosynthesis. The TerF site is oriented to allow transcription of the rcsC gene
      but prevent DNA replication in the terminus-to-origin direction. Our results
      demonstrate that the TerF site is functional in both chromosomal and plasmid
      environments and that the stability of the Tus-TerF protein-DNA complex more
      closely resembles the plasmid R6K Ter sites than the chromosomal TerB site.

PMID- 1447157
TI  - Identification of the gene encoding transcription factor NusG of Thermus
      thermophilus.
AB  - The nusG gene of Thermus thermophilus HB8 was cloned and sequenced. It is located
      388 bp downstream from tufB, which is followed by the genes for ribosomal
      proteins L11 and L1. No equivalent to secE preceding nusG, as in Escherichia
      coli, could be detected. The nusG gene product was overproduced in E. coli. A
      rabbit antiserum raised against the purified recombinant NusG reacted exclusively
      with one protein band of T. thermophilus crude extracts in Western blot
      (immunoblot) analyses, and no cross-reaction of the antiserum with E. coli NusG
      was observed. Recombinant NusG and the reacting T. thermophilus wild-type protein
      had identical sizes on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. T.
      thermophilus and E. coli NusG have 45% identical and 22.5% similar amino acids,
      and similarities between the two proteins are most pronounced in carboxy-terminal
      regions. The T. thermophilus nusG gene could not rescue a nusG-deficient E. coli
      mutant strain.

PMID- 1447158
TI  - HMf, a histone-related protein from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Methanothermus
      fervidus, binds preferentially to DNA containing phased tracts of adenines.
AB  - HMf, a histone-related protein from Methanothermus fervidus, was found to bind
      preferentially to a DNA that is intrinsically bent as a result of the presence of
      phased oligo(dA) tracts. The intergenic regions in M. fervidus DNA are A+T rich
      and frequently contain oligo(dA) tracts, some of which may have the size and
      phasing required to create a net bending in one direction. The binding of HMf to
      bent DNA could play a direct role in gene expression and stabilization of the
      genome of this organism.

PMID- 1447159
TI  - Cloning and characterization of an aminoglycoside resistance determinant from
      Micromonospora zionensis.
AB  - The sisomicin-gentamicin resistance methylase (sgm) gene was isolated from
      Micromonospora zionensis and cloned in Streptomyces lividans. The sgm gene was
      expressed in Micromonospora melanosporea, where its own promoter was active, and
      also in Escherichia coli under the control of the lacZ promoter. The complete
      nucleotide sequence of 1,122 bp and a transcription start point were determined.
      The sequence contains an open reading frame that encodes a polypeptide of 274
      amino acids. The methylation of 30S ribosomal subunits by Sgm methylase accounts
      adequately for all known resistance characteristics of M. zionensis, but
      expression of high-level resistance to hygromycin B is background dependent. A
      comparison of the amino acid sequence of the predicted Sgm protein with the
      deduced amino acid sequences for the 16S rRNA methylases showed extensive
      similarity of Grm and significant similarity to KgmB but not to KamB methylase.

PMID- 1447160
TI  - Physical locations of genes in the rne (ams)-rpmF-plsX-fab region of the
      Escherichia coli K-12 chromosome.

PMID- 1447161
TI  - Physical map location of the Escherichia coli gene encoding acyl coenzyme A
      synthetase.

PMID- 1447162
TI  - Physical map of the oxyR-trmA region (minute 89.3) of the Escherichia coli
      chromosome.

PMID- 1447163
TI  - Genetic and physical clarification of the Escherichia coli genetic map in the
      76.5-minute essential gene cluster containing heat shock and cell division genes.

PMID- 1447164
TI  - Location of the protease II gene (ptrB) on the physical map of the Escherichia
      coli chromosome.

PMID- 1447165
TI  - Physical map location of the narQ gene of Escherichia coli.

PMID- 1447166
TI  - Function of Ras as a molecular switch in signal transduction.

PMID- 1447167
TI  - A mouse CDC25-like product enhances the formation of the active GTP complex of
      human ras p21 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAS2 proteins.
AB  - GDP-dissociation stimulators (GDSs) are the key element for the regeneration of
      the active state of ras proteins, but despite intensive investigations, little is
      so far known about their functional and structural properties, particularly in
      mammals. A growing number of genes from various organisms have been postulated to
      encode GDSs on the basis of sequence similarity with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae
      CDC25 gene, whose product acts as a GDS of RAS proteins. However, except for
      CDC25 and the related SDC25 C-domain, no biochemical evidence of ras GDS activity
      for these CDC25-like proteins has yet been available. We show that the product of
      a recently isolated mouse CDC25-like gene (CDC25Mm) can strongly enhance (more
      than 1000 times) the GDP release from both human c-Ha-ras p21 and yeast RAS2 in
      vitro. As a consequence, the CDC25Mm induces a rapid formation of the
      biologically active Ras.GTP complex. This GDS is much more active on the GDP than
      on the GTP complex and has a narrow substrate specificity, since it was found to
      be inactive on several ras-like proteins. The mouse GDS can efficiently
      substitute for yeast CDC25 in an in vitro adenylylcyclase assay on RAS2 cdc25
      yeast membranes. Our results show that a cloned GDP to GTP exchange factor of
      mammalian ras belongs to the novel family of CDC25-like proteins.

PMID- 1447168
TI  - Lateral lipid distribution is a major regulator of lipase activity. Implications
      for lipid-mediated signal transduction.
AB  - Pancreatic carboxylester lipase catalyzes the exchange of 18O between water and
      13,16-cis,cis-doco-sadienoic acid (DA) in monolayers at the argon-buffer
      interface (Muderhwa, J.M., Schmid, P.C., and Brockman, H.L. (1992) Biochemistry
      31, 141). In mixed monolayers of 18O, 18O-DA and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero
      3-phosphocholine (POPC), both the extent and mechanism of 18O exchange show
      characteristics of a critical transition in the range of 0.5-0.6 mol fraction of
      DA (Muderhwa, J.M., and Brockman, H. L. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 149). To
      determine if the regulatory behavior exhibited on this type of surface is limited
      to members of the carboxylester lipase gene family (cholinesterases), comparable
      experiments were performed with a genetically and functionally unrelated lipase,
      pancreatic colipase-dependent lipase (PL). PL readily catalyzed the exchange of
      18O between water and the carboxyl group of DA with enzyme at either monolayer or
      catalytic levels in the fatty acid-buffer interface. The oxygen exchange reaction
      obeyed a random, sequential mechanism, indicating that the dissociation of the
      enzyme.DA complex is much faster than the rate-limiting step in the overall
      exchange process. Kinetic analysis of oxygen exchange in pure DA monolayers
      showed a first-order dependence on interfacial PL and DA concentrations from
      which kcat/Km values were calculated. The oxygen exchange reaction proceeded with
      a rate constant of 16 x 10(-2) cm2 pmol-1 s-1, a value comparable to that for
      hydrolysis of the ester substrate, 1,3-dioleoylglycerol. With a monolayer of PL
      adsorbed to the interfacial phase, kcat/Km for oxygen exchange was about 600-fold
      lower than the value obtained with catalytic levels of adsorbed enzyme,
      indicating a possible restriction of substrate diffusion in the protein-covered
      fatty acid monolayer. With constant bulk PL concentration and mixed lipid
      monolayers containing DA and the non-substrate lipid, POPC, the extent of oxygen
      exchange increased abruptly as the abundance of DA in the interface was increased
      from 0.5 to 0.6 mol fraction. Concomitant with this critical transition was a
      change in the apparent mechanism of oxygen exchange from coupled to random,
      sequential. For both the extent of oxygen exchange and its mechanism shift, the
      critical transition was independent of the lipid packing density, i.e. surface
      pressure, of the interface. These results show that PL responds similarly to
      carboxylester lipase with respect to changes in interfacial lipid mole fraction
      in DA-POPC surfaces.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1447169
TI  - Analysis of the perturbation of phospholipid model membranes by rhodanese and its
      presequence.
AB  - The ability of the cytoplasmically synthesized mitochondrial enzyme rhodanese and
      its putative import signal sequence to interact with model phospholipid membranes
      was characterized. Membrane perturbation assays were used to test a current
      hypothesis that the initial step in protein translocation may involve binding of
      signal sequences with membrane lipids. Here we show comparative studies on the
      effect of native and various forms of denatured rhodanese, as well as two
      peptides, rho(1-23) and rho(11-23), derived from its NH2-terminal sequence, on
      the perturbation of 6-carboxyfluorescein-containing large unilamellar vesicles
      composed of either cardiolipin, phosphatidylcholine, or phosphatidylserine. We
      monitored the degree of perturbation by measuring dye leakage and found
      differential perturbation by either peptide or protein. Unfolded rhodanese
      perturbed vesicles in the order phosphatidylserine > cardiolipin >>
      phosphatidylcholine. Denatured rhodanese was approximately 25 times more
      effective (on a molar basis) than rho(1-23) in the disruption of anionic
      liposomes. Rho(11-23) was unable to perturb liposomes. We found an inverse
      correlation between degree of activity of rhodanese folding intermediates and
      their ability to perturb liposomes. On urea denaturation, enzymatic activity was
      completely lost before membrane perturbation ability reached significant levels.
      Analysis of the peptides by circular dichroism showed that anionic liposomes can
      induce alpha-helical structure only in rho(1-23) and denatured rhodanese.
      Intrinsic peptide fluorescence studies showed that only rho(1-23) and denatured
      rhodanese partitioned into these model membranes. Results obtained here imply
      that peptides from naturally occurring alpha-helical structures may need adjacent
      motifs for helical structure induction in lipid environments, and the subsequent
      secondary structure may, in turn, promote partitioning of these segments into the
      lipid phase and ultimately lead to membrane perturbation.

PMID- 1447170
TI  - Nonenzymatic glycation of type I collagen. The effects of aging on preferential
      glycation sites.
AB  - The present study was designed to investigate the effects of aging on
      preferential sites of glucose adduct formation on type I collagen chains. Two
      CNBr peptides, one from each type of chain in the type I tropocollagen molecule,
      were investigated in detail: alpha 1(I)CB3 and alpha 2CB3-5. Together these
      peptides comprise approximately 25% of the total tropocollagen molecule. The CNBr
      peptides were purified from rat tail tendon, obtained from animals aged 6, 18,
      and 36 months, by ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and high
      performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Sugar adducts were radiolabeled by
      reduction with NaB3H4. Glycated tryptic peptides were prepared from tryptic
      digests of alpha 2CB3-5 and alpha 1(I)CB3 by boronate affinity chromatography and
      HPLC. Peptides were identified by sequencing and by compositional analysis.
      Preferential sites of glycation were observed in both CB3 and alpha 2CB3-5. Of
      the 5 lysine residues in CB3, Lys-434 was the favored glycation site. Of the 18
      lysine residues and 1 hydroxylysine residue in alpha 2CB3-5, 3 residues (Lys-453,
      Lys-479, and Lys-924) contained more than 80% of the glucose adducts on the
      peptide. Preferential glycation sites were highly conserved with aging. In
      collagen that had been glycated in vitro, the relative distribution of glucose
      adducts in old animals differed from that of young animals. In vitro experiments
      suggest that primary structure is the major determinant of preferential glycation
      sites but that higher order structure may influence the relative distribution of
      glucose adducts among these preferred sites.

PMID- 1447171
TI  - Organization of phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin in the surface monolayer of
      low density lipoprotein and lipoprotein(a) as determined by time-resolved
      fluorometry.
AB  - Fluorescent analogs of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) labeled
      with diphenylhexatrienylpropionic acid (DPH) were prepared and incorporated into
      the surface layer of human low density lipoprotein (LDL) and lipoprotein(a)
      (Lp(a)). Fluorescence anisotropy measurements of DPH-PC and DPH-SM in both
      lipoprotein classes were carried out at different temperatures ranging from 20 to
      37 degrees C. DPH-PC as well as DPH-SM were shown to reside in more rigid domains
      in Lp(a) than in LDL according to higher anisotropy values in Lp(a). In both LDL
      and Lp(a), DPH-PC experienced a more rigid environment than DPH-SM, suggesting
      different environments of PC and SM in the surface shell of the lipoproteins.
      Fluorescence lifetimes of the labeled lipoproteins were determined by phase and
      modulation fluorometry. We found bimodal Lorentzian distributions for the decay
      times of DPH-PC and DPH-SM in LDL and Lp(a). Lifetime distribution centers for
      labeled lipids were very similar except for DPH-PC in Lp(a) which was shifted to
      longer lifetimes, suggesting a less polar environment of PC in Lp(a) than in LDL.
      The distributional width of DPH-PC in Lp(a) was broader than in LDL. Accordingly,
      phosphatidylcholine must be localized in a more homogeneous environment in LDL as
      compared with Lp(a). On the other hand, no difference in distributional widths
      was observed for DPH-SM in both lipoproteins, showing that SM organization in
      Lp(a) is unaffected by apo(a). From the obtained fluorescence data we propose
      that apoproteins discriminate between the choline phospholipids and
      preferentially associate with phosphatidylcholine. This effect is enhanced in
      Lp(a) due to the presence of apolipoprotein(a).

PMID- 1447172
TI  - Purification and ligand binding of a soluble class I major histocompatibility
      complex molecule consisting of the first three domains of H-2Kd fused to beta 2
      microglobulin expressed in the baculovirus-insect cell system.
AB  - A recombinant baculovirus encoding a single-chain murine major histocompatibility
      complex class I molecule in which the first three domains of H-2Kd are fused to
      beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) via a 15-amino acid linker has been isolated and
      used to infect lepidopteran cells. A soluble, 391-amino acid single-chain H-2Kd
      (SC-Kd) molecule of 48 kDa was synthesized and glycosylated in insect cells and
      could be purified in the absence of detergents by affinity chromatography using
      the anti-H-2Kd monoclonal antibody SF1.1.1.1. We tested the ability of SC-Kd to
      bind antigenic peptides using a direct binding assay based on photoaffinity
      labeling. The photoreactive derivative was prepared from the H-2Kd-restricted
      Plasmodium berghei circumsporozoite protein (P.b. CS) peptide 253-260 (YIPSAEKI),
      a probe that we had previously shown to be unable to bind to the H-2Kd heavy
      chain in infected cells in the absence of co-expressed beta 2-microglobulin. SC
      Kd expressed in insect cells did not require additional mouse beta 2-m to bind
      the photoprobe, indicating that the covalently attached beta 2-m could substitute
      for the free molecule. Similarly, binding of the P.b. CS photoaffinity probe to
      the purified SC-Kd molecule was unaffected by the addition of exogenous beta 2-m.
      This is in contrast to H-2KdQ10, a soluble H-2Kd molecule in which beta 2-m is
      noncovalently bound to the soluble heavy chain, whose ability to bind the
      photoaffinity probe is greatly enhanced in the presence of an excess of exogenous
      beta 2-m. The binding of the probe to SC-Kd was allele-specific, since labeling
      was selectively inhibited only by antigenic peptides known to be presented by the
      H-2Kd molecule.

PMID- 1447173
TI  - Hirudisins. Hirudin-derived thrombin inhibitors with disintegrin activity.
AB  - Recombinant hirudin variants have been designed which inhibit alpha-thrombin by
      the hirudin mechanism and which in addition exhibit disintegrin activity. These
      proteins, called "hirudisins," have been engineered by replacing the Ser-Asp-Gly
      Glu sequence at the tip of hirudin's finger-like structure (residues 32-35) by
      Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) to yield hirudisin and Lys-Gly-Asp-Ser (KGDS) to obtain
      hirudisin-1. Comparison of thrombin inhibition activities showed that hirudisin
      is 2-fold more potent (K(i) = 160 +/- 70 fM) than hirudisin-1 (K(i) = 370 +/- 44
      fM) and recombinant (r)-hirudin (K(i) = 270 +/- 50 fM). alpha-Thrombin-stimulated
      platelet aggregation was effectively inhibited by r-hirudin, hirudisin, and
      hirudisin-1 with IC50 of 5.7 to 6.8 nM. Unlike r-hirudin, hirudisin inhibits ADP
      induced platelet aggregation (IC50 = 65 microM) 3- to 5-fold stronger than the
      linear GRGDS- and RGDS-peptide. Direct interaction of hirudisin with purified
      glycoprotein IIb-IIIa demonstrated that antiplatelet aggregation activity is due
      to the integrin-directed RGD motif. Disintegrin activity of hirudisin relative to
      that of reduced and carboxymethylated hirudisin suggests that the conformational
      strain favors binding to integrins. On the basis of these results, hirudisins
      appear to be interesting molecules for the design of potential antithrombotic
      agents with antithrombin as well as antiplatelet aggregation activities.

PMID- 1447174
TI  - Polymerization of secretory IgM in B lymphocytes is prevented by a prior
      targeting to a degradation pathway.
AB  - B lymphocytes express on their surface a membrane form of IgM (mIgM), and
      synthesize but fail to secrete a secretory form of IgM (sIgM). Plasma cells shift
      to the exclusive synthesis and efficient secretion of sIgM. The sIgM in B cells
      differs from that in plasma cells in its pattern of assembly: in plasma cells,
      monomers of sIgM are assembled into polymers and only polymers are secreted; in B
      lymphocytes, monomeric sIgM is neither polymerized nor secreted and is degraded
      intracellularly. In this article we blocked the export of proteins from the
      endoplasmic reticulum at low temperatures or with energy poisons or brefeldin A,
      and localized the different assembly steps of mIgM and sIgM in the 38C B
      lymphocytes and of sIgM in the 38C-derived sIgM-secreting D2 hybridoma. In both
      cell lines, sIgM assembly into monomers was not affected, whereas polymerization
      of sIgM in D2 cells and monomer formation of mIgM in 38C cells were strongly
      inhibited. Moreover, probing with specific lectins revealed galactosylated
      monomers and polymers in D2 cells and galactosylated hemimer and monomers only of
      mIgM in 38C cells. In addition, when Golgi functions were hampered with Tris
      base, monomerization of mIgM and polymerization of sIgM were attenuated. These
      results indicate that polymerization of sIgM in D2 cells and monomerization of
      mIgM in 38C cells are post-endoplasmic reticulum events, occurring in or beyond
      the trans-Golgi galactosylation compartment. Since only polymers are secreted
      from D2 cells and only monomeric mIgM is displayed on the surface of 38C cells,
      partially assembled molecules may traverse the secretory pathway yet are
      restricted from the cell surface. Furthermore, monomeric sIgM in 38C cells is
      never galactosylated, thus it is degraded prior to the galactosylation
      compartment. We conclude that targeting of sIgM to degradation in 38C cells
      precedes its assembly site into polymers in D2 cells. This implies that
      degradation of sIgM does not result from the incompetence of 38C cells to
      polymerize. Rather, assembly of sIgM into polymers and their subsequent secretion
      are prevented in B lymphocytes by preceding targeting of monomeric sIgM to
      degradation.

PMID- 1447175
TI  - Functional differences between manganese and iron superoxide dismutases in
      Escherichia coli K-12.
AB  - Superoxide dismutases are enzymes that defend against oxidative stress through
      decomposition of superoxide radical. Escherichia coli contains two highly
      homologous superoxide dismutases, one containing manganese (MnSOD) and the other
      iron (FeSOD). Although E. coli Mn and FeSOD catalyze the dismutation of
      superoxide with comparable rate constants, it is not known if they are
      physiologically equivalent in their protection of cellular targets from
      oxyradical damage. To address this issue, isogenic strains of E. coli containing
      either Mn or FeSOD encoded on a plasmid and under the control of tac promoter
      were constructed. SOD specific activity in the Mn and FeSOD strains could be
      controlled by the concentration of isopropyl beta-thiogalactoside in the medium.
      The tolerance of these strains to oxidative stress was compared at equal Mn and
      FeSOD specific activities. Our results indicate that E. coli Mn and FeSOD are not
      functionally equivalent. The MnSOD is more effective than FeSOD in preventing
      damage to DNA, while the FeSOD appears to be more effective in protecting a
      cytoplasmic superoxide-sensitive enzyme. These data are the first demonstration
      that Mn and FeSOD are adapted to different antioxidant roles in E. coli.

PMID- 1447176
TI  - The effect of fibrin structure on fibrinolysis.
AB  - Fibrin structure contributes to the regulation of the fibrinolytic rate. As the
      fibrin fiber size is decreased, the fibrinolytic rate also decreases. Fibrin
      structure was altered by either changing the ratio of thrombin to fibrinogen,
      i.e. altering the assembly rate or by adding a fibrin assembly inhibitor,
      iopamidol. Changes in the fibrinolytic rate were followed by measuring the time
      dependence of the decrease in the fiber mass/length ratio during fibrinolysis. A
      measure of the overall fibrinolytic rate was determined from the decrease in the
      mass/length ratio versus time. An 8-fold reduction in the fibrinolytic rate was
      seen on decreasing the mass/length ratio from 2.7 x 10(12) daltons/cm to 0.5 x
      10(12) daltons/cm. It is shown that thin fibrin fibers have a decreased rate of
      conversion of plasminogen to plasmin by tissue plasminogen activator and that
      thin fibrin fibers are lysed more slowly than thick fibrin fibers.

PMID- 1447177
TI  - Structural characterization of a novel class of glycophosphosphingolipids from
      the protozoan Leptomonas samueli.
AB  - Aqueous phenol extraction of the lower trypanosomatid Leptomonas samueli released
      into the aqueous layer a chloroform/methanol/water-soluble
      glycophosphosphingolipid fraction. Alkaline degradation and purification by gel
      filtration chromatography resulted in a tetrasaccharide (phosphatidylinositol
      (PI)-oligosaccharide A), and a pentasaccharide (PI-oligosaccharide B), each
      containing 2 mol of 2-aminoethylphosphonate and 1 mol of phosphate. Nuclear
      magnetic resonance spectroscopy and fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry
      suggested that the structure of PI-oligosaccharide A is [formula: see text] and
      that of PI-oligosaccharide B is as shown. [formula: see text] Both compounds
      contain an inositol unit linked to ceramide via a phosphodiester bridge. The
      major aliphatic components of the ceramide portion are stearic acid, lignoceric
      acid, and C20-phytosphingosine. These novel glycolipids fall within the
      glycosylated phosphatidylinositol (GPI) family, since they contain the core
      structure Man alpha (1-->4)GlcNH2 alpha (1-->6)myo-inositol-1-PO4, which is also
      found in the glycoinositolphospholipids and lipophosphoglycan of Leishmania spp.,
      the L. major promastigote surface protease, the glycosylphosphatidylinositol
      anchor of Trypanosoma brucei variant surface glycoprotein, and the
      lipopeptidophosphoglycan of Trypanosoma cruzi. The glycophosphosphingolipids of
      Leptomonas have features in common with the glycolipids of both Leishmania and T.
      cruzi, resembling the former by the alpha (1-->3) linkage of mannose to the GPI
      core, while the 2-aminoethylphosphonate substituent on O-6 of glucosamine and the
      presence of ceramide in place of glycerol lipids is more reminiscent of T. cruzi.
      Thus these data lend some support to the hypothesis that both T. cruzi and
      Leishmania evolved from a Leptomonas-like ancestor.

PMID- 1447178
TI  - Fish egg glycophosphoproteins have species-specific N-linked glycan units
      previously found in a storage pool of free glycan chains.
AB  - Recent findings (Ishii, K., Iwasaki, M., Inoue, S., Kenny, P. T. M., Komura, H.,
      and Inoue, Y. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 1623-1630; Inoue, S., Iwasaki, M.,
      Ishii, K., Kitajima, K., and Inoue, Y. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 18520-18526) of
      a relatively large quantity of complex-type free sialo-oligosaccharides in the
      unfertilized eggs of freshwater fish, Plecoglossus altivelis and Tribolodon
      hakonensis, prompted us to search for their progenitor glycoproteins. First we
      demonstrated a third occurrence of free sialoglycans in the unfertilized eggs of
      Medaka fish (Oryzias latipes). Next, in all three species studied, a uniformly
      high level of glycophosphoproteins (GPP) was identified and found to possess N
      linked glycan units. The carbohydrate structures of the GPP were determined to be
      identical with those of the free glycans isolated from the unfertilized eggs of
      the respective fish species. Thus, the most likely candidate for the progenitor
      of free sialoglycans appeared to be the oocyte GPPs. This implies that the
      liberation of the free glycans by a putative peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta
      glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase may represent a necessary biochemical event
      during vitellogenesis or oogenesis. The present results may provide insight into
      a new concept of a "protein N-glycosylation/de-N-glycosylation system" recently
      proposed by us (Seko, A., Kitajima, K., Inoue, Y., and Inoue, S. (1991) J. Biol.
      Chem. 266, 22110-22114).

PMID- 1447179
TI  - Thermodynamic changes in the binding of Ca2+ to a mutant human lysozyme (D86/92).
      Enthalpy-entropy compensation observed upon Ca2+ binding to proteins.
AB  - The thermodynamic change in the binding of Ca2+ to a mutant human lysozyme having
      an engineered Ca2+ binding site (Kuroki, R., Taniyama, Y., Seko, C., Nakamura,
      H., Kikuchi, M., and Ikehara, M. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 86, 6903
      6907) was analyzed by calorimetry and interpreted in terms of structural
      information obtained from x-ray crystallography. It was found that the enthalpic
      contribution for the Ca2+ binding reaction was small, driven primarily by entropy
      release (10 kcal/mol). This release of entropy was also observed in some organic
      chelators. Moreover, through the information of the tertiary structures of the
      apo- and holomutant lysozyme, it was confirmed that the entropy release (10
      kcal/mol) upon the binding of Ca2+ arises primarily from the release of bound
      water molecules hydrating the free Ca2+. Previous studies of Ca2+ binding to
      proteins have involved significant changes in protein conformation. They can now
      be reevaluated to determine the contribution of conformational changes to Ca2+
      binding. After removing the thermodynamic contribution of Ca2+ binding itself, it
      is found that upon the binding of Ca2+ the enthalpy change is negative but is
      almost compensated by the negative entropy change. The negative change in both
      enthalpy and entropy is characteristic of values seen in the thermodynamic change
      upon the folding of proteins.

PMID- 1447180
TI  - Analysis of the streptococcal hyaluronic acid synthase complex using the
      photoaffinity probe 5-azido-UDP-glucuronic acid.
AB  - The mucopolysaccharide, hyaluronic acid, is an important component of both
      mammals and pathogenic streptococci. This high molecular weight polymer is
      synthesized by a membrane-associated, multisubunit hyaluronate synthase which
      utilizes UDP-glucuronic acid and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine as substrates. Using the
      photoaffinity probe, [beta-32P]5-azido-UDP-glucuronic acid, three streptococcal
      membrane proteins (42, 33, and 27 kDa) specifically photoincorporated this probe.
      Labeling of these proteins was enhanced in the presence of UDP-N
      acetylglucosamine, whereas UDP-galactose or UDP-glucose had no effect on
      incorporation. UDP-glucuronic acid inhibited the labeling of the three proteins
      in a dose-dependent manner. Detergent-solubilized membrane proteins from
      transposon-inactivated hyaluronic acid capsule mutants no longer incorporated the
      probe. This was also the case when membranes from stationary phase organisms were
      tested. Finally, glucuronic acid no longer was incorporated into high molecular
      weight hyaluronic acid with either the mutant or stationary phase preparations.
      Further biochemical analysis will be required to demonstrate the exact role each
      of the proteins play in hyaluronic acid biosynthesis.

PMID- 1447181
TI  - Isoforms of mammalian ubiquitin-activating enzyme.
AB  - Ubiquitin-activating enzyme, "E1," is the first enzyme in the pathway leading to
      formation of ubiquitin-protein conjugates and represents a potential target for
      regulation in the metabolic control of the conjugation reaction. Antiserum raised
      against human E1 recognizes two immunoreactive proteins in extracts from several
      human cell lines and animal tissues. We have characterized these two
      immunoreactive proteins in HeLa cells and present evidence that they are isoforms
      of E1. We have designated these isoforms as "E1(110 kDa)" and "E1(117 kDa)" to
      reflect their apparent molecular masses determined from SDS-polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis. These two immunoreactive proteins are immunologically similar,
      have nearly identical peptide maps, and comigrate with enzymatic activity
      characteristic of E1 in native polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic separations.
      Pulse-labeling experiments reveal that both isoforms are long-lived in vivo with
      degradation rates which are inconsistent with a proenzyme/enzyme model.
      Furthermore, their rates of degradation, which vary depending on the cell line
      studied, are kinetically distinguishable in contact-inhibited human lung
      fibroblasts. This work represents the first demonstration of E1 isoforms in a non
      plant species and carries important implications for studies of the regulatory
      mechanisms controlling ubiquitin conjugation.

PMID- 1447182
TI  - Regulation of the cellular stress response by reactive electrophiles. The role of
      covalent binding and cellular thiols in transcriptional activation of the 70
      kilodalton heat shock protein gene by nephrotoxic cysteine conjugates.
AB  - The cytotoxicity of nephrotoxic cysteine conjugates (NCC) in the renal epithelial
      cell line, LLC-PK1, is due to the covalent binding of a reactive electrophilic
      metabolite produced from NCC metabolism by cysteine conjugate beta-lyase.
      Covalent binding of NCC-derived reactive metabolites leads to a cascade of events
      including depletion of cellular non-protein sulfhydryls, increased cytosolic free
      calcium, and lipid peroxidation, which is ultimately responsible for cell death.
      We have used this model to investigate the signalling mechanism(s) through which
      reactive electrophiles increase synthesis of the 70-kD heat shock protein
      (HSP70). NCC treatment resulted in increased HSP70 synthesis as well as time- and
      dose-dependent increases in hsp70 mRNA in LLC-PK1 cells. The induction of hsp70
      mRNA was blocked by actinomycin D, and nuclear run-on experiments showed that the
      hsp70 gene was transcriptionally activated. Inhibition of protein synthesis did
      not block the increase in hsp70 mRNA or transcriptional activation of the hsp70
      gene suggesting that induction occurs due to activation of existing transcription
      factors. Inhibiting the covalent binding with a beta-lyase inhibitor,
      aminooxyacetic acid, blocked the increase in hsp70 mRNA. Agents which do not
      alter binding but do prevent toxicity by blocking the rise in cytosolic free
      calcium and lipid peroxidation were not effective inhibitors of hsp70 mRNA
      accumulation. However, the thiol reducing agent, dithiothreitol, inhibited
      induction of hsp70 mRNA by NCC. The data suggest that covalent binding and
      alterations in cellular non-protein thiols serve as signals for activation of pre
      existing transcription factors which increase hsp70 gene expression. It is
      proposed that reactive electrophiles may have a primary effect on protein
      conformation resulting in activation of the hsp70 gene.

PMID- 1447183
TI  - Structural requirements for transport of preprocecropinA and related presecretory
      proteins into mammalian microsomes.
AB  - The presecretory protein preprocecropinA (which comprises 64 amino acid residues)
      as well as a synthetic hybrid between preprocecropinA and dihydrofolate reductase
      (which comprises 252 amino acid residues) are processed by and transported into
      mammalian microsomes. Transport of both precursor proteins can take place
      cotranslationally, i.e. with the aid of ribosome and signal recognition particle,
      or posttranslationally, i.e. independently of these ribonucleoparticles (RNPs).
      We investigated the role of the precursor structure with respect to competence
      for RNP-independent transport by constructing deletion mutants and hybrid
      proteins. The results demonstrate that the signal peptide is essential for RNP
      independent transport. Furthermore, the signal peptide is sufficient for
      translocation of preprocecropinA derivatives up to 85 amino acid residues in
      size. However, the conformation of the precursor protein is decisive in the case
      of larger hybrid proteins.

PMID- 1447184
TI  - Diffusion control in blood coagulation. Activation of factor X by factors
      IXa/VIIIa assembled on human monocyte membranes.
AB  - This study examines mechanisms that regulate the activation of blood coagulation
      proteases on intact cell membranes. The activation of factor X by factors IXa and
      VIIIa assembled on viable monocytes is presented as a biologically relevant model
      for membrane-dependent proteolysis of coagulation zymogens. The hypothesis that
      this reaction is limited by diffusion was tested by comparing predicted with
      observed concentration dependence, temperature dependence, and effective rate
      coefficient. Rates of factor X catalysis were measured using a chromogenic
      substrate specific for the product, factor Xa. The value of KR and of K1/2, i.e.
      concentrations giving half-maximal rates in reciprocal functional titrations with
      substrate and enzyme, respectively, were directly correlated with the
      concentration of the titrated component. Arrhenius plots constructed over
      temperatures encompassing 10-35 degrees C were biphasic with downward concavity.
      Apparent activation energies were 6.01 +/- 0.93 and 35.84 +/- 8.9 kcal/mol for
      the interval above and below the inflection point, respectively. The effective
      rate coefficient calculated from apparent kinetic parameters was 3.58 +/- 0.1 x
      10(12) M-1 s-1. This rate is similar to the maximal rate of collision between
      factor X molecules and the monocyte, i.e. 2.9 x 10(12) M-1 s-1 estimated from the
      steady-state von Smoluchowski equation for uniformly reacting spherical
      particles. The observed agreement between predicted and experimental results
      indicates that under biologically relevant conditions, the rate of factor X
      activation by the intrinsic protease is controlled by diffusion of factor X
      toward the catalytic site.

PMID- 1447185
TI  - Engineering dehydrated amino acid residues in the antimicrobial peptide nisin.
AB  - The small antimicrobial peptide nisin, produced by Lactococcus lactis, contains
      the uncommon amino acid residues dehydroalanine and dehydrobutyrine and five thio
      ether bridges. Since these structures are posttranslationally formed from Ser,
      Thr, and Cys residues, it is feasible to study their role in nisin function and
      biosynthesis by protein engineering. Here we report the development of an
      expression system for mutated nisin Z (nisZ) genes, using nisin A producing L.
      lactis as a host. Replacement by site-directed mutagenesis of the Ser-5 codon in
      nisZ by a Thr codon, led to a mutant with a dehydrobutyrine instead of a
      dehydroalanine residue at position 5, as shown by NMR. Its antimicrobial activity
      was 2-10-fold lower relative to wild-type nisin Z, depending on the indicator
      strain used. In another mutagenesis study a double mutation was introduced in the
      nisZ gene by replacing the codons for Met-17 and Gly-18 by codons for Gln and
      Thr, respectively, as in the third lanthionine ring of the related antimicrobial
      peptide subtilin from Bacillus subtilis. This resulted in the simultaneous
      production of two mutant species, one containing a Thr residue and the other
      containing a dehydrobutyrine residue at position 18, both having different
      bacteriocidal properties.

PMID- 1447186
TI  - Complexation with heparin prevents adhesion between fibrin-coated surfaces.
AB  - Heparin, in Langmuirian fashion, binds stoichiometrically with high affinity, Kd
      approximately 100 nM, to both fibrinogen and fibrin adsorbed as monomolecular
      films to lecithin-coated, microscopic, polystyrene-divinylbenzene beads. Complex
      formation inhibits aggregation of fibrin-coated beads, and it also results in
      dissociation of preformed aggregates of fibrin-coated beads. These phenomena are
      not caused by desorption of fibrin(ogen), indirect inhibition of thrombin
      activity, or mere electrostatic repulsion of charged particles. Instead, these
      data are consistent with the proposal that the complexed heparin interferes
      directly with dimer formation between fibrin molecules adsorbed to colliding
      beads. We describe these phenomena and their application to the development of
      sensitive analytical methods for quantitating heparin. Based on these
      observations, we also propose a role for endogenous heparin in the physiologic
      regulation of fibrin-mediated adhesion of surfaces.

PMID- 1447187
TI  - Interleukin-1 alpha mediates an alternative pathway for the antiproliferative
      action of poly(I.C) on human endothelial cells.
AB  - The antiproliferative effect of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) on human tumor and
      normal cells has been well established. However, the genes involved in the dsRNA
      induced antiproliferative response and the molecular mechanisms by which this
      occurs remain less well defined. We have studied the ability of synthetic dsRNA,
      polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly(I.C)) to modify human umbilical vein
      endothelial cell (HUVEC) growth and report that poly(I.C) induces a dose
      dependent inhibition of HUVEC proliferation in vitro. In addition, the mRNA
      levels for the cytokines interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and interferon-beta 1
      are induced in poly(I.C)-treated cells. Moreover, the growth inhibitory effects
      of poly(I.C) are relieved when cells are grown in the presence of an IL-1 alpha
      antisense oligonucleotide to the human IL-1 alpha transcript. Thus, the effects
      of poly(I.C) appear to be mediated, in part, through the function of IL-1 alpha,
      suggesting an alternative pathway for dsRNA-mediated inhibition of human
      endothelial cell growth.

PMID- 1447188
TI  - Poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl O-glycans attached to leukosialin. The presence of
      sialyl Le(x) structures in O-glycans.
AB  - Poly-N-acetyllactosamine extension has been found in O-glycans in addition to N
      glycans and glycosphingolipids. Attempts were made in HL-60 and K562 cells to
      determine the amount of poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl O-glycans in the major
      sialoglycoprotein, leukosialin. Leukosialin was immunoprecipitated from
      [3H]glucosamine-labeled HL-60 and K562 cells. Glycopeptides were prepared by
      Pronase digestion, and O-glycan-containing glycopeptides were isolated by
      affinity chromatography using Jacalin-agarose. The glycopeptides bound to Jacalin
      agarose and those unbound were treated with alkaline borohydride, and the
      released O-glycans were fractionated by Bio-Gel P-4 filtration. Sequential
      glycosidase digestion of the O-glycans, with or without pretreatment by
      fucosidase or neuraminidase, revealed the following conclusions. 1) Leukosialin
      from HL-60 cells contains about 1-2 poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl O-glycan
      chains/molecule. 2) About 50% of these poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl O-glycans
      contain sialyl Le(x) termini, NeuNAc alpha 2-->3Gal beta 1-->4 (Fuc alpha 1-
      >3)GlcNAc beta 1-->R. The amount of sialyl Le(x) structure in leukosialin is
      roughly equivalent to that on cell surfaces of HL-60 cells. 3) Leukosialin from
      K562 cells, on the other hand, contains no detectable amount of poly-N
      acetyllactosaminyl O-glycans. 4) The presence of poly-N-acetyllactosamine in O
      glycans is dependent on the core 2 beta 1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase. 5)
      Jacalin-agarose binds to sialylated small oligosaccharides such as NeuNAc alpha 2
      ->3Gal beta 1-->3(NeuNAc alpha 2-->6) GalNAc but not the hexasaccharide NeuNAc
      alpha 2-->3Gal beta 1-->3(NeuNAc alpha 2-->3Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc beta 1-->6)
      GalNAc. These results indicate that the formation of polylactosaminyl O-glycans
      and sialyl Le(x) structure in O-glycans is dependent on the core 2 formation.

PMID- 1447189
TI  - Purification and cloning of a novel serine protease, RNK-Met-1, from the granules
      of a rat natural killer cell leukemia.
AB  - We have purified a 30-kDa serine protease (designated RNK-Met-1) from the
      granules of the rat large granular lymphocyte leukemia cell line (RNK-16) that
      hydrolytically cleaves model peptide substrates after methionine, leucine, and
      norleucine (Met-ase activity). Utilizing molecular sieve chromatography, heparin
      agarose, chromatography, and reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography,
      RNK-Met-1 was purified to homogeneity and 25 NH2-terminal amino acids were
      sequenced. By using the polymerase chain reaction, oligonucleotide primers
      derived from amino acids at position 14-25 and from a downstream active site
      conserved in other serine protease genes were used to generate a 534-base pair
      cDNA clone encoding a novel serine protease from RNK-16 mRNA. This cDNA clone was
      used to isolate a full-length 867-base pair RNK-Met-1 cDNA from an RNK-16 lambda
      gt11 library. The open reading frame predicts a mature protein of 238 amino acids
      with two potential sites for N-linked glycosylation. The cDNA also encodes a
      leader peptide of at least 20 amino acids. The characteristic Ile-Ile-Gly-Gly
      amino acids of the NH2 terminus and the His, Asp, and Ser residues that form the
      catalytic triad of serine proteases were both conserved. The amino acid sequence
      has less than 45% identity with any other member of the serine protease family,
      indicating that RNK-Met-1 is distinct and may itself represent a new subfamily of
      serine proteases. Northern blot analysis of total cellular RNA detected a single
      0.9-kilobase mRNA in the in vitro and in vivo variants of RNK-16 and in spleen
      derived plastic-adherent rat lymphokine-activated killer cells. RNK-Met-1 mRNA
      was not detectable in freshly isolated rat splenocytes, thymocytes, brain, colon,
      and liver or activated nonadherent rat splenocytes and thymocytes. These data
      indicate that RNK-Met-1 is a serine protease with unique activity that is
      expressed in the granules of large granular lymphocytes.

PMID- 1447190
TI  - Two alternative structures can be formed by IHF protein binding to the plasmid
      R6K gamma origin.
AB  - Escherichia coli integration host factor (IHF) contributes to the regulation of
      R6K plasmid copy number by counteracting the inhibitory activity of the plasmid
      encoded replication protein pi. Two IHF-binding sites (ihf1 and ihf2) flank seven
      iterons in the origin which bind pi protein. As previously shown by electron
      microscopy, IHF can compact a large segment of the R6K gamma origin DNA,
      encompassing site ihf1, an AT-rich domain containing ihf1, and some of the seven
      iterons located downstream of ihf1. We termed this phenomenon IHF-mediated DNA
      folding. This folding requires a high IHF concentration, and the region of the
      origin (replication enhancer) located to the left of the AT-rich domain. However,
      site ihf2 is not necessary in forming the folded structure. As reported here, IHF
      binding to ihf2 can be detected in gel mobility shift assays only if the leftmost
      enhancer region is absent. Sites ihf1 and ihf2 each contain two consensus IHF
      sequences. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed to determine which sequences
      are recognized by IHF protein and which sites are involved in forming the various
      gamma origin-IHF complexes. Finally, we define the boundaries of protection from
      DNaseI digestion when IHF is bound to ihf2. We propose a model in which IHF
      protein bound to ihf1, in the absence of the enhancer region, facilitates IHF
      binding to ihf2.

PMID- 1447191
TI  - The transmembrane and flanking sequences of beta 1,2-N
      acetylglucosaminyltransferase I specify medial-Golgi localization.
AB  - UDP-GlcNAc:alpha 3-D-mannoside beta 1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (GnTI)
      is an N(in)/C(out) (type II) membrane protein, localized in the medial-Golgi,
      that initiates the conversion of high mannose N-glycans to complex N-glycans.
      Anti-rabbit GnTI antibodies were generated using a purified, enzymatically
      active, bacterial recombinant fusion protein as immunogen. Rabbit GnTI was
      effectively retained in the Golgi complex of transfected COS-1 cells and murine L
      cells, as assessed by indirect immunofluorescence using the species-specific anti
      GnTI antibodies; no surface expression of rabbit GnTI could be detected in the
      transfected cells. Rabbit GnTI, stably expressed in murine L cells, was localized
      by immunoperoxidase electron microscopy to the medial-cisternae of the Golgi
      stack. The role of the transmembrane domain of GnTI in Golgi localization was
      examined by generation of a hybrid construct containing the amino-terminal 31
      amino acids of GnTI, corresponding to the 25-residue transmembrane
      (signal/anchor) domain and flanking hydrophilic sequences, fused with ovalbumin;
      this ovalbumin/GnTI hybrid molecule was retained in the Golgi complex of
      transfected COS cells and stably transfected murine L cells. No surface
      expression of ovalbumin/GnTI was detected. In contrast, ovalbumin fused to the
      equivalent domains of the human transferrin receptor, a type II cell-surface
      protein, was efficiently expressed on the cell surface of transfected cells. The
      ovalbumin/GnTI hybrid molecules in the transfected L cells were N-glycosylated,
      indicating an N(in)/C(out) membrane orientation, and were localized by
      immunoperoxidase electron microscopy to one or two cisternae of the medial-Golgi
      (90% of stained Golgi profiles showed medial-cisternae staining). These results
      show that a signal contained within the transmembrane domain and flanking
      residues of GnTI specifies medial-Golgi localization.

PMID- 1447192
TI  - Human and Giardia ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs) complement ARF function in
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs) are approximately 20-kDa guanine nucleotide
      binding proteins that stimulate the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of cholera
      toxin in vitro. ARFs are highly conserved, ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotic
      cells and appear to be involved in vesicular protein transport. The two yeast
      ARFs are > 60% identical to mammalian ARFs and are essential for cell viability
      (Stearns, T., Kahn, R. A., Botstein, D., and Hoyt, M. A. (1990) Mol. Cell. Biol.
      10, 6690-6699). Although the two yeast ARF proteins are 96% identical in amino
      acid sequence, the yeast ARF1 gene is constitutively expressed, whereas the ARF2
      gene is repressed by glucose. Human ARF5 and ARF6 and a Giardia ARF differ
      substantially in size and amino acid identity from other mammalian and eukaryotic
      ARFs but will, as befits their designation, activate cholera toxin. Expression of
      human ARF5, ARF6, or Giardia ARF cDNA rescued the lethal yeast ARF double mutant
      (arf1, arf2). Strains rescued by human ARF5, ARF6, or Giardia ARF grew much more
      slowly than wild-type yeast or strains rescued with yeast ARF1. We infer from the
      impaired growth of these rescued strains that the homologous ARFs may have
      specific targeting information that does not interact effectively or efficiently
      with the yeast protein membrane trafficking system.

PMID- 1447193
TI  - Purification and characterization of two forms of human transcription factor
      IIIC.
AB  - We showed previously that HeLa cell nuclear extracts contain two forms of
      transcription factor IIIC (TFIIIC) that formed chromatographically distinct
      TFIIIC-promoter complexes (Hoeffler, W. K., Kovelman, R., and Roeder, R. G.
      (1988) Cell 53, 907-920). One of these forms, the upper-band form, correlated
      with TFIIIC transcriptional activity, whereas the lower-band form bound to the
      VA1 promoter but supported little or no transcriptional activity. Using both
      transcription and DNA-binding assays, we have now purified both the upper-band
      form and the lower-band form of TFIIIC to near-homogeneity. The upper-band form
      is composed of five polypeptides with estimated sizes of 220, 110, 102, 90, and
      63 kDa. The largest of these polypeptides can be cross-linked to the VA1
      promoter. The lower-band form has a polypeptide structure similar to that of the
      upper-band form except for the absence or modification of the 110-kDa subunit.
      Direct assays show that the lower-band form is indeed transcriptionally inactive
      at all stages of purification, even when assayed with an unfractionated, heat
      treated nuclear extract as a complementation system. This inactivity does not
      result from altered DNA-binding properties; instead, we suggest that the
      alteration of one of the subunits of TFIIIC renders it unable to interact
      productively with a downstream component of the transcription complex.

PMID- 1447194
TI  - Iron regulates the activity of the iron-responsive element binding protein
      without changing its rate of synthesis or degradation.
AB  - The iron-responsive element binding protein (IRE-BP) interacts with specific
      sequence/structure motifs (iron-responsive elements) within the mRNAs encoding
      ferritin and the transferrin receptor and thereby post-transcriptionally
      regulates the expression of these two proteins involved in cellular iron
      homeostasis. The activity of the IRE-BP is itself regulated by iron such that
      when cells are treated with an iron source, the RNA binding activity is
      decreased. The expression of recombinant human IRE-BP in murine cells has been
      examined as have the expressions of the endogenous IRE-BP of both human and
      rabbit cells. In all cases, iron down-modulated the RNA binding activity of the
      IRE-BP, but in no instance was this decrease in activity accompanied by a
      decrease in the level of the protein as judged by quantitative Western blots.
      Moreover, the rate of synthesis of the IRE-BP and its rate of degradation have
      been found to be unaltered by iron manipulation of cells in culture. Consistent
      with IRE-BP regulation occurring post-translationally, the iron regulation of its
      activity was found to be unaffected by cycloheximide. These data are discussed in
      terms of a model of IRE-BP regulation involving the modification of the protein's
      iron-sulfur center.

PMID- 1447195
TI  - Reactions at the polymerase active site that contribute to the fidelity of
      Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (Klenow fragment).
AB  - In order to study the structural principles governing DNA polymerase fidelity we
      have measured the rates of insertion of incorrect nucleotides and the rates of
      extension from the resulting mismatched base pairs, catalyzed by the Klenow
      fragment of DNA polymerase I. Using a combination of semi-quantitative and
      qualitative approaches, we have studied each of the 12 possible mismatches in a
      variety of sequence contexts. The results indicate that Klenow fragment
      discriminates between mismatches largely on the basis of the identity of the
      mismatch, with the surrounding sequence context playing a significant, but
      secondary, role. For purine-pyrimidine and pyrimidine-pyrimidine mispairs, the
      relative ease of mismatch synthesis and extension can be rationalized using a
      simple geometrical model, with the important criterion being the extent to which
      the mismatched base pair can conform to normal DNA geometry. Essentially similar
      conclusions have been reached in studies of other polymerases, suggesting that
      this aspect of mispair geometry is sensed and responded to in a similar way by
      all polymerases. Purine-purine mismatches form a less cohesive class, showing
      more variable behavior from mispair to mispair, and a greater apparent
      susceptibility to sequence context effects. Comparison of our data with studies
      of other polymerases also suggests that different polymerases respond to purine
      purine mismatches in distinct and characteristic ways. An extensive analysis of
      each of the four purine-purine mispairs in approximately 100 different sequence
      contexts suggests that the reaction is influenced both by the local DNA structure
      and by the ability of the mismatched terminus to undergo slippage.

PMID- 1447196
TI  - Cytochrome b560 (QPs1) of mitochondrial succinate-ubiquinone reductase.
      Immunochemistry, cloning, and nucleotide sequencing.
AB  - Mitochondrial succinate-ubiquinone reductase is composed of two parts, a water
      soluble succinate dehydrogenase and a two-polypeptide membrane-anchoring protein
      fraction (QPs). The larger polypeptide of QPs is believed to be associated with
      cytochrome b560 (QPs1). The structure of QPs1 was studied by immunochemistry and
      molecular cloning and sequencing. Antibodies against QPs1 were raised in rabbits,
      purified, and characterized by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western
      blotting. The purified antibodies inhibited 75% of the reconstitutive activity of
      QPs and reacted with both submitochondrial particles (SMP) and mitoplasts. The
      binding of these antibodies to SMP was greatly increased when succinate
      dehydrogenase was removed from SMP by alkaline treatment, indicating that QPs1 is
      a transmembranous protein and that some of its specific epitopes are covered by
      succinate dehydrogenase. Anti-QPs1 antibodies were used to screen one cDNA clone
      encoding QPs1 from a bovine heart cDNA lambda gt11 expression library. The cDNA
      insert is 946 base pairs with an open reading frame of 396 base pairs that
      encodes for 132 amino acid residues. The molecular weight of QPs1, calculated
      from the deduced amino acid sequence, is 14,320. Although the apparent molecular
      weight of QPs1, estimated by high resolution SDS-polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis, is approximately 11,000, the existence of a presequence was
      ruled out by mass spectrometric analysis of protein fragments. QPs1 is a very
      hydrophobic protein. Three probable membrane-spanning segments were revealed by a
      hydropathy plot of the sequence. QPs1 has a higher sequence similarity to the
      sdhC peptide of Escherichia coli than to the sdhC peptide (cytochrome b558) of
      Bacillus subtilis. Like the bacterial proteins, QPs1 has 2 conserved histidines
      at positions 34 and 90. The conserved nature and similar location of these 2
      histidines, on the matrix-side surface of the membrane, suggest that they are
      involved in heme ligation of cytochrome b560.

PMID- 1447197
TI  - Membrane insertion of the mannitol permease of Escherichia coli occurs under
      conditions of impaired SecA function.
AB  - The membrane insertion of the mannitol permease (MtlA protein) of Escherichia
      coli, a polytopic cytoplasmic membrane protein possessing an uncleaved
      amphiphilic signal sequence, was studied using a cell-free protein synthesis
      system. The MtlA protein synthesized in the presence of inside-out cytoplasmic
      membrane vesicles was shown to insert into the membranes based on the following
      criteria: (a) co-sedimentation of the majority of the MtlA protein with the
      vesicles; (b) selective extraction of the membrane-associated MtlA by doxycholate
      but not by urea treatment; and (c) protease resistance of a defined MtlA fragment
      observed exclusively in the presence of membranes. Post-translational addition of
      membrane vesicles allowed membrane association of MtlA but did not allow
      efficient integration. In cell-free systems having reduced levels of the export
      factors SecA and SecB and exhibiting defective translocation of preOmpA and
      preLamB, insertion of the in vitro synthesized MtlA apparently occurred normally.
      In contrast, when membranes from the secY24ts mutant or trypsin-treated membranes
      were used, insertion of MtlA was reduced. In vivo experiments monitoring the
      permease activity of MtlA in the secA and secY mutants supported the conclusions
      of the in vitro results. Thus, the insertion of MtlA is essentially SecA- and
      SecB-independent but may be dependent on SecY and/or an as yet unidentified
      membrane protein. The requirements for the insertion of the mannitol permease are
      therefore clearly different from those for the translocation of most proteins
      having a cleavable hydrophobic signal sequence.

PMID- 1447198
TI  - The structural organization of type IV collagen. Identification of three NC1
      populations in the glomerular basement membrane.
AB  - Type IV collagen, which has long been assumed to contain two alpha 1(IV) and one
      alpha 2(IV) chains, also contains alpha 3(IV), alpha 4(IV), and alpha 5(IV)
      chains. Stoichiometry of collagenous alpha(IV) chains differs among tissues,
      suggesting the existence of subclasses of type IV collagen, each with a unique
      chain composition. This study seeks to define, by characterization of subunit
      compositions of NC1 domain populations, the structural organization of type IV
      collagen from bovine glomerular basement membrane. NC1 hexamers from type IV
      collagen were separated on two affinity chromatography columns, one containing
      monoclonal antibodies to the alpha 3 chain, and another, to the alpha 1 chain.
      SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunoblotting, reversed phase high
      performance liquid chromatography, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
      identified three NC1 hexamer populations: 1) a hexamer composed of (alpha 1)2 and
      (alpha 2)2 homodimers; 2) a hexamer composed of (alpha 3)2 and (alpha 4)2
      homodimers; 3) a hexamer containing all four alpha chains connected in
      heterodimers, alpha 1-alpha 3 and alpha 2-alpha 4. Results suggest that there are
      two distinct type IV collagen molecules, one composed of alpha 1(IV) and alpha
      2(IV) chains and another composed of alpha 3(IV) and alpha 4(IV) chains.
      Furthermore, polymerization occurs between molecules with the same chain
      composition and between molecules with different chain composition. Moreover,
      crosslinking between different alpha chains is restricted, thus limiting the
      number of possible macromolecular structures.

PMID- 1447199
TI  - Six amino acids determine the sequence-specific DNA binding and replication
      specificity of the initiator proteins of the pT181 family.
AB  - The replication of pT181 and related plasmids of Staphylococcus aureus proceeds
      by a rolling circle mechanisms. The initiator proteins encoded by the plasmids of
      the pT181 family have sequence-specific DNA binding and topoisomerase activities.
      These proteins nick one strand of the DNA at the origin of replication. The free
      3'-hydroxyl end at the nick is then used as a primer for the replication of the
      leading strand of the DNA. Although these initiator proteins are highly
      homologous, they show specificity in DNA binding and replication for their
      cognate DNAs. In this study, we have generated hybrid initiator proteins and
      studied their various biochemical activities in vitro. Our results show that 6
      amino acids are sufficient to determine the DNA binding and replication
      specificities of such initiator proteins.

PMID- 1447200
TI  - Preferential interaction of albumin-binding proteins, gp30 and gp18, with
      conformationally modified albumins. Presence in many cells and tissues with a
      possible role in catabolism.
AB  - Albumin binding to the endothelial surface apparently initiates its transcytosis
      via plasmalemmal vesicles and also increases capillary permselectivity. Several
      albumin-binding proteins, which, we call gp60, gp30, and gp18, have been
      identified; however, their functional relationship to each other is unclear. In
      this study, we show that gp30 and gp18 are both variably expressed by cultured
      rat fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells and are present in
      all tissues examined (heart, lung, skeletal muscle, diaphragm, duodenum, kidney,
      fat, brain, adrenal, pancreas, and liver). The binding of albumin-gold complexes
      (A-Au) to gp30 and gp18 was compared with that of native and modified albumins.
      Monomeric native bovine serum albumin (BSA) interacted much less avidly than A-Au
      and BSA that was chemically modified by formaldehyde (Fm-BSA) or maleic anhydride
      (Mal-BSA). Mal-BSA and A-Au have similar affinity constants for gp30 and gp18 (KD
      approximately 3-7 micrograms/ml (50-100 nM)), which is 1000-fold greater than
      BSA. These interactions were Ca(2+)-independent but sensitive to pH (< 6.0) and
      high salt concentrations (> or = 1.0 M). Comparative biochemical characterization
      provided evidence of conformational changes for Mal-BSA, Fm-BSA, and A-Au. Anti
      native BSA serum recognizes BSA much more avidly than modified BSA. Mal-BSA, Fm
      BSA, and A-Au are much more sensitive to trypsin digestion than BSA. Cellular
      processing was also examined. A-Au and Mal-BSA bound at the endothelial cell
      surface were degraded, whereas BSA was not. Our results indicate that: (i) gp30
      and gp18, unlike gp60, are expressed in all tissues tested regardless of the type
      of endothelia lining the microvasculature and the local mechanism of
      transendothelial albumin transport; (ii) BSA conformationally modified by either
      surface adsorption or chemical means not only interacts more avidly with gp30 and
      gp18 than native albumin but also is preferentially degraded by the cells; (iii)
      A-Au and native albumin are not equivalent probes for detecting albumin
      interaction sites; and (iv) gp30 and gp18 exhibit binding behavior resembling
      scavenger receptors. The possible roles of gp30 and gp18 in albumin binding,
      transcytosis, endocytosis, and even protein catabolism are discussed.

PMID- 1447201
TI  - The helix-loop-helix/leucine repeat transcription factor USF can be functionally
      regulated in a redox-dependent manner.
AB  - We showed previously that the DNA-binding capacity of the helix-loop
      helix/leucine repeat transcription factor USF43 is lowered dramatically under
      nonreducing conditions. This report defines the molecular basis of this effect by
      showing (i) that the only two USF43 cysteine residues, both present within the
      helix-loop-helix protein-protein interface domain, are required for this
      regulation, (ii) that the sulfhydryl groups of these cysteine residues are the
      actual targets of this regulation, (iii) that oxidation of these groups results
      in both intra- and intermolecular nonrandom covalent links, (iv) that this redox
      modulation of USF43 DNA-binding potential can translate in vitro into a specific
      modulation of its ability to activate transcription from a USF-responsive
      promoter. The implications of these modulations of USF43 function in response to
      redox changes are discussed with regard to the apparent paradox of USF strong
      activation potential and its ubiquitous distribution in all cell types tested.

PMID- 1447202
TI  - Functional expression of bovine 17 alpha-hydroxylase in COS 1 cells is dependent
      upon the presence of an amino-terminal signal anchor sequence.
AB  - Microsomal forms of eukaryotic cytochrome P450 proteins are integral membrane
      proteins of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane which are targeted to the ER
      via the signal recognition particle pathway. A hydrophobic amino terminus serves
      as a combined signal sequence and major membrane anchor (signal-anchor sequence)
      for the microsomal P450s. We have examined the insertion of bovine 17 alpha
      hydroxylase (P45017 alpha) into the ER of COS 1 cells in order to evaluate the
      role of membrane insertion of the amino-terminal signal-anchor of microsomal
      P450s as a functional determinant for these enzymes. Previously, we have shown
      that deletion of the hydrophobic amino terminus from P45017 alpha reduced
      membrane targeting and insertion by 5-fold compared with the wild-type protein,
      abolished enzymatic activity, and resulted in an aberrant CO difference spectrum.
      In the present study we have replaced the amino terminus of P45017 alpha with two
      heterologous signal-anchor sequences, one that is similar and one that is very
      different from the P45017 alpha sequence. The chimeric proteins were expressed in
      COS 1 cells. Immunoblot analysis of isolated microsomal membranes show that the
      heterologous signal-anchor sequences functioned to target the P45017 alpha
      protein to the ER. Enzymatic assays in intact COS 1 cells indicate that both the
      chimeric proteins are efficient 17 alpha-hydroxylase enzymes. The amino terminus
      of P45017 alpha was also replaced with a sequence that is not a signal-anchor,
      and the expressed protein was neither targeted to the ER nor was functional in
      COS 1 cells. In conclusion, both the structure and catalytic activity of P45017
      alpha in COS 1 cells is dependent upon an amino-terminal sequence that functions
      as a signal-anchor sequence and not upon the precise sequence of the amino
      terminus.

PMID- 1447203
TI  - 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-dependent regulation of transforming growth
      factors-alpha and -beta 2 expression in a human keratinocyte cell line involves
      both transcriptional and post-transcriptional control.
AB  - 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a potent modulator of epithelial cell
      growth and differentiation, has been shown to induce transforming growth factor
      (TGF)-alpha in cultures of human keratinocytes and in the human keratinocyte cell
      line, SCC-12F. In this report, we investigated the mechanisms by which TCDD
      alters TGF-alpha expression. In addition, we studied the actions of TCDD on TGF
      beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 expression. Treatment of SCC-12F cells with TCDD resulted
      in an increase in TGF-alpha and a reduction in TGF-beta 2 mRNA levels while mRNA
      levels for TGF-beta 1 were unchanged. Changes in TGF-alpha and TGF-beta 2
      expression were maximal by 24 h. No change in the rate of transcription of TGF
      alpha was detected following treatment with TCDD as determined by nuclear run-off
      analysis. TCDD treatment resulted in a stabilization of TGF-alpha mRNA as judged
      by an approximately 2-fold higher level of TGF-alpha mRNA in treated versus
      control cells in the presence of actinomycin D. In contrast to TGF-alpha, the
      rate of transcription of TGF-beta 2 was significantly reduced following TCDD
      treatment. These findings demonstrate that the induction of TGF-alpha expression
      in SCC-12F cells by TCDD occurs post-transcriptionally, primarily by mRNA
      stabilization, while TGF-beta 2 expression is reduced due to a decrease in the
      rate of TGF-beta 2 gene transcription.

PMID- 1447204
TI  - Complexity of ethanolamine phosphate addition in the biosynthesis of
      glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchors in mammalian cells.
AB  - Biosynthetic intermediates for the mammalian glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)
      anchor have been described. The earliest GPI anchor precursor is N
      acetylglucosaminylphosphatidylinositol, which is deacetylated to give
      glucosaminylphosphatidylinositol. This is followed by fatty acylation of the
      inositol ring, sequential addition of mannose residues donated by dolichyl
      mannosyl phosphate, and finally addition of ethanolamine phosphate. Here, we show
      that the final steps of GPI anchor biosynthesis are more complex than we have
      previously reported. Six distinct GPI anchor precursors were found to contain at
      least 1 ethanolamine phosphate residue. The headgroups of these glycolipids were
      purified and analyzed by a combination of Bio-Gel P4 chromatography and high
      resolution thin-layer chromatography. The sizes of neutral glycans were
      determined following HF dephosphorylation. The position of the ethanolamine
      phosphate residue was inferred from results of alpha-mannosidase treatment.
      Finally, the number of negative charges on the headgroups were determined by Mono
      Q chromatography. Our results show that the addition of ethanolamine phosphate is
      controlled by at least two different genes. Thus, the class F mutant, though
      unable to add ethanolamine phosphate to the third mannose residue, does
      incorporate ethanolamine phosphate into the first and second mannose residues.
      Only the wild type cells are capable of incorporating ethanolamine phosphate into
      the third mannose residue. Furthermore, the GPI core contains up to 3
      ethanolamine phosphate residues. These results should facilitate the elucidation
      of the biochemical defects in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

PMID- 1447205
TI  - P-domains as shuffled cysteine-rich modules in integumentary mucin C.1 (FIM-C.1)
      from Xenopus laevis. Polydispersity and genetic polymorphism.
AB  - A new frog integumentary mucin (FIM-C.1) has been discovered by molecular
      cloning. This mucin contains at least six typical P-domains as cysteine-rich
      modules. Shuffled P-domains have previously been detected in FIM-A.1, and they
      also form the basis of various P-domain peptides, which presumably have growth
      modulating activities. Furthermore, FIM-C.1 contains at least three threonine
      rich clusters, which consist of semi-repetitive cassettes. Various polydisperse
      transcripts have been characterized. They originate from two genes only and
      differ by deletions/insertions that are congruent with the semi-repetitive
      cassettes. Thus, polydispersities are probably generated by alternative splicing.
      Southern analysis revealed genetic polymorphism between different individuals.
      Furthermore, a specific antiserum was generated against a synthetic peptide
      deduced from the COOH-terminal end of FIM-C.1 and used for Western analysis.

PMID- 1447206
TI  - Two related genes encoding extremely hydrophobic proteins suppress a lethal
      mutation in the yeast mitochondrial processing enhancing protein.
AB  - The processing enhancing protein of mitochondria (PEP) is an essential component
      that has been shown to participate in proteolytic removal of NH2-terminal signal
      peptides from precursor proteins imported into the mitochondrial matrix. Using a
      yeast strain bearing a PEP mutation that renders it temperature-sensitive, an
      approach of genetic suppression was taken in order to identify additional
      components that could be involved with protein import: high copy plasmids
      comprising a yeast genomic library were tested for ability to suppress the 37
      degrees C growth defect. Two plasmids were isolated, pSMF1 and pSMF2, which
      suppressed the growth defect nearly as well as the cloned PEP gene itself.
      Sequence analysis of the rescuing genes predicted extremely hydrophobic proteins
      with sizes of 63 and 60 kDa, respectively. Remarkably, the predicted SMF1 and
      SMF2 products are 49% identical to each other overall. To test the requirement
      for SMF1 and SMF2, the chromosomal genes were disrupted. Individual disruption
      was without effect, but cells in which both genes were disrupted grew poorly.
      When mitochondria were prepared from the double disruption strain grown in a
      nonfermentable carbon source, they were morphologically normal but defective for
      translocation of radiolabeled precursor proteins. SMF1 protein was provisionally
      localized to the mitochondrial membranes using epitope tagging. We suggest that
      SMF1 and SMF2 are mitochondrial membrane proteins that influence PEP-dependent
      protein import, possibly at the step of protein translocation.

PMID- 1447207
TI  - Inactivation of ribonuclease inhibitor by thiol-disulfide exchange.
AB  - Porcine ribonuclease inhibitor (RI) contains 30 1/2-cystinyl residues, all of
      which occur in the reduced form. Reaction of the native protein with 5,5'
      dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) resulted in the release of 30 mol of the product
      5-mercapto-2-nitrobenzoate, and the loss of the RNase inhibitory activity. A
      linear relationship between the degree of modification and inactivation was
      observed. The rate of modification was greatly increased in the presence of 6 M
      guanidinium HCl. Reaction with substoichiometric amounts of 5,5'-dithiobis(2
      nitrobenzoic acid) was found to yield a mixture of fully reduced active
      molecules, and fully oxidized inactive ones, but no partially oxidized forms were
      detected. This suggests that an "all-or-none" type of modification and
      inactivation took place. All 1/2-cystinyl residues in the inactive, monomeric
      inhibitor had formed disulfide bridges, judged by the absence of either free
      thiol groups or mixed disulfides with 5-mercapto-2-nitrobenzoate. This fully
      disulfide-cross-linked molecule had an open conformation compared to the native
      one, as shown by gel filtration and limited proteolysis. Reaction of
      phenylarsinoxide with vicinal dithiols yields products that are much more stable
      than those with monothiols. Titration of RI with this reagent yielded complete
      inactivation at a reagent/thiol ratio of 0.5. Taken together, these observations
      suggest that the thiol groups in RI have a diminished reactivity due to three
      dimensional constraints. After the initial modification of a small number of
      thiol groups, a conformational change occurs which causes an increase in
      reactivity of the remaining thiols. The thiol groups are situated close enough
      together to permit the formation of 15 disulfide bridges in the inactive
      molecule.

PMID- 1447208
TI  - Mutational analysis of the Escherichia coli phosphate-specific transport system,
      a member of the traffic ATPase (or ABC) family of membrane transporters. A role
      for proline residues in transmembrane helices.
AB  - The Escherichia coli Pst system is a periplasmic phosphate permease. A mutational
      analysis of the requirement for function of specific charged residues or proline
      residues in the two hydrophobic subunits (PstC and PstA) has been carried out. No
      residues, among 19 charged residues altered, were found to be essential for
      phosphate uptake, although some alterations resulted in partial effects. Evidence
      was obtained that the 3 residues, R220 in the PstA protein and R237 and E241 in
      the PstC protein, previously shown to be required for phosphate transport (Cox,
      G. B., Webb, D., Godovac-Zimmermann, J., and Rosenberg, H. (1988) J. Bacteriol.
      170, 2283-2286; Cox, G. B., Webb, D., and Rosenberg, H. (1989) J. Bacteriol. 171,
      1531-1534), interact with each other. A feature of the proposed structures of the
      PstA and PstC proteins was 2 pairs of proline residues in putative transmembrane
      helices 3 and 4. While individual substitutions of these proline residues by
      leucine resulted in loss of phosphate transport activity substitution by alanine
      only had partial effects. However, if the proline to alanine changes were paired
      then, depending on the particular subunit, markedly different effects were
      obtained. The double mutation in the PstA protein resulted in a permanently
      "closed" system, whereas the double mutation in the PstC protein resulted in a
      permanently "open" transport system.

PMID- 1447209
TI  - Characterization of the spectrum of alternative splicing of alpha 1 (XIII)
      collagen transcripts in HT-1080 cells and calvarial tissue resulted in
      identification of two previously unidentified alternatively spliced sequences,
      one previously unidentified exon, and nine new mRNA variants.
AB  - Amplification of a COL1-encoding region of alpha 1 (XIII) collagen transcripts of
      HT-1080 cell RNA suggested that exon 3 of the alpha 1 (XIII) collagen gene, which
      was previously deduced to be of 35 base pairs (bp) may consist of a constitutive
      8-bp exon and an alternatively spliced 27-bp exon, termed here exons 3A and 3B,
      respectively. Furthermore, a previously unidentified alternatively spliced Gly
      Xaa-Yaa-encoding exon designated as 4B was found between the sequences encoded by
      exons 4, redesignated here as 4A and 5. Six of the 16 potential combinations of
      the four consecutive alternatively spliced exons 3B, 4A, 4B, and 5 were found to
      exist in mRNAs, and as a result, the length of the COL1 domain may vary between
      57 and 104 amino acid residues. Most of the NC2 domain is encoded by the
      alternatively spliced exons 12 and 13. Where previous analysis of cDNAs indicated
      that mRNA variants exist that contain either exon 12 or 13 sequences,
      amplification studies indicated here that there are also variants that lack both
      exons 12 and 13 but none that contain both exons simultaneously. Thus, the
      predicted length of this domain is either 12, 31, or 34 residues. Analyses
      covering both the COL1 and NC2 domains demonstrate that at least 12 mRNA species
      exist through the alternations of exons 3B-5, 12, and 13.

PMID- 1447210
TI  - Patterns of expression of the six alternatively spliced exons affecting the
      structures of the COL1 and NC2 domains of the alpha 1(XIII) collagen chain in
      human tissues and cell lines.
AB  - Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions and RNA protection experiments
      were used to examine alternative splicing of the six exons 3B-5, 12, and 13
      affecting the COL1 and NC2 domains of type XIII collagen in seven human tissues
      and four cell lines. Distinct differences in the proportions of the variant mRNAs
      were found. With respect to the COL1 domain, all studied samples contained mRNAs
      corresponding to the shortest COL1 variants of 57 and 66 residues, with the
      former variant being prominent in most samples. Most of the samples also
      contained notable amounts of mRNAs that corresponded to the longest COL1
      variants, mainly those of 104 and 95 residues. Particularly the extent of
      inclusion of exon 12 and 13 sequences, encoding most of the NC2 domain, varied
      according to the type of tissue or cell analyzed. Bone, cartilage, and colon
      adenocarcinoma samples contained little or none of the mRNAs corresponding to the
      long NC2 variants, whereas in fibroblast, lung, muscle, and osteosarcoma cells,
      those mRNAs were the major variants. The relative proportions of the various
      combinations of exons 3B-5, 12, and 13 were evaluated in four of the RNA samples.
      Interestingly, each of these samples appeared to contain only one to three major
      combinations of the six exons, representing about 40% to nearly 100% of all
      variants.

PMID- 1447211
TI  - Isolation and characterization of the yeast gene encoding the MDH3 isozyme of
      malate dehydrogenase.
AB  - The MDH3 isozyme of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was purified from a haploid strain
      containing disruptions in genomic loci encoding the mitochondrial MDH1 and
      nonmitochondrial MDH2 isozymes. Partial amino acid sequence analysis of the
      purified enzyme was conducted and used to plan polymerase chain reaction
      techniques to clone the MDH3 gene. The isolated gene was found to encode a 343
      residue polypeptide with a molecular weight of 37,200. The deduced amino acid
      sequence was closely related to those of MDH1 (50% residue identity) and of MDH2
      (43% residue identity). The MDH3 sequence was found to contain a carboxyl
      terminal SKL tripeptide, characteristic of many peroxisomal enzymes, and
      immunochemical analysis was used to confirm organellar localization of the MDH3
      isozyme. Levels of MDH3 were determined to be elevated in cells grown with
      acetate as a carbon source, and under these conditions, MDH3 contributed
      approximately 10% of the total cellular malate dehydrogenase activity. Disruption
      of the chromosomal MDH3 locus produced a reduction in cellular growth rates on
      acetate, consistent with the presumed function of this isozyme in the glyoxylate
      pathway of yeast. Combined disruption of MDH1, MDH2, and MDH3 loci in a haploid
      strain resulted in the absence of detectable cellular malate dehydrogenase
      activity.

PMID- 1447212
TI  - A comparison of the rates of reaction and function of UVRB in UVRABC- and UVRAB
      mediated anthramycin-N2-guanine-DNA repair.
AB  - The repair of anthramycin-DNA adducts by the UVR proteins in Escherichia coli
      follows two pathways: the adducts may be incised by the combined actions of UVRA,
      UVRB, and UVRC, or alternatively, the anthramycin may be removed by UVRA and UVRB
      in the absence of UVRC and with no DNA strand incision. To assess the competition
      between these two competing pathways, the rate of UVRABC-mediated excision repair
      of anthramycin-N2-guanine DNA adducts and the rate of UVRAB-mediated removal of
      the adduct were measured with single end-labeled DNAs under identical reaction
      conditions. UVR protein concentrations of 15 nM UVRA, 100 nM UVRB, and 10 nM UVRC
      protein were chosen to mimic in vivo concentrations. With these UVR protein
      concentrations and anthramycin-DNA concentrations of 1-2 nM the incision reaction
      and the release reactions are described by first-order kinetics. The rate of the
      UVRABC reaction, measured as the increase in incised fragments, was six to seven
      times faster than the rate of the UVRAB reaction, measured as the decrease in
      incised fragments. The UVRABC incision rate on anthramycin-modified linear DNA
      was four to five times the incision rate measured on the same DNA irradiated with
      ultraviolet light. We also investigated the role of the ATPase function of UVRB
      in UVRAB-mediated anthramycin removal. We found that a UVRB analogue with alanine
      at arginine 51, which retains near wild type ATPase activity, supported removal
      of anthramycin in the presence of UVRA, whereas a UVRB analogue with alanine at
      lysine 45, which abolishes the ATPase activity, did not. UVRB*, a specific
      proteolytic cleavage product of UVRB which retains the ATPase activity, did
      support removal of anthramycin in the presence of UVRA.

PMID- 1447213
TI  - Cell surface expression of the C3b/C4b receptor (CR1) protects Chinese hamster
      ovary cells from lysis by human complement.
AB  - The C3b/C4b receptor, also known as complement receptor type 1 (CR1, CD35), is a
      single chain glycoprotein consisting of 30 repeating homologous protein domains
      known as short consensus repeats (SCR) followed by transmembrane and cytoplasmic
      domains. A series of recombinant proteins derived from CR1 has been prepared and
      assessed for the capacity to inhibit complement lysis of the host Chinese hamster
      ovary (CHO) cells. The full-length recombinant CR1 inhibited human complement
      mediated CHO cell lysis, and the efficiency of inhibition was directly
      proportional to the number of receptors/cell. The SCR 15-18 of CR1, but not SCR
      15-16, inhibited complement lysis of the host CHO cell, bound monomeric C3b
      (Kd,app = 6.5 x 10(-7) M), and dimeric C3b (Kd = 1.8 x 10(-8) M), and served as a
      cofactor in the proteolysis of C3b by factor I, confirming and extending the
      observations of Fearon and colleagues (Kalli, K. R., Hsu, P., Bartow, T. J.,
      Ahearn, J. M., Matsumoto, A. K., Klickstein, L. B., and Fearon, D. T. (1991) J.
      Exp. Med. 174, 1451-1460). The SCR 1-4 of CR1, but not SCR 1-2, also inhibited
      complement lysis of the host CHO cell, indicating that more than two SCR are
      necessary and that four SCR are sufficient for optimal C4b binding to CR1. Thus,
      the structural requirements for C4b binding are analogous to those for C3b
      binding, namely, four SCR of CR1 form the binding sites for each of these
      proteins. CR1 has long been recognized to regulate extrinsic complement
      activation, that is, to bind to and promote the degradation of fluid phase C3b
      and of C3b attached to immune complex. These results demonstrate that CR1 is also
      an intrinsic regulator of complement activation in that, under appropriate
      conditions, CR1 inhibits complement-mediated lysis of the cell on which it is
      expressed.

PMID- 1447214
TI  - A role for the acidic trimer repeat region of transcription factor sigma 54 in
      setting the rate and temperature dependence of promoter melting in vivo.
AB  - sigma 54 is an atypical sigma factor involved in enhancer-dependent transcription
      in Escherichia coli. In vivo assays were developed for following the kinetics and
      thermodynamics of sigma 54-dependent melting of the glnAP2 promoter start site.
      These assays were applied to a series of three sigma 54 polymerases containing
      zero, one, and two copies of the highly acidic trimer repeat region. The results
      showed that at least one copy of this acid region is required for a complete
      melting transition at physiological temperature, but is not required for a low
      temperature melting transition. The rate of melting the promoter in vivo
      increased with number of copies of this region. Taken together with other
      observations, the experiments point to a role for the acid region in triggering
      conformational changes that lead to specific promoter melting. The acid region is
      required for these changes to occur fully at physiological temperature and
      influences the rate at which they occur.

PMID- 1447215
TI  - A third form of the G protein beta subunit. 1. Immunochemical identification and
      localization to cone photoreceptors.
AB  - Vertebrate retinal cones play a major role in both photopic vision and color
      perception. Although the molecular mechanism of visual excitation in the cone is
      not as well understood as in the rod, it is generally thought to involve a cone
      specific G protein (cone transducin) that couples the cone visual pigment to a
      cGMP phosphodiesterase. Like all other G proteins, cone transducin is most likely
      a heterotrimer consisting of G alpha, G beta, and G gamma subunits. A G alpha
      subunit of cone transducin has been localized to the outer segment of bovine
      cones, but its associated G beta and G gamma subunits are unknown. To identify
      the G beta subunit involved in the phototransduction process of cones, we have
      developed a panel of antipeptide antisera against the most diverse region of the
      amino acid sequences encoded by G beta 1, G beta 2, and G beta 3 cDNAs and used
      them to determine the distribution of the G beta isoforms in different retinal
      preparations. We found that the G beta 3 subunit is present in bovine retinal
      transducin and phosducin-T beta gamma complex preparations which were previously
      thought to contain only G beta 1. Analysis of its subcellular distribution
      indicated that G beta 3 is predominantly cytoplasmic. Immunocytochemical staining
      of bovine retinal sections with the anti-G beta 3 antiserum further revealed a
      specific localization of G beta 3 in cones but not in rods. In contrast, anti-G
      beta 1 antiserum stained only the rods. These results suggest that G beta 3 is
      the G beta subunit of cone transducin and confirms the proposition that rods and
      cones utilize distinct signaling proteins for phototransduction.

PMID- 1447216
TI  - Modulation of a Ca2+ signaling pathway by GM1 ganglioside in PC12 cells.
AB  - The effects of exogenous GM1 ganglioside on depolarization and ligand-induced
      Ca2+ signaling were investigated in PC12 cells. Cellular responses to K+
      depolarization and bradykinin application in control and GM1-treated cells were
      examined with respect to: 1) changes in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration
      ([Ca2+]i) measured using fura-2 fluorescence in single cells, and 2) changes in
      Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase activity as assayed by two-dimensional
      phosphopeptide analysis of the site-specific phosphorylation of tyrosine
      hydroxylase. Pretreatment of cells with GM1 (10 or 100 microM) enhanced K+
      depolarization-stimulated increases in [Ca2+]i and in 32PO4 incorporation into
      tyrosine hydroxylase phosphopeptide T2, a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein
      kinase II substrate. In contrast, GM1 treatment had no effect on the transient
      increases in [Ca2+]i evoked by bradykinin or on bradykinin-induced increases in
      the site-specific phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase. The depolarization
      induced and GM1-enhanced increases in [Ca2+]i and T2 phosphorylation were
      prevented by removal of external Ca2+ or pretreatment with 1 microM nitrendipine,
      suggesting that these increases result from Ca2+ entry through dihydropyridine
      sensitive Ca2+ channels. The ability of exogenous gangliosides to potentiate
      increases in [Ca2+]i may underlie their diverse neuritogenic and neurotrophic
      actions in the nervous system.

PMID- 1447217
TI  - Structure and chromosomal localization of human arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase
      gene.
AB  - Arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase introduces a molecular oxygen into the C-12 position
      of arachidonic acid to produce 12(S)-hydroperoxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid.
      With the aid of cDNA probes for the enzyme, we isolated overlapping lambda clones
      encompassing the human 12-lipoxygenase gene and flanking regions from a human
      genomic library. The gene consists of 14 exons with 13 introns and spans
      approximately 15 kilobases of DNA. All the exon-intron junctions conform to the
      GT/AG rule. Neither a typical TATA box nor a CAAT box was found in approximately
      1-kb sequence of 5'-upstream region of the translation initiation site. However,
      this region contains several regulatory elements including four GC boxes, two
      CACCC boxes, three AP-2 binding sequences, and a glucocorticoid-responsive
      element. The major transcription initiation site was determined by primer
      extension analysis as an adenosine residue at 306 bases upstream from the
      translation initiation codon. The chromosomal localization of the human 12
      lipoxygenase gene was examined by fluorescence in situ hybridization, and the
      gene was assigned to the sub-band p13.1 of chromosome 17.

PMID- 1447218
TI  - Stereoselective interaction with chiral phosphorothioates at the central DNA kink
      of the EcoRI endonuclease-GAATTC complex.
AB  - We have probed the contacts between EcoRI endonuclease and the central phosphate
      of its recognition site GAApTTC, using synthetic oligonucleotides containing
      single stereospecific Rp- or Sp-phosphorothioates (Ps). These substitutions
      produce subtle stereospecific effects on EcoRI endonuclease binding and cleavage.
      An Sp-Ps substitution in one strand of the DNA duplex improves binding free
      energy by -1.5 kcal/mol, whereas the Rp-Ps substitution has an unfavorable effect
      (+0.3 kcal/mol) on binding free energy. These effects derive principally from
      changes in the first order rate constants for dissociation of the enzyme-DNA
      complexes. The first order rate constants for strand scission are also affected,
      in that a strand containing Sp-Ps substitution is cleaved 2 to 3 times more
      rapidly than a strand containing a normal prochiral phosphate, whereas a strand
      containing Rp-Ps substitution is cleaved about 3 times slower than normal. As a
      result, single-strand substitutions produce pronounced asymmetry in the rates of
      cleavage of the two DNA strands, and this effect is exaggerated in an Rp,Sp
      heteroduplex. Ethylation-interference footprinting indicates that none of the Ps
      substitutions cause any major change in contacts between endonuclease and DNA
      phosphates. When an Sp-Ps localizes P = O in the DNA major groove, a hydrogen
      bonding interaction with the backbone amide-NH of Gly116 of the endonuclease is
      improved relative to that with a prochiral phosphate having intermediate P-O bond
      order and delocalized charge.

PMID- 1447219
TI  - An atomic model for protein-protein phosphoryl group transfer.
AB  - The high resolution crystal structures of two interacting proteins from the
      phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system, the histidine-containing
      phosphocarrier protein (HPr) and the IIA domain of glucose permease (IIA(Glc))
      from Bacillus subtilis, provide the basis for modeling the transient binary
      complex formed during the phosphoryl group transfer. The complementarity of the
      interacting surfaces implies that no major conformational transition is required.
      The negatively charged phosphoryl group is buried in the interface, suggesting a
      key role for electrostatic interactions. It is proposed that the phosphoryl
      transfer is triggered by a switch between two salt bridges involving Arg-17 of
      the HPr. The first, prior to phosphoryl group transfer, is intramolecular, with
      the phosphorylated His-15. The second, during the transfer, is intermolecular,
      with 2 aspartate residues associated with the active site of IIA(Glc). Such
      alternating ion pairs may be mechanistically important in other protein-protein
      phosphotransfer reactions.

PMID- 1447220
TI  - Use of structure-directed DNA ligands to probe the binding of recA protein to
      narrow and wide grooves of DNA and on its ability to promote homologous pairing.
AB  - We have used circular dichroism and structure-directed drugs to identify the role
      of structural features, wide and narrow grooves in particular, required for the
      cooperative polymerization, recognition of homologous sequences, and the
      formation of joint molecules promoted by recA protein. The path of cooperative
      polymerization of recA protein was deduced by its ability to cause quantitative
      displacement of distamycin from the narrow groove of duplex DNA. By contrast,
      methyl green bound to the wide groove was retained by the nucleoprotein filaments
      comprised of recA protein-DNA. Further, the mode of binding of these ligands and
      recA protein to DNA was confirmed by DNaseI digestion. More importantly, the
      formation of joint molecules was prevented by distamycin in the narrow groove
      while methyl green in the wide groove had no adverse effect. Intriguingly,
      distamycin interfered with the production of coaggregates between nucleoprotein
      filaments of recA protein-M13 ssDNA and naked linear M13 duplex DNA, but not with
      linear phi X174 duplex DNA. Thus, these data, in conjunction with molecular
      modeling, suggest that the narrow grooves of duplex DNA provide the fundamental
      framework required for the cooperative polymerization of recA protein and
      alignment of homologous sequences. These findings and their significance are
      discussed in relation to models of homologous pairing between two intertwined DNA
      molecules.

PMID- 1447221
TI  - The crystal structure of the aldose reductase.NADPH binary complex.
AB  - Aldose reductase is an NADPH-dependent oxidoreductase that catalyzes the
      reduction of a broad range of aldehydes, including glucose. Since aldose
      reductase has been strongly implicated in the development of the chronic
      complications of diabetes mellitus, much effort has been devoted to understanding
      the structure and mechanism of this enzyme, and many aldose reductase inhibitors
      have been developed as potential drugs for the treatment of these complications.
      We describe here the 2.75 A crystal structure of recombinant human aldose
      reductase (Cys-298 to Ser mutant) complexed with NADPH. This mutant displays
      unusual kinetic behavior characterized by high Km/high Vmax substrate kinetics
      and reduced sensitivity to certain aldose reductase inhibitors. The crystal
      structure revealed that the enzyme is a beta/alpha-barrel with the coenzyme
      binding domain located at the carboxyl-terminal end of the parallel strands of
      the barrel. The enzyme undergoes a large conformational change upon binding NADPH
      which involves the reorientation of loop 7 to a position which appears to lock
      the coenzyme into place. NADPH is bound to aldose reductase in an unusual manner,
      more similar to FAD- rather than NAD(P)-dependent oxidoreductases. No disulfide
      bridges were observed in the crystal structure.

PMID- 1447222
TI  - AraC protein contacts asymmetric sites in the Escherichia coli araFGH promoter.
AB  - AraC protein regulates the transcription of arabinose transport and catabolic
      operons in Escherichia coli through interaction with specific DNA sequences in
      the promoter regions of the operons. The interaction of AraC protein with two
      binding sites in the araFGH promoter was determined and compared to previously
      studied AraC binding sites in the araBAD promoter. Methylation and ethylation
      interference assays show that AraC protein binds along one side of the DNA to
      four adjacent major groove regions at each of the araFG1 and araFG2 sites.
      Mutations within any of the four regions of araFG1 greatly reduce protein binding
      in vitro. The promoter function in vivo is also greatly reduced, indicating that
      all four regions of the binding site are required. The chemical interference and
      genetic data, combined with the consensus sequence for AraC protein binding to
      ara promoters, support a binding motif in which two directly repeated units each
      span two adjacent turns of the DNA helix. The function of the two AraC binding
      sites was also examined. The proximal araFG1 site is required for promoter
      activation, whereas the distal araFG2 site has only a slight effect on the
      promoter activity.

PMID- 1447223
TI  - Calcium and collagen binding properties of osteopontin, bone sialoprotein, and
      bone acidic glycoprotein-75 from bone.
AB  - Calcium binding properties of bone acidic glycoprotein-75, osteopontin, and bone
      sialoprotein were determined in 10 mM imidazole buffer (pH 6.8), containing
      either 60 mM KCl or 150 mM NaCl. Proteins assayed were first bound to
      nitrocellulose to mimic substrate-bound forms in vivo; retention of
      phosphoproteins was determined through use of radioiodinated tracers. Binding
      studies were carried out both as a function of calcium concentration and the
      amount of phosphoprotein. In the presence of 60 mM KCl, bone acidic glycoprotein
      75 exhibited the largest calcium binding capacity (139 atoms/molecule at
      saturation), with bone sialoprotein intermediary (83 atoms/molecule) and
      osteopontin lowest (50 atoms/molecule). Sites detected for each phosphoprotein
      exhibited overall binding constants in the 0.5-1.0 mM extracellular range. In 150
      mM NaCl and 1-2 mM total calcium, phosphoproteins bound between 72 and 19 mol of
      calcium/mol with the same relative order. Binding was proportional to amount of
      phosphoprotein in either salt condition. The presence of 5 mM calcium had a
      different effect on concentration-dependent binding to type I collagen for each
      phosphoprotein. Bone acidic glycoprotein-75 alone was found to undergo an unusual
      calcium-enhanced polymerization reaction, confirmed by light scattering
      measurements, wherein collagen binding was greatest with polymeric forms. These
      findings demonstrate that acidic phosphoproteins from bone bind calcium atoms
      with a range of capacities. Calcium appears to induce conformational changes in
      bone acidic glycoprotein-75 which influences its self-association and binding to
      different substrata.

PMID- 1447224
TI  - Induction of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor mRNA by
      phorbol ester and angiotensin II in rat aortic smooth muscle cells.
AB  - To determine whether the gene encoding the recently identified heparin-binding
      epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), a potent smooth muscle cell
      (SMC) mitogen of macrophage origin, is transcribed and regulated in vascular SMC,
      we isolated cDNA clones encoding rat HB-EGF from a macrophage library. Using the
      rat HB-EGF cDNA as a probe for RNA blot analysis, we detected low levels of HB
      EGF mRNA in rat aortic SMC in culture. However, 20 nM 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol
      13-acetate (TPA) and 10(-6) M angiotensin II (AII) induced a marked increase in
      HB-EGF mRNA levels in rat aortic SMC (11- and 4.6-fold, respectively) that was
      both dose- and time-dependent. In response to TPA and AII, HB-EGF mRNA levels
      increased rapidly, peaked at 2 h, and returned to base line at 7 h. This effect
      of AII on HB-EGF induction was specific, as evidenced by the fact that it could
      be completely blocked by the AII antagonist saralasin. This is the first
      demonstration that HB-EGF is transcribed and regulated in SMC. The inducible
      transcription of this potent SMC mitogen gene in vascular SMC suggests that HB
      EGF may have an important autocrine role in the proliferation of SMC in vascular
      diseases such as atherosclerosis and hypertension.

PMID- 1447225
TI  - Dissociation of the contractile and hypertrophic effects of vasoconstrictor
      prostanoids in vascular smooth muscle.
AB  - To more clearly define the physiologic roles of thromboxane (TX)A2 and primary
      prostaglandins (PG) in vascular tissue we examined vascular contractility, cell
      signaling, and growth responses. The growth-promoting effects of (15S)-hydroxy-11
      alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5Z,13E-dienoic acid (U46619; TXA2 agonist),
      PGF2 alpha, and PGE2 consisted of protein synthesis and proto-oncogene
      expression, but not DNA synthesis or cell proliferation. U46619 contracted rat
      aortas and increased cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cell
      intracellular free calcium concentration [Ca2+]i, [3H]inositol monophosphate (IP)
      accumulation, myosin light chain phosphorylation, and protein synthesis
      ([3H]leucine incorporation) with EC50 values ranging from 10 to 50 nM. Each of
      these responses was inhibitable with the TXA2 receptor antagonist [1S]1 alpha,2
      beta(5Z),3 beta,4 alpha-7-(3-[2- [(phenylamino)carbonyl]hydrazino]methyl)-7
      oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2- yl-5-heptenoic acid (SQ29548). In contrast, PGF2 alpha
      increased [Ca2+]i, [3H]IP, and protein synthesis with EC50 values of 30-230 nM
      but contracted rat aortas with an EC50 of 4800 nM. PGE2 increased [Ca2+]i, [3H]IP
      accumulation, protein synthesis, and contracted rat aortas with EC50 values of
      2.5-3.5 microM. TXA2 receptor blockade prevented PGF2 alpha- and PGE2-induced
      aortic contraction and cell myosin light chain phosphorylation, but not cell
      signaling or protein synthesis. Binding studies to vascular smooth muscle TXA2
      receptors using 1S-[1 alpha,2 beta(5Z),3 alpha(1E,3S),4 alpha]-7-(3-[3-hydroxy-4
      (p- [125I]iodophenoxy)-1-butenyl]7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-5-hepte noic acid
      ([125I]BOP) showed U46619, SQ29548, PGF2 alpha, and PGE2 competition for TXA2
      receptor binding at concentrations similar to their EC50 values for aortic
      contraction, while binding competition with [3H]PGF2 alpha and [3H]PGE2
      demonstrated the specificity of [125I]BOP and SQ29548 for TXA2 receptors. The
      results suggest that 1) PGF2 alpha- and E2-stimulated vessel contraction is due
      to cross-agonism at vascular TXA2 receptors; 2) PGF2 alpha stimulates TXA2
      receptor-independent vascular smooth muscle protein synthesis at nanomolar
      concentrations, consistent with an interaction at its primary receptor; and 3)
      TXA2 is a potent stimulus for vascular smooth muscle contraction and protein
      synthesis. We suggest that the main physiologic effect of PGF2 alpha may be as a
      stimulus for vascular smooth muscle cell hypertrophy, not as a contractile
      agonist.

PMID- 1447226
TI  - Sphingolipid transport in mitotic HeLa cells.
AB  - Mitotic and interphase HeLa cells were labeled with [3H]serine. Ceramide and its
      derivatives, lactosylceramide and sphingomyelin, were biosynthetically labeled
      under both conditions. Only in the absence of nocodazole, as the cells entered
      telophase, was an additional glycosphingolipid synthesized which was identified
      as GA2 (GalNAc(beta 1,4)Gal(beta 1,4)Glc(beta 1,1)Cer). Ceramide, the basic
      sphingolipid precursor, is synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum, whereas its
      immediate derivatives are synthesized in early Golgi compartments. Transport of
      newly synthesized proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi is
      inhibited in mitotic cells while ceramide acquires early Golgi modifications
      under the same conditions, suggesting that ceramide can be delivered to the Golgi
      by a different route. Since GA2 is synthesized in late Golgi, its absence in
      mitotic cells strongly argues for an in vivo inhibition of intra-Golgi transport,
      an observation with important implications for the mechanism of Golgi division.

PMID- 1447227
TI  - A comparative study of ultrastructures of the interfaces between four kinds of
      surface-active ceramic and bone.
AB  - The interfaces between four kinds of surface-active ceramic and bone were studied
      by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
      using undecalcified specimens. The materials were Bioglass-type glass (Bioglass),
      Ceravital-type glass-ceramic (KGS), apatite- and wollastonite-containing glass
      ceramic (A-W.GC) and hydroxyapatite (HA). Particles of these materials, ranging
      between about 100 and 300 microns in diameter, were implanted into rat tibiae,
      and specimens were prepared for observation at 8 weeks after implantation. All
      materials were observed to bond to bone through a collagen-free layer consisting
      of fine apatite crystals distinct from those in bone. The crystals of this
      apatite layer and those of bone were intermingled at their interface, suggesting
      chemical bonding. In Bioglass, which had only a glassy phase, several tens of
      microns of the material surface had changed to such an apatite layer. In KGS and
      A-W.GC, which had macrocrystals in the glassy phase, an intervening apatite layer
      about 0.5 micron thick was observed between the materials and bone. Furthermore,
      fine apatite crystals were also observed among the macrocrystals near the surface
      of the materials. In HA, which had no glassy phase, an intervening apatite layer
      was much less distinct and sometimes absent. These differences were considered to
      be attributable to the differences in chemical composition, crystallization, and
      solubility of the materials.

PMID- 1447228
TI  - Influence of fibril length upon ePTFE graft healing and host modification of the
      implant.
AB  - Influence of fibril length (porosity) upon synthetic vascular graft healing has
      not been investigated in detail. The purpose of this study was to determine the
      dependence of neoendothelial healing, cellular response, and biocompatibility on
      the fibril length of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts with an
      internal diameter of 1.5 mm. ePTFE grafts of different fibril length, 20, 40, 60,
      and 90 microns, were implanted into the abdominal aorta of rats (n = 5 for each
      group). After 5 weeks, the implants were harvested and examined for neointimal
      and pseudointimal coverage by light microscopy and SEM. The hydroxyproline
      content of the implants was measured, and the distribution of collagen types was
      examined. The neointimal and pseudointimal coverage was related to the fibril
      length, and the neoendothelial healing was better on 60-microns and 90-microns
      grafts than on 20-microns and 40-microns grafts. The amount of hydroxyproline was
      also related to the fibril length, however, no significant difference could be
      observed between 60-microns and 90-microns grafts. Collagen types I and III were
      almost identically located in the middle portion of the implants. Our results
      demonstrate that the fibril length of ePTFE grafts affected neoendothelial
      healing and its affinity to collagen.

PMID- 1447229
TI  - Spatial and temporal changes in compliance following implantation of
      bioresorbable vascular grafts.
AB  - Compliance matching between the host vessel and vascular grafts used for small
      diameter arterial replacements is thought to be important for long-term patency.
      However, currently available grafts elicit fibroplastic reactions, resulting in
      decreasing compliance with time after implantation. Bioresorbable prostheses
      elicit ingrowth of myofibroblasts containing abundant contractile elements. This
      led us to investigate whether compliance of implanted bioresorbable prostheses
      decreased as a function of time and if the kinetics of change correlated with the
      progression of tissue ingrowth. Woven polyglactin 910 prostheses (10 mm x 4 mm
      i.d.) were implanted into adult NZW rabbit infrarenal aortas and replicates were
      harvested serially through 8 months. Control grafts were implanted, and
      immediately resected. Dynamic compliance was measured at 1-mm axial increments
      along each explant using a pulse duplicator apparatus which exposed the harvested
      samples to realistic pulsatile hemodynamics. Compliance was calculated for
      proximal, mid, and distal segments of each graft and averaged at each time point
      by grouping into control (zero time, n = 3), early (1-4 weeks, n = 13), and late
      (6-36 weeks, n = 9) explant periods. At late explant periods both proximal and
      distal compliance were significantly greater than mid graft compliance (p < .02
      and p < .03, respectively). There was a significant increase in proximal
      compliance between early and late explant times (p < .01). Measured increases in
      mid and distal segment compliance over time did not reach statistical
      significance. Myofibroblast laden tissue ingrowth into the inner capsule followed
      macrophage phagocytosis and was nearly complete prior to the time that an
      increase in compliance was demonstrated. Thus since the major histologic episodes
      precede the change in compliance, these are not likely initiated by this
      biomechanical change. We hypothesize the graft resorption coupled with the
      ingrowth of more compliant tissue likely leads to the increased compliance of the
      graft material.

PMID- 1447230
TI  - Toxic effect of ethylene-oxide-sterilized freeze-dried bone allograft on human
      gingival fibroblasts.
AB  - Freeze-dried bone allograft (FDBA) which either had or had not been sterilized by
      exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO) prior to lyophilization was obtained from two
      commercial sources. EtO-sterilized FDBA was reexposed to EtO as a positive
      control. Gas chromatograph assays revealed that three out of four commercially
      obtained EtO sterilized FDBA had no detectable EtO, with one sample having 0.21
      parts per million (PPM). Surprisingly, 0.24 PPM was detected in one sample which
      had not been sterilized with EtO gas. This was presumed due to contamination from
      a gas-sterilized rubber stopper. In the cell toxicity study, FDBA and human
      gingival fibroblasts (HGF) were added simultaneously, incubated for 72 h, and
      fixed and stained. Samples of FDBA sterilized with EtO which were free of EtO did
      not alter HGF growth. However, the positive control FDBA which contained 0.72 PPM
      EtO had a deleterious effect on HGF. FDBA with EtO residuals caused morphologic
      change in HGF.

PMID- 1447231
TI  - Porous polyurethane vascular prostheses with variable compliances.
AB  - A new technique for the preparation of porous vascular prostheses was
      investigated. Polyurethane solution (5 to 15 wt%) was injected into a mold. After
      freezing at low temperature (0 degrees C-196 degrees C), solvents were dissolved
      out with water at 0 degrees C to form porous tubes. The average pore size
      (several microns to 70 microns), pore occupation (10% to 51%), and compliance (3%
      to 35%) were easily changed by changing polyurethane concentration, freezing
      temperature, and freezing methods. Compliances could be decreased gradually by
      heat treatment. This technique can give a proper pore size (30-60 microns) for
      tissue ingrowth, and a suitable compliance for matching with arteries and veins.
      This method might give a desired compliant graft for artificial implantation with
      the presently valid medical polymers.

PMID- 1447232
TI  - Storage and elimination of titanium, aluminum, and vanadium salts, in vivo.
AB  - Hamsters were injected with titanium, aluminum, and vanadium salts either
      intraperitoneally or intramuscularly to study the transport, storage, and
      elimination of these metals. Blood samples were taken at 4 h or 24 h, and urine
      samples were taken at 24, 48, and 72 h. The hamsters were then injected weekly
      for 5 weeks after the initial injection. Blood and portions of the kidneys,
      liver, lung, and spleen were taken at sacrifice. All samples were analyzed for
      titanium, aluminum, and vanadium concentrations using graphite furnace atomic
      absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS). Titanium was found not to be excreted in the
      urine, was found in low levels in the blood, and was elevated over control in the
      kidney, liver, and spleen. Aluminum detection via GFAAS showed wide standard
      deviations and high levels in controls; however, aluminum was found to be
      excreted in the urine, and to be transported by the blood in the experimental
      animals. A small amount accumulated in the liver and spleen. Vanadium was
      excreted in high levels in the urine. A small amount was found in the blood, and
      the level in the organs was below the reliable detection limits. The rapid
      excretion of vanadium might be related to its solubility in physiological
      conditions, while the limited excretion of titanium may be related to its being
      insoluble in the physiologic environment.

PMID- 1447233
TI  - Tissue compatibility of collagen-silicone composites in a rat subcutaneous model.
AB  - Collagen-silicone composites were fabricated and tested for biocompatibility by
      subcutaneous implantation in rats. The silicone component consisted of addition
      cure or condensation cure sheets. The collagen component was either (a) a sponge
      layer 2 mm thick, (b) a thin film 12-20 microns thick, or (c) residual collagen
      bonded to or incorporated in the silicone rubber. Collagen sponges were
      mechanically bonded to silicone sheets, and collagen thin films and residual
      collagen were physically and chemically attached to epoxy-derivatized silicone
      sheets. Analysis of implanted samples showed that reduced capsule formation
      occurred around collagen sponge-silicone, compared to control silicone sheets.
      Only where the underlying silicone sheet, or interpenetrating silicone, was
      exposed to the tissue, did limited capsule formation occur. In contrast, thin
      capsule developed completely around silicone coated with a thin collagen film and
      around silicone bonded to residual collagen. Sponge-silicone composites and
      control silicone sheets were free of acute and chronic inflammation, except for
      occasional foreign body giant cells in sponge adjacent to silicone. Silicone
      coated with micron-thick collagen films exhibited some inflammation, but residual
      collagen-silicone did not. This study suggests that, to prevent capsule
      formation, a collagen coat must be of minimum thickness and surface coverage
      sufficient to prevent any contact between silicone and tissue.

PMID- 1447234
TI  - Avoidance of photoactivation in the epifluorescence video microscopic observation
      of thrombosis.

PMID- 1447235
TI  - Unnecessary arthroscopy.

PMID- 1447236
TI  - The significance of calf thrombi after total knee arthroplasty.
AB  - We reviewed the records of 1257 patients having 1625 total knee arthroplasties;
      all had pre-operative and postoperative perfusion lung scans and postoperative
      venograms which were classified as showing no thrombi, calf thrombi or proximal
      thrombi. Patients with calf thrombi were found to have a significantly greater
      risk for both symptomatic and asymptomatic pulmonary embolism compared with
      patients with no venographic thrombi. There were positive lung scans in 6.9% of
      patients with calf thrombi compared with 2.0% of patients with negative venograms
      (p < 0.001). Symptomatic pulmonary embolism occurred in 1.6% of patients with
      calf thrombi compared with 0.2% of patients with negative venograms (p = 0.034).
      The risk of pulmonary embolism was not significantly different between patients
      with treated proximal thrombi, and those with calf thrombi. Patients who develop
      deep-vein thrombosis despite prophylaxis are at increased risk for pulmonary
      embolism; these patients should receive treatment, or undergo follow-up studies
      to detect proximal propagation.

PMID- 1447237
TI  - Long-term results of total condylar knee arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - We have reviewed at an average period of ten years the results of 71 consecutive
      primary arthroplasties with the Insall-Burstein total condylar knee prosthesis in
      patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Their mean age at surgery was 52 years (24 to
      72). At follow-up the overall results (Hospital for Special Surgery knee rating
      score) were excellent or good in 77%, fair in 11% and poor in 11%. There was
      residual pain in only 5% of patients with prostheses in situ; 58% could walk more
      than 500 m, and the median range of motion was 108 degrees. Eight knees had been
      revised. Five underwent arthrodesis because of deep infection and three needed
      revision arthroplasty for mechanical loosening. The crude survival rate of the
      arthroplasties was 89%. The presence of radiolucency around the tibial component
      correlated significantly with the severity of residual pain.

PMID- 1447238
TI  - Soft-tissue balance and alignment in medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.
AB  - We reviewed two similar groups of patients with medial osteoarthritis of the knee
      treated by unicompartmental arthroplasty. The group receiving an Oxford meniscal
      bearing implant, with no medial release, showed significantly better mechanical
      alignment than that receiving a fixed-bearing implant. Under-correction, with its
      ominous mechanical implications, was much more common with the fixed-bearing
      design. Over-correction was rare and was seen in both designs about equally.
      Degenerative stenosis of the intercondylar notch was common and appeared to put
      the anterior cruciate ligament at risk of rupture, especially after correction of
      the varus deformity. We consider that postoperative leg alignment and soft-tissue
      balance after unicompartmental knee replacement are determined more by the
      implant design and the surgical technique than by any variation in soft-tissue
      contracture. Release of the medial collateral ligament is not necessary for
      realignment, but a generous notchplasty is often needed to allow normal anterior
      cruciate ligament function.

PMID- 1447239
TI  - Isolated rupture of the popliteus with posterior tibial nerve palsy.
AB  - We report the case of a 59-year-old man with severe knee pain and inability to
      flex his toes or invert his plantar flexed foot after an external rotation injury
      to his knee. MRI showed rupture of the popliteus with a haematoma compressing the
      neurovascular bundle in the proximal calf, and electromyography demonstrated
      signs of an axonotmesis of the posterior tibial nerve. There was progressive
      nerve recovery over 24 weeks. Isolated rupture of the popliteus should be
      considered in any patient with an acute haemarthrosis, lateral tenderness and a
      stable knee, especially after an external rotation injury.

PMID- 1447240
TI  - A collarless cobalt-chrome femoral component in uncemented total hip
      arthroplasty. Five- to eight-year follow-up.
AB  - We implanted 57 uncemented cobalt-chrome porous-coated collarless femoral
      components into 51 patients (mean age 49 years). At review, five to eight years
      postoperatively, good or excellent results were recorded in 70% by the Mayo
      Clinic hip evaluation and in 84% by the Harris hip score. Revision for aseptic
      loosening of the femoral stem was necessary in only one hip. Thigh pain
      diminished with time and was present in only two hips at the time of review.
      Endosteal bone formation was seen at the junction of the smooth and the porous
      segments of the stem in 94% of hips and in 60% it continued after three years. In
      90% of hips, proximal femoral atrophy did not progress after three years.
      Discontinuous radiolucent lines were seen around 30% of stems, most commonly in
      zones I, IV and VII. They were not progressive in 94% and their presence did not
      correlate with the clinical outcome.

PMID- 1447241
TI  - Cemented versus uncemented femoral components in the ring hip prosthesis.
AB  - A prospective, randomised and independently assessed trial of the Ring UPM total
      hip replacement showed that the quality of the early result was better if the
      femoral prosthesis was cemented than if it was not. More patients with cemented
      prostheses were painfree at four months (58% cemented:42% uncemented) and at one
      year (63% cemented:50% uncemented), but at two years pain relief was equal in
      both groups. At two years significantly more patients with cemented prostheses
      could walk without support (96% cemented:62% uncemented, p = 0.01 to 0.05). There
      is a need for more similar trials to compare the results of contemporary designs
      of cemented and uncemented total hip prostheses.

PMID- 1447242
TI  - Lymphocyte response to polymethylmethacrylate in loose total hip prostheses.
AB  - We investigated the lymphocyte-mediated immune response to polymethylmethacrylate
      bone cement in 26 patients who had revision surgery for aseptic loosening of
      cemented total hip arthroplasties, at a mean time of seven years after the first
      replacement. We studied eight patients with cemented total hip arthroplasties
      which were not loose as controls. Patch tests to polymethylmethacrylate bone
      cement were positive in 13 patients with loosening, and these patients had higher
      lymphoblast transformation values against polymethylmethacrylate bone cement
      patients with a negative skin reaction (p < 0.01) or those in the control group
      (p < 0.001). Specific monoclonal antibodies were used to assess the percentage of
      certain cells of the immune system according to their cluster of differentiation
      (CD). There was a higher number of total T and B lymphocytes (CD2 and CD22) and
      interleukin-2 receptor-positive lymphocytes (activated cells, CD25) in patients
      with loose prostheses. More CD25 lymphocytes were found in patients with positive
      patch tests. The activation of the lymphocyte-mediated immune response was not
      related to the presence or absence of aggressive granulomatous lesions at the
      cement-bone interface.

PMID- 1447243
TI  - Systemic distribution of wear debris after hip replacement. A cause for concern?
AB  - The production of particulate wear debris is a recognised complication of joint
      arthroplasty, but interest has concentrated on local tissue reactions and a
      possible association with implant loosening. The fate of wear products in the
      body remains unknown, although some of the metals used in the construction of
      orthopaedic implants are known to have toxic and oncogenic properties. We report
      histological and electron-microscopic evidence from two cases which shows that
      metallic debris can be identified in the lymphoreticular tissues of the body
      distant from the hip some years after joint replacement. The increase in the use
      of total arthroplasty in younger patients, the development of new alloys and the
      use of porous coatings must raise concern for the long-term effects of the
      accumulation of wear debris in the body.

PMID- 1447244
TI  - Classification of fractures of the tibial condyles.
AB  - We analysed 131 fractures of the tibial condyles in 130 patients, using a
      modification of the classification of Schatzker, McBroom and Bruce (1979). The
      patients were reviewed at an average of 7.6 years after the injury. Fifty-five
      (42%) fractures had been treated conservatively and 76 (58%) operatively. Medial
      unicondylar and medially tilted bicondylar fractures tended to redisplace into
      varus position and lateral unicondylar and laterally tilted bicondylar fractures
      into valgus. There were significant differences when the results were evaluated
      according to the methods of Hohl and Luck (1956) and Rasmussen (1973). Using our
      method in conservatively treated cases, the subjective results were acceptable in
      49.1%, the functional results in 60.0% and the clinical results in 52.7%. In
      cases treated by operation the equivalent figures were 57.9%, 73.7% and 52.6%.
      The poorest results followed displaced medial condylar and medially tilted
      bicondylar fractures. Varus alignment of the tibial plateau was tolerated worse
      than valgus alignment.

PMID- 1447245
TI  - Fracture of the tibial spine in adults and children. A review of 31 cases.
AB  - We reviewed 19 adults and 12 children who had been treated for avulsion fractures
      of the tibial spine. Adult injuries have not previously been reported at length;
      most were caused by road-traffic accidents, and 68% were associated with other
      injuries, of which 58% were around the knee. The higher incidence of associated
      injuries in adults as compared with children, indicates that the injury is the
      result of greater energy and perhaps a different mechanism. The worse outcome in
      some adults was due to other associated intra-articular fractures and tears of
      the medial collateral ligament. Arthroscopy is useful in both diagnosis and
      treatment. Early accurate diagnosis and the correct treatment produce a good
      outcome.

PMID- 1447246
TI  - Absorbable pins of self-reinforced poly-L-lactic acid for fixation of fractures
      and osteotomies.
AB  - We reviewed 27 patients with small-fragment fractures or osteotomies treated by
      internal fixation with absorbable self-reinforced poly-L-lactide pins. The follow
      up time ranged from eight to 37 months. The two most common indications were
      chevron osteotomy of the first metatarsal bone for hallux valgus and displaced
      fracture of the radial head. No redisplacements occurred, and there were no signs
      of inflammatory foreign-body reaction. Biopsy in two patients 20 and 37 months
      after implantation showed that no polymeric material remained.

PMID- 1447247
TI  - Bone regrowth after surgical decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis.
AB  - We reviewed 40 patients treated surgically for lumbar stenosis at an average time
      of 8.6 years after operation. In 32, total laminectomy had been performed and in
      eight bilateral laminotomy, both at one or more levels. Of the 16 patients with
      degenerative spondylolisthesis, ten had had a concomitant spinal fusion. Patients
      were assigned to one of four groups according to the amount of bone regrowth:
      group 0 had no regrowth and groups I, II, and III, had mild, moderate or marked
      regrowth, respectively. Only 12% of the patients showed no bone regrowth; 48%
      were assigned to group I, 28% to group II and 12% to group III. Imaging studies
      showed varying degrees of recurrent stenosis in patients with moderate or marked
      bone regrowth. All patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis showed bone
      regrowth, which was more severe in those who had not had a fusion. The clinical
      results were satisfactory in most of the patients with mild or no bone regrowth
      and significantly less good in those with moderate or marked regrowth. In the
      group with degenerative spondylolisthesis, the proportion of satisfactory results
      was significantly higher in patients who had had spinal fusion. The long-term
      results of surgery for lumbar stenosis depend both upon the amount of bone
      regrowth and the degree of postoperative vertebral stability.

PMID- 1447248
TI  - Spinal cord monitoring during operative correction of neuromuscular scoliosis.
AB  - We report our experience of the monitoring of spinal somatosensory evoked
      potentials in 60 patients with neuromuscular scoliosis. In 15 cases a significant
      change occurred in the trace when a sublaminar wire was tightened. There were no
      postoperative neurological deficits attributable to the surgery.

PMID- 1447249
TI  - Upper-limb surgery for tetraplegia.
AB  - We reviewed the results of reconstruction of 97 upper limbs in a consecutive
      series of 57 tetraplegic patients, treated from 1982 to 1990. Of these, 49 had
      functional and eight had cosmetic reconstructions. The principal functional
      objectives were to provide active elbow extension, hook grip, and key pinch.
      Elbow extension was provided in 34 limbs, using deltoid-to-triceps transfer. Hook
      grip was provided in 58 limbs, mostly using extensor carpi radialis longus to
      flexor pollicis longus transfer, and key pinch in 68, mostly using
      brachioradialis to flexor pollicis longus transfer. Many other procedures were
      employed. At an average follow-up of 37 months, 70% had good or excellent
      subjective results, and objective measurements of function compared favourably
      with other series. Revisions were required for 11 active transfers and three
      tenodeses, while complications included rupture of anastomoses and problems with
      thumb interphalangeal joint stabilisation and wound healing. We report a reliable
      clinical method for differentiating between the activity of extensor carpi
      radialis longus and brevis and describe a successful new split flexor pollicis
      longus tenodesis for stabilising the thumb interphalangeal joint. Bilateral
      simultaneous surgery gave generally better results than did unilateral surgery.

PMID- 1447250
TI  - Osteoplastic repair of the atlas.
AB  - Fractures of the atlas constitute 4% to 12% of all bony injuries of the cervical
      spine; most are treated successfully by a cervical orthosis. Nonunion may be
      associated with neck or scalp pain on movement and is treated conventionally by
      some form of craniocervical fusion, which restricts head movement. The authors
      describe a case in which direct repair of the bony ring with a titanium plate and
      screws allowed bone healing, relieved the symptoms and maintained a full range of
      neck movements. The titanium plate interfered little with postoperative MR and CT
      imaging.

PMID- 1447251
TI  - A significant proportion of patients with osteosarcoma may belong to Li-Fraumeni
      cancer families.
AB  - We studied the pedigrees of 17 index patients with osteosarcoma, recording
      malignant disease and cause of death for first- and second-degree relatives.
      There were seven cancers and five cancer deaths per 2151.5 person-years in first
      degree relatives of osteosarcoma patients under the age of 50 years, a
      significantly greater incidence than in an age- and sex-matched population group
      (p < 0.001). This excess of malignancy was largely due to two families which
      fulfilled the criteria for the Li-Fraumeni cancer family syndrome. Both of these
      families were shown to have the genetic alterations in the p53 gene which have
      been implicated in this syndrome. Our study suggests that orthopaedic surgeons
      seeing new cases of osteosarcoma should arrange screening for familial
      malignancy.

PMID- 1447252
TI  - Massive femoral allografts followed for 22 to 36 years. Report of six cases.
AB  - Six massive femoral allografts followed up for 22 to 36 years are described.
      Three were intercalary, two were osteoarticular and one was a total femoral
      replacement. Their functional rating according to the Musculoskeletal Tumor
      Society System (Enneking 1987) averaged 82% (56 to 100). The radiographic score
      averaged 75% (48 to 100). Four allografts had suffered fractures, but three of
      these had later united to give good final scores. Our study shows that massive
      femoral allografts can function well for as long as 36 years.

PMID- 1447253
TI  - Management and outcome in tibial dysplasia.
AB  - Tibial dysplasia is a rare congenital deformity which must be distinguished from
      the more common fibular dysplasia. We have reviewed 24 patients with 35 affected
      legs. The classification system of Kalamchi and Dawe (1985) was found to be
      preferable to that of Jones, Barnes and Lloyd-Roberts (1978) as a guide to
      prognosis and management. We discuss the outcome of surgical treatment,
      recommending selective amputation for most cases.

PMID- 1447254
TI  - Modification of the L'Episcopo procedure for brachial plexus birth palsies.
AB  - We reviewed 19 children who had undergone a new modification of the L'Episcopo
      procedure for obstetric brachial plexus palsy. Through an axillary approach the
      latissimus dorsi tendon was re-routed anteriorly to the humerus and then
      anastomosed to the teres major tendon routed posteriorly. At an average follow-up
      of four years two months, the mean increase in shoulder abduction was 26 degrees
      and the mean increase in external rotation was 29 degrees. No neurovascular
      injury or postoperative infection occurred. Two patients had complications, and
      five did not gain from the procedure. The modified operation was relatively
      easier to perform and provided excellent cosmesis.

PMID- 1447255
TI  - Ehlers-Danlos syndrome with soft-tissue contractures.
AB  - We report four patients with a form of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome associated with
      soft-tissue contractures from birth and skin hyperalgesia. In early infancy,
      these cases were thought to be forms of arthrogryposis multiplex congenita,
      Larsen's syndrome or Marfan's syndrome. The characteristic triad of signs of
      Ehlers-Danlos disease gradually appeared from four to six years of age, allowing
      us to establish the correct diagnosis. We discuss the differential diagnosis of
      these connective-tissue disorders and the problems of the orthopaedic treatment
      of the associated joint deformities. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a heterogeneous
      group of metabolic diseases of collagen and our cases constitute a group which is
      distinct from the conventional types.

PMID- 1447256
TI  - Osteomyelitis of the calcaneum.
AB  - We reviewed 52 cases of osteomyelitis of the calcaneum. The clinical symptoms and
      signs were well defined, but different and less dramatic than those of long-bone
      osteomyelitis. Blood cultures were positive in 41% of cases and tissue cultures
      in 91%. Routine haematological tests were of little value, and radiological
      changes were often delayed, and were absent in 12%. With early diagnosis,
      treatment with antibiotics alone was usually effective, but complications and
      chronic disease were more likely if there was delay. Early diagnosis is the key
      to successful treatment. We describe a new physical sign and consider that
      diagnosis is almost always possible by clinical methods.

PMID- 1447258
TI  - Repair of cervical nerve roots proximal to the root ganglia. An experimental
      study in sheep.
AB  - An experimental model was established to investigate the possibility of repairing
      cervical nerve roots damaged above the dorsal root ganglion, as occurs in
      traction injuries of the brachial plexus. In four sheep the C6 root was divided
      and repaired within the dura using freeze-thawed muscle grafts. Recovery was
      assessed after eight months by electrophysiology and histology. Action potentials
      were recorded distal to the grafts in all four sheep, indicating regeneration of
      motor fibres. Histological examination showed regenerated fibres in the ventral
      roots below the grafts in all cases. These fibres could be traced distally to the
      brachial plexus. There was no evidence of recovery of dorsal roots.

PMID- 1447257
TI  - Medial meniscus replacement by a tendon autograft. Experiments in sheep.
AB  - In 20 skeletally mature female merino sheep, divided into four groups, we
      performed total medial meniscectomy, removal of the middle third of the patellar
      tendon, and tenotomy of the calcaneal tendon of the right hind leg. Group I
      (control) had no additional procedures. In the other three groups the medial
      meniscus was replaced by the middle third of the patellar tendon from the
      ipsilateral knee. The animals were killed at three (group II), six (group III),
      or 12 months (group IV) and the tendon-meniscus examined macroscopically, by
      light and scanning electron microscopy, and biomechanically. Remodelling of the
      tissue had taken place by 12 months but the failure stress and tensile modulus
      for the tendon-meniscus were lower than for the normal meniscus. Our evidence
      suggests that, in sheep, replacement of a meniscus by a tendon autograft may
      decrease the severity of the degenerative changes that occur after meniscectomy.

PMID- 1447259
TI  - Lipids and Dupuytren's disease.
AB  - We studied prospectively the relationship between serum lipids and Dupuytren's
      disease of the hand in 85 patients, 65 men and 20 women. The Dupuytren patients
      had significantly higher fasting serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels than
      did the controls (p < 0.001). The raised levels of serum lipids appeared to be
      associated with the pathogenesis of Dupuytren's disease, and this may help to
      explain the high incidence of Dupuytren's disease in alcoholic, diabetic and
      epileptic patients, since these conditions are also associated with raised serum
      lipid levels.

PMID- 1447260
TI  - Multicentric Gorham's disease.

PMID- 1447261
TI  - Pathological fracture due to retained surgical gauze.

PMID- 1447262
TI  - Failure of cementless hip replacements.

PMID- 1447263
TI  - Hydroxyapatite coating of prostheses.

PMID- 1447264
TI  - Ionising radiation and the orthopaedic surgeon.

PMID- 1447265
TI  - Thigh pain after hip arthroplasty.

PMID- 1447266
TI  - Test for calcaneal tendon rupture.

PMID- 1447267
TI  - Influence of coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction on
      postoperative mortality in vascular surgery.
AB  - In an attempt to assess the influence of coronary artery disease and left
      ventricular dysfunction on postoperative mortality, 107 patients consisting of 32
      AAA resections and 44 aortoiliac and 31 femoropopliteal reconstructions were
      reviewed. All patients had a preoperative coronary angiograms and underwent
      cardiac catheterization to prevent cardiac-related deaths. Severe coronary artery
      disease was angiographically demonstrated in 40.6% of AAA, 31.8% of AI and 3.2%
      of FP patients. Severe left ventricular dysfunction was found in 21.9% of AAA,
      18.2% of AI and 6.5% of FP. Both of the early and 5 (45.5%) of the 11 late deaths
      were caused by cardiac events. The nine-year survival rate (53.3%) in the
      patients with a documented combination of coronary artery disease and left
      ventricular dysfunction was significantly lower than those in patients with
      normal disease, normal left ventricular function and either documented coronary
      artery disease or left ventricular dysfunction. It is suggested from this series
      that left ventricular dysfunction is one of the most important risk factors in
      patients who undergo AAA resection and AI reconstruction and that severe disease
      and postoperative mortality are possibly reduced by certain kinds of
      interventional coronary therapies.

PMID- 1447268
TI  - Influence of age on late results of valve replacement with porcine bioprostheses.
AB  - From 1976 to 1987, 877 patients, aged 13 to 80 years, underwent valve replacement
      with a Carpentier-Edwards porcine bioprosthesis--330 aortic, 421 mitral, and 126
      multiple replacements. Patients were divided into 4 age groups, according to
      their age at the time of surgery: group I, less than 45 years (190 patients),
      group II, 45 to 54 years (203 patients), group III, 55 to 64 years (304), and
      group IV, 65 to 80 years (180 patients). Follow-up was 97.5 complete, averaged 85
      months, and totalled 5624 patient-years. There were 79 early deaths (9%), and 181
      late deaths. Overall survival was 80% and 64% at 5 and 10 years. Operative
      mortality increased significantly with age, and late survival was significantly
      better for group I. Intrinsic structural deterioration was the most common cause
      for reoperation and was responsible for 91% of the 143 reoperations. Incidence of
      intrinsic structural deterioration and of reoperation decreased significantly
      with increasing age, with respective freedom rates at 10 years of 57 and 54 in
      group I compared to 93 and 92% in group IV. Freedom from treatment failure
      (including early deaths, valve-related deaths, and valve-related complications
      with permanent disability) was similar for all 4 groups ranging from 78 to 85%,
      without any correlation with age of the patient. At last follow-up, a similar
      proportion of patients of each group remained asymptomatic, patients in
      functional class I ranging from 50 to 55%. Thus, age is a major determinant of
      durability of bioprostheses, but it does not appear to have a significant role in
      the overall success of valve replacement.

PMID- 1447269
TI  - Noninvasive assessment of internal thoracic artery for reoperative coronary
      artery surgery.
AB  - To determine whether previous sternotomy alters internal thoracic artery (ITA)
      anatomy and flow characteristics, a duplex scanner was used for noninvasive
      evaluation of the ITA in 59 patients who were scheduled for reoperative coronary
      artery bypass surgery. The left ITA was insonated through the third intercostal
      space by use of a duplex scanner (5.0 MHz probe). Measurements of the ITA
      diameter (mm) and peak systolic velocity (cm/sec) were obtained; ITA flow was
      calculated from velocity and cross-sectional area. These findings were compared
      with the values obtained from 105 patients who were scheduled to undergo first
      time (primary) coronary artery surgery during the same time period. In the
      reoperative group, preoperative mean ITA diameter was 2.26 +/- 0.06 mm; this was
      not significantly different from the primary group's mean ITA diameter of 2.15 +/
      0.04 mm (p = 0.09). Mean peak systolic velocity was 79.9 +/- 2.4 cm/sec and
      calculated systolic blood flow was 204.6 +/- 13.1 ml/min in the reoperative
      patients, as compared with 83.3 +/- 2.1 cm/sec and 189.5 +/- 8.6 ml/min in the
      primary group, respectively. Values were similar in both groups for the peak
      systolic velocity (p = 0.31) and calculated systolic blood flow (p = 0.32). These
      results suggest that previous heart surgery or sternotomy does not adversely
      affect ITA anatomy and flow characteristics. We conclude that ultrasonic imaging
      is an easily applicable technique for preoperative assessment of ITA in patients
      who have undergone previous sternotomy.

PMID- 1447270
TI  - Retroperfusion and balloon support to improve coronary revascularization.
AB  - Coronary venous retroperfusion and Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) support are
      methods currently utilized to reduce ischemic damage prior to revascularization
      of acutely ischemic myocardium. This study was undertaken to determine whether
      combining coronary venous retroperfusion using Pressure Controlled Intermittent
      Coronary Sinus Occlusion (PICSO) with the IABP would result in improved salvage
      of ischemic myocardium. In 40 adult pigs, the second and third diagonal vessels
      were occluded with snares for 1 1/2 hours followed by 1/2 hours of cardioplegic
      arrest and 3 hours of reperfusion with the snares released. During the period of
      coronary occlusion prior to arrest, 10 pigs received the IABP, 10 had PICSO, 10
      had PICSO+IABP, while 10 had no intervention (Unmodified). Ischemic damage was
      assessed by echocardiographic wall motion scores, myocardial pH, and the area of
      necrosis/area of risk using histochemical staining. Both PICSO and the IABP alone
      significantly reduced ischemic damage. However, the best wall motion scores,
      highest pH, and least necrosis was seen in the IABP+PICSO group. We conclude that
      the combination of coronary venous retroperfusion using PICSO and the IABP
      results in the most optimal recovery of acutely ischemic myocardium during
      emergent surgical revascularization.

PMID- 1447271
TI  - Preservation of the pulmonary valve during intracardiac repair of tetralogy of
      Fallot.
AB  - From January 1981 to December 1990, intracardiac repair of tetralogy of Fallot in
      148 pediatric patients, with one surgical death, was directed toward preservation
      of the native pulmonary valve. Using the accepted preoperative angiographic
      criterion for the pulmonary valve annulus area (PVA) of 1.8 cm2/m2, 85 patients
      were candidates for transannular right ventricular outflow patch (TAP). However,
      in 54 patients with a mean PVA of 1.5 cm2/m2 (range 1.06-1.76), the valve was
      preserved without using TAP because the morphological changes (cusp thickening
      and annular distensibility) seemed acceptable for preservation in view of its
      probable hemodynamic efficiency and growth potential. A morphological
      classification of pulmonary valve changes has evolved. Retrospectively, 24 (77%)
      of the 31 patients with TAP had moderate to severe cusp thickening and ring
      rigidity; this incidence was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that in
      preserved patients (18 of 54 or 33%). The incidence of morphological changes
      increased with operative age; that is, 2 of 13 (15%) patients younger than 1 year
      versus 23 of 40 (58%) patients older than 4 years (p < 0.01). All 54 patients
      with preserved pulmonary valves were catheterized one month postoperatively. The
      intraoperative right to left ventricular systolic pressure ratio (RVP/LVP)
      decreased significantly (p < 0.005) in one month, from a mean of 0.79 (range 0.44
      1.36) to 0.57 (range 0.36-0.97). The PVA increased from a mean of 1.5 to 1.9
      cm2/m2 (range 1.20-2.65), and the rate of its increase was significantly larger
      (p < 0.005) as operative age decreased. Pulmonary valve regurgitation of greater
      than mild degree occurred in 8 of 54 (15%) patients with the valve
      preserved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447272
TI  - Internal mammary artery bypass: thirteen years of experience. Influence of angina
      and survival in 5125 patients.
AB  - Internal mammary artery (IMA) bypass to the anterior descending coronary artery
      (ADA) was performed in 5125 patients from January 1978 to December 1990. The
      average age of patients was 68 years; males accounted for 68% (3485 patients) and
      82% (4203) were NYHA Class III. Left ventricular function was impaired (ejection
      fraction < 40%) in 68% (3485 patients). The average number of additional
      saphenous vein graft (SVG) per patient was 2.2. Operative mortality was 1.8%.
      Mediastinitis occurred in 51 patients (1.0%). Reoperation for bleeding was
      necessary in 56 patients (1.1%). Perioperative myocardial infarction was seen in
      102 patients (2.0%) and neurological complications occurred in 51 patients (1%).
      Repeat coronary angiography was performed in 1414 patients (28%) and demonstrated
      a patency rate of 96% in IMA grafts and 75% in SVG grafts (p < 0.001). Survival
      at 13 years was 80% from all causes and 90% when non-cardiac deaths were
      excluded. Recurrence of angina occurred in 768 patients (15%) and reoperation or
      PTCA was performed in 61 (1.2%). During the same time period, 2345 patients
      underwent coronary artery bypass utilizing solely SVG. Survival at 13 years was
      68% from all causes and 78% when non-cardiac deaths were excluded (p < 0.001).
      Recurrent angina was present in 727 patients (31%) (< 0.001). This data suggests
      that long-term probability of cumulative survival and occlusion free survival
      were significantly greater and the probability of recurrent angina and
      reoperative CABG and death from cardiac causes were significantly less in the IMA
      patients and should be the conduit of choice in coronary bypass surgery.

PMID- 1447273
TI  - Simple hypothermic retrograde cerebral perfusion during aortic arch surgery.
AB  - We have found that retrograde cerebral perfusion can be performed by simply
      elevating central venous pressure during aortic arch surgery. During hypothermia
      (15 degrees C) venous blood rich in oxygen perfuses the brain, while the lower
      half of the body is perfused with the descending aorta occluded. Fourteen cases
      of aortic arch aneurysm (11 males, 3 females) were treated by this method and
      evaluated. Median and lateral thoracotomies were performed in 6 and 8 cases,
      respectively. Cerebral circulatory arrest time was 65 +/- 14 min (32-93 min), and
      significant oxygen and lactate extraction were noted in the brain. Eleven cases
      showed no neurologic deficit, but loss of consciousness due to other causes
      occurred in 3. In conclusion, this method maintained the aerobic metabolism of
      the brain and protected it during prolonged cerebral circulatory arrest,
      simplifying the procedure and permitting both median and lateral approaches.

PMID- 1447274
TI  - Haemolysis following mitral valve repair.
AB  - We report the unusual occurrence of severe intra-vascular haemolysis following
      mitral valve repair. Mild to moderate mitral regurgitation was detected after
      repair, but severe haemolysis was the only indication for re-operation. Following
      prosthetic valve replacement there was an immediate cessation of haemolysis. We
      postulate that a small regurgitant jet directed against the teflon pledgets used
      in the repair was the reason for the haemolysis.

PMID- 1447275
TI  - Extensive surgery for primary malignant lymphoma of the heart.
AB  - The surgical treatment of primary malignant lymphoma of the heart in a 43-year
      old man is reported. The tumor was extensively resected together with the right
      atrial wall and both venae cavae, and the resulting defect was repaired with a
      bovine pericardial patch. The postoperative course was fairly stable for more
      than 7 months following surgery, under a regular chemotherapy regimen. The
      patient died of acute pneumonia on the 234th postoperative day. The autopsy
      findings confirmed the diagnosis of primary malignant lymphoma of the heart.

PMID- 1447276
TI  - Results of long-term venacavography study after placement of a Greenfield vena
      caval filter.
AB  - Digital subtraction venacavography (DSV) as a follow-up examination was performed
      in 46 patients after placement of a standard stainless steel Greenfield vena
      caval filter (SGF). DSV is an exact method of visualizing the lumen of the
      inferior vena cava as well as intraluminal or captured thrombi. Eccentric filters
      with an angulation of more than 15 degrees were found in 8 patients causing a
      higher risk of pulmonary embolism from smaller emboli and propagating thrombi.
      Penetration of the caval wall by filter struts was however frequent (41%),
      without any damage to adjacent structures as demonstrated by CT scans. The long
      term caval patency rate was 90%, with 4 cases of caval thrombosis. Two patients
      with an occluded inferior vena cava showed no venostasis. Although changes of the
      filter position usually remain asymptomatic, regular follow-up examinations seem
      necessary to recognize any impairment of the filter's clot trapping efficiency.
      Filters should only be used in patients with a risk of recurrent pulmonary
      embolism despite anticoagulation and patients with contraindications to
      anticoagulation therapy.

PMID- 1447277
TI  - Effects of estrogen on vein grafts.
AB  - The effect of estrogen on veins was evaluated in vitro and in vivo in three
      species. 17 beta-estradiol did not significantly alter 3H-thymidine uptake in
      vitro in segments from either canine femoral or human saphenous veins. In vivo in
      a rabbit carotid vein graft model, 17 beta-estradiol administration did not
      affect the development of intimal hyperplasia but was associated with a higher
      rate of graft thrombosis. These data suggest that the effects of estrogen on
      veins differs from the effects reported in arteries. These differences were seen
      both in vitro in veins taken from their normal location and in vivo in veins
      placed in the arterial circulation.

PMID- 1447278
TI  - Endothelial cell injury in human saphenous veins following use of a circular
      valvulotome.
AB  - With increasing use of nonreversed saphenous vein as a bypass conduit (either in
      situ or translocated) several techniques of valve ablation are used. The present
      study was designed to assess the extent of endothelial damage caused by a
      circular blade valvulotome.

PMID- 1447279
TI  - Do cytokines play a role in skeletal muscle ischemia and reperfusion?
AB  - Cytokines, interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) are known to
      mediate host cell response to sepsis, trauma, and myocardial ischemia. We have
      previously found increased levels of IL-1 in the venous effluent during the
      reperfusion phase of skeletal muscle ischemia in a canine model. This study was
      done to evaluate whether TNF also played a role in skeletal muscle ischemia
      reperfusion injury since IL-1 and TNF have inter-related functions. In twelve
      adult mongrel dogs (28-32 kg) one gracilis muscle was subjected to six hours of
      normothermic ischemia followed by normothermic reperfusion. The contralateral
      side served as a control and remained normally perfused throughout the
      experiment. Gracilis venous samples were collected at pre-ischemia and one hour
      of reperfusion. Systemic (arterial) blood samples were taken simultaneously with
      the venous samples at one hour of reperfusion. At the end of the experiment the
      muscles were harvested and amount of necrosis quantitated by serial transections,
      nitroblue tetrazolium staining and computerized planimetry. Muscle necrosis on
      the experimental side was found to be 48.86 +/- 5.37%. Sera were analyzed for TNF
      activity using a bioassay. TNF levels in the gracilis venous effluent at one hour
      of reperfusion were not significantly different from the simultaneous systemic
      (arterial) levels (27.15 +/- 5.05 pg/ml vs 18.23 +/- 4.27 pg/ml). Pre-ischemic
      levels of TNF were 96.50 +/- 20.12 pg/ml, which was significantly higher than
      either venous or arterial levels obtained after one hour of reperfusion (p <
      0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447280
TI  - Concomitant subclavian and carotid artery disease: the need for a combined
      surgical correction.
AB  - To determine the importance of carotid artery disease in patients undergoing
      revascularization of the proximal subclavian artery for a subclavian steal
      syndrome, an 18-year experience of 55 patients was reviewed. Concomitant carotid
      artery disease (> 50% stenosis) was present in 35 patients (Group I: 63.6%).
      Twenty patients (Group II: 36.4%) had no evidence of hemodynamically significant
      carotid disease. Twenty-five patients in Group I (Group IA: 71.4%) were treated
      by endarterectomy (CEA) for all their carotid lesions while one or both carotid
      lesions were left untreated in 10 patients (Group IB: 28.6%). The actuarial 5
      year freedom rate from neurological events was 87.2% in Group IA, 34.9% in Group
      IB (p < 0.001) and 100% in Group II (Group IB vs. II, p < 0.001; Group IA vs.
      Group II, p = ns). All untreated carotid lesions had a deleterious effect on the
      early and late functional results after surgical reconstruction of the subclavian
      artery. We conclude that the combined correction of subclavian and carotid
      lesions should be recommended in every case.

PMID- 1447281
TI  - Temporal arteritis. Clinical implications for the vascular surgeon.
AB  - Temporal arteritis is a systemic disease with local temporal artery symptoms,
      generalized constitutional symptoms and ocular involvement which affects the
      elderly. A study was undertaken to assess the clinical features of patients with
      temporal arteritis in a large multispecialty clinic practice. The study group
      consisted of 516 patients with clinical suspicion of temporal arteritis, of which
      97 (18.8%) had a positive biopsy for arteritis. The records of these 74 females
      and 23 males were retrospectively reviewed for clinical implications of the
      disease. The average age of the cohort was 71.7 years, and male to female ratio
      was 1:3.2. There were 95 caucasians and 2 blacks. The most common clinical
      findings at presentation were abnormal temporal artery (65.9%), headache (64.8%),
      myalgias or arthralgias (46.6%), visual symptoms (37.1%) and fever (35.1%).
      Multiple symptoms were present in 97% of the patients. The erythrocyte
      sedimentation rate was > 50 mm per hour in 91% of patients. Corticosteroids were
      used to treat 95/97 patients. Twenty-seven (28%) of the patients completed
      treatment over an average 36.3 months. Sixty-eight (72%) other patients were
      either lost to follow-up, died, or continue on therapy. Complications of
      corticosteroid treatment occurred in 43 (44.3%) of patients, and complications of
      temporal arteritis occurred in 14 (14.4%). A review of biopsy data showed no
      difference in length of biopsy or yield of biopsy in the patients with positive
      and the patients with negative histology. Temporal arteritis is a systemic
      disease which responds well to corticosteroid treatment. Complications of the
      disease as well as of treatment make definitive diagnosis imperative.

PMID- 1447282
TI  - False aneurysms after aortic operations.
AB  - Between 1980 and August 1991, we encountered 11 non-infected aortic
      pseudoaneurysms after aortic surgery. The interval between the initial operation
      and revision varied from 1.8 to 26.8 years (mean 15.2 years). Three were found
      more than 20 years after operation. Pulling off of and degrading of the silk
      sutures were considered to be the causes. All patients underwent operative
      correction without mortality. In thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm repair, a
      temporary bypass between the right axillary artery and left external iliac artery
      was generally adopted. There was no need for heparinization with this technique.

PMID- 1447283
TI  - Esmarch's bandage technique in distal bypass surgery.
AB  - Esmarch's rubber bandage technique has been applied to 49 distal bypass surgeries
      in 46 patients during the past ten years. The primary and secondary patency rates
      at 5 years after femoro-tibial bypass surgery were 82% and 92%, respectively.
      This technique has the following advantages: (1) it minimizes surgical injury of
      the arterial wall because there is less dissection around the anastomotic site;
      (2) it decreases scar formation in the anastomotic area after surgery; (3) it
      maintains abundant muscular blood flow by preserving small branches to muscles,
      and (4) it provides a bloodless surgical field and easy handling for fine sutures
      without using vascular clamps. We consider that the avoidance of long
      circumferential dissection of the artery may play an important role in improving
      long-term patency in distal bypass surgery.

PMID- 1447284
TI  - Response of arterial smooth muscle cells to laminar flow.
AB  - This study was designed to determine whether laminar flow influences the
      proliferation rate and morphology of smooth muscle cells (SMC) in culture. Bovine
      aortic SMC were subjected to a shear stress of 6 dyne/cm2. The control group was
      subjected to similar incubation conditions without flow. Flow cytometry
      demonstrated decreased proliferation rate in SMC subjected to laminar flow. This
      phenomenon was still evident 24 hours after flow cessation. SMC were examined by
      light and electron microscopy. SMC subjected to laminar flow aligned along the
      direction of flow assuming a spheric morphology. These changes were reversible
      after a 48-hour resting period. The degree of organization of actin, tubulin and
      other microfilaments was evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence. SMC subjected
      to shear stress showed a clear reorganization of the cytoskeleton with expression
      of stress fibres. These changes were reversible after a 48-hour resting period.
      These findings may contribute to understanding the mechanisms by which SMC in
      vivo respond to forces generated by blood flowing under pressure.

PMID- 1447285
TI  - Isolated popliteal artery occlusion in the young.
AB  - Three young patients with an isolated popliteal artery occlusion are presented,
      two with severe claudication and the third with a critical ischaemic foot. The
      work-up of these patients leads to certain aetiologic possibilities: microtrauma,
      smoking and contraceptive pills. Two of our patients underwent
      thromboembolectomy, the third managed conservatively. The follow-up was between
      six months and seven years and up to now all three patients remain well.

PMID- 1447286
TI  - Hepatic artery aneurysm simulating a pancreatic mass.
AB  - A 61-year-old man presented with a mass in the right upper quadrant of the
      abdomen. Computer tomography scanning (CT) had initially suggested that the
      location was in the head of the pancreas. Further examination with
      ultrasonography and celiac angiography documented that the mass was an aneurysm
      of the common hepatic artery. The successful approach to its surgical management
      is described.

PMID- 1447287
TI  - Assembly and localization of the U1-specific snRNP C protein in the amphibian
      oocyte.
AB  - To study the intranuclear localization of the U1-specific snRNP C protein and its
      assembly into U1 snRNPs, we injected transcripts encoding a myc-tagged C protein
      into amphibian oocytes. The distribution of protein translated from the injected
      RNA was essentially the same in continuous and pulse-label experiments. In both
      cases the C protein localized within the germinal vesicle in those structures
      known to contain U1 snRNPs, namely the lampbrush chromosome loops and hundreds of
      extrachromosomal granules called snurposomes. Oocytes were also injected with an
      antisense oligodeoxynucleotide that caused truncation of U1 snRNA at the 5' end.
      In these oocytes, myc-tagged C protein localized normally in the germinal vesicle
      and could be immunoprecipitated together with truncated U1 snRNA. These
      experiments suggest that the C protein can enter the germinal vesicle on its own
      and there associate with previously assembled U1 snRNPs. In transfected tissue
      culture cells, the myc-tagged C protein localized within the nucleus in a
      speckled pattern similar to that of endogenous U1 snRNPs.

PMID- 1447288
TI  - Restricted distribution of mRNA produced from a single nucleus in hybrid
      myotubes.
AB  - Although the proteins encoded by a single nucleus in multinucleated myotubes have
      a wide range of distributions within the myofiber, little is known about the
      distributions of their mRNAs. We have used hybrid myotubes in which one or a few
      nuclei are derived from myoblasts that express nonmuscle proteins to investigate
      this question. We find that three different mRNAs, encoding proteins that are,
      respectively, nuclear, cytoplasmic, and targeted to the ER, have similar
      distributions within myotubes. Each is confined to an area within approximately
      100 microns of the nucleus that expresses it.

PMID- 1447289
TI  - Multiple GTP-binding proteins regulate vesicular transport from the ER to Golgi
      membranes.
AB  - Using indirect immunofluorescence we have examined the effects of reagents which
      inhibit the function of ras-related rab small GTP-binding proteins and
      heterotrimeric G alpha beta gamma proteins in ER to Golgi transport. Export from
      the ER was inhibited by an antibody towards rab1B and an NH2-terminal peptide
      which inhibits ARF function (Balch, W. E., R. A. Kahn, and R. Schwaninger. 1992.
      J. Biol. Chem. 267:13053-13061), suggesting that both of these small GTP-binding
      proteins are essential for the transport vesicle formation. Export from the ER
      was also potently inhibited by mastoparan, a peptide which mimics G protein
      binding regions of seven transmembrane spanning receptors activating and
      uncoupling heterotrimeric G proteins from their cognate receptors. Consistent
      with this result, purified beta gamma subunits inhibited the export of VSV-G from
      the ER suggesting an initial event in transport vesicle assembly was regulated by
      a heterotrimeric G protein. In contrast, incubation in the presence of GTP gamma
      S or AIF(3-5) resulted in the accumulation of transported protein in different
      populations of punctate pre-Golgi intermediates distributed throughout the
      cytoplasm of the cell. Finally, a peptide which is believed to antagonize the
      interaction of rab proteins with putative downstream effector molecules inhibited
      transport at a later step preceding delivery to the cis Golgi compartment,
      similar to the site of accumulation of transported protein in the absence of NSF
      or calcium (Plutner, H., H. W. Davidson, J. Saraste, and W. E. Balch. 1992. J.
      Cell Biol. 119:1097-1116). These results are consistent with the hypothesis that
      multiple GTP-binding proteins including a heterotrimeric G protein(s), ARF and
      rab1 differentially regulate steps in the transport of protein between early
      compartments of the secretory pathway. The concept that G protein-coupled
      receptors gate the export of protein from the ER is discussed.

PMID- 1447291
TI  - Evidence for a novel route of wheat storage proteins to vacuoles.
AB  - Wheat seed storage proteins are deposited in protein bodies (PB) inside vacuoles,
      but their subcellular site of aggregation and their route to vacuoles are still
      controversial. In the present work, an ultra structural analysis of developing
      wheat endosperm at early to mid maturation was performed to address these issues.
      Golgi complexes were rarely detected, indicating that their role in wheat storage
      protein transport is limited. In contrast, a considerable amount of PB was
      detected in the cytoplasm. Many of these PB were surrounded by RER membranes and
      were enlarged by fusion of smaller PB. Small, electron lucent vesicles were
      detected around the surfaces of the PB in the cytoplasm, or attached to them,
      suggesting that such attachments and subsequent fusion of the vesicles with each
      other lead to the formation of small vacuoles containing PB inclusions.
      Immunogold labeling with serum raised against yeast-BiP, an ER-localized protein,
      demonstrated that the wheat BiP homolog was present within the PB in the
      cytoplasm as well as inside vacuoles. This confirmed that the PB were formed
      within the RER and that the Golgi complex was not involved in their transport to
      vacuoles. It is concluded that a considerable part of the wheat storage proteins
      aggregate into PB within the RER and are then transported as intact PB to the
      vacuoles by a novel route that does not utilize the Golgi complex.

PMID- 1447290
TI  - Morphological analysis of protein transport from the ER to Golgi membranes in
      digitonin-permeabilized cells: role of the P58 containing compartment.
AB  - The glycoside digitonin was used to selectively permeabilize the plasma membrane
      exposing functionally and morphologically intact ER and Golgi compartments.
      Permeabilized cells efficiently transported vesicular stomatitis virus
      glycoprotein (VSV-G) through sealed, membrane-bound compartments in an ATP and
      cytosol dependent fashion. Transport was vectorial. VSV-G protein was first
      transported to punctate structures which colocalized with p58 (a putative marker
      for peripheral punctate pre-Golgi intermediates and the cis-Golgi network) before
      delivery to the medial Golgi compartments containing alpha-1,2-mannosidase II and
      processing of VSV-G to endoglycosidase H resistant forms. Exit from the ER was
      inhibited by an antibody recognizing the carboxyl-terminus of VSV-G. In contrast,
      VSV-G protein colocalized with p58 in the absence of Ca2+ or the presence of an
      antibody which inhibits the transport component NSF (SEC18). These studies
      demonstrate that digitonin permeabilized cells can be used to efficiently
      reconstitute the early secretory pathway in vitro, allowing a direct comparison
      of the morphological and biochemical events involved in vesicular tafficking, and
      identifying a key role for the p58 containing compartment in ER to Golgi
      transport.

PMID- 1447292
TI  - Glycosome assembly in trypanosomes: variations in the acceptable degeneracy of a
      COOH-terminal microbody targeting signal.
AB  - Trypanosomes compartmentalize most of their glycolytic enzymes in a peroxisome
      like microbody, the glycosome. The specificity of glycosomal targeting was
      examined by expression of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase fusion proteins in
      trypanosomes and monkey cells. Compartmentalization was assessed by cell
      fractionation, differential detergent permeabilization, and immunofluorescence.
      The targeting signal of trypanosome phosphoglycerate kinase resides in the COOH
      terminal hexapeptide, NRWSSL; a basic amino acid is not required. The minimal
      targeting signal is, as for mammalian cells, a COOH-terminal tripeptide related
      to -SKL. However, the acceptable degeneracy of the signal for glycosomal
      targeting in trypanosomes is considerably greater than that for peroxisomal
      targeting in mammals, with particularly relaxed requirements in the penultimate
      position.

PMID- 1447293
TI  - Effects of null mutations and overexpression of capping protein on morphogenesis,
      actin distribution and polarized secretion in yeast.
AB  - CAP1, the gene encoding the alpha subunit of Saccharomyces cerevisiae capping
      protein, was cloned using a probe prepared by PCR with primers based on the amino
      acid sequence of purified alpha subunit peptides. The sequence is similar to that
      of capping protein alpha subunits of other species but not to that of the S.
      cerevisiae capping protein beta subunit or any other protein. Null mutants of
      capping protein, prepared by deletion of the coding region of CAP1 and CAP2
      separately or together, are viable and have a similar phenotype. Deletion of the
      gene for one subunit leads to a loss of protein for the other subunit. The null
      mutant has a severe deficit of actin cables and an increased number of actin
      spots in the mother. Cells are round and relatively large. These features are
      heterogeneous within a population of cells and vary with genetic background.
      Overexpression of CAP1 and CAP2 also causes loss of actin cables and cell
      enlargement, as well as the additional traits of aberrant morphogenesis and cell
      wall thickening. Capping protein null strains and overexpression strains
      exhibited normal polarized secretion during bud growth as demonstrated by
      labeling with fluoresceinated Con A. Projection formation and chitin deposition
      in response to mating pheromone, mating efficiency, and bud site selection were
      also normal in capping protein null strains. In addition, bulk secretion of
      invertase was unimpaired. These data indicate that actin cables are not required
      for polarized secretion in S. cerevisiae.

PMID- 1447294
TI  - Cytosol- and clathrin-dependent stimulation of endocytosis in vitro by purified
      adaptors.
AB  - Using stage-specific assays for receptor-mediated endocytosis of transferrin
      (Tfn) into perforated A431 cells we show that purified adaptors stimulate coated
      pit assembly and ligand sequestration into deeply invaginated coated pits. Late
      events in endocytosis involving membrane fission and coated vesicle budding which
      lead to the internalization of Tfn are unaffected. AP2, plasma membrane adaptors,
      are active at physiological concentrations, whereas AP1, Golgi adaptors, are
      inactive. Adaptor-dependent stimulation of Tfn sequestration requires cytosolic
      clathrin, but is unaffected by clathrin purified from coated vesicles suggesting
      that soluble and assembled clathrin pools are functionally distinct. In addition
      to adaptors and cytosolic clathrin other, as yet unidentified, cytosolic factors
      are also required for efficient coated pit invagination. These results provide
      new insight into the mechanisms and regulation of coated pit assembly and
      invagination.

PMID- 1447295
TI  - 5'nucleotidase is sorted to the apical domain of hepatocytes via an indirect
      route.
AB  - In hepatocytes, all newly synthesized plasma membrane (PM) proteins so far
      studied arrive first at the basolateral domain; apically destined proteins are
      subsequently endocytosed and sorted to the apical domain via transcytosis. A
      mechanism for the sorting of newly synthesized glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI)
      linked proteins has been proposed whereby they associate in lipid microdomains in
      the trans-Golgi network and then arrive at the apical domain directly. Such a
      mechanism poses a potential exception to the hepatocyte rule. We have used pulse
      chase techniques in conjunction with subcellular fractionation to compare the
      trafficking of 5' nucleotidase (5NT), an endogenous GPI-anchored protein of
      hepatocytes, with two transmembrane proteins. Using a one-step fractionation
      technique to separate a highly enriched fraction of Golgi-derived membranes from
      ER and PM, we find that both 5NT and the polymeric IgA receptor (pIgAR) traverse
      the ER and Golgi apparatus with high efficiency. Using a method that resolves PM
      vesicles derived from the apical and basolateral domains, we find that 5NT first
      appears at the basolateral domain as early as 30 min of chase. However the
      subsequent redistribution to the apical domain requires > 3.5 h of chase to reach
      steady state. This rate of transcytosis is much slower than that observed for
      dipeptidylpeptidase IV, an apical protein anchored via a single transmembrane
      domain. We propose that the slow rate of transcytosis is related to the fact that
      GPI-linked proteins are excluded from clathrin-coated pits/vesicles, and instead
      must be endocytosed via a slower nonclathrin pathway.

PMID- 1447296
TI  - Direct visualization of the dystrophin network on skeletal muscle fiber membrane.
AB  - Dystrophin, the protein product of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene
      locus, is expressed on the muscle fiber surface. One key to further understanding
      of the cellular function of dystrophin would be extended knowledge about its
      subcellular organization. We have shown that dystrophin molecules are not
      uniformly distributed over the humen, rat, and mouse skeletal muscle fiber
      surface using three independent methods. Incubation of single-teased muscle
      fibers with antibodies to dystrophin revealed a network of denser transversal
      rings (costameres) and finer longitudinal interconnections. Double staining of
      longitudinal semithin cryosections for dystrophin and alpha-actinin showed
      spatial juxtaposition of the costameres to the Z bands. Where peripheral
      myonuclei precluded direct contact of dystrophin to the Z bands the organization
      of dystrophin was altered into lacunae harboring the myonucleus. These lacunae
      were surrounded by a dystrophin ring and covered by a more uniform dystrophin
      veil. Mechanical skinning of single-teased fibers revealed tighter mechanical
      connection of dystrophin to the plasma membrane than to the underlying internal
      domain of the muscle fiber. The entire dystrophin network remained preserved in
      its structure on isolated muscle sarcolemma and identical in appearance to the
      pattern observed on teased fibers. Therefore, connection of defined areas of
      plasma membrane or its constituents such as ion channels to single sarcomeres
      might be a potential function exerted by dystrophin alone or in conjunction with
      other submembrane cytoskeletal proteins.

PMID- 1447297
TI  - Differential localization of Acanthamoeba myosin I isoforms.
AB  - Acanthamoeba myosins IA and IB were localized by immunofluorescence and
      immunoelectron microscopy in vegetative and phagocytosing cells and the total
      cell contents of myosins IA, IB, and IC were quantified by immunoprecipitation.
      The quantitative distributions of the three myosin I isoforms were then
      calculated from these data and the previously determined localization of myosin
      IC. Myosin IA occurs almost exclusively in the cytoplasm, where it accounts for
      approximately 50% of the total myosin I, in the cortex beneath phagocytic cups
      and in association with small cytoplasmic vesicles. Myosin IB is the predominant
      isoform associated with the plasma membrane, large vacuole membranes and
      phagocytic membranes and accounts for almost half of the total myosin I in the
      cytoplasm. Myosin IC accounts for a significant fraction of the total myosin I
      associated with the plasma membrane and large vacuole membranes and is the only
      myosin I isoform associated with the contractile vacuole membrane. These data
      suggest that myosin IA may function in cytoplasmic vesicle transport and myosin I
      mediated cortical contraction, myosin IB in pseudopod extension and phagocytosis,
      and myosin IC in contractile vacuole function. In addition, endogenous and
      exogenously added myosins IA and IB appeared to be associated with the
      cytoplasmic surface of different subpopulations of purified plasma membranes
      implying that the different myosin I isoforms are targeted to specific membrane
      domains through a mechanism that involves more than the affinity of the myosins
      for anionic phospholipids.

PMID- 1447298
TI  - Maternal effect mutations of the sponge locus affect actin cytoskeletal
      rearrangements in Drosophila melanogaster embryos.
AB  - In the syncytial blastoderm stage of Drosophila embryogenesis, dome-shaped actin
      "caps" are observed above the interphase nuclei. During mitosis, this actin
      rearranges to participate in the formation of pseudocleavage furrows, transient
      membranous invaginations between dividing nuclei. Embryos laid by homozygous
      sponge mothers lack these characteristic actin structures, but retain other actin
      associated structures and processes. Our results indicate that the sponge product
      is specifically required for the formation of actin caps and metaphase furrows.
      The specificity of the sponge phenotype permits dissection of both the process of
      actin cap formation and the functions of actin caps and metaphase furrows. Our
      data demonstrate that the distribution of actin binding protein 13D2 is
      unaffected in sponge embryos and suggest that 13D2 is upstream of actin in
      cortical cap assembly. Although actin caps and metaphase furrows have been
      implicated in maintaining the fidelity of nuclear division and the positions of
      nuclei within the cortex, our observations indicate that these structures are
      dispensible during the early syncytial blastoderm cell cycles. A later
      requirement for actin metaphase furrows in preventing the nucleation of mitotic
      spindles between inappropriate centrosomes is observed. Furthermore, the
      formation of actin caps and metaphase furrows is not a prerequisite for the
      formation of the hexagonal array of actin instrumental in the conversion of the
      syncytial embryo into a cellular blastoderm.

PMID- 1447299
TI  - Nerve growth cone lamellipodia contain two populations of actin filaments that
      differ in organization and polarity.
AB  - The organization and polarity of actin filaments in neuronal growth cones was
      studied with negative stain and freeze-etch EM using a permeabilization protocol
      that caused little detectable change in morphology when cultured nerve growth
      cones were observed by video-enhanced differential interference contrast
      microscopy. The lamellipodial actin cytoskeleton was composed of two distinct
      subpopulations: a population of 40-100-nm-wide filament bundles radiated from the
      leading edge, and a second population of branching short filaments filled the
      volume between the dorsal and ventral membrane surfaces. Together, the two
      populations formed the three-dimensional structural network seen within expanding
      lamellipodia. Interaction of the actin filaments with the ventral membrane
      surface occurred along the length of the filaments via membrane associated
      proteins. The long bundled filament population was primarily involved in these
      interactions. The filament tips of either population appeared to interact with
      the membrane only at the leading edge; this interaction was mediated by a
      globular Triton-insoluble material. Actin filament polarity was determined by
      decoration with myosin S1 or heavy meromyosin. Previous reports have suggested
      that the polarity of the actin filaments in motile cells is uniform, with the
      barbed ends toward the leading edge. We observed that the actin filament polarity
      within growth cone lamellipodia is not uniform; although the predominant
      orientation was with the barbed end toward the leading edge (47-56%), 22-25% of
      the filaments had the opposite orientation with their pointed ends toward the
      leading edge, and 19-31% ran parallel to the leading edge. The two actin filament
      populations display distinct polarity profiles: the longer filaments appear to be
      oriented predominantly with their barbed ends toward the leading edge, whereas
      the short filaments appear to be randomly oriented. The different length,
      organization and polarity of the two filament populations suggest that they
      differ in stability and function. The population of bundled long filaments, which
      appeared to be more ventrally located and in contact with membrane proteins, may
      be more stable than the population of short branched filaments. The location,
      organization, and polarity of the long bundled filaments suggest that they may be
      necessary for the expansion of lamellipodia and for the production of tension
      mediated by receptors to substrate adhesion molecules.

PMID- 1447300
TI  - Thymosin beta 4 sequesters the majority of G-actin in resting human
      polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
AB  - Thymosin beta 4 (T beta 4), a 5-kD peptide which binds G-actin and inhibits its
      polymerization (Safer, D., M. Elzinga, and V. T. Nachmias. 1991. J. Biol. Chem.
      266:4029-4032), appears to be the major G-actin sequestering protein in human
      PMNs. In support of a previous study by Hannappel, E., and M. Van Kampen (1987.
      J. Chromatography. 397:279-285), we find that T beta 4 is an abundant peptide in
      these cells. By reverse phase HPLC of perchloric acid supernatants, human PMNs
      contain approximately 169 fg/cell +/- 90 fg/cell (SD), corresponding to a
      cytoplasmic concentration of approximately 149 +/- 80.5 microM. On non-denaturing
      polyacrylamide gels, a large fraction of G-actin in supernatants prepared from
      resting PMNs has a mobility similar to the G-actin/T beta 4 complex.
      Chemoattractant stimulation of PMNs results in a decrease in this G-actin/T beta
      4 complex. To determine whether chemoattractant induced actin polymerization
      results from an inactivation of T beta 4, the G-actin sequestering activity of
      supernatants prepared from resting and chemoattractant stimulated cells was
      measured by comparing the rates of pyrenyl-actin polymerization from filament
      pointed ends. Pyrenyl actin polymerization was inhibited to a greater extent in
      supernatants from stimulated cells and these results are qualitatively consistent
      with T beta 4 being released as G-actin polymerizes, with no chemoattractant
      induced change in its affinity for G-actin. The kinetics of bovine spleen T beta
      4 binding to muscle pyrenyl G-actin are sufficiently rapid to accommodate the
      rapid changes in actin polymerization and depolymerization observed in vivo in
      response to chemoattractant addition and removal.

PMID- 1447301
TI  - Okadaic acid induces interphase to mitotic-like microtubule dynamic instability
      by inactivating rescue.
AB  - We used high-resolution video microscopy to visualize microtubule dynamic
      instability in extracts of interphase sea urchin eggs and to analyze the changes
      that occur upon addition of 0.8-2.5 microM okadaic acid, an inhibitor of
      phosphatase 1 and 2A (PP1, PP2a) (Bialojan, D., and A. Takai. 1988. Biochem. J.
      256:283-290). Microtubule plus-ends in these extracts oscillated between the
      elongation and shortening phases of dynamic instability at frequencies typical
      for interphase cells. Switching from elongation to shortening (catastrophe) was
      frequent, but microtubules persisted and grew long because of frequent switching
      back to elongation (rescue). Addition of okadaic acid to the extract induced
      rapid (< 5 min) conversion to short, dynamic microtubules typical of mitosis. The
      frequency of catastrophe doubled and the velocities of elongation and shortening
      increased slightly; however, the major change was an elimination of rescue. Thus,
      modulation of the rescue frequency by phosphorylation-dependent mechanisms may be
      a major regulatory pathway for selectively controlling microtubule dynamics
      without dramatically changing velocities of microtubule elongation and
      shortening.

PMID- 1447302
TI  - Physiological evidence for involvement of a kinesin-related protein during
      anaphase spindle elongation in diatom central spindles.
AB  - We have developed a new model system for studying spindle elongation in vitro
      using the pennate, marine diatom Cylindrotheca fusiformis. C. fusiformis can be
      grown in bulk to high densities while in log phase growth and synchronized by a
      simple light/dark regime. Isolated spindles can be attained in quantities
      sufficient for biochemical analysis and spindle tubulin is approximately 5% of
      the total protein present. The spindle isolation procedure results in a 10-fold
      enrichment of diatom tubulin and a calculated 40-fold increase in spindle
      protein. Isolated spindles or spindles in permeabilized cells can elongate in
      vitro by the same mechanism and with the same pharmacological sensitivities as
      described for other anaphase B models (Cande and McDonald, 1986; Masuda et al.,
      1990). Using this model, in vitro spindle elongation rate profiles were developed
      for a battery of nucleotide triphosphates and ATP analogs. The relative rates of
      spindle elongation produced by various nucleotide triphosphates parallel relative
      rates seen for kinesin-based motility in microtubule gliding assays. Likewise ATP
      analogs that allow discrimination between myosin-, dynein-, and kinesin-mediated
      motility produce relative spindle elongation rates characteristic of kinesin
      motility. Also, isolated spindle fractions are enriched for a kinesin related
      protein as identified by a peptide antibody against a conserved region of the
      kinesin superfamily. These data suggest that kinesin-like motility contributes to
      spindle elongation during anaphase B of mitosis.

PMID- 1447303
TI  - Kinesin family in murine central nervous system.
AB  - In neuronal axons, various kinds of membranous components are transported along
      microtubules bidirectionally. However, only two kinds of mechanochemical motor
      proteins, kinesin and brain dynein, had been identified as transporters of
      membranous organelles in mammalian neurons. Recently, a series of genes that
      encode proteins closely related to kinesin heavy chain were identified in several
      organisms including Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Aspergillus niddulans,
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Caenorhabditus elegans, and Drosophila. Most of these
      members of the kinesin family are implicated in mechanisms of mitosis or meiosis.
      To address the mechanism of intracellular organelle transport at a molecular
      level, we have cloned and characterized five different members (KIF1-5), that
      encode the microtubule-associated motor domain homologous to kinesin heavy chain,
      in murine brain tissue. Homology analysis of amino acid sequence indicated that
      KIF1 and KIF5 are murine counterparts of unc104 and kinesin heavy chain,
      respectively, while KIF2, KIF3, and KIF4 are as yet unidentified new species.
      Complete amino acid sequence of KIF3 revealed that KIF3 consists of NH2-terminal
      motor domain, central alpha-helical rod domain, and COOH-terminal globular
      domain. Complete amino acid sequence of KIF2 revealed that KIF2 consists of NH2
      terminal globular domain, central motor domain, and COOH-terminal alpha-helical
      rod domain. This is the first identification of the kinesin-related protein which
      has its motor domain at the central part in its primary structure. Northern blot
      analysis revealed that KIF1, KIF3, and KIF5 are expressed almost exclusively in
      murine brain, whereas KIF2 and KIF4 are expressed in brain as well as in other
      tissues. All these members of the kinesin family are expressed in the same type
      of neurons, and thus each one of them may transport its specific organelle in the
      murine central nervous system.

PMID- 1447304
TI  - Tyrosine phosphorylation of membrane proteins mediates cellular invasion by
      transformed cells.
AB  - Tyrosine phosphorylation of membrane-associated proteins is involved at two
      distinct sites of contact between cells and the extracellular matrix: adhesion
      plaques (cell adhesion and de-adhesion) and invadopodia (invasion into the
      extracellular matrix). Adhesion plaques from chicken embryonic fibroblasts or
      from cells transformed by Rous sarcoma virus contain low levels of tyrosine
      phosphorylated proteins (YPPs) which were below the level of detection in 0.5
      microns thin, frozen sections. In contrast, intense localization of YPPs was
      observed at invadopodia of transformed cells at sites of degradation and invasion
      into the fibronectin-coated gelatin substratum, but not in membrane extensions
      free of contact with the extracellular matrix. Local extracellular matrix
      degradation and formation of invadopodia were blocked by genistein, an inhibitor
      of tyrosine-specific kinases, but cells remained attached to the substratum and
      retained their free-membrane extensions. Invadopodia reduced or lost YPP labeling
      after treatment of the cells with genistein, but adhesion plaques retained YPP
      labeling. The plasma membrane contact fractions of normal and transformed cells
      have been isolated form cells grown on gelatin cross-linked substratum using a
      novel fractionation scheme, and analyzed by immunoblotting. Four major YPPs (150,
      130, 81, and 77 kD) characterize invadopodial membranes in contact with the
      matrix, and are probably responsible for the intense YPP labeling associated with
      invadopodia extending into sites of matrix degradation. YPP150 may be an
      invadopodal-specific YPP since it is approximately 3.6-fold enriched in the
      invasive contact fraction relative to the cell body fraction and is not observed
      in normal contacts. YPP130 is enriched in transformed cell contacts but may also
      be present in normal contacts. The two major YPPs of normal contacts (130 and 71
      kD) are much lower in abundance than the major tyrosine-phosphorylated bands
      associated with invadopodial membranes, and likely represent major adhesion
      plaque YPPs. YPP150, paxillin, and tensin appear to be enriched in the cell
      contact fractions containing adhesion plaques and invadopodia relative to the
      cell body fraction, but are also present in the soluble supernate fraction.
      However, vinculin, talin, and alpha-actinin that are localized at invadopodia,
      are equally concentrated in cell bodies and cell contacts as is the membrane
      adhesion receptor beta 1 integrin. Thus, tyrosine phosphorylation of the membrane
      bound proteins may contribute to the cytoskeletal and plasma membrane events
      leading to the formation and function of invadopodia that contact and
      proteolytically degrade the extracellular matrix; we have identified several
      candidate YPPs that may participate in the regulation of these processes.

PMID- 1447305
TI  - Apoptosis in metanephric development.
AB  - During metanephric development, non-polarized mesenchymal cells are induced to
      form the epithelial structures of the nephron following interaction with
      extracellular matrix proteins and factors produced by the inducing tissue,
      ureteric bud. This induction can occur in a transfilter organ culture system
      where it can also be produced by heterologous cells such as the embryonic spinal
      cord. We found that when embryonic mesenchyme was induced in vitro and in vivo,
      many of the cells surrounding the new epithelium showed morphological evidence of
      programmed cell death (apoptosis) such as condensed nuclei, fragmented cytoplasm,
      and cell shrinking. A biochemical correlate of apoptosis is the transcriptional
      activation of a calcium-sensitive endonuclease. Indeed, DNA isolated from
      uninduced mesenchyme showed progressive degradation, a process that was prevented
      by treatment with actinomycin-D or cycloheximide and by buffering intracellular
      calcium. These results demonstrate that the metanephric mesenchyme is programmed
      for apoptosis. Incubation of mesenchyme with a heterologous inducer, embryonic
      spinal cord prevented this DNA degradation. To investigate the mechanism by which
      inducers prevented apoptosis we tested the effects of protein kinase C modulators
      on this process. Phorbol esters mimicked the effects of the inducer and
      staurosporine, an inhibitor of this protein kinase, prevented the effect of the
      inducer. EGF also prevented DNA degradation but did not lead to differentiation.
      These results demonstrate that conversion of mesenchyme to epithelial requires at
      least two steps, rescue of the mesenchyme from apoptosis and induction of
      differentiation.

PMID- 1447307
TI  - Similar, but not identical, modulation of expression of extracellular matrix
      components during in vitro and in vivo aging of human skin fibroblasts.
AB  - Regulation of the synthesis of procollagen and other extracellular matrix
      components was examined in human skin fibroblasts obtained from donors of various
      ages, from fetal to 80 years old (in vivo aged), and in fetal fibroblasts at
      varying passage levels (in vitro aged). Growth rates and saturation densities of
      fibroblasts decreased with increasing age of the donor and after passage 20 of
      fetal fibroblasts. The rates of collagen and proteoglycan synthesis also
      decreased during both types of aging to about 10-25% of the rate in early passage
      fetal fibroblasts, whereas the synthesis of total noncollagenous proteins was not
      greatly affected. Decreased collagen synthesis in both types of aging was
      correlated with lower steady-state levels of mRNAs for the two subunits of type I
      procollagen mRNA, although their regulation was not coordinate. Type III collagen
      mRNA levels also declined in both types of aging. The concentration of
      fibronectin mRNA also decreased during in vitro aging but more rapidly than the
      collagen mRNAs, whereas in fibroblasts from 51-80-year-old donors, it was similar
      to or higher than in early passage fetal fibroblasts. This study suggests that
      the decreased synthesis of procollagen and proteoglycans in in vivo aged
      fibroblasts represents changes that are responsible for intrinsic degenerative
      changes that occur in human skin during aging. Furthermore, although in vitro and
      in vivo aging were similar in many respects, they were not equivalent, as
      evidenced by the differences in regulation of fibronectin expression.

PMID- 1447306
TI  - Minimal DNA sequences that control the cell lineage-specific expression of the
      pro alpha 2(I) collagen promoter in transgenic mice.
AB  - The pattern of expression of the pro alpha 2(I) collagen gene is highly tissue
      specific in adult mice and shows its strongest expression in bones, tendons, and
      skin. Transgenic mice were generated harboring promoter fragments of the mouse
      pro alpha 2(I) collagen gene linked to the Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase or
      firefly luciferase genes to examine the activity of these promoters during
      development. A region of the mouse pro alpha 2(I) collagen promoter between 
      2,000 and +54 exhibited a pattern of beta-galactosidase activity during embryonic
      development that corresponded to the expression pattern of the endogenous pro
      alpha 2(I) collagen gene as determined by in situ hybridization. A similar
      pattern of activity was also observed with much smaller promoter fragments
      containing either 500 or 350 bp of upstream sequence relative to the start of
      transcription. Embryonic regions expressing high levels of beta-galactosidase
      activity included the bulbus arteriosus, valves of the developing heart,
      sclerotomes, meninges, limb buds, connective tissue fascia between muscle fibers,
      osteoblasts in newly formed bones, fibroblasts in tendons, periosteum, dermis,
      and peritoneal membranes. The pattern of beta-galactosidase activity was similar
      and included within the extracellular immunohistochemical localization pattern of
      transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1). The -315(-)-284 region of the pro
      alpha 2(I) collagen promoter was previously shown to mediate the stimulatory
      effects of TGF-beta 1 on the pro alpha 2(I) collagen promoter in DNA transfection
      experiments with cultured fibroblasts. A construct containing this sequence
      tandemly repeated 5' to a very short alpha 2(I) collagen promoter (-40(-)+54)
      showed preferential activity in tail and skin of 4-wk-old transgenic mice. Except
      for low expression of the transgene in bone, this pattern mimics the expression
      of the endogenous pro alpha 2(I) collagen gene. We propose the hypothesis that
      the tissue-specific expression of the pro alpha 2(I) collagen gene during
      embryogenesis is controlled by both TGF-beta 1 and cell-specific transcription
      factors; one of these could interact directly or indirectly with either the -315(
      )-284 or the -40(-)+54 segment.

PMID- 1447308
TI  - Tributyltin is a potent inducer of the heat shock response in human diploid
      fibroblasts.
AB  - Submicromolar concentrations of tributyltin (TBT), a commercially used organotin
      compound, were found to induce the expression of several stress proteins, most
      notably HSP89 and HSP70, in IMR-90 human diploid fibroblasts in a time- and dose
      dependent manner. This induction can be demonstrated by quantitation of 1)
      synthesis of the heat shock proteins (HSPs), 2) relative abundance of mRNA of
      hsp70, and 3) transient expression of a human hsp70 promoter driven reporter
      gene. TBT also increased the abundance of mRNA of heme oxygenase, whereas heat
      shock was without effect. Analysis of protein binding to a consensus heat shock
      element (HSE) by electrophoretic mobility shift assay suggests that the induction
      of the heat shock response by TBT was attributable to activation of the heat
      shock transcription factor (HSTF).

PMID- 1447309
TI  - Localization of p35 (annexin I, lipocortin I) in normal adult rat kidney and
      during recovery from ischemia.
AB  - The 35-kDa protein (p35, lipocortin I, annexin I), originally discovered as a
      Ca(++)-dependent substrate for the EGF receptor tyrosine kinase, binds Ca++ and
      phospholipids, is developmentally regulated in embryos and has restricted
      expression in adults. Immunohistochemistry of normal rat kidney shows that p35 is
      enriched in epithelia of Bowman's capsule, the macula densa, and
      medullary/papillary collecting ducts, suggesting that p35 is related to
      specialized renal functions. Light staining is observed in the thick ascending
      limb; elsewhere, immunoreactivity is nil. Since renal recovery from ischemia
      involves both hyperplasia and hypertrophy and reportedly is accelerated by EGF,
      we examined p35 distribution during this process. After 48 hours of recovery,
      both the distribution and amount of renal p35 are altered. Immunoblots show p35
      levels increased at least threefold in whole-kidney homogenates. The expression
      of p35 is still highly restricted in recovering kidneys; however, the thick
      ascending limb now stains heavily. This is the first documentation of alterations
      in annexin levels during a pathophysiologic response. However, our attempts to
      discern effects of exogenous EGF on the recovery from ischemia were negative for
      both mitotic index and renal function assays.

PMID- 1447310
TI  - Lactoferrin binding sites and nuclear localization in K562(S) cells.
AB  - Lactoferrin, a single chain cationic glycoprotein, present in the secondary
      granules of neutrophils, acts as a negative feedback regulator of myelopoiesis.
      Specific receptors for lactoferrin were detected on the surface of different
      hematopoietic cell types. The influence of lactoferrin on cell growth in culture
      has been reported. Interactions of lactoferrin with DNA were also demonstrated.
      In the present paper we confirm the presence of lactoferrin specific binding
      sites on K562 cells and we estimate the number of binding sites and the
      dissociation constant. By Western blotting analysis performed on K562 lysates we
      find a band of about 120 kDa responsible for specific binding of lactoferrin. We
      also show that lactoferrin, after binding at the cell surface, is internalized in
      a temperature dependent way and is immunologically detectable as a DNA-linked
      protein in nuclear extracts.

PMID- 1447311
TI  - Biphasic effect of the mitotoxin bFGF-saporin on bovine lens epithelial cell
      growth: effect of cell density and extracellular matrix.
AB  - We have studied the effect of a specific FGF receptor suicide antagonist on the
      growth of bovine epithelial cells (BEL cells) in culture. This basic fibroblast
      growth factor-saporin conjugate (bFGF-SAP) has a biphasic effect on bovine lens
      epithelial cells (BEL cells). Whereas 0.01 nM and 0.1 nM bFGF-SAP stimulate BEL
      cells proliferation, 1 nM and 10 nM bFGF-SAP have the predicted toxic effects on
      BEL cell growth. The toxicity of bFGF-SAP is observed 2 to 3 days after the
      initial treatment and depends on cell density. Accordingly, the sensitivity of
      confluent cells to bFGF-SAP is reduced compared to sparse cells. A time course
      analysis reveals that bFGF-SAP is effective after a short exposure to cells and
      that its effects are not increased with longer treatments. Cell growth on bFGF
      SAP pretreated extracellular matrix (ECM) or posterior lens capsule (PLC) is also
      affected. Basic FGF-SAP has been shown to bind to the extracellular material,
      allowing a modulation of lens cells migration and survival by a single treatment
      in vitro. This finding raises the possibility of its use in vivo to prevent
      capsules invasion by lens cells after cataract surgery.

PMID- 1447312
TI  - Cortical photons in early development of frog eggs: comparative study of photon
      emission between nuclear division and cytoplasmic fission.
AB  - In the study of cell division in the early development of frog eggs, cortical
      photon emission was investigated by converting small light emission from living
      cells into digital pulses of potentials and recording the integrals of these
      pulses (analog method), counting the number of pulses (photon-counting method),
      and counting the number of integrated pulses (improved photon-counting method).
      By the analog and improved photon-counting methods, changes in photon emission
      due to cell division could be clearly detected. The emitted light increased about
      5.10(-19)W at the start of a cleavage furrow. Rapid changes in chemical reactions
      causing photon emission were compared during nuclear division and cytoplasmic
      phases. This emission occurred mainly in cytoplasmic fission, the rate being
      greater than in nuclear division by a factor of about 2.9. Chemical reaction
      rates were shown to differ according to bulk emission, thus indicating the
      mechanisms for the reactions to also differ.

PMID- 1447313
TI  - Interferon-gamma inhibits proliferation, but not commitment, of murine
      granulocyte-macrophage progenitors.
AB  - We investigated the effects of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) on the growth of
      murine hematopoietic progenitors. IFN-gamma inhibited granulocyte colony
      stimulating factor (G-CSF)- and interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent colony growth by
      granulocyte-macrophage (GM) progenitors derived from the bone marrow cells of
      normal mice. However, the number of IL-3-dependent GM colonies formed by the bone
      marrow cells of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-treated mice was not influenced by the
      addition of IFN-gamma. Replating experiments suggested that IFN-gamma suppressed
      GM colony growth directly and that it exerted an inhibitory effect on the
      proliferation, but not on the commitment, of GM progenitors. In contrast, IFN
      gamma failed to suppress colony growth by mast cell progenitors. Erythroid and
      megakaryocytic progenitors exhibited different responses to IFN-gamma depending
      on mouse strains. These results suggest that potent negative regulators are not
      always inhibitors of hematopoietic progenitors.

PMID- 1447314
TI  - Electrochemical potentials of potassium in skeletal muscle under different
      metabolic states.
AB  - Intracellular potassium and membrane potential were measured simultaneously by
      means of double-barrelled liquid ion-exchange microelectrodes in single fibers of
      rat thigh muscle in vivo in rats maintained in seven different metabolic states.
      The K+ equilibrium potential (EK) was more negative than the simultaneously
      measured membrane potential (Em) in the normal state by 18.4 mV. K+ loading,
      acute and chronic, resulted in depolarization of Em due to increased serum K+
      (hyperkalemia) with no increase in intracellular K+. K+ depletion resulted in
      hyperpolarization of Em as plasma K+ decreased proportionately more than
      intracellular K+. Low Na+ diet had no effect. Intracellular K+ was decreased in
      acute acidosis but not in the chronic state. Thus K+ depletion and acute acidosis
      are associated with intracellular K+ decrease. The fact that hyperpolarization
      exists in the former and not the latter is a reflection that hypokalemia
      accompanies the former condition. The hyperpolarizing states of K+ depletion and
      chronic acidosis are accompanied by decreased excitability and muscle weakness.

PMID- 1447315
TI  - In vitro effect of extracellular AMP on MCF-7 breast cancer cells: inhibition of
      glycolysis and cell proliferation.
AB  - MCF-7 human breast cancer cells propagated in vitro were treated with adenosine
      derivatives added to the culture medium. The effects on cell proliferation,
      glycolysis, and glutaminolysis were investigated. Of all adenosine derivatives
      tested, AMP was the most efficient inhibitor of cell proliferation. In AMP
      treated cells, DNA synthesis decreased, whereas RNA and protein syntheses rose
      normally with time. In terms of carbohydrate metabolism, lactate production from
      glucose was drastically reduced; therefore, most of lactate produced must have
      been derived from glutamine. Increases in the enzyme activities involved in
      glutamate degradation and in the malate-aspartate shuttle were observed. In
      contrast, actual glycolytic flux rates declined, whereas key glycolytic enzyme
      activities increased. Metabolites such as fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and pyruvate
      accumulated in AMP-arrested cells. Based on the lowered NAD level in the AMP
      treated cells, lactate dehydrogenase, but not malate dehydrogenase, was impaired;
      thereby the whole of glycolysis was inhibited. In compensation, glutamine
      catabolism was increased. NAD concentrations fell drastically because of the
      known inhibition of P-ribose-PP synthesis through heightened intracellular AMP
      levels. A hypothetical metabolic scheme to explain these results and to show how
      extracellular AMP may influence carbohydrate metabolism and cell proliferation is
      presented.

PMID- 1447316
TI  - Inhibition of apoptosis in human tumour cells by okadaic acid.
AB  - Gamma-radiation, tetrandrine, bistratene A, and cisplatin were all found to
      induce pronounced morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis and extensive
      DNA fragmentation in the human BM13674 cell line 8 h after treatment. Apoptosis
      induced in BM13674 cells by these diverse agents was markedly inhibited by 1
      microM okadaic acid, a tumour promoter that inhibits protein phosphatases 1 and
      2A. This compound also inhibited the appearance of apoptosis in fresh human
      leukaemia cells that had been exposed to gamma-radiation. The inhibition of
      apoptosis was confirmed using fluorescence microscopy and DNA gel
      electrophoresis. Dephosphorylation of a limited number of proteins was shown to
      be associated with apoptosis and okadaic acid prevented these dephosphorylations.
      Previous studies on the BM13674 cell line showed that an inhibitor of protein
      synthesis failed to prevent apoptosis in these cells. The present data provides
      further support that posttranslational modification of proteins, in particular,
      phosphorylation/dephosphorylation status, plays an important role in
      inhibition/activation of programmed cell death in different human cells after
      exposure to several cytotoxic agents.

PMID- 1447317
TI  - Vascular endothelial growth factor induces interstitial collagenase expression in
      human endothelial cells.
AB  - Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a 45kDa secreted peptide that has
      potent mitogenic activity specific for endothelial cells in vitro and the ability
      to induce a strong angiogenic response in vivo. In the present study, 24 h
      treatment with VEGF resulted in a stimulation of expression of the
      metalloproteinase, interstitial collagenase, at the protein and mRNA levels 2.5
      3.0-fold in human umbilical vein endothelial cells but not in human dermal
      fibroblasts. The dose response curve for collagenase induction was biphasic with
      the peak stimulatory response obtained by treatment of cells with 10-100 ng/ml
      (0.2-2 nM) VEGF. The dose response curve for collagenase induction overlapped
      with, but was not identical to, the response curve for proliferation, which
      showed VEGF mitogenic activity between < or = 0.1-50 ng/ml (< or = 0.002-1 nM).
      There was no induction seen in expression of other members of the matrix
      metalloproteinase family, including the 72kDa type IV collagenase, the 92kDa type
      V collagenase, or stromelysin. Expression of transcripts for the major
      metalloproteinase inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases, was also
      unaltered by treatment with VEGF (1-200 ng/ml). These studies demonstrate that in
      addition to stimulating proliferation of endothelial cells, VEGF can also induce
      the expression of the only metalloproteinase that can initiate degradation of
      interstitial collagen types I-III under normal physiological conditions. Both
      responses are likely to contribute to the angiogenic potential of this peptide.

PMID- 1447318
TI  - Partial characterization of skeletal myoblast mitogens in mouse crushed muscle
      extract.
AB  - We have utilized a model system to investigate myotrophic factors released by
      normal adult mouse muscles following a crush injury. We found that saline
      extracts from gently crushed mouse muscles (CME) contain potent mitogenic
      activities which act on primary newborn mouse myoblast cultures, as well as on
      mouse C2 cells, a mouse myoblast cell line. We compared the activity of CME on
      mouse myoblasts with that of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and insulin
      like growth factor I (IGF-I), two growth factors known to be mitogenic for
      primary myoblasts (Allen, Dodson, and Lutein: Exp. Cell. Res., 152:154-160, 1984;
      DiMario and Strohman: Differentiation, 39:42-49, 1988; Allen and Boxhorn: J.
      Cell. Physiol., 138:311-315, 1989; Dodson, Allen, and Hossner: Endocrinology,
      117:2357-2363, 1985; Florini and Magri: Am. J. Physiol., 256:C701-C711, 1989). We
      found that CME could act in an additive fashion to saturating doses of bFGF to
      increase proliferation in myoblast cultures. Additionally, CME acted additively
      to the combination of saturating amounts of bFGF and IGF-I on both C2 and primary
      myoblast cultures. We also examined additivity of CME with the combination of
      saturating doses of bFGF, IGF-I, transferrin (Tf), platelet-derived growth factor
      (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH), and
      macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Our data indicate that CME contains
      Tf, as well as one or more uncharacterized mitogens for myoblasts which are
      distinct from Tf, the IGFs, bFGF, EGF, PDGF, M-CSF, and ACTH. These
      uncharacterized mitogens may act independently of known growth factors to
      stimulate myoblast proliferation, or may act through modulation of known growth
      factor activities.

PMID- 1447319
TI  - Effect of membrane phosphatidylethanolamine-deficiency/phosphatidylcholine-excess
      on the metabolism of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine.
AB  - Cells of epithelial origin generally require ethanolamine (Etn) to grow in
      defined culture medium. When such cells are grown without Etn, the membrane
      phospholipid composition changes drastically, becoming phosphatidylethanolamine
      (PE)-deficient due to a reduced de novo rate of PE synthesis, and growth stops.
      We have hypothesized that the cessation of growth occurs because this membrane
      phospholipid environment is no longer suitable for membrane-associated functions.
      Phospholipid has long been known to play a role in the transduction of some
      signals across membranes. In addition to the well-known phosphatidylinositol
      cycles, hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and PE has recently been shown to
      play a central role in signal transduction. Using an Etn-requiring rat mammary
      cell line 64-24, we have studied the metabolism of PC and PE in response to the
      phorbol ester phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) under conditions where cells have
      either normal or PE-deficient membrane phospholipid. In cells having normal
      membrane phospholipid, the synthesis of PC was stimulated by PDBu (approximately
      fourfold), as was the degradation of PC and PE (by twofold and fourfold,
      respectively). Product analysis suggested that PDBu stimulated hydrolysis of PC
      by both phospholipases C and D (PLC and PLD), and of PE by PLD. However, in PE
      deficient cells, neither lipid synthesis or degradation were significantly
      stimulated by PDBu. Analysis of the CDP-choline pathway of PC synthesis indicated
      that the regulatory enzyme, CTP:phosphorylcholine cytidylyltransferase, was
      stimulated about twofold by PDBu in cells having normal membrane, but not in PE
      deficient cells. These results indicate that the membrane phospholipid
      environment profoundly affects phospholipid metabolism, which no doubt influences
      cell growth and regulation.

PMID- 1447320
TI  - Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) up-regulation of collagen type II
      in primary cultures of rabbit articular chondrocytes (RAC) involves increased
      mRNA levels without affecting mRNA stability and procollagen processing.
AB  - The effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) on collagen
      biosynthesis was investigated in confluent primary monolayer cultures of rabbit
      articular chondrocytes (RAC). Exposure to TGF-beta (0.1, 1, and 10 ng/ml) in
      serum-free medium caused a dose- and time-dependent stimulation of collagen
      biosynthesis associated with an increase of steady-state levels of procollagen
      type II mRNA. Elevation of the mRNA steady-state did not result from a
      stabilization of the transcript, as shown by measure of the mRNA half-life.
      Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that TGF-beta stimulates the synthesis of most
      collagen isotypes, including type II, without qualitative change in their
      distribution. Moreover, pulse-chase experiments revealed that TGF-beta did not
      affect the processing rate of type II procollagen. TGF-beta slightly stimulated
      the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which could in turn exert an
      inhibition on collagen synthesis. However, addition of indomethacin to block
      prostaglandin synthesis did not further enhance the TGF-beta-induced stimulation
      of collagen production, suggesting that this mediator was not implicated in the
      effect. Moreover, TGF-beta increased steady-state levels of procollagen type II,
      I, and III mRNAs even in the presence of indomethacin. Despite these increased
      mRNA levels, only the production of type II collagen was significantly augmented,
      suggesting that type I procollagen mRNA was not fully translated. In addition,
      the TGF-beta-induced stimulation of collagen synthesis was observed whenever
      ascorbic acid is added or not in the culture medium. In conclusion, TGF-beta,
      which is present in great amount in bone and cartilage, can increase the collagen
      production of cultured RAC and might therefore play a role in the early events of
      cartilage repair, such as those observed in osteoarthritis.

PMID- 1447321
TI  - Nonreceptor mediated nuclear accumulation of insulin in H35 rat hepatoma cells.
AB  - We previously demonstrated that insulin accumulated in the nucleus in several
      cell types and partially characterized the uptake mechanisms and pathways in H35
      rat hepatoma cells. Nuclear accumulation of insulin was energy independent, time,
      temperature, and insulin concentration dependent, but apparently nonsaturable.
      This study investigated further the initial endocytotic pathways that contribute
      to the nuclear accumulation of insulin using trypsin treatment of the cells to
      prevent insulin binding to its plasma membrane receptor. Total cell-associated,
      intracellular, and nuclear insulin were compared in control and trypsin-treated
      H35 hepatoma cells. Trypsin treatment markedly decreased total cell-associated
      and intracellular insulin as well as the nuclear accumulation of insulin when
      cells were incubated with 2.8 ng/ml insulin. When the cells were incubated with
      100 ng/ml insulin, trypsin treatment totally inhibited insulin binding to the
      plasma membrane for at least 90 min. However, intracellular accumulation of
      insulin was reduced by only 50% at 60 min, and trypsin treatment failed to
      inhibit the nuclear accumulation of insulin. Chemical extraction and Sephadex G
      50 chromatography revealed nuclear associated insulin in trypsin-treated cells
      was identical to that in control cells incubated with either 2.8 or 100 ng/ml
      insulin. These results suggest that a nonreceptor mediated uptake pathway, i.e.,
      fluid-phase endocytosis, contributed significantly to the nuclear accumulation of
      insulin at high insulin concentrations, but at lower insulin concentrations the
      receptor-mediated pathway predominated. No matter which initial endocytotic route
      was used to internalize insulin, the insulin apparently associated with the same
      nuclear matrix proteins. This association of insulin with the nuclear matrix may
      be involved in regulation of nuclear events such as cell growth and
      differentiation or gene transcription.

PMID- 1447322
TI  - Alterations in cellular calcium handling as a result of systemic calcium
      deficiency in the developing chick embryo: I. Erythrocytes.
AB  - Chick embryos rendered calcium (Ca) deficient by shell-less (SL) culture develop
      hypertension and tachycardia. Since hypocalcemia is accompanied by hypernatremia
      systemically but not by lower cellular Ca (Koide and Tuan, 1989), we speculate
      that cellular Ca handling may be altered in the SL embryo, perhaps involving Na
      transport. Using erythrocytes (RBC) from day-14 SL and normal (NL) embryos as the
      experimental cell, cellular Ca handling was studied under varying extracellular
      osmotic and ionic conditions by analyzing 45Ca uptake and cell volume regulation.
      Two agents, p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate (PCM), and inosine/iodoacetamide (INI)
      were used to treat the RBCs to modify plasma membrane ion permeability and to
      deplete cellular ATP, respectively. Other cellular functions and activities
      related to Ca homeostasis, including ATP content and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity, were
      also analyzed. These analyses showed: (1) in NaCl, Ca uptake was similar in NL
      and SL cells, except after INI treatment, which resulted in slower Ca uptake by
      the SL cells, (2) in choline and sucrose, Ca uptake by SL RBCs was higher, (3) Ca
      uptake by RBCs of both embryos changed depending on the osmotic agent (Na < K <
      or = choline < sucrose), (4) Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was higher in SL RBC,
      although there was no change in the size or charge of the enzyme, and (5) in any
      osmotic agent, cellular Na was significantly lower, whereas cellular K was
      higher, in SL RBC. Based on these results, three features of RBC Ca handling were
      apparent: (1) Na-Ca exchange was functional and was more active in SL RBCs, (2)
      Ca uptake was dependent on the total ionic electrochemical gradient but not on
      bulk H2O movement, and (3) Ca pumping out capacity was directly correlated with
      Ca(2+)-ATPase activity. Elevated Ca uptake in sucrose-treated SL RBC is therefore
      indicative of its greater ion permeability. Taken together, these findings
      indicate that cellular Ca handling of the RBCs of SL chick embryos is
      characterized by a more active Na-Ca exchange system, greater ion permeability,
      and higher Ca pumping out capacity, thereby suggesting an up-regulated Ca
      handling function in the SL RBCs. The abnormal cellular Ca handling may be a
      direct result of the systemic Ca deficiency of the SL chick embryo and may be
      functionally related to its hypertension and tachycardia.

PMID- 1447324
TI  - An assertiveness training program for a group of elders.

PMID- 1447323
TI  - Alterations in cellular calcium handling as a result of systemic calcium
      deficiency in the developing chick embryo: II. Ventricular myocytes.
AB  - We have previously shown that cardiovascular anomalies, such as hypertension and
      tachycardia, develop in Ca(2+)-deficient, shell-less (SL) chick embryos cultured
      ex ovo, accompanied by elevated circulating catecholamines and higher alpha
      adrenergic sensitivity of cardiovascular functions. Results described in the
      preceding work, using erythrocytes as an experimental system, show that cellular
      Ca2+ handling properties are also altered as a result of long-term calcium
      deficiency. To examine the relevance of these findings to cells of the
      cardiovasculature, we have analyzed and compared the Ca2+ handling
      characteristics of the heart cells of SL and normal (NL) embryos. For this study,
      isolated and cultured ventricular myocytes of SL and NL embryos were loaded with
      Fura-2 via transient membrane damage with glass beads. Compared to Fura-2/AM,
      bead loading yielded similar values and kinetic profiles of [Ca2+]i-dependent
      differential fluorescence and, in addition, did not affect cell viability and
      beating activity. The Fura-2 loaded ventricular myocytes were washed in Ca(2+)
      free buffer and then analyzed by ratiometric fluorescence (350 nm/380 nm)
      microscopy for kinetic changes in [Ca2+]i (R350/380 values) as a function of
      [Ca2+]o and adrenergic modifiers. At 0.5 and 1.0 mM [Ca2+]o, SL cells showed
      significantly higher [Ca2+]i, higher beating rates, and faster rate of increase
      in [Ca2+]i compared to NL cells. At higher [Ca2+]o (3.5 mM), there was no
      significant difference in [Ca2+]i and beating rate between NL and SL cells.
      Treatment with norepinephrine (NE; 0.01-1 microM) at 1 mM [Ca2+]o substantially
      increased [Ca2+]i in both NL and SL cells. In the former, the NE effect was
      completely inhibited by beta-blockade (1 microM propranolol). In contrast, in SL
      cells, NE remained effective after beta-blockade, and combined alpha-blockade (1
      microM prazosin) and beta-blockade was needed to inhibit completely the NE
      effect. In both NL and SL cells, treatment with NE substantially increased
      beating rates in a similar manner. Taken together, these findings suggest that
      Ca2+ handling and adrenergic regulation of the heart cells are significantly
      altered in the SL embryos, and that these alterations may be related to the
      development of impaired cardiovascular functions resulting from systemic Ca2+
      deficiency.

PMID- 1447325
TI  - Personhood: a theory for gerontological nursing.

PMID- 1447326
TI  - Near-death experiences and the elderly.

PMID- 1447327
TI  - Spirituality and aging.

PMID- 1447328
TI  - The senior's therapeutic touch education program.

PMID- 1447329
TI  - Wellness for elders.

PMID- 1447330
TI  - Influencing holistic nursing practice in long-term care.

PMID- 1447332
TI  - The elderly as caregivers of the elderly.

PMID- 1447331
TI  - Community issues in the holistic care of the elderly.

PMID- 1447333
TI  - Integrality as a holistic framework for the life-review process.

PMID- 1447334
TI  - A gerontological nursing issue: the aged developmentally disabled/mentally
      retarded.

PMID- 1447335
TI  - Application of triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry to the analysis of
      pyridine-containing derivatives of long-chain acids and alcohols.
AB  - An improved derivatization procedure for the preparation of nicotinate and 3
      picolinyl esters from mixtures of fatty alcohols and acids has been developed.
      The derivatives can be analysed by capillary gas chromatography on an SE-54 type
      column, which affords separation of the acid and alcohol derivatives with the
      same carbon chain. Detection with tandem mass spectrometric techniques on a
      triple quadrupole instrument is feasible, and yields informative spectra devoid
      of coeluting interferences.

PMID- 1447336
TI  - Simultaneous analysis of azidothymidine and its mono-, di- and triphosphate
      derivatives in biological fluids, tissue and cultured cells by a rapid high
      performance liquid chromatographic method.
AB  - A rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the
      simultaneous analysis of the antiviral drug azidothymidine (AZT), AZT
      monophosphate, AZT diphosphate and AZT triphosphate, with ultraviolet detection
      in the nanomolar range, is described. Determination of these compounds in vitro
      in the human MT-4 lymphocyte cell line did not require a prior extraction, and
      AZT and its phosphorylated derivatives could be accurately analysed in one HPLC
      run. However, plasma, bile, liver homogenate and urine samples could not be
      injected directly into the chromatograph. Therefore, a solid-phase extraction
      procedure was developed, using azidodideoxyinosine as internal standard. The
      extractions of the compounds of interest from all but urine samples were
      reproducible, with recoveries between 65% (AZT triphosphate from plasma) and 100%
      (AZT from plasma).

PMID- 1447337
TI  - High-performance liquid chromatographic methods for the determination of the
      penems SCH 29482 and FCE 22101 in human serum and urine.
AB  - High-performance liquid chromatographic methods have been developed for the
      determination of two 6-(1-hydroxyethyl)penems, SCH 29482 (I) and FCE 22101 (II),
      in serum and urine. Serum samples were combined with an equal volume of methanol
      to remove proteins and, after centrifugation, an aliquot of the supernatant was
      analysed by ion-pair chromatography on a reversed-phase C18 column with
      hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide as the ion-pairing agent. The compounds were
      detected by their ultraviolet absorbance at 305 nm for II and 322 nm for I. Urine
      samples were diluted, filtered and analysed by the same chromatographic
      procedure. At concentrations of 1-500 micrograms/ml of each compound, the within-
      and between-day precisions were 1.8-3.6 and 2.6-5.1%, respectively. The detection
      limit was 0.2 micrograms/ml for I and 0.3 micrograms/ml for II.

PMID- 1447338
TI  - High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of pamaquine, primaquine
      and carboxy primaquine in calf plasma using electrochemical detection.
AB  - A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical detection
      is described for quantification of pamaquine, primaquine and carboxy primaquine
      in calf plasma. After the proteins had been precipitated with acetonitrile, the
      drugs were separated on a 5-microns C18-modified polymer gel column with an
      isocratic mobile phase. The detection limit was 0.01 microgram/ml in plasma for
      all three compounds. The applicability of the method in pharmacokinetic studies
      was demonstrated by determining the plasma concentrations of the three substances
      in calves administered a single dose of pamaquine or primaquine.

PMID- 1447339
TI  - Gas chromatographic profiles of plasma total lipids as indicators of dietary
      history. Correlation with carbohydrate and alcohol intake based on 24-h dietary
      recall.
AB  - Quantitative gas chromatographic estimates of the major lipid classes and
      molecular species in fasting plasma were correlated with total carbohydrate,
      starch, fibre, sucrose and alcohol intake based on 24-h dietary recall. Spearman
      coefficients (rs) and tests of significance (P) were obtained for groups of 775
      males and 471 females aged 20-59 years from a Toronto-McMaster Lipid Research
      Clinics Population Study. The most significant correlations varying from rs 0.1
      to 0.2 and P 0.001 to 0.0005 (n = 400-773) were between increased intake of
      alcohol and increased ratios of C50/C54 triacylglycerols, C34/C36
      phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylcholine/free cholesterol (PC/FC) of plasma.
      Increase in total dietary carbohydrate, starch and fibre correlated with
      decreasing C50/C54 triacylglycerol, C34/C36 phosphatidylcholine and PC/FC ratios
      (rs = -0.1-0.2; P less than 0.002-0.04; n = 400-773). In contrast, consumption of
      high levels of alcohol was associated with increasing C50/C54 triacylglycerol,
      C34/C36 phosphatidylcholine and PC/FC ratios. A high intake of alcohol (50-150 ml
      per day) distinguished itself from other simple carbohydrate-induced lipid
      profiles by its marked effect on increased C50/C52 triacylglycerol and PC/FC
      ratio.

PMID- 1447340
TI  - Direct-gradient high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis and preliminary
      pharmacokinetics of flumequine and flumequine acyl glucuronide in humans: effect
      of probenecid.
AB  - A gradient high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis for the direct
      measurement of flumequine, with its acyl glucuronide, in plasma and urine of
      humans has been developed. In order to prevent hydrolysis and isomerization of
      flumequine acyl glucuronide, the samples were acidified by the oral intake of
      four 1.2-g amounts of ammonium chloride per day. In contrast to the acyl
      glucuronides of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, flumequine and its acyl
      glucuronide were stable in urine of pH 5.0-8.0. Flumequine acyl glucuronide is
      unstable at pH 1.5. In acidic urine (pH 5-6), almost no flumequine is excreted
      unchanged (1%): it is excreted chiefly as acyl glucuronide (84.2%). Probenecid co
      medication reduces the renal excretion rate of flumequine acyl glucuronide from
      662 to 447 micrograms/min (p = 0.00080), but not the percentage of
      glucuronidation.

PMID- 1447341
TI  - Elution mode of Pneumocystis carinii cysts in gravitational field-flow
      fractionation.
AB  - The simplest field-flow fractionation technique, i.e. gravitational, was used in
      an attempt to purify a Pneumocystis carinii cyst suspension. This parasite is an
      opportunistic invader in immunocompromised patients, especially those suffering
      from AIDS. The cyst stage is spherical and 5 microns in diameter. Unexpected
      retention times, not systematically related to the size and the density of the
      parasite, were obtained under various experimental conditions. When silicone
      coated walls were used, Pneumocystis carinii cysts were eluted in the void
      volume, whereas when uncoated walls were used with a sodium dodecyl sulphate
      enriched carrier phase, retention was observed. These phenomena are probably
      related to the high degree of hydrophobicity of these micrometre-sized biological
      particles; this degree can be easily determined. The use of the gravitational
      field-flow fractionation technique can be of a great interest for the development
      of new methods for diagnostic purposes. Particle-wall interactions and their
      modifications due to the carrier phase or to the wall treatment can be employed
      in the search for new bronchoalveolar lavage solutions.

PMID- 1447342
TI  - Determination of methacrylonitrile in serum using gas chromatography and flame
      ionization detection.
AB  - A gas chromatographic method is described for the quantitation of
      methacrylonitrile in serum. Methacrylonitrile was extracted from rat serum with
      diethyl ether and then quantified using a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame
      ionization detector and a 60-m megabore column coated with polyethylene glycol
      polymer. The recoveries obtained following a one-step extraction with diethyl
      ether varied from 60% at 3.2 micrograms/ml to 70% at 80 micrograms/ml. The
      coefficient of variation for the analysis ranged from 2.5% at 400 micrograms/ml
      to 15.0% at 3.2 micrograms/ml.

PMID- 1447343
TI  - Improved high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of
      ethylmorphine and its metabolites in microsomal incubations and cell culture
      media.
AB  - Ethylmorphine N-demethylation is used as a marker pathway in studies of rat
      cytochrome P450 3A and 2C11 biotransformations. At present, microsomal activities
      are generally measured by a colorimetric determination of the formed
      formaldehyde. In the present study, a high-performance liquid chromatographic
      method of separating and quantifying both the N-demethylated (norethylmorphine)
      and the O-de-ethylated (morphine) metabolites is described. Either samples are
      extracted with ethyl acetate or proteins are precipitated with zinc sulphate
      barium hydroxide. Separation is achieved on a CN reversed-phase column, using a
      mobile phase of phosphate buffer (pH 4.5)-acetonitrile (90:10, v/v). At a flow
      rate of 1.5 ml/min, the analysis time is 30 min. The limit of detection
      (ultraviolet, 210 nm) for ethylmorphine and its metabolites is 0.5 micrograms/ml.

PMID- 1447344
TI  - Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of the
      stereoisomers of labetalol via derivatization with chiral and non-chiral
      isothiocyanate reagents.
AB  - The antihypertensive agent labetalol is a mixture of two racemates. We report
      reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methodology for the
      separation of the four stereoisomers of labetalol via derivatization with the
      chiral reagent (4S-cis)-2,2-dimethyl-5-isothiocyanato-4-phenyl-1,3-dioxane. The
      derivatives were separated on octadecylsilane columns with a methanol-ammonium
      phosphate buffer mixture as mobile phase. Separations of the diastereomeric forms
      of labetalol were achieved with the non-chiral derivatizing reagents benzyl
      isothiocyanate and 1-naphthalenemethyl isothiocyanate. In all cases the
      derivatives of the R,S/S,R forms eluted before those of the R,R/S,S forms.
      Isothiocyanates may have general utility in stereoisomer separations of amines by
      HPLC.

PMID- 1447345
TI  - Determination of nalbuphine using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled
      to photodiode-array detection and gas chromatography coupled to mass
      spectrometry.
AB  - A procedure involving capillary column gas chromatography coupled to mass
      spectrometry and a method involving liquid chromatography coupled to a diode
      array detector have been developed for the analysis of nalbuphine. The extraction
      step is the same for both techniques and involves extraction under alkaline
      conditions in chloroform-2-propanol-n-heptane (50:17:33, v/v/v) with levallorphan
      as the internal standard. After purification by acidic extraction and back
      alkaline extraction, drugs are derivatized with N,O-bis
      (trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide with 1% trimethylchlorosilane for gas
      chromatography-mass spectrometry and directly injected for high-performance
      liquid chromatography-diode-array detection. The limits of detection are 2.0 and
      25.0 ng/mg, respectively.

PMID- 1447346
TI  - Improved high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure for the determination
      of lasalocid in chicken tissues and egg using polymeric and porous graphitic
      carbon columns.
AB  - A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of
      the ionophore coccidiostat lasalocid in poultry muscle and eggs was developed.
      The drug was extracted from tissue with acetonitrile. The extract was partitioned
      between saturated salt and carbon tetrachloride and the organic layer evaporated
      to dryness. Clean-up was by solid-phase extraction on a silica column. HPLC
      analysis was carried out on either a polymeric PLRP-S or a porous graphitic
      carbon Hypercarb column with a basic mobile phase and fluorescence detection with
      excitation at 310 nm and emission at 420-430 nm. Average recoveries from poultry
      muscle at the 0.002, 0.010 and 0.050 mg kg-1 levels were 65.7, 72.0 and 77.9%,
      respectively. Average recoveries from egg at the 0.010 and 0.100 mg kg-1 levels
      were 76.2 and 76.4%, respectively.

PMID- 1447347
TI  - Sensitivity and specificity of urinary N-acetyldopamine as a marker for
      neuroblastomas: comparison with traditional urinary catecholamine metabolites.

PMID- 1447348
TI  - High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of morphine, morphine-3
      glucuronide, morphine-6-glucuronide and codeine in biological samples using multi
      wavelength forward optical detection: a reply.

PMID- 1447349
TI  - High-performance liquid chromatography-thermospray mass spectrometry of
      hydroperoxy polyunsaturated fatty acid acetyl derivatives.
AB  - A method for the analysis of hydroperoxy polyunsaturated fatty acids was
      developed. The hydroperoxy groups were acetylated by acetic anhydride, and the
      mixture was partially purified on a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge and analysed by high
      performance liquid chromatography with thermospray mass spectrometry. Generally,
      the base ion, [M+H - n(60)]+ or [M+H - n(60) - n(H2O)]+, is produced through
      elimination of acetic acid or water (n = number of hydroperoxy groups). The
      detection limit for these derivatives was ca. 1 pmol at concentrations of
      hydroperoxy polyenoic acids prior to derivatization. Using this method, many
      hydroxy and hydroperoxy polyunsaturated fatty acid derivatives could be detected
      simultaneously within 30 min on a selected-ion monitoring detection chromatogram
      without a gradient system. The assay was successfully applied to hydroxy and
      hydroperoxy polyunsaturated fatty acids from an incubation mixture of rat brain
      homogenate to which polyunsaturated fatty acids had been added.

PMID- 1447350
TI  - Determination of carnosine and other biogenic imidazoles in equine plasma by
      isocratic reversed-phase ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography.
AB  - The isocratic reversed-phase ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatographic
      technique presented provides a sensitive, rapid and reproducible analytical
      method for the selective determination of carnosine and other biogenic imidazoles
      in equine plasma. Plasma was deproteinized with 5-sulphosalicylic acid and the
      compounds of interest were isolated by sorbent extraction on Bond Elut PRS
      cartridges. Recoveries were 97-105% and the lowest limits of detection were 58.3
      80.1 nM. All compounds of interest were well resolved within a maximum retention
      time of 9.2 min. The mean equine plasma carnosine level determined by this method
      was 11.31 microM. Comparative determinations were made in canine and human
      plasma. Carnosine was not detected in human plasma. Concentrations of imidazole
      in canine plasma are reported here for the first time.

PMID- 1447351
TI  - Measurement of total plasma and cerebrospinal fluid homocysteine by fluorescence
      following high-performance liquid chromatography and precolumn derivatization
      with o-phthaldialdehyde.
AB  - Precolumn derivatization of amino acids with o-phthaldialdehyde followed by high
      performance liquid chromatographic separation and fluorescence detection is used
      in many clinical and experimental laboratories for the measurement of primary
      amino acids. This technique was adapted for the measurement of homocysteine in
      plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) following alkylation of the free sulphydryl
      group with iodoacetate. The minimum detection limits are less than 1 microM in
      plasma and 80 nM in CSF. Within-day and between-day coefficients of variation for
      plasma and for CSF are less than 10%. Values for normal plasma homocysteine range
      from 6.04 to 16.2 microM and for CSF from 0.28 to 0.66 microM.

PMID- 1447352
TI  - Monitoring of an experimental red blood cell pathology with gravitational field
      flow fractionation.
AB  - Gravitational field-flow fractionation is a simple method suitable for the
      separation of micrometre-size particles, for example the red blood cells (RBC).
      The variation in the composition of the RBC population in a rabbit during an
      experimental reversible anaemia induced by phenylhydrazine was studied. Blood
      samples taken at different stages of the anemia showed differences in the
      retention and shape of the elution profiles. Microscopic observations of original
      RBC samples and fractions collected at the outlet of the fractionation channel
      make a description of the RBC population possible. The three species observed
      were the normal RBC, the newly produced reticulocytes, and the blood cells
      containing Heinz bodies (intracellular haemoglobin precipitates). A decrease of
      the normal RBC from 96 to 1% was observed over five days. The production of
      reticulocytes in bone marrow is stimulated by the anaemia and increases in
      percentage after the second day of the anaemia (from 1 to 16%). RBC with Heinz
      bodies, which appear on the third day, were also studied. Granulometric studies
      were performed on the RBC sampled from the rabbit each day as well as on some
      fractions eluted by field-flow fractionation. Reinjection procedures of some cell
      subpopulations of known size distribution were also performed. The relaxation
      process of these cells was then studied to approximate their density properties.
      It was observed that RBC of different density but of the same average size were
      selectively eluted, as were cells of equivalent density but of different size.
      Injection of the cells at different stop-flow times enabled the study of the
      relaxation process on the elution profiles. The results, compared with systematic
      microscopic observation and size analysis, permit the description of
      modifications in the RBC composition as well as the purification of
      subpopulations at each stage of the anaemia. The correlation observed between the
      fractionation profiles and the progress or the regression of the anaemia opens a
      new field in the analytical monitoring of this type of pathology.

PMID- 1447353
TI  - Quantitation by gas chromatography with selected-ion monitoring mass spectrometry
      of "natural" diazepam, N-desmethyldiazepam and oxazepam in normal human serum.
AB  - During the past five years, the literature has tended to prove the occurrence of
      "natural benzodiazepines" in tissues and biological fluids of non-medicated
      humans. Several have been identified but very few papers deal with their
      quantitation in biological material. We present here a method for the specific
      and sensitive measurement of serum levels of diazepam, N-desmethyldiazepam and
      oxazepam by gas chromatography with selected-ion monitoring mass spectrometry in
      twenty human volunteers without medication. Diazepam was found over the whole
      population, in the range 7.3-32.0 pg/ml, identical in males and females. The
      other two were present in only some individuals (1.0-7.6 pg/ml for N
      desmethyldiazepam and 2.0-13.0 pg/ml for oxazepam). The origin (endogenous,
      dietary or microbial) of these substances is still to be elucidated.

PMID- 1447354
TI  - Electron-impact and chemical ionization detection of nicotine and cotinine by gas
      chromatography-mass spectrometry in rat plasma and brain.
AB  - Nicotine and its metabolite, cotinine, were measured in rat plasma and brain by
      gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Both agents were extracted from plasma and
      brain, separated on a capillary column, and quantified by single-ion monitoring.
      The major fragment ions of nicotine and cotinine at m/z 84 and m/z 98,
      respectively, were monitored by electron-impact ionization detection and the
      protonated molecular ions at m/z 163 and m/z 177, respectively, were monitored by
      chemical ionization detection. Both compounds were quantified using deuterium
      labeled nicotine and cotinine, respectively, as internal standards.

PMID- 1447355
TI  - Simultaneous determination of fluoxetine and norfluoxetine enantiomers in
      biological samples by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection.
AB  - An electron-capture gas chromatographic procedure was developed for the
      simultaneous analysis of the enantiomers of fluoxetine and norfluoxetine. The
      assay involves basic extraction of these enantiomers from the biological samples,
      followed by their conversion to diastereoisomers using the chiral derivatizing
      reagent (S)-(-)-N-trifluoroacetylprolyl chloride. The method was utilized to
      detect and measure the quantity of these enantiomers in plasma and urine of
      patients and in liver and brain tissue of rats treated with (R,S)-fluoxetine.

PMID- 1447357
TI  - Rapid fluorimetric assay for the detection of the peptidyl alpha-amidating enzyme
      intermediate using high-performance liquid chromatography.
AB  - Peptidylglycine alpha-amidating enzyme catalyzes the conversion of glycine
      extended peptides to their corresponding amidated peptides via a stable alpha
      hydroxyglycine intermediate. Using a new rapid fluorimetric reversed-phase high
      performance liquid chromatographic assay, we have demonstrated that the substrate
      and product of the amidation reaction, as well as both stereoisomers of the alpha
      hydroxyglycine intermediate, can be separated and detected in quantities as low
      as 1 pmol. The method is highly reproducible and requires less than 11 min for
      separation and quantification.

PMID- 1447356
TI  - Rapid and sensitive anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatographic
      determination of radiolabeled inositol phosphates and inositol trisphosphate
      isomers in cellular systems.
AB  - A rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the
      determination of multiple inositol phosphates and inositol trisphosphate isomers
      was developed. The separation of inositol phosphates was optimized by controlling
      the ionic strength with stepped gradient programs and the pH of mobile phase. Six
      inositol phosphates were determined within 22 min or the six compounds plus an
      inositol trisphosphate isomer within 24 min using a single anion-exchange column
      containing the quaternary ammonium functional group. This technique was
      successfully applied to the determination of inositol phosphatide turnover by
      AlF4-stimulation in a small amount (5.10(5)-1.10(6) cells) of cultured retinal
      capillary pericytes. Because of its efficiency, accuracy and applicability to the
      separation of inositol phosphates from biological samples, this method may be
      useful in signal transduction studies in cellular systems.

PMID- 1447358
TI  - Rapid determination of sulphonamides in milk using liquid chromatographic
      separation and fluorescamine derivatization.
AB  - A simple and selective method is presented for the multiple residue determination
      of eight sulphonamides in consumers' milk. The drugs are sulphisomidine (ID),
      sulphadiazine (DZ), sulphamerazine, sulphadimidine, sulphamonomethoxine,
      sulphamethoxazole, sulphadimethoxine and sulphaquinoxaline (SQ). The milk sample
      was deproteinized with the same volume of 2 M hydrochloric acid and filtered. A 1
      ml volume of the filtrate was mixed with 1 ml each of 1.25 M sodium acetate
      solution and a buffer (pH 3.0) for derivatization with 0.6 ml of 0.02%
      fluorescamine solution in acetone. A high-performance liquid chromatographic
      analysis was carried out on a C18 column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-2%
      acetic acid (3:5) at 55 degrees C using a fluorescence detector at an excitation
      wavelength of 405 nm and an emission wavelength of 495 nm. Average recoveries at
      fortification levels of 2, 5 and 10 ng/ml were 114%, 109% and 106%, respectively.
      Relative standard deviations were 1-4% at 10 ng/ml for ID, 5 ng/ml for DZ and SQ
      and 2.5 ng/ml for the other five sulphonamides. The method was applied to 25 milk
      samples and all appeared to be free from the drugs.

PMID- 1447359
TI  - Sensitive method for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides in fruits
      and surface waters by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet
      detection.
AB  - A sensitive method for the high-performance liquid chromatographic determination
      of five organophosphorus pesticides (paraoxon, methyl-parathion, ethyl-parathion,
      guthion and fenitrothion) in fruits and tap and river water samples is described.
      For the determination of pesticides in fruits a simple and rapid sample
      preparation procedure was developed that allowed pesticides to be determined at
      50-100 micrograms/kg levels with recoveries ranging from 83 to 118% and relative
      standard deviations below 6%. The determination of pesticide residues in surface
      water samples was also successfully accomplished. Concentrations at sub-ppb
      levels can be measured by using a solid-phase concentration step, the recoveries
      being over 80%. In analyses of both fruits and surface waters, the sensitivity
      levels achieved were 2-10 times lower than legal limits admitted in the European
      Economic Community.

PMID- 1447360
TI  - Studies on the methanolysis of small amounts of purified phospholipids for gas
      chromatographic analysis of fatty acid methyl esters.
AB  - The methanolysis of small amounts of purified phosphoglycerides and sphingomyelin
      was studied and a quantitative comparison of five methods for the methanolysis of
      standard phosphoglycerides was made. These methods were based on methanolysis
      with boron trifluoride-methanol, methanolic sodium methoxide (at ambient
      temperature and with heating) and methanolic sulphuric acid. A further method was
      based on saponification with methanolic sodium hydroxide and subsequent
      esterification with boron trifluoride-methanol. Under the experimental
      conditions, only the sodium methoxide-catalysed method at ambient temperature
      gave complete methanolysis of phosphoglycerides. For methanolysis of
      sphingomyelin, boron trifluoride-methanol, methanolic sulphuric acid and
      methanolic hydrochloric acid were used. It was found that complete methanolysis
      of sphingomyelin takes 15 h at 90 degrees C. Based on these results, procedures
      for the methanolysis of phosphoglycerides and sphingomyelin separated by high
      performance liquid chromatography are presented.

PMID- 1447361
TI  - Coculture of embryos on Vero cells and transfer of blastocysts in humans.
AB  - Preliminary results are presented concerning the first clinical application of
      cocultures of human embryos. In the experimental group, the embryos were cultured
      and transferred on day 5 post-insemination. Blastocyst formation was not
      dependent upon the stimulation regimen. Long term or ultrashort stimulation of
      the ovaries after gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogue gave 55-60% blastocyst
      formation. Serum was not necessary to obtain blastocysts. When the embryos were
      cocultured, we observed an increase in the implantation rates per embryo in the
      pregnant patients. However, a real increase in the pregnancy rate per transfer
      was observed in a population of patients who had had repeated failures of embryo
      transfer. This observation is discussed as possibly bypassing an effect of
      uterine motility, but the overall beneficial effect has to be assessed in a
      double blind randomized study. It is probable that improvements will not be
      observed for all the indications for in vitro fertilization.

PMID- 1447362
TI  - Preimplantation diagnosis.
AB  - Although healthy babies have been born after preimplantation diagnosis for sex
      determination, this technique is still in an experimental phase. To date, removal
      by micromanipulation of one or two blastomeres from an eight-cell embryo seems an
      acceptable procedure. Since a reasonable number of biopsied embryos will implant
      and develop in utero, the methodology for the analysis of the blastomeres at the
      chromosomal, gene product or DNA level, needs to be improved before further
      clinical application. In the meanwhile, more information about early embryo
      development will become available.

PMID- 1447363
TI  - Transvaginal gamete intra-fallopian transfer and embryo intra-fallopian transfer.
AB  - This study describes the conduct and results of a recently developed technique
      for transvaginal catheterization of the Fallopian tube in order to transfer
      gametes or early embryos. Transvaginal gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (TV-GIFT)
      was performed in 46 patients after stimulation with human menopausal
      gonadotrophin (HMG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) and transvaginal
      oocyte retrieval. This resulted in 11 (23.9%) pregnancies. Eight patients
      delivered healthy children, including one set of twins. Two patients had
      abortions at 8 and 11 weeks of gestation and one had an ectopic pregnancy. In a
      first series of 11 women, oocytes were fertilized in vitro and a maximum of three
      embryos at the 2- to 8-cell stages were transferred into one tube. Three of the
      11 cycles with tubal embryo-stage transfer' (TV-TEST) resulted in clinical
      pregnancy.

PMID- 1447364
TI  - Indications for in-vitro fertilization and results.
AB  - During the last few years, many healthy children have been born after in vitro
      fertilization and embryo transfer, fulfilling the wish for a child for many
      couples who had often nearly given up hope. Because of in vitro fertilization and
      other related methods developed subsequently (gamete intra-Fallopian transfer,
      intratubal embryo transfer), progress in the diagnosis and treatment of
      involuntary childlessness took place and has helped many patients. Furthermore,
      by dealing with these methods, new knowledge about ovarian function,
      fertilization and early embryonic development could be gained. This has also led
      to better treatment of childless couples. Despite the broad diagnostic and
      therapeutic possibilities of reproductive medicine, its limits must also be taken
      into account. These limitations have been recognized early by physicians and
      scientists dealing with this subject and also by society. Guidelines and laws
      have been drawn up which now give a clear framework.

PMID- 1447365
TI  - The male IVF patient--psychosomatic considerations.
AB  - In order to study psychosomatic considerations of the male IVF patient, three
      issues were investigated. First, the personality traits of sterile males (n =
      180) were recorded. Male IVF patients were found to have largely the same
      personality traits as the general population although they tended to have more
      dominant and retentive traits. Second, in examining the specific stress
      experiences during IVF, the individual treatment steps were ranked as being
      similarly stressful by both partners. Males felt the waiting periods
      (fertilization? pregnancy?) to be clearly more unpleasant than the physical
      aspects of treatment (e.g. masturbation). Third, an individual comparison of
      sperm parameters taken during the diagnostic phase with those measured during the
      IVF attempt, showed that density and morphology were significantly different.
      Some practical recommendations to reduce the stress that men experience during
      IVF include his presence during the treatment steps that the female must undergo,
      as well as his participation in a self-help discussion group.

PMID- 1447366
TI  - Fallopian tube sperm perfusion: first clinical experience.
AB  - We have developed an insemination method using a large (4 ml) volume of the
      inseminate. This method incorporates ovarian stimulation, isolation of an optimal
      number of motile spermatozoa and, finally, Fallopian tube sperm perfusion (FSP).
      In a clinical study, 139 couples with various causes of infertility, had a total
      of 239 treatment cycles. The pregnancy rate per treatment in groups with
      endometriosis, ovulation disorders, tubal impairment, combined male and female
      factors and subnormal sperm quality were low, ranging from 2.7% to 7.7%. In
      patients with unexplained infertility, the pregnancy rate per treatment was 26.9%
      and for this group, the pregnancy rate in the first treatment cycle was 37.3%. In
      the cervical hostility group, two pregnancies occurred after five treatments. FSP
      seems to be a favourable treatment for couples with cervical hostility or
      unexplained infertility. About half of the women in these groups conceived after
      three treatment cycles. FSP is easier to perform and is less expensive than other
      methods of assisted procreation, such as in vitro fertilization and gamete intra
      Fallopian transfer.

PMID- 1447367
TI  - Genetic research in embryology.
AB  - Based on findings on the molecular mechanisms of differentiation in drosophila,
      developmental genes have been identified in mammals similar to those in
      drosophila. Moreover, sequence similarities between drosophila developmental
      genes and mammalian growth factors provide evidence for common ancestors of such
      genes and suggest a complex link between growth and differentiation. As numerous
      oncogenes display their action as growth factors and are expressed during
      embryogenesis, differentiation and oncogenesis seem to be two sides of the same
      coin. Therefore, the aim of molecular embryology is twofold; elucidating
      differentiation processes and disclosing oncogenesis by studying the
      physiological function of oncogenes during development. Recent progress in
      molecular genetic technology now allows gene function to be studied by
      modification or disruption of genes. Models of clinical diseases have already
      evolved from such work and it is anticipated that progress in molecular
      embryology will further stimulate work on the diagnosis and therapy of genetic
      diseases as well as clinical oncology.

PMID- 1447368
TI  - The use of gonadotrophin releasing-hormone analogues (GnRHa), in in-vitro
      fertilization: some clinical and experimental investigations of a direct effect
      on the human ovary.
AB  - Several lines of investigation suggest a direct modulatory role for gonadotrophin
      releasing hormone (GnRH) on granulosa cell functions. Also, GnRH and its
      analogues (GnRHa) have been implicated in the resumption of meiosis, both in vivo
      and in vitro. Despite the presence of specific receptors for GnRH on human
      granulosa and luteal cells, very little is known about the possible effects of
      this hormone on the ovary. The use of GnRHa for long periods of time in patients
      undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) may influence granulosa cell function
      and/or oocyte maturation. We describe our clinical and experimental data in which
      we have searched for evidence of a direct action of GnRHa on the ovary. We have
      found that the retrieval of higher numbers of oocytes in women treated with GnRHa
      is correlated with oocytes of lower quality, manifested by a decreased
      fertilization and implantation rate. This impairment seems to be the consequence
      of oocyte immaturity, as ascertained by cytogenetic analysis of unfertilized
      oocytes in which an increase in diploidy, as well as prematurely condensed sperm
      chromosomes of the G1 phase, was observed in women with an excessive response to
      the stimulating drugs. Follicular atresia was not increased in women treated with
      GnRHa. Thus, there was no evidence for a direct effect of GnRHa on the human
      oocyte. Rather, the observations reflect the harmful effect of pushing follicles
      in early stages of development using this stimulation protocol. We have also
      searched for possible effects of GnRHa on granulosa-luteal cells obtained at ovum
      collection. In vitro culture of these cells has shown that the steroidogenic
      pathway is affected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447370
TI  - Transcervical access and intra-luminal imaging of the fallopian tube in the non
      anaesthetized patient; preliminary results using a new technique for fallopian
      access.
AB  - A study was performed to evaluate a new transcervical, Fallopian tube access
      system for use in falloposcopy procedures without the need for conventional
      hysteroscopy or uterine distension. Visualization was accomplished by the use of
      a 0.5 mm falloposcope which was delivered to the Fallopian tube by a new linear
      everting catheter. The linear everting catheter allows access to the Fallopian
      tube by means of a flexible, tubular rolling membrane which can safely negotiate
      the tortuous anatomy from the ostium to the ampulla. Concurrent laparoscopy was
      performed solely for supervision purposes and not for tubal manipulations in 13
      Fallopian tube access procedures in 10 patients. The ostia were visualized in 12
      cases and the Fallopian tube was accessed in all 12 without complications. As a
      precursor for future gamete and embryo transfer procedures, intra-tubal
      insemination was performed by visualizing the ostia, accessing the Fallopian
      tubes, and obtaining successful isthmic-ampullary, intra-luminal images.

PMID- 1447369
TI  - Is there an indication for embryo reduction?
AB  - The selective reduction of embryos in multiple pregnancies poses numerous
      medical, technical, ethical and psycho-social problems. In a retrospective study,
      we analysed nine hundred and twenty-two pregnancies obtained using medically
      assisted procreation between May 1982 and May 1990. Among 922 successful
      pregnancies, 372 were singleton, 102 were twin and 13 were triplet. Data from
      this analysis and from a French multicentre study of 262 embryo reduction
      procedures demonstrated the value of an embryo quality score for minimizing the
      risk of multiple pregnancy and the existence of extremely infrequent, ethically
      acceptable indications for embryo reduction. These indications included
      ultrasound-proven malformations of one fetus, multiple pregnancies in patients
      with extensive uterine scarring, and multiple pregnancy despite the appropriate
      use of preventative measures which can be expected to make this technique
      unnecessary in the future.

PMID- 1447371
TI  - Treatment of male infertility by gamete micromanipulation.
AB  - Over the past decade, in vitro fertilization (IVF) has become a routine and
      acceptable tool in the treatment of infertility. However, major limitations in
      solving certain infertility problems still remain. Male infertility is one area
      in which only a small fraction of patients have benefited from IVF. Union of male
      and female gametes, either in vivo or in vitro, requires sperm penetration
      through the cumulus oophorus and the zona pellucida. Failure of fertilization
      despite the increased number of spermatozoa introduced into the oocyte's vicinity
      by IVF, has been shown to be directly related to abnormalities in sperm cell
      morphology and motility. The improved technology for micromanipulation of gametes
      has made it possible to circumvent the oocyte barriers to sperm penetration,
      thereby greatly reducing the number of normal sperm cells needed to achieve
      fertilization. This paper reviews the three major micromanipulative strategies
      which have been developed over the past five years, patient selection for the
      different procedures and the methods of sperm preparation to improve the yield of
      the applied technique.

PMID- 1447372
TI  - Cryopreservation of rabbit zygotes.
AB  - Rabbit embryos at the pronuclear stage (n = 480) were frozen using a mixture of
      propanediol and sucrose. The survival rate was 71% according to their
      morphological features shortly after thawing. The viability rate after 5 days of
      culture was 10% according to the number of embryos that reached the blastocyst
      stage, while the rate of formation of blastocysts from freshly collected and
      cultured pronuclear embryos was higher (59%). The implantation rate was higher
      (24%) if the frozen/thawed zygotes were directly transferred to foster mothers
      after 2-4 hours of culture, whereas with zygotes cultured for 24 hours (4 to 8
      cell stages) the implantation rate was poor (4%). Both rates were low compared
      with the implantation rate (52%) achieved with freshly collected and directly
      transferred pronucleate embryos.

PMID- 1447373
TI  - Indications for oocyte donation.
AB  - Donated oocytes were transferred on 92 occasions to 87 women without gonadal
      function and 5 with functional ovaries. Twenty-three pregnancies were established
      (25% pregnancy rate), 9 after transfer of fresh embryos in 30 synchronous donor
      and recipient cycles and 14 after transfers of frozen-thawed embryos in 62
      asynchronous donor and recipient cycles. Twenty-two pregnancies were obtained in
      agonadal patients (25.3% pregnancy rate) and 1 in a gonadal woman (20% pregnancy
      rate). Pregnant women were younger than those who did not become pregnant, but
      the difference was not significant. The pregnancy rate was higher when intra
      Fallopian transfer was performed (46%) as compared with intrauterine transfer
      (21.5%) and when micronized progesterone was given intravaginally (pregnancy rate
      30.3%) as compared to intramuscularly injected natural progesterone in oil
      (pregnancy rate 22%). Twenty healthy infants have been born including one set of
      twins; four pregnancies miscarried.

PMID- 1447374
TI  - Fertilization abnormalities in human in-vitro fertilization.
AB  - Fertilization abnormalities (premature chromosome condensation of spermatozoa
      (PCC), triploidy, haploidy) were analysed in order to determine their origin. PCC
      occurs in 9% of unfertilized oocytes and seems to be the consequence of a failure
      of oocyte activation, leading to the continuing presence of cytoplasmic
      chromosome-condensing factors, causing the sperm nucleus to undergo chromosome
      condensation prematurely. This anomaly appears to be related to incomplete
      nuclear and/or cytoplasmic maturation. Triploid zygotes (6.5% of fertilized
      oocytes) display an original type of division: half of them divide into 3 and 6
      cells, whereas at the same time diploid zygotes divide into 2 and then 4 cells. A
      cytological study, using both antitubulin antibodies and Hoechst dye, allowed us
      to demonstrate that they divide into 3 cells by means of a tripolar spindle.
      Triploidy seems to be correlated with four of 16 clinical or biological
      parameters examined: semen origin (fresh or frozen), type of stimulation
      treatment, number of oocytes recovered and embryo morphology. Haploid eggs (1.6%
      of inseminated oocytes) result from parthenogenetic activation. A correlation was
      found between a high number of recovered oocytes and triploid zygotes, and the
      occurrence of oocyte activation. These data show that increasing follicular
      recruitment decreases the overall oocyte quality and maturity leading to an
      overall 9% with impaired fertilization.

PMID- 1447375
TI  - Chlorinated hydrocarbon content of fetal and maternal body tissues and fluids in
      full term pregnant women: a comparison of Germany versus Tanzania.
AB  - Chlorinated hydrocarbons are distributed worldwide and due to their lipophilic
      properties and chemical stability they accumulate in the foodchain. The
      concentrations of 19 different chlorinated hydrocarbons (hexachlorohexane (HCH),
      DDT and various metabolites and nine different polychlorinated phenyl (PCB)
      congeners were detected in various body tissues and fluids (maternal and fetal
      serum, adipose tissue, placenta, amniotic fluid) of full term pregnant women from
      Germany and Tanzania. Great variation of total toxin burden and toxin
      distribution within the different body compartments was found. This was in part
      due to local differences of exposure to some of the chlorinated hydrocarbons.
      Comparing samples from Germany and Tanzania, typical distribution patterns
      reflected the specific economic situation of the two countries with a high burden
      of insecticides (DDT and Dieldrin) in the agricultural country and high levels of
      constituents of industrial products (hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and PCBs) in
      Germany. Different chlorinated hydrocarbons seem to show different distribution
      patterns in body tissues, probably due to their chemical structure, the lipid
      content of the compartment and the overall toxin burden of the individual. A 10
      to 100 fold accumulation of chlorinated hydrocarbons was observed in maternal
      adipose tissue compared with the other compartments. The concentrations of
      certain toxins in fetal cord serum and placenta were higher than in maternal
      serum.

PMID- 1447376
TI  - Peripheral inflammatory root resorption. A review of the literature with case
      reports.
AB  - External resorptions associated with inflammation in marginal tissues are many
      times misdiagnosed and confused with caries and internal resorptions. A lack of
      uniformity in nomenclature has added to the confusion. This paper reviews the
      literature and presents cases to illustrate a rational approach to diagnosis and
      treatment. A new name is suggested to better reflect the features of this type of
      root resorption: peripheral inflammatory root resorption.

PMID- 1447377
TI  - Granulocyte elastase in gingival crevicular fluid. A possible discriminator
      between gingivitis and periodontitis.
AB  - The granulocyte elastase activity and the immuno-reactive (antigenic) granulocyte
      elastase of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) were studied in 16 periodontitis
      patients and in 10 gingivitis patients. The elastase activity was measured with a
      low molecular weight substrate specific for granulocyte elastase. The antigenic
      elastase was determined with specific antibodies against granulocyte elastase.
      Intracrevicular sampling of GCF with paper strips for 30 s seemed to provide
      representative values of elastase. The elastase activity correlated with probing
      depth and attachment loss and appeared to be a measure of the degree of tissue
      destruction. Antigenic elastase represents the number of granulocytes in GCF and
      should thus be related to the degree of inflammation. The periodontitis patients
      and the gingivitis patients both had a similar degree of inflammation as measured
      by antigenic elastase per microliter GCF and gingival index. The elastase
      activity per microliter GCF, however, was higher in the periodontitis group.
      Elevated granulocyte elastase activity in GCF seems to be independent of
      inflammation and could thus be an indicator of patients at risk for
      periodontitis.

PMID- 1447378
TI  - Reproducibility of an electronic probe in relative attachment level measurements.
AB  - 4 probing designs have been employed to investigate the reproducibility of the
      Florida Probe. 3 groups (each composed of 10 subjects) were selected for the
      study: healthy adults, gingivitis subjects, and periodontitis subjects. The 4
      probing designs were as follows: (a) the probe tip was left in the sulcus between
      successive probings; (b) the probe tip was removed from the gingival margin
      between probings but the next probing followed immediately; (c) successive whole
      mouth probings were interrupted by a 5-min interval and a mouthrinse; (d) there
      was a 4-week interval between each probing. 3 measurements were taken for each
      design. The main purpose of this study was to identify variance components in the
      attachment level variation. The maximum probing error standard deviation was
      found to be around 0.3 mm, which is considerably smaller than that found in most
      previous studies. The errors associated with the periodontal condition and
      probing effect were also estimated. The variance components obtained here can be
      used for determining the sample size in controlled clinical studies.

PMID- 1447379
TI  - Evaluation of a new periodontal curet. An in vitro study.
AB  - Removal of plaque and calculus from subgingival root surfaces is a fundamental
      aspect of periodontal therapy. A new type of periodontal curet (Gracey Curvette
      Sub-0) has been designed to better adapt to the root surfaces that may be
      encountered in periodontal pockets of incisor teeth. The new curet (test) was
      compared to a Gracey curet 1/2 (conventional) in their ability to remove deposits
      from the subgingival root surfaces of incisor teeth in an in vitro model. A
      dentiform model mounted on a dental chair was used with artificial gingiva, 6 mm
      pocket depths and subgingival root surfaces covered with black enamel paint. 2
      groups of 12 hygienists used, on a timed basis, either the test or conventional
      curet on 4 of the incisor teeth and then switched to the alternate instrument for
      the remaining four incisors. The extent of surface material removal was
      determined using a computerized video routine. The test curet removed
      significantly (p less than 0.001) more of the surface material from all
      subgingival incisor root surfaces than the conventional curet (60.7% versus
      46.3%). Both instruments were most effective at labial surfaces. The test curet
      was least effective at proximal surfaces and the conventional curet least
      effective at lingual surfaces. The greatest statistical difference between
      instruments was apparent at lingual surfaces of maxillary incisors and the least
      at mesial surfaces of mandibular incisors.

PMID- 1447380
TI  - An imaging routine for assessing the efficacy of instruments used for scaling and
      root planing.
AB  - Deposits of dental plaque or calculus are typically quantified using planimetric
      techniques. However, error is introduced into a quantitative analysis of plaque
      deposits using these methods, since they require a significant amount of human
      intervention. The purpose of this study is to describe and validate a
      computerized imaging routine which has the potential to objectively identify
      material on dental roots and measure the area covered by these deposits.
      Dentiform teeth with simulated plaque were videorecorded. A computer routine was
      developed based on a flood-fill algorithm which analyzed images of the dentiform
      teeth and determined the amount of simulated plaque on their root surfaces.
      Results showed that the dentiform teeth and their simulated plaque patterns are
      duplicated by the imaging routine in a rapid and reliable fashion. The system
      shows a high degree of accuracy with an average error factor of only 0.58%. As
      well, the system enables precise reproducibility with an average error factor of
      only 0.71%.

PMID- 1447381
TI  - Comparative in vitro studies of sonic, ultrasonic and reciprocating scaling
      instruments.
AB  - Flat root surface areas of formalin-stored mandibular incisors with plaque and
      calculus were scaled by sonic (PHATELUS SONIC SCALER, SONIC FLEX 2000, TITAN-S
      SONIC SCALER) or ultrasonic instruments (HYGIENIST ULTRASONIC SCALER, CAVITRON)
      or by a new reciprocating scaling insert for the EVA/PROFIN system. The test
      areas were photographed by SEM and coded micrographs were independently graded by
      three examiners using the RCI (Remaining Calculus Index) and the RLTSI (Roughness
      Loss of Tooth Substance Index). The findings revealed that the sonic scalers as a
      group removed calculus more completely but also left significantly more roughness
      and loss of tooth substance than the other instruments tested. No difference was
      seen between the two ultrasonic scalers. The reciprocating insert gave results
      similar to those of the ultrasonic except for the scaling time which was
      significantly longer for the new "cleansing principle".

PMID- 1447382
TI  - A comparison of natural product, triclosan and chlorhexidine mouthrinses on 4-day
      plaque regrowth.
AB  - There is a continuing search for ingredients to enhance the chemical plaque
      inhibitory action of oral hygiene products. Sanguinarine, other natural extracts
      and triclosan have already been used in products. The aim of this study was to
      evaluate a number of triclosan and natural product rinses for effects on plaque
      regrowth. In particular, the influence of other rinse components were assessed,
      notably sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and zinc. The study was a randomised, blind,
      9-cell cross-over design to measure the effects of each rinse on 4-day plaque
      regrowth from a zero baseline. 15 volunteers rinsed 2x daily with each product
      and plaque was recorded by area and score. The 0.2% chlorhexidine rinse (positive
      control) was significantly more effective, and the saline rinse (negative
      control) significantly less effective, than other rinses. Sanguinarine alone was
      little different from saline and the addition of zinc made a modest improvement
      in activity. The 3 triclosan/SLS rinses were more effective than the sanguinarine
      rinses but similar to their minus triclosan control rinse. A natural product/SLS
      experimental rinse was second to chlorhexidine and, in many analyses,
      significantly better than all other rinses, but caused some oral erosions. The
      results indicate that the plaque inhibitory properties of basic ingredients such
      as SLS may be difficult to enhance or surpass. However, the possible range of
      recipes, particularly using natural ingredients, provides scope for research and
      development in the field of oral hygiene products.

PMID- 1447383
TI  - Preservation of probing attachment and alveolar bone levels in 2 random
      population samples.
AB  - The present study is an attempt to elucidate the relation between ageing and loss
      of periodontal tissue support, by studying the occurrence of probing attachment
      and alveolar bone loss in two samples of randomly selected individuals. The 1st
      sample was recruited in Japan and comprised 319 subjects aged 20-79 years. The
      2nd sample was recruited in Sweden and comprised 192 subjects aged 30-65 years.
      All individuals underwent a radiographic and a comprehensive clinical
      examination, including recordings of probing attachment level. Within the 2
      samples, subsamples of individuals whose periodontal status indicated minimal
      experience of destructive periodontal disease were selected. In these particular
      subsamples, it was revealed that a substantial proportion of tooth surfaces, also
      in older subjects, remained with no attachment or alveolar bone loss. To a lesser
      extent, this could be also observed when the entire samples were analyzed,
      despite the presence of abundant plaque and gingival inflammation. The results
      indicated that intact supporting periodontal tissues can be retained in subjects
      of increased age and corroborate the suggestion that loss of clinical attachment
      and alveolar bone is not an obligatory consequence of ageing.

PMID- 1447384
TI  - The effect of partial denture connectors on gingival health.
AB  - The effect on the gingiva of a variety of relationships of a removable partial
      denture connector to the gingival margin was investigated in 10 subjects. Acrylic
      resin baseplates were designed incorporating a variety of relationships of the
      connector to the gingival margin. The appliances were worn for a 12 hour period
      daily, for 21 days. At baseline and at days 7, 21 and 49, plaque index, gingival
      index and probing pocket depth measurements were recorded, and subgingival plaque
      samples were examined using darkfield microscopy. No increase in plaque
      accumulation was detected in any area at any time interval. There was a
      significant increase in gingival index at day 21 in areas where the appliance
      covered the gingival margin. Small increases in probing pocket depth were
      recorded at day 21, there being no difference between any of the test areas.
      Baseline values were re-established by day 49. No significant differences were
      detected in the percentage of motile organisms or spirochaetes counted in the
      subgingival plaque samples collected from any area. It was concluded that
      deterioration in gingival health occurred rapidly following the insertion of a
      removable appliance, and that coverage of the gingival margin, irrespective of
      the degree of gingival relief, had a detrimental effect.

PMID- 1447385
TI  - Clinical effects of simultaneous ultrasonic scaling and subgingival irrigation
      with chlorhexidine. Mediating influence of periodontal probing depth.
AB  - The clinical and microbial effects of a single episode of simultaneous ultrasonic
      scaling and subgingival irrigation with chlorhexidine (CHX) were studied as a
      function of clinical probing depth in patients with adult periodontitis. 60
      patients were randomly assigned to receive subgingival irrigation under
      cavitation with either sterile water or 0.12% CHX delivered through the tip of an
      ultrasonically activated scaler as part of initial periodontal therapy in a
      double-blind study design. 3 periodontal sites were randomly selected for
      examination from each patient on the basis of clinical probing depth, with 1 site
      being selected within each of the following ranges: 1-3 mm, 4-6 mm, and 7-9 mm.
      Pretreatment and post-treatment (days 14 and 28) clinical assessments included a
      plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and clinical probing depth (CPD).
      Subgingival specimens also were collected from 1-3 mm and 4-6 mm sites on a
      random subset of patients (15 per group). Plaque counts of spirochetes and motile
      organisms were made by darkfield microscopy. Significant reductions in PI, GI,
      and CPD were observed among all sites within both treatment groups at 14 and 28
      days post-treatment. CHX irrigation resulted in a significantly greater reduction
      in CPD than did water among sites initially probing 4-6 mm at both 14 and 28 days
      post-treatment (25% versus 13% and 31% versus 18%, respectively). Spirochete
      counts were modestly but nonsignificantly reduced at 14 days post-treatment among
      sites 4-6 mm within both treatment groups. These results suggest that subgingival
      irrigation with CHX during ultrasonic scaling provides differential clinical
      benefits that are site-dependent.

PMID- 1447386
TI  - A sensitive method for the detection of immune complexes in human gingival
      crevicular fluid.
AB  - An assay for immune complexes [ICs] in gingival crevicular fluid [GCF] could be
      potentially useful to ascertain the risk of periodontal disease activity at
      specific oral sites. This paper describes and ELISA-based method sufficiently
      sensitive to measure ICs in GCF samples at levels below 1 microgram/ml. Static
      GCF samples taken from 5 adults showed IC levels ranging from 5 to 166
      micrograms/ml. Additional tests of 10 GCF samples from 1 adult were conducted
      with complement components and indicated that either C1q or rabbit anti-human C3d
      was suitable as a capture agent in the assay procedure. Further application of
      this assay may help to assess the usefulness of IC levels in GCF samples as
      possible diagnostic indicators of periodontal disease activity.

PMID- 1447387
TI  - Formulation of a drug delivery system based on a mixture of monoglycerides and
      triglycerides for use in the treatment of periodontal disease.
AB  - This paper describes the development of a stable, controlled-release formulation
      of metronidazole for use in the treatment of periodontal disease. It is
      formulated as a suspension, which undergoes transformation to a release
      controlling, semi-solid on contact with gingival fluid. The system is based on
      the ability of mixtures of monoglycerides and triglycerides to form liquid
      crystals, i.e., reversed hexagonals, in contact with water. The reversed
      hexagonal form was found to have the most favourable sustained release
      properties, compared with those from the cubic form. The source of metronidazole
      is the prodrug, metronidazole benzoate, which further helps to slow down the
      release rate. Product characteristics are assessed by differential scanning
      calorimetry and viscometry. The release data derive from the results of in vitro
      dissolution tests. X-ray diffraction, phase diagrams, and polarized light
      microscopy were used to elucidate the structure of the liquid crystalline phases.

PMID- 1447388
TI  - Systemic absorption of metronidazole after application of a metronidazole 25%
      dental gel.
AB  - Systemic absorption of metronidazole was studied after one application of a
      metronidazole 25% dental gel into inflamed periodontal pockets. 14 patients with
      periodontal disease participated. Metronidazole gel was applied into the pockets
      of all teeth with probing depth > or = 5 mm, minimum 10 teeth/patient. Excess gel
      was carefully collected in order to calculate the amount of metronidazole applied
      into the pockets. Blood samples for analysis of metronidazole in plasma were
      taken before and up to 72 h after application. To determine the bioavailability
      of metronidazole administered as gel, the patients were later given an i.v. dose
      of 100 mg metronidazole. Metronidazole was quantified by HPLC. The mean actual
      dose of metronidazole in gel was 55 mg (SD: 24 mg, range: 29-103 mg). Allowing
      for the fact that excess gel corresponding to about 60% of the applied amount of
      metronidazole under normal clinical conditions may be swallowed, the systemic
      load after one application of metronidazole 25% dental gel will still be less
      than after one metronidazole 250 mg tablet. Peak plasma concentrations varied
      between 223 and 1303 ng/ml (mean: 581 ng/mk, SD: 320 ng/ml) and were reached
      within 2 to 8 h (mean: 4.4 h). The mean bioavailability of metronidazole dental
      gel was 71%.

PMID- 1447389
TI  - Concentration of metronidazole in periodontal pockets after application of a
      metronidazole 25% dental gel.
AB  - The metronidazole concentration was monitored in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF)
      of inflamed periodontal pockets after 1 application of a 25% gel. 12 patients
      with periodontal disease were included in the study. Metronidazole gel was
      applied with a syringe into the pockets of 10 teeth with probing depths > or = 5
      mm. Samples of GCF were taken with Periopaper before application and 4, 8, 12, 24
      and 36 h after application. At each time, samples from 2 teeth were pooled in
      order to obtain a sufficient amount of fluid for analysis. By means of a
      calibrated Periotron, the collected volume of GCF was measured. High-performance
      liquid chromatography was used to determine the amount of metronidazole. MIC50
      for anaerobic periopathogens susceptible to metronidazole is below 1
      microgram/ml. In this study, the concentration obtained was higher than 1
      microgram/ml in all samples after 4 and 8 h, in 92% after 12 h, in 50% after 24 h
      and in 8% after 36 h. Thus, metronidazole concentrations in the pockets were
      generally above MIC50 for susceptible periopathogens 24 h after 1 application of
      a 25% metronidazole gel.

PMID- 1447390
TI  - The effect of topical metronidazole therapy on experimentally-induced
      periodontitis in the beagle dog.
AB  - The present study was performed to assess the effect of topical metronidazole
      therapy on ligature-induced periodontitis in beagle dogs. 6 beagle dogs with
      experimentally-induced periodontitis on the mandibular 2nd, 3rd and 4th premolars
      were treated with metronidazole 10% dental paste 2 x daily for 4 weeks in an open
      placebo-controlled study using a split-mouth design. Recordings of probing pocket
      depth, bleeding on probing and gingival index were performed before commencement
      of treatment and repeated weekly during the 4-weeks treatment period.
      Concurrently, samples for microbiological analysis were collected from 2 of the
      dogs. The results demonstrated that probing pocket depth, bleeding on probing and
      gingival index had improved significantly in the metronidazole-treated side
      compared with the placebo-treated side. Black pigmented Bacteroides spp. and
      Spirochetes, present in all samples before treatment, were eliminated from the
      metronidazole-treated side after the 1st week of treatment and throughout the
      treatment period, whereas they were present in all samples from the placebo
      treated side. The result of the present study demonstrates that topical
      application of metronidazole in a dental paste, improves the clinical features of
      the experimentally-induced periodontitis and eliminates some of the micro
      organisms associated with the disease.

PMID- 1447391
TI  - 3 regimens of topical metronidazole compared with subgingival scaling on
      periodontal pathology in adults.
AB  - This report presents the findings from an open randomized multicentre clinical
      trial designed to compare the clinical efficacy of scaling with application of 3
      different preparations/dose frequencies of topical metronidazole in the treatment
      of adult periodontitis. The 4 treatments were: (A) metronidazole 25% dental gel
      administered 1 x a week for 2 weeks; (B) metronidazole 15% dental gel applied 1 x
      a week for 2 weeks; (C) metronidazole 15% dental gel applied 2 x a week for 2
      weeks; (D) subgingival scaling, performed 1 x only. A split mouth design was
      used. Patients were included in the study if they had at least 1 tooth in each
      quadrant with a pocket depth > or = 5 mm in at least 1 of 4 sites. A total of 61
      patients from 4 centres were entered into the study. The efficacy parameters were
      probing pocket depth and bleeding on probing. Follow-up visits for recording of
      clinical efficacy were made at 2, 4, 6 and 12 weeks after the end of
      metronidazole treatment. All 3 antibiotic treatments (A, B, C) reduced the
      symptoms of periodontal pathology and yielded results comparable to those seen
      after subgingival scaling (D). When using a topical drug therapy, it seems
      important to use a preparation that requires as few applications as possible. The
      best candidate for drug therapy would therefore be treatment (A) metronidazole
      25% applied 1 x a week for 2 weeks.

PMID- 1447392
TI  - Clinical responses to subgingival application of a metronidazole 25% gel compared
      to the effect of subgingival scaling in adult periodontitis.
AB  - A newly developed metronidazole 25% dental gel was compared with subgingival
      scaling in the treatment of adult periodontitis. 206 patients in 9 centres
      participated in the study. Probing pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing
      (BOP) were recorded before treatment and 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks after the
      treatment. All patients had at least 1 tooth in each quadrant with a PPD of 5 mm
      or more. The treatments consisted of 2 applications of dental gel (days 0 and 7)
      in 2 randomly selected quadrants (split mouth design) and 2 sessions of
      subgingival scaling (1 quadrant on day 0, and 1 quadrant on day 7). Instruction
      in oral hygiene was given 2 weeks after completed treatment. The average PPD and
      the average frequency of BOP were calculated over all sites with initial PPD of 5
      mm or more. PPD and BOP were thus, at each examination, calculated from the same
      sites. The mean PPD was 5.9 mm before gel application and 5.8 mm before scaling
      (p = 0.31). BOP was 88% in both treatment groups. 24 weeks after the treatment,
      PPD and BOP were significantly reduced in both groups and for both parameters (p
      < 0.01). PPD was reduced by 1.3 mm after gel application and 1.5 mm after
      scaling; BOP was reduced by 32% and 39%, respectively. The difference between the
      treatments was statistically significantly, but considered as clinically
      unimportant.

PMID- 1447393
TI  - Sharing regulatory review costs.

PMID- 1447394
TI  - Retinoids in cancer treatment.
AB  - Since initial studies identifying the important role of vitamin A and its
      derivatives (retinoids) in maintaining the integrity of epithelial tissues, these
      compounds have served as paradigms for experimental studies exploring the
      pharmacologic modification of carcinogenesis. Retinoids have clearly been shown
      to inhibit chemically induced mammary and urothelial carcinogenesis in
      experimental animals. Prohibitive toxicity of the parent compound, vitamin A, led
      to a systematic search for synthetic derivatives with an improved therapeutic
      index. More than 1500 such compounds have been synthesized, many retaining
      chemopreventive potential, but with less toxicity. Although several anecdotal
      reports confirming therapeutic benefits of cis-retinoic acid in patients with
      acute promyelocytic leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes appeared in the late
      1970s and early 1980s, the remarkable studies of Huang and his colleagues in
      China in 1988 reporting complete remissions in patients with this uncommon
      variety of acute myelogenous leukemia with the transisomer of retinoic acid (all
      trans-retinoic acid) led to a resurgence of interest in the retinoids as
      differentiating agents for the prevention and therapy of cancer. Furthermore,
      molecular studies showing DNA rearrangements of the alpha nuclear receptor for
      retinoic acid located on chromosome 17 in patients with acute promyelocytic
      leukemia, a disease invariably associated with a translocation between
      chromosomes 15 and 17, provided a direct connection between an altered nuclear
      receptor and the development of a human malignancy. The retinoids also may have
      important beneficial effects in prevention of recurrent malignancies once the
      primary tumor has been treated, such as in squamous cell carcinoma of the head
      and neck. Because retinoids appear to be less effective in inducing
      differentiation in nonpromyelocytic leukemia cells, investigators have conducted
      a number of studies to exploit potential synergism between retinoids and other
      differentiating agents or biologic effectors. Differentiation therapy and
      chemoprevention are attractive alternative approaches to intensive cytotoxic
      chemotherapy. It is now clear that retinoids represent one class of compounds
      with which it may be possible to reverse the progression of malignant disease and
      prevent carcinogenesis.

PMID- 1447395
TI  - A comparison of regulatory approval times for new chemical entities in Australia,
      Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
AB  - Regulatory approval times of new chemical entities (NCEs) in Australia, Canada,
      Sweden, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US) were compared. The
      approval times of a set of common 25 NCEs and a larger set of unmatched NCEs were
      very similar in Australia, Canada, Sweden and the US, with median approval times
      from 23 to 29 months. The median approval time in the UK was approximately 11
      months. Analysis of the data showed that the approval times in Australia, Sweden,
      and the UK were not significantly affected by the therapeutic classification of
      the drug, the amount of additional data requested and received, or the submission
      date. In Canada, the date the drug submission was received and the frequency of
      additional data requests significantly affected the approval times. In the US,
      the date the drug submission was received and the frequency of additional data
      received significantly affected the approval times. The therapeutic
      classification of the drug did not significantly affect the approval time in
      Canada or the US.

PMID- 1447396
TI  - Advances in the diagnosis of adverse drug reactions.
AB  - The clinician plays a key role in the detection and diagnosis of adverse drug
      reactions (ADRs). The diagnosis of ADRs, however, is a complex task. In the past,
      there were no systematically applied diagnostic criteria for ADRs, no formal
      methods of case analysis, no standardized epidemiologic approaches, and a limited
      knowledge of mechanisms. This resulted in the overdiagnosis of ADRs, which has
      negative consequences such as limiting treatment options. Recently, there have
      been various improvements in the diagnosis of ADRs, such as the development of
      standardized decision aids and of in vitro diagnostic tests. This article briefly
      reviews some of this knowledge, discusses the role of in vivo and in vitro
      rechallenge, and summarizes a probabilistic approach for collecting relevant
      information and diagnosing ADRs. The intention is to increase awareness of the
      different approaches for diagnosing ADRs as well as to stimulate researchers to
      continue to collect pharmacoepidemiologic information, study the pharmacologic,
      immunologic, and genetic factors involved in the pathogenesis of drug reactions,
      and develop and test new diagnostic instruments under various clinical
      conditions.

PMID- 1447397
TI  - N-acetylation polymorphism and diabetes mellitus among Saudi Arabians.
AB  - The acetylator phenotypes of 200 Saudi diabetics and an equal number of control
      subjects of the same origin were determined by measuring the peak height ratio of
      two urinary caffeine metabolites, 5-acetylamino-6-formylamino-3-methyluracil
      (AFMU) and 1-methylxanthine (1MX), using a simplified high-performance liquid
      chromatographic method. Urine samples were collected from the diabetics and the
      control subjects who regularly drink coffee, tea, or caffeinated beverages as
      part of their normal daily diet. The patients were classified as either type 1
      (insulin-dependent) (28 patients) or type 2 (insulin-independent) diabetics (172
      patients) according to standard criteria. The reproducibility of acetylator
      phenotype was established by examining the peak height ratio of AFMU/1MX in 18
      diabetics and 6 control subjects on different days. Significant differences in
      the proportion of rapid acetylators were observed between type 1 (53.6%) and type
      2 (33.7%) diabetics (P < or = .0436), and between the control group (26%) and the
      overall diabetics (36.5%) (P < or = .024) or those with type 1 disease (P < or =
      .0028). Also, there was a significant (P < or = .0436) association between rapid
      acetylator status and type 1 diabetes mellitus.

PMID- 1447398
TI  - Arithmetic versus harmonic mean values for cyclosporin-A pharmacokinetic
      parameters.
AB  - The harmonic and arithmetic mean values for volume of distribution at steady
      state, half-life, and clearance of intravenous cyclosporin-A were calculated
      using an index set of 22 renal transplant candidates to determine if harmonic
      mean values provide a less biased estimate of central tendency than arithmetic
      mean values. Cyclosporin-A was measured using a nonspecific radioimmune assay
      method. The arithmetic mean value for volume of distribution was 16% larger than
      calculations by the harmonic mean method. Similarly, the arithmetic mean half
      life and clearance values were larger than harmonic mean values by 10% and 15%,
      respectively. However, 95% confidence intervals for these pharmacokinetic
      parameters overlapped. When these mean pharmacokinetic parameter values were used
      to predict actual values in a test group of 22 renal transplant candidates
      receiving cyclosporin-A, similar levels of precision were demonstrated by either
      method. Both methods produced positively biased predictions for volume of
      distribution and clearance. However, these differences were not significant.
      These findings suggest there is little practical value for the use of harmonic
      mean calculations to describe the central tendency of pharmacokinetic parameters
      of cyclosporin-A under the conditions studied. The value of harmonic mean values
      for pharmacokinetic parameters in other patient populations or with other assay
      methods for cyclosporin remain to be studied.

PMID- 1447399
TI  - Mirror images: the analysis of pharmaceutical enantiomers.
AB  - Pharmaceutical enantiomers often exhibit different pharmacodynamic and
      pharmacokinetic properties. Stereospecific chromatographic assays are available
      to separate these stereoisomers. Therapeutic agents often contain chemical
      functional groups (e.g. amino, hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxylic acid). These
      can be reacted with enantiomerically pure reagents to give diastereoisomers
      suitable for analysis on achiral gas chromatographic (GC) and high performance
      liquid chromatographic (HPLC) columns. Alternatively, derivatized or
      underivatized drugs may be resolved on chiral chromatographic phases. A wide
      variety of GC (e.g. amino acid, cyclodextrin, and metal-complex) and HPLC (mobile
      phase additive, crown ether, pi-pi interaction and related phases, protein,
      cyclodextrin, polysaccharide, methacrylate and amide polymer, and ligand
      exchange) columns are commercially available. This article reviews the
      chromatographic separation of enantiomers.

PMID- 1447400
TI  - The importance of stereochemistry in drug action and disposition.
AB  - Many biologically active synthetic drugs contain chiral centers, although they
      are used as racemic mixtures. Enantiomers are hard to distinguish in the chemical
      laboratory but are readily discriminated in the body and differ in their
      biological activities and disposition. The pharmacokinetic profiles of
      enantiomers can be variable, especially for drugs with a first-pass effect and
      enantioselective pharmacokinetic monitoring should be carried out. Ultimately,
      whether to exploit a racemate or a single enantiomer in therapy is a multi
      faceted decision to which drug disposition data have important contributions to
      make.

PMID- 1447401
TI  - Stereochemistry and bioequivalence.
AB  - Despite the fact that many important drugs are chiral, for a variety of reasons
      they are marketed as racemates (i.e., an equal proportion of two enantiomers).
      Although enantiomers of racemic drugs often differ from one another in their
      pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, bioequivalence assessments are
      made using nonstereospecific assays. Such an approach may provide a poor
      assessment of therapeutic equality. This can be true particularly for drugs with
      complicated pharmacokinetics and those that exhibit extensive stereoselectivity
      in their disposition kinetics. Accordingly, examples of bioequivalence studies
      based on stereospecific assays have started to appear in the literature.
      Fortunately, facile stereospecific assays have become available in the last
      several years for many drugs. Consequently, regulatory agencies have started to
      take the issue of stereochemistry into consideration in the assessment of
      bioequivalence, particularly from the standpoint of generic substitution.

PMID- 1447402
TI  - Bioequivalence of racemic drugs.
AB  - Although pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences between the enantiomers
      of a chiral drug have been known or suspected for many years, racemate drugs have
      frequently been developed and approved without clinical pharmacologic
      consideration of their chiral components. In the late 1970s, the technology to
      isolate, manufacture, and detect pure enantiomers of racemate drugs became
      generally available. This availability has created new demands on both
      pharmaceutical firms and regulatory agencies. To prepare for this new technology,
      the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the Food and Drug Administration
      is formulating a policy statement to guide evaluation of new chiral drugs. At
      this time, it appears that whatever new policies are developed will not
      necessarily be applied retroactively to previously approved racemate drugs.
      Additional policies to guide the development and approval of generic and OTC
      chiral drugs may be required. In the Office of Generic Drugs in the Center,
      abbreviated new drug or antibiotic applications are approved on the basis of
      adequate chemistry, manufacturing, and control procedures and comparative
      pharmacokinetics (bioequivalence). The generic drug must be a racemate or single
      enantiomer if the corresponding innovator drug is a racemate or single enantiomer
      respectively. Whether a generic firm will be required to provide bioequivalence
      information on enantiomers of a racemate is determined on a case-by-case basis.
      Although it might be claimed that a generic drug product should be required only
      to undergo the same general kind of pharmaceutical evaluation as did the
      innovator, there may be instances when the approval of a generic drug or
      antibiotic will require measurement of specific enantiomers of a chiral drug.

PMID- 1447403
TI  - Pure enantiomers of 2-arylpropionic acids: tools in pain research and improved
      drugs in rheumatology.
AB  - The mode of action of aspirinlike drugs in pain is widely referred to as
      inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. Salicylic acid, however, at low doses, is
      an analgesic but not a potent anti-inflammatory agent. This "enigma" may be
      resolved by recent findings employing 2-arylpropionic acids. Pure enantiomers of
      these chiral drugs show a different pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profile.
      Using pure enantiomers of flurbiprofen, ibuprofen, and ketoprofen, we could show
      that (1) R-enantiomers of these drugs are inverted to S-enantiomers to a
      different degree in different species, including humans, (2) the pharmacokinetic
      parameters of both pure enantiomers differ in a drug- and a species-specific
      manner, and (3) both enantiomers exert differential analgesic effects. It appears
      particularly interesting that R-flurbiprofen, for instance, which is not or only
      to a small extent inverted in humans and rats, is practically devoid of
      prostaglandin synthesis inhibition in vitro. Consequently, in line with current
      thinking, R-flurbiprofen is not toxic to the gastrointestinal tract and shows no
      anti-inflammatory effects. In contrast to current concepts, however, this
      enantiomer does exert analgesic activity in different models of pain and
      nociception. It is concluded that R-flurbiprofen and, possibly, other R
      enantiomers of 2-arylpropionic acids may exert novel analgesic effects
      independently of peripheral prostaglandin synthesis inhibition in inflamed
      tissue.

PMID- 1447404
TI  - Regulatory requirements for generic chiral drugs.

PMID- 1447405
TI  - Unique topographic separation of two spectral classes of cones in the mouse
      retina.
AB  - We have found two immunologically distinguishable cone types in the retina of the
      mouse, each localized to two opposite halves of the eye. One cone type was
      labelled by the monoclonal antibody COS-1 specific to the middle-to-long wave
      sensitive visual pigment of the mammals, while the other type was stained by the
      shortwave-specific monoclonal antibody (OS-2). These results were confirmed with
      other antibodies directed against specific sequences of the visual pigments. As a
      result of the uneven distribution of the two cone types the mouse retina is
      divided into two fields separated by an oblique meridional line. The middlewave
      sensitive cones were present exclusively in the dorsal half of the mouse retina
      (M-field). The overwhelming majority of the shortwave sensitive cones occupied
      the ventral half (S-field), and only a small number was scattered among the
      middlewave sensitive cones in the dorsal retina. The ratio of the two cone types
      in the M-field corresponds to what has been found in the retina of other mammals,
      including rodents such as the gerbil and the rat. The S-field represents an
      entirely unique area with the unusually great number of shortwave sensitive cones
      and with the complete lack of the middlewave sensitive ones. The present study
      provides the structural basis for dichromacy in a rodent species considered for a
      long time to be monochromat. In addition, it shows that the ventral retina,
      containing exclusively S-cones in a relatively high density, is a unique retinal
      field not present in other mammalian species studied so far.

PMID- 1447406
TI  - Central projections and motor nuclei of the facial, glossopharyngeal, and vagus
      nerves in the mormyrid fish Gnathonemus petersii.
AB  - Most of the information about the anatomy of the fish's cranial nerves was
      collected in the first two decades of this century. Experimental analysis of the
      VIIth, IXth, and Xth cranial nerves by modern tract tracing techniques started
      about 20 years ago. Several species have been investigated to date, including one
      species of Agnatha (Myxinoidea), two species of elasmobranchs, and species of
      some orders of Teleostei like Cyprinidae, Siluriformes, Perciformes, and Gadidae.
      The sensory and motor nuclei of the VIIth, IXth, and Xth cranial nerves of
      Gnathonemus petersii were studied by anterograde and retrograde axoplasmatic
      transport of horseradish peroxidase and cobaltous lysine complex. The sensory
      nuclei form a continuous column of cells in the brain stem extending caudal to
      the obex. The rostral one-fourth of this column is occupied by the overlapping
      terminals of the VIIth and IXth nerves. The vagus nerve has 5 roots. The first 4
      of these innervate the gills and the fifth supplies viscera. Afferents from the
      gills terminate ipsilaterally rostral to the obex in topographic order and their
      terminal fields overlap. Viscerosensory fibers terminate ipsilaterally in the
      obex region and bilaterally in the commissural nucleus of Cajal. The facial motor
      nucleus is located rostral to the sensory nucleus. Facial motoneurons have pear
      shaped and multipolar perikarya. Their axons form a rostrally directed knee
      before leaving the brain. The motoneurons of the IXth and Xth nerves have a
      common cell column. The vagal motoneurons form a periventricular, a medial, and
      an intermediate cell group rostral to the obex. In the obex region and also
      caudal to it, a lateral and a caudal group can be distinguished. Vagal
      motoneurons show a topographic arrangement that is similar to that of the sensory
      vagal projections. The majority of motoneurons have pear-shaped perikary and
      ventrolaterally oriented dendrites. In the caudal nucleus the dendrites extend
      dorsally and overlap the terminals of sensory fibers. The axons form a
      dorsolaterally directed arch before joining the sensory roots. Since G. petersii
      uses its electrosensory system primarily for detection of food, its gustatory
      system is less developed than in other fishes, which possess a large number of
      taste buds.

PMID- 1447407
TI  - Cytoarchitectonic organization and morphology of cells of the field L complex in
      male zebra finches (Taenopygia guttata).
AB  - The organization of the field L complex, a thalamorecipient auditory region in
      the telencephalon of birds, was examined in Nissl and Golgi preparations of male
      zebra finches (Taenopygia guttata). The field L complex comprises five
      cytoarchitectonic subdivisions: L1, L2a, L2b, L3, and L, although the border
      between L and L2b is not distinct. L2a is a plate extending dorsocaudally from
      the dorsal medullary lamina in the caudal neostriatum. L1 lies on the
      anterodorsal border and L3 lies on the posteroventral border of L2a. L, the area
      designated "field L" by Rose (J. Psychol. Neurol., 1914, 2:278-352), forms the
      medial and posterior borders of the field L complex. L2b is a thick band that
      forms the dorsal and dorsolateral boundary of the field L complex and is
      continuous with L medially. Nucleus interface (NIf) is a nucleus that lies
      between L2a and L1 near the lateral edge of the complex. The four types of Golgi
      stained neurons that occur in the zebra finch field L complex correspond to those
      described for the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris). Additionally, type 3
      neurons are subdivided into "unoriented" neurons with spherical dendritic fields
      and "oriented" neurons with bipolar dendritic fields. NIf contains a distinct
      class of neurons that have large somata with both thick and thin spiny dendrites.
      The distribution of Golgi cell types between the subdivisions of the field L
      complex corresponds to the morphology of cells seen in Nissl material. Type 3
      oriented cells are found almost exclusively within L2a. L3 has significantly
      greater numbers of the largest cells (type 1) and significantly smaller numbers
      of the smallest cells (type 4) than does L1. There are no significant differences
      in the distribution of Golgi stained cells between L2b and L.

PMID- 1447408
TI  - Design and control of the head retractor muscle in a turtle, Pseudemys
      (Trachemys) scripta: I. Architecture and histochemistry of single muscle fibers.
AB  - We are using the head retractor muscle (RCCQ) of a turtle, Pseudemys scripta, to
      analyze the neuromuscular mechanisms by which organisms vary the force and timing
      of muscle contraction. Previously we demonstrated that RCCQ comprises three
      histochemically defined fiber types: fast glycolytic (Fg), fast oxidative
      glycolytic (FOG), and slow oxidative (SO). In the present paper we report the 1)
      architectural features of single muscle fibers in RCCQ, including their lengths,
      diameters, and taper characteristics, 2) histochemical profiles of single muscle
      fibers, and 3) quantitative relations between our architectural and histochemical
      variables. Single fibers in RCCQ exhibit an order of magnitude variation in
      length (4-60 mm). Approximately 40% span the full muscle. The remaining fibers
      generally attach to bone or tendon at one end, and the other end tapers
      intramuscularly; rarely a fiber may taper at both ends. The maximum (untapering)
      diameters of single fibers are bimodally distributed, forming two diameter
      classes. Fibers also vary in the percentage of their total length that tapers and
      in the shape of the tapering region. Large diameter muscle fibers generally are
      longer and have shorter, more blunted tapers than small diameter fibers. The
      large diameter fibers are almost all Fg types; these fibers have a median
      diameter of 59.3 microns, and they account for approximately 60% of total fibers
      in RCCQ. FOG and SO fibers generally have small diameters (median: 32.5 microns
      and 35.8 microns), and they typically account for 30% and 10% of total fibers. We
      use these relations to draw inferences about the attachments and architecture of
      glycolytic (Fg) and oxidative (FOG, SO) fiber types. Taken together, our data
      suggest that single muscle fibers in RCCQ may be architecturally as well as
      histochemically specialized to perform different roles in head retraction. In the
      accompanying paper we report the efferent innervation of these fibers and
      consider some of the neural control problems posed by these diverse fiber types.

PMID- 1447409
TI  - Parent-child agreement on children's behaviours reported by the Child Behaviour
      Checklist (CBCL).
AB  - The authors examined agreement between parent and child ratings on the Child
      Behaviour Checklist in a sample of 1299 referred adolescents over a period of
      three years. Correlations ranged between 0.72 and 0.08 (mean = 0.28), while
      agreement using kappa was similar but slightly lower (mean = 0.24; range 0.71
      0.07). Agreement on externalizing was higher than on internalizing items, and
      concordance increased with age for boys, while there were no differences in
      parent-child agreement between boys and girls. Agreement was higher for
      dimensions of behaviour, e.g. depression (r = 0.40).

PMID- 1447410
TI  - Erotomania in an adolescent: clinical and theoretical considerations.
AB  - Erotomania is a relatively rare delusional syndrome, typically seen in
      heterosexual women of middle-age or beyond. This is the first reported occurrence
      in an adolescent, and one of very few involving homosexual orientation. A
      detailed case report is discussed in the context of adolescent developmental
      phenomena, including "crushes", identity formation, and the resolution of sexual
      orientation. The presentation of erotomania as alleged sexual abuse, and a
      possible etiologic role for childhood sexual trauma, are considered.

PMID- 1447411
TI  - Preference for outdoor play during early adolescence.
AB  - The present study examined the extent to which boys' and girls' preference for
      outdoor, vigorous activity changed as they became socialized to middle school. A
      sample of 133 boys and girls were studied for one year: those just beginning
      middle school (sixth graders) and those with one year experience (seventh grade).
      Measures of children's preference for the playground, the duration of their stay
      outdoors, and behaviors while outdoors were obtained through direct observational
      methods. Additionally, teachers' rated children's level of achievement, physical
      attractiveness, and facility in games. Children also rated each other in terms of
      dominance status. Results indicated that boys', compared to girls', preference to
      play outdoors existed only in sixth grade. Factor analyses indicated that three
      factors described these children: Teachers' Choice, Active Female Oriented, and
      Outdoor Male Oriented. All three factors varied as children progressed through
      middle school. Results are discussed in terms of life course developmental
      theory.

PMID- 1447412
TI  - Adolescents' perceptions of significant individuals in their lives.
AB  - 180 adolescents, aged 11-12 years, and 180, aged 15-16 years, from one Scottish
      secondary school participated in this study. The purposes of the investigation
      were: to determine the most significant family member and unrelated person in
      young peoples' lives; and to identify which characteristics rendered these
      persons important. 'Mother' and '(same sex) friend' emerged as the outstanding
      choices. Family members (except siblings) were associated with positive
      characteristics, whilst amongst unrelated adults, youth group leaders were viewed
      positively. By contrast, school teachers were primarily seen as occupying a
      challenging role. Where age and sex differences were found, it was invariably
      those in early adolescence and females who were more likely to attribute positive
      characteristics. These results are discussed in relation to the concept of
      'mentoring' and the role of mentors in adolescents' lives.

PMID- 1447413
TI  - Ethnic identity and self-esteem: an exploratory longitudinal study.
AB  - Recent models of ethnic identity formation in minority youth suggest a
      progression over time from an unexamined or diffuse stage to an achieved ethnic
      identity. To examine changes with age in ethnic identity and self-esteem,
      eighteen adolescents from three ethnic groups (Asian American, Black, and
      Hispanic) were assessed at age 16 and three years later. Results of this
      exploratory study showed a significant change to higher stages of ethnic identity
      over the three-year period. Self-esteem and ethnic identity were significantly
      related to each other at each time period and across the three-year time span.

PMID- 1447414
TI  - Moratorium-achievement (MAMA) cycles in lifespan identity development: value
      orientations and reasoning system correlates.
AB  - Three important questions emerging in identity research are: Why do only some
      persons with Foreclosed identities move on to Identity Achievement? Why do some
      Identity Achievement persons move "back" to Foreclosure? How can life-span
      identity re-formulation be accounted for? This study proposes that individual's
      positions on two variables, "instrumental vs. experiential orientation" and
      formistic vs. dialectrical thinking, may be important in answering these
      questions. Among 60 university students, 23 males and 37 females, those in an
      identity status characterized by formation and maintenance of structure
      (Foreclosure) were instrumentally-oriented while those characterized by openness
      to change and revision (Moratorium) were experientially-oriented. Similarly, more
      Moratoriums than other statuses were high in dialectic thinking. These results
      are discussed in terms of their theoretical implications for life-span identity
      development.

PMID- 1447415
TI  - Interpersonal needs in middle adolescents: companionship, leadership and
      intimacy.
AB  - Recent research suggests that, along with identity, intimacy is an important
      developmental construct during adolescence. Are there gender differences in
      current society regarding intimacy development? Two hundred and seven middle
      adolescents (70 males and 137 females) were measured using Schutz's (1958)
      Fundamental Interpersonal Relationship Inventory (FIRO). The FIRO is a self
      report survey which assesses the subject's perceived expressions and perceived
      desires in three categories of interpersonal relationships: Inclusion
      (companionship), control (leadership), and affection (intimacy). Results
      indicated that there were differences in expression of inclusion, control, and
      affection, and desire for inclusion and affection. A second analysis addressed
      the perceived ranking in importance of the three interpersonal categories
      measured. Males ranked control expressed highest and affection desired lowest;
      females ranked affection desired as highest and control expressed lowest. Both
      groups ranked inclusion desired and expressed as moderate. The current research
      suggests that gender differences in the development of intimacy may occur as
      early as middle adolescence.

PMID- 1447416
TI  - Perceived parental rearing, personality and mental status in Japanese
      adolescents.
AB  - As a part of a prospective study on the psychological adjustment of Japanese
      teenagers enrolled in a foreign exchange student program, the Parental Bonding
      Instrument (PBI), the Maudsley Personality Inventory and the General Health
      Questionnaire (GHQ) were administered to 130 females and 47 males aged 17 through
      19 before departure. Parental practices were found to influence personality
      features, which in turn contribute to the mental health status, but no direct
      significant relationship was found between the PBI and GHQ measures. The last
      finding is in contradistinction to the previous reports which report low care and
      high overprotection in unipolar depressives and anxiety disorder patients but in
      accordance with a recent finding which failed to replicate them in general
      population. It is possible that the earlier findings in clinical populations were
      a case of Berkson bias.

PMID- 1447417
TI  - Relationship between parental socio-economic status, sex and initial pubertal
      problems among school-going adolescents in Nigeria.

PMID- 1447418
TI  - [Synthetic bioantioxidants--inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase activity].
AB  - The inhibitory effects of synthetic antioxidants (3-oxypyridine, pyrimidine and
      hindered phenols) on the enzymic activity of membrane-bound acetylcholinesterase
      (AChE) was studied. In terms of estimated kinetic characteristics of AChE
      reaction (KM, Vmax, KI), the pattern of enzyme inhibition by the hindered phenol
      compounds was found to be of non-competitive or mixed type depending on the
      inhibitor structure or on the substrate acetylcholine or acetylthiocholine used.
      The comparative study of the inhibitory action of water-soluble derivatives of
      hindered phenols and fatty-soluble ionol made it possible to reveal possible
      contributions to the inhibition of both direct and mediated (by the membrane
      microsurroundings) effects on the membrane-bound AChE by the studied synthetic
      bioantioxidants.

PMID- 1447419
TI  - [The development of the pouch-like structures at the angles of the mouth in the
      ontogeny of the hamster Phodopus campbelli].
AB  - The development of mouth angle sacciform structure was studied in the ontogenesis
      of hamster Phodopus campbelli. It was found that the true sacciform structure
      with all components characteristic for adult animals was formed by the 20th day
      of postnatal development. Histological data have shown than the sacciform
      structure is formed in ontogenesis as a result of a complex epidermal
      transformation involving muscular and connective tissues which comprise the
      external coat. The structure studied is not formed on the basis of sebaceous
      glands and cannot be assigned to the class of gland as considered before.

PMID- 1447420
TI  - [The factors influencing the sound activity of forest voles].
AB  - The article is devoted to the effect of context on the acoustic activity of bank
      voles of 4 species (Clethrionomys glareolus, C. centralis, C. rutilus, and C.
      rufocanus) living in experimental groups. In addition to species differences and
      social state of a specimen in the group, the acoustic activities of vole is
      affected by such factors as locomotor activity of the vole itself and its
      partners (especially dominant ones) and aggression of surrounding voles.

PMID- 1447421
TI  - [Adaptation to chemical mutagens].
AB  - Pre-adaptation of normal and tumor cells to the action of methylnitrosourea was
      studied. To attain these ends, a single low dose (10 mg/kg) was administered to
      animals two hours prior to the administration of main therapeutic dose (100
      mg/kg) and the number of chromosomal rearrangements was determined. A significant
      decrease in translocation incidence was observed in metaphases of Ehrlich-ICP
      ascitic strain. Similar results were obtained on cells of murine bone marrow. The
      mechanisms of pre-adaptation to the action is discussed.

PMID- 1447422
TI  - [The qualitative metabolic characteristics of antitumor compounds].

PMID- 1447423
TI  - [Hyperautophagy: the pathogenic characteristics of the cells in the Chediak
      Higashi syndrome].

PMID- 1447424
TI  - [The effect of therapy with cytostatics and immunomodulators on mitotic pathology
      in Lewis tumor cells in mice].
AB  - The effect of cytostatics (methylnitrosourea and methotrexate), immunomodulators
      (thymalin and reaferon) and their combinations on the mitotic pathology of mice
      Lewis tumour cells was studied. It was revealed that chemotherapy with these
      agents changed the interrelation between mitotic phases and somewhat enhanced the
      incidence of pathologic mitoses mainly connected with the damage of mitotic
      apparatus. Immunomodulators differently affected the cytostatic activity of
      antitumour agents that may be associated with their mechanisms of action.

PMID- 1447425
TI  - [Changes in the intensity of protein synthesis in the gastric mucosa following
      the laser irradiation of a duodenal ulcer].
AB  - The intensity of protein synthesis (incorporation/pool) is usually low in normal
      stomach mucosa and enhanced in exacerbation of peptic ulcer; following the
      effective laser therapy it decreases only in one third of cases. Therefore the
      scarring of ulcer not always coincides with the normalization of protein
      synthesis. The results characterize also the community of reactions in stomach
      and duodenal mucose membranes. The changes in protein synthesis intensity
      following the laser irradiation depended neither on the initial size of ulcer nor
      on the age of patient and the total duration of disease.

PMID- 1447426
TI  - Completed suicide and recent lithium treatment.
AB  - Of 1397 completed suicides in Finland in one year, all victims (N = 20) that had
      used lithium in prophylaxis and treatment of a mood disorder during the three
      final months were carefully examined. Eight victims (40%) fulfilled the criteria
      of recent adequate lithium prophylaxis. Continuous or intermittent noncompliance
      with psychopharmacological treatment during the last two years was reported in
      the majority (85%) of the victims. Only two cases used lithium as a suicide
      method. The study suggests that problems especially in compliance but also in
      quality of treatment are likely to limit the usefulness of lithium treatment in
      suicide prevention.

PMID- 1447427
TI  - Characteristics of the Edinburgh Post Natal Depression Scale in The Netherlands.
AB  - The Edinburgh Post Natal Depression Scale (EPDS), a 10-item self-rating
      depression scale, was translated into Dutch and compared in 293 postpartum women
      with other self-rating scales commonly in use in The Netherlands. In addition the
      structure of EPDS was analyzed by various factor analyses to reveal some of its
      dimensional aspects. The Dutch version of EPDS was found to be a self-rating
      scale with good psychometric characteristics which measures what it claims to
      measure: the strength of depressive symptoms. With LISREL a 2-factor model could
      be distinguished which contained subscales reflecting depressive symptoms and
      cognitive anxiety.

PMID- 1447428
TI  - Unipolar depression: diagnostic inconsistency and its implications.
AB  - Major depressive disorder using Feighner et al. (Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 26, 57-63,
      1972) and DSM-III or DSM-III-R criteria has proven to be a heterogeneous
      diagnosis. It apparently includes a wide variety of clinical conditions. This
      report, based upon the results of a multi-year blind follow-up of 500 randomly
      selected psychiatric outpatients focuses on certain problems associated with the
      diagnosis of primary unipolar affective disorders. At index, 141 patients
      received diagnoses of primary unipolar depression. At follow-up, only 62 (44%) of
      these received the same diagnosis, with an additional 14 (10%) receiving a
      diagnosis of undiagnosed: questionable primary unipolar depression, and 5 (4%) a
      diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Thus, about 43% received other diagnoses at follow
      up: 35 (25%) diagnoses of secondary depression and 25 (18%) other diagnoses
      without indication of an affective component. Bipolar patients' stability was
      significantly better for those who were manic at intake.

PMID- 1447429
TI  - The validity of major depression with atypical features based on a community
      study.
AB  - This article reports on evidence for the validity of major depression (MDD) with
      atypical features (defined as overeating and oversleeping) as a distinct subtype
      based on cross-sectional and 1-year prospective data from the Epidemiologic
      Catchment Area study. MDD with atypical features, when compared to MDD without
      atypical features, was associated with a younger age of onset, more psychomotor
      slowing, and more comorbid panic disorder, drug abuse or dependence, and
      somatization disorder. These differences could not be explained by differences in
      demographic characteristics or by symptom severity. This study, based on a
      community sample, found that major depression with atypical features may
      constitute a distinct subtype.

PMID- 1447430
TI  - Proposed subtypes of bipolar II and related disorders: with hypomanic episodes
      (or cyclothymia) and with hyperthymic temperament.
AB  - In an attempt to improve the classification of Bipolar II disorders, we have
      examined a consecutive series of 687 primary major depressives: 5.1% gave a past
      history of mania (Bipolar I), 13.7% met our operational criteria for hypomania
      (Bipolar II), and the remaining 81.2% were provisionally categorized as
      'unipolar.' Although Bipolar II was in some respects intermediate between Bipolar
      I and Unipolar, gender, familial bipolar history, age at onset and course
      characteristics generally supported its closer kinship to bipolar illness.
      Seventy one of the unipolars (10.3% of the total series) further met our
      operational criteria for hyperthymic temperament (U-HT), leaving behind a purer
      unipolar group of 487 major depressives. With respect to the proportion having
      male gender and bipolar family history, U-HT was similar to Bipolar I and II, and
      all three differed significantly from pure unipolar; as for age at onset, number
      of episodes and related indices of course, BI and BII were similar, and U-HT was
      closer to pure unipolar. These findings suggest that major depressive episodes
      arising from a hyperthymic temperament (constituting 12.4% of the 'unipolar'
      universe by conventional definition) are 'genotypically' closer to Bipolar II
      defined by hypomania, and course-wise similar to other unipolars.

PMID- 1447431
TI  - Prodromal symptoms in panic disorder with agoraphobia: a replication study.
AB  - The majority of 20 patients suffering from panic disorder with agoraphobia
      reported experiencing agoraphobic avoidance, generalized anxiety, and/or
      hypochondriacal fears and beliefs before the first panic attack. The results
      replicated those of a previous investigation and are in accordance with an
      increasing number of studies concerned with prodromal symptoms, epidemiologic
      surveys, and analysis of mechanisms of change upon treatment.

PMID- 1447432
TI  - The Galway Study of Panic Disorder. II: Changes in some peripheral markers of
      noradrenergic and serotonergic function in DSM III-R panic disorder.
AB  - Sixty six patients with panic disorders, fulfilling the DSM III criteria for
      panic attack, together with a group of age and sex matched controls, were studied
      for changes in their peripheral noradrenergic and serotonergic status before
      treatment and during six months treatment with either clomipramine or
      lofepramine. The results of this study suggest that, despite clinical
      improvement, the peripheral markers of both adrenergic (platelet aggregation to
      noradrenaline, platelet alpha 2 receptor density and lymphocyte beta receptor
      density) and serotonergic (platelet aggregation to serotonin, 3H-ketanserin
      binding to platelet 5HT2 receptors and 3H-5HT uptake into platelets) function
      largely remained abnormal. It is concluded that such abnormalities are trait
      markers of biogenic amine function in patients with panic attack. Further studies
      are needed to determine whether or not these parameters eventually normalize in
      those patients showing prolonged remission of symptoms.

PMID- 1447433
TI  - High prevalence of cobalamin deficiency in elderly outpatients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To measure the prevalence of cobalamin (vitamin B12) deficiency in
      geriatric outpatients as documented by both low serum cobalamin levels and
      elevations of serum methylmalonic acid and homocysteine and to determine the
      response to cobalamin treatment. DESIGN: Prospective study screening elderly
      subjects for cobalamin deficiency using radiodilution cobalamin assays as well as
      stable isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry methylmalonic acid
      and homocysteine assays. In patients with serum cobalamin levels < or = 300
      pg/mL, the response to cobalamin treatment in the group with levels of
      methylmalonic acid and/or homocysteine > 3 standard deviations (SD) above the
      mean for normals was compared with that of those without such elevations.
      SETTING: Outpatient geriatric clinics at the VA Medical Center and University
      Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO. PATIENTS: One-hundred and fifty-two
      consecutive outpatients, ages 65 to 99, were screened. Twenty-nine subjects with
      serum cobalamin levels < or = 300 pg/mL were prospectively evaluated and treated
      with cobalamin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cobalamin, methylmalonic acid,
      homocysteine, complete blood counts, neurologic examination, and
      neuropsychological testing. RESULTS: The prevalence of cobalamin deficiency as
      defined by a serum cobalamin level < or = 300 pg/mL and levels of serum
      methylmalonic acid and/or homocysteine elevated to > 3 SD was 14.5% of the
      screened outpatients. A similar proportion of patients with low normal serum
      cobalamin levels (between 201 and 300 pg/mL) demonstrated elevated metabolites >
      3 SD (56%) compared with patients with low serum cobalamin levels (< or = 200
      pg/mL) (62%). Cobalamin therapy caused a marked fall or complete correction of
      the elevated methylmalonic acid and homocysteine levels in each patient who was
      treated prospectively. Results for complete blood count, lactate dehydrogenase,
      bilirubin, baseline neurologic score, and baseline neuropsychologic scores did
      not differ in the group of patients with elevated metabolites compared with those
      with normal metabolites. The mean red cell volume fell significantly in the
      patients with elevated metabolites after 6 months of cobalamin treatment. One
      patient with elevated metabolites had marked improvement in his neurologic
      abnormalities after 6 months of cobalamin treatment. CONCLUSION: There was a high
      (14.5%) prevalence of cobalamin deficiency as demonstrated by elevations in serum
      methylmalonic acid and homocysteine in addition to low or low normal serum
      cobalamin levels in elderly outpatients. The serum cobalamin level was
      insensitive for screening since similar numbers of patients with low normal serum
      cobalamin levels of 201-300 pg/mL compared with patients with low cobalamin
      levels (< or = 200 pg/mL) had markedly elevated metabolites which fell with
      cobalamin treatment. Additional studies will be required to define the full
      clinical benefit from treatment with Cbl in elderly subjects.

PMID- 1447434
TI  - Attitudes toward discussing life-sustaining treatments in extended care facility
      patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine nursing home residents' attitudes toward discussing life
      sustaining treatment plans with their physicians and the factors associated with
      these attitudes. DESIGN: Random-sample, interviewer-administered survey. SETTING:
      Forty-one nursing homes in which some residents were cared for by house-staff
      physicians of the Hennepin County (Minnesota) Medical Center Extended Care
      Department. PATIENTS: Random sample of 150 nursing home residents receiving
      primary care from Extended Care Department physicians, 131 (87%) of whom
      completed the interview. RESULTS: Older individuals were less likely to have
      spoken with physicians and family members about treatment plans (p < 0.05), and
      to have felt that they had more say than necessary in their treatment (P < 0.05).
      Only 19 (14.5%) residents had formal treatment plan discussions about limiting
      life-sustaining treatment. Although perceived current health status did not
      differ between residents with and without treatment plans, those residents who
      had discussions about advance directives were more likely to report health
      improvement over the past 6 months (P < 0.05). Residents with formal advance
      directives were, on average, 8.4 years younger than those without them (P <
      0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Younger patients are more likely to have had discussions
      about life-sustaining treatment and are also more frequently involved in plan
      development. Preferences for level of involvement should be considered during
      advance directive planning, and it should be recognized that these preferences
      may vary with age. Future research should evaluate whether this age relationship
      is a true age or a cohort effect.

PMID- 1447435
TI  - Prevalence and characteristics of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease in
      the elderly.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study prevalence and characteristics of symptomatic
      gastroesophageal reflux disease in the elderly. DESIGN: Survey by questionnaire
      of stratified random sample. SETTING: City of Turku, Finland. SUBJECTS:
      Population-based random sample consisting of non-institutionalized subjects aged
      65 years or over. A questionnaire was sent to 559 subjects. The response rate was
      92%. Twenty-nine incompletely filled forms were rejected. Thus, the
      questionnaires from 487 subjects, representing 87% of the original number,
      constitute the basis for the study. MEASUREMENTS: The questionnaire inquired
      about the following symptoms: heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, dysphagia,
      dyspepsia, respiratory symptoms, vomiting, and belching. RESULTS: The age
      adjusted prevalence of daily symptoms suggestive of gastroesophageal reflux
      disease was 8% in men and 15% in women (P < 0.05). Fifty-four percent of men and
      66% of women reported that they had symptoms at least once a month (P < 0.05).
      The prevalence of symptoms was roughly the same across age groups. The occurrence
      of chest pain, dyspepsia, vomiting, belching, dysphagia, chronic cough,
      hoarseness, and wheezing were associated with symptoms suggestive of
      gastroesophageal reflux disease. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms suggestive of
      gastroesophageal reflux disease are common in elderly subjects. Women suffer from
      these symptoms more frequently than men. Typical reflux symptoms are often
      associated with atypical complaints, such as abdominal symptoms, chest pain, or
      respiratory symptoms.

PMID- 1447436
TI  - The equivalency of infrared tympanic membrane thermometry with standard
      thermometry in nursing home residents.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the equivalence of infrared tympanic membrane (TM) measure
      of body temperature with standard electronic oral (PO) and rectal (R) measures in
      a nursing home population. DESIGN: Randomized repeated-measurement design.
      METHODS: For the study, 82 randomly selected residents (mean age 79 +/- 10 years)
      of the Nursing Home Care Unit of the VAMC West Los Angeles had PO, R, and TM
      temperatures measured before arising (6-8 am). An otoscopic exam and the age,
      sex, presence of neurologic disease, and compliance with thermometry was noted.
      Also, repeated measures of PO and TM temperatures were performed three times to
      assess variability. The Pearson's correlation coefficient was determined for PO
      versus R and for TM versus R temperatures. Stepwise regression analysis was
      performed with the dependent variable of R temperature and the independent
      variables of the mean TM temperature, age, sex, presence of neurologic disease,
      position of the resident, and extent of ear canal occlusion. RESULTS: The
      correlation of TM versus R (r = .39, P = .004) was better, though not
      significantly, than of PO versus R (r = .28, P = .04). TM had less variability
      than PO (pooled standard deviation .38 vs .45 degrees F, respectively) and TM was
      implemented successfully more often than PO or R (96% vs 81% vs 81%). CONCLUSION:
      Therefore, TM was at least equivalent or better than PO measures of temperature
      in this population. The efficacy of fever detection and the use and durability of
      long-term use by nursing staff needs to be studied.

PMID- 1447437
TI  - Nocturia: a risk factor for falls in the elderly.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine if nocturia is a risk factor for reported falls and bone
      fractures in older persons. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study comparing falls in men
      and women with and without nocturia. SETTING: Longitudinal health screening
      program of ambulatory elderly participants. PARTICIPANTS: Participants included
      988 (65.5%) women and 520 (34.5%) men who had completed their tenth annual visit
      to the program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Reported falls in the past year and
      reported bone fractures in the past 5 years. RESULTS: Participants who reported
      nocturia at least twice during the night were at significantly greater risk to
      report falls (Odds Ratio = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.05-3.22), and the risk increased in
      subjects reporting more than three nocturia events (Odds Ratio = 2.15; 95% CI =
      1.04-4.44). The significant increase in falls reported by nocturia participants
      did not result in an increase in reported bone fractures in the past 5 years (P <
      0.4360). CONCLUSIONS: Nocturia is an important risk factor for falls in
      ambulatory elderly persons. Preventive measures should be taken to decrease
      nocturia events and to decrease the risk of falling during these nocturia events.

PMID- 1447438
TI  - Bedside assessment of executive cognitive impairment: the executive interview.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This study is a pilot validation of the Executive Interview (EXIT), a
      novel instrument designed to assess executive cognitive function (ECF) at the
      bedside. DESIGN: Inter-rater reliability testing and validation using inter-group
      comparisons across levels of care and measures of cognition and behavior.
      PARTICIPANTS: Forty elderly subjects randomly selected across four levels of
      care. SETTING: Settings ranged from independent living apartments to designated
      Alzheimer's Special Care units in a single 537-bed retirement community.
      MEASUREMENTS: The EXIT: a 10-minute, 25-item interview scored from 0-50 (higher
      scores = greater executive dyscontrol) was administered by a physician. Subjects
      were also administered the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) and traditional tests of
      "frontal" executive function by a neuropsychologist, and the Nursing Home
      Behavior Problem Scale (NHBPS) by Licensed Vocational Nurses. RESULTS: Interrater
      reliability was high (r = .90). EXIT scores correlated well with other measures
      of ECF. The interview discriminated among residents at each level of care. In
      contrast, the MMSE did not discriminate apartment-dwelling from residential care
      residents, or residential care from nursing home residents. The EXIT was highly
      correlated with disruptive behaviors as measured by the NHBPS (r = .79).
      CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest that the EXIT is a valid and
      reliable instrument for the assessment of executive impairment at the bedside. It
      correlates well with level of care and problem behavior. It discriminates
      residents at earlier stages of cognitive impairment than the MMSE.

PMID- 1447439
TI  - A prospective evaluation of the Geriatric Depression Scale in an outpatient
      geriatric assessment center.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) in
      cognitively intact and impaired patients undergoing outpatient geriatric
      assessment. SUBJECTS: One hundred ninety-four geriatric patients evaluated in a 1
      year period. SETTING: The outpatient Geriatric Assessment Center of the
      University of Nebraska Medical Center. MEASUREMENTS: The 30-item GDS was
      completed by all patients. The patients were then evaluated by one of three
      geriatric psychiatrists who were blind to the GDS results. The prospective
      clinical diagnosis of major depression was compared to the GDS results. Patients
      were categorized as cognitively impaired or intact on the basis of the Mini
      Mental State Examination. Data were analyzed using ROC curves. An optimal cutoff
      was identified which was the total score on the GDS with the highest combined
      sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: ROC curve analyses showed good agreement
      between the clinical diagnosis and the GDS in both cognitively intact and
      impaired subjects. Cognitively intact, euthymic patients reported a mean of 8.4
      symptoms, while cognitively impaired, euthymic patients, reported a mean of 8.7.
      Cognitively intact, depressed patients reported a mean of 14.7 symptoms, while
      cognitively impaired, depressed patients reported a mean of 15.0. CONCLUSIONS:
      This study provides further evidence that the GDS is as accurate a screening test
      for depression in cognitively impaired as in intact patients.

PMID- 1447440
TI  - Predictors of two-year post-hospitalization mortality among elderly veterans in a
      study evaluating a geriatric consultation team.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine predictors of 2-year post-hospitalization mortality in a
      cohort of elderly hospitalized patients originally assembled to assess the impact
      of a Geriatric Consultation Team (GCT). DESIGN: Two-year follow-up of an
      inception cohort. SETTING: University-affiliated tertiary care VA Medical Center.
      PATIENTS: One hundred sixty-seven veterans age 75 or older discharged following
      hospitalization on medical, surgical, or psychiatry services but not intensive
      care units. INTERVENTION: None specifically studied here though cohort was
      previously part of randomized control trial of a Geriatric Consultation Team.
      MEASUREMENT: Mortality during 2 years of post-hospitalization follow-up. RESULTS:
      Two-year post-hospitalization mortality was 28 percent with no difference between
      the original GCT and control groups. For the entire sample, age, mental status,
      admission or discharge ADLs (but not change in ADL status), number of admission
      problems, number of discharge diagnoses, and discharge site were significant
      predictors of mortality in univariate analysis. Only discharge ADLs and discharge
      site remained significant in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Measures of ADLs
      during hospitalization are stronger predictors of mortality following
      hospitalization than disease diagnoses. Impaired ADLs and placement other than at
      home are significant predictors of mortality, suggesting that the decision for
      nursing home placement contains other independently predictive information within
      it and/or that the subsequent nursing home period produces excess mortality. As
      had been indicated in short-term follow-up, there was no survival advantage for
      the Geriatric Consultation Group.

PMID- 1447441
TI  - Alcohol abuse in elderly emergency department patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of alcohol abuse in elderly emergency
      department (ED) patients; to determine the prevalence of alcohol abuse for
      various categories of illness and injury among these patients; and to determine
      the frequency of detection of elderly alcohol abusers by ED physicians. DESIGN:
      Cross-sectional prevalence study. SETTING: The emergency department of a 625-bed
      university hospital that serves a mixed urban and rural population. PATIENTS: 205
      patients aged 65 and over who came to the ED during an 8-week period. MEASURES: A
      structured interview, which included the CAGE questionnaire and other questions
      regarding alcohol use, was administered. Emergency department records and past
      medical records were reviewed. RESULTS: The prevalence of lifetime alcohol abuse
      (CAGE positive or self-reported drinking problem) was 24%. The prevalence of
      current alcohol abuse (CAGE positive or self-reported drinking problem and
      alcohol use within the last year) was 14%. There was a particularly high
      prevalence (22%) among those presenting with gastrointestinal problems and a
      surprisingly low prevalence (7%) among those who presented with falls or other
      trauma. Physicians detected only 21% of the current alcohol abusers. CONCLUSIONS:
      Alcohol abuse is a prevalent and important problem among elderly ED patients. It
      is not well detected by physicians in this setting. Alcohol abuse appears to be
      less common among elderly trauma patients than their younger counterparts, but is
      very common among patients with gastrointestinal problems.

PMID- 1447442
TI  - Reported home health agency referrals by internists and family physicians.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of home health agency referrals (HHRs) by
      internists and family physicians. DESIGN: Telephone survey of a randomly
      selected, nationally representative, stratified physician sample. PARTICIPANTS
      AND SETTING: One thousand one hundred sixty-one interviews with 576 family
      physicians and 585 internists selected from the American Medical Association
      Physician Masterfile. MAIN RESULTS: Most respondents (88%) reported making HHRs
      (mean for those making HHRs = 43/year). Physicians with > or = 48 annual HHRs (n
      = 315) reported a mean of 2.6 hours/week in home care telephone management and
      2.1 hours/week on related paperwork. Rural internists and family physicians (n =
      230) reported less availability of several types of non-physician home health
      services than non-rural respondents (n = 931), yet rural physicians were more
      likely to refer patients to home health agencies. Using multivariate linear
      regression, the reported frequency of HHRs was significantly related to rural
      practice location, number of home-bound patients, proportion of geriatric
      patients, number of house calls, graduation from a U.S. or Canadian medical
      school, physician knowledge of community resources, and physician experience
      either as a medical director, a member of the board of directors, or a consultant
      for a home health agency. CONCLUSIONS: Internists and family physicians who work
      at least 10 hours per week in ambulatory care report making approximately three
      home health agency referrals per month and spending substantial amounts of time
      coordinating home health agency care. Despite reporting less availability of many
      home health agency services, rural physicians report greater involvement than non
      rural physicians in the delivery of home care.

PMID- 1447443
TI  - A comparison of patient risk for pressure ulcer development with nursing use of
      preventive interventions.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: (1) Determine if the Braden scale or Norton scale predicted the same
      patients to be at risk for pressure ulcer development as were receiving
      preventive nursing interventions. (2) Identify the items on the Braden and Norton
      risk assessment scales that the nurses used intuitively to determine a patient's
      need for a preventive intervention. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Six
      hundred-bed, state-supported, long-term care facility. PATIENTS: War veterans who
      were 82% male and 97% caucasian, mean age 73. MEASUREMENTS: (1) Patients were
      categorized as at-risk or not-at-risk by the Norton and Braden scales. (2) The
      presence of a preventive nursing intervention was noted. Agreement in assignment
      of at-risk status among the two assessments and presence of a preventive
      intervention was analyzed using Cohen's Kappa. (3) The staff nurses' use of
      preventive interventions was modeled using stepwise logistic regression. The
      items from the Braden and Norton risk assessment scales were used as independent
      variables with staff nurse implementation of a preventive intervention as the
      dependent variable. RESULTS: Nurse preventive interventions were found on 45% of
      patients. The Norton scale identified 38% and the Braden scale identified 27% of
      patients as at-risk. Agreement among the three methods was 0.53. Agreement
      between the Braden and Norton scales was 0.73. Agreement between use of a
      preventive intervention and a classification as at-risk by the Braden or Norton
      scale was 0.41 and 0.43, respectively. Stepwise logistic regression revealed that
      low Braden mobility scores (Odds Ratio: 2.74) and low Braden friction/shear
      scores (Odds Ratio: 3.29) were associated with an increased likelihood of a
      patient receiving a preventive nursing intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The overall
      level of agreement among the two scales predicting risk and the presence of a
      preventive intervention was not high. Agreement, however, between the two risk
      assessment scales was close. The staff nurses apparently relied on a patients'
      mobility, their exposure to friction/shear, and additional unidentified factors
      to guide implementation of a preventive intervention. Further study is needed to
      define the cost, efficacy, and related cost effectiveness of routine pressure
      ulcer risk assessment.

PMID- 1447444
TI  - The influence of treatment descriptions on advance medical directive decisions.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the wording of the descriptions of life
      sustaining interventions would affect the choices elderly patients make when
      completing advance directives. METHODS: Survey. SETTING: General community in
      Omaha, Nebraska. PATIENTS: Two hundred one community-dwelling elderly were
      selected from a population-based sample. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects were
      asked whether they would accept or reject three life-sustaining interventions:
      cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, or tube feeding in three
      separate hypothetical case scenarios. The three life-sustaining interventions
      were each described positively, negatively, and exactly as they are worded in a
      widely used advance directive. Subjects reviewed each scenario three times with
      three different descriptions of the three interventions. RESULTS: For the three
      interventions presented in three scenarios, subjects opted for the intervention
      12 percent of the time when it was presented negatively, 18 percent of the time
      when it was phrased as in an advance directive already in use and 30 percent of
      the time it was phrased positively. One hundred fifty-five of the 201 subjects
      (77 percent) changed their minds at least once when given the same scenario but a
      different description of the intervention. Of these 155, 33 percent changed
      decisions one to three times, 33 percent changed decisions four to seven times,
      and another 34 percent changed decisions eight to seventeen times based solely on
      the description of the intervention. CONCLUSION: The decisions patients make
      about whether to accept or reject life-sustaining treatments are affected by the
      descriptions of the treatments. These findings emphasize the critical importance
      of doctor-patient consultation when patients execute advance directives.

PMID- 1447445
TI  - Probable heterosexual transmission of AIDS in an aged woman.

PMID- 1447446
TI  - Primary brain tumors in the older patient: an annotated review.

PMID- 1447447
TI  - Geriatric medicine: how we will fare with the Medicare Fee Schedule.

PMID- 1447448
TI  - Historical perspective: the neurotrophic theory of skin ulceration.
AB  - Though nearly forgotten, the neurotrophic theory was very much a part of
      mainstream medical thinking during the mid-nineteenth century. This theory stated
      that all bodily organs are maintained by special nutritional factors secreted by
      the central nervous system. Development of skin ulceration in the face of
      neurologic injury became a model for the theory, and controversy involved two
      great neurologists of the time, Jean Martin Charcot and Edouard Brown-Sequard. As
      the neurotrophic theory fell into disfavor, interest in decubitus ulcers waned as
      well. Today, pressure sores remain a major epidemiologic problem for the growing
      population of frail elderly persons in both acute and long-term care settings.
      Because of the increased mortality, morbidity, and cost associated with these
      lesions, attention needs to be refocused on research and education concerning the
      decubitus ulcer.

PMID- 1447449
TI  - The new Medicare Fee Schedule.

PMID- 1447450
TI  - The resurgence of free radicals.

PMID- 1447451
TI  - Influenza A outbreaks in nursing homes.

PMID- 1447452
TI  - Rhabdomyolysis and the neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

PMID- 1447453
TI  - A new clinical syndrome: multiple organ failure in the elderly.

PMID- 1447454
TI  - What will the scope of optometric practice be in the year 2000?
AB  - For the past 100 years, the scope of optometric practice has been constantly
      expanding. As the body of knowledge about visual function has increased, new
      treatment options have been developed. Optometry must accept the professional
      responsibility for treatment of all conditions of the eye and visual system. By
      the year 2000, optometry must be prepared with expanded curricula and accountable
      for the treatment of all visual conditions in order to maintain its place as a
      primary provider within the health care system.

PMID- 1447455
TI  - What will the scope of optometric practice be in the year 2000?

PMID- 1447456
TI  - Should optometry evolve as a vertically integrated discipline that includes all
      components of ophthalmology?
AB  - Change in the optometric profession is inevitable. Persuasive economic factors
      will play a great role in shaping the future of optometry and ophthalmology.
      Optometry is in a position now and into the future to leverage its great
      strengths to benefit the public in a cost conscious manner.

PMID- 1447457
TI  - What are the appropriate skills and knowledge required for the entry-level
      practice of optometry?
AB  - All health professions have developed a national program of competence assessment
      to address the specific issue of "entry-level practice." This is also true in
      optometry through the 3-Part examinations of the National Board of Examiners in
      Optometry. These examinations test the cognitive (knowledge) skills necessary to
      be fit to practice and the communication, affective and psychomotor skills that
      are required to apply the underlying knowledge in the solution of patient
      problems. The scope of the National Board examinations and how they change to
      keep pace with the expansion and the scope of practice, demonstrates that entry
      level is a dynamic concept.

PMID- 1447458
TI  - Time for educational reform.
AB  - As the profession of optometry evolves, complementary changes in the educational
      process must occur if graduates are to be fully prepared to practice primary eye
      care. A national conference to address these educational priorities including
      curriculum design, faculty manpower and financial resources has recently been
      held. The need for educational reform facing the profession is outlined.

PMID- 1447459
TI  - The expanding scope of optometry and the impact on the curriculum of schools and
      colleges.
AB  - The expansion of the profession of optometry has placed pressures on the schools
      and colleges of optometry to reduce traditional curricular elements, add new
      ones, obtain faculty trained for the new scope of the profession, and provide
      additional patient experiences for hands-on learning. While the schools have
      adapted to these pressures and are leading the profession into new areas, the
      traditional 4-year optometry curriculum is critically filled. Further expansion
      will require difficult decisions.

PMID- 1447460
TI  - The expanding scope of practice and the optometric curriculum.
AB  - The expansion of the scope of optometric practice has put tremendous pressures on
      the curricula of the optometric teaching institutions. The pressures and the
      solutions that have been proposed in the optometric literature are outlined. The
      possibility of eliminating portions of the curriculum that have traditionally
      been regarded as the educational foundation of the practice of optometry and what
      effect this would have on the very definition of the term "optometry" is
      discussed.

PMID- 1447461
TI  - An appropriate patient base for clinical optometric education.
AB  - The reasons for the need of an expanded patient base for adequate clinical
      instruction in the 4-year professional program are discussed. Optometric
      education must establish the "reasonable set" standard for patient size and
      diversity particularly in view of its expanded scope of professional
      responsibility.

PMID- 1447462
TI  - What are the pros and cons of requiring postgraduate residency training as an
      entry level practice requirement?
AB  - The technological and knowledge explosion that has occurred in this century has
      created a curriculum crunch within all health professional schools. The various
      optometric institutions are dealing with this crunch and important decisions need
      to be made in order to provide the best entry-level practitioners possible. This
      paper provides some of the pros and cons of requiring a year of postgraduate
      training as a requirement for entry level optometry practice.

PMID- 1447463
TI  - What role will residency education take in the profession by the year 2000?
AB  - Residency education has enjoyed relatively slow but steady growth since its
      inception in the mid-1970s. A certain segment of recent graduates consider
      graduation from optometry school as entry level and perceive the need for
      additional clinical education. The creation of new residency programs and the
      expansion of existing ones may occur in a variety of settings. For residency
      education to realize its full potential, optometry must seek federal support for
      post-graduate clinical education. This would be consistent with federal support
      provided to other professions for the support of post-graduate clinical
      education.

PMID- 1447464
TI  - What role will residency education take in the profession by the year 2000?
AB  - There is a need to expand the number of optometric residencies to meet the
      current increased demand from graduates seeking to fill the expanding number of
      residency positions, as well as the projected needs of the profession for the
      21st century. Supportive rationales and recommendations for potential development
      of residencies are discussed.

PMID- 1447465
TI  - The need to incorporate professional principles, attitudes and ethics in
      optometric education.
AB  - This paper reviews the development of ethical principles for the profession of
      optometry over the past 90 years, and how these principles have been modified and
      expanded in conjunction with the scope of practice during that period. The author
      discusses the mandated principles of licensing boards as well as Medicare and
      Medicaid requirements. In addition, areas of "non-mandated" ethical principles
      are reviewed such as the aging and AIDS patient, over testing, continuing
      education, corporate employment, patient records and referrals. The author
      suggests that ethical issues should be incorporated into all optometric courses
      in the curriculum and not just in a specific ethics course in order that many
      role models offer their input to students in the development of an ethical model
      for their professional lives.

PMID- 1447466
TI  - The need to incorporate professional principles, attitudes and ethics in
      optometric education.
AB  - It is vital to the continued independence of optometry for its practitioners to
      exude professionalism. Professional principals, attitudes and ethics must be
      incorporated into the curriculum of optometric education at the earliest possible
      time and be reinforced by lesson and example throughout the educational
      experience.

PMID- 1447467
TI  - How can the optometric profession expand the pool of qualified applicants?
AB  - The American Optometric Association and the Association of Schools and Colleges
      of Optometry need an aggressive public awareness campaign to encourage an
      increase in the pool of qualified applicants for a career in optometry. One of
      the most significant ways an individual AOA member can impact this process is to
      serve as role model for potential applicants.

PMID- 1447468
TI  - How can the optometric profession expand the pool of qualified applicants?
AB  - The health professions, including optometry, are facing a declining applicant
      pool. The American Optometric Association has taken steps to address the
      challenge of increasing the pool of qualified applicants to the schools and
      colleges of optometry. However, the most significant factor in the process will
      be the efforts of individual AOA members.

PMID- 1447469
TI  - How can optometry become more effective in recruiting and retaining appropriate
      numbers of underrepresented and disadvantaged students.
AB  - The proportion of minority students in optometry schools remains very small
      compared to that in the general population. The numbers in the general population
      are rising and the gap could widen if serious recruitment programs are not
      implemented. The most effective methods of expanding the applicant pool and
      recruiting students involve personal contact with people in the profession.
      Admissions processes must be carefully analyzed to eliminate systematic bias.
      Retention programs should be in place and can also be used to benefit all
      students. Financial aid programs must be expanded to accommodate a higher
      proportion of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

PMID- 1447470
TI  - Why should optometric research be designated as a priority for the profession?
AB  - Research is the discovery of new information, ideas or theories that increases
      our knowledge and understanding of ourselves and our environment. Optometric
      research focuses on the health, functioning and performance of people with
      emphasis on their eyes and vision. The goal of optometric research is to enable
      optometrists to provide high quality eye and vision care for their patients.

PMID- 1447471
TI  - What should be the proper size and number of optometric schools?
AB  - The Health Professions Educational Assistance Act brought infusion of millions of
      dollars into optometric education at a time when the profession was ill prepared
      with inadequate space standards and cost studies. The profession presently faces
      the need to make major curricular changes at a time of severely constricted
      resources. Optometry, in a dynamic mode, needs to establish acceptable standards
      consistent with the profession's demands and goals for the 21st century.

PMID- 1447472
TI  - Student indebtedness and practice mode choice.
AB  - Student indebtedness upon graduation from optometry school has long been cited as
      the major factor influencing practice mode choice. A review of the literature,
      practice trends for optometry, medicine and dentistry, and forces affecting the
      health care industry reveal other factors as well.

PMID- 1447473
TI  - The recruitment and retention of disadvantaged and underrepresented groups in
      optometry.
AB  - The recruitment and retention of disadvantaged students represents a formidable
      challenge to optometric educators. Referrals by optometrists and counsellors,
      visits to minority campuses, and information through the news media can help the
      recruitment process. Academic achievement and retention rates can be enhanced by
      tutorial programs, development of learning centers, learning modules, self-paced
      materials, and computer software. The most important element is the sensitivity
      of faculty and administrators to the educational needs of the students and the
      health care needs of disenfranchised populations.

PMID- 1447474
TI  - Basis for body weight exponent (0.75) as a scaling factor in energy metabolism
      and risk assessment.
AB  - The basis that led to the adoption of the exponent (0.75) as a scaling factor for
      the relationship between body weight and energy metabolism is presented. In the
      risk assessment formulation, it may be appropriate to use the 0.75 power of body
      weight as a scaling factor for carcinogenicity data obtained from animal studies.

PMID- 1447475
TI  - One-year toxicity of orally administered acrolein to the beagle dog.
AB  - Forty-eight dogs were separated into four groups of six males and six females.
      Acrolein (0.1% aqueous) was administered in gelatin capsules to three of these
      groups at dosing levels of 0.1, 0.5 and 1.5 mg kg-1 day-1 based on results of a
      range-finding study. After 4 weeks, the high dose was increased to 2 mg kg-1 day
      1. The fourth group received deionized water in the same number of gelatin
      capsules as the high-dose group. Dosing was 7 days per week for 53 weeks. Blood
      and biochemical measurements were made pretest and at 3-month intervals
      thereafter. At termination, all dogs were subjected to full necropsy and
      histological examination. The major test effect noted was frequent vomiting after
      dosing. This was observed to be dose-dependent and the frequency decreased with
      time, indicating an adaptive effect. One mid-dose female died during the test and
      was diagnosed as having died of severe bronchial pneumonia, probably a result of
      vomitus aspiration. Serum albumin, calcium and total protein values were
      depressed in high-dose animals throughout the study. Some variability in red
      blood cell parameters and coagulation times were noted but the significance of
      these effects was not obvious.

PMID- 1447476
TI  - Variable effects of chemical allergens on serum IgE concentration in mice.
      Preliminary evaluation of a novel approach to the identification of respiratory
      sensitizers.
AB  - A wide variety of chemicals may induce allergic contact dermatitis (contact
      sensitivity). Some chemical allergens may, in addition, cause respiratory
      sensitization. Topical exposure of mice to contact and respiratory chemical
      sensitizers results in the initiation of divergent immune responses
      characteristic of preferential activation of different functional subpopulations
      of T helper (TH) cells. In the present study we have sought to make use of these
      differences, particularly differences in the ability of contact and respiratory
      allergens to provoke IgE responses, and to question whether opportunities exist
      for the identification of chemicals with the potential for respiratory
      sensitization. We have examined alterations in the serum concentration of IgE
      following topical exposure of mice to seven chemical allergens; trimellitic
      anhydride (TMA), phthalic anhydride, diphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate (MDI),
      dicyclohexylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate (HMDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI),
      oxazolone and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). Three of these--TMA, phthalic
      anhydride and MDI--are known human respiratory sensitizers. The other four--HMDI,
      IPDI, oxazolone and DNCB--appear not to cause respiratory allergy, or at least
      have a very limited potential to do so. At the concentrations tested, exposure to
      all chemicals caused a lymphocyte proliferative response in lymph nodes draining
      the site of application. However, exposure only to TMA, phthalic anhydride and
      MDI resulted in a substantial increase in the concentration of serum IgE.
      Treatment with HMDI and IPDI failed to induce any change in serum IgE
      concentration. DNCB and oxazolone caused only small and transient elevations of
      IgE that were considerably less marked than those observed with respiratory
      sensitizers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447477
TI  - Toxicity of 2-methyl-5,6-cyclopentapyrimidine (MCPP).
AB  - 2-Methyl-5,6-cyclopentapyrimidine (MCPP, CAS No. 36274-29-0) is a white dusty
      solid with a powerful lingering odor and is formed as a by-product in the polymer
      synthesis of an experimental polymer. The acute toxicity following both oral and
      inhalation exposures and the effects of repeated inhalation exposures in rats
      were determined. Mutagenic activity was assessed using Salmonella as the
      indicator organism. The chemical is moderately toxic, with the lethal dose
      following a single oral administration being 90 mg kg-1. Doses greater than or
      equal to 130 mg kg-1 produced strong convulsions. Excessive salivation,
      hyperactivity and twitching were seen at 90 mg kg-1 and only mild initial weight
      loss was seen in surviving rats (less than or equal to 60 mg kg). Liver injury
      was produced at doses as low as 17 (but not at 12) mg kg-1. The material was
      highly toxic by inhalation, with the approximate lethal concentration in rats
      following single 4-h exposures being 9 ppm. Convulsive-like movements were seen
      at greater than or equal to 9 ppm (not at 2 ppm). Histological findings suggest
      that MCPP causes dilation of blood vessels with hyperemia of various organs
      apparent in rats exposed to 1 ppm and sacrificed 1 or 2 days post-exposure. No
      evidence of liver or central nervous system damage was seen. Repeated (nine daily
      4-h exposures) inhalation of 2 ppm MCPP failed to produce any signs of a toxic
      response. No mutagenic activity was seen. The material needs to be considered as
      a potent acute toxin.

PMID- 1447478
TI  - Calcium antagonists can be classified using in vitro toxicity and potency
      indices.
AB  - The toxicity of eleven calcium antagonists from different chemical families was
      determined in rat hepatocyte primary cultures. The calcium antagonist potency of
      the same compounds was also determined in isolated rabbit aortic rings contracted
      with high K+. The hepatocytotoxicity of the calcium antagonists was not directly
      linked to blockade of voltage-operated calcium channels, since there was no
      correlation between the rank order of hepatotoxicity and that for calcium
      antagonist potency. The toxicity and calcium antagonist potency of each calcium
      antagonist examined were used to calculate an in vitro therapeutic index value
      for each compound. It was observed that therapeutic indices fell into three
      distinct groups and we therefore propose that the in vitro therapeutic index can
      be used to subclassify the calcium antagonist group of drugs. The proposed
      classification corresponds very closely with one already suggested by Spedding on
      pharmacological grounds. In conclusion, the in vitro therapeutic index may
      provide a useful tool in the characterization and subclassification of novel
      calcium antagonist compounds.

PMID- 1447479
TI  - Effect of single gallium arsenide exposure on some biochemical variables in
      porphyrin metabolism in rats.
AB  - Gallium arsenide (GaAs) inhibited, dose dependently, delta-aminolevulinic acid
      dehydratase (ALAD) activity in blood (as observed on days 1, 7 and 15), liver and
      brain (on day 15) after a single oral treatment. Levels of blood zinc
      protoporphyrin (ZPP) and urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) excretion were
      elevated on day 7 and day 15 following exposure to 2000 mg kg-1 GaAs. A dose
      dependent increase in blood As contents was observed while blood Ga was
      detectable only at higher doses.

PMID- 1447480
TI  - Alteration of brainstem auditory evoked potentials in diethylbenzene and
      diacetylbenzene-treated rats.
AB  - Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated either with 1,2-diethylbenzene (1,2-DEB) or
      its putative active metabolite, 1,2-diacetylbenzene (1,2-DAB). Experimental rats
      and appropriate controls were examined electrophysiologically for brainstem
      auditory evoked potentials (BAEP). Oral administration of 1,2-DEB (75 or 100 mg
      kg-1 once a day, 4 days a week, for 8 weeks) and intraperitoneal injection of 1,2
      DAB (10 or 15 mg kg-1 once a day, 4 days a week, for 8 weeks) produced time- and
      dose-dependent increases in the peak latencies of all BAEP components as well as
      in interpeak (I-V) differences, and a decrease in the amplitudes of all the
      components. The absolute and interpeak latencies recovered partially during an 8
      week (1,2-DEB) or a 10-week (1,2-DAB) recovery period, whereas there were long
      lasting decreases in peak amplitudes.

PMID- 1447481
TI  - The Ca(2+)-transport-ATPase of human erythrocytes as an in vitro toxicity test
      system--acute effects of some chlorinated compounds.
AB  - Investigations to determine the inhibitory activity on the Ca(2+)-transport
      ATPase of human erythrocyte membranes were performed with various compounds of
      toxicological significance, mostly chlorinated and mainly used as biocides, such
      as phenol, 4-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,6-dichlorophenol, 3,4
      dichlorophenol, 2,3,4-trichlorophenol, 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorophenol,
      pentachlorophenol (PCP), captan, folpet, captafol, (+)-camphene, toxaphene,
      dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), lindane, endrin, dieldrin, alpha
      endosulfan, beta-endosulfan, paraquat, diallate, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
      (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T). Some of the compounds
      investigated display an inhibitory effect on the Ca(2+)-transport-ATPase at very
      low concentrations. The in vitro results obtained in this enzyme assay can be
      correlated directly with the results of other in vitro assays and with the
      results of in vivo investigations in different species in which an inhibitory
      effect on various biological functions is observed. Therefore, an inhibitory
      effect on the Ca(2+)-transport-ATPase indicates a toxic effect of these compounds
      to cell functions. Since the inhibitory effect of these compounds can be measured
      rapidly and the enzyme is easy to handle, it might be a useful tool to screen the
      toxic effects of various compounds on cell function. The aim of the authors was
      to investigate the usefulness of this screening test system for the
      characterization of the cellular toxicity of various compounds.

PMID- 1447482
TI  - Haematological and hepatotoxic effects of silken styles of corn in albino rats.
AB  - The alterations of haematological parameters in albino rats were studied after
      oral administration of an aqueous extract of silken styles of corn (Zea maize
      Linn.) at 50, 100 and 150 mg kg-1 daily for 21 days. The following haematological
      values were significantly reduced on the 7th and 21st day following extract
      administration: haemoglobin (Hb), red blood corpuscles (RBC), clotting time (CT),
      mean corpuscular volume (MCV), haematocrit (Ht), serum glucose, blood urea
      nitrogen (BUN), cholesterol, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase
      (ALT), calcium, total protein, total albumin and total acid phosphatase; and
      white blood corpuscles (WBC), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean
      corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), alkaline phosphatase and creatinine
      increased. The remaining parameters were not significantly affected, except body
      weight parameters at the two highest doses. The results emphasize that the
      biochemical changes caused through aqueous extract of silken styles of corn (Zea
      maize Linn.) are not significantly toxic at low and medium doses (50 and 100 mg
      kg-1).

PMID- 1447483
TI  - Changes in lipid peroxidation levels and lipid composition in the lungs, livers,
      kidneys and brains of mice treated with paraquat.
AB  - We examined lipid peroxide levels and the lipid composition of homogenates
      prepared from the lungs, livers, kidneys and brains of 48 male ICR mice treated
      with 30 mg kg-1 paraquat (1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridylium dichloride). The mice
      were divided into eight groups, in which they were killed 0, 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 24,
      48 and 120 h after the administration of paraquat. A significant increase in the
      lipid peroxide level was identified only in the liver. Change in lipid
      composition was identified in all the examined organs. However, the change was
      not a characteristic one in which there is a selective decrease of
      polyunsaturated fatty acids which become degraded in a lipid peroxidation
      reaction. It is possible that the mechanism of paraquat toxicity may differ in
      different organs.

PMID- 1447484
TI  - ATP-MgCl2 increases cisplatin toxicity in the dog and rat.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to examine if ATP-MgCl2, an agent that protects
      against acute cisplatin toxicity in vitro, protected against cisplatin toxicity
      in vivo. Baseline renal function measurements were obtained on dogs (n = 12) and
      rats (n = 20) on day -1. Dogs were given 90 mg m-2 cisplatin (n = 5), 90 mg m-2
      cisplatin and 50 mumol kg-1 ATP-MgCl2 (n = 5), or 90 mg m-2 cisplatin and 150
      mumol kg-1 ATP-MgCl2 (n = 2), in a slow bolus i.v. injection on day 0. Rats were
      given 4 mg kg-1 cisplatin i.p. (n = 6) and 25 mumol kg ATP-MgCl2 (n = 8) i.v. or
      4 mg kg-1 cisplatin i.p. and 25 mumol kg-1 ATP-MgCl2 (n = 6) i.v. on day 0. Renal
      function was assessed on a routine basis for 14 days. All dogs had significantly
      decreased creatinine clearance following cisplatin administration. There were no
      significant differences in renal function tests between groups of dogs. One dog
      given 50 mumol kg-1 ATP-MgCl2 and both dogs given 150 mumol kg-1 ATP-MgCl2 in
      addition to cisplatin developed acute anuric renal failure and were euthanatized
      prior to completion of the study. Rats given 4 mg kg-1 cisplatin and 25 mumol kg
      1 ATP-MgCl2 had significantly increased blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine
      after drug administration, compared to rats given cisplatin alone. The results
      indicated that ATP-MgCl2 worsened in vivo cisplatin renal toxicity in the dog and
      rat.

PMID- 1447485
TI  - Mutagenicity evaluation of riot control agent o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile
      (CS) in the Ames Salmonella/microsome test.
AB  - o-Chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS), a riot control agent, was evaluated for
      its possible mutagenic activity in the Ames Salmonella/mammalian microsome
      mutagenicity test. Five histidine-deficient (His-) mutant tester strains of
      Salmonella typhimurium--TA97a, TA98, TA100, TA102 and TA104--were used. The
      liquid preincubation procedure was used with metabolic activation (presence of S9
      mixture) and without metabolic activation (absence of S9 mixture). For the
      experiments with metabolic activation, three different concentrations of S9
      fraction (supernatant of Aroclor 1254-induced rat liver homogenate at 9000 g)-
      5%, 15% and 30% in S9 mixture--were used. Along with mutagenic activity, CS was
      also evaluated for cytotoxic activity in all the five tester strains of
      Salmonella typhimurium, both in the presence and absence of S9 mixture. The
      mutagenic and cytotoxic activities of CS were assessed by counting the His+
      revertant colonies and by counting the microcolonies (His-, auxotrophs in the
      background lawn), respectively, and the respective mean values were compared with
      the relative negative (solvent) control. A dose range of 12.5-800 micrograms
      plate-1 for CS did not induce a mutagenic response either in the presence or
      absence of S9 mix. No change in the negative mutagenic response of CS has been
      observed even in the presence of an elevated level of S9 fraction in the S9 mix.
      A dose of 200 micrograms plate-1 for CS was found to be cytotoxic by decreasing
      the surviving cells as well as His+ revertant colonies; however, the effect was
      reduced in the presence of an elevated level of S9 fraction in the S9 mix.

PMID- 1447486
TI  - Conventional and new diagnostic applications of a two-site
      immunochemiluminometric assay for parathyroid hormone.
AB  - This investigation was carried out to evaluate the clinical utility and
      diagnostic value of serum intact PTH measurement using a recently introduced
      immunochemiluminometric assay (ICMA). Studies were carried out in 42 normal
      subjects, 24 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, 21 patients on chronic
      maintenance hemodialysis, 8 patients with postsurgical hypoparathyroidism, 7
      patients with cancer hypercalcemia and 6 patients with osteomalacia. A good
      correlation was found in normal subjects between serum ICMA PTH levels and both
      intact PTH measured by a two-site immunoradiometric assay (n = 42, r = 0.67, p
      less than 0.001) and a widely used midmolecule radioimmunoassay (n = 21, r =
      0.78; p less than 0.001). Similar good correlations were found in primary
      hyperparathyroidism patients (IC-MA vs immunoradiometric assay r = 0.74; p less
      than 0.001; ICMA vs midmolecule assay r = 0.77; p less than 0.001). As far as the
      hypercalcemic conditions were concerned, in 5 patients with mild primary
      hyperparathyroidism, ICMA PTH levels were in the upper range of those found in
      normal subjects, even though they were inappropriately high in respect to serum
      calcium values. However, serum ICMA PTH levels were clearly suppressed or
      undetectable in the majority of patients with cancer hypercalcemia or
      postsurgical hypoparathyroidism. Following calcium and EDTA infusions in patients
      with primary hyperparathyroidism, the behaviour of ICMA PTH levels in general
      parallelled that of immunoradiometric PTH assay, thus indirectly suggesting the
      ability of the method to measure the intact molecule.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1447487
TI  - Serum concentrations of osteocalcin in patients with hyperthyroidism,
      hypothyroidism and subacute thyroiditis.
AB  - Serum concentration of osteocalcin (OC) was measured in sera from untreated
      patients with Graves' disease, hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and
      subacute thyroiditis. Serum concentration of OC in Graves' disease and
      hypothyroidism were 14.1 +/- 5.6 micrograms/L and 3.8 +/- 2.7 micrograms/L,
      respectively which were significantly different from that of healthy subjects
      (Graves' disease, p less than 0.001, hypothyroidism, p less than 0.01). Serum
      concentration of OC in patients with subacute thyroiditis was 8.0 +/- 3.5
      micrograms/L which was not statistically different from age-matched normal
      controls. Serial measurement of serum OC for 24 mo in 15 patients with Graves'
      disease after initiation of antithyroid drugs disclosed that the decline of serum
      OC was obtained only 24 mo after antithyroid drug therapy. On the other hand, in
      hypothyroid patients, increased serum OC was observed after 1-2 months treatment
      of L-T4. Correlation coefficients between serum concentrations of OC and T3, T4,
      FT3 or FT4 in all the patients with thyroid disorders were 0.66, 0.51, 0.50 and
      0.54, respectively, which were statistically significant (all, p less than
      0.001). These results suggest that osteoblastic activity is enhanced in
      hyperthyroidism and suppressed in hypothyroidism. In hyperthyroid patients,
      despite of normalization of FT4 concentration in relatively short period (within
      3-4 mo), it took 24 mo after initiation of antithyroid drugs for OC to normalize,
      suggesting not only thyroid hormone per se but also some unknown factor(s)
      participates in serum OC secretion. In contrast to thyrotoxic patients, rapid
      increase in serum OC after initiation of supplemental L-T4 treatment in
      hypothyroidism was observed, suggesting a direct effect of thyroid hormone on the
      osteoblasts in patients with hypothyroidism.

PMID- 1447488
TI  - Lack of correlation between sex hormone binding globulin, adrenal and peripheral
      androgens in precocious adrenarche.
AB  - Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is a specific steroid-binding plasma
      glycoprotein regulated by several different factors. Sex steroids are currently
      considered to be the main physiological regulators of this protein. Testosterone
      (T) in adults seems to be the main hormone active in lowering SHBG. The role of
      dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in such regulation, particularly in the prepubertal
      age, is not well understood, and no data exist about the role of 3 alpha
      androstanediol (3A alpha) and its glucuronide. In adulthood, in addition to T, 5
      ene steroids seems to play a role in the regulation of SHBG plasma concentration.
      To assess the effect of adrenal and peripheral androgens in modulating SHBG
      levels in the prepubertal age, we studied subjects with precocious pubarche
      secondary to precocious adrenarche (PA). PA represents, in fact, a good model of
      study as it is characterized by an increased production and action of adrenal
      androgen in females under 8 yr of age and in males under 9. Sixty-five subjects
      (55 females and 10 males; chronologic age: 3.6 - 8.2 yr (6.9 +/- 1.3, SD); bone
      age: 3.6 - 11 yr (7.6 +/- 1.9); BMI 17.9 +/- 3 kg/m2) were studied. Fifteen age
      matched normal children (BMI 15.2 +/- 0.8 kg/m2) were studied as controls.
      Androstenedione (A), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and its sulphate (DHA-S), T,
      DHT, 3Ad and its glucuronide (3AG) and SHBG were evaluated in all subjects. In PA
      cases serum SHBG levels (50 +/- 27 nM) were significantly lower (p less than
      0.05) with respect to normal prepubertal patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1447489
TI  - The effect of iodine on lipid peroxidation and ultrastructure in the thyroids of
      BB/Wor rats.
AB  - There has been recent data suggesting that iodine potentiates lymphocytic
      thyroiditis (LT) by inciting oxidative stress. However, the mechanism by which
      iodine induces LT in genetically predisposed animals is unknown. This study was
      undertaken to examine LT-prone BB/Wor (LT-P) rat thyroids for signs of acute
      iodine toxicity and oxidative damage before the onset of spontaneous LT. Lipid
      peroxidation was assessed by the measurement of malonyldialdehyde (MDA) in
      thyroid homogenates after randomization to a treatment group receiving 0.05%
      iodide in the drinking water or tap water for 24 hours. Basal MDA levels were
      higher in LT-prone rat thyroids than Wistar rat thyroids, but iodine treatment
      did not influence intrathyroidal MDA levels. Electronmicroscopy demonstrated that
      prolonged treatment with excess iodine, increased the number of apical lysosomes.
      But there were no ultrastructural changes unique to LT-P rat thyroids. These data
      suggest that although LT-P rat thyroids may experience subclinical oxidative
      damage before the onset of histologically demonstrable LT, this activity is not
      affected by iodine.

PMID- 1447490
TI  - Effects of opioid receptor blockade on luteinizing hormone (LH) pulses and
      interpulse LH concentrations in normal women during the early phase of the
      menstrual cycle.
AB  - To determine the role of endogenous opioid peptides in regulating pulsatile
      luteinizing hormone (LH) release in the early follicular phase of the menstrual
      cycle of eumenorrheic women, we evaluated serum LH concentrations in blood
      collected every 10 min for 12 h in 27 women each studied during two menstrual
      cycles: (1) without pretreatment and (2) following oral administration of
      naltrexone, a mu opiate receptor blocking agent, at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg.
      Pulsatile LH release was assessed by the CLUSTER algorithm. The mean (+/- SE)
      integrated serum LH concentration (IU/L/min) increased following the
      administration of naltrexone (4715 +/- 298) in comparison to the control day
      (3997 +/- 381; p = 0.0008). The mean number of LH pulses (/12 h) detected on the
      naltrexone day (10.3 +/- 0.3) was higher than on the control day (8.9 +/- 0.4; p
      = 0.0068). Mean maximal LH peak height (IU/L) was greater on the naltrexone (7.8
      +/- 0.5) vs control (6.7 +/- 0.5) days (p = 0.0064) as was the interpulse valley
      mean serum LH concentration (IU/L; 6.3 +/- 0.4 vs 5.0 +/- 0.4; p = 0.0013). No
      difference was noted in the mean incremental LH pulse amplitude (IU/L; 1.9 +/-
      0.1 vs 2.1 +/- 0.1; p = 0.13), or peak duration (min; 40 +/- 1.8 vs 45.0 +/- 2.4;
      p = 0.06). Mean LH peak area (IU/L/min) was greater on the control (45.0 +/- 2.4)
      vs naltrexone (40 +/- 1.8) days (p = 0.0475).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447491
TI  - Expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide in medullary thyroid cancer.
AB  - We studied the expression of calcitonin (CT) and calcitonin gene-related peptide
      (CGRP) in 18 patients with medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) in the neoplastic
      (primary or metastatic) tissue by immunohistochemistry and in the plasma by
      radioimmunoassay. CT immunoreactivity was found in 100% of the primary and
      metastatic MTC, CGRP was expressed in 66% of the primary tumors and in 73% of the
      metastases. Both the number of positive cells and the degree of staining were
      always higher for CT than for CGRP staining. While plasma CT concentrations were
      always increased in patients with metastases, 3 patients with metastases had
      undetectable plasma CGRP levels. A positive correlation was found between plasma
      CT and CGRP levels. These data indicate that CGRP is frequently expressed in MTC
      sections and that plasma CGRP measurement is an additional marker for MTC,
      although has no advantage with respect to CT measurements in monitoring the
      progression of the disease.

PMID- 1447493
TI  - Interleukin-6 in liver diseases.

PMID- 1447494
TI  - Proliferation and phenotypic expression of perisinusoidal cells.

PMID- 1447492
TI  - Improvement of metastatic endocrine tumors of the pancreas by hepatic artery
      chemoembolization.
AB  - We report the results of transcatheter intraarterial perfusion of liver with the
      emulsion of iodized oil and cytostatics performed as palliative treatment in
      three patients with hepatic metastases of pancreatic endocrine tumors. Two
      patients had insulinoma and one patient had glucagonoma. They were also treated
      by medical therapy from the time the diagnosis was made. Intraarterial perfusion
      of the liver was achieved by Lipiodol emulsified with streptozotocin and 5
      fluorouracil. Regarding these three patients therapeutic responses were different
      in duration of hormone secretion decrease. Relief of hypoglycemic attacks and a
      significant decrease of plasma immunoreactive insulin concentration within 12
      months without any additional therapy was observed in the patient with insulinoma
      (case no. 2). This patient had slightly increased immunoreactive glucagon
      concentration from the time of diagnosis. A decrease of immunoreactive insulin
      levels in other patient with insulinoma and an increase in plasma glucose to the
      euglycemic range during two months allowed a reduction of doses of somatostatin
      analogue and diazoxide. Due to rapid progression of the disease, intraarterial
      perfusion of liver was repeated three months later with the same results.
      Remission of symptoms was partial in the case of glucagonoma. Immunoreactive
      glucagon levels were not changed and there was no significant benefit of the
      treatment. Intraarterial perfusion of liver with iodized oil and cytostatics
      could be an effective, safe and repeatable method of palliating symptoms of
      malignant pancreatic tumors, especially in inoperable but nonterminal cases. It
      could allow reduction of additional medical therapy, but success of the treatment
      is not predictable.

PMID- 1447495
TI  - Long-term follow-up study of adult patients with non-cirrhotic obstruction of the
      portal system: comparison with cirrhotic patients.
AB  - Thirty-two patients with non-cirrhotic portal system obstruction and oesophageal
      varices of non-malignant etiology were recruited over 13 years. Diagnosis was
      based on the presence of oesophageal varices at endoscopy, minor alterations in
      liver function tests and liver histology, a low hepatic venous pressure gradient,
      and pertinent angiographic patterns. Twenty-three had portal vein thrombosis,
      nine had splenic vein thrombosis. Twenty-one had idiopathic portal vein
      obstruction, 11 had secondary obstruction. The outcome was compared with a group
      of 32 patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, matched for age, Child
      Pugh class, previous history of gastrointestinal bleeding, and size of
      oesophageal varices. Patients with non-cirrhotic obstruction of the portal system
      were followed for up to 171 months (mean 94 months). During follow-up ten
      patients had gastrointestinal bleeding, and eight died (five of gastrointestinal
      bleeding). After 6 years of follow-up, the cumulative risk of gastrointestinal
      bleeding was 24%, the cumulative risk of death was 17%, and the cumulative risk
      of death from gastrointestinal bleeding was 14%. Cumulative probability of death
      by any cause and the probability of gastrointestinal bleeding were significantly
      lower in patients with non-cirrhotic obstruction of the portal system than in
      patients with cirrhosis comparable for liver function and portal hypertension (p
      = 0.04 for both). The cumulative probability of death by gastrointestinal
      bleeding was not significantly different. In conclusion, the prognosis for non
      cirrhotic obstruction of the portal system is significantly better than for
      patients with cirrhosis with comparable levels of liver function impairment and
      severity of portal hypertension.

PMID- 1447496
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging and assessment of liver iron content in genetic
      hemochromatosis.
AB  - Computed tomography (CT) scanning is not highly sensitive in the assessment of
      liver iron content and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appears to be more
      efficient. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of MRI in the
      evaluation of liver iron content using a standard spin-echo technique. The study
      included 23 patients with genetic hemochromatosis and 24 non-iron-overloaded
      patients as controls. A comparison was made of: (a) MRI signal intensity of
      liver, spleen, paravertebral muscles and subcutaneous adipose tissue using two
      different spin-echo sequences (SE 500/28; SE 2000/28,56); (b) liver attenuation
      determined by a single energy CT scan; and (c) a biochemical determination of
      hepatic iron. There was a significant decrease in liver signal intensity in the
      genetic hemochromatosis group (256 +/- 201, mean +/- S.D.) compared with the
      control group (801 +/- 413, p less than 0.001), but there was no correlation with
      liver iron concentration. However, such a correlation was found and was even more
      highly significant than in CT when the ratio between the liver and another organ
      was taken into account. For a lower limit of liver/spleen ratio calculated at
      0.46 (mean 2 S.D. in the control group), the specificity (0.96) of MRI was
      satisfactory, but the sensitivity (0.78) remained insufficient (MRI being unable
      to detect an iron overload of up to 125 mumol/g). Hopefully, these results might
      be improved in the near future by using more sensitive sequences such as gradient
      echo sequences.

PMID- 1447497
TI  - The pathogenesis of vacuoles produced in rat and mouse liver cells by a conjugate
      of adenine arabinoside monophosphate with lactosaminated albumin.
AB  - A conjugate of adenine arabinoside monophosphate with lactosaminated albumin
      produced vacuoles in hepatic cells of rats and mice when given at doses 5-10
      times higher than that (35 mg/kg) capable of inhibiting hepatitis B virus
      replication in patients with chronic hepatitis B. The vacuoles were due to the
      swelling of secondary lysosomes probably caused by incapacity of the lysosomal
      enzymes to rapidly digest large amounts of conjugate into products able to cross
      the lysosomal membrane. Although vacuoles progressively disappeared when
      conjugate administration was discontinued, the present observation suggests
      caution in giving the conjugate to man at daily doses higher than 35 mg/kg.

PMID- 1447498
TI  - Effects of theophylline on hemodynamics and tissue oxygenation in patients with
      cirrhosis.
AB  - Since adenosine may play a role in the hyperdynamic circulation of cirrhosis, we
      examined the effects of theophylline (an adenosine receptor antagonist) on
      systemic and splanchnic hemodynamics, tissue oxygenation and sympathoadrenal
      activity in patients with cirrhosis and liver failure. Theophylline
      (aminophylline) was administered intravenously for 30 min. Six patients received
      a dose of 3 mg/kg and eight others a dose of 6 mg/kg. The low dose caused plasma
      theophylline concentrations of 7.4 +/- 1.8 mg/ml (mean +/- S.E.), and induced a
      significant increase in heart rate from 84 +/- 5 to 93 +/- 8 beats/min. This
      dosage did not significantly change other hemodynamic values, oxygen (O2)
      consumption, or sympathoadrenal activity. The high dose elicited plasma
      theophylline concentrations of 15.8 +/- 4.0 mg/ml. This dose significantly
      increased heart rate from 78 +/- 5 to 87 +/- 7 beats/min and significantly
      decreased right atrial pressure from 2.5 +/- 1.0 to 1.4 +/- 0.8 mmHg, stroke
      volume from 52 +/- 3 to 47 +/- 5 ml.beat-1.m-2 and systolic arterial pressure
      from 140 +/- 5 to 129 +/- 6 mmHg. In contrast, O2 consumption, sympathoadrenal
      activity, and all other hemodynamic values (including azygos blood flow) were not
      significantly modified. As a result, we conclude that, in patients with
      cirrhosis, theophylline may cause decreased stroke volume which lowers systolic
      arterial pressure. In our patients theophylline also had a positive chronotropic
      effect but no vasoconstrictor effect on systemic and splanchnic circulation.
      Finally, theophylline did not improve tissue oxygenation in patients with
      cirrhosis.

PMID- 1447499
TI  - Disseminated intravascular coagulation in liver cirrhosis.
AB  - We measured thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT), soluble fibrin (SF) and D
      dimer levels in 51 patients with liver cirrhosis to determine whether these tests
      provide new evidence for the presence of disseminated intravascular coagulation
      (DIC) in liver cirrhosis. TAT levels (median, range) were increased in the
      patient group (4.2 micrograms/l, 1.8-60.0) compared to the reference group (2.0
      micrograms/l, range 1.5-7.6 micrograms/l). SF levels (0 nmol/l, range 0-80
      nmol/l) were also increased in the patients as compared to the controls (0
      nmol/l, 0), but there was no correlation between TAT and SF levels (r = 0.23, p
      less than 0.98). TAT levels did not correlate with AT-III levels (r = -0.36, p
      less than 0.49), but there was an inverse correlation between SF and AT-III (r =
      0.60, p less than 0.001). If AT-III levels were above 0.30 U/ml, SF levels
      remained low, whereas SF levels were increased in patients with AT-III levels
      below 0.30 U/ml. These findings suggest that if sufficient AT-III is present,
      thrombin formation is adequately controlled, whereas at low levels of AT-III,
      thrombin escapes inactivation by AT-III and may act upon fibrinogen, leading to
      the formation of SF and a low-grade DIC. SF levels correlated well with D-dimer
      levels (r = 0.55, p less than 0.001), which is consistent with DIC and secondary
      fibrinolysis. IN CONCLUSION: (1) thrombin formation is increased in liver
      cirrhosis, as indicated by increased TAT levels in 21 of 51 patients; (2) the
      plasma concentration of AT-III appears to be of major importance for the
      development of DIC. The present study provides evidence for DIC in severe liver
      cirrhosis when AT-III levels are less than 0.30 U/ml.

PMID- 1447500
TI  - A controlled trial of prednisolone treatment in primary biliary cirrhosis. Three
      year results.
AB  - The results of a 3-year, placebo-controlled trial of prednisolone treatment in
      primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) are presented. The active (n = 19) and placebo (n
      = 17) arms were initially well matched for age, menopausal status and disease
      severity. At 3 years hepatic symptoms were relatively improved in the
      prednisolone group. Hepatic mortality was 3/19 (prednisolone), 5/17 (placebo) (p
      = n.s.). For all liver blood tests the trend favoured prednisolone treatment,
      though the differences were only significant for alkaline phosphatase and
      protein. All immunoglobulins fell significantly. Quantitative ELISA determination
      of antimitochondrial antibody showed a significant fall in the prednisolone group
      compared with placebo (p less than 0.001 at 1 year, p less than 0.05 at 3 years).
      Deterioration in histology (appearance of cirrhosis) was more common in the
      placebo group. Overall hepatic function (hepatic mortality, doubling in
      bilirubin, 6 milligrams fall in albumin, de novo appearance of cirrhosis or
      symptoms of portal hypertension) was significantly worse in the placebo group (p
      less than 0.01). After 3 years no significant differences could be detected in
      bone mineral content (single photon absorptiometry of radius and femur) between
      the two groups or in comparison with other PBC patients. Thus, after 3 years,
      prednisolone treatment was associated with a better overall hepatic outcome and
      little evidence of increased bone loss.

PMID- 1447501
TI  - Sodium fluoride prevents bone loss in primary biliary cirrhosis.
AB  - Low-bone-turnover osteoporosis is a common complication of primary biliary
      cirrhosis (PBC). Since sodium fluoride stimulates bone formation we assessed the
      effect of this drug on bone mass in a 2-year, prospective, double-blind trial
      including 22 women with PBC who were randomly assigned to receive sodium fluoride
      (50 mg/day) or placebo. All received calcium supplements and low doses of vitamin
      D. Bone mineral density of the lumbar spine was measured by dual-photon
      absorptiometry initially and every 6 months. Vertebral fractures were evaluated
      in thoracic and lumbar spine initially, and after 1 and 2 years. Seven patients
      in the fluoride group and eight in the placebo group completed the trial. In the
      fluoride group, bone mineral density did not change after 2 years (initial 1.05
      +/- 0.07, final 1.07 +/- 0.06 g/cm2; p = n.s.). In the placebo group, however,
      bone mineral density decreased significantly (initial 1.00 +/- 0.07, final 0.93
      +/- 0.06 g/cm2; p = 0.03). Moreover, in the fluoride group bone mineral density
      increased by 2.9 +/- 3.6%, and in the placebo group decreased by 6.6 +/- 2.6% (p
      = 0.04). None of the patients developed new vertebral or non-vertebral fractures.
      Treatment with sodium fluoride did not impair liver function or cholestasis in
      PBC. These results indicate that sodium fluoride prevents bone loss in PBC and
      therefore might be considered as a possible therapeutic agent for osteoporosis
      associated with this liver disease. Since a small number of patients completed
      the trial, further studies are required.

PMID- 1447502
TI  - Echo-Doppler evaluation of acute flow changes in portal hypertensive patients:
      flow velocity as a reliable parameter.
AB  - In order to evaluate the behavior of the portal vein cross-sectional area during
      changes in portal flow, two groups of subjects were analyzed in two blinded cross
      over studies using echo-Doppler flowmetry. The first group (I) consisted of 21
      patients with cirrhosis and 16 controls. They received a standardized meal which
      is known to increase portal flow. The second group (II) consisted of 31 patients
      with cirrhosis who received a dose of propranolol which is known to decrease
      portal flow. In Group I, 30 min after the meal, the portal vein blood velocity
      increased by 35 +/- 6% (p less than 0.01) in cirrhotic patients and by 55 +/- 5%
      (p less than 0.01), in normal subjects. The portal vein cross-sectional area
      increased significantly in normal subjects (22 +/- 2%, p less than 0.01) but not
      in cirrhotic patients (4 +/- 2%, n.s.). In Group II, 2 h after propranolol, there
      was a significant decrease in portal blood velocity (-14 +/- 2%), whereas the
      portal vein cross-sectional area did not show any significant changes. These data
      demonstrate that, in portal hypersensitive patients, the portal area measured by
      echo-Doppler flowmetry can be assumed to be constant and hence its calculation to
      estimate changes in portal blood flow can be omitted. Therefore, the use of blood
      velocity alone is suggested to monitor acute changes in flow in portal
      hypertension using Doppler flowmetry. The elimination of the portal vein cross
      sectional area measurement simplifies the quantitative calculation of portal
      hemodynamics and increases the reliability of the technique by avoiding a source
      of error.

PMID- 1447503
TI  - Quantitative analysis of proliferating sinusoidal cells in dimethylnitrosamine
      induced cirrhosis. An immunohistochemical study.
AB  - Proliferating lipocytes (fat-storing cells or perisinusoidal stellate cells of
      the liver) were detected by in vivo incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) in
      an experimental model of cirrhosis in the rat by dimethylnitrosamine. Lipocytes
      were identified by sequential double immunohistochemical staining on frozen
      sections using anti-desmin antibodies as a marker of cytoplasmic intermediate
      filaments followed by anti-BrdU antibodies to identify S-phase nuclei in animals
      treated for 7, 14 or 21 days. The number of desmin-positive (lipocytes) and
      desmin-negative (Kupffer and endothelial cells) sinusoidal cells incorporating
      BrdU was recorded. The labelling index of lipocytes was calculated as the
      percentage of BrdU-labelled desmin-positive cells with respect to total number of
      lipocytes. In control animals, when the total number of lipocytes was 153.9 +/-
      11/mm2 (mean +/- 1 S.E.) the number of desmin-positive S-phase sinusoidal cells
      never exceeded 6.8 +/- 1.2/mm2 with a maximum labelling index of 4.3 +/- 0.5%. At
      7 days of treatment, the values were respectively 236 +/- 26.5/mm2, 53.2 +/-
      5.9/mm2 and 22.6 +/- 0.5% (p less than 0.001 vs. controls), while, at 21 days
      they were 272.5 +/- 21.2/mm2, 23.3 +/- 4.0/mm2 and 8.5 +/- 1.1% respectively (p
      less than 0.01). These results show that hyperplasia of lipocytes represents an
      early reaction to dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver injury. The local
      accumulation of lipocytes appears to occur in areas where fibrous septa develop
      later on.

PMID- 1447504
TI  - Uridine diphosphoglucose restores lipocyte proliferation in the regenerating
      liver of ethanol-treated rats.
AB  - The effect of continuous intraperitoneal infusion of uridine diphosphoglucose on
      ethanol-induced suppression of lipocyte proliferation was studied in regenerating
      rat livers from 1-4 days after hepatectomy. Proliferating lipocytes were
      positively identified using a two-sequence immunohistochemical staining for
      cytoplasmic desmin and bromodeoxyuridine-labelled nuclei. Hepatectomy rapidly
      stimulated lipocyte proliferation which peaked 2 days after hepatectomy
      (labelling index, 17.9 +/- 0.81%). uridine diphosphoglucose or glucose infusion
      did not modify the time course of lipocyte proliferation. Ethanol feeding to
      hepatectomized rats receiving saline or glucose infusion resulted in a 71% (p
      less than 0.005) and 61% (p less than 0.005) inhibition of lipocyte
      proliferation, respectively, 2 days after hepatectomy, thereby abolishing the
      characteristic proliferative peak observed in rats not treated with ethanol. In
      contrast, uridine diphosphoglucose infusion doubled the labelling index (13.1 +/-
      2.34%) in ethanol-fed rats compared to that in corresponding rats treated with
      saline (5.28 +/- 1.29%; p less than 0.005) or glucose (6.51 +/- 0.64%; p less
      than 0.005). This resulted in the appearance of a proliferative peak, albeit
      smaller than normal, 2 days after hepatectomy. In sham-operated rats, lipocyte
      proliferation was low with a labelling index of 1.88 +/- 0.13% at the time of
      operation and of 1.69 +/- 0.23% 2 days thereafter. Uridine diphosphoglucose
      infusion to sham-operated rats for 2 days did not significantly affect lipocyte
      proliferation (labelling index 1.79 +/- 0.06%). The present study demonstrated
      that uridine diphosphoglucose does not affect lipocyte proliferation in the
      regenerating or sham-operated livers, but that it partially reverses the ethanol
      induced suppression of lipocyte proliferation after hepatectomy.

PMID- 1447505
TI  - Interleukin-6 production by peripheral blood monocytes in patients with chronic
      liver disease and acute viral hepatitis.
AB  - The in vitro production of the acute-phase mediator interleukin-6 by peripheral
      blood monocytes derived from patients with various liver diseases was studied.
      Compared with healthy controls (n = 45; 860 +/- 92 U/ml, mean +/- SEM), monocytes
      from patients with chronic hepatitis B produced significantly lower amounts of
      interleukin-6 (n = 14; 424 +/- 126 U/ml) after stimulation with
      lipopolysaccharide (p = 0.02), whereas monocytes from patients with chronic
      hepatitis non-A, non-B secreted normal amounts of interleukin-6 (n = 13; 672 +/-
      151 U/ml; n.s.). In contrast, monocytes of patients suffering from alcoholic
      liver cirrhosis (n = 22; 1310 +/- 153 U/ml) or primary biliary cirrhosis (n = 6;
      1450 +/- 186 U/ml) produced higher amounts of interleukin-6 than healthy control
      individuals (p = 0.03, respectively). Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocytes
      derived from patients with acute hepatitis A, B and non-A, non-B showed an
      interleukin-6 production not different from that seen in healthy control
      individuals and did not experience a discernible change during the course of the
      acute disease. These results suggest that the production of the acute-phase
      mediator interleukin-6 varies in chronic liver disease in accordance with various
      etiologies with a reduced lipopolysaccharide-inducible interleukin-6 response in
      chronic hepatitis B and an enhanced response in alcoholic liver cirrhosis and
      primary biliary cirrhosis.

PMID- 1447506
TI  - Evidence for the production of high amounts of interleukin-6 in the peritoneal
      cavity of patients with ascites.
AB  - The ascites and serum concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1
      (IL-1) were determined in 21 patients with hepatic ascites and in 9 patients with
      malignancy-associated ascites. There was no evidence for bacterial peritonitis in
      any patients. All ascites samples contained high amounts of immunoreactive IL-6
      [hepatic ascites 1730 +/- 2130 pg/ml (mean +/- SD), 1160 pg/ml (median);
      malignant ascites 4020 +/- 1510 pg/ml (mean), 3820 pg/ml (median)] but no IL-1.
      The mean ascites to serum ratios of IL-6 were 96 (median 49) in patients with
      hepatic ascites and 587 (median 480) in patients with malignant ascites. Ascites
      IL-6 was biologically active as determined by the B9 cell bioassay. The results
      indicate that even in the absence of infection IL-6 is produced in high amounts
      in the peritoneal cavity of patients with hepatic or malignant ascites.

PMID- 1447507
TI  - Primary cultures of human hepatocytes: a unique system for studies in toxicology,
      virology, parasitology and liver pathophysiology in man.

PMID- 1447508
TI  - Ascites as the first manifestation of Brucella granulomatous hepatitis.

PMID- 1447509
TI  - Prevalence of primary sclerosing cholangitis in patients with ulcerative colitis.

PMID- 1447510
TI  - Prevalence of hepatitis B virus in Kurdish refugees.

PMID- 1447511
TI  - Frequent sporadic hepatitis E in west Africa evidenced by characterization of a
      virus-associated antigen in the stool.

PMID- 1447512
TI  - Paul Pirlot (1920-1990).

PMID- 1447513
TI  - Some observations on the fine structure of the sensory cells in the neuromasts
      (ordinary lateral line) of the teleost Gambusia affinis.
AB  - The structural and ultrastructural features of the sensory cells in the
      neuromasts of G. affinis were studied. These pear-shaped cels present a tuft of
      sensory hairs rising from the apex and a highly dense cytoplasm with
      multivesicular bodies, dyctiosomes, granular and smooth endoplasmic reticulum and
      numerous mitochondria. Large round granular dense bodies of an unknown nature can
      be observed inside and outside the nucleus. A great number of vesicles are
      present at the base of the cells, some of them associated with an afferent
      synapse, which also presents a presynaptic dense body. An efferent synapse with a
      nerve ending full of vesicles and a postsynaptic subsurface cisterna is also
      present at the base of these cells.

PMID- 1447514
TI  - Ultrastructural localization of insulin-like immunoreactivity in the rat spinal
      cord.
AB  - Insulin-like immunoreactive neurons were localized in the cervical, thoracic,
      lumbar and sacral segments of the rat spinal cord. Neurons from both the ventral
      and dorsal horns were labelled. The insulin-like reaction product was
      predominantly localized in the cell nucleus and the proximal and distal
      dendrites. In the labelled cell nucleus, the reaction product was scattered
      throughout the nucleoplasm and the inner and outer nuclear membranes but not
      within the nucleolus. In the labelled dendrites, the reaction product was closely
      associated with the parallel arrays of neurotubules. Most of the labelled distal
      dendrites were postsynaptic to non-labelled axon terminals. A labelled dendrite
      often formed the central element of a synaptic glomerulus with several non
      labelled axon terminals. It is hypothesized that the insulin-like substance(s)
      may be modulating nuclear activities as well as neurotransmission at the synapse
      in the spinal cord.

PMID- 1447515
TI  - Degenerative and regenerative phenomena in brain heterotopic homoplastic
      transplants of adult Triturus carnifex (Urodele Amphibians).
AB  - The brains of adult Urodele Amphibians (Triturus carnifex Laur.) were
      homoplastically transplanted in conditions of complete morpho-functional
      isolation. Despite the heterogeneous nature of the histological aspects observed,
      the results point to the following general pattern for the fate of the brain
      transplants: 1) rooting phase (about day 5 after the operation) as indicated by
      degenerative patterns affecting the various encephalic districts and mainly
      involving the more peripheral neurons and the nerve fibers, and to a lesser
      extent the periventricular gray and the ependyma; 2) phase of rejection by host
      (from day 10 until end of experiment on day 30) as indicated by lymphocytic
      infiltration, the presence of macrophages and pyknoses, and the formation of a
      connective tissue capsule surrounding the transplant; 3) regenerative phase (from
      about day 10) as indicated by the onset of mitotic activity affecting elements of
      the ependymal epithelium and the periventricular gray, particularly in the
      telencephalic district. By the end of the experiment, in most of the transplants
      examined, degenerative processes were found to have prevailed over the
      regenerative phenomena. However, in some cases, and particularly in one of them,
      a distinctly higher degree of structural organization of neurons and nerve fibers
      can be observed at the telencephalic level. It may be postulated that, whenever a
      greater degree of compatibility exists between the host and the transplanted
      organ, it is possible, even in conditions of complete morpho-functional
      isolation, for the brain to express regenerative power through the ependyma and
      the matrix zones which have already been identified by some Authors in
      telencephalic periventricular areas or scattered through the mesencephalic gray
      matter.

PMID- 1447517
TI  - The fine structure of the inferior colliculus in the cat. II. Synaptic
      organization.
AB  - The synaptic organization of the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (ICc)
      of the cat has been investigated by means of electron microscopy. On the basis of
      the following criteria: the size and the shape of the synaptic vesicles, the
      distribution and density of the vesicular population, the size and the shape of
      the synaptic boutons, their origin, and the characteristics of the active
      synaptic zones, several types of synaptic boutons in the ICc have been
      discriminated: LR1, LR2, SR, SSB, F1, F2, P, DCV-terminals, and "d"-profiles. The
      LR1, LR2, SR and SSB bouton types contain clear, round or slightly oval synaptic
      vesicles and form asymmetrical synapses mainly with middle sized and small
      dendrites and dendritic spines. LR2-terminals not rarely contact also the
      neuronal perikarya, whilst the SR-boutons form exclusively axodendritic and
      axospinous synapses. The P, F1 and F2-boutons contain a pleomorphic vesicular
      population (P-boutons), with an increased degree of vesicle flattening (F1 and F2
      boutons) and form symmetrical axosomatic, axodendritic and axospinous contacts.
      Especially often the F1-boutons form axosomatic synapses, whilst the F2-terminals
      end mainly on dendrites. The DCV-boutons contain a mixed population of clear
      round synaptic vesicles and large dense core vesicles. The DCV-boutons terminate
      mainly on spines and small distal dendrites by means of asymmetrical synaptic
      specializations. The "d"-profiles originate from dendrites, and are identical to
      the thalamic "d"-profiles but are far more rarely observed in the ICc. The "d"
      profiles are postsynaptic mainly to the LR-types, and are presynaptic to
      conventional dendrites, thus participating in synaptic triads. The axonal
      hillocks and the initial axonal segments of the larger perikarya in the ICc are
      substantially innervated mainly by LR and P-boutons. Glomerulus-like formations
      are fairly often, especially around the LR1-terminals, contacting several small
      postsynaptic targets. True synaptic glomeruli are only rarely observed. Branching
      myelinated axons are found mainly within the fibrodendritic laminae, whilst
      unmyelinated collaterals, emitted by myelinated axons are especially often
      encountered outside the laminae. Various types of myelinated axons form nodal
      synapses.

PMID- 1447516
TI  - [Neurohistological findings in the parietal cortex of children with chromosome
      aberrations].
AB  - In Golgi-Cox impregnated parietal cortex (regio postcentralis) of two children
      (20 months of age or 6 years of age) with Down's syndrome the pyramidal neurons
      of lamina III and V were investigated qualitatively and quantitatively. Fives
      types of pyramidal neurons were classified and compared statistically. As
      parameters for characterizing pyramidal neurons served dendritic lengths for all
      dendritic orders, within single dendritic fields, in apical and basal parts of
      the dendritic tree, and of the whole neuron. Normal values obtained in brains of
      the same age were not available, therefore, we compared our results with those
      published by other authors. To study the developmental stage of the pyramidal
      neurons in both our cases, we compared analogue pyramid types in both brains. The
      pyramidal neurons showed different qualitative abnormalities in their dendritic
      tree configuration. The comparison of quantitative parameters suggests the
      pyramidal cells of the older child show more degenerative changes, concerning
      especially lamina III pyramids but in lamina V pyramids as well. These changes
      might be structural correlates of the mental retardation: the 6 year old child
      was strongly retarded in clinical symptoms, too. The results are discussed and
      critically evaluated in view of the clinical signs of Morbus Down. Finally we
      should await the investigations of more cases for demonstrating the normal as
      well as the abnormal development of the human cerebral cortex.

PMID- 1447518
TI  - Developmental stages of the vomeronasal organ in the rat: a light and electron
      microscopic study.
AB  - This paper describes the development of the rat vomeronasal organ from the stage
      of anlage until adulthood. Groups of four rats were sacrificed daily from
      prenatal day 13 (E13) until birth; at days 2, 4, 7, 10, 14 and 16 after birth;
      weekly from day P21 to P42 plus an additional group of adults. The vomeronasal
      organs were processed for light microscopy, including alcian blue-PAS and NADH
      diaphorase reactions, and also for electron microscopy. For summarizing our
      results we propose the following developmental stages: 1. Anlage (E13). 2. Early
      morphogenesis (E14-16). 3. Late morphogenesis (E17 to birth). 4. Initiation of
      secretory activity (First postnatal week). 5. Cytoarchitectural maturity (2nd
      postnatal week). 6. Complete maturity (From 3rd postnatal week onwards). Our
      results on the maturation of the histological structure and the histochemical
      reactions, indicate that there may be some functional activity at birth but the
      development of the organ still continues during the first three postnatal weeks
      to acquire its full functional capability.

PMID- 1447519
TI  - Systematisation of the olfactory bulb efferent projections in a lemurian primate:
      Microcebus murinus.
AB  - In order to investigate a sensorial pathway essential in animal behavior, the
      efferent projections of the olfactory bulbs in Microcebus murinus were identified
      after transection of one olfactory peduncle and revelation of degenerating fibers
      by various silver staining methods. Total and partial sections have enabled the
      demonstration of the involvement in the olfactory projection areas of each
      olfactory tract: the lateral olfactory tract (LOT) and the intermediate olfactory
      tract (IOT), either via the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) or not. The IOT fibers
      innervate the cortex, the anterior olfactory nucleus, the caudate-putamen, the
      septum and the hippocampus on both sides. The LOT fibers reach the olfactory
      tubercle, the piriform cortex, the entorhinal cortex and the amygdala on both
      sides. Olfactory fibers could also be observed in the MFB innervating on both
      sides firstly the hypothalamic areas (the lateral hypothalamus, the
      suprachiasmatic, posterior supraoptic, mammillary nuclei and the median
      eminence), and then the mesencephalic structures (the locus coeruleus and the
      raphe nuclei). It may be concluded that the olfactory bulbs are not only
      connected with above-mentioned telencephalic areas, but are also directly related
      to the vegetative and integrative brain areas located in the hypothalamus and the
      brainstem and especially with the major nuclei which play an essential role in
      neurovegetative, neuroendocrine and behavioral regulation.

PMID- 1447520
TI  - Primary projections of the lateral line nerves in larval sea lamprey, Petromyzon
      marinus L. An HRP study.
AB  - The primary central projections of the anterior and posterior lateral line nerves
      were determined in the larval sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus L. using silver
      staining methods and axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Lateral
      line fibers course in the dorsal portion of the octavolateral area. At the level
      of their entry in the medulla, all the lateral line fibers originate ascending
      and descending branches. The anterior lateral line nerve consists of three roots:
      dorsal, intermediate and ventral. Afferents of the dorsal root project to the
      ipsilateral dorsal nucleus. The intermediate and ventral roots project
      ipsilaterally to the lateral neuropil of the medial nucleus and to the cerebellar
      lamina, but they do not cross the midline. Contralateral projections of this
      nerve were not found in larvae. Primary afferents of the posterior lateral line
      nerve project ipsi- and contralaterally to the medial neuropil of the medial
      nucleus. Ascending fibers course in the ipsilateral medial nucleus, enter the
      cerebellar lamina, cross the midline and descend to the lateral neuropil of the
      contralateral medial nucleus. In the cerebellar lamina, the fibers of the
      anterior lateral nerve are located ventrolaterally to those of the posterior
      lateral nerve. Lateral line efferents were not observed in larvae.

PMID- 1447521
TI  - Immunocytochemical localization of GnRH in the hypothalamus of the bat
      Miniopterus schreibersii schreibersii.
AB  - The distribution of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) has been examined in
      the hypothalamus of adult female bats, Miniopterus schreibersii schreibersii,
      along annual reproductive cycle by means of light-microscopic
      immunocytochemistry. GnRH-immunoreactive cells are localized throughout the
      medial basal hypothalamus, being specially numerous in the arcuate nucleus. They
      are generally bipolar or monopolar neurons with smooth contour, although spiny
      cells were also found exclusively in the arcuate nucleus from periovulatory bats.
      Depletion in both number and immunocytochemical labelling of GnRH perikarya is
      detected in pregnant and lactating bats. GnRH-immunoreactive fibers are
      distributed in the internal layer of the median eminence and the infundibular
      stalk. Pregnant and lactating animals show lower GnRH fibers content and a less
      intense labelling than in periovulatory and hibernating conditions. The results
      suggest that changes in the secretory activity of GnRH neurons may be associated
      with hibernation and delayed implantation that suffer these mammalian species.

PMID- 1447522
TI  - Golgi study on neurons and fibers in Nucl. rotundus of the thalamus in chicks.
AB  - The structural arrangement of nucleus rotundus was studied by Golgi method.
      Large, multiangular principal neurons, their dendrites and dendritic terminals
      were observed. The long dendrites and their side-branches course parallel and/or
      perpendicular to each-other and they are arranged about in dorso-ventral latero
      medial and rostro-caudal directions. The dendrites and their side-branches
      develop characteristic terminal branchings. These dendritic terminals overlap
      each-other and the area is called dendritic terminal field. The tecto-rotundal
      fibers traverse the nucleus in large bundles and the final sections of fibers
      join to the dendrites of principal neuron and terminate in dendritic terminal
      fields.

PMID- 1447523
TI  - [A study of risk factor in osteoporosis, femoral neck fracture and colles'
      fracture].
AB  - This work studied risk factors of osteoporosis, femoral neck fracture and Colles'
      fracture. The results were compared with those of a healthy group. Milk intake
      was frequent in the healthy group, but rare in the femoral neck fracture or
      Colles' fracture group. Most of osteoporosis and femoral neck fracture group were
      bed ridden, or stayed indoors for a long time before injury. They weighed less
      and were thin as compared to the healthy group. Decrease of activities of daily
      living and less body weight were risk factors of osteoporosis and femoral neck
      fracture, but these risk factors were more predominant in the femoral neck
      fracture than osteoporosis group. In this study, 74.4% of the patients with
      femoral neck fracture also had osteoporosis and 33.3% with Colles' fracture had
      osteoporosis. Colles' fracture was related to injury force and femoral neck
      fracture was found to be closely related to osteoporosis.

PMID- 1447525
TI  - [A new intramedullary nailing system for long bone fractures--biomechanical
      evaluation and animal study of a new intramedullary nail].
AB  - Interlocking intramedullary nails have expanded their application to the fixation
      of long bones especially for unstable or comminuted fractures. However, there are
      certain drawbacks in this method: prolongation of operative time and increased
      radiation hazard to the patient as well as to the surgical staff, the latter of
      which is especially a problem in the distal interlocking under fluoroscopic
      control. In order to solve the problem a new intramedullary nail (J-type) was
      developed and tested in vitro with Hiprox femur models as well as in vivo using
      canine models. The nail made of Ti-6Al-4V alloy is composed of an inner nail and
      an outer cylinder. The proximal portion is transversely fixed with two screws,
      while the distal portion is fixed into the cancellous bone with four expandable
      blades. The strength of fixation with this nail was compared to those with four
      other commercially available interlocking nails as to bending, tortional and
      compression stiffness as well as to the durability against repeated compression.
      In the present in vitro and in vivo experiments, a newly developed intramedullary
      nail (J-type) provides evidence for satisfactory mechanical strength. The use of
      J-type nail also contributes to shorter operative time and reduction of radiation
      hazard.

PMID- 1447524
TI  - [Immunohistochemical study on the effect of high tibial osteotomy on the
      distribution pattern of neuropeptides in the synovium of the osteoarthritic
      knee].
AB  - Synovial tissue was obtained from 18 knees with medial compartmental
      osteoarthritis (OA) and from 20 knees on which a high tibial osteotomy had been
      performed. Neuropeptides were stained with a specific avidin-biotin-peroxidase
      method. Comparisons were made of the incidence of staining as well as the
      location of staining within the synovia (medial, lateral, and suprapatellar
      regions). The results showed that the synovium had an extensive neural network of
      both the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. In the medial synovium of the
      preoperative knees, the neuropeptides were found in abundance. An especially
      strong response for substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)
      was observed at the free nerve endings. However, the postoperative incidence of
      SP-positive free nerve endings was reduced to 54% of the preoperative amount and
      the inflammation subsided in the medial region. These findings suggested that
      free nerve endings containing SP might be mainly involved in the inflammation and
      pain of OA.

PMID- 1447526
TI  - [An experimental study on repair and recovery of lacerated muscles--histological
      and histochemical observations].
AB  - A histological and histochemical study of the repairing process of skeletal
      muscle after transection and immediate suture was conducted using the
      gastrocnemius muscle of hamsters. The muscles were examined from one hour to
      twelve weeks after operation and were prepared as specimens for either transverse
      or longitudinal sections. During the first two days, necrotic fibers were
      scavenged by macrophages. Early regenerating fibers appeared at the extent of
      about 1-2 mm on both sides of the cut ends by the fourth day. After one week,
      myotubes identified as type 2C were abundant. By the fourth week regenerating
      fibers had grown longitudinally and bridged the injury site between the proximal
      and distal muscle fiber segments. After six weeks, they had almost matured
      histochemically. After eight weeks, there was substantial repair of the injury
      site with scarce fibrous tissue. This study has clearly demonstrated the
      histological and histochemical findings of repairing process of the skeletal
      muscle after transection.

PMID- 1447527
TI  - Preservation of bone morphogenetic protein in heat-treated bone.
AB  - In operations of bone tumors, reimplantation of resected bone after boiling or
      autoclaving is a simple means of obtaining both tumor necrosis and skeletal
      reconstruction. However, such reimplants lose their osteogenesity. We
      investigated whether bone inductive ability could be maintained in heat-treated
      bone. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) extracted from rabbit bone after heating
      for various periods at different temperatures was implanted into the muscles of
      mice to evaluate osteogenetic activity. The maximum new bone formation was
      observed in specimens treated at 70 degrees C for 10 minutes, followed by those
      treated at 70 degrees C for 15 minutes. We then measured the temperature in the
      center of a cortical bone heated in 0.15 N NaCl solution at 50 degrees, 60
      degrees, 70 degrees, 80 degrees, and 90 degrees C. Cortical bone center
      temperature reached that of the surrounding solution within 2.5 minutes. These
      results indicated that heating at 70 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes was suitable
      for heat treated-bone to maintain bone inductive ability.

PMID- 1447528
TI  - [Neurological disorders in orthopaedic practice].

PMID- 1447529
TI  - [Treatment of injured extensor tendons in the hand].

PMID- 1447530
TI  - [Fatigue properties of restorative dental materials].

PMID- 1447531
TI  - [Evaluation of school dental health activities in Hiraizumi primary school, Iwate
      prefecture].
AB  - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the health activities in Hiraizumi
      primary school, Iwate prefecture. As a result of intensive dental health
      activities from 1978 to 1990, which consisted of tooth brushing instruction by
      class, dental education for the schoolchildren and their guardians, utilization
      of fluoride mouth rinsing (once a week), and, by following a model school of
      caries prevention designated by the Ministry of Education et al., the oral health
      status of the Hiraizumi primary schoolchildren improved significantly compared
      with those of the Ohya primary schoolchildren who followed the routine school
      dental health activities. The results of questionnaires, taken from both primary
      schoolchildren in 1986 and 1989, show that the oral health behavior of the
      Hiraizumi primary schoolchildren also improved.

PMID- 1447532
TI  - [Clinical study of maxillofacial fractures sustained during sports and games].
AB  - We performed a clinico-statistical study of the maxillofacial fracture due to
      sports during the period of 15 years between 1977 and 1991. Eighty-nine patients
      were seen with injuries resulting from 21 different sports. The incidence of the
      fracture was most common in rugby, followed by ski, baseball and soccer. Males
      were shown to be more prone to maxillofacial fracture than females (5.4:1) and
      the highest incidence of injuries involved the 20-29 age group followed by the 10
      19 age group. The major parts of the fracture were the mandible and the alveolar
      process. Conservative therapy such as maxillomandibular fixation was usually
      performed and the clinical course was good. It was suggested that the prevention
      of the sports-related fracture and the time of returning to sports after the
      fracture will require further study.

PMID- 1447533
TI  - [Studies on caries of Ishibashi rat--III. Experimental caries in Ishibashi rat].
AB  - Dental caries was experimentally induced in the Ishibashi rats (ISR) by feeding
      them with conventional diets or with caries-producing diets, and the pattern and
      severity of their induced carious lesions were compared with those of the Sprague
      Dawley rats (SD). Simultaneously, serum antibody titers against Streptococcus
      mutans and calcium and phosphorus concentration in the sera and in the femurs
      were compared between the ISR and SD. The results were as follows: 1. When judged
      by cavities, ISR showed a higher carious incidence and average number of cavities
      per one rat than the SD, whichever diet the rats were fed. 2. When judged by
      fissure caries observed on the thin sections of the teeth, both the carious
      incidence and average number of fissure lesions in the ISR were not always high
      compared with those in the SD, and there seemed to be a great variation of caries
      susceptibility in the ISR. 3. Caries in the ISR seemed to be more progressive
      than that in the SD. 4. There were no differences in the serum antibody titers
      against the S. mutans between the ISR and SD. 5. No differences in the
      concentration of calcium and phosphorus in the sera and femurs were observed
      between the ISR and SD, whichever diet they were fed.

PMID- 1447534
TI  - [Alveolar bone resorption process in molar tooth region in calcium-deficient
      rats].
AB  - The present study was carried out to investigate the alveolar bone resorption in
      the molar tooth region in the rats fed a low calcium diet. Male Wistar rats (70
      85g in body weight) were either fed a low calcium diet (0.05% Ca, 0.35% P) or a
      control diet (0.5% Ca, 0.35% P) by using a pair feeding technique. The rats were
      sacrificed at intervals of 3, 6, 9 and 20 days during the experimental period.
      Contact microradiograph of the second molar region of the mandible showed that
      the cancellus bone as well as the endosteal surface of the cortical bone were
      progressively resorbed soon after the start of low calcium feeding. At day 9, the
      amount of bone was reduced to about half of the control rats and 80% of the bone
      was diminished at day 20. In spite of the severe bone resorption, the alveolar
      bone proper that surrounds the molar sockets and a few cancellus bone were seen
      remaining and the occlusal function of the molar tooth seemed to be maintained.
      These results suggest that the alveolar bone quickly responded to the low calcium
      diet resulting in bone resorption and that the bone in the supporting tissues of
      the molar tooth seems to be not affected by the calcium deficiency.

PMID- 1447535
TI  - Anesthesia support systems.

PMID- 1447536
TI  - Real-time respiratory monitoring workstation--software and hardware engineering
      aspects.
AB  - We have applied advanced real-time techniques in software, that are intensively
      used in critical areas like space research and defence applications, to realise
      an Integrated Real-Time Respiratory Monitoring System at the Thorax
      Anesthesiology, Academic Hospital Rotterdam. The system is called the 'SERVO
      WINDOW'--a window to the servo ventilator. The heart of the system is a real-time
      kernel that uses preemptive scheduling to achieve multitasking on a IBM PC
      compatible hardware platform. To the clinician this means that he gets all
      relevant information from one source i.e. the Respiratory Workstation. The
      waveforms of the airway pressure, airway flow and the expired CO2 curve are
      displayed continuously on the screen. The Vector Loops like Pressure Volume, Flow
      Pressure and Flow Volume loops are also available in addition to the lung
      mechanics parameters like Expiratory and Inspiratory Resistances, Compliances,
      Peak Pressure, PEEP, etc. The Single Breath Diagram i.e. expired CO2
      concentration versus volume and dead space ventilation is also calculated. The
      blood gas analysis data is plotted in convenient diagrams like the O2-CO2
      diagram, Oxygen Chart, etc. The trend of all these parameters are available with
      a granularity of one minute. An industry standard laser printer is used for
      report generation to produce reports of the real-time waveforms, parameter values
      and the trends. User interface is through easy menus with the traditional
      keyboard, touchscreen including keyboard on screen for data entry and the mouse.

PMID- 1447537
TI  - AxAudit--anaesthetic audit system.
AB  - A bar code based computerised anaesthetic audit system is described. The system
      consists of a data entry and validation module resident on a remote hand-held
      computer and a central database module resident on a desktop computer, capable of
      conducting extensive searches, analysis, graphing and reporting of captured data.
      Information is entered into the computer by 'swiping' a bar code reader across
      required bar codes. Information entered is constantly validated and the computer
      ensures a minimum data set is captured for every patient. Since data is
      transferred directly into a computer at the point of clinical activity, a large
      data set can be presented to the clinician, ensuring as complete a patient record
      as possible and avoiding the problems associated with traditional form-filling
      and the subsequent transfer of information onto a computer. The hand-held
      computer has data cards which can hold information on approximately 200 patients.
      These cards can be inserted directly into a card reader attached to a desktop
      computer, thus automating the process of data transfer. The AxSys Anaesthetic
      Audit system, AxAudit, is a bar code based, computerised audit system developed
      with the aim of executing effective audit in the course of normal clinical
      activity.

PMID- 1447538
TI  - Computer assisted management of information in an intensive care unit.
AB  - In order to use the capability of computers for handling large amounts of
      information, we developed a program for the acquisition, handling, storage and
      retrieval of administrative and clinical information generated in the 20 bedded
      multidisciplinary critical care unit of a University Hospital. At an initial
      phase a personal computer (PC) was used to collect information from 4362
      patients, that included registration data, coded admission problems, techniques
      and special treatments, and final diagnosis. This information combined with free
      text provided a discharge report. Complementary programs allowed calculation and
      storage of hemodynamic and gas exchange parameters. This experience led to a
      second phase in which a computer with microprocessor Intel 80386 at 25 MHz, 8 MB
      RAM, 310 MB hard disk and a streamer for 150 MB cartridge tape back up, using
      UNIX operating system, permitted multiple users working simultaneously through 1
      central console and 7 ASCII terminals. Data input included demographic data,
      previous and admission problems in coded form, present history and physical
      examination in free text, list of present problems in coded form, comments on
      evolution, record of special techniques and treatments, laboratory data,
      treatment, final diagnosis and facility for using all the information to
      elaborate the final report. Side modules provide help for drugs dosing, protocols
      for specific conditions and clerical routines. The system is open for connection
      to other areas of the Hospital. Data from more than 2000 patients have been
      included so far.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447539
TI  - A decision table and rule based interpretation system for epileptic discharges.
AB  - The representation of the various features of waveforms and their correlations,
      in EEG recording for the diagnosis of different diseases have been carried out by
      many researchers due to the impact of knowledge based on expert systems
      development tools and techniques. The realisation of these system requires a
      specific hardware and software tool for its implementation, which may be a costly
      affair. The design and development of low cost effective system for the diagnosis
      of epileptic patients have been reported in this paper. Two different and linked
      (at certain stage) approaches (i) decision table; (ii) rule based system have
      been followed to model the reasoning processes of physician in the diagnosis. In
      the decision table the features of specific waveforms of EEG are represented in
      the tabular form. The features are obtained from a 8086 microprocessor based data
      acquisition system. The rule based system is designed with IF and THEN form of
      rules using Turbo-Prolog as programming language tool and is implemented on low
      cost PC-AT. The results obtained are at an intermediate stage of data processing
      by decision tables and at the final stage being carried out by rule based model.
      The performance of the system is evaluated by recording of EEG of some epileptic
      patients. The results obtained are comparable and to a certain extend appreciable
      in the opinion of the physician.

PMID- 1447540
TI  - A portable target controlled propofol infusion system.
AB  - A portable target controlled infusion system for propofol has been developed
      based on a Psion hand-held microcomputer and the Ohmeda 9000 syringe pump. The
      system uses a pharmacokinetic model which describes the distribution and
      elimination of propofol to achieve and maintain any selected target blood
      concentration. Target blood concentrations of 1 micrograms/ml, 3 micrograms/ml
      and 5 micrograms/ml were selected in laboratory trials and the cumulative volumes
      delivered by the Psion system each minute were compared with the theoretical
      output calculated by the pharmacokinetic model. The results obtained showed that
      the computer system delivered volumes which were always within 2% of the
      theoretical values. This system offers a convenient and simple method of
      maintaining anaesthesia using propofol.

PMID- 1447541
TI  - The influence of "preparedness" on autoshaping, schedule performance, and choice.
AB  - Two groups of experimentally naive pigeons were exposed to an autoshaping
      procedure in which the response key was mounted on the wall (the conventional
      location) or on the floor of the chamber. In two experiments, subjects readily
      responded to the wall key, but floor-key subjects required shaping. A subsequent
      experiment compared performance of wall- and floor-key groups on an ascending
      series of fixed-ratio schedule values, resistance to extinction, differential
      reinforcement of other behavior, and reversal of key assignment. Each experiment
      was followed by several sessions of fixed-ratio training; the performance of the
      wall- and floor-key groups was almost identical throughout. In the final
      experiment, a fixed-ratio requirement could be completed on either or both keys.
      Birds initially chose the key on which they had responded during the preceding
      (reversal of key assignment) experiment. However, within a few sessions both
      groups showed almost exclusive preference for the floor key. Preference for a key
      located on the floor may follow from the fact that pigeons are ground feeders and
      may thus be more "prepared" to peck the floor than to peck a wall. However,
      autoshaping, under the conditions prevailing here, occurred much more readily to
      the wall key, suggesting that pecking a vertical surface is more highly prepared.
      Difficulties in determining relative preparedness seem moot, however, given the
      lack of between-group differences in the intervening experiments. It is thus
      unlikely that schedule performances critically depend upon the specific operant
      response involved.

PMID- 1447542
TI  - Selective sensitivity of schedule-induced activity to an operant suppression
      contingency.
AB  - The sensitivity of pigeons' schedule-induced activity to operant consequences was
      studied in two experiments. During a 30-s interval between food presentations, a
      keylight stimulus brightened incrementally. Stable terminal key pecking and
      interim locomotor activity developed. An operant "setback" contingency was
      applied to activity. The contingency arranged for locomotor movements (detected
      by a nine-panel floorboard) to be followed by a resetting of the keylight
      brightness to a dimmer value and a 1-s delay of reinforcement (for individual
      responses). Experiment 1 showed that activity patterns were highly sensitive to
      their operant consequences. Accompanying key-peck rates were only transiently
      affected. In Experiment 2, the setback contingency was imposed during restricted
      portions of the trial, and differential operant control of activity was
      demonstrated. However, birds in this study produced higher rates of key pecking
      as activity rates were reduced. These results suggest that although schedule
      induced activity arises in response to the temporal arrangement of stimulus
      events, this behavior may retain considerable sensitivity to response-consequence
      relations.

PMID- 1447544
TI  - Intertrial-interval effects on sensitivity (A') and response bias (B") in a
      temporal discrimination by rats.
AB  - Killeen and Fetterman's (1988) behavioral theory of animal timing predicts that
      decreases in the rate of reinforcement should produce decreases in the
      sensitivity (A') of temporal discriminations and a decrease in miss and correct
      rejection rates (decrease in bias toward "long" responses). Eight rats were
      trained on a 10- versus 0.1-s temporal discrimination with an intertrial interval
      of 5 s and were subsequently tested on probe days on the same discrimination with
      intertrial intervals of 1, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 s. The rate of reinforcement
      declined for all animals as intertrial interval increased. Although sensitivity
      (A') decreased with increasing intertrial interval, all rats showed an increase
      in bias to make long responses.

PMID- 1447543
TI  - Choice with delayed and probabilistic reinforcers: effects of variability, time
      between trials, and conditioned reinforcers.
AB  - In a discrete-trials procedure with pigeons, a response on a green key led to a 4
      s delay (during which green houselights were lit) and then a reinforcer might or
      might not be delivered. A response on a red key led to a delay of adjustable
      duration (during which red houselights were lit) and then a certain reinforcer.
      The delay was adjusted so as to estimate an indifference point--a duration for
      which the two alternatives were equally preferred. Once the green key was chosen,
      a subject had to continue to respond on the green key until a reinforcer was
      delivered. Each response on the green key, plus the 4-s delay that followed every
      response, was called one "link" of the green-key schedule. Subjects showed much
      greater preference for the green key when the number of links before
      reinforcement was variable (averaging four) than when it was fixed (always
      exactly four). These findings are consistent with the view that probabilistic
      reinforcers are analogous to reinforcers delivered after variable delays. When
      successive links were separated by 4-s or 8-s "interlink intervals" with white
      houselights, preference for the probabilistic alternative decreased somewhat for
      2 subjects but was unaffected for the other 2 subjects. When the interlink
      intervals had the same green houselights that were present during the 4-s delays,
      preference for the green key decreased substantially for all subjects. These
      results provided mixed support for the view that preference for a probabilistic
      reinforcer is inversely related to the duration of conditioned reinforcers that
      precede the delivery of food.

PMID- 1447545
TI  - Effects of response requirement and alcohol on human aggressive responding.
AB  - Nine men participated in two experiments to determine the effects of increased
      response requirement and alcohol administration on free-operant aggressive
      responding. Two response buttons (A and B) were available. Pressing Button A was
      maintained by a fixed-ratio 100 schedule of point presentation. Subjects were
      instructed that completion of each fixed-ratio 10 on Button B resulted in the
      subtraction of a point from a fictitious second subject. Button B presses were
      defined as aggressive because they ostensibly resulted in the presentation of an
      aversive stimulus to another person. Aggressive responses were engendered by a
      random-time schedule of point loss and were maintained by initiation of intervals
      free of point loss. Instructions attributed these point losses to Button B
      presses of the fictitious other subject. In Experiment 1, increasing the ratio
      requirement on Button B decreased the number of ratios completed in 4 of 5
      subjects. In Experiment 2, the effects of placebo and three alcohol doses (0.125,
      0.25, and 0.375 g/kg) were determined when Button B presses were maintained at
      ratio values of 20, 40 and 80. Three subjects who reduced aggressive responding
      with increasing fixed-ratio values reduced aggressive responding further at
      higher alcohol doses. One subject who did not reduce aggressive responding with
      increasing fixed-ratio values increased aggressive responding at the highest
      alcohol dose. The results of this study support suggestions that alcohol alters
      aggressive behavior by reducing the control of competing contingencies.

PMID- 1447546
TI  - Spreading activation versus compound cue accounts of priming: mediated priming
      revisited.
AB  - Spreading activation theories and compound cue theories have both been proposed
      as accounts of priming phenomena. According to spreading activation theories, the
      amount of activation that spreads between a prime and a target should be a
      function of the number of mediating links between the prime and target in a
      semantic network and the strengths of those links. The amount of activation
      should determine the amount of facilitation given by a prime to a target in
      lexical decision. To predict the amount of facilitation, it is necessary to
      measure the associative links between prime and target in memory. Free
      association production probability has been the variable chosen in previous
      research for this measurement. However, in 3 experiments, the authors show
      priming effects that free-association production probabilities cannot easily
      predict. Instead, they argue that amount of priming depends on the familiarity of
      the prime and target as a compound, where the compound is formed by the
      simultaneous presence of the prime and target in short-term memory as a test
      item.

PMID- 1447547
TI  - How semantic is automatic semantic priming?
AB  - Priming for semantically related concepts was investigated using a lexical
      decision task designed to reveal automatic semantic priming. Two experiments
      provided further evidence that priming in a single presentation lexical decision
      task (McNamara & Altarriba, 1988) derives from automatic processes. Mediated
      priming, but no inhibition or backward priming was found in this type of lexical
      decision task. Experiments 3 and 4 demonstrated that automatic priming was found
      only for associated word pairs, as determined by word association norms, and not
      for word pairs that are semantically related but not associated. It is argued
      that automatic priming in the lexical decision task occurs at a lexical level not
      at a semantic level.

PMID- 1447548
TI  - Form-based priming in spoken word recognition: the roles of competition and bias.
AB  - Phonological priming of spoken words refers to improved recognition of targets
      preceded by primes that share at least one of their constituent phonemes (e.g.,
      BULL-BEER). Phonetic priming refers to reduced recognition of targets preceded by
      primes that share no phonemes with targets but are phonetically similar to
      targets (e.g., BULL-VEER). Five experiments were conducted to investigate the
      role of bias in phonological priming. Performance was compared across conditions
      of phonological and phonetic priming under a variety of procedural manipulations.
      Ss in phonological priming conditions systematically modified their responses on
      unrelated priming trials in perceptual identification, and they were slower and
      more errorful on unrelated trials in lexical decision than were Ss in phonetic
      priming conditions. Phonetic and phonological priming effects display different
      time courses and also different interactions with changes in proportion of
      related priming trials. Phonological priming involves bias; phonetic priming
      appears to reflect basic properties of activation and competition in spoken word
      recognition.

PMID- 1447549
TI  - Prelexical facilitation and lexical interference in auditory word recognition.
AB  - Phonological priming effects were examined in an auditory single-word shadowing
      task. In 6 experiments, target items were preceded by auditorily or visually
      presented, phonologically similar, word or nonword primes. Results revealed
      facilitation in response time when a target was preceded by a word or nonword
      prime having the same initial phoneme when the prime was auditorily presented but
      not when it was visually presented. Second, modality-independent interference was
      observed when the phonological overlap between the prime and target increased
      from 1 to 3 phonemes for word primes but not for nonword primes. Taken together,
      these studies suggest that phonological information facilitates word recognition
      as a result of excitation at a prelexical level and increases response time as a
      result of competition at a lexical level. These processes are best characterized
      by connectionist models of word recognition.

PMID- 1447550
TI  - Direct comparison of two implicit memory tests: word fragment and word stem
      completion.
AB  - In 3 experiments, the implicit memory tests of word fragment and word stem
      completion showed comparable effects over several variables: Study of words
      produced more priming than did study of pictures, no levels-of-processing effect
      occurred for words, more priming was obtained from pictures when Ss imaged the
      pictures' names than when they rated them for pleasantness, and forgetting rates
      were generally similar for the tests. A different pattern of results for the
      first 3 variables occurred under explicit test conditions with the same word
      fragments or word stems as cues. We conclude that the 2 implicit tests are
      measuring a similar form of perceptual memory. Furthermore, we argue that both
      tests are truly implicit because they meet Schacter, Bowers, & Booker's (1989)
      retrieval intentionality criterion: Levels of processing of words have a powerful
      effect on explicit versions of the tests but no effect on implicit versions.

PMID- 1447551
TI  - Memory with and without awareness: performance and electrophysiological evidence
      of savings.
AB  - Event-related potentials (ERPs) recorded on the scalp were shown to be sensitive
      indicators of the strength of a memory trace on both implicit and explicit tests
      of memory. In explicit recognition tests, the amplitude of a positive potential
      identified as P300 was larger for "old" than for "new" words regardless of
      whether the subject categorized the items correctly. This effect, however, was
      statistically reliable only when the recognition memory (d') was relatively high.
      In contrast to ERPs, the reaction times in explicit recognition were sensitive to
      accuracy but not to repetition. In implicit tests, lexical decisions to repeated
      words were faster than to newly presented words. The magnitude of the repetition
      effect varied neither with elapsed time since the last repetition nor with the
      number of previous repetitions. In contrast, the P300 elicited by the same words
      were sensitive to both lag and recency of repetition, suggesting that they were
      influenced by the episodic memory strength of the items.

PMID- 1447552
TI  - Direct and indirect measures of memory for modality in young and older adults.
AB  - In 2 experiments, young and older adults demonstrated modality effects of similar
      magnitude in perceptual identification tasks. That is, both young and older
      adults demonstrated more repetition priming when study and test modalities
      matched than when they were different, suggesting that contextual information was
      equally available across age. However, when asked explicitly to retrieve modality
      information, older adults were less accurate than young adults. These results
      constitute evidence for a dissociation between direct and indirect measures of
      memory for modality information. They call into question hypotheses that memory
      impairment in old age is due to deficient encoding of contextual information and
      challenge current accounts of modality effects in repetition priming.

PMID- 1447553
TI  - Aging and memory for expected and unexpected objects in real-world settings.
AB  - Adult age differences in the consistency effect were examined in 3 experiments.
      The consistency effect refers to items inconsistent with expectations being
      better remembered than items consistent with expectations. Younger and older
      adults walked into an office room and viewed objects that varied in their
      consistency with expectation. Immediate and delayed recognition tests on item
      information (i.e., distractors were defined by their semantic identity) revealed
      that both age groups recognized unexpected items better than expected items.
      However, when recognition of token information was requested (i.e., distractors
      were defined by their physical appearance), younger adults, in contrast to older
      adults, exhibited consistency effects. Also, under divided attention, young
      adults revealed the same pattern of data as did elderly adults under full
      attention. The results are discussed in terms of capacity-related differences in
      distinctive encoding.

PMID- 1447554
TI  - Improving recall by recoding interfering material at the time of retrieval.
AB  - Our experiments demonstrate that interference of an interpolated list of items
      with recall of an original list can be substantially reduced by forming Ss just
      before testing how to reorganize and simplify the interpolated material. In
      Experiments 1 and 2, Ss better recalled an initial serial list of letters when
      informed at testing that an interpolated list spelled a certain phrase backward.
      Similarly, in Experiments 3 and 4, Ss better recalled an initial list of cities
      when told that the interpolated cities were also names of former U.S. presidents.
      Control experiments rule out several simple explanations. In contrast to an
      editing hypothesis, the postorganizing clue helped recall even when problems of
      list differentiation were minimized. Current memory models appear unable to
      explain this benefit of a postlearning clue that enables Ss to segregate the
      interpolated material from the to-be-remembered material.

PMID- 1447555
TI  - Intratesticular control of spermatogenesis in the frog, Rana esculenta.
AB  - Adult intact and hypophysectomized (PDX) frogs, Rana esculenta, were treated with
      a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHA, HOE 766) and/or cyproterone
      acetate (CPA), the antiandrogen, in order to investigate the regulation of
      primary spermatogonial (I SPG) multiplication in vertebrates. Treatment with
      GnRHA (injections containing 900 ng administered for 12 days on alternate days)
      caused a significant increase of the mitotic index (MI) of I SPG in PDX animals
      and a further MI increase of SPG was observed when 0.66 mg CPA was given
      concomitantly with GnRHA. The treatment with 0.66 mg CPA in combination with
      GnRHA also increased secondary spermatocyte (II SPC) appearance. Moreover, number
      of nests containing spermatids (SPT) decreased as CPA, in combination with GnRHA,
      was administered in increasing doses (0.33 and 0.66 mg/injection). Intact animals
      treated with CPA (0.66 mg/injection) showed a time-dependent I SPG multiplication
      increase which reached highest values after 28 days. Secondary SPC also
      proliferated until day 28; meanwhile the number of nests containing SPT
      decreased. Neither testosterone nor R5020 (a progestin which is not converted to
      androgens) modified the basal and GnRHA-induced spermatogonial proliferation.
      These results confirm that in the frog, Rana esculenta, spermatid formation is
      impaired by CPA treatment and that I SPG multiplication is enhanced by a direct
      effect of GnRHA; moreover, we suggest that the absence of spermatids constitutes
      a signal promoting spermatogonial proliferation.

PMID- 1447556
TI  - Analysis of puberty-accelerating pheromones.
AB  - Two experiments were performed to test putative puberty-accelerating pheromones.
      In the first experiment, 37 weanling female house mice of the ICR strain were
      exposed to 1 of the following 3 treatments: an airborne mixture of 0.05 M
      isoamylamine and 0.05 M isobutylamine, fresh male mouse urine, or distilled
      water, as the control. Neither the amine mixture nor the male urine accelerated
      first estrus in the mice following airborne exposure to these compounds. In the
      second experiment, 37 weanling female mice of the same strain were exposed to the
      same chemicals as in the first experiment by direct contact to the oro-nasal
      groove. The mixture of isoamylamine and isobutylamine did not accelerate puberty,
      but direct contact with the male urine accelerated puberty as evidenced by
      uterine weights.

PMID- 1447557
TI  - Changes in brain gonadotropin-releasing hormone, plasma estradiol 17-beta, and
      progesterone during the final reproductive cycle of the female sea lamprey,
      Petromyzon marinus.
AB  - Changes in ovarian morphology, brain gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH),
      plasma estradiol, and progesterone were examined during the 1988 and 1989
      spawning migrations of the adult female sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus. There
      were significant increases through time in brain GnRH (1989) and plasma estradiol
      (1988 and 1989), with progesterone levels fluctuating (1988 and 1989) during the
      freshwater phase of the spawning migrations. In 1989, brain GnRH and plasma
      estradiol levels gradually increased through time until just prior to spawning
      when levels decreased. During 1988, there were no significant changes in GnRH,
      which may reflect lower temperatures in that year. These data provide new
      information on brain GnRH during the final maturational processes in the female
      sea lamprey.

PMID- 1447558
TI  - Effects of an augmented nerve supply on forelimb regeneration in the adult mud
      frog, Rana rugosa.
AB  - Forelimbs of the adult mud frog Rana rugosa, when amputated midway through the
      zeugopodium, regenerate heteromorphically. The resulting regenerative outgrowths
      were mostly rod shaped and consisted of a cartilaginous core, in which the base
      was ossified, and muscle elongated distally along the cartilage, the whole being
      covered by connective tissue and skin. The tip of the regenerating muscle reached
      a point distally about one third of the length of the regenerative outgrowths.
      When the innervation of forelimb stumps was augmented by surgical diversion of
      the ipsilateral sciatic nerve, the amputated limbs regenerated mostly as spatula
      shaped outgrowths, which were longer than those of normally innervated forelimbs.
      Such hyperinnervated regenerates exhibited less ossification of cartilage, or
      sometimes none at all. However, the regeneration of muscle was more extensive.
      That is, it reached more than half way along the regenerative outgrowth.
      Furthermore, denervation resulted in the absence of regeneration in all cases
      examined. These results clearly indicate that limb regeneration in Rana rugosa is
      dependent upon the degree of innervation, not only for the early stages of
      regeneration, but also for the growth and differentiation of the regenerative
      outgrowth.

PMID- 1447559
TI  - Sustained attention and the Type A behavior pattern: the effect of daydreaming on
      performance.
AB  - The present study examined the ability of Type A and Type B subjects to sustain
      attention during a 40-min visual vigilance task. It was predicted that Type A
      subjects would perform better than Type B subjects and that the performance of
      both groups would be related to the frequency of daydreams during the vigil. Type
      A subjects outperformed Type B subjects with regard to perceptual sensitivity
      (A') and number of signal detections. Although both groups reported an increase
      in the number of their daydreams as the vigil progressed, Type A subjects
      reported fewer daydreams during each period of watch than did Type B subjects. In
      addition, an inverse relationship was found between the number of signal
      detections and the frequency of daydreams.

PMID- 1447560
TI  - Effects of spatial disruptions on reading speed for fast and slow readers.
AB  - Forty-five subjects read three paragraphs at their normal reading speed and were
      timed. The first paragraph was presented normally, and the others were shown
      either with spaces that had been filled in or with spaces that were randomized in
      size. The subjects' initial reading speed declined with both alterations, but to
      a greater extent with the filled text. Moreover, the reduction in reading speed
      was greater for the 10 fastest readers than for the 10 slowest readers. This
      pattern of performance may reflect a floor effect with slower readers in the
      filled condition, but the authors interpreted the results as providing further
      support for Hochberg's peripheral search guidance (PSG; 1970) stage of reading.

PMID- 1447561
TI  - Effects of same-modality interference on immediate serial recall of auditory and
      visual information.
AB  - Two studies investigated the effects of same-modality interference on the
      immediate serial recall of auditorily and visually presented stimuli. Typically,
      research in which this task is used has been conducted in quiet rooms, excluding
      auditory information that is extraneous to the auditorily presented stimuli.
      However, visual information such as background items clearly within the subject's
      view have not been excluded during visual presentation. Therefore, in both the
      present studies, the authors used procedures that eliminated extra-list visual
      interference and introduced extra-list auditory interference. When same-modality
      interference was eliminated, weak visual recency effects were found, but they
      were smaller than those that were generated by auditorily presented items.
      Further, mid-list and end-of-list recall of visually presented stimuli was
      unaffected by the amount of interfering visual information. On the other hand,
      the introduction of auditory interference increased mid-list recall of auditory
      stimuli. The results of Experiment 2 showed that the mid-list effect occurred
      with a moderate, but not with a minimal or maximal, level of auditory
      interference, indicating that moderate amounts of auditory interference had an
      alerting effect that is not present in typical visual interference.

PMID- 1447562
TI  - Induced arousal and orienting tasks as determinants of intentional recall.
AB  - In this study, the author examined the effects of intention to learn, noise, and
      different types of orienting tasks on short-term and long-term recall for 15
      Hindi paired-associates. Intention to learn improved recall, as did encoding of
      semantic features, and noise impaired both short-term and long-term recall. The
      analysis of short-term recall scores indicated that there were no significant
      interactions between these factors, but the analysis of long-term recall scores
      indicated that there were significant interactions between noise and orienting
      tasks and between intentionality and orienting tasks.

PMID- 1447563
TI  - Pictures as a means of conveying information.
AB  - These two experiments, which were conducted at a large midwestern American
      university, demonstrated that naive art observers can recognize tangible objects
      that are represented realistically in a picture. However, naive art observers
      cannot perceive the abstract themes that are portrayed in a picture unless they
      are informed about the relationships between the pictorial symbols and the
      concepts they represent.

PMID- 1447564
TI  - Hypermnesia using auditory input.
AB  - The author investigated whether hypermnesia would occur with auditory input. In
      addition, the author examined the effects of subjects' knowledge that they would
      later be asked to recall the stimuli. Two groups of 26 subjects each were given
      three successive recall trials after they listened to an audiotape of 59 high
      imagery nouns. The subjects in the uninformed group were not told that they would
      later be asked to remember the words; those in the informed group were.
      Hypermnesia was evident, but only in the uninformed group.

PMID- 1447565
TI  - Null effect of mood as a semantic prime.
AB  - Semantic tasks, such as lexical decision making and word recognition, have not
      produced a mood priming effect. Earlier studies have been criticized because they
      included (a) mood induction techniques that required instruction to feel the
      mood, and (b) the use of overlearned tasks that did not require controlled
      processing. In this pair of experiments, the authors attempted to address these
      criticisms. However, the results of this study did not demonstrate a mood priming
      effect for happy and sad subjects who appraised sentence content as being happy
      or sad. The results of this study supported the dissociation of semantic and
      episodic memory.

PMID- 1447566
TI  - NMR investigations of Mn(II)-leucine-enkephalin complexes in [2H6]-DMSO solution.
AB  - Structural and kinetic features of the Mn(II)-Leu-enkephalin binding equilibria
      were delineated by measuring 13C and 1H NMR spin-lattice relaxation rates. The
      temperature dependence of such rates showed that some carbons were experiencing
      slow exchange regimes such that kinetic parameters at room temperature could be
      calculated (k(off) = 1400 sec-1, delta H* = 12.0 kcal/mol, delta S* = -9.9 e.u.).
      The paramagnetic rates of fast exchanging carbons were interpreted by the Solomon
      Bloembergen-Morgan theory to provide structural parameters. The terminal carboxyl
      and amino groups were shown to be the binding sites. The motional correlation
      time (tau c = 0.6 nsec at 298 K) was calculated by measuring selective and double
      selective 1H spin-lattice relaxation rates for the free peptide. The number of
      coordinated ligands was evaluated by considering the distance of the Leu CO in
      the complex at 2.54 A, as shown by molecular models. Finally, carbon-Mn(II)
      distances were calculated and the molecular model of the 1:1 complex was built.

PMID- 1447567
TI  - Siderophore-mediated iron (III) transport in the mycelia of the cultivated
      fungus, Agaricus bisporus.
AB  - Three structurally diverse iron (III) sequestering compounds (siderophores) were
      isolated from the supernatants of early stationary phase iron-deficient cultures
      of vegetative mycelia of the cultivated mushroom, Agaricus bisporus (ATCC 36416).
      The compounds were purified as their ferric chelates to homogeneity by gel
      permeation, cation exchange, and low-pressure reversed phase C18
      chromatographies, and characterized as trihydroxamic acids. The chelates were
      identified as ferrichrome, ferric fusarinine C, and an unusual compound, des
      (diserylglycyl) ferrirhodin (DDF) by HPTLC cochromatography and electrophoresis
      against authentic samples, hydrolysis and amino acid analysis, and FAB-MS and 1H
      NMR spectroscopy. The iron transport activities of the three compounds (and of
      some structurally similar exogenous compounds) in young mycelial cells were
      determined by time- and concentration-dependent kinetic assays and inhibition
      experiments (CN-, N3-) using 55Fe(3+)-labeled chelates. 55Iron (III) uptake
      mediated by all three compounds was found to be via high affinity, energy
      dependent processes; transport effectiveness was in the order: ferrichrome > DDF
      >> ferric fusarinine C. The relative uptake of iron by lambda-cis ferrichromes
      was: ferrichrome > ferrirhodin >> ferrichrome A; transport activity by the delta
      cis fusarinines was: ferric fusarinine C > tris cis-(and trans-) fusarinine iron
      (III) >> ferric N1-triacetylfusarinine C.

PMID- 1447568
TI  - Inactivation of yeast phosphoglycerate kinase by Cr-ATP complexes and its
      implications on the conformation of the enzyme active site.
AB  - Exchange-inert beta, gamma-bidentate Cr(H2O)x(NH3)y ATP complexes inactivate
      yeast phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) by forming a coordination complex at the
      enzyme active site. The observed inactivation rates ranged from 0.019 min-1 to
      0.118 min-1 for Cr(NH3)4ATP and Cr(H2O)4ATP, respectively. Incorporation of one
      mol of Cr-ATP to the enzyme was sufficient for complete inactivation of the
      enzyme. The presence of Mg-ATP protected the enzyme against inactivation by Cr
      ATP. The other substrate 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA), when present, reduced the
      observed inactivation rates. The reduction of the k(obs) by 3-PGA was
      proportional to the number of NH3 ligands present in the coordination sphere of
      Cr3+ in the Cr-ATP complex, suggesting that in the ternary enzyme-Cr-ATP-3-PGA
      complex 3-PGA may be coordinated to the metal ion. When the effector sulfate ion
      was present, the presence of 3-PGA did not cause any further effects on the
      observed inactivation rates. This suggests that bound substrates are in a
      different arrangement at the active site when sulfate is present and therefore 3
      PGA may not need to displace a ligand from Cr3+. Additionally, PGK exhibited a
      stereoselectivity for the binding of Cr(H2O)4ATP. delta diastereomer of
      Cr(H2O)4ATP yielded an order of magnitude smaller Ki value compared to the value
      observed with the lambda isomer. The recovery of enzyme activity was observed
      over a period of a few hours upon removal of excess Cr-ATP. The presence of
      substrates and/or effector ion sulfate did not alter the observed reactivation
      rate. There was no difference in the reactivation rates of the enzyme which was
      inactivated with Cr(H2O)4ATP or Cr(NH3)4ATP with and without 3-PGA. Increasing
      the ligand exchange rates of Cr3+ of Cr-ATP by increasing the pH value of the
      recovery medium from 5.9 to 6.8 increased the rate of recovery by a factor of 8.
      The pH dependence of the reactivation indicated that one hydroxyl group is
      involved in the recovery of the enzyme activity in enzyme CrATP and
      enzyme.CrATP.3-PGA complexes.

PMID- 1447569
TI  - Synthesis and characterization of N-methyliminodiacetato trans-R,R-, trans-S,S-,
      and cis-1,2-diaminocyclohexane platinum (IV) complexes: crystal structure of
      chloro(trans-R,R-1,2-diaminocyclohexane) (N-methyliminodiacetato) platinum(IV)
      chloride.
AB  - The compounds, chloro(trans-R,R-1,2-diaminocyclohexane) (N
      methyliminodiacetato)platinum(IV) chloride, chloro(trans-S,S-1,2
      diaminocyclohexane)(N-methyliminodiacetato) platinum(IV) chloride, and chloro(cis
      1,2-diaminocyclohexane)(N-methyliminodiacetato)platinum (IV) chloride, were
      prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and 195Pt NMR. The crystal
      structure of one of these three compounds, chloro(trans-R,R-1,2
      diaminocyclohexane) (N-methyliminodiacetato) platinum(IV) chloride, was
      determined by x-ray single crystal diffraction. This compound is particularly
      interesting because the 1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH) ring is in a twist-boat
      configuration rather than the chair configuration previously reported for other
      DACH platinum compounds. The crystal structure consists of two independent
      cations and anions, with all atoms between these two independent molecules
      (except those in the chiral DACH) related by a pseudo-inversion center. Both
      platinum atoms have slightly distorted octahedral coordination, with angles
      ranging from 81.8 to 100.8 degrees. Crystallographic details: space group P2(1)
      (monoclinic); a = 19.864(5) A, b = 7.026(2) A, c = 12.446(3) A, beta = 106.64(2)
      degrees; Z = 4; R = 0.036 for 2333 reflections.

PMID- 1447570
TI  - Hallervorden-Spatz disease: clinical and MRI study of 11 cases diagnosed in life.
AB  - The diagnosis of Hallervorden-Spatz disease (HSD) has usually been made post
      mortem, although the recent description of characteristic abnormalities in the
      globus pallidus has suggested the possibility of an in vivo diagnosis. We present
      the clinical histories, neurological features and MRI findings of 11 patients,
      diagnosed as having HSD. Generalized dystonia with predominance of oromandibular
      involvement, behavioural changes followed by dementia and retinal degeneration
      were present in all the patients. MRI pallidal abnormalities consisted of
      decreased signal intensity in T2-weighted images, compatible with iron deposits,
      and of a small area of hyperintensity in its internal segment ("eye of the tiger"
      sign). We propose that the combination of these neurological signs with these MRI
      findings could be considered as highly suggestive of a diagnosis of HSD in living
      patients.

PMID- 1447571
TI  - Abnormalities of cerebral blood flow in the acute phase of bacterial meningitis
      in adults.
AB  - The frequency, course and clinical significance of changes in regional cerebral
      blood flow (rCBF) during bacterial meningitis were investigated in 14 adult
      patients. The results of 99mTc-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO) single
      photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were compared with the clinical signs
      and findings using cerebral angiography and conventional CT. HMPAO SPECT was
      performed 2-15 days (median 4.5 days) after the onset of neurological disease.
      Decreased HMPAO accumulation was detected in 13 patients. SPECT studies revealed
      focal hypoperfusion corresponding to the clinical symptoms in 6 patients
      suffering from hemiparesis or hemiataxia. Conventional cranial CT disclosed brain
      infarction in only 1 patient. Focal hypoperfusion was also found in 7 of 8
      patients without clinical evidence of focal neurological deficits. In 6 patients,
      HMPAO SPECT findings were abnormal although cerebral angiography was normal. At
      follow-up examinations 3-45 weeks after the acute disease, abnormalities revealed
      by HMPAO SPECT had improved or had even disappeared in all patients studied. Our
      results indicate that reduced rCBF is a frequent finding in bacterial meningitis
      in the adult. In most patients it probably represents a functional and reversible
      disorder without structural lesion detectable on CT.

PMID- 1447573
TI  - A new way to use the Ishihara test.
AB  - The Ishihara plates are widely used as a test for colour vision. Originally
      designed for the purpose of detecting congenital red-green colour blindness, the
      test also has some value in demonstrating acquired colour vision defects. There
      are, however, several disadvantages in the present arrangement of the plates. A
      modification of the test, involving the rearrangement of the order of the plates,
      is presented which, together with a new recording chart, simplifies both the
      administration and the interpretation of the test.

PMID- 1447572
TI  - Dementia in cerebral amyloid angiopathy: a clinicopathological study.
AB  - Dementia is in addition to cerebral haemorrhage major symptom of cerebral amyloid
      angiopathy (CAa). In order to explore the pathological basis for dementia in CAa
      related conditions, we made a clinicopathological analysis of CAa, with special
      attention to dementia. Among 150 patients (mean age 78.6 years) with autopsy
      proven intracranial haemorrhage in Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Medical Center,
      CAa with cerebral haemorrhage accounted for 8.0% (12 cases), associated with
      hypertension and metastatic brain tumour. Among 38 patients with lobar
      haemorrhage, CAa represented the second most common cause (21.1%) of intracranial
      haemorrhage after hypertension. A total of 20 patients with CAa (mean age 82.5
      years) were studies clinically and pathologically. Hypertension was present in
      50%. Thirteen had a history of stroke and others had either ill-defined or no
      strokes. The average number of strokes 2.9. Fifteen patients (75%) had dementia.
      Based on the clinicopathological grounds for dementia, CAa-related conditions
      could be divided into three subtypes: "haemorrhagic", "dementia-haemorrhagic" and
      "dementia" type. Haemorrhagic type (30%, 6 cases) showed multiple recurrent lobar
      haemorrhages caused by CAa. Hypertension was present in only 1 patient. The
      incidence of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles was generally correlated
      with age. Only 1 patient had dementia. The dementia-haemorrhagic type (40%, 8
      patients) had recurrent strokes with cerebral haemorrhage after preceding
      dementia. There were two different neuropathological subsets: CAa with atypical
      senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT) and CAa with diffuse
      leucoencephalopathy. Patients with CAa with atypical SDAT had multiple cerebral
      haemorrhages caused by CAa combined with atypical Alzheimer-type pathology.
      Patients with CAa with diffuse leucoencephalopathy had cerebral haemorrhages in
      combination with diffuse white matter damage like Binswanger's subcortical
      vascular encephalopathy (BSVE). The incidence of senile changes correlated with
      age. Patients with the dementia type (30%, 6 patients) showed progressive
      dementia with or without haemorrhage. All had hypertension. They had a combined
      condition of Alzheimer-type pathology with conspicuous CAa with BSVE. Dementia in
      CAa-related conditions may be responsible for multiple factors including not
      Alzheimer-type degeneration, but also diffuse leucoencephalopathy like
      Binswanger's disease. We also found an asymptomatic type, an ischaemic type, a
      vasculitis type and an hereditary type in this condition.

PMID- 1447574
TI  - Ganglioside antibodies: a lack of diagnostic specificity and clinical utility?
AB  - Serum IgG and IgM antibodies to gangliosides GM1, GM2, GM3, AGM1, GD1a, GD1b and
      GT1b were determined in 210 patients with different degenerative and inflammatory
      disorders including motor neuron diseases, peripheral radiculopathies and
      neuropathies, multiple sclerosis and neuroborreliosis. No single disorder was
      associated specifically with ganglioside antibodies. No characteristic patterns
      of ganglioside antibodies were observed in any disease category. However, 32% of
      all patients had pathological antibody titres to at least one ganglioside. Four
      patients had pathological IgG and IgM titres for all gangliosides evaluated. They
      suffered from systemic lupus erythematosus [2], neuroborreliosis and
      schizophrenia, respectively. The results of this study indicate that the
      introduction of ganglioside antibody determination as a differential diagnostic
      test in clinical neurology is only helpful in a few patients with typical lower
      motor neuron syndromes.

PMID- 1447575
TI  - Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the central nervous system in
      systemic lupus erythematosus.
AB  - Gadolinium (Gd)-DTPA enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in
      15 systemic lupus erythematosus patients with past (12) or present (3) features
      suggesting central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Symptomatic Gd-DTPA
      enhancing lesions were seen in 2 patients, and immunosuppressive treatment was
      associated with a rapid reversal of enhancement. The pattern of enhancement was
      different from that usually seen in multiple sclerosis. Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI may
      sometimes be useful in demonstrating the activity of CNS lupus.

PMID- 1447576
TI  - Amplification and expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene during
      the progression of neuroepithelial tumours in vivo.
AB  - The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene is homologous to the oncogene c
      erbB. The occurrence of amplification and rearrangements at the EGFR gene locus
      is associated with malignancy in neuroepithelial tumours. Sixteen neuroepithelial
      tumours from eight patients with recurrence of their neoplasms were analysed for
      changes at the EGFR gene locus and for expression of EGFR. Ten tumours from five
      patients lacked changes at the EGFR gene locus. Three of eight individuals showed
      EGFR gene amplifications in both tumours with a higher grade of amplification in
      the second tumour. In addition to amplification, a rearrangement was found in
      both tumours of the first patient. In the second case an amplification of
      chromosome-7-specific c-met sequences was found in the regrown tumour, suggesting
      that a polysomy 7 was at least partly responsible for the higher copy number of
      the EGFR sequences. In both tumours of the third patient with EGFR gene
      amplification different alleles were amplified. In contrast to the findings at
      the DNA level the EGFR expression, analysed by immunohistochemical techniques,
      showed a more heterogeneous pattern after tumour progression.

PMID- 1447577
TI  - PCR detection of HIV proviral DNA in the brain of an asymptomatic HIV-positive
      patient.

PMID- 1447578
TI  - Suppression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by a new specific
      leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitor.

PMID- 1447579
TI  - "Cardiovascular effects of cocaine".

PMID- 1447580
TI  - Changing interpretations of angina pectoris associated with transient myocardial
      ischemia.
AB  - Silent ischemia associated with transient myocardial ischemia is currently
      recognized in the medical literature as a critical physiologic event that may
      occur in the absence of angina pectoris. A changing view of the clinical
      significance of angina pectoris as a reliable marker of myocardial ischemia is
      presented as a phenomenon of concern to nursing that carries implications for
      patient assessment, nursing interventions, and effectiveness of the nursing care.

PMID- 1447581
TI  - Chronic arterial occlusive disease.
AB  - Cardiovascular disease continues to be a major cause of death in the United
      States. Although the number of deaths has decreased in the past several years,
      disability from the disease remains significant because of its systemic nature.
      As the population continues to age, peripheral vascular disease (PVD) will become
      increasingly prevalent in society as a result of the process of atherosclerosis.
      This article focuses on the care of patients with PVD. Risk factors, presenting
      signs and symptoms, and diagnostic and therapeutic modalities associated with
      chronic arterial occlusive disease, as well as nursing responsibilities and
      interventions, are discussed.

PMID- 1447582
TI  - Coronary atherectomy: overview and implications for nursing.
AB  - Coronary atherectomy, a new invasive procedure for the treatment of
      atherosclerotic heart disease, consists of the excision and removal of
      atherosclerotic tissue from coronary artery walls. This article provides current
      information on atherectomy, including its potential advantages over percutaneous
      transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Indications, limitations, medical
      research, and implications for nursing research are described. A case study is
      presented.

PMID- 1447583
TI  - Intracoronary stents: a new approach to coronary artery dilatation.
AB  - Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is a low-risk treatment for
      proximal and localized coronary artery disease. Two major complications
      associated with angioplasty are abrupt closure and restenosis of the treated
      vessel. Abrupt closure requiring intervention occurs in approximately 3.6% of
      patients; the average restenosis rate reported in the literature is 30%. These
      difficulties can produce profound hemodynamic compromise requiring additional
      intervention. PTCA research focuses on methods to treat or prevent abrupt closure
      and restenosis of the stenotic segment. One new approach to this goal is the use
      of intracoronary stents after balloon angioplasty to maintain the luminal
      diameter of the coronary artery. The effectiveness of intracoronary stents is
      currently being evaluated. This article describes the purpose and design of
      intracoronary stents and reviews clinical trial results and nursing management of
      patients with such stents.

PMID- 1447584
TI  - A comparison of two techniques of care for indwelling arterial introducers after
      coronary angioplasty.
AB  - To determine whether indwelling arterial introducers can be maintained for 24
      hours without risk of infection and/or hemorrhage in the post-coronary
      angioplasty patient, 96 patients were assigned to one of two groups. Introducers
      of the subjects in group I were flushed with 500 U of heparin, capped, and
      covered with a sterile occlusive dressing. Introducers of subjects in group II
      were connected to a heparinized (500 U in 500 mL normal saline) and pressurized
      (200 to 300 mm Hg) flush device. All introducers were removed 24 hours after
      coronary angioplasty. Results of t tests showed no significant difference between
      the two groups in incidence of infection or hemorrhage when hemoglobin,
      hematocrit, partial thromboplastin time, and white blood cell count were
      compared. Signs of inflammation at the introducer site (redness and swelling) and
      temperature elevation > or = 37.8 degrees C were not significantly different
      between the two groups. The incidence of hematoma formation at the introducer
      site was 40% in both groups. The two methods were found to be equally effective
      in maintaining a patent arterial introducer without risking infection and/or
      hemorrhage in the post-coronary angioplasty patient whose introducer remains
      indwelling for 24 hours.

PMID- 1447585
TI  - Effect of concurrent chest pain assessment on retrospective reports by cardiac
      patients.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a concurrent record of
      chest pain episodes on later completeness and accuracy of verbal recall. Patients
      included 23 men and eight women, ages 43 to 76 years from a private cardiology
      practice who were randomized into experimental (n = 16) and control (n = 15)
      groups. Following an initial interview, experimental patients were instructed in
      using a Chest Discomfort Diary in the home setting to record eight categories of
      information about each episode of chest pain experienced during the next 7 to 10
      days. At the end of that time, both groups were interviewed about a specific
      typical episode of chest pain that had occurred; patients who did not have chest
      pain during the study period described an episode experienced prior to the
      initial interview. Experimental patients recalled their chest pain more
      completely than controls (P = 0.007), whether it had occurred during or prior to
      the study period. Experimental patients who had pain (n = 11), and thus actually
      used the diary, accurately recalled the duration, intensity, description, and
      treatment of the typical episode but were often inaccurate regarding their mood
      and the total number of episodes they had experienced. The findings suggest that
      a concurrent diary offers one method of teaching patients how to report their
      chest pain symptoms and may improve the completeness and accuracy of those
      reports.

PMID- 1447586
TI  - Coronary artery fistulas: a review and case study.
AB  - Coronary artery fistula is a congenital abnormality that can present with a
      variety of cardiovascular complications. This article presents a patient with a
      coronary artery fistula outlining the pathophysiology and course of
      hospitalization, with particular emphasis on nursing management of a patient with
      coronary artery fistula.

PMID- 1447587
TI  - Preparation for cardiac catheterization.
AB  - Cardiac catheterization is an invasive procedure often included in the medical
      evaluation of patients with ischemic heart disease. This article reviews one well
      designed study that examines various approaches for preparing adults for a
      cardiac catheterization.

PMID- 1447588
TI  - Warehouse workers' headache.

PMID- 1447589
TI  - Warehouse workers' headache.

PMID- 1447590
TI  - Occupational dermal myiasis.

PMID- 1447591
TI  - A report on a workshop on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
      Health B reader certification program.
AB  - In September 1990, a 2-day workshop was held in Chicago to discuss the current
      status of the NIOSH B reader certification program and to suggest modifications
      and improvements. This is a summary report of the proceedings of that conference.

PMID- 1447592
TI  - The NIOSH B reader certification program. An update report.
AB  - Physicians trained in the use of the International Labour Office system for
      classification of radiographs of pneumoconioses who pass a competence test
      administered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health are
      designated as B readers. The current certification and recertification
      examinations for qualification under the NIOSH B reader program are described.
      Details of the rationale and format of each examination are given, and
      information on candidates' scores provided for the years 1987-1990.

PMID- 1447593
TI  - To B-read or not to B-read.

PMID- 1447594
TI  - Work-related electrocutions involving portable power tools and appliances.
AB  - Portable power tools and appliances can be identified as the source of injury in
      approximately 9% of occupational electrocutions. A search of fatality records for
      1984 through 1986 in National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
      (NIOSH) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) data bases
      identified 102 electrocutions involving portable appliances and tools that used
      110-volt AC and 33 deaths involving welding equipment, which usually operates on
      220-volt AC or higher. Of these 102 deaths, 51 occurred in the construction
      industry, 13 in services, 13 in manufacturing, and 25 in other industries.
      Plumbing contractors (Standard Industrial Classification [SIC] 1711) had the
      largest number of deaths (15) in construction. Powered hand-tools were involved
      in 58 deaths, with electric drills (23) and saws (13) the two largest classes.
      Proper provision of ground-fault circuit interrupter protection, particularly at
      temporary work sites, could have prevented most of the deaths from 110-volt AC.
      Engineering controls for preventing electrocution from portable arc-welding
      equipment should be evaluated.

PMID- 1447595
TI  - Workers' attitude toward the occupational physician.
AB  - This article presents research findings concerning workers' perception and
      opinion of the occupational health service (OHS) in three different Dutch
      companies. Beside comparing the effect of company characteristics, we were able
      to relate a worker's evaluation of the OHS to employee variables such as health
      status. We conclude that workers see clear differences in the tasks and functions
      of the occupational physician compared with those of the curative physician.
      Relations with and dependence on management is considered to be self-evident. A
      negative evaluation of the OHS is mainly because of unclarity and uncertainty as
      to how the occupational physician combines his/her responsibility toward
      individual workers with his/her responsibility toward the company. Suggestions
      are made for improvement of the reputation and credibility of the OHS.

PMID- 1447596
TI  - Hydrofluoric acid dermal burns. An assessment of treatment efficacy using an
      experimental pig model.
AB  - There currently exist various opinions concerning the best therapy for managing
      hydrogen fluoride (HF) dermal burns. Previously reported animal studies designed
      to evaluate the efficacy of certain therapies are not completely convincing.
      Studies initially were conducted to develop a reliable animal model for assessing
      efficacy of treatment. Evaluation of several animal species, dosing regimens (HF
      concentrations, exposure periods), and application techniques showed that the
      most consistent and reproducible dermal lesions were produced with 38% HF applied
      to the skin of anesthetized pigs for exposures of 9, 12, or 15 minutes using Hill
      Top Chamber patches. Using this model, the efficacy of six clinically applicable
      treatments was assessed by subjectively scoring and statistically analyzing
      photographic and histopathological data obtained from treated and untreated
      control lesions. Photographic data analysis ranked treatments with respect to
      effectiveness as follows: iced Zephiran and 10% calcium acetate soaks--highly
      effective; 2.5% calcium gluconate gel, 5.0% calcium gluconate injection and iced
      Hyamine soaks--effective; 10% calcium gluconate injection--ineffective.
      Histopathological data analysis showed the topical treatments (2.5% calcium
      gluconate gel, iced Hyamine, or iced Zephiran soaks) to be most effective in
      reducing superficial epidermal damage, and the 5% calcium gluconate injection or
      10% calcium acetate soaks to be beneficial to deeper tissues of the dermis and
      subdermis. Injection of 10% calcium gluconate was ineffective. This study
      suggests that the anesthetized pig model has good applicability for assessing
      efficacy of HF dermal burn therapies. In addition, it indicates that further
      experimentation with 10% calcium acetate soaks is warranted.

PMID- 1447597
TI  - Confined space fatalities in Virginia.
AB  - To better understand the frequency and characteristics of occupational confined
      space fatalities in Virginia, we reviewed death certificates, workers'
      compensation files, a Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Administration
      listing, and medical examiner records for all 50 fatalities (41 accidents)
      reported during 1979 to 1986. All fatalities were identified in medical examiner
      records (50), more than in any other source. The majority of decedents were male
      craftsmen, operators, or laborers less than 50 years old (mean 38). Drug screens
      of the 43 decedents tested were negative, with the exception of 2 cases where
      blood alcohol was detected (greater than or equal to 0.06%). Approximately 5% of
      "at work" civilian deaths (excluding plane, train, and motor vehicle fatalities)
      were confined space related. Virginia resident death rates per million employees
      were highest for shipbuilding and repair facilities (23.2), local government
      (8.9), and manufacturing other than shipbuilding (5.4%). Multiple fatalities
      occurred in 4 (10%) of the accidents, with 3 involving 2 fatalities each, and 1
      accident involving 7 fatalities. Three fatalities (6%) were rescuers. Fifty
      nonfatal injuries of rescuers were known to have occurred in these accidents, 15
      of co-workers and 35 of community rescue personnel (firefighters and rescue squad
      members). Approximately half the accidents occurred during the fourth quarter of
      the year and on a Thursday or Friday, and about one third occurred at night. The
      leading accident type was atmospheric condition, most commonly oxygen deficiency
      (33%) or the presence of carbon monoxide (20%). In 6 (40%) of the 15 accidents
      involving atmospheric condition, the toxic gas or oxygen deficiency was absent in
      the confined space at the time of entry.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447598
TI  - The Milan Automated Neurobehavioral System. Age, sex, and education differences.
AB  - The Milan Automated Neurobehavioral System (MANS) has been used in field studies
      to measure effects of toxicants on the central nervous system. The battery has
      not been deemed appropriate in clinical settings because of the paucity of
      available norms. In this study, 236 (151 men, 85 women) healthy 39- to 94-year
      olds were given the MANS as part of a comprehensive neurobehavioral evaluation.
      The subtests were simple visual reaction time, digit symbol substitution, serial
      digit learning, and Benton visual retention. Age and years of education accounted
      for a significant proportion of the variance in all four subtests. In two of the
      subtests (simple visual reaction time and Benton visual retention) sex also
      accounted for a significant proportion of the variance. Age-, sex-, and years of
      education-specific normative values are presented for healthy persons aged 50 to
      79 years.

PMID- 1447599
TI  - Respiratory effects from the inhalation of hydrogen chloride in young adult
      asthmatics.
AB  - Almost no human data exist from controlled studies using low levels of hydrogen
      chloride (HCl), and, with no existing HCl ambient standards in the United States,
      the need for human health effects research is evident. In this study, five female
      and five male 18 to 25-year-old asthmatic subjects were exposed to filtered air,
      0.8 ppm and 1.8 ppm HCl while wearing half-face masks, during three separate 45
      minute experimental sessions involving 15 minutes exercise (treadmill walking),
      15 minutes rest, followed again by exercise. Baseline and postexposure pulmonary
      function measurements were taken including forced expiratory volume in 1 second
      (FEV1), forced expiratory volume (FVC), maximal flow at 50% of expired vital
      capacity (Vmax50), maximal flow at 75% of expired vital capacity (Vmax75), and
      total respiratory resistance as well as peak flow. Nasal work of breathing and
      oral ammonia levels also were measured preexposure and postexposure. No
      significant pulmonary effects were found at these HCl concentrations and exposure
      duration. Nasal power showed no significant differences between test atmospheres;
      however, in isolation a significant decrease (P less than .01) was found in
      measurements of inspiration with exposure to 0.80 ppm. Ammonia levels showed a
      significant rise postexposure after both concentrations of HCl (paired t test, (P
      less than .01)), not seen after air exposure. In summary, the asthmatic subjects
      in this study showed no adverse respiratory health effects of inhalation of low
      concentrations of HCl.

PMID- 1447600
TI  - Cholylglycine measured in serum by RIA and interleukin-1 beta determined by ELISA
      in differentiating viral hepatitis from chemical liver injury.
AB  - Serum bile acids have been shown to serve as useful indicators of liver disease.
      We have confirmed these findings and added an analysis of interleukin-1 beta (IL
      1 beta) profiles to further differentiate viral hepatitis from toxic liver damage
      associated with exposure to vinyl chloride (VC) or trinitrotoluene (TNT). The
      frequency of elevated cholylglycine (CG) was 100%, 75%, and 37.5% in viral
      hepatitis, VC- and TNT-linked liver injury patients, respectively. The mean
      levels, expressed in micrograms/dL, were 578, 507, 142, and 65 in hepatitis B,
      hepatitis non-A non-B, VC and TNT liver injury patients, respectively. Thus, the
      CG test could detect viral hepatitis and, VC liver injury, and (less frequently)
      liver injury associated with exposure to TNT. The mean level of IL-1 beta in
      patients with hepatitis type B was 424 pg/mL and hepatitis non A non B was 384
      pg/mL compared with a mean of 33-40 pg/mL in those with VC or TNT-linked liver
      disease. The IL-1 beta detection test proved further to be an important
      distinguishing parameter as it was 100% positive in patients with viral hepatitis
      but only 12.5% to 25% positive in patients with VC/TNT-induced liver damage.

PMID- 1447601
TI  - Influences on cigarette smoking quantity. Selection, stress, or culture?
AB  - The selection, job stress, and job culture models of the association between
      occupation and smoking quantity were empirically evaluated in a random sample of
      556 employed smoking adults in Orange County, California. Almost three quarters
      of the sample were heavy smokers (20 or more cigarettes per day). The largest
      percent of heavy smokers were blue-collar workers (77%). Age, sex, ethnicity, and
      the industry in which one works were all associated with heavy smoking, implying
      that selection and culture models contribute to smoking behavior. For example,
      men had twice the odds of being heavy smokers than did women, and Anglos had
      almost two and a half times the odds of being a heavy smoker than did non-Anglos.
      Smokers employed in the service, financial, insurance, and retail industries were
      one fourth as likely to be heavy smokers as those employed in the public
      administration sector. Smokers employed in the public administration sector had
      the highest percent of heavy smokers (88.9%). Job stress was not associated with
      heavy smoking compared with light smoking. Smoking cessation and prevention
      programs should address the social and job cultures in which the behavior occurs.
      Job-culture models of intervention should include elements that focus on
      individual coping mechanisms involving susceptibility to social pressure; social
      environment models imply that change in organizational culture is necessary.

PMID- 1447602
TI  - The validity of study group assignments based on occupational histories obtained
      from questionnaires.
AB  - This study examined the validity of self-reported work histories for use in
      epidemiological studies of toxic exposures. Two uses that were examined were the
      assignment of subjects to exposure groups and the estimation of exposure
      duration. Questionnaire responses and data extracted from employment files were
      compared for 161 retired automobile workers. The questionnaire method assigned
      subjects to two extreme groups with 99% accuracy but rejected 30% of the subjects
      because of ambiguous data. Self-reports of exposure duration correlated
      moderately with the file estimates (r = .63, P = .01). The discrepancy between
      subjects' estimates and actual exposure duration correlated with subjects' job
      mobility. The findings indicate that the validity of self-report data declines
      with the precision required of the data, but that self-reports may have
      sufficient validity for studies that use extreme-group designs.

PMID- 1447603
TI  - The primary treatment of frontobasal and midfacial fractures in patients with
      head injuries.
AB  - The timing of operation can be especially difficult when frontobasal fractures
      are combined with other head injuries and midfacial injuries. In these cases, the
      head injury represents a considerable hazard to the patient and therefore it is
      mandatory to avoid any additional strain that might be caused by treating the
      midfacial injury first. On the other hand, because of poorer results with the
      secondary treatment, the surgical therapy for midfacial injuries should be
      achieved as early as possible. This report describes the results obtained in 68
      patients managed over a period of 5 years and discusses their definite primary
      treatment. It emphasizes the need for close cooperation between the various
      surgical specialties involved.

PMID- 1447604
TI  - Cross-sectional tomography in evaluation of patients undergoing sagittal split
      osteotomy.
AB  - A study was performed to evaluate the possibility of locating the mandibular
      canal before sagittal split osteotomy by cross-sectional spiral tomography in 55
      patients. Visibility of the whole canal wall circumference was excellent or good
      in 65.5% fair in 18.2%, and poor in 12.7% of cases. Only four canals (3.6%) were
      invisible. The canal was located lingually in 61 cases, buccally in 9 cases, and
      centrally in 34 cases. In patients with mandibular protrusion, the mean (+/- SD)
      buccolingual width was significantly smaller (9.5 +/- 1.51 mm vs 10.4 +/- 1.46
      mm, P < .01) and the mandibular canal was more often buccally located than in
      patients with retrognathia.

PMID- 1447605
TI  - Marsupialization for treatment of oral ranula: a second look at the procedure.
AB  - Simple marsupialization to manage oral ranula has fallen into disfavor because of
      excessive failures and the high incidence of iatrogenically caused cervical
      ranula that may follow this procedure. With the simple addition of packing the
      entire pseudocystic cavity with gauze after its unroofing, the rate of recurrence
      is minimized. It is recommended that oral ranula be treated initially by
      marsupialization with packing and, if recurrence occurs, then the offending
      sublingual gland should be excised.

PMID- 1447606
TI  - Pediatric facial injuries associated with all-terrain vehicles.
AB  - All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are becoming increasingly popular recreational
      devices. Multiple injuries have been associated with ATV accidents. This report
      reviews pediatric injuries treated at a regional pediatric trauma center, with
      special attention to facial trauma, as well as the ATV injury data for the United
      States.

PMID- 1447607
TI  - A preliminary study of maximum voluntary bite force and jaw muscle efficiency in
      pre-orthognathic surgery patients.
AB  - The functional state of dentofacial deformity patients before orthognathic
      surgery has received relatively little study. In this study, the ability to
      generate occlusal force was compared between 84 patients before treatment for
      various dentofacial deformities and 57 controls. Maximal and submaximal bite
      forces were measured at the incisor and right and left first molar bite
      positions. Electromyographic activity (EMG) was recorded bilaterally from the
      anterior temporalis, posterior temporalis, and masseter muscles during each bite.
      An efficiency ratio was calculated for the jaw muscles by dividing the level of
      EMG by the occlusal force. There was a reduced ability to generate occlusal
      forces in the patients before surgery, especially among female patients. The
      reductions in maximal occlusal force were correlated with reduced efficiency of
      the jaw muscles.

PMID- 1447608
TI  - The response of midfacial bone in sheep to loaded osteosynthesis screws in
      pretapped and nontapped implant sites.
AB  - This study compared the functional retention of pretapped and self-tapping 2-mm
      AO miniscrews (Stratec Medical, Waldenburg, Switzerland) in an animal
      experimental model. Histologic evaluation of the bone surrounding the loaded
      screws showed significantly more remodeling when pretapped screws were used than
      when self-tapping screws were used. Although the experimental situation may not
      be directly comparable with the clinical situation, this study does lend
      credibility to the assumption that pretapping is not advisable in the thin bone
      of the midface.

PMID- 1447609
TI  - In vitro strength analysis of sagittal split osteotomy fixation: noncompression
      monocortical plates versus bicortical position screws.
AB  - An in vitro study using bovine ribs was performed to compare the strength of
      monocortical plates with bicortical position screws. An osteotomy was created to
      simulate a sagittal split and a 5-mm bone gap was produced. Four study groups
      were created: screw nongap, screw with gap, plate nongap, and plate with gap.
      Parameters of strength were analyzed by elastic deformation, stiffness ratio,
      permanent deformation, and breaking load. The results showed that monocortical
      plate fixation in bovine ribs provides less rigidity and is more susceptible to
      deformation than is bicortical position screw fixation.

PMID- 1447610
TI  - Bone induction by composites of bioresorbable carriers and demineralized bone in
      rats: a comparative study of fibrin-collagen paste, fibrin sealant, and
      polyorthoester with gentamicin.
AB  - Host tissue response and heterotopic osteoinduction by composites of
      demineralized bone matrix and three different substances used as bioresorbable
      carriers implanted in the abdominal muscles were evaluated by strontium 85 uptake
      and histology 4 weeks postoperatively in 60 male Wistar rats. Both fibrin
      collagen paste and fibrin sealant inhibited bone induction and produced a chronic
      inflammation; part of the fibrin-collagen paste was still present at 4 weeks.
      Polyorthoester with gentamicin was almost completely absorbed, induced minimal
      tissue reaction, and did not inhibit osteoinduction.

PMID- 1447611
TI  - Healing of bony defects in the irradiated and unirradiated rat mandible.
AB  - A model system of the irradiated rat mandible has been developed and used in
      conjunction with a non-spontaneously healing mandibular defect. The contribution
      of the tissue components in the healing of bony defects was studied using
      demineralized bone powder (DBP) prepared from unirradiated or in vivo irradiated
      rat long bones. Better bony fill of the defects occurred in the irradiated beds
      filled with unirradiated DBP than in the unirradiated beds containing irradiated
      DBP. This suggests that, at least in the early postirradiation period, the bed is
      not the limiting factor in healing of bony defects and the osteogenic components
      of bone in the DBP may be most affected by irradiation. In the irradiated bed,
      the defects grafted 2 weeks after irradiation healed better than those grafted at
      4 weeks. Thus, the timing of surgery after irradiation also plays a role in the
      healing process, with early surgery producing better results.

PMID- 1447612
TI  - Ketorolac tromethamine: an oral/injectable nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory for
      postoperative pain control.
AB  - Ketorolac tromethamine is a new injectable/oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
      analgesic with no apparent opiate receptor activity that has been administered
      alone and in combination with other opiate analgesics for the treatment of
      postoperative pain. The drug has shown promise in analgesic comparisons with
      morphine sulfate; it lacks the effects of respiratory depression and nausea and
      vomiting usually associated with narcotic agents. Intramuscular ketorolac may be
      particularly useful with those patients who have respiratory disease and patients
      being dismissed following short ambulatory or private-office anesthetic
      procedures.

PMID- 1447613
TI  - Outcome assessment in oral and maxillofacial surgery advanced education programs.
AB  - Outcome assessments are becoming a standard by which predoctoral and postdoctoral
      advanced dental educational programs are being evaluated internally and
      externally. This article presents an overview of the process of development of an
      outcome assessment document for oral and maxillofacial surgery residency programs
      and provides an example of its value in the evaluation of two different types of
      oral and maxillofacial surgery programs.

PMID- 1447614
TI  - Posttraumatic facial swelling and draining sinus tract.

PMID- 1447615
TI  - Calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (Pindborg tumor): report of case.

PMID- 1447616
TI  - Calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor of the maxillary sinus.

PMID- 1447617
TI  - Hemangiopericytoma of the parotid gland: report of case.

PMID- 1447618
TI  - Histopathologic findings in a case of recurrent parotitis in adulthood.

PMID- 1447619
TI  - Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma involving the inferior alveolar canal and mental foramen:
      report of a case.

PMID- 1447620
TI  - Osteomyelitis of the mandibular condyle: report of a case.

PMID- 1447621
TI  - Heterotopic gastrointestinal cyst of the oral cavity.
AB  - A case of an oral heterotopic gastrointestinal cyst of the tongue is described
      and a review of the literature is presented. The oral gastrointestinal cyst is a
      developmental lesion found more commonly in males, with a wide age range, but
      mostly occurring in the young. It presents as an asymptomatic swelling and most
      likely arises from misplaced embryonal tissue. Conservative surgical excision is
      the treatment of choice and no recurrence is expected.

PMID- 1447622
TI  - A lag screw technique for fixation of cranioplasty implants.

PMID- 1447623
TI  - A technique for fixation of oral mucosal lesions.

PMID- 1447624
TI  - Parameters of care--suggestions or requirements.

PMID- 1447625
TI  - Adverse food reactions in childhood: concept, importance, and present problems.

PMID- 1447626
TI  - Current status of digestive intolerance to food protein.
AB  - Digestive intolerance to food proteins may occur in childhood as a result of a
      wide range of etiologic and pathophysiologic mechanisms. Cow milk protein
      intolerance is the most common form of food intolerance in children. Food allergy
      and food intolerance may be confused because both produce similar symptoms,
      especially in young children with clinical manifestations of food allergy
      localized to the gastrointestinal tract. On the other hand, food-sensitive
      enteropathy may be defined as the clinical food-related syndromes associated with
      an abnormal small intestinal mucosa. Although several foods have been reported to
      damage the small intestinal mucosa in infancy (soy, rice, fish, chicken meat,
      egg), cow milk-sensitive enteropathy is the most common cause. Whatever the
      mechanisms, digestive intolerance to food proteins with or without enteropathy is
      primarily a temporary condition of infancy, in contrast to most forms of food
      allergy. In children with these disorders, symptoms usually resolve by 1 to 3
      years of age. The variation in prevalence rates of this disorder in different
      countries can be explained by different diagnostic criteria. The classic food
      sensitive enteropathy syndromes with chronic diarrhea and failure to thrive in
      infancy have become rarer in some European countries, including Spain. Some risk
      factors for the development of these conditions appear to be early exposure to
      cow milk feedings, acute infectious diarrhea, and malnutrition. Breast-feeding
      appears to be at least partially protective.

PMID- 1447627
TI  - Cow milk-sensitive enteropathy: predisposing factors and treatment.
AB  - Cow milk-sensitive enteropathy is a temporary disorder of infancy characterized
      by a variably abnormal small intestinal mucosa while milk is in the diet. This
      abnormality is reversed by a cow milk-free diet, only to recur on challenge.
      Important predisposing factors are age (< 3 years), transient IgA
      immunodeficiency, atopy, and early bottle feeding. The disorder is diagnosed
      histologically by evidence of mild-to-moderate partial villous atrophy with thin,
      often patchy mucosa. For an accurate clinical diagnosis, challenge with the
      offending food after a demonstrated response to cow milk elimination is critical.
      When available, serial small intestinal bowel biopsies related to elimination and
      challenge are also important. Treatment is elimination of cow milk and all foods
      based on cow milk, and substitution of cow milk feedings with commercially
      available formulas free of cow milk protein. Five types of cow milk substitutes
      are described; only nutritionally complete formulas are recommended. Later, a
      milk challenge will determine the timing of safe reintroduction of cow milk to
      the diet, at a time when the child is gaining weight, thriving, and symptom free.
      This dietary treatment is always temporary; reintroduction of a normal diet is
      nearly always possible between 1 and 2 years of age.

PMID- 1447628
TI  - Cow milk allergy in infancy and hypoallergenic formulas.
AB  - Substitute feedings have been used to treat infants with cow milk protein allergy
      for most of this century. For the past 50 years, several infant formulas based on
      animal proteins, both intact and chemically modified, or on vegetable protein
      have been labeled "hypoallergenic." Because of the risk of anaphylaxis and other
      serious adverse reactions, formulas that are claimed to be hypoallergenic should
      be subjected to rigorous preclinical and clinical testing. At a minimum, such
      formulas should not provoke any allergic signs or symptoms in 90% of infants with
      documented cow milk protein allergy when tested in double-blind, placebo
      controlled trials. A standardized definition of "hypoallergenic" will allow
      clinicians and parents to understand the true risks to a cow milk-allergic infant
      fed such hypoallergenic formulas.

PMID- 1447629
TI  - Allergenicity of cow milk proteins.
AB  - The allergenicity and antigenicity of cow milk proteins are age dependent.
      Because the nonspecific and specific factors inhibiting the passage of cow milk
      proteins through the epithelial layer of the intestine are deficient at birth,
      although developing during early infancy, allergy to cow milk may be acquired
      during the first year of life. Allergic reactivity to cow milk is lost during
      childhood in the vast majority of cases. This change may depend at least partly
      on the development of the local immune system of the gut producing antigen
      specific IgA antibodies. Circulating IgG antibodies to cow milk proteins are
      always produced when an infant has cow milk in the diet but are not associated
      with allergy; their titer is reduced with age. Clinical challenge tests show that
      most cow milk-allergic patients react to several protein fractions of cow milk. A
      patient may have IgE antibodies to several fractions of cow milk, measured either
      by skin testing or by radioallergosorbent test. Likewise, various tests for cell
      mediated immunity may show positive reactions to several fractions. No single
      major allergen is apparent in cow milk, according to either the challenge tests
      or laboratory procedures: casein, alpha-lactalbumin, and beta-lactoglobulin all
      show a high proportion of positive reactions.

PMID- 1447630
TI  - Allergenicity and nutritional adequacy of soy protein formulas.
AB  - Soy protein formulas are used for different conditions, including cow milk
      protein allergy, lactose and galactose intolerance, and severe gastroenteritis.
      Feeding soy protein formulas to normal term infants is associated with normal
      growth, normal protein nutritional status, and normal bone mineralization. Recent
      studies of infants fed soy protein formulas exclusively during the first months
      of life revealed no immunologic abnormality; however, the use of such formulas
      for management of cow milk protein allergy and for prevention of atopy is
      controversial. Although in the past decade many studies have stressed soy
      allergenicity, soy allergenicity has been confirmed by the challenge test in only
      a few studies. In this article we review the studies dealing with the
      allergenicity of soy protein formulas. We also present our own data on their use
      in the prevention and management of cow milk protein allergy.

PMID- 1447631
TI  - Fish allergy: evaluation of the importance of cross-reactivity.
AB  - Fish constitute one of the most important groups of allergens in the induction of
      immediate (type I) food hypersensitivity. In our environment, fish allergy is
      present in 22% of all patients with a diagnosis of food hypersensitivity. We
      studied the allergenic significance of the fish species considered most
      representative because of their greater consumption in our environment
      (flatfishes: Pleuronectiformes such as sole, whiff, and witch; Gadiformes such as
      hake; and Scombriformes such as albacore) or because of the results of previous
      studies of Gadiformes such as cod. Through the use of isoelectric focusing and
      sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis immunoblotting, we have
      observed that several allergens common to all these species are able to bind
      specific IgE from the sera of sensitized patients. This allergenic community has
      been confirmed by radioallergosorbent inhibition. Another group of species
      specific allergens focuses in the regions at about pH 5 and with molecular
      weights less than 14 kilodaltons; these allergens correspond to sarcoplasmic
      parvoalbumins. From the results observed, which have been confirmed by various
      procedures and techniques, we conclude that hake is the fish with the capability
      to induce the strongest IgE response, followed by whiff; the witch seems to be
      the least allergenic of all flatfishes. Among all species studied, albacore was
      the least allergenic. These results may be considered when one introduces
      supplementary feeding with fish in infants, most particularly in infants at high
      risk for atopy.

PMID- 1447632
TI  - Summary and future directions. Adverse reactions to food in infancy and
      childhood.

PMID- 1447633
TI  - Nonclinical testing of formulas containing hydrolyzed milk protein.
AB  - The allergenic potential of cow milk-based infant formula can be reduced by
      protein hydrolysis. Controlled clinical studies are necessary to demonstrate
      conclusively the biologic efficacy of these formulations in human beings.
      Nonclinical testing programs provide manufacturers with the opportunity to
      characterize various molecular and immunologic properties of these hydrolysates
      and their corresponding final product forms. Physicochemical analyses provide
      data relating to the extent of protein hydrolysis and peptide molecular weight
      distribution. Immunochemical analyses can semiquantitatively estimate hydrolysate
      reactivity with preformed antibody. The ability of hydrolysate-based products to
      induce an immune response can be evaluated by using animal models. It is the
      responsibility of the manufacturer to choose the appropriate combination of
      nonclinical tests and use them to document product consistency, thus helping to
      ensure consistent clinical performance.

PMID- 1447634
TI  - Food-processing approaches to altering allergenic potential of milk-based
      formula.
AB  - All the major cow milk proteins in their native states are potential allergens in
      infants with milk allergy. Heat treatment can reduce the antigenicity of whey
      proteins considerably, but it has virtually no effect on the antigenicity of
      casein. Infants allergic to milk still react to heat-denatured whey proteins.
      Therefore heat denaturation alone cannot produce a formula with low
      allergenicity. Enzyme hydrolysis reduces the antigenicity and allergenicity of
      protein. Partial hydrolysis produces hydrolysate consisting mainly of large
      peptides, whereas extensive hydrolysis produces hydrolysate containing a mixture
      of large and small peptides and free amino acids. Enzyme hydrolysis often
      produces bitter peptides and destroys the physical functionality of protein. When
      hydrolysate formula is made, casein or whey protein hydrolysate is ultrafiltered
      to remove large residual peptides. Certain amino acids are fortified to provide a
      balanced amino acid profile. The final formulation must comply with the
      recommendations of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (FAO/WHO) and the U.S.
      Infant Formula Act to provide adequate infant nutrition. Protein hydrolysate
      based formula can be improved by further reducing the residual allergenicity,
      increasing the small peptide content, and improving the taste.

PMID- 1447635
TI  - Prediction and detection of allergy development: influence of genetic and
      environmental factors.
AB  - The prevalence of atopic diseases is increasing in northwestern Europe and
      probably also in the rest of the Western world. Detecting cord blood IgE, in
      combination with obtaining a family history of atopic disease, seems to be the
      most valuable method of predicting all forms of atopic disease; however, this
      will identify only a small proportion of children with subsequent development of
      atopic disease. Determination of cord blood IgE cannot, without modifications, be
      recommended as a single test for identifying infants for allergy prevention
      programs. Skin prick reaction to egg white during the first year of life seems to
      identify a majority of children in whom allergic disease is going to develop
      during infancy. Other methods, such as genetic markers of an atopic constitution,
      eventually may facilitate early identification of infants at risk of atopic
      disease.

PMID- 1447636
TI  - Definitions and diagnosis of food intolerance and food allergy: consensus and
      controversy.
AB  - This article describes the terms used for the various syndromes and diseases
      associated with reactions to foods; it outlines the principal types of food
      intolerance encountered in children, with particular emphasis on those caused by
      immune-mediated reactions of immediate hypersensitivity. Terms defined include
      food intolerance or food sensitivity; food allergy or food hypersensitivity;
      psychologically based food reactions (food aversions); and psychosocial and
      neurologic dysfunction. The spectrum of food sensitivity is considerable, and
      diagnosis is generally based on the monitoring of effects of exclusion diets and
      provocation tests, after appropriate objective measures are first selected. In
      children, manifestations of IgE-mediated food allergy (often in association with
      other immune mechanisms) include self-limiting and immediate reactions (e.g.,
      urticaria, wheeze) and chronic diseases (food-sensitive enteropathies, eczema).
      Controversial and unresolved issues exist with some other conditions, including
      eosinophilic gastroenteritis, occult gastrointestinal bleeding, protein-losing
      enteropathy, and attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity. New methods for
      clinical investigation of gastrointestinal tract function and intestinal immune
      reactions are required to assess the relevance of foods in these conditions.

PMID- 1447637
TI  - Dietary manipulation and induction of tolerance.
AB  - Clinical observations have suggested that the development of atopic diseases in
      childhood may be influenced by breast-feeding and the timing of first exposure to
      foreign protein, but the controversy is far from being resolved. Early weaning
      and introduction of foreign proteins (i.e., cow milk) have been associated with
      an increased prevalence of atopic symptoms in infants with a family history of
      atopy. Opposite results have been reported, and the effects of early protein
      introduction in infants not at risk of having atopic symptoms are poorly
      documented. Research in rodents suggests that perinatal antigen exposure is more
      likely to prime the immune system than to induce tolerance. Continuous feeding
      beyond the critical neonatal period leads to induction of tolerance. The
      immunologic response is dependent on the antigen dose. Protein transfer by breast
      feeding can induce tolerance, though in a dose range otherwise associated with
      priming. The protective effect of antigen avoidance in infancy on the development
      of cow milk allergy and also on subsequent atopic symptoms is well documented.
      Protective effects have been observed in infants at risk who either were breast
      fed or received a hydrolyzed infant formula. Several clinical studies suggest a
      causative role of neonatal milk exposure in the development of cow milk allergy.
      Prospective, population-based studies are required to assess the true incidence
      of food-allergic diseases in childhood.

PMID- 1447638
TI  - Comparison of the residual allergenic activity of six different hydrolyzed
      protein formulas.
AB  - The residual allergenic activity of protein hydrolysates contained in marketed
      "hypoallergenic" infant formulas can be determined both by in vivo methods (skin
      prick tests, provocation tests) and by in vitro methods (radioallergosorbent
      test, radioallergosorbent inhibition, crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis,
      basophil histamine release). In general, whey hydrolysates containing a high
      percentage of larger peptides have the highest capacity to induce positive skin
      test and provocation test results, and to bind to human serum IgE antibodies of
      cow milk-sensitive children. Casein hydrolysates appear to have very little
      residual allergenic activity. Before hypoallergenic formulas are prescribed for
      cow milk-sensitive children, individual testing (e.g., skin test, challenge
      tests) is recommended.

PMID- 1447639
TI  - Effects of brief early exposure to partially hydrolyzed and whole cow milk
      proteins.
AB  - Clinical experience ("the dangerous bottle") and experimental evidence indicate
      that the early life of an infant is particularly important for the development of
      the immune responses to food antigens. However, the clinical and immunologic
      consequences of a brief exposure to, or avoidance of, food antigens during the
      neonatal period in human infants are poorly understood and documented. We present
      the preliminary results of a prospective controlled study of 256 normal breast
      fed infants randomly assigned to receive (blind) either an adapted formula
      (Nidina) or a partially hydrolyzed formula (Nidal HA) as a supplement to breast
      feeding for a few days when necessary, and to be examined at days 5, 90, 150, and
      365. The results indicated that (1) the prevalence of clinical symptoms and of
      total and specific IgE responses was not statistically different in the two
      groups of infants and (2) infants fed a hydrolyzed formula had median titers of
      specific IgG lower than those fed an adapted formula; the difference was
      significant for alpha-lactalbumin at day 90 (p < 0.005) and for alpha-lactalbumin
      (p < 0.05), casein (p < 0.05), and hydrolyzed formula (p < 0.01) at day 150.
      Humoral immune responses of breast-fed infants to food antigens thus appear to be
      modulated by early, short-term exposure to them.

PMID- 1447640
TI  - Effects of prolonged exposure to partially hydrolyzed milk protein.
AB  - Formulas containing proteins with reduced potential to sensitize might be
      effective in reducing the risk of atopic disease, but such products should be
      nutritionally adequate. We designed a randomized, double-blind study to evaluate
      nutritional adequacy and sensitization potential of a formula containing
      partially hydrolyzed whey-predominant milk proteins. Subjects were term infants
      enrolled at birth. Infants in group A were fed human milk, and group B received
      the partially hydrolyzed formula; group C, fed a formula containing intact whey
      predominant milk proteins, served as control subjects. We recorded anthropometric
      measurements and symptoms of formula intolerance at monthly intervals for 4
      months in 205 infants. Milk IgE and IgG antibodies were measured until 8 months
      of age in 63 infants. Daily weight gain was not significantly different among the
      groups. Gastrointestinal symptoms attributed to feeding intolerance were also
      comparable. Increases in serum IgG antibodies were significantly greater in group
      C throughout the study. There were no significant differences in IgE antibodies.
      Thus a formula containing partially hydrolyzed whey-predominant milk protein
      promoted adequate growth and induced a lesser priming effect for IgG antibody
      response than did an intact whey-predominant formula.

PMID- 1447641
TI  - Long-term prevention of allergic diseases by using protein hydrolysate formula in
      at-risk infants.
AB  - This prospective, long-term study assessed the effects of a protein hydrolysate
      formula on allergy prevention in infants with a family history of allergy.
      Infants were randomly assigned to receive either the hydrolysate formula (n = 92)
      or an adapted cow milk formula (n = 85) alone or with breast-feeding for 4
      months. The groups did not differ in family allergy history scores or cord blood
      IgE levels. After 4 months, total IgE levels and allergic reactions did not
      differ significantly between groups, although the hydrolysate group had a lower
      prevalence of eczema. At 12 months of age, neither IgE levels nor allergic
      reactions were significantly different. At 2 years of age, however, 18 allergic
      reactions had occurred in the hydrolysate group and 31 had occurred in the
      control group; the differences were significant for eczema (p < 0.001) but not
      for asthma. At 4 years of age, allergic signs were found in 11 children in the
      hydrolysate group and in 17 children in the control group; the difference was
      significant only for eczema (p < 0.01). These results suggest that early feeding
      of a protein hydrolysate formula to infants at risk for allergies had a long-term
      preventive effect on the prevalence of eczema but not of asthma.

PMID- 1447642
TI  - Relationship of cross-brain oxygen content difference, cerebral blood flow, and
      metabolic rate to neurologic outcome after near-drowning.
AB  - We evaluated the relationship of global cerebral blood flow, cross-brain oxygen
      content difference, cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen, intracranial pressure,
      and cerebral perfusion pressure to functional neurologic outcome in 12 comatose
      children on 2 consecutive days after near-drowning. Five children survived with
      functional neurologic outcome; five died and two survived with severe neurologic
      damage. Children who survived with functional neurologic outcome had a
      significantly higher cross-brain oxygen content difference (7.89 +/- 2.62 vs 3.91
      +/- 1.59 ml/dl; p = 0.028) at 24 hours and a higher cerebral metabolic rate for
      oxygen 48 hours after admission (3.19 +/- 2.86 vs 0.96 +/- 0.45 ml/100 gm per
      minute; p = 0.030) compared with those who died or survived in a damaged state.
      There were no significant differences in global cerebral blood flow, intracranial
      pressure, and cerebral perfusion pressure between groups at either 24 or 48
      hours. Our preliminary data suggest that a higher cross-brain content difference
      value is an important early variable associated with functional neurologic
      recovery after near-drowning. However, a single cross-brain oxygen content
      difference value must be interpreted with caution because considerable
      variability may occur among patient groups.

PMID- 1447643
TI  - Coma associated with intense bursts of abnormal movements and long-lasting
      cognitive disturbances: an acute encephalopathy of obscure origin.
AB  - We report six previously healthy children who several days after a prodromal
      illness had an acute encephalopathy that ran a biphasic course. It appears to
      constitute a recognizable syndrome with a good prognosis that can be
      differentiated from other encephalopathies of obscure origin as previously
      defined by Lyon et al. The active phase was dominated by coma or confusion and by
      abnormal movements, including disordered gesticulation and attacks of orofacial
      dyskinesia or limb dystonia associated with permanent rigidity and culminating in
      opisthotonic posturing. Repeated seizures were observed in only two patients.
      Permanent slow waves were recorded on the electroencephalogram in all patients,
      even during bursts of abnormal movements. Cerebrospinal fluid and results of
      serologic studies were normal throughout the course of the disease, and attempts
      at viral isolation and antiviral antibody detection yielded negative results.
      Brain imaging either showed no abnormalities or suggested a moderate degree of
      brain edema. The recovery phase, which extended for several weeks, was
      characterized by a rapid return of motor function and persistent behavioral and
      cognitive disturbances. Nonverbal reasoning recovered long before verbal
      expression returned to normal. Four patients eventually recovered fully, whereas
      two had mild sequelae.

PMID- 1447644
TI  - Concentration of milk secretory immunoglobulin A against Shigella virulence
      plasmid-associated antigens as a predictor of symptom status in Shigella-infected
      breast-fed infants.
AB  - We conducted a prospective, community-based study of healthy breast-fed Mexican
      infants to determine the protective effects of anti-Shigella secretory IgA
      antibodies in milk. Milk samples were collected monthly, and stool culture
      specimens were obtained weekly and at the time of episodes of diarrhea. Nineteen
      breast-fed infants were found to have Shigella flexneri, Shigella boydii, or
      Shigella sonnei in stool samples. Ages of the 10 infants with symptomatic
      infection and the nine with asymptomatic infection did not differ significantly.
      Milk samples collected up to 12 weeks before infection were evaluated by enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay for secretory IgA antibodies against
      lipopolysaccharides of S. flexneri, S. boydii serotype 2, S. sonnei, and
      virulence plasmid-associated antigens. The geometric mean titers of anti-Shigella
      antibodies to virulence plasmid-associated antigens in milk received before
      infection were eightfold higher in infants who remained well than in those in
      whom diarrhea developed. The significance of milk secretory IgA directed against
      lipopolysaccharide was less clear. We conclude that human milk protects infants
      against symptomatic shigella infection when it contains high concentrations of
      secretory IgA against virulence plasmid-associated antigens.

PMID- 1447645
TI  - Comparison of acellular (B type) and whole-cell pertussis-component diphtheria
      tetanus-pertussis vaccines as the first booster immunization in 15- to 24-month
      old children.
AB  - We compared an acellular (B type) pertussis-component diphtheria-tetanus
      pertussis (DTP-Ac) vaccine containing equal amounts of filamentous hemagglutinin
      and lymphocytosis-promoting factor with a conventional whole-cell vaccine as the
      first booster immunization in 162 healthy children 15 to 24 months of age. Fewer
      local reactions (e.g., erythema, swelling, and tenderness at the injection site)
      were seen in DTP-Ac vaccine recipients during the first 48 hours of observation.
      This group also had fewer episodes of fever (> or = 38 degrees C) and other
      systemic reactions (e.g., irritability, drowsiness, and anorexia). Overall, 57%
      of the DTP-Ac vaccine recipients had no obvious adverse reactions, in contrast to
      5% in the comparison group. At 4 to 8 weeks after vaccination, serum antibody
      responses to filamentous hemagglutinin and lymphocytosis-promoting factor were
      greater in recipients of the acellular vaccine as determined by an enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay. We conclude that this B-type acellular vaccine is both
      immunogenic and much less likely to cause an adverse reaction than a currently
      licensed whole-cell vaccine, and is suitable for routine booster immunizing doses
      to protect against pertussis.

PMID- 1447646
TI  - Risk factors for asthma in inner city children.
AB  - Inner city children have the highest prevalence and the highest mortality rates
      for asthma in the United States. The purpose of this study was to evaluate
      sensitization and exposure to common indoor allergens among children aged 3 years
      to 15 years seen for treatment of asthma at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Ga.
      Eighty children in this study were enrolled in the emergency department and 64 in
      hospital clinics. Dust from 57 homes, assayed for three indoor allergens (dust
      mite, cat, and cockroach), revealed similar exposure for asthma and control
      groups. Sixty-nine percent of the children with asthma had IgE antibodies to dust
      mite, cockroach, or cat; only 27% of the control subjects were similarly
      sensitized (p < 0.001). Of 35 children with asthma 21 had both sensitization and
      significant exposure to the relevant allergen; this was true for only 3 of 22
      control subjects (odds ratio, 9.5; p < 0.001). Neither sensitization nor exposure
      to cat allergen was common in this population. The results show that black
      children in inner city Atlanta are exposed to high levels of mite and cockroach
      allergens and that a high proportion of the children with asthma are sensitized
      to these allergens; the combination of sensitization and exposure is a major risk
      factor for asthma in this population.

PMID- 1447647
TI  - Clinical spectrum of chronic interstitial lung disease in children.
AB  - To describe the clinical spectrum of interstitial lung disease in children, we
      reviewed our experience with 48 patients during a 12-year period. Most patients
      initially had typical findings of restrictive lung disease and hypoxemia. Growth
      failure or pulmonary hypertension or both were found in more than one third.
      Specific diagnosis, made in 35 patients (70%), most often required invasive
      studies, particularly open lung biopsy. Although the diagnostic yield from open
      lung biopsy was high, the diagnosis of many patients remained uncertain. Many
      different disorders were encountered. The response to corticosteroids,
      bronchodilators, and chloroquine was inconsistent. Six patients died, five within
      1 year after the initial evaluation. The spectrum of pediatric interstitial lung
      disease includes a large, heterogeneous group of rare disorders associated with
      high morbidity and mortality rates.

PMID- 1447648
TI  - Cryptococcal osteomyelitis and cellular immunodeficiency associated with
      interleukin-2 deficiency.
AB  - We describe an unusual example of cellular immunodeficiency associated with
      interleukin-2 deficiency in an otherwise healthy 15-year-old boy who had isolated
      cryptococcal osteomyelitis of the scapula at 10 years of age. His previous
      medical history was remarkable only for prolonged, severe varicella infection at
      6 years of age. He had persistent moderate lymphopenia, anergy, and absent
      lymphocyte blastogenic responses to mitogens, antigens, or monoclonal T cell
      antibodies. Subnormal blastogenic responses were seen after exposure to high
      concentrations of phorbol esters. Immunoglobulin levels and specific antibodies
      were normal. The patient has been in good health since treatment of his
      osteomyelitis. However, his lymphocyte blastogenic responses to mitogens have
      remained absent during 4 years of observation; investigation of the cause
      revealed a specific interleukin-2 deficiency resulting from defective generation
      of interleukin-2 messenger ribonucleic acid. Secretion of interleukin-1 by
      monocytes was normal, suggesting that the abnormal blastogenic response and
      interleukin-2 production were due to a problem intrinsic to T lymphocytes. The
      generation of messenger ribonucleic acid for interleukin-4 was not affected.
      Interferon-gamma was produced at subnormal levels. The addition of recombinant
      interleukin-2 restored lymphocyte blastogenic responses and increased the
      expression of interleukin-2 receptors. The clinical findings and immunologic
      abnormalities present in this patient differ from other primary and secondary
      immunodeficiencies associated with interleukin-2 deficiency. Thus our
      observations in this patient extend the spectrum of immunodeficiencies associated
      with abnormalities in the production of this important cytokine.

PMID- 1447649
TI  - Preservation of ovarian function by ovarian transposition performed before pelvic
      irradiation during childhood.
AB  - Ovarian transposition in adults has been shown to protect ovarian function in
      about 60% of cases by reducing ovarian exposure to less than 4 to 7 Gy. We
      therefore evaluated the effect of ovarian transposition during childhood or
      adolescence. Eighteen girls had ovarian transposition performed at a mean (+/-
      SEM) age of 9.4 +/- 1.2 years (range, 1.2 to 16 years). Twelve were prepubertal
      and six had menstruated at the time of ovarian transposition. The initial
      abnormalities were Hodgkin disease (5 cases), iliac Ewing sarcoma (3),
      medulloblastoma (2), ovarian seminoma (1), and vaginal or uterine tumor (7). The
      irradiation was external in 11 cases and local by vaginal curietherapy in 7
      cases. Fifteen girls received chemotherapy. The ovarian transposition was
      bilateral in 15 patients and unilateral in 3 cases; in the latter the other ovary
      had been destroyed by the tumor or by abdominal irradiation. Ovaries were placed
      just below the iliac crest (15 cases) or posterolateral to the uterus (3); thus,
      the calculated ovarian radiation dose was up to 9.5 Gy. At the time of evaluation
      (8.6 +/- 0.9 years after ovarian transposition), 16 girls had menstruated and 2
      remained amenorrheic because of major lesions of the vagina and uterus caused by
      the vaginal curietherapy. Basal plasma gonadotropin values were normal. Ovulation
      was documented in seven cases. Two pregnancies occurred. Complications of ovarian
      transposition were present in four patients: intestinal occlusion, dyspareunia,
      functional ovarian cysts, and pelvic adhesions with tubal obstruction. We
      conclude that ovarian transposition, performed before abdominopelvic irradiation
      during childhood, can preserve ovarian function. Longer follow-up is required to
      assess the risk of ovarian dystrophy because of vascular lesions or chemotherapy.

PMID- 1447650
TI  - Chemotherapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia: cognitive and academic sequelae.
AB  - Iatrogenic cognitive impairments have been reported for survivors of childhood
      leukemia after prophylactic central nervous system therapy with craniospinal
      radiation. To determine whether chemotherapy alone might be a source of central
      nervous system damage, we assessed in a cross-sectional design the cognitive and
      academic functioning of 48 children with acute lymphocytic leukemia who were at
      various stages in their treatment or who had completed treatment. The off-therapy
      patients who had completed a 3-year course of chemotherapy were more impaired in
      tasks of higher-order cognitive functioning than were those children whose
      leukemia had been newly diagnosed and those children whose diagnoses had been 1
      year earlier. Off-therapy patients also had concomitant diagnosable learning
      disabilities in mathematics. We recommend appropriate liaison and special
      education placements, as well as continued evaluation of cognitive and leaning
      functioning of children treated for moderate-risk acute lymphocytic leukemia who
      receive chemotherapy alone.

PMID- 1447651
TI  - Clinical response of alopecia, trichorrhexis nodosa, and dry, scaly skin to zinc
      supplementation.
AB  - Two unrelated patients had dry brittle hair, alopecia, trichorrhexis nodosa, dry
      scaly skin, pigment dyschromia, short stature, and neurosecretory growth hormone
      deficiency. By means of the zinc tolerance test, patient 1 was shown to have zinc
      deficiency, whereas no clear zinc deficiency could be demonstrated in patient 2.
      In both patients, hair and the skin abnormalities responded to oral zinc therapy.

PMID- 1447652
TI  - Fatal infantile liver failure associated with mitochondrial DNA depletion.
AB  - A 3-month-old girl was admitted to the hospital because of hypotonia and frequent
      vomiting. She had severe metabolic acidosis and her liver function was abnormal.
      Hepatomegaly and rapidly progressive liver failure developed, and she died at 4
      months of age. Two half-siblings from a different mother had died in infancy of
      an undiagnosed myopathy. The liver was fatty and hepatocytes were filled with
      large and small lipid droplets. Other tissues were morphologically normal. The
      respiratory chain enzymes containing subunits encoded by mitochondrial DNA were
      markedly decreased in liver, partially decreased in muscle, but normal in other
      tissues. Southern blot analysis showed 90% depletion of mitochondrial DNA in
      liver, 53% depletion in muscle, and normal amounts in other tissues. This is the
      second case of fatal infantile liver failure associated with mitochondrial DNA
      depletion. This pathogenetic mechanism should be considered in infants with
      multiple respiratory chain defects and variable tissue expression.

PMID- 1447654
TI  - Thickened feedings as a cause of increased coughing when used as therapy for
      gastroesophageal reflux in infants.
AB  - To determine whether thickening of infant formula feedings with rice cereal
      increases coughing, we studied 25 infants from birth to 6 months of age, referred
      for evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux. Coughing was blindly quantified after
      each of a pair of isocaloric meals (one thickened and one unthickened). Coughing
      was more frequent after thickened feedings than after unthickened feedings.

PMID- 1447653
TI  - Olfactory performance during childhood. I. Development of an odorant
      identification test for children.
AB  - Because there has been no suitable diagnostic instrument for evaluation of
      olfaction in children, we designed an odorant identification test for that
      purpose. We screened 40 microencapsulated odorants ("scratch 'n' sniff" cards) by
      randomly grouping them into 40 overlapping sets of five odorants each. Forty-one
      children, 4 and 5 years of age, tried to identify each test odorant, selecting
      their responses from among five photographs depicting the substances in the set
      of odorants. We used the results to select a subset of five odorants (baby
      powder, bubble gum, candy cane, fish, and orange). To determine how well these
      odorants could be identified by normal children, we tested another 134 subjects,
      3 1/2 to 13 years of age. For children 3 1/2 years to 5 years 4 months of age,
      the mean (+/- SEM) percentage of correct responses increased from 66% +/- 8% to
      92% +/- 2%. Thereafter the mean percentage of correct responses remained at a
      plateau of about 90%. The 10th percentile for the percentage of correct responses
      tended to be higher for girls than for boys throughout childhood. We concluded
      that this set of five odorants can be correctly identified by most normal
      children 5 years of age or older. The performances of three older subjects with
      Kallmann syndrome were all subnormal, but the overall efficacy of the test for
      evaluating children with olfactory deficits needs to be determined.

PMID- 1447655
TI  - Pseudomembranous colitis in sickle cell disease responding to exchange
      transfusion.
AB  - We report a case of ischemic colitis with pseudomembrane formation in a 6 1/2
      year-old boy with sickle cell disease that responded to medical management
      including exchange transfusion. This case was not associated with Clostridium
      difficile infection but with an elevation of serum levels of tumor necrosis
      factor alpha. This rare complication of sickle cell disease has been reported
      only in adults.

PMID- 1447656
TI  - Symptomatic hyperammonemia caused by a congenital portosystemic shunt.
AB  - A child with trisomy 21 had altered mental status and hyperammonemia at
      presentation and was found to have a congenital portosystemic shunt as a result
      of a congenital abnormality of the portal venous system. Anomalies of the portal
      venous system leading to portosystemic shunting, although they are infrequent,
      should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hyperammonemia.

PMID- 1447657
TI  - Congenital idiopathic growth hormone deficiency associated with prenatal and
      early postnatal growth failure. The International Board of the Kabi Pharmacia
      International Growth Study.
AB  - To assess the role of growth hormone in fetal and infant growth, we analyzed the
      pretreatment data on 52 patients with a diagnosis of congenital growth hormone
      deficiency before 2 years of age, obtained from the Kabi Pharmacia International
      Growth Study. These infants had reduced birth-length standard deviation scores,
      an excess of birth weight relative to length, and progressive growth failure. We
      conclude that congenital growth hormone deficiency may cause impaired growth in
      utero and early infancy, and that growth hormone plays an important role in
      perinatal and infantile growth.

PMID- 1447658
TI  - Serial changes of serum interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor
      alpha among patients with Kawasaki disease.
AB  - To determine the role of cytokines in Kawasaki disease, serial measurements of
      serum cytokine levels were done in 60 patients treated solely with aspirin.
      Coronary artery aneurysms later developed in 12 of them. The results suggest that
      elevated serum interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 levels during the first week of
      illness may be associated with a higher risk of coronary aneurysm formation.

PMID- 1447659
TI  - Cerebral artery aneurysms in children infected with human immunodeficiency virus.
AB  - More than 250 children treated at our institution on antiretroviral treatment
      protocols have been monitored with brain imaging studies. We documented the
      occurrence and progression of aneurysms of major cerebral arteries in two
      children with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. In both cases
      these lesions remained clinically silent initially, despite progression to marked
      dilation.

PMID- 1447660
TI  - Idiopathic arterial calcification of infancy: prenatal and postnatal effects of
      therapy in an infant.
AB  - In an infant with idiopathic arterial calcification of infancy, prenatal
      diagnosis of arterial calcification was made by ultrasonography and allowed
      initiation of therapy in utero. Etidronate therapy produced apparent radiographic
      and ultrasonographic improvement in the degree of vascular calcification but did
      not prevent the lethal progression of intimal vascular occlusive disease.

PMID- 1447661
TI  - Arterial thrombosis and protein S deficiency.
AB  - A previously healthy boy had progressive painful discoloration of the lower
      extremities and was treated with exchange transfusion and anticoagulation, which
      were unsuccessful in arresting pedal ischemia; amputation of all of the child's
      toes was required. Studies of the patient and his parents resulted in a diagnosis
      of inherited protein S deficiency.

PMID- 1447662
TI  - Sarcoidosis associated with nephrocalcinosis in young children.
AB  - Three patients with nonpulmonary sarcoidosis had chronic erythema nodosum within
      the first 2 years of life. Each subsequently had renal sarcoidosis and
      nephrocalcinosis; hypercalcemia was documented in each patient and hypercalciuria
      in two patients. Treatment with prednisone was not uniformly successful in
      normalizing creatinine clearance. Nephrocalcinosis may be more common than
      previously reported in patients with sarcoidosis.

PMID- 1447663
TI  - 3-Methylglutaconic aciduria associated with Pearson syndrome and respiratory
      chain defects.
AB  - 3-Methylglutaconic aciduria was detected in four patients with Pearson syndrome,
      a multitissue disorder with hematologic abnormalities, lactic acidosis resulting
      from defective oxidative phosphorylation, and deletions in the mitochondrial
      genome. 3-Methylglutaconic acid may be an additional useful marker for Pearson
      syndrome and may be a more specific marker than other organic acids identified in
      this disorder.

PMID- 1447664
TI  - Obstructive, mixed, and central apnea in the neonate: physiologic correlates.
AB  - In an attempt to determine physiologic responses to neonatal apnea, we evaluated
      changes in heart rate and oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry during
      2082 episodes of apnea lasting 15 seconds or more in 47 infants less than 34
      weeks of gestational age with idiopathic apnea of prematurity. Of these episodes,
      832 (39.9%) were central, 1032 (49.6%) were mixed, and 218 (10.5%) were
      obstructive. Oxygen saturation decreased with increasing duration of apnea
      regardless of type or treatment, and the decrease in saturation was correlated
      with preapnea saturation. The baseline heart rate was similar for all apnea
      types. Infants receiving doxapram had a lower baseline heart rate (137.8 +/- 10.5
      beats/min) than did infants receiving no therapy (142.8 +/- 16.6 beats/min) and
      infants receiving theophylline (149.7 +/- 15.0 beats/min) (p = < 0.001). A heart
      rate fall to less than 100 beats/min was seen more frequently with central apnea
      than with mixed or obstructive events, and in infants who were not receiving
      therapy. Falls in heart rate were significantly less in infants receiving
      doxapram (27.8% +/- 18.0%) than in infants receiving theophylline (44.5% +/-
      19.0%) or no therapy (48.4% +/- 18.3%) (p = < 0.001). The most common heart rate
      pattern overall was a gradual decrease interrupted by accelerations, whereas an
      initial heart rate acceleration was the most common pattern in obstructive apnea.
      We conclude that heart rate response to neonatal apnea is a complex and is
      dependent on therapy and on type and duration of apnea.

PMID- 1447665
TI  - Early metabolic effects of sepsis in the preterm infant: lactic acidosis and
      increased glucose requirement.
AB  - The effects of sepsis on carbohydrate metabolism were studied in preterm newborn
      infants (weight > 1.2 kg, appropriate for gestational age) without maternal
      endocrine problems who were being examined for infection. Plasma glucose,
      lactate, and insulin concentrations were measured at initial evaluation and then
      every 8 hours for a total of 48 hours. Blood, urine, and spinal fluid were
      obtained for culture and counterimmunoelectrophoresis. Dextrose was administered
      to each patient to maintain glucose levels in the normal range. Dextrose infusion
      rates were calculated in milligrams per kilogram per minute. Of the 29 infants, 6
      had sepsis (positive culture and counterimmunoelectrophoresis results). Infants
      with sepsis had significant elevations of plasma lactate concentration (p <
      0.003) but normal pH. The dextrose infusion rate was also significantly elevated
      in the infected infants (p < 0.01). No hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia was observed
      in either group. No significant difference in plasma insulin concentration was
      observed. We conclude that significant elevations in plasma lactate
      concentrations and dextrose infusion rate may be early clinical markers of
      neonatal sepsis in the first 48 hours of life.

PMID- 1447666
TI  - Increased nosocomial infection in neutropenic low birth weight (2000 grams or
      less) infants of hypertensive mothers.
AB  - The neutropenia often seen in infants of hypertensive mothers (IHMs) at < 12
      hours of age has been associated with nosocomial infection in the first 18 days
      of life. To assess maternal hypertension as an independent factor for nosocomial
      infection, we compared 101 low birth weight (< or = 2.00 kg) IHMs to a concurrent
      birth weight-matched group of infants of normotensive mothers (INMs). Infants
      without differential leukocyte counts at < 12 hours of age were excluded, leaving
      93 IHMs and 98 INMs. The incidence of neutropenia at < 12 hours among IHMs was
      not significantly different from that among INMs (42/92 (45%) vs 37/98 (38%)).
      Nosocomial infection was more frequent in neutropenic IHMs than in neutropenic
      INMs (12/42 vs 2/37; p = 0.007). Infection in IHMs included omphalitis (2
      infants), pneumonia (4), and sepsis with or without meningitis (6); INMs had
      cellulitis (1) and sepsis (1). The underlying mechanism(s) for this
      predisposition remains to be elucidated, although limited data suggest that
      neutropenia may be more severe and prolonged among IHMs.

PMID- 1447667
TI  - Response of preterm infants to hepatitis B vaccine.
AB  - Ninety-nine preterm infants with birth weights < 1750 gm had three doses of
      hepatitis B vaccine. Fifty-seven received the first dose when they weighed > or =
      1000 gm (group 1) and 42 when they weighed > or = 2000 gm (group 2). The final
      seropositive rates and geometric mean titers of group 1 infants (79%, 61 mIU/ml)
      and group 2 infants (91%, 262 mIU/ml) were less than that of 43 normal term
      infants (100%, 679 mIU/ml).

PMID- 1447668
TI  - A fatal neonatal case of medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency
      with homozygous A-->G985 transition.
AB  - A term neonate became lethargic and hypotonic at 46 hours of age and died 10
      hours later despite supportive therapy. Urinary organic acids indicated medium
      chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency, and DNA studies confirmed this
      disorder. Neonatal symptoms in this enzyme deficiency have rarely been reported,
      and recent reviews have ignored or discounted this presentation.

PMID- 1447669
TI  - Effect of age on ibuprofen pharmacokinetics and antipyretic response.
AB  - The effect of age on ibuprofen pharmacokinetics and antipyretic effect was
      studied in 49 infants and children aged 3 months to 10.4 years. The relationship
      of plasma concentration to antipyretic effect was examined in 38 of the children
      by using an iterative least squares technique that allows estimation of drug
      concentration with time in a theoretical effect compartment and rate constant for
      elimination of drug from the effect compartment. There was a delay of 1 to 3
      hours between peak ibuprofen plasma concentration and peak temperature decrement.
      The mean elimination rate constant from the effect compartment was 0.6 hour-1,
      corresponding to a half-life of drug in the effect compartment of 1.1 hours. The
      mean slope of the effect compartment concentration versus temperature regression
      line was -0.242 degrees C/mg per liter. Age did not significantly influence the
      rate of absorption of ibuprofen, its plasma concentration, its rate of
      elimination, or the time course of ibuprofen concentration in the effect
      compartment. However, in younger children the onset of antipyresis was earlier,
      maximum antipyretic effect was greater, and the area under the curve of the
      percentage of change in temperature from baseline versus time was greater than in
      older children. We conclude that the greater relative body surface area in
      younger children may allow more efficient dissipation of heat in response to
      antipyretic-induced lowering of the temperature "set point" in the hypothalamus.

PMID- 1447670
TI  - Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of bumetanide in neonates treated with
      extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
AB  - Eleven term neonates treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation received
      bumetanide to treat volume overload. All patients had stable renal function, no
      history of prior diuretic therapy, and no overt evidence of hepatobiliary disease
      or hypoalbuminemia. Pretreatment creatinine clearance was 35.2 +/- 4.5 ml/min per
      1.73 m2 (range, 20.3 to 57.5). Bumetanide, 0.095 +/- 0.003 mg/kg, was
      administered for 2 minutes into the postmembrane side of the extracorporeal
      membrane oxygenation circuit. Serial plasma and urine samples were collected for
      measurement of bumetanide and electrolyte concentrations. Total plasma and renal
      clearances for bumetanide were 0.63 +/- 0.11 and 0.16 +/- 0.04 ml/min per
      kilogram, respectively. The steady-state volume of distribution (0.44 +/- 0.03
      L/kg) and the elimination half-life (13.2 +/- 3.8 hours) were greater than
      similar values reported in previous studies of bumetanide disposition in
      premature and term neonates who were not treated with extracorporeal membrane
      oxygenation. At observed rates of bumetanide excretion, the diuretic,
      natriuretic, and kaliuretic responses were linear. Significant diuresis,
      natriuresis, and kaliuresis were observed, although the duration of these effects
      was less than expected given the prolonged renal elimination of bumetanide.
      Nonrenal elimination of bumetanide was variable (47.2% to 96.9%) but higher than
      expected; this may explain the relatively brief diuretic and kaliuretic response.

PMID- 1447671
TI  - Treatment of peripheral tissue ischemia with topical nitroglycerin ointment in
      neonates.
AB  - Four neonates had resolution of peripheral tissue ischemia after the application
      of 2% nitroglycerin ointment. A dosage of 4 mm nitroglycerin ointment per
      kilogram of body weight was applied to two patients with ischemia caused by
      vasospasm from indwelling radial artery catheterization and to two patients with
      ischemia resulting from dopamine extravasation. No adverse effects were noted
      except mild episodes of decreased blood pressure in two of the patients.

PMID- 1447672
TI  - Tardive dyskinesia associated with use of metoclopramide in a child.
AB  - Tardive dyskinesia is a chronic, often permanent, movement disorder that has been
      reported in elderly patients receiving metoclopramide. We describe an 8-year-old
      boy with tardive dyskinesia that developed when he received metoclopramide as
      part of therapy for gastroesophageal reflux and erosive esophagitis.

PMID- 1447673
TI  - Unforgettable patients.

PMID- 1447674
TI  - Applications of DNA fingerprinting.

PMID- 1447675
TI  - Lipoprotein profile of children receiving theophylline therapy.

PMID- 1447676
TI  - Treatment of chronic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

PMID- 1447677
TI  - Detrimental effects of hypotonic cromolyn sodium.

PMID- 1447678
TI  - Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection: mean age at onset.

PMID- 1447679
TI  - Neurotoxicity of panipenem/betamipron, a new carbapenem, in rabbits: correlation
      to concentration in central nervous system.
AB  - The neurotoxic potential of panipenem/betamipron (PAPM/BP), a new carbapenem
      antibiotic, was compared with that of imipenem/cilastatin (IPM/CS). The drug
      concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at the onset of epileptogenic
      electroencephalographic (EEG)-activity and the drug distribution into the central
      nervous system (CNS) were evaluated. Epileptogenic reactions correlated well with
      drug levels in CSF, but not with drug levels in circulating plasma. The
      concentration of PAPM in CSF at the onset of epileptogenic EEG-activity was
      almost twice that of IPM, suggesting that neurotoxic activity of PAPM is about
      half that of IPM. In addition, in terms of incidence percent for the
      epileptogenic EEG-activity, PAPM/BP was found to be less toxic than IPM/CS within
      the dose of 1.0-1.2 g/kg. Concentrations of PAPM in CSF and brain extracellular
      fluid after PAPM/BP i.v. infusion were comparable with those of IPM after IPM/CS
      infusion, indicating the similar characteristics of distribution into the CNS for
      the two antibiotics. From these results of pharmacologic effects and drug
      distributions, it is suggested that the neurotoxicity of PAPM/BP is less than
      half that of IPM/CS.

PMID- 1447680
TI  - Are free radicals involved in Ca(2+)-induced membrane damage of mitochondria?
AB  - Ca(2+)-Induced membrane damage of energized mitochondria has been proposed to be
      due to lipid peroxidation induced by Ca2+. To examine this possibility, we
      studied the effects of the radical scavenger, 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene
      (BHT), and its derivative, 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-methoxytoluene (MeO-BHT), on
      membrane damage of respiring mitochondria induced by Ca2+ in the presence of
      inorganic phosphate. Both compounds inhibited Ca(2+)-induced damage almost
      completely at 20 microM, and their effects were identical, although MeO-BHT had
      no radical scavenging ability. These results indicate that the protective effects
      of BHT and MeO-BHT are not due to their radical scavenging ability. Thus, free
      radicals are concluded not to be involved in Ca(2+)-induced membrane damage of
      mitochondria.

PMID- 1447681
TI  - Importance of hydrolysis of amino acid moiety in water-soluble prodrugs of
      disodium cromoglycate for increased oral bioavailability.
AB  - The relationship between physicochemical properties and oral absorption was
      investigated in prodrugs for the oral delivery of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG).
      To improve the lipophilicity of DSCG, various lipophilic moieties were introduced
      into the twin carboxyl groups. However, this did not lead to improved oral
      absorption in rabbits because of loss of water solubility, in spite of improved
      lipophilicity. Water-soluble prodrugs, in which an amino acid was introduced into
      a hydroxy group by ester linkage in addition to ethyl residues at twin carboxyl
      groups of DSCG, were synthesized and examined for oral absorption in rabbits and
      rats. The oral absorption of these prodrugs was affected by the species of amino
      acids introduced as a water-soluble moiety. Therefore, we examined the relation
      between the oral absorption of water-soluble prodrugs and the hydrolysis rate of
      the amino acid moiety. A good linear correlation was obtained between the oral
      absorption and the hydrolysis rate constant catalyzed by digestive enzymes,
      trypsin or alpha-chymotrypsin. It was thus concluded that the amino acid moiety
      of water-soluble prodrugs must be rapidly hydrolyzed to a permeable lipophilic
      prodrug still possessing the ethyl moiety at twin carboxyl groups in the small
      intestinal tract for good oral absorption.

PMID- 1447682
TI  - Percutaneous absorption of pindolol and pharmacokinetic analysis of the plasma
      concentration.
AB  - The percutaneous (p.c.) absorption of pindolol, a beta-blocker, through rabbit
      skin was examined by in vitro and in vivo studies. Additionally, for practical
      use of the transdermal system (TTS), a trial for sustaining a suitable plasma
      concentration of pindolol by using a rate-controlling membrane and for describing
      plasma drug levels after p.c. application by using a simple pharmacokinetic model
      was tested. As a result, the drug penetrated through rabbit skin in vitro at a
      zero-order rate. In vivo, the drug was also absorbed through the skin from a gel
      base with or without enhancers. The gel preparation with Azone (Rp. 2) gave high
      plasma levels of pindolol. The transdermal system produced with Rp. 2 and a rate
      controlling membrane (Hipore 4050) provided relatively constant plasma levels for
      48 h. The model presented could describe the time course of plasma pindolol
      concentrations following p.c. application of the systems.

PMID- 1447683
TI  - Generation of senescent antigen on erythrocytes by partial blocking of SH groups
      of the membrane proteins.
AB  - Human erythrocytes treated with diamide (0.2 mM) or N-ethylmaleimide (0.1 mM) at
      37 degrees C for 1 h were susceptible to binding of anti-band 3 immunoglobulin G
      autoantibody and hemoglobin. A definite degree of cell modification appeared to
      be required for the effective bindings since the cells treated with the reagents
      above these concentrations were less susceptible. The enhanced binding activities
      of the cells treated with diamide were abolished on treatment with
      dithiothreitol. Partial blocking of SH groups of the membrane proteins but not
      disulfide-mediated protein cross-linking may be essential for the formation of
      band 3 senescent antigen, which may not be a neo-antigen formed by chemical
      modification of band 3 but an antigen formed by topological alterations of the
      molecules in the membrane.

PMID- 1447684
TI  - Cognitive-experiential self-theory and subjective probability: further evidence
      for two conceptual systems.
AB  - Three experiments (N = 1,331) demonstrated that research findings on
      suspiciousness about coincidences (Miller, Turnbull, & McFarland, 1989) can be
      accounted for in terms of subjective probability, as predicted by cognitive
      experiential self-theory (CEST) but in contrast with the norm theory (NT) account
      offered by Miller et al. (1989). Ss participated in a hypothetical (Experiments 1
      and 2) or real (Experiment 3) lottery game in which they chose between 2 bowls
      offering equivalent probabilities of winning or losing but differing with respect
      to absolute numbers (e.g., 1 in 10 vs. 10 in 100). Responses across 4 conditions
      (2 probability levels x 2 outcome types) and across the 3 experiments supported
      predictions derived from CEST but not those derived from NT. Results are
      discussed in terms of 2 conceptual systems, rational and experiential, that
      operate by different rules of inference.

PMID- 1447685
TI  - Stimulus recognition and the mere exposure effect.
AB  - A meta-analysis of research on Zajonc's (1968) mere exposure effect indicated
      that stimuli perceived without awareness produce substantially larger exposure
      effects than do stimuli that are consciously perceived (Bornstein, 1989a).
      However, this finding has not been tested directly in the laboratory. Two
      experiments were conducted comparing the magnitude of the exposure effect
      produced by 5-ms (i.e., subliminal) stimuli and stimuli presented for longer
      durations (i.e., 500 ms). In both experiments, 5-ms stimuli produced
      significantly larger mere exposure effects than did 500-ms stimuli. These results
      were obtained for polygon (Experiment 1), Welsh figure (Experiment 2), and
      photograph stimuli (Experiments 1 and 2). Implications of these findings for
      theoretical models of the mere exposure effect are discussed.

PMID- 1447686
TI  - Role of meaningful subgroups in explaining differences in perceived variability
      for in-groups and out-groups.
AB  - Five aspects of the complexity of the knowledge representation of business and
      engineering majors were examined to see whether these differed by group
      membership and whether these differences were related to differences in perceived
      variability. Significantly more subgroups were generated when describing the in
      group than the out-group; this difference predicted the relative tendency to see
      the in-group as more variable, and when controlled for statistically, out-group
      homogeneity effects were eliminated. Familiarity, redundancy, number of
      attributes used to describe the group, and the deviance of the subgroups from the
      larger group generally showed differences for in-group and out-group but did not
      show consistent evidence of mediation. In a 2nd study, Ss who were asked to sort
      group members into meaningful subgroups perceived greater variability relative to
      those who did not perform the sorting task.

PMID- 1447687
TI  - Mood effects on attitude judgments: independent effects of mood before and after
      message elaboration.
AB  - This study investigated the independent effects of induced mood on the encoding
      of persuasive messages and on the assessment of attitude judgments. In Experiment
      1, positive or negative mood was induced either before the encoding of a
      counterattitudinal message or before the assessment of attitude judgments. When
      mood was induced before message presentation, Ss in a bad mood were more
      persuaded by strong than by weak arguments, whereas Ss in a good mood were
      equally persuaded by strong and by weak arguments. When Ss encoded the message in
      a neutral mood, however, the advantage of strong over weak arguments was more
      pronounced when Ss were in a good rather than in a bad mood at the time of
      attitude assessment. In Experiment 2, Ss exposed to a counterattitudinal message
      composed of either strong or weak arguments formed either a global evaluation or
      a detailed representation of the message. Positive, negative, or neutral mood was
      then induced. Ss in a good mood were most likely and Ss in a negative mood least
      likely to base their reported attitudes on global evaluations.

PMID- 1447688
TI  - Attributions and behavior in marital interaction.
AB  - To examine whether spouses' attributions for events in their marriage are related
      to their behavior in interaction, spouses were asked to report their marital
      quality, to make attributions for marital difficulties, and to engage in problem
      solving discussions. Study 1 demonstrated that spouses' maladaptive attributions
      were related to less effective problem-solving behaviors, particularly among
      wives. Study 2 showed that spouses' maladaptive attributions were related to
      higher rates of negative behavior and, for wives, to increased tendencies to
      reciprocate negative partner behavior. In both studies attributions and behavior
      tended to be more strongly related for distressed than nondistressed wives. These
      results support social-psychological models that posit that attributions are
      related to behavior and models of marriage and close relationships that assume
      that maladaptive attributions contribute to conflict behavior and relationship
      dysfunction.

PMID- 1447689
TI  - Moderators of the relation between perceived control and adjustment to chronic
      illness.
AB  - It was predicted that the relation between perceived control and adjustment to
      chronic illness would be stronger when (a) perceptions of control were based in
      reality and (b) the threat was severe. Perceived control was assessed during the
      hospitalization of 80 first cardiac event patients, and adjustment was assessed
      during hospitalization and 3-month follow-up. Results indicated that perceptions
      of vicarious control (perception that other people and things have control) were
      related to better adjustment only for patients who had undergone invasive
      procedures by physicians. The relation between control and adjustment was
      stronger under more severe threat conditions (poor prognosis and
      rehospitalization).

PMID- 1447690
TI  - Vulnerability to depressive symptomatology: a prospective test of the diathesis
      stress and causal mediation components of the hopelessness theory of depression.
AB  - The diathesis-stress and causal mediation components of the hopelessness theory
      of depression (Abramson, Metalsky, & Alloy, 1989) were tested using a prospective
      methodology. Measures of the 3 vulnerability factors posited by the theory
      (cognitive diatheses about cause, consequences, and self) were completed by 152
      Ss at Time (T) 1. Ss completed measures of depressive symptoms, anxious symptoms,
      and hopelessness at T1 and again at T2, 5 weeks later. Naturally occurring
      stressors were assessed at T2 (covering the T1-T2 interval). Consistent with the
      diathesis-stress component, each Cognitive Diathesis x Stress (CD x S)
      interaction predicted onset of depressive symptoms from T1 to T2. In contrast,
      the CD x S interactions predicted neither state nor trait anxiety. In addition, 2
      of the 3 CD x S interactions (those involving cause and self, but not
      consequences) were partially mediated by hopelessness. Implications for future
      work on the hopelessness theory of depression are discussed.

PMID- 1447691
TI  - Future-event schemas and certainty about the future: automaticity in depressives'
      future-event predictions.
AB  - The proposition was tested that depressives make predictions about the future
      based on a pessimistic future-event schema. Participants varying in depression
      predicted whether positive and negative events would happen to them (or to an
      average person) in the future by pressing yes or no at a computer terminal as
      quickly as possible, either under a concurrent attentional load or under no such
      load. As hypothesized, depressives predicted more negative events and fewer
      positive events than did mild depressives or nondepressives and showed greater
      automaticity in their predictions. That is, the attentional load did not increase
      depressives' response latencies for either negative or positive events, even
      though it did so reliably for both mildly depressed and nondepressed individuals.
      Depressives may thus possess a highly developed future-event schema that operates
      efficiently in enabling future-event predictions.

PMID- 1447692
TI  - Natural sample spaces and uncertain belief.
AB  - This article proposes a novel framework for understanding judgments of
      probability. Both accurate and inaccurate judgments are conceptualized in terms
      of the sets of information, or sample spaces, on which they are based. When
      appropriate sample spaces are easily accessed from memory (e.g., when they
      correspond to natural cognitive categories), people will make relatively accurate
      judgments; otherwise, people may substitute more accessible but inappropriate
      sample spaces and make judgment errors. In 3 experiments, the sample space
      framework was applied to account for the base rate fallacy. Results showed that
      (a) people spontaneously access sample spaces that correspond to natural
      categories, (b) reliance on inappropriate sample spaces produces the base rate
      fallacy, and (c) highlighting appropriate sample spaces improves the sensitivity
      of people's judgments to base rates. Discussion extends the framework to explain
      accuracy and error in other judgment domains.

PMID- 1447693
TI  - Judgments of genuine, suppressed, and faked facial expressions of pain.
AB  - The process of discriminating among genuine, suppressed, and faked expressions of
      pain was examined. Untrained judges estimated the severity of pain being
      experienced when viewing videotaped facial expressions of chronic pain patients
      undergoing a painful diagnostic test or dissimulating reactions. Verbal feedback
      as to whether pain was experienced also was provided, so as to be either
      consistent or inconsistent with the facial expression. Judges were able to
      distinguish genuine pain faces from baseline expressions but, relative to genuine
      pain faces, attributed more pain to faked faces and less pain to suppressed ones.
      Advance warning of deception did not improve discrimination but led to a more
      conservative or nonempathic judging style. Verbal feedback increased or decreased
      judgments, as appropriate, but facial information consistently was assigned
      greater weight. An augmenting model of the judgment process that attaches
      considerable importance to the context in which information is provided was
      supported.

PMID- 1447694
TI  - Sensation seeking and selective attention: focused and divided attention on a
      dichotic listening task.
AB  - Differences in selective attention as a function of sensation seeking,
      extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism were examined in 108 undergraduates
      using a dichotic listening task. Dependent measures included shadowing
      performance, reaction times to a secondary light task, target detection, and
      recall. The results suggested that high sensation seekers have better focused
      attention than low sensation seekers, and these effects were strongest on the 1st
      trials of the shadowing tasks. High sensation seekers did not attend differently
      than low sensation seekers to words related to their interests (sexual, violent,
      or drug related). Extraversion was associated with greater recall of these kinds
      of words, although there were no overall differences in selective attention as a
      function of Eysenck's dimensions. The role of arousal in personality and
      attention is discussed, particularly in regard to the response of sensation
      seekers to task novelty.

PMID- 1447695
TI  - Self-reports of depression and state-trait anxiety: evidence for differential
      assessment.
AB  - Several researchers have found anxiety and depression to be indistinguishable in
      nonclinical samples and have suggested that both constructs may be components of
      a general psychological distress process. Another possibility is that overlap is
      due to the psychometric limitations of scales used. A series of exploratory
      factor analyses were conducted in a nonclinical sample (N = 605) using the Beck
      Depression Inventory (BDI; Beck, 1978), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI;
      Spielberger, 1983), and the Endler Multidimensional Anxiety Scales (EMAS; Endler,
      Edwards, & Vitelli, 1991). Both state and trait anxiety and depression could be
      differentiated with the BDI and the EMAS but not with the STAI. Some theoretical
      models of negative affectivity or general psychopathology may be premature.

PMID- 1447696
TI  - Age-related changes in cardiovascular response as a function of a chronic
      stressor and social support.
AB  - The effects of aging, chronic stress, and social support on cardiovascular
      functioning were examined using a cross-sectional design. Thirty-six family
      caregivers of Alzheimer's disease victims and 34 control Ss performed 2 active
      coping tasks while continuous noninvasive measures of cardiovascular activity
      were monitored. Results revealed that caregivers high in social support displayed
      typical age-related decreases in heart-rate reactivity, whereas caregivers low in
      social support displayed age-related increases in heart-rate reactivity. Analyses
      further indicated that only Ss with low social support were characterized by age
      related increases in systolic blood pressure. These results suggest that social
      support can moderate age-related changes in cardiovascular functioning,
      particularly in Ss exposed to a chronic stressor.

PMID- 1447697
TI  - Interpretive sets, expectancy, fantasy proneness, and dissociation as predictors
      of hypnotic response.
AB  - College students with no prior experience of hypnosis were assessed for fantasy
      proneness and dissociation. In a totally separate context, they were subsequently
      tested for their interpretations of hypnotic suggestions, hypnotic response
      expectancies, and hypnotizability. Contrary to Spanos and Gorassini's (1984)
      hypothesis, strategic enactment of suggested responses was rarely reported, and
      its endorsement was not correlated with hypnotic responsiveness. Suggestibility
      was significantly predicted by fantasy proneness and response expectancy, but not
      by dissociation. A path analysis suggested that the relation between fantasy
      proneness and hypnotizability was partially mediated by expectancy.

PMID- 1447698
TI  - Social conflict, social support, and psychological distress: evidence of cross
      domain buffering effects.
AB  - A longitudinal study examined the relative and joint effects of perceived social
      support and social conflict on psychological distress in 228 college students.
      Women had higher perceived social support from roommates and friends and less
      conflict with roommates than did men; there were no gender differences in level
      of conflict with friends or psychological distress. Roommate conflict predicted
      increases in psychological distress over time; this effect was attenuated by high
      levels of perceived social support from friends. Friend conflict also predicted
      increases in psychological distress over time; this effect was attenuated by high
      levels of perceived social support from roommates. These results show the
      importance of negative and positive aspects of social experiences to emotional
      functioning and the importance of compensatory social support for individuals
      facing social conflicts.

PMID- 1447699
TI  - Biostability of a non-ether polyurethane.
AB  - A new type of medical grade polyurethane elastomer, based upon an ether-free
      macroglycol, has been developed by VASCOR, Inc. Prior research conducted by
      others has indicated that an ether-free urethane should be inherently immune to
      biodegradation and environmental stress cracking. Specimens of the experimental
      polyurethane, along with positive and negative control materials, were formed
      into tubing, mounted on mandrels, and implanted in rabbits. After being exposed
      to the in vivo environment for six months, the specimens were explanted and
      examined with scanning electron microscopy. No indication of degradation was
      observed in the experimental polymer or negative control specimens, whereas
      severe microcracking was seen in most of the positive control specimens.

PMID- 1447700
TI  - Factor analysis in the evaluation of the relationship between bacterial adherence
      to biomaterials and changes in free energy.
AB  - The relative surface charge and free energy of forty-one coagulase-negative
      staphylococci were found to be normally distributed; therefore, they can be
      considered a homogeneous group under strict statistical criteria. The adherence
      of these bacteria to eight different biomaterials (seven synthetic and one
      biologic) was found to be independent of charge and variations in free energy
      during adhesion. Adherence can be explained as a thermodynamic process (free
      energy decreased with adherence), except in the case of bovine pericardium in
      which free energy increases. With these biomaterials, a correlation was found
      between adherence and bacterial charge. Bacterial adherence and bacterial charge
      correlate with the surface parameters of the biomaterials. This correlation does
      not occur when the relationships between parameters are evaluated by means of
      factors analysis, thus indicating the importance of the statistical method
      selected for the evaluation of bacterial adherence.

PMID- 1447701
TI  - Modern wound dressings: a systematic approach to wound healing.
AB  - The advent of modern wound care management constitutes one of the most innovative
      applications of medical device technology. The foundation for wound care recent
      advances has been built upon the developments achieved in polymer technology over
      the last three decades. New and unique materials have been engineered to provide
      properties with significant technical and clinical benefits. These new wound care
      products were made possible by the convergence of three interrelated disciplines:
      (1) more complete understanding of the underlying principles of dermal wound
      healing processes, (2) new elastomeric polymers capable of being fabricated into
      protective dressings, and (3) advances in breathable adhesive technology. The
      following discussion provides a critical review of the current status of
      technology and the worldwide opportunities for improved wound management
      products. Particular attention is focused on the clinical applications of the
      newer, breathable dressing products, which approximate a temporary synthetic
      artificial skin.

PMID- 1447702
TI  - Automated patent search.

PMID- 1447703
TI  - Nicotine absorption after pulmonary instillation.
AB  - Levels of nicotine in plasma were determined by gas chromatography in eight
      mongrel dogs after instillation of 0.5 mg of nicotine in 100 microL of normal
      saline at three levels of the tracheobronchial tree: the trachea, a subsegmental
      bronchus of the right middle lobe, and a subpleural location of the right middle
      lobe ("distal"). An equivalent dose was given intravenously (iv). Peak of
      nicotine concentrations in plasma were significantly lower after instillation at
      the trachea (11.5 +/- 4.4 ng/mL) and the subsegmental bronchus (18.2 +/- 5.0
      ng/mL) than after an iv dose (30.3 +/- 10.7 ng/mL); p < 0.05 for each comparison.
      In addition, the peak concentration after instillation at the trachea was
      significantly lower than that after instillation at the distal site (22.1 +/- 6.2
      ng/mL, p < 0.05). Time to peak concentration was significantly longer after
      tracheal instillation (5.3 +/- 3.0 min) than after subsegmental instillation (2.0
      +/- 0.0 min) or iv infusion (2.0 +/- 0.0 min); p < 0.05 for each comparison.
      Total drug absorbed, half-life, and clearance were equivalent from all four
      sites. This study demonstrated that quantitative absorption of nicotine from the
      described lung sites is equivalent to that after an iv dose, with slower
      absorption and lower peak concentrations from the tracheal site.

PMID- 1447704
TI  - Synthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of some 6-arylidene-2-(alpha-hydroxyamino
      alpha-arylmethyl)cyclohexanone oximes and related compounds.
AB  - Reaction of 2,6-bis-(phenylmethylene)cyclohexanone (1) with a 4-molar excess of
      hydroxylamine hydrochloride and sodium acetate to produce the corresponding oxime
      2 gave rise to 2-(alpha-hydroxyamino-alpha-phenylmethyl)-6
      phenylmethylenecyclohexan one oxime (5a), whose structure was deduced from high
      resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and confirmed by X-ray
      analysis. Compound 2 was eventually prepared from 1 with hydroxylamine per se and
      not with a mixture of hydroxylamine hydrochloride and sodium acetate. Ten
      analogues of 5a, namely 5b-5k, were prepared and evaluated for cytotoxicity. Six
      of the 11 compounds in series 5, as well as 1, showed activity in the 240-950
      microM range against murine mammary EMT6 cells. Series 5 was also examined for
      cytotoxicity in an in vitro screen conducted by the National Cancer Institute
      with approximately 54 cell lines, and four compounds demonstrated selective
      toxicity toward various groups of tumors.

PMID- 1447705
TI  - Radioimmunoassays for a new angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, zabicipril,
      and its active metabolite, zabiciprilat, in human plasma.
AB  - Zabicipril (Z), a new angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor under development,
      is a prodrug that has to be deesterified in vivo to the active metabolite,
      zabiciprilat (ZT), to reach its antihypertensive pharmacological properties. Two
      radioimmunoassays have been developed for the measurement of both Z and ZT in
      human plasma. Anti-Z and anti-ZT antibodies were raised in rabbits against their
      respective lysine analogues conjugated to bovine serum albumin. [3H]Z and [3H]ZT
      were used as radioligands for the prodrug (Z) and the drug (ZT), respectively.
      Studies on anti-Z antiserum specificity showed no significant cross-reactivity (<
      0.1%) with the active metabolite (ZT); similarly, Z is poorly recognized (0.5%)
      by the anti-ZT antiserum. Both antisera showed little cross-reaction (2%) with
      glucuronide metabolites. The sensitivities of the assays were 1 and 0.2 ng/mL for
      Z and ZT, respectively. Interassay coefficients of variation ranged from 9 to 12%
      for Z at 2-50 ng/mL and from 8 to 13% for ZT at 0.5-5 ng/mL. These assays were
      used to investigate the pharmacokinetic profile of both Z and its
      pharmacologically active metabolite ZT after intravenous infusion of Z in human
      volunteers.

PMID- 1447706
TI  - Disposition of a new diacid angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor after
      intravenous administration of drug or prodrug to monkeys and dogs.
AB  - The disposition of [4S-[4 alpha,7 alpha,(R*),12b beta]]-7- [S-(1-carboxy-3
      phenylpropyl)amino]-1,2,3,4,6,7,8,12b-octahydro-6- oxo- pyrido[2,1
      a][2]benzazepine-4-carboxylic acid (MDL 27,088), a new a new angiotensin-covering
      enzyme inhibitor, was studied in cynomolgus monkeys and beagle dogs given
      intravenous (iv) doses of MDL 27,088 or its prodrug, MDL 27,210. Although in both
      species iv-administered MDL 27,210 was extensively (> 99.9%) metabolized and
      excreted in the urine and feces as MDL 27,088, the disposition of MDL 27,088
      appeared to be significantly influenced by its mode of administration. For
      example, the mean terminal half-life of MDL 27,088 in plasma was longer when MDL
      27,088 was given as its prodrug (3.65 and 2.23 h in monkeys and dogs,
      respectively) than when it was administered directly (0.84 and 1.05 h in monkeys
      and dogs, respectively). The renal excretion of MDL 27,088 also increased (from
      33 to 73% of the dose in monkeys and from 9 to 17% of the dose in dogs) when MDL
      27,088 was administered directly versus when it was given as its prodrug. These
      and other results of this study suggest that the disposition of MDL 27,088 can be
      significantly altered by iv administration of its prodrug form. Such changes in
      disposition also suggest that iv administration of prodrug may influence the
      pharmacological activity of MDL 27,088.

PMID- 1447707
TI  - A semiempirical computational investigation of the antipsoriatic drug anthralin.
AB  - A series of computational studies was carried out, by using the highly successful
      Austin Model 1 (AM1) semiempirical method, to illuminate more completely the
      fundamental, molecular-level forces that affect the function and utility of the
      antipsoriatic drug anthralin. First, examination of the keto-enol tautomeric
      equilibrium by AM1 showed that the keto tautomer of the drug is 9.5 kcal/mol more
      stable than the enol form. Strong electrostatic forces involving the hydrogens on
      the hydroxy groups (a partial charge of +0.25 in both forms) and the keto oxygen
      (a partial charge of -0.40) apparently overcome the effects of the increased
      aromatic stabilization present in the enol form. Second, AM1 was applied to the
      degradation products of anthralin, 1,8-dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone, 1,8,1',8'
      tetrahydroxy-10,10'-dianthrone, and a further oxidized form of the dimer. These
      molecules have been implicated in some of the unpleasant side effects of
      anthralin. Third, AM1 was used to predict the preferred site of ionization of
      anthralin.

PMID- 1447708
TI  - Synthesis and characterization of quaternary ammonium-linked glucuronide
      metabolites of drugs with an aliphatic tertiary amine group.
AB  - A synthetic approach was developed to make the quaternary ammonium-linked
      glucuronide metabolites of compounds with an aliphatic tertiary amine group. The
      key step involved quaternization of the compound with methyl (2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl
      alpha-D-glucopyranosyl bromide)uronate and sodium bicarbonate in a two-phase
      system of water and an organic solvent. The synthetic approach successfully
      yielded quaternary ammonium-linked glucuronides of 20 drugs and two of their
      phase I metabolites. The drugs were from various pharmacological classes: H1
      antihistamines, antipsychotic agents, and tricyclic antidepressants. Physical
      data such as HPLC retention times, and diagnostic fast-atom bombardment mass
      spectra and 1H NMR spectra were obtained. These should aid in the
      characterization of compounds in samples isolated from biological media.

PMID- 1447709
TI  - Synthesis of Mannich bases of arylidenepyridazinones as analgesic agents.
AB  - A series of 5-arylidenepyridazin-3-ones substituted in the 2-position by an
      arylpiperazinoalkyl moiety (2-16) was synthesized and evaluated for analgesic
      activity. In the phenylbenzoquinone-induced writhing test, Mannich bases 2-14
      were the most active compounds (6.1 < or = ED50 < or = 43.0 mg/kg, orally; ED50
      is the half-maximal effective dose). Pyridazinones 8 and 9, with a 3
      chlorophenylpiperazinomethyl substituent, also exhibited significant anti
      inflammatory and antipyretic effects. The activities in the phenylbenzoquinone
      induced writhing test were subjected to a Hansch analysis, and a significant
      correlation with lipophilicity and Hammett's constants was obtained.

PMID- 1447710
TI  - Stability of batanopride hydrochloride in aqueous solutions.
AB  - The degradation of batanopride hydrochloride, an investigational antiemetic drug,
      was studied in aqueous buffer solutions (pH 2-10; ionic strength, 0.5; 56 degrees
      C) in an attempt to improve drug stability for parenteral administration.
      Degradation occurs by two different mechanisms depending on the pH of the
      solution. In acidic media (pH 2-6), the predominant reaction was intramolecular
      cyclization followed by dehydration to form a 2,3-dimethylbenzofuran. There was
      no kinetic or analytical (high-performance liquid chromatography) evidence for
      the formation of an intermediate; therefore, the rate of dehydration must have
      been very rapid compared with the rate of cyclization. In alkaline media (pH 8
      10), the primary route of degradation was cleavage of the C-O alkyl ether bond.
      In the intermediate pH range (pH 6-8), both reactions contributed to the overall
      degradation. Both degradation reactions followed apparent first-order kinetics.
      The pH-rate profile suggests that batanopride hydrochloride attains its optimal
      stability at pH 4.5-5.5. Citrate buffer was catalytic at pH 3 and 5, and
      phosphate buffer was catalytic at pH 8. No catalytic effect was observed for the
      borate buffer at pH 9-10.

PMID- 1447711
TI  - Pharmacological studies on quaternized 4(3H)-quinazolinones.
AB  - Locomotor activity-inhibiting, anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant, analgesic, and
      antimicrobial properties of 2-methyl-3-pyridinium-acetylamino-4(3H)-quinazolinone
      chloride (1), 2-methyl-3-(4-methylpyridinium)acetylamino-4(3H)-quinazolinone
      chloride (2), 2-methyl-3-(4-ethylpyridinium)acetylamino-4(3H)-quinazolinone
      chloride (3), 2-methyl-3-(3-carboxamidopyridinium)acetylamino-4(3H)-quinazolinon
      e chloride (4), and 2-methyl-3-(4-carboxamidopyridinium)-acetylamino-4(3H)-
      quinazolinone chloride (5) were investigated. The locomotor activity-inhibiting
      properties and anticonvulsant activity of 2 were almost equal to those of
      methaqualone. The analgesic activities of 2 and 3 in the hot-plate test were
      equal to that of aspirin, whereas in the Koster test, the analgesic activity of 2
      was higher. The compounds did not exhibit antimicrobial or muscle relaxant
      properties. Most active compounds had higher lipophilicity values than those of
      inactive compounds.

PMID- 1447712
TI  - Stimulation of healing by free radical scavengers of ischemia-induced acute
      gastric mucosal injury in the rat.
AB  - Allopurinol and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; 1 mL of 1, 2, or 5% by gavage daily)
      were used to examine the influence of scavenging oxygen-derived free radicals on
      the healing of reserpine- (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) and 5-hydroxytryptamine- (50
      mg/kg, intraperitoneal) induced acute ischemic injury of the rat gastric mucosa.
      Allopurinol and DMSO demonstrated a time- but not dose-dependent power to
      stimulate healing of this injury. The magnitude of injury produced by reserpine
      or 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) followed by gavage with allopurinol or DMSO
      was significantly (p < 0.01) less after day 4 than that after day 3 of this
      gavage, and the magnitude after day 3 was itself significantly (reserpine, p <
      0.001; 5-hydroxytryptamine, p < 0.01) less than that after day 2 of the same
      gavage. The actions of allopurinol and DMSO were not associated with any
      significant influence on H+ output. These results suggest that oxygen-derived
      free radicals are detrimental to the integrity of the rat gastric mucosa and that
      scavenging them stimulates healing of the ischemia-induced injury of the
      mentioned mucosa.

PMID- 1447713
TI  - In vitro protein binding of propafenone and 5-hydroxypropafenone in serum, in
      solutions of isolated serum proteins, and to red blood cells.
AB  - The binding of propafenone (PF) and 5-hydroxypropafenone (5-OH-PF) in serum and
      in solutions of isolated serum proteins was examined by equilibrium dialysis.
      Both PF and 5-OH-PF displayed pH-dependent binding in serum and in a solution of
      alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AAG). PF displayed extensive binding to AAG (i.e.,
      free fraction of 0.08 +/- 0.02), whereas the binding of 5-OH-PF to AAG was
      moderate (i.e., free fraction of 0.54 +/- 0.10). The removal of lipoproteins from
      serum did not alter the free fraction of PF but significantly increased the free
      fraction of 5-OH-PF compared with that in intact serum. Both PF and 5-OH-PF
      displayed concentration-dependent binding in a 19.3-mumol AAG solution.
      Concentration-independent binding was apparent in solutions of human serum
      albumin, high-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, and very low
      density lipoproteins over the PF and 5-OH-PF concentration ranges examined. By
      use of previously determined binding parameters (affinities and capacities), the
      binding model of PF provided an estimate of the free fraction in serum that was
      similar to the observed free fraction, although the free fraction of 5-OH-PF was
      overestimated. The distribution of PF and 5-OH-PF into red blood cells was
      extensive when buffer was used as the supernatant; however, when serum was used
      as supernatant, the amounts of PF and 5-OH-PF that were distributed into red
      blood cells decreased substantially. PF and 5-OH-PF interacted with all of the
      proteins examined.

PMID- 1447714
TI  - Bulk organic solvent-water systems as a possible model to predict alkyl p
      aminobenzoate partitioning in liposomes.
AB  - This study compares the bilayer-water distribution coefficients of a homologous
      series of n-alkyl p-aminobenzoates in liposomes with their respective
      distribution coefficients in octanol-water, oleyl alcohol-water, and hexane-water
      systems. The data indicate that the bilayer-water distribution coefficient is
      quite sensitive to changes in solute structure and to the structural organization
      of the bilayer and that octanol, oleyl alcohol, and hexane are able to reflect
      the partitioning changes that occur in the liposomal bilayer with respect to
      increasing the alkyl chain length of n-alkyl p-aminobenzoates. For this
      particular homologous series, the hexane-water system tended to underestimate the
      bilayer-water distribution coefficients, whereas octanol-water and oleyl alcohol
      water systems overestimated solute partitioning into the bilayer. The similarity
      of the lipid environment, with respect to solute partitioning, in the organic
      solvent system and that in liposomes can be ascertained by using the Collander
      relationship.

PMID- 1447715
TI  - Gamma-pyrone compounds. II: Synthesis and antiplatelet effects of tetraoxygenated
      xanthones.
AB  - Norathyriol and its analogues, 1,3,5,6-, 3,4,5,6-, 3,4,6,7- and 2,3,6,7
      tetrahydroxyxanthone, were synthesized from benzophenone precursors by Friedel
      Crafts acylation and subsequent base-catalyzed cyclization to eliminate methanol.
      Both 3,4,6,7- and 2,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone tetraacetate showed potent anti
      platelet aggregation effects on arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation.
      3,4,6,7-Tetrahydroxyxanthone tetraacetate and 1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone showed
      potent and significant anti-platelet aggregation effects on collagen-induced
      platelet aggregation.

PMID- 1447716
TI  - Pharmacokinetic concepts in assessing intake of pentachlorophenol by rats after
      exposure through drinking water.
AB  - The objective of this study was to predict concentrations of a toxicant in plasma
      after exposure to the toxicant through drinking water using basic pharmacokinetic
      principles. As an example, we studied pentachlorophenol (PCP), a widely used wood
      preservative of public health concern as an environmental pollutant. We added PCP
      to the drinking water (30 micrograms/mL) of five rats for 3 days. Blood was
      sampled, and water consumption was monitored every 12 h on the days 1 and 2 and
      every 3 h on day 3. After a 4-day washout, a PCP dose of 2.5 mg/kg was given
      intravenously, and blood was withdrawn at selected times for 2 days. PCP
      concentrations in plasma were measured by capillary gas chromatography. A one
      compartment model with zero-order input and kinetic parameters (clearance, volume
      of distribution, and bioavailability) estimated after intravenous administration
      adequately predicted PCP concentrations in plasma during exposure to PCP. The
      average steady-state concentration (Css), which reflects the overall exposure,
      was predicted using the clearance (CL) concept [i.e., Css = (bioavailability.rate
      of intake)/CL] and compared with the observed value. The data for PCP demonstrate
      the potential utility of CL and other kinetic concepts in assessing exposure to a
      toxicant in drinking water, food, or air.

PMID- 1447717
TI  - Enhanced rectal absorption and reduced local irritation of the anti-inflammatory
      drug ethyl 4-biphenylylacetate in rats by complexation with water-soluble beta
      cyclodextrin derivatives and formulation as oleaginous suppository.
AB  - To improve the rectal delivery of ethyl 4-biphenylylacetate (EBA), a prodrug of
      the anti-inflammatory drug 4-biphenylylacetic acid (BPAA), the use of highly
      water-soluble 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CyD) and heptakis(2,6-di
      O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (DM-beta-CyD) was investigated and compared with the
      use of the parent beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CyD). Among the three beta-CyDs, HP
      beta-CyD was best at improving the rectal bioavailability of EBA in rats after
      single and multiple administrations of oleaginous suppositories (Witepsol H-5)
      containing the complexes. To gain insight into the enhancing effect of beta-CyDs,
      the absorption behaviors of EBA (observed by monitoring BPAA as an active
      metabolite of EBA) and beta-CyDs themselves were examined in vitro, in situ, and
      in vivo. The in situ recirculation study revealed that the complexed form of EBA
      was less absorbable from the rectal lumen in the solution state, but this
      disadvantageous effect of beta-CyDs was compensated in part by the inhibition of
      the bioconversion of EBA to BPAA. When beta-CyDs were coadministered with EBA in
      vivo, however, rather high amounts of HP-beta-CyD (approximately 26% of dose) and
      DM-beta-CyD (approximately 21% of dose), compared with beta-CyD (approximately 5%
      of dose), were absorbed from the rat rectum. Thus, the enhancement of rectal
      absorption of EBA in vivo can be explained by the facts that the hydrophilic beta
      CyDs increased the release rate of EBA from the vehicle and stabilized EBA in the
      rectal lumen and that the drug was partly absorbed in the form of the
      complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447718
TI  - Synthesis and antimicrobial properties of 2H-pyran-3(6H)-one derivatives and
      related compounds.
AB  - The synthesis of several derivatives of 2H-pyran-3(6H)-ones and their Michael
      adducts is described. Phenylthio, benzenesulfonyl, p-acetylaminobenzenesulfonyl,
      and p-bromophenyl substituents are beneficial for activity against gram-positive
      bacteria. 2-[4-(Phenylthio)phenyl]-2-methyl-6-methoxy-2H-pyran-3(6H)-one (8a)
      showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.56 micrograms/mL against
      Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 2593, and 2-[4-(phenylthio)phenyl]-2-methyl-6-[(p
      nitrobenzoyl)oxy]-2H-pyran-3 (6H)-one (9) showed a minimum inhibitory
      concentration of 0.75 microgram/mL against Streptococcus sp. C203M. In general,
      derivatives of 6-hydroxy-2H-pyran-3(6H)-ones with substituents at C-2 and C-6
      showed significant activity against gram-positive bacteria. More specifically,
      the bulkier the C-2 substituent, the greater the antibacterial activity. Michael
      adducts of thiols (13) showed activity, which may be due to a retro-Michael
      reaction. In conclusion, the alpha,beta-enone system is essential for the
      activity of 6-hydroxy-2H-pyran-3(6H)-ones, and the size and nature of
      substituents at C-2 are associated with antimicrobial activity.

PMID- 1447719
TI  - Effects of exposure to standard- and nicotine-reduced-cigarette smoke on
      pharmacokinetics of theophylline and cimetidine in rats.
AB  - Influences of exposure to standard- (containing nicotine and tar) and nicotine
      reduced-cigarette smoke on the pharmacokinetics of theophylline (20 mg/kg, per
      os) and cimetidine (50 mg/kg, per os) were investigated in rats. Animals were
      exposed to standard- or nicotine-reduced-cigarette smoke for 8 min with a
      "smoking machine". In control rats, theophylline concentrations in plasma
      increased rapidly, peaked 2 h later, and then decreased gradually. Concentrations
      of theophylline in plasma of rats exposed to standard- and nicotine-reduced
      cigarette smoke were suppressed in comparison with that of control rats, and the
      suppressive effect of nicotine-reduced-cigarette smoke was weaker than that of
      standard-cigarette smoke. The suppression of theophylline concentrations in
      plasma induced by exposure to cigarette smoke may be due to nicotine and other
      constituents of the cigarette smoke, even if the effects are slight. For
      cimetidine, no difference was found between drug concentration in plasma of rats
      exposed to nicotine-reduced-cigarette smoke and that of control rats; however,
      the drug concentration in plasma of rats exposed to standard-cigarette smoke was
      markedly suppressed. These results suggest that the suppression of cimetidine
      concentrations in plasma may be due solely to nicotine in cigarette smoke.

PMID- 1447720
TI  - Time-dependent distribution volume and kinetics of the pharmacodynamic effector
      site.

PMID- 1447721
TI  - Hydrotalcites as potential adsorbents of intestinal phosphate.

PMID- 1447722
TI  - An internal current source yields immunity of electrosensory information
      processing to unusually strong jamming in electric fish.
AB  - The electric organ of a fish represents an internal current source, and the
      largely isopotential nature of the body interior warrants that the current
      associated with the fish's electric organ discharges (EODs) recruits all
      electroreceptors on the fish's body surface evenly. Currents associated with the
      EODs of a neighbor, however, will not penetrate all portions of the fish's body
      surface equally and will barely affect regions where the neighbor's current flows
      tangentially to the skin surface. The computational mechanisms of the jamming
      avoidance response (JAR) in Eigenmannia exploit the uneven effects of a
      neighbor's EOD current to calculate the correct frequency difference between the
      two interfering EOD signals even if the amplitude of a neighbor's signal
      surpasses that of the fish's own signal by orders of magnitude. The particular
      geometry of the fish's own EOD current thus yields some immunity against the
      potentially confusing effects of unusually strong interfering EOD currents of
      neighbors.

PMID- 1447723
TI  - Testicular masculinization of vocal behavior in juvenile female Xenopus laevis
      reveals sensitive periods for song duration, rate, and frequency spectra.
AB  - In Xenopus laevis, adult males but not females produce courtship songs comprised
      of rapid trills. Two experiments were conducted to determine whether male-typical
      singing could be induced in females. At 6 different juvenile stages, male and
      female frogs were gonadectomized and implanted with testes, grown to sexual
      maturity, and tested for vocal behavior. All frogs with functional testicular
      implants sang; females sang as much as males. The frequency spectra of the clicks
      within trills were fully masculinized in females implanted at PM0, PM1, and PM2.
      There were deficiencies in song quality in females implanted late in juvenile
      life. Females receiving testis implants at PM3, PM4, and PM5 did not produce
      clicks with masculine spectral qualities. In a concurrent experiment, adult males
      and females were gonadectomized and implanted with testes or silicone tubes
      containing testosterone propionate. When tested for vocal behavior 10 to 15
      months after implantation, 8/10 androgen-treated males, 3/12 androgen-treated
      females, 5/5 testes-implanted males, and 2/4 testes-implanted females sang. The
      females that did sing spent much less time singing than males. The click rates of
      females were uniformly slower than males and no female produced clicks with a
      masculine frequency spectrum. Thus, testicular secretions can induce male-typical
      singing in females until late in juvenile development. However, females exhibit a
      progressive decline in vocal potential with increasing age, culminating in an
      almost complete loss of singing ability by adulthood.

PMID- 1447724
TI  - Cone photopigments in nocturnal and diurnal procyonids.
AB  - Procyonids are small, New World carnivores distributed among some 6 genera.
      Electroretinogram (ERG) flicker photometry was used to measure the spectra of the
      cone photopigments for members of two nocturnal species, the raccoon (Procyon
      lotor) and the kinkajou (Potos flavus), and a diurnal species, the coati (Nasua
      nasua). Each of the 3 has a class of cone photopigment with maximum sensitivity
      in the middle to long wavelengths. The spectral positioning of this cone is
      different for the three. Whereas the raccoon and kinkajou are monochromatic, the
      diurnal coati is a dichromat having an additional class of cone photopigment with
      peak sensitivity close to 433 nm.

PMID- 1447725
TI  - Water-flow sensitive pedal neurons in Tritonia: role in rheotaxis.
AB  - We have identified 13 pairs of neurons in the pedal ganglia of the marine
      nudibranch slug Tritonia diomedea that responded tonically and/or phasically to
      water-flow directed at the rhinophore sheaths and oral veil tips. Most of the
      neurons responded equally to inputs from either side of the body, but 6 pairs
      responded with greater intensity to ipsilateral water-flow stimuli. When
      stimulated intracellularly in a semi-intact, whole-animal preparation, 4 of these
      6 pairs of neurons caused ipsilateral movements that may turn the animal towards
      that side. These observations suggest a role for these current-sensitive neurons
      in the previously described orientation to water-currents in Tritonia diomedea.

PMID- 1447726
TI  - Acoustic modulation of neural activity in the preoptic area and ventral
      hypothalamus of the green treefrog (Hyla cinerea).
AB  - Responses of neurons in the preoptic area and ventral hypothalamus to conspecific
      mating calls or white noise bursts were examined in male green treefrogs (Hyla
      cinerea) during different seasons. In the winter, 34.3% of preoptic neurons and
      46.7% of ventral hypothalamic cells demonstrated significant changes in activity
      level during presentation of a conspecific mating call. In contrast, only 13.3%
      of preoptic units and 16.7% of ventral hypothalamic cells responded to the white
      noise. The percentage of preoptic and hypothalamic units responding to the
      advertisement call did not differ significantly during the summer breeding
      season. Type I units exhibited a dramatic increase in activity during acoustic
      stimulation followed by a rapid return to baseline activity levels after stimulus
      offset. Type II cells showed a robust activity increase during stimulation, but
      maintained an intermediate activity level after stimulus offset. In the preoptic
      area, a third response type exhibited suppressed activity during acoustic
      stimulation. Although seasonal condition did not alter the percentage of
      acoustically responsive units within either nucleus, the proportion of Type I
      units in the ventral hypothalamus was greatest during the summer.

PMID- 1447727
TI  - Word-finding abilities of three types of aphasic subjects.
AB  - Word-finding difficulties are often observed among different types of aphasic
      patients. This investigation analyzed the word-finding abilities of 30 aphasic
      subjects (10 Broca's, 10 Wernicke's, and 10 anomic). Forty nouns counterbalanced
      according to word length and frequency of occurrence in English language usage
      were used as stimuli and presented through four modalities (oral expression,
      writing, auditory comprehension, and reading comprehension). It was expected that
      patterns of word finding abilities would help in the classification of the
      different types of aphasia. In addition, long words and less frequently occurring
      words in English language usage should prove more difficult in word-finding
      ability, regardless of modality. The results of this study found long words and
      less frequent words were more difficult for aphasic subjects. Among the
      modalities, long words were significantly harder than short words for the writing
      modality only. It was also found that semantic errors were the most common errors
      for all types of aphasic subjects. Broca's subjects produced significantly more
      no response errors in oral expression; Wernicke's subjects produced significantly
      more semantic and phonemic errors in reading comprehension; and, Wernicke's
      subjects produced significantly more unrelated errors in both oral expression and
      reading comprehension. Clinical implications were also discussed.

PMID- 1447728
TI  - Naming disorders and semantic representations.
AB  - The status of semantic conceptual structures in aphasia was investigated with
      relation to naming disorders in spontaneous and constrained speech production. A
      battery of six tasks was administered to 25 control subjects and 25 aphasics:
      spontaneous speech production (from which the percentage of nouns was
      calculated), confrontation naming, understanding class relationships (verbal and
      pictorial), and understanding thematic relationships (verbal and pictorial).
      Results indicated the important role of taxonomic abilities for naming, while
      other conceptual structures (i.e., thematic relations) do not seem to play any
      important role in the process of naming. These results are discussed in terms of
      the internal organization of semantic information.

PMID- 1447729
TI  - Acoustic analysis in the differentiation of Parkinson's disease and major
      depression.
AB  - In its early stages, Parkinson's disease (P.D.) may be difficult to distinguish
      from major depression (M.D.) leading to inappropriate management. Both illnesses
      are characterized by psychomotor retardation. The neurovegetative symptoms used
      to diagnose M.D. are not specific and in P.D. may be due to the physical illness
      itself. Currently, differentiation of the two disorders relies on subjective
      clinical observation. Improved diagnostic accuracy based on more objective data
      is needed. To this end, this study used computerized acoustic analysis to
      contrast speech patterns in P.D. and M.D. The sample consisted of 30 P.D.
      patients without depression or dementia, 30 patients with uncomplicated M.D., and
      31 normal controls, each 60 years of age or over. Of the acoustic variables
      studied, M.D. patients had significantly reduced rates of speech compared with
      P.D. patients. The data suggest that this temporal measure of speech may be
      useful in the differentiation of P.D. and M.D.

PMID- 1447730
TI  - Novel non-cross resistant diaminoanthraquinones as potential chemotherapeutic
      agents.
AB  - A novel series of diaminoanthraquinones was discovered initially as protein
      kinase C inhibitors with IC50s in the 50-100 microM range. They exhibited potent
      tumor cell growth inhibitory activity in vitro without cross resistance to
      adriamycin. Further evaluation of two of the most active compounds NSC 639365 (3)
      and NSC 639366 (4) in human tumor cloning assay showed potent cytocidal activity.
      The results suggest therapeutical potentials against human tumors.

PMID- 1447731
TI  - Synthesis and evaluation of novel spermidine derivatives as targeted cancer
      chemotherapeutic agents.
AB  - The utility of the spermidine moiety as the homing device for the selective
      delivery of chemotherapeutic and diagnostic agents into cancer cells was
      explored. Two spermidine analogs containing a cytotoxic agent were synthesized, N
      [3,4-bis(benzyloxy)phenethyl]-N alpha-(3-amino-propyl)-L-ornithinamide
      trihydrochloride, 1a and N-[4-]bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]phenethyl]-N alpha-(3
      aminopropyl)-L- ornithinamide tetrahydrochloride, 1b. These compounds were
      prepared from the fully protected spermidine molecule with a carboxyl group side
      chain, 8. The ability of the polyamine cytotoxic agents to inhibit B16-BL6
      melanoma cell growth in culture was examined. The effects of pretreatment with
      DFMO on the activity of the synthesized compounds was also studied. The IC50
      values of compounds 1a and 1b were on the same order of magnitude as the control
      compounds, N-acetyldopamine and chlorambucil, respectively. The inhibitory
      activities of compounds 1a and 1b were not enhanced by pretreatment with DFMO,
      suggesting that depletion of intracellular polyamines did not enhance the
      activity of these compounds.

PMID- 1447732
TI  - Cysteine protease inhibition by azapeptide esters.
AB  - Papain, a prototype cysteine protease, was inhibited in a time-dependent manner
      by azapeptide esters designed to deliver an azaglycine group to the active-site
      thiol. For example, the rate of inhibition was 18 M-1s-1 for Ac-L-PheAglyOiBu (2)
      and > 11,000 M-1s-1 for Ac-L-PheAglyOPh (7). The rate of inhibition was slowed in
      the presence of substrate, and there was no reactivation of the inhibited enzyme
      after dialysis and incubation in the assay buffer. The inhibited enzyme was
      completely reactivated after the addition of valine methyl ester. The inhibited
      form of the enzyme is presumed to be acylated on the active-site thiol. An
      azaalanine-based peptide inhibited papain much more slowly. Azapeptide alkyl
      esters are unreactive with serine proteases; therefore, these inhibitors are
      selective for cysteine proteases.

PMID- 1447733
TI  - Design and synthesis of novel FKBP inhibitors.
AB  - Small molecule FKBP inhibitors were prepared with inhibitory activity ranging
      from micromolar to nanomolar. The design of these inhibitors derives from a
      structural analysis of the substrates for FKBP and cyclophilin. As a consequence
      of this analysis two key observations were made, namely: (1) amino ketone
      moieties are suitable as FKBP recognition elements at the P1-P1' site and (2) the
      P3'-P4' site will accept a trans-olefin as a suitable mimetic of a peptide
      moiety. The preparation of these non-peptide inhibitors is readily accomplished
      by a protocol which includes the synthesis of chiral propargylic amines and their
      subsequent conversion into vinyl zirconium reagents.

PMID- 1447734
TI  - Effect of conformational mobility and hydrogen-bonding interactions on the
      selectivity of some guanidinoaryl-substituted mechanism-based inhibitors of
      trypsin-like serine proteases.
AB  - Previously, we have reported that some guanidino-substituted alpha- and beta-aryl
      enol lactones I and II behaved as selective, mechanism-based inhibitors of some
      trypsin-like proteases (Rai, R.; Katzenellenbogen, J.A. J. Med. Chem.,
      submitted). In this study, we describe the synthesis and kinetic evaluation of
      some related, guanidino-substituted enol lactones having greater conformational
      mobility and affording additional hydrogen-bonding sites at the active site. The
      alpha-aryl-substituted lactones 1 and 2, which have greater conformational
      mobility in the guanidinoaryl linkage than I, selectively inhibited the trypsin
      like enzymes, and they were relatively poor inactivators of alpha-chymotrypsin
      and human neutrophil elastase (HNE). The iodo enol lactone 2 permanently
      inactivated trypsin, urokinase, tissue plasminogen activator, and plasmin,
      showing exceptionally high specificity in its interaction with trypsin and
      urokinase. The selectivity pattern exhibited by the closely related,
      conformationally less mobile alpha-aryl-substituted iodo lactone Ib, which was
      previously shown to be a selective suicide substrate of urokinase and plasmin,
      provides an interesting comparison. The alpha-benzamido-substituted lactones 3
      and 4, which afford an additional site for active-site hydrogen bonding, were
      found to be very potent alternate substrate inhibitors of trypsin and urokinase.
      In addition, the iodo lactone 4 permanently inactivated alpha-chymotrypsin. The
      importance of secondary interactions in increasing the specificities in the case
      of alpha-chymotrypsin is discussed.

PMID- 1447735
TI  - Synthesis and biological evaluation of conformationally restricted 2-(1
      pyrrolidinyl)-N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methylethylenediam ines as sigma
      receptor ligands. 1. Pyrrolidine, piperidine, homopiperidine, and
      tetrahydroisoquinoline classes.
AB  - The synthesis and sigma receptor affinity of a series of conformationally
      restricted derivatives of 2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-N
      methylethylenedi amine (1) is described. The pyrrolidinyl (or N,N
      dialkyl),ethylenediamine,N-alkyl, and phenylethyl portions of this sigma receptor
      pharmacophore were restricted by its incorporation into 1,2-cyclohexanediamine-,
      pyrrolidine-, piperidine-, homopiperidine-, and tetrahydroisoquinoline-containing
      ligands. The sigma receptor binding affinities of these compounds were determined
      using [3H](+)-pentazocine in guinea pig brain homogenates. The synthesis of all
      but one class was achieved by acylation and alane reduction of the appropriate
      diamine precursors whose synthesis is also reported. sigma receptor affinities
      ranged from 1.34 nM for 6,7-dichloro-2-[2-(1
      pyrrolidinyl)ethyl]tetrahydroisoquinoline (12) to 455 nM for (1R,2R)-trans-N-[2
      (3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methyl-2- (1-pyrrolidinyl)cyclohexylamine [(-)-4].
      In this displacement assay, (+)-pentazocine exhibited a Ki of 3.1 nM while DTG
      and haloperidol showed Ki values of 27.7 and 3.7 nM, respectively. The
      conformationally free parent compound 1 exhibited a Ki value of 2.1 nM.
      Comparison of both the sigma receptor affinities and nitrogen atom geometry of
      the compounds revealed that a gauche relation of the nitrogen atoms of cis-1,2
      cyclohexanediamines is not imperative for high affinity as we had previously
      thought. It is highly likely that nitrogen lone pair orientations and steric
      factors on the aliphatic portions of these ligands play a major role in the sigma
      receptor binding of this pharmacophore.

PMID- 1447736
TI  - Thromboxane receptor antagonism combined with thromboxane synthase inhibition. 2.
      Synthesis and biological activity of 8-(benzenesulfonamido)-7-(3
      pyridinyl)octaonic acid and related compounds.
AB  - A series of arylsulfonamide alkanoic acids substituted with a 3-pyridinyl group
      along the aliphatic chain were synthesized and tested in vitro for their ability
      to antagonize thromboxane A2 (TxA2) receptors and inhibit thromboxane synthase.
      These compounds were found to potently inhibit the U 46619-induced aggregation of
      human platelets and to also inhibit TxA2 biosynthesis in a human microsomal
      platelet preparation. However, some members of the series, notably compound 21,
      were found to display agonist activity on the rabbit aorta TxA2 receptor. This
      unwanted agonist activity appeared to be related to the presence of a substituent
      beta to the arylsulfonamido group.

PMID- 1447737
TI  - Thromboxane receptor antagonism combined with thromboxane synthase inhibition. 3.
      Pyridinylalkyl-substituted 8-[(arylsulfonyl)amino]octanoic acids.
AB  - A series of 8-[(arylsulfonyl)amino]octanoic acids substituted with a
      pyridinylalkyl group along the chain were synthesized and tested in vitro for
      their ability to both antagonize the binding of thromboxane A2 to its receptors
      and to inhibit the thromboxane synthase enzyme. This series of compounds were
      found to inhibit the U 46619-induced aggregation of human platelets and the U
      46619-induced contraction of dog saphenous vein. The compounds also inhibited
      TxA2 biosynthesis in a human microsomal platelet preparation. The relative
      position of the pyridinylalkyl and arylsulfonamide groups had significant effects
      on the thromboxane receptor antagonist (TxRA) activity and thromboxane synthase
      inhibitor (TxSI) activity. Compounds with the pyridine ring at the 7- or 8
      position of the octanoic acid side chain were weakly active as TxSI but behaved
      as potent TxRA at the platelet receptor for TxA2. However, these compounds were
      agonists at the vascular receptor. Substitution of the pyridinylalkyl group at
      the 2- or 3-position resulted in compounds with potent TxSI activity and weak
      TxRA activity. The activity profile of the compounds with the pyridinylalkyl
      substitution at the 4-, 5-, or 6-position was very desirable. Compound 22 with a
      pyridinylpropyl substituent at the 4-position was found to display extremely
      potent TxRA and TxSI properties.

PMID- 1447738
TI  - Thromboxane receptor antagonism combined with thromboxane synthase inhibition. 4.
      8-[[(4-Chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]amino]-4-(3-(3-pyridinyl) propyl)octanoic acid and
      analogs.
AB  - The title compound (10a) and its analogs were synthesized and found to possess
      two activities, the inhibition of the biosynthesis of thromboxane A2 and
      antagonism of its receptors. The in vitro and in vivo profile of these compounds
      as thromboxane receptor antagonists (TxRAs) and thromboxane synthase inhibitors
      (TxSIs) is described. 10a and its analogs displayed very potent TxRA activity in
      human washed platelets (IC50 approximately 10(-7)-10(-9) M) and dog saphenous
      vein (pA2 approximately 9) and also potent TxSI activity (IC50 approximately 10(
      9) M). The good bioavailability and the long duration of action of some of these
      compounds was demonstrated using ex vivo measurement of the TxRA activity upon
      oral administration to guinea pigs. Compounds 10a, 20, and 33 potently inhibited
      arachidonic acid induced bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs.

PMID- 1447739
TI  - Acyl-CoA:cholesterol O-acyl transferase (ACAT) inhibitors. 1. 2-(Alkylthio)-4,5
      diphenyl-1H-imidazoles as potent inhibitors of ACAT.
AB  - A potent, bioavailable ACAT inhibitor may have beneficial effects in the
      treatment of atherosclerosis by (i) reducing the absorption of dietary
      cholesterol, (ii) reducing the secretion of very low density lipoproteins into
      plasma from the liver, and (iii) preventing the transformation of arterial
      macrophages into foam cells. We have found that a mevalonate derivative 2, which
      contains a 4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl moiety, inhibits rat hepatic microsomal
      ACAT in vitro and produces a significant hypocholesterolemic effect in the
      cholesterol-fed rat. Structure-activity relationships for analogues of 2
      demonstrate that the 4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole moiety is a pharmacophore for
      inhibition of rat microsomal ACAT.

PMID- 1447740
TI  - Low molecular weight, non-peptide fibrinogen receptor antagonists.
AB  - The tetrapeptide H-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-OH (1) (RGDS), representing a recognition
      sequence of fibrinogen for its platelet receptor GP IIb-IIIa (integrin alpha IIb
      beta 3), served as lead compound for the development of highly potent and
      selective fibrinogen receptor antagonists. Replacement of the N-terminal arginine
      by p-amidinophenylalanine or the Gly moiety by m-aminobenzoic acid led to
      compounds which are superior to the lead peptide with regard to activity and
      selectivity for GP IIb-IIIa vs the closely related vitronectin receptor alpha v
      beta 3. By random screening [(p-amidinobenzenesulfonamido)ethyl]-p-phenoxyacetic
      acid derivatives have been identified as fibrinogen receptor antagonists. Further
      structure-activity relationship studies culminated in the preparation of N-[N-[N
      (p-amidinobenzoyl)-beta-alanyl]-L-alpha-aspartyl]-3-phenyl-L- alanine (29h, Ro 43
      5054) and [[1-[N-(p-amidinobenzoyl)-L-tyrosyl]-4-piperidinyl]oxy]acetic acid
      (37f, Ro 44-9883), which exhibit very high activity as platelet aggregation
      inhibitors (IC50s 0.06 and 0.03 microM, respectively, human PRP/ADP) as well as
      marked selectivity for GP IIb-IIIa vs alpha v beta 3. Since the activity of 37f
      in dogs declines according to a two-compartment model with an initial phase
      having a t1/2 of 8 min and a second phase with a t1/2 of 110 min, this compound
      is a suitable candidate for the development as iv platelet inhibitor.

PMID- 1447741
TI  - Synthesis and antimuscarinic properties of some N-substituted 5-(aminomethyl)-3,3
      diphenyl-2(3H)-furanones.
AB  - In a study aimed toward developing new, selective antimuscarinic drugs with
      potential utility in the treatment of urinary incontinence associated with
      bladder muscle instability, a series of N-substituted 5-(aminomethyl)-3,3
      diphenyl-2(3H)-furanones, conformationally-constrained lactone relatives of
      benactyzine, was prepared. The compounds were examined in several paradigms that
      measure muscarinic (M1, M2, and M3) receptor antagonist activity. Selected
      members of the series that displayed potency and/or selectivity in these tests
      were studied for their effects on urinary bladder contraction, mydriasis, and
      salivation in guinea pigs. These studies revealed that incorporation of the amino
      functionality into an imidazole or pyrazole ring resulted in some novel, potent,
      and selective antimuscarinic agents. Appropriate alkyl substitution of position 2
      of the imidazole strikingly affected muscarinic, particularly M3, receptor
      activity and may reflect a complementary site of interaction. Some of the
      compounds selectively reduced bladder pressure in a cystometrogram (CMG) model
      without producing concomitant mydriatic and salivary effects. The separate and
      distinct action of several compounds of this series in these in vivo protocols
      suggests the possibility of subtypes of muscarinic receptors that may correspond
      to previously characterized molecular cloned subpopulations. In this article,
      structure-activity relationships for the series of substituted lactones are
      discussed. These studies led to the identification of (R)-[(2-isopropyl-1H
      imidazol-1-yl)methyl]-4,5-dihydro-3,3-diphenyl-2(3H )- furanone (23) as a
      clinical candidate for treating urinary bladder dysfunction.

PMID- 1447742
TI  - Thiophene systems. 14. Synthesis and antihypertensive activity of novel 7-(cyclic
      amido)-6-hydroxythieno[3,2-b]pyrans and related compounds as new potassium
      channel activators.
AB  - The synthesis and antihypertensive activity of novel 7-(cyclic amido)-6-hydroxy
      5,5-dimethylthieno[3,2-b]pyrans and related compounds are described. The
      compounds were tested for oral antihypertensive activity in spontaneously
      hypertensive rats (SHR) and selected compounds were evaluated in vitro for
      increases in 86Rb efflux in rabbit isolated mesenteric arteries. The effects on
      activity in SHR of lactam ring size, the presence of heteroatoms in the lactam
      ring, the relative stereochemistry at C-6 and C-7, and the substituents on the
      thiophene ring are examined. The best racemic compound in this series is 32,
      trans-5,6-dihydro-6-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-2-nitro-7-(2-oxopiperidin -1-yl)-5H-
      thieno[3,2-b]pyran, which is 10-fold more potent than cromakalim with an ED30 =
      0.015 mg/kg in SHR. Compound 32 could be resolved and the antihypertensive
      activity determined to reside primarily in the (6S,7S)-(-)-enantiomer 41.
      Surprisingly, the elimination of water to give the enamides 50-52, thiophene
      isosteres of bimakalim, diminishes activity significantly.

PMID- 1447743
TI  - Synthesis and biological activity of 4-(diphenylmethyl)-alpha-[(4
      quinolinyloxy)methyl]-1-piperazineethanol and related compounds.
AB  - A series of 4-(diphenylmethyl)-alpha-[(4-quinolinyloxy)methyl]-1-pipe
      razineethanol and closely related compounds was synthesized and evaluated for
      cardiac and vascular activity in isolated perfused rat and guinea pig hearts.
      Compound 1 produced greater inotropic effects in rat hearts than in guinea pig
      hearts, a phenomenon which was also observed with the prototype agent DPI 201
      106. Compound 15 produced an inotropic effect with one-tenth the potency of
      compound 1. Both compounds 1 and 15 demonstrated direct inotropic and
      vasodilatory effects when administered iv in anesthetized dogs, although the
      vasodilatory activity was more pronounced with compound 15 than 1 and DPI
      compound. Compound 1 lacks the CN moiety which is a key structural requirement in
      DPI for positive inotropic activity. The synthesis, in vitro, and in vivo
      evaluations of these agents, and comparative data with DPI-201-106 (compound 17)
      are reported.

PMID- 1447744
TI  - A dideazatetrahydrofolate analogue lacking a chiral center at C-6, N-[4-[2-(2
      amino-3,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-5- yl)ethyl]benzoyl]-L
      glutamic acid, is an inhibitor of thymidylate synthase.
AB  - N-[4-[2-(2-Amino-3,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-5-
      yl)ethyl]benzoyl]-L-glutamic acid (15), prepared in five steps from 2-pivaloyl-7
      deazaguanine, has been found to be an antitumor agent with its primary site of
      action at thymidylate synthase rather than purine synthesis. This compound
      appears to be a promising candidate for clinical evaluation.

PMID- 1447745
TI  - Cardiotonic agents. Synthesis and cardiovascular properties of novel 2
      arylbenzimidazoles and azabenzimidazoles.
AB  - Novel 2-arylbenzimidazoles and azabenzimidazoles were synthesized, and their
      inotropic action was evaluated. Changes in left ventricular pressure, dP/dt max,
      were measured as an index of cardiac contractility. The structural features that
      impart optimal inotropic activity are presented. The most potent compounds were
      evaluated orally in conscious dogs with implanted Konigsberg pressure
      transducers. To investigate the mechanism of action, the most potent compounds
      were tested for their calcium-sensitizing properties and their potential for the
      inhibition of phosphodiesterase. Two compounds, 1 and 41, showed interesting in
      vitro and oral activity without side effects. They have a more potent calcium
      sensitizing effect than MCI-154 and are under further investigation.

PMID- 1447746
TI  - 2-(Aminomethyl)chromans that inhibit iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and
      protect against central nervous system trauma and ischemia.
AB  - A series of 2-(aminomethyl)chromans was developed as potent inhibitors of iron
      dependent lipid peroxidation. Compounds within this class are extremely effective
      at inhibiting lipid peroxidation with IC50's as low as 0.2 microM. Selected
      members were found to enhance early neurological recovery and survival in a mouse
      head injury model. In this assay, improvement in the 1-h post-head-injury
      neurological status (grip test score) by as much as 230% of control was observed.
      One of the most efficacious compounds (35) was evaluated in two models of
      cerebral ischemia where significant neuroprotection was observed. These results
      provide further support for the importance of cerebroprotective antioxidants for
      the treatment of traumatic and ischemic injury as well as additional evidence for
      the role of oxygen radicals in postischemic brain damage.

PMID- 1447747
TI  - Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel 4-substituted 1-methyl
      1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine analogs of MPTP.
AB  - The exceptionally good MAO-B substrate properties of several 1-methyl-4-phenyl
      1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) derivatives have prompted studies to evaluate
      the corresponding properties of tetrahydropyridines bearing heteroatom-linked
      groups at C-4. The 1-methyl-4-phenoxy-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine analog proved to
      be an excellent MAO-B substrate. Unlike analogs bearing hydrocarbon substituents
      at C-4, the resulting dihydropyridinium metabolite did not undergo further
      oxidation to the pyridinium compound but rather underwent hydrolytic cleavage.
      This observation has led to studies designed to explore the possibility of
      developing novel, nontoxic derivatives of MPTP bearing potential
      pharmacologically active leaving groups at C-4. In this paper we report the
      results of synthetic and metabolic studies on a series of tetrahydropyridine
      analogs of MPTP with oxygen, sulfur, and carbamoyloxy derivatives on C-4 which
      serve as model compounds to evaluate the scope of this prodrug concept.

PMID- 1447748
TI  - Diamine ligand release from the cisplatin analogue [meso-1,2-bis(2,6-dichloro-4-
      hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum(II) in cell culture medium.
AB  - The stability of the five-membered chelate ring of the cisplatin analogue [meso
      1,2-bis(2,6-dichloro-4- hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum(II) was
      investigated under typical cell culture conditions (IMEM-Richter's medium with
      10% fetal calf serum, 37 degrees C). For this purpose, the platinum compound was
      radiolabeled with tritium in the meta position of the aromatic ring by an acid
      catalyzed tritium-exchange reaction, and a reversed-phase HPLC assay with
      radiochemical detection was developed to monitor for the presence of the free
      diamine ligand in the cell culture medium. A gradual increase in radioactivity
      attributed to the free diamine was found in medium containing the
      dichloroplatinum(II) complex (ca. 25% after 24 h), indicating that the diamine
      ligand was being released from the metal atom. When 1 mM glutathione (GSH) was
      included in the incubation medium, the amount of free diamine nearly doubled
      after 24 h, while the amount of radioactivity attributed to serum protein
      platinum adducts decreased relative to incubations without GSH. On the other
      hand, the omission of serum from the incubations resulted in a dramatic decrease
      in the amount of radioactivity eluting under the diamine peak, while the
      concentrations of the two methionine-Pt adducts, which formed in a 1:1 ratio,
      rose. Through the use of liquid secondary ion mass spectroscopy, the two
      methionine-Pt adducts were identified as monomethionine metabolites of the title
      compound, whereby the two chloride ligands have been replaced by the amino acid.
      These compounds are probably diastereomers since the sulfur of methionine can
      coordinate to platinum with equal probability either cis or trans to the R
      configured benzylamine carbon. On the basis of the chemical shifts of the MeS
      groups in the 250-MHz 1H NMR, it is concluded that a S,N-five-membered chelate
      ring is present in these methionine-Pt adducts.

PMID- 1447749
TI  - Structural features of substituted purine derivatives compatible with depletion
      of human O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase.
AB  - A series of O6- and S6-substituted purine derivatives were tested for their
      ability to deplete the human DNA repair protein O6-alkylguanine-DNA
      alkyltransferase (AGT) in cell-free extracts from HT29 colon tumor cells and
      intact HT29 cells. The order of potency was O6-(p-Y-benzyl)-guanine (Y = H, F,
      Cl, and CH3) > O6-benzyl-2'-deoxyguanosine > O6-(p-Y-benzyl)guanosine (Y = H, Cl,
      and CH3) > or = a series of 9-substituted O6-benzylguanine derivatives > or = O6
      allylguanine > O6-benzylhypoxanthine > O6-methylguanine. A series of 7
      substituted O6-benzylguanine derivatives, 2-amino-6-(p-Y-benzylthio)purine (Y =
      H, CH3), 2-amino-6-[(p-nitrobenzyl)thio]-9-beta-D-ribofuranosylpurine, and 7
      benzylguanine were inactive. It is concluded that for efficient AGT depletion, an
      allyl or benzyl group attached through exocyclic oxygen at position 6 of a 2
      aminopurine derivative is required. Activity is preserved with a variety of
      substituent groups attached to position 9 while substitution at position 7 leads
      to a complete loss of activity.

PMID- 1447750
TI  - Iodinated tomoxetine derivatives as selective ligands for serotonin and
      norepinephrine uptake sites.
AB  - In order to develop selective radioactive ligands for the study of presynaptic
      monoamine uptake sites, iodinated derivatives of tomoxetine were synthesized and
      evaluated in radioligand binding assays. Iodotomoxetine derivatives showed high
      affinity for serotonin (5-HT) uptake sites using a rat cortical membrane
      preparation. Compound 1R,(R)-(-)-N-methyl-3-(4-iodo-2-methylphenoxy)-3
      phenylpropanamine , was the most potent and showed high stereoselectivity for 5
      HT uptake sites (Ki, R isomer = 0.65 nM, S isomer = 13.9 nM). Changing the
      position of the methyl group or eliminating the methyl group at the phenoxy ring
      resulted in a loss of stereoselectivity. Substitution of the methyl group of
      tomoxetine with iodine gave the R and S isomers of N-methyl-3-(2-iodophenoxy)-3
      phenylpropanamine 4R and 4S. These compounds displayed stereoselectivity for the
      norepinephrine (NE) (Ki values = 0.24 and 9.35 nM for R and S isomers,
      respectively). The in vitro binding data suggest that 1R and 4R are potential
      radioiodinated ligands for pharmacological studies of 5-HT and NE uptake sites,
      respectively.

PMID- 1447751
TI  - Carbohydrate materials bearing neuraminidase-resistant C-glycosides of sialic
      acid strongly inhibit the in vitro infectivity of influenza virus.

PMID- 1447752
TI  - Synthesis and serotonergic pharmacology of the enantiomers of 3-[(N
      methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)methyl]-5-methoxy-1H-indole: discovery of stereogenic
      differentiation in the aminoethyl side chain of the neurotransmitter serotonin.

PMID- 1447753
TI  - Estimation error of Leydig cell numbers in atrophied rat testes due to the
      assumption of spherical nuclei.
AB  - In this study, Leydig cell numbers in control and atrophied testes (induced via
      subcutaneous implants of testosterone plus 17 beta estradiol for 16 weeks; TE
      implanted) of rats, estimated via the fractionator method (independent of any
      assumptions) were compared to those estimated via the disector (unbiased, but
      dependent on shrinkage) and Floderus (assumes spherical particles, dependent on
      shrinkage) methods. Estimates of Leydig cell numbers in control rats produced by
      all three stereological methods were similar. In rats with atrophied testes, both
      the fractionator and the disector methods produced significantly lower (P < 0.01;
      47% and 41% with fractionator and disector, respectively) Leydig cell number
      estimates per testis than in the controls. By contrast, the estimates of Leydig
      cell number in atrophied testes derived via the Floderus equation were not
      significantly different from those of controls, but larger than those obtained
      via the fractionator and the disector methods. These results suggested that the
      assumptions of the Floderus method were violated in the atrophied rat testes. Why
      was the Floderus method of estimating Leydig cell number applicable to control
      rats but not to the TE-implanted rats? In an attempt to answer this question the
      diameter measurement together with its correction factor used in the Floderus
      equation (i.e. D+t - 2H) was also derived from the data collected for the
      disector method. The values for D+t - 2H used in the Floderus method and also
      calculated via the disector method were found to be identical in controls, but
      for the TE-implanted rats a 32% lower value was obtained with the Floderus
      equation when compared to the disector. These findings suggested that this
      estimation error caused an overestimation of Leydig cell numbers in the TE
      implanted rat testes.

PMID- 1447754
TI  - A tilting device for three-dimensional microscopy: application to in situ imaging
      of interphase cell nuclei.
AB  - The resolution of an optical microscope is considerably less in the direction of
      the optical axis (z) than in the focal plane (x-y plane). This is true of
      conventional as well as confocal microscopes. For quantitative microscopy, for
      instance studies of the three-dimensional (3-D) organization of chromosomes in
      human interphase cell nuclei, the 3-D image must be reconstructed by a point
      spread function or an optical transfer function with careful consideration of the
      properties of the imaging system. To alleviate the reconstruction problem, a
      tilting device was developed so that several data sets of the same cell nucleus
      under different views could be registered. The 3-D information was obtained from
      a series of optical sections with a Zeiss transmission light microscope Axiomat
      using a stage with a computer-controlled stepping motor for movement in the z
      axis. The tilting device on the Axiomat stage could turn a cell nucleus through
      any desired angle and also provide movement in the x-y direction. The technique
      was applied to 3-D imaging of human lymphocyte cell nuclei, which were labelled
      by in situ hybridization with the DNA probe pUC 1.77 (mainly specific for
      chromosome 1). For each nucleus, 3-D data sets were registered at viewing angles
      of 0 degrees, 90 degrees and 180 degrees; the volumes and positions of the
      labelled regions (spots) were calculated. The results also confirm that, in
      principle, any angle of a 2 pi geometry can be fixed for data acquisition with a
      high reproducibility. This indicates the feasibility of axiotomographical
      microscopy of cell nuclei.

PMID- 1447755
TI  - An appraisal of low-temperature embedding by progressive lowering of temperature
      into Lowicryl HM20 for immunocytochemical studies.
AB  - The progressive lowering of temperature (PLT) method of embedding for electron
      microscope immunolabelling has been examined with the objective of formulating a
      standardized protocol which can be applied to a wide variety of samples. The
      methods described cover fixation, processing of samples by the PLT method,
      embedding in Lowicryl HM20 and subsequent immunolabelling. Each of the steps in
      the fixation and embedding protocol has been assessed for its potential to retain
      both morphology and antigenicity. Comparison of samples embedded in Lowicryl K4M
      and HM20 at -25 degrees C indicate an increased membrane contrast in HM20
      sections, and a further improvement in morphology when samples were embedded in
      HM20 at -50 degrees C rather than at -25 degrees C. The results of applying the
      methods described are demonstrated in a range of samples of both mammalian and
      botanical origin, which includes solid tissues, cells in suspension, and cells
      grown in vitro as a monolayer culture and embedded in situ. Samples processed by
      this method have been immunolabelled using a wide range of antibodies recognizing
      nuclear, cytoplasmic, cell membrane and extracellular matrix antigens.

PMID- 1447756
TI  - Differences in evaluations of communication channels for cancer-related
      information.
AB  - This study examined women's evaluations of communication channels which are major
      carriers of cancer-related information. A sample of women over 40 (n = 395) was
      asked which channels they had received cancer-related information from within the
      last year and what their evaluations were of these channels in terms of three
      dimensions: editorial tone (credibility), communication potential (presentation
      and style), and utility. Various statistical analyses revealed significant
      interactions between evaluations and channels and significant main effects for
      channels and for evaluations. Additional post hoc comparisons suggested that
      there was a general trend across channel characteristics to rate doctors and
      organizations more highly than friends/family and the media for providing cancer
      related information, although the respondents did not perceive information
      received from doctors and organizations as more understandable or more novel than
      information obtained from the media. On the whole, friends and family were
      evaluated least positively. These results are discussed in terms of their
      relationship to other programmatic research in this area and their pragmatic
      implications for future cancer control efforts.

PMID- 1447757
TI  - Antecedents of adherence to medical recommendations: results from the Medical
      Outcomes Study.
AB  - A longitudinal study of patients with chronic medical diseases (hypertension,
      diabetes, heart disease) was conducted to identify antecedents of adherence to
      medical recommendations. Data are from 1198 patients in three health-care
      provision systems in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston. Nonadherence at the
      beginning of the study was the strongest predictor of nonadherence 2 years later.
      Other significant predictors varied by type of adherence outcome. Patients who
      were younger and who relied upon avoidant coping strategies tended to be less
      likely to follow their doctor's specific recommendations. Patients who were
      distressed about their health, used avoidant coping strategies, or who reported
      worse physical and role functioning were less likely to adhere in general.
      Patient satisfaction with two features of care (interpersonal quality and
      financial aspects) was positively related to adherence in some models, but
      satisfaction with the technical quality of care was negatively associated with
      adherence to specific recommendations among heart disease patients. Social
      support contributed to specific adherence among diabetic patients. Implications
      of the study for medical care providers are discussed.

PMID- 1447758
TI  - Perceptions of smoking risk as a function of smoking status.
AB  - Perceptions of the health risks associated with smoking in comparison with not
      smoking were assessed for the self and the "typical smoker" among four groups of
      adults: current, former and nonsmokers in the community, and smokers who had
      joined cessation clinics to help them quit. Comparisons across groups indicated
      that risk perceptions differed as a function of smoking status. Clinic attendees
      reported the highest smoking risk and the greatest perceived benefit of not
      smoking, and community smokers reported the lowest of each. In addition,
      community smokers were the only group to exhibit an "optimistic bias" (i.e., a
      perception that they were less vulnerable to health risk than was the typical
      smoker). Results from this cross-sectional study suggest that the decision to
      engage in and to stop risky behaviors is related to the perceptions of the health
      risk associated with those behaviors.

PMID- 1447759
TI  - Effects of acute exercise on cardiovascular reactivity.
AB  - Although exercise may modulate cardiovascular reactivity to stress, its acute
      effects have not been studied extensively. The purpose of this study was to
      examine over time the acute effects of different durations of aerobic exercise on
      cardiovascular reactivity to stressors. Twenty-four sedentary men underwent
      minimal exercise, 1 or 2 hr of stationary cycling at 55% VO2max. Heart rate,
      blood pressure, and blood catecholamines were measured during cold pressor,
      Stroop, and public speech tasks 1, 3, and 24 hr after exercise. One or two hours
      of exercise attenuated blood pressure responses to stress. The attenuation was
      evident 3 hr following exercise and was most apparent on the cold pressor task.
      These effects were independent of epinephrine level and stress appraisal. The
      role of central sympathetic processes in the effects of exercise and methodologic
      implications are discussed.

PMID- 1447760
TI  - The effects of female sexual response in coitus on early reproductive processes.
AB  - Research has shown that infertility and its medical investigation are stressful
      for couples and have adverse effects on sexual functioning. The purpose of this
      study was to examine how female sexual functioning could influence aspects of the
      reproductive process. This question was examined within the context of the
      postcoital test (PCT) routinely performed during the infertility investigation.
      The sample consisted of 85 women with a mean age of 30 years (SD = 3.8 years) and
      a mean infertile period of 2.5 years (SD = 1.1 years). Prior to the physiological
      examination, women completed a battery of questionnaires about their sexual
      functioning during the scheduled encounter engaged in for purposes of the PCT and
      during other nonscheduled encounters. The results indicated that the PCT
      contributed to deterioration in female sexual functioning, and in turn, a poor
      sexual response was associated with poorer physiological results. The
      implications of sexual behavior influencing physiohormonal reproductive factors
      are discussed.

PMID- 1447761
TI  - Speech rate, loudness, and cardiovascular reactivity.
AB  - This paper reports the results of two studies that investigated the relationship
      between speech rate, loudness, and cardiovascular reactivity (CVR). One study
      involved the separate manipulation of speech rate and loudness and assessed its
      effects on CVR during a routine reading task. The second study involved the
      simultaneous manipulation of both loudness and speech rate and studied its
      effects on CVR within the context of a personal interview. In both studies, the
      reduction of speech rate and/or loudness was associated with a significant
      reduction in CVR. On the other hand, increasing speech rate and/or loudness had
      no, or only a very minimal, effect on CVR. It is suggested that in the absence of
      emotional arousal, especially anger-arousal, rapid and loud speech per se is not
      associated with significant cardiovascular hyperreactivity. On the other hand,
      our findings suggest that training people to speak slowly and softly may be an
      effective approach for the control of cardiovascular hyperreactivity.

PMID- 1447762
TI  - Electromyographic feedback in the treatment of bilateral facial paralysis: a case
      study.
AB  - Electromyographic feedback in the treatment of facial paralysis has been shown to
      be a useful alternative to surgical procedures. In this paper we report on the
      partial recovery of a 7-year-old patient with congenital bilateral facial
      paralysis (Moebius syndrome) that had been considered untreatable by medical
      specialists. Biofeedback of electromyographic activity was provided together with
      specific instructions, social reinforcement, and exercises that the patient
      carried out at home. The rehabilitation training lasted 1 year, during which
      there was a substantial increase in the electromyographic activity of the muscles
      on both sides of the face. A follow-up after 1 year of discontinuing the
      treatment showed that the muscle activity had been maintained and that there was
      a marked improvement in the patient's mood and facial expression.

PMID- 1447764
TI  - Sovereign immunity (res ipsa loquitur).

PMID- 1447763
TI  - Why not simple ventricular pacing? The hemodynamics of cardiac pacing for
      noncardiologists.
AB  - For many years, cardiac pacing consisted primarily of implanting and following
      fixed-rate ventricular systems. While this mode of pacing restored a more
      acceptable rate and in fact reduced mortality, prevented syncope, and brought
      clinical improvement in patients with acquired complete heart block, that it
      often failed to restore the degree of wellness provided by the normal electrical
      conduction sequence became increasingly apparent. This paper contrasts normal
      cardiac mechanics to those of simple ventricular pacing, making clear why
      clinical outcome with the latter is often disappointing. An approach to selecting
      pacing modes for specific abnormalities is outlined. The legitimate role of
      simple ventricular pacing continues to diminish as physicians turn to more
      hemodynamically efficient atrial and dual chamber pacing with sensor-mediated
      rate modulation where appropriate.

PMID- 1447765
TI  - Media managed politics and medical care.

PMID- 1447766
TI  - AIDS in children.

PMID- 1447767
TI  - Grossly positive peritoneal lavage and nontherapeutic laparotomy after abdominal
      stab wound.
AB  - Diagnostic peritoneal lavage is often employed in the evaluation of stab wounds
      of the anterior abdomen and lower chest. This technique is perhaps too sensitive,
      however, in detecting self-limited solid visceral and abdominal wall injuries. We
      report five cases of nontherapeutic laparotomies in abdominal stab wound victims
      who had a grossly positive peritoneal lavage prior to surgery. Previous
      retrospective data indicate that such "false positive" lavages most commonly
      result from blood entering the abdominal cavity from the wound, although
      nonoperative injuries to solid viscera and iatrogenic trauma are sometimes
      implicated. We review these studies and suggest caution in relying too much on
      lavage results in determining the need for exploration after abdominal stab
      wounds. Rather, they must be considered alongside other findings in assessing
      each individual case.

PMID- 1447768
TI  - Evaluation of mammographic calcification.
AB  - Breast calcifications can be classified into ductal, lobular, or miscellaneous
      types. Analysis is less difficult using this classification. Frequently, the
      characterization of miscellaneous types is straightforward. The analysis of
      ductal type and lobular type microcalcifications is more challenging. If they are
      scattered, the most important determination is whether or not there are casting
      calcifications present. If so, malignancy cannot be excluded. If clustered, then
      analysis of their form becomes critical. Teacup or pearl type calcifications are
      benign. Granular or casting calcifications are malignant. Mammographic
      calcifications that appear obviously malignant or highly suspicious for
      malignancy warrant biopsy whether or not a mass is clinically palpable. If
      calcifications are obviously benign, then routine follow-up at four to six month
      intervals if there is a high probability that they are benign. Otherwise, they
      are biopsied at the discretion of the clinician.

PMID- 1447769
TI  - Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure annual report July 1, 1990 through
      June 30, 1991.

PMID- 1447770
TI  - Behavior modification.

PMID- 1447771
TI  - "Current opinions" of the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs of the American
      Medical Association. Opinions on practice matters.

PMID- 1447772
TI  - Vicksburg AIDS clinic could be model for U.S. small towns.

PMID- 1447773
TI  - The 1992 Walter J. Johnson Prize of $10,000.

PMID- 1447774
TI  - Mutational analysis of the bacteriophage P1 late promoter sequence Ps.
AB  - The bacteriophage P1 late promoter sequence Ps controls the expression of the
      genes in the tail-fibre operon. Transcription from Ps only occurs during the
      second half of the P1 vegetative growth cycle and is positively regulated by the
      product of the phage gene 10. In this study degenerate oligonucleotides were used
      as primers in site-directed mutagenesis reactions in order to construct a large
      set of point mutations within the late promoter sequence Ps. A total of 35
      independent single point mutations was isolated and the mutants were tested for
      promoter activity. Mutations in the Escherichia coli-like -10 region and in a
      late operator sequence, containing a symmetric sequence centred around position 
      22, resulted in significant reductions in promoter strength. Most of these
      mutations alter base-pairs that are highly conserved among the known late
      promoter sequences of the P1 family. In addition, insertion mutants that change
      the spacing between the -10 and the late operator indicate that a special
      topological arrangement between the two boxes is crucial for late promoter
      function. These results suggest that the product of gene 10 binds specifically to
      a late operator in order to activate transcription from P1 late promoter
      sequences.

PMID- 1447775
TI  - X-ray structure determination and comparison of two crystal forms of a variant
      (Asn115Arg) of the alkaline protease from Bacillus alcalophilus refined at 1.85 A
      resolution.
AB  - The X-ray structure determination, refinement and comparison of two crystal forms
      of a variant (Asn115Arg) of the alkaline protease from Bacillus alcalophilus is
      described. Under identical conditions crystals were obtained in the orthorhombic
      space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) (form I) and the rhombohedral space group R32 (form
      II). For both space groups the structures of the protease were solved by
      molecular replacement and refined at 1.85 A resolution. The final R-factors are
      17.9% and 17.1% for form I and form II, respectively. The root-mean-square
      deviation between the two forms is 0.48 A and 0.86 A for main-chain and side
      chain atoms, respectively. Due to differences in crystal lattice contacts and
      packing, the structures of the two crystal forms differ in intermolecular
      interaction affecting the local conformation of three flexible polypeptide
      sequences (Ser50-Glu55, Ser99-Gly102, Gly258-Ser259) at the surface of the
      protein. While the two overall structures are very similar, the differences are
      significantly larger than the errors inherent in the structure determination. As
      expected, the differences in the temperature factors in form I and II are
      correlated with the solvent accessibility of the corresponding amino acid
      residues. In form II, two symmetry-related substrate binding sites face each
      other, forming a tight intermolecular interaction. Some residues contributing to
      this intermolecular interaction are also found to be involved in the formation of
      the complex between subtilisin Carlsberg and the proteinaceous inhibitor eglin C.
      This demonstrates that the two symmetry-related molecules interact with each
      other at the same molecular surface area that is used for binding of substrates
      and inhibitors.

PMID- 1447776
TI  - Solution structure of [d(GCGTATACGC)]2.
AB  - The solution structure of the alternating pyrimidine-purine DNA duplex
      [d(GCGTATACGC)]2 has been determined using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic
      resonance techniques and distance geometry methods. Backbone distance constraints
      derived from experimental nuclear Overhauser enhancement and J-coupling torsion
      angle constraints were required to adequately define the conformation of the
      inter-residue backbone linkages and to avoid underwinding of the duplex. The
      distance geometry structures were further refined by back-calculation of the two
      dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectra to correct spin-diffusion
      distance errors. Fifteen final structures for [d(GCGTATACGC)]2 were generated
      from the refined experimental distance bounds. These structures all exhibit fully
      wound B-form geometry with small penalty values (< 1.5 A) against the distance
      bounds and small pair-wise root-mean-square deviation values (typically 0.6 A to
      1.5 A). The final structures exhibit positive base-pair inclination with respect
      to the helix axis, a marked alternation in rise and twist, and are shorter and
      wider than classical fiber B-form DNA. The purines were found to adopt a sugar
      pucker close to the C-2'-endo conformation while pyrimidine sugars exhibited
      significantly lower pseudorotation phase angles in the C-1'-exo to C-2'-endo
      range. The minor groove cross-strand steric clashes at pyrimidine-purine steps
      that would exist in pure B-DNA are attenuated by an increased rise at these steps
      (and an increased roll angle at TpA steps). Concomitantly the backbone torsion
      angles of the pyrimidine moieties have larger gamma values, larger epsilon
      values, and smaller zeta values than the purines. The structures generated by
      distance geometry methods were also compared with those obtained from restrained
      molecular dynamics with empirical force-field potentials. The results indicate
      that the nuclear magnetic resonance/distance geometry approach alone is capable
      of elucidating most of the salient structural features of double-stranded helical
      nucleic acids in solution without resorting to empirical energy potentials and
      without using any structural assumptions from crystallographic data.

PMID- 1447777
TI  - The interdependence of protein surface topography and bound water molecules
      revealed by surface accessibility and fractal density measures.
AB  - To characterize water binding to proteins, which is fundamental to protein
      folding, stability and activity, the relationships of 10,837 bound water
      positions to protein surface shape and residue type were analyzed in 56 high
      resolution crystallographic structures. Fractal atomic density and accessibility
      algorithms provided an objective characterization of deep grooves in solvent
      accessible protein surfaces. These deep grooves consistently had approximately
      the diameter of one water molecule, suggesting that deep grooves are formed by
      the interactions between protein atoms and bound water molecules. Protein surface
      topography dominates the chemistry and extent of water binding. Protein surface
      area within grooves bound three times as many water molecules as non-groove
      surface; grooves accounted for one-quarter of the total surface area yet bound
      half the water molecules. Moreover, only within grooves did bound water molecules
      discriminate between different side-chains. In grooves, main-chain surface was as
      hydrated as that of the most hydrophilic side-chains, Asp and Glu, whereas
      outside grooves all main and side-chains bound water to a similar, and much
      decreased, extent. This identification of the interdependence of protein surface
      shape and hydration has general implications for modelling and prediction of
      protein surface shape, recognition, local folding and solvent binding.

PMID- 1447778
TI  - Solution structure of [d(ATGAGCGAATA)]2. Adjacent G:A mismatches stabilized by
      cross-strand base-stacking and BII phosphate groups.
AB  - The solution structure of a rather unusual B-form duplex [d(ATGAGCGAATA)]2 has
      been determined using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D-NMR) and
      distance geometry methods. This sequence forms a stable ten base-pair B-form
      duplex with 3' overhangs and two pairs of adjacent G:A mismatches paired via a
      sheared hydrogen-bonding scheme. All non-exchangeable protons, including the
      stereo-specific H-5'S/H-5'R of the 3G and 7G residues, were assigned by 2D-NMR.
      The phosphorus spectrum was assigned using heteronuclear correlation with H-3'
      and H-4' reasonances. The complete assignments reveal several unusual nuclear
      Overhauser enhancements (NOEs) and unusual chemical shifts for the neighboring
      G:A mismatch pairs and their adjacent nucleotides. Inter-proton distances were
      derived from time-dependent NOEs and used to generate initial structures, which
      were further refined by iterative back-calculation of the two-dimensional nuclear
      Overhauser enhancement spectra; 22 final structures were calculated from the
      refined distance bounds. All these final structures exhibit fully wound helical
      structures with small penalty values against the refined distance bounds and
      small pair-wise root-mean-square deviation values (typically 0.5 A to 0.9 A). The
      two helical strands exchange base stacking at both of the two G:A mismatch sites,
      resulting in base stacking down each side rather than down each strand of the
      twisted duplex. Very large twist angles (77 degrees) were found at the G:A
      mismatch steps. All the final structures were found to have BII phosphate
      conformations at the adjacent G:A mismatch sites, consistent with observed
      downfield 31P chemical shifts and Monte-Carlo conformational search results. Our
      results support the hypothesis that 31P chemical shifts are related to backbone
      torsion angles. These BII phosphate conformations in the adjacent G:A mismatch
      step suggest that hydrogen bonding of the G:A pair G-NH2 to a nearby phosphate
      oxygen atom is unlikely. The unusual structure of the duplex may be stabilized by
      strong interstrand base stacking as well as intrastrand stacking, as indicated by
      excellent base overlap within the mismatch stacks.

PMID- 1447779
TI  - Homonuclear three-dimensional NOE-NOE nuclear magnetic resonance/spectra for
      structure determination of proteins in solution.
AB  - The solution structures of two proteins (CMTI-I, a trypsin inhibitor from
      Cucurbita maxima, and hisactophilin, an actin binding protein of 118 amino acids)
      have been determined based on the NOE data derived solely from the homonuclear 3D
      NOE-NOE magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Two different approaches for extraction
      of the structural information from the 3D NOE-NOE experiment were tested. One
      approach was based on the transformation of the 3D intensities into distance
      constraints. In the second, and more robust approach, the 3D NOE intensities were
      used directly in structure calculations, without the need to transform them into
      distance constraints. A new 2D potential function representing the 3D NOE-NOE
      intensity was developed and used in the simulated annealing protocol. For CMTI-I,
      a comparison between structures determined with the 3D NOE-NOE method and various
      2D NOE approaches was carried out. The 3D data set allowed better definition of
      the structures than was previously possible with the 2D NOE procedures that used
      the isolated two-spin approximation to derive distance information.

PMID- 1447780
TI  - Evaluation of the sequence template method for protein structure prediction.
      Discrimination of the (beta/alpha)8-barrel fold.
AB  - A multiple alignment of five (beta/alpha)8-barrel enzymes has been derived from
      their structure. The eight beta-strands and eight alpha-helices of the
      (beta/alpha)8-barrel are correctly aligned and the equivalenced residues in these
      regions fulfil similar structural roles. Each beta-strand has a central core of
      usually four residues, two residues contribute side-chains to the barrel core and
      the other two residues are involved in beta-strand/alpha-helix contacts. However,
      the fold imposes no constraints on the volumes of the residues at either a local
      or global level: the volume of the beta-barrel core varies between 1088 A3 in
      glycolate oxidase and 1571 A3 in taka-amylase. Sequence motifs derived from the
      multiple alignment were scanned against a database of 124 protein sequences,
      including 17 (beta/alpha)8-barrel enzymes. The results were evaluated in terms of
      the discrimination of (beta/alpha)8-barrel sequences and the quality of the
      alignments obtained. One motif was able to identify the top 12% of high scoring
      sequences as forming (beta/alpha)8-barrels with 50% accuracy and the bottom 50%
      of sequences as not being (beta/alpha)8-barrel proteins with 100% accuracy.
      However, in most instances the alignments were poor. The reasons for this are
      discussed with reference to the (beta/alpha)8-barrel proteins and the sequence
      motif method in general.

PMID- 1447781
TI  - Three-dimensional structure of an Fv from a human IgM immunoglobulin.
AB  - An IgM(kappa) immunoglobulin from a patient (Pot) with Waldenstrom's
      macroglobulinemia was hydrolyzed with pepsin to release a fragment consisting of
      the 'variable' (V) domains of the light and heavy chains plus eight residue
      'tails' from the 'constant' (C) domains. The crystal structure of this fragment
      was determined at 2.3 A resolution by molecular replacement and crystallographic
      refinement methods. When examined separately, the light chain component closely
      resembles another human kappa chain (Rei) in both the beta-pleated sheet regions
      and the 'hypervariable' loops. The conserved pleated sheets in the heavy chain
      are similar to those in the human Kol IgG1 protein, but the third hypervariable
      loop in particular is different from that in any immunoglobulin structure
      described to date. As in the Kol protein, this loop blocks the access to any
      internal active site along the light-heavy chain interface. Unlike the Kol
      protein, however, the loop does not protrude beyond the boundaries of a
      conventional antigen combining site. Instead, it forms a very compact structure,
      which fills almost all residual space between the domains. This is an example of
      one dominant complementarity-determining region (CDR) essentially negating the
      diversity possible with five other CDRs in the two chains. Ordered water
      molecules are associated with light chain constituents along the interface, but
      not with CDR3 of the heavy chain. In screening exercises the Pot IgM failed to
      bind a wide variety of peptides. Together, the results suggest that ligand
      binding can only occur on external surfaces of the protein. These surfaces carry
      a limited number of side chains usually assigned to CDRs in more typical
      antibodies.

PMID- 1447782
TI  - Crystallization, structure determination and least-squares refinement to 1.75 A
      resolution of the fatty-acid-binding protein isolated from Manduca sexta L.
AB  - The molecular structure of an insect fatty-acid-binding protein isolated from
      Manduca sexta L. has been determined and refined to a nominal resolution of 1.75
      A. Crystals used in the investigation were grown from 1.6 M-ammonium sulfate
      solutions buffered at pH 4.5 with 50 mM-sodium succinate, and belonged to space
      group P2(1) with unit cell dimensions of a = 27.5 A, b = 71.0 A, c = 28.7 A and
      beta = 90.8 degrees. An electron density map, phased with four heavy-atom
      derivatives and calculated to 2.5 A resolution, allowed for complete tracing of
      the 131 amino acid residue polypeptide chain. Subsequent least-squares refinement
      of the model reduced the R-factor from 46.0% to 17.3% using all measured X-ray
      data from 30.0 A to 1.75 A. Approximately 92% of the amino acid residues fall
      into classical secondary structural elements including ten strands of anti
      parallel beta-pleated sheet, two alpha-helices, one type I turn, three type II
      turns, four type II' turns and one type III turn. As in other fatty-acid-binding
      proteins, the overall molecular architecture of the insect molecule consists of
      ten strands of anti-parallel beta-pleated sheet forming two layers that are
      nearly orthogonal to one another. A helix-turn-helix motif at the N-terminal
      portion of the protein flanks one side of the up-and-down beta-barrel. The
      functional group of the fatty acid is within hydrogen-bonding distance of Gln39,
      Tyr129, Arg127 and a sulfate molecule, while the aliphatic portion of the ligand
      is surrounded by hydrophobic amino acid residues lining the beta-barrel. The
      binding of the carboxylic acid portion of the ligand is very similar to that
      observed in P2 myelin protein and the murine adipocyte lipid-binding protein, but
      the positioning of the hydrocarbon tail after approximately C6 is completely
      different.

PMID- 1447783
TI  - Anatomy and evolution of proteins displaying the viral capsid jellyroll topology.
AB  - In this paper the anatomy of 25 structures containing a jellyroll motif,
      consisting of eight antiparallel beta-strands forming a so-called beta-barrel,
      was investigated. This involved performing a careful structural alignment based
      on hydrogen bonds for the equivalent regions of the tertiary folds and a
      subsequent analysis of conserved amino acids, equivalenced residue-residue
      contacts, and various parameters describing the size, shape and other geometrical
      characteristics of these regions. It was found that the jellyroll motif is best
      viewed as a two-sheet wedge structure rather than a barrel. The more conserved
      parameters are discussed. A model of evolutionary development for the jellyroll
      fold in the various protein and viral structures is proposed.

PMID- 1447784
TI  - Specific interactions between the IclR repressor of the acetate operon of
      Escherichia coli and its operator.
AB  - The positions of interference points between the IclR repressor of the acetate
      operon of Escherichia coli and its specific operator were examined. The number
      and nature of nucleotides essential to repressor binding were determined by
      scanning populations of DNA previously methylated at guanine residues by dimethyl
      sulfate, or depurinated by treatment with formic acid, or depyrimidated by
      treatment with hydrazine. A total of 46 nucleotides, distributed almost equally
      between the two strands of the operator region, were found to be functionally
      important, although to a varying extent. These are clustered in two successive
      domains which expand from nucleotide -54 to nucleotide -27 and can organize in a
      palindrome-like structure containing a large proportion of A and T residues.

PMID- 1447785
TI  - Crystal packing in six crystal forms of pancreatic ribonuclease.
AB  - We compare the molecular packing of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A) in
      six crystal forms, two grown with alcohol, three with high salt and one with
      polyethylene glycol as a precipitant. The six packings differ in the number of
      molecules in contact and in the extent of the contacts, which bury 1570 A2 to
      2790 A2 of the RNase surface. Regions of the protein surface involved in the six
      packings cover almost the whole RNase molecule. The abundance of polar
      interactions, about one per 200 A2, is the same in all types of precipitants. All
      molecule-to-molecule contacts are different in the six crystal forms, except for
      the one that forms a RNase dimer. The dimer has a large interface covering 1800
      A2 and eight to ten polar interactions. Its presence in the three salt-grown
      crystal forms suggests that it is an intermediate in salt induced
      crystallization. In contrast, the two alcohol-grown forms contain only small
      interfaces, implying a different mechanism of nucleation.

PMID- 1447786
TI  - Thermodynamic stoichiometries of participation of water, cations and anions in
      specific and non-specific binding of lac repressor to DNA. Possible thermodynamic
      origins of the "glutamate effect" on protein-DNA interactions.
AB  - The objective of this study is to quantify the contributions of cations, anions
      and water to stability and specificity of the interaction of lac repressor (lac
      R) protein with the strong-binding symmetric lac operator (Osym) DNA site. To
      this end, binding constants Kobs and their power dependences on univalent salt
      (MX) concentration (SKobs = d log Kobs/d log[MX]) have been determined for the
      interactions of lac R with Osym operator and with non-operator DNA using filter
      binding and DNA cellulose chromatography, respectively. For both specific and non
      specific binding of lac R, Kobs at fixed salt concentration [KX] increases when
      chloride (Cl-) is replaced by the physiological anion glutamate (Glu-). At 0.25 M
      KX, the increase in Kobs for Osym is observed to be approximately 40-fold,
      whereas for non-operator DNA the increase in Kobs is estimated by extrapolation
      to be approximately 300-fold. For non-operator DNA, SKobsRD is independent of
      salt concentration within experimental uncertainty, and is similar in KCl
      (SKobs,RDKCl = -9.8(+/- 1.0) between 0.13 M and 0.18 M-KCl) and KGlu
      (SKobs,RDKGlu = -9.3(+/- 0.7) between 0.23 M and 0.36 M-KGlu). For Osym DNA,
      SKobsRO varies significantly with the nature of the anion, and, at least in KGlu
      appears to decrease in magnitude with increasing [KGlu]. Average magnitudes of
      SKobsRO are less than SKobsRD, and, for specific binding decrease in the order
      [SKobsRO,KCl[>[SKobsRO,KAc[>[SKobsRO,KGlu[ . Neither KobsRO nor SKobsRO is
      affected by the choice of univalent cation M+ (Na+, K+, NH4+, or mixtures
      thereof, all as the chloride salt), and SKobsRO is independent of [MCl] in the
      range examined (0.125 to 0.3 M). This behavior of SKobsRO is consistent with that
      expected for a binding process with a large contribution from the polyelectrolyte
      effect. However, the lack of an effect of the nature of the cation on the
      magnitude of KobsRO at a fixed [MX] is somewhat unexpected, in view of the order
      of preference of cations for the immediate vicinity of DNA (NH4+ > K+ > Na+)
      observed by 23Na nuclear magnetic resonance. For both specific and non-specific
      binding, the large stoichiometry of cation release from the DNA polyelectrolyte
      is the dominant contribution to SKobs. To interpret these data, we propose that
      Glu- is an inert anion, whereas Ac- and Cl- compete with DNA phosphate groups in
      binding to lac repressor. A thermodynamic estimate of the minimum stoichiometry
      of water release from lac repressor and Osym operator (210(+/- 30) H2O) is
      determined from analysis of the apparently significant reduction in
      [SKobsRO,KGlu[ with increasing [KGlu] in the range 0.25 to 0.9 M. According to
      this analysis, SKobs values of specific and non-specific binding in KGlu differ
      primarily because of the release of water in specific binding. In KAc and KCl, we
      deduce that anion competition affects Kobs and SKobs to an extent which differs
      for different anions and for the different binding modes.

PMID- 1447787
TI  - Key residues in the allosteric transition of Bacillus stearothermophilus pyruvate
      kinase identified by site-directed mutagenesis.
AB  - The structural gene for pyruvate kinase from Bacillus stearothermophilus has been
      cloned in Escherichia coli and sequenced. The open reading frame from the ATG
      start codon to the TAG stop codon is 1482 base-pairs and encodes a peptide of
      relative molecular mass 52,967. In the expression vector pKK223-3, containing the
      synthetic tac promoter, the gene is overexpressed in E. coli cells to an
      estimated level of 30% total soluble cell protein. A purification procedure for
      the overexpressed protein has been established. The construction and
      characterization of a pair of mutant proteins has given insight into the
      structural basis of allosteric regulation in the tetrameric enzyme. Substituting
      tryptophan for tyrosine at position 466 (mutant Trp466-->Tyr) resulted in an
      activated form of the enzyme, having a reduced K1/2 for the substrate
      phosphoenolpyruvate. We propose that the characteristics of this mutant might be
      the result of bulk removal releasing steric inhibition to the formation of an
      interdomain salt bridge between Asp356 and Arg444. The regulatory behaviour of
      the double mutant produced by making the additional substitution aspartate for
      glutamate at position 356 (Trp466-->Tyr/Asp356-->Glu) corroborates this. The
      position of the salt bridge is such that it might be pivotal to the conformation
      of a pocket that is proposed to open up when the active R-conformation is
      adopted. We suggest that the mechanism of activation of B. stearothermophilus
      pyruvate kinase by ribose-5-phosphate might hinge on an interaction with, or
      indirectly through, residue Trp466, removing it from the vicinity of the
      potential salt bridge between Asp356 and Arg444 and thus effecting a closing
      together of the protein structure concomitant with an opening up of the pocket
      region.

PMID- 1447788
TI  - Crystallization and preliminary X-ray investigation of
      phosphoribosylaminoimidazolesuccinocarboxamide synthase from the yeast
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - Crystals of phosphoribosylaminoimidazolesuccinocarboxamide synthase (EC 6.3.2.6)
      from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were grown by the vapor diffusion hanging
      drop technique, using ammonium sulfate as the precipitant. The crystals had
      dimensions up to 1.2 mm. X-ray diffraction experiments indicated a space group of
      P2(1)2(1)2(1) and unit cell parameters of a = 62.3 A, b = 63.5 A and c = 80.9 A,
      with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. Native data have been collected to 2.5
      A resolution.

PMID- 1447789
TI  - Cloning and analysis of the entire Escherichia coli ams gene. ams is identical to
      hmp1 and encodes a 114 kDa protein that migrates as a 180 kDa protein.
AB  - We have used an antibody to a previously identified 180 kDa (Hmp1) protein in
      Escherichia coli to clone the corresponding gene, which encodes a polypeptide of
      114 kDa that has a mobility equivalent to 180 kDa in SDS/PAGE. We have
      demonstrated that the 180 kDa polypeptide is the primary gene product and not due
      to aggregation with other molecules. Moreover, our data indicate that the highly
      charged C-terminal region of the protein is responsible for its anomalous
      behaviour when analysed by SDS/PAGE. The hmp1 gene is in fact identical to ams
      (abnormal mRNA stability), also designated rne (RnaseE), and reported to have an
      ORF of 91 kDa. This discrepancy with the data in this paper can be ascribed to
      the omission of two bases in the previously reported sequence, generating an
      apparent stop codon. We previously demonstrated that the 180 kDa Hmp1/Ams protein
      cross reacted with both a polyclonal antibody and a monoclonal antibody raised
      against a yeast heavy chain myosin. However, we could detect no homology with
      myosin genes in the ams/hmp1 sequence. From the DNA sequence data, we identified
      a putative nucleotide binding site and a transmembrane domain in the N-terminal
      half of the molecule. In the C-terminal half, which appears to constitute a
      separate domain dominated by proline and charged amino acids, we also identified
      a region homologous to the highly conserved 70 kDa snRNP protein, involved in RNA
      splicing in eukaryotes. This feature would be consistent with reports that ams
      encodes RNaseE, an enzyme required for the processing of several stable RNAs in
      E. coli.

PMID- 1447790
TI  - Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic investigation of methanol
      dehydrogenase from Methylobacterium extorquens AM1.
AB  - Single crystals of methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) from Methylobacterium extorquens
      AM1 have been grown by the vapour diffusion method. These crystals diffract to
      beyond 2 A resolution and are suitable for X-ray crystallography. They belong to
      the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) and have the following unit cell
      parameters: a = 66.79 A, b = 108.9 A, c = 188.9 A. One asymmetric unit contains
      an alpha 2 beta 2 tetramer of MDH and the location of the non-crystallographic 2
      fold symmetry axis of this tetramer is defined by the paired positions of the
      binding sites of heavy atoms in four MDH-derivatives.

PMID- 1447791
TI  - The expression, purification and crystallization of the epsilon subunit of the F1
      portion of the ATPase of Escherichia coli.
AB  - The epsilon subunit of the F0F1-ATPase from Escherichia coli has been expressed
      in E. coli as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase from the parasitic
      helminth Schistosoma japonicum. The epsilon subunit released by thrombin
      treatment of the purified fusion protein carried two amino acid changes, A1G and
      M2S, and was obtained in a yield of about five milligrams per litre of cultured
      cells. The two amino acid changes were shown not to affect function. The protein
      has been crystallized in a form suitable for X-ray diffraction structure
      analysis. The crystals are hexagonal, space group P6(1)22 (or P6(5)22), with a =
      b = 94.9 A, c = 57.1 A and gamma = 120 degrees. The diffraction from small
      crystals extends to at least 2.9 A resolution.

PMID- 1447792
TI  - Crystallization of the A-domain of the mannitol transport protein enzyme IImtl.
AB  - The A-domain of the mannitol transport protein enzyme IImtl from Escherichia coli
      (relative molecular mass 16,300) was crystallized, both at room temperature and 4
      degrees C, from 40% polyethylene glycol 6000 (pH 8.5 to 9.0) using the hanging
      drop method of vapour diffusion. The crystals have the monoclinic space group
      P2(1), with unit cell dimensions a = 54.0 A, b = 67.0 A, c = 80.9 A and beta =
      100.8 degrees. They diffract to 2.6 A resolution. A self-rotation function and
      self-Patterson suggest that there are four molecules in the asymmetric unit
      showing mmm symmetry.

PMID- 1447793
TI  - Characterization of the nucleic acid-binding activities of the isolated amino
      terminal head domain of the intermediate filament protein vimentin reveals its
      close relationship to the DNA-binding regions of some prokaryotic single-stranded
      DNA-binding proteins.
AB  - In order to demonstrate that the nucleic acid-binding activities of vimentin are
      dictated by its Arg-rich N-terminal head domain, this was cut off at position
      Lys96 with lysine-specific endoproteinase and analysed for its capacity to
      associate with a variety of synthetic and naturally occurring nucleic acids. The
      isolated polypeptide (vim NT) showed a preference for single-stranded (ss)
      polynucleotides, particularly for ssDNAs of high G-content. A comparison of the
      sequence and predicted secondary structure of vim NT with that of two prokaryotic
      ssDNA-binding proteins, G5P and G32P of bacteriophages fd and T4, respectively,
      revealed that the nucleic acid-binding region of all three polypeptides is almost
      entirely in the beta-conformation and characterized by a very similar
      distribution of aromatic amino acid residues. A partial sequence of vim NT can be
      folded into the same beta-loop structure as the DNA-binding wing of G5P of
      bacteriophage fd and related viruses. As in the case of G5P, nitration of the Tyr
      residues with tetranitromethane was blocked by single-stranded nucleic acids.
      This and spectroscopic data indicate intercalation of the Tyr aromatic ring
      systems between the bases of the nucleic acids and thus the contribution of a
      stacking component to the binding reaction. The binding was accompanied by
      significant changes in the ultraviolet absorption spectra of both vim NT and
      single-stranded nucleic acids. Upon mixing of vim NT with nucleic acids, massive
      precipitation of the reactants occurred, followed by the quick rearrangement of
      the aggregates with the formation of specific and soluble association products.
      Even at very high ionic strengths, at which no electrostatic reaction should be
      expected, a distinct fraction of vim NT incorporated naturally occurring ssRNAs
      and ssDNAs into fast sedimenting complexes, suggesting co-operative interaction
      of the polypeptide with the nucleic acids. In electron microscopy, the complexes
      obtained from 28 S rRNA appeared as networks of extended nucleic acid strands
      densely covered with vim NT, in contrast to the compact random coils of
      uncomplexed RNA. The networks produced from fd DNA were heterogeneous in
      appearance and their nucleoprotein strands in rare cases were very similar to the
      rod-like structures of G5P-fd DNA complexes.

PMID- 1447794
TI  - Genetic analysis of cosB, the binding site for terminase, the DNA packaging
      enzyme of bacteriophage lambda.
AB  - cosB, the binding site for terminase, the DNA packaging enzyme of bacteriophage
      lambda, consists of three binding sites (called R3, R2 and R1) for gpNu1, the
      small subunit of terminase; and I1, a binding site for integration host factor
      (IHF), the DNA bending protein of Escherichia coli. cosB is located between cosN,
      the site where terminase introduces staggered nicks to generate cohesive ends,
      and the Nu1 gene; the order of sites is: cosN-R3-I1-R2-R1-Nu1. A series of lambda
      mutants have been constructed that have single base-pair C-to-T transition
      mutations in R3, R2 and R1. A single base-pair transition mutation within any one
      of the gpNul binding sites renders lambda dependent upon IHF for plaque
      formation. lambda phage with mutations in both R2 and R3 are incapable of plaque
      formation even in the presence of IHF. Phages that carry DNA insertions between
      R1 and R2, from 7 to 20 base-pairs long, are also IHF-dependent, demonstrating
      the requirement for a precise spacing of gpNu1 binding sites within cosB. The IHF
      dependent phenotype of a lambda mutant carrying a deletion of the R1 sequence
      indicates that IHF obviates the need for terminase binding to the R1 site. In
      contrast, a lambda mutant deleted for R2 and R1 fails to form plaques on either
      IHF+ or IHF- cells, indicating terminase binding of R2 is involved in suppression
      of R mutants by IHF. A fourth R sequence, R4, is situated on the left side of
      cosN; a phage with a mutant R4 sequence shows a reduced burst size on both an
      IHF+ and an IHF- host. The inability of the R4- mutant to be suppressed by IHF,
      plus the fact that R4 does not bind gpNu1, suggests R4 is not part of cosB and
      may play a role in DNA packaging that is distinct from that of cosB.

PMID- 1447795
TI  - Protein folding within the cell is influenced by controlled rates of polypeptide
      elongation.
AB  - Previous studies have proposed that specific translational pauses have evolved to
      promote protein folding inside the cell by temporally separating the folding of
      specific regions of some polypeptide chains during their synthesis. Here we show
      that this is the case for a bifunctional protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The
      yeast TRP3 gene contains a translational pause comprising ten contiguous non
      preferred codons within its second functional domain (indoleglycerol phosphate
      synthase). Site-directed mutagenesis was used to remove this translational pause
      by increasing the codon bias of the region without changing the amino acid
      sequence of the protein (to create the gene TRP3pr: pause replaced). The TRP3pr
      gene was able to complement a trp3:: URA3 null mutation in yeast. No significant
      differences in the doubling times of TRP3 or TRP3pr yeast transformants were
      observed during growth at 25 degrees C, 30 degrees C or 37 degrees C, or in the
      presence of sublethal concentrations of the analogue, 5-methyltryptophan.
      However, further analysis of TRP3 and TRP3pr transformants revealed that the
      removal of the translational pause causes a 1.5-fold decrease in indoleglycerol
      phosphate synthase activity per TRP3 mRNA. This observation which is
      statistically significant (P < 0.05) and reproducible, suggests that
      translational pausing promotes the correct intracellular folding of the TRP3
      protein.

PMID- 1447796
TI  - Genetic analysis of mutations affecting terminase, the bacteriophage lambda DNA
      packaging enzyme, that suppress mutations in cosB, the terminase binding site.
AB  - Terminase, the DNA packaging enzyme of phage lambda, binds to lambda DNA at a
      site called cosB, and introduces staggered nicks at an adjacent site, cosN, to
      generate the cohesive ends of virion lambda DNA molecules. Terminase also is
      involved in separation of the cohesive ends and in binding the prohead, the empty
      protein shell into which lambda DNA is packaged. Terminase is a DNA-dependent
      ATPase, and both subunits, gpNu1 and gpA, have ATPase activity. cosB contains a
      series of gpNu1 binding sites, R3, R2 and R1; between R3 and R2 is a binding
      site, I1, for integration host factor (IHF), the Escherichia coli DNA bending
      protein. In this work, a series of mutations in Nu1 have been isolated as
      suppressors of cosB mutations. One of the Nu1 mutations is identical to the
      previously described Nu1ms1/ohm1 mutation predicted to cause the change L40F in
      the 181 amino acid-long gpNu1. Three other Nu1 missense mutations, the Nu1ms2
      (L40I), ms3 (Q97K) and ms4 (A92G) mutations, have been isolated; the relative
      strengths of suppression of cosB mutations by the Nu1ms mutations are: ms1 > ms2
      > ms3 > ms4. The Nu1 missense mutations all affect amino acid residues that lie
      outside of the putative helix-turn-helix DNA binding motif of gpNu1. The Nu1ms1
      and Nu1ms2 mutations alter an amino acid residue (L40) that lies directly between
      two segments of gpNu1 proposed to be involved in ATP binding and hydrolysis; thus
      these mutations are likely to alter the gpNu1 ATP-binding site. The Nu1ms3 and
      Nu1ms4 mutations both affect amino acid residues in the central region of gpNu1
      that is predicted to form a hydrophilic alpha-helix. To explain how the Nu1ms
      mutations suppress cosB defects, models involving alterations of the DNA binding
      and/or catalytic properties of terminase are considered. The results also
      indicate that terminase occupancy of a single gpNu1 binding site (R3) is
      necessary and sufficient for the efficient initiation of DNA packaging; the
      Nu1ms1, ms2 and ms3 mutations permit IHF-independent plaque formation by a phage
      lacking R2 and R1.

PMID- 1447797
TI  - Role of MotA transcription factor in bacteriophage T4 DNA replication.
AB  - At least two bacteriophage T4 replication origins, ori(uvsY) and ori(34), contain
      a T4 middle-mode promoter that is necessary for origin function. We wanted to
      analyze the requirement of these two replication origins for the MotA protein,
      which is the phage-encoded activator of middle-mode promoters. To ensure the
      complete absence of MotA protein, we deleted the motA gene from the T4 genome.
      Unexpectedly, the deletion mutant was not viable unless the MotA protein was
      provided from a recombinant plasmid. Therefore, MotA is an essential protein for
      T4 growth. The motA delta mutation reduced the synthesis of several proteins that
      are encoded by genes with middle-mode promoters, delayed and reduced the
      synthesis of late proteins, and substantially reduced phage genomic replication.
      The motA delta mutation also reduced the replication of an ori(uvsY)-containing
      plasmid and virtually abolished replication of an ori(34)-containing plasmid. The
      replication defects of the two origins correlated with transcriptional defects:
      the motA delta mutation modestly reduced transcription from the plasmid-borne
      ori(uvsY) promoter and strongly reduced transcription from the ori(34) promoter.
      These results provide strong evidence that MotA protein is normally involved in
      origin-dependent replication. However, MotA is not required for origin-directed
      replication as long as transcription can occur from the origin promoter.

PMID- 1447798
TI  - [Quantitative cytology--basic researches and clinical applications].

PMID- 1447799
TI  - [A historical review of flow cytometers and characteristics of commercial
      instruments].
AB  - Instruments utilized in flow cytometry are called flow cytometers and they can be
      classified into two kinds, namely, cell analyzers and cell sorters. Important
      technological developments related to the flow cytometer and various kinds of
      laboratory instruments are reviewed historically. Commercial cell sorters and
      cell analyzers produced by several companies are compared and the characteristics
      of each are listed.

PMID- 1447800
TI  - [Progress and application of multiple-parameter flow cytometric analysis].
AB  - Multiple-parameter flow cytometric analysis for the expression of cell surface
      markers has been generally used in various clinical and fundamental fields. This
      was made possible by the development of many monoclonal antibodies and new
      fluorescence dyes coordinately with the progress in hardwares. Especially, the
      development of new fluorescence dyes enabled us simultaneously analysis of more
      than two markers, not only surface markers but also intracellular events, such as
      Ca2+ concentration and cell cycle. As a result, fine characterization of cells of
      interest is now possible even with a limited number of cells within a shorter
      time. The high resolution and sensitivity of current multiple-parameter flow
      cytometer make possible the isolation of diverse and unique cell populations that
      can be obtained by no other way.

PMID- 1447801
TI  - [Applications of flow cytometry to molecular biology and molecular genetics].
AB  - Flow cytometry has been utilized in the fields of immunology, hematology, cancer
      biology and somatic cell genetics. It is also being used for cell cycle and
      chromosome ploidy analysis. Furthermore, flow cytometry is powerful for karyotype
      analysis and chromosome sorting. Here, I will review recent advances of flow
      cytometry in molecular biology and molecular genetics, and discuss some of our
      recent works.

PMID- 1447802
TI  - [The theory of flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle and their applications
      in biology and oncology].
AB  - The clockwise concept of cell cycle kinetics has changed since molecular biology
      made rapid advances in this area and added somewhat to cell cycle analysis by DNA
      histogram. During the last decade, it has been made possible to measure many cell
      cycle-regulating gene products flow cytometrically. Application of
      bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) to cell cycle analysis contributes to scientific
      progression in many fields of biology and oncology. In this article, we attempt
      to summarize the outline of new concepts regarding the cell cycle by means of
      flow cytometric techniques and to describe their application in biology and
      oncology. For this purpose, probes, biological differences amongst the dyes used,
      DNA analysis using DNA histograms and their limitations are explained. Next, new
      methods to analyse cell cycle kinetics by means of BrdU, Ki-67 antigen, cyclin,
      etc. discussed. As far as application of flow cytometric cell cycle analysis are
      concerned, influences of nutrition, growth factors and hormones, relationships
      between DNA index or cell cycle and the prognosis of patients with cancer, and
      the effect of anticancer drugs on the cell cycle are discussed. Finally, we
      emphasize the importance of multiparameter analysis of cell cycle kinetics using
      flow cytometry.

PMID- 1447803
TI  - [Detection of proliferative cells by DNA polymerase a as a proliferation
      associated marker].
AB  - Proliferative cell fractions were measured by flow cytometry in 20 patients with
      acute leukemia, 4 with chronic myelocytic leukemia in blastic crisis and 7 with
      malignant lymphoma. The cells were fixed with 2% paraformaldehyde followed by
      staining with fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated monoclonal antibody against
      DNA polymerase a. The DNA polymerase a-positive population was widely distributed
      in leukemia, from 20.4% to 84.7% in peripheral blood and from 6.5% to 92.5% in
      the bone marrow. A positive correlation was found between the values in
      peripheral blood and bone marrow. The values ranged from 66.4% to 88.1% in cells
      from cases of malignant lymphoma. Cryopreserved cells may be available for
      measurement of DNA polymerase a because the result obtained in both frozen and
      fresh cells were essentially the same.

PMID- 1447804
TI  - [AgNORs (Ag nucleolar organizer regions)].
AB  - A quick and quantitative evaluation technique, "AgNORs-FCM", was developed to
      analyze Nucleolar Organizer Regions (NORs) stained with silver impregnation
      followed by cytofluorometric analysis. Cell suspension is stained with AgNORs
      similarly as described elsewhere for tissue sections, but with a modification of
      using a much lower concentration of silver nitrate. Cytological general rules in
      AgNORs-FCM are: 1) Specific exaggeration of side scatters (90 LSs) can be
      detected according to the intensity of AgNORs staining. 2) Significantly brighter
      90 LSs were observed when cultured leukemia cell-line was applied to AgNORs-FCM.
      3) AgNORs-FCM provides more specifically brighter 90 LS for cells in G2M and S
      phase, when gated along the P.I.-fluorescence. AgNORs-FCM can be applied to
      analyze clinico-pathological samples including neoplastic tissues, more quickly
      and quantitatively, than regular tissue staining with AgNORs.

PMID- 1447805
TI  - [Flow cytometric analysis, mechanism of action and evaluation of viability by
      antineoplastic agents].
AB  - Since the cell cycle of tumor cells is evaluable with the aid of flow cytometry,
      the mechanism of action of antineoplastic agents has readily been analyzed based
      on the changes of the cell cycle by antineoplastic agents. Propidium iodide had
      been a conventional staining method for such analysis, but after the introduction
      of DNA/BrdU double staining method using BrdU, it has become much easier. For
      evaluating antineoplastic agents, simultaneous measurement by FDA of the
      viability of the tumor cells is important. In vitro studies of the action
      mechanism and the antineoplastic effects of 5-FU, ACNU, IFN, PG, CDDP, PEP, and
      HCFU have been reported previously elsewhere. Similar action mechanism has been
      confirmed in clinical studies, in which optimal agent was selected by the
      sensitivity test using flow cytometry, and thus selected agent was actually given
      to tumor patients. In analyzing antineoplastic agents in vitro, concomitant and
      total evaluation of DNA-histogram and viability by flow cytometry is needed in
      the future.

PMID- 1447806
TI  - [Flow cytometric analysis of proliferative characteristics of human leukemic
      cells in bone marrows in vivo using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and its monoclonal
      antibody].
AB  - We developed a new method for analyzing the proliferative characteristics of
      human acute leukemic cells in bone marrows in vivo using BrdU and its monoclonal
      antibody. The thirty minutes after a bolus BrdU infusion, a 1st bone marrow
      aspiration (BMP) was performed to calculate BrdU-LI. Then, a 150-minute
      continuous infusion of BrdU was started. After the infusion, a 2nd BMP was done
      to calculate the increasing rate of the BrdU-LI for 3 hours. Each of the bone
      marrow cells was analyzed by FCM. A mean value of 10.4% for BrdU-LI in 22
      previously untreated patients was obtained. In 3 of the patients, Ts and Tpot
      ranged from 13.5 to 33.9 hours and 6.8 to 10.7 days respectively.

PMID- 1447807
TI  - [Chemo-sensitivity test for malignant brain tumors by DNA histogram, in vitro].
AB  - Application of flow cytometric DNA analysis was tried to determine the
      sensitivity of ACNU, one of nitrosourea derivatives which had been used very
      commonly for malignant brain tumors, to tumor cells. To evaluate the degree of
      chemo-sensitivity of ACNU, factor B was introduced, indicating the accumulated
      cells in SG2M phases after ACNU treatment as the percentage of cells that was
      previously in the SG2M phases and it revealed that ACNU sensitive cell clones
      gave much larger values of Factor B than ACNU resistant ones at the concentration
      of 10 micrograms/ml ACNU treatments. Twenty clinical materials obtained by
      operation were examined by measuring the degree of values of this Factor B, and
      the findings indicated that this method would be applicable as a clinical test
      for chemo-sensitivity of malignant brain tumors, after some improvement of the
      method.

PMID- 1447808
TI  - [Flow cytometric bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)/DNA analysis using fresh solid tumors
      and its clinical significance].
AB  - It is very important to determine the biological characteristics of individual
      cancers, not only in order to evaluate malignant potentials but also to decide on
      the most effective anticancer therapy. A method which combines BrdU labeling and
      flow cytometric bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)/DNA analysis makes it possible to plot
      the DNA synthetic rate of cells against their DNA content. Hence, this method
      yields more useful information than the previous method of flow cytometric DNA
      analysis. When this method is performed correctly, it can be also applied to
      fresh solid tumors. In this paper, we will describe the results of our
      preliminary investigation and discuss its clinical significance.

PMID- 1447809
TI  - [Flow cytometric analysis of the DNA ploidy pattern of primary lung cancer--its
      prognostic and biological implications].
AB  - In order to clarify the significance of the nuclear DNA ploidy pattern in primary
      lung cancer, recent reports of flow cytometric analysis of nuclear DNA are
      discussed. It has been reported in many institutes, that nuclear DNA ploidy
      pattern was a significant and an independent postsurgical prognostic factor in
      lung cancer, statistically. Diploidy tumors showed a better post-surgical outcome
      than aneuploid tumors. This fact is more evident in stage I tumor than in
      advanced cases and was more in squamous cell carcinomas than in adenocarcinomas.
      Some papers reported that tumors with a high DNA index showed more invasive
      character than that with a low DNA index with flow cytometric and
      histopathological examination. As the percentage of aneuploid tumor was much
      higher in primary lung cancer than in other cancers, more detailed
      characterization is believed to be needed in aneuploid tumors by means of other
      oncological analysis, e.g. growth factors or expression of oncogene products.

PMID- 1447810
TI  - [DNA ploidy pattern as an indicator of degree of malignancy and prognosis in
      gastric cancer].
AB  - We used fresh materials and paraffin blocks of advanced gastric cancer to examine
      the relationship of DNA ploidy pattern from flow cytometry (FCM) to degree of
      malignancy and prognosis. No significant relationship was found between the
      frequency of DNA aneuploid (DA) and the clinicopathological factors (depth of
      invasion, degree of progression, histological type, lymph node metastasis, ly, v
      etc.). FCM examination using fresh materials revealed significant difference in
      prognosis between the non-DA and DA groups for non-curative stage III or IV cases
      (p < 0.05). On the other hand, in terms of the relationship between DNA ploidy
      patterns from paraffin blocks and prognosis for curative resection cases of ss
      gastric cancer, prognosis was significantly better in the non-DA group than in
      the DA (p < 0.01). These results indicate that the clinicopathological prognostic
      factors for gastric cancer are connected in a complex way and that DNA ploidy
      patterns alone are not superior to the prognosis determining factors used in the
      past.

PMID- 1447811
TI  - [Study of nuclear DNA content with flow cytometer in pancreatic diseases].
AB  - Benign and malignant diseases of the pancreas were compared with nuclear DNA
      content by flow cytometry, and the relationship between nuclear DNA content and
      histopathological findings was studied in ductal carcinoma of the pancreas. The
      nuclear DNA content in the malignant disease was higher than that in the benign
      disease. No significant correlation between nuclear DNA content and
      histopathological findings was observed in ductal carcinoma of the pancreas. A
      tendency for the nuclear DNA content to increase in proportion to the tumor size
      and the stage was, however, observed. Study of the nuclear DNA content is
      believed to be an effective adjuvant modality in differential diagnosis between
      benign and malignant disease of the pancreas.

PMID- 1447812
TI  - [DNA ploidy pattern of flow cytometry as indicator of degrees of malignancy and
      prognosis in colorectal cancers].
AB  - Cellular DNA content of primary colorectal cancers was measured by flow cytometry
      and investigated on clinico-pathological features to elucidate the relationship
      between DNA ploidy patterns and outcomes. IN 144 colorectal carcinomas, DNA
      diploid carcinomas accounted for 23% and DNA aneuploid carcinomas for 77%. NO
      significant difference was observed between DNA ploidy pattern and tumor
      differentiation, lymph node metastasis or lympangial invasion. DNA aneuploid
      tumor had a tendency to invade vein and to lead to hematogenic metastasis.
      Patients with DNA aneuploid tumor showed a significantly poor disease-free and
      overall survival rate. Significantly increased incidence of hematogenic
      recurrence was demonstrated in the DNA aneuploid cases. These results suggest
      that the DNA ploidy pattern of colorectal cancers may prove to be of prognostic
      value.

PMID- 1447813
TI  - [DNA ploidy pattern of flow cytometry as indicator of malignancy and prognosis in
      bladder cancer].
AB  - Flow cytometry (FCM) of bladder cancer has unique characteristics. First, bladder
      washing is a suitable material to measure in terms of single cell suspension,
      while the urine appears inadequate because of the low sensitivity for detecting
      bladder cancer. Second, the role of FCM depends on the different features of
      superficial, in situ or invasive bladder cancer. In superficial cancers, FCM can
      detect the presence of cancer, predict intravesical recurrence and evaluate the
      response of intravesical instillation therapy. In carcinomas in situ, frequent
      occurrence of polyclonal aneuploid may indicate the aggressive nature of high
      grade malignancy. Early removal of bladder may be endorsed unless BCG
      instillation is effective. For invasive cancers, FCM does not seem to be so
      useful, but FCM relates well to other prognostic parameters.

PMID- 1447814
TI  - [Flow cytometric evaluation of DNA ploidy pattern in uterine cancer].
AB  - The distribution of DNA ploidy levels and its prognostic significance in cervical
      cancer (including squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma) and endometrial
      cancer is discussed. DNA aneuploidy was observed in most of the cases with either
      the histological type of cervical cancer and in half of those with endometrial
      cancer. The DNA ploidy level of the tumor showed a characteristic distribution
      according to its histological type or grade. Although several investigators have
      already reported that patients with DNA diploid uterine tumors had a better
      survival than those with DNA aneuploid uterine tumors, further research is
      required before a definite conclusion can be attained on the prognostic value of
      the degree of DNA ploidy measurement in uterine cancer.

PMID- 1447815
TI  - [Flow cytometric analysis of DNA ploidy pattern in breast cancer: malignant
      potential and prognostic implication].
AB  - Flow cytometric DNA analysis in solid tumors has developed over the past ten
      years. In human breast cancer, flow cytometric analysis of DNA ploidy pattern
      recently reported were reviewed. There are conflicting data regarding the value
      of DNA ploidy pattern obtained by flow cytometric analysis for determining
      prognosis for breast cancer patients. Some data seem to indicate that S-phase
      fraction alone or in combination with DNA ploidy pattern may be more important
      prognostically than DNA ploidy pattern alone, although the results have not been
      uniform. These suggests that a consensus of determination for DNA ploidy pattern
      in breast cancer and further investigations on DNA ploidy pattern are required.

PMID- 1447816
TI  - [Separation and measurement of lymphocyte functional subpopulations by two color
      FCM method].
AB  - With the popularity of flow cytometry (FCM) and the availability of a wide
      variety of monoclonal antibodies to human blood cells, analysis of cell surface
      antigens is now conducted at many facilities as part of their routine testing.
      Analysis of cell surface antigens by FCM has contributed greatly to the diagnosis
      and the determination of therapeutic effects in many diseases. In the present
      study, for detection of lymphocyte surface antigens by two color analysis and
      selection of appropriate antibodies are described. In addition, the significance
      of two color analysis is explained by citing hematological neoplasms and several
      other clinical cases. It has been recently reported that the immunological system
      is involved in many disease processes. In the future, more detailed studies will
      be conducted to elucidate the immunological mechanisms in these diseases.

PMID- 1447817
TI  - [Detection of IgG receptor subtype on basophils using two-color FCM].
AB  - It was extremely difficult to phenotype basophils because they are most sparse
      among blood leukocytes. We developed a new method which identified basophils on
      the basis of negative reactivity with mixed monoclonal antibodies (CD2, CD14,
      CD16, CD19). Using this method we could detect Fc gamma R II (CDw32) but not Fc
      gamma R I (CD64) on basophil surface. The method seems useful for the study of
      clinical allergy and also of the biology of basophil.

PMID- 1447818
TI  - [Simultaneous analysis of c-myc protein expression and cell cycle with monoclonal
      antibody and flow cytometry].
AB  - C-myc protein plays an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation and
      differentiation. In this paper, c-myc protein and DNA were doubly stained and
      analysed simultaneously with flow cytometry (FCM). At first, three fixatives,
      ethanol, methanol and paraformaldehyde, were examined using HL-60 cells, among
      which 50% ethanol was found to be optimal for each staining. After fixation, the
      cells were stained with a monoclonal antibody against c-myc protein, followed by
      DNA staining with PI. Simultaneous analysis demonstrated that c-myc protein was
      constantly expressed through the cell cycle and that the protein amount at the G2
      + M phases was 1.5 times higher than that at the G1 phase. Further, the
      differentiation study with TPA and RA revealed that the growth, S phase and also
      c-myc protein expression were suppressed during the differentiation.

PMID- 1447819
TI  - [The expression of IL-2 receptor subunits on various leukemic cells].
AB  - Interleukin-2 receptors are composed of at least two polypeptide chains of alpha
      (55KD) and beta (75KD). The IL-2R beta chain is an essential component of the
      functional receptor for signal transduction of IL-2. We previously reported the
      distribution of IL-2R subunits among peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We here
      present some data regarding the expression of IL-2R subunits on various
      hemopoietic malignant cells. Fresh leukemic cells obtained from adult T cell
      leukemia patients expressed both alpha and beta chains, and leukemic cells
      derived from some patients with T cell leukemia, B cell leukemia or myeloid
      leukemia expressed the alpha and/or beta chain of IL-2R. The IL-2R beta chain on
      these leukemic cells were demonstrated to be functional for cell growth
      signaling. IL-2R alpha and beta chains should be tumor markers.

PMID- 1447820
TI  - [Flow karyotyping and chromosome sorting].
AB  - For flow karyotyping and sorting, chromosomes are stained in suspension with
      appropriate DNA fluorochromes, and passed singly through a beam of laser light.
      The emitted pulses of fluorescence and scattered light are measured and stored in
      the form of a histogram displaying the number of pulses versus fluorescence or
      scattered light intensity. A data processing system was devised to remove signals
      from cell debris or chromosome fragments. A selective window was set in a dot
      plot of fluorescence versus scattered light intensities and a program was made to
      count pulses from the gated area only. As application of chromosome
      fractionation, flow cytometry has been used for karyotype analysis, gene mapping,
      and chromosomal DNA library construction.

PMID- 1447821
TI  - [Flow cytometric analysis of chromosome aberration on tumor cells].
AB  - Chromosomal changes plays an important role in malignant transformation.
      Generally, the process of karyotype instability with grows aneuploidy occurs in
      tumor. But it is very difficult to obtained Flow karyotype from tumor cells.
      There are many technical problem in the analysis of chromosomes aberration in
      tumor cells. Problem is technical procedure of isolation from metaphase
      chromosomes. It is important to choice of swelling buffer and treatment times.
      Such technic affect for Flow karyotype pattern. We try to obtained Flow karyotype
      from chinese hamster cell and V-79 cells and we reported a recent new techniques
      of cell preparation and chromosomes suspension.

PMID- 1447822
TI  - [Progress in microscopic image analysis and the trend of image cytometry].
AB  - Image cytometry has recently developed prominently based on the digital imaging
      of cell morphology brought about by great advances in microcomputer hardware and
      software, electronics etc. This method is characterized by the quantitation of
      both the amount of intracellular bioactive materials and cell morphology, and is
      expected to further advance many cell analysis techniques involving automated
      cytology, chromosome image analysis, automated histopathology, viable cell
      analysis, 3D image construction, etc. The present use is still minimal, and
      advances in both hardware and software for cyto-histologic recognition are
      essentially necessary. Perhaps by the end of this century, more sophisticated and
      faster machines for automated cyto-histologic analysis will appear, replacing
      many microscopic techniques of presently subjective observation in the biomedical
      field.

PMID- 1447823
TI  - [The advancement of image cytometry in immunohistology].
AB  - An image processing system has been developed by the combination of recent
      electronic and computer technologies. The system may have a potential power for
      the quantitative analysis on the immunohistology. The image cytometry was applied
      to quantitative analysis on Ki-67-positive cells in lymphomas of Waldeyer's ring
      and nasal cavity. High grade lymphomas showed significantly larger number of Ki
      67-positive cells than intermediate-grade lymphomas, even analyzed separately by
      immunophenotypes. A large mean area per Ki-67-positive cell was significantly
      associated with T-cell phenotype and unfavorable clinical outcome. Thus, Ki-67
      immunostaining combined with image cytometry is a novel method for determining a
      tumor proliferative index which provides useful clinical data of non-Hodgkin's
      lymphomas.

PMID- 1447824
TI  - [Quantitative non-radioactive in situ hybridization for measurement of specific
      mRNA using image analyzer].
AB  - To understand cells, information on the state of gene expression in each cell is
      essential. We determined the copy number of c-myc mRNA in HL60 cell by first
      carrying out in situ hybridization using thymine-thymine dimerized anti-sense
      oligonucleotides probes to c-myc mRNA and the hybridized thymine dimers were
      localized by the immunoperoxidase method. The density of each cell was measured
      by an image analyzer and converted to the mRNA copy number in each cell, using
      dot blot hybridization results, as a reference standard. It was found that the
      numbers of c-myc mRNA copies varied 0-4,000 when expressed at the unit of cell.

PMID- 1447825
TI  - [The grading of cellular and structural atypia in cancer and related lesions
      using multivariate analysis].
AB  - In morphologically diagnosing cancer, pathologists' attention is focussed on the
      presence or absence of atypia, i.e., the form of cells and tissues deviated from
      the norm, and if it is present, on its grade. However, due to retarded
      development of techniques for the objective evaluation of its grade, separation
      of cancer from premalignant lesions still meets great ambiguity. Particularly,
      the boundaries of "dysplasia" with cancer and noncancerous lesions are not
      defined in clear morphological terms and are susceptible to a strong between
      observers fluctuation. In this paper we outlined our recent efforts to establish
      in various organs a statistically most adequate, and therefore reproducible,
      classification of atypical lesions, resorting to morphometry and multivariate
      analysis. Two examples were given: atypia of the pancreatic duct epithelia as an
      object for the study of purely cellular abnormalities, and hepatocellular
      carcinoma, which required also to quantify the atypia of tissue structures, The
      classifications thus established proved to be the most adequate, in that, they
      closely reflected the grade of malignancy in a clinical as well as biological
      sense, as shown by the clear between-categorier differences in oncogene mutation,
      DNA ploidy pattern, the patients' prognoses, and so on.

PMID- 1447826
TI  - [Application of image cytometry to cytological diagnosis of breast tumors].
AB  - Computerized morphological analysis of the cell nuclei was performed on 66 cases
      (2222 nuclei) of aspirated materials from breast tumors: 25 benign cases (302
      nuclei), 41 malignant cases (1420 nuclei). Its diagnostic significance and the
      correlation between nuclear analysis and clinical staging were studied. Nuclear
      diagram and intranuclear chromatin distribution pattern were evaluated using
      computer system named 6400. The malignant tumor had larger, more round-shaped
      nuclei and less uniform chromatin distribution. Under tnm classification, stage
      IV tumors had larger, more flattened nuclei and more irregular chromatin
      distribution pattern than the others. Computerized morphological analysis of
      breast tumors may give a quantitative aspect to classical diagnostic process.
      Furthermore, this analytical method provides information on clinical stage of
      breast cancer.

PMID- 1447827
TI  - [Quantitative DNA image cytometry by color image analyzer].
AB  - We developed a new method to analyze DNA quantitatively by a color image
      analyzer. A microscopic image of the nucleus stained with Feulgen's reaction, is
      taken by a CCD color camera and inputted in a color image analyzer. DNA quantity
      can be calculated directly from the RGB components of the color image instead of
      the monochrome image taken through band-pass filter, which is specific for the
      absorption of Feulgen's stain. It takes about 10 minutes to measure 500 nuclei by
      this method and its accuracy is almost the same as flow cytometry (CV = 3%). The
      nuclear color image can also be analyzed morphometrically. This method can select
      tumor cells in a usual cytologic specimen and measure their DNA contents.

PMID- 1447828
TI  - [Confocal laser scanning microscopy for image cytometry].
AB  - By using a focused laser beam as the light source of the microscope, to minimized
      flare, together with a pinhole in front of a photo detector to eliminate out-of
      focus data, the confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) provides a depth
      discriminated fluorescence image with high spatial resolution. The CLSM,
      therefore, has been widely used as a tool for accurate morphometric and
      densitometric analyses. We discussed here the biological applications of CLSM for
      demonstrating the three-dimensional features of the embryonic heart tube and
      chromosome and for imaging fast dynamic changes of [Ca2+]i in the living heart
      muscle cell pairs.

PMID- 1447829
TI  - [Progress on chromosome image analysis systems].
AB  - This is a review of the development of automated systems of chromosome analysis.
      The history of its development reflects the progress of image analysis systems
      and that of method of chromosome analysis in man. It can be chronologically
      summarized as follows. Period I: 1960s-early 1970s when chromosome banding
      methods were discovered. Period II: early 1970s-early 1980s when the first image
      analysis system of chromosome was commercialized. Period III: early 1980s
      present. Research and development of the automated analysis system of radiation
      induced chromosome aberrations, conducted under the national project of cross
      over research on underlying technology of nuclear energy, Science and Technology
      Agency, Japan, is briefly reported.

PMID- 1447830
TI  - [Advances in molecular parasitology].
AB  - Recent studies on molecular biology of parasites revealed novel mechanisms for
      the control of expression of parasitic genes. In trypanosomatid protozoa, unusual
      characteristics of gene regulation, including polycistronic transcription, trans
      RNA splicing and RNA editing have been discovered. This review describes the
      recent progress of RNA editing in trypanosomes, and trans-splicing in both
      trypanosomes and nematodes. Studies of the editing of mRNAs in trypanosomatid
      mitochondria indicate the involvement of small guide RNA molecules, which are
      encoded in the minicircles and/or maxicircles of kinetoplast DNA. A proposed
      transesterification model for RNA editing suggests an analogous reaction between
      RNA editing and RNA splicing. In addition, the development of stable transfection
      system and success of homologous gene targeting in Trypanosoma and Leishmania are
      reported.

PMID- 1447831
TI  - [Effects of smoking and drinking habits and vitamin A intake on serum
      concentrations of beta-carotene and retinol].
AB  - Serum samples from 341 males aged 10 to 59 years were obtained and stored at -40
      degrees C until examined for retinol and beta-carotene concentrations by HPLC,
      and their relationships to smoking habit, alcohol drinking habit and vitamin A
      intake were studied. In univariate analysis the serum beta-carotene level was
      significantly lower in the smokers than in the non-smokers (smokers: 4.6
      micrograms/dl, non-smokers: 7.1 micrograms/dl, p less than 0.01) and lower in the
      drinkers than in the non-drinkers (drinkers: 4.6 micrograms/dl, non-drinkers: 7.3
      micrograms/dl, p less than 0.01). The serum retinol level was not different by
      smoking habit but was higher in the drinkers than in the non-drinkers (drinkers:
      80.4 micrograms/dl, non-drinkers: 67.0 micrograms/dl, p less than 0.01). Serum
      beta-carotene was higher in the group with a greater intake of vitamin A of
      vegetable origin (6.1 micrograms/dl) than in the group with a smaller intake of
      it (4.7 micrograms/dl) (p less than 0.01), but serum retinol was not different by
      the amount of vitamin A intake of animal food origin. To estimate the respective
      effects and interactions of the above factors on serum beta-carotene and retinol
      levels by adjusting for the confounding effects of age, serum total cholesterol,
      HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride, analysis of covariance was performed. For serum
      beta-carotene, smoking habit (p less than 0.01), drinking habit (p less than
      0.01) and the amount of vitamin A intake of vegetable food origin (p less than
      0.05) had significant main effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447832
TI  - [Improved thermogenesis during acute cold exposure in exercise-trained rats].
AB  - The present study was carried out to examine the effects of enhanced cold
      tolerance induced by exercise training on carbohydrate metabolism during cold
      exposure. Five-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into three groups. The warm
      acclimated control group (WA) was exposed to the environment at 25 degrees C, and
      the cold-acclimated group (CA) was acclimated to cold by exposure to 5 degrees C.
      The exercise-trained group (ET) was controlled to run at the rate of 35 meters
      per minute for 9 weeks on a small driven treadmill. The degree of carbohydrate
      metabolism due to cold exposure significantly decreased with the drop in
      environmental temperature in the WA and CA groups, but did not change in the ET
      group. When glucose utilization was blocked with 2-deoxyglucose administration,
      oxygen consumption during cold exposure decreased in the WA and ET groups, but
      did not decrease in the CA group. The liver glycogen content decreased during
      cold exposure in the WA and ET groups, but there was no change in the CA group.
      It appeared that the fall of the plasma glucose level after the infusion of
      insulin was significantly greater in the ET and CA groups than in the WA group.
      These results indicate that the improved capacity for cold-induced thermogenesis
      in the ET group may be caused by enhanced carbohydrate metabolism.

PMID- 1447833
TI  - [Effects of an essential trace element agent (TE-5) for total parenteral
      nutrition on the mineral nutrition in rats fed a trace element-deficient diet].
AB  - TE-5 is an essential trace element agent containing iron, zinc, copper, manganese
      and iodine for total parenteral nutrition (TPN). We have already reported that TE
      5 improved the reduction of trace element concentrations induced by TPN. However,
      effects of TE-5 on the changes in biological function relating to trace elements
      are poorly understood. The present study was designed to clarify the effects of
      TE-5 on these functions. Rats fed a trace element (iron, zinc, copper, manganese
      and iodine)-deficient diet for 7 weeks showed reductions in the following
      parameters: plasma and various tissue concentrations of iron, zinc, copper,
      manganese and iodine, growth rate, erythrocyte (iron), hemoglobin (iron),
      hematocrit (iron), mean corpuscular constants (iron), plasma alkaline phosphatase
      activity (zinc), serum ceruloplasmin concentration (copper), liver pyruvate
      carboxylase activity (manganese) and serum thyroxine concentration (iodine). On
      the other hand, when TE-5 (0.008, 0.04 and 0.2ml/kg: x 0.2, x 1 and x 5 the usual
      clinical dose, respectively) was intravenously administered once a day for 7
      weeks under the conditions described above, there was a tendency to prevent the
      reductions of plasma and various tissue concentrations of iron, zinc and
      manganese. In addition, TE-5 prevented the reductions of growth rate, iron
      metabolism functions, plasma alkaline phosphatase activity, serum ceruloplasmin
      concentration and liver pyruvate carboxylase activity. The present study shows
      that TE-5 prevents both reductions of trace element contents and trace element
      related functions, and suggests that TE-5 is useful for treatment of trace
      element deficiency in TPN.

PMID- 1447834
TI  - [Effect of cadmium on lipid components: relation of cadmium to thyroid hormone
      and growth hormone].
AB  - To clarify the relationship of cadmium (Cd), thyroid hormone (TH) and growth
      hormone (GH) to lipid components, 4-week-old SD rats were dosed orally with Cd
      (CdCl2) at a dose of 2.0 mg/kg body weight five times a week, orally with TH at a
      dose of 2.5 mg/kg body weight five times a week and subcutaneously with GH
      (somatotropin) at a dose of 1.0 IU/kg body weight three times a week, all for 4
      weeks. As lipid components, the serum concentrations of triglycerides, free fatty
      acids, lipid peroxides and long-chain fatty acids were determined. We have
      devised a new method for determining the fatty acid composition in the femur
      using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and made a simultaneous analysis of
      fatty acids, from myristic acid (C14:0) to cholesterol. The results of the
      present study led to the following conclusions. 1. Cd may inhibit lipogenesis by
      binding with SH of coenzyme A, thereby reducing the serum levels of free fatty
      acids and lipid peroxides. 2. When TH and Cd were administered in combination,
      the addition of Cd produced an inhibitory effect on lipid components, although TH
      given alone stimulated the lipid metabolism. Therefore, Cd and TH may have an
      interaction in lipid components. 3. When GH and Cd were administered in
      combination, Cd modulated the action of GH, which enhanced the effect of
      somatomedin on the lipid metabolism. The inhibitory effect of Cd on somatomedin
      activity via Zn was suggested. 4. A sex difference was found in the composition
      of fatty acids in blood. The males had higher proportions of palmitic acid
      (C16:0) and linoleic acid (C18:2), while the females had a higher proportion of
      arachidonic acid (C20:4). There was no sex difference in fatty acid composition
      in the femur. 5. It was confirmed that TH produced a peroxide of
      dehydrocholesterol, a precursor of vitamin D3, in the diaphysis of the femur in
      the increased metabolic state.

PMID- 1447835
TI  - [The effect of noise on sleep--changes in hypnograms of subjects exposed to
      repeated truck-passing sound].
AB  - The effect of traffic noise on sleep was evaluated in an experimental room using
      repeated recorded truck-passing sounds. The peak sound level was 55, 60 or 65 dB
      (A) with frequencies of three times per hour. The background noise of the
      exposure night was Leq 42 dB (A) and that of the control night was Leq 35 dB (A).
      The subjects were five students 23 to 24 years old. The sleep stage of each epoch
      with a 20-second duration was judged visually based on the criteria of
      Rechtschaffen & Kales and the data of the second night of noise-exposure and the
      control night were used. The sleep parameters used were total sleep time (TST),
      each sleep stage, % of sleep stage against TST, sleep efficiencies, sleep
      latency, REM latency, REM cycle, REM duration, waking from sleep, number of stage
      shifts, and subjective sleep judged by the OSA sleep inventory. A paired t test
      was used for the statistical analysis. TST, REM stage in minutes, and % of REM
      stage against TST of the exposure night were significantly decreased compared
      with those of the control night. Other objective and subjective parameters showed
      no changes during noise exposure. Dividing the all-night into halves, the amount
      and % of each sleep stage were compared between the exposure and control night.
      There was no change of sleep stage in the former half, but the % and amount of
      REM sleep in the latter half were significantly decreased as a result of the
      noise exposure. The decreases of REM sleep and % REM against TST, especially in
      the latter half of all-night sleep, were caused by the intermittent truck-passing
      sounds 20 to 30 times per night.

PMID- 1447836
TI  - [Peripheral airway obstruction and treatment].
AB  - The effect of medication on peripheral airway obstruction was examined in cases
      of bronchial asthma. Subjects were 1) patients with exercise-induced asthma, 2)
      an animal model of hyperventilation-induced asthma and 3) patients with chronic
      asthma. Peripheral airway obstruction was induced in 30 of 51 patients with
      exercise-induced asthma. Induction of peripheral airway obstruction was protected
      significantly by procaterol. Cromoglycate was effective in 12 of 17 patients but
      ipratropium was not effective against induction of peripheral airway obstruction.
      In the animal model, humid air inhalation, procaterol and ipratropium completely
      prevented hyperventilation-induced bronchoconstriction, but cromoglycate caused
      only partial prevention. In cases of chronic asthma with peripheral airway
      obstruction, beclomethasone inhalation reduced the symptom rating rapidly, but no
      changes were observed in pulmonary function and threshold of airway
      responsiveness. Cromoglycate was started in patients with chronic asthma who had
      been treated with beclomethasone. After cromoglycate administration, therapeutic
      rating decreased, but increased again after 8 weeks of cromoglycate therapy.
      Peripheral airway obstruction induced by exercise or hyperventilation could be
      prevented by adequate premedication, but chronic peripheral airway obstruction
      was difficult to treat.

PMID- 1447837
TI  - [Circadian rhythm in the treatment of asthma].
AB  - The circadian rhythm of respiratory function was examined in normal males and
      asthmatic subjects. In both groups, maximal flow decreased in the early morning.
      The major factor contributing to the circadian change in V50 was lung elastic
      recoil pressure in normal males and upstream resistance in asthmatic subjects. In
      some asthmatic patients, beclomethasone inhaled in the afternoon and at night was
      more effective than in the morning in increasing both the circadian maximal and
      minimal peak expiratory flow rates. This indicates the importance of
      chronotherapy in asthma.

PMID- 1447838
TI  - [Features and treatment of immediate and late asthmatic responses].
AB  - In atopic asthma, the antigen-induced airway reaction consists of three phases;
      (1) immediate asthmatic response, LAR, (2) late asthmatic response, LAR, and (3)
      post-late asthmatic response, pLAR. Election microscopic examination of biopsy
      specimens of the bronchial mucosa, and examination of desquamated bronchial
      epithelial cells in sputum after antigen challenge showed that eosinophil
      infiltration in the bronchial epithelium contributes to airway
      hyperresponsiveness in asthma. Since LAR and pLAR are considered to be
      inflammatory responses caused by eosinophil infiltration, suppression of the
      inflammation by anti-allergic drugs and corticosteroids is effective in the
      treatment of LAR and pLAR. PAF antagonists and immunosuppressive agents have been
      investigated for their use in asthma treatment because of their anti-inflammatory
      effects. In addition to these anti-inflammatory agents, an antagonist of
      leukotriene C4 and D4 which are potent bronchoconstricting mediators has been
      shown to suppress both IAR and LAR, suggesting its possible use in asthma
      treatment.

PMID- 1447839
TI  - [Clinical study of synchronous multiple primary cancer involving the lung].
AB  - Ten cases of synchronous multiple primary cancer involving the lung were
      experienced in our hospital during the period from January 1962 to May 1987. The
      incidence rate was 1.3% of all hospitalized cases of primary lung cancer. The
      counterpart organs were thyroid gland (4 cases), stomach (2 cases), colorectum (2
      cases) and lung (2 cases). Three of four thyroid cancer cases were resected at
      the same time of pulmonary resection, whereas the stomach and colorectal cancer
      cases underwent two stage operation. Lung perfusion scintigraphy was very useful
      in determining the operative method for synchronous multiple primary lung cancer.
      The 5-year survival rate of all cases of synchronous multiple primary cancer
      involving the lung was 26.3%, with no hospital death. Surgical treatment is
      recommended for such cases when both cancers are expected to be resected
      completely.

PMID- 1447840
TI  - [The effects of oxygen and vasodilators on pulmonary hemodynamics and blood gases
      in chronic lung disease].
AB  - The effects of oxygen inhalation, nitroglycerin (NTG) and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)
      on pulmonary hemodynamics and blood gases were studied in 15 patients with
      chronic lung disease (CLD). Cardiac catheterization was performed with Swan-Ganz
      catheter, and pulmonary hemodynamics and cardiac output were measured. After
      baseline hemodynamics and blood gas measurements were made, 15 patients inhaled
      oxygen for 15 minutes and the same measurements were repeated. Twenty minutes
      later, oxygen inhalation was stopped. Then the 15 patients were divided into two
      groups; one group was administered sublingual NTG (7 patients) and the other was
      administered PGE1 by continuous intravenous infusion (8 patients). Pulmonary
      hemodynamics and blood gas measurements were then performed. Oxygen inhalation
      significantly reduced mean pulmonary artery pressure (from 22.2 +/- 8.8 to 20.0
      +/- 6.4 mmHg; p < 0.01) and heart rate (from 78.1 +/- 12.0 to 75.5 +/- 12.5
      beats/min; p < 0.05). With respect to oxygenation, oxygen inhalation
      significantly increased PaO2 (from 68.6 +/- 10.7 to 113.4 +/- 31.4 mmHg; p <
      0.01), PvO2 (from 35.1 +/- 3.7 to 38.0 +/- 3.3 mmHg; p < 0.01). Therefore, oxygen
      inhalation was thought to be useful in patients with chronic lung disease with
      pulmonary hypertension. Sublingual administration of NTG significantly reduced
      mean pulmonary artery pressure (from 24.1 +/- 0.2 to 17.6 +/- 6.8 mmHg; p <
      0.01), C.I. (from 2.9 +/- 0.2 to 2.3 +/- 0.2 ml/min/m; p < 0.01), O2-transport
      (from 589.1 +/- 168.4 to 457.0 +/- 105.8 ml/min; p < 0.01), and had a tendency to
      decrease PvO2 (from 34.3 +/- 3.0 to 32.1 +/- 1.8 mmHg; p < 0.1).(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447841
TI  - [Six cases of primary pulmonary cryptococcosis].
AB  - Six patients with asymptomatic primary pulmonary Cryptococcosis are reported. In
      all of the patients, the disease was detected by annual chest X-ray during mass
      screening for lung cancer or during follow-up for pulmonary tuberculosis or
      gastric cancer. The chest X-ray findings consisted of a solitary pulmonary nodule
      in 4 patients and multiple pulmonary nodules in 2. Only one patient who could not
      be histologically diagnosed by bronchofiberscopy underwent surgical resection.
      However, the other 5 patients were histologically diagnosed by transbronchial
      biopsy with bronchofiberscopy. They were treated with oral antifungal agents,
      namely flucytosine (5-FC) and/or fluconazole, with marked improvement of chest X
      ray findings. These results indicate that transbronchial biopsy with
      bronchofiberscopy and oral administration of antifungal agents instead of initial
      surgical resection are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of primary pulmonary
      cryptococcosis.

PMID- 1447842
TI  - [Relation of airway obstruction and respiratory muscle weakness to energy
      metabolism in pulmonary emphysema].
AB  - Resting energy expenditure (REE) was assessed and its relationship to nutritional
      status, pulmonary function and respiratory muscle function was studied in 25
      patients with pulmonary emphysema. The mean value of REE was 1413 +/- 251 Cal and
      the ratio of REE/REEpred was 1.398 +/- 0.23, suggesting the existence of a
      hypermetabolic state in these patients. REE/REEpred ratio was inversely
      correlated with plasma amino acid BCAA/AAA ratio and body muscle mass; and PImax.
      REE was inversely correlated with FEV1.0%. REE in the patient subgroup with
      severe hyperinflation (%RV > or = 200) was significantly higher than that in the
      subgroup with moderate hyperinflation. Malnourished patients showed significantly
      more severe hyperinflation than well-nourished patients. These findings suggest
      that augmented REE contributes to malnutrition in patients with emphysema, and
      that the increase in REE was related to the increase in mechanical work load on
      the basis of airway obstruction, respiratory muscle weakness and hyperinflation.

PMID- 1447843
TI  - [Characteristics of chronic interstitial pneumonia seen in the lung operated for
      lung cancer].
AB  - A total of 480 lungs operated for lung cancer were reviewed in an attempt to
      clarify the characteristics of idiopathic chronic interstitial pneumonia (UIP),
      seen in the cancer bearing lungs. UIP was identified in 30 cases (6.3%). The mean
      patients age was 68 years, and 26 cases were male. Squamous cell carcinoma was
      the dominant tumor type (17 cases) and the lower lobe was the dominant location
      (18 cases). All cancers were situated in the periphery of lungs which had UIP,
      but not necessarily in the center of the fibrosis. According to extent, UIP is
      divided into two categories, localized and diffuse types. Twenty-seven cases had
      localized type UIP. UIP can be divided into another three categories, according
      to its microscopic findings; Intramural (IM), emphysematous (E), and intraluminal
      (IL) types. Eight cases had IM-type and 22 cases had E-type UIP. Some IM-type UIP
      cases showed only increased density of the subpleural space on CT, without
      visible cysts. E-type UIP cases had no decrease of lung capacity, and showed
      various sized cysts on CT. Some cases showed postoperative worsening of UIP and
      acute exacerbation. We feel that the existence of localized UIP (especially
      emphysematous type) is important in the early detection of cancer, and as a cue
      for careful post-operative management to prevent serious complications.

PMID- 1447844
TI  - [Measurement of CA19-9 in bronchial lavage fluid from patients with lung cancer].
AB  - Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) was measured in bronchial lavage fluid in 21
      patients with lung cancer and 4 patients with benign lung diseases (2 patients
      with DPB, 2 patients with BE). Bronchial lavage of the tumor-related bronchus was
      performed. In normal subjects, levels of CA19-9 in lavage fluid were less than
      1000 IU/ml. On the other hand, in 6 patients with lung cancer, levels of CA19-9
      were higher than 1000 IU/ml, and in 3 of these cases, CA19-9 levels were higher
      than 8000 IU/ml. All six three cases were histologically diagnosed as
      adenocarcinoma. Tumor resected at operation was then stained by antibody
      recognizing CA19-9. Tumor in cases with high levels of CA19-9 was stained
      immunohistochemically. These results indicate that measurement of CA19-9 in
      bronchial lavage fluid of the tumor-related bronchus is a useful auxiliary method
      in the diagnosis of lung cancer.

PMID- 1447845
TI  - [The role of bronchial responsiveness to leukotrienes in antigen-induced
      immediate and late asthmatic response].
AB  - In order to clarify the role of leukotriene in the antigen-induced asthmatic
      response, we carried out mite-antigen, leukotriene D4 (LTD4) and histamine
      inhalation tests in 21 mite-sensitive atopic asthma patients, and investigated
      the relationship between the bronchial responsiveness to mite (PD20-Mite) and
      that to LTD4 and histamine (PD20-LTD4, PD20-Hist). We then compared PD20-LTD4 and
      PD20-Hist between the groups with and without late asthmatic response (LAR), and
      investigated the relationship between the peak percentage fall of FEV1.0 in LAR
      (magnitude of LAR) and PD20-LTD4 and PD20-Hist. There were significant
      correlations between PD20-LTD4 and PD20-Mite (r = 0.590, p < 0.01), and between
      PD20-Hist and PD20-Mite (r = 0.669, p < 0.001). The bronchial responsiveness to
      LTD4 and histamine was significantly higher in the group with LAR. In addition,
      PD20-LTD4 showed a significant negative correlation with the magnitude of LAR (r
      = 0.724, p < 0.001). Furthermore we analyzed the relationship between PD20-LTD
      and the ratio of the magnitude of LAR to that of IAR (immediate asthmatic
      response), because there was a significant correlation between the magnitude of
      IAR and that of LAR (r = 0.842, p < 0.001) in 16 asthmatic patients with dual
      asthmatic response, and found that the correlation coefficient was also very high
      (r = -0.836, p < 0.001). These results suggest an important role of leukotriene
      in the antigen-induced asthmatic response.

PMID- 1447846
TI  - [Sputum leukotrienes in chronic airway diseases and bronchial asthma attacks].
AB  - To determine the pathogenetic role of leukotrienes in chronic airway diseases,
      sputum samples from patients with bronchial asthma (BA), diffuse panbronchiolitis
      (DPB), sinobronchial syndrome (SBS), and bronchiectasis (BE) were examined for
      the presence of leukotrienes (LT) C4, D4, E4, B4, all apparently derived from
      airway inflammatory cells. Sputum samples from 21 patients, including 10 with BA
      attack (5 atopic type, 5 non-atopic type) and 11 with chronic obstructive airway
      diseases (3 DPB, 6 SBS, and BE), were studied. Patients expectorated sputum
      directly into test-tubes containing 80% ethanol. Following ethanol extraction and
      partial purification by a C18 SEP-PAK column, LTs were further purified by high
      performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fractions from HPLC with elution times
      corresponding to synthetic LTC4, D4, E4, and B4 were used to quantify LTs by
      radioimmunoassay. Eosinophils and neutrophils in the sputum (0.5 ml) were counted
      following Papanicolaou staining. Percentages of eosinophils in sputum were higher
      in BA, while those of neutrophils were higher in DPB. Sputum levels of LTC4 were
      1.2 +/- 1.6 in BA, 0.12 +/- 0.11 in SBS, and 0.42 +/- 0.14 ng/ml in DPB. Those of
      LTD4 were 0.21 +/- 0.27 in BA, 0.9 +/- 0.13 in DPB, and 0.10 +/- 0.07 in SBS.
      LTE4 levels were 5.06 +/- 3.83 in DPB and 2.66 +/- 4.32 in BA. Levels of LTB4
      were 1.36 +/- 1.19 in DPB, 0.28 +/- 0.27 in BA, 0.12 +/- 0.07 in SBS, and 0.04 +/
      0.04 in BE. In asthmatics, peptide leukotriene content in sputum was higher than
      that in chronic airway disease patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447847
TI  - [Correlation of signal intensity of blood flow in the pulmonary artery on MR
      images and clinical features of two cases of primary pulmonary hypertension].
AB  - ECG-gated spin-echo MR images of the chest were obtained in two patients with
      primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). In transverse section at the level of the
      right main pulmonary artery (rPA), flow signals in the rPA were quantitatively
      evaluated, and the correlations with MR signal intensity of intravascular flow
      and data of routine clinical examinations and the severity of clinical
      manifestations were studied. In one case, the signal intensity of flowing blood
      markedly increased with exacerbation of hypoxemia and other clinical
      manifestations. However, in the other case with a stable course, the signal
      intensity of intravascular flow did not change significantly. Increase of flow
      signal in the rPA can reflect decrease of flow velocity that may be cause by a
      state of high pulmonary vascular resistance or low cardiac output. Therefore, it
      is suggested that MRI is a useful modality to evaluate the severity of
      disturbance of the pulmonary circulation in PPH.

PMID- 1447848
TI  - [Two probable cases of adult Williams-Campbell syndrome--advocation of Williams
      Campbell-type bronchiectasis].
AB  - Williams-Campbell syndrome is a unique type of bronchiectasis which shows
      ballooning during expiration and collapse during inspiration. Its etiology is
      thought to be a congenital decrease in bronchial cartilage. We experienced two
      adult cases of Williams-Campbell syndrome. Since the mucociliary transport system
      was normal in both cases and neither case had chronic sinusitis, these cases
      differed from sino-bronchial syndrome. Cases of Williams-Campbell syndrome
      reported in Japan show characteristic bronchography, but a decrease in bronchial
      cartilage may or may not be present and its congenital nature is very difficult
      to demonstrate. We therefore advocate referring to such cases of bronchiectasis
      with these bronchographic characteristics Williams-Campbell-type bronchiectasis,
      even if a decrease in bronchial cartilage is not observed.

PMID- 1447849
TI  - [Thrombosis-inducing activity (TIA) in plasma of a patient with lung cancer,
      which disappeared after radiotherapy].
AB  - A 58-year-old man had been suffering from persistent right shoulder pain was
      admitted following detection of a Pancoast tumor in the right lung. On admission,
      there was elevation of peripheral platelet count, plasma FDP and fibrinogen
      levels and thrombosis-inducing activity (TIA) was detected in his plasma. After
      receiving 30 Gy of Liniack, the mass shadow and the shoulder pain disappeared,
      which was accompanied by the normalization of laboratory data and the
      disappearance of TIA from plasma. However, plasma TIA became positive again one
      month later, in association with reappearance of shoulder pain and elevation of
      FDP and fibrinogen levels, which were considered due to recurrence of the tumor,
      30 Gy of Liniack together with thermotherapy was again given. There was no
      subsequent recurrence of tumor, nor TIA has been detected for more than 3 years.

PMID- 1447850
TI  - [Congenital absence of the right main pulmonary artery--a case report].
AB  - A 32-year-old man was admitted to hospital for investigation of bloody sputum.
      Chest roentgenogram showed a decrease in the volume of the right lung, with
      mediastinal shift to the right. Chest CT examination revealed narrowing of the
      right main pulmonary artery. Bronchofiberscopic examination was normal. Pulmonary
      arteriogram demonstrated complete absence of the right pulmonary artery. Cardiac
      catheterization showed no concomitant cardiac malformation. Therefore, this case
      was diagnosed as congenital absence of the right main pulmonary artery.

PMID- 1447851
TI  - [A case of Hodgkin's disease with endotracheal tumor presenting with severe
      airflow obstruction].
AB  - A 22-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of productive cough
      and dyspnea even at rest, and marked cervical lymphadenopathy. Marked stridor and
      orthopnea were observed, and auscultation of the chest revealed widespread
      expiratory wheeze which was not relieved by bronchodilators administered
      intravenously. Chest X-ray and CT scan revealed hilar lymphadenopathy and
      invasive tumor of the mediastinum. Bronchoscopy demonstrated narrowing of the
      trachea anteriorly and posteriorly and a submucosal nodular tumor protruding from
      the right anterior wall, causing approximately 90% occlusion of the lumen of the
      lower third of the trachea, but distal bronchi were intact. Microscopic findings
      of inguinal lymph node biopsy specimen revealed mixed cellular lymphoma
      compatible with Hodgkin's disease. Systemic chemotherapy resulted in relief of
      symptoms, and two months later, the endotracheal tumor had disappeared
      bronchoscopically, with slight residual stenosis of the trachea. Before
      treatment, pulmonary function tests indicated markedly impaired forced volume in
      1 second in both expiratory and inspiratory cycles, especially in the latter
      phase. After remission, however, obstructive ventilatory dysfunction was
      observed. The cause of prolonged air flow obstruction was thought to be marked
      infiltration and almost total involvement of the tracheal wall by tumor with a
      nodular appearance of the lumen. Endotracheal tumor in Hodgkin's disease is rare,
      and there are few reports on pulmonary function associated with intrathoracic
      involvement of malignant lymphoma.

PMID- 1447852
TI  - [A case of bucillamine-induced interstitial pneumonia].
AB  - Bucillamine [N-(2-mercapto-2-methylpropionyl)-L-cysteine] is an anti-rheumatic
      drug which was developed in Japan. Interstitial pneumonia induced by bucillamine
      has been reported in two patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In this report, we
      describe another patient who developed bucillamine-induced interstitial
      pneumonia. In August 1990, a 53-year-old man was admitted because of fever, dry
      cough and dyspnea on exertion (DOE). Five months previously, he had noted
      polyarthritis, and treatment with bucillamine was started in May 1990. His
      polyarthritis improved about 2.5 months after starting bucillamine, but he
      developed fever, dry cough, and DOE in August 1990. Chest X-ray on admission
      showed diffuse acinar and interstitial shadows predominantly in the bilateral
      upper lung fields. Pulmonary function tests revealed decreased vital capacity and
      diffusing capacity. Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis revealed moderate hypoxemia
      with PaO2 67 Torr. After stopping bucillamine, the fever, dry cough, and DOE
      improved gradually, and the abnormal shadows on chest X-ray and ABG analysis
      showed moderate improvements. Bronchoalveolar lavage studies showed that total
      cell counts and proportion of lymphocytes were increased, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio of
      T cell subsets was decreased to 0.56. Transbronchial lung biopsy specimen
      revealed lymphocytic alveolitis and mild interstitial thickening. Lymphocyte
      stimulation test to bucillamine was negative, but patch test with bucillamine was
      positive. From the patient's clinical course, laboratory data, and pathologic
      findings, we concluded that this is a case of bucillamine-induced interstitial
      pneumonia. After treatment with corticosteroid, his chest X-ray and pulmonary
      function test showed marked improvements.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447853
TI  - [Two cases of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis: analysis of chest CT findings].
AB  - Chest CT findings are reported in two cases of idiopathic pulmonary
      hemosiderosis. In both cases, CT was performed after remission of an acute
      exacerbation following corticosteroid therapy. Case 1 was a 17-year-old woman
      with Down's syndrome. Chest radiograph showed diffuse ground-glass like and
      reticulonodular shadows, which were predominant in the bilateral lower lung
      fields. Chest CT showed a diffuse increase of lung filed density, especially in
      the dorsal zone of both lower lobes. Open lung biopsy revealed hemorrhage and
      numerous hemosiderin-laden macrophages in the alveoli, and in addition, marked
      fibrous thickening of the alveolar septa. Case 2 was a 7-year-old girl. Chest
      radiograph showed diffuse micronodular shadows in both lungs. Chest CT showed
      diffuse poorly-circumscribed micronodular lesions with uniform distribution, and
      lung field density was normal except for the right upper lobe with patchy
      infiltrates. Although lung biopsy was not performed, fibrous thickening of the
      alveolar septa was presumed to be mild even if present, since pulmonary function
      and blood gas analysis were within normal limits. In these two cases, lung field
      density of CT seemed to reflect the degree of diffuse fibrous thickening of the
      alveolar septa, and it is suggested that CT is valuable in the evaluation of
      fibrous thickening of the alveolar septa secondary to recurrent pulmonary
      hemorrhages. Comprehensive review of CT findings of idiopathic pulmonary
      hemosiderosis was also performed.

PMID- 1447854
TI  - [Sudden death due to bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism in a patient with
      multiple myeloma: an autopsy case report].
AB  - We encountered a patient with multiple myeloma who died suddenly, in whom
      bilateral pulmonary artery thrombosis was found at autopsy. The patient was a 50
      year-old woman who had received chemotherapy for multiple myeloma at a local
      clinic for 4 years, and was transferred to our hospital because of recurrence of
      multiple myeloma in August 1990. Despite chemotherapy performed after admission,
      serum globulin level increased and her low back pain worsened, and she was
      generally restricted to bed. On October 21, she developed sudden dyspnea, became
      markedly cyanotic, lost consciousness, and then suffered a cardiopulmonary
      arrest. Autopsy revealed bilateral pulmonary artery thrombosis as well as
      thrombosis in the pelvic veins. Hyperviscosity due to multiple myeloma and long
      term recumbency were the probable causes of pelvic venous thrombosis and
      subsequent pulmonary artery thrombosis. We report a rare case of bilateral
      pulmonary artery thrombosis which developed during the course of multiple myeloma
      and led to sudden death.

PMID- 1447855
TI  - [A case of superior vena cava syndrome due to extensive venous thrombosis of an
      idiopathic nature].
AB  - A 37-year-old man was admitted with facial edema and right arm swelling.
      Venography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed massive
      organizing thrombi in the superior vena cava and bilateral internal jugular as
      well as subclavian veins, and showed no mass lesions occluding the veins in the
      mediastinum. Angioscopy demonstrated a white thrombus at the entrance of the
      right subclavian vein. All results of blood coagulation tests were normal. The
      patient was diagnosed as having superior vena cava syndrome caused by idiopathic
      venous thrombosis. Anti-coagulant therapy with intravenous tissue plasminogen
      activator injection and continuous urokinase and heparin infusion into the
      thrombi through a catheter were not effective in lysing the thrombi. Collateral
      circulation gradually developed and his symptoms decreased. We decided to follow
      this patient on warfarin medication because of the difficulty in removing the
      thrombi surgically.

PMID- 1447856
TI  - [A case of endoscopic laser polypectomy for endobronchial hamartoma].
AB  - A 70-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of left-sided chest pain
      and dyspnea. Chest X-ray film showed a tumor in the left main bronchus and left
      pleural effusion. On bronchoscopy, a tumor which moved with respiration was
      observed in the left main bronchus. We successfully performed endoscopic laser
      polypectomy. Pathological examination revealed non-chondromatous hamartoma.

PMID- 1447857
TI  - [A case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and disseminated atypical
      mycobacteriosis complicating chronic myelogenous leukemia].
AB  - A 47-year-old woman with chronic myelogenous leukemia was treated with daily
      busulfan (total dose approximately 500 mg) from December 1988 to January 1990.
      The disease thereafter remained stable with no evidence of blastic
      transformation. In February 1990 she developed productive cough and abnormal
      acinar lung shadows appeared transiently on her chest X-ray. In October 1990,
      productive cough and linear and abnormal acinar lung shadows reappeared.
      Expectorated sputa contained acid-fast bacilli (Gaffky 6, 10). Antituberculous
      therapy was started, which caused severe liver dysfunction. She was admitted to
      our hospital for evaluation of abnormal lung shadows. Transbronchial lung biopsy
      revealed pulmonary alveolar proteinosis with thickening of alveolar septa. The
      alveolar septal thickening was suspected to be a pathological change following
      pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Cultures from sputum, cerebrospinal fluid, and
      bone marrow aspiration specimens revealed atypical mycobacterium (M. avium
      complex), and the diagnosis of disseminated atypical mycobacteriosis was
      established. The pathogenesis of the disseminated atypical mycobacteriosis was
      considered to be superinfection by mycobacteria.

PMID- 1447858
TI  - [A case of anomalous course of the pulmonary vein with a tracheobronchus].
AB  - A 28-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for further evaluation of a loop
      like abnormal shadow in the middle lower lung field on chest X-ray film.
      Pulmonary angiograms demonstrated staining of the abnormal shadow during the
      venous phase. The abnormal vein descended from the right upper lobe to the middle
      lobe and then tortuously made a loop upward to drain into the left atrium. A part
      of the right apical vein was stenosed. The right apical segmental bronchus
      directly branched from the trachea. These observations indicate that the
      abnormalities may have originated in the prenatal period. Cases of anomalous
      course of the pulmonary vein are very rare.

PMID- 1447859
TI  - Lymehouse blues.

PMID- 1447860
TI  - Abortion: physician obligations under the new Kansas law.

PMID- 1447861
TI  - Physician self-referral regulations.

PMID- 1447862
TI  - Field ecology of Lyme disease in Kansas.

PMID- 1447863
TI  - Reported cases of Lyme disease in Kansas.

PMID- 1447864
TI  - The diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease.
AB  - Lyme disease has probably been reported for at least 80 years, with the cause
      unknown until the discovery of the Ixodes ricinus complex tick-borne spirochete
      B. burgdorferi. The incidence of diagnosed cases appears to be increasing in
      Kansas and elsewhere. A negative laboratory test does not exclude the possibility
      of the disease. At present, no accurate laboratory screen for the illness is
      available. The diagnosis must be considered when acute or chronic clinical
      manifestations reviewed in this paper appear in patients. Additional clinical
      criteria and modified CDC guidelines are proposed to help clinicians determine
      who should be treated. Current treatment recommendations are presented.

PMID- 1447865
TI  - Syphilis in Ford County, Kansas, 1992.

PMID- 1447866
TI  - The cost of lowering cholesterol.

PMID- 1447867
TI  - [Maternity clinics in Finnish maternity care].

PMID- 1447868
TI  - [Professional midwifery ethics and comprehensive public health care].

PMID- 1447869
TI  - [From village midwife to chairman of the Town Council. Mrs. Margareta Niskanen's
      50-year career. Interview by Leena Valvanne].

PMID- 1447870
TI  - [The need for professional identity].

PMID- 1447871
TI  - [The pedagogic method of family training].

PMID- 1447872
TI  - [Experiences of employees about comprehensive public health care in the
      development of basic health care systems].

PMID- 1447873
TI  - [The nonspecific protective reactions and immunological reactivity of the body in
      peptic ulcer patients].

PMID- 1447874
TI  - [Necroses of the lesser curvature of the stomach].

PMID- 1447875
TI  - [The basic results of research in surgery in 1986-1990].

PMID- 1447876
TI  - [Essays on surgical diagnosis. 1948].

PMID- 1447877
TI  - [The treatment of joint cicatricial lesions of the esophagus and stomach].
AB  - Treatment of 108 patients with concurrent cicatricial stenosis of the esophagus
      and stomach is analysed. Various operations were performed on the stomach in 70
      patients. The patency of the esophagus was restored by forced bougienage and
      intubation. The late-term results were studied in 48 patients in follow-up
      periods of 2-13 years. Forty-two patients feel quite well and are engaged in
      physical work, they live on a common diet. Six have to chew their food
      thoroughly. Two patients died in the postoperative period.

PMID- 1447878
TI  - [Pylorus-preserving gastric resections in gastroduodenal ulcers].
AB  - The article analyses the results of pylorus-preserving resections of the stomach
      in 116 patients among whom 80 had gastric ulcer, 29 ad duodenal ulcer, and 7 had
      gastroduodenal ulcers. Changes of acidity and motor-evacuation function of the
      gastric stump were studied according to the method of pylorus-preserving
      resection. The late-term results of treatment in follow-up periods of 2 to 5
      years are shown, they were found to be good in 96.6% of patients treated by
      operation and poor in 1.7%. It is noted that the function of the gastric stump is
      better when the vagus innervation of the pylorus is preserved. Mediogastric
      resection with selective proximal vagotomy in patients suffering from duodenal
      ulcer with a superacidic stomach led to stable normalization of acid production,
      which was a reliable measure for the prevention of a recurrent ulcer.

PMID- 1447879
TI  - [The use of enteral tube feeding in patients with gastric and duodenal peptic
      ulcer].
AB  - The authors used enteral tube feeding with a multicomponent balanced mixture
      "Ovolakt" in complex treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcer in 69 patients among
      which 42 had complicated forms (stenosis, penetration, bleeding) and 27 had no
      complications. In establishing the diagnosis laboratory tests and radiological
      and endoscopic examination were conducted. The gastric secretory function was
      studied by intragastric pH-metry and pH-chromoscopy conducted during enteral
      feeding and in dynamics after it was ended. In most cases of cicatrization of the
      gastric and duodenal defects, hypo- and hyperchlorhydria respectively, persisted.
      Among 42 patients with complicated course of peptic disease, 21 were treated by
      operation and 19 received nonoperative treatment. The postulcer cicatrix formed 2
      3 weeks after enteral feeding was ended in 27 cases of uncomplicated peptic ulcer
      and in 19 patients with complicated ulcers who were given nonoperative treatment.
      Complications after operative treatment were not encountered. Patients not
      treated by operation spent 20-30 days in the hospital.

PMID- 1447880
TI  - [Emergency surgery of the esophagus].
AB  - Emergency surgery of the esophagus is undertaken in acute diseases and injuries
      to the esophagus: among 926 cases of acute pathology of the esophagus 709 were
      mechanical ruptures of its wall, 380 z (53.6%) of an instrumental character. A
      rational therapeutic tactics developed at the Institute and basically new methods
      of treatment allowed the results to be essentially improved and the mortality
      rate in traumatic purulent mediastinitis to be reduced from 35% to 12%. The total
      mortality rate in acute surgical pathology in the last 20 years was 9.5%.

PMID- 1447881
TI  - [The restoration of the natural intestinal passage after Hartmann's operation in
      a short stump of the rectum].
AB  - Analysis showed restorative-reconstructive operations in patients who underwent
      Hartmann's operation with preservation of a short rectal stump to be technically
      difficult and injurious interventions. The interventions must be undertaken only
      after complete removal of the causes of suppuration of the colostomy in a patient
      whose condition is satisfactory. The degree of the cicatricial process in the
      pelvis and the method of the colorectal anastomosis formation essentially
      influence the results of the restorative-reconstructive operations. The best
      results were produced in retrorectal pull-through of the colon with the formation
      of colorectal anastomoses after the type of Duhamel's operation.

PMID- 1447882
TI  - [A comparative evaluation of different methods of forming a colonic anastomosis
      in repeat surgical interventions].
AB  - The results of repeated operations on the large intestine, mainly reconstructive
      operations, are analysed. Surgical interventions with the performance of a
      triangular anastomosis, including that by a method modified by the authors, were
      carried out on 50 patients. The operative results, particularly those in the last
      group of patients, are very promising. The number of complications, such as
      suppuration of the postoperative wound and incompetence of the anastomosis
      sutures, reduced from 28.8% to 10%, which allows the method to be recommended for
      wide application in the clinic.

PMID- 1447883
TI  - [The potentials of computed tomography in the treatment of cysts and inflammatory
      diseases of the internal organs].
AB  - Computed tomography (CT) is used more and more often recently in the treatment of
      some surgical diseases of the internal organs. The subject of discussion in this
      work are the results of treatment of cysts and pyoinflammatory diseases of the
      internal organs. The work was conducted on CT IV generation "QUAD 1" of the CMS
      firm (England). Needles measuring 14-18d in diameter (Charriere scale) were used
      for aspiration. A total of 23 therapeutic interventions were performed in 19
      patients with exudative pleurisy (1 patient), pleuritis (4), pulmonary abscesses
      (1), abscesses of the liver (1), abscesses of the subhepatic and subdiaphragmatic
      spaces (2), cysts of the liver (1) and kidneys (1 patient). Among the
      interventions 21 were aspirations and 2 drainage of the abscess. A mechanical
      syringe is used lately for more effective evacuation of the contents. The removed
      contents, ranging in volume from 10.0 to 600.0 ml, was subjected to cytological,
      biochemical, and bacteriological analysis. A single puncture is sufficient, as a
      rule, for aspiration of the cyst contents, one-stage aspiration from cysts of
      both kidneys may be conducted (as was the case in two of our patients). 96%
      alcohol was used as the sclerosing agent. In cases of small abscesses aspiration
      may be repeated for removal of the contents, irrigation of the cavity, and
      administration of antibiotics. In abscesses measuring more than 10 cm drainage is
      advisable. Control CT examination is conducted once a week. The condition of the
      cavity is appraised by combining CT with its contrast study. The immediate
      results were good and satisfactory in 17 (94.7%) patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447884
TI  - [Specific immunity in patients with inflammatory diseases of the abdominal
      cavity].
AB  - In most patients with pyoinflammatory diseases of the abdominal cavity caused by
      Cl. perfringens microbial associations accumulation of agglutinins occurred
      during the disease. In purulent abdominal processes caused by Cl. perfringens
      microbial associations a connection exists between the increased antibody level
      and wound suppuration. The rise of the antibody level was most marked, whatever
      the character of the bacterial associations, in patients with generalized
      peritonitis, abdominal abscess, and in young patients (10-40 years of age) and
      least in those with phlegmonous cholecystitis and in elderly patients (61-70
      years of age). Patients with destructive forms of appendicitis and individuals
      aged 41-60 took an intermediate position according to these values. Antibody
      production was weaker in patients with 5 species in the microbial association
      than in monoinfection. A agglutinin titer in the blood of patients beginning with
      1:80 and higher should be considered diagnostic.

PMID- 1447885
TI  - [Combined operations as a method for increasing the capacity of a surgical
      clinic].
AB  - The work shows the economical effect of concurrent surgery on the abdominal
      organs and organs of the retroperitoneal space undertaken in 404 patients whose
      ages ranged from 16 to 81. The time taken by the concurrent operations and the
      duration of treatment at the hospital were studied. In 63.1% of patients the
      concurrent operations lasted up to 3 hours. The duration of treatment was least
      in concurrent appendectomy (14.2 +/- 0.5 days) and longest on oncological
      patients (40.9 +/- 2.2 days). It is noted that the sum terms of treatment reduce,
      while in separate performance of the operations they are prolonged. The highest
      economy of finances is noted in urolithiasis, nephroptosis, acute appendicitis,
      hernias, and cholelithiasis. The national economic effect in the treatment of 404
      patients at the clinic came to 60,471 rubles and 18 kopecks.

PMID- 1447886
TI  - [Means for optimizing the conditions for the timely hospitalization of patients
      with acute surgical diseases of the abdominal cavity organs].
AB  - Complex research made it possible to reveal factors influencing timely
      hospitalization of patients by studying the causes of timely and late
      hospitalization, medical erudition of the urban and rural population, as well as
      the organization of emergency medical service in the prehospital stage. New
      methodical approaches to health education among the population as well as
      measures for raising the confidence of the sick in doctors of emergency aid
      service and surgeons are suggested. From the example of urban health service the
      authors emphasize the importance of the principle of necessary hospitalization of
      patients for profound examination in all cases of a doubtful diagnosis of an
      acute surgical disease.

PMID- 1447887
TI  - [The mechanisms of the evacuatory function of the gastric stump after a
      Hofmeister-Finsterer resection].
AB  - Attention is drawn to the fact that evacuation from the gastric stump is
      determined not only by the size of the anastomosis, the manner by which it is
      formed, whether transversely or longitudinally but also by the functional
      condition of the gastric stump and the efferent intestinal loop. Motor-evacuation
      disorders on the part of the stump and efferent intestinal loop precede the
      development of most postgastric resection syndromes. The authors examined 197
      patients who underwent Hofmeister-Finsterer gastrectomy. Five types of evacuation
      from the gastric stump were distinguished, to which various combinations of motor
      function of the stump and efferent intestinal loop corresponded. After studying
      the type of combinations of the motor function of the stomach and efferent
      intestinal loop, the authors conducted purposeful correction which promoted
      normalization of the motor function of these organs. For instance, evacuation in
      portions, which is most efficient in respect of function, was encountered in 42%
      of patients without correction and in 75.9% of those in whom correction was
      undertaken. This allowed postoperative functional complications to be reduced
      from 38% to 12.08% and the adaptation period to be shortened by 2-3 weeks on the
      average.

PMID- 1447888
TI  - [Errors, hazards and complications in the treatment of patients with diffuse
      suppurative peritonitis].
AB  - Errors and complications encountered in the treatment of 208 patients with
      generalized purulent peritonitis are analysed. The importance of preoperative
      management of patients is shown, when properly conducted it improves the results
      of treatment. The author discusses tactical and technical errors which are
      encountered most frequently during the operation and lead to increase of the
      mortality rate. Rational postoperative management requires particular attention.
      The immediate results of treatment are improved when errors, hazards, and
      complications occurring in the treatment of patients with generalized purulent
      peritonitis are taken into account.

PMID- 1447889
TI  - [The use of methyldioxyline for the prevention of local complications following
      hemorrhoidectomy].
AB  - The article discusses the results of clinico-laboratory study of the application
      of methyl dioxyline ointment after hemorrhoidectomy with complete restoration of
      the anal canal mucosa. It is shown that the ointment is a reliable measure for
      the prevention of postoperative purulent complications, it improves the
      reparative processes. Its use in the treatment of wounds developing as the result
      of excision of hemorrhoids shortens the term of in-patient treatment after the
      operation and the period of general incapacity.

PMID- 1447890
TI  - [A method of preparing the large intestine for surgery by using the peroral
      administration of a polyethylene oxide solution].
AB  - A new method for preparing the large intestine for operation is suggested, it is
      based on oral administration of a solution of polyethylene oxides with
      chloramphenicol. The preparation possesses a marked hydrophilic activity, which
      causes inhibition of absorption processes in the lumen of the intestinal tube.
      This leads to accumulation of the intestinal contents and their quicker passage.
      Polyethylene oxides also ensure accumulation of antibiotics in the tissues of the
      intestinal wall. The suggested method was used to prepare the intestine for
      operation in 93 patients. Comparative evaluation proved its advantages according
      to the main clinico-laboratory criteria: the method is technically simple,
      reduces the period of preparation of the intestine, has no negative effect on the
      homeostasis values, ensures adequate preparation of the large intestine with
      decrease of the level of its microbial contamination. With the use of the method
      the number of postoperative purulent complications in interventions on the large
      intestine reduced.

PMID- 1447891
TI  - [The modelling of diffuse peritonitis].
AB  - Peritonitis is still an urgent problem and its solution is determined to a great
      measure by purposeful studies in the field of pathogenesis and treatment. The
      creation of adequate models of peritonitis acquires particular significance.
      Eighty-four animals (dogs) were used to create the model. It is shown in the work
      that a standard model of generalized peritonitis can be produced by two
      injections of a polymicrobial suspension consisting of the most commonly
      encountered peritoneal microbes E. coli and B. fragilis. The suspension is
      injected into different levels of the abdominal cavity. With this method of
      administration of the polymicrobial suspension the model was reproduced in 90% of
      cases. Thus, the developed model resembles human peritonitis in the clinical
      picture and the laboratory and morphological values.

PMID- 1447892
TI  - [Endoscopic interventions in cicatricial strictures of esophageal anastomoses].
AB  - Endoscopic balloon hydrodilation was conducted in 39 patients with cicatricial
      stenoses of esophageal anastomoses, in 12 patients it was combined with
      electrodissection of the esophageal anastomosis, in 3 with bougienage, and in 10
      with temporary endoprosthetics. The anastomosis was dilated adequately (to 2.0
      2.5 cm) in 38 patients. In one case endoscopic treatment was ineffective; another
      surgical intervention was performed. In another case endoprosthetics was
      complicated by decubitus of the cervical esophagus (favorable outcome). In late
      term period of 2 months to 4 years restenosis occurred in 6 of 38 patients; the
      course of dilation was repeated in 4 patients, 2 patients underwent a
      reconstructive operation. The authors believe that in development of cicatricial
      stenosis of the esophageal anastomosis modern methods of therapeutic endoscopy
      should be resorted to in the first place, and only if they prove ineffective
      should the question of repeated surgical intervention be discussed. Balloon
      hydrodilation is the principal method of operative endoscopy in cicatricial
      stenoses of esophageal anastomoses, which in some cases should be combined with
      other endoscopic interventions (electroincision and temporary endoprosthetics).

PMID- 1447893
TI  - [An experimental assessment of methods for applying intestinal sutures in
      intestinal obstruction].
AB  - The results of various methods used in applying intestinal sutures in obturation
      were studied. Three series of experiments were conducted on 30 dogs--resection of
      the intestine after obstruction with the formation of anastomoses by means of
      double-row suture (Albert--Shmiden--Lambert) in the first series (10 dogs), by a
      single-row suture after V. M. Mateshchuk [correction of Mateshuku] in the second
      series, and bu a single-row stretching suture suggested by the author in the
      third series. The postoperative complications and the parameters of physical
      airtightness of the intestinal anastomosis were studied in dynamics in the
      experimental animals. The results of the study: incompetence of the anastomosis
      sutures in the first series 6, in the second 4, and in the third series one.
      Adhesions occurred in all animals of the first and second series and in 2 of the
      third series. Six dogs of the first series died, 4 of the second, and one of the
      third. Study of the dynamics of the results showed a direct connection of the
      complications with the parameters of the physical airtightness of the
      anastomosis, and the last-named with the method of the intestinal suture.
      Relatively better results were noted in formation of the anastomosis by means of
      our suggested stretshing continuous suture passed through the serous, muscular,
      and submucous coats of the intestine.

PMID- 1447894
TI  - [The successful treatment of an acute form of Crohn's disease].

PMID- 1447895
TI  - [Invagination in an interintestinal anastomosis].

PMID- 1447896
TI  - [Eventration of the small intestine through a contra-aperture for drainage of the
      abdominal cavity].

PMID- 1447897
TI  - [Appendicitis in patients with complete situs inversus viscerum].

PMID- 1447898
TI  - [The strangulation of a posttraumatic diaphragmatic-pericardial hernia].

PMID- 1447899
TI  - [Rupture of an ovarian cyst in a hermaphrodite simulating acute appendicitis].

PMID- 1447900
TI  - [The perforation of a gastroduodenal ulcer during the hormonal treatment of viral
      hepatitis].

PMID- 1447901
TI  - [A bladder diverticulum simulating an inguinal hernia].

PMID- 1447902
TI  - [Stress disorders of hormonal regulation and metabolism in acute inflammatory
      diseases of the abdominal cavity complicated by the development of peritonitis].

PMID- 1447903
TI  - The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the relief of pain in
      laboratory rodents and rabbits.
AB  - The data concerning the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and
      evidence for their efficacy in laboratory rats and mice are reviewed. This
      information is then extrapolated to clinical situations and dose rates that take
      account of ulcerogenic side effects are recommended. NSAIDs have the potential to
      be a very useful group of analgesics and should always be considered when
      attempting to provide pain relief in laboratory animals.

PMID- 1447904
TI  - The scope for improving the design of laboratory animal experiments.
AB  - The factors which need to be taken into account in designing a 'good' experiment
      are reviewed. Such an experiment should be unbiased, have high precision, a wide
      range of applicability, it should be simple, and there should be a means of
      quantifying uncertainty (Cox 1958). The relative precision due to the use of
      randomized block designs was found to range from 96% to 543% in 5 experiments
      involving 30 variables. However, a survey of 78 papers published in two
      toxicology journals showed that such designs were hardly used. Similarly, designs
      in which more than one factor was varied simultaneously ('factorial designs')
      were only used in 9% of studies, though interactions between variables such as
      dose and strain of animal may be common, so that single factor experiments could
      be misleading. The consequences of increased within-group variability due to
      infection and genetic segregation were quantified using data published by Gartner
      (1990). Both substantially reduced precision, but toxicologists continue to use
      non-isogenic laboratory animals, leading to experiments with a lower level of
      precision than is necessary. It is concluded that there is scope for improving
      the design of animal experiments, which could lead to a reduction in animal use.
      People using animals should be required to take formal training courses which
      include sessions on experimental design in order to minimize animal use and to
      increase experimental efficiency.

PMID- 1447905
TI  - Subcutaneous administration of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in hyperlipidaemic
      and normal rats.
AB  - Recent reports demonstrate a hypocholesterolaemic effect of daily subcutaneous
      injections of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase
      inhibitors in different rat models of hyperlipidaemia. However, this effect is
      not seen after oral administration of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in rats. We
      found that oral administration of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor Simvastatin
      also had no effect on plasma cholesterol in severely hyperlipidaemic Nagase
      analbuminaemic rats (NAR). Simvastatin (an apolar compound dissolved in propylene
      glycol) was infused continuously for 28 days into the subcutis of control Sprague
      Dawley rats (SDR) and NAR using an implanted osmotic pump. All doses which were
      effective in reducing cholesterol in the NAR (reductions up to approximately
      60%), reduced apolipoprotein AI but not apolipoprotein B and caused a severe
      inflammatory reaction in the dermis. Similar toxicity was observed in the SDR.
      Subcutaneous administration of the vehicle (propylene glycol) did not cause this
      reaction and did not affect plasma lipids. Administration of Lovastatin in
      osmotic pumps resulted in a similar inflammatory reaction. Incorporation of
      Simvastatin into liposomes did not diminish the toxic effect. On the other hand,
      infusion of Pravastatin (a polar HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor dissolved in
      isotonic saline) caused no changes in the dermis and had no effect on plasma
      lipids in NAR or SDR. Liver microsomes prepared from the Pravastatin-treated rats
      demonstrated a 3- to 4-fold increase in HMG-CoA reductase activity as compared to
      untreated rats, confirming uptake of the drug. We conclude that continuous
      subcutaneous administration of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors Simvastatin,
      Lovastatin and Pravastatin for 28 days may not reduce plasma cholesterol in rats
      by a mechanism which is related to inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase activity in
      the liver. The decrease of plasma cholesterol effected by subcutaneous infusion
      of Simvastatin or Lovastatin in NAR coincides with, and may be related to
      inflammatory changes caused by administering these compounds into the dermis.

PMID- 1447906
TI  - Struvite urolithiasis in a B6C3F1 mouse.
AB  - In a 2 year carcinogenicity bioassay using B6C3F1 mice, one male mouse developed
      clinical signs near termination of the study, comprising skin sores around the
      prepuce, penile prolapse and urine scalding. The predominant finding at necropsy
      was a markedly distended urinary bladder filled with numerous crystallized
      particles. Microscopically, there was subacute cystitis with marked hyperplasia
      of the transitional epithelium. X-ray diffraction analysis of the crystals showed
      a diffraction pattern characteristic of struvite (ammonium magnesium phosphate).
      The implications of the spontaneous occurrence of bladder stones in rodents on
      long-term toxicology studies are discussed.

PMID- 1447907
TI  - Spiral bacterium associated with gastric, ileal and caecal mucosa of mice.
AB  - A spiral shaped bacterium was seen in smears and histological sections (stained
      by carbolfuchsin) of gastric, ileal and caecal mucosa as well as in stool smears
      from mice. A significant correlation between the presence of the spiral bacterium
      and the occurrence of gastritis was observed but the ileal and caecal mucosa
      seemed unaffected. The bacterium was Gram negative and grew on BHM and Skirrow's
      medium, under microaerophilic conditions, at 37 degrees C. Its major biochemical
      characteristics included positive catalase and oxidase reactions and a rapidly
      positive urease test. There were 2 or 3 spiral turns per cell and a tuft of up to
      12 sheathed flagella on each pointed end. Entwined, braided periplasmic fibrils
      covered the surface of the cell. This spiral bacterium seemed to be part of the
      normal intestinal flora but was associated with gastritis.

PMID- 1447908
TI  - Glycosuria and maternal licking in rats.
AB  - Maternal anogenital licking (MAGL) has been studied to understand the mechanism
      of maternal behaviour. The present study showed that rats had glycosuria at the
      concentration of 18-20 mg/dl and glucose was the preference of postpartum rats.
      MAGL increased on suckling rats separated for 24 h. However, wiping anogenital
      region attenuated the increase of MAGL. Therefore, glucose preference of
      postpartum rats may be involved in MAGL.

PMID- 1447909
TI  - Spinal dysplasia with stump tail and hind limb paralysis in a laboratory bred
      cat.
AB  - A case is presented of a specified pathogen free bred cat which was apparently
      tail-less at birth and at three weeks of age revealed hind limb paralysis. The
      animal was euthanized at 4 weeks and X-radiography revealed an abnormal spinal
      curvature, greatly reduced caudal vertebrae and abnormal pelvic development. A
      small tail was dissected at post-mortem, but other abnormalities were not seen.

PMID- 1447910
TI  - Can pre-established nephrocalcinosis regress?

PMID- 1447911
TI  - Fundamental frequency, jitter, and shimmer in preschoolers who stutter.
AB  - This investigation examined acoustic correlates of phonatory control in the
      speech of 10 preschool-aged boys who were stutterers (mean age = 45 months)
      recorded relatively close to the time of stuttering onset and in the speech of 10
      boys who were nonstutterers (mean age = 46 months). For each subject, acoustic
      measurements of fundamental frequency, jitter, and shimmer were extracted from
      the 100 msec midportion of 30 vowels selected from fluent utterances in
      spontaneous speech. Significant differences between the two groups for shimmer
      measures are among the few positive findings in recent publications concerning
      the fluent speech of children who stutter.

PMID- 1447912
TI  - The correspondence of vocal tract resonance with volumes obtained from magnetic
      resonance images.
AB  - The increasing availability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a research,
      and even clinical, tool in speech production makes possible a wide range of
      quantitative methods in vocal tract measurement. In these initial stages of
      application, it is essential that the limits of the method be identified. The
      present investigation was designed to apply the techniques of digital image
      analysis and volumetric measurement to MRIs obtained for the vocal tract during
      production of continuant speech sounds, and to apply these measures to a well
      established and thoroughly tested model of acoustic transmission (Stevens &
      House, 1955). The results demonstrated that, although there were several sources
      of relatively large error and measurement bias, the vocal tract volumes obtained
      from MRIs were significantly predictive of vocal tract resonance frequencies.
      These results are discussed with respect to limits and potential for future
      application of MRI to speech production research.

PMID- 1447913
TI  - Error monitoring in people who stutter: evidence against auditory feedback defect
      theories.
AB  - Several theories purport that people who stutter suffer a speech-auditory
      feedback defect. The disordered feedback creates the illusion that some kind of
      error has intruded into the speech flow. Stuttering then results from actions
      aimed to correct the suspected, but nonexistent, error. These auditory feedback
      defect theories thus predict deviant error detection performance in people who
      stutter during speech production. To test this prediction, subjects who stuttered
      and those who did not had to detect self-produced (phonemic) speech errors while
      speaking with normal auditory feedback and with the auditory feedback masked by
      white noise. The two groups did not differ significantly in error detection
      accuracy and speed, nor in false alarm scores. This opposes auditory feedback
      defect theories and suggests that the self-monitoring processes of people who
      stutter function normally. In a condition in which errors had to be detected in
      other-produced speech, i.e., while listening to a tape recording, subjects who
      stuttered did detect fewer errors. Whether this might signal some general
      phonological problem is discussed.

PMID- 1447914
TI  - How can agreement be disagreement? A reply to Christensen.

PMID- 1447915
TI  - Marching to different drummers: a reply to Smith.

PMID- 1447916
TI  - Specific-language-impaired children's quick incidental learning of words: the
      effect of a pause.
AB  - It was hypothesized that the initial word comprehension of specific-language
      impaired children would be enhanced by the insertion of a short pause just before
      a sentence-final novel word. Three groups of children served as subjects: twenty
      5-year-old, specific-language-impaired (SLI) children, and two comparison groups
      of normally developing children, 20 matched for mean length of utterance (MLU)
      and 32 matched for chronological age (CA). The children were randomly assigned to
      two conditions for viewing video programs. The programs were animated stories
      that featured five novel object words and five novel attribute words, presented
      in a voice-over narration. The experimental version introduced a pause before the
      targeted words; the control version was identical except for normal prosody
      instead of a pause. Counter to the predictions, there was no effect for
      condition. Insertion of a pause did not improve the SLI children's initial
      comprehension of novel words. There were group main effects, with the CA matches
      better than either of the other two groups and no differences between the SLI
      children and the MLU-matched children.

PMID- 1447917
TI  - The conditions and course of clinically induced phonological change.
AB  - This two-part study continued the evaluation of minimal pair treatment in
      phonological change (Gierut, 1989, 1990, 1991a; Gierut & Neumann, 1992). Three
      linguistic variables relevant to change were experimentally manipulated within an
      alternating treatments design to determine specifically the interplay of a
      maximal number of feature distinctions, feature class, and relationship of
      treated phonemes to a child's grammar in inducing sound change. The conditions of
      treatment that were shown to facilitate optimal phonological change in previous
      research were again experimentally replicated. Specifically, minimal pairs
      comparing two phonemes previously unknown to a child that also differed by
      maximal and major class features were found to be the preferred context
      motivating change. Important individual differences emerged and underscored the
      role of a child's pretreatment grammar in phonological change. These differences
      contributed to descriptions of possible courses of change followed by children
      with phonological disorders and bear upon the predictability of change and the
      effectiveness of treatments that may condition change.

PMID- 1447918
TI  - Linguistic trade-offs in school-age children with and without language disorders.
AB  - Factors influencing the occurrence of trade-off effects among linguistic
      components were examined. Several linguistic measures were used to represent
      syntactic and phonological production in order to determine whether
      interrelationship patterns would vary across measures. Linguistic interactions
      present in imitated speech were compared to those from spontaneous speech. Group
      effects were explored by comparing data from children with language-learning
      disabilities, children with reading disabilities, and normally developing
      children. Results indicated trade-offs between some linguistic measures and
      positive relationships among others. More trade-offs were present in imitated
      speech than in spontaneous utterances. In general, interrelationship patterns
      were similar across groups. Interpretation of these results in reference to
      current models of sentence production is offered.

PMID- 1447919
TI  - Grammatical morphology and speech perception in children with specific language
      impairment.
AB  - Many English-speaking children with specific language impairment have been found
      to be especially weak in their use of grammatical morphology. In a separate
      literature, many children meeting the same subject description have shown
      significant limitations on tasks involving the perception of rapid acoustic
      changes. In this study, we attempted to determine whether there were parallels
      between the grammatical morphological limitations of children with specific
      language impairment and their performance profiles across several perceptual
      contrasts. Because most English grammatical morphemes have shorter durations
      relative to adjacent morphemes in the speech stream, we hypothesized that
      children with specific language impairment would be especially weak in
      discriminating speech stimuli whose contrastive portions had shorter durations
      than the noncontrastive portions. Results from a group of eight children with
      specific language impairment with documented morphological difficulties confirmed
      these predictions. Several possible accounts of the observed morphology
      perception parallels are offered.

PMID- 1447920
TI  - A study of developmental speech and language disorders in twins.
AB  - Fifty-seven same-sex twin sets (32 monozygotic and 25 dizygotic) were examined
      for concordance of speech and language disorders. Results showed monozygotic
      twins to have higher concordance than dizygotic twins. In addition, monozygotic
      twins were more similar in the types of disorders they presented than dizygotic
      twins. Positive family histories for speech, language, and learning disorders
      were reported in the nuclear families of the twins.

PMID- 1447921
TI  - Variables influencing perceptions of the communicative competence of an adult
      augmentative and alternative communication system user.
AB  - The effects of aided message length, partner reauditorization, and observer
      background on perceptions of the communicative competence of an adult
      augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system user were examined. Two
      groups of subjects participated: naive adults with minimal exposure to
      nonspeaking persons, and speech-language pathologists currently working with AAC
      users. Four scripted videotaped conversational conditions involving an AAC user
      and a normally speaking partner were employed to manipulate aided message length
      and partner reauditorization. A balanced incomplete block design was used.
      Following each viewing, subjects completed a questionnaire designed to assess the
      communicative competence of the AAC user. Results indicated a significant
      interaction effect involving subject group and aided message length. The speech
      language pathologists were affected by aided message length. Furthermore,
      significant differences between subject groups were found in specific conditions.
      Future research directions are discussed.

PMID- 1447922
TI  - Long-term measures of electrode impedance and auditory thresholds for the Ineraid
      cochlear implant.
AB  - Measures of electrode impedance and of detection thresholds for electrical
      stimuli were extracted from the records of patients implanted with the Ineraid
      cochlear prosthesis. An analysis of impedance measures, obtained at 1, 12, 24,
      and 36 months after surgery, demonstrated (a) a significant decrease in impedance
      over the first year for electrodes that carried current and (b) significant
      increases in impedance at 24 and 36 months for electrodes that did not carry
      current. An analysis of detection thresholds, obtained at the same times as the
      impedance measures, demonstrated that averaged thresholds for the current
      carrying electrodes varied no more than 0.5 dB over the 3-year period. These
      results support the conclusion that stimulation with the Ineraid device does not
      produce deleterious changes in the electrodes or in the target neural tissue.

PMID- 1447923
TI  - Relationships between speech recognition threshold, average hearing level, and
      speech importance noise detection threshold.
AB  - The aim of this study was to determine (a) if the speech importance noise
      detection threshold (SINDT) could be used as an accurate estimator of speech
      recognition threshold (SRT), and (b) whether the SINDT correlates well with
      various measures of the pure-tone threshold average (PTA). Pure-tone threshold,
      SRT, and SINDT tests were administered to 94 adults with various degrees of
      hearing loss. The results demonstrated that SRT can be accurately predicted from
      SINDT and that these two are highly correlated (r = 0.97). Since a SINDT
      measurement takes less time than SRT determination, the SINDT test may be
      recommended as an alternative for SRT in some applications.

PMID- 1447924
TI  - The role of localization in visual reinforcement audiometry.
AB  - The response task employed in visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) has been
      characterized both as a localization response and, alternatively, as a pure
      operant conditioning behavior independent of localization. This study examined
      the role of localization in VRA conditioning and threshold procedures by varying
      the localization information provided to normal infants. Results indicate (a)
      that the VRA response is not contingent on localization but (b) that performance
      may be significantly influenced by localization. The findings suggest that any
      variable that alters proper localization cues, including equipment arrangement or
      impaired auditory function, may degrade response performance.

PMID- 1447925
TI  - Distortion-product emissions and auditory sensitivity in human ears with normal
      hearing and cochlear hearing loss.
AB  - Distortion product emissions (DPEs) at 2f1-f2 frequencies were measured in 53
      human ears; 21 of them exhibited cochlear hearing loss. DPEs were obtained as a
      function of stimulus level (DPE growth curves) at seven frequency regions between
      707 Hz and 5656 Hz. Several distinctly different shapes or patterns of DPE growth
      curves were observed. These included single-segment monotonic growth curves with
      and without saturation at moderate and high stimulus levels, diphasic growth
      curves with nulls at moderate stimulus levels, and non-monotonic growth curves
      with negative slopes at high stimulus levels. Low-level, irregularly shaped
      segments were more frequent in normal-hearing ears, suggestive of normal low
      level active nonlinearities from the outer-hair-cell subsystem. High-level,
      steeply sloped segments were frequent in hearing-impaired ears, suggestive of
      residual nonlinearities from a cochlear partition without functional outer hair
      cells. The stimulus level at which the DPE could just be distinguished from the
      noise floor, the DPE detection threshold, demonstrated moderate positive
      correlations (r's from 0.50 to 0.81) with auditory thresholds when all ears, both
      normal and impaired, were considered together. Those correlations were not strong
      enough to quantitatively predict auditory thresholds with any great accuracy.
      However, DPE thresholds were able to predict abnormal auditory sensitivity with
      some precision. DPE thresholds correctly predicted abnormal auditory sensitivity
      79% of the time in the present study, and up to 96% of the time in previous
      studies. These results suggest that DPE thresholds may prove useful for hearing
      screening in cases where cooperation from the subject is limited or where
      corroboration of cochlear hearing loss is required. Different patterns of DPE
      growth curves suggest underlying micro-mechanical differences between ears, but
      the differential diagnostic value of those patterns remains to be determined.

PMID- 1447926
TI  - Speechreading enhancement by voice fundamental frequency: the effects of Fo
      contour distortions.
AB  - Recognition of words in sentences of known topic was measured in normally hearing
      adults via speechreading alone and speechreading supplemented with auditory
      presentation of signals intended to convey variations of voice fundamental
      frequency (Fo) over time. Three signals were used: (a) the low-pass filtered
      output of an electroglottograph (unprocessed Fo), (b) a constant amplitude sine
      wave whose instantaneous frequency was intended to equal that of Fo (processed
      Fo), and (c) the same sine wave restricted to a small number of discrete
      frequency steps (quantized Fo). As the number of steps in the quantized Fo
      contours increased from 1 to 12, the speechreading enhancement effect increased.
      The quantized Fo contour with 12 steps was as effective as the processed Fo
      contour (without quantization), but this processed contour was significantly less
      effective than the unprocessed electroglottograph signal. The results show that
      the auditory Fo speechreading enhancement effect is sensitive to the errors
      introduced by the Fo extraction and regeneration process used in this study. It
      is also sensitive to the quantization of Fo contours into less than 12 steps.
      Whether more than 12 steps are required for the full enhancement effect remains
      to be determined.

PMID- 1447927
TI  - Masking of tinnitus induced by sound.
AB  - Two experiments were performed in which 8 listeners used external sound to mask
      the tinnitus induced by a 95-dB SPL tone presented for 1 min. Wider bandwidth
      noises were more effective maskers than noises of critical bandwidth, which, in
      turn, were more effective than tonal maskers. Contralateral maskers were often
      effective, but less so than ipsilateral maskers. Tuning curves showed some degree
      of frequency specificity that was not related to the frequency of the tinnitus
      inducing tone. There were consistent and pronounced differences between
      individual listeners. Overall, our results indicate both similarities and
      differences between the masking of induced tinnitus and the masking of
      pathological tinnitus.

PMID- 1447928
TI  - Discovery and expository methods in teaching visual consonant and word
      identification.
AB  - An experiment was conducted to examine the processes involved in lipreading as
      well as to investigate an optimal approach to teaching lipreading skill. We
      compared discovery and expository methods of learning to lip-read. Twenty-six
      college students with normal hearing were trained over 3 days to lip-read
      consonant-vowel (CV) syllables. The training material consisted of a prerecorded
      videotape of four different talkers. The task was a forced-choice procedure with
      feedback. Subjects learned with training, but there was no difference between the
      two learning methods. As a retention measure, subjects returned 4 weeks later and
      repeated the training. There were significant savings of the original learning.
      Three weeks after the retention phase, subjects were tested with a 10-item forced
      choice monosyllabic word task. Those subjects who had extensive training on CV
      syllables did no better on identifying the monosyllabic words than did a control
      group of 9 subjects with no training. Nevertheless, performance for all three
      groups (discovery, expository, and no training) improved during training in the
      word identification task.

PMID- 1447929
TI  - The role of spectral and temporal cues in vowel identification by listeners with
      impaired hearing.
AB  - This study examined the use of duration and formant frequency in the labeling of
      synthetic CVC stimuli forming a beet-bit continuum. Durational and F2 frequency
      cues to vowel identity varied systematically across stimuli. Subjects with normal
      hearing tended to rely primarily on F2 frequency in vowel labeling, whereas
      subjects with impaired hearing relied less on F2 information. This group
      difference was observed even for stimuli with large F2 differences, which were
      easily discriminated by all subjects. The effect of vowel duration on labeling
      was similar for both groups, with long-duration stimuli receiving more "beet"
      responses than short-duration stimuli across the F2 range. Psychoacoustic
      measures of frequency resolution and temporal resolution were poor predictors of
      a subject's use of formant information and duration information in labeling.

PMID- 1447930
TI  - The identification of affective-prosodic stimuli by left- and right-hemisphere
      damaged subjects: all errors are not created equal.
AB  - Impairments in listening tasks that require subjects to match affective-prosodic
      speech utterances with appropriate facial expressions have been reported after
      both left- and right-hemisphere damage. In the present study, both left- and
      right-hemisphere-damaged patients were found to perform poorly compared to a
      nondamaged control group on a typical affective-prosodic listening task using
      four emotional types (happy, sad, angry, surprised). To determine if the two
      brain-damaged groups were exhibiting a similar pattern of performance with
      respect to their use of acoustic cues, the 16 stimulus utterances were analyzed
      acoustically, and the results were incorporated into an analysis of the errors
      made by the patients. A discriminant function analysis using acoustic cues alone
      indicated that fundamental frequency (FO) variability, mean FO, and syllable
      durations most successfully distinguished the four emotional sentence types. A
      similar analysis that incorporated the misclassifications made by the patients
      revealed that the left-hemisphere-damaged and right-hemisphere-damaged groups
      were utilizing these acoustic cues differently. The results of this and other
      studies suggest that rather than being lateralized to a single cerebral
      hemisphere in a fashion analogous to language, prosodic processes are made up of
      multiple skills and functions distributed across cerebral systems.

PMID- 1447931
TI  - Effects of vocal task and respiratory phase on prephonatory chest wall movements.
AB  - A vocal reaction time paradigm was used to explore prephonatory respiratory
      kinematics. Movements of the rib cage and abdomen were recorded prior to
      production of utterances differing in length and intensity, and vocal responses
      were elicited in different phases and volumes of the quiet breathing cycle. A
      velocity threshold was used to distinguish prephonatory adjustments from the
      cyclical movements of the chest wall that are characteristic of quiet breathing.
      The results suggest that a variety of prephonatory kinematic events can occur
      prior to initiation of vocalization in response to a stimulus. Further,
      prephonatory movements appear to be adaptive in that they are influenced by the
      length of the utterance to be spoken and the respiratory volume at the time of
      voice initiation.

PMID- 1447932
TI  - Choosing a treatment procedure for early stuttering: issues and future
      directions.
AB  - The new responsibility of speech-language pathologists to provide direct, early
      intervention for stuttering creates a further responsibility for them to choose
      justifiable treatment procedures for that intervention. This paper has two
      purposes. The first is to encourage clinicians to evaluate the conceptual and
      practical aspects of the treatments they use for early stuttering. The second
      purpose of the paper is to overview available early intervention procedures and
      consider the advantages, disadvantages, and prominent issues associated with
      each. The procedures considered are environment manipulation, prolonged speech,
      and response-contingent stimulation. It is concluded that clinicians have no
      cause to be satisfied with any currently available early intervention procedure.
      Further, it is concluded that (a) although anticipatory struggle theories have
      made a useful contribution to scholarship, their line of theoretical reasoning is
      questionable for clinical practice; (b) although theoretically sound for the
      purpose, variants of prolonged speech pose prohibitive conceptual and practical
      shortcomings if they are used to treat very young stuttering children; (c)
      despite its disadvantages, response contingent stimulation is the most
      conceptually and practically justifiable method for early intervention with
      stuttering.

PMID- 1447933
TI  - Reliability of speech naturalness ratings of stuttered speech during treatment.
AB  - This study evaluated the reliability with which relatively sophisticated and
      unsophisticated judges used a 9-point scale to rate the speech naturalness of
      speech samples from 10 clients in a treatment program for stuttering that
      employed prolonged speech. Judges rated repeated speech samples from different
      speakers during various phases of the program. Different groups of sophisticated
      and unsophisticated judges made ratings at either 15 sec, 30 sec, or 60 sec
      intervals while listening to the samples. Of the reliability indices, intraclass
      correlations were significantly higher for sophisticated judges although the
      consistency and agreement of unsophisticated judges were generally equivalent to
      that of sophisticated judges. Both agreement scores and intraclass correlations
      were higher when ratings were made at 60 sec rather than 30 sec intervals. The
      predominant variable that influenced judgement reliability appeared to be
      differences among the subjects. The methodology partially replicated Martin,
      Haroldson, and Triden's (1984) initial investigation on the use of this scale.
      However, the levels of intra- or interjudge reliability in this study were lower
      than the levels achieved by Martin et al.'s judges. There were important
      differences between the Martin et al. study and this one that may account for the
      findings, and these are discussed.

PMID- 1447934
TI  - [Efficiency of prevaccination screening of anti-HBc in the anti-hepatitis B
      vaccination programs].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The convenience of carrying out pre-vaccination screening of VHB
      markers depends on the relative costs of screening and vaccination and also on
      the prevalence of susceptible subjects in each group of the population. The aim
      of the present work was to analyse the efficiency of pre-vaccination screening of
      antiHBc in Catalonia in 1991. METHODS: The per-unit cost of screening was
      calculated at 1366 ptas. The formula applied was: cost per-unit of screening + (1
      X) x the cost per-unit of vaccination of anti-HBc (-) = cost of vaccinating the
      group. "X" being the threshold of prevalence of markers below which screening
      cases to be efficient. This prevalence is compared with those expected in the
      groups of the population to be vaccinated. RESULTS: By applying the above-mention
      ned formula and taking into account costs in time and travel of the people to be
      vaccinated, a prevalence threshold of 23% is obtained. This prevalence is much
      higher than that found in adolescents and students of medicine and nursing,
      similar to that found in health professionals and lower than that of other risk
      groups. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic screening of anti-HBc is only recommended in
      groups of the population where a prevalence higher than 20-25% can be expected.
      Below this threshold vaccination without previous study of markers is more
      efficient. This enormously simplifies the strategies of universal vaccination of
      children, adolescents or both.

PMID- 1447935
TI  - [Prognostic effect of beta 2-microglobulin in multiple myeloma].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare the prognostic influence
      of beta 2-microglobulin (B2M) corrected according to renal function versus the
      uncorrected form and relate these values with other characteristics of the
      disease in a series of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). METHODS: The serum
      levels of B2M were determined by the radioimmunoassay method (RIA) in 107
      patients with newly diagnosed MM and the prognostic influence of B2M was
      statistically evaluated with univariant and multivariant analysis. RESULTS: The
      mean value of B2M obtained in patients with MM was 7.8 +/- 8.0 micrograms/ml,
      with a median of 5 micrograms/ml. Ninety percent of the patients studied
      presented serum values of B2M higher than the normal limit. The value of B2M
      corresponding to the median of the series (5 micrograms/ml) separated two groups
      of patients with different survival (48 vs 19 months) (p = 0.0001). Similarly,
      the most discriminative value of corrected B2M in agreement with creatinine (2.5
      micrograms/ml) permitted the differentiation of two groups of patients although
      the differences in survival were less significant (36 vs 26 months, p = 0.03)
      demonstrating its lesser influence as a prognostic factor with respect to the
      uncorrected B2M. In contrast, a significant association was observed between high
      values of B2M and Bence Jones myeloma, clinical stage III, anemia, renal failure
      and intense involvement of the general state. Multivariant analysis demonstrated
      that B2M plays a greater prognostic role when used as a discrete rather than a
      continuous variable and that together with the degree of involvement of the
      general state, serum albumin and the proportion of plasma cells in the bone
      marrow, they make up the best set of variables for the prediction of prognosis in
      patients with MM. CONCLUSIONS: Beta 2-microglobulin is one of the most important
      independent prognostic factors in multiple myeloma with its prognostic value
      being greatest when used uncorrected according to the values of creatinine.

PMID- 1447936
TI  - [Is it possible to predict the evolution of HIV infection?].

PMID- 1447937
TI  - [Reality and enigmas in left ventricular hypertrophy in arterial hypertension].

PMID- 1447938
TI  - [Bronchiolitis obliterans associated with organizing pneumonia. Clinico
      pathological study of 6 cases].
AB  - Over the last three years six patients diagnosed of bronchiolitis obliterans with
      organizing pneumonia were studied. Diagnosis was established by open lung biopsy
      in 4 and by transbronchial lung biopsy in 2. The initiation of the symptoms was
      subacute although one patient evolved to respiratory failure requiring mechanical
      ventilation. The mean age of presentation was 68 years with male predominance
      over females of 5:1. The most frequent symptoms were fever and general malaise in
      6 patients, cough and dyspnea in 4, respectively and weight loss in 2 patients.
      Functional respiratory tests showed restrictive ventilation disturbances in 4 out
      of 5 patients, mixed in 1 and a reduction in diffusion capacity in the 5 patients
      in whom it was determined. The radiologic pattern of multifocal alveolar
      infiltration was present in 6 cases. Interstitial involvement was also associated
      in 3 patients with pleural effusion in 2. Histologic findings of intraluminal
      polypoid masses affecting the bronchiols and alveolar conducts (bronchiolitis
      obliterants) with extension to the alveoli forming conjunctive Masson polyps
      (organizing pneumonia) was found in the 4 patients who underwent open lung biopsy
      and in 1 diagnosed by transbronchial biopsy although there were quantitative
      differences in the degree of alveolar involvement. Response to treatment with
      steroids was favorable in 5 out of 6 patients while the remaining patients
      spontaneously improved following thoracotomy.

PMID- 1447939
TI  - [Prostatic cancer: biological aspects of clinical interest].

PMID- 1447940
TI  - [Prognostic factors in breast cancer with negative lymph nodes].

PMID- 1447941
TI  - [Tophaceous deposit in the fingertips of patients without gouty arthritis].

PMID- 1447942
TI  - [Mesangial glomerulonephritis with focal lesions and a polycystic kidney in an
      adult].

PMID- 1447943
TI  - [Respiratory distress and fulminant septic shock, diagnosed by lymph node biopsy
      in and adult patient with unrecognised HIV infection].

PMID- 1447944
TI  - [Brucella abortus meningitis in a patient with HIV infection].

PMID- 1447945
TI  - [Therapeutic measures in massive pulmonary thromboembolism].

PMID- 1447946
TI  - Inhibition of human T-lymphocyte activation by macrolide antibiotic,
      roxithromycin.
AB  - Effects of macrolide antibiotic, roxithromycin (RXM) on human lymphocytes in
      culture were studied. The drug showed a dose-dependent inhibition of 3H-thymidine
      and 35S-methionine uptake responding to T cell mitogens and purified protein
      derivative of tuberculin (PPD). Activation by PPD, as assessed by 3H-thymidine
      uptake, was more sensitive to inhibition than the response to T cell mitogens.
      The drug produced a loss of blasts when added soon after transformation
      commenced. Immunosuppressive effects of RXM were further characterized by using
      four different types of metabolized RXM, RU 28111, RU 39001, RU 44981 and RU
      45179. The most potent inhibitor of lymphocyte transformation was RU 45179,
      followed by RU 44981, RU 39001 and RU 28111 have little activity.

PMID- 1447947
TI  - Intracerebroventricular injection of antibodies directed against Gs alpha
      enhances the supraspinal antinociception induced by morphine, beta-endorphin and
      clonidine in mice.
AB  - The intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of antisera directed against
      different sequences of Gs alpha to mice enhanced the antinociceptive potency of
      the opioids morphine, beta h-endorphin-(1-31) and of the alpha 2-agonist
      clonidine when studied 24 h later in the tail-flick test. The activity of DAGO,
      DADLE, DPDPE and [D-Ala2]-Deltorphin II remained unchanged after that treatment.
      Cholera toxin (0.5 microgram/mouse, i.c.v.), agent that impairs the receptor
      regulation of Gs transducer proteins promoted comparable changes in the
      supraspinal analgesia induced by these substances. Six days after a single i.c.v.
      injection (0.5 microgram/mouse) of pertussis toxin the antinociceptive activity
      of all the opioids and clonidine appeared diminished. It is concluded that
      opioids and clonidine promote analgesia after binding to receptors functionally
      coupled to Gi/G(o) proteins, moreover, the activity of morphine, beta-endorphin
      and clonidine in this test seems to be counteracted by a process involving
      activation of Gs alpha transducer proteins.

PMID- 1447948
TI  - Complete dissociation of DOCA-salt hypertension and red cell ion transport
      alterations.
AB  - Our previous study revealed major ion transport alterations that resulted in a
      pronounced elevation of red cell Na+ content in DOCA-salt treated homozygous
      vasopressin-deficient (DI) Brattleboro rats in which only a moderate increase of
      systolic blood pressure occurred. In contrast, no changes of red cell Na+ content
      were observed in heterozygous vasopressin-secreting (non-DI) Brattleboro rats
      with a severe DOCA-salt hypertension. Using a chronic supplementation of DI rats
      with an antidiuretic agonist dDAVP (1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin) we did
      not demonstrate any significant changes of red cell ion transport in dDAVP
      treated DI rats with a fully developed DOCA-salt hypertension. The absence of ion
      transport alterations seems to be mainly due to dDAVP-induced correction of
      altered K+ metabolism seen in DOCA-salt treated DI animals. It can be concluded
      that DOCA-salt hypertension can develop even without red cell ion transport
      alterations which are usually caused by cell K+ depletion.

PMID- 1447949
TI  - The pharmacological differences and similarities between stress- and ethanol
      induced gastric mucosal damage.
AB  - Stress- and ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage are the two commonly used
      ulcer models in animals. They share some of the similarities but also have
      differences in the etiology of gastric ulceration. This article reviews the
      influences of various protective drugs on these two types of gastric damage in
      rats. Verapamil (a calcium antagonist) or N-ethylmaleimide (a sulfhydryl
      depletor) prevents cold restraint-, but potentiates ethanol-provoked gastric
      lesion formation. N-Acetylcysteine (a mucolytic agent) and acetaminophen (an
      antipyretic analgesic) have the opposite actions. Prostaglandins provide a much
      better antiulcer effect on ethanol-induced lesions. Cimetidine (a histamine H2
      receptor antagonist) prevents only stress-induced mucosal damage. These
      differences in drug actions indicate that stress and ethanol may have dissimilar
      ulcerogenic mechanisms in rats. On the other hand, carbenoxolone (a mucus
      inducer), histamine H1-receptor antagonists, leukotriene inhibitors (FPL 55712
      and nordihydroguaiaretic acid) and mast cell stabilizers (like zinc compounds,
      sodium cromoglycate, FPL 52694 and ketotifen), all protect against gastric
      mucosal damage by stress or ethanol in rats. However, the role of gastric
      sulfhydryls in both types of gastric lesions is still controversial. These
      findings imply that the two types of lesion formation share some of the
      ulcerogenic mechanisms. This communication attempts to analyze the various
      findings and to relate them to the etiology of stress and ethanol-induced gastric
      lesions. It also summarizes the uses, and the antiulcer mechanisms, of the drugs
      that have been studied utilizing these two animal ulcer models, and suggests
      their possible implications in man.

PMID- 1447950
TI  - Non-right sidedness: an association with lower IL-2 production.
AB  - Using a laterality questionnaire, 138 normal healthy individuals were classified
      as right-sided and 25 as non-right sided. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) was generated from
      whole blood obtained from these subjects using mitogen (PHA) stimulation. IL-2
      was quantitated in picograms/ml using an enzyme immunoassay (ELISA).
      Additionally, sera from these subjects were tested for 7 autoantibodies by
      standard serological methods. As compared to right sided subjects, non-right
      sided individuals had significantly lower IL-2 production. Non-right sided
      individuals with autoantibodies had significantly lower IL-2 production than
      right sided subjects with or without autoantibodies, but did not differ
      significantly from their non-right sided counterparts without autoantibodies.
      These data support the increasing evidence for the differential and lateralized
      regulation of immune functions by the right and left cerebral regions.

PMID- 1447951
TI  - Kinetic analyses demonstrate that the equilibrium assumption does not apply to
      [125I]endothelin-1 binding data.
AB  - The kinetics of [125I]Endothelin-1 ([125I]ET-1) binding were studied using
      membranes from rat heart, rat lung, rat brain, and porcine vascular smooth muscle
      at 37 degrees C in 0.05M Tris-HCl buffer (pH = 7.4). The dissociation half-life
      (t1/2, diss.) for bound [125I]ET-1 was in excess of 30 hours for each tissue
      studied. Equilibrium-time requirements for proper Scatchard analysis of [125I]ET
      1 were also far in excess of 30 hours for each tissue. These data suggest that
      determination of dissociation constants, Kd, and receptor concentrations, Bmax,
      by conventional Scatchard analysis is not feasible with [125I]ET-1. Kinetic
      analyses may provide a more accurate means for determining [125I-ET-1] binding
      characteristics including Kd and Bmax.

PMID- 1447952
TI  - A transient rise in plasma beta-endorphin after a traditional 47 degrees C hot
      spring bath in Kusatsu-spa, Japan.
AB  - To clarify the mechanism of the intoxicating feeling attained after a traditional
      47 degrees C hot-spring bath called 'jikan-yu' in Kusatsu-spa, Japan, we examined
      the change in plasma levels of beta-endorphin and methionine enkephalin in 7
      healthy subjects. The mean sublingual temperature rose from 36.8 degrees C to
      38.6 degrees C and the plasma beta-endorphin level from 16.2 pg/ml to 49.5 pg/ml
      2 minutes after completing a 3-minute bath in 47 degrees C hot-spring water.
      However, the plasma methionine enkephalin level was not changed. This feeling of
      intoxication may be explained by the transient rise in plasma beta-endorphin
      level.

PMID- 1447953
TI  - Age and food restriction alter the porphyrin concentration and mRNA levels for 5
      aminolevulinate synthase in rat Harderian gland.
AB  - The effects of age and food restriction on the porphyrin concentration in
      Harderian glands were studied in male Fisher 344 rats. Harderian gland porphyrin
      concentrations increased with age; this was statistically significant in 20 month
      old animals compared with 3 month old animals. Food restriction (by 40%)
      prevented the age-associated rise in porphyrins; thus, in 20 month old food
      restricted rats had porphyrin concentrations similar to those found in young
      animals. In a second experiment, we correlated the age-associated rise in
      Harderian gland porphyrin concentrations with an increase in mRNA levels for 5
      aminolevulinate synthase (ALV-S). Both the porphyrin concentration and ALV-S mRNA
      rose at 12 and 18 months of age, but decreased by 24 months of age. It is
      concluded that, a) porphyrin biosynthesis in the Harderian glands increases up to
      20 months of age but decreases in rats that are 24 months old, and b) food
      restriction prevents the porphyrin rise associated with age in the Harderian
      gland of male Fisher 344 rats.

PMID- 1447954
TI  - Diagnostic tools from molecular biology.

PMID- 1447955
TI  - In situ hybridization: optimization of the techniques for collecting and fixing
      the specimens.
AB  - An overview is presented concerning the different protocols for collecting and
      fixing the specimens for in situ hybridization analysis. Particular attention is
      devoted to the problem of avoiding the tissue RNA degradation due to the
      ubiquitous and rather resistant RNases. The choice of the final protocol largely
      depends on a compromise between the need to maintain morphological details, the
      care to avoid loss of the target nucleic acids and the capability of the probe to
      diffuse within the specimen.

PMID- 1447956
TI  - Autoradiographic detection of radiolabelled probes by in situ hybridization.
AB  - In the context of in situ hybridization techniques, autoradiography is used to
      localize radiolabelled probes within intact tissue sections or cell preparations.
      The present report describes in detail a standardized autoradiographic procedure.
      Topics include the choice of the emulsion, its preparation and layering onto the
      slides, the development procedure and the analysis of the results. Special
      attention is devoted to the practical aspects, so that the technique will be
      generally applicable, according to the reader's needs.

PMID- 1447957
TI  - Non-radioactive nucleic acid probes: labelling and detection procedures.
AB  - A comprehensive overview is given concerning the in situ hybridization techniques
      using non-radioactively labelled probes. Details are given on the preparation of
      the probes with different reporter molecules and on the corresponding revealing
      assays. The development of non-isotopic labelling methods for nucleic acid probes
      has facilitated the diffusion of the in situ hybridization techniques to the
      research as well as to the clinical pathology laboratory. Non-radioactive probes
      have several advantages over the radiolabelled ones, including cost, shelf-life,
      safety and, last but not least, resolution of the signal.

PMID- 1447958
TI  - Use of sulphonated probes for detecting human immunodeficiency virus-1
      transcripts by in situ hybridization.
AB  - A detailed procedure is described that allows detection of the presence of human
      immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) transcripts within both acetone-fixed tissues
      and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. This assay uses cDNA probes labelled by a
      non-isotopic procedure that results in the modification of cytosine residues
      through covalent linkage to a sulphone group. In situ hybridized probe is then
      detected by an alkaline phosphatase-conjugated antibody specifically directed
      against the sulphone hapten. This procedure is specific, rapid and safe and can
      be applied in the research as well as in the clinical pathology settings.

PMID- 1447959
TI  - From two dimensional (2D) to three dimensional (3D) analysis by confocal
      microscopy.
AB  - The confocal microscope is becoming increasingly important as an apparatus to
      analyze the 3-D topography of the cell. Main reasons are the high resolution
      optical sectioning capacity, the non-invasiveness which leaves the object intact,
      and the imaging capabilities. This chapter introduces a description of the
      confocal principle, the basic concepts of confocal fluorescence microscopy and
      some criteria for cell preservation. Optimization of in situ immunofluorescence,
      hybridization and detection procedures in combination with new digital microscope
      techniques can fully express their capacities only if the preparation of
      biological specimens is accurate for 3-D analysis. Some applications of confocal
      microscopy to the study of intranucleolar antigens, enzyme translocations and
      fluorescence in situ hybridization, are described in association with 3-D
      software image processing, as a useful framework for the study of the 3-D
      visualization of proteins and chromatin domains.

PMID- 1447960
TI  - Localization of cloned human DNA sequences and analysis of chromosomal
      alterations by in situ hybridization.
AB  - The in situ hybridization technique was used for the localization on human
      chromosomes of single-copy and repeated sequences and, in addition, for the
      characterization of altered human chromosomes. Two anonymous clones, single or
      low-copy, obtained from a human X chromosome library were localized on the distal
      part of the long arm and in the paracentromeric region of X chromosome,
      respectively. A genomic fragment of the single-copy thyroglobulin (TG) gene was
      used to confirm the localization on the distal part of the long arm of chromosome
      8. The localization and distribution on human chromosomes of the glyceraldehyde-3
      phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPD) multigene family obtained by in situ hybridization
      and by somatic cell hybrids were compared. A phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) c-DNA
      clone, which detects genic and pseudogenic sequences on the X chromosome, was
      used for the characterization of three small ring markers present in unrelated
      female patients.

PMID- 1447961
TI  - From immunohistochemistry to in situ hybridization.
AB  - The revolutionary evolution in science and technology has made it possible to
      face adequately three main challenges in modern medicine: old diseases changing,
      new diseases appearing, diseases remaining unknown. In this paper we review the
      road travelled by the pathologist in search of a method which is based upon the
      application to routine work of instruments and techniques which once were
      available for research only. Application to tissue studies of immunological and
      molecular biology techniques allows a dynamic interpretation of biological
      phenomena with special regard to gene regulation and expression. The method
      implies stepwise investigations, including immunohistochemistry, EM and in situ
      hybridization, in order to progress from the suggestive features detectable in
      routinely stained preparations to more characteristic, specific and, finally,
      pathognomonic features. HE-stained preparations and appropriate
      immunohistochemical stains enable recognition of phenotypic changes which may
      reflect genotypic alterations. Thus there is a logical and methodological link
      between the simple HE and the most powerful techniques so far introduced in
      pathology: immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.

PMID- 1447962
TI  - Genetic variants of alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT).
AB  - This paper reviews the genetic variants of alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) which have
      been sequenced with special emphasis on the s.c. deficiency variants. These
      result in AAT low plasma levels via three main mechanisms: 1) intracellular
      storage; 2) intracellular degradation; 3) lack of synthesis. Intracellular
      storage occurs with the classical Z variant and with a few variants called M
      like, because of their isoelectric focusing (IF) pattern. The storage phenomenon
      causes liver damage and can be demonstrated at both light and electron
      microscopic level with the help of immunohistochemistry. We report a new
      deficiency variant of AAT (M-Cagliari) characterized by very low plasma levels,
      massive storage of AAT and liver cirrhosis. By using immunohistochemical
      techniques and DNA analysis we could demonstrate that M-Cagliari has antigenic
      and genetic properties other than the Z AAT.

PMID- 1447963
TI  - Breakdown of mucosal defences in congestive gastropathy in cirrhotics.
AB  - The gastric mucus-bicarbonate barrier, the first line of mucosal defence, has
      been evaluated in patients with congestive gastropathy and cirrhosis of the
      liver. Fourteen cirrhotic patients of both sexes (Child's class A or B), with or
      without oesophageal varices, but with endoscopic signs of congestive gastropathy,
      and a matched group of healthy controls were studied. The amount of luminal
      mucoproteins, a Mucoprotective Index as a qualitative assessment of mucus
      secretion and the output of gastric bicarbonate were determined in basal
      conditions. In patients with congestive gastropathy a significant (p < 0.01)
      reduction in all the above parameters was observed, suggesting a substantial
      impairment of the gastric mucus-bicarbonate barrier. Whether this is an
      independent phenomenon or a consequence of altered local microcirculation remains
      to be determined.

PMID- 1447964
TI  - Role of the spleen in endotoxin-induced hepatic injury in chronic alcohol-fed
      rats.
AB  - The present experiments were designed to study the role of the spleen in
      endotoxin-induced hepatic injury in chronic alcohol-fed rats. Administration of 2
      mg/kg body weight of endotoxin caused severe hepatic injury in chronic alcohol
      fed rats as compared with controls. This injury was significantly less in those
      whose spleens had been resected 1 week prior to endotoxin administration. There
      were no differences in plasma endotoxin levels 16 h after intravenous injection
      of endotoxin between sham-operated control rats, and chronic alcohol-fed rats
      with and without splenectomy. The plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF) level 1 h
      after intravenous injection of endotoxin was significantly higher in chronic
      alcohol-fed rats than in controls. However, TNF levels were significantly lower
      in those with splenectomy. Neutrophil infiltration was seen in the liver sinusoid
      of sham-operated chronic alcohol-fed rats as early as 1 h after injection of
      endotoxin, and was observed even 15 h later. These results suggest that endotoxin
      induced liver injury is closely related to factors derived from the spleen and
      induced by plasma endotoxin, especially when Kupffer cell function is reduced by
      chronic alcohol feeding. In addition, TNF and neutrophils may play an important
      role in this type of liver injury.

PMID- 1447965
TI  - Liver function after bilateral nephrectomy.
AB  - Consequences of bilateral nephrectomy (NX) for liver functions and for hepatic
      excretion of various endogenous substances were characterized in rats 24 h after
      NX. Plasma concentrations of urea, creatinine, fibrinogen, and glutathione
      increased significantly after NX, whereas the concentrations of total protein,
      albumin, and lipids decreased. The hepatic excretion of urea, creatinine,
      phospholipids, cholesterol, and aldosterone significantly increased in uremia,
      and excretions of protein and glutathione diminished. Active biliary transport
      can be diminished after NX by the effects of uremic toxins on the liver cells or
      by the competition phenomena between endogenous substances, which are normally
      excreted in urine, at the hepatocellular level. Reduced glutathione content and
      increased lipid peroxidation in hepatocytes have been found. Changes in lipid and
      protein metabolism after NX can be proved.

PMID- 1447966
TI  - Decreased hepatic uptake of cholesterol and retinol in the dimethylnitrosamine
      rat model of cirrhosis.
AB  - The fenestrated endothelium of the liver sinusoids forms a sieve between the
      circulation and hepatocytes. Fenestrae selectively permit the entrance of
      relatively small chylomicron remnants into the space of Disse to contact
      hepatocyte receptors, but obstruct the passage of the larger parent chylomicrons.
      Much of dietary cholesterol and most of retinol are transported as esters in the
      core of chylomicrons. In the dimethyl nitrosamine rat model of cirrhosis, we have
      described a rapid reduction in size and number of fenestrae well before the onset
      of cirrhosis. Concurrent with this decreased porosity is a decreased trapping of
      radio-labelled dietary cholesterol and retinol by these livers. We postulate that
      the less porous "liver sieve" hinders the hepatic uptake of chylomicron remnants,
      with consequent disturbance of cholesterol and retinol metabolism.

PMID- 1447967
TI  - Immunoquantification of cytochrome P-450 3A on rat paraffin-embedded liver
      tissue.
AB  - The cytochrome P-450 3A family is involved in the metabolism of several drugs,
      including nifedipine, cyclosporine, quinidine and erythromycin. The purpose of
      this study was to develop a reliable method to obtain a relative quantification
      of cytochrome P-450 3A apoproteins in rat liver specimens by immunocytochemistry
      and to correlate such quantification to erythromycin N-demethylase activity, a
      biochemical pathway sustained by that enzymatic system. Thirty-six male Wistar
      rats were treated with an injection of either saline or dexamethasone phosphate
      (10, 30 or 50 mg/kg), a potent inducer of cytochrome P-450 3A. Specimens taken
      from the same lobe were processed for immunocytochemistry and determination of
      erythromycin N-demethylase activity. Paraffin sections were treated with a
      polyclonal antiserum directed against cytochrome P-450 3A. The density of
      cytochrome P-450 3A immunostaining measured by an automatic image analyzer
      increased with the dose of dexamethasone pretreatment, and with the erythromycin
      N-demethylase activity, both parameters being closely correlated. Our data
      indicate that in rats, when cytochrome P-450 3A is concerned, there is a close
      correlation between the results of immunoquantitation and biochemical activity.
      This suggests that such a method of investigation might be used on small paraffin
      embedded liver specimens obtained by needle biopsy.

PMID- 1447968
TI  - Immunoperoxidase localization of ursodeoxycholic acid in rat biliary epithelial
      cells. Evidence for a cholehepatic circulation.
AB  - To explain the hypercholeretic effect of ursodeoxycholic acid, a cholehepatic
      shunt circulation has been postulated. This pathway includes secretion by the
      hepatocyte into bile and absorption by the biliary epithelial cells. To test this
      possibility, we have attempted to localize ursodeoxycholic acid in hepatocytes
      and portal bile duct cells by an indirect immunoperoxidase technique using
      specific polyclonal antibodies against ursodeoxycholic acid and cholic acid
      conjugates. Rat livers were fixed with paraformaldehyde, incubated with
      antibodies directed against bile acids and examined by electron microscopy. After
      infusion of ursodeoxycholic acid and incubation with antibodies against this bile
      acid, an electron-dense staining was observed on the apical (luminal) membrane of
      the portal bile ductal cells. In contrast, no staining was observed when no
      ursodeoxycholic acid was infused, or after infusion with taurocholate and
      incubation with antibodies against cholic acid conjugates. These observations are
      consistent with absorption of ursodeoxycholic acid by the portal bile ducts and a
      cholehepatic circulation of this bile acid.

PMID- 1447969
TI  - The role of integration host factor in gene expression in Escherichia coli.
AB  - Integration host factor is a sequence-specific, histone-like, multifunctional DNA
      binding and -bending protein of Escherichia coli. The characterization and
      functional analysis of this protein has been done mainly in bacteriophage lambda
      and other mobile genetic elements. Less is known concerning the role of
      integration host factor (IHF) in E. coli, although it has been implicated in a
      number of processes in this organism including DNA replication, site-specific
      recombination, and gene expression. This review presents recent work which
      suggests that IHF alters the activity of an unusually large number of operons in
      E. coli. We discuss the possible physiological relevance of the involvement of
      IHF in gene expression and the hypothesis that IHF is a member of a class of
      functionally redundant proteins that participate in chromosome structure and
      multiple processes involving DNA.

PMID- 1447970
TI  - Septal membrane fusion--a pivotal event in bacterial spore formation?
AB  - Formation of the asymmetrically located septum divides sporulating bacilli into
      two distinct cells: the mother cell and the prespore. The rigidifying wall
      material in the septum is subsequently removed by autolysis. Examination of
      published electron micrographs indicates that the two septal membranes then fuse
      to form a single membrane. Membrane fusion would be expected to have profound
      consequences for subsequent development. For example, it is suggested that fusion
      activates processing of pro-sigma E to sigma E in the cytoplasm by exposing it to
      a membrane-bound processing enzyme. Asymmetry of the fused membrane could
      restrict processing to one face of the membrane and hence explain why sigma E is
      associated with transcription in the mother cell but not in the prespore.
      Asymmetry of the fused membrane might also provide a mechanism for restricting
      the activity of another factor, sigma F, to the prespore. Attachment of the
      flexible fused septal membrane to the condensing prespore nucleoid could help
      drive the engulfment of the prespore by the mother cell.

PMID- 1447971
TI  - Expression of a functional neisserial fbp gene in Escherichia coli.
AB  - The ability to acquire iron from a human host is a major determinant in the
      pathogenesis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis. Pathogenic
      Neisseria spp. do not synthesize siderophores and instead express a receptor
      mediated, high-affinity iron acquisition system in the iron-restricted
      environment of its host. A ferric-iron-binding protein (Fbp) of Neisseria spp. is
      also iron-regulated and may play a central role in this novel iron-uptake system.
      To define the physical properties of Fbp further, we used polymerase chain
      reaction to synthesize DNA fragments containing the fbp structural gene with and
      without the sequence encoding the Fbp leader peptide. These fragments were
      ligated into pUC13 to create in-frame fusions with the alpha peptide of lacZ. The
      expression of Fbp was under the control of the lacZ promoter. Both fusion clones
      produced Fbp in large amounts, facilitating the purification of quantities of Fbp
      sufficient for elucidating the biochemical, immunologic, and functional
      properties of this protein.

PMID- 1447972
TI  - Control of gene expression in the temperate coliphage 186. IX. B is the sole
      phage function needed to activate transcription of the phage late genes.
AB  - Using plasmid clones we have determined that the late control function B is the
      only phage function that is needed to activate a late promoter of coliphage 186,
      and we predict that it functions as an auxiliary factor to RNA polymerase in the
      activation of late transcription. We have also shown that a high concentration of
      B will activate late transcription from a prophage, and we conclude that
      replicating DNA is not a template requirement for B to function. The original
      demonstration of a need for the replication gene A in late transcription can be
      explained by the fact that replication leads to an increase in B gene dosage,
      with the consequent increase in B concentration leading to the efficient
      activation of the late promoters.

PMID- 1447973
TI  - Control of gene expression in the temperate coliphage 186. X. The cI repressor
      directly represses transcription of the late control gene B.
AB  - We have found that the repressor of 186 lytic transcription, CI, represses
      transcription of the late control gene B, with no involvement of the B protein
      itself. In clone studies we showed that CI repressed transcription from the B
      promoter and that temperature inactivation of CIts led to B derepression. We
      conclude that CI repressor directly represses transcription of the B gene and,
      with prophage induction, it is probable that the inactivation of the CI repressor
      not only derepresses early lytic transcription, but also derepresses B gene
      transcription, leading to the activation of transcription from the late
      promoters.

PMID- 1447974
TI  - Expression of bacterial cytotoxin genes in mammalian target cells.
AB  - We have studied the expression of the gene fragments encoding the enzymatically
      active portion of three bacterial cytotoxins: exotoxin A (ETA) of Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa, and pertussis toxin (PT) and adenylate cyclase toxin (CYA) of
      Bordetella pertussis, in sensitive mammalian target cells. Expression of active
      ETA and CYA was lethal to the producing cells and stable transfectants of Cos-1
      cells containing the corresponding genes could not be obtained. The expression of
      the PTS1 subunit was tolerated by the producing mammalian cells. Since PT is
      cytotoxic because of ADP-ribosylation of G-proteins, we assume that the
      endogenously expressed PTS1 may not find the cellular target G proteins or PTS1
      alone may not be sufficient for ADP-ribosylation of these proteins in vivo.

PMID- 1447975
TI  - Identification and sequence of a Na(+)-linked gene from the marine bacterium
      Alteromonas haloplanktis which functionally complements the dagA gene of
      Escherichia coli.
AB  - A 4.0 kb fragment from a plasmid genomic DNA library of the marine bacterium
      Alteromonas haloplanktis ATCC 19855 was found in the presence of Na+ to
      complement the dagA gene of Escherichia coli. We have completely sequenced this
      fragment and the position of the Na(+)-linked D-alanine glycine permease gene
      (dagA) on the fragment has been determined by complementation. The predicted
      carrier protein consists of 542 amino acid residues (M(r) 58,955). Its hydropathy
      profile suggests it is composed of eight transmembrane segments with a long
      hydrophilic region between segments six and seven. Significant similarity has
      been found between this Na(+)-linked permease and the Na+/proline permeases of E.
      coli and Salmonella typhimurium and the human and rabbit intestinal Na+/glucose
      cotransporters.

PMID- 1447976
TI  - Conservation of the photosynthesis gene cluster in Rhodospirillum centenum.
AB  - Intraspecies and intergenus complementation analysis were utilized to demonstrate
      that photosynthesis genes are clustered in distantly related purple
      photosynthetic bacteria. Specifically, we show that the linkage order for genes
      involved in bacteriochlorophyll and carotenoid biosynthesis in Rhodospirillum
      centenum are arranged essentially as in Rhodobacter capsulatus and Rhodobacter
      sphaeroides. In addition, the location and relative distance observed between the
      puf and puh operons which encode for light harvesting and reaction-centre
      structural genes are also conserved between these species. Conservation of the
      photosynthesis gene cluster implies either that there are structural or
      regulatory constraints that limit rearrangement of the photosynthesis gene
      cluster or that there may have been lateral transfer of the photosynthesis gene
      cluster among different species of phototrophic bacteria.

PMID- 1447977
TI  - Loss of the pigmentation phenotype in Yersinia pestis is due to the spontaneous
      deletion of 102 kb of chromosomal DNA which is flanked by a repetitive element.
AB  - The pigmentation (Pgm+) phenotype of Yersinia pestis encompasses a variety of
      different physiological traits, all of which are missing in Pgm- mutants. We have
      previously shown that loss of the Pgm+ phenotype is accompanied by the
      spontaneous deletion of at least 45 kb of chromosomal DNA, referred to as the pgm
      locus. Using chromosomal walking, we have now mapped the full extent of the pgm
      locus in Y. pestis strain KIM6+. Our results indicate that the locus spans 102 kb
      of DNA which is absent in the spontaneous Pgm- mutant, KIM6. Yersinia
      pseudotuberculosis PB1/0 contains sequences homologous to the entire pgm locus
      while only part of this region hybridized to Yersinia enterocolitica WA-LOX DNA.
      Restriction enzyme mapping and hybridization studies revealed the presence of a
      repetitive element at both ends of the pgm locus and in multiple copies elsewhere
      in the Y. pestis genome. This element may be responsible for generating the
      deletion.

PMID- 1447978
TI  - flhF, a Bacillus subtilis flagellar gene that encodes a putative GTP-binding
      protein.
AB  - We describe the sequence and characterization of the Bacillus subtilis flhF gene.
      flhF encodes a basic polypeptide of 41 kDa that contains a putative GTP-binding
      motif. The sequence of FlhF reveals a structural relationship to two Escherichia
      coli proteins, Ffh and FtsY, as well as to other members of the SRP54 family, in
      a domain presumed to bind GTP. flhF is located in a large operon consisting of
      chemotaxis and flagellar genes. Cells deficient in flhF are nonmotile. Through
      the use of anti-flagellar antibodies we have established that flhF is a flagellar
      (fla) gene. Thus, flhF is a unique flagellar gene in that it encodes a GTP
      binding protein with similarities to members of the SRP54 family of proteins.
      These data suggest that flagellar biosynthesis in B. subtilis requires GTP.

PMID- 1447979
TI  - Identification and characterization of FliY, a novel component of the Bacillus
      subtilis flagellar switch complex.
AB  - The Bacillus subtilis gene encoding FliY has been cloned and sequenced. The gene
      encodes a 379-amino-acid protein with a predicted molecular mass of 41,054
      daltons. FliY is partly homologous to the Escherichia coli and Salmonella
      typhimurium switch proteins FliM and FliN. The N-terminus of FliY has 33%
      identity with the first 122 amino acids of FliM, whereas the C-terminus of FliY
      has 52% identity with the last 30 amino acids of FliN. The middle 60% of FliY is
      not significantly homologous to either of the proteins. A fliY::cat null mutant
      has no flagella. Motility can be restored to the mutant by expression of fliY
      from a plasmid, although chemotaxis is still defective since the strain exhibits
      smooth swimming behaviour. fliY::cat is in the cheD complementation group. One of
      the cheD point mutants does not switch although the population grown from a
      single cell has both smooth swimming and tumbling bacteria, implying that the
      switch is locked. Expression of fliY in wild-type B. subtilis makes the cells
      more smooth-swimming but does not appear to affect chemotaxis. Expression of fliY
      in wild-type S. typhimurium severely inhibits chemotaxis and also makes the cells
      smooth swimming. Expression in a non-motile S. typhimurium fliN mutant restores
      motility but not chemotaxis, although expression in a non-motile E. coli fliM
      mutant does not restore motility. The homology, multiple phenotypes, and
      interspecies complementation suggest that FliY forms part of the B. subtilis
      switch complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1447980
TI  - gltF, a member of the gltBDF operon of Escherichia coli, is involved in nitrogen
      regulated gene expression.
AB  - We report here the construction and analysis of insertional mutations in each of
      the three genes of the gltBDF operon and the nucleotide sequence of the region
      downstream from gltD. Two open reading frames were identified, the first of which
      corresponds to gltF. The gltB and gltD genes code for the large and small
      subunits, respectively, of the enzyme glutamate synthase (GOGAT). gltF codes for
      a protein, with a molecular mass of 26,350 Da, which is required for Ntr
      induction. Histidase synthesis was determined as a measure of Ntr function.
      First, insertions in gltB, gltD or gltF all prevent Ntr induction. Second,
      complementation analysis indicates that high-level expression of both the gltD
      and gltF genes is required for the induction of the Ntr enzymes under nitrogen
      limiting conditions, indicating that the phenotype of the gltB insertion probably
      results from polarity on gltD and gltF. Third, glutamate-dependent repression of
      the glt operon appears to be mediated by the product of the gltF gene. Thus, the
      gltBDF operon of Escherichia coli is involved in induction of the so-called Ntr
      enzymes in response to nitrogen deprivation, as well as in glutamate
      biosynthesis.

PMID- 1447981
TI  - Four homologous domains in the primary structure of GrsB are related to domains
      in a superfamily of adenylate-forming enzymes.

PMID- 1447982
TI  - Calcitriol and postmenopausal osteoporosis.

PMID- 1447983
TI  - Dyspepsia.

PMID- 1447984
TI  - Interstate differences in incidence and mortality from melanoma. A re-examination
      of the latitudinal gradient.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the patterns of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM)
      mortality in Australia. DESIGN: A descriptive analysis of melanoma incidence and
      mortality in Australia supplemented by a case series analysis of melanoma
      survival. Melanoma mortality rates were based on tabulations supplied by the
      Australian Bureau of Statistics for the years 1969-1989. Melanoma incidence rates
      were based on State cancer registry records for the years 1977-1990. The case
      series survival analysis was based on detailed individual records from the
      population-based cancer registries in Tasmania and South Australia. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: The level of and rise in melanoma mortality rates during 1969-1989 in
      Australia; the five-year survival rates for Tasmanian and South Australian cases;
      and male:female incidence ratios related to latitude. RESULTS: We found annual
      increases in melanoma mortality rates of 2.5% in men (P < 0.0001) and 1.1% in
      women (P < 0.0001) for all Australia. The five-year survival rates (with 95%
      confidence intervals [CI]) were: 67% (59%-75%) for Tasmanian men; 79% (76%-83%)
      for South Australian men; 80% (74%-86%) for Tasmanian women and 88% (86%-91%) for
      South Australian women. A change in the male:female incidence ratio with latitude
      was also found--women have significantly higher incidence rates at higher
      latitudes, but similar rates to men at lower latitudes. CONCLUSIONS: The age
      standardised mortality from CMM for the period 1969 to 1989 shows little
      variation by State for women, despite a considerable range in latitude. CMM
      mortality in men is increasing at a faster rate than that in women. Between 1982
      and 1987 the male:female incidence ratio in high latitudes in the Southern
      Hemisphere showed an excess of cases in women, a finding which we believe has not
      been reported before.

PMID- 1447985
TI  - The treatment of gynaecological malignancy in a general public hospital.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the adequacy of treatment of gynaecological cancer in a
      public hospital and to determine the influence of referral patterns on patient
      outcome. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of clinical histories. SETTING: A
      tertiary-level general public hospital. PATIENTS: 89 patients admitted between 1
      January 1979 and 31 December 1987 for primary treatment of a gynaecological
      malignancy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary study parameter was patient
      survival. During data analysis, the study parameters were altered to include the
      adequacy of initial surgery and survival time in relation to the involvement of
      the Gynaecology Unit. RESULTS: Initial presenting symptoms had a major influence
      on the referral patterns of patients with a gynaecological malignancy. All
      patients who presented with abnormal vaginal bleeding were managed by the
      Gynaecology Unit. Patients with ovarian cancer who presented with non-specific
      abdominal symptoms and ascites were often managed by other units. There was a
      statistically significant difference in the adequacy of initial surgery depending
      on whether the patient was managed by the Gynaecology or the Surgical Unit (P <
      0.05). The median survival time of patients managed by the Gynaecology Unit was
      20 months; this was considerably longer than the figure of 14 months for other
      units (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ovarian cancer who are managed by a
      specialised gynaecology unit are more likely to have adequate initial surgery and
      a longer median survival time. Female patients presenting with non-specific
      abdominal symptoms, ascites and other signs of intra-abdominal malignancy should
      be reviewed by a gynaecology unit before initial surgery.

PMID- 1447986
TI  - General practitioners' attitudes to computer-generated surgical discharge
      letters. Members of the Department of General Surgery, Fremantle Hospital.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess general practitioners' attitudes to a computed-generated
      general surgical discharge letter. To identify the six most important items of
      information in an ideal discharge letter. DESIGN: One hundred and thirty general
      practitioners who had received at least six computer-generated surgical discharge
      letters in one year were circulated with a questionnaire. RESULTS: Most general
      practitioners approved of the computer-generated discharge letter which included
      all six of the most important items of information they requested. Eighty-four
      per cent wished to see a similar computer-generated discharge system extended
      into other areas of hospital practice.

PMID- 1447987
TI  - Hepatotoxicity from paracetamol self-poisoning in western Sydney: a continuing
      challenge.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the annual incidence of admissions for paracetamol
      overdosage in the years 1985 to 1990, morbidity and mortality rates, predictors
      of poor prognosis and the most appropriate use of N-acetylcysteine (NAC). DESIGN:
      A retrospective review of case records of all patients with a discharge diagnosis
      of paracetamol overdosage. SETTING: A 900-bed tertiary referral teaching hospital
      in western Sydney with a busy accident and emergency department. PATIENTS: 306
      patient records were reviewed and details of the overdose and admission were
      recorded. INTERVENTIONS: NAC infusion in patients with possible paracetamol
      hepatotoxicity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood paracetamol levels; elevated alanine
      aminotransferase levels; prolonged prothrombin time; severe liver injury; and NAC
      side effects. RESULTS: Annual admission rate was constant at circa 55 per annum.
      Female to male ratio was 2:1. Predictors of liver injury included paracetamol
      dose over 10 g, presentation more than 10 hours after the overdose and chronic
      ingestion of more than 80 g alcohol per day. There were no deaths. Fifty-five
      patients (18%) had toxic paracetamol levels, 51% received treatment with NAC,
      including 40% of those with non-toxic levels, and 11% of those treated with NAC
      experienced side effects. CONCLUSION: Paracetamol overdosage continues to be a
      significant cause of hospital admissions in western Sydney. Severe hepatic damage
      occurs infrequently and the prognosis for liver injury, when it occurs, is good.
      Treatment with NAC should be reserved for patients with definite indications for
      the drug.

PMID- 1447988
TI  - Motility-like dyspepsia. Current concepts in pathogenesis, investigation and
      management.
AB  - Motility-like dyspepsia, a clinical subgroup of functional dyspepsia, refers to
      the cluster of symptoms which suggests an underlying motility disturbance of the
      upper gut. Characteristic symptoms, in addition to upper abdominal pain or
      discomfort, are nausea, vomiting, early satiety, anorexia, postprandial abdominal
      bloating and excessive repetitive postprandial belching. Patients with
      concomitant symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are currently excluded from this
      clinical entity. Delayed gastric emptying of solids and/or liquids, postprandial
      antral hypomotility and antroduodenal incoordination, gastric myoelectrical
      arrhythmias and dysfunction of visceral afferents are the major alterations in
      upper gut sensorimotor activity which have been described. An empirical trial of
      medical therapy is warranted if there are no "alarm" symptoms at presentation. If
      symptoms are not relieved after 2-4 weeks, then investigations of the upper
      gastrointestinal tract, preferably by endoscopy, to exclude the presence of
      organic disease, is advisable. Management approaches are then reassurance,
      dietary manipulations and attention to psychosocial aspects. Prokinetic agents
      appear to be useful as short-term medical therapy in some patients, but optimum
      long-term treatment strategies, including the use of medications which may
      improve a diminished tolerance to gut distension, are not established.

PMID- 1447989
TI  - How to read a journal article.

PMID- 1447990
TI  - Lifestyle counselling in general practice. Waste of time or challenge of skill?

PMID- 1447991
TI  - Pitfalls in penetrating eye injuries.

PMID- 1447992
TI  - Hearing loss in the elderly. A survey in general practice.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of undiagnosed hearing impairment in
      people aged 60 years or over in a general practice setting. DESIGN: A self
      administered questionnaire followed by physical examination and audiometry.
      SETTING: A group general practice in the Melbourne suburb of Moorabbin. PATIENTS:
      Two hundred and one people aged 60 years or over who were not known to be hearing
      impaired. OUTCOME MEASURE: Results of air-conduction audiometry. RESULTS: Seventy
      five of the 201 people had undiagnosed hearing loss (37%). The assessments of
      hearing ability by the patients and their relations were good predictors of the
      outcome of the audiogram (P < 0.001). Occupational history, medical history and
      physical examination were poor predictors (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of
      audiometry for screening for hearing impairment in older general practice
      patients is likely to have a high yield. A large proportion of people with
      abnormal audiograms will, however, refuse a hearing aid.

PMID- 1447993
TI  - Transplantation of the cornea.
AB  - Corneal transplantation is the most widely practised form of allografting in
      clinical practice. The operation is used to correct developmental abnormalities
      of corneal shape such as keratoconus, to overcome opacities of the cornea, to
      relieve pain and to mend perforations. Corneal transplantation is generally
      successful but contrary to popular belief, corneal grafts can be rejected. This
      is a particular problem for patients treated for the sequelae of inflammatory
      disease. The relative importance of measures such as systemic immunosuppression
      and tissue typing is less in corneal transplantation than in other forms of
      clinical allografting. Overcoming rejection, achieving the best optical
      configuration in a graft, and increasing the number of donor corneas available
      for transplantation represent the main avenues for achieving improvements in
      corneal transplantation.

PMID- 1447994
TI  - Bone marrow transplantation.
AB  - Over the last 20 years allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from an HLA
      identical sibling donor has become the treatment of choice for a number of human
      haematological malignancies, severe aplastic anaemia, some congenital diseases of
      the immune and haemopoietic systems, and some inborn errors of metabolism.
      Recently, the successful introduction of HLA-matched unrelated donor transplants,
      convenient T cell depletion technology, combination immunosuppressive therapy to
      minimise graft-versus-host disease, blood products that are seronegative for
      cytomegalovirus, effective antiviral agents, and cloned haemopoietic and immune
      system growth factors have markedly increased the scope of bone marrow
      transplantation. Additionally, autologous transplantation appears to have promise
      especially in lymphoma and breast cancer.

PMID- 1447995
TI  - Guide to the assessment of percentage "impairment" of the back, neck and pelvis.
      Australasian College of Rehabilitation Medicine.

PMID- 1447996
TI  - Identification of infection of an Australian resident with the human
      immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2).
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To present the first confirmed case of human immunodeficiency virus
      infection type 2 (HIV-2) in an Australian resident. CLINICAL FEATURES: HIV-2
      infection in a west African man resident in Sydney was diagnosed in 1992 at
      Westmead Hospital, Sydney, by serological testing. He was asymptomatic and the
      blood CD4 T-lymphocyte concentration was not significantly reduced. Infection was
      probably acquired before migration to Australia. The patient was initially tested
      for HIV-1 antibody as part of an application for permanent residency. He was in
      no obvious risk group or transmission category. His serum was repeatedly positive
      by Genetic Systems enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and borderline by Abbott EIA, was
      reactive to the HIV-2 peptide on a synthetic envelope peptide assay, and was
      strongly reactive to all HIV-2 specific viral protein bands on an HIV-2 western
      blot test. HIV-2 was isolated by co-cultivation of the patient's peripheral blood
      mononuclear cells and identified by hybridisation using HIV-2 specific
      oligonucleotide probes, with further confirmation by polymerase chain reaction.
      INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: The patient was counselled regarding the clinical
      course and prognosis of HIV-2 infection, the possible indications for zidovudine
      therapy, modes of transmission of the virus and safer sex precautions.
      CONCLUSIONS: This is the first documented case of HIV-2 infection diagnosed in
      Australia and raises the possibility of other undetected cases. The cost
      effectiveness of general testing for HIV-2 needs to be assessed and formal
      epidemiological sentinel programs should be established to monitor specific
      Australian populations.

PMID- 1447997
TI  - Epidural injection of depot corticosteroids. Australian Pain Society Limited.
AB  - This position statement is for general information and discussion only and is not
      intended as medical advice. Its purpose is to review the current literature on a
      controversial subject so as to assist medical practitioners who have an interest
      in pain management. The epidural injection of depot corticosteroids is one of a
      number of treatment techniques for chronic pain, and it is the view of the
      directors of the Australian Pain Society Limited that patients with chronic pain
      require assessment and treatment within multidisciplinary pain management
      programs. This statement does not encourage or discourage medical practitioners
      from using epidural steroid injections as a treatment modality. While this review
      of the pertinent literature may be of assistance to practitioners, no
      responsibility can be accepted by the Australian Pain Society Limited, or its
      directors, for any inaccuracy contained in studies referred to therein. All
      liability is expressly disclaimed for any loss or damage which may arise from any
      person acting on any statement or information contained herein.

PMID- 1447998
TI  - The cochlear implant and the deaf community.

PMID- 1447999
TI  - Change "DNR" to "GPC".

PMID- 1448000
TI  - Folate supplementation.

PMID- 1448001
TI  - Sudden death associated with 5-fluorouracil administration.

PMID- 1448002
TI  - The present status of psychosurgery in Australia and New Zealand.

PMID- 1448003
TI  - Chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium vivax: it may be a common problem.

PMID- 1448004
TI  - Asthma morbidity in Australia.

PMID- 1448005
TI  - In search of the pathogenesis of the refractory cervicobrachial pain syndrome.

PMID- 1448007
TI  - Air quality on long flights.

PMID- 1448006
TI  - Psychoactive drug prescribing in the Tasmanian community.

PMID- 1448008
TI  - The need for a randomised trial of hormone replacement therapy in women with
      breast cancer.

PMID- 1448009
TI  - Whiplash in Australia: illness or injury?

PMID- 1448010
TI  - Whiplash in Australia: illness or injury?

PMID- 1448012
TI  - HIV infection, confidentiality and discrimination.

PMID- 1448011
TI  - Non-prescription use of bronchodilator aerosols.

PMID- 1448013
TI  - HIV infection, confidentiality and discrimination.

PMID- 1448014
TI  - Licensure of "new generation" conjugated Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines.

PMID- 1448015
TI  - A hand burn from unmarked hydrofluoric acid.

PMID- 1448016
TI  - General practice as a scientific discipline.

PMID- 1448017
TI  - Cheap thrills.

PMID- 1448018
TI  - Iron deficiency.

PMID- 1448019
TI  - Choice of contraceptives.

PMID- 1448020
TI  - Expert to novice.

PMID- 1448021
TI  - What is nursing ethics?
AB  - This article tries to bring some clarity into the current confusion about the
      nature of nursing ethics. It distinguishes between the empirical, prescriptive
      and analytic dimensions of ethics. It then describes six contemporary
      understandings of the parameters and aims of ethics via six different approaches:
      moral education, management, professional conduct, bioethics, clinical ethics and
      political ethics.

PMID- 1448022
TI  - Swedish nursing instructors' views of nursing.
AB  - The views of Swedish nursing instructors of the concept of nursing are examined.
      The approach is an inductive one based on grounded theory, which is derived from
      phenomenology and sociological field research methods. The data were collected by
      selective sampling and by interviewing 14 teachers in two nursing schools (one
      small and one large) in Sweden. The analysis shows that the core of nursing can
      be described as helping the patients either to manage their daily living or to
      die with dignity, and it consists of three stages which continually interact.
      Three types of nursing emerged inside this process of help. The relationships
      between (1) the nurse and different kinds of the art of nursing, (2) the nurse
      and various kinds of assumptions concerning the patient, and (3) the nurse and
      different kinds of co-operation with other health care personnel groups define
      the different types of process of help. The theory of nursing practice generated
      here is one that can be employed to test nurse orientation in many contexts.

PMID- 1448023
TI  - The role of the nurse teacher.
AB  - This paper reports on selected findings of a small exploratory study of the role
      of the nurse teacher. A questionnaire was circulated to teaching staff in one
      college of nursing. Quantitative data collected included a range of biographical
      detail, an outline of career patterns, professional qualifications and specific
      preparation undertaken for the teaching role. Qualitative data gathered in the
      study was transcribed and categorised into themes. The areas that are reported
      here include the identification of the factors that influenced decisions to work
      in nurse education, educator's views on preparation for the teaching role and
      areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction in their work. Issues related to
      classroom teaching role, clinical teaching role, management and research are
      discussed.

PMID- 1448024
TI  - The perceptions of nurse teachers regarding the preparation for their role in
      Project 2000 programmes.
AB  - This paper discusses the findings related to the perceptions of nurse teachers
      regarding the preparation for their role in Project 2000 programmes. Data were
      collected by utilising three rounds of a Delphi survey with a panel of experts
      made up of Grade 2 nurse teachers. The panel of 201 respondents was obtained from
      25 of the 28 colleges of nursing and midwifery that had implemented Project 2000
      between September 1989 and April 1991. The profile of the respondents revealed
      that 68% work in general nurse courses, 18% in mental health, 8% in mental
      handicap and 6% in child care. Over half of the respondents hold a degree related
      to health care and over a quarter are studying for one. The findings suggest that
      the nurse teachers working in Project 2000 programmes consider their teacher
      preparation course an important means of preparation for the activities within
      their role. Degree and diploma courses are also considered important along with
      additional professional qualifying courses and subject related courses. What did
      not appear evident was any preparation for the many specific activities they
      carry out apart from teaching. Experience came out strongly as an important means
      of preparation for all the activities. Staff development programmes were said by
      52% of respondents to be organised within their colleges and perceived by many as
      an important means of preparation.

PMID- 1448025
TI  - Planning, designing and developing an assessment tool for a 12-week accident
      emergency module as part of a pre-registration course: practical account.
AB  - The process of designing and developing an assessment tool for pre-registration
      students was governed by the need to assess students clinical competence during
      their 12-week exposure to the Accident and Emergency Department. It took the form
      of continuous assessment using a competency coding system ensuring criterion
      reference based assessment.

PMID- 1448026
TI  - An evaluation of a training course in the short-term management of violence.
AB  - Few comprehensive studies have been carried out regarding the nature and extent
      of violence towards staff in the caring professions. Scarcer still are studies
      which have thoroughly evaluated the impact of training in the management of
      violent and aggressive behaviour. Against this background, the following paper
      describes an evaluation of a 10-day in-service education course in the short-term
      management of violence. Set within an AB design, a combination of questionnaires
      and video rated role plays were used to investigate the impact of the training on
      the knowledge, effect and behaviour of course participants in two groups (N =
      25). Results in most areas indicate that positive and significant changes have
      been brought about. Directions for future research in this area are identified
      and discussed.

PMID- 1448027
TI  - Devising a checklist to evaluate the non-verbal aspects of teaching skills and
      delivery.
AB  - This article proposes that teachers should constantly reflect upon and evaluate
      their performance if they are to improve teaching skills and delivery.
      Interaction Analysis and a true qualitative (anthropological) approach to
      evaluation are critically reviewed and are considered unsuitable for a teacher
      wanting to self-assess performances regularly. The use of a checklist in
      combination with video recording of the session to be evaluated is suggested as
      an alternative. An example of a checklist designed to focus on non verbal skills
      is given together with an overview of 'ideal' teacher behaviours.

PMID- 1448028
TI  - Hyaluronidase.

PMID- 1448029
TI  - Techniques for administration of i.v. medications/parenteral nutrition via
      central lines in the NICU: a pilot study.

PMID- 1448030
TI  - Incidence of patent ductus arteriosus with the use of surfactant.

PMID- 1448031
TI  - Congenital diaphragmatic hernia: pathophysiology and nursing care.

PMID- 1448033
TI  - It's common sense.

PMID- 1448032
TI  - Stressors reported by mothers of hospitalized premature infants.

PMID- 1448034
TI  - Support for the grieving family: a case study.

PMID- 1448035
TI  - Recommendation for practice, Part III.

PMID- 1448036
TI  - Neonatal radiology. Basic concepts and overview.

PMID- 1448037
TI  - Validity: controlling for variables in research studies involving high-risk
      neonates.

PMID- 1448038
TI  - Population-based mortality assessment--Baidoa and Afgoi, Somalia, 1992.
AB  - Since 1990, Somalia has been the site of an intense civil war that has disrupted
      health-care services and food delivery to a substantial part of the country. A
      regional drought, in combination with the ongoing civil disturbances, has further
      resulted in widespread famine. Multiple international government- and
      nongovernment-aid agencies are involved in the relief effort for Somalia.
      However, security problems in most areas of Somalia have prevented recent,
      systematic population-based assessments of the health and nutritional status of
      local Somali populations for use in directing relief efforts. To characterize the
      mortality of various Somali populations and to provide data on major population
      centers outside of the capital (Mogadishu), CDC, in collaboration with the United
      Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the U.S. Agency for International
      Development, conducted a survey (1) of urban populations in a central region of
      Somalia (Figure 1). This report describes two pilot assessments performed during
      November 20-25 and December 5-6, 1992, in the towns of Baidoa and Afgoi.

PMID- 1448039
TI  - Update: poliomyelitis outbreak--Netherlands, 1992.

PMID- 1448040
TI  - Knowledge of the purpose of community water fluoridation--United States, 1990.
AB  - Expansion of water-fluoridation programs in the United States has been based on
      the clear documentation of the caries-preventive benefits of fluoride (1), as
      well as resources made available since the 1970s through the Fluoridation and
      Preventive Services Block grants administered by CDC. An estimated 135 million
      persons in the United States--approximately 61% of the population served by
      public water supplies--have access to drinking water with clinically important
      levels of fluoride (0.7 ppm or higher) for the prevention of dental caries (2).
      Efforts to expand the implementation of community water fluoridation require
      dissemination and understanding of information about health benefits and
      purported health risks. This report summarizes results from the 1990 National
      Health Interview Survey (NHIS) regarding public knowledge of the purpose and
      value of fluoridation of community drinking water.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1448041
TI  - Tuberculosis transmission in a state correctional institution--California, 1990
      1991.
AB  - During September and October 1991, active tuberculosis (TB) was diagnosed in two
      inmates and one employee of a California state correctional institution (1991
      average annual inmate population, 5421; employees, 1500). This report presents
      findings from an investigation by the California Department of Health Services
      (CDHS), the California Department of Corrections (CDOC), and CDC to determine
      whether ongoing transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was occurring in the
      institution.

PMID- 1448042
TI  - [Protein turnover and amino acids metabolism in septic rats].
AB  - This study was carried out to elucidate the protein and amino acids metabolism in
      septic rats, using constant infusion of 1-13C-leucine (4mg/hr), 5-13C-glutamine
      (2mg/hr), 1,2-13C-leucine (4mg/hr), or U-14C-leucine (2.0uCui/hr). Whole body
      protein kinetics showed that protein breakdown rate was increased in sepsis, but
      no change was found on protein synthesis rate (PSR). Intestinal mucosal
      fractional synthesis rate (FSR) was increased with sepsis. However, sepsis caused
      significant decrease of muscle FSR. Both leucine and glutamine oxidation rates
      were significantly increased in sepsis. Fraction of leucine degradation via
      glutamine was significantly increased in sepsis. We concluded that 1) both
      leucine and glutamine were utilized as important energy fuels in sepsis, 2) whole
      body PSR was influenced by the change of PSR in each organ, 3) the pathway from
      leucine to glutamine was significant in the degradation of leucine.

PMID- 1448043
TI  - [Induction of immunogenic variant of a murine fibrosarcoma].
AB  - Immunogenic variant was induced from the methylcholanthrene induced fibrosarcoma
      (MCA-F) by in vitro treatment with the mutagen 1-methyl-3-nitro-1
      nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). D-10 tumor cell which was cloned from MNNG treated MCA-F
      tumor cell was rejected by normal syngeneic C3H-HeJ mice but not by 650 rad
      irradiated immunosuppressed mice. Host which had rejected D-10 tumor growth,
      rejected parental MCA-F tumor cells. But active immunotherapy using D-10 tumor
      cell against MCA-F tumor cells. But active immunotherapy using D-10 tumor cell
      against MCA-F tumor bearing mice was not successful. Cytotoxic T cell (CTL)
      established from D-10 immunized spleen cells showed D-10 specific cytotoxic
      activity and not lysed parent MCA-F cells. CTL clone C-E-6 showed specific
      cytotoxic and proliferative activity against D-10 cell. In vivo tumor
      neutralizing assay also showed its specificity against D-10 tumor cell. Active
      immunotherapy and adoptive immunotherapy using immunogenic variant, D-10 was not
      successful. D-10 tumor cell possesses very strong neoantigen induced by MNNG
      treatment and parental MCA-F antigen.

PMID- 1448044
TI  - [Ultrasonographic finding of hemoperitoneum and indication for laparotomy in
      blunt abdominal trauma].
AB  - The usefulness of the ultrasonography (US) for the indication for laparotomy was
      evaluated. I analyzed 200 blunt trauma patients who took US exams at my emergency
      center immediately after admission. Ninety-five percent of patients with
      hemodynamic instability, whose hemoperitoneum was revealed by US, underwent
      laparotomy. No negative laparotomy was performed in those patients. Only 5.4% of
      US hemoperitoneum-negative patients with stable hemodynamics required laparotomy
      because of peritoneal irritation or the evidence of traumatic diaphragmatic
      hernia. US hemoperitoneum-positive patients with stable hemodynamics were treated
      selectively, and 46% of such patients eventually underwent laparotomy, depending
      on findings of serial US, CT, DPL and Intravenous urogram. In two third of them
      laparotomy was indicated because of serial US showing the appearance or increase
      in hemoperitoneum. The maximum width of echo free space in Morison's pouch became
      more than 10 mm in the all exams when the laparotomy was indicated. I believe
      that US finding of hemoperitoneum should be an integral part of evaluating
      laparotomy indications in blunt abdominal trauma.

PMID- 1448045
TI  - [Study of postgastrectomy fatty liver].
AB  - Fatty liver was often found concomitantly by the ultrasound during the follow up
      study of the gastric cancer operation. By ultrasound, development of
      postgastrectomy fatty liver was seen in 29 out of 176 patients (16.5%) with
      several gastrectomies. The number of the patients with postgastrectomy fatty
      liver was 12 out of 104 patients (11.5%) with distal partial gastrectomy with B-I
      reconstruction, while that was 17 of 72 patients (23.6%) with total gastrectomy
      with several reconstructions. The incidence of postoperative fatty liver change
      was significantly higher in the patients under 59 years old compared to the
      elders. Seventy-five g oral glucose test induced oxyhyperglycemia and
      hyperinsulinemia in patients with gastrectomy, especially with total gastrectomy.
      Integrated plasma insulin and triglyceride responses during first one hour in
      postgastrectomy patients were significantly higher than preoperative values.
      Moreover, plasma insulin and blood sugar in response to oral glucose test were
      significantly higher in patients with postgastrectomy fatty liver, compared to
      those in patients without fatty liver. These results suggested that the
      postgastrectomy fatty liver was resulted from the abnormality of the glucose
      metabolism.

PMID- 1448046
TI  - [Changes in hepatic volume following direct interrupting surgery for patients
      with esophageal varices].
AB  - The aim of this study is to assess the long term changes in hepatic volume and
      liver function after direct interrupting surgery. Twenty-four patients with
      esophageal varices associated with idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) or liver
      cirrhosis (LC) who received esophageal transection combined with splenectomy and
      paraesophago-cardial devascularization were studied, retrospectively. Volume of
      the liver was obtained by CT scan and was estimated before and after the
      operation. Plasma indocyanine green disappearance rate (KICG), body weight and
      liver function test were also evaluated at the same time. In patients with IPH,
      liver volume and KICG reduced significantly after direct interrupting surgery
      (liver volume: -21.3%, p < 0.01, KICG: -25.7%, p < 0.01). And in patients with
      LC, liver volume and KICG also significantly reduced after the surgery (liver
      volume: -9.6%, p < 0.05, KICG: -15.2%, p < 0.05). However, neither postoperative
      weight loss nor deterioration of hepatic function was observed. Decreasing rate
      of the liver volume showed a significant correlation to the spleen volume. These
      results suggest that interruption of the splenic blood flow by splenectomy leads
      to reduction of the effective hepatic blood flow and eventually to decrease in
      the liver volume.

PMID- 1448047
TI  - [An experimental study on mechanism of regurgitation of the intrabiliary
      endotoxin into the blood stream in obstructive jaundice].
AB  - Using adult mongrel dogs with or without obstructive jaundice (OJ) the
      significance of the biliary pressure and the route of regurgitation were
      investigated by intrabiliary injection of endotoxin (ET) (10 micrograms/kg) or
      saline (control group) under various intrabiliary pressure levels (not carried,
      25cmH2O, 35cmH2O). Some of dogs were cannulated into the thoracic duct for the
      purpose of drainage of the hepatic lymph. The dogs with OJ, of which the common
      biliary duct had been ligated and resected for two weeks, had ET shock under
      lower intrabiliary pressure level (25cmH2O) than the dogs without OJ. The
      drainage of the hepatic lymph could not attenuate ET shock. The ET volume per
      minute and the total ET volume extracted from the thoracic duct lymph was not
      increased in the dogs with OJ compared with the control group, while they were
      significantly increased in the dogs without OJ in proportion to the intrabiliary
      pressure level. These results suggest that in OJ, ET shock is easily caused by
      regurgitation of the intrabiliary ET into the blood stream under lower
      intrabiliary pressure level, and the intrabiliary ET is mainly regurgitated by
      cholangio-venous reflux, while the cholangio-lymphatic pathway does not function
      for the route of regurgitation.

PMID- 1448048
TI  - [Effectiveness of intraoperative cytological examination of peritoneal washings
      for patients with pancreatic cancer].
AB  - To confirm the effectiveness of cytological examination of peritoneal washings
      for detecting invisible micro-peritoneal dissemination in patients with
      pancreatic cancer, results were analyzed with the survival and the background
      factors of the patients. Cytological examination of peritoneal washings or
      ascitic fluid at recto-vesical pouch or pouch of Douglas was performed in 37
      patients with primary pancreatic cancer. Positive results for cancer cells were
      obtained in five of 9 patients (55.6%) who received cytological examination of
      ascitic fluid and in seven of 28 patients (25.0%) who received that of peritoneal
      washings. Four of 6 patients (66.7%) with visible peritoneal dissemination showed
      positive results. These 6 patients died of peritoneal dissemination with about 10
      months. Eight of 31 patients (25.8%) without visible peritoneal dissemination
      showed positive results of the cytological examination. Two of the 8 patients
      received resection of the tumor. Other 6 patients without resection developed
      clinically evident peritoneal carcinomatosis. A high positive rate (66.7%) of
      cytological examination of the patients with visible peritoneal dissemination and
      a high incidence of appearance of peritoneal carcinomatosis in patients with
      positive cytological results but without visible peritoneal dissemination (75.0%;
      positive vs 26.1%; negative) indicate a high reliability of the cytological
      examination to detect invisible micro-peritoneal dissemination.

PMID- 1448049
TI  - [Prognostic factors of papillary carcinomas of the thyroid gland--retrospective
      multivariate analysis of 227 patients with median follow-up 130 months].
AB  - I carried out the retrospective analysis of the prognostic factors of papillary
      carcinoma of the thyroid gland by using Cox's proportional hazard model using SAS
      program, and obtained the following conclusions. Two hundred and twenty seven
      patients who received surgical treatment under the diagnosis of carcinoma of the
      thyroid in the 1st Department Surgery of Yokohama City University during 24 years
      from 1964 to 1987 were subjected to this study. As prognostic factors, sex, age
      at the diagnosis, size of the tumor, presence of lymph node metastasis, number of
      the metastatic lymph nodes, presence of the local infiltration, presence of the
      distant metastasis and thyroidectomy were investigated. From these results, age
      at the diagnosis (chi 2 = 18.93, p < 0.0001, beta = 0.06, risk ratio = 0.203),
      presence of the local infiltration (chi 2 = 14.55, p < 0.0001, beta = 0.75, risk
      ratio = 0.175) and sex (chi 2 = 7.63, p < 0.01, beta = -0.91, risk ratio = 0.175)
      were considered statistically significant. Patients over 50 years of age at the
      diagnosis and presence of the local infiltration had high risk of death from
      papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland. Particularly, age at the diagnosis was
      the most important prognostic factor. Therefore, it was considered that
      therapeutic approach taking age into consideration is important for the treatment
      of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.

PMID- 1448050
TI  - [A role of interpectoral (Rotter's) lymph node dissection in modified radical
      mastectomy for breast cancer].
AB  - To study the influence of interpectoral lymph node (IPN) dissection on the
      prognosis of patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy, IPN was
      carefully dissected and studied pathologically on 168 cases of our breast cancer
      patients operated with modified radical mastectomy. There were 1.2 lymph nodes on
      an average in the interpectoral region, and they were almost 1-2mm in diameter.
      IPN metastases were found in 10 cases. (Tis: 0%, Stage I: 4.9%, Stage II: 5.7%,
      Stage III: 13%). Tumors located in outer quadrant in almost all these cases.
      Positive IPN were found in 6 (16%) of n1 alpha group, 1 (10%) of n1 beta group,
      and in 3 (50%) of n2 group. All these 3 cases of n2 died of distant metastasis
      and local recurrence. Two (1.7%) of axillary node (1a, 1b) negative patients had
      microinvolvement of cancer only in IPN, and are currently disease-free. These
      data suggest that IPN metastasis may occur even in the early breast cancer
      patients, and that may be controllable by lymph node excision. Therefore, routine
      and careful dissection of IPN through wide opening of sulcus interpectoralis is
      necessary for modified radical mastectomy and even for breast preserving
      operation.

PMID- 1448051
TI  - [Operative strategy for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm with concomitant
      reconstruction of four main abdominal branches].
AB  - A thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) involving major abdominal branches
      remains still difficult to be managed. From 1983 to 1990, we successfully
      operated five such cases. Our operative strategy for TAAA which necessitates
      concomitant reconstruction of four major abdominal branches is i) to utilize
      temporary bypass to maintain distal perfusion during aortic cross-clamping, ii)
      to reconstruct bilateral renal arteries prior to aortic clamping in order to
      shorten renal ischemic time as much as possible, iii) to reconstruct celiac and
      superior mesenteric arteries by Crawford's method, iv) to reconstruct two pairs
      of intercostal arteries by using diagonal anastomosis in the proximal site, and
      v) to divide the left renal vein temporarily for easy manipulation of renal
      arteries. All five cases were recovered uneventfully. This procedure, in which
      the renal ischemic time is saved as short as possible, is considered a safe and
      reasonable one for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms.

PMID- 1448052
TI  - [Serum and tissue lysosomal enzymes and liver dysfunction after an experimental
      acute lower limbs ischemia in the rats].
AB  - Adult male Wistar rats were divided in 3 groups. In the first group, infrarenal
      abdominal aorta was occluded for 6 hours and reperfused thereafter. In the second
      group, the reperfusion was not made, and the third group underwent a sham
      operation. Lysosomal enzymatic activities were assessed in serum tissues.
      Lysosomal membrane fragilities were estimated also in these tissues. Finally, 14C
      aminopyrine breath test (ABT) was studied to define the possible liver
      dysfunction caused by limb ischemia. As a result, release of lysosomal enzymes
      from ischemic muscle was confirmed in vitro experiments, and the increase in the
      serum was statistically significant in the first and second groups as compared to
      the third group. Particularly prominent was a marked elevation of cathepsin-D in
      the first group which was observed immediately after the release of occlusion.
      Results of liver lysosomal enzymes and ABT revealed significant cellular damages
      and depression of microsomal function of the liver both in the first and second
      groups. These studies suggest that lysosomal enzymes derived from ischemic muscle
      exert a possible toxicity on the liver, and liver damage thus resulted may play a
      roll on the pathogenesis of whole body injury associated with acute and critical
      lower limb ischemia.

PMID- 1448053
TI  - [Cytotoxic effect of CPT-11 against human recurrent carcinoma cells primarily
      cultured on contact-sensitive plates: preliminary report].

PMID- 1448054
TI  - [The small caliber prosthesis provided healing characteristics by plasmin-treated
      fibrin: preliminary report].

PMID- 1448055
TI  - [The fundamental study of the water jet angioplasty: preliminary report].

PMID- 1448056
TI  - Dietary level of protein regulates glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase
      content and synthesis rate in mouse liver cytosol.
AB  - The content of liver cytosolic proteins was studied in mice subjected to protein
      depletion followed by refeeding with a normal diet. Depletion elicited either the
      accumulation or the decrease of several polypeptides, being the early increase of
      a M(r) 36,000 polypeptide the most pronounced change observed. The refeeding with
      a normal diet for 2 days caused a return of the cytosol protein composition to
      that of normally fed animals. The M(r) 36,000 polypeptide was identified as
      glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Its molecular weight, the
      sequence of its first twenty amino acid residues, its amino acid composition and
      its antigenic properties were found to be similar with those of GAPDH from
      different mammalian cells. During the first 2 days of protein depletion, both the
      GAPDH polypeptide content and activity increased. Thereafter, the enzymatic
      activity of GAPDH decreased, whereas GAPDH protein mass decreased in a lesser
      extent. The accumulation of GAPDH and other particular polypeptides in the
      cytosols of protein depleted mice was associated with an increased synthesis. The
      refeeding with a normal diet caused an immediate return to the synthesis pattern
      of normal livers.

PMID- 1448058
TI  - Dual anomeric specificity of phosphomannoisomerase assessed by 2D phase sensitive
      13C EXSY NMR.
AB  - The reversible conversion between D-mannose 6-phosphate and D-fructose 6
      phosphate catalyzed by yeast phosphomannoisomerase was studied by phase sensitive
      2D 13C-(1H) EXSY NMR spectroscopy at 100.623 MHz, using 13C enriched substrates
      in the C2 position of the D-hexose 6-phosphates. The unique pair of isomerization
      cross-peaks observed in the 2D EXSY map correlates the 13C2 resonances of the
      beta-anomers of both D-[2-13C]-mannose 6-phosphate and D-[213C]-fructose 6
      phosphate. This indicates that phosphomannoisomerase specifically catalyzes the
      reversible conversion between beta-D-mannose 6-phosphate and beta-D-fructose 6
      phosphate. Since phosphoglucoisomerase was recently found to catalyze
      specifically the interconversion of alpha-D-glucose 6-phosphate and beta-D
      fructose 6-phosphate, the beta-anomer of the ketohexose ester could be directly
      channeled in a multi-enzyme system involving phosphoglucoisomerase,
      phosphomannoisomerase and phosphofructokinase.

PMID- 1448057
TI  - Evidence for a lack of functional receptors for nerve growth factor (NGF) in
      chick bone cells in vitro.
AB  - Nerve growth factor (NGF) is essential for the development and differentiation of
      sympathetic and sensory neurons. Recently, NGF receptors were demonstrated in non
      neural cells, and several mesenchymal cell types including lymphocytes and
      skeletal myotubes were shown to be stimulated to proliferate by NGF. Our purpose
      was to examine for the presence of functional NGF receptors in osteoblasts. Bone
      cells from chick calvaria were used as a model; PC-12 cells derived from rat
      adrenal pheochromocytoma were used as positive controls. NGF was examined for
      functions in chick bone cells by studying effects on (1) [3H]-thymidine
      incorporation; (2) alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity; and (3) protein tyrosine
      phosphorylation. Effects of NGF on thymidine incorporation and protein tyrosine
      phosphorylation by PC-12 cells were also measured. A radioreceptor assay was used
      to test for the presence of receptors. In chick calvarial cells, NGF had no
      effect on thymidine incorporation, ALP activity or protein tyrosine
      phosphorylation. Radioreceptor assay with bone cells showed no evidence of NGF
      receptors. In contrast, in PC-12 cells, NGF (1) decreased thymidine
      incorporation; (2) increased protein tyrosine phosphorylation; and (3) showed
      receptor activity by radioreceptor assay. In conclusion, unlike several other
      mesenchymal cell types, chick bone cells show no evidence of NGF receptors or
      functional responses to NGF in vitro.

PMID- 1448059
TI  - Effect of ethanol on hepatic ribosomal proteins and mRNA.
AB  - Levels of RNA, mRNA and separation of ribosomal proteins from control and ethanol
      treated rat liver, showed no change in total RNA content, but poly(A+)mRNA was
      reduced significantly in ethanolic rats. Ribosomal proteins S2, S3a, S3b, S4, L3,
      L4, L4a, L10a and L15 were found substantially reduced in experimental rat
      livers. This study suggests decrease in poly(A+) mRNA coupled with loss of
      ribosomal proteins must be responsible for decreased protein synthesis in chronic
      alcoholism.

PMID- 1448060
TI  - Alterations in human gingival glycosaminoglycan pattern in inflammation and in
      phenytoin induced overgrowth.
AB  - Glycosaminoglycans were extracted from normal, inflamed and phenytoin induced
      overgrowth of human gingival tissue by proteolysis and alcohol precipitation.
      Extracts were run in a Dowex-1 column and the fractions were treated with
      mucopolysaccharidases. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis was carried out with or
      without enzyme digestion for identification of individual glycosaminoglycans.
      Glycosaminoglycans were found to be decreased in inflammation but were observed
      to increase in the overgrowth. Hyaluronic acid was found to be increased in both
      the pathological conditions. Dermatan sulphate, chondroitin sulphate and heparan
      sulphate were observed to be decreased in inflammation. In overgrowth, dermatan
      sulphate and chondroitin sulphate were found to increase while the presence of
      heparan sulphate was not significant. The changes in the pattern of individual
      glycosaminoglycan in the two varied conditions are discussed.

PMID- 1448061
TI  - Presence of a highly specific histone H1-like protein in the chromatin of the
      sperm of the bivalve mollusks.
AB  - Chromatin organization in the sperm of the bivalve mollusks results from the
      interaction between a discrete number of protamine-like proteins (PL) and DNA. A
      small variable amount of histones is also present. An extensive study carried out
      on a relatively large number of species, within the class Bivalvia, has shown
      that it is possible to arrange these mollusks into five major categories on the
      basis of their PL composition (Ausio, J. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 85, 439-449,
      (1986) [1]). In the present work, we have extended this analysis to a larger
      number of species and found that in spite of the inter- and intra-specific
      similarity of all PL proteins in their chemical composition, they exhibit
      different degrees of structural variability. Moreover one of these PL proteins is
      present in all the species analyzed, and bears an enormous resemblance to
      histones of the H1 family. The evolutionary significance of this finding is
      discussed.

PMID- 1448062
TI  - Homeostatic restoration of microsomal lipids and enzyme changes in HMG-CoA
      reductase and acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase in chick liver.
AB  - We have studied the correlation between changes in the lipid composition in chick
      liver microsomes and the activities of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase
      (HMG-CoA reductase) and acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) by in vivo
      and in vitro experiments with 21-day-old chicks. A 5% cholesterol diet for 3 hr
      produced an increase in the microsomal and plasmatic cholesterol content, a
      decrease in HMG-CoA reductase activity and a concomitant increase in ACAT
      activity. The effect produced by the short-term treatment virtually disappeared
      27 hr after ending the cholesterol diet. In vitro experiments were carried out by
      using vesicles constituted by phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol and
      phosphatidylcholine.

PMID- 1448063
TI  - The effects of insulin, cycloheximide and phalloidin on the content of actin and
      p35 in extracts prepared from the nuclear fraction of Krebs II ascites cells.
AB  - The nuclear fraction isolated from Krebs II ascites cells following cell
      disruption by nitrogen cavitation was separated into four fractions by
      salt/detergent extraction: NP-40 soluble fraction, 130 mM KCl extract, DOC/Triton
      x 100 soluble fraction and salt/detergent treated nuclei. The protein composition
      of the individual fractions was studied by SDS-PAGE and the relative amounts of
      actin and a 35 kDa protein (p35) were measured from gel scans. There was a time
      dependent shift of actin from the 130 mM KCl extract to the NP-40 soluble
      fraction upon storage of the nuclear fraction on ice, indicating a progressive
      depolymerization of microfilaments. Compared with actin there was a slower
      release of p35 into the NP-40 soluble fraction. The results suggest that p35 is
      not integrated in the microfilament network. Phalloidin, which stabilizes the
      microfilaments, enriched the amount of both proteins in the 130 mM KCl extracts,
      together with a series of other proteins in the range 50-205 kDa. The presence of
      phalloidin also resulted in a large increase in the actin content in both the
      DOC/Triton x 100 extract and the fraction containing salt/detergent treated
      nuclei. Incubation of cells with insulin and/or cycloheximide enriched the amount
      of actin in the 130 mM KCl fraction. The results show that short term incubation
      of cells with phalloidin, insulin or cycloheximide increases the actin content of
      the nuclear fraction and also affects the presence of several other proteins.

PMID- 1448064
TI  - The effect of ischaemia-reperfusion on [3H]inositol phosphates and ins(1,4,5)P3
      levels in cardiac atria and ventricles--a comparative study.
AB  - In this study incorporation of [3H]inositol into inositol phosphates and
      phosphoinositides as well as tissue Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels of the atria and
      ventricles of isolated, perfused rat hearts were compared. Although the
      incorporation of [3H]inositol into the phosphoinositides of atria and ventricles
      was similar, significantly higher (2-3 fold) incorporation rates into inositol
      phosphates were observed in atrial tissue. Using a D-myo-[3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3 assay
      system, the Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels observed in atria from perfused rat hearts were
      also significantly higher than those obtained under the same experimental
      circumstances in the ventricles. Since previous studies on whole hearts showed
      inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol (PI) pathway during ischaemia with an
      immediate significant stimulation upon reperfusion [12, 20], the effects of
      ischaemia and 1 min postischaemic reperfusion were also examined separately in
      atria and ventricles. The results showed that 20 min of global ischaemia
      significantly depressed Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels as well as incorporation of
      [3H]inositol into ventricular InsP2 and InsP3. Reperfusion caused an immediate
      (within 1 min) increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels and also [3H]inositol
      incorporation into all three cytosolic inositol phosphates in the ventricles.
      However, the effect of ischaemia and reperfusion on Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels as well
      as the incorporation of [3H]inositol into the inositol phosphates were less
      prominent in the atria. It therefore appears that the differential responses of
      the atria and the ventricles to an oxygen deficiency [41] are also reflected in
      the differences in PI metabolism during ischaemia-reperfusion.

PMID- 1448065
TI  - A novel 7-nucleotide motif located in 3' untranslated sequences of the immediate
      early gene set mediates platelet-derived growth factor induction of the JE gene.
AB  - A cohort of the serum and growth factor regulated immediate-early gene set is
      induced with slower kinetics than c-fos. Two of the first immediate-early genes
      characterized as such, c-myc and JE, are contained within this subset. cis-acting
      genomic elements mediating induction of the slower responding subset of immediate
      early genes have never been characterized. Herein we characterize two widely
      separated genomic elements which are together essential for induction of the
      murine JE gene by platelet-derived growth factor, serum, interleukin-1, and
      double-stranded RNA. One of these elements is novel in several regards. It is a 7
      mer, TTTTGTA, found in the proximal 3' sequences downstream of the JE stop codon.
      The 3' element is position dependent and orientation independent. It does not
      function in polyadenylation, splicing, or destabilization of the JE transcript.
      Copies of the 7-mer or its inverse are found at comparable 3' sites in 25
      immediate-early genes that encode transcription factors or cytokines. Given its
      general occurrence, the 7-mer may be a required cis-acting control element
      mediating induction of the immediate-early gene set.

PMID- 1448066
TI  - Purine biosynthetic genes are required for cadmium tolerance in
      Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
AB  - Phytochelatins (PCs) are metal-chelating peptides produced in plants and some
      fungi in response to heavy metal exposure. A Cd-sensitive mutant of the fission
      yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, defective in production of a PC-Cd-sulfide
      complex essential for metal tolerance, was found to harbor mutations in specific
      genes of the purine biosynthetic pathway. Genetic analysis of the link between
      metal complex accumulation and purine biosynthesis enzymes revealed that genetic
      lesions blocking two segments of the pathway, before and after the IMP
      branchpoint, are required to produce the Cd-sensitive phenotype. The biochemical
      functions of these two segments of the pathway are similar, and a model based on
      the alternate use of a sulfur analog substrate is presented. The novel
      participation of purine biosynthesis enzymes in the conversion of the PC-Cd
      complex to the PC-Cd-sulfide complex in the fission yeast raises an intriguing
      possibility that these same enzymes might have a role in sulfur metabolism in the
      fission yeast S. pombe, and perhaps in other biological systems.

PMID- 1448068
TI  - Hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine is stimulated by Ras proteins during mitogenic
      signal transduction.
AB  - We have used a dominant inhibitory ras mutant (Ha-ras Asn-17) to investigate the
      relationship of Ras proteins to hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) in the
      transduction of mitogenic signals. Expression of Ha-Ras Asn-17 inhibited NIH 3T3
      cell proliferation induced by polypeptide growth factors or phorbol esters. In
      contrast, the mitogenic activity of PC-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) was not
      inhibited by Ha-Ras Asn-17 expression. Similarly, cotransfection with a cloned PC
      PLC gene bypassed the block to NIH 3T3 cell proliferation resulting from
      expression of the inhibitory ras mutant. Hydrolysis of PC can therefore induce
      cell proliferation in the absence of normal Ras activity, suggesting that PC
      derived second messengers may act downstream of Ras in mitogenic signal
      transduction. This was substantiated by the finding that Ha-Ras Asn-17 expression
      inhibited growth factor-stimulated hydrolysis of PC. Taken together, these
      results indicate that PC hydrolysis is a target of Ras during the transduction of
      growth factor-initiated mitogenic signals.

PMID- 1448067
TI  - Specific changes of Ras GTPase-activating protein (GAP) and a GAP-associated p62
      protein during calcium-induced keratinocyte differentiation.
AB  - Induction of tyrosine phosphorylation occurs as an early and specific event in
      keratinocyte differentiation. A set of tyrosine-phosphorylated substrates which
      transduce mitogenic signals by tyrosine kinases has previously been identified.
      We show here that of these substrates, the Ras GTPase-activating protein, GAP, is
      specifically affected during calcium-induced keratinocyte differentiation. As
      early as 10 min after calcium addition to cultured primary mouse keratinocytes,
      GAP associates with tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins and translocates to the
      membrane. In addition, a GAP-associated protein of approximately 62 kDa (p62)
      becomes rapidly and heavily tyrosine phosphorylated in both membrane and
      cytosolic fractions. This protein corresponds to the major tyrosine
      phosphorylated protein that is induced in differentiating keratinocytes as early
      as 5 min after calcium addition. p62 phosphorylation was not observed after
      exposure of these cells to epidermal growth factor, phorbol ester, or
      transforming growth factor beta. In contrast, PLC gamma and P13K were tyrosine
      phosphorylated after epidermal growth factor, but not calcium, stimulation. Thus,
      changes of Ras GAP and an associated p62 protein occur as early and specific
      events in keratinocyte differentiation and appear to involve a calcium-induced
      tyrosine kinase.

PMID- 1448069
TI  - Multiple in vivo footprints are specific to the active allele of the X-linked
      human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase gene 5' region: implications for X
      chromosome inactivation.
AB  - Dosage compensation of X-linked genes in male and female mammals is accomplished
      by random inactivation of one X chromosome in each female somatic cell. As a
      result, a transcriptionally active allele and a transcriptionally inactive allele
      of most X-linked genes reside within each female nucleus. To examine the
      mechanism responsible for maintaining this unique system of differential gene
      expression, we have analyzed the differential binding of regulatory proteins to
      the 5' region of the human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene on
      the active and inactive X chromosomes. Studies of DNA-protein interactions
      associated with the transcriptionally active and inactive HPRT alleles were
      carried out in intact cultured cells by in vivo footprinting by using ligation
      mediated polymerase chain reaction and dimethyl sulfate. Analysis of the active
      allele demonstrates at least six footprinted regions, whereas no footprints were
      detected on the inactive allele. Of the footprints on the active allele, at least
      four occur over canonical GC boxes or Sp1 consensus binding sites, one is
      associated with a potential AP-2 binding site, and another is associated with a
      DNA sequence not previously reported to interact with a sequence-specific DNA
      binding factor. While no footprints were observed for the HPRT gene on the
      inactive X chromosome, reactivation of the inactive allele with 5-azacytidine
      treatment restored the in vivo footprint pattern found on the active allele.
      Results of these experiments, in conjunction with recent studies on the X-linked
      human PGK-1 gene, bear implications for models of X chromosome inactivation.

PMID- 1448070
TI  - Mitogenic signaling by colony-stimulating factor 1 and ras is suppressed by the
      ets-2 DNA-binding domain and restored by myc overexpression.
AB  - The activity of p21ras is required for the proliferative response to colony
      stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1), and signals transduced by both the CSF-1 receptor
      (CSF-1R) and p21ras stimulate transcription from promoter elements containing
      overlapping binding sites for Fos/Jun- and Ets-related proteins. A sequence
      encoding the DNA-binding domain and nuclear localization signal of human c-ets-2,
      which lacked portions of the c-ets-2 gene product necessary for trans activation,
      was fused to the bacterial lacZ gene and expressed from an actin promoter in NIH
      3T3 cells expressing either the v-ras oncogene or human CSF-1R. Nuclear
      expression of the Ets-LacZ protein, confirmed by histochemical staining of beta
      galactosidase, inhibited the activity of ras-responsive enhancer elements and
      suppressed morphologic transformation by v-ras as well as CSF-1R-dependent colony
      formation in semisolid medium. When CSF-1R-bearing cells expressing the Ets-LacZ
      protein were stimulated by CSF-1, induction of c-ets-2, c-jun, and c-fos ensued,
      but the c-myc response was impaired. Enforced expression of the c-myc gene
      overrode the suppressive effect of ets-lacZ and restored the ability of these
      cells to form colonies in response to CSF-1. NIH 3T3 cells engineered to express
      a CSF-1R (Phe-809) mutant similarly cannot form CSF-1-dependent colonies in
      semisolid medium and exhibit an impaired c-myc response, but expression of an
      exogenous myc gene resensitizes these cells to CSF-1 [M. F. Roussel, J. L.
      Cleveland, S. A. Shurtleff, and C. J. Sherr, Nature (London) 353:361-363, 1991].
      The ability of these cells to respond to CSF-1 was also rescued by enforced
      expression of an endogenous c-ets-2 gene. The ets family of transcription factors
      therefore plays a central role in integrating both CSF-1R and ras-induced
      mitogenic signals and in modulating the myc response to CSF-1 stimulation.

PMID- 1448071
TI  - Biological function of the retinoblastoma protein requires distinct domains for
      hyperphosphorylation and transcription factor binding.
AB  - Despite the importance of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene to tumor growth
      control, the structural features of its encoded protein (pRb) and their
      relationship to protein function have not been well explored. We constructed a
      panel of deletion mutants of pRb expression vectors and used a biological assay
      for pRb that measures growth inhibition and morphologic changes in pRb
      transfected Saos-2 cells to correlate structural alterations of the pRb coding
      region with function. We tested the deleted proteins for the ability to bind to
      viral oncoprotein E1A and to the transcription factor E2F. We also measured the
      ability of the mutant proteins to become hyperphosphorylated in vivo and to be
      recognized as substrates in vitro by a cell cycle-regulatory kinase associated
      with cyclin A. We identified two regions of pRb that are required for E2F binding
      and for hyperphosphorylation. E1A binding domains partially overlap but are
      distinct from both of these other two regions. Biological function of pRb is
      dependent on retention of the integrity of both of these biochemically defined
      domains. These data support the model that pRb is a transducer of afferent
      signals (via the kinase that phosphorylates it) and efferent signals (through
      transcription factor binding), using distinct structural elements. Preservation
      of both of these features is essential for the ability of pRb to induce growth
      inhibition and morphologic changes upon reintroduction into transfected cells.

PMID- 1448072
TI  - Hypoxic induction of the human erythropoietin gene: cooperation between the
      promoter and enhancer, each of which contains steroid receptor response elements.
AB  - Transcription of the human erythropoietin (Epo) gene is stimulated by exposure to
      hypoxia and/or cobalt in whole animals and in Hep3B cells. We have systematically
      investigated the promoter and 3' enhancer elements necessary for this induction
      by transient transfection of Hep3B cells. We define a promoter region of 53 bp
      and an enhancer region of 43 bp that confer hypoxia and cobalt inducibility. Each
      element gives rise to a 6- to 10-fold induction alone. In combination they
      produce a 50-fold induction after stimulation, similar to the 50- to 100-fold
      induction of the endogenous Epo gene. Two areas of DNA sequence homology are
      present in these regions. We demonstrate specific DNA-protein interactions in the
      enhancer and the ability of the promoter element to compete with these
      interactions in electrophoretic mobility shift assays. DNase I footprinting and
      methylation interference data further refine the cis-acting element in the 43-bp
      enhancer to a short region containing a direct repeat of a steroid/thyroid
      hormone receptor response element half-site separated by a 2-bp gap. Two half
      site consensus sequences are also present in the 53-bp promoter. Site-specific
      mutation of the half-site sequences in the enhancer destroys the functional
      activity of the enhancer.

PMID- 1448074
TI  - Several distinct types of sequence elements are required for efficient mRNA 3'
      end formation in a pea rbcS gene.
AB  - We have conducted an extensive linker substitution analysis of the
      polyadenylation signal from a pea rbcS gene. From these studies, we can identify
      at least two, and perhaps three, distinct classes of cis element involved in mRNA
      3' end formation in this gene. One of these, termed the far-upstream element, is
      located between 60 and 120 nt upstream from its associated polyadenylation sites
      and appears to be largely composed of a series of UG motifs. A second, termed the
      near-upstream element, is more proximate to poly(A) sites and may be functionally
      analogous to the mammalian polyadenylation signal AAUAAA, even though the actual
      sequences involved may not be AAUAAA. The third possible class is the putative
      cleavage and polyadenylation site itself. We find that the rbcS-E9 far-upstream
      element can replace the analogous element in another plant polyadenylation
      signal, that from cauliflower mosaic virus, and that one near-upstream element
      can function with either of two poly(A) sites. Thus, these different cis elements
      are largely interchangeable. Our studies indicate that a cellular plant gene
      possesses upstream elements distinct from AAUAAA that are involved in mRNA 3' end
      formation and that plant genes probably have modular, multicomponent
      polyadenylation signals.

PMID- 1448073
TI  - ACR1, a yeast ATF/CREB repressor.
AB  - Members of the mammalian ATF/CREB family of transcription factors, which are
      associated with regulation by cyclic AMP and viral oncogenes, bind common DNA
      sequences (consensus TGACGTCA) via a bZIP domain. In the yeast Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae, ATF/CREB-like sequences confer either repression or activation of
      transcription, depending on the promoter context. By isolating mutations that
      alleviate the repression mediated by ATF/CREB sites, we define a new yeast gene,
      ACR1, which encodes an ATF/CREB transcriptional repressor. ACR1 contains a bZIP
      domain that is necessary for homodimer formation and specific DNA binding to an
      ATF/CREB site. Within the bZIP domain, ACR1 most strongly resembles the mammalian
      cyclic AMP-responsive transcriptional regulators CREB and CREM; it is less
      similar to GCN4 and YAP1, two previously described yeast bZIP transcriptional
      activators that recognize the related AP-1 sequence (consensus TGACTCA).
      Interestingly, deletion of the ACR1 gene causes increased transcription through
      ATF/CREB sites that does not depend on GCN4 or YAP1. Moreover, extracts from acr1
      deletion strains contain one or more ATF/CREB-like DNA-binding activities. These
      genetic and biochemical observations suggest that S. cerevisiae contains a family
      of ATF/CREB proteins that function as transcriptional repressors or activators.

PMID- 1448075
TI  - Effect of terminal nonhomologies on homologous recombination in Xenopus laevis
      oocytes.
AB  - Homologous recombination of linear DNA molecules in Xenopus laevis oocytes is
      very efficient. The predictions of molecular models for this recombination
      process were tested with substrates with terminal nonhomologies (nonhomologous
      sequences). It was found that nonhomologies on one or both ends of an otherwise
      efficient substrate substantially reduced the yield of recombination products. In
      the case of a single nonhomology, inhibition was observed for all lengths of
      nonhomology, from 60 to 1,690 bp, being most dramatic for the longer blocks.
      Examination of time courses of recombination showed that the blocks were largely
      kinetic; that is, substrates with short nonhomologies eventually yielded
      substantial levels of completed products. Intermediates that accumulated after
      the injection of end-blocked substrates were characterized by two-dimensional gel
      electrophoresis and hybridization with strand-specific oligonucleotide probes.
      These blocked intermediates were shown to have base-paired junctions, but
      resolution was prevented by the failure to remove the 3'-ending strand of the
      original nonhomology. Continuing exonuclease action created a single-strand gap
      adjacent to the position of the persistent nonhomology. In contrast, the strand
      that included the unblocked side of the junction could be sealed. These results
      are consistent with a nonconservative, resection-annealing mechanism of
      homologous recombination in the oocytes and suggest the absence of any activity
      that can efficiently remove 3' tails.

PMID- 1448076
TI  - p59fyn tyrosine kinase associates with multiple T-cell receptor subunits through
      its unique amino-terminal domain.
AB  - Several lines of evidence link the protein tyrosine kinase p59fyn to the T-cell
      receptor. The molecular basis of this interaction has not been established. Here
      we show that the tyrosine kinase p59fyn can associate with chimeric proteins that
      contain the cytoplasmic domains of CD3 epsilon, gamma, zeta (zeta), and eta.
      Mutational analysis of the zeta cytoplasmic domain demonstrated that the membrane
      proximal 41 residues of zeta are sufficient for p59fyn binding and that at least
      two p59fyn binding domains are present. The association of p59fyn with the zeta
      chain was specific, as two closely related Src family protein tyrosine kinases,
      p60src and p56lck, did not associate with a chimeric protein that contained the
      cytoplasmic domain of zeta. Mutational analysis of p59fyn revealed that a 10
      amino-acid sequence in the unique amino-terminal domain of p59fyn was responsible
      for the association with zeta. These findings support evidence that p59fyn is
      functionally and structurally linked to the T-cell receptor. More importantly,
      these studies support a critical role for the unique amino-terminal domains of
      Src family kinases in the coupling of tyrosine kinases to the signalling pathways
      of cell surface receptors.

PMID- 1448077
TI  - A nuclear factor induced by hypoxia via de novo protein synthesis binds to the
      human erythropoietin gene enhancer at a site required for transcriptional
      activation.
AB  - We have identified a 50-nucleotide enhancer from the human erythropoietin gene 3'
      flanking sequence which can mediate a sevenfold transcriptional induction in
      response to hypoxia when cloned 3' to a simian virus 40 promoter-chloramphenicol
      acetyltransferase reporter gene and transiently expressed in Hep3B cells.
      Nucleotides (nt) 1 to 33 of this sequence mediate sevenfold induction of reporter
      gene expression when present in two tandem copies compared with threefold
      induction when present in a single copy, suggesting that nt 34 to 50 bind a
      factor which amplifies the induction signal. DNase I footprinting demonstrated
      binding of a constitutive nuclear factor to nt 26 to 48. Mutagenesis studies
      revealed that nt 4 to 12 and 19 to 23 are essential for induction, as
      substitutions at either site eliminated hypoxia-induced expression.
      Electrophoretic mobility shift assays identified a nuclear factor which bound to
      a probe spanning nt 1 to 18 but not to a probe containing a mutation which
      eliminated enhancer function. Factor binding was induced by hypoxia, and its
      induction was sensitive to cycloheximide treatment. We have thus defined a
      functionally tripartite, 50-nt hypoxia-inducible enhancer which binds several
      nuclear factors, one of which is induced by hypoxia via de novo protein
      synthesis.

PMID- 1448078
TI  - Histone H3 transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is controlled by multiple
      cell cycle activation sites and a constitutive negative regulatory element.
AB  - The promoters of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae histone H3 and H4 genes were
      examined for cis-acting DNA sequence elements regulating transcription and cell
      division cycle control. Deletion and linker disruption mutations identified two
      classes of regulatory elements: multiple cell cycle activation (CCA) sites and a
      negative regulatory site (NRS). Duplicate 19-bp CCA sites are present in both the
      copy I and copy II histone H3-H4 promoters arranged as inverted repeats separated
      by 45 and 68 bp. The CCA sites are both necessary and sufficient to activate
      transcription under cell division cycle control. A single CCA site provides cell
      cycle control but is a weak transcriptional activator, while an inverted repeat
      comprising two CCA sites provides both strong transcriptional activation and cell
      division cycle control. The NRS was identified in the copy I histone H3-H4
      promoter. Deletion or disruption of the NRS increased the level of the histone H3
      promoter activity but did not alter the cell division cycle periodicity of
      transcription. When the CCA sites were deleted from the histone promoter, the NRS
      element was unable to confer cell division cycle control on the remaining basal
      level of transcription. When the NRS element was inserted into the promoter of a
      foreign reporter gene, transcription was constitutively repressed and did not
      acquire cell cycle regulation.

PMID- 1448079
TI  - Multiple functional domains of human U2 small nuclear RNA: strengthening
      conserved stem I can block splicing.
AB  - We showed previously that a branch site mutation in simian virus 40 early pre
      mRNA that prevented small t antigen mRNA splicing could be efficiently suppressed
      by a compensatory mutation in a coexpressed U2 small nuclear (sn) RNA gene. We
      have now generated second-site mutations in this suppressor gene to investigate
      regions of U2 RNA required for function. A number of mutations in a putative stem
      at the 5' end of the molecule inhibited splicing, indicating that bases in this
      region are important for activity. However, several lines of evidence suggested
      that formation of the entire stem is not essential for splicing. Indeed,
      mutations that strengthen the stem actually inhibited splicing, and evidence that
      this prevents a required base-pairing interaction with U6 snRNA is presented.
      These results suggest that the relative stabilities of competing intra- and
      intermolecular base-pairing interactions play an important role in the splicing
      reaction. Mutations in a conserved single-stranded region immediately 3' to the
      branch site recognition sequence all inhibited splicing, indicating that this
      region is required for U2 function, although its exact role remains unknown.
      Finally, two mutations in the loop of stem IV at the 3' end of the molecule,
      which destroy the binding site of U2 sn ribonucleoprotein B", prevented small t
      splicing; this finding contrasts with previous studies which utilized different
      assay systems. Analysis of the accumulation and subcellular localization of all
      of the mutant RNAs showed that they were similar to those of the parental
      suppressor U2 RNA, indicating that the effects observed indeed reflect defects in
      splicing.

PMID- 1448080
TI  - Fission yeast pap1-dependent transcription is negatively regulated by an
      essential nuclear protein, crm1.
AB  - The fission yeast pap1+ gene encodes an AP-1-like transcription factor that
      contains a leucine zipper motif. We identified a target gene of pap1, the p25
      gene. The 5' upstream region of the p25 gene contains an AP-1 site, and by DNase
      I footprint analysis, we showed that the pap1 protein binds to the AP-1 site as
      well as to a 14-bp palindrome sequence. p25 is overproduced when the pap1+ gene
      is overexpressed, whereas p25 is not produced at all in the pap1 deletion mutant.
      p25 was previously found to be overproduced in strains carrying cold-sensitive
      crm1 mutations whose gene product is essential for viability and is thought to
      play an important role in maintenance of a proper chromosomal architecture.
      Deletion and site-directed mutagenesis of sequences upstream of the p25 gene
      demonstrated that the AP-1 site as well as the palindrome sequence are crucial
      for transcriptional activation either by pap1 overproduction or by the cold
      sensitive crm1 mutation; pap1+ is apparently negatively regulated by crm1+.
      Moreover, we found that cold-sensitive crm1 mutations are suppressed by the
      deletion of pap1+, further indicating a close relationship between crm1+ and
      pap1+. The crm1 protein is highly conserved; the budding yeast homolog, CRM1,
      which complements the fission yeast cold-sensitive crm1 mutation, was isolated
      and found to also be essential for viability. These results suggest the
      functional importance of chromosome structure on the regulation of gene
      expression through the pap1 transcription factor.

PMID- 1448081
TI  - Unstable amplification of two extrachromosomal elements in alpha
      difluoromethylornithine-resistant Leishmania donovani.
AB  - We describe the first example of unstable gene amplification consisting of linear
      extrachromosomal DNAs in drug-resistant eukaryotic cells. alpha
      Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO)-resistant Leishmania donovani with an amplified
      ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) gene copy number contained two new extrachromosomal
      DNAs, both present in 10 to 20 copies. One of these was a 140-kb linear DNA
      (ODC140-L) on which all of the amplified copies of the odc gene were located. The
      second was a 70-kb circular DNA (ODC70-C) containing an inverted repeat but
      lacking the odc gene. Both ODC140-L and ODC70-C were derived from a preexisting
      wild-type chromosome, probably by a conservative amplification mechanism. Both
      elements were unstable in the absence of DFMO, and their disappearance coincided
      with a decrease in ODC activity and an increase in DFMO growth sensitivity. These
      results suggest the possibility that ODC70-C may play a role in DFMO resistance.
      These data expand the diversity of known amplification mechanisms in eukaryotes
      to include the simultaneous unstable amplification of both linear and circular
      DNAs. Further characterization of these molecules will provide insights into the
      molecular mechanisms underlying gene amplification, including the ability of
      linear amplified DNAs to acquire telomeres and the determinants of chromosomal
      stability.

PMID- 1448082
TI  - A common intermediary factor (p52/54) recognizing "acidic blob"-type domains is
      required for transcriptional activation by the Jun proteins.
AB  - The ability of the c-Jun protein, the main component of the transcription factor
      AP1, to interact directly or indirectly with the RNA polymerase II-initiation
      complex to activate transcription was investigated by in vivo transcription
      interference ("squelching") experiments. Coexpression of a Jun mutant lacking its
      DNA binding domain strongly represses the activity of wild-type c-Jun. Repression
      depends on the presence of the transactivation domains (TADs), suggesting that a
      limiting factor interacting with the TADs is essential to link Jun and the
      components of the transcriptional machinery. The activity of this intermediary
      factor(s) is restricted to TADs characterized by an abundance of negatively
      charged amino acids, as demonstrated by the abilities of the TADs of JunB, GAL4,
      and VP16 to repress c-Jun activity. Depending on the presence of the TADs of Jun,
      we found physical interaction between Jun and a cluster of three proteins with
      molecular masses of 52, 53, and 54 kDa (p52/54). Association between Jun and
      p52/54 is strongly reduced in the presence of VP16, suggesting that the two
      proteins compete for binding to p52/54. Transcription factors containing a
      different type of TAD (e.g., GHF1, estrogen receptor, or serum response factor)
      fail to inhibit Jun activity, suggesting that these proteins act through a
      different mechanism. We consider the requirement of Jun to interact with p52/54
      utilized by other transcription factors a new mechanism in the regulation of
      transcription of Jun-dependent target genes.

PMID- 1448083
TI  - A REB1-binding site is required for GCN4-independent ILV1 basal level
      transcription and can be functionally replaced by an ABF1-binding site.
AB  - The ILV1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes the first committed step in
      isoleucine biosynthesis and is regulated by general control of amino acid
      biosynthesis. Deletion analysis of the ILV1 promoter revealed a GC-rich element
      important for the basal level expression. This cis-acting element, called
      ILV1BAS, is functional independently of whether GCN4 protein is present.
      Furthermore, unlike the situation at HIS4, the magnitude of GCN4-mediated
      derepression is independent of ILV1BAS. The element has homology to the consensus
      REB1-binding sequence CGGGTARNNR. Gel retardation assays showed that REB1 binds
      specifically to this element. We show that REB1-binding sites normally situated
      in the SIN3 promoter and in the 35S rRNA promoter can substitute for the ILV1
      REB1 site. Furthermore, a SIN3 REB1 site containing a point mutation that
      abolishes REB1 binding does not support ILV1 basal level expression, suggesting
      that binding of REB1 is important for the control of ILV1 basal level expression.
      Interestingly, an ABF1-binding site can also functionally replace the ILV1 REB1
      binding site. A mutated ABF1 site that displays a very low affinity for ABF1 does
      not functionally replace the ILV1 REB1 site. This suggests that ABF1 and REB1 may
      have related functions within the cell. Although the REB1-binding site is
      required for the ILV1 basal level expression, the site on its own stimulates
      transcription only slightly when combined with the CYC1 downstream promoter
      elements, indicating that another ILV1 promoter element functions in combination
      with the REB1 site to control high basal level expression.

PMID- 1448084
TI  - A mammalian cell line deficient in activity of the DNA repair enzyme 5
      hydroxymethyluracil-DNA glycosylase is resistant to the toxic effects of the
      thymidine analog 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxyuridine.
AB  - We isolated a mutant mammalian cell line lacking activity for the DNA repair
      enzyme 5-hydroxymethyluracil-DNA glycosylase (HmUra-DNA glycosylase). The mutant
      was isolated through its resistance to the thymidine analog 5-hydroxymethyl-2'
      deoxyuridine (HmdUrd). The mutant incorporates HmdUrd into DNA to the same extent
      as the parent line but, lacking the repair enzyme, does not remove it. The
      phenotype of the mutant demonstrates that the toxicity of HmdUrd does not result
      from substitution of thymine in DNA by HmUra but rather from the removal via base
      excision of large numbers of HmUra residues in DNA. This finding elucidates a
      novel mechanism of toxicity for a xenobiotic nucleoside. Furthermore, the
      isolation of this line supports our hypothesis that the enzymatic repairability
      of HmUra derives not from its formation opposite adenine via the oxidation of
      thymine, but rather from its formation opposite guanine as a product of the
      oxidation and subsequent deamination of 5-methylcytosine.

PMID- 1448085
TI  - Osteoblast-specific expression of growth hormone stimulates bone growth in
      transgenic mice.
AB  - Growth hormone (GH) is an important regulator of postnatal growth, acting on a
      wide variety of target tissues. Here, we show that local production of GH in
      osteoblasts is able to stimulate bone growth directly without significant
      systemic effects. Mice were made transgenic by microinjection of an osteocalcin
      human GH (osteocalcin-hGH) gene construct in which approximately 1,800 bp of the
      rat osteocalcin promoter was fused to the hGH gene. Five lines of transgenic
      mice, each with measurable amounts of serum hGH (ranging from 1 to 1,000 ng/ml),
      were analyzed. Northern (RNA) blot hybridization showed that the hGH transcript
      was detectable only in the bone. Further characterization of hGH mRNA
      distribution by in situ hybridization revealed that in neonates the most intense
      signal was found in periosteal osteoblasts, while in adults, trabecular and
      endosteal osteoblasts were favored. In one transgenic line (992-1), hGH was
      expressed at a much lower level and had minimal systemic effects; however, the
      local concentrations of hGH in bone were sufficient to stimulate bone growth in
      these animals.

PMID- 1448086
TI  - Isolation and structural analysis of a 1.2-megabase N-myc amplicon from a human
      neuroblastoma.
AB  - Oncogene amplification is observed frequently in human cancers, but little is
      known about the mechanism of gene amplification or the structure of amplified DNA
      in tumor cells. We have studied the N-myc amplified domain from a representative
      neuroblastoma cell line, SMS-KAN, and compared the map of the amplicon in this
      cell line with that seen in normal DNA. The SMS-KAN cell line DNA was cloned into
      yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs), and clones were identified by screening the
      YAC library with amplified DNA probes that were obtained previously (B.
      Zehnbauer, D. Small, G. M. Brodeur, R. Seeger, and B. Vogelstein, Mol. Cell.
      Biol. 8:522-530, 1988). In addition, YAC clones corresponding to the normal N-myc
      locus on chromosome 2 were obtained by screening two normal human YAC libraries
      with these probes, and the restriction maps of the two sets of overlapping YACs
      were compared. Our results suggest that the amplified domain in this cell line is
      a approximately 1.2-Mb circular molecule with a head-to-tail configuration, and
      the physical map of the normal N-myc locus generally is conserved in the
      amplicon. These results provide a physical map of the amplified domain of a
      neuroblastoma cell line that has de novo amplification of an oncogene. The head
      to-tail organization, the general conservation of the normal physical map in the
      amplicon, and the extrachromosomal location of the amplified DNA are most
      consistent with the episome formation-plus-segregation mechanism of gene
      amplification in these tumors.

PMID- 1448087
TI  - The fission yeast genes pyp1+ and pyp2+ encode protein tyrosine phosphatases that
      negatively regulate mitosis.
AB  - We have used degenerate oligonucleotide probes based on sequences conserved among
      known protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) to identify two Schizosaccharomyces
      pombe genes encoding PTPases. We previously described the cloning of pyp1+ (S.
      Ottilie, J. Chernoff, G. Hannig, C. S. Hoffman, and R. L. Erikson, Proc. Natl.
      Acad. Sci. USA 88:3455-3459, 1991), and here we describe a second gene, called
      pyp2+. The C terminus of each protein contains sequences conserved in the
      apparent catalytic domains of all known PTPases. Disruption of pyp2+ results in
      viable cells, as was the case for pyp1+, whereas disruption of pyp2+ and pyp1+
      results in synthetic lethality. Overexpression of either pyp1+ or pyp2+ in wild
      type strains leads to a delay in mitosis but is suppressed by a wee1-50 mutation
      at 35 degrees C or a cdc2-1w mutation. A pyp1 disruption suppresses the
      temperature-sensitive lethality of a cdc25-22 mutation. Our data suggest that
      pyp1+ and pyp2+ act as negative regulators of mitosis upstream of the wee1+/mik1+
      pathway.

PMID- 1448088
TI  - Identification of a minimal transforming domain of p53: negative dominance
      through abrogation of sequence-specific DNA binding.
AB  - Mutations in the p53 gene are most frequent in cancer. Many p53 mutants possess
      transforming activity in vitro. In cells transformed by such mutants, the mutant
      protein is oligomerized with endogenous cell p53. To determine the relevance of
      oligomerization for transformation, miniproteins containing C-terminal portions
      of p53 were generated. These miniproteins, although carrying no point mutation,
      transformed at least as efficiently as full-length mutant p53. Transforming
      activity was coupled with the ability to oligomerize with wild-type p53, as well
      as with the ability to abrogate sequence-specific DNA binding by coexpressed wild
      type p53. These findings suggest that p53-mediated transformation may operate
      through a dominant negative mechanism, involving the generation of DNA binding
      incompetent oligomers.

PMID- 1448089
TI  - Alternative topogenic signals in peroxisomal citrate synthase of Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae.
AB  - The tripeptide serine-lysine-leucine (SKL) occurs at the carboxyl terminus of
      many peroxisomal proteins and serves as a peroxisomal targeting signal.
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae has two isozymes of citrate synthase. The peroxisomal
      form, encoded by CIT2, terminates in SKL, while the mitochondrial form, encoded
      by CIT1, begins with an amino-terminal mitochondrial signal sequence and ends in
      SKN. We analyzed the importance of SKL as a topogenic signal for citrate
      synthase, using oleate to induce peroxisomes and density gradients to fractionate
      organelles. Our experiments revealed that SKL was necessary for directing citrate
      synthase to peroxisomes. C-terminal SKL was also sufficient to target a
      leaderless version of mitochondrial citrate synthase to peroxisomes. Deleting
      this tripeptide from the CIT2 protein caused peroxisomal citrate synthase to be
      missorted to mitochondria. These experiments suggest that the CIT2 protein
      contains a cryptic mitochondrial targeting signal.

PMID- 1448090
TI  - Identification of a cysteine-rich receptor for fibroblast growth factors.
AB  - The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family consists of seven members whose
      activities are thought to be mediated by multiple receptors. Here we describe the
      cDNA cloning, expression, and characterization of a cysteine-rich FGF receptor
      (CFR) that is distinct from previously identified FGF receptors. The deduced
      amino acid sequence for CFR suggests that it is an integral membrane protein
      containing a large extracellular domain comprising 16 cysteine-rich repeated
      units and an intracellular domain of 13 amino acids. No reported sequences
      exhibit significant homologies to either the repeated extracellular motif or to
      the entire CFR amino acid sequence. Several CFR transcripts are present in
      embryonic chick tissue, suggesting that CFR undergoes alternate mRNA splicing or
      that related genes are present. Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with the
      CFR cDNA express a 150-kDa polypeptide that binds FGF-1, FGF-2, and FGF-4 but
      does not bind several non-FGF family members. The high degree of evolutionary
      conservation among vertebrate CFRs and its ability to bind three different FGFs
      with high affinity suggest that this unique receptor plays an important role in
      FGF biology.

PMID- 1448091
TI  - Activation of the HLA-DRA gene in primary human T lymphocytes: novel usage of
      TATA and the X and Y promoter elements.
AB  - Human T lymphocytes express human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR-alpha (DRA) upon
      mitogenic or antigenic stimulation. DR+ T cells are also found in a number of
      inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and have a proposed role in these diseases.
      The molecular mechanism of DR regulation in untransformed blood T lymphocytes was
      studied here by transient transfection of DRA-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase
      reporter gene constructs. Several novel features of this regulation were
      observed. During the early stages of T-cell activation by mitogens or antigens,
      strong promoter induction was exhibited with the proximal 43 bp of the DRA
      promoter which contains a TATTA motif. Addition of upstream X and Y DNA elements
      augmented the response. This contrasts with data from transformed cell lines in
      which the proximal 43 bp produced no detectable promoter function, and the
      inclusion of X and Y elements is essential for basal level expression. Mutation
      of the TATTA motif or substitution with a functional but different TATA element
      produced errant initiation and greatly reduced gene expression. Interestingly, T
      lymphocytes from a normal donor were DR+ prior to in vitro stimulation, and
      again, strong promoter activity was observed with 43 bp of proximal sequence.
      Unexpectedly, the presence of the X and Y elements correlated with a suppression
      of class II promoter function and surface antigen expression. This study of
      nontransformed lymphocytes reveals several novel features of DRA gene regulation
      and underscores the value and necessity of such studies.

PMID- 1448093
TI  - Cloning and characterization of SRP1, a suppressor of temperature-sensitive RNA
      polymerase I mutations, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - The SRP1-1 mutation is an allele-specific dominant suppressor of temperature
      sensitive mutations in the zinc-binding domain of the A190 subunit of
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA polymerase I (Pol I). We found that it also
      suppresses temperature-sensitive mutations in the zinc-binding domain of the Pol
      I A135 subunit. This domain had been suggested to be in physical proximity to the
      A190 zinc-binding domain. We have cloned the SRP1 gene and determined its
      nucleotide sequence. The gene encodes a protein of 542 amino acids consisting of
      three domains: the central domain, which is composed of eight (degenerate) 42
      amino-acid contiguous tandem repeats, and the surrounding N-terminal and C
      terminal domains, both of which contain clusters of acidic and basic amino acids
      and are very hydrophilic. The mutational alteration (P219Q) responsible for the
      suppression was found to be in the central domain. Using antibody against the
      SRP1 protein, we have found that SRP1 is mainly localized at the periphery of the
      nucleus, apparently more concentrated in certain regions, as suggested by a
      punctate pattern in immunofluorescence microscopy. We suggest that SRP1 is a
      component of a larger macromolecular complex associated with the nuclear envelope
      and interacts with Pol I either directly or indirectly through other components
      in the structure containing SRP1.

PMID- 1448092
TI  - Molecular cloning of cellular genes encoding retinoblastoma-associated proteins:
      identification of a gene with properties of the transcription factor E2F.
AB  - The retinoblastoma protein interacts with a number of cellular proteins to form
      complexes which are probably crucial for its normal physiological function. To
      identify these proteins, we isolated nine distinct clones by direct screening of
      cDNA expression libraries using purified RB protein as a probe. One of these
      clones, Ap12, is expressed predominantly at the G1-S boundary and in the S phase
      of the cell cycle. The nucleotide sequence of Ap12 has features characteristic of
      transcription factors. The C-terminal region binds to unphosphorylated RB in
      regions similar to those to which T antigen binds and contains a transactivation
      domain. A region containing a potential leucine zipper flanked by basic residues
      is able to bind an E2F recognition sequence specifically. Expression of Ap12 in
      mammalian cells significantly enhances E2F-dependent transcriptional activity.
      These results suggest that Ap12 encodes a protein with properties known to be
      characteristic of transcription factor E2F.

PMID- 1448094
TI  - Separate information required for nuclear and subnuclear localization: additional
      complexity in localizing an enzyme shared by mitochondria and nuclei.
AB  - The TRM1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae codes for a tRNA modification enzyme,
      N2,N2-dimethylguanosine-specific tRNA methyltransferase (m2(2)Gtase), shared by
      mitochondria and nuclei. Immunofluorescent staining at the nuclear periphery
      demonstrates that m2(2)Gtase localizes at or near the nuclear membrane. In
      determining sequences necessary for targeting the enzyme to nuclei and
      mitochondria, we found that information required to deliver the enzyme to the
      nucleus is not sufficient for its correct subnuclear localization. We also
      determined that mislocalizing the enzyme from the nucleus to the cytoplasm does
      not destroy its biological function. This change in location was caused by
      altering a sequence similar to other known nuclear targeting signals (KKSKKKRC),
      suggesting that shared enzymes are likely to use the same import pathway as
      proteins that localize only to the nucleus. As with other well-characterized
      mitochondrial proteins, the mitochondrial import of the shared methyltransferase
      depends on amino-terminal amino acids, and removal of the first 48 amino acids
      prevents its import into mitochondria. While this truncated protein is still
      imported into nuclei, the immunofluorescent staining is uniform throughout rather
      than at the nuclear periphery, a staining pattern identical to that described for
      a fusion protein consisting of the first 213 amino acids of m2(2)Gtase in frame
      with beta-galactosidase. As both of these proteins together contain the entire
      m2(2)Gtase coding region, the information necessary for association with the
      nuclear periphery must be more complex than the short linear sequence necessary
      for nuclear localization.

PMID- 1448095
TI  - Repression and activation of the Drosophila dopa decarboxylase gene in glia.
AB  - Glial expression of the Drosophila dopa decarboxylase gene (Ddc) is repressed by
      a regulatory region located approximately 1 kb upstream of the transcriptional
      start site. We have used in vitro mutagenesis and germ line transformation to
      determine which elements within the Ddc promoter mediate repression. Our evidence
      suggests that the hypodermal cell activator elements IIA and IIB play a major
      role in the transcriptional regulation of Ddc in glial cells. A variety of
      mutations demonstrate that element IIA is a strong glial activator element and
      that element IIB is necessary for glial repression. Although these two regulatory
      elements are nearly identical in sequence, our data suggest that they are not
      redundant. Altering the wild-type number and spacing of elements IIA and IIB
      indicates that the wild-type arrangement of this repeat is critical for
      repression. We conclude that these key elements of the Ddc promoter regulate both
      activation and repression in glia.

PMID- 1448096
TI  - A novel DNA-binding motif abuts the zinc finger domain of insect nuclear hormone
      receptor FTZ-F1 and mouse embryonal long terminal repeat-binding protein.
AB  - Fruit fly FTZ-F1, silkworm BmFTZ-F1, and mouse embryonal long terminal repeat
      binding protein are members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, which
      recognizes the same sequence, 5'-PyCAAGGPyCPu-3'. Among these proteins, a 30
      amino-acid basic region abutting the C-terminal end of the zinc finger motif,
      designated the FTZ-F1 box, is conserved. Gel mobility shift competition by
      various mutant peptides of the DNA-binding region revealed that the FTZ-F1 box as
      well as the zinc finger motif is involved in the high-affinity binding of FTZ-F1
      to its target site. Using a gel mobility shift matrix competition assay, we
      demonstrated that the FTZ-F1 box governs the recognition of the first three
      bases, while the zinc finger region recognizes the remaining part of the binding
      sequence. We also showed that the DNA-binding region of FTZ-F1 recognizes and
      binds to DNA as a monomer. Occurrence of the FTZ-F1 box sequence in other members
      of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily raises the possibility that these
      receptors constitute a unique subfamily which binds to DNA as a monomer.

PMID- 1448097
TI  - Sequence of cDNA comprising the human pur gene and sequence-specific single
      stranded-DNA-binding properties of the encoded protein.
AB  - The human Pur factor binds strongly to a sequence element repeated within zones
      of initiation of DNA replication in several eukaryotic cells. The protein binds
      preferentially to the purine-rich single strand of this element, PUR. We report
      here the cloning and sequencing of a cDNA encoding a protein with strong affinity
      for the PUR element. Analysis with a series of mutated oligonucleotides defines a
      minimal single-stranded DNA Pur-binding element. The expressed Pur open reading
      frame encodes a protein of 322 amino acids. This protein, Pur alpha, contains
      three repeats of a consensus motif of 23 amino acids and two repeats of a second
      consensus motif of 26 amino acids. Near its carboxy terminus, the protein
      possesses an amphipathic alpha-helix and a glutamine-rich domain. The repeat
      region of Pur cDNA is homologous to multiple mRNA species in each of several
      human cell lines and tissues. The HeLa cDNA library also includes a clone
      encoding a related gene, Pur beta, containing a version of the 23-amino-acid
      consensus motif similar, but not identical, to those in Pur alpha. Results
      indicate a novel type of modular protein with capacity to bind repeated elements
      in single-stranded DNA.

PMID- 1448098
TI  - The EGD1 product, a yeast homolog of human BTF3, may be involved in GAL4 DNA
      binding.
AB  - A variety of techniques, including filter binding, footprinting, and gel
      retardation, can be used to assay the transcriptional activator GAL4 (Gal4p)
      through the initial steps of its purification from yeast cells. Following DNA
      affinity chromatography, Gal4p still bound DNA selectively when assayed by filter
      binding or footprinting. However, the affinity-purified protein was no longer
      capable of forming a stable complex with DNA, as assayed by gel retardation.
      Mixing the purified Gal4p with the flowthrough fraction from the DNA affinity
      column restored gel retardation complex formation. Gel retardation assays were
      used to monitor the purification of a heat-stable Gal4p-DNA complex stabilization
      activity from the affinity column flowthrough. The activity coeluted from the
      final purification step with polypeptides of 21 and 27 kDa. The yeast gene
      encoding the 21-kDa protein was cloned on the basis of its N-terminal amino acid
      sequence. The gene, named EGD1 (enhancer of GAL4 DNA binding), encodes a highly
      basic protein (21% lysine and arginine) with a predicted molecular mass of 16.5
      kDa. The amino acid sequence of the EGD1 product, Egd1p, is highly similar to
      that of the human protein BTF3 (X. M. Zheng, D. Black, P. Chambon, and J. M.
      Egly, Nature [London] 344:556-559, 1990). Although an egd1 null mutant was viable
      and Gal+, induction of the galactose-regulated genes in the egd1 mutant strain
      was significantly reduced when cells were shifted from glucose to galactose.

PMID- 1448099
TI  - Yeast RHO3 and RHO4 ras superfamily genes are necessary for bud growth, and their
      defect is suppressed by a high dose of bud formation genes CDC42 and BEM1.
AB  - RHO3 and RHO4 are members of the ras superfamily genes of the yeast Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae and are related functionally to each other. Experiments using a
      conditionally expressed allele of RHO4 revealed that depletion of both the RHO3
      and RHO4 gene products resulted in lysis of cells with a small bud, which could
      be prevented by the presence of osmotic stabilizing agents in the medium. rho3
      rho4 cells incubated in medium containing an osmotic stabilizing agent were
      rounded and enlarged and displayed delocalized deposition of chitin and
      delocalization of actin patches, indicating that these cells lost cell polarity.
      Nine genes whose overexpression could suppress the defect of the RHO3 function
      were isolated (SRO genes). Two of them were identical with CDC42 and BEM1, bud
      site assembly genes involved in the process of bud emergence. A high dose of
      CDC42 complemented the rho3 defect, whereas overexpression of RHO3 had an
      inhibitory effect on the growth of mutants defective in the CDC24-CDC42 pathway.
      These results, along with comparison of cell morphology between rho3 rho4 cells
      and cdc24 (or cdc42) mutant cells kept under the restrictive conditions, strongly
      suggest that the functions of RHO3 and RHO4 are required after initiation of bud
      formation to maintain cell polarity during maturation of daughter cells.

PMID- 1448101
TI  - Evidence that POB1, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein that binds to DNA
      polymerase alpha, acts in DNA metabolism in vivo.
AB  - Potential DNA replication accessory factors from the yeast Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae have previously been identified by their ability to bind to DNA
      polymerase alpha protein affinity matrices (J. Miles and T. Formosa, Proc. Natl.
      Acad. Sci. USA 89:1276-1280, 1992). We have now used genetic methods to
      characterize the gene encoding one of these DNA polymerase alpha-binding proteins
      (POB1) to determine whether it plays a role in DNA replication in vivo. We find
      that yeast cells lacking POB1 are viable but display a constellation of
      phenotypes indicating defective DNA metabolism. Populations of cells lacking POB1
      accumulate abnormally high numbers of enlarged large-budded cells with a single
      nucleus at the neck of the bud. The average DNA content in a population of cells
      lacking POB1 is shifted toward the G2 value. These two phenotypes indicate that
      while the bulk of DNA replication is completed without POB1, mitosis is delayed.
      Deleting POB1 also causes elevated levels of both chromosome loss and genetic
      recombination, enhances the temperature sensitivity of cells with mutant DNA
      polymerase alpha genes, causes increased sensitivity to UV radiation in cells
      lacking a functional RAD9 checkpoint gene, and causes an increased probability of
      death in cells carrying a mutation in the MEC1 checkpoint gene. The sequence of
      the POB1 gene indicates that it is identical to the CTF4 (CHL15) gene identified
      previously in screens for mutations that diminish the fidelity of chromosome
      transmission. These phenotypes are consistent with defective DNA metabolism in
      cells lacking POB1 and strongly suggest that this DNA polymerase alpha-binding
      protein plays a role in accurately duplicating the genome in vivo.

PMID- 1448100
TI  - Molecular cloning of casein kinase II alpha subunit from Dictyostelium discoideum
      and its expression in the life cycle.
AB  - A Dictyostelium discoideum cDNA encoding an alpha-type subunit of casein kinase
      II was isolated, and its cDNA was used to study developmental expression of
      casein kinase II during the Dictyostelium life cycle. The 1.3-kb cDNA insert
      contained an open reading frame of 337 amino acids (M(r) 39,900). The deduced
      amino acid sequence has high homology with those of casein kinase II alpha
      subunits from other species. Genomic Southern blot analysis suggested that there
      is a single gene encoding casein kinase II alpha subunit in D. discoideum.
      Northern (RNA) blot analysis showed that the casein kinase II alpha-subunit gene
      is expressed constitutively as a 1.9-kb mRNA throughout vegetative growth and
      multicellular development. Casein kinase purified from normal vegetative cells
      contained a major protein band of approximately 36 kDa, which was recognized by
      antisera raised against rat testis casein kinase II. Comparison of the in vitro
      transcription/translation product of the alpha-subunit cDNA clone and the
      purified 36-kDa protein by partial proteolysis indicated that the isolated cDNA
      clone encodes the Dictyostelium casein kinase II alpha subunit. No protein
      corresponding to a beta subunit was detected in purified casein kinase.
      Immunoblot analysis using anti-rat casein kinase II sera showed that the alpha
      subunit of casein kinase II is expressed constitutively like its mRNA during the
      life cycle of D. discoideum. Casein kinase II activity measured by using a
      specific peptide substrate paralleled the level of alpha subunit detected by
      immunoblotting during the life cycle, with a maximum variation of approximately 2
      fold. We were unable to obtain disruptants of the casein kinase II alpha gene,
      suggesting that there is a single casein kinase II alpha gene, which is essential
      for vegetative growth of D. discoideum.

PMID- 1448102
TI  - Two cellular proteins bind specifically to a purine-rich sequence necessary for
      the destabilization function of a c-fos protein-coding region determinant of mRNA
      instability.
AB  - The c-fos proto-oncogene mRNA is rapidly degraded within minutes after its
      appearance in the cytoplasm of growth factor-stimulated mammalian fibroblasts. At
      least two functionally independent sequence elements are responsible for the
      lability of c-fos mRNA. One of these determinants is located within a 0.32-kb
      sequence present in the protein-coding region. We demonstrate by gel mobility
      shift experiments and UV cross-linking that at least two protein factors
      specifically interact with a 56-nucleotide purine-rich sequence located at the 5'
      end of the 0.32-kb coding region determinant of mRNA instability (CRDI). One
      protein is predominantly associated with the polysomes, while the other is
      detected in the post-ribosomal supernatant. Sequence comparison of members of the
      fos gene family revealed that the high purine content of the protein-binding
      region is conserved through evolution. Deletion of this region from the 0.32-kb
      CRDI severely impedes its function as an RNA-destabilizing element. Our results
      suggest that binding of the two proteins to the purine-rich sequence may
      participate in the rapid mRNA decay mediated by this 0.32-kb c-fos CRDI.

PMID- 1448103
TI  - A mutation outside the two zinc fingers of ADR1 can suppress defects in either
      finger.
AB  - A second-site mutation that restored DNA binding to ADR1 mutants altered at
      different positions in the two zinc fingers was identified. This mutation (called
      IS1) was a conservative change of arginine 91 to lysine in a region amino
      terminal to the two zinc fingers and known from previous experiments to be
      necessary for DNA binding. IS1 increased binding to the UAS1 sequence two- to
      sevenfold for various ADR1 mutants and twofold for wild-type ADR1. The change of
      arginine 91 to glycine decreased binding twofold, suggesting that this arginine
      is involved in DNA binding in the wild-type protein. The increase in binding by
      IS1 did not involve protein-protein interactions between the two ADR1 monomers,
      nor did it require the presence of the sequences flanking UAS1. However, the
      effect of IS1 was influenced by the sequence of the first finger, suggesting that
      interactions between the region amino terminal to the fingers and the fingers
      themselves could exist. A model for the role of the amino-terminal region based
      on these results and sequence homologies with other DNA-binding motifs is
      proposed.

PMID- 1448104
TI  - P25 gene regulation in Bombyx mori silk gland: two promoter-binding factors have
      distinct tissue and developmental specificities.
AB  - The gene encoding the silk protein P25 is expressed in the posterior silk gland
      of Bombyx mori with strict territorial and developmental specificities. The cis
      acting regulatory elements previously located within the 441-bp 5' proximal
      sequence of the gene were examined for protein-binding capacities. We identified
      two factors, BMFA and SGFB, that lead to prominent band shifts and the target
      sites for which are included in a region homologous to the fibroin gene enhancer
      sequence. Analysis of the tissue-specific incidence of both factors showed that
      BMFA is ubiquitous, whereas SGFB is restricted to the silk gland cells. However,
      SGFB was found in both posterior and middle silk gland cells and therefore likely
      directs organ-specific, but not territory-specific, expression. Developmental
      studies throughout the fourth larval molt, at which the P25 gene status changes
      from derepressed to repressed, revealed that BMFA is reversibly modified at the
      transition from intermolt to molt. Indeed, the preexisting BMFA is replaced by a
      structurally related factor, BMFA', during the 2 h following head capsule
      apolysis. The exact temporal coincidence of this conversion with the onset of
      gene repression suggests that BMFA' is involved in transcription inactivation and
      likely results from a transduction process initiated by the hormonal change at
      molting.

PMID- 1448105
TI  - A mutation in the tRNA nucleotidyltransferase gene promotes stabilization of
      mRNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - To identify trans-acting factors involved in mRNA decay in the yeast
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we have begun to characterize conditional lethal
      mutants that affect mRNA steady-state levels. A screen of a collection of
      temperature-sensitive mutants identified ts352, a mutant that accumulated
      moderately stable and unstable mRNAs after a shift from 23 to 37 degrees C (M.
      Aebi, G. Kirchner, J.-Y. Chen, U. Vijayraghavan, A. Jacobson, N.C. Martin, and J.
      Abelson, J. Biol. Chem. 265:16216-16220, 1990). ts352 has a defect in the CCA1
      gene, which codes for tRNA nucleotidyltransferase, the enzyme that adds 3' CCA
      termini to tRNAs (Aebi et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1990). In a shift to the
      nonpermissive temperature, ts352 (cca1-1) cells rapidly cease protein synthesis,
      reduce the rates of degradation of the CDC4, TCM1, and PAB1 mRNAs three- to
      fivefold, and increase the relative number of ribosomes associated with mRNAs and
      the overall size of polysomes. These results were analogous to those observed for
      cycloheximide-treated cells and are generally consistent with models that invoke
      a role for translational elongation in the process of mRNA turnover.

PMID- 1448106
TI  - Multiple mechanisms of interference between transformation and differentiation in
      thyroid cells.
AB  - Transformation of the thyroid cell line FRTL-5 results in loss or reduction of
      differentiation as measured by the expression of thyroglobulin and
      thyroperoxidase, two proteins whose genes are exclusively expressed in thyroid
      follicular cells. The biochemical mechanisms leading to this phenomenon were
      investigated in three cell lines obtained by transformation of FRTL-5 cells with
      Ki-ras, Ha-ras, and polyomavirus middle-T oncogenes. With the ras oncogenes,
      transformation leads to undetectable expression of the thyroglobulin and
      thyroperoxidase genes. However, the mechanisms responsible for the extinction of
      the differentiated phenotype seem to be different for the two ras oncogenes. In
      Ki-ras-transformed cells, the mRNA encoding TTF-1, a transcription factor
      controlling thyroglobulin and thyroperoxidase gene expression, is severely
      reduced. On the contrary, nearly wild-type levels of TTF-1 mRNA are detected in
      Ha-ras-transformed cells. Furthermore, overexpression of TTF-1 can activate
      transcription of the thyroglobulin promoter in Ki-ras-transformed cells, whereas
      it has no effect on thyroglobulin transcription in the Ha-ras-transformed line.
      Expression of polyoma middle-T antigen in thyroid cells leads to only a reduction
      of differentiation and does not severely affect either the activity or the amount
      of TTF-1. Another thyroid cell-specific transcription factor, TTF-2, is more
      sensitive to transformation, since it disappears in all three transformed lines,
      and probably contributes to the reduced expression of the differentiated
      phenotype.

PMID- 1448107
TI  - Mutations activating the yeast eIF-2 alpha kinase GCN2: isolation of alleles
      altering the domain related to histidyl-tRNA synthetases.
AB  - The protein kinase GCN2 stimulates expression of the yeast transcriptional
      activator GCN4 at the translational level by phosphorylating the alpha subunit of
      translation initiation factor 2 (eIF-2 alpha) in amino acid-starved cells.
      Phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha reduces its activity, allowing ribosomes to bypass
      short open reading frames present in the GCN4 mRNA leader and initiate
      translation at the GCN4 start codon. We describe here 17 dominant GCN2 mutations
      that lead to derepression of GCN4 expression in the absence of amino acid
      starvation. Seven of these GCN2c alleles map in the protein kinase moiety, and
      two in this group alter the presumed ATP-binding domain, suggesting that ATP
      binding is a regulated aspect of GCN2 function. Six GCN2c alleles map in a region
      related to histidyl-tRNA synthetases, and two in this group alter a sequence
      motif conserved among class II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases that directly interacts
      with the acceptor stem of tRNA. These results support the idea that GCN2 kinase
      function is activated under starvation conditions by binding uncharged tRNA to
      the domain related to histidyl-tRNA synthetase. The remaining GCN2c alleles map
      at the extreme C terminus, a domain required for ribosome association of the
      protein. Representative mutations in each domain were shown to depend on the
      phosphorylation site in eIF-2 alpha for their effects on GCN4 expression and to
      increase the level of eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation in the absence of amino acid
      starvation. Synthetic GCN2c double mutations show greater derepression of GCN4
      expression than the parental single mutations, and they have a slow-growth
      phenotype that we attribute to inhibition of general translation initiation. The
      phenotypes of the GCN2c alleles are dependent on GCN1 and GCN3, indicating that
      these two positive regulators of GCN4 expression mediate the inhibitory effects
      on translation initiation associated with activation of the yeast eIF-2 alpha
      kinase GCN2.

PMID- 1448108
TI  - The SH2/SH3 domain-containing protein Nck is recognized by certain anti
      phospholipase C-gamma 1 monoclonal antibodies, and its phosphorylation on
      tyrosine is stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor and epidermal growth
      factor treatment.
AB  - In the course of our investigation of phospholipase C (PLC)-gamma 1
      phosphorylation by using a set of anti-PLC-gamma 1 monoclonal antibodies (P.-G.
      Suh, S. H. Ryu, W. C. Choi, K.-Y. Lee, and S. G. Rhee, J. Biol. Chem. 263:14497
      14504, 1988), we found that some of these antibodies directly recognize a 47-kDa
      protein. We show here that this 47-kDa protein is identical to the SH2/SH3
      containing protein Nck (J. M. Lehmann, G. Riethmuller, and J. P. Johnson, Nucleic
      Acids Res. 18:1048, 1990). Nck was found to be constitutively phosphorylated on
      serine in resting NIH 3T3 cells. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) treatment
      led to increased Nck phosphorylation on both tyrosine and serine. Nck was also
      found to be phosphorylated on tyrosine in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-treated
      A431 cells and in v-Src-transformed NIH 3T3 cells. Multiple sites of serine
      phosphorylation were detected in Nck from resting cells, and no novel sites were
      found upon PDGF or EGF treatment. A single major tyrosine phosphorylation site
      was found in Nck in both PDGF- and EGF-treated cells and in v-Src-transformed
      cells. This same tyrosine was phosphorylated in vitro by purified PDGF and EGF
      receptors and also by pp60c-src. We compared the phosphorylation of Nck and PLC
      gamma 1 in several cell lines transformed by oncogenes with different modes of
      transformation. Although PLC-gamma 1 and Nck have significant amino acid
      identity, particularly in their SH3 regions, and both associate with growth
      factor receptors in a ligand-dependent manner, they were not always
      phosphorylated on tyrosine in a coincident manner.

PMID- 1448109
TI  - Characterization of complementary DNA encoding the rat neuromedin U precursor.
AB  - Neuromedin U (NmU), a peptide originally isolated from porcine spinal cord, is
      known for its ability to stimulate uterine smooth muscle contraction and to cause
      selective vasoconstriction. It was subsequently isolated from a number of
      species. Among the species studied, the five amino acids at the C-terminus of the
      peptide are totally conserved, suggesting that this region is of major
      importance. We have cloned and sequenced the cDNA encoding the rat NmU precursor
      protein using the anchor polymerase chain reaction technique. Sequence analysis
      revealed that NmU is synthesized as a 174-amino acid precursor. Like the
      precursors of most other small regulatory peptides, it has a hydrophobic signal
      peptide and a number of paired dibasic amino acids, which may serve as signals
      for enzymatic cleavage, to release NmU and a series of other peptides. These
      predicted flanking peptides of NmU show no significant homology with entries in
      the protein databases searched, and the cDNA likewise shows no homology with
      entries in the GenBank database. Northern blot analysis using total RNA extracted
      from different rat tissues shows high levels of NmU mRNA in the ileum, thyroid,
      and anterior pituitary. Southern blot analysis of rat genomic DNA demonstrates
      that NmU is a single copy gene.

PMID- 1448110
TI  - Structural and functional analysis of the insulin-like growth factor I receptor
      gene promoter.
AB  - The insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-I-R) gene is expressed in most
      body tissues. The levels of IGF-I-R mRNA, however, are regulated by a number of
      physiological conditions (development, differentiation, and hormonal milieu) as
      well as in certain pathological states (diabetes and tumors). To understand the
      molecular mechanisms which control the transcription of the IGF-I-R gene, we have
      cloned the promoter of the rat receptor gene and have characterized its activity
      by transient expression assays. Different fragments of the 5'-flanking region
      (subcloned upstream of a luciferase reporter gene) were transfected into buffalo
      rat liver 3A cells (a cell line with a low number of IGF-I binding sites) and
      Chinese hamster ovary cells (a cell line with a higher number of cell-surface
      receptors). In both cell lines, most of the promoter activity was located in the
      proximal 416 base pairs of 5'-flanking region. However, further dissection of
      this proximal fragment revealed a cell type-specific pattern of promoter
      activity. Thus, in buffalo rat liver 3A cells, subfragments of this region each
      contributed to total activity, suggesting that contiguous cis-elements can act
      together to activate transcription. In Chinese hamster ovary cells, on the other
      hand, subfragments of the proximal promoter region partially substituted for the
      proximal 416 base pairs of 5'-flanking region. Coexpression studies using an IGF
      I-R promoter reporter construct together with an Sp1 expression vector (under the
      control of an ADH promoter) were performed in SL2 cells, a Drosophila cell line
      which lacks endogenous Sp1. The results obtained showed that Sp1 can trans
      activate the IGF-I-R promoter in vivo. Transient transfection assays were
      complemented with gel-retardation assays and DNase I footprinting experiments,
      which showed that transcription factor Sp1 is potentially an important regulator
      of IGF-I-R gene expression.

PMID- 1448111
TI  - Testicular expression of PC4 in the rat: molecular diversity of a novel germ cell
      specific Kex2/subtilisin-like proprotein convertase.
AB  - The rat cDNA sequence of PC4 (rPC4), representing a new member of the
      Kex2/subtilisin-like proprotein convertases, demonstrated the presence of at
      least three rPC4 mRNAs resulting in the production of rPC4-A (654 amino acids),
      rPC4-B (619 amino acids), and rPC4-C (609 amino acids) with different C-terminal
      sequences. Analogous to rat PC4, three cDNAs were also found for the mouse PC4.
      The observed molecular diversity of PC4 mRNA possibly results from the
      differential splicing and/or exon skipping of the parent gene. PC4 mRNA, with a
      major form at 2.8 kilobases, was highly abundant in the rat testis but could not
      be detected by Northern analysis in any other tissues including the central
      nervous system and peripheral tissues. Testicular cell separation studies
      combined with Northern analysis indicate the high expression levels of PC4 in
      germ cells but not in Leydig, Sertoli, or peritubular cells. In situ
      hybridization histochemistry confirms the site of PC4 gene expression as the
      pachytene spermatocytes and the round spermatids but not in the elongating
      spermatids. We also demonstrate the colocalization of PC4 with proenkephalin in
      testicular germ cells by in situ hybridization. A study of the ontogeny of PC4
      indicated that PC4 mRNA was first expressed postnatally between days 19 and 22,
      coinciding with the first stages of spermiogenesis. The stage-specific expression
      of PC4 in testis indicates its potential role in the developmental maturation of
      germ cells and that this convertase may play a specific physiological function in
      reproduction.

PMID- 1448112
TI  - The multifunctional peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase gene:
      exon/intron organization of catalytic, processing, and routing domains.
AB  - Peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM; EC 1.14.17.3) is a
      multifunctional protein containing two enzymes that act sequentially to catalyze
      the alpha-amidation of neuroendocrine peptides. Peptidylglycine alpha
      hydroxylating monooxygenase (PHM) catalyzes the first step of the reaction and is
      dependent on copper, ascorbate, and molecular oxygen. Peptidyl-alpha
      hydroxyglycine alpha-amidating lyase (PAL) catalyzes the second step of the
      reaction. Previous studies demonstrated that alternative splicing results in the
      production of bifunctional PAM proteins that are integral membrane or soluble
      proteins as well as soluble monofunctional PHM proteins. Rat PAM is encoded by a
      complex single copy gene that consists of 27 exons and encompasses more than 160
      kilobases (kb) of genomic DNA. The 12 exons comprising PHM are distributed over
      at least 76 kb genomic DNA and range in size from 49-185 base pairs; four of the
      introns within the PHM domain are over 10 kb in length. Alternative splicing in
      the PHM region can result in a truncated, inactive PHM protein (rPAM-5), or a
      soluble, monofunctional PHM protein (rPAM-4) instead of a bifunctional protein.
      The eight exons comprising PAL are distributed over at least 19 kb genomic DNA.
      The exons encoding PAL range in size from 54-209 base pairs and have not been
      found to undergo alternative splicing. The PHM and PAL domains are separated by a
      single alternatively spliced exon surrounded by lengthy introns; inclusion of
      this exon results in the production of a form of PAM (rPAM-1) in which
      endoproteolytic cleavage at a paired basic site can separate the two catalytic
      domains. The exon following the PAL domain encodes the trans-membrane domain of
      PAM; alternative splicing at this site produces integral membrane or soluble PAM
      proteins. The COOH-terminal domain of PAM is comprised of a short exon subject to
      alternative splicing and a long exon encoding the final 68 amino acids present in
      all bifunctional PAM proteins along with the entire 3'-untranslated region.
      Analysis of hybrid cell panels indicates that the human PAM gene is situated on
      the long arm of chromosome 5.

PMID- 1448113
TI  - Ligands induce conformational changes in the carboxyl-terminus of progesterone
      receptors which are detected by a site-directed antipeptide monoclonal antibody.
AB  - We have prepared a monoclonal antibody, C-262, to a synthetic peptide that
      contains the carboxy-terminal 14 amino acids from progesterone receptors (PR).
      This sequence is 100% conserved in all species of PRs that have been cloned to
      date, suggesting that this antibody will recognize all mammalian and avian PR.
      The C-262 antibody recognizes both native and denatured forms of the receptor.
      However, it does not recognize PR when they are bound to the hormone agonists
      progesterone or R5020. Surprisingly the antibody does recognize PR when they are
      bound to the steroid antagonist RU486. This suggests that progestin agonists
      induce a conformational change in the receptor that occludes the C-262 epitope in
      the carboxyl-terminus, whereas unliganded receptors and receptors bound with
      RU486 assume distinct conformations that leaves the C-terminal tail accessible to
      the C-262 antibody.

PMID- 1448114
TI  - One of the two trout proopiomelanocortin messenger RNAs potentially encodes new
      peptides.
AB  - POMC is the precursor for a number of biologically active peptides such as ACTH,
      alpha-MSH, beta-MSH, and beta-endorphin. It is well known that some of these
      peptides, especially beta-endorphin, are involved in the regulation of
      reproductive functions in mammals. In order to investigate the possible role of
      POMC-derived peptides in the control of fish reproduction, we have cloned and
      sequenced two different trout POMC cDNAs called POMC A and POMC B. These cDNAs
      exhibited limited sequence homology (44%). The deduced amino acid sequences also
      showed weak similarity (43%), despite the high conservation of some peptide
      sequences (alpha-MSH, beta-MSH, and beta-endorphin). The POMC A coding sequence
      exhibited an unusual length, generating the longest endorphin ever sequenced. The
      long carboxy-terminal part of the beta-endorphin A contained three potential
      dibasic cleavage sites, allowing the occurrence of three new peptides:
      EQWGREEGEE, ALGE, and YHFQG. Using in situ hybridization, we found that the two
      POMC genes were expressed in the same pituitary cells. POMC A mRNA was the only
      one detectable in the hypothalamus of sexually inactive fish, whereas the two
      POMC genes were expressed in the hypothalamus of sexually active fish. These
      results indicate that two functional POMC genes are present in the rainbow trout.
      In POMC neurons, the expression of the POMC B gene is likely to be under the
      control of sexual steroids.

PMID- 1448115
TI  - Regulation of c-jun and jun-B by progestins in T-47D human breast cancer cells.
AB  - To investigate further the molecular mechanisms of progestin regulation of human
      breast cancer cell growth, we studied the effect of progestins on expression of
      the protooncogene c-jun and other members of the jun family, jun-B and jun-D, in
      T-47D human breast cancer cells. The progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA)
      increased c-jun mRNA levels in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. Maximal
      effects were seen after 3 h of treatment with 10-100 nM MPA. Under these
      conditions, the c-jun mRNA was increased 5.4-fold above the control level.
      Although the c-jun mRNA level was increased by cycloheximide alone, a further 2.4
      fold increase was seen when the cells were treated with MPA in the presence of
      cycloheximide. The p39 c-jun protein was also increased 3.8-fold by this
      treatment. Maximum levels of p39 c-jun protein were achieved 9 h after treatment,
      and this level was maintained for at least 24 h. Dexamethasone and
      dihydrotestosterone did not increase the p39 c-jun protein level under these
      conditions. However, MPA treatment of T-47D cells resulted in a 55% decrease in
      overall AP-1 activity, as measured by transient transfection of an AP-1-regulated
      chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene. These effects were all
      reversible by cotreatment with a 10-fold higher concentration of the
      antiprogestin RU 486. MPA decreased jun-B mRNA levels 50% 1 h after treatment in
      T-47D cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448116
TI  - Insulin receptor gene expression during development: developmental regulation of
      insulin receptor mRNA abundance in embryonic rat liver and yolk sac,
      developmental regulation of insulin receptor gene splicing, and comparison to
      abundance of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor mRNA.
AB  - Insulin gene expression has been demonstrated in nonpancreatic tissues early in
      development, suggesting that this hormone might have actions significant for the
      differentiating embryo. Because such actions imply ligand-receptor binding, we
      quantified mRNAs encoding the two known forms of insulin receptor in rat liver
      and yolk sac, two endodermally derived tissues shown to express insulin genes,
      between gestation days (E) 13 and E21 (mid-organogenesis to parturition). Because
      of its presumed importance for fetal growth, we estimated the abundance of mRNA
      encoding insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF 1) receptor in the same samples for
      comparison. The abundance of insulin receptor mRNA exceeded that for IGF 1
      receptor mRNA in liver and yolk sac at all times studied. This difference was
      greater in liver, where insulin receptor mRNAs were three to more than 50 times
      more abundant than IGF 1 receptor mRNA on gestation days E13-E16, times which
      antedate the development of significant hepatic metabolic actions of insulin. The
      marked abundance of mRNAs encoding insulin receptors is consistent with the
      hypothesis that insulin has significant actions in specific tissues during the
      organogenic period.

PMID- 1448117
TI  - Site-directed mutagenesis of glycosylation sites in the transforming growth
      factor-beta 1 (TGF beta 1) and TGF beta 2 (414) precursors and of cysteine
      residues within mature TGF beta 1: effects on secretion and bioactivity.
AB  - The transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF beta 1) and -beta 2 (414) precursors
      both contain three predicted sites of N-linked glycosylation within their pro
      regions. These are located at amino acid residues 72, 140, and 241 for the TGF
      beta 2 (414) precursor and at residues 82, 136, and 176 for the TGF beta 1
      precursor; both proteins contain mannose-6-phosphate (M-6-P) residues. The major
      sites of M-6-P addition are at Asn (82) and Asn (136), the first two sites of
      glycosylation, for the TGF beta 1 precursor. We now show that the major site of M
      6-P addition within the TGF beta 2 (414) precursor is at Asn241, the third
      glycosylation site. To determine the importance of N-linked glycosylation to the
      secretion of TGF beta 1 and -beta 2, site-directed mutagenesis was used to change
      the Asn residues to Ser residues; the resulting DNAs were transfected into COS
      cells, and their supernatants were assayed for TGF beta activity. Substitution of
      Asn (241) of the TGF beta 2 (414) precursor resulted in an 82% decrease in
      secreted TGF beta 2 bioactivity. Mutation at Asn72 resulted in a 44% decrease,
      while mutation at Asn140 was without effect. Elimination of all three
      glycosylation sites resulted in undetectable levels of TGF beta 2. These results
      were compared with similar mutations made in the cDNA encoding the TGF beta 1
      precursor. Mutagenesis of the two M-6-P-containing sites (Asn82 and Asn136)
      resulted in an 83% decrease in secreted TGF beta 1; replacement of Asn82 and
      Asn136 with Ser individually resulted in 85% and 42% decreases in activity,
      respectively. Substitution of Asn176 with Ser was without effect, while
      substitution of all three sites of glycosylation resulted in undetectable levels
      of TGF beta 1 activity, similar to the results obtained with TGF beta 2. The nine
      Cys residues within the mature region of TGF beta 1 were mutated to serine, and
      their effects on TGF beta 1 secretion were evaluated. Mutation of most Cys
      residues resulted in undetectable levels of TGF beta 1 protein or activity in
      conditioned medium. Mutation of Cys (355) led to the secretion of inactive TGF
      beta 1 monomers, suggesting that this residue is either directly involved in
      dimer formation or required for correct interchain disulfide bond formation.

PMID- 1448118
TI  - Characterization of the genomic corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) gene from
      Xenopus laevis: two members of the CRF family exist in amphibians.
AB  - In mammals, the release of pituitary ACTH is stimulated by CRF. Two related
      peptides exist in nonmammalian vertebrates, sauvagine from frog skin and
      urotensin-I from the urophysis of teleost fish. Their related structures
      (approximately 50%) and capacity to stimulate the release of ACTH from mammalian
      and fish pituitaries has led to the proposal that sauvagine and urotensin-I are
      homologs of mammalian CRF. However, sauvagine does not appear to stimulate ACTH
      release in amphibians, although mammalian CRF (ovine) induces a potent response
      from amphibian pituitaries. This could indicate that the main function of
      sauvagine does not involve ACTH regulation and suggests that an additional CRF
      like peptide exists in Amphibia. We report here the isolation of two highly
      homologous CRF-like genes from the frog, Xenopus laevis. Analysis of the
      expression pattern of these CRF-like genes revealed mRNA in splenic tissue and in
      the preoptic nucleus and paraventricular organ of the brain. The amino acid
      sequence of the mature peptide regions (1-41) of both X. laevis genes is
      strikingly conserved, sharing more than 93% homology with mammalian CRFs, yet
      only 50% homology with sauvagine. In view of the fact that these new amphibian
      CRF-like genes share far greater homology with mammalian CRF than that exhibited
      by sauvagine, we propose that the new Xenopus CRF-like genes are the amphibian
      counterparts to mammalian CRF. Thus, two members of the CRF family have now been
      identified in the Amphibia, namely CRF and sauvagine.

PMID- 1448119
TI  - Promoter for the regulatory type I beta subunit of the 3',5'-cyclic adenosine
      monophosphate-dependent protein kinase directs transgene expression in the
      central nervous system.
AB  - Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (cAPK) modulates synaptic transmission and
      influences memory and learning. Among the various isoforms of regulatory and
      catalytic subunits that comprise mammalian cAPK, only the regulatory type I beta
      (RI beta) subunit is unique to nervous tissue. The requirement for RI beta in
      neurons is presently unknown. Previous studies demonstrate that holoenzyme
      containing RI beta activates at lower concentrations of cAMP compared to other
      forms of cAPK. Thus, neurons that induce RI beta expression may become more
      sensitive to subsequent hormonal signals and maintain more long-term
      phosphorylation events. To further elucidate the function of this novel protein,
      we have begun to investigate its gene. Here we report the isolation of the mouse
      RI beta promoter as determined by S1 nuclease analysis and transgenic mouse
      expression. A beta-galactosidase fusion gene containing 1.5 kilobases of 5'
      nontranscribed RI beta DNA and 2 kilobases of intron 1 was expressed
      preferentially in the cortex and hippocampus of the brain and within the spinal
      cord. In addition to mimicking the location of endogenous RI beta expression, the
      transgene was activated at a similar time (embryonic day 11.5) during mouse fetal
      development. Isolation of the RI beta promoter will help identify the elements
      that direct transcription in a subset of neurons and illuminate the physiological
      conditions that may regulate RI beta expression. This promoter can also be used
      to target the expression of wild type and mutant cAPK subunit genes in order to
      investigate synaptic plasticity in animals.

PMID- 1448120
TI  - An association between collateral blood flow and myocardial viability in patients
      with recent myocardial infarction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that successful reperfusion of an occluded infarct
      related coronary artery even late after acute myocardial infarction would result
      in improved regional wall motion and that such improvement might be related to
      the presence of collateral blood flow within the infarct bed. METHODS: We
      assessed regional wall motion by two-dimensional echocardiography at base line
      and one month after angioplasty was attempted in the occluded infarct-related
      artery in 43 patients who had had a myocardial infarction two days to five weeks
      earlier. A wall-motion score was assigned to each patient on a five-point scale
      (from 1 [normal function] to 5 [dyskinesia]). The percentage of the infarct bed
      perfused by collateral flow was assessed with myocardial contrast
      echocardiography. RESULTS: In the 41 patients who had abnormal wall motion at
      base line, improvement in function was noted in 25 (78 percent) of the 32 in whom
      angioplasty was successful, as compared with only 1 (11 percent) of the 9 in whom
      it was unsuccessful (P < 0.001). The percentage of the infarct bed supplied by
      collateral flow at base line was directly correlated with wall function and
      inversely correlated with the wall-motion score one month after successful
      angioplasty (r = -0.64, P < 0.001). Among the patients in whom angioplasty was
      successful, the 23 in whom > 50 percent of the infarct bed was supplied by
      collateral flow had better wall motion (P < 0.001) and greater improvement in
      wall motion at one month (P = 0.004) than the 9 in whom < or = 50 percent of the
      bed was supplied by collateral flow. The degree of improvement in function was
      not influenced by the length of time between the infarction and the attempted
      angioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: The myocardium remains viable for a prolonged period in
      many patients with acute infarction and an occluded infarct-related artery.
      Viability appears to be associated with the presence of collateral blood flow
      within the infarct bed.

PMID- 1448121
TI  - A controlled trial of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or aerosolized pentamidine
      for secondary prophylaxis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with the
      acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS Clinical Trials Group Protocol 021.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) continues to be the most common
      index diagnosis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), but it is not
      clear which of several available agents is the most effective in preventing a
      recurrence of PCP. METHODS: We conducted a comparative, open-label trial in 310
      adults with AIDS who had recently recovered from an initial episode of PCP and
      had no treatment-limiting toxic effects of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or
      pentamidine. All the patients were treated with zidovudine and were randomly
      assigned to receive either 800 mg of sulfamethoxazole and 160 mg of trimethoprim
      once daily or 300 mg of aerosolized pentamidine administered every four weeks by
      jet nebulizer. The participants were followed for a median of 17.4 months.
      RESULTS: In the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole group (n = 154) there were 14
      recurrences of PCP, as compared with 36 recurrences (including 1 extrapulmonary
      recurrence) in the aerosolized-pentamidine group (n = 156). The estimated
      recurrence rates at 18 months were 11.4 percent with trimethoprim
      sulfamethoxazole and 27.6 percent with pentamidine (P < 0.001). The risk of a
      recurrence (adjusted for initial CD4 cell count) was 3.25 times higher in the
      pentamidine group (P < 0.001, 95 percent confidence interval, 1.72 to 6.16).
      There were no significant differences between the groups in survival or in
      hematologic or hepatic toxicity. Crossovers from trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole to
      aerosolized pentamidine were more common than the reverse (27 vs. 4 percent),
      partly because of the study protocols for the management of leukopenia. There
      were 19 serious bacterial infections in the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole group
      and 38 in the pentamidine group. The time to a first bacterial infection was
      significantly greater for those assigned to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (P =
      0.017). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AIDS who are receiving zidovudine,
      trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is more effective than aerosolized pentamidine in
      conventional doses for the prevention of recurrent pneumocystis infection.

PMID- 1448122
TI  - The self-limited nature of chronic idiopathic diarrhea.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Little is known about the clinical presentation and natural history
      of previously healthy patients in whom chronic idiopathic diarrhea develops.
      METHODS: We reviewed the case records of 152 patients with chronic diarrhea who
      had no history of gastrointestinal surgery and who were evaluated in detail as
      part of a chronic-diarrhea protocol from 1985 to 1990. Patients were considered
      to have chronic idiopathic diarrhea if they had persistently loose stools for
      more than four weeks, no systemic illness, and no identifiable cause of diarrhea.
      RESULTS: Seventeen patients (10 men and 7 women) ranging in age from 33 to 72
      years met the criteria for chronic idiopathic diarrhea. Each patient had a
      history of a relatively abrupt onset of symptoms, often soon after returning home
      from a trip, starting two to seven months before evaluation. Their diarrhea did
      not occur during a local outbreak of diarrhea, and other family members did not
      become ill. Stool frequency ranged from 5 to 25 movements per day, stool weights
      ranged from 417 to 1480 g per day, and fecal electrolyte and osmolality values
      were consistent with a diagnosis of secretory diarrhea. The results of biopsies
      of the small intestine and colon were normal, as were small-bowel roentgenograms.
      Extensive studies for infectious causes of diarrhea were negative, and no patient
      responded to antibiotic therapy. In every patient the diarrhea stopped without
      specific therapy after 7 to 31 months (mean, 15) and did not recur during a
      follow-up period averaging 38 months. CONCLUSIONS: Sporadic idiopathic chronic
      diarrhea is a recognizable syndrome that can last many months, but is self
      limited.

PMID- 1448123
TI  - Prevention and treatment of pneumocystis pneumonia.

PMID- 1448124
TI  - Seminars in medicine of the Beth Israel Hospital, Boston: Pancreatic and islet
      transplantation for diabetes--cures or curiosities?

PMID- 1448125
TI  - Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Weekly clinicopathological
      exercises. Case 51-1992. A 78-year-old woman with recurrent gastrointestinal
      bleeding after several intra-abdominal vascular operations.

PMID- 1448126
TI  - Folic acid and neural-tube defects--time for action?

PMID- 1448127
TI  - Suicide in the home in relation to gun ownership.

PMID- 1448128
TI  - Suicide in the home in relation to gun ownership.

PMID- 1448129
TI  - Suicide in the home in relation to gun ownership.

PMID- 1448130
TI  - Suicide in the home in relation to gun ownership.

PMID- 1448131
TI  - Prevalence of HIV-infected syringes during a syringe-exchange program.

PMID- 1448132
TI  - Things that go bang in the night.

PMID- 1448133
TI  - Adding injustice to injury. Compulsory payment for unwanted treatment.

PMID- 1448134
TI  - His father's Oldsmobile.

PMID- 1448135
TI  - Sakmann starts German-Israeli fund.

PMID- 1448136
TI  - Germany will ease requirements of gene technology laws in bow to researchers.

PMID- 1448137
TI  - EMF report draws fire.

PMID- 1448138
TI  - FDA wants to invite women into drug trials earlier.

PMID- 1448139
TI  - The brain size/IQ debate.

PMID- 1448140
TI  - The brain size/IQ debate.

PMID- 1448141
TI  - Watch that dog!

PMID- 1448142
TI  - Mir for the crystallographers' money.

PMID- 1448143
TI  - Molecular neurology comes of age.

PMID- 1448144
TI  - Immunology. Deconstructing the MHC.

PMID- 1448145
TI  - Neurobiology. Elements of visual perception.

PMID- 1448146
TI  - Of mice and men.

PMID- 1448147
TI  - Protein kinase C downregulation?

PMID- 1448148
TI  - Alpha-inhibin is a tumour-suppressor gene with gonadal specificity in mice.
AB  - The inhibins are alpha:beta heterodimeric growth factors that are members of the
      transforming growth factor-beta family. To understand the physiological roles of
      the inhibins in mammalian development and reproduction, a targeted deletion of
      the alpha-inhibin gene was generated by homologous recombination in mouse
      embryonic stem cells. Mice homozygous for the null allele (inhibin-deficient)
      initially develop normally but every mouse ultimately develops mixed or
      incompletely differentiated gonadal stromal tumours either unilaterally or
      bilaterally. Inhibin is thus a critical negative regulator of gonadal stromal
      cell proliferation and the first secreted protein identified to have tumour
      suppressor activity.

PMID- 1448149
TI  - Functional localization and lateralization of human olfactory cortex.
AB  - Anatomical and physiological investigations in monkeys indicate that olfaction is
      subserved by several cortical regions. But the areas implicated in the human
      olfactory system have not been definitively identified by functional criteria.
      Behavioural evidence has suggested that laterally specialized mechanisms for
      odour processing may exist, but the neuroanatomical substrate remains unknown. We
      used positron emission tomography to study the cortical representation of human
      olfactory processing by comparing cerebral blood flow changes evoked during
      olfactory stimulation with those of a control task. We report here significant
      cerebral blood flow increases at the junction of the inferior frontal and
      temporal lobes bilaterally, corresponding to the piriform cortex, and
      unilaterally, in the right orbitofrontal cortex. The results complement and
      extend previous data implicating these regions in olfactory processing, and
      indicate that a functional asymmetry exists in the human brain favouring the
      right orbitofrontal area in olfaction.

PMID- 1448150
TI  - Columns for visual features of objects in monkey inferotemporal cortex.
AB  - At early stages of the mammalian visual cortex, neurons with similar stimulus
      selectivities are vertically arrayed through the thickness of the cortical sheet
      and clustered in patches or bands across the surface. This organization, referred
      to as a 'column', has been found with respect to one-dimensional stimulus
      parameters such as orientation of stimulus contours, eye dominance of visual
      inputs, and direction of stimulus motion. It is unclear, however, whether
      information with extremely high dimensions, such as visual shape, is organized in
      a similar columnar fashion or in a different manner in the brain. Here we report
      that the anterior inferotemporal area of the monkey cortex, the final station of
      the visual cortical stream crucial for object recognition, consists of columns,
      each containing cells responsive to similar visual features of objects.

PMID- 1448151
TI  - Brefeldin A inhibits Golgi membrane-catalysed exchange of guanine nucleotide onto
      ARF protein.
AB  - The fungal metabolite brefeldin A is a powerful tool for investigating membrane
      traffic in eukaryotic cells. The effects of brefeldin A on traffic are partly
      explained by its ability to prevent binding of cytosolic coat proteins onto
      membranes. The non-clathrin coatomer complex binds reversibly to Golgi membranes
      in a GTP-controlled cycle. The low-molecular-mass GTP-binding protein ADP
      ribosylation factor (ARF), which also associates reversibly with Golgi membranes,
      is required for coatomer binding and probably accounts for the control by guanine
      nucleotide of the coatomer-membrane interaction. Brefeldin A prevents the
      assembly of coatomer onto the membrane by inhibiting the GTP-dependent
      interaction of ARF with the Golgi membrane, but the nature of this interaction
      has not been established. Here we demonstrate that Golgi membranes can
      specifically catalyse the exchange of GTP onto ARF and that brefeldin A prevents
      this function.

PMID- 1448152
TI  - Inhibition by brefeldin A of a Golgi membrane enzyme that catalyses exchange of
      guanine nucleotide bound to ARF.
AB  - A wide variety of membrane transformations important in intracellular transport
      are inhibited by the fungal metabolite brefeldin A (refs 1-4), implying that the
      target for this drug is central to the formation and maintenance of subcellular
      compartments. Brefeldin A added to cells causes the rapid and reversible
      dissociation of a Golgi-associated peripheral membrane protein (M(r) 110,000)
      which was found to be identical to one of the subunits of the coat of Golgi
      derived (non-clathrin) coated vesicles, beta-COP, implying that brefeldin A
      prevents transport by blocking the assembly of coats and thus the budding of
      enclosed vesicles. In addition to the coatomer (a cytosol-derived complex of
      seven polypeptide chains, one of which is beta-COP), the non-clathrin (COP) coat
      of Golgi-derived vesicles contains stoichiometric amounts of a small (M(r)
      approximately 20,000) GTP-binding protein, the ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF).
      Binding of ARF to Golgi membranes is necessary before coatomer/beta-COP can bind
      these membranes (ref. 12; and D. J. Palmer et al., manuscript submitted), so the
      primary effect of brefeldin A seems to be on the reaction responsible for ARF
      binding. Indeed, like beta-COP, ARF is dissociated from the Golgi complex by
      treatment with brefeldin A and brefeldin A prevents ARF from associating in
      vitro, but the mechanism of this action by brefeldin A has been unclear. Here we
      report the discovery of an enzyme in a Golgi-enriched fraction that catalyses
      guanine nucleotide (GDP-GTP) exchange on ARF-1 protein, and which is inhibited by
      brefeldin A. We suggest that activation of ARF proteins for membrane localization
      by compartmentalized exchange enzymes is in general the first committed step in
      membrane transformation pathways.

PMID- 1448153
TI  - Different length peptides bind to HLA-Aw68 similarly at their ends but bulge out
      in the middle.
AB  - We report here the determination and refinement to 1.9 A resolution by X-ray cryo
      crystallography the structure of HLA-Aw68. The averaged image from the collection
      of bound, endogenous peptides clearly shows the atomic structure at the first
      three and last two amino acids in the peptides but no connected electron density
      in between. This suggests that bound peptides, held at both ends, take
      alternative pathways and could be of different lengths by bulging out in the
      middle. Peptides eluted from HLA-Aw68 include peptides of 9, 10 and 11 amino
      acids, a direct indication of the length heterogeneity of tightly bound peptides.
      Peptide sequencing shows relatively conserved 'anchor' residues at position 2 and
      the carboxy-terminal residue. Conserved binding sites for the peptide N and C
      termini at the ends of the class I major histocompatibility complex binding
      groove are apparently dominant in producing the long half-lives of peptide
      binding and the peptide-dependent stabilization of the class I molecule's
      structure.

PMID- 1448154
TI  - Atomic structure of a human MHC molecule presenting an influenza virus peptide.
AB  - Infection by influenza virus results in the stimulation of cytotoxic T
      lymphocytes specific for killing virally infected cells. Specificity is provided
      by clonally distributed, hypervariable T-cell receptors on cytotoxic T
      lymphocytes which react with peptide fragments that are derived from viral
      proteins expressed in the cytoplasm and 'presented' on the surface of infected
      cells, bound to class I histocompatibility glycoproteins. Here we describe the
      structure of the complex between the human class I histocompatibility
      glycoprotein HLA-Aw68 and the influenza virus nucleoprotein peptide Np 91-99 as
      determined by X-ray cryocrystallography. Residues at both ends of the peptide are
      substantially buried in the peptide binding-site, whereas those in the middle of
      the peptide, P4 to P8, are predominantly exposed and could be recognized directly
      by T-cell receptors. The extended conformation of the bound viral peptide is
      remarkably similar to that of a collection of endogenous peptides with a
      different sequence motif bound to another human allele, HLA-B27. The structure
      defines in atomic detail the antigenic surface constructed of major
      histocompatibility complex and viral peptide atoms that is recognized by T-cell
      receptors.

PMID- 1448156
TI  - Identification by anti-idiotype antibodies of an intracellular membrane protein
      that recognizes a mammalian endoplasmic reticulum retention signal.

PMID- 1448155
TI  - The three-dimensional structure of an intact monoclonal antibody for canine
      lymphoma.
AB  - Crystal structures of Fab antibody fragments determined by X-ray diffraction
      characteristically feature four-domain, beta-barrel arrangements. A human
      antibody Fc fragment has also been found to have four beta-barrel domains. The
      structures of a few intact antibodies have been solved: in two myeloma proteins,
      the flexible hinge regions that connect the Fc to the Fab segments were deleted
      so the molecules were non-functional, structurally restrained, T-shaped
      antibodies; a third antibody, Kol, had no hinge residues missing but the Fc
      region was sufficiently disordered that it was not possible to relate its
      disposition accurately with respect to the Fab components. Here we report the
      structure at 3.5 A resolution of an IgG2a antitumour monoclonal antibody which
      contains an intact hinge region and was solved in a triclinic crystal by
      molecular replacement using known Fc and Fab fragments. The antibody is
      asymmetric, reflecting its dynamic character. There are two local, apparently
      independent, dyads in the molecule. One relates the heavy chains in the Fc, the
      other relates the constant domains of the Fabs. The variable domains are not
      related by this 2-fold axis because of the different Fab elbow angles of 159
      degrees and 143 degrees. The Fc has assumed an asymmetric, oblique orientation
      with respect to loosely tethered yet almost collinear Fabs. Our study enables the
      two antigen-binding segments as well as the Fc portion of a functional molecule
      to be visualized and illustrates the flexibility of these immune response
      proteins.

PMID- 1448157
TI  - Gene therapy researcher under fire over controversial cancer trials.

PMID- 1448158
TI  - US genome project does it the French way, conceding that size matters after all.

PMID- 1448159
TI  - Biotechnology loses another battle in Germany.

PMID- 1448160
TI  - Dutch win a reprieve over threatened lab closing.

PMID- 1448161
TI  - Efficacy of leprosy vaccine.

PMID- 1448162
TI  - AIDS and sexual behaviour in France. ACSF investigators.
AB  - The results of a massive telephone survey of sexual lifestyles in France should
      provide a basis for prevention strategies for AIDS and sexually transmitted
      diseases.

PMID- 1448163
TI  - Sexual lifestyles and HIV risk.
AB  - Britain's first large, national survey of sexual attitudes and lifestyles will
      allow improved estimates of the magnitude of the HIV epidemic in Britain and
      should lead to better strategies for prevention.

PMID- 1448164
TI  - Evolutionary biology. What the sperm count costs.

PMID- 1448165
TI  - Superantigen data.

PMID- 1448166
TI  - Echoes of D4 receptor repeats.

PMID- 1448167
TI  - Production of sperm reduces nematode lifespan.
AB  - Sex and death are two fundamental but poorly understood aspects of life. They are
      often thought to be linked because reproduction requires the diversion of limited
      resources from somatic growth and maintenance. This diversion of resources in
      mated animals, often called a cost of reproduction, is usually expressed as a
      reduction of lifespan in mated animals, although some debate exists on the best
      way to measure this cost. I report here that in the soil nematode, Caenorhabditis
      elegans, sex significantly decreases male lifespan without reducing hermaphrodite
      lifespan. The reduction of mated male lifespan seems to be caused by additional
      sperm production and not by the physical activity of mating. This conclusion is
      supported by observations that a mutation reducing sperm production increased
      mean lifespan by about 65% in both mated males and hermaphrodites. This suggests
      that spermatogenesis, rather than oogenesis or the physical act of mating, is a
      major factor reducing lifespan in C. elegans. This contradicts the traditional
      biological assumption that large oocytes are much costlier to produce than small
      sperm.

PMID- 1448168
TI  - Viscous fingering of HCl through gastric mucin.
AB  - The HCl in the mammalian stomach is concentrated enough to digest the stomach
      itself, yet the gastric epithelium remains undamaged. One protective factor is
      gastric mucus, which forms a protective layer over the surface epithelium and
      acts as a diffusion barrier Bicarbonate ions secreted by the gastric epithelium
      are trapped in the mucus gel, establishing a gradient from pH 1-2 at the lumen to
      pH 6-7 at the cell surface. How does HCl, secreted at the base of gastric glands
      by parietal cells, traverse the mucus layer without acidifying it? Here we
      demonstrate that injection of HCl through solutions of pig gastric mucin produces
      viscous fingering patterns dependent on pH, mucin concentration and acid flow
      rate. Above pH 4, discrete fingers are observed, whereas below pH 4, HCl neither
      penetrates the mucin solution nor forms fingers. Our in vitro results suggest
      that HCl secreted by the gastric gland can penetrate the mucus gel layer (pH 5-7)
      through narrow fingers, whereas HCl in the lumen (pH 2) is prevented from
      diffusing back to the epithelium by the high viscosity of gastric mucus gel on
      the luminal side.

PMID- 1448169
TI  - Possible blindsight in infants lacking one cerebral hemisphere.
AB  - Patients with damage to the striate cortex have a subjectively blind region of
      the visual field, but may still be able to detect and localize targets within
      this region. But the relative roles in this 'blindsight' of subcortical neural
      systems, and of pathways to extra-striate visual areas, have been uncertain. Here
      we report results on two infants in whom one cerebral hemisphere, including both
      striate and extra-striate visual cortex, needed surgical removal in their first
      year. Single conspicuous targets in the half-field contralateral to the lesion
      could elicit fixations, implying detection and orienting by a subcortical system.
      In contrast, binocular optokinetic nystagmus (OKN), for which a subcortical
      pathway has often been thought adequate, showed a marked asymmetry. In normal
      neonates, fixation shifts and OKN have both been taken to reflect subcortical
      control; our results are consistent with subcortical control for fixation but not
      for OKN.

PMID- 1448170
TI  - Cloning and expression of a rat brain L-glutamate transporter.
AB  - Synaptic transmission of most vertebrate synapses is thought to be terminated by
      rapid transport of the neurotransmitter into presynaptic nerve terminals or
      neuroglia. L-Glutamate is the major excitatory transmitter in brain and its
      transport represents the mechanism by which it is removed from the synaptic cleft
      and kept below toxic levels. Here we use an antibody against a glial L-glutamate
      transporter from rat brain to isolate a complementary DNA clone encoding this
      transporter. Expression of this cDNA in transfected HeLa cells indicates that L
      glutamate accumulation requires external sodium and internal potassium and
      transport shows the expected stereospecificity. The cDNA sequence predicts a
      protein of 573 amino acids with 8-9 putative transmembrane alpha-helices.
      Database searches indicate that this protein is not homologous to any identified
      protein of mammalian origin, including the recently described superfamily of
      neurotransmitter transporters. This protein therefore seems to be a member of a
      new family of transport molecules.

PMID- 1448171
TI  - The glial cell glutamate uptake carrier countertransports pH-changing anions.
AB  - Uptake into glial cells helps to terminate glutamate's neurotransmitter action
      and to keep its extracellular concentration, [Glu]o, below neurotoxic levels. The
      accumulative power of the uptake carrier stems from its transport of inorganic
      ions such as sodium (into the cell) and potassium (out of the cell). There is
      controversy over whether the carrier also transports a proton (or pH-changing
      anion). Here we show that the carrier generates an alkalinization outside and an
      acidification inside glial cells, and transports anions out of the cells,
      suggesting that there is a carrier cycle in which two Na+ accompany each
      glutamate anion into the cell, while one K+ and one OH- (or HCO3-) are
      transported out. This stoichiometry predicts a minimum [Glu]o of 0.6 microM
      normally (tonically activating presynaptic autoreceptors and post-synaptic NMDA
      receptors), and 370 microM during brain anoxia (high enough to kill neurons).
      Transport of OH-/HCO3- on the uptake carrier generates significant pH changes,
      and may provide a mechanism for neuron-glial interaction.

PMID- 1448172
TI  - HLA-DR molecules from an antigen-processing mutant cell line are associated with
      invariant chain peptides.
AB  - The invariant chain, which associates with the major histocompatibility complex
      (MHC) class II molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum, serves two functions
      important in antigen processing. First, it prevents class II molecules from
      binding peptides in the early stages of intracellular transport. Second, it
      contains a cytoplasmic signal that targets the class II-invariant chain complex
      to an acidic endosomal compartment. Proteolytic cleavage and subsequent
      dissociation of the invariant chain then occurs, allowing peptides derived from
      endocytosed proteins to bind to released class II molecules before their
      expression at the cell surface. Certain human cell lines that are mutant in one
      or more MHC-linked genes are defective in class II-restricted antigen processing.
      Here we show that in transfectants of one of these cell lines, T2, this
      deficiency results in the association of a large proportion of class II molecules
      with a nested set of invariant-chain-derived peptides (class II-associated
      invariant chain peptides, or CLIP). HLA-DR3 molecules isolated from T2
      transfectants can be efficiently loaded with antigenic peptides by exposure to a
      low pH in vitro, perhaps reflecting the in vivo conditions in which peptides
      associate with class II molecules. Addition of synthetic CLIP inhibits the
      loading process, indicating that CLIP may define the region of the invariant
      chain responsible for obstructing the class II binding site.

PMID- 1448173
TI  - Molecular cloning of ICAM-3, a third ligand for LFA-1, constitutively expressed
      on resting leukocytes.
AB  - The co-ordinated function of effector and accessory cells in the immune system is
      assisted by adhesion molecules on the cell surface that stabilize interactions
      between different cell types. Leukocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) is
      expressed on the surface of all white blood cells and is a receptor for
      intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM) 1 and 2 (ref. 3) which are members of the
      immunoglobulin superfamily. The interaction of LFA-1 with ICAMs 1 and 2 provides
      essential accessory adhesion signals in many immune interactions, including those
      between T and B lymphocytes and cytotoxic T cells and their targets. In addition,
      both ICAMs are expressed at low levels on resting vascular endothelium; ICAM-1 is
      strongly upregulated by cytokine stimulation and plays a key role in the arrest
      of leukocytes in blood vessels at sites of inflammation and injury. Recent work
      has indicated that resting leukocytes express a third ligand, ICAM-3, for LFA-1
      (refs 11, 12). ICAM-3 is potentially the most important ligand for LFA-1 in the
      initiation of the immune response because the expression of ICAM-1 on resting
      leukocytes is low. We report the expression cloning of a complementary DNA, pICAM
      3, encoding a protein constitutively expressed on all leukocytes, which binds LFA
      1. ICAM-3 is closely related to ICAM-1, consists of five immunoglobulin domains,
      and binds LFA-1 through its two N-terminal domains.

PMID- 1448174
TI  - Cloning and characterization of a new intercellular adhesion molecule ICAM-R.
AB  - The human intercellular adhesion molecules ICAM-1, ICAM-2 and their counter
      receptors, the beta 2 or leukointegrins, mediate a variety of homotypic and
      heterotypic leukocyte and endothelial cell-cell adhesions central to
      immunocompetence. It has been found that cell-cell adhesion which is dependent on
      expression of the leukocyte function-associated antigen LFA-1 is not always
      blocked completely by antibodies raised against ICAM-1 and ICAM-2. Other
      leukointegrin ligands therefore probably exist, such as a glycoprotein of M(r)
      124K that binds LFA-1 and has been designated ICAM-3 on the basis of this
      function. We have molecularly cloned a new member of the ICAM family, ICAM-R,
      which is related to ICAM-1 and ICAM-2. The complementary DNA encoding ICAM-R is
      1,781 base pairs long and the protein has five extracellular immunoglobulin
      family type domains. The mature cell-surface form of the ICAM-R protein has an
      M(r) which varies from 116 to 140K in a cell type-specific fashion. Overall
      identities in protein sequence with ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 are 48% and 31%
      respectively, with the degree of similarity varying between individual domains.
      The high level of expression of ICAM-R on resting leukocytes of all lineages and
      its lack of expression on either resting or cytokine-activated endothelial cells
      indicates a pattern of expression distinct from ICAM-1 and ICAM-2. In common with
      ICAM-1 and ICAM-2, ICAM-R is a ligand for the beta 2-integrin CD11a/LFA-1 (CD18).

PMID- 1448175
TI  - Imprinting and splicing join together.
AB  - A gene thought to be involved in RNA splicing, and which is imprinted in mice,
      may play an important part in Prader-Willi syndrome.

PMID- 1448176
TI  - Making light work with optical tweezers.
AB  - Microscopic objects, including biological material, can be remotely manipulated
      with tightly focused beams of infrared laser light. The use of optical traps, or
      'optical tweezers', holds great promise for noninvasive micromanipulation and
      mechanical measurement in cell biology. Optical tweezers are the 'tractor beams'
      of today's technology.

PMID- 1448177
TI  - Long lasting attenuation of 8-OH-DPAT-induced corticosterone secretion after a
      single injection of a 5-HT1A receptor agonist.
AB  - The effects of 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propyl-amino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) and some other
      5-hydroxytryptamine1A (5-HT1A) receptor agonists (buspirone, ipsapirone and
      flesinoxan) on corticosterone secretion in rats were studied. The 5-HT1A
      receptors mediating the corticosterone secretion appear to be postsynaptic to the
      5-HT neurons, since the response to 8-OH-DPAT was not decreased but potentiated
      by depletion of 5-HT with p-chlorophenylalanine pretreatment of the animals.
      Rapid attenuation of the response was developed after a single dose of a 5-HT1A
      receptor agonist. Thus, 1 mg/kg s.c. of 8-OH-DPAT attenuated the response of a
      challenge dose (0.1 mg/kg s.c.) of this compound within 4 h lasting between 7 and
      14 d. The development of the subsensitivity was antagonized by pretreatment of
      the rats with the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist S-5-fluoro-8-hydroxy-2-(di-n
      propylamino)tetralin ((-)-UH 301). This compound also antagonized the acute
      effect of 8-OH-DPAT in increasing serum corticosterone. The subsensitivity
      development was specific for the 5-HT1A receptor-mediated corticosterone
      secretion, since the increase in serum corticosterone produced by stimulation of
      other receptor systems, e.g. alpha 2-adrenoreceptors (clonidine) or 5-HT2
      receptors [1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane, (DOI)] was not
      affected.

PMID- 1448178
TI  - Functional expression of human 5-HT1A receptors and differential coupling to
      second messengers in CHO cells.
AB  - The signal transduction linkages of the cloned human 5-HT1A receptor as expressed
      stably in CHO cells were studied. A transfected clonal cell line which expresses
      900 +/- 36 fmol 5-HT1A receptor/mg protein (designated CHO-5-HT1A/WT-27)
      responded to 5-HT and/or 8-OH-DPAT by coupling to several second messenger
      pathways. The 5-HT1A receptor inhibited, but did not stimulate, membrane adenylyl
      cyclase activity and whole cell cAMP accumulation in a dose-dependent manner (for
      5-HT, IC50 = 146 +/- 27 and 55 +/- 12 nM, respectively). Activation of the
      receptor was associated with other signal transduction linkages: (i) a 40-50%
      increase in hydrolysis of inositol phosphates (for 5-HT, EC50 = 1.33 +/- 0.15
      microM for 5-HT), (ii) a transient elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ levels (apparent
      at 1-100 microM 5-HT) which was not affected by chelation of extracellular Ca2+
      by EGTA, and (iii) an augmentation of [3H]-arachidonic acid release
      pharmacologically with the calcium ionophore A23187 or by activation of
      endogenous thrombin or P2 purinergic receptors (for 5-HT, EC50 = 1.22 +/- 0.17
      microM). This pathway may be an amplification mechanism for signaling in anatomic
      regions with high concentrations of several neuro-transmitters, hormones or
      autacoids, such as at neuronal junctions or near areas of platelet aggregation.
      All linkages were sensitive to pertussis toxin pre-treatment (IC50 approximately
      0.5-0.6 ng/ml x 4.5 h for all pathways), suggesting the involvement of Gi
      protein(s) in these signal transduction pathways. Coupling to varied signal
      transduction pathways in a single cell system may be a common feature of
      receptors which classically inhibit adenylyl cyclase such as the 5-HT1A receptor.

PMID- 1448179
TI  - Characterization of the interaction of the cervane alkaloid, imperialine, at
      muscarinic receptors in vitro.
AB  - The action of the cervane alkaloid, imperialine, has been assessed at M1, M2 and
      M3 receptors in functional assays and at M1, M2, M3 and putative M4 sites in
      binding studies. In functional studies, imperialine acted as a selective
      surmountable antagonist at M2 receptors in guinea-pig isolated atria and uterus (
      log KB = 7.7 and 7.4, respectively), in comparison to M1 receptors in canine
      isolated saphenous vein (-log KB = 6.9) or M3 receptors in a range of guinea-pig
      isolated smooth muscles including ileum, trachea, fundus, seminal vesicle or
      oesophagus (-log KB = 6.6-6.8). In rat aorta, the -log KB value at the M3
      receptor (5.9) was slightly, but significantly, lower. In competition radioligand
      binding studies, imperialine was also selective toward to M2 sites in rat
      myocardium (-log Ki = 7.2) with respect to M1 and M3 sites (rat cerebral cortex,
      rat submaxillary gland; -log Ki = 6.1 and 5.7, respectively). However, it did not
      significantly discriminate between rat cardiac M2 sites and putative M4 sites in
      rabbit lung (-log Ki = 6.9). Imperialine resembles the alkaloid himbacine in
      terms of its pharmacological profile at muscarinic receptor subtypes in that it
      acts as an M2 selective antagonist with respect to M1 or M3 sites. It may also
      provide a second, commercially available, antagonist with which to discriminate
      between M1 and M4 receptors.

PMID- 1448180
TI  - The extraneuronal transport mechanism for noradrenaline (uptake2) avidly
      transports 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+).
AB  - The corticosterone-sensitive extraneuronal transport mechanism for noradrenaline
      (uptake2) removes the neurotransmitter from the extracellular space. Recently, an
      experimental model for uptake2 has been introduced which is based on tissue
      culture techniques (human Caki-1 cells). The present study describes some
      properties of uptake2 in Caki-1 cells and introduces a new substrate, i.e., 1
      methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). Experiments on Caki-1 cells disclosed
      disadvantages of tritiated noradrenaline as substrate for the investigation of
      uptake2. The initial rate of 3H-noradrenaline transport [kin = 0.58
      microliter/(mg protein.min)] was low compared with other cellular transport
      systems and intracellular noradrenaline was subject to rapid metabolism (kO
      methylation = 0.54 min-1). The neurotoxin MPP+ was found to be a good substrate
      of uptake2. Initial rates of specific 3H-MPP+ transport into Caki-1 cells were
      saturable, the Km being 24 micromol/l and the Vmax being 420 pmol/(mg
      protein.min). The rate constant of specific inward transport was 34 times higher
      [19.6 microliters/(mg protein.min)] than that of 3H-noradrenaline. The ratio
      specific over non-specific transport was considerably higher for 3H-MPP+ (12.6)
      than for 3H-noradrenaline (3.0). 3H-MPP+ transport into Caki-1 cells was
      inhibited by various inhibitors of uptake2. The highly significant positive
      correlation (p less than 0.001, r = 0.986, n = 7) between the IC50's for the
      inhibition of the transport of 3H-noradrenaline and 3H-MPP+, respectively, proves
      the hypothesis that MPP+ enters Caki-1 cells via uptake2. 3H-MPP+ is taken up via
      uptake2 not only by Caki-1 cells but also by the isolated perfused rat heart
      which is another established model of uptake2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448181
TI  - Extraneuronal uptake of noradrenaline in rabbit dental pulp: evidence of identity
      with uptake1.
AB  - The extraneuronal removal and disposition of noradrenaline in rabbit dental pulp
      was examined in view of earlier evidence that the tissue possessed an
      extraneuronal uptake process resembling neuronal uptake1. Pulp, which had been
      depleted of sympathetic nerves by homolateral superior cervical ganglionectomy,
      was incubated in vitro with 3H-noradrenaline in low concentrations (0.025 or 0.18
      mumol/l). When the metabolising enzymes (monoamine oxidase, catechol-O-methyl
      transferase) were active, 3H retention by the denervated pulp, as indicated by
      the 3H content after the tissue had been washed for 30 min following incubation
      with 3H-noradrenaline, was less than 3% of that of the innervated pulp. When the
      enzymes were inhibited, retention rose to approximately 30% of that of the
      innervated pulp. Analysis of the time course of the 3H efflux indicated that the
      3H-noradrenaline in the denervated pulp had accumulated in a single compartment
      characterised by a t1/2 for efflux of several hours. Accumulation did not occur
      under Na(+)-free conditions, and was inhibited by desipramine (IC50 less than
      0.03 mumol/l) and by substrates of neuronal uptake1. Mean IC50 values of the
      latter were very similar to those for inhibition of neuronal uptake1 and
      comprised (in mumol/l): (+)amphetamine (0.29), dopamine (0.31), tyramine (0.39),
      (-)noradrenaline (0.70), (-)adrenaline (1.50), 5-hydroxytryptamine (20) and
      bretylium (35). Uptake2 inhibitors were less active (O-methyl isoprenaline, IC50
      = 60 mumol/l) than uptake1 inhibitors, or were without inhibitory effects at the
      concentrations tested (hydrocortisone, 210 mumol/l; 2-methoxy oestrone, 10
      mumol/l).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448182
TI  - Stable adenine nucleotides inhibit [3H]-noradrenaline release in rabbit brain
      cortex slices by direct action at presynaptic adenosine A1-receptors.
AB  - Effects of adenosine and nucleotides on the release of previously stored [3H]
      noradrenaline were studied in rabbit brain cortex slices. The slices were
      stimulated twice, in most experiments by 6 electrical field pulses delivered at
      100 Hz. Adenosine and the nucleotides AMP, ADP, ATP, AMPS, ADP beta S, ATP gamma
      S, beta,gamma-imido-ATP and beta,gamma-methylene-ATP all reduced the evoked
      overflow of tritiated compounds. For purines for which concentration-response
      curves were determined, the order of potency was adenosine greater than ATP
      approximately ATP gamma S approximately beta,gamma-imido-ATP approximately ADP
      greater than beta,gamma-methylene-ATP. AMP 30 mumol/l and AMPS 30 mumol/l were
      approximately equieffective with 30 mumol/l of adenosine and ATP gamma S, and ADP
      beta S 30 mumol/l was approximately equieffective with 30 mumol/l of ADP.
      alpha,beta-Methylene-ADP, 2-methylthio-ATP, UTP and GTP gamma S did not change
      the evoked overflow of tritium. alpha,beta-Methylene-ATP caused an increase;
      however, the increase was small and became significant only after 59 min of
      exposure to alpha,beta-methylene-ATP or when the slices were stimulated by 30
      pulses, 10 Hz. Neither adenosine deaminase (100 U/l) nor the blocker of 5'
      nucleotidase, alpha,beta-methylene-ADP (10 mumol/l), attenuated the inhibition
      caused by ATP, ATP gamma S and beta,gamma-methylene-ATP, despite the fact that
      adenosine deaminase abolished the effect of adenosine. 8-Cyclopentyl-1,3
      dipropylxanthine (DPCPX, 10 nmol/l) shifted the concentration-response curves of
      adenosine, ATP gamma S, beta,gamma-imido-ATP and beta,gamma-methylene-ATP to the
      right by very similar degrees. 8-(p-Sulphophenyl)-theophylline (30 and 300
      mumol/l) also markedly antagonized the inhibition produced by ATP gamma S.
      alpha,beta-Methylene-ATP (10 and 30 mumol/l) and suramin (100 mumol/l) did not
      modify the effects of adenosine, ATP gamma S and beta,gamma-methylene-ATP. It is
      concluded that nucleotides themselves can inhibit the release of noradrenaline in
      the rabbit brain cortex. The nucleotides and adenosine seem to act at the same
      site, i.e., the A1 subtype of the P1-purinoceptor. The results support the notion
      that metabolically stable, phosphate chain-modified nucleotides such as ATP gamma
      S, beta,gamma-imido-ATP and beta,gamma-methylene-ATP can be potent P1 agonists.
      No evidence was found for presynaptic P2x-, P2y- or P3-purinoceptors.

PMID- 1448183
TI  - Lidocaine has a narrow antiarrhythmic dose range against ventricular arrhythmias
      induced by programmed electrical stimulation in conscious postinfarction dogs.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to investigate the dose-dependent antiarrhythmic
      efficacy of lidocaine against electrically induced tachycardias in conscious,
      chronically instrumented postinfarction dogs. Programmed electrical stimulation
      (PES) was performed in 16 dogs 8 to 21 days after a 4 h occlusion of the left
      anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Infusion of saline in 8 control
      animals with sustained ventricular tachycardia (SVT) inducible at baseline did
      not affect subsequent inducibility. In the treatment group 7 of 8 animals
      responded with SVT and one exhibited ventricular fibrillation at baseline. After
      an initial bolus of 1 mg/kg lidocaine intravenously (i.v.), the drug was infused
      at infusion rates of 40, 80 and 120 micrograms/kg/min (i.v.). During 80
      micrograms/kg/min lidocaine (mean plasma level 3.5 micrograms/ml) 7 out of 8
      animals displayed an antiarrhythmic response; both the lower and the higher
      infusion rate were associated with a smaller antiarrhythmic efficacy (3 of 8
      animals responded to 40 micrograms/kg/min and 4 of 8 to 120 micrograms/kg/min).
      Licocaine did not affect ventricular refractory periods, but induced an increase
      in intraventricular conduction time at all infusion rates, from 66.2 ms at
      baseline to 67.7 ms (p less than 0.05), 67.7 ms (p less than 0.05), 70.0 ms (p
      less than 0.01) respectively. In conclusion the present study demonstrates that
      lidocaine is of considerable value in the management of PES-induced ventricular
      arrhythmias in the postinfarction phase. However there is only a small optimal
      therapeutic plasma level range, where lidocaine exhibits its antiarrhythmic
      efficacy against this type of arrhythmia; this makes a carefully titration of the
      drug necessary both in the experimental and in the clinical setting.

PMID- 1448184
TI  - Blood pressure and gastric motor responses to bradykinin and hydrochloric acid
      injected into somatic or visceral tissues.
AB  - Both visceral and somatic nociceptive stimuli elicit reflex changes in blood
      pressure and gastric motor activity, but the exact type of response varies with
      the type of nociceptive stimulus and its site of application. Therefore, the
      present study compared the effects of visceral (i.p. or i.a.) and somatic (s.c.)
      administration of bradykinin and HCl on both mean arterial blood pressure (MAP)
      and intragastric pressure in anaesthetized rats. The nervous pathways mediating
      these responses were investigated by surgical or pharmacological inhibition of
      the possible reflex arcs. Bradykinin (i.a.--into the aortic arch, i.p., and
      s.c.), and HCl (i.p. and s.c.), elicited a fall in MAP followed by a transient
      increase. Intragastric pressure decreased in response to administration of these
      chemicals. Acute coeliac ganglionectomy reduced the gastric relaxations in
      response to both bradykinin and HCl, whereas vagotomy reduced only the gastric
      relaxations induced by HCl. Neither lesion influenced the changes in MAP after
      either chemical. Ablation of small diameter afferents by capsaicin or chemical
      sympathectomy by guanethidine reduced the changes in MAP after both chemicals,
      except that which occurred after i.a. injection of bradykinin. The secondary
      increase in MAP after i.a. and i.p. administration of algesics was increased
      after guanethidine. Both pretreatments reduced gastric relaxations in response to
      either chemical. Pretreatment of the rats with the bradykinin antagonist Hoe-140
      reduced the responses to bradykinin but not to HCl. The results show that both
      visceral and somatic administration of painful chemicals elicit reflex falls in
      MAP and intragastric pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448185
TI  - Hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase and a specific UDP-glucuronosyltransferase are
      involved in the metabolism of digitoxin in man.
AB  - In vitro experiments were performed with cytosolic and microsomal fractions of
      human liver specimens in order to investigate which enzyme forms of
      sulfotransferase (ST) and UDP-glucurosyltransferase (GT) are involved in the
      metabolism of digitoxin (dt-3) and/or its cleavage products. It was found that
      the cytosolic STs preferentially react with digitoxigenin (dt-0) whereas
      microsomal GTs conjugate digitoxigenin-monodigitoxoside (dt-1) and in traces the
      bisdigitoxoside (dt-2). Dt-3 and dt-0 cannot be glucuronidated. By separation of
      different sulfotransferases it was found that the hydroxysteroid-ST is
      responsible for dt-0 and 3-epidigitoxigenin (epi-dt-0) sulfation. The
      hydroxysteroid-ST could be purified and characterized (apparent Km and Vmax for
      dt-0 sulfation: approx. 17 mumol/l and 2.7 nmol/min mg protein, respectively). Of
      various model substrates and endogenous compounds (steroids, bilirubin) none
      caused a competitive inhibition of the microsomal dt-1 glucuronidation except dt
      2 and dt-3. Therefore it can be supposed that a new GT form catalyses this
      reaction. It is characterized by an extraordinarily high affinity towards dt-1
      with Km values ranging between 0.7 and 27 mumol/l.

PMID- 1448187
TI  - [Ultrastructure of blood-brain barrier in human brain tumors].

PMID- 1448186
TI  - Reduction of postischemic leukocyte-endothelium interaction by adenosine via A2
      receptor.
AB  - The adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelium of postcapillary venules hallmarks
      a key event in ischemia-reperfusion injury. Adenosine has been shown to protect
      from postischemic reperfusion injury, presumably through inhibition of
      postischemic leukocyte-endothelial interaction. This study was performed to
      investigate in vivo by which receptors the effect of adenosine on postischemic
      leukocyte-endothelium interaction is mediated. The hamster dorsal skinfold model
      and fluorescence microscopy were used for intravital investigation of red cell
      velocity, vessel diameter, and leukocyte-endothelium interaction in postcapillary
      venules of a thin striated skin muscle. Leukocytes were stained in vivo with
      acridine orange (0.5 mg kg-1 min-1 i.v.). Parameters were assessed prior to
      induction of 4 h ischemia to the muscle tissue and 0.5 h, 2 h, and 24 h after
      reperfusion. Adenosine, the adenosine A1-selective agonist 2-chloro-N6
      cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA), the A2-selective agonist CGS 21,680, the non
      selective adenosine receptor antagonist xanthine amine congener (XAC), and the
      adenosine uptake blocker S-(p-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioinosine (NBTI) were infused via
      jugular vein starting 15 min prior to release of ischemia until 0.5 h after
      reperfusion. Adenosine and CGS 21,680 significantly reduced postischemic
      leukocyte-endothelium interaction 0.5 h after reperfusion (p less than 0.01),
      while no inhibitory effect was observed with CCPA. Coadministration of XAC
      blocked the inhibitory effects of adenosine. Infusion of NBTI alone effectively
      decreased postischemic leukocyte-endothelium interaction. These findings indicate
      that adenosine reduces post-ischemic leukocyte-endothelium interaction via A2
      receptor and suggest a protective role of endogenous adenosine during ischemia
      reperfusion.

PMID- 1448188
TI  - [Intentional hypotension therapy induced by nitroglycerin and the changes in the
      intracranial pressure for acute hemorrhagic intracranial lesions].
AB  - It is reported that nitroglycerin (NTG) induces the elevation of intracranial
      pressure (ICP). Because of it, the use of NTG in patients exhibiting the
      increased ICP especially in the neurosurgical field is thought to be avoided.
      However, these reported cases dealt with normal patients. Few cases under the
      condition of exactly increased intracranial pressure were studied. Our 31
      patients of the hemorrhagic intracranial lesion (subarachnoid hemorrhage and
      hypertensive intracranial hemorrhage) at the acute stage were treated by NTG
      infusion as an antihypertensive drug, and the ICP was measured using the epidural
      pressure transducer. The 31 patients were divided into three groups. Group 1
      consists of the 14 patients exhibiting normal ICP (< 15mmHg). Group 2 consists of
      9 patients showing elevated ICP (15mmHg < or =). Group 3 consists of 8 patients
      treated with glycerol before the NTG infusion. Group 1 demonstrates a
      statistically significant elevation of ICP corresponding with the blood pressure
      depression. Group 2 showed no significant elevation of it. Group 3 disclosed no
      remarkable elevation of it both in the elevated ICP cases and the normal ICP
      cases. As mentioned above, the intravenous NTG caused a remarkable increase of
      ICP in the normal compliance of the intracranial contents and no elevation of ICP
      in the poor compliance. We conclude that NTG can be used for blood pressure
      control at an acute stage even in hemorrhagic intracranial lesion as anti
      depressor.

PMID- 1448189
TI  - [Evaluation of cerebral blood circulation using fast magnetic resonance imaging
      (turbo-FLASH)].
AB  - In its initial stage of development, poor time resolution was supposed to be
      inevitable for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The development of the gradient
      echo technique, however, has made an opening for a breakthrough to a fast MRI
      technique. However, conventional gradient echo technique is not fast enough to
      disclose the cerebral blood circulation. A new technique (turbo-FLASH), which
      combines gradient echo and preparation pulse, has opened the door to a true
      dynamic (high time resolution) MRI. The authors performed a basic study of this
      new fast imaging technique (Turbo-FLASH) for the evaluation of cerebral blood
      circulation. Using this dynamic MRI, the conventional Gd-DTPA administration
      (0.1mmol/kg, intravenous manual administration) has produced sufficient contrast
      to reveal a difference of the extent of enhancement between normal gray matter
      and white matter. In patients of cerebral infarction, the infarcted brain does
      not show any significant increase of signal intensity after the administration of
      contrast medium, whereas the normal brain shows a sharp increase of signal
      intensity after the administration of contrast medium. Indeed, many puzzling
      questions remain to be solved for clinical application of this new dynamic MRI.
      For example, the optimal quantity of contrast medium and optimal parameters for
      this sequence (T1 weighted or T2 weighted?) are still unknown. But, in any case,
      this dynamic MRI is expected to be a clinically powerful tool for the evaluation
      of cerebral blood flow.

PMID- 1448190
TI  - [Basilar artery occlusion therapy for giant aneurysm: hemodynamic analysis by
      hydraulic vascular model].
AB  - Therapeutic occlusion of the basilar artery has been one of the alternative
      treatments for surgically or intravascularly inaccessible basilar bifurcation
      giant aneurysms. However, several problems have been reported, such as incomplete
      thrombosis of the aneurysms, their growth or rupture, and cerebral embolism
      originating from their cavities. Since hemodynamic changes after occlusion
      therapy are suspected to be responsible for these phenomena, they were
      investigated by a hydraulic vascular model. A hydraulic vascular model of the
      vertebrobasilar artery was constructed with silicone and glass tubes. A glass
      made sphere of 2.5 cm in diameter was attached to the model and was regarded as a
      basilar head aneurysm. A 40% glycerol solution at 25 degrees C was found to be of
      similar viscosity and specific gravity to those of human whole blood at 37
      degrees C and was perfused in the model. A device to measure intra-aneurysmal
      clearance was made from a stable luminous source and a Cds photocell. Good
      correlation was found between the output and an intra-aneurysmal dye
      concentration. The dye was injected into the aneurysm and its half-life was
      calculated from clearance curves. It was then regarded as an index of stagnation
      in an aneurysmal cavity. The flow volumes were estimated as: 60ml/min to the
      territory of one posterior cerebral artery (PCA) and 80ml/min to the cerebellum
      and the brain stem. Half-life was recorded in the following conditions: 120ml/min
      of flow in the basilar artery (BA) into bilateral PCAs stimulating the condition
      before BA occlusion, and various flow values (60ml/min to 10ml/min) of P1 segment
      simulating the conditions after BA occlusion distal to the superior cerebellar
      artery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448191
TI  - [Ischemic complications following parent artery occlusion with detachable
      balloons in the treatment of large carotid aneurysms: effectiveness of 99mTc
      HMPAO SPECT and importance of postoperative management].
AB  - Three patients with large carotid aneurysms were treated by parent artery
      occlusion with detachable balloons. Of these, 2 had intracavernous carotid artery
      aneurysms and one had a carotid-ophthalmic aneurysm. All patients underwent a
      formal balloon occlusion test and tolerated it well. One patient with a carotid
      ophthalmic aneurysm, however, developed postoperative ischemic effects. This case
      was that of a 55 year-old female with right visual disturbance. Her middle
      cerebral artery flow had been compromised during test occlusion under induced
      hypotension. Although initially intact after balloon occlusion, she was found to
      be hemiplegic 24 hours later. She subsequently developed multiple small infarcts
      which were shown on MRI and which corresponded exactly to the previously
      demonstrated region of decreased flow during testing. This ischemic complication
      is possibly due to hypoperfusion, but embolism from the thrombosed aneurysm can
      not be denied. To prevent these complications, an extracranial-intracranial
      artery anastomosis prior to parent artery occlusion should be considered if the
      preoperative 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT shows a compromised cerebral blood flow. In
      addition to this, postoperative anticoagulant therapy should be given even if
      test occlusion was well tolerated clinically.

PMID- 1448192
TI  - [Cyst formation following local chemotherapy of malignant brain tumor: a
      clinicopathological study of two cases].
AB  - This paper reports clinicopathological findings concerning an enlarged bulky cyst
      and the tumor cavity following local administration of an anticancer agent
      combined with radiotherapy in two patients suffering from malignant glioma. Case
      1: This 69 year-old man who had been diagnosed as having glioblastoma in the
      right parietal lobe had received local chemotherapy after the first operation.
      Simultaneously radiotherapy of 69 Gy in total dose was performed. At the second
      operation for the tumor, cyst formation was clinically confirmed and necrotomy as
      well as evacuation of the large cyst was performed after adjuvant therapy. The
      patient died at a time ten months after the first surgical operation. Case 2:
      This is the case of a 48 year-old man who was diagnosed as having gemistocytic
      astrocytoma in the left frontal lobe. The first surgical operation was performed
      and was followed by local chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy (total dose of 90
      Gy in two sessions). The second surgical operation of the recurrent tumor, with
      necrotomy and evacuation of the large cyst were performed after adjuvant therapy.
      The patient expired at a time sixty-five months after the first surgical
      operation. Relevant to the chemotherapy, adriamycin (ADM) (0.5mg) and
      methotrexate (MTX) (1mg) were administered through the Ommaya's reservoir into
      the tumor bed at craniotomy. The usual doses of ADM and MTX amounted to 5.0mg
      respectively. Through conventional CT and MRI, formation of a cyst including
      abundant membranous debris or septi was identified in both cases.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448193
TI  - [A case of common carotid artery stenosis due to hanging].
AB  - We report a case of a 50-year-old woman with traumatic dissection of the right
      common carotid artery secondary to attempted suicidal hanging. Initial
      examination showed marks of strangulation on the neck, facial edema, and multiple
      conjunctival petechiae accompanied by difficulty in breathing and loss of
      consciousness. She gradually recovered except for her left upper limb weakness.
      Rehabilitation, with a diagnosis of left brachial plexus injury, was started. Two
      years later, she occasionally felt numbness of the left upper extremity. On her
      second admission, a bruit was heard on the right side of her neck. Neurological
      examination did not reveal any change. CT scan showed atrophic changes.
      Angiography demonstrated approximately 80% stenosis of the right common carotid
      artery which was thought to be responsible for the attacks of numbness. Right
      carotid endarterectomy was performed. Histological findings revealed dissection
      of the medial layer of the arterial wall. Complaints of numbness disappeared
      postoperatively, and angiography showed good patency at a follow-up examination.
      We conclude that the stenosis of the common carotid artery was not due to
      atherosclerosis but due to the dissection as a result of hanging.

PMID- 1448194
TI  - [A case of subfrontal schwannoma].
AB  - We encountered a rare case of subfrontal schwannoma. A 55-year-old woman had
      received resection of a left frontal tumor because of hyposmia, at the age of 28
      years. On June 10, 1989, she was admitted with the chief complaint of progressive
      contraction of visual field. Neurologic examination revealed anosmia, impaired
      vision and concentric contraction of visual field. Fundoscopy showed optic
      atrophy. CT examination demonstrated a calcified mass of mixed density which was
      occupying her nasal cavity, ethmoid sinus and anterior skull base. The lesion was
      enhanced with contrast medium. MRI clearly depicted the extension of the lesion
      and a low signal intensity area in the left frontal lobe as a postoperative scar.
      Angiography showed hypovascularity. The tumor was totally removed by bifrontal
      craniotomy on August 22, 1989. Infiltration into the brain or compression of the
      optic nerve was not detected. The dura on the cranial base side was damaged and
      lost by infiltration of the tumor, normal olfactory bulb was not able to be
      identified, and the cribriform plate was broken. The anterior skull base was
      reconstituted by covering the dural defect with cadaveric dura and the bony
      defect with a pericranium. HE staining showed Antoni A&B types of schwannoma.
      Postoperative course was uneventful. In this case, it is most likely that a
      remnant of the tumor resected when she was 28 years old had developed subfrontal
      schwannoma a long time after the operation, although the histological type at
      that time was unknown. It is also possible that a primary tumor in the nasal
      cavity or paranasal sinus may have extended into the cranium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448195
TI  - [Gliosarcoma associated with von Recklinghausen's disease: a case report].
AB  - A very rare case of gliosarcoma with von Recklinghausen's disease is presented. A
      51-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in March 1990, because of a 2-month
      history of personality change and left hemiparesis. Multiple neurofibroma over
      his whole body with many cafe au lait spots had been present since early
      childhood. His mother, brothers and children also had cafe au lait spots.
      Neurological examination on admission revealed memory disturbance, left
      homonymous hemianopsia and left hemiparesis. CT scan showed a large lobular
      lesion in the right temporoparietal region. The medial hypodense part was sharply
      demarcated by a ring-like enhancement, while the lateral isodense part was
      homogeneously enhanced. MRI showed a sharply demarcated high intensity lesion
      with Gd-EDTA enhancement corresponding to the enhanced area on CT. Faint staining
      on angiography revealed that the blood supply to the tumor was predominantly
      dural. At surgery, the tumor was solid and highly vascular, and adhered tightly
      to the dura. The superficial part of the tumor was well demarcated from the brain
      tissue, but the demarcation was obscure in the deeper part. Histological findings
      showed two clearly defined neoplastic components: a gliomatous component that was
      stained for GFAP, and a sarcomatous component that had spindle-shaped nuclei and
      eosinophilic fibers. The patient underwent radiotherapy after surgery, but the
      tumor soon recurred. A second operation was performed, but the tumor had
      infiltrated into the scalp and he died 10 months after the first operation. This
      combination is very rare and has not been reported previously.

PMID- 1448196
TI  - [A case of cystic optic glioma involving chiasma and bilateral posterior optic
      pathway].
AB  - A case of cystic optic glioma involving chiasma and bilateral posterior optic
      pathway was reported. A 26-year-old male was admitted to our hospital complaining
      of dysarthria and left hemiparesis. CT, MRI revealed a cystic tumor at the right
      basal ganglia to midbrain, a calcified one at the bilateral optic tract and left
      temporal to thalamic region, and a small one at the chiasma. Radiotherapy and
      chemotherapy were performed because anaplastic astrocytoma was suspected after
      stereotactic biopsy of the tumor at the right basal ganglia. The subsequent MRI
      showed continuity among the above three lesions to be well defined. About 2 years
      later, however, enlargement of the cyst, tumor invasion beyond the optic pathway
      and growth of the chiasmal lesion were noted, and direct surgery to the chiasmal
      lesion was performed. The chiasma was swollen and grayish soft tumor tissue was
      partly resected after aspiration of the intrachiasmal cyst. The definitive
      pathological diagnosis was pilocytic astrocytoma. This case was designated as a
      peculiar optic glioma in the following respects; the patient was an adult man
      suffering from dysarthria and left hemiparesis, the tumor involved not only the
      chiasma and the bilateral optic tract, but also the outside optic pathway and was
      accompanied by a large cyst.

PMID- 1448197
TI  - [Two cases of failure of a programmable pressure valve].
AB  - Two cases of a programmable pressure valve trouble are reported. Case #1 was that
      of a 49-year-old male who had received a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) using a
      Sophy programmable pressure valve (Model S3) after the removal of the fourth
      ventricle ependymoma. After the VPS, the patient went through several episodes of
      complaining of headache due to the spontaneous movement of the rotor from the
      high pressure position to the medium or low pressure position. The symptom had
      disappeared after exchanging the valve for a new one and by setting the valve
      pressure at high. Examination of the removed valve revealed that the bending
      degree of the spring tip was insufficient, and that the opening pressures at the
      medium and high pressure positions were both lower than the desired range. Case
      #2 was that of a 62-year-old female who had received a VPS for normal pressure
      hydrocephalus using a Sophy programmable pressure valve (Model S3) with the valve
      pressure set a high. However, her symptoms did not improve, so an attempt was
      made to change the valve pressure from the high pressure position to the medium
      pressure position with a ring magnet. But the rotor could not be moved. The valve
      was exchanged and the valve pressure was set at medium, and the symptoms of the
      patient improved postoperatively. Examination of the removed valve revealed that
      the movement of the rotor with a ring magnet was not able to be carried out
      smoothly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448198
TI  - [Primary intracranial melanoma: a case report].
AB  - A rare case of primary intracranial melanoma is presented in a 34-year-old man
      with initial symptoms of persistent headache. In magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),
      this case had all the characteristic findings of intracranial melanoma which had
      been reported previously. In 123I-iodoamphetamine-single photon emission CT (123I
      IMP-SPECT), abnormal accumulation of 123I-IMP was recognized in early and late
      phase imaging, which was very specific to the lesion. This is the first report of
      123I-IMP-SPECT performed on a primary intracranial melanoma. Tumor mass
      originated from pia mater was surgically resected, but the dissemination of tumor
      cells was recognized macroscopically. Pathological examination of the specimen
      showed very little malignant changes of melanoma cells, which was in contrast to
      the previous reports. Although, no standard chemotherapy of the primary
      intracranial melanoma has been established, DAV therapy to the dissemination of
      tumor cells into the subarachnoid space, and intravenous administration of
      interferon-beta were performed in this case. Methods of differential diagnosis
      and treatments of primary intracranial melanoma are reviewed and discussed.

PMID- 1448199
TI  - [Anterior sacral meningocele associated with tethered cord syndrome].
AB  - A case of anterior sacral meningocele associated with tethered cord syndrome is
      reported. A 5-year-old boy was admitted for urinary and fecal incontinence which
      had persisted since his birth. Abdominal MRI and sacral CT showed a presacral
      cystic mass communicating with the spinal dural sac through a neck traversing a
      sacral bony defect and tethered spinal conus. Neurological examination showed
      that the patient had a neurogenic bladder, atrophy of the legs and anesthesia
      below the S3 level. Operative finding revealed a thickened filum terminale
      attached to the wall of the presacral meningocele. Agenesis of the nerve root
      below the S2 level was identified, and no neural elements entered into the sac.
      Untethering was performed. Postoperative course was uneventful and the patient is
      doing well with his neurogenic bladder gradually improving.

PMID- 1448200
TI  - On the significance of subterritories in the "accumbens" part of the rat ventral
      striatum.
AB  - Although many workers have appreciated the striking cytologic and neurochemical
      similarities of neostriatum, accumbens and olfactory tubercle, a compelling case
      for regarding these areas as territories in a striatal complex awaited the
      arguments made by Heimer and his colleagues based on their investigations of
      connections. A number of recent papers support this viewpoint and extend it with
      the characterization of three accumbal subterritories: core, shell and rostral
      pole. The case for separate classifications of systems traversing the accumbens
      has become more compelling with each study that demonstrates connectional,
      cytoarchitectural and neurochemical specificity conforming to the boundaries
      separating the core and its downstream targets from the shell and its projection
      fields. Furthermore, its apparent composite of core-like and shell-like
      characteristics distinguishes the rostral pole as yet another unique
      subterritory. Differences in compartmental organization distinguish the accumbens
      and neostriatum. The available data are consistent with the periventricular and
      rostrolateral enkephalin-rich zones being ventralmost parts of the neostriatal
      patch and matrix compartments, respectively. The accumbal cell cluster
      compartment, on the other hand, appears to be a separate entity, with
      connectional and neurochemical features that are dissimilar to both patch and
      matrix of neostriatum. Boundaries between the accumbens and caudate-putamen
      remain elusive, and the point of view that such boundaries do not exist but,
      rather, are represented by "transition zones" must to a large degree reflect the
      reality. Likewise, it is important to acknowledge that the boundaries between
      accumbal subterritories are not necessarily distinct or observed faithfully by
      all of the afferent systems. "Transition zones" appear to be particularly
      significant organizational features in rostral and lateral parts of the
      accumbens. Interestingly, histochemically distinct cell clusters tend to be
      numerous in boundary regions between adjacent territories and subterritories. The
      predominant organizational pattern appears to be one in which the core, shell and
      rostral pole engage different forebrain systems that possibly subserve entirely
      different functions mediated by distantly related mechanisms. In this regard, it
      is of paramount interest that the processing of information conveyed to the
      accumbens by diverse cortical and subcortical inputs occurs within distinct and
      perhaps very different dopaminergic environments in the core, shell and rostral
      pole (e.g., see Refs 24, 34, 90, 110).

PMID- 1448201
TI  - Pharmacological stimulation reveals recombinant human nerve growth factor-induced
      increases of in vivo hippocampal cholinergic function measured in rats with
      partial fimbrial transections.
AB  - The present study determined the effects of chronic recombinant human nerve
      growth factor administration [1 microgram given intracerebroventricularly q.i.d.
      (every other day) for three weeks] on in vivo hippocampal cholinergic function in
      adult rats with unilateral partial fimbrial transections. Partial fimbrial
      transections did not significantly alter the levels of endogenous acetylcholine
      or [2H4]acetylcholine in the hippocampus due to functional compensation by
      surviving cholinergic terminals. In animals chronically treated with nerve growth
      factor, the levels of endogenous choline, endogenous acetylcholine, [2H4]choline
      and [2H4]acetylcholine accumulated in the hippocampus on the lesioned side were
      not significantly different from those on the contralateral unlesioned side or
      from values measured in animals treated with cytochrome c, a control protein.
      However, changes in cholinergic parameters induced by the partial lesions or
      recombinant human nerve growth factor treatment became manifest when animals were
      challenged using pharmacological agents such as pentylenetetrazole or pilocarpine
      given after lithium chloride pretreatment. First, in nerve growth factor-treated
      animals administered the general stimulant pentylenetetrazole (10 mg/kg) 2 min
      prior to measuring in vivo cholinergic parameters, we observed a significant
      increase in the hippocampal content of [2H4]choline in both lesioned and
      unlesioned hippocampi. The magnitude of the increase was significantly higher on
      the lesioned compared to the unlesioned side. Although chronic recombinant human
      nerve growth factor treatment induced increases of hippocampal [2H4]choline
      levels, there were no concomitant increases in the level of [2H4]acetylcholine.
      Second, in nerve growth factor-treated animals administered lithium chloride (3
      mmol/kg) 20 h prior to pilocarpine (30 mg/kg), we observed a significant
      enhancement of the content of endogenous acetylcholine in the hippocampus of the
      lesioned side. Partial fimbrial transections also reduced in vitro cholinergic
      parameters reflecting endogenous acetylcholine levels in hippocampal slices. The
      content of endogenous acetylcholine in the slices was decreased by approximately
      50% and chronic nerve growth factor treatment significantly elevated this value
      to approximately non-lesioned control values. Similarly, reductions in
      spontaneous and veratridine-evoked release of endogenous acetylcholine induced by
      partial fimbrial transections were counteracted by recombinant human nerve growth
      factor treatment. These findings demonstrate that chronic recombinant human nerve
      growth factor treatment effectively enhances the in vivo and in vitro synthesis,
      storage and release of endogenous acetylcholine. The results from the in vivo
      studies suggest that recombinant human nerve growth factor-induced differences in
      functional performance of hippocampal neurons may only be manifest during
      behavioral and/or pharmacological stimulation.

PMID- 1448202
TI  - State-dependent and state-independent effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on
      medial septum neuronal activity in the brain slices of waking and hibernating
      ground squirrels.
AB  - Effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on spontaneous activity and responses to
      medial forebrain bundle stimulation were tested in the units of the medial septum
      diagonal band complex in slices taken from the brain of hibernating and waking
      ground squirrels. Administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (0.1 microM)
      into the flow of incubating medium increased the frequency of spontaneous
      activity of all the medial septum-diagonal band complex neurons in hibernating
      ground squirrels and of the majority of neurons in the waking ground squirrels.
      However, in the septal slices of hibernating ground squirrels this increase was
      significantly more pronounced. In addition, the neuropeptide slightly increased
      the frequency of bursts in the majority of cells with rhythmic burst activity.
      The excitatory influence of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on the units was
      preserved in conditions of synaptic blockade. In neurons from other structures
      (lateral septum, medial preoptic area, hippocampus) in the brain slices of both
      hibernating and waking ground squirrels, thyrotropin-releasing hormone did not
      usually affect the level of spontaneous discharges. When studying the responses
      of the medial septum-diagonal band complex neurons to electrical stimulation of
      medial forebrain bundle it was found that application of thyrotropin-releasing
      hormone (0.1 microM) led to the disappearance of responses in 50 and 44% of units
      in the hibernating and waking ground squirrels, respectively; in the rest of the
      neurons a disturbance of stability and probability of responses was observed. The
      existence of a modulatory thyrotropin-releasing hormone system which participates
      post-, and, probably, presynaptically in the regulation of the medial septum
      diagonal band complex neuronal activity is suggested. The role of thyrotropin
      releasing hormone and of medial septum-diagonal band complex in the neural
      control of hibernation/euthermic waking cycle is discussed.

PMID- 1448203
TI  - Fos-like expression and nuclear size in osmotically stimulated supraoptic nucleus
      neurons.
AB  - This study has analysed by immunocytochemistry the pattern of expression of Fos
      related proteins, as well as variations in nuclear size, after the osmotically
      induced activation of supraoptic nucleus neurons of the rat. In control rats most
      supraoptic nucleus neurons were Fos-like negative. After acute and chronic
      dehydration by salt-loading, the number of Fos-like positive neurons increased
      dramatically. The level of Fos-like immunoreactivity was higher in chronically
      stimulated rats, and also the neurons of the ventral region of the supraoptic
      nucleus were more intensely stained than those of the dorsal region. The
      karyometric analysis was made on electron micrographs. The mean nuclear profile
      area showed a significant increase in dehydrated rats with respect to the
      controls (73 +/- 16 microns 2 in those dehydrated for six days vs 54 +/- 13 in
      controls, mean +/- S.D.). However, no significant differences in this parameter
      were found when one-day and six-day dehydrated groups were compared. The
      invagination factor of the nuclear membrane, a nuclear shape indicator, decreased
      significantly in dehydrated rats, indicating a tendency towards spherical nuclei.
      It is noteworthy that the nuclear profile perimeter was constant, about 32
      microns, in control and osmotically simulated rats. The higher nuclear
      accumulation of Fos-related antigens after six days of dehydration suggests that
      in chronically stimulated supraoptic nucleus neurons there is a sustained
      induction of cell-specific genes. Moreover, the transcription rate of the target
      genes containing the consensus DNA sequence TGAC/GTCA or c-AMP responsive
      elements recognition sites may depend upon the nuclear concentration of Fos
      related antigens in supraoptic nucleus neurons. Our results also suggest that the
      initial Fos-related antigen expression and nuclear size increase are triggered
      concomitantly in supraoptic nucleus neurons after a short period of osmotic
      stimulation. On the other hand, we propose that nuclear envelope invaginations
      represent a reservoir of nuclear membrane which allows dynamic changes in nuclear
      size and shape depending on the metabolic status of the supraoptic nucleus
      neurons.

PMID- 1448204
TI  - Lesion and electrophysiological studies on the hypothalamic afferent pathway of
      the milk ejection reflex in the rat.
AB  - The afferent pathway of the milk ejection reflex in the hypothalamus was
      investigated with lesion and electrophysiological methods in anesthetized
      lactating rats. Destruction of the central region of the mid-hypothalamus (n =
      12) blocked milk ejections induced by suckling, while that of the lateral region
      (n = 7) had no effect. In an electrophysiological study, extracellular recordings
      of neurons antidromically activated by electrical stimulation of the supraoptic
      nucleus were obtained from the ipsilateral hypothalamus caudal to the
      paraventricular nucleus (n = 84). Thirty-nine neurons were examined to see
      whether their firing activities changed during the milk ejection reflex. A group
      of 13 neurons were found to show changes in their activities prior to the reflex
      milk ejection; the neurons displayed a brief high-frequency burst of spikes
      before each milk ejection in the same manner as oxytocin neurons, and none of
      them antidromically responded to electrical stimulation of the neurohypophysis.
      The bursting neurons were recorded from the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (n =
      6), the region just lateral to that nucleus (n = 3) and the posterior
      hypothalamus (n = 4). The locations were included in a region whose destruction
      blocked the milk ejection reflex. These results indicate that the afferent
      pathway of the milk ejection reflex in the rat runs through the medial portion of
      the hypothalamus posterior to the paraventricular nucleus and that this region
      contains neurons which relay the input to the oxytocin neurons projecting in the
      neurohypophysis.

PMID- 1448205
TI  - 5-Hydroxytryptamine-induced sensitization and activation of peripheral fibres in
      the neonatal rat are mediated via different 5-hydroxytryptamine-receptors.
AB  - The effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine on peripheral nociceptive fibres were studied
      in an in vitro preparation of the neonatal rat spinal cord with attached tail.
      The activation of peripheral fibres in the tail by noxious stimuli (bradykinin,
      capsaicin, heat) was recorded as a depolarization of a ventral root in the lumbar
      region of the spinal cord (L3-L5). Responses evoked by brief applications of
      submaximal or threshold concentrations of bradykinin or capsaicin to the tail
      were enhanced by 5-hydroxytryptamine and the 5-hydroxytryptamine1C/5
      hydroxytryptamine2-receptor agonist alpha-methyl-5-hydroxtryptamine but not by
      the 5-hydroxytryptamine3-receptor agonist 2-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine or the 5
      hydroxytryptamine1-receptor agonist 5-carboxamidotryptamine. Sensitization
      induced by 5-hydroxytryptamine and alpha-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine was blocked
      by the selective 5-hydroxytryptamine2-receptor antagonist ketanserin. Neither the
      5-hydroxytryptamine3/5-hydroxytryptamine4-receptor antagonist ICS 205-930 nor the
      5-hydroxytryptamine1/5-hydroxytryptamine2-receptor antagonist methiothepin
      blocked the 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced sensitization. The responses evoked by
      submaximal thermal stimuli were also enhanced following the sensitization of
      peripheral nociceptors with 5-hydroxytryptamine or alpha-methyl-5
      hydroxytryptamine. The alpha-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine-induced enhancement of
      thermal responses was reduced by ketanserin. 5-Hydroxytryptamine did not evoke a
      ventral root response unless peripheral fibres were sensitized with threshold
      concentrations of bradykinin or capsaicin. This effect was mimicked under the
      same conditions by 5-carboxamidotryptamine but not by alpha-methyl-5
      hydroxytryptamine or 2-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine. The excitatory effect of 5
      hydroxytryptamine was blocked by methiothepin but not by ICS 205-930 or
      ketanserin. Neither 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced sensitization nor 5
      hydroxytryptamine-evoked activation of peripheral fibres was blocked by
      indomethacin. These data indicate that two types of receptor are involved in the
      peripheral actions of 5-hydroxytryptamine in nociception. 5-Hydroxytryptamine
      induced sensitization involves a 5-hydroxytryptamine2-receptor, whereas 5
      hydroxytryptamine-evoked excitation involves a 5-hydroxytryptamine1-like
      receptor.

PMID- 1448206
TI  - Measurements of intracellular calcium in sensory neurons of adult and old rats.
AB  - Cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) was measured using fluorescent digital imaging
      microscopy in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons isolated from animals of two age
      groups (adult: seven months; and old: 30 months). Neurons were enzymatically
      isolated and maintained in primary culture for 14 days. Cultured neurons were
      loaded with the fluorescent dye, Fura-2. The spatial distribution of resting
      [Ca2+]i was even in both adult and old rats, but the value of cytoplasmic free
      calcium in old neurons was significantly higher (207 +/- 37 nmol/l vs 96 +/- 23
      nmol/l) in comparison with adult ones. Depolarization with 50 mmol/l K+ produced
      a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i in all neurons, but the values of depolarization
      induced increase of [Ca2+]i in old neurons were significantly lower (423 +/- 54
      nmol/l) compared with cells isolated from adult rats (1011 +/- 91 nmol/l). The
      time of the complete restoration of [Ca2+]i to the resting level was 10-times
      longer in old neurons. The caffeine-induced rise of intracellular calcium was
      somewhat higher in neurons from old animals, and its restoration to normal level
      was delayed. The findings indicate a substantial alteration of the mechanisms of
      regulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis with neuronal ageing.

PMID- 1448207
TI  - Long-term reduction of vasopressin excretion induced by the central injection of
      an immunoconjugate (antibody to vasopressin linked to ricin A chain).
AB  - We have previously demonstrated that vasopressin-producing neurons are the target
      of monoclonal antibodies to vasopressin microinjected into the brain tissue. At
      the same time, this central microinjection of vasopressin-monoclonal antibody
      into the supraoptic nuclei produced hydro-osmotic disorders mimicking the effects
      of a central diabetes insipidus. In order to investigate the increase in both
      duration and amplitude of the biological effects seen after the injection of
      vasopressin-monoclonal antibody, an immunoconjugate was constructed with the
      vasopressin-monoclonal antibody IgG1k isotype and the cytotoxic part of the ricin
      molecule, the ricin A chain. The biological parameters, such as diuresis and
      urine osmolality which are directly regulated by vasopressin, and vasopressin
      excretion, were measured after the central injection of this
      immunotoxin/immunoconjugate. The consequences of immunotoxin injection were also
      studied when immunotoxin was co-injected with monensin (50 nM) which has been
      shown to decrease the intracellular degradation of immunotoxin, and plasma
      complement, which has been shown to increase the neuronal uptake of immunotoxin.
      Single injection of immunotoxin near the hypothalamic supraoptic nuclei
      significantly increased diuresis and decreased vasopressin excretion. However,
      these effects were only transient and disappeared 24 h later. Four successive
      injections of immunotoxin (one per day) with monensin induced a decrease of
      vasopressin excretion which was still observed after a resting period of four
      days after the fourth injection. The long-term reduction of vasopressin excretion
      was induced in rats receiving four successive injections of a mixture consisting
      of immunotoxin with monensin and plasma complement. In such experiments, the
      vasopressin content of urine remained low (55% under the baseline value), two
      weeks after the fourth injection of immunotoxin. At the same time, the diuresis
      was increased (80% above the baseline value) and urine osmolality lowered (45%
      under the baseline value). When non-specific IgG replaced specific antibody,
      vasopressin excretion, diuresis as well as urine osmolality were unchanged. The
      results of this study demonstrated that the use of a specific immunotoxin results
      in a local interference with the vasopressinergic neurons and induces a long-term
      reduction of vasopressin secretion.

PMID- 1448208
TI  - The use of a neurotoxic lectin, volkensin, to induce loss of identified
      motoneuron pools.
AB  - In this study we investigated degeneration of defined motor pools in the adult
      rat spinal cord and the associated changes in spinal cord in dorsal root ganglia
      and peripheral nerve. Degeneration of motoneurons was induced by the neurotoxic
      lectin, volkensin. This substance is taken up by the axons and retrogradely
      transported to the cell body, where it inhibits proteosynthesis and kills the
      neuron. Accordingly, in adult Wistar rats the peroneal or the sciatic nerve was
      injected with 5.0 ng volkensin, and the effect of this single injection was
      investigated at different intervals after the operation. Retrograde labelling by
      horseradish peroxidase was used to reveal the extent of cell death and glial
      repair was studied by immunostaining with different glial cell markers.
      Degenerating cells were observed in the ventral horn of the lumbar spinal cord
      and L4 and L5 dorsal root ganglia as early as four days after volkensin treatment
      and by two weeks no retrogradely labelled motoneurons could be found in the
      treated peroneal pool. These changes were accompanied by severe muscle weight
      loss. Examination of the ventral horn of the spinal cord on the treated side
      revealed many hypertrophic astrocytes and reactive microglial cells expressing an
      increased level of complement receptor type 3 immunoreactivity. In the volkensin
      injected peripheral nerve, distinct signs of Wallerian-like degeneration could be
      observed. Schwann cells identified by immunostaining to S-100 protein appeared to
      be preserved. Interestingly, at later stages after volkensin injection (four to
      eight weeks), some retrogradely labelled motoneurons were seen in the peroneal
      pool; their number occasionally reached 18.4% of the control pool. The dorsal
      root ganglia showed extensive loss of neurons and numerous abnormal neurons were
      found throughout the period of the study. These findings suggest that some
      motoneurons are able to recover from exposure to volkensin and temporary arrest
      of proteosynthesis. Despite this, volkensin-induced selective motoneuron death in
      the adult rat can be a useful experimental model for degenerative motoneuron
      disease.

PMID- 1448209
TI  - Cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum alters GABAergic structures in the immature rat
      cerebellum.
AB  - It has been reported that injection of the antitumoral drug cis
      dichlorodiammineplatinum at 10 days of life affects cerebellar development in
      rats. After a single dose of 5 micrograms/g of body weight, the formation of
      granule cells is decreased and the maturation of postmitotic neurons is slowed
      down. A substantial time after treatment, reduced cell packing density of the
      internal granule layer and atrophy of the molecular layer can be observed. In
      addition, there is degeneration of some Purkinje cells and Golgi neurons. In
      spite of all these alterations, the regular architecture of the cerebellar folia
      is retained in many places. In the present study, we used immunocytochemistry
      with an immune serum raised against glutamic acid decarboxylase to further
      characterize the cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum-induced alterations of GABAergic
      neurons. The aim was to examine cerebellar development and to test for factors
      controlling the settling of GABAergic circuits. At all post-treatment intervals,
      most of the Purkinje and Golgi neurons and molecular layer interneurons showed
      stronger anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase immunoreactivity than in controls; this
      may have been due to altered fixation because of cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum
      induced damages to the blood vessels; but could also reflect cellular retention
      of the enzyme, maybe due to cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum-induced damage of the
      microtubular apparatus. After seven days, large roundish immunoreactive
      varicosities were present in the molecular layer adjacent to the Purkinje cell
      dendritic poles. These varicosities, which were not observed in control animals,
      may be terminals of Purkinje cell axon recurrent collaterals contributing to the
      supraganglionic plexus, whose abnormal development would compensate for the
      reduced inhibitory inputs from inhibitory interneurons and/or Purkinje cells,
      which degenerated at early post-treatment intervals. At later post-treatment
      intervals (15 and 21 days), there were also alterations in the pericellular
      basket at the Purkinje cell axon hillock, which was poorly developed in or absent
      from the majority of cells. The finding was confirmed by morphological
      observation of basket cells in Golgi-Cox preparation and immunocytochemistry with
      an antibody raised against 200,000 mol. wt phosphorylated neurofilaments. It is
      concluded that early changes in anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase immunoreactivity
      of neurons may be due to a direct interference of the drug with the cellular
      metabolic pathways. The late anomalies in the anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase
      immunoreactivity appear to be secondary to changes in the tissue cytoarchitecture
      rather than being primary cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum-induced lesions of the
      cells.

PMID- 1448210
TI  - Communicating in a decentralized system...

PMID- 1448211
TI  - Refusal of treatment.

PMID- 1448212
TI  - Medigap insurance policies standardized.

PMID- 1448214
TI  - Voice mail leave you tongue-tied?

PMID- 1448215
TI  - Six sets of clinical practice guidelines for 1992.

PMID- 1448213
TI  - Parental rights: who pays the price?

PMID- 1448216
TI  - Eight premises for a reformed American healthcare system. American Organization
      of Nurse Executives.

PMID- 1448218
TI  - Protecting patient safety in new product evaluation.

PMID- 1448217
TI  - Navigating the maze of capital equipment acquisition.

PMID- 1448219
TI  - Nurses and market research.

PMID- 1448220
TI  - Pharmaceutical services in the 1990s.

PMID- 1448221
TI  - Collaboration in evaluating patient management protocols.

PMID- 1448222
TI  - Voyage to shared governance.

PMID- 1448223
TI  - Substance abuse among nurses at teaching hospitals.

PMID- 1448224
TI  - Health reform: everybody plays and everybody pays.

PMID- 1448225
TI  - A comprehensive diabetes education program.

PMID- 1448226
TI  - Pressure areas: standard protocols improve care.

PMID- 1448227
TI  - Innovations in staffing: the resource nurse.

PMID- 1448228
TI  - Decentralization in cardiac services.

PMID- 1448229
TI  - Nine rules of thumb to make communications work.

PMID- 1448230
TI  - The clinical ladder in a rural hospital.

PMID- 1448232
TI  - 13 steps to collegiality.

PMID- 1448231
TI  - Interim nurse manager: a survival guide.

PMID- 1448233
TI  - Using LPN experience: modular nursing.

PMID- 1448234
TI  - Career scope--North East.

PMID- 1448235
TI  - The value of imaging in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer.

PMID- 1448236
TI  - Morphologic (CT) and functional (rCBF-SPECT) correlates in Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - Thirty-five patients with a clinical diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease
      underwent computed tomography (CT) and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF)
      studies using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Two sets of
      images in each subject were scored for the extent of structure and function
      changes. Thirty-four of 35 patients had various degrees of atrophy on CT, 33 of
      whom also had perfusion deficits of varying severity. One patient with normal CT
      had perfusion deficits, and another patient with a normal perfusion pattern had
      changes on CT. Regional perfusion deficits on SPECT were seen with and without
      associated changes on CT. Correlations were studied between CT and SPECT scores
      using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. While regional scores on CT and
      SPECT did not significantly correlate, the total and left hemisphere scores on
      two sets of images showed fair correlations (r = 0.425 and r = 0.535,
      respectively, P less than 0.01). The correlations between cognitive performance
      in patients as assessed on Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and CAM-COG and
      perfusion scores were highly significant while CT scores showed lower
      correlations. These findings suggest that the relationship between structural and
      functional changes in Alzheimer's disease is not straightforward and that the
      extent of changes in function as assessed by regional cerebral blood flow studies
      is a reliable measure of deficits in cognitive function.

PMID- 1448237
TI  - Left ventricular ejection fraction and volumes calculated from dual gated SPECT
      myocardial imaging with 99Tcm-MIBI.
AB  - Dual gated (DG) cardiac single photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT)
      studies at end-diastole (ED) and end-systole (ES) were acquired in 27 ischaemic
      heart disease (IHD) patients after intravenous injection of 555-740 MBq 99Tcm
      MIBI. Acquisition parameters were: 180 degrees from LPO to RAO, 32 projections,
      64 x 64 matrix, 75 cardiac beats per projection, 80 ms at ED and 80 ms at ES for
      each cardiac cycle. A computer program was developed to calculate the ED and ES
      left ventricular (LV) volumes and LV ejection fraction (EF). The computational
      approach is interactive, semi-automatic and iterative with built-in visual
      quality control. Short axis slices are used with corresponding ED and ES slices
      processed as pairs from apex to base. Left ventricular cavity pixels are
      identified and summed on a slice-by-slice basis. Myocardial pixels are similarly
      identified. The computed LVEF and ED and ES volumes have been correlated with
      those from contrast ventriculography (CV). The mean calculated EF for 27 patients
      was 53.6 +/- 10.7% from DG SPECT versus 55.3 +/- 12.1% from CV (NS). The EF
      linear correlation coefficient was r = 0.97.

PMID- 1448238
TI  - Patterns of regional cerebral blood flow in Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - Regional cerebral blood flow was assessed in 35 patients with Alzheimer's disease
      and the same number of matched normal volunteers. Images were scored for regional
      perfusion deficits. Mildly demented patients had parietal and temporal perfusion
      deficits, often unilateral. Moderate to severely demented patients had bilateral
      temporal and parietal perfusion deficits. All severely demented patients also had
      involvement of both occipital regions. Frontal lobe deficits were seen in 14
      patients. Left cortical perfusion deficits were more severe than the right
      cortical perfusion deficits in general. Patients with early onset of the disease
      showed left frontal deficits, more often, however, the total perfusion deficit
      scores in early and late onset groups were not statistically significant. Also,
      the cognitive performance scores were not statistically significant in these two
      groups. These results suggest a stage-dependent reduction in regional cerebral
      blood flow in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 1448239
TI  - Rapid quality control of 99Tcm-sestamibi.
AB  - The thin layer chromatographic (TLC) method for determining the radiochemical
      purity of 99Tcm-sestamibi suggested by the manufacturer of the kit is slow and
      inconvenient. In this study a more rapid reversed phase chromatography (Sep-Pak)
      technique is compared with the TLC method for measurement of the radiochemical
      purity of 99Tcm-sestamibi. The levels of free 99Tcm-pertechnetate in 99Tcm
      sestamibi were accurately determined using the Sep-Pak technique. However, due to
      binding of variable amounts of reduced-hydrolysed unbound 99Tcm to the
      chromatography cartridge, the Sep-Pak method overestimated the radiochemical
      purity of the radiopharmaceutical by approximately 3%. In practice, this
      overestimation is not important and the Sep-Pak technique can be used as a rapid
      method of determining radiochemical purity of 99Tcm-sestamibi.

PMID- 1448240
TI  - 67Ga-9N3 uptake by xenografts of human melanotic melanoma in mice.
AB  - Tumour uptake of the inert, neutral complex 67Ga-9N3 and the tumour:blood
      concentration ratio (1,4,7,triazacyclononane-1,4,7, triacetic acid) were measured
      in mice bearing xenografts of the human melanotic melanoma HX118. Between 1 and 4
      h after the injection the tumour:blood ratio increased from 3.5 to 21 and the
      concentration of 67Ga-9N3 in the tumour decreased from 0.43 to 0.13% g-1. During
      the first 24 h the concentration of 67Ga-9N3 in the tumour exceeded that in all
      other tissues except the liver and kidneys. The tumour:blood ratio and tissue
      distribution of 67Ga-9N3 at 4 h were compared with those of four other complexes.
      The results indicated that of the five complexes 67Ga-9N3 would be the most
      suitable for tumour imaging at early times after administration. Imaging would
      not be restricted to gamma emitting 67Ga as there is also the possibility of
      using the 9N3 ligand to bind 111In for single photon emission computed tomography
      (SPECT), 68Ga for positron emission tomography (PET) or even stable Ga for direct
      in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) detection.

PMID- 1448241
TI  - A file format for the exchange of nuclear medicine image data: a specification of
      Interfile version 3.3.
AB  - Working Group 1 of the European project COST-B2 on quality assurance of nuclear
      medicine software has been concerned with the development of an appropriate
      mechanism for the transfer of nuclear medicine image data files between computer
      systems from different vendors. To this end a protocol based upon Report No. 10
      of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) [1] was adopted. A
      previous publication [2] gave a specification (V3.2) for an intermediate file
      format with a list of key-value pairs for the header data associated with nuclear
      medicine image data files. This paper presents a revised specification for the
      intermediate file format and associated keys, now called V3.3, which has evolved
      from the experience in using the earlier version. It is hoped that the
      modifications proposed will improve the definition and usability of the file
      format as given in the earlier version.

PMID- 1448242
TI  - Quantitative estimation of human uterine artery blood flow and pelvic blood flow
      redistribution in pregnancy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the contributions of uterine artery diameter and mean
      flow velocity to the increase in volumetric flow during human pregnancy. METHODS:
      Volunteers (18 pregnant and six not pregnant) were studied using both a
      commercially available Doppler instrument with imaging ultrasound and an improved
      Doppler instrument with software that can determine instantaneous true mean blood
      flow velocity. Diameter and mean flow velocity measurements were combined to
      yield volumetric flows in the common iliac, external iliac, and uterine arteries
      during and after pregnancy. RESULTS: Compared with the nonpregnant state, uterine
      artery diameter doubled by week 21 (from 1.4 +/- 0.1 to 2.8 +/- 0.2 mm; P < .05),
      did not change between weeks 21 and 30 (2.9 +/- 0.1 mm), and increased between
      weeks 30 and 36 (to 3.4 +/- 0.2 mm). Uterine artery mean flow velocity rose
      progressively from nonpregnant values to attain at week 36 a velocity nearly
      eight times faster (8.4 +/- 2.2 versus 61.4 +/- 3.0 cm/second; P < .05).
      Unilateral uterine artery blood flow at week 36 was 312 +/- 22 mL/minute.
      CONCLUSIONS: Compared with nonpregnant values, common iliac artery flow increased
      and external iliac artery flow decreased during pregnancy, suggesting that
      redistribution of pelvic flow to favor the uterus contributed to the pregnancy
      associated rise in uterus artery flow. Early in pregnancy, the increase in
      uterine artery blood flow was due in equal parts to changes in uterine artery
      diameter and mean flow velocity, whereas late in pregnancy, the rise was due
      mainly to faster mean flow velocity.

PMID- 1448244
TI  - Does closure of Camper fascia reduce the incidence of post-cesarean superficial
      wound disruption?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether closure of Camper fascia prevents the development
      of superficial wound disruption after cesarean delivery. METHODS: During a 1-year
      period, 438 women undergoing cesarean delivery were randomized into groups with
      and without approximation of Camper fascia with absorbable suture during closure
      of the abdominal incision. All women received routine postoperative care
      following our departmental guidelines. We reviewed charts after the puerperium to
      identify women with postoperative superficial wound disruption and to obtain
      demographic and delivery information for analysis. RESULTS: We found a
      significantly higher incidence of wound disruption in the group without the
      suture than in those in whom the tissue was approximated (P = .03). Four or more
      vaginal examinations and higher body mass index were also associated with a
      higher incidence of wound disruption (P = .05 and P = .04, respectively).
      Logistic regression correction for covariables that might influence the results
      of our main analysis revealed no effect of maternal age, parity, indications for
      cesarean delivery, duration of labor, duration of ruptured membranes, duration of
      surgery, use of internal monitoring, type of incision, use of antibiotic
      prophylaxis, surgeon's level of training, or maternal diabetes mellitus and/or
      hypertension. CONCLUSION: Approximation of Camper fascia with absorbable suture
      at closure of the abdominal incision during cesarean delivery appears to protect
      against postoperative superficial wound disruption and is therefore recommended.

PMID- 1448243
TI  - Maternal-fetal HLA-DR relationships and pregnancy-induced hypertension.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Some studies have found an increased prevalence of pregnancy-induced
      hypertension among women sharing HLA antigens with their spouses or fetuses, thus
      supporting the hypothesis that maternal sensitization to fetal HLA alloantigens
      reduces the risk for pregnancy-induced hypertension. However, not all studies
      have confirmed these findings. No investigators have examined the four different
      types of maternal-fetal HLA relationships in their studies of pregnancy-induced
      hypertension. Our goal was to examine such associations to test further the HLA
      allosensitization hypothesis. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study of pregnancy
      induced hypertension among 683 nulliparous women. Women and their neonates were
      typed for HLA-A, -B, -DR, and -DQ antigens using serologic techniques to
      establish maternal-fetal relationships. RESULTS: We found an increased prevalence
      of pregnancy-induced hypertension when the fetus, but not the mother, was
      potentially exposed to HLA-DR alloantigens (maternal allogenicity) compared with
      the other three conditions combined (P < .003). Controlling for confounding
      factors, the increased prevalence of pregnancy-induced hypertension persisted in
      situations of maternal HLA-DR allogenicity (P < .007). CONCLUSIONS: Based upon
      our observations and other immunologic studies of pregnancy-induced hypertensive
      and uncomplicated pregnancies, we conclude that a maternal humoral response
      against fetal anti-HLA-DR immunoglobulin (IgG) antibody may influence the
      development of pregnancy-induced hypertension. This could occur when an
      immunocompetent fetus is exposed to maternal HLA-DR alloantigens, maternal
      exposure to fetal HLA-DR alloantigens alloantigens, maternal exposure to fetal
      HLA-DR alloantigens is not possible, and fetal IgG antibody bears paternally
      inherited markers allogeneic to the mother.

PMID- 1448245
TI  - Effect of time and storage temperature on amniotic fluid glucose concentration.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of time and storage temperature on amniotic
      fluid (AF) glucose concentration. METHODS: Amniocentesis was performed on 47
      patients with preterm labor or preterm rupture of membranes at or before 34
      weeks' estimated gestation and the AF was cultured for aerobic, anaerobic,
      Mycoplasma, and Ureaplasma organisms. Twenty-one samples were stored at 37C, 13
      were kept at room temperature (22C), and 13 were frozen (-20C). Glucose
      concentration was measured at 0 and 12 hours on all AF samples and at 2, 4, and 6
      hours on the unfrozen samples. RESULTS: No significant change in AF glucose
      concentration occurred over time at any storage temperature in the 35 samples
      with negative cultures. In 12 AF samples with positive cultures, a significant
      decrease from baseline was noted at 2 and 4 hours in those kept at 37C and 22C (P
      = .016). Glucose concentration was unchanged in frozen samples regardless of the
      culture results. The initial AF glucose concentration was significantly lower in
      samples with positive than in those with negative cultures (P < .0001).
      CONCLUSION: Amniotic fluid glucose concentration does not change over 12 hours in
      the absence of intra-amniotic infection.

PMID- 1448246
TI  - Loop electrosurgical excision procedure of the transformation zone and
      colposcopically directed punch biopsy in the diagnosis of cervical lesions.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To estimate the disagreement between the histologic reports at
      colposcopically directed punch biopsy of the cervix and subsequent loop excision
      of the transformation zone, and to assess the indications for loop excision in
      current practice. METHODS: The histologic diagnoses from loop electrosurgical
      excision procedures and concurrent colposcopically directed punch biopsies were
      compared in 337 consecutive women undergoing loop excision in a 5-year period.
      RESULTS: Disagreement between punch biopsy and loop excision was recorded in 190
      cases (56.4%). The undercall and overcall rates for punch biopsy were 14 and
      42.4%, respectively. Undercall at punch biopsy occurred in 24 of 46 cases of
      cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) III and in one microinvasive cancer
      diagnosed at loop excision, and disagreement was within one grade of CIN in 16
      cases. CONCLUSIONS: Loop electrosurgical excision allows further and more
      accurate histologic examination of the transformation zone and should be the
      standard assessment procedure in all cases of CIN II detected at punch biopsy and
      whenever cytology or colposcopy suggests the risk of punch biopsy undercall.
      Immediate treatment by local destruction should not be performed, to avoid
      underestimation of the severity of the lesion.

PMID- 1448247
TI  - Chorionic villus sampling: experience with 3016 cases performed by a single
      operator.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience with 3016 first-trimester chorionic villus
      sampling (CVS) procedures, all performed by a single operator, to assess the
      influence of operator experience on the safety and efficacy of CVS. METHODS:
      Transcervical or transabdominal CVS procedures were performed on 3016 patients
      between the gestational ages of 9-12 weeks. The sampling success rate, procedure
      complications, cytogenetic results, and pregnancy outcomes were tabulated and
      analyzed. RESULTS: Samples adequate for diagnosis were obtained in 99.7% of the
      cases. The mean (+/- standard deviation) number of insertions per procedure was
      1.1 +/- 0.4. The percentage of procedures in which the sample was obtained with a
      single insertion increased from 51% in the first 100 cases to 96% in the last
      2516 cases. There were 56 (1.94%) first- and second-trimester pregnancy losses
      among 2892 pregnancies intended to continue. This loss rate compares with
      published baseline risk figures for miscarriage of approximately 2-3%. No
      difference in pregnancy loss rate followed one or two catheter or needle
      insertions, but the need for three insertions was associated with a significantly
      increased loss rate (6.7 versus 1.9%; chi 2 = 4.35, P < .05). CONCLUSION:
      Operator experience plays a significant role in the safety and efficacy of CVS.

PMID- 1448248
TI  - Prediction of the small for gestational age infant: which ultrasonic measurement
      is best?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the most appropriate ultrasonic measurement for the
      prediction of a small for gestational age (SGA) infant. DATA SOURCES: A
      literature search of all English language journals over the last 15 years was
      undertaken. One hundred seventeen articles on the use of morphometric and Doppler
      ultrasonic measurements in the diagnosis of SGA were reviewed. METHODS OF STUDY
      SELECTION: Studies were included if antenatal and postnatal criteria for
      diagnosis were clearly defined and data for SGA and normal fetuses were reported,
      allowing the construction of a 2 x 2 table. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS:
      Studies with the same criteria were grouped according to whether the population
      was high or low risk. The sensitivity, odds ratio (OR), and false-positive rate
      were calculated for each study; summary statistics were then calculated for each
      ultrasonic measurement provided the individual sensitivities, ORs, and false
      positive rates were not significantly different (P > .01). CONCLUSIONS: In high
      risk subjects, abdominal circumference below the tenth percentile had the highest
      common sensitivity, and estimated fetal weight below the tenth percentile had the
      highest common OR. In studies in which morphometric and Doppler ultrasonic
      measurements were compared in the same subjects, the Doppler ORs tended to be
      lower than the ORs for morphometric measurements. In low-risk subjects, much
      lower ORs were found for all ultrasonic measurements. The heterogeneous nature of
      the studies reviewed may have contributed to the different results within each
      group.

PMID- 1448249
TI  - Assessment of rapid identification tests for genital carriage of group B
      streptococci.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the relative value of reported
      methods for rapid identification of group B streptococcal colonization of the
      female genital tract. DATA SOURCES: Trials of group B streptococcal
      identification techniques published in peer-reviewed journals were located using
      a computerized literature search and cited references from relevant articles or
      text chapters. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Reports were included in the analysis
      if the methodology fulfilled the following criteria: 1) A reference culture
      method was used for comparison; 2) performance characteristics were presented or
      could be calculated; 3) the method could be performed in a standard laboratory on
      a 24-hour-a-day basis; and 4) results could be routinely available within 12
      hours. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Performance characteristics such as
      sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values for the various methods were
      evaluated and compared. Factors such as colonization rates and methods for
      identifying carriers were included in the overall assessment of test performance.
      CONCLUSIONS: The overall sensitivity of current methods for the rapid detection
      of group B streptococcal colonization is low. However, some rapid antigen
      detection tests are highly sensitive in identifying heavily colonized patients,
      and therefore may be useful for selecting high-risk patients for intrapartum
      antibiotic prophylaxis.

PMID- 1448250
TI  - Rapid fetal lung maturity testing: commercial versus NBD-phosphatidylcholine
      assay.
AB  - We compared the TDx Fetal Lung Maturity test and the fluorescence polarization
      method using 1-palmitoyl-2(6-[(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-
      yl)amino]caproyl)phosphatidylcholine (NBD-phosphatidylcholine). Using 76 paired
      human amniotic fluid samples, the fluorescence polarization values of the two
      methods were found to have a strong nonlinear correlation (r2 = 0.946). Both
      assays can be completed in less than 1 hour, have excellent precision (between
      day variation less than 2%), and indicate the amount of surfactant phospholipid
      relative to albumin. The FLM assay is calibrated with surfactant/albumin
      standards; therefore, the reported results (in mg/g) correlate inversely with
      polarization of NBD-phosphatidylcholine. Strong correlations were seen for both
      assays with the lecithin-sphingomyelin ratio and phosphatidylglycerol. The
      correlations indicate that the recommended reference range for FLM will have more
      false predictions of immaturity than the NBD-phosphatidylcholine assay.

PMID- 1448251
TI  - A technique for laparoscopic pomeroy tubal ligation with endoloop sutures.
AB  - A laparoscopic technique of Pomeroy tubal ligation using endoloop sutures was
      compared with the conventional technique of laparoscopic tubal ligation with
      Silastic rings. Fifty-three patients selected from a population undergoing tubal
      ligation were randomized to either the Pomeroy (N = 28) or ring (N = 25) group.
      Mean (+/- standard deviation) operative time for the Pomeroy group was 27.39 +/-
      5.95 minutes, with a range of 18-40; for the ring group, the time was 23.11 +/-
      11.53 minutes, with a range of 12-58. These times were not statistically
      different. Operative complication were encountered only in the ring group and
      included two lacerations of the mesosalpinx. There were no technical or method
      failures over a follow-up interval of 12-18 months. Specimens confirmed tubal
      histology in all cases in the Pomeroy group. Laparoscopic Pomeroy tubal ligation
      using endoloop sutures was easily performed, comparable to laparoscopic
      application of Silastic rings, and provided a surgical specimen to confirm tubal
      histology. This aspect may represent a medicolegal advantage of documentation not
      available with other laparoscopic techniques of tubal ligation.

PMID- 1448252
TI  - Coping with extraperitoneal insufflation during laparoscopy: a new technique.

PMID- 1448253
TI  - Antenatal treatment of alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

PMID- 1448254
TI  - Hysteroscopic endometrial ablation using the rollerball electrode.

PMID- 1448255
TI  - Randomized comparison of laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy with standard
      vaginal hysterectomy in an outpatient setting.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare outpatient laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy with
      standard outpatient vaginal hysterectomy. METHODS: Fifty-six women scheduled for
      vaginal hysterectomy were randomly assigned to undergo either a laparoscopy
      assisted vaginal hysterectomy with endoscopic staples (N = 29) or a standard
      vaginal hysterectomy (N = 27). There were no differences between the study groups
      with regard to age, gravidity, parity, preoperative indications, and previous
      operations. RESULTS: Twenty-eight of 29 laparoscopy-assisted vaginal
      hysterectomies and all 27 vaginal hysterectomies were completed without incident.
      When indicated, unilateral or bilateral oophorectomies were completed. The mean
      operating time was significantly longer for laparoscopy-assisted vaginal
      hysterectomy (120.1 versus 64.7 minutes). Fifty-three of the 55 patients
      completing surgery were discharged home by 12 hours from the time of admission.
      Complications with laparoscopic hysterectomy were related to the technical
      aspects of laparoscopy. The incidence of febrile morbidity was similar in the
      groups. Although patients having laparoscopy-assisted hysterectomy required
      statistically significantly more pain medication and had lower postoperative
      hematocrit measurements, this did not make a clinical difference in the
      postoperative courses. The mean hospital charge for laparoscopy-assisted vaginal
      hysterectomy was $7905 and for vaginal hysterectomy $4891. CONCLUSION: Other than
      cost, laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy and standard vaginal hysterectomy
      appear comparable in patients who could otherwise undergo a vaginal hysterectomy.

PMID- 1448256
TI  - Appropriateness of hysterectomies performed for multiple preoperative
      indications.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To correlate the listing of multiple preoperative indications for
      hysterectomy with the risk of non-confirmation of the preoperative diagnosis.
      METHODS: Records of 171 women undergoing consecutive hysterectomies for all
      indications at a large teaching hospital were reviewed for preoperative
      indication(s), compliance with published preoperative validation criteria for
      cases in which tissue pathology was not expected, and histologic verification of
      the preoperative diagnosis for cases in which tissue pathology was expected.
      Rates of confirmation (histologic verification plus successful compliance with
      validation criteria) of the preoperative diagnosis were compared between
      subgroups of cases in which single indications were listed (N = 124) or multiple
      indications were listed (N = 47) preoperatively. RESULTS: The rate of
      confirmation of single indications (115 of 124 cases, 93%) was significantly
      higher than the rate of confirmation of even one indication in cases in which
      multiple indications were listed (28 of 47 cases, 60%, P < .0001; relative risk
      for non-confirmation of multiple indications = 1.55). Multiple indications were
      more likely to be listed when tissue pathology was not expected, representing 49%
      of validatable indications as compared with only 18% of histologically verifiable
      indications (P < .0001). Overall, the rate of compliance with validation criteria
      (70%) was significantly lower than the rate of histologic verification (90%) (P <
      .01). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that listing of multiple preoperative
      indications for hysterectomy is associated with both decreased appropriateness,
      as reflected in decreased compliance with generally accepted preoperative
      validation criteria, and decreased diagnostic accuracy, as reflected in lower
      rates of histologic verification.

PMID- 1448257
TI  - The effect of bilateral pudendal blockade on the static urethral closure function
      in healthy females.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of bilateral pudendal blockade on the urethral
      closure function in the resting state in healthy women. METHODS: Synchronous
      measurements of pressure and cross-sectional area were recorded at the bladder
      neck, in the high-pressure zone, and in the distal urethra before and after the
      pudendal blockade in ten women. RESULTS: The blockade reduced the resting
      pressure significantly (P < .01) all along the urethra. The viscoelastic indices
      of elastance (reciprocal of compliance) and hysteresis (difference in pressure at
      a given degree of urethral dilation when this is increased and decreased
      stepwise) were significantly (P < .05) reduced. CONCLUSIONS: The striated muscles
      innervated by the pudendal nerve are of paramount importance for the closure
      function in the resting state all along the urethra. Urethral elastance and
      hysteresis seem to depend on activity in the surrounding striated muscle fibers.

PMID- 1448258
TI  - Transvaginal sonographic findings in ambulatory patients with suspected pelvic
      inflammatory disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate transvaginal sonographic findings in ambulatory patients
      with suspected pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). METHODS: We studied 51
      outpatients with a mean age of 26.8 years (range 16-52) who had a history of low
      abdominal pain, negative pregnancy test, and no gynecologic procedures performed
      during the last month. Endometrial biopsy was used for the histopathologic
      diagnosis. The presence of plasma cell endometritis was used as the criterion
      standard for the diagnosis of PID. Sonography was performed before biopsy in a
      blinded fashion without knowledge of the clinical findings and laboratory results
      except for the pregnancy test. Repeat pelvic and ultrasound examinations were
      performed 4 weeks after antimicrobial therapy. RESULTS: Endometrial biopsy
      revealed plasma cell endometritis in 13 cases (25%). Thickened fluid-filled tubes
      were seen in 11 of 13 patients (85%) with plasma cell endometritis and in none of
      those without. Other sonographic findings associated with plasma cell
      endometritis were polycystic-like ovaries and free pelvic fluid. A sonogram
      suggestive of PID, ie, thickened fluid-filled tube with or without free pelvic
      fluid, had a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 100% for the diagnosis of
      plasma cell endometritis. None of the patients with a normal sonogram or simple
      cyst had plasma cell endometritis. Repeat examination after 4 weeks showed that
      the sonographic findings had resolved in 60% of the patients who had had
      histologic evidence of infection. CONCLUSION: Transvaginal sonography can
      facilitate the outpatient management of patients with suspected PID.

PMID- 1448259
TI  - Transvaginal ultrasound, color flow, and Doppler waveform of the postmenopausal
      adnexal mass.
AB  - One thousand postmenopausal women were examined prospectively with transvaginal
      ultrasound. Seven hundred forty-three (74%) were asymptomatic and presented for
      screening. Data were analyzed to determine the accuracy of this new modality.
      Eighty-three women had surgery, and 29 malignant neoplasms were found. Color flow
      was identified in 27 of 29 malignant tumors and 35% of benign masses. A cutoff
      value of 0.41 for the Doppler resistance index in the feeder vessels had the best
      discriminatory value; sensitivity and specificity were 96 and 95%, respectively,
      for separating benign from malignant neoplasms. Positive and negative predictive
      values were 96 and 95%, respectively. Morphology alone had poor sensitivity, but
      when combined with Doppler indices, the sensitivity improved to 90% and the
      positive and negative predictive values were 90 and 96%, respectively. The
      results of this study suggest that in the postmenopausal ovary, transvaginal B
      mode imaging, color flow, and Doppler indices satisfy criteria as tests that may
      be sensitive and specific enough for application in a screening program.

PMID- 1448260
TI  - A critical evaluation of transvaginal Doppler studies, transvaginal sonography,
      magnetic resonance imaging, and CA 125 in detecting ovarian cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether transvaginal Doppler ultrasound is more valid than
      transvaginal sonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and CA 125 in
      differentiating malignant from benign ovarian tumors. METHODS: Sixty-three
      patients with ovarian tumors (36 benign and 27 malignant) were studied with
      transvaginal Doppler ultrasound before surgery. Blood flow velocity waveforms
      arising from intratumoral and/or tumor surface arteries were assessed by
      calculating the resistance index. Transvaginal B-mode sonography and MRI imaging
      examinations were also conducted. Serum CA 125 levels were measured. RESULTS:
      There was a significant difference between the resistance index value (0.692 +/-
      0.188) in benign tumors and the value (0.503 +/- 0.107) in malignant tumors (P <
      .05). When 0.72 (mean of the malignant tumor resistance index values + 2 standard
      deviations) was considered as the cutoff value of the resistance index, the
      sensitivity and specificity of the resistance index in detecting malignant
      ovarian tumors were 92.6 and 52.8%, respectively. These values did not differ
      significantly from those with transvaginal sonography diagnosis (sensitivity
      85.2%, specificity 69.4%). The resistance index sensitivity was significantly
      higher than those with MRI diagnosis (66.7%) and CA 125 levels (59.3%) (P < .05);
      however, the resistance index specificity was significantly lower than those with
      MRI diagnosis (97.1%) and CA 125 levels (91.7%) (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Our
      results suggest that transvaginal Doppler ultrasound does not provide more useful
      diagnostic information than transvaginal sonography, MRI, and CA 125 for the
      differentiation of malignant from benign ovarian tumors.

PMID- 1448261
TI  - Comparison of clinical versus surgical staging systems in vulvar cancer.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare prognostic information from the new surgical staging system
      of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) with the old
      clinical staging system for vulvar cancer. METHODS: One hundred six women with
      previously untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva who underwent radical
      vulvectomies and inguinal lymph node dissections at the University of Oklahoma
      from 1971-1990 were considered eligible for this study. A retrospective chart
      review was conducted to assign surgical stage. The clinical and pathologic
      factors analyzed for survival included the clinical and surgical stage of
      disease, nodal status, tumor size, and lesion location. RESULTS: Overall 5-year
      survival was 64%. Forty-three patients had inguinal and femoral node metastasis
      with a 5-year survival of 38%, versus 87% for patients without nodal metastasis
      (P < .00001). An increased number of positive groin lymph nodes was associated
      with a poorer prognosis. Thirty-one patients had tumors of 2 cm or less in
      maximum diameter with no recurrences, versus 52% 5-year survival in the remaining
      patients (P < .001). Perineal involvement was identified in 24 patients, but did
      not significantly influence survival. CONCLUSION: Overall, the new classification
      system revised by FIGO for vulvar cancer staging places patients into more
      accurate risk categories.

PMID- 1448262
TI  - Surgical treatment of unexpected invasive cervical cancer found at total
      hysterectomy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the proper management of patients found to have invasive
      cancer of the cervix on pathologic examination of a uterus removed for benign
      indications. METHODS: We report 18 patients undergoing hysterectomy who were
      found to have cervical cancer with invasion deeper than 3 mm and/or lymph
      vascular space involvement. None had gross residual tumor following simple
      hysterectomy. All patients underwent a second operation. Seventeen women
      underwent a radical parametrectomy, upper vaginectomy, and pelvic
      lymphadenectomy; one had pelvic and periaortic lymphadenectomy alone because of
      bilateral grossly positive obturator nodes. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 72
      months. One of the 15 women without residual disease or nodal involvement at
      second operation had pelvic recurrence 66 months after therapy. Three patients
      with disease identified at radical surgery underwent tailored postoperative
      pelvic radiation, and two of these had pelvic recurrence. The overall actuarial 5
      year survival for the 18 patients was 89%. Operative morbidity was comparable to
      that of patients undergoing primary radical hysterectomy. CONCLUSION: This study
      confirms that patients with unexpected invasive cervical cancer found at total
      hysterectomy can undergo radical re-operation with low morbidity and excellent
      cure rates.

PMID- 1448263
TI  - Adenocarcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of cervical conization in women with
      adenocarcinoma in situ and to determine whether a select group of women could be
      managed by conization alone without hysterectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively
      reviewed 40 cases of cervical adenocarcinoma in situ diagnosed on cervical
      conization. RESULTS: Cervical conization revealed adenocarcinoma in situ alone in
      15 women. Twenty-five women had adenocarcinoma in situ coexisting with squamous
      dysplasia (23) or microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma (two). Twenty-two women
      underwent hysterectomy after cone biopsy. Adenocarcinoma in situ was detected in
      the hysterectomy specimen in one of 12 women with uninvolved cone margins, versus
      seven of ten women with involved margins (P = .006); two of these seven women
      also had foci of invasive adenocarcinoma in the hysterectomy specimen. Conization
      was the only treatment for 18 selected women with adenocarcinoma in situ and
      uninvolved margins; all were relapse-free after a median interval of 3 years
      (range 1.5-5). CONCLUSIONS: Women with cervical adenocarcinoma in situ diagnosed
      by conization who have positive margins are at high risk of residual
      adenocarcinoma in situ and moderate risk of occult invasive adenocarcinoma;
      expectant management is not warranted. However, a cone biopsy with uninvolved
      margins can reliably guide subsequent therapy. Selected young women who desire
      preservation of fertility and have uninvolved margins probably can be managed by
      conization alone, but further study is required to establish the safety of this
      approach.

PMID- 1448264
TI  - Radical hysterectomy in obese women.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is a significant difference in treatment
      outcome and acute and chronic complications in obese compared with non-obese
      women having radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer. METHODS: From
      1970-1985, 320 women underwent a class III radical hysterectomy and pelvic
      lymphadenectomy for stage IB-IIA invasive cervical cancer at Duke University
      Medical Center. Forty-three of these women weighed at least 80 kg and had a body
      weight greater than 25% above their ideal predicted weight. These women were
      compared to 277 patients with normal weight for height. RESULTS: The median age,
      incidence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, number of nodes removed at
      lymphadenectomy, disease-free survival, length of hospital stay, and serious
      surgical or medical complications were the same in the two groups. However, obese
      patients had a significantly higher estimated blood loss, greater incidence of
      transfusion, and longer operative times. CONCLUSIONS: Survival is not compromised
      and the incidence of serious complications is not increased in obese patients
      treated with radical hysterectomy, but the operative technique is more difficult,
      the procedure lasts longer, and the surgery is associated with greater blood
      loss.

PMID- 1448265
TI  - Maternal and neonatal outcomes after oxytocin augmentation in patients undergoing
      a trial of labor after prior cesarean delivery.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the safety of oxytocin augmentation in patients having
      abnormal labors after a prior cesarean delivery. METHODS: We retrospectively
      analyzed a case series of women undergoing a trial of labor after a previous
      cesarean delivery from the University of California San Francisco perinatal data
      base. Women whose labors were augmented with oxytocin were compared to women with
      labor abnormalities managed without the use of oxytocin. A wide range of maternal
      and neonatal outcomes was compared. Only vertex singleton term deliveries were
      studied. RESULTS: From 1975-1990 there were 504 trials of labor, of which 185
      (37%) had labor abnormalities; 62 of these 185 (34%) were augmented with
      oxytocin. Fifty-eight percent of the trials of labor ended in vaginal delivery.
      In patients since 1982, 73% delivered vaginally. Forty-six (74%) of augmented
      patients delivered vaginally. There were no maternal deaths, uterine ruptures, or
      hysterectomies. Estimated blood loss was slightly greater among augmented
      patients after controlling for mode of delivery (P < .05), but only by 50-100 mL
      on average. There was no difference in the need for maternal transfusion. Fetal
      trauma and fetal scalp blood sampling occurred more frequently (P < .05) in the
      augmented labors, but only in the subgroup delivered by cesarean. No increased
      risk was demonstrated by a comparison between patients receiving oxytocin and
      epidural anesthesia and patients with labor abnormalities receiving neither.
      CONCLUSION: Retrospective analysis supports the use of oxytocin and epidural
      anesthesia to augment abnormal trials of labor after prior cesarean.

PMID- 1448266
TI  - Labor induction in women at term with mifepristone (RU 486): a double-blind,
      randomized, placebo-controlled study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and safety of mifepristone as an induction
      agent for the initiation of labor or as a cervical ripening agent in women at
      term. METHODS: Our study group contained 120 women at term (after 37.5 weeks'
      amenorrhea) who had clear clinical indications for labor induction. They were
      randomized to receive either 200 mg of mifepristone or placebo on days 1 and 2 of
      a 4-day observation period, with labor induction planned for day 4. Eight
      patients, three treated with mifepristone and five receiving placebo, had to be
      excluded from the survey because they required cesareans for medical reasons
      (fetal distress or maternal complications) less than 12 hours after taking the
      first tablet. RESULTS: Forty-one subjects entered spontaneous labor, 31 treated
      with mifepristone and ten in the control group (P < .001). Forty-five needed
      cervical maturation with prostaglandins on day 4, 13 of whom had received
      mifepristone and 32 of whom had been given placebo (P < .001). Thirteen women
      treated with mifepristone and 13 who had taken placebo had mature cervices
      sufficient for classic labor induction with oxytocin and amniotomy. Patients who
      delivered vaginally needed a much lower amount of oxytocin when mifepristone had
      been given, and the mean time interval between day 1 of the survey and the onset
      of labor was also significantly shorter in this group. CONCLUSION: Although more
      studies are needed, we have found mifepristone to be a safe, efficient, and
      suitable induction agent for initiation of labor in women at term.

PMID- 1448267
TI  - Psychosocial correlates of drug and heavy alcohol use among pregnant women at
      risk for drug use.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the roles of life stress, depression, and social
      support in the use of drugs and alcohol among pregnant women at risk for
      substance use because they have a substance-using partner. METHODS: This is a
      secondary analysis of data collected for a study of the impact of health
      behaviors and psychosocial characteristics on the newborns of 1226 pregnant
      women. Participants were interviewed during pregnancy and postpartum using a
      questionnaire that included instruments such as the Life Experiences Survey, the
      Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Norbeck Social Support
      Questionnaire. Drug use by women was determined by self-report and urine
      toxicology screens. Drug use by partners was based on maternal report. RESULTS:
      Five hundred seventy-three women reported that they had a substance-using
      partner. These women were nearly five times more likely (odds ratio 4.87, 95%
      confidence interval 3.76-6.30) to be substance users compared with women who did
      not report substance use by a partner. Of these women, substance users reported
      more negative life events on average in the past year than did non-users (19.3
      versus 15.8; P = .01). There was no difference in mean Center for Epidemiologic
      Studies Depression Scale scores (19.7 versus 18.7; P = .26) or in mean social
      support scores (78.2 versus 72.4; P = .14) between users and non-users.
      CONCLUSIONS: Women with substance-using partners have an increased likelihood of
      being users themselves. Among women with substance-using partners, substance use
      by a pregnant women is associated with more negative life events but not with
      depression symptomatology scores or social support scores.

PMID- 1448268
TI  - Crack cocaine: a risk factor for human immunodeficiency virus infection type 1
      among inner-city parturients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To define the relationship between crack cocaine use and human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection while controlling for other HIV risk
      factors. METHODS: We performed a case-control study among inner-city pregnant
      women who were followed at a large urban hospital in Atlanta, Georgia; 79 of the
      women were HIV-1-infected and 525 were seronegative. We identified the women from
      a prenatal population undergoing routine voluntary HIV-1 antibody screening.
      RESULTS: From July 1, 1989 to December 31, 1990, we screened 13,469 pregnant
      women; 80 (5.9 per 1000) were HIV-1-infected. One seropositive woman who did not
      complete a risk-behavior questionnaire was excluded from the study.
      Seropositivity was associated with a history of crack cocaine use (odds ratio
      2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-4.8), intravenous drug use (odds ratio
      14.5, 95% CI 4.5-46.3), and a history of sexually transmitted diseases (odds
      ratio 2.6, 95% CI 1.5-4.5). We found a significant interaction (P = .01) between
      a history of crack cocaine use and employment status: Unemployed women who used
      crack cocaine were 3.5 times more likely to be HIV-1-infected than were employed
      women who used crack cocaine. CONCLUSIONS: Crack cocaine use was found to be a
      risk factor associated with HIV-1 infection among pregnant women, particularly
      those who were unemployed. This finding suggests that the impact of crack cocaine
      use on HIV transmission may be related to economic factors and possibly to either
      trading sex for money to buy cocaine or trading sex for the drug.

PMID- 1448269
TI  - Management and therapy of human immunodeficiency virus-infected pregnancies in
      maternal-fetal medicine fellowship training programs.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine attitudes and practices of obstetricians in maternal
      fetal medicine fellowship programs regarding the management of human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and the use of zidovudine during
      pregnancy. METHODS: We sent a questionnaire to the directors of all 78 approved
      maternal-fetal medicine fellowship programs. The responses, reflecting the
      consensus of the staffs of each program, were obtained and tabulated. RESULTS:
      Although their programs annually provide care for more than 2100 pregnant women
      infected with HIV, less than 25% of all maternal-fetal medicine fellowship
      directors reported that their patients participate in multicenter studies of HIV
      infection complicating pregnancy. Nearly two-thirds of the infected women are
      excluded from such multicenter studies. More than 70% of all program directors
      believe that zidovudine should be offered to symptomatic pregnant women infected
      with HIV; one-half question whether zidovudine poses short-term fetal risks.
      Nevertheless, nearly half of all HIV-infected pregnant women they manage are
      excluded from trials of zidovudine therapy during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Many
      HIV-infected pregnant women who receive care in clinics of maternal-fetal
      medicine fellowship programs are excluded from multicenter studies. Consideration
      should be given to creating a national registry for this important, currently
      unreported, clinical resource.

PMID- 1448270
TI  - The epidemiology of pregnancy complications and outcome in a Norwegian twin
      population.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To measure the contribution of genetic factors to selected pregnancy
      complications, including miscarriage, twinning, hypertension-toxemia, and nausea
      vomiting. METHODS: Information on 22,241 pregnancies of 8675 female twins or
      spouses of male twins was obtained by questionnaire from members of the
      population-based Norwegian Twin Panel. Comparisons of observed tetrachoric
      correlations were used to assess the importance of genetic influences on the
      variables examined. RESULTS: Pregnancy history information was provided by both
      members of 830 monozygotic and 902 dizygotic female twin pairs and by the spouses
      of both members of 459 monozygotic and 464 dizygotic male twin pairs. The
      incidence of twin pregnancy in general, and of opposite-sexed twins in
      particular, found among dizygotic twin women was nearly twice that observed for
      any other group. Monozygotic female twin pairs were more concordant than
      dizygotic female twin pairs for the occurrence of miscarriage, nausea or vomiting
      during pregnancy, and hypertension or overt toxemia. A similar pattern of twin
      similarity was observed for the use of certain medications during pregnancy
      including vitamins, aspirin, and nausea medication. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal genetic
      factors make an important contribution to a predisposition for dizygotic
      twinning, contribute to the risk of miscarriage, and appear to determine, in
      part, whether a woman experiences nausea-vomiting or hypertension-toxemia during
      pregnancy. In addition, health-seeking behaviors of women during pregnancy, as
      reflected by the use of several classes of medication, appear to be influenced
      somewhat by genetic factors.

PMID- 1448271
TI  - Color Doppler flow as an indicator of trophoblastic activity in tubal pregnancies
      detected by transvaginal ultrasound.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential benefits of transvaginal color Doppler in
      the diagnostic evaluation of tubal pregnancies. METHODS: Fifty-two women with
      suspected tubal pregnancy were examined by transvaginal ultrasonography and color
      Doppler. Those with positive scans were referred for exploratory laparoscopy. The
      area of the tubal pregnancy was examined by color flow imaging and the resistance
      indexes (RIs) of the artery blood flows were calculated. The pulsatility indexes
      (PIs) of both uterine arteries were also measured and serum beta-hCG was
      quantitated. RESULTS: Tubal pregnancy was diagnosed by transvaginal
      ultrasonography in 38 of the patients. There were two false-negative and two
      false-positive results. Color flow in the trophoblastic tissue was detected in
      50% of the tubal pregnancies, and the mean (+/- standard deviation) RI of the
      trophoblastic flows was 0.51 +/- 0.12. The RIs of the trophoblastic flows tended
      to decrease at higher beta-hCG levels, and 88.2% of the cases with detectable
      trophoblastic flow had beta-hCG above 800 mIU/mL. The average PI of the uterine
      arteries was 2.28 +/- 0.89. The PIs of the ipsilateral uterine arteries were
      significantly lower in the patients with trophoblastic flow than in those without
      it. CONCLUSION: By monitoring trophoblastic activity, color Doppler may
      differentiate between active and inactive disease and could assist in choosing
      the correct treatment.

PMID- 1448272
TI  - [Importance of prognostic factors in the prognosis of cancer of the endometrium].
AB  - 126 stage I and II endometrial cancer patients were followed up for at least 5
      years to evaluate the impact of surgical-pathological risk factors on the
      survival. Out of the prognostic variables evaluated the age and clinical stage
      failed to influence the 5-year survival rate. The effect on survival of factors
      such as low grade of differentiation and the depth of myometrial infiltration was
      however significant, (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 respectively). The early local
      recurrence has also significant negative prognostic value (p < 0.05). This latter
      can be effectively prevented through the prehysterectomy suture of the external
      cervical os. On the basis of their findings authors suggest to consider the grade
      and the depth of myometrial invasion beside the clinical stage at the
      determination of the extension of the surgical procedure and at the decision on
      the administration of postoperative irradiation.

PMID- 1448273
TI  - [Biochemical, clinical and genetic analysis of various aminoacidopathies (non
      ketotic hyperglycemia, maple syrup urine disease, histidinemia, tyrosinemia)].
AB  - The genetical types were classified according to the clinical findings and
      biochemical results in cases of 13 newborn/children suffering from various
      aminoacidopathies. The genetical types were: 3 neonatal and 4 infantile types
      were found out of 7 non-ketotic disease (MSUD) patient was infantile type with
      9.1 per cent keto acid decarboxylase activity in leukocyte homogenate. Among the
      3 histidinemic patients 1 was severe neonatal type and 2 cases were chronic
      types. The 2 treated tyrosinemic children proved to be type III. (chronic with
      rickets).

PMID- 1448274
TI  - [Quality control of radiographic imaging of the lumbar spine].
AB  - The qualitative control of the roentgenographic findings was performed
      independently by the assessment of five x-ray specialists on 40 two-directional
      lumbosacral roentgenograms. The findings were based on questioners including all
      details and a table of the internationally used "Radiological Diagnosis". In
      earlier publications the anatomical and structural changes were considered the
      risk factors of the waist. (Osteoporosis, changes in the position of the
      vertebral body, change in the shape of the spine, restriction of the
      intervertebral cleft and deformation of the small articulations). The views of
      the research workers were compared by means of statistical analysis. Compared
      with other authors the methods of these findings are in agreement with the
      international norms. These findings drew attention to the necessity of an
      objective assessment of the subjective findings.

PMID- 1448275
TI  - [Andrologic significance of genital mycoplasma].
AB  - The authors investigated the effect of genital mycoplasma infection of fertility.
      The rate of silent mycoplasma infection was studied in asymptomatic andrological
      patients (655 persons) and in a control group of so called "chronic prostatitis"
      (1085) patients with clinical symptoms. In the asymptomatic andrological group
      the urethral smear was positive in 12.5% of cases, the ejaculate in 22.0% of
      cases. In the "chronic prostatitic" group mycoplasma infection was present in
      urethral smear in 34.8% of cases, and in the ejaculate in 37.0% of cases. The
      isolation showed that 29.2% of positive ejaculate samples contained M. hominis,
      and 70.8% of samples was infected by U. urealyticum. For investigating the effect
      of mycoplasma infection on the male fertilization capacity, infected and non
      infected andrological patients was compared by conventional andrological
      parameters and by modern functional tests like bovin mucus penetration test,
      hypoosmotic swelling test and swim up procedure. All the modern parameters and
      one of the conventional tests (sperm motility) showed a significant difference
      between the two groups.

PMID- 1448276
TI  - [Yersinia-induced arthritis in patients with spondylitis ankylopoietica of 20
      year duration].
AB  - The case of a 46 years old woman with spondylitis ankylopoetica is reported.
      Following diarrhoea a severe, asymmetric oligoarthritis developed with positive
      Yersinia enterocolitica serology. The acute oligoarthritis repressed after 2
      month.

PMID- 1448277
TI  - [Centenary of the birth of Imre Haynal, M. D].

PMID- 1448278
TI  - [Remembering Istvan Csapody (1892-1979)].

PMID- 1448279
TI  - [HIV screening of milk donors].

PMID- 1448280
TI  - [Endoprostheses for stenosis of the major airways].

PMID- 1448281
TI  - A.C. and D.C. motility of mammalian auditory sensory cells--a new concept in
      hearing physiology.
AB  - Transduction of sound events results mechano-electrically in a.c. and d.c.
      movements of the auditory sensory cells based on de- and repolarization steps
      through the opening of apical and lateral K(+)--conductive ion channels. During
      transduction, apical ionic channels are thought to allow an influx of K+
      resulting in a depolarization of the outer cell membrane. This is followed by a
      K(+)--efflux through basolateral K(+)--channels, inducing a re- or
      hyperpolarization phase. Different hypotheses expect the apical transduction
      channels to be located either in the cell membrane of the stereocilia and/or in
      the cell membrane of the cuticular plate (CP). Patch-clamp techniques revealed
      the presence of an unspecific CP-channel adjacent to the insertion of the
      stereocilia. In the basolateral cell membrane of outer hair cells (OHC) from the
      mammalian cochlea, the prevailing channel type, a rectifying high-conductance
      K(+)--channel, has been characterized as C-channel. After depolarization of the
      auditory sensory cells, however, the signal transfer divides at this point. The
      depolarization of inner hair cells (IHC) leads to the release of afferent
      transmitters for which glutamate is a good candidate. By contracts in OHCs the
      stimulation induces active mechanical responses of the sensory cells. Slow d.c.
      movements of the cylindrical hair cell body as well as of the cuticular plate
      with the sensory hairs are thought to control the operation point of the
      stereocilia. The mechanical characteristics of the cochlear partition during
      adaptation, TTS as well as the homeostasis of the basilar membrane location could
      be modulated by the OHCs. In particular, the slow d.c. movements may protect the
      vulnerable cochlear partition against high sound pressure levels. Rapid d.c.
      movements of which the underlying mechanisms is unknown, may interfere cycle-by
      cycle with the travelling wave. Thus, near hearing threshold, they could
      drastically amplify and tune the travelling wave. This could explain otoacoustic
      emissions, the high sensitivity and the frequency selectivity of the ear at low
      sound pressures. Moreover, it cannot be excluded that the actomyosin skeleton
      significantly helps to amplify the travelling wave by intermittent stimulations
      of a resonance system.

PMID- 1448282
TI  - [Etiology of laryngeal neoplasms--results of epidemiologic tests in Upper and
      Lower Silesia].

PMID- 1448283
TI  - [One stage reconstructive surgery of the hypopharynx from clinical material of
      the ENT Clinic Medical Academy in Cracow].
AB  - From April 1990 till September 1991 in ENT Clinic Medical Academy in Cracow 6
      patients with well advanced laryngeal cancer involving hypopharynx were treated
      surgically. Total laryngectomy with partial or total hypopharyngectomy was
      performed and then the reconstruction of hypopharynx one stage procedure using
      pectoralis major myocutaneous flap was done. In all patients cosmetic and
      functional results were excellent.

PMID- 1448284
TI  - [Evaluation of frequency of recurrence in malignant head and neck neoplasms in
      the years 1980-1990].
AB  - During the years 1980-1990 in the Otolaryngological Department of the Silesian
      Medical Academy in Katowice 452 patients with malignant neoplasms of the head and
      neck were treated. 154 (35%) patients treated by radiotherapy. 140 (30%) were
      operated, 133 (29%) were treated by both methods and 25 (6%) were treated
      symptomatically. 139 (30%) out of them have had the recurrencies after the
      treatment. The authors made the analysis of frequency of recurrencies in years
      1980-86 in comparison with period 1987-90. The statistically significant increase
      of frequency of recurrencies in years 1987-1990 was found.

PMID- 1448285
TI  - [Histologic grading of malignancy and prognosis in laryngeal neoplasms].
AB  - The semi-quantitative grading system for squamous cell carcinoma based on
      estimation of multiple histologic variables according to Jakobsson is presented.
      Selected histologic parameters have been also evaluated regarding their
      importance in predicting patient outcome. Features such as differentiation of the
      tumor cells, their nuclear polymorphism, number of mitoses and vascular invasion
      significantly correlated with clinical outcome. The structure of the tumor and
      cellular host response had no influence on survival. There was statistically
      significant relationship between the patient outcome and histologic grade of
      malignancy expressed by total point value. The incidence of cervical node and
      distant metastases was three times more frequent in the group of poorly
      differentiated tumors than in others. There was no correlation found between the
      localization of the tumor and the degree of cancer differentiation, but the
      supraglottic tumors poorly and moderately differentiated infiltrated towards the
      glottis more often then highly differentiated.

PMID- 1448286
TI  - [Partial supra-cricoid reconstructive laryngectomy with CHP and CHEP: surgical
      technique and oncologic results].
AB  - The authors present a report on 62 cases of partial horizontal supracricoid
      reconstructive laryngectomy, including 28 cases of cricohyoidopexy (CHP) and 34
      cases of cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (CHEP). The surgery was carried out in the
      years 1971 to 1989 in the ENT Clinic of Pomeranian Medical Academy in Szczecin.
      The indications, surgical technique and oncological results are presented. 78%
      patients survived after 3 years and 73% after 5 years without recurrence. The
      reasons of failure and the way of treatment are discussed.

PMID- 1448287
TI  - [Interleukin-1 beta and TNF alpha in serum of patients with otosclerosis].
AB  - Levels of interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor--alfa were determined
      using immunoradiometric method in the serum of patients who have gone surgical
      treatment due to otosclerosis. Values of both cytokines were higher in the serum
      of patients as compared with the control group. As regards TNF-alfa these
      differences were statistically significant.

PMID- 1448288
TI  - [Effect of equilibrium disorders in otosclerotic patients post stapedectomy on
      postoperative hearing improvement].
AB  - In this paper author described the significance of vestibular symptoms post
      stapedectomy in postoperative hearing improvement. Vertigo post stapedectomy was
      noted and spontaneous nystagmus, positional nystagmus and directional
      preponderance were examined. Postoperative hearing improvement in patients with
      and without vestibular symptoms was compared. Author maintained that recent
      symptoms of peripheral vestibular disfunction had made no difference in
      postoperative hearing improvement.

PMID- 1448289
TI  - [An objective evaluation of retrocochlear structures in the auditory pathway by
      means of CNT (cochlear nerve tester)].
AB  - Indications for hearing implants in profoundly deaf patients have been presented.
      Auditory pathway status was evaluated by application of electrical stimulation of
      cochlear nerve. The electrical stimulus originated from Cochlear Nerve Tester.
      Obtained sound sensations might be revealed on ABR pattern.

PMID- 1448290
TI  - Diagnostic value of transtympanic electrocochleography; case reports.
AB  - The transtympanic electrocochleography is performed on more than 1000 patients
      with various hearing loss. The registration technique in brief as well as some
      interesting findings (endolymphatic hydrops, neural hearing loss due to multiple
      sclerosis, mitochondrial cytopathology) will be presented. The indications of the
      electrocochleography as an audiological topo-diagnostic tool will be discussed.

PMID- 1448291
TI  - Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) in guinea pigs to loud tones noise: a
      preliminary study.
AB  - It is well known that exposure to intense acoustic stimuli can induce permanent
      damage to the tissues of the inner ear. In this study the technique of ABR
      measurement and the experimental animal model of acoustic trauma were presented.
      In forty 3 months old guinea pigs the hearing threshold was assessed using the
      ABR technique (Amplaid mk 10 system). The hearing thresholds ranged from 40 to 50
      dB-pe-SPL (mean 45.26 dB, sd. 4.73). The mean latencies of the four most
      prominent peaks in the ABR pattern were also measured. Fourteen of animals were
      then exposed to a 1 kHz pure tone at different duration and stimulus level. The
      ABR threshold was measured immediately after exposure and 20 to 30 days later.
      The exposure at 112 dB for 2h caused the threshold shift in all guinea pigs
      varying from 25 to 65 dB. After 3-4 weeks of recovery time in all animals hearing
      threshold improved, in some animals reaching the pre-exposure level. We conclude
      that the ABR technique allows to measure precisely and with high reproducibility
      the hearing level in guinea pigs and also allows to estimate the threshold shift
      after exposure to noise.

PMID- 1448292
TI  - [Wladyslaw Oltuszewski--organizer of the first Polish phoniatrics institute (in
      it's 100 year anniversary)].
AB  - On the occasion of 100's anniversary of first phoniatrics' department foundation
      in Poland--"The Warsaw Institute of Speech Deviation", the activity of dr med.
      Wladyslaw Oltuszewski its organizer and the pioneer of Polish phoniatrics is
      described. The main topics of his activities are referred in his book "About
      speech and its disorders" (1906). Dr Oltuszewski's achievements in the
      popularization of the knowledge about speech disorders were strongly pointed out.
      His lectures were given not only for medical societies but also for the pedagogic
      ones.

PMID- 1448293
TI  - [Malignant tumors of the head and neck in children. Part I--review].
AB  - About 27% of malignant tumors in children is located in the head and neck.
      Besides primary solid tumors, lymph node metastases as well as signs of systemic
      diseases of the lymphatic tissue are often found in this region. The latter are
      the most common childhood malignancies. Among primary solid malignant tumors in
      this region neoplasms of the soft tissues are frequency found. Their prevalence
      comes next to the tumors of the central nervous system and the orbit.
      Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) represents 50% of cases in this group. Malignant neoplasms
      originating from epithelial and bone tissue occur rarely in children. The
      evolution of triple therapy, combining surgery with irradiation and chemotherapy
      has produced and improvement in prolonged survival rates in these children.

PMID- 1448294
TI  - [State of the vestibular system in chronic alcoholics].

PMID- 1448295
TI  - Interdisciplinary treatment of spina bifida children.
AB  - In the Spina Bifida Centre, Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital (Milan, Italy), from
      June 1985 to June 1990, 60 spina bifida children have been treated. The results
      of the rehabilitation programme (including orthopaedic, urological and
      psychosocial aspects) at the time of the survey were: (a) Neuromotor function:
      72% of the patients achieved ambulation, 52% of these being less than 2 years of
      age, and 20% older than 2 years; 18% were too young for walking. Thus,
      considering the children's age, about 90% of the subjects achieved the standing
      position, and 89% achieved ambulation. (b) Bladder function: 83% of the children
      had a complete urological evaluation; 40% of those with a neuropathic bladder had
      a hyperreflex type, 54% areflexic, and 6% normoreflexic. Thirty-two percent of
      the patients had signs of 'high pressure' bladder function. Urinary continence
      was: 36% > or = 2 hours, 20% < 2 hours, 44% not detectable (age < 2 years). Forty
      percent of the subjects used intermittent catheterisation. (c) Psychosocial
      aspect: child adaptation to the disease and to the rehabilitation programme was
      good in 61% of the patients; family problems were identified in 70% of the
      patients; enrollment in preschool and school programmes was normal (or with
      specialist teaching) in about 74%; 33.3% of the subjects had disturbance of
      affect. The results clearly showed that the interdisciplinary approach favoured
      the social integration of these children.

PMID- 1448296
TI  - Spinal cord injury: 10 and 15 years after.
AB  - Researchers have only recently begun to study the problems and adaptations of
      persons who have lived with spinal cord injury (SCI) for many years. This
      descriptive study examined recent functional changes and perceptions regarding
      the quality of life in 43 SCI persons who were 10 or 15 years post injury; 31
      percent of the 137 persons surveyed (by mail) responded. On a general rating of
      quality of life, neither level nor completeness of injury was a significant
      factor. Subjects who were in a preferred current living situation had a
      significantly better perceived quality of life (t = -3.2, p < .01); employment
      did not similarly affect quality of life ratings. There was no significant
      Spearman correlation between quality of life and the number of recent changes
      experienced in daily functioning (rs = .17); likewise, quality of life was not
      related to involvement in exercise or other recreational activities. The nature
      of the changes most often experienced, as well as factors that persons saw as
      helping to maintain their independence, are described.

PMID- 1448297
TI  - Depressed serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in veterans with
      spinal cord injury.
AB  - Cardiovascular diseases are the most frequent cause of death among persons with
      spinal cord injury (SCI), and these diseases are reported to occur prematurely in
      the disabled compared to the able bodied population. The mechanism of accelerated
      coronary heart disease (CHD) in persons with SCI may be partially explicable on
      the basis of the lipoprotein profile. We performed fasting lipoprotein
      determinations on 100 veterans with SCI, 50 with paraplegia and 50 with
      quadriplegia, and 50 veteran controls. The mean age of the subjects with SCI was
      47.8 +/- 1.4 years with a duration of injury of 16.3 +/- 1.2 years. The mean
      serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was depressed in subjects with
      paraplegia or quadriplegia compared to controls (37 +/- 1 or 40 +/- 1 versus 48
      +/- 2 mg/dL, p < 0.0001). Although serum total cholesterol was lower (p < 0.01)
      in subjects with SCI than in controls, there was no significant difference in
      mean serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Thirty-seven percent of
      subjects with SCI have serum HDL cholesterol levels less than 35 mg/dL with no
      significant difference in lipoprotein distribution between high and low cord
      lesions. Eighteen percent of individuals with SCI have an absolute elevation of
      LDL cholesterol (greater than 160 mg/dL). About 40% of those with SCI and LDL
      cholesterol levels between 130 and 160 mg/dL also have serum HDL cholesterol
      values below 35 mg/dL, all of whom would have their serum HDL cholesterol level
      undetected if lipoprotein profiles were performed according to present
      recommendations--that is, only if the serum total cholesterol is
      elevated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448298
TI  - Suggested MRI criteria for surgical decompression in acute spinal cord injury.
      Preliminary observations.
AB  - The effect of spinal cord compression identified with magnetic resonance imaging
      (MRI), on neurological prognosis, was retrospectively evaluated in 36 patients
      with acute spinal cord injury. Of the 21 patients without cord compression, 16
      had potentially reversible injury (normal spinal cord or cord oedema), all having
      functional recovery. Of the 15 patients with cord compression, 3 had operative
      decompression. In the 12 patients who did not undergo surgery, the degree of
      recovery was directly related to the magnitude of spinal cord compression, only
      one of the patients with moderate or marked cord compression having useful motor
      function at follow up. In contrast, the 3 patients with surgical decompression
      had at least 2 grades of improvement, all having functional recovery. These
      findings raise the possibility that MRI may be used to identify a patient group
      who will benefit from surgical decompression. A numerical index is proposed to
      prospectively identify patients for surgical decompression, and further studies
      are underway to evaluate this.

PMID- 1448299
TI  - Bacterial biofilm formation in the urinary bladder of spinal cord injured
      patients.
AB  - Ten spinal cord injured patients aged 8 to 55 years (mean 32) were followed for
      up to 2 months after admission to a rehabilitation setting from an acute care
      hospital. Urinary fluid and bladder epithelial cells were collected weekly by
      intermittent catheterization and examined for bacterial colonization. Six
      patients had no history of urinary tract infection upon admission, likely due to
      the antimicrobial coverage given during acute care. All the patients subsequently
      became colonized with uropathogens at some time during the study period.
      Bacterial biofilms were found in 73% of the samples (73% Gram negative organisms,
      27% Gram positive), with mean pathogenic adhesion counts of 29 organisms per
      bladder cell. In 16% of cases, bladder biofilms were found when urine culture was
      negative. Bacterial biofilms were also evident during antimicrobial therapy in 10
      of 12 samples tested and urine cultures showed breakthrough infections in 50% of
      cases. Two asymptomatic patients were colonized with Klebsiella pneumoniae and
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa and were dismissed without requiring therapy. Clearly,
      bacterial biofilms can exist on bladder epithelia, without being detected in
      urine samples and without giving rise to symptoms. The extent to which they occur
      and damage the host remains to be determined, as does the answer to the question,
      should these patients be treated?

PMID- 1448300
TI  - Results of the combined treatment of paediatric intraspinal tumours.
AB  - In this article 98 patients with paediatric intraspinal tumours are presented.
      All were evaluated according to their ages, sex, signs and symptoms. The patients
      also had radiological and histopathological studies; and the results of surgical,
      physical medicine and rehabilitation and of radiotherapy are discussed and
      compared with the results of patients reported in the literature.

PMID- 1448301
TI  - Lumbar spine dimensions in paraparetic patients: a 10 year follow up study.
AB  - Lumbar spinal AP radiographs of 13 C3-T11 paraparetic patients taken at about a
      10 year interval were compared. The height (H) and maximum width (W) of the
      interapophysolaminar spaces (IALS), the width of the vertebral bodies at their
      waist (V) and the relationship between them showed minimal change over the follow
      up period. The difference between the late and early mean IALS height values
      increased caudally but was statistically significant only below L5. Subjective
      evaluation of the consecutive x-ray films revealed few new degenerative
      abnormalities. It is concluded that the normal aging process, which includes
      horizontal spreading of the lumbar vertebral bodies and narrowing of the lumbar
      spinal canal, is not accelerated by paraparesis and may even be retarded by
      relative immobilization.

PMID- 1448302
TI  - Postoperative wound infections following myocutaneous flap surgery in spinal
      injury patients.
AB  - Severe pressure ulcers in patients with spinal cord injury are frequently treated
      by using musculocutaneous (m-c) flap surgery. There have been few studies of the
      use of perioperative antibiotics to prevent postoperative infection in this
      setting. We reviewed 74 m-c flap surgeries in 53 patients (41 male and 12 female)
      from October 1989 for one year. The sites involved were ischial (31), sacral
      (24), trochanteric (18), deltoid (2), olecranon (1) and posterior thigh (1). An
      antibiotic was usually administered perioperatively for 5 days. Patients were
      followed for a median of 30 (8-96) weeks. Postoperative infections occurred at a
      median of 12 (4-25) days in 6 of 74 (8%) surgeries. The organisms cultured from
      the 6 infected wounds were: Bacteroides sp. (4), Proteus mirabilis (2), E. coli
      (2), MRSA (2), and others (6--each isolated once). These results indicate that
      antibiotics did not prevent postoperative infection in approximately 8% of
      patients undergoing m-c surgery. The frequency of isolation of Bacteroides sp.
      from these infections suggests that anaerobic bacteria may persist in healing
      pressure ulcers and perioperative antibiotics might include coverage for
      anaerobic bacteria.

PMID- 1448303
TI  - Incidence and risk factors in the appearance of heterotopic ossification in
      spinal cord injury.
AB  - Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a frequent complication in patients with a
      spinal cord injury (SCI), although the aetiology is unknown. A study was
      undertaken of 654 SCI patients with traumatic aetiology, admitted for the first
      time to the Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, Toledo, during 1988 and 1989. Of
      the total number of patients, 85 (13%) were diagnosed HO and 569 without HO. The
      diagnosis was mainly achieved by x-ray studies and clinical signs. From the 569
      patients with traumatic aetiology without HO, 44 were selected at random, as were
      44 of the 85 patients with HO. The mean time lapse between the occurrence of the
      accident and admission for patients with HO was 40.79 days (typical deviation
      (TD) = 45.2), and for patients without HO was 32.84 (TD = 38) days, resulting in
      a value of F = 0.796 through analysis of variance, which is not a statistically
      significant variation between the 2 groups. In both groups we have taken account
      of the following variables: age at time of lesion, lesion level, type of lesion
      (complete or incomplete), spasticity, urinary tract complications, deep vein
      thrombosis, important associated injuries occurring at the moment of lesion, time
      elapsed before admission and the existence of pressure sores. In those SCI
      patients with HO the number of ossifications and their localisations were also
      verified. By use of the chi square test (X2) over all 9 variables which were
      studied, we found that 3 variables (complete spinal lesion, presence of pressure
      sores and spasticity) were significantly related to HO formation.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448304
TI  - Use of the biceps femoris following failed inferior gluteal flap transfer. Case
      report.
AB  - Considering the high recurrence rate of pressure ulceration in paraplegic
      patients, flap procedures to reconstruct a defect should not be at the expense of
      another possible future flap. The posterior thigh fasciocutaneous flap is useful
      for the coverage of ischial and trochanteric pressure sores; the biceps femoris
      musculocutaneous flap is a useful choice for deep ischial defects. However, the
      cutaneous portions of these two flaps is nearly identical. The previous transfer
      of the biceps flap excludes the further use of the posterior thigh flap. In
      contrast, use of the posterior thigh flap still permits the employment of a
      biceps V-Y advancement flap. Even if the donor site of the previous posterior
      thigh flap must be skin-grafted, the graft will remain viable on its muscular bed
      and function as the cutaneous portion of the flap; thus stable coverage is
      provided, despite previous use of 'first line' flaps. We demonstrate how careful
      planning of the stages of flap procedures can allow the most economic use of
      donor areas in this difficult patient group.

PMID- 1448305
TI  - Urinary lithiasis induced by sulfamethoxazole in a patient with tetraplegia. Case
      report.
AB  - Bladder lithiasis is a frequent complication in paraplegics and tetraplegics. We
      report on a patient where treatment of a urinary infection with antibacterial
      sulfamides was the causative factor in the formation of bladder stones.

PMID- 1448306
TI  - Duration of symptoms and outcome in bacterial meningitis: an analysis of
      causation and the implications of a delay in diagnosis.
AB  - The prompt diagnosis and therapy of bacterial meningitis remain enduring clinical
      challenges, for no physician would knowingly delay appropriate therapy. However,
      whether a delay in the initiation of antimicrobials in fact causes a worse
      outcome is a separate and tangential question. In clinical medicine a treatment
      decision involves a bedside estimate of the risk and potential severity of
      illness balanced against the benefits and adverse effects of therapy. For severe
      infections, the inexorable damage of untreated disease is presumed, and
      antimicrobials properly are given without hesitation. In contrast the methodical
      weighing of evidence regarding the issue of causation is for the purpose of
      characterizing biologic phenomena. Although legal and medical implications may be
      contained in such an analysis, its relevance to any particular clinical case is
      only retrospective. To judge responsibly the strength of a causative link, all
      available scientific evidence must be analyzed by established criteria. Such as
      analysis suggests that any connection between a delay in the treatment of
      bacterial meningitis and outcome depends on the presenting clinical pattern. If
      the presentation is that of a nonspecific illness with general symptoms, then a
      short delay of < 3 to 5 days does not appear to alter the risk of sequelae or
      death. In the case of fulminant meningitis a delay in initiating therapy seems
      unconnected to outcome. Finally for patients with a history of clinically overt
      meningitis, an inappropriate delay in commencing therapy incrementally increases
      the risk of permanent injury.

PMID- 1448307
TI  - Therapy of bacterial sepsis, meningitis and otitis media in infants and children:
      1992 poll of directors of programs in pediatric infectious diseases.
AB  - To determine current opinions among experts in pediatric infectious diseases for
      treatment of bacterial sepsis, meningitis and acute otitis media, we polled
      directors of training programs in January, 1992. Responses were received from 69
      centers in the United States and Canada. For initial treatment of presumed
      bacterial meningitis, the third generation cephalosporins alone or combined with
      ampicillin have become drugs of choice in all age groups. Most infectious disease
      programs include dexamethasone in the management of presumed bacterial meningitis
      for children 2 months of age and older. Third generation cephalosporins are also
      drugs of choice for presumed sepsis: combined with ampicillin for infants 5 weeks
      of age; used alone for children 5 months and 12 years of age. Amoxicillin remains
      the preferred drug for initial treatment of acute otitis media. The combination
      of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid is favored in the setting of an increased
      proportion of beta-lactamase-producing bacterial pathogens. Comparison of these
      results with polls in 1987 and 1989 indicates a shift in recommendations of
      therapy of presumed bacterial sepsis and meningitis from ampicillin alone or
      combined with an aminoglycoside or chloramphenicol to use of a third generation
      cephalosporin alone or combined with ampicillin.

PMID- 1448308
TI  - Missed opportunities for influenza vaccination among children with asthma.
AB  - Influenza vaccination is recommended for children with moderate to severe asthma.
      However, most children with asthma are not vaccinated, in part because many do
      not make an office visit during the vaccination time period. We studied 247 urban
      children with asthma to determine the maximum number that could have been
      vaccinated during a medical visit to a clinic or emergency department. One
      hundred thirty-nine patients (56%) had at least one visit during the study
      period. Sixty-five patients (26%) received the influenza vaccination; 74 patients
      (30%) did not receive the vaccination despite being seen in the clinic or
      emergency department. One-half of the missed vaccination opportunities at the
      clinic occurred during nonacute visits. Influenza vaccination rates could be
      substantially improved by efforts to increase primary care visits during the
      vaccination time period and to minimize missed vaccination opportunities.

PMID- 1448309
TI  - Value of C-reactive protein determination in the initial diagnostic evaluation of
      the febrile, neutropenic child with cancer.
AB  - We studied prospectively the value of administration C-reactive protein (CRP) in
      the diagnostic evaluation of the child with cancer hospitalized for fever and
      neutropenia. During a 7-month period 74 patients with malignant disease had 122
      hospital admissions because of fever and neutropenia. All patients had a serum
      CRP obtained 8 to 24 hours after the onset of fever as part of their initial
      evaluation. There was a borderline correlation between serum CRP concentration
      and temperature at admission (P = 0.06). Patients with fever without an
      identifiable source had significantly lower CRP concentrations compared with
      those having focal or microbiologically documented infection (34.9 +/- 6 vs. 70.2
      +/- 12 mg/liter; P = 0.0005). Twelve patients had positive blood cultures, 5 of
      which were coagulase-negative staphylococci considered to be central venous
      catheter-related infection or colonization. CRP concentrations were significantly
      lower in these 5 patients compared with the 7 patients with septicemia caused by
      other organisms (21 +/- 9 vs. 113 +/- 23 mg/liter; P = 0.01). In distinguishing
      between septicemic and nonsepticemic children, serum CRP was found to have
      excellent sensitivity and negative predictive value at concentration limits of
      20, 50 and 100 mg/liter. However, both specificity and positive predictive value
      were low at these respective levels, thus limiting the overall utility of serum
      CRP in the initial empiric management of the febrile, neutropenic child with
      cancer.

PMID- 1448310
TI  - Prophylactic miconazole oral gel for the prevention of neonatal fungal rectal
      colonization and systemic infection.
AB  - Prior rectal colonization with fungi may be an important risk factor for
      development of systemic fungal infection in the neonate. This placebo-controlled
      study evaluated the benefits of miconazole oral gel in the prevention of fungal
      rectal colonization and systemic infection in high risk neonates admitted to the
      Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Repeated oral application of miconazole gel reduced
      the overall prevalence of postnatally acquired rectal colonization; a yeast was
      grown in 19.5% of the weekly rectal swabs in the miconazole-treated group
      compared with 36.2% in the control group (69 of 354 vs. 146 of 403, P < 0.0001).
      There was no reduction in the incidence of systemic fungal infection in the two
      groups although the overall incidence of the infection was low in both groups, at
      2.0% vs. 2.6% (6 of 298 vs. 8 of 302, P not significant). No relationship was
      shown between prior rectal colonization and subsequent systemic fungal infections
      in either of the two groups. This study does not support the use of prophylactic
      miconazole oral gel for the prevention of neonatal systemic fungal infections.

PMID- 1448311
TI  - Comparative efficacy of oral rifampin and topical chloramphenicol in eradicating
      conjunctival carriage of Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius. Brazilian
      Purpuric Fever Study Group.
AB  - Persistent conjunctival carriage of the Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius
      (Hae) strain (BPF clone) responsible for Brazilian purpuric fever (BPF) has been
      documented. Topical chloramphenicol is routinely used to treat conjunctivitis in
      areas affected by BPF in Brazil. Although the BPF clone is susceptible to
      chloramphenicol, we observed a number of children treated with topical
      chloramphenicol for conjunctivitis who still developed BPF. During an
      investigation of an outbreak of BPF in Mato Grosso State, Brazil, we compared
      oral rifampin (20 mg/kg/day for 4 days) with topical chloramphenicol for
      eradication of conjunctival carriage of H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius among
      children with presumed BPF clone conjunctivitis. Conjunctival samples were taken
      for culture on the day treatment was initiated and a mean of 8 and 21 days later.
      At 8 days the eradication rates for oral rifampin and topical chloramphenicol
      were 100 and 44%, respectively (P = 0.003); at 21 days they were 100 and 50% (P =
      0.01). Oral rifampin was more effective than topical chloramphenicol for
      eradication of the BPF clone and may be useful in prevention of BPF.

PMID- 1448312
TI  - Immunogenicity of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in urban black children from Ga
      Rankuwa, Bophuthatswana, South Africa.
AB  - Many areas in Southern Africa have a relatively high endemicity for hepatitis B
      for which the only effective medical measure is vaccination. The aim of this
      study was to evaluate the antibody response to a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine
      (Engerix B; Smith Kline-Beecham) in a black urban population, with the use of the
      recommended regimen and a low dose, short course. One hundred eleven children
      seronegative for hepatitis B virus (5 to 19 years old) were randomized to receive
      one of the two vaccination schedules (20 micrograms at zero, 1 and 6 months or 2
      micrograms at zero, 1 and 2 months). Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen was
      determined 6 to 8 weeks after the last dose by radioimmunoassay (Ausab; Abbott
      Laboratories). The recommended schedule gave a seroconversion rate of 100% with a
      geometric mean titer of 585.9 mIU/ml. The low dose, short course schedule
      produced a seroconversion rate of 63.8% and a geometric mean titer of 73.8
      mIU/ml. In the 5- to 9-year-old individuals, however, 71.6% seroconverted
      (geometric mean titer 114.2 mIU/ml). For cost reasons further investigations on
      low dose regimens are indicated.

PMID- 1448313
TI  - Diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-pertussis vaccination does not increase the risk of
      hospitalization with an infectious illness.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine whether children hospitalized with a
      primary diagnosis of infection were more likely than matched controls to have had
      a diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-pertussis immunization in the 30 days before
      hospitalization of the case. Cases were less likely than controls to have
      received an immunization (P = 0.003). They were also less likely to have been
      breast-fed (P < 0.001) and to have had a well-child care clinic visit (P = 0.01).
      Cases were significantly more likely to be preterm (< 38 weeks gestation), low
      birth weight (< 2500 g) and attending day care than their matched nonhospitalized
      controls (P = 0.003, 0.03 and 0.002, respectively). This study demonstrates no
      association between receipt of diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-pertussis immunization
      and subsequent hospitalization for an infectious illness.

PMID- 1448314
TI  - Gastric lavage is better than bronchoalveolar lavage for isolation of
      Mycobacterium tuberculosis in childhood pulmonary tuberculosis.
AB  - We compared the sensitivity of gastric lavage (GL) with bronchoalveolar lavage
      (BAL) for isolating Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) from 20 children with a
      presumptive diagnosis of primary pulmonary tuberculosis. GL was performed on
      three consecutive mornings after an overnight fast. BAL was performed on the same
      day as the last GL. Specimens were submitted for smears and culture for Mtb. None
      of the acid-fast stained smears was positive. Cultures of BAL fluid on 2 patients
      (2 of 20 or 10%) were positive for Mtb. Cultures of the gastric aspirates from
      the same 2 patients were also positive for Mtb. Eight additional patients had
      positive GL cultures with negative BAL cultures, resulting in a total of 10 of 20
      (50%) patients with positive GL cultures for Mtb. The results of our study
      indicate that GL done on three consecutive days is better than BAL for the
      bacteriologic diagnosis of childhood pulmonary tuberculosis.

PMID- 1448315
TI  - Sepsis and septic shock: a review for clinicians.

PMID- 1448316
TI  - Infections in children with severe protein-energy malnutrition.

PMID- 1448317
TI  - Perinatal blastomycosis: a review.

PMID- 1448318
TI  - Lack of efficacy of the urine culture as part of the initial workup of suspected
      neonatal sepsis.

PMID- 1448319
TI  - Microbiology of scalp abscess in newborns.

PMID- 1448320
TI  - Group B streptococcal cellulitis-adenitis in a previously normal child.

PMID- 1448321
TI  - Chronic epiglottitis in a child with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

PMID- 1448322
TI  - Fever as an adverse reaction to oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole therapy.

PMID- 1448323
TI  - Rotavirus encephalopathy: evidence of central nervous system involvement during
      rotavirus infection.

PMID- 1448324
TI  - Intestinal parasitism of children on Corn Island, Nicaragua.

PMID- 1448325
TI  - Haemophilus influenzae type B endocarditis and meningitis.

PMID- 1448326
TI  - Which gram-positive rod would you choose?

PMID- 1448327
TI  - Encephalitis: direct infection vs. immune-mediated.

PMID- 1448328
TI  - Vitamin C, neutrophils and the symptoms of the common cold.

PMID- 1448329
TI  - Decline of Haemophilus disease in Cleveland.

PMID- 1448330
TI  - Diagnosis and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection in infants.

PMID- 1448331
TI  - Expectant antibiotic therapy in an infant already immunized against Hemophilus
      influenzae type B.

PMID- 1448332
TI  - Diagnosis and management of meningitis.

PMID- 1448333
TI  - [Quantitative analysis of pneumoconiosis in standard chest radiographs].
AB  - A computerized method to quantify and characterize interstitial diseases by using
      physical texture measures obtained from an analysis of the power spectrum of lung
      textures in digital chest radiographs was applied to Japanese standard
      radiographs of pneumoconiosis. Texture measures were determined from standard
      radiographs of silicosis, asbestosis, and other types of pneumoconiosis as well
      as chest radiographs of normal lungs. Our preliminary results indicated that the
      texture measures obtained from computer analysis corresponded closely with the
      standard categories of silicosis. However, there was no significant correlation
      between texture measures and the categories for asbestosis and other types of
      pneumoconiosis in terms of texture pattern. Japanese standard radiographs of
      pneumoconiosis are categorized according to the profusion of opacities, without
      reference to the size and shape of the opacities. Furthermore, in some films the
      size and shape of the opacities vary considerably within the same category.
      Therefore, it is considered that these characteristics of the standard films
      affected the results of our texture measures. It also considered that a large ROI
      and other texture measures are needed to characterize large opacities and mixed
      shaped opacities of pneumoconiosis.

PMID- 1448334
TI  - [Imaging diagnosis of lupus enteritis--especially about sonographic findings].
AB  - We evaluated 4 cases of lupus enteritis by US, abdominal X-ray and CT. On US
      examinations, in particular, we observed ascites and edematous thickening of the
      small intestine where Kerckring folds with submucosal edema resembled an
      accordion. After steroid treatment and consequent improvement of the disease, we
      noticed disappearance of the intestinal thickening and ascites on US examination,
      compatible with the diagnosis of lupus enteritis. Based on these results, US was
      useful for the diagnosis and follow-up of lupus enteritis.

PMID- 1448335
TI  - [Assessment of a coaxial system accommodated to a 0.035 inch guide wire in
      superselective hepatic angiography and embolization].
AB  - A special coaxial catheter system accommodated to a 0.035 inch guide wire was
      recently developed. The four-part coaxial system is composed of a central 0.035
      inch flexible guide wire, a 4-French inner catheter (straight, 90 cm in length),
      a 6-French outer catheter (fork-shaped, 60 cm in length), and a hemostatic valve.
      The 4 French inner catheter is large enough in diameter to allow a larger volume
      of contrast medium and greater amount of embolic material than the earlier
      coaxial system. Using this coaxial catheter system, we performed successful
      superselective hepatic arteriography and embolization in 44 patients with
      malignant hepatic tumors. Catheterization of the celiac and superior mesenteric
      arteries with the 6 French outer catheter was easy, and the angiogram obtained
      was very distinct. The 4 French inner catheter was easily and safely advanced
      into the segmental hepatic artery, and even common hepatic arteriography with
      this catheter provided clear images on conventional cut films. Therefore, in most
      cases, both angiography and embolization can be accomplished using this coaxial
      system alone.

PMID- 1448336
TI  - [Intracranial MR imaging of achondroplasia].
AB  - Intracranial MR imaging was performed in five patients with achondroplasia. All
      patients had narrowing of the subarachnoid space at the level of the foramen
      magnum that was mainly due to protrusion of the posterior aspect. Three patients
      had compressive deformities of the brainstem and/or upper cervical spine. Among
      them, two patients had deformities of the pons. Relative upward displacement of
      the brainstem was seen in all patients. Hydrocephalus was seen in three patients.

PMID- 1448337
TI  - [MR imaging of thyroid masses].
AB  - Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed in 35 patients with histologically
      proved thyroid masses. Gadopentetate dimeglumine was used in 25 of these cases.
      The thyroid tumors were analyzed by MR imaging as to shape, margin,
      pseudocapsulation, homogeneity, and enhanced pattern. Gd-DTPA was helpful in
      identifying pseudocapsules and showing the extent of the tumor. Papillary
      carcinoma tended to display unclear margins, heterogeneous intensity, and
      inhomogeneously enhanced patterns. In follicular adenoma, the tumor margin was
      smooth and pseudocapsules were clearly detected. Follicular adenoma was enhanced
      homogeneously, but it was difficult to distinguish follicular adenoma from
      follicular carcinoma by MR imaging. Adenomatous goiter was delineated as multiple
      nodules with smooth margins, but without pseudocapsules. These nodules were
      enhanced in various ways after Gd-DTPA administration.

PMID- 1448338
TI  - [CT-guided selective pneumomediastinography and its clinical evaluations].
AB  - CT diagnosis is playing a central role in the judgment of mediastinal invasion in
      esophageal and pulmonary cancers. Estimation of the mediastinal invasion is now
      based on the indirect findings such as presence of a fatty layer and angle of
      contact between the lesion and adjacent organs. An attempt to delineate directly
      the relation between the primary lesion and adjacent organs has been made by
      adopting new CT-guided selective pneumomediastinography (PMG CT). Twenty-three
      cases were studied with CT guided paravertebral route. Mediastinal invasion on
      PMG CT was judged by a condition of the air distribution to the adjacent organs.
      Assessment was made by the use of the findings whether the organs are separated
      by aeration or not and of presence or not of the "sulcus formation". The accuracy
      of judging mediastinal invasion has been improved from 41% by conventional CT to
      85% by PMG CT based on the diagnostic criteria which adopted "sulcus formation".
      This method is useful clinically as a testing technique supplementing the
      conventional diagnostic imaging.

PMID- 1448339
TI  - [Scandinavia and the WMA (World Medical Association)].

PMID- 1448340
TI  - [Prevention and treatment of traveler's diarrhea].
AB  - Travelers' diarrhea (TD) affects 20-50 per cent of individuals going to
      developing countries in Asia, Africa, or Latin America. The etiology varies but
      is dominated by enterotoxigenic E. coli, found in 30-50 per cent. TD is usually a
      mild disease, self-limiting in 3-4 days, but 10 per cent of those afflicted have
      symptoms for one week or more. Prophylaxis of TD involves dietary restrictions
      and, in selected medical risk groups, antimicrobial drugs. The most important
      treatment of TD is oral rehydration and loperamide in mild to moderate, non
      invasive illness. Antibiotics for self-treatment shall be restricted for medical
      risk groups and individuals travelling far from medical service.

PMID- 1448341
TI  - [Prokinetic drugs].
AB  - Prokinetic drugs--preparations that stimulate gastro-intestinal motility-
      constitute a relatively new concept in medical therapy, chiefly represented by
      the products cisapride and metoclopramide. This review consists in an account of
      the physiological regulation of motility in the upper gastro-intestinal tract
      where prokinetic drugs are considered to exert their most significant effect, and
      the therapeutic effects demonstrable in treatment with these drugs.

PMID- 1448342
TI  - [Bacterial adhesion to epithelial cells of the nasopharynx essential in the
      development of otitis media].
AB  - Otitis media develops when certain bacterial pathogens gain access to the middle
      ear cavity from the nasopharynx through the eustachian tube. Adhesion of
      bacteria, in particular Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, to
      the non-ciliated epithelial cells of the nasopharynx, close to the opening of the
      eustachian tube, is significantly correlated to the otitis-prone condition in
      children. Otitis-prone children have significantly fewer bacteria in the
      nasopharynx coated with the immunoglobulin secretory IgA (SigA) then healthy
      children have. Adhesion and occurrence of middle ear pathogens in the nasopharynx
      decreases with advancing age. Epstein-Barr virus, causative agent of infectious
      mononucleosis, causes a remarkable increase in bacterial adhesion to epithelial
      cells.

PMID- 1448343
TI  - [Psychosocial consequences of screening programs in children].
AB  - Owing to improved possibilities of early diagnosis, there has been increasing
      interest in screening children, particularly newborns. However, in the event of
      false-positive results or certain hereditary risk factors there is a danger of
      adverse psychosocial consequences, especially negative stigmatization (both of
      children and their families). Accordingly, except where neonatal screening may be
      essential for medical reasons, such screening programmes should preferably be
      scheduled for a later stage in life when the parents are less prone to anxiety
      about anything that might be interpreted as a threat to the well-being of their
      offspring.

PMID- 1448344
TI  - [Problems of drug resistance in developing countries--use and abuse of anti
      infective agents].
AB  - Widespread use and misuse of anti-infective agents have resulted in a problem of
      drug resistance linked to treatment of infectious diseases. In developing
      countries especially, the sale of such drugs is poorly controlled and the
      pharmaceutical industry is dumping obsolete products. Intensive marketing, lack
      of diagnostic facilities and receptive local cultural attitudes to new "wonder
      drugs" such as antibiotics, have resulted in dramatic unnecessary use of such.
      Therefore the ideal strategies for treatment of infectious diseases guided by
      microbiological diagnosis and resistance pattern are violated in most developing
      countries, leading to excessive use of anti-infective agents and development of
      resistance. This has serious consequences for the infections that cause most
      cases of infant mortality, namely malaria, diarrhoeas and infections of the
      respiratory tract. Improvements in this vicious circle of drug use and resistance
      can only be made by attacking several factors simultaneously. There is a need for
      general information, stricter legislation, essential drug lists, national drug
      policies, better knowledge of local resistance patterns, better diagnostic
      facilities, better knowledge about local beliefs about drugs and better
      communication to local health workers and the community.

PMID- 1448345
TI  - [Medicine in developing countries--the pathology of poverty. Interview by Eva
      Oldinger].

PMID- 1448346
TI  - [First Scandinavian Gaucher meeting. Treatment with enzyme substitution provides
      optimism for the future].

PMID- 1448347
TI  - [Confidence intervals].

PMID- 1448348
TI  - Family medicine education in Canada.
AB  - Within the sphere of health and welfare, Canada has more in common with the
      Scandinavian countries than with the United States. This article describes and
      discusses the unique role of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the
      education and training for family medicine, both on the undergraduate and
      postgraduate levels in Canada. The development of the Master of Clinical Science
      in Family Medicine degree programme at the University of Western Ontario is
      considered to be an important vehicle for strengthening academic family medicine
      in Canada. The amalgamation of current knowledge not only from clinical sciences
      and educational research, but also from the social sciences, is seen as
      fundamental to the continued improvement of this discipline.

PMID- 1448349
TI  - Molecular abnormalities responsible for thrombosis. Genetic aspects.
AB  - The association between congenital deficiencies and recurrent thrombosis strongly
      suggests that antithrombin III, protein C and protein S play a major role in
      inhibiting thrombin formation in vivo. Genetic analysis using DNA fragment
      amplification by polymerase chain reaction and direct gene sequencing has led to
      the identification of many novel mutations in qualitative and quantitative
      deficiencies. Elucidation of the molecular basis of these deficiencies is
      critical to our understanding of natural antithrombotic mechanisms. It not only
      provides information on the structural features governing protein function, but
      also permits a better classification, based on genomic abnormalities of
      hereditary deficiencies responsible for mild to severe phenotypes and may prove
      of further value to define the most pertinent plasma assays for routine
      diagnosis.

PMID- 1448350
TI  - Air filtration and prevention of aspergillary pneumopathies. Preliminary
      comparative study of two mobile units for bacteriological air purification with
      recycling.
AB  - Two mobile units for air filtration with recycling designed to reduce the
      aerobiocontamination of hospital rooms were tested. Their efficacity was
      evaluated by measurement of particle retention and by quantitative determination
      of the reduction of aerobiocontamination in rooms occupied by patients. Results
      show a significant improvement in the aerobiocontamination of test rooms as
      compared to control rooms. It is thus reasonable to suppose that these systems
      may provide a practical solution to the problems posed by hospitalization in
      ordinary rooms of patients subjected to aplasive chemotherapy. A randomized
      clinical trial is in progress.

PMID- 1448351
TI  - Evaluation of a new haematology analyser for whole blood count and full
      differential (NE-8000).
AB  - We evaluated the fully automated haematology analyser TOA Sysmex NE-8000 over a
      three-month period according to the ICSH protocol using as reference techniques a
      Coulter STKR counter and microscope examination for WBC differential and cell
      morphology. The NE-8000 employs aperture impedance to perform cell counts, with a
      sheath fluid to focus cells hydrodynamically prior to counting and sizing. WBC
      are differentiated into five populations. A combination of aperture impedance,
      radio frequency measurement and differential cell shrinkage is used, eosinophil
      and basophil percentages being established in two separate channels and
      subtracted from the total granulocyte count in order to give the value for
      neutrophils. Analysis of 1060 samples processed by the closed sampling automode
      demonstrated satisfactory counting performance. Among the WBC differentials
      obtained from 100 samples, neutrophil, eosinophil and lymphocyte results
      correlated well with those from microscopic examination of blood smears performed
      according to the NCCLS standard H20 T protocol. Differences observed in the
      percentages of basophils were of no biomedical significance. A comparative study
      for monocytes showed poor correlation for values below 5% and above 10%, best
      results being obtained in the intermediate range 5-10%. The NE-8000 also
      demonstrated good reliability for detection of abnormal cells.

PMID- 1448352
TI  - Use of the new Coulter MAXM for leucocyte differentials.
AB  - The Coulter MAXM is an automated instrument designed to give a complete
      haematological profile including cell counts and WBC differential (DIFF). The WBC
      DIFF is determined by tridimensional flow cytometry on the basis of cell volume,
      light scattering and conductivity (VCS technology). Evaluation of the MAXM DIFF
      was performed by comparison with microscopic examination of blood smear. A total
      of 467 samples were studied by the MAXM and reference techniques, according to a
      standard protocol employed in our laboratory to define the criteria for smear
      examination. Good correlation was obtained between the two methods in non-flagged
      samples and those flagged only with an isolated "Imm Gran" message. In a group of
      407 non-haematological and 60 haematological patients, there were 12 (2.6%) false
      positive and 5 (1.1%) false negative reports, all in non-haematological cases and
      the five false negative results corresponding to no more than minor
      abnormalities. The Coulter MAXM was thus shown to be an excellent haematology
      analyser. This instrument was capable of detecting significant abnormalities of
      blood smears with a sensitivity of 97.9%, a specificity of 94.7% and a global
      efficiency of 96.3% in the samples examined in the present study.

PMID- 1448353
TI  - Cell proliferation: analysis by flow cytometry.
AB  - Cell proliferation can be efficiently analyzed by multiparameter flow cytometry.
      Different strategies may be used: As a primary approach, static analysis reveals
      the momentary distribution in a single sample between cell cycle phases,
      metabolic states, or differentiation lineages. Kinetic analysis uses sequential
      measurements of cell cycle traverse in synchronized cell populations or
      accumulation of cells blocked in a particular cell cycle phase. DNA replication
      analysis is based on the incorporation of the thymidine analogue
      bromodeoxyuridine. Cell production by mitosis as well as cell loss by cell death
      can be estimated. Cell production may be assessed by measurement of mitotic rate
      or S-phase influx. Cycling/non-cycling status may be indicated by proliferation
      associated antigens. Specific cell clones in experimentally mixed populations can
      be discriminated using reporter genes. Flow cytometric multiparameter analysis
      has the potential of revealing and quantitating the heterogeneity with respect to
      stemlines, proliferation and differentiation. This is of increasing importance in
      the study of human cancers, as a possible basis for therapeutic decision making.

PMID- 1448354
TI  - Bone marrow enrichment technique for detection and characterization of scarce
      abnormal cells.
AB  - A frequent problem encountered in analysis of bone marrow aspirates is the small
      number of suspect cells in the material. We present a method for concentration of
      the cells in bone marrow aspirates which yields smears suitable for
      immunocytochemical techniques. Bone marrow sampling is performed in two steps: a
      first aspirate is used to prepare conventional smears and a second aspirate is
      submitted to two-step centrifugation to separate and collect the nucleated cells
      without use of a separation medium. Sufficient material is obtained to prepare a
      large number of films, thus allowing immunocytochemical investigation with a wide
      panel of monoclonal antibodies. The proportions of the different cell types are
      similar to those observed in conventional smears and cell morphology is
      unaltered. This enrichment procedure improves the accuracy of routine cytological
      bone marrow examination, may be easily applied in laboratories performing bone
      marrow studies and in our hands has proved of value for the detection and
      characterization of both malignant blood diseases and bone marrow dissemination
      of carcinoma.

PMID- 1448355
TI  - Ethionine: a new antileukaemic drug?
AB  - In our hands, benzene proved to be a valuable drug for the treatment of chronic
      leukaemia. When correctly administered it did not provoke the harmful side
      effects reported by several authors in accord with the first description of von
      Koranyi in 1912. In many cases benzene induced complete remission persisting for
      over 18 months. This compound was found to be active even in patients who had not
      responded to busulphan, although the contrary was also observed for certain
      subjects. In accordance with previous investigations carried out in the rabbit,
      concomitant administration of cysteine-HCl blocked the leucopenic effect of
      benzene in 5 of 6 cases whereas ethionine, an antimetabolite of methionine and/or
      cysteine, appeared to enhance its therapeutic action. It is worthy of note that
      in at least one case ethionine administered alone led to complete clinical and
      haematological remission of the leukaemic state.

PMID- 1448356
TI  - Clostridium perfringens septicemia during the course of leukemia.
AB  - Clostridium perfringens (CP) is an infrequent cause of septicemia in neutropenic
      patients. We report the case of a 17 year old man treated for acute lymphoblastic
      leukaemia in whom a strain of CP was isolated from blood cultures. The clinical
      spectrum and evolution of CP septicemia in neutropenic patients are discussed.

PMID- 1448357
TI  - Relapse as acute monocytic leukaemia of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with
      t(4;11).
AB  - A young adult suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with t(4;11) relapsed
      with features of monocytic leukaemia. This unusual evolution is discussed in
      relation with the pluripotent nature of t(4;11) leukaemic cells.

PMID- 1448358
TI  - Breast cancer.
AB  - Breast cancer will continue to be a major health problem for women as long as
      there is a lack of prevention strategies and underuse of early detection
      programs. The role of the nurse in health promotion must focus on educating women
      about the ambiguity surrounding risk factors and the importance of participating
      in early detection practices.

PMID- 1448359
TI  - Ovarian cancer. The most lethal gynecologic malignancy.
AB  - The need for the early detection of ovarian cancer continues to be one of the
      most important issues in women's health care. The overall 5-year survival rate
      for epithelial ovarian cancer remains approximately 30% and has not improved over
      the last three decades. The failure to improve the prognosis for women with
      ovarian cancer is directly attributable to the lack of an effective screening
      test for early-stage disease. It is hoped that with the study of those women at
      high risk, an appropriate screening method will be discovered. Nurses should
      become knowledgeable about the nature of ovarian cancer, should be able to
      identify the woman at familial risk, and should look at a symptomatic woman with
      a high degree of suspicion. As health educators, nurses can provide up-to-date
      information about Ca 125 serum tests and vaginal ultrasonography used to screen
      high-risk populations. Nurses must educate women about the importance of the
      pelvic examination. Historically, nurses are trained to view the patient
      holistically. Such a viewpoint will help to put together all of the pieces of a
      difficult puzzle.

PMID- 1448360
TI  - Holistic care of the patient with cervical cancer.
AB  - Participation by women in screening programs for cervical cancer is far from
      optimal, and many lives are lost because of this. Cervical cancer is common, and
      is easily detected and treated. It has a good prognosis for cure if detected
      early in its course. Effective screening has been shown to have a major role in
      decreasing the morbidity and mortality associated with cervical cancer.
      Therefore, there is a need for increased public health education and availability
      of screening programs for women. It is particularly important that public health
      efforts reach women in the lower socioeconomic groups who are less apt to exhibit
      health promotive behaviors. Women of Latin American heritage are at particularly
      high risk because of cultural barriers to the discussion of sexual practices.
      Until public health interventions are more successful, cervical cancer will
      continue to pose a major threat to women who are either too embarrassed or too
      misinformed to understand that prevention is an integral part of women's health
      care. Nurses view patients in a holistic way. It is this philosophy of care that
      offers women who are diagnosed with cervical cancer a means to adapt successfully
      to the psychologic and physiologic stresses associated with the diagnosis. Nurses
      need to recognize this strength and to offer holistic approaches to women in
      crisis. No two patients deal with a diagnosis of cancer in the same manner. A
      major challenge to nurses across a hospital community continuum is to provide
      comprehensive psychologic and physiologic assessment of a women's response to a
      diagnosis of cervical cancer and to provide effective and holistic intervention
      when necessary.

PMID- 1448361
TI  - Lung cancer in women. Rising epidemic, preventable disease.
AB  - Lung cancer is a preventable disease. Like acquired immunodeficiency syndrome,
      lung cancer is reaching epidemic proportions in women. This article overviews
      selected epidemiology of lung cancer and discusses public health issues that are
      gender-specific to women. Community nursing approaches are advocated that address
      risk behaviors in women and girls.

PMID- 1448362
TI  - Domestic violence. The pregnant battered women.
AB  - Nurses need to understand the theoretic debates that attempt to explain why men
      batter women. Nurses can participate more effectively in preventing and reducing
      the incidence of physical violence directed against women in intimate
      relationships. A raised feminist consciousness will expand the nurse's repertoire
      of interventions to assist in the identification and treatment of victims.

PMID- 1448363
TI  - Homeless women. The context of an urban shelter.
AB  - The role of the nurse in a shelter has just begun to emerge. The prevalence of
      homeless women is escalating, and nurses are playing primary roles in teaching,
      health care, social support, and case finding for women in shelters. This article
      describes some of the health, social, and psychologic issues facing women in a
      large urban shelter from the perspective of a senior nurse psychologist at
      Boston's Long Island Shelter.

PMID- 1448364
TI  - Addicted women. Profiles from the inner city.
AB  - This article has focused on addicted women and the contexts in which they present
      to the community nurse. An effort has been made to broaden the clinical
      applications to include the societal problems underlying addiction and the policy
      issues that must be addressed to solve them. Addicted women can be described from
      a societal dimension, in which the health care system reflects disarray and
      fiscal chaos, and from a community dimension. The two dimensions link the public
      and the private spheres. To evaluate addicted women and the options for their
      recovery more effectively, it is helpful to integrate the societal and personal
      milieu--public issues and the private lives that illustrate them. This is how
      policy is best formulated. The numbers of addicted women in the health care
      system reflect only the tip of the iceberg. Health care providers must strive to
      reach women who are outside of the health care system who have not been connected
      to a hospital, shelter, or home care agency. Researchers need to differentiate
      sample patient populations, and the patient selection bias needs to be addressed
      early on. A model of a community support for recovery located within a housing
      project was a viable option for reaching addicted women. The role of nurses is
      becoming increasingly unique. Nurses are skilled as caregivers and clinicians.
      They can open doors of opportunity for inner-city women and children by
      developing health-promotive programs in hospital settings for substance abusing
      women and by continuing to work with their colleagues in the community context.
      On both dimensions, nurses have front-line accessibility to women and children
      who are vulnerable. Often, commonality of gender strengthens the nurse/patient
      relationship and facilitates trust as well as empathy between female addicts and
      their nurse advocate counterparts. Never has the call to inner-city nurses been
      more compelling. The problems related to drug abuse and parenting are
      multidimensional. They resist easy definition and solution. Nurses have the
      education and the clinical expertise to provide front-line interventions for
      inner-city women who are addicted to drugs. Nurses are educated holistically as
      caregivers and teachers. Ideally, nurses can exert their strongest impact on
      health promotion in the neighborhoods of communities. In reality, this has not
      worked, and nurses remain part of a health care system that has failed inner-city
      poor women and their children. Nurses in hospitals and in community setting spend
      most of their time applying "bandages" to the psychologic and physical wounds
      that emerge from the addiction to drugs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1448365
TI  - Identifying the woman with alcohol problems. The nurse's role as gatekeeper.
AB  - Alcoholism among women, although frequently undetected, is on the rise, posing a
      significant social health problem. Nurses acting as gatekeepers are in an
      excellent position to identify alcohol problems and refer the individual to the
      appropriate health care provider. Concern about a lack of knowledge of signs of
      this problem and ingrained moralistic attitudes often interfere with this
      process. This article reviews some of the historical antecedents contributing to
      our present view of alcoholism, explores some of the known differences between
      male and female alcoholics, defines the tasks and limits of the nurse's role as
      gatekeeper, and identifies helpful qualities of the nurse.

PMID- 1448366
TI  - HIV infection in women. Implications for nursing practice.
AB  - Much remains to be explained regarding women with HIV infection or AIDS. Interest
      in determining whether the natural history of the disease or the clinical
      manifestations are gender specific is leading to more research focused on women.
      The female roles of childbearer and caretaker evoke ethical issues that are
      unique to this epidemic and that can impact on the development and delivery of
      health care services. Women at the greatest risk for HIV disease are not likely
      to form coalitions to advocate for services, research dollars, and education.
      They need advocates and assistance in becoming united to advocate for themselves.
      Nurses have a critical role in the provision of services to women with HIV
      disease. As educators, direct service providers, and administrators, nurses
      contribute to the development of services that are holistic and family centered.
      As advocates, nurses can ensure that women are accurately and well informed about
      the disease and the resources available to them. Because AIDS no longer affects
      only those persons living in large metropolitan areas, it is imperative that all
      nurses become experts in the care of women with AIDS and advocates for a better
      outcome.

PMID- 1448367
TI  - Older women. Sexually transmitted diseases and acquired immunodeficiency
      syndrome.
AB  - Increasingly, American women aged 50 and over are afflicted with sexually
      transmitted diseases (STDs) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In
      order to meet the US Public Health Services' Health Objective for the Year 2000,
      health care workers must address the issues that impact on the older woman's
      ability to protect herself and others from these highly stigmatized diseases.
      Nurses must be aware of the potential for STDs and AIDS in this population and
      appropriately refer individuals for screening and follow-up care. Older women
      must be empowered economically, legally, and politically so they can assume an
      assertive role in their own health promotion. Cultural and societal barriers need
      to be overcome to change stereotypic attitudes about older women's sexuality.
      Only then can access to health information, health care, and research be assured.

PMID- 1448368
TI  - Women at midlife. The transition to menopause.
AB  - The advantage over men that women experience in life expectancy does not extend
      to morbidity. Although women live on average approximately 7 years longer than
      men, their later years are often filled with medical problems. Much is currently
      known that could influence and effect improved health for women. Menopause is not
      a dramatic event that signals an abrupt change in the health and well-being of
      women. Rather, it is a transitional time of perhaps a 25-year span when estrogen
      production gradually declines and results in a variety of bodily changes.
      Concurrent with the hormone changes are other effects of the normal cycle of
      aging. Comprehensive multidisciplinary health care clinics for adult women have
      the potential to provide health services that women seek.

PMID- 1448369
TI  - Women at midlife. Hormone replacement therapy.
AB  - As women approach the climacteric period, many changes are occurring in their
      bodies. Many of the physiologic changes are related to a decrease in estrogen
      production by ovaries. Hormone replacement therapy has been proposed to help
      relieve many of the manifestations associated with menopause. Before they begin
      hormone replacement therapy, women need to be informed about the advantages and
      disadvantages of this treatment. Decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease
      and preventing further development of osteoporosis are primary reasons for
      administering hormone supplementation to postmenopausal women. The risk of breast
      cancer is not increased with low-dose estrogen, and by adding progesterone, the
      risk of endometrial cancer is virtually eliminated. Not every woman is a
      potential candidate for hormone replacement therapy. Contraindications exist, and
      some women experience discomforting side effects. Withdrawal bleeding with
      combination therapy is the main reason women do not comply with treatment
      protocols. Although supplementation may prove helpful for the postmenopausal
      woman, each individual needs to evaluate her own personal situation carefully.
      Accurate knowledge about normal changes due to decreased estrogen production, the
      pros and cons of therapy, and personal health status assists in the decision as
      to whether hormone replacement therapy is appropriate for a particular
      postmenopausal woman.

PMID- 1448370
TI  - Nutrition in women across the life span.
AB  - Recent recommendations on nutrition, such as the Surgeon General's Report on
      Nutrition and Health, have emphasized the relationship between diet and disease.
      In the Surgeon General's report, Americans have been advised to limit their
      consumption of fat, cholesterol, sodium, and alcoholic beverages, and to increase
      their consumption of complex carbohydrates and fiber. Two of the recommendations
      in this report related to the consumption of iron and calcium are particularly
      important to women's health. Women are advised to increase their consumption of
      food high in calcium and to include foods containing iron, such as lean meats,
      fish, certain beans, iron-enriched cereals, and whole grain products. Iron is
      essential as a constituent of hemoglobin, myoglobin, and certain enzymes. Iron
      losses during menstruation and the increased need for iron during pregnancy place
      women at risk for iron deficiency. Bone mass continues to increase until the late
      twenties, and one method to prevent osteoporosis may be adequate calcium intake
      during these years of early adulthood. Food guides that list amounts and types of
      foods to be eaten are helpful for the individual or as an educational tool for
      the nurse or educator. A Daily Food Guide was recently designed to meet the
      nutritional needs of women throughout the life cycle, and the government has very
      recently released a Food Guide Pyramid. Although it is important for women to
      learn how to control certain dietary components, they should also be aware of the
      protective nature of certain nutrients, such as iron and calcium.

PMID- 1448371
TI  - Predictors of depression in women.
AB  - The identification of depression in women is a challenge for nurses. Case finding
      for health promotion can be performed when risk factors are identified, when a
      determination of symptoms using DSM III-R2 criteria is made, and when the clients
      are referred for appropriate interventions. The referring nurse can be a support
      system while the client is in the initial phases of intervention. Nurses can have
      a major role in the identification of and planning of treatment for women who are
      depressed or at risk for depression.

PMID- 1448372
TI  - Using Kryofix as alternative for formalin results in more optimal and
      standardized immunostaining of paraffin sections.
AB  - Although used for over one century formalin has several disadvantages which
      Kryofix, an alternative fixative for paraffin blocks used in Leiden for 6 years,
      does not have. In this study the effects of Kryofix on tissue regarding
      immunohistochemistry are compared with those of buffered formalin. All markers
      studied showed enhanced staining in the Kryofix blocks after 4 hours of fixation,
      whilst in some cases the immunostaining of the formalin blocks was even negative.
      For all markers, the sera could be further diluted for the Kryofix sections, for
      some with as much as a factor 20, enhancing the cost-effectiveness of the method.
      We established that for formalin, the fixation time strongly influenced the
      results. For Kryofix there was no time factor: the immunostaining results of 1
      hour fixation were identical to those after 3 months of fixation. This study
      shows that by this method of fixation, in which there is no cross-linking of
      proteins, immunostaining of paraffin sections is optimized and standardized.

PMID- 1448373
TI  - Tumour-like lesions of the salivary glands. The new WHO classification.
AB  - Tumour-like lesions must be distinguished from true tumours of the salivary
      glands. In the new WHO classification of salivary gland tumours seven entities
      were considered: sialadenosis, oncocytosis (diffuse oncocytosis and focal
      adenomatous oncocytic hyperplasia), necrotizing sialometaplasia (salivary gland
      infarction), benign lymphoepithelial lesion (chronic myoepithelial sialadenitis),
      salivary duct cysts (mucoceles of the minor salivary glands of extravasation or
      retention type, cysts of the major salivary glands, ranula and dysgenetic
      polycystic disease of the parotid gland), chronic sclerosing sialadenitis of the
      submandibular gland (Kuttner tumour), and cystic lymphoid hyperplasia in AIDS.
      The main topics of clinical data and pathohistology were described and documented
      by the results of the Salivary Gland Register in Hamburg (1965-1989).

PMID- 1448374
TI  - Morphometric distinction of sclerosing adenosis from tubular carcinoma of the
      breast.
AB  - Objective features have been identified that assist in distinguishing sclerosing
      adenosis from tubular carcinoma of the breast. Hematoxylin and eosin stained
      paraffin sections of 18 sclerosing adenoses and 18 tubular carcinomas were
      studied using a TAS Plus image analysis system. Histological measurements from
      lumens and glands included stereologic features of architecture and morphometry
      of size and shape (the latter by Fourier coefficients). Cytological measurements
      included nuclear area, perimeter, diameter and formfactor. Initial analysis
      suggested utility for several individual features. However, after a modified
      Bonferroni procedure only two of the features were statistically significant,
      i.e. the coefficient of variation of luminal form factor and the surface density
      of glands. Multivariate discriminant analysis using these two variables correctly
      classified 86% of the cases, with three adenoses and two carcinomas
      misclassified. Validity of the discriminant rules was supported by classification
      using measurements from a separate, independent set of cases (ten sclerosing
      adenoses and nine tubular carcinomas). The classification function computed from
      the first set misclassified only one case from the second set, a tubular
      carcinoma, leaving 95% of the cases successfully categorized. Chi square test for
      2 x 2 contingency tables gave a p-value < 0.001 for both sets of cases. The
      results suggest that morphometric features are helpful in distinguishing tubular
      carcinoma from sclerosing adenosis and point out the need for conservative
      analysis of high-dimensional data sets.

PMID- 1448376
TI  - Assessment of the risk on endometrial cancer in hyperplasia, by means of
      morphological and morphometrical features.
AB  - The value of two "cancer risk" assessment rules (one consisting of qualitative
      microscopical features and one consisting of morphometric characteristics) has
      been evaluated in 39 patients with hyperplasia of the endometrium. Of these, in
      seven (7139 = 18%) cancer was detected in the follow-up and 32 remained stable or
      became less abnormal. The results of the qualitative analysis were well in
      agreement with those published earlier. In none of the eight patients with simple
      hyperplasia cancer was detected, in contrast to five of the 11 patients (45%)
      with cytologic atypia and glandular complexity. Twenty patients showed cytologic
      atypicality in the absence of glandular complexity, or no atypicality but
      glandular complexity; in two (10%) of these patients cancer was detected later in
      the follow-up. The morphometric rule (consisting of volume percentage of stroma,
      log-normally transformed standard deviation of the shortest nuclear axis and
      outer surface density of the glands) results in a multivariate score. Nineteen
      patients had a score value above 0.6 and in none of them cancer was found. In
      contrast, in seven of the 20 patients (35%) with a score value below 0.6, cancer
      was detected. Regarding the question which of the techniques is more powerful,
      the specificity is better with the qualitative evaluations; the sensitivity is
      higher with the morphometric rule. An advantage of the morphometric rule is that
      only two groups (very low/very high risk) are discerned.

PMID- 1448375
TI  - Nucleolar silver staining patterns and HLA-DR antigen expression in bronchial
      epithelial cells in chronic bronchitis.
AB  - Bronchial epithelial cells obtained by brush biopsy during fiberoptic
      bronchoscopy performed in 12 patients with chronic bronchitis and 12 healthy
      control subjects, were investigated for HLA-DR antigen expression and nucleolar
      silver staining patterns. In all patients with chronic bronchitis the number of
      bronchial epithelial cells positive to HLA-DR antigen was highly increased (>
      90%), whereas in the controls only a few epithelial cells (< 10%) showed a weak
      HLA-DR antigen expression. Patients with chronic bronchitis showed an increased
      lymphocytic reaction compared to the control subjects. Both in the patients with
      chronic bronchitis and in the healthy controls the number of nucleoli was the
      same. The number of silver stained dots per nucleus was significantly higher in
      patients with chronic bronchitis than in the control subjects (7.70 +/- 0.87 as
      against 5.11 +/- 0.52; p < 0.0001). The intensity of the lymphocytic reaction
      correlated with the HLA-DR antigen expression and the increase in silver staining
      (Spearman's r = 0.543; p < 0.01). This indicates the influence of inflammation on
      the activation of epithelial cells derived from the respiratory tract.

PMID- 1448377
TI  - Morphometric discrimination of colonic tubular adenoma from adenocarcinoma by
      vector and tensor analyses.
AB  - Four parameters were considered in this study to discriminate between tubular
      adenoma and adenocarcinoma of the colon. The deformation of the tubular profile
      (TD) and the average sector resultant (AR) were used as supracellular parameters,
      the vector resultant strain (VS) which represented the cellular crowding as a
      cellular parameter, and the deformation of the nucleus (ND) as a nuclear
      parameter. Statistical comparison between the two groups showed that all the
      parameters had high levels of significance. Direct discriminant analysis was
      applied to discriminate between the two diseases and all parameters showed large
      F-ratios; however, the evaluation by the stepwise discriminant method indicated
      that ND had a sufficient power of discrimination between the two diseases. Biplot
      with confidence interval ellipses (95%) was plotted for ND versus TD to
      demonstrate the graphical separation of the groups.

PMID- 1448378
TI  - Differentiation of human thyroid follicle cells from normal subjects and
      Basedow's disease in three-dimensional collagen gel culture.
AB  - Thyroid follicles, an essential functional unit of the thyroid, exist in the
      extracellular matrix of the tissue in vivo. Therefore, in any monolayer culture
      system, the follicles cannot be reconstructed. Our previous study adopting three
      dimensional collagen gel culture showed that isolated porcine follicle cells
      reconstructed thyroid follicles specific for the thyroid gland in vivo. To
      elucidate whether this culture system is also applicable to human follicle cells,
      and furthermore to provide a culture system for investigations of the
      pathogenesis of human thyroid diseases, we tried to culture isolated human
      follicle cells of normal thyroid tissue and of Basedow's disease in three
      dimensional collagen gel. In this culture system, they apparently reconstructed
      thyroid follicles. The component cells of the reconstructed follicles exhibited
      structural polarity specific for human thyroid follicle cells and produced
      thyroid hormones. In addition, the cells responded to a TSH-stimulation in terms
      of morphological and functional differentiation, and they presented HLA-DR
      antigen with an interferon-gamma-stimulation. This report is a first instance of
      reconstruction of human thyroid follicles and HLA-DR antigen induction in three
      dimensional follicle structures in vitro. This culture system provides a more
      physiological environment in vitro for biological and pathogenetic investigations
      of human thyroid follicle cells than the monolayer culture system. Further
      experiments using this method will probably provide new clues to the pathogenetic
      mechanisms of human thyroid diseases.

PMID- 1448379
TI  - Small adrenocortical tumors without apparent clinical endocrine abnormalities.
      Immunolocalization of steroidogenic enzymes.
AB  - Immunohistochemical analysis of steroidogenic enzymes (P-450 side-chain cleavage,
      3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, P-450 C21-hydroxylase, P-450 17 alpha
      hydroxylase and P-450 11 beta-hydroxylase) was performed on fifteen cases of
      small adrenocortical adenomas, which were detected incidentally in hormonally
      asymptomatic patients (non-functioning adrenocortical tumor), in order to study
      steroidogenesis in these tumors. Immunolocalization revealed that all cases
      examined expressed all the enzymes in the adrenocortical steroidogenic pathway to
      various degrees, and in twelve cases abnormalities of precursor hormones and
      steroid metabolites were clinically observed. Attached non-neoplastic adrenals
      were present in twelve cases. Among these twelve cases, eight showed cortical
      atrophy, especially in the zona fasciculata. These atrophied adrenals expressed
      little immunoreactivity of the enzymes examined. These results strongly indicate
      that most of small non-functioning adrenocortical tumors have the capacity to
      produce biologically active steroids including cortisol, although not necessarily
      associated with hypercorticism. Especially in the cases with cortical atrophy in
      attached non-neoplastic adrenals, it is considered that autonomous neoplastic
      production and secretion of cortisol may be insufficient to cause clinical and
      routine laboratory abnormalities but sufficient to subtly alter the hypothalamic
      pituitary-adrenal axis by suppressing ACTH and/or CRF secretion and to result in
      adrenocortical atrophy. It should be recognized that corticosteroidogenesis does
      take place in the majority of clinically small non-functioning adrenocortical
      tumors incidentally detected in hormonally asymptomatic patients when managing
      these patients.

PMID- 1448380
TI  - Meningothelial meningioma with "amianthoid" fibers. Case report with
      ultrastructural study.
AB  - The case of a meningothelial meningioma with 'amianthoid' fibers in a 48-year-old
      woman is presented. By light microscopy the tumor showed the typical features of
      meningothelial meningioma and rounded, deeply eosinophilic, and fibrillary areas,
      especially around and/or in the vicinity of blood vessels. These fibers are also
      called 'amianthoid' fibers. Ultrastructurally, these foci were made up of
      disorderly arranged and interwaving mature collagen fibrils with a variable width
      between 40 and 190 nm. No evidence of intracellular collagen synthesis by the
      tumor cells was found. The presence of 'amianthoid' fibers does not seem to carry
      any prognostic significance.

PMID- 1448381
TI  - Cell-matrix patterns in the cutaneous lesion of chromomycosis.
AB  - Chromomycosis is a chronic fungal infection characterized by dermal fibrosis with
      persisting fungi in situ, generally leading to a verrucous skin lesion. The
      absence of good clinical results under specific treatment suggests
      irreversibility of the fibrotic lesion. Frozen and paraffin-embedded skin
      biopsies of eleven patients with chromomycosis due to Phialophora pedrosoi were
      studied by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Distinct cell-matrix
      patterns were found in different tissue localizations: neutrophilic abscesses
      with oedema and necrotic keratinocytes in the epidermis; dense connective matrix
      around inflammatory infiltrates, mainly composed of macrophages and giant cells,
      and organized granuloma in the dermis. Active fibroblasts and mast cells were
      constantly observed. The inability of fibrotic tissue to be remodelled seems
      correlated to the nature and the organization of the matrix components but, the
      factors triggering the initial fibrogenic events remain to be characterized.

PMID- 1448382
TI  - The long-term prognosis of the primary glomerulonephritides. A morphological and
      clinical analysis of 1747 cases.
AB  - Long-term studies of all types of primary glomerulonephritis (GN) taking into
      consideration the major morphological and clinical findings revealed the
      following: 1) Endocapillary GN, post-streptococcal type has a very good prognosis
      when only glomerulitis is present. The prognosis is significantly worse if either
      interstitial inflammation with fibrosis or nephrotic syndrome (NS) is present at
      the time of the biopsy. 2) The prognosis of the various types of
      mesangioproliferative GN (IgA nephritis, non-IgA nephritis, and
      immunohistologically negative GN) is very good if there is only glomerulitis. The
      prognosis is worse for all three types when the renal cortical interstitium
      exhibits inflammation with fibrosis at the time of the biopsy, and is worst of
      all when both interstitial fibrosis (IF) and the signs of acute renal failure
      (ARF) are present. Of this group, the type in which there are negative
      immunohistological findings exhibits the best prognosis. No difference in
      prognosis is found between IgA nephritis and non-IgA nephritis. 3) Minimal
      changes GN with NS has a very good prognosis when the interstitium is not
      involved. The presence of interstitial inflammation and fibrosis worsens the
      prognosis significantly. 4) Focal sclerosing GN has a much poorer prognosis than
      minimal changes GN with NS, even when there is glomerulitis only (5- and 10-year
      renal survival rates (RSRs) of 90% and 67%, respectively). If interstitial
      inflammation and fibrosis are present, the prognosis is significantly worse (5-
      and 10-year RSRs of 84% and 55%, respectively). The prognosis is worst when both
      ARF and IF are present at the time of the biopsy (5- and 10-year RSRs of 56% and
      46%, respectively). From the clinical side, the prognosis is significantly worse
      if, at the time of the biopsy, NS is present or the serum creatinine
      concentration is elevated to more than 1.3 mg%. 5) Chronic membranous GN has a
      better prognosis than focal sclerosing GN if glomerulitis only is present (5-year
      RSR, 88%; 10-year RSR, 77%). If the renal cortical interstitium is also involved
      (in the form of IF), the prognosis is significantly worse (5-year RSR, 65%; 10
      year RSR, 38%). The prognosis in this disease, too, is worst when both ARF and IF
      are present at the time of the biopsy (5-year RSR, 38%; 10-year RSR, 25%). 6)
      Membranoproliferative GN has a worse prognosis than any of the types of GN so far
      mentioned (5-year RSR, 51%; 10-year RSR, 32%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1448383
TI  - Cellular autofluorescent pigment and interstitial fibrosis in smoker's lung.
AB  - The mechanisms by which cigarette smoking lead to bronchopulmonary diseases are
      incompletely understood. The most characteristic lesion is a chronic macrophage
      alveolitis accompanied by slight fibrosis and emphysema. The macrophages contain
      a ceroid-like granular autofluorescent pigment in their lysosomes. Using
      immunohistochemical methods, open lung-, transbronchial biopsies and cells
      obtained by broncho-alveolar lavage from cigarette smokers were studied: anti
      human macrophage serum and anti-human elastase, immune sera against type I, type
      III collagens and fibronectin were used in the demonstration of the cellular
      components of alveolitis and the connective tissue constituents of fibrosis. The
      characteristic red-brown autofluorescent pigment of the macrophages was also
      found in an extra-alveolar location mainly in peribronchial, septal and pleural
      scars. Similar emission colour occurred focally in the elastic laminae of
      fibrotic alveoli and sclerotic arteries. Granular fluorescent pigment was found
      in many bronchial epithelial cells. The epithelial pigmentation was associated
      with increased transcription of nucleic acid proteins, revealed by colloid silver
      (AgNOR) reaction. The results suggest that the autofluorescent pigment substances
      in macrophages may indicate or also play a role in the development of
      pathological connective tissue and epithelial changes of smoker's lung, in
      addition to the known mediators and enzymes.

PMID- 1448384
TI  - Mobilization of iron and iron-related proteins in rat spleen after intravenous
      injection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS).
AB  - We used lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to provoke immune responses and observed the
      changes in the localization of iron and iron-related proteins, such as
      transferrin receptor, ferritin and hemosiderin in the rat spleen. After
      intravenous injection of 250 micrograms LPS (salmonella minnesota R595), spleen
      weight and serum IgM levels increased, cells incorporating 5-bromo-2'
      deoxyuridine (BrdU), and transferrin receptor positive cells increased in the
      peripheral portion of the periarterial lymphoid sheath (PALS), the marginal zone
      (MZ) and the follicles. Ferritin positive cells increased markedly in the white
      pulp and stainable iron increased in the marginal metallophils (MM) and in the
      macrophages in the MZ and the outer PALS. Even in iron deficient rats, a similar
      change was observed for the localization of iron and iron-related proteins after
      injection of LPS. After injection of 0.4 mg keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH),
      changes similar to but less pronounced than that in the LPS injected rats were
      observed for serum IgM levels and for the localization of iron and iron-related
      proteins. These results showed that the iron in the MM and the macrophages in the
      white pulp have a dynamic response to immunological challenges and suggested that
      they play some role in immune responses.

PMID- 1448385
TI  - Zinc concentrations in human tissues. Liver zinc in carcinoma and severe liver
      disease.
AB  - In 58 unselected necropsies, zinc (Zn) in specimens of liver (mean +/- s = 280 +/
      178 micrograms/g d.w./4.28 +/- 2.72 mumol/g d.w.), kidney (170 +/- 57
      micrograms/g d.w./2.60 +/- 0.87 mumol/g d.w.), spleen (69 +/- 13 micrograms/g
      d.w./1.05 +/- 0.20 mumol/g d.w.), and lung (64 +/- 16 micrograms/g d.w./0.98 +/-
      0.24 mumol/g d.w.) were analysed by means of flameless atomic absorption
      spectrometry. In the examined range from 25 to 92 years of age, the Zn
      concentrations in all tissues measured did not show age or sex-dependency. There
      was a high correlation between the tissue concentration of Zn and Mg in lung,
      liver, and spleen, between Zn, Mg, and Pb in liver as well as between Zn and Pb
      and Zn and Cd in kidney. All hepatic cirrhosis cases had very low Zn conc. in
      liver tissue, the tumor cases generally increasing Zn conc. in liver tissue with
      progressive stage of regional invasion and distant metastasis.

PMID- 1448386
TI  - Endometrial cancer associated with polycystic ovaries in young women.
AB  - Two women (17 and 36 years old) are presented, who complained about abnormal
      vaginal bleeding. The rare diagnosis of an adenocarcinoma of the corpus uteri
      with concomitant polycystic ovaries (Stein-Leventhal-Syndrome) was made.

PMID- 1448387
TI  - Patterns of measles pneumonitis.
AB  - As a result of the enlarging pool of unvaccinated children and young adults,
      there has been an increase in serious measles pneumonitis in our areas. We
      recently examined autopsy and/or lung biopsy material from five children with
      fatal measles pneumonitis. Two patients were immunocompromised because of either
      prematurity or acute leukemia and died 13-16 days following onset of symptoms.
      Both had classic giant cell pneumonitis, with readily demonstrable intranuclear
      inclusions. Three other children without known immunocompromise had a more
      prolonged course. The lungs of these patients lacked the classic pattern and
      displayed instead a spectrum of less specific findings ranging from organizing
      diffuse alveolar damage to interstitial pneumonia with giant cells, but without
      viral inclusions. An accompanying necrotizing bronchiolitis was also present.
      Electron microscopy and/or detection of elevated measles-specific immunoglobulin
      M was necessary to confirm the diagnosis in these apparently immunocompetent
      patients. We conclude that the histologic features of fatal or serious measles
      pneumonitis are variable and depend to some extent on the immunocompetence of the
      host as well as the duration and tempo of the disease. Ancillary studies may be
      necessary to establish the diagnosis in cases lacking classic histopathologic
      features.

PMID- 1448388
TI  - Rectal myopathy in chronically constipated children.
AB  - We examined full-thickness rectal biopsies from 30 children who had chronic
      constipation, including 5 children with constipation associated with clinical
      symptoms of intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Biopsies from 9 patients who required
      colonic interposition and from 7 with Hirschsprung's disease were used as
      controls. Tissues were evaluated for muscularis mucosae thickness (in mm), for
      absolute circular and longitudinal muscle layer thicknesses and their ratio, and
      for the intensity of neural vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)
      immunohistochemical staining. Atrophy of the rectal musculature with focal muscle
      fiber vacuolation or muscle fiber disappearance was found in all children with
      chronic constipation. Muscularis mucosae thickness was increased (P < .01) and
      the circular-to-longitudinal muscle ratio was decreased in the constipation
      group, with the greatest degree of atrophy being demonstrated in the circular
      layer. Two of the patients had additional biopsies up to 9 years after the first
      that illustrate progressive myopathic changes over time. This study demonstrates
      muscular atrophy in the rectum of children with chronic constipation. Besides
      primary idiopathic disease, potential etiologies include chronic distention,
      denervation, functional obstruction from obstipation, alteration in gut hormones,
      and toxic, ischemic, or neural injury.

PMID- 1448389
TI  - Use of fluorescent in situ hybridization to detect trisomy 13 in archival tissues
      for cytogenetic diagnosis.
AB  - The present report describes the use of molecular probes to investigate the
      chromosomal constitution of interphase nuclei of formalin-fixed, paraffin
      embedded tissue from three infants with multiple congenital malformations and a
      provisional diagnosis of trisomy 13 in two. Fluorescent in situ hybridization
      with the probe for the 13 and 21 centromeric regions revealed five nuclear
      signals in two of the cases, indicating the presence of an extra chromosome, and
      only four nuclear signals in the other case. Only the two positive cases had
      phenotypic features consistent with trisomy 13. Routine cytogenetic analysis was
      performed on one child and confirmed an additional chromosome 13. The child
      without an extra chromosome had features consistent with Ivemark syndrome. This
      study demonstrates the utility of fluorescent DNA probes for the retrospective
      diagnosis of aneuploidies in archival material.

PMID- 1448390
TI  - Glomic cells and their peptides in the carotid body of the human fetus.
AB  - Carotid bodies from 15 human fetuses of gestational ages 13-19 weeks were
      examined by light and electron microscopy. They were also labeled with antisera
      to methionine- and leucine-enkephalins, substance P, and bombesin. At 13 weeks of
      gestation most fetal glomic cells formed a homogeneous population but a few could
      be distinguished by light microscopy as rounded, pale fetal chief cells or
      elongated, darker fetal sustentacular cells, a distinction that became more
      certain with increasing gestational age. Electron microscopy confirmed this
      distinction, in which fetal chief cells contained dense-core vesicles and were
      partially enfolded by cytoplasmic extensions of fetal sustentacular cells.
      Immunoreactivity to methionine- and leucine-enkephalins was found at all
      gestational ages and was confined largely to fetal chief cells. Immunoreactivity
      to substance P was less specific, and there was no reaction for bombesin. Thus,
      by as early as the 13th week of gestation the two principal types of cell of the
      mature human carotid body begin to become recognizable on paraffin-embedded
      sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Furthermore, fetal chief cells can
      synthesize the peptides found in the adult.

PMID- 1448391
TI  - Oral congenital cystic choristomas: a case report.
AB  - Solitary choristomas containing gastrointestinal mucosa occur rarely in the
      tongue and the oral mucosa and usually present as an asymptomatic mass. This
      report documents the occurrence of two congenital intraoral cystic choristomas in
      a 5-month-old male infant. The cysts were located on the dorsum of the base of
      the tongue and left floor of mouth anterior to the lingual cyst. Both cysts were
      lined by nonkeratinizing squamous epithelium and gastric, intestinal, and
      respiratory epithelium. The cysts were excised by an oral approach.

PMID- 1448392
TI  - Chronic granulomatous disease: an ultrastructural study of the pigment laden
      histiocytes.
AB  - We have studied the ultrastructural characteristics of the pigments in the
      macrophages of liver and lymph nodes from three children with chronic
      granulomatous disease (CGD). The pigments represent lipofuscin bodies and appear
      to be formed from lysosomes. Characteristic structures are believed to represent
      transitional stages between lysosomes and mature pigment granules. It is thought
      that the residual lipids undergo progressive oxidation secondary to deficient
      lipolytic activity, overloading the lysosomes. It was also noted that liver
      biopsy can be a valuable tool in confirming the diagnosis of CGD, particularly
      when the disease is clinically suspected but the results of the nitroblue
      tetrazolium test are equivocal.

PMID- 1448393
TI  - Meconium periorchitis.

PMID- 1448394
TI  - Congenital lipoblastoma of the hand.

PMID- 1448395
TI  - Congenital syphilis in a twin gestation.

PMID- 1448396
TI  - Granulomatous meningoencephalitis due to leptomyxid ameba.

PMID- 1448397
TI  - Histopathologic variability of finding erythroid inclusions with intrauterine
      parvovirus B19 infection.

PMID- 1448398
TI  - An overview of survival studies in patients with heart failure.
AB  - Heart failure is associated with poor prognosis, but recent large-scale
      investigations have generated valuable and practical information to help improve
      clinical management and patient survival. This review presents an overview of the
      findings of recent heart failure survival studies and how these may affect
      therapeutic strategy for patients with this condition.

PMID- 1448399
TI  - The chronic fatigue syndrome.

PMID- 1448401
TI  - The law and medical fitness to drive--a study of doctors' knowledge.
AB  - We assessed doctors' knowledge on laws and recommendations regarding fitness to
      drive in certain medical conditions by a questionnaire survey. A total of 646
      doctors consisting of 400 general practitioners and 246 hospital doctors of all
      grades were circulated with the questionnaire. The survey was anonymous so non
      responders could not be re-circulated. The response rate was 26% general
      practitioners and 32% (hospital doctors). The results show the poor knowledge of
      doctors on several aspects of fitness to drive. It is necessary for all doctors
      to have a basic knowledge on the laws and recommendations on fitness to drive so
      that they can advise their patients correctly. Our survey clearly shows that
      doctors' knowledge is poor. Many drivers may therefore be placing themselves and
      others at risk. It is mandatory that this subject receives more attention in
      undergraduate and postgraduate education and that doctors should be regularly
      updated on new recommendations from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

PMID- 1448400
TI  - The menopause and hormone replacement therapy.

PMID- 1448402
TI  - Cardiovascular complications of parenteral nutrition.
AB  - During a 3 year period, 1987-1989, we encountered three major complications
      associated with parenteral nutrition leading to congestive cardiac failure--acute
      beriberi, right atrial and superior vena caval thrombosis, and fungal
      endocarditis. Unrecognized, these are invariably fatal. Persistent vomiting from
      intestinal obstruction led to the development of thiamine deficiency in the
      patient with beriberi. Recurrent catheter tip sepsis probably accounted for
      thrombosis and endocarditis in the second and third cases, respectively. These
      conditions are preventable with careful attention to nutritional replenishment
      and aseptic technique. In patients with catheter-related sepsis early, repeated
      blood culture is of diagnostic value. Patients with Staphylococcus aureus
      catheter-associated bacteraemia require at least 4 weeks of appropriate
      antibiotic therapy. Recurrent sepsis, especially when associated with pulmonary
      embolic phenomena, is an indication for echocardiography.

PMID- 1448403
TI  - Concentrations of vitamins A, C and E in elderly patients with Parkinson's
      disease.
AB  - Concentrations of the naturally occurring antioxidant vitamins A, C and E were
      measured in 27 patients with Parkinson's disease and 16 age-matched control
      subjects, from a similarly disabled patient group. There was no significant
      difference in the serum concentrations of vitamins A and E in the two groups.
      Vitamin C was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the Parkinson's disease group,
      however, the mean leucocyte vitamin C concentration in the control group was low
      (101 nmol/10(8) WBCS) compared to established data in healthy young individuals
      (119-301 nmol/10(8) WBCS). There was no correlation between the severity or
      duration of Parkinson's disease and concentrations of vitamins A, C and E. There
      is therefore no evidence from this study that a deficiency of these antioxidants
      contributes to the onset or progress of Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 1448404
TI  - Microalbuminuria in non-insulin-dependent (type 2) Nigerian diabetics: relation
      to glycaemic control, blood pressure and retinopathy.
AB  - Twenty-four hour urinary albumin concentrations were measured in 113 (mean age
      51.1 years) non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM) Nigerian diabetics (50 males, 63
      females). A high prevalence of microalbuminuria (> or = 30 mg/24 hour) was
      observed in male (54%) as well as female diabetics (59%). Microalbuminuria was
      also observed in a high proportion of diabetics (52%) with a short duration (< 5
      years) of disease. Elevated blood pressure and retinopathy were present in 41%
      and 16% of patients respectively. Among the 49 patients with normoalbuminuria (<
      30 mg/24 hour), six (12%) had retinopathy compared with 12 (18%) in the
      microalbuminuria group. Diastolic blood pressure levels were significantly higher
      (P < 0.01) in male diabetics with retinopathy but this was not associated with
      higher albuminuria. Urinary albumin concentrations were not influenced by
      elevated blood pressure. There were no significant differences in age, duration
      of diabetes, blood pressure or serum creatinine between diabetics with and
      without microalbuminuria. These results suggest that though there is a high
      prevalence of microalbuminuria amongst NIDDM Nigerian diabetics it may not
      predict retinopathy and occurs independently of either glycaemic control or
      elevated blood pressure levels.

PMID- 1448405
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of residual masses after treatment
      of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.
AB  - Eight patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who were in clinical remission but
      showed residual masses after therapy were examined with magnetic resonance
      imaging at 1.5 T at the end of therapy, with the sequences
      TR/TE:500/35,500/70,2000/35 and 2000/70. Residual masses were found in lymphoid
      areas (7), spleen (3) and kidney (1). In three patients, T2 showed high signal
      intensity. Disease progressed in the following 1-3 months and active lymphoma was
      histologically identified. In the other five patients, T2 showed a very low
      signal intensity. One of them had a distant relapse in lymphoid areas but the
      remaining four patients are asymptomatic after a mean follow-up time of 13
      months, suggesting that the lymphoma is cured and the mass inactive. We conclude
      that magnetic resonance imaging seems to distinguish active from non-active
      residual masses after treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients otherwise in
      clinical remission.

PMID- 1448406
TI  - The value of urinary red cell shape in the diagnosis of glomerular and post
      glomerular haematuria. A meta-analysis.
AB  - The proportion of dysmorphic red cells (DRC) in the urinary sediment and their
      mean corpuscular volume (MCV) have been claimed to discriminate between
      glomerular and postglomerular sources of haematuria. To determine the diagnostic
      value of urinary DRC and MCV, we searched the literature and critically reviewed
      21 published studies using a predetermined set of criteria for evaluation. All
      studies originated from referral centres. Interobserver variability in
      identifying urinary DRC was reported in four studies and found to be unacceptably
      large in one. Although reproducible over different samples of the same
      individual, urinary MCV was unreliable in cases of low-grade haematuria because
      of interfering debris. Weighted averages and 95% confidence limits of the
      sensitivity and specificity of the DRC proportion for glomerular disease were
      0.88 (0.86-0.90) and 0.95 (0.93-0.97), respectively; those of a low MCV were 1.00
      (0.98-1.00) for sensitivity and 0.87 (0.80-0.91) for specificity. Sensitivity and
      specificity values derived from in-patients were slightly higher than those in
      referred outpatients. No studies of urinary DRC or MCV in patients with
      incidentally detected microhaematuria in the primary care setting were found. We
      conclude that at present the diagnostic value of urinary DRC and MCV is limited.
      In referral centres, that is, in patients with a high probability of
      postglomerular haematuria, the test cannot rule out urological lesions, because
      its specificity for glomerular disease may be as low as 0.80. In the primary care
      setting, that is, in unselected patients with incidentally detected low-grade
      haematuria, the accuracy of the test has not been studied but may be even lower.
      The use of urinary DRC or MCV as an indicator of the source of haematuria is in
      need of further experimental development and confirmation.

PMID- 1448407
TI  - Costovertebral joint dysfunction: another misdiagnosed cause of atypical chest
      pain.
AB  - The diagnostic work-up of atypical chest pain frequently leads to invasive
      procedures. However, this painful symptomatology can sometimes be of benign
      origin and respond to simple therapeutic manoeuvres. A number of musculoskeletal
      conditions such as costovertebral joint dysfunctions should be carefully
      considered. We report five cases in which patient discomfort and high costs could
      have been avoided if awareness of these conditions had led to a correct diagnosis
      upon initial physical examination.

PMID- 1448408
TI  - Acute renal failure in a case of paraquat poisoning with relative absence of
      pulmonary toxicity.
AB  - A 37 year old male presented after the ingestion of paraquat ('Gramoxone', 20%
      w/v). Plasma paraquat concentrations indicated that he had a greater than 50%
      probability of death. The patient survived following a period of acute oliguric
      renal failure and with only mild pulmonary toxicity.

PMID- 1448409
TI  - Occupational medicine in the National Health Service.

PMID- 1448410
TI  - Should clinicians accept management responsibilities?

PMID- 1448411
TI  - 'Pseudo-Alzheimer's' and primary brain tumour.
AB  - Primary brain tumour may present in the elderly purely as a dementing illness
      before the onset or detection of sensorimotor neurological symptoms or signs.
      Although neurological examination may indicate no definite signs, close attention
      to accepted DSM-IIIR and NINCDS-ADRDA diagnostic criteria for primary
      degenerative dementia and 'probable' Alzheimer's disease respectively will
      suggest a process other than a degenerative one. This was the case in two
      patients with primary brain tumour presenting clinically with dementing illness
      similar to but distinct from Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 1448412
TI  - Miliary tuberculosis presenting with thyrotoxicosis.
AB  - A male patient is described who presented with thyrotoxicosis, and a large
      painful neck mass. From the excised mass and stomach aspiration Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis was cultured and a diagnosis of miliary tuberculosis was made. The
      thyrotoxicosis was attributed to tuberculous thyroiditis.

PMID- 1448413
TI  - Menetrier's disease in a child.
AB  - A case of Menetrier's disease in a 3 year old child presenting with subtotal
      pyloric stenosis and fatal outcome due to postoperative complications is
      reported. It is emphasized that although radiographic and gastroscopic studies
      are helpful, a full-thickness mucosal biopsy is essential for the diagnosis of
      Menetrier's disease.

PMID- 1448414
TI  - Primary renal renin secretion responding to angiotensin converting enzyme
      inhibition.
AB  - A case of primary renal renin secretion of probable neoplastic origin is
      reported. Investigation demonstrated renin secretion to be incompletely
      autonomous with suboptimal suppression to posture and hypervolaemia. Easy control
      of the hypertension and hypokalaemia was achieved with an angiotensin converting
      enzyme inhibitor. Such treatment may prove to be a preferable option to surgery.

PMID- 1448415
TI  - Massive gastric dilatation and acute pancreatitis--a case of 'Ramadan syndrome'?

PMID- 1448416
TI  - Urinary bladder carcinoma initially manifested as brain metastases.

PMID- 1448417
TI  - Bilateral tubercular psoas abscess mimicking bilateral hydronephrosis--the role
      of computerized tomography in the management.

PMID- 1448418
TI  - Enterobius vermicularis live adult worms in the high vagina.

PMID- 1448419
TI  - Delivery of plasmid DNA into mammalian cell lines using pH-sensitive liposomes:
      comparison with cationic liposomes.
AB  - We compare the transfection efficiency of plasmid DNA encoding either luciferase
      or beta-galactosidase encapsulated in pH-sensitive liposomes or non-pH-sensitive
      liposomes or DNA complexed with cationic liposomes composed of dioleoyloxypropyl
      trimethylammonium:dioleoylphosphatidyl-eth anolamine (1:1, w/w) (Lipofectin) and
      delivered into various mammalian cell lines. Cationic liposomes mediate the
      highest transient transfection level in all cell-lines examined. pH-sensitive
      liposomes, composed of cholestryl hemisuccinate and
      dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine at a 2:1 molar ratio, mediate gene transfer with
      efficiencies that are 1 to 30% of that obtained with cationic liposomes, while
      non-pH-sensitive liposome compositions do not induce any detectable transfection.
      Cationic liposomes mediate a more rapid uptake of plasmid DNA, to about an
      eightfold greater level than that obtained with pH-sensitive liposomes. The
      higher uptake of DNA mediated by Lipofectin accounts for part of its high
      transfection efficiency. Treatment of cells with chloroquine, ammonium chloride,
      or monensin decreases (threefold) transfection using pH-sensitive liposomes and
      either has no effect on or enhances cationic liposome-mediated transfection.
      Therefore plasma membrane fusion is not the only mechanism available to cationic
      liposomes; in certain cell lines DNA delivery via endocytosis is a possible
      parallel pathway and could augment the superior transfection efficiency observed
      with cationic liposomes.

PMID- 1448420
TI  - Regional jejunal perfusion, a new in vivo approach to study oral drug absorption
      in man.
AB  - Recently a new in vivo approach in man, using a regional intestinal perfusion
      technique, has been developed. The perfusion tube consists of a multichannel tube
      with two inflatable balloons, which are placed 10 cm apart. The tube is
      introduced orally and the time required for insertion and positioning of the tube
      is approximately 1 hr. In the present study eight healthy subjects were perfused
      in the proximal jejunum on three separate occasions. The first two perfusion
      experiments used the same flow rate, 3 ml/min, and the third experiment used 6
      ml/min. Phenazone (antipyrine) was chosen as the model drug. The recovery of PEG
      4000 in the outlet intestinal perfusate was complete in experiments 1 and 2, but
      slightly lower (90%) when the higher flow rate was used. The mean (+/- SD)
      fraction of phenazone absorbed calculated from perfusion data was 51 +/- 12% (3
      ml/min), 64 +/- 19% (3 ml/min), and 42 +/- 27% (6 ml/min) for the three
      experiments, respectively. The mean fraction absorbed estimated by deconvolution
      of the plasma data was 47 +/- 16%, 51 +/- 19%, and 38 +/- 26%, respectively. The
      effective permeability of phenazone was 5.3 +/- 2.5, 11 +/- 6.8, and 11 +/- 12 (x
      10(4) cm/sec, respectively. We have shown that it was possible to establish a
      tight intestinal segment which behaved as a well-mixed compartment. The low
      perfusion rate of 3 ml/min was preferred, since it resulted in the lowest
      variability in absorption.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448421
TI  - Suppression of inflammation by cyclosporin A is mediated via a T lymphocyte
      independent process.
AB  - An athymic mutant rat strain was used to examine the hypothesis that modification
      of diseases with an inflammatory component by cyclosporin A (CsA) results from
      the suppression of nonspecific inflammatory mechanisms, rather than T-lymphocyte
      function, as is commonly inferred. Confirmation that the animal host was grossly
      depleted of T cells was obtained from anatomic and morphologic examination and
      functional tests of T-lymphocyte responsiveness. The experimental approach was to
      determine the effect of CsA on the course of experimentally induced infection
      with Escherichia coli, and extracellular pathogen. Host protection against this
      microorganism is dependent on an effective nonspecific inflammatory response. CsA
      administration prior to bacterial challenge resulted in a highly significant
      increase in bacterial numbers in the kidneys of both euthymic and athymic hosts.
      The data have provided a direct demonstration that modulation of the nonspecific
      inflammatory response by CsA can occur via a T lymphocyte-independent process.

PMID- 1448422
TI  - Microdialysis sampling for the investigation of dermal drug transport.
AB  - Microdialysis perfusion in vivo has the potential to be a powerful sampling
      technique in dermal and transdermal drug delivery studies. Characterization of a
      commercially available microdialysis probe in vitro considering relevant
      physiological parameters is a vital first step in the evaluation of microdialysis
      as a dermal sampling technique. In previous microdialysis studies, analyte
      concentration and neutrality have been implicated in altering microdialysis
      recovery. The recovery of a model compound 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was investigated
      at several pH values and donor concentrations. The relative recovery of 5-FU by
      the microdialysis probe was affected by pH but not by donor concentration. To
      confirm further that the changing concentration and pH profile presented by the
      flux of 5-FU was not significantly altering microdialysis recovery, an experiment
      comparing direct and microdialysis sampling of a Franz diffusion cell receptor
      compartment was performed. Although the 5-FU concentration (0-686 ng/ml) and pH
      (7.40-7.24) changed substantially, the recovery of 5-FU was not adversely
      affected. To demonstrate the feasibility of dermal microdialysis, the flux of a
      commercial preparation of 5-fluorouracil was monitored utilizing a microdialysis
      probe implanted in excised rat skin in vitro. The results from the dermally
      implanted probe demonstrate the potential of the technique while establishing the
      limitations of the current microdialysis system.

PMID- 1448423
TI  - Acyclovir permeation enhancement across intestinal and nasal mucosae by bile salt
      acylcarnitine mixed micelles.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to investigate the absorption enhancement of
      acyclovir, an antiviral agent, by means of bile salt-acylcarnitine mixed
      micelles. The specificity, site dependence, palmitoyl-DL-carnitine chloride (PCC)
      concentration dependence, and effects of absorption promoters on acyclovir
      absorption via the nasal cavity (N) and four different intestinal segments of the
      rat, i.e., duodenum (D), upper jejunum (UJ), combined lower jejunum and ileum
      (LJ), and colon (C) were evaluated. The present study employed the rat in situ
      nasal and intestinal perfusion techniques and utilized sodium glycocholate
      (NaGC), three acylcarnitines, and their mixed micelles as potential nasal and
      intestinal absorption promoters. Acylcarnitines used were DL-octanoylcarnitine
      chloride (OCC), palmitoyl-DL-carnitine chloride (PCC), and DL-stearoylcarnitine
      chloride (SCC). All acylcarnitines and NaGC by themselves produced negligible
      enhancement of acyclovir absorption in the rat intestine, while OCC and SCC were
      totally ineffective in the nasal cavity. However, the mixed micellar solutions of
      NaGC with PCC or SCC could significantly increase the mucosal membrane
      permeability of acyclovir in the colon and nasal cavity. On the other hand, NaGC
      OCC mixed micelles slightly increased the absorption of acyclovir by both routes.
      When a mixed micellar solution of NaGC with PCC was used, the rank order of
      apparent acyclovir permeability (Papp; cm/sec), corrected for surface area of
      absorption, was N (10.54 +/- 0.62 x 10(-5)) > D (6.82 +/- 0.30 x 10(-5)) > LJ
      (2.90 +/- 0.08 x 10(-5)) > C (2.54 +/- 0.14 x 10(-5)) > UJ (2.30 +/- 0.22 x 10(
      5)).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448424
TI  - Effect of loading on swelling-controlled drug release from hydrophobic
      polyelectrolyte gel beads.
AB  - The effect of oxprenolol HCl loading on the kinetics of polymer swelling and drug
      release from suspension-polymerized poly(methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid)
      (PMMA/MAA) beads has been studied in detail. Within the range of variables
      studied, the polymer swelling rate increases with buffer pH and concentration.
      And an ionization-controlled swelling mechanism (analogous to the relaxation
      controlled mechanism) mechanism) seems to become more rate-limiting at higher
      buffer concentrations. At oxprenolol HCL loading levels below 17.8%, the drug
      release and associated dimensional changes (in pH 7.4) exhibit an extended quasi
      linear region despite the inherent limitation of spherical geometry. At higher
      loading levels, the drug release becomes faster and first-order in nature. This
      is apparently a result of the transition from a dissolved to a dispersed system
      above a percolation threshold (15-18% loading in the present study). As a result
      of competition from processes such as the reduction of bead dimension due to drug
      release and the dimensional increase due to polymer swelling and osmotic
      contributions from the drug, the transient bead diameter increases monotonically
      during drug release at loading levels up to 25.6%, whereas upon further
      increasing the drug loading, the bead diameter goes through a maximum during the
      early drug release, which eventually increases again as a result of the slow but
      continuous increase in polymer swelling due to further ionization. In all cases,
      both the drug release and the dimensional changes approach completion as the
      penetrating ionization fronts meet at the center, indicating a true swelling
      controlled behavior.

PMID- 1448425
TI  - Metabolism, distribution, and transdermal permeation of a soft corticosteroid,
      loteprednol etabonate.
AB  - The soft corticosteroid, loteprednol etabonate (chloromethyl 17 alpha
      ethoxycarbonyloxy-11 beta-hydroxy-3-oxoandrosta-1,4-diene-17 beta-carboxylate),
      I, was designed based on the "inactive metabolite approach." Accordingly, I
      should be metabolized by hydrolysis to the corresponding inactive cortienic acid
      derivative, II. The in vitro and in vivo metabolism of I indeed yielded mainly
      this inactive metabolite, which is more hydrophilic and thus readily eliminated
      from the body. Relatively high levels of I were found in tissues after
      intravenous administration of the drug in rats. The permeability of I through
      hairless mouse skin was comparable to what has been found for related "hard"
      steroids, without significant metabolism taking place in the skin.

PMID- 1448426
TI  - Molecular weight changes in polymer erosion.
AB  - We report a study of the effects of polymer molecular weight on the erosion of
      polyanhydride copolymer matrices composed of 1,3-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)-propane
      (CPP) and sebacic acid (SA) in aqueous solution. The erosion profile
      characteristically displays an induction period during which the erosion rate is
      relatively slow. The length of this period depends on the initial molecular
      weight of the polymer. The induction period may be characterized as a time during
      which a rapid decrease in polymer molecular weight occurs, the end of this period
      correlating with the time required for the polymer molecular weight to decrease
      to below a value of approximately 5000 (MW).

PMID- 1448427
TI  - Dose proportionality of transdermal nitroglycerin.
AB  - The FDA Cooperative Efficacy Study of transdermal nitroglycerin utilized a
      combination of marketed products over a wide dose range. Unfortunately, plasma
      nitroglycerin concentrations were not determined. The current study was conducted
      to assess plasma nitrate concentrations after transdermal doses of 15, 30, 60,
      and 105 mg/24 hr employing the FDA Cooperative Study design. Plasma
      concentrations of nitroglycerin, 1,3-glyceryl dinitrate, and 1,2-glyceryl
      dinitrate were determined during the 24 hr of application and for 1 hr after
      transdermal system removal. Dose proportionality was assessed after normalizing
      the data by theoretical dose. For nitroglycerin, dose-normalized AUC(0-infinity)
      and Cmax were higher for the 105 mg/24 hr dose than for the other doses. For the
      metabolites, 1,3-glyceryl dinitrate and 1,2-glyceryl dinitrate, there were no
      differences in dose-normalized AUC(0-infinity) and dose-normalized Cmax between
      the dose levels. No differences were seen in Tmax between the dose levels for all
      three species. Based on the dinitrate metabolites, dose proportionality was seen
      over the 15 to 105 mg/24 hr dose range. Nitroglycerin, however, was found to be
      linear only between 15 and 60 mg/24 hr.

PMID- 1448428
TI  - Metabolism of testosterone during in vitro transport across CACO-2 cell
      monolayers: evidence for beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in
      differentiated CACO-2 cells.
AB  - Testosterone has previously been used as a model compound for the determination
      of unstirred water layer thickness in the CACO-2 transport model. We have found,
      however, that testosterone is metabolized during in vitro transport across the
      CACO-2 cell monolayers. This suggests that testosterone is not an ideal model
      substance. Testosterone is metabolized to androstenedione, indicating the
      formation of 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase by differentiated CACO-2 cells.
      No reverse metabolism is observed, thus androstenedione is considered superior to
      testosterone for determination of unstirred water layer thickness in the CACO-2
      system. Permeability coefficients for testosterone and androstenedione obtained
      under identical transport conditions were 66 (+/- 7) * 10(-6) (n = 26) and 84 (+/
      7) * 10(-6) (n = 9) cm/sec, respectively. The unstirred water layer thicknesses
      at different agitation rates are determined for the CACO-2 transport model used
      in our laboratory utilizing androstenedione as a model compound. The system is
      capable of controlling the water layer thickness from about 200 to 1000 microns.

PMID- 1448429
TI  - High-dose methotrexate does not affect the pharmacodynamics of phenobarbital
      hypnotic action but decreases the central nervous system (CNS) sensitivity to
      pentylenetetrazol-induced maximal seizures in rats.
AB  - Chemotherapy with high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) is often associated with acute
      neurotoxicity. We determined whether the altered neuronal function after HD-MTX
      [such as the reduced regional cerebral metabolic glucose rate (rCMRGlc) and slow
      electroencephalographic pattern] affects the sensitivity of the CNS to centrally
      acting drugs: the depressant phenobarbital, which reduces rCMRGlc, and the
      analeptic agent pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), which elevates rCMRGlc. Adult male Sabra
      rats received an i.v. infusion of MTX, 0.51 mg/min, to induce neurotoxicity or
      saline solution for 24 hr. Subsequently, MTX-treated and control groups were
      infused in one experiment with phenobarbital until loss of the righting reflex
      and in the second experiment with PTZ until the onset of maximal seizures. HD-MTX
      did not affect the infused hypnotic dose or serum, brain, and cerebrospinal fluid
      concentrations of phenobarbital at the onset of anesthesia. The convulsive dose
      and PTZ concentrations in the serum and brain at the onset of maximal seizures
      were significantly higher in the HD-MTX-treated animals. These outcomes indicate
      that HD-MTX and the reduced rCMRGlc that follows this treatment do not contribute
      to the hypnotic action of phenobarbital. On the other hand, treatment with HD-MTX
      exhibited anticonvulsant properties as evidenced by the reduced CNS sensitivity
      to PTZ-induced seizures.

PMID- 1448431
TI  - General treatment of the enterohepatic recirculation of drugs and its influence
      on the area under the plasma level curves, bioavailability, and clearance.
AB  - A general treatment of enterohepatic recirculation of drugs has been developed
      based on the fraction of drug in systemic circulation that is excreted in the
      bile and the fraction of drug reabsorbed from the gut that reaches systemic
      circulation in each enterohepatic cycle. The deduced equations make it possible
      to establish mathematical relationships between the areas under the blood level
      curves (AUC) of a drug when administered to normal and bile duct-cannulated
      animals and to predict the effect of enterohepatic recycling on bioavailability
      and clearance. The results were compared with those obtained by other authors
      using different approaches to enterohepatic recirculation, and some discrepancies
      were found in the equations describing the effect of enterohepatic recycling on
      AUC and bioavailability of drugs. The cause of such discrepancies and the
      problems associated with the prediction of hepatic extraction ratio from in vitro
      studies are discussed.

PMID- 1448430
TI  - Studies on the excretion of diazepam and nordazepam into milk for the prediction
      of milk-to-plasma drug concentration ratios.
AB  - The influence of varying protein and fat content in milk of New Zealand White
      rabbits on the milk-to-plasma drug concentration (M/P) ratio of diazepam was
      studied. At various time points after littering, a bolus dose (1.5 mg/kg)
      followed by a 26-hr infusion (1.8 mg/h) of diazepam was administered to freely
      moving rabbits via a jugular vein catheter. Milk and blood samples were collected
      to allow characterization of milk composition and quantitative determination of
      diazepam and nordazepam in milk and plasma. At steady state diazepam showed M/P
      ratios between 3.7 and 9.5, whereas nordazepam showed ratios between 2.1 and 4.3,
      respectively. The relative importance of milk protein binding and milk-fat
      partitioning for the excretion of a drug into milk depended on the drug's
      affinity to milk fat. A stepwise multiple regression analysis suggested that
      observed M/P ratios of diazepam could be explained by considering the fat content
      of milk alone. Nordazepam with a lower solubility in milk fat showed M/P ratios
      which could be best explained by considering protein and fat concentrations
      together. Using the data from the infusion studies, two recently published
      diffusional models to predict M/P ratios were evaluated. Neither model could
      accurately predict the M/P ratios of diazepam and nordazepam observed in rabbits.
      However, after extending the model described by Atkinson and Begg to take the
      actually measured partitioning between skim milk and milk fat into account, a
      great improvement in the predictive power for observed M/P ratios
      occurred.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448432
TI  - A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study of alkylpyrazine odor
      modalities.
AB  - The odor strength of a series of alkylpyrazines has been quantitatively
      investigated applying molecular connectivity, molecular shape, and the recently
      developed electrotopological state indices. The successful use of the latter
      parameters indicates that both electronic and topological features contribute to
      the odor strength of the compounds under study, while the specific role of the
      two nitrogen atoms is revealed.

PMID- 1448434
TI  - Microparticles of polyvinyl alcohol for nasal delivery. I. Generation by spray
      drying and spray-desolvation.
AB  - Spray-drying and spray-desolvation are described for the generation of polyvinyl
      alcohol microparticles intended for nasal administration. The spray-dried
      microparticles of polyvinyl alcohol were of an appropriate size distribution but
      consisted of hollow spheres, which made them unsuitable for nasal delivery, as
      rapid clearance and a varied deposition pattern would be expected. Microparticles
      were also produced by spraying polyvinyl alcohol (average molecular weight of
      14,000) solution (12.5%, w/v) at 0.332 ml/min onto the surface of acetone (spray
      desolvation). These microparticles were solid collapsed spheres with the desired
      size for nasal deposition (10-200 microns). This method can be applied to
      encapsulation of drugs that are heat labile such as peptides and proteins.

PMID- 1448433
TI  - The effects of N(4-methylphenyl)diphenimide on lipid metabolism of Sprague Dawley
      rats.
AB  - N(4-Methylphenyl)diphenimide proved to be an effective hypolipidemic agent in
      rats at 10 and 20 mg/kg/day. Both serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were
      reduced significantly. Decreases in tissue lipids as well as VLDL cholesterol
      levels were observed. HDL-cholesterol was elevated even at 10 mg/kg/day. The
      agent was equally effective in hyperlipidemic diet-induced rats, lowering serum
      lipids and VLDL- and LDL-cholesterol while elevating HDL-cholesterol levels. The
      drug interfered with the incorporation of 3H-cholesterol and 3H-palmitic acid
      into chylomicrons, VLDL, and LDL. The two precursors were incorporated at a
      higher rate into HDL. 3H-Leucine was incorporated into chylomicrons, VLDL, and
      LDL at a higher rate, but not into HDL. Reduced uptake of the precursor for lipid
      synthesis was noted in tissues after treatment with the drug.

PMID- 1448435
TI  - Participation of Macrogolstearate 400 lamellar phases in hydrophilic creams and
      vesicles.
AB  - In binary Macrogolstearate 400 (MS 400)/water systems, lamellar surfactant
      arrangements can be detected by polarized light and transmission electron
      microscopy. As demonstrated by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning
      calorimetry, the alkyl chains of the emulsifier are in the crystalline state.
      Ternary systems with liquid paraffin represent optically isotropic, homogeneous
      o/w creams for a wide composition range. Incorporation of up to 50 mol%
      cholesterol into the MS 400 lamellar structures leads to a gel-liquid crystalline
      phase separation within the bilayer, thus enabling the formation of spherical
      nonionic vesicles. The transition enthalpy of the samples decreases linearly with
      increasing cholesterol concentrations. The Macrogolstearate 400/cholesterol
      vesicles proved to be stable in hydrophilic cream systems. Cationic vesicles can
      be prepared using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a charge inducer. Low
      CTAB portions are inhomogeneously distributed within the bilayer, as detected by
      DSC. The results also indicate a perturbation of the alkyl chains packing for the
      positively charged vesicles.

PMID- 1448436
TI  - Benzoyl peroxide solubility and stability in hydric solvents.
AB  - Saturated solubility and reaction rate constants for the decomposition of benzoyl
      peroxide in solution and suspension were determined for use in formulation
      development. The solvents studied included ethanol, propylene glycol, and
      cosolvent mixtures of PEG 400 and water. The solubility of benzoyl peroxide was
      inversely related to the solvent polarity, with greater solubility occurring with
      semipolar solvents. The stability of benzoyl peroxide in solution was dependent
      on the solvent, concentration of benzoyl peroxide, and temperature. The compound
      was least stable in PEG 400. Stability was improved when water was added to PEG
      400. Similar solvent effects were observed in suspension. In benzoyl peroxide
      suspensions of PEG 400 and PEG 400/water blends, benzoyl peroxide stability was
      dependent on solubility, with improved stability occurring in blends where the
      benzoyl peroxide was least soluble. Thus, solution formulations of benzoyl
      peroxide in pharmaceutically acceptable solvents are unlikely to show good
      stability; however, suspension formulations should be reasonably stable if the
      vehicle is selected to provide low benzoyl peroxide solubility.

PMID- 1448437
TI  - Predicting the effect of nonionic surfactants on dispersed droplet radii in
      submicron oil-in-water emulsions.
AB  - A novel theoretical model which describes the mass mean radius of oil droplets in
      an oil-in-water emulsion is described. A modified form of the Langmuir adsorption
      isotherm is used to account for nonlinear adsorption of surfactant to an oil
      water film and its effect on interfacial tension and oil droplet radius. On the
      basis of this model, the mass mean oil droplet radius may be related to bulk
      surfactant concentration for a nonionic surfactant. An analysis of the mineral
      oil-Triton X405-water system shows that aqueous solutions of Triton X405 against
      mineral oil behaved in accord with the proposed model. gamma m, the maximum
      interfacial tension lowering by Triton X405, was estimated to be 20.9 dyne/cm. A
      surfactant specific apparent constant (B) which relates the rate constant for
      adsorption to the interface to the rate constant for desorption from the
      interface into the aqueous bulk was estimated as 5.44E4 cm3/g. The pressure
      across the curved interface, delta P, was estimated as 1.05E6 dyne/cm2. The
      theoretical model appears to be consistent with experimentally observed oil
      droplet radii and is considered to be an accurate representation of the mechanics
      of dispersed droplet radii under conditions of moderate load of nonionic
      surfactant.

PMID- 1448438
TI  - Powdered solution technology: principles and mechanism.
AB  - The concept of powdered solutions can be used to formulate liquid medications in
      dry, nonadherent, free-flowing, and readily compressible powders. The technique
      is based on simple admixture of drug solution or liquid drug with selected
      carrier and coating materials. Improved drug release profiles are exhibited by
      such delivery systems even for poorly water-soluble drugs. Previous work using
      this method has rendered its industrial application impractical because of the
      unsatisfactory flow properties of the powder admixtures. This article presents a
      theoretical model based on the principles and mechanism of powdered solutions and
      introduces a new physical property of powders termed the flowable liquid
      retention potential (phi value). Mathematical expressions are derived that can be
      used to calculate the optimum amount of excipients required to yield powder
      admixtures with acceptable flowability. The validity and applicability of these
      expressions have been verified experimentally using clofibrate and prednisolone
      as test materials. The proposed model is shown to be superior to previously
      reported studies in optimizing the amount of excipients needed to prepare
      powdered solutions with acceptable flow properties.

PMID- 1448439
TI  - In vitro oral mucosal absorption of liposomal triamcinolone acetonide.

PMID- 1448440
TI  - Nasal absorption of leucine enkephalin in rats and the effects of aminopeptidase
      inhibition, as determined from the percentage of the dose unabsorbed.

PMID- 1448441
TI  - High-performance liquid chromatography determination of acitretin in plasma and
      its application to a pharmacokinetic study in human subjects.

PMID- 1448442
TI  - Excessive accumulation of hepatic copper in LEC rats aged 80 days without
      hepatitis and 130 days with hepatitis.
AB  - The Cu concentration was about 40 and 60 times higher in the liver in Long-Evans
      with a cinnamon-like coat color (LEC) rats aged 80 days (without hepatitis) and
      130 days (with hepatitis), respectively than in the liver in Fischer rats. Most
      hepatic Cu was recovered in the cytosol fraction. Furthermore, about 96% and 84%
      of the cytosolic Cu was found in the metallothionein region on a Sephadex G-75
      column in LEC rats aged 80 and 130 days, respectively. The hepatic
      metallothionein concentration was about 130 to 140 times higher in LEC rats than
      in Fischer rats when the concentration was expressed as metallothionein-bound Cu.
      Three forms of Cu-metallothionein were isolated by DEAE-cartridge. Although the
      concentration of hepatic Cu-metallothionein and its composition of polymorphic
      form were not changed greatly in hepatitis phase (in the 130-day-old LEC rats),
      activities of serum enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (GOT) and alanine
      aminotransferase (GPT) were increased significantly. The LEC rat showed a
      significantly low concentration of biliary Cu and markedly low activity of
      ceruloplasmin (as ferroxidase). Serum Cu showed a low concentration in the 80-day
      old LEC rats, but recovered to the control level in the 130-day-old LEC rats. The
      abnormal accumulation of Cu may be due to the inherent reduction of excretion of
      Cu into the bile and blood. Such deposition may be a trigger for the onset of the
      spontaneous hepatitis occurring at 90-120 days after birth and for the onset of
      hepatoma later.

PMID- 1448443
TI  - Experimental evaluation of the effects of pravastatin on electrophysiological
      parameters of rat skeletal muscle.
AB  - The effects of daily chronic treatment for 6 months with pravastatin was
      evaluated on the performance of the skeletal muscle system of different rat
      groups. At all doses (0.1 mg/kg-20 mg/kg) the righting reflex and the
      electromyographic signals observed in vivo did not show any abnormality. At the
      end of the treatment the Extensor digitorum longus muscles were dissected from
      treated and control rats and their passive and active electrical parameters were
      analyzed in vitro by standard microelectrodes technique. Pravastatin did not
      modify the chloride conductance nor the excitability characteristics of the
      fibers. Chronic treatment with pravastatin does not produce any alteration of
      skeletal muscle function.

PMID- 1448444
TI  - Mechanical effects of some prostanoids on isolated human oesophageal submucosal
      veins.
AB  - The effects of prostaglandins E1, E2, F2 alpha, prostacyclin, and the thromboxane
      A2-mimic U46619 were investigated on isolated human oesophageal submucosal veins
      from the oesophageal body and the oesophagogastric junction. U46619 most
      potently, but also PGF2 alpha produced venocontraction without differences
      between preparations from the oesophageal body and the oesophagogastric junction.
      PGE1 and prostacyclin caused relaxation of vessels precontracted with U46619 (10(
      9) M). PGE2 induced either contraction or relaxation, but biphasic effects in the
      same vessel segment were not seen. Indomethacin 10(-6) M inhibited the
      contractile responses to both noradrenaline and K+ (124 mM), suggesting that the
      agonists induced synthesis or release of vasoconstrictor prostanoids. Prostanoids
      exert potent mechanical effects in submucosal oesophageal veins and may be of
      physiological importance.

PMID- 1448445
TI  - Bioactivation of halogenated hydrocarbons by rabbit pulmonary cells.
AB  - 1,1-Dichloro-2,2-bis (4'-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDD), 1,2-dibromoethane (DBE) and
      trichloroethylene are three halogenated hydrocarbons that selectively bind to
      pulmonary epithelial cells and that may be pneumotoxic. The susceptibility of
      pulmonary cells and the mechanisms of cytotoxicity of these compounds were
      evaluated using enriched subpopulations of isolated rabbit lung cells incubated
      with DDD, DBE, and trichloroethylene. These chlorinated and brominated
      hydrocarbons were studied to evaluate their ability to induce selective
      pneumotoxicity by their bioactivation in three cell types, i.e. Clara cells,
      alveolar type II cells, and alveolar macrophages. Evidence of cytochrome P-450
      bioactivation was assessed by utilizing the suicide inhibitor, 1
      aminobenzotriazole (ABT) to ameliorate cytotoxicity. DDD, DBE and
      trichloroethylene were cytotoxic to Clara cells, type II cells and alveolar
      macrophages and the order of cell susceptibility to DDD was Clara > type II >
      macrophages. DBE and trichloroethylene were nonselectively cytotoxic. ABT reduced
      the cytotoxic effects of DDD and DBE in Clara cells. These studies indicated that
      all three compounds were toxic to isolated lung cells and that bioactivation of
      DDD and DBE in rabbit Clara cells to a cytotoxic intermediate was mediated, at
      least in part, by cytochrome P-450 oxidation.

PMID- 1448446
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of the oxime HI-6 from a mixture with atropine sulphate in dogs.
AB  - The pharmacokinetics of the oxime HI-6 from an aqueous solution and from a
      mixture containing HI-6 and atropine (in doses similar as proposed for their
      combination in an automatic injector) was studied in German shepherd dogs. A
      standard manual injection of mixed drugs was followed by enhanced resorption of
      HI-6 while the elimination curves were quite similar. A comparison of the
      parameters describing relative bioavailability at the 80% probability level did
      not reveal any significant differences between the formulations of HI-6. The
      increase in HI-6 level in blood of animals receiving a mixture is more likely to
      be attributed to the local vasodilatation than to the systemic cardiovascular
      effects of atropine.

PMID- 1448447
TI  - Effects of toluene and n-hexane on rat synaptosomal membrane fluidity and
      integral enzyme activities.
AB  - The effects of toluene and n-hexane on rat synaptosomal membrane fluidity and the
      integral enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and ATPase were studied in vitro.
      The synaptosome membranes were isolated in Percoll and sucrose gradients. After
      adding toluene and n-hexane to the incubation mixture (37 degrees) in 2,4,6 and 8
      mM concentrations, the fluidity changes were measured by the lateral pyrene
      diffusion method from Percoll-isolated membranes, and the ATPase and
      acetylcholinesterase activities were determined from both synaptosome isolations.
      Addition of toluene caused a linearly correlated increase of the synaptosomal
      membrane fluidity and a linear decrease of the AChE activity. The ATPase activity
      did not decrease linearly but dose-dependently. In contrast to the effects of
      toluene in vitro, addition of n-hexane in the same concentration range had no
      comparable influence on membrane fluidity nor on the activities of both integral
      enzymes despite its even higher lipid/water partition coefficient. Toluene
      increases synaptosomal membrane fluidity and at the same time inhibits the
      integral enzymes, probably by disturbing the lipid/protein interaction.

PMID- 1448448
TI  - Interaction between ciprofloxacin and thiopental in the central nervous system of
      the male rat.
AB  - The effect of intravenous ciprofloxacin (CPX) pretreatment on the kinetics and
      brain sensitivity for thiopental was studied in male rats using a previously
      developed electroencephalographic (EEG) threshold method. Thiopental was
      administered intravenously with constant infusion rate. Immediately after the
      appearance of the first burst suppression of 1 sec. or more (the "silent-second")
      in the EEG the infusion was stopped and the rats were killed by decapitation. The
      dose of thiopental needed to reach the criterion of silent-second was slightly
      reduced in ciprofloxacin pretreated rats when compared with saline pretreated
      controls. One rat that developed seizures after CPX pretreatment needed a
      considerably reduced dose of thiopental to induce the silent-second. The serum
      concentrations of thiopental were markedly reduced in the experimental group
      while no significant differences were found in the concentrations of thiopental
      in the different parts of the central nervous system (CNS), fat or muscle tissue.
      The kinetics of CPX were also affected. The experimental group (CPX + thiopental
      treated) had significant higher brain concentrations of CPX than the
      corresponding only CPX treated control group while no differences were found in
      the serum concentrations of CPX between the groups. As previously suggested, the
      distribution of thiopental in the CNS is not only dependent on its lipid
      solubility, but also as a weak organic acid, on the transport system for organic
      acids out of the CNS which both thiopental and ciprofloxacin seem to use and
      mutually compete for it.

PMID- 1448449
TI  - Effects of felodipine on utero-placental blood flow in normotensive rabbits.
AB  - The utero-placental blood flow was investigated in anaesthetized normotensive
      pregnant rabbits after repeated administration of a high dose of the
      antihypertensive calcium antagonist felodipine and in untreated controls. By
      means of the microsphere technique blood flow was also determined in the lungs,
      skin, intestine, skeletal muscle and kidneys during chloralose anaesthesia.
      Felodipine reduced mean arterial blood pressure, which was associated with a
      marked reduction in vascular resistance in the skeletal muscle vascular bed,
      where blood flow was increased seven-fold. In contrast, blood flow to placentae
      and kidneys were reduced. The pronounced reduction in placental blood flow may
      limit foetal nutrition and hence explain reported foetal digital defects after
      administration of high doses of felodipine to pregnant normotensive rabbits.

PMID- 1448450
TI  - On the pharmacological and physiological role of glibenclamide-sensitive
      potassium channels in colonic smooth muscle.
AB  - Actions of activators of glibenclamide sensitive K+ channels on canine colonic
      circular muscle were investigated. Cromakalim as well as its (-) enantiomer
      lemakalim caused inhibition of spontaneous phasic contractile activity (EC50's
      4.4 +/- 0.1 x 10(-7) M and 2.3 +/- 0.4 x 10(-7) M, respectively) and of carbachol
      induced activity (EC50's: 9.4 +/- 5.1 x 10(-7) M and 4.3 +/- 1.4 x 10(-7) M,
      respectively). Cromakalim and lemakalim effects were completely inhibited by
      glibenclamide. Additive effects between K+ channel activators and other drugs
      relaxing colonic muscle (the L-type calcium channel blocker D600 and forskolin)
      were seen. A physiological role for specific glibenclamide sensitive K+ channels,
      if existing, remains unresolved. The present study indicates that the non
      adrenergic inhibitory nerves do not act through these channels, neither does
      stimulation of muscarinic or beta-adrenergic receptors.

PMID- 1448451
TI  - The effect of high calcium intake on intracellular free [Ca2+] and Na(+)-H+
      exchange in DOC-NaCl-hypertensive rats.
AB  - The effects of calcium supplementation on blood pressure, intracellular free
      calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and rate of Na(+)-H+ exchange were studied in DOC
      NaCl-hypertensive rats. All the animals were uninephrectomized and divided into
      two main groups: the first group received deoxycorticosterone (DOC) (25 mg/kg,
      s.c.) once a week and had 0.7% NaCl as drinking fluid while the other received
      equal volumes of saline and tap water to drink. The animals were further divided
      according to dietary calcium intake: in the Control and DOC groups the chow
      contained 1.1% calcium, in the Calcium and DOC+Calcium groups, 2.5%. After 6 and
      8 weeks, blood pressure in the DOC group was higher than in the Control group; on
      the other hand, the development of hypertension was attenuated in the DOC+Calcium
      compared with the DOC group. The Control and Calcium groups did not differ from
      each other. Platelets and lymphocytes were used as experimental models to study
      changes in the regulation of [Ca2+]i, evaluated by fluorescent indicators indo-1
      and quin-2. In lymphocytes, basal [Ca2+]i was highest in the DOC group, but
      similar in DOC+Calcium and Control groups. In platelets, both basal and thrombin
      stimulated [Ca2+]i were higher in the DOC and DOC+Calcium groups than in the
      Control group. In both cell types [Ca2+]i was similar in Control and Calcium
      groups. In addition, platelets were used to study the ability of the cells to
      recover from intracellular acidification by first blocking the Na(+)-H+ exchange
      in a Na(+)-free medium and then restarting the exchange mechanism by increasing
      the extracellular Na+ concentration at constant speed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1448452
TI  - Bioavailability of two Soviet sustained-release theophylline formulations in
      comparison with TheoDur.
AB  - The pharmacokinetic parameters of two theophylline preparations of Soviet origin
      (Theobiolongas and Theopaek) were compared with the reference preparation
      TheoDur. The three sustained-release preparations were administered in a single
      oral dose (400 mg) to healthy volunteers. Blood samples were drawn over 36 hr and
      plasma concentrations of theophylline were measured by HPLC. Significant
      differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters were observed between the drugs.
      Compared to TheoDur, the two Soviet drugs, Theobiolongas and Theopaek, had lower
      bioavailability (86% and 82%, respectively), and higher rate of absorption. An 8
      hr dosing interval should be preferred for Theobiolongas and Theopaek while twice
      daily administration appears to be appropriate for these preparations only in
      exceptional cases.

PMID- 1448454
TI  - Heterotopic autotransplantation of the distal pancreas segment after total
      pancreatectomy for cancer of the head of the pancreas.
AB  - Autotransplantation of the distal pancreas segment with pancreaticojejunostomy
      was performed in four patients with cancer of the head of the pancreas to
      preserve endocrine pancreatic function after extended total pancreatectomy. All
      patients had tumor involvement of both the celiac axis and the portal vein. The
      pancreatic graft was determined to be cancer-free by frozen section histologic
      and pancreatic juice cytologic examinations. The distal pancreas segment was
      autotransplanted to the iliac vessels heterotopically and placed in the
      extraperitoneal pocket to avoid untoward effects of any local recurrence or
      pancreatic leakage. This procedure, in the form of reconstruction, might be
      called modified subtotal pancreatoduodenectomy. Postoperatively, all patients
      remained normoglycemic without exogenous insulin administration, and their
      quality of life was considered satisfactory.

PMID- 1448453
TI  - Characterization of cultured human nesidioblasts and their associated
      macromolecules: cross-reactivity with a cloned rat pancreatic beta-cell line.
AB  - Near-total pancreatectomy in a neonate presenting with persistent hypoglycemia
      offered an unusual opportunity to grow preparations enriched in beta-cells.
      Morphology, chromosomal analysis, and immunohistochemistry were used to
      characterize a subculture (Nesi B) that remained stable through passage 11.
      Insulin secretion of Nesi B was constitutive at 38-74 nU/microliters of medium/24
      h, increasing modestly in the presence of isobutylmethylxanthine, an inhibitor of
      cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. Endocrine cells, exclusive of those in islet
      regions, were widely distributed throughout the original tissue section, and
      immunostaining of the Nesi B subculture demonstrated well-differentiated heavily
      granulated insulin-positive cells, each with a normal modal number of chromosomes
      (46). Nesi B cell-associated macromolecules were isolated in 3 x 10(-3)
      ethylenedinitrilotetraacetate/phosphate-buffered saline and were found to be
      reactive with a heterologous immune serum elicited to a cloned rat pancreatic
      beta-cell line (RIN-5F). Western (immuno) blotting showed this immunoreactivity
      to reside primarily in a 95-kDa fraction of Nesi B-derived components. These
      results indicate that human nesidioblasts can be cultured for a sufficient number
      of passages to allow isolation and immunochemical characterization of pancreatic
      beta-cell macromolecules shared between rat and human and that may serve as organ
      specific antigens for inflammatory disorders of the pancreas.

PMID- 1448455
TI  - A stereological investigation of rat endocrine pancreas after a long-term low
      protein diet.
AB  - Stereological analysis of rat endocrine pancreas was carried out after 4 months
      of low-protein intake. Thirty make Wistar rats, aged 2 months at the beginning of
      the experiment, were divided into three groups. The control group (NP) received a
      standard laboratory diet. The experimental group (LP) received a low-protein
      diet, and the pair-fed animals also received a standard laboratory diet, as the
      NP rats did, but restricted to the amounts consumed by the LP group. All groups
      were offered drinking water ad lib. Weibel's multipurpose lattice was used to
      determine the volume fraction of cells and numerical density of islets in the
      endocrine pancreas. The results showed that the long-term low-protein diet
      decreased the volume fraction of B-cells and increased that of A-cells. Numerical
      density of islets was significantly increased, whereas the absolute number was
      decreased. The mean number of B-cells per islet was found to be decreased and
      that of D-cells increased. The mean radius of the islets was decreased, as was
      the mean surface area.

PMID- 1448456
TI  - Element distribution in organelles of pancreatic acinar cells of rat, mouse, and
      pig investigated by energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis.
AB  - The exocrine pancreas was long thought to be composed of identical subunits, the
      acinar cells that store the inactive forms of the digestive enzymes in zymogen
      granules (ZGs). These were generally seen as a homogeneous population of
      vesicles. This homogeneity was recently questioned: Digestive demands are
      answered by the release of specific enzymes and immunocytochemical labeling
      showed distinctive nonidentical populations of ZGs. We have aimed at finding
      concomitant differences in element contents. We analyzed by energy-dispersive x
      ray microanalysis (EDX) the subcellular distribution of elements in acinar cells
      of resting and stimulated rat, resting mouse, and resting pig pancreas and
      compared the results with values from the literature. We found large variances in
      the concentrations of Na, Mg, P, S, Cl, K, and Ca in cytoplasm rich in
      endoplasmic reticulum (C/E), whereas the concentrations of P, Cl, K, and Ca in
      mitochondria and ZGs had surprisingly small variations. Na and Mg were detected
      in measurable amounts only in C/E and mitochondria and Ca was detectable only in
      ZGs. We could not find any other elements. We have not found clearly
      distinguishable populations of ZGs. We critically discuss our findings in
      comparison with the literature. Many discrepancies can be explained by the
      different preparation procedures. We show that it is questionable to present
      absolute values of concentration in biological specimens on the basis of EDX. The
      technique should, in our opinion, be used only for the study of relative
      concentrations.

PMID- 1448457
TI  - Contribution of postprandial amino acid levels to stimulation of insulin,
      glucagon, and pancreatic polypeptide in humans.
AB  - The present study was designed to examine the contribution of the postprandial
      increase of plasma amino acids after ingestion of a protein-rich meal to the rise
      of the three pancreatic hormones insulin, glucagon, and pancreatic polypeptide
      (PP). A mixed amino acid solution was designed, which permitted a fairly close
      imitation of the arterial plasma pattern of the 21 amino acids that rise after
      ingestion of a 200-g porcine steak meal. In 10 healthy subjects the intravenous
      infusion of this mixed amino acid solution at a rate of 10 g/h elicited a rise of
      the 21 amino acids examined that correlated well with the postprandial increase
      (r = 0.89, p < 0.001). The maximal rise of plasma insulin (64 +/- 5 pmol/L) and
      glucagon (630 +/- 21 ng/L) was not significantly different from the postprandial
      increase of these two hormones (49 +/- 4 pmol/L and 780 +/- 28 ng/L,
      respectively). PP levels rose by 316 +/- 33 ng/L postprandially, which was
      clearly above the increase of 112 +/- 13 ng/L during intravenous amino acids (p <
      0.01). In conclusion, the present data demonstrate that the postprandial rise of
      amino acid levels in arterialized venous plasma can account for most if not all
      of the postprandial increase of insulin and glucagon during the ingestion of a
      protein-rich meal. In contrast, only 35% of postprandial PP levels can be
      ascribed to the rise of plasma amino acids. In contrast to the effect of
      carbohydrate-rich meals, an enteric augmentation of insulin release seems to be
      of minor and possibly of no importance during ingestion of protein-rich meals.

PMID- 1448458
TI  - Expression of genes associated with dedifferentiation and cell proliferation
      during pancreatic regeneration following acute pancreatitis.
AB  - Pancreatic gene expression was analyzed in the rat during taurocholate-induced
      pancreatitis, with emphasis on the postacute phase where regeneration occurs.
      Increased expression of cellular oncogenes c-myc and H-ras followed a pattern
      typical of tissular regeneration. The c-myc protein was immunolocalized to acinar
      cells, in which amylase expression was concomitantly decreased. Such
      modifications in the program of gene expression and the presence of numerous
      mitotic figures confirmed participation of acinar cells in regeneration. There
      was, on the contrary, no evidence of duct cell proliferation and pancreatitis did
      not influence the expression of two mRNAs encoding ductal proteins. Expression of
      villin, which is a marker of the embryonic pancreas, increased by five times
      during pancreatic regeneration. The protein was localized to the tubular
      complexes, suggesting that cells forming those structures had returned to a
      protodifferentiated stage in which they should have recovered pluripotency. They
      might therefore supply the pancreas with any cell type needed to reconstitute
      functional parenchyma.

PMID- 1448459
TI  - Effect of total extrinsic denervation and atropine on HCl-stimulated pancreatic
      exocrine secretion and CCK release in conscious dogs.
AB  - In 10 dogs with pancreatic fistulas, we studied the effect of extrinsic
      pancreatic innervation and atropine on protein and bicarbonate secretion and
      cholecystokinin (CCK) release after intraduodenal perfusion with HCl. Before and
      after extrinsic denervation of the pancreas, the dogs were given 0.05 M HCl in
      increasing doses (1.5-48 mmol/h). Tests were repeated with atropine. Increasing
      doses of HCl resulted in a dose-dependent release of protein and bicarbonate
      output in both the intact and the denervated pancreas. However, pancreatic
      denervation significantly decreased pancreatic secretion in response to low loads
      but not to high loads of HCl. HCl-stimulated CCK release was not altered by
      pancreatic denervation. In the intact pancreas, atropine significantly reduced
      bicarbonate and protein response to low loads but not to high doses of HCl. In
      the denervated gland, atropine had no further inhibitory effect on exocrine
      pancreatic secretion. Furthermore, atropine showed no influence on HCl-stimulated
      CCK release under either condition.

PMID- 1448460
TI  - [The importance of Ginkgo biloba in European botany and pharmacy].

PMID- 1448461
TI  - [Ginkgo biloba L., from the viewpoint of systematic and applied botany].

PMID- 1448462
TI  - [The contents of Ginkgo biloba].

PMID- 1448463
TI  - [Pharmacologic actions of Ginkgo biloba extract and contents].

PMID- 1448464
TI  - Selective reduction by the 5-HT antagonist amperozide of alcohol preference
      induced in rats by systemic cyanamide.
AB  - This investigation was undertaken to determine the effect of a unique
      psychotropic agent on the volitional drinking of alcohol induced
      pharmacologically in the rat by an inhibitor of aldehyde dehydrogenase. Following
      administration of cyanamide in a dose of 10 mg/kg twice daily for 3 days, the
      pattern of drinking of ethyl alcohol was determined in each of 12 Sprague-Dawley
      rats by means of a standard preference test for 3-30% alcohol vs. water. Then,
      each rat was offered water and its maximally preferred concentration of alcohol,
      which ranged from 7-15%. After a 4-day predrug test, either the saline control
      vehicle or the diphenylbutylpiperazinecarboxamide derivative, amperozide, was
      administered subcutaneously. The injections of amperozide were given b.i.d. at
      1600 and 2200 h over 3 days in a dose of 0.5, 1.0, or 2.5 mg/kg. The intake of
      alcohol during the sequence of amperozide injections was significantly reduced in
      a dose-dependent manner in terms of both absolute g/kg and proportion of alcohol
      to water intake, whereas the saline control vehicle was without any effect on
      alcohol consumption. Although the highest dose of amperozide reduced the total
      intake of fluid due to the sharp decline in alcohol drinking, neither the
      consumption of food nor level of body weight was affected by any dose of the drug
      either during or after its administration. Because amperozide acts centrally on
      the synaptic activity of dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons in limbic system
      structures, it is envisaged that the drug ameliorates the aberrant drinking of
      alcohol by virtue of a direct effect on either one or both of these classes of
      neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448465
TI  - Ethanol and delta-sleep-inducing peptide: effects on brain monoamines.
AB  - The brain content of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites [dihydroxyphenylacetic
      acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA)] were the same in rats with different
      immobilization times in forced swimming test, while the serotonin (5-HT)
      concentration was higher in high active (HA, immobilization < 2 min) than low
      active (LA, immobilization > 5 min) animals. Ethanol (2 g/kg, PO) tended to
      increase the DA level in the striatum and nucleus accumbens in LA rats and
      decrease the 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) concentration in HA
      rats. delta-Sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) injection reduced the level of 5-HT in
      the medial prefrontal cortex (MFC) in both groups, did not affect the
      concentration of DA or DOPAC, but increased HVA in the striatum of HA rats. DSIP
      injected before ethanol administration augmented the ethanol effects on 5-HT in
      the MFC and attenuated the action of ethanol on 5-HIAA in the nucleus accumbens.
      A relationship between the different levels of voluntary alcohol consumption and
      sensitivity to stress among LA and HA rats and the differences in DA and 5-HT
      concentrations is suggested. The use of LA and HA rats in developing models for
      testing of stress-shielding compounds is also described.

PMID- 1448466
TI  - Effects of drugs on the temporal distribution of schedule-induced polydipsia in
      rats.
AB  - Drinking was induced in food-deprived rats by a fixed-time 1-min schedule of food
      presentation. With three rats, d-amphetamine (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg) led
      to a dose-related increase in licking early in the interfood intervals, the peak
      of the temporal distribution of licking being shifted to earlier values. These
      effects were seen even when d-amphetamine had no effect on overall rates of
      licking and drinking. With another three rats, however, diazepam (0.5, 1.0, 2.0,
      and 4.0 mg/kg) did not shift the peak of the temporal distribution of licks in
      interfood intervals, even at doses that produced small increases in overall rates
      of licking and drinking. However, diazepam did reduce the peak of the
      distributions of licks at doses that did not decrease water intake and licks per
      minute.

PMID- 1448467
TI  - Behavioral effects of amphetamine and apomorphine after striatal lesions in the
      rat.
AB  - It is well established that denervation of the dorsal striatum by its
      dopaminergic afferents attenuates the stereotyped response to d-amphetamine,
      which can be considered as an extreme form of motor activation. However, it is
      difficult to sustain the view that this structure serves primary motor control
      function because the role of dopamine in the striatum remains difficult to
      understand. In this study, we compared the effects of two dopaminergic agonists,
      d-amphetamine and apomorphine, after dorsal striatal lesions with ibotenic acid
      using a computerized scoring of the behavior. Although d-amphetamine- and
      apomorphine-induced locomotor activity was no different between lesioned and
      nonlesioned rats in photobeam activity cages, the structure of their behavioral
      pattern was quite different. Freezing, a usual response after d-amphetamine, was
      blocked by the lesion. Lesioned rats exhibited less standing than nonlesioned
      after d-amphetamine, apomorphine, or saline treatment. Moving was increased in
      lesioned rats after a low dose of d-amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg) or apomorphine (0.5
      mg/kg), while d-amphetamine induced in the same rats an increase of rearing.
      Stereotyped behavior after both drugs at high doses was not affected by striatal
      lesion. These results indicate that the dorsal striatum is not involved only in
      the control of stereotypy, as has been suggested using 6-hydroxydopamine lesions,
      but also plays a major role in the mediation of behavioral activation in response
      to stimulant drugs.

PMID- 1448468
TI  - Effects of angiotensin II on behavioral responses of defensive burying paradigm
      in rats.
AB  - The effects of angiotensin II (ATII) administered intracerebroventricularly in
      male Wistar rats in doses of 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 micrograms, as well as of ATII
      (1.0 micrograms) + saralasin (SAR, an analog ATII) (5.0 micrograms), on
      behavioral responses of the defensive burying paradigm were studied. ATII-treated
      animals displayed significantly less defensive burying behavior (less time spent
      in defensive burying and less frequent burying than in vehicle-treated rats) in a
      dose-dependent manner. SAR at a dose of 5 micrograms did not affect burying
      behavior significantly; it also did not modify the inhibition effects of ATII on
      behavioral responses of the defensive burying test. These results provide
      evidence that ATII can exert anxiolytic actions on central transmitter systems
      mediating conditioned fear-related behaviors (i.e., defensive burying). The
      present study suggests that the defensive burying animal model is a rather
      sensitive test fulfilling the pharmacological criteria of dose-dependent
      sensitivity for studying the central effects of neuropeptides (e.g., ATII).

PMID- 1448469
TI  - Changes in spontaneous behavior in the dog following oral administration of L
      deprenyl.
AB  - An open-field activity test was developed for studying the effect of a single
      oral dose (range of 0.1-5 mg/kg) of L-deprenyl on spontaneous behavior in the
      dog. A computer program was used to quantify observations of locomotor activity,
      directed sniffing, urination, grooming, inactivity, jumping, rearing, and
      vocalization during a 10-min baseline and posttreatment session. Three dose
      dependent behavioral changes were observed: an overall decrease in directed
      sniffing, an increase in total locomotor activity in females, and a decrease in
      frequency of urination in males. These effects were only seen at the dose levels
      of 2 mg/kg or higher. Computer-assisted tracings of behavioral patterns showed
      increased stereotypical behavior and decreased exploratory behavior at the high
      dose levels. These behavioral effects are most likely due to either increased
      levels of phenylethylamine resulting from inhibition of monoamine oxidase B
      and/or the production of amphetamines as a result of the metabolism of L
      deprenyl.

PMID- 1448470
TI  - Further evidence for enigmas in adaptation mechanisms for the DOI-induced
      behaviors.
AB  - The acute and chronic effects of the 5-hydroxytryptamine2/1C (5-HT2/1C) receptor
      agonist (+/-)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI) and the
      antagonist ketanserin were evaluated on the DOI-induced 5-HT2 receptor-mediated
      ear-scratch response (ESR) in mice. A challenge dose of DOI (2.5 mg/kg)
      administered 24 h following its first injection reduced the ESR frequency by 80
      97%. The ESR score attained first injection value when the time lag between the
      first and the second injection was greater than 72 h. On the other hand, a single
      administration of ketanserin (1.0 mg/kg) caused no significant effect at 24 or 48
      h but significantly reduced (51%, p < 0.05) the DOI-induced ESR 120 h following
      its injection. Chronic once-daily DOI injections reduced the ESR score by 80-97%
      throughout the treatment regimen. Following cessation from chronic treatment, the
      DOI-induced ESR frequency returned to control levels in a time-dependent manner.
      Repeated ketanserin administration significantly reduced the DOI-induced ESR
      score by 46% when tested 24 or 48 h following cessation of antagonist
      administration but had no effect at 78 h. Recently, we reported that 48 h
      following either a single DOI injection or termination from repeated DOI or
      ketanserin administration the DOI-induced head-twitch response (HTR) in mice
      exhibited supersensitivity. Thus, it appears that the DOI-induced behaviors
      exhibit differential adaptation mechanisms following either agonist or antagonist
      exposure. These studies further support our hypothesis that serotonergic drugs
      may have the ability to change independently the 5-HT-receptor sensitivity
      (signal transduction) and receptor density in the same or opposite
      directions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448471
TI  - Unilateral, but not bilateral, locus coeruleus lesions facilitate recovery from
      sensorimotor cortex injury.
AB  - This study investigates the role of the locus coeruleus in recovery from
      sensorimotor cortex injury. Unilateral locus coeruleus lesions given 2 weeks
      prior to unilateral sensorimotor cortex injury facilitate subsequent motor
      recovery compared to animals with only a sensorimotor cortex injury, while
      bilateral locus coeruleus lesions severely retard motor recovery. The results
      suggest that recovery of function from the cortical injury is facilitated as long
      as a sufficient amount of the noradrenergic system remains intact, perhaps to
      provide a basis for compensatory sprouting. The results also suggest that
      recovery does occur in the absence of the locus coeruleus, indicating that the
      noradrenergic system is not necessary for recovery to occur after the cortical
      injury.

PMID- 1448472
TI  - Rodent model of nicotine abstinence syndrome.
AB  - Few animals models are currently in use for the recognized clinical problem of
      nicotine dependence and abstinence. This study introduces a rapid and convenient
      model using the rat. Sixteen male rats were rendered nicotine dependent by 7 days
      of continuous subcutaneous infusion of either 3 mg/kg/day (n = 8) or 9 mg/kg/day
      (n = 8) nicotine tartrate salt; 8 control rats were infused with saline alone.
      Rats were observed for 15 min before, during, and after the drug infusion period
      using a tally sheet modified from a standard checklist of opiate abstinence
      signs. There were few signs observed in any group at baseline and at the end of
      the infusion period. However, nicotine-infused rats showed a significant, dose
      related increase over the control group at 16 h after the end of infusion,
      largely subsiding by 40 h. The most frequently observed signs during withdrawals
      included: teeth-chattering/chews, writhes/gasps, ptosis, tremors/shakes, and
      yawns. A significant drop in locomotor activity and increase in weight gain
      following termination of nicotine infusion provided additional evidence of an
      abstinence syndrome. This syndrome was alleviated by SC administration of 0.4
      mg/kg nicotine tartrate.

PMID- 1448473
TI  - Serial injections of MK 801 (Dizocilpine) in neonatal rats reduce behavioral
      deficits associated with X-ray-induced hippocampal granule cell hypoplasia.
AB  - MK 801 (NMDA antagonist) has been shown to protect newborns from hypoxia-induced
      brain damage. Here, we determined if (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydroxy-5h-dibenzo
      (a,d)cyclohepten-5,10-imine (MK 801) could attenuate behavioral deficits
      associated with early radiation-induced hypoplasia of fascia dentata granule
      cells. We pretreated neonatal rats (n = 20) with MK 801 (0, 0.1, or 0.2 mg/kg,
      IP) before each of eight fractionated, head-only doses of X-rays (13 Gy total)
      administered during the first 16 days postpartum. Other rats (n = 18) received
      the same drug treatments but were sham irradiated. At age 16 months, water-escape
      latencies to a submerged platform were measured in a water maze. Irradiated rats
      with hippocampal damage exhibited impaired learning (longer latencies to find the
      platform) than did sham-irradiated subjects. Moderate doses of MK 801 (0.1 mg/kg)
      facilitated the learning of the water maze by irradiated subjects but did not
      enhance the number of their fascia dentata granule cells. Higher doses (0.2
      mg/kg) of MK 801 provided no behavioral benefits. In fact, this dose
      significantly impaired the learning of the water maze by sham-irradiated rats and
      potentiated the granule cell hypoplasia observed in irradiated subjects. Thus,
      early MK 801 treatment produces dose-dependent behavioral protection for rats
      with radiation-induced hippocampal damage. Future studies may reveal the
      neurophysiological and neuroanatomic substrates of this behavioral recovery.

PMID- 1448474
TI  - Strain and sex differences in amphetamine-induced rotation.
AB  - Studies of rotational behavior in female rats have investigated Fischer, Sprague
      Dawley, Madison, WI, and Holtzman strains. The present study of amphetamine
      induced rotational preference looked at the most widely used of the pigmented
      strains, Long-Evans hooded rats, examining rotation in females and comparing
      rotational magnitude and direction to males of the same strain. We corroborate in
      Long-Evans animals the greater rotation of females, but our findings oppose the
      right-sided female and left-sided male rotational preferences reported in earlier
      studies. Only female rats in this experiment had a significant directional bias,
      and it was to the left. This result strongly points to the importance of strain
      in the lateralization expressed by rotation.

PMID- 1448475
TI  - Acute and chronic morphine administration in swine.
AB  - Functional responses to acute and chronic morphine administration in domestic
      swine were examined and correlated with pharmacokinetic profiles. Acute effects
      of morphine sulfate were monitored in pigs for 24 h and the chronic actions of
      morphine alkaloid were monitored for 21 days. Serum morphine levels, nociception,
      locomotor activity, respiratory rate, body temperature, and body weight were
      monitored during all studies. To assess nociception in a large laboratory animal,
      a portable thermal stimulating device was constructed. Morphine sulfate
      administered IV and SC had a half-life of approximately 1 h whereas delayed
      release morphine alkaloid delivered SC had a half-life of 28 h. The degree of
      antinociception paralleled decline in blood morphine levels for both SC- and IV
      administered animals. Tolerance occurred to both antinociception as well as
      weight gain despite morphine levels remaining constant over the 21-day period.
      Morphine dependence was demonstrated by precipitation of an abstinence syndrome
      using naloxone. Animals in withdrawal displayed consistent signs, including wet
      dog shakes, posture changes, vocalization, and salivation. Collectively, these
      results indicate that swine may be reliably employed as a model to study the
      actions of morphine and opiate-like compounds.

PMID- 1448476
TI  - Effects of central administration of kynurenic acid on spontaneous locomotor
      activity in the kindled rat: a multivariate approach using the automated Digiscan
      monitoring system.
AB  - Changes in spontaneous motor activity in kindled hooded rats were measured
      following intracerebroventricular administration of three doses of kynurenic acid
      (65, 39, and 6.5 micrograms, dissolved in 3.3 microliters isotonic saline).
      Behavior was measured in the automated Digiscan system on every third day during
      13 days of drug administration to assess initial behavioral impairment and the
      development of tolerance. Activity data were collected beginning 5 min after drug
      administration for six consecutive 5-min samples. The results revealed a
      suppressive effect of central administration of kynurenic acid on the pattern of
      spontaneous locomotor activity and showed the development of behavioral
      tolerance. Initially, the degree of suppression was dose related, but as
      tolerance developed group differences were minimized. Most measures returned to
      predrug levels by day 13 except vertical movement, which remained suppressed in
      the 65-micrograms group throughout testing. This measure may have been more
      sensitive to the subtle and long-lasting motor impairments resulting from
      kynurenic acid.

PMID- 1448477
TI  - Sensitization and individual differences to IP amphetamine, cocaine, or caffeine
      following repeated intracranial amphetamine infusions.
AB  - Rats that have a high locomotor response to novelty (HR) sensitize more readily
      to IP-administered amphetamine than rats with a low locomotor response (LR) to
      novelty. This experiment compared sensitization in HR and LR rats following
      amphetamine (3.0 micrograms/side for 5 days) infused bilaterally into either the
      nucleus accumbens (NACC), ventral tegmental area (VTA), or the medial frontal
      cortex (MFC). The subsequent locomotor response to IP-administered d-amphetamine
      sulfate (1 mg/kg), cocaine HCl (15 mg/kg), and caffeine benzoate (20 mg/kg) was
      also examined. No differences were observed between HR and LR rats following
      amphetamine infusion into either the MFC, NACC, or VTA. However, HR rats showed
      greater locomotor activity compared to LR rats following either IP amphetamine,
      cocaine, or caffeine for subjects cannulated in the NACC, MFC, or the VTA.
      Repeated infusions of amphetamine into the VTA increased the locomotor response
      to both IP amphetamine and cocaine, but not to IP caffeine, while repeated
      infusions of amphetamine into the NACC or MFC had no effect on locomotor response
      to any drug subsequently administered IP. The results support previous findings
      that changes induced by intra-VTA infusions, but not intra-NACC or MFC infusions,
      of amphetamine induce sensitization to IP-administered amphetamine and cocaine.
      Findings from the present experiment indicate the ability of the dopamine cell
      body region, but not the dopamine terminal fields, to produce locomotor
      sensitization to amphetamine and cocaine. The results from the present experiment
      also indicate the lack of localization to one of studied regions of individual
      differences.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448478
TI  - 8-OH-DPAT in the midbrain central gray inhibits lordosis behavior.
AB  - Sexually receptive female rats were infused intracranially with 500-2,000 ng 8
      hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) into the midbrain central gray
      (MCG), in the vicinity of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), or directly into the
      DRN. When cannulae were located within the DRN, there was little evidence of
      change in lordosis behavior but a decrease in locomotor activity was commonly
      observed. In contrast, when cannulae were located anterior, ventromedial, or
      lateral to the DRN inhibition of lordosis behavior was rapid and robust. Both the
      lordosis-to-mount ratio (L/M) and the quality of the lordosis reflex were reduced
      following the infusion. The MCG receives lordosis-facilitating input from the
      ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus and from ascending sensory pathways and
      contributes information to descending motor systems involved in the lordosis
      response. Thus, the MCG is a critical link in the completion of the estrogen
      dependent lordosis reflex. The present results suggest that 5-hydroxytryptamine1A
      receptors in the MCG prevent the completion of this reflex.

PMID- 1448479
TI  - Peripheral serotonin is an incomplete signal for eliciting satiety in sham
      feeding rats.
AB  - Peripheral administration of serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] to rats
      equipped with gastric cannulae reduced their 30-min consumption of sweetened milk
      after overnight deprivation whether the cannulae were closed (real feeding) or
      open (sham feeding). The anorectic action of 5-HT (1.6, 4.0, and 10.0 mumol/kg,
      IP) in sham feeding was dose-related, rapid in onset, and persisted during the 30
      min testing session. However, 5-HT failed to elicit resting--the terminal
      behavioral phase of satiety--in sham-feeding rats. Direct comparison of the
      effects of 4.0 mumol/kg 5-HT under both feeding conditions established that this
      dose promoted resting only when rats fed with their cannulae closed. The actions
      of 5-HT on feeding and resting were behaviorally selective because serotonergic
      treatment did not retard the beginning of feeding, alter sham drinking of water,
      or reduce investigation by food-deprived rats of a novel object in an open field.
      Together, the results suggest that 5-HT exerts separate actions to inhibit
      feeding and accelerate the process of satiation as marked by resting. However,
      peripheral 5-HT is inadequate as a signal for modulating satiety in the absence
      of postingestive stimuli.

PMID- 1448480
TI  - Enhanced social interactions in rats following chronic, centrally infused
      oxytocin.
AB  - Most studies investigating the behavioral effects of centrally administered
      oxytocin (OT) have been confined to single acute injections followed by brief
      behavioral observations lasting up to 90 min. The present study examines the
      behavioral effects of chronic, centrally administered OT in male rats observed
      continuously for prolonged periods of time. Either artificial cerebrospinal fluid
      or OT was centrally infused (via osmotic minipump) to gonadally intact male rats.
      Behavioral observations were made on males paired with either ovariectomized or
      estrous females during a 6-h time period. Most striking was the observation that
      durations of physical contact were doubled in pairs containing OT-infused males,
      even in the absence of sexual interactions. Also, OT-infused males showed
      significantly higher levels of anogenital sniffing of females and autogrooming;
      however, sexual interactions were unaffected by chronic OT. Chronic OT had no
      effect on body temperature, analgesia, or exploratory behavior in an open field.
      These findings suggest that chronic OT in male rats has behavioral effects that
      may significantly enhance adult social (nonsexual) interactions, possibly through
      alterations in olfactory and somatosensory information processing.

PMID- 1448481
TI  - 5-HT3 receptor antagonists block cocaine-induced locomotion via a PCPA-sensitive
      mechanism.
AB  - We report results in rats pretreated with (+/-)-zacopride (0.03 mg/kg, IP), ICS
      205-930 (0.1 mg/kg, IP), and MDL 72222 (1.0 mg/kg, IP) 15 min before challenge
      with (-)-cocaine (10.0 mg/kg, IP). At a dose of 10 micrograms/kg, zacopride
      significantly inhibited (approximately 50%) cocaine-induced locomotion. We also
      investigated whether or not 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3) antagonists block the
      cocaine binding site on the dopamine transporter and/or affect the ability of
      dopamine to regulate this binding site. In well-washed striatal membranes,
      neither zacopride nor ICS 205-930 (10(-9)-10(-5) M) inhibited [3H]2 beta
      carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane ([3H]WIN 35,428) (0.3 nM) binding.
      Furthermore, neither of these compounds affected the ability of dopamine to block
      WIN 35,428 binding. To determine if 5-HT is required for the 5-HT3 antagonist
      effect, we examined the interaction between cocaine and zacopride in rats
      pretreated with p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) (3 days x 100 mg/kg/day). PCPA
      pretreatment shifted the cocaine dose-response curve to the right and blocked the
      ability of zacopride to reverse cocaine-induced activity.

PMID- 1448482
TI  - Central effects of monosodium glutamate on feeding behavior in adult Long-Evans
      rats.
AB  - Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is known as a neurotoxic molecule when injected
      neonatally in rats, where it produces a marked decrease in food intake and an
      increase in adipose tissue mass. But, in adult rats subcutaneous injections of
      MSG produce a small, dose-dependent increase in food intake. It is not known if
      this action is centrally or systemically mediated. Therefore, the feeding pattern
      of adult rats injected intracerebroventricularly with MSG was measured. Seven
      days after installation of a cannula in the right lateral ventricle, rats were
      injected either with artificial cerebrospinal fluid or twice with 3 mg/brain MSG
      within a 3-day interval. The feeding pattern was recorded via a complete
      computerized system during 24 h. Feeding behavior was significantly modified by
      MSG treatments. These effects were observed immediately after drug injections,
      that is, upon the first meal, as well as during the 24 h that followed. For the
      first meal, modifications in meal size (+285%; p = 0.0001), meal duration (x10; p
      = 0.0005), postmeal interval (x4; p = 0.0005), and the satiety ratio (-50%; p =
      0.01) were observed. During the 24-h postinjection period, modifications in meal
      number (-3; p = 0.0007), total amount of food eaten (+21%,; p = 0.007), time
      spent eating (+40%; p = 0.007), meal duration (+53%; p = 0.005), and meal size
      (+44%; p = 0.01) were noted. When the two MSG injections were compared,
      differences were also noted. For the first meal, postmeal interval (-50%; p <
      0.005) and satiety ratio (-50%; p < 0.005) were decreased after the second
      injection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448483
TI  - Differential effects of mesocortical, mesolimbic, and mesostriatal dopamine
      depletion on spontaneous, conditioned, and drug-induced locomotor activity.
AB  - Groups of rats with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions of either the medial
      prefrontal cortex (PFC), nucleus accumbens (NAC), or caudate putamen (CPu) were
      given daily tests for locomotor activity in photocell cages while food deprived.
      Two separate groups of NAC-lesioned rats were prepared with either large [NACT
      (90% NAC dopamine depletion)] or partial [NACP (67% NAC dopamine depletion)]
      lesions. NACT rats were spontaneously hypoactive whereas NACP rats were
      hyperactive compared with sham-operated controls. PFC-lesioned rats were also
      hyperactive compared to their respective controls. Spontaneous locomotor activity
      in CPu-lesioned rats did not differ from shams. When daily food supplements were
      paired with the photocell cages, all subjects developed a conditioned locomotor
      response. During the first few days of conditioning, the response to this
      conditioning procedure was markedly greater in the NACP group whereas the
      response in the NACT group was unaffected initially and actually enhanced during
      the latter days of testing. The locomotor response to the conditioning procedure
      was unaffected in either the PFC- or CPu-lesioned groups. Both the NACT and NACP
      lesions attenuated the locomotor response to 1.5 mg/kg d-amphetamine sulphate IP,
      and the NACT group showed a supersensitive response to 0.1 mg/kg apomorphine HCl
      SC. PFC or CPu 6-OHDA lesions did not alter the response to either drug. These
      results differentiate the role of PFC, NAC, and CPu dopamine in spontaneous,
      conditioned, and drug-induced locomotor activity and further implicate
      dopaminergic mechanisms of the NAC in the magnitude of the behavioural response
      to incentive stimuli.

PMID- 1448484
TI  - Effect of food deprivation and refeeding on the concentration of vasopressin and
      oxytocin in discrete hypothalamic sites.
AB  - Recent evidence has implicated hypothalamic peptides, such as arginine
      vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) in the control of feeding behavior. In this
      study, we investigated the impact of food deprivation (48 h) and subsequent
      refeeding (6 h) on the concentration of AVP and OT in discrete hypothalamic
      areas, as well as in the neurohypophysis. We also estimated in these rats certain
      peripheral measures, including hydroelectrolytic parameters, plasma and urine
      AVP, and plasma corticosterone. The results of this study revealed that food
      deprivation for 48 h produced little change in OT concentration in the various
      hypothalamic nuclei studied, including the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei,
      with the exception of the median eminence (ME), where a significant decline (
      36%; p < 0.05) was detected. This effect was not significantly reversed by 6 h of
      refeeding. With respect to AVP concentration, food deprivation caused a reliable
      decline exclusively in the parvocellular subdivision of the paraventricular
      nucleus (pPVN; -45%; p < 0.01) and in the supraoptic nucleus (SON; -45%; p <
      0.01). No change in AVP was detected in the ME or in most other hypothalamic
      nuclei examined. Refeeding for 6 h actually potentiated the effect of food
      deprivation, decreasing further from baseline the content of AVP in the pPVN and
      SON. The only other hypothalamic area to exhibit a change in AVP content was the
      ventromedial nucleus, where AVP level increased (p < 0.001) after deprivation and
      declined to normal after 6 h of refeeding. The content of AVP and OT in the
      neurohypophysis was unaffected by food deprivation and subsequent
      refeeding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448485
TI  - Acute effects of marijuana on cognition: relationships to chronic effects and
      smoking techniques.
AB  - A double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessed acute effects on human
      cognition of marijuana smoking involving long or short durations of inhalation
      and breath holding. During eight test sessions, 48 adult, male volunteers
      completed standardized, pencil-and-paper tests of educational development and
      ability, as well as computerized tests of learning, associative processes,
      abstraction, and psychomotor performance. Marijuana impaired all capabilities
      except abstraction and vocabulary. These impairments were more pervasive than
      those associated with heavy, chronic marijuana use in a previous study involving
      the same tests, but showed some similarities. Marijuana altered associative
      processes, encouraging more uncommon associations. Marijuana-induced impairment
      in learning pairs of words was influenced by associative relationships between
      the words. There were a few hints that prolonged breath holding increased
      marijuana's effects under some test conditions, but in general it did not.
      Prolonged breath holding itself affected performance in four tests, regardless of
      whether subjects smoked marijuana or placebo. Whether physiological or
      psychological factors (e.g., exposure to carbon monoxide in smoke or subjects'
      expectations) produced these effects could not be determined.

PMID- 1448486
TI  - Vagally mediated feeding responses to phloridzin infusion in the rabbit.
AB  - Rabbits were infused with the plant glycoside, phloridzin, which blocks
      absorption of glucose across a number of bodily tissues. Feeding was dramatically
      increased in the first 0.5 h following phloridzin infusion into either the
      duodenum or the hepatic-portal vein of intact rabbits. Food intake covaried
      inversely with glycemic levels after phloridzin infusion into the hepatic-portal
      vein, but rabbits did not show a systematic relationship between blood glucose
      levels and food intake following duodenal infusion of phloridzin. When
      administered into the general circulation via the jugular vein, phloridzin did
      not elicit feeding. Finally, vagotomized rabbits did not show the hyperphagic
      response to phloridzin that was observed in intact rabbits. It was concluded that
      the feeding response to phloridzin is vagally mediated and appears to be induced
      by glucose transport inhibition at some peripheral site.

PMID- 1448487
TI  - Analgesic actions of local anesthetics and cobalt chloride in the rat brain stem.
AB  - A low-intensity thermally evoked tail avoidance reflex (LITETAR) was used to
      study changes in nociceptive response produced by local anesthetics and cobalt
      chloride microinjected into the dorsal posterior mesencephalic tegmentum (DPMT)
      of conscious rats. Dose-related prolongation of the LITETAR (e.g., analgesia) was
      observed when lidocaine, cocaine, and bupivacaine were administered into the
      DPMT. Analgesic actions were also demonstrated when cobalt chloride was
      microinjected into the DPMT. The analgesic actions of these different neuronal
      suppressants provide support for the hypothesis that there exists tonic activity
      of hyperalgesic processes in the rat brain stem.

PMID- 1448488
TI  - Distinguishing effects of cocaine i.v. and SC on mesoaccumbens dopamineand
      serotonin release with chloral hydrate anesthesia.
AB  - The effect of i.v. cocaine (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg) was studied on synaptic
      concentrations of dopamine (DA) and serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] in the
      mesoaccumbens nerve terminal, the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), in chloral hydrate
      anesthetized, male Sprague-Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus) with in vivo
      electrochemistry (voltammetry). In further in vivo voltammetric studies, the
      effects of SC cocaine on synaptic concentrations of DA and 5-HT were studied in
      the chloral hydrate-anesthetized paradigm in two neuroanatomic substrates, NAcc
      and mesoaccumbens somatodendrites, the ventral tegmental area (VTA-A10), in a
      dose-response fashion (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) in six separate studies. Moreover,
      in two additional in vivo voltammetric studies, again using the chloral hydrate
      anesthetized paradigm, the impulse flow blocker, gamma-butyrolactone (gamma-BL)
      (750 mg/kg, IP), was studied alone and in combination with SC cocaine (20 mg/kg)
      to determine whether or not cocaine can act by presynaptic releasing mechanisms
      for DA and 5-HT. The results show that IV cocaine concurrently and significantly
      increased DA and 5-HT release in the NAcc (p < 0.001, p < 0.0005, respectively)
      at both doses tested. Moreover, IV cocaine effects on DA and 5-HT release were
      significantly and positively correlated (p < 0.01). On the other hand, SC cocaine
      concurrently and significantly decreased DA and 5-HT release in NAcc (p < 0.0001)
      and VTA (p < 0.0001) at each separate dose tested. SC cocaine effects on DA and 5
      HT release were significantly and positively correlated across dose and
      neuroanatomic substrate (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448489
TI  - Orally administered cyclo(His-Pro) reduces ethanol-induced narcosis in mice.
AB  - Cyclo(His-Pro) (cHP) is an endogenous, enzymatically resistant, biologically
      active peptide. We examined its ability to be absorbed after oral administration.
      cHP radioactively labeled with 125I (I-cHP) was fed to adult mice, and blood and
      tissue samples were taken 15-90 min later. Radioactivity quickly appeared in
      blood at levels about one half to one fourth those previously found after IV
      injection. The highest concentrations were in the kidney and liver, but the
      testes, muscle, lung, and brain also contained more radioactivity than was
      accounted for by their vascular spaces. Between 25-32% of the radioactivity
      recovered from blood 30 min after feeding eluted on high-performance liquid
      chromatography in the position of intact peptide. Oral cHP reversed ethanol
      induced narcosis, an effect previously found to occur within the brain. These
      results show that cHP can be absorbed orally in amounts sufficient to affect the
      CNS.

PMID- 1448490
TI  - The CCK-A receptor antagonist, devazepide, blocks the anorectic action of CCK but
      not peripheral serotonin in rats.
AB  - A role has been proposed for cholecystokinin (CCK)-A-type receptors in mediating
      the anorectic action produced by serotonergic stimulation in rats. We examined
      the effect of pretreatment with the CCK-A antagonist devazepide (DVZ) on anorexia
      produced by peripheral administration of serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)]
      or CCK-8 in 3-h food-deprived rats consuming a 30-min test meal of sweetened
      mash. The anorectic effect of CCK-8 (4.0 nmol/kg, IP) was antagonized in a dose
      dependent manner by DVZ (0.03, 0.10, and 0.30 mumol/kg, IP), with even the lowest
      dose producing a significant reversal. Under identical testing conditions, a
      supramaximal dose of DVZ (.75 mumol/kg) did not attenuate the reductions in food
      intake produced by either a moderate (4.0 mumol/kg) or a high dose (10.0
      mumol/kg) of 5-HT. These data confirm established findings that the anorectic
      action of peripheral CCK depends upon CCK-A receptors. However, peripherally
      administered 5-HT reduces food intake independently of CCKergic function.

PMID- 1448491
TI  - Effect of oxiracetam on scopolamine-induced amnesia in the rat in a spatial
      learning task.
AB  - The effects of the nootropic agent 4-hydroxy-2-oxopyrrolidinoacetamide
      (oxiracetam) on memory and performance impairments induced by scopolamine were
      evaluated in the Morris water maze task. No effect was seen on the performance of
      rats when treated with oxiracetam (30 mg/kg, IP) alone. Task performance of
      scopolamine (0.2 mg/kg, SC)-treated rats was impaired as compared to that of
      control animals. The behavioral deficits expressed in the task by scopolamine
      treatment were attenuated by the same dose of oxiracetam.

PMID- 1448492
TI  - Estradiol modulation of the hyperphagia induced by the 5-HT1A agonist, 8-OH-DPAT.
AB  - Ovariectomized rats were primed with sesame oil or estradiol benzoate followed 48
      h later by either sesame oil or progesterone. Four hours later, rats were treated
      with either saline or 0.25 mg/kg 8-hydroxy-2-9(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH
      DPAT). Rats were allowed to eat for 4 h after this final treatment. Animals in
      all hormonal conditions showed hyperphagia following 8-OH-DPAT. However, the
      hyperphagia was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with estradiol benzoate.
      There was no effect of progesterone on the hyperphagic response. These results
      suggest that previous findings of an estrous cycle modulation of the hyperphagic
      response to 8-OH-DPAT arise from the modulatory effects of estradiol, and not
      progesterone, during the female reproductive cycle.

PMID- 1448493
TI  - Serotonergic drugs do not substitute for clozapine in clozapine-trained rats in a
      two-lever drug discrimination procedure.
AB  - The atypical neuroleptic clozapine has been shown to have cue properties in two
      lever drug discrimination procedures. Although it has been demonstrated that
      clozapine acts at several types of receptors in vitro and in vivo, including
      dopamine, serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)], and acetylcholine receptors,
      the mechanism of action for its discriminative stimulus properties has not yet
      been determined. The present study examined the effects of haloperidol (D2
      dopamine antagonist), ritanserin (5-HT2 antagonist), 1-alpha H,3-alpha,5-alpha H
      tropan-3yl-3,5-dichlorobenzoate (MDL 72222) (5-HT3 antagonist), and buspirone (5
      HT1A agonist) in stimulus substitution tests with rats trained to discriminate
      clozapine (5.0 mg/kg, IP) from vehicle in a two-lever drug discrimination
      procedure under a fixed ratio 30 schedule of food reinforcement. Analysis of the
      results revealed that, while clozapine produced dose-dependent responding on the
      clozapine lever, haloperidol and the three serotonin drugs failed to produce full
      substitution for clozapine at any of the doses tested. These results suggest that
      the discriminative stimulus properties are not mediated by D2 dopamine receptor
      blockade, antagonism at 5-HT2 or 5-HT3 receptors, or agonistic activity at 5-HT1A
      receptors. The neural basis of clozapine's discriminative stimulus properties has
      not yet been determined.

PMID- 1448494
TI  - Devazepide antagonizes the inhibitory effect of cholecystokinin on intake in sham
      feeding rats.
AB  - 3S(-)-N-(2,3-Dihydro-1-methyl-2-oxo-5-phenyl-1H-1,4-benzodiazepine-3-yl) -1H
      indole-2-carboxamide (devazepide), a potent and selective cholecystokininA (CCKA)
      antagonist, has been shown to reverse the inhibitory effect of exogenously
      administered CCK-8 on food intake. In all tests, however, the inhibition of food
      intake could have been due not only to the CCK-8 administered but also to
      synergistic interactions between administered CCK-8 and endogenous satiety
      signals, such as glucagon or CCK released from the small intestine, elicited by
      the postingestive effects of the test diet. To eliminate these possible
      interactions, we investigated the effect of devazepide on the inhibitory effect
      of CCK-8 on the intake of a milk diet during 30 min of sham feeding, a procedure
      that minimizes or eliminates the postingestive satiating effect of food. Under
      these conditions, devazepide was a potent antagonist of the inhibitory effect of
      CCK-8 (16 mumol/kg, IP): The approximate ED50 was 625 ng/kg (1.3 nmol/kg) and the
      threshold dose was between 62.5 and 625 ng/kg.

PMID- 1448495
TI  - A versatile one-stage neurovascular flap for fingertip reconstruction: the dorsal
      middle phalangeal finger flap.
AB  - The dorsal middle phalangeal finger flap is an extremely reliable flap that is
      indicated for fingertip injuries which require sensory reconstruction. This flap
      originates from the dorsum of the middle phalanx of the finger and is elevated
      with a vascular pedicle of the digital artery and the dorsal branch of the
      digital nerve. After transfer of the flap to the injured site, epineural
      neurorrhaphy is done between the digital nerve and the dorsal sensory branch of
      the flap. This flap can be thought of as an island flap of the innervated cross
      finger flap that provides excellent sensory recovery and aesthetic improvement.
      We used this flap in a series of eight consecutive patients and were able to
      follow up seven patients for longer than 6 months (mean follow-up time 10.7
      months). All patients achieved measurable two-point discrimination, with an
      average of 4.9 mm in the moving two-point discrimination. In this study, we
      report our consecutive series of the dorsal middle phalangeal finger flap and its
      versatile utility.

PMID- 1448496
TI  - Osteoid osteoma of the distal phalanx of the finger: a diagnostic challenge.
AB  - Osteoid osteomas of the distal phalanx of fingers are uncommon. An extensive
      review of the literature indicates that the diagnosis of osteoid osteoma of the
      distal phalanx is often delayed for several months to years (average 34.3
      months). Pain is the most common finding (92 percent), followed by swelling and
      clubbing (75 percent). Relief of pain by aspirin was indicated in 10 patients (42
      percent). Multiple operations were done in 7 patients prior to the appropriate
      diagnosis and treatment. A typical case report is presented to illustrate the
      difficulties in diagnosis and treatment of this benign bone tumor. A better
      awareness of this tumor may prevent unwanted delays in diagnosis and unnecessary
      operations.

PMID- 1448497
TI  - The effect of denervation on soft-tissue infection pathophysiology.
AB  - Pressure is the sine qua non in the etiology of pressure sores; however,
      ischemia, denervation, edema, and infection also have been implicated. The role
      of denervation in tissue infection was studied in an isolated in vivo ovine flap
      model. Twenty-six adult ewes, divided into three groups, had 29 island pedicle
      flaps raised on their buttocks. In group I, the cutaneous nerve remained intact,
      while group II had its nerve divided acutely. Group III had prolonged
      denervation, where the nerve was divided 7 days before flap elevation. All flaps
      received intradermal inoculations of 10(7) Staphylococcus aureus. Ninety-six
      hours later, quantitative bacteriology showed counts of 10(7), 10(7), and 10(9)
      colony-forming units (CFU) per gram of tissue in groups I, II, and III,
      respectively. Septic foci were larger in group III, and there was a significant
      increase in tissue edema between groups I and III. A 25-fold increase in
      bacterial counts seen in the prolonged denervation group may help explain why
      neurologically injured patients are more susceptible to infection and pressure
      ulcerations.

PMID- 1448498
TI  - The peripheral nerve allograft in the primate immunosuppressed with Cyclosporin
      A: I. Histologic and electrophysiologic assessment.
AB  - Nerve regeneration across peripheral nerve allografts and control autografts in
      primates immunosuppressed with Cyclosporin A was quantitatively evaluated by
      electrophysiologic and histologic methods. Twelve cynomolgus monkeys received 3
      cm autografts and allografts in contralateral ulnar nerves. They were
      immunosuppressed with Cyclosporin A at 25 mg/kg per day or placebo vehicle.
      Morphometric analysis of nerve graft and distal nerve segments was assessed at 1
      year after engraftment. Quantitative electrophysiologic studies were performed
      percutaneously at 6 and 12 months, and compound action potentials were measured
      directly across the nerve grafts at 1 year. Excellent regeneration was seen
      across autografts and allografts in Cyclosporin A-treated and placebo-treated
      recipients.

PMID- 1448499
TI  - The peripheral nerve allograft in the primate immunosuppressed with Cyclosporin
      A: II. Functional evaluation of reinnervated muscle.
AB  - Isometric contractile function was evaluated in primates receiving peripheral
      nerve allografts and autografts. Twelve adult male cynomolgus monkeys received
      both sural nerve allografts and autografts to the ulnar nerve in opposite
      forearms. Half the animals received Cyclosporin A (CsA) immunosuppression (25
      mg/kg per day); the remaining animals received placebo. One year following nerve
      engraftment, isometric contractile muscle function was evaluated in reinnervated
      abductor digiti quinti and intact abductor pollicis brevis muscles. Maximal
      twitch tension (Pt), tetanic tension (P(o)), time to peak tension (tpt), rate of
      rise of twitch tension (DP/dt), and muscle fatigue were evaluated at optimal
      muscle length (L(o)). All reinnervated muscles distal to nerve autografts and
      allografts in both Cyclosporin A-immunosuppressed and placebo-treated animals
      generated equivalent maximal twitch tension, tetanic tension, and time to peak
      tension, with no significant difference between groups (p > 0.05 by ANOVA). There
      was a tendency toward increased muscle fatiguability in Cyclosporin A-treated
      animals (p > 0.05). However, the rate of rise of twitch tension was significantly
      faster in the reinnervated and intact muscles of Cyclosporin A-treated primates
      (p < 0.05). Evidence of excellent functional reinnervation across nerve
      allografts and autografts similar to that seen in histologic and
      electrophysiologic studies was noted. Cyclosporin A immunosuppression did not
      significantly enhance recovery of muscle function distal to nerve allografts in
      this model.

PMID- 1448500
TI  - An agenda for plastic surgery in the twenty-first century.

PMID- 1448501
TI  - Plastic surgery: generic or proprietary?

PMID- 1448502
TI  - AIDS, aesthetic surgery, and the plastic surgeon.

PMID- 1448503
TI  - Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis as the presenting manifestation of AIDS.
AB  - Presented is a case of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis, presenting as a papular
      facial lesion with subsequent ulceration, as the initial manifestation of AIDS.
      This unusual condition must be considered in the workup of unexplained or
      therapeutically unresponsive skin lesions. If it is diagnosed in an ostensibly
      "healthy" individual, evaluation for evidence of immunosuppression, and its
      underlying cause, must be undertaken.

PMID- 1448504
TI  - Mixed heterotopic gastrointestinal and respiratory cyst of the lip: case report
      and review of the literature.
AB  - A congenital heterotopic gastrointestinal and respiratory cyst arising from the
      upper lip is reported. The lesion was excised directly with a satisfactory
      aesthetic result. Long-term follow-up is recommended because of a report of
      recurrence of this type of lesion after 13 years.

PMID- 1448505
TI  - Spontaneous regression of subcutaneous metastasis of cutaneous melanoma.
AB  - A case is presented of a 44-year-old Caucasian man who was operated on in October
      of 1988 for a cutaneous melanoma in his trunk and who in the space of 1 year
      manifested a single subcutaneous nodule compatible with a metastasis of melanoma
      by fine-needle aspiration biopsy. No other abnormal findings were revealed by
      physical and instrumental examinations. During the subsequent hospitalization, we
      witnessed (in conjunction with the occurrence of painful symptoms in the hands of
      an inflammatory nature) the total, progressive, spontaneous regression of the
      metastasis, which was confirmed by the clinic and the tests. After 15 months of
      follow-up, the patient has not shown any further signs of illness.

PMID- 1448506
TI  - Papillary adenoma of the nipple.
AB  - Papillary adenoma of the nipple is a benign condition of the nipple that can be
      confused clinically with adenocarcinoma metastatic to the skin or Paget's
      disease. Deep biopsy of the nipple is necessary to make a histologic diagnosis.
      Complete excision of the nipple and the subareolar tissue is sufficient to effect
      a cure.

PMID- 1448507
TI  - Hook nail deformity repaired using a composite toe graft.
AB  - The hook nail deformity is caused by loss of fingertip bone and soft tissue.
      Healing can result in a volarly displaced distal nailbed and a tight tip with
      inadequate padding and a poor cosmetic appearance. A composite graft from the
      second toe placed beneath the released nailbed gives good support and improved
      pulp substance. The technique of the composite toe graft has been performed in
      nine patients. All grafts were 100 percent viable, but one patient required a
      second graft for additional tip bulk. There has been no donor-site morbidity in
      the follow-up of 1 month to 2 years.

PMID- 1448508
TI  - Permanent lip augmentation employing polytetrafluoroethylene grafts.
AB  - There is a paucity of literature regarding aesthetic enhancement of the lips.
      This is due to the lack of reliable techniques employing autogenous tissue and
      the reluctance on the part of surgeons to use an alloplastic implant in this
      anatomic region, which is superficial, subject to trauma, and must conform to
      innumerable geometric shapes. The ideal lip augmentation procedure should provide
      for a predictable, permanent enlargement without visible scars or donor-site
      deformity, can be customized to the particular patient's anatomy, and can be
      reversed if so desired. A series of 21 alloplastic lip implants employing
      polytetrafluoroethylene with a mean follow-up of 14.33 months is presented. The
      overall complication rate was 9.52 percent. Permanent lip augmentation can be
      achieved with alloplastic sheet grafts of polytetrafluoroethylene in a safe and
      predictable fashion. Stiffness of the lips develops with progressive thickness of
      the grafts. Grafts exceeding 3 mm in thickness should be avoided.

PMID- 1448509
TI  - The pronator quadratus muscle flap: coverage of the osteotomized radius following
      elevation of the radial forearm flap.
AB  - Skin-graft take following elevation of the osteocutaneous radial forearm flap has
      been shown to be difficult. The pronator quadratus muscle flap can be elevated to
      cover the exposed osteotomized radius and flexor carpi radialis and
      brachioradialis tendons. This technique is technically easy to perform and may
      significantly reduce donor-site wound-healing problems.

PMID- 1448510
TI  - Transiliac and retroperitoneal approach for coverage of sacrogluteal defects with
      inferiorly based rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flaps.
AB  - An inferiorly based rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap is transferred to the
      sacrogluteal region through a transiliac approach. This technique is a simple and
      safe alternative to obtain a short pathway from the anterior abdomen to the
      sacral area.

PMID- 1448511
TI  - Consensus statement on the relationship of breast implants to connective-tissue
      disorders.

PMID- 1448512
TI  - Breast imaging for plastic surgeons.

PMID- 1448513
TI  - Nasotracheal intubation in patients with facial fractures.

PMID- 1448514
TI  - Treatment of facial paralysis.

PMID- 1448515
TI  - Gold eyelid weights in patients with facial palsy.

PMID- 1448516
TI  - Cold preservation of microvascular free flaps.

PMID- 1448517
TI  - Fixation of facial implants.

PMID- 1448518
TI  - A 3 1/2-year follow-up of a transplanted osteoarthrotendinous allograft covered
      with an autogenous flap for thumb reconstruction.

PMID- 1448519
TI  - Facilitating fetal rabbit surgery.

PMID- 1448520
TI  - Decreasing prolonged swelling and pain associated with deep plane face lifts.

PMID- 1448521
TI  - Endoscopic capsulotomy of capsular contracture after breast augmentation: a very
      challenging therapeutic approach.

PMID- 1448522
TI  - A maneuver to identify accurately the junction of the upper and lower lateral
      cartilage in the open rhinoplasty technique.

PMID- 1448523
TI  - Indirect intracranial volume measurement using CT scan.

PMID- 1448524
TI  - The experimental effect of low-energy laser on skin flap survival.

PMID- 1448525
TI  - A long-blade dissector set for calf augmentation.

PMID- 1448526
TI  - Reply to the editorial on AIDS, aesthetic surgery, and the plastic surgeon.

PMID- 1448527
TI  - Capsulectomy/local anesthesia by capsular insufflation.

PMID- 1448528
TI  - Reducing blood loss in reduction mammaplasty.

PMID- 1448529
TI  - Alterations in skin properties during rapid and slow tissue expansion for breast
      reconstruction.
AB  - This study comprises 23 women who had had mastectomies because of breast cancer.
      They were randomly divided into two groups when they were admitted for breast
      reconstruction by tissue expansion. The first group was expanded rapidly, i.e.,
      every day, and the other group was expanded slowly, i.e., every week. There were
      no other differences in the treatment between the two groups. Three months after
      completion of expansion, the expander was replaced by a permanent prosthesis. The
      follow-up time was up to 6 months after the second operation. Three different
      parameters--distensibility, elasticity, and hysteresis--were measured
      noninvasively on the breast skin and at a control site on several occasions
      throughout the treatment. During the treatment period there were no differences
      in skin properties between rapidly and slowly expanded patients. Of the three
      parameters, distensibility showed the most prominent changes: decreasing during
      the expansion period, increasing after the expander had been replaced by a
      permanent prosthesis, and decreasing during the following 6 months. Elasticity
      did not change significantly, except decreasing after insertion of the permanent
      prosthesis, and the hysteresis increased at the same time. These findings
      indicate that tissue expansion alters breast skin only to a small extent and that
      the mechanical resistance sometimes encountered during tissue expansion is due to
      deeper structures such as underlying muscles or capsule formation.

PMID- 1448530
TI  - Holoprosencephaly and midline facial anomalies: redefining classification and
      management.
AB  - Holoprosencephaly encompasses a series of midline defects of the brain and face.
      Most cases are associated with severe malformations of the brain which are
      incompatible with life. At the other end of the spectrum, however, are patients
      with midline facial defects and normal or near-normal brain development. Although
      some are mentally retarded, others have the potential for achieving near-normal
      mentality and a full life expectancy. The latter patients do not fit clearly into
      the previously defined classification system. Proposed is a new classification
      focusing on those patients with normal or lobar brain morphology but with a wide
      range of facial anomalies. The classification aids in planning treatment. Coupled
      with CT scan findings of the brain and a period of observation, patients unlikely
      to thrive can be distinguished from those who will benefit from surgical
      intervention. Repair of the false median cleft lip and palate may suffice in
      patients with moderate mental retardation. Patients exhibiting normal or near
      normal mentality with hypotelorbitism and nasomaxillary hypoplasia can be treated
      with a simultaneous midface advancement, facial bipartition expansion, and nasal
      reconstruction.

PMID- 1448531
TI  - The use of scapular and parascapular flaps for cheek reconstruction.
AB  - This is a retrospective review of our experience with microvascular transfer of
      scapular and parascapular flaps for the correction of lateral facial contour
      deficiencies. Twenty-eight patients with congenital (n = 8) and acquired (n = 20)
      defects were treated with 30 flaps; two patients had bilateral flaps. The
      etiology of the defects included hemifacial microsomia (n = 2), oblique facial
      cleft (n = 1), Romberg's hemifacial atrophy (n = 5), neoplasm (n = 4),
      irradiation (n = 8), trauma (n = 4), tumor excision (n = 4), facial lipodystrophy
      (n = 2), and silicone granuloma (n = 2). The follow-up evaluation was from 2 to
      13 years, with an average of 6 years. Fabrication of a facial moulage was part of
      the preoperative planning for each patient. These were compound flaps, including
      skin, deepithelialized skin, fat, fascia, and bone, if necessary. All flaps were
      constructed with an intact skin paddle for postoperative monitoring. Based on
      dissections and anatomic findings at operation, several variations in the level
      of emergence of the circumflex scapular artery from the triangular space and its
      branching patterns were noted. All flaps survived; changes in the patients'
      weights were reflected in the flaps. Twelve patients required secondary
      procedures: excision of skin monitor islands, scar revisions, debulking, or flap
      resuspension to the malar region. Bone grafts or alloplastic implants were
      necessary in four patients in whom the malar eminence could not be adequately
      corrected by transfer of a flap. The deepithelialized scapular/parascapular flap
      is preferred for correction of large lateral facial defects.

PMID- 1448532
TI  - Contralateral injections of botulinum A toxin for the treatment of hemifacial
      spasm to achieve increased facial symmetry.
AB  - Six patients noted facial asymmetry after botulinum toxin injection for
      hemifacial spasm. Each patient was injected on the side contralateral to the
      spasms with 10 to 15 IU over the zygomatic major and minor muscles. Each patient
      noted improvement in facial symmetry in the resting position and dynamic facial
      movements. Five of the six patients desired this approach with subsequent
      injections. This injection method variation proved helpful in the managing of
      hemifacial weakness created by botulinum A toxin for this condition.

PMID- 1448533
TI  - Long-term follow-up of the effectiveness and safety of inferior turbinectomy.
AB  - The long-term effectiveness and safety of inferior turbinectomy were assessed in
      186 patients who were interviewed and examined 10 to 15 years after surgery (mean
      12.3 years). Relief of nasal obstruction was reported by 82 percent of the
      patients; rhinoscopy showed wide, clean nasal airways in 88 percent. Rhinorrhea
      was still a problem for 34 percent of patients, and 19 percent were receiving
      medical treatment for this symptom. Smell acuity had improved in 52 percent of
      the patients. Before turbinectomy, 32 patients had suffered from bronchial
      asthma; postoperatively, there was an improvement in 16, and no change in 13; 3
      patients reported exacerbation of asthmatic attacks. Atrophic changes of the
      nasal mucosa and chronic purulent infection were not observed in any of the
      patients.

PMID- 1448534
TI  - Hypertrophic sternal scars: silicone gel sheet versus Kenalog injection
      treatment.
AB  - A prospective, randomized trial was designed to compare the standard Kenalog
      injection of established hypertrophic sternal scars with topical silicone gel
      sheets (Spenco). Fourteen poststernotomy cardiac patients with symptomatic scars
      were randomized to treatment in one-half of the scar with Kenalog injection.
      Simultaneously, the other half of the scar received the silicone gel sheet. The
      standard Kenalog injection used was 40 mg/ml x 1 cc, mixed with 1 cc of 1%
      Xylocaine with epinephrine. The gel sheets were worn continuously for 12 hours
      for 12 weeks. Pretreatment and posttreatment photographs were compared for color
      and appearance by blindfolded observers. Scar measurements (length, width, and
      height) were taken weekly in each area, and the patients were asked to rank their
      symptoms within each half as worse, the same, or better. The primary outcome of
      patient preference was analyzed sequentially, and the recruitment was terminated
      after 11 patients had completed the study, 10 of whom favored the silicone gel
      treatment (p < 0.05). Three patients remained in the treatment phase at the time
      of termination and completed the study subsequently. For the total sample of 14
      subjects, 11 preferred the silicone gel, 1 expressed no preference, and 2
      preferred the injection. The average time to improvement was 3.9 +/- 0.62 days
      (gel) versus 6.8 +/- 1.86 days (Kenalog). This study demonstrates that silicone
      gel sheets provide earlier symptomatic relief and a more aesthetic scar and are
      the preferred treatment of patients with symptomatic hypertrophic sternal scars.

PMID- 1448535
TI  - Hypertrophic scar: an interruption in the remodeling of repair--a laser Doppler
      blood flow study.
AB  - Soft-tissue dermal loss does not regenerate; instead, it is replaced with scar.
      The extent of scarring is directly related to the severity of tissue loss (in
      terms of volume and depth). Commonly, an acute dermal loss will heal with
      excessive scar, hypertrophic scar. A hypertrophic scar is elevated but is
      contained within the boundaries of the initial injury. Hypertrophic scars have a
      reddish appearance, indicating an elevated local circulation. A laser Doppler
      blood flow monitor was employed to measure blood flow changes in healed wounds.
      It was speculated that local circulation in a developing hypertrophic scar would
      be elevated. Patients with recently healed wound sites were monitored and
      exhibited an average blood flow reading of 365 +/- 325 mV (n = 131). This average
      value, ranging from 98 to 1450 mV, was 18 times greater than the average reading
      from normal skin, which was 43 +/- 13 mV (n = 212). Blood flow declined to 32 +/-
      21 mV (n = 7) at 16 to 18 weeks (74 percent of normal skin values) in healed
      wounds that developed normal scar. However, a closed wound that developed into a
      hypertrophic scar had a blood flow reading of 148 +/- 78 mV (n = 59) at 16 to 18
      weeks. This value was three times greater than in normal skin and four times
      greater than in normal scar. At 38 to 50 weeks postinjury, hypertrophic scar
      remained elevated (102 +/- 34 mV; n = 10). Hypertrophic scars sustain an elevated
      blood flow.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448536
TI  - Attitude of schizophrenics to computer videogames.
AB  - We investigated the initial attitude of 10 chronic, defected schizophrenic
      patients to a computer videogame session. Six of them enjoyed the experience and
      wanted to repeat it. Cooperation and performance were compared by means of
      videogames and a standard psychometric test (WAIS). Videogame performance
      correlated with the execution test IQ more than with the verbal test IQ. Computer
      games could be useful in these patients for evaluation of attitudes and
      responses, psychologic testing, motivation and reward.

PMID- 1448537
TI  - Determinants of recall of parental rearing behavior. The influence of age or loss
      of parents by separation or death.
AB  - In a study of 562 psychiatric inpatients and 251 healthy controls, relationships
      between age of proband and related life events (divorce of parents, death of a
      parent) and the perceived parental rearing have been investigated. The inverse
      relationships obtained could be explained by the higher number of divorced
      parents among younger subjects with negatively experienced parental rearing
      practices on the one hand and an idealization of the parents who had died on the
      other hand. In psychiatric patients these relationships and differences were more
      pronounced pointing to the importance of parental rearing as a vulnerability
      factor for mental problems during adulthood. The necessity to control for age in
      studies of perceived parental rearing became obvious by the present results.

PMID- 1448538
TI  - The Symptom Check List SCL-90-R and its ability to discriminate between
      dysthymia, anxiety disorders, and anorexia nervosa.
AB  - The factorial and discriminative validity of the Hopkins Symptom Check List SCL
      90-R were examined in the light of criticism that clinical self-rating scales
      primarily express a general distress factor. In a population of 899 psychosomatic
      patients, high intercorrelations were found between the individual dimensions of
      the SCL-90-R. A subsequent Principal Components Analysis obtained 9 factors which
      were markedly less interdependent than those in the original version. The ability
      of the questionnaire to distinguish between patients with dysthymia, anxiety
      disorders and anorexia nervosa was examined. The average hit rate in the
      discriminant analysis was 67% using the original version and 74% with the
      proposed new factorial structure of the SCL-90-R, confirming the discriminative
      validity of the inventory. The present results as well as earlier studies suggest
      that the factor 'anxiety' should be included in the factor 'phobic anxiety', the
      factors 'paranoid ideation' and 'psychoticism' should be reformulated, and a new
      factor 'sleep disturbances' should be added to the original version of the SCL-90
      R.

PMID- 1448539
TI  - Chronic psychoses and rehabilitation: an ecological perspective.
AB  - Traditional explanatory models, based on core psychological deficits,
      vulnerability-stress models or distinctions between negative and positive
      symptoms, may not be sufficient to understand the phenomenon of chronicity. This
      linear thinking, looking for monocausal explanations, should be replaced by
      exploring multicausal and circular processes over time, including the individual
      ecological context of a given patient. Thus, chronicity appears to result much
      more from endless loops and irreversible bifurcations in its dynamics over time
      than to be a stable state. Furthermore, the current views on psychopathology and
      prognosis need to be fundamentally reexamined in the light of this new way of
      thinking. For understanding and treatment of chronic psychoses, this ecological
      perspective implies programs which do not focus only on the patient, but look for
      'ecological niches' and interventions favoring synergetics and self-organization
      within the social networks and at the worksite of a given patient. A recently
      implemented five-step program for vocational rehabilitation and the corresponding
      research plan will be presented and discussed.

PMID- 1448540
TI  - The Capgras syndrome in paranoid schizophrenia.
AB  - Capgras syndrome is characterized by a delusion of impostors who are thought to
      be physically similar but psychologically distinct from the misidentified person.
      This syndrome is generally thought to be relatively rare. Most of our knowledge
      about Capgras syndrome derives from single case studies and small series of cases
      usually from diagnostically heterogeneous groups. In this article, a series of 31
      patients suffering from both paranoid schizophrenia and Capgras syndrome is
      described. Issues pertaining to the phenomenology of Capgras syndrome, the
      possible relation between Capgras syndrome and other delusional misidentification
      syndromes, and a neurobiological hypothesis aimed at explaining Capgras syndrome
      are discussed.

PMID- 1448541
TI  - Cycloid psychosis and affective disorder: borderland cases.
AB  - A subsample of untreated cycloid psychoses satisfying the requirements for major
      affective disorder according to DSM-III was compared with a subsample of cycloid
      psychoses getting other DSM-III diagnoses. The concept of cycloid psychosis
      applied thus was wider than permitted by the criteria stipulated by Perris and
      Brockington with respect to the prominence of the mood component. Since it could
      be demonstrated that no decisive differences prevailed with respect to
      frequencies of single features tested, a modified discriminant analytic procedure
      was applied. In this analysis, 76% of cases were correctly assigned. On average
      affective cases were more similar to the score profile derived from the
      nonaffective group than nonaffective cases were to the same profile, i.e. to
      themselves. Symptomatologically the affective cases had their main point in a
      distinctive confusion syndrome.

PMID- 1448542
TI  - The predictive value of thought disorder in manic psychosis.
AB  - Twenty-two patients with mania were evaluated for a variety of psychiatric
      phenomena. These items along with demographic data were used to predict relapse
      over a 36-month period in a multiple regression model. Formal thought disorder at
      the onset of illness was a strong predictor of relapse (F = 39, p < 0.001). The
      quality of the thought disorder was the most significant prognostic indicator.
      The predictive value of negative thought disorder was not enhanced by the
      addition of other symptomatic or demographic variables.

PMID- 1448543
TI  - AIDS and the ethics of medical care and treatment. Institute of Medical Ethics
      Working Party on the Ethical Implications of AIDS.
AB  - HIV infection and AIDS have accelerated a trend from paternalism to partnership
      in relationships between clinicians and patients. Partnership is based on respect
      for autonomy and is expressed through open dialogue; its moral aims are summed up
      in the concept of mutual empowerment. This has practical implications for
      clinical care and treatment, which are discussed here with particular reference
      to mental impairment or incapacity, unhelpful, harmful or unorthodox therapies,
      and discontinuing life-prolonging treatment.

PMID- 1448544
TI  - Wegener's granuloma. A series of 265 British cases seen between 1975 and 1985. A
      report by a sub-committee of the British Thoracic Society Research Committee.
AB  - In order to describe the British experience of Wegener's granulomatosis Hospital
      Activity Analysis was used to collect cases diagnosed in England, Wales and
      Scotland between 1975 and 1985. Where possible clinical details, histological
      material and chest radiographs were obtained. Two hundred and sixty five patients
      were considered to have Wegener's granulomatosis. In 109 a single pathologist
      confirmed the diagnosis by finding both granulomas and vasculitis in biopsy
      material. The diagnosis was made on clinical grounds or clinical grounds together
      with histological diagnosis in the local hospital in 156 patients. Wegener's
      granulomatosis was confined to the lung or upper respiratory tract in 22 per cent
      of patients and renal disease occurred in 58 per cent. Laboratory tests showed a
      pattern of mild anaemia, polymorph leucocytosis, eosinophilia and an elevated ESR
      and hypergammaglobulinaemia, with no specific pattern of changes. Histological
      confirmation was most frequently obtained by examination of nasal biopsy
      specimens, but multiple biopsies were often required. Renal biopsies showed focal
      proliferative glomerulonephritis but granulomatous glomerulonephritis was
      uncommon. Of available chest radiographs 61 per cent were abnormal, large
      opacities being most common. Small irregular opacities were found less often and
      other abnormalities were uncommon. Treatment varied widely and 10 per cent of
      patients received no drug therapy. This large series illustrates that even
      without specific treatment, patients with Wegener's granulomatosis can survive
      for several years and with modern treatment survival for more than a decade is
      possible. Conclusions about the effectiveness of the various therapies cannot be
      drawn from this retrospective study. Renal failure and disseminated vasculitis
      were the commonest causes of death; death was considered to result from
      complications of treatment with cytotoxic drugs or prednisolone in 6 per cent of
      patients.

PMID- 1448545
TI  - Clinical and histological spectrum of osteomalacia among Asians in south London.
AB  - In a prospective study of 175 adult Asian patients attending a medical out
      patient clinic we found a spectrum of metabolic bone disease. Twenty-four
      patients (13.5 per cent) had definite osteomalacia, of whom 11 (6 per cent) had
      severe clinical osteomalacia on the basis of associated symptoms and radiological
      signs. Fifteen (8.5 per cent) had borderline osteomalacia, while the remaining
      136 (78 per cent) had normal bone biopsy, or were presumed to be normal. This
      histological spectrum was paralleled by the increasing prevalence of
      musculoskeletal symptoms (thigh pain, change in gait and difficulty rising from
      seated position) attributable to osteomalacia. Multivariate analysis showed that
      the major determinant of osteomalacia in Asians in South London was vegetarian
      diet. Increasing severity of bone disease was associated with increasingly strict
      vegetarian practice, which accounted for the excess risk of females, Hindus, and
      Asians originating from East Africa. Covering skin when outdoors also contributed
      to the female excess risk, and suggested a role for reduced solar exposure.
      Clinically significant osteomalacia is underdiagnosed in the Asian population,
      but evidence of dietary adaptation suggests this problem may diminish with time.

PMID- 1448546
TI  - Haemodynamic studies during the management of severe tetanus.
AB  - Detailed invasive haemodynamic studies were performed in 27 of 32 patients with
      severe tetanus. Nineteen had severe uncomplicated tetanus and eight had
      associated major complications, chiefly infection and pulmonary complications.
      The results were compared with those obtained from 15 healthy male volunteers who
      served as controls. There were two deaths in 32 patients (mortality 6.25 per
      cent). Severe tetanus without major complications was characterized by a high
      output hyperkinetic circulatory state with tachycardia (heart rate 131 (19.2)
      beats/minute), increased stroke volume index (43.1 (10.7) ml/m2), increased
      cardiac index (5.48 (0.94) l/min/m2) and a normal left ventricular stroke work
      index (60.5 (15.9) g/m/m2). Volume loading demonstrated a significant
      haemodynamic response and increased vascular capacitance. Even so the maximum
      percent rise from baseline values of these indices after volume load was
      significantly higher in controls (p < 0.001). Autonomic cardiovascular
      disturbances affected both sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. Hypertension
      and tachycardia alternating with hypotension and bradycardia were related to
      sudden fluctuations in systemic vascular resistance. Our studies suggested some
      degree of myocardial dysfunction in patients with severe uncomplicated tetanus.
      The haemodynamics of severe tetanus were masked and altered by complicating
      infection, pneumonia, and atelectasis.

PMID- 1448547
TI  - The immunogenetics of early nephropathy in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus:
      association between the HLA-A2 antigen and albuminuria.
AB  - One-hundred and seventy-two normotensive, insulin-dependent diabetic patients
      without clinical proteinuria (Albustix negative) were typed for the major
      histocompatibility complex class I (HLA-A, -B) and class II (HLA-DR) antigens.
      Urinary albumin excretion was measured as the albumin:creatinine ratio (UA/UC,
      mg/mmol) in an early morning sample. Patients expressing the HLA-A2 antigen had
      significantly higher UA/UC values than those not expressing the antigen. The
      observed ratio of geometric means was 1.77 (95 per cent confidence interval (CI)
      1.18-2.67; p < 0.01); the relative risk of microalbuminuria (UA/UC > 3.0 mg/mmol)
      associated with expression of HLA-A2 was 2.52 (95 per cent CI 1.11-5.73; p <
      0.05). There was no significant association between UA/UC and HLA-B8, -B15, -DR3,
      -DR4 or other antigens. Patients were re-studied after a mean period of 5.3
      years: multiple linear regression analysis showed that the UA/UC at this time was
      positively related to the initial glycosylated haemoglobin level (p < 0.01) and
      expression of the HLA-A2 antigen (p < 0.05), but not to blood pressure or
      creatinine clearance. Fifteen patients developed macroalbuminuria at follow-up
      (UA/UC > 45.5 mg/mmol). Compared with a group matched for age, sex, duration of
      diabetes, and glycosylated haemoglobin who did not develop macroalbuminuria,
      macroalbuminuric patients had a higher frequency of HLA-A2 (p < 0.01). The odds
      ratio of progressing to macroalbuminuria associated with HLA-A2 had a 95 per cent
      CI of 1.71 to infinity. We conclude that an immunogenetic factor may play a role
      in the development of early diabetic nephropathy and that the risk associated
      with expression of the HLA-A2 antigen is independent of metabolic control and
      blood pressure.

PMID- 1448548
TI  - A study of neuropathy in HIV infection.
AB  - A prospective study of possible aetiological factors for neuropathy associated
      with HIV infection was performed in 80 patients and 28 homosexual controls. At
      entry to the study twelve patients (15 per cent) had evidence of a generalized
      neuropathy not due to any other cause and a further three patients developed
      symptomatic neuropathy during a mean (SD) follow-up of 20 (7.5) months. All but
      two of these neuropathies were of the distal symmetrical sensory type.
      Electrophysiology was consistent with an axonal pathology and nerve biopsy
      confirmed this as the major pathological change. Warming threshold was the
      diagnostic test most frequently abnormal, sometimes in the absence of other
      electrophysiological abnormalities. No association was seen with opportunistic
      infection (cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, Pneumocystis pneumonia,
      toxoplasmosis, Cryptococcus infection or tuberculosis). HIV proviral DNA could
      not be detected in paraffin sections of peripheral nerve in six patients with
      neuropathy. The presence of the neuropathy did not show significant correlation
      with depression of the number of CD4+ T cells in the blood, impaired T cell
      function tests, or IgG, IgM, or IgA levels. Immune complexes containing C1q, but
      not those containing IgG, IgM, IgA or C3c, were significantly more common among
      neuropathic patients (p = 0.01).

PMID- 1448549
TI  - [The biological effect of low-level radiation doses on the morphological
      composition of the peripheral blood in children].
AB  - Examination of 339 children at the age of 2 to 12 years, living in the caesium
      contaminated region (from 2 to 5 Ci/km2) has revealed that total radioactivity of
      their urine is, on the average, twice as high as that of children living in
      "pure" regions. Quantitative and qualitative changes were observed in the
      erythroid series, neutrophilic leukocytes, eosinophils and B-lymphocytes of the
      peripheral blood of children subjected to long-term low-level irradiation. It
      should be noted that the character and direction of these changes were a function
      of the children's age and the level of total radioactivity of their urine.

PMID- 1448550
TI  - [The cytogenetic effect in peripheral blood lymphocytes as an indicator of the
      effect on man of factors of the Chernobyl accident].
AB  - The data obtained confirm the possibility of both individual and population
      cytogenetic indication of the effect of low intensity radiation, exceeding the
      background level, and exhibit a positive correlation with the radio-ecological
      situation formed. The cytogenetic effect, that indicates the disturbance of the
      genome stability, might be considered as an indicator of a high probability of
      occurrence of pathologies, with a genetic component, in the subpopulations under
      study, compared to spontaneous level.

PMID- 1448551
TI  - [The ultrastructural organization of spruce needles of different ages exposed to
      radiation].
AB  - The ultrastructure of mesophyll cells of spruce needle of different age within
      the region of Chernobyl catastrophe has been investigated. The quantitative
      characteristics of chloroplasts are shown to be a function of the absorbed dose
      rate. The effect of ionizing radiation on the processes of needle tissue ageing
      is discussed.

PMID- 1448552
TI  - [Radiologic and histologic study of trepanobioptates of the spongy bones in
      cattle in regions suffering as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl AES].

PMID- 1448553
TI  - [The possibility of using the preparation MIGI-K in districts exposed to
      radioactive contamination following the accident at the Chernobyl AES].
AB  - A preparation from mussels, MIGI-K, used as an additive to the diet of people
      working at the Chernobyl power plant has proved to be efficient in increasing the
      total resistance of the body, including the resistance to ionizing radiation. In
      experiments with animals, MIGI-K has been shown to accelerate excretion of 45Ca
      and 86Rb from the body. The combination of these properties of MIGI-K permits us
      to consider it an efficient drug to be used within the regions affected by the
      Chernobyl disaster.

PMID- 1448554
TI  - [Evaluation of the effect of the radioactive contamination of hydrobionts in the
      30-kilometer control zone of the accident at the Chernobyl AES].
AB  - A study was made of hydrobionts, particularly fishes, living within the thirty
      kilometer control zone of Chernobyl NPP and northern part of the Kiev basin,
      after the disaster. Out of 31 fish species living in the NPP cooling pond some
      were identified which were mostly affected by radioactive contamination. They
      were predators belonging, with respect to reproduction and development, to a
      lithophilous group. Peculiarities of reproduction of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
      kept in stews of the cooling pond before the accident were studied. After a three
      year exposure to ionizing radiation (cumulative dose of 8-9 Gy) no reduction in
      the reproductive capacity of mature fishes was observed.

PMID- 1448555
TI  - [Results of the cytogenetic examination of the people taking part in the clean-up
      of the accident at the Chernobyl AES].
AB  - Chromosome preparations from peripheral blood cells of 117 subjects who took part
      in liquidation of Chernobyl NPP accident consequences in 1986 have been
      investigated. The number of chromosome aberrations has been shown to increase
      considerably. A short-term exposure has been found to be 5-7 times more effective
      than long-term one.

PMID- 1448556
TI  - [The formation of DNA-protein cross-links in response to gamma radiation, UV
      irradiation and chemical agents].
AB  - The present paper deals with the damages that are induced by numerous agents,
      such as gamma-radiation, UV-radiation, visible fluorescent light radiation, and a
      wide range of chemical agents, and lead to the formation of DNA-protein cross
      links. This is the most unknown and obscure type of damage to cells. It is,
      however, well known that these damages are reparable.

PMID- 1448557
TI  - [The modifying action of calcium antagonists on postirradiation thymidinemia].
AB  - Single and long-term per os administration of verapamil, a calcium antagonist,
      changes the thymidine content of nonirradiated mouse blood. The changes observed
      depend upon verapamil concentration in the blood. The postirradiation
      thymidinemia level is the lowest in animals exposed at the time when the
      thymidine content was minimized by the agent administered.

PMID- 1448558
TI  - [The effect of ionizing radiation on the phospholipid content of fetal and
      maternal liver mitochondria at different stages of pregnancy].
AB  - A single exposure of pregnant rats to 1 and 2 Gy radiation on days 3, 13 and 17
      of reception changes the phospholipid content in membranes of liver mitochondria
      of fetus and maternal body. The changes are particularly pronounced on day 3 of
      reception: as the embryo grows the decline in the phospholipid content from the
      control level decreases.

PMID- 1448559
TI  - [The effect of biologically active substances on the structure and functional
      activity of liver nuclei of irradiated rats].

PMID- 1448560
TI  - [The ciliated epithelium of the rat trachea is sensitive to gamma-irradiation in
      very low doses].
AB  - As early as 5-7 min after the start of exposure of tissue preparations from rat
      trachea ciliated epithelium to gamma-radiation at a dose rate of 19 mGy/h, the
      ciliary motion rate increased periodically. The phenomenon of increasing the
      ciliary motion occurred more frequently in time; the intervals between two
      frequency drops became longer and the mean frequency level higher. The reverse
      sequence of the events was observed during the postirradiation period. The same
      regularities, but less expressed, were observed after irradiation at a dose rate
      of 1.8 mGy/h.

PMID- 1448561
TI  - [An experimental approach to determining the protective properties of drugs
      against ionizing radiation in low and sublethal doses].
AB  - In experiments with mice, the efficiency of radioprotective agents against acute
      gamma-irradiation with nonlethal and low doses (0.5-4 Gy) was estimated by nine
      parameters. The treatment with cystamine, cysteamine and riboxine prior to
      irradiation (< 2 Gy) did not influence the postirradiation values of the
      parameters under study. With a dose of up to 4 Gy, the effect of riboxine was
      noted. The determinations of the number of aberrant mitoses, cellularity and
      mitotic activity of the bone marrow have proved to be most informative. The data
      obtained are discussed with due regard for the specific effect of low-level
      radiation and mechanisms of the protective action of the agents under study.

PMID- 1448562
TI  - [Characteristics of the dynamics of hematopoietic precursor cells cloned in
      diffusion chambers and recorded in experiments on mice and dogs irradiated in
      median lethal doses].
AB  - In experiments with mice and dogs irradiated with LD50, it was shown the
      postirradiation depopulation of haemopoietic polypotent (CFUs) cell-precursors in
      mouse bone marrow was more pronounced than that of granulocytic and macrophagal
      cells (CFUdc). The rate of repopulation of CFUs during the first week was higher
      than that of CFUdc (T1/2 was 2.5 and 8.8 days respectively). In dogs, one could
      notice a partial change in the colony formation, a prolonged plateau period in
      the postirradiation CFUdc dynamics, and a coincidence in time with cellularity
      restoration in the bone marrow and peripheral blood leukocytes. It is suggested
      that in conditions of heterogeneous incubation in diffuse chambers, the
      haemopoietic cell-precursors are more mature than in the syngeneic system. The
      method of CFUdc determination has proved to be ineffective in estimating the
      onset and intensity of the postirradiation haemopoiesis recovery in dogs. The
      study of the bone marrow CFUdc population may, however, be used in intact animals
      to predict the probability of their death after irradiation within the median
      lethal dose range.

PMID- 1448563
TI  - [The radioprotective effect of hypoxia on clonogenic cells of rat bone marrow
      stroma (KOE-F)].
AB  - A comparative study was made on the survival rate of cell-precursors of
      haemopoietic stroma, that form, in a rat bone marrow culture, colonies (clones)
      of fibroblasts (CFU-F) after gamma-irradiation of animals in the air or in a gas
      hypoxic mixture, containing 8% of O2 (GHM-8). Irradiation in GHM-8 was shown to
      increase the survival rate of CFU-F by 1.7 times (as compared to exposure in the
      air) as estimated by the total number of colonies that are formed in a culture;
      the radioprotective effect of GHM-8 was more pronounced for CFU-F which form
      dense colonies: DMF for dense and loose clones was 2.4 and 1.6 respectively.

PMID- 1448564
TI  - [The combined action of microwave irradiation and hypoxia on the biogenic amine
      content of the blood in guinea pigs in anaphylactic shock].
AB  - The repeated effect of microwave radiation on guinea pigs was shown to arrest the
      anaphylactic shock and the related changes in histamine, epinephrine and
      norepinephrine content in the blood. The long-term adaptation of animals to
      hypoxia prevented this effect.

PMID- 1448565
TI  - [The modifying action of Sophora japonica and an antioxidant vitamin complex on
      acute radiation injury to the body].
AB  - In experiments with mongrel male rats exposed to whole-body gamma-radiation (7, 9
      and 11 Gy) the radioprotective effect of enterally administered Sophora japonica
      and its combination with an antioxidant vitamin complex was investigated. The
      radioprotective agents applied were shown to produce a synergistic effect.

PMID- 1448566
TI  - [The electronic structure and radiorprotective activity of a series of
      substituted iminodihydrofurans].
AB  - Compounds that increase the survival rate of lethally exposed hybrid (CBA x
      C57B1/6)F1 mice have been revealed within the series of iminodihydrofurans. The
      quantum-chemical estimates, made by the MNDO method, show that substances which
      are capable of donor-acceptance interaction with DNA nucleotides and have the
      energy of donor orbitals, comparable with the electron structure of nucleotides,
      possess radioprotective efficacy.

PMID- 1448567
TI  - [Enzymes protecting the erythrocyte membrane during the combined exposure to an
      antioxidant complex and acute irradiation].
AB  - The data are presented concerning the effect of ionizing radiation on the
      hemolytic process and the influence of an antioxidant vitamin complex on the
      pentosephosphate metabolism and glutathione reductase activity after gamma
      irradiation. The antioxidant vitamin complex has been shown to produce a
      favourable effect on the erythrocyte membrane stability in correcting the
      radiation-induced changes.

PMID- 1448568
TI  - [The role of fat-soluble vitamins A and E in preventing the biological effects of
      ionizing radiation in rat tissues].
AB  - The lipid peroxidation level and the antioxidant system status have been studied
      by the amount of alpha-tocopherol and the antioxidant activity of homogenates in
      the brain, liver, heart and somatic muscle of rats given Vitamins A and E, as
      physiological additives, before and after gamma-irradiation. It has been shown
      that a new dynamic balance between the parameters under study is rapidly set up
      after irradiation, which represents a mechanism of rapid adaptation. The
      radioprotective effect of alpha-tocopherol is more pronounced than that of
      Vitamin A (particularly in the brain). In most cases, Vitamin A produces, upon
      irradiation, an unfavourable effect on antioxidative homeostasis.

PMID- 1448569
TI  - [Mathematical modeling of the dynamics of the intestinal epithelium in non
      irradiated and irradiated mammals].
AB  - A mathematical model has been developed to describe the dynamics of the crypt
      villus system of the small intestine epithelium in nonirradiated and chronically
      irradiated mammals. The model involves the chalone mechanism of regulation of
      crypt cell reproduction and represents a system of nonlinear differentiation
      equations. The model presents the dynamics of the small intestine epithelium in
      nonirradiated animals, including stable fluctuations of the concentrations of
      crypt and villus cells (the limited cycle), and simulates quantitatively the
      impairment of the intestinal epithelium in small laboratory animals subjected to
      long-term irradiation.

PMID- 1448570
TI  - [The hematopoietic system during chronic irradiation with high dose rates
      (mathematical modeling)].
AB  - Mathematical models have been developed to describe dynamics of some haemopoietic
      compartments in mammals subjected to long-term irradiation. Within the framework
      of the models developed an equation has been obtained for a critical dose-rate
      (Ncr) of chronic irradiation, leading to complete depletion of certain
      haemopoietic compartments, that helps to prognose the dangerous Ncr values
      without preliminary experiments.

PMID- 1448571
TI  - Politics, policy, and research.

PMID- 1448572
TI  - Meta-analysis of diabetes patient education research: variations in intervention
      effects across studies.
AB  - Data from a previously reported meta-analysis of diabetes patient education
      literature were reanalyzed to determine the influence of study/subject
      characteristics, such as study quality and age of subjects, on patient outcomes.
      Patient knowledge and self-management skills, weight loss, glycosylated
      hemoglobin levels, and psychological outcomes were analyzed as outcome variables.
      Seventy-three relevant published and unpublished studies were located. Patient
      education appeared to be more effective in younger patients, particularly for the
      knowledge outcome. For all patients, glycosylated hemoglobin levels improved
      between 1 and 6 months postintervention, but decreased to 1-month levels after 6
      months. Length of the educational intervention did not appear to influence
      outcomes. More rigorous, experimental research designs tended to produce more
      conservative effect size estimates. Implications for diabetes patient education
      are discussed.

PMID- 1448573
TI  - A coercive interactional style as an antecedent to aggression in psychiatric
      patients.
AB  - As with society at large, violence in psychiatric settings is a serious clinical
      problem. Despite a great deal of attention, however, very little is currently
      known about the underlying theory or interventions to reduce aggression and
      violence in hospital settings. In this study, some psychiatric patients were
      viewed as having a general, aggressive, interactional style, motivated by the
      traits of Intimidation and Interpersonal Control, which when combined were
      labeled Coercion. A causal model in which violence and aggression were
      hypothesized to be predicted by a coercive interpersonal style and negatively
      predicted by an accommodating interpersonal style was tested. These interpersonal
      styles were proposed to mediate antecedent variables, that is, history of
      violence, psychiatric diagnoses, and length of hospitalization. Data were
      collected in two hospitals on psychiatric patients (N = 156) and analyzed using
      multiple regression techniques. The results of theoretical model testing
      suggested that 60% of the variance in Aggression was explained by four model
      variables: (a) Intimidation and Interpersonal Control (Coercion) (beta = .44),
      (b) Length of Hospitalization (beta = .26), (c) History of Violence (beta = .27),
      and (d) Bipolar Affective Syndrome (beta = .21). The implications for clinical
      care are discussed.

PMID- 1448574
TI  - The effect of diet consistency on food intake of anorectic tumor-bearing rats.
AB  - Delayed gastric emptying has been shown to occur in cancer patients complaining
      of anorexia and early satiety. Given that liquids are emptied from the stomach
      faster than solid food, the present study was undertaken to determine if diet
      consistency would affect food intake of hypophagic rats implanted with the Walker
      256 carcinosarcoma. By Day 15 of tumor-growth, caloric intake of tumor-bearing
      animals was 20% less than controls. The caloric intake of tumor-bearing animals
      fed a liquid diet was not significantly different from animals fed a solid diet.
      Furthermore, a delay in gastric emptying was not seen in this animal model of
      tumor-induced anorexia.

PMID- 1448575
TI  - Women's perceptions of cesarean and vaginal delivery: another look.
AB  - Perception of the birth experience was examined in a sample of 106 women who had
      unplanned cesarean deliveries, 113 who had planned cesarean deliveries, and 254
      who had vaginal deliveries. Vaginally delivered women had more positive
      perceptions than their unplanned cesarean counterparts (p < .001). There were no
      differences in perceptions between the unplanned and planned cesarean groups, or
      between the planned cesarean and vaginal groups. General anesthesia for cesarean
      delivery was associated with more negative perceptions than regional anesthesia,
      and regional anesthesia for vaginal delivery was associated with more negative
      perceptions than no or local anesthesia. Pain intensity and physical distress
      were negatively correlated with perceptions.

PMID- 1448576
TI  - Developing the construct of role integration: a narrative analysis of women
      clerical workers' daily lives.
AB  - There is a gap in nurses' knowledge about how women integrate their multiple
      roles on a daily basis amidst the economic, social, political, and cultural
      contingencies of their environments. Quantitative results from a triangulated
      study of work, maternal, and spousal role experiences of 87 women clerical
      workers from five ethnic/racial groups indicated that role integration was
      important in predicting health outcomes. This prior work is extended in this
      article with an indepth secondary analysis of the qualitative interview data from
      the same study to develop a theoretical understanding of the construct of role
      integration. Using techniques of narrative analysis, a theoretical framework was
      derived to identify and relate aspects, processes, and patterns of role
      integration as they are experienced in women's everyday lives. Concepts are
      identified, defined, and visually represented, propositions are elaborated, and
      implications for further research and practice are suggested.

PMID- 1448577
TI  - Knowledge of, attitudes toward, and barriers to pharmacologic management of
      cancer pain in a statewide random sample of nurses.
AB  - The knowledge of, attitudes toward, and perceived barriers to pharmacologic
      management of cancer pain were examined in a random statewide sample of nurses (N
      = 790), using an 82-item questionnaire. Although only 7% of the nurses reported
      working in oncology settings, 59% of the nurses reported having worked with
      patients with cancer in the last 6 months. The scores on the knowledge test
      ranged from 11% to 93% correct, with a mean percent correct of 56.4% (+/- .92).
      Nurses reported relatively liberal attitudes toward pain management, yet also
      reported believing that 22% of patients over report pain. Results are discussed
      with respect to implications for practice and education.

PMID- 1448578
TI  - Meta-analysis for descriptive research.
AB  - Although nurses have begun to use meta-analysis, a review of the nursing
      literature demonstrates that its use has not been maximized. Meta-analysis can be
      employed to synthesize descriptive as well as experimental research, yet
      attention in nursing has focused almost exclusively on meta-analysis techniques
      for, and meta-analytic studies of, experimental research. Furthermore, nursing
      literature has emphasized use of the effect size index (d) rather than the
      correlation index (r); the latter may, in some cases, be the more suitable
      metric, particularly with meta-analysis of correlational studies. An argument is
      made for the value of meta-analysis as a technique for integrating descriptive
      research, and an overview of different meta-analytic approaches to data analysis
      using the correlational index with descriptive research is provided.

PMID- 1448580
TI  - Hyperventilation syndromes.

PMID- 1448579
TI  - Nursing intervention studies require outcome measures that are sensitive to
      change: Part One.
AB  - In selecting an outcome measure for a study evaluating a nursing intervention,
      the criterion of sensitivity to change should predominate. Researchers commonly
      justify their choice of outcome measures for experiments based on such
      psychometric criteria as high internal consistency reliability and patterns of
      correlations reflecting convergent and discriminant validity. Although such
      criteria are appropriate for measures to assess individual differences, they are
      insufficient when the measures will be used for intervention studies. Researchers
      may need to develop new measures that are tailored for experimental studies if
      existing measures are valid mainly for the assessment of individual differences.
      In this first portion of a two-part article, three of seven factors to consider
      in selecting an outcome measure for an intervention study are outlined and
      recommendations for application of principles of reliability and validity in the
      context of sensitivity to change are given.

PMID- 1448581
TI  - Speculations on sarcoidosis.

PMID- 1448582
TI  - Prescribed respiratory diseases in the 1990s.

PMID- 1448583
TI  - Oxygen transport in the critically ill.

PMID- 1448584
TI  - Increased asthma admission rates in Asian patients: Blackburn 1987.
AB  - Asthma admissions for ages 1-44 for the year 1987 were studied to test the
      clinical impression that asthma admissions in ethnic Asians were more frequent
      than expected. Data on admissions was obtained from HAA statistics and from ward
      admission books. Population data was obtained from the 1981 Census with OPCS
      revisions and local epidemiological data of Asian births and new immigrant
      numbers. Admission rates per 1000 population were derived. Admissions were
      increased in Asian patients aged 1-4 years (odds ratio 1.18; 95% confidence
      interval 0.85-1.64) and 15-29 years (odds ratio 1.57; 95% confidence interval
      0.83-2.98), but these increases were not significant. Admissions were
      significantly increased in Asian patients aged 5-14 (odds ratio 2.03; 95%
      confidence interval 1.32-3.12; 0.01 > P > 0.001) and 30-44 years (odds ratio
      5.85; 95% confidence interval 3.66-9.35; 0.001 > P). The increased admission rate
      in Asians was not due to increased readmissions in the Asian ethnic group. The
      data supports the view that the difference in Asian admission rate may be due to
      a truly increased asthma prevalence in the Asian ethnic group.

PMID- 1448585
TI  - Evaluation of mean transit time in children as an indicator of airways
      obstruction.
AB  - Mean transit time was evaluated as a test of pulmonary function in normal and
      asthmatic children. It was found to be independent of body size and negatively
      correlated with PEFR, FEV1 and FVC in normal children. Mean transit time was less
      sensitive in detecting the effects of bronchodilator therapy in asthmatic
      children than other simpler tests of lung function. The range of normal was so
      wide that there was no clear demarcation between normal and abnormal. The degree
      of overlap makes isolated tests of mean transit time of little diagnostic value.
      It is therefore concluded that mean transit time though it theoretically offers
      the attractive advantage of being a sensitive indicator of both large and small
      airways obstruction, is unlikely to play a major part in the routine evaluation
      of lung function in asthmatic children.

PMID- 1448586
TI  - Relationship between inspiratory mouth pressure and respiratory muscle activity
      in normal subjects.
AB  - The relationship between inspiratory mouth pressure and respiratory muscle
      activation was investigated in 20 normal non-smoking subjects (13 males). Surface
      electromyography (EMG) was recorded from the seventh intercostal space
      bilaterally during different levels of inspiratory effort monitored by a
      respiratory mouth pressure gauge. The mouth pressure and EMG relationship was non
      linear between 20 and 100% of inspiratory effort. Quadratic regression analysis
      was performed between percent inspiration and percent EMG on each side of the
      chest. The regression equation and coefficient of determination (r2) for the
      right side were y = 9.73 (e0.024x-1), r2 = 0.91, and for left side were y = 10.79
      (e0.023x-1), r2 = 0.88. An independent t-test did not reveal significant
      difference (P > 0.05) between the slopes of the regression lines from the two
      sides of the chest. Therefore, results of the two sides were pooled and the
      predictive regression equation for the combined results was y = 10.05 (e0.0236x
      1). Reasons for such a non-linear relationship may include the loading mechanism
      of respiratory muscles, inefficiency of intercostal muscles at high levels of
      inspiration, their recruitment pattern and the histochemical characteristics of
      respiratory muscles. Since absolute EMG values cannot be used to assess changes
      in activation on different days, further work is required to establish the
      between-day repeatability of the technique described which is potentially useful
      for assessing respiratory muscle function pre- and post-operatively in chest
      surgery patients.

PMID- 1448587
TI  - A long-term prospective assessment of home nebulizer treatment.
AB  - Forty-nine patients (15 asthma, mean FEV1/FVC 1.3/2.1; 34 COPD, mean FEV1/FVC
      0.7/1.8) were referred for consideration of home nebulizer treatment. All were
      monitored for 2 weeks while using their usual inhaled treatment followed by 2
      weeks using a 'Nebuhaler' spacer to deliver 1 mg of terbutaline and 80 micrograms
      of ipratoropium bromide (IB) four times daily. They then borrowed a System 22
      nebulizer to self-administer salbutamol nebulizer solution (5 mg), IB unit dose
      vials (0.5 mg) or a mixture of these drugs four times daily for 1 month each.
      Both asthmatic and bronchitic patients had a significant rise in their mean daily
      peak flow rate (PFR) during home nebulizer treatment (P < 0.03) and the COPD
      patients also had a significant PFR rise during Nebuhaler treatment (P = 0.0004).
      The mean daily peak flow rates (PFR 1 min-1 were: baseline 179, Nebuhaler 195,
      salbutamol nebulizer 200, IB nebulizer 198, mixed nebulizer 216). Four patients
      failed to respond subjectively or objectively to either Nebuhaler or nebulizer
      treatment. Five patients responded well to Nebuhaler treatment and did not
      proceed to a home nebulizer trial. Eight further patients preferred Nebuhaler to
      nebulizer treatment or could not tolerate nebulizer treatment (two cases). Thirty
      two patients requested home nebulizer treatment for long-term use (nine
      salbutamol, five IB, 18 mixture). Twenty-seven of these patients had an increased
      mean daily PFR (compared to their usual therapy) while using their chosen
      nebulized treatment. The mean increase in PFR for all 32 patients was 191 min-1
      (11%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448588
TI  - Relation of hypocapnic symptoms to rate of fall of end-tidal PCO2 in normal
      subjects.
AB  - Hyperventilation is of little clinical relevance unless it causes symptoms. These
      are often non-specific. Their threshold for onset and relation to steady level of
      arterial (or its equivalent, end-tidal PCO2; PETCO2) are uncertain, and it has
      been suggested that they may relate better to the rate of fall of PCO2 than to
      the absolute level. We investigated this in nine normal subjects, who breathed to
      and fro through a pneumotachograph into an open circuit in which the
      concentration of CO2 could be varied. Tidal volume, respiratory frequency and
      ventilation was measured on-line by a Compaq computer, and PETCO2 at the mouth
      was measured by capnograph. Subjects overbreathed at a fixed rate and depth until
      symptoms consisting of dizziness, paraesthesiae and light headedness occurred.
      Then, without their knowledge and while they continued to overbreathe, inspired
      CO2 was increased to restore PETCO2 to normal and abolish symptoms, and was then
      withdrawn again over either approximately 0.1, 2.5 or 5 min until symptoms were
      again reported. The PETCO2 at this point was noted. The three protocols were
      performed in each subject in a random order and the same symptoms were reported
      each time. When averaged across all subjects, symptoms occurred at mean PETCO2
      values of 20.3, 19.2 and 18.6 mmHg (2.71, 2.56 and 2.48 kPa), respectively. These
      were not significantly different, and it can be concluded that there was no
      influence of rate of fall of PCO2 on threshold for symptoms. Chest pain only
      occurred in one subject and may have a different mechanism.

PMID- 1448589
TI  - Thoracic actinomycosis complicated by Actinobacillus actinomycetem comitans: case
      report and review of literature.

PMID- 1448590
TI  - Pulmonary alveolar-septal amyloidosis--an unusual radiographic presentation.

PMID- 1448591
TI  - Recurrent hyperventilation tetany due to mild asthma.

PMID- 1448592
TI  - Special treatment for serious asthma.

PMID- 1448593
TI  - Patient education, self management plans and peak flow measurement.

PMID- 1448594
TI  - Symptomatic hypercalcaemia in lung cancer.

PMID- 1448595
TI  - Regulation of calcitonin secretion and calcitonin gene expression.

PMID- 1448596
TI  - Surgical strategies and methods for the treatment of metastasizing medullary
      thyroid carcinoma.

PMID- 1448597
TI  - Pathology of sporadic and hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma.

PMID- 1448598
TI  - Postsurgical follow-up and management.

PMID- 1448599
TI  - Epidemiology of medullary thyroid carcinoma.

PMID- 1448600
TI  - Tumor markers for the medullary thyroid carcinoma.

PMID- 1448601
TI  - Sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma: clinical features and diagnosis.

PMID- 1448602
TI  - The impact of reimbursement issues on rehabilitation nursing practice and patient
      care.
AB  - Rehabilitation nursing practice and patient care are affected profoundly by
      reimbursement trends. This article provides a basic understanding of current and
      proposed reimbursement issues in Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance-
      information that should help the rehabilitation nurse make the changes necessary
      to provide patient care within the constraints of the reimbursement systems.
      Furthermore, an understanding of these economic issues should assist nurses in
      working collaboratively and positively with administration while reducing their
      level of frustration. Nurses can play an important role in managing length of
      stay, using ancillary services, and moving the patient along the continuum of
      care, all of which are critical financial factors in a facility's successful
      management of its payer mix.

PMID- 1448603
TI  - Pressure ulcer prevalence and incidence in a rehabilitation hospital.
AB  - Pressure ulcers remain a serious health problem, especially in terms of personal
      suffering and economics. The study described here, conducted in a rehabilitation
      setting, investigated the prevalence (number of persons with pressure ulcers at a
      given time) and the incidence (number of persons developing pressure ulcers over
      a given time) of pressure ulcers. Skin assessments and risk assessments of the
      subjects were completed using the Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk.
      Demographic data were obtained. The prevalence rate was 25%, although there was
      no incidence during the time of this study. Factors associated with the
      prevalence of pressure ulcers are discussed.

PMID- 1448604
TI  - Metronidazole use in malodorous skin lesions.
AB  - Malodorous skin lesions (primarily fungating tumors and decubitus ulcers) can be
      extremely resistant to efforts to control their odors. The offending bacteria
      appear to be anaerobes, specifically the Bacteroides species. Topical
      metronidazole has shown promise for odor control without the cost or side effects
      of a systemic drug. In various anecdotal reports, lesions in patients treated
      with topical metronidazole were virtually free of odor within 24 hours, and in
      some cases, slight improvements in wound appearance and pain also were noted. The
      encouraging results of these initial experiences with topical metronidazole
      warrant further study for its efficacy in reducing skin lesion odor.

PMID- 1448605
TI  - The foot at risk: identification and prevention of skin breakdown.
AB  - This article presents the major predisposing factors and measures associated with
      preventing nosocomial foot lesions. The combination of nursing interventions and
      the appropriate use of protective devices can markedly reduce the incidence of
      foot lesions acquired in the hospital. Patient and family education is another
      important aspect in preventing skin breakdown of the foot at risk.

PMID- 1448606
TI  - Traditional Chinese medicine in rehabilitation nursing practice.
AB  - Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) employs methods of treatment such as
      acupuncture, acupressure, and Qi Gong (treatment based on meditation). The nurse
      using TCM can affect rehabilitation patient outcomes positively. With TCM
      training, nurses have an opportunity to learn the nuances of the Oriental
      environment and integrate them into their skills to nurse the spirit, mind, and
      body of patients in a holistic manner.

PMID- 1448607
TI  - Nursing diagnoses used most frequently in rehabilitation nursing practice.
AB  - This article describes a study of 346 rehabilitation nurses in which the nurses
      identified the nursing diagnoses most frequently used in rehabilitation. The
      study identified patterns of diagnosis used by nurses in inpatient and community
      settings, found no pattern of use by educational background, and delineated
      etiologies used with diagnoses characteristic of rehabilitation nursing.

PMID- 1448608
TI  - Developing a safety plan that works for patients and nurses.

PMID- 1448609
TI  - Human responses to traumatic brain injury.
AB  - A traumatic brain injury can have devastating effects on the patient and the
      family. The patient with TBI faces deficits that influence life after
      hospitalization. With the use of specific nursing therapies, human responses to
      TBI can be treated and a patient can return to a satisfactory lifestyle.

PMID- 1448610
TI  - Rehabilitation: the global perspective.

PMID- 1448611
TI  - A case of lysogenic conversion: modification of cell phenotype by constitutive
      expression of the Mu gem operon.

PMID- 1448612
TI  - Construction of a broad host range shuttle vector for gene cloning and expression
      in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and other Pasteurellaceae.
AB  - We have constructed a pair of broad host range expression vectors, pJFF224-NX and
      pJFF224-XN, based on plasmid RSF1010, which enable cloning and efficient
      expression of genes in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Pasteurella
      haemolytica and in Escherichia coli. The vectors consist of the minimal
      autonomous replicon of the broad host range plasmid RSF1010 and a type II
      chloramphenicol acetyl transferase gene for chloramphenicol resistance selection.
      In addition, they contain a gene expression cassette based on the E. coli
      bacteriophage T4 gene 32 promoter region and a transcription stop signal, which
      are separated by a segment of multiple cloning sites in both orientations.
      Electroporation and subsequent selection for chloramphenicol resistance was used
      for the introduction of the vectors in A. pleuropneumoniae and P. haemolytica. A
      promoterless xy/E gene from the Pseudomonas putida TOL plasmid was cloned onto
      pJFF224-NX. This plasmid enabled efficient expression of active
      catechol2,3oxygenase in A. pleuropneumoniae and P. haemolytica. It was stably
      maintained in A. pleuropneumoniae without antibiotic selection, showing less than
      0.1% loss after 100 generations, while native RSF1010 and other RSF1010-based
      vectors were unstable in this host.

PMID- 1448613
TI  - Use of specific oligonucleotides for direct enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes
      in food samples by colony hybridization and rapid detection by PCR.
AB  - Two 18-mer oligonucleotides derived from the sequence of hly, the gene coding for
      listeriolysin O, were shown to be specific for Listeria monocytogenes in the
      genus Listeria in colony hybridization tests. The oligonucleotides did not
      hybridize with any of the bacterial species found in food and co-isolated with
      Listeria on selective media. They were used in colony hybridization tests for
      enumeration of L. monocytogenes present in food samples after direct plating on
      selective media plates. In addition, two 24-mer oligonucleotides, each including
      the sequence of one of the 18-mers, were successfully used for the PCR-based
      detection of L. monocytogenes bacilli present in food samples after 48-h
      enrichment period. Using this technique, as little as 10(2) bacteria per ml of
      enrichment broth can be detected.

PMID- 1448614
TI  - Cloning and characterization of a Neisseria gene homologous to hisJ and argT of
      Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium.
AB  - We have isolated from a genomic library of the pathogenic Neisseriae gonorrhoeae
      T2 strain, a gene encoding a putative protein of 268 amino acids which exhibited
      significant similarity to the hisJ and argT gene products of Salmonella
      typhimurium and Escherichia coli, periplasmic proteins deputed to amino acid
      transport within the cell. The gene is transcribed as a monocistronic mRNA
      species of about 960 nucleotides flanked by regulatory elements for initiation
      and termination of transcription that are efficiently recognized in an E. coli
      host.

PMID- 1448615
TI  - Corynebacterium group D2 ("Corynebacterium urealyticum") constitutes a new
      genomic species.
AB  - Twenty-one Corynebacterium group D2 ("C. urealyticum") strains were found to
      constitute a tight DNA hybridization group distinct from named Corynebacterium
      species. The strains of Corynebacterium group D2 had cell wall component type IV,
      short chain mycolic acids and G+C content of DNA of 65-66 mol %. Corynebacterium
      group D2 constitutes a genomic species which can be identified by phenotypic
      tests.

PMID- 1448616
TI  - Detection of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in faecal specimens by
      acetylaminofluorene-labelled DNA probes.
AB  - The present study describes acetylaminofluorene(AAF)-modified DNA probes for the
      identification of heat-labile (LT) and heat-stable (porcine STp and human STh)
      toxins from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). AAF probes were compared
      with established biotinylated probes and bioassays. Ultracentrifugation was not
      necessary in the preparation of AAF-labelled probes, and the procedures, i.e.
      chemical modification of probes, hybridization and immunodetection steps, were
      optimized to detect ETEC by colony hybridization or direct dot blot techniques.
      The method combines chemical labelling (covalent attachment of AAF group to
      guanosine is achieved by treatment of DNA with N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene)
      and detection of the hybridized target DNA by means of anti-AAF monoclonal
      antibodies and alkaline phosphatase-labelled second antibodies.

PMID- 1448617
TI  - DOT-ELISA for detection of phenolic glycolipid PGL-Tb1 and diacyl-trehalose
      antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
AB  - A DOT-ELISA method for detection of 2,3-diacyl-trehalose (DAT, previously
      referred to as SL-IV antigen) and triglycosyl phenol phthiocerol di-mycocerosate
      (PGL-Tb1) antigens from Mycobacterium tuberculosis is described. The method
      enabled the detection of both antigens in 14 clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis
      from different geographic origins; the presence of the glycolipids was confirmed
      by chemical analysis. It was therefore concluded that the synthesis of both of
      these compounds is characteristic of the species.

PMID- 1448618
TI  - Degradation of non-phenolic beta-o-4 lignin substructure model compounds by
      Acinetobacter sp.
AB  - Acinetobacter sp. utilized non-phenolic beta-o-4-model compounds, 2-methoxy-4
      formylphenoxyacetic acid and veratrylglycerol-beta-guaiacyl ether (VGE) as sole
      carbon source. Vanillin, vanillic acid, protocatechuic acid and catechol were
      detected in the 2-methoxy-4-formylphenoxyacetic acid amended culture. Veratryl
      alcohol, veratraldehyde, veratric acid, vanillic acid, protocatechuic acid,
      catechol and guaiacol were identified from veratrylglycerol-beta-guaiacyl ether
      culture. Acinetobacter sp. produced catechol 1,2-dioxygenase and protocatechuate
      3,4-dioxygenase that cleaved catechol and protocatechuic acid, respectively.

PMID- 1448619
TI  - Putative nickel-binding sites of microbial proteins.
AB  - Nickel is biologically important because of its catalytic role in the mechanisms
      of action of metalloenzymes, and also because of its toxic cellular effects.
      There exist at least 3 groups of nickel-binding proteins in microorganisms:
      nickel-specific transporters, accessory proteins involved in nickel incorporation
      and nickel-containing enzymes. The differences in their physiological functions
      determine the nature of the ligands and the structures of the nickel-binding
      sites. The homology among the accessory proteins HypB, ORF4 and UreG suggests
      that the mechanism of nickel incorporation into hydrogenases in Escherichia coli
      is the same as or similar to that into hydrogenases of Rhodobacter capsulatus and
      into urease of Klebsiella aerogenes.

PMID- 1448620
TI  - The bacterial phosphotransferase system as a potential vehicle for the entry of
      novel antibiotics.
AB  - During the past twenty-nine years, not a single class of antimicrobial agents has
      been discovered that has led to new approved human drugs. Despite a dramatic
      increase in the potency of existing classes, the need for new effective
      antimicrobial agents continues. The bacterial phosphotransferase system (PTS)
      offers the possibility of providing new opportunities for the discovery of
      important agents. This system offers a vehicle for entry into infecting bacteria
      and pathways for the initiation of metabolism of such agents. Antimicrobial
      agents which would use the PTS may be found which are active on both growing and
      sessile bacterial forms, and due to the lack of a eukaryotic PTS counterpart,
      such analogues may be expected to be non-toxic to the animal host.

PMID- 1448621
TI  - Expression of M6 protein gene of Streptococcus pyogenes in Streptococcus gordonii
      after chromosomal integration and transcriptional fusion.
AB  - The M6 protein of Streptococcus pyogenes was expressed on the cell surface and
      secreted in Streptococcus gordonii Challis (formerly Streptococcus sanguis) after
      chromosomal integration of a promoterless M6 protein gene (emm-6.1). The ermC
      gene, conferring resistance to erythromycin, was cloned downstream of emm-6.1,
      within the same ClaI fragment. The initiation codon of emm-6.1 was 19 bp
      downstream of a ClaI site, so that ClaI cleavage would leave the gene
      promoterless. The ClaI fragment containing the promoterless emm-6.1 and ermC was
      ligated in vitro with a ClaI digest of S. gordonii chromosomal DNA. Random
      chromosomal integration of the heterologous DNA was obtained by using the
      ligation mixture to transform the naturally competent S. gordonii Challis. Twenty
      eight percent of transformants selected for erythromycin resistance also
      expressed M6. Among the best M6 producers, 10 clones were selected for the
      stability of their phenotype. Nine of the 10 clones were shown to harbour one
      intact copy of the emm-6.1/ermC ClaI fragment integrated into the chromosome.
      These strains both expressed M6 protein on the surface and secreted different
      amounts of the molecule, since in each case the protein was produced after a
      transcriptional fusion of emm-6.1 with a different chromosomal promoter. A S.
      gordonii strain expressing large amounts of surface M6 protein, as judged by
      immunofluorescence and Western blot, was compared to the M- parental strain in a
      standard opsonophagocytosis assay. Of the isogenic pair, M6+ S. gordonii survived
      better in human blood and was phagocytosed at a slower rate.

PMID- 1448622
TI  - Conserved structural and regulatory regions in the Salmonella typhimurium btuB
      gene for the outer membrane vitamin B12 transport protein.
AB  - The Salmonella typhimurium btuB gene encodes an outer membrane protein that is
      necessary for the transport of vitamin B12 and the uptake of the E colicins and
      bacteriophage BF23. The sequence of this gene showed 87% identity of the deduced
      polypeptide to its Escherichia coli homolog, and its product was found to
      function in transport as effectively in cells of E. coli as did the native
      protein. The extensive sequence conservation within the first 300 transcribed
      nucleotides, which include the leader and early part of the coding sequence,
      supports the proposed role of this region in the regulation of btuB gene
      expression.

PMID- 1448623
TI  - Two unrelated alkaliphilic Bacillus species possess identical deviations in
      sequence from those of other prokaryotes in regions of F0 proposed to be involved
      in proton translocation through the ATP synthase.
AB  - The a and c subunits of two unrelated alkaliphilic Bacillus species contain
      unusual motifs in regions previously implicated by others in H(+)-coupled
      oxidative phosphorylation. The facultative alkaliphile B. firmus OF4 apparently
      does not contain genes encoding an alternative F0, supporting other evidence that
      a single species of proton-translocating F1F0-ATPase catalyses oxidative
      phosphorylation both at low and high pH. The unusual F0 sequence motifs may be
      part of the adaptation of the extreme alkaliphiles to growth at very high pH.

PMID- 1448624
TI  - Immunoaffinity purification, stabilization and comparative characterization of
      listeriolysin O from Listeria monocytogenes serotypes 1/2a and 4b.
AB  - We developed a simple and highly effective procedure for stabilizing the
      haemolytic activity of listeriolysin O (LLO) from Listeria monocytogenes after
      immunoaffinity purification. The haemolytic activity of LLO was stabilized by
      eluting it directly into tubes containing an alkaline buffer (5 mM lysine, 140 mM
      KCl, 50% ethylene glycol, pH 11.5). The purified LLO retained 100% of its
      haemolytic activity after 6 weeks of storage at -20 degrees C. LLO purified from
      a strain of L. monocytogenes serotype 1/2a (ATCC 43249) and LLO purified from a
      strain of L. monocytogenes serotype 4b (F 2365) isolated from a Mexican-style
      cheese, showed no significant differences in pH and temperature stability. When
      incubated in buffers at pH values from 4 to 12 at 4 degrees C and 25 degrees C,
      LLO from serotypes 1/2a and 4b retained maximal haemolytic activity at pH 8 after
      4 h of incubation. LLO from both serotypes lost their haemolytic activity after
      incubation at 50 degrees C for 25 min.

PMID- 1448625
TI  - Typing of Listeria strains by random amplification of polymorphic DNA.
AB  - The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to obtain randomly amplified
      polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles for typing of Listeria strains. In this
      procedure, whole cells were incubated in the reaction mixture. The discriminating
      ability of a randomly designed 10-mer primer, HLWL74, was assessed. A total of 60
      collection strains of Listeria, encompassing all 7 Listeria species and all known
      serovars was submitted to PCR with the primer HLWL74. Upon agarose gel
      electrophoresis, 29 different banding profiles were reproducibly obtained. No
      common profiles were recorded for strains from different Listeria species. For
      various groups of strains sharing the same serotype (e.g. 4b, 1/2a, 1/2b), RAPD
      analysis could generate further subdivision. On the other hand, some strains from
      different serotypes produced identical RAPD profiles with the primer HLWL74. The
      RAPD typing method from whole cells is proposed as an attractive alternative for
      other Listeria typing systems, and the 10-mer HLWL74 as a primer to include in a
      forthcoming set of standard primers for RAPD typing of Listeria isolates.

PMID- 1448626
TI  - A comparative study of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis and
      conventional phage typing for epidemiological studies of Listeria monocytogenes
      isolates.
AB  - The analysis of RAPD profiles generated by PCR with a single 10-mer, HLWL74, was
      compared to bacteriophage susceptibility data for epidemiological typing of
      Listeria monocytogenes strains. A total of 104 L. monocytogenes strains was
      screened, all from serogroup 1 or serotype 4b. Of these, 53 had been isolated
      during 6 different listeriosis outbreaks. The remaining 51 strains were chosen
      randomly from our collection. A total of 38 RAPD types were observed, although
      each epidemic group of strains isolated during one of these outbreaks displayed a
      specific RAPD profile. For 98% of the strains isolated during outbreaks, the
      correlation between RAPD typing and phage typing was complete. Only one strain,
      typed as epidemic by phage typing, was clearly distinguishable from the others by
      RAPD analysis. Among the 51 strains not related to an outbreak, 12 were linked to
      epidemic groups by RAPD analysis. Two of these rearrangements were supported by
      phage typing. The remaining 10 strains could be excluded by phage typing from any
      of the epidemic groups studies. Considering all 104 isolates, the decision to
      relate a strain to a particular epidemic group or to exclude a strain from any
      epidemic group was the same for 92 isolates, using either phage typing or RAPD
      analysis. The RAPD analysis, which is quick, simple and suited for automation, is
      proposed as an attractive alternative for phage typing in epidemiological studies
      of listeriosis.

PMID- 1448628
TI  - Thin-layer chromatography systems for the identification of Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis, M. bovis BCG, M. kansasii, M. gastri and M. marinum.
AB  - Knowledge of mycobacterial glycolipid antigens and the study of their specificity
      have resulted in their utilization as species markers. We describe a thin-layer
      chromatography method which could serve as a useful adjunct for the
      identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. bovis BCG, M. kansasii, M.
      gastri and M. marinum.

PMID- 1448629
TI  - Enzyme electrophoretic polymorphism differentiates invasive from non-invasive
      Chlamydia psittaci ruminant isolates.
AB  - A group of 24 Chlamydia psittaci strains isolated from ruminants, belonging to
      serotype 1 and previously classified as invasive in a mouse model of virulence,
      was compared to a group of 10 non-invasive strains belonging to serotype 2 by
      using determination of glucose-6-phosphate and L-malate dehydrogenase zymotypes
      resulting of the infection of cells by these strains. The serotype 1 or invasive
      isolates represent a homogeneous group by sharing a unique zymotype which was not
      observed in the non-invasive strains. On the contrary, the serotype 2 or non
      invasive isolates constitute a heterogeneous group in generating 2 different
      zymotypes. Zymotyping clearly distinguishes the ruminant strains from an avian C.
      psittaci and two C. trachomatis isolates studied for comparison. Our results
      suggest the usefulness of the studied molecular approach for chlamydiae typing.
      Furthermore, it can be used as marker of virulence within the C. psittaci strains
      isolated from ruminants.

PMID- 1448627
TI  - A rapid and sensitive method for the identification of Brucella species with a
      monoclonal antibody.
AB  - A coagglutination test using monoclonal antibody BmE10-5 with specificity for the
      M antigen of Brucella melitensis 16M has been developed for the rapid
      identification of the smooth Brucella species. All reference strains of several
      biovars of B. melitensis, B. abortus, B. suis and B. neotomae tested were
      positive in this assay. No significant differences in reaction intensity were
      observed in relation to the different distribution of the A and M antigens among
      the Brucella serovars analysed. Conversely, rough Brucella species, with the
      exception of B. abortus 45/20, were negative in the assay. Among the different
      organisms tested not belonging to the genus Brucella, serovar O9 of Yersinia
      enterocolitica was the only one that gave a weak positive reaction of
      coagglutination. Thus, in view of its rapidity, simplicity, specificity and low
      costs, this technique could be highly useful for rapid identification of smooth
      Brucella strains in diagnostic laboratories.

PMID- 1448630
TI  - The antigenic relationship between Candida tropicalis and Escherichia coli (O 75,
      O 163) and Salmonella serotype Aberdeen O antigens.

PMID- 1448631
TI  - [What is your diagnosis? Varicella].

PMID- 1448632
TI  - [chronic headaches caused by drug abuse: danger for patients with migraine].

PMID- 1448633
TI  - [Pathology of myxoid mitral valve degeneration: literature review and personal
      results].
AB  - Mitral prolapse is a parachute-like protrusion of the value into the left atrium.
      Almost always a myxoid degeneration of the valve is the base of such a prolapse.
      Myxoid degeneration is understood as dissolution of the collagenous fibrous layer
      and its replacement by acid glucosaminoglycans. An alteration of collagen is
      suspected as primary defect in this sometimes also inherited disorder. The
      electron microscope reveals fragmentation of collagen fibrils and elastic fibers
      and, within the myxoid material, free lysosomes, so called "matrix-vesicles". An
      isolated disturbance of collagen types I and III could not be detected by
      immunohistochemistry. Studies could also to date not demonstrate mutations in the
      genes coding for collagens.

PMID- 1448634
TI  - [Rickets due to vitamin D deficiency--a reminder].
AB  - Vitamin D deficiency, because of prophylactic supplementation, has become a rare
      disorder in Switzerland and therefore is usually not considered in the clinical
      routine. In the few cases we could diagnose, the affected children either have
      been of East-Mediterranean origin with insufficient nutrition and vitamin
      supplementation, or were raised in families who, for philosophical or other
      reasons, refuse any "non-biological" measure including vitamin supplementation.
      For the orthopedic surgeon the challenging task is to screen out of the many
      children presented with physiologic gait "disturbance", bow-legs or flat feet the
      few children with true disorders. An important point is the history of vitamin D
      prophylaxis; in selected cases X-ray and laboratory findings are indicated.
      Finally the response to the treatment with vitamin D will confirm the diagnosis
      of rickets due to vitamin D deficiency.

PMID- 1448635
TI  - [Advantages of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for the assessment of
      dose-effect relations and dose-equivalency].
AB  - Because of the high variability of blood-pressure, clinical studies using casual
      measurements require rather large numbers of patients for assessment of
      pharmacologic efficacy. By the use of blood-pressure monitoring over 24 hours
      this number can be dramatically reduced. Additional benefits are the precise
      determination of dose-effect relationships and the more accurate estimate of the
      response-rate. Comparing two retarded galenic forms of Verapamil we show that
      even dose-equivalence can be studied with this type of blood-pressure recording.

PMID- 1448636
TI  - [Clinical-pharmacological case report: drug-induced inappropriate ADH secretion].
AB  - The syndrome of inadequate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) following
      treatment with a tricyclic antidepressant is demonstrated using the example of a
      70 year-old man admitted for weakness and cognitive disturbances. Because of
      incontinence he had been periodically treated since 1989 with imipramine
      (Tofranil) by his family doctor. On admission he was seriously hyponatriemic and
      had low plasmatic osmolality, significantly lower than urinary osmolality.
      Creatinine, urea and uric acid in serum were also below normal values. Like other
      drugs tricyclic antidepressants can rarely induce an increased release of ADH by
      direct hypothalamic stimuli. In this patient imipramine was terminated and within
      a few days of reduced fluid intake and substitution of sodium a sustained
      clinical improvement and normalisation of laboratory parameters was noted. The
      patient was discharged to his home after three weeks.

PMID- 1448637
TI  - [A case from practice (257). Cryptococcus meningitis in AIDS (Group IVc1, Center
      for Disease Control)].

PMID- 1448638
TI  - [What is your roentgen diagnosis? Aphthous esophagitis?].

PMID- 1448639
TI  - [Diagnosis of neurological symptoms of psychogenic origin].
AB  - The principles of neurological examination of patients in which psychogenic
      disturbances are suspected are first described. After mentioning the frequency of
      this type of disturbances in the medical literature, some of the most
      characteristic and most frequent psychogenic disturbances in neurology are
      described: cranial nerve symptoms, sensory disturbances as well as psychogenic
      paralysis including paraplegia and psychogenic disturbances of gait. A chapter is
      dedicated to psychogenic disturbances of consciousness and to psychogenic attacks
      mimicking epilepsy. Finally a description is given of those organic neurological
      diseases in which in our experience the erroneous diagnosis of psychogenic
      disturbances is most frequently made. Some recommendations, how to behave in the
      presence of a patient with psychogenic neurological symptoms is added.

PMID- 1448640
TI  - ["Psychogenic" bulbar paralysis].
AB  - This 58-year-old female presented with a history of difficulties in swallowing
      for 30 years. No diagnosis was made in spite of repeated investigations including
      barium-contrast radiography. A probative strumectomy and psychotherapy were
      unsuccessful. After an episode of major depression the swallowing disturbances
      increased. In addition the patient complained of mastication difficulties and was
      dysarthric. Finally, neurological examination and neurophysiological studies
      established the diagnosis of progressive bulbar palsy.

PMID- 1448641
TI  - [Autoimmune paraneoplastic neurological syndromes].
AB  - Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes are well established causes of neurological
      dysfunction in cancer patients. Recently an auto-immune origin has been found for
      the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, the subacute sensory neuronopathy of Denny
      Brown, the paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration, the paraneoplastic opsoclonus
      myoclonus as well as a few other minor syndromes. Indeed patients suffering from
      these diseases have been found to produce antibodies directed against the central
      nervous system. These antibodies can be detected as much as a year before the
      cancer is found and they are therefore interesting for neurological and oncologic
      diagnosis.

PMID- 1448642
TI  - [Current developments in the long-term therapy of Parkinson syndrome].
AB  - In the course of long-term treatment of Parkinson's disease many problems, which
      cannot yet be satisfactorily solved, arise with time in a large number of
      patients. This overview describes some strategies which are used nowadays to
      tackle these problems. Special attention is drawn to the treatment of painful
      dystonias and off-periods with apomorphine.

PMID- 1448644
TI  - [HIV transmission by saliva?].

PMID- 1448643
TI  - [Bell's palsy--a field of controversies. I. Etiology and pathogenesis--diagnostic
      delimitation--prognosis].
AB  - Facial paresis as a sign or symptom is caused by a number of different
      conditions. Although being the most common type of facial paresis, Bell's palsy
      represents a diagnosis of exclusion characterized by an acute, unilateral
      peripheral facial palsy of unknown etiology. Clinical features and laboratory
      findings are considered with regard to their diagnostic as well as prognostic
      significance.

PMID- 1448645
TI  - The phenotypic expression of different mutations in transmissible human
      spongiform encephalopathy.
AB  - Clinical, pathological, and experimental transmission characteristics are
      reviewed for each of the known mutations in the amyloid precursor gene (PRNP)
      associated with familial spongiform encephalopathies. All mutation groups show an
      earlier age at onset and longer duration of illness than sporadic disease, and
      more or less distinctive patterns of illness can be recognized for each mutation,
      although much variability may occur even among affected members of the same
      family. Experimental transmission of disease has been accomplished for most of
      the mutations, with shortened incubation periods in the inoculated animals that
      parallel the earlier age at onset of human illness in these cases, implying a
      shortened pre-clinical phase of disease rather than an earlier 'infecting event'.
      Mutations thus not only predispose to spongiform encephalopathy, but also
      accelerate its pathogenetic tempo and influence its phenotypic expression.

PMID- 1448646
TI  - [Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in 4 children treated with growth hormone].
AB  - Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was diagnosed in four growth hormone recipients at the
      age of 10, 11, 18 and 19 years. To our knowledge, the two first cases are the
      first instances of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease recorded in children. Three of them
      were still being treated with synthetic hormone at the onset of the disease.
      Neurological disorders: ataxia and diplopia, appeared first, dementia and
      myoclonus appeared later. Eighteen cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in growth
      hormone recipients are now recorded, and the present risk of Creutzfeldt-Jakob
      disease in pituitary growth recipients is estimated to be 1/300. Because of the
      long incubation period, new cases are to be feared. Other causes of iatrogenic
      Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are reviewed. These facts incite to consider carefully
      using products of human origin in human therapy. The interactions between growth
      hormone, prion and host's genomic make-up are still not clear.

PMID- 1448647
TI  - [Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease. Pathologal and genetic study].
AB  - Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker's disease is a familial spongiform encephalopathy
      whose pathological hallmark is the existence--especially in the cerebellum--of
      numerous amyloid plaques. We report here the third clinicopathological case in a
      French family. Brain tissue from one of its members--initially described as
      familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob's disease--has been reported as successfully
      inoculated to monkeys. We present the currently accumulating data favouring the
      hypothesis of a common etiology for familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob's disease and
      Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker's disease. The familial characteristics, resulting
      in different durations of incubation and evolution, could lead to different
      clinical and histological expressions.

PMID- 1448648
TI  - [Ambulatory autonomy and visual motion perception in a case of almost total
      cortical blindness].
AB  - A 37-year-old man experienced cortical blindness following a bilateral stroke in
      the territory of the posterior cerebral arteries. Four years later, the
      measurement of visual field defects (Goldmann perimeter) showed persistence of
      bilateral blindness with a 2-degree preservation of macular vision and a
      perifoveal sparing between 10 to 30 degrees of eccentricity in the left inferior
      quadrant. Despite this visual impairment, the subject was able to perform
      visually-guided locomotion. Moreover he consciously perceived visual motion in
      the blind parts of his visual field. CT and MRI showed a lesion involving most of
      the striated cortex. The visual cortex located in the internal occipito-parital
      regions was relatively spared. The contribution of this structure to extra
      striated vision of motion is discussed.

PMID- 1448649
TI  - [Stiff-Man syndrome with late onset].
AB  - We report a case of Stiff-Man syndrome according to Gordon, Januszko and
      Kaufman's criteria. Onset at age 76, association with insomnia and a rapid course
      leading to death within 2 years were the characteristic features. CSF data,
      electromyographic and immunological findings suggest abnormalities of
      catecholaminergic and GABA ergic systems, with release of segmental or
      suprasegmental inhibitory influence. The presence of antibodies against glutamic
      acid decarboxylase, considered a useful marker of this syndrome, raises the
      possibility of an autoimmune pathogenesis.

PMID- 1448650
TI  - [Post-poliomyelitis syndrome: 29 cases].
AB  - The post-polio syndrome refers to new neuromuscular symptoms developed by some
      patients many years after recovery from acute poliomyelitis. Several groups were
      separated: musculo-skeletal symptoms (different from a new spinal cord disease),
      infraclinical signs (EMG), post-polio muscular atrophy (new lower motor neuron
      objective signs) with several subgroups: cramps and fasciculations, benign focal
      weakness and atrophy (in previously affected muscles or in unaffected muscles),
      progressive spinal muscular atrophy. The following examination were performed in
      some cases, but not all, in this retrospective study: muscle CT scan,
      conventional electromyography (EMG), quantifying-EMG, macro-EMG and single-fiber
      EMG. The serum titers of neutralising antibodies to polio virus type 1, type 2
      and type 3 were negative. No oligoclonal bands were found in the CSF from 6
      patients screened by electrophoresis immunoelectrophoresis. Serum creatine kinase
      or aldolase was high in 6 patients. The same unusual features in this syndrome
      were observed on muscle biopsies: muscular hypertrophy and interstitial
      eosinophils; two patients had rimmed vacuoles in the muscle fibers.

PMID- 1448651
TI  - [Suprascapular nerve entrapment at the spinoglenoid notch].
AB  - The suprascapular nerve passes through the spinoglenoid notch with a risk of
      entrapment. This results in distal nerve lesion characterized by isolated
      paralysis of the infraspinatus muscle and, most often, by shoulder pain. We
      report 7 clinical and electromyographical cases of pure infraspinatus muscle
      paralysis. The value of the electrodiagnosis, which demonstrated prolonged
      suprascapular distal nerve latencies (over 5 milliseconds) in the infraspinatus
      muscle affected while latencies were normal in the supraspinatus muscle, is
      emphasized. Mechanical factors were associated with paralysis in 5 cases.
      Compressive synovial cysts were found in 2 patients operated upon. Surgical
      enlargement of the spinoglenoid notch regularly and rapidly relieves pain and
      sometimes helps in recovery of the infraspinatus muscle.

PMID- 1448652
TI  - [Paralytic pontine exotropia disclosing endocarditis].
AB  - A case of bacterial endocarditis complicated by paralytic pontine exotropia is
      reported. Magnetic resonance imaging clearly showed a rostral lesion of the
      paramedial pontine reticular formation and the medial longitudinal fasciculus.
      The occurrence of paralytic pontine exotropia is suggestive of ischaemia, and
      patients with this so-called "one-and-a-half syndrome" associated with signs of
      infection should be investigated for endocarditis.

PMID- 1448653
TI  - [Hashimoto's encephalopathy: toxic or autoimmune mechanism?].
AB  - A 36-year-old woman presented with partial complex status epilepticus. Magnetic
      resonance imaging with T2-weighted sequences showed a high-intensity signal in
      the left posterior frontal area. Hashimoto's thyroiditis was then discovered. The
      disappearance of the high-intensity signal after corticosteroid therapy was
      suggestive of an autoimmune mechanism. However, improvement could be obtained
      only with a hormonal treatment, which supports the hypothesis of a pathogenetic
      role of the Tyrosine-Releasing Hormone (TRH).

PMID- 1448654
TI  - [A progressive case of ataxia in a family of Huntington's chorea].
AB  - One case of ataxic, pyramidal and demential syndrome associated with retinitis
      pigmentosa occurred in a family with Huntington's disease (36 patients among 7
      generations). The disease started at 15 years of age. Ataxia was transiently
      attenuated by isoniazid. The patient died of the disease at 26 years of age.

PMID- 1448655
TI  - [Dementia disclosing primary Gougerot-Sjogren syndrome].
AB  - Two cases of primary Sjogren's syndrome revealed by dementia are reported. The
      patients had progressive or subacute memory dysfunction and psychiatric disorders
      with depression and delirium. The diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome was established
      by biopsy of the minor salivary glands. Both patients were treated with
      corticosteroids. The neuropsychiatric symptoms improved dramatically in one case
      and remained unchanged in the other case. Dementia in Sjogren's syndrome seems to
      be without aphasia, apraxia or agnosia, and associated with psychiatric features,
      particularly depressive symptoms, thus including some characteristics of
      subcortical dementia. Diagnosis may be difficult because, as shown in our cases,
      symptoms of ocular and buccal dryness can be absent. Salivary gland biopsy can be
      useful in the evaluation of patients with dementia of undetermined etiology.

PMID- 1448656
TI  - [Chorea disclosing polycythemia and renal adenocarcinoma].
AB  - A 79-year-old woman had chorea complicating polycythaemia. The polycythaemia and
      the chorea disappeared after surgical removal of a renal carcinoma. The
      literature on polycythaemic chorea is reviewed and its pathophysiology discussed.

PMID- 1448657
TI  - [Magnetic resonance imaging in lupic chorea].
AB  - A case of disseminated lupus erythematosus with chorea is reported. CT was
      normal. Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple focal lesions on T2-weighted
      sequences, predominating in the periventricular white matter. This MRI pattern
      did not change in a second MRI investigation, 7 months later. The contribution of
      MRI to our understanding of the neurolupus pathophysiology is discussed.

PMID- 1448658
TI  - Cell kinetics of glial tumors.
AB  - The development of monoclonal antibodies against bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) has
      made it possible to study the cell kinetics of individual brain tumors more
      extensively and more rapidly than previously possible. Over the past several
      years, we have performed in situ labeling studies of 502 neuroectodermal tumors
      with BUdR. The results have shown that the BUdR labeling index (LI), or
      percentage of cells in DNA synthesis, is generally higher in malignant gliomas;
      that histologically similar tumors may have different proliferative potentials,
      demonstrated by differences in the BUdR LIs; and that a higher LI indicates a
      higher proliferative potential as well as a shorter time to recurrence and
      duration of survival. Double-labeling studies with BUdR and iododeoxyuridine,
      performed to analyze the cell cycle progression in 29 gliomas, revealed that S
      phase duration (Ts) was fairly uniform (mean +/- SD: 8.9 +/- 2.0 hours)
      regardless of the differences in the LIs. Nevertheless, the potential doubling
      time (the time for a tumor cell population to double in the absence of cell loss)
      varied from 2 days to over a month, being very short for tumors with a high LI,
      and correlated with the BUdR LIs (Tp = 17.8/LI0.77; r = 0.95). The cell cycle
      time calculated for gliomas with LIs of 1-20% was 1-2 days. These parameters are
      useful in determining the dose, duration, and interval of chemotherapy and in
      evaluating the effectiveness of treatment. Thus, cell kinetics studies not only
      elucidate the growth characteristics of individual gliomas but may also benefit
      to patients by providing a more precise prognosis and may be considered in the
      selection of treatment modalities.

PMID- 1448659
TI  - Oncogenes and glial tumors.
AB  - Results of numerous studies indicate that both activation of dominant oncogenes
      and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes play important roles in the genesis
      and progression of human gliomas. Activation of the epidermal growth factor
      receptor (erbB1 oncogene) as the result of gene amplification or rearrangement is
      the best established example of a dominant oncogene involved in glioma
      development. There is also suggestive evidence for activation of the ros oncogene
      in gliomas, and activation of a variety of other dominant oncogenes may be
      operative in individual tumors. Deletion studies suggest that inactivation of
      tumor suppressor genes on chromosomes 17p (probably the p53 gene), 10, 9p and 22
      also play roles in genesis and progression of human gliomas. Additional work
      remains to be done to identify other dominant oncogenes and tumor suppressor
      genes involved in gliomas, and to determine how these various factors interact to
      cause disease.

PMID- 1448660
TI  - [Chromosome abnormalities and adenine metabolism in human glial tumors].
AB  - Most chromosome aberrations in gliomas are numerical, resulting in either gains
      or deficiencies of whole chromosomes. In tumors of low malignancy, the karyotype
      is frequently normal or exhibits a loss of sex chromosome and a gain of
      chromosome 7. These two anomalies may not be directly related to malignancy. In
      the highly malignant cases, the two most frequent aberrations are the gain of
      chromosome 7 and the loss of chromosome 10, other anomalies such as losses or
      deletions of chromosomes, 9, 22, 6, 13 and 14 being detected at various
      frequencies. Several of these chromosomes carry important genes of adenine
      metabolism: AK1 and AK3 (adenylate kinase) and MTAP (methylthioadenosine
      phosphorylase) for chromosome 9; ADK (adenosine kinase) and mitochondrial ATPase
      for chromosome 10; ADSL (adenylosuccinate lyase) for chromosome 22, NP
      (nucleoside phosphorylase) for chromosome 14. We performed the corresponding
      assays of enzyme activity on both fresh tumors and tumors grafted on nude mice,
      which showed that these enzymes had a relatively low activity although the tumors
      were proliferating. However, chromosome losses do not seem to directly cause the
      metabolic alterations by gene dosage effect. Interestingly, chromosome 10,
      frequently deficient, also carries genes of importance for glycolysis
      (hexokinase) and glutamate metabolism (glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamate
      oxaloacetate transaminase). The deficiency for these genes could be taken into
      account for a better type of chemotherapy by antimetabolics.

PMID- 1448661
TI  - [Contribution of nucleolar organizers staining to the prognostic evaluation of
      meningioma].
AB  - Meningioma is often regarded as a benign tumour. It is easy to diagnose, but its
      prognosis is difficult to determine. Recurrences are numerous and occur at
      different periods of time. Various predictability factors have been studied,
      including Nucleolar Organizers Regions (NORs) staining. This technique is easy to
      perform and enables retrospective studies to be carried out. Comparisons of
      staining indices with the histoprognostic grades established by Zulch, and
      correlations between these indices, as well as with the time elapsed before a
      recurrence occurred, showed that NORs staining can be useful to determine the
      prognosis. In this retrospective study 69 cases were reviewed. The meningiomas
      had been removed surgically between January 1979 and December 1991. The clinical
      follow-up, which lasted from 11 months (for the most recent cases) to 132 months
      (for the earlier cases), shows that the staining index reaches a critical value
      beyond which an early recurrence might be expected.

PMID- 1448662
TI  - Chemotherapy of malignant gliomas: studies of the BTCG.
AB  - Phase III Trial 8,301 tested the efficacy and safety of intraarterial (IA) BCNU
      for the treatment of newly resected malignant glioma, comparing IA BCNU vs
      intravenous (IV) BCNU (200 mg/m2 q 8 wks), each regimen without or with IV 5-FU
      (1 g/m2/d x 3 two wks after BCNU). All patients also received radiation therapy.
      505 patients entered the study; 448 were in the Valid Study Group (VSG).
      Excluding 190 patients who for medical reasons were not eligible for IA BCNU, 315
      patients were randomized between IA (167) and IV (148) BCNU. Actuarial analysis
      (log-rank) demonstrated worse survival for the IA group (p = 0.002). Serious
      toxicity was observed in the IA group; 16 patients (9.5%) developed irreversible
      encephalopathy with CT evidence of cerebral edema, and 26 patients developed
      visual loss ipsilateral to the infused carotid artery. 5-FU did not influence
      survival. Survival between the IV and the IA BCNU patients with glioblastoma
      multiforme did not differ, but was worse for IA BCNU patients with anaplastic
      astrocytoma than for IV BCNU (p = 0.002). Neuropathologically, IA BCNU produced
      white matter necrosis. IA BCNU is neither safe nor effective. Phase II Trial
      8420, compared IA cisplatin, 60 mg/m2 every 4 wks, vs IV PCNU, 100 mg/m2 q 8 wks;
      311 patients were randomized. Preliminary results have been presented. Severe
      encephalopathy occurred in only 1.5% of patients receiving IA cisplatin. The
      median survival of the IV PCNU patients was 11.8 months; that of the IA cisplatin
      patients was 9.4 months, not statistically different.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1448663
TI  - [Chemotherapy of malignant glioma. Results of studies of the EORTC group of brain
      tumors].
AB  - The EORTC Brain Tumor Group has conducted 5 randomized and prospective phase-III
      trials in adults with supratentorial malignant gliomas testing the following
      adjuvant treatments: 1) CCNU 130 mg/m2, q.6 weeks (trial 26741); 2) VM-26 100
      mg/m2 on day 1, plus CCNU 130 mg/m2 on day 2, q.6 weeks, given either during
      radiation therapy (trial 26751) or during 12 weeks prior to irradiation (trial
      26841); 3) Misonidazole 12 mg/m2 total dose in 9 fractions (trial 26801); 4)
      Cisplatin 60 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, 15 and 21 of radiation therapy (trial 26851).
      None of these treatments did prolong significantly the survival nor the time to
      recurrence. The most powerful prognostic factors found in every trial were tumor
      pathology, patients' age and neurological status. Objective remission lasting 6
      to 9 months, defined as a clinical improvement persisting after discontinuation
      of corticosteroids, was observed with CCNU, VM26 plus CCNU or HeCNU in
      approximately 20% of the patients, while 30% stabilized on HeCNU. The activity of
      procarbazine, AZQ or DDMP used as single agents was much lower.

PMID- 1448664
TI  - [Treatment of supratentorial glioma in adults by intra-arterial HECNU. Experience
      of the Pitie-Salpetriere group].
AB  - Between 1984 and 1988, patients suffering from malignant gliomas received
      intraarterial chemotherapy with HECNU (IAC). Three groups were identified. Group
      1 consisted of 56 patients previously treated with surgery and radiation therapy
      (RT), who received IAC at recurrence. Group 2 consisted of 46 patients with
      unresectable tumors, and group 3 of 40 patients who had their tumor surgically
      removed. In groups 2 and 3, three courses of IAC were administered prior to
      conventional RT (50-54 Gy). Immediate tolerance was good but delayed ocular and
      cerebral toxicity occurred in 14% and 11% of cases, respectively. A better
      therapeutic response was observed with anaplastic gliomas than with glioblastomas
      (GBM). For anaplastic gliomas, median survivals (MS) were 18 months (group 1), 24
      months (group 2) and 30 months (group 3). For GBM, MS were 4.5, 7.5 and 10.5
      months in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. IAC does not seem to improve the
      prognosis of GBM.

PMID- 1448665
TI  - Interstitial irradiation of malignant gliomas.
AB  - Beginning in 1986, using software to optimize radiation dosimetry, we have
      stereotactically placed removable catheters containing high activity I-125
      sources into malignant gliomas in 56 patients. There were 32 men and 24 women,
      age 7 to 73. Forty-four had glioblastoma multiforme, and 12 anaplastic
      astrocytoma. Mean Karnofsky performance score was 75, range 50-100. Twenty
      patients (all with glioblastoma) were implanted after resection before further
      therapy, and 36 were implanted at recurrence following resection, external
      irradiation and chemotherapy. Six thousand cGy was delivered to the enhancing
      tumor contour on CT scan. Mean dose rate was 37 cGy/hr. Mean tumor volume was 41
      cc, range 5-187 cc. Mean volume of brain that received 60 cGy was 67 cc, range 11
      184 cc. Of 20 patients treated after resection alone, 8 are alive, 3-43 months
      after implantation; median survival is 22 months. Of 36 patients treated at
      recurrence, 14 are alive, 0-19 months after implantation; median survival is 10
      months. The most common side effect of the procedure, which occurred in five
      patients, was catheter misplacement. Twenty-four patients (43%) required 27
      reoperations, 1-25 months after implantation. In 25 pathologic specimens
      available for review, microscopic tumor foci with substantial radiation necrosis
      were found in 18, radiation necrosis only was noted in 5, and glioma alone was
      seen in 2.

PMID- 1448666
TI  - The cellular immunotherapy of primary brain tumors.
AB  - The use of adjuvant immunotherapy for the treatment of primary malignant brain
      tumors dates to studies performed in the 1960's and 1970's using non-specific
      immune stimulators. Although the theoretical designs have remained similar,
      recent advances in molecular biotechnology have produced a new group of
      recombinant cytokines, spawning a new generation of immunotherapy-based clinical
      trials. In contrast to other published Phase I/II studies, we have had highly
      encouraging preliminary results using lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and
      recombinant human Interleukin-2 (rIL-2; Cetus, Emeryville, CA), when the
      patients' use of corticosteroids could be restricted while on study. Patients
      with recurrent grade 3/3 glioma received multiple cycles of autologous LAK cells
      and rIL-2, post-operatively, via an Ommaya reservoir implanted into the tumor
      cavity following re-operation. The overall median survival for 13 patients with
      grade 3/3 glioma has not yet been reached at 55 weeks following second surgery,
      [mean +/- SEM, 64.7 +/- 10.5 weeks], with 5 patients still alive. Three patients
      have had partial responses (PR) demonstrated by CT scanning. In addition, one
      patient with grade 2/3 glioma has had a complete response (CR), with the
      disappearance of all residual CT-documented enhancement and mass effect.

PMID- 1448667
TI  - Childhood medulloblastoma.
AB  - The progress that has been made in the treatment of the patient with
      medulloblastoma is gratifying. Survival for those who fall into the lower risk
      category probably exceeds 75%. For this degree of success, however, patients and
      their families have had to pay a price in terms of suffering the deleterious late
      effects of treatment. With sophisticated neuroimaging techniques diagnoses are
      now being made in a timely fashion and surgical mortality has been reduced to
      almost zero in most major medical centers. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy
      regimens have been increasingly successful, and further refinements of treatment
      are to be expected with the completion of randomized cooperative group trials. It
      is time to focus on means of achieving similar, or even better results, with
      reduced doses of neuraxis radiation, whenever possible, especially in the younger
      patient.

PMID- 1448668
TI  - Management of brain metastases.
AB  - Brain metastases are common and often occur in patients whose systemic cancer is
      quiescent. When brain metastases occur, they considerably decrease the quality of
      life in patients who otherwise might be functional. An early diagnosis and
      vigorous treatment of the brain metastasis, while only rarely curative, may lead
      to a useful remission of the brain symptoms and may both enhance the quality of
      the patient's life and prolong survival. Patients with known cancer and
      neurological symptoms should all undergo appropriate diagnostic tests which
      include either CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging and, if a lesion is found
      and a definitive diagnosis can not be established, biopsy. Single or solitary
      brain metastases in patients with good systemic performance status should be
      strongly considered for surgical extirpation which will both make the diagnosis
      and deliver definitive treatment to the lesion. Patients with poor systemic
      performance status and/or multiple brain metastases are candidates for whole
      brain radiation therapy. Whole brain radiation therapy is also indicated in
      patients after successful surgical extirpation of a single metastasis. The role
      of focal radiation therapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of brain metastases
      is still being evaluated. Preliminary evidence suggests that focal radiation
      therapy is probably useful for the treatment of relapsed metastases and that
      chemotherapy may be useful in the primary treatment of small or asymptomatic
      brain metastases. Appropriate use of therapeutic modalities directed at brain
      tumors will ameliorate symptoms in most patients and usually increase survival
      and enhance the quality of the patient's life.

PMID- 1448669
TI  - [Inoperable brain metastases from bronchogenic cancers. Value of combined
      chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5 fluorouracil].
AB  - We report the results of a combined of chemotherapy with CDDP and 5 FU repeated
      every 3 weeks in sixteen men (age range 31-73 years) with brain metastases. CT
      was performed after 2, 4 and 6 cycles to assess efficiency. Response was
      considered complete when no lesion was found on the CT scan and partial when the
      lesion shrunk to least half its the total volume. After two cycles, the response
      rate was 8/16 (50%). Treatment toxicity was mild with only one case of severe but
      reversible myelotoxicity (grade III). CDDP and 5 FU combined chemotherapy can be
      a useful treatment for brain metastasis of lung carcinoma.

PMID- 1448670
TI  - Clinical and pathological advances on central nervous system paraneoplastic
      syndromes.
AB  - In the last decade, several features have improved our knowledge of CNS
      paraneoplastic syndromes. Patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration
      (PCD) and breast or ovarian cancer, but not with other tumors, harbor an antibody
      against Purkinje cells (called anti-Yo). Clinical features of anti-Yo positive
      and negative PCD are similar but the latter may have a less progressive clinical
      course with occasional remissions. In addition to the association of opsoclonus
      with neuroblastoma, this syndrome has been identified in patients with breast or
      small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Patients with opsoclonus and breast cancer have an
      antineuronal antibody (called anti-Ri) not present if opsoclonus is associated
      with SCLC or neuroblastoma. Paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis (PEM) is almost
      always associated with SCLC. Most patients present with sensory neuronopathy,
      limbic or brainstem encephalitis but involvement of multiple levels is usual. An
      antibody (called anti-Hu) against neuronal nuclear antigens is present in
      patients with PEM and SCLC. Autopsy studies demonstrate deposits of anti-Hu
      specific IgG in the neurons and a predominance of T cells in the inflammatory
      infiltrates. Treatment of the tumor and immunosuppressors are effective in
      opsoclonus whereas patients with PCD or PEM with circulating antibodies do not
      improve.

PMID- 1448671
TI  - [Lambert-Eaton syndrome: clinical and electrophysiological study of 18 cases
      associated with lung cancer].
AB  - The clinical and electrophysiological data of 18 consecutive adult patients with
      paraneoplastic Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LMES) have been reviewed. The
      cancer associated with LEMS was small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) in 15 cases and
      epidermoid lung carcinoma in 3 cases. The main clinical neurological features
      were proximal lower limb weakness (100%), depressed tendon reflexes (94%) and
      dryness of the mouth (66%). The results of repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS)
      were not statistically different in the paraneoplastic LEMS group and in a group
      of 6 LMS patients in whom no carcinoma had been detected. Low-amplitude compound
      muscle action potential (CMAP) was present in all cases; decremental response at
      low stimulation rates was present in 13/15 cases. An abnormal incremental
      response at high stimulation rates was observed in all cases. A close correlation
      between CMAP amplitude and clinical condition was found in 4 cases during the
      long-term follow-up. In one patient the RNS electrical pattern could be
      misinterpreted as myasthenia gravis in only one muscle tested. We underline the
      usefulness of a 50 Hz stimulation during 4 seconds to establish the diagnosis
      unequivocally, and that of post-exercise facilitation in routine detection among
      an SCLC population. Our results suggest that CAMP amplitude and RNS test could be
      used to evaluate the short-term improvement of LMS under treatment and, in some
      cases, for the long-term follow-up. The infraclinical axonal neuropathy detected
      in 8 patients probably was another associated autoimmune paraneoplastic
      complication.

PMID- 1448672
TI  - NARES: a model of inflammation caused by activated eosinophils?
AB  - Twenty patients were selected on the basis of perennial rhinitis, the absence of
      allergy and with an eosinophil count higher than 20% of total leucocytes in nasal
      secretions (NARES). Nasal endoscopy with biopsies from the middle turbinate and
      sinus CT were performed. Biopsies were processed for histological examination and
      for immunofluorescence. The clinical progress during treatment was scrutinized.
      An acute congestive aspect of the nasal mucosa was noted in 4 cases, and
      micropolyposis in 9 cases. Sinus CT showed opacity of the ethmoidal cells in 87%
      of cases (maxillary sinuses: 75%; frontal sinus: 46%; sphenoidal sinus: 31%). An
      eosinophilic infiltrate of the nasal mucosa was constituted in 9 cases: In 6
      cases, the cells expressed the Fc epsilon RII receptor, recognized by the
      monoclonal antibody Bb10. Anti-H1 drugs usually failed to result in a clinical
      improvement and local eosinophilia was not changed. Local corticoids were more
      effective but not sufficient in some cases, so that oral corticotherapy was
      needed. Ethmoidectomy was performed in three cases. NARES seems to evolve in
      three stages: (1) migration of eosinophils from the vessels to the secretions;
      (2) retention of eosinophils in the mucosa which might be linked to activation of
      unknown origin; (3) nasal polyposis. Numerous interactions between irritation of
      the epithelium, release of substance P, and eosinophils, lead to the hypothesis
      of a neurogenic origin of NARES.

PMID- 1448673
TI  - Eosinophilia in nasal secretions compared to skin prick test and nasal challenge
      test in the diagnosis of nasal allergy.
AB  - This study was aimed to assess the usefulness of eosinophilia measurements in
      nasal smears (ENS) in the diagnosis of nasal allergy. Nasal smears were taken
      from 84 patients with histories suggestive of allergic rhinitis. The smears were
      stained by the Giemsa method and examined by light microscopy. Positive results
      were demonstrated in 69.2% of the samples. All the 84 patients also had a skin
      prick test (SPT); the perceniitage of correct correlation between ENS and SPT was
      71.4%. Forty-two patients underwent nasal challenge test (NCT) and the percentage
      of correct correlation between ENS and NCT was 69%. Nine patients had negative
      SPT, but positive ENS. All were nasally challenged with 4 proving positive. This
      leaves 5 individuals (5.9% of the 84 studied) in the non-allergic rhinitis with
      eosinophilia category. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the
      assessment of eosinophils in nasal smears should be given more relevance and be
      more commonly used in the diagnosis of nasal allergy.

PMID- 1448674
TI  - Rhinomanometric detection rate of rhinoscopically-assessed septal deviations.
AB  - Normal values for the flow at a transnasal pressure of 150 Pa were established
      with active anterior rhinomanometry (with decongestion) in a group of 33 normal
      subjects. These values were used to detect abnormalities in a group of 193
      patients whose septum anatomy had been evaluated with rhinoscopy. About 25% of
      the rhinoscopically normal patients were found to have significantly low
      ("abnormal") flow values on one side. The same was true for patients with a small
      septal deviation restricted to one anatomical area. An abnormal flow was measured
      in about 35% of the patients with a moderate (restricted) septal deviation. In
      the patients whose septal deviation was not restricted to one anatomical area,
      about 45% had an abnormal flow. The highest detection rate was about 80% in
      patients with major deviations in the region of the vestibule and the valve. Such
      deviations were found only in a minority of the patients with complaints of nasal
      obstruction, which limits the importance of rhinomanometric evaluation in
      clinical practice.

PMID- 1448675
TI  - Antroconchopexy for surgical treatment of perennial rhinitis.
AB  - We report on a rhinomanometric assessment of eleven patients undergoing
      antroconchopexy for relief of a "stuffy" nose. This little-known procedure
      involves the lateralization of the inferior turbinate through a large intranasal
      antrostomy. Our results demonstrate a significant improvement in postoperative
      inspiratory and expiratory nasal resistance. There was also a significant
      improvement in patient's scoring for nasal obstruction. Finer points of the
      surgical technique, and indications for the procedure are discussed.

PMID- 1448676
TI  - The nasal provocation test in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. Behaviour and
      dynamics of nasal flow during the test.
AB  - We analyzed the value of the (n) coefficient of nasal flow in the formula of
      nasal resistances in order to: (1) calculate nasal flow during the course of the
      nasal provocation test, and (2) try to find out whether nasal flow maintains the
      same characteristics during the test. Our results show that values vary between
      1.6589 and 1.8801, with a weighted mean of 1.7645--suggesting that the flow is of
      a mixed character--without significant differences during the course of the test.
      At the same time we carried out an analysis of the dynamics of nasal flow during
      nasal provocation.

PMID- 1448677
TI  - Respiratory tubes with nasal packings following septorhinoplasty.
AB  - The use of packings following septorhinoplasty is a matter of controversy. The
      recommendations go from gluing with fibrin glue only, if anything at all, over
      quilting stitches, perhaps in combination with silastic or teflon sheats or
      plates or these sheats alone, to the employment of various more substantial
      materials and in from 1 to even 14 days postoperatively. If long-term nasal
      packing is chosen following consideration of primary healing, patients will
      experience discomfort of mouth-breathing, but pressure in the ears, too.
      Therefore, our department has used respiratory tubes simultaneously with packings
      since 1971. In this study, 47 patients who underwent septo- and/or rhinoplasty
      were treated by nasal packings 6 days postoperatively. All patients were treated
      by silicone respiratory tubes, one group in all 6 days, one in 4 days only. Self
      assessment as far as some typical complaints is concerned was carried out as well
      as tympanometry. There were statistically significant less complaints of pressure
      in the ears when tubes were used, and the period with tubes was significantly
      preferred to the period without. A low pressure in the middle ears was seen in
      many patients. The normalization was occurring significantly sooner with tubes.
      At the same time they seem to secure that the normalization will take place as
      fast as it has been demonstrated in an earlier study employing only 3 days of
      nasal packing. No synechias or perforations were seen at an early follow-up, 1-3
      months postoperatively. When long-term packing is preferred, respiratory tubes
      then can be recommended as effective.

PMID- 1448678
TI  - Diagnostic value of plain radiographs in chronic maxillary sinusitis: a
      comparison between radiological and endoscopic findings in 75 patients.
AB  - Preoperative radiologic and intraoperative endoscopic findings of maxillary and
      ethmoid sinuses were compared in 75 adult patients, in whom 135 chronically
      inflamed maxillary sinuses were operated using functional endoscopic sinus
      surgery (FESS). At sinoscopy, secretion was found in 91% (41/45) of the
      radiologically opacified antra and in 47% (31/65) of the antra with moderate or
      marked mucosal swelling in plain radiographs. Antral fluid level in radiographs
      was a relatively rare (23%) finding and showed secretion as reliably as
      opacification. Radiographic detection of secretion in maxillary sinuses with
      mucosal thickening is difficult. There was a fair correlation in both antral and
      ethmoidal mucosal changes with the mucosal findings in antroscopy and endoscopic
      ethmoid surgery.

PMID- 1448679
TI  - [Acute intermittent porphyria in pregnancy: glucose or hematin therapy?].
AB  - The symptoms and management of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) during
      pregnancy and delivery are presented on the basis of three case reports. Two
      patients became asymptomatic after infusion of a concentrated glucose solution
      (600 ml 50% glucose = 300 g glucose per day), while the third patient needed
      treatment with hematin (1 mg/kg body weight, 6 infusions at intervals of 12
      hours) because of deterioration of psychic state in spite of glucose infusion.
      Whenever an attack of AIP occurs, concentrated glucose solution should be
      administrated as a first measure accompanied by an analgesic and possibly a
      neuroleptic agent after elimination of precipitating factors. However, if
      symptoms persist for 48-96 hours or the psychic and/or neurological state of the
      patient further deteriorates, administration of 1-3 mg hematin per kg body weight
      can be recommended.

PMID- 1448680
TI  - [Long-term follow-up after thyroidectomy: incidence of recurrent goiter and
      functional results].
AB  - We analyzed the postoperative longterm results after strumectomy for sporadic
      goiter in 26 patients. The follow-up time was 25.1 +/- 14.7 (7-58) years (x +/-
      SD, extremes). Actual goiter recurrence without need for surgery was observed and
      sonographically confirmed in 3 patients, and 1 patient without actual recurrence
      had had a second strumectomy for goiter recurrence in the past. Hence the overall
      frequency of goiter recurrence in this study is 15% (4/26 patients). The patients
      with a present recurrence (n = 3) were significantly younger at the time of
      operation (29 +/- 11, 14-41 years) than those without recurrence (n = 23; 45 +/-
      11, 28-60 years; p < 0.001). No patient had clinical endocrine dysfunction. Only
      four patients had been treated with thyroxine and they all suppressed TSH in the
      presence of euthyroid FT4 and T3 levels without present recurrence of goiter. 22
      patients had no thyroid hormone prophylaxis and in only four of them (18%) was
      observed a recurrence in the longterm follow-up without endemic iodine
      deficiency. Prophylaxis with thyroid hormones often is not required in low risk
      patients operated upon and carefully controlled after strumectomy from non-iodine
      deficient regions. Patients at risk for recurrence (second strumectomy, family
      history, elevated TSH, clinical or sonographic evidence for thyroid growth)
      should be considered for thyroxine therapy with regular follow-up.

PMID- 1448681
TI  - [Health status of methadone recipients before entering a methadone program].
AB  - Data were analyzed from 905 opiate addicts who participated for the first time in
      a methadone maintenance program in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland, between 1979
      and 1989. Data of their physical and psychological state at the time of
      application for the methadone maintenance program were related to data of the
      addiction history and program progress. Only one fifth of the participants in the
      methadone maintenance program report to be in good health. Poorer health
      corresponds to reported psychological disorders. No correlation between
      demographical data and health status could be found, except that less qualified
      patients were in poorer health. Poorer health status is associated with the
      consumption of a higher amount of heroin per kg body weight and often with
      consumption of benzodiazepines before entrance into the methadone maintenance
      program. Methadone maintenance patients with a lower health status are given
      higher methadone doses. Compared to patients in better shape, more do not work
      before and during the methadone program. The physicians express less optimism
      with regard to the success of the program in patients in poorer health, and these
      are more often expelled from the program by their physicians or the health
      department. The results indicate that patients generally profit from the
      methadone maintenance treatment. However, better integrated patients and persons
      in better health may derive greater benefit from the methadone maintenance
      treatment.

PMID- 1448682
TI  - [Do we still have Gothamite tricks today?].

PMID- 1448683
TI  - [Concerning: "Incidence of ileus following rectal resection in rectal carcinoma
      with or without radiotherapy" by M. Els, T. Gross, Ch. Ackermann and P. Tondelli
      (Schweiz. med. Wschr. 1992; 122: 745-747)].

PMID- 1448684
TI  - [Immunology and diagnostic test results in Lyme borreliosis].
AB  - Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi), the etiologic agent of Lyme borreliosis,
      shows both a variety of outer surface proteins with molecular weights between 16
      and 100 kiloDalton (kD) and a 41 kD flagellar protein, which induce the
      immunologic response. Lipopolysaccharides, another constituent of the bacterial
      capsule, are responsible for the inflammatory reaction, constitutional symptoms
      and for the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. First a vigorous T-cell immune response
      develops, followed later by a more slowly evolving humoral B-cell immune
      response. The delayed onset of the humoral immune response may explain why
      antibodies against B. burgdorferi could not be detected early in the course of
      the disease. But the antibody titers increase with duration of the illness. The
      humoral response shows the usual pattern of IgM appearing first, followed by IgG
      and IgA. The IgM titer normalizes after recovery while the IgG titer could
      persist over years or decades. It is hardly possible to detect B. burgdorferi
      microscopically or by cultivation from blood, joint or cerebrospinal fluid. For
      routine diagnosis the fluorescent antibody staining and the ELISA methods are
      available which detect IgM or IgG antibodies against B. burgdorferi. But the
      sensitivity and specificity of these tests are still unsatisfactory. Other
      methods such as the ELISA-capture method, complement binding reaction, passive
      hemagglutination or the polymerase chain reaction are not yet established for
      routine purposes. Western blot analysis did not yield an essential diagnostic
      advantage but may be helpful in long term observation or in special cases. The
      measurement of the cellular immune response by T-cell proliferation tests remains
      controversial. First of all Lyme borreliosis has to be diagnosed by clinical
      findings and by elimination through differential diagnosis. An elevated antibody
      titer or a positive T-cell proliferation test may confirm the diagnosis but
      cannot prove it. Without consistent clinical findings they are of no practical
      significance. Some general guidelines for interpretation of laboratory results
      are given.

PMID- 1448685
TI  - [Abdominal aortic aneurysm. Risks and early postoperative course].
AB  - A review of the literature shows a very variable mortality, especially after
      emergency operations for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) (14-70%). We therefore
      analyzed the mortality of our patients in different subgroups. The hospital data
      of 82 patients operated on for abdominal aortic aneurysm were analyzed
      retrospectively. 42 patients underwent emergency operations and 40 patients
      elective surgery. The mean age was 67.5 +/- 9.4 and 70.7 +/- 7.3 years
      respectively. The overall 30-day mortality in elective cases was 5% (2/40);
      elective patients under the age of 75 years had a mortality of 0%. 33% of the
      emergency cases died within 30 days. The mortality in various subgroups was as
      follows: "asymptomatic AAA" 5.4% (2/37), "symptomatic AAA" 10% (1/10),
      "retroperitoneal rupture" 34% (11/32) and "intraperitoneal rupture" 66.6% (2/3).
      Preoperatively 21/42 patients who underwent emergency surgery were in hypovolemic
      shock (systolic blood pressure < or = 90 mm Hg). The mortality of these patients
      was 52% (11/21) compared to 9.5% (2/21), (p < 0.01), in emergency patients
      without preoperative shock. The causes of death after emergency procedures were
      hypovolemic shock in 6, heart failure in 4, and multi-organ failure, respiratory
      insufficiency, unknown and pulmonary embolism in 1 each. 5/14 patients died in
      theatre. Two patients died after elective procedures: one 9 days postoperatively
      from myocardial infarction and the second 23 days after the operation from an
      unknown cause. Reoperation rate after elective and emergency procedures was 7.5%
      and 16.6% respectively. Mortality after reoperation was 40%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448686
TI  - [Fever of unknown origin in a cohort of HIV-positive patients].
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of fever of unknown
      origin (FUO) in a cohort of HIV positive patients and to describe their evolution
      and the final diagnosis. The clinical records of 412 patients followed from
      January 1987 to December 1990 at our HIV outpatient clinic were reviewed: in 151
      patients 255 episodes of fever had been observed of which 22 (in 21 patients) met
      the criteria for FUO. 19 patients (90%) presented with a CDC/WHO stage IV HIV
      infection and the mean CD4+ lymphocyte count was 0.160 G/l. The etiology was
      ultimately determined in 13/22 episodes (3 Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, 3
      invasive infections due to atypical mycobacteria, 2 bacterial pneumonia, 1
      Cytomegalovirus colitis, 1 Isospora belli enteritis, 1 visceral leishmania, 1
      candida septicemia and 1 lymphoma). In 6/22 episodes, the fever subsided after
      zidovudine was started and was therefore attributed to HIV itself. In 3/22
      episodes no etiology was found. In conclusion, this series shows that FUO is
      usually seen in advanced HIV infection and that it often represents an early sign
      of opportunistic infection. This observation underlines the importance of follow
      up, since it finally served to detect the etiology of FUO in 86% of cases. Trial
      treatment with zidovudine can be useful where no pathology has been discovered
      despite 3 weeks' follow-up and appropriate investigations.

PMID- 1448687
TI  - [Glomerulonephritis with transient C3 hypoclompimentemia and endotheliomesangial
      glomerulonephritis in childhood. A long-term experience].
AB  - 62 children (20 girls and 42 boys, ranging in age between 3 and 15 years),
      presenting with acute hypocomplementemic glomerulonephritis or morphologically
      confirmed endotheliomesangial glomerulonephritis, were admitted to the University
      Children's Hospital, Berne from 1970 to 1991. The annual incidence of cases of
      acute hypocomplementemic glomerulonephritis was stable during the study period.
      The site of the antecedent infection was the throat in 26 patients, upper
      respiratory tract in 15, the skin in 9, and unknown in 10. The latent period
      ranged from 0.5 to 3.5 weeks. 41 patients developed hypertension and 17 renal
      failure. Hypertensive complications were observed in 6 patients and remitted
      completely in 5 cases. A nephrotic syndrome (edema, proteinuria of 40 mg/[m2.h],
      albuminemia < 25 g/l) was observed in 11 patients. Microscopic hematuria
      persisted in many patients for one year or more. Proteinuria remitted in all but
      one patient, who was found to have Alport syndrome. This study shows the stable
      frequency of hypocomplementemic glomerulonephritis since 1970, its good
      prognosis, and the importance of the measurement of C3-complementemia in children
      presenting with acute glomerulonephritis.

PMID- 1448688
TI  - [Acute poisoning due to oral intake of an organic solvent].
AB  - We report a case of paint thinner intoxication by oral intake, with loss of
      consciousness, upper gastrointestinal injuries, renal failure, rhabdomyolysis and
      cervical plexus injury. The clinical picture was similar to other cases reported
      in the literature.

PMID- 1448689
TI  - [Awarding of the 7th Dr.-Josef-Steiner-Krebsforschungspreisen 1992 to Prof.
      Bernard Fisher and Prof. Gianni Bonadonna].

PMID- 1448690
TI  - INR and ISI--a step forward!

PMID- 1448691
TI  - Management of the do-not-resuscitate patient undergoing anesthesia and surgery.
AB  - Some unique questions and concerns arise when a patient with do-not-resuscitate
      orders is taken to surgery. This issue is discussed in the context of current
      data on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and ethical decision-making strategies.

PMID- 1448692
TI  - Medical malpractice support group.

PMID- 1448693
TI  - The South Dakota Drug Education and Evaluation Program (DEEP)

PMID- 1448694
TI  - Enteral nutrition: past, present and future.

PMID- 1448695
TI  - Date and acquaintance rape among a sample of college students.
AB  - This article reports on a date and acquaintance rape needs-assessment survey of
      106 male and 113 female students in undergraduate English courses at the
      University of Hawaii-Manoa. The sample was ethnically mixed, with Japanese being
      the largest ethnic group represented. Unduplicated counts showed that 28 percent
      (n = 32) of the women acknowledged that they were victims of rape or attempted
      rape, and the majority reported multiple victimizations. One-sixth (n = 18) of
      the men admitted to committing acts that meet the legal definition of sexual
      assault in Hawaii, and about one-third (29.2 percent, n = 31) admitted that they
      continue to make sexual advances even after a woman says no. Implications for
      date and acquaintance rape prevention programs are discussed.

PMID- 1448696
TI  - Elderly black farm women: a population at risk.
AB  - Elderly black farm women are a neglected segment of the elderly population. Their
      self-reliance, mutual support, and rurality have helped keep them isolated and
      underserved. This article describes the productive life-styles that 10 such women
      in southeastern North Carolina recalled in oral-history interviews and the
      problems these women face because of their advancing age, poor health, caregiving
      responsibilities, and isolation and the deterioration of traditional resources.

PMID- 1448697
TI  - Psychosocial implications of women and retirement.
AB  - This article explores the unique effects of retirement on women, many of whom are
      economically insecure when they retire. Because of the prevailing "myth" among
      women that they will be cared for in old age and women's fear of growing old,
      women often do not aggressively plan for their retirement. The women's movement
      should begin to advocate for women's preparation for the realities of old age.

PMID- 1448698
TI  - Kennel workers' grief needs addressing.

PMID- 1448699
TI  - [Indications for the use of metallic implants in the treatment of bone injuries].

PMID- 1448700
TI  - [Results of a multicenter study in arthrography using a nonionic, dimeric x-ray
      contrast medium].

PMID- 1448701
TI  - [Initial results in the quantification of fracture healing using computed
      tomography].

PMID- 1448702
TI  - [Fatty tissue necrosis following breast-conserving breast cancer therapy. A
      diagnostic challenge].

PMID- 1448703
TI  - [An unknown syndrome. 5 cases of a hereditary, until now not described
      symptomatology].

PMID- 1448704
TI  - Towards an essential national health research strategy for South Africa.

PMID- 1448705
TI  - Primary health care--some lessons for South Africa.

PMID- 1448706
TI  - Guidelines for the development of health policy. I. Tertiary care and academic
      complexes (a discussion document).

PMID- 1448707
TI  - Understanding academic medicine.

PMID- 1448708
TI  - The setting of health research priorities in a new South Africa.

PMID- 1448709
TI  - Nosocomial colonisation and infection in a paediatric respiratory intensive care
      unit.
AB  - A study of the prevalence of nosocomial colonisation and nosocomial infection
      (NI) was conducted in the paediatric respiratory intensive care unit of a large
      teaching hospital serving a developing community. Surveillance specimens were
      collected regularly from 63 consecutive patients admitted over 4 months, and also
      from professional staff, boarder mothers, cleaners and the unit environment. The
      incidence among patients of colonisation (40%) and of NI (43%) was high. The risk
      of dying in children with NI was appreciably increased (relative risk 2,241,
      confidence interval 0,591-8,503). This did not reach statistical significance,
      probably because so few children escaped acquiring hospital organisms. The
      significant risk factor for acquiring colonisation (P = 0.008) and NI (P <
      0.0001) was a ward stay of more than 10 days. In addition, for acquiring NI an
      age of under 6 months was also predictive (P = 0.0298). The nature of the primary
      illness dictated the time spent in the ward; an important proportion of patients
      had preventable diseases, such as measles, pneumonia and tetanus, which required
      prolonged treatment. All children with endotracheal intubation had hospital
      acquired organisms in tracheal aspirates. Eighty-two per cent of children
      developed positive gastric aspirates, 17% a positive urine culture and 11% a
      positive blood culture. Colonisation occurred rapidly; organisms initially
      appeared in gastric aspirates (mean 2 days), then in tracheal aspirates (mean 5
      days) and urine cultures (mean 10 days). The acquired organisms, many of which
      were antibiotic-resistant, were almost exclusively enteric Gram-negative bacilli
      (GNB) and Staphylococcus aureus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448710
TI  - Antibiotic susceptibility of anaerobic bacteria isolated in Johannesburg.
AB  - In vitro susceptibilities of 198 anaerobic bacteria to seven antibiotics were
      evaluated by the agar dilution method. In addition to testing
      amoxycillin/clavulanic acid in a 2:1 ratio against the bacteria, the combination
      was also tested against 63 isolates using fixed concentrations of clavulanic acid
      and serial dilutions of amoxycillin. Penicillin and cefoxitin were not effective
      against beta-lactamase-producing Bacteroides isolates and only 50% of isolates
      were susceptible to the 2:1 amoxycillin/clavulanic acid combination. However,
      when varying concentrations of amoxycillin were used together with constant
      concentrations of clavulanic acid (4 micrograms/ml) only 9 of 55 amoxycillin
      resistant Bacteroides were resistant to the combination. Two clostridia were
      found to produce beta-lactamases and as expected were resistant to penicillin. Of
      the non-beta-lactamase-producing clostridia 11% were resistant to penicillin and
      5% resistant to cefoxitin. Imipenem was effective against the majority of
      anaerobes tested and only 5 Bacteroides isolates were resistant. All anaerobic
      strains were susceptible to chloramphenicol and only 6% of strains resistant to
      clindamycin. Eighty-five per cent and 51% of Bacteroides strains had minimum
      inhibitory concentrations within two dilutions of the breakpoints of
      chloramphenicol (16 micrograms/ml) and clindamycin (4 micrograms/ml)
      respectively. Three strains of Peptostreptococcus spp. were resistant to
      metronidazole.

PMID- 1448711
TI  - Safety and efficacy of interferon alpha-2b following prednisone withdrawal in the
      treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B. A case-controlled, randomised study.
AB  - The therapeutic effects of interferon alpha-2b (Intron A; Scherag) in patients
      with chronic active hepatitis caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) were assessed in
      a randomised, case-controlled clinical trial conducted between January 1988 and
      June 1990. Treatment involved a short course of prednisone followed by interferon
      alpha-2b, initially 10 million U by subcutaneous injection, 3 times a week for 16
      weeks. All patients were symptomatic, were known to have had hepatitis B surface
      antigen and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in their blood for at least 6 months,
      and had elevated serum aminotransferase activities with histological evidence of
      chronic active hepatitis. Patients with carcinoma, renal or haematological
      abnormalities or decompensated cirrhosis were excluded. In 6 of 10 patients
      randomised to receive interferon and 1 of 10 controls, HBeAg and HBV DNA were
      cleared from the blood during the 12-month study period (P < 0.05). An
      indeterminate response with clearance of HBV DNA but persistence of HBeAg was
      noted in 1 patient receiving interferon. Serum aminotransferase levels decreased
      only in those patients who had responded to treatment, but this did not reach
      statistical significance for the group as a whole. Histological studies, where
      available, showed decreased hepatic periportal necrosis in patients who underwent
      treatment. Two patients relapsed to HBeAg-positive status 2 months after their
      initial seroconversion; 1 became clear again during a repeat course of
      interferon. Side-effects of treatment were common and included fever, malaise,
      myalgias and myelosuppression. One patient developed hypothyroidism.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448712
TI  - A survey of the use of blood and blood components among South African
      anaesthetists working in teaching hospitals.
AB  - A survey of the peri-operative policies for blood and blood component therapy was
      carried out among anaesthetists in the nine South African teaching hospitals. All
      anaesthetists completed the questionnaire, without recourse to books or
      discussion. The survey revealed a possible over-utilisation of blood and blood
      components in the peri-operative period. There were significant deficiencies in
      the pre-operative assessment of blood and platelet requirements and the specific
      indications for platelet, fresh frozen plasma and blood transfusions. A
      significant number of respondents exhibited poor knowledge of the potential
      dangers and expense that the use of blood and blood components entails.
      Educational effort was perceived to be the main method of rationalising the
      anaesthetist's usage of blood and blood components.

PMID- 1448713
TI  - The role of private hospitals in South Africa. Part I. Current trends.
AB  - This paper is the first of two that examine the present and the future role of
      private hospitals in South Africa. Part I describes the current structure and
      size of the private hospital sector, and analyses recent trends in the number and
      distribution of beds and hospitals, expenditure patterns, and utilisation of
      care. These observations are used as the basis for an analysis of the present
      role of the private hospital sector. It is argued that this sector is an
      important potential national resource for health care. However, the present
      contribution of private hospitals to national health care is limited by several
      factors. Access to a large proportion of these hospitals is restricted to those
      who can afford to pay, while the economic inefficiency and geographical
      maldistribution of fee-for-service and charity hospitals compound the negative
      effect private hospitals have on the public health sector. The gap between the
      potential contribution of private hospitals and current reality provides a strong
      argument for the development of a national policy that will improve the
      situation.

PMID- 1448714
TI  - Psychiatric manifestations of neurosyphilis.
AB  - To investigate referral patterns, initial diagnoses and clinical features of
      patients with neurosyphilis who present with psychiatric manifestations, records
      were kept of 21 such patients admitted to an acute psychiatric ward. In none of
      the 12 cases referred from primary care workers was the possibility of
      neurosyphilis considered. In only 3 cases was this diagnosis considered on
      admission to the psychiatric ward before serum serological test results were
      known. Commonest presenting symptoms were personality change (16 patients) and
      memory impairment (13 patients). Neurological signs or symptoms were also common,
      particularly absent pupillary reaction to light (5 patients) and buccolingual
      masticatory movements (5 patients). A positive serological test remains the
      single most important factor in identifying patients with neurosyphilis.

PMID- 1448715
TI  - Indications for computed tomographic brain scanning in psychiatric inpatients.
AB  - This study examined the rate of use of computed tomographic (CT) scanning as well
      as clinical parameters pertaining to that used in psychiatric patients. These
      patients were compared with a randomly selected control group of psychiatric
      patients who were not scanned. In addition, scan abnormalities were examined and
      correlated with clinical and electro-encephalographic (EEG) data. CT scanning was
      used on 13.5% of admissions. On axis 1 of the DSM III-R, the CT scan group had a
      significantly higher incidence of delirium and dementia (P < 0.05) and a much
      higher rate of medical illness (P < 0.01) on axis 3. The rate of CT abnormality
      was fairly high at 45.2%. An abnormal CT scan was associated with the diagnosis
      of dementia, the presence of organic mental status abnormality and of abnormality
      on neurological examination. Focally abnormal CT scans were associated with
      focally abnormal EEGs in a significant number of patients (P < 0.05).

PMID- 1448716
TI  - The clinicoradiological profile of cerebral venous thrombosis.
AB  - The clinical presentation, diagnostic and radiological aspects and the probable
      aetiology in 20 consecutively studied patients with cerebral venous thrombosis
      (CVT) are described. In this retrospective analysis patients were evaluated
      extensively according to a stroke investigative protocol. Computed tomography
      signs for CVT may be identified in the majority of cases and frequently obviate
      the need for angiography. In those patients in whom no satisfactory precipitating
      factor was recognised further haematological tests revealed abnormalities that
      are known causes of thrombosis in 7 patients. Eighty-five per cent of the
      patients made an excellent recovery. It is concluded that CVT can often be
      diagnosed non-invasively, the presumptive cause can be found in the majority of
      patients and the prognosis is excellent.

PMID- 1448717
TI  - Elective cholecystectomy via a 5 cm subcostal incision.
AB  - This report describes a technique whereby elective cholecystectomy is performed
      through a 5 cm abdominal incision. Initial results in 18 patients compared with
      112 historical control patients undergoing conventional cholecystectomy suggest
      an encouraging reduction in postoperative hospitalisation time, analgesic
      requirements and period of recuperation. The procedure takes no longer to perform
      than conventional cholecystectomy and obesity is not a limiting factor, as
      originally thought. This technique deserves a place alongside laparoscopic and
      conventional cholecystectomy in future studies seeking the optimal method of
      managing symptomatic cholelithiasis.

PMID- 1448718
TI  - The natural history of carcinoma of the cervix in young women.
AB  - Invasive carcinoma of the cervix was treated in 1,522 patients over a 10-year
      period at Groote Schuur Hospital. Data for each patient included place of
      residence, pathological characteristics of the tumour, nodal spread, histological
      evidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, disease stage, treatment type,
      treatment complications, site of recurrence and survival time. Patients aged
      under 35 years comprised 11.6% of the total patient group. A retrospective cohort
      study compared women aged under 35 years of age at the time of entry into the
      study and women aged 35 years or more. In all, 82 eligible young patients were
      compared with random sample of 82 eligible older patients. Contingency tables,
      life tables and proportional hazards analysis were used where appropriate. There
      was no significant difference across the two age groups in the incidence of non
      squamous tumours, or in the grades of squamous tumours. Similarly there was no
      evidence of differences in lymph node involvement or HPV infection. Young
      patients appeared to enter the study at significantly earlier stages of the
      disease, and a greater proportion of them underwent surgical treatment (diff =
      36.4% +/- 13.5%). In both groups treatment complications were less frequently
      observed after surgery than after radiotherapy. Sites of tumour recurrence were
      similar in both groups, and there was no apparent difference in survival times.

PMID- 1448719
TI  - [Failed postpartum sterilisation--a comparison of 5 methods].
AB  - A comparison of the standard Vienna method of postpartum sterilisation (3,580
      patients with 18 failures and a sterilisation failure rate of 5.03/1,000) with 4
      other methods at Paarl Hospital is presented: the Pomeroy method (892 patients
      with 19 failures and a sterilisation failure rate of 21.31/1,000); the total
      fimbriectomy method (1,578 patients with 23 failures and a sterilisation failure
      rate of 14.58/1,000); the Filshie clip method (808 patients with 18 failures and
      a sterilisation failure rate of 22.28/1,000); and the Irving method performed at
      caesarean section (456 patients and 1 failure). As no totally permanent technique
      exists to prevent pregnancy, a plea is lodged for legalised abortion after failed
      sterilisation.

PMID- 1448720
TI  - Teenagers seeking condoms at family planning services. Part I. A user's
      perspective.
AB  - The promotion of condom use is an essential part of any AIDS prevention
      programme. By distributing condoms and promoting their use, clinics that provide
      family planning services can play an important role in preventing the spread of
      AIDS. This study assesses the accessibility of condoms to teenagers at selected
      family planning services in Durban. Twelve randomly selected clinics in Durban
      were visited by each of 4 teenage fieldworkers. During these visits, the
      fieldworkers' experiences were recorded in detailed notes which were subsequently
      analysed for content. The fieldworkers experienced difficulty in locating a few
      of the clinics and some were embarrassed by security staff. The two female
      fieldworkers, in particular, were intimidated by their reception at the clinics
      and found resistance to their requests for condoms. On two occasions, supplies of
      condoms had run out. When condoms were available, they were distributed in a
      setting that lacked privacy. Information on how to use condoms, if offered at
      all, was supplied by way of pamphlets and information on AIDS was rarely offered.
      Overall, the experiences of the fieldworkers indicated that it was difficult for
      teenagers to obtain condoms from clinics providing family planning services in
      Durban. It is recommended that there be signs indicating the location of the
      clinics, and that privacy be ensured and adequate stocks of condoms maintained.
      Most importantly, clinic staff need to use every opportunity to discuss AIDS
      prevention with teenagers attending the clinic.

PMID- 1448721
TI  - Teenagers seeking condoms at family planning services. Part II. A provider's
      perspective.
AB  - This study assessed the ability and preparedness of staff at family planning
      clinics in Durban to assist in AIDS prevention by promoting condom use among
      teenagers. Staff at 12 randomly selected clinics were interviewed to assess their
      attitudes towards teenagers seeking condoms, the information imparted on AIDS and
      condom use, constraints faced in delivering services, and their perceived role in
      controlling the spread of AIDS. Despite their awareness of AIDS, those
      interviewed perceived their role to be that of promoting contraception. Condoms
      were perceived as a poor choice of contraceptive and their use was discouraged.
      The pamphlets dispensed along with condoms were thought to provide adequate
      information about condom use. Information on AIDS was given only if the clinic
      attender initiated discussion on the subject. Most of the clinic staff were keen
      to discuss other issues during their consultations, but felt constrained by the
      large numbers of people they had to attend to and the lack of adequate
      facilities. If family planning services are to play a role in controlling the
      spread of AIDS, the first step must be to make this function part of the overall
      policy. For there to be effective counselling on AIDS prevention, in-service
      training of current staff is required, as well as more staff and improvements in
      facilities to ensure greater privacy.

PMID- 1448722
TI  - Perinatal statistics for the Cape Province.

PMID- 1448723
TI  - Should NSAIDs be used in rheumatoid arthritis?

PMID- 1448724
TI  - First the infant, then the schoolboy sans teeth.

PMID- 1448725
TI  - Tetracyclines in myalgic encephalomyelitis.

PMID- 1448726
TI  - Differentiation of miliary tuberculosis from miliary metastasis of the lung.

PMID- 1448727
TI  - HIV positivity and abnormal cervical cytology.

PMID- 1448728
TI  - Acinic cell carcinoma of the sublingual gland.

PMID- 1448729
TI  - Retroperitoneal in-line aortic bypass for treatment of infected infrarenal aortic
      grafts.
AB  - Since 1970, we have treated 43 patients with infected aortic grafts. Early in the
      series, four patients were treated with resection of the fistula or erosion and
      systemic and topical antibiotics without removal of the graft. All four patients
      died. Thirty-two patients were treated by conventional therapy; there were 13
      deaths (40 percent). More recently, seven patients were managed by the left
      retroperitoneal placement of a new in-line polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) aortic
      graft through clean tissue planes, followed by the immediate transperitoneal
      removal of the infected graft without cross-contamination. Patients were
      maintained postoperatively on antibiotics for a minimum of two weeks. All seven
      patients survived without septic complications, with a mean follow-up time of 36
      months (six months to four years). The surgical technique consists of initial
      suprarenal control of the aorta, followed by infrarenal division and oversewing
      of the distal aorta. A PTFE bifurcation graft is placed connecting the proximal
      aorta and the appropriate femoral vessels, the right limb tunneled through the
      space of Retzius. After closure of the incisions, through the space of Retzius.
      After closure of the incisions, the patient is placed in the supine position and
      the infected graft is removed transperitoneally. We believe that retroperitoneal
      in-line aortic bypass for treatment of an infected aortic graft offers a
      favorable alternative to conventional therapy by avoiding the use of an extra
      anatomic bypass and associated risk of stump blowout.

PMID- 1448730
TI  - Observations on prevention and management of vesicovaginal fistula after total
      hysterectomy.
AB  - A retrospective study of genital fistulas of the lower urinary tract revealed 91
      percent to be postsurgical. Of these, 91 percent occurred after gynecologic
      procedures. Total hysterectomy was the most common antecedent procedure (n =
      110), and the resulting lesion was the vault fistula. Abdominal total
      hysterectomy was the most frequent operation to precede a vault fistula (n = 92)
      and almost 70 percent occurred in the absence of factors identified as placing
      the patient at risk for injury to the bladder. Such risk factors included prior
      uterine operation, especially cesarean section, endometriosis, recent cold-knife
      cervical conization and prior radiation therapy. Twenty-four fistulas occurred
      despite recognition at the time of hysterectomy of injury to the bladder and its
      prompt repair. Thirty patients had undergone prior failed attempts at repair
      elsewhere. Three fistulas closed spontaneously. One hundred and seven were
      repaired by the Latzko technique. There were nine failures, each of which was
      successfully repaired by a repeat Latzko operation when vaginal reepithelization
      was complete. Suggestions to avoid injury to the bladder during abdominal total
      hysterectomy include use of a two-way indwelling catheter when risk factors are
      present, use of sharp dissection to isolate the bladder, use of extraperitoneal
      cystotomy when dissection is difficult, filling the bladder when injury is
      suspected and repair of an overt bladder injury only after mobilization of the
      injured area. A Latzko repair of a vault fistula is advised because complications
      are minimal, the postoperative patient is comfortable and the period of
      hospitalization is five days or less.

PMID- 1448731
TI  - The diagnosis and management of dystocia of the shoulder.
AB  - Dystocia of the shoulder is an unpredictable obstetric emergency that may result
      in injury to the mother or fetus. In an effort to reduce such risks, attempts
      have been made to identify patients having a fetus who may subsequently develop
      shoulder dystocia. The literature, however, clearly reflects that even the
      combination of prenatal historic facts, estimated fetal weight and sequence of
      intrapartum events is ineffective in prospectively identifying infants whose
      births are complicated by shoulder dystocia. During a ten year period at the
      University of Mississippi Medical Center, the incidence of macrosomia, shoulder
      dystocia and subsequent brachial plexus injury was reviewed. The majority of
      instances (89 percent) of shoulder dystocia occurred in patients weighing less
      than 8 pounds 13 ounces at birth. In the current retrospective review, only 11
      percent of the women had risk factors for macrosomia or shoulder dystocia and
      among these, none were identified prospectively. Additionally, 91 percent of
      patients with brachial plexus injury recovered with no sequelae. One instance of
      brachial plexus injury occurred at the time of cesarean section. These data
      reveal that macrosomia and subsequent shoulder dystocia cannot be predicted.
      Therefore, it is not feasible to prevent brachial plexus injury prospectively by
      prophylactic cesarean section. Great clinical acumen and technical expertise by
      the obstetrician using a variety of methods may be useful in avoiding, as much as
      possible, injury to the mother and fetus when shoulder dystocia does occur.

PMID- 1448732
TI  - Surgical laparoscopic experience during the first year on a teaching service.
AB  - Recently, general surgeons have become actively involved in laparoscopic
      operations. The best method for teaching these techniques to surgical residents
      is unclear. Since June 1990, at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York
      City, we have instituted a formal course of instruction for surgical residents.
      This includes a reference syllabus, didactic instruction, use of an inanimate
      training device and a hands-on practice in swine. Clinically, the residents
      progress from observer to camera operator and, finally, operator. During the
      first year of this program, the authors performed 90 laparoscopic
      cholecystectomies, of which 71 were elective and 19 were for acute cholecystitis.
      There were seven morbidly obese patients, while 25 had undergone prior abdominal
      operations. The first 25 operations performed by the authors averaged 93.2
      minutes, while the last 40 operations performed primarily by the surgical
      residents with assistance of the authors averaged 70 minutes. There were nine
      complications, including postoperative pancreatitis in two patients, Clostridium
      difficile enterocolitis in two and one each of prolonged paralytic ileus,
      postoperative transfusion and umbilical incision dehiscence. Two patients had
      postoperative common duct stones. There were no wound infections, bile duct
      injuries or deaths. Complications were evenly distributed throughout the series
      and did not correlate with whether the surgeon was a resident or an attending
      surgeon. The results of this plan have been quite successful and thus far, 12
      residents have completed this program.

PMID- 1448733
TI  - Prospective comparison of partial versus total portal decompression for bleeding
      esophageal varices.
AB  - Eighty-six patients underwent portacaval shunt (PCS) to treat bleeding
      esophagogastric varices during a period of four years. Twenty-eight patients
      (group 1) underwent emergency total portal decompression, while 58 patients
      (group 2) underwent elective partial PCS. Age, gender, preshunt and postshunt
      alcohol consumption and modified Child-Pugh classification at the time of
      operation, and at latest follow-up evaluation, did not differ significantly
      between the two groups. Early mortality was higher after emergency shunts than
      after elective operation (p < 0.01). However, partial portal decompression, when
      compared with total shunt, resulted in a significantly lower likelihood of late
      mortality (13 versus 39 percent) (p < 0.05), as well as portasystemic
      encephalopathy (8 versus 56 percent) (p < 0.0005). All shunts remained patent
      postoperatively and no patient had variceal rebleeding during follow-up
      evaluation averaging 2.2 years. Duplex sonography demonstrated hepatofugal portal
      flow in all patients in both groups. The results of the current study suggest
      that partial portal decompression is technically feasible, prevents further
      variceal hemorrhage and confers significant protection against late mortality and
      the development of postshunt neuropsychologic dysfunction.

PMID- 1448734
TI  - Cardiovascular changes during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
AB  - Although the technique of laparoscopic cholecystectomy has increasing appeal,
      physiologic data to support the safety of this procedure are lacking. We studied
      the cardiovascular changes in 16 patients undergoing laparoscopic
      cholecystectomy, using impedance cardiography as a noninvasive means of
      continuous monitoring of cardiac output. Serial measurements of mean arterial
      pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), intraperitoneal pressure and expired carbon
      dioxide tension (PECO2) were also recorded. Results revealed a decrease of 30
      percent (p < 0.001) in cardiac index and 5 percent (p = 0.089) in HR, along with
      increases of 15 percent (p < 0.001) in MAP and of 79 percent (p < 0.001) in the
      calculated total peripheral resistance index. This elevation in afterload could
      lead to both an increase in myocardial oxygen consumption and to the potential
      risk of myocardial ischemia and possibly infarction or congestive heart failure,
      or both, in patients who are susceptible. The data suggest that patients with a
      history of cardiac disease should have preoperative cardiac evaluation and be
      closely monitored during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, as in any other extensive
      operation.

PMID- 1448735
TI  - Reassessment of preoperative laboratory testing has changed the test-ordering
      patterns of physicians.
AB  - To test the hypothesis that physicians have substantially reduced the ordering of
      unwarranted preoperative tests, the authors reviewed 2,093 medical records of
      patients having four surgical procedures performed at three institutions in three
      cities in 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985 or 1987. Excluding hemoglobin measurements, the
      incidence of ordering preoperative laboratory tests unwarranted by findings on
      history or physical examination decreased from 32.2 to 25.9 percent during this
      decade, representing a 19.6 percent reduction. This decrease was irregular and
      varied from operation to operation, test to test and institution to institution.
      Overall, the percentage of preoperative tests ordered that were unwarranted
      decreased from 66.9 percent in 1979 to 60.1 percent in 1987. Extrapolating these
      results, the authors estimate that more than $320 million was saved annually by
      elimination of unwarranted tests and that the potential savings could exceed
      $1.35 billion a year. Unexpectedly, the preoperative ordering of medically
      indicated tests also decreased (from 92.9 to 80.9 percent, representing a 12.9
      percent reduction). Because the benefit of performing justified tests is probably
      greater than the benefit of avoiding unwarranted tests, the net change has
      probably not been beneficial. A better system for obtaining justified tests and
      for eliminating the unwarranted tests may be necessary before a net benefit
      occurs. Punitive measures to reduce testing without prior establishment of such a
      system may save money, but impair health.

PMID- 1448736
TI  - Microbiologic factors of stump wound infection.
AB  - Specimens from 52 patients with stump wound infection (SWI) were studied for
      aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Bacterial growth was present in 44 specimens.
      Only aerobic or facultative bacteria were recovered in 19 specimens, only aerobic
      bacteria in 12 and mixed aerobic, facultative and anaerobic bacteria in 13. One
      hundred and three isolates were recovered (2.3 per specimen)-58 aerobic or
      facultative (1.3 per specimen) and 45 anaerobic (1.0 per specimen). The
      predominant isolates were anaerobic cocci (17), Bacteroides species (13
      isolates), Staphylococcus aureus (12) and Escherichia coli (11). Polymicrobial
      infection occurred in 36 instances. S. aureus was more commonly isolated and
      anaerobic bacteria were less commonly isolated in SWI of the arms, compared with
      legs. These data highlight the polymicrobial aerobic-anaerobic cause of SWI.

PMID- 1448737
TI  - The importance of the endopelvic fascia repair during vaginal hysterectomy.
AB  - During 1985 to 1989, 177 vaginal hysterectomies were performed in the Department
      of Gynecology, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, Israel, using the Porges technique with
      some modifications. Ninety patients had some degree of loss of the pelvic support
      -anterior or posterior wall relaxation, enterocele or uterine prolapse in various
      degrees. The patients were allocated to two groups, in which two different
      techniques were compared: group 1, with repair of the pubocervical and pararectal
      fascia and group 2 without the repair. The repair of the pubocervical and
      pararectal fascia after vaginal hysterectomy prevented vaginal vault prolapse
      (zero versus 15 percent, p < 0.01) and reduced the incidence of recurrent
      rectocele (23 versus 55 percent, p < 0.05) and recurrent cystocele (14 versus 45
      percent, p < 0.005). Recurrent genuine stress incontinence was found in 9 percent
      of patients in group 1 and 18 percent of patients in group 2 (not statistically
      significant; p = 0.163). Optimal management of relaxation of the vaginal wall
      during vaginal hysterectomy requires clinical suspicion and precise preoperative
      diagnosis and therapeutic plan. In the present study, the need for careful repair
      of the pubocervical and pararectal fascia during vaginal hysterectomy to prevent
      vaginal vault prolapse is emphasized. This procedure does not prolong the
      operation significantly (92 +/- 15 versus 84 +/- 17 minutes) and has no
      deleterious postoperative complications.

PMID- 1448738
TI  - Immunoperoxidase confirmation of ultrasonically guided fine needle aspirates in
      patients with recurrent hyperparathyroidism.
AB  - Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy in conjunction with ultrasonic definition of
      nonpalpable masses in the neck region is being used more frequently. Currently
      available preoperative localization tests have failed, in many instances, to
      delineate adequately the location of missed adenomas of the parathyroid gland. We
      describe herein the use of ultrasonically guided FNA of parathyroid tissue with
      immunoperoxidase confirmation for precise localization of the diseased gland.
      Three patients with persistent hypercalcemia after exploration of the neck were
      referred to Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans. In two of these patients, a parathyroid
      adenoma had been removed, while in one patient no adenoma was found. All patients
      had elevated calcium (range 10.9 to 11.6 milligrams per deciliter), low
      phosphorous and elevated parathyroid levels. Preoperative ultrasonography to
      localize the suspected parathyroid glands was performed, with FNA and
      immunohistochemical confirmation. Smears confirmed adequate cellular material.
      Alcohol fixed, Papanicolaou stained and air dried, Wright's and Giemsa stained
      smears were evaluated for the presence of parathyroid cells by conventional
      cytologic examination. The Papanicolaou-stained slides were then decolorized in 1
      percent hydrochloric acid in 70 percent ethanol. After decolorization, the smears
      were stained for parathyroid hormone (PTH) in an avidin-biotin complex (ABC)
      system, using a commercially available ABC kit (Vector Laboratories Inc.). The
      primary antibody is a polyclonal antiserum generated in rabbits against a
      synthetic human PTH. Negative controls were obtained from normal thyroid glands.
      In all three patients, the diseased gland was localized by ultrasound with
      cytologic and immunohistochemical confirmation, one on the right side and two on
      the left side. At surgical excision, the adenomas weighed 0.8 and 0.75 gram and
      the carcinoma, 0.75 gram. In two, intraoperative identification of the diseased
      gland was aided by ultrasound directed methylene blue injection into the adenoma.
      During a follow-up evaluation of eight to 24 months, serum calcium had remained
      normal in two patients, and one patient had become hypocalcemic and required
      calcium supplements. The preoperative localization allowed a direct surgical
      approach to the side in question in all patients. Ultrasonically guided FNA in an
      immunoperoxidase system can be a valuable preoperative localization technique for
      patients with recurrent hyperparathyroidism, thus avoiding extensive exploration
      of the neck with the subsequent complications.

PMID- 1448739
TI  - Local antibiotic prophylaxis in inguinal hernia repair.
AB  - We compared the effects of single dose (750 milligrams) prophylactic cefamandole
      delivered directly into the operative wound with local anesthesia (n = 162) with
      a control group (no antibiotics) (n = 162) in a randomized trial. No adverse
      effects were observed. There were seven wound abscesses in the untreated group
      compared with none in the group receiving antibiotic prophylaxis (p = 0.007). Six
      of the seven abscesses occurred as late as one month after the patient was
      discharged from the hospital. The costs of antibiotics used were ten times less
      than the costs of treatment of wound complications in the control group.

PMID- 1448740
TI  - T-tube management of late esophageal perforations.

PMID- 1448741
TI  - A simple modification of choledochoenterostomy using continuous pull through
      suture.
AB  - A simple modification of choledochoenterostomy is described. Using continuous
      suture and pull through technique, the posterior line of the anastomosis is
      completed without immediate approximation of the two structures. By improving the
      access, good control of the posterior suture line is ensured, the risk of
      anastomotic leakage is minimized and the use of stent or T tube is unnecessary.

PMID- 1448742
TI  - A new technique for ureteral stent placement during pregnancy using endoluminal
      ultrasound.
AB  - Endoluminal sonography using the IVUS is a minimally invasive procedure performed
      using a flexible 6.2F catheter with a 20 megahertz transducer that can easily be
      passed endoscopically to image the urethra, bladder, ureter and renal pelvis. In
      the current study, a woman patient in her third trimester of pregnancy with a
      renal pelvic stone and persistent colic was safely treated with placement of an
      indwelling ureteral stent. Because it is minimally invasive and does not require
      the use of roentgenograms, we believe the IVUS will be a useful tool to assist
      with the management of ureteral colic in patients who are pregnant in whom
      intervention is required.

PMID- 1448743
TI  - New York State Health Department ruling--a "wake-up call" for all.

PMID- 1448744
TI  - Endosurgical revolution, or convergence of multiple technical and socioeconomic
      realities?

PMID- 1448745
TI  - Colonoscopic impaction in left colon strictures resulting in right colon
      pneumatic perforation.
AB  - Colonic perforation during flexible colonoscopy is a rare but recognized
      complication. We reviewed 4,593 colonoscopies performed from 1984 to 1989. The
      perforation rate for diagnostic colonoscopy was 0.17% (6/3,538) and for
      therapeutic colonoscopy it was 2% (21/1,055). Four perforations of the right
      colon occurred at a site proximal to the level of the impacted colonoscope. The
      lesions being evaluated were obstructive in nature: two diverticular strictures
      (sigmoid colon), one ischemic stricture (descending colon), and one annular
      carcinoma (descending colon). The four perforations occurred in the right colon
      and manifested as distension with pneumoperitoneum or retroperitoneal emphysema.
      Operative management included total abdominal colectomy in two patients
      (ileoproctostomy in one and ileostomy in one) and right colectomy in two. Outcome
      was favorable in all cases.

PMID- 1448746
TI  - Correlative histologic and arthroscopic evaluation in rheumatoid knee joints.
AB  - The correlation between arthroscopic observations and histologic changes in
      rheumatoid arthritis is still controversial. Synovial samples of 21 knee joints
      in rheumatoid arthritis patients were comparatively investigated by endoscopy and
      histology. Biopsies were scored by an endoscopist and subsequently dissected.
      Different histochemical and immunocytochemical staining techniques were used to
      define inflammatory activity. Arthroscopic and histological values were compared
      by rating scales and variance analysis. Our study indicates that synovial biopsy
      is of diagnostic value in rheumatoid arthritis. However, its usefulness depends
      on the histochemical methods used. The results revealed highly significant
      correlations of endoscopic features with the number of neutrophilic granulocytes,
      intravascular leukocytes, and peroxidase-positive macrophages. However, no
      relationship was found between the detection of lymphocytes or resident
      macrophages and inflammatory scores. The close correlation between endoscopic and
      histological findings suggests that arthroscopic evaluation allows a valuable
      classification of the inflammatory activity in rheumatoid synovitis.

PMID- 1448747
TI  - Mesenteric venous thrombosis. Modern management and endoscopic diagnosis.
AB  - Mesenteric venous thrombosis has an obscure etiology, a prolonged onset of
      symptoms, and controversial methods of diagnosis and treatment. Eleven collected
      patients with pathologic confirmation of this diagnosis are presented, with one
      patient demonstrating the endoscopic appearance of this disease in human small
      bowel. Other methods of diagnosis are also reviewed. Treatment of mesenteric
      venous thrombosis requires resection of necrotic bowel and, we believe,
      anticoagulation. The role of planned "second-look" laparotomy is reviewed, but it
      was not necessary in those patients in whom definitive resection could be
      combined with intraoperative anticoagulation.

PMID- 1448748
TI  - Laparoscopic tube cholecystostomy.
AB  - Tube cholecystostomy was offered to 100 patients undergoing laparoscopic
      cholecystectomy as an alternative to open surgery should the gallbladder be found
      too severely inflamed for safe removal. At the time of surgery, three of the 100
      patients had gallbladders judged too severely inflamed for laparoscopic
      cholecystectomy. They therefore underwent laparoscopic placement of a
      cholecystostomy tube. The patients received 48 h of antibiotics in the hospital
      and then underwent tube drainage for 4-6 weeks as outpatients. They returned to
      the hospital for interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The three patients
      underwent successful interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy. There were no
      complications. Of the 100 patients in the study, conversion to open
      cholecystectomy was not necessary for any of the patients. Tube cholecystostomy
      is a safe and effective procedure. It should reduce the number of patients who
      require open surgery for removal of the gallbladder.

PMID- 1448749
TI  - Concomitant placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and jejunostomy.
AB  - Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies have gained wide use for long-term enteral
      nutrition. However, gastroesophageal reflux and aspiration pneumonia have
      occurred following this procedure. Initial enthusiasm concerning the ability of
      intrajejunal feeding to negate the risk of aspiration has been challenged by some
      reports. In this report, a new method is described for concomitant placement of
      endoscopic gastrostomy and feeding jejunostomy wherein the tip of the feeding
      jejunostomy is placed at least 40 cm distal to the pylorus while the gastrostomy
      tube is used for drainage. Twenty critically ill patients underwent the procedure
      utilizing general or local anesthesia. Sixty-day follow-up showed one uneventful
      episode of pulmonary aspiration (5%) after retrograde migration of the jejunal
      tube into the duodenum. All but two patients (90%) tolerated their tube feedings
      well. This technique can be easily performed with accurate placement of the PEJ
      tube distal to the pylorus and is associated with minimal risk of aspiration.

PMID- 1448750
TI  - Is laparoscopic better than open appendectomy?
AB  - Laparoscopic appendectomy is becoming increasingly popular as surgeons strive to
      manage surgical problems via minimally invasive techniques. We reviewed our early
      experience in 38 patients with laparoscopic appendectomy and compared it to open
      appendectomies done during the same time period. We found no difference in
      hospital costs, stay, or wound infection rate. There was a significant difference
      in OR time: the laparoscopic approach took longer. We conclude that this new
      approach is not clearly superior to open appendectomy despite theoretical
      advantages. Newer instruments and further studies are needed.

PMID- 1448751
TI  - Diagnostic laparoscopy in critically ill intensive-care-unit patients.
AB  - The diagnosis of intraabdominal sepsis in critically ill intensive-care-unit
      patients remains a challenge. Diagnostic laparoscopy has been performed in seven
      such patients following admission for coronary artery bypass surgery, gram
      negative sepsis, major burns, pneumonia, myocardial infarction, and post
      pneumonectomy. Laparoscopy revealed acalculous cholecystitis in two patients (one
      removed laparoscopically), gangrenous colon in two, cirrhosis with liver
      infarction in one, and, in two patients, no pathology. Although five patients
      died postoperatively, none was related to the laparoscopy. There were no
      intraoperative complications and no known pathology was missed. Because of its
      ease and accuracy, diagnostic laparoscopy should be considered in all critically
      ill patients suspected of harboring intraabdominal pathology. Further studies are
      needed to fully establish its efficacy and safety.

PMID- 1448752
TI  - Laparoscopic splenectomy--technical aspects.
AB  - Since the recent development of endoscopic cholecystectomy various other
      digestive disorders have been treated endoscopically. Using the endo-GIA stapler
      the authors report a case of laparoscopic splenectomy. Five trocar sheaths were
      used. Once detached, the spleen was cut into fragments in a plastic bag
      intraabdominally, which allowed its removal. Splenectomy was performed for a girl
      who had an autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). No operative transfusion
      was required. The patient was discharged after an uncomplicated postoperative
      recovery. The cosmetic result is good.

PMID- 1448753
TI  - LaparoLith. A new instrument for stone fragmentation in laparoscopic
      cholecystectomy.
AB  - Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed with incisions of a maximum
      diameter of 10 mm. The removal of a stone-filled gallbladder at the end of an
      operation via the 10-mm port needs often-extensive tissue-consuming manipulations
      for stone removal or minilaparotomy. Stone fragmentation can be achieved by
      mechanical crushing and by ultrasound-, electrohydraulic-, and tunable dye laser
      lithotripsy. The clinical employment of the LaparoLith (Baxter Healthcare
      Corporation), an instrument which allows mechanical fragmentation of stones
      inside the gallbladder, is presented here. We have used the LaparoLith in nine
      patients and have been successful in stone fragmentation in seven of these. The
      LaparoLith seems to be helpful in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, preventing
      extension of the subnavel incision.

PMID- 1448755
TI  - [Firing according to qualification. A nasty stamp. Interview by Mette Flordbo].

PMID- 1448754
TI  - The pneumoperitoneum technique by ultrasonographic guide.

PMID- 1448756
TI  - [Firing according to qualifications. Like holding on to a time bomb].

PMID- 1448757
TI  - [Smoking policy].

PMID- 1448758
TI  - [Drug cardex--avoid medication errors].

PMID- 1448759
TI  - [International Nurses Day. A healthy old age].

PMID- 1448760
TI  - [Executive Board].

PMID- 1448761
TI  - [Education--courses nearby].

PMID- 1448763
TI  - [Health for all. Ecology and nursing].

PMID- 1448762
TI  - [Education--advantages of scholarships].

PMID- 1448764
TI  - [Nursing care in endoscopy].

PMID- 1448765
TI  - [Clinical nursing--endoscopy].

PMID- 1448766
TI  - [Firing according to qualifications. Those, who best can be done without...].

PMID- 1448767
TI  - Lysosomal membrane glycoproteins in platelets.

PMID- 1448768
TI  - Des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin (PIVKA II) and plasma vitamin K1 in newborns and
      their mothers.
AB  - Assessments of the vitamin K status in newborns and their mothers by means of des
      gamma-carboxy-prothrombin (PIVKA II) measurement have given equivocal results.
      Part of the variability could be attributed to differences in sensitivity (i.e.
      the ability to detect small concentrations) and validity (i.e. ability to detect
      vitamin K deficiency) of the methods applied. None of these methods have yet been
      validated with respect to plasma vitamin K1. In 22 healthy mother/infant pairs
      PIVKA II was determined using three different assays including ratio Xa/ecarin
      (Xa/ec), crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE), and an ELISA with a monoclonal
      antibody (MAB). The results were compared with conventional clotting tests and
      plasma vitamin K1. The following results were obtained: Cord blood: Clotting
      tests within age-related normal ranges; PIVKA II detection rates: 0/22 (Xa/ec),
      1/22 (CIE), 4/22 (MAB); plasma vitamin K1: undetectable in 20/22. Mothers:
      Clotting tests all within normal range; PIVKA II detection rates: 1/22 (Xa/ec),
      0/22 (CIE), 5/22 (MAB); plasma vitamin K1 (pg/ml) for all mothers (median;
      range): 186; 55-833; for PIVKA II positive mothers: 213; 59-699. PIVKA II
      detectability in newborns and mothers was not correlated. The results show an
      increase in sensitivity for PIVKA II detection in the order of MAB >> CIE >
      Xa/ec. Due to the very low plasma vitamin K1 at birth, no correlation was
      possible between cord PIVKA II detectability and plasma vitamin K1. However, in
      mothers at term PIVKA II MAB appears to be unrelated to the vitamin K status.

PMID- 1448769
TI  - Reduction in factor VII, fibrinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1
      activity after surgical treatment of morbid obesity.
AB  - The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the surgical treatment of
      morbid obesity on some aspects of haemostatic and fibrinolytic function.
      Measurement of haemostatic and fibrinolytic factors was performed before and
      again 6 and 12 months after operation in 19 patients suffering from morbid
      obesity. Surgical treatment resulted in a mean decrease in body weight of 50 kg
      at 6 months and 64 kg at 12 months. Weight loss was accompanied at 12 months by
      significant reductions in median (interquartile range) concentrations of serum
      cholesterol from 5.3 (4.5-6.2) mmol/l to 3.6 (2.9-4.6) mmol/l; factor VII from
      113 (92-145)% of normal to 99 (85-107)%; of fibrinogen from 3.5 (3-9.3) g/l to
      2.8 (2.4-3.8) g/l; and of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity from
      21 (11-30) IU/ml to 6.3 (5-10) IU/ml. The decrease in PAI-1 activity probably
      accounted for a significant reduction in euglobulin clot lysis time. Tissue
      plasminogen activator activity was undetectable in most patients pre-operatively
      but increased slightly after 1 year to 110 (100-204) mIU/ml. There were no
      significant changes in plasma levels of KCCT, factor VIII, von Willebrand factor
      antigen, alpha-2-antiplasmin, antithrombin III, protein C antigen, beta
      thromboglobulin, platelet factor 4, fibrinopeptide A or platelet count. These
      findings provide support for the hypothesis that the surgical treatment of morbid
      obesity may have a long-term beneficial effect on mortality from cardiovascular
      and thromboembolic disease.

PMID- 1448770
TI  - Enhancement of spontaneous fibrinolytic activity in diabetic retinopathy.
AB  - The fibrinolytic system was studied in 96 patients with type I diabetes mellitus.
      Patients were grouped according to their degree of retinopathy; 38 patients with
      no evidence of retinopathy, 28 patients with background retinopathy and 30
      patients with proliferative retinopathy. Thirty healthy individuals served as
      controls. The basal fibrinolytic activity as measured by clot lysis time and t-PA
      activity was increased in diabetic patients. This was associated with low levels
      of plasminogen activator inhibitor. Increased levels of D-dimer in diabetic
      patients further indicate enhanced in vivo fibrinolysis. The increase in
      fibrinolytic activity was highest in diabetics without retinopathy, and decreased
      with increasing retinopathy. Endothelial release of t-PA after venous occlusion
      was not different between controls and all diabetic groups. These findings
      suggest that in type I diabetics the fibrinolytic system is in an activated
      state. With worsening of retinopathy this increase in fibrinolytic activity
      diminishes.

PMID- 1448771
TI  - The production of a factor X activator by a methylcholanthrene-induced rat
      fibrosarcoma.
AB  - The association between neoplasia and thrombosis has been well documented. We
      have studied the production of a procoagulant which is a factor X activator in a
      rat fibrosarcoma model. Extracts of excised tumor were assayed in a one stage
      clotting assay using normal and factor deficient human plasmas. The activity was
      not due to tissue factor, as acceleration of clotting was observed in FVII
      deficient plasma. No activity was noted in FX deficient plasma. The activator was
      capable of cleaving 125I-FX in the absence or presence of calcium. A
      radioimmunoassay (RIA) demonstrated a 5,100-fold increase in the levels of FX
      activation peptide after exposure to sarcoma extract. The FX activation occurs in
      the absence of calcium although the effect is greatly accelerated in the presence
      of 5 mM CaCl2. Using a two-stage amidolytic assay, functional activation of FX by
      the sarcoma was demonstrated. Inhibitor studies suggest that the sarcoma-derived
      procoagulant is a serine protease. The methylcholanthrene-induced rat sarcoma may
      serve as a useful model for investigating the regulation and effects of cancer
      procoagulants.

PMID- 1448772
TI  - Multicentric evaluation of a new assay for prothrombin fragment F1+2
      determination.
AB  - A multicenter study of a recently developed ELISA for the determination of
      prothrombin fragment F1+2 was performed in order to evaluate analytical and
      clinical aspects. Mean intra-assay and inter-assay reproducibility were found to
      be 11.0 and 12.6%, respectively. The measuring range covered by the calibration
      curve reaches from 0.04 to 10.0 nM/l F1+2. Testing 133 healthy subjects a
      reference range of 0.37 to 1.11 nM/l F1+2 (2.5-97.5 percentile) with a median of
      0.66 nM/l F1+2 was calculated. Minor difficulties with blood sampling (venous
      occlusion for 2 min) did not affect F1+2 plasma concentrations. Significantly
      increased F1+2 levels were measured in patients with leukemia (p < 0.0001),
      severe liver disease (p < 0.005) and after myocardial infarction (p < 0.01).
      Elevated F1+2 concentration before the beginning of heparin therapy (1.25 nM/l)
      decreased to 0.77 nM/l (p < 0.0001) after 1 day of therapy. For patients in the
      stable phase of oral anticoagulant therapy decreasing F1+2 concentrations were
      measured with increasing INR. F1+2 levels were already significantly reduced in
      patients with INR < 2.0 (0.56 nM/l; p = 0.0005). Thus F1+2 determination may be
      helpful in identifying activation processes as well as in monitoring
      anticoagulant therapy.

PMID- 1448773
TI  - Influence of the xanthine derivate HWA 138 on endotoxin-related coagulation
      disturbances: effects in non-sensitized vs D-galactosamine sensitized rats.
AB  - We have evaluated the effects of the xanthine derivate HWA 138 in rat endotoxemia
      in order to 1) prevent coagulation disturbances and other endotoxin-induced
      physiological abnormalities and 2) to reduce mortality. We performed two studies
      using two different models (sensitized vs non-sensitized rats) with a similar
      mortality but different severity of coagulation disturbances: a) LPS (15 mg/kg)
      alone or with HWA 138 (80 mg/kg) as a treatment modality 30 min pre LPS, b)
      galactosamine (500 mg/kg) simultaneously with LPS (100 micrograms/kg) with or
      without HWA 138 (80 mg/kg) pretreatment. Experiments c) and d) employed D
      galactosamine and/or LPS similar to experiments a) and b), while HWA 138 was
      applied simultaneously. We found significant 1) amelioration of life-threatening
      coagulation disturbances in non-sensitized rats, 2) prevention of liver
      dysfunction in sensitized rats, 3) reduction of TNF formation in both models, and
      4) improvement of survival in all groups receiving HWA 138. Our data indicate
      protective effects of HWA 138 against clotting disturbances either directly via
      reduced LPS-induced formation of procoagulant activity or indirectly via reduced
      TNF formation.

PMID- 1448774
TI  - Prevention of thrombus growth by antithrombin III-dependent and two direct
      thrombin inhibitors in rabbits: implications for antithrombotic therapy.
AB  - We compared the abilities of heparin and two direct thrombin inhibitors to
      prevent fibrin accretion onto pre-existing thrombi in rabbits. Inhibition of
      thrombus growth was measured as the ability of each test compound to inhibit the
      accretion of 125I-fibrin onto thrombi pre-formed in jugular veins of rabbits.
      When administered as a continuous infusion, the two direct (i.e. antithrombin III
      independent) thrombin inhibitors, r-hirudin and a tripeptide, Ac(D)-Phe-Pro-bor
      Arg (P-8714) inhibited fibrin accretion as effectively as heparin, but did so in
      doses which generated little systemic anticoagulation, as compared to the marked
      anticoagulation associated with the heparin effect. However, both r-hirudin and P
      8714 were more effective when they were administered as a single bolus injection
      than as a continuous infusion. Under the former conditions, there was only a
      transient systemic anticoagulant effect. We conclude that direct or antithrombin
      III-independent thrombin inhibitors are more effective than heparin in preventing
      thrombus growth. The limited effect of heparin is likely due to fibrin impairing
      the ability of heparin/antithrombin III to inactivate thrombin.

PMID- 1448775
TI  - Collaborative study of a proposed international standard for plasma fibrinogen
      measurement.
AB  - There is increased interest in the relationship between plasma fibrinogen levels
      and the incidence of coronary artery disease. The National Institute for
      Biological Standards and Control (UK) has completed a study to establish an
      International Standard for plasma fibrinogen. This study was conducted using a
      recommended assay procedure to measure the clottable material present in the
      proposed lyophilised Standard (coded 89/644). Twenty-two laboratories from nine
      countries took part in the study and analysis of the data allowed the calibration
      of 89/644 at 2.4 mg/ml clottable protein. Agreement with this figure was
      established in two laboratories using three or more different assays for plasma
      fibrinogen. Degradation studies of the proposed plasma fibrinogen Standard
      suggested that no loss of clottable protein was observed when the lyophilised
      material was stored at 20 degrees C for 1 year. The Fibrinogen Sub-Committee of
      the ISTH (Amsterdam, The Netherlands, June 1991) supported the establishment of
      89/644 as an International Standard. This collaborative study will be presented
      to the Expert Committee on Biological Standardisation of the World Health
      Organisation at their 1992 session. In the meantime 89/644 will be distributed as
      the proposed International Standard for plasma fibrinogen measurement containing
      2.4 mg/ml clottable protein.

PMID- 1448776
TI  - Pharmacokinetic properties of recombinant factor VIII compared with a
      monoclonally purified concentrate (Hemofil M). The Recombinate Study Group.
AB  - A recombinant FVIII preparation, Recombinate, was compared with a high-purity
      plasma-derived concentrate, Hemofil M, in 47 hemophilia A patients in a cross
      over evaluation of pharmacokinetic properties. The recombinant material showed a
      significantly lower clearance, volume of distribution, and higher in vivo
      recovery, but a similar half-life to the plasma-based product. In a comparison
      with reported data from other standard concentrates, the recombinant preparation
      exhibited potentially better pharmacokinetic properties in that its clearance was
      slower and its half-life was longer. We conclude that the recombinant DNA method
      of preparation does not adversely affect the biological and pharmacological
      characteristics of the factor VIII molecule.

PMID- 1448777
TI  - The hemodynamic and fibrinolytic response to low dose epinephrine and
      phenylephrine infusions during total hip replacement under epidural anesthesia.
AB  - Lower rates of deep vein thrombosis have been noted following total hip
      replacement under epidural anesthesia in patients receiving exogenous epinephrine
      throughout surgery. To determine whether this is due to enhanced fibrinolysis or
      to circulatory effects of epinephrine, 30 patients scheduled for primary total
      hip replacement under epidural anesthesia were randomly assigned to receive
      intravenous infusions of either low dose epinephrine or phenylephrine
      intraoperatively. All patients received lumbar epidural anesthesia with induced
      hypotension and were monitored with radial artery and pulmonary artery catheters.
      Patients receiving low dose epinephrine infusion had maintenance of heart rate
      and cardiac index whereas both heart rate and cardiac index declined
      significantly throughout surgery in patients receiving phenylephrine (p = 0.0001
      and p = 0.0001, respectively). Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity
      increased significantly during surgery (p < 0.005) and declined below baseline
      postoperatively (p < 0.005) in both groups. Low dose epinephrine was not
      associated with any additional augmentation of fibrinolytic activity
      perioperatively. There were no significant differences in changes in D-Dimer, t
      PA antigen, alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor-plasmin complexes or thrombin-antithrombin
      III complexes perioperatively between groups receiving low dose epinephrine or
      phenylephrine. The reduction in deep vein thrombosis rate with low dose
      epinephrine is more likely mediated by a circulatory mechanism than by
      augmentation of fibrinolysis.

PMID- 1448778
TI  - The anatomical distribution of plasma fibrinolytic activity in man during cardiac
      catheterisation.
AB  - Regional circulating plasma levels of fibrinolytic activity were assessed in 15
      patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation. The euglobulin clot lysis time
      (ECLT) was longer in the abdominal aorta (AA) than the inferior vena cava (IVC),
      (median difference -17.5 min, p = 0.008). This was associated with higher
      inhibition of plasminogen activator activity (PAI) in the AA than IVC, -1.75
      IU/ml, p = 0.002. In the venous circulation the ECLT was higher in the peripheral
      venous sample than in the IVC, -25.5 min, p = 0.003, with higher PAI peripherally
      than in the IVC, -1.9 IU/ml, p = 0.001. There were no differences in ECLT, PAI,
      PAI-1:Ag or t-PA:Ag throughout the arterial circulation. These results
      demonstrate higher fibrinolytic activity with lower inhibitor activity in the
      venous compared to the arterial circulation. Within the venous circulation
      fibrinolytic activity is lower peripherally with increased inhibitor activity.

PMID- 1448779
TI  - Mutations in severe, type III von Willebrand's disease in the Dutch population:
      candidate missense and nonsense mutations associated with reduced levels of von
      Willebrand factor messenger RNA.
AB  - The von Willebrand factor (vWF) genes of nine unrelated, severe, type III von
      Willebrand's disease (vWD) patients (six of Dutch origin) and four unrelated
      Dutch type I vWD patients were screened for mutations in exons that contain CGA
      codons (Arg), which are liable to mutation to TGA stop codons. The nine exons of
      the vWF gene (3, 8, 9, 10, 28, 31, 32, 43 and 45) that contain all the CGA codons
      (11 in total) of the vWF cDNA were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and
      screened for mutations by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis,
      restriction enzyme - and/or nucleotide sequence analysis. Three of the severe vWD
      patients were found to be heterozygous for a nonsense mutation: CGA Arg 2535-
      >TGA Stop. Three other severe vWD patients were homozygous for a single
      nucleotide substitution, AAC Asn 2546-->TAC Tyr. The transcription of these
      mutated alleles was tested by cDNA dependent amplification of platelet RNA. The
      level of transcription product was strongly reduced for either mutant allele.

PMID- 1448780
TI  - Comparison of the inhibitory effects of the TXA2 receptor antagonist, vapiprost,
      and other antiplatelet drugs on arterial thrombosis in rats: possible role of
      TXA2.
AB  - The antithrombotic effect of the thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist, vapiprost,
      was compared with those of other antiplatelet drugs using an arterial thrombosis
      model which utilized photochemical reaction in the rat femoral artery. Vapiprost
      prolonged the time required to occlude the artery with thrombus and inhibited
      collagen-induced rat platelet aggregation in whole blood ex vivo, in a dose
      dependent manner. The potency ranking of antithrombotic effect was vapiprost >
      ketanserin (serotonin 5-HT2 receptor antagonist) >> ticlopidine (inhibitor of ADP
      induced platelet aggregation) = dipyridamole (adenosine uptake inhibitor) >
      aspirin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor). On the other hand, the ranking of
      antiplatelet effect was ticlopidine > or = vapiprost > or = aspirin. Ketanserin
      and dipyridamole were ineffective. Relative to their antiplatelet effect,
      vapiprost and ketanserin had powerful antithrombotic effects. It is possible that
      the potent antithrombotic effects of vapiprost and ketanserin in vivo reflect the
      ability of these drugs to inhibit mediator-induced vascular contractions in
      addition to platelet aggregation. The results of the present study also suggest
      that TXA2 may play an important role in thrombogenesis in rats.

PMID- 1448782
TI  - A high titre "spontaneous" porcine FVIII inhibitor.

PMID- 1448781
TI  - Hereditary protein C-deficiency: laboratory values in transmitters and guidelines
      for the diagnostic procedure. Report on a study of the SSC Subcommittee on
      Protein C and Protein S. Protein C Transmitter Study Group.
AB  - A multicenter study on protein C-antigen and -activity values was carried out in
      transmitter patients with hereditary protein C deficiency (diagnosis established
      by pedigree analysis) and in normal controls in order to (1) establish the range
      of protein C levels in genetically determined heterozygotes and (2) to evaluate
      the usefulness of statistical procedures to discriminate between protein C
      deficient patients and controls. In transmitters absolute protein C activity
      values ranged from 19 to 82% and antigen values from 22 to 88.5%. Most
      transmitter patients could clearly be differentiated from the control group.
      However, in some transmitter patients values of protein C were within the range
      of the control group. The discrimination between transmitters and controls could
      be improved by statistical procedures. Using tolerance ellipses the overlapping
      area of the two groups was smallest when (factor II antigen+factor X antigen)/2
      was plotted against protein C antigen. To specify the degree of uncertainty
      likelihood ratios were calculated to obtain the posterior probability for an
      individual for being deficient or not. In quadratic discriminant analysis the
      best discrimination between transmitters and controls was obtained using protein
      C activity versus factor X antigen and protein C antigen versus factor X antigen.
      Based on these analysis an equation was derived, which allows the calculation of
      the likelihood ratio favouring deficiency or non-deficiency in an individual.

PMID- 1448783
TI  - Erythropoietin doping in athletes: possible detection through measurement of
      fibrinolytic products.

PMID- 1448784
TI  - PPACK-thrombin is a noncompetitive inhibitor of alpha-thrombin binding to human
      platelets.
AB  - Recent studies from our laboratory indicate that purified kininogens are
      noncompetitive inhibitors of human alpha-thrombin but not PPACK-thrombin, binding
      to human washed platelets. In order to understand the mechanism by which the
      kininogens inhibit alpha-thrombin binding, investigations were initiated to
      determine if alpha-thrombin and PPACK-thrombin bound to the same site on human
      platelets. Initial investigations reveal that alpha-thrombin is a more potent
      inhibitor of 125I-PPACK-thrombin binding than PPACK-thrombin. Further studies
      show that PPACK-thrombin is a noncompetitive inhibitor of 125I-alpha-thrombin
      binding to platelets. These studies suggest that human alpha-thrombin binds on
      the platelet surface to a different site or binds differently to the same site
      from PPACK-thrombin. These data indicate that the ability of the kininogens to
      block alpha-thrombin binding to platelets but not PPACK-thrombin binding results
      from these thrombins having either two different binding sites or one binding
      site on the platelet surface which they interact with differently.

PMID- 1448785
TI  - Kinetics of merthiolate-induced aggregation of human platelets.
AB  - Incubation of human platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or washed platelets with
      merthiolate (MT; sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate; an inhibitor of
      lysophosphatide: arachidonoyl transferase) leads to irreversible platelet
      aggregation which is parallelled by an increase in thromboxane A2 synthesis. MT
      induced aggregation is preceded by a pronounced lag-period (0.5-10 min). Duration
      of the latter is inversely related to the concentration of MT ([MT]). Platelet
      responses to MT are similar to those triggered by arachidonate (AA) in that the
      relationships of the aggregation rates both to [MT] and [AA] are threshold and
      exhibit characteristic super-high values of the apparent Hill coefficients (h >
      30). A typical MT-induced response can be subdivided in two sequential phases: i)
      cyclooxygenase-independent slow aggregation, and ii) indomethacin-abrogated rapid
      aggregation. MT-induced responses are blocked by PGE1 or ajoene (which inhibits
      binding of fibrinogen to its cell surface receptor, GPIIb/IIIa). The obtained
      data are interpreted both quantitatively and qualitatively in terms of a model
      assuming the existence of: i) a relationship between the rate of MT-inhibitable
      AA incorporation into phospholipids and the concentration of intracellular free
      AA, [AA]i; ii) a certain threshold value of [AA]i essential for triggering the
      second phase of the aggregation.

PMID- 1448786
TI  - Binding of annexin V to a human ovarian carcinoma cell line (OC-2008).
      Contrasting effects on cell surface factor VIIa/tissue factor activity and
      prothrombinase activity.
AB  - Proteins of the annexin/lipocortin family bind tightly to anionic phospholipids
      and platelets and act as in vitro anticoagulants. Annexins may be useful as tools
      to study the availability of anionic phospholipids on cell surfaces and their
      role in the regulation of blood coagulation. In the present study, we
      investigated the binding of annexin V (placental anticoagulant protein I) to a
      human ovarian carcinoma cell line, OC-2008, that constitutively expresses surface
      membrane tissue factor activity. Binding of annexin V to cell monolayers was
      calcium-dependent, specific, saturable and reversible; Scatchard analysis
      indicated a single class of binding sites with an apparent Kd of 9.4 +/- 3.1 nM
      and 5.2 +/- 1 x 10(6) sites per cell. Binding was completely inhibited by
      phospholipid vesicles containing phosphatidylserine, but was not inhibited by
      vesicles containing phosphatidylcholine. Annexin V inhibited the cell surface
      dependent activity of prothrombinase complex, but did not inhibit the activity of
      the factor VIIa/tissue factor complex. In conclusion, these results suggest that
      anionic phospholipid is present on the extracellular face of OC-2008 cells; this
      anionic phospholipid is functionally important for the activity of the
      prothrombinase complex, but the importance of anionic phospholipid for the cell
      surface factor VIIa/tissue factor functional activity is unclear.

PMID- 1448787
TI  - The inhibitory effect of 9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine (THA) on platelet
      function.
AB  - Tetrahydroacridine (THA), or Cognex, is currently awaiting FDA approval for the
      treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In addition to reports indicating that THA
      improves the symptoms of patients with Alzheimer's disease, we have found that
      THA possesses potent antiplatelet activity. THA produced dose-dependent
      inhibition of human platelet aggregation induced by collagen, ADP, A23187, and
      phorbol ester. THA, when added to activated platelets, dispersed the platelet
      aggregates. We have also examined the effects of THA on intracellular Ca++
      mobilization, ATP release, and production of cyclic AMP.

PMID- 1448788
TI  - 1-Deamino-8 D-arginine vasopressin decreases the production of 13
      hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid by endothelial cells.
AB  - 1-Deamino-8 D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) has been used effectively to normalize
      the bleeding time in various hemostatic disorders. In von Willebrand disease the
      reduction in bleeding time is due to the preferential release of large multimers
      of von Willebrand factor from endothelial cells. However, since the bleeding time
      correction in patients with uremia and liver disease is independent of the
      release of von Willebrand antigen and activity, other mechanisms of action of
      DDAVP need to be considered. Endothelial cells generate several thromborepellant
      factors including 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE), an inhibitor of
      platelet adhesion to subendothelium. Using cultured fetal bovine aortic
      endothelial cells (FBAECs), we have investigated whether DDAVP modulates the
      production of 13-HODE. We have demonstrated that 14C-linoleic acid labeled FBAECs
      release several oxygenated derivatives of linoleic acid following a 120 min
      incubation in the presence of serum. One of these products was identified by
      chromatographic procedures as 13-HODE. The production of 13-HODE was decreased
      significantly by DDAVP (1-100 ng/ml) with maximal reduction (approx. 25%) seen at
      1 ng/ml of DDAVP. While vehicle treated control FBAECs generated 6780 +/- 690 cpm
      of 13-HODE per 10(6) cells (mean +/- SE, n = 8), DDAVP treated FBAECs produced
      4950 +/- 310 (P < 0.01), 5390 +/- 390 (P < 0.01), and 5720 +/- 410 cpm (P < 0.05)
      of 13-HODE at 1, 10, and 100 ng/ml DDAVP respectively. Our findings of a decrease
      in 13-HODE would explain the previously observed morphologic changes of increased
      platelet adhesion to subendothelium following DDAVP infusion and contributes to
      our understanding of the mode of action of this therapeutic agent in hemostatic
      disorders.

PMID- 1448789
TI  - The acute effect of a single very high dose of N-3 fatty acids on coagulation and
      fibrinolysis.
AB  - The objective of the study was to investigate the acute effect of a single very
      high dose of n-3 PUFA on coagulation and fibrinolysis. Forty healthy volunteers
      were randomized into two groups to receive either 20 grams of n-3 PUFA or 20
      grams of n-6 PUFA as a single dose at 6 p.m. with their evening meal. Coagulation
      and fibrinolysis were evaluated in the fasting state at 8 a.m. the next morning
      and compared to values obtained at 8 a.m. the day before, when the participants
      were on their habitual diets. PAI-1 activity in plasma increased by a mean of 62%
      in subjects randomized to receive n-3 PUFA despite that no changes could be
      demonstrated in t-PA antigen levels. PAI-1 activity was unaltered in the 20
      controls receiving n-6 PUFA. Plasma fibrinogen, coagulation factor VII, thrombin
      antithrombin complexes and D-dimer did not significantly change after either
      supplement. The substantial increase in levels of PAI-1 activity in plasma after
      a single very high dose of n-3 PUFA may limit the usefulness of single very high
      doses of n-3 PUFA in acute clinical conditions.

PMID- 1448790
TI  - The vascular plasminogen activator as source of the fibrinolytic potential
      observed during cardiopulmonary bypass.
AB  - Increased fibrinolytic activity is a well recognized constant finding observed
      during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The purpose of the present work was to study
      and estimate the factors involved in the plasminogen activation and prekallikrein
      kallikrein systems in a population of adult patients undergoing open heart
      surgery with CPB. Plasminogen activator activity determinations with a
      fibrinolytic method as well as plasminogen activation and prekallikrein
      kallikrein determinations with synthetic substrates were carried out. Our results
      indicate that no active fibrinolysis but a fibrinolytic potential, similar to
      that observed in blood obtained after venous occlusion, can be demonstrated in
      circulating plasma during CPB. This fibrinolytic potential is related to the
      presence of vascular plasminogen activator released from endothelial cells by the
      CPB stimulus.

PMID- 1448791
TI  - Anticardiolipin antibodies in heparin-associated thrombocytopenia.

PMID- 1448792
TI  - Markers of coagulation activation in inherited protein S deficiency.

PMID- 1448793
TI  - Calcium binding to abnormal fibrinogens with a single amino acid replacement in
      the NH2-terminal region of fibrin alpha- or beta-chain.

PMID- 1448794
TI  - Effect of endothelin on the release of tissue plasminogen activator and
      plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 from cultured human endothelial cells and
      interaction with thrombin.

PMID- 1448795
TI  - Altered primary haemostasis in Conn's syndrome.

PMID- 1448796
TI  - Molecular mechanism of hemolymph clotting system in Limulus.
AB  - Limulus (horseshoe crab) hemolymph is known to be very sensitive to bacterial
      endotoxin (LPS), which causes a rapid coagulation response. Hemolymph contains a
      single type of hemocyte that undergoes aggregation, adhesion, and degranulation
      in response to LPS. The granule contents are released into the hemolymph, where
      they form an insoluble gel. We have characterized four components involved in
      this coagulation response that comprise a cascade of three serine protease
      zymogens (factor C, factor B, and proclotting enzyme) and one clottable protein
      (coagulogen). Of these components, factor C sensitive to LPS is a protein
      composed of five complement-related domains ("Sushi" or SCR), an EGF-like domain,
      and a C-type lectinlike domain as well as a putative amino-terminal LPS-binding
      domain. This domain structure is very similar to that of selectin family of cell
      adhesion molecules, suggesting that it might also function as a cell adhesion
      molecule after the release into the hemolymph. Factor B and the proclotting
      enzyme share a common Cys-rich motif ("cliplike" domain) in the amino-terminal
      portions. This domain is also found in a putative serine protease zymogen
      ("easter") in Drosophila, which is essential for normal embryonic development.
      All four of the components of the cascade and an antibacterial protein (anti-LPS
      factor) are localized to a specific type of the hemocyte granule. Another
      antibacterial peptide (tachyplesins I and II) is localized in a distinct granule
      population. The contents of both granule populations are released into the
      hemolymph in response to LPS, where they cooperate in immobilization and killing
      of Gram-negative bacteria.

PMID- 1448797
TI  - Increased procoagulant activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from
      patients with liver cirrhosis.

PMID- 1448798
TI  - Low dose infusion of adenosine diphosphate prolongs bleeding time in rats and
      rabbits.
AB  - The effect of intravenous infusion of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) on haemostatic
      and thrombotic mechanisms was studied in rats and rabbits. Infusion of ADP (0.2-1
      microMol/kg/min) in rabbits prolonged the skin capillary bleeding time threefold
      after between 1/2 and 2 hours of infusion. Prolongation of the bleeding time was
      parallelled by reduced in vitro sensitivity of platelets to ADP in citrated
      platelet-rich plasma. No major changes in respiratory frequency and heart rate
      were observed. On the other hand, infusion of adenosine (1 microMol/kg/min) did
      not affect the bleeding times. Intravenous ADP (0.1 microMol/kg/min)
      significantly prolonged the bleeding time in anaesthetized rats. Platelet and red
      cell counts before and during the ADP infusion indicated slight, reversible
      platelet aggregation. After 75 min the ratio between red cells and platelets
      resumed a steady pre-experimental level. Platinum wires placed in the abdominal
      aorta of rats to monitor thrombus formation during ADP infusion indicated an
      antithrombotic effect of prolonged, low dose infusion of ADP. Since infusion of
      adenosine did not affect the haemostatic mechanisms, these observations may
      indicate that ADP infusion desensitized the platelet responsiveness to
      aggregating stimuli in vivo, and/or that prostacyclin production by endothelium
      was stimulated by infusion of ADP.

PMID- 1448799
TI  - Different effects of A23187 and PMA on palmitoylated platelet proteins.
AB  - The effect of agonists on palmitoylated proteins was examined in platelets
      prelabeled with [3H]palmitic acid. Non-reduced gels revealed major labeled
      proteins with masses from 30-38 kDa. One of these proteins was modified by
      A23187, which led to a loss of radioactivity, and PMA, which altered its
      electrophoretic mobility. A possible link between the A23187-induced loss of
      label associated with the protein and the activation of calpain was suggested by
      the following experiments. (1) There was a good correlation between the loss of
      label and the proteolysis of proteins in A23187-activated platelets. (2) The
      permeant calpain inhibitor, E64d, blocked the loss of label as well as the
      proteolysis of proteins. (3) The loss of label also occurred in a Triton lysate,
      where calpain was known to be activated. The effect of PMA on the palmitoylated
      protein was observed only in prelabeled platelets. The protein kinase inhibitor,
      staurosporine, abolished the PMA-induced platelet aggregation as well as the
      mobility shift of the labeled protein.

PMID- 1448801
TI  - Factor VIII/von Willebrand factor levels in plasma frozen to-30 degrees C in air
      or halogenated hydrocarbons.

PMID- 1448800
TI  - Thrombin-induced shape change in human megakaryoblastic leukemic cells, MEG-01,
      is mediated by protein kinase C.
AB  - We investigated the intracellular processes of the shape change in human
      megakaryoblastic leukemic cells, MEG-01, by platelet agonists. Thrombin induced
      the formation of many pseudopods. This shape change was also induced by phorbol
      12-myristate 13 acetate (TPA) and weakly by Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, but not by
      ADP, collagen, or epinephrine. Electron microscopy and FITC-labeled phalloidin
      staining revealed thick submembranous microfilament bundles in the pseudopods of
      the shape-changed cells by thrombin. Shape change was inhibited by cytochalasin
      B. Since Ca(2+)-dependent phosphorylation reactions play central role on the
      initiation of shape change of platelet, we examined the effects of protein kinase
      C (PKC) inhibitor, H-7, and myosin light chain (MLC) kinase inhibitor, ML-9, on
      the shape change of MEG-01 cells induced by thrombin, and observed that H-7
      potently inhibited thrombin-induced shape change, while ML-9 did not. These
      results suggest that thrombin-induced reorganization of microfilaments and shape
      change of MEG-01 cells are mediated by PKC, but not by MLC kinase.

PMID- 1448802
TI  - [Theme: growth hormone. Introduction].

PMID- 1448803
TI  - [Historical perspective on growth hormone treatment in children].
AB  - The history of growth hormone treatment can be divided into two episodes. Between
      1958 and 1985 growth hormone was extracted from human pituitaries. Because of the
      scarcity little scientific research was carried out and efficacy was not optimal.
      In 1985 biosynthetic growth hormone became available, which facilitated research
      on the use of growth hormone for various indications. In the future further
      research is needed on the pathophysiology of growth disturbances, on methods to
      improve efficacy, and on possible side-effects of pharmacological dosages.

PMID- 1448804
TI  - [Good things come in small packages? Psychosocial aspects of small stature].
AB  - Short stature is considered as a social disadvantage. This review deals with the
      findings of studies on cognitive and socio-emotional functioning in children with
      growth hormone deficiency, constitutional short stature, Turner syndrome,
      skeletal dysplasias and chronic illnesses. The consequences of short stature in
      adulthood are also described. The short term effect of growth hormone treatment
      on psychosocial functioning appears positive, but long term results have to be
      awaited before conclusions can be drawn.

PMID- 1448805
TI  - [Turner syndrome: a virtually certain indication for growth hormone treatment].
AB  - Short stature is a feature in almost all cases with Turner syndrome. The etiology
      is unknown, but GH secretion appears to be normal. The treatment with anabolic
      steroids does not seem to increase final height. Oestrogens are needed for
      secondary sex characteristics, but should be given in a low dosage and at
      approximately 12-13 years of age, in order not to compromise final height. Growth
      hormone increases growth velocity and leads to an average gain of 5 cm in terms
      of final height. The addition of oxandrolone leads to an even higher growth rate,
      but final height is probably similar to that reached by growth hormone alone. The
      dosage, injection frequency, age and bone age at the start of therapy have
      influence on the efficacy. GH in the dosages given appears safe.

PMID- 1448806
TI  - [Growth hormone treatment in short stature of unknown origin].
AB  - Most children with idiopathic short stature can be classified under the diagnoses
      familial short stature and constitutional delay of growth and adolescence.
      Administration of growth hormone leads to faster growth, but also faster bone
      maturation. Daily injections are more efficacious than three injections per week.
      There is a dose-response relationship. In a Dutch prospective study, the
      acceleration of growth was only slightly more than bone age advance, so that the
      average predicted adult height increased only by 3 cm over a period of 4-5 year.
      In an untreated control group final height was 1 cm lower than predicted. There
      were great inter-individual differences in terms of growth and bone maturation,
      which could not be predicted on the basis of clinical and biochemical variables.

PMID- 1448807
TI  - [Intra-uterine growth retardation: an indication for treatment with growth
      hormone?].
AB  - Children with intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) constitute a heterogeneous
      group. Classification and etiology of IUGR are given. This report presents data
      on postnatal growth, growth hormone (GH) secretion and GH-therapy in children
      with short stature after IUGR, which was not based on a chromosomal disorder or a
      syndrome, with exception of Silver-Russell Syndrome (SRS). During the first two
      years of life, 86% of the children with IUGR showed spontaneous catch-up growth
      to a height above the third percentile, while only 14% did not. Sixty to eighty
      percent of the children with poor catch-up growth showed an insufficient GH
      secretion, despite of the fact that most children did not show the typical,
      clinical characteristics of children with classical growth hormone deficiency. GH
      therapy leads to increased growth velocity, but so far only short-term results
      have been reported. No serious adverse events were observed. The individual
      growth responses were heterogeneous, but no difference was shown in the response
      between the sexes or between those with or without SRS. It is still unclear
      whether GH-therapy will improve final height and which factors enable detection
      of patients who will most likely benefit from GH-therapy. Only long-term clinical
      trials until final height will answer those questions.

PMID- 1448808
TI  - [Chronic kidney insufficiency: results of treatment with growth hormone].
AB  - Stunted growth is a serious problem for many children with chronic renal
      insufficiency (CRI). Dialysis does not improve growth velocity, while renal
      transplantation does not always result in better growth either. The pathogenesis
      of the growth retardation is unknown, but growth hormone (GH) secretion and
      plasma levels of insulin-like growth factors (IGF) I and -II appear to be normal.
      Elevated levels of IGF-binding proteins may be involved in the growth
      retardation. Several 2-year studies have shown that impressive increase in growth
      velocity can be achieved with GH therapy with 28 IU/m2/week, without significant
      changes in renal function or adverse events. A lower GH dose of 14IU/m2/week was
      not able to maintain catch-up growth for longer than 6 months in children older
      than 4 years. Bone maturation appears unaffected, suggesting improved final
      height. In children with CRI GH-treatment is best started following 1 year of
      marked growth retardation. Preliminary results of GH-treatment in children after
      renal transplantation seem promising, but long-term data are needed before
      definitive conclusions can be drawn.

PMID- 1448809
TI  - [Growth hormone therapy in dysmorphic syndromes and chronic disease].
AB  - Many clinical syndromes are associated with short stature, which can be
      proportionate or disproportionate. In the first group of syndromes, such as
      Turner syndrome and its variants, Down syndrome, Prader-Willi-Labhart syndrome,
      Noonan syndrome, and Silver-Russell syndrome growth hormone therapy can lead to
      increased growth velocity, but so far only short-term results have been reported.
      Growth hormone is contraindicated in syndromes with an increased risk of
      chromosomal breakage, e.g. Bloom syndrome. In disproportionate syndromes, such as
      hypochondroplasia, pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism, spina bifida, and
      hypophosphataemic rickets, the results of growth hormone therapy are not
      encouraging. Growth hormone therapy in children with rheumatoid arthritis and
      thalassaemia appears little effective. Long-term clinical trials of reasonable
      size are needed before reliable conclusions can be drawn about the value of
      growth hormone therapy in these conditions.

PMID- 1448810
TI  - Synthetic approaches toward total synthesis of 12 beta-methyl- and 12-methylene
      19-norpregnanes.
AB  - The effect of a substituent in the 12-position of progestagens was studied. To
      this end, various approaches toward the preparation of 12 beta-alkyl- and 12
      alkylidenenorpregnanes were investigated. Eventually, the desired compounds 17
      beta-hydroxy-12 beta-methyl-18a-homo-19-nor-17 alpha-pregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one (37)
      and 17 beta-hydroxy-12-methylene-18a-homo-19-nor-17 alpha-pregn-4-en-20-yn- 3-one
      (38) were obtained in racemic form by total synthesis; they were shown to lack
      progestagenic activity.

PMID- 1448811
TI  - Synthesis of N-acetylglucosaminides of unconjugated and conjugated bile acids.
AB  - 3-N-Acetylglucosaminides of unconjugated, glycine- and taurine-conjugated bile
      acids have been synthesized. Bile acids appropriately protected were condensed
      with acetochloroglucosamine through the 3 alpha-hydroxyl group by means of the
      Koenigs-Knorr reaction using cadmium carbonate as a catalyst. Subsequent
      borohydride reduction and/or alkaline hydrolysis provided desired 3-N
      acetylglucosaminides of unconjugated bile acids. Glycine-conjugates were obtained
      from N-acetylglucosaminides of unconjugated bile acids and ethyl glycinate by the
      carbodiimide method. The preparation of N-acetylglucosaminides of taurine
      conjugates was attained by the Koenigs-Knorr reaction of bile acid p-nitrophenyl
      esters followed by condensation with taurine. 7-N-Acetylglucosaminides of
      ursodeoxycholates were prepared in a similar fashion. The convenient synthesis of
      3-N-acetylglucosaminides of unconjugated bile acids is also described.

PMID- 1448812
TI  - Synthesis of deuterium-labeled 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol and its
      17 beta-glucuronide.
AB  - Using unlabeled androsterone as starting material, 5 alpha-[16,16-2H2]androstan-3
      alpha-ol-17-one was synthesized by exchange using deuterated potassium methoxide.
      This labeled androsterone product was reduced by sodium borodeuteride, which gave
      predominantly trideuterated 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol. The labeled
      androstanediol was conjugated with glucuronide by using the Koenig-Knorr reaction
      with methyl-1-bromo-1-deoxy-2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosuronate . The
      dominant product was identified by thermospray high-performance liquid
      chromatography/mass spectrometry (MS) and electrospray MS as 5 alpha-[16,16,17
      2H3]androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol, 17 beta-glucuronide.

PMID- 1448813
TI  - 17-Epimerization of 17 alpha-methyl anabolic steroids in humans: metabolism and
      synthesis of 17 alpha-hydroxy-17 beta-methyl steroids.
AB  - The 17-epimers of the anabolic steroids bolasterone (I), 4
      chlorodehydromethyltestosterone (II), fluoxymesterone (III), furazabol (IV),
      metandienone (V), mestanolone (VI), methyltestosterone (VII), methandriol (VIII),
      oxandrolone (IX), oxymesterone (X), oxymetholone (XI), stanozolol (XII), and the
      human metabolites 7 alpha,17 alpha-dimethyl-5 beta-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta
      diol (XIII) (metabolite of I), 6 beta-hydroxymetandienone (XIV) (metabolite of
      V), 17 alpha-methyl-5 beta-androst-1-ene-3 alpha,17 beta-diol (XV) (metabolite of
      V), 3'-hydroxystanozolol (XVI) (metabolite of XII), as well as the reference
      substances 17 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-5 beta-androstan-3-one (XVII), 17 beta
      hydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-5 beta-androst-1-en-3-one (XVIII) (also a metabolite of
      V), the four isomers 17 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol
      (XIX) (also a metabolite of VI, VII, and XI), 17 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-androstane
      3 beta,17 beta-diol (XX), 17 alpha-methyl-5 beta-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol
      (XXI) (also a metabolite of V, VII, and VIII), 17 alpha-methyl-5 beta-androstane
      3 beta,17 beta-diol (XXII), and 17 beta-hydroxy-7 alpha,17 alpha-dimethyl-5 beta
      androstan-3-one (XXIII) were synthesized via a 17 beta-sulfate that spontaneously
      hydrolyzed in water to several dehydration products, and to the 17 alpha-hydroxy
      17 beta-methyl epimer. The 17 beta-sulfate was prepared by reaction of the 17
      beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-methyl steroid with sulfur trioxide pyridine complex. The
      17 beta-methyl epimers are eluted in gas chromatography as trimethylsilyl
      derivatives from a capillary SE-54 or OV-1 column 70-170 methylen units before
      the corresponding 17 alpha-methyl epimer. The electron impact mass spectra of the
      underivatized and trimethylsilylated epimers are in most cases identical and only
      for I, II, and V was a differentiation between the 17-epimers possible. 1H
      nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra show for the 17 beta-methyl epimer a
      chemical shift for the C-18 protons (singlet) of about 0.175 ppm (in
      deuterochloroform) to a lower field. 13C NMR spectra display differences for the
      17-epimeric steroids in shielding effects for carbons 12-18 and 20. Excretion
      studies with I-XII with identification and quantification of 17-epimeric
      metabolites indicate that the extent of 17-epimerization depends on the A-ring
      structure and shows a great variation for the different 17 alpha-methyl anabolic
      steroids.

PMID- 1448814
TI  - Studies of the synthesis of biomarkers. XI. Synthesis of 4,5-secocholestane and 4
      methyl-4,5-secocholestane.
AB  - 4,5-Secocholestane (1a) and 4-methyl-4,5-secocholestane (1b) were synthesized
      from cholesterol (2) in five and seven steps, respectively. The key intermediate,
      5-oxo-4,5-secocholestan-4-al (7) was reduced by the Clemmensen method to afford
      1a. Meanwhile, 7 underwent selective Wittig reaction, Clemmensen reduction, and
      hydrogenation to give another target molecule, 1b. The structure of an unknown
      biomarker was shown to be different from the proposed 1a by gas chromatographic
      and mass spectrometric comparison.

PMID- 1448815
TI  - Application of time-series analysis for the recognition of increases in urinary
      estrogens as markers for the beginning of the potentially fertile period.
AB  - Time-series analysis was applied to the urinary total estrogen data from 142
      ovulatory menstrual cycles to determine the first statistically significant
      increase as a marker for the beginning of the potentially fertile phase.
      Application of the Trigg's tracking signal to each cycle detected an increase in
      urinary total estrogens above the baseline in every case, with a cumulative
      probability of > or = 95%. The distribution of first increase days ranged from 10
      days before 3.5 days before the presumed day of ovulation with a mean of 6.5 +/-
      1.4 days. The significant parameters in the calculation of the tracking signal
      are the smoothing constant (alpha) which is related to the number of baseline
      observations, the baseline mean for the cycle, and the variation of the baseline
      mean. The method allows a calculation of the tracking signal as the cycle unfolds
      and a statistical assessment can be given each day. The procedure is easily
      adaptable for computer calculation, and because it is applied to individual
      cycles avoids the use of population means with the loss of information inherently
      associated with the combination of data from many cycles. The Trigg's tracking
      signal is an appropriate method of analysis of menstrual cycle data and
      represents a satisfactory alternative to the more usual cumulative sum procedure.
      The distribution of the first increases constitutes a reference standard for
      urinary estrogen assays.

PMID- 1448816
TI  - H-1, C-13, and F-19 nuclear magnetic resonance assignments of 3,3-difluoro-5
      alpha-androstane-17 beta-ol acetate.
AB  - The molecular structure of 3,3-difluoro-5 alpha-androstane-17 beta-ol acetate was
      analyzed by 1H, 13C, and 19F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques; two
      dimensional NMR was used to assigned 1H and 13C resonances. The 1H NMR spectrum
      in deuterated chloroform shows three sharp singlets (delta = 0.74, 0.79, and 2.00
      ppm) integrating for three protons each, an isolated triplet at 4.55 ppm
      integrating for one proton, and overlapping multiplets between 0.72 and 2.12 ppm
      integrating for 31 protons. The 13C spectrum shows 18 resonances between 10 and
      55 ppm, and three additional resonances at 82.9, 124.0, and 171.5 ppm. The
      19F[1H] spectrum shows two sets of doublets (observed 2J = 150 Hz) at 5.00 and 
      4.80 ppm. Multiplets arising from 19F-13C J-coupling provide the starting
      assignment for all resonances by means of 1H homonuclear correlation (COSY) and
      1H-13C heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy.

PMID- 1448817
TI  - Marked increase of stroke incidence in men between 1972 and 1990 in
      Frederiksberg, Denmark.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke incidence declined until the end of the 1970s in
      the United States, and the decline continued into the 1980s in Japan. The purpose
      of this study was to determine possible temporal changes of stroke incidence in a
      European community. METHODS: A prospective stroke registry was established in the
      community of Frederiksberg (population, approximately 90,000), Denmark, in the
      two periods 1972-1974 and 1989-1990. All patients suspected of stroke were
      clinically evaluated by a neurologist. Only patients with first-ever stroke were
      included. Complete case ascertainment was ensured by registration of both
      hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients. Death certificates were also
      scrutinized. RESULTS: A total of 927 patients with first-ever stroke was
      recorded. The annual stroke incidence rate per 1,000 increased by 18% from 2.6 in
      1972-1974 to 3.1 in 1989-1990 (p < 0.01). This increase was due solely to a 42%
      increase in men, in whom stroke incidence rose from 2.1 to 3.0 (p < 0.0005).
      Incidence was unchanged in women at 3.0 and 3.1, respectively. The incidence
      rates from 1972-1974 were age and sex adjusted to the 1990 population. After
      adjustment to the Danish population, stroke incidence in Denmark was 2.0 for all,
      2.3 for men, and 1.9 for women. In the second study period computed tomography or
      necropsy was performed in 85% of cases; 2.4/1,000 had cerebral infarction;
      0.20/1,000 had intracerebral hemorrhage; and 0.02/1,000 had subarachnoid
      hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: In a period when decline in stroke incidence has stopped
      in the United States and has continued in Japan, a marked increase of stroke
      incidence in Danish men was observed.

PMID- 1448818
TI  - Prevalence and determinants of carotid atherosclerosis in a general population.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of
      asymptomatic carotid atherosclerotic lesions and their relation to principal risk
      factors. The importance of the relation between asymptomatic carotid
      atherosclerotic lesions, stroke, and coronary atherosclerosis has been widely
      discussed, but there are few transversal and longitudinal studies on a general
      population. METHODS: A noninvasive examination was carried out using high
      resolution B-mode ultrasonography, which has been shown to be a reliable tool for
      epidemiological studies. We examined 630 men and 718 women aged 18-99 years
      (participation rate, 74.9%). RESULTS: The global prevalence of carotid
      atherosclerosis was 25.4% in men and 26.4% in women. Intimal-medial thickening
      was found in 9.4% of men and 11.7% of women. Plaque prevalence was 13.3% in men
      and 13.4% in women; prevalence of stenotic plaques was 2.7% and 1.5%,
      respectively. Subjects aged < or = 39 years showed a very low prevalence of any
      asymptomatic carotid atherosclerotic lesions. In the multiple logistic
      regression, the analysis of subjects aged > or = 40 years showed a positive
      significant association between the severity of carotid atherosclerotic lesions
      (plaques and stenosis) and age (p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (p < 0.01),
      cigarette smoking (p < 0.0001), and the protective effect of high density
      lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.037). This analysis did not provide evidence of a
      clear-cut association between risk factors and intimal-medial thickening.
      CONCLUSIONS: This population study shows the high prevalence of asymptomatic
      carotid atherosclerotic lesions in a general population (approximately 25% of
      adults) and its relation with the classic risk factors. It emphasizes the value
      of ultrasonography in the detection of early atherosclerotic lesions.

PMID- 1448819
TI  - Incidence and prognosis of stroke in the Valle d'Aosta, Italy. First-year results
      of a community-based study.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We sought to determine the incidence rate, risk factors,
      and prognosis of stroke in Valle d'Aosta, Italy, to provide information for
      planning regional health-care facilities. METHODS: We undertook a prospective
      study of all new cases of stroke in the geographically defined population of
      114,325 residents of Valle d'Aosta in northern Italy. RESULTS: In the first year
      of the study (January 1-December 31, 1989), 254 cases of first stroke were
      registered. The crude annual incidence rate was 2.23/1,000, 1.98/1,000 for men
      and 2.46/1,000 for women. After adjustment to the 1988 Italian population, the
      incidence rate for first stroke was 2.15/1,000 per year, 2.48/1,000 per year for
      men and 1.99/1,000 per year for women. The pathological diagnosis was cerebral
      infarction in 67%, intracranial hemorrhage in 15%, and unknown in 18%. The
      overall 30-day case-fatality rate was 31%. In survivors, Barthel Index Score
      recorded at 30 days from stroke onset showed that 100 patients (62%) were
      dependent in activities of daily living. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not differ
      significantly from those reported in Umbria, the only similar study performed in
      Italy, and support non-Italian data as to risk factors in stroke.

PMID- 1448820
TI  - Longitudinal study of regional cerebral blood flow changes in depression after
      stroke.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We studied 60 patients longitudinally to examine relations between
      regional cerebral blood flow and depressive states after stroke. METHODS:
      Poststroke depressive states were assessed by the Zung Self-Rating Depression
      Scale (SDS). Regional cerebral blood flow was measured using the 133xenon
      inhalation method with patients in the resting state on the same day as the SDS
      assessment. All patients were followed for an average of 14 months after the
      initial assessment. RESULTS: Severity of depression was inversely correlated with
      regional cerebral blood flow values in the parieto-occipital regions of the right
      hemisphere and in the anterior temporal region of the left hemisphere at the
      initial evaluation. Patients with lesions in left frontal or right parieto
      occipital regions were more depressive in comparison with those with other brain
      lesions. Follow-up study showed significant inverse correlations between changes
      in SDS score and changes in regional cerebral blood flow at all scalp sites.
      Furthermore, higher inverse correlations were observed at specific brain regions
      in each hemisphere, including the parietal and parieto-occipital regions of the
      right hemisphere and the anterior temporal and inferior frontal regions of the
      left hemisphere. This relation was independent of recovery from neurological
      deficits. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that dysfunction of specific
      cortical and subcortical regions in both hemispheres asymmetrically contributes
      to depressive state after stroke.

PMID- 1448821
TI  - Ticlopidine versus aspirin for the prevention of recurrent stroke. Analysis of
      patients with minor stroke from the Ticlopidine Aspirin Stroke Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Ticlopidine has not been formally compared with aspirin
      in patients with a completed stroke. We therefore performed an analysis on a
      subgroup of patients from the Ticlopidine Aspirin Stroke Study (TASS) with a
      recent minor completed stroke as the qualifying ischemic event. METHODS: This was
      a multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial of patients with a recent history
      of cerebral ischemia. Eligible patients had a qualifying minor stroke within 3
      months of study entry. All patients received either 650 mg aspirin twice daily or
      250 mg ticlopidine twice daily for up to 5.8 years. The primary study end point
      was the first occurrence of nonfatal stroke or death from any cause. A secondary
      end point was the first occurrence of a fatal or nonfatal stroke. RESULTS: Minor
      stroke was the qualifying ischemic event in 927 patients (463 received
      ticlopidine and 464 received aspirin). The cumulative event rate at 1 year for
      nonfatal stroke or death was 6.3% for patients receiving ticlopidine and 10.8%
      for patients receiving aspirin, a 42% risk reduction in favor of ticlopidine. For
      fatal or nonfatal stroke, the cumulative event rate at 1 year was 4.8% for
      patients receiving ticlopidine and 7.5% for those receiving aspirin, a risk
      reduction of 36% for ticlopidine relative to aspirin. The overall risk reductions
      were 22.1% for nonfatal stroke or death and 19.9% for fatal or nonfatal stroke.
      Adverse reactions were reported in 58% of the ticlopidine patients and 51% of the
      aspirin patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results in this subgroup are consistent with
      the overall TASS results and show that ticlopidine is somewhat more effective
      than aspirin for reducing the risk of stroke in patients with a completed minor
      stroke.

PMID- 1448822
TI  - Cerebral blood flow velocity after hyperventilation-induced vasoconstriction in
      hypertensive patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to evaluate by transcranial
      Doppler ultrasonography the dynamics of blood flow velocity changes in the middle
      cerebral artery during and after hypocapnia-induced vasoconstriction in untreated
      essential hypertensive patients. METHODS: Sixteen hypertensive patients (10 men
      and six women, 29-62 years of age) and 10 healthy control subjects (six men and
      four women, 30-62 years of age) were studied. Patients with mild-to-moderate
      essential hypertension (mean +/- SE blood pressure, 171/106 +/- 3/2 mm Hg)
      belonged to stage I or II of the World Health Organization classification. Mean
      blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery, arterial blood pressure, and
      end-tidal CO2 partial pressure were recorded at baseline, during 2-minute
      hyperventilation, and every 30 seconds up to 5 minutes after hyperventilation.
      RESULTS: End-tidal CO2 partial pressure values overlapped in the two groups
      throughout the study. Baseline values of mean blood flow velocity in hypertensive
      patients were similar to those in normotensive subjects (mean +/- SE values, 64.7
      +/- 3.9 cm/sec versus 58.6 +/- 3.7 cm/sec). A similar fall in mean blood flow
      velocity was observed in hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects (43.2 +/
      2.8% versus 46.7 +/- 3.6%). Mean blood flow velocity reverted to baseline more
      quickly in hypertensive patients: 1.5 minutes after hyperventilation, mean blood
      flow velocity was 60.7 +/- 3.1% and 84.9 +/- 1.8% of control in normotensive
      subjects and hypertensive patients, respectively. No changes in arterial blood
      pressure were observed in either group throughout the study. CONCLUSIONS: This
      study demonstrates that the recovery of blood flow velocity in the middle
      cerebral artery after hyperventilation is faster in hypertensive patients than in
      normal subjects, thus providing further evidence that chronic hypertension is
      associated with changes in the dynamics of cerebral blood vessel reactivity.

PMID- 1448824
TI  - Critical limits of pressure-flow relation in the human brain.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine the minimal mean flow velocity
      and pressure-flow relation necessary to preserve human consciousness. METHODS:
      Passive upright tilt provocation was used in conjunction with transcranial
      Doppler in 80 patients with a history of syncope of unknown etiology. Cerebral
      blood flow velocity, blood pressure, and heart rate were monitored noninvasively.
      RESULTS: Forty patients remained asymptomatic, and the rest had clinically
      induced true syncope or premonitory symptoms. In the asymptomatic group, there
      was a 23 +/- 16% (p = 0.000) drop in mean flow velocity, but no significant
      changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressures. In the symptomatic patients,
      there was a 58 +/- 14% (p = 0.000) drop in mean flow velocity, 37 +/- 23% (p =
      0.000) fall in systolic pressure, and 31 +/- 20% (p = 0.000) fall in diastolic
      pressure. In 80% of symptomatic patients, the critical lower limit of mean flow
      velocity was at -50% of resting baseline while patients were lying supine. The
      symptomatic group had lower mean flow velocity and blood pressure responses as
      compared with the asymptomatic group. The slope and intercept values of the
      pressure (y axis) to flow velocity (x axis) regression curves indicate a greater
      degree of impaired autoregulation in the symptomatic group (y = 0.529 x-6.11, r2
      = 0.108, p = 0.038) as compared with the asymptomatic (y = 0.317 x + 0.966, r2 =
      0.14, p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: The critical lower limit of cerebral perfusion
      lies at 50% below baseline supine mean flow velocity.

PMID- 1448823
TI  - 99mTc-HMPAO-SPECT with acetazolamide challenge to detect hemodynamic compromise
      in occlusive cerebrovascular disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Insufficiency of collateral supply may lead to low-flow
      infarcts in severe occlusive cerebrovascular disease. The aim of this study was
      to evaluate the feasibility of technetium-99m-labeled hexamethylpropyleneamine
      oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to assess
      hemodynamic compromise in the anterior circulation. METHODS: Cerebral blood flow
      before and after 1 g acetazolamide was analyzed by 99mTc-HMPAO-SPECT in 21
      symptomatic patients with documented extracranial obstructions. SPECT findings
      were correlated with the results of angiography, transcranial Doppler sonography,
      and computed tomographic scan. RESULTS: The acetazolamide-induced increase of
      cerebral blood flow could be reliably monitored by increase of cerebral 99mTc
      HMPAO uptake, which varied between 11.4% and 47.6% in the less-affected
      hemisphere. Increment of hemispheric side-to-side asymmetry of tracer uptake
      after drug challenge revealed significant restriction of regional vasoreactivity
      in 11 patients. Agreement in assessing hemodynamic compromise was reached in 81%
      of patients with ophthalmic artery collaterals on angiography (p < 0.001), in 76%
      with low-flow infarcts on computed tomographic scan (p < 0.01), and in 91% with
      markedly reduced flow velocities on transcranial Doppler (p < 0.0001). One
      patient developed a low-flow infarct in the area predicted by SPECT during follow
      up. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that 99mTc-HMPAO-SPECT with acetazolamide challenge
      is a useful method for assessment of the adequacy of hemispheric collateral
      pathways in patients with severe occlusive cerebrovascular disease.

PMID- 1448825
TI  - Features on initial computed tomography scan of infarcts with a cardiac source of
      embolism in the NINDS Stroke Data Bank.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The lack of valid criteria for the clinical diagnosis of
      cardiogenic embolism is a major problem in both patient care and research. The
      aim of this study was to identify features on the initial computed tomogram of
      the brain that discriminate between patient groups with and without a cardiac
      source of embolism. To gain insight into the neuroradiological features relevant
      to the diagnosis of cardiac embolic stroke, we studied the initial computed
      tomogram of the 1,267 patients with ischemic stroke and such a scan in the
      National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Stroke Data Bank.
      METHODS: We analyzed the initial computed tomographic data from 1,267 patients
      with ischemic stroke in the NINDS Stroke Data Bank. Based solely on the presence
      of cardiac sources of embolism, we defined groups with high (n = 244), medium (n
      = 165), and low (n = 858) risk for cardiogenic embolism and compared the features
      on the initial computed tomogram among these three groups. RESULTS: Patients in
      the high-risk group were significantly more likely (p < 0.001) to have infarcts
      involving one half lobe or larger or infarcts involving both superficial and deep
      structures than patients in the medium- or low-risk groups. In contrast, deep
      small infarcts had a negative association (p = 0.004) with the presence of a
      cardiac source of embolism. There was no significant trend across risk groups in
      the percent with hemorrhagic infarction, regardless of whether patients with
      anticoagulant use at the time of the stroke were excluded. CONCLUSION: Although
      some features of the initial computed tomogram had highly significant
      associations with the presence of a cardiac source of embolism, the predictive
      value of these features for an embolic source was low.

PMID- 1448826
TI  - Distribution and correlates of sonographically detected carotid artery disease in
      the Cardiovascular Health Study. The CHS Collaborative Research Group.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This article describes the prevalence of extracranial
      carotid atherosclerosis assessed by ultrasonography, its association with risk
      factors, and its relation to symptomatic coronary disease and stroke in men and
      women aged > or = 65 years. METHODS: Maximum percent stenosis, maximum common
      carotid artery wall thickness, and maximum internal carotid artery wall thickness
      were assessed using duplex ultrasound in 5,201 men and women aged > or = 65 years
      in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a study of the risk factors and natural
      history of cardiovascular disease in the elderly. Existing coronary disease and
      stroke were assessed by physical examination and participant history. RESULTS:
      Detectable carotid stenosis was present in 75% of men and 62% of women, although
      the prevalence of > or = 50% stenosis was low, 7% in men and 5% in women. Maximum
      stenosis and maximum wall thickness measurements increased with age and were
      uniformly greater at all ages in men than in women (p < 0.00001). Established
      risk factors for atherosclerosis (hypertension, smoking, diabetes) and
      indications of vascular disease (left ventricular hypertrophy, major
      electrocardiographic abnormality, bruits, and history of heart disease or stroke)
      related to all three carotid artery measures in the elderly. Of the three
      ultrasound measures, the best correlate for a history of coronary disease was
      maximum internal carotid artery wall thickness. For stroke the best correlate was
      common carotid artery wall thickness. Multiple logistic regression models of
      prevalent coronary heart disease and stroke that included the ultrasound findings
      indicated, after adjustment for age and sex, that maximum internal wall thickness
      and maximum common carotid wall thickness were significant correlates of both.
      Maximum stenosis did not add significantly to the correlation. CONCLUSIONS: In
      the elderly the incidence of carotid atherosclerosis was high, although the
      frequency of severe disease was low. The prevalence and severity of carotid
      atherosclerosis continued to increase with age even in the late decades of life,
      and more disease was found in men than in women at all ages. Known risk factors
      for atherosclerosis continued to relate to carotid abnormalities in the later
      decades of life, both in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects.

PMID- 1448827
TI  - Thrombotic occlusion of the middle cerebral artery.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Epidemiological study of middle cerebral artery occlusion
      is important because the indication for extracranial-intracranial arterial bypass
      remains in dispute. To help clarify this issue, we investigated the prognosis of
      thrombotic middle cerebral artery occlusion in Japanese patients. METHODS: We
      studied 40 patients with thrombotic middle cerebral artery occlusion who were
      selected on the basis of clinical features, computed tomographic findings, and
      angiographic findings. Patients with causes of embolism (i.e., cardiomyopathy,
      valvular heart disease, cardiac arrhythmia, and carotid ulceration) were
      excluded. The 40 patients were classified into three groups according to the site
      of middle cerebral artery occlusion: there were 13 patients with occlusion of the
      proximal portion of the M1 segment, 13 with distal M1 segment occlusion, and 14
      with occlusion of the M2 segment. RESULTS: Good collateral circulation was
      associated with improved outcomes both clinically and by computed tomography in
      patients with occlusion of the proximal and distal portions of the M1 segment but
      not in those with M2 occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: It is reasonable to assume that not
      only collateral circulation but also the site of occlusion plays an important
      role in the outcome of middle cerebral artery occlusion. Our finding that good
      collateral circulation improves the outcome for thrombotic occlusion of the
      proximal and distal M1 segments supports the possible benefits of such surgery.

PMID- 1448828
TI  - Arginine vasopressin V1-antagonist and atrial natriuretic peptide reduce
      hemorrhagic brain edema in rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Injection of arginine vasopressin into the cerebral
      ventricles in animals with brain injury increased brain water, whereas injection
      of atrial natriuretic peptide reduced water content. Therefore, to determine the
      role of endogenous arginine vasopressin in brain edema, we attempted to inhibit
      edema from a hemorrhagic lesion with an arginine vasopressin V1 receptor
      antagonist or atrial natriuretic peptide. METHODS: Adult Sprague-Dawley rats with
      hemorrhages induced by 0.4 IU bacterial collagenase were treated with 75 ng (n =
      9) or 8 micrograms (n = 9) of the vasopressin V1 receptor antagonist
      d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)Arg, 3.2 micrograms (n = 4) atrial natriuretic peptide injected
      intracerebrally, or 5 micrograms/kg per hour (n = 7) atrial natriuretic peptide
      intraperitoneally. They were compared with control groups injected with 0.4 IU
      collagenase only. Brain water and electrolytes were measured 24 hours later.
      Brain uptake of [14C]sucrose was measured 30 minutes after lesions were induced
      by 0.4 IU collagenase alone (n = 5) or after collagenase injection and 50
      micrograms/kg per hour (n = 5) atrial natriuretic peptide injected intravenously.
      RESULTS: The arginine vasopressin V1 receptor antagonist and atrial natriuretic
      peptide significantly (p < 0.05) reduced water and sodium contents in the
      posterior edematous regions. Brain uptake of [14C]sucrose was significantly
      reduced by intravenous atrial natriuretic peptide. CONCLUSIONS: Antagonists to
      arginine vasopressin V1 receptors and atrial natriuretic peptide both
      significantly reduce hemorrhagic brain edema, and atrial natriuretic peptide
      appears to protect the blood-brain barrier.

PMID- 1448829
TI  - Insulin-induced normoglycemia improves ischemic outcome in hyperglycemic rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hyperglycemia is known to aggravate ischemic brain
      damage. This study sought to determine if preischemic insulin-induced
      normoglycemia would improve outcome in hyperglycemic rats. METHODS: Normal rats
      and rats with 5-7 days of streptozotocin-induced diabetes were studied. Normal
      rats served as either fasted normoglycemic controls or dextrose-infused
      (hyperglycemic) controls. In the acutely diabetic rats either no insulin was
      given or insulin was given at 30 or 90 minutes before ischemia so as to induce
      preischemic normoglycemia. All rats underwent 10 minutes of forebrain ischemia.
      After 5 days of recovery, motor function and histological outcome were assessed.
      RESULTS: Untreated diabetic rats and dextrose-infused control rats had greater
      hippocampal CA1 damage than normoglycemic control rats. In contrast, insulin
      treated diabetic rats had less hippocampal CA1 damage than either untreated
      diabetic rats or dextrose-infused control rats. Injury in the two insulin-treated
      groups was not significantly different from that in the normoglycemic control
      group (all three groups had plasma glucose values of 120-150 mg/dl immediately
      prior to ischemia). Despite similar plasma glucose values (300-400 mg/dl), fewer
      postischemic seizures (0% versus 67%) were observed in the untreated diabetic
      group than in the dextrose-infused control group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:
      Hyperglycemia caused by either dextrose infusion or streptozotocin-induced
      diabetes resulted in exacerbated ischemic brain damage. Insulin therapy to
      rapidly induce preischemic normoglycemia improved outcome from forebrain ischemia
      in the acutely diabetic rats. Glucose-infused hyperglycemic rats frequently
      exhibited postischemic generalized seizures while acutely diabetic rats did not.
      The latter results implicate some adaptive/protective mechanism associated with
      acute streptozotocin-induced diabetes that results in a decreased sensitivity to
      hyperglycemia-augmented ischemic brain damage.

PMID- 1448830
TI  - Selective brain cooling during and after prolonged global ischemia reduces
      cortical damage in rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Studies of the cerebroprotective effects of selective
      brain cooling have failed to show amelioration of ischemic injury in the cerebral
      cortex. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that mild-to-moderate
      selective brain cooling initiated after the onset of global brain ischemia in
      rats protects the cerebral cortex and improves neurological outcome. METHODS:
      Global forebrain ischemia for 30 minutes in 27 fasted adult male Wistar rats was
      achieved by bilateral carotid occlusion and hypotension. In group 1, brain
      temperature, measured in the temporalis muscle, was maintained at 37-38 degrees C
      throughout the experiment. In group 2, brain temperature fell spontaneously
      during ischemia to 34.7 +/- 0.1 degrees C and rose spontaneously to 36-37 degrees
      C after 10 minutes of recirculation. In group 3, brain temperature was lowered
      with ice packs placed around the head after 15 minutes of ischemia to 24.1 +/-
      0.9 degrees C by the end of ischemia, maintained at 30.0 +/- 1.0 degrees C for
      the first hour of recirculation, then allowed to rise to 36-37 degrees C.
      RESULTS: Seven-day survival was 0% (0 of 6) in group 1, 73% (8 of 11) in group 2,
      and 100% (6 of 6) in group 3. Severity of neuronal damage was less in group 2
      than in group 1 in the cortex (p < 0.05) and hippocampal CA1 (p < 0.05) and CA3
      regions (p < 0.05). Group 3 had less neuronal damage than group 2 in both cortex
      (p < 0.02) and striatum (p < 0.02). Furthermore, postischemic weight loss was
      less and neurobehavioral scores were significantly higher in group 3.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that selective brain cooling increases survival
      from prolonged global ischemia and reduces neuronal injury in the cerebral cortex
      as well as the striatum and hippocampus.

PMID- 1448831
TI  - Antioxidants attenuate microvascular changes in the early phase of experimental
      pneumococcal meningitis in rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We tested in a rat meningitis model 1) whether
      pneumococcal cell wall components are capable of producing changes in regional
      cerebral blood flow, brain water content, and intracranial pressure similar to
      those we have already observed after intracisternal inoculation of live
      pneumococci and 2) whether antioxidants would modulate these alterations in the
      early phase of meningitis. METHODS: Regional cerebral blood flow as measured by
      laser Doppler flowmetry and intracranial pressure were monitored continuously for
      4 hours after intracisternal challenge. Brain edema formation was assessed by
      brain water content determinations. We investigated the following groups: rats
      challenged intracisternally with the whole intact pneumococcal cell wall (n = 7)
      or the pneumococcal cell wall hydrolyzed by the M1-muramidase (n = 7); rats
      injected intracisternally with phosphate-buffered saline (n = 6); rats pretreated
      intravenously with superoxide dismutase conjugated with polyethylene glycol
      (10,000 units/kg) and injected intracisternally with cell wall components (n = 5)
      or phosphate-buffered saline (n = 6); rats injected intracisternally with
      phosphate-buffered saline and pretreated intravenously with polyethylene glycol
      (10% solution, 1.2 ml/kg, n = 5) or continuously treated with intravenous free
      superoxide dismutase (22,000 units/kg per hour, n = 6); and rats continuously
      treated intravenously with deferoxamine mesylate (10 mg/kg per hour) and injected
      intracisternally with cell wall components (n = 6) or phosphate-buffered saline
      (n = 7). RESULTS: Both pneumococcal cell wall preparations produced a significant
      increase in regional cerebral blood flow, intracranial pressure, and brain water
      content. Conjugated superoxide dismutase as well as deferoxamine prevented the
      increase in intracranial pressure and brain water content. In addition, the
      increase in regional cerebral blood flow as observed in untreated, cell wall
      challenged rats (baseline, 100%; 183.1 +/- 12.3% after 4 hours, mean +/- SEM) was
      significantly attenuated by administration of both conjugated superoxide
      dismutase (136.6 +/- 14.1%) and deferoxamine (149.8 +/- 8.2%) (p < 0.05).
      Polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase alone produced an increase in
      regional cerebral blood flow (125.6 +/- 8.7% after 4 hours). We found that
      polyethylene glycol per se accounts for this action. CONCLUSIONS: These data show
      that pneumococcal cell wall components containing teichoic acid produce changes
      in regional cerebral blood flow, intracranial pressure, and brain water content
      and that oxygen radicals contribute to these pathophysiological alterations in
      the early phase of experimental pneumococcal meningitis.

PMID- 1448832
TI  - Effects of retrograde perfusion of the brain with combined drug therapy after
      focal ischemia in rat brain.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The ischemic edema associated with blood-brain barrier
      permeability changes and the excess production of free radicals are serious
      complications in prolonged cerebral ischemia. We examined the efficacy of
      transvenous perfusion of the brain, starting treatment 5 hours after occlusion of
      the middle cerebral artery for a period of 2 hours in rats with the combined
      agents mannitol (10 ml/2 hr) and dexamethasone (1 mg/2 hr) to counter edema and
      verapamil (0.05 mg/kg/2 hr) for vasodilation. METHODS: In experiment 1, blood
      brain barrier permeability changes were examined in five groups with six rats
      each: group C rats underwent 7 hours of middle cerebral artery occlusion with no
      treatment; group V, treatment with verapamil alone; group VD, treatment with
      verapamil and dexamethasone; group VM, treatment with verapamil and mannitol; and
      group VDM, treatment with verapamil, dexamethasone, and mannitol. In experiment
      2, we examined local cerebral blood flow, ischemic tissue damage volume, and
      water content of cerebral hemispheres in two groups of 16 rats each subjected to
      the same treatment as groups C and VDM rats in experiment 1. RESULTS: There was a
      significant reduction of blood-brain barrier permeability changes in the ischemic
      cortex of rats in group VDM compared with rats in the other groups. In the group
      undergoing transvenous perfusion of the brain with the three combined agents,
      there was a significant improvement of cerebral blood flow (39-58%, p < 0.05) in
      the ischemic cortex and reduction of ischemic cerebral damage volume (22%, p <
      0.01) and water content of the ischemic hemisphere (p < 0.05) compared with the
      control group. CONCLUSIONS: The therapeutic approach using combined agents is
      effective treatment when initiated within 5 hours of focal cerebral ischemia in
      rats.

PMID- 1448833
TI  - Spontaneous cerebral hypothermia diminishes focal infarction in rat brain.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Brain temperature during ischemia is known to strongly
      influence the extent of cellular injury. The objectives of the present study were
      to determine the effect of severe focal ischemia on brain temperature and to
      assess the influence of those changes on focal infarction. METHODS: Severe focal
      ischemia was produced in rats using permanent occlusion of the distal middle
      cerebral artery combined with transient (60-minute) bilateral carotid artery
      occlusion. The temperature of the ischemic focus was measured with a small
      subdural probe. Three groups of rats were studied. In the first group, brain
      temperature was permitted to decline spontaneously to 32 degrees C after
      occlusion. In the second, brain temperature was maintained at 37.5 degrees C
      during occlusion. In the third group, the brain temperature was maintained at
      37.5 degrees C for 40 minutes postocclusion before cooling. After recovery for 24
      hours, the volume of infarction was measured in histological sections. RESULTS:
      In the absence of cranial heating, the brain temperature fell to 33 degrees C by
      10 minutes postocclusion, and infarct volume was 19 +/- 9 mm3 (mean +/- SEM; n =
      6). Maintaining brain temperature at 37.5 degrees C increased the volume of
      infarction to 82 +/- 16 mm3 (n = 7; p < 0.001). Delayed cooling did not prevent
      the increase in infarct volume (75 +/- 16 mm3; n = 6). CONCLUSIONS: These results
      demonstrate that in the present model of transient focal ischemia, spontaneous
      cooling of the brain during ischemia diminishes the extent of focal infarction,
      relative to that observed when cerebral hypothermia is prevented or delayed for
      40 minutes.

PMID- 1448834
TI  - Cerebral infarction in a heterozygote with variant antithrombin III.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We report a heterozygous case of familial qualitative deficiency of
      antithrombin III associated with cerebral infarction. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 33-year
      old man had a history of recurrent transient ischemic attacks from the age of 28.
      Cerebral computed tomography at age 29 disclosed a low-density area in the left
      frontal lobe, and an internal carotid angiogram showed branch occlusion of the
      right anterior cerebral artery and stenosis of the left middle cerebral artery.
      Occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery developed thereafter. The plasma
      antithrombin III antigen concentration and progressive antithrombin activity were
      normal, but plasma heparin cofactor activity was low in the patient and his
      father. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the proband's deoxyribonucleic acid
      showed no mutation in exons II and VI of antithrombin III. CONCLUSIONS: We
      conclude that abnormal antithrombin III with defective heparin binding, even
      though heterozygous, may cause ischemic stroke in young adults. We named this
      antithrombin III variant "Antithrombin III Nagasaki."

PMID- 1448835
TI  - Thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke: does it work?
AB  - BACKGROUND: This article is presented to provoke further discussion regarding the
      use of thrombolytic drugs to treat acute ischemic stroke. SUMMARY OF REVIEW:
      Overview analysis of the six randomized trials of thrombolysis in acute ischemic
      stroke available in the world literature shows a 20% increase in the odds of
      death and a 30% reduction in the odds of death or deterioration (both with wide
      confidence intervals, neither result significant) after thrombolytic treatment
      for acute ischemic stroke. Exclusion of the two trials conducted without the
      benefit of computed tomographic scanning shows a 37% reduction in the odds of
      death (95% confidence interval, 74% reduction to 40% excess) and a significant
      reduction of 56% in the odds of death or deterioration after thrombolytic
      treatment (95% confidence interval, 20-76% reduction; 2p = 0.007). Analysis of
      all published studies (randomized and nonrandomized) shows that there does not
      appear to be an excess risk of hemorrhagic transformation of the cerebral infarct
      or of severe edema formation. CONCLUSIONS: We believe the present evidence is
      sufficiently encouraging to warrant proper testing of thrombolysis in
      sufficiently large and well-designed randomized clinical trials to influence
      clinical practice.

PMID- 1448836
TI  - Evaluation of vasomotor reactivity by transcranial Doppler and acetazolamide test
      before and after extracranial-intracranial bypass.

PMID- 1448837
TI  - Applications of transcranial Doppler sonography in acute ischemic stroke.

PMID- 1448838
TI  - Presumed cardioembolic lacunar infarcts.

PMID- 1448839
TI  - Prediction of unbound serum valproic acid concentration by using in vivo binding
      parameters.
AB  - In a previous study, we determined the in vivo binding parameters of valproic
      acid (VPA) to serum proteins in seven healthy young adults at steady state by
      using the Scatchard equation. To evaluate the ability of the Scatchard binding
      equation to predict steady-state unbound serum VPA concentrations (Cf), 39 adult
      patients receiving VPA monotherapy and ranging in age from 16 to 68 years were
      studied. The correlation between predicted and observed Cf was high (r = 0.865).
      Mean prediction error, mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean squared error
      (RMSE) were calculated, and served as a measure of prediction bias and precision.
      The MAE and RMSE were low (MAE = 12.9 mumol/L, RMSE = 17.7 mumol/L). It is
      feasible to use the Scatchard binding equation to predict Cf in patients
      receiving VPA monotherapy.

PMID- 1448840
TI  - Ability of three pharmacokinetic equations to predict steady-state serum
      theophylline concentrations in pediatric patients.
AB  - The pharmacokinetic equations of Chiou, Koup, and Kurland are often used in the
      pediatric setting to predict steady-state theophylline clearance using non-steady
      serum theophylline concentrations. However, these equations have not been
      validated or compared in a pediatric population. We evaluated the ability of
      these equations to predict steady-state serum theophylline concentrations in 61
      children (0.21-14.3 years) who received a continuous intravenous theophylline
      (0.79 +/- 0.12 mg/kg/h) infusion for a minimum of five half-lives. Theophylline
      concentrations used in the Kurland equation were obtained 10.8 +/- 4.5 h after
      initiation of therapy and the time between the two concentrations used in the
      Chiou and Koup equations was 9.2 +/- 3.9 h. Predicted steady-state theophylline
      concentration values for the three methods were not different from each other (p
      = 0.91), nor were they different from the observed steady-state concentration
      values (p = 0.92). The coefficient of determination for predicted vs. observed
      steady-state concentrations was statistically significant (p less than 0.001) and
      was comparable for the three methods. There was no difference in mean bias (p =
      0.78), precision (p = 0.82), or % error (p = 0.86) values for the three methods.
      Regardless of the method used, 75 to 82% of all predicted theophylline
      concentrations were within 20% of the observed steady-state value. However, on
      average, all methods underpredicted the clearance and hence overpredicted the
      serum theophylline concentration. The Kurland method did not predict steady-state
      concentrations any better in patients who had received theophylline prior to
      admission.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448841
TI  - Altered heparin pharmacodynamics in patients with pulmonary embolism.
AB  - Heparin clearance and pharmacodynamic response were examined in 12 patients being
      treated for deep venous thrombosis (DVT, 6 patients) or pulmonary embolism (PE, 6
      patients). A loading dose of 70 units/kg was administered to DVT patients and 100
      units/kg to PE patients followed by an initial infusion rate of 15 or 25
      units/kg/h for DVT or PE patients, respectively. Heparin clearance was determined
      at 4, 12, and 24 h after initiating heparin therapy. The mean heparin clearance
      in the DVT group was 2,164 +/- 1,024 ml/h at 4 h, 2,591 +/- 1,239 ml/h at 12 h,
      and 2,795 +/- 1,863 m/h at 24 h. The PE patients had clearances of 1,775 +/- 494,
      2,004 +/- 321, and 2,843 +/- 1,000 ml/h at 4, 12, and 24 h, respectively. The
      difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p greater
      than 0.50). The activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) was used as a
      measure of heparin effect. The maximum effect (EMAX) and concentration required
      to attain 50% of the maximum effect (EC50) were determined for each group using
      the Lineweaver-Burke linearization method. The mean EMAX and EC50 for the DVT
      patients were 130 +/- 40.99 s and 1.01 +/- 0.70 units/ml, respectively. For the
      PE patients, the mean EMAX was 418 +/- 200 s and the mean EC50 was 4.32 +/- 2.81
      units/ml. The difference between both groups for each parameter was statistically
      significant (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448842
TI  - Preliminary studies on the in vitro and in vivo effect of salicylate on sperm
      motility.
AB  - We have studied the in vitro effect of different concentrations of salicylic acid
      on the motility of normal human spermatozoa. Sperm motility was evaluated over 48
      h at 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/L of salicylate concentrations. Results are reported
      as the mean % motility, where 100% motility at each time interval was taken to be
      the motility of the control (0 mg/L of salicylate). At 48 h, the mean % motility
      (n = 12) was 61, 43, and 33% at 50, 100, and 200 mg/L of salicylate. Twenty-four
      hour values (n = 17) were 75, 65, and 48%. Eosin supravital staining demonstrated
      that the decrease in sperm motility was caused by direct inhibition of motility
      rather than by spermatozoal death. Four healthy males (17-51 years of age) gave a
      semen specimen prior to taking 650 mg of salicylate four times daily, followed by
      a second semen specimen 72 h later. Each individual, therefore, served as his own
      control. The mean % motility in the postdrug sample at 2, 24, and 48 h was 49,
      53, and 47% of the motility found in the predrug sample (n = 4). We conclude that
      salicylate significantly decreases sperm motility in vitro and in vivo.

PMID- 1448843
TI  - Pattern of 6-mercaptopurine urinary excretion in children with acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia: urinary assays as a measure of drug compliance.
AB  - A method for the measurement of 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) in urine using high
      performance liquid chromatography is described. Urinary excretion of 6MP was
      measured in 46 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The proportion of
      unchanged drug excreted after oral dosage in the morning was greater than after
      an evening dose (5.6 +/- 3.3% vs. 3.3 +/- 2.4%). Possible reasons for the
      discrepancy are discussed. In all children receiving 6MP in the morning, the drug
      was detected in urine at 2 and 4 h after ingestion. At 6 h, 6MP was still
      detectable in 77% of patients, at 8 h in 54%, at 10 h in 12%, and at 12 h in 8%.
      The reliability of urinary 6MP determination as a measure of drug compliance was
      assessed in 39 children accustomed to receiving their medication in the evening.
      6MP was detected in 81% of first morning urine samples, indicating compliance
      with medication the preceding evening. The absence of 6MP in first morning urine
      samples did not necessarily indicate poor compliance because of the variability
      in 6MP excretion and unpredictable pattern of night voiding in children. The
      method was therefore a reliable measure of good short-term compliance. It also
      directed attention toward possible noncompliance in children with negative
      samples.

PMID- 1448844
TI  - Changes in unbound and total valproic acid concentrations after replacement of
      carbamazepine with oxcarbazepine.
AB  - Total and free valproic acid (VPA) concentrations were measured in patients
      switched from a combined VPA and carbamazepine (CBZ) to a combined VPA and
      oxcarbazepine (OXC) therapy, both administered in individualized daily doses.
      Four young epileptic patients (13-17 years old) were studied for a 12-week
      period, total and free VPA concentrations being analyzed just before and 4 h
      after the morning dose, at the end of VPA and CBZ therapy, and 2 and 10 weeks
      after CBZ was replaced by OXC. The expected increase in the level/dose (L/D)
      ratio of total VPA observed at the end of the study was preceded by a clear-cut
      increase in the L/D ratio of free VPA, which led to VPA-related side effects and
      required the retitration of VPA daily doses.

PMID- 1448845
TI  - Plasma levels of trimipramine and metabolites in four patients: determination of
      the enantiomer concentrations of the hydroxy metabolites.
AB  - A two-step high-performance liquid chromatography method is described, using a CN
      column and an alpha 1-acid glycoprotein column, which allows the measurement of
      the enantiomers of the hydroxy metabolites of trimipramine in plasma of
      trimipramine-treated patients. Of the four patients analyzed, three showed
      approximately equimolar concentrations of the (D)- and (L)-enantiomers of the
      hydroxy metabolites (2-hydroxy-trimipramine and 2-hydroxy desmethyltrimipramine),
      and one was found to have roughly twice as much of the (L)-form and of the (D)
      form of 2-hydroxy trimipramine and 2-hydroxy desmethyltrimipramine. From the data
      available on the pharmacological effects of the enantiomers of trimipramine, it
      is postulated that this interindividual variability in its pharmacokinetics is
      another factor that could contribute to the interindividual variability in its
      pharmacodynamics.

PMID- 1448846
TI  - Measurement of phenytoin in serum using in-house reagents employing the Syva
      enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique principle.
AB  - Reagents have been developed for the measurement of phenytoin in serum, using the
      enzyme-multiplied immunoassay approach first introduced by Syva. The assay uses a
      commercially available antiserum and phenytoin valeric acid coupled to glucose-6
      phosphate dehydrogenase as the tracer. It has been adapted for use on an
      Eppendorf EPOS analyser, which allows 300 assays/h with high precision. Excellent
      agreement was achieved with commercial reagents, and costs were reduced markedly.

PMID- 1448847
TI  - Determination of lorajmine and its metabolite ajmaline in plasma and urine by a
      new high-performance liquid chromatographic method.
AB  - Lorajmine is a monochloroacetyl derivative of ajmaline with electrophysiological
      properties somewhat different from those of the compound of origin. Since
      lorajmine is rapidly hydrolyzed to ajmaline by plasma and tissue esterases, it is
      crucial to measure plasma levels of both drugs separately. A major problem in
      assaying lorajmine is its chemical instability in plasma both after blood
      sampling and during the extraction procedure. Furthermore, lorajmine (unlike
      ajmaline) is not fluorescent and has a very low UV absorbance, so the standard
      detectors for high-performance liquid chromatography cannot be used. We describe
      a new method that solves the problems of instability and sensitivity. Plasma
      esterases are first blocked pharmacologically (neostigmine); ajmaline is then
      measured by direct on-column injection of samples. Last, lorajmine is completely
      converted to ajmaline, extracted, and measured with a fluorescence detector. The
      molar concentration of ajmaline obtained in the last step, minus that found by
      direct injection, gives the concentration of lorajmine. Some examples of
      pharmacokinetic applications are also given.

PMID- 1448848
TI  - High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of cyclosporin G (Nva2
      cyclosporine) in human blood.
AB  - A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of
      the immunosuppressant cyclosporin G (OG 37-325, Nva2-cyclosporine, CsG) in whole
      blood has been developed. Sample preparation, employing cyclosporin A (CsA) as
      internal standard, involves organic extraction with methyl t-butyl ether under
      sequential acidic and basic conditions. Chromatography is performed using a 2 mm
      inside diameter x 25 cm column packed with 5 microns octyl (C8) material. An
      isocratic mobile phase comprised of acetonitrile:methanol:water, at a flow rate
      of 0.4 ml/min, is utilized. Separation is monitored at 230 nm. Data are also
      presented that demonstrate the use of CsG as an alternative internal standard to
      cyclosporin D for liquid chromatographic determinations of CsA.

PMID- 1448849
TI  - Determination of dextromethorphan and its O-demethylated metabolite from urine.
AB  - A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay for the simultaneous
      quantitation of dextromethorphan and its O-demethylated metabolite dextrorphan
      from urine is described. A cyano analytical column was used with a mobile phase
      consisting of MeOH 16%, acetonitrile 3%, and triethylamine 0.06% at pH 2.8 and a
      flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. Betaxolol was used as the internal standard. Standard
      curves from 50 ng/ml to 10,000 ng/ml (dextrorphan), and from 50 ng/ml to 8,000
      ng/ml (dextromethorphan) were developed. The peaks eluted at 7.8 min
      (dextrorphan), 12.2 min (betaxolol), and 17.8 min (dextromethorphan). The
      coefficients of variance ranged from 1.3 to 4.5% at 250 ng/ml and 0.9 to 2.5% at
      5,000 ng/ml. This assay was used to determine dextromethorphan/dextrorphan molar
      ratios in healthy male volunteers for the purpose of determining phenotype status
      for the P450IID6 isozyme.

PMID- 1448850
TI  - Application of the Empore solid-phase extraction membrane to the isolation of
      drugs from blood: II. Mexiletine and flecainide.
AB  - A stabilized therapeutic drug monitoring procedure incorporating the novel Empore
      solid-phase extraction membrane (SPEM) for isolation of the antiarrhythmic drugs
      mexiletine (MEX) and flecainide (FLEC) from serum is described. Routinely, serum
      (0.5 ml), adjusted to pH 4.5, is passed through an octyl (C8) SPEM to extract the
      drugs. A methanol:water wash follows to remove proteins and interferences. MEX
      and FLEC are eluted from the membrane with mobile phase and an aliquot is
      injected directly onto a Zorbax cyanopropyl (CN) high-performance liquid
      chromatographic column with detection at 214 nm. Evaporating/concentrating
      techniques that can adversely influence the stability of the volatile MEX are
      unnecessary. Recovery for both drugs exceeds 90% and the assay is linear from
      0.05 mg/L up to at least 6.0 mg/L for MEX and from 0.05 mg/L up to at least 3.0
      mg/L for FLEC. Precision (between-run) coefficients of variation range from 2.3
      to 3.0% (0.49-1.97 mg/L) for MEX and 3.7 to 5.9% (0.240-0.992 mg/L) for FLEC.
      Interferences are minimal. When we compared performance of the Empore SPEM and
      large-particle solid-phase sorbents packed in cartridges, we observed greater
      capacity per gram of sorbent and smaller elution volume with the membrane. Most
      important, concentrating steps that adversely affect the stability of MEX are
      avoided with the SPEM.

PMID- 1448851
TI  - Relationship between serum concentration and dose of valproic acid during
      monotherapy in adult outpatients.
AB  - The relationship between serum concentration and dose of valproic acid (VPA) is
      reported to be variable and inconsistent. However, studies evaluating this
      relationship have included individuals of varying ages and patients receiving
      potentially interacting medications. In this study, the relationship between VPA
      serum concentration and dose was evaluated in a homogeneous patient population.
      Medical records of 60 adult outpatients with epilepsy receiving VPA monotherapy
      were examined retrospectively for VPA dose (milligrams per kilogram) and
      corresponding serum VPA concentrations. A significant linear correlation was
      found in the relationship between VPA dose and serum concentration among all
      patients (r = 0.63; p less than 0.01). However, considerable interindividual
      variability in this ratio was demonstrated [coefficient of variation (CV) =
      28.9%], and the ratio was significantly dependent on VPA dose. In three selected
      individual patients, a significant linear correlation was also demonstrated in
      the VPA serum concentration:dose relationship over time (r = 0.91, 0.94, 0.96; p
      less than 0.05 for all three patients) with substantially less variability (CV =
      10.2-14.6%) and without significant dose dependency, suggesting that this
      parameter may be useful for guiding VPA dosage adjustment and monitoring patient
      compliance. Further study is required to evaluate the utility of the serum
      concentration:dose ratio in monitoring VPA therapy.

PMID- 1448852
TI  - Evaluation of instrumental, nonisotopic immunoassays (fluorescence polarization
      immunoassay and enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique) for cyclosporine
      monitoring in whole blood after kidney and liver transplantation.
AB  - Two new instrumental methods, an enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT)
      and a fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA), were evaluated for monitoring
      of cyclosporine (CyA) in whole blood samples of renal and liver transplant
      patients. They are considered as being specific to the parent drug and they were
      compared with a specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) and a nonspecific FPIA. The data
      reveal that the novel procedures provide slightly overestimated CyA levels
      compared with specific RIA (6-12% for EMIT, 20-25% for FPIA). For both assays,
      intrarun and interrun reproducibilities were found to be in the 2-8% range. The
      ease of performance and the possibility of performing approximately 40 assays/h
      make the two methodologies very attractive for both routine and emergency
      analyses. These approaches are viewed to be complementary to the only previously
      available instrumental method, the nonspecific FPIA, which provides three- to
      fourfold higher CyA levels than those obtained with specific methods. Specific
      and nonspecific monitoring of CyA levels allowed variations in proportions of
      metabolites to total CyA and metabolites to be distinguished. A higher percentage
      and variability of cross-reacting metabolites were found in whole blood samples
      after liver transplantation compared with those in blood of kidney transplant
      recipients.

PMID- 1448853
TI  - Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry validation of high-performance liquid
      chromatography analysis of flecainide enantiomers in serum.

PMID- 1448854
TI  - [The diagnostic value of medical examinations and their use: external validity].

PMID- 1448855
TI  - [How to treat epilepsy in children?].

PMID- 1448856
TI  - [Dysplastic valvular regurgitations].

PMID- 1448857
TI  - [Neoplastic pericarditis: clinical and anatomo-pathologic aspects. 14 case
      reports].

PMID- 1448858
TI  - [Malabsorption syndromes and immunoglobulin deficiencies].

PMID- 1448859
TI  - [Importance of the determination of free thyroxine in comparison with total
      thyroxine in thyroid disease diagnosis].

PMID- 1448860
TI  - [Glucocorticoids and psychiatry].

PMID- 1448861
TI  - [The importance of functional cerebral imaging in psychiatric pathology].

PMID- 1448862
TI  - [Bourneville's tuberous sclerosis: computed tomography study].

PMID- 1448863
TI  - [Caroli's disease in children. Literature review. Two case reports].

PMID- 1448864
TI  - [Dermoid mesenteric cysts: a case simulating a dermoid cyst of the ovary].

PMID- 1448865
TI  - [Effect of Fusarium autolysate on various immunologic and biologic indices of the
      state of the carp body].
AB  - The Fusarium autolysate has been studied for its effect on certain
      immunobiochemical, parasitological and fishery-biological characteristics of carp
      fingerlings in the experiment. It is shown that different methods of introduction
      and treatment of fish with the autolysate induce changes in titres of the
      compliment and the content of lysozyme in the blood serum of fish as well as
      growth of its body weight. Treatment of carp spawn before its incubation
      increases survivability of fish. It is shown advisable to apply the autolysate in
      food fishery.

PMID- 1448866
TI  - [Riboflavin metabolism in diabetes mellitus].
AB  - Riboflavin excretion with urine in children suffering from diabetes mellitus is
      found to be significantly higher in comparison with healthy adults, the
      riboflavin content in the serum being normal. The total riboflavin concentration
      in erythrocytes is substantially lower and administration of daily-required
      riboflavin doses does not increase this parameter. FAD-dependent glutathione
      reductase in erythrocyte hemolysates is approximately 1.5 times higher than that
      of healthy children and does not depend on the additional intake of polyvitamins.
      The seeming affinity of the enzyme with exogenous FAD in sick children is almost
      40 times lower in comparison with this value in healthy children, that is why the
      FAD-effect value in diabetes mellitus children does not exceed 1.2. Peculiarities
      of the riboflavin metabolism at diabetes mellitus and possibility to use the
      investigated parameters as criteria of vitamin B2 supply are discussed.

PMID- 1448867
TI  - [Methemoglobin-induced lipid peroxidation in model membranes].
AB  - Lipid peroxidation induced by methemoglobin in liposomes prepared from lecithin,
      cardiolipin and their mixtures has been investigated. Using absorption
      spectroscopy technique it was shown that in the bilayers with low initial
      oxidation methemoglobin caused the formation of diene conjugates. In the bilayers
      with high degree of oxidation protein activated cleavage of the available fatty
      acid hydroperoxides. Hydroperoxides were found to induce the reduction of
      methemoglobin absorption in the Soret band.

PMID- 1448869
TI  - [A model of intra- and intermolecular interactions of peptide chains].
AB  - Results of attempts to determine the code of interaction of amino acids in
      peptide chains proceeding from their coding nucleotide sequences have been
      summarized. According to the model suggested the G/C and A/U complementarity of
      codon roots determines the mutual binding of coded amino acid residues.
      Structures of analogs of the immunoactive peptide, a fragment of IgG1 (336-370)
      EPQVY have been constructed on the basis of the model.

PMID- 1448868
TI  - [Change in the intensity of biosynthesis of proteins, lipids and glycogen in
      animal tissues during long-term administration of morphine].
AB  - The intensity of biosynthesis processes in animal organism has been studied as
      affected by long-term administration of morphine. It was established that
      morphine administration to rats for five weeks intensified protein biosynthesis
      in the brain, kidneys, skeletal muscles: specific radioactivity of blood serum
      proteins also increased. Incorporation of 2-/14C/glycine label to the brain,
      cardiac and skeletal muscles increased as affected by morphine: the label
      incorporation to the liver lipids decreased and that to the kidney and spleen
      lipids did not change. Specific radioactivity of glycogen multiply increased in
      the rat liver as affected by morphine.

PMID- 1448870
TI  - [Interaction of melittin with a model membrane in the presence of antibodies].
AB  - The method of fluorescence spectrofluorimetry has been applied to study the
      interaction of melittin at high and low ionic strength with the
      phosphatidylcholine model membrane in the presence of monospecific polyclonal and
      monoclonal antibodies against this peptide. The formation of antigen-antibody
      complex with the excess of the antigen is shown to decrease the leakage of
      calcein, a fluorescence dye. With the excess of antibodies the dye leakage is
      completely suppressed. This effect does not depend on the state of peptide
      aggregation before binding to the membrane. It is suggested that melittin
      antigenic determinants are located on the sites of peptide molecule which are
      necessary for its interaction with the membrane.

PMID- 1448871
TI  - The charge and atherogenicity of low density lipoproteins.
AB  - It is concluded on the basis of literature data, that apolipoprotein B-100 is the
      most high-molecular, hydrophobic, and positive charged protein compared to the
      other apoproteins of the plasma lipoproteins. Low density lipoproteins of healthy
      subjects, mainly containing apo B-100, have little heterogeneity on both charge
      and isoelectric point, in spite of heterogeneity on sizes and apolipoprotein
      composition. The reason of formation of subfraction with elevated negative charge
      is the damage with the free radicals and/or aldehydes. The reason of formation of
      more cationized subfraction is unclear. LDL charge changes are noted in some
      diseases and syndromes (ischemic heart diseases, familial hyper-alpha
      lipoproteinemia, Tangier disease, X-bound ichthyosis and, possibly, others). Some
      IHD patients treatment with antioxidants leads to the disappearance of negative
      charged LDL subfraction, that shows participation of peroxidation products in
      their formation. Electrical characteristics of LDL of tissue fluids and of aorta
      wall differ essentially from those of the same class plasma lipoproteins. Lipid
      peroxidation and influences of several enzymes play the main role in these
      differences.

PMID- 1448872
TI  - [Catalytic effect of gamma-thrombin on synthetic low molecular weight peptide
      substrates].
AB  - Hydrolysis and respective catalytic parameters of hydrolysis of ester peptide
      substrates that contain residues of hydrophobic and nonpolar amino acids in P2,
      P3 subsites have been studied. It is shown that efficiency of hydrolysis by
      thrombin is determined by the length of polypeptide chains and by the nature of
      the amino acids in P2, P3 subsites in the substrate. In spite of the fact that
      gamma-thrombin retains the conformation activity of the catalytic centre the
      local conformation changes of the second binding region of the enzyme have been
      discovered.

PMID- 1448873
TI  - [Effect of low doses of external and internal ionizing radiation on proteinases
      of cells in the rat cerebral cortex of rats].
AB  - Single external gamma-irradiation in a dose of 0.5-2 Gy as well as the long-term
      (30 days) internal irradiation caused by the everyday influx of Cs-137 and Sr-85
      isotopes to the organism have been studied for their effect on the activity and
      properties of histone-specific proteinase from the nuclei of the rat brain cortex
      cells. It is found out that external irradiation induces a dose-dependent
      increase of the activity during the first 24 hours after irradiation followed by
      its decrease 7-30 days later. Internal irradiation induces a decrease of the
      enzyme activity at the 30th day as well. Certain specificity of the studied
      indices depending on the type of irradiation has been also observed.

PMID- 1448874
TI  - [High density lipoproteins of the human aortic wall; size distribution].
AB  - The paper presents data on distribution of human aortic high density lipoproteins
      (A-HDL) according to their size. A-HDL were isolated from the aortic intima
      (autopsy material) and analyzed by the gradient gel electrophoresis method. The
      obtained data show that the clear-cut difference exists between size distribution
      of A-HDL from patients whose death was connected with atherosclerosis and those
      who died from the diseases not connected with atherosclerosis. In the first case
      small particles (HDL3B and HDL3C) were predominant. A-HDL with size corresponding
      to plasma HDL2A and HDL2B slightly predominated in normal intima and A-HDL with
      size of plasma HDL3A and HDL3C predominated in affected parts of intima. The
      principal component analysis of data permits suggesting that one of the factors
      responsible for the accumulation of small A-HDL is a decreased permeability of
      the affected parts of the vessel wall for the larger HDL particles. Besides,
      changes of the normal HDL metabolism can also be responsible for the presence of
      small HDL particles in the intima.

PMID- 1448875
TI  - [High density lipoproteins in the blood of rats of varying age].
AB  - The study revealed age-related changes in the content and ratio of apoproteins
      which are part of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), as well as the development of
      dysapolipoproteinemia. The most significant fall (by 46.7%) was found in the
      content of the key HDL apoprotein--apoA1, and rise (by 107%)--in apoE. The
      development of dysapolipoproteinemia was accompanied by changes in the lipid
      composition of HDL and their subfractions (HDL2 and HDL3). HDLs were enriched by
      cholesterol and its esters. HDL cholesterol/apoA1 ratio increased twice, while
      the content of phospholipids decreased.

PMID- 1448876
TI  - [Effect of phytoecdysteroids and nerobol on parameters of carbohydrate and lipid
      metabolism and phospholipid spectrum of liver mitochondrial membrane in
      experimental diabetes mellitus of rats].
AB  - Phytoecdysteroids: ecdysterone and turkesterone, introduced orally to male rats
      with the body mass 180-120 g in a dose of 5 mg/l kg of mass and nerobol in a dose
      of 10 mg per 1 kg of the mass for 15 days against a background of the developed
      alloxan diabetes cause a considerable decrease in the content of free fatty acids
      of the blood serum, sharply increased after the subcutaneous injection of alloxan
      to the animals (150 mg per 1 kg of the mass). The content of glycogen, malonic
      dialdehyde, pyruvic acid and calcium transporting function of the liver
      mitochondria are also normalized. These changes are closely interrelated (and may
      be mutually conditioned) with the preparation-induced reduction of phospholipid
      spectrum of the liver mitochondrial membranes pathologically changed owing to
      insulin insufficiency. In this case phytoecdysteroids in the first turn normalize
      the fractions of phospholipids which play the structural role in the
      mitochondrial membranes, and nerobol normalizes the level of minor and monoacylic
      phospholipids.

PMID- 1448877
TI  - [Ligand spectrum of hemoglobin activity of methemoglobin-reductase and hemolytic
      resistance of erythrocytes during chronic exposure to nitrates].
AB  - It is found that nitrite-ions formed as a result of biotransformation during long
      term feeding of calves with sodium and potassium nitrates induce changes in some
      biochemical parameters of blood, including HS-glutathione content in
      erythrocytes, acid hemolytic resistance of erythrocytes, activity of NAD
      dependent methemoglobin-reductase, correlation of ligand forms of hemoglobin and
      its total content. It is supposed that the observed changes are of an
      adaptational character and, as a whole, provide for the optimization of both
      quantitative and qualitative composition of population of erythroid cells at the
      expense of erythropoiesis intensification.

PMID- 1448879
TI  - [Structural organization of the monofilamentary protofibrils and their
      association into fibrils].
AB  - Evidence of the fibrinogen molecule structure which is suggestive of an
      antiparallel arrangement of polymerization sites is summarized. A three
      dimensional model of the structural organization of a monofilamentary protofibril
      is proposed. A possible role of the "A" and "a" polymerization centers in the
      lateral association of protofibrils is contemplated. The formation of fibrils in
      a form of a hollow cylinder is postulated.

PMID- 1448878
TI  - [Functional and diagnostic significance of A-, Bbeta 1-42 and Bbeta 15-42 peptide
      fragments of fibrin(ogen)].
AB  - A scheme of in vitro formation and hydrolysis of the fibrin clot is suggested.
      This scheme considers the data concerning a cofactor role of fibrin in activation
      of polymerization and fibrinolysis. Such parameters of a number of components as
      concentration of A-, B beta 1-42-and B beta 15-42 peptides and of other fragments
      of fibrinogen which allow characterizing a state of hyperfibrinolysis,
      hyperclotting or dynamic equilibrium of these systems are selected in the scheme.

PMID- 1448880
TI  - [Effect of nitrobenzoic acid on methemoglobin content in blood and activity of
      antioxidative enzymes in erythrocytes].
AB  - Intraperitoneal administration of meta-nitrobenzoic, 3,5-dinitrobenzoic, 2,4,6
      trinitrobenzoic and 3,5-dinitro-4-methylbenzoic acids to the white mice in a dose
      equal to LD50 has induced an increase in the methaemoglobin content in their
      blood. Total activity of dehydrogenases of pentosephosphate pathway, content of
      2,3-diphosphoglycerate increase in response to the intoxication evoked by the
      mentioned acids. The acute intoxication does not practically change the activity
      of the key enzymes of antioxidant protection: superoxide-dismutase, catalase and
      glutathione peroxidase.

PMID- 1448881
TI  - Correlative study of adult respiratory distress syndrome by light, scanning, and
      transmission electron microscopy.
AB  - The sequential pulmonary changes occurring in the evolution of adult respiratory
      distress syndrome (ARDS) were studied in 35 patients by correlative light,
      scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. The causes of ARDS were diverse,
      the major ones being sepsis or aspiration. Patient survival ranged from 3 to 51
      days. The acute stage in patients surviving 2 to 7 days was characterized by an
      exudative reaction with a predominance of hyaline membranes. This acute stage
      merged with and was replaced by a subacute reparative stage in patients surviving
      7 to 14 days, which in turn was replaced by a chronic fibroproliferative stage
      complicated by interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and a deranged acinar
      architecture. Correlation of findings by scanning electron microscopy with those
      by light and transmission electron microscopy provided an added dimension to
      understanding of the evolving stages of ARDS and demonstrated that type 2
      pneumocytes contributed to the fibroproliferative stage through organization of
      hyaline membranes and re-epithelialization of alveoli.

PMID- 1448882
TI  - Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic profiles of cutaneous Kaposi's
      sarcoma and bacillary angiomatosis.
AB  - Thirty cases of cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) were evaluated and compared with
      eight cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related bacillary
      angiomatosis (BA). The morphologic features of both lesions were studied by light
      and electron microscopy and by immunohistochemistry with monoclonal endothelial
      antibodies against CD34, BNH9, and factor VIII-related antigen as well as the
      lectins Ulex europaeus 1 and Psophocarpus tetragonolobus. Macrophage/monocyte
      markers used were alpha 1-antitrypsin, lysosome, Kp1 (CD68), and polyclonal
      factor XIIIa. Electron microscopic studies demonstrated that most of the spindle
      cells in KS showed a paucity of cell organelles and an absence of Weibel-Palade
      bodies (WPB), whereas the cells in BA showed activated endothelial cells with
      WPB. By immunohistochemistry the spindle cells in KS were consistently positive
      for CD34 only, whereas proliferating cells in BA expressed all endothelial
      markers used. Numerous cells expressing macrophage/monocyte markers were present
      surrounding both KS and BA, and a small number of similar cells were entrapped
      within both lesions. The results demonstrated a restricted immunohistochemical
      profile for endothelial cell markers in spindle cells of KS (CD34+) distinct from
      that of endothelial cells in BA. These findings suggest that the spindle cells in
      KS are poorly differentiated endothelial cells or that they belong to an
      endothelial cell subset with partial expression of endothelial phenotype.

PMID- 1448883
TI  - Membranocystic lesion in sclerosing lipogranuloma of the scrotum: an
      ultrastructural study.
AB  - Two cases of intrascrotal sclerosing lipogranuloma are reported in which affected
      adipose tissues showed peculiar membranocystic lesions (MCL) similar to the
      features described in Nasu-Hakola disease. On light microscopy, the MCL were seen
      in the degenerative fatty tissues and within multinucleated giant cells, which
      were positive for periodic acid-Schiff stain and resistant to diastase digestion.
      Ultrastructurally, two types of MCL were observed; one type was characterized by
      thick membranes composed of vesicular to minute tubular or fibrillar
      substructures, and the other type was characterized by thin membranes composed of
      only small numbers of tiny vesicles. The substructures in both types of MCL
      contained lipid droplets similar to those in the inner space. These results
      support the concept that the membranes in the MCL are derived from degenerated
      fat droplets.

PMID- 1448884
TI  - Ultrastructure and immunohistochemistry of a fetal-type Leydig cell tumor.
AB  - A symptomless scrotal mass was removed from a 34-year-old man. The lesion was 7
      cm in diameter and it was grossly a hemorrhagic cyst with indurated walls. By
      light microscopy tumor cell clusters and cords were seen infiltrating the
      testicle, tunica albuginea, and paratesticular tissue. In the immunohistochemical
      analysis the tumor cells were immunoreactive with anti-S-100 protein and
      anticarcinoembryonic antigen, but they did not express cytokeratin or alpha
      fetoprotein as tested with paraffin sections. Tumor cell clusters were enveloped
      by a laminin-positive basement membrane. Electron microscopy revealed abundant
      smooth endoplasmic reticulum, lipid droplets, and membranous whorls in the
      cytoplasm. Lamellar whorled bodies were also seen in mitochondria, which
      contained tubulovesicular cristae. The presence of a well-developed, often
      multilayered basement membrane was confirmed at ultrastructural level. The
      activity of 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase suggested that the tumor cells
      were capable of androgen synthesis. The morphological features are reminiscent of
      fetal-type Leydig cells and are distinctly different from the Leydig cell tumors
      described so far.

PMID- 1448885
TI  - Solid and papillary neoplasm of the pancreas.
AB  - In two cases of solid and papillary neoplasm of the pancreas (SPN), positive
      staining for argyrophil granules, chromogranin-A, neuron-specific enolase,
      chymotrypsin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, vimentin, cytokeratin, and estrogen receptors
      was present. Ultrastructurally, neurosecretory as well as zymogenlike granules
      were demonstrated. Measurements of mean nuclear volume and volume-corrected
      mitotic index discriminated between SPN and well-differentiated ductal
      adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, with notably lower values being seen in SPN.
      Silver-stained nucleolar organizer region counts showed wide overlaps. The
      results suggest that SPN is a tumor with mixed endocrine and exocrine features.
      Its low malignant potential compared to ductal adenocarcinoma is reflected in the
      mean nuclear volume and volume-corrected mitotic index. The presence of estrogen
      receptors may prove therapeutically useful.

PMID- 1448886
TI  - Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical study of a primary gastrinoma of the
      liver.
AB  - A primary hepatic gastrinoma found in a 13-year-old boy was studied by light
      microscopy, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and immunoelectron
      microscopy. Results were consistent with a neuroendocrine neoplasm with abundant
      gastrin-immunoreactive cells. Unlike all previously reported cases of primary
      hepatic neuroendocrine tumors, which have been endocrinologically asymptomatic,
      the patient had a Zollinger-Ellison syndrome apparently cured by surgical
      resection of the tumor.

PMID- 1448887
TI  - Pigmented intracerebral neuroepithelial cyst: report of a case.
AB  - A 35-year-old man with seizure disorder was found to have a parietal lobe
      neuroepithelial cyst. The lining of the cyst was made up of ependymal cells
      containing neuromelanin, which was confirmed ultrastructurally. This appears to
      be the first report of a pigmented neuroepithelial cyst in the brain parenchyma.

PMID- 1448888
TI  - Case for the panel. Detection of oligocilia arising from smooth muscle cells of
      leiomyosarcoma and bilharzial ureters.

PMID- 1448889
TI  - Two-dimensional arrays for medical ultrasound.
AB  - The design, fabrication and evaluation of two-dimensional transducer arrays are
      described for medical ultrasound imaging. A 4 x 32, 2.8 MHz array was developed
      to use new signal processing techniques for improved B-scan imaging including
      elevation focusing, phase correction and synthetic aperture imaging. Laboratory
      measurements from typical array elements showed 50 omega insertion loss of -56
      dB, -6 dB fractional bandwidth of 43%, interelement crosstalk of -19 dB, and -6
      dB pulse-echo angular response of 62 degrees. Simulations of pulse-echo beam
      plots have shown grating lobes 20 dB below the main lobe at +/- 7 degrees in the
      elevation direction. The complete 2-D array has been used for measurements of
      phase aberrations in breast, and the individual 32 element linear arrays have
      been used to obtain conventional B-scans. Several 16 x 16 arrays have also been
      developed for high speed volumetric imaging. These include 96 transmit elements
      and 32 receive channels. With a lambda/4 matching layer, laboratory measurements
      show 50 omega insertion loss of -72 dB, -6 dB fractional bandwidth of 63%,
      interelement crosstalk of -29 dB and -6 dB angular response of 25 degrees. Pulse
      echo sensitivity was improved by 21 dB through the use of integrated circuit
      preamplifiers of high impedance mounted in the transducer handle. In vivo
      cardiac, abdominal, and obstetric B-scans with elevation focusing, as well as
      high speed C-scans, have been obtained with these 2-D arrays.

PMID- 1448890
TI  - In vivo imaging using a copolymer phased array.
AB  - Phased-array images have been obtained in vivo with a steered copolymer array
      operating at 2.5 MHz. The array was fabricated using 28 microns copolymer film,
      lambda/4 resonant at 21 MHz, which was bonded to a glass ceramic backing with a
      thin film bond. The 32 array elements were created by laser ablation of the
      continuous gold electrode on one side of the film. The transducer was driven by
      200 V shock excitation, and the received signal was processed by 32 custom IC
      preamplifiers that were mounted to the array connector. The amplifiers had a high
      input impedance compared to that of the array elements and their output impedance
      matched that of the coaxial cable that connected to the scanner. Because the
      copolymer transducer had a broad bandwidth, the spectrum of the pulse echo image
      was modified by the frequency dependent attenuation of tissue and the bandpass of
      the ultrasound scanner, resulting in a center frequency of 2.5 MHz. The
      performance of the copolymer array was compared to that of a 3 MHz, PZT array
      with similar dimensions. On the Duke phased-array scanner, the copolymer
      sensitivity was 28 dB less than that of PZT. The copolymer elements had a 6 dB
      pulse-echo angular response of 30 degrees, and the interelement cross-coupling
      was -35 dB. Phased-array images were made of the heart of a 25 year-old normal
      male.

PMID- 1448891
TI  - Optimum nonlinear signal detection and estimation in the presence of ultrasonic
      speckle.
AB  - A unified approach to the design of nonlinear filters for speckle suppression in
      ultrasound B-mode images is presented. The detection of the (lesion) signal is
      formulated as a binary hypothesis-testing problem. The structure of the optimal
      decision rules is derived both in the case where the lesion signal is assumed
      either a constant or random variable. In the case of a constant signal, the
      maximum likelihood (ML) estimator and the optimal L-estimator are derived. In the
      case of a random lesion signal, the maximum a posteriori probability estimator of
      the lesion signal has also been found. Experimental results verify the
      superiority of the proposed ML-estimator and the L-estimator over the
      straightforward choice of an arithmetic mean for speckle filtering in simulated
      tissue mimicking phantom ultrasound B-mode images.

PMID- 1448892
TI  - Large-transducer measurements of wavefront distortion in the female breast.
AB  - Ultrasonic waves propagating through soft tissue experience wavefront distortion.
      Refraction occurs at boundaries between tissue beds having different sound
      speeds; scattering occurs within a tissue bed, caused by local impedance
      variations. This paper describes measurements of wavefront distortion in the
      human female breast that indicate that refraction is the dominant distortion
      mechanism when the ultrasonic phased array is very large. The determination that
      refraction dominates the wavefront distortion is based upon studies of multiple
      image artifacts that result from a single source radiated through in vivo breasts
      and breast phantoms. The receiving apertures used were 4.65 and 9.6 cm. Such
      image artifacts are repeatedly observed in the 10 young subjects reported in this
      paper, and also in older subjects. An understanding of the in vivo observations
      is obtained by phantom studies.

PMID- 1448893
TI  - Adaptive imaging in aberrating media: a broadband algorithm.
AB  - An adaptive algorithm is derived for imaging in an aberrating medium based on
      wideband (time-domain) linear array data. Image reconstructions using simulated
      scattering data are presented. An analogy is also drawn between broadband array
      imaging and limited-angle tomography. This analogy suggests some tomographic-like
      filtering schemes that can be applied to improve the quality of the image. The
      algorithm is designed for imaging in composite material, although the imaging of
      other heterogeneous media such as tissue may be feasible under certain
      conditions.

PMID- 1448894
TI  - Role of Helicobacter felis in chronic canine gastritis.
AB  - Five gnotobiotic Beagle dogs were orally inoculated with a pure culture of
      Helicobacter felis. The remaining two littermates served as contact controls.
      Thirty days after infection, all animals were euthanatized and specimens were
      collected for evaluation. In infected dogs, H. felis was recovered from all areas
      of the stomach. Colonization was heaviest in the fundus and antrum. H. felis was
      not cultured from any segment of the gastrointestinal tract distal to the
      duodenum. Two weeks after infection, all five infected dogs had detectable IgM
      and IgG serum antibody to H. felis, whereas control dogs had no measurable H.
      felis serum antibody throughout the study. Histopathologic changes in the
      stomachs of infected dogs included large numbers of lymphoid nodules throughout
      all regions of the gastric mucosa and were most numerous in the fundus and body.
      A mild, diffuse lymphocytic infiltrate with small numbers of plasma cells and
      eosinophils was also present in the subglandular region of all portions of the
      gastric mucosa. Electron microscopic examination revealed large numbers of spiral
      shaped H. felis in gastric mucus adjacent to or superimposed over the areas of
      inflammation. Occasionally, however, H. felis was observed within the canaliculi
      of gastric parietal cells. Histopathologic changes in the stomachs of the contact
      control dogs were limited to focal infiltrates of eosinophils and small
      aggregates of lymphocytes in the subglandular portions of the gastric mucosa in
      one animal. Infection with H. felis is a likely cause of naturally occurring
      lymphofollicular gastritis.

PMID- 1448895
TI  - Rift Valley fever virus-induced encephalomyelitis and hepatitis in calves.
AB  - Three calves (Nos. 1, 2 = 7 days old; No. 3 = 21 days old) were inoculated
      subcutaneously with virulent Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus. All calves became
      viremic and clinically ill, but the two 7-day-old calves were moribund and were
      euthanatized subsequently on post-inoculation day (PID) 3. Highest viral titers
      were measured in the serum, with lesser concentrations in the brain, heart,
      spleen, and liver of these animals. Viral antigens were detected by
      immunohistochemical analysis only in the livers, where positive staining was
      localized in coalescing foci of hepatocellular necrosis. The 21-day-old calf
      appeared to recover after viremia and pyrexia but became lethargic and ataxic and
      was euthanatized on PID 9. The calf was no longer viremic, and RVF virus was
      isolated only from the brain. Microscopic examination of the central nervous
      system revealed diffuse perivascular infiltrates of lymphocytes and macrophages,
      multifocal meningitis, and focal areas of neuronal necrosis and aggregates of
      macrophages, lymphocytes, and neutrophils throughout all regions of the brain and
      cervical spinal cord. There was positive immunohistochemical staining for viral
      antigens within the cytoplasm of neurons and glial cells throughout the central
      nervous system. Thus, RVF virus can cause encephalomyelitis in calves, and the
      specific virologic diagnosis can be made by immunohistochemical localization of
      viral antigens in formalin-fixed tissues.

PMID- 1448896
TI  - Flow cytometric analysis of feline reticulocytes.
AB  - Hemolytic anemia was induced in five Domestic Shorthair cats (four adult males
      and one spayed female obtained from a breeding colony at Colorado State
      University, CO), and blood samples were analyzed from five other cats (two
      castrated male Domestic Shorthairs, one castrated male Domestic Longhair, one
      castrated male Persian, and one spayed female Siamese presented to the Veterinary
      Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University for miscellaneous problems). Blood
      samples taken from these cats had percentages of aggregate reticulocytes that
      ranged from 0% to 14.5% as determined by manual counting and were used to
      identify the best technique for staining cat reticulocytes for flow cytometric
      analysis. The best technique was mixing a blood sample (1/2,000 dilution) with
      0.2 micrograms thiazole orange in 1 ml of diluent and incubating the mixture in
      the dark at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes. The percentage of
      reticulocytes determined by flow cytometry correlated well (r = 0.88) with
      manually determined aggregate reticulocyte percentages; no significant
      differences were observed between the two techniques (P > 0.05). For the
      conditions used, punctate reticulocytes were not detected by flow cytometry.
      Samples with very high platelet numbers and very low packed cell volumes may show
      falsely elevated percentages of reticulocytes as determined by flow cytometry.
      The reproducibility of the flow cytometric technique was good; the coefficient of
      variation ranged from 4.8% to 17.9% in two samples with two different times of
      incubation. Staining of cat aggregate reticulocytes with thiazole orange and use
      of flow cytometric quantification is a reproducible technique that has a good
      correlation with the manual reticulocyte counting method.

PMID- 1448897
TI  - Experimental oral administration of canine adenovirus (type 2) to raccoons
      (Procyon lotor).
AB  - Canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV2) has been proposed for recombinant vaccines to
      control rabies in wild animals. To evaluate the suitability of CAV2 as a safe
      vector for the genetically engineered vaccines, seven wild-caught raccoons (three
      males and four females) were administered CAV2 per os. Two of the animals were
      euthanatized on each of post-infection days 3, 6, and 14, and one was
      euthanatized on day 21. Two other control raccoons (a male and a female) were
      also euthanatized on day 21. Microscopic pulmonary lesions of multifocal
      necrotizing bronchiolitis with basophilic intranuclear inclusions were seen in
      3/4 raccoons euthanatized on post-infection days 3 and 6. Ultrastructural
      examination of lungs with pulmonary lesions revealed hexagonal viral particles
      characteristic of adenoviruses. CAV2 is potentially pathogenic for raccoons, and
      this susceptibility should be of concern to developers of recombinant vaccines
      who intend to use CAV2 as a vaccine vector.

PMID- 1448898
TI  - Immunohistochemical localization of matrix proteins in the femoral joint
      cartilage of growing commercial pigs.
AB  - The immunocytochemical localization of several matrix macromolecules, including
      collagen type II and proteoglycans, in the distal femoral articular-epiphyseal
      cartilage complex of 15 commercial pigs between the age of 6 and 18 weeks was
      studied. Early osteochondrotic lesions, i.e., chondronecrosis in the resting
      region of the growth cartilage, as well as extensions of necrotic cartilage into
      the subchondral bone, were present in all animals, except those 6 weeks old. A
      battery of antibodies were used for identification of macromolecules in the
      matrix at different stages of the disease. Chondrocyte involvement in the process
      could be studied by identifying the sequence of alterations in matrix
      macromolecules as the lesion developed. The immunostaining for aggrecan (large
      aggregating proteoglycans), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, fibronectin,
      collagen type II, fibromodulin, and biglycan was more prominent in the areas of
      chondronecrosis, extending into the subchondral bone, than in the normal resting
      region. This altered pattern of matrix macromolecules resembled that of the
      matrix of the proliferative chondrocytes and suggests that the chondrocyte
      maturation had stopped in the proliferative zone. The matrix in the areas of
      chondronecrosis in the resting region resembled that in the normal resting
      region. Thus the chondronecrosis appears to have preceded alterations of the
      matrix composition. The antibody reactivity pattern was, however, altered in the
      matrix of the clustered chondrocytes in areas of chondronecrosis. Staining in
      these regions suggested a more prominent appearance of fibronectin and collagen
      type II than in the normal matrix of the resting region. These changes are
      suggestive of attempt to repair.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448899
TI  - Early sequential ultrastructural renal alterations induced by 2-bromoethylamine
      hydrobromide in the Swiss ICR mouse.
AB  - Thirty-two male Swiss ICR mice were injected intraperitoneally with 300 mg 2
      bromoethylamine hydrobromide/kg body weight, anesthetized, and perfused with
      glutaraldehyde-paraformaldehyde solution at 5, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180
      minutes after treatment. Eight control mice were injected intraperitoneally with
      sterile diluent, and one was perfused at each of the same time periods as the
      treated mice. Proximal tubule epithelial alterations progressed over time from
      increased secondary lysosome and myeloid body formation to cellular and
      mitochondrial swelling and eventually cell necrosis. The glomerular, peritubular,
      and vasa recta capillaries had endothelial cell swelling and desquamation and
      platelet aggregation. Bromoethylamine nephrotoxicosis in the male Swiss ICR mouse
      is an ischemic necrosis of the proximal tubules and papilla initiated by
      endothelial cell damage and makes an excellent model of chemically induced damage
      to endothelial cells and tubular necrosis.

PMID- 1448900
TI  - Hepatic lesions in rabbits infected with Encephalitozoon cuniculi administered
      per rectum.
AB  - Microsporidia have been recognized recently as opportunistic pathogens in
      acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients. In an attempt to develop an animal
      model of enteric microsporidiosis, adult (5 to 6 months old) male Flemish Giant
      rabbits from a closed New York colony were administered 5 x 10(3), 5 x 10(5), and
      5 x 10(7) Encephalitozoon cuniculi per rectum. Rabbits given 5 x 10(5) and 5 x
      10(7) E. cuniculi had moderate granulomatous periportal infiltrates,
      characterized by the presence of numerous macrophages, epithelioid cells and a
      few multinucleated giant cells, lymphocytes, and plasma cells. Inflammatory cells
      also were seen infiltrating the tunica adventitia and tunica media of hepatic
      portal veins and branches of the hepatic artery. This study demonstrates that
      administration of E. cuniculi per rectum to rabbits results in infection that is
      characterized by high frequency and severity of hepatic lesions.

PMID- 1448901
TI  - Squamous cell carcinoma arising in two feline thymomas.

PMID- 1448902
TI  - Testicular epidermoid cyst and penile squamous cell carcinoma in a dog.

PMID- 1448903
TI  - Predominance of BoCD8-positive T lymphocytes in vascular lesions in a 1-year-old
      cow with concurrent malignant catarrhal fever and bovine viral diarrhea virus
      infection.

PMID- 1448904
TI  - Functional thyroid follicular adenocarcinoma in a captive mountain lion (Felis
      concolor).

PMID- 1448905
TI  - Electron microscopic evidence for endothelial infection by African horsesickness
      virus.

PMID- 1448906
TI  - Chronic proliferative rhinitis associated with Salmonella arizonae in sheep.

PMID- 1448907
TI  - Histopathologic findings of Schistosoma margrebowiei in experimentally infected
      laboratory animals.

PMID- 1448908
TI  - Dyschondroplasia (osteochondrosis) in articular-epiphyseal cartilage complexes of
      three calves from 24 to 103 days of age.

PMID- 1448909
TI  - Dual systemic mycosis caused by Bipolaris spicifera and Torulopsis glabrata in a
      dog.

PMID- 1448910
TI  - Astrocytoma in a cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis).

PMID- 1448911
TI  - Identification of a binding protein to the X gene promoter region of hepatitis B
      virus.
AB  - The X protein of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a transactivator to homologous and
      heterologous viral and cellular transcriptional regulatory elements. One sequence
      specific binding protein, whose binding site located from nt 1102 to nt 1117 of
      HBV DNA, was identified by mobility shift assay and DNase I foot-printing
      analysis. A CAT assay experiment demonstrated this 16-bp binding site to have a
      promoter activity in the X gene transcription. The 58-bp DNA fragment (nt 1085 to
      nt 1142), which contains the above binding site, could be enhanced by the HBV
      enhancer. Mobility shift assay using the mutated 58-bp DNA fragments as probes,
      showed that the mutation, which damaged the palindrome structure between nt 1105
      and nt 1112, resulted in loss of the binding activity. This mutation also
      remarkably reduced the promoter activity. The binding site differed from the
      target sequences of known transcriptional factors. This factor was thus concluded
      to be a binding protein to the X gene promoter (X-PBP) of HBV. A homology search
      demonstrated the binding site to be highly homologous to the promoter elements of
      human laminin receptor (2H5epitope) and lipoprotein receptor-related protein
      (LRP) genes.

PMID- 1448912
TI  - Influence of amantadine resistance mutations on the pH regulatory function of the
      M2 protein of influenza A viruses.
AB  - Mutations in the influenza M2 membrane protein which confer resistance to the
      antiviral drug amantadine are exclusively located within the transmembrane region
      of the molecule. The influence of specific amino acid substitutions on the
      activity of the M2 protein in influenza A virus-infected cells is assessed in
      this report by their effects upon haemagglutinin (HA) stability and virus growth.
      A number of amino acid substitutions, e.g., L26H, A30T, S31N and G34E reduced the
      activity of the M2 protein of A/chicken/Germany/34 (Rostock) and caused a
      substantial increase in expression of the low-pH form of HA. The adverse effects
      of the mutations on virus replication were evident from changes selected during
      subsequent passage of the mutant viruses in the presence or absence of
      amantadine: reversion to wt, the acquisition of a second suppressor mutation in
      M2, or the appearance of a complementary mutation in HA which increased its pH
      stability. In contrast, 127T and 127S, mutations which were most readily selected
      following passage of the wt virus in the presence of drug, caused an increase in
      M2 activity. Furthermore, in double mutants the 127T mutation suppressed the
      attenuating effects of the A30T and S31N mutations on M2 activity. The influence
      of primary structure on the consequences of particular amino acid changes was
      further emphasized by the contrasting effects of the G34E mutation on the
      activities of two closely related proteins, causing an increase in the activity
      of the M2 of A/chicken/Germany/27 (Weybridge) as opposed to the decrease in
      activity of the Rostock protein. Estimates of differences in trans Golgi pH based
      on the degree of conversion of HA to the low-pH form, or complementation of
      differences in pH stability of mutant HAs, indicate that changes in M2 may
      influence pH within the transport pathway by as much as 0.6. The results thus
      provide further evidence that M2 regulates transmembrane pH gradients in the
      trans Golgi. Incompatibility between particular HA and M2 components and the
      selection of M2 mutants with suboptimal activity stresses the essential
      relationship between the structures and functions of these two virus proteins.

PMID- 1448913
TI  - Molecular cloning and sequencing of the Mexico isolate of hepatitis E virus
      (HEV).
AB  - Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the major causative agent of hepatitis E or what was
      formerly known as enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis. The disease has
      a worldwide distribution but occurs principally in developing countries in any of
      three forms: large epidemics, smaller outbreaks, or sporadic infections. Genetic
      variation of different HEV strains was previously noted and it will be important
      to determine the extent to which this variation may pose problems in the
      diagnosis and treatment of HEV infection. To analyze differences at the genetic
      level between HEV(Mexico; M) and the previously characterized HEV(Burma; B) and
      HEV(Pakistan; P) isolates, overlapping cDNAs were cloned from samples obtained
      from an infected human and an experimentally inoculated cynomolgus macaque. These
      cDNA clones, representing the nearly complete (7185-bp) genome of HEV(M),
      confirmed an expression strategy for the virus that involves the use of 3 forward
      open reading frames (ORFs). The HEV(M) strain has an overall 76 and 77% nucleic
      acid identity with the HEV(B) strain and HEV(P) strain, respectively; however,
      the degree of sequence variation was not uniform throughout the viral genome. A
      hypervariable region was identified in ORF1 that exhibited a 58 and 54% nucleic
      acid sequence and 13% amino acid similarity with the Burma strain and the
      Pakistan strain, respectively. A large number of the nucleotide differences
      occurred at the third codon position, with the deduced amino acid sequences
      similarity of 83, 93, and 87% between HEV(M) and HEV(B) isolates in ORF1, ORF2,
      and ORF3, respectively, and with 84, 93, and 87% amino acid identities between
      HEV(M) and HEV(P) isolates in ORF1, ORF2, and ORF3, respectively. The nucleotide
      sequences derived from the highly conserved regions of HEV genome will be useful
      in developing polymerase chain reaction-based tests to confirm the viral
      infection. Knowledge of the extent of the sequence variation encountered with HEV
      will not only aid in the future development of diagnostic and vaccine reagents
      but also further our understanding of how HEV strain variation might impact the
      pathological outcome of infection.

PMID- 1448914
TI  - Two strains of SIVmac show differential transactivation mediated by sequences in
      the promoter.
AB  - Two infectious molecular clones of simian immunodeficiency virus, SIVmac251 and
      SIVmac239, have very different in vivo properties, SIVmac239 being much more
      pathogenic than SIVmac251. To assess whether the in vivo differences between the
      two viruses would be reflected in transcriptional rates in vitro, transcriptional
      activity in the presence of the transactivation protein tat was analyzed by
      transient transfection assays in HUT-78 and U937 cells. Whereas the two promoters
      had similar basal activities (Anderson and Clements, 1991, J. Virol. 65, 51-60)
      the promoter of SIVmac239 was transactivated to a greater extent. Removal of
      sequences 5' to -225 and 3' to +18 maintained the basal activity, yet made the
      promoter unresponsive to tat. Addition of bases +19 to +149 reconstituted
      transactivation and decreased basal activity. Analysis of deletion mutants with
      reconstituted transactivation response region determined that differences between
      the two strains were maintained even when only the proximal sequences, -225 to
      +18 of the U3 and R region were placed upstream of the TAR sequences. This region
      contains four nucleotide differences and the potential Sp-1-binding sites, where
      there are an additional 11 bases in SIVmac239 that create a third potential Sp-1
      site, compared to only 2 in SIVmac251. Transactivation in this assay system was
      found to correlate better to RNA differences shortly after transfection (12 hr)
      than later (46 hr).

PMID- 1448915
TI  - Genetic evidence that epizootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) viruses may
      have evolved from enzootic VEE subtype I-D virus.
AB  - An important question pertaining to the natural history of Venezuelan equine
      encephalitis (VEE) virus concerns the source of epizootic, equine-virulent
      strains. An endemic source of epizootic virus has not been identified, despite
      intensive surveillance. One of the theories of epizootic strain origin is that
      epizootic VEE viruses evolve from enzootic strains. Likely enzootic sources of
      VEE virus occur in Colombia and Venezuela where many of the epizootic outbreaks
      of VEE have occurred. We have determined the nucleotide sequences of the entire
      genomes of epizootic VEE subtype I-C virus, strain P676, isolated in Venezuela,
      and of enzootic VEE subtype I-D virus, strain 3880, isolated in Panama. VEE
      subtype I-D viruses are maintained in enzootic foci in Panama, Colombia, and
      Venezuela. The genomes of P676 and 3880 viruses differ from that of VEE subtype I
      AB virus, strain Trinidad donkey (TRD), by 417 (3.6%) and 619 (5.4%) nucleotides,
      respectively. The translated regions of P676 and 3880 genomes differ from those
      of TRD virus by 54 (1.4%) and 66 (1.8%) amino acids, respectively. This study and
      the oligonucleotide fingerprint analyses of South American I-C and I-D viruses
      (Rico-Hesse, Roehrig, Trent, and Dickerman, 1988, Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 38, 187
      194) provide the most conclusive evidence to date suggesting that equine-virulent
      strains of VEE virus arise naturally from minor variants present in populations
      of I-D VEE virus maintained in enzootic foci in northern South America.

PMID- 1448916
TI  - Characterization of TH3, an induction-specific protein interacting with the
      interferon beta promoter.
AB  - We report the purification and characterization of a unique DNA-binding protein
      termed TH3 that interacts with the positive regulatory domain (PRD) I and PRDIII
      domains of the interferon (IFN) beta promoter. In cells treated with poly rl:rC
      and cycloheximide, appearance of TH3 DNA-binding activity was inversely
      proportional to the disappearance of a constitutive complex TH1 and coincided
      temporally with induction of IFN-beta gene transcription. The TH3 DNA-binding
      protein is a small 14-kDa polypeptide that appears to be derived from the TH1
      complex; TH1 in turn is related to interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 2 by
      immunological cross-reactivity. The TH3 protein appeared to lack the epitope
      required for recognition by anti-IRF-2 antisera; however, a short microsequence
      obtained for TH3 overlapped a sequence from the IRF-2 protein. Although TH3 binds
      to multimers of the AAGTGA hexamer and to PRDI, the TH3 protein alone had a
      predominantly neutral phenotype on PRDI-dependent transcription in vitro and
      lacked the negative transcriptional effect attributed to IRF-2. These results
      raise the possibility that specific proteolysis of a negative regulatory protein
      involved in silencing the IFN-beta promoter may be an important event leading to
      transcriptional activation of the interferon gene.

PMID- 1448917
TI  - Cloned DNA copies of cowpea severe mosaic virus genomic RNAs: infectious
      transcripts and complete nucleotide sequence of RNA 1.
AB  - Cowpea severe mosaic virus (CPSMV) is a member of the comovirus group of
      messenger-sense RNA viruses with bipartite genomes, of which cowpea mosaic virus
      (CPMV) is the type member. Full-length copies of CPSMV RNA 1 were cloned in
      plasmids bearing a bacteriophage T7 promoter. Previously, similar clones of CPSMV
      RNA 2 had been obtained. A 5'-rUAUUAAAAUUUU sequence is common to RNA 1 and RNA
      2. From two RNA 1 clones and four RNA 2 clones we excised non-CPSMV sequences so
      as to provide templates for in vitro transcripts that have only a single
      guanylate preceding CPSMV RNA sequences. Transcripts from the most active RNA 1
      and RNA 2 clones, when mixed, showed about 5% of the infectivity of
      unfractionated CPSMV RNAs from virions. The longest, 1858 codon open reading
      frame of the 5957 nt CPSMV RNA 1 extends from an AUG at nt 257 to a UGA
      termination codon at nt 5831. The calculated molecular weight of the polyprotein
      is 208,000. Comparisons with the available amino acid residue (aa) sequence
      information from the complete CPMV RNA 1 sequence and the partial sequence of red
      clover mottle virus RNA 1 suggest that CPSMV RNA 1 specifies the expected set of
      five mature proteins: 32K proteinase cofactor, 58K presumed helicase, VPg 5'
      linked protein of the genomic RNAs, 24K proteinase, and 87K presumed polymerase,
      separated by four cleavage sites. Of the determined and deduced cleavage sites of
      the three RNA 1 polyproteins, only that at the 24K/87K junction has a distinct aa
      pair in the CPSMV polyprotein. Of the five proteins, VPg and 87K show the
      greatest similarity between CPSMV and CPMV, with identities of 68 and 55%,
      respectively. Published mutational analysis of the CPMV 24K proteinase and
      alignment of aa sequences from three comoviruses suggest that cysteine-168,
      histidine-40 and glutamic acid-77 form the catalytic triad of the CPSMV 24K
      proteinase. Results are discussed in the context of the resistance that some
      cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) lines exhibit against CPMV but not against CPSMV.

PMID- 1448918
TI  - In situ immunogold labeling analysis of the rice hoja blanca virus nucleoprotein
      and major noncapsid protein.
AB  - Ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs) of rice hoja blanca virus (RHBV) were purified
      and used for electron microscopic analysis and antibody production. Antibodies
      made to RNPs specifically decorated purified RNPs. The RNPs typically showed
      characteristic tenuivirus morphologies. They were approximately 8 nm in diameter,
      mostly circular in nature, and exhibited branching and a high degree of
      superhelicity. When the RNP antibodies were used for in situ immunogold labeling
      analysis of RHBV-infected tissues, no specific structures were identified, but
      gold particles were distributed throughout the cytosol of RHBV-infected but not
      healthy plants. However, amorphous semi-electron opaque inclusion bodies (ASO
      IBs) were abundant in cells of RHBV-infected plants. While the ASO-IBs were not
      labeled with the anti-RNP antiserum, they were specifically labeled with
      antibodies to the RHBV major noncapsid protein (NCP) and with antibodies to the
      NCP of another tenuivirus, maize stripe virus.

PMID- 1448919
TI  - Regulation of the efficiency and thermodependence of murine sarcoma virus
      MuSVts110 RNA splicing by sequences in both exons.
AB  - Efficient splicing of MuSVts110 RNA is restricted to temperatures of 33 degrees
      or lower. Previously, we have shown that this conditional splicing event is
      mediated, in part, by cis-acting intronic sequences. We have now examined the
      role of exon sequences in MuSVts110 RNA splicing. We found that deletion of all
      but 36 nucleotides of the gag exon (E1) yielded a transcript incapable of
      supporting splicing. However, inefficient, growth temperature-dependent splicing
      was recovered after restoration of the 300 nucleotides of E1 proximal to the 5'
      splice site (5' ss). Increasingly efficient splicing was observed as more E1 was
      restored. Hence, although MuSVts110 E1 sequences were required for splicing, they
      were not involved in its thermodependence. Similarly, removal of all but 88
      nucleotides of the mos exon (E2) abolished splicing at the usual 3' splice site
      (3' ss). In contrast to E1, restoration of the 200 nucleotides of E2 adjacent to
      the 3' ss reactivated efficient, temperature-independent splicing.
      Thermodependent splicing, however, reappeared with the replacement of E2
      sequences located more than 400 nucleotides distal to the 3' splice site. In
      MuSVts110 mutants containing the minimum amounts of both E1 and E2 which would
      support splicing, splicing was both far more efficient than predicted and
      temperature-independent, suggesting that cooperation between E1 and E2 may help
      to regulate MuSVts110 splicing.

PMID- 1448920
TI  - Analysis of proviruses integrated in Fli-1 and Evi-1 regions in Cas-Br-E MuLV
      induced non-T-, non-B-cell leukemias.
AB  - The DNAs of the Cas-Br-E MuLV-induced leukemias always contain somatically
      acquired mink cell focus-forming (MCF) recombinant proviruses. MCF recombinants
      could be involved during leukemogenesis at both preleukemic times and in late
      stage tumors. Among the Cas-Br-E-induced non-T-, non-B-cell leukemias, viral
      integrations were found in the Fli-1 and Evi-1 region in 71% (36 out of 51) and
      22% (16 out of 72) of the tumors analyzed, respectively. As an approach to
      evaluate the contribution of Cas-Br-E MCF recombinant formation in cis-activation
      of proto-oncogenes, we analyzed the structure of the Fli-1- and Evi-1-associated
      proviruses by Southern blot hybridization. In Fli-1, we found that the
      proviruses, ecotropic as well as MCF, are all integrated within a very short DNA
      region immediately upstream of the initiator ATG, toward the 3' end of a 5' exon
      (Ben-David, Giddens, Letwin, and Bernstein, 1991, Genes Dev. 5, 908-918). All
      proviruses are oriented the same way, in the 5' to 3' transcriptional sense. Both
      provirus types are able to direct the Fli-1 expression to the same extent
      presumably via a promoter insertion mechanism. Most of the proviruses had no
      detectable deletion and contained both 5' and 3' LTR sequences with similar U3
      sequences. MCF recombinants did not show any selective advantage over ecotropic
      proviruses for the Fli-1 locus since the frequency of ecotropic to MCF
      recombinant virus at the Fli-1 locus was identical to that observed at any other
      locus. This suggests that the formation of these MCF recombinants is not
      essential for activation of Fli-1 and that ecotropic Cas-Br-E already possesses
      the required sequences for full cis-activation of Fli-1. On the other hand, in
      Evi-1, there is a strict selection for ecotropic proviruses. Presumably, viral
      genetic elements outside of the U3 region could be critical for the Evi-1 cis
      activation.

PMID- 1448921
TI  - Interaction of cellular factors with intragenic cis-acting repressive sequences
      within the HIV genome.
AB  - Expression of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) structural gene products is
      suppressed in the absence of the Rev protein. The block to expression reflects,
      in part, nuclear retention of those mRNAs which encode the structural proteins.
      The presence of intragenic cis-acting repressive sequences (CRS) and inefficient
      splicing of the primary viral transcript are thought to contribute to nuclear
      entrapment of viral RNA. To elucidate the mechanism for repression of HIV gene
      expression, the ability of a 270-bp segment of the pol gene shown previously to
      repress gene expression to interact with cellular factors was investigated.
      Incubation of RNA corresponding to the 270-bp CRS element with nuclear extract
      prepared from human T-cells revealed a strong and specific interaction with
      several cellular factors. Covalent cross-linking of the RNA-protein complex
      demonstrated the presence of at least three proteins, the predominant one having
      a molecular weight of approximately 42 kDa. A monoclonal antibody raised against
      hnRNP C, a component of the splicing machinery, recognized the CRS-protein
      complex, suggesting that hnRNP C or a closely related gene product interacts with
      CRS-containing RNA. Consistent with this conclusion, addition of RNA
      corresponding to a beta-globin intron sequence in the binding reaction completely
      blocked formation of the CRS-protein complex. These findings raise the
      possibility that the CRS elements elicit nuclear entrapment of viral RNA through
      formation of RNA-protein complexes that are not accessible to nuclear export
      pathways.

PMID- 1448922
TI  - The E3-11.6K protein of adenovirus is an Asn-glycosylated integral membrane
      protein that localizes to the nuclear membrane.
AB  - The 11,600 MW (101 amino acids; 11.6K) protein of adenovirus 2 (Ad2) is a protein
      of unknown function which is synthesized in low amounts during early stages of
      infection but in very high amounts at late stages. The 11.6K protein migrates as
      three major groupings of diffuse bands of ca. 14K, 21K, and 31K on SDS-PAGE,
      indicating that 11.6K undergoes post-translational modification. We show here
      that 11.6K is Asn-glycosylated with complex (endo H-resistant) oligosaccharides
      and that 11.6K is an integral membrane protein. Immunofluorescence indicated that
      11.6K initially is associated with the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus
      and that it ultimately localizes to the nuclear membrane. The 11.6K protein is
      predicted to have a single signal-anchor sequence at residues 41-62 and only one
      potential Asn-linked glycosylation site at residue 14; thus, 11.6K must be
      oriented in the membranes with its NH2-terminus in the lumen and its COOH
      terminus in the cytoplasm. The signal-anchor and glycosylation features of 11.6K
      are preserved in Ad2 and Ad5 (group C), and in Ad3 and Ad7 (group B), but the
      sequence of 11.6K is more diverged among these serotypes than is the sequence of
      most other adenovirus proteins.

PMID- 1448923
TI  - Adenovirus type 12 early region 1B proteins and metabolism of early viral mRNAs.
AB  - Early region 1B (E1B) of human adenoviruses encodes two major proteins. The 19
      kDa polypeptide appears to prevent E1A-induced cytolysis and DNA degradation. The
      larger E1B product of approximately 55 kDa, which is essential for viral
      replication, plays a role in the accumulation and stability of viral mRNAs and
      the late shutoff of host metabolism. For serotype 12 (Ad12), this 482-residue
      (482R) protein is essential for viral DNA replication. In the present report we
      have used a series of mutants to examine the roles of Ad12 482R and the 19-kDa,
      163R protein in the metabolism of early viral mRNAs. No specific effects on the
      accumulation of early (or late) mRNAs were detected with any of the mutants
      affecting 163R. With mutant dl42, which encodes an altered 482R product that
      lacks residues 114-155, both viral DNA replication and late viral protein
      synthesis were defective. Accumulation of E1A transcripts in the nucleus and
      cytoplasm resembled wt. The levels of mRNAs from early regions E1B, E2A and E3 at
      later times during infection were somewhat lower than those of wt, but this
      decrease may have been due to the absence of progeny viral DNA in dl42-infected
      cells. However, the accumulation of both E2B and E4 mRNAs at all times was
      severely reduced. These data suggested that the requirement of 482R for Ad12 DNA
      replication may be related to its specific role in the metabolism of E2B and E4
      mRNAs that encode products necessary for viral DNA synthesis.

PMID- 1448924
TI  - Vaccinia virus gene B1R encodes a 34-kDa serine/threonine protein kinase that
      localizes in cytoplasmic factories and is packaged into virions.
AB  - Vaccinia virus open reading frame B1R was expressed in E. coli and shown to
      encode a serine/threonine protein kinase which phosphorylated casein and calf
      thymus histones in vitro. A polyclonal rabbit antiserum was raised against a TrpE
      B1R bacterial fusion protein and used to characterize the B1R gene product.
      Immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting analyses detected a 34-kDa polypeptide
      that was synthesized early during vaccinia virus infection and which was
      apparently stable since it was easily detectable 18 hr postinfection.
      Immunofluorescence demonstrated that this protein localizes in cytoplasmic virus
      factories, the sites of virus DNA replication. Immunoblotting of vaccinia virions
      showed that the enzyme is packaged into virus particles.

PMID- 1448925
TI  - The restricted nature of HIV-1 tropism for cultured neural cells.
AB  - Infection of the central nervous system by HIV-1, the agent of AIDS, is
      characterized by the presence of infected and giant microglial cells as well as
      astrocytosis, demyelination, and neuronal loss. To determine whether cells of
      neuroectoderm origin can be infected by HIV-1, we have inoculated primary
      cultures derived from adult human brain with a lymphotropic virus (LAV) or a
      neurotropic virus (Jr-FL) isolated from a patient with AIDS dementia. While Jr-FL
      invariably causes productive infection of cultured brain microglia, neither
      astrocytes nor oligodendrocytes became productively infected by these viral
      strains. Moreover, the cultured oligodendrocytes develop a normal network of
      processes and express differentiation antigens in the presence of an ongoing
      lytic infection of microglial cells. No HIV-1 proviral DNA was detected in
      primary astrocyte cultures devoid of microglial after inoculation of either HIV-1
      strain. Similarly, the neuronal cell line HCN-1 in its differentiated state did
      not allow the virus to go through cycles of reverse transcription and
      replication. LAV, however, was able to replicate in undifferentiated HCN-1 cells.
      Thus, tropism of HIV-1 appears tightly restricted to only one type of
      differentiated cell in the CNS, the microglia.

PMID- 1448926
TI  - Expression and secretion of Japanese encephalitis virus nonstructural protein NS1
      by insect cells using a recombinant baculovirus.
AB  - The nonstructural protein NS1 of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was expressed
      at a high level under the control of the polyhedrin promoter in Spodoptera
      frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells using a recombinant baculovirus. Recombinant NS1
      was designed to contain its natural signal sequence at its N-terminus and no C
      terminal hydrophobic domain that could act as a membrane anchor. This recombinant
      protein exhibited similar size to native NS1 expressed in Aedes albopictus
      (C6/36) insect cells infected with wild-type JEV. The signal sequence of NS1
      allowed translocation of the protein into the endoplasmic reticulum where it
      underwent glycosylation. A small fraction of synthesized NS1 was able, in the
      absence of any other viral protein, to associate as a homodimer, showing similar
      characteristics to the native dimer. Interestingly, this recombinant dimeric form
      seemed to be exported and released in the extracellular medium of infected cell
      culture. During its transport, one of the two N-linked oligosaccharides of the
      polymannose type was processed to an endoglycosidase H-resistant form, suggesting
      that the protein had passed through the Golgi compartment before reaching the
      cell surface. Moreover, Triton X-114 partitioning analysis showed that monomeric
      NS1 behaved essentially as a hydrophilic protein, whereas both intracellular and
      extracellular dimeric NS1 were either free of or associated to membraneous
      components.

PMID- 1448927
TI  - Complex intrapatient sequence variation in the V1 and V2 hypervariable regions of
      the HIV-1 gp 120 envelope sequence.
AB  - Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) quasi-species fluctuate both in time and in
      space. In general intrapatient variation is less extensive than interpatient
      variation. The V1 and V2 hypervariable regions of the envelope gene were analyzed
      for patient samples harboring highly divergent genomes in other loci. Proviral
      sequences were amplified by PCR, cloned, and sequenced. It was concluded that
      intrapatient variation may exceed interpatient variation but the presence of two
      clearly distinct populations was not confirmed. The env hypervariable regions
      appeared to be evolving independently of one another, cautioning against
      extrapolation of data, particularly from the V3 region. Virus typing and the
      assessment of HIV superinfection by genetic methods will prove difficult and
      experimental approaches will have to be carefully designed.

PMID- 1448928
TI  - The trypsin-sensitive RVER domain in the capsid proteins of minute virus of mice
      is required for efficient cell binding and viral infection but not for
      proteolytic processing in vivo.
AB  - Analysis of a series of mutations in the trypsin-sensitive RVER region of the
      amino terminal domain in the capsid proteins (VP1 and VP2) of the autonomous
      parvovirus, minute virus of mice (MVM), demonstrates that this sequence is not
      essential for proteolytic processing of VP2 into VP3 in vivo, but specific amino
      acids within this domain are important for viral infection. Analysis of the most
      deficient of these mutants, VP(delta 2842-2863), a 7-aa deletion of aa 159-165 in
      VP1 and 17-23 in VP2, has identified at least two steps in MVM infection in which
      this domain is important. VP(delta 2842-2863) was 3-fold defective in binding to
      murine A9(2L) cells and, when an equivalent amount of virus was bound to cells,
      additionally 10-fold deficient compared to wild-type in initiating a productive
      infection. However, in those cells effectively infected, VP(delta 2843-2863)
      replicated similar to wild-type. These results suggest that these seven amino
      acids constitute a region important for both binding and a subsequent step prior
      to the start of DNA replication such as viral uptake or transport to the nucleus.

PMID- 1448929
TI  - Identification of the active site residues in the nsP2 proteinase of Sindbis
      virus.
AB  - The nonstructural polyproteins of Sindbis virus are processed by a virus-encoded
      proteinase which is located in the C-terminal domain of nsP2. Here we have
      performed a mutagenic analysis to identify the active site residues of this
      proteinase. Substitution of other amino acids for either Cys-481 or His-558
      completely abolished proteolytic processing of Sindbis virus polyproteins in
      vitro. Substitutions within this domain for a second cysteine conserved among
      alphaviruses, for four other conserved histidines, or for a conserved serine did
      not affect the activity of the enzyme. These results suggest that nsP2 is a
      papain-like proteinase whose catalytic dyad is composed of Cys-481 and His-558.
      Since an asparagine residue has been implicated in the active site of papain, we
      changed the four conserved asparagine residues in the C-terminal half of nsP2 and
      found that all could be substituted without total loss of activity. Among papain
      like proteinases, the residue following the catalytic histidine is alanine or
      glycine in the plant and animal enzymes, and the presence of Trp-559 in
      alphaviruses is unusual. A mutant enzyme containing Ala-559 was completely
      inactive, implying that Trp-559 is essential for a functional proteinase. All of
      these mutations were introduced into a full-length clone of Sindbis virus from
      which infectious RNA could be transcribed in vitro, and the effects of these
      changes on viability were tested. In all cases it was found that mutations which
      abolished proteolytic activity were lethal, whether or not these mutations were
      in the catalytic residues, indicating that proteolysis of the nonstructural
      polyprotein is essential for Sindbis replication.

PMID- 1448930
TI  - Constitutive expression of the nef gene suppresses human immunodeficiency virus
      type 1 (HIV-1) replication in monocytic cell lines.
AB  - In order to study the effect of nef gene expression on viral replication in
      monocytic cells, we established monocytic (U937 and THP-1) cell transfectants
      constitutively expressing the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 nef gene. We
      constructed a plasmid expressing the nef gene derived from an infectious clone,
      NL432, under the control of SR alpha promoter which can drive a high level of
      gene expression. We found suppressed viral replication in nef-expressing
      monocytic cells, although a negative effect of nef was observed, with some
      variation depending on the virus strain and the cell. We also observed that the
      expression of the surface CD4 molecule is inversely related to the expression of
      the nef gene, especially in the U937 transfectants. These results indicate that
      the suppression of viral replication and the down-modulation of CD4 molecule by
      nef gene expression occur in monocytic cell lines as in T cell lines.

PMID- 1448931
TI  - Natural variants of the HIV-1 long terminal repeat: analysis of promoters with
      duplicated DNA regulatory motifs.
AB  - Sequence variation in the long terminal repeat (LTR) region of HIV-1 was analyzed
      in viral isolates of 17 infected individuals. Two classes of LTR size variants
      were found. One HIV-1 variant was detected containing an additional binding site
      for the transcription factor Sp1. Another LTR size variation was observed in four
      patients in a region just upstream of the NF-kappa B enhancer. This variation was
      the result of a duplication of a short DNA sequence (CTG-motif). Cell culture
      experiments demonstrated that the natural variant with four Sp1 sites had a
      slightly higher promoter activity and viral replication rate than the isogenic
      control LTR with three Sp1 sites. No positive effect of the duplicated CTG-motif
      could be detected. In order to measure small differences in virus production more
      accurately, equal amounts of a size variant and the wild-type plasmid were
      cotransfected into T-cells. The virus with four Sp1 sites did outgrow the three
      Sp1 virus in 35 days of culture and CTG-monomer virus outcompeted the CTG-dimer
      virus in 42 days. Based on these results we estimate a 5-10% difference in virus
      production of the LTR variants when compared to that of wild-type.

PMID- 1448932
TI  - Rice dwarf phytoreovirus segment S12 transcript is tricistronic in vitro.
AB  - Sequence analysis revealed that rice dwarf phytoreovirus segment S12 is 1066
      nucleotides long with a small out-of-phase, overlapping open reading frame (ORF)
      as well as a major ORF. The large ORF (positions 42 to 980) encodes 312 amino
      acids, while the small one (bases 313 to 591) encodes 92 amino acids with an
      additional in-frame AUG codon (positions 337-339) 24 nucleotides downstream from
      the first one. Transcripts from a full-length cDNA directed the in vitro
      synthesis of three polypeptides of 33 (considered to be translated from the long
      ORF), 8, and 7 kDa. Alteration of each of the two ATG codons on the small ORF
      demonstrated their involvement in the generation of the 8- and 7-kDa
      polypeptides. Although it is still unknown whether these proteins are expressed
      in vivo, the small ORF is shown to be conserved in S9s of two other members of
      the genus Phytoreovirus, rice gall dwarf virus and wound tumor virus, suggesting
      its common, important function.

PMID- 1448933
TI  - The genetic evolution of the envelope gene of simian immunodeficiency virus in
      cynomolgus macaques infected with a complex virus pool.
AB  - Two cynomolgus macaques were infected with a complex, but characterized,
      challenge stock of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVmac251 32H). The polymerase
      chain reaction was applied in a temporal sequence analysis to determine the
      sequences of the gp120 region of the SIV env gene, which were present in the
      blood of both macaques at 1, 6, and 15 months postinfection (p.i.). At 1 month
      p.i. selected sequences, which had been present in the original virus challenge
      stock, were reisolated. At later times, new sequences emerged, which had not been
      detected in the original virus challenge stock. Changes in sequence were
      restricted to specific regions of gp120, notably those equivalent to V1, V2, V4,
      and V5 of HIV-1, but not V3. The diversity and the rate of appearance of new
      sequences in the V1 region suggest that genetic evolution occurs by mechanisms in
      addition to nucleotide substitutions. These results are discussed in relation to
      the role of the envelope protein in the generation of protective immunity against
      infection with immunodeficiency viruses.

PMID- 1448934
TI  - [Changes in the lymphatic system in the crush syndrome].
AB  - In vivo indirect electrolymphoroentgenography was conducted to study the reaction
      of lymphatics during prolonged compression syndrome (PCS). The studies were made
      on white rats, Wistar-line, males. It was found out that the early period of
      clinical course of PCS was characterized by lymphostasis. The intermediate period
      of PCS corresponds to the stage of the collateral lymphokinesis. At the edge of
      intermediate and late period of PCS the electrolymphoroentgenogram shows the
      removal of lymphostasis and recovery of main lymphokinesis.

PMID- 1448935
TI  - [Ultrasonic study of the thyroid in the population living in areas contaminated
      by radioactive substances after the accident at the Chernobyl Atomic Electric
      Power Station].

PMID- 1448936
TI  - [The modelling of battle factors in the special tactical training of the
      personnel in a medical service troop unit].

PMID- 1448937
TI  - [The scope of the medical care for the wounded and sick during their evacuation].

PMID- 1448938
TI  - [The garrison joint medical aid station].

PMID- 1448939
TI  - [The deontological aspects of the legal regulation of the activities of military
      medical commissions].
AB  - Practically, the questions of deontology are not working out in the sphere of
      military medical rating (expertise). Finally this fact leads to methodical
      errors, defects in medical examinations, and thus to a considerable number of
      requests and complaints. The authors examine the basic questions of deontology
      from the point of view of the following aspects: collegiality, obligation to
      render the verdict on medical examination in the presence of examinee, medical
      secrecy and strict legal regulation of this norm, deontological questions in
      drawing up, filling in, storing and giving out medical rating documents.

PMID- 1448940
TI  - [The prospects for the use of a Soviet apparatus for the removal of gallstones
      with focused shock waves].
AB  - Clinico-experimental substantiation was conducted for extracorporal crushing of
      the stones in biliary ducts in patients who suffered from gallstone disease. The
      "Urat-II" national lithotriptor and "Urat-B" biostand were used to crush in
      experimental conditions 140 gallstones (0.5-2.5 cm in size) obtained during
      cholecystectomies. Experimental researches on 56 white rats were conducted to
      study the liver tissue and adjacent organs. Optimal regimes for the percussive
      wave generator were found out in which the best crushing effect was obtained
      (with the dimensions of fractions up to 1.6 mm) and at the same time the minimal
      disturbing factor was produced. The data obtained during these researches are
      used in clinical pilot testings on "Urat-II"--a prototype of the national
      cholelithotriptor.

PMID- 1448941
TI  - [The classification of combined craniocerebral injuries from the use of nuclear
      weapons].

PMID- 1448942
TI  - [Regional dehydration in the combined treatment of fractures of the bones of the
      extremities].
AB  - The article makes a theoretical substantiation of regional dehydration in the
      treatment of the posttraumatic swellings in bone fractures of the extremities.
      The state of regional hemodynamics in 226 patients with the affections of bones
      and vessels of the extremities was studied using clinical, functional and
      angiographical methods. The authors make a conclusion concerning the efficiency
      of the proposed method of treatment for posttraumatic swellings of the
      extremities, which is based on the rapid enhancing of the mole-factor in the
      blood plasma in order to recover optimal conditions for the exchange process and
      microcirculation. This method of regional dehydration is proposed by the authors
      as an alternative to the fasciotomy which is based on mechanical influence upon
      extravasal squeezing of vessels.

PMID- 1448943
TI  - [The clinico-immunological aspects of a repeat myocardial infarct].

PMID- 1448944
TI  - [The first results of lithotripsy performed with the LT.01 apparatus of the EDAP
      firm].

PMID- 1448945
TI  - [The current diagnostic problems of HIV infection in military medicine].

PMID- 1448946
TI  - [The medical aspects of the analysis of chemical accidents].

PMID- 1448947
TI  - [The epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic and treatment aspects of Legionella
      infection].
AB  - The article studies the modern problems of legionellosis infection and gives data
      concerning epidemiological aspects of this disease, especially clinical course of
      its types (pneumonia, acute respiratory viral infection syndrome, alveolitis,
      pleuritis), as well as methods of bacteriological and serological diagnostics,
      and etiotropic treatment. The authors use their own materials to describe the
      restricted outbreak of legionellosis infection and sporadic cases of this
      disease. The article makes clinic classification of legionellosis taking into
      account various publications and the proper experience of the authors.

PMID- 1448948
TI  - [The assessment of body functional systems by the indices of their nonspecific
      reactions].
AB  - The analysis of long standing researches in the military operators' procedure has
      shown some regularities in the changes of indices which were examined. Varying in
      time and magnitude the non-specific reactions at first manifest itself in
      unstable vegetative regulations, then proliferate its influence upon visual and
      motor coordination, and finally cause negative shifts in professional activities
      (worsening of accuracy and precision, appearance of errors, etc). It is obvious,
      that specific reactions impose their own features on the development of this
      program without changing its basic trend.

PMID- 1448949
TI  - [Subjective reactions and the objective assessment of the hearing and ventilatory
      functions of the middle ear during changes in atmospheric pressure].

PMID- 1448950
TI  - [The psychophysiological characteristics of the activities of flight personnel
      during the mastery of VTOL aircraft].

PMID- 1448951
TI  - [The effect of PCL-6 photochromic lenses on the visual functions and work
      capacity of sailors under bright sunlight].

PMID- 1448952
TI  - [Experience in organizing emergency neurosurgical care in a clinical hospital].

PMID- 1448954
TI  - [The potentials of echocardiography in diseases of the cardiovascular system].

PMID- 1448953
TI  - [The work of an irregular central sterilization unit in a hospital].

PMID- 1448955
TI  - [The use of a multichannel radiobiotelemetric system with patients with ischemic
      heart disease].

PMID- 1448956
TI  - [The characteristics of the course of the sequelae of nonsevere craniocerebral
      trauma in young people].

PMID- 1448957
TI  - [The accuracy of the x-ray localization of intraocular foreign bodies].

PMID- 1448958
TI  - [The organization of protection for personnel and medical care for victims in the
      contamination of a site by powerful poisonous substances].

PMID- 1448959
TI  - [An outstanding Soviet pharmacologist (on the centenary of the birth of S. V.
      Anichkov)].

PMID- 1448960
TI  - Variants of hepatitis B virus.

PMID- 1448961
TI  - Determination of total protein in highly purified factor IX concentrates.
AB  - Protein determination by the methods of Kjeldahl, Biuret, Bradford and UV
      absorbance at 280 nm have been studied in regard to accuracy, precision and
      simplicity. A reference preparation of a highly purified factor IX concentrate,
      Nanotiv, reconstituted to 1/5 of ordinary volume was used in the study in order
      to make a comparison between the different procedures. The Kjeldahl method
      resulted in a protein concentration of 3.7 mg/ml, whereas the Biuret, Bradford
      (BSA) and UV absorbance at 280 nm resulted in protein concentrations of 3.6, 2.5
      and 2.8 mg/ml, respectively. The corresponding values for specific activity were
      136, 140, 200 and 179 IU/mg, respectively. These results demonstrate a great
      variation in the response obtained by different methods for determination of
      total protein.

PMID- 1448962
TI  - Manufacture and in vitro characterization of a solvent/detergent-treated human
      plasma.
AB  - We have developed a modified solvent/detergent (S/D) treatment to inactivate
      viruses in human plasma using 1% w/w final concentration of tri(n-butyl)
      phosphate (TNBP) and Triton X-100 and an incubation period of 4 h at 30 degrees
      C. The procedure inactivates > or = 10(6) chimpanzee-infectious doses (CID50) of
      HBV, > or = 10(5) CID50 of HCV, and > or = 10(6.2) tissue culture infectious
      doses (TCID50) of HIV. After virus inactivation, eleven plasma batches were
      lyophilized and 12 batches were deep-frozen until further use. The batches were
      characterized by extensive laboratory tests including measurement of clotting
      factors I-XIII, von Willebrand factor, plasminogen, inhibitors of blood
      coagulation and fibrinolysis, and other clinically important plasma proteins. All
      parameters were determined before and after S/D treatment. Twelve conventional
      single donor plasma units served as control. There were no marked losses of
      activities of clotting factors, antithrombin III, protein C, plasminogen, and C1
      esterase inhibitor due to treatment. After the S/D step, the levels of these
      parameters were within the normal range in all batches. The same holds true for
      total protein, immunoglobulins, albumin, complement factors C3 and C4,
      haptoglobin, hemopexin, caeruloplasmin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, and pH. Protein S
      and alpha 2-antiplasmin activities decreased by about 50% and were frequently
      found to be slightly below the lower limit of the respective normal range after
      treatment. The interindividual variations of all proteins analysed were
      significantly lower than in the single donor plasma units. The S/D procedure did
      not lead to increases of markers indicating activation of hemostasis.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1448963
TI  - A decade of rare donor services in the United States. Report of the American Red
      Cross Rare Donor Registry (1981-1990).
AB  - Between 1981 and 1990, the American Red Cross Rare Donor Registry supplied 9,872
      units of red cell components with rare phenotypes to blood centers in the United
      States and abroad. Approximately 51% were from donors with high-frequency antigen
      negative phenotypes and 49% were from donors with multiple antigen-negative
      phenotypes. Since 1989, the disease category requiring the largest number of
      units has been sickle cell disease. Strategies to ensure that the Registry will
      have adequate resources to meet future requirements include testing selected
      donors for rare phenotypes and blood conservation programs, such as
      intraoperative salvage and the treatment of anemia of chronic renal failure with
      recombinant erythropoietin.

PMID- 1448964
TI  - Elevated platelet-associated IgG in PlA1-negative mothers following sensitization
      to the PlA1 antigen during pregnancy.
AB  - Between 1984 and 1990, we studied 25 infants with neonatal alloimmune
      thrombocytopenia caused by alloimmunization to the PlA1 alloantigen. We
      investigated whether mothers of these infants developed elevated platelet
      associated immunoglobulin (PAIgG) in addition to anti-PlA1. Eight of the women
      were found to have PAIgG which persistent at least 7-10 days postdelivery.
      Eluates prepared from six of the women's platelets reacted with PlA1-positive and
      PlA1-negative donor platelets, and platelets from donors with Glanzmann's
      thrombasthenia. None of the women with elevated PAIgG had thrombocytopenia,
      eclampsia, or infections. Two women were found to have autoreactive antibodies
      present in plasma. These results indicate that elevated PAIgG may be found in
      women immunized to the PlA1 antigen. Some women may also have autoreactive
      antiplatelet antibodies in their plasma. These findings may lead to confusing
      serologic findings in evaluating the cause of neonatal alloimmune
      thrombocytopenia.

PMID- 1448965
TI  - A semiautomated method for erythrocyte antigen typing on microtitration plates.
AB  - We describe a method for erythrocyte antigen typing on U-bottom microtitration
      plates. This method permitted phenotyping of erythrocytes by an enzyme-enhanced
      hemagglutination assay simultaneously with an indirect antihuman globulin assay
      within the same microtitration plate. A robotic sample processor identified the
      samples, prepared the red cell suspensions and distributed the suspension along
      with the diluted antisera onto the microtitration plates. The assay results were
      read and interpreted using a microtitration plate photometer controlled by
      software specially designed to interpret agglutination reactions. Sample
      identities and assay results were automatically connected by the computer system
      and transmitted to a minicomputer system.

PMID- 1448966
TI  - Complement activation by cold agglutinins.
AB  - Purified monoclonal human IgM cold agglutinins (CA) of different specificities
      (anti-I, anti-i, anti-Pr) were investigated for their complement-activating
      capacity in a homologous system. Incubation of human RBC with excess of IgM CA in
      the cold, and subsequently with human serum at 37 degrees C, resulted in striking
      differences in hemolysis. Hemolysis did not correlate to the amount of antibodies
      bound to RBC at 4 or 20 degrees C. Despite the hemolytic inefficiency of anti-i
      and anti-Pr CA tested, C1 fixation and subsequent activation of the classical
      pathway of complement could be assessed in all cases. Absolute numbers of C3
      molecules bound to RBC, exceeding the critical level to initiate the terminal
      sequence of the complement cascade, could not fully explain the differences in
      the hemolytic activity of the CA. Since C8 binding protein (C8bp) carries I
      determinants it is hypothesized that anti-I-induced complement-mediated hemolysis
      might also be favored by the binding of the autoantibody to and probably steric
      hindrance of this major regulatory protein of the terminal complement sequence.
      The prominent role of homologous restriction of complement-mediated lysis as a
      protective mechanism can also be deduced from the fact that rabbit as well as rat
      serum as a source of heterologous complement lysed cold agglutinin-sensitized red
      blood cells more efficiently than human serum.

PMID- 1448968
TI  - Immediate haemolytic transfusion reaction due to anti-Inb.
AB  - An immediate haemolytic transfusion reaction was investigated in a patient with
      intestinal cancer. The causative antibody was directed against a high-frequency
      antigen Inb that was presumably produced as a result of pregnancies. This is the
      first case of a severe transfusion reaction due to this alloantibody.

PMID- 1448967
TI  - 11-Oxycorticosteroid-dependent antibody in the serum of a patient with bladder
      neoplasm.
AB  - An IgM 11-oxycorticosteroid-dependent antibody was identified in the serum of a
      patient with bladder malignancy, which at 4-37 degrees C reacted with all the 11
      oxycorticosteroids tested but not with desoxycorticosterone, testosterone,
      nortestosterone and progesterone. The resulting drug-antidrug antibody complex
      combines nonspecifically with red blood cells causing agglutination. This
      reactivity is enhanced both by acid pH and by high drug solution concentrations
      as well as by ficin test. The antibody is complement-independent and has no blood
      group specificity. No in vivo or in vitro hemolysis was observed.

PMID- 1448969
TI  - Whole virus lysate or recombinant synthetic ELISA assay to HIV-1: which is
      better?

PMID- 1448970
TI  - An example of anti-AnWj causing haemolytic transfusion reaction.

PMID- 1448971
TI  - Auto-anti-A associated with immune hemolytic anemia.

PMID- 1448972
TI  - Red cell-bound complement associated with ABO-hemolytic disease of the newborn.

PMID- 1448973
TI  - [Medical workers and AIDS: the attitude to the problem].
AB  - A questionnaire was spread among Kiev physicians with the purpose of evaluating
      their level of information concerning the AIDS problem. An interrelation of level
      of knowledge and character of relation to the HIV infection was found. It was
      established that the idea of air-drop ways of HIV transmission is widely spread
      among the medical personnel with a tendency to stigmatization of the infected,
      underestimation of the AIDS problem significance. The authors emphasize the
      requirement of state-backed program on system of professional training of medical
      personnel in the AIDS problem.

PMID- 1448974
TI  - [Problems in improving the public health of a rural area based on a study of
      statistical data on population health].
AB  - The dynamics of health indices of the Khust District (Transcarpathian Province
      [correction of Zacarpathye region]) population was studied from 1970 through
      1990. It is concluded that statistical data on the increase of morbidity are
      related to improvement of diagnostics of nosological entities related to increase
      of the availability of doctors, nursing personnel, number of beds in the
      district. Reserves of further medical services to the population are discussed.

PMID- 1448975
TI  - [The outstanding Soviet anatomist Mikhail Sergeevich Spirov (on the centenary of
      his birth)].

PMID- 1448976
TI  - [The characteristics of the course of acute pneumonia in patients subjected to
      prolonged exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation as a result of the accident
      at the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station].
AB  - Distinct changes in the clinical picture of acute pneumonia were noted in
      patients subjected to constant prolonged (1986-1990) effect of small doses of
      ionizing radiation as a result of residing in the contaminated territory after
      the Chernobyl atomic station disaster. These changes included increased duration
      of the disease, frequency of protracted forms, suppression of the immune system.
      At the same time a general decrease of the incidence of acute pneumonia, increase
      of the frequency of severe cases of concomitant pathology indicate some
      stimulating effect of small doses of ionizing radiation on the body with a
      healthy immune system and suppressing effect on inadequately functioning immune
      system. Changes of the clinico-laboratory indices of the course of acute
      inflammatory process depended on the duration of residing in the contaminated
      locality and to a lesser degree of the dose.

PMID- 1448977
TI  - [A scientific knowledge analysis of the problem of the biomedical sequelae of the
      accident at the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station].
AB  - The authors carried out a scientific-research analysis of publication on the
      problem of medico-biological sequels of the Chernobyl Atomic Station.
      Systematization of 282 native and 45 foreign publications are presented as
      information models emphasizing the main trends of research, especially changes in
      the nervous system as well as in related systems of the body. Further detailed
      studies of the Chernobyl disaster sequels are important.

PMID- 1448978
TI  - [The effect of quantum hemotherapy on cellular and humoral immunity and on
      erythrocyte morphology in patients with ischemic heart disease].
AB  - A study is presented of the effect of reinfusions of ultraviolet-irradiated
      autologous blood on the number of lymphocytes, titer of circulating immune
      complexes and theophylline-sensitive cells, number of immunoglobulins A, G and M,
      number and form of erythrocytes in 30 patients with stable and progressive
      exertion stenocardia. Thirty control patients were treated with nitrates, calcium
      antagonists and acetylsalicylic acid. It was established that in patients with
      stenocardia quantum hemotherapy produces an immunocorrective action reduces the
      titer of circulating immune complexes, the content of T-lymphocytes, the number
      of immunoglobulins A and G, normalizes the morphological and functional activity
      of erythrocytes. Use of this method in the treatment of ischemic heart disease is
      pathogenetically justified and prevents development of myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1448979
TI  - [Vasodilating agents: the experimental-clinical aspect (a review of the
      literature)].

PMID- 1448980
TI  - [Immunity and the prostaglandin level in gastritis B].
AB  - The indices of systemic and local immunity, level of prostaglandins, presence of
      Helicobacter pylori in the gastric mucosa was studied in 53 patients with
      gastritis B. Patients with superficial antral gastritis showed independent of the
      presence of Helicobacter pylori in the gastric mucosa changes of the systemic
      immunity and level of PGE2 and PGF1 that were abnormal. In atrophy of the antral
      gastric mucosa and presence there of H. pylori one observed a reduction of the
      number of T-lymphocytes and proliferative activity. Suppression of the system of
      prostaglandins in the blood and gastric mucosa, the toxic effect of H. pylori
      results in autosensibilization, increase of IgA and IgG finally leading to
      development of erosions in the gastric antrum.

PMID- 1448981
TI  - [The efficacy of antibacterial treatment in chronic gastritis of Helicobacter
      etiology].
AB  - A study of 140 patients with chronic gastritis revealed Helicobacter pylori in
      the gastric antral mucosa in 100% and in the duodenum in 50%. There is a direct
      correlation between the presence and amount of Helicobacter pylori in the mucosa,
      lymphoplasmocytic infiltration, dystrophic changes of epithelium. Ampiox
      treatment proved beneficial both clinically and morphologically. After treatment
      Helicobacter pylori was absent in 65.7%, in the remaining cases it reduced by 5
      10 times.

PMID- 1448982
TI  - [The level and cryoprecipitating activity of fibronectin in bronchial asthma
      patients].
AB  - 125 patients with bronchial asthma were under observation. It has been
      established that the level of fibronectin decreases as of severity of clinical
      symptoms of the disease growth. Parallelly cryoprecipitating activity of
      fibronectin decreases, testifying functional inferiority of the pointed
      glycoprotein in the patients with bronchial asthma. Under the influence of
      undergoing therapy restoration of fibronectin concentration and its complex
      forming ability takes place except of the hormone-dependent cases of asthma.

PMID- 1448983
TI  - [The erythrocyte composition of the peripheral blood in tobacco smokers].
AB  - Data of cytometry and acid erythrography were evaluated in 60 tobacco smokers and
      30 non-smoking healthy persons depending on length of smoking. Tobacco smoking
      was found to effect blood erythrocytes. Five-year smoking resulted in an increase
      of macrocytes, young resistant cells. Toxic signs were less pronounced concerning
      the resistance of circulating red cells. 6-10 years duration of smoking resulted
      in toxic lesions of the circulating erythrocytes confirmed by an increase of the
      number of spherulation-altered and low-resistant cells, early onset and late
      termination of hemolysis, increase of the percent of perished cells.

PMID- 1448984
TI  - [Thrombocyte aggregation in patients with iron-deficiency anemia].

PMID- 1448985
TI  - [The use of the HLA phenotype for predicting the outcome of acute
      glomerulonephritis in adults].

PMID- 1448986
TI  - [The dynamics of the urinary glycosaminoglycan indices in the pathogenetic
      therapy of glomerulonephritis].
AB  - A positive dynamics of the course of glomerulonephritis under the effect of
      pathogenetic therapy evaluated in 140 patients was accompanied by a statistically
      valid reduction of glycoseaminoglycanes in the urine. This allows to use these
      indices as adjunctive criteria of treatment efficiency, especially in patients
      with chronic forms of the disease.

PMID- 1448987
TI  - [The correction of lipid peroxidation metabolism, the hemostatic system and
      cerebral hemodynamics in patients with the initial manifestations of cerebral
      circulatory insufficiency].

PMID- 1448988
TI  - [The use of ethonium electrophoresis in treating patients with atherosclerotic
      encephalopathy].
AB  - The new property of ethonium as an angioprotector makes it possible to use
      ethonium electrophoresis in the treatment of patients with dyscirculatory
      encephalopathy of atherosclerotic genesis. Treatment results in a
      hypocholesterolemic effect, improvement of rheoencephalography data and lipid
      peroxidation.

PMID- 1448989
TI  - [The hemostatic system in traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage in the Far North].
AB  - It was found that in conditions of the extreme North sanation of the
      cerebrospinal fluid occurs later in patients with traumatic subarachnoidal
      hemorrhage than in the central regions of the country. In connection with this
      the hemostasis system was studied in 20 patients with traumatic subarachnoidal
      hemorrhage and 10 patients with brain tumours (control group). Patients with
      traumatic subarachnoidal hemorrhage showed significant hypocoagulation changes.

PMID- 1448990
TI  - [The clinico-physiological validation of the use of the endolymphatic route for
      antibiotic administration for preventing the translocation of intestinal
      microflora during the treatment of sepsis patients].
AB  - One of the main mechanisms of generalization of infection in purulent
      inflammatory processes of the abdominal cavity, retroperitoneal space and pelvis
      minor is translocation of the pathogenic microflora of the intestine in the
      lymphatic system via regional lymphatic nodes with subsequent rupture into the
      systemic circulation. Endolymphatic administration of antibacterial agents into
      the peripheral lymphatic vessel favours saturation of the reticuloendothelial
      structures of the lymph nodes by the antibiotic agent that increases their
      barrier function and, thus, prevents generalization of the infection and
      development of polyorganic insufficiency.

PMID- 1448991
TI  - [An electron microscopic study and the morphofunctional status of the lungs in an
      experimental reproduction of acute pneumonia].
AB  - An analysis of the ultrastructural organization of alveocytes (types I and II),
      endotheliocytes, interstitium alveolar, macrophages and aerohematic barrier in
      rabbits with experimental acute pneumonia revealed disorders of synthesis and
      release of surfactant on the alveolar surface. The observed in pneumonia edema
      and swelling of the aerohematic barrier components as well as the interstitium
      reduces the protective mechanism of alveols favouring transition of the disease
      to a protracted form.

PMID- 1448993
TI  - [The methodological aspects of studying brain bioelectrical activity in exposure
      to electromagnetic factors].

PMID- 1448992
TI  - [The effect of elevated environmental temperature on the development of a
      potassium deficiency in the body].
AB  - Electron microscopy and roentgen microanalysis were used to study the
      ultrastructure and electrolytic balance of K+, Na+ and Cl- of the animal
      myocardial tissue during general body hyperthermia. It was established that long
      term effect of heating microclimate causes a distinct reduction of K+ in the
      cardiomyocytes accompanied by essential changes of the ultrastructure of ischemic
      character.

PMID- 1448994
TI  - [The toxicological-hygienic characteristics of surface-active substances used in
      the technological processes of the oil-producing industry].
AB  - The authors suggest two stages of ecological and hygienic evaluation of surface
      active substances widely used in oil extraction. Stage 1. Toxicological-hygienic
      evaluation of these substances. Stage 2. Ecological-hygienic aspects of surface
      active substances (migration into soil, phytotoxicity, effect on the water
      quality and oth.). It was established at stage 1 that proxanol, proxamin,
      diproxamin are compounds of minor hazard (class 4 hazard). These substances
      belong to local skin-irritating substances. Proxanol produces skin-resorptive
      effects which is confirmed by clinical signs of intoxication, reduction of weight
      of the experimental animals.

PMID- 1448995
TI  - [The peripheral hemodynamics of pregnant women with diabetes mellitus].
AB  - The state of the peripheral hemodynamics was studied rheovasographically in 26
      pregnant patients suffering of diabetes mellitus and 30 healthy pregnant
      (pregnancy terms: 26, 27 and 34-40 weeks). Results of the study revealed changes
      of the peripheral hemodynamics in the pregnant diabetic patients as compared with
      pregnant women non-diabetics. These changes consisted in non-adequate response of
      the vascular bed to increased hemodynamic loads at the 27-33 pregnancy week as
      well as in more significant increase of the tone in the diabetic patients during
      the first half of pregnancy as compared with the healthy women. These changes may
      become supplementary criteria for revealing preclinical manifestations of
      diabetic angiopathies in pregnant diabetic women.

PMID- 1448996
TI  - [Natural killer activity--an index of treatment efficacy in patients with acute
      leukemia].
AB  - Treatment results were analyzed in 60 patients with acute non-lymphoblastic
      leucosis. In 30 patients treatment was carried out with consideration of
      sensitivity of blast cells to chemotherapeutic agents, in 30 polychemotherapy
      programs were used. Results indicate that individual choice of agents produced a
      large number of complete clinico-hematological remissions. In 50% of patients
      with clinico-hematological improvement natural killers were found in the blood
      and they showed activity after a course of selected treatment.

PMID- 1448997
TI  - [The effectiveness of dispensary treatment to prevent myocardial infarct and its
      mortality].

PMID- 1448998
TI  - [The comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of lymphosarcoma of the pharynx].
AB  - Modern methods (intrascopic and other instrumental) were used to increase the
      diagnostic efficiency and extension of the tumour process in 22 patients with
      lymphosarcoma of the pharynx. Optimal treatment efficacy is achieved in
      lymphosarcoma of the pharynx by combined use of surgical, radiation (non
      traditional course) treatment as well as chemotherapy which is used at early
      stages as an adjunctive method.

PMID- 1448999
TI  - [Multiple and multilevel compression radiculoneuropathies].

PMID- 1449000
TI  - [The rehabilitative treatment of patients after a myocardial infarct who reside
      in an area close to the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station].
AB  - Rehabilitation treatment is evaluated in 55 patients (long-term results) with a
      history of myocardial infarction residing in the Chernobyl atomic station zone.
      It was established that the course of the disease in persons who participated in
      liquidation of the Chernobyl disaster was characterized by a more frequent
      development of reinfarctions as compared with the Kiev population. Patients
      residing in the zone neighbouring the Chernobyl station developed more frequently
      cardiac failure. This requires detailed examination of these patients during
      their return to work.

PMID- 1449001
TI  - [The clinical picture of thallium poisoning and the late sequelae].

PMID- 1449002
TI  - [The significance of the lymphocyte adherence inhibition test in patients with
      diffuse toxic goiter].
AB  - Patients with diffuse toxic goiter reveal an increased adhesive capacity of
      lymphocytes evidencing a reduction of lymphokine production by lymphocytes which
      would suppress adhesiveness. The degree of increase of adhesive properties of
      lymphocytes depended on the severity of the clinical picture of diffuse toxic
      goiter, being higher in those with a severe course. Results of the test of
      lymphocyte adhesion suppression reflect the state of cellular immunity, severity
      of the clinical course of diffuse toxic goiter and efficacy of treatment.

PMID- 1449003
TI  - [Occupational morbidity among the workers in enterprises for secondary ferrous
      metal processing and in refractory materials plants].
AB  - The authors discuss the level of professional morbidity among workers of ferrous
      metal processing enterprises and of refractory factories depending on the
      profession, age, length of work and sex. Recommendations on the reduction of
      professional diseases in this branch of industry are given.

PMID- 1449004
TI  - Prognostic indicators in fulminant hepatic failure.
AB  - Because of the inhomogeneous prognosis in fulminant hepatic failure, prognostic
      criteria are required which help to establish the indication for liver
      transplantation as a successful therapeutic procedure. In our study of 33
      patients with fulminant hepatic failure (94% viral hepatitis, 67% hepatitis B),
      serum bilirubin > 320 or < 160 mumol/L, serum creatinine > 110 mumol/L,
      prothrombin time < 15% of the normal value and duration of jaundice until onset
      of encephalopathy > 7 days indicated a fatal outcome. When criteria described by
      O'Grady et al. were used, only limited predictability was achieved. This, as well
      as the frequently contradictory results of the few prognostic studies published
      so far, is probably due to the regional differences in the etiology and the
      different clinical courses of fulminant hepatic failure.

PMID- 1449005
TI  - [Orthotopic liver transplantation in hepatic cirrhosis: on the problem of
      infection of the transplant with persistent hepatitis viruses].
AB  - 269 orthotopic liver transplantations (OLT) were performed in 253 patients at our
      institution from September 1988 to May 1992. 121 patients had end-stage cirrhosis
      secondary to viral hepatitis type B, delta, or type non-A non-B and C
      respectively. Reinfection of the graft by persistent viruses is a potential
      complication in these cases. Passive immunization with anti-HBs
      hyperimmunoglobulin (HIg) can prevent clinically relevant reinfection of the
      graft in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and low replication
      rates. Patients with high replication rates will rarely benefit from OLT.
      Patients with hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection usually experience HDV
      reinfection of the graft with subsequent chronic hepatitis although prophylaxis
      with anti-HBs-HIg was performed. Treatment with interferon alpha had no apparent
      effect on the incidence of graft reinfection with HBV in this series, but the
      replication rate of HDV was reduced. Persistent hepatitis C viruses (HCV) usually
      infect the graft; this was demonstrated in 17 patients by means of the polymerase
      chain reaction. HCV infection usually causes a mild form of acute hepatitis with
      transition to a chronic course. Therefore the significance of persistent viral
      infection lies in the potential for chronic hepatitis in the transplanted organ
      rather than in the danger of acute injury of the allograft.

PMID- 1449006
TI  - [Extraction of an artery in rectal biopsy].
AB  - A biopsy of a rectal carcinoma has led to the extraction of a 2.5 cm arterial
      specimen, followed by an arterial bleeding. The cause of this exceptional
      complication was the presence of atypical vessels reaching the rectal lumen due
      to tumor ulceration.

PMID- 1449007
TI  - [Risk of colorectal cancer in ulcerative colitis--monitoring strategies and
      identification of risk patients].
AB  - Patients with ulcerative colitis carry an increased colorectal cancer risk. The
      cumulative cancer risk for patients with pancolitis is 0.5-0.7% per patient year.
      Dysplasia as a histologic marker of a neoplastic transformation is used to
      identify patients with an increased cancer risk during colonoscopic surveillance.
      Because the classification of dysplasia is subject to inter- and intraobserver
      variation new methods for the detection of risk patients have been investigated.
      DNA analysis by flow cytometry seems to be of value for the detection of DNA
      aneuploidy and the identification of patients who are at risk for neoplastic
      progression. The significance of DNA aneuploidy is being evaluated in prospective
      studies. Surveillance guidelines depend on duration and anatomical extent of the
      colitis as well as on the detection of dysplasia.

PMID- 1449008
TI  - [Ultrasound morphology of gallstones].
AB  - Using a subtile examination technique genuine information can be obtained from
      the interior of a gallstone--at least to a depth of 15 mm. This information
      should provide an indication of the homogeneous (crystalline) or inhomogeneous
      (non-cholesterol) structure of the stone. Further systematic use of
      differentiating gallstone ultrasonography could become a useful additional
      decision making criterion for selection of gallstones suitable for conservative
      treatment.

PMID- 1449009
TI  - ["Idiopathic pancreatitis"--sludge as the most common cause?].

PMID- 1449010
TI  - [Biliary pain in bile ducts without calculi: where is the error?].

PMID- 1449011
TI  - [Pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Synthesis of collagen and non-collagen proteins
      in cell culture and in vivo].
AB  - In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that Ito-cells are able to express the
      "smooth-muscle"-isoform of alpha-actin which seems to characterize the activated
      stage of the cells. "Activated" Ito-cells synthesize and secrete collagen- and
      non-collagen components of the extracellular matrix like fibronectin, laminin,
      tenascin and entactin. "Quiscent" Ito-cells synthesize mostly collagen type IV
      and III while "activated" Ito-cells also synthesize alpha-2-macroglobulin, a
      potent protease inhibitor. The in vitro obtained results were confirmed in vivo
      as demonstrated on liver sections from chronically damaged liver (carbon
      tetrachloride administration) by immunohistochemistry and by in situ
      hybridisation technique. Sinusoidal endothelial cells were shown to synthesize
      collagen type IV and fibronectin during the time in culture.

PMID- 1449012
TI  - [Pathomorphology of acute and chronic stages of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis:
      immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization studies].
AB  - The cellular localization of expression of various genes activated during the
      course of liver fibrosis and regeneration was studied by immunohistology and in
      situ hybridization in rat and human liver tissues. Mesenchymal cells proved to be
      the principal sources of extracellular matrix proteins and of fibrogenic growth
      factors, whereas the collagenase-activating protease transin/stromelysin gene was
      transcribed in parenchymal cells as well. Fibrogenesis by the mesenchymal
      compartment appears to be balanced by fibrolysis controlled by parenchymal cell
      functions. Continuous parenchymal damage may thus disrupt this balance between
      fibrogenesis and fibrolysis, resulting in fibrosis.

PMID- 1449013
TI  - [Connective tissue polypeptides in serum: new parameters of connective tissue
      synthesis and degradation in liver fibrosis].
AB  - With the invention of drugs that effectively and specifically inhibit excessive
      collagen synthesis in the liver, a growing interest in serum assays that assess
      fibrogenesis, i.e. the de novo formation and fibrolysis, i.e. the removal of
      connective tissue in the liver, may be anticipated. Several serum assays for
      connective tissue polypeptides fulfil the criteria of sensitivity and specificity
      for chronic liver diseases. The aminoterminal procollagen type III peptide
      (PIIINP) correlates with hepatic fibrogenesis, whereas the propeptides of
      basement membrane collagen (PIVNP and PIVCP) and the basement membrane
      glycoprotein laminin reflect the enhanced turnover of basement membranes of the
      sinusoids as well as of proliferating bile ducts and blood vessels in active
      fibrosis. Circulating collagen type VI results from degradation of interstitial
      microfilaments and undulin appears to be released upon remodeling of the hepatic
      architecture. Combined measurement of selected parameters may allow a non
      invasive assessment of the balance between fibrogenesis and fibrolysis on a day
      to-day basis, especially in the light of potential antifibrotic therapy.

PMID- 1449014
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of colchicine: a review of experimental and clinical data.
AB  - Thanks to the development of a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for
      colchicine, the pharmacokinetics of colchicine is now well-established after
      single oral doses. Absorption is characterized by a zero-order rate constant
      while disposition appears biexponential with a rapid distribution phase (t1/2 =
      1.8 h) and a long elimination phase (t1/2 = 20 h). All studies confirm the large
      total body clearance (35 l/h) predominantly by the extrarenal route and the large
      distribution volume (700 l). Further studies need to be performed to investigate
      colchicine absorption and to describe the metabolic pathway of the drug. To date,
      relationships between colchicine plasma levels and pharmacological effects have
      not been defined. Monitoring of plasma levels in patients with familial
      Mediterranean fever should improve treatment with colchicine. However, the
      therapeutic range has not been precisely determined. The use of colchicine in the
      treatment of liver cirrhosis and primary biliary cirrhosis is a recent
      development; so, assuming that a large part of total body clearance depends on
      hepatic function, the influence of hepatic diseases on colchicine disposition
      needs to be investigated in order to define the most appropriate therapeutic
      dosing.

PMID- 1449015
TI  - [Colchicine in toxic liver cirrhosis and primary biliary cirrhosis].
AB  - In animals, colchicine has been shown hepatoprotective, which is related to its
      anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effect. In man, colchicine has been used for
      the treatment of alcoholic liver disease and primary biliary cirrhosis. Although
      controlled trials observed an improvement of liver function tests under
      colchicine, the survival rate in most studies was only slightly improved without
      reaching statistical significance. Therefore, at present, no final evaluation of
      colchicine for the treatment of alcoholic liver diseases and primary biliary
      cirrhosis can be given.

PMID- 1449016
TI  - [Pathophysiology of cholestasis: correlation between bile acid metabolism and
      liver damage].
AB  - In patients with cholestasis the biliary excretion of bile acids is diminished.
      Hepatic sulfation, glucuronidation and hydroxylation of bile acids are increased
      and enhance their urinary excretion. These metabolic pathways however, are not
      sufficient to prevent hepatic damage by bile salts. Ursodeoxycholic acid, a very
      hydrophilic and therefore untoxic bile acid, in part prevents the hepatotoxicity
      of more hydrophobic bile acids.

PMID- 1449017
TI  - Treatment of chronic active hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis with
      ursodeoxycholic acid.
AB  - Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) improves liver function tests in patients with
      chronic active hepatitis (CAH) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). UDCA will
      reduce biochemical parameters of both cholestasis and hepatocellular damage. The
      effects may be less beneficial in patients with advanced stages of chronic liver
      disease: in PBC we found the improvement of laboratory parameters in stage I and
      II very impressive, in stage III and IV it was less marked. Data of two
      controlled trials in PBC showed an improvement in liver histology, in one study
      the improvement was statistically significant. UDCA can be administered for at
      least 10 years without any adverse effects, the treatment is safe and improves
      life quality. The mode of action of UDCA seems to be in its displacement of toxic
      hydrophobic bile salts from the bile acid pool and the hepatocellular membrane.
      In in-vitro investigations a direct protective effect of UDCA on isolated
      sinusoidal hepatocyte membranes against toxic bile salts has been shown. This
      protective effect of a more general nature may explain the efficacy of UDCA in
      different chronic, especially cholestatic liver diseases.

PMID- 1449018
TI  - Hepatic fibrogenesis: the puzzle of interacting cells, fibrogenic cytokines,
      regulatory loops, and extracellular matrix molecules.
AB  - Fibrotic lesions affect a wide variety of organs but liver fibrosis is probably
      the most abundant form of organ fibrosis. Disturbances of the equilibrium between
      parenchyma and extracellular matrix (ECM) leading to a disproportionate increase
      and irregular deposition of newly formed connective tissue components (fibrosis)
      is a common and clinically most important sequelae of chronic active liver
      diseases. Significant progress has been made during the last years in the
      analysis of the structural composition of ECM in normal and fibrotic liver and in
      the dissection of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of exaggerated ECM
      deposition in necroinflammatory areas using experimental models of hepatic
      fibrosis, isolated cells in mono- and coculture systems and the growing
      repertoire of molecular biological tools. Perisinusoidal, retinoid-storing cells
      (Ito cells, parasinusoidal lipocytes) transform under inflammatory stimuli to
      myofibroblast-like cells being qualitatively and quantitatively the most
      important connective tissue producing cell type in human and animal liver. Its
      activation and transformation is mediated by paracrine and autocrine loops
      involving transforming growth factor (TGF) beta as the main fibrogenic mediator
      secreted by activated liver macrophages, possibly also by endothelial cells and
      liberated by disintegrated thrombocytes. In advanced stages of retinoid-storing
      cell transformation additional growth factors like platelet derived growth factor
      (PDGF) become important indicating a sequential action of cytokines and
      fibrogenic mediators during the fibrogenic process. The molecular and cellular
      interactions in the course of liver fibrogenesis have gained model character for
      a number of other organ fibrotic processes, wound repair, and atherogenesis
      included.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449019
TI  - [Combined ursodeoxycholic acid plus colchicine--treatment of primary biliary
      cirrhosis: results of a placebo-controlled double-blind study].
AB  - In the present pilot study we investigated the effects of urso treatment alone in
      comparison to a combined treatment with urso plus colchicine in PBC. 22 patients
      with PBC in the histological stages 1-3 entered the study. All patients were
      pretreated with urso alone (10-12 mg/kg) for 12 months. Thereafter treatment was
      continued in a double-blind randomized fashion with urso plus placebo or urso
      plus colchicine (1 mg/day) for another 12 months. During the initial 12 months
      urso treatment liver function tests improved significantly in all patients,
      pruritus improved in 60% of patients. After randomization to the different
      treatment groups the biochemical parameters stabilized at the lower level and no
      significant differences could be found between urso plus placebo and urso plus
      colchicine treatment concerning aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase,
      bilirubin, cholinesterase, albumin or cholesterol. The results of this pilot
      study suggest that the addition of colchicine to an initial urso treatment does
      not lead to further improvement of aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase,
      bilirubin or clinical symptoms like pruritus.

PMID- 1449020
TI  - [The dependence of respiratory intensity on body mass in representative Caudata
      and Salientia].
AB  - Experimental data indicate dependence of the respiration rate on the body mass in
      both caudate and ecaudate amphibians. The regression line slopes are similar in
      the both groups, while the a factor value is 3 times lower in the caudates than
      it is in ecaudates. There certain sex differences in the respiration rate which
      have no clear biological interpretation.

PMID- 1449021
TI  - [The motor activity of the chick embryo amnion in the late stages of development.
      The role of serotonin and noradrenaline].
AB  - Experiments with 13- to 19-day-old chicken embryos maintained at 37 degrees C
      were conducted using direct registration of embryonic movements and amnion
      pulsation. It is shown that in the non-innervated and lacking blood vessels non
      striated-muscled amnion, motoric activity could be observed nearly up to the end
      of the embryonic development, not only during 5 to 14 days old interval as it was
      supposed earlier. In accordance with our previous results indicating important
      role of biogenic amines (serotonin and noradrenaline) in the regulation of
      motoric activity of the chicken embryo amnion at earlier and middle ages, this
      study provides some evidences of the humoral regulatory mechanism even at later
      embryonic stages. After being injected into amniotic fluid of older embryos, the
      serotonin stimulates and noradrenaline inhibits amnion motoric activity (the both
      are taken at final concentration of 10(-7) to 10(-6) M). Serotonin's receptors
      blocator, the cyprogeptadin, suppress while beta-adrenoreceptors' blocator, the
      propranolol, activates intact amnion motorics ( both are taken at final
      concentration of 10(-7) to 10(-5) M).

PMID- 1449022
TI  - The European Federation of Cytology Societies, 1969-1989.

PMID- 1449023
TI  - Diagnosis of follicular lymphoma by fine needle aspiration biopsy.
AB  - This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration biopsy
      (FNAB) of follicular lymphoma (FL). Fourteen aspirates of lymph nodes in which
      follow-up surgical biopsy revealed FL were studied. Two aspirates were deemed
      unsatisfactory because of a paucity of cells. The remaining 12 cases received the
      following diagnoses: 4 positive for malignant lymphoma, 4 highly suspicious for
      malignant lymphoma and 4 false negatives. FNAB of FL can show a monomorphic or
      polymorphic cell population. The aspirates with a positive or suspicious
      diagnosis showed monomorphic cell populations. False-negative diagnoses were
      attributable to misleading sampling or preparation methods in most cases. We
      conclude that FNAB of FL is less accurate than FNAB of non-Hodgkin's malignant
      lymphoma (NHL) in general, but the accuracy rate is similar to that of FNAB of
      all low-grade NHL. The value of current approaches to the diagnosis of suspected
      lymphoma by FNAB is emphasized.

PMID- 1449024
TI  - Comparison of cellular phenotypes in tumor cyst and ascitic fluid from ovarian
      serous carcinoma.
AB  - Density gradient centrifugation was applied to isolate cell subsets from tumor
      cyst and ascitic fluid in eight patients with ovarian serous carcinoma. A
      comparison of cellular composition and immunologic reactivity of cells from the
      cysts and from ascitic fluid in each patient was performed. Some differences in
      density profiles were found, but in each case the consistency of morphologic cell
      forms in the primary tumor and ascites was documented. Immunophenotypic analyses
      of isolated cellular fractions using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against
      ovarian carcinoma-associated antigens showed significant immunologic intratumoral
      heterogeneity. However, there was a similarity of antigen expression in cells
      from the primary tumors and ascitic fluids. Our study indicated that morphologic
      and antigenic characterization of a given tumor could be determined in a single
      representative sample of ascitic fluid.

PMID- 1449025
TI  - Influence of endocervical status on the cytologic prediction of cervical
      intraepithelial neoplasia.
AB  - A case-control analysis of the endocervical status of smears that preceded a
      histologic diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) showed that
      smears which correctly predicted CIN were significantly more likely to include
      metaplastic cells than were smears reported to be negative. There was no
      significant difference between the smears with respect to the presence of
      columnar cells. A high level of agreement was apparent between scientists in
      determining both columnar and metaplastic cell status. A discussion of the
      definition, role and potential impact of endocervical status in the prevention of
      cervical cancer is presented.

PMID- 1449026
TI  - Fine needle aspiration of pancreatic cystic epithelial neoplasms.
AB  - Pancreatic cystic epithelial neoplasms present diagnostic challenges in cytology.
      An accurate diagnosis is important since the prognosis and treatment may vary. We
      report the cytologic features in fine needle aspirates of four cases of cystic
      neoplasms of the pancreas (two micro-cystic adenomas, one mucinous cystic
      neoplasm and one mucinous cystadenocarcinoma). Smears were evaluated as to their
      cellularity, content and predominant cell type. Aspirates from the microcystic
      adenomas yielded hypocellular material with rare strips of cuboidal cells having
      bland nuclei and pale cytoplasm. No mucinous material was identified in the
      background, but the cells stained positively with periodic acid-Schiff stain.
      Smears from the mucinous cystic neoplasm were moderately cellular and contained
      abundant mucinous material. The columnar epithelial cells were arranged in tight
      sheets, clusters and strips. Most cells had benign nuclear features with focal
      mild nuclear atypia. Key cytologic findings noted in the mucinous
      cystadenocarcinoma were moderate cellularity, loose clusters of cells, single
      cells, overt malignant nuclear features and occasional signet ring cells.
      Pancreatic pseudocysts can be distinguished from pancreatic cystic epithelial
      neoplasms by the predominance of histiocytes and inflammatory cells and absence
      or paucity of epithelial cells. To differentiate microcystic adenomas from
      mucinous cystic neoplasms, the above criteria coupled with periodic acid-Schiff
      and mucin staining should effectively differentiate these diagnostic entities.

PMID- 1449027
TI  - Fine needle aspiration of lymphoblastic lymphoma. A multiparameter diagnostic
      approach.
AB  - Sixteen fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies of lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL)
      that were used to either initially diagnose disease (12) or document relapse (4)
      were reviewed. Cellular aspirates (2 x 10(7) cells) were readily obtained for
      immunologic, DNA/RNA flow cytometric and immunoglobulin and/or T-cell receptor
      gene rearrangement studies. Cytologically, aspirates were characterized by
      intermediate-sized cells (9.5-18.5 microns) with fine nuclear chromatin, small,
      inconspicuous nucleoli, irregular nuclear contours and scant basophilic
      cytoplasm. Frequent mitotic figures were seen (1-14 figures per 1,000 cells).
      Fourteen cases demonstrated a T-cell phenotype with considerable phenotypic
      variability. One case demonstrated a precursor B-cell phenotype, and another
      demonstrated biphenotypic expression with both T-cell and myeloid
      differentiation. Eleven of 14 cases (79%) were positive for terminal
      deoxynucleotidyl transferase. Thirteen of 15 cases (87%) manifested diploid DNA
      content by flow cytometric analysis and were characterized by intermediate
      proliferative activity (S+G2M 12.7 +/- 8.7% SD) and intermediate mean RNA index
      (1.3 +/- .5 SD). T beta gene rearrangements were demonstrated in four of five
      phenotypic T-cell LBL cases analyzed, with concomitant JH gene rearrangements
      observed in three cases, confirming that bigenotypic rearrangements characterize
      some T-cell LBLs. We conclude that FNA samples are adequate for accurate
      characterization of LBL and may obviate the need for surgical biopsy.

PMID- 1449028
TI  - Cytopathology of the tall cell variant of thyroid papillary carcinoma.
AB  - The tall cell variant of thyroid papillary carcinoma differs from classic
      papillary carcinoma in its more aggressive clinical behavior, cell type (columnar
      amphophilic to oxyphilic) and higher frequency of stromal lymphoid infiltrate. A
      retrospective study of three such cases was made, with an emphasis given to the
      utility of fine needle aspiration cytology in their identification. Aspirates
      revealed papillary fronds and cyanophilic and oxyphilic neoplastic cells with a
      high proportion of nuclear grooves and cytoplasmic inclusions. These nuclear
      details allowed a specific diagnosis of papillary carcinoma with oxyphil cells as
      compared to oxyphilic cell follicular tumors. Smears from two cases showed, in
      addition, lymphoid cells and multinucleate giant cells. In them a diagnosis of
      coexisting Hashimoto's disease, granulomatous thyroiditis or inflammatory tumor
      stroma could not be excluded cytologically.

PMID- 1449029
TI  - Fine needle aspiration cytology of primary soft tissue tumors. Morphologic
      analysis of the most frequent types.
AB  - We reviewed 98 cases of fine needle aspiration of soft tissue tumors with
      histologic confirmation performed during an eight-year period and propose a
      working morphologic classification based on the most prominent cytologic
      features. Six main tumor groups are recognized: myxoid, round cells, spindle
      cells, pleomorphic cells, polygonal cells and well differentiated. We believe
      that this classification allows recognition of the most common soft tissue tumors
      while helping with the differential diagnosis of other neoplasia, primary or
      secondary, with similar morphology and a similar presentation.

PMID- 1449030
TI  - Cerebrospinal fluid cell preparation methods. An evaluation.
AB  - Although the cells from cerebrospinal fluid are widely used for diagnostic
      purposes, the cell yield on the microscopic slide is only rarely considered and
      mostly unsatisfactory. A reevaluation of several preparatory methods showed a
      very low yield with the Sayk-type chamber, a modest yield with the cytocentrifuge
      and the best yield with a simple, self-adhering chamber on slides coated with a
      polycation.

PMID- 1449031
TI  - Presacral myelolipoma. Report of a case with fine needle aspiration cytology and
      immunohistochemical and histochemical studies.
AB  - The cytomorphologic features of a case of the rare presacral myelolipoma,
      diagnosed by computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous fine needle aspiration
      (FNA) biopsy, are presented. It occurred in a 40-year-old man on prolonged
      steroid therapy for bronchial asthma. On the air-dried, Diff-Quik-stained smear,
      hematopoietic cells of all lineages and fragments of collapsed stroma were seen
      in a background of fat droplets. Megakaryocytic, myelocytic and eosinophilic
      lineages were further demonstrated by Factor VIII immunostain, chloroacetate
      esterase and LUNA-E histochemical stain, respectively. The reticulum stain of the
      resected tumor demonstrated that the hematopoietic cells and fat were supported
      by numerous reticulum fibers of varying thickness; that accounted for the
      collapsed stroma in the aspirated material. Presacral myelolipoma, occurring
      predominantly in female adults and presenting secondarily as a space-occupying
      lesion, is best regarded as encapsulated, heterotopic bone marrow supported by a
      network of reticulum fibers; it has a characteristic image on CT scan and can be
      diagnosed by FNA.

PMID- 1449032
TI  - Fine needle aspiration cytology of clear cell sarcoma. Report of a case with
      immunocytochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies.
AB  - Cytologic findings of clear cell sarcoma obtained by fine needle aspiration (FNA)
      of a tumor are described. The tumor probably originated in the retroperitoneal
      tissue, and the diagnosis was confirmed histologically by open biopsy.
      Percutaneous needle aspirates of the intraabdominal tumor and touch preparations
      obtained from the open biopsy specimen revealed numerous atypical cells with an
      extremely hyperchromatic nucleus, prominent nucleoli and clear cytoplasm. The
      cytoplasm was rich in glycogen. The immunocytochemical technique demonstrated S
      100 protein and neuron-specific enolase in the cytoplasm, both of which were
      exhibited also in the histologic specimen. Clear cell sarcoma is a rare tumor of
      soft tissue, and to our knowledge, detailed cytologic appearances of this tumor
      obtained by FNA have not been reported. In addition, the present tumor was unique
      in location. It is possible to diagnose clear cell sarcoma accurately on an FNA
      cytologic specimen if the periodic acid-Schiff stain and immunocytochemical
      technique are utilized in addition to the routine Papanicolaou method.

PMID- 1449033
TI  - Cytology of pyelitis glandularis cystica. A case report.
AB  - Cytologic findings that occur in association with proliferative lesions involving
      von Brunn's nests in the urinary tract are rare. Such lesions are probably far
      more common than recognized and are probably considered in the clinicoradiologic
      differential diagnosis when space-occupying lesions are found, particularly in
      the upper urinary tract. Reported here are the cytologic findings in a case of
      pyelitis glandularis cystica that presented as a renal pelvic lesion.

PMID- 1449034
TI  - Transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis metastatic to the metacarpal. A
      case report correlating cytologic and histologic findings.
AB  - This report describes the cytologic, radiologic and histologic findings in a 76
      year-old male who presented with a pathologic fracture of the first metacarpal
      bone as the result of metastatic transitional cell carcinoma. The primary
      neoplasm was sited in the right renal pelvis. Metastases were also detected in
      the liver and confirmed cytologically. Problems encountered with the cytologic
      diagnosis are explained by correlation with the histologic findings. The case
      also illustrates the importance of clinicopathologic correlation when
      interpreting fine needle aspiration biopsies.

PMID- 1449035
TI  - Adamantinoma. A case report with aspiration cytology and differential diagnostic
      and immunohistochemical considerations.
AB  - Fine needle aspiration biopsy of bone lesions is routinely used in the metastatic
      workup of patients with radiographically suspicious areas. However, caution must
      be used when interpreting smears from aspirates performed on primary bone
      neoplasms. These tumors are often heterogeneous, and problems with sampling may
      be encountered. We report a case of a 25-year-old male who presented with a 3-cm
      lytic lesion in the tibia. A diagnosis of benign fibroosseous lesion was based on
      the clinical presentation, radiographic appearance and presence of numerous
      sheets and single cytologically bland spindle cells. Subsequent curettage of the
      specimen revealed an adamantinoma with a prominent fibrous component. Most of
      these rare, locally aggressive neoplasms are located in the tibia. They are
      characterized histologically as having a fibrous background with islands of
      basaloid, spindle or squamoid cells. Furthermore, a differentiated, regressing
      variant with an osteofibrous dysplasia-like appearance also exists. Smears
      consisting primarily of spindle cells or fibrous tissue may lead to an erroneous
      diagnosis of a fibrohistiocytic neoplasm, fibrous dysplasia, fibrous cortical
      defect or ossifying fibroma. Pertinent cytomorphologic features should aid in
      establishing the correct diagnosis of adamantinoma.

PMID- 1449036
TI  - Cytodiagnosis and comparison of nondecidualized and decidualized endometriosis of
      the abdominal wall. A report of two cases.
AB  - We describe two cases of endometriosis of the abdominal wall occurring in young,
      multiparous women in which the diagnosis was made by fine needle aspiration
      biopsy. One case illustrates the cytologic features of non-decidualized
      endometriosis: a biphasic population of stromal and glandular cells. In contrast,
      the other case showed large, plump stromal cells in a distinctive myxoid
      background, creating a picture of decidualized endometriosis. The differential
      diagnoses of palpable masses in the abdominal wall and the importance of
      clinicopathologic correlation are discussed.

PMID- 1449037
TI  - Cytologic and immunocytochemical studies of cerebrospinal fluid in meningeal
      sarcoidosis. A case report.
AB  - Serial studies were done on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a patient with
      sarcoidosis involving the meninges. Initially when the disease was active, the
      CSF protein was increased and glucose decreased. The number of cells in the CSF
      was moderately increased, and many mononuclear cells were present. Cytologic
      studies of the CSF showed many normal and some atypical lymphocytes.
      Immunochemical studies showed that most of these lymphocytes were T cells, with T
      helper cells predominating over T-suppressor cells by a ratio of 3.92; B
      lymphocytes were polyclonal. Subsequent studies of the CSF over the following
      three and one-half years showed that the protein and glucose content and the cell
      counts in the fluid did not correlate well with the activity of the disease. The
      number of atypical lymphocytes seemed to be a more useful marker of disease
      activity in the patient. Cytologic studies, when interpreted within the context
      of other CSF and clinical findings, are useful for the assessment of patients
      with sarcoidosis involving the meninges.

PMID- 1449038
TI  - Proficiency testing in gynecologic cytology.

PMID- 1449039
TI  - The relationship between first-phase insulin secretion and glucose metabolism.
AB  - A possible pathogenetic link between absence of first-phase insulin secretion and
      development of impaired glucose metabolism has been suggested by the results of
      several cross-sectional studies. First-phase insulin secretion measured during a
      +7 mmol/l hyperglycemic glucose clamp correlated with total glucose disposal
      during the clamp (r = 0.65, p < 0.001, N = 59). To examine whether restoration of
      first-phase insulin secretion improves peripheral glucose uptake in subjects with
      impaired glucose utilization, seven insulin-resistant subjects (age 54 (38-62)
      years: BMI 29.3 (21.7-35.8); fasting plasma glucose 5.5 (4.8-7.2) mmol/l; fasting
      insulin 57 (37-105) pmol/l with impaired first-phase (148 (29-587) vs controls
      485 (326-1086) pmol/l x 10 min; p < 0.05) and normal second-phase (1604 (777
      4480) vs controls (1799 (763-2771) pmol/l x 110 min) insulin secretion were
      restudied. The impaired first-phase insulin secretion was restored by an iv
      insulin bolus at the start of the hyperglycemic clamp. Substrate oxidation rates
      and hepatic glucose production were determined by indirect calorimetry and [3
      3H]glucose infusion. Total glucose uptake was impaired in the insulin-resistant
      subjects with impaired first-phase insulin secretion compared to controls (18.8
      (13.2-22.2) vs 34.8 (24.3-62.1) mumol.kg-1 x min-1; p < 0.01). Restoration of
      first-phase insulin secretion (1467 (746-2440) pmol/l x 10 min) did not affect
      glucose uptake (20.2 (9.9-23.8) mumol.kg-1.min-1), with no difference in
      oxidative and non-oxidative glucose metabolism between the experiments. Second
      phase insulin secretion was similar during both experiments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449040
TI  - Parathyroid hormone-related peptide, measured by a midmolecule radioimmunoassay,
      in various hypercalcaemic and normocalcaemic conditions.
AB  - The diagnosis of humoral hypercalcaemia of malignancy often presents considerable
      clinical problems. We have studied parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) in
      serum from patients with humoral hypercalcaemia of malignancy (N = 22),
      hypercalcaemia of malignancy with skeletal metastases (17), histologically
      confirmed primary hyperparathyroidism (21) and hypercalcaemic patients with
      various benign diseases (9). PTHrP measurements were also made in normocalcaemic
      patients with various malignancies (23), endocrine diseases (13), sarcoidosis
      (22) and chronic renal failure (17). PTHrP was measured by a novel
      radioimmunoassay using rabbit antibodies directed towards the midregion of the
      molecule. Immuno- or silica cartridge extraction of serum before radioimmunoassay
      enabled us to measure PTHrP in all samples, which may add further information
      about circulating forms of PTHrP. PTHrP was clearly elevated in patients with
      humoral hypercalcaemia of malignancy (5.0 +/- 4.7 pmol/l) (mean +/- SD, N = 12)
      and when the kidney function was impaired (4.0 +/- 0.9 pmol/l) (N = 15) (silica
      cartridge extraction), whether the subject was hypercalcaemic or not. Some
      patients with endocrine diseases, including two with primary hyperparathyroidism,
      had slightly elevated serum PTHrP concentrations, while they were normal in
      sarcoidosis. In healthy subjects the levels were 1.1 +/- 0.5 pmol/l (N = 15)
      after immunoextraction and 0.8 +/- 0.2 pmol/l (N = 33) after silica cartridge
      extraction.

PMID- 1449041
TI  - Treatment of juvenile goitre with levothyroxine, iodide or a combination of both:
      the value of ultrasound grey-scale analysis.
AB  - The effects of oral iodide, levothyroxine and of iodide and levothyroxine in
      combination were studied in three groups of 30 children, age 13-15 years, with
      euthyroid goitre. As endpoints of this study, we used thyroid volume reduction,
      thyroid hormones, thyrotropin and thyroid grey-scale histograms by computerized
      analysis. The three groups were well matched with respect to mean age, body
      weight and pretreatment thyroid volumes and thyroid hormones. Mean urinary iodide
      excretion before treatment was in the range of 30 micrograms/g creatinine, since
      the study was conducted in an iodine-deficient area. All three treatment regimens
      led to significant reductions in thyroid volume within one month. After six
      months on 100 micrograms of levothyroxine, thyroid volume had decreased from 14.1
      +/- 4.2 ml to 8.3 +/- 2.6 ml (mean +/- SD); on 150 micrograms of iodide, from
      18.5 +/- 6.2 ml to 8.8 +/- 2.7 ml; and on 100 micrograms of iodide plus 50
      micrograms of levothyroxine, from 17.2 +/- 3.1 ml to 8.3 +/- 2.0 ml. When
      treatment was discontinued for three months, or the dosage reduced, thyroid
      volume increased again in the levothyroxine (to 11.3 +/- 2.5 ml) but not in the
      iodide group. Grey-scale values (by ultrasound, computer-aided estimation) after
      nine months were significantly different between the three treatment groups; no
      change was observed with levothyroxine, but after 150 micrograms of iodide as
      well as after combined treatment with levothyroxine and iodide there were marked
      decreases of grey-scale values; this is interpreted as reflecting a decrease in
      follicle size and colloid content of the thyroid which takes place after iodide
      supplementation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449042
TI  - Combined treatment with growth hormone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone
      analogues in children with isolated growth hormone deficiency.
AB  - In subjects with an isolated GH deficiency the inhibition of puberty by GnRH
      analogue administration may be attempted to delay the onset, or to prolong the
      duration, of pubertal maturation in order to improve final height. We report our
      experience on the matter in 10 subjects (6M, 4F) suffering from isolated GH
      deficiency with a chronological age ranging from 6.5 to 10.6 years at diagnosis.
      After a period of 1-5.1 years of GH treatment, GnRH-analogues (long-acting D-Trp
      6-GnRH) were added to GH for 12 months, when six subjects were still prepubertal
      and four in early puberty. During combined therapy, a regression in pubertal
      development was shown in three out of four children in early puberty, while serum
      testosterone or estradiol decreased. Height velocity decreased (from 5.23 +/-
      1.49 (mean +/- SD) to 4.12 +/- 0.67 cm/year; p < 0.02), whereas height SD scores
      for bone age increased (from -0.75 +/- 0.42 to -0.47 +/- 0.55; p < 0.02). During
      the year of combined therapy, bone age increased only 0.57 +/- 0.27 years. The
      values for predicted height (TW2 and Bayley-Pinneau method) after combined
      treatment were also higher than those after treatment with GH alone (p < 0.02 and
      p < 0.001, respectively). Our preliminary data showed that the addition of GnRH
      analogues to GH in subjects with isolated GH deficiency reduces the effect of GH
      on height velocity, but determines an improvement in statural prognosis, although
      a proper answer will not be obtained until final height has been achieved.

PMID- 1449043
TI  - Serum levels of intact parathyroid hormone and alkaline phosphatase correlate
      with cortical and trabecular bone loss in primary hyperparathyroidism.
AB  - We examined the relationship between bone loss and several biochemical indices in
      38 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Bone mineral density was reduced by
      12 +/- 4.0% in the lumbar spine, 18 +/- 4.2% at the distal radius and 21 +/- 2.8%
      at the proximal radius (mean +/- SEM). There were significant negative
      correlations between the serum concentrations of intact parathyroid hormone (PTH)
      and the Z-scores of the bone mineral content at the proximal and distal radius.
      In the lumbar spine, bone mineral density was greater in patients with mildly
      elevated PTH and less in patients whose PTH levels exceeded 8.6 pmol/l. We also
      observed a strong association between increased levels of serum alkaline
      phosphatase and low bone mineral Z-scores. Our data thus indicate that cortical
      and, with the exception of mild primary hyperparathyroidism, trabecular bone loss
      is proportional to the concentration of circulating PTH and the severity of PTH
      induced bone turnover. For the individual patient, however, the usefulness of
      intact PTH and alkaline phosphatase measurements for assessing bone loss
      associated with primary hyperparathyroidism seems to be only limited.

PMID- 1449044
TI  - Effects of short-term growth hormone treatment on PTH, calcitriol, thyroid
      hormones, insulin and glucagon.
AB  - We measured changes in serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), calcitriol,
      parathyroid hormone (PTH), thyroid hormones, insulin, and plasma glucagon in
      response to seven days of treatment with a pharmacological dosage of recombinant
      human growth hormone (r-hGH) (0.1 IU/kg sc twice daily) or placebo in 20 normal
      male volunteers to evaluate whether the effect of r-hGH on biochemical bone
      markers could be attributed to changes in these hormones. Serum IGF-1 (p < 0.001)
      and vitamin D-binding protein (p < 0.001) increased steadily during treatment
      returning to baseline at day 14. Total calcitriol (p < 0.01) and free calcitriol
      index (p < 0.001) increased transiently at day 4. Furthermore, serum insulin (p <
      0.001) and both total (p < 0.001) and free triiodothyronine (p < 0.02) increased
      during treatment, while serum PTH and plasma glucagon remained unchanged. In
      conclusion, pharmacological doses of r-hGH increased not only IGF-1 but also free
      calcitriol index, insulin, and free T3. The increase in these hormones may be co
      responsible for some of the observed effects of r-hGH on bone turnover and
      calcium homeostasis.

PMID- 1449045
TI  - Growth hormone stimulates galactopoiesis in healthy lactating women.
AB  - Sixteen normally lactating women underwent a double-blind randomized placebo
      controlled trial of recombinant human growth hormone (hGH) to assess the effect
      of hGH on milk production in early lactation. Milk volumes were measured by test
      weighing procedures of the infants and removal of residual milk on a control day
      and after 7 days of treatment with recombinant hGH (0.1 IU.kg-1 body weight.d-1)
      or placebo treatment. Although all women were lactating normally before the study
      commenced, milk volume in 8 hGH treated mothers was increased (p < 0.02) by 18.5
      +/- 1.4% (mean +/- SEM) compared to 11.6 +/- 2.0% in the placebo-treated group (N
      = 8). No adverse effects were seen with hGH treatment and no major changes noted
      in milk constituents. The hGH concentrations in milk were low and did not change
      with therapy. Plasma concentrations of IGF-1 increased significantly within 24 h
      of hGH treatment and increased further towards the end of the trial to values of
      2.6-fold above the pretreatment values. The concentration of IGF-1 in milk was
      approximately 100-fold lower than those observed in plasma and could only be
      reliably measured after size exclusion chromatography to remove the interfering
      influence of IGF binding proteins in the radioimmunoassay. All women treated with
      hGH showed a small increase in milk IGF-1 concentrations but the values remained
      within the range of values observed in women receiving the placebo treatment (1.2
      4.4 micrograms/l). Growth hormone treatment increased milk volume in normal
      lactating women during early lactation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449046
TI  - Effects of prolonged Acipimox treatment on glucose and lipid metabolism and on in
      vivo insulin sensitivity in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes
      mellitus.
AB  - The effect of prolonged treatment with Acipimox on in vivo peripheral insulin
      sensitivity, and on glucose and lipid metabolism, was investigated in patients
      with NIDDM in a double-blind study. Twelve NIDDM patients were randomized to
      treatment with either placebo or Acipimox in pharmacological doses (250 mg x 3)
      for three months. Fasting plasma glucose, insulin, C-peptide and HbA1c
      concentrations were unaffected after three months of acipimox treatment. However,
      fasting plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations were twofold
      elevated after Acipimox treatment (1.34 +/- 0.09 vs 0.66 +/- 0.09 mmol/l; p <
      0.05). Despite this, repeated acute Acipimox administration after the three
      months' treatment period enhanced total insulin-stimulated glucose disposal to
      the same extent as acute Acipimox administration before the treatment period (367
      +/- 59 vs 392 +/- 66 mg.m-2.min-1, NS; both p < 0.05 vs placebo glucose disposal)
      (267 +/- 44 mg.m-2.min-1). In conclusion, insulin resistance or tachyphylaxis
      towards the effects of Acipimox on insulin stimulated glucose disposal was not
      induced during prolonged Acipimox treatment. The lack of improvement of blood
      glucose control in the patients with NIDDM may be due to the demonstrated rebound
      effect of lipolysis.

PMID- 1449047
TI  - Effect of melatonin on the in vitro secretion of progesterone and estradiol 17
      beta by ovine granulosa cells.
AB  - This study was undertaken to determine the effect of melatonin on steroid hormone
      production by ovine granulosa and luteal cells in vitro. Granulosa and luteal
      cells from ovine ovaries were cultured for nine days either in D-MEM only or in
      the presence of melatonin (0.86, 8.6, 86 nmol/l), ovine luteinizing hormone (oLH,
      2 micrograms/l) or a combination of both these hormones. Progesterone (P4) and
      estradiol 17 beta (E2) were determined by validated RIAs. Melatonin stimulation
      began at either day 1 or day 5 of culture. Melatonin (0.86 nmol/l) significantly
      increased (p < 0.001) progesterone secretion by granulosa cells both when
      administered alone and when administered in combination with oLH; the more marked
      response was observed in the latter case. When the stimulation began at day 5, at
      a more advanced degree of differentiation of the cells, higher levels of P4 were
      observed. Higher concentrations of melatonin did not further increase
      progesterone production. Melatonin alone did not have a significant effect on the
      production of estradiol 17 beta; neither did melatonin stimulate progesterone
      production in either long-term cultured luteal cells or in short-term (1-2 h)
      cultured luteal and granulosa cells. The results of this study document a direct
      effect of melatonin in stimulating granulosa cells to produce progesterone, a
      synergistic activity between melatonin and luteinizing hormone and a different
      ability of granulosa cells to secrete P4 depending on the degree of
      differentiation.

PMID- 1449048
TI  - Diaphragmatic movement using ultrasound during spontaneous and mechanical
      ventilation: effect of tidal volume.
AB  - Using ultrasound (US) the effect of various tidal volumes on the movement of
      ventral, dome and dorsal parts of the right hemidiaphragm was studied, both
      during spontaneous and mechanical ventilation. Six healthy non-medicated
      volunteers who were in the supine position breathed spontaneously shallowly
      (tidal volume (VT) being 400 ml) (SB), and deeply (VT 1000 ml) (SB-deep). In
      addition, they were mechanically ventilated with intermittent positive pressure
      ventilation at three different VT's: 500 ml (IPPV-500), 1000 ml (IPPV-1000) and
      1700 ml (IPPV-1700). The maximal movement was recorded in the ventral part in 2
      volunteers during SB, in 3 during SB-deep, and in 3 and 5 subjects during IPPV
      500 and IPPV-1700, respectively. The movement in dome was 100% during SB (all
      others standardized to this), 303 +/- 107% during SB-deep, 82 +/- 30% during IPPV
      500, 165 +/- 70% during IPPV-1000 and 266 +/- 153% during IPPV-1700. An increased
      tidal volume is associated with an increase in the diaphragmatic movement studied
      by US. However, a larger VT is needed during mechanical ventilation to achieve
      the same amount of change as occurred with deep spontaneous breathing.

PMID- 1449049
TI  - Behavioural changes in children following minor surgery--is premedication
      beneficial?
AB  - One hundred and twenty-three male children, aged one to ten years, were studied
      to determine the influence of premedication on changes in patterns of behaviour
      following hospitalization for repair of inguinal hernias. Four comparable groups
      were selected for premedication regimen: (1) A control group without
      premedication; (2) oral trimeprazine tartrate 2 mg/kg, methadone 0.1 mg/kg and
      droperidol 0.15 mg/kg; (3) oral midazolam 0.45 mg/kg; (4) intramuscular midazolam
      0.15 mg/kg. Standard inhalational anesthesia was used and caudal blocks employed
      for analgesia. The parents returned a questionnaire at two weeks. Changes in
      behaviour were reported in 78% of the children and overall, premedication showed
      little benefit. However, midazolam premedication was associated with a
      significantly lower incidence of night-time crying and awakening, compared with
      no premedication. Only for night-time crying and day-time toilet training did age
      below five years prove to be a significant contributing factor.

PMID- 1449050
TI  - Aging and immunity.
AB  - The function of the immune system peaks at around puberty and gradually declines
      thereafter with advance in age. The age-related decline of immunological function
      primarily occurs in the T cell-dependent immune system and is generally
      associated with increase in susceptibility to infections as well as in incidence
      of autoimmune phenomena in the elderly. The age-related change in T cell
      dependent immune functions can be ascribed to the physiological thymic atrophy
      which starts in an early stage of life. Emigration of T cells from the thymus to
      the periphery mainly takes place in the late fetal and newborn stage, and
      dramatically declines after puberty. In other words, the thymic capacity to
      promote T cell differentiation starts to change in the early stage of life in
      terms of quantity and quality of T cells. Thus, the composition of T cell-subsets
      in the periphery gradually changes with age, resulting in the alteration of T
      cell functions in the elderly. The restoration of immunological functions of the
      aged individuals is possible and might be beneficial for them to cope with
      various diseases associated with aging. Physiological thymic atrophy is
      controlled by both extrathymic and intrathymic factors, and is not a totally
      irreversible process. The process of thymic atrophy might be explained by further
      understanding of the relationship between the neuroendocrine and the immune
      systems.

PMID- 1449051
TI  - Effects of alkyl alcohols and related chemicals on rat liver structure and
      function. III. Physiochemical properties of ethanol-, propanol- and butanol-
      treated rat liver mitochondrial membranes.
AB  - The physicochemical properties of mitochondria in liver tissue obtained from rats
      given 32% ethanol, 32% propanol or 6.9% butanol in drinking water for up to 3
      months were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and fluorescence
      polarization measurements. The results obtained were as follows: 1) Phospholipids
      extracted from mitochondria showed increases in the relative amounts of
      phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylserine, and a decrease
      in the relative amount of phosphatidylethanolamine. An increase in the
      unsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio of phospholipids was also observed. 2)
      Elevation of the thermotropic lipid phase transition temperature with a decrease
      in the enthalpy value (delta H) was revealed by differential scanning
      calorimetry. 3) The elevation of the lipid phase transition temperature was
      detected also by fluorescence polarization measurements using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5
      hexatriene (DPH) as a probe. Elevation of mitochondrial membrane fluidity was
      found in some of the experimental animals, but most showed no changes in
      comparison with the control. A possible role of membrane fusion in the mechanism
      of formation of ethanol-, propanol- and butanol-induced hepatic megamitochondria
      is discussed on the basis of these results.

PMID- 1449052
TI  - Immunohistochemical localization of gangliosides in ENU-induced rat glioma.
AB  - Biochemical studies have indicated that the structurally simple gangliosides,
      including GD3 and GM3, are major glycolipid components of glioma tissues. In
      order to clarify the localization of the gangliosides in ethylnitrosourea-induced
      rat glioma, an immunohistochemical study was performed using antibodies against
      GM1, GM3, and GD3. The results obtained in normal fetus, newborn, and adult rat
      brain, and also in human glioma, were compared. In fetal and newborn rat brain,
      GD3 was present mainly in the neuroepithelial cell surface of the matrix and
      subependymal layers of the ventricular wall, but GM3 and GM1 were not detected.
      In adult rat brain, GD3-positive cells were absent, or present in diminished
      number, and GM1 was found chiefly in the neuropil of the cerebral cortex. Most of
      the rat glioma cells were positive for GD3, but not for GM1. It was demonstrated
      that the ganglioside composition of glioma cells was similar to that of immature
      neuroectodermal cells in fetal and newborn rat brain. Furthermore, the number of
      GD3-positive oligodendroglioma cells increased with tumor growth. In anaplastic
      gliomas and gross oligodendrogliomas, most tumor cells expressed not only GD3 but
      also GM3. These results suggest that GD3 is a marker of proliferating
      neuroectodermal cells, and that activity of the key enzymes in ganglioside
      synthesis alters with tumor growth and anaplastic change.

PMID- 1449053
TI  - Incidence of Paneth cells in minute tubular adenomas and adenocarcinomas of the
      large bowel.
AB  - This study attempted to demonstrate the incidence of Paneth cells within large
      bowel tubular adenoma and adenocarcinoma according to location and macroscopic
      appearance using minute tumors (up to 5 mm in size). We have shown that Paneth
      cells were sometimes seen in the early stage of the development of large bowel
      epithelial neoplasia. According to the macroscopic appearance (elevated or
      depressed type), in large bowel epithelial neoplasia, there was a statistical
      difference between the depressed type (32.5%, 14 of 40 cases) and the elevated
      type (16.6%, 24 of 145 cases) (Chi square analysis, p < 0.05) in the incidence of
      Paneth cells. Paneth cells were seen more frequently in adenocarcinoma (45.8%, 11
      of 24 cases) than in tubular adenoma (16.8%, 27 of 161 cases), with a significant
      statistical difference (Chi square analysis, p < 0.01). According to location, in
      both tubular adenoma and adenocarcinoma, Paneth cells were more frequently
      observed in the proximal colon (tubular adenoma: p < 0.01, adenocarcinoma: p <
      0.05, Chi square analysis).

PMID- 1449054
TI  - Three human osteosarcoma cell lines exhibiting different phenotypic expressions.
AB  - to elucidate the differences in histological features and biological behavior of
      osteosarcomas, three human osteoblastic-type osteosarcomas were studied in vitro
      and in nude mice. The secretory processing and extracellular fiber formation of
      type I collagen proved to be the most important factor in bone formation in the
      osteosarcomas. Alkaline phosphatase also seemed to be important. However, we were
      unable to find any particular protooncogene abnormalities which could have been
      implicated in the occurrence or biological behavior of these osteosarcomas.

PMID- 1449055
TI  - An autopsy case of Kawasaki disease with reference to occurrence of acute
      coronary thrombosis in the convalescent stage.
AB  - A one-year, four month-old boy who had suffered from Kawasaki disease died
      suddenly during convalescence despite intensive gamma-globulin treatment. Autopsy
      revealed a) sausage-like aneurysms of the left and right coronary arteries and
      fresh thrombosis in the right coronary aneurysm, b) fresh transmural myocardial
      necrosis in the whole wall of the left ventricle and the anterior part of the
      wall of the right ventricle, and c) swelling of the cervical lymph nodes and
      thymus (60 g). Histologically, fibrocellular thickening of the intima and
      destruction of the media and internal elastic lamina were conspicuous in the area
      of the aneurysm, but those of the intima and media in the areas adjacent to the
      aneurysm were mild. Abrupt narrowing of the lumen at the border between the
      aneurysm and periphery of the right coronary artery was detected, and this may
      have been responsible for formation of the thrombus in the right coronary
      aneurysm. In the systemic arteries, perivascular fibrosis was very noticeable
      despite less severe injury to the intima and media. These findings suggest that
      severe inflammation of the periarterial regions was present in the acute phase.
      The lymph system still showed inflammation, supporting the infectious or toxic
      nature of Kawasaki disease.

PMID- 1449056
TI  - Carcinoid tumor of the middle ear containing serotonin and multiple peptide
      hormones. A case report and review of the pathology literature.
AB  - A 69-year-old man complaining of longstanding hearing loss and mild otorrhea was
      found to have a mass obliterating the external auditory canal and polypous
      tympanic mucosa with accompanying absence of the tympanic membrane and ossicular
      chain. Tumors excised from the external auditory canal and tympanum showed
      histologic features essentially characteristic of a carcinoid tumor: a ribbon or
      festoon arrangement of tumor cells, formation of anastomosing cords and glandular
      spaces, presence of numerous argyrophilic as well as argentaffin secretory
      granules within many of the tumor cells, and ultrastructural evidence of
      neurosecretory granules in the tumor cell cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, the
      tumor was found to contain not only neuronal marker substances such as neuron
      specific enolase, S-100 protein and chromogranin A, but also serotonin and
      multiple peptide hormones such as pancreatic polypeptide, glucagon,
      cholecystokinin and leucine-enkephalin. A review of the pathology of 17 previous
      cases of carcinoid of the middle ear suggested that this type of carcinoid may
      have a variegated hormone profile among carcinoids of foregut origin, and
      hormonally may resemble ileal carcinoid arising from the midgut, although their
      histogenetic origins may differ, because of frequent production of serotonin.

PMID- 1449057
TI  - Catalytic site in the beta subunit of H(+)-ATPase from Escherichia coli:the
      glycine-rich sequence and its interaction with Ser-174.

PMID- 1449058
TI  - Structure and function of proton-translocating nicotinamide nucleotide
      transhydrogenase.

PMID- 1449059
TI  - The regulatory domain of fungal and plant plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase.
AB  - The activity of fungal and plant plasma membrane H(+)-ATPases seems to be
      regulated by modulation of the interaction of an inhibitory domain at the C
      terminus with the active site. In the yeast ATPase, a mutation at the active site
      (Ala547- > Val) and a deletion of the C-terminus result in constitutive
      activation. A double Ser911- > Ala, Thr912- > Ala mutation at the C-terminus
      (defining putative phosphorylation sites) locks the enzyme in the inhibited state
      and can be suppressed by the Ala547- > Val mutation at the active site. This
      provides genetic evidence for domain interaction. In plant ATPase, proteolytic
      removal of the C-terminus also results in constitutive activation. A peptide
      covering a region of the plant C-terminus with homology to the yeast C-terminus
      inhibits the truncated plant ATPase. This suggests similar regulatory mechanisms
      in fungal and plant ATPases.

PMID- 1449060
TI  - Molecular correlates of physiological regulation in a P-type H(+)-ATPase.

PMID- 1449061
TI  - Site-directed mutagenesis of the Ca2+ ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum.
AB  - We have cloned cDNA encoding the Ca2+ ATPase from fast-twitch skeletal muscle
      and, on the basis of its amino acid sequence and immunological studies of its
      topology, have made deductions concerning its secondary structure and active
      sites. These deductions have led us to test models for Ca2+ transport through
      expression of the protein in functional form in COS-1 cells, mutagenesis, and
      measurement of altered function. Mutation of about 250 of the 1000 amino acids
      making up the Ca2+ pump has indicated that the sites of high affinity Ca2+
      binding are located in the center of the transmembrane domain and are made up
      from residues located in transmembrane sequences M4, M5, M6 and M8. The ATP
      binding site appears to be located in the headpiece and is made up from a series
      of loop sequences connecting alternating alpha helices and beta strands. Sites of
      conformational interaction appear in all domains throughout the Ca2+ pump. In our
      present model, Ca2+ transport occurs through binding to high affinity sites
      accessible to the cytoplasm in the E1 conformation, followed by release to the
      lumen from low affinity sites which form during the ATP-induced transition of the
      protein from the E1 to the E2 conformation.

PMID- 1449062
TI  - Structural basis for the E1/E1P-E2/E2P conformation changes in the sarcoplasmic
      reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase studied by site-specific mutagenesis.
AB  - Site-specific mutagenesis and functional expression of cloned cDNA of the
      sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase have been used to demonstrate that exchange
      of single amino acid residues in the Ca(2+)-ATPase can lead to forms with either
      "E1/E1P" or "E2/E2P" characteristics. The localization of the mutated residues
      identifies the M4S4 segment of the ATPase molecule as central to the energy
      tranducing conformation change, and on the basis of this information a model for
      the pump mechanism is discussed.

PMID- 1449063
TI  - Genetic probing of the yeast plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase.
AB  - The H(+)-ATPase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been probed by a random genetic
      approach that has led to the isolation of primary and secondary site mutations.
      These H(+)-ATPase (PMA1) mutants help define specific functional, as well as
      interacting, regions of the H(+)-ATPase. Cellular resistance to hygromycin B has
      been an important selection tool for the isolation of pmal mutants. One prominent
      hygromycin B-resistant mutant, pmal-105, was found to have a S368F mutation near
      the site of phosphorylation (D378) in the catalytic core. This mutation prevents
      growth in low pH or NH(4+)-containing medium and induces an acid-sensitive Vmax
      for ATP hydrolysis, as well as a pronounced insensitivity to vanadate. The
      prominent cellular and biochemical phenotypes of this strain facilitated a
      detailed revertant analysis to identify protein structure domains that interact
      directly or indirectly with the localized region defined by the F368 mutation.
      Partial revertants were isolated which were resistant to low pH or NH4+ but
      retained hygromycin resistance. Second site mutations were found within the first
      and second cytoplasmic loop domains, as well as in transmembrane segments 1-3 &
      7. All of the revertant enzymes have a stable Vmax but some show changes in the
      pH optimum for ATP hydrolysis; all display vanadate sensitivities ranging between
      the insensitive F368 mutant and the fully-sensitive wild type enzyme. Revertant
      analyses have also been performed on two other pma1 mutants which carry the
      mutations A135V and G158D in transmembrane segments 1 and 2, respectively.
      Compensating second site mutations to these mutations were identified in
      transmembrane segments 1, 2, 4 & 7, as well as within the central catalytic
      domain. These analyses have helped identify interacting protein structure domains
      that may participate in coupling ATP hydrolysis to proton transport. Furthermore,
      they facilitate the construction of structural models to account for these
      interactions.

PMID- 1449064
TI  - Kdp, a bacterial P-type ATPase whose expression and activity are regulated by
      turgor pressure.
AB  - The Kdp ATPase is a P-type ATPase consisting of three large protein subunits in a
      complex that probably contains 2 copies of each subunit. A small hydrophobic
      peptide, encoded in the same operon as the large subunits, may also participate.
      Kdp has very high affinity for K+ and serves to scavenge this ion when its
      concentration is low. Kdp responds to turgor pressure at two levels, at the level
      of activity and of expression. Kdp mediates net uptake when turgor is low, but
      mediates exchange without net change when turgor is normal. Kdp is expressed only
      when turgor is low. This control is mediated by a pair of regulatory proteins,
      members of the class of 'sensor-effector' regulators widely distributed in
      bacteria. It is suggested that low turgor changes the conformation of the KdpD
      'sensor' protein, activating its presumed kinase activity to phosphorylate KdpE,
      the 'effector' protein, and phospho-KdpE in turn turns on expression of the
      operon that encodes the Kdp complex.

PMID- 1449065
TI  - The Na+/glucose cotransporter (SGLT1).
AB  - An important class of Na+ transport proteins is the cotransporters. They exist in
      bacteria and animal cells and are responsible for the "active" accumulation of
      sugars, amino acids, carboxylic acids and some ions, e.g., I-, Cl-, and PO-4, in
      cells. In the small intestine and renal proximal tubule the cotransporters play
      an important role in the transport of salt and water across the epithelia. The
      most well known and best characterized Na+ cotransporter is the intestinal brush
      border Na+/glucose cotransporter. We have cloned, sequenced, and expressed both
      the rabbit and human Na+/glucose cotransporters. The cDNAs code for 73kDa
      proteins with 662-664 residues (86% identity). Secondary structure analysis
      suggests a 12 membrane-spanning helical model with the N- and C-termini in the
      cytoplasm. A single N-linked glycosylation site is utilized at Asn248. These
      sugars are not required for function. Two essential residues for functional
      expression in oocytes have been identified, Asp28 and Arg300. In two sisters with
      glucose-galactose malabsorption the transport defect is caused by a missense
      mutation changing Asp28 to Asn28, and we have found that changing Arg300 to
      Cys300 eliminated transport. Current research is directed to finding residues and
      domains essential for ligand binding and transport, and we are using
      electrophysiological techniques to correlate structure and function.

PMID- 1449067
TI  - Numerical simulation of uni-site and bi-site ATP-hydrolysis catalyzed by the
      membrane-bound H(+)-ATPase from chloroplasts.
AB  - The kinetics of ATP-hydrolysis catalyzed by the H(+)-ATPase from chloroplasts was
      described by an enzyme kinetic model where either one (uni-site catalysis) or two
      (bi-site catalysis) sites are operating. Numerical simulations are carried out
      with the software package LARKIN using measured rate constants as a basis. When
      the ATP-concentration is increased up to 20 nM (at 20 nM enzyme concentration) a
      change from uni-site to bi-site catalysis occurs at about 7 nM. The measured
      effective rate constants change by a factor two. However, the calculated rate
      constants for the second site are drastically increased.

PMID- 1449066
TI  - Regulation of the (Ca(2+)+Mg2+)-ATPase of basolateral membranes from kidney
      proximal tubules by kinase-mediated phosphorylation and by insulin.
AB  - Membrane vesicles derived from the basolateral aspect of kidney proximal tubule
      cells are phosphorylated by ATP in the absence of Ca2+. This Mg(2+)-dependent,
      hydroxylamine-resistant phosphorylation was associated with a 50% inhibition of
      the (Ca(2+)+Mg2+)-ATPase activity measured upon addition of micromolar Ca2+
      concentrations, enough to saturate the high-affinity sites of the Ca2+ pump. The
      presence of either the protein kinase inhibitor H7 or insulin during
      phosphorylation virtually eliminated the inhibitory effect associated with
      phosphorylation. However, insulin itself inhibited ATP hydrolysis by the
      (Ca(2+)+Mg2+)-ATPase when it was present in the assay medium containing buffer,
      ATP, Mg2+ and Ca2+, the hydrolytic activity being initiated by addition of the
      membranes without prior phosphorylation. These results suggest that insulin may
      play a role in regulating transepithelial Ca2+ transport in renal proximal
      tubules, and that its effects may be linked with a kinase-mediated process that
      depends on the functional state of the (Ca(2+)+Mg2+)-ATPase.

PMID- 1449068
TI  - Reaction cycle and thermodynamics in bacteriorhodopsin.
AB  - Light causes the all-trans to 13-cis isomerization of the retinal in
      bacteriorhodopsin; the thermal relaxation leading back to the initial state
      drives proton transport first via proton transfer between the retinal Schiff base
      and D85 and then between the Schiff base and D96. The reaction sequence and
      thermodynamics of this photocycle are described by measuring time-resolved
      absorption changes with a gated multichannel analyzer between 100 ns and 100 ms,
      at six temperatures between 5 degrees C and 30 degrees C. Analysis of the
      energetics of the chromophore reaction sequence is on the basis of a recently
      proposed model (Varo & Lanyi, Biochemistry 30, 5016-5022, 1991) which consists of
      a single cycle and many reversible reactions: BR -hv-->K<==>L<==>M1-
      >M2<==>N<==>O-->BR. The existence of the M1-->M2 reaction, which functions as the
      switch in the proton transfer, is confirmed by spectroscopic evidence. The
      calculated thermodynamic parameters indicate that the exchange of free energy
      between the protein and the protons is at the switch step. Further, a large
      entropy decrease at this reaction suggests a protein conformation change which
      will conserve delta G for driving the completion of the reaction cycle. The
      results provide insights to mechanism and energy coupling in this system, with
      possible relevance to the general question of how ion pumps function.

PMID- 1449069
TI  - Characterization of proton transport in bone-derived membrane vesicles.
AB  - ATP-dependent proton transport was characterized in membrane vesicles, prepared
      by differential centrifugation from medullary bone of egg laying hens, a source
      rich in osteoclasts. The H(+)-ATPase present in this preparation showed the
      characteristics of a vacuolar H(+)-ATPase in its sensitivity to inhibitors,
      including bafilomycin A1, its sensitivity to cold treatment and its electrogenic
      mechanism. There was no evidence for a direct activation of the H(+)-ATPase by
      anions, including Cl-. These results are consistent with the view that the
      osteoclast, the cell responsible for bone resorption, secrets acid by means of a
      vacuolar H(+)-ATPase.

PMID- 1449070
TI  - A novel type haem group of cytochrome o from Escherichia coli.
AB  - The b-type haem groups of cytochrome o have generally been thought to be
      protohaems. However, we have recently shown that they are of a novel kind, for
      which we propose the name haem O. On the basis of its pyridine haemochrome
      spectrum, chromatographic behaviour and molecular mass of 839 Da, we suggest that
      haem O is a haem A-like molecule with the formyl group in position 8 of the
      latter replaced by methyl, but with retention of the 17-carbon hydroxyethyl
      farnesyl side chain in position 2, characteristic of haem A. This structure has
      now been unambiguously verified by resonance Raman, 1H-NMR, and infrared
      spectroscopy, as well as by mass spectroscopy of molecular fragments, in
      collaboration with C. K. Chang, G. T. Babcock and their co-workers at Michigan
      State University. Properties of haem O are compared with haem A and protohaem,
      and possible contributions of haem O structure to the cytochrome o oxidase
      function are discussed.

PMID- 1449071
TI  - Expression of subunit II of chloroplast H(+)-ATPase in an Escherichia coli mutant
      lacking subunit b of its H(+)-ATPase.
AB  - The DNA of subunit II of the H(+)-ATPase from spinach chloroplast was expressed
      in Escherichia coli. It was found that a high gene dose is lethal to E. coli.
      With a lower gene dose subunit II was not able to substitute for the homologous
      subunit b in the E. coli ATP synthase.

PMID- 1449072
TI  - Mutational analysis of the role of Lys684 in the Ca(2+)-ATPase of sarcoplasmic
      reticulum.
AB  - Site-specific mutagenesis of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase was used to
      investigate the functional role of Lys684 located in the "hinge-domain", a highly
      conserved region of the cation-transporting ATPases. Mutation of Lys684 to Arg,
      Ala, His and Gln resulted in complete loss of calcium transport function and
      ATPase activity. For the Lys684- > Ala, His, Gln mutants, this coincided with a
      loss of the ability to form a phosphorylated intermediate from ATP or Pi, whereas
      the Lys684- > Arg mutant retained the ability to phosphorylate from ATP with
      normal apparent affinity, demonstrating the importance of the positive charge. On
      the other hand, no phosphorylation was observed with Pi as substrate in this
      mutant. Examination of the partial reactions following phosphorylation from ATP
      in the Lys684- > Arg mutant demonstrated a reduction of the rate of
      transformation of the ADP-sensitive phosphoenzyme intermediate (E1P) to the ADP
      insensitive phosphoenzyme intermediate (E2P), which could account for the loss of
      transport function. Once accumulated, the E2P intermediate was able to decompose
      rapidly in the presence of K+ at neutral pH. In the Lys684- > Ala mutant,
      nucleotides were found to protect with normal affinity against intramolecular
      cross-linking induced with glutaraldehyde, indicating that the nucleotide binding
      site was intact. These data point to a role of Lys684 in the binding and transfer
      of phosphate to the protein, and in the transport-associated conformational
      changes of the phosphorylation site.

PMID- 1449073
TI  - An atomic model for the structure of bacteriorhodopsin, a seven-helix membrane
      protein.
AB  - A three-dimensional map of bacteriorhodopsin has been obtained, at near-atomic
      resolution, by collecting and analysing electron diffraction patterns and
      electron micrographs from crystals of bacteriorhodopsin preserved at very low
      temperatures. The map shows a resolution of 3.5 degrees in a direction parallel
      to the plane of the membrane, but poorer resolution perpendicular. It shows many
      features well resolved from the main density of the seven alpha-helices, which we
      interpret as the bulky sidechains of tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan, as
      well as a very dense feature, which is the beta-ionone ring of the retinal
      chromophore. Using these bulky side chains as starting points and taking account
      of bulges of density for the smaller side chains such as leucine, we built an
      atomic model for the residues between 8 and 225. There are 21 amino acids from
      all 7 helices surrounding the retinal and 26 amino acids contributed by 5 helices
      that form the proton channel. Ten of the amino acids in the middle of the proton
      channel are also part of the retinal-binding site. The model provides a useful
      basis for considering the mechanism of proton pumping and in the interpretation
      of other experimental data. In particular, the model suggests that the pK changes
      in the Schiff base must act as the means by which light energy is converted to
      proton pumping through the channel. Asp-96 is on the pathway from the cytoplasm
      to the Schiff base and asp-85 on the pathway from the Schiff base to the
      extracellular surface. The experimental map and the building of the model of the
      structure will be described, as well as our interpretation of the structural
      basis of the mechanism.

PMID- 1449074
TI  - Purification of the H(+)-ATPase from chloroplasts.
AB  - Triton X-100* was replaced in the purification of the H(+)-ATPase from
      chloroplasts by either octyl glucoside, octyl thio glucoside or the zwitterionic
      detergent CHAPS. The results indicate that the enzyme can be purified without
      Triton X-100 and retain full activity.

PMID- 1449075
TI  - Structure and function of the Na(+)-translocating ATPase of Propionigenium
      modestum.
AB  - The strict anaerobic bacterium Propionigenium modestum performs a Na+ cycle over
      the membrane to couple ATP synthesis to the decarboxylation of methyl-malonyl
      CoA. The responsible ATPase has a typical F1F0 structure, the water-soluble F1
      moiety being composed of five different subunits and the more firmly membrane
      bound F0 part consisting of three different subunits. The F1F0 ATPase but not F1
      alone was specifically activated by Na+ ions, suggesting that the Na+ binding
      site is located on the F0 moiety. The ATPase reconstituted into proteoliposomes
      catalyzed an ATP-dependent Na+ accumulation that was stimulated to the same
      extent by dissipating the membrane potential with valinomycin or with the
      uncoupler carbonylcyanide-m-chloro phenylhydrazone. The transport of Na+ is
      therefore a primary event, not a secondary event involving the intermediate
      formation of a proton gradient. The ATPase also catalyzed H+ translocation at Na+
      concentrations below 1 mM. Our results indicate a common mechanism of the ATPase
      for Na+ and H+ (H3O+) translocation and a switch from H+ to Na+ translocation by
      increasing the Na+ concentration. A hybrid ATPase consisting of F1 from E. coli
      and F0 from P. modestum had the same specificity with respect to the translocated
      cations as the homologous F1F0 ATPase of P. modestum, indicating again that the
      Na+ (H+) binding site is located on the F0 part. Also in accord with this
      supposition is a diffusion potential-induced translocation of Na+ or H+ through
      the F0 part of the enzyme complex. The phylogenetic relationship between the
      Na(+)-translocating ATPase of P. modestum and other F1F0 ATPases has been clearly
      demonstrated by sequencing studies.

PMID- 1449076
TI  - Pancreatic islet cell regeneration and growth. Introduction.

PMID- 1449077
TI  - The partial isolation and characterization of ilotropin, a novel islet-specific
      growth factor.
AB  - In this series of studies, we have presented evidence for a novel, pancreatic
      islet-specific growth factor, which we call ilotropin. Ilotropin is acid stable,
      heat stable, ethanol-precipitable, and sensitive to trypsin digestion. It appears
      to have a molecular weight between 29 - 44,000, and preliminary data not
      presented here suggests that it has a relatively basic pI. Unlike many other
      growth factors, ilotropin does not bind to heparin. Ilotropin is distinguishable
      from most of the known growth factors on the basis of at least one of the
      characteristics established in these studies. The apparent molecular weight of 29
      - 44,000 eliminates all but the larger growth factors such as PDGF and hepatic
      growth factor. The fact that ilotropin is acid stable rules out identity with
      hepatic growth factor, and its lack of binding to heparin and apparent basic pI
      rules out identity with PDGF. Thus, the combination of characteristics described
      in these studies eliminates most of the known growth factors as candidates for
      the role of ilotropin. Certain growth factor precursor molecules (e.g. TGF-a) and
      several interleukins and cytokines (e.g. pro-IL-1 and melanocyte growth factor)
      also fall into this molecular weight range. Whether these proteins might be
      related to ilotropin or play a role in its biological activity remains to be
      determined. Current studies of ilotropin include further purification to
      homogeneity, determination of the peptide sequence of ilotropin, and development
      of an in vitro bioassay using trophic responses of primary cultures of pancreatic
      duct cells as an indicator of ilotropin activity. With purified material we ought
      to be able to identify the cells of origin and the target cells for the action of
      ilotropin, and establish assays to determine the relationship to failure of beta
      cell regeneration that accompanies diabetes. Ultimately we hope that ilotropin
      may lead to new ways of approaching aspects of the problems presented in
      pancreatic beta-cell failure.

PMID- 1449078
TI  - The physiological stop pathway: target regulation of axonal growth.

PMID- 1449079
TI  - Calcium regulation of myosin I--a motor for membrane movement.

PMID- 1449080
TI  - Amylin expression in the pancreatic beta-cell.

PMID- 1449081
TI  - Studies of composite grafts of fetal pancreas (FP) and fetal liver (FL) in the
      streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat.
AB  - A hepatotrophic effect of pancreatic islets on co-transplanted hepatocytes has
      been described recently by Ricordi et al. We investigated a possible reciprocal
      effect of co-transplanted fetal liver (FL) on fetal pancreas (FP) isografted into
      streptozotocin diabetic rats. FL was co-transplanted with FP in three sites: the
      new intramural small bowel (ISB) site, the conventional renal subcapsular (RSC)
      site, and the historically inhospitable intramuscular (IM) site. Overall, as
      compared to grafts of FP alone, composite FP/FL grafts consistently provided
      earlier restoration of normoglycemia in streptozotocin diabetic recipients (24 +/
      8 vs. 67 +/- 43 days P = 0.001). The proportion of recipients rendered
      normoglycemic and the clearance of glucose was site-dependent. For FP and FP/FL
      recipients respectively, the ISB site resulted in 100% normoglycemia in both
      groups (19/19 and 6/6), the RSC site resulted in 71% (5/7) and 40% (2/5) and the
      IM site resulted in 14% (1/7) and 67% (6/9). In normoglycemic recipients, glucose
      clearance was normal or supraphysiologic except for the RSC site. Composite
      isografts brought about normoglycemia in 75% (6/8) of recipients treated with
      beta-cell toxic doses of cyclosporine that prevented reversal of diabetes in
      recipients of FP alone. Co-transplantation of FL benefits FP through paracrine
      mechanisms mediated by unknown factor(s). Thus, as compared to grafts of FP
      alone, composite FP/FL grafts established normoglycemia more rapidly, mitigated
      cyclosporine toxicity and corrected diabetes when transplanted in the small bowel
      site. There are several mediators that may be responsible for these paracrine
      effects between the liver cells and the pancreas. IGF-1 elaborated by FL is the
      most likely trophic factor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449082
TI  - The effects of IGF-I and IGF-II on cell growth and differentiation in the central
      nervous system.
AB  - Both IGF-I and IGF-II peptides have been localized to specific brain regions. The
      distribution of IGF-I is homogeneous whereas IGF-II appears to be more local. Two
      species of IGF receptors are found in the CNS. The type II (m6P) is similar to
      that in the periphery, but the type I has nearly the same affinity for IGF-I and
      IGF-II. IGF-I has now been shown to provide cell growth and survival as well as
      stimulate neurite outgrowth. Dorsal root ganglia and sympathetic neurons are
      sensitive to IGF-II and the action may be additive with NGF. Cells other than
      neurites, such as oligodendrocytes respond to the IGFs as well as primary and
      transformed lines. The mechanism of action has not been resolved but IDG-II
      appears to act via G-protein coupled activation of protein kinase C. Interaction
      between various growth factors and the IGFs may be due to up or down-regulation
      of the receptor predicated by the non-homologous peptide.

PMID- 1449083
TI  - Islet beta-cell regeneration and reg genes.
AB  - In this paper, we show that the reg gene is expressed in experimentally induced
      regenerating or hyperplastic islets. We have previously reported that ectopic
      expression of the reg gene occurs in some human colonic and rectal tumors,
      suggesting that enhanced reg expression may be related to the proliferative state
      of tumor cells. Reg protein has also been shown to have significant sequence
      homology with plant and animal lectins, a class of compounds that has been shown
      to be a growth promoter. At present, any direct relationship between reg protein
      and beta-cell replication remains to be established. However, since the reg
      protein is a secretory protein and reg can be expressed at an early stage of
      pancreatic cell differentiation, the reg protein may act on the stem cells of
      beta-cells in an autocrine or paracrine manner. In normal mature exocrine cells,
      the reg gene is expressed and the gene product may be necessary to maintain
      adequate exocrine pancreatic function. The physiological reasons for the
      maintenance of two functional reg genes encoding proteins of slightly different
      sequence in mice are still unclear. The cloning of additional rat and human non
      allelic reg genes could provide additional clues.

PMID- 1449084
TI  - Factors regulating islet regeneration in the post-insulinoma NEDH rat.

PMID- 1449085
TI  - Regeneration of pancreatic endocrine cells in interferon-gamma transgenic mice.
AB  - We have shown that the pancreatic duct cells of IFN-gamma mouse are actively
      multiplying and that many duct cells differentiate to become endocrine cells.
      This islet regenerating process closely parallels the islet development during
      normal organogenesis in the fetus and offers a model for studying the cell
      lineage relationships of islet cells. The subject has received wide interest and
      intensive research in recent years. One of the noteworthy results of this study
      is the finding that duct cells retain the ability to proliferate and to
      differentiate into islet cells. Under normal conditions, duct cells do not
      continue to multiply or to differentiate. The results suggest that in the
      transgenic mice, the progenitor cells of embryonic multipotential duct cells
      transform into adult cells, but in the presence of appropriate signals or stimuli
      can resume their multipotential property. The appearance of hepatocytes indicates
      that while the cell proliferation observed largely results in endocrine cells,
      other differentiation pathways are occasionally possible. We also detect a few
      large cells containing albumin and alpha-fetoprotein in the periductal area.
      Pancreatic hepatocytes have also been observed in the rat after recovery from
      copper deficiency diet. Thus, the regeneration of islet cells in transgenic mice
      provides a model system for the study of factors modulating the growth pattern as
      well as the differentiation pathway.

PMID- 1449086
TI  - The role of growth hormone and prolactin in beta cell growth and regeneration.

PMID- 1449087
TI  - Trophic stimulation of the ductular-islet cell axis: a new approach to the
      treatment of diabetes.
AB  - We have established a model in which cellophane wrapping induces reiteration of
      the normal ontogeny of beta-cell differentiation from ductal tissue. The
      secretion of insulin is physiologic and coordinated to the needs of the animal.
      Streptozotocin-induced diabetes in hamsters can be "cured" at least 1/2 the time.
      There appears to be activation of growth factor(s) within the pancreas acting in
      an autocrine, paracrine or juxtacrine manner to induce ductal cell proliferation
      and differentiation into functioning beta-cells. Given the results of our studies
      to date, it does not seem premature to envisage new approaches to the treatment
      of diabetes mellitus. Identification of the factor(s) which regulate islet cell
      proliferation and differentiation in our model may permit islets to be grown in
      culture. This concept could be extended to induce endocrine cell differentiation
      in-vitro as well. Furthermore, islet cell growth factors could be used to provide
      "trophic support" to islet transplants as a means of maintaining graft viability.
      There may also be greater scope for gene therapy when the growth factor(s) has
      been isolated, purified, sequenced and cloned.

PMID- 1449088
TI  - [Peri-orbital surgical approaches].
AB  - After having made a definitive diagnosis in patients with orbito-frontal
      pathology, the choice of incision is an important factor to achieve good intra
      operative exposure of the region, as well as to obtain a good functional and
      aesthetic result. In the majority of cases we prefer to utilize the incisions
      commonly used for blepharoplasty, especially the transconjunctival approach
      popularized by Tessier. Other more classic accesses such as the superolateral,
      infra-orbital and intra-oral incisions, are reserved for treatment of cases of
      orbitomalar (communition) fractures. We feel there are limited indications for
      use of incisions through the eyebrows with medial extensions for exposure of
      isolated lesions of the medial orbital wall, orbital roof, and the anterior wall
      of the frontal sinus. However they may become very useful as the primary
      incisions in the treatment of open fractures of the orbital region. The bicoronal
      incision, a classical approach in neurosurgery, is also being used by us in cases
      of tumors and complicated middle face fractures which appear to extend to the
      orbito-frontobasal region in 40% of our patients. In addition it provides
      excellent access for post-traumatic reconstruction of orbito-frontal bone defects
      and impacted fractures. A combination of different incisions: bicoronal, peri
      orbital and intra-oral, may be indicated for the correction of syndromal
      anomalies such as Treacher-Collins, for treatment of complicated facial
      fractures, or for pure aesthetic surgery procedures, such as the "mask-lift"
      introduced by Tessier.

PMID- 1449089
TI  - Gingival localization of fibrosarcoma of soft oral tissues: case report.
AB  - A gingival localization of fibrosarcoma of soft oral tissues was described in a
      58-year-old female. Primary fibrosarcoma of the head and neck region is rare. The
      histological appearance of the tumour is related to its grade of differentiation.
      The amount of collagen is variable. The accepted treatment is radical surgery;
      but metastases occur frequently in the lungs.

PMID- 1449090
TI  - [Pedicled facial bone flap for closure of the approach in Caldwell-Luc type sinus
      operations. Its role in the prevention of postoperative complications].
AB  - The primary or secondary reconstruction of the facial access after Caldwell-Luc
      and the more selective resection of sinusal mucous membranes can be important in
      the therapy and prevention of postoperative complications such as neuralgic
      facial pain, formation of cysts and chronic sinusitis. The different osteoplastic
      sinus operations are described and the use of a pedicled bonelid is illustrated.
      The most common accepted ethiology of post-operative pain is based on the
      formation of scar-tissue. Postoperative pain is first being treated
      conservatively, while in case of persisting pain an exploration with dissection
      of the infra-orbital nerve and reconstruction of the facial defect can be
      indicated. In a retrospective study of 36 patients the results of our surgical
      therapy are illustrated.

PMID- 1449091
TI  - [Complications of orbito-frontobasal fractures].
AB  - Complications of fronto-basal trauma can, as a function of their severity, be
      divided into three classes: life-threatening situations, functional complications
      and cosmetic defects or facial deformities. They find their origin in the type of
      trauma, the extent of the lesions of bone and soft tissues, as well as in their
      timely management and quality of treatment. The etiology of the most common
      complications and their significance are covered with accent on inadequate
      primary treatment, insufficient repair of dural lesions, inadequate drainage,
      unstable osteosynthesis, insufficient treatment of scalp- and frontal defects,
      and finally the lack of antibiotic prophylaxis. The major complications of
      frontobasal trauma such as chronic cerebral spinal fluid fistulae and
      pneumocephalus are reviewed. Attention is also given to the importance of
      adequate drainage in cases of chronic ethmoidofrontal sinusitis, and on the
      treatment of osteomyelitis and sinus cysts. The therapeutic possibilities in
      patients with tissue deficits, i.e. reconstruction of frontal skull defects using
      autologous hip and rib material, as well as split calvarial bone grafts is
      discussed.

PMID- 1449092
TI  - Optimizing Antianginal Therapy: A Consensus Conference. Boca Raton, Florida,
      February 7-9, 1992.

PMID- 1449093
TI  - Mechanisms of myocardial ischemia.
AB  - Traditionally, myocardial ischemia has been viewed as an imbalance in the supply
      and demand of myocardial oxygen. Stable angina is usually considered to involve a
      fixed lesion, whereas unstable angina involves a fixed lesion as well as such
      components as platelet aggregation, thrombotic processes, and vasospasm. Variant
      angina involves primarily vasospasm. A newer concept holds that most angina
      results from mixed mechanisms in which both fixed lesions and vasomotor
      alterations play a role. These mechanisms are responsible for mixed ischemic
      events, characterized by episodes at varying levels of exertion, with or without
      anginal pain. This concept would seem to be supported by the occurrence of silent
      ischemia in the setting of stable, unstable, or variant angina, despite differing
      pathophysiologic conditions. Ischemic events have important prognostic
      significance; unfortunately, many are unrecognized by patients. The question
      whether the treatment of ischemic events will improve prognosis remains a matter
      of debate.

PMID- 1449094
TI  - New insights in measurement of myocardial ischemia.
AB  - Myocardial ischemia may be defined as myocellular dysfunction resulting from
      hypoxia usually due to limited coronary blood flow. The methods commonly used to
      make a diagnosis of myocardial ischemia employ either clinical findings (e.g.,
      angina, myocardial infarction) or signals from laboratory tests. Since ischemia
      is often clinically silent and since clinical events related to ischemia may be
      catastrophic (i.e., myocardial infarction and sudden death), physicians are
      dependent on tests using various targeted signals. These signals, however, do not
      actually provide quantitative measurements of the degree of ischemia or related
      myocardial dysfunction. Nevertheless, the functional abnormalities reflected by
      these signals can identify patients at high or low risk for adverse outcomes
      related to ischemia. So, in this sense, these signals can be used to support the
      diagnosis of ischemia as well as evaluate its importance in a given patient. The
      most commonly used signal is an ST-segment shift evident on the electrocardiogram
      (ECG). When this is horizontal or downsloping and > or = 10 mm, this is often,
      but not always, due to myocardial ischemia. Although assessment of the exercise
      stress ECG offers several advantages over assessment of the resting ECG, the
      standard Bruce protocol is associated with notable shortcomings that become
      apparent when an attempt is made to assess the effects of a treatment on the ST
      segment signal. These might be surmounted by use of a continuous ramp-type
      protocol. Ambulatory ECG monitoring is growing in importance in the wake of
      increasing awareness of the different daily life circumstances that are
      associated with ischemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449095
TI  - Treatment of chronic stable angina pectoris.
AB  - Patients with angina pectoris may be stratified into low- or high-risk categories
      on the basis of clinical findings and a careful workup, possibly including
      nuclear imaging of stress-induced abnormal perfusion or contractile patterns and
      coronary angiography. High-risk patients may require revascularization by
      angioplasty or bypass surgery, whereas low-risk patients can be managed
      medically. It is important to consider the impact of various anti-ischemic drugs
      on the myocardial demand-supply equation. A recent study indicated that the
      combination of a beta blocker plus isosorbide mononitrate is more effective in
      increasing exercise duration than is either the combination of a beta blocker and
      a calcium antagonist or triple therapy. In patients with single-vessel disease,
      angioplasty has been shown to be more effective than medical therapy in relieving
      symptoms, but the incidence of restenosis and the associated costs are high.
      Surgery favorably affects mortality in patients with left main coronary artery
      disease or 3-vessel disease with left ventricular impairment. New evidence
      suggests that endothelial dysfunction may play a more important role in chronic
      stable angina pectoris than has been appreciated and that such dysfunction may be
      treated with nitrates.

PMID- 1449096
TI  - Pathophysiology of atherosclerosis.
AB  - New experimental evidence has shed light on a number of fundamental processes
      that contribute to atherosclerotic plaque formation. Recent data suggest that
      oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) may be more avidly bound and taken up by
      macrophages, and thus more atherogenic, than unmodified LDL. A subclass of LDL,
      lipoprotein(a), is also of interest with respect to atherogenic potential,
      particularly since it has a plasminogen-like moiety as part of its structure. It
      may promote platelet aggregation and thrombus formation and thereby contribute to
      atherosclerotic plaque growth. Hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and possibly
      other factors may induce changes in endothelial structure and function, which
      appear to be relatively early events associated with arterial injury. Smooth
      muscle cell proliferation and accumulation are hallmarks of arterial lesions
      induced by both hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, and several growth factors
      have been potentially implicated in these responses. Hypertension by itself
      causes arterial damage, but it does not appear to induce atherosclerosis when
      plasma lipid concentrations are low. In combination with hypercholesterolemia,
      however, it is a potent promoter of atherogenesis, and the mechanisms for this
      more-than-addictive effect are now the focus of considerable investigative
      attention.

PMID- 1449097
TI  - Treatment of unstable angina pectoris.
AB  - Unstable angina pectoris may be manifested as new-onset angina, a change in the
      anginal pattern, pain at rest with associated electrocardiographic (ECG) changes,
      or postinfarction angina. Of these, pain at rest with ischemic ECG changes is
      known to be associated with the poorest prognosis. The pathogenesis of unstable
      angina pectoris involves a combination of a fixed atherosclerotic obstruction and
      a dynamic component related to coronary vasoconstriction, thrombus formation, or
      both. Long-acting nitrates, inhibitors of platelet aggregation, beta blockers,
      and calcium antagonists are among the agents that have been shown to be effective
      in the medical management of unstable angina. A study now in progress is
      evaluating the routine use of thrombolytic therapy for this indication. Although
      alleviation of symptoms and prevention of death and myocardial infarction are
      important therapeutic goals, the overall efficacy of a particular medical therapy
      can best be assessed by objective evaluation of its ability to control ischemia,
      using such techniques as exercise scintigraphy and ambulatory ECG monitoring.
      Cardiac catheterization and revascularization are indicated for patients with
      unstable angina who continue to experience symptoms or who show evidence of
      silent ischemia despite medical therapy. A study is under way to determine the
      advisability of routine revascularization of such patients. Revascularization
      will provide symptomatic relief in most patients with unstable angina and may
      prolong survival and improve left ventricular function in certain subsets.

PMID- 1449098
TI  - Pharmacologic mechanisms of nitrates in myocardial ischemia.
AB  - Nitrates exert both hemodynamic and nonhemodynamic effects that help explain the
      mechanisms by which these drugs benefit patients with myocardial ischemia. The
      hemodynamic effects of nitrates include relaxation of conduit arteries, increased
      arterial compliance, increased venous capacitance, dilation of collateral vessels
      in the myocardium, and, possibly, increased myocardial compliance. A growing body
      of evidence suggests that the nonhemodynamic effects of these agents include
      inhibition of vascular smooth muscle growth and of myocyte hypertrophy and
      ventricular remodeling. Since endothelial function appears to be abnormal in
      patients with myocardial ischemia and nitrates replicate many of the effects of
      endothelium-derived relaxing factor, these drugs may be viewed as a pharmacologic
      replacement for deficient endogenous activity.

PMID- 1449099
TI  - Tolerance, rebound, and time-zero effect of nitrate therapy.
AB  - Both nitroglycerin and long-acting nitrates have proved effective in treating
      acute anginal pain. In recent years, however, development of tolerance with the
      continuous use of these agents has been documented. A pilot study demonstrated
      attenuation of the therapeutic effect of high-dose, continuous transdermal
      nitroglycerin therapy, despite adequate plasma nitroglycerin levels. In a
      subsequent, larger Transdermal Nitroglycerin Cooperative Study, evidence of
      tolerance was detected within 24 hours of initiation of continuous nitroglycerin
      patch therapy at several different dose levels. Sustained pharmacologic activity
      has been achieved with the intermittent use of transdermal nitroglycerin, usually
      for 12 hours followed by a 12-hour drug-free period. When the patch is
      discontinued, however, some patients experience exacerbation, or rebound, of
      anginal symptoms and a worsening of exercise tolerance at the end of the drug
      free period. Additional clinical research is therefore needed to determine the
      optimal intermittent dosing strategy.

PMID- 1449100
TI  - Possible mechanisms of nitrate tolerance.
AB  - Prolonged exposure to organic nitrates has been shown to lead to the rapid
      development of tolerance to the peripheral and coronary vasodilatory effects of
      these drugs. As a result of this phenomenon, the hemodynamic and anti-ischemic
      effects of nitrates may be rapidly attenuated in patients with ischemic heart
      disease, congestive heart failure, or both. This nitrate tolerance appears to be
      both dose- and time-dependent. Likely mechanisms proposed for its development are
      multifactorial and include depletion of sulfhydryl groups, a nitrate-mediated
      increase in blood volume, and neurohormonal stimulation with activation of
      vasoconstrictive mechanisms.

PMID- 1449101
TI  - Rationale for intermittent nitrate therapy.
AB  - Tolerance to the pharmacologic and therapeutic effects of nitrate therapy is now
      well established. This phenomenon may be defined as either a decreased response
      to a given amount of nitrate or the need for an increased amount of nitrate to
      maintain a constant effect. Tolerance has been demonstrated with all forms of
      nitrate therapy that maintain continuous blood levels of the drug, including
      frequent oral dosing, constant intravenous infusion, and continuous transdermal
      delivery. It can develop rapidly after only a few doses of a nitrate preparation
      and tends to be partial rather than absolute. Strategies for the prevention of
      nitrate tolerance include the avoidance of maximum nitrate doses and the use of
      intermittent nitrate dosing regimens. Providing a relatively brief nitrate-free
      interval restores vascular responsiveness to nitrates, most likely due to a
      recovery of the metabolic mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effect of
      these drugs. The duration of this period of nitrate abstinence varies, depending
      on the nitrate preparation used but is generally in the range of 8-12 hours. Such
      intermittent therapy not only reduces the risk of nitrate tolerance, but also
      provides a convenient approach to outpatient management.

PMID- 1449102
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of isosorbide mononitrate.
AB  - Pharmacokinetic studies show that isosorbide mononitrate is rapidly absorbed
      after oral administration, reaches peak concentrations within an hour, undergoes
      no significant first-pass metabolism, and is virtually 100% bioavailable. The
      half-life is approximately 5 hours, the volume of distribution is 0.62 liter/kg,
      and the systemic clearance is 115 mL/min. Only 1-2% of an orally administered
      dose is excreted unchanged in the urine, with the remainder being eliminated as
      inactive metabolites. Isosorbide mononitrate follows dose-linear kinetics after
      single and multiple doses. Its pharmacokinetic profile is consistent and highly
      reproducible and is unchanged in the elderly and in patients with coronary artery
      disease, renal failure, or liver cirrhosis. An asymmetrical dosage regimen of
      isosorbide mononitrate has been shown to provide antianginal efficacy for at
      least 12 hours. Because asymmetrical dosing creates irregular, sawtooth-like
      changes in plasma concentrations and a fall below a critical threshold level
      during the night, tolerance does not develop.

PMID- 1449103
TI  - Efficacy of isosorbide mononitrate in angina pectoris.
AB  - The rapid development of tolerance has limited the applicability of oral and
      transdermal nitrates in the long-term management of patients with chronic stable
      angina pectoris. Recent well-controlled trials have demonstrated that
      asymmetrical, or eccentric, dosing of oral isosorbide mononitrate, in which 20-mg
      doses are taken at 8 A.M. and 3 P.M., provides at least 12 hours of antianginal
      coverage. There is no evidence for the development of tolerance with this
      schedule, which allows for a 17-hour nitrate withdrawal period. Likewise, the
      asymmetrical 20-mg twice daily regimen has not been associated with the zero-hour
      effect that has been reported with higher oral doses of isosorbide mononitrate
      and with intermittent nitroglycerin patch therapy. This approach also avoids the
      development of a clinical rebound phenomenon, as measured by increased episodes
      of angina and nitroglycerin consumption, compared with the pretreatment period,
      during the nitrate-free interval at night and the early hours of the morning.

PMID- 1449104
TI  - Optimizing antianginal therapy: consensus guidelines.

PMID- 1449105
TI  - New insights into the management of myocardial ischemia.
AB  - Episodes of ST depression are closely related to transient decreases in regional
      myocardial perfusion during physical or mental stress. At the onset of these
      events, there is transient constriction of atherosclerotic stenoses, with an
      increase in myocardial demand as reflected by increases in heart rate and blood
      pressure. Recent research has shown that normal epicardial coronary arteries
      respond to these provocations and to increasing blood flow with progressive
      vasodilation. In contrast, atherosclerotic vessels lose this ability to dilate
      and may show paradoxical constriction. This abnormal constriction parallels the
      response of the arteries to acetylcholine, which can be used to assess the
      ability of the coronary endothelium to regulate vasodilation. The loss of
      endothelium-dependent vasodilation appears to be an important functional
      manifestation of coronary atherosclerosis and a potential triggering mechanism
      for transient ischemia. Dysfunctional endothelium may also result in a
      procoagulant surface, with cell adherence and local thrombus formation.
      Restoration of normal endothelial function is likely to emerge as an important
      therapeutic objective in the management of myocardial ischemia and coronary
      atherosclerosis.

PMID- 1449106
TI  - A phase I study of high-dose cisplatin, prolonged infusion 5-fluorouracil, and
      concomitant conventional fraction radiation therapy in patients with inoperable
      squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
AB  - Cisplatin (CDDP) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) have been used alone, in combination,
      and in various doses and sequences with radiation therapy in attempts to improve
      local control and survival of patients with advanced head and neck cancer. This
      study was undertaken to determine the toxicity and maximum tolerated dose of high
      dose CDDP plus prolonged infusion 5-FU with concomitant conventional radiation
      therapy. Twenty-two patients with inoperable Stage III and IV squamous cell
      cancer were treated with CDDP (30 or 35 mg/m2 for 5 days every 4 weeks for three
      courses) and 5-FU (200 or 300 mg/m2 per day continuous i.v. infusion for 12
      weeks) with concomitant conventional radiation therapy. This aggressive treatment
      regimen is accompanied by severe mucositis, myelosuppression, and chronic
      neuropathy. CDDP, 35 mg/m2/day x 5, and 200 mg/m2/day of 5-FU infused over 12
      weeks were identified as potential doses for future Phase II studies.

PMID- 1449107
TI  - Phase I study of 5-fluorouracil with folinic acid combined with recombinant human
      granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.
AB  - A Phase I study was conducted to determine whether the addition of recombinant
      human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) to a combined 5
      fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid (FA) regimen would allow an escalated
      starting dose of 5-FU. FA (500 mg/m2) was administered as a 2-hour infusion on
      days 1 through 5, with 5-FU administered as a bolus injection 1 hour after the
      initiation of FA. Fifteen patients were enrolled in the trial; six were entered
      at a dose level of 375 mg/m2 of 5-FU, six at 450 mg/m2, and three at 540 mg/m2.
      rhGM-CSF was administered subcutaneously on days 6 through 15. A course of
      therapy was repeated every 28 days. Serious toxicity was observed at 450 mg/m2,
      with two patients developing grade 3 mucositis and one, grade 4 mucositis. Dose
      limiting toxicity occurred at 540 mg/m2, at which point three patients developed
      grade 4 mucositis. One patient with metastatic colon cancer who received 5-FU at
      540 mg/m2 achieved a partial response. Because of this persistent mucositis, the
      addition of rhGM-CSF used in this schedule would not allow an increased starting
      dose of 5-FU.

PMID- 1449108
TI  - Radiation therapy in the treatment of pituitary adenomas.
AB  - Seventy-eight patients with pituitary adenomas were seen in the Department of
      Radiation Oncology at Hahnemann University between 1961 and 1986. Most were
      treated with megavoltage photons with or without prior surgery. In this group, 68
      patients were followed: 39 were treated with radiation therapy (RT) alone, and 29
      were treated with a combination of surgery and RT (S/RT). Patients were followed
      for 2 to 20 years. Of 68 patients, (97%) experienced complete response to
      treatment; 86% of the RT patients remained free of disease at 5 and 10 years. In
      the S/RT group, 100% and 94% remained free of disease at 5 and 10 years,
      respectively. Total disease-free survivals at 5 and 10 years were, respectively,
      91% and 89%. The majority of the failures occurring in the RT group were with
      growth hormone-secreting tumors and Cushing's disease. Of the 7 patients that
      failed or recurred (time to recurrence: 1-16 years posttreatment), 6 have been
      followed: 4 were treated with surgery, 1 with RT, and 1 with S/RT. All 6 have
      remained free of disease since salvage, with 2- to 14-year follow-up periods.
      Serious morbidity and mortality have been reported previously with bitemporal
      field radiation using kilovoltage and low megavoltage RT. However, there was no
      temporal lobe necrosis or death in any of the patients in this study.

PMID- 1449109
TI  - A phase II clinical trial evaluating the use of two sequential, four-drug
      combination chemotherapy regimens in ambulatory bronchogenic adenocarcinoma
      patients.
AB  - Forty-three ambulatory patients with locally advanced or metastatic bronchogenic
      adenocarcinoma were sequentially treated with two potentially mutually non-cross
      resistant chemotherapy regimens. A new regimen, MVPF (mitomycin-c, vinblastine,
      procarbazine, and 5-fluorouracil), was given until progressive disease occurred.
      Then, a second regimen--MOCC (methotrexate, vincristine [Oncovin],
      cyclophosphamide, and CCNU)--was initiated. At further progression, regional
      disease patients received radiotherapy, whereas extensive disease patients
      received Phase II agents. Of the 43 patients entered on the study, 40 were
      evaluable. Three patients withdrew early due to poor tolerance of the regimen.
      The response rate for MVPF was 33% (12 of 40 PR, 1 of 40 CR) compared to a 4% (1
      of 23 PR) response for MOCC (difference: p < or = .03), for a total response rate
      of 35%. Although there was an initial improvement in survival for responders
      (31.7 weeks) versus nonresponders (15.7 weeks) at the 75th percentile (p < or =
      .05), there was no significant difference in median survival. The hematologic
      toxicity was equivalent for both groups, whereas nonhematologic toxicity revealed
      a high incidence of nausea and vomiting in the MVPF group. It is concluded that
      this approach lent itself well to ambulatory care, and MVPF could be considered
      an alternative to cyclophosphamide-based regimens. However, the absence of a
      meaningful CR rate and lack of influence of response on median survival were
      factors limiting its effectiveness.

PMID- 1449110
TI  - Lack of significant activity of 2'-deoxycoformycin alone or in combination with
      adenine arabinoside in relapsed childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A
      randomized phase II trial from the Childrens Cancer Study Group.
AB  - Forty-nine children with recurrent acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were
      entered into a randomized Phase II trial evaluating 2'-deoxycoformycin (dCF)
      alone or in combination with adenine arabinoside (ara-A). 2'-Deoxycoformycin is
      an inhibitor of adenosine deaminase (ADA), an enzyme found in relatively high
      amounts in malignant lymphoid cells. Ara-A inhibits DNA polymerase and DNA
      synthesis. Because its efficacy in vivo as an anticancer agent is limited by its
      rapid inactivation by ADA, ara-A was combined with dCF to produce cytoreductive
      levels of ara-A. Twenty-four patients were assigned to receive dCF alone and 25
      to receive the combination. No patient responded to dCF alone, and one patient
      developed a complete remission after treatment with the combination. The toxicity
      of dCF alone was minimal, except for one patient who became obtunded on day 5
      following the first cycle of therapy. In contrast, five patients developed severe
      toxicity with the combination, including renal failure (three patients), hepatic
      failure (three patients), and neurologic toxicity (two patients). These results
      indicate that, at the doses and schedule used in this study, the combination of
      dCF and ara-A has significant toxicity and minimal activity against recurrent ALL
      in children.

PMID- 1449111
TI  - 5-fluorouracil and low-dose leucovorin in the treatment of recurrent epithelial
      ovarian carcinoma. A phase II trial of the Gynecologic Oncology Group.
AB  - Twenty-one patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma not amenable to
      cure with further surgery or radiotherapy were entered into a Phase II trial
      utilizing i.v. leucovorin at 20 mg/m2 followed by i.v. 5-fluorouracil at 425
      mg/m2 administered daily for 5 days every 4 weeks for the first two courses and
      then every 5 weeks. Twenty-one patients were entered. Of these, 20 were eligible
      for toxicity assessment and 19 for response. Five had received prior
      radiotherapy, and all had received prior cisplatin-based chemotherapy. There was
      one patient response (5.3%; 95% confidence intervals for response of 0% to 26%).
      Toxicity was moderate with 5 of 20 (25%) grade 3 or 4 leukopenia, 12 of 20 (60%)
      grade 3 or 4 granulocytopenia, 1 of 20 (5%) grade 3 thrombocytopenia, 5 of 20
      (25%) grade 3 GI toxicity, and 2 of 20 (10%) grade 3 neurotoxicity. There was one
      toxic death in a patient who developed granulocytopenia and pneumonia after her
      third course of treatment. This dose schedule of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin
      has minimal activity in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma who
      have received prior cisplatin chemotherapy.

PMID- 1449112
TI  - 5-fluorouracil and low-dose leucovorin in the treatment of recurrent squamous
      cell carcinoma of the cervix. A phase II trial of the Gynecologic Oncology Group.
AB  - Twenty-eight patients with recurrent squamous carcinoma of the cervix not
      amenable to cure by further surgery or radiation therapy were entered into a
      Phase II trial utilizing i.v. leucovorin 20 mg/m2 followed by 5-fluorouracil 425
      mg/m2 administered daily for 5 days every 4 weeks for the first two courses and
      then every 5 weeks. One patient never received therapy, and three are inevaluable
      for response; therefore, 27 patients were evaluable for toxicity and 24 for
      response. Twenty-three patients had received prior radiotherapy, and 16 had
      received prior chemotherapy. There was one partial response 4.2% (95% confidence
      intervals for a response of 0 to 21%). Although toxicity was acceptable with 11
      of 27 (41%) grade 3 or 4 leukopenia, 1 of 27 (4%) grade 3 thrombocytopenia, and 3
      of 27 (11%) grade 3 or 4 gastrointestinal toxicity, this dose schedule of 5
      fluorouracil and leucovorin has minimal activity in recurrent squamous carcinoma
      of the cervix.

PMID- 1449113
TI  - Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis clinically mimicking veno-occlusive disease
      of the liver complicating autologous bone marrow transplantation.
AB  - Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis is an uncommon, but well-described,
      complication of bone marrow transplantation. We describe a case of nonbacterial
      thrombotic endocarditis following autologous bone marrow transplantation that was
      marked by weight gain, hepatomegaly, ascites, and extreme hyperbilirubinemia
      leading to a clinical diagnosis of hepatic veno-occlusive disease. Autopsy
      revealed nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis of the tricuspid and pulmonic
      valves, and passive congestion of the liver, but there was no evidence of veno
      occlusive disease. We discuss the pathophysiology and clinical features of
      nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis and review its occurrence in association
      with bone marrow transplantation. Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis is often
      difficult to detect clinically and should be a diagnostic consideration in
      patients who develop systemic emboli or congestive heart failure after bone
      marrow transplantation.

PMID- 1449114
TI  - A phase II study of cisplatinum and continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil for
      metastatic melanoma.
AB  - Advanced or metastatic melanoma responds poorly to chemotherapy, which has no
      impact on survival. Responses have been recorded using cisplatinum as a single
      agent. This study tested the established combination of cisplatinum 100 mg/m2 and
      5-fluorouracil 1 g/m2/day continuously intravenously for 5 days repeated every 3
      weeks in patients with disseminated melanoma. Twenty-nine patients, 13 having
      received no prior systemic chemotherapy, received 49 cycles of therapy (median 1,
      range 1-4). Only one previously untreated patient achieved a partial response
      with a failure-free survival of 6.5 months and an overall survival of 7.7 months
      from the commencement of therapy. The major toxicities were nausea and vomiting,
      (grade 3 in eight patients), stomatitis (grade 4 in two patients, grade 3 in two
      patients), and myelosuppression. The study showed that cisplatin and 5
      fluorouracil have a low order of activity in patients with advanced or
      disseminated melanoma.

PMID- 1449115
TI  - Treatment of Langerhans cell histiocytosis in children with etoposide.
AB  - Ten children with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) were treated with
      etoposide. For five patients, this was the initial diagnosis. The other five had
      failed to respond to previous therapies. Etoposide (100 mg/m2) was given
      intravenously twice a week for 4 weeks, followed by maintenance therapy every 2
      to 4 weeks for 2 years. All 10 patients responded to etoposide, and 6 of them
      (60%) have been in complete remission for 3 to 36 months without any side
      effects. One patient relapsed with diabetes insipidus, one with a soft tissue
      mass, and two others developed multiple bone lesions. Chemotherapy with etoposide
      appears to be effective and safe for the treatment of children with systemic LCH.

PMID- 1449116
TI  - Systemic infusion versus bolus chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil in measurable
      metastatic colorectal cancer.
AB  - From January 31, 1986 to January 31, 1989, 184 eligible patients were enrolled in
      a randomized study of either infusional or bolus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for the
      treatment of metastatic measurable colorectal cancer. Infusion was administered
      at an escalated dose schedule starting at 350 mg/m2 per day for 2 weeks with a 2
      week rest period on a monthly basis, while bolus 5-FU was started at 400-450
      mg/m2 for 5 days every 28 days. In these chemotherapy-naive patients with good
      performance status, the infusion arm produced a response in 11 of 88 patients
      versus 6 of 82 in the bolus arm (p = 0.384). Progression free survival was
      significantly longer (p = 0.0139) in the infusion group (3.8 versus 2.3 months),
      but no significant difference in survival was observed (p = 0.207). As expected,
      the toxicities of the regimens were different in character, but each had
      approximately a 20% incidence of significant toxicities. Neither of these methods
      of administering fluorouracil results in an exceptional response rate, nor does
      the infusion have an impact on survival as compared to the bolus route. If this
      type of complicated infusional approach is to continue, especially with
      increasing dosage (which could be accomplished on our schedule), randomized
      studies with survival as an endpoint must remain the gold standard.

PMID- 1449117
TI  - Phase II evaluation of iproplatin in patients with advanced gastric and
      pancreatic cancer.
AB  - A total of 48 patients with measurable advanced gastric adenocarcinoma (n = 16)
      or adenocarcinoma of the exocrine pancreas (n = 32) were prospectively treated
      with iproplatin at a starting dose of 270 mg/m2 intravenously over 2 hours. The
      dose was repeated every 28 days, and dose escalations or reductions were made on
      the basis of toxicity in the preceding course. No patient with gastric carcinoma
      achieved either a complete or partial response. One partial response and two
      complete responses were seen with pancreatic adenocarcinoma for an overall
      response rate of 10%. One patient has remained free of disease for more than 2
      years. The major toxicities were granulocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, nausea,
      vomiting, and diarrhea. All toxicities were reversible upon discontinuation of
      the drug. On the basis of this trial, we conclude that iproplatin has no
      substantive activity in advanced gastric or pancreatic carcinomas.

PMID- 1449118
TI  - Successful therapy of peritoneal mesothelioma with intraperitoneal chemotherapy
      alone. A case report.
AB  - Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a disease that remains relatively refractory
      to conventional intravenous chemotherapy with currently available agents. Single
      agent and combination chemotherapy offer a response rate of 20%. Direct
      intraperitoneal administration of some chemotherapeutic agents results in a
      significant pharmacologic advantage with much greater area under the
      concentration versus time curve (AUC). We report a case of a patient with
      peritoneal mesothelioma treated with combination intraperitoneal cisplatin and
      Ara-C who achieved a pathologic complete remission. This patient is still alive
      and has been in complete remission for 53 months. This combination of
      intraperitoneal chemotherapy deserves further evaluation in malignant
      mesothelioma.

PMID- 1449119
TI  - DAE (daunorubicin, Ara-C, and etoposide) and intermediate dose Ara-C for
      remission induction and consolidation treatment of adult patients with acute
      myeloid leukemia.
AB  - Fifty-one patients (age 18-73 years) with acute myeloid leukemia were treated
      with daunorubicin, cytarabine, and etoposide in an age-adjusted protocol, with
      patients older than 50 receiving fewer days of therapy. Complete remission (CR)
      occurred in 66% of the patients (34 of 51 patients). Patients 50 years of age and
      younger achieved a 74% CR rate (23 of 31 patients) compared to a 55% CR rate (11
      of 20 patients) in older patients. Of the 34 complete responders, 11 (32%)
      refused consolidation therapy and received traditional Chinese herbal medicine.
      All of these 11 patients relapsed after a short remission duration (median, 3.8
      months) and died. The median remission duration and median overall survival of 23
      complete responders receiving at least two courses of consolidation therapy were
      10.1 and 19.8 months, respectively. The actuarial 3-year disease-free survival
      for these 23 complete responders was 21 +/- 9%. Myelosuppression was the major
      toxicity, and nonhematological side effects were acceptable. The regimen appeared
      to have acceptable toxicity, and its efficacy was comparable with that of
      standard regimens with long-term maintenance therapy.

PMID- 1449120
TI  - Substance use and work disabilities among a general population.
AB  - Using data derived from a representative survey of 869 Ontario adults, we
      examined the association between work disabilities and substance use, i.e.,
      drinking, alcohol problems, sleeping pills, and tranquilizers. Overall, we found
      a significant association between substance use and disability. For alcohol
      problems, we found that those with moderate limitations reported the greatest
      number of problems, holding constant age, gender, income, and frequency of
      drinking. For the use of sleeping pills and especially tranquilizers, we found a
      strong positive relationship to limitation status. A number of significant
      interactions involving tranquilizer use showed that two groups, females with
      total limitations and those aged over 40 years with sensory disabilities,
      reported exceptionally high rates of tranquilizer use.

PMID- 1449121
TI  - High-risk sexual behaviors of intravenous drug users in- and out-of-treatment:
      implications for the spread of HIV infection.
AB  - This paper examines the sexual behaviors of 255 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) to
      assess the potential for the sexual transmission of HIV and to examine
      differences in sexual behaviors between in- and out-of-treatment IVDUs. In
      treatment subjects (N = 152) were a random sample of clients at a large, publicly
      funded methadone maintenance program. Out-of-treatment subjects (N = 103) were
      recruited through a chain referral technique, using the in-treatment subjects.
      Forty-five percent of the study subjects reported multiple partners and 32%
      reported exchanging sex for money or drugs in the preceding 6 months. Fifty-three
      percent reported no use of condoms. After controlling for demographic differences
      between the in- and out-of-treatment groups, out-of-treatment IVDUs reported
      significantly more partners than in-treatment IVDUs (4.6 vs 2.3, significant t <
      0.01), and more often had exchanged sex for money or drugs (44 vs 26%, relative
      odds 1.8, p < .05). In- and out-of-treatment subjects did not differ with respect
      to condom use. We conclude that IVDUs both in- and out-of-treatment continue to
      be at risk of contracting and spreading HIV infection through sexual behaviors,
      and that being in drug treatment is associated with a lower incidence of high
      risk sexual behaviors.

PMID- 1449122
TI  - Abuse of monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
AB  - Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, like other antidepressants, generally are
      considered free of risk for abuse. There is, however, some evidence that MAOIs
      possess dependence and abuse potential for some patients. We will review the
      available literature and describe three current cases. Recommendations for
      treatment are discussed briefly.

PMID- 1449123
TI  - Assessing treatment effects through changes in perceptions and cognitive
      organization.
AB  - This investigation tested the Associative Group Analysis (AGA) for its analytic
      sensitivity in assessing perceptions and attitudes and in mapping changes in
      cognitive organization indicative of substance abuse. Based on inferences drawn
      from the distributions of thousands of spontaneous, free associations elicited by
      strategically selected stimulus themes, AGA offers an unstructured approach to
      assess images and meanings, and to map systems of mental representation evasive
      to the more direct methods of using questions or scales. This article compares
      pretreatment and posttreatment samples, tracing the psychosocial effects of
      treatment. The investigations focus on variables related to substance abuse such
      as self-image, social nexus, and perceptions of illicit substances. The results
      indicate a sensitive approach, useful in treatment evaluation.

PMID- 1449124
TI  - The relationship of pretreatment family functioning to drinking behavior during
      follow-up by alcoholic patients.
AB  - The relationship of alcoholics' perceptions of the pretreatment functioning of
      their families to drinking outcomes during an 18-month follow-up was examined.
      Family functioning was hypothesized to be predictive of drinking behavior,
      particularly in subjects with low assertion of autonomy scores. These individuals
      report greater dependency and attachment, and therefore might be more affected by
      the state of important relationships. The results indicated that with low
      autonomy male alcoholics, greater family dysfunction predicted significantly
      fewer days abstinent during Months 1-6 and 13-18 and more severe drinking
      episodes during the first year of the follow-up. In the high autonomy males,
      family dysfunction was unrelated to subsequent drinking behavior. In women, on
      the other hand, greater family dysfunction predicted more days abstinent in those
      high in autonomy and was unrelated to the drinking behavior of those low in
      autonomy. Implications for patient-treatment matching, differences between male
      and female alcoholics, and the need for additional studies of family functioning
      and drinking behavior in women are discussed.

PMID- 1449125
TI  - Alcohol norms and expectations as predictors of alcohol use and problems in a
      college student sample.
AB  - Two-hundred thirty-one alcohol-using college students completed a questionnaire
      on their levels of alcohol use, moderate to severe problems with alcohol use,
      expectations of the effects of alcohol on their own and others' moods and
      behaviors, the desirability of these effects, norms of significant others for
      levels of alcohol use and the subject's desire to comply with these norms,
      reasons for drinking and not drinking alcohol, and a personality measure.
      Expectations of alcohol effects, norms of significant others, and reasons for
      drinking and not drinking alcohol were all significant independent predictors of
      alcohol use and problems with alcohol use. Expectation x desirability of effects
      formulations and norms x desire to comply with norms formulations did not improve
      the predictive power of the expectations and norms scales.

PMID- 1449126
TI  - Cognitive motivations for drinking among alcoholics: factor structure and
      correlates.
AB  - The aims of this study were to: a) Identify factors reflecting reasons for
      drinking and expectancies regarding the effects of drinking among inpatient
      alcoholics; b) Examine the relationship between these cognitive "motivations" for
      drinking and both patterns of alcohol consumption and various personal and social
      consequences of consumption. The factors which emerged relate to negative mood
      reduction, positive mood enhancement, and social functioning. Although the
      factors identified in this investigation were not associated with quantity of
      alcohol consumed, small to moderate associations were found between scores on
      three of four factors and a variety of adverse physical and occupational
      consequences of alcohol abuse.

PMID- 1449127
TI  - Idiopathic achalasia: are there different types?

PMID- 1449128
TI  - Hepatotoxicity of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
AB  - The steady increase in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use over the
      past decade has been associated with an increased awareness of the
      gastrointestinal complications of these agents. As a result, several reviews on
      this topic have been published. Associated with the increased recognition of the
      untoward gastrointestinal consequences of NSAID use has been an increasing
      awareness of the untoward hepatic consequences of NSAID use. Nonetheless, many
      physicians either remain unaware of the hepatotoxic potential of NSAIDs or are
      unsure which agents are either safer or associated with a greater risk for
      hepatotoxicity. The following is an overview of the hepatotoxicity of NSAIDs that
      identifies both the type and severity of such reactions, where sufficient data
      exist to allow such judgements to be made.

PMID- 1449129
TI  - Return of esophageal peristalsis after nifedipine therapy in patients with
      idiopathic esophageal achalasia.
AB  - This study was carried out to demonstrate the possible return of esophageal
      peristalsis in patients affected by esophageal achalasia chronically treated with
      sublingual nifedipine and to investigate which parameters are correlated with the
      return of peristalsis. Thirty-two patients were treated with sublingual
      nifedipine 10-20 mg taken 30 min before meals. A clinical and manometric
      evaluation was performed before and after 6 months of therapy. Before treatment,
      in no patient was peristaltic activity recorded. After 6 months, peristalsis was
      observed in six patients. In this group, no pretreatment manometric parameter was
      different from that of the remaining achalasic patients; only the clinical
      history of dysphagia was significantly shorter (p < 0.001) and the esophageal
      diameter significantly less (p < 0.001). In conclusion, chronic treatment with
      sublingual nifedipine can induce a return of esophageal peristalsis in patients
      with a short clinical history of disease and slightly dilated esophagus.

PMID- 1449130
TI  - The importance of fluoroscopic guidance for Maloney dilation.
AB  - One hundred and forty-five patients were evaluated for the importance of
      fluoroscopic monitoring during Maloney esophageal dilation. In 35 patients (24%),
      fluoroscopy altered the dilation technique. Dilation of peptic strictures (27 of
      75, 36%) was much more likely to be affected by fluoroscopy than Schatzki's rings
      (eight of 70, 11%, p < 0.05). Patients whose stricture was altered by fluoroscopy
      also had larger size hiatal hernias (6.5 vs. 4.3 cm, p < 0.05). Patients with
      Schatzki's ring with a hiatal hernia size of less than or equal to 4.0 cm did not
      benefit from fluoroscopy. In 26 of 35 cases, successful redirection of the
      dilator and passage under fluoroscopy was accomplished. In nine patients, Maloney
      dilation was impossible, and use of Savary wire-guided dilators was needed. We
      had no morbidity and mortality. We advise the use of fluoroscopy for Maloney
      dilation for peptic strictures and for large hiatal hernias.

PMID- 1449131
TI  - Abnormal upper esophageal sphincter function in achalasia.
AB  - We describe the results of pharyngeal and upper esophageal sphincter (UES)
      manometry, using new solid-state computerized technology in 19 patients with
      achalasia, compared with 14 healthy controls. The major manometric finding in
      achalasia is an increased residual pressure in the UES. Other differences seen in
      patients with achalasia include a reduction in the duration of UES relaxation
      with swallowing and a more rapid onset of pharyngeal contraction after UES
      relaxation. We review previous descriptions of suspected pharyngeal and UES
      abnormalities in achalasia and compare them to our own.

PMID- 1449132
TI  - Meta-analysis of the efficacy of antibiotic therapy in eradicating Helicobacter
      pylori.
AB  - Despite numerous Helicobacter pylori treatment studies, the optimum regimen(s)
      for its eradication remain unclear. Our objective was to determine systematically
      which regimen(s) gave the best pooled eradication rates, by using meta-analysis
      methodology. A total of 27 studies were identified. Pooled eradication rates for
      single (18.6%), double (48.2%), and triple therapy (82.3%) were statistically
      highly different (p < 0.0005). Eradication rates with amoxicillin (23.0%) and
      bismuth compounds (19.6%) were equivalent. Combined treatment with
      bismuth+metronidazole was better than bismuth+amoxicillin (55.1% vs. 43.7%, p =
      0.049). Triple therapy with bismuth+metronidazole+tetracycline gave a
      statistically higher eradication rate (94.1%) than
      bismuth+metronidazole+amoxicillin (73.1%, p < 0.0005). Despite increased side
      effects with multiple antibiotic regimens, patients tolerated these well, without
      significant drop-out. The combination of bismuth, metronidazole, and tetracycline
      gives the best eradication rate, but the optimal doses and duration of treatment
      have yet to be determined. Further studies are necessary to explore factors such
      as antibiotic resistance and drug compliance as important factors affecting
      antibiotic efficacy.

PMID- 1449134
TI  - An unrecognized etiology for pyogenic hepatic abscesses in normal hosts: dental
      disease.
AB  - Cryptogenic pyogenic hepatic abscesses are a diagnosis of exclusion. We have
      identified two patients with severe dental disease at the time of the diagnosis
      of their liver abscess. In both cases, oral flora was cultured from the abscess.
      Unlike a previous report, both patients were immunocompetent. When compared with
      a group of patients with liver abscesses and diverticulitis, two differences were
      found. In contrast to the single abscesses seen in 10 of 10 patients with
      diverticulitis, the patients with dental disease had multiple abscesses (p <
      0.02). In addition, Fusobacterium nucleatum was cultured from both dental disease
      associated abscesses but only one of the diverticulitis associated liver
      abscesses (p < 0.05). If a liver abscess is thought to be cryptogenic, a thorough
      dental exam is recommended.

PMID- 1449133
TI  - Helicobacter pylori infection in dental workers: a seroepidemiology study.
AB  - The finding of Helicobacter pylori in dental plaque suggested that dental workers
      may be at increased risk of acquiring H. pylori infection from occupational
      exposure. A cross-sectional survey of 239 dental workers from 37 Texas cities
      (including 89 dentists, 44 dental hygienists, 98 dental assistants, and eight
      dental students) was conducted. H. pylori infection was determined by the
      presence of IgG antibodies to H. pylori, using a specific and sensitive ELISA.
      Participants ranged in age from 19 to 72 yr (mean 34 yr) and the duration of
      dental practice ranged from 1 to 48 yr (mean 12 yr). Type of dental occupation,
      duration of practice, type of practice (public or private), instrument used for
      cleaning teeth (ultrasonic scaler or curette), and prevalence of upper
      gastrointestinal symptoms were determined by self-administered questionnaires and
      interviews. Eighty-two percent had no symptoms referable to the upper
      gastrointestinal tract. The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 24%:
      17% in dentists, 18% in dental hygienists, 34% in dental assistants, and 25% in
      dental students. The prevalence increased significantly with age (p < 0.05). The
      prevalence of H. pylori infection was significantly higher in non-whites, 29 of
      63 (46%), than whites, 29 of 176 (16%) (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis
      (dependent variable H. pylori) revealed no significant association between H.
      pylori infection and the type, duration, or volume of practice, or the type of
      cleaning instrument used. We conclude that dental workers are not at increased
      risk to H. pylori infection.

PMID- 1449135
TI  - Safety and efficacy of high kV biliary lithotripsy: preliminary experience.
AB  - Despite intense interest in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, biliary lithotripsy
      (BL), by avoiding the need for general anesthesia, could remain a useful
      alternative in approximately 10% of patients with symptomatic gallstones. The
      poor stone clearance rates reported by the Dornier National Biliary Lithotripsy
      Study has led to disenchantment with biliary lithotripsy. However, the results
      may reflect the relatively low kV (18.7 +/- 1.7) used. We have compared
      symptomatic gallbladder stone/cholecystolithiasis patients with one to five
      stones of aggregate diameter < 60 mm treated with one to three sessions on an
      MPLS 9000 (Dornier) lithotripter at moderate kV (22.7 +/- 1.7 kV; mean number of
      shocks 1473 +/- 356) with a similar group treated with high kV (26 kV, mean
      number of shocks 1357 +/- 507). Ultrasound stone diameter measurements were made
      pre- and post-BL; 12-wk results are reported. Treatment safety was assessed by
      recording adverse experiences and serum, urine, hematology, and chemistry. For
      patients with single stones, the high kV treatment took significantly (p < 0.05)
      less time (74 +/- 30 min) than moderate kV treatment (118 +/- 33 min). At 3
      months, the moderate kV-treated single-stone group had a residual maximum
      fragment size of 3.2 +/- 3.3 mm versus 1.8 +/- 2.3 mm in the high kV-treated
      single-stone group. The 3-month stone-free rate for patients with single stones
      treated at high kV was 44% compared with 46% for the moderate kV-treated group
      (NS). At 1 wk, 11 patients had microscopic or macroscopic hematuria and six
      patients had mildly elevated liver function tests. At 6 wk, however, all urine
      and hematological measurements had returned to normal. Two patients suffered
      pancreatitis, one in each group. High kV BL appears to be safe and, for patients
      with single stones, gives better fragmentation and takes less time to administer
      than moderate kV. Whether a high kV treatment protocol can achieve improved long
      term stone-free rates remains to be assessed.

PMID- 1449136
TI  - Gastric and duodenal mucosal prostaglandin concentrations in gastric or duodenal
      ulcer disease: relationships with demographics, environmental, and histological
      factors, including Helicobacter pylori.
AB  - We measured gastric and duodenal mucosal prostaglandin concentrations in 69
      patients with active or inactive duodenal or gastric ulcer disease and 26 non
      ulcer controls. Each underwent endoscopy enabling us to obtain multiple biopsies
      from the gastric body and antrum and from the duodenal bulb and postbulbar
      duodenum for measurement of mucosal prostaglandin concentrations, as well as a
      single biopsy from each region for mucosal histology. Using a multivariate linear
      regression model, we found that neither gastric nor duodenal ulcer disease
      significantly affected gastric or duodenal mucosal prostaglandin concentrations.
      Mucosal prostaglandin concentrations were similar at the edge of the ulcer and in
      the adjacent non-ulcerated mucosa. Neither gender symptoms, smoking, use of H2
      receptor antagonists, disease activity, nor Helicobacter pylori infection had an
      independent effect on mucosal prostaglandins in any region. Gastritis in the body
      of the stomach was associated with significantly higher prostaglandins, while
      older age was associated with significantly lower gastric and duodenal
      prostaglandins. Gastroduodenal mucosal prostaglandins are thus not altered in
      patients with active or inactive peptic ulcer disease, even when multiple
      demographic and histologic variables are taken into consideration.

PMID- 1449137
TI  - Flexible sigmoidoscopy screening in an industrial setting.
AB  - Little is known about the yield of colorectal cancer screening programs in an
      industrial setting. We therefore established a flexible sigmoidoscopy screening
      program at a chemical manufacturing plant and offered testing to all employees
      over the age of 40. After a Fleet enema preparation had been administered, a
      digital rectal examination and sigmoidoscopy were performed on each volunteer
      worker in the medical office of the plant. The plant had an average census of
      about 650 workers; 202 were screened during a 2-yr period. The mean (+/- SEM) age
      of participants was 52 +/- 0.4. Sixty-four employees had polyps (31.7%); data on
      follow-up colonoscopy were available in 69%. Colonoscopy revealed adenomatous
      polyps in 23 workers (53.5%), hyperplastic polyps in 10 (23%), and no evidence of
      neoplasia in 10 (23%). Seven workers did not arrange for follow-up colonoscopy
      and 12 individuals could not be contacted. No cancers were detected. In the 40-
      to 50-yr age group, polyps were detected in 19.5% of employees (25% adenomatous).
      Incidental findings were common, and included prostatic nodules, hemorrhoids,
      diverticulosis, and proctitis, among others. We conclude that screening
      sigmoidoscopy can be conveniently and economically performed at the workplace,
      with a high yield and good worker acceptance. The high yield suggests a possible
      association between polyp formation and work in a chemical plant. The finding of
      adenomatous polyps in the younger patients suggests that the threshold for
      flexible sigmoidoscopy at age 50 needs to be reassessed.

PMID- 1449138
TI  - Gastrointestinal pneumocystosis in HIV-infected patients on aerosolized
      pentamidine: report of five cases and literature review.
AB  - Extrapulmonary infection with Pneumocystis carinii in AIDS patients on
      aerosolized pentamidine is occurring more frequently. We report five patients
      diagnosed with gastrointestinal pneumocystosis while on aerosolized pentamidine
      prophylaxis and have identified infections involving the peritoneum, liver, and
      transverse colon, as well as stomach and duodenum. Physicians should have a high
      index of suspicion for extrapulmonary pneumocystosis, especially involving the
      gastrointestinal system, in HIV-infected patients, and early diagnosis must be
      pursued aggressively. The use of aerosolized pentamidine as prophylaxis for P.
      carinii pneumonia is not protective against gastrointestinal pneumocystosis
      because of inadequate systemic distribution of the drug. To our knowledge, this
      is the first report in a clinical journal documenting and photographing P.
      carinii organisms in ascitic fluid.

PMID- 1449139
TI  - Clinical, endoscopic, immunologic, and therapeutic aspects of oropharyngeal and
      esophageal candidiasis in HIV-infected patients: a survey of 114 cases.
AB  - The medical records of 114 consecutive HIV-infected patients with oropharyngeal
      and esophageal candidiasis, in whom esophagoscopy was performed, were reviewed.
      Esophageal candidiasis and isolated oral candidiasis were found in 75% and 25% of
      patients, respectively. Esophageal candidiasis was the AIDS-defining illness in
      65 patients and dysphagia was the commonest symptom, but asymptomatic Candida
      esophagitis was observed in 43% of them. Symptoms were present in six patients
      with oropharyngeal candidiasis; three of them had a normal esophagoscopy and the
      other three had acute nonfungal esophagitis. Invasive fungal esophagitis was
      confirmed by biopsy in 47/74 patients (64%). The patients with esophageal
      candidiasis had lower CD4+ cell counts (129/microliter) and CD4:CD8 ratios (0.23)
      than those with oropharyngeal candidiasis (CD4 179/microliter; CD4:CD8 0.35).
      Thirty-six patients with esophageal candidiasis were treated with fluconazole,
      100 mg/daily, for 28 days, and another 34 patients received the same dose for 10
      days. A similar efficacy was seen in both regimens, but a higher incidence of
      oropharyngeal fungal colonization and liver dysfunction was observed in the
      longer therapy (p < 0.001). We conclude that asymptomatic C. esophagitis is
      common in HIV-infected patients. Patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis may
      complain of esophageal symptoms; it could be due to superficial C. infection or
      another not-identified opportunistic infection. More severe immunologic
      impairment was required to develop esophageal candidiasis than oropharyngeal
      candidiasis. A short course of 10 days of fluconazole therapy could be the
      standard regimen for the treatment of C. esophagitis in AIDS.

PMID- 1449140
TI  - Gastric acid secretion in HIV-1 infection.
AB  - It has been suggested that AIDS patients may have reduced gastric acid output.
      This is of concern because gastric acid may be required for absorption of oral
      antifungal agents that are important in AIDS management. The cause as well as the
      progression of reduced gastric acid output in AIDS patients is unclear. This
      study investigated gastric acid output in relation to the stage of non-AIDS HIV-1
      infected patients. No statistical difference was found between nine control and
      26 male HIV-infected subjects in basal acid output, maximal acid output, peak
      acid output, or fasting serum gastrin, regardless of stage. Likewise, no
      relationship between stage of HIV infection and gastric acid output was
      determined. We conclude that there is no impairment in basal and maximally
      stimulated gastric acid secretion in non-AIDS HIV-1-infected males. In addition,
      the clinical stage of non-AIDS HIV-1 infection has no effect on gastric acid
      secretion.

PMID- 1449141
TI  - Decreased intrinsic factor secretion in AIDS: relation to parietal cell acid
      secretory capacity and vitamin B12 malabsorption.
AB  - AIDS-associated gastric secretory failure has been characterized by decreased
      secretion of acid, pepsin, and gastric juice volume. To determine whether
      decreased intrinsic factor secretion and vitamin B12 malabsorption occur in this
      entity, we performed prospective measurements of maximal acid output, intrinsic
      factor output, vitamin B12 absorption, serum vitamin B12, and holotranscobalamin
      II in 10 consecutive AIDS patients. Four of 10 patients had low maximal acid
      output, i.e., < or = 1.5 mEq/h (control = 12.8 +/- 9.0, range 2.5-25 mEq/h). Four
      patients had low intrinsic factor output, i.e., < or = 1.1 microgram/h (control =
      8.2 +/- 6.9, range 3.1-19.4 micrograms/h). One patient with low intrinsic factor
      output had low serum vitamin B12 and a Schilling test consistent with pernicious
      anemia. A second patient with very low intrinsic factor output (0.16
      micrograms/h) had low parts I and II Schilling tests; malabsorption most likely
      resulted from both low intrinsic factor secretion and ileal disease. One of three
      vitamin B12 malabsorbing patients, with normal serum vitamin B12, had low
      holotranscobalamin II, 25 pg/ml (control holotranscobalamin II = 76 +/- 44, range
      44-152 pg/ml). Maximal acid output and intrinsic factor output did not correlate
      in AIDS (r = 0.36, p = 0.30) in contrast to the expected correlation in controls
      (r = 0.91, p = 0.03). We conclude that low intrinsic factor secretion is common
      in AIDS and contributes to vitamin B12 malabsorption. Decreased parietal cell
      secretion of intrinsic factor and acid may occur independently in human
      immunodeficiency virus-associated gastric secretory failure. Low
      holotranscobalamin II, an early manifestation of vitamin B12 malabsorption,
      results in decreased delivery to vitamin B12-dependent tissues prior to depletion
      of serum vitamin B12. Regular supplementation with vitamin B12 may therefore be
      warranted in patients with advanced HIV infection.

PMID- 1449142
TI  - Treatment of intractable hiccup with baclofen: results of a double-blind
      randomized, controlled, cross-over study.
AB  - Four patients with intractable hiccup were treated in a double-blind, randomized,
      placebo, cross-over study with an analogue of gamma-aminobutyric acid, Baclofen.
      There was a consistent and statistically significant (p = 0.03) improvement in
      hiccup severity with Baclofen, both subjectively (p = 0.03) and by hiccup-free
      periods (p = 0.003). The actual frequency of hiccup was not significantly altered
      by the medication. We propose that the mechanical aspects of hiccup are reduced
      by Baclofen, leading to a perceptual blockage and a decrease in the reflex
      severity induced by the gamma-aminobutyric acid analogue. We conclude that this
      medication may be useful for the treatment of intractable hiccup.

PMID- 1449143
TI  - Prognostic factors of hepatic encephalopathy after portacaval anastomosis: a
      multivariate analysis in 50 patients.
AB  - Portacaval anastomosis has proved to be effective in avoiding active and
      recurrent hemorrhage from gastroesophageal varices in liver cirrhosis. However,
      hepatic encephalopathy is the most common and serious complication of this
      procedure. The aim of this study was to investigate by multivariate analysis the
      predictive factors of development of hepatic encephalopathy in 50 Child's A and B
      cirrhotic patients whose variceal bleeding was treated with emergency (n = 17) or
      elective (n = 33) portacaval anastomosis. The etiology of the cirrhosis was
      alcoholic in 74% of cases. The mean follow-up was 22.7 +/- 16.6 months (range 1
      60 months). The 2-yr probability of suffering from at least one episode of
      hepatic encephalopathy in the overall group was 43%. The multivariate analyses
      (Cox's regression method) of 37 variables based upon clinical history, physical
      examination, and laboratory data disclosed that only five of these variables had
      independent predictive value: need for diuretic treatment in the days prior to
      surgery, absence of hepatomegaly, and serum levels of total bilirubin, gamma
      globulin, and hemoglobin. According to the contribution of each one of these
      factors to the final model, a prognostic index was obtained which allowed the
      division of patients in two different groups of risk for developing hepatic
      encephalopathy (20% and 74%, respectively, after 2 yr of surgery; p = 0.0002).
      This index may help to better choose those candidates for portacaval anastomosis.

PMID- 1449144
TI  - Endoscopic sclerotherapy: treatment of choice in patients less than 3 years old
      with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction.
AB  - Thirty-two children under 3 yr of age with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction
      were treated with endoscopic sclerotherapy. The group consisted of 22 males and
      10 females, with a mean age of 1.96 yr (range 7 months to 3 yr). The procedure
      was well tolerated by all after premedication with intravenous diazepam.
      Esophageal varices were eradicated in all children after 4.45 sessions (+/-
      1.12). Follow-up clinical and endoscopic evaluations have been carried out over a
      period of 9 months to 4 yr (mean 3.5 yr) after the patients were put on a
      sclerotherapy program. There was a significant reduction in number of bleeding
      episodes (60 vs. 8), mean blood transfusion requirement (2.19 vs. 0.31), and
      bleeding risk factor (0.09 vs. 0.008). There were a few minor conditions, such as
      transient dysphagia and esophageal ulcerations, in 14 patients (43.75%), which
      later responded to medical treatment. Perisclerotherapy bleeding, seen in six
      patients (18.7%), responded to repeat sclerotherapy. Recurrence of varices was
      encountered in two patients (6.25%); these were eradicated after reinstitution of
      sclerotherapy. Endoscopic sclerotherapy is the treatment of choice in patients of
      extrahepatic portal vein obstruction who are below 3 yr of age.

PMID- 1449145
TI  - Bile duct varices or "pseudo-cholangiocarcinoma sign" in portal hypertension due
      to cavernous transformation of the portal vein.
AB  - A total of 832 patients with portal hypertension resulting from different
      etiology was studied by ultrasonograph as a screening test. In 17 of the 832
      patients, cavernous transformation of the portal vein was detected by means of
      ultrasonography. We have prospectively studied these 17 patients, and the
      diagnosis of cavernous transformation was confirmed by portography in all
      patients. To evaluate how much biliary tract has been affected from cavernous
      transformation of the portal vein, and to explain the cause of mildly increased
      alkaline phosphatase and serum bilirubin levels, endoscopic retrograde
      cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed in 16 of the 17 patients. There
      were narrowing, irregularity, undulation and nodular extrinsic defects resulting
      from compression of thrombosis of the portal vein and the collateral vessels,
      mimicking cholangiocarcinoma spreading along the common bile duct on the
      extrahepatic biliary tract in all 16 patients who underwent ERCP. Similar ERCP
      findings were not found in six patients with portal hypertension due to liver
      cirrhosis. The ultrasonographic, portographic, and ERCP findings corresponded to
      surgical findings in six patients who had undergone splenectomy for either
      hypersplenism or bleeding from esophageal varices. The results indicate that
      cavernous transformation of the portal vein cause the above-mentioned
      radiographic findings that we propose to call "pseudo-cholangiocarcinoma sign."

PMID- 1449146
TI  - Factors influencing acceptance of hepatitis B vaccination by hospital personnel
      in an area hyperendemic for hepatitis B.
AB  - A free-of-charge vaccination program against hepatitis B, in which plasma-derived
      vaccine was used, was offered to 1,299 hospital personnel of Chulalongkorn
      University Hospital, Bangkok. The initial acceptance rate for vaccination was
      65.7%, with 10.0% nonacceptance and 24.3% undecided. The highest rates of
      acceptance were among medical students (75.5%), student nurses (68.8%), and newly
      graduated nurses (63.6%). The lowest rate of acceptance was among physicians
      (48.2%). Factors strongly associated with the acceptance of vaccination were
      nature of work, age of personnel (< or = 40 yr), number of years spent in
      profession (< or = 15 yr), knowledge of hepatitis B, confidence in vaccine
      efficacy and safety, no history of hepatitis B infection, and contact with blood
      or blood product. Different types of fear, as well as lack of knowledge, were the
      main reasons responsible for 46.2% of all refusals. More specific educational
      efforts about vaccine safety and efficacy may positively influence the acceptance
      of hepatitis vaccination program among health care personnel.

PMID- 1449147
TI  - Can cytokines prolong survival in ampullary neuroendocrine carcinomas?
AB  - Herein we report the case of an ampullary tumor in a 53-yr-old Japanese woman who
      presented in March 1988 with abdominal pain, weight loss, and jaundice. A
      pancreatoduodenectomy was carried out, and 3 months later, she presented with a
      Virchow's node. She was initially treated with cytokines plus 5-fluorouracil
      derivative, resulting in a complete remission lasting over a year. However, in
      July 1990, the Virchow's node reappeared and was surgically excised. Histology
      revealed a small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNC) similar to the prior
      ampullary tumor, which was confirmed by immunohistochemical studies and electron
      microscopic examination. The patient was discharged within 1 month, remaining
      disease-free over a 18-month period following excision. We suggest that the use
      of cytokines can be effective, and can increase survival in gastrointestinal
      neuroendocrine tumors.

PMID- 1449148
TI  - Familial multiple congenital esophageal rings: report of an affected father and
      son.
AB  - Multiple esophageal rings are a very unusual cause of dysphagia. We report a case
      of a 35-yr-old male with multiple esophageal rings and severe dysphagia, whose
      father had similar symptoms. Our patient underwent esophageal dilation on one
      occasion and is asymptomatic at 1-yr followup. We speculate that multiple
      esophageal rings may be of congenital origin.

PMID- 1449149
TI  - Antibiotic-associated fulminant pseudomembranous colitis without toxic megacolon.
AB  - Presented is a middle-aged male who developed a fulminant case of antibiotic
      associated pseudomembranous colitis characterized by leukocytosis,
      hypoalbuminemia, ascites, and anasarca without toxic megacolon. The patient
      responded slowly to medical therapy consisting of intravenous metronidazole, oral
      vancomycin, and parenteral nutrition. Subsequently, cholestyramine was
      administered. A review of the literature concerning similar cases of fulminant
      pseudomembranous colitis is presented.

PMID- 1449150
TI  - Syphilitic gastritis in an HIV-infected individual.
AB  - We report the first known case of syphilitic gastritis in an HIV-infected person.
      The presentation of nonspecific abdominal pain and weight loss in a 48-yr-old
      former intravenous drug user previously treated for asymptomatic syphilis led to
      a barium swallow which demonstrated linitis plastica. Upper endoscopy reinforced
      a suspicion of carcinoma, but biopsy made the diagnosis of syphilis by silver
      staining. Further testing revealed a positive serology for syphilis as well as
      HIV infection with a depressed CD-4 lymphocyte count. Treatment with parenteral
      penicillin led to a rapid resolution of symptoms. This case represents a rare
      complication of late syphilis, and is another example of the unusual
      manifestations of syphilis seen in the HIV-infected population.

PMID- 1449151
TI  - Gastrointestinal obstruction due to Mycobacterium avium intracellulare associated
      with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
AB  - Three patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) had complete or
      incomplete gastrointestinal obstruction resulting from infection with
      Mycobacterium avium intracellulare. The pathophysiologic mechanisms of the
      obstruction in the three cases were ileal volvulus due to adhesions from matted
      infected mesenteric lymph nodes, ileal intussusception due to engorged infected
      ileal mucosa, and small bowel displacement and compression by massively enlarged
      infected intraabdominal lymph nodes. These reports extend the clinical
      manifestations of Mycobacterium avium intracellulare infection in patients with
      AIDS to include partial and complete gastrointestinal obstruction.

PMID- 1449152
TI  - Arterioportal fistula: a role for pre-TIPSS arteriography and hepatic venous
      pressure measurements.
AB  - A 70-yr-old male presented with massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding secondary
      to esophageal varices. Because the bleeding was not controlled by sclerotherapy
      or vasopressin and nitroglycerin, the patient was evaluated for a transjugular
      intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. Preprocedure arteriography was performed
      because the etiology of the portal hypertension was uncertain. The arteriogram
      revealed a hepatic artery to portal vein fistula. Hepatic venous pressure
      measurements documented an elevated hepatic venous pressure gradient, which
      diminished dramatically upon embolization of the fistula. Rebleeding from the
      varices was associated with reestablishment of the fistula via collaterals and
      elevation of the hepatic venous pressure gradient. The case is presented to
      establish a role for arteriography prior to transjugular intrahepatic
      portosystemic shunting, especially in patients with unexplained portal
      hypertension, and to establish the potential value of hepatic venous pressure
      measurements in the treatment of arterioportal fistulas.

PMID- 1449153
TI  - Delayed massive hemobilia following percutaneous liver biopsy: treatment by
      embolotherapy.
AB  - A patient developed delayed life-threatening hemobilia after apparently
      uncomplicated percutaneous needle liver biopsy. An arteriobiliary fistula
      demonstrated by arteriography was successfully treated by selective transcatheter
      arterial embolization, with Gelfoam and a Gianturco coil. The diagnosis of liver
      biopsy-induced hemobilia should be suspected when a postprocedure fall in
      hematocrit is associated with abdominal pain, hyperbilirubinemia, or unexplained
      gastrointestinal bleeding. A review of the diagnosis and management of liver
      biopsy-related hemobilia is presented.

PMID- 1449154
TI  - Listeria monocytogenes peritonitis: case report and literature review.
AB  - Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive bacillus that is pathogenic in both the
      normal and compromised host. We describe Listeria peritonitis and cerebritis in a
      patient with cirrhosis due to non-A, non-B hepatitis, and review the 11 other
      cases of Listeria peritonitis reported in the English-language literature.
      Listeria is a rare cause of peritonitis in debilitated, older patients, with two
      thirds of the cases occurring in patients with chronic liver disease. Listeria
      peritonitis may also occur in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, or in
      those with malignancy. Peritonitis due to Listeria is clinically similar to
      spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and is associated with fever, variable
      abdominal pain, and neutrocytic ascites; bacteremia commonly accompanies Listeria
      peritonitis. This syndrome can be successfully treated with antimicrobial drugs,
      although the third-generation cephalosporins commonly used in the therapy of
      spontaneous bacterial peritonitis are not recommended. Ampicillin may be the drug
      of choice, with combination therapy with an aminoglycoside reserved for cases
      that do not respond to ampicillin alone.

PMID- 1449155
TI  - Enterolith ileus: a rare complication of duodenal diverticula.
AB  - Small bowel obstruction secondary to an enterolith formed within a duodenal
      diverticulum is a rare complication. Twenty-nine cases of enterolith ileus have
      been reported in the literature. This is a case report of the 30th, with review
      of the literature. Enterolith ileus closely resembles gallstone ileus in its
      clinical presentation. Diagnosis is established by documenting normalcy of
      gallbladder and the presence of small bowel diverticula.

PMID- 1449156
TI  - Post-cholecystectomy diarrhea: evidence of bile acid malabsorption assessed by
      SeHCAT test.
AB  - Although bile acid malabsorption (BAM) in post-cholecystectomy diarrhea (PCD) is
      a well-known clinical condition, its true etiopathogenetic role is not entirely
      clear. The SeHCAT (23-selena-25-homotaurocholic acid) test, a simple and reliable
      BAM test, was performed in 33 cholecystectomized patients, 26 with chronic
      diarrhea. The test revealed a marked degree of BAM in 25/26 cases. Cholestyramine
      in doses of 2-12 g/day was effective in 23/25, ineffective in two, and was not
      tolerated in one patient. When treatment was suspended, diarrhea recurred in
      nine, whereas bowel habit remained regular in 60%, with brief sporadic episodes
      of diarrhea in the other cases. The SeHCAT test was repeated in 11 cases after
      cholestyramine treatment interruption, and revealed the normalization of
      parameters in two patients and an improvement in three. We conclude that BAM is
      an important etiopathogenetic factor in PCD that responds favorably to
      cholestyramine. In 60% of the cases, it resolved diarrhea definitively, although
      without eliminating BAM in all cases: this suggests that existence of other
      factors associated with BAM. The SeHCAT test is essential for a differential
      diagnosis between PCD and the irritable bowel syndrome.

PMID- 1449157
TI  - Marked hyperlipidemia and pancreatitis associated with isotretinoin therapy.
AB  - Isotretinoin, a retinoid derivative, is in wide use as a treatment for severe
      acne and other dermatologic conditions. Its effects on serum lipids, most notably
      the induction of hypertriglyceridemia, have been well documented. We present a
      case of a young woman with a previous history of gestational hyperlipidemia who
      developed hypertriglyceridemia and pancreatitis after initiation of isotretinoin
      therapy. A history of gestational hyperlipidemia may serve as a marker to help
      identify patients who are at increased risk for developing severe
      hypertriglyceridemia while receiving isotretinoin. Her case emphasizes the need
      to consider the possibility of pancreatitis in patients who develop abdominal
      pain while receiving this drug.

PMID- 1449158
TI  - Multiple hemangiopericytomas of the spleen.
AB  - Splenic tumors are uncommon. Described is a 58-yr-old man with multiple
      hemangiopericytomas of the spleen. Hemangiopericytoma is categorized as a benign
      vascular tumor, but has a relatively high malignant potential. A review of the
      literature shows that the case we present is only the second ever reported of a
      tumor originating from the spleen. Radiological findings and the treatment of the
      tumor are discussed.

PMID- 1449159
TI  - Common bile duct obstruction due to pancreatic involvement in the von Hippel
      Lindau syndrome.
AB  - Pancreatic involvement in the von Hippel-Lindau syndrome occurs frequently, but
      is nearly always asymptomatic. Until now, only two cases of bile duct obstruction
      as a complication of this syndrome have been reported. We present another report
      of cholestatic jaundice in a patient with the von Hippel-Lindau syndrome and
      multiple pancreatic cystic lesions, treated by endoscopic implantation of a
      biliary stent.

PMID- 1449160
TI  - Accredited fellowship training programs in gastroenterology.

PMID- 1449161
TI  - Beta-blockers and prevention of first variceal hemorrhage: tantalizing
      expectations?

PMID- 1449162
TI  - Hepatitis B and renal transplantation: dangling the sword of damocles?

PMID- 1449163
TI  - Steroids in alcohol hepatitis: hope or hype?

PMID- 1449164
TI  - Colonic metabolism of short-chain fatty acids.

PMID- 1449165
TI  - Hepatotoxicity of 6-mercaptopurine in Crohn's disease.

PMID- 1449166
TI  - Bleeding anal varix: adverse effects of local treatment with histoacryl.

PMID- 1449167
TI  - Advantage of use of DPM for 14C-urea breath test for the detection of
      Helicobacter pylori.

PMID- 1449168
TI  - Pancreatitis after endoscopic cholangiography without pancreatography.

PMID- 1449169
TI  - Ultrasonic assessment of inflammatory bowel disease.

PMID- 1449170
TI  - Aeromonas sobria spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

PMID- 1449171
TI  - A new chemotherapy against pseudomyxoma peritonei.

PMID- 1449172
TI  - Lipohyperplasia of the ileocecal valve contiguous with adenocarcinoma of the
      gallbladder.

PMID- 1449173
TI  - Cerumen management.

PMID- 1449174
TI  - Anatomic importance of the retrofacial air tract.
AB  - The retrofacial air tract is a constant and relevant anatomic landmark for the
      temporal bone surgeon. By purposefully dissecting this space, one is able to
      safely identify the facial nerve, endolymphatic sac, and jugular bulb. The
      retrofacial air tract also provides access to the petrous apex. Forty temporal
      bones of varying degrees of pneumatization were dissected in order to study the
      retrofacial air tract. A well-developed air tract was easily identified in all
      specimens. We describe our anatomic findings and discuss the surgical relevance
      and important of the retrofacial air tract.

PMID- 1449175
TI  - Binaural cochlear implants.
AB  - With the success of monaural cochlear implantation, patients frequently ask about
      having a second implant. We have performed binaural cochlear implants in 12 adult
      patients. Desire not to disrupt a functioning implant was the primary
      consideration in implanting the contralateral ear. Seven patients received a
      second 3M/House single-channel implant to upgrade to a magnetic external
      receiver. Four patients with a 3M/House device in one ear elected to place a
      Nucleus multichannel implant in the opposite ear. One patient with a poorly
      functioning Nucleus device elected to have a second Nucleus device. Four patients
      with a Nucleus and a 3M/House implant, one with binaural 3M/House implants, and
      one with binaural Nucleus implants were tested for auditory discrimination in
      order to quantify monaural versus binaural differences. The functional benefit of
      the second implant was mixed, but all patients showed some degree of objective
      improvement on one or more tests. Five of the six are regular users of both
      devices; the patient with binaural Nucleus implants wears only one. Despite the
      differing processing schemes, patients with a Nucleus device in one ear and a
      3M/House device in the other ear are able to combine the two signals to
      advantage. We feel that cochlear implantation in the contralateral ear is an
      acceptable option in selected patients desiring an upgraded implant without
      placing a functioning implant at risk.

PMID- 1449176
TI  - Macrothrombocytopenia and progressive deafness: a new genetic syndrome.
AB  - We report a kindred with hereditary macrothrombocytopenia and progressive
      sensorineural hearing loss. Although the occurrence of hereditary sensorineural
      hearing loss associated with macrothrombocytopenia has been reported in a small
      number of families, varying degrees of renal pathology have always been present.
      In contrast to the previously reported syndromes involving a giant-platelet
      disorder and deafness, none of the family members in this report have had any
      evidence of renal dysfunction. The disorder was inherited in a linear pattern
      from great-grandmother to grandmother to mother to daughter. The clinical
      manifestations include hearing impairment that begins before the third decade and
      progresses to severe to profound bilateral hearing loss by the fourth decade. The
      platelet disorder manifests in early childhood and persists lifelong, although it
      tends to remain subclinical. Hematologic and ultrastructural findings will be
      contrasted to those found in Alport syndrome.

PMID- 1449177
TI  - Luetic endolymphatic hydrops: diagnosis and treatment.
AB  - Luetic endolymphatic hydrops (LEH) is an effectively treatable disorder that
      requires astute clinical judgment to suspect, confirm, and treat. We provide a
      review of the literature as well as recommendations regarding the clinical
      management of LEH with discussion of several illustrative cases. We also give an
      overview of laboratory testing for the diagnosis and monitoring of the infectious
      process. Ultimately, the control of the otologic symptoms in LEH requires acumen
      on the part of the clinician.

PMID- 1449178
TI  - Cochlear implants in the management of bilateral acoustic neuromas.
AB  - Multichannel cochlear implants currently provide the only modality for successful
      auditory rehabilitation of patients with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing
      loss who derive no benefit from amplification. We have developed a protocol for
      patients with neurofibromatosis and bilateral acoustic neuromas in which every
      effort is made to preserve hearing in at least one ear. Failing that, the
      cochlear nerve is spared, potentially allowing for the insertion of a cochlear
      implant. We present our data on one such patient whose auditory function was
      restored with a Nucleus mini 22-channel cochlear implant following removal of his
      acoustic neuroma.

PMID- 1449179
TI  - Evaluation of perilymphatic fistulas by middle ear endoscopy.
AB  - Transtympanic endoscopy provides a unique opportunity to view the undisturbed
      contents of the middle ear. Fiberoptic and rigid endoscopes have been used for
      thorough examination of the middle ear without the need for local anesthetics or
      surgical trauma. Endoscopy is now routinely used in the evaluation of a
      perilymphatic fistula and the patient is awake during an intermittent forceful
      Valsalva maneuver. Oval and round windows in both ears of five cats were studied
      endoscopically to evaluate surgically created fistulas. Excellent visualization
      of the defect was obtained in all instances. Endoscopy is a useful office
      technique for the evaluation of perilymphatic fistula. It reduces the need for
      surgical exploration and provides a satisfactory examination of the middle ear.
      Obliteration of the window niche can even be performed through the myringotomy
      using autologous blood.

PMID- 1449180
TI  - Spontaneous temporal bone cerebrospinal fluid leak.
AB  - Eight patients with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak of temporal bone origin
      are presented. Pertinent history and surgical findings are reviewed and
      contrasted with 33 previously reported patients. Unilateral ear fullness and mild
      hearing loss are the most common presenting symptoms. Profuse clear otorrhea
      following myringotomy is virtually pathognomonic. Diagnostic methods including
      high-resolution computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and contrast
      cisternography are discussed. The indications for transmastoid and combined
      transmastoid/middle fossa surgical repairs are compared. Both surgical approaches
      were found to be equally effective. We favor the transmastoid as the initial
      approach because of simplicity, safety, and the ability to visualize both the
      middle fossa and posterior fossa plates as well as the middle ear.

PMID- 1449181
TI  - Autologous fibrin tissue adhesive for ossicular reconstruction in cats.
AB  - Autologous fibrin tissue adhesive is currently the most promising adhesive for
      otologic use with respect to strength and biocompatibility without the risk of
      transmissable disease that is of concern with the commercially prepared fibrin
      adhesive. We set out to evaluate the practicality of preparing autologous fibrin
      adhesive in cats and to see if the adhesive's duration and strength of bonding
      was sufficient to allow natural tissue union to occur with various grafting
      materials. Autologous fibrin adhesive was prepared preoperatively from ten cats
      using the ammonium sulfate precipitation technique. Twenty otologic procedures
      were performed in which the incus long process was resected and the defect
      bridged with one of four grafting materials: autograft ossicular bone, bone pate
      fibrin glue, porous hydroxylapatite, and Plastipore-bone pate. All grafts were
      secured with the autologous adhesive. The cats were sacrificed at 6 and 12 weeks.
      We found the the autologous adhesive provided adequate duration and strength of
      support to enable a firm tissue union between all the grafting materials and the
      adjoining incus and stapes.

PMID- 1449182
TI  - Ossiculoplasty prognosis: the spite method of assessment.
AB  - A series of 535 ossiculoplasties were studied to determine statistically
      significant links between the presence of presenting preoperative clinical
      features and adverse audiologic results, in order to identify those aspects of
      case presentation that indicate a good or poor prognosis. Analysis by chi-square
      testing has identified twelve features classified as surgical, prosthetic,
      infection, tissue, and eustachian (SPITE) factors. Regrouping the significant
      features has demonstrated their value in predicting accurately an ossiculoplasty
      prognosis. The data were used to compare accurately the results of 247 Plastipore
      procedures and 265 procedures using the Richards Oval-Top hydroxylapatite
      implant. There was no statistical difference between the series. The use of these
      factors will permit precise matching of future series to allow accurate
      comparisons of prostheses, techniques, individual skills, and also surgical
      philosophies such as the open and closed cholesteatoma management. Most
      importantly, the SPITE factors permit an accurate preoperative individual
      assessment when counseling the patient as to the likelihood of success or failure
      of a proposed ossiculoplasty.

PMID- 1449183
TI  - Beta 2 transferrin application in otology.
AB  - The diagnosis and management of perilymphatic fistula has received considerable
      attention in recent years. Despite the use of sophisticated technology, the
      diagnosis of perilymphatic fistula continues to rest primarily upon clinical
      suspicion and the exclusion of other disorders. In addition, the confirmation of
      a perilymphatic fistula during surgical exploration is usually based upon the
      subjective observation of fluid pooling in niches of the middle ear. A sensitive
      and objective laboratory test for identifying perilymph in the middle ear would
      be a useful adjunct for the diagnosis and management of perilymphatic fistula.
      The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the potential utility of beta 2
      (beta 2) transferrin assay in the diagnosis of perilymphatic fistula. To
      accomplish this objective, we confirmed that beta 2 transferrin is present in
      living human perilymph and is absent in the normal or inflamed middle ear. In
      addition, the utility of beta 2 transferrin assay in the diagnosis of
      cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea is presented.

PMID- 1449184
TI  - Argon laser stapedectomy: comparison to traditional fenestration techniques.
AB  - A retrospective review of all stapedectomies performed at the Massachusetts Eye
      and Ear Infirmary over a 13 month period was undertaken to compare the results of
      argon laser stapedectomy to conventional footplate fenestration techniques.
      Despite the fact that it was new and unfamiliar to the surgical staff, the
      complication rate was lower with the argon laser than with footplate fenestration
      by traditional pick or drill techniques. The incidence of footplate fracture or
      removal preventing use of a small fenestra technique was five times as likely to
      occur with traditional instruments as with the argon laser (p < 0.025). In
      revision stapedectomy sensorineural hearing loss was four times as likely to
      occur with traditional instruments as with the argon laser (p < or = 0.05). The
      argon laser did not alter the operating time. Though not ideal for every case,
      the argon laser endo-otoprobe offers the surgeon a significant new tool to
      improve the outcome in stapes surgery.

PMID- 1449185
TI  - Radiographic differential diagnosis of petrous apex lesions.
AB  - As a consequence of improved diagnostic imaging modalities, otologists have
      encountered a steadily increasing number of petrous apex lesions in recent years.
      Contemporary imaging techniques not only provide precise anatomic localization of
      the lesion, but also are able to suggest specific tissue diagnoses in the
      majority of cases. Computed tomography (CT), by virtue of its sensitivity and low
      false-positive rate, is the screening examination of choice in a patient
      suspected of having a petrous apex lesion. Once a lesion is identified, it is
      often necessary to obtain a combination of CT and magnetic resonance imaging
      (MRI). Computed tomography is important in the detection of osseous erosion as
      well as in the evaluation of the extent of pneumatization and marrow formation.
      It also provides important details about potential surgical routes to this
      relatively inaccessible region. Magnetic resonance imaging provides information
      about the composition of the lesion that cannot be readily discerned on CT scans.
      In the great majority of cases, it is capable of differentiating between petrous
      apicitis, cholesterol granuloma, osteomyelitis, cholesteatoma, and neoplasms such
      as schwannoma, meningioma, chondroma, and chordoma. In the interpretation of MRI
      scans, a familiarity with the typical appearance of the lesions that affect the
      petrous apex on T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and gadolinium-enhanced images is
      essential. A combination of MRI and CT scanning is also necessary to evaluate
      normal anatomic variations, such as giant air cells and asymmetric bone marrow,
      which may at times, on MRI alone, simulate pathologic conditions.

PMID- 1449186
TI  - Immune-mediated inner ear disease.
AB  - Recent clinical studies, experimental research, and various testing techniques in
      otoimmunology have resulted in presentation of the synonymous terms autoimmune
      sensorineural hearing loss, autoimmune inner ear disease, immune-mediated
      sensorineural hearing loss, and immune-mediated inner ear disease or disorder.
      The development of this terminology and the clinical presentation of this disease
      as well as whether it is really a distinct clinical entity are discussed.
      Laboratory tests for immune-mediated inner ear disease are presented along with a
      discussion of progress being made in the growing field of otoimmunology.

PMID- 1449187
TI  - Dermoid tumor of the middle ear: case report and literature review.
AB  - Dermoids and teratomas are frequently described in the head and neck, but are
      rarely found in the middle ear or temporal bone. We have recently managed a case
      of an extensive middle ear dermoid occurring in a 14-month-old female. The
      purpose of this article is to report the presentation and management of this case
      and to review the literature with respect to this entity.

PMID- 1449188
TI  - Blastomycotic cranial osteomyelitis.
AB  - This is the second case report of a temporal bone osteomyelitis caused by
      Blastomyces dermatitidis, which presented as a chronic serous otitis media. The
      presenting serous otitis media was refractory to conventional medical and
      surgical management and progressed to a temporal bone osteomyelitis prior to
      diagnosis. B. dermatitidis is a rare fungal pathogen that causes a systemic
      pyogranulomatous disease that primarily manifests itself in the skin, bones,
      pulmonary, and genitourinary systems. If left untreated it is associated with a
      high rate of mortality. The otologic presentation of this rare disease is
      emphasized, while the clinical and therapeutic features are reviewed.

PMID- 1449189
TI  - Facial and trigeminal neural dysfunction by a primary cutaneous squamous cell
      carcinoma: MRI and clinicopathologic correlates.
AB  - Carcinomatous neural infiltration and subsequent neural dysfunction are phenomena
      associated with the facial nerve and parotid gland tumors, particularly adenoid
      cystic carcinoma. The association of primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
      (PCSCC) with these phenomena is not as well recognized, especially with respect
      to the involvement of the trigeminal nerve. By presenting the case history of a
      man who successively developed facial and trigeminal neural dysfunction after
      Mohs chemosurgery of a PCSCC, this paper documents histologically the occurrence
      of such neural invasion, and illustrates the utility of gadolinium-enhanced
      magnetic resonance scanning in patient management.

PMID- 1449190
TI  - Contemporary diagnostic update: clinical utility of computerized oculomotor and
      posture testing.

PMID- 1449191
TI  - Value of human temporal bone studies in advancing the understanding of diseases
      of the ear.

PMID- 1449192
TI  - Hearing results following posterior semicircular canal injury during antesigmoid
      retrolabyrinthine selective vestibular nerve section.
AB  - The disastrous hearing results in six patients whose posterior semicircular canal
      was entered during antesigmoid mastoid craniotomy for retrolabyrinthine selective
      vestibular nerve section were reviewed. The injury occurred during
      skeletonization of the posterior semicircular canal to maximize intracranial
      exposure of the eighth nerve. All patients had Meniere's disease. Four patients
      were deafened, and in two, there was either no serviceable hearing or severe
      hearing impairment in the operated ear. Caution is urged in posterior
      semicircular canal labyrinthotomy for vertigo and attempted hearing preservation
      if a patient has symptoms of endolymphatic hydrops.

PMID- 1449193
TI  - Mobilization strategy for guinea worm eradication in Nigeria.
AB  - The transformation of dracunculiasis from an obscure and neglected rural disease
      to the highly visible target of a national eradication campaign in Nigeria is
      described in this report. This process progressed through four overlapping
      stages: documentation of the extent and nature of the disease as a national
      problem, demonstration in Nigeria that dracunculiasis could be effectively
      prevented by targeted provision and use of protected rural water supplies,
      mobilization for community participation in, and political support of, the
      eradication effort, and implementation of interventions nationwide. The conduct
      of the first national village-by-village search for cases and documentation of
      the adverse socioeconomic impact of the disease (e.g., on rice production) in
      Nigeria were the key elements used to solicit greater attention to the problem
      and mobilize support for its eradication. The critical role of the mass media in
      this effort and other benefits of this mobilization strategy are also
      highlighted.

PMID- 1449194
TI  - The epidemiology of Chagas' disease in a hyperendemic area of Cochabamba,
      Bolivia: a clinical study including electrocardiography, seroreactivity to
      Trypanosoma cruzi, xenodiagnosis, and domiciliary triatomine distribution.
AB  - A clinicoepidemiologic survey of Chagas' disease was conducted in the remote
      rural village of Tabacal in southcentral Cochabamba, Bolivia. In June and July
      1988, we interviewed and examined 153 of 160 villagers > five years old for signs
      and symptoms of Chagas' disease. All participants had electrocardiograms (EKGs)
      and serologic analysis performed, and 20 villagers underwent xenodiagnosis. All
      40 houses in the village were examined for triatomes, and house construction
      materials and defects were recorded. Seventy-four percent of all villagers had
      serologic evidence of Chagas' disease, and were defined as cases. Cases were
      three and one-half times more likely to have signs and symptoms of heart failure
      than non-cases (P = 0.2) and were nine times more likely to have EKG conduction
      abnormalities than non-cases (P = 0.02). Thirty-three percent of all EKG
      conduction defects occurred in individuals < 35 years of age. All dwellings had
      evidence of triatome infestation; 72% of the triatomes collected were positive
      for metacyclic trypanosomes. We conclude that Trypanosoma cruzi infection is
      highly prevalent in Tabacal and is a common cause of morbidity in that region.

PMID- 1449195
TI  - Malaria transmission at a new irrigation project in Sri Lanka: the emergence of
      Anopheles annularis as a major vector.
AB  - Malaria transmission was studied in a newly irrigated area of the Mahaweli
      project in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Observations were performed for a three
      month period following the northeast monsoon. Parasitemia in the population
      varied from 20.2% in February to 7% in May, and infection was due to both
      Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax. Night catches of mosquitoes collected with
      human bait included a high proportion of Anopheles annularis. Mosquitoes
      containing sporozoites in the salivary glands were identified by an enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay. Anopheles culicifacies, An. annularis, and An. aconitus were
      all implicated as vectors in the area. The highest entomologic inoculation rate,
      0.12 infected bites/hr, was observed with An. annularis and P. vivax in March. We
      suggest that a change in the ecosystem from dry zone forest to irrigated
      cultivated land is the cause of the increased prevalence of An. annularis in this
      area and its emergence as a major vector of malaria.

PMID- 1449196
TI  - Seroepidemiologic studies of humoral immune response to the Plasmodium falciparum
      antigens in Thailand.
AB  - We have investigated seroreactivity against Plasmodium falciparum crude parasite
      antigens, the P. falciparum ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen
      (Pf155/RESA), as well as against two synthetic peptides (EENV)6 and (EENVEHDA)3
      that represent important epitopes of Pf155/RESA. The study population consisted
      of 421 children and adult Thais living in an area with moderate malaria
      transmission. We related these serologic findings to some important epidemiologic
      baseline data collected in the study area. The parasite rate in study subjects
      was 18.76%. Sixty-two percent were seropositive to crude P. falciparum antigens,
      30.3% to the Pf155/RESA antigen, 23.05% to (EENV)6, and 20.17% to (EENVEHDA)3.
      Antibody responses to crude P. falciparum antigens and to Pf155/RESA were age
      dependent and increased with exposure. There was evidence that Pf155/RESA
      antibodies might play a role in protective immunity in this population. Since
      Pf155/RESA is a potential vaccine candidate antigen, the information obtained
      from these field studies will provide some seroepidemiologic baseline data for
      subsequent vaccine trials.

PMID- 1449197
TI  - Simulation of arbovirus overwintering: survival of Toscana virus
      (Bunyaviridae:Phlebovirus) in its natural sand fly vector Phlebotomus
      perniciosus.
AB  - A series of experiments were done to study the effect of simulated summer and
      winter temperatures on the development of Phlebotomus perniciosus
      (Diptera:Psychodidae) and on the survival of Toscana virus in transovarially
      infected insects. Sand flies maintained at 28 degrees C developed relatively
      fast, with adults emerging from 40 to 55 days after initial oviposition. Similar
      results were obtained with insects reared at 25 degrees C. In contrast, sand
      flies maintained at 15 degrees C developed slowly up to the fourth larval instar;
      at that point, further development ceased and the insects entered diapause.
      Diapause could be terminated by increasing the ambient temperature to 25 degrees
      C. The ambient temperatures at which the immature forms were reared (15 degrees
      C, 25 degrees C, and 28 degrees C) had no effect on the subsequent F1 adult
      filial infection rates with Toscana virus (49.1%, 47.5%, and 46.5%,
      respectively). The results of these experiments provide a model of how Toscana
      virus survives the winter in endemic areas by maintenance in diapausing P.
      perniciosus larvae. In another experiment, venereal transmission of Toscana virus
      was shown from transovarially infected males to non-infected virgin females. This
      is the first demonstration of sexual transmission of a phlebovirus by sand flies.
      If venereal transmission occurs in nature, it would provide an alternative method
      of virus amplification in the vector population, in the absence of viremic
      vertebrates.

PMID- 1449198
TI  - Cryptosporidiosis among patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Zulia
      State, Venezuela.
AB  - We studied the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in 29 patients with acquired
      immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) from Zulia State, Venezuela. They ranged in age
      from five months to 46 years. Two were children and 27 were adults, of which six
      were women. Of the 21 men, 66.6% reported homosexual behavior. Three stool
      samples from each patient were examined, and modified Ziehl-Neelsen carbolfuchsin
      staining of formalinether stool concentrates was used to identify Cryptosporidium
      oocysts. To detect the presence of other intestinal parasites, direct wet mounts
      and iron-hematoxylin-stained smears were examined. Cryptosporidium was found in
      12 (41.3%) of the patients and was identified as a single parasitic infection in
      seven of the 12 patients (58.3%). Other pathogenic parasites encountered were
      Giardia lamblia (3 of 12, 25%), Entamoeba histolytica (1 of 12, 8.3%), Ascaris
      lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and Strongyloides stercoralis (each 1 of 12,
      8.3%). Blastocystis hominis, an organism with an uncertain taxonomic position and
      pathogenicity, was observed in three of 12 patients (25%). An inflammatory
      exudate was observed in 10 of 12 patients infected with Cryptosporidium. Most of
      the patients with this infection presented with chronic watery diarrhea and
      weight loss. Our results suggest that Cryptosporidium is very common in AIDS
      patients with diarrhea in Venezuela. However, the role of this parasite as an
      enteropathogen in these patients is uncertain.

PMID- 1449199
TI  - Lymphadenopathy associated with Leishmania braziliensis cutaneous infection.
AB  - Lymph node involvement by Leishmania during human cutaneous leishmaniasis was
      reported more than 90 years ago, but the importance of certain Leishmania strains
      in such dissemination remains largely speculative. We have examined 36
      consecutively untreated cutaneous leishmaniasis patients early in their disease;
      66.7% had enlarged lymph nodes. Patients with enlarged lymph nodes had higher
      anti-Leishmania immune responses than patients without such involvement, both at
      the IgG antibody level (mean +/- SD optical density at 492 nm = 0.163 +/- 0.089
      versus 0.098 +/- 0.086; P = 0.009) and in skin test responses (12.4 +/- 10.2 mm
      versus 5.7 +/- 7.3; P = 0.03). Thirteen (62%) of 21 lymph node cultures and 16
      (53%) of 30 cultures from cutaneous sites were positive for Leishmania. Eleven of
      13 isolates from lymph nodes were characterized by a panel of monoclonal
      antibodies, and all were typed as L. braziliensis. Our findings stress the
      importance of L. braziliensis as an agent involved in the early invasion of the
      lymphatic system.

PMID- 1449200
TI  - Use of enzyme immunoassays to compare the effect and assess the dosage regimens
      of three Brazilian Bothrops antivenoms. The Butantan Institute Antivenom Study
      Group (BIASG).
AB  - The effect of the three main Brazilian polyspecific antivenoms on venom clearance
      was assessed in 118 moderately envenomed victims of bites by Bothrops species
      (mainly B. jararaca) in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Serum samples taken from
      patients at intervals during their stay in the hospital and at followup
      approximately four weeks later were tested by enzyme immunoassay for the presence
      of whole venom and therapeutic antivenom. Results indicated that in patients
      treated with the standard regimen of either four (40 ml) or eight (80 ml) ampules
      of each antivenom, venom was cleared from the circulation within four days of
      antivenom administration. However, high concentrations of antivenom persisted for
      approximately 10 days and remained detectable until 30-50 days after
      administration. This suggests that patients may be being treated with excessive
      amounts of antivenom in Brazil. This practice increases the national cost of
      antivenom therapy and may contribute to the high frequency of antivenom
      reactions. Clinically, there was no obvious difference in the efficacy between
      the three antivenoms.

PMID- 1449201
TI  - Lyme borreliosis in genetically resistant and susceptible mice with severe
      combined immunodeficiency.
AB  - The evolution of Lyme borreliosis was examined in genetically resistant C.B-17
      and susceptible C3H/He(C3H) mice homozygous for the severe combined immune
      deficiency (scid) gene, or their immunocompetent counterparts. The C.B-17, C.B-17
      scid, C3H, and C3H-scid mice were inoculated intradermally with 10(4) Borrelia
      burgdorferi and examined on days 14, 21, 30, 45, and 60 after inoculation.
      Spirochetemia was detected through 30 days, but was cleared in all groups by 45
      days. Kidney and brain were inconsistently culture positive, but spleen and ear
      punch samples were positive in most mice. Immunocompetent C.B-17 and C3H mice
      seroconverted with equivalent IgG titers to B. burgdorferi, while C.B-17-scid and
      C3H-scid mice did not seroconvert. Arthritis occurred in nearly all joints
      examined in all genotypes on day 14, was of equal severity among C.B-17, C.B-17
      scid, and C3H mice, but was more severe in C3H-scid mice. By days 30 and 45,
      arthritis began to resolve in immunocompetent mice, with C3H mice having more
      severe disease than C.B-17 mice. Arthritis persisted in C.B-17-scid and C3H-scid
      mice. Carditis occurred to an equal degree in all groups on day 14, remained
      active in scid mice, but regressed in immunocompetent mice at later intervals.
      Many spirochetes were visualized with silver stain in inflamed synovial tissues
      of scid mice, and were present in other tissues in smaller numbers. These studies
      show that specific immunity is not involved in arthritogenesis or genetically
      determined susceptibility to arthritis, but is involved in arthritis and carditis
      regression.

PMID- 1449202
TI  - Renal pathology in owl monkeys vaccinated with Plasmodium falciparum asexual
      blood-stage synthetic peptide antigens.
AB  - Renal specimens from Aotus monkeys were studied by light microscopy and
      immunohistochemistry to examine pathologic changes following vaccination with
      synthetic peptides corresponding to the 35-kD, 55-kD, and 83-kD asexual blood
      stage antigens of Plasmodium falciparum. The monkeys were vaccinated and later
      challenged with P. falciparum. In the monkeys vaccinated with Centers for Disease
      Control peptides (group I), specimens from four of six postvaccinated animals had
      mild to severe mesangial proliferation and two had diffuse interstitial
      nephritis. Specimens from three monkeys vaccinated with Colombia peptides (group
      II) had mild to severe mesangial proliferation and one had interstitial
      nephritis. In the hybrid polymer-vaccinated monkeys (group III), specimens from
      three animals had mild to moderate mesangial proliferation and one had severe
      interstitial nephritis. On the other hand, the control group immunized with
      bovine serum albumin (group IV) showed that specimens from three animals had mild
      to severe mesangial proliferation and two had severe interstitial nephritis. In
      the nonimmunized group (group V), specimens from three animals had moderate to
      severe mesangial proliferation and two had severe and mild interstitial
      nephritis. Immunohistochemical analysis using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase
      method revealed mesangial deposits of P. falciparum antigens in 11 of 14
      vaccinated monkeys and in five of 10 unvaccinated controls. These results show
      that treatment of monkeys with prospective malaria vaccines does not increase the
      frequency of occurrence or of the severity of renal lesions. These data thus
      provide a baseline for assessing the safety of synthetic malarial vaccines in the
      future.

PMID- 1449203
TI  - Agglutination of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes from east and west
      African isolates by human sera from distant geographic regions.
AB  - Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (PfE) were collected from acutely
      infected children in The Gambia and Tanzania and cultured for more than 30 hr
      until the parasites were mature trophozoites. Sera collected from these
      countries, other African countries, Asia, and South America were used in the PfE
      microagglutination test to determine whether PfE from East and West Africa share
      surface antigens. From the patterns of agglutination reactivity, we identified
      extensive antigenic diversity in surface antigens, but obtained no evidence for
      greater differences between isolates from East or West Africa and those within
      one region. The majority of sera from immune adults from The Gambia, Tanzania,
      Sudan, Nigeria, or Ghana were pan-agglutinating, and agglutinated all PfE
      isolates from The Gambia and Tanzania. Some sera from immune adults of Irian Jaya
      also agglutinated each of the seven African isolates, while others agglutinated
      many but not all of the isolates, similar to sera from immune adults of Flores,
      Indonesia. In contrast, sera from nonimmune adults from Colombia agglutinated few
      of the African isolates. It was remarkable, however, that sera from nonimmune
      Colombians agglutinated any African isolates. Our results are consistent with the
      following conclusions: some PfE surface antigen(s) are very diverse; this
      diversity is a feature of the parasite worldwide; the repertoire of isolate
      specific surface antigens, although large, includes antigens that are either
      identical or antigenically cross-reactive in geographically very distant parasite
      populations; and African adults have pan-agglutinating antibodies that may
      contribute to protective immunity. Such pan-agglutinating antibodies could
      reflect the accumulation of a large repertoire of isolate-specific antibodies.
      The contribution of antibody against any shared PfE surface antigen to the pan
      agglutinating reactivities is unknown and awaits development of the appropriate
      reagents.

PMID- 1449204
TI  - The squirrel monkey as an experimental model for Plasmodium falciparum
      erythrocyte rosette formation.
AB  - Experimental cerebral malaria was recently found to occur in the squirrel monkey
      Saimiri sciureus when infected with the human malaria parasite Plasmodium
      falciparum. This report is concerned with the existence of spontaneous rosette
      formation ex vivo (infected blood samples) and in vitro (cultured parasites)
      between red blood cells (RBC) infected with squirrel monkey-adapted P. falciparum
      isolates and normal squirrel monkey RBC. Transfer of P. falciparum with high
      rosette formation tendencies (90-100 R+) from one donor monkey to several
      recipients gave rise to parasites that varied extensively in their ex vivo
      rosette formation capacity (4-96% R+). However, all individual parasites readily
      form rosettes after 24 hr of in vitro culture (60-95% R+). Host factors may be
      involved in the modulation of rosette formation, although it is found to occur
      both in splenectomized and spleen-intact animals. Cross-rosette formation is seen
      between parasitized human RBC and normal squirrel monkey RBC and vice versa, and
      rosettes formed by RBC of the two hosts are similarly affected by pH,
      temperature, EDTA, trypsin, as well as squirrel monkey and African human
      hyperimmune IgG. These characteristics of rosette formation are preserved after
      long-term in vitro culture in human RBC. Rosettes formed by some isolates are
      highly sensitive to heparin while others are not, suggesting at least two
      distinct mechanisms of rosette formation. This idea is also supported by the
      observation that specific squirrel monkey antisera to heparin-sensitive strains
      does not dissociate rosettes formed by a heparin-resistant strain. The results
      suggest that rosettes and anti-rosette formation antibodies formed by squirrel
      monkeys and humans exhibited similar characteristics, and that the squirrel
      monkey is therefore a good experimental model to study erythrocyte rosette
      formation and cerebral malaria.

PMID- 1449205
TI  - Placental pathology in Plasmodium berghei-infected rats.
AB  - The pathologic changes in placentae of pregnant rats infected with Plasmodium
      berghei at different stages of gestation were studied using light and electron
      microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The major changes observed were thickening
      and duplication of the trophoblastic basement membrane, and accumulation of
      parasitized erythrocytes and occasional mononuclear cells in the maternal blood
      space. Immunohistochemical examination of nine placentae revealed that six
      stained positively for IgG, two for IgM, and four for P. berghei antigen. No C3
      deposition was detected. The findings in this study indicate that the variable
      parasitologic-clinical course from benign to fatal of P. berghei infection in
      pregnant rats makes it a potentially valuable model of human gestational malaria
      infection.

PMID- 1449206
TI  - Human African trypanosomiasis: presence of antibodies to galactocerebrosides.
AB  - Improvements were made in the immunodetection of anti-galactocerebroside (anti
      GalC) antibody in sera of patients with human African trypanosomiasis by thin
      layer chromatography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunoadsorption.
      Rabbit anti-GalC antibodies were used to standardize these techniques and
      demonstrate their specificity. Anti-GalC antibodies were found in the sera of
      42.8% of 63 patients with human African trypanosomiasis. Thirty-four control
      subjects living in the same endemic area were also tested. Anti-GalC levels were
      higher in human African trypanosomiasis patients with neurologic disturbances
      compared with patients without such disturbances. These antibodies were
      distributed mainly between the IgG and IgM classes, but 28% of the patients with
      human African trypanosomiasis had increased IgA levels without anti-GalC antibody
      activity.

PMID- 1449207
TI  - A polyclonal but not a monoclonal antibody to an M(r) 52-kD protein responsible
      for a punctate fluorescence pattern in Plasmodium falciparum merozoites inhibits
      invasion in vitro.
AB  - A monoclonal antibody, MAb H24, recognized a Plasmodium falciparum antigen with a
      relative molecular mass (M(r)) of 52 kD that appeared to be a rhoptry component
      by immunofluorescence microscopy. The antigen is synthesized during both ring and
      schizont stages, but pulse-chase experiments showed that it is not carried
      through to the next ring stage after reinvasion. It was not labeled by 3H
      glucosamine. The purified MAb failed to inhibit parasite invasion in vitro. The
      antigen was isolated using affinity chromatography, and used to produce a
      monospecific polyclonal antibody (PAb H24) in mice. Polyclonal antibody H24
      recognized the same antigen as MAb H24 as judged by both immunofluorescence
      microscopy and immunoprecipitation followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and was markedly inhibitory in vitro.

PMID- 1449208
TI  - Suppression of Plasmodium falciparum infections during concomitant measles or
      influenza but not during pertussis.
AB  - In tropical countries, concomitant infections are a continuous problem. In the
      Rufiji Delta, an area of Tanzania that is holoendemic for malaria, there were
      outbreaks of influenza A, measles, and pertussis in 1986 and 1987. Significantly
      lower parasitic prevalences and mean densities of malaria parasites were found in
      children up to nine years of age who had measles or influenza than in
      asymptomatic control children. In contrast, children with pertussis had a higher
      prevalence and mean density than controls. The clinical courses of measles,
      influenza, or pertussis infections did not appear to be significantly affected by
      concomitant malaria infections. The reasons for the suppression of Plasmodium
      falciparum parasitemia during these viral infections are unclear. This effect
      could not be explained by the presence of fever.

PMID- 1449210
TI  - Pathologic changes in the midgut of Culex tarsalis following infection with
      Western equine encephalomyelitis virus.
AB  - Midguts of two strains of the mosquito vector Culex tarsalis were examined by
      light and electron microscopy following infection with western equine
      encephalomyelitis virus. Infection of the highly susceptible Knight's Landing
      strain with high-titered blood meals resulted in pathologic changes in the midgut
      epithelium after 2-4 days of incubation; lesions included sloughing of epithelial
      cells into the lumen and necrosis of cells in situ. Infection of Knight's Landing
      strain mosquitoes with low-titered blood meals and infection of the less
      susceptible Fort Collins strain with high-titered blood meals did not result in a
      significant increase in detached luminal cells, with respect to uninfected
      controls. Sloughing of infected cells into the midgut lumen may contribute to
      modulation of the mosquito infection. Lesions in the midgut of Cx. tarsalis are
      inconsistent with traditional views that regarded arbovirus infections of
      mosquito vectors as non-pathologic. These findings demonstrate that mosquito
      pathology is not an oddity limited to the previously described interaction
      between Culiseta melanura and eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus, and suggest
      that alphaviruses in general may adversely affect their mosquito vectors in
      nature.

PMID- 1449209
TI  - Failure of a synthetic vaccine to protect Aotus lemurinus against asexual blood
      stages of Plasmodium falciparum.
AB  - The hybrid synthetic protein SPf(66), which contains small fragments of the 83
      kD, 55-kD, 35-kD, and circumsporozoite antigens of Plasmodium falciparum, was
      studied to determine its protective capacity against malaria infection in Aotus
      lemurinus monkeys. Two groups of six monkeys each were immunized six times with
      this polymer, which was mixed with either Freund's adjuvant or aluminum
      hydroxide. Two groups of five animals each were used as controls and immunized
      with saline solution mixed with the same adjuvants. Neither antipeptide nor
      antimalarial antibodies developed after the six immunization doses. Regardless of
      this fact, the monkeys were challenged intravenously with 10(5) P. falciparum
      blood stage parasites, and the resultant parasitemia was followed daily on blood
      smears. Only one monkey from each of the groups immunized using Freund's adjuvant
      (both experimental and control) was protected. In those immunized using aluminum
      hydroxide, one animal was protected in the experimental group, but none were
      protected in the control group. Anti-parasite antibodies developed during the
      infection, but did not correlate with protection and failed to recognize SPf(66)
      peptide in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunization with the polymer
      did not boost natural antibodies present in two of the monkeys before the
      experiment. Low levels of gamma-interferon were produced in some animals, but
      were not correlated with protection.

PMID- 1449211
TI  - Variation in Aedes aegypti mRNA populations related to strain, sex, and
      development.
AB  - Translation products were used to monitor changes in gene expression between
      different strains and developmental stages of Aedes aegypti. Total RNA was
      isolated from fourth stadium larvae, male and female pupae, and male and female
      adults collected at fixed time intervals following pupation and ecdysis.
      Differences in RNA populations were assessed by in vitro translation followed by
      one- and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography.
      Variations in gene expression between sexes and during development were examined
      in Liverpool (LVP) and Rockefeller (RKF) Ae. aegypti strains. Sex-related
      differences consisted primarily of differing lengths of expression for certain
      polypeptides, although two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed changes in
      intensity of a 44-kD polypeptide with a pI of 7.9 between males and females.
      Fourth stadium larvae, pupae, and adults expressed different translation
      products, which probably correlated with developmental differences. Strain
      related differences were observed between LVP and RKF.

PMID- 1449212
TI  - Rates of peptide proteolysis measured using liquid chromatography and continuous
      flow fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry.
AB  - An immobilized digestive enzyme assay, which has been used to determine whether
      orally administered peptide drugs are hydrolyzed by the digestive system, was
      applied to the measurement of rates of proteolysis of biologically active
      peptides. In this study, the rates of hydrolysis by trypsin and chymotrypsin of
      the pressor agent angiotensin II, the peptide hormone [Arg8]vasopressin, and the
      peptide drug [deamino-Cys1,D-Arg8]vasopressin were measured. Enzyme
      immobilization prevented autolytic proteolysis and provided a stable enzyme
      preparation during the assays. For rate determinations, the disappearance of
      substrate was measured over time by using either flow injection continuous-flow
      fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring or
      reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV absorbance
      detection. Compared to the HPLC method, continuous-flow FAB was faster, provided
      more confident identification of the analyte because molecular weight data was
      obtained, and could be used for all enzymatic reactions instead of only those in
      which complete chromatographic resolution of substrate from proteolytic fragments
      was obtained. The in vitro proteolytic rates measured for the vasopressins were
      compared to data from rat bioassays and confirmed that the limiting factor in the
      oral bioavailability of [Arg8]vasopressin was rapid hydrolysis by trypsin in the
      intestinal lumen. The more bioactive compound, [deamino-Cys1,D-Arg8]vasopressin,
      was more stable to chymotryptic digestion and completely resistant to
      trypsinization.

PMID- 1449213
TI  - Comparative study of photodissociation and surface-induced dissociation by laser
      desorption Fourier transform mass spectrometry.
AB  - Photodissociation (PD) and surface-induced dissociation (SID) are compared for
      structural analysis of several nonvolatile compounds analyzed by laser desorption
      Fourier transform mass spectrometry (LD/FTMS). SID and PD of a porphyrin and two
      metalloporphyrins were investigated using a variety of experimental conditions.
      Optimum structural information is obtained from PD when parent ions are
      irradiated for relatively long times (10-30 s) using 575-nm radiation and short
      times (0.5-1 s) using 308- or 388-nm radiation. Shorter irradiation times in the
      visible region resulted in less efficient production of structurally significant
      product ions, while longer times in the ultraviolet region produced more
      nonspecific fragment ions, apparently at the expense of more structurally
      significant fragment ions. SID conversion efficiencies for the porphyrins are
      estimated for collision energies from 25 to 360 eV, with maximum conversion
      efficiency found using 62- and 115-eV collision energies for the two porphyrins
      studied. Results from a concurrent study on the combined use of PD and SID for
      MS/MS/MS are discussed in the context of these results. The MS3 ion spectra
      generated by the two dissociation techniques differ more significantly than MS2
      product ion spectra. These data suggest some general guidelines for MSn studies
      of nonvolatile compounds analyzed by LD/FTMS, employing PD and SID for ion
      activation.

PMID- 1449214
TI  - Application of plasma desorption mass spectrometry to molecular weight
      determination of human interleukin-4 secreted by a Chinese hamster ovary line.

PMID- 1449215
TI  - Specificity of interneuronal connections.
AB  - A fundamental problem of neurobiological research is how specific connections
      between individual neurons are established and maintained. In this report
      different levels of neuronal specificity are described. Some neuronal populations
      display region specificity, but within the target region they establish synapses
      with a variety of neurons. A characteristic feature of the afferent innervation
      of hippocampal neurons is that many fibers terminate in a laminated fashion. Such
      a layer specificity is known for the afferents from the entorhinal cortex and for
      the mossy fibers. The entorhinal afferents terminate in the outer molecular layer
      of the fascia dentata and in the stratum lacunosum-moleculare of the hippocampus
      proper. The mossy fibers display both region specificity and layer specificity:
      they form numerous synapses in hippocampal region CA3 but never invade CA1; in
      CA3 they are restricted to stratum lucidum. An extremely high degree of neuronal
      specificity is observed in the case of the axo-axonic or chandelier cells. The
      axons of these neurons specifically terminate on the axon initial segments of
      projection neurons in the neocortex, hippocampus and fascia dentata. Thus, these
      cells not only display a target cell specificity but a selectivity for a distinct
      portion of the target cell's membrane. Some of the factors that contribute to
      these different levels of neuronal specificity are briefly discussed. Positional
      cues as well as diffusible molecules from the target region may guide the
      outgrowing growth cone to its target. Molecular interactions between pre- and
      postsynaptic membranes, the functional load of the synaptic contact, and the
      selective death of a number of neurons and synapses further determine the
      specificity of interneuronal connections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449216
TI  - Synaptic reorganization in developing and adult nervous systems.
AB  - Evidence is accumulating that synapse reorganization already starts during
      development, soon after first synapses appear. Although remodeling continues
      throughout ontogenesis, there are apparently (critical) periods which are
      characterized by enhanced synaptic reorganization. In certain parts of the
      peripheral and central nervous system, synapses may undergo remodeling which
      leads to changes in their transmission efficiency or complete elimination of the
      synaptic junctions, even in adulthood. Synaptic reorganization includes
      progressive and regressive changes on branches of dendritic and/or axonal
      processes that accompany the formation and elimination of synapses. Three modes
      of elimination are presently known: Physiological cell death of synaptically
      connected neurons is involved, especially during certain developmental periods,
      during hormonally induced metamorphosis and in the olfactory bulb. Synaptic
      disconnection ("stripping") and lysosomal degradation predominantly of
      presynaptic elements occur under different conditions. In order to undergo
      plastic changes, neurons seem to respond to exogenous or intrinsic factors such
      as lesions (partial deafferentation and axotomy), long-lasting changes in
      neuronal activity (e.g. drug application and sensory deprivation), hormonal
      influences (e.g. sexual hormones) or learning conditions.

PMID- 1449217
TI  - Molecular control of neural plasticity by the multifunctional growth factor
      families of the FGFs and TGF-beta s.

PMID- 1449218
TI  - Neuronal specificity and plasticity in the autonomic nervous system.
AB  - The autonomic nervous system is divided into the sympathetic, parasympathetic and
      enteric subdivisions. The present review is focussed upon the highly specialized
      reflex organization and neurochemistry of sympathetic parasympathetic neurons.
      The currently available informations allow to conclude that autonomic control of
      each peripheral target tissue is specifically regulated under normal conditions
      but nevertheless able to respond to altered conditions by changes in neural
      activity and mediator expression.

PMID- 1449220
TI  - Myocardial bridges over coronary arteries in Cercopithecus.
AB  - The presence of myocardial bridges over the coronary arteries has been studied in
      29 monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) hearts. The great resemblance between the
      Cercopithecus subepicardial arterial net with the corresponding one in humans has
      been revealed. There is a high incidence (83%) of myocardial bridges only over
      the ventricular branches of both coronary arteries. Myocardial bridges are
      usually (90%) located over the left coronary artery branches, and the left
      anterior interventricular branch is the most frequently (69%) overbridged vessel.
      The bridges are always single over the vessel examined and their length varies
      from 0.5 mm to 31.6 mm. No statistically significant sexual difference in
      myocardial bridges distribution is reported.

PMID- 1449219
TI  - The hypoglossal-facial anastomosis as model of neuronal plasticity in the rat.
AB  - Hypoglossal-facial cross anastomosis (HFA) causes regeneration with change of
      function, as the axotomized hypoglossal motoneurons sprout into the facial plexus
      and reinnervate the mimic musculature. Following HFA, hypoglossal-hypoglossal
      single anastomosis (HHA) and resection of 8-10 mm peripheral hypoglossal nerve in
      190 female adult Wistar rats, we compared the axon reactions in the hypoglossal
      nucleus during 1) regeneration with change of function, 2) regeneration with
      restoration of original function and 3) degeneration of the nucleus. Following
      postoperative survival times of 1-16 weeks we estimated the volume of the
      hypoglossal nucleus and counted the number of hypoglossal neurons with the
      physical disector on both sides of the brainstem. Additional sections of the same
      animals were reacted with anti-synaptophysin, anti-GFAP and the isolectin
      Griffonia simplicifolia I-B4 (GSA I-B4) as cytochemical markers for presynaptic
      boutons, activated astroglia and microglia. After HHA and HFA all hypoglossal
      neurons survive and the volume of the hypoglossal nucleus remains constant.
      Resection of the hypoglossal nerve leads to the loss of one third of the
      hypoglossal neurons and of one third of the volume of the hypoglossal nucleus
      within 16 weeks post operation. Hypoglossal-facial anastomosis and hypoglossal
      hypoglossal anastomosis differ in postoperative swelling of the hypoglossal
      nucleus, microglia and astroglia activation and the duration of synaptic
      stripping. All differences are limited to the acute growth phase during
      regeneration. It is concluded that hypoglossal-facial anastomosis provides more
      stimulation and facilitates faster recovery of the hypoglossal nucleus than does
      hypoglossal-hypoglossal anastomosis.

PMID- 1449221
TI  - Proteinase, phosphatase and glucuronidase activities in the growing mandible and
      temporomandibular joint of the guinea pig.
AB  - This study investigated the effect of muscle function and occlusal form on the
      activity levels of several enzymes present in the mandible or temporomandibular
      joint of the guinea pig. Restriction of maxillary width and asymmetric function
      of the mandible was caused in 12 animals at the age of 10 days, as described in
      the accompanying paper (Isotupa et al. 1992). Tissue samples from six anatomical
      sites were obtained from the animals sacrificed 4, 8, or 12 weeks after
      manipulation (4 animals in each group). Six age-matched animals acted as
      controls. Five samples were from the following sites of the mandible: the
      condylar cartilage, the lower and upper parts of processus angularis, and the
      anterior and posterior halves of the condyle neck. A sample was also obtained
      from fossa mandibularis of the temporal bone. Buffer extracts of powderized
      samples were studied for acid and alkaline phosphatase, glucuronidase and two
      types of proteolytic activity. Although the asymmetric manipulation of occlusion
      caused observable, localized asymmetric growth, the enzyme findings were not
      consistently asymmetric. Manipulation generally increased all enzyme activities
      regardless of whether apposition or resorption was involved. The activities of
      alkaline phosphatase more consistently showed this pattern, and changes in enzyme
      activities seemed to be sensitive, reflecting cellular or molecular level of
      growth. The enzyme activities may also reflect a certain type of after-effect of
      irritation, or a healing period. The inclusion of several types of enzyme
      determinations is recommended to complete macroscopic measurements. Subsequent
      chromatographic and electrophoretic studies are also useful.

PMID- 1449222
TI  - Influence of asymmetric occlusal relationships and decreased maxillary width on
      the growth of the facial skeleton in the guinea pig.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of muscle function and
      occlusal form on mandibular growth in guinea pigs. We hypothesized that
      restriction of maxillary width and asymmetric function of the mandible would lead
      to mandibular asymmetry. The hard palate of 12 animals was exposed at the age of
      ten days, and cyanocrylate was used to close the midpalatal suture in order to
      restrict transverse maxillary growth. The right incisors and right molars were
      ground obliquely at the time of surgery and every two weeks thereafter until the
      animals were sacrificed 4, 8 and 12 weeks later (four animals in each time
      group). Six age-matched animals served as controls. Dorsoversal x-rays were taken
      at sacrifice, followed by the removal of small biopsies from six different sites
      of the maxillomandibular skeleton for biochemical studies, which will be reported
      separately. Relative to controls, the treated animals exhibited a narrow maxilla
      and asymmetry in the height of the ramus and in the length of the mandible from
      the mental foramen to the angular process. The maximum width between the angular
      processes of the mandible was extremely narrow, as was the condylar neck
      especially on the right side. It was concluded that abnormal masticatory muscle
      function caused by occlusal deviation led to a narrowing and a slight asymmetry
      of the mandible in the growing guinea pig.

PMID- 1449223
TI  - Age-related changes in cholinergic and noradrenergic transmission in the rat
      cerebellum. A histochemical and immunocytochemical study.
AB  - The histochemical and immunocytochemical distribution of some cholinergic and
      noradrenergic markers was compared in the cerebellum of young adult (3-month old)
      and aged (24-month old) Wistar rats. A decrease in the density and staining of
      acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) positive fibers, puncta and Golgi cells was found in
      both the cerebellar cortex and nuclei of aged rats. The age-related changes in
      choline acetyltransferase immunoreactivity were less pronounced than the changes
      in AChE activity. A reduction in the density of catecholamine fluorescent fibers
      and puncta was observed in the cerebellar cortex during aging. In aged rats the
      increase in monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A activity was more pronounced than the
      increase in MAO-B activity.

PMID- 1449224
TI  - Differentiation of the brain stem structures in the salamander, Hynobius
      nebulosus.
AB  - Differentiation of the internal structure of the brain stem was analyzed in the
      salamander with special reference to neurons distributed in the marginal layer.
      It was found that the salamander brain stem was at first composed exclusively of
      the mantle layer. The marginal layer later differentiated peripherally. In these
      developmental stages, the mantle and marginal layers were clearly differentiated:
      the former was made up exclusively of the somata, while the latter was composed
      mainly of nerve fibers. As the development proceeded, these organization patterns
      were modified: a few cells migrated into the marginal layer. Cells migrating into
      the marginal layer formed various nuclei and layers such as the raphe nuclei,
      reticular formation and superficial cellular layers of the optic tectum. In later
      development stages, fibers in the marginal layer were myelinated, and neurons in
      the marginal layer were observed to become embedded among numerous myelinated
      fibers. Cytologically, the majority of neurons in early developmental stages were
      unipolar, extending a process peripherally into the marginal layer. In later
      developmental stages, neurons in a deep zone of the mantle layer remained
      unipolar, whereas those in the marginal layer and in the superficial zone of the
      mantle layer differentiated into multipolar cells. Thus, (1) the marginal layer
      differentiated peripherally as a cell free region; (2) cells in the mantle layer
      later migrated into the marginal layer, changing into multipolar neurons; (3)
      cells in the marginal layer formed reticular formation as well as various nuclei
      and layers in the peripheral white matter; and (4) as development proceeded,
      fibers in the marginal layer became myelinated.

PMID- 1449225
TI  - Vascular ontogeny of the septal region in rats.
AB  - The development of the arterial and venous systems of the septum was studied in
      rat brains injected daily with India ink, from the 11th embryonic (E) until the
      first postnatal day. Arterial blood is supplied to the septum by the unpaired
      hemispheric artery, the stem and septal branches of which are to be recognized on
      the 14th and 15th embryonic days respectively. At earlier stages, e.g. on E12, a
      capillary network, the hemispheric plexus, can be seen between the two
      hemispheres contributing to the blood supply of the septum during the early phase
      (E14 to E18) of development. From E18 onwards, the arterial supply of the septum
      is derived only from direct branches of the hemispheric artery; one group of them
      being dorsal (infracallosal) and the other ventral (subcallosal). The venous
      drainage of the septum is bidirectional: 1) Veins of the ventral group leading to
      the interperioptic sinus are seen on E14. At first they collect blood only from a
      small rostral portion of the septum, but later their territory expands to include
      the anteroventral two-thirds of the septum. 2) The dorsal septal veins drain into
      the great cerebral vein (of Galen), or into the superior sagittal sinus directly.
      Initially, twigs run directly into the great cerebral vein. These later become
      the tributaries of the internal cerebral vein, which appears on E17 or E18. Until
      E18 this dorsally-directed drainage predominates, whereas at birth it becomes
      restricted to one third of the septum as a result of a gradual regression. The
      development of both arterial and venous circulations of the septum is complete at
      birth.

PMID- 1449226
TI  - A study of human foot length growth in the early fetal period.
AB  - The length of the human fetal foot was studied in 106 feet from 53 unfixed staged
      human fetuses (35 males and 18 females) by means of the allometric formula log Y
      = log b+k log X. The gestational age ranged from 13 to 26 weeks postconception.
      The measurement taken from the heel to the tip of the longest toe was regarded
      here as the maximum length of the foot. Growth in length of the foot was analysed
      in relation to crown-rump length. Our results show that foot length growth is
      correlated to crown-rump growth and is allometrically positive. No statistically
      significant difference was found between right and left feet or between male and
      female fetuses.

PMID- 1449227
TI  - Numerical simulation of aerosol particle transport by oscillating flow in
      respiratory airways.
AB  - Particle transport by oscillating flow in a tapered channel or in a tapered tube
      was computed from the complete equations of motion. These geometries represent a
      simplified model of the divergent flow field of the mammalian bronchial tree. The
      computed deformation profile of a line of particles, transported by the
      oscillatory motion, was compared with prior experimental results and analytical
      calculations. All three methods agree that there is transport in the divergent
      direction of the tube by an axial stream of steady drift in the core for
      moderately high frequency of oscillation (Womersley parameter in the range of 1
      to 10). Bidirectional flow is established by an annular stream in the convergent
      direction, with no net flow on integral cycles of the oscillating fluid. At
      higher frequency, however, the steady stream transforms to a different shape in
      the tapered tube, with transport in the divergent direction nearer the walls of
      the tube, rather than in the core. Transport by the continuing streams with
      oscillatory ventilation of the respiratory tract should deliver medicinal
      aerosols of low intrinsic particle mobility to the peripheral regions of the
      lungs.

PMID- 1449228
TI  - Orthopedic prosthesis fixation.
AB  - The fixation of orthopedic implants has been one of the most difficult and
      challenging problems. The fixation can be achieved via: (a) direct mechanical
      fixation using screws, pins, wires, etc.; (b) passive or interference mechanical
      fixation where the implants are allowed to move or merely positioned onto the
      tissue surfaces; (c) bone cement fixation which is actually a grouting material;
      (d) biological fixation by allowing tissues to grow into the interstices of pores
      or textured surfaces of implants; (e) direct chemical bonding between implant and
      tissues; or (f) any combination of the above techniques. This article is
      concerned with various fixation techniques including the potential use of
      electrical, pulsed electromagnetic field, chemical stimulation using calcium
      phosphates for the enhancement of tissue ingrowth, direct bonding with bone by
      glass-ceramics and resorbable particle impregnated bone cement to take advantages
      of both the immediate fixation offered by the bone cement and long term fixation
      due to tissue ingrowth.

PMID- 1449229
TI  - Modeling the circulation with three-terminal electrical networks containing
      special nonlinear capacitors.
AB  - Development, first of analog and later of digital computers, as well as
      algorithms for analysis of electrical circuits, stimulated the use of electrical
      circuits for modeling the circulation. The networks used as building blocks for
      electrical models can provide accurate representation of the hydrodynamic
      equations relating the inflow and outflow of individual segments of the
      circulation. These networks, however, can contain connections in which voltages
      and currents have no analogues in the circulation. Problems arise because (a)
      electrical current must flow in closed loops, whereas no such constraints exist
      for hydraulic models; and (b) electrical capacitors have a number of
      characteristics that are not analogous to those of hydraulic compliant chambers.
      Disregarding these differences can lead to erroneous results and
      misinterpretation of phenomena. To ensure against these errors, we introduce an
      imaginary electrical element, the nonlinear residual-charge capacitor (NRCC),
      with characteristics equivalent to those of a compliant chamber. If one uses
      appropriate circuit connections and incorporates the residual-charge capacitor,
      then all voltages and currents in the model are proper analogues of pressures and
      flows in the circulation. It is shown that the capacitive current represents the
      rate of change of volume of blood inside the vessel, as well as the rate of the
      corresponding displacement of volume of the surrounding tissue.

PMID- 1449230
TI  - The impedance of a spherical monopolar electrode.
AB  - The impedance of a monopolar electrode immersed in an environmental volume
      conductor consists of two parts; the impedance of the active electrode
      electrolyte interface, and the resistance of the environmental conductor. Two
      studies were carried out to quantitate these components. First, impedance
      frequency data were collected for five spherical stainless-steel electrodes
      (ranging from 0.473 to 1.11 cm in diameter) immersed in 0.9% saline (p = 70 omega
      cm). Impedance measurements were made from 100 Hz to 100 kHz and two sets of data
      were obtained; one before and one after each electrode was polished with fine
      emery paper. At low frequency, the measured impedances were high and varied with
      electrode surface preparation. However, above a transition frequency, the
      impedances were resistive, independent of the electrode surface preparation, and
      equal to rho/2 pi d as predicted from the theory. This study indicates that the
      low frequency impedance of a monopolar electrode is dominated by the impedance of
      the electrode-electrolyte interface. Above a transition frequency, the resistance
      of the environmental conductor dominates, the value of this resistance depending
      on the electrode geometry and the resistivity (rho) of the environmental
      conductor. A second study was conducted, to examine the effect of the distance to
      the indifferent electrode. A frequency (100 kHz) above the transition frequency
      was used and impedance data were collected for various distances between the
      monopolar and indifferent electrodes. The measured resistance increased
      asymptotically as the distance between the electrodes was increased. When the
      indifferent electrode diameter was at least 10 times the diameter of the
      spherical monopolar electrode, the measured resistance was within 5% of the value
      predicted for an indifferent electrode at infinity.

PMID- 1449232
TI  - Optimization of single electrode tactile codes.
AB  - The effects of a frequency modulated electrocutaneous signal's (code's)
      characteristics on the interpretability of the signal were investigated using an
      electrocutaneous tracking approach. The characteristics investigated include the
      functional relationship (exponential and hybrid) between an informational signal
      and the stimulation frequency, the range of stimulation (2-50 Hz and 2-100 Hz),
      and the impact of pulse width compensation on a code's efficacy. The
      interpretability of six different single bipolar electrode codes was examined by
      30 subjects using a balanced incomplete block experimental design. Codes with
      exponentially shaped transfer functions resulted in generally lower
      electrocutaneous tracking errors than codes utilizing hybrid-shaped transfer
      functions. Hybrid codes had a transfer function that was linear in the lower
      frequency range and exponential in the higher frequency range. Codes with a 2-100
      Hz frequency range were interpreted better than codes with a 2-50 Hz frequency
      range. The use of pulse width compensation to maintain a more even level of
      stimulation intensity had a slightly negative effect on the subjects' abilities
      to cutaneously track the information signal.

PMID- 1449231
TI  - Spatial variation of aortic wall oxygen diffusion coefficient from transient
      polarographic measurements.
AB  - Polarographic current transients following a voltage step (turn-on transient)
      were measured with bare cathodes (25 microns diameter) and shallowly recessed
      oxygen microelectrodes (< 5 microns diameter). Except for the initial part of the
      current transient, the experimental measurements were in excellent agreement with
      simple models in the literature, which predict an inverse relationship with
      square root of t. Turn-on transients were measured in aqueous solutions with
      known physical properties, and in aortic wall tissue from three different species
      (n = 6 rabbits, n = 3 dogs, and n = 1 miniature pig). Oxygen diffusion
      coefficients (D) were determined in vitro by comparing time constants measured by
      the same microelectrode in saline and in strips of aortic wall tissue at 37
      degrees C. On the inner side (endothelium and intima) of the aorta, D averaged
      (+/- S.E.) 7.0 (+/- 0.8) x 10(-6) cm2/s in 6 rabbits, 6.4 (+/- 1.0) x 10(-6)
      cm2/s in 3 dogs, and was 4.6 x 10(-6) cm2/s in the pig. On the adventitial side,
      D was 9.5 x 10(-6) cm2/s in 1 rabbit, 11.4 (+/- 1.2) x 10(-6) cm2/s in 3 dogs,
      and 8.1 x 10(-6) cm2/s in the pig. For every aortic strip on which D was measured
      from both sides, D for the inner wall was always lower, overall by a little more
      than one third (p < 0.001). The lower D on the endothelial side may limit oxygen
      transport to the vascular wall and play a role in atherogenesis.

PMID- 1449233
TI  - Development of a computer model to predict strains in the individual fibers of a
      ligament across the ligamentous occipito-atlanto-axial (C0-C1-C2) complex.
AB  - A fresh ligamentous occipito-atlanto-axial (C0-C1-C2) complex was appropriately
      prepared and serially sectioned into thin slices along the transverse planes. The
      bony outlines from these slices were digitized and assembled in the proper manner
      to obtain a three-dimensional model of the complex using the AutoCAD system.
      Various ligaments were identified on the model and strains in individual fibers
      of a ligament were predicted based on the principles of rigid body mechanics. The
      ligament behaviors in axial rotation, flexion, and extension modes were analyzed.
      The capsular ligament fibers were predicted to undergo strains in all modes.
      Furthermore, these ligaments experienced the largest strain among the ligaments
      analyzed. Fibers within a ligament were found to respond differently; some were
      more active than the others and some did not experience any strain at all. A
      differential behavior in the right and left side alar ligament fibers was also
      found in axial rotation. The transverse ligament was predicted to wrap around the
      dens during axial rotation. The strain within a fiber was found to be a function
      of the initial length (ligament laxity) and its distance from the center of
      rotation.

PMID- 1449235
TI  - Annals Index 1988/1989.

PMID- 1449236
TI  - Report and abstracts of the First International Workshop on Chromosome 9. Held at
      Girton College Cambridge, UK, 22-24 March, 1992.

PMID- 1449234
TI  - Computationally efficient algorithms for convection-permeation-diffusion models
      for blood-tissue exchange.
AB  - Analysis of data on tissue depositions obtained by positron tomographic or NMR
      imaging, or of multiple tracer outflow dilution curves, requires fitting data
      with models composed of aggregates of capillary-tissue units. These units account
      for heterogeneities of flows and multisolute exchanges between longitudinally
      distributed regions across capillary and cell barriers within an organ. Because
      the analytic solutions to the partial differential equations require convolution
      integration, solutions are obtained relatively efficiently by a fast numerical
      method. Our approach centers on the use of a sliding fluid element algorithm for
      capillary convection, with the time step set equal to the length step divided by
      the fluid velocity. Radial fluxes by permeation between plasma, interstitial
      fluid, and cells and axial diffusion exchanges within each time step are
      calculated analytically. The method enforces mass conservation unless there is
      regional consumption. Solution for a 2-barrier, 3-region model, accurate to
      within 0.5%, are 100 to 1000 times faster than the corresponding, purely analytic
      solution, and over 10,000 times for a 4-region model. Applications include
      multiple indicator dilution studies of kinetics of transcapillary exchange and
      positron emission tomographic studies of the mechanisms of substrate transport
      into cells of organs in vivo.

PMID- 1449237
TI  - Algorithms for a location database.
AB  - The algorithms that drive the ldb location database are described. The program
      captures data on genetic and physical maps and combines information from
      different sources into a summary map. To assure portability it was developed in
      Fortran on a SUN SPARCStation under Unix. The algorithms, which combine rule
      based seriation with a minimum deviance bootstrap, allow investigators and
      chromosome committees to produce a composite location in Mb that integrates
      partial maps. The program and manual are now available from the authors.

PMID- 1449238
TI  - A study on Lu-null families in South Wales.
AB  - Red cells of 75614 blood donors in South Wales were screened with anti-Lu(b)
      revealing 54 Lu(b-) donors of which 15 were also Lu(a-) giving a frequency of
      0.0002 for the Lu(a-b-) phenotype in South Wales. The families of 11 Lu-null
      propositi were investigated to determine which of the three known genetic
      backgrounds, dominant, recessive or X-linked recessive, was responsible for their
      Lu-null phenotype. In 10 of the 11 families the Lu-null phenotype was caused by
      the dominant suppressor gene In(Lu). The first reported family demonstrating
      independence of In(Lu) and LU, through the Au groups, is described together with
      the third family demonstrating suppression of P1 by In(Lu). The families showed
      that In(Lu) is not closely linked to HLA. The genetic background for the 11th
      propositus was not determined; homozygosity of the silent allele LU is a possible
      but unproved explanation.

PMID- 1449239
TI  - Interphase cytogenetics of the ICF syndrome.
AB  - Interphase behaviour of centromeric heterochromatin of chromosomes 1 and 16 has
      been investigated in lymphocytes and fibroblasts of patients with ICF syndrome
      and of normal subjects with non-isotopic in situ hybridization, using the
      satellite II-related probe pHuR 195. We found evidence for interphase somatic
      pairing in ICF lymphocytes with a frequency higher than that found in normal
      cells. Lymphocytes of ICF patients showed nuclear protrusions and micronuclei and
      these nuclear abnormalities consistently involved a hybridization signal. Somatic
      pairing was also present in fibroblasts, but with frequencies similar in normal
      and ICF subjects. The fibroblasts do not have the major chromosomal abnormalities
      found in lymphocytes. The degree of heterochromatin condensation in fibroblasts
      was lower than that in lymphocytes and we postulate that the more decondensed
      state of chromocentres in the fibroblasts could be the reason for the absence of
      the major chromosomal abnormalities.

PMID- 1449240
TI  - Long-term treatment response and fluorodopa positron emission tomographic
      scanning of parkinsonism in a family with dopa-responsive dystonia.
AB  - Dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) is one form of childhood-onset idiopathic torsion
      dystonia. Adult-onset parkinsonism has appeared in several previously unaffected
      members in families with DRD suggesting that this may be an additional
      phenotypical expression of the disease. We report a family with DRD in which 2
      women and 1 man, unaffected by dystonia, developed tremor-onset parkinsonism
      after age 50 years. The women continue on a low dosage of levodopa after 9 and 13
      years of treatment, with a stable, nearly complete, symptomatic response. This
      contrasts to the typical long-term treatment complications observed in patients
      with Parkinson's disease. We assessed nigrostriatal dopaminergic function in the
      proband, with typical DRD, and the 2 women with parkinsonism using 6-[18F]fluoro
      L-dopa positron emission tomography. All 3 had normal striatal 6-[18F]fluoro-L
      dopa uptake. These observations provide compelling evidence that "benign" adult
      onset parkinsonism may be an expression of the disease in some members of
      families with DRD and does not support consideration of the DRD gene as a risk
      factor for development of Parkinson's disease. There may be considerable clinical
      heterogeneity in DRD depending on the age at onset.

PMID- 1449241
TI  - The identification of presymptomatic parkinsonism: clinical and [18F]dopa
      positron emission tomography studies in an Irish kindred.
AB  - An Irish kindred is described in which 5 of 10 siblings in the fourth or fifth
      decade of life developed an akinetic-rigid syndrome clinically indistinguishable
      from idiopathic Lewy body Parkinson's disease. Four of these patients were
      scanned by positron emission tomography (PET) with [18F]dopa after clinical
      diagnosis and in all, a profound impairment of tracer uptake into the striatum
      was recorded. The fifth patient was initially scanned at a time when he was
      asymptomatic and normal by clinical examination. His scan showed impaired tracer
      uptake, indicating a subclinical defect in the presynaptic nigrostriatal system.
      Within months of his scan, he too developed subtle symptoms and signs of
      parkinsonism although there was little further clinical progression or change in
      his PET scan over the following year. A clinically normal sibling was also
      scanned and found to have subclinical impairment of [18F]dopa uptake in the
      putamen. The 19-year-old daughter of an affected sibling had a mild postural
      tremor but no other symptoms or signs. The [18F]dopa uptake in her putamen fell
      at the borderline between normal and parkinsonian values. This study confirms
      that PET can identify preclinical parkinsonism in at-risk subjects. The finding
      of abnormalities in several clinically unaffected family members suggests that
      family studies based on clinical assessment alone may miss a significant number
      of subclinically affected individuals, leading to an underestimate of any genetic
      component to Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 1449242
TI  - Adenosine: a potential mediator of seizure arrest and postictal refractoriness.
AB  - Adenosine is a potent inhibitory neuromodulator and has been proposed as an
      endogenous anticonvulsant. Depth electrodes modified to include a microdialysis
      probe were implanted for 10 to 16 days in the hippocampi of 4 patients with
      intractable complex partial epilepsy to test the hypothesis that during seizures
      extracellular adenosine reaches levels that may depress epileptiform activity.
      Samples were collected bilaterally at 3-minute intervals before, during, and
      after a single, spontaneous-onset seizure in each patient. All seizures commenced
      in one hippocampus and propagated to the contralateral hippocampus. Extracellular
      adenosine levels increased by 6- to 31-fold with the increase significantly
      greater in the epileptogenic hippocampus. During seizures, levels of adenosine in
      the dialysate reached concentrations as high as 2.5 microM, reflecting
      extracellular concentrations of approximately 65 microM. Adenosine at
      concentrations of 40 to 50 microM depresses epileptiform activity in vitro, so
      the levels we report may suppress seizure activity in vivo. Moreover, adenosine
      levels remain elevated above basal values for the entire 18-minute postictal
      period. These data support the role of adenosine in mediating seizure arrest and
      postictal refractoriness and suggest that treatments which facilitate adenosine
      may be effective in preventing seizures.

PMID- 1449243
TI  - Effectiveness of botulinum toxin administered to abolish acquired nystagmus.
AB  - We injected botulinum toxin into the horizontal rectus muscles of the right eyes
      of 2 patients who had acquired pendular nystagmus with horizontal, vertical, and
      torsional components. This treatment successfully abolished the horizontal
      component of the nystagmus in the injected eye in both patients for approximately
      2 months. Both patients showed a small but measurable improvement of vision in
      the injected eye that may have been limited by coexistent disease of the visual
      pathways. The vertical and torsional components of the nystagmus persisted in
      both patients. In 1 patient, the horizontal component of nystagmus in the
      noninjected eye increased; we ascribe this finding to plastic-adaptive changes in
      response to paresis caused by the botulinum toxin. Such plastic-adaptive changes
      and direct side effects of the injections--such as diplopia and ptosis--may limit
      the effectiveness of botulinum toxin in the treatment of acquired nystagmus.
      Neither patient elected to repeat the botulinum treatment.

PMID- 1449244
TI  - Serial cranial and spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis.
AB  - Twenty-nine mildly disabled patients with multiple sclerosis underwent serial
      clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluations (pre- and
      postgadolinium cranial and spinal cord MRI) on at least 3 occasions at 13-week
      intervals and during periods of suspected relapse. Using clinical judgment of the
      presence of recent active disease as the gold standard, combined MRI studies
      confirmed the clinical impression of active disease in 93% of follow-up visits
      (sensitivity) and the absence of active MS in 63% of follow-up visits
      (specificity). None of the cranial and spinal MRI-detected abnormalities
      disappeared. Gadolinium administration particularly increased the yield of spinal
      MRI. Cranial MRI alone detected 80% of the MRI-active visits. Clinical and MRI
      concordance was significantly better for the presence of recent disease activity
      than for the anatomical localization of the presumed site of activity. MRI
      evidence of apparent ongoing disease activity was seen more frequently in
      patients believed to have active multiple sclerosis in the preceding year (13 of
      21) than in patients who had been in clinical remission for at least the 2
      preceding years (2 of 8). Although clinical evidence of new disease activity was
      much less common in patients with active, chronic-progressive disease (1 of 8)
      than in patients with active, relapsing disease (9 of 13), the proportion of
      patients with either infrequent relapses, frequent relapses, or slow chronic
      progressive disease in the preceding year in whom MRI activity developed and the
      pattern of this new MRI activity was similar between these types of active
      patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449245
TI  - HTLV-I-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients
      with HTLV-I-associated neurological disease.
AB  - Recently, it has been shown that in patients with human T-cell lymphotropic virus
      type I (HTLV-I)-associated neurological disease, high levels of HTLV-I-specific
      cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) could be detected in the peripheral blood. These
      CTLs predominantly recognized products of the pX region of HTLV-I, had a CD8+
      phenotype, and were human leukocyte class I restricted. Moreover, these responses
      were not detected in asymptomatic, HTLV-I-seropositive individuals. This implied
      a role for these CTLs in the pathogenesis of the neurological disorder associated
      with HTLV-I. We have extended these observations by demonstrating HTLV-I-specific
      CTLs directly from lymphocytes obtained from the cerebrospinal fluid of patients
      with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. Uncultured
      cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytes were used directly as effectors on a variety of
      targets expressing HTLV-I. These cells were lysed in a virus-specific and HLA
      class I-restricted manner. Moreover, the cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytes were
      sorted into purified CD8+ populations, cloned by limiting dilution, and assayed
      for CTL activity. An exceedingly high proportion of these resultant lines were
      shown to be cytolytic and precursor frequency analysis indicated that as many as
      1 in 500 cells were HTLV-I-specific CTLs. The majority of these CTL lines
      recognized HTLV-I gene products encoded within the pX region of HTLV-I. The
      significance of these HTLV-I-specific CTLs in the central nervous system of
      patients with HTLV-I-associated neurological disease is discussed with regard to
      the potential role of CTLs in the pathogenesis of this disease.

PMID- 1449246
TI  - Blood-brain barrier abnormalities in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome:
      immunohistochemical localization of serum proteins in postmortem brain.
AB  - Abnormalities in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) may be important in mediating some
      of the tissue damage that accompanies human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
      infection of the brain, as well as in facilitating viral entry into the central
      nervous system. Accordingly, immunohistochemical detection of fibrinogen (FIB)
      and immunoglobulin G (IgG) was used as a marker of vascular permeability in
      formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded brains of patients with acquired
      immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who had HIV encephalitis (HIVE) (n = 17) and
      those who did not have HIVE (n = 16); nonimmunosuppressed patients served as
      control subjects (n = 22). The sex ratios and postmortem intervals were similar
      in all groups (p > 0.05), but the age of the two AIDS groups were younger than
      the control group (43.2 and 40.9 versus 62.5 yr; p < 0.05). The two AIDS groups
      had higher immunostaining for FIB and IgG than the control group (p < 0.001 and p
      < 0.0001, respectively) but did not differ from one another. Furthermore, the two
      AIDS groups had a significantly higher incidence of combined extravasation of
      both FIB and IgG, whereas the control group had a significantly higher incidence
      of negative staining for both proteins (p < 0.002). More than 95% of the
      microglial nodules of HIV were negative for serum proteins; however, all focal
      lesions with tissue necrosis, including lymphoma, opportunistic infections, and
      HIV (rarely), contained extravasated serum proteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1449247
TI  - Disease-specific patterns of locus coeruleus cell loss.
AB  - Computer visualization techniques were used to map and to quantitatively
      reconstruct the entire locus coeruleus, including the nucleus subcoeruleus, to
      compare the topographic patterns of cell loss in postmortem brains from patients
      with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Down syndrome. There was
      comparable cell loss in all three diseases (approximately 60%) compared with aged
      normal subjects, and there was a significant loss of nucleus subcoeruleus cells
      specifically in patients with Parkinson's disease (63%). There was a significant
      positive correlation between the magnitude of locus coeruleus cell loss and the
      duration of Alzheimer's disease, but no such correlation was found for
      Parkinson's disease. In patients with Parkinson's disease, there was comparable
      cell loss throughout the rostral-caudal extent of the nucleus; however, in
      patients with Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome, the greatest cell loss
      always occurred within the rostral portion of the nucleus, with a relative
      sparing of caudal cells. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that cell
      loss in Parkinson's disease is the result of a pathological process that attacks
      the catecholaminergic cells of the locus coeruleus and the subcoeruleus in
      general; in Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome, however, the pathological
      process only affects the rostral, cortical-projecting locus coeruleus cells and
      spares the caudal, noncortical-projecting cells.

PMID- 1449248
TI  - Suppression of postischemic epileptiform activity with MK-801 improves neural
      outcome in fetal sheep.
AB  - To determine the effect of suppression of epileptiform activity that develops
      after hypoxic-ischemic injury in the immature brain, chronically instrumented
      near-term fetal sheep (119-133 days) were subjected to 30 minutes of complete
      cerebral ischemia: 6 were given a 0.3-mg/kg bolus of MK-801 at 6 hours after the
      insult followed by continuous infusion of 1 mg/kg over the next 36 hours, and
      were compared to 6 control sheep. Electrocorticographic activity and edema within
      the parasagittal region of the cortex were quantified with real-time spectral
      analysis and impedance measurements, respectively. Histological outcome was
      assessed 72 hours later. The intense epileptiform activity seen from 9 +/- 2 to
      30 +/- 3 hours in the control group was completely suppressed in the MK-801
      treated group. The onset of secondary cortical edema was delayed from 9.4 +/- 1.1
      hours to 14.8 +/- 0.7 hours (p < 0.01). Neuronal damage was reduced, particularly
      in the lateral cortex and hippocampus (p < 0.05). Infarction of the parasagittal
      cortex was not prevented. These results suggest that N-methyl-D-aspartate
      mediated epileptiform activity that develops after a global hypoxic-ischemic
      insult worsens neuronal outcome in the immature brain.

PMID- 1449249
TI  - Electron transfer complex I defect in idiopathic dystonia.
AB  - It has been suggested that dystonia is caused by an autosomal gene with reduced
      penetrance and a consequent biochemical abnormality affecting cell activity
      within the basal ganglia. No consistent biochemical disturbance has been
      identified. In the present study, activities of the mitochondrial electron
      transfer complexes were measured in platelets of 31 patients with idiopathic
      dystonia. Enzyme assays of these patients were compared to measurements in 28
      control subjects. A significant decrease of complex I activity was observed in
      the majority of the patients, whereas the activities of other electron transfer
      complexes were normal. The severity of the complex I defect was more pronounced
      in patients with the segmental or generalized form than in those with focal
      dystonia. Complex I activity was not age dependent in the patients or control
      subjects. Although the electron pathway in complex I is disturbed in patients
      with idiopathic dystonia, complex I protein content seems to be normal. Whether
      abnormalities of complex I activity play a role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic
      dystonia remains to be determined.

PMID- 1449250
TI  - Neuropsychological features of familial Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - It has been proposed that early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) and
      sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) have different causes, with FAD due to a single
      dominant gene with disease onset before the sixth decade, whereas sporadic AD has
      a later onset and is not associated with a dominant pattern of inheritance. Given
      these differences, we questioned whether these etiologically distinct forms of AD
      also differ neuropsychologically. In this study we performed neuropsychological
      evaluations on patients from two well-documented families with FAD and a group of
      patients with sporadic AD. The groups were matched on global disease severity at
      entry. Two groups of education- and age-matched normal controls were recruited
      for comparison. The groups were analyzed for psychometric findings and pattern of
      deficits. Both patients with FAD and patients with sporadic AD showed a similar
      pattern of neuropsychological impairment relative to age-matched controls, i.e.,
      mildly to moderately impaired verbal performance and concentration, severely
      slowed psychomotor speed, and severely impaired delayed recall of verbal
      material. There were no differences in pattern suggestive of disproportionately
      severe anomia, amnesia, agnosia, or apraxia in the early onset FAD group, as has
      been reported previously.

PMID- 1449251
TI  - Neurological rehabilitation.
AB  - Increasingly, neurologists are participating in the rehabilitation of disorders
      of the nervous system. Compelling reasons why neurologists, especially those with
      academic interests, should become involved in rehabilitation include the
      opportunity to observe patients in the recovery phases of their illnesses and to
      study issues relating to functional recovery, exposure to patients (such as those
      with spinal cord injury) who are often not seen by neurologists in the acute
      phase, and the opportunity to help establish a scientific base for rehabilitation
      medicine. Many areas of investigation can contribute to the scientific basis of
      neurological rehabilitation. Among the most promising are regeneration in the
      central (CNS) and peripheral nervous systems, adaptive mechanisms following CNS
      injury, computational neuroscience, neuromuscular physiology of chronic
      denervating conditions (e.g., the post-polio syndrome), and outcome studies of
      both physical and pharmacological therapeutic modalities. While there may be
      financial advantages to involvement in neurological rehabilitation, these are
      probably overestimated and interest in this field would continue to grow without
      them. There is a need for enhanced training in this subspecialty, including the
      development of dual certification programs in neurology and rehabilitation
      medicine.

PMID- 1449252
TI  - Dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in progressive supranuclear palsy: an
      autoradiographic study.
AB  - Dopamine D1 and D2 receptors were studied in brain tissue sections from a typical
      patient with progressive supranuclear palsy and in 7 age-matched brains. The
      density of D1 receptors in the caudate-putamen and frontal cortex of the patient
      was within control limits. By contrast, the density of nigral D1 receptors and
      striatal D2 receptors was dramatically reduced in the patient as compared to the
      control brains. This work shows again that the loss of striatal D2 receptors is
      the most plausible explanation for the poor response to dopaminergic drugs in
      patients with progressive supranuclear palsy. While the loss of nigral D1
      receptors can be explained by the loss of nigral neurons, it seems that neurons
      bearing striatal D1 receptors are spared in progressive supranuclear palsy. The
      clinical effects of selective D1 agonists are worth testing in this devastating
      disorder.

PMID- 1449253
TI  - Severity of X-linked recessive bulbospinal neuronopathy correlates with size of
      the tandem CAG repeat in androgen receptor gene.
AB  - The genetic mutation of X-linked recessive bulbospinal neuronopathy is
      amplification of a polymorphic tandem CAG repeat in the androgen receptor gene.
      We studied this CAG repeat in 26 Japanese patients from 21 families with X-linked
      recessive bulbospinal neuronopathy. The number of CAG repeats was significantly
      correlated with the age at onset of limb muscular weakness (r = -0.596, p <
      0.001) and age-adjusted scored disability (r = 0.446, p < 0.03). The length of
      the CAG repeat therefore seems to be a determinant factor of clinical severity.

PMID- 1449254
TI  - Morton Prince.

PMID- 1449255
TI  - Prevalence of multiple sclerosis.

PMID- 1449256
TI  - Prevalence of multiple sclerosis.

PMID- 1449257
TI  - Prevalence of multiple sclerosis.

PMID- 1449258
TI  - [Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and AIDS: histopathologic features].
AB  - HIV-related non-hodgkin lymphomas currently occur in 5 to 8% of AIDS patients.
      AIDS-related lymphomas are high-grade tumors with the morphologic characteristics
      of either small noncleaved cell lymphomas of the Burkitt type or large cell
      centroblastic and immunoblastic lymphomas. Mixed features may be found, making
      classification difficult. Useful methods for characterizing AIDS-related non
      hodgkin's lymphomas include immunophenotypic studies using B-cell differentiation
      and activation antigens (HLA-DR, CD10, CD19, CD20, CD21, CD22, CD23, CD38),
      evaluation of expression of surface immunoglobulins (IgS), activation and
      proliferation (CD25, CD30, CD71, Ki67), and identification of T-cell markers
      (CD1, CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8). Cases studied were of the B-cell type.
      Comparison with morphologic features revealed that Burkitt's lymphomas were
      monoclonal and expressed B-cell markers (CD10, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD38) and
      surface immunoglobulins, especially IgM kappa. This immunophenotype is similar to
      that of large cell or centroblastic non-hodgkin's lymphomas, suggesting that
      Burkitt lymphomas originate from centrofollicular cells. Immunoblastic non
      hodgkin's lymphomas were monotypic or polytypic and expressed CD10 and CD38
      antigens but not the other B-cell antigens Furthermore, a very large number of
      cells stained positively with the Ki67 antibody demonstrating that most lymphoma
      cells were undergoing cycling.

PMID- 1449259
TI  - [Large cell lymphomas: effect of histologic groups on the prognosis. Study of 210
      cases treated with the same therapeutic protocols].
AB  - As part of a study of two therapeutic protocols initiated in 1982 and 1985,
      respectively, for localized (n = 134) and disseminated (n = 76) large cell
      lymphomas, histologic type was determined for each patient by several
      pathologists using the Kiel classification for morphologic features and the
      international working formulation for protocol assignment and multifactorial
      statistical analysis. Therapeutic results in the two hundred and ten cases were
      correlated with a number of prognostic factors including age, stage, tumor size,
      extranodal disease, and clinical or biological markers for disease activity such
      as the LDH level. The previously reported influence of histologic subgroup on
      prognosis was not found with these highly effective protocols, whether histologic
      type was considered alone or in combination with other prognostic factors. The
      only consistent finding was that anaplastic large cell lymphomas, despite their
      aggressive features, were most likely to have a favorable outcome.

PMID- 1449260
TI  - [Signet ring cell tumor of the thyroid gland. Morphologic, immunohistochemical
      and ultrastructural study of a case and review of the literature].

PMID- 1449261
TI  - [AIDS-related progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy limited to U fibers,
      responsible for subacute encephalopathy with normal CT scan findings].
AB  - A 41-year-old male homosexual with AIDS was hospitalized for temperature
      elevation to 40 degrees C with confusion. Neurologic evaluation found psychomotor
      slowing and temporospatial disorientation with no focal signs. The CD4 count was
      100/mm3. CSF analysis and the CT scan were normal. Despite antiviral treatment
      the patient died fifteen days after admission. Gross appearance of the brain was
      normal. Histologic examination disclosed multiple, small foci of demyelination
      characteristic of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. These foci were
      disseminated among the U fibers. In situ hybridization and immunocytochemical
      studies demonstrated papovavirus particles in oligodendrocytes and a few
      astrocytes. This case shows that papovavirus infection in AIDS patients may be
      responsible for a diffuse febrile encephalopathy with normal CT scan findings and
      a rapidly progressive course.

PMID- 1449262
TI  - [Keratosis of the oral cavity].
AB  - Among white lesions of the oral cavity, keratoses can be suspected clinically but
      should be confirmed by histologic studies. Only examination under the microscope
      can demonstrate superficial keratinization of the epithelium. Irritative
      keratosis, dysplastic and malignant keratoses, and specific clinico-pathologic
      keratoses are reviewed successively. The differential diagnosis of white lesions
      of the oral cavity is discussed.

PMID- 1449263
TI  - [Necrotizing sialometaplasia].
AB  - Necrotizing sialometaplasia is an infrequent, nonmalignant, self-limited
      condition involving the accessory salivary glands. Clinical and histologic
      features of necrotizing sialometaplasia may mistakenly suggest malignant disease.
      This fact emphasizes the importance of carefully correlating clinical and
      pathologic findings and of looking for histologic criteria indicative of
      nonmalignant disease. Three cases are discussed and the relevant literature is
      reviewed.

PMID- 1449264
TI  - [Rare lesion of the vulva].

PMID- 1449265
TI  - [Heart-lung transplantation. A necropsy study of thirty-seven patients].
AB  - Between 1987 and 1992, thirty-seven heart-lung transplant recipients had a
      postmortem examination at the Pitie-Salpetriere Teaching Hospital in Paris,
      France. Except for three patients who survived 2 months, 4 months and 16 months
      after transplantation, respectively, most patients died in the early
      postoperative period (mean survival time = 34.6 days). Autopsy disclosed minor
      acute heart rejection in four patients and minor acute lung rejection in three
      patients. Five patients had obliterating bronchiolitis that was the cause of
      death in two cases. Main causes of death included perioperative pleural bleeding,
      respiratory infection with or without septicemia, diffuse alveolar lesions (adult
      respiratory distress syndrome and/or pulmonary edema undergoing organization) and
      multiple organ failure. Hemodynamic and respiratory complications responsible for
      multiple organ failure in the perioperative period, as well as pre-existing
      morbid conditions such as cirrhosis of the liver induced by heart failure, may
      have a major bearing on the outcome of heart-lung transplantations.

PMID- 1449266
TI  - [Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma of the minor salivary glands. Seven
      cases].
AB  - Seven cases of polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma of the minor salivary glands
      are reported. This fairly recently described tumor, which is not exceptional, is
      characterized by a polymorphous architecture, fairly uniform cytologic features,
      and a marked tendency to infiltrate neighboring structures with perineural spread
      in virtually every case. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies reported
      in the literature have demonstrated that the tumor cells exhibit epithelial and
      myoepithelial differentiation. These tumors probably arise from reserve cells in
      terminal ducts. The histologic study should eliminate two other tumors that carry
      a very different prognosis, i.e., pleiomorphic adenoma and the tubular,
      cribriform variety of cystic adenoid carcinoma. Low-grade polymorphic
      adenocarcinomas grow slowly. Recurrences are infrequent. Metastases are rare and
      involve only regional lymph nodes. The morphologic features and course of these
      tumors explain the term "low-grade polymorphous adenocarcinoma" used to designate
      them.

PMID- 1449267
TI  - Cancer morbidity and mortality in USA Mormons and Seventh-day Adventists.
AB  - Comparison of cancer morbidity and mortality rates between Mormons and Seventh
      day-Adventists and the corresponding rates in the Federal Republic of Germany and
      the United States, reveals that mortality from malignant neoplasms in general is
      much lower in Mormons and Seventh-day Adventists than in the Federal Republic of
      Germany. The difference concerns in particular the tobacco-dependent tumors:
      compared to the rate of affected males in the Federal Republic of Germany, only
      some 25% of Mormon males are getting lung cancer. Similar patterns are found in
      laryngeal carcinoma. Tumors that are related to both alcohol and tobacco, such as
      carcinomas of tongue, pharynx and esophagus, are also significantly less frequent
      in Mormons. Malignant neoplasms of the female genital tract show distinct
      analogies: cervical carcinoma has a morbidity rate of only 26.7% of affected
      women in Germany. Accordingly, mortality rates of Mormons and Seventh-day
      Adventists show a significant lower level when compared with cancer data of lung,
      colon and rectum, and prostate from the best German cancer registry (Saarland).
      Some tumor rates are higher in Mormons, e.g. malignant melanoma, also all types
      of malignant lymphoma and myeloma. The life expectancy is generally elevated by 2
      4 years in Mormons and Seventh-day Adventists. The association with the
      particular life style of both religious groups, especially the strict reduction
      of tobacco consumption, and factors of dietary and other habits is discussed.

PMID- 1449268
TI  - Immunoreactivity of calmodulin, S-100 protein alpha and beta subunits in rat
      submandibular glands.
AB  - The calcium-binding proteins calmodulin and S-100 protein alpha and beta subunits
      were studied in Rat submandibular salivary gland using monoclonal antibodies and
      immunoperoxidase staining. Histologically, Rat submandibular gland consists of
      acinar and ductal components. The latter include intercalated, granular
      convoluted tubule, striated and excretory ducts. Ultrastructural studies of adult
      Rat granular convoluted tubule show granular cells, pillar cells and transition
      cells. Immunostaining for S-100 alpha and calmodulin was observed in granular
      convoluted tubule pillar cells and transition cells, whereas cells of striated
      ducts and intercalated ducts stained positive for calmodulin. S-100 beta staining
      in acinar cells was visible as a fine granular pattern. Although
      immunohistochemical localization in rat submandibular gland differed for S-100
      alpha and beta subunits, expression was similar for S-100 alpha and calmodulin in
      the granular convoluted tubule segment. No immunodeposition of calmodulin, S-100
      alpha or S-100 beta was found in granular cells, which contain growth factors
      such as EGF and NGF.

PMID- 1449269
TI  - [Oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes].
AB  - Tumors arise as a result of a chain of genetic alterations that impair normal
      cell functions and lead to invasion and development of metastases. These genetic
      alterations may result either in qualitative or quantitative changes in genes
      that play a key role in normal cell function, called proto-oncogenes, or in
      inactivation of genes that normally inhibit cell growth, called tumor suppressor
      genes. Whatever the mechanism involved, responses of the cell to changes in the
      environment become inappropriate. This paper successively reviews the various
      categories of proto-oncogenes, the mechanisms by which proto-oncogenes can be
      activated, and several examples of tumor suppressor genes. The various genetic
      factors involved in cell transformation probably act together to create a network
      of molecular interactions that results in tumor progression.

PMID- 1449270
TI  - A new model for testing gametocytocidal effects of some antimalarial drugs on
      Plasmodium falciparum in vitro.
AB  - A technique is described for obtaining pure gametocyte cultures of Plasmodium
      falciparum, using pyrimethamine at the minimum concentration for inhibition of
      asexual parasites. Routine cultures producing sexual stages were exposed to
      pyrimethamine on days 5 and 6. These cultures grew synchronously and contained
      gametocytes of stages II, III and V on day 7, 9 and 15 of the cultures
      respectively. The pyrimethamine-treated gametocytes were more infective to
      mosquitoes than were untreated controls. This model for the culture of pure
      gametocytes was used to observe the activity of chloroquine, halofantrine,
      pyrimethamine and quinine on the gametocyte stage III of Plasmodium falciparum
      strain NF54 in vitro. NF54 was shown to be sensitive to chloroquine, quinine and
      pyrimethamine, but the results showed that halofantrine was the most effective
      drug in reducing the number of gametocytes. A concentration of 3 x 10(-9) M
      halofantrine was lethal to both asexual parasites and gametocytes. The
      gametocytocidal EC90 of chloroquine (1 x 10(-6) M) and that of quinine (9 x 10(
      7) M) were equal to the minimum inhibitory concentration of asexual stages of
      isolates of P. falciparum considered as highly resistant to these drugs. A high
      concentration of pyrimethamine (1 x 10(-4) M) had, in contrast, little effect on
      gametocytes.

PMID- 1449271
TI  - Malaria parasitological indices in the Cordillera Province (Santa Cruz
      Department, Bolivia).
AB  - In 1988-1989, as part of a co-operative programme with the local Unidad
      Sanitaria, two cross-sectional surveys were carried out to study the prevalence
      of malaria in eight villages in the rural areas near Camiri, Boyuibe and
      Gutierrez (Cordillera Province, Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia). Thick and thin
      blood films were collected from all available two- to nine-year-old children at
      the end of the dry season, in the first survey (252 samples), and after the rainy
      season, in the second survey (346 samples). The parasite and gametocyte indices
      increased between surveys from 1.59-25.72 and from 0.40-1.73, respectively. All
      infections were due to Plasmodium vivax. Both prevalence and parasite load were
      lower in children aged two to four years than in older children. Prevalences,
      parasite loads, and parasite densities were highest in rural areas near Camiri
      and Gutierrez.

PMID- 1449272
TI  - Oxido-reductive functions of Entamoeba histolytica in relation to virulence.
AB  - Entamoeba histolytica can reduce nitro-blue tetrazolium (NBT) in Hank's balanced
      salt solution to almost the same extent as in Eagle's minimal medium. Further,
      this reduction was stimulated only to a minor degree by glucose, pyruvate and DL
      serine, substrates known to support respiratory activity (O2 uptake) in E.
      histolytica. However, both NADH and NADPH increased NBT reduction several-fold,
      the effect being greater with NADPH. A sizeable proportion of this endogenous dye
      reducing capability (in Hank's solution) was associated with low-speed sediments
      obtainable from amoebic homogenates, which also shared the bulk of 125I labelling
      (when the homogenates were prepared after surface labelling with Na 125I).
      Conversion of the dye to formazan was strongly inhibited by -SH blocking agents,
      but was not influenced by rotenone and antimycin A. The activity was also
      inhibited by H2O2, but stimulated by catalase. Superoxide dismutase only slightly
      curtailed NBT reduction in intact cells, but inhibited it in homogenates in a
      concentration-dependent manner to a maximal extent of 33%. Almost the same degree
      of curtailment of this activity was induced by anaerobic conditions. Both
      concanavalin A (Con A) and phorbol myristate acetate stimulated the activity in
      intact cells, though the effect of Con A was nullified by alpha-methyl mannoside.
      Both NBT-reducing capability and alcohol dehydrogenase activities were higher in
      the more virulent IP:106 strain, and they increased with time in cultures of
      NIH:200 in a cholesterol-enriched environment.

PMID- 1449273
TI  - The efficacy of chemotherapy with mebendazole in human cystic echinococcosis:
      long-term follow-up of 52 patients.
AB  - Sixty patients with Echinococcus granulosus infection of the liver, lungs, bone
      and/or soft tissues were treated for several months with oral mebendazole (50-60
      mg kg-1 day-1), in divided doses after fat-rich meals, either without surgery
      (WS), post-surgery (PS) or pre- and post-surgery (PPS). Long-term follow-up,
      possible for 52 of the patients, showed that WS, PS and PPS patients have so far
      remained disease-free following treatment for (means +/- standard deviations)
      65.5 +/- 37.7, 82.5 +/- 37.0 and 84.1 +/- 28.3 months, respectively. Ultrasound
      and computed tomography scans were similar in WS and PPS patients post-treatment.
      Blood eosinophil levels, which were sometimes elevated initially, returned to
      normal in all patients and this decrease indicated cyst degeneration before this
      was evident on the scans. Treatment of patients with cystic echinococcosis may no
      longer require surgery.

PMID- 1449274
TI  - Antibodies of different immunoglobulin isotypes in serum and bile of patients
      with clonorchiasis.
AB  - Specimens of serum and bile from patients were assayed by an enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay to reveal antibodies specific to antigens from adult
      Clonorchis sinensis. Antibodies of the IgG isotype showed the greatest elevation
      during infection (Student's t-test, P < 0.001), whereas serum IgA and IgE and
      secretory IgA in bile were moderately elevated (P < 0.05). Major differences in
      the distribution of antibodies among the IgG subclasses were observed between
      patients who were and those who were not infected. IgG4 antibody levels were
      elevated in the serum and bile of infected patients, and there were significant
      correlations between the levels of IgG and IgG4 antibodies and the intensity of
      infection.

PMID- 1449275
TI  - Ivermectin for the treatment of periodic malayan filariasis: a study of efficacy
      and side effects following a single oral dose and retreatment at six months.
AB  - Ivermectin, a new antifilarial drug and currently the drug of choice for the
      treatment of onchocerciasis, has been shown to be effective in bancroftian
      filariasis. We report here, for the first time, the efficacy and safety of the
      drug in the treatment of filariasis caused by periodic Brugia malayi. Sixty male,
      asymptomatic microfilaraemics of Alleppey district, Kerala, South India, received
      single oral doses of ivermectin in a double blind study. Four dosages were used:
      20, 50, 100 and 200 micrograms kg-1 body weight. Clearance of microfilariae,
      which was not complete, began as early as 12 hours post-treatment and was maximal
      at the end of one month. Microfilaria levels began to rise thereafter and reached
      20-50% of pretreatment levels at six months. The two higher doses (100 and 200
      micrograms kg-1) were more effective in suppressing microfilaraemia at six months
      (P < 0.05). After six months, 32 patients were retreated using the same dose of
      ivermectin that they had received initially. The pattern of clearance was
      essentially similar to that seen during the first treatment phase and
      microfilaria levels were 10-35% of pretreatment levels at the end of the next six
      months. Twenty-eight individuals who were not retreated at six months continued
      to have increasing levels of microfilariae, reaching 60% of pretreatment levels
      at the end of the next six months. Side effects (such as fever, headache,
      myalgia), which were mild to moderate, were seen in most patients and were
      unrelated to the dose (P > 0.05) or pretreatment levels of
      microfilariae.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449276
TI  - The prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiases in rural
      communities in southern Nigeria.
AB  - An investigation of the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted
      helminthiases was undertaken in four villages in Oyo state, Nigeria. Diagnosis
      was based on examination of stool samples for the presence of helminth ova in all
      age classes. The prevalence of Ascaris lumbriocoides ranged from 61.5-72.2%, of
      Trichuris trichiura from 65-74%, and of hookworm from 52.4-63% depending on the
      village concerned. Intensity, assessed indirectly as the mean eggs per gram of
      faeces (epg), varied with regard to the four villages. The mean egg count of A.
      lumbricoides varied from 6815-10,823 per gram, of T. trichiura from 127-246, and
      of hookworm from 122-267. Host age, sex and household size were found to be
      significant factors influencing faecal egg output, and indirect measure of the
      intensity of the helminth infections.

PMID- 1449277
TI  - Human Oesophagostomum infection in northern Togo and Ghana: epidemiological
      aspects.
AB  - Recently, it has been established that human infection with Oesophagostomum
      bifurcum is common in northern Togo and northeastern Ghana. Two surveys were
      conducted in this area. In a regional survey, O. bifurcum infection appeared to
      occur in 38 of 43 villages. The highest prevalences (up to 59%) occurred mostly
      in small isolated villages and were usually associated with high hookworm
      infection rates. The infection was relatively rare in children under five years
      of age (7% infected). In older individuals, females showed higher prevalences
      than males (30% vs. 24%). In a second survey, the entire population of two high
      prevalence villages was examined. Infection rates were low in children under
      three years of age, but rose quickly thereafter, suggesting intense transmission.
      A stable level of infection was reached by 10 years of age. Oesophagostomum
      larvae were found more frequently in hookworm-positive than in hookworm-negative
      coprocultures, and possible explanations for the association between infection
      with Oesophagostomum and hookworm are discussed.

PMID- 1449278
TI  - Coagulation abnormalities and ivermectin.
AB  - Prothrombin ratios were measured 13-16 days after treatment in 148 subjects from
      Sierra Leone taking part in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of
      ivermectin. Prolonged prothrombin ratios were observed more frequently in the
      ivermectin group, although this difference was not significant and no patients
      suffered bleeding complications. Further investigation of these patients failed
      to reveal any abnormality of liver function, although factor VII and II levels
      were reduced in most affected individuals, suggesting interference with vitamin K
      metabolism. Ivermectin has a minimal effect on coagulation and concern about mass
      treatment for this reason appears to be unjustified.

PMID- 1449279
TI  - Plasmodium ovale in the highlands of Irian Jaya, Indonesia.

PMID- 1449280
TI  - Comparison of Leishmania infections in sandflies fed with two types of feeders.

PMID- 1449281
TI  - A possible animal reservoir for Leishmania tropica s.l. in Kenya.

PMID- 1449282
TI  - The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in sheep, goats and pigs in Zimbabwe.

PMID- 1449283
TI  - Experimental infection and morphology of Taenia saginata (Burma strain) in
      domestic animals.

PMID- 1449284
TI  - Mediastinitis in heart transplantation.
AB  - Between March 1985 and December 1991, mediastinitis developed in 12 of 420
      cardiac transplantation patients (2.8%). The mortality rate in this group of
      patients was 8.3% (1/12). Actuarial survival (1 year, 75%; and 5 years, 65%) was
      not significantly different from that of the group without mediastinitis (1 year,
      88%; and 5 years, 75%). A higher percentage of the patients in the group with
      mediastinitis were listed as UNOS status 1 (50% versus 35%) and had a history of
      previous sternotomies (58% versus 44%). The presentation of mediastinitis was
      typical. Computed tomographic scanning with or without aspiration was a valuable
      adjunct in the diagnosis of mediastinitis. Induction immunotherapy with minimal
      steroids in the perioperative period was used in all patients. This may
      contribute to the patients' ability to mount an appropriate and effective
      response to infection, permitting earlier diagnosis. The debridement irrigation
      technique used in 8 of 12 patients had a low success rate of 33%, whereas the
      debridement muscle flap technique used in 4 of 12 was 100% successful in
      eliminating infection.

PMID- 1449285
TI  - Long-term effect of total fundoplication on the myotomized esophagus.
AB  - From 1978 to 1983, 17 patients had an esophagocardiomyotomy with an added short
      total fundoplication as an antireflux procedure. Thirteen had achalasia and 4,
      diffuse esophageal spasm. All patients initially had the usual symptoms of these
      motor disorders. Early after the operation all became asymptomatic, but over the
      years of follow-up, symptoms reappeared in 14 of 17 patients, and 5 required
      reoperation. The distal esophageal transverse diameter showed progressive
      dilatation from 3.9 cm preoperatively to more than 6 cm after 10 years of
      evolution. Over the same period, deterioration in the esophageal emptying
      capacity caused esophageal stasis to increase from 32% to 75%. Manometric changes
      were significant after the operation: resting pressures in the esophageal body
      decreased from 10.5 to 4.4 mm Hg (p < 0.001) proximally and from 12.2 to 4.6 mm
      Hg distally (p < 0.001). Peak contraction pressures became significantly weaker:
      38 to 30 mm Hg in the proximal esophagus (p < 0.001) and from 49.2 to 28.1 in the
      distal esophagus (p < 0.001). Tertiary contractions were unchanged distally, but
      peristalsis reappeared in more than 30% of all swallows in the proximal half of
      the esophageal body. The resting pressure gradient in the lower esophageal
      sphincter area was reduced from 25.5 to 7.4 mm Hg by the operation. This gradient
      remained stable over 10 years of follow-up. No significant acid exposure was
      documented in 8 patients undergoing 24-hour pH recordings after their operation.
      Endoscopy revealed dilatation and retention without evidence of reflux
      esophagitis damage. Total fundoplication when associated with esophageal myotomy
      results in improved symptoms in the early postoperative phase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449286
TI  - Clinical manifestation of mediastinal fibrosis and histoplasmosis.
AB  - We treated 20 patients thought to have mediastinal fibrosis secondary to
      Histoplasma capsulatum. All but 1 were symptomatic. The most common symptoms were
      dyspnea (8), hemoptysis (6), postobstructive pneumonia (5), and superior vena
      caval obstruction (2). Nine patients had severe stenosis of the trachea, carina,
      or main bronchus. Special stains identified Histoplasma capsulatum in surgical
      specimens in 9 patients. Surgical procedures were done for 18 of 20 patients
      (resection of subcarinal mass, 6; right middle and lower lobectomy, 5; carinal
      pneumonectomy, 4; esophagoplasty, 4; sleeve resection, 3 (with right main
      bronchus in 1, right lower and middle lobectomy in 1, and carina in 1); right
      upper lobectomy, 1; middle lobectomy, 1; and bronchoplasty of left main bronchus,
      1. There were 4 deaths, 3 after complications of carinal pneumonectomy and 1 in a
      patient with tracheobronchial obstruction that could not be dilated. Two patients
      were treated with amphotericin and 4 with ketoconazole. Sclerosing mediastinitis
      secondary to histoplasmosis presents tremendous surgical challenges because of
      the intense fibrosis encountered. Bronchoplastic procedures are possible in spite
      of the intense fibrosis. High mortality rates after carinal resection may be
      encountered. The exact role of antifungal therapy is as yet undefined.

PMID- 1449287
TI  - Postcardiotomy centrifugal mechanical ventricular support.
AB  - From August 1979 through August 1991, 91 patients were supported with centrifugal
      mechanical ventricular assist. Major indications for its use were postcardiotomy
      ventricular failure (79) or as a bridge to cardiac transplantation (12). In
      postcardiotomy use (0.2% of all cardiac procedures), there were 54 male (68.4%)
      and 25 female patients (31.6%) with a mean age of 54.8 years and a mean duration
      of use of 3.56 days (range, 1 hour to 19 days). Forty-nine patients (62%) were
      successfully weaned, and 20 (25.3%) were hospital survivors. In 57 patients the
      device was inserted to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass, whereas in 22 it was
      employed later in the postoperative period because of low cardiac output or
      sudden arrest. Thirty-four (59.6%) of the 57 patients in the former group were
      weaned, and 15 (26.3%) were discharged, results similar to those in the latter
      group with 15 (68.2%) weaned and 5 (22.7%) discharged. Morbidity associated with
      use of centrifugal blood pumps included bleeding (87.3%; mean transfusion
      requirement, 53.2 units), renal failure (46.8%), cerebrovascular accident
      (12.7%), thromboembolism (12.7%), and hepatic insufficiency (12.7%). After a mean
      follow-up of 45.4 months (range, 2 to 142 months), 7 patients had died (35% late
      mortality), 1 patient is in functional class IV, and all others are in functional
      class I or II. Lower survival was associated with biventricular failure and renal
      failure but not with age or sex of the patient.

PMID- 1449288
TI  - Device-supported myocardial revascularization: safe help for sick hearts.
AB  - Although advances in both the technology of artificial oxygenation and our
      understanding of myocardial preservation have made aortocoronary bypass
      operations safer, clinical settings remain where even these improvements have
      limited efficacy. We have recently treated 43 severely ill patients with
      aortocoronary bypass, using a ventricular assist device for intraoperative
      hemodynamic support and ventricular decompression. For 34 of the patients,
      preoperative ejection fractions (multigated acquisition) ranged from 0.12 to 0.28
      (average, 0.22); 6 patients manifested cardiogenic shock preoperatively, and
      emergency operations precluded multigated acquisition studies. Twenty-nine
      patients had preoperative evidence of congestive heart failure, 10 had a prior
      bypass operation, 9 had major chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 2 were
      Jehovah's Witnesses. The operative technique involved minimal doses of heparin (1
      to 1.5 mg/kg), no cardioplegia, and no cardiopulmonary bypass. Revascularization
      was accomplished on beating, nonworking hearts, with right (40 of 43) and left
      (43 of 43) ventricles supported by Nimbus Hemopumps (4 of 43) or Bio-Medicus
      centrifugal ventricular assist devices for an average of 112 minutes. In each
      case, the patient's lungs were used as the oxygenator. An average of 3.7 bypass
      grafts per patient were constructed. The left internal mammary artery was used in
      41 patients, whereas at least one coronary endarterectomy was required in 20. Six
      patients had concomitant placement of an automatic implantable cardioverter
      defibrillator. Two patients (4.6%) died: 1 (with preoperative cardiogenic shock)
      of low cardiac output on postoperative day 1, and 1 of a severe neurologic
      deficit on day 8. Follow-up ranged from 2 to 18 months (average, 8.9 months),
      with all survivors demonstrating improvement in cardiac function in both the
      early and late postoperative periods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449289
TI  - Early cellular events in the lung allograft.
AB  - We hypothesized that ischemic insult to the lung allograft may render it more
      susceptible to rejection. Left canine single-lung allografts were subjected to
      usual periods of cold and warm ischemia (4 hours and 1 hour, respectively).
      Bronchoalveolar lavage and open lung biopsies were performed at 0, 1, 4, and 24
      hours and 1 week after transplantation. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was examined
      for cellular phenotypes, lymphocyte lectin-mediated cytotoxicity, and natural
      killer cell cytotoxicity. Open lung biopsy specimens were examined for severity
      of injury/rejection and MHC class II expression. Within 1 to 4 hours of
      reimplantation, we observed marked influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and
      lymphocytes and an increase in lectin-mediated cytotoxicity (25.6% +/- 14.8% and
      50.6% +/- 20.1% versus 5.4% +/- 7.5% preoperatively; p < 0.05). In addition,
      natural killer cell cytotoxicity increased from 10.2% +/- 13.5% before
      transplantation to 20.5% +/- 8.6% 4 hours after transplantation (p < 0.03). By 24
      hours MHC class II expression became evident and continued to increase while
      subtle histologic evidence of rejection appeared by 1 week. We conclude that
      ischemia-reperfusion injury can alter the local bronchopulmonary milieu, thus
      rendering it more susceptible to the development of rejection.

PMID- 1449290
TI  - Bioassay of EDRF from internal mammary arteries: implications for early and late
      bypass graft patency.
AB  - To study the basal, luminal release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor, 35-mm
      segments of canine internal mammary artery (IMA) were cannulated and perfused at
      5 mL/min in vitro with physiological salt solution. Vasoactive properties of the
      effluent were bioassayed on coronary artery smooth muscle. Effluent from IMAs
      produced significant vasodilation of the bioassay ring compared with effluent
      from a prosthetic conduit (n = 24; p < 0.05). The vasodilation by the effluent
      could be eliminated by mechanically removing the intima of the IMA, or by
      treating the IMA segments with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine or NG-nitro-L-arginine,
      two competitive inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis from L-arginine;
      vasodilation was not influenced by treatment with indomethacin. In 83% of the
      superfusion experiments, effluent from the left IMA induced greater relaxation of
      the bioassay ring than did effluent from the right IMA. In addition, the average
      vasodilation induced by left IMA effluent was 28% +/- 2.3% versus 17.4% +/- 3.1%
      for the right (n = 24; p < 0.05). However, in organ chamber experiments, right
      and left IMAs exhibited comparable endothelium-dependent vasodilation to
      acetylcholine (n = 6). Because endothelium-derived relaxing factor induces
      vasodilation and also inhibits platelet adhesion, platelet aggregation, and
      atherogenesis, luminal release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor by the IMA
      could contribute to superior results when the artery is used in bypass grafting.

PMID- 1449292
TI  - Left atrial isolation associated with mitral valve operations.
AB  - Surgical isolation of the left atrium was performed for the treatment of chronic
      atrial fibrillation secondary to valvular disease in 100 patients who underwent
      mitral valve operations. From May 1989 to September 1991, 62 patients underwent
      mitral valve operations (group I); 19, mitral valve operations and DeVega
      tricuspid annuloplasty (group II); 15, mitral and aortic operations (group III);
      and 4, mitral and aortic operations and DeVega tricuspid annuloplasty (group IV).
      Left atrial isolation was performed, prolonging the usual left paraseptal
      atriotomy toward the left fibrous trigone anteriorly and the posteromedial
      commissure posteriorly. The incision was conducted a few millimeters apart from
      the mitral valve annulus, and cryolesions were placed at the edges to ensure
      complete electrophysiological isolation of the left atrium. Operative mortality
      accounted for 3 patients (3%). In 79 patients (81.4%) sinus rhythm recovered and
      persisted until discharge from the hospital. No differences were found between
      the groups (group I, 80.7%; group II, 68.5%; group III, 86.7%; group IV, 75%; p =
      not significant). Three late deaths (3.1%) were registered. Long-term results
      show persistence of sinus rhythm in 71% of group I, 61.2% of group II, 85.8% of
      group III, and 100% of group IV. The unique risk factor for late recurrence of
      atrial fibrillation was found to be preoperative atrial fibrillation longer than
      6 months. Due to the satisfactory success rate in recovering sinus rhythm, we
      suggest performing left atrial isolation in patients with chronic atrial
      fibrillation undergoing valvular operations.

PMID- 1449291
TI  - Coronary artery bypass without cardiopulmonary bypass.
AB  - The purpose of this article is twofold: to describe our technique for performing
      coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass (off pump) and to
      demonstrate that this operation is safe, in terms of mortality and certain
      indices of morbidity. Very little has been published in regard to off-bypass
      operations. From 1985 through 1990, 220 patients underwent operation off bypass;
      220 on-pump controls were retrospectively matched for number of grafts, left
      ventricular function, and date of operation. Groups were compared in terms of
      mortality and ten indicators of morbidity. The same analysis was performed for
      ten subgroups. We found no statistically significant difference between groups in
      mortality (off pump, 1.4% [3/220]; on pump, 2.4% [5/220]), which held across all
      subgroups. Patients undergoing operation off pump required blood far less often
      (not transfused: off pump, 72.7% [160/220]; on pump, 54.6% [116/220]; p = 0.005
      by Fisher's exact test), and the low output state occurred statistically less
      frequently off pump (off pump, 5.5% [12/220]; on-pump, 12.7% [28/220]; p = 0.01
      by Fisher's exact test). Further research should be directed to which subgroups
      can be operated on to advantage off pump and which, if any, groups of patients
      should be confined to on-bypass operations.

PMID- 1449293
TI  - Combined carotid and coronary revascularization: the preferred approach to the
      severe vasculopath.
AB  - The timing of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and coronary revascularization (CABG)
      for concomitant disease is controversial. Results of combined CEA/CABG in 127
      patients (age range, 46 to 82 years; mean age, 65 years; 61% male) from 1978 to
      1991 were reviewed. Ninety-five patients (75%) were in New York Heart Association
      functional class III or IV, 48 (38%) had left main coronary artery disease, and
      32 (28%) had depressed ejection fraction ( < 0.50). Forty (32%) had asymptomatic
      bruits, 61 (48%) transient ischemic attacks, and 26 (20%) prior strokes. Seventy
      five (59%) had bilateral carotid stenosis, including 20 (16%) with contralateral
      occlusions. Perioperative mortality was 7 of 127 (5.5%), and all deaths were
      cardiac related. Myocardial infarctions occurred in 6 of 127 patients (4.7%) and
      were nonfatal in 3 (2.3%). Permanent strokes occurred in 7 of 127 (5.5%) and were
      ipsilateral in 5 (3.9%). Perioperative stroke did not occur in the asymptomatic
      group, but the risk was higher in those with prior stroke (19%) or with
      contralateral carotid occlusion (15%). The stroke risk for our patients with
      carotid disease having CABG without CEA is not known, but the literature reports
      rates as high as 14%. For our patients without known concomitant disease, the
      risk of permanent stroke was 1.0% (31/3012) for isolated CABG and 1.5% (7/482)
      for isolated CEA. The late results after CEA/CABG revealed a 5-year survival of
      70% +/- 5%, which correlated with ejection fraction ( > or = 0.50, 81% +/- 5%; <
      0.50, 45% +/- 11%; p < 0.003). Freedom from late permanent ipsilateral stroke was
      97% +/- 2% at 8 years. Freedom from stroke at 5 years was lower among patients
      with a previous stroke (71% +/- 10%) compared with transiently symptomatic (90%
      +/- 4%) and asymptomatic (96% +/- 4%) patients (p < 0.03). Combined CEA/CABG is a
      useful option in this high-risk group of patients with extensive atherosclerosis;
      avoids a subsequent hospitalization, anesthetic, and delay period; and provides
      long-term protection from ipsilateral stroke.

PMID- 1449294
TI  - Vascular anatomy of the gastric tube used for esophageal reconstruction.
AB  - This study investigates the actual, as contrasted with the presumed, blood supply
      of the greater curvature gastric tube commonly used to reconstruct the gullet
      after esophagogastrectomy. Arterial and venous corrosion casts of this tube were
      created in 30 cadavers and demonstrated the following: (1) The right
      gastroepiploic artery is the exclusive conduit of blood in the pedicle. (2) The
      contribution of the right gastric artery is negligible. (3) Although tributaries
      of the left gastroepiploic artery are distributed over the central portion of the
      tube, the connection between the right and left gastroepiploic vessels is minute.
      (4) The blood supply of the cranial 20% of the greater curvature tube is through
      a microscopic network of capillaries and arterioles. These findings constitute an
      anatomical argument for extremely gentle handling of the stomach throughout its
      mobilization, during construction and positioning of the tube, and during the
      anastomosis.

PMID- 1449295
TI  - Absent pulmonary valve syndrome: operation in infants with airway obstruction.
AB  - From 1979 through 1991, 19 infants with absent pulmonary valve syndrome and
      airway obstruction were seen for surgical treatment. All patients underwent
      extensive pulmonary artery aneurysmorrhaphy using cardiopulmonary bypass.
      Fourteen patients had simultaneous transatrial ventricular septal defect (VSD)
      closure, infundibular resection, and placement of a short transannular patch; 2
      had transventricular VSD closure and infundibular resection without a
      transannular patch; 1 underwent transventricular VSD closure and transannular
      patching; and 2 underwent pulmonary artery aneurysmorrhaphy alone with the VSD
      left open. All 19 infants had good hemodynamics when taken from the operating
      theater, but 3 died postoperatively of severe airway obstruction, despite further
      tracheobronchopexy procedures in 2 (hospital mortality rate, 16%; confidence
      limits, 7% to 29%). Among the 16 patients discharged from the hospital, there was
      one late death. Five other patients have required reoperation for branch
      pulmonary artery stenosis (n = 2), residual airway obstruction resulting from
      persistent pulmonary artery dilatation (n = 1), closure of VSD (n = 1), and
      homograft valve insertion for pulmonary incompetence and right ventricular
      dysfunction (n = 1). There are 15 long-term survivors. Eight of them have
      episodic bronchospasm of mild to moderate severity, and all are responsive to
      sympathomimetic bronchodilator aerosols. The remaining 7 are asymptomatic.

PMID- 1449296
TI  - Effect of delay in retroperfusion therapy on infarct size reduction.
AB  - Retroperfusion of arterial blood through the coronary sinus reduces infarct size
      if therapy starts immediately after coronary artery occlusion. To determine if a
      new system of non-electrocardiogram-synchronized retroperfusion is able to reduce
      infarct size after delays consistent with clinical use, anesthetized pigs were
      subjected to 4 hours of left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion
      followed by 1 hour of reperfusion. Retroperfusion of arterial blood commenced
      immediately after occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery in
      the no-delay group (n = 10) and after a 1-hour (n = 10) and a 2-hour (n = 8)
      delay in two other groups. In the control group (n = 10), no therapy was used. In
      all groups, retroperfusion of arterial blood was terminated after 4 hours of
      occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Infarct size,
      expressed as a percentage of the in vivo area at risk (+/- the standard
      deviation), was smaller in the no-delay group (44.1 +/- 12.9) and marginally
      smaller in the 1-hour delay group (71.0 +/- 9.8) compared with controls (86.3 +/-
      7.5) (p < 0.05). Infarct size in the 2-hour delay group (75.0 +/- 10.7) was not
      significantly different from controls. Mean coronary sinus pressure (+/- the
      standard deviation) was 56 +/- 25 mm Hg, 39 +/- 9 mm Hg, and 47 +/- 9 mm Hg in
      the no-delay, 1-hour delay and 2-hour delay groups, respectively. Thus, this new
      retroperfusion system limits infarct size by 50% if it is started immediately
      after coronary occlusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449297
TI  - Hyperglycemia increases cerebral intracellular acidosis during circulatory
      arrest.
AB  - Phosphorus 31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to assess cerebral
      high-energy phosphate metabolism and intracellular pH in normoglycemic and
      hyperglycemic sheep during hypothermic circulatory arrest. Two groups of sheep (n
      = 8 per group) were placed in a 4.7-T magnet and cooled to 15 degrees C using
      cardiopulmonary bypass. Spectra were acquired before and during circulatory
      arrest and during reperfusion and rewarming. Intracellular pH and adenosine
      triphosphate levels decreased during circulatory arrest. Compared with the
      normoglycemic animals, the hyperglycemic group was significantly more acidotic
      with the greatest difference observed during the first 20 minutes of reperfusion
      (6.40 +/- 0.08 versus 6.08 +/- 0.06; p < 0.001). Intracellular pH returned to
      baseline after 30 minutes of reperfusion in the normoglycemic group but did not
      reach baseline until 1 hour of reperfusion in the hyperglycemic animals.
      Adenosine triphosphate levels were significantly higher in the hyperglycemic
      group during circulatory arrest. Repletion of adenosine triphosphate during
      reperfusion was similar for both groups. These results support the hypothesis
      that hyperglycemia during cerebral ischemia drives anaerobic glycolysis and thus
      leads to increased lactate production and an increase [corrected] in the
      intracellular acidosis normally associated with ischemia.

PMID- 1449298
TI  - Barbiturates impair cerebral metabolism during hypothermic circulatory arrest.
AB  - Barbiturates have been used as a method of cerebral protection in patients
      undergoing open heart operations. Phosphorus 31 nuclear magnetic resonance
      spectroscopy was used to assess barbiturate-induced alterations in the cerebral
      tissue energy state during cardiopulmonary bypass, hypothermic circulatory
      arrest, and subsequent reperfusion. Sheep were positioned in a 4.7-T magnet with
      a radiofrequency coil over the skull. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were
      obtained at 37 degrees C, during cardiopulmonary bypass before and after drug
      administration at 37 degrees C and 15 degrees C, throughout a 1-hour period of
      hypothermic circulatory arrest, and during a 2-hour reperfusion period. A group
      of animals (n = 8) was administered a bolus of sodium thiopental (40 mg/kg)
      during bypass at 37 degrees C followed by an infusion of 3.3 mg.kg-1 x min-1
      until hypothermic arrest. A control group of animals (n = 8) received no
      barbiturate. The phosphocreatine/adenosine triphosphate ratio, reflecting tissue
      energy state, was lower during cardiopulmonary bypass at 15 degrees C in the
      treated animals compared with controls (1.06 +/- 0.08 versus 1.36 +/- 0.17; p <
      0.001). Lower phosphocreatine/adenosine triphosphate ratios were observed
      throughout all periods of arrest and reperfusion in the barbiturate-treated
      animals compared with controls (p < or = 0.01). Thiopental prevented the increase
      in cerebral energy state normally observed with hypothermia and resulted in a
      decrease in the energy state of the brain during hypothermic circulatory arrest
      and subsequent reperfusion. These results suggest that thiopental administration
      before a period of hypothermic circulatory arrest may prove detrimental to the
      preservation of the energy state of the brain.

PMID- 1449299
TI  - Coronary sinus injuries during retrograde continuous normothermic blood
      cardioplegia.
AB  - Injuries to the coronary sinus during cardioplegic arrest are rare but
      potentially lethal. We herein present case reports of injuries to the coronary
      sinus occurring during retrograde continuous normothermic blood cardioplegia, and
      emphasize preventive measures and treatment.

PMID- 1449300
TI  - Clinical cardiomyoplasty: preoperative factors associated with outcome.
AB  - Dynamic cardiomyoplasty has been used clinically to augment the ventricular
      function of a failing heart. Fifteen clinical dynamic cardiomyoplasties have been
      performed at Allegheny General Hospital since 1985. Left ventricular ejection
      fraction improved in long-term survivors from a preoperative value of 0.23 +/-
      0.02 to 0.32 +/- 0.05 with postoperative cardiomyostimulation (p < 0.05). There
      was an average reduction of 2 +/- 0.3 New York Heart Association classes (3.6 +/-
      0.2 before operation versus 1.6 +/- 0.4 after operation; p < 0.001).
      Postoperative mortality was 27% (4/15), and early mortality (within 6 months
      after operation) was 20% (3/15). Significant preoperative differences between
      survivors and nonsurvivors were found in right ventricular ejection fraction
      (0.53 +/- 0.03 versus 0.30 +/- 0.07; p < 0.05), pulmonary artery mean pressure
      (19 +/- 2 versus 34 +/- 6 mm Hg; p < 0.05), pulmonary artery diastolic pressure
      (12 +/- 1 versus 25 +/- 5 mm Hg; p < 0.05), and pulmonary vascular resistance
      (1.4 +/- 2 versus 2.5 +/- 0.7 Wood units; p < 0.05). Dynamic cardiomyoplasty can
      be done with low operative mortality in patients with isolated left ventricular
      failure, but mortality is high in those with biventricular failure or pulmonary
      hypertension. Improvement in functional class and ventricular function can be
      expected in long-term survivors. Application of these findings to patient
      selection will improve the risk/benefit ratio for dynamic cardiomyoplasty.

PMID- 1449301
TI  - Fluosol cardioplegia results in complete functional recovery: a comparison with
      blood cardioplegia.
AB  - Blood cardioplegia is considered by many to be the preferred solution for
      myocardial protection. Proposed benefits include the ability to deliver oxygen
      and the ability to maintain metabolic substrate stores. However, the decreased
      capacity of blood to release oxygen at hypothermic conditions as well as the
      presence of deleterious leukocytes, platelets, and complement may limit complete
      functional recovery. Fluosol is an asanguineous solution with the ability to bind
      and release oxygen linearly at low temperatures. Neonatal piglet hearts (24 to 48
      hours old) were excised and supported on an isolated, blood-perfused working
      heart model. After baseline stroke-work index was determined, hearts were
      arrested with either normocalcemic blood cardioplegia (group 1, n = 8) or
      normocalcemic Fluosol cardioplegia (group 2, n = 8). Cold cardioplegia was
      administered at 45 mm Hg every 20 minutes for 2 hours. Hearts were then
      reperfused with whole blood. Functional recovery, expressed as percent of control
      stroke-work index, was determined 60 minutes after reperfusion at left atrial
      pressures of 3, 6, 9, and 12 mm Hg. Functional recovery at 60 minutes was similar
      between group 1 (95%, 93%, 93%, 88%) and group 2 (100%, 94%, 94%, 95%) at left
      atrial pressures of 3, 6, 9, and 12 mm Hg, respectively. Mean lactate consumption
      5 minutes after reperfusion was significantly greater (p = 0.0001) in group 1
      (31.8 +/- 6.3 micrograms.min-1 x g-1) than in group 2 (-0.59 +/- 0.1
      microgram.min-1 x g-1), indicating superior metabolic recovery in the blood
      cardioplegia hearts. Edema formation, as determined both by water content (group
      1, 81.10%; group 2, 81.63%) and by electron microscopy, was not significantly
      different between groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449302
TI  - Influence of beta 1-blockade on myocardial substrates early after a coronary
      operation.
AB  - A high adrenergic strain during reperfusion after ischemia impedes functional
      recovery. Conversely, adrenergic blockade may be beneficial during reperfusion.
      This study was undertaken to find out if early postoperative high-dose infusion
      of the selective beta 1-blocking agent metoprolol tartrate has additional effects
      on metabolic variables related to myocardial energy supply/demand balance
      compared with those obtained with a late preoperative oral dose. The study
      included 21 male patients undergoing coronary bypass grafting. All patients
      received an oral dose of metoprolol before the operation. After the operation,
      patients were randomized to a control group or a group receiving intravenous
      infusion of metoprolol. Myocardial uptake of oxygen and substrates was determined
      before and during atrial pacing. Metoprolol reduced arterial concentrations of
      free fatty acids, reduced myocardial uptake of free fatty acids, and enhanced
      myocardial uptake of lactate. During paced tachycardia, the metoprolol
      concentration correlated negatively with myocardial uptake of free fatty acids (r
      = -0.80; p < 0.001) and positively with myocardial uptake of lactate (r = 0.53; p
      < 0.05). It is concluded that postoperative infusion of metoprolol induces
      myocardial metabolic changes compatible with an improved energy supply/demand
      balance.

PMID- 1449303
TI  - Pleuropulmonary aspergilloma: clinical spectrum and results of surgical
      treatment.
AB  - From 1974 to 1991, 77 patients were admitted for pulmonary (55), pleural (16), or
      bronchial (6) aspergilloma. About 50% were asymptomatic. Sixty-three underwent
      operation. Pulmonary aspergillomas were operated on for therapeutic need in 26
      and on principle in 18; the procedures were 28 lobar or segmental resections, 10
      thoracoplasties, and 5 pleuropneumonectomies (1 patient had exploration only).
      Pleural aspergillosis was treated by operation on principle in 5 and for
      therapeutic need in 8 patients; 10 thoracoplasties, 1 attempt at
      pleuropneumonectomy, and 2 decortications were performed. All six bronchial
      lesions were operated on as a rule. Overall postoperative mortality was 9.5%.
      Major complications were bleeding (n = 37), pleural space problems (n = 24),
      respiratory failure (n = 6), and postpneumonectomy empyema (n = 4). All patients
      with pleural disease experienced complications. The outcome was better after
      lobar or segmental resection than after thoracoplasty (mortality, 6% versus 15%).
      Asymptomatic and nonsequellary pulmonary or bronchial aspergilloma also had an
      improved outcome. We conclude that operation is at low risk in pulmonary or
      bronchial locations in asymptomatic patients and in the absence of sequellae; the
      risk is high in symptomatic patients for whom operation is the only definite
      treatment. Pleuropneumonectomy should be avoided. Only symptomatic pleural
      aspergilloma should be operated on.

PMID- 1449304
TI  - Temporary double exclusion of the perforated esophagus using absorbable staples.
AB  - A new method for double exclusion of the esophagus is presented. Temporary
      closure of the cervical and intraabdominal esophagus using absorbable staples
      allows effective healing of esophageal perforations. The procedure should be
      routinely combined with drainage of the periesophageal abscess. Complete
      recanalization of the esophagus occurs 1 to 2 weeks after operation.

PMID- 1449305
TI  - Vascular and interstitial effect of University of Wisconsin solution on canine
      lung.
AB  - Belzer's University of Wisconsin cold storage solution (UWCSS) has proved useful
      in extending the shelf life of organs in extrathoracic transplantation and more
      recently has also been shown to be useful in heart transplantation. I
      investigated the effect of 4 degrees C UWCSS on the vascular and interstitial
      properties of the lung to see whether it affected the pulmonary microcirculation
      or caused pulmonary edema. Infusion of UWCSS was associated with a slight
      decrease in oxygen tension, but the final oxygen tension was no different from
      that previously demonstrated with Euro-Collins solution. Vascular conductance was
      not affected by UWCSS, but average vascular closure increased slightly,
      indicating that increased vascular tone occurs. This effect is similar to but
      less than that previously observed with Euro-Collins solution. Based on
      comparisons of wet to dry weight ratios, estimates of interstitial compliance,
      transvascular fluid flux, and microvascular filtration coefficient, it does not
      appear that UWCSS causes pulmonary edema. Further investigation into the
      usefulness of UWCSS in lung transplantation is therefore warranted.

PMID- 1449306
TI  - Safety and efficacy of autologous blood donation before elective aortic valve
      operation.
AB  - Although the use of preoperative autologous blood donations for patients
      undergoing elective cardiac operations has increased dramatically in recent
      years, patients awaiting elective aortic valve replacement have traditionally
      been denied access to preoperative autologous blood collection programs. We
      report our experience with 79 patients, each of whom donated 1 to 3 units of
      autologous blood before an aortic valve operation. All patients had serious
      aortic valve disease as evidenced by symptoms and preoperative catheterization
      data. The patients collectively made 129 blood donations. One patient had a
      syncopal episode within 2 hours of donation and recovered without difficulty. Of
      the patients who gave autologous blood preoperatively, 68% avoided any homologous
      blood donor exposure during their subsequent hospitalization for aortic valve
      replacement. In contrast, in a group of 298 patients who did not give autologous
      blood preoperatively, only 31% avoided homologous blood exposure during aortic
      valve replacement (p < 0.0001). Our experience suggests that preoperative
      autologous blood donation by patients awaiting elective aortic valve replacement
      is both safe and effective. Patients with aortic valve disease should not be
      routinely excluded from preoperative blood services.

PMID- 1449307
TI  - Clinical and hemodynamic evaluation of the 19-mm Carpentier-Edwards supraannular
      aortic valve.
AB  - The clinical and hemodynamic performance of the 19-mm Carpentier-Edwards
      supraannular aortic valve is largely unknown compared with that of the larger
      valves. Over 4 years we implanted the 19-mm Carpentier-Edwards supraannular
      aortic valve into 21 patients (20 female) with a mean age of 75 +/- 1.2 years
      (range, 59 to 86 years) and a mean body surface area of 1.6 +/- 0.03 m2 (range,
      1.3 to 1.7 m2). There were four deaths, one operative and three late noncardiac
      deaths. Follow-up of the 17 survivors for a mean of 20 +/- 3.1 months (range, 2
      to 42 months) demonstrated symptomatic improvement in all 17 (all are now in New
      York Heart Association functional class I or II). There were no valve-related
      complications and no patient required long-term anticoagulation. Doppler
      echocardiographic studies were used to assess the in vivo hemodynamic profile of
      the valve. Mean postoperative aortic valve gradient was 34.1 +/- 2.7 mm Hg
      (range, 19 to 52 mm Hg). Functional valve orifice area was 1.1 +/- 0.09 cm2
      (range, 0.6 to 1.8 cm2). Mean cardiac output was 3.92 +/- 0.17 L/min (range, 3.2
      to 5.1 L/min) with a mean cardiac index of 2.5 +/- 0.11 L.min-1 x m-2 (range, 2.1
      to 3.2 L.min-1 x m-2). In conclusion, we have demonstrated that aortic valve
      replacement with the 19-mm Carpentier-Edwards supraannular aortic valve has a low
      operative mortality and offers major clinical benefits despite moderate
      transprosthetic gradients. This approach provides an alternative management
      strategy in elderly patients who would otherwise require low-profile mechanical
      valves or aortic root enlargement.

PMID- 1449308
TI  - Optimal approach to the mitral valve: dissection of the interatrial groove.
AB  - Surgical exposure of the mitral valve has challenged surgeons for more than 30
      years. Many ingenious, but often complex approaches have been devised during this
      time. Using the dissection of the interatrial groove to bring the left atrial
      incision more anterior and medial, we have achieved excellent exposure in more
      than 300 mitral valve procedures. This simple technique does not lengthen the
      procedure and is not associated with an increased risk of either early or late
      morbidity.

PMID- 1449309
TI  - Pulmonary "twinning" procedure: use of lungs from one donor for single-lung
      transplantation in two recipients.
AB  - Since the introduction of lung transplantation as an option for patients with end
      stage respiratory disease in the early 1980s, there have been substantial
      advances made in the technical aspects of transplantation as well as the early
      clinical results. With an ever-increasing number of patients being designated
      suitable candidates for transplantation, the volume of transplants in the
      foreseeable future will be limited more on the basis of donor lung supply than
      any other single factor. Pulmonary "twinning" provides an important step in
      ensuring that all suitable and available donor lungs are utilized whenever
      feasible. This report reviews the results of 20 single-lung transplantations
      carried out in five separate transplantation centers using organs retrieved from
      ten donors. The overall mortality rate in this group of patients was 5%, which
      compares very favorably with historical controls. No serious problem was noted
      with respect to increased perioperative morbidity or increased ischemic times in
      this group of patients. We suggest that this process should be considered and,
      wherever possible, adopted by all major lung transplant centers.

PMID- 1449310
TI  - Quantitation of particulate microemboli during cardiopulmonary bypass:
      experimental and clinical studies.
AB  - An electronic particle-size analyzer (Coulter Counter ZM) was used to quantitate
      particulate microemboli 15 to 80 microns in size during cardiopulmonary bypass.
      Through both laboratory studies and clinical research, we confirmed three main
      causes of microemboli: (1) infusion of banked blood stored for more than 3 days;
      (2) use of cardiotomy reservoirs; and (3) use of bubble oxygenators. The
      regression equation between number of particles and blood storage time was Y =
      3.7262X + 10.244 (r = 0.886; p < 0.01). The number of microemboli from cardiotomy
      reservoirs was 2.8 to 5.1 times that from other sources (p < 0.01). The number of
      solid particles from bubble oxygenators was 1.8 to 3.2 times that from membrane
      oxygenators (p < 0.01). Electron microscopy showed that a large number of solid
      particles more than 20 microns in size were formed during heart-lung bypass. They
      obstructed the microcirculation and damaged pulmonary capillary endothelial and
      alveolar epithelial cells. The degree of histological damage was related to the
      number and size of microemboli and the duration of pulmonary microcirculatory
      obstruction.

PMID- 1449311
TI  - Complete cure after a seemingly unsuccessful operation for Wolff-Parkinson-White
      syndrome.
AB  - A 48-year-old man with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and poorly tolerated atrial
      fibrillation underwent surgical dissection of an accessory pathway. After
      operation electrocardiogram revealed a very unfavorable outcome: sinus rhythm
      with persistence of delta waves alternated with sequences of complete
      atrioventricular block. Therefore, an early reoperation was planned. Fortunately,
      in the next days conduction through the accessory pathway and signs of
      atrioventricular block disappeared. Complete cure was observed during long-term
      follow-up.

PMID- 1449312
TI  - Pneumatocele complicating hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome (Job's Syndrome).
AB  - The case of a boy with hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome or Job's syndrome is
      presented to demonstrate the occurrence of pneumatoceles in this syndrome as well
      as their unusual natural history and failure to spontaneously resolve. Surgical
      resection was required for two complications in this patient, persistent
      bronchopleural fistula and a pulmonary abscess that destroyed one lung and
      required pneumonectomy. Pathologic examination of the specimens demonstrated the
      wall of the cysts consisted of granulation tissue with chronic active
      inflammation surrounded by infarcted pulmonary parenchyma with coagulative
      necrosis. The mechanism responsible for increased immunoglobulin E production in
      this syndrome is unknown, as is the manner in which elevated immunoglobulin E
      levels impair normal immune function.

PMID- 1449313
TI  - Surgical treatment of postinfarction ventricular septal defect with aortic
      stenosis.
AB  - A 69-year-old man with an acute postinfarction ventricular septal defect was also
      found to have aortic stenosis. Successful management required closure of the
      postinfarction ventricular septal defect and replacement of the stenotic aortic
      valve. The contribution of aortic stenosis to the cause of the infarction and the
      postinfarction ventricular septal defect, as well as the implications for
      surgical management, are discussed.

PMID- 1449314
TI  - Pleural liposarcoma presenting with respiratory distress and suspected
      diaphragmatic hernia.
AB  - A young woman with a history of diaphragmatic hernia presented to the hospital in
      respiratory distress and in premature labor. Her admission chest roentgenogram
      showed opacification of the left hemithorax, and her arterial blood gas analysis
      revealed hypoxemia. Emergency cesarean section and exploratory left thoracotomy
      were carried out; a large tumor occupied the left side of the chest, and
      pneumonectomy was performed. No diaphragmatic hernia was present. A pathologic
      diagnosis of primary liposarcoma was made.

PMID- 1449315
TI  - Retrograde coronary sinus cardioplegia in the presence of persistent left
      superior vena cava.
AB  - Administration of retrograde cardioplegia is hampered by the presence of a
      persistent left superior vena cava, which results in excessive runoff of solution
      into the persistent left superior vena cava and the right atrium. Technical
      modifications are described that permitted aortic valve replacement to be
      performed in a patient with persistent left superior vena cava using only
      retrograde cardioplegia.

PMID- 1449316
TI  - Post-atherectomy coronary artery aneurysm.
AB  - A 52-year-old man underwent an uneventful directional atherectomy of the left
      anterior descending coronary artery. Four months after the procedure unstable
      angina developed and on angiogram an aneurysm of the left anterior descending
      coronary artery was noted. The patient underwent bypass of the left anterior
      descending coronary artery. An attempt to exclude the aneurysm resulted in
      hemodynamic compromise and was discontinued. Follow-up angiogram 2 months after
      operation showed the aneurysm to be smaller. The patient is doing well 6 months
      after operation.

PMID- 1449317
TI  - Giant intrapericardial solitary fibrous tumor.
AB  - A 60-year-old man with a large pericardial effusion was found to have a giant
      intrapericardial solitary fibrous mesothelioma firmly attached to the ascending
      aorta and pulmonary trunk. Nine months after excision of the mass the patient is
      free from symptoms and signs of tumor recurrence. Solitary fibrous mesothelioma
      is a rare benign tumor and its excision is curative; however, because of the lack
      of information on its long-term behavior, close noninvasive follow-up of this
      patient is necessary.

PMID- 1449318
TI  - Management of severe bronchial ischemia after bilateral sequential lung
      transplantation.
AB  - A case of severe diffuse bronchial ischemia after bilateral sequential lung
      transplantation is presented. A combination of initial conservative treatment
      with silicone stenting and late bilateral retransplantation under stable
      conditions resulted in good clinical outcome. Factors in decision making and
      technical aspects of the stenting procedure are discussed.

PMID- 1449319
TI  - Permanent pacemaker implantation in premature infants less than 2,000 grams of
      body weight.
AB  - Pacemaker implantation in premature infants presents technical problems because
      of the relatively larger size of the pulse generator compared with their bodies.
      A new technique with which successful generator implantation was performed in 2
      premature infants less than 2,000 g of body weight is described. The generator is
      wrapped in a Gore-Tex surgical membrane. A piece of membrane overlying the
      electrical contact surface of the generator is removed, and the generator is
      fixed to the abdominal wall in the peritoneal cavity. The technique is simple to
      perform and would give relative ease in generator exchange.

PMID- 1449320
TI  - Replacement of paracorporeal ventricular assist devices.
AB  - In this communication we describe a technique to change paracorporeal ventricular
      assist devices after the development of mechanical complications. This procedure
      is technically simple and in our experience does not require a sternotomy or
      cardiopulmonary bypass. Paracorporeal ventricular assist devices can be safely
      changed allowing continued support and survival.

PMID- 1449321
TI  - Inverted Y incision for accurate tailoring of patches and vessels.
AB  - When anastomosing vessels or using a patch to close a defect, it is often
      difficult to trim the vessel end or patch to size once the anastomosis is
      underway. We describe an inverted Y technique that is easy, is completely
      reproducible, and provides for an even, accurate fit. A continuous suture is run
      from the heel along either side to the widest part of the anastomosis. A straight
      incision is made from the tip of the patch or toe of the vessel to a point
      corresponding to the apex of the defect to be filled; from this point,
      approximately curved cuts are made to the edges of the patch or vessel just
      beyond the last sutures. The patch is now accurately shaped and the suture lines
      are completed.

PMID- 1449322
TI  - Repairing the degenerative anterior mitral leaflet.
AB  - This is a consecutive, nonselected series of 18 patients with degenerative mitral
      regurgitation requiring a reparative operation on the anterior mitral leaflet. A
      new technique of double-breasting the two leaflets when flail septal segments are
      encountered is introduced.

PMID- 1449323
TI  - The Nissen fundoplication.
AB  - The most commonly employed antireflux operation is the Nissen fundoplication.
      However, its origin and subsequent modifications are rarely defined. These
      aspects of the operation are reviewed in this article as are the results
      currently obtainable with the modern version of the operative procedure.

PMID- 1449324
TI  - Team approach for clinical cardiac surgery research.

PMID- 1449325
TI  - Length of the in situ right gastroepiploic artery for coronary artery bypass.

PMID- 1449326
TI  - Electrical instability during reperfusion.

PMID- 1449327
TI  - Pulmonary pseudotumor.

PMID- 1449328
TI  - Hemolysis after open heart operations.

PMID- 1449329
TI  - Penetrating cardiac trauma.

PMID- 1449330
TI  - Surgery of aortic dissections with GRF glue.

PMID- 1449331
TI  - Modified retractor to prevent peripheral nerve injury.

PMID- 1449332
TI  - [Value of an algorithm of automatic adaptation of the atrio-ventricular delay to
      the instantaneous atrial rate in cardiac stimulation].
AB  - It has been suggested that an algorithm of automatic adaptation of the AV delay
      to the instantaneous atrial rate be introduced into the program of DDD pacemakers
      to reproduce the physiological adaptation of the PR interval to effort,
      characterised by progressive shortening inversely linearly related to the heart
      rate. In order to evaluate the potential benefits in conditions of "standard"
      programming (basal AV delay the same for all patients: maximal frequency of 1/1
      AV synchronisation uniformly limited to 120 bpm), a haemodynamic study was
      undertaken in 10 patients who had permanent DDD pacemakers implanted for advanced
      AV block. Measurements were taken during two standardized exercise stress tests
      (20 W/2 mn steps from an initial load of 20 W) performed in a random order, one
      with a fixed AV delay of 156 ms and the other with an "automatic AV delay"
      allowing linear reduction from a maximum value of 156 ms at rest to a minimum
      value of 84 ms at the maximum heart rate of 120 bpm. At the peak of exercise the
      "automatic AV delay" significantly affected 4 parameters: the paced ventricular
      rate (p = 0.008) and rate-pressure product (p = 0.005) which increased, pulmonary
      capillary pressure (p = 0.03) and cycle-to-cycle variability of systolic and
      diastolic blood pressures (p = 0.02 < p < 0.0001) which decreased. There was a
      tendency (NS) to slowing of the spontaneous atrial rate and to increase in
      cardiac output. This increase was significant in some patients and seemed to be
      due to a good relationship between the individual optimal value of the value
      basal AV delay measured by Doppler echocardiography and the value programmed in
      this study (156 ms).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449333
TI  - [Use of sternal zipper in open heart surgery].
AB  - A sternal zipper was used in 50 patients with an unstable haemodynamic condition
      after open heart surgery. The patients were 19 women and 31 men (average age 51.6
      years, range 7 to 67 years). The indications for surgery were aortocoronary
      bypass in 25 cases, replacement of the ascending aorta in 7 cases, valve
      replacement in 16 cases and correction of congenital heart disease in 2 cases.
      Twenty eight patients required circulatory assistance. The sternal zipper was
      used for 4 to 72 hours (average 29.5 hours) and mediastinal toilet was performed
      at least every 24 hours. At each opening of the zipper, 3 bacteriological swabs
      were taken from 3 different sites in the mediastinum and sent for culture. Global
      mortality was 36% (N = 18). The cause of death was a low output syndrome in 12
      cases, hepatic and renal failure in 2 cases, resistant arrhythmia in 1 case,
      neurological complication in 1 case and septicaemia in 2 cases. There was one
      late death 3 months after hospital discharge which was attributed to a cardiac
      arrhythmia. The sternal zipper would seem to be a valuable option when the
      operative conditions are difficult, allowing the chest to remain open, so
      preventing cardiac compression during a critical period.

PMID- 1449334
TI  - [Ventricular repolarization].
AB  - Ventricular repolarisation is the period that depolarised cells require to become
      polarised, that is to say excitable. In general cardiological practice, the
      duration of repolarisation is assessed by measuring the QT interval on the
      surface electrocardiogram. This measurement may be difficult because of the lack
      of precision in defining the end of the T wave. Automatic systems are becoming
      available and should circumvent these difficulties of manual measurements.
      Interpretation of a change in the QT interval during drug administration or
      related to cardiac pathology should take the many sources of physiological
      variation of ventricular repolarisation into account. One of the main causes of
      this variation is the heart rate which influences the duration of repolarisation
      in a complex manner. Analysis of the duration of repolarisation has many
      implications in pathology and pharmacology. Prolongation of the QT interval and
      its failure to adapt to the heart rate are trigger factors for torsades de
      pointe. Many drugs prolonging the duration of repolarisation and of the
      ventricular refractory period are being developed. Their effects are partially
      dependent on the heart rate. Finally, prolongation of the QT interval is
      associated with a poor prognosis after myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1449335
TI  - [Double-blind clinical and echocardiographic study of oral enoximone versus
      placebo in severe cardiac insufficiency].
AB  - The effect of enoximone was assessed by a randomised double blind trial versus
      placebo. The clinical status of the patients was evaluated by the NYHA
      classification and quality of life score. Inotropic state was estimated from the
      maximum acceleration of aortic and pulmonary blood flow recorded by Doppler
      echocardiography. Thirty patients with severe cardiac failure, aged 66.4 +/- 14
      years, symptomatic despite maximal therapy associating diuretics, digitalis,
      nitrate derivatives and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, were included.
      Fifteen patients were given enoximone 100 mg three times a day orally (Group E)
      and the other 15 were given a placebo (Group P). The NYHA class and quality of
      life scores were assessed at D0, D4 and D31. Doppler echocardiography and Holter
      recordings were performed on D0 and D31. The two groups were comparable at D0.
      Ten patients abandoned the trial, 3 from Group E (including 1 death) and 7 from
      Group P (including 3 deaths). At D4, 13 patients from Group E and 8 from Group P
      were clinically improved (p < 0.05). At D31, the clinical state was stable or
      improved in 10 of the 12 patients in Group E and 6 of the 8 patients in Group P
      (NS). No secondary effects were severe enough to warrant the withdrawal of
      treatment: the frequency of ventricular extrasystoles was comparable in the two
      groups at D0 and D31. At D31 the maximal aortic acceleration had increased by 20%
      compared with D0 (p < 0.05) and the maximal pulmonary acceleration by 31% (p <
      0.05) in Group E. The same parameters showed no significant change in Group P (
      6% and +5% respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449336
TI  - [An unusual cause of sudden death: spontaneous dissection of coronary arteries.
      Apropos of 2 cases].
AB  - The authors report two new cases of spontaneous dissection of the coronary
      arteries in women under 50 years of age without any predisposing factors and
      responsible for sudden death. One patient had dissection of the left anterior
      descending artery and the other had dissection of the left anterior descending
      and right coronary arteries. Special histological stains allow demonstration of
      abnormalities of the elastic tissue of the media in both cases. In the first
      case, a plaque of atheroma was present opposite the site of dissection but did
      not seem to be causal. In the second case, severe periadventitial cellular,
      infiltration of unknown origin was observed. This pathology of the young woman,
      often occurring in the postpartum period, is as rare as it is unpredictable.

PMID- 1449337
TI  - [Early postoperative thrombolysis of Saint-Jude aortic valve prosthesis].
AB  - The authors report a case of thrombolytic therapy with streptokinase in the early
      postoperative period after aortic valve replacement with a Saint Jude medical
      prosthesis. After good initial progress, the patient had to be reoperated on the
      12th postoperative day for sternal disunion. Reoperation was followed rapidly by
      progressive thrombosis of the aortic prosthesis demonstrated by repeated Doppler
      echocardiographic examination. The impossibility of eliminating mediastinitis led
      to medical thrombolysis. The outcome was favourable after a regressive cerebral
      embolic event. This case illustrates the value of Doppler echocardiographic
      examination in the postoperative period. Thrombolysis may constitute an
      alternative to reoperation when the operative risk is high. The risk of
      thrombolysis may not be as great as some believe.

PMID- 1449338
TI  - [Recurrent syncope during deglutition. An uncommon form of sinusal dysfunction].
AB  - The authors report the case of a 69 year old man with a 16 year history of
      syncope occurring only while swallowing liquids. Two episodes were observed
      during a hospital admission to the intensive care unit for unstable angina and
      allowed documentation of prolonged sinus arrest (7 sec) causing syncope. In the
      light of this case and a review of the literature, the physiopathological role of
      deglutition in the genesis of cardiac conduction defects and arrhythmias is
      discussed and the new classification of sinus node dysfunction proposed by
      Bashour in 1985 is recalled.

PMID- 1449339
TI  - [Chronic dissecting aortic aneurysm and Turner's syndrome. Apropos of a case].
AB  - Turner's syndrome is a genetic abnormality which is associated with
      cardiovascular anomaly in 20% of cases. Coarctation of the aorta and bicuspid
      aortic valve are the commonest malformations. Aortic dissection is the most
      serious complication affecting these patients. The authors report the case of
      chronic aortic dissection of the ascending and transverse aorta in a 27 year old
      patient with Turner's syndrome. The dissection was diagnosed on angiography.
      Transthoracic echocardiography showed aneurysmal dilatation of the aortic root.
      Surgical treatment consisted in replacement of ascending and transverse aorta
      with a Dacron tube. The anatomopathological analysis showed cystic medianecrosis
      of the aortic wall. The immediate postoperative evolution was satisfactory. The
      long-term outcome with a 4 year follow-up was excellent from the clinical and
      echocardiographic point of view. Turner's syndrome is probably associated with a
      congenital abnormality of the connective tissue especially of the elastic fibres
      of the aortic wall, explaining the development, though rare, of aneurysmal
      dilatation of the ascending and transverse aorta and dissection. These patients
      should be followed up regularly clinically and by transthoracic echocardiography.
      Other investigations such as transoesophageal echocardiography, magnetic
      resonance imaging and angiography are indicated when aortic dilatation, aortic
      regurgitation or chest pain suggesting aortic dissection are observed.

PMID- 1449340
TI  - [Spontaneous angina caused by spasm of the left coronary artery].
AB  - A 42 year old woman presented with a one year history of retrosternal chest pain
      and back pain on effort and at rest sometimes accompanied by minor syncopal
      attacks. Transient atrioventricular block was documented during one such episode
      associated with hypotension. Coronary angiography showed spontaneous spasm of the
      left main coronary artery with clinical symptoms but no electrocardiographic
      changes. The spasm was relieved by injection of SIN-1. The similarity between the
      previous clinical symptoms and those observed at coronary angiography was in
      favour of the diagnosis of spasm of the left main coronary artery without
      atherosclerotic coronary disease. Treatment with calcium atherosclerotic coronary
      disease. Treatment with calcium blockers and platelet antiaggregants led to total
      regression of her symptoms with a follow-up of 5 months.

PMID- 1449341
TI  - [After oculo-stenotic reflex: oculo-nuclear reflex?].

PMID- 1449343
TI  - [Immediate and long-term results of coronary surgery under age 40].
AB  - The results of coronary artery surgery in young adults have not been extensively
      studied. We analysed the results of 221 patients under 40 years of age operated
      between 1979 and 1989 at the Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital. The patients were 200
      men and 21 women with an average age of 36.2 years. The most common
      cardiovascular risk factors were smoking (69.6%) and hyperlipidaemia (52%). One
      hundred and eighteen patients (53.4%) had previous myocardial infarction (MI).
      Triple vessel disease was present in 129 cases, double vessel disease in 59 cases
      and single vessel disease in 33 cases. Twenty three patients had significant left
      main coronary disease. The number of bypass grafts per patient averaged 2.3. The
      operative mortality was 2.07% (6 cases), death being due to myocardial infarction
      in 4 cases. Perioperative myocardial infarction was diagnosed in 12 cases
      (5.05%). One hundred and ninety nine patients were followed up for an average of
      7.4 years. Seven of the 17 late fatalities were of cardiac origin. The actuarial
      9 year survival rate was 84%. Five patients were reoperated after an average of
      6.4 years. Eighty five per cent of patients were asymptomatic at the last follow
      up examination. In conclusion, the symptoms of coronary artery disease in young
      adults can be effectively treated with a low operative risk by myocardial
      revascularisation surgery. Long-term follow-up remains essential to define the
      outcome in these patients. Systematic use of internal mammary artery bypass
      grafting should improve these results in the future.

PMID- 1449342
TI  - [Outcome of prognostic factors of infectious endocarditis over a 16 year period.
      Apropos of 471 cases].
AB  - Four hundred and seventy one cases of infective endocarditis (IE) were reviewed:
      338 native valve IE and 133 prosthetic valve IE (42 early and 91 late IE). Two
      periods were compared: 1973-1980 (250 cases) and 1981-1988 (221 cases). There was
      a decrease in native valve IE (78% to 64%) and an increase in late prosthetic
      valve IE (13% to 27%), little change with respect to age, causal cardiac disease,
      delay in diagnosis (except in native valve IE, 39 to 29 days), or frequency of
      complications, especially cardiac (50% and 51%). However, global mortality
      decreased from 41% to 27% (p < 0.001). The evolution of the frequency of cardiac
      complications, cardiac surgery and mortality for the two periods was: for native
      valve IE respectively 53% to 42%, 41% to 37%, 37% to 20% (p < 0.005); for early
      prosthetic valve IE respectively, 45% to 55%, 41% to 55%, and 82% to 50% (p <
      0.05); for late prosthetic IE, respectively 34% to 69%, 34% to 69% and 37% to
      36%. The frequency of surgery had therefore little influence on prognosis except
      in early prosthetic valve IE. The percentage of infections which could not be
      controlled medically decreased from 17% to 11%. The mortality of unoperated
      patients decreased from 46% to 28% (p < 0.01), suggesting more effective
      antibiotherapy, and the mortality of operated patients fell from 34% to 26%.
      Global surgical mortality was 35% in the acute phase (positive valve culture),
      14% after sterilisation (p < 0.001) and the corresponding frequencies of
      paravalvular leaks was 17% and 4% (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449344
TI  - [Heart valve surgery and associated diseases in aged subjects].
AB  - The object of this study was to assess the additional risk related to associated
      pathology in patients aged 70 or over undergoing valvular heart surgery. Two
      hundred and thirty nine patients aged 70 to 87 years (average 74.6 +/- 3.2)
      underwent this form of surgery between October 1979 and June 1989. Sixty seven
      had coronary artery disease, 26 had atherosclerotic occlusive peripheral arterial
      disease, and 149 had one or more extracardiovascular pathology. Two hundred and
      thirteen patients underwent monovalvular and 26 bivalvular replacement. Coronary
      bypass was associated in 25 cases. Eighteen patients (7.5%) died in the 30 days
      following surgery. The perioperative mortality was not significantly greater in
      patients with extra-cardiac pathology (9.4% vs 4.4%; NS), in patients with
      coronary artery disease (11.9% vs 5.8%; NS), in patients with respiratory failure
      and FEV1 < 1 litre (1 death out of 20 cases) or in patients with renal failure
      and serum creatinine levels > or = 175 mumol/l (20% vs 6.3%, NS). Respiratory
      failure was the only extra-cardiac variable identified with increased
      perioperative morbidity. The perioperative mortality of elderly patients with
      valvular heart disease is greater than that of patients under 70 years of age
      (6.4% vs 2.1%) in our experience of the last 6 years p < 0.01). Associated
      arterial and extra-cardiac pathology does not significantly increase the
      mortality and strict selection of elderly inoperable patients together with
      improved surgical techniques and postoperative care has considerably reduced
      perioperative morbidity and mortality in this group of patients.

PMID- 1449345
TI  - [Patency of the artery responsible for myocardial infarction: role on ventricular
      function and long-term outcome].
AB  - Out of 3,171 consecutive patients referred for coronary angiography, 240 were
      selected on the following criteria: recent primary myocardial infarction, single
      vessel coronary disease, no angioplasty or coronary surgery after the angiography
      which was performed 20 to 90 days after the onset of myocardial infarction. The
      patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether the artery responsible
      for infarction was patent (Group I: 115 patients) or not (Group II: 125
      patients). The left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher in
      Group I (58 +/- 10.8%) than in Group II (53.7 +/- 11.3%) and end systolic and end
      diastolic left ventricular volumes were greater in Group II (51.8 +/- 22 ml/m2
      and 88 +/- 22 ml/m2 respectively). Long-term follow-up (56 +/- 25 months in Group
      I and 61 +/- 26 months in Group II) was possible in 112 patients in Group I and
      123 patients in Group II. Of the 7 patients who died in group II, 4 deaths were
      of cardiac origin; in addition, 2 cases of sustained ventricular tachycardia were
      observed in this group. None of the 6 deaths observed in Group I was of cardiac
      origin and there were no cases of ventricular tachycardia (p = 0.05). The
      functional status was identical in the two groups at the end of the study. These
      results suggest that the patency of the coronary artery responsible for
      myocardial infarction at a distance from the acute event is associated with
      better left ventricular function and a better long term prognosis.

PMID- 1449346
TI  - [Return to work of professional drivers after cardiac rehabilitation].
AB  - This study analysed the possibilities of returning to work of professional
      drivers after a cardiac event and rehabilitation. The population comprised 94
      consecutive patients, all men, average age 48.8 years (range 30 to 63 years)
      referred after coronary bypass surgery (N = 39), myocardial infarction (N = 38),
      angina (N = 4) or valve replacement surgery (N = 13). Advice on professional
      reinsertion was given after the rehabilitation program, authorization to drive
      being given in the absence of cardiac symptoms, residual myocardial ischaemia,
      severe left ventricular dysfunction and serious ventricular arrhythmias. After 35
      months, 4 patients were lost to follow-up; of the 90 remaining patients, the
      frequency of return to work (maximal at the 9th month) was 65.6% with 84.7%
      obtaining a renewal of their driving licence. In this series, 81% of patients
      were asymptomatic, 2 died, 16.7% had further cardiovascular complications. The
      morbidity and mortality were significantly greater in the group who had to stop
      driving (N = 40) (32.5% vs 8%, p < 0.001). Non complications occurred during work
      in those who resumed driving. This study confirms the safety of allowing low risk
      professional drivers, identified during cardiac rehabilitation by simple,
      reliable clinical and paraclinical criteria, to return to work.

PMID- 1449347
TI  - [Abnormal origin of the left circumflex coronary artery: clinical, angiographic
      and prognostic aspects. Apropos of 30 cases].
AB  - The object of this study of 30 patients with an anomalous origin of the left
      circumflex coronary artery was to define the clinical and angiographic features
      of this condition and to assess its influence on morbidity and survival. The 30
      patients were 24 men and 6 women with ages ranging from 29 to 76 years. An
      anomalous origin of the left circumflex coronary artery should be suspected when
      two angiographic signs are present: firstly, the visualisation of a spur of
      opacification in the 30 degrees LAO view of left ventriculography, present in 93%
      or our patients; secondly, during selective left coronary angiography in the
      transverse view, an ascular zone is observed where the normal left circumflex
      artery should be. Confirmation of the diagnosis depends on opacification of the
      left circumflex arising from the right anterior sinus of Valsalva with a separate
      (37%) or common (23%) orifice with the right coronary artery or arising from a
      proximal segment of the right coronary artery/(40%). Five patients (17%) had a
      significant stenosis of the anomalous left circumflex coronary artery but this
      was always associated with lesions of the other coronary narrowing was observed.
      Of these patients, one had electrocardiographic signs of myocardial ischaemia and
      no other cause apart from the anomalous origin of the left circumflex to explain
      this ischaemia. The 30 patients were followed up for an average of 6.1 +/- 3.9
      years. During this period, 1 cardiac death, 1 infarction, 5 cases of angina, 4
      coronary bypass procedures, and 6 coronary angioplasties were observed. Nine
      patients (30%) had no cardiac event during follow-up.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1449348
TI  - [Children and the environment].

PMID- 1449349
TI  - [Modifying therapeutic in immune response].

PMID- 1449350
TI  - [New data on the genesis of sleep-wakefulness rhythm in children aged 4-15
      months].
AB  - The present study deals with the ontogeny of the sleep-wakefulness rhythm in 12
      children from the 4th to the 15 month of age. The main findings were as follows:
      1. The circadian rhythm of wakefulness and sleep is clearly sep up as of 4 months
      of age and is characterized by 3 main parameters: a long uninterrupted night
      sleep period which includes the time interval from midnight to 4 a.m. The
      duration of this period of time is always equal to or higher than 400 min. The
      periodicity of the last falling asleep before midnight and the periodicity of the
      first awakening after midnight are equal or very close to 24 hours. Both seem to
      be mutually adjusted or connected to each other. 2. Some ages are characterized
      by significant changes in the daily distribution of the number and duration of
      sleep spans. 3. These changes suggest the existence of several ultradian
      rhythmicities which prevail successively throughout the development period under
      study. 4. There are many important differences between girls and boys.

PMID- 1449351
TI  - [Treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus by insulin pump in children
      under 7 years of age].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Conventional insulin therapy for diabetes mellitus is sometimes
      inadequate for controlling metabolic disturbances in young children; the risk of
      hypoglycemia is particularly high at this age. METHODS: Ten newly-diagnosed
      insulin-dependent diabetic children aged 1 to 7 years were treated by continuous
      subcutaneous insulin infusion using a portable pump. The mean duration of
      treatment was 17 months (4 to 42 months). RESULTS: The mean individual capillary
      blood glucose calculated over periods of 6 months ranged from 84 +/- 23 to 206 +/
      97 mg/dl. The glycosylated hemoglobin values were 6.5 to 8.9% during the same
      period. There was no hypoglycemic coma; 7 children experienced a total of 16
      episodes of ketonuria. The average daily dose of insulin used by these 10
      patients was 0.72 +/- 0.24 units/kg. CONCLUSION: Continuous subcutaneous insulin
      infusion is a feasible therapy and it was well tolerated even in the youngest
      children. External insulin infusion devices appear to be an alternative to
      conventional insulin therapy and a way of overcoming the therapeutic difficulties
      encountered with these young patients.

PMID- 1449352
TI  - [Congenital deglutition disorder revealing cerebral stem disorders. 12 cases with
      neurophysiological study].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Respiratory problems in neonates and infants may be the result of a
      variety of neuromuscular dysfunctions. Neurologic evaluation of functions, such
      as sucking and swallowing, may be difficult in these very young infants and can
      be helped by neurophysiological studies. METHODS: 12 infants admitted because of
      repeated episodes of respiratory obstruction due to difficulties of sucking
      and/or swallowing took part in the study. The neurophysiological studies included
      electromyography of the facial, lingual and pharyngeal muscles, brain stem
      auditory evoked potentials and measurement of the blink reflexes. The results
      were correlated with events during the perinatal period and those that occurred
      during the follow-up. RESULTS: Dysphagia was evident from the neonatal period; it
      was complicated by nasal reflux and aspiration bronchopneumopathy. Facial
      diplegia was observed in 8 patients. 9 patients failed to thrive. The
      electromyographic patterns showed partial denervation of the facial, lingual and
      pharyngeal muscles in all cases; the blink reflex was altered in 11 cases, and
      the brain stem evoked potentials were abnormal in 3 of the 8 cases tested. 7 of
      the infants had histories of pregnancy and obstetrical abnormalities, and/or
      fetal distress. The swallowing function partially improved within several months.
      CONCLUSIONS: Neurophysiological studies indicate neurofunctional alterations in
      the VII, IX, X and XII cranial nerve nuclei, V and VII pathways and the auditory
      tract. These lesions and the time course of improvement suggest that they are due
      to pre- or perinatal anoxo-ischemic brain stem injury.

PMID- 1449353
TI  - [Dysregulation of plasma 1,25(OH)2D in calcium restriction in hypercalciuric
      children].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The effect of calcium restriction on the plasma concentration of
      1,25(OH)2D in normo- and hypercalciuric children remains unknown. METHODS: We
      studied phosphate and calcium metabolism of 8 normocalciuric and 8 hypercalciuric
      children aged 4 to 16 years, under 3 conditions: on a normal dietary calcium
      intake after a 5-day calcium-restricted diet, and after oral calcium loading. The
      healthy, normocalciuric children had histories that included no renal failure of
      abnormalities of phosphate and calcium metabolism. Four of the 8 hypercalciuric
      children had urolithiasis, 1 had hematuria and the 3 others had idiopathic
      hypercalciuria. Blood samples were analyzed for calcium, creatinine,
      immunoreactive parathyroid hormone, cAMP, 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D concentrations.
      Urine samples were analyzed for calcium, phosphorus, creatinine and cAMP.
      RESULTS: On the normal dietary calcium intake, the hypercalciuric children had
      higher urinary calcium excretion and plasma 1,25(OH)2D levels and lower TmP that
      did the controls. The 1,25(OH)2D levels of the normocalciuric children were
      significantly increased after 5 days of dietary calcium deprivation, but those of
      the hypercalciuric children were not. The other parameters (essentially PTH, cAMP
      and TmP) varied similarly in the two groups. CONCLUSION: The results suggest
      that: a) calcium restriction influences 1,25(OH)2D levels in normocalciuric
      subjects via a PTH- and phosphor-independent mechanism; b) dietary control of
      renal vitamin D metabolism is impaired in hypercalciuric patients.

PMID- 1449354
TI  - [Familial infantile cortical hyperostosis (Caffey's disease) with osteolytic
      lesions of the skull].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The parietal and frontal bones are rarely affected in infantile
      cortical hyperostosis. CASE REPORTS: Case n. 1: A 14-day-old boy developed a
      swelling of the left eyelid that extended to the face in a few days. It was
      tender and associated with fever. Laboratory findings were increased (RBC
      sedimentation rate and other signs of inflammation). CT scan of the sinuses, soft
      tissues and bones was normal, but at the age of 23 days minimal patches of
      rarefaction were seen on X-rays of the frontal bones. These lacunar areas
      gradually extended, with the inflammation persisted. A new CT scan at 6 months of
      age confirmed the existence of lacunar areas in the skull, but failed to find any
      lesions of the mandibles or nasal bones. At that time, scintigraphy showed
      inflammatory lesions of the skull and ribs. All clinical, laboratory and
      radiological findings spontaneously disappeared within 3 years. Case n. 2:
      Similar swellings of the face developed at the age of 15 days in the brother of
      case n. 1. The laboratory findings were identical to those for his brother, and
      there were minimal lytic areas of the vault of skull without any other lesions.
      At 3 months of age, X-rays confirmed the existence of skull lesions and showed
      cortical hyperostosis of the left humerus. Similar cortical hyperostosis of nasal
      bones appeared at the age of 8 months, while the inflammatory syndrome persisted.
      All findings gradually and spontaneously disappeared within 18 months.
      CONCLUSIONS: Cortical hyperostosis are usually most prominent in the lower
      extremities in cases of familial infantile cortical hyperostosis. The lesions
      were largely confined to the skull in our cases, with no lesions of the mandible.
      The disease was only identified in the first case after a protracted course with
      unpredictable remissions and relapses and the discovery of the cortical
      hyperostosis in his brother.

PMID- 1449355
TI  - [Cerebral lesions observed in a twin after the in utero death of the other twin.
      Fetal anoxia-ischemia can be the possible mechanism (3 cases)].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The death of one twin in utero may result in visceral lesions, of
      possible vascular origin, in the surviving twin when the pregnancy is
      monochorionic and diamniotic. CASES REPORT: Case n. 1: The death of one twin and
      enlargement of the ventricular system in the other were seen by ultrasonography
      at 24 weeks of pregnancy, 8 weeks after the mother had a fall on the stairs. The
      heterogeneous imaging in the inferior part of placenta suggested a clot in this
      area. The pregnancy was terminated at 28 weeks because the ventricular dilatation
      continued to increase. The newborn died a few minutes later and examination of
      the placenta showed that the pregnancy was monochorionic and monoamniotic. Case
      n. 2: The death of one twin with macerating features was seen by ultrasonography
      at 31 weeks. The other twin was born at 32 weeks of a dichorionic, diamniotic
      pregnancy. Injection of milk into the placental vasculature failed to visualize
      any vascular anastomoses between the two placentas, but ultrasonography showed
      bilateral cystic lesions in the frontal lobes of the brain. Case n. 3: Acute
      polyhydramnios developed at 21 weeks of pregnancy; it was treated by 3
      amniocenteses, while ultrasonography of the twins was normal. A fetal transfusion
      syndrome was observed at birth, the pregnancy being monochorionic and diamniotic.
      Cranial ultrasound on day 6 was normal in the recipient twin, but showed numerous
      cerebral cavities in the donor, which was confirmed at autopsy after that this
      twin suddenly died at 2 months of age. CONCLUSIONS: Brain lesions of vascular
      origin, can be observed in any type of twin pregnancies. They may be the result
      of transfusion of clot or thromboplastin-rich blood from the donor fetus through
      vascular anastomoses in a monochorionic placenta. They also may be due to anoxo
      ischemic lesions in the absence of such anastomoses, or, in the fetal transfusion
      syndrome, to circulatory difficulties in one of the twins, as observed in
      premature singletons. In the cas of anoxo-ischemic lesions, anticipating the
      birth of the surviving twin is not justified.

PMID- 1449357
TI  - [Trace elements and low birth weight newborn infants].

PMID- 1449356
TI  - [A cause of neonatal respiratory distress: cerebral tissue heterotopia in the
      cavum].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Brain heterotopia can be reflected in disturbances of the oropharynx
      during the neonatal period, such as acute upper airway obstruction. The main
      differential diagnosis is encephalocele, which must be recognized before
      undertaking any surgical procedure. CASE REPORT: A boy, aged 5 days, with a cleft
      palate and bifid uvula, was admitted for respiratory distress. The distress
      initially occurred during bottle-feeding, but later became permanent. A solid
      mass, seemingly implanted in the superior wall of the pharynx, was successfully
      removed by forceps. A later CT scan showed the absence of any defect in the
      cribriform plate, thus excluding diagnosis of encephalocele. Histological,
      examination of the mass showed glial tissue without neurons. CONCLUSION: The
      presence of a pharyngeal mass in a newborn signals three possibilities: teratoma,
      heterotopic brain tissue or encephalocele. Encephalocele must by ruled out by a
      preoperative CT scan with a water soluble contrast agent in order to avoid CSF
      leakage and meningitis. Respiratory distress should be treated by oral
      endotracheal intubation to allow time for CT scan investigation.

PMID- 1449358
TI  - [Value of intravenous immunoglobulins for the prophylaxis and treatment of
      neonatal infections].

PMID- 1449359
TI  - [Conservative treatment of renal insufficiency in the first year of life].

PMID- 1449360
TI  - [Antibiotherapy as first choice in neonatal septicemia].

PMID- 1449361
TI  - [False positive serologic tests for Lyme disease in echovirus meningitis].

PMID- 1449362
TI  - [Thyroid goiter revealing Burkitt's lymphoma].

PMID- 1449363
TI  - [Exogenous surfactants. The pulmonary surfactant. Relations between structure and
      function].

PMID- 1449364
TI  - [Exogenous surfactants of natural origin. What is new in 1992?].

PMID- 1449365
TI  - [Artificial exogenous surfactants].

PMID- 1449366
TI  - [Exogenous surfactants. Indications and limits in 1992].

PMID- 1449367
TI  - [Autoimmune diseases in pediatric. Complement deficiencies and anticardiolipin
      syndromes. Genetic complement deficiencies and autoimmune diseases].

PMID- 1449368
TI  - [Cold urticaria, cutaneous vasculitis and C4B homozygote deficiency. Apropos of 2
      cases with a familial study].

PMID- 1449369
TI  - [Thrombosis and antiphospholipid antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus with
      pediatric onset].

PMID- 1449370
TI  - [False forms of cardiolipin syndrome. Apropos of a case].

PMID- 1449371
TI  - [Thrombotic manifestations and acute distal ischemia in primary antiphospholipid
      syndrome in children].

PMID- 1449372
TI  - [Energy intake and appetite regulation in infants].

PMID- 1449373
TI  - [Maternal breast feeding and growth factors].

PMID- 1449374
TI  - [Can allergy be prevented by the right nutrition during infancy?].

PMID- 1449375
TI  - [Early diversification of nutrition of the infant. Advantages and disadvantages].

PMID- 1449376
TI  - [General clinical aspects of growth during puberty].

PMID- 1449377
TI  - [Value of predictive methods of height in adulthood].

PMID- 1449378
TI  - [Hormonal regulation of growth during puberty].

PMID- 1449379
TI  - [Simple delayed puberty in boys].

PMID- 1449380
TI  - [Growth and puberty in Turner syndrome].

PMID- 1449381
TI  - [Growth and precocious puberty. Results of treatment by LHRH analogs].

PMID- 1449382
TI  - Brain morphology and schizophrenia. A magnetic resonance imaging study of limbic,
      prefrontal cortex, and caudate structures.
AB  - We used magnetic resonance imaging to examine the morphologic characteristics of
      the amygdala/hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and caudate nucleus in 29 healthy
      volunteers matched for age, gender, and head of household socioeconomic status
      and 44 patients with chronic schizophrenia. Total volumes of these structures
      were determined from 3-mm contiguous coronal sections. Schizophrenic patients,
      compared with healthy controls, had significantly smaller right and left
      amygdala/hippocampal complex volumes, smaller right and left prefrontal volumes,
      and larger left caudate volumes. A secondary analysis revealed reductions in the
      right and left amygdala and the left hippocampus. In addition, prefrontal white
      matter, but not gray matter, was reduced in the schizophrenic patients. Moreover,
      the right white matter volume in schizophrenic patients was significantly related
      to right amygdala/hippocampal volume (r = .39), data that provide preliminary
      support for a hypothesis of abnormal limbic-cortical connection in schizophrenia.
      We studied the implications of these data for the pathophysiology of
      schizophrenia.

PMID- 1449383
TI  - Striatal metabolic rate and clinical response to neuroleptics in schizophrenia.
AB  - A low metabolic rate in the caudate nucleus and putamen in schizophrenic patients
      while they were not receiving medication was found to predict a favorable
      clinical response to haloperidol. Twenty-five patients (21 men and four women)
      entered a double-blind crossover trial of haloperidol and placebo; to our
      knowledge, this is the first such trial with positron emission tomography to be
      reported. Patients received either placebo or medication for the first 5 weeks,
      and they received the other treatment for the second 5 weeks. Positron emission
      tomographic scans were obtained at weeks 5 and 10. Patients with low relative
      metabolic rates in the caudate nucleus and putamen while they were receiving
      placebo were more likely to show decreases in their Brief Psychiatric Rating
      Scale scores with haloperidol treatment than individuals with normal or high
      metabolic rates. Among responders, haloperidol treatment had a "normalizing"
      effect on metabolic activity in the striatum, with the metabolic rate while they
      were receiving haloperidol being higher than that while they were receiving
      placebo. Nonresponders were more likely to show a worsening of hypofrontality
      while they were receiving medication and an absence of change in the striatum.

PMID- 1449384
TI  - Schizophrenics show spatial working memory deficits.
AB  - The present study demonstrates that schizophrenics are impaired on spatial
      delayed-response tasks, analogous to those that have been used to assess the
      working memory function of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in rhesus monkeys.
      Schizophrenic patients and two control groups, normal subjects and bipolar
      psychiatric patients, were tested on the oculomotor version of the memory task, a
      haptic version of the same task, and two control tasks: a sensory task that did
      not require working memory and a digit span test. The schizophrenic patients
      showed marked deficits relative to the two control groups in both the oculomotor
      and haptic delayed-response tasks. They were not, however, impaired on the digit
      span test, which taps verbal working memory as well as voluntary attention, and
      on the sensory control task, in which their responses were guided by external
      cues rather than by spatial working memory. These findings provide direct
      evidence that schizophrenics suffer a loss in representational processing and
      that this deficit is modality independent. These data on spatial working memory
      add to the growing evidence for involvement of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
      in schizophrenic disease.

PMID- 1449385
TI  - Schizophrenia after prenatal exposure to the Dutch Hunger Winter of 1944-1945.
AB  - We tested the hypothesis that first-trimester exposure to acute food deprivation
      is a risk factor for schizophrenia. A sharp and time-limited decline in the food
      intake of the Dutch population following a Nazi blockade in 1944 to 1945 created
      a unique if tragic natural experiment to test this hypothesis in three regions of
      Holland (west, north, and south). In the west, or famine region, birth cohorts
      exposed to severe food deprivation (an average daily ration under 4200 kJ) during
      the first trimester showed a substantial increase in hospitalized schizophrenia
      for women but not for men. Relative risks for women were 2.17 for "broad" and
      2.56 for "restricted" schizophrenia. Moderate food deprivation during the first
      trimester (average daily ration under 6300 kJ) was not associated with increased
      risk of schizophrenia in the famine region. In the north and south regions,
      numbers were smaller and there was no exposure to severe famine. Birth cohorts
      exposed to moderate food deprivation during the first trimester showed a trend
      toward increased risk of schizophrenia for women. These findings give
      plausibility to the proposition that early prenatal nutrition can have a gender
      specific effect on the risk of schizophrenia.

PMID- 1449386
TI  - Ventricular enlargement in schizophrenia: is there really a gender effect?

PMID- 1449387
TI  - Characterizing organic delusional syndrome.

PMID- 1449388
TI  - Neuroleptic treatment, symptoms of schizophrenia, and plasma homovanillic acid
      concentrations revisited.

PMID- 1449389
TI  - [Mucous membrane of the gastric antrum in late periods after selective proximal
      vagotomy with surgical drainage of the stomach and duodenum].
AB  - A clinicomorphological analysis was performed of the gastric antrum mucous
      membrane of 60 patients after selective proximal vagotomy because of stenosing
      duodenal ulcer. The patients were subdivided into two randomized groups depending
      on the type of the draining operation. The first group had a
      gastroduodenoanastomosis for the gastric drainage and the second group underwent
      duodenum plasty (drainage of the duodenum). Discontinuation of the pylorus
      function in the gastric drainage operation resulted in higher incidence and
      intensity of duodenum-gastric reflux and made more severe antrum gastritis;
      reflux-gastritis developed frequently. Morphological signs of reflux-gastritis in
      95% of cases coincided with the results of the radionuclide method. Duodeno
      gastric reflux decreased as a rule Helicobacter pylori (HP) contamination of the
      mucous membrane but did not eliminate it completely in all cases. The combination
      of these two factors resulted in more severe gastritis than that provoked by each
      of them separately. The etiology of gastritis and its intensity may be determined
      only by morphological examination of gastric mucous membrane. The results of
      endoscopic and histologic methods coincided in 70% of cases. Duodenal-gastric
      reflux, HP and high acid production play a certain role in ulcer recurrence.

PMID- 1449390
TI  - [Gastric ulcers in liver cirrhosis and their exposure to low-intensity infrared
      laser radiation].
AB  - By means of light, scanning electron microscopy and planimetry, the
      pathomorphology of gastric ulcers (GU) was investigated in patients who had died
      from liver cirrhosis (LC) and in rats with experimental portal hypertension (PH).
      It was noticed that GU are frequent (13.3%) in patients with LC. Experimental GU
      induced in rats with PH persist longer and their areas are larger than in ulcers
      without cirrhosis. The treatment of ulcers through abdominal wall with low
      intensive infrared laser irradiation (LILR) causes significant acceleration of
      their epithelialization in the rat without cirrhosis. Ulcers in the animals with
      cirrhosis do not repair under LILR influence, but their area significantly
      decreases after forming collateral shunting. The congestion in the portal system
      is the main pathogenetic element in gastroesophageal ulcerogenesis. The laser
      therapy without decreasing portal hypertension is not efficient.

PMID- 1449391
TI  - [Interaction of indigenous parietal microorganisms with cells of the digestive
      tract mucosa].
AB  - By means of light, electron microscopy and stereomorphometry the interaction of
      microorganisms (MO) and cells of the mouth, stomach and gut mucous membrane was
      studied in different pathologic conditions on clinic and experimental material.
      No penetration was noted of MO into cells of the keratinized squamous epithelium,
      they were present in intercellular spaces. In the stomach, MO as a rule interact
      with mucocytes altering their surface. Spirillum-like MO sometimes penetrate into
      the parietal cells. In the small bowel MO may penetrate the cells causing lysis
      of apical membranes and photocytosis changing the microvilli structure. MO may
      enter the goblet cells during the secretion. They may settle in the cell
      cytoplasm without causing its alteration. In crypts, near Paneth cells, MO were
      subjected to lysis. The peculiarities of MO interaction with cells depend on
      their structural-functional status.

PMID- 1449392
TI  - [Zinc content of pancreatic islets in diabetes].
AB  - Content and distribution of zinc was studied in the pancreatic islets in human
      and rabbit diabetes. The diabetes development is followed by a decrease of zinc
      content in the insulin-producing cells in parallel with the severity of diabetes.
      The damage to the islet B-cells is the cause of zinc metabolism disturbance in
      the endocrine pancreas. Influence of high glucose concentration in the blood may
      be another factor.

PMID- 1449393
TI  - [Immunohistochemical detection of insulin and insulin-like growth factors using
      antibodies to various parts of the insulin receptor molecule].
AB  - The indirect peroxidase-labeled antibody method was used to localize insulin
      receptors (IR) in the liver and brain of rats under various physiological
      conditions. Light- and electron-microscopically, specific immunohistochemical
      reaction was revealed in hepatocytes and endothelial cells of brain vessels with
      antisera against alpha- and beta-subunits of IR. Immunohistochemical reaction in
      the hypothalamic median eminence was observed only with antiserum to peptides
      with amino acid sequence corresponding to sequence 48-77 of human placenta IR.
      Electron-microscopically, immunohistochemical reaction was revealed on the
      cytoplasmic membranes and granular endoplasmic reticulum of the fibroblasts in
      the pericapillary space. The receptors observed correspond to receptors to
      insulin-like growth factor-1.

PMID- 1449395
TI  - [Criticism of current medical ideology].

PMID- 1449394
TI  - [A case of Holt-Oram syndrome].
AB  - Description of a rare hereditary heart disease in a newborn (heart-hand symptom
      complex: changes of the shape and structure of a forearm with the absence of
      thumb and finger V plus atrial septal defect) is presented. The combined effect
      of genetic and environmental influences is regarded as a cause of the syndrome.

PMID- 1449396
TI  - [Recombination transformations as one of the mechanisms of qualitative changes in
      living systems].
AB  - New quality in the nature, according to the author, may appear not only in the
      process of quantitative changes, but by means of various recombinations
      (regrouping) of elements composing the system without changing their number. The
      variants of such regrouping are discussed. Recombinant (conformative) changes
      which are widely spread in the nature, play an important role in the host
      adaptive reactions.

PMID- 1449397
TI  - The neuropsychology of the cerebellum: an emerging concept.

PMID- 1449398
TI  - The brain stem viewed in situ from above.

PMID- 1449399
TI  - Selegiline and manic behavior in Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 1449400
TI  - Open controlled therapeutic trial of intravenous immune globulin in relapsing
      remitting multiple sclerosis.
AB  - Ten patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis were treated with
      intravenous immune globulin, 0.4 g/kg per day for 5 consecutive days, and then
      with additional booster doses of immune globulin of 0.4 g/kg, once every 2
      months, for the next 12 months. Ten untreated patients with relapsing-remitting
      multiple sclerosis who were matched with the study patients for age, disease
      duration, and number of attacks per year served as controls. Immune globulin
      treatment was well tolerated, with no side effects. The exacerbation rate
      decreased from 3.7 +/- 1.2 exacerbations per year before treatment to 1.0 +/- 0.7
      exacerbations per year during the treatment in the immune globulin-treated
      patients, while it remained unaltered in the controls. The posttreatment Kurtzke
      Expanded Disability Status Scale score decreased from a mean of 4.45 to 4.15,
      whereas in controls it increased from 3.55 to 3.75. The results suggest that
      immune globulin suppresses the ongoing pathologic process in multiple sclerosis
      and may be a promising treatment to prevent disease exacerbations.

PMID- 1449401
TI  - Quality of life in multiple sclerosis. Comparison with inflammatory bowel disease
      and rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - Multiple sclerosis (MS) and other chronic illnesses can drastically decrease
      quality of life (QOL), but there has been little systematic study of QOL in
      patients with chronic medical diseases. We analyzed QOL in 68 patients with MS,
      164 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, and 75 patients with rheumatoid
      arthritis. The previously validated test instrument was a standardized interview
      consisting of 41 questions clustered in four subscales: functional and economic
      scale, social and recreational scale, affect and life in general scale, and
      medical problems scale. Patients were included in the study if they had a
      definite medical diagnosis and disease duration of 10 years or longer. In the
      patients with MS, Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale correlated strongly
      only with the medical problems score. Of Kurtzke's Functional System Scales, only
      the visual Functional System Scores was correlated with total QOL and subscale
      scores, suggesting that vision is strongly related to QOL. Duration of MS was
      unrelated to QOL scores. There were significant differences between patients with
      MS, inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis on the subscale and
      total QOL scores. Results suggested that QOL was best in the inflammatory bowel
      disease group and worst in the MS group. Numerous statistically significant
      differences on individual questions were evident, suggesting that unique clinical
      profiles differentially characterize these diseases. Assessments of QOL are a
      meaningful addition to impairment scales, such as Kurtzke's Expanded Disability
      Status Scale. Furthermore, QOL scores may meaningfully measure the impact of a
      chronic medical disease, such as MS, compare the impacts of different diseases,
      and assess the effects of therapeutic intervention.

PMID- 1449402
TI  - Effects of cigarette smoking on motor functions in patients with multiple
      sclerosis.
AB  - The acute effects of cigarette smoking on motor functions were examined in 21
      patients with multiple sclerosis and 11 healthy control subjects. The motor
      function in the upper extremities was assessed by a simple test battery. Sixteen
      of 21 patients had a transient deterioration of their motor function immediately
      after smoking, lasting for 10 minutes. The mean decrease in motor performance
      score for all 21 patients was 14%. With the same tests performed without smoking
      only three of 14 patients had a deterioration and the group had a mean 8%
      improvement. The control group showed a steady improvement over time, both in
      smoking and in simulation experiments. We conclude that nicotine causes a
      transient worsening of motor functions in patients with multiple sclerosis, which
      can be due to its effects on the central nervous system or vegetative-vascular
      functions.

PMID- 1449403
TI  - Neuropsychological importance of subcortical white matter hyperintensity.
AB  - Subcortical hyperintensity on magnetic resonance imaging is a common incidental
      finding in healthy elderly subjects. The relationship of such changes to
      cognitive functioning remains unclear, however, because only a small number of
      studies have examined this issue with conflicting results. We therefore assessed
      66 healthy adult volunteers (mean [+/- SD] age, 61.8 +/- 15.8 years) with
      magnetic resonance imaging scans rated for subcortical hyperintensity, and with
      two neuropsychological instruments selected a priori on the basis of previous
      reports in the literature. Findings were highly significant for both the Benton
      Facial Recognition Test and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised Digit
      Symbol. However, in both cases, the majority of variance was accounted for by age
      and educational level. Effects of subcortical hyperintensity were not
      significant. We conclude that subcortical hyperintensity in healthy adults does
      not relate to cognitive functioning, at least with these two instruments.

PMID- 1449404
TI  - Comparisons of verbal fluency tasks in the detection of dementia of the Alzheimer
      type.
AB  - The performances of 89 patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) and 53
      demographically matched elderly normal control subjects were compared on four
      verbal fluency measures (category, letter, first names, and supermarket fluency).
      Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to determine each fluency
      tasks' sensitivity (ie, true-positive rate) and specificity (ie, true-negative
      rate). Category fluency demonstrated the greatest degree of discrimination
      between patients with DAT and normal control subjects (sensitivity, 100%;
      specificity, 92.5%); letter fluency was the least accurate (sensitivity, 89%;
      specificity, 85%). Separation of patients with DAT by gender revealed similar
      findings. In further analyses with a subgroup of 21 mildly impaired patients with
      DAT, category fluency lost none of its discriminative capabilities, whereas all
      other fluency measures showed marked reductions in discriminability. We conclude
      that this superiority of category fluency is due to its dependence on the
      structure of semantic knowledge, which deteriorates in the early stages of DAT.

PMID- 1449405
TI  - Validation of the 3-oz water swallow test for aspiration following stroke.
AB  - A 3-oz water swallow test identified 80% (16/20) of patients aspirating during a
      subsequent videofluoroscopic modified barium swallow examination (sensitivity,
      76%; specificity, 59%). It also identified patients with more severe dysphagia
      aspirating larger amounts (sensitivity, 94%; specificity, 26%) or thicker
      consistencies (sensitivity, 94%; specificity, 30%) of test material. The 3-oz
      water swallow test is a sensitive screening tool for identifying patients at risk
      for clinically significant aspiration who need referral for more definitive
      modified barium swallow evaluation.

PMID- 1449406
TI  - Cerebral glucose metabolism in Parkinson's disease with and without dementia.
AB  - Although cognitive impairment is commonly associated with Parkinson's disease,
      the relative importance of cortical and subcortical pathologic changes to the
      development of dementia is controversial. Characteristic abnormalities in
      cortical glucose metabolism have been reported previously in Alzheimer's disease,
      a disease in which cortical changes predominate. We measured cerebral glucose
      metabolism with positron emission tomography in 20 control subjects and in 14
      patients with PD with mental status ranging from normal to severely demented to
      determine whether changes in cortical glucose metabolism occur in early PD and
      whether the degree and pattern of metabolic change relate to the severity of
      dementia. The patients were divided into demented and nondemented groups
      according to the results of neuropsychological assessment. Age-adjusted
      covariance analyses were performed, since the age distribution varied between
      groups. The nondemented patients with PD showed widespread cortical glucose
      hypometabolism without any selective temporoparietal defects. The pattern of
      glucose hypometabolism seen in the demented patients with PD resembled that
      described in patients with Alzheimer's disease; ie, there was a global decrease
      in glucose metabolism, with more severe abnormalities observed in the
      temporoparietal regions.

PMID- 1449407
TI  - Elevated neopterin levels in Guillain-Barre syndrome. Further evidence of immune
      activation.
AB  - Neopterin is a by-product of guanosine triphosphate metabolism and is produced by
      macrophages in response to lymphocytic activation. We have studied serum
      neopterin levels in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome to obtain further
      evidence of immune activation in this disease. Serum neopterin levels were
      significantly elevated in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome compared with
      patients with other peripheral neuropathies and multiple sclerosis and with
      healthy control subjects. Serial analysis demonstrated that as neopterin levels
      fell, the clinical status of the patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome improved
      and soluble interleukin 2 receptor levels dropped. Thus, lymphocytic and
      macrophage activation may play a role in the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barre
      syndrome.

PMID- 1449408
TI  - Frontal lobe dysfunction in unilateral lenticulostriate infarcts. Prominent role
      of cortical lesions.
AB  - Most studies on frontal lobe dysfunction (FLD) in patients with striatal lesions
      did not consider possible associated cortical lesions not seen on computed
      tomographic scans. To determine the possible role of such cortical lesions, we
      assessed FLD in 10 patients with unilateral lenticulostriate infarct on computed
      tomographic scans. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an associated cortical
      infarct not seen on computed tomographic scans in four patients. Using a battery
      of neuropsychological tests sensitive to FLD, we found that (1) the crossed
      tapping test was the only FLD test significantly disturbed in patients with pure
      unilateral lenticulostriate infarcts, (2) FLD was only present in patients with
      associated cortical infarct, and (3) caudate lesions only account for the number
      of echopraxic errors in the crossed tapping test. We conclude that unilateral
      isolated lenticulostriate infarcts might not lead to FLD, even though they may
      disturb the development of strategies involved in motor procedural learning.

PMID- 1449409
TI  - Suicide and patients with neurologic diseases. Methodologic problems.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The suicide risk in patients with many neurologic diseases has been
      reported to be greater than that in the general population. Studies on the
      subject are, however, often encumbered with methodologic problems. We appraised
      these problems and, based on an evaluation, reappraised knowledge of the suicide
      risk in patients with specific neurologic diseases. DATA SOURCE: Using the
      computerized database MEDLINE, we identified all published reports with the key
      words suicide, attempted suicide, and neurologic diseases. STUDY SELECTION: We
      assessed and reviewed studies concerning the most common neurologic diseases for
      methodologic problems in the study design. DATA EXTRACTION: The following
      methodologic problems emerged during our review: (1) choice of study type, ie,
      autopsy study or follow-up study; (2) choice of study population; (3) choice of
      control groups; (4) epidemiologic/statistical methods used; and (5) validity of
      statistics reported. DATA SYNTHESIS: We analyzed the methodologic problems in
      studies of patients with multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Huntington's chorea,
      spinal cord lesions, cranial trauma, brain tumors, Parkinson's disease, vascular
      disorders, and migraine. In most of the studies, the methods used gave rise to
      uncertainty about the conclusion presented. CONCLUSION: An increased suicide risk
      was found in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis and spinal cord lesions
      as well as in selected groups of patients with epilepsy. In other neurologic
      diseases, the suicide risk may be increased, but the results are uncertain due to
      the methodologic problems in the study design.

PMID- 1449410
TI  - Effect of ethanol on mouse brain microsomal phospholipid turnover.
AB  - In an investigation of the effects of chronic and acute ethanol administration on
      phospholipid synthesis, mice subjected to chronic or acute ethanol administration
      were intraventricularly injected with 1,332 kBq of 2-3H-glycerol (3H-glycerol)
      and 4,070 kBq of 32P-phosphoric acid 15 min after the ethanol injection. One hour
      later, mice were sacrificed, and brain microsomes were prepared for analysis of
      incorporation of radioactivity into phospholipids. Chronic ethanol treatment
      significantly decreased incorporation of 3H-glycerol and 32P-phosphoric acid into
      phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylinositol plus
      phosphatidylserine. However, acute ethanol treatment had no marked effect on
      incorporation of 3H-glycerol or 32P-phosphoric acid into any of these
      phospholipids. On the other hand, chronic ethanol administration had no
      significant effect on incorporation of the radioisotopes into triphosphoinositide
      (TPI) or diphosphoinositide (DPI) in microsomal fractions, or the 3H- and 32P
      TPI/DPI ratios. However, acute ethanol administration decreased the incorporation
      of 3H-glycerol into DPI and TPI, but did not change the TPI/DPI ratio; it also
      significantly increased the 32P-TPI/DPI ratio and decreased 32P-phosphoric acid
      incorporation into DPI but did not significantly affect 32P-phosphoric acid
      incorporation into TPI. Chronic ethanol administration is thought to have altered
      the turnover of phospholipids in the microsomal membrane, thereby affecting both
      the levels and turnover of neurotransmitters. In addition, the change of labeled
      TPI/DPI ratio observed after acute ethanol treatment may reflect nicotinic
      receptor activity in the mouse brain.

PMID- 1449411
TI  - Effect of acetaldehyde on ethanol absorption in the canine jejunum.
AB  - The effects of acetaldehyde on ethanol absorption from the intestinal tract were
      studied using canine jejunal segment. A thirty-centimeter jejunal segment with
      intact vascular supply was isolated, and jejunal absorption studies were
      performed by administering a 17% ethanol solution (0.4 g/kg) into the lumen of
      the jejunal segment. In the control group, blood ethanol concentrations in the
      portal vein increased rapidly, with a peak level of 9.8 +/- 1.9 mM 30 min after
      administration. In the cyanamide-pretreated group, dogs were injected
      intravenously with cyanamide (100 mg/kg), an inhibitor of acetaldehyde
      dehydrogenase, 150 min before ethanol dosing. The blood ethanol concentration in
      the portal vein of this group, accompanied by a high acetaldehyde concentration,
      increased gradually, reaching a peak of 10.7 +/- 1.84 mM 120 min after ethanol
      administration. Each concentration gradient corresponded to the systemic
      circulatory order from the portal vein for ethanol concentration, and from the
      hepatic vein for acetaldehyde concentration. The absorbed amount of ethanol in
      the control and cyanamide-pretreated groups was 94.9 +/- 4.1% and 69.3 +/- 4.8%,
      respectively. Pharmacokinetic analysis indicated that a presence of high
      acetaldehyde concentration in the blood resulted in less ethanol reaching the
      systemic circulation (control: 7.34 +/- 2.95 h-1, cyanamide-pretreated: 1.08 +/-
      0.75 h-1). The results also suggest that the absorption of ethanol from the
      intestine decreases when there is a high acetaldehyde concentration in the blood.

PMID- 1449412
TI  - Ethanol enhances, but diazepam and pentobarbital reduce the ambulation-increasing
      effect of caffeine in mice.
AB  - The interactions of caffeine (10 mg/kg p. o.) with various doses of ethanol,
      diazepam or pentobarbital were investigated by observing the ambulatory activity
      of mice. The ambulatory activities after the coadministration of caffeine with
      ethanol (1.6, 2.4 and 3.2 g/kg p. o.) were significantly higher than those after
      the single administration of the corresponding doses of individual drugs. Ethanol
      alone significantly increased the activity with ataxia at 2.4 and 3.2 g/kg,
      suggesting that 1.6 g/kg of ethanol was an optimum dose for studying the
      interaction of caffeine with ethanol. Although diazepam (0.25, 0.5 and 2 mg/kg s.
      c.) and pentobarbital (1, 3 and 10 mg/kg s. c.) alone did not change the
      activity, they significantly reduced the effect of caffeine. Naloxone (1 and 5
      mg/kg s. c.) did not modify the effect of caffeine alone, but, at 5 mg/kg, it was
      effective in significantly reducing the ambulation-increasing effect of caffeine
      with ethanol (1.6 g/kg) to nearly the level of caffeine alone. Ca-cyanamide (5
      mg/kg p. o., pretreatment 30 min before), reserpine (1 mg/kg s. c., pretreatment
      4 hr before) and alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (200 mg/kg i. p., pretreatment 1 hr
      before) reduced the ambulation increment induced by caffeine alone or combination
      of caffeine with ethanol. Ethanol, diazepam and pentobarbital are classified as
      CNS depressants, and caffeine as a CNS stimulant. However, the present experiment
      demonstrated that the interaction of caffeine with ethanol was very different
      from that of caffeine with diazepam or pentobarbital. In the enhancing
      interaction of caffeine and ethanol, both dopaminergic and endogenous opioid
      systems may be involved.

PMID- 1449413
TI  - Patterns of alcohol abuse from the viewpoint of multiple substance abuse.
AB  - 1. As a result of examining the alcoholism of 172 subjects, from the view point
      of multiple abuse in a long-term process, we were able to classify alcoholism
      into three patterns: Pattern I is the alcohol alone type, Pattern II is the
      alcoholism with legal drugs, such as hypnotics and tranquilizers and Pattern III
      is the alcoholism with illicit drugs, such as organic solvents and
      methamphetamine. 2. We ascertained the alcohol alone abuse type (Pattern I)
      existed. 3. Pattern II resembles Pattern I in living status, delinquency,
      experience of criminal acts and characters except that the abusers in Pattern II
      were younger than those in Pattern I. 4. The abusers in Pattern III showed a
      trend to incline to multiple abuse. They had antisocial characters and family
      problems and the level of their social life was disrupted from their youth in
      many cases.

PMID- 1449414
TI  - [Alcohol drinking behavior based on the neurochemical background. I. Alcohol
      preference and brain monoamines].
AB  - The relationship between voluntary alcohol consumption and monoamine levels was
      studied in the inbred strains of C57BL/6N, C57BL/6J, A/J, BALB/cA, CBA/N, C3H/He
      and DBA/2Cr mice; the congenic mouse strain B10. Br/Sg, and the senescence
      accelerated mouse (SAM P1, SAM P2). C57BL strains exhibited a high alcohol
      preference whereas the other strains exhibited a low alcohol preference. A clear
      positive relationship was found between alcohol intake (g/kg/day) and brain
      norepinephrine (NE) level (r = 0.683, p < 0.05), and a clear negative
      relationship between alcohol intake and brain serotonin (5HT) level (r = -0.628,
      p < 0.05). These results suggest that a voluntary alcohol intake in mice is
      genetically influenced with the brain monoamines, and depend upon the levels of
      brain NE and 5HT.

PMID- 1449415
TI  - [Alcohol drinking behavior based on the neurochemical background. II. Alcohol
      preference and aging].
AB  - The present studies have investigated the relationship between alcohol behavior
      and aging in several strains of mice. First experiments have carried out whether
      a free choice of 10% (v/v) ethanol and tap water for 4 weeks changes the alcohol
      preference and the brain neurotransmitters in three inbred strains of mice,
      C57BL/6J, C3H/He and DBA/2Cr. Mice of these strains showed mean ethanol intakes
      of 4.41, 1.76 and 0.77 g/kg/day, respectively. Levels of the brain monoamines did
      not change in the alcohol preferring C57BL/6J mice, but in those with less
      preference of alcohol, C3H/He and DBA/2Cr, there were significant increases in
      dopamine and 5HT levels during the four weeks experiment. Second studies have
      reexamined if the factor of aging affects on the alcohol preference or drinking
      behavior in mice. Intake of 10% ethanol (ml/day) and alcohol preference (%)
      increased significantly with age. A further study was conducted in which groups
      of 16 week old mice were checked for alcohol preference along with a completely
      naive control group. The alcohol preference and alcohol intake were maximum in
      mice given free access to ethanol at 4 weeks of age. These results suggest that
      a) the mouse strain with a low preference of alcohol undergo neurochemical
      changes after exposure to 10% ethanol and water even be free choice, and b)
      alcohol drinking behaviors are not only affected on the general aspects but also
      the factor of aging and the conditions in which mice have expressed the accesses
      to alcohol.

PMID- 1449416
TI  - [Lymphocyte adenylate cyclase activity in alcoholics].
AB  - Lymphocyte adenylate cyclase (AC) activity in alcoholics was examined. Gpp(NH)p
      stimulated AC activity was not altered in lymphocyte membranes from alcoholics in
      acute withdrawal state. In the case of long-term abstinent alcoholics, who
      maintained abstinence from alcohol for at least one year, lymphocyte Gpp(NH)p
      stimulated AC activity was slightly reduced but not significantly. However, the
      extent of AC activity induced by 250 mM ethanol in vitro, in the presence of
      Gpp(NH)p, was significantly reduced in lymphocyte membrane from long-term
      abstinent alcoholics. These results indicate that lymphocyte AC activity is a
      biological marker for alcoholics.

PMID- 1449417
TI  - Review of obstetric operative intervention rates.
AB  - The trends in obstetric operative intervention at a major teaching hospital in
      Sydney, Australia, were reviewed during the decade 1979-1989. While the caesarean
      section rate has increased by 36.4%, forceps deliveries have decreased. The
      normal delivery rate has remained constant at 67%.

PMID- 1449418
TI  - Umbilical artery blood flow in intra-uterine growth retarded fetuses and fetal
      outcome: a study of 102 cases.
AB  - The 102 fetuses diagnosed by ultrasound to be asymmetrically growth-retarded had
      blood flow velocity waveforms of the umbilical artery studied. Sixty-two cases
      had normal blood flow, 28 had abnormal blood flow but with present end-diastolic
      flow, 8 had absent end-diastolic flow, and 4 had reversal of end-diastolic flow.
      Comparison was made between the blood flow status and other biophysical methods
      of antenatal surveillance and perinatal outcome. There is a strong correlation
      between abnormal blood flow and abnormalities detected by other biophysical
      methods of antenatal surveillance. Our study shows that fetuses with severe blood
      flow impairment tend to be more severely growth-retarded and to be delivered
      earlier. Our results also show abnormal blood flow to be associated with a poor
      perinatal outcome. Those fetuses with severe impairment of blood flow suffered a
      high incidence of operative delivery for fetal distress, acidosis at birth,
      perinatal mortality and morbidity. The association between abnormal blood flow
      and the 5-minute Apgar score is significant only in those with the severest
      impairment of blood flow. Our results are in close agreement with similar studies
      recorded in the literature.

PMID- 1449419
TI  - Tetanic uterine contraction may be a cause of persistent fetal bradycardia after
      fetal blood sampling by ultrasound-guided cordocentesis.
AB  - Persistent fetal bradycardia necessiating emergency cesarean section is uncommon
      but a serious complication of ultrasound-guided cordocentesis. The cause of this
      complication, however, is not completely known. Reported here is a case of
      tetanic uterine contraction after fetal blood sampling via cordocentesis.

PMID- 1449420
TI  - Evaluation of measurement of fetal crown-rump length from ultrasonically timed
      ovulation and fertilization in vitro.
AB  - To assess with accuracy the development and maturity of the fetus, we evaluated
      fetal growth in 46 pregnant women who had conceived subsequent to ultrasonically
      timed ovulation. Fetal crown-rump length (CRL) was measured at gestational ages
      that differed by about 1 day from those previously reported. The variance in CRL
      measurements at each gestational age was small, and the data were normally
      distributed. The CRL growth curves of this and previous studies were tested using
      measurements from 7 pregnancies derived from in vitro fertilization (IVF). The
      data from IVF pregnancies were consistent with our curve, having 1 day difference
      to those previously reported. The gender of the fetus did not influence the CRL
      during the first trimester. The results suggest that fetal growth is uniform
      during the first trimester.

PMID- 1449421
TI  - Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome with minimal ovarian enlargement: a case
      report.
AB  - Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is an uncommon but potentially lethal
      complication of treatment with in vitro fertilization and other assisted
      reproductive technologies. We describe such a case which was atypical in that
      ascites and hydrothorax occurred despite the absence of ovarian enlargement.
      Whilst the pathophysiology of the syndrome remains unclear, the clinician must
      remain alert to the possibility of such an unusual presentation of this syndrome.

PMID- 1449422
TI  - Assessment of follicular maturity by follicular diameter and fluid volume in a
      program of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.
AB  - We compared the assessment of follicular maturity by follicular diameter or
      follicular fluid (FF) volume and the subsequent fertilization and cleavage of the
      oocytes in 36 patients who had ovarian stimulation performed for in vitro
      fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). All patients received clomiphene
      citrate and human menopausal gonadotropin. The daily growth of follicles was
      assessed ultrasonically for 6 consecutive days before oocyte collection. The
      follicular diameter was found to be well correlated with the volume of follicular
      fluid. There were no significant differences among the dominant, second, and
      third follicles in the rates of oocyte recovery, maturation, fertilization, or
      cleavage. The rates of oocyte maturation and fertilization in FF volumes of 5.1
      to 7.0 ml were significantly higher than in volumes of 1.1 to 5.0 ml, but the
      cleavage rates were similar. A smaller percentage of embryos developed to the
      four-cell stage when the oocytes were recovered from follicles with volumes of
      1.1 to 3.0 ml. These observations suggest that follicular volume is a good
      parameter for judging the maturity of oocytes. It is also suggested that,
      although the oocytes of small follicles can be fertilized and cleaved, oocytes
      from larger follicles may have a better developmental capacity.

PMID- 1449423
TI  - Vulvar dystrophy: a clinical follow-up.
AB  - The vulvar dystrophy is an enigma and one of the most controversial topic as for
      the pathogenesis, clinical outcome and particularly the malignant potentiality.
      There has been very few systematic studies regarding vulvar dystrophy in Japan.
      Vulvar dystrophy with dysplasia is said to be a pre-malignant condition of the
      vulva. So in our institute a prospective follow-up of 5 months to 4 years was
      obtained in vulvar dystrophic patients after a conservative protocol of
      treatment. The initial histological diagnosis revealed 17 patients with squamous
      hyperplasia (9 patients with dysplasia and 8, without dysplasia), lichen
      sclerosus in 5 and other dermatoses in 1 patient. "Itching" was the most frequent
      complaint, encountered in 20 (69%) of the study patient. Amongst these patients
      4/5 of lichen sclerosus and 16/18 of squamous hyperplasia and other dermatoses
      had complete symptomatic relief with testosterone and corticosteroid
      respectively. Morphologically 22/23 (96%) had more than 50% decrease of the total
      lesion. In squamous hyperplasia with dysplasia after treatment, the re-biopsy
      revealed improvement of the dysplasia in all the cases with total disappearance
      in the mild dysplasia group. So far, vulvar carcinoma did not develop in any of
      the patient followed in our study who received treatment for vulvar dystrophy.
      So, for vulvar dystrophy, a benign squamous epithelial disorder of the vulva,
      steroid hormone therapy is indeed a logical and a consistent one.

PMID- 1449424
TI  - Association between chlamydial infections and pelvic lesions.
AB  - Chlamydia trachomatis usually causes asymptomatic cervicitis, but it sometimes
      ascends into the uterine cavity, fallopian tubes, or peritoneal cavity, causing
      pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. In this study, we examined
      endocervical chlamydial antigens and serum chlamydial antibodies in infertile
      women and laparoscopically evaluated pelvic lesions according to our pelvic
      scoring system. In patients testing positive for a chlamydial infection, the
      total pelvic score was significantly higher than in patients testing negative.
      When each area examined was assessed separately, however, only the tubal score
      was significantly higher in the chlamydia infected patients. These findings may
      indicate that tubal lesions are the major cause of infertility in women with
      chlamydial infections.

PMID- 1449425
TI  - Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural investigation of new membrane-associated
      placental tissue proteins (MP2 A, B, C, D, and E) in gynecologic neoplasms.
AB  - New membrane-associated placental tissue proteins (MP2 A, B, C, D, and E) were
      investigated immunohistochemically by avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique
      and immunoelectron microscopy in various gynecologic neoplasms and normal
      gynecologic tissues. MP2 A and MP2 B were not specific for malignant tumors. MP2
      C was present in 67-100% of ovarian carcinomas, 100% of benign dermoid cysts, and
      77% of endometrial carcinomas. Except for endocervical adenocarcinomas, MP2 D was
      hardly detectable in gynecologic malignancies. Although MP2 E was hardly
      detectable in benign gynecologic tumors, this protein was present in ovarian
      carcinomas, uterine squamous carcinomas, endocervical adenocarcinomas, and
      endometrial adenocarcinomas. These results suggest a possible clinical
      application of these MP2 proteins as a new tumor marker for gynecologic
      malignancies.

PMID- 1449426
TI  - Vascular wall arachidonic acid metabolism and fetal growth in the pregnant STZ
      induced diabetic rat.
AB  - In pregnant women with severe diabetes mellitus, intrauterine growth retardation
      (IUGR) may occur despite hyperglycemia. Uterine blood flow may be an important
      factor in this process. Using pregnant streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
      (pregnant STZ-diabetic rats), we evaluated functional and morphological changes
      in the endothelium, as well as platelet thromboxane A2 (TXA) production and their
      influence on uterine blood flow. Decreased basal endothelial prostacyclin (PGI2)
      production as well as significant attenuation of the production response to
      stimulus was noted, suggesting an impairment of PGI2 production. In the platelet,
      TXA2 production was augmented, leading to a hypercoagulable state. Decreased
      myometrial blood flow was documented. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed
      definite morphological abnormality of the endothelial cells, probably affecting
      the permeability to molecules, a major endothelial function. Based on these data,
      the endothelial derangements suggested by SEM and arachidonic acid metabolism
      alterations may affect fetal growth in the severe pregnant diabetic through
      alterations in uterine blood flow.

PMID- 1449427
TI  - The adverse effects of l-methamphetamine on the development of explanted rat
      embryos.
AB  - The adverse effects of l-methamphetamine on the development of rat embryos were
      studied by means of a whole culture system. The embryos explanted at 12.5th days
      of gestational age were cultured for a total of 24 hours. After pre-culturing for
      6 hours, 4 groups of embryos received additional culturing for 18 hours with
      saline or various concentrations of l-methamphetamine; 0.5, 2.0 and 5.0 mumol/dl.
      There was no significant difference in the survival rate among 4 groups. The
      groups over 2.0 mumol/dl of l-methamphetamine showed significant reduction of
      crown-rump length, somite number, protein content, DNA content, and protein/DNA
      ratio. It is suggested that over 2.0 mumol/dl of l-methamphetamine reduces the
      development but not the survival of rat embryos under whole culture system.

PMID- 1449428
TI  - Amplification of nocturnal melatonin secretion in women with nocturnal
      hyperprolactinemia.
AB  - In order to assess the pathophysiological role of melatonin (MLT) in nocturnal
      hyperprolactinemia (NH), nocturnal serum MLT and prolactin (PRL) levels were
      measured in samples collected every 2h over a 12-hour period (2000h-0800h) from 5
      normal women and 9 women with NH under physiological light/dark condition (lights
      off from 2100h to 0600h). Furthermore, differences in the PRL response to acute
      oral administration of MLT (1 mg or 5 mg) during the daytime between the 2 groups
      was studied. Nocturnal MLT levels in patients with NH were significantly higher
      (p < 0.02) than in normal women. The maximal PRL levels (52.6 +/- 26.7 ng/ml at
      2400h) during the night in patients with NH were significantly higher (p < 0.05)
      and were reached 4h earlier than in normal women. The response to administration
      of 1 mg of MLT was not different between the 2 groups. However, administration of
      5 mg of MLT to normal women resulted in a rapid and prominent PRL release,
      similar to that observed at nighttime in patients with NH. These results indicate
      that the abnormal PRL release in patients with NH is not due to higher
      sensitivity to MLT. However, the elevated MLT levels in patients with NH may be
      related to the neuroendocrine disorder.

PMID- 1449429
TI  - Effects of cochlear impairment and equivalent-threshold masking on psychoacoustic
      tuning curves.
AB  - Psychoacoustic tuning curves in simultaneous masking were measured in three
      groups: listeners with hearing impairment of primarily cochlear origin, normal
      listeners with equivalent-threshold masking (ETM) and normal listeners tested in
      the quiet. ETM was produced by presenting a continuous back-ground noise that was
      spectrally shaped to yield masked thresholds within 3 dB of each impaired
      listener's quiet thresholds. For the tuning curves, the level of a 50-Hz-wide
      noise band necessary to mask a 10-dB SL tone was measured for six masker
      frequencies. Results under ETM indicate that the shape of the tuning curve
      depends not only on masked threshold at the probe frequency but also on the
      spectral shape of the masker. Tuning curves are abnormally broad in some impaired
      listeners even when the effects of their elevated thresholds, audiometric
      configuration and altered intensity perception are taken into account by
      comparisons with normal listeners with ETM.

PMID- 1449430
TI  - Low-frequency specificity of the auditory brainstem response threshold elicited
      by clicks masked with 1590-Hz high-pass noise in subjects with sloping cochlear
      hearing losses.
AB  - In this study, the frequency specificity of the ABR threshold to stimulation with
      a click masked with 1590-Hz high-pass noise was determined in subjects with
      sloping cochlear hearing losses both high- and low-frequency in character. The
      results show that the ABR threshold elicited by this stimulus is low-frequency
      specific. The standard error in estimating the 1,000-Hz pure-tone threshold from
      the high-pass-noise-masked click-evoked ABR threshold is 10.2 dB which equals
      that for estimating the 3,000-Hz pure-tone threshold from the routinely used
      unmasked click ABR threshold. The ABR threshold elicited by a click masked with
      1590-Hz high-pass noise can therefore be regarded as an accurate tool to predict
      the pure-tone hearing loss at 1,000 Hz. However, this method is less suitable for
      routine clinical testing because of the masking noise needed: the occasional high
      loudness level adversely affects the response quality and reduces the dynamic
      range of pure-tone hearing losses to be assessed. A third disadvantage is that
      determining the masking level electrophysiologically for each ear is time
      consuming. The search for a method with no or less masking noise should therefore
      continue.

PMID- 1449431
TI  - Comparison between the frequency specificities of auditory brainstem response
      thresholds to clicks with and without high-pass masking noise.
AB  - In this study, the frequency specificity of the auditory brainstem response (ABR)
      threshold to a click masked with 1590-Hz high-pass masking noise is compared with
      the frequency specificity of the unmasked click-evoked ABR threshold. The ABR
      threshold to the high-pass-noise-masked click stimulus is low frequency specific
      and corresponds with the 1,000-Hz pure-tone threshold. Although the ABR threshold
      to the unmasked click stimulus corresponds with the '3,000'-Hz pure-tone
      threshold, the frequency specificity seems much less pronounced than that of the
      low-frequency-specific stimulus. This study shows, however, that this apparent
      lack of frequency specificity can be attributed to the selection of pure-tone
      hearing losses. The ABR threshold evoked by an unmasked click stimulus is,
      therefore, preeminently useful as a high-frequency point of a two-point
      audiogram. The possible reasons why the ABR threshold evoked by a broad-band
      stimulus as the unmasked click corresponds with the higher frequencies of the
      pure-tone audiogram are discussed.

PMID- 1449432
TI  - Carboplatin and cisplatin ototoxicity in guinea pigs.
AB  - Ototoxic effects of cisplatin (1.5 mg/kg), cisplatin with mannitol (1.5 mg/kg
      cisplatin with 15 mg/kg mannitol) and carboplatin (6 mg/kg) were compared in
      guinea pigs treated 5 days a week for 5 consecutive weeks. Auditory thresholds
      were measured in awake animals by means of the compound action potential recorded
      from electrodes implanted near the round window. The endocochlear potential (EP)
      was measured in the first turn through the round window, and hair cell counts
      were estimated by the surface specimen technique. The most pronounced ototoxicity
      (threshold shifts and hair cell loss) was observed with pure cisplatin. Cisplatin
      with mannitol appeared to be less toxic than pure cisplatin, and carboplatin the
      least toxic. Even carboplatin produced significant threshold shifts, particularly
      at high frequencies, but they were not accompanied by hair cell loss. Values of
      EP were not different from those in normal control animals.

PMID- 1449433
TI  - Digital echocardiography in myocardial infarction.
AB  - Probably the most under-utilised application of echocardiography is in patients
      with coronary artery disease (CAD). This under-utilisation is striking since
      echocardiography can be very valuable in evaluating the natural history and
      therapy of CAD. One reason why echocardiography is not being utilised to its
      fullest is because of the reliance on videotape to record and display
      echocardiograms. This medium is time consuming and inconvenient for clinicians to
      review studies, it is not ideal for detecting subtle wall motion abnormalities,
      and videotape is impractical for comparing serial studies. Recording and storing
      echocardiograms on a digital medium overcomes these difficulties. Digital cine
      loops of single cardiac cycles provide great versatility. Multiple views or
      studies can be displayed simultaneously, subtle changes in wall motion are more
      easily detected and different views, or serial studies, can be readily compared.
      Such images can be displayed on computers on the ward or in the coronary care
      unit (CCU) and be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the convenience
      of the clinician. One does not need to find a recording on a two hour videotape,
      which may be in the ultrasound instrument, and one can view the exam in 30 sec
      instead of 5 to 10 min. Regional and global left ventricular function is one of
      the most important manifestations of CAD. With new therapeutic efforts at
      restoring myocardial function and limiting infarct expansion, assessing LV
      function is more important than ever. Digital echocardiography is an extremely
      practical and convenient way for clinicians to obtain this information.

PMID- 1449434
TI  - Transoesophageal echocardiography in heart disease--old technologies, new tricks.
AB  - Cardiac ultrasound and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy are relatively old
      technologies. With the introduction of new ultrasound probes and by incorporating
      ultrasound technology into conventional endoscopes, 'new tricks' in cardiac
      imaging were discovered. Posterior structures of the heart are now able to be
      imaged clearly by the ultrasound probe from the oesophagus. Consequently, better
      resolution of cardiac anatomy allows more accurate diagnosis of cardiac
      pathologies which is not possible using conventional transthoracic (TT) approach.
      Over a period of two years, 1200 cases of transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE)
      were undertaken in our institution. The major indications were diseases of the
      aorta (10%), source of cardioembolism (28%), assessment of native and prosthetic
      valve function (20%), suspected endocarditis and its complication (17%), pre and
      post percutaneous transluminal mitral valvotomy (PTMV [13%], congenital heart
      disease (2%) and others (10%). The greatest impact with TOE is in the diagnosis
      of aortic dissection and transection. TOE is superior to conventional TT approach
      in detecting potential source of embolism, valvular vegetations and its
      complication, native and prosthetic valve dysfunction and LA thrombus prior to
      PTMV. Observations by TOE such as spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in the left
      atrium open new challenges for further research in its role in the pathogenesis
      of LA thrombus and its association with cardioembolic event. Other areas of
      interest include; reclassification of distal aortic dissection and the use of TOE
      in intra-operative work.

PMID- 1449435
TI  - Left ventricular energy in mitral regurgitation: a preliminary report.
AB  - Energy exchange based on Newtonian principles is the most appropriate way to
      express the function of any pump--including the heart. Using information obtained
      at cardiac catheterisation, we have measured the total work energy (ET) of the
      left ventricle (LV) (mean 1.63 F) in patients with severe mitral regurgitation
      (mean regurgitant fraction 0.66). ET was approximately 84% above normal. Of the
      regurgitant energy (RE) (mean 0.95 F), on average , 3/4 (73.6%) was kinetic (KE)
      and 1/4 (23.4%) potential (PE). Both components represent wasted LV energy: the
      kinetic energy associated with turbulence lost as heat, the potential energy
      responsible for a rise in Left Atrial (LA) pressure. The amount of PE as a
      percentage of total regurgitant energy (RE) varied considerably from one patient
      to another (10.5% to 54.4%). Hence, colour flow mapping which detects only KE of
      turbulent jet flow must underestimate LV energy loss and, because of patient to
      patient variation, cannot consistently reflect severity of regurgitation.
      Measurements of PE correlate well with wedge P-wave height. Corresponding non
      invasive estimates were made using sphygmodynamometer-calibrated indirect carotid
      pulse tracings and echocardiographic measurements. These were not significantly
      different from the invasive measurements. Unfortunately, the calculation of PE is
      indirect and involves subtraction, so that measurements for individual patients
      were not accurate enough for clinical use. Part of the non-invasive calculation
      involved an estimate of left atrial pressure based on the blood pressure
      measurement and Doppler velocity of regurgitation; this should be a useful
      measurement in itself.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449436
TI  - Mitral valve billowing and prolapse--an overview.
AB  - Three decades after it was demonstrated that nonejection systolic clicks and late
      systolic murmurs have a mitral valve origin and that a specific syndrome is
      associated with the primary degenerative mitral lesion, numerous questions remain
      unanswered. A principal cause of confusion is the use of the term 'prolapse',
      which essentially implies a pathological state, in many patients with minimal
      evidence of a mitral valve anomaly. It should be recognised that no specific
      feature, whether evaluated by high standard echocardiography or indeed by careful
      morphological and histological examination, can be defined which distinguishes a
      normal variant from a pathological valve. There is a gradation from the normal
      billowing during ventricular systole of mitral leaflet bodies to marked
      billowing. With advanced billowing or floppy leaflets, failure of leaflet edge
      apposition supervenes (true prolapse). This is functionally abnormal and allows
      mitral regurgitation. Prolapse in turn may progress to a flail leaflet and hence
      gross regurgitation. Relatively rare complications of this degenerative mitral
      valve anomaly include systemic emboli, infective endocarditis, arrhythmias and,
      arguably, autonomic nervous system abnormalities. An attempt is made to clarify
      the management of some symptoms and other aspects of mitral prolapse-including
      rheumatic anterior leaflet prolapse (without billowing) which remains prevalent
      in South Africa and Third World countries.

PMID- 1449437
TI  - Echocardiography in the management of mitral valve prolapse.
AB  - Echocardiography plays a major role in the management of patients with mitral
      valve prolapse (MVP). The technique has greatly enhanced our understanding of the
      pathophysiology, epidemiology and natural history. There are major and minor
      echocardiographic diagnostic criteria for prolapse. Major criteria involve the
      mitral leaflets and include late systolic posterior displacement on M-mode,
      bulging into the left atrium on 2D long-axis (LAX) view, and thickening and
      redundancy of the leaflets. Minor criteria include holosystolic posterior
      prolapse on M-mode, bowing of the mitral leaflets into the left atrium (LA) in
      the apical 2D views, and late systolic mitral regurgitation on the Doppler
      echogram. Any of the major criteria should be sufficient to make the diagnosis.
      One or two minor criteria without a major sign would be questionable. The degree
      of thickening and redundancy and the presence and quantitation of mitral
      regurgitation influence prognosis. Echocardiography is also helpful in
      identifying complications such as endocarditis and ruptured chordae. An
      echocardiogram may not be necessary for the diagnosis, but it is helpful for
      prognosis and as a baseline for possible future changes. The frequency of follow
      up echocardiograms should be determined by clinical findings. When mitral
      regurgitation is present, then one should follow LA and left ventricular size and
      function. Transoesophageal echocardiography may be desirable for better
      definition of vegetations or flail leaflets and is frequently used to monitor
      surgical repair.

PMID- 1449438
TI  - Genes, gender and geometry and the prolapsing mitral valve.
AB  - Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) is usually a variant of normal occurring in about 4%
      of the population. Complications are relatively uncommon, but false associations
      due to ascertainment bias have had a potential for iatrogenic harm. Adverse
      outcomes which do occur in a subset of MVP subjects are considered here in
      relation to the contributions of genes, gender and geometry. There are definite
      associations between MVP and several dominantly inherited connective tissue
      abnormalities; it occurs in 85% of adults with Marfan syndrome. All these
      contribute to a very small proportion of the MVP population. A larger less easily
      characterised group with dominant inheritance and some features of a connective
      tissue disorder awaits DNA studies for identification. For most MVP subjects our
      data define significant family aggregation consistent with polygenic inheritance;
      the likelihood of a first degree relative having MVP is about two and a half
      times the population average. There is a higher prevalence in young women than in
      men-5% versus 3%; this has also been demonstrated for floppy mitral valve (MV) at
      autopsy. MVP complications of chordal rupture, severe mitral regurgitation and
      infective endocarditis are, however, two to three times more common in men, are
      age related and evident after the age of 50 years. Higher blood pressure in men
      may contribute to this in accordance with a response-to-injury hypothesis to
      explain progressive valve changes. Leaflet, annulus and left ventricular size
      differences and septal changes are geometric variants with a potential for
      increasing tension-related valve injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449439
TI  - Mitral valve palpitations.
AB  - Few disorders ever provoked more interest and controversy than mitral valve
      prolapse (MVP). Past echocardiographic over-diagnosis led to it becoming a
      whipping boy for otherwise unexplained chest pain, palpitation, arrhythmias and
      emboli. Surgical centres reported a high incidence of endocarditis and severe
      regurgitation. Most investigators who have studied the prevalence of arrhythmias
      in MVP have concluded that they are more common in this syndrome than in the
      general population and that there is a causal rather than a fortuitous
      relationship. However, the prevalence of arrhythmias in reported studies is
      probably higher than in unselected MVP patients. Multiple ventricular premature
      beats, ventricular tachycardia and sudden death have been reported. Suggested
      mechanisms have included a focal cardiomyopathy with incoordinate contraction and
      relaxation, QRS dispersion, a long QT, traction on papillary muscles by prolapsed
      leaflets, interference with the blood supply of the papillary muscles,
      stimulation of the endocardium by the chordae and diastolic depolarisation of
      muscle fibres in redundant leaflets with triggered repetitive automaticity. MVP
      has been associated with pre-excitation giving rise to atrioventricular re-entry
      tachycardia. Autonomic dysfunction and a hyperadrenergic state has been claimed
      and this may also be responsible for supraventricular arrhythmias including
      atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia, flutter and fibrillation.
      Electrophysiological studies have yielded contradictory results which may be due
      to the heterogeneity of the patients studied and variability of the mechanisms.
      Whatever the true prevalence, arrhythmias in MVP are usually benign. Syncope and
      sudden death are rare. Anti-arrhythmic therapy is only warranted in patients with
      frequent and distressing symptoms shown to be due to the arrhythmias or when
      arrhythmias are judged potentially life threatening.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1449440
TI  - Optimising plasma lipids: public intervention versus high risk management.
AB  - A public health strategy carries more constraints than a high risk strategy
      because it targets both low risk and high risk individuals; this requires
      cautious intervention and hence achieves only a modest reduction in risk.
      Nevertheless, a modest population-wide fall in the concentrations of atherogenic
      lipoproteins leads to substantial numbers of preventable heart attacks and
      deaths. Other strategic considerations are to lower non-lipid cardiovascular
      risks (hypertension, clotting tendency) and to prevent other diet-related disease
      (such as cancer) through interventions which lower plasma lipids. The major
      nutritional changes which achieve this are optimising energy balance, reducing
      total fats and saturated fatty acids and increasing plant foods which are rich
      sources of unsaturated fatty acids, fibre and antioxidants. Each of these
      contributes to optimising the low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration.
      Antioxidants (vitamins C and E mainly) may inhibit LDL oxidation. The strategy
      for lowering plasma triglyceride, especially in the context of atherogenic
      lipoprotein phenotypes, is mainly through energy balance, reduced saturated fat
      and alcohol. Correcting overweight especially in those with abdominal obesity,
      may normalise raised plasma triglyceride, low high density lipoprotein (HDL),
      abnormal LDL and even glucose intolerance and hypertension, which may be
      associated. The scientific basis for the lipid optimising effects of the
      different nutrients will be discussed.

PMID- 1449441
TI  - The Apo A, B, a of coronary risk: back to kindergarten.
AB  - Approximately 1% of the population have a dominantly inherited lipid disorder
      predisposing to premature vascular disease. Apolipoproteins (Apo) B, and A1, the
      carrier proteins for the atherogenic low density lipoprotein (LDL) and the
      protective high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol respectively are markers
      for these disorders, as is Apo(a), the unique carrier protein for lipoprotein(a).
      We assessed changes in these apolipoproteins during the first 12 years of life,
      aiming to detect young families with inherited dyslipidaemia and implement early
      prevention. Among 1032 consecutively born babies in whom levels were measured
      within their first week and at a mean age of 8.5 months, the Apo B/A1 ratio and
      Apo(a) both tracked closely (p < 0.01 and < 0.0001). High B/A1 ratios (> 95
      percentile) identified two families with familial hypercholesterolaemia, and
      infants with high Apo B identified two families with hyperapolipoprotein B.
      Apo(a) levels increased twofold between the first week and 8.5 months and were
      highly correlated (r = 0.73, p < 0.0001). Levels at 8.5 months were not different
      from parental values and were closely correlated with them. We then assessed
      school children aged eight to 12 years. In a pilot study (n = 1400) we have
      established normal apolipoprotein values and distribution patterns and defined
      the 95th percentile for each. This study is continuing and parents of children
      with high levels are being recalled (with their children) for lipid measurements.
      Our findings indicate that our approach is feasible and has wide acceptance, and
      that measuring Apo B/A1 and Apo(a) in childhood identifies families at increased
      cardiovascular risk. We have yet to assess the efficacy of our family-based
      coronary prevention programme.

PMID- 1449442
TI  - Cholesterol and coronary heart disease mortality.
AB  - The epidemiological relation between increased levels of blood cholesterol and
      increased risk of future heart disease is clear, both within and between
      countries. These strong relationships have led to the adoption of consensus
      statements in most countries which recommend measures such as the reduction of
      dietary saturated fat/an increase in the polyunsaturated/saturated ratio and
      other dietary and sometimes drug methods to reduce serum cholesterol. There is
      controversy as to whether these measures should be targeted at individuals with
      high levels of cholesterol or whether there should be a public health approach to
      the whole population. The public and medical debate has become more heated since
      the data from intervention trials are conflicting. Taken overall the trials do
      appear to show reduction in risk of coronary which is stronger for non fatal,
      compared with fatal coronary events. Meta analysis suggests that increasing
      benefit accrues from larger reductions and also longer reductions in cholesterol
      by intervention. However, individual trials frequently show variable results and
      some, especially the recent 15 year follow up of a Finnish five year intervention
      (by diet, cholesterol lowering and blood pressure lowering drugs) was strikingly
      adverse-although the total number of events was not large. Total mortality is
      much harder to influence and the sum of the available trials is hopelessly
      inadequate in size to address these questions. As a result confusion abounds and
      is unlikely to be clarified by the present on going trials. The need for more
      data is clear. The pilot study for the Oxford Cholesterol Study will be presented
      as a prelude for a proposed main study in about 20,000 high risk individuals.

PMID- 1449443
TI  - Lowering cholesterol: effects on trauma death, cancer death and total mortality.
AB  - Randomised trials of cholesterol reduction (26 trials, 50,000 patients, net
      cholesterol reduction approximately 10%) have demonstrated a clear reduction in
      the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) after just a few years of
      treatment. Overall, the reduction in CHD death was only half as large as the
      reduction in non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), although both were
      statistically significant (2P < 0.005). In these trials, 60% of all deaths were
      from CHD, and since treatment reduced these by about 10%, the expected reduction
      in total deaths was about 6%. This expected reduction falls within the 95%
      confidence interval of the observed effect of cholesterol reduction on total
      mortality in these trials. There were small excesses of deaths from cancer and
      deaths from trauma among patients allocated active treatment. However, in no
      single trial, nor in the trials collectively, were these increases statistically
      significant. Furthermore, the increases did not appear to be specific to any one
      agent nor were the increases consistent between trials of the same agent. These
      observations are consistent with the hypothesis that the small excesses of cancer
      and trauma deaths observed in the cholesterol reduction trials occurred by
      chance.

PMID- 1449444
TI  - Trials and tribulations: the ISIS experience.
AB  - The ISIS trials group has grown slowly over the last ten years and now includes
      about 1000 collaborating hospitals worldwide. The original stimulus came from the
      thesis of a research student, Salim Yusuf, a newly qualified Rhodes Scholar from
      India. Yusuf's thesis (begun in 1976) examined methods of measuring infarct size
      quantitatively and paved the way to a preliminary trial of i.v. atenolol in 477
      patients in Manchester and Oxford. Richard Peto was consulted about the
      statistical aspects of a trial design and pointed out that most clinical trials
      at that time were hopelessly inadequate in size to have the power reliably to
      ascertain the value of moderate but medically worthwhile treatments in many
      common conditions. We thus developed much larger collaboration, which still
      continues to grow. Dr Rory Collins joined the Oxford Cardiac Department and the
      CTSU in 1981 and now is the coordinator of the ISIS trials, and co-director with
      Richard Peto of the CTSU. Simple trials answer the questions rapidly and
      effectively. The mechanics of the trial do not hinder patient entry by
      participating doctors and nurses. The trials are mainly funded by industry, with
      'priming' grants from the British Heart Foundation. Once the protocol is agreed
      the funding companies have no further input. The trials are planned and
      supervised by an international steering committee. Sir Richard Doll chairs the
      data monitoring committees. A brief overview of the three completed trials will
      be given, together with some peeps behind the scenes.

PMID- 1449445
TI  - The push, the pull and the periphery.
AB  - If the failing left ventricle could be given an effective push, other approaches
      to the treatment of heart failure would not be needed. We have inotropes only for
      short-term parenteral use. We have no safe inotrope for chronic oral use. The
      effect of digitalis is only feeble and the phosphodiesterase inhibitors seem to
      increase mortality from sudden death. Diuretics are dramatic for acute pulmonary
      oedema and the mainstay for chronic fluid retention but do not improve the pump
      and by reducing blood volume stimulate the renin angiotensin system to
      vasoconstriction, further fluid retention and hypokalaemia. Nitrates drop pre
      load without reducing blood volume but tolerance is a problem and stroke volume
      does not increase. Reduction of afterload helps the failing ventricle to empty,
      the pull and output increases. The angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors
      (ACEI) are now the cornerstone of heart failure treatment, reducing mortality in
      severe heart failure (CONSENSUS) and superior to standard vasodilator therapy (V
      HeFT-2) at improving the survival of patients with mild to moderate heart
      failure. ACEI can reduce the incidence of ventricular ectopy and probably do this
      through improving left ventricular function, from decreasing sympathetic tone,
      reducing myocardial oxygen demand or increasing serum potassium but ACEI did not
      diminish the incidence of sudden death in the SOLVD trial despite reducing
      mortality. Disappointingly little improvement in exercise tolerance and
      persistence of chronic fatigue in heart failure concentrated attention on the
      periphery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449446
TI  - Aspects of active rheumatic carditis.
AB  - Fulminating active rheumatic carditis has been observed for over 3 decades in
      this environment with no recent alteration in either the incidence or the pattern
      of presentation. Patients are black, seldom older than 20 years and are usually
      in their early teens but may occasionally be as young as five years. Heart
      failure is prevalent but occurs only when a haemodynamically important left-sided
      valve lesion supervenes. Regurgitation is the predominant valve lesion and
      involves principally the mitral valve. Mitral annular dilatation is the initial
      pathology and predisposes to lengthening--or rupture--of chordae tendineae and
      prolapse of the anterior leaflet. The resultant cardiac work-overload apparently
      perpetuates the rheumatic activity. Heart failure, whether caused by or
      associated with active rheumatic carditis, makes surgical management of the valve
      lesion mandatory as a life-saving measure. Mitral valve repair, rather than
      replacement, is the surgical procedure of choice but is not always practicable
      when the rheumatic activity is fulminant, significant aortic regurgitation
      associated or the surgeon relatively inexperienced. Aggressive medical therapy
      for heart failure, which should include vasodilator drugs, provides temporary
      improvement only. Contrary to ongoing doctrine, treatment with steroid drugs is
      neither life-saving nor beneficial. Varying degrees of left ventricular
      dysfunction are encountered pre-operatively and may be a sequel of the severe
      regurgitant valve lesion rather than of a rheumatic 'myocardial factor'.

PMID- 1449447
TI  - Remodelling of the heart after myocardial infarction.
AB  - In the first few hours after the onset of coronary occlusion the infarct zone
      stretches due to myocyte slippage. Subsequently the noninfarct zone develops
      volume overload hypertrophy with series addition of new sarcomeres and fibre
      elongation. Dilatation is detrimental as it increases ventricular wall stress and
      oxygen demand, and re-entry of electrical impulses may be influenced by
      stretching of the ischaemic scar resulting in ventricular fibrillation. Left
      ventricular remodelling and dilatation is a progressive process which begins
      early and continues in the months after infarction. The major determinants of the
      extent of remodelling are infarct size and patency of the infarct-related artery.
      Late reperfusion may reverse initial infarct dilatation and decrease left
      ventricular volumes by inducing calcium-activated contracture of the actomyosin
      complex. Expansion may also be inhibited by acceleration of healing, splinting of
      the infarct zone by salvage of subepicardial cells, and blood in the coronary
      arteries and veins supporting the infarct zone. End-systolic volume is the
      strongest predictor of long-term prognosis after infarction. A number of
      therapies including thrombolysis, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition
      and nitrates have been shown to decrease left ventricular dilatation. The optimal
      time for commencement, dose, duration and the effects of combinations of therapy
      are yet to be determined.

PMID- 1449448
TI  - Exercise and the heart.

PMID- 1449449
TI  - Exercise echocardiography.
AB  - Exercise testing is an indispensable component of clinical cardiology. Latent
      disease or the full extent of a problem may not be apparent on a resting
      examination. Some form of stress is frequently necessary, especially in patients
      with coronary disease, to appreciate whether a patient has stress-induced
      ischaemia as manifested by exercise-induced chest discomfort, a drop in blood
      pressure or electrocardiographic changes of ischaemia. Unfortunately as with
      every test ECG and clinical monitoring have limitations. Patients may have
      ischaemia without pain, ECG changes may be non-specific, a resting abnormal ECG
      has limited value, and the location and amount of ischaemic muscle is not
      directly assessed. Monitoring the echocardiogram adds significant additional
      information to routine stress testing. By visualising the myocardium in the
      exercising individual, it is possible to assess a fundamental manifestation of
      ischaemia, regional wall motion abnormalities. This information helps identify
      the vessels and the amount of muscle involved. In addition resting wall motion
      abnormalities may detect clinically silent infarction or hibernating myocardium.
      Direct visualisation of the exercising heart provides an improved understanding
      of a patient's cardiac status. The technique is particularly useful in evaluating
      revascularisation procedures. Advances in instrumentation have reduced or
      eliminated many of the technical difficulties with obtaining and interpreting
      exercise echocardiograms. This examination has become an extremely useful adjunct
      to routine stress testing.

PMID- 1449450
TI  - Exercise testing? Not at all.
AB  - The traditional approach to the ambulatory patient with suspected or definite
      coronary disease is to evaluate the clinical features, to perform non-invasive
      tests for myocardial ischaemia, and to proceed, if necessary, to coronary
      angiography and coronary revascularisation. However, when the results of the
      exercise tests are discordant with the clinical classifications they are usually
      misleading as diagnostic tools. When the exercise test is used to assist
      prognostication, the information provided overlaps with that available to the
      clinician and only the presence of ST segment depression is an independent
      prognosticator. The amount of ST segment shift has been found to be an inferior
      prognosticator to the severity of disease seen on a coronary angiogram and the
      latter allows for appropriate decisions to be made regarding coronary angioplasty
      or bypass surgery. A more appropriate use of exercise testing is as a gate for
      coronary angiography if there is real doubt or the nature of the chest pain or as
      an aid in therapeutic decisions if the coronary angiography interpretation is
      difficult.

PMID- 1449451
TI  - The importance of assessing time-course behaviour of abnormal ST/T changes after
      exercise.
AB  - Routine stress electrocardiography has been criticised for yielding too many so
      called 'false-positive' results because ST/T changes that develop during and
      after exercise are prevalent. Recent studies in our institution indicate,
      however, that the time-course behaviour patterns of these ST/T configurational
      'abnormalities' after exercise are different from those reflecting myocardial
      ischaemia due to epicardial coronary artery disease (CAD). Time-course analysis
      increases the predictive value of exercise testing and has dramatically decreased
      the number of asymptomatic subjects or symptomatic patients at low risk of having
      CAD being subjected to coronary arteriography in our institution. Our method of
      assessing post-exercise time course patterns of abnormal ST/T are described in
      detail. Ischaemic ST/T abnormalities have late onset, early offset or early
      onset, late offset whereas those ST/T changes associated with normal epicardial
      coronary arteries have late onset, late offset or early onset, early offset post
      exercise time course patterns.

PMID- 1449452
TI  - Heart failure: to digitalise or not? The view against.
AB  - Despite extensive clinical experience the role of digoxin is still not well
      defined. In patients with atrial fibrillation digoxin is beneficial for
      ventricular rate control. For patients in sinus rhythm and heart failure the
      situation is less clear. Digoxin has a narrow therapeutic:toxic ratio and
      concentrations are affected by a number of drugs. Also, digoxin has undesirable
      effects such as increasing peripheral resistance and myocardial demands, and
      causing arrhythmias. There is a paucity of data from well-designed trials. The
      trials that are available are generally small with limitations in design and
      these show variation in patient benefit. More convincing evidence is required
      showing that digoxin improves symptoms or exercise capacity. Furthermore, no
      trial has had sufficient power to evaluate mortality. Pooled analysis of the
      effects of other inotropic drugs shows an excess mortality and there is a
      possibility that digoxin may increase mortality after myocardial infarction (MI).
      Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors should be used first as they are
      safer, do not require blood level monitoring, modify progression of disease,
      relieve symptoms, improve exercise tolerance and reduce mortality. Caution should
      be exercised in using digoxin until large mortality trials are completed showing
      either benefit or harm. Until then digoxin should be considered a third-line
      therapy.

PMID- 1449453
TI  - Prevention of sudden cardiac death: the ICD, or an electrical end-point with
      preceding opportunities for intervention?
AB  - Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is usually due to monomorphic ventricular tachycardia
      and/or ventricular fibrillation. However, in the vast majority of patients these
      arrhythmias are associated with advanced structural disease. In our society, this
      is usually due to coronary artery disease (CAD). The implantable cardioverter-
      defibrillator is the logical approach to management in survivors of SCD. Its
      rational use must be guided by electrophysiology study. However, a realistic and
      cost-effective approach to the prevention of a first cardiac arrest must be
      multifaceted and take cognisance of other aspects including primary prevention.
      Limitation of the size of myocardial infarction (MI) is vital. Trials already
      suggests that effective thrombolysis may impinge long-term on arrhythmic end
      points. Following infarction, ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death may also
      be decreased by aspirin, beta-blockers, and possibly angiotensin converting
      enzyme inhibitors and amiodarone. Many post-infarction studies employ a combined
      end-point of death and clinical arrhythmias. However, death is usually confined
      to those with an ejection fraction < 35%. In them, treatment of associated heart
      failure is often a consideration and if the ejection fraction < 15-20%, depending
      on donor availability, transplantation may even be the preferred therapeutic
      option to the cardioverter-defibrillator.

PMID- 1449454
TI  - The automatic implantable defibrillator is the most realistic and cost-effective
      way of preventing sudden cardiac death.
AB  - Judgement about cost-effectiveness of medical treatments depends upon the
      criteria used to define effectiveness. The most rational single criterion is the
      Quality Adjusted Life Year gained (QALY). Comparisons of cost-effectiveness of
      treatments may be made by comparing the dollar costs per QALY. Both the dollar
      and the QALY comparisons are subject to all errors of biological variable
      measurement and bias introduced by experimental design seen in other biological
      experiments. The proper methodology for comparison is the prospective randomised
      controlled clinical trial. Such trials using the automatic implantable
      defibrillator (AICD) as prophylaxis against sudden cardiac death (SCD) have not
      yet been performed. The major underlying cause of SCD is coronary artery disease
      with previous myocardial infarction (MI) and provocative tests for ventricular
      arrhythmias are the most powerful predictors of SCD in infarction survivors. AICD
      implantation carriers a mortality of about 2%, and survival after successful
      implantation is about 89% at one, and 84% at two years. By comparison, infarction
      survivors with left ventricular ejection fraction < 0.4 and inducible slow
      monomorphic ventricular tachycardia have a survival rate of 70% at one, and 54%
      at two years. Antiarrhythmic drugs have not proven effective. There is an urgent
      need to confirm the advantage of the AICD by proper randomised controlled trial.

PMID- 1449455
TI  - Improved feed intake and body weight change in sheep treated with dexamethasone
      at entry into pens or feedlots.
AB  - Treatment with the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone sodium phosphate
      increased the feed intake of sheep within 24 h. A single treatment with the
      longer-acting compound dexamethasone trimethylacetate had a slower effect, but
      resulted in improved feed intake and enhanced body weight gain over a period of 7
      to 14 days. Treatment was effective in sheep housed individually and in sheep
      penned in groups. The improvement in body weight gain disappeared 15 to 20 days
      after a single treatment, but in most studies treated sheep had less variability
      in weight change than untreated sheep at this time. A statistically significant
      increase in body weight gain was observed in 8 of 11 trials; in the other 3
      trials, it appeared that the feed intake of the untreated sheep was already
      maximal. Wethers treated with dexamethasone trimethylacetate on arrival at an
      assembly point for live export arrived in the Middle East 23 days later with a
      lower mean weight loss, partly because fewer sheep lost a significant amount of
      weight.

PMID- 1449456
TI  - Resistance to synthetic pyrethroid pour-on insecticides in strains of the sheep
      body louse Bovicola (Damalinia) ovis.
AB  - Groups of sheep infested with strains of Bovicola (Damalinia) ovis were obtained
      from flocks either with a history of failure to control lice with synthetic
      pyrethroid (SP) pour-on insecticides, or from farms where SP compounds were not
      used. The sheep were treated according to the manufacturer's recommendations with
      registered "off-shears" SP formulations. All treatments were applied under ideal
      conditions with doses calculated on an individual body weight basis and applied
      to the dorsal mid-line from the base of the neck to the butt of the tail. Treated
      sheep were kept in pens and maintained in separate groups. The pour-on SP
      treatments significantly reduced the lice population but failed to eliminate the
      infestation in 7 of 13 experiments in sheep carrying strains of lice with
      resistance factors of greater than 4 to at least one of the SP compounds.
      Failures occurred with all three of the SP pour-ons currently registered for lice
      control in NSW and with both water-based and organic solvent-based formulations.

PMID- 1449457
TI  - Production responses to internal parasite control in dairy cattle.
AB  - A significant increase in milk production, averaging 164 litres per cow per
      lactation (a 4.8% increase), was seen after cows infected with gastrointestinal
      nematodes, paramphistomes and Fasciola hepatica were treated with broad-spectrum
      anthelmintics. Three hundred and ninety pairs of cows from eight herds with year
      round calving were studied. One cow in each matched pair was given 7.5 mg/kg
      fenbendazole, 7.5 mg/kg levamisole hydrochloride and 15 mg/kg oxyclozanide in
      March, May and August of one year; the other cow in the pair received no
      anthelmintic. The number of nematode and trematode eggs was significantly
      decreased in the faeces of treated cows.

PMID- 1449458
TI  - Respiratory mechanics of horses during stepwise treadmill exercise tests, and the
      effect of clenbuterol pretreatment on them.
AB  - Normal Standardbred horses were given an incremental exercise test on a
      horizontal treadmill to evaluate the influence of exercise on gas exchange,
      resistance, dynamic compliance and inertance of the respiratory system. The
      exercise test consisted of 2 min exercise steps at each of the following speeds:
      2.4 m/sec (walk), 4.5 m/sec (slow trot), 7.0 m/sec (fast trot) and 10 m/sec
      (gallop). At rest and after 1 min of exercise at each step, airflow, tidal
      volume, respiratory frequency, pharyngeal, mid-oesophageal and transdiaphragmatic
      pressures and arterial blood gas tensions were measured. The same horses were
      subsequently treated intravenously with clenbuterol (0.8 microgram/kg) and an
      identical exercise test and measurement performed 10 min after clenbuterol
      injection. In response to exercise, there were large increases in tidal volume,
      respiratory frequency, airflow and pressures. Exercise was associated with a
      decrease in upper airway resistance but total pulmonary resistance was unchanged.
      Exercise did not alter inertance or dynamic compliance, horses became hypoxaemic,
      and at 10 m/sec (galloping) also developed hypercarbia. Treatment with
      clenbuterol did not alter any of these measurements in response to exercise.
      These data suggest that dilation of upper airways occurs during exercise, and
      that inertial forces are important in strenuously exercising horses and may
      influence the accuracy of dynamic compliance determinations at high exercise
      intensities.

PMID- 1449459
TI  - Subclinical epitheliocystis in barramundi, Lates calcarifer, reared in sea cages.

PMID- 1449460
TI  - Pasteurella multocida septicaemia in pigs.

PMID- 1449461
TI  - Flood plain staggers, a tunicaminyluracil toxicosis of cattle in northern New
      South Wales.

PMID- 1449462
TI  - Total body water and the estimation of fat in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus).

PMID- 1449463
TI  - An outbreak of fatal verminous pneumonia in cattle in north Queensland.

PMID- 1449464
TI  - Naturally occurring Eperythrozoon ovis infection in sheep reduces wool
      production.

PMID- 1449465
TI  - Isolation and characterization of two opioid peptides from a bovine hemoglobin
      peptic hydrolysate.
AB  - Two opioid peptides were isolated from a bovine hemoglobin hydrolysate, by use of
      gel permeation (GP) and reverse phase (RP) high performance liquid chromatography
      (HPLC). Their primary structure and accurate molecular weights, determined by
      amino acid analysis and fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry, were
      identical to fragments 31-40 (LVV-hemorphin-7) and 32-40 (VV-hemorphin 7) of the
      beta-chain of bovine hemoglobin. The same fragments occur in human hemoglobin in
      positions 32-41 and 33-41 of the beta-chain, respectively. The opioid potency of
      these peptides, exhibited by use of electrically stimulated muscle of isolated
      guinea-pig ileum (GPI), were significant and comparable with some others
      previously described. In addition, the location of the two opioid peptides, VV
      hemorphin-7 and LVV-hemorphin-7, revealed the existence of a "strategic zone"
      both in the bovine and human beta-chains of hemoglobin.

PMID- 1449466
TI  - In vitro evolution of cisplatin/DNA monoadducts into diadducts is dependent upon
      superhelical density.
AB  - DNA binding of antitumor platinum(II) compounds accounts for cellular toxicity.
      Binding of cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) (cis-DDP) to DNA involves the
      transient presence of monoadducts which evolve in a second phase into
      difunctional lesions which are far more toxic than the monoadducts. Temporal
      control of the monoadducts half-live is at least dependent upon the chemical
      nature of the cis-platinum derivative and the secondary structure of DNA. The
      effect of the degree of DNA superhelicity on the binding of cis-platinum
      derivatives as well as on the evolution of monofunctional adducts has been
      addressed on plasmid DNA. The rate of platination was not affected by the degree
      of DNA superhelicity. Similarly, when the evolution of the lesions was complete,
      no variation of toxicity was found with different populations of topoisomers, as
      determined by bacterial transformation efficiency. In contrast, when the kinetic
      of difunctional lesions formation was controlled in vitro, we observed a higher
      rate of formation on a supercoiled plasmid by comparison with a relaxed one. This
      result suggests that platinum-DNA adduct toxicity could be modulated by the
      topology of the chromosome.

PMID- 1449467
TI  - Biosynthesis of sphingolipids: dihydroceramide and not sphinganine is desaturated
      by cultured cells.
AB  - Radioactively labeled N-[1-14C]-octanoyl-sphinganine and D-erythro-[3-3H]
      sphinganine were administered in parallel experiments to neuroblastoma cells B
      104. A time dependent formation of ceramide with a double bond in its sphingoid
      backbone was observed in both cases. In the presence of fumonisin B1 (25 microM),
      a strong inhibitor of sphinganine N-acyltransferase, desaturated ceramide was
      formed only when cells were fed with N-[1-14C]-octanoyl-sphinganine but not with
      [3-3H]-sphinganine. Thus, the introduction of the double bond occurs only at the
      level of dihydroceramide, after N-acylation of sphinganine. It is now obvious
      that sphingosine is not a biosynthetic intermediate but exclusively a catabolic
      product of cellular sphingolipids.

PMID- 1449468
TI  - Memory of butyrate induction by the Moloney murine sarcoma virus enhancer
      promoter element.
AB  - We reported previously that a housekeeping gene could be converted to a butyrate
      inducible gene by replacing its cognate promoter with the Moloney murine sarcoma
      virus enhancer-promoter element. In this study we report that the activated
      transcriptional state could be propagated from mother to daughter cells after the
      withdrawal of the inducer.

PMID- 1449469
TI  - Animal histo-blood group ABO genes.
AB  - Sequences homologous to the human histo-blood group ABO genes are present in the
      genomic DNA of various mammals. We have PCR-amplified, subcloned, and sequenced a
      portion of these genes from several species of primates and found high
      conservation of the nucleotide as well as the deduced amino acid sequences during
      evolution.

PMID- 1449470
TI  - The interaction of decorin core protein fragments with type I collagen.
AB  - To further define the molecular interaction between decorin and type I collagen
      we generated a 20 kD fragment containing the N-terminal half of the core protein
      by Endoproteinase Arg C digestion and a 40 kD fragment including all leucine-rich
      repeats in the central part of decorin core by cleavage with 2-nitro-5
      thiocyanobenzoate. The fragments did not influence collagen fibril formation,
      even at high concentration, and radioactive fragments showed little binding to
      collagen fibrils. Our observations suggest that neither the N-terminal half nor
      the central leucine-rich repeats of the decorin core protein can, by itself,
      interact fully with fibrillar collagen.

PMID- 1449471
TI  - Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride stimulates proteolysis of nuclear proteins from
      chick liver.
AB  - The degradation of H1 histone and high mobility group (HMG) nonhistone proteins
      was stimulated when the homogenate from chick liver was incubated in the presence
      of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF). Two proteinase inhibitors, elastatinal
      and chymostatin, significantly inhibited the PMSF-stimulated degradation of H1
      histone and HMG proteins. On the contrary, other proteinase inhibitors like
      leupeptin, pepstatin, trypsin inhibitor, antipain, o-phenanthroline and EDTA had
      no effect on the degradation of the nuclear proteins. These results warn the
      researcher to be cautious while using PMSF for preparation of nuclear proteins
      such as H1 histone and HMG proteins.

PMID- 1449472
TI  - Brevinin-1 and -2, unique antimicrobial peptides from the skin of the frog, Rana
      brevipoda porsa.
AB  - Two unique antimicrobial peptides named brevinin-1 and -2 were isolated from the
      skin of the frog, Rana brevipoda porsa. Both of the peptides did not have any
      structural homology with bombinin nor magainin; the frog skin derived
      antimicrobial peptides isolated from Bombina and Xenopus, nor even with other
      known antimicrobial peptides of non-amphibian origin. The minimum inhibitory
      concentration of brevinin-1 against the growth of St. aureus and E. coli was
      determined to be 8 micrograms/ml and 34 micrograms/ml while that of brevinin-2
      was 8 micrograms/ml and 4 micrograms/ml, respectively, indicating the difference
      of the two peptides in the antimicrobial selectively on Gram-positive and Gram
      negative bacteria.

PMID- 1449473
TI  - Therapeutic effects of superoxide dismutase derivatives modified with mono- or
      polysaccharides on hepatic injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion.
AB  - Therapeutic effects of four types of recombinant superoxide dismutase (SOD)
      derivatives, conjugates with polysaccharides, carboxymethyl (SOD-CMD) and
      diethylaminoethyl (SOD-DEAED) dextrans and galactosylated (Gal-SOD) and
      mannosylated (Man-SOD) derivatives, on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury were
      studied in rats. Hepatic injury induced by transient occlusion and subsequent
      reflow of hepatic blood was evaluated by the analysis of biliary excretion of
      bromosulfophthalein (BSP) injected intravenously. At a dose of 10000 units/kg,
      native SOD and SOD-DEAE did not show any significant effect and SOD-CMD showed
      slight effect. On the other hand, Gal-SOD and Man-SOD, targeted to the liver
      parenchymal and nonparenchymal cells, respectively, by a receptor-mediated
      endocytosis, exhibited superior inhibitory effects. These results demonstrated
      that these glycosylated SOD derivatives were useful for the prevention of hepatic
      ischemia/reperfusion injury.

PMID- 1449474
TI  - Identification of the fatty acid binding site on glutathione S-transferase P.
AB  - Glutathione S-transferase P (GST-P) bound a series of endogenous fatty acids (C12
      C18). To clarify the function and the binding site of the fatty acids,
      interaction between fatty acids and GST-P was investigated by using 12-(9
      anthroyloxy) stearic acid conjugated with Woodward's reagent K. The fluorescence
      conjugated fatty acid noncompetitively inhibited GST activity. After GST-P was
      covalently labeled with the fatty acid, the enzyme was digested with Lysyl
      Endopeptidase. From the peptide mapping, a single fluorescence-labeled peptide
      was obtained. By the sequence analysis, the peptide binding fatty acid was
      determined as the residues of 141-188 from the amino terminus.

PMID- 1449475
TI  - Dual role of S-nitrosocaptopril as an inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme
      and a nitroso group carrier.
AB  - The S-nitroso derivatives of captopril can act as an inhibitor of an angiotensin
      converting enzyme in the presence of thiol such as glutathione. S
      Nitrosocaptopril also rapidly transfers its nitroso moiety to a heme protein,
      which is presumably the responsible mechanism for the activation of guanylate
      cyclase. These results suggest that S-nitrosocaptopril may serve as an effective
      hypotensive agent.

PMID- 1449476
TI  - Substrate preference of metalloproteinases secreted by ts-110 Moloney murine
      sarcoma virus-transformed normal rat kidney cells.
AB  - In this study, the two forms of affinity-purified transformation-associated
      proteins (TAPs) (68 and 64 kD) were shown to have different substrate
      preferences. For the 68-kD TAP, the order of substrate preference was collagen
      types I, III, and V; fibronectin; gelatin; and collagen IV. For the 64-kD TAP,
      the order of substrate preference was collagen I, III, and V and gelatin. The 64
      kD TAP did not cleave collagen IV and fibronectin. We also found a 71-kD
      metalloproteinase in the concentrated purified TAPs that reacted only weakly with
      a TAP monoclonal antibody and showed this substrate preference: collagen I, III,
      and V; gelatin; and collagen IV. Whether this 71-kD TAP is a new member of the
      rat metalloproteinase family will be investigated.

PMID- 1449477
TI  - A receptor-binding peptide from human interleukin-6: isolation and a proton
      nuclear magnetic resonance study.
AB  - In order to locate the receptor-binding region of human interleukin-6 (IL-6),
      twelve peptide fragments were prepared by digestion of IL-6 with
      lysylendopeptidase. A significant activity of the receptor-binding was observed
      only for a peptide Ile88-Lys121, although the activity was estimated at 10(4)
      fold less than that of intact IL-6. Solution structure of the peptide Ile88
      Lys121 was analyzed by using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
      spectroscopy. The results indicate the presence of alpha-helices in the regions
      Leu93-Phe106 and Glu110-Ser119. On the basis of the NMR data, we also prepared
      two peptides. Four-fold less binding activity than that of the peptide Ile88
      Lys121 was observed for the peptide Ile88-Arg105, but no activity for the peptide
      Glu110-Lys121. These results suggest that the helical peptide Ile88-Arg105
      composes a part of the receptor-binding region.

PMID- 1449478
TI  - Invertebrate aspartyl/asparaginyl beta-hydroxylase: potential modification of
      endogenous epidermal growth factor-like modules.
AB  - An invertebrate alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent aspartyl/asparaginyl beta
      hydroxylase, which posttranslationally hydroxylates specific aspartyl or
      asparaginyl residues within epidermal growth factor-like modules, was identified,
      partially purified and characterized. Preparations derived from two insect cell
      lines catalyzed the hydroxylation of the expected asparaginyl residue within a
      synthetic epidermal growth factor-like module. This activity was found to be
      similar to that of the purified mammalian aspartyl/asparaginyl beta-hydroxylase
      with respect to cofactor requirements, stereochemistry and substrate sequence
      specificity. Furthermore, recombinant human C1r, expressed in an insect cell
      derived baculovirus expression system, was also found to be hydroxylated at the
      expected asparaginyl residue. Thus, these results establish the potential for
      invertebrate aspartyl/asparaginyl hydroxylation. Since several invertebrate
      proteins known to be required for proper embryonic development contain a putative
      consensus sequence that may be required for hydroxylation, the studies presented
      here provide the basis for further investigations concerned with identifying
      hydroxylated invertebrate proteins and determining their physiologic function.

PMID- 1449479
TI  - A Tat antagonist inhibits HIV-1 induction in naturally infected and
      experimentally infected T cells.
AB  - Ro 5-3335, a novel antagonist of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat
      activity, inhibits acute and chronic HIV-1 infection in T lymphocytes. Here we
      describe the effects of Ro 5-3335 on the accumulation of viral DNA during primary
      infection, the induction of virus from a latently infected cell line, and the
      expression of virus upon activation of naturally infected T cells. Ro 5-3335
      permitted initial DNA synthesis during primary infection, but inhibited the
      subsequent increase in viral DNA copy number. The induction of HIV-1, as
      determined by the synthesis of p24 core antigen, was inhibited by 99% by Ro 5
      3335 in both the model cell line and naturally infected T cells.

PMID- 1449480
TI  - Regulation by thyroid hormone of the synthesis of a cytosolic thyroid hormone
      binding protein during liver regeneration.
AB  - To understand the regulation by thyroid hormone, 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3),
      of the synthesis of a cytosolic thyroid hormone binding protein (p58-M2) during
      liver regeneration, the synthesis of p58-M2 was evaluated. The synthesis of p58
      M2 was measured by metabolic labeling of primary cultures derived from the
      regenerating liver of euthyroid, hypo- or hyperthyroid rats. During regeneration,
      the increase in the liver/body weight ratio is approximately 25% higher in hyper-
      than in hypothyroid rats. However, T3 has no effect on the rate of overall liver
      regeneration observed in four days. In mature liver, T3 increased the synthesis
      of p58-M2 by approximately 2.5-fold. During regeneration, however, the change in
      the synthesis of p58-M2 varied with the thyroid status. In euthyroid rats, the
      synthesis of p58-M2 continued to increase up to 2-fold during liver regeneration.
      In hyperthyroid rats, after an initial increase by 1.5-fold on day 1, the
      synthesis of p58-M2 subsequently declined during regeneration. In hypothyroid
      rats, the synthesis of p58-M2 remained virtually unchanged during regeneration.
      These results indicate that T3 regulates the synthesis of p58-M2 in mature and
      regenerating liver.

PMID- 1449481
TI  - Regulation of ATP-citrate lyase at transcriptional and post-transcriptional
      levels in rat liver.
AB  - The amounts of ATP-citrate lyase in liver cytosol began to increase at 12 hours
      after refeeding a high-carbohydrate diet and further increased until 48 hours.
      The amounts of the ATP-citrate lyase mRNA began to increase at 6 hours and
      reached to a maximum level at 12 hours, followed by decrease to a very low level
      until 48 hours. The elevated amount of the ATP-citrate lyase mRNA reflected on
      the increase of ATP-citrate lyase content in the first 24 hours, but these two
      parameters were not paralleled thereafter. The transcriptional activity of ATP
      citrate lyase gene in nuclei of rat liver began to increase at 4 hours and
      further increased to reach a maximum level of 24 fold at 12 hours, maintaining a
      high level of 17 fold until 48 hours. The elevation of transcriptional activity
      of ATP-citrate lyase gene preceded the increase of ATP-citrate lyase mRNA content
      in the liver cytosol by 2 hours, and its increasing pattern was similar to
      changes of mRNA content until 12 hours. However, while the transcriptional
      activity remained at a high level until 48 hours, the ATP-citrate lyase mRNA
      concentration in the cytosol decreased after 12 hours.

PMID- 1449482
TI  - Differentiative changes in fucosyltransferase activity in newborn rat epidermal
      cells.
AB  - An enzymatic activity catalyzing the transfer of L-fucose from GDP-L-fucose to a
      glycoprotein that is associated with the surfaces of the basal cells has been
      found in the membranous fraction of the cutaneous epidermis from the newborn rat.
      This fucosyltransferase which is located in the differentiated cells alters the
      acceptor glycoprotein's lectin-binding specificity from the Isolectin I-B4 of
      Griffonia simplicifolia (GS I-B4) to the Agglutinin I of Ulex europeus (UEA) and
      could be responsible for the same change in lectin-binding specificity that
      occurs as the epidermal basal cell differentiates. Another membraneous
      fucosyltransferase that can use asialofetuin--but not the GS I-B4-binding
      glycoprotein--as an acceptor, is also present in the membraneous fraction.

PMID- 1449483
TI  - Novel inhibitor of phospholipase A2 with topical anti-inflammatory activity.
AB  - Activation of a phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is a key step in the production of
      precursors for the biosynthesis of lipid mediators of inflammation. Inhibition of
      this enzyme could result in the suppression of three important classes of
      inflammatory lipids, prostaglandins, leukotrienes and platelet activating factor
      (PAF), and offers an attractive therapeutic approach to design novel agents for
      the treatment of inflammation and tissue injury. In this report we describe a
      novel compound, BMS-181162 4(3'-carboxyphenyl)-3,7-dimethyl-9(2",6"6"-trimethyl
      1"-cyclohexenyl),++ +2Z,4E,6E, 8E-nonatetraenoic acid which specifically inhibits
      a 14 kD human PLA2 and effectively blocks phorbol ester induced skin inflammation
      in mice. BMS-181162 is the first reported specific inhibitor of PLA2 and its
      specificity may make useful tool in the dissection of the role of PLA2 in the
      inflammatory process.

PMID- 1449484
TI  - Methyl jasmonate conditions parsley suspension cells for increased elicitation of
      phenylpropanoid defense responses.
AB  - Pre-incubation of suspension-cultured parsley cells with methyl jasmonate greatly
      enhances their ability to respond to fungal elicitors by secretion of coumarin
      derivatives. The effect is most pronounced at relatively low elicitor
      concentration and also observed for the incorporation of esterified
      hydroxycinnamic acids and of "lignin-like" polymers into the cell wall. These
      three responses correspond to defense reactions induced locally when a fungal
      pathogen attacks plant cells. In contrast, the conditioning of parsley cells by
      the signal substance methyl jasmonate is reminiscent of the developmental nature
      of systemic acquired resistance and renders the cells more effective for the
      elicitor-induced local defense reactions.

PMID- 1449485
TI  - The glutathione conjugates of tert-butyl hydroquinone as potent redox cycling
      agents and possible reactive agents underlying the toxicity of butylated
      hydroxyanisole.
AB  - The glutathione conjugates of tert-butyl hydroquinone, a metabolite of butylated
      hydroxyanisole (BHA), possess redox potentials which are much higher as compared
      to the non-conjugated hydroquinone (0.36 V for the hydroquinone and 1.2-1.4 V for
      the conjugates). As a result, the redox cycling activity of the conjugates, as
      measured by oxygen consumption in the presence of a reducing agent, is increased
      tenfold as compared to the non-conjugated hydroquinone. Since evidence for both
      oxidative damage and the involvement for glutathione in the toxicity of butylated
      hydroxyanisole is available, this mechanism may be involved in the toxic action
      of this compound.

PMID- 1449487
TI  - Activation of an adrenergic pro-drug through sequential stereoselective action of
      tandem target enzymes.
AB  - The synthetic amino acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (DOPS) has been of great
      interest for many years as an adrenergic pro-drug, since the L-threo diastereomer
      of DOPS can be a precursor of R-(-)-norepinephrine, the natural form of this
      neurotransmitter. We now report bioactivation of DOPS to the potent
      pharmacological agent, noradrenalone (arterenone), via sequential stereoselective
      action by two target enzymes--dopamine beta-monooxygenase (DBM) and L-aromatic
      amino acid decarboxylase (AADC)--acting in tandem. Enzymatic activation is
      stereospecific, with only the L-erythro DOPS diastereomer producing
      noradrenalone; this is consistent with the known stereospecificities of AADC and
      DBM. These results provide a heretofore unrecognized rationale for the
      bioactivity of L-erythro DOPS and provide a basis for the design of new
      adrenergic pro-drugs.

PMID- 1449486
TI  - Guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) causes endothelium-dependent, pertussis toxin
      sensitive relaxations in porcine coronary arteries.
AB  - To determine whether direct stimulation of endothelial G-proteins causes
      relaxations of the underlying vascular smooth muscle, the effects of guanosine 5'
      O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) and sodium fluoride were studied in porcine
      coronary arteries and endothelial cells. Isometric tension was measured in
      coronary rings contracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha. GTP gamma S (in the
      presence of saponin) and sodium fluoride (in the presence of AlCl3) relaxed rings
      with, but not those without endothelium. The responses were inhibited by nitro-L
      arginine and pertussis toxin. In membrane fractions of coronary endothelial
      cells, GTP gamma S and sodium fluoride inhibited the ADP-ribosylation of G
      proteins catalyzed with [32P]-NAD and pertussis toxin. These data suggest that
      direct stimulation of G-proteins in endothelial cells by GTP gamma S and sodium
      fluoride causes a pertussis toxin-sensitive relaxation which may be attributed to
      the release of nitric oxide.

PMID- 1449488
TI  - Characterization of a Gly19-->Val mutant of ram p25, a low Mr GTP-binding
      protein: loss of GTP/GDP-binding activity in the mutated ram p25.
AB  - A substitution of Gly for Val at position 19, which corresponds to oncogenic
      Gly13-->Val mutation of ras p21, was introduced in a low Mr GTP-binding protein,
      ram p25. The protein was expressed in cytosolic fraction of Escherichia coli and
      purified by using specific antibody raised against ram p25. The mutated protein
      had no guanine nucleotide-binding activity although [Val13]ras p21 was reported
      to have. The analysis of guanine nucleotide composition of the purified
      [Val19]ram p25 revealed that the protein was free of nucleotide whereas the
      normal ram p25 bound about 1 mol of GDP per mol of protein. These results
      strongly suggested that some part(s) of variable regions as well as the consensus
      regions are important for the biochemical properties of ram p25.

PMID- 1449489
TI  - Prevalence of three mutations in the Gs alpha gene among 24 families with
      pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ia.
AB  - Pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ia (PHP-Ia), an inherited multi-hormone resistance
      syndrome, is associated with deficient cellular activity of the alpha-subunit of
      the guanine nucleotide-binding protein (Gs alpha) that stimulates adenylyl
      cyclase. We determined prevalence of three recently described mutations in exons
      1 and 10 of the Gs alpha gene among 24 unrelated patients with PHP-Ia.
      Restriction analysis was used to detect two mutations that produce unique RFLPs,
      and allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization was used to detect the other
      mutation. As none of these mutations were not found, genomic DNA was analyzed
      with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis to screen for other mutations in
      exon 10. Mutations of the initiation codon and exon 10 in the Gs alpha gene thus
      rarely (< or = 4% each) cause PHP-Ia and the Gs alpha gene mutations causing PHP
      Ia are heterogeneous and unique to each pedigree.

PMID- 1449491
TI  - Re-examination of [3H]mepyramine binding assay for histamine H1 receptor using
      quinine.
AB  - [3H]Mepyramine, a potent antagonist of the histamine H1 receptor, has been widely
      used as a radioligand binding assay for the H1 receptor. Previously, we purified
      a mepyramine binding protein (MBP) from rat liver, but found that its partial
      amino acid sequences were very similar to those of debrisoquine 4-hydroxylase
      isozymes (P450 db1 and db2), which are members of the superfamily of cytochrome
      P450. Using cloned histamine H1 receptor cDNA, we found that [3H]mepyramine could
      bind only the H1 receptor and did not bind MBP in the presence of 10(-5) M
      quinine, an inhibitor of debrisoquine 4-hydroxylase isozymes. We developed a
      method to determine the contents of the H1 receptor and MBP separately using
      [3H]mepyramine and quinine and found that MBP is abundant in certain areas of
      bovine brain.

PMID- 1449490
TI  - DRG: a novel developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein.
AB  - Using a subtraction cloning approach we had previously isolated a series of
      murine cDNA clones representing the genes predominantly expressed in the
      embryonic brain and down-regulated during development. We now report that one of
      these cDNA clones encodes a novel type of GTP-binding protein. The predicted
      protein of 40.5 kD, named DRG, contains five structural motifs characteristic of
      the GTP-binding proteins. Consistently, bacterially expressed and cellular DRG
      proteins are capable of binding GTP in vitro. Sequences closely related to the
      DRG protein are found in other species including Drosophila and Halobacterium.
      Based on these observations, we propose that DRG represents an evolutionarily
      conserved novel class of GTP-binding protein which may play an important role in
      cell physiology.

PMID- 1449492
TI  - Immunocytochemical expression and localization of protein kinase C in bovine
      aortic endothelial cells.
AB  - Total PKC activity in BAEC incubated for 24 hrs in either 10% serum (FBS) or
      serum-deprived media (SDM) was similar. However, most of the activity (69%) in
      the FBS group was detected in the particulate fraction, while it was mainly in
      the cytosolic fraction (66%) in the SDM group. By confocal microscopy, there was
      diffuse cytoplasmic localization of the antibodies to the alpha and beta PKC
      isoforms. gamma PKC was not detected. Treatment of FBS or SDM cells with a
      phorbol ester resulted in an increase in PKC activity with translocation to the
      particulate fraction. PKC alpha immunofluorescence redistributed to the
      perinuclear region whereas PKC beta staining remained mostly cytosolic.
      Calphostin C, a PKC inhibitor, prevented the phorbol ester-induced increase in
      PKC activity and translocation.

PMID- 1449493
TI  - Molecular cloning of the mouse S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase cDNA: specific
      protein binding to the conserved region of the mRNA 5'-untranslated region.
AB  - The nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding the proenzyme of mouse S
      adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) including 257 nucleotides of the 5'
      untranslated region has been determined. Comparison of the nucleotide sequence of
      the mouse 5' untranslated region with those of other mammals shows it to be
      highly conserved. The 52 nucleotides upstream from the translation initiation
      codon are identical in human, rat, bovine and mouse. The polyamines, spermidine
      and spermine, have been shown to inhibit AdoMetDC mRNA translation. An RNA gel
      retardation assay demonstrated that a cytoplasmic extract from mouse brain forms
      an RNA-protein complex with the completely conserved 5' untranslated sequence and
      that the complex formation is highly dependent on the presence of spermine.
      Crosslinking by UV irradiation shows that the complex contains a 39-kDa protein
      interacting with the 5' untranslated sequence. These data demonstrate spermine
      dependent specific protein binding to a highly conserved 5' untranslated region
      of an mRNA translationally regulated by polyamines.

PMID- 1449494
TI  - Modulation of transient type K channel cloned from rat heart.
AB  - We have cloned a transient type K channel from rat heart (RH10) and coexpressed a
      metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR5) to study the functional modulation of
      RH10 coupled to the phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis. Stimulation of mGluR5
      suppressed peak amplitude of RH10 current and affected voltage dependence of
      activation and inactivation of the channel.

PMID- 1449495
TI  - 3H-uridine uptake in human leukemia HL-60 cells exposed to extremely low
      frequency electromagnetic fields.
AB  - Human leukemia HL-60 cells in vitro were exposed or sham-exposed to a 60 Hz
      electric (3.40 mV/m) or magnetic 10 G (1 muT) field for 5 hr in an attempt to
      replicate the results of a previously published report (1) of increased uptake of
      [3H] uridine in response to similar exposure conditions. The results of the
      present experiments indicated no treatment effect of the fields on uridine
      incorporation. The ability to detect differences in [3H] uridine uptake were
      confirmed in a negative control experiment. A 'negative control' experiment
      demonstrated a statistically significant increase in 3H-uridine uptake for cells
      at 37 degrees C relative to those at 4 degrees C.

PMID- 1449496
TI  - Purification and characterization of bovine brain gamma-aminobutyraldehyde
      dehydrogenase.
AB  - gamma-Aminobutyraldehyde dehydrogenase was purified to homogeneity from bovine
      brain. The molecular weight of the native enzyme and subunit were 230,000 and
      58,000, respectively. The Km value for gamma-aminobutyraldehyde and NAD+ were 154
      microM and 53 microM, respectively. The optimum pH and temperature were 8.0 and
      37 degrees C, respectively. N-terminal sequence of the enzyme is as follows: NH2
      S-A-A-T-Q-A-V-P-T-P-N-Q-Q-COOH. The enzyme migrates on isoelectric focusing with
      pI = 6.5. Enhancement of the enzyme activity by polyamine, Mn2+, Mg2+ and
      inhibition by gamma-aminobutyric acid and Zn2+ will enhance the limited
      information on regulation of the gamma-ABALDH activity and GABA metabolism to
      some extent.

PMID- 1449497
TI  - Regulation of the GTPase activity of the ras-related rap2 protein.
AB  - The small GTP-binding protein rap2A exhibits a high level of identity with rap1
      and ras proteins (60% and 46%, respectively). Nevertheless, its intrinsic GTPase
      activity is not stimulated by ras-GAP, and unlike the rap1A protein, it cannot
      compete with ras proteins for their interaction with ras-GAP. In addition, rap1
      GAPm that is highly active on the GTPase activity of the rap1A product, also
      stimulates the GTPase activity of the rap2A protein but with a 30-40-fold lower
      efficiency. An activity that greatly stimulated the GTPase activity of the rap2
      protein (rap2-GAP) was found in bovine brain cytosol and purified. However, it
      copurified with the cytosolic form of rap1-GAP and was more efficient at
      stimulating the GTPase activity of the rap1 protein; this 55 kD polypeptide, that
      is recognized by an antibody raised against rap1-GAPm, likely represents a
      degraded and soluble form of the full size 89 kD molecule. In bovine brain
      membranes, a weak GAP activity toward the rap2A protein was also detected;
      however, it was also attributable to the membrane-associated rap1-GAPm. Thus, it
      appears that a single rap-GAP protein, complete or degraded, is able to stimulate
      the GTPase activity of both rap1 and rap2 proteins.

PMID- 1449498
TI  - Ethylbenzene hydroxylation by cytochrome P450cam.
AB  - The metabolism of ethylbenzene by cytochrome P450cam was analyzed by experimental
      and theoretical methods. The present experiments indicate that ethylbenzene is
      hydroxylated almost exclusively at the secondary ethyl carbon with about a 2:1
      ratio of R:S product. Several molecular dynamics trajectories were performed with
      different starting conformations of ethylbenzene in the active site of P450cam.
      The stereochemistry of hydroxylation predicted from the molecular dynamics
      simulations was found to be in good agreement with the observed products.

PMID- 1449499
TI  - The COUP transcription factor (COUP-TF) is directly involved in the regulation of
      oxytocin gene expression in luteinizing bovine granulosa cells.
AB  - Competition with specific oligonucleotides in DNA-binding experiments,
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and recognition by specific antibodies have
      identified the ubiquitous transcription factor COUP as one of the nuclear
      proteins binding to the promoter region of the bovine oxytocin gene in
      endogenously expressing bovine granulosa cells. PCR cloning of partial cDNA
      sequences for bovine COUP-TF I and II and development of RNase protection assays
      demonstrated the up-regulation of COUP-TF in bovine granulosa cells and corpus
      luteum under conditions where the oxytocin gene is switched off. These
      experimental results from in vitro and in vivo studies point to the direct
      involvement of COUP-TF in oxytocin gene down-regulation during luteinization of
      bovine granulosa cells.

PMID- 1449500
TI  - A repressor region in the human beta-myosin heavy chain gene that has a partial
      position dependency.
AB  - Expression of the human beta-myosin heavy chain (beta MHC) gene was studied by
      transient assay in culture and in situ by direct injection of plasmids into adult
      rat hearts. In this report we describe a unique repressor region located -326/
      309 (5'-TTGGTGGTCGTGGTCAGT-3') of the human beta MHC gene that is conserved among
      the rat, rabbit, and human beta MHC genes. This sequence conferred repression
      onto heterologous promoters when the sequence was located 5' but not 3' to the
      promoters. This partial positional dependency suggests that the factor may act by
      limiting the binding of enhancers, located more proximally, to their DNA binding
      sites.

PMID- 1449501
TI  - Comparison of plasma levels of lipid hydroperoxides and antioxidants in
      hyperlipidemic Nagase analbuminemic rats, Sprague-Dawley rats, and humans.
AB  - The levels of lipid hydroperoxides and antioxidants in plasma samples from Nagase
      analbuminemic rats (NAR) and control Sprague-Dawley rats (SDR) were measured in
      comparison with those from normal human subjects. Cholesteryl ester hydroperoxide
      (CE-OOH) was detected, but phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide was not. The levels
      of CE-OOH and the ratios of CE-OOH/CE were found to increase significantly in the
      order of human < SDR < NAR, suggesting that oxidative stress increases in the
      same order. NAR have a significantly lower level of ascorbate and lower ratio of
      ubiquinol/ubiquinone concentrations than SDR. This also suggests that NAR are
      subject to more oxidative stress than SDR, since ascorbate and ubiquinol are the
      most effective plasma antioxidants against oxygen radicals.

PMID- 1449502
TI  - Developmental change in subcellular location of Bp-1 protein with an ability to
      interact with both identifier sequence and its brain-specific transcript, BC-1
      RNA.
AB  - Identifier sequences are transcribed to generate a brain-specific BC-1 RNA
      present as a ribonucleoprotein particle in the dendrites and somata of neurons.
      This ribonucleoprotein particle contains an identifier sequence-binding protein
      (Bp-1 protein). We report here the purification of BC-1 RNA and demonstrate that
      Bp-1 protein interacts directly with the RNA. We also demonstrate an accumulation
      of Bp-1 protein in the nucleus of brain cells from mouse fetus and newborns that
      precedes the postnatal increase in BC-1 RNA. Cytoplasmic Bp-1 protein present in
      a complex with BC-1 RNA increases postnatally with a concomitant decrease in
      nuclear Bp-1 protein. These observations suggest that Bp-1 protein may play a
      role(s) in the synthesis and nuclear export of BC-1 RNA.

PMID- 1449503
TI  - Gene structure of human indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.
AB  - Two genomic DNA clones that encode human indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) were
      isolated from the human genomic DNA library using the IDO cDNA as a probe, and
      their restriction maps and partial nucleotide sequences were determined. The
      human IDO gene spanned 15 kilobase pairs with ten exons. The 5' terminus of the
      IDO mRNA was 33 nucleotides upstream of the translation initiation codon ATG. The
      5' flanking region contained ISRE, X-box, and Y-box like sequences. Southern blot
      analysis of the human genomic DNA indicated that the human IDO gene was present
      in a single copy in the genome.

PMID- 1449504
TI  - Circadian rhythm of covalent modifications in liver DNA.
AB  - 32P-postlabeling analysis recently revealed that in addition to 5-methylcytosine,
      mammalian DNA contains covalently modified nucleotides of unknown structures and
      functions termed I-compounds whose levels increase with age. I-compound levels,
      in addition, depend on species, strain, sex, tissue, and diet and are generally
      lowered by carcinogen exposure. As shown here, levels of several non-polar I
      compounds in liver DNA of untreated male C3H mice were elevated 2 to 8.5 times at
      1800 h and 2400 h as compared to 0600 h and 1200 h, while polar I-compounds and
      persistent carcinogen-DNA adducts induced by safrole were unaffected by time of
      day. In liver DNA of male F-344 rats 4 non-polar I-compounds and 4 polar I
      compounds showed significant circadian rhythm at 2000 h compared to 0800 h. This
      novel circadian variation of DNA structure implies mechanisms precisely
      regulating I-compound levels in vivo and may conceivably be linked to diurnal
      differences of DNA synthesis and gene expression.

PMID- 1449505
TI  - Stimulation of glucose transport by guanine nucleotides in permeabilized rat
      adipocytes.
AB  - Effects of guanine nucleotides on glucose transport were studied in permeabilized
      rat epididymal fat cells. GTP gamma S and Gpp(NH)p, but not App(NH)p, stimulated
      3-O-methylglucose transport. Effect of GTP gamma S was dose-dependent, being
      detectable at 0.1 mM, and 1.0 mM GTP gamma S stimulated glucose transport to the
      same extent as insulin. GTP gamma S (0.3 mM) enhanced insulin-stimulated glucose
      transport while 1 mM GTP gamma S did not affect insulin-mediated transport. GDP
      beta S had no effect on glucose transport by itself but rather enhanced insulin
      action. NaF, which is known to activate trimeric G proteins, increased glucose
      transport to the same extent as insulin. Likewise, mastoparan augmented glucose
      transport. These results indicate that a certain type of trimeric G protein(s) is
      involved in the regulation of glucose transport.

PMID- 1449506
TI  - Isolation and characterization of Y chromosome DNA probes.
AB  - A sorted, cloned Y chromosome phage library was screened for unique Y chromosome
      sequences. Of the thousands of plaques screened, 13 did not hybridize to
      radiolabeled 46,XX total chromosomal DNA. Three plaques were characterized
      further. Clone Y1 hybridized to multiple restriction enzyme fragments in both
      male and female DNA with more intense bands in male DNA. Clone Y2, also found in
      female and male DNA, is probably located in the pseudosutosomal region because
      extra copies of either the X or Y chromosomes increased Y2 restriction enzyme
      fragment intensity in total cellular DNA. Clone Y5 was male specific in three of
      four restriction enzyme digests although in the fourth a light hybridizing band
      was observed in both male and female DNA. Clone Y5 was sublocalized to band Yq
      11.22 by hybridization to a panel of cellular DNA from patients with Y chromosome
      rearrangements. Clone Y5 can be used to test for retention of the proximally long
      arm Y suggested to cause gonadal cancer in carrier females. The long series of GA
      repeats in Y5, anticipated to be polymorphic, may provide a sensitive means to
      follow Y chromosome variation in human populations.

PMID- 1449507
TI  - Thapsigargin induces meiotic maturation in surf clam oocytes.
AB  - I report here that thapsigargin, an inhibitor of Ca(2+)-ATPase activities in
      internal Ca2+ stores, induces meiotic maturation in prophase I-arrested surf clam
      (Spisula solidissima) oocytes. The half-maximal dose for triggering germinal
      vesicle breakdown (GVBD) is 120 nM. Thapsigargin-induced GVBD is followed by all
      normal subsequent steps of meiotic maturation including extrusions of first and
      second polar bodies, with almost normal timing as compared with K(+)-induced
      activation. Thapsigargin-induced GVBD requires the presence of external Ca2+ at a
      half-maximal concentration of 0.6 mM. In normal sea water, thapsigargin-induced
      activation is accompanied by a slightly increased 45Ca2+ uptake by the oocytes
      and by an intracellular pH rise of 0.3 U. These results show that thapsigargin
      sensitive Ca2+ pools regulating Ca2+ fluxes exist in surf clam oocytes, and they
      also further establish that Ca2+ ions are the major initial trigger for meiosis
      resumption in this species.

PMID- 1449508
TI  - Stimulation of serum-free cell proliferation by coenzyme Q.
AB  - Coenzyme Q added to culture media stimulates the growth of HeLa and Balb/3T3
      cells in serum free conditions. The stimulation by coenzyme Q is additive to the
      stimulation by ferricyanide, an impermeable electron acceptor for the transplasma
      membrane electron transport. alpha Tocopherylquinone can also stimulate cell
      growth, but vitamin K1 is inactive or inhibitory. The response to coenzyme Q and
      ferricyanide is enhanced with insulin. A contribution to plasma membrane NADH
      oxidation or modification of the membrane quinone redox balance can be a basis
      for the growth stimulation.

PMID- 1449509
TI  - Ergosterol depletion and 4-methyl sterols accumulation in the yeast Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae treated with an antifungal, 6-amino-2-n-pentylthiobenzothiazole.
AB  - In Saccharomyces cerevisiae treated with an antifungal agent, 6-amino-2-n
      pentylthiobenzothiazole, levels of ergosterol and other 4-desmethylsterols were
      found to be significantly reduced. Major sterols in treated yeast were
      lanosterol, 4,4-dimethylzymosterol, 4-methylzymosterol and 4-methylfecosterol. A
      hypothesis is stated that the antifungal agent inhibits sterol demethylation at C
      4 and forces the biosynthesis to a blind pathway ending by 4-methylfecosterol.

PMID- 1449510
TI  - On the antioxidant effects of ascorbic acid and glutathione.

PMID- 1449511
TI  - Conversion of the human 5-HT1D beta serotonin receptor to the rat 5-HT1B ligand
      binding phenotype by Thr355Asn site directed mutagenesis.
AB  - The human 5-HT1D beta serotonin receptor and its rat homolog (also called the 5
      HT1B receptor) share 93% amino acid identity, yet display markedly different
      pharmacological specificities. Comparison of deduced amino acid sequences among
      these and other recently cloned receptors suggested that this phenotypic
      difference might be attributable to a single human threonine355/rat asparagine351
      amino acid difference in the putative seventh membrane spanning regions. We now
      report that Thr355Asn mutagenesis of the human 5-HT1D beta receptor alters the
      binding characteristics of the recombinant receptor in [3H]5-HT binding assays to
      a profile very similar to that of the rat 5-HT1B binding site. These results
      confirm that this single amino acid difference is responsible for the majority of
      the known pharmacological discrepancies between human and rat observed for 5-HT1D
      beta (5-HT1B) receptors.

PMID- 1449512
TI  - In vitro binding of oxime acetylcholinesterase reactivators to proteoglycans
      synthesized by cultured chondrocytes and fibroblasts.
AB  - The incorporation of the 14C-labelled acetylcholinesterase reactivators 1-(methyl
      imidazolium)-3 (4-carbaldoxime-pyridinium) propane dibromide (pyrimidoxime) and
      N,N'-trimethylene bis(pyridinium-4-aldoxime) dibromide (TMB4) into cultured
      chondrocytes and fibroblasts was measured and their binding to macromolecules
      synthesized by these cells studied. The results showed that these drugs
      concentrated slowly and poorly into these cells, but bound firmly to high
      molecular mass materials in the culture supernatants. The chromatographic
      properties of these macromolecules on Sepharose CL-2B in non-dissociative or
      dissociative conditions were similar to those of the proteoglycans synthesized by
      these cells. Dialysis of the macromolecule-bound drugs against increasing pH
      buffers showed half-dissociation pH > 8, identical to those for chondroitin
      sulphate. These results suggest strongly that pyrimidoxime and TMB4 are bound to
      proteoglycans by ionic interactions, and this together with their poor
      lipophilicity can explain their high selectivity for the cartilaginous tissues as
      opposed to other proteoglycan-containing structures such as skin.

PMID- 1449513
TI  - Quantitative structure-metabolism relationships for substituted benzoic acids in
      the rat. Computational chemistry, NMR spectroscopy and pattern recognition
      studies.
AB  - An extensive set of computed molecular properties, both steric and electronic,
      have been calculated using molecular orbital and empirical methods for benzoic
      acid (1) and a congeneric series of substituted benzoic acids, i.e. 2-, 3- and 4
      fluorobenzoic acids (2-4), 2-, 3- and 4-trifluoromethyl benzoic acids (5-7), 2-,
      3- and 4-methylbenzoic acids (8-10), 4-amino benzoic acid (11), 2-fluoro-4
      trifluoromethyl benzoic acid (12), 4-fluoro-2-trifluoromethyl benzoic acid (13),
      3-trifluoromethyl-4-fluorobenzoic acid (14). We have monitored the urinary
      excretion profiles and determined the metabolic fate of compounds 2-7, 12-14 in
      the rat using high resolution 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopy. Corresponding data for
      compounds 1,8-11 are taken from the literature. In all cases phase II
      glucuronidation or glycine conjugation reactions dominated the metabolism of
      these compounds. Compounds 5, 7, 12, 13 have ester glucuronides as their major
      metabolites; the rest primarily form glycine conjugates. Compounds (1-12) have
      been classified according to their calculated physicochemical properties using
      pattern recognition methods and principal components maps have been used as a
      novel type of structure-metabolism diagram. The maps of compounds in the
      physicochemical property space served to separate the compounds into the two
      major classes which related to their principal metabolic fate in vivo, namely
      glucuronidation versus glycine conjugation. Compounds 13 and 14 were used as
      further probes of the property space, and dominant metabolic fates of
      glucuronidation and glycine conjugation, respectively, were predicted from the
      previous "training set map". The metabolic fate of compounds 1-14 can thus be
      classified according to a simple set of physicochemical rules. Investigation of
      the physicochemical properties which are important in distinguishing the
      metabolic fate of the compounds may give insight into key features of the drug
      metabolizing enzyme active sites and hence provide information on basic
      mechanisms of benzoate metabolism.

PMID- 1449514
TI  - Inhibition of growth of human leukaemia 60 cells by S-2-hydroxyacylglutathiones
      and monoethyl ester derivatives.
AB  - S-2-Hydroxyacylglutathione derivatives were found to induce growth arrest and
      toxicity in human leukaemia 60 cells in culture. S-D-Lactoylglutathione was the
      most effective with a median inhibitory concentration IC50 of 82 microM (95% C.I.
      65-105 microM). No similar toxicity was induced by reduced glutathione and/or the
      corresponding aldonic acid (500 microM) in human leukaemia 60 cells, nor by S-D
      lactoylglutathione (500 microM) in mature human neutrophils under the same
      culture conditions. Monoethyl ester derivatives of the S-2
      hydroxyacylglutathiones were prepared and also induced growth arrest and toxicity
      but were less effective than the corresponding unesterified compounds. S-2
      Hydroxyacylglutathione derivatives also inhibited the incorporation of
      [3H]thymidine into DNA early in the development of toxicity: for S-D
      lactoylglutathione, the median inhibitory concentration was 74 microM (95% C.I.
      47-116 microM). The mechanism of the inhibition of human leukaemia cell growth by
      S-D-lactoylglutathione and other S-2-hydroxyacylglutathione derivatives is
      unknown but appears to be mediated by the inhibition of DNA synthesis.

PMID- 1449515
TI  - Accessibility of aminoglycosides, isolated and in interaction with
      phosphatidylinositol, to water. A conformational analysis using the concept of
      molecular hydrophobicity potential.
AB  - The mode of interaction between aminoglycosides and negatively charged
      phospholipids plays a critical role in the inhibition of lysosomal phospholipases
      induced by these antibiotics and therefore in their nephrotoxicity. Previous
      works suggested that accessibility of the drug interacting with phospholipids to
      water could be crucial in this respect. We have used the concept of molecular
      hydrophobicity potential described by Brasseur [J Med Chem 266: 16120-16127,
      1991] to visualize the hydrophobic and hydrophilic envelopes around
      aminoglycosides assembled with phosphatidylinositol molecules, and to obtain a
      three-dimensional representation of the complex formed. Using a series of
      different aminoglycosides, we showed that molecules with a lower inhibitory
      potential (gentamicin B, amikacin and isepamicin) are surrounded by both
      hydrophobic and hydrophilic envelopes whereas aminoglycosides which are more
      inhibitory are enveloped primarily by either hydrophilic (kanamycin A or B) or
      hydrophobic (gentamicin C1a) envelopes. This approach, which is here for the
      first time applied to the study of drug-lipid complexes, could help in the better
      understanding of the molecular mechanism of lysosomal phospholipase inhibition
      induced by aminoglycosides.

PMID- 1449516
TI  - Influence of long-term ethanol treatment on in vitro biotransformation of
      benzo(a)pyrene in microsomes of the liver, lung and small intestine from male and
      female rats.
AB  - The influence of long-term ethanol exposure of rats on the microsomal
      biotransformation of benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] was studied. Male and female Wistar
      rats received an increasing amount of ethanol in their drinking water:
      percentages rose to 15% (w/v) in 3 weeks. The ethanol content was kept at a
      concentration of 15% for another 3 weeks. Livers, lungs and intestinal epithelial
      cells of the rats were then isolated and microsomal fractions prepared. In all
      organs, the metabolite most formed was 3-hydroxy-B(a)P. In the liver, males
      showed significantly higher B(a)P hydroxylase activity than females. On the basis
      of experiments using monoclonal antibodies, a significant part of the B(a)P
      biotransformation in male rat liver microsomes can be attributed to the male
      specific P4502C11. In the lung and intestine, there were no significant
      differences between the sexes. In the liver, ethanol treatment significantly
      decreased the microsomal formation of phenolic metabolites. In microsomes of
      intestinal epithelial cells, ethanol treatment enhanced the formation of phenols
      and diols. In conclusion, ethanol consumption by rats in moderate amounts leads
      to an alteration in the microsomal biotransformation of B(a)P. Effects are most
      prominent in the liver, where the formation of phenols is significantly
      decreased.

PMID- 1449517
TI  - DNA binding activity and inhibition of DNA-protein interactions. Differential
      effects of tetra-p-amidino-phenoxyneopentane and its 2'-bromo derivative.
AB  - In the present study are reported the differential DNA binding activity of the
      anti-tumor polyamidine tetra-p-amidinophenoxyneopentane (TAPP-H) and its 2'-halo
      derivative (TAPP-Br), and their effects on the binding of the recombinant Epstein
      Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen to a synthetic oligonucleotide mimicking the
      target DNA sequence present in the EBV genome. In addition, the proliferation
      kinetics and cell cycle analysis of human leukemia K562 cells treated with TAPP-H
      and TAPP-Br are reported. The possible in vivo relationship between DNA binding
      affinity and cytotoxicity is also discussed.

PMID- 1449518
TI  - Cyclosporin A protects hepatocytes against prooxidant-induced cell killing. A
      study on the role of mitochondrial Ca2+ cycling in cytotoxicity.
AB  - Cyclosporin A (CsA) is a potent inhibitor of the prooxidant-induced release of
      Ca2+ from isolated mitochondria. In this investigation, pretreatment of
      hepatocytes with CsA before exposure to the prooxidants tert-butyl hydroperoxide
      (tBH), cumene hydroperoxide or 3,5-dimethyl-N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (3,5
      Me2-NAPQI) prevented the loss of cell viability. HPLC analysis of adenine and
      pyridine nucleotide concentrations in hepatocytes treated with 3,5-Me2-NAPQI
      showed a rapid depletion of ATP prior to the loss of cell viability versus the
      maintenance of near control levels of ATP in hepatocytes treated with CsA before
      3,5-Me2-NAPQI. In 3,5-Me2-NAPQI-exposed hepatocytes there was also a rapid loss
      of cellular NAD+ which could be accounted for initially by a transient increase
      in NADP+. Measurement of the intracellular Ca2+ pools showed an early depletion
      of the mitochondrial Ca2+ pool in hepatocytes exposed to 3,5-Me2-NAPQI, tBH or
      cumene hydroperoxide; this loss was prevented by CsA. In conclusion, these
      results show that CsA protected hepatocytes from prooxidant injury by preventing
      mitochondrial Ca2+ cycling and subsequent mitochondrial dysfunction. This
      suggests that in prooxidant injury, excessive Ca2+ cycling is an early and
      important event leading to mitochondrial damage and subsequently to cell death.

PMID- 1449519
TI  - Characterization of carbonyl reducing activity in continuous cell lines of human
      and rodent origin.
AB  - Carbonyl reduction was investigated in the continuous cell lines V79, NCI-H322
      and C2REV7 by using the ketone compound metyrapone as a substrate. Metyrapone
      reducing enzymes were characterized by evaluating the cosubstrate requirement and
      by testing the sensitivity of this reaction to specific inhibitors. All cell
      lines were found to produce metyrapol at a linear rate over a time course of at
      least 48 hr, when tested in cultured monolayers. In general, cytosolic metyrapone
      reduction exceeds microsomal activity several-fold in all three cell lines.
      Quercitrin turned out to be the strongest inhibitor in all fractions, except in
      NCI-H322 microsomes where it had no effect. Consequently, carbonyl reductase is
      suspected to be responsible for metyrapone reduction in the cytosol and
      microsomes of V79 and C2REV7 cells as well as in the cytosol of NCI-H322 cells.
      Simultaneous sensitivity towards quercitrin, dicoumarol, indomethacin and 5 alpha
      dihydrotestosterone in some cases points to the existence of different isozymes
      of carbonyl reductase. In NCI-H322 microsomes only dicoumarol and indomethacin
      decrease metyrapol formation, thus pointing to an isozyme of NAD(P)H:quinone
      oxidoreductase. Concerning cosubstrate requirements metyrapone reducing enzymes
      show a strong preference for NADPH, thus confirming the involvement of carbonyl
      reductase in this reaction. In conclusion, carbonyl reduction of metyrapone in
      continuous cell lines is mediated by carbonyl reductases due to the common
      sensitivity towards the diagnostic inhibitor quercitrin and due to the strong
      preference for NADPH as cosubstrate. According to its maintenance in permanent
      cell lines carbonyl reductase seems to be an essential and constitutive enzyme,
      which probably fills an important role in normal cell physiology.

PMID- 1449520
TI  - Use of thiocarbamides as selective substrate probes for isoforms of flavin
      containing monooxygenases.
AB  - The oxidation of thiourea, phenylthiourea, 1,3-diphenylthiourea, 1,3-bis-(3,4
      dichlorophenyl)-2-thiourea and 1,1-dibenzyl-3-phenyl-2-thiourea was measured in
      reactions catalyzed by purified pig liver flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO-1)
      and by microsomal fractions isolated from pig, guinea pig, chicken, rat and
      rabbit tissues. The reactions, followed by measuring substrate-dependent
      thiocholine oxidation [Guo and Ziegler, Anal Biochem 198: 143-148, 1991], were
      carried out in the presence of 2 mM 1-benzylimidazole to minimize potential
      interference from reactions other than those catalyzed by isoforms of the flavin
      containing monooxygenase (FMO). While at saturating substrate concentrations the
      Vmax for purified FMO-1 catalyzed oxidation of all five thiocarbamides was
      essentially constant, velocities for the microsomal catalyzed reactions varied
      not only with tissue and species but also with the van der Waals' surface area of
      the thiocarbamide. Rat liver, rat kidney and rabbit liver microsomes failed to
      catalyze detectable oxidation of thiocarbamides larger than 1,3-diphenylthiourea
      and lung microsomes from a female rabbit only accepted substrates smaller than
      1,3-diphenylthiourea. On the other hand, liver microsomes from chickens, pigs and
      guinea pigs catalyzed the oxidation of larger thiocarbamides, but the rates
      decreased with increasing substrate size and chicken liver microsomes showed no
      detectable activity with the largest thiocarbamide tested. To define more
      precisely the parameters affecting thiocarbamide substrate specificity of
      microsomal preparations, activities present in detergent extracts of guinea pig
      liver microsomes were separated into three distinct fractions. The substrate
      specificities of these partially purified fractions were different and consistent
      with the difference observed with microsomal catalyzed reactions. This strongly
      suggests that thiocarbamides that differ in size may be useful probes for
      measuring the number of activities of FMO isoforms in crude tissue preparations.

PMID- 1449521
TI  - Lipophilic amino alcohols with calcium channel blocking activity.
AB  - A series of novel lipophilic amino alcohols, analogs of the anticholinergic drug
      vesamicol, were evaluated for Ca2+ channel blocking activity. The effects of
      these drugs on depolarization-induced intracellular free Ca2+ concentration
      ([Ca2+]i) transients were examined in single NG108-15 cells and dorsal root
      ganglion (DRG) neurons in culture. [Ca2+] was recorded with the Ca2+ indicator
      Indo-1 and a dual emission microfluorimeter. Structure-activity studies indicated
      that features required for Ca2+ channel blocking activity were distinct from
      those required for anticholinergic activity. In particular, the Ca2+ channel
      blocking activity was insensitive to the configuration at the chiral center,
      whereas the anticholinergic activity was clearly enantioselective. One of the
      most active compounds, 3-(3-bromophenyl)-2-hydroxy-1-[1-(4
      phenylpiperidinyl)]propane (2b), was characterized in more detail. This compound
      inhibited the dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channel response in NG108-15 cells,
      evoked by depolarization with 50 mM K+, with an IC50 of 5 microM. Field potential
      stimulation of DRG neurons elicited [Ca2+]i transients mediated by at least three
      Ca2+ channel subtypes; compound 2b inhibited the entire Ca2+ channel response
      with an IC50 of 1 microM. A key element required for Ca2+ channel blocking
      activity was the presence of an electron withdrawing substituent on the pendant
      phenyl ring. Modification of the amino alcohol structure may lead to more potent
      compounds with broad spectrum Ca2+ channel blocking activity. These structures
      provide a new chemical starting point for the development of Ca2+ antagonists.

PMID- 1449522
TI  - Glutathione S-transferase-dependent conjugation of leukotriene A4-methyl ester to
      leukotriene C4-methyl ester in mammalian skin.
AB  - The glutathione S-transferase (GST)-dependent conjugation of reduced glutathione
      (GSH) with leukotriene A4 (LTA4)-methyl ester in rodent and human skin was
      investigated. Incubation of [3H]LTA4-methyl ester (1 nmole, approximately 200,000
      dpm) with cytosol prepared from rat, mouse and human skin or with affinity
      purified GST from rat skin cytosol in the presence of GSH resulted in the
      formation of LTC4-methyl ester. Maximum enzyme activity was observed in rat skin
      followed by mouse and human skin. With heat-denatured cytosol or in the absence
      of GSH, the product formation was negligible. GST purified from rat skin cytosol
      by GSH-agarose affinity chromatography exhibited a several-fold increase in the
      specific activity of enzyme with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (55-fold),
      ethacrynic acid (67-fold) and LTA4-methyl ester (12-fold) as substrates. Western
      blot analysis of the affinity purified GST indicated a predominant expression of
      the Pi class of GST isozyme followed by Mu and Alpha classes of isozymes. The
      formation of LTC4-methyl ester was established by its radioactivity profile on
      high pressure liquid chromatography and absorption spectroscopy. These results
      suggest that, in addition to xenobiotic metabolism, cutaneous GSTs may also be
      capable of metabolizing physiological substrates such as LTA4.

PMID- 1449523
TI  - Evidence for different mechanisms involved in the formation of lyso platelet
      activating factor and the calcium-dependent release of arachidonic acid from
      human neutrophils.
AB  - Recent studies suggest that the first step in platelet-activating factor (PAF)
      biosynthesis, 1-alkyl-2-lyso-GPC (lyso PAF) formation, may be initiated by the
      selective transfer of arachidonate from 1-alkyl-2-arachidonoyl-GPC to an acceptor
      lyso phospholipid by a CoA-independent transacylase activity (CoA-IT). The
      present study was designed to determine whether the formation of 1-alkyl-2-lyso
      GPC and the release of arachidonic acid can occur by different mechanisms. These
      experiments examined both the formation of 1-[3H]alkyl-2-lyso-GPC from 1
      [3H]alkyl-2-acyl-GPC and the release of arachidonic acid from membrane
      phospholipids as determined by GC/MS in neutrophil homogenates under various
      conditions. The addition of unlabelled lyso phospholipids to neutrophil
      homogenates stimulated the time-dependent formation of 1-[3H]alkyl-2-lyso-GPC
      from 1-[3H]alkyl-2-acyl-GPC. Without exogenous lyso phospholipids, little 1
      [3H]alkyl-2-lyso-GPC was formed in this reaction. The activity which catalyzed
      the formation of 1-[3H]alkyl-2-lyso-GPC had characteristics identical to CoA-IT
      as indicated by the fact that both reactions were: independent of Ca2+, Mg2+, CoA
      and CoA fatty acids, located in microsomal fractions, and stable in 10 mM
      dithiothreitol. In sharp contrast to the aforementioned reaction, addition of
      lyso phospholipids did not affect the quantity of arachidonic acid released from
      membrane phospholipids. Furthermore, there was a Ca(2+)-independent release of
      arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipid that was increased 4 to 5-fold after
      the addition of 5 mM Ca2+. Finally, Ca(2+)-dependent arachidonic acid release was
      inhibited by putative phospholipase A2 inhibitors, aristolochic acid and
      scalaradial, at concentrations where neither the production of 1-[3H]alkyl-2-lyso
      GPC nor Ca(2+)-independent arachidonic acid release was altered. Together these
      data imply that there may be different mechanisms involved in the formation of 1
      alkyl-2-lyso-GPC and arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids.

PMID- 1449524
TI  - Phosphorylation of 9-(2-phosphonomethoxyethyl)adenine and 9-(S)-(3-hydroxy-2
      phosphonomethoxypropyl)adenine by AMP(dAMP) kinase from L1210 cells.
AB  - Acyclic nucleotide analogues 9-(2-phosphonomethoxyethyl)adenine (PMEA) and 9-(S)
      (3-hydroxy-2-phosphonomethoxypropyl)adenine ((S)-HPMPA) which display potent
      antiviral activity are transformed in the cells to their mono- and disphosphoryl
      derivatives. We purified from mouse L1210 cells the enzyme that in two steps
      phosphorylates PMEA and (S)-HPMPA to their diphosphoryl derivatives and found
      that it co-purifies with AMP(dAMP) kinase activity; the best substrates of this
      enzyme were AMP, ADP and dAMP. Other nucleoside 5'-triphosphates or creatine
      phosphate could not be substituted for ATP as a phosphate donor. Our results also
      indicated that at least one other enzyme (creatine kinase) is capable of
      transforming the monophosphoryl derivatives of the studied compounds to their
      respective diphosphates.

PMID- 1449525
TI  - Neurotoxins: 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, 1,2,3,4
      tetrahydroisoquinoline and 1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-tetrahydroisoquinoline as
      substrates for FAD-containing monooxygenase of porcine liver microsomes.
AB  - The activity of FAD-containing monooxygenase (FMO) (EC 1.14.13.8) of porcine
      liver microsomes was examined with the neurotoxins, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6
      tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (TIQ) and 1-methyl-6,7
      dihydroxy-tetrahydroisoquinoline (MDTIQ), as substrates. FMO catalyses these
      neurotoxins. The kinetic parameters of FMO for the neurotoxins and electron
      donors were determined. Km values for MPTP, TIQ and MDTIQ were determined to be
      47 microM, 6.9 mM and 5.6 mM, respectively. The Km for the electron donor, NADPH,
      was variable from 31 to 200 microM depending on the substrate used. The
      activities of FMO for these neurotoxins were comparable with that for
      dimethylaniline.

PMID- 1449526
TI  - Albumin binding and brain uptake of 6-fluoro-DL-tryptophan: competition with L
      tryptophan.
AB  - We investigated potential competition between L-tryptophan (TRP) and 6-fluoro-DL
      tryptophan (6-F-TRP) for binding to albumin and for passage through the blood
      brain barrier (BBB). In experiments based on equilibrium dialysis, albumin (600
      microM) bound about 80% of TRP and 50% of 6-F-TRP with affinity constants (Ka) of
      3.7 +/- 0.04 x 10(4) and 0.62 +/- 0.01 x 10(4) M-1, respectively. Competitive
      inhibition was assessed as the decrease in the apparent Ka (K' a) of TRP in the
      presence of 6-F-TRP, with no modification of the N value. Competition between
      TRP, 6-F-TRP and L-valine (VAL) for passage across the BBB was demonstrated using
      two approaches. When administered concomitantly with TRP or 6-F-TRP to rats, VAL
      decreased brain uptake of TRP and 6-F-TRP and reversed their action on serotonin.
      In Oldendorf's model, 6-F-TRP and VAL decreased the brain uptake of TRP.

PMID- 1449527
TI  - Fasting in the rat does not induce hyperfibrinogenaemia.
AB  - The effects of fasting in the rat on the plasma fibrinogen concentration have
      been investigated. Fasting for 24-48 hr produced the expected sustained increase
      (4-5-fold) in the concentrations in the plasma of non-esterified fatty acids, but
      no accompanying increase in that of fibrinogen was detected.

PMID- 1449528
TI  - Inhibition of adenosine deaminase by azapurine ribonucleosides.
AB  - We have synthesized several 8-azapurine nucleosides as inhibitors of adenosine
      deaminase. The presence of a nitrogen on the imidazole ring decreased the Ki
      value for nebularine by 100-fold but did not lower the Ki value for coformycin.
      Evaluation of these compounds in a MOLT-4 growth assay revealed that 2
      azacoformycin was as effective as 2'-deoxycoformycin in potentiating growth
      inhibition by 2'-deoxyadenosine. The azapurine nucleosides merit further study as
      antitumor agents.

PMID- 1449529
TI  - Inhibition by a novel azole antifungal agent with a geranyl group on lanosterol
      14 alpha-demethylase of yeast.
AB  - AFK-108 (1-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-((2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6- dienyloxy)ethyl]
      1H-imidazole) is a new imidazole derivative characterized by a geranyl
      substituent showing strong antifungal activity. Azole antifungal agents are known
      to be potent inhibitors of lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase (P450(14)DM) of fungi.
      The role of the geranyl group of AFK-108 on interaction of AFK-108 with the
      target was studied by using Saccharomyces cerevisiae P450(14)DM as the model
      enzyme. AFK-108 and some of its derivatives bound to oxidized P450(14)DM with one
      to-one stoichiometry and inhibited the demethylase activity. AFK-108 derivatives
      having the longer farnesyl or the shorter prenyl group showed lower affinity than
      AFK-108 for the enzyme. AFK-108 caused 100% inhibition at the equivalent
      concentration to P450(14)DM in the reaction mixture (0.07 microM), while the
      farnesyl derivative inhibited the activity by 60% at the same concentration. AFK
      108 interfered with the binding of CO to the ferrous P450(14)DM. However, the
      interfering effect of the prenyl derivative was lower than that of AFK-108.
      Another AFK-108 derivative having the saturated 3,7-dimethyloctyl group was also
      a weaker inhibitor than AFK-108. These experiments suggest that the geranyl group
      of AFK-108 interacts with the substrate binding site of P450(14)DM that
      recognises the side chain of the substrate. AFK-108 is the first example of an
      azole derivative interacting with the side chain recognising region of the
      substrate binding site of P450(14)DM.

PMID- 1449530
TI  - Oxidative dehalogenation of 2-fluoro-17 alpha-ethynyloestradiol in vivo. A distal
      structure-metabolism relationship of 17 alpha-ethynylation.
AB  - Metabolic activation to catechols and their oxidation products is variously
      considered to contribute to the genotoxic, cytotoxic, transforming and tumour
      promoting activities of exogenous steroidal oestrogens. 2-Fluoro-17 alpha
      ethynyloestradiol (2-FEE2) was synthesized as a prototype of pharmacologically
      active derivatives of 17 beta-oestradiol which are resistant to metabolic
      activation in vivo. It possessed high affinity for the rat uterine oestrogen
      receptor and was oestrogenic in rats. Biliary metabolites of [6,7-3H]2-FEE2 (0.73
      mumol/kg, 157 micrograms/kg, i.v.) in female rats were characterized: 87% of the
      radiolabel was excreted, principally as 2-FEE2 glucuronide, over 6 hr. Although 2
      fluoro-17 beta-oestradiol is not metabolized to C-2 oxygenated products in vivo,
      2-FEE2 underwent rapid and appreciable oxidative defluorination. 2-Hydroxy-17
      alpha-ethynyloestradiol and 2-methoxy-17 alpha-ethynyloestradiol represented,
      respectively, 8% and 13% of the dose. Fluorination nevertheless restricted C-2
      oxygenation to ca. 28% of that which 17 alpha-ethynyloestradiol undergoes in
      female rats. C-4 oxygenation of 2-FEE2, resulting in catechol formation, occurred
      but to a lesser extent (ca. 12% of dose). None of the major and identified minor
      biliary metabolites was a product of metabolic activation at the ethynyl
      function. A mechanistic rationalization of the long range enhancement by 17 alpha
      ethynylation of oxidative defluorination at C-2 is presented.

PMID- 1449531
TI  - Potentiation of CB 1954 cytotoxicity by reduced pyridine nucleotides in human
      tumour cells by stimulation of DT diaphorase activity.
AB  - The toxicity of CB 1954 [5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide] towards human
      cells was greatly enhanced by NADH (when foetal calf serum was present in the
      culture medium) and by nicotinamide riboside (reduced) (NRH), but not by
      nicotinate riboside (reduced). Co-treatment of human cells with CB 1954 and NADH
      resulted in the formation of crosslinks in their DNA. The toxicity produced by
      other DNA crosslinking agents was unaffected by reduced nicotinamide compounds.
      When caffeine was included in the medium, a reduction in the cytotoxicity of CB
      1954 occurred. The toxicity experienced by human cell lines after exposure to CB
      1954 and NADH was proportional to their levels of the enzyme DT diaphorase
      NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone), EC 1.6.99.2. It is concluded that NRH, which we
      have shown to be a co-factor for rat DT diaphorase (Friedlos et al., Biochem
      Pharmacol 44: 25-31, 1992), is generated from NADH by enzymes in foetal calf
      serum, and stimulates the activity of human DT diaphorase towards CB 1954.

PMID- 1449532
TI  - Nature of cytochromes P450 involved in the 2-/4-hydroxylations of estradiol in
      human liver microsomes.
AB  - Kinetics of the 2- and 4-hydroxylations of estradiol (E2) by human liver
      microsomal samples were studied to determine the major P450 isoform involved in
      these endogenous reactions. Thirty human liver microsomal samples were analysed.
      Metabolism of 25 microM [14C]E2 produced 2-hydroxy and 4-hydroxy derivatives with
      a ratio of 3.2 +/- 1.5 and a great inter-individual variation. Kinetic analysis
      of the 2- and 4-hydroxylations of E2 exhibited a curvilinear double reciprocal
      plot with an apparent Km of 15 microM. Further experiments demonstrated that
      alpha-naphthoflavone, testosterone and progesterone increased the 2-hydroxylation
      activity, suggesting the involvement of a substrate activation mechanism. These
      two hydroxylations of E2 were shown to be catalysed by cytochrome P450 with an
      apparent dissociation constant Ks of 0.8 microM. These 2- and 4-hydroxylations
      inter-correlated significantly (r = 0.93; N = 30). The 2-hydroxylation of E2
      correlated with four monooxygenase activities known to be supported by P450
      3A4/3A5, namely nifedipine oxidation (r = 0.78; N = 29); erythromycin N
      demethylation (r = 0.69; N = 27), testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylation (r = 0.66; N
      = 25) and tamoxifen N-demethylation (r = 0.64; N = 29). On the other hand, E2
      hydroxylations did not correlate with activities supported by P450 1A2 and P450
      2E1. Furthermore, drugs as cyclosporin, diltiazem, triacetyl-oleandomycin and 17
      alpha-ethynylestradiol inhibited more than 90% of the E2-hydroxylations at
      concentrations < 250 microM, while weak inhibition was shown with 500 microM
      cimetidine and no significant inhibition with caffeine, phenacetin and
      omeprazole. Finally, 2- and 4-hydroxylations of E2 correlated significantly with
      the content of P450 3A4/3A5 immunodetected by a monoclonal antibody anti-human
      P450-nifedipine (r = 0.84; N = 28). E2-hydroxylation activities were inhibited by
      more than 80% with polyclonal anti-human anti-P450-nifedipine. Preincubation of
      human liver microsomes with 100 microM gestodene (a suicide substrate of P450
      3A4) inactivated this P450 isoform and accordingly allowed evaluation of the
      contribution of other P450 isoforms to the E2 metabolism to about 21% (+/- 17%, N
      = 29). All these results taken together suggest that P450 3A4/3A5 are the major
      forms involved in the formation of catecholestrogens in the human liver
      microsomes.

PMID- 1449533
TI  - Protein-specific S-thiolation in human endothelial cells during oxidative stress.
AB  - Confluent human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with diamide, t
      butyl hydroperoxide (t-BH) or the hydrogen peroxide generating system
      glucose/glucose oxidase and the effects on glutathione oxidation and protein S
      thiolation were examined. In the presence of all three oxidants glutathione was
      rapidly oxidized to a similar extent and S-thiolation of a limited number of
      proteins occurred. Diamide caused considerable S-thiolation of proteins with
      molecular masses of 44, 34, 24 and 14 kDa, of which the protein with molecular
      mass of 44 kDa was most extensively modified. t-BH caused extensive modification
      of proteins with molecular masses of 24 and 14 kDa whilst hydrogen peroxide
      caused S-thiolation of proteins of 39, 24 and 14 kDa. This study shows that S
      thiolation of proteins is an important metabolic response to oxidant insult in
      human endothelial cells and that the specificity of the response depends on the
      chemical nature of the oxidant.

PMID- 1449534
TI  - Protective effect of trifluoperazine on the mitochondrial damage induced by Ca2+
      plus prooxidants.
AB  - Isolated rat liver mitochondria undergo extensive swelling and disruption of
      membrane potential when they accumulate Ca2+ in the presence of a prooxidant such
      as diamide or t-butylhydroperoxide. The phenothiazinic drug trifluoperazine, at
      concentrations (15-35 microM) which do not inhibit respiration or the influx of
      Ca2+ into mitochondria, significantly protected mitochondria against the
      deleterious effects of Ca2+ plus a prooxidant. In contrast, at concentrations
      higher than 100 microM the drug potentiated these deleterious effects of Ca2+ and
      prooxidants and had a damaging effect per se on the inner mitochondrial membrane.
      It is proposed that the protection conferred by the drug is mediated by changes
      in membrane protein structure that decrease the production of protein thiol cross
      linkings which occur when mitochondria accumulate calcium under oxidant stress
      conditions.

PMID- 1449535
TI  - Enalapril hepatotoxicity in the rat. Effects of modulators of cytochrome P450 and
      glutathione.
AB  - The effects of modulators of cytochrome P450 and reduced glutathione (GSH) on the
      hepatotoxicity of enalapril maleate (EN) were investigated in Fischer 344 rats.
      Twenty-four hours following the administration of EN (1.5 to 1.8 g/kg), increased
      serum transaminases (ALT and AST) and hepatic necrosis were observed.
      Pretreatment of the animals with pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile, a selective
      inducer of the cytochrome P450IIIA gene subfamily, enhanced EN-induced
      hepatotoxicity, whereas pretreatment with the cytochrome P450 inhibitor, cobalt
      protoporphyrin, reduced the liver injury. Depletion of hepatic non-protein
      sulfhydryls (NPSHs), an indicator of GSH, by combined treatment with buthionine
      sulfoximine (BSO) and diethyl maleate (DEM) produced marked elevations in serum
      transaminases by 6 hr after EN treatment. Administered on its own, EN decreased
      hepatic NPSH content and when combined with the BSO/DEM pretreatment, the liver
      was nearly completely devoid of NPSHs. Protection from EN-induced hepatotoxicity
      was observed in animals administered L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, a
      cysteine precursor. Together, these observations suggest the involvement of
      cytochrome P450 in EN bioactivation and GSH in detoxification. The results
      corroborate previous in vitro observations pertaining to the mechanism of EN
      induced cytotoxicity towards primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. Although the
      doses of EN used in this study were far in excess of therapeutic doses, under
      certain circumstances, this metabolism-mediated toxicologic mechanism could form
      the basis for idiosyncratic liver injury in patients receiving EN therapy.

PMID- 1449536
TI  - Modulation of deoxycytidylate deaminase in intact human leukemia cells. Action of
      2',2'-difluorodeoxycytidine.
AB  - Cellular metabolism studies had demonstrated previously that low cellular
      concentrations of 2',2'-difluorodeoxycytidine (dFdC) nucleotides are eliminated
      by deoxycytidylate deaminase (dCMPD), whereas dCMPD activity is inhibited at high
      cellular dFdC nucleotide levels (Heinemann et al., Cancer Res 52: 533-539, 1992).
      An assay for measuring dCMPD activity in intact human leukemia cells has now been
      developed to permit investigations of the interactions of dFdC nucleotides with
      dCMPD in intact cells in which the regulated nature of this enzyme was not
      disrupted. Using [14C]dCyd as the substrate, radioactivity that accumulated in
      dTTP was quantitated after high-pressure liquid chromotography by a radioactive
      flow detector. The assay was first characterized using either the dCMPD inhibitor
      tetrahydrodeoxyuridine (H4dUrd) which directly inhibits dCMPD, or thymidine and 5
      fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd) which indirectly inhibit and activate dCMPD,
      respectively, by affecting the cellular dCTP:dTTP value. Measured by this in situ
      assay, there was a strong correlation between dCMPD activity and dCTP:dTTP
      levels. Consistent with previous studies using partially purified enzyme,
      incubation of cells with dFdC resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of
      dCMPD in situ. The mechanism of modulation of dCMPD by dFdC, however, was clearly
      different from that of thymidine and FdUrd. In addition to the effect of dFdC on
      cellular dCTP:dTTP, our findings also suggested an additional inhibitory
      mechanism, possibly a direct interaction between dCMPD and dFdC 5'-triphosphate.
      Thus, results obtained using this direct assay of dCMPD in intact cells support
      the hypothesis that dCMPD is inhibited by nucleotides of dFdC.

PMID- 1449537
TI  - Rat liver metabolism and toxicity of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol.
AB  - 2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol (TFE) is a metabolite of anesthetic agents and
      chlorofluorocarbon alternatives. Its toxicity in rats is a consequence of its
      metabolism to 2,2,2-trifluoroacetaldehyde (TFAld) and then to trifluoroacetic
      acid (TFAA). The enzymes involved in the toxic metabolic pathway have been
      investigated in this study. For the reaction of TFE to TFAld, the major hepatic
      metabolism associated with toxicity (as assessed by pyrazole-inhibitability) was
      NADPH dependent and occurred in the microsomes, whereas for TFAld conversion to
      TFAA, NADPH-dependent microsomal metabolism was significant, but mitochondrial
      and cytosolic metabolism in the presence of NADPH were also major contributors.
      NADPH-dependent hepatic microsomal metabolism of TFE to TFAld and TFAld to TFAA
      was inhibited by carbon monoxide, 2-allyl-2-isopropylacetamide, SKF-525A,
      metyrapone, imidazole, and pyrazole, and both reactions were oxygen dependent.
      The metabolism of TFE to TFAld was inhibited by diethyldithiocarbamate, a
      specific inhibitor of cytochrome P450E1, and by a monoclonal antibody to P4502E1,
      whereas the metabolism of TFAld was inhibited by neither. Ethanol pretreatment of
      rats enhanced the Vmax for hepatic microsomal metabolism of TFE to TFAld from 5.3
      to 9.7 nmol/mg protein/min, while for TFAld to TFAA the Vmax was increased from
      4.3 to 6.5 and the Km was unaffected for both reactions. Phenobarbital
      pretreatment of the rats did not affect any of these kinetic parameters.
      Coadministration of ethanol and a lethal dose of TFE very markedly decreased the
      lethality. Both the lethality (LD50 0.21 to 0.44 g/kg) and the metabolic kinetic
      parameters [(Vmax/Km)H(Vmax/Km)D = 4.2] were affected markedly when deuterated
      TFE replaced TFE. In contrast, deuteration of TFAld did not affect its lethality
      or rates of metabolism, but did affect its Km. Taken together these results
      indicate that P4502E1 catalyzed toxicity-associated hepatic metabolism of TFE to
      TFAld, while TFAld metabolism was catalyzed by a P450 which was not P4502E1. The
      hepatic metabolism of TFAld was not associated with its toxicity, which has been
      determined previously to be associated with its intestinal metabolism.

PMID- 1449538
TI  - Demonstration of similar calcium dependencies by mammalian high and low molecular
      mass phospholipase A2.
AB  - The in vitro Ca2+ dependencies of arachidonyl (AA)-selective high molecular mass
      phospholipase A2 (HMM, 85 kDa-PLA2) and human low molecular mass (LMM-Type II, 14
      kDa)-PLA2 were compared. When the LMM-PLA2 and HMM-PLA2 enzymes were examined for
      hydrolysis against [3H]AA Escherichia coli in an ethyleneglycol-bis(beta
      aminoethyl ether) N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA)-free buffer system, neither
      enzyme demonstrated activity below 10 microM free Ca2+. Beyond 11 microM Ca2+
      both enzyme activities increased steadily exhibiting 50% of maximal activity at
      0.1 and 1.0 mM, respectively. Using EGTA-regulated free Ca2+ buffers, both
      enzymes responded in a biphasic manner, achieving 50% of the maximum response by
      0.5 microM Ca2+, stabilizing up to 0.1 mM, then further increasing with exposure
      to millimolar Ca2+ concentrations. Replacement of [3H]AA-labeled
      phosphatidylethanolamine vesicles for [3H]AA E. coli or using Tris-HCl buffer
      instead of HEPES buffer did not alter these findings significantly. The presence
      of EGTA had a pronounced concentration-dependent effect on the activity of both
      the HMM- and LMM-PLA2 enzymes but only in the range of 0 to 100 microM free Ca2+.
      EGTA (EC50 approximately 200 microM) reduced the concentration of Ca2+ required
      by PLA2 to achieve 50% of maximal acylhydrolysis. In contrast, the Type I bovine
      pancreatic PLA2 required millimolar Ca2+ concentrations to elicit 50% of the
      maximal response in both EGTA-free or EGTA-containing systems, which is
      concordant with its extracellular role as a digestive enzyme. These data suggest
      that the LMM-Type II PLA2 and HMM-PLA2 are both activated at submicromolar,
      intracellularly relevant, Ca2+ concentrations and therefore have the ability to
      contribute to cellular lipid metabolism.

PMID- 1449539
TI  - The effect of malaria infection on 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine and paracetamol
      glucuronidation in rat liver microsomes.
AB  - The effect of malaria infection on UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT) activity
      was investigated in rat liver microsomes using 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine and
      paracetamol. The Michaelis-Menten parameters, Km and Vmax were calculated and
      intrinsic clearance values were estimated for normal and infected livers. The
      results show that malaria infection alters the activity of UDPGT.

PMID- 1449540
TI  - Actin cytoskeleton, tubular sodium and the renal synthesis of dopamine.
AB  - The present study has examined the effect of colchicine and cytochalasin B, two
      cytoskeleton disrupter compounds, on the formation of dopamine in slices of rat
      renal cortex loaded with exogenous L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA); the
      deamination of newly formed dopamine into 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC)
      was also examined. The accumulation of newly formed dopamine and DOPAC in kidney
      slices loaded with L-DOPA (10-100 microM) was found to be dependent on the
      concentration of L-DOPA, being similar in control conditions and in preparations
      treated with increasing concentrations of colchicine (5, 10 and 50 microM). By
      contrast, cytochalasin B (5, 10 and 50 microM) was found to produce a
      concentration-dependent reduction in the formation of dopamine and of its
      deaminated metabolite DOPAC in kidney slices loaded with L-DOPA (10-100 microM).
      The inhibitory effect of cytochalasin B on the formation of dopamine was found to
      be completely abolished in kidney slices pretreated with ouabain (500 microM) or
      when sodium concentration in the incubation was reduced from 120 to 20 mM. On its
      own, ouabain (500 microM) was found to reduce the formation of dopamine by 55%;
      the effect of reducing sodium concentration in the incubation medium to 20 mM was
      also a significant reduction (53% decrease) in the formation of dopamine. The
      accumulation of DOPAC did always parallel that of its parent amine. It is
      concluded that the renal formation of dopamine is dependent on the concentration
      of sodium in the medium and the integrity of the tubular transport of sodium,
      namely on the association between actin cytoskeleton and Na+,K(+)-ATPase, appears
      to be determinant.

PMID- 1449541
TI  - Fasting increases the sensitivity of hepatic harmol glucuronidation to hypoxia.
AB  - Livers from fasted (N = 16) and fed (N = 22) rats were perfused with harmol (50
      microM) for an initial 30 min with normal oxygen delivery (6-10 mumol/min/g
      liver), then for 45 min with perfusate equilibrated with O2/N2 mixtures, which
      reduced hepatic oxygen delivery to 0.9-6 mumol/min/g liver, and finally for a
      further 30 min period of normal oxygenation. Seventy per cent of the harmol
      eliminated was accounted for as the glucuronide conjugate and approximately 5% as
      the sulphate conjugate. During the hypoxia phase with fed preparations,
      decreasing oxygenation did not reduce harmol clearance or harmol glucuronide
      formation clearance until oxygen delivery was less than 2.5 mumol/min/g liver,
      whereas with fasted preparations this hypoxic threshold was much higher (5
      mumol/min/g liver). Below the hypoxic threshold, harmol clearance was linearly
      related to oxygen delivery in both groups. Hepatic tissue concentrations of
      unchanged harmol at the end of the hypoxia phase were double those after the same
      period of normal oxygenation, whereas tissue harmol glucuronide concentrations
      were similar. By establishing a hypoxic threshold for reduced oxygen availability
      this study shows that harmol glucuronidation is relatively insensitive to
      hypoxia, but sensitivity increases markedly in fasted animals.

PMID- 1449542
TI  - Comparative binding of etretinate and acitretin to plasma proteins and
      erythrocytes.
AB  - The interactions of etretinate and its main metabolite acitretin with human
      plasma proteins have been investigated in vitro by an erythrocyte partitioning
      technique that allows a quantitative estimation of the plasma and erythrocyte
      binding. Etretinate was extensively lipoprotein-bound (75% of plasma etretinate),
      with a binding constant for its main low density lipoprotein carrier of 40 x
      10(6) M-1, accounting for 48% of the total plasma-bound drug. Acitretin was
      mainly albumin-bound (91% of plasma acitretin), with a binding constant of 0.7 x
      10(6) M-1. The total plasma binding of both drugs was > 99% and, in blood, the
      fractions associated with erythrocytes were 14.5 and 8.1% of the total amount for
      etretinate and acitretin, respectively.

PMID- 1449543
TI  - A gas chromatographic procedure for separation and quantitation of the
      enantiomers of the antidepressant tranylcypromine.
AB  - A novel assay procedure has been developed that allows for the separation and
      quantification of the enantiomers of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor
      tranylcypromine (TCP) in brain and liver of rats. The analytical method involves
      extraction of the drug from rat tissue with an organic solvent. TCP is then
      derivatized with S-(-)-N-(trifluoroacetyl)-prolyl chloride to allow gas
      chromatographic analysis of the resulting diastereoisomers. Conditions for
      analysis by a gas chromatograph equipped with a nitrogen-phosphorus detector and
      a capillary column are described. The method has been applied to the separation
      and quantification of the enantiomers of TCP in samples of brain and liver of
      rats that had been injected with this drug alone and after pretreatment with
      iprindole, a drug known to block aromatic ring hydroxylation.

PMID- 1449544
TI  - Differential stereospecificities and affinities of folate receptor isoforms for
      folate compounds and antifolates.
AB  - Two membrane folate receptor (MFR) isoforms are present in human tissues i.e. MFR
      1 (e.g. placenta) and MFR-2 (e.g. placenta, KB cells, CaCo-2 cells). MFR-1 was
      expressed in COS-1 cells and the resulting protein had the same polypeptide
      molecular weight as the native protein. The affinities of (6S) and (6R)
      diastereoisomers of N5-methyltetrahydrofolate, N5-formyltetrahydrofolate, and
      5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolate as well as folic acid and methotrexate to MFR-1, MFR
      2 and placental MFR (MFR-1 plus MFR-2) were determined in terms of the Ki values
      for their competitive inhibition of the binding of [3H]folic acid to these
      proteins. The results indicated a striking difference in the stereospecificity of
      MFR-1 and MFR-2 for reduced folate coenzymes; MFR-2 preferentially bound to the
      physiological (6S) diastereoisomers and MFR-1 bound preferentially to the
      unphysiological (6R) diastereoisomers, while dideazatetrahydrofolate did not show
      significant stereospecificity for MFR-1. Furthermore, MFR-2 displayed
      significantly (2- to 100-fold) greater affinities for all the compounds tested
      compared to MFR-1. Purified placental MFR, a natural source of MFR-1 which
      contains variable amounts of MFR-2, showed intermediate Ki values for the
      compounds tested compared with MFR-1 and MFR-2 and stereospecificities similar to
      MFR-1. These observations demonstrate striking differences in the ligand binding
      sites of MFR-1 and MFR-2 which could potentially be exploited in the design of
      MFR isoform specific antifolates.

PMID- 1449545
TI  - The effect of pubertal delay on adult height in men with isolated
      hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
AB  - To determine whether delay of puberty alters adult height, we retrospectively
      evaluated the adult height of 41 patients who met rigorous criteria for the
      diagnosis of isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The adult height of these
      patients was compared with the mean height of normal American men at age 18 in
      the 1979 National Center for Health Statistics survey and with the mean adult
      height of 50 male normal volunteers who had been studied on the same wards as the
      patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The mean adult height of the men
      with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism was 179.7 cm, which exceeded the
      height of the 50 control subjects and the normal American men (both 176.8 cm) by
      2.9 cm (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.006, respectively). The mean age at
      treatment to induce puberty was 20.0 yr, which corresponded to a mean delay in
      the onset of puberty of more than 8 yr relative to normal males. The final height
      of the men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism correlated significantly with the
      duration of pubertal delay (r = 0.32, P = 0.04). Most of the enhanced mean adult
      height of the patients with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism was
      attributable to those patients in whom treatment to induce puberty had been
      delayed to age 18 or greater. The mean adult height of these patients was 182.4
      cm, or 5.6 cm greater than the mean height of the 50 controls or of normal
      American men (P less than 0.001). The mean adult height of patients whose
      treatment began between 10 and 17 yr of age was 175.0 cm, which did not differ
      significantly from that of normal men. We conclude that prolonged delay of
      puberty (6 or more yr) in men with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is
      associated with a modest increase (approximately 5 cm) of adult height.

PMID- 1449546
TI  - The man did fine, but what about the wahoo?

PMID- 1449547
TI  - More on Gallo and Popovic.

PMID- 1449548
TI  - Goya's living skeleton.

PMID- 1449549
TI  - My last will and testament on rapid elimination and ultimate global eradication
      of poliomyelitis and measles.

PMID- 1449550
TI  - Evidence of stress throughout the profession.

PMID- 1449551
TI  - Why does Australia have no national drug policy?

PMID- 1449552
TI  - Oestrogen replacement after oophorectomy: comparison of patches and implants.

PMID- 1449553
TI  - Structure-activity relationships in platelet-activating factor (PAF antagonists).
      6. Synthesis and in vitro antagonistic activities of 2-substituted 5
      oxotetrahydrofurans.
AB  - The synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted tetrahedrofuran compounds as potential in
      vitro PAF antagonists is described. Results demonstrate that the structural
      requirements for potent PAF antagonist activity are: a moderate lipophilic group
      or a trimethoxyphenyl group in position-5, and a long aliphatic chain terminated
      by a cationic polar head in position-2. The cis-trans configuration does not
      induce any difference in biological activity. Some conformational features of the
      putative PAF receptor are proposed in light of the present findings.

PMID- 1449554
TI  - A perinatal ethics committee on abortion: process and outcome in thirty-one
      cases.

PMID- 1449555
TI  - [Effects of captopril on microcirculation and tissue oxygen balance in patients
      with hypertension].
AB  - Bulbar conjunctival microcirculation, aggregation of platelets and red blood
      cells, skin oxygen balance were studied in 22 patients with Stage II hypertensive
      disease. Captopril was found to decrease not only blood pressure, but aggregation
      of platelets and red blood cells and to improve tissue oxygen supply. With
      inadequate doses of the drug, an extreme lowering in blood pressure resulted in
      deteriorated skin oxygen supply along with unaltered aggregation of cellular
      elements.

PMID- 1449556
TI  - Proceedings of a consensus development conference on standardized measures in
      diabetic neuropathy. Autonomic nervous system testing.

PMID- 1449557
TI  - Ethanol-induced disturbances of gliogenesis and neuronogenesis in the developing
      murine brain: an in vitro and in vivo immunohistochemical and ultrastructural
      study.
AB  - The effects of ethanol on murine brain development were studied in a model of
      whole embryo culture and in vivo. Ethanol locally enhances cell death in the
      primitive neuroepithelium. During neuronal migration, ethanol induces a premature
      transformation of the radial glial guides into astrocytes. Ethanol also inhibits
      the late gliogenesis. The resulting postmigratory neocortex displays an abnormal
      neuronal pattern almost completely deprived of vertical columnization. These
      glial-neuronal disturbances can explain neuropathological and clinical features
      of the fetal alcohol syndrome. Our study provides also an experimental tool for
      the study of cell death in normal and abnormal conditions at early stages of
      neurogenesis.

PMID- 1449558
TI  - The effect of chronic ethanol consumption on NADH- and NADPH-dependent generation
      of reactive oxygen intermediates by isolated rat liver nuclei.
AB  - Previous results have shown that microsomes from ethanol-treated rats generate
      reactive oxygen intermediates at elevated rates as compared to pair-fed controls
      in the presence of NADH and especially NADPH. Since isolated rat liver nuclei can
      produce oxygen radicals with NADH or NADPH as reductants, the effect of chronic
      ethanol treatment on nuclear generation of reactive oxygen intermediates was
      determined. Ethanol treatment increased the activity of NADH (+27%) and NADPH
      (+50%) cytochrome c reductase in the nucleus. Nuclear lipid peroxidation, H2O2
      production, and generation of hydroxyl radical-like species were increased by
      about 25 to 40% after ethanol treatment. In contrast to microsomes, where NADPH
      dependent rates were higher than the NADH-dependent rates, in nuclei, NADH was as
      effective as, or even more reactive than NADPH in promoting production of various
      oxidizing species. The increases in oxygen radical production by nuclei after
      ethanol treatment were less than the increases found previously for microsomes.
      Moreover, rates of oxygen radical production by nuclei were less than 10% of the
      corresponding rates found with microsomes, suggesting that it is unlikely that
      the small increases found with nuclei after ethanol treatment contribute
      significantly towards the development of a state of oxidative stress in the
      liver.

PMID- 1449559
TI  - The acute effects of ethanol and acetaldehyde on rates of protein synthesis in
      type I and type II fibre-rich skeletal muscles of the rat.
AB  - Young rats were injected with either ethanol (75 mmol/kg), acetaldehyde (2.8
      mmol/kg) or isovolumetric amounts of NaCl (0.15 mol/l, i.e. controls) with or
      without inhibitors of alcohol dehydrogenase (4-methylpyrazole) or aldehyde
      dehydrogenase (cyanamide). After 2.5 hr, fractional rates of protein synthesis
      (i.e. ks) in the soleus (Type I fibre-rich) and plantaris (Type II fibre-rich)
      muscles were measured. Ethanol alone reduced ks in both soleus and plantaris
      muscles, by approx. 25%. Pretreatment of ethanol-dosed rats with 4-methylpyrazole
      raised plasma ethanol levels and reduced ks in the soleus and plantaris by
      approx. 35%. Pretreatment of ethanol-dosed rats with cyanamide also increased
      plasma ethanol and further potentiated the effects of ethanol by reducing ks in
      the soleus and plantaris by approx. 65%. Acetaldehyde alone reduced ks by approx.
      15%, and this effect was not significantly altered by 4-methylpyrazole
      pretreatment. In some instances, the plantaris was slightly more sensitive to
      ethanol and acetaldehyde than the soleus. Similar conclusions were derived when
      data were expressed relative to either RNA or DNA. The data thus suggest that the
      ethanol-induced inhibition of skeletal muscle protein synthesis may possibly be
      independently mediated by both ethanol and acetaldehyde.

PMID- 1449560
TI  - Glucose 1,6-bisphosphate and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in muscle from healthy
      humans and chronic alcoholic patients.
AB  - Chronic alcohol intake produces an increase in the concentration of glucose 1,6
      bisphosphate and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in human muscle before the first sign
      of myopathy appears. When myopathy was present both sugars decreased to the
      levels of healthy humans. These changes could contribute to the decline in
      skeletal muscle performance.

PMID- 1449561
TI  - Influence of dietary n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid balance on the
      development of tolerance during chronic ethanol intoxication in rats.
AB  - The present study addresses the possible interacting effects of dietary n-6/n-3
      polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) balance and chronic ethanol intoxication on the
      synaptic membrane responses to ethanol and the development of tolerance in rats.
      Wistar rats were fed either a standard lab chow or various semi-synthetic diets:
      rich in PUFA (from soya oil: SO), deficient in linolenate (from sunflower oil:
      SFO) or rich in long-chain (n-3) PUFA (cod liver oil: CLO). Male adult rats from
      the second specially fed generation were submitted to a 3-week alcoholization by
      daily intubation. Functional tolerance was quantified by the hypothermic response
      to a challenge dose of ethanol. Synaptic fluidity and sensitivity to ethanol
      (variations after acute ethanol addition) were assessed by fluorescence
      polarization (FP) of DPH, TMA-DPH or PROP-DPH. Membrane fatty acid composition
      was determined by GLC. The fatty acid composition of the synaptic membranes was
      influenced by the diet, but rearrangements among the lipids occurred, resulting
      in an apparent stability in brain membrane fluidity parameters. Nevertheless,
      clear-cut differences were noted in response to ethanol intoxication according to
      the diet. In the same period of time, rats fed SFO or CLO diets were unable to
      develop tolerance to ethanol at the membrane level as well as functionally,
      contrarily to the rats fed SO or standard diets. The structurally specific roles
      of PUFA are suggested by the negative membrane effects of the alpha-linolenate
      deficient diet (SFO) and the positive ones of a diet (SO) rich and well balanced
      in (n-3 + n-6) PUFA. Furthermore, the n-6/n-3 PUFA balance in the synaptic
      membrane needs to be kept within very narrow limits to allow normal development
      of the adaptive response to ethanol.

PMID- 1449562
TI  - Time-dependent effect of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, abutapril,
      on voluntary alcohol intake in the rat.
AB  - The angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, abutapril (CGS 16617), was
      administered daily for 3 weeks to six different groups of rats at intervals of
      15, 30, 45, 60, 90 or 120 min prior to a 40-min daily access to alcohol. Compared
      to a control group receiving the saline vehicle, abutapril (20 mg/kg) produced a
      significant and progressively increasing reduction in alcohol intake over the 3
      week period of administration. In addition, intervals around the 60-min mark
      appeared to produce a more pronounced effect on alcohol intake such that a U
      shaped function of interval emerged. These findings indicate that the interval
      between abutapril administration and alcohol consumption is an important variable
      in determining the ability of abutapril to reduce alcohol intake. Treatment of
      human alcohol misuse with ACE inhibitors might be more successful if done on a
      symptomatic basis.

PMID- 1449563
TI  - Triptosine, an L-5-hydroxytryptophan derivative, reduces alcohol consumption in
      alcohol-preferring rats.
AB  - Triptosine is a new L-5-hydroxytryptophan derivative whose effect has been
      studied in the Long-Evans alcohol-preferring rat. At an oral dose of 100 mg/kg
      once daily, triptosine reduced alcohol consumption by 42% in the second week of
      treatment and increased that of water by 80%. The results suggest that this
      precursor of serotonin might play an important role in diminishing preference for
      alcohol and reaccustoming the animal to water, without exerting an anorexic
      effect.

PMID- 1449564
TI  - Plasma atrial natriuretic factor during ethanol ingestion in volume-loaded
      subjects.
AB  - The present study was designed to test whether ethanol ingestion affects plasma
      atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) concentration in healthy volunteers. On the basis
      of previous studies showing that ethanol induces a diuretic response and a
      decrease in atrial size (atrial distension), it was hypothesized that ethanol
      intake might be associated with a decrease in plasma ANF level. To somewhat
      increase plasma ANF level, the subjects were slightly loaded with water before
      the trial. As compared with juice, ethanol, 1 g/kg within 1 hr, increased urine
      output [405 +/- 37 (mean +/- SEM) ml/hr vs. 197 +/- 20 ml/hr, P less than 0.001].
      Left atrial size decreased similarly (P less than 0.001) with both drinks. Plasma
      ANF concentration did not change with either ethanol or juice during the 3-hr
      study period. No changes were observed in plasma arginine vasopressin
      concentration and plasma renin activity. Our results are in conflict with
      previous reports in fasted subjects showing significant changes in plasma
      concentrations of the same hormones. Thus, the basal fluid balance seems to be
      crucial to the hormonal response to ethanol. The plasma concentrations of the
      hormones measured in this study do not directly explain the diuretic response to
      ethanol observed in slightly volume-loaded subjects.

PMID- 1449565
TI  - Acculturation and drinking patterns among U.S. Anglos, blacks, and Mexican
      Americans.
AB  - The relationship between acculturation, generational status/nativity and drinking
      patterns is examined using data from a 1988 community survey of 1286 adult
      regular drinkers (at least two drinks/month) in San Antonio, Texas. This sample
      includes 412 Anglo, 239 Black, and 635 Mexican American respondents, with Mexican
      Americans further classified into high, medium, and low acculturation groups
      using a language-use-based acculturation measure. This data set allows
      comparisons between racial/ethnic majority and minority groups with further
      comparisons between Black and Mexican American subgroups. These racial/ethnic and
      acculturation level comparisons highlight the effects of minority status and
      cultural differences between groups with regard to drinking patterns. Overall,
      the analyses indicate little evidence to support an 'acculturation stress' model
      of alcohol use, wherein the stresses of acculturation produce higher levels of
      alcohol consumption among moderately or higher acculturation groups. Generally,
      in our data, quantity and frequency consumption was somewhat higher among the
      least acculturated males and moderately acculturated females. Further analyses by
      generational status indicate heavier consumption patterns among second-generation
      individuals, especially among the less acculturated, though those differences
      were eliminated by controls. The findings highlight inadequacies of using
      generational status/nativity measures alone to assess acculturation level.
      Further, joint effects of acculturation level and generational status suggest the
      viability of a cultural marginality model of acculturation, though many of the
      effects of acculturation and generational status are explained by demographic and
      psychosocial factors.

PMID- 1449566
TI  - A method for maintaining constant ethanol concentrations in cell culture media.
AB  - The present study reports on the development of a model for maintaining constant
      ethanol concentrations over time in cell culture media. When neuroblastoma x
      glioma cells (NG 108-15) were grown in ethanol containing media under standard
      cultivation conditions in the incubator at 37 degrees C, a 90% evaporation was
      observed after 24 hr. To counteract evaporation, the cell culture dishes were
      placed inside polystyrene boxes together with an open dish containing an
      appropriate amount of ethanol. By using such procedure, the decrease in ethanol
      concentration in the culture media was completely avoided. Cultivating cells in
      ethanol-free media inside sealed plastic boxes did not change their viability,
      growth rate, protein and phospholipid composition of the cells or the pH of the
      media, compared to cultures grown outside the boxes.

PMID- 1449567
TI  - [Management of fever in children: study and practice in a center for family
      medicine].
AB  - For three consecutive weeks a questionnaire was administered to 149 parents that
      took children under age 13 to Dr. Pila Hospital Family Practice Center.
      Information was obtained about their understanding of fever and its management.
      In our study we found parents who had no knowledge about what temperature is
      considered fever. As a result, there may be children who have been unnecessarily
      treated for temperatures that are normal. Others failed to recognize high fever
      and delayed treatment. The findings of this study are consistent with the idea
      that, in general, there is little knowledge about the definition of fever and its
      treatment, which suggests the need of an educational program.

PMID- 1449568
TI  - [Effectiveness of short-term corticosteroid therapy in patients with acute
      bronchial asthma in Puerto Rico].
AB  - This is a pilot study realized in the San Juan City Hospital Pediatric Emergency
      Room to determine the efficacy of the short-term use of corticosteroids in
      pediatric patients (5 to 6 years old) with the diagnosis of acute bronchial
      asthma during the months of March to June 1992. Twenty three (23) cases were
      evaluated, of which, 8 cases were excluded because they did not comply with the
      eligibility criterias. The treatment was implemented in a random fashion, which
      consisted of one control group of treatment with different corticosteroids in
      combination with albuterol. The patients were evaluated at 0, 2, 6, 12 and 24 hr
      of therapy a pulmonary index, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and pulse oximeter
      saturation. On admission to the study the average pulmonary index was 6 and PEFR
      of less than -3sd. When the patients achieved a pulmonary index of < 4, PEFR >
      70% and pulse oxygen saturation of > 95% they were discharged. They were
      reevaluated at 5 to 7 days and 10 to 14 days after discharge. Using the same
      objective parameters patients that used corticosteroids had a tendency to improve
      or maintain the pulmonary index, PEFR and oxygen saturation between normal
      values. In this study it was possible to identify a tendency in the patients who
      used corticosteroids: the hospitalizations and exacerbations were less. The
      extension of the study in terms of population sample offers a better statistical
      representation to determine the real tendency or conclusions.

PMID- 1449570
TI  - Attitudes and knowledge toward bicycle helmet by school age children.
AB  - Approximately 600 children under the age of 15 years, die each year in bicycle
      related accidents. Over 80% of these deaths involve trauma to the head. Almost
      one fourth of all significant brain injuries in children are bicycle related. In
      spite of these significant statistics, bicycle helmet use in Puerto Rico has not
      received the necessary publicity to increase their use. Pediatricians should
      encourage helmet use and counsel parents about the important of this device. A
      case control study of accidents among bicycle riders experiencing a crash
      demonstrates that safety helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 85% and brain
      injury by 88%. The recommendation of current safety counseling practices should
      be incorporated as part of the routine pediatrician visit. Educational campaigns
      targeted at parents and children focusing on the incidence of consequences of
      bicycle crashes should be the primary goal for all primary practitioners, since
      the effectiveness of helmets in preventing head injuries might substantially
      increase helmet ownership among children. To assess the prevalence of bicycle
      helmet ownership and the associated factors with this, we surveyed 146 school age
      children evaluated at the Pediatrics Clinics of the University Hospital Dr. Ramon
      Ruiz Arnau from January to March 1991. We concluded that only 7.5% of our sample
      use the helmets.

PMID- 1449569
TI  - [Prevalence of obesity and associated conditions in a center for family
      medicine].
AB  - Obesity is the most prevalent nutritional problem in North America and is
      associated with multiple chronic diseases. A sample, stratified by age and sex (N
      = 193), was taken from all the patients that visited Dr. Pila Hospital's Family
      Practice Center during a two month period. From the medical records, data was
      obtained about age, sex, body mass index, and the presence of diabetes mellitus,
      arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia or hyperlipidemia. The mean age was
      44.8 years. The prevalence rates for obesity, hyperlipidemia, arterial
      hypertension, and diabetes were 53.4%, 69.5%, 26.0% and 17.2% respectively. The
      prevalence rates for hypertension and diabetes were twice in obese subjects than
      in non obese subjects. No statistical association was found between obesity and
      hyperlipidemia. Although this sample is not representative of the general
      population, this study sheds light on the impact of obesity and associated
      conditions among users of health services.

PMID- 1449571
TI  - [Evaluation of infants born to mothers with a history of cocaine use during
      pregnancy].

PMID- 1449572
TI  - Computers, diagnoses and patients with acute abdominal pain.

PMID- 1449573
TI  - Audit of computer-aided diagnosis of abdominal pain in accident and emergency
      departments.

PMID- 1449574
TI  - Conjunctival oxygen monitoring in the initial assessment of trauma.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of the conjunctival oxygen
      tension (PCJO2) monitor during the early assessment of injured patients in the
      A&E Department of a large District General Hospital. The conjunctival oxygen
      sensor provides a non-invasive continuous monitor of tissue oxygenation in the
      palpebral conjunctiva and has been shown to detect early hypovolaemia in animal
      and human studies. For this preliminary report PCJO2 was recorded with initial
      clinical findings, standard cardiorespiratory parameters (pulse rate, blood
      pressure, respiratory rate, Glasgow Coma Score) and final diagnosis. Low PCJO2
      (less than 45 mmHg) was associated with hypovolaemia, reduced cardiac output and
      chest injury. Normal PCJO2 in patients with severe head injury requiring transfer
      to the Regional Neurosurgical Centre or patients from multivictim road traffic
      accidents (RTAs) indicated no early occult cardiorespiratory compromise and this
      was subsequently confirmed. Monitoring PCJO2 seems to provide a valuable adjunct
      in the initial assessment of the injured patient.

PMID- 1449575
TI  - An ambulance helicopter for emergency calls.
AB  - The use of a helicopter as a primary response vehicle for the Cornwall Ambulance
      Service is presented. A brief analysis of the activities of the First Air
      Ambulance is described and an appraisal of its effects on the overall performance
      of the Service is given. Emphasis is given to patient acceptability and also to
      the flexibility of the helicopter in terms of its response to different
      situations. In conclusion, The Air Ambulance, as part of an integrated ambulance
      service, is an effective provider of good pre-hospital care.

PMID- 1449576
TI  - Can out-of-hours operating in gynaecology be reduced?
AB  - Against a background of concerns about future hospital medical staffing and the
      safety of unsupervised operations at night, this study examines which
      gynaecological operations now undertaken at night may be safely postponed until
      the following day. In the first phase of the study, the operations taking place
      at night in four hospitals were identified. In the second phase a nominal group
      technique was used to seek the extent of agreement among professionals about the
      appropriateness of postponing surgery to the following day in certain
      circumstances. There were considerable variations between hospitals in the volume
      of work and the grade of staff involved. The panel concluded that most operations
      now performed at night should not be postponed. This study suggests that there is
      limited scope for postponing gynaecological operations currently undertaken at
      night.

PMID- 1449577
TI  - A review of in-patient hand infections.
AB  - A retrospective review is presented of 64 patients with infections of the hand
      requiring admission to hospital. We present an account of the different types of
      hand infection encountered, together with details of the various aetiologies and
      microbiological findings where these are available. The management of hand
      infections is discussed with reference to the patients in our series, and in
      terms of the general principles involved.

PMID- 1449578
TI  - Reducing children's fear when undergoing painful procedures.

PMID- 1449579
TI  - Avulsion fracture of the straight and reflected heads of rectus femoris.
AB  - We present a rare case of avulsion fracture of the reflected head of rectus
      femoris. This occurred in a 13-year-old male footballer. Diagnosis was made with
      pelvic radiology and treatment was bed rest and analgesia.

PMID- 1449580
TI  - The management of quinine-induced blindness.
AB  - Given the potential toxicity of even a small number of quinine tablets we suggest
      that patients to whom these are prescribed should be alerted to this risk both by
      the prescribing clinician and by a warning, clearly printed on the tablet
      container. There is no evidence that increased retinal arteriolar dilation is of
      any value in the management of patients with quinine induced blindness. Therefore
      the use of SGB for this condition must be questioned unless a controlled trial is
      performed which shows benefits. We recommend that the aim of treatment has to be
      reduction in the plasma level of quinine. The most efficient way of accomplishing
      this is by repeated oral activated charcoal.

PMID- 1449581
TI  - Bone infection and the limping child in the accident & emergency department: a
      diagnosis to be considered.
AB  - The child who presents to the A&E department with a limp must be taken seriously.
      It is of paramount importance to include in the list of causes the possibility of
      infection. The diagnosis and treatment of subacute osteomyelitis in children is
      discussed to highlight the necessity for immediate referral and inpatient
      management.

PMID- 1449582
TI  - Skin ulceration due to cement.
AB  - Despite legislation that requires manufacturers to inform the public about the
      dangers of contact with cement, severe ulceration from cement contact still
      occurs. We present a retrospective study of seven patients presenting to this
      department over a 2-year period. All were male and employed in the building
      trade, their injuries being sustained whilst at work. The injuries were to the
      lower limb, often multiple and required a median of seven visits before healing
      was complete. One required hospital admission and skin grafting.

PMID- 1449583
TI  - Violence in the accident and emergency department.

PMID- 1449584
TI  - Accident--an anachronism?

PMID- 1449585
TI  - Effects of the Gulf War on accident & emergency attendances.

PMID- 1449586
TI  - Teaching trauma management.

PMID- 1449587
TI  - Pulsed electromagnetic energy and pre-tibial lacerations.

PMID- 1449588
TI  - Massive haemothorax from central venous catheterization: a note of caution.

PMID- 1449589
TI  - Teaching of basic life support.

PMID- 1449590
TI  - Sialic acid-binding proteins: characterization, biological function and
      application.
AB  - The last decade has witnessed steadily growing support for the notion that the
      carbohydrate portion of glycoconjugates is not merely an inert structural
      addition to the protein or lipid backbone. Considerable attention has been given
      to the chemical composition of glycosidic residues in such heteropolymers. Sialic
      acids are frequently occurring components of oligosaccharide side chains in
      glycoconjugates of most higher animals and a few microorganisms. They appear to
      play an important role as ligands in glycobiological interactions. Mediation of a
      proposed protein-carbohydrate recognition will necessarily involve a binding
      protein with the respective specificity. Such proteins thus are able to serve as
      receptors for certain types of carbohydrate moieties like sialic acids in vivo.
      Various members of this class of proteins have already proven their value as
      analytical tools in studying expression and localization of defined
      sialoglycoconjugates. These proteins attract much attention due to both their
      functions in situ and their potential as laboratory tools in glycoconjugate
      research in areas like biochemistry or histology. We present a survey of the
      purification, characterization and application of this class of proteins to
      illustrate the status of knowledge and the current directions of research in this
      field.

PMID- 1449591
TI  - A simplified combination of DNA probe preparation and fluorescence in situ
      hybridization.
AB  - Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has found widespread applications in
      cytogenetics. So far the standard protocols for probe amplification (and
      simultaneous labeling) by PCR, nick translation and in situ hybridization involve
      different buffer systems leading to a number of time consuming washing steps even
      before hybridization. In this manuscript we show a fast technique of a close
      combination of DNA probe preparation and in situ hybridization (ISH). This method
      was applied to metaphase chromosomes from human lymphocytes fixed on slides. Two
      specific repetitive DNA probes, the pUC 1.77 DNA probe and the DYZ1 repetitive
      DNA fraction were used, amplified and labeled in different ways. Additional
      experiments with total genomic male human DNA as the DNA probe suggest that this
      method may be extended to a large variety of other probes. Moreover the ISH
      technique described does not require toxic denaturing agents, such as formamide.

PMID- 1449592
TI  - Red blood cell partitioning of the [6S]- and the [6R]-isomer of N5
      formyltetrahydrofolic acid.
AB  - The in vitro interaction of the [6S]- and [6R]-stereoisomers of CHO-THFA with
      human RBCs was investigated in the (therapeutically comparable) concentration
      range from 1.0 to 12.5 micrograms/ml. Both compounds are bound to RBCs with a
      kRBC ranging from 0.13 to 0.75 for [6S]-CHO-THFA and from 0.06 to 0.33 for [6R]
      CHO-THFA, respectively. The interaction of the [6S]-form with RBCs is about two
      times higher than of the [6R]-form. Incubation of CHO-THFA with RBCs over 24 h
      showed an accelerated disappearance from the test solution for [6R]-CHO-THFA with
      a mean t1/2 of 49.9 h in compare to t1/2 = 58.2 h for the [6S]-enantiomer. The
      results indicate that RBCs may play a major role for the pharmacokinetics and
      metabolism of CHO-THFA and may act as an intravasal depot especially for [6S]-CHO
      THFA.

PMID- 1449593
TI  - Effect of cinnamic and acrylic acids' derivatives on luminol-enhanced
      chemiluminescence of neutrophils.
AB  - Fourteen derivatives of cinnamic and acrylic acids were evaluated for their
      ability to modulate chemiluminescence, evoked by neutrophils that had been
      exposed to luminol and phorbol-myristate-acetate. Compounds with one or two
      hydroxyl groups on the phenyl ring demonstrated significant inhibition of the
      chemiluminescence, but this inhibition was diminished by methoxylation.
      Saturation of the double bond in the aliphatic chain of cinnamic acid at C6
      enhanced the chemiluminescence to a small degree. All three acrylic acid
      derivatives demonstrated a marked inhibition of the luminol chemiluminescence,
      indicating that characteristics of the heterocyclic ring is of utmost importance
      in this activity.

PMID- 1449594
TI  - Electrostatic potential barrier in asymmetric planar
      lipopolysaccharide/phospholipid bilayers probed with the valinomycin-K+ complex.
AB  - Using the carrier-ion complex valinomycin-K+, current/voltage (I/U)
      characteristics were registered for planar asymmetric lipid bilayers composed on
      one side of a phospholipid mixture and on the other side of rough mutant
      lipopolysaccharide. This system resembles the lipid matrix of the outer membrane
      of Gram-negative bacteria. The evaluation of the current/voltage curves yielded a
      highly asymmetric electrical potential barrier. The total potential difference
      between the phospholipid and the lipopolysaccharide was -85 mV, a result which
      cannot be explained by contributions of Gouy-Chapman potentials alone. The
      possible contribution of dipole potentials and influences of headgroup effects
      are discussed. It is shown that the asymmetry of the I/U-characteristic results
      from the differences of the surface charge densities of the two monolayers but
      not from those of the states of order of their hydrocarbon chains.

PMID- 1449595
TI  - Micromorphometric evaluation of changes in symmetry of sarcoplasmic reticulum
      membranes induced by vanadate.
AB  - Electron micrographs of light sarcoplasmic vesicles fixed with glutaraldehyde and
      osmium tetroxide followed by contrasting with uranyl acetate and lead citrate
      have been evaluated by registering their membrane profiles with a
      microdensitometer. The asymmetric arrangement of the two layers of the vesicular
      membrane could be ascertained by demonstrating a ratio of 1.5 for the thickness
      of the outer versus the inner membrane layer which is in general agreement with
      the proposed protein structure of the calcium transport enzyme. Treatment of the
      vesicles with low concentrations of vanadate (0.1 mM) results in a significant
      lowering of the symmetry ratio by 20% by reducing mainly the thickness of the
      outer membrane leaflet. Removal of the membrane lipids by treating the vesicles
      with phospholipase A2 and bovine serum albumin diminishes the membrane surface by
      50% resulting in a significant increase of both the membrane thickness and the
      asymmetry ratio by 30 and 12% respectively. The vanadate induced reduction of
      membrane asymmetry is accentuated after delipidation indicating that the membrane
      lipids are not essential for the asymmetric appearance of the native membrane.
      The stability of the spherical form of the vesicles to delipidation implies that
      the transport molecules are conically shaped allowing strong mutual interactions.
      At a measured height of the molecule of 80 A in the membrane, the vanadate
      induced change in symmetry would be brought about by compensatory changes of less
      than 3 A of the outer (35 A) and the inner (25 A) diameter of the cone.

PMID- 1449597
TI  - Correlation of the conformation of a modified ribonuclease octapeptide,
      homologous to peptide T, with its ability to induce CD4-dependent monocyte
      chemotaxis.
AB  - Peptide T, from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), whose sequence is Ala-Ser
      Thr-Thr-Thr-Asn-Tyr-Thr, has been shown to inhibit attachment of this virus to T
      cells and neural cells bearing the CD4 receptor. This peptide shares extensive
      homology with the 19-26 segment of ribonuclease A (RNase A), whose sequence is
      Ala-Ala-Ser-Ser-Ser-Asn-Tyr-Cys. Based on comparison of the structures of
      peptides occurring in proteins of known structure that are homologous to peptide
      T, viz, RNase A and endothiapepsin and on conformational energy calculations, we
      predicted that peptide T adopts a structure much like that for residues 19-26 in
      RNase A. A critical feature is a bend involving residues Thr 4-Asn 7 in peptide T
      corresponding to Ser 22-Tyr 25 in the RNase A peptide. Our proposed structure for
      peptide T has recently been confirmed by Cotelle et al. (Biochem. Biophys. Res.
      Commun. 171, 596-602). We now show directly that the RNase A peptide, with Met
      replacing Cys 26 to prevent disulfide exchange reactions, strongly induces
      monocyte-chemotaxis that is blocked by anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody. Both peptide
      T and RNase A fail to induce chemotaxis, however, in neutrophils which do not
      express surface CD4 receptors. These results suggest that both peptides interact
      with the CD4 receptor in inducing monocyte chemotaxis. We have also prepared
      cyclo-RNase A peptide with Met 26. Using molecular dynamics and conformational
      energy calculations, we find that the cyclic peptide cannot form a bend structure
      involving Ser 22-Tyr 25 that is superimposable on the RNase A bend.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449596
TI  - Heterologous expression and purification of active human
      phosphoribosylglycinamide formyltransferase as a single domain.
AB  - We report here for the first time that the GART domain of the human trifunctional
      enzyme possessing GARS, AIRS, and GART activities can be expressed independently
      in Escherichia coli at high levels as a stable protein with enzymatic
      characteristics comparable to those of native trifunctional protein. Human
      trifunctional enzyme is involved in de novo purine biosynthesis, and has long
      been recognized as a target for antineoplastic intervention. The GART domain was
      expressed in E. coli under the control of bacteriophage T7 promotor and isolated
      by a three-step chromatographic procedure. Two residues, Asp 951 and His 915,
      were shown to be catalytically crucial by site-directed mutagenesis and
      subsequent characterization of purified mutant proteins. The active
      monofunctional GART protein produced in E. coli can serve as a valuable
      substitute of trifunctional enzyme for structural and functional studies which
      have been until now hindered because of insufficient quantity, instability, and
      size of the trifunctional GART protein.

PMID- 1449598
TI  - The principal islet of the Coho salmon (Oncorhyncus kisutch) contains the BB
      isoenzyme of creatine kinase.
AB  - The importance of creatine kinase (E.C. 2.7.3.2) in endocrine tissues has been
      generally overlooked. Using a specific radiometric assay, we have demonstrated
      the existence of CK in the Brockmann body (principal islet) of the Coho salmon.
      We have purified this protein from insular tissue and concurrently purified CK
      from brain and muscle of the salmon. Purification characteristics, immunological
      cross-reactivity, and N-terminal sequence analysis have demonstrated that the
      predominant cytosolic CK from the Brockmann body is indistinguishable from the BB
      (brain) isoenzyme. Immunocytochemical studies indicated that the enzyme resides
      in the endocrine parenchyma. Phosphocreatine may serve as a reservoir of energy
      in the islet and augment its capacity to secrete hormones. The induction of CK-BB
      in the islet by other hormones could influence the secretion of insular hormones.
      Interorgan flux of the substrate creatine may be an undescribed mechanism of
      physiological regulation.

PMID- 1449599
TI  - Solution structure of a synthetic peptide corresponding to a receptor binding
      region of FSH (hFSH-beta 33-53).
AB  - The receptor binding surface of human follicle-stimulating hormone (hFSH) is
      mimicked by synthetic peptides corresponding to the hFSH-beta chain amino acid
      sequences 33-53 [Santa-Coloma, T. A., Dattatreyamurty, D., and Reichert, L. E.,
      Jr. (1990), Biochemistry 29, 1194-1200], 81-95 [Santa-Coloma, T. A., Reichert, L.
      E., Jr. (1990), J. Biol. Chem. 265, 5037-5042], and the combined sequence (33-53)
      (81-95) [Santa-Coloma, T. A., Crabb, J. W., and Reichert, L. E., Jr. (1991), Mol.
      Cell. Endocrinol. 78, 197-204]. These peptides have been shown to inhibit binding
      of hFSH to its receptor. Circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance
      (NMR) spectroscopy were used to determine the structure of the first peptide in
      this series, the 21 amino acid peptide hFSH-beta-(33-53), H2N
      YTRDLVYKDPARPKIQKTCTF-COOH. Analysis of CD data indicated the presence of
      approximately equal amounts of antiparallel beta-pleated sheet, turns including a
      beta-turn, "other" structures, and a small amount of alpha-helix. The major
      characteristics of the structure were found to be relatively stable at acidic pH
      and the predominant effect of increased solvent polarity was a small increase in
      alpha-helical content. One- and two-dimensional NMR techniques were used to
      obtain full proton and carbon signal assignments in aqueous solution at pH 3.1.
      Analysis of NMR results confirmed the presence of the structural features
      revealed by CD analysis and provided a detailed picture of the secondary
      structural elements and global folding pattern in hFSH-beta-(33-53). These
      features included an antiparallel beta-sheet (residues 38-51 and 46-48), turns
      within residues 41-46, and 50-52 (a beta-turn) and a small N-terminal helical
      region comprised of amino acids 34-36. One of the turns is facilitated by
      prolines 42 and 45. Proline-45 was constrained to the trans conformation, whereas
      proline-42 favored the trans conformer (approximately 70%) over the cis
      (approximately 30%). Two resonances were observed for the single alanine residue
      (A-43) sequentially proximal to P-42, but the rest of the structure was minimally
      affected by the isomerization at proline-42. The major population of molecules,
      containing trans-42 and trans-45 prolines, presented 120 NOEs. Distance geometry
      calculations with 140 distance constraints and energy minimization refinements
      were used to derive a moderately well-defined model of the peptide's
      structure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1449601
TI  - The molybdoenzymes xanthine oxidase and aldehyde oxidase contain fast- and slow
      DTNB reacting sulphydryl groups.
AB  - The reactivities with an excess of 5-5'-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic) acid (DTNB) of
      sulphydryl residues present in xanthine oxidase and aldehyde oxidase were studied
      and compared. The results show that two classes of sulphydryl groups with quite
      different reactivities exist in both enzymes either native or denatured. Some of
      the available sulphydryl residues thus react instantaneously with the DTNB,
      whereas the others react very slowly following pseudo-first-order kinetics. The
      number of sulphydryl residues of each class and the rate constant of slowly
      reacting groups are, respectively, 1.7 and 0.8 in native xanthine oxidase and 1.6
      and 1.7 in native aldehyde oxidase. In denatured enzymes, the number of fast- and
      slow-reacting sulphydryl residues obtained are, respectively, 13.9 and 7.9 in
      xanthine oxidase and 5.7 and 5.4 in aldehyde oxidase. Analogously, the rate
      constant for the slowly reacting groups is similar for the two native enzymes,
      but in denatured aldehyde oxidase it is double that of denatured xanthine
      oxidase.

PMID- 1449600
TI  - Temperature sensitivity of vinblastine-induced tubulin polymerization in the
      presence of microtubule-associated proteins.
AB  - The antitumor drug vinblastine has been a useful probe for examining the
      interaction of tubulin with the microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs),
      specifically with tau and MAP 2. Although tau and MAP 2 can stimulate microtubule
      assembly in vitro, their specific interactions with tubulin are known to differ.
      For example, in the presence of vinblastine, both tau and MAP 2 cause tubulin to
      form spirals, but tau causes formation of clustered spirals of high turbidity,
      while MAP 2 causes formation of loose spirals of low turbidity [Luduena et al.,
      J. Biol. Chem. 259, 12890-12898 (1984)]. Although cold temperatures can inhibit
      microtubule assembly, cold has no effect on vinblastine-induced tubulin spiral
      formation. Consequently, we used the vinblastine-tubulin system to examine the
      interactions of tau and MAP 2 with tubulin at low temperatures. We found that tau
      tubulin-vinblastine complexes form about as well at 0 degree C as at 37 degrees
      C. In contrast, MAP 2-tubulin-vinblastine complexes form much less well at 0
      degrees C than at 37 degrees C. We find, however, that MAP 2, at 0 degrees C,
      will strongly inhibit, and even reverse, formation of the tau-tubulin-vinblastine
      complex. This suggests that the temperature-sensitive factor is the MAP 2
      stimulated tubulin-tubulin interaction rather than the MAP 2-tubulin interaction
      per se; this raises the possibility that the tubulin-tubulin interactions
      stimulated by tau differ in their temperature sensitivity from those stimulated
      by MAP 2.

PMID- 1449602
TI  - Primary structure of carboxypeptidase T: delineation of functionally relevant
      features in Zn-carboxypeptidase family.
AB  - The primary structure of carboxypeptidase T--a Zn-dependent extracellular enzyme
      of Thermoactinomyces vulgaris--was determined from the cloned cpT gene nucleotide
      sequence and compared to Zn-carboxypeptidases from various organisms. The
      compilation and analysis of multiple alignment accompanied by consideration of
      available tertiary structure data have shown that in the overall spatial
      structure and active site arrangement CpT is similar to other enzymes
      constituting the Zn-carboxypeptidase family. Nine of 16 amino acid residues found
      to be strictly invariant are presumably located close to the active site. The
      preservation of His69, Glu72, Asn144, Arg145, His196, Tyr248, and Glu270
      identified previously as essential catalytic site participants implicates
      basically the same catalytic mechanism in the Zn-carboxypeptidase family. It is
      proposed that Pro205 and Asp256 should play an important role in proper S1'
      pocket spatial arrangement. The comparative analysis of amino acid variations in
      S1'-pocket enabled us to reveal structural determinants of the Zn
      carboxypeptidase primary specificity. The relatively reduced size of the pocket
      and negative charge of Asp253 are supposed to contribute correspondingly to A-
      and B-type substrate preferences of carboxypeptidase T endowed with dual primary
      specificity.

PMID- 1449603
TI  - Correlation between the compact regions predicted by the average distance map
      (ADM) and the biologically active sites in atrial natriuretic peptide.
AB  - The prediction of the short-range compact regions of human atrial natriuretic
      peptide (alpha-hANP), one of the biologically active peptides, has been made by
      means of the Average Distance Map(ADM). We found out that the location of the
      predicted short-range compact regions is consistent with the structural units
      determined by the NMR analysis (Kobayashi et al., 1988). Furthermore, the short
      range compact regions correspond well to the biologically active areas of
      atriopeptin (103-125)-amide (which is homologous peptide to alpha-hANP), detected
      by the glycine substitution technique (Konishi et al., 1987). The results suggest
      that a predicted short-range compact region can be regarded as a possible active
      site in a biologically active peptide.

PMID- 1449604
TI  - Molecular close-packing method and its application to crystal structure
      determination of deshexapeptide (B25-B30) insulin.
AB  - Based on the molecule-packing theory, we defined a molecule-packing function
      expressing the compatibility of packing among the symmetry-related molecules in a
      unit cell. A computer program imitating the close-packing of molecules in the
      objective crystal lattice and giving the function value of each rotation and
      translation of the molecule in the unit cell was performed, and it therefore made
      the close-packing of molecules express quantitatively. This method not only could
      judge a correct solution from several peaks of the rotation or translation
      function but it may also independently, quantitatively and quickly solve some
      specific problems of rotation and translation. Using known structure of
      despentapeptide (B26-B30) insulin as an example, the effectiveness of this method
      and its program was inspected, and this method was successfully applied to
      solving the translation problem of the unknown structure of deshexapeptide (B25
      B30) insulin. The molecular close-packing method proved by the results of R
      search and electron density maps is relatively independent of the molecular
      replacement method, though an effective complement of it.

PMID- 1449605
TI  - A cDNA clone with anti-oncogene activity.
AB  - A cDNA clone, p14-6, which has an anti-oncogene activity on the v-Ki-Ras oncogene
      transformed malignant cell line DT, was found. This clone was recovered from the
      revertant R14 cells, which had been isolated by transfections of DT cells with a
      normal human fibroblast cDNA library cloned in pcD2, an Okayama-Berg vector. When
      transfected into DT cells, p14-6 clone gave rise to phenotypical flat reversion
      in 5-15% of DT transfectant colonies. The p14-6-transfected flat cell line, RR,
      was proven to be a true revertant with significantly reduced malignancy by in
      vitro and in vivo malignancy tests. All other clones recovered from R14 cells
      were unable to cause this reversion. Molecular hybridizations showed that the p14
      6 was inserted into RR genome as tandem repeats, and no structural change was
      found in the v-Ki-Ras oncogene in RR genome. These facts suggest that the anti
      oncogene activity of the p14-6 clone on the DT cells may be exerted through
      expression of the cDNA contained in this clone.

PMID- 1449606
TI  - [Systematic modelling in nutrition].
AB  - Live organisms can be considered as open complex systems in a steady state
      through which passes a flow of matter which undergoes a series of transformations
      which constitutes the nutritional process. The systemic approach and modelling
      procedure can be applied to nutrition as it can to other scientific areas,
      although examples of this particular application are few. This review describes
      the complexity of components in nutritional systems and presents a means of
      simplifying this. A section is given over to a comparative study of the main
      types of models (empirical vs mechanistic, static vs dynamic) which can be
      applied to nutrition. The other topics covered concern the modelling of the
      regulating systems in nutrition (homeostasis, homeorhesis), model validation and
      comments on application models and research.

PMID- 1449607
TI  - The influence of processing corn grain on glucose metabolism in ewes.
AB  - Glucose metabolism was studied in ewes fed 800 g chopped alfalfa hay (H) or 400 g
      alfalfa hay and 400 g corn grain given in whole (HWC), ground (HGC) or extruded
      (HEC) form. Daily intake of metabolisable energy and crude protein were: 5.8 MJ,
      109 g; 9.0 MJ, 84 g; 9.5 MJ, 84 g and 8.5 MJ, 88 g in H, HWC, HGC and HEC,
      respectively. In situ ruminal degradability ranked whole, ground, and extruded
      corn in ascending order. Ruminal pH and concentration of acetic acid were lower
      and of propionic acid higher (P less than 0.05) in HEC than in HGC and HWC
      groups. Plasma level of glucose (P less than 0.10), insulin (P less than 0.05),
      and the ratio of insulin to non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) (P less than 0.01)
      were higher in HEC than in other groups. Glucose irreversible loss (GILR) and
      entry rate (GER), recycling (GRec) and reentry (GRee) were determined by double
      isotope dilution procedure. GER, but not GILR, was higher in HWC than in H and
      HGC (6.98 mg/min/kg BW0.75 vs 3.97 and 4.24 mg/min/kg BW0.75, respectively; P
      less than 0.05) and than in HEC (4.84 mg/min/kg BW0.75; P less than 0.10). GRec
      and GRee were higher in HWC than in the other treatments. Grinding or extruding
      the grain increased ruminal degradability and decreased glucose entry rate.

PMID- 1449608
TI  - Pressure profile along the oesophagus during eructation in sheep.
AB  - The pressure profile along the oesophagus was recorded simultaneously with the
      flow rate of eructated gas in sheep to evaluate the oesophageal motor events
      leading to the relief of gas. All the eructation sequences started by a rise
      followed by a plateau of oesophageal pressure. The passage of gas at the tracheal
      level occurred during this plateau and not during the consecutive transient
      lowering of the oesophageal pressure. All eructation sequences ended by a
      peristaltic contraction of the oesophagus. The flow rate pattern of gas during
      eructation was affected by head position leading to different tensions of the
      oesophagus. We conclude that, despite the large volume of eructated gases, the
      eructation process is not significantly different in sheep compared to other
      animals. Therefore, by virtue of its unique physiological particularity, the
      sheep might be used as an experimental model for the evaluation of lower
      oesophageal sphincter (LOS) competence.

PMID- 1449609
TI  - Microstructure of skeletal muscles of growing calves fed silage-based vs hay
      based diets. II. Fibre type distribution.
AB  - As described in part I, samples of musculus longissimus dorsi, semimembranosus
      and semitendinosus were obtained post-slaughter from 2-week, 3-month and 10-month
      old bull calves. The 2-week-old calves were fed milk only. All the remaining
      animals were fed grass silage or hay ad lib and a restricted amount of
      concentrate from 2 weeks of age onwards. Muscle fibres were differentiated
      according to Ziegan (1979) into fast-twitch glycolytic, fast-twitch
      oxidoglycolytic and slow-twitch oxidative fibres (FTG, FTO and STO,
      respectively). The percent distribution of individual types of fibres was
      estimated as related to the calves age and diet. The most numerous were always
      fast-twitch glycolytic fibres, the lowest values being observed in the 2-week-old
      calves. The effect of the diet on fibre percentage distribution in 3-month-old
      calves differed from that found in 10-month-old animals. This research suggests
      that a hay-free diet based on grass silage alters the microstructure of skeletal
      muscles, which thus might also affect the quality of meat.

PMID- 1449610
TI  - [Effect of bean (Vicia faba) extrusion on nitrogen and starch intestinal flux in
      lactating cows].
AB  - Four mature lactating Holstein cows fitted with permanent ruminal, duodenal and
      ileal cannulae were used to study the effect of extrusion at 195 degrees C of
      beans (Vicia faba cv Castel) on organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N) and starch
      degradation in the rumen and their flow to and absorption from the small
      intestine. The test protein sources, raw beans (RB) and extruded beans (EB),
      provided about 45% of the dietary protein. The diets were composed of 23.1%
      beans, 56.2% corn silage, 10.1% corn grain and 10.7% Italian rye-grass hay on a
      DM basis; the diets were isocaloric (4.5 Mcal/kg of DM) and isonitrogenous (14%
      of DM). Cr-EDTA, YbCl3 and purines were used as liquid, particulate and bacterial
      markers respectively. Extruding the beans did not influence intraruminal pH
      (6.6), ammonia-N (99 mg/l) and volatile fatty acids (97 mM/l) concentrations.
      Apparent digestibility in total tract of energy, OM, N and starch were not
      affected with inclusion of EB instead of RB, the corresponding mean values were:
      66, 68, 64 and 95% of intake. Apparent ruminal digestion of OM, starch and N in
      the forestomach were 39, 58 and 52% for diets containing RB and 38, 72 and 45%
      for EB diets; efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis (gN/kg organic matter
      truly digested in the stomach) was higher for EN diets compared with RN diets (25
      vs 22). Eating diets including EB increased non-ammonia-N, bacterial-N and
      dietary-N flows (g/d) to the duodenum compared with diets containing RB: 409 vs
      366, 216 vs 194 and 193 vs 172 respectively; while starch flow was reduced (1.5
      vs 2.2 kg/d) and OM flow was unchanged (9.8 kg/d). Apparent digestion from the
      small intestine (g/d) of nonammonia-N, bacterial-N and dietary-N were higher for
      EB diets: 268 vs 229, 181 vs 160 and 87 vs 69 respectively; meanwhile, starch
      digestion decreased (975 vs 1,612). The PDIA, PDIN and PDIE contents (g/kg of DM)
      of the RB were 33, 175 and 127 respectively; the corresponding values after
      extrusion were: 58, 147 and 178.

PMID- 1449612
TI  - Ontogeny of the liver nuclear T3-receptor during the last days of incubation and
      posthatch in the chick embryo.
AB  - The characteristics of the nuclear T3 receptor in the liver of the chick embryo
      were studied from incubation day 18 until day 1 posthatching. Treatment of the
      nuclei with 3 mol.l-1 MgCl2, which removed the endogenously bound hormone, was
      used in order to determine the total amount of receptors. The affinity constant
      Ka decreased between incubation day 18 (0.996 +/- 0.276.10(9) M-1) and day 19
      (0.247 +/- 0.072.10(9) M-1), remained the same thereafter until hatching and
      increased again on day 1 posthatching (1.846 +/- 0.928.10(9) M-1). The total
      amount of receptors tended to increase from incubation day 18 to day 20 non
      pipping (np) (from 4.40 to 11.55 fmol/micrograms DNA) and decreased thereafter to
      2.38 fmol/micrograms DNA on day 1 posthatching. The amount of free binding sites
      reached a maximum on day 19 (6.91 fmol/micrograms DNA) and then decreased
      drastically until posthatching (0.19 fmol/micrograms DNA). The maximal specific
      binding was found on day 20 (np), just prior to penetration of the air chamber.
      During the time at which the level of T3 remains high in the plasma, a reduction
      in the amount of receptor was observed, which may be the consequence of a down
      regulation by T3 itself.

PMID- 1449611
TI  - Purification of an ovine, androgen-dependent epididymal protein. Evidence for a
      strong amino acid sequence homology with serum albumin.
AB  - An ovine, testosterone-dependent protein was purified from an extract of
      epididymides of orchidectomized-, testosterone-implanted rams by ethylene glycol
      precipitation, anion exchange chromatography, preparative non-denaturing PAGE at
      alkaline pH and gel filtration. The protein which had previously been named ovine
      prealbumin-epididymis-specific protein (oPES), migrated as a single band ahead of
      ovine serum albumin (oSA). A single component, with an apparent MW of 60 kDa,
      lower than that of oSA, was also observed in SDS-PAGE. oPES was cleaved after
      lysyl residues using endoproteinase Lys-C and the hydrolysate was fractionated in
      2 steps by reverse-phase HPLC. Six oligopeptides were recovered and sequenced.
      They all displayed complete identity with regions of bovine serum albumin
      scattered in the two-third N-terminal part. However, in 2 of them, there was no
      complete identity with homologous parts of oSA. This indicates that oPES and oSA
      are probably encoded by different genes.

PMID- 1449613
TI  - Oestrus and LH responses to oestradiol during lactational anoestrus in Chinese
      Meishan and large white sows.
AB  - To investigate endocrine mechanisms associated with the occasional occurrence of
      fertile oestrus during lactation in the high prolific Chinese Meishan (MS) breed,
      the incidence of oestrus and changes in plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) levels
      before and after oestradiol benzoate (OB, 15 micrograms/kg body weight)
      administration on day 22 was compared in 4 MS and 6 Large White (LW) sows. All
      sows exhibited oestrus in response to OB. Only 1 sow (MS) ovulated in response to
      OB, became pregnant and farrowed. Mean plasma LH levels before OB were low (MS:
      0.38 +/- 0.06 ng LH/ml, LW: 0.29 +/- 0.04 ng LH/ml, ns). LH levels above 2 ng/ml
      (surge) occurred in 2/4 MS and 2/6 LW sows at 60 +/- 5 h after OB. The MS sow
      that ovulated had an LH surge level of 4.5 ng/ml plasma at 40 h after OB. These
      results indicate minor breed differences in the control of LH secretion during
      lactational anoestrus.

PMID- 1449614
TI  - Salivary stimulation by chewing gum and its role in the remineralization of
      caries-like lesions in human enamel in situ.
AB  - Salivary stimulation elicited reflexively by taste and mastication leads to an
      increase in the pH, buffering power, and supersaturation of saliva, which can
      affect beneficially the balance between enamel de- and remineralization in early
      caries. In a previous study in which a sorbitol chewing gum was used as a
      salivary stimulant for 20 minutes, five times daily after meals and snacks over a
      three-week period (during which fluoride toothpaste was used daily), significant
      remineralization of caries-like lesions in human enamel attached to intraoral
      appliances in human subjects was observed. In view of the continued public
      preference for sucrose-sweetened chewing gums, the study was repeated using a
      sucrose gum. The mean results showed a trend toward remineralization with the use
      of sucrose chewing gum, which was significant in 10 subjects who chewed for 30
      minutes but not in 9 who chewed for 20 minutes. The use of chewing gum after
      meals and snacks (in the presence of fluoride from toothpaste) can thus enhance
      the remineralizing potential of the mouth, probably as a result of salivary
      stimulation.

PMID- 1449615
TI  - Effect of gum chewing on the pH of dental plaque.
AB  - Saliva stimulation by gum chewing has been reported to neutralize plaque acidity.
      We compared the plaque pH response to bread with honey followed by sucrose-or
      sorbitol-sweetened gum chewing for 20 minutes. Bread and honey was chosen as
      previous work in our laboratory found this a worst case challenge in terms of the
      extent and duration of the pH decline. The study design was factorial with: 4
      subjects x 2 replicates x 3 treatments. Each subject received each of the 3
      treatments: food (bread and honey), food followed by sorbitol chewing gum, and
      food followed by sucrose chewing gum. Subjects accumulated plaque for 3 days on a
      partial prosthesis with a glass electrode set in the approximal space in the gap
      left by a missing first molar. Plaque pH was monitored for 150 min: baseline (0
      10), food (11-30), +/- gum chewing (31-50), post-chew monitoring (51-150). ANOVA
      of mean plaque pH showed no difference between treatments at baseline.
      Significantly higher pH levels (p < 0.01) were shown with both gums compared to
      no gum during the chew and post-chew phases. Plaque pH data were also converted
      to absolute acid values (cH). Food alone produced 1703 mumol/min.; food followed
      by sorbitol chewing gum produced 53 mumol/min.; and food followed by sucrose gum
      produced 156 mumol/min. While the post-chew pH curves were not identical for
      sucrose vs. sorbitol chewing gums, both neutralized plaque acidity, probably due
      to the induced salivary action.

PMID- 1449616
TI  - A modified plaque pH telemetry method.
AB  - Previous plaque-pH telemetry studies reported the acidogenicity of various foods
      and dietary patterns to estimate potential cariogenicity. To avoid patient
      discomfort, improve compliance, and minimize electrode malfunctions, we have
      simplified our telemetry method and compared it to our previously published
      model. A removable partial prosthesis with a glass electrode set in the
      approximal space left by a missing first molar was used in 2 subjects. In the
      modified method, subjects suspended oral hygiene for 3 days, the prosthesis was
      then installed on the 3rd day, and accumulated plaque was spread on the electrode
      and covered with gauze for retention. In comparative tests, the same subjects
      wore the prosthesis in the mouth during plaque accumulation. Test sessions
      compared the plaque pH response to 4 treatments: a 10% sucrose rinse, a 10%
      sorbitol rinse, a snack roll with marmalade and coffee, and the snack followed by
      gum chewing. Overall, pH curves were similar (mean baselines and minimas) and no
      significant differences in mean pH response were noted between the 2 methods. The
      modified method improved subject participation, demonstrated greater reliability,
      and showed Stephan curves comparable to conventional methods.

PMID- 1449618
TI  - Fast neutron radiation therapy.

PMID- 1449617
TI  - Two-year longitudinal study of a peroxide-fluoride rinse on decalcification in
      adolescent orthodontic patients.
AB  - The purpose of the present study was to determine if once daily use of a 1.5%
      H2O2 rinse with 0.05% NaF was more effective in preventing decalcification in
      adolescent orthodontic patients than comparable use of a 0.05% NaF rinse without
      H2O2, or in patients using no rinse at all. Ninety-five subjects were selected
      consecutively from adolescents scheduled to receive fixed orthodontic treatment
      on both dental arches. Three groups were formed that were matched in percentages
      for age and sex. The first group (control group, n = 35) used a 1100 ppm F
      toothpaste only. The second group (NaF rinse group, n = 30) used both the same
      toothpaste and a once daily 0.05% NaF rinse. The third group (H2O2-NaF rinse
      group, n = 30) used the toothpaste and a once daily rinse containing both 0.05%
      NaF and 1.5% H2O2. Decalcification was assessed single-blind on the facial
      surfaces of all erupted teeth at baseline (before appliances were placed), and 3
      months after fixed appliances were removed. The difference between baseline and
      post-treatment decalcification levels determined the incidence of decalcification
      during orthodontic treatment. Since the first molars were found to have the
      highest decalcification scores, separate analyses of variance were carried out
      for the whole mouth and first molar assessments. A p value of less than 0.05 was
      considered statistically significant. The results showed no significant
      differences between any of the groups before orthodontic treatment.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449619
TI  - Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in children. I. Patterns of disease and classification.
AB  - Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) are part of an overlapping spectrum of lympho
      proliferative diseases in childhood. In the first of this 2 part series, the
      clinicopathological aspects of NHL in childhood are discussed. The rapid
      progression of disease, the high incidence of micrometastases (over 80%) at
      diagnosis, and the propensity of hematogenous spread to the bone marrow and the
      central nervous system (CNS) as well as the clinico-pathologic 'clusters'
      associated with particular presenting sites distinguish the pediatric forms of
      disease. Abdominal primary sites most frequently manifest diffuse
      undifferentiated (Burkitt's or non-Burkitt's) histopathology, B-cell
      immunophenotype, FAB-L3 cytomorphology and specific karyotypic and/or genotypic
      alterations of the immuno-globulin genes and the c-myc oncogene. Mediastinal
      presentation is associated with lymphoblastic histopathology, T-cell
      immunophenotype and a variety of less consistent karyotypic and genotypic
      aberrations. Ki-1 lymphoma, a rare subtype of large cell NHL with specific
      features is often of T cell origin. The requirements for diagnosis, staging and
      monitoring are presented in the context of the associations between clinico
      pathological presentation and subsequent behavior. The most frequent sites of
      disease progression and relapse are involvement of the bone marrow and the CNS.
      For Burkitt's lymphoma there is a historic perspective and a description of
      particular epidemiologic, clinical, virologic, immunophenotypic and genotypic
      features. Cytogenetic and molecular biologic studies of genomic rearrangements
      are advancing the understanding of oncogenesis, clonality, lineage, and clinical
      behavior. The capacity to detect and amplify DNA from submicroscopic disease may
      contribute to prognostic stratification both at diagnosis and during subsequent
      monitoring.

PMID- 1449620
TI  - Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in children. II. Treatment.
AB  - The prognosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in childhood has improved steadily
      in the last 2 decades. This is primarily the result of increasingly effective
      chemotherapy regimens tailored to defined and relatively homogeneous prognostic
      categories and tested in prospective clinical trials. Surgical excision remains
      of prognostic benefit only when near-total resection can be performed without
      delay of chemotherapy. The role of radiation therapy is now limited to the
      treatment of overt central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma, disease unresponsive to
      chemotherapy, and certain emergencies. Effective 'prophylactic' treatment of the
      CNS has been achieved in most series by intrathecal and systemic chemotherapy
      alone. The most relevant modality of treatment is chemotherapy and a very large
      number of protocols have been published. The origins of current multi-agent
      regimens stem both from early experience with cyclophosphamide in endemic
      Burkitt's lymphoma and from therapeutic studies of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
      Sub-stratification of non-localized NHL has produced protocols designed for
      either lymphoblastic (mostly T cell) or non-lymphoblastic (mostly B cell)
      categories. While the cure rate for lymphoblastic lymphoma now exceed 70%, the
      non-localized non-lymphoblastic disease remains a major obstacle to cure. These
      patients frequently present with large abdominal primaries and are prone to
      regional as well as hematogenous dissemination. In particular, involvement of the
      CNS is now considered to be the most adverse prognostic variable in this group.
      Recently, highly intensive regimens are addressing these obstacles. On the other
      hand, NHL defined as localized has been shown to be curable in up to 95% of
      children with the use of simple chemotherapy regimens as short as 6 months in
      duration. Salvage of patients who relapse during or after chemotherapy remains
      bleak but cures are possible with regimens incorporating bone marrow
      transplantation from either an autologous or allogeneic source. Experimental
      methods, including biologic and immune response modifiers may also offer future
      promise.

PMID- 1449621
TI  - [Omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in healthy and sick children
      under 5 years of age. Part II. Pathologic metabolism].
AB  - Today, the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega 6 and omega 3, are of
      special interest to different research groups, all over the world, due to its
      physiological and metabolic importance. This paper presents different cases of
      fatty acids deficiency from which the cases of premature low-birth-weight
      neonates and children under 5 years old presenting severe malnutrition, stand
      out. In addition, various inherited pathological processes that involve the
      mechanism of oxidation of these nutrients, are also described.

PMID- 1449622
TI  - [Differential physical growth during the first year of life. I. Body growth].
AB  - Keeping up to date the children growth and development standards, it is a
      necessity of main order for Health Secretary, because of it is possible an
      adequate pediatric evaluation. The present study, reports the results of a
      longitudinal research on growth in children of both sexes and ages from 0 to 1
      year of extrauterine life. In all, we got 44 growth measures of the body, head
      and corporal composition. This report describes the shape of growth body,
      illustrates the general parameters of growth: stature and weight. Also it
      includes the dates correspondent to corporal segment growth: sitting height,
      upper and lower segments; upper extremity, upper arm, lower arm, hand, lower
      extremity, thigh, leg and foot lengths; ankle height; biacromial, bicrestal,
      thorax, elbow, wrist, hand, knee, ankle and foot breadths; and thorax depth.
      Moreover, we report the final increments for corporal segments studied, and the
      differences on sexual dimorphism. We describe the methodology, socioeconomic and
      cultural custom results. The sample was classificated within middle lower social
      class.

PMID- 1449623
TI  - [Circumcision in the newborn child and risk of urinary tract infection during the
      first year of life. A meta-analysis].
AB  - To assess if neonatal circumcision may decrease the incidence of urinary tract
      infection (UTI), published papers on these topics were reviewed, to address their
      methodological shortcomings, and to analyze them in individual and grouped form.
      A systematic search of the papers on circumcision and UTI was conducted in Index
      Medicus (1975-1991) and MEDLINE (1988-1991). Six papers were included in the meta
      analysis because all of them presented original data obtained from groups of
      patients. All of the elected articles were considered in individual and grouped
      form to calculate odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval at 95% (CI 95%). The
      number of patients included in each paper ranged from 112 to 219,775. Clustering
      of the articles enabled us to obtain a global sample number of 221,799 patients.
      In each individual article there was a higher risk of UTI in uncircumcised
      patients (OR from 10.82 to 156.42). Global risk obtained from the six clustered
      papers was of 13.05 with a CI 95% from 10.86 to 15.70. Uncircumcised males have
      low risk of UTI during their first year of life, but the risk may decrease even
      more with circumcision. This conclusion may not be considered as definitive
      because of the methodological shortcomings of the papers reviewed. Recommendation
      of routinely circumcision to all newborns in not justified with these data.

PMID- 1449624
TI  - [Treatment of children with acute diarrheal disease. Knowledge and attitudes of
      the health personnel].
AB  - Diarrheal diseases are still one of the most frequent causes of death due to
      dehydration in children; lack of information regarding the adequate treatment of
      diarrhea is the main cause. The results of an inquire sent to 620 physicians and
      nurses were analyzed to determine the knowledge and attitudes of the health care
      workers that reside in different diarrheal mortality areas in Mexico. The less
      professional experience time was correlated with more knowledge in etiology of
      diarrhea. More physicians than nurses had correct answers regarding the place of
      diarrheal diseases in child mortality and the correct use of antimicrobial, and
      other drugs and liquids to prevent and treat dehydration. Most workers did not
      know the inconvenience of hypertonic solutions to prevent dehydration and the
      importance of the oral solution flavor. This results suggest that nurses will, be
      included in clinical training by means of seminars in oral hydration therapy.
      Furthermore it seems convenient to increase the access to oral hydration
      solutions as well as the diffusion of its advantages.

PMID- 1449625
TI  - [Nosocomial infection in the neonatal period at a third level care center].
AB  - Results are presented on epidemiologic surveillance of nosocomial infection of
      all neonates attended at the Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia throughout 1988
      1990, reporting rates of 2.1, 2.9 and 5.5 per 100 discharge for each of the years
      studied. Data are presented in full by service, showing rates of 4.7, 9.5 and
      23.0 per 100 discharge in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and 1.5, 3.2 and
      6.7 per 100 discharge for Neonatal Intermediate Care (NIC) for the same three
      years. With respect to type of infection, septicemia, pneumonia and
      conjunctivitis come as the most frequent causes of infection and Staphylococcus
      sp coagulase negative (30%), Staphylococcus aureus (27%) and Escherichia coli
      (7%) as the prevailing microorganisms in nosocomial infection.

PMID- 1449626
TI  - [Morbidity reduction in preterm newborns fed with milk of their own mothers].
AB  - In order to study the effect of feeding on the morbidity, 118 premature newborn,
      were followed on successive basis; 59 fed with infant term formula (F) and 59 fed
      with own mother's milk (LH). The patients were classified in 3 groups according
      to birth weight: I, < 999 g (n = 4/4); II, 1000-1499 g (n = 37/37) and III, 1500
      1999 g (n = 18/18), each group F and LH having equal numbers. Growth, morbidity
      and clinical management were recorded. Necrotizing enterocolitis (P < 0.001),
      urinary tract infection (P < 0.01) and infectious diarrhea (P < 0.01) were less
      frequent in LH infants and as a consequence these infants needed less
      antimicrobial therapy (P < 0.001), nevertheless the human milk contained flora
      bacteria. The LH infants of group II need fewer red cell transfusions (P < 0.001)
      and each group was similar and only the babies < 999 g had increments of
      approximately 15 g/kg/day. This study highlights the importance of feeding the
      premature infant with own mother's milk; however, the infant growth increments
      were less than the expected suggesting that human milk must be fortified with
      proteins and minerals, considering the mothers as a true human milk bank.

PMID- 1449627
TI  - [Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with progressive arthropathy: 2 siblings
      affected].
AB  - We described a Mexican family whose parents were consanguineous. Therefore two
      children were affected by a progressive arthropathy with deformity in all finger
      joints, restricted joint mobility and broad major joints. This condition was
      diagnosed like atypical juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) because the test for
      serum rheumatoid factors and antibodies were negative and failed to respond to
      anti-rheumatoid treatment. However their radiographic studies showed the spine
      with universal platyspondyly, enlargement epiphyses of the hands, the absence of
      destructive and the presence of the dysplastic bone changes. These manifestations
      permit us to do the diagnosis of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with
      progressive arthropathy. In this report we suggest that a complete radiologic
      study of the patient will allowed to diagnosis this hereditary autosomal
      recessive entity; likewise it will let us differ of JRA and others polyarticular
      conditions of childhood.

PMID- 1449628
TI  - [The Mortality Committee: a hospital need].
AB  - Mortality Committees are multidisciplinary teams whose function is to analyze
      preventable causes of death in order to decrease the death rate, to contribute to
      the education of medical and paramedical staff and also to advise the hospital
      authorities in medical and administrative decision-making. In this paper we
      discuss the activities of the Mortality Committee of the Hospital de Pediatria
      from May 1989 to May 1991. The review comprised 202 death cases occurred during
      this period, and was carried out by the medical personnel involved in attending
      those cases while alive. In 42.5% of these cases the review was supplemented by
      the necropsy results. Patients' personal data, referral source, status on
      admission, principal disease, direct cause of death, adequacy of laboratory test
      and other studies, clinical/pathological correlation and suggestions to improve
      medical care are discussed. We suggest for every hospital the convenience of
      having this committee in order to improve the quality of medical care.

PMID- 1449629
TI  - [Age of onset of spermaturia in 669 children].

PMID- 1449630
TI  - [Omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in healthy and sick children
      under 5. I. Normal metabolism].
AB  - The polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega 6 and omega 3, are organic compounds that
      have to do with the daily caloric intake; the tissue deposits of energy reserve,
      as well as the general intermediary metabolism of the human organisms and the
      composition of all the cellular membranes. This article is about its general
      characteristics: chemical structure, essenciality, biosynthesis, and
      physiological and metabolical functions; its compounds and metabolites derived;
      its organic distribution, and the quantity found in food in general. Of all
      these, special emphasis are made on the essenciality of linoleic and alpha
      linolenic acids, due to its metabolic importance.

PMID- 1449631
TI  - [Permanent pacemakers in children. The indications, complications and long-term
      follow-up].
AB  - Definitive pacemakers were placed in 27 children from June 1970 to October 1988.
      The indication for the pacemakers was congenital auriculoventricular block in 12
      patients who were symptomatic; 8 were children with postoperative
      auriculoventricular block; 4 had developed complete auriculoventricular block
      from myocardiopathies and 3 from idiopathic sick-sinus syndrome. Two patients
      died: one 4 months after placement of the pacemaker due to unrelated causes, and
      the other 14 years later due to fracture of the electrode. There were 23 who were
      reoperated for different reasons but the most frequent was battery failure in 8
      patients and pacemaker malfunction in 4 patients. The electrode was implanted in
      the epicardium in 21 patients and via subclavian vein into the endocardium in 6
      cases. The growth and development physically and mentally were normal during the
      follow-up of these children. The average follow-up period was 55.6 months.

PMID- 1449632
TI  - [The perinatal aspects of surviving low-birth weight neonates].
AB  - We analyzed prenatal history of 277 live low birth weight infants (less than
      2,500 g). We tried to determine some perinatal factors that may be associated
      with good prognosis in this group of babies. The variables analyzed were:
      maternal age, number of prenatal visits, complication of pregnancy, mode of
      delivery, birth weight, sex, gestational age. Apgar score at 1 minute and the
      neonatal morbidity. The population was divided in 3 groups: 1. Less than 1,000 g,
      (3).2. 1,000-1,499 g, (37) and 3. 1,500-2,499 g (237). Each group was also
      divided in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and small for gestational age
      (SGA). We found that morbidity and the risk of death, is less in the SGA compared
      with AGA, associated with better prenatal care, higher birth weight and
      gestational age.

PMID- 1449633
TI  - [Morbidity-mortality due to exchange transfusion in a general hospital. A
      prospective study].
AB  - In this prospective study, the complications and mortality appeared in 50
      exchange transfusions (ET) were analyzed. The ET were performed in 84% of the
      cases through a catheter in the umbilical vessels, 22 through both vessels, 10 by
      vein and 10 by umbilical artery; in the rest of cases by central vein. We found
      complications in 33% of the cases. Cardiac arrhythmia (23 cases) was the most
      frequent complication; also metabolic complications in 20 cases, septic
      complications in 10 cases (8 cases of omphalitis and 4 of sepsis were included),
      8 cases of necrotizing enterocolitis and 3 of bleeding were found. Some of the
      newborns has 2 or more complications at the same time. The total lethality rate
      was 4% which occurred in 2 preterm infants with critical state. Our finding
      suggest that morbidity due to ET is highest than previously reports and maybe the
      mortality is due to the critical state of patients more than the ET.

PMID- 1449634
TI  - [The degree of agreement of the clinical and the histopathological diagnoses in a
      tertiary medical care pediatric hospital].
AB  - In Pediatric Hospital, from the National Medical Center, of the Mexican Institute
      of Social Security were analyzed 96 histological pieces: 59 biopsies, 21 surgical
      material and 16 slides. There were showed the agreement rate between clinical
      diagnosis and the end histopathological report from the Pathology Department. The
      higher correlation rate were with biopsies (83%) and surgical material (81%) and
      the lowest rate were with slides samples (69%). There were not statistical
      difference in the 3 study groups (P greater than 0.05). The overall concordance
      with the clinical diagnosis were 82%. The overall concordance with the 3 study
      groups were 80%. It is concluded what agreement rate was satisfactory in biopsies
      and surgical material and the agreement rate measure is an actual parameter in
      evaluation of clinical competence and also in the evaluation of medical care
      quality.

PMID- 1449635
TI  - [Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung. A report of 12 cases].
AB  - The congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung is uncommon. In the
      Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez, 12 cases have been seen over a period
      of 31 years, which points out how rare this malformation is. There was a male
      predominance, and 75% of the patients had symptoms by 8 months of age. The main
      complaints were progressive respiratory failure in the newborn period and
      recurrent lung infection in older children. Treatment was surgical in all cases.
      There was only one fatality due to cardiac failure.

PMID- 1449636
TI  - [Splenic abscesses. A case report and review of the literature].
AB  - This is a report of a case of a 3-year-old boy who developed splenic abscesses
      after a mild plantar wound. His initial complains were fever and several distal
      cutaneous abscesses (septic emboli). Multiple cultures for bacteria, fungi,
      mycobacterium and anaerobes were performed, but all were negative. In spite of an
      energetic antimicrobial treatment, he continued with high fever. Echocardiography
      was normal. Two weeks later, a thoracic radiography showed the left hemidiafragm
      was elevated and a small pleural effusion. An abdominal echosonography showed
      multiple hypoechoic splenic lesions, and this finding was confirmed by magnetic
      resonance imaging. After splenectomy, the patient healed and was discharged.
      Anatomopathological examination of the spleen showed eight pyogenic abscesses of
      different size. The causal agent was not isolated.

PMID- 1449637
TI  - [Rapid intravenous rehydration in acute diarrhea].
AB  - With the use of oral rehydration, the need for the use of endovenous rehydration
      has decreased considerably. Albeit, the use is still necessary in severely
      dehydrated patients or when oral rehydration fails. Textbooks produced in
      developed countries recommend slow administration of fluids to correct
      dehydration in 12 to 24 hours. In developing countries, due to the great number
      of severely dehydrated patients, this approach is not useful. We developed,
      during the last 20 years, an approach to intravenous rehydration that permits
      rehydration of the severely ill patient in a much shorter time (2 to 3 hours) and
      permits an early refeeding. It can be used in all patients, even newborns or
      malnourished. No laboratory tests are necessary. Only a small number of simple
      and readily available solutions are used to prepare the electrolyte mixtures.

PMID- 1449638
TI  - Haloperidol does not alter expression of ethanol-induced conditioned place
      preference.
AB  - A recent experiment (Risinger et al., Psychopharmacology, 107 (1992) 453-456) has
      shown that haloperidol does not prevent acquisition of ethanol-induced
      conditioned place preference, suggesting that dopaminergic mechanisms do not
      mediate the primary rewarding properties of ethanol. The present experiment
      examined whether haloperidol would prevent the expression of conditioned reward
      to ethanol-paired stimuli using the place conditioning paradigm. DBA/2J mice
      received four pairings of a tactile stimulus with ethanol (2 g/kg, IP). A
      different stimulus was paired with saline. Before preference testing, different
      groups received one of three doses of haloperidol (0, 0.05 or 0.1 mg/kg); ethanol
      was not given. Haloperidol produced a dose-dependent decrease in locomotor
      activity, but did not affect conditioned place preference. These results suggest
      that expression of ethanol-induced conditioned place preference is mediated by
      non-dopaminergic mechanisms.

PMID- 1449639
TI  - The effects of V4 lesions on the visual abilities of macaques: shape
      discrimination.
AB  - Monkeys with bilateral ablation of cortical visual area V4 were compared with
      unoperated controls for their ability to relearn postoperatively a series of
      preoperatively acquired two-choice visual discrimination problems. The animals
      with V4 lesions were impaired on relearning to discriminate between different
      shapes, and discrimination between identical shapes presented at different
      orientations was also impaired. Some of the deficits were consistent with
      disrupting the input to inferotemporal cortex, but discrimination of a subset of
      the stimuli is known to be unaffected by inferotemporal cortex lesions and could
      not be explained in the same way. To clarify the nature of the deficit, and to
      test the hypothesis that shapes differing in orientation are analyzed in the
      occipitoparietal processing pathway, animals with V4 lesions were also compared
      to normals on their ability to acquire a version of the landmark task. The V4
      animals performed as well as the control animals on this task. The results
      suggest that V4 is important for the shape discrimination abilities that survive
      inferotemporal cortex lesions. The role of V4 in shape analysis is discussed in
      the light of recent evidence that V4 neurones are modulated by visual attention.

PMID- 1449640
TI  - Modulation of visually evoked responses in units of the ventral lateral
      geniculate nucleus of the rat by somatic stimuli.
AB  - Single unit activity was recorded from the ventral part of the lateral geniculate
      nucleus (vLGN) in rats anaesthetized with urethane. Most of the cells located
      laterally in the nucleus were excited by light. The studied vLGN neurones did not
      respond to electrical stimulation of the tail, but about half of them changed
      their response to light significantly when the light flash was paired with the
      electrical stimulation. When the tail stimulus preceded the light, the changes
      consisted in a pronounced facilitation of flash-evoked activity. When the
      electrical stimulus was applied after the flash in a forward conditioning
      paradigm, facilitations were less pronounced and responses of some neurones were
      suppressed. These results are in contrast to those of similar experiments on the
      dorsal LGN, neurones of which were mainly facilitated by the conditioning
      paradigm. Thus, light-evoked activity of ventral geniculate cells can be enhanced
      by arousal-related processes.

PMID- 1449641
TI  - Intrinsic and extrinsic influences on play fighting in rats: effects of
      dominance, partner's playfulness, temperament and neonatal exposure to
      testosterone propionate.
AB  - Play fighting is a frequent activity of juvenile rats and appears to show marked
      variability amongst individuals in that some rats play a great deal and others
      very little. This study attempted to identify some of the factors involved in
      producing this individual variability. The major influence over an individual's
      frequency of play as a juvenile was found to be the frequency of play by the
      partner. That is, play appears to be contagious, in that a high playing animal
      stimulates its partner to play frequently as well. In male juveniles, but
      seemingly not in female juveniles, the subsequent adult status of one partner as
      dominant influences the subordinate-to-be to initiate more playful contacts. In
      addition to these extrinsic influences, however, there appear to be intrinsic
      factors that influence whether an individual is a high or low playing animal. One
      intrinsic factor appears to be 'boldness', so that bolder animals tend to
      initiate more playful contacts. Higher players tend to be more susceptible to the
      stereotypy-inducing effects of the dopamine agonist, apomorphine, and tend to be
      more dependent upon the playful activity of the partner to maintain their own
      high levels of play. Both of these characteristics are consistent with other
      studies comparing bold and timid rats. Boldness, however, only seems to influence
      how much play a rat will exhibit, not how much play it is capable of exhibiting.
      Neonatal testosterone augmentation increases juvenile play fighting but not
      apomorphine susceptibility, suggesting that a high player need not be a bold
      animal. The total frequency of play an individual is capable of initiating
      appears to depend upon perinatal exposure to androgens. Boldness and the
      playfulness of the partner appear to modulate the expression of this hormonally
      set value.

PMID- 1449642
TI  - Role of pups' ultrasonic calls in a particular maternal behavior in Wistar rat:
      pups' anogenital licking.
AB  - Stimuli from pups maintain maternal behavior in the postpartum period. Olfactory
      cues are strongly involved in a particular component of maternal behavior:
      anogenital licking (MAGL). In addition to the olfactive stimulus, ultrasonic
      calls from pups are critical in ensuring pup survival. Pups emit vocalizations in
      distress situations. In a first experiment, pups' calls are recorded around MAGL
      sequences. In 2 out of 3 cases these calls appear to induce MAGL behavior from
      the dam with preputialectomised pups as well as with intact pups, but
      preputialectomised pups alone call again at the end of MAGL sequences. In a
      second experiment, ultrasonic calls from pups emitted just before AGL sequences
      were recorded and played back to dams in a glass-dish selection test. Whatever
      the pups' treatment (preputialectomised or sham), dams showed the specific
      ingestive behavior towards filter paper impregnated with dodecyl propionate (DP)
      when auditory cues (pups' ultrasonic calls) and olfactory cues (DP) were
      combined. The coordination of pups' ultrasonic calls and anogenital odor in MAGL
      behavior is discussed, ultrasonic calls might be an inducing factor and DP the
      regulating factor.

PMID- 1449643
TI  - Limbic seizures, but not kindling, reversibly impair place learning in the Morris
      water maze.
AB  - We investigated the effects of kindling and kindled seizures in different limbic
      structures on place and cue learning in the Morris water maze. The triggering of
      seizures by stimulation of the perforant path, septum, or amygdala prior to daily
      training impaired place learning, but had little effect on visible platform
      training or swim speed. Seizures triggered by stimulation of the medial perforant
      path after daily training also impaired place learning. Conversely, place
      learning proceeded normally in rats tested 24 h after kindling triggered by
      stimulation of the perforant path, septum, or amygdala, indicating that kindling
      per se does not affect place learning. Each group was able to learn the location
      of a reversed platform when pretraining seizures were discontinued; and perforant
      path and septal kindled rats, but not amygdaloid kindled rats, were impaired at
      learning the location of a reversed platform when seizures were triggered before
      training. The results confirm previous reports that limbic seizures produce
      amnesia, but they contradict the finding that hippocampal kindling impairs
      learning on tasks sensitive to hippocampal lesions.

PMID- 1449644
TI  - Neural correlates of frog calling: production by two semi-independent generators.
AB  - The anterior preoptic nuclei of the isolated brainstem of male, Northern leopard
      frogs (Rana p. pipiens) were stimulated electrically and neural correlates of
      mating calling recorded from the rhombencephalic mating calling pattern
      generator. Lesions of discrete areas of the brainstem showed that the mating
      calling generator is separable into two generators, the pretrigeminal nucleus and
      the classical pulmonary respiration generator (which is approximately co
      extensive with the motor nuclei IX-X). Each of these still can produce pulses
      when isolated from the other. Their interaction changes the expiratory phase of
      breathing into the vocal phase of calling. All stages of intermediates between
      these phases could be seen. An updated and simplified model of call production
      and evolution is presented.

PMID- 1449645
TI  - Metabolic activity in the hyperstriatum of 2-day-old chicks during optomotor and
      contrasting visual stimulation.
AB  - Our earlier report of differences in metabolic activity within the visual regions
      of the hyperstriatum and ectostriatum, in 2-day-old chicks compared with 23-day
      old chicks, suggested that two visual pathways within the visual system develop
      at different rates. Here we have investigated whether the demands of varying
      visual environments will increase the activity of the hyperstriatum accessorium
      (HA) in 2-day-olds. Metabolic activity in the HA was monitored in 2-day-old
      chicks by the radioactive 2-deoxyglucose technique during monocular stimulation
      with three different visual environments: moving stripes in a rotating drum,
      which induced eye and head movements, a featureless white environment, and the
      complex visual environment of the home cage with other chicks. Although a small
      but significant level of activity was found in HA in the hemisphere opposite the
      open eye, the activity did not vary with the visual treatment. On the other hand,
      a raised level of activity in the hyperstriatum dorsale (HD) appeared in chicks
      viewing the rotating stripes, indicating that at this age the thalamo
      hyperstriatal pathway may be involved in processing whole-field visual movement.
      The optomoter environment also produced high activity in the medial hyperstriatum
      ventrale (MHV), a region that has been implicated in memory formation of
      imprinting. We suggest that during the sensitive period for imprinting, HA may
      either have not developed its fully functional capacity, or that following or
      during imprinting it is actively shut down to protect itself and associated
      regions from interfering visual input. In contrast to the 2-day-olds, 17-day-old
      chicks in a visually rich cage environment, had high levels of activity in HA,
      demonstrating that the functional maturation of the HA, related to performance in
      the cage environment, is complete at least 6 days earlier than previously
      observed.

PMID- 1449646
TI  - Auditory working and reference memory can be tested in a single situation of
      stimuli for the rat.
AB  - The comparison of working and reference memory is one of the most valuable
      research angles for revealing the precise neural mechanisms of memory. The
      present study introduces a method to test both auditory working and reference
      memory during a short period in the rat. The apparatus and stimuli are identical
      for both memory tasks. High and low tones, between which lies a 5-s interval, are
      continuously presented. The task for working memory is a continuous nonmatching
      to-sample. The rat makes go and no-go responses to indicate whether the current
      tone is the same as (match) or different from (nonmatch) the preceding tone. The
      task for reference memory is a continuous discrimination. The rat makes go
      responses on high-tone trials and no-go responses on low-tone trials. With
      alternate training in these tasks, the rat comes to perform well in both tasks.
      The rat can only know which task is employed in a given session from its own
      response-reward contingency during the early trials of each session.

PMID- 1449647
TI  - Pressure on the snout immobilizes the spontaneously active, scopolaminized, and
      amphetaminized hyperactive rat.
AB  - Rats that are brought into a novel environment or that are given stimulants or
      anti-muscarinic drugs exhibit high levels of motor activity. Application of
      moderate pressure on the sides of the snout of such rats results in immediate
      cessation of all movements for extended time periods. Hippocampal
      electrocorticograms show that hippocampal slow wave activity during such induced
      immobility is equivalent to the hippocampal slow wave pattern typically
      associated with spontaneous immobility. However, neocortical activity following
      scopolamine administration contains more 2-6 Hz irregular activity during
      spontaneous than induced immobility.

PMID- 1449648
TI  - The effects of early experience on callosal development and functional
      lateralization in pigmented BALB/c mice.
AB  - A proportion of animals of the BALB/c inbred mouse strain have an unusually small
      (sometimes absent) midsagittal area of the corpus callosum (CC). In this study,
      we used a large sample of both males and females (total n = 198) from a pigmented
      congenic BALB/c line to investigate the relations among preweaning handling, area
      of CC, and direction and degree of lateralization as measured by Collins' paw
      preference task. Twenty litters were handled daily from the day after birth until
      day 25 (weaning) according to Denenberg's procedure and 18 litters were left
      undisturbed until weaning. All animals were tested for degree and direction of
      paw preference in a modification of Collins' apparatus at about 60 days and
      measures taken on CNS structures at 100 days of age. There were no handling or
      sex effects on degree or direction of paw preference or on the extent of CC
      defects, but for animals in the normal range (CC > or = 0.7 mm2), those which had
      been handled had significantly smaller callosa. No significant differences were
      detected between right and left hemisphere weights, and these measures did not
      appear to be related to the behavioural measures. There was no significant
      correlation between CC area and degree of paw preference nor was there any
      relationship between total agenesis and degree of handedness. This last result is
      particularly interesting in light of recent evidence that ILn/J mice, all
      acallosal, are exclusively ambilateral.

PMID- 1449649
TI  - Spatial deficits and hemispheric asymmetries in the rat following unilateral and
      bilateral lesions of posterior parietal or medial agranular cortex.
AB  - Studies of spatial behavior in both the human and non-human primate have
      generally focused on the role of the posterior parietal and prefrontal cortices
      and have indicated that destruction of these regions produce allocentric and
      egocentric deficits, respectively. The present study examined the role of the
      rodent analogs of these regions, the posterior parietal (PPC) and medial
      agranular (AGm) cortices, in egocentric and allocentric spatial processing, and
      whether spatial processing in rodents is organized in a hemispatial and/or
      lateralized manner as has been found in the primate. Eighty male rats receiving
      either a unilateral or bilateral lesion of AGm or PPC were examined on an
      egocentric (adjacent arm) or an allocentric (cheeseboard) maze task. The results
      indicated that PPC and AGm have dissociable spatial functions. Bilateral AGm
      destruction resulted in egocentric spatial deficits, and unilateral AGm operates
      demonstrated an intermediate deficit. In contrast, bilateral PPC operates
      demonstrated a severe deficit in allocentric processing. In addition, there were
      lateralized differences in the performance of unilateral PPC operates. While
      right PPC lesions resulted in a significant deficit on the allocentric task, no
      such deficit was seen in left PPC operates. In addition, neither unilateral AGm
      nor unilateral PPC operates demonstrated a hemispatial impairment on either the
      egocentric or allocentric tasks.

PMID- 1449650
TI  - Does the type of prehension influence the kinematics of reaching?
AB  - Kinematic studies have indicated that when a subject reaches to grasp an object,
      the movement consists of two primary components: (a) a transport phase whereby
      the hand is brought towards the object and (b) a grip phase whereby the hand
      changes shape in anticipation of the grasp. Using a visual perturbation paradigm,
      we investigated the effect of different grip component strategies upon the
      transport phase. The distal strategy was determined by the size of the object to
      be grasped: for the small object (1.5 cm o.d.) subjects naturally adopted a
      precision grip between the index finger and thumb; for the large object (6 cm
      o.d.) subjects used a whole hand prehensile grip. During 20% of the reaching
      trials the perturbation was introduced by unexpectedly changing the object size.
      The results showed that corrections to the distal program in response to the
      perturbation were preceded by changes in the deceleration phase of the proximal
      component. The data supported previous findings of two visuo-motor channels for
      this prehensile movement but indicated that when unanticipated shifts of only the
      distal program are required, both channels show modifications.

PMID- 1449651
TI  - Pimozide prevents the development of conditioned place preferences induced by
      rewarding locus coeruleus stimulation.
AB  - Electrical stimulation in the vicinity of the cell bodies of the locus coeruleus
      (LC) has been shown to support self-stimulation behaviors in rats. In the present
      study, a Conditioned Place Test, sensitive to both rewarding and aversive
      qualities of brain stimulation, was employed to determine (a) whether rewarding
      locus coeruleus stimulation would result in place preferences and (b) if so,
      whether dopamine receptor antagonism would affect the development of such place
      preferences. Animals were pretreated with pimozide (0.0, 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg) prior
      to exposure to two distinctive environments only one of which was paired with
      locus coeruleus stimulation. Rats that received vehicle injections prior to
      stimulation/place pairings developed strong preferences for the stimulation
      paired environment while those animals pretreated with 0.5 mg/kg pimozide showed
      no reliable shift in preference from baseline performance. Additionally, animals
      injected with the 1.0 mg/kg dose of pimozide exhibited mild place aversions to
      the stimulation-paired environment. It is hypothesized that dopamine
      neurotransmission is important for the rewarding effects of locus coeruleus
      stimulation without which such stimulation appears to be aversive.

PMID- 1449652
TI  - Medial frontal cortex lesions impair the aiming component of rat reaching.
AB  - This study examined the contribution of medial frontal cortex (the medial portion
      of supplementary motor cortex, or Fr1) to the performance of rats on trained, or
      'skilled', reaching tasks. Unilateral medial frontal cortex lesions moderately
      impaired reaching success on a task that demanded accuracy but they did not
      impair performance on a less demanding reaching task nor did they affect limb
      preference. Kinematic analyses indicated that the aiming component, in which the
      forearm of the limb is aligned along the midline of the body by adduction of the
      elbow, was chronically impaired. Rather than adducting the elbow to aim, the rats
      used a number of limb and whole body postural adjustments to compensate for
      incomplete or absent aiming. That medial frontal cortex is involved in the
      execution of at least one component of skilled reaching implies that a larger
      area of frontal cortex is involved in skilled limb movement than has been
      suggested by previous studies. The results also suggest that the different
      regions of frontal cortex may each have a relatively selective involvement in the
      execution of only a subset of the movements comprising a reach.

PMID- 1449654
TI  - Comparison among three screening methods for aflatoxigenic isolates.
AB  - Seventy-six isolates of Aspergillus flavus, which were isolated from one hundred
      food stuffs in Zhejiang Province, were detected with RMC, AMCS and APA methods
      for aflatoxigenicity. The rates of toxigenic isolates detected by the three
      methods were 11.8%, 18.4% and 9.2% respectively. There were twenty toxigenic
      isolates detected by the three methods (26.3%) AMCS method was better than other
      methods. False negatives appeared in all methods. False positive appeared in both
      AMCS method and APA method. It was suggested that AMCS method may be a safe,
      simple and reliable method for screening toxigenic isolated if some aspects were
      improved.

PMID- 1449653
TI  - Protective effects of dimethyl-4,4'-dimethoxy-5,6,5',6'-dimethylene dioxybiphenyl
      2,2'-dicarboxylate on damages of isolated rat hepatocytes induced by carbon
      tetrachloride and D-galactosamine.
AB  - The protective effect of biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB) on chemically
      induced damages was studied in isolated suspended rat hepatocytes. The
      experimental results showed that DDB (200 micrograms/10(6) cells) efficiently
      protected the hepatocytes against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 10 mmol.L-1) and D
      galactosamine (1 mmol.L-1) induced damages. Membranal lipid peroxidation
      (malondialdehyde, MDA formation) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) release
      from the hepatocytes were markedly decreased. The damage of the cell surfaces of
      the hepatocytes were also reduced as seen under a scanning electron microscope
      (SEM). Pretreatment with DDB (300 mg.kg-1) orally ameliorated the reduction of
      liver glycogen and blood glucose caused by ip injection of D-galactosamine (800
      mg.kg-1) in mice. When normal rats were given DDB 300 mg.kg-1 once daily for 10
      d, the free ribosomal protein and RNA in the liver increased significantly. These
      results indicate that DDB is of beneficial effects on both damaged and normal
      hepatocytes.

PMID- 1449655
TI  - Protective effect of dimethyl-4,4'-dimethoxy-5,6,5', 6'-dimethylene dioxybiphenyl
      2,2'-dicarboxylate (DDB) against carcinogen-induced rat liver nuclear DNA damage.
AB  - The protective effect of DDB against carcinogen-induced DNA damage was examined
      in the present investigation. Preincubation of rat liver nuclei with DDB (1
      mmol.L-1) resulted in 60% inhibition of binding of 3H-benzo(a)pyrene to nuclear
      DNA. Unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) induced by aflatoxin B1 (10(-7) mol.L-1) in
      freshly isolated rat hepatocytes was also inhibited by DDB (10(-6)-10(-3) mol.L
      1). Oral administration of DDB at 200 mg.kg-1 once daily for 3 d induced a
      significant increase of liver cytosol glutathione-S-transferase and microsomal
      UDPG-transferase activity in mice. These results indicate that DDB is able to
      directly or indirectly antagonize certain carcinogen-induced DNA damages.

PMID- 1449656
TI  - Effect of nickel on some aspects of protein metabolism in selected organs of the
      freshwater mussel Lamellidens marginalis.
AB  - The levels of soluble, structural and total proteins, and the activities of A1AT
      and AAT decreased along with an increase in the levels of free amino acids and
      the activity of protease in the ctenidium, hepatopancreas and foot of the
      freshwater mussel L. marginalis after 1, 2, 3 and 4 d of exposure to a lethal
      concentration (115 mg.L-1) of nickel. But the activity of GDH and the level of
      urea decreased in the hepatopancreas and increased in the ctenidium and foot. A
      reverse trend was observed in the level of ammonia. In a sublethal concentration
      (23 mg.L-1), the levels of soluble, structural and total proteins and ammonia
      decreased in these three organs of the mussel after 1, 5, 10 and 15 d of
      exposures, with an increase in the levels of free aminoacids, urea and in the
      activities of protease, A1AT, AAT and GDH. The extent of these changes differed
      in degree depending on exposure period in the lethal and sublethal
      concentrations. The results are discussed in order to arrive at the degree of
      metal stress on the overall nitrogen metabolism of the mussel according to the
      period of exposure to lethal and sublethal concentrations of nickel.

PMID- 1449657
TI  - Quantitative risk assessment for lung cancer from exposure to metal ore dust.
AB  - To quantitatively assess risk for lung cancer of metal miners, a historical
      cohort study was conducted. The cohort consisted of 1113 miners who were employed
      to underground work for at least 12 months between January 1, 1960 and December
      12, 1974. According to the records of dust concentration, a cumulative dust dose
      of each miner in the cohort was estimated. There were 162 deaths in total and 45
      deaths from lung cancer with a SMR of 2184. The SMR for lung cancer increased
      from 1019 for those with cumulative dust dose of less than 500 mg-year to 2469
      for those with the dose of greater than 4500 mg-year. Furthermore, the risk in
      the highest category of combined cumulative dust dose and cigarette smoking was
      46-fold greater than the lowest category of dust dose and smoking. This study
      showed that there was an exposure-response relationship between metal ore dust
      and lung cancer, and an interaction of lung cancer between smoking and metal ore
      dust exposure.

PMID- 1449658
TI  - A study on genotoxicity of cooking fumes from rapeseed oil.
AB  - The present article reports the genotoxic potential of rapeseed oil cooking fume
      investigated by a battery of short-term tests (Ames test, SCE/V79 in vitro and
      mice micronucleus in vivo test). The results showed that the cooking fume
      contained mutagenic activity. In the presence of S9 mix, an increase in the
      number of the Salmonella TA98 was observed at doses ranging from 1.0 to 5.0
      mg/plate, and the SCE frequencies of V79 cell were markedly raised at doses
      ranging from 0.05 to 0.5 mg.ml-1. The positive result was also obtained in mice
      micronucleus assay, the mice had inhaled the cooking fume a week earlier. The
      frequency of mice bone marrow MN-PCE was increased and it showed a remarkable
      time-dose-response relationship during the 4 weeks exposure. The results
      suggested that this cooking fume exposure may be a risk factor of lung cancer in
      Chinese women.

PMID- 1449659
TI  - Thyrotoxicity of the chlorides of cadmium and mercury in rabbit.
AB  - Exposure to heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury is of immediate
      environmental concern. The present study was aimed at establishing a direct
      relationship between heavy metal poisoning and thyroid dysfunction. Cadmium and
      mercury treatment at LD50 levels resulted in severe thyrotoxicosis in the rabbit.
      Within 24 h of intramuscular administration of cadmium chloride 15 mg.kg-1 body
      weight (bw) and mercury chloride 20 mg.kg-1 bw, thyroid peroxidase activity
      increased significantly over the control with a concomitant rise in the
      triiodothyronine (T3) titre. On the other hand, there was a remarkable fall in
      the thyroxine (T4) level, and the T3/T4 ratio was high as compared with the
      control. Evidence indicates that acute heavy metal lethality will induce
      immediate hyperthyroidism. It is suggested that T3-toxicosis may be produced by a
      preferential synthesis of T3 and/or preferential deiodination of T4 to T3.
      Measurement of T3 and T4 levels may thus be utilized as a reliable indicator of
      heavy metal lethality.

PMID- 1449660
TI  - Metal induced inhibition of photosynthesis, photosynthetic electron transport
      chain and ATP content of Anabaena doliolum and Chlorella vulgaris: interaction
      with exogenous ATP.
AB  - This study demonstrates a concentration dependent inhibition of carbon fixation,
      O2 evolution, photosynthetic electron transport chain and ATP content of A.
      doliolum and C. vulgaris by Cu, Ni and Fe. Although the mode of inhibition of
      photosynthetic electron transport chain of both the algae was similar, PS II
      depicted greater sensitivity to the test metals used. The toxicity in both
      organisms was Cu > Ni > Fe. A. doliolum was, however, more sensitive to Cu and
      Ni, and C. vulgaris to Fe. Toxicity was generally dependent on metal uptake,
      which in turn was dependent on their concentrations in the external medium. A
      partial restoration of nutrient uptake, carbon fixation, and enzyme activities
      following supplementation of exogenous ATP suggests that ATP regulates toxicity
      through chelation.

PMID- 1449661
TI  - An out-break of epidemic dropsy in the Barabanki District of Uttar Pradesh,
      India: a limited trial for the scope of antioxidants in the management of
      symptoms.
AB  - An attempt was made to explore the scope of the bio-antioxidants in the
      management of symptoms of epidemic dropsy caused by argemone alkaloids,
      sanguinarine and dihydrosanguinarine. The study was performed on 24 randomly
      selected epidemic dropsy cases who consumed argemone contaminated mustard oil. On
      examination the cases revealed characteristic pitting edema over limbs (95.8%)
      accompanied by tenderness (79.2%) and diffuse erythema (95.8%). Tachycardia was
      present in 1/3 of the examined cases while elevated jugular venous pressure was
      seen in over 40% of the cases. In two of the cases, reddish-purplish blotches
      over lower limbs, not raised and which blanched on pressure, was an unusual
      feature. Chest X-ray revealed pulmonary congestion in 5 cases. ECG performed in 3
      cases with severe breathlessness, showed non-specific ST-T changes most marked in
      L2,L3, avF and V2-V6 which reversed on recovery. Treatment with a combination of
      antioxidants, riboflavin and tocopherol showed improvement in pain in lower limbs
      (75%), edema (83.3%) and erythema (66.6%).

PMID- 1449662
TI  - Studies of lead exposure on reproductive system: a review of work in China.
AB  - This paper, based on a review of a series studies conducted in China from 1978
      through 1991, describes the possible links between low level lead exposure and
      the adverse effects on reproductive system. Effects on menstrual status and
      pregnancy outcome manifested mainly as higher prevalences of menstrual
      disturbance, spontaneous abortion and threatened abortion in exposed females.
      Transfer of lead via placenta and human milk was shown by higher lead levels in
      milk and blood of infant. Impairment of male reproductive function was observed
      as decreased volume of ejaculation, prolonged latency of semen melting, reduced
      total sperm count and alive spermatozoa, retarded sperm activity as well as
      lowered density of semen fluid in exposed male workers with Pb-B over 40
      micrograms.dl-1. In addition, poorer performance of WISC-R test was revealed in
      children with Pb-B level over 30 micrograms.dl-1, and retarded physical
      development was observed in children with Pb-B over 20 micrograms.dl-1.
      Therefore, health surveillance including the assessment of adverse effects on
      reproductive system of both female and male lead exposed workers should not be
      ignored. Furthermore, safety exposure limit of work place, particularly for
      female workers of child-bearing age, should be developed.

PMID- 1449663
TI  - Minimally invasive lumbar disc surgery.

PMID- 1449664
TI  - Total overall management and surgical outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid
      haemorrhage in a defined population.
AB  - It was possible from a geographically well-defined region to detect all patients
      sustaining an aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage. Different outcomes were
      measured and compared with other published series. Twenty-one per cent of all our
      patients at risk were never seen by a neurosurgeon. By adding further 20% of dead
      patients to the management series a total overall outcome, i.e. from all
      'patients at risk', could be calculated, making comparison between different
      series easier. Favourable outcomes in the three groups (total overall, total
      management and surgical) as measured with the Glasgow Outcome Scale at 12 months
      were 46, 58 and 69%, respectively, in this series. In a super selected group such
      as good-grade patients (Hunt and Hess I-II) at surgery favourable results were
      seen in 87% of the patients at 6 months follow-up. The favourable outcome in the
      total overall, total management and surgical groups increased between 6 and 12
      months follow-up by 1, 1 and 2%, respectively, as compared to 4, 5 and 6%,
      respectively, between discharge and 6 months follow-up. The time of follow-up to
      measure outcome should not be shorter than 6 months in aneurysm cases. It is
      emphasized that all patients drop-outs from the initial 'patient at risk' should
      be identified.

PMID- 1449665
TI  - Smoking and subarachnoid haemorrhage: a case control study.
AB  - Retrospective and epidemiological studies have suggested that smoking increases
      the risk of developing aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). During 1990,
      217 patients presenting to the Mersey Regional Neurosurgical unit with
      spontaneous SAH were prospectively studied. Smoking habits of patients with SAH
      were compared with age, sex and occupation matched controls. The relative risk of
      spontaneous aneurysmal SAH for smokers was twice that of non-smokers (p < 0.001).
      Management outcome at 6 months following aneurysmal SAH was similar for smokers
      and non-smokers (p = 0.43) but smokers had more postoperative pulmonary
      complications requiring ventilation. Significance was tested with chi-square
      tests.

PMID- 1449666
TI  - Interstitial white matter brain oedema does not alter the electroencephalogram.
AB  - An experimental study was performed to determine the effects of interstitial
      white mater oedema on the electroencephalogram (EEG). Using both rodent and
      feline infusion models of focal brain oedema no difference was found between the
      EEG waveforms recorded epidurally from the infused and control hemispheres. It is
      concluded that where focal slow-wave EEG abnormalities overlie oedematous brain
      the EEG abnormalities are not primarily related to the brain oedema but arise
      from either local biomechanical or other pathophysiological mechanisms.

PMID- 1449667
TI  - Effect of unilateral pre- and postganglionic lesioning of the trigeminal nerve on
      the development of cerebral vasospasm in the squirrel monkey: angiographic
      findings.
AB  - Bilateral carotid angiography was performed in the squirrel monkey before and
      after unilateral pre- and postganglionic trigeminal lesioning. A unilateral
      postganglionic lesion caused a significant constriction of about 27% of the
      ipsilateral cerebral arteries, while a preganglionic lesion did not change the
      baseline arterial diameter. Following a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) the degree
      of vasoconstriction in the animals with a preganglionic lesion did not differ
      significantly from that seen in controls. In the postganglionically lesioned
      animals, the vasoconstriction was more pronounced (12% at both 10 min and 6 days
      post SAH) on the lesioned as compared with the non-lesioned side. At day 6 post
      SAH the degree of vasoconstriction was 19% more pronounced on the lesioned side
      in post- as compared with the preganglionically lesioned animals. There was no
      difference in the degree of spasm on the non-lesioned side between the two
      groups. The findings indicate that the trigeminal system has both a peripheral
      and a central function. The peripheral, or axon reflex mechanism, exerts a tonic
      effect on the cerebral vessels. Following a SAH the axon reflex seems to
      attenuate cerebral vasospasm.

PMID- 1449668
TI  - Hyponatraemia in neurosurgical patients: diagnosis using derived parameters of
      sodium and water homeostasis.
AB  - Seventeen unselected, consecutive patients with intracranial disease and
      accompanying hyponatraemia were studied. All would previously have been diagnosed
      as having the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion on
      the basis of spot plasma/urinary electrolyte testing with the application to them
      of existing standard laboratory criteria. Timed urinary collections and matching
      plasma samples were available in all but three cases for the derivation of
      creatinine, osmotic and free-water clearances, tubular reabsorbed water, and
      fractional water and sodium excretions. In a number of patients the plasma renin,
      aldosterone and ADH levels were also assayed. On the basis of the overall
      findings, 13 patients were diagnosed as in fact having a salt-wasting state
      whilst in only four patients was the diagnosis of inappropriate ADH secretion
      (SIADH) substantiated. It is suggested that obtaining simple derived parameters
      of sodium and water homeostasis can add significantly in differentiating between
      these quite opposite syndromes.

PMID- 1449669
TI  - Microsurgical management of craniopharyngiomas.
AB  - A retrospective analysis of 34 patients who underwent microsurgical therapy for
      craniopharyngioma from 1975 to 1989, a period when CT imaging was routinely used,
      is presented. Mean follow-up was 6.4 years with no patients lost to follow-up.
      Those who underwent subtotal resection with adjuvant radiation had a
      significantly better recurrence-free interval compared with those who either
      underwent total or subtotal surgical resection only (p < 0.05 and p < 0.025).
      Among patients treated with surgery alone, the total resection group had a
      recurrence rate of 20% and those with a subtotal resection 60%. Those with
      subtotal resection and radiation had a 12% rate of recurrence. Endocrine and
      visual deficits were common after surgery. Based on this review, our results
      suggest that with a policy of attempted total resection where possible, subtotal
      removal along with adjuvant radiation, in cases where total resection was deemed
      unsafe, may be more effective than aggressive total resection alone as the
      initial management of craniopharyngioma.

PMID- 1449670
TI  - A simplified technique for lengthening peritoneal catheters.
AB  - Existing techniques for lengthening a peritoneal catheter require a formal
      laparotomy, and exploration for the catheter which is then extended by the
      addition of a necessary length. We describe a simplified technique which is
      quicker and which in co-operative patients can be done under local anaesthesia on
      an out-patient basis. In this technique the peritoneal catheter along with its
      fibrous sheath is dissected and after opening the sheath an additional length is
      added. The elongated catheter is replaced through the same tubular sheath into
      the peritoneal cavity.

PMID- 1449671
TI  - Cystic cerebellar schwannoma.
AB  - Cystic cerebellar schwannoma is a rare tumour which may not be considered when a
      low attenuation computed tomographic (CT) lesion is seen in the cerebellar
      parenchyma. Since the origin of the Schwann cell in the cerebellar parenchyma is
      conjectural, immunohistochemical techniques are necessary for a diagnosis.

PMID- 1449672
TI  - MRI in the diagnosis of spinal extradural angiolipoma.
AB  - We report the case of a 68-year-old woman with a 1-year history of progressive
      spastic paraparesis, due to an extradural angiolipoma of the mid-thoracic spine.
      The MRI appearance of the angiolipoma is reported here for the first time. This
      appearance is characteristic, allows preoperative diagnosis and assists planning
      of the surgical approach.

PMID- 1449673
TI  - Cerebral infarction due to Aspergillus arteritis following glioma surgery.
AB  - Cerebral infarction due to fungal arteritis is an uncommon complication of
      neurosurgical operations and adjuvant immunosuppressive therapy, including long
      term steroids. If unrecognized, the neurological deterioration which ensues may
      be mistreated by increasing the dose of steroids. A case of a 38-year-old
      Caucasian male who had no obvious immune deficiency or fungal infection prior to
      a craniotomy for cerebral tumour is described in whom perioperative aspergillus
      infection resulted in cerebral arteritis and extensive cerebral infarction with a
      fatal outcome. Long-term steroid therapy used in the management of cerebral
      tumours may carry an increased risk of systemic or cerebral fungal infection. The
      possibility of cerebral mycosis (arteritis) and dangers of its non-recognition
      are highlighted.

PMID- 1449674
TI  - Vein of Galen aneurysm presenting in middle age.
AB  - A vein of Galen aneurysm occurring in a 55-year-old woman is presented. The
      pathogenesis and treatment of this condition, which is rare in adults, is
      discussed and the literature reviewed.

PMID- 1449675
TI  - Multicentric glioma of the spinal cord.
AB  - A 24-year-old woman with neurofibromatosis presented with a 1.5-year history of
      pain in the neck, both shoulders and back, and a 4-month history of progressively
      increasing weakness of all the limbs and inability to walk. The limb weakness
      fluctuated and, at the height of the weakness, it was associated with hesitancy
      and retention of urine. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a fusiform
      enlargement of the upper cervical cord with obliteration of the subarachnoid
      space. Imaging after gadolinium-DTPA injection revealed inhomogeneous enhancement
      extending from the lower medulla down to the C4 cord level, and homogeneous
      enhancement at D3 to D4 and D6 to D8 cord levels. The spinal cord at the lower
      two levels appeared morphologically normal. At operation the fusiform enlargement
      of the cervical cord was confirmed. The tumour was partially removed. Histology
      revealed it to be a fibrillary astrocytoma.

PMID- 1449676
TI  - Extraventricular colloid cyst.

PMID- 1449677
TI  - Stereotactic biopsy in AIDS patients.

PMID- 1449678
TI  - Transsphenoidal pituitary surgery.

PMID- 1449679
TI  - The odontogenic keratocyst.

PMID- 1449680
TI  - Roentgen ray anomalies.

PMID- 1449681
TI  - Benton E. Crawford radiograph of the month. Atypical root resorption.

PMID- 1449682
TI  - To retail or not: that's the question.

PMID- 1449683
TI  - Don't give your patients a chance to back out of their hygiene appointments.

PMID- 1449684
TI  - Assertiveness will help you deal with difficult co-workers, patients.

PMID- 1449685
TI  - How-to manual first step to ensure successful infection control plan.

PMID- 1449686
TI  - Know 'sick building' symptoms to pinpoint unexplained bills.

PMID- 1449687
TI  - Tinnitus suppression following cochlear implantation. A multifactorial
      investigation.
AB  - The effects of cochlear implant on loudness, annoyance, daily duration, location,
      and residual inhibition of tinnitus were evaluated by a closed-ended,
      quantifiable questionnaire in 33 postlingually deafened patients who had received
      implants at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, between 1986 and 1990.
      Preoperative tinnitus was present in 85% of patients. A statistical comparison of
      preoperative vs postoperative loudness and annoyance indicated a significant
      reduction in both of these complaints postoperatively. Loudness and annoyance
      were significantly correlated, both preoperatively and postoperatively. Fifteen
      patients (54%) with preoperative tinnitus demonstrated a loudness decrease of 30%
      or more; 43% demonstrated an annoyance decrease of 30% or more; and 48%
      demonstrated a decrease of 30% or more in daily tinnitus duration. Patients who
      experienced a loudness or annoyance decrease of 30% or more after implantation
      demonstrated significantly higher preoperative levels of these complaints,
      suggesting that degree of tinnitus reduction after implantation may be related to
      preoperative loudness and annoyance levels. Contralateral tinnitus suppression
      was reported by 42% of patients. Residual inhibition ranging from 60 seconds to
      several hours was reported by 50% of patients, predominantly in the ear with the
      implant. Age, gender, cause of hearing loss, duration of tinnitus, cochlear
      implant usage, and time after implantation were not predictive of tinnitus
      suppression. Overall, the majority of the patients (74%) thought that their
      cochlear implant was helpful in tinnitus suppression, especially in the ear with
      the implant. Contralateral residual inhibition and tinnitus suppression suggest a
      central mechanism contributing to these phenomena.

PMID- 1449688
TI  - Mechanisms of retraction pocket formation in the pediatric tympanic membrane.
AB  - The epidemiological nature of acquired cholesteatoma in children has shown that
      it occurs more often in the posterosuperior quadrant of the pars tensa and in the
      pars flaccida. This type of cholesteatoma is rarely seen before the age of 3
      years, and serous otitis media is the most important risk factor for its
      occurrence. In an attempt to present a pathological rationale for these clinical
      findings, tympanic membranes from 11 temporal bones with purulent otitis media
      and 13 with serous otitis media were evaluated light microscopically and compared
      with 14 temporal bones without disease. Ages ranged from newborn to 3 years 6
      months. The persistence of mesenchyme and greater inflammatory reaction observed
      in the pars flaccida and the posterosuperior quadrant of the pars tensa and
      changes in collagen and elastin observed in purulent otitis media and serous
      otitis media may represent a pathological rationale for the epidemiological
      nature of cholesteatoma in children.

PMID- 1449689
TI  - Screening audiometry using the high-risk register in a level III nursery.
AB  - Several factors, including those in the high-risk register, were studied in 1240
      graduates of an intensive care nursery who underwent auditory brain-stem response
      testing. Univariate analysis, with chi 2 and Fisher's Exact Test, and stepwise
      logistic regression were used to identify variables associated with auditory
      brain-stem response outcomes. Results suggest that factors in the high-risk
      register do not carry equal weight and that universal screening in the intensive
      care nursery may be preferable.

PMID- 1449690
TI  - Carboplatin-radiation interaction in squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.
AB  - Chemoradiotherapy has been considered one of the most promising improvements in
      the treatment of advanced head and neck cancer. This article describes in vitro
      chemosensitivity to carboplatin in five squamous cell carcinoma cell lines
      established from head and neck cancers and in one vulvar squamous cell carcinoma
      cell line. Sensitivity to carboplatin was found to vary markedly when using the
      96-well plate clonogenic assay and continuous drug exposure. The difference in
      carboplatin response between the most sensitive and the most resistant cell lines
      was fourfold. No cross-resistance was observed between inherent radiosensitivity
      and chemosensitivity. Effects of concomitant use of carboplatin and radiation
      were further investigated in the two cell lines that were found to be most
      sensitive to carboplatin. The drug was administered 1 hour before acute radiation
      doses, and an additive effect was observed in both cell lines.

PMID- 1449691
TI  - Analysis of laryngeal movement by digital subtraction laryngography.
AB  - Fine movement of laryngeal components was analyzed by digital subtraction
      laryngography with the use of a digital fluorography system. Two kinds of image
      processing modes, the super pulse image subtraction mode and the time interval
      difference mode, were used for this purpose. By the super pulse image mode, the
      distance and extent of movement of laryngeal components at vocal initiation and
      during phonation could be observed. By the time interval difference mode, the
      amount and direction of motion for a certain interval and fine movement, such as
      vocal initiation, were determined.

PMID- 1449692
TI  - Cytogenetic alterations in laryngeal carcinomas.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine the most frequent chromosomal
      abnormalities in laryngeal carcinomas. Biopsy specimens of surgical resections
      from laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas from 15 patients representing different
      degrees of histologic differentiation were analyzed in short-term culture. Nine
      of the 15 tumors were hypodiploid with 41 to 45 chromosomes, and four of the 15
      tumors were polyploid with more than 50 chromosomes. The most frequent
      chromosomal alterations we noted included deletion of the short arm of chromosome
      3 in 60%, monosomy of chromosome 11 in 30%, and inversions of chromosome 9 and 16
      that were present in 20% of the cases.

PMID- 1449693
TI  - Should granulomas be excised in children with long-term tracheotomy?
AB  - We reviewed 265 rigid bronchoscopies performed in 50 children with tracheotomy
      dependent subglottic stenosis (25 congenital, 25 acquired). Granulomas developed
      in 40 children (80%) and were unrelated to age, sex, race, gastroesophageal
      reflux, tracheotomy duration, or type of stenosis. The incidence of small to
      medium, large, and obstructing granulomas at endoscopy was 28%, 6%, and 0%,
      respectively. Compared with a baseline finding of no granuloma at preceding
      bronchoscopy, the odds of granuloma recurrence were 3.0 after an unexcised
      granuloma (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1 to 8.4), 4.1 after granuloma
      excision (95% CI, 1.4 to 11.9), and 7.3 after expansion surgery (95% CI, 1.1 to
      49.2). Considering the low incidence of large or obstructing granulomas, and the
      failure of granuloma excision to diminish recurrence, we do not recommend
      interval excision of nonobstructing granulomas in children with stable
      tracheotomies.

PMID- 1449694
TI  - Postoperative technetium scanning in patients with submandibular duct diversion.
AB  - Submandibular duct diversion is a common procedure for refractory sialorrhea in
      children. The procedure reroutes Wharton's ducts from the floor of the mouth to
      the tongue base. As the majority of saliva in the resting state is produced by
      the submandibular glands, rerouting markedly decreases sialorrhea. However, the
      procedure has been criticized in that diversion may cause fibrosis and stricture
      of the ducts. The gland would atrophy, and the physiologic functions of saliva
      would be lost. Glandular function of six patients with cerebral palsy (mean age,
      14.7 years) was evaluated by technetium scanning (mean time after surgery, 43
      months). Four patients had normal bilateral function; two patients had no
      function in one gland but normal function in the contralateral gland. We conclude
      that bilateral submandibular duct diversion maintains long-term function in at
      least one gland.

PMID- 1449695
TI  - Needle-wire localization of an infratemporal fossa foreign body using computed
      tomography.
AB  - We report a case involving the localization and surgical removal of a
      traumatically introduced foreign body deep within the infratemporal fossa. Needle
      hookwire placement with computed tomographic guidance allowed the precise
      localization and marking of the foreign body. Surgical removal under local
      anesthesia and without extensive exploration was, therefore, possible. The
      details of the localization and marking techniques are described. Needle-hookwire
      localization under computed tomographic guidance should be considered for deeply
      located foreign bodies in the head and neck area.

PMID- 1449696
TI  - Primary carcinoid tumors of the middle ear. Report on four cases and a review of
      the literature.
AB  - Carcinoid tumors are rare in the middle ear. To our knowledge, only 17 cases
      could be found in the literature, the first of which was described in 1980. In
      addition to enlarging on a previous observation we present three new cases. The
      neoplasms showed a striking, heterogeneous aspect ranging from solid trabecular
      to tubuloglandular growth patterns resembling the classic carcinoid tumor and
      adenomatous middle ear tumor, respectively. Based on immunohistochemistry and
      electron microscopy, three cell types were found. A review was made of our four
      patients and the cases described in the literature. The medical histories ranged
      from 1 month to 9 years. Presenting symptoms and signs were not characteristics,
      but hearing loss predominated. In two patients, the eardrums were perforated, in
      all the others it was intact and often bulging. Surgery, usually radical
      mastoidectomy, was performed in all cases. Often the tumor encased the ossicular
      chain, without infiltration. In two patients, local recurrence occurred that was
      treated successfully with surgery. All the cases showed an indolent biological
      course and the tumors were clinically nonfunctional, despite the recognition of
      biogenically active products by immunohistochemistry. To our knowledge, regional
      or distant metastases have never been reported. Conservative surgery with radical
      removal of the primary or recurrent tumor is the treatment of choice.

PMID- 1449697
TI  - Transoral surgical management of lesions of the base of the tongue.
AB  - Lesions of the base of the tongue are rare in the pediatric population. However,
      when present these lesions may lead to airway obstruction and feeding
      difficulties. Two patients with lesions of the base of the tongue are described
      to demonstrate the diagnosis and management of this difficult clinical problem.
      The use of a transoral median glossotomy for total excision of these lesions is
      advised in this article. This approach affords excellent surgical exposure, early
      return to a normal diet, and lack of facial scars.

PMID- 1449698
TI  - Pathologic quiz case 2. Abscess with sulfur granules with organisms consistent
      with Actinomyces species.

PMID- 1449699
TI  - Pathologic quiz case 1. Nasal sarcoidosis.

PMID- 1449700
TI  - Rhinoplasty surgery.

PMID- 1449701
TI  - Surgery vs chemotherapy.

PMID- 1449702
TI  - Electrodissection tonsillectomy.

PMID- 1449703
TI  - Dolichol: a curriculum cognitionis.
AB  - Dolichols were first described about 30 years ago when animal tissues were being
      examined for the presence of a putative precursor to the polyisoprenoid side
      chain of ubiquinone. These long-chain 2,3-dihydro-polycis-isoprenoid alcohols are
      found in all eukaryotic organisms. In many plant tissues they are accompanied by
      families of other polyisoprenoid alcohols that are usually similar molecules and
      possess an unsaturated alpha-isoprene residue. Analogy with the role of
      bactoprenyl phosphates in the synthesis of bacterial wall glycans led to the
      discovery that the mono- and di-phosphates of dolichols function as cofactors in
      protein N-glycosylation, involving the formation of glycosylated derivatives of
      dolichol as intermediates. Variation of the concentration of dolichyl phosphate
      was shown to be one way of controlling protein N-glycosylation. This can be
      achieved by modification of the relative activities of dolichol kinase and
      dolichol phosphate phosphatase. Modulation of the biosynthetic pathway, still not
      fully understood, of dolichyl phosphate may also be an important factor. Several
      disease conditions involve aberrations in these pathways.

PMID- 1449704
TI  - Dolichol: function, metabolism, and accumulation in human tissues.
AB  - Dolichol, a homologous series of alpha-saturated polyisoprenoid alcohols
      containing 14-24 isoprene units, was first isolated and characterized about 30
      years ago. The phosphorylated form, dolichyl phosphate, is required for the
      biosynthesis of biologically important N-linked glycoproteins. Dolichol itself is
      synthesized by a common isoprenoid pathway from acetate and synthesis can be
      inhibited by some of the factors that inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis. It is
      metabolized very slowly and accumulates in tissues during aging and in certain
      lipid storage diseases. Dolichyl phosphate and cholesterol also accumulate in
      tissues during aging, but to a lesser extent than dolichol. Although dolichol and
      cholesterol have important metabolic functions, their accumulation in tissues can
      have deleterious effects.

PMID- 1449705
TI  - Dolichol metabolism in Chinese hamster ovary cells.
AB  - The addition of oligosaccharide to asparagine residues of soluble and membrane
      associated proteins in eukaryotic cells involves a polyisoprenoid lipid carrier,
      dolichol. In Chinese hamster ovary cells, the major isomer of this polyisoprenol
      has 19 isoprenyl units, the terminal one being saturated. Our laboratory has
      developed a procedure to analyze the levels and nature of the cell's dolichyl
      derivatives. Chinese hamster ovary cells contain predominately activated, anionic
      dolichol derivatives, such as oligosaccharyl pyrophosphoryldolichol,
      monoglycosylated phosphoryldolichols, and dolichyl phosphate. Our studies show
      that in growing cells there is continual synthesis of total dolichol. Also,
      preliminary data suggest there is no catabolism or secretion of this lipid. The
      level of dolichyl phosphate did not change significantly under a variety of
      conditions where the levels of enzyme activities utilizing dolichyl phosphate did
      change. These results suggested that these enzymes had access to the same pool of
      dolichyl phosphate and had similar Km values for this lipid.

PMID- 1449706
TI  - The importance of N-linked glycoproteins and dolichyl phosphate synthesis for
      fusion of L6 myoblasts.
AB  - Myoblasts fuse to form multinucleated myotubes, one of the early steps in the
      formation of multinucleated muscle fiber. The fusion reaction is accompanied by
      biochemical differentiation resulting in the expression of a variety of enzyme
      activities and macromolecules, particularly creatine phosphokinase. The fusing
      myoblast is thus an excellent system for use in studies on the molecular basis of
      cellular recognition. This report focuses on the role played by glycoproteins in
      this process. It was found that alteration of cell-surface glycoproteins, using
      oligosaccharide-processing inhibitors that interfered with the synthesis of the
      high-mannose type of N-linked oligosaccharide, resulted in the inhibition of both
      the fusion reaction and biochemical differentiation as determined by measurement
      of creatine phosphokinase. Ketoconazole, compactin, and lovastatin, which affect
      dolichol and cholesterol biosynthesis, were also potent fusion inhibitors. These
      observations, coupled with earlier studies on the characterization of fusion
      defective myoblast cell lines defective in glycoprotein biosynthesis, point to
      the importance of surface glycoproteins in cellular recognition in L6 myoblasts.

PMID- 1449707
TI  - Ubiquinone, dolichol, and cholesterol metabolism in aging and Alzheimer's
      disease.
AB  - The lipid compositions of various regions of the human brain were investigated
      during aging and in Alzheimer's disease. The phospholipid amounts and
      compositions remained unchanged during aging. There were, however, considerable
      differences both in phospholipid composition and amount when the various regions
      were compared. The level of dolichol increased severalfold in all regions up to
      the age of 70, but there was no further elevation thereafter. The ubiquinone
      level decreased significantly in all parts of the brain upon aging. In
      Alzheimer's disease, the dolichol level was decreased in all regions, and
      particularly, in those affected by the disease. In contrast, the dolichyl-P
      concentration increased in those regions that exhibited morphological changes.
      There was no modification in cholesterol distribution, but a significant
      elevation in ubiquinone content was observed in most regions. The only
      phospholipid whose level was elevated was phosphatidylinositol, and only in those
      parts of the brain that were affected. The content of polyunsaturated fatty acids
      in phosphatidylethanolamine was greatly decreased in connection with the disease,
      with a parallel increase in the saturated portion. The results indicate that
      Alzheimer's disease results in specific and significant changes in the levels of
      lipid products of the mevalonate pathway in the brain.

PMID- 1449709
TI  - The occurrence of long chain polyprenols in leaves of plants of Rosaceae family
      and their isolation by time-extended liquid chromatography.
AB  - The long chain polyprenols composed of 30 and more isoprene units from leaves of
      plants belonging to the genera Potentilla and Rosa have been described. They
      occur in the form of fatty acid esters. The composition of polyprenol mixture was
      species dependent and its content reached ca. 0.5% wet weight. Large scale
      preparation of individual polyprenols from a natural polyprenol mixture was
      performed using time-extended liquid chromatography on the hydrophobic gel
      Lipidex-5000.

PMID- 1449708
TI  - New developments in the synthesis of phosphopolyprenols and their glycosyl
      esters.
AB  - Efficient methods were developed in our group in recent years for chemical
      synthesis of polyprenyl phosphates, polyprenyl monophosphate sugars, and
      polyprenyl diphosphate sugars, which were known to serve as important
      intermediates in biosynthesis of complex carbohydrates. A simple procedure was
      developed involving the phosphorylation of aliphatic alcohols with tetra-n
      butylammonium dihydrogen phosphate and trichloroacetonitrile. Monophosphates of
      various natural and modified dolichols and polyprenols, as well as the
      derivatives of retinol, cholesterol, and nonacosanol, were prepared in high
      yields. First syntheses of dolichyl thiophosphate and dolichyl hydrogen
      phosphonate were developed, and these derivatives were of interest as analogs of
      dolichyl phosphate. Polyprenyl monophosphate sugars, including derivatives of
      alpha- and beta-anomers of D-glucopyranose, D-galactopyranose, D-mannopyranose,
      and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose, were obtained smoothly from moraprenyl
      trichloroacetimidate and acylated glycosyl phosphates after deprotection. A
      method for the synthesis of polyprenyl diphosphate sugars from polyprenyl
      phosphoroimidazolidate and unprotected glycosyl phosphates was shown to be
      applicable for a wide range of the monosaccharide derivatives including hexoses,
      deoxyhexoses, 2-acetamido-2-deoxyhexoses, and uronic acids. A series of the
      oligosaccharide derivatives was also prepared by this method.

PMID- 1449711
TI  - Changes of dolichol and dolichyl fatty acyl esters during the germination and
      development of soybeans.
AB  - The amounts of dolichol and dolichyl fatty acyl esters and their composition in
      various parts of soybean seedlings were determined during germination and
      development. The dolichol content of cotyledons decreased during germination.
      Dolichyl fatty acyl esters were identified in cotyledons and the amount was
      estimated by high performance liquid chromatography. The relative amounts of
      short-chain dolichols of 15, 16, and 17 isoprene units increased during
      development of the seedlings. The homologue distribution of free dolichol was
      different from that of dolichyl fatty acyl esters. The relative amounts of
      dolichols with 16, 17, and 18 isoprene units were greater in free dolichol than
      in dolichyl fatty acyl esters. The percentages of long-chain saturated fatty
      acids in dolichyl fatty acyl esters, specifically 21:0, 22:0, 23:0, 24:0, and
      25:0, increased during development. These fatty acids represented more than 40%
      of the fatty acids in dolichyl fatty acyl esters in stems. These results suggest
      that dolichyl fatty acyl esters are not a storage form of dolichol. The large
      accumulation of dolichol and dolichyl fatty acyl esters in the leaves, where
      photosynthesis takes place, suggests some other function.

PMID- 1449710
TI  - Yeast dolichyl-phosphomannose synthase: reconstitution of enzyme activity with
      phospholipids.
AB  - The activity of purified recombinant yeast dolichyl-phosphomannose synthase (EC
      2.4.1.83) was assessed following reconstitution of the enzyme with phospholipids.
      The yeast synthase, similar to the mammalian enzyme, was active when
      reconstituted with phosphatidylethanolamine dispersions but had little (less than
      5%) activity in stable phosphatidylcholine bilayers. The enzyme was activated by
      adding increasing amounts of diacylglycerol to phospholipid bilayers, suggesting
      that activity of the yeast enzyme was dependent on lipid phase properties rather
      than specific phospholipids. The synthase could also be reconstituted as an
      active enzyme in bilayers prepared with a commercial crude lipid preparation
      containing 40% phosphatidylcholine, but at a rate 10% of that occurring in
      phosphatidylethanolamine. Vesicles composed of the 40% phosphatidylcholine lipid
      mixture, dolichyl phosphate, and enzyme were leaky in the presence of divalent
      cations, and dolichyl-phosphomannose synthase did not appear to catalyze the
      translocation of dolichyl phosphomannose across membranes at a catalytically
      significant rate under the assay conditions employed.

PMID- 1449712
TI  - A dolichol acyltransferase present in rat and human postheparin plasma.
AB  - Incubation of small unilamellar vesicles consisting of dioleoyl
      phosphatidylcholine-dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (3:1) and 2 mol%
      [3H]dolichol-19 with postheparin plasma from rat resulted in the formation of
      dolichyl oleate. Normal plasma or heat-treated postheparin plasma contained no
      activity and, hence, the results indicate the presence of a cell surface
      associated dolichol acyltransferase that can be released into the blood by
      heparin. The reaction is strongly stimulated by phosphatidylethanolamine and
      Ca2+, whereas no stimulation with triglycerides or acyl-CoA was observed.
      Together with the fact that the only product formed was dolichyl oleate, these
      results strongly suggest that a transacylation mechanism from the phospholipids
      to dolichol is operative in the liposomes. Gel chromatography of postheparin
      plasma yielded a molecular mass of about 350 kilodaltons for the active enzyme
      and density gradient centrifugation indicated that this high molecular mass
      complex consists mainly of proteins. Finally, we conclude that this enzyme is not
      unique to the rat, but is also present in human postheparin plasma.

PMID- 1449713
TI  - Uptake of dolichol by Vero cells.
AB  - Characterization and kinetics of dolichol uptake by a Vero cell line are
      reported. Vero cells incorporate dolichol in a time- and dose-dependent manner.
      Optimal uptake is found at 37 degrees C and at a pH of 7.4. In contrast to
      cholesterol, an inhibitory effect on the dolichol incorporation is found for
      farnesol, geraniol, and retinol. Long chain polyprenols were slightly
      stimulatory. The translocation seems not to be highly energy dependent. The lack
      of substantial inhibition by chloroquine does not plead for a receptor-mediated
      endocytosis. Incorporated dolichol was distributed over both membranes and
      supernatant fractions, paralleling the distribution of the lysosomal marker beta
      N-acetylhexosaminidase. The incorporated dolichol is subject to a fast efflux
      process, which is potentiated by the presence of lipid acceptors in the
      extracellular medium.

PMID- 1449714
TI  - Blood dolichol in lysosomal diseases.
AB  - Highly elevated serum total dolichol (free dolichol + dolichyl ester)
      concentrations have recently been found in two lysosomal storage diseases,
      aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) and mannosidosis. The present study demonstrates
      that the increase of serum dolichol in AGU patients is caused by an increase of
      serum free dolichol. In 15 patients the mean serum level of free dolichol (227 +/
      16 ng/mL) was 1.9 times higher (p < 0.001) than that in healthy controls (120 +/
      6 ng/mL), while the amounts of dolichol fatty acid esters were similar in the
      patients and controls (110 +/- 9 vs. 118 +/- 6 ng/mL). In contrast, 10 patients
      with neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis (NCL) (three with infantile, four with
      juvenile, and three with variant late infantile NCL) had significantly (p < 0.01)
      lower mean serum levels of both free (79 +/- 5 ng/mL) and total (159 +/- 6 ng/mL)
      dolichol than age-adjusted healthy controls (free, 100 +/- 6 ng/mL; total, 206 +/
      14 ng/mL). Decreased blood dolichol has not been reported earlier for any other
      disease. We conclude that the increased serum free dolichol in AGU reflects
      disturbed lysosomal function and that the decreased free and esterified dolichols
      in NCLs speak against their presumed primary lysosomal nature.

PMID- 1449715
TI  - Rat liver lysosome membranes are enriched in alpha-tocopherol.
AB  - The subcellular distribution of alpha-tocopherol has been studied in rat liver.
      Lysosomal membranes were found to be considerably enriched in alpha-tocopherol
      with 6300 pmol/mg membrane protein, whereas mitochondrial membranes and
      microsomes contained 530 and 200 pmol/mg membrane protein, respectively. The 37
      fold higher specific content of alpha-tocopherol in lysosomal membranes relative
      to homogenate indicates that lysosomes could be a target of cellular pathology in
      vitamin E deficiency states.

PMID- 1449716
TI  - Protein-linked isoprenoid lipids in dexamethasone-treated human lymphoid lines in
      culture.
AB  - Accumulation of isoprenoids was studied in two cell lines derived from acute T
      cell leukemia: CEM-C7 cells, whose growth is inhibited by the glucocorticoid
      dexamethasone, and CEM-C1 cells, which are resistant to this steroid. Isoprenoids
      were measured by growing the cells in serum-free medium in the presence of
      lovastatin, which blocks synthesis of mevalonate, and then labeling with
      exogenous [3H]mevalonolactone. In both cell lines, isoprenoids associated with
      proteins were detected in cytoplasm, nucleus, and chromatin, and in the chromatin
      residue that remains after extraction of histone and nonhistone proteins.
      Differences in labeling were detected after treatment with dexamethasone in the
      CEM-C7 line, showing a decrease in the cytoplasmic fraction with a corresponding
      increase in both the nuclear and chromatin fractions as compared with untreated
      cells. No change was seen in the CEM-C1 line. In both cell lines, 25-30% of the
      incorporated label was released by treatment with acid or alkali. However, the
      majority of the label required treatment with methyl iodide for the release of
      organic-soluble tritiated products. After extraction with chloroform, the lipid
      fractions contained farnesol, geraniol, dolichols, and possibly nerolidol.

PMID- 1449717
TI  - Localization and preferred orientations of ubiquinone homologs in model bilayers.
AB  - The localization of ubiquinone has been investigated in phospholipid bilayer
      vesicles in studies of fluorescence quenching of membrane-bound probes by
      ubiquinone homologs (Qn, where n is the number of the isoprenoid units of the
      chain). Fluorescence-quenching data obtained by using a set of anthroylstearate
      probes, having the fluorophore located at different depths, revealed that
      ubiquinone-3 is located throughout the whole bilayer thickness. From the
      bimolecular quenching constants in the membrane, lateral diffusion coefficients
      in two dimensions were calculated to span values of 10(-7)-10(-6) cm2.s-1. This
      suggests that ubiquinones laterally diffuse in a very fluid environment. On this
      basis, it is proposed that their translational diffusion in the bilayer takes
      place in two dimensions, with the quinone ring oscillating between the two
      bilayer surfaces within a hydrophobic environment not extending beyond the
      glycerol region. This model implies that the quinonic head is both settled near
      the polar surface of the bilayer and buried into the host hydrocarbon interior.
      This two-site distribution was confirmed for all Qn, except Q0, by their linear
      dichroism spectra in the bilayers provided by disc-like lyotropic nematic liquid
      crystals. These spectra also provided detailed information on the preferential
      orientations of the quinonic head of the different derivatives within the two
      sites. The mechanism by which the localization and orientation of Qn guest
      molecules inside the host bilayer is modulated by the isoprenoid chain length is
      discussed on a thermodynamical basis. Being that Qn is expected to be also widely
      contained in the highly curved cristae of the mitochondrial inner membrane, by
      using rod-like lyotropic nematic liquid crystals we searched out effects of the
      curvature of the host bilayer on those Qn distributions. The linear dichroism
      measurements reveal that Qn guest molecules are no longer obliged to find a
      partition between two different types of localizations when the host bilayer is
      highly curved. In this case all Qn, even the longest Q10, were found to stay
      parallel to the amphiphilic chains with a single site localization of the head
      near the polar interface. By the same linear dichroism technique, the local
      ordering of all Qn derivatives was also evaluated. The order parameters were
      found to be basically the same for all derivatives. This result is justified on
      the basis of the relaxation, caused by the surface curvature, of the lateral
      compression of the host chains.

PMID- 1449718
TI  - Dolichyl-pyrophosphoryloligosaccharide protein oligosaccharide transferase in
      neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis.
AB  - The kinetics of the oligosaccharide transfer from oligosaccharyl
      pyrophosphoryldolichol to endogenous protein acceptors in human fibroblasts were
      studied. No alterations in the transferase activity and enzyme characteristics
      could be observed in fibroblasts from neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis (NCL)
      patients. Analysis of urinary dolichol of two NCL patients also did not reveal
      substantial differences with respect to controls.

PMID- 1449719
TI  - Partition of free dolichol in human urine.
AB  - We have demonstrated that dolichol is present in the urinary supernatant. Most of
      the dolichol present in the supernatant seems to be associated with cellular
      debris or membrane fragments. The amount of sediment in healthy subjects
      correlate well with the volume of urine. Although it is illogical to express
      urinary dolichol relative to urine volume, a good correlation between the amount
      of sediment and urine volume has made its use justifiable. Because of the
      presence of a substantial amount of dolichol in the supernatant, it seems better
      to use uncentrifuged whole urine as the sample for measurement of dolichol.

PMID- 1449720
TI  - Particulate glycogen of mammalian liver: specificity in binding phosphorylase and
      glycogen synthase.
AB  - The glycogen particle - glycogen metabolizing enzyme complex was investigated to
      gain some understanding of its physiological significance. Fractionations of
      populations of particles from mouse liver were carried out utilising open column
      and high performance liquid chromatography, and based either on the molecular
      weight of the particles or the hydrophobic interactions of the glycogen
      associated proteins. The activities of glycogen phosphorylase and glycogen
      synthase were measured in these fractions. Fractionations were of tissue in
      different stages of glycogen deposition or mobilization. In animals fed ad
      libitum, glycogen synthase was associated with the whole spectrum of molecular
      weights, while the glycogen phosphorylase distribution was skewed in favour of
      the lower molecular weight species. Under conditions of glycogen mobilization,
      the phosphorylase distribution changed to include all molecular weights. The
      hydrophobic interaction separations demonstrated that glycogen synthase binds to
      a specific subpopulation of particles that is a minor proportion of the total. In
      general, there was a direct relationship of the total amount of phosphorylase and
      synthase bound during periods of mobilization and deposition, respectively. Two
      notable exceptions were the large amounts of glucose-6-P dependent synthase
      present during the early period of glycogen mobilization and the high amounts of
      active phosphorylase appearing shortly after food withdrawal, in spite of interim
      glycogen deposition from presumably already ingested food.

PMID- 1449721
TI  - Modification of mRNA-associated proteins during changes in growth conditions.
AB  - Following serum stimulation of quiescent 3T6 cells, an elevated in vivo rate of
      translation was observed. These studies were designed to identify the proteins
      associated with polysomal mRNA under different growth conditions in an attempt to
      establish a relationship between translational rate and the mRNA-associated
      proteins. Ultraviolet cross-linking of proteins to mRNA was employed to ensure
      that only genuine mRNA-associated proteins were investigated. Our results
      revealed little change in the population of mRNA-binding proteins, although minor
      variations in the synthesis of several proteins, most notably a 32 kilodalton
      species, were observed during growth transitions. These investigations
      demonstrate further that most of the mRNA-binding proteins were phosphorylated
      with the degree of phosphorylation of several proteins influenced by growth
      conditions.

PMID- 1449722
TI  - Hepatic heparan sulphate proteoglycan and the recycling of transferrin.
AB  - Heparan sulphate proteoglycan, labelled with [35S]sulphate, was prepared from rat
      livers for studies of its interaction with purified rat transferrin. Affinity
      chromatography of the preparation on columns of immobilized differic transferrin
      and apotransferrin showed that the proteoglycan possessed affinity for both types
      of matrices at pH 7.3 and that this affinity significantly increased at pH 5.6.
      The glycosaminoglycan chains liberated from the proteoglycan by heparan sulphate
      lyase also bound to apotransferrin, albeit less strongly, whereas the
      deglycosylated core protein exhibited virtually no interaction with this matrix.
      In the presence of the proteoglycan at pH 5.6, the release of iron from the N
      lobe of transferrin was accelerated. These observations suggest that heparan
      sulphate proteoglycan from the liver can mimick some of the known functions of
      bona fide transferrin receptors and, hence, interaction with the proteoglycan may
      provide an alternative nondegradative pathway for transferrin through hepatic
      cells.

PMID- 1449723
TI  - Proliferation is required for induction of terminal differentiation of Friend
      erythroleukemia cells.
AB  - The relationship between cell proliferation and differentiation has long been a
      source of controversy. Stimulation of normal erythroid maturation results in a
      finite number of cell divisions accompanied by a concomitant accumulation of
      hemoglobin. Friend erythroleukemia cells treated with hexamethylene bisacetamide
      differentiate in a similar manner, while agents such as hemin apparently induce
      differentiation without limiting cell proliferation. Aphidicolin, an inhibitor of
      DNA synthesis, has been reported to induce differentiation in the absence of cell
      proliferation. Using these three chemicals we have investigated the relationship
      between cell proliferation and erythrocytic maturation by exposing Friend
      erythroleukemia cells to either hexamethylene bisacetamide (5 mM), hemin (100
      microM), or aphidicolin 1.2 microM) and examining the effects on cell growth,
      morphology, and hemoglobin production. Proliferation in the presence of
      hexamethylene bisacetamide is limited to four to five rounds of cell division,
      while hemin has no inhibitory effect. Hexamethylene bisacetamide initiates the
      complete erythrocytic maturation program, including cellular structural changes
      and hemoglobin synthesis. Hemin stimulates only globin gene transcription, not
      differentiation. Aphidicolin inhibits cell growth within 24 h, but does not
      induce differentiation. Furthermore, inhibition of proliferation by aphidicolin
      prevents subsequent hexamethylene bisacetamide induced differentiation. These
      results indicate that at least one round of cell division is required for
      initiation of erythrocytic differentiation.

PMID- 1449724
TI  - Secretion of SPARC by endothelial cells transformed by polyoma middle T oncogene
      inhibits the growth of normal endothelial cells in vitro.
AB  - Endothelioma cells expressing the polyoma virus middle T oncogene induced
      hemangiomas in mice by the recruitment of nonproliferating endothelial cells from
      host blood vessels (Williams et al. 1989). I now report that SPARC, a Ca(2+)
      binding glycoprotein that perturbs cell-matrix interactions and inhibits the
      endothelial cell cycle, is produced by endothelioma cells and is in part
      responsible for the alterations in the morphology and growth that occur when
      nontransformed bovine aortic endothelial cells are cocultured with endothelioma
      cells. Normal endothelial cells cocultured with two different middle T-positive
      endothelial cell lines, termed End cells, exhibited changes in shape that were
      accompanied by the formation of cell clusters. Media conditioned by End cells
      repressed proliferation of normal endothelial cells, but enhanced that of an
      established line of murine capillary endothelium. Radiolabeling studies revealed
      no apparent differences in the profile of proteins secreted by aortic or
      capillary cells cultured in End cell conditioned media. Characterization of
      proteins produced by End cells led to the identification of type IV collagen,
      laminin, entactin, and SPARC as major secreted products. Although SPARC did not
      affect the morphology of End or capillary cells, it was associated with overt
      changes in the shape of aortic endothelial cells. Moreover, SPARC and a synthetic
      peptide from SPARC domain II inhibited the incorporation of [3H]thymidine by
      aortic cells, but had minimal to no effect on the capillary endothelial cell
      line. The inhibition of growth exhibited by aortic endothelial cells cultured in
      End cell conditioned media could be partially reversed by antibodies specific for
      SPARC and SPARC peptides. These studies indicate a potential role for SPARC in
      the generation of hemangiomas by End cells in vivo, a process that requires
      normal (host) endothelial cells to disengage from the extracellular matrix,
      withdraw from the cell cycle, migrate, and reassociate into the disorganized
      cellular networks that comprise cavernous and capillary hemangiomas.

PMID- 1449725
TI  - Increased preproenkephalin A gene expression in the rat heart after induction of
      a myocardial infarction.
AB  - The expression of preproenkephalin A (ppENK) gene was investigated in the rat
      heart, following the onset of myocardial infarction induced by ligation of the
      left anterior descending coronary artery. The relative abundance of ppENK mRNA
      and the level of enkephalins were measured by Northern blot analysis and
      radioimmunoassay, respectively, in the ventricles from control-unoperated, sham
      operated, and operated rats. Three hours after the surgery, a comparison between
      rats with infarction and sham-operated rats revealed that the relative abundance
      of ppENK mRNA and the level of enkephalins were increased three- to four- and two
      to three-fold, respectively, in the ventricles of rats with infarction. No
      difference was observed between rats with infarction and sham-operated rats 24 h
      after the surgery, or between rats with infarction compared at time intervals of
      3 and 24 h following the surgery. The abundance of the ppENK mRNA in the
      polysomal fraction of the ventricular septum was also measured 3 h after the
      surgery and found to be threefold higher in rats with infarction as compared with
      sham-operated rats. These results indicate that the level of enkephalins rapidly
      increases in the ventricles of rats following myocardial infarction, and that
      this higher level may be ascribed to a stimulation of the local synthesis of
      enkephalins.

PMID- 1449726
TI  - Accelerated entry of aortic smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive
      rats into the S phase of the cell cycle.
AB  - The present study was designed to characterize the growth kinetics of the
      exaggerated proliferative response to mitogens of vascular smooth muscle cells
      from spontaneously hypertensive rats compared with cells from normotensive Wistar
      Kyoto controls. Cellular DNA content, analyzed by flow cytometry, demonstrated a
      4-h accelerated entry into the S phase of the cell cycle of vascular smooth
      muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats; the significant (4.5-fold)
      increase in the percentage of cells in the S phase occurred between 8 and 12 h
      after calf serum stimulation. A 3.9-fold increase of cells in the S phase was
      seen in the normotensive controls only between 12 and 16 h. Transit through the
      cell cycle was quantitated by flow cytometry using the Hoechst 33,342-
      bromodeoxyuridine substitution technique. Vascular smooth muscle cells from
      spontaneously hypertensive rats went through the cell cycle 4 h ahead of cells
      from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. This accelerated transit of spontaneously
      hypertensive rat cells was mostly due to an earlier entry into the S phase.
      Persistence of this new intermediate phenotype in cell culture suggests its
      primary pathogenetic role in spontaneous hypertension.

PMID- 1449727
TI  - Transport of Ca2+ by diltiazem across the lipid bilayer in model liposomes.
AB  - The calcium channel antagonist diltiazem was examined for its ability to
      translocate Ca2+ from an aqueous medium to the nonpolar lipid milieu. We
      monitored the spectral changes caused by the drug-mediated cation transport at 37
      degrees C in unilamellar vesicles made of dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC)
      and containing the calcium-sensitive dye arsenazo III trapped inside. Vesicle
      leakage or membrane fusion caused by diltiazem was assessed by the use of
      vesicles containing fluorescent indicators. These effects were, however, found to
      be insignificant compared with ion transport. The transport was negligible at
      temperatures below the liquid crystalline to gel transition temperature of DMPC
      indicating a carrier mechanism of ion transport. A quantitative analysis of the
      transport kinetics indicated that a 1:2 Ca(2+)-drug complex is formed inside the
      lipid. The calcium ionophoretic ability of diltiazem, combined with other related
      data, suggests a possible role for Ca2+ in the conformation of the drug in the
      lipid membrane milieu and in its interaction with the calcium channel.

PMID- 1449728
TI  - Effects of nonenzymatic glycation of subfragment-1 of myosin on interactions with
      actin.
AB  - Nonenzymatic bonding of reducing sugars to subfragment-1 of myosin (S-1) resulted
      in a reduction in actin-activated S-1 ATPase activity. Fructose caused a greater
      reduction than glucose. The Km for binding of actin to S-1 was significantly
      increased with sugar derivatization. In addition, sugar derivatization lowered
      the ability of S-1 to promote polymerization of G-actin. Western blot analysis
      demonstrated that glucose was nonenzymatically incorporated into the 50 and 20
      kilodalton (kDa) fragments of S-1 with preponderance in the 20-kDa fragment. The
      reduced affinity of derivatized myosin for actin is indicated by the increased
      Km, the reduced ability to stimulate actin polymerization, and the positive
      Western blot reaction in the 20-kDa fragment.

PMID- 1449729
TI  - Assessment of basic cognitive abilities in relation to cognitive deficits.
AB  - A modal model of information-processing was used to select a battery of nine
      tasks of basic cognitive ability (learning, relearning, reaction time, probe
      recall, Sternberg search, self-paced probe, stimulus discrimination,
      tachistoscopic full report, tachistoscopic partial report). Parameters from these
      tasks operationalized the model. After extensive pilot testing of the tasks to
      establish reliability, we tested 40 subjects (20 with mental retardation and 20
      college students) on all tasks and the WAIS-R. The parameters from the tasks were
      generally reliable (.7 through .9) and had low correlations with IQ (average
      about .37). Nearly all of the major cognitive parameters differentiated
      significantly between groups. A subset of the basic cognitive parameters
      predicted IQ with an estimated multiple correlation in the general population of
      .72. Prediction of IQ using basic cognitive parameters was better for subjects
      with mental retardation than for college students. A modified version of the
      modal model was supported. Results show that individual differences in higher
      mental processes are highly dependent on basic cognitive abilities and can be
      predicted from them. These findings have substantial implications for the
      development of models of information-processing.

PMID- 1449730
TI  - Teaching self-instruction utilizing multiple exemplars to produce generalized
      problem-solving among individuals with severe mental retardation.
AB  - Four residents of a group home who had severe mental retardation were taught to
      use self-instruction in combination with multiple exemplars to solve task-related
      problems. The combined strategy was associated with generalization to untrained
      problems as well as response maintenance of the problem-solving strategy (i.e.,
      responding to multiple exemplars and self-instructing). The use of the strategy
      was discussed in terms of instructional strategies for teaching self-instruction
      and areas for future research, including isolating the factors responsible for
      generalization and identifying the role of language in promoting generalized
      responding.

PMID- 1449731
TI  - Families of children with mental retardation: comprehensive view from an
      epidemiologic perspective.
AB  - Data covering a 15-year period on the health, behavior, and functioning of a
      representative population of families of children with mental retardation and
      comparison children were used in cluster analysis to obtain relatively
      homogeneous groupings of families. Only a small minority of families of children
      with mental retardation did not cluster together with comparison families. More
      than a third functioned well and had a middle-class orientation; less than a
      third functioned poorly. A few clusters had ambiguous configurations, but most
      were easily understood and conformed generally to expectations in validation
      analyses.

PMID- 1449732
TI  - General slowing of information-processing by persons with mental retardation.
AB  - On measures of speeded performance, persons with mental retardation typically
      respond more slowly than do those without mental retardation. A review of 45
      published studies yielded 518 pairs of response times (RTs) in which each pair
      consisted of a mean RT for a group of persons with mental retardation for an
      experimental condition and the corresponding mean RT for a group of persons
      without mental retardation. The primary result was that RTs of individuals with
      mental retardation increased linearly as a function of RTs for persons without
      mental retardation in corresponding conditions. These results are consistent with
      the view that differences in processing speed between persons with and without
      mental retardation reflect some general (i.e., nontask specific) component of
      cognitive processing. Possible candidates for the general component were
      discussed.

PMID- 1449733
TI  - Sentence processing by adolescents with and without mental retardation.
AB  - A more thorough test of the hypothesis that persons with mental retardation are
      less likely to construct semantically integrated representations of sentences
      that they hear than are subjects without mental retardation (Merrill & Bilsky,
      1989; Merrill & Mar, 1987) was provided. A series of sentences were presented to
      adolescents with and without mental retardation. Their memory for the object
      nouns of the sentences was then tested when they were provided with either the
      subject noun, the verb, or the subject plus verb of the sentence as a retrieval
      cue. The two-word cue was relatively better if an integrated semantic
      representation was constructed. Manipulations included decreasing the processing
      time given to subjects (expected to inhibit the construction of integrated
      representations) and presenting a picture with the sentence (expected to
      facilitate the construction of integrated representations). The reduction in time
      decreased performance for the subjects without mental retardation to the level
      normally observed for those with mental retardation; presenting a picture
      increased performance of subjects with mental retardation to the level of
      comparison subjects. Results support the suggestion that previously observed
      differences in sentence processing between individuals with and without mental
      retardation may be due to differences in generating integrated representations of
      the sentences during processing.

PMID- 1449734
TI  - Association between gastrostomy and death: cause or effect?

PMID- 1449735
TI  - [Exarticulation and replantation of 11, 21].

PMID- 1449736
TI  - [Occlusive treatment of atrophic and erosive oral lichen planus with Clobetasol
      Propionate 0.05% ointment (Dermovat)].
AB  - The treatment of eight patients with histologically verified atrophic or erosive
      lichen planus are reported. The lesions of WHO-diagnosis code 697.02 were
      subdivided into three classes: atrophic, minor erosive and major erosive.
      Clobetasol Propionate ointment was placed in the buccal mucosa under an occlusive
      DuodermR dressing. Healing with striation was obtained in all of those lesions
      classified as atrophic or minor erosive, while major erosive lesions showed
      improvement, but persisted.

PMID- 1449737
TI  - [Exarticulation 11, luxation 21, 9-year old boy patient].

PMID- 1449738
TI  - [Caries in 2-3 year old children in relation to feeding habits and nationality].

PMID- 1449739
TI  - [Chemo-mechanical excavation with Caridex system--an alternative].

PMID- 1449740
TI  - [Inlays of plastic, glass or porcelain].

PMID- 1449741
TI  - [Pulp tester].

PMID- 1449742
TI  - [Medical protective gloves in dental practice].

PMID- 1449743
TI  - [Quality assurance in health service].

PMID- 1449744
TI  - [Fracture induced constriction treated by Continuous Passive Motion (CPM)].
AB  - Aspects of the history of treatment of painful joints are commented upon. It is
      pointed out, that the medical and dental professions have for more than 125 years
      been aware, that immobilization of joints may have harmful effects. Still,
      research on therapeutic motion of painful joints dates back only 25 years. A case
      is reported of fracture associated constriction, possibly due to secondary
      involvement of the temporalis muscle and especially its tendineous insertion on
      the muscular process of the mandible. When the patient was treated with the CPM
      apparatus Mobilimb J1 the interincisal distance increased from 13 mm to 46 mm.
      According to literature CPM has so far been used only as adjunctive physical
      therapy after surgical intervention. On the basis of data in the literature the
      author is studying the effect of CPM on reduced mobility of the jaws as primary
      treatment without surgery.

PMID- 1449745
TI  - [Health and quality. Quality assessment, quality assurance and quality
      improvement in health care. Concepts and terminology].

PMID- 1449746
TI  - [Treatment of primary caries].

PMID- 1449747
TI  - [Is the laser useful?].

PMID- 1449748
TI  - [Database KLINIK system].

PMID- 1449749
TI  - [Complaints about orthodontics].

PMID- 1449750
TI  - [Resorbable Vicryl mesh for new attachment after jaw fracture].
AB  - The principle of GTR, guided tissue regeneration, was developed by Scandinavian
      scientists in order to separate epithelium and connective tissue from periodontal
      ligament cells and bone, thereby eliciting new attachment after marginal
      periodontitis. In case of jaw fractures loss of attachment may be seen in
      relation to teeth in the line of fracture, especially after severe dislocation of
      the fragments. One such patient is reported in whom only emergency treatment was
      possible during the first 11 days due to a simultaneous cerebral trauma. As
      anticipated a deep osseous pocket developed on the actual tooth 43 even if the
      fractures were anatomically repositioned and fixed with osteosynthesis and even
      if the postoperative course was uneventful. Later, treated by interpositioning of
      a resorbable Vicryl membrane, new attachment formed with a gain of the order of
      magnitude of 8 mm with concomitant osseous regeneration. It is concluded that
      Vicryl mesh would definitely seem to have a place in the treatment of jaw
      fractures. However, there is an urgent need for a larger collection of meshes
      than presently available, including both larger sizes and other shapes.

PMID- 1449751
TI  - [Endodontics for primary teeth. An update].

PMID- 1449752
TI  - [Diagnosis of caries in occlusal plane].

PMID- 1449753
TI  - [How does the curing lamp operate?].

PMID- 1449754
TI  - The feeling of a presence and verbal meaningfulness in context of temporal lobe
      function: factor analytic verification of the muses?
AB  - We hypothesized that the feeling of a presence, particularly during periods of
      profound verbal creativity (reading or writing prose or poetry), is an endemic
      cognitive phenomenon. Factor analyses of 12 clusters of phenomenological
      experiences from 348 men and 520 women supported the hypothesis. We conclude that
      periods of intense meaningfulness (a likely correlate of enhanced burst-firing in
      the left hippocampal-amygdaloid complex and temporal lobe) allow access to
      nonverbal representations that are the right hemispheric equivalents of the sense
      of self; they are perceived as "a presence." The relevance of our results to the
      theories of Jaynes, Bear, Edelman, and MacLean is discussed.

PMID- 1449755
TI  - Asymmetries in the spatial localization of transformed targets.
AB  - This study was designed to examine the contribution of the right cerebral
      hemisphere in the spatial localization of visual targets for manual aiming.
      Visual targets were briefly presented to the right and left fields and subjects
      were required to point either to the target location, or a "mirror" image of the
      target location with their right or left index finger. Whereas reaction times
      were faster for left-hand pointing than for right-hand pointing, there was no
      differential effect of the mirror image transformation. This suggests that left
      hand reaction time advantages are more related to right hemisphere involvement in
      the spatial parameterization of the movement than spatial localization of the
      target.

PMID- 1449756
TI  - Ideational fluency in Parkinson's disease.
AB  - Recent research on Parkinson's disease (PD) suggests that executive functions are
      impaired but that visuospatial functions may be spared. This dissociation has
      been attributed to dysfunction in ascending dopaminergic pathways affecting the
      prefrontal cortex. We investigated these ideas in a sample of intellectually
      intact patients with idiopathic, optimally treated PD (N = 20) and in spouse
      controls (N = 15); the groups were divided into young (age < 60) and old
      subgroups, each comparable on education, vocabulary level, and Mini-Mental State
      scores. Six tasks were selected from a set of factor-referenced cognitive tests
      to measure three abilities: (1) ideational fluency (ability to generate ideas),
      (2) flexibility of use (ability to shift mental set), and (3) spatial orientation
      (ability to perceive spatial patterns). PD patients were impaired only on the
      ideational fluency factor (p = .01). An age-related deficit was seen on the
      spatial factor (p < .05) with a trend on the flexibility factor (.05 < p < .10).
      No interactions were significant. The findings suggest that when age and verbal
      intelligence are controlled, PD patients show no deficit on purely spatial tasks;
      in contrast, patients seem less able to generate ideas though capable of shifting
      from one idea to another.

PMID- 1449757
TI  - Assessment of the relationship of cerebral hemisphere arousal asymmetry to
      perceptual asymmetry.
AB  - This study examined the hypothesis that characteristic individual differences in
      cerebral hemisphere arousal asymmetry are related to individual differences in
      perceptual asymmetry observed in verbally based visual half-field tasks. The
      study used electrophysiological measures of arousal asymmetry rather than
      behaviorally derived measures (Levy, Heller, Banich, & Burton, 1983). Measures of
      alpha asymmetry were obtained from 20 right-handed males during a baseline
      relaxation condition and during a visual half-field version of the lexical
      decision task. Reaction time measures of perceptual asymmetry were obtained
      during this task. The results indicated that a basal arousal asymmetry measured
      at the temporal recording location during the baseline condition was
      significantly related to individual perceptual asymmetry during the subsequent
      lexical decision task. This basal arousal asymmetry was relatively stable across
      different task conditions. A task-related arousal asymmetry measured at the
      parietal location during the lexical decision task also made a significant
      contribution in predicting individual perceptual asymmetry. These two measures of
      individual arousal asymmetry were able to predict 50% of the variance in
      perceptual asymmetry. The implications of the results for explaining more wide
      ranging individual differences in behavioral style and personality are discussed.

PMID- 1449758
TI  - Electroencephalogram asymmetry during emotionally evocative films and its
      relation to positive and negative affectivity.
AB  - The purpose of the present study was to determine if there were differences in
      hemispheric lateralization during the experience of emotions and if those
      differences were related to personality style. College-age adult subjects
      selected for high positive and negative affectivity on Tellegen's
      Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ; Tellegen, 1982) viewed video
      stimuli selected for their emotionally evocative nature and rated the intensity
      of the emotions they experienced. The ongoing electroencephalogram (EEG) was
      recorded while they watched the video clips. Analyses of the EEG data revealed
      that there were differences in regional activation during the emotional video
      clips, especially for those stimuli selected to elicit either happy or disgust
      emotions. These results support the hypothesis that the right hemisphere is
      specialized for the experience of certain negative affects, whereas the left
      hemisphere is specialized for the experience of certain positive affects. The
      findings also indicated some support for the theory that individual differences
      in personality style are related to differing levels of hemispheric arousal.

PMID- 1449759
TI  - The roles of handedness and stimulus asymmetry in aesthetic preference.
AB  - When some pictures are mirror reversed, aesthetic evaluations of them change
      dramatically. Stimulus features that may be important in contributing to this
      effect are: (a) location of areas of principal interest or weight in the picture
      space, (b) cues that suggest a direction of motion within the picture. Dextrals
      and inverted sinistrals preferred paintings with cues suggesting motion
      proceeding from left to right over their mirror-reversed versions and also
      preferred those with weight concentrated in the left portions of the picture
      space. The explanation that best fits these data is that preference is promoted
      when the picture content encourages attention to its rightmost portions, thus
      placing a majority of the picture in the left visual field where it is directly
      processed by the right hemisphere.

PMID- 1449760
TI  - Visual hemispheric asymmetries depend on which spatial frequencies are task
      relevant.
AB  - Observers classified sine-wave and square-wave gratings on the basis of
      fundamental frequency (Are the bars wide or narrow?) or on the basis of higher
      harmonic frequencies (Are the bars sharp or fuzzy?). Stimuli were presented in
      either the left (LVF) or right (RVF) visual field. When the classification was
      made on the basis of the fundamental frequencies (1 or 3 c/deg), there was a
      LVF/right hemisphere advantage. However, when the classification was on the basis
      of a sharp/fuzzy distinction which involved searching for the higher harmonic
      frequencies, then a RVF/left hemisphere advantage was found.

PMID- 1449761
TI  - Auditory/verbal and visual/spatial memory in children with complex partial
      epilepsy of temporal lobe origin.
AB  - Two groups of epileptic children and a normal control group were administered a
      Comprehensive Children's Memory Scale (Experimental Edition) which is presently
      being developed by this author. The first experimental group consisted of 12
      children having complex partial seizures of left temporal origin and the second
      group consisted of 12 children having partial complex seizures of right temporal
      lobe origin based upon clinical description and EEG/neuroimaging verification.
      Results indicated: (a) Children with left temporal lobe epilepsy demonstrated
      significantly lower performance than controls on auditory/verbal memory testing.
      (b) Children with right temporal lobe epilepsy demonstrated significantly lower
      performance than controls on visual/spatial memory testing. (c) For the most
      part, the right and left temporal lobe groups did not significantly differ from
      each other. However, their performance was in the expected direction; i.e.,
      children with left temporal lobe epilepsy scored lower than right temporal lobe
      epileptics on auditory/verbal memory testing, and children with right temporal
      lobe epilepsy scored lower than left temporal lobe epileptics on visual/spatial
      memory testing.

PMID- 1449762
TI  - Impaired drawing from memory in a visual agnosic patient.
AB  - A case is reported of an associative visual agnosic patient who could not draw
      from memory objects he could recognize, even though he could copy drawings
      flawlessly. His ability to generate mental visual images was found to be spared,
      as was his ability to operate upon mental images. These data suggest that the
      patient could generate mental images but could not draw from memory because he
      did not have access to stored knowledge about pictorial attributes of objects. A
      similar functional impairment can be found in some other visual agnosic patients
      and in patients affected by optic aphasia. The present case allows a discussion
      of relationships among drawing from memory, imagery, and copying procedures.

PMID- 1449763
TI  - The organization of arithmetic facts in memory: evidence from a brain-damaged
      patient.
AB  - We report a single case study of a brain-damaged patient with impaired arithmetic
      performance. Three principal findings are presented: First, in a task involving
      production of answers to simple arithmetic problems, the patient's performance
      was far better for subtraction than for addition or multiplication. Second, in
      all arithmetic operations performance was generally much better for problems
      potentially solvable by rule (e.g., 5 + 0) than for problems requiring retrieval
      of specific facts (e.g., 5 + 3). Third, the dissociation between subtraction and
      the other arithmetic operations obtained in the production task was not observed
      in a verification task. The implications of these findings for claims concerning
      the organization of stored arithmetic facts are discussed.

PMID- 1449764
TI  - Fluency versus conscious recollection in the word completion performance of
      amnesic patients.
AB  - To examine the relative contribution of fluency and recollection to the word
      completion performance of amnesics, we administered a task in which patients were
      told specifically not to utilize previously presented words during stem
      completion (an Exclusion condition). This condition was contrasted with a
      standard word completion task in which patients were encouraged simply to
      complete the stem with the first word that came to mind (an Inclusion condition).
      Since the exclusion condition necessitated controlled respecification of the
      initial presentation, it was hypothesized that amnesics would be less able than
      controls to exclude study list items. Consistent with this hypothesis, the
      results indicated that the amnesics' performance, unlike that of the alcoholic
      controls, did not significantly differ as a function of task condition. To
      examine whether amnesics' conscious recollection could be enhanced, Experiment 2
      presented the study list five times. The amnesics now were able to exclude a
      significant number of items from the study list; however, they still did so
      considerably less frequently than alcoholic controls. For the alcoholic controls,
      increasing the number of study trials had little additional effect on their
      exclusion performance, but it significantly enhanced their inclusion performance.
      Taken together, these findings suggest that for control subjects, word completion
      performance is likely mediated by a combination of fluency and recollection,
      while for amnesic patients, performance is almost exclusively based on the
      fluency with which an item comes to mind.

PMID- 1449765
TI  - Gall's psychophysiological concept of function: the rise and decline of "internal
      essence".
AB  - Gall did not employ the term "function" to refer to adaptive mental processes or
      to observable behavior. To the contrary, he and the phrenologists took a
      traditional concept of function regarding the contribution or duties of a part
      within the overall "animal economy" and argued that the "faculties" of the soul
      are among the functions of the nervous system. In particular, he brought this
      psychophysiological use of the term into his Enlightenment perspective when he
      aligned it with internal essence, juxtaposed it to its external sign, and argued
      that the cerebral organs are the material instruments through which the internal
      faculties manifest themselves in behavior and in the shape of the skull. Gall did
      not believe that the faculties are a product of the organs but that the organs,
      being material incarnations of the internal functions, contain the power to
      express the faculties externally. Purely psychological uses of function are
      infrequent among the works of Gall and his followers. It was not until the
      functionalists at the turn of the century that the word was applied to the
      adaptive utility of mental processes in relation to the environment and not until
      the advent of behaviorism that it was employed to refer to the end or adaptive
      utility of a particular behavior.

PMID- 1449766
TI  - Hemispheric specialization for word classes with visual presentations and lexical
      decision task.
AB  - In the present paper we study the possible RH capabilities for the processing of
      adjectives and verbs of high frequency and medium imagery using a lexical
      decision task and a horizontal display. In the analysis of both RTs and mean
      errors, a RVF advantage is obtained. The interaction VF x Word Class did not
      reach significance. Therefore, we did not find evidence of differences in the
      visual-field effect for any syntactic class. These results support a LH
      superiority for the processing of both adjectives and verbs. For the nonword
      conditions (pseudoverbs and pseudoadjectives), no visual field differences were
      observed in either group. Methodological aspects are also discussed.

PMID- 1449767
TI  - Mechanisms and management of filtration bleb failure.

PMID- 1449768
TI  - Phenotypic similarities between Stargardt's flavimaculatus and pattern
      dystrophies.
AB  - Some heredomacular diseases share ophthalmoscopic and morphologic similarities
      despite being nosologically distinct. In part, this may arise from pathologic
      reaction patterns such as lipopigment accumulation and drusen deposition which
      are common to a variety of disorders of the photoreceptor--retinal pigment
      epithelium--Bruch's membrane complex. Two of these disorders, Stargardt's
      flavimaculatus and the pattern dystrophies of the retinal pigment epithelium may
      be especially difficult to differentiate clinically since they are characterised
      by both a similar ophthalmoscopic appearance and considerable inter and
      intrafamilial variation in their expression. Stargardt's flavimaculatus may,
      however, be distinguished from the retinal pigment epithelial pattern dystrophies
      by certain clinical and morphological features that are outlined below.

PMID- 1449769
TI  - Leber hereditary optic neuropathy in Australia.
AB  - Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) presents with sudden onset of visual
      loss mainly in young adult males. LHON is not uncommon in Australia, accounting
      for 2% of invalid blind pensions. We have identified 20 unrelated families
      carrying mitochondrial DNA mutations associated with LHON and 135 of 291
      individuals with documented LHON are currently alive in Australia. The mean age
      of onset of visual loss for males was 26 years and for females 27 years, with a
      range from six to 65 years. The mean risk of visual loss was 20% for males and 4%
      for females. There are over 1750 male and female carriers living in Australia who
      have not yet lost vision; 600 carriers are under 24 years of age. The expected
      number of new cases of blindness from LHON is three to four per year.

PMID- 1449770
TI  - The objective assessment of abnormal eye movements in infants and young children.
AB  - Recordings of eye movements from infants and young children can be of clinical
      value in patients with certain neuro-ophthalmological problems. This requires
      that the characteristics of normal eye movements in this same age-group are
      known. Using an electro-oculographic technique in a specially developed
      laboratory we have been able to assess the saccades, binocular and monocular
      smooth pursuit, binocular and monocular optokinetic nystagmus (OKN), and
      sustained vestibular rotation in infants and young children; these recordings
      were performed in one session lasting approximately 35 minutes. The recordings
      from four children with abnormal eye movements (delayed visual maturation,
      hemicerebral cyst, congenital ocular motor apraxia, and gaze-paretic nystagmus)
      are briefly reported and compared to normal eye movements of age-related
      children. The limitations of this procedure are discussed.

PMID- 1449771
TI  - The development of fixing and focusing behaviour in normal human infants as
      observed with the Otago photoscreener.
AB  - The Otago photoscreener is an optical instrument which gives a very sensitive
      indication of the accuracy with which a subject's eyes are fixing and focusing.
      Early experience suggested that this instrument could be used effectively to
      screen for the presence of amblyogenic factors in pre-verbal infants. This
      communication describes the development of ocular fixation and focusing in 137
      normal infants who were followed at regular intervals during the first year of
      life. Accurate fixation and focusing was found in 13% of three-month-old infants,
      in 68% of six-month-old infants and in 76% of one year olds. The levels of
      'focusing' visual acuity obtained from the photoscreen data are considerably
      better than the levels of cortical acuity measured by the standard behavioral and
      electrophysiological methods. This suggests that human infants fix and focus
      accurately for a considerable period before they are able to perceive all the
      details obtained in their retinal images.

PMID- 1449772
TI  - Familial congenital corneal anaesthesia.
AB  - Congenital corneal anaesthesia is a cause of severe corneal ulceration and
      scarring in childhood. Although uncommon, it may be underdiagnosed when present
      as an isolated entity. Measures such as the use of elbow splints and tarsorrhaphy
      may be necessary to prevent visual loss. In rare instances, the condition may be
      inherited. A family is presented with autosomal dominant isolated congenital
      corneal anaesthesia, and the systemic associations and treatment of the condition
      are reviewed.

PMID- 1449773
TI  - A clinical and cytological study of vitamin A deficiency in Kiribati.
AB  - Vitamin A status was assessed clinically and by conjunctival impression cytology
      in a selected group under seven years of age in the Republic of Kiribati. A total
      of 230 children were studied. Of 185 with readable histology, 14.6% were
      clinically and histologically abnormal; 19.5% were clinically abnormal but
      histologically normal; and 15.7% were clinically normal and histologically
      abnormal. The remainder (50.3%) were clinically and histologically normal. There
      was a significant correlation between clinical disease and histology (P < 0.001).
      The prevalence of the disease in males was 45.8% and 26.3% in females. The risk
      of deficiency appeared to increase with advancing age. There was no significant
      difference between the two villages studied.

PMID- 1449774
TI  - An abbreviated assessment of ocular exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
AB  - Individual behaviour has a very large effect on determining the exposure of the
      eye to solar radiation. To be able to examine the relationship between ocular
      exposure to ambient ultraviolet radiation and ocular disease, a model was
      developed previously that assessed cumulative ocular exposure from individual
      information on work and leisure activities. In this paper, we present a
      simplified version of the model that uses data on exposure during the middle of
      the day (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. solar time) during the northern 'summer' months (April
      to September). The ocular exposure determined by the simplified model is highly
      correlated with the full model (r = 0.98) and the simplified model predicts 62%
      of the total ocular exposure. This model should be useful for future
      epidemiologic studies of sun exposure and eye disease.

PMID- 1449775
TI  - Development of experimental chronic intraocular hypertension in the rabbit.
AB  - There are many unanswered questions about chronic glaucoma which cannot be
      investigated in the available animal models. The present experiments were
      designed to develop a rabbit model of chronic intraocular hypertension with
      characteristics similar to human chronic glaucoma by ligating vortex veins or by
      making single or multiple intraocular injections of 0.5% or 1% alpha
      chymotrypsin, 20% chondroitin sulphate, 2% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, 2%
      sodium carboxymethylcellulose or 1% or 2% methylcellulose. Evaluation was based
      on the clinical findings, intraocular pressure and the retrograde axoplasmic
      transport function of the optic nerve using a horseradish peroxidase
      histochemical technique. Most methods either failed to produce moderate chronic
      intraocular hypertension or were associated with other complications. However, a
      reliable and relatively long period (eight weeks) of intraocular hypertension was
      developed by a series of four intra-anterior chamber injections of 1% or 2%
      methylcellulose. This model has been proved suitable for the study of structural
      and functional damage to the retina and optic nerve caused by chronic glaucoma.

PMID- 1449776
TI  - The effect of cataract extraction with implant in glaucomatous eyes.
AB  - The effect of cataract surgery in patients with glaucoma controlled by either
      topical medication or surgery was assessed in 64 patients. At one year there was
      a small significant fall in intraocular pressure (IOP) for eyes without previous
      surgery (preoperative IOP 18.9 +/- 4.7, range 12 to 35 mmHg; postoperative IOP
      16.3 +/- 3.4, range 10 to 26 mmHg; P < 0.01) and also for those with previous
      surgery (preoperative IOP 15.0 +/- 4.3, range 3 to 22 mmHg; postoperative IOP
      14.2 +/- 3.7, range 6 to 22 mmHg, P < 0.05). There was a significantly greater
      incidence of high rise in IOP to 30 mmHg or more immediately after operation in
      patients without (32%) than those with previous surgery (13%) (chi 2 = 3.9; P <
      0.05). Complications were minimal in each group. Iridotomy to deliver the nucleus
      was necessary in nine eyes without and 21 with previous surgery. Cataract
      extraction usually causes only a small fall in IOP in glaucomatous patients. If a
      separate corneal section is used there is no loss of function of the filtering
      bleb in patients with previous glaucoma surgery.

PMID- 1449777
TI  - The results of combined cataract extraction and trabeculectomy using separate
      incisions.
AB  - A method of combined cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens
      and trabeculectomy using separate incisions was tested in 44 operations on 38
      patients. The mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) of 28.1 +/- 11.7
      (range 12 to 56) mmHg on maximum medication was lowered to 13.9 +/- 3.4 (9 to 23)
      mmHg at one year, with half the eyes still requiring topical medication. The IOP
      was 40 mmHg or more preoperatively in eight eyes and 20 mmHg or more in only two
      patients at one year. There were no rises in IOP above 20 mmHg in the early
      postoperative period (days 1 and 2). Visual acuity was 6/9 or better in 27 and
      6/12 in three eyes. There was an expulsive haemorrhage in one case, rupture of
      the posterior capsule in two eyes and a choroidal detachment in one eye, but no
      flat anterior chambers. The two-incision method allowed placement of an
      intraocular lens with good post-operative pressure control.

PMID- 1449778
TI  - Day-surgery external dacryocystorhinostomy.
AB  - A retrospective study of patients undergoing day-surgery external
      dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) over five years is presented. The patients were
      medically fit for day-surgery, preferred outpatient to inpatient care, and had
      appropriate domiciliary support. There was a high success rate with minimal
      morbidity, similar to findings in an inpatient setting. Patient satisfaction was
      uniformly high. The author believes that external DCR can be performed on a day
      surgery basis safely and successfully.

PMID- 1449780
TI  - Pseudallescheria boydii keratitis.
AB  - We treated a case of post-traumatic keratitis caused by the soil saprophyte,
      Pseudallescheria boydii. The injury was caused by a wood splinter which produced
      a perforating corneal laceration that was primarily repaired. Signs of corneal
      infection were not evident until the fourth postoperative week. The organism was
      eradicated by topical miconazole and natamycin. Subsequent penetrating
      keratoplasty combined with cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation
      has achieved a good visual outcome.

PMID- 1449779
TI  - Histopathologic, immunophenotypic and genotypic analyses in ocular adnexal
      lymphoproliferative disorders.
AB  - This study reports on fourteen biopsies from patients presenting to our orbital
      and oncology service with ocular adnexal lymphoid proliferations between November
      1988 to September 1991. The biopsies were studied using histologic,
      immunophenotypic and genotypic analyses. By histologic criteria, there were two
      reactive, five indeterminate and seven lymphomatous lesions. On immunophenotypic
      analysis, there were two monoclonal and 10 polyclonal lesions in the 12 specimens
      analysed. Genotypic analysis confirmed the histopathologic diagnoses for the
      reactive lesions by showing them to be germline. It also confirmed that both the
      histopathologic lymphomas and immunophenotypically monoclonal lesions were
      clonally rearranged. Genotypic analysis was able to separate the histologically
      indeterminate group into two subsets: clonally rearranged, of which there was
      one, and germline, of which there were four. In addition, it demonstrated that
      immunophenotypic polyclonality cannot always be equated with genotypic
      polyclonality as was the situation in four out of 10 lesions in our series. The
      significance of clonal arrangements in the histologically indeterminate and
      immunophenotypically polyclonal groups can only be determined by prospective
      study.

PMID- 1449781
TI  - Atypical mycobacterium keratitis.
AB  - We present two cases of Mycobacterium chelonae keratitis, both of which followed
      minor corneal trauma. One case initially showed improvement with medical therapy
      alone but eventually required penetrating keratoplasty. The second case required
      surgical intervention to provide tectonic support, but the infection resolved
      with antibiotic therapy.

PMID- 1449782
TI  - Limbal nodules in Sweet's syndrome.
AB  - Sweet's syndrome is acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis. Conjunctivitis and
      episceritis have been described with it before. A case of Sweet's syndrome,
      described here, was found to have limbal nodules with histology similar to the
      skin lesions. This is the first report of this association.

PMID- 1449783
TI  - Diazepam and its effects on visual fields.
AB  - A patient who experienced severe visual field loss whilst taking 100 mg of
      diazepam that reverted to normal on cessation of the drug is described. Diazepam
      affects GABA inhibitory neurones and the physiology of this in the retina and
      visual cortex is reviewed.

PMID- 1449784
TI  - Excimer laser keratectomy.

PMID- 1449785
TI  - Post-cataract cryptococcal endophthalmitis.

PMID- 1449786
TI  - B and T cell leakiness in the scid mouse mutant.
AB  - Recombination of antigen receptor gene elements (V, D and J) that code for Ig and
      TCR variable regions is defective in the scid mouse mutant. However, the defect
      is not absolute. Developing scid lymphocytes occasionally succeed in forming a
      productive VDJ and VJ rearrangement at two critical loci (e.g., IgH/IgL or TCR
      beta/TCR alpha), and given the appropriate stimuli, differentiate into clones of
      functional B or T cells. Scid mice with detectable B and/or T lymphocytes are
      referred to as leaky. This review considers the nature and possible basis of B
      and T cell leakiness in scid mice.

PMID- 1449787
TI  - Domestic animal models of severe combined immunodeficiency: canine X-linked
      severe combined immunodeficiency and severe combined immunodeficiency in horses.
AB  - This review describes the clinical, immunologic and pathologic features of two
      naturally-occurring models of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) in domestic
      animals that represent different forms of human SCID. Canine X-linked SCID
      (XSCID) has an X-linked recessive mode of inheritance and, as such, represents a
      model for the most common form of human SCID in the United States. Affected dogs
      have normal percentages of circulating B cells and low to normal percentages of
      phenotypically mature, but nonfunctional T cells. Severe combined
      immunodeficiency in the horse is an autosomal recessive form of SCID that is
      characterized by a profound lymphopenia affecting both the B and T cell lineage
      most likely due to a lymphoid stem cell defect. Since these diseases are
      naturally-occurring in an outbred species, like man, they represent unique animal
      models of their respective human counterparts in which to determine the
      underlying immunologic defect(s), to evaluate novel approaches to immunotherapy
      or gene therapy, and to evaluate therapeutic regimens for opportunistic
      infections associated with SCID.

PMID- 1449788
TI  - Perinatal HIV transmission facts and controversies.
AB  - In 1992, HIV infection in children is essentially due to vertical or perinatal
      transmission, i.e. from the mother to the fetus and neonates. This is a
      particularly serious public-health problem in Africa where the percentage of
      infected women of child bearing age is as high as 20% in some suburban areas.
      During the last few years, three important points have been established. (i) In
      Europe and North America, the rate of perinatal transmission is between 15 and
      25% and appears to have remained relatively stable with time in various
      prospective cohorts. (ii) Considerable efforts have been directed at defining the
      optimal methods for early diagnosis of HIV infection in the infants. At present
      viral cultures and gene amplification of HIV DNA by polymerase chain reaction are
      the most promising procedures for early diagnosis within the first 6 months of
      life. (iii) Finally, the course of the disease in the infected infant has been
      well characterised, it takes two main forms--that of an early and severe disease
      or that of a slowly progressive infection: In addition, follow-up is now
      sufficient to confirm that children with negative tests at 15 months are indeed
      uninfected. However, knowledge is lacking in a number of essential areas. These
      include the exact timing of transmission (in utero, during delivery or post
      partum), the relative frequency of transmission during each period, the
      mechanism(s) involved (particularly the role of the placenta), and, finally, the
      influence of maternal, fetal and viral factors. Answers must be found rapidly in
      order to develop preventive therapy, to identify women who may have an increased
      risk of transmitting the virus, to develop a reliable antenatal diagnostic test
      and, finally, to be in a better position to inform HIV-seropositive women of the
      relative risks.

PMID- 1449789
TI  - Gene therapy for primary immunodeficiency disease.
AB  - Gene therapy offers the potential for developing innovative new treatments for
      both inherited monogenic diseases as well as polygenic and acquired disorders.
      For most potential clinical applications, the technology has not yet progressed
      to the stage where it might be reasonably tested. Problems to be solved include
      the isolation and characterization of the genes involved, the development of gene
      delivery systems that will permit efficient gene insertion in the affected cells
      and tissues, and the development of mechanisms to control or appropriately
      regulate expression of the introduced genes. The primary immunodeficiency
      diseases as a group actually lend themselves to the development of gene therapy
      strategies with current technology more readily than almost any other class of
      disease. Theoretically any genetic disease that can be successfully treated by
      allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is a potential candidate for gene therapy
      directed at correcting the patient's own totipotent bone marrow stem cells. In
      addition, some disorders lend themselves to genetic correction of more mature
      cells, although gene transfer in this treatment strategy might have to be
      repeated periodically. The rationale and preliminary results of the first gene
      therapy protocol for ADA deficiency SCID are described and strategies for
      developing somatic cell gene therapy for the other primary immunodeficiency
      diseases are discussed.

PMID- 1449790
TI  - Genome exclusion and gametic DAPI-DNA content in the hybridogenetic Bacillus
      rossius-grandii benazzii complex (Insecta Phasmatodea).
AB  - Among Sicilian stick insects, two hybridogenetic complexes have been discovered:
      Bacillus rossius-grandii benazzii and B. rossius-grandii grandii, which also
      produce androgenetic offspring. The egg maturation of the former is analyzed here
      through DAPI fluorometry, which, besides the assessment of the meiotic stages,
      also allows their DNA measurements and the analysis of sperm-head evolution into
      male pronuclei in these polyspermic eggs. Hybridogenetic eggs undergo an
      extrasynthesis of chromosomes, because two groups of n autobivalents (4C each)
      are segregated at metaphase 1st; the two groups must correspond to the pure
      parental species haplosets. Then the grandii chromosomes degenerate (1st polar
      body), while the rossius chromosomes divide further to produce two groups of n
      autodiads (2C each); one of them degenerates (2nd polar body), and the other is
      ready to perform syngamy (female pronucleus). Meanwhile, several B. grandii sperm
      evolve into male pronuclei by doubling their DNA (from 1C to 2C content) and
      assuming an interphase nucleus appearance. If regular mixis occurs, the F1 hybrid
      constitution is restored but, if it fails, a fusion between two sperms may occur,
      originating fully paternal descendants (natural androgenesis). The genome
      exclusion mechanism of stick-insect hybridogens appears to be more primitive than
      those observed in the already known hybridogenetic complexes of Poeciliopsis and
      Rana esculenta. Unfertilized eggs of hybridogens are capable of self-activation,
      but the cytology of the related clonally reproducing B. whitei indicates that its
      parthenogenetic mechanism stems from the hybridization event (hybrid theory)
      rather than from tychoparthenogenetic potentialities (spontaneous theory).

PMID- 1449792
TI  - Demonstration of a stage-specific expression of the ZFY protein in fetal mouse
      testis using anti-peptide antibodies.
AB  - The zinc finger Y (Zfy) gene is located on the Y chromosome of all placental
      mammals. Although it is phylogenetically conserved and is expressed in mouse
      fetal testis, it is not the sex determining Y (Tdy) gene. To address the possible
      function of the Zfy gene in mice, the distribution of Zfy protein in fetal mice
      was investigated by immunocytochemical staining using several specific antisera
      against synthetic peptides of the mouse Zfy protein. Analysis of various fetal
      tissues at different embryonic stages demonstrated a specific staining only in
      fetal testis. In particular, reactive protein was initially observed in male
      fetal gonads at day 11.5 postcoitum (p.c.). The immuno-staining intensified in
      fetal testes at day 12 and 12.5 p.c., decreased drastically in those at day 13
      and 14 p.c. and became undetectable in those at day 15 p.c. and beyond. The
      reactive molecules were distributed mostly within the seminiferous tubules of the
      embryonic testis. The present observations confirm the previous findings with RT
      PCR analysis and indicate that Zfy or Zfy-like protein is expressed in stage
      specific manner during early testis differentiation. Its location in the
      seminiferous tubules suggests a possible role in early germ cell development.

PMID- 1449793
TI  - Mediation of the actions of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 on
      preimplantation mouse embryos in vitro.
AB  - Previous studies showed that both insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF
      1) stimulate metabolism and growth of preimplantation embryos. Because the
      effects of insulin occur with very low doses, it was suggested that its effects
      were mediated by its own receptors. However, the effects of IGF-1 occurred at
      higher doses, suggestive of cross reaction with the insulin receptor but still in
      the range for mediation via its own receptor. The aim of this study was to
      investigate the mediation of the metabolic and growth effects of insulin and IGF
      1 using a specific insulin receptor antagonist. The antagonistic B-10 Fab
      fragment (B-10f) completely blocked stimulation of protein synthesis by both
      insulin and IGF-1, indicating that the insulin receptor mediates this action of
      both hormones. Alternately, only insulin's stimulation of inner cell mass
      mitogenesis and morphological development was inhibited by the B-10 Fab fragment.
      This showed that growth stimulation by insulin and IGF-1 was mediated via
      different receptors, insulin through its own receptor and IGF-1 through some
      other receptor. However, mediation via the IGF-2 receptor is not excluded since
      IGF-1 stimulates compaction when there is evidence for only the presence of the
      IGF-2 receptor. In summary, insulin or IGF-1 at physiological concentrations
      stimulates preimplantation mouse embryos, suggesting an important role for both
      these growth factors in early development.

PMID- 1449791
TI  - Analysis of the expression of a large number of novel genes isolated from mouse
      prepubertal testis.
AB  - The analysis of genes expressed in a restricted temporal and spatial manner
      during spermatogenesis has given insights into different gene-regulatory
      mechanisms active in germ cells. However, very few genes have so far been
      described that are predominantly active in spermatogonia and the early meiotic
      cell types of testis. To isolate a battery of such genes, more than 100 different
      mRNA molecules were isolated from a mouse prepubertal testicular cDNA library,
      and their expression patterns in different tissues analyzed. Thirty mRNAs, 26 of
      them previously not described in the literature, were found to be predominantly
      expressed in mouse testis. A detailed analysis of their expression patterns
      identified a number of mRNA molecules differentially expressed in testicular cell
      types, including both germ cells and somatic cell types. Characterization of
      these mRNAs also revealed five distinct temporal phases of gene expression during
      prepubertal germ cell development. Three different genes, mainly active in the
      spermatogonial and the early meiotic cell types of testis, were isolated and will
      be used to characterize further stage-specific gene expression during germ cell
      differentiation.

PMID- 1449794
TI  - Increasing carbon dioxide from five percent to ten percent improves rabbit
      blastocyst development from cultured zygotes.
AB  - One-cell rabbit zygotes were cultured at 39 degrees C in basal synthetic medium
      II (BSM-II) with 5%, 10%, or 15% CO2 and humidified air to determine the effect
      of CO2 concentration on development in vitro. After 4 days in culture, 37% of the
      embryos grown in 10% or 15% CO2 had reached the hatching blastocyst stage, but
      only 10% of the embryos were hatching when cultured under 5% CO2 (P = 0.01). Over
      all blastocysts, cell numbers were 207, 246, and 205 for the 5%, 10%, and 15% CO2
      treatments, respectively. In a second experiment to determine if there was a
      beneficial effect, particularly at the blastocyst stage, of a higher
      concentration of CO2, embryos were cultured 4 days in either 5% or 10% CO2 or for
      2 days in 5% CO2 followed by 2 days in 10% CO2. The numbers of blastomeres per
      embryo and embryo diameter were greater (P < 0.05) in embryos cultured
      continuously in 10% CO2 or in 10% CO2 only during days 3 and 4 of culture than in
      embryos cultured continuously in 5% CO2. In a third experiment, one-cell rabbit
      zygotes were cultured with 5% or 10% CO2 in a defined, protein-free medium
      consisting of 1:1 RPMI 1640 and Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium. The
      proportion of embryos hatching and cell counts were significantly greater (P <
      0.01) when cultured in the presence of 10% CO2. These data indicate that a 10%
      CO2 atmosphere exerts a beneficial effect on the development of zygotes into
      expanding and hatching rabbit blastocysts in vitro.

PMID- 1449795
TI  - In vitro fertilization, development, and implantation after exposure of mature
      mouse oocytes to visible light.
AB  - Mature mouse oocytes were exposed prior to in vitro fertilization to visible
      light during 1, 2, or 4 hr at an intensity of 4,000 lux. Compared to controls
      cultured under identical conditions but protected from light, exposed eggs did
      not show any significant modification of cleavage speed and rate. After transfer
      of blastocysts obtained in vitro in uteri of pseudopregnant females, the
      implantation rate and the proportion of normal fetuses were not found to be
      different in relation to preliminary light exposure of oocytes fertilized and
      cultured in vitro.

PMID- 1449796
TI  - Biosynthesis of prostaglandins by human spermatozoa in vitro and their role in
      acrosome reaction and fertilization.
AB  - Five homogenates of human sperm cells were separately incubated with
      [14C]arachidonic acid in the presence of reduced glutathione, L-tryptophan, and
      haematin as cofactors. The cyclooxygenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism
      were extracted, separated, and measured for their radioactivity. The rate of
      formation of prostaglandin (PG)D2, PGE2, PGF2 alpha, 6-keto PGF1 alpha, and
      thromboxane (TX)B2 were 18.0 +/- 1.11, 10.9 +/- 0.68, 5.8 +/- 0.21, 3.9 +/- 0.13
      and 6.6 +/- 0.52 pmol/10(6) cells/min, respectively. These results are discussed
      in relation to the hypothesis that cyclooxygenase metabolites of certain
      polyunsaturated fatty acids play an important part in the sperm acrosome reaction
      and fertilization.

PMID- 1449797
TI  - Characterization of male meiotic germ cell-specific antigen (Meg 1) by monoclonal
      antibody TRA 369 in mice.
AB  - We have identified a male meiotic germ cell-specific antigen (Meg 1) with
      monoclonal antibody (mAb) TRA 369 in mice. The Meg 1 antigen was strongly
      expressed in specific steps of meiotic germ cells from pachytene spermatocyte to
      early spermatid, and not in other germ cells or somatic cells.
      Immunohistochemical examination revealed that the antigen was localized to the
      cytoplasm and was not distributed in the nucleus or on the cell surface. This
      antigen was demonstrated to have a molecular weight of 93 kDa and an isoelectric
      point of 5.2 by Western blotting. This molecule was first detected in the testis
      of 13-day-old mouse when pachytene spermatocytes first appeared. Thus this is a
      differentiation-specific antigen in male meiotic germ cells, and mAb TRA 369 is a
      useful tool to study the regulation of germ cell differentiation and to define
      germ cell development in a molecular level.

PMID- 1449798
TI  - Adsorption of oviductal fluid proteins by the bovine sperm membrane during in
      vitro capacitation.
AB  - 125I-labeled oviductal fluid (ODF) proteins and antiserum to ODF were used to
      determine whether ODF proteins associate with the sperm membrane during in vitro
      capacitation. Luteal and nonluteal pools of ODF were obtained from oviduct
      catheters during the estrous cycle. Washed sperm (50 x 10(6) sperm/ml) were
      incubated up to 4 h in a protein-free modified Tyrode's medium (MTM), or MTM
      supplemented with 40% ODF, or 0.5 ng 125I-labeled ODF proteins. Solubilized sperm
      membrane proteins and incubation media containing ODF proteins were separated by
      gel electrophoresis. Membranes isolated from bovine sperm, previously incubated
      with ODF, adsorbed five 125I-proteins: A doublet at 85-95 kDa, and others at 24,
      34, 53, and 66 kDa. The amount of 66 kDA 125I-protein associated with the sperm
      decreased during the incubation, whereas the amount of 85 to 95-kDa protein did
      not. Western blot analyses also detected the presence of ODF proteins (53, 66, 85
      95, and 116 kDa) in solubilized membranes from sperm incubated in ODF. The 85 to
      95-kDa protein in ODF decreased in apparent molecular weight by 5 kDa when
      associated with the sperm membrane. At 53 kDa, ODF proteins which associated with
      sperm were transformed from two to three separate proteins. These studies
      indicate that the surface of sperm is modified by adsorption of ODF proteins to
      the membrane during in vitro capacitation.

PMID- 1449799
TI  - Protein synthesis requirements during resumption of meiosis in the hamster
      oocyte: early nuclear and microtubule configurations.
AB  - The organization of chromatin and cytoplasmic microtubules changes abruptly at M
      phase entry in both mitotic and meiotic cell cycles. To determine whether the
      early nuclear and cytoplasmic events associated with meiotic resumption are
      dependent on protein synthesis, cumulus-enclosed hamster oocytes were cultured in
      the presence of 100 micrograms/ml puromycin or cycloheximide for 5 hr. Both
      control (untreated) and treated oocytes were analyzed by fluorescence microscopy
      after staining with Hoechst 33258 and tubulin antibodies. Freshly isolated
      oocytes exhibit prominent nucleoli and diffuse chromatin within the germinal
      vesicle as well as an interphase network of cytoplasmic microtubules. After 4-4.5
      hr in culture, most oocytes were in prometaphase I of meiosis as characterized by
      a prominent spindle with fully condensed chromosomes and numerous cytoplasmic
      asters. After 5-5.5 hr in culture, microtubule asters are no longer detected in
      most cells, and the spindle is the only tubulin-positive structure. Incubation
      for 5 hr in the presence of inhibitors does not impair germinal vesicle
      breakdown, chromatin condensation, kinetochore microtubule assembly, or
      cytoplasmic aster formation in the majority of oocytes examined; however, under
      these conditions, a population of oocytes retains a germinal vesicle, exhibiting
      variable degrees of chromatin condensation and cytoplasmic aster formation.
      Meiotic spindle formation is inhibited in all oocytes. These effects are fully
      reversible upon culture of treated oocytes in drug-free medium for 5 hr. The data
      indicate that meiotic spindle assembly is dependent on ongoing protein synthesis
      in the cumulus-enclosed hamster oocyte; in contrast, chromatin condensation and
      aster formation are not as sensitive to protein synthesis inhibitors during
      meiotic resumption.

PMID- 1449800
TI  - Determination of enzyme activities of energy metabolism in the maturing rat
      oocyte.
AB  - Enzyme activities were determined quantitatively in individual rat oocytes to
      study their energy metabolism during maturation. Low hexokinase activity and high
      activities of lactate dehydrogenase and enzymes in the phosphate pathway, i.e.,
      glucose 6-P and 6-P gluconate dehydrogenases, were characteristic of immature
      oocytes. Hexokinase may be a rate-limiting enzyme that enables oocytes to use
      glucose as an energy source. During maturation, the activities of hexokinase,
      phosphofructokinase, and malate dehydrogenase increased significantly, suggesting
      that the glycolytic pathway, as well as the tricarboxylic acid cycle, developed
      as the first meiotic division proceeded. In contrast, the activities of glucose 6
      P and 6-P gluconate dehydrogenases decreased in maturing oocytes. The observation
      that the enzyme pattern in mature oocytes resembles more closely that in somatic
      cells appears to be significant, especially in light of previous studies showing
      this developmental trend in preimplantation embryos.

PMID- 1449801
TI  - In vitro decondensation of mammalian sperm and subsequent formation of pronuclei
      like structures for micromanipulation.
AB  - In this study, we describe an efficient protocol for the formation of in vitro
      developed pronuclei for micromanipulation techniques. Our approach involved
      incubation of demembranated or permeabilized mammalian sperm in a phosphate
      buffer supplemented with heparin and beta-mercaptoethanol. Under the prevailing
      conditions, we achieved a uniform and reliable synchronous decondensation of
      sperm nuclear DNA. This initial decondensation facilitated the removal of
      mammalian protamines upon subsequent incubation in an amphibian egg extract. The
      interchange of protamines for histones to stabilize the DNA structure is
      recognized as a prerequisite for pronuclear formation. Furthermore,
      immunocytochemical studies have revealed that pronuclear development is
      accompanied by the formation of a nuclear lamina with corresponding DNA
      synthesis. The method described gave a high yield of nuclei during pronuclear
      formation. Ultimately, our aim is to transfer the in vitro-developed pronuclei
      into mammalian oocytes by micromanipulation. This novel procedure may prove
      useful in alleviating severe male factor problems especially in oligozoospermic
      cases in our in vitro fertilization center.

PMID- 1449802
TI  - Parthenogenetic development of bovine oocytes treated with ethanol and
      cytochalasin B after in vitro maturation.
AB  - The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of different culture
      durations (24-36 hr) on bovine oocyte maturation in vitro and the effect of the
      presence or absence of cumulus cells at the time of treatment to induce
      parthenogenetic activation (exposure to ethanol and cytochalasin B; CB)
      (experiment I). The effects of dosage (2.5 or 5.0 micrograms/ml) and incubation
      time (2.5, 5, or 10 hr) in CB (experiment II) on the subsequent development to
      the blastocyst stage in vitro was also investigated. In experiment I, cleavage
      and development to the blastocyst stage were not affected by the presence or
      absence of cumulus cells at the time of parthenogenetic activation. However, the
      24-hr culture duration for in vitro maturation had a significantly lower rate of
      development to the blastocyst stage than the longer culture durations (27-36 hr).
      In experiment II, treatment with 5 micrograms/ml CB for 5 hr showed the highest
      percentage of development to blastocyst in the oocytes matured for both 27 and 30
      hr. To determine the viability of the parthenogenetic embryos (morulae and
      blastocysts), four recipient heifers received two embryos each, and one heifer
      was found to be pregnant on day 35 following transfer. Although fetal heartbeat
      was not observed, the subsequent estrus was prolonged in all heifers. The present
      results demonstrate development of in vitro-matured, parthenogenetically
      activated bovine embryos up to the preimplantation stage.

PMID- 1449803
TI  - Mucin genes and the proteins they encode: structure, diversity, and regulation.
AB  - Mucins are the structural components of the mucus gels that protect the
      respiratory, gastrointestinal, and reproductive tracts. These polydisperse
      glycoproteins (250,000 to 20,000,000 D) are approximately 80% carbohydrate on a
      mass basis and have a high intrinsic viscosity due to their large size and
      extreme hydrophilicity. Mucin oligosaccharides, the structures responsible for
      this hydrophilicity, are heterogeneous in size and structure but are chiefly O
      linked, i.e., they initiate from N-acetylgalactosamine residues attached to
      threonine and serine residues of the polypeptide backbone. Our understanding of
      the structure of mucins has advanced rapidly in the last few years with the
      isolation and sequencing of cDNA clones that encode mucin polypeptide backbones.
      All currently well-characterized mucins have been found to contain extended
      arrays of tandemly repeated peptides rich in potential O-glycosylation sites.
      Less is known about the unique sequences that flank the tandem repeat arrays of
      secretory mucins, but currently available information indicates that these
      flanking regions contain cysteine-rich stretches that participate in mucin
      oligomer formation. Thus, secretory mucins appear to consist of oligomers
      containing heavily glycosylated domains flanked by unique sequences required for
      polymerization. Progress has also been made in characterizing the genes that
      encode mucins. At least four human mucin genes are known at present, although
      many others may remain to be discovered. Moreover, much work remains before we
      gain an understanding of the mechanisms involved in the expression of mucin genes
      and their tissue-specific regulation.

PMID- 1449804
TI  - Ragweed sensitization-induced increase of myosin light chain kinase content in
      canine airway smooth muscle.
AB  - Previous studies have identified changes of mechanical properties of airway
      smooth muscle (ASM) from a canine model of atopic airway hyperreactivity. These
      changes, including increased maximum shortening capacity (delta Lmax) and early
      shortening velocity (Vo), may be responsible for the airway hyperresponsiveness
      in asthma. We have suggested that these changes may be due to increased
      actomyosin ATPase activity, controlled via phosphorylation of the 20 kD myosin
      light chain (MLC20) by MLC kinase (MLCK). Therefore, ATPase activity, MLC20
      phosphorylation, and MLCK content and activity were assessed in tracheal and
      bronchial smooth muscles (TSM and BSM) of ragweed pollen-sensitized dogs (S) and
      their littermate controls (C). Specific ATPase activities from STSM and SBSM were
      significantly higher than their control counterparts (CTSM, CBSM).
      Phosphorylation of MLC20 in STSM was greater both at rest and during electrical
      stimulation due to the increased amount of MLCK in STSM and SBSM by 30 and 25%,
      respectively. MLCK activity was also increased significantly in STSM and SBSM
      (from 46.99 +/- 8.33 and 42.85 +/- 5.92 to 91.9 +/- 6.43 and 64.12 +/- 7.88 32P
      mmol/mg fresh tissue weight/min respectively [mean +/- SEM]). When normalized to
      the amount of MLCK in the tissue, however, specific MLCK activity in STSM and
      SBSM was similar to that in controls. It is unlikely that myosin phosphatase
      plays any role in the changes of MLC20 phosphorylation in sensitized animals.
      Peptide mapping showed no visible change in primary structure of MLCK in STSM and
      SBSM compared with those of controls. We report that ASM actomyosin ATPase
      activity is increased in STSM and SBSM. The increased ATPase activity is the
      result of increased MLC20 phosphorylation, the latter likely resulting from the
      increased MLCK content, which may account for the hyperresponsiveness found in
      ASM from these animals.

PMID- 1449805
TI  - Quantifying proliferation of cultured human and rabbit airway smooth muscle cells
      in response to serum and platelet-derived growth factor.
AB  - Development of suitable methods for the quantification of the proliferative
      response of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells in culture will assist the
      investigation of the cellular mechanisms underlying the hyperplasia and
      hypertrophy of ASM as seen in asthmatic airways. In this study, two rapid and
      simple colorimetric assays have been modified to enable the growth of human
      bronchial and rabbit tracheal smooth muscle in culture to be assessed. One method
      depends upon the reduction by living cells of the tetrazolium salt MTT to form a
      blue formazan product, whereas the other relies on rapid binding of the dye
      Coomassie brilliant blue to protein at acidic pH. Experiments demonstrated the
      validity of both assays in quantifying the proliferative response of cultured
      human and rabbit ASM cells. The increase in optical density observed for each
      assay correlated directly, throughout the duration of culture, with the increase
      in cell number determined by hemocytometry in human and rabbit ASM cells
      proliferating in response to fetal calf serum (1.25 to 10%). This relationship
      held also for rabbit tracheal ASM cells proliferating in response to the
      heterodimer of platelet-derived growth factor (1 to 50 ng/ml). Application of
      these methods to adherent proliferating cultures of human and rabbit ASM cells
      demonstrated their adaptability to the generation of growth curves in response to
      serum and to a defined growth factor. These methods allow both total cellular
      protein and proliferation to be estimated in human and rabbit ASM cells in
      culture, using assays that are rapid, reproducible, inexpensive, and easy to
      perform while negating the use of radioisotopes. It is intended that these
      additional methods should be useful in delineating some of the mechanisms that
      might contribute to the proliferative response of these cells--particularly since
      there has been a resurgence in interest in culturing smooth muscle cells derived
      from the airways.

PMID- 1449806
TI  - Early maturation of force production in pig tracheal smooth muscle during fetal
      development.
AB  - The contractility of airway smooth muscle is fully established at late term at
      birth but its responsiveness during fetal life has not been defined. In this
      study, the contractile force of airway smooth muscle to acetylcholine (ACh), K+
      depolarizing solution, and electrical field stimulation (EFS) was measured in
      tracheas from small fetal pigs. Contraction to either agonist and to EFS was
      detectable in fetuses of as low as 9 g body weight, which corresponds to
      approximately 36 days of gestation. Isometric force increased progressively with
      age, reaching 4.1 +/- 0.4 mN for K+ and 5.8 +/- 0.5 mN for ACh (10(-4) M) at 600
      g fetal weight (90 days). However, when normalized for cross sectional area of
      smooth muscle, the stress was essentially the same from 17- to 600-g fetuses.
      (K+: 17 g = 74.4 +/- 10.6 mN/mm2, 600 g = 89.3 +/- 13.0 mN/mm2; ACh [10(-4) M]:
      17 g = 76.3 +/- 16.0 mN/mm2, 600 g = 127.0 +/- 13.0 mN/mm2). The sensitivities of
      the various groups to ACh were not significantly different (e.g., EC50: 30 g =
      4.0 +/- 0.2 x 10(-6) M, 600 g = 3.7 +/- 1.1 x 10(-6) M). EFS produced frequency
      dependent contractile responses in all groups. With increasing fetal size, there
      was a corresponding increase in force. When this force was normalized to a
      maximum ACh response (10(-4) M), there was no significant difference between
      groups of fetuses. Histologic examination showed the major tissue components of
      the trachea were present in fetuses above 7 g. Immunocytochemistry detected
      myosin, caldesmon, and filamin in the smooth muscle from fetuses of 7 g and
      above, showing that contractile and actin-binding proteins were present from a
      very early age. It is concluded that smooth muscle contractile function is well
      developed very early in fetal life in pigs.

PMID- 1449807
TI  - Secretory proteins and glycoconjugates synthesized by human tracheal gland cells
      in culture.
AB  - To study the proteins and glycoconjugates synthesized by serous cells from human
      tracheal glands (HTG), isolated HTG cells were cultured in the presence of
      radiolabeled precursors 14C-proline, Na2(35)SO4, and 3H-fucose. The secretory
      14C/35S/3H-radiolabeled proteins and glycoproteins, de novo synthesized by HTG
      cells, were analyzed by gel filtration chromatography. We observed the
      incorporation of 14C-proline into antileukoprotease and an unknown 30 kD protein,
      and the incorporation of 35SO4-- and 3H-fucose into high molecular weight
      glycoconjugates and sulfoconjugates (M(r) > 1,000,000) and into components with
      apparent M(r) of approximately 250 and 100 kD. After specific chemical and
      enzymatic treatment, the 35S- and 3H-glycoconjugates were shown to be -O-linked
      mucin-like glycoproteins and proteoglycans. These results show that cultured HTG
      cells synthesize some of the macromolecules identified in bronchial secretions.

PMID- 1449808
TI  - The role of the nonciliated bronchiolar epithelial (Clara) cell as the progenitor
      cell during bronchiolar epithelial differentiation in the perinatal rabbit lung.
AB  - Although it is well established that the nonciliated bronchiolar epithelial
      (Clara) cell serves as the progenitor for itself and ciliated cells in the adult
      lung following bronchiolar epithelial injury, the nature of this relationship
      during development has not been well characterized. To define the pattern of
      proliferation and differentiation of bronchiolar ciliated and nonciliated cells,
      lungs of fetuses and offspring from time-mated New Zealand White rabbits, ranging
      in age from 24 days of gestation to 25 wk postnatal (PN), were fixed by airway
      infusion and embedded for simultaneous light and transmission electron
      microscopy. Three categories of cells could be distinguished in terminal
      bronchioles: nonciliated cells with abundant glycogen and variable numbers of
      organelles; nonciliated cells with little glycogen, large numbers of
      polyribosomes, and variable numbers of basal bodies; and ciliated cells with
      cilia of varying height. Together, both types of nonciliated cells were 100% of
      the epithelium at 24 and 27 days gestation age (DGA). At 30 days DGA, they were
      85% of the population; at all postnatal ages, they ranged from 75 to 81% of the
      total population. Nonciliated cells with polyribosomes and basal bodies were 10
      to 20% of the total nonciliated cell population between 24 DGA and 1 wk PN and
      not found thereafter. Ciliated cells were not observed in animals younger than 30
      DGA. Labeling indices of bronchiolar epithelium in fetuses of pregnant rabbits
      injected with tritiated thymidine, as determined by autoradiography, were 57
      cells per thousand at 28 DGA (1 h postinjection [PI]), 76 at 29 DGA (24 h PI),
      and 114 at 30 DGA (48 h PI).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449809
TI  - Modulation of eosinophil chemotaxis by interleukin-5.
AB  - Eosinophilia and eosinophil function are regulated by cytokines such as
      granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-3 (IL-3),
      and interleukin-5 (IL-5). We have investigated the modulatory role of IL-5 on N
      formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), neutrophil-activating factor
      (NAF/IL-8), platelet factor 4 (PF4), and cytokine-induced chemotaxis of
      eosinophils from normal individuals. These eosinophils show a small chemotactic
      response toward PF4 but not to NAF/IL-8 and FMLP. Preincubation of eosinophils
      with low concentrations of IL-5 caused significantly increased responses toward
      PF4 and induced a significant chemotactic response toward FMLP and NAF/IL-8. In
      marked contrast, IL-5 (or IL-3) priming of eosinophils from normal donors
      resulted in a strong inhibition of GM-CSF-induced chemotaxis. A similar decrease
      in the chemotactic response toward GM-CSF was observed in eosinophils derived
      from allergic asthmatic individuals. This finding suggests that the latter
      eosinophils may have had a prior exposure to IL-5 (or IL-3). Washing of the cells
      after priming did not abrogate the inhibition of the GM-CSF response. Our data
      indicate that at low concentrations IL-5 is an important modulator of eosinophil
      chemotaxis, causing selective upregulation or downregulation of chemotactic
      responses toward different agents.

PMID- 1449810
TI  - Late results (50 to 182 months) of the Jatene operation.
AB  - Between May 1975 and August 1991, 184 patients with transposition of the great
      arteries (TGA) were operated upon by Jatene operation. One hundred and sixteen
      underwent corrective surgery prior to June 1987 with a follow-up period of
      between 50 and 182 months. The ages of these 116 patients ranged from 1 day to 84
      months (11.53 +/- 15.98). Eleven percent were less than 1 month old, 38% were
      between 1 and 6 months, 29% between 7 and 12 months and 22% were older than this.
      Eighty-eight patients (76%) were boys and the weight ranged from 2.4 to 17.0 kg
      (6.39 +/- 3.38). Thirty-eight patients (20.7%) died in the immediate
      postoperative period. Of the survivors, 5 died in the late follow-up between 9
      and 66 months (endocarditis at 9 and 66 months; gastroenteritis at 20 months;
      sudden death at 48 months; and during reoperation for relief of pulmonary
      stenosis (PS) at 60 months). Of the surviving 73 patients, 24 (32.9%) are
      anatomically normal at a mean period of 92.5 months postoperatively. Twenty-two
      (30.1%) have dysfunctions without clinical repercussion. Nineteen (26%) have had
      no recent evaluation and 8 (11%) were submitted to reoperation or angioplasty for
      relief of PS. Ninety-eight percent of the patients have normal left ventricular
      function. The majority of the patients surviving 50 to 182 months are in good
      clinical condition and if dysfunctions are present these show no progression or
      severe hemodynamic alterations.

PMID- 1449811
TI  - Induced hypothermia in the management of refractory low cardiac output states
      following cardiac surgery in infants and children.
AB  - Post-operative low cardiac output states remain a major cause of mortality
      following cardiac surgery in infants and children. Since 1979 we have used
      moderate induced whole-body hypothermia in the management of low-output states
      refractory to conventional modes of therapy. This is based not only upon the
      relationship between body temperature and oxygen consumption, but also on
      experimental work showing a beneficial effect of cooling upon myocardial
      contractility, particularly when there is pre-existing impairment of ventricular
      function. Between July 1986 and June 1990, 20 children with refractory low-output
      states were cooled by means of a thermostatically controlled water blanket to a
      rectal temperature of 32-33 degrees C. The median age was 12 months (1 week-11
      years) with a median weight of 6 kg (3.5-33 kg). Ten children survived to leave
      hospital while a further two made a haemodynamic recovery. There was a marked
      reduction in heart rate (P < 0.001). The mean arterial pressure rose (P = 0.037)
      while there was a fall in mean atrial pressure (P < 0.001). There was a
      significant improvement in the urine output (P = 0.002). A fall in the platelet
      count (P < 0.001) was not accompanied by any change in the white cell count (P =
      0.15). Although it is impossible to say whether cooling influenced the outcome in
      any of these children, it was usually effective in stabilising their clinical
      condition. The technique is simple and has a sound theoretical basis.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449812
TI  - Twelve year experience with the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt in neonates.
AB  - Between 1978 and 1990, 53 consecutive modified Blalock-Taussig (MBT) shunts were
      performed on 51 neonates with cyanotic congenital heart disease using 3 mm-5 mm
      Gore-Tex grafts. Only 4 of these children had uncomplicated tetralogy of Fallot.
      The remainder had more complicated pathology requiring urgent intervention.
      Retrospective analysis of the acute and long term results was performed with 100%
      follow-up, ranging from 1 month to 12 years (mean 3 years). There were 3 (6%)
      early deaths (within 30 days of operation) and 17 (33%) late deaths. Of the late
      deaths, 2 died after further palliation, 2 died after total correction and 13
      died suddenly at home. Post mortem examination of the 13 sudden deaths revealed
      blocked shunts in only 3. Actuarial survival at 2 years was 58%. Shunt patency at
      12 months was 87% and at 2 years, 62%. No patient used their initial MBT shunt
      for more than 40 months. Although this shunt provides good initial palliation,
      there is a high incidence of late sudden death. We are also concerned about the
      limited life span of the shunt which partly (3/13) explains the sudden deaths.
      Therefore we have adopted an aggressive approach to re-study by angiography
      within 3 months of surgery.

PMID- 1449813
TI  - The effects of preoperative aspirin therapy on platelet function in cardiac
      surgery.
AB  - Extracorporeal circulation is known to have profound effects upon platelets.
      Changes in platelet function were assessed in 20 patients undergoing elective
      coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) who stopped taking aspirin (100 mg per
      day) 5-7 days before the operation compared with 20 patients undergoing aortic
      valve replacement (AVR) who had never taken anticoagulants or aspirin. Platelet
      aggregometry was carried out using the turbidimetric technique (inducing agents:
      adenosine diphosphate (ADP) 1.0 and 2.0 mumol/l; collagen 4 micrograms/ml;
      epinephrine 25 mumol/l), and maximum aggregation as well as the maximum gradient
      of aggregation were monitored before, during, and after cardiopulmonary bypass
      (CPB) until the 1st postoperative (p.o.) day. Until the 1st p.o. day blood loss
      was significantly higher in the CABG (890 +/- 160 ml) than in the AVR patients
      (420 +/- 120 ml). A total of 8 units of packed red cells (PRC) were given in the
      CABG group, whereas no homologous blood was necessary in the AVR patients (P <
      0.05). The aggregation variables of the CABG patients were lower than in the AVR
      patients as early as after the induction of anesthesia (difference in maximum
      aggregation ranged from 13-29%). During CPB and immediately thereafter, all
      aggregation variables were significantly reduced in the CABG patients (reduction
      in maximum aggregation ranged from -32 to -49%) and were significantly different
      from the platelet aggregation in the AVR patients. Five hours after CPB and on
      the 1st p.o. day platelet aggregation in the CABG group almost returned to
      baseline values, however, without reaching the values of the AVR
      patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449814
TI  - Quantitation of the turbulent stress distribution downstream of normal, diseased
      and artificial aortic valves in humans.
AB  - Damage to blood corpuscles seems to be related to the magnitude and exposure time
      of the turbulent shear stresses (TSS). According to in vitro studies the critical
      TSS level for lethal erythrocyte and thrombocyte damage is 150-400 N/m2, for
      exposure times within physiological ranges. To study the distribution of TSS in
      the human ascending aorta, a hot-film anemometer needle probe was used to
      register blood velocities at 41 evenly distributed measuring points in the cross
      sectional area 5-6 cm downstream of the aortic annulus. Measurements were made in
      the ascending aorta after normal aortic valves (prior to coronary bypass
      surgery), after stenotic aortic valves, and after implantation of either St. Jude
      Medical or Starr Edwards Silastic Ball valves. Three-dimensional visualization of
      velocity profiles were performed and Reynolds normal stresses (RNS) were
      calculated within 50-ms overlapping time windows in systole. By coordinating the
      mean RNS for each time window and for all 41 measuring points, 2-dimensional
      color-coded mapping of the RNS distribution was made. Based on the velocity
      profiles and the RNS distribution a relative blood damage index (RBDI) was
      calculated to incorporate the magnitude and exposure time for RNS in the entire
      cross-sectional area into one parameter. Turbulent shear stresses were estimated
      by using a previously determined correlation equation between RNS and TSS. After
      normal aortic valves, RNS was below 4 N/m2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1449815
TI  - Problems associated with mechanical heart valve sounds.
AB  - A cross-sectional study of 50 randomly selected patients 12-36 months following
      mechanical heart valve replacement with Bjork-Shiley tilting disc valves was
      undertaken to investigate the factors which affect perception of, and reaction
      to, sounds generated by mechanical heart valves implanted in patients. Numerous
      problems were generated by the valves, including annoyance (68%), sleep
      disturbance (52% in patients; and 46% in patients' partners), interference with
      concentration (36%) and social embarrassment (28%). These findings are not
      affected by the measured level of sound or any variation in the number or
      anatomical position of the valve(s), though age and sex do seem to matter, more
      problems being reported by younger patients and those of the female sex. Aspects
      of the patient's personality did not seem to alter the difficulties experienced,
      though a high level of psychological morbidity was identified in the group as a
      whole. Most patients experience problems due directly to the noise generated by
      their valve and should be adequately warned of this before operation. This should
      also be taken into consideration in designing and evaluating new valve
      prostheses.

PMID- 1449816
TI  - Aortic valve replacement in cardiac ochronosis.
AB  - Two patients with generalized ochronosis developed cardiovascular symptoms
      related to cardiac ochronosis with aortic valvular stenosis. One patient with a
      transvalvular pressure gradient of 150 mm Hg underwent emergency aortic valve
      replacement. The other patient with a transvalvular pressure gradient of 96 mm Hg
      underwent successful elective aortic valve replacement. Cardiac ochronosis is a
      rare disease that might be encountered, with the typical signs, during an
      elective, planned cardiac operation. The most frequent presenting feature of this
      disease seems to be aortic valvular stenosis.

PMID- 1449817
TI  - Accidental injuries and blood exposure to cardio-thoracic surgical teams.

PMID- 1449818
TI  - Mouse peritoneal macrophages contain an acylating system specific for twenty
      carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids. A study with intact cells.
AB  - It is widely recognized that in addition to regulating the expression and
      activity of arachidonic acid (AA)-metabolizing enzymes, the availability of free
      AA limits eicosanoid biosynthesis. AA participates in a deacylation/reacylation
      cycle of membrane phospholipids in which the fatty acid is cleaved by
      phospholipase A2 and reesterified by acyltransferase. Thus, free AA can become
      available either by phospholipase A2 activation or by inhibition of fatty acid
      reincorporation. We observed that exposure of [3H]AA-prelabeled macrophages to
      micromolar concentrations of unlabeled AA resulted in a net release of 3H
      radioactivity into the extracellular medium. This was not the consequence of
      phospholipase A2 activation, but of impaired reesterification of previously
      liberated [3H]AA. The eicosanoid precursors eicosatrienoic acid (ETA) and
      eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) mimicked the effect of unlabeled AA on 3H
      radioactivity release from [3H]AA-prelabeled macrophages, but all other fatty
      acids tested were ineffective. Similarly, only AA, ETA and EPA were able to
      inhibit [3H]AA uptake by macrophages, all other fatty acids being ineffective.
      From these data, it is concluded that intact macrophages contain an acylating
      system specific for the eicosanoid precursors AA, ETA and EPA. Altogether, the
      results of this study underscore the importance of fatty acid reacylation in
      controlling free AA levels in macrophages.

PMID- 1449819
TI  - Lipopolysaccharide priming potentiates calcium ionophore stimulated human
      placental prostaglandin E2 release in vitro.
AB  - In this study, the effect of bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS) and of
      LPS priming on the in vitro release of PGE2 from human placental explants was
      investigated. Both LPS and the calcium ionophore A23187 significantly stimulated
      PGE2 release (P less than 0.05). Simultaneous exposure of placental explants to
      both LPS and A23187 revealed no additive or synergistic stimulation of PGE2
      release. LPS priming of placental tissue significantly increased A23187
      stimulated PGE2 release when compared to non-LPS-primed tissues. The addition of
      exogenous arachidonic acid (the substrate for PGE2 synthesis) also significantly
      (P less than 0.05) stimulated PGE2 release. There was, however, no significant
      further stimulation of PGE2 release following LPS priming in arachidonic acid
      treated explants. These data suggest that LPS not only increases basal PGE2
      release in human placentae, but also potentiates agonist-stimulated PGE2 release,
      possibly by increasing tissue capacity for endogenous arachidonic acid
      liberation.

PMID- 1449820
TI  - Effect of glutathione content on cellular uptake and growth inhibitory activity
      of prostaglandin A2 in L-1210 cells.
AB  - Prostaglandin A2 (PGA2) is known to be actively incorporated into mammalian cells
      and thereby evokes its biological effects. To explore the transport mechanism of
      PGA2 and the possible role of cellular glutathione (GSH) in the transport
      process, we prepared GSH-enriched and -depleted L-1210 cells and then incubated
      with [3H] PGA2. In GSH-depleted cells, the total amount of PGA2 incorporated was
      reduced to about 50% of that in the control and GSH-enriched cells, accompanied
      by marked reduction of the PG in the cytosol but not in the nuclei. The kinetics
      of uptake revealed that the apparent Vmax was reduced by GSH depletion.
      Subsequent study of L-1210 cells under culture conditions provided similar
      results; GSH-depletion caused suppression of PG uptake and a reduction in the
      amount of PGA2 in cytosol, while its nuclear accumulation was little influenced.
      Comparison of the effect of PGA2 on the growth of control and GSH-depleted cells
      showed that the PG suppressed cell proliferation to the same extent. Our results
      suggest that, though uptake of PGA2 may be significantly influenced, its
      accumulation, and hence the manifestation of its biological effects are not
      influenced by GSH status.

PMID- 1449821
TI  - Prostaglandin photoaffinity probes: synthesis and binding affinity of C-18
      substituted PGF2 alpha prostanoids bearing a perfluorinated aryl azide.
AB  - C-18 Phenoxy analogs of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) that possessed a
      perfluorinated aryl azide and an aryl iodide substituent were synthesized and
      evaluated as potential photoaffinity probes for PGF2 alpha. Prior studies
      indicated that only hydrophobic modifications in the omega-side chain of PGF2
      alpha were compatible with high binding affinity, and this finding excluded the
      use of a hydroxyl-substituted C-18 phenoxy group as an activated aryl ring
      capable of radioiodination. Consequently, an alternate means of introducing the
      iodine substituent using an ipsosubstitution of a trimethylsilyl arene was
      developed. Although this strategy was successful from a synthetic perspective,
      the potential PGF2 alpha photoaffinity probe, (15S)-18-[3'-((4''-azido
      2'',3'',5'',6''-tetrafluorophenyl)- methoxy) methyl-5'-iodophenoxy]-19,20
      bisnorprostaglandin F2 alpha, exhibited only marginal competitive binding with
      [3H]-PGF2 alpha to ovine luteal cells and to plasma membranes of bovine corpora
      lutea. The hydrophobic but bulky C-18 substituent was presumably incompatible
      with effective receptor binding.

PMID- 1449822
TI  - Prostaglandin photoaffinity probes: synthesis and binding affinity of aryl azide
      substituted C-1 esters of prostaglandin F2 alpha.
AB  - In seeking prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) photoaffinity probes possessing
      both an efficient, photoactive cross-linking substituent and a radiolabel of high
      specific activity, the synthesis and binding affinity of PGF2 alpha C-1 esters in
      which the alcohol component possessed either an aryl azide or a perfluorinated
      aryl azide was investigated. These derivatives showed great promise due to their
      ability to compete for the binding of [3H]-PGF2 alpha in both a luteal membrane
      binding assay and in a whole luteal cell binding assay. Identification of the C-1
      site in PGF2 alpha as a site for modification of the PGF2 alpha molecule with
      photoactive alcohol derivatives represented a logical step toward the goal of
      developing a useful PGF2 alpha photoaffinity probe.

PMID- 1449823
TI  - Platelet signal transduction mechanisms induced by eicosanoids.
AB  - Platelets are in many ways involved in the pathogenesis of artherosclerosis and
      the development of coronary heart disease, and play a role in acute myocardial
      infarction (8). They are also an useful model to study cellular activation
      mechanisms: their isolation from peripheral venous blood is simple and rapid and
      their physiological responses such as shape change, aggregation and secretion can
      be easily measured (10). This chapter is focused on our results on the mechanisms
      of platelet activation and inhibition induced by eicosanoids.

PMID- 1449824
TI  - Annexins and phospholipase A2 inhibition.
AB  - Annexins of human placenta have been purified and characterized. In addition to
      annexins I to VI and II complex, two novel species of 45 and 68 kDa were
      obtained. Annexins V and II are most abundant. Phospholipase A2 inhibitory
      activity of annexin V is low in contrast to that of annexins I to VI, and it is
      best for annexin II complex. In vitro, annexins bind to liposomes to extents
      which depend on the type of phospholipid used. This induces liposome aggregation
      whereby Mix, PI, and PC liposomes preferably aggregate. This hinders PLA2 from
      its access to the substate. Our data suggest that substrate-depletion by annexins
      is rather the result of liposome cross-bridging than pure liposome surface
      coating.

PMID- 1449825
TI  - LDL receptor-dependent polyunsaturated fatty acid transport and metabolism.
AB  - It is widely assumed that eicosanoid biosynthesis is initiated by an increase in
      the intracellular concentration of unesterified arachidonic acid (AA) as a
      consequence of the activation of cellular phospholipases and/or inhibition of AA
      reacylation reactions. Here, we describe a mechanism of eicosanoid formation that
      is entirely dependent on low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-mediated delivery
      of AA to eicosanoid producing target cells. This LDL AA pathway introduces a new
      regulatory component into the provision of unsaturated fatty acids to mammalian
      cells.

PMID- 1449826
TI  - Cleavage of phosphatidylcholine: an additional mechanism for stimulation of
      macrophage eicosanoid synthesis?
AB  - Cleavage of phosphatidylcholine (PtdChol) as putative mechanism leading to
      enhanced eicosanoid synthesis was investigated in mouse peritoneal macrophages.
      Addition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) to intact [3H]choline
      labelled cells did not enhance radioactivity release above control levels.
      Membrane-bound PtdChol-specific phospholipase (PL) activity was then measured in
      a cell-free assay using [3H]choline-labelled membranes as endogenous substrate.
      Preincubation of macrophages with TPA increased PL activity in a time course
      resembling the one observed for protein kinase C (PKC) activation. Diacylglycerol
      (DAG) species derived from PtdChol might therefore serve as additional stimulator
      of rapid macrophage eicosanoid synthesis via PKC.

PMID- 1449827
TI  - Prostaglandin 9-ketoreductase from pig and human kidney: purification, properties
      and identity with human carbonyl reductase.
AB  - Prostaglandin 9-ketoreductase has been purified to apparent homogeneity from pig
      and human kidney with an overall yield of 6%. The enzyme has a molecular mass of
      34 kDa, it is present as an active monomer in diluted solution and contains
      approx. 2 equivalents Zn++/mole enzyme. It is stereoselective for the pro(S)
      hydrogen of NADPH and reduces the prostaglandin 9-keto group to yield 90%
      prostaglandin F2 alpha and 8% of the beta-form. An extensive study of the
      catalytic properties was carried out, which leads to the conclusion that the
      enzyme function in vivo is unlikely a catalysis of oxidation/reduction at the
      prostaglandin 9-position. Five peptides from the pig kidney enzyme were sequenced
      and compared with the sequence of carbonyl reductase from human placenta. The
      identity is > 90% and this, together with the immunological cross-reactivity with
      human brain carbonyl reductase, most strongly suggests that prostaglandin 9
      ketoreductase and carbonyl reductase are the same enzyme.

PMID- 1449828
TI  - Priming mechanisms and induction of heat shock proteins in human
      polymorphonuclear granulocytes induced by eicosanoids and cytokines.
AB  - Priming of human polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMNs) with cytokines (IL-3, IL
      6, TNF-alpha) followed by a subsequent stimulation (FMLP) led to an enhanced
      polymerization of actin and GTPase-activity which correlated to a loss of ras
      immunoreactivity and an increased expression of Rab proteins. Furthermore TNF
      alpha and 12-HETE induced the heat shock proteins (hsp 70 family) in PMNs as was
      demonstrated by metabolic radiolabeling and Western blotting (anti-hsp 72). This
      activation of the stress response exerted a protective function towards a
      subsequent lytic attack by a bacterial cytolysin (leukocidin).

PMID- 1449829
TI  - The role of prostanoids in pediatric diseases employing mass spectrometric
      techniques.
AB  - Urinary excretion rates of primary prostanoids and their metabolites are useful
      parameters to assess as well renal as systemic prostanoid activity under clinical
      conditions. Children with renal diseases with systemic involvement, such as
      Bartter syndrome, renal diabetes insipidus, postobstructive hydronephrosis, and
      acute renal allograft rejection, have exclusively elevated excretion rates of
      primary prostanoids. In patients with systemic diseases and additional renal
      involvement, such as hyperprostaglandin E syndrome and hemolytic uremic syndrome,
      rates of primary prostanoids and of their metabolites are elevated. In contrast,
      systemic vascular diseases without renal involvement, such as Henoch-Schonlein
      purpura and persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborn, are associated only
      with increased systemic prostanoid activity indicated by elevated excretion rates
      of prostanoid metabolites, whereas excretion rates of primary metabolites are in
      the normal range.

PMID- 1449830
TI  - The role of leukotriene D4 in septic shock models.
AB  - Septic shock is a major complication during the treatment of intense care
      patients. A similar pathologic state can be experimentally induced in rodents by
      application of endotoxins. There is circumstantial as well as direct evidence for
      a participation of leukotriene D4 in this experimental multiorgan failure. Due to
      liver-specific sensitivation by galactosamine endotoxin-induced multiorgan
      failure can be experimentally transposed to a single organ, i.e. hepatic failure.
      Data presented here show a participation of the eicosanoid leukotriene D4 in
      either model of sepsis. We have recently described a cellular system modelling
      endotoxin-induced hepatic failure. In this system based on the coculture of
      hepatocytes and nonparenchymal liver cells leukotriene D4 is required for the
      development of cytotoxicity. It is concluded that the three models share pivotal
      mechanistic principles and might be used complementary to each other in order to
      study underlying molecular events.

PMID- 1449831
TI  - Lipoxygenase inhibitors but not site specific 5-lipoxygenase blockers protect
      against endotoxic shock and inhibit production of tumor necrosis factor.
AB  - In the present study it was found that lipoxygenase inhibitors prevent LPS-, but
      not tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha)-evoked lethality. The specific 5
      lipoxygenase inhibitors (MK-886, CGS-8515) were uneffective in endotoxin-induced
      shock. The 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors interfered with LTC4 formation in
      macrophages while they did not affect endotoxin induced TNF alpha-formation,
      neither in cell cultures nor in mice. The potency of other, less specific
      lipoxygenase blockers to suppress TNF alpha formation correlated quantitatively
      with their ability to interfere with 13-HODD synthesis. Based on the fact that a
      tight correlation exists between inhibition of TNF alpha synthesis and 13-HODD
      formation, this product might be important for TNF alpha formation.

PMID- 1449832
TI  - Epidermal derived growth factor stimulates the prostaglandin F2 alpha-synthesis
      in rabbit luteal cells.
AB  - Isolated rabbit luteal cells from day 6 and 12 of pseudopregnancy were cultured
      with hCG, EGF, and EGF together with arachidonic acid (AA) in serum-free culture
      medium for 96 hours. The hCG stimulation of the progesterone (P) synthesis was
      more pronounced on day 6 then on day 12. EGF alone did not change significantly
      the production of either P or PGF2 alpha. AA increased the production of PGF2
      alpha on day 6 and 12 significantly (3.9-fold on day 6, P < 0.005; 7-fold on day
      12, P < 0.001). AA together with EGF increased the level of PGF2 alpha more
      pronounced when compared with AA alone (7.2-fold on day 6, P < 0.025; 9.8-fold on
      day 12, P < 0.05). The progesterone production of the cells remained unchanged
      during EGF exposure. We conclude that EGF together with AA is able to stimulate
      the PGF2 alpha biosynthesis in cultured rabbit luteal cells. Therefore, EGF could
      be relevant as an additional regression factor in rabbits. This mechanism seems
      to be independent from the progesterone synthesis.

PMID- 1449834
TI  - Thromboxane as diagnostic tool and therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease.
AB  - Our studies were first directed to improvements in analytical methodology of
      thromboxane metabolism in man. These methods were then applied in a variety of
      clinical settings to better define the clinical spectrum and timecourse of
      platelet related pathomechanisms. They were also applied in studies aiming at
      optimized therapeutic interventions. Such biochemical guidelines are essential
      for the optimal planning of future clinical studies.

PMID- 1449833
TI  - Endogenous eicosanoids modulate cell growth and the expression of immediate early
      response genes.
AB  - Experiments were performed in rat mesangial cells indicating that endogenous non
      cyclooxygenase metabolites of AA act to modulate the mitogenic response.
      Irrespective of the mitogen used, metabolism of AA by LO and/or CP 450 influences
      induction of cell growth and expression of the immediate early response genes c
      fos and Egr-1. In accordance with other reports (3,4) on the influence of
      eicosanoids on gene expression, our observations indicate that endogenous
      eicosanoids may act as intracellular mediators. In the mitogenic response, at
      least two mechanisms of modulation seem possible: i) AA and its metabolites may
      act by modulating other 2nd messenger systems or ii) eicosanoids may directly
      regulate the expression of growth-related genes, e.g. by interacting with a fatty
      acid response element in the promoter region of respective genes.

PMID- 1449835
TI  - The role of eicosanoids in reproduction.
AB  - The central role of eicosanoids in reproduction was studied in areas of important
      clinical interest. First, their involvement in pregnancy-induced hypertension was
      investigated. Urine of normotensive and hypertensive pregnant women was analysed
      for 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, TXB2 and PGE2 by HPLC/RIA. PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha
      excretion was markedly reduced in the preeclamptic subgroup of hypertensive
      patients during the last two trimesters. A reduced urinary excretion of 6-keto
      PGF1 alpha, TXB2 and PGE2 was also found in a hypertension animal model (rat).
      Further, tissue cultures of human placentas, deciduas and fetal membranes from
      hypertensive pregnancies displayed a reduced prostaglandin production. Secondly,
      in the same in-vitro model the central role of PGE2 of fetal membrane origin for
      the beginning or parturition was shown. Thirdly, concerning endometrial function,
      the enhancement of PGF2 alpha and PGE2 formation in secretory endometrial cells
      by estradiol-17 beta and progesterone was documented. Fourthly, lipoxygenase
      product content in peritoneal fluid of endometriotic patients did not differ from
      controls.

PMID- 1449836
TI  - [The sunset of psychiatry].

PMID- 1449837
TI  - [Biologic markers in multiple sclerosis (I). Clinical correlations].
AB  - Seven biological markers were studied in a population of 236 patients (144
      females, 92 males) with multiple sclerosis as was the relation with the different
      degrees of diagnostic certainty (Rose and Poser scales), the time of evolution
      and number of bouts of the disease. The IgG concentrations, IgG ratio and the
      quantification of the intrathecal IgG synthesis by the Tourtellotte formula
      isolatedly constituted the most sensitive biological markers for the diagnosis of
      multiple sclerosis. Altogether, the determination of the number of cells, IgG and
      the IgG ratio achieved diagnostic sensitivity of 94% for defined multiple
      sclerosis. The IgG ratio was the most closely related biological marker related
      with the number of bouts and the time of evolution of the disease.

PMID- 1449838
TI  - [Biologic markers in multiple sclerosis (and II). Neurophysiologic and imaging
      correlations].
AB  - The relation between the results of 7 biological markers (cells, total protein,
      albumin, IgG, IgG ratio, Tibbling ratio, and Tourtellotte's formula) and 4
      paraclinical tests (PEV, PEATC, CT and MR) in 236 patients with multiple
      sclerosis (MS) not selected by the localization of symptoms were studied. One
      hundred forty-one had clinically defined MS, 22 had defined MS supported by a
      laboratory and 68 had clinically probable MS. The existence of a relation between
      PEV and MRI abnormality and the increase in the concentration and the ratios of
      intrathecal IgG synthesis and the degree of certainty of disease diagnosis was
      demonstrated. The most sensitive test was MRI (93%) followed by VEP (83%) and
      BAEP (60%) and the sensitivity of the study with high resolution CT including 59
      patients explored by double enhancement and delayed cut off was very low (33%).
      It was considered that for the lack of a specific diagnostic test the use of
      biological markers PEV and MR constituted a necessary aid in the diagnosis of MS.

PMID- 1449839
TI  - Conferencia Cotzias de 1991 de la Sociedad Espanola de Neurologa. The genetic
      etiology of Parkinson's disease. A review of the evidence.
AB  - It has been amply documented that Lewy body PD can occur on genetic basis. The
      pedigrees described thus far have constantly shown an autosomal dominant pattern
      of inheritance. It remains to be determined what proportion of PD generally is
      familial? Accumulating clinical data indicate the proportion is quite large. The
      clinical data now available confirm the observations and conclusions of Mjones'
      pioneering study and are most consistent with the hypothesis that PD is an
      autosomal dominant disorder with reduced penetrance, markedly age-related
      expression and a broad range of clinical manifestations extending beyond our
      traditional clinical concepts of PD and including many atypical cases and formes
      frustes as Mjones had suggested. As a practical matter of research strategy the
      study of pedigrees offers the most promising approach available today to
      clarifying the etiology of PD for they make possible DNA linkage-mapping studies
      in search of gene loci.

PMID- 1449840
TI  - [Primary intraventricular hemorrhage in a patient with unilateral moyamoya
      disease].
AB  - According to the diagnostic criteria currently in use, the so-called "unilateral"
      forms of the moyamoya disease, or rather those in which the disorders of the
      disease itself--such as occlusion of the internal supraclinoid carotid artery or
      its terminal branches and development of abnormal collateral circulation in the
      region of the basal ganglia--are only found in one hemisphere and should be
      considered as "probable" forms of the disease with a much lower incidence than
      the bilateral or "defined" forms of the same. One patient with a primary
      intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) in whom an occlusion of the right internal
      carotid artery was angiographically demonstrated and in whom collateral type
      moyamoya circulation was found as was the presence of an aneurysm in the right
      coroid territory is presented. The association of PIVH, unilateral moyamoya
      disease and aneurysm is infrequent in the literature, with the origin of the
      bleeding, in some cases, having been attributed to rupture of the aneurysm. Since
      angiographic control was not available in the patient presented it cannot be
      excluded that the aneurysm was really a pseudoaneurysm therefore being a
      consequence, rather than a cause, of the arterial rupture. Thus one of the other
      mechanisms proposed must be invoked to explain the pathogenesis of the PIVH:
      rupture of a perforating artery or of a microaneurysm located in the
      subependimary periventricular region. The treatment recommended for these case of
      PIVH associated to aneurysm is chirurgical if persistence is demonstrated in
      successive arteriographies.

PMID- 1449841
TI  - [Chorea of the lower limbs secondary to cavernoma].

PMID- 1449842
TI  - [Action myoclonus in a case of general progressive paralysis].

PMID- 1449843
TI  - [Subpial siderosis in the differential diagnosis of sporadic olivopontocerebellar
      atrophy].

PMID- 1449844
TI  - [Tropical spastic paraparesis and HTLV-1 infection in Spain].

PMID- 1449845
TI  - [Accidental epileptic crises. Importance of drugs and the genetic factor in their
      presentation].

PMID- 1449846
TI  - [Cervical spinal cord infarction caused by the use of epidural morphine].

PMID- 1449847
TI  - [Neurophysiologic evaluation in patients with neuro-Behcet].

PMID- 1449848
TI  - Lung infection with alginate-producing, mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic
      fibrosis.
AB  - Progressive pulmonary insufficiency is the major cause of morbidity and mortality
      in patients with the inherited disease cystic fibrosis. The basic defect involves
      a disturbed ion transport across cells, but it is not known how this leads to the
      airways becoming highly susceptible to recurrent respiratory tract infection with
      S. aureus, H. influenzae and P. aeruginosa as the dominating pathogens. P.
      aeruginosa is not a primary pathogen in CF and some degree of lung damage
      generally has taken place before colonization begins at approximately 10 years of
      age. Cross-infection occurs and the incidence of P. aeruginosa infection can be
      reduced by interrupting person-to-person spread. P. aeruginosa infection is a
      chronic infection that is never permanently eradicated. However, intensive
      antipseudomonal chemotherapy has contributed to improved survival rates. 90% of
      patients remain alive more than 10 years after onset of chronic P. aeruginosa
      and, on an average, they can maintain an almost unchanged lung function during
      that period. Diagnosis of chronic infection rests on bacteriological examination
      and demonstration of a specific antibody response. Immunological assays to detect
      an early antibody response were developed. It is characteristic, but not specific
      for CF, that chronic lung infection is caused by alginate producing mucoid P.
      aeruginosa. Alginate biosynthesis is under complex genetic control and possibly
      regulated by environmental factors. Alginate was purified from mucoid P.
      aeruginosa and characterized and it was shown to be immunologically heterogenous.
      It is generally assumed that the infection begins with strains that are
      nonmucoid, but serological analysis show that these strains probably also produce
      the mucoid substance, alginate, in vivo. Patients infected with mucoid strains
      demonstrate a significantly higher antibody response to all P. aeruginosa
      antigens and have a lower lung function when compared to patients infected with
      nonmucoid strains. Despite the pronounced humoral antibody response efficient
      immune clearance of P. aeruginosa does not occur. Mucoid P. aeruginosa are
      organisms that are deficient in most of the classical virulence factors. In vivo
      it grows in a protected biofilm as mucoid microcolonies, where bacteria are
      enmeshed in a loosely bound, highly hydrated extracellular matrix of alginate.
      Purified alginate was shown to inhibit chemotaxis of neutrophil leukocytes and
      unable to activate complement. A deficient SIgA antibody response to alginate has
      been observed in bronchial secretions and it was hypothesized to be associated
      with the epithelial transport defect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1449850
TI  - What more do we have to do?

PMID- 1449849
TI  - Safety in radiation.

PMID- 1449851
TI  - What more do we have to do?

PMID- 1449852
TI  - 'Oral infections in the immunocompromised patient'.

PMID- 1449853
TI  - 'Dental care of patients susceptible to infective endocarditis'.

PMID- 1449854
TI  - 'Permanent damage to inferior alveolar and lingual nerves'.

PMID- 1449855
TI  - Wild oat sowing.

PMID- 1449856
TI  - Diagnostic accuracy and observer performance in the diagnosis of abnormalities in
      the anterior maxilla: a comparison of panoramic with intraoral radiography.
AB  - An investigation was undertaken to assess the reliability of radiographic
      diagnosis of abnormalities of orthodontic significance in the anterior region of
      the maxilla from intraoral and dental panoramic tomograph (DPT) views. DPT films
      of 200 patients were scrutinised by two observers on two separate occasions, who
      also examined intraoral radiographs of the same patients. Sixty-three of these
      patients were selected because they had previously been diagnosed as presenting
      with a defined abnormality of orthodontic relevance, such as supernumerary teeth,
      absent incisors, etc. The remaining cases had been assessed as depicting normal
      radiographic appearances. Each radiograph was allocated a unique, randomly
      selected code number as the only means of identification. It was not possible for
      the observers to match the DPT to the corresponding intraoral films, and this
      information was only available to the principal investigator (JWF). Both
      observers were asked to record the presence or otherwise of any abnormalities at
      each observation of each radiograph, and to record their findings. The overall
      level of diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility was fairly high, and in general
      terms the DPT views were as reliable as the intraoral films with regard to the
      detection of abnormalities; however, there were significant differences between
      the observers. It was concluded that in many instances supplementary intraoral
      films would not contribute any additional information compared to the DPT and
      that selection criteria should be defined for the former.

PMID- 1449857
TI  - Permanent retention in orthodontic patients with reduced levels of bone support:
      a pin stabilised resin bonded splint.
AB  - Bone loss resulting from periodontal disease can precipitate spontaneous tooth
      migration. Teeth repositioned by orthodontic means are frequently inherently
      unstable and may need to be permanently retained by some form of splint. A new
      technique for permanent anterior splinting is described.

PMID- 1449858
TI  - Characterisation of the ultrastructure of glass-ionomer (poly-alkenoate) cement.
AB  - Set glass-ionomer cements were sectioned with a diamond knife and examined in the
      transmission electron microscope. Their appearance was in accordance with the
      theoretical structure of these materials, close examination revealing glass
      particles surrounded by a siliceous layer set in a hydrogel matrix. The elemental
      composition of each region was determined by X-ray microanalysis (energy
      dispersive). The results of microanalysis supported the ultrastructural
      observations, with ions that originated from the glass particles being detected
      throughout the matrix of the set cement. It was suggested that the mobility of
      these ions in the matrix phase was important in determining the biocompatibility
      and adhesive properties of glass-ionomer cements.

PMID- 1449859
TI  - Teaching integrated treatment at Newcastle upon Tyne Dental School.
AB  - This article explains the educational policy decisions that lay behind the
      development of a teaching and training programme of integrated dentistry at the
      Dental School at Newcastle upon Tyne. The development and organisation of a
      specially designed clinic is described. The pattern of work undertaken during the
      first 2 years of operation is analysed and the means of clinical assessment of
      this work discussed.

PMID- 1449860
TI  - Quality development.
AB  - The problem with improving quality in dental practice is not so much a difficulty
      with understanding exactly what quality means, but more a lack of clear guidance
      as to how to take the simple, practical steps to achieving that improvement in
      the daily pressures of practice life. This article describes Quality Development,
      a simple and practical method that can be used in general practice to help the
      dental team achieve the objectives in quality care that are appropriate to them.

PMID- 1449861
TI  - 'The future of dentistry'.

PMID- 1449862
TI  - 'The future of dentistry'.

PMID- 1449863
TI  - 'The hygienist's dilemma'.

PMID- 1449864
TI  - 'A complication before operation'.

PMID- 1449865
TI  - 'Future relationships of dentistry and medicine in education and practice'.

PMID- 1449866
TI  - What are Section 63 and 'approved' courses and how are they organised?
AB  - Although Section 63 courses for general dental practitioners in the NHS have been
      running for many years, there seems to be poor understanding of what 'Section 63'
      means and how it operates. To some extent this is because of the changes which
      have taken place since it was introduced and the tremendous expansion in
      postgraduate dental education (and its objectives) in recent years. The
      introduction of other 'approved' courses and postgraduate education allowances
      have created further uncertainties. This paper gives an overview of Section 63,
      the source of the funds, how they are allocated, how they may be used and who is
      eligible, and outlines details of other 'approved' courses and the various
      allowances which GDPs can claim in relation to these different categories of
      courses.

PMID- 1449867
TI  - Intra-oral carcinoma simulating benign oral disease.
AB  - Intra-oral carcinoma can present in a variety of ways. Whilst carcinoma
      classically presents as an irregular, indurated, painless mass or ulcer, it is
      also recognised as being a great 'mimic' of benign lesions. A series of four
      cases of intra-oral squamous cell carcinoma is presented in which the initial
      presentation suggested a lesion of benign or dental origin. Factors which raise
      the index of suspicion are discussed.

PMID- 1449868
TI  - Self-inflicted mutilation of the dentition in a schizophrenic patient.
AB  - A case is presented in which a patient performed mechanical self-mutilation of
      her dentition during an episode of psychotic illness. The management of this case
      is described and discussed.

PMID- 1449869
TI  - Computer-based learning in orthodontics--a hypertext system.
AB  - The computer hypertext system which is described is being used at Birmingham
      dental hospital to complement the undergraduate training programme in
      orthodontics. The system is a database of orthodontic information which can be
      accessed and read in any order. Text screens are linked to numerous graphic
      images, many of which are interactive. Associated question routines provide a
      means for student self assessment. The scores from these routines are used to
      give feedback on student performance and the efficacy of teaching methods. A
      strength of the programme is the ease of authoring material for inclusion in the
      database.

PMID- 1449870
TI  - Comparison of 12-bit and 8-bit gray scale resolution in MR imaging of the CNS. An
      ROC analysis.
AB  - A reduction in gray scale resolution of digital images from 12 to 8 bits per
      pixel usually means halving the storage space needed for the images.
      Theoretically, important diagnostic information may be lost in the process. We
      compared the sensitivity and specificity achieved by 4 radiologists in reading
      laser-printed films of original 12-bit MR images and cathode ray tube displays of
      the same images which had been compressed to 8 bits per pixel using a specially
      developed computer program. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed
      no significant differences between film reading and screen reading. A paired 2
      tailed t-test, applied on the data for actually positive cases, showed that the
      combined, average performance of the reviewers was significantly better at screen
      reading than at film reading. No such differences were found for actually
      negative cases. Some individual differences were found, but it is concluded that
      gray scale resolution of MR images may be reduced from 12 to 8 bits per pixel
      without any significant reduction in diagnostic information.

PMID- 1449871
TI  - Ultrasound guided needle biopsy of brain tumors using an automatic sampling
      instrument.
AB  - All ultrasound (US) guided needle biopsies of brain tumors performed during an 8
      year period were reviewed. Tissue samples were obtained in 112 of 115 biopsy
      procedures, and a histologic diagnosis was established in 99 cases (88.4%). The
      rate of major complications was 8.0%. The mortality is similar as in reports on
      stereotactic and CT-guided biopsy procedures while the morbidity is higher in our
      material. There are no large series available on US guided intracranial biopsy
      with adequate reports of complications. A modified biopsy technique is introduced
      here using a cutting needle and an automatic sampling instrument. The modified
      technique, which has been used in all cases since 1985, yielded diagnostic
      material in 91.5%. This method consistently provides a tissue core which is
      essential for a confident histopathologic diagnosis.

PMID- 1449872
TI  - CT and MR imaging of primary tumors of the masticator space.
AB  - A retrospective study of CT and MR examinations in 14 patients with benign and
      malignant tumors originating in the masticator space is presented. At
      presentation, 12 patients revealed tumor extension to adjacent regions and
      spaces. Perineural tumor spread along trigeminal nerve branches to the cavernous
      sinus and orbits was combined with facial pain, and/or numbness, ophthalmoplegia,
      and exophthalmus. Detailed analysis of tumor growth and spread, enhancement and
      signal features at CT and MR imaging indicated the tumor histology was, with a
      few exceptions, nonspecific. More extensive growth and bone destruction was noted
      only among malignant tumors. MR imaging was found superior to CT in delineating
      tumor extension due to better soft tissue contrast resolution and multiplanar
      imaging. Posttreatment examinations were available in 11 patients and showed long
      standing regional edema of the adjacent temporal lobe and masticator muscles in 4
      out of 5 patients without clinical evidence of tumor. In 6 patients, CT and MR
      features were found almost unchanged with only small size differences after
      various forms of treatment.

PMID- 1449873
TI  - Comparison of CT findings in non-Hodgkin lymphoma and squamous cell carcinoma of
      the maxillary sinus.
AB  - The findings at CT in 11 patients with primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) of the
      maxillary sinus were compared with the CT findings in 21 patients with squamous
      cell carcinoma (SCC) of the maxillary sinus. In NHL, the segmental bone
      destruction was in alignment with the bony wall with a massive tumor infiltration
      into the neighboring structures. In contrast, all patients with SCC were
      characterized by a soft tissue mass with aggressive bone destruction. About half
      of the patients with NHL had cervical lymphadenopathy. Post-treatment
      recalcification of previous bone destruction was seen in 4 out of 5 NHL patients
      on follow-up CT. In the patients with SCC, only a few had metastatic
      lymphadenopathy, and no recalcification occurred after treatment. CT is therefore
      of importance in differentiating NHL from SCC of the maxillary sinus.

PMID- 1449874
TI  - Large vein sampling for intact parathyroid hormone in preoperative localization
      of enlarged parathyroid glands.
AB  - Unilateral neck exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) of old and
      high risk patients can be safely performed under local anesthesia, provided there
      is a correct preoperative side localization of the enlarged parathyroid gland. We
      performed large vein sampling and measured intact parathyroid hormones (PTH) with
      a new, highly sensitive immunoradiometric assay. The method was used before
      operation in 20 patients with pHPT. A unilateral positive gradient of serum PTH
      levels was obtained in 15 patients. At surgery, 13 of these (87%) proved to be
      correct, i.e., the adenoma was localized on the same side. Thus, the technique
      correctly lateralized the parathyroid adenoma in 65% of the patients. We conclude
      that large vein sampling with measurement of intact PTH is a potentially useful
      investigation for preoperative side localization of parathyroid adenomas in pHPT
      patients scheduled for unilateral surgery under local anesthesia. However, prior
      to routine bilateral neck exploration large vein sampling is not justified.

PMID- 1449875
TI  - Intravascular ultrasonographic appearance of angiographically normal arteries
      related to age and the occurrence of vascular disease.
AB  - In 22 individuals (mean age 52 years) the ultrasonographic images of arteries
      defined as normal by arteriography were studied and related to the age and
      medical history of the patients. The series was divided into 2 groups: patients
      with clinical manifestation of atherosclerosis and patients without a history of
      arterial disease. The study included 6 young patients (mean age 14 years)
      referred for angiographic documentation of abolished intracranial circulation. A
      typical 3-layered appearance of the arterial wall was found in young healthy
      individuals as well as in adult and elderly subjects. There was no difference in
      the ultrasonographic appearance of muscular and elastic arteries. In patients
      with extensive obstructive atherosclerosis affecting other parts of the arterial
      tree, a segment of the iliac artery can have the same appearance as seen in young
      healthy individuals. There are indications that severe hypertension can result in
      a thickening of the middle low-echogenic layer of the arterial wall. In patients
      with chronic renal insufficiency, small calcifications in the middle layer were a
      typical finding.

PMID- 1449876
TI  - Holmium:YAG laser angioplasty. Experimental ablation of vascular tissue via
      flexible ring catheters.
AB  - This experimental study was designed to define the potential value of a mid
      infrared holmium laser in the free running mode for angioplasty. Immediately
      after removal, fresh normal and diseased human cadaveric arteries were irradiated
      under saline with a Ho:YAG laser (wavelength 2.13 microns). The laser was pulsed
      at 3 Hz, 250 microseconds pulse width and fluences of 10 to 40 J/cm2. The laser
      beam was coupled to ring catheters with multiple low-OH quartz fibers. The tip of
      the delivery device was held in direct contact with the vessel surface with the
      laser beam oriented perpendicularly. Ablation of atherosclerotic plaque was
      accomplished at an ablation threshold of 10 J/cm2. The ablation rate was 2.1 to
      8.3 microns/pulse. Removal of calcified plaque was only partially effective.
      There were marked thermal effects with vacuolizations extending up to 1505 +/-
      178 microns into the adjacent tissue. Laser light at the mid-infrared wavelength
      of 2.13 microns is supposed to be attractive as it is readily absorbed in water
      and can easily be transmitted through optical fibers. However, Q-switching seems
      to be essential to minimize thermal side effects and to make effective ablation
      of calcium possible.

PMID- 1449877
TI  - Visual interpretation compared with caliper and computerized measurements in
      experimental vessel stenosis.
AB  - To explain visual interpretation errors on angiograms, visual interpretation,
      caliper measurement, and computerized measurement of cine film were compared
      using each of 10 graphic models and 10 acrylic models with "stenotic vessels".
      Stenosis > 40% was overestimated and stenosis < 40% underestimated by visual
      interpretation. In caliper measurement, stenosis > 40% at exposure of 90 kV was
      greatly overestimated by a degree similar to the estimation by visual
      interpretation, and stenosis > 40% at exposures of 74 kV and 58 kV was slightly
      overestimated. In computerized measurement, the estimation was consistent with
      the actual degree of stenosis. Therefore, visual interpretation was not reliable
      for estimation, and computerized measurement was indispensable for estimation of
      vessel stenosis. Moreover, we consider the most common cause of error in visual
      interpretation to be optical illusions.

PMID- 1449878
TI  - Diagnosis of tracheal carcinoma at chest radiography.
AB  - All of the 95 primary tracheal carcinomas registered in Finland during 1967 to
      1985 were reviewed. Chest radiographs of 44 patients were available. A tracheal
      tumor was detected in 8 cases (18%) in the primary examination and according to
      the review all the detected tumors were larger than 15 mm. However, when the same
      radiographs were reexamined by a senior radiologist, the tumor was identified in
      the correct site in 66%. This percentage parallels the results of high kV
      tracheal radiography (69%) performed on 32 patients. Tumors involving anterior or
      posterior wall and tumors near the bifurcation were the most difficult to detect.

PMID- 1449879
TI  - High resolution CT in children with cystic fibrosis.
AB  - High resolution CT (HRCT) was performed in 24 children (median age 57.9 months)
      suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF). In 23 patients (one examination unacceptable
      because of motion artifacts) the most frequent finding was bronchial wall
      thickening, shown in 21 patients (91%), followed by bronchiectasis in 15 patients
      (65%). Less frequent findings were mucus plugging and patchy consolidations,
      which could be demonstrated in 11 patients each (48%). Findings were classified
      using a CT scoring system and including only irreversible pulmonary changes; a
      statistically significant correlation with lung function tests (FEV1/FVC; MEF50)
      could be established. HRCT to date seems to be the most valuable method to
      determine extent and severity of lung involvement in children with CF and should
      therefore be routinely used for the staging of this disease.

PMID- 1449880
TI  - CT compared to angiography for staging of tumors of the pancreatic head.
AB  - A retrospective study of 32 patients with malignant tumor of the pancreatic head
      and ampullary region is presented. The aim of the study was to compare the
      ability of CT and angiography to evaluate the peripancreatic vessels, and to
      correlate the results of tumor staging based upon CT criteria to angiographic and
      surgical findings. In 5 patients (16%) CT disclosed contiguous tumor growth
      around vessels not discernible at angiography and, in contradiction to previous
      reports, angiography added no valuable information regarding main vessel
      involvement. In terms of sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value
      CT was more accurate in predicting unresectable than resectable tumors, the
      former with a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity and positive predictive value
      of 100%.

PMID- 1449881
TI  - Splenic abscess. Imaging and intervention.
AB  - We reviewed the imaging findings of 14 splenic abscesses in 13 patients. All
      patients underwent chest radiography, 12 ultrasonography (US), 9 CT, 4 plain
      abdominal radiography, 2 99mTc-HMPAO leukocyte scan and 2 99mTc-HIG scan. Three
      patients were treated with percutaneous catheter drainage, and 5 with diagnostic
      or therapeutic fine-needle aspiration (FNA). At US the abscess was hypoechoic (n
      = 9), anechoic (n = 2), or anechoic with gas-bubbles (n = 1), or the entire
      spleen was inhomogeneous with gas-bubbles (n = 1). At CT the abscesses appeared
      as low density (18-30 HU) lesions with (n = 2) or without (n = 7) gas. In 2 cases
      99mTc-HMPAO leukocyte scan, and in one case 99mTc-HIG scan showed an intrasplenic
      defect, and in one case 99mTc-HIG scan was considered normal. At plain abdominal
      radiography extraintestinal gas was suggested in 2 patients, and the findings
      were normal in 2. US-guided FNA confirmed infectious etiology of the lesion in 4
      patients, and a necrotic specimen suggested infection in one. One patient was
      cured with repeated aspirations. Catheter drainage was successful in all 3
      patients who underwent the procedure. We conclude that US and CT are accurate in
      detecting splenic abscesses. Our results in splenic interventions advocate wider
      use of the procedures.

PMID- 1449882
TI  - CT evaluation of compensatory renal growth in relation to postnephrectomy time.
AB  - In 27 patients nephrectomized for renal carcinoma, the compensatory hypertrophy
      of the remaining kidney was assessed by 72 CT examinations performed one month
      before and during 32 months after nephrectomy. Kidney size was estimated on CT by
      multiple measurements of the renal parenchymal thickness. Kidney growth was
      evaluated by comparing the amount of renal parenchyma before and after
      contralateral nephrectomy. Renal compensatory hypertrophy varied with
      postnephrectomy time. Kidney enlargement was 15% in the first 3 months, reached
      maximum 30% about a year later, and was reduced to 5%, 2 1/2 years
      postoperatively.

PMID- 1449883
TI  - Acute renal failure secondary to rhabdomyolysis. MR imaging of the kidney.
AB  - MR imaging of the kidney was performed in 6 patients with acute renal failure
      (ARF) secondary to rhabdomyolysis caused by snake bite (n = 4), crush injury (n =
      1), and carbon monoxide poisoning (n = 1). A test for urine myoglobin was
      positive in all 6 patients and MR imaging was done 6 to 18 days after the
      causative event of the rhabdomyolysis. MR images in all 6 patients showed
      globular swelling of the kidneys, preserved corticomedullary contrast on T1
      weighted images, and obliteration of corticomedullary contrast on T2-weighted
      images. Unlike other medical renal diseases in which corticomedullary contrast is
      lost on T1-weighted images, preservation of the corticomedullary contrast on T1
      weighted MR images with globular renal swelling was a constant finding in
      patients with ARF secondary to rhabdomyolysis.

PMID- 1449884
TI  - MR imaging with STIR technique and air insufflation for local staging of bladder
      neoplasms.
AB  - Fifty-six patients with bladder carcinoma were studied with MR imaging for the
      assessment of the local stage, using the inversion recovery pulse sequence with
      fat suppression (STIR) with air in the bladder. With this technique images of the
      inner and the outer parts of the bladder wall were obtained, showing high
      contrast between the latter and the tumor (tumor/muscle contrast 89.9%). Four
      tumor stages were recognized: superficial neoplasms (Tis, Ta, and T1), partial
      wall infiltrating neoplasms (T2); total wall infiltrating neoplasms (T3a, T3b),
      and neoplasms involving other pelvic organs (T4). MR imaging was compared with
      histopathologic diagnosis obtained at transurethral resection or cystectomy. True
      positive diagnosis was obtained in 80.4%; false-positive in 14.3% of cases; false
      negative in 5.3%. Despite the relatively high incidence of overstaged neoplasms,
      STIR technique combined with air in the bladder allowed a good accuracy in local
      staging.

PMID- 1449885
TI  - MR pelvimetry--a practical alternative.
AB  - Pelvimetry remains a useful technique as part of the assessment of the term
      breech pregnancy where vaginal delivery is planned. MR pelvimetry is accurate,
      well tolerated and shows soft-tissue structures as well as bone. It avoids the
      potentially carcinogenic effects of ionising radiation and is thought to be
      completely safe for mother and fetus. A technique of MR pelvimetry is described
      which uses gradient-echo sequences. This quick, practical method makes minimal
      inroads into valuable scanning time, and may therefore be considered a
      potentially cost-effective alternative to conventional pelvimetry.

PMID- 1449886
TI  - One or two samples for determination of total plasma clearance of a nonionic
      contrast medium in patients undergoing enhanced CT.
AB  - Plasma clearance of nonionic iopamidol (300 mg I/ml) was measured in 50 patients
      in connection with enhanced CT. Before injection of either 50 or 100 ml of the
      contrast medium, S-creatinine and urine osmolality were measured. Employing
      Renalyzer PRX 90, the plasma concentration of iodine was determined in blood
      samples drawn approximately 3 and 4 h after injection of iopamidol. The
      glomerular filtration rate was calculated by the Renalyzer using 2 different
      formulas, one requiring only a single sample, and one requiring at least 2
      samples (standard). Both the 3- and 4-h single sample values correlated well with
      the glomerular filtration rate expressed by the standard sample value. The result
      was independent of whether 50 or 100 ml had been administered and whether or not
      water soluble contrast medium had been given orally before CT. As could be
      expected S-creatinine and urine osmolality correlated poorly with the clearance
      values. It is concluded that in patients receiving either 50 or 100 ml contrast
      medium for enhanced CT, the glomerular filtration rate can be determined in a
      single sample as well as with 2 samples taken between 3 and 4 h after contrast
      medium injection.

PMID- 1449887
TI  - Comparison of intravenous contrast agents for CT studies in children.
AB  - One hundred and eighty children undergoing CT examination were randomly allocated
      to receive meglumine diatrizoate, iohexol, or iopamidol as their i.v. contrast
      agent. Minor side effects were detected in 85% of children receiving meglumine
      diatrizoate, in 18% of those receiving iohexol, and in 36% of those receiving
      iopamidol. Because many of these minor side effects cause patient motion or delay
      scanning after contrast medium injection, they potentially degrade image quality.
      These findings are an indication for the use of low osmolarity contrast agents
      for i.v. use in pediatric CT imaging.

PMID- 1449888
TI  - Influence of contrast media on single nephron glomerular filtration rate in rat
      kidney. A comparison between diatrizoate, iohexol, ioxaglate, and iotrolan.
AB  - The effects of slow (10 min) i.v. infusions of contrast media (CM, 1,600 mg I/kg
      b.w.) on single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) in the rat kidney were
      investigated using a micropuncture technique. Diatrizoate, iohexol, or ioxaglate
      did not change SNGFR, although a tendency towards a transient suppression was
      seen during the infusion phase. Iotrolan infusion, however, decreased SNGFR (p <
      0.05) and the value still remained below the control value 25 min after the start
      of infusion. Iotrolan is a nonionic dimeric CM and has a lower osmotic effect in
      the tubules than the ionic dimeric CM and the monomeric CM when given in iodine
      equivalent doses. These characteristics of iotrolan have probably some influence
      on the depression of SNGFR after iotrolan injection.

PMID- 1449890
TI  - Motion associated susceptibility artifacts.
AB  - A bowel labeling agent is important for improving abdominal MR. Besides providing
      contrast between the bowel and other organs, the contrast agent itself is a
      potential source of artifacts. The artifacts created by superparamagnetic
      particles (SPP) subjected to motion have been studied in vitro at 0.5 T, and
      compared to artifacts created by a paramagnetic compound. Apart from the expected
      static effects of the SPP, movement induced additional artifacts were seen as
      signal displacements in the phase-encoding direction. The artifacts were obvious
      at an iron concentration of 1 mg Fe/ml, barely visible at 0.2 mg Fe/ml, and
      completely absent at 0.1 mg Fe/ml. Artifacts were also evident with the SPP
      outside the imaging slice. This further emphasizes the importance of choosing the
      lowest effective dose when using SPP contrast agents. For the paramagnetic agent,
      motion propagated artifacts consisted of high and low signal regions in a mosaic
      pattern.

PMID- 1449889
TI  - Viscosity of some contemporary contrast media before and after mixing with whole
      blood.
AB  - The viscosity of 7 contrast media was measured using a rotational viscometer.
      When solutions with similar iodine concentrations were compared, the highest
      viscosities were found for the nonionic dimers iodixanol and iotrolan, the lowest
      for diatrizoate, iopamidol, and iopromide, and intermediate values for iohexol
      and ioxaglate. The viscosity of iohexol and ioxaglate was found to vary linearly
      with temperature and quadratically with concentration. Whole-blood viscosity was
      measured for 5 subjects at high and low shear rates before and after mixing with
      contrast media in various proportions. Low-shear viscosity was found to decrease
      and high-shear viscosity to increase with contrast medium concentration. It is
      concluded that the contrast media currently used may affect blood rheology less
      than previous agents, despite their higher viscosity.

PMID- 1449891
TI  - Iodixanol--a new nonionic dimer--in aortofemoral angiography.
AB  - In 26 patients iodixanol, a new nonionic dimer, isotonic to blood in all
      concentrations, was used as contrast medium in aortofemoral angiography. Half of
      the patients received contrast medium in a concentration of 270 mg I/ml and the
      other half 320 mg I/ml. The aim of the trial was to evaluate the safety and
      tolerability of iodixanol and the radiographic efficacy of the two
      concentrations. The degree of discomfort, adverse events, changes in serum
      chemistry parameters, and diagnostic information were assessed. There were no
      changes or trends of clinical importance in serum chemistry parameters. The side
      effects were mild and consisted mostly of some sensation of warmth of short
      duration. No other adverse events were seen. The overall radiographic efficacy
      did not show any significant difference between the two concentrations. This
      indicates that iodixanol is safe and well tolerated when used in adult femoral
      angiography.

PMID- 1449892
TI  - [Homeopathy and research].

PMID- 1449893
TI  - [Alternative treatment. Documentation and demand].

PMID- 1449894
TI  - ["Alternative nursing"].

PMID- 1449895
TI  - [Chinese herbal medicine].

PMID- 1449896
TI  - [Current research in medicinal plants].

PMID- 1449898
TI  - [Norwegian Nurses' Association's activities with alternative medicine].

PMID- 1449897
TI  - [Foot zone therapy].

PMID- 1449899
TI  - [Heart-lung resuscitation--duty or choice?].

PMID- 1449900
TI  - [Acupuncture for nurses?].

PMID- 1449901
TI  - [Patient turnover in homes for the aged and nursing homes].

PMID- 1449902
TI  - [New field of work: counseling for the aged and families].

PMID- 1449903
TI  - [Priests in the hospital environment].

PMID- 1449904
TI  - [Hospice care at home].

PMID- 1449905
TI  - [Breast cancer: the difficult waiting time--from diagnosis to treatment].

PMID- 1449906
TI  - [Community health services. Program for psychiatric patients in Rogaland 1980
      1992].

PMID- 1449907
TI  - ["Nursing profession--a paradox?"].

PMID- 1449908
TI  - ["Pulpit" in pelvic relaxation].

PMID- 1449909
TI  - [Women exposed to incest--consequences for pregnancy and childbirth].

PMID- 1449910
TI  - [PhD Degree in breast feeding. Interview by Ingrid S. Stephensen].

PMID- 1449911
TI  - [Homeopathy].

PMID- 1449912
TI  - The function of the 5-hydroxymethyl group of lactose in enzymatic hydrolysis with
      beta-galactosidase from E. coli.
AB  - A series of 6-substituted methyl lactoside derivatives together with methyl
      allolactoside and (6S)-methyl [6-2H]lactoside have been synthesized and
      characterized by NMR spectroscopy. All compounds were tested as substrates for
      the enzyme beta-galactosidase from E. coli using progress curve kinetic methology
      both in single-substrate and competition experiments. The results show that the
      hydrolysis of methyl lactoside to a large extent takes place through an
      intramolecular transglycosidation reaction via allolactoside. Furthermore, methyl
      6-amino-6-deoxy-D-glucopyranoside proved to be an ihibitor for the enzymatic
      hydrolysis.

PMID- 1449913
TI  - Two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancement NMR experiments on pelargonidin-3
      glucopyranoside, an anthocyanin of low molecular mass.
AB  - Pelargonidin-3-glucoside has been isolated from the acidified methanolic extract
      of strawberries (Fragaria anannassa variety Corona) by successive application of
      an ion-exchange resin, droplet-counter chromatography and gel filtration. The
      pigment in acidified methanolic solution was studied by means of the two
      dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancement NMR technique, and the sugar unit was
      found to be attached to the 3-position on the aglycone. At +20 degrees C the
      pigment was found to be in the extreme narrowing limit where the NOESY cross
      peaks are negative. However, at -20 degrees C this low-mass anthocyanin could be
      studied in the slow motion regime where the NOESY cross-peaks are positive. With
      a mixing time of 0.3 s, the glucose H1"-H4" proton pair was measured in the
      initial cross-relaxation rate and their cross-peak volume corresponded to the H1"
      H4" distance found in a 4C1 chair conformation.

PMID- 1449914
TI  - How can myocarditis be diagnosed and should it be treated?

PMID- 1449915
TI  - Answers to complex questions cannot be derived from "simple" trials.

PMID- 1449916
TI  - Changes in left ventricular function and wall thickness in heart transplant
      recipients and their relation to acute rejection: an assessment by digitised M
      mode echocardiography.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Assessment of changes in left ventricular diastolic function and wall
      thickness after heart transplantation to verify whether these changes predicted
      acute rejection assessed by endomyocardial biopsy. DESIGN: Follow up according to
      a predefined protocol of consecutive patients from the first week after
      transplantation. SETTING: Heart transplantation unit of the Thoraxcentre,
      University Hospital Rotterdam Dijkzigt, The Netherlands. PATIENTS: All 32
      patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation from 1 January 1989 to 31
      March 1990 were examined. Two were excluded from the analysis. Patients were
      treated with cyclosporin and low dose steroids. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data
      obtained by digitised M mode echocardiography were compared with the results of
      endomyocardial biopsy (Billingham classification). Mean values for left
      ventricular wall thickness, internal dimension, and their standardised rates of
      change and fractional shortening were determined from 4-6 consecutive expiratory
      beats. Mean values and individual trends during follow up were also investigated
      for each ultrasound variable. The results of these average values were compared
      with values in a group of 10 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Median follow-up was
      177 days (range 10-399). Two hundred and sixty three consecutive M mode studies
      were examined in relation to concurrent biopsy results. No significant
      differences were observed between the ultrasound variables at the time of
      moderate acute rejection (Billingham class 2, n = 37) and other biopsy classes (n
      = 226). Nor did changes in individual patients predict (moderate) acute rejection
      episodes. Twenty six of the 30 patients had an abnormal (slow) left ventricular
      relaxation pattern throughout follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Digitised left ventricular
      M mode echocardiography did not predict the presence of acute rejection. In most
      patients there was a persistent slow left ventricular relaxation pattern.

PMID- 1449917
TI  - Fall in pulmonary vascular resistance in patients awaiting heart transplantation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Raised pulmonary vascular resistance is associated with decreased
      survival after orthotopic heart transplantation and patients with this risk
      factor are usually denied transplantation. In a proportion of cases raised
      pulmonary vascular resistance may fall with time and medical treatment. METHODS:
      Seven patients with high pulmonary vascular resistance (range 3.9-6.6 Wood units)
      at initial assessment for cardiac transplantation were restudied by right heart
      catheterisation after a period of seven to 17 months. RESULTS: In five of the
      seven patients the pulmonary vascular resistance had fallen, allowing orthotopic
      heart transplantation to be performed in four. In one patient the resistance was
      static and in one it had risen. The mean fall in pulmonary vascular resistance
      for the group was (mean (SD)) 2.6 (2.7) Wood units, p < 0.05. CONCLUSION:
      Patients who have been denied transplantation on the basis of their raised
      pulmonary vascular resistance should be reassessed after four to six months if
      they remain otherwise clinically suitable.

PMID- 1449918
TI  - Early vasodilator treatment in myocardial infarction: appropriate for the
      majority or minority?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of vasodilator treatment started early after
      myocardial infarction on left ventricular size and function. SETTING: Coronary
      care unit, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh. PATIENTS: 105 patients with acute
      myocardial infarction (systolic blood pressure > 90 mm Hg) were randomised within
      24 hours of the start of pain. Unlike previous studies 88% of the patients
      received thrombolysis. METHODS: Double blind randomised placebo controlled study
      with either 12.5 mg of captopril three times daily or 20 mg of isosorbide
      mononitrate three times daily for 28 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical
      outcome and left ventricular size and function assessed by echocardiography,
      radionuclide ventriculography, and magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: There was
      no difference in left ventricular size or function in either treatment group as
      measured one week after the end of the trial. Even the placebo group tended to
      decrease left ventricular diameter over the four week study period (one week: 5.0
      (0.1) v, five weeks: 4.8 (0.1) cm, NS). Four patients had an adverse clinical
      outcome in the placebo group whereas no adverse outcome was seen in the captopril
      group. CONCLUSIONS: Vasodilator treatment may be of limited value or of no
      benefit for most infarct patients, particularly those treated with thrombolytic
      agents. Captopril, however, may benefit patients at high risk.

PMID- 1449919
TI  - Evidence of increased platelet activation after thrombolysis in patients with
      acute myocardial infarction.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess platelet activation after thrombolysis in patients with
      acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN: Platelet function was assessed by
      measurement of the in vivo synthesis of thromboxane by gas chromatography-mass
      spectrometry of thromboxane's major urinary metabolite, 2,3-dinor-thromboxane-B2.
      SETTING: Coronary care unit of Huddinge University Hospital. SUBJECTS: 30
      patients with acute myocardial infarction given either streptokinase 1.5 million
      units intravenously over one hour + 500 mg aspirin (n = 10), 500 mg aspirin (n =
      10), or neither thrombolysis nor aspirin (n = 10). RESULTS: Patients treated by
      thrombolysis had a 20-fold increase in thromboxane formation during thrombolysis
      compared with control patients not treated by thrombolysis (p = 0.0001). Until
      two days after thrombolysis thromboxane production in patients treated with
      streptokinase did not decrease to a value comparable with patients treated with
      aspirin but not given thrombolysis. CONCLUSION: Thromboxane production increased
      considerably during thrombolysis, possibly reflecting greatly enhanced platelet
      activation. The slow decrease in thromboxane formation after treatment with
      aspirin suggests that the efficacy of thrombolysis might be improved by more
      efficient antiplatelet treatment.

PMID- 1449920
TI  - Left atrial and left ventricular diastolic function during acute myocardial
      ischaemia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study indices of diastolic left ventricular function during the
      first few seconds of myocardial ischaemia. DESIGN: Isovolumic and total
      relaxation times and left atrial and left ventricular dP/dt were identified from
      high fidelity (micromanometer) pressure recordings in the left ventricle and left
      atrium during percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the left anterior
      descending coronary artery. PATIENTS: 20 patients with isolated disease of the
      left anterior descending artery and normal left ventricular function. RESULTS:
      The isovolumic relaxation time lengthened during the first seven to nine seconds
      of ischaemia; then it shortened by an average of 15% up to the twentieth second,
      initially as a result of increased left atrial contractility and subsequently
      because of impaired ventricular relaxation. Ventricular ischaemia resulted in
      impaired left ventricular diastolic compliance, as shown by an increase in the
      total relaxation time, before there was evidence of systolic impairment. Minimum
      dP/dt decreased progressively (by -37% at the twentieth second of ischaemia),
      whereas maximum dP/dt fell only after 20 seconds of ischaemia (by -11%).
      CONCLUSIONS: Relaxation and filling of the left ventricle (indices of diastolic
      function) are more sensitive to myocardial ischaemia than myocardial
      contractility and systolic function. Left atrial contractility increases during
      left ventricular ischaemia.

PMID- 1449921
TI  - Nocturnal hypoxia and arrhythmias in patients with impaired left ventricular
      function.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To document the incidence of hypoxic episodes in a series of patients
      with impaired left ventricular function, and to correlate the occurrence of
      hypoxia with severity of arrhythmia. PATIENTS: 34 patients with breathlessness
      and clinical evidence of left ventricular dysfunction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
      Simultaneous overnight finger oximetry and electrocardiographic monitoring.
      RESULTS: High grade arrhythmias (Lown grade > III) occurred in 20/34 (59%) of
      patients, and frequent dips in oxygen saturation were noticed (mean dip frequency
      4.8/h, range 0.1-20.0). 20/34 (59%) of patients had episodic hypoxaemia,
      including 13/34 (38%) with a classical Cheyne Stokes pattern. There was a
      correlation between dip frequency and the presence of high grade arrhythmias
      (those with high grade arrhythmia had mean (SD) 6.7 (5.5) dips/h v 2.2 (3.4) in
      those without, p < 0.01); there was also a correlation between the presence of
      arrhythmias and episodic hypoxaemia (episodic hypoxaemia in those with high grade
      arrhythmias occurred in 17/20 (85%) v 3/14 (21%) of those without arrhythmias, p
      < 0.002). There was no correlation between the presence of high grade arrhythmias
      or dip frequency and the extent of left ventricular impairment, which was present
      in all patients (mean (SD) ejection fraction 26% (13%)). CONCLUSION: Noticeable
      abnormalities of nocturnal oxygen saturation occur in patients with impaired left
      ventricular function, and these are associated with high grade arrhythmias.
      Interventions that limit desaturation may have valuable anti-arrhythmic effects.

PMID- 1449922
TI  - Increased circulating atrial natriuretic factor concentrations in patients with
      chronic heart failure after inhibition of neutral endopeptidase: effects on
      diastolic function.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: +/- Candoxatrilat was used to raise atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)
      concentrations in patients with heart failure, and the effects on left
      ventricular systolic and diastolic function were studied to determine the
      contribution of peripheral and central mechanisms to the haemodynamic effects.
      DESIGN: This was a single blind, randomised comparison of +/- candoxatrilat and
      placebo in patients with mild heart failure. All patients received two
      intravenous doses of +/- candoxatrilat and two placebo doses on four consecutive
      days. SETTING: A teaching hospital department of cardiology. PATIENTS: Six men
      (mean age 52 years) with mild heart failure (New York Heart Association class II)
      due to ischaemic heart disease (four patients) or dilated cardiomyopathy (two
      patients) were included. Mean ejection fraction was 37.5% and mean peak oxygen
      consumption was 20.4 ml/min/kg. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Plasma ANF concentrations,
      haemodynamic indices and left ventricular diastolic function measured by early to
      atrial filling rate (E:A ratio) with Doppler echocardiography were determined
      before and after +/- candoxatrilat and placebo. RESULTS: +/- Candoxatrilat caused
      a threefold rise of plasma ANF compared with placebo (p < 0.005), but there was
      no significant change in heart rate, blood pressure, or cardiac output. Mean
      right atrial pressure fell from 6.7 to 4.7 mmHg (NS) and pulmonary artery wedge
      pressure fell from 9.2 to 6.7 mmHg (p < 0.05). Doppler echocardiographic
      measurements of transmitral blood flow showed a significant fall in peak early
      left ventricular filling velocity from 39.5 to 34.2 cm/s (p < 0.05), along with a
      non-significant rise in peak atrial filling velocity from 39.7-41.6 cm/s after +/
      candoxatrilat. The E:A ratio, a Doppler index of left ventricular diastolic
      function, fell from a mean of 1.04 to 0.87 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: +/-
      Candoxatrilat increased plasma ANF concentrations and reduced right atrial and
      pulmonary artery wedge pressures. No evidence of an improvement in left
      ventricular systolic or diastolic function was found, so the fall in preload was
      due to peripheral effects, either an increase in venous capacitance or a fall in
      circulating blood volume.

PMID- 1449923
TI  - Efficacy of flecainide, sotalol, and verapamil in the treatment of right
      ventricular tachycardia in patients without overt cardiac abnormality.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: A comparison of the efficacy of verapamil, sotalol, and flecainide to
      suppress right ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with a clinically normal
      heart. DESIGN: Patients underwent treatment serially with verapamil (360 mg
      daily), sotalol (240 or 320 mg daily), and flecainide (200 or 300 mg daily), (the
      larger dose was for patients heavier than 80 kg) to suppress tachycardia. Each
      drug was given orally for five half lives before testing. PATIENTS: 23 patients
      with right VT associated with a clinically normal heart were studied. OUTCOME
      MEASURES: The effects of drug treatment were examined by the number of
      ventricular events on 24 hour Holter monitoring, and the ability of tachycardia
      to be induced by treadmill exercise testing (Bruce protocol) and programmed
      ventricular stimulation (Wellens protocol), compared with drug free baseline
      tests. SETTING: Patients were studied in a tertiary referral centre. RESULTS: All
      three drugs suppressed ventricular salvos (> 3, < 5 consecutive ventricular
      premature contractions) (p < 0.01) and VT (p < 0.05) on Holter monitoring and did
      not differ statistically in effect. Exercise induced VT was also suppressed by
      all three drugs (p < 0.01), and of these sotalol was the most effective although
      this was not statistically significant (14/23 inducible when drug free, 4/23 on
      flecainide, 2/23 on sotalol, 5/23 on verapamil). Sustained and non-sustained VT
      induced by programmed stimulation was also suppressed by the three drugs (p <
      0.01) and again sotalol was the best of these though the differences did not
      achieve statistical significance (17/23 inducible when drug free, 4/17 on
      flecainide, 2/17 on sotalol, and 6/17 on verapamil). Proarrhythmic effects of
      drugs were found in a few patients. There was no difference in the efficacy of
      the drugs in patients with histological abnormalities of the myocardium when
      compared with those of normal histology. CONCLUSIONS: Ventricular tachycardia
      associated with a clinically normal heart can be suppressed by flecainide,
      sotalol, or verapamil. In individual patients sotalol was the most frequently
      effective drug (effective in > 89% of patients) and is a suitable choice for
      first line treatment.

PMID- 1449924
TI  - Comparison of unipolar and bipolar ventricular paced evoked responses.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To study the differences between endocardial bipolar and unipolar
      ventricular paced evoked responses and surface electrocardiograms. PATIENTS: 10
      patients with conduction system disease awaiting insertion of a permanent
      pacemaker were studied with temporary ventricular pacing from the right
      ventricular apex. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Comparison of the durations of the QRS
      complexes and QTa and QTe intervals of the endocardial bipolar paced evoked
      response and the surface electrocardiogram with those of the reference unipolar
      paced evoked response. RESULTS: By comparison with the unipolar reference, the
      mean durations of the QRS complexes of the bipolar signal and the surface
      electrocardiogram were 41.8% and 132.1% respectively. The mean QTa interval was
      85.9% and 112.2% respectively and the mean QTe interval was 86.9% and 109.5%
      respectively. All these differences were significant. The amplitudes of the
      unipolar QRS complexes and T waves were significantly larger than those recorded
      in the bipolar configuration. CONCLUSIONS: Differences between the unipolar and
      bipolar ventricular paced evoked responses are significant. The time course of
      the unipolar signal is closer to that of the surface electrocardiogram. This
      indicates that the unipolar paced evoked response does not reflect local
      electrophysiological events, as has been suggested previously.

PMID- 1449926
TI  - Mitochondrial DNA deletion diagnosed by analysis of an endomyocardial biopsy
      specimen from a patient with Kearns-Sayre syndrome and complete heart block.
AB  - Defects of mitochondrial DNA have been found at necropsy in the myocardium of
      patients with Kearns-Sayre syndrome. A patient with characteristics typical of
      Kearns-Sayre syndrome and a complete heart block is described. Southern blot
      analysis showed a deletion of 3.3 kb in the mitochondrial DNA in an
      endomyocardial biopsy specimen and in skeletal muscle. The deletion led to the
      disappearance of the genes for four transfer RNAs and four subunits of complex I
      (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The
      defect could not be demonstrated in whole blood despite amplification of the
      mitochondrial DNA region of interest by the polymerase chain reaction technique.
      There can be heteroplasmy--that is, normal and abnormal mitochondrial DNA
      populations in one cell--in different tissues, and the degree of heteroplasmy may
      be crucial in the development of organ-specific symptoms. This patient raises the
      possibility that some tissues can be specifically enriched with mitochondria with
      DNA defects and emphasises the need for elective sampling of the target tissue
      and polymerase chain reaction technique to exclude these defects. The role of
      mitochondrial DNA defects in idiopathic cardiomyopathies could perhaps be studied
      by analysis of mitochondrial DNA from endomyocardial biopsy specimens.

PMID- 1449925
TI  - Effects of abnormal activation on the time course of the left ventricular
      pressure pulse in dilated cardiomyopathy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of QRS duration on characteristics of the
      left ventricular pressure pulse derived from the time course of functional mitral
      regurgitation by continuous wave Doppler. DESIGN: Retrospective and prospective
      study of 50 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, by electrocardiography,
      echocardiography, and Doppler cardiography. SETTING: Tertiary cardiac referral
      centre. PATIENTS: 50 patients (mean age (SD) 58 (16)) with dilated
      cardiomyopathy, all with functional mitral regurgitation. RESULTS: The values of
      QRS duration ranged widely, from 70 to 190 ms with a mean value of 110 ms, and
      were unimodally distributed. The overall duration of mitral regurgitation
      correlated positively with QRS time (r = 0.65) over the entire range of values.
      When the duration of mitral regurgitation was divided into contraction, aortic
      ejection, and relaxation times, increased QRS duration prolonged contraction (r =
      0.51) and relaxation (r = 0.52) times. Aortic ejection time was affected by RR
      interval (r = 0.74). Duration of QRS correlated negatively with peak rate of rise
      in left ventricular pressure (+dP/dt) (r = -0.48), and positively with the time
      intervals from Q to peak pressure (r = 0.49) and to peak +dP/dt (r = 0.72), and
      also with those from the start of mitral regurgitation to peak pressure (r =
      0.49) and to peak +dP/dt (r = 0.76). Duration of QRS did not directly affect the
      peak rate of left ventricular pressure fall (-dP/dt), or the isovolumic
      relaxation period. CONCLUSIONS: Values of QRS duration are unimodally distributed
      in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, without evidence of a discrete group of
      patients with left bundle branch block. Prolonged QRS duration reduces peak
      +dP/dt, prolongs overall duration of the pressure pulse, the time to peak +dP/dt,
      and relaxation time. Duration of QRS must therefore be taken into account in
      assessing standard measurements of myocardial function in patients with dilated
      cardiomyopathy.

PMID- 1449928
TI  - A posteroseptal accessory pathway located in a coronary sinus aneurysm: diagnosis
      and radiofrequency catheter ablation.
AB  - A coronary sinus aneurysm was diagnosed by means of echocardiography, coronary
      sinus contrast angiography, coronary angiography, and nuclear magnetic resonance
      imaging in a patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome caused by a
      posteroseptal accessory pathway. Percutaneous radiofrequency current catheter
      ablation performed in the isthmus of the coronary sinus aneurysm was successful.

PMID- 1449927
TI  - Apparent obstruction of the superior vena cava and a continuous murmur: signs of
      a fistula between a vein graft aneurysm and the right atrium.
AB  - A previously undescribed complication of a saphenous vein aortocoronary bypass
      graft, namely formation of a fistula between a vein graft aneurysm and the right
      atrium is reported. A patient presented with a continuous murmur and a
      combination of signs suggesting superior vena cava obstruction. This pathology
      was shown by both echocardiography and angiography. Surgical treatment was
      attempted.

PMID- 1449930
TI  - Effect of increasing heart rate on Doppler indices of left ventricular
      performance in healthy men.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of heart rate on the Doppler measurements
      of left ventricular function and to determine the normal pattern of rate
      dependency. SETTING: University hospital specialising in internal medicine.
      PARTICIPANTS: 14 healthy male volunteers 10 of whom were studied. INTERVENTION:
      Transoesophageal atrial pacing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: At paced rates of 70, 80,
      and 90 ppm the ratio of early to late peak transmitral flow velocity (E/A) was
      1.97 (0.28), 1.49 (0.21), and 0.95 (0.11) respectively; the ratio of early to
      late time-velocity integrals of transmitral flow (Ei/Ai) was 3.03 (0.51), 2.11
      (0.24), and 1.14 (0.30) respectively; and the atrial filling fraction (AFF) was
      0.17 (0.03), 0.21, (0.04), and 0.24 (0.04) (mean (SD)). RESULTS: Heart rate
      showed a linear correlation with E/A (r2 = 0.806), Ei/Ai (r2 = 0.838), and AFF
      (r2 = 0.343). Neither the peak aortic flow velocity or the mean aortic flow
      acceleration showed significant changes during pacing at rates of 70, 80, 90, and
      100 ppm. CONCLUSIONS: E/A and Ei/Ai can be expected to decrease by 0.5 and 0.9
      for each increase of 10 beats/min in heart rate. Knowledge of this relation may
      be useful for the development of algorithms to correct for heart rate when
      diastolic function is assessed.

PMID- 1449929
TI  - Restenosis after coronary angioplasty: a proposal of new comparative approaches
      based on quantitative angiography.

PMID- 1449931
TI  - Cardiac surgery: moving away from intensive care.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate outcome in patients managed outside an intensive care unit
      after open heart surgery. BACKGROUND: The high cost of cardiac surgery is mainly
      due to the needs of traditional postoperative care. The requirements for
      intensive care and treatment has decreased with improvements in techniques of
      cardiac surgery and anaesthesia. In this setting the need to continue to depend
      on intensive care units for the recovery of cardiac surgical patients is
      questionable on clinical and economic grounds. DESIGN: Postoperative outcome in
      245 patients over a four month period was studied prospectively. PATIENTS: Mean
      age of the patients was 63.2 years. They underwent a wide variety of operative
      procedures. Ninety percent of them recovered in a dedicated three bed cardiac
      surgical recovery area where the management protocol led to rapid extubation and
      step down in dependency care. RESULTS: Median time for ventilatory support was 90
      minutes after transfer to the area. Only five patients were subsequently admitted
      to the general intensive care unit for prolonged respiratory and cardiac support.
      Ten patients were electively admitted to the general intensive care unit. Two
      deaths occurred in hospital in this group (0.8%). Four patients were ventilated
      for 24 hours in the recovery area itself and made an uncomplicated recovery.
      CONCLUSION: This study confirms that over 90% of patients undergoing cardiac
      surgery would recover safely and be treated effectively in a more economical area
      than intensive care.

PMID- 1449932
TI  - Cardiac interventional procedure in the United Kingdom during 1990. The British
      Cardiovascular Intervention Society.

PMID- 1449933
TI  - Guidelines for training in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).
      Report of The Council of the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society (BCIS).

PMID- 1449934
TI  - Simple bone cysts. A review of 59 cases with special reference to their
      treatment.
AB  - In a retrospective study, 21 simple bone cysts (SBC) treated by curettage (with
      or without bone grafting) are compared to 20 SBC treated by intralesional
      injections of methylprednisolone. Curettage led to 43% favourable results and 29%
      recurrences. Cortisone injections led to 90% favourable results and 5%
      recurrences. Combined therapy (curettage and injections) led to results
      comparable to injections only. In our experience, curettage and hydroxyapatite
      grafting led to 100% complete healing (only 2 cases). We recommend intralesional
      methylprednisolone injections because the method is easy, effective and safe.

PMID- 1449935
TI  - Effect of cup geometry and the presence of cement on acetabular component
      fixation.
AB  - Two series of implanted conical, polyethylene Ring cups were studied clinically
      and radiographically. In one series the cups were uncemented while in the second
      cement was used. The results using cemented conical cups were then compared with
      results using a cemented cup of hemispherical design to study the effect of cup
      geometry. At 7-8 years a total of 3.8% of the cemented conical series and 2.9% of
      the uncemented were revised for aseptic loosening. At 9 years survivorship was
      identical. Migration of the sockets occurred in approximately 25% of both series
      and was directly related to cup cover of less than 80% (P < 0.001). The series of
      cemented hemispherical cups were reviewed after an identical period. Although the
      numbers revised for loosening were comparable in this and the cemented conical
      group, radiological migration was statistically greater in the latter (P <
      0.001). Alternative methods of socket preparation and cement technique were
      thought to be the most likely explanation for the observed differences.

PMID- 1449936
TI  - Clinical results and radiologic findings after cementless implantation of PCA
      stems in total hip replacement.
AB  - The results of radiologic and clinical follow-up of 81 PCA (porous coated
      anatomie) hip joint prostheses implanted in our clinic between 1986 and 1988 are
      presented. One of the prostheses had to be explanted because of aseptic loosening
      after 2.5 years' implantation. Contrary to the fixation concept of the
      prosthesis, which requires both proximal osseointegration and free axial shifting
      of the distal part of the prosthesis, our follow-up radiographs showed proximal
      lysis of 2 mm and more as well as distal hypersclerosis of 3 mm and more in the
      form of endosteal bone formation in 70% of cases 3 years after implantation. On
      the basis of our data, the question whether these bone reactions will finally
      lead to aseptic loosening of the implant cannot be answered yet.

PMID- 1449937
TI  - The modified Mayo procedure combined with basal valgus osteotomy of the first
      metatarsal for severe hallux valgus.
AB  - The modified Mayo procedure corrects valgus deformity of the great toe secondary
      to osteoarthritis in the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Basal osteotomy of the
      first metatarsal to correct metatarsus primus varus and to maintain correction of
      the valgus deformity may be performed simultaneously. We retrospectively reviewed
      the results in 55 of 70 feet treated by this combined procedure. The average
      duration of follow-up was 4.2 years (range 0.5-6 years) and the average age at
      operation was 63 years (range 45-80 years). The results were either very good or
      good in 82%, moderate in 14%, and poor in 4%. Our technique of basal osteotomy of
      the first metatarsal is a simple and effective procedure to correct metatarsus
      primus varus and may restore the distal transverse arch. It should be considered
      as a possible method of treatment when the intermetatarsal angle is greater than
      10 degrees.

PMID- 1449938
TI  - The pelvic compartment syndrome.
AB  - In the pelvic region three major compartments (gluteus medius-minimus
      compartment, gluteus maximus compartment, and iliopsoas compartment) can be
      distinguished from the smaller compartment of the tensor fasciae latae muscle.
      Pelvic compartment syndromes are rare. A clear history of trauma is often
      lacking. Association with drug and alcohol abuse is common, as is the association
      with the widespread use of anticoagulant therapy. From 1982 to 1990 six patients
      with acute buttock compartment syndrome were treated in the Department of Trauma
      Surgery of Hannover Medical School. In five patients fasciotomy of the gluteal
      compartment was performed. Two patients with a compartment syndrome secondary to
      necrotizing fasciitis died of septic multiple organ failure. The mean follow-up
      of the four other patients was 29 months (7-48 months). Three of these four
      patients revealed a decrease of gluteal muscle volume. Ergometric tests showed a
      decrease in gluteal muscle force in all patients.

PMID- 1449939
TI  - Aneurysmal bone cyst. A review of 52 primary and 16 secondary cases.
AB  - Authors report on the results of treatment of 52 primary and 16 secondary
      aneurysmal bone cysts (ABC). ABC grow rapidly; 84% of them have already destroyed
      more than the half of the bone width at recognition. En bloc resection is
      preferred when the ABC is growing superficially and eccentrically and more than
      half of the bone width is intact. Careful curettage and bone grafting still
      remains the surgical method of choice in the majority of cases, when the ABC is
      more destructive and affects the subchondral bone of the joints. Segmental
      resection is only indicated when removal of the affected bone does not influence
      the function of the extremity. Superselective embolization of the cyst was
      performed in seven cases with excellent results. This method is suggested for ABC
      in certain locations inaccessible to surgical intervention, e.g., the pelvis, or
      to avoid excessive bleeding in hypervascularized tumors. In one case, however, an
      incomplete rebuilding of the ABC could only be achieved by the administration of
      calcitonin. The 16 cases of secondary ABC were observed mostly in association
      with osteoblastomas, giant-cell tumors, and osteosarcomas. The incidence of the
      secondary ABC was 23% in the whole ABC group but not more than 2-4% among the
      osteosarcomas and giant-cell tumors. Secondary ABC may confuse the histological
      and clinical diagnoses and that, especially in cases of osteosarcoma, may have
      fatal consequences.

PMID- 1449940
TI  - Diagnosis and treatment of retroperitoneal hematoma in multiple trauma patients.
AB  - From 1984 to 1991 20 multiple trauma patients with pelvic fractures and
      retroperitoneal bleeding from pelvic vessels underwent angiographic localization
      and embolization of massively bleeding arterial vessels. Nine patients survived
      (multiple trauma index grade III, Hanover polytrauma index), three patients with
      very severe injuries died immediately (multiple trauma index grade IV). After
      successful control of bleeding by embolization, three other patients died from
      severe brain injuries and five patients from septic multiorgan failure. The
      interval to definite localization and treatment of the bleeding source was three
      times shorter in the group of survivors, and the amount of transfusions needed
      was less by a factor of three. This underlines the importance of early
      angiography in multiple trauma patients with pelvic fractures and persisting
      hemorrhage. Embolization has proven to be effective in the treatment of such
      injuries.

PMID- 1449941
TI  - Epiphyseal chondroblastoma of bone. Long-term effects on skeletal growth and
      articular function in 15 cases treated surgically.
AB  - The authors describe the long-term sequelae of chondroblastoma in 15 patients
      with open growth plates, whose age at operation ranged from 8 to 15 years. At
      follow-up, the youngest patient was 21 and the oldest 48 years old. Upper limb
      length discrepancy ranging from 2 cm to 10 cm was present in the four patients
      who had a proximal humeral epiphyseal location; in three of them, the range of
      motion of the shoulder was also limited and X-rays showed marked irregularities
      of the humeral head. Lower limb length discrepancy ranging from 0.5 cm to 2 cm
      was found in five of the eight patients in whom the tumor affected lower limb
      epiphyses. One patient with proximal tibial epiphyseal involvement also had mild
      genu valgum. Radiographic osteoarthritis was present only in the
      trapeziometacarpal joint of a patient in whom the first metacarpal bone affected
      by the tumor was replaced by a free fibular graft. The abnormalities observed did
      not cause important functional loss in either the everyday or the working
      activities of any of our patients.

PMID- 1449942
TI  - Radiolunate and radioscapholunate arthrodesis.
AB  - Eleven patients underwent radiocarpal arthrodesis for a wrist disease other than
      rheumatoid arthritis. Operations included seven radiolunate fusions and four
      radioscapholunate fusions. The indication for surgery was posttraumatic changes
      secondary to radius fracture (five), Kienbock's disease (three), localized
      arthritis secondary to sepsis (two) and acute comminuted fracture of the distal
      radius (one). All patients had arthritis or post-traumatic changes limited to the
      articulation between the radius and carpus. Follow-up ranged from 24 months to 7
      years, with an average of 41 months. Postoperatively, average range of motion of
      the wrist was 30.9 degrees of extension, 22.7 degrees of flexion, 10 degrees of
      radial deviation, and 19.3 degrees of ulnar deviation, and grip strength averaged
      81.8% of that for the uninvolved hand. Pain relief was achieved in all patients,
      and they were able to return to their previous occupation. Bony union was
      achieved in all cases. Degenerative changes in the midcarpal joint were not seen.

PMID- 1449943
TI  - Immunoreactive neuropeptide nerves in ligamentous tissue in chronic shoulder
      pain.
AB  - Coracoacromial ligament and periligamentous fatty and loose connective tissue
      obtained during Neer's acromioplasty in patients with chronic painful rotator
      cuff tendinitis/impingement syndrome was studied for possible signs of
      inflammatory involvement and for the presence of neuropeptide-containing nerves,
      using routine histology and immunoperoxidase staining. No accumulations of
      inflammatory cells were found in the tissues studied. The dense ligamentous
      tissue proper was practically aneural, as was seen in staining for the
      generalized neuronal markers protein gene product 9.5 and synaptophysin. In
      contrast, the periligamentous fatty and loose connective tissue was innervated.
      Almost all nerves in such tissue contained C-flanking peptide of neuropeptide Y,
      whereas substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and vasoactive intestinal
      peptide-containing nerves were not found at all or were extremely rare. This
      suggests that the coracoacromial ligament is not a target of irritative
      inflammation. In the periligamentary sheath, nerves containing markers for the C
      type nociceptive pain fibers were practically absent and all local nerves were
      postganglionic sympathetic vaso-regulatory nerves.

PMID- 1449944
TI  - Open traumatic posterior dislocation of the hip. A case report.
AB  - A case of open traumatic posterior dislocation of the hip is presented. The
      femoral head and neck were completely out of the skin and there were accompanying
      fractures of the acetabular floor, the ischial ramus and the greater trochanter.
      To our knowledge, such a case has not been reported previously and this, together
      with its interesting mechanism, has led us to report the case. It was followed
      for 18 months and roentgenographic and 99mtechnetium sulphur colloid scanning
      studies showed avascular necrosis and osteoarthritis.

PMID- 1449945
TI  - Traumatic scapulothoracic dissociation. A case report.
AB  - A rare case of scapulothoracic dissociation which was not diagnosed initially is
      reported. Vascular injuries associated with this injury are potentially life
      threatening. The key to the diagnosis is accurate interpretation of the
      radiographs: the lateral dislocation of the acromion and lateral shift of the
      medial scapular border are evident on chest radiographs. Emergency subclavian
      arteriography is essential to assess the vascular status. A high index of
      suspicion has to be maintained so that this dangerous injury is not overlooked.

PMID- 1449946
TI  - Leg ulcer clinics: advanced nursing.
AB  - The author describes the development of a leg ulcer clinic, based on an electric
      model of care, which draws on her experience as a clinical nurse specialist. The
      philosophy of the clinic recognises that a 'legs specific' approach offers only
      short term solutions, and that a holistic method, which encourages patients to
      examine their own situation, is more appropriate.

PMID- 1449947
TI  - Clinical trials: comparing dressings.
AB  - This article describes results from one of the sites involved in a multi-centred
      comparative study designed to assess the performance of a collagen-alginate
      dressing used in the treatment of leg ulceration. The research methods used in
      the trial, as well as the results, will be of interest to practising nurses.
      Those involved in similar work are invited to submit articles to be considered
      for publication in future issues of this supplement.

PMID- 1449948
TI  - Formation of glycine conjugate and (-)-(R)-enantiomer from (+)-(S)-2
      phenylpropionic acid suggesting the formation of the CoA thioester intermediate
      of (+)-(S)-enantiomer in dogs.
AB  - It has been proposed that the chiral inversion of the 2-arylpropionic acids is
      due to the stereospecific formation of the (-)-R-profenyl-CoA thioesters which
      are putative intermediates in the inversion. Accordingly, amino acid conjugation,
      for which the CoA thioesters are obligate intermediates, should be restricted to
      those optical forms which give rise to the (-)-R-profenyl-CoA, i.e., the
      racemates and the (-)-(R)-isomers. We have examined this problem in dogs with
      respect to 2-phenylpropionic acid(2-PPA). Regardless of the optical configuration
      of 2-phenylpropionic acid administered, the glycine conjugate was the major
      urinary metabolite and this was shown to be exclusively the (+)-(S)-enantiomer by
      chiral HPLC. Both (-)-(R)- and (+)-(S)-2-phenylpropionic acid were present in
      plasma after the administration of either antipode, and further evidence of the
      chiral inversion of both enantiomers was provided by the presence of some 25% of
      the opposite enantiomer in the free 2-phenylpropionic acid and its glucuronide
      excreted in urine after administration of (-)-(R)- and (+)-(S)-2-phenylpropionic
      acid. The (+)-(S)-enantiomer underwent chiral inversion to the (-)-(R)-antipode
      when incubated with dog hepatocytes. These data suggests that both enantiomers of
      2-phenylpropionic acid are substrates for canine hepatic acyl CoA ligase(s) and
      thus undergo chiral inversion, but that the CoA thioester of only (+)-(S)-2
      phenylpropionic acid is a substrate for the glycine N-acyl transferase. These
      studies are presently being extended to the structure and species specificity of
      the reverse inversion and amino acid conjugation of profen NSAIDs.

PMID- 1449949
TI  - Pulmonary inversion of 2-arylpropionic acids: influence of protein binding.
AB  - The possible contribution of pulmonary metabolism to the putative first-pass
      metabolism of 2-arylpropionic acid nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs has not
      been documented. Isolated perfused rabbit lungs, perfused with 4.5% bovine serum
      albumin or 5% dextran, were used to study the pulmonary elimination of (R)- and
      rac-ibuprofen, fenoprofen, and flurbiprofen. In the absence of protein binding,
      ibuprofen was metabolized via inversion and other pathways, whereas fenoprofen
      metabolism was essentially restricted to inversion of the (R)-enantiomer;
      fraction inverted (+/- SE) was 0.37 +/- 0.05 for (R)-ibuprofen and 0.85 +/- 0.03
      for (R)-fenoprofen. In the presence of protein, neither ibuprofen nor fenoprofen
      was metabolized. Flurbiprofen did not undergo pulmonary elimination under any
      condition studied. This study illustrates that even though a tissue is capable of
      metabolism, particularly inversion of 2-arylpropionics, the quantitative
      importance of such elimination pathways may be minimal in the presence of the
      high degree of protein binding that is characteristic of these drugs.

PMID- 1449950
TI  - An improved synthesis of the enantiomers of BM-5 and their effects on the central
      in vivo release of acetylcholine.
AB  - Racemic N-methyl-N-(1-methyl-4-pyrrolidino-2-butynyl)acetamide (BM-5), a putative
      postsynaptic agonist and presynaptic antagonist at muscarinic receptors, was
      resolved into the enantiomers by a new method suitable for large scale
      preparation. The method involves a chemoselective N-debenzylation as the key
      step. The enantiomers of BM-5 were obtained after six separate steps in 25%
      overall yield. The ability of the enantiomers to release acetylcholine was
      evaluated in vivo by use of brain dialysis. (R)-BM-5 was the more potent
      enantiomer in this assay.

PMID- 1449951
TI  - Absolute configuration and conformation of the pure opioid antagonist (+)-2,9
      alpha-dimethyl-5-(m-hydroxyphenyl)morphan.
AB  - (+)-2,9 alpha-Dimethyl-5-(m-hydroxyphenyl)morphan is the only phenylmorphan
      analog whose affinity for opioid kappa-receptors is greater than its affinity for
      opioid mu-receptors. Pharmacologically, the compound is a pure opioid antagonist
      devoid of agonist activity in in vivo assays of antinociception. The absolute
      configuration of the compound has been determined to be (1R,5S,9R) from an X-ray
      crystallographic study of the chloride salt. Thus, the absolute configuration
      corresponds to that of the atypical opioid agonist (-)-phenylmorphan while the
      weak atypical agonist (-)-2,9 alpha-dimethyl-5-(m- hydroxyphenyl)morphan
      corresponds to the potent morphine-like (+)-phenylmorphan. The preferred
      orientations of the phenyl ring for the two stereoisomers were determined using
      the molecular mechanics program MM2-87 and found to vary from that of the two
      parent compounds. The atypical properties of the two 9 alpha-methyl analogs is
      consistent with an opioid ligand model which proposes that morphine-like
      properties require a particular range of phenyl orientations. There was good
      agreement between the structure obtained from X-ray crystallography and computed
      with the MM2-87 program.

PMID- 1449952
TI  - Application of time-domain fitting in the quantification of in vivo 1H
      spectroscopic imaging data sets.
AB  - Time-domain model function fitting techniques were applied to improve the
      reconstruction of metabolite maps from the data sets obtained from in vivo 1H
      spectroscopic imaging (SI) experiments. First, residual water-related signals
      were removed from the SI data sets by using SVD-based linear time-domain fitting
      based upon the HSVD (State Space) approach. Second, peak integrals of the
      metabolites of interest were obtained by quantifying the proton spin-echoes of
      the voxels by means of non-linear time-domain fitting based upon the maximum
      likelihood principle. Third, in order to save computational time, interpolation
      of the metabolite images (from size 32 x 32 to 128 x 128) was performed in the
      image-domain by applying one-dimensional cubic splines. It was found that the
      residual water signals can be almost completely removed from the SI data sets by
      applying the linear HSVD fitting method. Furthermore, it was found that voxel
      dependency of certain NMR parameters (e.g., variations of the spin-echo offset
      frequencies and/or phase factors) can be accounted for automatically by applying
      the nonlinear time-domain fitting technique. For that purpose it appeared to be
      essential to employ prior knowledge of the NMR spectral parameters.

PMID- 1449953
TI  - Quantitation of metabolites in human blood serum by proton magnetic resonance
      spectroscopy. A comparative study of the use of formate and TSP as concentration
      standards.
AB  - Formate has been evaluated as an alternative standard to quantitate human serum
      metabolites in 1H NMR spin-echo spectra. The comparison between added formate and
      3-(trimethylsilyl) 3,3,3,3-tetradeutero-propionic acid (TSP) shows that, unlike
      TSP, formate does not interact with serum macromolecules. Transverse and
      longitudinal proton relaxation times have been measured on several serum
      metabolites, in the presence of ammonium chloride. With the exception of glucose,
      values of metabolite concentrations derived from Hahn spin-echo spectra recorded
      on serum containing 15.4 mM exogenous formate as a standard, are in excellent
      agreement with the results of biochemical and chromatographic assays, after
      correction for differential relaxation effects. This approach can be readily used
      for quantitation of metabolites from blood serum (and eventually other
      physiological fluids) in normal and in pathological situations not involving
      disorders of endogenous formate metabolism.

PMID- 1449954
TI  - Phosphorus metabolite characterization of human prostatic adenocarcinoma in a
      nude mouse model by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high pressure liquid
      chromatography.
AB  - A series of experiments were conducted to identify and quantify the phosphorus
      metabolites of DU 145 xenografts (a human prostatic adenocarcinoma cell line
      grown in nude mice) using 31P MRS and HPLC. The 31P spectral characteristics of
      DU 145 xenografts were compared to perfused DU 145 cells and to in situ human
      prostatic adenocarcinomas. These studies demonstrated that both DU 145 xenografts
      and perfused DU 145 cells exhibited reduced levels of phosphocreatine relative to
      spectra of in situ human prostatic adenocarcinomas. Elevated levels of
      phosphomonesters (PMEs) were observed in 31P spectra of both DU 145 xenografts
      and in situ human prostatic adenocarcinomas. The major components of the PME
      resonance of DU 145 xenografts were identified as phosphocholine and
      phosphoethanolamine. High levels of diphosphodiesters (DPDEs) were consistently
      observed for both DU 145 xenografts and perfused DU 145 cells, but were absent in
      31P spectra in in situ primary human adenocarcinomas. In agreement with
      spectroscopic results, high pressure liquid chromatographic analyses of human
      tissue removed at surgery contained insignificant amounts of DPDEs while DU 145
      xenografts had high levels of DPDEs consisting mainly of uridine-5'-diphospho-N
      acetylgalactosamine (22.4 nmol/mg protein) and uridine-5'-diphospho-N
      acetylglucosamine (7.4 nmol/mg protein).

PMID- 1449955
TI  - Direct absolute quantification of metabolites in the human brain with in vivo
      localized proton spectroscopy.
AB  - The absolute concentrations of the three major brain metabolites observable by in
      vivo proton spectroscopy--N-acetylaspartate(NAA), creatine and phosphocreatine
      (Cr and PCr) and choline (Cho)--have been measured at four standardized
      localizations in 34 healthy volunteers by in vivo localized proton spectroscopy
      using an external reference sample. The results show that the concentration of Cr
      and PCr as observed by in vivo MRS (5-6 mmol/L) is lower than that measured by
      other methods. The results are concordant with the hypothesis, that the Cr and
      PCr resonance as observed by proton spectroscopy is due mainly to PCr, whereas Cr
      remains invisible by being attached to a larger molecule. It is also
      demonstrated, that Cr and PCr is higher in the cerebellum than in the cerebrum,
      whereas NAA remains constant within the margin of error (8-9 mmol/L).

PMID- 1449956
TI  - Experimental characterization of the ISIS technique for volume selected NMR
      spectroscopy.
AB  - As clinical applications of MRS grow in number and complexity, there is a need
      for standardized methods for characterizing the performance of volume selection
      techniques. The results are presented of a thorough evaluation of a particular
      implementation of ISIS performed using a procedure which forms the basis of the
      method adopted by the European Community Concerted Action on MRS and MRI. We have
      found that ISIS localization is optimal when the volume of interest is slightly
      smaller than the region we wish to study. Contamination with extraneous signal
      has little T1 dependence so long as TR greater than T1 and the detection pulse
      angle is 90 degrees. However, a poorly optimized detection pulse results in T1
      weighted contamination unless TR greater than 3T1. In the clinical context, this
      corresponds to a different degree of contamination for each peak in the spectrum.
      Adiabatic detection pulses were used in an attempt to overcome this problem
      without resorting to unacceptable TR values, but these were found to function
      less well than properly optimized rectangular pulses, even if the power was
      increased above the level determined by the system for B1 insensitivity. These
      detailed results pertain only to our system, but illustrate the importance of
      performing similar measurements as part of clinical spectroscopy programmes at
      other centres.

PMID- 1449957
TI  - Motional degradation of metabolite signal strengths when using STEAM: a
      correction method.

PMID- 1449958
TI  - The clinical use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

PMID- 1449959
TI  - The biochemistry of living tissues: examination by MRS.
AB  - MRS defines the molecular state of water, the chemical environment of cells and
      tissues and the qualitative and quantitative state of intermediary metabolism.
      Because cancer has disordered physiology, obvious differences in MR spectra can
      be observed. However, the detailed understanding of the biochemistry of cancer
      will also emerge from careful, quantitative multinuclear MR. The intermediary
      metabolism of ATP, the Krebs cycle, creatine, cholines and lipids, is discussed.
      Finally, the biochemical challenge posed by oncogenes may be amenable to MR
      analyses.

PMID- 1449960
TI  - Physiological properties of malignant tumours.
AB  - It is generally accepted that tumour microcirculation, blood flow, oxygen and
      nutrient supply, tissue pH distribution, and the bioenergetic status--factors
      which are usually closely linked and which define the so-called metabolic
      microenvironment--can markedly influence the therapeutic response of malignant
      tumours to conventional irradiation, chemotherapy, other non-surgical treatment
      modalities, and the cell proliferation activity within the tumours. Currently
      available information on the parameters defining the metabolic micromilieu in
      human tumours is presented in this paper. According to these data, significant
      variations in these relevant factors are likely to occur between different
      locations within a tumour, and between tumours of the same grading and clinical
      staging. Therefore, evaluation of the metabolic microenvironment in individual
      tumours before therapy and a corresponding 'fine-tuning' of treatment protocols
      for individual patients may result in an improved tumour response to treatment.

PMID- 1449961
TI  - Phospholipid metabolites as indicators of cancer cell function.
AB  - NMR methods are being applied to study phospholipid metabolism of cancer cells by
      monitoring the resonances which appear in the 31P spectrum. This review, aside
      from considering the applicability of NMR to this specific pathway, raises the
      question of whether the phospholipid metabolite peaks observed by MR are
      indicators of cancer cell function or tumor response to treatment. After
      assessing the results from many investigations, it is concluded that there is no
      clear correlation and that a combination of techniques, including in vitro and
      extract studies, will be necessary for a more comprehensive evaluation of the in
      vivo data.

PMID- 1449962
TI  - The choice of experimental models in cancer research: the key to ultimate success
      or failure?
AB  - The technologies available for assessing the size and physiological status of
      malignant tumours are becoming more and more sophisticated. Some of these detect
      phenotypic biochemical alterations resulting from the genetic changes associated
      with malignant transformation. Many, however, monitor the abnormal relationship
      between the tumour mass and the host, detecting pathophysiological changes which
      result from the host/tumour interaction. The most important of these involve the
      microregional heterogeneities of nutrients resulting from diffusion patterns
      around abnormal, newly-formed vascular networks, or inflammatory or immune
      responses of the host to the tumour. In order to validate new technologies for
      introduction to clinical medicine they are usually extensively tested in
      experimental models for cancer. The relevance of these models (whether in vitro
      cell cultures or experimental tumours) must be considered carefully at the
      outset, with the factors that influence the parameter being measured, e.g.,
      oxygen or energy status, being given special attention. The genetic similarity of
      tumour and host, the site of tumour growth, the size of the tumour, the burden it
      imposes and the immunocompetence of the host are all important features of the
      experimental model. Inappropriate models may give totally misleading information
      which cannot be extrapolated to human cancers.

PMID- 1449963
TI  - Practical applications of chemical shift imaging.
AB  - Methods of spectral localization are briefly reviewed and divided into two
      classes: those using phase encoding and those using frequency selective RF pulses
      in a constant gradient. A potentially troubling artifact in the latter case is
      the spatial misregistration of different compounds which causes serious errors in
      31P spectra from smaller regions. Chemical shift imaging (CSI) is presented as a
      typical example of phase encoding techniques. An analytical expression for the
      relationship of the signal observed to the true signal (the point spread
      function) is derived. Examples of CSI in one, two, and three dimensions are used
      to illustrate the principles of this type of localization.

PMID- 1449964
TI  - Practicalities of localization in animal and human tumours.
AB  - Factors affecting the selection and application of localization methods for
      measuring tumours by NMR spectroscopy are considered, with particular regard to
      the S/N ratio and to contaminating signal from outside the volume of interest.
      Methods of assessing the performance of localization techniques are considered,
      and their importance for quantitative measurements and comparative studies is
      discussed.

PMID- 1449965
TI  - Bioluminescence and fluoroscopic imaging of tissue pH and metabolites in
      experimental brain tumors of cat.
AB  - The regional distribution of ATP, glucose, lactate and tissue pH was studied by
      bioluminescence and fluoroscopic imaging of intact cryostat sections of
      implantation tumors of cat. In tumors, marked heterogeneity of metabolites and pH
      was present: in solid parts ATP was similar to normal brain but glucose tended to
      decrease with an increase in lactate and pH to above normal; in necrobiotic
      regions ATP declined and pH became acidic. In peritumoral edema, ATP was
      consistently decreased whereas glucose, lactate and pH increased above normal.
      Correlation of ATP with water revealed an inverse relationship both in tumor and
      peritumoral edema but correlation of water with pH was direct in edema and
      inverse in tumors. The associations and dissociations of lactate, ATP and pH are
      interpreted in terms of aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis, as well as in respect
      to the extracellular localization of tumor edema. The findings are of relevance
      for the interpretation of volume selective NMR spectra and stress the importance
      of precise volume localization for differentiating between edema and tumor
      mediated metabolic alterations.

PMID- 1449966
TI  - Positron emission tomography for tumour assessment.
AB  - As positron emission tomography (PET) is outside of the main theme of this
      conference, it is necessary to outline what it offers as a method for assessing
      tissue function in vivo. This is followed by illustrations of how PET has and is
      being used to study the physiology and biochemistry of tumours and
      pharmacokinetics and pharmacology of anticancer agents. Strategies are offered as
      to how PET may be used for the development of new chemotherapeutic agents.

PMID- 1449967
TI  - Non-invasive MRS in new anticancer drug development.
AB  - In the rational development of anticancer drugs it is important to employ all the
      available pharmacological information. Early clinical trials provide an
      opportunity for hypothesis testing. MRS techniques have the potential to provide
      valuable data on the preclinical and clinical pharmacokinetics and
      pharmacodynamics of drugs non-invasively. Here we illustrate advantages and
      pitfalls of MRS using studies of two fluorine-containing cancer drugs: a
      beta,beta-difluoro analogue of the alkylating agent chlorambucil and a
      fluorinated derivative of the nitroimidazole misonidazole, Ro 07-0741.
      Limitations include signal quenching via protein binding and inadequate
      sensitivity for more potent drugs like beta,beta-difluorochlorambucil; but
      fluoromisonidazole was shown to accumulate in tumours and shows promise as a
      chemical probe for tumour hypoxia, detectable by 19F MRS.

PMID- 1449968
TI  - In vivo and ex vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy as applied to pharmacokinetic
      studies with anticancer agents: a review.
AB  - The potential role of MRS in studying the pharmacokinetics of anticancer drugs is
      reviewed. In vivo and ex vivo MRS has been used extensively in studies with
      fluoropyrimidines. Results from preclinical models have demonstrated that
      biochemical modulation of 5-fluorouracil metabolism can be demonstrated by MRS.
      The more general potential of MRS is illustrated by studies with the antifolate
      CB3988 (C2-desamino-C2-methyl-N10-propargyl-2'-trifluoromethyl-5,8-dideazafolic
      acid). Studies in mice and rats have shown that hepatobiliary clearance and renal
      elimination can be measured non-invasively by MRS. Comparison of half-lives
      derived from MRS and high performance liquid chromatography data gave reasonable
      agreement. In addition, MRI was used to localize drug-derived material within the
      abdominal cavity. The application of ex vivo MRS is illustrated by studies on the
      urinary excretion of platinum complexes. 1H-MRS has been used to demonstrate the
      presence of the cyclobutanedicarboxylate leaving group, both free and platinum
      bound, in the urine of patients treated with carboplatin. With iproplatin 195Pt
      NMR has been used to demonstrate in vivo reduction of this Pt(IV) complex to
      Pt(II) complexes. Finally, the application of MRS to the study of the molecular
      pharmacology of alkylating agents (a nitrogen mustard and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea)
      is discussed.

PMID- 1449969
TI  - The contribution made by cell death and oxygenation to 31P MRS observations of
      tumour energy metabolism.
AB  - This review discusses the relationship between tumour oxygenation status, tumour
      cell death and the 31P MRS parameters associated with cellular energy metabolism
      (phosphocreatine, nucleoside triphosphates and Pi). The presence of cells dying
      by apoptosis, and during mitosis would be unlikely to affect the 31P spectrum
      directly since they represent only a small fraction of tumour cells and remain
      energized until phagocytosed. Histologically necrotic cells also probably
      contribute nothing to the 31P spectrum. Instead, the spectrum appears to reflect
      the degree of hypoxia of the remaining viable cells, and the metabolic
      alterations required to sustain ATP synthesis as the oxygen supply diminishes.
      The biochemical theory developed to account for the 31P spectra of acutely
      hypoxic tissues does not apply to chronically hypoxic tumours. The concentrations
      of free ADP and Pi have major roles in the control of oxidative phosphorylation
      and glycolysis, as in normal tissues, but the precise relationships are still
      obscure. Cell-killing following therapy may indirectly affect 31P MRS parameters
      via changes in oxygen concentration brought about by an improvement in tumour
      blood flow and alterations in oxygen consumption rates and diffusion distances.

PMID- 1449970
TI  - Measurement of tumor blood flow by deuterium NMR and the effects of modifiers.
AB  - Tumor metabolism is directly coupled to tumor blood flow (TBF) and both
      metabolism and blood flow may be determinants of tumor response to treatment.
      Since NMR has been used extensively to monitor tumor metabolism noninvasively,
      development of NMR-based methods for TBF measurement was motivated by the desire
      to examine the roles tumor metabolism and blood flow may play as determinants of
      therapeutic response. The concept of using deuterated water as an NMR-detectable,
      flow-limited tracer for the measurement of tissue blood flow (or capillary
      perfusion) was introduced in 1987 by Ackerman and coworkers (Proc. Natl., Acad.
      Sci., USA 84, 4099-4102 (1987)). Since that time, methods have been devised using
      both spectroscopic and imaging detection for TBF measurement based on either
      clearance or uptake of deuterated water. In general, the clearance methods are
      more straightforward to implement, while the uptake methods are less invasive to
      the tumor. When used with appropriate caution, both approaches yield reliable
      results. To date, these methods have been applied in a relatively limited number
      of animal tumors. However, their use is increasing and some of these methods
      ultimately should be applicable in human tumors.

PMID- 1449971
TI  - Clinical experimentation in magnetic resonance spectroscopy: a perspective from
      the National Cancer Institute.
AB  - This paper describes the National Cancer Institute activities in clinical MRS,
      including a recent international conference organized by the Diagnostic Imaging
      Research Branch, a research agenda developed by the conference faculty members of
      one of the research programs proposed by the author.

PMID- 1449972
TI  - A plea for support of referenda to increase excise taxes on tobacco.

PMID- 1449973
TI  - Erythropoietin for anemia of cancer: higher hematocrits, fewer transfusions.

PMID- 1449975
TI  - A special series: management of medical emergencies in cancer patients.

PMID- 1449974
TI  - The use of the polymerase chain reaction in clinical oncology.
AB  - The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is an extraordinary tool for studying cancer.
      It is both more sensitive and more rapid than any other detection method, and can
      be performed without special expertise. It is ideal for the detection of minimal
      residual disease, particularly in lymphoid malignancies, but also for any cancer
      with a genetic abnormality that is defined at the molecular level. Other uses,
      such as diagnosis of cancer based on detection of translocations or point
      mutations, have an intriguing potential, but remain investigational. At this
      point, few clinicians would be willing to base a diagnosis, let alone a treatment
      plan, on a diagnosis based on PCR findings without confirming histology.

PMID- 1449977
TI  - Clinical trials referral resource. Rhabdomyosarcoma.

PMID- 1449976
TI  - Acute renal failure in cancer patients.
AB  - Compromise of kidney function in patients with serious medical illnesses,
      including cancer, is a serious and potentially fatal complication. In cancer
      patients, the types of renal injury that may occur are more varied than in
      patients with other underlying illnesses, and definition of the etiology of the
      decline in renal function may have important therapeutic and prognostic
      implications. This review article discusses the clinical manifestations and the
      diagnostic workup of insults to the kidney in patients with cancer. Therapy
      (excluding dialysis) for each type of renal insufficiency is briefly reviewed.

PMID- 1449978
TI  - Recognizing the oral manifestations of AIDS.
AB  - The first sign of HIV infection may be an unusual or rapidly progressive
      condition of the oral cavity, including malignancies such as Kaposi's sarcoma.
      Early diagnosis of these oral conditions can lead to early diagnosis of HIV
      infection and subsequent treatment with antiretroviral agents that may improve
      the prognosis. This illustrated review outlines the presenting signs and symptoms
      of the most common oral manifestations of the AIDS virus, including hairy
      leukoplakia, candidiasis, Kaposi's sarcoma, periodontal disease, salivary gland
      disease, necrotizing stomatitis, and infection with herpes and human
      papillomavirus.

PMID- 1449979
TI  - New oral agent for PCP is effective, well tolerated.

PMID- 1449980
TI  - Lymphoma, hairy-cell leukemia respond to new agents.

PMID- 1449981
TI  - Genetic etiology of lung cancer.
AB  - Although the clinical management of lung cancer has not changed substantially
      over the past decade, this same time period has witnessed exciting new
      developments concerning the origins of this disease. These findings support the
      hypothesis that lung cancer, as well as other common adult tumors, arise as a
      result of somatic mutations to a specific group of cellular genes referred to as
      oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. New strategies for the prevention and
      treatment of lung cancer will emerge as we identify the mechanisms that control
      mutation rates for these target genes and gain a better understanding of the role
      these genes play in coordinating normal cell growth and differentiation.

PMID- 1449982
TI  - Malaria. Ministerial Conference on Malaria, Amsterdam.

PMID- 1449983
TI  - Global health situation. II. Health and environment: urbanization, literacy,
      water supply and sanitation.

PMID- 1449984
TI  - Expanded programme on immunization. Program review.

PMID- 1449985
TI  - Trends in sex ratios of cancer mortality in Europe. 1950-1989.

PMID- 1449986
TI  - Expanded programme on immunization (EPI). Safety of high titre measles vaccines.
AB  - Unexpected results suggesting decreased survival when compared with standard
      titre vaccine administered at 9 months of age have been found in some field
      studies evaluating the performance of high titre measles vaccine. Analytical
      difficulties have arisen because the studies were not specifically designed to
      measure survival. Nonetheless, careful analysis of the results from all of the
      high titre vaccine trials showed decreased survival of high titre vaccine
      recipients, in areas with high background mortality rates, compared with
      recipients of standard measles vaccines at 9 months. No systematic biases could
      be found in the studies to explain these differences. Statistical analysis of
      these data suggested that the findings were unlikely to be attributable to chance
      alone. The panel recommended that high titre measles vaccine derived from the
      original Edmonston measles vaccine isolate should no longer be recommended for
      use in immunization programmes. Further post-licensure field studies of new
      measles vaccines should take into account the results of these studies.
      Additional detailed epidemiological studies in populations that have received
      high titre vaccines and their controls were encouraged.

PMID- 1449987
TI  - Rabies. Two cases of imported rabies in France.

PMID- 1449988
TI  - Need for consistency in AIDS education.

PMID- 1449989
TI  - School nursing. The first hundred years.

PMID- 1449991
TI  - School nursing. The next hundred years.

PMID- 1449990
TI  - School nursing. 'Pearl is like a mum'.

PMID- 1449992
TI  - Accident & emergency: care and transfer of the burns patient.
AB  - A patient with major burns requires intervention from highly skilled nursing and
      medical teams on arrival at the accident and emergency department, and those
      staff without proper training can lack confidence in dealing with such a
      situation. The author offers guidance and advice for nurses in A&E on initial
      treatment of the burns patient, and discusses the preparation necessary before
      transferring the victim to another area, as well as the transfer itself.

PMID- 1449993
TI  - Should nurses wear name badges?
AB  - In the third and final part of the series of articles on the implications of the
      'named nurse' initiative, Stephen Wright looks at the issue of name badges and
      whether wearing them enhances nurse/patient relationships or poses personal risks
      to staff. Much of the current information related to the debate is anecdotal,
      suggesting that formal research on the issues would be useful.

PMID- 1449995
TI  - Nursing research: exploring the options.

PMID- 1449994
TI  - Wound care: conflict or collaboration?

PMID- 1449996
TI  - Tackling staff absenteeism.

PMID- 1449997
TI  - Mentorship for everyone.

PMID- 1449998
TI  - The standard guide to ... writing your CV.

PMID- 1450000
TI  - Theatre nursing. Knowledge to care.

PMID- 1449999
TI  - Theatre nursing. Making order out of chaos.

PMID- 1450001
TI  - Theatre nursing. European developments in theatre nursing.

PMID- 1450002
TI  - Theatre nursing. An alternative to swab racks.

PMID- 1450003
TI  - Women who prostitute are practising safer sex.

PMID- 1450004
TI  - Xerostomia and treatment with ddI.

PMID- 1450005
TI  - Skill mix and the effectiveness of nursing care.

PMID- 1450006
TI  - Growing straight.

PMID- 1450007
TI  - Learning disabilities. Using hydrotherapy: maximising benefits.
AB  - People with a learning disability are increasingly using hydrotherapy for
      exercise, socialising, and the release of tension and energy. For those with a
      physical disability, it offers an opportunity for independent activity from which
      they may be precluded outside the hydrotherapy pool. The author discusses
      guidelines for staff involved in hydrotherapy sessions before examining in detail
      the benefits this form of treatment has to offer.

PMID- 1450008
TI  - Uncommon disorders. Helping lumbosacral arachnoiditis patients.

PMID- 1450009
TI  - Time management in a day surgery unit.

PMID- 1450010
TI  - Development of an in vitro bladder model.
AB  - The first of the three articles in this series (1) expounded the case for a
      broader approach to research design in nursing. In particular, the experimental
      approach and the use of laboratory studies were highlighted as areas that nurses
      have tended to neglect. This second article explores the development of an in
      vitro bladder model for use in experiments examining infections in catheterised
      patients.

PMID- 1450011
TI  - The Clay column.

PMID- 1450012
TI  - Legal matters: the beverage report.

PMID- 1450013
TI  - Soapbox: bedevilled advocates.

PMID- 1450014
TI  - Cardiology update. Health education and heart disease.

PMID- 1450015
TI  - Cardiology update. VasoSeal.

PMID- 1450017
TI  - Cardiology update. Computers in cardiac nursing.

PMID- 1450016
TI  - Cardiology update. The sound revolution.

PMID- 1450018
TI  - Heart disease: reducing the risks (continuing nursing education).

PMID- 1450020
TI  - Pay and conditions: the state of the nursing nation.

PMID- 1450019
TI  - Pressure sores: a case to answer (continuing nursing education).

PMID- 1450021
TI  - Community care: can't pay, won't pay?

PMID- 1450022
TI  - HIV/AIDS: beyond the fringe.

PMID- 1450023
TI  - Health service management: changing the face of London's health care.

PMID- 1450024
TI  - Responding to need.

PMID- 1450025
TI  - The bladder model: clinical implications.
AB  - The first two articles in this series (1, 2) discussed the importance of the
      experimental approach within nursing research, and described the development of a
      bladder model which could be used to investigate errors in practice. The final
      article will document the use of this model in examining the design features of
      four urinary drainage bags and in investigating the effect of a potential error
      in practice.

PMID- 1450026
TI  - Pressure sores and intra-operative risk.
AB  - The enormous cost of pressure sore care is well documented (1, 2), but a review
      of the available literature shows few studies on the genesis of intra-operative
      pressure sores exist and the contribution of operating room exposure as an
      aetiological factor is largely undefined. This article provides a brief overview
      of the aetiology of pressure sores, details interface pressures reported on
      operating tables, and critically reviews the literature suggesting a link between
      events during the intra-operative period and post-operative pressure sore
      formation.

PMID- 1450027
TI  - Relieving stress in a neurosurgical unit.

PMID- 1450028
TI  - The Sister Susie column. New nursing laid open.

PMID- 1450029
TI  - Tradimus. An end to the Project.

PMID- 1450030
TI  - Tradimus. Project 2000: second rate for graduates?

PMID- 1450031
TI  - Tradimus. A day in the life: confessions of a mature student.

PMID- 1450032
TI  - Tradimus. Mental health: on the patients' side.

PMID- 1450033
TI  - Tradimus. Lifting techniques: put your back out of danger.

PMID- 1450034
TI  - Tradimus. Unworkable paradox.

PMID- 1450035
TI  - AIDS and cancer: let's begin thinking globally.

PMID- 1450036
TI  - To fight AIDS, the Swiss Government ready to provide heroin.

PMID- 1450037
TI  - A therapeutic withdrawal can make a strategic advance.

PMID- 1450038
TI  - Antiosteolytic agents in the management of hypercalcemia.

PMID- 1450039
TI  - Infusional anthracyclines: is slower better? If so, why?

PMID- 1450040
TI  - The epidemiology of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and associated tumours in
      Europe.
AB  - By the end of September 1991, more than 60,000 cases of acquired immunodeficiency
      syndrome (AIDS) had been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by 31
      countries in the WHO European region. Most of the cases (58,280/60,485-96%) were
      recorded in western Europe, chiefly in five countries: France (16,552 cases),
      Italy (10,584), Spain (10,101), Germany (6,968) and the United Kingdom (5,065).
      From the first reports in 1981 of European cases of AIDS until 1987, AIDS spread
      faster in the northern and central areas than elsewhere in the European region.
      Since then, the spread of the epidemic has been remarkably more rapid in southern
      Europe, while in eastern Europe AIDS is still in an early phase. More than 70% of
      the cases among homosexual or bisexual men were from the northern part of Europe,
      while the cases among intravenous drug users (IVDUs) were concentrated in the
      southern European countries, principally Italy and Spain. Over time, an
      increasing proportion of cases was recorded among IVDUs and in heterosexuals.
      More than 10,000 patients in Europe were diagnosed as having Kaposi's sarcoma
      (KS) (14% of all AIDS cases) or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (3%) as the
      presenting clinical manifestation of AIDS. The possibility of predicting the
      evolution of the epidemic in Europe depends heavily on the development of
      unbiased monitoring systems for HIV infection in the general population (i.e.
      anonymous unlinked testing).

PMID- 1450041
TI  - Allergic reactions to cytotoxic drugs--an update.

PMID- 1450042
TI  - Response after withdrawal of tamoxifen and progestogens in advanced breast
      cancer.
AB  - Tumor response after withdrawal of endocrine therapy for advanced breast cancer
      with estrogens and androgens is well described. There have been few reports of
      withdrawal responses (WRs) after cessation of treatment with the newer
      antiestrogens and progestogens. We assessed WR in women after cessation of
      adjuvant therapy at first relapse, and after progression on first, second or
      third line endocrine therapy for advanced disease. One of seven patients (14%)
      responded after cessation of tamoxifen adjuvant therapy at relapse. Sixty-five of
      72 patients were evaluable for WR after cessation of tamoxifen as first line
      therapy for advanced disease. There were five partial responses (8%) and 14 (22%)
      'no change' with a median duration of WR of 10 months (range 3-40 months). WR
      were seen mainly in soft tissue disease but there were two responses in lung and
      two in bone. Four of 21 (19%) patients had a WR after cessation of norethisterone
      acetate (3) and tamoxifen (1), all used as second line therapy. WR are therefore
      demonstrable after cessation of tamoxifen and norethisterone acetate with
      durations of response similar to those found with additive therapy. Assessment of
      WR may represent a way of prolonging the overall response duration in patients
      with relatively indolent metastatic breast cancer, particularly in soft tissues.

PMID- 1450043
TI  - Plicamycin and pamidronate in symptomatic tumor-related hypercalcemia: a
      prospective randomized crossover trial.
AB  - We have conducted a randomized crossover comparative trial of a single-dose
      course of disodium (3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene) bisphosphonate pentahydrate
      (pamidronate) and plicamycin in 48 patients with a first occurrence of tumor
      related hypercalcemia. All patients had hypercalcaemia-associated symptoms and
      serum-calcium levels (corrected for total protein) greater than or equal to 2.80
      mmol/l. Pamidronate and plicamycin were given concurrently with rehydration
      immediately after diagnosis of hypercalcaemia was made. Both agents lowered serum
      calcium levels significantly within 1 week, with 88% of the evaluable patients in
      the pamidronate group and 45% of those in the plicamycin group achieving
      normocalcemia (p less than 0.01). In the patients who received pamidronate, the
      duration of normocalcemia was longer (p less than 0.05) and there was a
      significant decrease in serum creatinine (p less than 0.05). Vomiting occurred in
      8 of 22 evaluable patients (36%) who received plicamycin, but in none of 25
      evaluable patients who received pamidronate (P less than 0.01). Phlebitis
      occurred at the infusion site in more of the pamidronate-treated patients (P less
      than 0.05). Hypocalcemia, which occurred in 8 of 25 evaluable patients (32%) in
      the pamidronate group and in 1 of 22 of those (5%) in the plicamycin group, was
      either clinically asymptomatic or mild, except in one pamidronate-treated
      patient. Overall, pamidronate was found to be more effective and better tolerated
      than plicamycin, thereby confirming results of previous studies that showed
      pamidronate to be an effective, simple, and safe agent for the relief of the
      morbidity associated with tumor-related hypercalcemia.

PMID- 1450044
TI  - The role of age at menarche and at menopause on breast cancer risk: combined
      evidence from four case-control studies.
AB  - The role of age at menarche and at menopause on breast cancer risk was reassessed
      in a combined analysis of four Italian case-control studies including a total of
      6,075 cases and 5,492 controls. The risk of breast cancer was lower in women
      whose menarche occurred at age 15 or over, but there was no evidence for the risk
      to increase with decreasing age at menarche below age 15. Compared with women
      with earlier menarche, the relative risk (RR) was 0.9 (95% confidence interval,
      CI 0.7-1.0) for those with menarche at age 15, 0.8 (95% CI 0.6-0.9) for menarche
      at 16, and 0.7 (95% CI 0.5-0.8) for menarche at age 17 or over. There was no
      significant interaction between age at menarche and study centre or age at
      diagnosis, parity and age at first birth. In relation to age at menopause,
      compared with women whose menopause occurred at age 40 or less, the relative risk
      was 1.1 (95% CI 0.8-1.3) between 40 and 44, 1.2 (95% CI 0.9-1.4) between 45 and
      49, 1.4 (95% CI 1.2-1.8) between 50 and 53, and 1.4 (95% CI 1.1-1.8) above 53.
      The risk estimates were comparable in various studies, and the trend in risk with
      age at menopause was statistically significant. The risk estimates tended to be
      somewhat higher at peri-menopausal age (45 to 54 years), but no consistent
      pattern was evident across subsequent strata of age, and the interaction with age
      was not significant. Likewise, no consistent interaction was observed with
      parity, age at first birth or body mass index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450045
TI  - Subsets of tumors responsive to cisplatin or carboplatin combinations in patients
      with carcinoma of unknown primary site. A Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group
      Study.
AB  - In this retrospective analysis 48 patients with metastatic undifferentiated
      carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and epidermoid carcinoma of unknown origin were
      studied. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate both the response rate and
      the toxicity of combination chemotherapy containing cisplatin or carboplatin, and
      to attempt to identify certain clinical subsets of patients sensitive to these
      drugs. Four patients were not evaluable and 13 (29.5%), eight of the 34 treated
      with regimens containing cisplatin and 5/14 with carboplatin-based chemotherapy,
      responded to treatment. Six of the 23 with undifferentiated tumours, 4/17 with
      adenocarcinomas and 3/8 with epidermoid cancers responded to chemotherapy. Four
      of 6 women with adenocarcinoma of the peritoneal cavity, 5/11 with
      undifferentiated carcinomas with midline distribution and 3/5 with epidermoid
      carcinomas of the cervical nodes responded. Seven patients achieved complete and
      six partial remissions. The mean duration of response was nine months; a number
      of patients enjoyed prolonged and/or durable remissions. Toxicity was tolerable.
      We conclude that: (a) both cisplatin and carboplatin are active agents in this
      syndrome with one-third of the evaluable patients responding, and (b) there may
      be chemosensitive subgroups, such as patients with peritoneal
      adenocarcinomatosis, undifferentiated carcinoma with midline distribution and
      metastatic epidermoid carcinoma of the neck nodes. The effectiveness of
      carboplatin in these patients and the responsiveness of metastatic epidermoid
      carcinoma of unknown origin have not been adequately dealt with in the
      literature.

PMID- 1450046
TI  - Treatment with alpha-interferon versus alpha-interferon in combination with
      streptozocin and doxorubicin in patients with malignant carcinoid tumors: a
      randomized trial.
AB  - An open randomized trial was performed to compare the effect of recombinant
      interferon-alpha 2a (rIFN-alpha 2a) (group A, n = 12) versus rIFN-alpha 2a in
      combination with chemotherapy (group B, n = 11) in patients with malignant
      carcinoid tumors. Both groups received rIFN-alpha 2a at a dose of 3 MU/m2 s.c.
      three times weekly during the first 6 months. IFN was discontinued every third
      week in group B, followed by an i.v. injection of 2 g streptozocin and 40 mg/m2
      doxorubicin. After 6 months group A showed one complete biochemical response
      (CR), 9 patients with stable disease (SD) and 2 who progressed (PD). Two patients
      had a partial reduction (PR) of tumor size, 9 showed SD and one PD. All patients
      in group B demonstrated SD. Chemotherapy was withdrawn after 6 months and all
      patients continued with rIFN-alpha 2a at an increased dose of 3 MU/m2 five
      days/week for a further 6 months. After 12 months 6 patients showed PR, 12 SD and
      one PD biochemically. Tumor size showed SD in 18 patients and PD in one. One
      patient died from cardiomyopathy, probably induced by doxorubicin. Antibodies
      against rIFN-alpha 2a developed in 41% of the patients. In conclusion, we
      detected no difference in response rates between the two treatment groups.
      Adverse reactions from the combination were considerable. The frequent
      development of IFN antibodies might have interfered with the therapeutic results.

PMID- 1450047
TI  - Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of epirubicin administered as i.v. bolus and 48-h
      infusion in patients with advanced soft-tissue sarcoma.
AB  - We have studied the pharmacokinetics of epirubicin after its administration in
      sarcoma patients either as an i.v. bolus or as a 48-h infusion (5 courses each; 9
      patients in total). Bolus injection was followed by a three exponential decay in
      plasma, with half-lives of 2.43 min, 1.95 h and 21.7 h; 48-h infusions were
      characterized by the very rapid establishment of a plasma plateau concentration
      followed by a biexponential decay after stopping the infusion. Pharmacokinetic
      parameters such as total plasma clearance, total volume of distribution, mean
      residence time and elimination half-life were similar, irrespective of the
      duration of the administration. In contrast, the relative amounts of the
      metabolites of epirubicin were reduced when the drug was administered over 48 h;
      in particular, the plasma levels of epirubicin glucuronide never exceeded those
      of epirubicin, which always occur after bolus injection. This may result from a
      lower availability of epirubicin for metabolism. These results now require
      validation in a larger group of patients using a cross-over design.

PMID- 1450048
TI  - Bi-weekly 2-day schedule of high-dose folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil bolus and
      infusion in pretreated advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: a phase II study.
AB  - Twenty patients with documented progression after two or three cisplatin-based
      regimens for advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma were treated with high-dose
      folinic acid (200 mg/m2), 5-fluorouracil bolus (400 mg/m2) and continuous
      infusion (600 mg/m2) for two consecutive days every two weeks. One clinically
      complete and two partial responses were observed in 16 evaluable patients, with 5
      remaining stable. Median survival was 9 months. Toxicity was mild. This
      combination achieved a 19% (95% confidence interval 4%-46%) response rate in
      heavily pretreated cisplatin-resistant patients.

PMID- 1450049
TI  - Multicenter phase II trial of brequinar sodium in patients with advanced
      melanoma.
AB  - Seventeen patients with advanced melanoma and no prior exposure to chemotherapy
      were treated with brequinar sodium as first-line chemotherapy. Brequinar was
      given at a median weekly dose of 1200 mg/m2 intravenously. In 14 patients
      evaluable for efficacy, there were no objective responses. The toxicity was
      moderate. We conclude that, at this dose and schedule, brequinar has no activity
      in advanced melanoma.

PMID- 1450050
TI  - Treatment of resistant tumor-induced hypercalcemia with escalating doses of
      pamidronate (APD).

PMID- 1450051
TI  - Interferon alpha-2-beta enhances immunoscintigraphic localization of monoclonal
      antibody in malignant melanoma.

PMID- 1450052
TI  - Mechanisms of hypercalcemia in lymphomas.

PMID- 1450053
TI  - Researchers home in on the elusive stem cell.

PMID- 1450054
TI  - 'Staging' systems for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PMID- 1450055
TI  - Serotonin antagonist antiemetics: progress and concerns.

PMID- 1450056
TI  - The enigma of ifosfamide encephalopathy.

PMID- 1450057
TI  - Meta-analysis: the fashion of summing-up evidence. Part II: Interpretations and
      uses.
AB  - In this commentary, we use evidence produced by the Early Breast Cancer
      Trialists' Collaborative Group (EBCTCG) ten-year update of a meta-analysis of
      trials of adjuvant therapies for early breast cancer which started prior to 1985
      to illustrate aspects of interpretations and uses of meta-analysis results. The
      following issues are discussed: i) The meta-analysis provides an average summary
      for the effect of a treatment. Greater statistical power is obtained by
      increasing the number of events contributing to the analysis. However, summing up
      the results of various trials necessitates the loss of individual information
      concerning the magnitude of treatment effects which depend on tumor- and patient
      related factors. Subgroup analyses within the meta-analysis process allow some
      recovery of such features; ii) The absolute benefit obtained from an effective
      treatment depends not only on the relative benefit of the treatment but also on
      the prognosis of the individual patients; iii) The results are more immediately
      applicable if less reliance is placed on the arithmetic construct inherent in the
      overview, using instead unconfounded information about the value of treatments
      actually administered. This avoids the need to extrapolate the effect for one
      component of the therapy by assuming a lack of interaction with its other
      components; iv) Although indirect comparisons between different meta-analyses are
      regularly made to pick the "winner" from among tested treatment modalities, it is
      unlikely that the optimal therapeutic regimen can be defined via such indirect
      comparisons, though such comparisons may raise interesting, testable hypotheses.

PMID- 1450058
TI  - Emerging from a crisis in anticancer drug discovery? Screening versus design:
      confessions of an optimistic fence-sitter.

PMID- 1450059
TI  - Current results with rhizoxin: the evaluation of a clinical and a basic
      scientist.

PMID- 1450060
TI  - A proposal for a simple staging system for intermediate grade lymphoma and
      immunoblastic lymphoma based on the 'tumor score'.
AB  - A new staging system for intermediate grade lymphomas and immunoblastic lymphomas
      is described. This system is based on the tumor score which consists of assigning
      a point to each one of five variables that have been previously shown to have a
      high prognostic value. Ann Arbor stages III-IV, presence of bulky mass, elevation
      of B-2 microglobulin and LDH as well as presence of 'B' symptoms are the
      variables utilized in this system. When we applied this tumor score system to a
      population of 144 patients uniformly treated with CHOP/Bleo/CMED protocol, we
      observed that this system can accurately divide the population into two
      prognostic groups without an intermediate category. The first group is made up of
      those patients with a score of 0-2 points while the second group consists of
      patients with a score of > or = 3 points. The first group has a time-to-treatment
      failure (TTF) of 83% at three years in contrast to the second group whose TTF was
      24%. If we compare this system with other commonly used systems in our
      institution, such as Ann Arbor, M.D. Anderson clinical staging system, and M.D.
      Anderson serological staging system, we observed that the tumor score system is
      not only more specific and sensitive than the others but also was capable of
      eliminating an intermediate risk group, thus facilitating therapeutic choices.
      This tumor score system is easy to apply and potentially reproducible in any
      institution.

PMID- 1450061
TI  - Severe vascular adverse effects with thrombocytopenia and renal failure following
      emetogenic chemotherapy and ondansetron.
AB  - During late 1991, a series of severe adverse events involving thrombocytopenia,
      renal insufficiency and thrombotic episodes was observed in patients receiving
      emetogenic chemotherapy. Two patients died, one of renal failure and one of
      cerebral haemorrhage in the presence of thrombocytopenia. Other severe side
      effects included thrombosis of the aorta causing paraplegia and multifocal
      cerebral infarctions. Common exposure features included the use of ondansetron
      and dexamethasone as antiemetics, and in most of the cases high dose (100 mg/M2
      or more) cisplatin. Retrospective review of a series of patients treated with
      similar cytotoxic regimens for similar diseases before the use of ondansetron
      revealed no similar adverse effects, but no substantial differences were observed
      in renal function or haematologic toxicity in the two groups overall. Sporadic
      adverse vascular events have been observed before the use of ondansetron. The
      mechanism remains unknown, and it is not clear whether ondansetron was a factor
      in the unusual incidence of such events in the present series.

PMID- 1450062
TI  - Sequential estrogen receptor determinations from primary breast cancer and at
      relapse: prognostic and therapeutic relevance. The International Breast Cancer
      Study Group (formerly Ludwig Group).
AB  - We retrospectively evaluated 401 selected patients who had estrogen receptor (ER)
      assays both at primary surgery and at relapse in an accessible site to determine
      the clinical relevance of the subsequent ER determination. The median time
      between ER assessments was 27 months (range: 2-122 months). The median follow-up
      time from diagnosis was 6 years (range: 2-12 years). For patients with ER+ tumors
      at primary diagnosis, 29% (76/261) had ER- tumors at relapse, while for ER-
      primaries, the conversion rate was 33% (46/140). Conversions from ER+ to ER-
      occurred more often when the time interval between assays was less than one year
      (p = 0.004), while conversions from ER- to ER+ tended to occur late (beyond three
      years; p = 0.0003). Treatments received between assays (usually adjuvant therapy)
      had only a slight influence on ER status conversion. Post-relapse survival was
      poor for patients who had the biopsy accessible recurrence within one year; an
      expression of the aggressive nature of the disease. Among patients whose
      accessible relapse was beyond one year, those with ER- primaries who converted to
      ER+ had a longer survival than those whose recurrence was classified again as ER-
      (p = 0.006). This group of patients with ER- primaries who recurred beyond one
      year with an ER+ tumor in an accessible site represented 29% (40/140) of all
      patients with ER- primaries and had an estimated overall survival rate of more
      than 60% at 6 years from the accessible relapse. ER determination upon relapse
      within one year has very little clinical relevance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1450063
TI  - Recombinant tumor necrosis factor for superficial bladder tumors.
AB  - Twenty patients with histologically documented superficial bladder cancer (Ta,
      T1, Tis) were treated with intravesical administration of TNF 400-1800
      micrograms. Of 18 patients with a marker lesion, 2 obtained a complete response
      for 8+ and 18 months. Two had a partial response and were given other
      intravesical therapies after 5 and 7 months. No or minimal systemic absorption of
      TNF was observed and documented in 4 of 20 patients by pharmacokinetic studies,
      and no patients developed antibodies to intravesically administered TNF. TNF was
      well tolerated in doses up to 1800 micrograms. No systemic or local side effects
      were observed. Modest activity was attained with intravesical TNF, even in
      pretreated patients.

PMID- 1450064
TI  - The Stanford experience with combined procarbazine, Alkeran and vinblastine
      (PAVe) and radiotherapy for locally extensive and advanced stage Hodgkin's
      disease.
AB  - This report describes the efficacy and toxicity of PAVe (procarbazine, Alkeran,
      vinblastine) and irradiation (RT) in the management of 159 patients with locally
      extensive or advanced stage Hodgkin's disease (HD) at Stanford University.
      Patients received six courses of chemotherapy alternating with RT. The extent of
      RT and the schedule of treatment varied according to the stage of disease. About
      2/3 of patients received PAVe/RT in the setting of prospective, randomized
      clinical trials. The rate of complete response was 93%. With a median follow-up
      of seven years (range 2-17), the 15 year actuarial freedom from progression (FFP)
      is 78% and overall survival is 75%. Ten-year FFP by stage is: 80% for locally
      extensive stage II, 90% for stage IIIA and 70% for stage IIIB. Excellent and
      equal results were attained with PAVe/RT vs. MOP(P) (mustard, Oncovin,
      procarbazine with or without prednisone)/RT in the randomized combined modality
      studies. Progression or recurrence was documented in 30 patients and was more
      common in irradiated sites. PAVe was well tolerated acutely. There were no
      treatment related fatalities. Twenty-three (14%) patients were admitted to the
      hospital for neutropenic fever. Five second malignancies have occurred after
      PAVe/RT only: one myelodysplastic syndrome, one acute myelogenous leukemia, one
      non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and two solid tumors including a case of non-small cell
      lung cancer and an in situ carcinoma of the cervix. Three patients died from
      myocardial infarction several years after the completion of treatment. These
      mature data show that PAVe/RT is effective and well-tolerated therapy for locally
      extensive stage II and IIIA/B HD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450065
TI  - Preclinical antitumour activity and animal toxicology studies of rhizoxin, a
      novel tubulin-interacting agent.
AB  - Rhizoxin is a 16-membered antifungal macrocyclic lactone isolated from the plant
      pathogenic fungus Rhizopus chinensis. The compound binds to tubulin, preventing
      microtubule formation, and inhibiting mitosis. It possesses antitumour activity
      in vivo against various preclinical murine models, both leukaemias and solid
      tumours model, as well as in vincristine- and doxorubicin-resistant leukaemia
      lines. In the present study, cytotoxic activity was observed in human tumour cell
      lines in vitro at very low concentrations (+/- 10(-10) M) particularly against
      melanoma, colon, renal, non-small cell and small cell lung cancer. In vivo
      antitumour activity was demonstrated in murine P388 and L1210 murine leukaemias,
      solid tumour models B16 melanoma and M5076 sarcoma, and in 5 out of 9 human solid
      tumour xenografts: LOX melanoma, MX-1 breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer
      A549, and small cell lung cancers LXFS 605 and LXFS 650. The absence of cross
      resistance to vinca alkaloids was confirmed in vivo against the vincristine
      resistant P388 leukaemia subline and the vincristine-resistant human small cell
      lung cancer LXFS 650. In addition, the antitumour activity of rhizoxin was
      improved by prolonged or repeated drug administration indicating a schedule
      dependency. In animal toxicology studies, transient changes in erythrocyte and
      leukocyte numbers, local phlebitis, diarrhea, and spermatogenic arrest were
      observed. The LD10 value of rhizoxin after a single intravenous injection was 2.8
      mg/kg (8.4 mg/m2). One-tenth of the mouse equivalent LD10 (0.84 mg/m2), the
      starting dose for clinical phase I studies, was considered to be safe in
      rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450066
TI  - Treatment of primary refractory or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in
      children.
AB  - Thirty-one intensively pretreated children with ALL in first bone marrow relapse
      or refractory to initial therapy were treated with a combination of intermediate
      dose Ara-C and idarubicin (IDA). Twenty-four patients (77%) achieved complete
      remission (CR), 8 patients relapsed early and 2 were removed from the study.
      Fourteen (45% of the original 31 patients) underwent bone marrow transplant (BMT)
      and 7 of them (22%) are still in continuous CR (CCR) with a median follow-up of
      18 months. These results confirm that it is possible to achieve CR even in ALL
      children who failed on an initial intensive regimen. Newer modalities of post
      remission therapy, especially for children lacking an HLA donor, should be
      considered.

PMID- 1450067
TI  - Metastatic breast cancer: higher versus low dose maintenance treatment when only
      a partial response or a no change status is obtained following doxorubicin
      induction treatment. An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study.

PMID- 1450068
TI  - Local treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma with intracavitary cytosine
      arabinoside and cisplatin.

PMID- 1450069
TI  - Ondansetron is not associated with vascular adverse events, thrombocytopenia or
      renal failure.

PMID- 1450070
TI  - Can ondansetron hydrochloride (Zofran) enhance the nephrotoxic potential of other
      drugs?

PMID- 1450071
TI  - Thyroid, pulmonary, and cardiac sequelae after treatment for Hodgkin's disease.
AB  - Modern therapy of Hodgkin's disease has produced the expectation of long-term
      survival for most patients. However, in the process of achieving the current
      success, a price has been paid in unwanted, delayed side effects. Apart from
      second malignancies and gonadal impairment, other adverse consequences can be
      identified. This paper will briefly summarize recent findings related to thyroid,
      pulmonary and cardiac dysfunction. Attention to treatment regimens and careful
      follow-up may help to prevent or manage these complications, which are uncommonly
      life-threatening. The desire to refine the treatment of Hodgkin's disease must
      not result in a reduction of the overall chance of cure.

PMID- 1450072
TI  - Second cancer after the treatment for Hodgkin's disease: a report from the
      International Database on Hodgkin's Disease.
AB  - Twenty institutions/cooperative groups tabulated second cancers among 12,411
      patients diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease between 1960 and 1987, giving 82,850
      person-years of observation. Overall, 631 second cancers were observed, as
      compared with 223.25 expected (observed (O) to expected (E) ratio 2.83, p <
      0.001) at least one year after the diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease. Second cancers
      were acute leukaemias (AL) in 158 cases as compared with 5.75 expected (O/E =
      27.48, p < 0.001), non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) in 106 cases as compared with
      3.34 expected (O/E = 31.77, p < 0.001), and solid tumors (ST) in 367 cases as
      compared with 214.16 expected (O/E = 1.71, p < 0.001), with no differences
      between males and females. Excess of ST was observed for the following anatomic
      sites: salivary gland, small intestine, colon, bronchus, pleura, bone, skin other
      than melanoma and thyroid in males; salivary gland, bronchus, pleura, skin other
      than melanoma and breast in females. While the excess of second AL and NHL was
      significant over the 1-14 year period after the start of initial therapy, that of
      second ST became apparent after the fifth year, increasing with time. Overall,
      the 15-year cumulative incidence rate of second cancer was 11.2%. It was 2.2%,
      1.8% and 7.5% for second AL, NHL and ST, respectively. While the cumulative
      incidence of AL and NHL plateaued after 17 years, that of ST was still
      increasing. To analyse whether a particular treatment category was associated
      with an increased risk of second cancer, a prognostic study was performed on the
      11,241 patients who achieved a complete remission and were continuously disease
      free. Overall, 87 patients developed an AL, 68 a NHL, and 231 a ST. Combined
      modality treatments including MOPP or MOPP-like chemotherapy were associated with
      the higher risk of second AL (Relative risk (RR) = 17.11; p < 0.001) followed by
      age above 50 (RR > 4.50; p < 0.001), advanced clinical stage (RR > 2.50; p <
      0.001), splenectomy (RR = 1.65; p < 0.05) and MOPP or MOPP-like chemotherapy used
      alone (RR = 2.20; p < 0.05). Factors associated with an increased risk of second
      NHL were age above 30 (RR > 3.5; p < 0.001), male gender (RR = 1.82; p < 0.05)
      and clinical stage III (RR = 1.70; p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1450073
TI  - Hodgkin's disease: quo vadis?

PMID- 1450074
TI  - Activation of cytokines in Hodgkin's disease.
AB  - The complex histological pattern in Hodgkin's disease and in part in large cell
      anaplastic lymphomas (ALCL) suggests that close interactions exist between the
      tumor cells and reactive bystander cells. These interactions are most likely
      mediated by short ranged cytokines. The production of cytokines was analyzed in
      primary tissues and cell lines from Hodgkin's disease and ALCL by enzyme linked
      immunosorbent tests (ELISA), Northern blotting, immunohistological staining and
      in situ hybridization experiments. Our results indicate that Hodgkin's disease
      derived cell lines produce a variety of cytokines, such as IL1 alpha, IL4, IL5,
      IL6, IL8, IL9, TNF alpha and TNF beta but not IL1 beta, IL2, IL3 and G-CSF. In
      addition, the receptors for IL6 were detected in some of the cell lines. The
      expression of IL6 and IL6 receptors and IL9 has been confirmed for some primary
      tissues of Hodgkin's disease. From our data, we conclude that IL6, IL9 and
      additional cytokines are involved in the biology of Hodgkin's disease and ALCL.

PMID- 1450075
TI  - Cell adhesion molecules in Hodgkin's disease.
AB  - The fact that Hodgkin's cells are capable of binding lymphocytes has been
      observed both in vivo and in vitro. It is not unexpected, therefore, that
      cultured Hodgkin's cells have been found to express a high number of adhesive
      sites, including representative molecules from various adhesion molecule
      families.

PMID- 1450076
TI  - Preliminary report: growth of Hodgkin's lymphoma derived cells in immune
      compromised mice.
AB  - Until now there has been no satisfactory animal host for the in vivo growth of
      Hodgkin lymphoma cells. With the exception of one mutant subline (L540Cy) none of
      the other Hodgkin derived cell lines nor Hodgkin's disease (HD) derived lymphatic
      tissue could be propagated in suitable animal systems such as the T-cell
      deficient nude mouse. Recently, the severe combined immunodeficient (SCID-) mouse
      has been demonstrated as a possible recipient for human lymphatic tissue. In the
      present study, we have evaluated the SCID mouse as a possible in vivo model for
      Hodgkin's lymphoma. I) We demonstrate that seven permanent cell lines derived
      from patients with Hodgkin's disease grow progressively in SCID mice after
      subcutaneous and intraperitoneal inoculation. II) In addition, after intravenous
      injection, two of these lines (L540, L540Cy) show a disseminated growth pattern
      resembling the distribution of HD cells in man (involvement of lymph nodes, liver
      and bone marrow but not of spleen). The observed reproducible disseminated tumor
      growth establishes the SCID mouse as a new animal model for experimental
      treatment strategies in Hodgkin's lymphoma. III) We present preliminary results
      of the transplantation of primary material from 13 patients with Hodgkin's
      disease. Material from two patients induced human tumors in the SCID mice
      recipients, whereas material from two others led to the induction of mouse
      lymphomas. The human tumors showed three distinct histological patterns: 1)
      Lymphoproliferative disease (LPD); 2) anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCL); 3)
      Hodgkin like lesions (HLL). In vitro cell lines established from human SCID mouse
      tumors were of B-lymphoid origin, were EBV-positive and showed numerical and some
      structural chromosomal aberrations of varying degree.

PMID- 1450077
TI  - Histopathological classification of Hodgkin's lymphomas. Results from the
      reference pathology of the German Hodgkin Trial.
AB  - Diagnostic biopsies of 1,140 previously untreated patients with Hodgkin's
      lymphoma from the German Hodgkin Therapy Trial were evaluated by a panel of 4
      histopathologists. Each case was classified by consensus of the four according to
      an extended Rye-System including the diversifying of NS.HD and the unclassifiable
      cases. The interobserver agreement rate was 92.1% among the panel members
      regarding the final classification. Primary Hodgkin diagnosis was approved in
      91.7% (1045/1140 cases). The distribution of the 1,140 cases within this system
      was (in %) as follows: 2.7 LP.HD, 57.9 NS.HD, 17.3 MC.HD, 0.7 LD.HD, 13 HD of
      unclassifiable subtypes, 6.3 of not certain HD, 1.9 Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, 1 case
      of non malignancy. Grading of NS.HD into 2 subgroups according to the British
      classification differed conspicuously by 84.5% versus 15.5% and 71.6% versus
      28.4% in British results. This divergency is explained by interobserver
      disagreement ranking from 43% to 85%.

PMID- 1450078
TI  - New concepts on histopathology of Hodgkin's disease.

PMID- 1450079
TI  - Controversies in the use of diagnostic staging laparotomy and splenectomy in the
      management of Hodgkin's disease.
AB  - Considerable controversy exists over the routine use of diagnostic staging
      laparotomy and splenectomy in the workup of patients with Hodgkin's disease. With
      the development of effective, and perhaps less toxic chemotherapy the need for
      staging laparotomy has somewhat decreased. In the United States it is still
      common to recommend surgical staging for early stage patients when the results
      influence the choice of treatment. Since 20%-30% of clinically staged (CS) IA-IIA
      and 35% of CS IB-IIB patients with Hodgkin's disease will have occult splenic or
      upper abdominal nodal involvement not detected by LAG, CT, MRI, or gallium
      imaging, staging laparotomy allows for selection of patients either to receive
      limited radiation therapy alone (most PS I-II patients) or chemotherapy with or
      without radiation (PS III). In Europe, Canada, and South America most patients
      are clinically staged without a laparotomy. Patients are selected for treatment
      with radiation therapy alone or for chemotherapy with or without radiation on the
      basis of clinical prognostic factors. This article details the current arguments
      for and against the use of staging laparotomy.

PMID- 1450080
TI  - Diagnostic imaging studies in patients with newly diagnosed Hodgkin's disease.
AB  - A variety of diagnostic imaging studies are used to evaluate patients with newly
      diagnosed Hodgkin's disease which provide important information to determine
      stage and guide patient management. The following will review the current status
      of diagnostic imaging studies as applied to evaluation of the thorax, abdomen and
      pelvis, with comment on areas under investigation.

PMID- 1450081
TI  - International Database on Hodgkin's Disease: a cooperative effort to determine
      treatment outcome.
AB  - In an effort to better determine the outcome of patients treated for Hodgkin's
      disease, twenty institutions/cooperative groups in the western world agreed in
      1988 to participate in the development of a large data base by sending data to be
      analyzed by a common statistical design. Data was obtained from both patients
      randomized on prospective trials and patients treated by standard protocol but
      not randomized. Overall statistics on 14,315 adult patients treated from the
      early 1960s to 1987 were collected. This data was first presented at the Paris
      International Workshop and Symposium held on June 28-30, 1989. The proceedings,
      published in 1990, include a detailed description of the data, and prognostic
      studies on laparotomy findings, response to initial therapy, relapse-free
      survival, overall survival, and secondary malignancies. The International
      Database on Hodgkin's Disease represents a compromise between two more classical
      approaches such as the use of randomized trials and metaanalyses. It should serve
      as a model for the study of other types of cancer. It has been successful because
      of interest, time, and the cooperation of physicians in academic centers from
      much of the western world.

PMID- 1450082
TI  - Current therapeutic strategies in Hodgkin's disease.

PMID- 1450083
TI  - Hodgkin's disease in 92 patients with HIV infection: the Italian experience.
      GICAT (Italian Cooperative Group on AIDS & Tumors).
AB  - Ninety-two cases of Hodgkin's disease (HD) in patients with HIV infection have
      been collected by the Italian Cooperative Group on AIDS and Tumors (G.I.C.A.T.).
      In accordance with the epidemiology of HIV infection in Italy, 82% were
      intravenous drug users (IVDU), 8% homosexual men, 5% IVDU+homosexuals and 5%
      heterosexuals. At diagnosis of HD, 16% had AIDS, 20% AIDS related complex (ARC),
      33% persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) and 31% were asymptomatic. Fifty
      three percent of the patients had stage IV disease and 70% mixed cellularity and
      lymphocytic depletion. Forty-six patients were treated with MOPP or MOPP [symbol:
      see text] ABVD +/- radiotherapy (zidovudine was not given) with complete
      remission (CR) in 54% and partial remission (PR) in 46% of the patients. Fifty
      six percent of these patients developed opportunistic infections (OI) during
      therapy or follow-up. Sixteen patients were treated with epirubicin, bleomycin
      and vinblastine (EBV) and concomitant zidovudine, with CR in 44% and PR in 38%.
      However, only one of these patients developed OI during therapy or follow-up. The
      clinico-pathological features and natural history of HD in HIV setting are
      peculiar and quite distinct from those observed in HD in the general population.
      Better combined chemotherapy and antiretroviral therapy is needed in order to
      ameliorate the CR rate and decrease the OI in patients with HIV infection and HD.

PMID- 1450085
TI  - Radiotherapy versus combined modality in early stages.
AB  - In early stage Hodgkin's disease the optimal choice of treatment for the
      individual patient is still an unresolved issue. So far, twenty-two randomized
      trials of radiotherapy alone versus radiotherapy plus combination chemotherapy
      have been carried out worldwide. The preliminary results of a global metaanalysis
      of these trials indicate that we still do not definitively know whether or not
      the addition of prophylactic chemotherapy up front improves survival. Arguments
      in favour of the addition of chemotherapy up front are: that laparotomy may be
      avoided, that radiation fields and doses may perhaps be reduced, and that the
      stress of experiencing a relapse is avoided in many patients. The major argument
      against the use of chemotherapy up front is: that by careful staging and
      selection of patients and by careful radiotherapy techniques the number of
      patients exposed to potentially toxic chemotherapy may be kept at a minimum.
      Recently, trials have been carried out testing chemotherapy alone. The results of
      these trials are however conflicting. In order not to jeopardize the good results
      achieved with the standard treatments developed over the last three decades,
      newer treatment approaches should be carefully tested in large randomized trials
      before being implemented for general clinical use.

PMID- 1450084
TI  - Treatment of children with Hodgkin's disease--results of the German Pediatric
      Oncology Group.
AB  - Six hundred sixty-seven children under age 16 were enrolled in 4 consecutive
      studies in West Germany between 1978 and 1990. These trials were mainly designed
      to reduce the long-term sequelae of high dose extended-field irradiation as well
      as the late effects of chemotherapy, in the context of combined modality
      treatment for all stages. Treatment concepts and results of studies HD-82, HD-85
      and HD-87 are presented here. Patients with stages IA/B and IIA were treated with
      2 cycles of OPPA (HD-82, n = 100) or OPA without procarbazine (HD-85, n = 53; HD
      87, n = 104), followed by involved field irradiation (IFI) using 35 Gy (HD-82, HD
      85) or 30 Gy (HD-87). Kaplan-Meier estimates (KME) for event-free survival
      (survival) at 4.5 years are 99% (100%) in HD-82, 85% (98%) in HD-85 and 88%
      (100%) in HD-87. Thus, 2 x OPPA is a highly effective chemotherapy eradicating
      occult microfoci in the non-irradiated adjacent fields, whereas 2 x OPA is less
      efficacious. Reduction of the radiation dose to 30 Gy (IFI) within the combined
      modality concept does not affect treatment outcome. About 30% of the boys treated
      with 2 x OPPA, but none of the girls and none of the boys treated without
      procarbazine (PC) showed elevated FSH-levels indicating gonadal dysfunction. No
      secondary leukemias and preleukemias were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1450086
TI  - NOVP and radiotherapy for early-staged Hodgkin's disease: an interim analysis.
AB  - Modern treatment plans for early staged Hodgkin's disease must focus on optimal
      disease-free survival results without laparotomy, minimal acute toxicity, and
      reduced long-term complications. We have treated 69 adult patients with stage I
      II Hodgkin's disease, 40 of whom had bulky disease, B symptoms, or hilar disease,
      and 22 with stage III disease with 3 cycles of NOVP (Novantrone, vincristine,
      vinblastine, prednisone) and radiotherapy. Only patients with stage III1 disease
      involving the celiac axis without para-aortic or pelvic involvement, had to
      undergo laparotomy prior to treatment. Three patients did not respond to NOVP:
      two of these did not respond to MOPP or ABDIC, and two are currently without
      relapse following bone marrow transplant. With a median follow-up of 18 months,
      62 with stage I-II and 19 with stage III remain without relapse, and 91 patients
      are alive. Tolerance to therapy was excellent with minimal nausea, myalgias, and
      alopecia. We conclude that this regimen for Hodgkin's disease provides good
      results for clinically staged I-III disease, but longer follow-up may demonstrate
      prognostic factors which will influence our results.

PMID- 1450087
TI  - Conceptual problems in relation to dose escalation in the first remission of
      Hodgkin's disease.
AB  - Autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) is now widely used as salvage
      therapy in Hodgkin's disease but its value will have to be finally proved by the
      use of randomised trials. However ABMT is now being used in first remission. The
      justification of this is based on the view that patients can be identified once
      remission is achieved who are at high risk of relapse and that these patients
      will be prevented from relapsing by high dose therapy and ABMT in first remission
      with an 'acceptable' procedure related toxicity. The choice of patients judged to
      be suitably poor risk is critical but unproven. The only report of ABMT in CR1
      yet published [1] is encouraging but can be criticised on a number of grounds.
      The incidence of procedure related mortality is a significant factor in
      determining the balance of any risk/benefit analysis. Randomised trials need to
      be undertaken but must identify the correct group of patients to avoid treating
      with high dose therapy those who may already have been cured by initial therapy.

PMID- 1450088
TI  - Autologous bone marrow transplantation for Hodgkin's disease.
AB  - Autologous bone marrow and/or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation is being
      performed increasingly frequently as a treatment for Hodgkin's disease. While
      patients with refractory disease can sometimes be cured, the results are better
      in patients who are still chemotherapy sensitive. The use of high dose therapy as
      part of the primary treatment for high risk patients is now being studied.

PMID- 1450089
TI  - Digitalis and heart failure: does digitalis really produce beneficial effects
      through a positive inotropic action?
AB  - Although digitalis was introduced to medicine long ago, the drug is still
      extensively used in clinical practice today. Opinions on its mechanism of action
      have undergone much change in the course of time, and the way in which
      cardiovascular effects are produced is still not completely clear. Limitations
      and contraindications for the use of digitalis substances are reported,
      especially in the treatment of ischemic heart disease. Preliminary data regarding
      the effects of digitalis on the diastolic phase are unfavorable, although the
      relationship between digitalis and diastolic function ought to be studied in
      greater depth in various clinical conditions. In spite of many recent trials, the
      old question of the usefulness of digitalis in the chronic treatment of patients
      in sinus rhythm and heart failure is still debated. An important clinical benefit
      in the chronic use of digitalis appears restricted to a relatively small
      proportion of patients with severe congestive heart failure, while in the
      majority of chronically treated subjects the effects of the drug are scanty or
      insignificant. The beneficial effect of digitalis used chronically is essentially
      believed to be due to its positive inotropic action. Since the vagomimetic and
      the antiadrenergic effects of digitalis have been demonstrated to be independent
      from its inotropic action, they could be considered determinants of the clinical
      benefits of digitalis. These indirect effects may be useful in the control of the
      negative neuroendocrine response developing during congestive heart failure. Thus
      the statement that digitalis is essentially an inotropic agent seems restrictive;
      its definition should reflect the favorable effects obtained in some cases of
      congestive heart failure rather than its various and contrasting underlying
      mechanisms of action.

PMID- 1450090
TI  - A comparison of the effects of captopril and flosequinan in patients with severe
      heart failure.
AB  - Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors have greatly improved the treatment of
      patients with chronic heart failure but they are not effective in all patients,
      and their use may be limited by side effects. There is, therefore, a need to
      investigate new drugs and to compare their efficacy with angiotensin converting
      enzyme inhibitors. Flosequinan is a new direct-acting vasodilator that has been
      shown to be effective in placebo-controlled studies. Patients with chronic heart
      failure in NYHA classes II or III who remained symptomatic despite at least 80 mg
      of frusemide daily were recruited from two centers. Following a single-blind
      placebo run-in period, the patients were randomized double blind to either the
      addition of captopril or flosequinan for 6 weeks. Following a further 2-week
      placebo washout period, they were then given the alternative treatment. Symptom
      limited treadmill exercise times, scores of perceived exertion, and corridor walk
      tests were measured at two weekly intervals during the study. Twenty-five
      patients entered the study, 16 of whom completed without a change in diuretic
      dose. Five patients were withdrawn while taking captopril and two while taking
      flosequinan; two were withdrawn during the placebo washout period. For those
      patients who completed the study, flosequinan increased treadmill exercise
      tolerance from a mean (SEM) placebo time of 11.5 (1.0) minutes by 2.4 (0.6) (p =
      0.0002) and captopril from 12.0 (0.8) minutes by 1.2 (0.6) minutes (p = 0.08).
      Comparison of the other measures of efficacy revealed no difference between the
      groups. In this short-term study flosequinan appeared to be equal in efficacy to
      captopril.

PMID- 1450091
TI  - A multicenter comparison of nicorandil and diltiazem on serum lipid,
      apolipoprotein, and lipoprotein levels in patients with ischemic heart disease.
AB  - The effects of nicorandil and diltiazem on serum lipid, apolipoprotein, and
      lipoprotein levels in 37 patients with ischemic heart disease were examined in a
      randomized, multicenter study. Nicorandil (n = 20, 10-40 mg/day, b.i.d.) and
      diltiazem (n = 17, 60-240 mg/day, b.i.d.) were administered for 12 weeks. Both
      nicorandil and diltiazem administration showed an effective antianginal effect.
      Diltiazem administration showed a significant hypotensive action. There were no
      significant changes in serum lipids, apolipoproteins, and lipoproteins for both
      nicorandil and diltiazem. There were no significant changes in body weight, uric
      acid, and fasting blood sugar levels during the test period for both drugs. These
      data show that nicorandil, like diltiazem, does not have any adverse effects on
      lipid metabolism and that it is a favorable drug to use as an agent for treating
      arteriosclerotic heart disease.

PMID- 1450092
TI  - Intravenous atenolol in elderly patients in the early phase of acute myocardial
      infarction.
AB  - The aim of this study was to assess the hemodynamic response to intravenous
      atenolol in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction. We studied 14
      elderly men, aged 64-85 years, and 14 younger men, aged 29-48 years, in the early
      postfibrinolytic phase of acute myocardial infarction. All the patients were in
      Killip class I. A triple-lumen Swan-Ganz thermodilution catheter was introduced
      into the right heart chambers. The patients received 5 mg intravenous atenolol
      over 5 minutes. All hemodynamic parameters were measured before and 10 minutes
      after atenolol. The hemodynamic characteristics and the location and extent of
      acute myocardial infarction were the same in both groups before atenolol. The
      hemodynamic changes after atenolol administration were the same in the two
      groups, but the stroke volume and cardiac indexes decreased to a greater extent
      in the elderly (p = .01 and p = .0001, respectively). These results indicate that
      intravenous atenolol in the early postfibrinolytic phase of acute myocardial
      infarction is safe in Killip class I elderly patients, although the cardiac and
      stroke volume indexes decrease, and the increase in the total systemic resistance
      is more in older than in younger patients.

PMID- 1450093
TI  - Antianginal effects of amlodipine at a single dose on exertional angina patients
      using treadmill exercise testing--a randomized crossover study in comparison with
      placebo.
AB  - With eight cases of stable exertional angina as subjects, the antianginal action
      and sustained effects of single 10 mg oral doses of new calcium antagonists
      amlodipine were assessed by treadmill exercise tests in randomized crossover
      trials with respect to a placebo. Exercise tests were conducted before as well as
      4, 8, and 24 hours after administration, and plasma amlodipine concentration was
      investigated at the same times. The maximal exercise time was 299 +/- 43 seconds
      before as compared with 346 +/- 49 seconds 4 hours after administration and 368
      +/- 50 seconds 8 hours after administration, a significant prolongation in each
      case (p < 0.01). Moreover, the exercise time elapsed until 1 mm of ST-segment
      depression, as well as the ST-segment depression measured at the same time, were
      both significantly improved as compared with the placebo results. The plasma
      amlodipine concentration reached a peak 8 hours after administration and
      displayed an effective level even 24 hours after administration. The value of
      delta PRP measured at the same time during the exercise test was also
      significantly reduced as compared with the placebo results, even 24 hours after
      administration of amlodipine. These findings supported the conclusion that single
      10-mg doses of amlodipine provide stable antianginal action over a 24-hour
      period.

PMID- 1450094
TI  - Comparison of effects of enalapril and captopril on serum potassium concentration
      in the treatment of malignant hypertension.
AB  - To compare the effects of enalapril and captopril on blood pressure, serum
      creatinine (S-Cr), and potassium (S-K) levels, patients with malignant
      hypertension treated with either 5-10 mg of enalapril (eight cases) or 75-400 mg
      of captopril (eight cases) were investigated retrospectively. After 2 weeks of
      treatment, the average blood pressure fell from 214/138 to 132/89 mmHg on
      enalapril and from 240/145 to 147/95 mmHg on captopril. The percent change in
      mean blood pressure during the 2 weeks of treatment with enalapril (-35.6 +/- 4.0
      SE%) was similar to that with captopril (-35.8 +/- 2.8%). S-Cr did not change in
      both groups, while S-K increased significantly from 3.9 +/- 0.2 to 5.2 +/- 0.2
      mEq/l on enalapril and from 3.6 +/- 0.2 to 4.2 +/- 0.1 mEq/l on captopril. S-K at
      the second week was significantly higher in the enalapril than in the captopril
      group. The maximum S-Cr concentration during the treatment was correlated with
      the corresponding S-K concentration similarly in both groups. These results
      indicate that both enalapril and captopril increase S-K without deterioration of
      renal function in patients with malignant hypertension and that the way these
      drugs are used in clinical practice may be more likely to result in elevated S-K
      with enalapril.

PMID- 1450095
TI  - Inhibition of platelet accumulation by beta 1-adrenoceptor blockade in the
      thoracic aorta of rabbits subjected to experimental sympathetic activation.
AB  - Arterial platelet adhesion is an initiating event in the thrombo-embolic
      complications of atherosclerosis and may also accelerate the development rate of
      atherosclerotic lesions. Psychosocial stress has been shown to accelerate
      atherogenesis in animals, an effect probably mediated via beta-adrenoceptor
      activation. In view of the postulated roles of platelets and beta-adrenoceptor
      activation in atherosclerosis development, we decided to test whether beta
      blockade affects arterial platelet accumulation. We studied the accumulation of
      radioactivity from 111In-labelled platelets on the wall of the thoracic aorta of
      rabbits as a measure of platelet accumulation. During the exposure to the
      labelled platelets, the animals were also exposed to 3 hours of chloralose
      anesthesia. This is a reproducible model of experimental sympathetic activation,
      including beta-adrenoceptor activation, which we used to amplify possible effects
      of beta-blockade on platelet-vessel wall interaction. The effectiveness of the
      anesthesia in increasing sympathetic activity was verified by significant rises
      in mean arterial blood pressure (from 77 to 88 mmHg), heart rate (190 to 290
      bpm), and plasma levels of norepinephrine (1.0 to 3.3 nM) and epinephrine (0.13
      to 0.83 nM). In chloralose anesthetized rabbits, approximately 30 x 10(-9)% of
      the injected 111In accumulated in each square millimeter of intima at unbranched
      thoracic aorta. Platelet accumulation was significantly higher at arterial
      branching points, 70% higher at intercostal artery bifurcations, and 150% higher
      at coronary artery bifurcations than in unbranched aortic intima. Pretreatment
      with metoprolol in a dose resulting in "therapeutic" plasma levels significantly
      reduced platelet accumulation by 48% in unbranched aorta, 65% at intercostal, and
      53% at coronary artery bifurcations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450096
TI  - Comparative class 1 electrophysiologic and anticholinergic effects of
      disopyramide and its main metabolite (mono-N-dealkylated disopyramide) in healthy
      humans.
AB  - During steady-state treatment with disopyramide, its main and active metabolite,
      mono-N-dealkylated disopyramide, was reported to reach concentrations that were
      equal to or higher than the parent drug in 25% of 70 evaluated patients. This
      metabolite has been found to have a more pronounced anticholinergic action than
      the parent drug on in vitro evaluation, but neither its anticholinergic nor its
      direct electrophysiologic effects on the human heart have been properly assessed.
      We therefore compared the acute electrophysiologic and anticholinergic effects
      (the standard being atropine, 0.04 mg/kg) of disopyramide and its main
      metabolite, given 2 mg/kg body weight intravenously to 10 healthy individuals in
      a double-blind, randomized, crossover design. The anticholinergic effect of these
      substances on sinus and atrioventricular node function was unexpectedly found to
      be of similar magnitude and more pronounced than previously thought (at least one
      third the effects of the atropine dose). The class 1 electrophysiologic effects
      were as follows: intra-atrial and His-Purkinje conduction (the PA and the HV
      interval, respectively) was prolonged 33% (95% CI: 18-47%) and 27% (21-32%) by
      disopyramide, and 15% (10-19%) and 13% (10-17%), respectively, by the metabolite.
      Disopyramide also prolonged the QRS, JT, and QT intervals by 15% (9-21%), 10% (8
      13%), and 10% (7-12%), respectively. The metabolite caused a 9% (7-12%)
      prolongation of the QRS interval (significantly less than disopyramide), but
      shortened repolarization (as reflected by the JT interval) by -7% (-2 to -11%; p
      < 0.01), which is similar to the acute effects of lidocaine 2 mg/kg body
      weight.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450097
TI  - Stimulation of peroxidative reactions by a high dose of allopurinol in the rat
      myocardium.

PMID- 1450098
TI  - Effects of celiprolol on cardiovascular responses to smoking in normotensive
      smokers.

PMID- 1450099
TI  - Half-squaring in responses of cat striate cells.
AB  - Simple cells in striate cortex have been depicted as rectified linear operators,
      and complex cells have been depicted as energy mechanisms (constructed from the
      squared sums of linear operator outputs). This paper discusses two essential
      hypotheses of the linear/energy model: (1) that a cell's selectivity is due to an
      underlying (spatiotemporal and binocular) linear stage; and (2) that a cell's
      firing rate depends on the squared output of the underlying linear stage. This
      paper reviews physiological measurements of cat striate cell responses, and
      concludes that both of these hypotheses are supported by the data.

PMID- 1450100
TI  - Electrophysiological sensitivity of carotenoid deficient and replaced Drosophila.
AB  - R1-6 dominated electroretinographic (ERG) spectral sensitivities were determined
      as a function of days posteclosion from carotenoid deprived and replaced white
      eyed Drosophila. The sensitivity of flies deprived from egg to adult waxed (about
      1.5 log units by day 3), and then waned gradually from 3-11 days (over 2 log
      units by day 11). Carotenoid replacement (feeding nothing but carrot juice)
      effected recovery to near the replete controls' level in about 1 day throughout
      (tested at 0, 4, and 11 days). The normal yellow cornmeal-agar-molasses-brewers
      yeast fly food (in our laboratory, supplemented with beta-carotene) renders a
      slower recovery (requiring 7-9 days) since it is a medium designed largely for
      larval growth. Placing replete adults on deprivational medium did not create a
      deprivational syndrome in over 11 days. At 3-7 days, deprived flies reared and
      maintained in constant darkness had substantially enhanced sensitivity, beyond
      the 1.5 log unit increment already described for cyclic light rearing conditions.
      All spectral analyses are consistent with the ultraviolet (UV) sensitization of
      the blue (480 nm) rhodopsin by a replacement-dependent retinoid including two
      unexpected findings: (1) sensitivity recovery with carrot juice was so fast that
      the UV peak was already high at 6 h; and (2) the waxing of the deprived fly's
      sensitivity in dark rearing was so great that the UV peak was present at 4-7
      days.

PMID- 1450101
TI  - Monocular enucleation reduces immunoreactivity to the calcium-binding protein
      calbindin 28 kD in the rhesus monkey lateral geniculate nucleus.
AB  - The calcium-binding proteins calbindin (CaBP) and parvalbumin (PV) are important
      in regulating intracellular calcium in brain cells. PV immunoreactivity is
      reduced by enucleation in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and by enucleation
      and visual deprivation in the striate cortex of adult monkeys. The effects of
      enucleation and visual deprivation on CaBP immunoreactivity in the LGN are not
      known. We therefore have studied cells and neuropil in the LGN that are labeled
      by antibodies to CaBP in normal and visually deprived Rhesus monkeys to determine
      if there is an effect on this calcium-binding protein. One group of monkeys had
      one eye removed 2 weeks to 4.3 years before sacrifice. A second group had one eye
      occluded with opaque lenses from infancy without enucleation. A final group had
      one eye occluded long-term followed by short-term enucleation 2 weeks before
      sacrifice. In normal monkeys, CaBP-immunoreactive neurons were found throughout
      the LGN. They were sparsely distributed within the six main laminae, and more
      densely distributed within layer S and the interlaminar zones (ILZ). The labeled
      ILZ neurons had a distinct morphology, with fusiform somata and elaborate
      dendritic trees that were confined primarily to the ILZ. Most CaBP-labeled
      neurons in the main layers had dendrites that radiated in all directions from the
      soma. ILZ and main layer cells labeled by CaBP thus probably represent two
      different cell types. Monocular enucleation with or without occlusion produced a
      significant reduction in antibody labeling in the deafferented laminae. Field
      measures revealed an average 11.5% reduction in optical density in each
      deafferented lamina compared to its adjacent, nondeprived layer. The differences
      in field optical density between deprived and nondeprived layers were
      statistically significant. CaBP neurons were still visible, but the optical
      density of antibody labeling in these cells also was reduced. Occlusion without
      enucleation had no effect. Thus, deafferentation, but not light deprivation,
      reduces concentrations of CaBP in monkey LGN. This effect is different than that
      seen in striate cortex of adult monkeys, where visual deprivation as well as
      enucleation alters CaBP immunoreactivity.

PMID- 1450102
TI  - A circadian clock in the Limulus brain transmits synchronous efferent signals to
      all eyes.
AB  - A circadian clock in the brain of the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, has an
      important role in the function of the peripheral visual system. At night, the
      clock transmits neural activity to the lateral, ventral, and median eyes via
      efferent optic nerve fibers. The activity occurs in synchronous bursts (maximum
      rate of 2 bursts/s) with individual efferent fibers contributing a single spike
      in each burst. The circadian efferent activity originates in the protocerebrum.
      Lateral connections synchronize the efferent activity recorded from the two
      halves of the protocerebrum, suggesting the existence of bilateral circadian
      oscillators. Circadian efferent activity survives excision of the brain and
      isolation of the protocerebrum. We conclude that circadian clock and its complex
      neural circuitry are fundamental components of the Limulus visual system.

PMID- 1450103
TI  - Direction selectivity of cells in the cat's striate cortex: differences between
      bar and grating stimuli.
AB  - We have investigated the notion that directional responses of cells in the visual
      cortex depend on the type of stimulus used to drive the cell. Specifically, we
      have asked if sinusoidal gratings provide a different estimate of direction
      selectivity than bars that are brighter or darker than the background. Using
      standard techniques, we recorded from 176 cells in the visual cortex of nine
      cats. For each cell, bright bars, dark bars, and sinusoidal gratings were
      presented in a randomly interleaved fashion. Complex cells exhibited around twice
      as many direction-selective as nondirection-selective responses. Estimates of
      direction selectivity were nearly identical for bright and dark bars and for
      gratings. For simple cells, a similar ratio of direction-selective to
      nondirection-selective responses was observed for gratings. However, a larger
      proportion of simple cells were classified as direction selective when bars were
      used for stimulation. A simple cell that exhibited direction selectivity to a
      grating behaved in a similar manner when stimulated with bright or dark bars.
      However, in contrast to complex cells, some simple cells classed as directionally
      nonselective on the basis of their responses to gratings, displayed directionally
      selective behavior to bars. In addition, the preferred directions for dark and
      bright bars sometimes differed. These results demonstrate that the classification
      of a simple cell as directionally selective or nonselective can depend critically
      on the visual stimulus used.

PMID- 1450104
TI  - The effect of contrast on the visual response of lagged and nonlagged cells in
      the cat lateral geniculate nucleus.
AB  - The response vs. contrast characteristics of different cell classes in the dorsal
      lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) were compared. The luminance of a stationary
      flashing light spot was varied stepwise while the background luminance was
      constant. Lagged X cells had lower slope of the response vs. contrast curve
      (contrast gain), and they reached the midpoint of the response range over which
      the cells' response varied (dynamic response range) at higher contrast than
      nonlagged X cells. These results indicated that nonlagged cells are well suited
      for detection of small contrasts, whereas lagged cells may discriminate between
      contrasts over a larger range. The contrast gain and the contrast corresponding
      to the midpoint of the dynamic response range were similar for X and Y cells. The
      latency to onset and to half-rise of the visual response decreased with
      increasing contrast, most pronounced for lagged cells. Even at the highest
      contrasts, the latency of lagged cells remained longer than for nonlagged cells.
      For many lagged cells, the latency to half-fall decreased with increasing
      contrast. It is shown that the differences in the response vs. contrast
      characteristics between lagged and nonlagged X cells in the cat are similar to
      the differences between the parvocellular and magnocellular neurones in the
      monkey.

PMID- 1450105
TI  - Changes in fiber organization within the chiasmatic region of mammals.

PMID- 1450106
TI  - Steady discharges of X and Y retinal ganglion cells of cat under photopic
      illuminance.
AB  - The discharges of ON- and OFF-center X and Y retinal ganglion cells in the
      presence of stationary patterns or of a uniform field of photopic luminance were
      recorded from urethane-anesthetized adult cats. The interval statistics and power
      spectra of these discharges were determined from these discharge records. The
      patterned stimuli were selected and positioned with respect to a cell's receptive
      field so as to generate steady discharges that were different in mean discharge
      rate from that cell's discharge for the diffuse field. The interval statistics of
      discharges recorded for diffuse or patterned illumination for all cell types can
      be modeled, approximately, as coming from renewal processes with gamma
      distributed intervals. The gamma order of the interval distributions was found to
      be nearly proportional to the mean discharge rate for X cells, but not for Y
      cells. Typical values for the gamma orders and their dependence on mean rate for
      different cell types are given. The same model of a renewal process with gamma
      distributed intervals is used to model the measured power spectra and performs
      well. When the gamma order is proportional to mean rate, the power spectral
      density at low temporal frequencies is independent of discharge rate. Gamma order
      was proportional to mean rate for X cells but not for Y cells. Nonetheless, the
      power spectral densities of both cell types at low frequencies were approximately
      independent of discharge rate. Hence, noise in this band of frequencies can be
      considered additive. The consequences of departures from the renewal process and
      of the gamma order not being proportional to mean rate are considered. The
      significance of different rates of discharge for signaling is discussed.

PMID- 1450107
TI  - The relative time course of axonal loss from the optic nerve of the developing
      guinea pig is consistent with that of other mammals.
AB  - The relative timing of a number of events during the development of the visual
      system has recently been suggested to be consistent across a number of mammalian
      species (Dreher & Robinson, 1988). Some conflicting reports, however, had
      suggested that the precocial guinea pig might represent an exception to the
      generalized scheme. A quantitative study was thus carried out on the development
      of the optic nerve and retina of the guinea pig. Consistent with the prediction
      of a stable relative time course of mammalian visual development, axons and
      growth cones were found in the optic stalk from the 24th postconceptional day
      (40% of the period from conception to eye opening--the cecal period), the peak
      number of axons was observed on the 32nd postconceptional day (56% of the cecal
      period), and the phase of rapid axonal loss extended to the 39th and 42nd
      postconceptional days (68-74% of the cecal period). The number of axons in the
      adult optic nerve (117,000) represented about 37% of the peak number of axons.
      Additional observations indicated that during development of the optic nerve the
      mean axonal diameter increased approximately threefold from 0.31 microns to 1.06
      microns. As in other mammals studied so far, myelination was first noted after
      the period of rapid axonal loss and continued until in the adult 97% of axons
      were found to be myelinated. In the retina, the presence of pyknotic profiles in
      the ganglion cell layers extends throughout the periods of loss of the optic
      nerve axons. Finally, the presence of pyknotic profiles in the amacrine sublayer
      suggest that in the guinea pig, as in other mammalian species, there is a loss of
      displaced amacrine cells as well as ganglion cells from the ganglion cell layer.

PMID- 1450108
TI  - Motion defined exclusively by second-order characteristics does not evoke
      optokinetic nystagmus.
AB  - We showed high-contrast, second-order motion stimuli to subjects whilst recording
      their horizontal eye movements. These stimuli were very poor at evoking
      optokinetic nystagmus. Smooth-pursuit eye movements and fixation were reduced by
      a masking band +/- 2.5 deg above and below an imaginary fixation point. First
      order stimuli evoked vigorous optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) under identical
      conditions and also when matched for apparent contrast. These findings are
      discussed in terms of the site of detection of second-order motion.

PMID- 1450109
TI  - The Limulus-eye view of the world.
AB  - The compound lateral eye of the adult horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, views
      the world with approximately 1000 ommatidia. Their optical properties and
      orientation determine the eye's resolution, field of view, and light collecting
      ability. Optic axes of adjacent ommatidia diverge from 1-15 deg with an average
      value of 5.5 deg yielding an average resolution of 0.1 cycles/deg. Resolution is
      not uniform across the eye: along horizontal planes, it is maximal in the
      anterior region of the eye (0.22 cycle/deg) and minimal in the posterior region
      (0.07 cycle/deg); along vertical planes, it is maximal near or just below the
      horizon (0.23 cycle/deg) and minimal above the horizon (0.04 cycle/deg). Together
      the ommatidia of one eye view approximately 60% of the hemispheric world on one
      side of the body. There is little binocular overlap (< 1% of total field).
      Ommatidial facets of up to 320 microns in diameter (among the largest known in
      the animal kingdom) make the eye a superb light collector. Limulus are known to
      use vision to find mates both day and night. Apparently, the optics of the
      lateral eye sample a large enough part of the world with sufficient resolution
      and light-collecting ability for the animal to succeed at this essential task.

PMID- 1450110
TI  - Visual responsiveness and direction selectivity of cells in area 18 during local
      reversible inactivation of area 17 in cats.
AB  - We have investigated the effects of inactivation of localized sites in area 17 on
      the visual responses of cells in visuotopically corresponding regions of area 18.
      Experiments were performed on adult normal cats. The striate cortex was
      inactivated by the injection of nanoliters of lidocaine hydrochloride or of gamma
      aminobutyric acid (GABA) dissolved in a staining solution. Responses of the
      simple and complex cells of area 18 to optimally oriented light and dark bars
      moving in the two directions of motion were recorded before, during, and after
      the drug injection. Two main effects are described. First, for a substantial
      number of cells, the drug injection provoked an overall reduction of the cell's
      visual responses. This nonspecific effect largely predominated in the complex
      cell family (76% of the units affected). This effect is consistent with the
      presence of long-range excitatory connections in the visual cortex. Second, the
      inactivation of area 17 could affect specific receptive-field properties of cells
      in area 18. The main specific effect was a loss of direction selectivity of a
      number of cells in area 18, mainly in the simple family (more than 53% of the
      units affected). The change in direction selectivity comes either from a
      disinhibitory effect in the nonpreferred direction or from a reduction of
      response in the preferred direction. It is proposed that the disinhibitory
      effects were mediated by inhibitory interneurones within area 18. In a very few
      cases, the change of directional preference was associated with a modification of
      the cell's response profile. These results showed that the signals from area 17
      are necessary to drive a number of units in area 18, and that area 17 can
      contribute to, or at least modulate, the receptive-field properties of a large
      number of cells in the parastriate area.

PMID- 1450111
TI  - ATP-independent deactivation of squid rhodopsin.
AB  - Deactivation of light-activated squid rhodopsin was studied in vitro using GTP
      gamma S binding by G-protein as a direct measure of rhodopsin activity.
      Deactivation was inhibited by dilution of the retinal suspension or by removal of
      soluble components. Deactivation could be restored by addition of soluble
      material to washed membranes. These results indicate that the deactivation is not
      due entirely to a conformational transition within rhodopsin itself, but depends
      on the interaction with other molecules. The possibility that phosphorylation is
      involved in the deactivation was studied. Deactivation occurred in the presence
      and absence of added ATP. Deactivation also occurred in the presence of kinase
      inhibitors and after addition of apyrase, which reduced residual ATP levels to
      below 1 microM. These results indicate that light-induced phosphorylation is not
      required for deactivation of squid rhodopsin. In this regard deactivation of
      squid rhodopsin is different from that of vertebrate rhodopsin, which requires
      phosphorylation.

PMID- 1450112
TI  - Morphogenesis of retinal ganglion cells during formation of the fovea in the
      Rhesus macaque.
AB  - The morphology of retinal ganglion cells within the central retina during
      formation of the fovea was examined in retinal explants with horseradish
      peroxidase histochemistry. A foveal depression was first apparent in retinal
      wholemounts at embryonic day 112 (E112; gestational term is approximately 165
      days). At earlier fetal ages, the site of the future fovea was identified by
      several criteria that included peak density of ganglion cells, lack of blood
      vessels in the inner retinal layers, arcuate fiber bundles, and the absence of
      rod outer segments in the photoreceptor layer. Prior to E112, the terminal
      dendritic arbor of retinal ganglion cells within the central retina extended into
      the inner plexiform layer and were located directly beneath their somas of origin
      or at most were slightly displaced from it. For example, at E90 the mean
      horizontal displacement of the geometric center of the dendritic arbor from the
      somas of cells within 600 microns of the estimated center of the future fovea was
      4.1 microns (S.D. 2.7, range 1.0-10.0, n = 97). Following formation of the foveal
      depression the dendritic arbors of cells were significantly displaced from their
      somas. For example, at E138 the mean displacement was 41.2 microns (S.D. 12.2,
      range 12.0-56.0, n = 97). The displacement of the dendritic arbor which occurred
      during this period was not accounted for by areal growth of the dendritic arbor,
      the somas, or the retina, but was produced by the lengthening of the primary
      dendritic trunk. Moreover, no significant displacement was observed within the
      remaining 1.5-6.5 mm of the central retina. These observations provide evidence
      supporting early speculations that the formation of the foveal pit occurs, in
      part, by the radial migration of ganglion cells from the center of the fovea
      during its formation. Our analyses suggest that this migration occurs by the
      lengthening of the primary dendrite presumably by the addition of membrane. This
      migration is in a direction opposite to the inward movement of photoreceptors
      that occurs during late fetal and early postnatal periods (Packer et al., 1990,
      Journal of Comparative Neurology 298, 472-493).

PMID- 1450113
TI  - Spectral sensitivity of monocularly deprived cats.
AB  - The reports of rod-dominated psychophysical spectral sensitivity from the
      deprived eye of monocularly lid-sutured (MD) monkeys are intriguing but difficult
      to reconcile with the absence of any reported deprivation effects in retina. As
      most studies of MD retina have been from cat, we have examined psychophysically
      the increment threshold spectral sensitivity of MD cats using both reaction time
      and simultaneous two-choice behavioral procedures. Although the deprived eyes
      exhibited an absolute increment threshold sensitivity deficit, both rod and cone
      spectral sensitivity functions were obtained on large white backgrounds. This
      normal transition from rod to cone vision, as background luminance increased, was
      also found in threshold vs. intensity functions. Using their deprived eye, some
      cats exhibited a rod spectral sensitivity function when a smaller, normally
      photopic, background was used providing some support for a hypothesis that the
      rod-dominated spectral sensitivity observed in monkey may represent detection of
      scattered stimulus light. Alternatively monocular deprivation may reveal a rod
      dominated mechanism which exists in monkey but not in cat.

PMID- 1450114
TI  - Innovators develop solid state lasers for refractive surgery.

PMID- 1450115
TI  - An independent evaluation of second generation suction microkeratomes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Microkeratome designs for lamellar refractive surgery have changed
      significantly in recent years. Three microkeratome systems (Automatic Corneal
      Shaper (Steinway Instrument Company, Inc, San Diego, Calif), Draeger Lamellar
      Keratome (Storz Instrument GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany), and Microprecision test
      model (Microprecision Instrument Company, Inc, Phoenix, Ariz) were subjected to a
      concurrent and independent evaluation. METHODS: Three types of keratectomies
      (primary superficial stromal, secondary intrastromal, and primary deep stromal)
      were performed under identical conditions in human cadaver eyes. The resected
      discs and the beds were observed for uniformity, accuracy, centering, and
      smoothness. Scanning electron microscopy of the corneal beds and cutting blades
      was done. RESULTS: The three systems produced irregular surfaces with chatter
      lines that appeared least rough with the Draeger rotating machine. The average
      primary and secondary section diameters were undersized by 10% in all three
      systems. The average primary keratectomy thickness was more accurate with
      Steinway, but the variability was over 20 microns in all three systems. Regarding
      the average secondary keratectomy thickness, Steinway tended to cut thicker,
      whereas Draeger and Microprecision tended to cut thinner than attempted. The
      Draeger blade presented the smoothest edge. CONCLUSIONS: All three systems need
      substantial improvements to produce more accurate, reproducible, and smooth
      resections. More reliable methods to accurately measure the thickness of the
      resected cornea should be developed.

PMID- 1450116
TI  - Predicting visual performance following excimer photorefractive keratectomy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A duplex optical image is created when the ablation zone formed by
      excimer photorefractive keratectomy is smaller than the entrance pupil. Visual
      performance and secondary effects are analyzed using a theoretical model of the
      optical image. METHODS: A point-spread function having a centered in-focus
      component surrounded by an annular out-of-focus component is calculated from
      pupil size, ablation size, refractive error, and photoreceptor directional
      sensitivity. The line-spread, edge-spread, and optical transfer functions are
      derived. RESULTS: In the line- and edge-spread functions, secondary maxima and
      curvilinear ramps are most evident with low refractive errors. The half-height
      widths of the point- and line-spread functions change little. The optical
      transfer function is reduced in proportion to the distribution of light between
      the image components. CONCLUSIONS: Stable point and line half-height widths
      explain why Snellen visual acuity is insensitive to annular blur. Contrast
      sensitivity correlates with symptoms of haze and fog. Halos and ghost images are
      associated with secondary optical maxima and curvilinear ramps. Neither visual
      acuity nor contrast sensitivity can predict halos or ghost images. Halos and
      ghost images will be most prevalent in low illumination and for low refractive
      corrections. High refractive errors will produce fewer visual side effects than
      low refractive errors.

PMID- 1450117
TI  - Silicon cast method for quantification of photoablation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Topometry and measurement of photoablation patterns are key questions
      for keratorefractive photoablation. Ablation rates have been determined
      previously by either tissue perforation or by micrometry performed on histologic
      sections. METHODS: A three-dimensional cast of cornea after irradiation was made
      by using a two-component silicon gel that polymerizes within minutes, thus
      preserving the corneal topography immediately after photoablation. Polymerization
      is athermal and nontoxic. The resulting silicon blocks were cut perpendicularly
      to the anterior surface and measured by calibrated light microscopy. RESULTS: The
      silicon surface is extremely smooth and the accuracy of the cast is better than
      0.25 micron. Reproducibility and long-term stability were demonstrated for casts
      of photoablated polymethylmethacrylate. Thus, ablation rates and profile,
      volumetry, and topometry can be determined following laser ablation. The method
      has been applied for 193-nanometer excimer laser in vitro irradiation of the
      human cornea. Ablation rates in Bowman's layer and stroma for various radiant
      energies and distinct pulse numbers were found to be in agreement with published
      data, and an incubation effect for the first laser pulses could be demonstrated.
      CONCLUSIONS: The method is nondestructive, accurate, inexpensive, practical, and
      reduces requirements for laboratory animals.

PMID- 1450118
TI  - A comparison of excimer laser (308 nm) ablation of the human lens nucleus in air
      and saline with a fiber optic delivery system.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Photoablation with excimer lasers has demonstrated precise tissue
      cutting and minimal thermal damage. Potential ophthalmic applications of these
      lasers include remodelling of the corneal surface, glaucoma treatment, and
      phacoablation. Ablation of human lens with a 308 nm XeCl excimer laser light
      delivered through a fiber has been demonstrated in preliminary experiments.
      Intraocular delivery of laser light must be done in a fluid medium to preserve
      the integrity of ocular structures. However, little information is available on
      the effect of the fluid media on the ablation process. Therefore, a series of
      experiments was conducted to determine whether the ablation of human lens nucleus
      at 308 nm via a fiber differs in air and saline media. METHODS: Ablation of human
      lens nuclei (n = 30) was conducted with a XeCI excimer laser (308 nm) coupled to
      a 600 microns core size fiber. Irradiation was performed at 2.8 mJ/cm2 energy
      density and 20 Hz. The fiberoptic was brought to contact with the lens nucleus
      and remained fixed for the duration of irradiation. Variables consisted of the
      medium (air or saline) and number of pulses delivered (100 to 10,000). Following
      establishment of the tissue shrinkage ratio, the depth of each crater and the
      tissue volume removed were measured histologically. The histological features of
      nucleus ablation in air and in saline were also examined with both light and
      scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: Light microscopy revealed that the average
      zone of thermal damage adjacent to the crater is thinner in the presence of
      saline (60 microns, SD = 6 microns) than it is in air (90 microns, SD = 12
      microns). In both media, the thickness of the zone of thermal damage is greater
      at the surface than it is at its base. Following irradiation in air, deep
      sharpedged craters with smooth walls are formed. Craters formed by irradiation in
      saline are characterized by reduced depth and irregular walls. For the same
      number of pulses applied (500, 1000, and 2000), the mean depth of ablation per
      pulse in air (8.6 to 2.7 microns/pulse) was greater by approximately a factor of
      two than that in saline (4.10 to 1.30 microns/pulse) at P < .01. However, the
      mean ablated volume removed per pulse was greater in saline (0.00250 to 0.00150
      mm3/pulse) than in air (0.00120 to 0.00080 mm3/pulse), for the same number of
      pulses (1000, 2000) at P < .01. CONCLUSIONS: In comparing the data for the same
      number of pulses applied in air and in saline, it appears that the depth of
      crater formed by irradiation in air is deeper than that in fluid. The overall
      volume ablated is greater in fluid than it is in air at 1000 and 2000 pulses.
      Additionally, the zone of thermal damage is thinner in the presence of saline
      than it is in air. Smoother crater shapes were observed following irradiation in
      air than in saline. These results suggest that under this specific experimental
      setup, the ablation in saline is different from that in air.

PMID- 1450119
TI  - Pneumococcal infection after temporary tarsorrhaphy for epikeratophakia.

PMID- 1450120
TI  - Corneal wound healing after excimer laser ablation in rabbits: expanding versus
      contracting apertures.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Photorefractive keratectomy for myopia can be performed using an
      expanding or contracting iris diaphragm, either of which allows for greater
      ablation centrally and less tissue ablation toward the edge of the treatment
      zone. METHODS: To compare the effects of these two strategies, eight rabbits
      underwent bilateral 5.00-diopter myopic ablations, performed with a contracting
      diaphragm in one eye and an expanding diaphragm in the other. RESULTS: The rate
      of epithelial healing and degree of anterior stromal haze, monitored by a masked
      observer, were similar for the two groups, as was the amount of corneal
      flattening. CONCLUSIONS: These results in rabbit corneas do not suggest a
      particular advantage of either the expanding or contracting apertures for
      achieving central corneal flattening in photorefractive keratectomy.

PMID- 1450121
TI  - Modified surgical technique for repeated epikeratophakia surgery in aphakic eyes.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Incomplete epithelial removal from the peripheral keratectomy at the
      time of repeat epikeratophakia surgery can lead to interface downgrowth and
      consequent failure, as observed in the case reported herein. We present a
      modification of the standard surgical technique aimed at avoiding such
      complication. METHODS: A 69-year-old white female underwent a third aphakic
      epikeratophakia modified to reduce the risk of epithelial interface downgrowth,
      which had caused a previous failure. The aphakic tissue lens, 8.5 mm in diameter,
      was sutured into a corneal pocket obtained at a deeper level, inside the
      peripheral keratectomy used for the previous two procedures. RESULTS: Useful
      visual acuity (20/60) was obtained and the refractive outcome remained stable up
      to 1 year postoperatively. Epithelial interface downgrowth did not recur.
      CONCLUSIONS: Despite the possible risk of perforation while undermining the
      recipient cornea at a deeper level, the modified technique might offer a more
      effective method of preventing epithelial downgrowth after repeat epikeratophakia
      surgery.

PMID- 1450122
TI  - Facilitation of ab interno radial keratotomy by air keratoplasty.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Ab interno radial keratotomy is a keratorefractive procedure with
      radial incisions made by externalizing a blade inserted in the deep stroma. A
      major limitation of the procedure is the technical inability to establish a safe
      pre-Descemetic stromal entry of the blade with subsequent suboptimal depth of the
      radial incisions. A technique to delineate Descemet's membrane was investigated
      to obtain deeper incisions with the ab interno radial keratotomy. METHODS: Air
      was injected with a 30-gauge needle mounted on a 3-milliliter syringe and
      entering the deep stroma at the limbus in human donor eyes. The injection was
      done in a pulse fashion with the needle tip advanced 3 mm away from the limbus.
      Ab interno radial keratotomy was then performed with and without air injection.
      RESULTS: Bubbles were localized to the pre-Descemet region. The depth of the
      radial keratotomy incisions increased from 57.7% (SD = 11.5%) without air
      injection, to 83.0% (SD = 10.6%) with air injection. CONCLUSIONS: Deep stromal
      air injection delineates the pre-Descemet space, allowing deeper radial incisions
      with the ab interno radial keratotomy.

PMID- 1450123
TI  - Surgical correction of hyperopia: a new experimental approach using X-incision
      and suture technique in rabbits.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A new experimental surgical technique to correct hyperopia by
      steepening the central corneal curvature was performed on the eyes of rabbits.
      METHODS: After X-shaped incisions at four quadrants of the paracentral cornea,
      four deep, transverse interrupted sutures were placed across the incisions and
      the knots were tightened to compress the corneal tissue in the direction of the
      suture. Twenty-three eyes of 12 albino rabbits were divided into group A (7 eyes)
      with a 4-millimeter diameter clear zone, group B (9 eyes) with a 6-millimeter
      diameter clear zone, and control group C, consisting of 7 contralateral eyes of
      group A without any incision or suture. RESULTS: There was significant (p < .01)
      steepening of the central cornea as measured by the keratometer at postoperative
      8 weeks in group A (+1.88 diopters) and group B (+1.68 D) compared with that of
      the control group C (-3.44 D). The difference in effect of hyperopic correction
      between groups of A and B was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: This
      procedure serves only as an experimental model of corneal response to incisions
      and sutures and is not for use in human corneas.

PMID- 1450124
TI  - Sliding flap of conjunctival limbus to prevent recurrence of pterygium.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several techniques have been advocated for the excision of a
      pterygium: bare sclera, conjunctival flaps, free conjunctival graft, and labial
      mucous membrane graft. METHODS: Twenty eyes were treated with a sliding flap of
      limbal conjunctiva into the scleral bed of the excised pterygium, using 7-0 and 8
      0 Vicryl sutures. Corticosteroids and tear substitutes were administered
      postoperatively. RESULTS: There was one recurrence in the 20 eyes performed with
      1 year follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence was limited to that of 5% (1 case out
      of 20). Postoperative inflammatory reaction was minimal.

PMID- 1450125
TI  - A granny-style slip knot for use in eye surgery.
AB  - An adjustable knot for use in ocular surgery is described herein. The first part
      of the knot is a granny knot, which allows tension to be adjusted. The advantages
      of this knot are: 1) ease of tying; 2) adjustability; and 3) small size of the
      knot.

PMID- 1450126
TI  - Intrastromal photorefractive keratectomy with a new optically coupled laser
      probe.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intrastromal photorefractive keratectomy is a new procedure in which
      compact linear or area regions of the corneal stroma can be vacuolized, yielding
      changes in corneal curvature. METHODS: Diffraction-limited 1064-nanometer light
      pulses from a high rep rate Q-switched Nd-YAG laser were coupled through novel
      means into a probe with index-matched optical contact with the cornea. The
      resulting extremely reduced focal region initiated a plasma point that was free
      of shock front effects where tissue was reduced to liquid. This probe process was
      applied to the corneas of eye-bank eyes, and to living rabbit and primate eyes.
      The refractive effects were evaluated with slit-lamp microscopy, keratoscopy
      light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: Refractive effects similar to refractive
      keratotomy were observed immediately after treatment. Intrastromal highly
      localized vacuolized regions were observed at the depth of focus with variability
      of only 20 microns. The plasma point vacuoles were about 100 microns in diameter.
      Stromal material that occupied the vacuole space appeared completely reduced to
      liquid. The transition region between vacuole and normal tissue was less than 0.5
      microns. The treatment vacuoles disappeared to the unaided eye 24 to 48 hours
      after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal refractive power can be achieved with
      intrastromal keratectomy.

PMID- 1450127
TI  - Keratoconus, videokeratography, and refractive surgery.

PMID- 1450128
TI  - Critique of hexagonal keratotomy raises a ruckus.

PMID- 1450129
TI  - Critique of hexagonal keratotomy raises a ruckus.

PMID- 1450130
TI  - Contact lenses in pregnancy.

PMID- 1450131
TI  - Antenatal HIV testing.

PMID- 1450132
TI  - The variability of urinary protein and creatinine excretion in patients with
      gestational proteinuric hypertension.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the variability of protein excretion in patients with
      proteinuric hypertension and the accuracy of either a urinary protein/creatinine
      ratio or a Multistix examination for the estimation of a 24 h protein excretion.
      DESIGN: An indwelling urinary catheter was placed for 24 h and successive 8 h
      specimens examined. SETTING: A tertiary referral hospital in Cape Town, South
      Africa. SUBJECTS: 22 women with significant proteinuria in pregnancy were
      studied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The urine volume, protein excretion and
      creatinine excretion in eight hourly periods were measured. Multistix examination
      of each specimen was recorded. RESULTS: A large coefficient of variation in urine
      volume (41%), amount of protein excreted (44%) and the amount of creatinine
      excreted (22%) in the eight hourly specimens were noted. The protein creatinine
      ratio did not accurately predict the 24 h protein excretion. The Multistix
      examination was less accurate with increasing amounts of proteinuria. The amount
      of creatinine excreted correlated with the volume of urine passed (r = 0.43).
      CONCLUSION: The analysis of a 24 h specimen or urine for protein excretion
      remains the best method of monitoring proteinuria in pregnancy. The amount of
      creatinine excreted in 24 h cannot be used as an index of completeness of
      collection of the 24 h specimen.

PMID- 1450133
TI  - Prepregnancy counselling: experience from 1,075 cases.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the activity of a prepregnancy counselling clinic in terms
      of investigations, counselling, treatment and subsequent pregnancy outcome.
      DESIGN: Review of 1,075 couples attending over a nine year period. SETTING:
      University Hospital offering a tertiary referral service for fetal medicine.
      SUBJECTS: Couples referred to the clinic from a variety of sources. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: Categories of referral, value of diagnostic tests, and subsequent
      pregnancy outcome. RESULTS: The main categories of referral were: previous
      miscarriage (44.4%); previous fetal abnormality (19.6%); chronic maternal disease
      (22.3%); and others (13.7%). Routine investigations produced a low yield of
      abnormality (1%), in contrast to investigations selected for specific reasons
      (12%). Subsequent pregnancy outcome, which was unaltered in either the previous
      miscarriage or fetal abnormality groups, did improve in the chronic maternal
      disease group. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not prove the value of prepregnancy
      counselling. However, it does illustrate the importance of making an accurate
      assessment of previous problems and current health as a means of determining both
      maternal and fetal risks in a subsequent pregnancy, a process which seems to lead
      to an improved outcome within selected groups. The importance of continuity of
      care in all couples, especially when there has been a previous adverse pregnancy
      outcome is emphasized.

PMID- 1450135
TI  - The efficacy of phenytoin in relation to serum levels in severe pre-eclampsia and
      eclampsia.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy of phenytoin in relation to total and
      free serum levels in patients with severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. DESIGN:
      Prospective descriptive study. SETTING: Labour Ward, King Edward VIII Hospital,
      Durban, South Africa. Tertiary referral centre serving an underprivileged
      community. SUBJECTS: Eleven patients admitted with a hypertensive crisis. Four
      patients had eclampsia and 7 had impending eclampsia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Free
      and total phenytoin levels; efficacy of phenytoin as an anticonvulsant and side
      effects of therapy. RESULTS: Although total phenytoin levels were within the
      therapeutic range, free phenytoin levels were abnormally high in all patients.
      Three patients (2 with eclampsia and 1 with imminent eclampsia) each had a
      seizure after phenytoin treatment had been initiated. CONCLUSION: Neither total
      nor free phenytoin levels were good predictors of seizure control. It is
      postulated that the poor performance of phenytoin as an anticonvulsant in severe
      eclampsia may relate to inadequate distribution of the drug to the brain as a
      result of cerebral oedema and poor cerebral perfusion rather than paradoxical
      seizure activity associated with high free phenytoin levels.

PMID- 1450134
TI  - The effect of pH on release of PGE2 from vaginal and endocervical preparations
      for induction of labour: an in-vitro study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of pH and precoating with obstetric cream on the
      release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) from commercially available triacetin and
      starch based gels, lactose based vaginal tablets and sustained release hydrogel
      polymer pessaries in-vitro. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. METHODS:
      PGE2 preparations held in dialysis bags were placed in Ringers lactate buffer and
      release of PGE2 into the buffer was measured over 8-12 h by radioimmunoassay. The
      hydrogel polymer pessary was also assessed after precoating with obstetric cream.
      MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: In-vitro PGE2 release at pH 7.4, pH 5.4 and pH 3.4.
      RESULTS The gel preparations provided rapid and reliable release, while the
      lactose based vaginal tablet provided much lower release of PGE2 with sudden and
      variable release occurring after 5-8 h, an effect which was enhanced at low pH.
      With the triacetin gel preparation, release of PGE2 was reduced at lower pH,
      while the starch based gel appeared to provide optimal release at pH 5.4. The
      hydrogel polymer pessaries provided linear release in-vitro and this was reduced
      at pH 3.4. In addition, precoating the sustained release hydrogel polymer
      pessaries with obstetric cream virtually abolished release of PGE2. CONCLUSIONS:
      As the vagina is normally acid, these results suggest that vaginal pH could
      influence PGE2 release and this may result in variable clinical responses. In
      view of this, pH should be taken into account in the development of preparations
      for clinical use. Furthermore, the use of obstetric cream should be avoided when
      administering PGE2 preparations for induction of labour.

PMID- 1450136
TI  - Spontaneous resolution of pre-eclampsia-related thrombocytopenia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To observe the spontaneous resolution of pre-eclampsia-related
      thrombocytopenia. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: High Risk Pregnancy
      Unit, John Radcliffe Maternity Hospital, Oxford. SUBJECTS: Thirty women with pre
      eclampsia complicated by the HELLP/ELLP syndrome who did not receive any specific
      treatment for their thrombocytopenia. INTERVENTION: Serial platelet counts
      throughout labour and the puerperium until the platelet counts returned to levels
      above 100 x 10(9)/l. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Time taken from delivery and platelet
      nadir for platelet counts to return to levels above 100 x 10(9)/l. The rate of
      recovery from the platelet nadir was measured by the slope of the serial platelet
      counts plotted against time. RESULTS: The mean time until platelet count exceeded
      100 x 10(9)/l was 67 h (SD 25) after delivery and 44 h (SD 17) from the platelet
      nadir. All women had counts above 100 x 10(9)/l by 111 h after delivery, and by
      88 h after the platelet nadir. Although the time to recovery appeared to depend
      on the degree of thrombocytopenia, the rate of resolution did not. CONCLUSION:
      These data can be used as a guide by clinicians as to the expected time course
      for postpartum resolution of pre-eclampsia-related thrombocytopenia.

PMID- 1450137
TI  - Pre-eclampsia and trisomy 13.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the reported association between field trisomy 13 and
      maternal pre-eclampsia. DESIGN: A retrospective case-control study. SUBJECTS:
      Twenty-five women who gave birth to trisomy 13 infants in southwest England
      between 1971 and 1989; 38 women who gave birth to trisomy 18 infants in the same
      region over the same time and 50 women with normal karyotype infants matched for
      age, parity, and date of delivery with the trisomy 13 group. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: The medical records of all the women in the three groups were analysed
      for evidence of pre-eclampsia. Four different thresholds of pre-eclampsia were
      used. The incidence of pre-eclampsia was compared between the three study groups
      and analysed separately for primigravid and multigravid women. RESULTS: The
      incidence of pre-eclampsia in pregnancies complicated by trisomy 13 was
      significantly higher than the incidence in the trisomy 18 and the normal
      karyotype control groups. This association was more pronounced in primigravid
      pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: This, the largest survey of trisomy 13 and pre
      eclampsia to date, suggests an association between the two conditions. It also
      supports the argument for a fetal factor in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. We
      speculate on how genes encoded on chromosome 13 may be responsible.

PMID- 1450138
TI  - Transfer and metabolism of platelet-activating factor by fetal membranes, amnion
      and chorio-decidua.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the metabolism of 3H-Platelet-activating factor (3H-PAF)
      during transfer through human fetal membranes. DESIGN: 3H-PAF was added to the
      fetal side of cultured intact fetal membranes, amnion and chorio-decidua obtained
      from three pregnancies ending in elective caesarean section. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: Radioactivity was measured on both sides of the tissue, and in the
      tissue itself. In some experiments, the metabolism of 3H-PAF was assessed by thin
      layer chromatography. RESULTS: Very little 3H-PAF crossed the intact fetal
      membrane (< 2%) during 24 h of culture. Most of the 3H-PAF which accumulated in
      the membrane was converted to a range of metabolites in the chorio-decidua.
      CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that PAF in amniotic fluid may not reach the
      decidua, and therefore is unlikely to be involved in the control of prostaglandin
      production from this tissue.

PMID- 1450139
TI  - The importance of serial biophysical assessment of fetal wellbeing in
      gastroschisis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To review antenatal and intrapartum assessment of pregnancies
      complicated by gastroschisis. DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive study. SETTING:
      University College Hospital, London. SUBJECTS: 24 consecutive cases of
      gastroschisis between 1986 and 1991. RESULTS: The gestational age at sonographic
      diagnosis was 20.3 weeks (SD 6.77) and at birth was 36.5 weeks (SD 2.06). There
      were 21 live births, all with good surgical outcome. There were 16 vaginal
      deliveries and eight caesarean sections. The elective sections were for
      oligohydramnios and dilated bowel (1) and clinically suspected growth retardation
      (1); the intrapartum caesarean sections were for fetal distress (4) and premature
      breech presentation (2). There were six with dilated gut on ultrasound; one of
      these ended in a stillbirth. There was a significant association between gut
      dilatation and caesarean section for fetal distress (P = 0.004). There was also a
      significant association between meconium staining and fetal distress (P = 0.021).
      Of these babies, 46% were < or = third centile for corrected birth weight.
      CONCLUSIONS: While half of the babies with gastroschisis were small for
      gestational age at birth, reliable antenatal prediction of birth weight is
      difficult. Gut dilatation may be an indicator of either antenatal or intrapartum
      fetal distress, but does not correlate with poor neonatal surgical outcome. We
      suggest close antenatal surveillance of fetal wellbeing in all cases of
      gastroschisis because, in addition to growth retardation, many show some evidence
      of fetal distress and 12.5% end in stillbirth, even when appropriately grown.

PMID- 1450140
TI  - The prognostic value of fetal ultrasonography before induction of labour.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether ultrasound examination of the fetus and
      amniotic fluid before induction of labour can provide useful prognostic
      information about the course of labour and mode of delivery. DESIGN: A
      prospective observational study. SETTING: The delivery suite of St Mary's
      Hospital, London. SUBJECTS: 101 women undergoing induction of labour. MEASURED
      VARIABLES: Biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference,
      occipital position, amniotic fluid volume and umbilical artery Doppler
      velocimetry waveforms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome of labour was assessed
      in terms of the induction delivery interval, the mode of delivery and the
      incidence of abnormal cardiotocograms in labour. RESULTS: Seven women were
      delivered by emergency caesarean section early in the first stage of labour
      because of a significant abnormality of the fetal heart trace and these
      pregnancies were characterized by small fetal abdominal circumference
      measurements. Marked oligohydramnios was also noted in five of these seven
      subjects. Small or average size babies who were surrounded by an adequate volume
      of amniotic fluid tended to be born spontaneously, whereas the majority of
      operative deliveries for failure to progress in labour were associated with fetal
      abdominal circumference measurements > or = 340 mm. The mean Bishop score of
      women before labour who delivered spontaneously was not significantly different
      from the scores of women who had a forceps delivery or caesarean section.
      Abnormal cord Doppler waveforms were observed in only one instance. CONCLUSIONS:
      In women undergoing induction of labour, the measurement by ultrasonography of
      two variables (fetal abdominal circumference and amniotic fluid volume) may allow
      the prospective identification of pregnancies at increased risk of fetal distress
      or dystocia. If these findings can be replicated in early spontaneous labour than
      more rational utilization of resources may be possible in hospital based
      obstetric practice.

PMID- 1450141
TI  - Long term follow up of women after hysterectomy with a history of pre-invasive
      cancer of the cervix.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: A long term review of women after hysterectomy with a history of pre
      invasive carcinoma of the cervix. DESIGN: 193 women had cervical intra-epithelial
      neoplasia and two had adenocarcinoma in situ either at hysterectomy or at
      previous cone biopsy. These were followed up by annual cytology. SETTING: South
      Glamorgan Health Authority. SUBJECTS: Of 195 women who had a hysterectomy, 143
      have been followed up cytologically for more than 10 years and 43 for more than
      20 years: a total of 2800 women years of experience. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
      Timing of abnormal smears. RESULTS: A detailed review of the five women with
      abnormal smears. The estimated percentage of women who remain negative is 98% at
      five years, 98.4%, at 10 years and 96.5% at 20 years. CONCLUSION: Cytological
      screening of all women who had a hysterectomy with a history of CIN is indicated
      for the first two years after hysterectomy. Thereafter the estimated incidence of
      0.7 per 1000 women years is higher than the general population but it is not a
      sufficient reason to screen more frequently. We recommend screening for the
      carcinoma of the vagina to be every three years which is the same screening
      frequency as for cervical carcinoma in the general population.

PMID- 1450142
TI  - Transcervical resection of the endometrium: a review of 400 consecutive patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of transcervical resection of the endometrium
      (TCRE) in women presenting with menstrual disorders. DESIGN: A retrospective
      audit of 400 patients. SETTING: The Department of Gynaecology, St John's
      Hospital, Chelmsford, Essex. SUBJECTS: 400 consecutive referrals with various
      bleeding disorders which were suitable for treatment with TCRE. INTERVENTIONS:
      TCRE, either partially or completely. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient satisfaction
      with procedure at 4 months. The procedure was initially recorded as a failure if
      any further therapy was required but satisfaction after a second procedure was
      assessed. RESULTS: 432 procedures were performed in 400 women. Major operative
      complications were rare with two (0.46%) uterine perforations, four (0.93%)
      primary haemorrhages requiring Tamponade to control bleeding and one (0.23%)
      secondary haemorrhage requiring hysterectomy to control it. Glycine toxicity was
      not clinically apparent. 85% were satisfied after the initial TCRE and 92% were
      satisfied if the procedure was repeated. CONCLUSION: TCRE is an advance in the
      management of menstrual disorders. Extensive training is required to minimise
      complications. The lack of long term follow-up is its major deficiency but this
      will be rectified in the future.

PMID- 1450144
TI  - Recurrent miscarriage, cystic hygroma and incontinentia pigmenti.

PMID- 1450143
TI  - Randomised comparative study in 217 women of three disposable plastic IUCD thread
      retrievers.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the relative efficacy of three disposable plastic
      instruments in the retrieval of 'missing' IUCD threads. DESIGN: A prospective
      randomised comparative single centre study. SETTING: Family Planning Clinic in
      London, UK. SUBJECTS: 217 of 350 IUCD users referred to the research team with
      'missing' IUCD threads entered the study. INTERVENTION: All women initially
      underwent exploration of the endocervical canal with Spencer Wells forceps. When
      this procedure did not retrieve the threads, the patients were entered into the
      study. A maximum of two randomly chosen plastic IUCD thread retrievers were then
      used in any one patient to explore the uterine cavity and capture the 'missing'
      threads. The order in which the two retrievers were employed was also determined
      at random. Four separate entries into the uterine cavity were permitted with each
      instrument, the endocervical canal being explored with Spencer Wells forceps
      after each retraction of the instrument to identify the possible descent of the
      threads. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Threads brought down beyond the external cervical
      os, or threads brought to within the endocervical canal and then grasped by
      Spencer Wells forceps. RESULTS: In approximately 40% of all patients, the threads
      were retrieved with Spencer Wells forceps alone and a further 40% with the
      disposable plastic retrievers. About 5% had no retrievable threads, and only 2.5%
      of the referred patients required general anaesthesia for removal of their IUCD.
      The analysis of the comparative trial was confined to the 197 patients with
      retrievable threads which could not be brought below the external os with Spencer
      Wells forceps. The first plastic retriever used was successful in 50% of
      patients. The Retrievette (59%) and the Emmett (53%) performed better than the Mi
      Mark Helix (37%) in this study. The difference was statistically significant (P =
      0.03) and the 95% confidence interval for the difference of the Mi-Mark Helix
      from the other two retrievers was 4% to 33%. This retrieval rate for the Mi-Mark
      Helix was much worse than in previously reported studies, though one doctor did
      have a better success rate with this retriever. The success rates, using a second
      plastic retriever randomly chosen from the two not used in the first attempt,
      were almost identical to those observed with the first retrievers: 63%, 56% and
      36%. The success rate did not appear to be influenced by the length of thread,
      day of cycle, device type or parity. The success of the second retriever tried
      did not seem to be influenced by the retriever that had failed previously.
      CONCLUSIONS: Based on our experience, the initial exploration of the endocervical
      canal with Spencer Wells forceps is invaluable. If this simple manoeuvre fails to
      retrieve the 'missing' threads, either the Retrievette or the Emmett thread
      retrievers are useful tools in general practice or in the family planning clinic
      setting.

PMID- 1450145
TI  - Lacking anastomoses between left and right uterine arteries in uterus bicornis
      during pregnancy as demonstrated by Doppler velocimetry.

PMID- 1450146
TI  - Polycythemia associated with leiomyoma of the uterus.

PMID- 1450147
TI  - Aggressive angiomyxoma of the female pelvis and perineum. Report of two cases and
      review of the literature.

PMID- 1450148
TI  - Necrotising granulomatous endometritis following endometrial ablation therapy.

PMID- 1450149
TI  - Under-reporting of medical terminations of pregnancy.

PMID- 1450150
TI  - Transvaginal versus transrectal sonography in postmenopausal women.

PMID- 1450151
TI  - Cervical cone biopsy: a report of one hundred consecutive operations performed as
      day cases.

PMID- 1450152
TI  - Incarceration of a bicornuate retroverted gravid uterus presenting with bilateral
      uretric obstruction.

PMID- 1450154
TI  - Which hormone tests for the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome.

PMID- 1450153
TI  - Maternal mortality associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in Africa,
      Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

PMID- 1450155
TI  - Audit matters.

PMID- 1450156
TI  - Treatment of oral cancer by interstitial irradiation using iridium-192.
AB  - Sixty-seven patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity were treated
      by implantation of radio-active iridium wire between 1977 and 1986. The results
      are presented in the hope of providing a comparison with those of primary
      surgical management. The crude 5-year survival rates were 61% for T1, 74% for T2,
      and 37% for T3 tumours. The major causes of death were uncontrolled tumour in the
      neck and intercurrent disease. Seven of 52 patients with T1 or T2 tumours (13%)
      developed local recurrence at the primary site; five were salvaged surgically,
      for an ultimate failure rate of 4%. The ultimate failure for a group of 15 T3
      tumours was 47%. The only morbidity was a 31% incidence of soft tissue ulcers
      occurring during the first 18 months after treatment, none of which persisted.
      Elective external beam radiotherapy to the clinically negative neck significantly
      reduced the incidence of overt lymph node metastases.

PMID- 1450157
TI  - Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder in patients with chronic idiopathic
      facial pain.
AB  - 34 patients with chronic idiopathic orofacial pain were assessed by a structured
      clinical interview for diagnosis of mental disorders according to the Diagnostic
      and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R). Five (15%) had a history
      of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which coincided with the pain onset. The
      majority of these PTSD sufferers also had a personality disorder. The
      implications of these findings in the diagnosis and management of post-traumatic
      chronic TMJ pain syndromes is discussed.

PMID- 1450158
TI  - Waiting list hurdles and the role of the pre-surgical booking clinic.
AB  - Patients requiring surgery have two main hurdles to cross--long waiting lists and
      the risk of late cancellation when dates become available. A study was conducted
      to investigate the inconvenience caused by late cancellation, and to show how the
      pre-surgical assessment clinic can be utilised to reduce the dissatisfaction and
      disappointment of the current waiting list system in surgery.

PMID- 1450159
TI  - Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy: is it possible to accurately produce planned pre
      operative movements?
AB  - The planned preoperative maxillary movements for five groups of patients
      requiring orthognathic surgery were prospectively compared to the actual surgical
      movements achieved in the operating theatre. There was a very poor success rate
      in achieving predicted movements in all the patient groups. There is a need to
      test and implement a reliable method of assisting the surgeon in spatially
      orientating the jaws on the operating table.

PMID- 1450160
TI  - Experience with ITI osseointegrated implants at five centres in the UK.
AB  - Experience with the two-part ITI titanium implant system at five centres in the
      UK is reported. A total of 461 implants were inserted in 176 patients, who
      received 189 prostheses. Criteria for the assessment of success following
      implantation are listed. Results over a 3-year period showed a success rate of
      94% when implants were used for mandibular overdentures and crown and bridge
      prosthetics. A lower success rate in the edentulous maxilla was recorded.

PMID- 1450161
TI  - Abnormal bone masses in Klippel-Feil syndrome.
AB  - Five female patients with Klippel-Feil syndrome (KFS) are presented with abnormal
      bony masses in the mandibular ramus region. The features of KFS are described
      with assessment and treatment of the five patients. Although congenital
      duplication of mandibular rami in KFS has been previously documented, we believe
      this is the first series of patients with this deformity.

PMID- 1450162
TI  - Equipment and methods for simple sensory testing.
AB  - Four simple tests which can be used for routine sensory testing following
      trigeminal nerve injuries are suggested. The methods for constructing the
      equipment needed for these tests are described.

PMID- 1450163
TI  - The origin of the temporalis muscle flap.
AB  - This paper explores the origin of the temporalis muscle flap which has been
      attributed to Golovine, a Moscow ophthalmic surgeon, who described a forehead
      skin transposition flap. Small temporalis muscle transpositions were used in
      surgery for TMJ ankylosis, but the use of the majority of the muscle for
      reconstruction of facial defects was first described by Sir Harold Gillies during
      the 1914-18 war.

PMID- 1450164
TI  - Fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of amyloid in the submandibular
      gland.

PMID- 1450165
TI  - Traumatic cavernous carotid aneurysm resulting in blindness.
AB  - A case of traumatic aneurysms of the cavernous internal carotid artery which
      resulted in blindness is presented. This condition would appear to be a rare
      consequence of maxillofacial trauma, although fistulae are relatively common. The
      reasons for this apparent paradox, the difficulty of diagnosis and the management
      are discussed.

PMID- 1450166
TI  - Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the scalp.
AB  - Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is an uncommon tumour of the dermis and rarely
      occurs on the scalp; there are few known predisposing factors. A case is
      described of such a tumour that occurred at the site of radiotherapy for a basal
      cell carcinoma. Histological characteristics, behaviour and management of
      dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans are discussed.

PMID- 1450167
TI  - Oral cancer--time for some home truths?

PMID- 1450168
TI  - Intercollegiate assessment in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

PMID- 1450169
TI  - Lipoprotein profile of a Greenland Inuit population. Influence of anthropometric
      variables, Apo E and A4 polymorphism, and lifestyle.
AB  - Previously it has been reported that Greenland Inuit (Eskimos) from the Uummannaq
      district display low levels of plasma cholesterol and triglycerides and
      relatively high levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) when compared with
      healthy Danish control subjects (Lancet 1971;1:1143-1146). Here we present data
      obtained in 1989 that show the following. In a group of 133 healthy adult
      Greenland Inuit from Nanortalik, the levels of plasma cholesterol and low density
      lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (6.39 and 4.39 mmol/l, respectively) were slightly
      higher than "normal" values found in western societies, whereas the HDL
      cholesterol level was markedly higher (1.64 mmol/l). Compared with most Caucasian
      populations, the Inuit population we studied exhibits a high apolipoprotein
      (APO)E*4 allele frequency (0.229), whereas the APOE*2 allele frequency was
      extremely low (0.015). In contrast to Caucasian populations, in the Inuit
      population the apoE polymorphism showed only a minor influence on the plasma
      lipid and (apo)lipoprotein levels, as evaluated by multiple regression analysis,
      with the exception of apoE levels. This absence of an effect could be explained
      by the low very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) plus intermediate density
      lipoprotein (IDL) cholesterol levels. The contributions of eicosapentaenoic acid
      and linoleic acid to the total amount of fatty acids in plasma cholesterol esters
      differed markedly from those reported in 1971 for another Greenland Inuit
      population (3.2% versus 15.8% and 49.5% versus 20.4%, respectively), thereby
      resembling values now found in the average western population. Even in those
      Inuit who reported exclusive consumption of the traditional Inuit diet (13% of
      the population), the fatty acid composition of the plasma cholesterol esters
      closely resembled the values measured in western populations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450170
TI  - Chronic rejection of rat aortic allografts. III. Synthesis of major eicosanoids
      by vascular wall components and effect of inhibition of the thromboxane cascade.
AB  - We have previously demonstrated that rat aortic allografts from the DA (RT1a) to
      the WF (RT1v) strain develop chronic arteriosclerotic changes in the vascular
      wall after a short spontaneously reversible acute rejection episode. These
      changes, which are lacking in syngeneic DA-to-DA control grafts, are virtually
      identical with those observed in human allografts during chronic rejection. In
      this study we have investigated whether eicosanoids are involved in the
      generation of arteriosclerotic changes. Incubation of aortic wall rings in vitro
      and immunochemical assays demonstrated that the arteriosclerotic allografts
      synthesize significantly more thromboxane B2 (TxB2) but not 6-ketoprostaglandin
      F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) or leukotriene B4. The increased synthesis of TxB2
      in the allografts persisted for at least 5 months after transplantation. Separate
      incubation of the two major components of the vascular wall, after
      microdissection of the intima and (media plus) adventitia, demonstrated that most
      of the synthesis of TxB2 during chronic rejection was due to the outer layer of
      aorta, presumably the inflammatory cells of the adventitia. In contrast, most of
      the 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was synthesized by the inner layer of the aorta, presumably
      the endothelial cells and the smooth muscle cells of the intima. Administration
      of 1 mg.kg-1 x day-1 of a specific TxA2 receptor inhibitor, GR32191B, to the
      recipient rat reduced the proliferative response of inflammatory cells in the
      adventitia by 30%, as detected by in vivo tritiated-thymidine (3H-TdR) labeling
      and autoradiography, but did not reduce the proliferative response of smooth
      muscle cells in the media and intima.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450171
TI  - Upper-body fat distribution: a hyperinsulinemia-independent predictor of coronary
      heart disease mortality. The Paris Prospective Study.
AB  - The Paris Prospective Study is a long-term investigation of the factors
      predicting coronary heart disease in a large population of middle-aged men. The
      first follow-up examination involved 7,152 subjects, who were natives of
      metropolitan France and were free of any cardiovascular history. At that time,
      the usual cardiovascular risk factors and plasma insulin levels were recorded. An
      index of body fat distribution, the iliac-to-thigh ratio, was entered into the
      list of predictive variables, despite the fact that it had been measured 1 year
      before the first follow-up examination. After 11 years of mean follow-up, 129 of
      the men had died of coronary heart disease. Univariate analysis showed that the
      iliac-to-thigh ratio (p < 0.0001) and plasma insulin level (both fasting [p <
      0.003] and 2-hour postload [p < 0.02]), as well as the four major risk factors of
      coronary heart disease (age, smoking, blood pressure, and plasma cholesterol
      level) were significantly higher in subjects who died of coronary heart disease
      compared with those who had died of another cause or were alive at the end of
      follow-up. In multivariate stepwise logistic regression, the iliac-to-thigh ratio
      appeared as an independent predictor of coronary heart disease death, thereby
      causing the removal of fasting insulin level from the list of significant
      independent predictors. Nevertheless, in a model that entered 2-hour postload
      insulin in two classes (high or low), both the insulin level and iliac-to-thigh
      ratio were found as significant independent predictors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1450172
TI  - Mitogenic activity of interferon gamma on growth-arrested human vascular smooth
      muscle cells.
AB  - Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) is a multifunctional lymphokine secreted by
      activated T lymphocytes, which are found in atherosclerotic lesions. IFN-gamma
      has been reported to suppress the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells
      (SMCs). However, as we report in this paper, IFN-gamma is mitogenic for vascular
      SMCs under certain circumstances. Recombinant human IFN-gamma (1-100 units/ml),
      in a dose-dependent fashion, stimulated cell multiplication and [3H]thymidine and
      5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation into DNA by cultured arterial SMCs that had
      been growth arrested by culturing in 1% plasma-derived serum for 5 days. IFN
      gamma also accentuated the mitogenic activity of platelet-derived growth factor
      (PDGF)-BB. A time-course study revealed that there was a time lag of 4-6 hours
      between the G1-->S transition of quiescent SMCs stimulated by IFN-gamma and that
      of SMCs stimulated by PDGF-BB. A synergistic effect of IFN-gamma on the
      mitogenicity of PDGF became apparent after a similar time lag, suggesting that
      the IFN-gamma-related mitogenicity is mediated by a substance(s) secreted by IFN
      gamma-treated SMCs. In fact, conditioned medium of IFN-gamma-treated SMCs was
      mitogenic for SMCs. Mitogenic activity in the conditioned medium was also
      detected by an assay using Swiss 3T3 cells, which originate from mice and,
      therefore, are not responsive to human IFN-gamma. The production of the mitogenic
      factor was blocked by anti-IFN-gamma antibody. Mitogenicity of the conditioned
      medium was not eliminated by addition of neutralizing antibody against PDGF,
      indicating that any autocrine growth factor(s) secreted by IFN-gamma-treated SMCs
      was not PDGF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450173
TI  - Aortic permeability to LDL as a predictor of aortic cholesterol accumulation in
      cholesterol-fed rabbits.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility that the permeability
      characteristics of the arterial wall are related to the development of
      atherosclerosis. The in vivo regional variation of aortic permeability to
      iodinated human low density lipoprotein (LDL) in normal rabbits was compared with
      the regional variation in aortic cholesterol accumulation in cholesterol-fed
      rabbits. Aortas were divided into the aortic arch, thoracic aorta, and abdominal
      aorta, and each of these three parts was further subdivided into four segments of
      similar size. The permeability to LDL was 40 +/- 7 nl.cm-2.hr-1 (mean +/- SEM, n
      = 11) in the most proximal segment of the aortic arch and decreased throughout
      the length of the aorta to 3 +/- 1 nl.cm-2.hr-1 in the most caudal segment of the
      abdominal aorta. In such normal rabbits the aortic cholesterol content was
      similar in all 12 arterial segments at 0.08 +/- 0.005 mumol/cm2 (mean +/- SEM, n
      = 3 x 12). Aortic cholesterol accumulation was determined in other rabbits with
      an average plasma cholesterol level of 32 +/- 1 mmol/l for 96 days; the
      cholesterol content in the most proximal segment of the aortic arch was 2.7 +/-
      0.5 mumol/cm2 (mean +/- SEM, n = 11) and decreased with increasing distance from
      the heart to 0.17 +/- 0.03 mumol/cm2 in the most caudal segment of the abdominal
      aorta. Linear regression analysis showed a close positive association between the
      permeability to LDL of a given aortic segment and the cholesterol accumulation in
      that same aortic segment after cholesterol feeding (r2 = 0.96, p <
      0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450174
TI  - LDL particle size distribution. Results from the Framingham Offspring Study.
AB  - Using 2-16% gradient gel electrophoresis, we examined low density lipoprotein
      (LDL) particle size in relation to plasma lipoproteins in 1,168 women and 1,172
      men from the Framingham Offspring Study. In addition, we studied the effect of
      dietary intake on LDL size in a subset of the population. Seven LDL size peaks
      were identified, with the largest, LDL 1, being found in the density range 1.019
      1.033 g/ml; LDL 2 and LDL 3 in d = 1.033-1.038 g/ml; LDL 4 and LDL5 in d = 1.038
      1.050 g/ml; and the smallest, LDL 6 and 7, in d = 1.050-1.063 g/ml. Seventy-seven
      percent of the population had one major and at least one minor LDL peak.
      Secondary LDL peaks accounted for 23% of the total LDL relative area, based on
      laser scanning densitometry. LDL size distribution was skewed toward larger LDL
      particles in women (prevalence of LDL 1, 30% and of LDL 2, 31%), whereas men
      exhibited a more symmetric distribution (prevalence of LDL 3, 42%). The
      prevalence of small (< 255 A), dense (d > 1.038 g/ml) LDL particles 4-7 was 33%
      in men, 5% in premenopausal women, and 14% in postmenopausal women. In agreement
      with previous reports, small, dense LDL particles were significantly (p < 0.0001)
      associated with increased triglyceride and apolipoprotein (apo) B levels and
      decreased HDL cholesterol and apo A-I levels. In addition, we found a significant
      (p < 0.0001) association between LDL cholesterol and LDL size. The highest LDL
      cholesterol levels were found among women with LDL 4 (148 mg/dl) and men with LDL
      3-5 (138 mg/dl). In addition, the presence of LDL 3 or 4 as secondary peaks was
      significantly associated with higher LDL cholesterol levels, while smaller
      secondary LDL peaks were associated with higher triglyceride levels. We also
      found that compared with subjects with optimal LDL cholesterol levels (< 130
      mg/dl), individuals with high-risk LDL cholesterol levels (> or = 160 mg/dl) had
      1) a higher prevalence of LDL 3 and 4 (women only) and a lower prevalence of LDL
      1 and 2 (women only) and 2) 11% higher LDL cholesterol to apo B ratios, even when
      matched for LDL particle size. Furthermore, low saturated fat and cholesterol
      intakes were significantly associated (p < 0.01) with smaller LDL particles.
      Therefore, the identification of small, dense LDL particles per se may not be a
      good indicator of coronary artery disease risk in population studies.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1450175
TI  - Thrombogenicity and procoagulant activity of human mesothelial cells.
AB  - Cell seeding may decrease the thrombogenicity of implanted vascular grafts, but
      its application is hampered by the limited availability of autologous endothelial
      cells. We studied the interaction of alternate cells, human peritoneal
      mesothelial cells, with whole blood in a flow chamber. When citrated blood was
      perfused over mesothelial cells, platelet adhesion was seen on the intercellular
      matrix but not on the cells themselves. Perfusions with blood anticoagulated with
      low-molecular-weight heparin resulted in fibrin formation at the surface of
      mesothelial cells but not at the surface of human umbilical venous endothelial
      cells. At shear rates of 200 sec-1 fibrin deposition on the mesothelial cell
      surface increased during the first 5 minutes to 5.7 +/- 1.06 micrograms fibrin
      per square centimeter, whereafter these values stabilized. The procoagulant
      activity of cultured mesothelial cells was higher than that of peritoneal
      membrane studied ex vivo. However, cultured mesothelial cells incubated with
      polyclonal antibodies against tissue factor showed a significant decrease in
      procoagulant activity. We conclude that human peritoneal mesothelial cells may be
      used for cell seeding procedures, provided that their tissue factor expression
      can be controlled.

PMID- 1450176
TI  - Polarized binding of lipoprotein lipase to endothelial cells. Implications for
      its physiological actions.
AB  - Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) that is associated with the luminal surface of capillary
      endothelial cells hydrolyzes circulating lipoprotein triglyceride molecules.
      Because LPL is synthesized by cells on the abluminal side of endothelial cells,
      LPL must contact both the abluminal as well as the luminal sides of the
      endothelium. To determine whether LPL interacts identically with apical (luminal)
      and basolateral (abluminal) sides of endothelial cells, we investigated binding,
      transport, and cellular uptake of LPL presented to each side of bovine aortic
      endothelial cell monolayers grown on semipermeable filters. When LPL was included
      in the medium on either the apical or basolateral side of the cells, a similar
      amount of LPL was found in the medium on the opposite side of the cells. Heat
      inactivated LPL crossed the monolayers more rapidly in both directions. When cell
      surface LPL was assessed, more LPL bound to the apical than the basolateral
      endothelial cell surface. Release of cell surface-associated LPL was assessed
      with the use of heparin. Less heparin was required to dissociate apical-surface
      LPL. When LPL (4 micrograms/ml) was in contact with the apical surface for 1
      hour, 32.8 +/- 4.9 ng LPL per 24-mm filter were internalized by the cells. If the
      LPL was in the basolateral medium, only 6 +/- 1.8 ng LPL were found inside the
      cells. Heat inactivation decreased LPL binding to cell surfaces and
      internalization by the cells. LPL interactions with the cells were also studied
      morphologically by using Texas Red (TR)-labeled LPL and confocal microscopy. More
      TR-LPL was associated with and internalized by the apical endothelial surface.
      Incubation of cells with TR-LPL in the basolateral medium led to accumulation of
      LPL on the apical surface, suggesting that the LPL was transported across the
      cells. Inclusion of TR-LPL on the apical surface did not lead to appreciable
      accumulation of LPL on the basolateral cell surface. Therefore, endothelial cells
      are polarized to accumulate LPL on the apical surface. In addition, more LPL is
      internalized from this side of the cells. We postulate that the polarity of
      endothelial cells allows LPL to collect at its physiological site of action,
      i.e., on the luminal surface.

PMID- 1450177
TI  - Regulation of lipoprotein lipase secretion in murine macrophages during foam cell
      formation in vitro. Effect of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.
AB  - Triglyceride rich-lipoproteins induce triglyceride accumulation in macrophages,
      leading to foam cell formation. The correlation between cell triglyceride
      accumulation and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) secretion in murine macrophages and the
      role that LPL plays in the accumulation process were examined. LPL secretion is
      defined as the extracellular LPL activity that accumulates during a 4-hour
      incubation of treated and untreated cells in a bovine serum albumin-containing
      RPMI-1640 medium. LPL secretion was suppressed (up to 70%) in a dose- and time
      dependent manner when J774.1 cells were incubated with chylomicrons, very low
      density lipoproteins, and intermediate density lipoproteins but not with low or
      high density lipoproteins from normolipidemic and hypertriglyceridemic subjects.
      Oleic acid both suppressed LPL secretion and invoked triglyceride accumulation.
      Suppression of LPL secretion preceded gross triglyceride accumulation, was
      reversible, and was not the result of a reduction in LPL mRNA. P388D1 cells
      neither secreted LPL nor accumulated triglyceride. Inhibition of LPL secretion by
      tunicamycin in both peritoneal macrophages and J774.1 cells prevented a
      hypertriglyceridemic very low density lipoprotein-induced triglyceride
      accumulation, an effect that was counteracted by addition of exogenous LPL. The
      results suggest that 1) extracellular hydrolysis of lipoprotein triglyceride is a
      major factor in inducing foam cell formation and 2) LPL secretion may be
      regulated by cell energy needs, and when these needs are exceeded, LPL secretion
      is suppressed.

PMID- 1450178
TI  - Familial correlations of HDL subclasses based on gradient gel electrophoresis.
AB  - We used nondenaturing polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis to examine the
      familial correlations of high density lipoprotein (HDL) subclasses for 150
      offspring in 47 nuclear families. The absorbance of protein stain was used as an
      index of mass concentrations at intervals of 0.01 nm within five HDL subclasses:
      HDL3c (7.2-7.8 nm), HDL3b (7.8-8.2 nm), HDL3a (8.2-8.8 nm), HDL2a (8.8-9.7 nm),
      and HDL2b (9.7-12 nm). Parent-offspring correlations were computed for two
      different characterizations of the parents: 1) by sex (i.e., mother versus
      father) and 2) by their relative values (highest versus lowest HDL). Sibling
      resemblance was assessed by using the intraclass correlations coefficient. Family
      members were significantly related for the following subclasses: HDL3c (sibling
      and father-offspring), HDL3b (sibling), HDL3a (sibling and mother-offspring),
      HDL2a (mother-offspring), and HDL2b (sibling, father-offspring, and mother
      offspring). The offsprings' HDL3c and HDL2b values were more strongly related to
      their fathers' than to their mothers' values, whereas their HDL2a levels were
      more strongly related to their mothers' than their fathers' values. In addition,
      fathers' HDL2b levels were inversely correlated with the offsprings' HDL3b. The
      parents' HDL subclass levels were more strongly related to subclass levels of
      their younger (< or = 20 years) than their older offspring. Among all subclasses,
      HDL2b showed the strongest parent-offspring relation, with the parents' HDL
      values accounting for over 30% of the variance in offsprings' HDL2b.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450179
TI  - Activation of platelets in blood perfusing angioplasty-damaged coronary arteries.
      Flow cytometric detection.
AB  - Fluorescence-activated flow cytometry has been used to investigate platelet
      activation in blood flowing through atherosclerotic coronary arteries after
      sustaining mechanical damage induced by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty
      (PTCA). For flow cytometry, platelets and platelet-derived microparticles were
      identified by biotinylated anti-glycoprotein (GP) Ib monoclonal antibody (mAb)
      and a fluorophore, phycoerythrin-streptavidin. Activated platelets were detected
      by using a panel of fluoresceinated mAbs specific for activation-dependent
      platelet epitopes, including 1) activated GPIIb-IIIa complex (PAC1); 2)
      fibrinogen bound to platelet GPIIb-IIIa (9F9); 3) ligand-induced binding sites on
      GPIIIa (anti-LIBS1); and 4) P-selectin, an alpha-granule membrane protein
      expressed on the platelet surface after secretion (S12). The binding of
      antibodies to platelets was determined in blood that was sampled continuously via
      heparin-coated catheters from the coronary sinus in 1) patients before, during,
      and for 30 minutes after PTCA and 2) control patients undergoing coronary
      angiography without PTCA. Platelets in coronary sinus blood showed significant
      binding of mAbs that specifically detect activation epitopes associated with the
      GPIIb-IIIa complex (PAC1, anti-LIBS1, and 9F9) during and for 30 minutes after
      angioplasty in four of the five patients. The relative proportion of platelets
      positive for PAC1 and anti-LIBS1 increased from baseline values of 2.0 +/- 0.3%
      (mean +/- SD) and 2.0 +/- 0.5% to 18 +/- 14% and 28 +/- 14%, respectively, during
      PTCA or 30 minutes after PTCA (p < 0.01 in both cases). Binding with 9F9 was less
      prominent. The expression of P-selectin was detected in one of the five patients.
      By contrast, activation-specific mAbs failed to bind detectably with platelets
      obtained from 1) the peripheral blood during coronary angiography in eight
      patients or 2) coronary sinus blood obtained via catheter throughout control
      catheterization procedures in three patients or before PTCA in five. We conclude
      that circulating platelets become activated while flowing through PTCA-damaged
      stenotic coronary arteries and that this process of platelet activation is
      readily demonstrated by measuring the expression of activation-specific membrane
      GP epitopes by flow cytometric analysis.

PMID- 1450180
TI  - Pituitary factors in blood plasma are necessary for smooth muscle cell
      proliferation in response to injury in vivo.
AB  - Intimal thickening in response to vascular injury is inhibited in animals
      previously subjected to hypophysectomy. We have investigated the nature and cell
      kinetics of this effect in a balloon catheter model of injury to the rat carotid
      artery. The ability of injury to stimulate [3H]thymidine labeling 48 hours after
      injury was almost completely eliminated in hypophysectomized (hypox) compared
      with control animals (0.1% versus 32.1%). Total DNA content of the developing
      neointima 14 days after injury was only 30% of the values found in ballooned
      carotid arteries of normal rats. If hypox rats were treated with recombinant
      human growth hormone, the proliferative response was not restored. There are two
      possible general explanations for the reduction of proliferative response in
      hypox animals: 1) that smooth muscle cells in the hypox animals have lost the
      ability to respond to the stimulus of injury or 2) that the ability of the smooth
      muscle cells to respond has not been reduced by prior hypophysectomy, but that
      the response itself requires the presence of pituitary-dependent factors.
      Transplantation experiments were performed in vivo to distinguish between these
      possibilities. Carotid arteries in inbred Lewis rats were excised 1 hour after
      balloon injury to give platelets the opportunity to adhere. These vessels were
      then transplanted from hypox into control animals and vice versa. At 48 hours,
      proliferation of smooth muscle cells in "control-to-hypox" transplants was 0.3%
      compared with 14.3% in "control-to-control" transplants, whereas vessels from
      hypox rats increased their indices to 4.8% if transplanted into control
      animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450181
TI  - LDL subclass phenotypes and triglyceride metabolism in non-insulin-dependent
      diabetes.
AB  - Plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) comprises multiple discrete subclasses
      differing in size, density, and chemical composition. A common, heritable
      phenotype characterized by the predominance of small, dense LDL particles (LDL
      subclass phenotype B) is associated with relatively increased concentrations of
      plasma triglycerides, reduced levels of high density lipoprotein, and increased
      risk of coronary artery disease in comparison with subjects with larger LDL (LDL
      subclass phenotype A). Population studies have indicated that approximately 20
      30% of adult men have phenotype B, and another 15-20% have LDL of intermediate
      size. The lipid changes in phenotype B are similar to those that have been
      observed in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). In the
      present study, we have assessed LDL subclass phenotypes in normolipidemic men
      with NIDDM and in age-matched control subjects who had similar lipid levels.
      There was a greater than twofold increase in the percentage of individuals with
      the LDL B phenotype in the NIDDM subjects. The LDL B phenotype was associated
      with higher plasma triglyceride levels and a trend toward lower high density
      lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared with the LDL A phenotype in the NIDDM
      subjects, as has been previously observed in control groups. Indices of diabetic
      control, such as fasting and hemoglobin A1 levels, were similar regardless of LDL
      phenotype pattern, suggesting that glycemic control was not likely to account for
      the increase in the LDL B phenotype. In both control and NIDDM subjects, the
      clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins was slowed in the subjects with the
      LDL phenotype B compared with those with the A phenotype.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450182
TI  - Altered susceptibility to in vitro oxidation of LDL in LDL complexes and LDL
      aggregates.
AB  - Low density lipoprotein (LDL) is known to form complexes with polysulfated
      compounds, like heparin, dextran sulfate (DS), and chondroitin sulfate. In
      particular, chondroitin 6-sulfate (C6S)-rich proteoglycans of the arterial intima
      can associate with LDL, resulting in accumulation of LDL in atherosclerotic
      lesions. Besides LDL complex formation, LDL self-aggregation has been recently
      suggested to play a role in atherogenesis. Oxidative modification of LDL has also
      been implicated as a factor in the generation of the atherosclerotic plaque.
      Assuming that LDL self-aggregation may alter the molecule's susceptibility to
      oxidative modification, we have studied the sensitivity of LDL in LDL a
      aggregates as well as in insoluble and soluble LDL-C6S, LDL-heparin, and LDL-DS
      complexes to in vitro oxidation by cooper ions. Complexing the LDL with C6S and
      heparin resulted in an increased susceptibility of LDL to in vitro oxidation,
      whereas the oxidation of LDL complexed with DS was unaffected. In great contrast
      to the oxidation of LDL in LDL complexes, the in vitro oxidation of LDL in LDL
      aggregates (self-aggregation by denaturation) was strongly reduced. The results
      suggest that complex or aggregate formation may alter the susceptibility of the
      lipoprotein to oxidative modification and finally its metabolic fate or
      biological activity.

PMID- 1450183
TI  - Augmented arterial wall expression of type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor
      induced by thrombosis.
AB  - Type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), the primary physiological
      inhibitor of endogenous plasminogen activators, modulates fibrinolysis, cell
      migration, and tissue repair. To determine whether genetic expression of PAI-1 is
      augmented in the walls of vessels exposed to thrombi but not to a direct physical
      insult such as electrical injury, we induced arterial thrombosis in rabbit
      carotid arteries with intraluminal surgical silk sutures and performed in situ
      hybridization for PAI-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and immunohistochemistry for PAI-1
      antigen at selected intervals. PAI-1 activity in plasma remained virtually
      constant. In contrast, PAI-1 mRNA increased in endothelial cells juxtaposed to
      thrombi, in smooth muscle cells adjacent to the neointima, and in macrophages
      surrounding the suture material. PAI-1 protein was detected in regions in which
      PAI-1 mRNA was expressed. The increased expression of PAI-1 mRNA colocalized with
      PAI-1 protein in the endothelium juxtaposed to thrombi may potentiate thrombosis
      by shifting the local balance between fibrinolysis and thrombosis toward
      thrombosis. Furthermore, it may alter vascular remodeling and predispose to
      stenosis after interventions such as angioplasty, in which local thrombosis
      cannot be avoided.

PMID- 1450184
TI  - Increased lipid binding to thrombi in coronary artery disease. Findings in
      patients without premedication in native (not anticoagulated) test systems.
AB  - Thrombi and clots were produced from native (i.e., not anticoagulated) platelet
      rich and platelet-poor plasma from patients with coronary artery disease and
      control subjects who had not taken any medication known to influence plasma
      lipids, coagulation, or platelet aggregation. The clotting times were recorded,
      and the lipid content of clots, thrombi, platelets, plasma, and high density
      lipoprotein was analyzed. Thrombi produced from native platelet-rich plasma were
      46% heavier in coronary artery disease patients and contained about 20% more
      phospholipids and free cholesterol and about twice the amount of triglycerides
      and esterified cholesterol in both absolute and relative amounts with respect to
      the corresponding lipids of plasma plus platelets. The elevated content of lipids
      not only increases the size of the thrombi but also changes their quality because
      of an increased content in plasmatic lipids, as platelets contain only trace
      amounts of triglycerides and cholesterol esters. In agreement herewith,
      fibrinogen and maximal amplitude on the thrombelastogram were increased in
      coronary artery disease patients, whereas the thrombus-forming time and clotting
      times of platelet-poor and platelet-rich plasma were shortened, indicating
      accelerated coagulation and activation of platelets. Analysis of these results
      suggests a disturbed interrelation in coronary artery disease between lipids and
      hemostasis, in which platelets, high density lipoprotein, and lipoproteins rich
      in triglycerides and cholesterol esters may play a role.

PMID- 1450185
TI  - Matching clinical and biological specificity: implications for biological
      psychiatry.

PMID- 1450186
TI  - A dose-finding study with remoxipride in the acute treatment of schizophrenic
      patients.
AB  - Two hundred and forty-two patients with acute schizophrenia were enrolled in a
      double-blind, comparative, dose-finding study of a novel antipsychotic,
      remoxipride. Remoxipride was evaluated in a low (30 to 90 mg), medium (120 to 240
      mg) and a high (300 to 600 mg) dose range and compared with a haloperidol (15 to
      45 mg), which was administered to a similar group of patients. The results
      support the antipsychotic effect of remoxipride, with maximum efficacy occurring
      at daily doses between 120 mg and 600 mg. Side-effects were more frequent at
      doses of remoxipride over 300 mg. In all groups, remoxipride caused consistently
      fewer extrapyramidal side-effects than haloperidol. The antipsychotic effect of
      remoxipride may be derived from specific blockade of dopamine D2 receptors in the
      mesolimbic tract. The findings also suggest that remoxipride may have a
      therapeutic effect on negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

PMID- 1450187
TI  - The varied adult psychopathologies of children's behavior disorders.
AB  - Thirteen percent of the general population show the traits of emotional over
      reactivity, emotional lability and impulsiveness that appear to be genetically
      transmitted. The troublesome manifestation of these traits can often be medically
      controlled, thereby reducing their costs to society.

PMID- 1450189
TI  - Importance of maintaining normal nasal function in the cleft palate patient.
AB  - The external nose is a structure that provides prominence to the face. The
      internal nose is a paired nasal cavity that extends from the face to the pharynx.
      Turbinates are major structures within the lateral walls of the nose. They
      perform the major functions of the nose that include respiration, humidification,
      temperature regulation, and filtration of the inspired air. Conditions that
      obstruct the nose interfere with its optimal function. These range from acute or
      chronic infection to enlarged tonsils and adenoid tissue to nasal septal
      deviation. Surgeons caring for patients with clefts must have familiarity with
      nasal anatomy and function and conditions that alter them. Correction of these
      conditions may require medical and/or surgical treatment.

PMID- 1450190
TI  - Navigation of the nose with flexible fiberoptic endoscopy.
AB  - The introduction of flexible fiberoptics into medicine revolutionized the
      evaluation and treatment of velopharyngeal dysfunction. In this paper, rigid
      endoscopy and flexible fiberoptic scopes are discussed, including their
      respective advantages and disadvantages. Anesthetic and anatomic considerations
      relative to the endoscopic procedure are presented. Transnasal endoscopy permits
      documentation of static and dynamic anatomy, information that may be fundamental
      for the understanding and treatment of patients with velopharyngeal dysfunction.

PMID- 1450191
TI  - Nasal airway in breathing and speech.
AB  - Clefts of the lip and palate frequently produce nasal deformities that tend to
      reduce the size of the nasal airway. Approximately 70% of the cleft population
      have nasal airway impairment and about 80% "mouth-breathe" to some extent.
      Surgical correction of nasal, palatal, and pharyngeal structures may further
      compromise breathing. Type of cleft appears to affect airway size, with
      unilateral clefts demonstrating the smallest airway. Although a pharyngeal flap
      may further decrease airway size, some individuals do not notice a postoperative
      change because of airway compromise prior to flap placement. Speech is a modified
      breathing behavior that uses the respiratory system to provide an energy source
      and involves structures within the respiratory tract to modulate this energy into
      meaningful sounds. The oral, nasal, and pharyngeal structures that are affected
      by cleft lip and palate during breathing are often compromised for speech as
      well. The nasal airway plays an important role in controlling speech pressures
      when velopharyngeal function is impaired. A "good" nose for breathing is often a
      "bad" nose for speech under such circumstances.

PMID- 1450188
TI  - Dopamine receptor genes: new tools for molecular psychiatry.
AB  - For over a decade it has been generally assumed that all the pharmacological and
      biochemical actions of dopamine within the central nervous system and periphery
      were mediated by two distinct dopamine receptors. These receptors, termed D1 and
      D2, were defined as those coupled to the stimulation or inhibition of adenylate
      cyclase, respectively, and by their selectivity and avidity for various drugs and
      compounds. The concept that two dopamine receptors were sufficient to account for
      all the effects mediated by dopamine was an oversimplification. Recent molecular
      biological studies have identified five distinct genes which encode at least
      eight functional dopamine receptors. The members of the expanded dopamine
      receptor family, however, can still be codifed by way of the original D1 and D2
      receptor dichotomy. These include two genes encoding dopamine D1-like receptors
      (D1 [D1A]/D5 [D1B]) and three genes encoding D2-like receptors (D2/D3/D4). We
      review here our recent work on the cloning and characterization of some of the
      members of the dopamine receptor gene family (D1, D2, D4, D5), their relationship
      to neuropsychiatric disorders and their potential role in antipsychotic drug
      action.

PMID- 1450192
TI  - Acoustic assessment of the nasal airway.
AB  - Instrumental assessment techniques are needed to acquire quantitative information
      concerning the form and function of the nasal cavity. Until recently, aerodynamic
      methods were virtually the only source of such information. Two additional
      instruments are now available that purport to provide information useful to
      clinicians interested in assessing nasal form and function. This paper describes
      both the Nasometer and the acoustic rhinometer. In addition, a more traditional
      measure involving acoustic analysis of nasal consonants is discussed. Both the
      known and potential benefits and limitations of each technique are discussed.

PMID- 1450193
TI  - History of cleft lip nasal repair.
AB  - Surgery of the cleft lip nasal tip has lagged behind cleft lip surgery. In fact,
      in most early illustrations it was not even noted. Since the development of
      cosmetic rhinoplasty an endless array of techniques have been published.
      Unfortunately there are few studies of the gross anatomy.

PMID- 1450194
TI  - Congenital clefts of the nose: principles of surgical management.
AB  - Congenital clefts of the nose are rare and highly variable. Because there are few
      examples, standard methods for treatment do not exist. Therefore each patient
      must be evaluated and managed individually with respect to anatomic elements,
      timing, and sequence of reconstruction.

PMID- 1450195
TI  - Correction of the bilateral cleft lip nasal deformity: evolution of a surgical
      concept.
AB  - The origin of the nasal deformity of a bilateral complete cleft lip is both
      primary (deformation/malformation) and secondary (postoperative distortion). This
      is an interim report of a personal evolution from staged correction of the
      bilateral cleft nasal deformity to synchronous repair of the nose and the lip and
      premaxillary-maxillary clefts. The anatomic concept is that, because of the
      malpositioned alar cartilages, the columella only appears to be short in an
      infant with bilateral cleft lip. The technical stratagems to model the nose are:
      (1) alignment of the premaxilla and (2) anatomic placement of the alar cartilages
      with sculpturing of the overlying soft tissue.

PMID- 1450196
TI  - Effects of orthognathic surgery on nasal form and function in the cleft patient.
AB  - Management of common problems of nasal airway obstruction in cleft and noncleft
      patients by the subnasal approach through the maxillary Le Fort I osteotomy are
      discussed. The effects of maxillary surgical repositioning on the esthetics of
      the nose and upper lip are presented, as well as the sequencing and timing of
      orthognathic surgery and nasal reconstruction in the cleft patient. Case
      presentations illustrate the results of this treatment approach.

PMID- 1450197
TI  - Early and late treatment of unilateral cleft nasal deformity.
AB  - Surgical techniques have been developed to correct nasal deformity associated
      with unilateral cleft lip, alveolus, and palate. This deformity can be
      significantly corrected during the primary cleft lip repair, as performed by the
      technique described by the author. Secondary corrective procedures focus mostly
      on skeletal support and lining distortions as well as on rearrangements of lower
      lateral cartilages. At the final stage, esthetic appearance can be significantly
      improved by contour remodeling with the addition of cartilage and/or bony
      implants. Choice of surgical technique depends upon the severity of the deformity
      and the experience and proficiency of the surgeon. At the present time,
      correction of the nasal deformity associated with a unilateral cleft is an
      integral part of primary cleft lip repair and part of multidisciplinary
      management of cleft deformities.

PMID- 1450198
TI  - Clinician activism and ethical restraints in providing treatment: preventive as
      opposed to reconstructive approaches.
AB  - There is seldom controversy when faced with treatment decisions for a child born
      with a birth defect. Occasionally, the situation arises in which a decision to
      withhold treatment must be made. Under most circumstances the responsibility for
      making such decisions rests with the child's parents or guardians, since it is
      generally felt that these individuals are the best advocates for the child's best
      interests. In order to make such difficult decisions, the parents are dependent
      upon the guidance and counseling of health professionals, especially the
      physicians most closely involved in each case. The ultimate decisions made by
      parents are dependent upon open and unambiguous communication with their
      children's clinicians as well as open communications among the caregivers
      themselves. The role of the clinician as an advocate for treatment and
      nontreatment of children is dependent upon clear unbiased communication and the
      desire to do what is in the best interest for each patient.

PMID- 1450199
TI  - Management of major craniofacial anomalies: a pediatric perspective.
AB  - Ethical decision-making regarding complex congenital anomalies has evolved along
      with improvements in neonatal medical and surgical care, but also reflects a
      changed medical and social environment. The current process is complex and
      cumbersome, with no guarantee of consensus, and frequently leads to indecision
      and disagreement. Improvement of the process will require continued professional
      education, as well as better reconciliation of areas of ambivalence among
      professionals, families, and society.

PMID- 1450200
TI  - Social and psychological effects of major craniofacial deformity.
AB  - This paper discusses the social and psychological experiences of patients with
      the most severe forms of craniofacial deformity. The paper concludes that
      individuals with the most severe forms of craniofacial deformities are at risk
      for experiencing social and psychological stress and for having their quality of
      life negatively impacted by the experience of having a facial deformity. Much of
      the stress experienced by these individuals is the result of the negative social
      response to their facial deformity. It is emphasized that many patients will not
      develop psychopathology, because of intervening personality and family factors
      that may ameliorate these negative social stressors. The excellent progress made
      in assessing, preventing, and treating the negative psychosocial impact of facial
      deformity is noted. Finally, in attempting to understand the impact of facial
      deformity on quality of life, emphasis is placed on the subjective evaluation of
      these factors by each individual patient and family.

PMID- 1450201
TI  - Ethical and health policy issues in the treatment of children with major
      craniofacial deformities.
AB  - The advent of craniofacial surgery and neonatal intensive care has made it
      possible for children with serious craniofacial deformities to live and possibly
      to experience effective habilitation. These therapeutic innovations also raise
      important social and ethical issues that are rarely examined. This paper reviews
      the dilemmas that relate to the gatekeeper role for physicians, the impact of
      prenatal diagnosis, and the allocation of scarce fiscal and health resources to
      craniofacial care. The high degree of cost, the intense investment of medical
      resources, and the uncertain outcomes in the care of children with major
      craniofacial deformities, must be considered in the distribution of resources
      within a health system. The rationing of health resources is discussed as a
      future determinant of how care for major craniofacial deformities may be
      delivered in the United States.

PMID- 1450202
TI  - Trafficking of glycosphingolipids in eukaryotic cells; sorting and recycling of
      lipids.

PMID- 1450203
TI  - Cytoplasmic Ca2+ oscillations in pancreatic beta-cells.
AB  - In the last 15 years it has been a growing interest in the cyclic variations of
      circulating insulin [46]. After the suggestion that this phenomenon may be due to
      oscillations of the beta-cell membrane potential [8,39], it was demonstrated that
      [Ca2+]i oscillates in the glucose-stimulated beta-cell with a similar frequency
      to that of pulsatile insulin release. The present review describes four types of
      [Ca2+]i oscillations in the pancreatic beta-cell. The slow sinusoidal
      oscillations, referred to as type-a, are those which most closely correspond to
      pulsatile insulin release. Although not affecting the properties of the type-a
      oscillations in individual beta-cells, the concentration of glucose is a
      determinant for their generation and further transformation into a sustained
      increase. Accordingly, cytoplasmic Ca2+ is regulated by sudden transitions
      between oscillatory and steady-state levels at threshold concentrations of
      glucose, which are characteristic for the individual beta-cell. This behaviour
      explains the observation of a gradual recruitment of previously non-secreting
      cells with increase of the extracellular glucose concentration [44]. However, it
      still remains to be elucidated how the sudden transitions between these three
      states translate into the co-ordinated slow oscillations of [Ca2+]i in the intact
      islet. Cyclic variations of circulating insulin require a synchronization of the
      [Ca2+]i cycles also among the islets in the pancreas. It is still an open
      question by which means the millions of islets communicate mutually to establish
      a pattern of pulsatile insulin release from the whole pancreas. The discovery
      that the beta-cell is not only the functional unit for insulin synthesis but also
      generates the [Ca2+]i oscillations required for pulsatile insulin release has
      both physiological and clinical implications. The fact that minor damage to the
      beta-cells prevents the type-a oscillations with maintenance of a glucose
      response in terms of raised [Ca2+]i reinforces previous arguments [54] that loss
      of insulin oscillations is an early indicator of type-2 diabetes. Further
      analyses of the [Ca2+]i oscillations in the beta-cells should include not only
      the mechanisms for their generation and subsequent propagation within or among
      the islets but also how modulation of their frequency affects the insulin
      sensitivity of various target cells. The latter approach may be important in the
      attempts to maintain normoglycemia under conditions minimizing the vascular
      effects of insulin supposed to precipitate hypertonia and atherosclerosis
      [70,71,77].

PMID- 1450204
TI  - Immunologic aspects of liposomes: presentation and processing of liposomal
      protein and phospholipid antigens.

PMID- 1450205
TI  - Contributions of chemical derivatization and spectroscopic studies to the
      characterization of the Ca2+ transport ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum.

PMID- 1450206
TI  - Crystal structures of membrane lipids.

PMID- 1450208
TI  - Analysis of the binding of polymyxin B to endotoxic lipid A and core glycolipid
      using a fluorescent displacement probe.
AB  - Dansylcadaverine, a cationic fluorescent probe binds to bacterial
      lipopolysaccharide and lipid A, and is displaced competitively by other compounds
      which possess affinity toward endotoxins. The binding parameters of
      dansylcadaverine for lipid A were determined by Scatchard analysis to be two
      apparently equivalent sites with apparent dissociation constants (Kd) ranging
      between 16 microM to 26 microM, while that obtained for core glycolipid from
      Salmonella minnesota Re595 yielded a Kd of 22 microM to 28 microM with three
      binding sites. The Kd of polymyxin B for lipid A was computed from
      dansylcadaverine displacement by the method of Horovitz and Levitzki (Horovitz,
      A., and Levitzki, A. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 6654-6658). The
      applicability of this method for analyzing fluorescence data was validated by
      comparing the Kds of melittin for lipid A obtained by direct Scatchard analysis,
      and by the Horovitz-Levitzki method. The displacement of dansylcadaverine from
      lipid A by polymyxin B was distinctly biphasic with Kds for polymyxin B-lipid A
      interactions corresponding to 0.4 microM and 1.5 microM, probably resulting as a
      consequence of lipid A being a mixture of mono- and di-phosphoryl species. This
      was not observed with core glycolipid, for which the Kd for polymyxin was
      estimated to range from 1.1 microM to 5.8 microM. The use of dansylcadaverine as
      a displacement probe offers a novel and convenient method of quantitating the
      interactions of a wide variety of substances with lipid A.

PMID- 1450209
TI  - Persistence of increased cholesteryl ester in human skin fibroblasts is caused by
      residual exogenous sphingomyelinase and is reversed by phospholipid liposomes.
AB  - Human skin fibroblasts (HSF) were exposed to sphingomyelinase 50 or 5 mU/ml for
      60 min, washed with 5 mM EDTA or 20% serum and with phosphate-buffered saline,
      and postincubated for 24 h in the presence of [14C]16:0 sphingomyelin (SP)
      liposomes. The recovery of up to 48% of label in the medium in ceramide provided
      evidence of persistence of sphingomyelinase activity. The rate of hydrolysis of
      [14C]16:0 SP remained the same irrespective of whether the liposomes were added
      immediately after the wash, or 3 or 6 h thereafter. In HSF labeled with
      [3H]cholesterol exposure to 50 mU/ml of sphingomyelinase for 60 min resulted in
      an increase in labeled cholesteryl ester (CE) at 6 and 24 h of postincubation.
      Addition of sphingomyelin liposomes reduced markedly the fraction of cellular
      labeled cholesteryl ester recovered after 24 h, while phosphatidylcholine
      liposomes were not effective. When the enzyme concentration had been reduced 5-20
      fold the effect of sphingomyelin liposomes on cellular 3H-CE was evident already
      after 6 h of postincubation and some effect was seen also with
      phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Increase in the concentrations of SP liposomes to
      150 micrograms/ml restored labeled cholesteryl ester to control values at 24 h. A
      significant reduction occurred also with 18:1 phosphatidylcholine liposomes but
      labeled cholesteryl ester remained 50-100% higher when compared with 18:1 or 18:2
      SP. No correlation was seen between the rates of cholesteryl ester decrease and
      free cholesterol efflux into the medium. The inability to remove residual
      sphingomyelinase by regular washing procedures exaggerates and prolongs the
      recovery period of sphingomyelin during postincubation and delays the return of
      the cholesteryl ester pool to control levels. This can be counteracted by
      addition of phospholipid liposomes that can compete for the enzyme with the
      plasma membrane sphingomyelin and also substitute the hydrolyzed molecule in the
      plasma membrane to impede cholesterol flow to cell interior.

PMID- 1450207
TI  - Spontaneous lipid transfer between organized lipid assemblies.

PMID- 1450210
TI  - Structural elucidation of a novel phosphonoglycosphingolipid in eggs of the sea
      hare Aplysia juliana.
AB  - A novel phosphonoglycosphingolipid (AJPnGL) was isolated from eggs of the sea
      hare Aplysia juliana. The structure was determined to be Gal alpha 1-->2Gal beta
      1-->4(2-aminoethylphosphonyl-->6)Glc beta 1-->1Cer by FAB/MS, 1H-NMR, hydrogen
      fluoride degradation, methylation analysis, partial acid hydrolysis and GC
      analysis of the component sugars, fatty acids and long-chain bases. The ceramide
      moiety of this lipid consisted of branched nonadeca-4-sphingenine and octadeca-4
      sphingenine as main long-chain bases and palmitic acid and stearic acid as major
      fatty acids. Since the sugar chain (Gal alpha 1-->2Gal beta 1-->4Glc beta 1-->)
      and the ceramide moiety of AJPnGL were identical with those of the main neutral
      glycosphingolipid of eggs of A. juliana, the biosynthesis of AJPnGL may occur by
      the addition of 2-aminoethylphosphonate to the main neutral glycosphingolipid,
      Gal alpha 1-->2Gal beta 1-->4Glc beta 1-->1Cer.

PMID- 1450211
TI  - Multiple phospholipase A2 activities in canine vascular smooth muscle.
AB  - Three phospholipase A2 activities from canine vascular smooth muscle were
      identified and characterized including: (1) a cytosolic calcium-independent
      phospholipase A2 which is activated by nucleotide di- and triphosphates; (2) a
      cytosolic calcium-dependent phospholipase A2 which is activated by physiologic
      increments in calcium ion concentration; and (3) a microsomal calcium-independent
      phospholipase A2 which was highly selective for plasmenylcholine substrate.
      Vascular smooth muscle cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A2 was
      activated 338% +/- 11 (X+S.E.; n = 15) by physiologic concentrations of ATP.
      Similar amounts of activation were also present utilizing other nucleotide di-
      and triphosphates (e.g., ADP, CTP, GDP and GTP) as well as non-hydrolyzable
      nucleotide triphosphate analogs (e.g., ATP-gamma-S, AMP-PNP and GTP-gamma-S).
      Vascular smooth muscle cytosolic calcium-dependent phospholipase A2 was purified
      455-fold by sequential DEAE-Sephacel, Phenyl-Sepharose, Mono Q, hydroxyapatite
      and Superose 12 chromatographies. The partially purified calcium-dependent
      phospholipase A2 was activated by physiologic increments in calcium ion
      concentration (e.g., 1 microM) and possessed an apparent native molecular weight
      of 95 kDa, an acidic isoelectric point (pI = 4.8) and a neutral pH optimum (pH
      7.0). Vascular smooth muscle microsomal phospholipase A2 activity was
      predominantly calcium-independent and was over six-fold selective for hydrolysis
      of plasmenylcholine substrate. Taken together, these results demonstrate the
      existence of three separate and distinct phospholipase A2 activities in vascular
      smooth muscle and identify ATP and calcium ion as independent modulators of
      discrete phospholipase A2 activities in vascular smooth muscle cells.

PMID- 1450213
TI  - In vivo phospholipid modification induces changes in microsomal delta 5
      desaturase activity.
AB  - The phospholipid composition of rat-liver microsomes was modified by feeding
      weaning rats a choline-free diet. After 21 days, the phosphatidylcholine content
      decreased with a concomitant increment of phosphatidylserine and cholesterol. The
      bulk fluidity of the membrane decreased. Under these conditions, the delta 5
      desaturase activity was diminished as well as the arachidonic-acid content of the
      membrane lipids.

PMID- 1450212
TI  - Structural characteristics of the ceramides of neutral glycosphingolipids in the
      human female genital tract--their menstrual cycle-associated change in the
      cervical epithelium and uterine endometrium, and their dissociation in the mucosa
      of the fallopian tube with the menstrual cycle.
AB  - In human cervical epithelium, uterine endometrium, and mucosa of the fallopian
      tubes, neutral glycosphingolipids were exclusively represented by the globo
      series glycosphingolipids, such as CMH, LacCer, Gb3Cer and Gb4Cer, but the
      molecular species of their ceramide moieties were characteristically altered in
      the cervical epithelium and uterine endometrium during the menstrual cycle.
      Individual neutral glycosphingolipids in the cervical epithelium and the uterine
      endometrium at the follicular phase gave two bands on TLC, whereas those at the
      luteal phase displayed three bands, the third being the lower migrating one.
      Neutral glycosphingolipids migrating to the same positions as these lower
      migrating bands were constantly detected in the mucosa of the fallopian tubes,
      independent of the menstrual cycle. The lower-migrating bands for the cervical
      epithelium and the uterine endometrium at the luteal phase were due to molecules
      mainly constructed of phytosphingosine with alpha-hydroxy fatty acids having
      chain lengths of 18-24 and 4-sphingenine with alpha-hydroxy fatty acids having
      chain lengths of 16-22, whereas those in the mucosa of the fallopian tubes were
      exclusively N-alpha-hydroxypalmitoyl 4-sphingenine.

PMID- 1450214
TI  - Influence of an increased intake of linoleic acid on the incorporation of dietary
      (n-3) fatty acids in phospholipids and on prostanoid synthesis in rat tissues.
AB  - We investigated whether the amount of dietary linoleic acid (LA) (as corn oil)
      influences the incorporation of dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or
      docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in tissue phospholipids and the prostanoid
      biosynthesis. Rats were fed four different levels of corn oil (at a total dietary
      fat level of either 2.5%, 5%, 10% or 20%); at each corn oil level, two groups of
      rats were supplemented with either EPA and DHA (200 mg/day) during 6 weeks, and
      compared with a group receiving oleic acid. The phospholipid fatty acid
      composition of liver, kidney and aorta showed, as expected, that the
      incorporation of EPA was highly suppressed by increasing the content of dietary
      linoleic acid in the diets. On the other hand, DHA was almost unaffected by the
      amounts of (n - 6) fatty acids in the diets. These results indicate that EPA
      levels but not DHA levels in tissue phospholipids were influenced by the
      competing dietary (n - 6) fatty acids. The tissue arachidonate content was
      similar under the various dietary linoleic acid conditions, but feeding EPA or
      DHA lowers the AA content. Moreover, the amount of dietary linoleic acid did not
      significantly influence the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in stimulated
      aortic rings. However, PGE2 synthesis was significantly decreased in the groups
      treated with either EPA or DHA. Thromboxane B2 levels in serum followed a similar
      pattern. It is suggested that an increase of dietary (n - 3) PUFAs is more
      efficient to reduce (n - 6) eicosanoid formation than a decrease of dietary (n -
      6) fatty acids.

PMID- 1450215
TI  - High-level expression in Escherichia coli and rapid purification of enzymatically
      active honey bee venom phospholipase A2.
AB  - Bee venom phospholipase A2 (BV-PLA2) is a hydrolytic enzyme that specifically
      cleaves the sn-2 acyl bond of phospholipids at the lipid/water interface. The
      same enzyme is also believed to be responsible for some systemic anaphylactic
      reactions in bee venom sensitized individuals. To study the structure/function
      relationships of this enzyme and to define the molecular determinants responsible
      for its allergenic potential, a synthetic gene encoding the mature form of BV
      PLA2 was expressed in Escherichia coli. This enzyme was produced as a fusion
      protein with a 6xHis-tag on its amino-terminus yielding 40-50 mg of fusion
      protein per 1 of culture after metal ion affinity chromatography. A kallikrein
      protease recognition site was engineered between the 6xHis-tag and the amino
      terminus of the enzyme allowing isolation of the protein with its correct N
      terminus. Recombinant affinity purified BV-PLA2 was refolded, purified to
      homogeneity, and cleaved with kallikrein, resulting in a final yield of 8-9 mg of
      active enzyme per 1 of culture. The enzymatic and immunological properties of the
      recombinant BV-PLA2 are identical to enzyme isolated from bee venom indicating a
      native-like folding of the protein.

PMID- 1450216
TI  - Acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA
      reductase in carp-liver microsomes: effect of cold acclimation on enzyme
      activities and on hepatic and plasma lipid composition.
AB  - Hepatic microsomal activities of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) and
      3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase, rate-limiting enzymes in
      cholesterol esterification and cholesterol synthesis, and the concentration sand
      compartmentalization of esterified and unesterified cholesterol, were studied in
      carp acclimated to 10 and 30 degrees C. Irrespective of acclimation temperature,
      carp-liver ACAT is characterized by an apparent Km-value for oleoyl-CoA of 11-15
      microM and displays an optimum activity at pH 7.4. The enzyme activity is reduced
      approx. 2-fold upon preincubation of microsomes with alkaline phosphatase.
      Arrhenius plots of ACAT-activity are curvilinear, with curvatures considerably
      affected by the acclimation temperature of the fish. Carp HMG-CoA reductase has
      been characterized previously by Teichert and Wodtke ((1987) Biochim. Biophys.
      Acta 920, 161-170). When measured at 30 degrees C, ACAT activities from 30
      degrees C- and 10 degrees C-acclimated carp are identical (approx. 6 pmol/min per
      mg protein), whilst 'expressed' HMG-CoA reductase activity (18.1 +/- 12.2
      pmol/min per mg protein for 30 degrees C-acclimated carp vs. 159.8 +/- 106.6
      pmol/min per mg protein for 10 degrees C-acclimated carp) is enhanced 9-fold in
      the cold environment. This disparity indicates that cold-acclimation results in a
      massive increase in the capacity for hepatic cholesterol synthesis relative to
      hepatic cholesterol esterification. At the same time, hepatic compositional
      analysis reveals identical contents of unesterified cholesterol in either groups
      of carp but significantly decreased (3-fold) amounts in cholesterol ester (and
      also in triacylglycerol, 4-fold) in cold-acclimated carp. Moreover, microsomal
      fractions display lower cholesterol to phospholipid ratios in the cold. In
      contrast, concentrations of either cholesterol fractions (and of
      triacylglycerols) in plasma--the mobile compartment for lipoprotein transport--do
      not differ in cold- and warm-acclimated carp. Based on current concepts of
      cholesterol metabolism, it is concluded that the cold-enhanced expression of
      hepatic HMG-CoA reductase activity is a homeostatic response directed against and
      compensating for a cold-induced but not yet characterized deficiency in hepatic
      cholesterol availability.

PMID- 1450217
TI  - Metabolism of intravenously administered 7 alpha-hydroxycholesterol-3 beta
      stearate in the hamster.
AB  - In order to investigate the metabolic fate of serum esterified 7 alpha
      hydroxycholesterol, [4-14C]7 alpha-hydroxycholesterol-3 beta-stearate was
      synthesized from labeled cholesterol and administered to bile fistula hamsters
      intravenously. Bile samples were collected at every 20 min for 7 h. Radioactivity
      was detected in bile 40 min after the beginning of the infusion of the labeled
      compound and 56.5 +/- 5.7% (48.7-66.0%) of the administered radioactivity was
      recovered in bile during 7 h. The liver contained appreciable radioactivity (19.5
      +/- 7.6% of the administered dose) at the time of sacrifice. Only a trace amount
      of radioactivity was detected in urine and blood. Cumulative recovery of the
      radioactivity was 76.3 +/- 8.6% (63.3-90.4%). Major radioactive metabolites in
      the bile samples were identified to be taurine- and glycine-conjugated cholic
      acid and chenodeoxycholic acid by radioactive thin-layer chromatographic analysis
      of the bile samples before and after enzymatic hydrolysis and 3 alpha
      hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase treatment. The conversion was nearly complete and we
      could not detect neutral metabolites, such as the mother compound, free 7 alpha
      hydroxycholesterol and bile alcohols, as well as glucuronidated or sulfated bile
      acids. It is concluded that serum esterified 7 alpha-hydroxycholesterol could be
      effectively taken up by the liver, hydrolyzed by cholesterol esterase and
      metabolized via the normal biosynthetic pathway to taurine- or glycine-conjugated
      primary bile acids to be excreted into bile.

PMID- 1450218
TI  - Isolation and characterization of three lysophospholipases from the murine
      macrophage cell line WEHI 265.1.
AB  - Anion exchange chromatography of WEHI 265.1 cell homogenates resolved the
      lysophospholipase activity into three peaks, when assayed using
      lysophosphatidylcholine as a substrate. Peaks 1 and 2 were purified by sequential
      hydrophobic interaction and gel filtration chromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulfate
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified peaks 1 and 2 indicated
      homogeneous proteins with apparent masses of 28 and 27 kDa, respectively. Peak 3
      lysophospholipases was partially purified by hydrophobic, hydroxyapatite and gel
      filtration chromatography. Peak 3 lysophospholipase also had calcium-dependent
      phospholipase A2 activity, which further co-purified with the lysophospholipase
      activity. The three lysophospholipases were characterized with respect to
      substrate specificity, additional enzymatic activities and the effects of lipids,
      metal ions and other compounds on enzymatic activity. Peaks 1, 2 and 3 hydrolyzed
      lysophosphatidylcholine most readily, but lysophosphatidylethanolamine also
      served as substrate for each enzyme. Furthermore, all three enzymes hydrolyzed
      platelet activating factor and acetylated lysophosphatidylcholine. Each
      lysophospholipase was inhibited by free fatty acids and by palmitoyl carnitine,
      although the relative sensitivities to these agents differed among the enzymes.
      The lysophospholipase activities of peaks 1 and 2, but not peak 3, were inhibited
      by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, diisopropyl fluorophosphate and N
      ethylmaleimide. Although they had similar masses, the amino acid compositions of
      peaks 1 and 2 differed, indicating that these are distinct proteins rather than
      posttranslational modifications of the same gene product.

PMID- 1450219
TI  - Elevated glucose alters A23187-induced release of arachidonic acid from porcine
      aortic endothelial cells by enhancing reacylation.
AB  - Cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells were conditioned in normal (5.2 mM) and
      elevated (15.6 mM) glucose, prelabeled with [14C]arachidonic acid and stimulated
      with ionophore A23187. Elevated glucose cultures released less radiolabeled
      products and less [14C]arachidonic acid. Analysis of cellular lipids revealed
      that elevated glucose reduced net loss of radiolabel from
      diacylphosphatidylethanolamine, did not affect early phosphatidylinositol
      hydrolysis, and increased net loss from diacylphosphatidylcholine and
      alkenylacylphosphatidylethanolamine. Uptake of radiolabel upon stimulation was
      examined to measure the role of reacylation on the diminished net release of
      radiolabel in elevated glucose cultures. Enhanced acylation of [3H]arachidonic
      acid into cellular lipids, especially PI, was observed in stimulated and resting
      cultures with elevated glucose. Further, pretreatment of the cultures with an
      acyltransferase inhibitor, thimerosal, prior to A23187 stimulation in
      radiolabeled cultures, abolished the effects of glucose on eicosanoid and
      arachidonic acid release. Differences in the ionophore-induced net loss of
      radiolabel from diacylphosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol of the
      two glucose treatments were diminished by thimerosal exposure, while net loss of
      radiolabel from diacylphosphatidylcholine and alkenylacylphosphatidylethanolamine
      were unaffected. The data indicate that elevated glucose alters deacylation and
      enhances reacylation of arachidonic acid into endothelial cells and particularly
      into phosphatidylinositol. Enhanced reacylation may explain some of the altered
      lipid pathways that have been observed in experiments that elevate glucose
      concentrations or involve diabetes.

PMID- 1450220
TI  - Is there still a role for radioisotope techniques in pulmonary embolism?

PMID- 1450221
TI  - The use of exercise technetium-99m 2-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile (99mTc
      Sestamibi) perfusion scanning in the detection of acute rejection after cardiac
      transplantation.
AB  - Acute cardiac rejection remains an important cause of death during the first year
      following cardiac transplantation. Right ventricular biopsies at regular
      intervals are the main method of detecting rejection, although it is invasive.
      Unfortunately, non-invasive methods of detecting rejection have not proved
      reliable enough to replace cardiac biopsies. We assessed the usefulness of
      technetium-99m 2-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile (99mTc-Sestamibi) perfusion scanning
      in detecting acute rejection in 12 human orthotopic cardiac transplant
      recipients. Rest and exercise studies and right ventricular biopsies were
      performed on two occasions. Isotopic evidence of rejection was defined as a
      perfusion abnormality on either the resting or exercise studies. 99mTc-Sestamibi
      studies successfully identified acute rejection in 8 of 11 rejection episodes (p
      less than 0.04). The calculated sensitivity and specificity of 99mTc-Sestamibi
      scanning were both 72%. Perfusion scanning with 99mTc-Sestamibi may be useful in
      the diagnosis of acute rejection in cardiac transplant recipients.

PMID- 1450222
TI  - Changes in serum testosterone levels after myocardial infarction.
AB  - To evaluate the effect of a severe non-endocrine disease on testosterone levels
      we determined the total testosterone (T), free testosterone (fT), myoglobin and
      myosin plasmatic levels in 18 men at the time of hospitalization for acute
      myocardial infarction (AMI), and 1, 3, 7 and 21 days later. Five different
      methods for determining fT were applied and compared; 1) radioimmunoassay after
      ultrafiltration, 2) direct analogue based radioimmunoassay (RIA), 3) calculation
      from total T, sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and albumin concentrations, 4)
      calculation from total T, SHBG concentrations with albuminemia fixed at 40 g/L,
      and 5) evaluation by the (total T)/(SHBG) ratio (fT index). After AMI the total T
      and fT decreased rapidly (minimum at day 1) and then increased until day 21.
      While a lower sensitivity in detecting small changes was noted for the direct
      analogue based fT RIA and for the calculation using a fixed albuminemia, the
      evolving pattern of the 5 different fT determinations was similar despite
      different absolute values. However, there was a wide scattering in the results
      from the different methods used to determine fT. Compared to ultrafiltration, the
      fT values were lower by direct analogue based assay and higher by calculation.
      There was a trend of correlation between changes in total T and the maximum
      myosin concentration (r = 0.557, p = 0.02), showing a relationship between the
      hormonal changes and the severity of the myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1450223
TI  - A modeling analysis of rest-stress and stress-rest injection sequences in
      performing thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy.
AB  - A new thallium-201 stress testing protocol is proposed in which rest images are
      obtained prior to stress images. The advantages of the new protocol are that it
      saves time and requires no special diet or activity restriction between imaging
      sets. A potential problem from reversing the standard imaging sequence is
      decreased sensitivity to stress perfusion defects owing to background counts from
      the rest image. Using a cardiac phantom, 74 sets of stress and rest images were
      simulated under the new protocol and the standard stress-redistribution
      reinjection protocol. Seven observers were asked to classify the images as normal
      or abnormal and to distinguish ischemic from fixed defects. Differences in
      observer performances between the two protocols were compared. With the new
      protocol, observers had sensitivities of 75%-90% and specificities of 100% in
      identifying a perfusion defect on the stress study. Accuracy was improved if the
      image counts from the rest study contributed less than 40% of the final counts of
      the stress study. Detection of ischemic and fixed defects was as good as or
      better than with standard protocols. Based on the phantom model, rest followed
      immediately by stress imaging sequence is an advantageous alternative for
      thallium-201 stress testing. Clinical trials are necessary to further evaluate
      this new protocol.

PMID- 1450224
TI  - Long-term biodistribution in tumored mice of murine and chimeric B72.3-IgG
      antibody radiolabeled with 114mIn via both DTPA and a macrocyclic chelator.
AB  - To assess the possibilities of using 114mIn as a therapeutic agent, the long-term
      biodistribution of 114mIn was studied, in tumor-bearing nude mice, after
      injection of labeled monoclonal antibody (MoAb) B72.3 IgG, either DTPA-coupled
      murine, DTPA-coupled chimeric, or macrocycle-coupled chimeric antibody. Although
      the biodistributions in all cases were similar, there were important differences.
      The use of DTPA-coupled chimeric antibody led to higher concentrations of
      radioactivity in tumor, and to lower concentrations in liver and bone, as
      compared to DTPA-coupled murine antibody. The use of macrocycle-coupled chimeric
      antibody led to higher concentrations of radioactivity in the liver and in bone
      as compared to the DTPA-coupled chimeric antibody. However, in this case there
      were no significant differences in tumor uptake or clearance. Radiation doses
      were calculated based on the organ retention and by neglecting source-to-target
      contributions. Radiation dose distribution was marginally favorable for therapy
      in the group injected with DTPA-coupled chimeric antibody.

PMID- 1450225
TI  - Evaluation of alkylated derivatives of 99mTc-propylene amine oxime (99mTc-PnAO).
AB  - Several lipophilic di-alkylated derivatives of propylene amine oxime (PnAO were
      complexed to 99mTc. Assessment of the 99mTc-PnAO derivatives included
      biodistribution and qualitative autoradiography. All of the derivatives studied
      penetrated the intact blood-brain-barrier, with the 99mTc-dibutyl-PnAO complex
      exhibiting the lowest initial brain uptake while the 99mTc-diethyl-PnAO and the
      99mTc-dipropyl-PnAO complexes possessing nearly identical initial brain uptake as
      compared to 99mTcPnAO. Qualitative autoradiographs revealed significant loss of
      image resolution with extended time post injection indicative of rapid
      radiopharmaceutical washout. Although increasing alkyl chain length did not
      enhance initial brain uptake, the data demonstrates that limited modification of
      the PnAO ligand structure can be performed without decreasing cerebral uptake of
      the respective 99mTc complex.

PMID- 1450226
TI  - Single determination of CA 15.3 and bone scintigraphy in the diagnosis of
      skeletal metastases of breast cancer.
AB  - Single determination of CA 15.3 and bone scintigraphy were performed on the same
      day as follow-up procedures in 864 patients with breast cancer. The sensitivity
      and specificity of bone scintigraphy for skeletal metastases were 99% and 88.8%,
      respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity of CA 15.3 (cut-off for
      pathological values greater than 30 U/mL) for cancer recurrence or distant
      metastases were 69.2% and 92.1%, respectively. The sensitivity of CA 15.3 for
      bone metastases was lower (69.4%) than that of bone scintigraphy. This was mainly
      due to the relatively high proportion of false-negative CA 15.3 levels in
      patients with 1-2 bone metastases (sensitivity = 33.3%). According to this
      result, the circulating levels of CA 15.3 showed a good correlation with tumor
      extension and, in patients with bone metastases, with the number of skeletal
      lesions. As regards the contribution of CA 15.3 to the diagnosis of bone
      metastases, the demonstration of elevated CA 15.3 values in patients with
      positive bone scintigraphy could support the diagnosis of skeletal metastases. In
      fact, the positive predictive value of CA 15.3 in patients with positive bone
      scintigraphy was significantly higher than with only bone scintigraphy (53.8%) or
      CA 15.3 (50.4%). Finally, very high values of CA 15.3 in patients with known bone
      metastases could indicate the presence of visceral metastases (mean CA 15.3 in
      patients with bone metastases = 125.8 U/mL; mean CA 15.3 in patients with bone
      and visceral metastases = 420.5 U/mL).

PMID- 1450227
TI  - Conditions for labeling of Schistosoma mansoni cercaria with technetium-99m.
AB  - Study of the labeling of Schistosoma mansoni cercaria with technetium-99m (99mTc)
      at room temperature (25 degrees C) and 37 degrees C shows that the incorporation
      of radioactivity in this cercaria increases with the increase in stannous
      chloride concentration, reaching a constant value threshold at 130.00 microM.
      Strong binding of the 99mTc was obtained since the radioactivity was not washed
      out. The characteristic motion of the cercaria, labeled at 25 degrees C and 37
      degrees C, was only modified at the concentration of 1300 microM for both
      temperatures, showing that the methodology here described can be applied to
      living structures. With this technique it is possible to obtain a cercariae
      suspension labeled with a radionuclide that is very inexpensive and readily
      available. Furthermore, it is a gamma emitter with a photon energy of 140 keV
      that would permit one to make scannings of the infected animals and causes less
      of an environmental impact and present fewer radioactive disposal problems than
      the long lived radionuclides.

PMID- 1450228
TI  - Radioiodinated azomycin pyranoside (IAZP): a novel non-invasive marker for the
      assessment of tumor hypoxia.
AB  - 1-(4-Iodo-4-deoxy-beta-L-xylopyranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole (Iodoazomycin
      Pyranoside; IAZP) was synthesized, labelled with radioiodine(123I, 125I) and
      evaluated for non-invasive assessment of tumor hypoxia. A biodistribution study
      with Balb/c mice bearing EMT-6 tumors showed a tumor-to-blood ratio of 13.9,
      representing 0.5 percent of injected dose per gram of tissue, at 24 hours post
      injection. This ratio is the highest for any 2-nitro-imidazole reported to date
      in this tumor model. Rapid elimination of radioactivity from the whole-body was
      noted (greater than 97% in 24 hours) and thyroid radioactivity at 24 hours was
      much lower than with other analogues of this series. No toxicity was observed in
      Balb/c mice at a dose 100 times higher than the anticipated human dose required
      for scintigraphic imaging. Planar, whole-body gamma scintigraphic images in the
      murine Balb/c EMT-6 tumor model clearly delineated tumor tissue at 24 hours post
      injection. These observations suggest that IAZP may be a suitable agent for non
      invasive, clinical assessment of tumor hypoxia.

PMID- 1450229
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of indium-111 labeled 10-3D2 antibreast-tumor antibody in
      patients.
AB  - In a program to investigate patient pharmacokinetics of labeled anti-tumor
      antibodies, a study of the 10-3D2 anti-breast tumor antibody was conducted. The
      F(ab')2 fragment, coupled with DTPA, was radiolabeled with indium-111 and 1 mg
      (37 MBq, or 1 mCi) administered to each of 7 patients with documented or
      suspected breast carcinoma. Abnormal accumulations of radioactivity were observed
      in only one patient even though 5 had evidence of disease at the time of imaging.
      Despite the reported absence of circulating antigen to this antibody, sera from
      one patient showed evidence of a high molecular weight immune complex by size
      exclusion HPLC. However, this patient had detectable circulating HAMA, which
      cannot be excluded as the cause of such immune complex. Urine excretion of
      radioactivity varied greatly from patient to patient (from 2-34% ID within the
      first day) but the mean value (0.22% ID/hour) was equal to that seen by us in
      previous studies. The biodistribution of the label was found to be unusual in
      that kidney levels increased in all patients during the first day and, in
      particular, liver radioactivity levels decreased in all patients.

PMID- 1450230
TI  - Risk stratification after myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1450231
TI  - SPECT: current and future developments.

PMID- 1450232
TI  - Myocardial salvage in reperfusion injury.

PMID- 1450233
TI  - Viable myocardium: when to search for it?

PMID- 1450234
TI  - Positron emission tomography versus thallium-201 scintigraphy for assessment of
      viable myocardium.

PMID- 1450235
TI  - Combined evaluation of perfusion and function for the identification of viable
      myocardium.

PMID- 1450236
TI  - 99mTc-sestamibi: is it a tracer of variability.

PMID- 1450237
TI  - Interpretational criteria for positive and negative antimyosin scan in the
      diagnosis of myocarditis.

PMID- 1450238
TI  - Thallium-201 reinjection: truth or artifact?

PMID- 1450239
TI  - Advances in myocardial perfusion imaging: 99mTc-teboroxime.

PMID- 1450240
TI  - Biodistribution in humans and preliminary clinical evaluation of a new tracer
      with optimized properties for myocardial perfusion imaging: [99mTc]Q12.

PMID- 1450241
TI  - The role of nuclear cardiology in the evaluation of coronary artery disease.

PMID- 1450242
TI  - Biological and methodological problems in using radiolabelled monoclonal
      antibodies in cardiology.

PMID- 1450243
TI  - Application of monoclonal antibodies in cardiovascular diseases: atherosclerosis
      and pulmonary emboli imaging.

PMID- 1450244
TI  - Quantitation of regional myocardial blood flow in coronary microvascular disease.

PMID- 1450245
TI  - Thallium-201: single injection, reinjection or twenty-four hour delayed imaging?

PMID- 1450246
TI  - Monitoring rejection in heart transplant recipients: the Temple University
      experience.

PMID- 1450247
TI  - Indium-111 antimyosin antibodies for detection of rejection and drug induced
      cardiomyopathies.

PMID- 1450248
TI  - The heart transplant as a clinical model to assess viable myocardium by
      radioactive tracers.

PMID- 1450249
TI  - Screening of high risk patients with thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging.

PMID- 1450250
TI  - Adenosine and dipyridamole myocardial scintigraphy.

PMID- 1450251
TI  - Continuous monitoring of ventricular function.

PMID- 1450252
TI  - Radionuclide methods for the evaluation of the efficacy of thrombolytic therapy
      in acute myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1450253
TI  - Italian multicenter reinjection trial (SIRT): preliminary results of thallium-201
      segmental analysis.

PMID- 1450254
TI  - Scintigraphic assessment of the results of myocardial revascularization.

PMID- 1450255
TI  - [Mycosis in the 1990's].

PMID- 1450256
TI  - [Comparative activities of ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, and cotrimoxazole in an
      experimental model of enteritis caused by Salmonella non typhi].
AB  - With the use of an in vitro experimental model of enteritis by Salmonella non
      typhi the efficacy of amoxicillin, cotrimoxazole and ciprofloxacin in the
      eradication of this fecal pathogen and the prevention of bacteremia was
      evaluated. Following a fasting period of 48 hours a total of 160 rats were
      administered 10 UFC of 2 strains of Salmonella non typhi via intragastric tubing.
      One of the strains was sensitive to amoxycillin and cotrimoxazole (60 rats) and
      the other strain was resistant to both but was sensitive to ciprofloxacin (100
      rats). The antimicrobials were administered 24 hours after the bacterial
      infection in daily doses for 5 consecutive days. According to the results
      obtained amoxicillin and cotrimoxazole were ineffective in the eradication of the
      fecal pathogen indicating an important obstacle in the appearance of bacteremias.
      To the contrary, ciprofloxacin, even at low doses, eliminated the microorganisms
      early and demonstrated high efficacy in the prevention of bacteremia in the
      animals when these results were compared with those of the untreated group.

PMID- 1450257
TI  - [Escherichia coli virulence factors causing peritonitis, appendicitis and other
      extraintestinal infections].
AB  - Fifty-nine E. coli strains isolated from clinical cases of peritonitis,
      appendicitis, cholecystitis, wounds and respiratory infections as well as from
      other miscellaneous sources were investigated. A control group constituted by 475
      E. coli strains isolated from the faeces of healthy individuals were also
      studied. E. coli O-grouped and investigated for production of cytotoxic
      necrotizing factor CNF1 and alpha-haemolysin (Hly), expression of P fimbriae and
      mannose-resistant (MRHA) and mannose-sensitive (MSHA) haemagglutination.
      Virulence factors significantly associated with extraintestinal strains were:
      production of CNF1 (19% versus 5%, p < 0.001), Hly (27% versus 9%; p < 0.001) and
      expression of MRHA (44% versus 16%; p < 0.001). The majority of extraintestinal
      strains (68% versus 36%; p < 0.001), in contrast with faecal E. coli, belonged to
      O serogroups frequently detected in uropathogenic and bacteraemic E. coli. These
      results suggest that E. coli causing different types of extraintestinal
      infections show similar virulence factors and belong to the same serogroups.
      However, between E. coli isolated from intraabdominal, wound and respiratory
      infections the number of strains with virulence factors was lower than in E. coli
      causing urinary tract infections and sepsis.

PMID- 1450258
TI  - [HIV infection in an autonomous Spanish community (La Rioja). Features, trends
      and conclusions applicable to other regions].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The epidemiologic characteristics of HIV infection in La Rioja
      (Spain) were studied and the future tendencies of the same analyzed. METHODS: The
      data from official Health sources were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: In La
      Rioja, the 5th region in Spain regarding to AIDS incidence, the duplication time
      of the number of cases continues to shorten. The number in December 1991 was 81.
      The heterosexual route of infection was 5% of the cases of AIDS up to December
      1990 and in 1991 it was 15%, while, with regards to the total number of
      seropositive subjects, the number rose from 0.3% in December 1990 to 10% in 1991.
      One thousand one hundred fifty-one seropositive patients were detected in
      December 1991 representing seroprevalence of 0.34% which reaches 1.14% in the age
      range between 18-32 years. Mean hospital stay was 23.6 days with 3,032 hospital
      stays calculated for 1991 representing 8.3 occupied beds/day. There are presently
      92 patients undergoing antiviral treatment. Between 43-69 new cases of AIDS have
      been calculated for 1992. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Medical care should be provided to a
      greater number of seropositive people to avoid early deterioration. 2) The
      increase in heterosexual infection is alarming. 3) The need for rehabilitation
      centers for drug abusers and social alternatives to prostitution is clear. 4)
      Organized campaigns pointing out and returning the dignity and value of life and
      therewith the role of human sexuality are needed. 5) Alternative means to
      conventional hospitalization is required.

PMID- 1450259
TI  - [Outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in a private apartment building].
AB  - BACKGROUND: An outbreak of legionnaires disease occurred in Zaragoza (Spain) in
      an uncommon environment such as a private apartment building was studied.
      METHODS: The investigation began upon notification of 3 patients admitted with
      pneumonia, living in the same apartment building. The suggestion of a common
      source of infection led to an active search for cases and a micro-environmental
      study of the zone where the patients lived, as well as a follow up study of other
      cases with hospital acquired pneumonia throughout the city. RESULTS: Six cases
      were detected over 9 days with a rate of 1.54%. The evolution of all the cases
      was favorable. The causal agent was serologically identified as Legionella
      pneumophilia serogroup 1 which was also found in the shower of one of the
      patient's bath with further confirmation that the strain isolated belonged to the
      Pontiac subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: The probable source of infection was the potable
      water. The stagnation, low temperature of the boiler and the under-chlorination
      of the water are factors which may have contributed to the appearance of this
      outbreak. The control of this type of outbreak must be based on a specific
      information system which treats this disease as requiring individualized
      declaration.

PMID- 1450260
TI  - [Evaluation of a selective medium for the isolation of Moraxella catarrhalis].
AB  - The recovery rate of Moraxella catarrhalis in a selective culture medium with
      acetazolamide and in a conventional blood-agar medium was compared from 1291
      samples from the respiratory tract and conjunctivae of children and adults with
      respiratory and ocular symptomatology. M. catarrhalis was recovered in 215
      samples on the acetazolamide medium, and only. 18 cases in the blood agar medium
      (p < 0.001). The highest recovery of M. catarrhalis was in samples with an
      accompanying flora, either pathogenic or commensal, such as pharyngeal and nasal
      exudates. The prevalence of M. catarrhalis in adults and children was 2% and 28%,
      respectively. We therefore, recommend the use of the acetazolamide medium for the
      recovery of M. catarrhalis in samples where M. catarrhalis is expected to be
      present with an accompanying flora.

PMID- 1450261
TI  - [Isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with primary resistance to
      chemotherapeutic agents in patients with HIV infection].
AB  - BACKGROUND: To evaluate the resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in subjects
      with simultaneous infection by the human immunodeficiency virus. METHODS:
      Isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was carried out in a University hospital
      over a period of 7 years with selection of those corresponding to subjects with
      HIV infection. The isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with resistance to one
      or more chemotherapeutic drugs was identified and is described herein. RESULTS: A
      total of 287 subjects were identified having tuberculous disease, 39 (13.59%) of
      them presented a simultaneous infection by the human immunodeficiency virus. In 4
      of the latter (10.26%) Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to one or more
      chemotherapeutic drugs was isolated with the most frequent resistance being to
      isoniazide (3/4). CONCLUSIONS: A high degree of diagnostic suspicion must be
      maintained in patients with the human immunodeficiency virus with respect to
      tuberculosis, not only because of frequent endogenous activation but also because
      of the danger of in-hospital transmission. The possibility of resistance makes
      systematic antibiograms in these cases advisable. In these patients
      recommendations regarding treatment should be followed avoiding shortened or
      simplified therapeutic periods which have occasionally been demonstrated as
      ineffective.

PMID- 1450262
TI  - [Blastocystis hominis].

PMID- 1450263
TI  - [Fever, eosinophilia, and subcutaneous nodules. Onchocerciasis. Onchocerca
      volvulus (river-blindness)].

PMID- 1450264
TI  - [Osteomyelitis from a cat bite].

PMID- 1450265
TI  - [Acromioclavicular arthritis of the right shoulder with acute presentation].

PMID- 1450266
TI  - [Strongyloidiasis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].

PMID- 1450267
TI  - [Outbreak of food poisoning caused by Salmonella enteritidis phagotype 6
      occurring in Tenerife].

PMID- 1450268
TI  - [Pulmonary infection caused by Mycobacterium szulgai in a patient with hairy-cell
      leukemia].

PMID- 1450269
TI  - [Bacteremia caused by Shigella flexneri].

PMID- 1450270
TI  - [Disseminated infection caused by Mycobacterium kansasii in acquired
      immunodeficiency syndrome].

PMID- 1450271
TI  - [Vibrio alginolyticus in clinical specimens].

PMID- 1450272
TI  - [Wound infection caused by Pasteurella dagmatis following a cat scratch].

PMID- 1450273
TI  - It happens all over the world....

PMID- 1450274
TI  - Rick-A-Nator appliance.

PMID- 1450275
TI  - Case report: non-surgical Class III.

PMID- 1450276
TI  - Ready for phase II--quantitative radionuclide bone scanning.

PMID- 1450277
TI  - Defend yourself against faulty appliances!

PMID- 1450278
TI  - Abnormal dento-facial growth--long face syndrome.

PMID- 1450279
TI  - Case report: correction of Class II skeletal.

PMID- 1450280
TI  - Case report: Class III skeletal, prognathic MD; orthognathic MX.

PMID- 1450281
TI  - Muscle deprogramming splint.

PMID- 1450282
TI  - The diagnostic importance of the Payne technique.

PMID- 1450283
TI  - Case report: tip-edge treatment of a Class II, division 1 malocclusion with an
      anterior openbite.

PMID- 1450284
TI  - Case report: Rick-a-Nator.

PMID- 1450285
TI  - Universal lingual arch wire: combination appliance for orthopedics and
      orthodontics.

PMID- 1450286
TI  - Physical aspects of the EEG in schizophrenics.
AB  - Physical and dynamic aspects of the electroencephalogram (EEG) were evaluated in
      12 schizophrenic patients and 12 matched healthy control subjects by means of two
      descriptive measures proposed by Hjorth (complexity and mobility) and by a
      nonlinear measure, dimensional complexity. These measures were compared to power
      spectra analyses. EEG was recorded from frontal, central, and parietal leads
      under resting conditions (eyes open and eyes closed) for 12 epochs each of 25
      sec. Patients showed the expected increased activity in the 1-7 Hz band and,
      furthermore, a scalp distribution of dimensional complexity and Hjorth complexity
      opposite to the distribution in controls: in patients dimensional complexity
      yielded higher values at frontal (Fz) than central (Cz) leads, whereas the
      resemblance to sinusoidal waveshape (Hjorth complexity) was larger at Fz than Cz.
      Results indicate more dynamic complexity or variables determining the dynamics of
      brain processes in frontal areas in patients.

PMID- 1450288
TI  - Shifts in covert visual attention in schizophrenic patients and normal controls.

PMID- 1450287
TI  - Normalization by nicotine of deficient auditory sensory gating in the relatives
      of schizophrenics.
AB  - Diminished gating of the P50 auditory evoked response to repeated stimuli is a
      psychophysiological feature of schizophrenia, that is also present in many
      relatives of patients. Animal models of auditory sensory gating indicate that
      nicotinic cholinergic neurotransmission is a critical neuronal substrate. The aim
      of this experiment was to determine if the deficit in sensory gating could be
      reversed by nicotine administration. Nonsmoking relatives of schizophrenics with
      abnormal sensory gating were selected as subjects for this initial double-blind
      trial, to avoid effects of psychotropic medications that might complicate trials
      in schizophrenic patients themselves. Nicotine-containing gum increased P50
      sensory gating to near normal levels within 30 min of administration. The effect
      was transient; the gating of P50 returned to baseline levels within 1 hr. There
      was no change observed after placebo administration. In one of the subjects, the
      anticholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine similarly normalized P50 gating. The
      results are consistent with the hypothesis that nicotinic cholinergic
      neurotransmission may mediate a familial psychophysiological deficit in
      schizophrenia.

PMID- 1450289
TI  - A 31phosphorous magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of diazepam does not affect
      brain phosphorous metabolism.

PMID- 1450290
TI  - Hippocampal formation volume, memory dysfunction, and cortisol levels in patients
      with Cushing's syndrome.
AB  - Patients with chronic hypercortisolemia due to Cushing's syndrome (CS) exhibit
      cognitive dysfunction. Because glucocorticoid excess is associated with
      hippocampal damage in animals, and the hippocampus participates in learning and
      memory, we explored the relationships between hippocampal formation (HF) volume,
      memory dysfunction, and cortisol levels in 12 patients with CS. After magnetic
      resonance imaging, HF volume was determined using digital sum of track ball
      traces of dentate gyrus, hippocampus proper and subiculum, correcting for total
      intracranial volume. For 27% of the patients, HF volume fell outside the 95%
      confidence intervals for normal subject volume given in the literature. In
      addition, there were significant and specific correlations between HF volume and
      scores for verbal paired associate learning, verbal recall, and verbal recall
      corrected for full-scale IQ (r = 0.57 to 0.70, p < 0.05). HF volume was
      negatively correlated with plasma cortisol levels (r = -0.73, p < 0.05). These
      studies suggest an association between reduced HF volume, memory dysfunction, and
      elevated cortisol in patients with CS.

PMID- 1450291
TI  - Continuous physiological changes and subjective reports in panic patients: a
      preliminary methodological report.
AB  - Six panic disorder patients and six matched control subjects were studied using a
      new technique allowing continuous and simultaneous monitoring of physiological
      responses (blood pressure, heart rate, respiration) and subjective reports of
      anxiety and panic. This was done before, during, and after CO2 inhalation. Panic
      patients had significantly higher variability in their heart rate, blood
      pressure, and breathing rate than the control subjects. They also had irregular
      breathing patterns with frequent pauses. We identified three different patterns
      of response to CO2 inhalation in the panic patients. Some patients who panicked
      on CO2 showed a definite association between changes in physiological responses
      that preceded their subjective ratings of anxiety; however, others did not show
      this pattern. The possibility of different physiological mechanisms of panic in
      different patients is discussed.

PMID- 1450292
TI  - Cardiovascular phase relationships to the cortical event-related potential of
      schizophrenic, depressed, and normal subjects.
AB  - Cardiovascular phase, especially diastole, influences attention and the event
      related potential (ERP) of the right hemisphere of the brain. Depression and
      schizophrenia are characterized by attentional deficits, unique lateralization of
      brain function, and deviant phase relationships of biological oscillators. In the
      present study, the ERP was recorded during stimulation triggered by diastole and
      systole in control (n = 16), depressed (n = 16), and schizophrenic (n = 9)
      subjects. Fifty tones were presented and subjects were instructed to count them
      silently. Previous findings were supported of delayed latencies and increased
      amplitude in depressed patients and decreased amplitudes and delayed latencies in
      schizophrenics. An exaggerated effect of diastole on the ERP in the right
      hemisphere was observed in depressed patients, however, no cardiovascular effect
      on the ERP was apparent in schizophrenic patients. Results suggested that
      heart/brain networks are tightly coupled in normal controls, perhaps "overdriven"
      in depressed patients, and uncoupled in schizophrenics.

PMID- 1450293
TI  - Language comprehension in schizophrenics and their brothers.
AB  - Disturbances in language functioning may be associated with familial
      vulnerability to schizophrenia. Language comprehension, measured by the Luria
      Nebraska Relational Concepts Factor Scale, was evaluated in 36 schizophrenic
      probands and their nonschizophrenic adult brothers (n = 41), and in 18 normal
      controls. Language comprehension performance was a function of psychiatric
      diagnosis in the brothers. Brothers who met criteria for schizophrenia-spectrum
      disorders showed significantly reduced language performance compared with
      unaffected brothers and normal controls. Moreover, abnormal language performance
      was exhibited by significantly more probands and spectrum-disordered brothers
      than by the normal controls and the brothers without schizophrenia-spectrum
      disorders. Finally, language performance was not significantly different for 31
      pairs of schizophrenic probands and their brothers. Impaired language
      comprehension appeared comparatively specific in this sample of relatives, as
      groups were not significantly different on measures of nonlinguistic concept
      formation (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test) and general intellectual functioning
      (WAIS-R Information and Block design). Results suggest that impaired language
      comprehension is associated with familial vulnerability to schizophrenia, and
      that this disturbance may be most severe in relatives diagnosed with
      schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

PMID- 1450294
TI  - The prevalence of autoantibodies among right and left handed schizophrenic
      patients and control subjects.
AB  - Sera from schizophrenic patients (n = 186) and healthy control subjects (n = 346)
      were tested for the presence of seven common autoantibodies by standard
      immunological methods. The association between handedness and autoantibodies was
      tested in a multi-way contingency table using a log-linear model. For men, but
      not women, nondextrals (patients and controls) were twice as likely to test
      positive for autoantibodies than dextrals (p = 0.0002). Although more women (33%)
      than men (24%) tested positive for autoantibodies, handedness was not a
      distinguishing factor among women. These data suggest that sinistrality and
      gender are associated with autoantibodies in a subgroup of schizophrenic patients
      and healthy control subjects.

PMID- 1450295
TI  - Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function and suicidal behavior in depression.
AB  - Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function was examined in relation to
      suicidal behavior in depression. There were no significant differences between
      depressed patients who had or had not attempted suicide for either cerebrospinal
      fluid concentrations of corticotropin-releasing hormone, plasma cortisol levels
      predexamethasone or postdexamethasone, or for urinary-free cortisol outputs.
      However, depressed patients who had made a violent suicide attempt had
      significantly higher 4 PM and maximum postdexamethasone plasma cortisol levels,
      and significantly more of them were cortisol nonsuppressors than patients who had
      made nonviolent suicide attempts. A 5-year follow-up was carried out. There were
      no significant differences on indices of HPA function between depressed patients
      who did or did not reattempt suicide during the follow-up or who had never
      attempted suicide. These results suggest the possibility that dysregulation of
      the HPA axis may be a determinant of violent suicidal behavior in depression.

PMID- 1450296
TI  - Preliminary studies of 6 beta-hydroxydexamethasone and its importance in the DST.
AB  - The role of the metabolites of dexamethasone (DEX) in the dexamethasone
      suppression test (DST) has never been fully elucidated. We report here our
      preliminary studies of 6 beta-hydroxydexamethasone (6 OH-Dex), a known metabolite
      of DEX, on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis of the rat; its activity
      in the most commonly used radioimmunoassay for plasma DEX; and its plasma
      concentrations in a normal human subject during the standard 1.0 mg DST. Six OH
      Dex administered subcutaneously to rats at a dose of 1 mg/kg was able to
      completely suppress corticosterone production for at least 3 hr. In the IgG Corp.
      radioimmunoassay for plasma DEX, 6 OH-Dex was moderately cross-reactive yielding
      a 50% cross-reactivity of 10%. Gas chromatographic coupled mass spectroscopic
      analysis of human plasma samples, obtained 12 to 20 hr after the oral ingestion
      of 1.0 mg DEX, demonstrated similar plasma concentrations for both the parent
      compound and the 6-hydroxyl metabolite. The relevance of these findings,
      particularly to pharmacokinetic studies of the DST, is discussed.

PMID- 1450297
TI  - Bupropion treatment of fluoxetine-resistant chronic fatigue syndrome.
AB  - Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) includes many symptoms of major depression. For
      this reason, many antidepressants have been used to treat the symptoms of this
      disorder. Among the more recently released antidepressants are fluoxetine and
      bupropion. In this open study, nine CFS patients who either could not tolerate or
      did not respond to fluoxetine showed significant response when administered 300
      mg/day of bupropion for an 8-week period in both rating of HDRS (t = 4.80, p <
      0.01) and BDI (t = 2.48, p < 0.05). Furthermore, bupropion improvement in
      Hamilton Depression Rating Scale correlated significantly with change in plasma
      homovanillic acid (HVA) (r = 0.96, p < 0.01). Plasma total
      methylhydroxyphenolglycol (MHPG) also increased significantly during bupropion
      treatment (t = 2.37, p = 0.05). Measures of T1 microsomal antibodies also
      decreased over treatment time; increases in natural killer cell numbers
      correlated inversely with change in plasma levels of free MHPG (r = -0.88, p <
      0.05). Bupropion responders were more likely to have trough blood levels above 30
      ng/ml (chi 2 = 3.6, p = 0.05).

PMID- 1450298
TI  - Stimulus parameter effects on the P50 evoked response.

PMID- 1450299
TI  - Counter clockwise scalp hair whorl in schizophrenia.

PMID- 1450300
TI  - [The value of 2- and 3-dimensional computed tomography in the diagnosis and
      classification of midfacial and orbital fractures].
AB  - The value of 2D- and 3D-computed assisted tomography in detecting and classifying
      midfacial fractures and craniofacial deformities acquired by gunshot injuries was
      assessed in 123 resp. 26 patients and compared with the postoperative results. In
      a comparative study 37 patients were prospectively examined by pluridirectional
      tomography. Examinations of a macerated skull were performed to optimize 3D
      investigation technique. High resolution CT proved to be the most reliable
      technique in detecting midfacial fractures and associated soft tissue injuries.
      3D-imaging of bony surfaces allowed clear demonstration of fraction extent and
      fragment displacement without offering additional detail information. 3D-based
      computer-assisted manufacturing of individual models facilitated surgical
      planning of complex midfacial injuries.

PMID- 1450301
TI  - [Initial experience with digital luminescence radiography in the radiological
      diagnosis of the visceral cranium].
AB  - The purpose of this study was the evaluation of digital luminescence radiography
      (PCR; Philips Computed Radiography) used in routine radiological analysis of the
      facial skull. Besides the standard radiographs additional PCR shots were taken in
      16 cases. The subjective evaluation was carried out by three different people
      using clinical criteria. PCR films showed a significant advantage compared to
      standard radiographs for the above mentioned applications.

PMID- 1450302
TI  - [The complication incidence after surgical treatments of mouth, jaw and facial
      tumors in patients over 70].
AB  - After operative therapy of tumors of mouth, jaws and face by patients older 70
      years the frequency of complications were 26%. Local and systemic disturbances
      had nearly similar frequencies. Preexistent diseases, therapeutic concepts and
      methods of anaesthesia influenced as well frequencies of complications as
      postoperative lethality. In the analysed group of elderly patients the lethality
      was unexpected low (2,4%).

PMID- 1450303
TI  - [Laser-induced photoacoustic effects in the dentin].
AB  - To study photoacoustic effects in dentin caused by UV-laser ablation, laser
      induced shockwaves were measured using piezoelectric PVDF films. Above the tissue
      specific energy threshold for photoablation the amplitude of the acoustic shock
      waves is proportional to the applied laser energy density. Laser energy densities
      of 2 J/cm2 cause pressure amplitudes of 50 bar, densities of 20 J/cm2 cause
      pressure amplitudes of 1000 bar. To avoid microcracks in dentine the maximum
      laser energy density to prepare dentin should be limited to approximately 20
      J/cm2.

PMID- 1450304
TI  - [Light microscopic studies of pulp morphology following orthodontic therapy].
AB  - The authors studied the dental pulp morphology and distribution of acid and
      neutral mucopolysaccharides in teeth subjected to orthodontic therapy. The teeth
      were moved with a fixed appliance using forces of 60-200 g. Changes in the
      histological structure of the dental pulp followed the therapy. The number of
      collagen fibres increased; they were densely packed and formed thick bundles. A
      certain degree of hyalinization was also observed. The dental pulp cavity was
      narrowed by apposition of hard tissue deposits along the canal wall. Pulp stones
      and diffuse calcification were often encountered. The reaction of acid
      mucopolysaccharides was found to be very weak, sometimes even negative. The
      reaction of neutral mucopolysaccharides was not affected so markedly. The results
      of the paper suggest that changes induced in the dental pulp with fixed
      orthodontic appliances are irreversible and correspond to those of aging. These
      premature changes together with rapid hard tissue formation, may negatively
      influence endodontic treatment in the future.

PMID- 1450305
TI  - [The assessment of the caries risk in young adults].
AB  - Several factors for caries prediction have been proved in a one-year follow-up
      study on 73 patients. The white-spot lesions have proved to be a good criteria
      for caries prediction in this population. These lesions could be combined with
      the microbiological tests Dentocult SM and Oricult N or with the determination of
      the buffer capacity (Dentobuff), which did not much improve the prediction.

PMID- 1450306
TI  - [Chronic pain].

PMID- 1450307
TI  - [Backache and the anesthetist].

PMID- 1450308
TI  - [Monitoring perfusion with transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Progress in cerebral
      monitoring?].

PMID- 1450309
TI  - [Clinical comparison of various infusion regimens within the scope of
      postoperative on demand analgesia with fentanyl].
AB  - 80 patients (ASA I-III, mean age 40-50 years, mean weight 59-68 kg) recovering
      from major gynaecological surgery (170-200 min) under balanced anaesthesia were
      randomly assigned to four groups to self-administer intravenous fentanyl during
      the early postoperative period. PCA devices were ODAC and Prominject with
      fentanyl demand doses of 34.5 or 34 micrograms, respectively, and lockout times
      of 1 or 5 min. Concurrent fentanyl infusion was none (group Prom), fixed-rate
      with 4 micrograms/h (group ODACf), tail-dose, i.e., a fixed-rate infusion with 17
      mg/h for a maximum of 60 minutes following a valid demand (group Prom(t)), or
      adaptive, starting with 4 micrograms/h and being adapted to individual needs
      depending on total fentanyl consumption in the latest 60-minute period (group
      ODACa). Data were collected for fentanyl consumption, venous fentanyl serum
      concentrations in fixed intervals, actual and retrospective verbal rating pain
      scores (0-5), haemodynamic variables, respiratory rate, side effects and
      patients' acceptance. Mean duration of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) was 15
      17 hrs. During this period, an average of 12-18 demands were administered per
      patient, resulting in an average fentanyl consumption of 36-52 micrograms/h (0.57
      0.94 micrograms/kg/h). Analgesic efficacy was good in all groups, mean pain
      scores ranging from 0.4 to 1.1 (actual) and 1.7 to 2.2 (retrospective). Mean
      duration of a single fentanyl bolus dose was highly variable, ranging from 58 to
      90 min if calculated for the total observation period. Statistically significant
      differences were found for none of the above mentioned PCA parameters. As a
      trend, the adaptive-rate infusion strategy was favoured (lowest demand rate, best
      retrospective pain scores).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450310
TI  - [Lidocaine plus fentanyl for controlling cardiovascular reactions to laryngoscopy
      and intubation].
AB  - Administration of fentanyl or lidocaine alone often insufficiently suppresses the
      haemodynamic reaction to laryngoscopy and intubation. We therefore evaluated the
      combination of both substances in patients with good ventricular performance (EF
      > 60%) undergoing coronary bypass surgery. 20 patients were randomly assigned to
      Group 1 (G1) or Group 2 (G2). As induction agents flunitrazepam (0.025 mg/kg),
      fentanyl (6-7 micrograms/kg) and pancuronium (0.1 mg/kg) were used. 3 minutes
      prior to intubation G1-patients received saline (0.1 cc/kg) while in G2 patients
      lidocaine (1 mg/kg) was administered. 10 minutes after termination of the
      preparations for induction (M1), prior to (M2), during (M3) and 10 minutes after
      the end of intubation (M4) heart rate (HR), blood pressure (MAP), pulmonary
      artery pressure (PAP) pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and cardiac
      output (CO) were measured. From these values we calculated rate-pressure product
      (RPP), total peripheral resistance (TPR), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR),
      cardiac index (CI), stroke volume (SV) and stroke index (SI). Whitney-Mann test
      (U-test) served for statistical evaluation. If compared to baseline (M1),
      induction of anaesthesia caused in both groups a significant decrease of MAP (G1:
      109 to 81 mmHg; G2: 97 to 77 mmHg), CO (G1: 6.2 to 5.2 l/min; G2: 6.6 to 5.2
      l/min), CI (G1: 3.3 to 2.8 l/min m2; G2: 3.5 to 2.7 l/min m2) and RPP (G1: 12701
      to 10201 mmHg min-1; G2: 11309 to 8070 mmHg min-1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1450311
TI  - [Indwelling catheters with injection ports: Is retrograde contamination of
      applied syringe possible?].

PMID- 1450312
TI  - [Chronic pain as a psychosomatic syndrome].

PMID- 1450313
TI  - [Classification of chronic pain syndromes. Multiaxial pain classification MASK].

PMID- 1450314
TI  - [The concept of a multidisciplinary pain clinic].

PMID- 1450315
TI  - [Oral ketamine as preferred preanesthetic medication of uncooperative patients].
AB  - We report on oral ketamine for the preinduction of 3 patients who aggressively
      refused the commonly used induction of anaesthesia, due to young age or mental
      retardation. One child and two mentally retarded patients aged 30 and 31 years
      who were to undergo dental surgery aggressively refused the induction of
      anaesthesia, either by inhalation or rectal, intramuscular, or intravenous
      application of drugs. One of them previously injured the medical personnel and
      destroyed the interior equipment of a gynaecologist, who tried to perform an
      examination. After having received 6 to 8 mg/kg body weight ketamine in 10 ml
      water, which they accepted well, probably because of the long lasting fluid
      restriction (about 12 hours), they tolerated the induction of anaesthesia by
      inhalation (2 patients) or intravenously (1 child). Two patients remained awake,
      but calm, one fell deeply asleep. After several hours of surgery in inhalation
      anaesthesia they could be extubated within several minutes and discharged the
      same day. We conclude that 5 to 10 mg/kg oral ketamine in water which has a
      bioavailability of approximately 20% is a useful agent for the preinduction of
      patients who aggressively refuse medical treatment. Because deep sleep states
      cannot be excluded, we recommend a careful supervision after the application of
      ketamine. Nevertheless, we could discharge our patients on the same day even
      after long lasting surgical procedures; this makes this method useful in day case
      surgery.

PMID- 1450316
TI  - [Historical vignette (5). Brain anemia for more rapid induction of anesthesia].

PMID- 1450317
TI  - Effect of thrombin inhibitors on platelet functions: comparative analysis of DuP
      714 and hirudin.
AB  - Since thrombin plays an important role in platelet-mediated arterial thrombosis,
      we have examined the antiplatelet activity of a synthetic thrombin inhibitor, DuP
      714 (Ac-(D)Phe-Pro-boroArg), in comparison with that of the naturally occurring
      inhibitor hirudin. Hirudin was slightly more potent than DuP 714 in inhibiting
      thrombin-induced aggregation in washed human platelets (IC50s of 72 nM and 150
      nM, respectively) and in inhibiting the secretion of plasminogen activator
      inhibitor-I from human platelets (IC50s of 300 nM and 900 nM, respectively). In
      contrast, DuP 714 was more potent than hirudin in inhibiting thrombin-induced
      [125I]fibrinogen binding to gel purified platelets, and in inhibiting thrombin
      induced intracellular calcium mobilization in washed platelets. These results
      indicate that the tripeptide DuP 714 has comparable antiplatelet activity to the
      65 amino acid hirudin. We conclude that DuP 714 may have clinical utility in the
      prevention of platelet-dependent, arterial thrombotic processes.

PMID- 1450318
TI  - Autoantibody to plasma fibrinopeptide A in a patient with a severe acquired
      haemorrhagic syndrome.
AB  - We describe a 50-year-old man with a severe acquired haemorrhagic syndrome. He
      had slightly prolonged clotting times using bovine thrombin, human thrombin and
      reptilase. His plasma contained a polyclonal IgG which interfered with the
      generation of fibrin monomers without inhibiting the aggregation of preformed
      monomers. The inhibitor delayed thrombin-induced fibrinopeptide A release. The
      IgG bound to insolubilized synthetic fibrinopeptide A (one binding site per
      molecule) and, with higher affinity, to fibrinogen (two binding sites per
      molecule). It did not bind to insolubilized fibrin monomers. The IgG did not
      impair the catalytic activity of thrombin toward a small synthetic substrate but
      inhibited the binding of thrombin to fibrinogen without binding to thrombin. The
      binding of the anti-fibrinopeptide A autoantibody to fibrinogen might have
      impaired thrombin-induced fibrinogen to fibrin conversion in vivo. This may have
      favoured the reported haemorrhagic syndrome which was associated with severe
      chronic renal insufficiency.

PMID- 1450319
TI  - Platelet prevention of oxidant lung oedema is not mediated through scavenging of
      hydrogen peroxide.
AB  - Previous studies have shown that washed human platelets attenuate oxidant oedema
      in isolated perfused rabbit lungs through mechanisms dependent on platelet
      glutathione. We hypothesized that the platelet glutathione redox cycle scavenges
      hydrogen peroxide in this model and thereby protects vascular endothelial cells
      from oxidant injury. This hypothesis was tested by asking two questions: (1) do
      glutathione-supplemented platelets demonstrate augmented lung protection compared
      with control platelets, and (2) does conjugation of platelet glutathione with 1
      chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene or inactivation of catalase with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole
      decrease in vitro platelet metabolism of hydrogen peroxide? We incubated washed
      human platelets with reduced glutathione or glutathione monoester and observed
      platelet glutathione contents of 181% and 189%, respectively, compared with
      control values. Incubation of platelets with N-acetylcysteine did not alter
      platelet glutathione content. Infusion of glutathione-supplemented platelets into
      isolated lungs injured by purine and xanthine oxidase did not augment platelet
      protection compared with untreated platelets. We also found that conjugation of
      platelet glutathione and/or inactivation of platelet catalase did not decrease
      the rate constant for platelet metabolism of hydrogen peroxide. We conclude that
      platelets attenuate oxidant lung oedema through glutathione-dependent mechanisms
      other than direct scavenging of hydrogen peroxide.

PMID- 1450320
TI  - Lupus anticoagulants/anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with normal tension
      glaucoma.
AB  - Ocular vascular occlusive disease resulting in severe retinopathy and/or post
      thrombotic glaucoma has been extensively discussed in patients with lupus
      anticoagulant and/or anticardiolipin antibodies (LA/aCL). Inadequate circulation
      plays an important role in the pathogenesis of another ophthalmic entity--the
      normal tension glaucoma. We studied 22 patients with normal tension glaucoma
      (group I) and 23 with chronic open-angle glaucoma (group II) and compared them
      with a control group (n = 25, group III). LA, aCL, the aCL cofactor beta 2
      Glycoprotein I, and other haemostatic parameters including factor VIII:C, von
      Willebrand factor, factors II, V, VII and plasminogen activator inhibitor were
      measured. Five out of 22 (22.7%) in group I, five out of 23 (21.7%) in group II
      and three out of 25 (12.0%) in group III had positive LA and/or aCL. These
      prevalences were not statistically significantly different. beta 2-Glycoprotein I
      was normal in all groups. No other parameters were significantly different
      between groups. These findings do not support the contribution of ocular
      microvascular occlusive disease, due to elevated aCL, in the pathogenesis of
      glaucomatous damage.

PMID- 1450321
TI  - Hereditary deficiency of antithrombin III, protein C and protein S: prevalence in
      patients with a history of venous thrombosis and criteria for rational patient
      screening.
AB  - Data in the literature on the prevalence of hereditary deficiency of the natural
      coagulation inhibitors are conflicting. We conducted a prospective study on 680
      consecutive patients with a history of venous thrombosis to determine the
      prevalence of hereditary deficiency of antithrombin III (AT III), protein C(PC)
      and protein S(PS) and to establish selection criteria for rational patient
      screening. The mean age of the patients at investigation was 44.3 +/- 15.4 years,
      while that at the first thrombotic event was 38.5 +/- 14.8 years. The total
      prevalence of inhibitor deficiency states was 48/680 (7.1%). 19/680 patients
      (2.8%) had AT III-deficiency, 17 (2.5%) PC-deficiency, nine (1.3%) PS-deficiency
      and three (0.4%) a combined deficiency. In 37/48 deficient patients family
      studies were performed and the hereditary nature was established in 19 cases
      (2.8% of total patient population, six with AT III-deficiency, eight with PC
      deficiency, four with PS-deficiency and one with a combined deficiency). Family
      studies in these 19 patients revealed 46 additional individual patients with a
      hereditary deficiency state. A positive family history was found in 15/19 (79%)
      with a proven hereditary deficiency state, in 153/619 (25%) of non-deficient
      patients and in 11/29 (38%) of deficient patients without established hereditary
      nature. The mean age at the first thrombotic event was significantly lower in
      patients with a hereditary deficiency state (26.8 years) compared with the other
      two groups (39.0 and 39.7 years, respectively). In all patients with a hereditary
      deficiency the first thrombotic event occurred before the age of 45
      years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450322
TI  - Factor XII clotting activity and antigen levels in patients with thromboembolic
      disease.
AB  - Individuals with severe factor XII (FXII) deficiency may be prone to
      thromboembolic disease and this thrombophilic state may be due to insufficient
      contact activation dependent fibrinolysis. According to our previous study
      (Thromb Haemostas 1991; 65: 117-121), however, heterozygous FXII deficiency is
      not a strong prethrombotic risk factor, only one out of 45 obligatory or possible
      heterozygotes having sustained a thrombotic event. In the present study, FXII
      clotting activity (FXII:C) and antigen concentration (FXII:AG) were measured in
      200 patients having suffered from idiopathic thromboembolism and compared with
      the values in 200 healthy controls. Mean FXII levels were not significantly
      different in thrombophilic patients and controls, and subnormal FXII values were
      not more frequently encountered in patients than in controls. Specific FXII
      activity, i.e. the ratio of FXII:C to FXII:AG, showed considerable variation in
      each of the two groups, but patients and controls had a similar distribution of
      specific FXII activity. Variations in specific FXII activity were not explained
      by differences in beta 2-glycoprotein I levels. In conclusion, heterozygous FXII
      deficiency is not a strong prethrombotic risk factor and subnormal FXII values
      are not more common in thrombophilic patients than in healthy individuals.

PMID- 1450323
TI  - Neutralization of factor X activity by factor X-specific monoclonal antibodies.
AB  - Factor X, a vitamin K-dependent protein, is the plasma zymogen for the active
      serine protease factor Xa. Factor Xa is the proteolytic enzyme for
      prothrombinase, the multi-protein membrane complex that catalyses the cleavage of
      prothrombin to thrombin. A panel of 10 monoclonal antibodies (identified by their
      corresponding clone numbers: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 26, 27, 54, 73, and 79) to factor X
      were produced by immunizing mice with purified factor X. All of the antibodies
      bound both human factor X and factor Xa in a solid-phase ELISA and binding of the
      antibodies was not affected by removal of Ca2+ with EDTA. In immunoblot analysis,
      antibody alpha HFX-54 bound to the light chain and antibodies alpha HFX-1, -5, 
      7, and -26 bound to the heavy chain of reduced factor X. Antibodies alpha BFX-2b,
      alpha HFX-27, -54, and -73 prolonged both the factor X-dependent clotting time
      and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) of normal plasma while antibody
      alpha HFX-1 only prolonged the APTT. None of the antibodies significantly
      inhibited factor X activation by purified Russell's viper venom factor X
      activator. In prothrombin activation assays using purified factor Xa, factor Va,
      prothrombin, Ca2+ and phospholipid vesicles, seven of the antibodies (alpha HFX
      1, -3, -26, -27, -54, -73 and alpha BFX2b) showed some inhibition of thrombin
      generation ranging from 18 to 60% of the control. The decrease in factor X plasma
      clotting activity was most likely due to inhibition of factor Xa activity in
      prothrombinase, although some antibody-dependent inhibition of factor X
      activation may contribute to the observed inhibition of plasma clotting.
      Prothrombinase activity on platelets was inhibited in an identical manner by the
      monoclonal antibodies. When prothrombin was activated in the absence of factor
      Va, only antibody alpha BFX-2b inhibited activation. Calcium-independent
      determinants on both the heavy chain (determinants 1 and 26) and light chain
      (determinant 54) of factor X may play a role in prothrombin activation by
      prothrombinase. Other epitopes (antibodies alpha HFX-3, -27, -73) appeared to be
      influenced by association of factor Xa with factor Va. Topographic regions on
      factor X important for factor X activation and factor Xa function may be
      identified by the use of these monoclonal antibodies.

PMID- 1450324
TI  - Enhanced ex vivo proteolysis of plasma von Willebrand factor in disseminated
      intravascular coagulation.
AB  - Plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (vWf) are frequently elevated in patients
      with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). To investigate the qualitative
      abnormalities of vWf and the possibility of its ex vivo modification in DIC, we
      analysed the multimeric composition of vWf in citrated plasma from 15 patients
      with DIC in the presence or absence of serine protease inhibitors (aprotinin and
      soybean trypsin inhibitor) and/or cysteine protease inhibitors (leupeptin, N
      ethylmaleimide and EDTA). The proportion of large vWf multimers in plasma
      prepared in the presence of cysteine protease inhibitors was higher than those
      without such inhibitors. The addition of serine protease inhibitors during the
      preparation of plasma had no effect on the relative amounts of large multimers.
      The relative proportion of large multimers in plasma prepared without inhibitors
      and the difference between plasmas prepared with and without cysteine protease
      inhibitors correlated with plasma plasmin-alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor complex
      values, but not with other plasma or serum markers of DIC (platelet count,
      fibrinogen, FDP, D-dimer or thrombin-antithrombin III complex). We conclude that
      ex vivo proteolysis of plasma vWf occurs frequently in patients with DIC and
      cysteine protease inhibitors can protect this degradation.

PMID- 1450325
TI  - The effects of type of factor VIII concentrate used in haemophilia on T-helper
      cell number and inhibitor incidence.
AB  - This review surveys the available published data on the impact of the type of
      factor VIII concentrate infused on T-helper lymphocyte count and factor VIII
      inhibitor induction in haemophiliacs. While concern has been expressed that
      certain products may have adverse effects on these parameters, only one trial
      published to date shows a significant benefit of a high purity product in
      reducing the rate of CD4 lymphocyte decline in HIV seropositive haemophiliacs. A
      number of other studies show no such significant benefit although the design of
      many of these might be criticized and few of them consider the potential impact
      of viral infection other than HIV, such as hepatitis C. More recent data on the
      incidence and prevalence of inhibitors in the haemophiliac population suggest
      that the reported high frequency of inhibitor formation for some products may lie
      within the expected normal range. This raises interest in why some products
      appear not to induce inhibitor formation, even in the group of patients at
      greater risk: multitransfused, severely deficient patients. The occasional
      reports of late onset high titre inhibitors in multitransfused haemophilia
      patients associated with the introduction of newer products are a matter of
      concern.

PMID- 1450326
TI  - Platelet Symposium: Recent developments in British Blood Transfusion Service and
      clinical practice. Proceedings. London, 8 April 1992.

PMID- 1450327
TI  - An overview of current trends in platelet preparation, storage and transfusion.
AB  - We present an overview of issues relating to preparation, storage and transfusion
      of platelet concentrates. The concepts of quality are described and potential
      benefits from leucodepletion, UVB irradiation and the use of additive solutions
      discussed. Emphasis is placed on laboratory evaluation of the storage lesion and
      in particular morphological changes of platelets during storage.

PMID- 1450328
TI  - Preparation of platelet concentrates after overnight hold at 20 degrees C.
AB  - The clinical demand for platelet concentrates has increased dramatically in the
      last decade, and poses logistical problems for regional transfusion centres.
      Pietersz et al. (Vox Sang 1989; 56: 145-150) have shown that it is possible to
      prepare clinically effective platelet concentrates with substantially reduced
      white cell contamination, whilst maintaining satisfactory levels of factor VIII:C
      after holding whole blood at 20 degrees C overnight. This approach offers a
      method of production that will allow platelet concentrates to be prepared from
      potentially all donations collected, without resorting to extensive out-of-hours
      working. Following laboratory evaluation of the procedure we were able to
      reproduce Pietersz's findings, although hypotonic shock response results were
      less favourable than observed in our routine platelet concentrates.

PMID- 1450329
TI  - Automated processing of leucocyte-poor platelet concentrates.
AB  - In view of transfusion reactions and alloimmunization associated with leucocyte
      contamination of platelet concentrates (PC), there is a general move towards the
      production of leuco-poor PC. This goal is currently pursued by the production of
      various PC using buffy coat and apheresis techniques. Although there is no
      overall consensus on the meaning of 'leuco-poor', by assuming that this refers to
      a level of 5-50 x 10(7) leucocytes per PC, we were able to make comparisons with
      available systems used in Europe. In addition to platelet and white cell counts,
      other markers of PC quality were assessed in some cases. These included
      traditional markers (such as hypotonic stress response, pH, and lactate and beta
      thromboglobulin levels) and newer markers (such as glycocalicin and plasma von
      Willebrand factor levels). Our preliminary results showed appreciable differences
      in platelet and white cell content of PC prepared by various types of apheresis
      equipment. Appreciable differences in the quality of stored PC were also observed
      between routine PC (non-leuco-poor and buffy coat and apheresed PC (leuco-poor).

PMID- 1450330
TI  - The use of mean platelet volume for evaluation of quality of platelet
      concentrates.
AB  - Mean platelet volume (MPV) was determined on whole blood and platelet
      concentrates (PC) prepared from units of the same blood, as well as on samples of
      venous blood taken from donors before plateletpheresis and on PC collected by
      Spectra (COBE Laboratories Ltd) and CS-3000 (Baxter Healthcare Ltd) cell
      separators. The mean (+/- SD) MPV for PC prepared from blood (7.18 +/- 0.76 fl, n
      = 12) was significantly lower than that for whole blood (8.32 +/- 0.72 fl, P <
      0.02) suggesting significant separation of young, large and dense platelets
      together with the red cells. In contrast, the mean MPV for PC collected with
      Spectra and CS-3000 cell separators was 8.48 +/- 0.52 fl (n = 20) and 8.94 +/-
      0.60 fl (n = 12), respectively, and was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that
      determined in venous blood samples of donors taken before plateletpheresis (7.76
      +/- 0.74 fl and 8.12 +/- 0.62 fl respectively). This indicates preferential
      separation of large platelets, which are by inference, of better quality, into
      PC.

PMID- 1450331
TI  - Glycoproteins Ib and IIb/IIIa in the quality assessment of platelet concentrates
      during storage.
AB  - We have previously shown that levels of soluble glycocalicin (GC) in plasma
      supernatants derived from units of platelet concentrates (PC) increase
      progressively during storage. We now report further studies which show that the
      levels of both microparticle-bound and soluble GC in PC during storage are
      influenced by exposure of PC samples to EDTA and treatment of PC packs with
      ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation. EDTA leads to a significant increase in the
      release of microvesicle-bound and soluble GC, while UVB irradiation leads to a
      dose- and rate-dependent increase in GC release. Paradoxically, UVB leads to an
      unexpected decrease in supernatant levels of von Willebrand factor (vWf) during
      storage which contrasts with its increase in untreated, stored PC. Moreover, an
      increase in GC release during storage is associated with a corresponding decrease
      in platelet size as determined by measurement of mean platelet volume (MPV) in
      citrated PC. The GC release is significantly correlated with standard platelet
      functional tests and other new generation tests such as dMPV and supernatant
      levels of vWf. In addition, preliminary results show the presence of
      microparticle-bound and soluble glycoprotein (Gp) IIb/IIIa in the supernatant
      plasma of stored PC. Our results suggest that supernatant levels of GpIb,
      GpIIb/IIIa, and vWf, together with alteration in MPV, provide essential new
      informative parameters for quality assessment of PC.

PMID- 1450332
TI  - Platelets as immunogens.
AB  - An immune response to human platelet antigens (HPA), as in neonatal alloimmune
      thrombocytopenia (NAIT) and post-transfusion purpura (PTP), is the exception
      rather than the rule and evidence is accumulating for the importance of human
      leucocyte antigen (HLA) class II restriction in this situation. Platelets have
      only HLA class I antigens and do not cause primary HLA alloimmunization; in
      platelet transfusions this is due to the contaminating leucocytes. Autoimmune
      thrombocytopenia is more common than the alloimmune conditions. The main target
      antigens for platelet autoantibodies are glycoproteins (Gp) IIb/IIIa and Ib/IX.
      The mechanism of drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia has been re-examined in
      relation to the target cell orientation of the antibody and of the drug.

PMID- 1450333
TI  - An audit of the use of platelet concentrates in the prophylaxis of
      thrombocytopenic haemorrhage in a large haematology unit.
AB  - Platelet transfusions are valuable in the prevention of thrombocytopenic bleeding
      in patients undergoing chemotherapy for haematological malignancies. The commonly
      used threshold platelet count for transfusion of 20 x 10(9)/l was established in
      the 1960s when the clinical situation was very different from today. Review of
      the use of platelet concentrates in a large haematology unit showed lack of
      adherence to this threshold with the use of platelet transfusions at higher
      platelet counts. Major bleeding episodes occurred at counts above the threshold
      when additional clinical factors were operating. A lower threshold was therefore
      recommended and instituted. This resulted in a 20% reduction in the use of
      platelet concentrates with no increase in major bleeding episodes.

PMID- 1450334
TI  - The alloimmunized patient: effective transfusion support and newer experimental
      approaches.
AB  - Refractoriness occurs in a proportion of patients who receive multiple platelet
      transfusions. Alloantibodies, in particular those directed against the class I
      human leucocyte antigens (HLA) present on the platelet surface, are frequently
      associated with accelerated platelet destruction and transfusion failure.
      Compatible platelets for transfusion may be found by selecting donations from HLA
      typed individuals, crossmatching patients' sera against donor lymphocytes and
      platelets or both. Maintaining a large panel of HLA-typed apheresis donors is
      expensive and some mismatching is inevitable due to the polymorphic nature of the
      HLA system. Cross-matching may improve the outcome when HLA-matched donations are
      transfused and may also be a cost-effective strategy for the selection of
      compatible untyped platelets. Administration of intravenous immunoglobulin,
      plasma exchange and ex vivo removal of platelet HLA have been employed
      successfully in a few refractory alloimmunized patients but do not yet have an
      established role. Experimental studies in animal models suggest that it may be
      possible to induce tolerance to HLA and prevent alloimmunization.

PMID- 1450335
TI  - Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
AB  - Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is an uncommon disorder, but it continues to
      be of considerable interest. The disease mechanisms are unclear and the aetiology
      is unknown. Perhaps most enigmatic of all, the mode of action of plasma therapy,
      which successfully induces remission in about two-thirds of cases, is wholly
      inexplicable. There are currently several areas of debate on the subject of
      thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. This paper addresses these points of
      contention: the definition of the disease, its distinction from haemolytic
      uraemic syndrome, the nature of the platelet aggregating factors in the plasma of
      patients with acute disease, the importance of the abnormalities of von
      Willebrand's factor observed in the acute and quiescent phases of the disease,
      the nature of the factor in normal plasma that induces remission, and the
      possible causes of the observed superiority of plasma exchange combined with
      plasma infusion, over plasma infusion alone.

PMID- 1450336
TI  - Disseminated intravascular coagulation and hepatocellular necrosis due to clove
      oil.
AB  - We describe the case of a 2-year-old child who suffered from disseminated
      intravascular coagulation (DIC) and hepatocellular necrosis, following ingestion
      of clove oil. The patient was treated with heparin and fresh frozen plasma, and,
      following specific haemostasis assays, with appropriate coagulation factor and
      inhibitor concentrates. The case demonstrates how this approach can be
      successfully used in the management of DIC with coexisting liver failure.

PMID- 1450337
TI  - Platelet imipramine binding is increased in essential thrombocythaemia.
AB  - A decrease in platelet serotonin content is well recognized in myeloproliferative
      disorders, although the basis for this is unclear. The relationship between
      decreased platelet serotonin and the number of serotonin transport channels in
      the platelet membrane was explored indirectly by measuring the number of the
      closely associated imipramine binding sites. Imipramine binding parameters were
      determined in 12 patients suffering from either essential thrombocythaemia or
      polycythaemia rubra vera and in 10 healthy controls. The maximal number of
      imipramine binding sites (Bmax) was increased in both patient groups,
      significantly so in those suffering from essential thrombocythaemia. This
      increase contrasts with a decrease in binding in other conditions known to be
      associated with decreased platelet serotonin. This study thus demonstrates a
      discrepancy in terms of reduced platelet serotonin content and increased
      imipramine binding on platelets from patients suffering from essential
      thrombocythaemia. It is suggested that further investigation of the imipramine
      binding site in these disorders, in parallel with measures of platelet serotonin
      content and uptake, is warranted.

PMID- 1450338
TI  - Meningococcaemia in an adult with hereditary C4b-binding protein deficiency:
      study of the variations of the protein S system.
AB  - Serial studies of the plasma protein C-protein S system were performed during the
      clinical course of a pregnant woman with meningococcaemia who recovered under
      therapy. The patient had limited purpura fulminans skin lesions and hereditary
      C4b-binding protein deficiency was suspected. This diagnosis was confirmed in the
      patient 1 year after delivery and also by family studies. During the
      meningococcaemia, an initial mild and transient acquired protein C deficiency was
      seen but no protein S deficiency was observed despite consumption of the latter
      protein. As C4b-binding protein partial deficiency is associated with high free
      protein S and protein S activity, this may have protected against acquired
      protein S deficiency during meningococcaemia.

PMID- 1450339
TI  - Intravascular platelet activation depends on the degree of stenosis of major
      cranial arteries in patients with atherosclerosis.

PMID- 1450340
TI  - Studies on the anticoagulant properties of hementin.

PMID- 1450341
TI  - Sociologic aspects of pregnancy.
AB  - Increasingly, social factors are recognized as having a major impact on
      pregnancy, childbearing, and prenatal care. This review examines some of the more
      recent societal developments that have influenced health care for pregnant women.
      Although human gestation is a biologic phenomena, it exists with the social
      context of personal needs, family, and community of the pregnant women. This
      social fabric determines the perception, management, and outcome of that
      gestation. Significant influences to examine include pregnant women in the work
      force; malpractice concerns of health care providers; issues related to the cost
      of health care in pregnancy; the legal rights of the pregnant woman versus the
      legal rights of the fetus; pregnancy and occupational health; and the role of
      stress in pregnancy outcome.

PMID- 1450342
TI  - Drug supplementation in pregnancy.
AB  - Since antiquity, there have been references in medicine to the role of nutrition
      in pregnancy outcome. Reviewing articles on nutrition and drug supplementation in
      pregnancy, one is struck by the variety of remedies that have been tried and the
      variety of effects that have been attributed to them. The number of herbal
      remedies that have been touted is astounding, and the entire science of Geophagia
      evolved in the hope identifying of those population-specific customs that may
      have had a positive effect on birth outcome as an adaptive mechanism. Most
      recently, there has been renewed interest in the role of nutritional and drug
      supplementation in pregnancy, specifically in the areas of pregnancy-induced
      hypertension and teratogenesis. In this article, I briefly review the role of
      drug supplementation in pregnancy, ranging from established needs such as iron to
      prevent iron-deficiency anemia to the controversies of low-dose aspirin
      supplementation for the prevention of preeclampsia and preconceptional folic acid
      supplementation for the prevention of neural tube defects.

PMID- 1450343
TI  - Breech presentation and shoulder dystocia in childbirth.
AB  - This review covers the recent literature relevant to breech presentation and
      shoulder dystocia. Further evidence in favor of external cephalic version at term
      has emerged, and the possibility of its use in women with previous cesarean
      section has been suggested. Attention has been given to trial of labor in
      selected cases of term breech presentation. The evidence to guide the method of
      delivery for preterm breech presentations remains inadequate. No perinatal
      differences have been demonstrated among the outcome of breech second-born twins
      delivered by external cephalic version, breech extraction, or cesarean section.
      The evidence in favor of elective cesarean for suspected macrosomia to prevent
      shoulder dystocia is unconvincing for nondiabetics and is doubtful for pregnant
      diabetics. The McRoberts maneuver for shoulder dystocia has not received the
      prominence that it deserves.

PMID- 1450344
TI  - Anesthesia and analgesia for labor.
AB  - Epidural analgesia remains the mainstay for providing pain relief during labor.
      The search continues to find the ideal combination of analgesic agents and
      administration techniques that will provide excellent pain relief for the mother
      yet minimize side effects to the mother and fetus. This article reviews recent
      studies of epidural analgesia, including the increased use of epidural opioids,
      patient-controlled epidural analgesia, and the complications of epidural
      analgesia (including effects on gastric emptying, maternal temperature control,
      and hemodynamic changes to the mother and fetus). Intrathecal (spinal) analgesia,
      especially using opioids, is also discussed.

PMID- 1450345
TI  - Puerperium and breast-feeding.
AB  - The issues related to breast-feeding and problems of the puerperium are often
      obfuscated by the general but outdated practice of recommending cessation of
      lactation. This article examines recent literature (June 1991 to May 1992) on
      breast-feeding and the treatment of puerperal problems, emphasizing that breast
      feeding may be maintained during virtually all treatment modalities.
      Additionally, the use of drugs to support or suppress lactation has been of
      interest, and the increased attention to the fertility impact of breast-feeding,
      breast-feeding and maternal health, and human immunodeficiency virus and breast
      feeding has resulted in several new articles of note. In general, the recent
      study of breast-feeding has identified many positive side effects, while other
      articles confirm that the treatment for retained placenta, postpartum pain, and
      puerperal infection, as discussed in recent literature, do not contraindicate
      breast-feeding.

PMID- 1450346
TI  - Delivery room management and outcome issues in the neonate.
AB  - Issues relevant to term newborns include screening for functional neurologic
      deficits that may be improved by early detection and intervention. Papers are
      presented that consider ocular, acoustic, and cognitive evaluations in the term
      neonate. Delivery room management of the meconium-stained infant remains
      controversial and is discussed by several authors. Data are presented regarding
      intubation and its role in the prevention of meconium aspiration syndrome, causes
      of meconium passage in utero, and its significance for neonatal outcome. In
      addition, illicit drug use, especially cocaine, is a significant problem among
      pregnant women with multiple sequelae for the fetus and newborn. Papers reviewed
      include a comparison of neonatal drug screening techniques, fetal effects of
      subacute maternal cocaine use, and follow-up data in a large cocaine-exposed
      cohort. The impact of the cocaine problem is growing nationally, overwhelming
      existing programs for medical care and rehabilitation, and mandating change at
      all levels of intervention. Finally, the search for a definitive indicator or
      predictor of birth asphyxia continues to generate literature in both the
      pediatric and obstetric journals.

PMID- 1450347
TI  - Trends in obstetric and gynecologic residency education.
AB  - Residencies in obstetrics and gynecology are popular with graduating medical
      students, especially women, and positions are filled in excess of 100%. New
      Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education special requirements have
      focused on several clinical areas and require demonstration of scholarly activity
      by faculty and 24-hour in-house faculty coverage. Other issues of current concern
      are resident work hours, pregnancy among residents, and training of residents in
      induced abortion.

PMID- 1450348
TI  - Sexual abuse of children and adolescents.
AB  - Clinicians are seeing greater numbers of children and adolescents suspected of
      being sexually abused. In the past, the interpretation of the medical findings
      was hampered by a lack of knowledge of normal anatomy and genital flora in the
      nonabused prepubertal child. The quality of more recent studies has been improved
      by the use of more appropriate controls and by the thorough evaluation of
      reportedly normal girls to ensure that they are truly nonabused. Such studies
      have provided the clinician with more accurate medical data with which to support
      the diagnosis of child sexual abuse.

PMID- 1450349
TI  - Adolescents and human immunodeficiency virus infection.
AB  - As of March 31, 1992, individuals 13 to 19 years of age had been diagnosed with
      acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; over one third were diagnosed in the past 2
      years alone. Because of the long incubation period from initial infection to
      acquired immunodeficiency syndrome diagnosis, the majority of young adults with
      acquired immunodeficiency syndrome were probably initially infected as
      adolescents. In 1991, 34% of adolescents with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
      were female, and their predominant mode of transmission was heterosexual contact.
      Human immunodeficiency virus seroprevalence studies of adolescents show a male-to
      female ratio approaching 1:1, with many human immunodeficiency virus-infected
      adolescent women identifying none of the standard risk. Factors such as sexual
      and drug experimentation, risk taking, and sense of invulnerability so
      characteristic of adolescence put adolescents at special risk for human
      immunodeficiency virus. There is no published information on if or how clinical
      manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus disease in adolescents might
      differ from those seen in adults. Medical care should be broad-based and should
      include access to clinical trials for new drug treatments. General knowledge
      levels about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome are high among US adolescents,
      but behavioral changes have lagged behind. All adolescents should be targeted for
      intensive education about human immunodeficiency virus along with interventions
      designed to enhance their general coping, communication, and decision-making
      skills.

PMID- 1450350
TI  - Update on pregnancy, condom use, and prevalence of selected sexually transmitted
      diseases in adolescents.
AB  - Adolescent pregnancy and its consequences continue as major sources of morbidity
      in the United States. A teenager who becomes a parent is at a significant
      disadvantage in becoming a contributing adult, both psychosocially and
      economically. The physician who cares for adolescents has the responsibility of
      helping parenting teens to find needed support so that they will be able to
      overcome this significant hurdle. Attention from public agencies has focused on
      increasing condom use as one approach to adolescent pregnancy prevention. The
      major advantage of using condoms is that they also prevent transmission of
      sexually transmitted diseases. Of note is that level of knowledge about condoms
      is not related to their use, and engaging in high-risk behaviors is related to a
      decreased likelihood of condom use. With rates of condom use estimated at less
      than 50%, rates of sexually transmitted disease remain high, as reported in
      recent surveys.

PMID- 1450351
TI  - Pediatric and adolescent gynecologic endocrinology.
AB  - Best described as a transformation from the infantile state to an accentuated
      dimorphic adult state, puberty is a sequence of events characterized by the
      secretion of gonadal hormones leading to the development of secondary sexual
      characteristics, gametogenesis, and reproductive function. In girls, the first
      signs of puberty may be evident at age 8, with the process largely completed by
      age 16; in boys, puberty commonly begins between ages 10 and 12 and is largely
      completed by age 18. Adrenarche, the secretion of adrenal androgens, starts
      between ages 6 and 8 and is clinically accompanied by pubarche. Premature
      pubarche should be diagnosed as either typical or atypical. In atypical premature
      pubarche, corticotropin testing is recommended to determine nonclassical adrenal
      enzyme deficiency of steroidogenesis. Children with either type of premature
      pubarche should be under continued follow-up throughout puberty. The trigger of
      the onset of puberty is still unknown. The presence of gonadotropin activity and
      possible circadian rhythm in the prepubertal years allows for new understanding
      in possible triggering mechanisms of puberty. Precocious puberty, which is
      associated with significant psychologic implications and possible pathology, must
      be categorized as complete precocious puberty with activation of the hypothalamic
      pituitary axis or incomplete precocious puberty without activation of the central
      axis as effective therapies are so different. The categorization does not yield
      diagnoses, as there are multiple etiologies within each category. The treatment
      of central precocious puberty with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists will
      postpone pubertal progression to a more appropriate age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450352
TI  - Structural anomalies of the reproductive tract.
AB  - Structural anomalies of the female reproductive tract may be divided into
      disorders of lateral fusion and disorders of vertical fusion of the Mullerian
      duct system. In the past, these disorders were diagnosed at or after menarche or
      later in life during evaluation of various forms of reproductive tract failure,
      such as infertility and pregnancy wastage. Newer techniques including pelvic
      ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging have allowed diagnosis in the pediatric
      patient and on occasion, even in utero. Surgical correction of lateral-fusion
      defects (didelphic, bicornuate, septate, and unicornuate uteri) have remained
      essentially unchanged except for surgical reconstruction of the septate uterus.
      Surgical correction of vertical defects (vaginal septi and cervical agenesis or
      dysgenesis) has received considerable recent interest with the development of
      newer techniques that may be more effective than the reconstructive procedures of
      the past.

PMID- 1450353
TI  - Assessment and management of premenstrual syndrome.
AB  - Premenstrual syndrome has recently become the subject of more rigorous scientific
      scrutiny. As a result, techniques exist for accurate diagnosis, and the
      pathophysiology of the disorder is less mysterious. At present, the disorder is
      thought to be the caused by the interaction of cyclic changes in estrogen and
      progesterone with a variety of systems, particularly neurotransmitters. Serotonin
      appears to play an especially important role in this regard. Increased
      understanding of premenstrual syndrome has enabled the development of specific
      treatment modalities that, unlike previous prescriptions, have demonstrated
      efficacy in rigorous and reproducible studies.

PMID- 1450354
TI  - Chronic pelvic pain.
AB  - Chronic pelvic pain is a common and important gynecologic problem. The causes are
      diverse but can usually be categorized by the astute clinician. Gynecologic
      causes can often, although not always, be pinpointed for specific management
      protocols. Highlights of helpful areas are described in terms of history,
      physical examination, and laboratory and endoscopic diagnosis. Therapy may be
      medical, surgical, psychologic, or supportive. If specific, treatment is likely
      to be effective in some patients whereby a cause cannot be found, yet the patient
      may be helped. Some patients improve without treatment.

PMID- 1450355
TI  - Reversible contraception for the woman over 35 years of age.
AB  - Methods of reversible contraception, oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices,
      and Norplant (systemic progestin-only contraceptive; Wyeth-Ayerst, Radnor, PA),
      can be used for women over 35 years of age. Oral contraceptive formulations are
      safe and effective for healthy women up to the age of menopause. Oral
      contraceptives in women who do not smoke cigarettes do not result in a
      significant increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The incidence of breast
      cancer is not increased in women who have used oral contraceptives. A slight
      increase was found in younger women who had been on oral contraceptives based on
      a reanalysis of the contraceptive and steroid hormone study of the Centers for
      Disease Control. A reduction in the incidence of ovarian epithelial neoplasia by
      40% was found in three European case-control studies. Two intrauterine devices
      are currently available on the US market: Paragard (GynoPharma, Somerville, NJ)
      and Progestasert (Alza Corp., Palo Alto, CA). Both of these provide highly
      effective contraception. A World Health Organization prospective randomized study
      found that there was an increase in pelvic inflammatory disease rates in the
      first 20 days after intrauterine device insertion. The intrauterine device itself
      did not increase the pelvic inflammatory disease incidence rates. The Norplant
      system exerts its contraceptive action through ovulation inhibition and
      alteration of cervical mucus. The major consumer complaint is irregular or
      prolonged uterine bleeding, which can be controlled by oral estrogen.

PMID- 1450356
TI  - Breast disease.
AB  - Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women between the ages of 35 and
      54. It is estimated that the specialist in obstetrics and gynecology provides
      health care for more than half of the female population in the United States and
      should become familiar with both benign and malignant breast conditions.
      Confronted with the misconception that the disease appears in women "at risk"
      only and the estimate that one in every nine women born in the United States will
      develop breast cancer, adequate education, screening, examination, and
      documentation are essential in the field of breast disease.

PMID- 1450357
TI  - Hormone replacement therapy.
AB  - Although hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been available for almost 100
      years, conflicting opinions still exist about its efficacy and safety. There is
      uniform agreement that vasomotor instability and vaginal atrophy are totally
      reversible with HRT. Effective treatment of bone loss with HRT depends on the
      number of years of estrogen deprivation, peak bone mass, and rapidity of bone
      loss. Oral, transdermal, and pellet estrogens are equality effective. Mortality
      from coronary heart disease decreased 20% to 40% in women on HRT, yet the
      mechanism has not yet been ascertained. The increased risk of endometrial cancer
      has been confirmed, but better diagnostic techniques for detection in the
      precancerous state have been developed. The relationship of breast cancer to
      estrogen use has not been conclusive. Meta-analysis of 13 studies results in a
      relative risk of 1.06, whereas a large case-control study reveals a relative risk
      of 0.9. However, it is clear that in the average, healthy woman, low-dose
      estrogen replacement for less than 10 years does not increase the risk of breast
      cancer. Physicians are encouraged to help patients weigh the risks and benefits
      of HRT.

PMID- 1450358
TI  - Transvaginal sonography in gynecologic office practice.
AB  - Recent technologic developments have made transvaginal ultrasound an important
      adjunct to gynecologic examination in both the office and the emergency room
      settings. Important advantages of using transvaginal ultrasonography to
      supplement bimanual examination are presented and discussed. Training and
      equipment issues, as well as medicolegal issues, are addressed.

PMID- 1450359
TI  - General obstetrics.

PMID- 1450360
TI  - Adolescent and pediatric gynecology.

PMID- 1450361
TI  - Office gynecology.

PMID- 1450362
TI  - A prospective study of pyrogenic reactions in hemodialysis patients using
      bicarbonate dialysis fluids filtered to remove bacteria and endotoxin.
AB  - Pyrogenic reactions (PR) are a well-recognized complication of hemodialysis and
      have been associated with dialyzer reuse, high-flux dialysis, and bicarbonate
      dialysate. However, the roles of bacteria and endotoxin in dialysate for
      producing PR are not well defined. To determine the effect of removing most
      bacteria and endotoxin from the dialysate on the incidence of PR, a cohort of
      chronic hemodialysis patients receiving high-flux, high-efficiency, or
      conventional hemodialysis at three centers with bicarbonate dialysis fluids that
      had been filtered with a polysulfone high-flux hemodialyzer was prospectively
      studied. Unfiltered bicarbonate concentrate had median bacterial and endotoxin
      concentrations of 479,000 CFU/mL and 39,800 pg/mL, respectively. After filtration
      of the bicarbonate concentrate at the central proportioner, dialysate had a
      median 9.2 CFU/mL of bacteria and 17.8 pg/mL of endotoxin. Dialysate filtered at
      individual proportioning dialysis machines had a median 0.001 CFU/mL of bacteria
      and 0.19 pg/mL of endotoxin. Nine PR were identified among 303 patients after
      28,007 hemodialysis treatments (0.3 PR/1,000 treatments). The rate of PR was
      similar for the three hemodialysis treatment modalities and for first-use
      compared with reused dialyzers. Although the PR rate in this study was lower (P =
      0.046) than the PR rate of a previous study with unfiltered dialysis fluids (0.7
      PR/1,000 treatments), it represents a difference of only 10 PR in over 28,000
      treatments. It was concluded that filtration of hemodialysis fluids is
      efficacious in removing bacterial and endotoxin contamination and can result in a
      lower incidence of PR in patients receiving high-flux, high-efficiency, or
      conventional hemodialysis.

PMID- 1450363
TI  - Short- and long-term efficacy of total parathyroidectomy with immediate
      autografting compared with subtotal parathyroidectomy in hemodialysis patients.
AB  - A retrospective study was performed in chronic hemodialysis patients comparing
      total parathyroidectomy (PTX) followed by immediate autografting (IA) (total
      PTX+IA) with subtotal parathyroidectomy (subtotal PTX). One hundred six patients
      with severe, uncontrolled hyperparathyroidism were referred to this center and
      underwent surgery during the period from 1980 to 1990. Long-term follow-up after
      PTX was available in 49 of them: 28 patients had total PTX+IA and 21 had subtotal
      PTX. The two surgical methods were evaluated with respect to preoperative
      severity of hyperparathyroidism, immediate postoperative results, and long-term
      parathyroid status, as evaluated by an RIA measuring intact immunoreactive
      parathyroid hormone (intact iPTH; normal values, 15 to 65 pg/mL). The initial
      degree of hyperparathyroidism was comparable in the two groups. An excellent
      short-term control of hyperparathyroidism was achieved in the great majority
      (95%) of patients with either surgical procedure. However, long-term
      normalization of parathyroid gland activity was achieved in only one third of
      patients whereas 33% had elevated intact iPTH levels (> 130 pg/mL; i.e., higher
      than twice the upper range of normal) and 32% had low intact iPTH levels (< 15
      pg/mL), consistent with permanent hypoparathyroidism. No difference was found in
      the immediate failure rates: 0 of 28 cases after total PTX+IA compared with 2 of
      21 cases after subtotal PTX. Similarly, long-term intact iPTH levels were
      comparable: 400 +/- 105 versus 212 +/- 82 pg/mL (mean +/- SE; P = not
      significant). Interestingly, long-term serum intact iPTH levels were higher in
      patients with nodular (N = 18) than with diffusely (N = 26) hyperplastic glands:
      556 +/- 146 versus 126 +/- 52 pg/mL (P < 0.001) and recurrence of
      hyperparathyroidism was more frequent with nodular hyperplasia (11 of 18) than
      with diffuse hyperplasia (4 of 26) (P < 0.02). In conclusion, although excellent
      short-term results were obtained with both procedures, satisfactory long-term
      control of parathyroid gland function was achieved in only one third of the
      patients, the other two third remaining either hypoparathyroid or developing
      recurrent hyperparathyroidism. Last, the histological subtype of parathyroid
      glands was partially predictive of the recurrence of hyperparathyroidism.

PMID- 1450364
TI  - Effect of vitamin B6 supplementation on plasma oxalate and oxalate removal rate
      in hemodialysis patients.
AB  - Whether pyridoxine (B6) supplements decrease plasma oxalate concentrations in
      patients on maintenance dialysis is unresolved. The effect of two dose levels of
      B6, 0.59 mmol/day (100 mg/day) over 6 months and 4.43 mmol (750 mg) after each
      dialysis treatment for 4 wk, on plasma oxalate and oxalate removal rate (dialysis
      plus urinary excretion) was studied in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. In
      both studies, a control group unsupplemented with B6, who remained on their
      regular diet, was also studied. The vitamin B6 status of the patients was
      assessed by the erythrocyte glutamate pyruvate transaminase activity and index
      before and during supplementation. No decrease in plasma oxalate or oxalate
      removal rate was found in either study. The plasma oxalate and oxalate removal
      rates of the unsupplemented hemodialysis patients were not different from those
      receiving B6 either before or after supplementation. These studies demonstrate
      that high-dose B6 supplementation does not decrease plasma oxalate concentration
      in a population of hemodialysis patients.

PMID- 1450365
TI  - Treatment of childhood nephrotic syndrome.
AB  - This review examines selected aspects of the treatment of the nephrotic syndrome
      in children. Particular attention has been paid to two groups of nephrotic
      children. First, children with steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome are
      discussed. Recently, a series of controlled studies have provided important
      information regarding the optimal duration of steroid therapy. Initial episodes
      of the nephrotic syndrome are best treated with "long" courses of prednisone
      therapy (6 wk of high-dose daily prednisone followed by 6 wk of alternate-day
      prednisone). In contrast, relapses do as well with "short" courses (about 2 wk of
      daily prednisone and 2 wk of alternate-day therapy). Some children who are
      steroid responsive require high doses of prednisone to remain in remission. These
      patients may require alkylating agent therapy. The most common cause of steroid
      resistant nephrotic syndrome is focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Over the past
      10 yr, these patients have been treated with an intensive protocol involving
      multiple infusions of high-dose methylprednisolone and, in many cases, oral
      alkylating agent therapy. Current experience with this treatment is presented.
      The protocol appears to improve the outcome in children with focal segmental
      glomerulosclerosis, although it is believed that it is essential that these
      observations be confirmed by a controlled trial. There is also interest in the
      use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and cyclosporine in the treatment
      of childhood nephrotic syndrome. The experience with these agents is briefly
      reviewed, but the current data are inadequate to indicate their role(s) in this
      condition.

PMID- 1450366
TI  - Glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane proteins.
AB  - Many proteins of eukaryotic cells are anchored to membranes by covalent linkage
      to glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI). These proteins lack a transmembrane
      domain, have no cytoplasmic tail, and are, therefore, located exclusively on the
      extracellular side of the plasma membrane. GPI-anchored proteins form a diverse
      family of molecules that includes membrane-associated enzymes, adhesion
      molecules, activation antigens, differentiation markers, protozoan coat
      components, and other miscellaneous glycoproteins. In the kidney, several GPI
      anchored proteins have been identified, including uromodulin (Tamm-Horsfall
      glycoprotein), carbonic anhydrase type IV, alkaline phosphatase, Thy-1, BP-3,
      aminopeptidase P, and dipeptidylpeptidase. GPI-anchored proteins can be released
      from membranes with specific phospholipases and can be recovered from the
      detergent-insoluble pellet after Triton X-114 treatment of membranes. All GPI
      anchored proteins are initially synthesized with a transmembrane anchor, but
      after translocation across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum, the ecto
      domain of the protein is cleaved and covalently linked to a preformed GPI anchor
      by a specific transamidase enzyme. Although it remains obscure why so many
      proteins are endowed with a GPI anchor, the presence of a GPI anchor does confer
      some functional characteristics to proteins: (1) it is a strong apical targeting
      signal in polarized epithelial cells; (2) GPI-anchored proteins do not cluster
      into clathrin-coated pits but instead are concentrated into specialized lipid
      domains in the membrane, including so-called smooth pinocytotic vesicles, or
      caveoli; (3) GPI-anchored proteins can act as activation antigens in the immune
      system; (4) when the GPI anchor is cleaved by PI-phospholipase C or PI
      phospholipase D, second messengers for signal transduction may be generated; (5)
      the GPI anchor can modulate antigen presentation by major histocompatibility
      complex molecules. Finally, at least one human disease, paroxysmal nocturnal
      hemoglobinuria, is a result of defective GPI anchor addition to plasma membrane
      proteins.

PMID- 1450367
TI  - Five-lipoxygenase products in glomerular immune injury.
AB  - Leukocyte infiltration, proliferation, and activation are central pathogenetic
      components of immune injury in the glomerulus. Initial cellular infiltration by
      polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) is a consequence of the deposition of immune
      complexes at discreet sites in the glomerulus. This is often followed by
      macrophage/monocyte infiltration, as well as proliferation of resident mesangial
      macrophages. Activated leukocytes constitute a rich source of lipid-derived
      bioactive autacoids, in particular, oxygenated metabolites of arachidonic acid.
      Here, we assess the role of the five-lipoxygenase (5-LO) family of eicosanoids,
      in particular, leukotrienes D4 and B4 (LTD4 and LTB4) in mediating functional and
      structural deterioration during immune inflammatory reactions in the glomerulus.
      LTD4 and other peptidyl LT appear to play a central role in the reductions in GFR
      in the acute phases of injury by virtue of their potent vasoactive properties, in
      particular, their capacity to reduce the glomerular capillary ultrafiltration
      coefficient, likely through contraction of smooth muscle elements in glomerular
      mesangial cells. The latter cells possess specific receptors for LTD4 in both
      humans and rat and contract in vitro when exposed to LTD4 after receptor-mediated
      activation of phospholipase C. LTB4, a nonvasoconstrictor LT, is released in the
      early phases of immune injury, likely from leukocyte sources as well as from
      transcellular metabolism of its precursor, LTA4, by the enzyme LTA4-hydrolase in
      glomerular mesangial and endothelial cells. LTB4, a potent promoter of PMN
      attraction, adhesion, and activation exacerbates glomerular functional impairment
      and structural damage by amplifying PMN-dependent mechanisms of injury. In their
      totality, 5-LO products of arachidonic acid contribute to the impairment of the
      normal glomerular filtration and sieving functions that attend acute inflammatory
      injury in the renal glomerulus and to the subsequent progression of glomerular
      destruction. This is high-lighted by the significant degree of protection
      afforded by the selective inhibition of arachidonate 5-LO in vivo in acute and
      chronic models of experimental glomerulonephritis.

PMID- 1450368
TI  - Heparin decreases mesangial matrix accumulation after selective antibody-induced
      mesangial cell injury.
AB  - Anti-rat thymocyte antibody-induced injury of glomerular mesangial cells is
      characterized initially by lysis (1 h) and is followed by proliferation
      (beginning at 3 to 4 days), with resolution that can include a focal increase in
      mesangial matrix (by 28 days). Chronic administration (every 12 h) of heparin
      (anticoagulant or nonanticoagulant) resulted in a decrease in antibody-induced
      mesangial cell proliferation, which, in turn, was associated with a decrease in
      the size and number of areas of focal mesangial matrix increase. The effect could
      not be attributed to the effect of heparin on complement, to alterations in the
      small numbers of la-positive cells that characterize the lesion, or to binding of
      antibody to glomeruli. The beneficial effects of heparin in reducing mesangial
      cell proliferation, with a subsequent reduction in matrix increase, suggest that
      mesangial cell responses are a major element in the development of at least some
      forms of glomerulosclerosis. The possible mechanisms by which these effects of
      heparin may be achieved are discussed.

PMID- 1450369
TI  - The functional and structural changes of the glomerulus throughout the course of
      murine lupus nephritis.
AB  - The glomerular functional and structural changes in a murine model (MRL-lpr/lpr)
      of progressive lupus nephritis were studied. Animals were grouped into three age
      categories. (I, 14 wk; II, 20 wk; and III, 26 wk). GFR fell with age (257 +/- 43,
      178 +/- 50, and 150 +/- 40 microL/min for Groups I through III, respectively).
      Similarly, the ultrafiltration coefficient (Kf) measured on isolated glomeruli
      fell with time (0.030 +/- 0.006, 0.023 +/- 0.006, and 0.013 +/- 0.002 nL/s/mm Hg,
      respectively). Both indomethacin and a selective thromboxane receptor antagonist
      L-670,596 significantly improved GFR in Group II animals to values seen in Group
      I animals. Neither agent had any effect to increase GFR in older group III
      animals. L-670,596 had no effect on Kf in Group II or III animals. Glomerular
      morphometric evaluation demonstrated a progressive rise in glomerular tuft
      volume, mesangial matrix expansion, proliferation in cells, and a reduction in
      open capillary loops and epithelial filtration slits with age. However, because
      of the increase in glomerular volume, calculated surface area remained well
      preserved over the three respective groups (61 +/- 18, 76 +/- 15, and 71 +/- 13
      microns2 x 10(3)). Therefore, the fall in Kf is likely due to a fall in hydraulic
      permeability (Lp). The ultrastructural component of the glomerular capillary wall
      that correlated best with Lp was the epithelial filtration slit number per
      micrometer of glomerular basement length (r = 0.73; P < 0.0001), which suggests
      that the structural correlate Kf is in the filtration slit length (FSL). Despite
      the cell proliferation and mesangial matrix expansion in early disease (Group
      II), the overall FSL remains stable because of a slight increase in filtration
      surface area and a slight reduction in epithelial slits per micrometer of
      glomerular basement membrane. The fall in GFR appears to be hemodynamically
      mediated by thromboxane A2. In older Group III animals, the fall in GFR appears
      to be due to a 40% reduction in FSL rather than being hemodynamically based.
      Thus, the early improvement in function with pharmacological agents is deceptive
      because considerable disease may be present because of adaptive structural
      changes. Eventually, with disease progression, compensating hemodynamic and
      structural factors fail to maintain GFR within normal limits.

PMID- 1450370
TI  - Hyperinsulinemia and blood pressure sensitivity to sodium in young blacks.
AB  - The relationship of blood pressure sensitivity to sodium with plasma insulin
      concentration was examined in young adult (22 to 28 yr) blacks (N = 45). The
      study included normotensive and borderline hypertensive subjects. Blood pressure
      sensitivity to sodium was determined by the change in mean blood pressure after
      14 days of sodium loading (10 g of NaCl daily plus usual diet). Plasma insulin
      concentration was determined during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The
      correlation of fasting plasma insulin concentration with blood pressure or blood
      pressure sensitivity to sodium was not statistically significant. There was a
      significant correlation (after adjustment for adiposity) of blood pressure
      sensitivity to sodium with both the sum of insulin (r = 0.41; P < 0.01) and the
      60-min plasma insulin concentration during the OGTT. The plasma insulin
      concentration at 60 min during the OGTT correlated significantly with the change
      in mean arterial pressure over a 5-yr interval (r = 0.36; P < 0.02). There was a
      similar significant correlation of blood pressure sensitivity to sodium with
      change in mean arterial pressure over 5 yr (r = 0.48; P < 0.001). These data
      demonstrate an association of hyperinsulinemia and blood pressure sensitivity to
      sodium in the young. The data also suggest that insulin may contribute to the
      pathogenesis of hypertension in the black population.

PMID- 1450371
TI  - Uremic plasma contains factors inhibiting 1 alpha-hydroxylase activity.
AB  - The effect of uremic plasma ultrafiltrate on calcitriol synthesis was
      investigated. Renal 1 alpha-hydroxylase activity was measured in normal rats
      infused for 20 h with 20 mL of normal or uremic plasma ultrafiltrate. Renal 1
      alpha-hydroxylase activity was determined by the generation of calcitriol
      measured 5, 10, 20, and 30 min after the reaction was initiated by the addition
      of cold 25(OH)D3. The activity was significantly lower in rats infused with
      uremic plasma ultrafiltrate. Kidney homogenates preincubated for 3 h with uremic
      plasma ultrafiltrate also had significantly lower renal 1 alpha-hydroxylase
      activity than did those preincubated with normal plasma ultrafiltrate. In
      addition, the effect of the putative uremic toxin, guanidinosuccinic acid (GSA),
      on renal 1 alpha-hydroxylase activity was studied. Normal rats infused for 20 h
      with 20 mL of saline solution containing 1.5 mg/dL of GSA had significantly lower
      renal 1 alpha-hydroxylase activity than did rats infused with normal saline. The
      enzyme activity was also lower in kidney homogenates preincubated for 3 h with 4
      mg/dL of GSA. Enzyme kinetic analysis revealed that the inhibition of renal 1
      alpha-hydroxylase by GSA was noncompetitive. It was concluded that uremic plasma
      contains substances that directly inhibit renal 1 alpha-hydroxylase activity.

PMID- 1450372
TI  - On the mechanism of impaired distal acidification in hyperkalemic renal tubular
      acidosis: evaluation with amiloride and bumetanide.
AB  - It has been postulated that a distinctive type of hyperkalemic distal renal
      tubular acidosis (DRTA), referred to as voltage-dependent DRTA, results from
      diminished potassium and hydrogen ion secretion in the distal nephron, which is
      due to a suboptimal voltage (lumen negative) as a result of impaired sodium
      reabsorption. To test for the presence of a voltage-dependent DRTA, we used
      amiloride (20 mg oral, single dose) and bumetanide (2 mg oral, single dose) to
      inhibit and to stimulate voltage-dependent potassium and hydrogen ion secretion,
      respectively. Eighteen patients with hyperkalemic DRTA and seven controls with a
      comparable degree of renal impairment were studied. Patients were subdivided in
      two groups on the basis of their ability to lower their urine pH during
      spontaneous acidosis. Patients in Group I lowered their urine pH to the level of
      controls (5.29 +/- 0.06 and 5.37 +/- 0.11, respectively) whereas patients in
      Group II could not lower their urine pH below 5.5 (6.38 +/- 0.11). Patients in
      Group I and Group II had a similar degree of metabolic acidosis and hyperkalemia
      whereas controls had neither acidosis or hyperkalemia. Most patients in Group II
      and all patients in Group I had low plasma aldosterone levels. The administration
      of amiloride resulted in an increase in urine pH and a decrease in potassium
      excretion in all three groups. The finding that amiloride, presumably by
      obliterating the transtubular voltage as a result of blockade of sodium
      transport, inhibited potassium excretion to about the same extent in both groups
      of patients and in controls argues against the existence of a voltage-dependent
      defect. Bumetanide produced a fall in urine pH below 5.5 and an increase in
      potassium excretion in controls and Group I patients. In Group II patients,
      bumetanide failed to elicit a fall in urine pH below 5.5 but resulted in an
      increase in potassium excretion similar to that seen in controls and Group I
      patients. These findings suggest that a derangement other than a voltage
      dependent defect is responsible for the inability, characteristic of Group II
      patients, to lower their urine pH. It was concluded that the impairment in
      urinary acidification observed in patients with this subtype of hyperkalemic DRTA
      is due to a defect in collecting tubule hydrogen secretion that results from H+
      ATPase dysfunction rather than from a voltage-dependent defect.

PMID- 1450373
TI  - The effects of calcium carbonate as the sole phosphate binder in combination with
      low calcium dialysate and calcitriol therapy in chronic hemodialysis patients.
AB  - Alternative phosphate binders, such as CaCO3, have been shown to be effective in
      the control of phosphate (P) retention in hemodialysis patients (HDP).
      Additionally, both oral (POC) and iv (IVC) calcitriol are purported to be of
      benefit in the control of secondary hyperparathyroidism. This investigation was
      undertaken to determine: (1) the effectiveness of CaCO3 as the sole P binder in
      combination with low (2.5 mEq/L) Ca dialysate; (2) the effects of discontinuing
      Al(OH)3 binders on both unstimulated and stimulated Al concentrations; and (3)
      the comparative parathyroid hormone (PTH) response to both POC and IVC in a large
      group of hemodialysis patients. One hundred ninety-four HDP completed part 1 of
      the study where CaCO3 was substituted for Al(OH)3 as the sole P binder for 6
      months. A cohort of 49 HDP was given desferoximine (40 mg/kg) initially and 10
      months after using CaCO3. In part 2, 54 HDP were given POC and 97 HDP were given
      IVC in dosages of 0.25 to 0.5 micrograms/day and 1.5 to 6.0 micrograms/wk,
      respectively, for an additional 6 months. In part 1, Ca and P were not different
      from baseline values observed with Al(OH)3 therapy. Ionized Ca increased (P <
      0.05) and PTH decreased (P < 0.001) during CaCO3 therapy without vitamin D. In
      part 2, PTH declined 23% with IVC and was unchanged with POC in equivalent
      dosages (P < 0.05) at 3 months. By 6 months, PTH declined a total of 54% with IVC
      and was unchanged with POC. Ca, ionized Ca, P, and serum calcitriol were greater
      (P < 0.05) in the IVC group at 6 months. Serum Al concentrations for the entire
      194 HDP fell 65% (P < 0.0001) over 12 months. In the 49 HDP cohort, serum Al fell
      43.6% (P < 0.001) and stimulated Al concentrations decreased 68.7% (P < 0.0001)
      after 10 months. We conclude that: (1) CaCO3 is as effective as Al(OH)3 in
      controlling P, (2) a small decrease in PTH is observed with CaCO3 alone, (3)
      serologic evidence of Al excess is virtually eliminated, (4) PTH suppression with
      IVC is superior to that seen with POC in equivalent doses.

PMID- 1450374
TI  - Organization, instability and evolution of plant disease resistance genes.

PMID- 1450375
TI  - Nucleotide sequence and expression of two cDNA coding for two histone H2B
      variants of maize.
AB  - The complete amino acid sequences of two variants of histone H2B of maize were
      deduced from the cDNAs isolated from a maize cDNA library. The two encoded
      proteins are 150 (H2B(1)) and 149 (H2B(2)) amino acids long and shows the
      classical organization of H2B histones. The hydrophobic C-terminal region is
      highly conserved as compared to that of the animal counterparts with only 21
      changes (13 conservative) among the 90 residues. Between the N-terminal part and
      the C-terminal region we note the presence of a basic cluster (9 residues)
      characteristic of histones H2B. The N-terminal third is extended as compared to
      the animal consensus H2B and has the same size as the H2B histone of wheat. Up to
      9 acidic residues and a five time repeated pentapeptide PA/KXE/KK are present in
      this region. Southern-blot hybridization showed that the H2B histones are encoded
      by a multigenic family like the other core histones (H3 and H4) of plants. The
      general expression pattern of these genes was not significantly different from
      that of the H3 and H4 genes neither in germinating seeds nor in different tissues
      of adult maize.

PMID- 1450376
TI  - Isolation and characterization of a cDNA-clone coding for potato type B
      phytochrome.
AB  - We have isolated and sequenced overlapping genomic and cDNA clones encoding the
      apoprotein of a potato phytochrome. Based on the deduced amino acid sequence,
      which shows 77% identity to the Arabidopsis phyB and 50% identity to the potato
      phyA open reading frame, we suggest that these clones encode phyB phytochrome.
      However, the size of the deduced open reading frame of 1133 amino acids is
      smaller than the size of the other two phyB open reading frames characterized so
      far in higher plants, which contain 1171 or 1187 amino acids. The intron/exon
      structure within the coding region is conserved in phyA and phyB genes of various
      species. Southern blot analysis indicates that potato phyB is a single-copy gene.
      PhyB mRNA levels do not differ among different organs or different light regimes.
      Transcription initiation starts from two different start points which are 63 bp
      apart.

PMID- 1450377
TI  - Chloroplast tRNA(Asp): nucleotide sequence and variation of in vivo levels during
      plastid maturation.
AB  - Two chloroplast tRNA(Asp) species from barely were purified by chromatography on
      benzoylated DEAE-cellulose and sequenced. They differ in the modification at
      position 34, where queuosine (Q) is present in one of the species. The same
      chromatographic procedure yielded only one tRNA(Glu) species, corroborating the
      assumption that the same tRNA(Glu) species participates in both protein and
      chlorophyll biosynthesis. The level of tRNA(Glu) remains unchanged after light
      treatment of etiolated seedlings, whereas the amount of tRNA(Asp) decreases to
      about 50% relative to the level of dark-grown plants.

PMID- 1450378
TI  - Molecular characterization of a pea beta-1,3-glucanase induced by Fusarium solani
      and chitosan challenge.
AB  - beta-glucanases are prominent proteins in pea endocarp tissue responding to
      fungal infection. We have cloned and sequenced a partial pea cDNA clone, pPIG312,
      corresponding to a beta-1,3-glucanase in pea pods challenged with the
      incompatible pathogen Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli. The insert from the
      partial pea cDNA was used to probe a genomic library derived from pea leaves of
      the same cultivar. One of the genomic clones, pPIG4-3, contained the complete
      coding sequence for a mature beta-1,3-glucanase protein. The predicted amino acid
      sequence of the pea beta-1,3-glucanase has 78% identity to bean beta-1,3
      glucanase, 62% and 60% to two tobacco beta-1,3-glucanases, 57% to soybean beta
      1,3-glucanase, 51% to barley beta-1,3-glucanase, and 48% to barley beta-1,3-1,4
      glucanase. Genomic Southern analysis indicates that the pea genome contains only
      one beta-1,3-glucanase gene corresponding to the probe used in this study.
      Accumulation of beta-1,3-glucanase mRNA homologous with the pPIG312 probe was
      detected in pea pods within 4 to 8 h after challenge with F. solani f. sp.
      phaseoli, f. sp. pisi, a compatible strain, or the elicitor, chitosan. In the
      incompatible reaction, mRNA accumulation remained high for 48h, whereas it
      rapidly decreased in the compatible reaction. After fungal inoculation of whole
      pea seedlings, the enhanced mRNA accumulation occurred mainly in the basal region
      (lower stem and root). This beta-1,3-glucanase mRNA was constitutively expressed
      in the roots of pea seedlings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450379
TI  - Expression and sequence analysis of cDNAs induced during the early stages of
      tuberisation in different organs of the potato plant (Solanum tuberosum L.).
AB  - cDNA clones of two genes (TUB8 and TUB13) which show a 25-30-fold increase in
      transcript in the stolon tip during the early stages of tuberisation, have been
      isolated by differential screening. These genes are also expressed in leaves,
      stems and roots and the expression pattern in these organs changes on
      tuberisation. Southern analysis shows homologous sequences in the non-tuberising
      wild type potato species Solanum brevidens and in Lycopersicon esculentum
      (tomato). Sequence analysis reveals a high degree of similarity between the TUB13
      cDNA, and a human S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase gene. The predicted TUB8
      peptide sequence shows several repeats of alanine, glutamate and proline which
      suggests a structural role for the encoded protein.

PMID- 1450380
TI  - Novel protein kinase of Arabidopsis thaliana (APK1) that phosphorylates tyrosine,
      serine and threonine.
AB  - During the course of characterizing polymerase chain reaction products
      corresponding to protein kinases of a higher plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, we
      found a DNA fragment that potentially codes for a polypeptide with mosaic
      sequences of two classes of protein kinases, a tyrosine-specific and a
      serine/threonine-specific one. Overlapping complementary DNA (cDNA) clones
      coinciding with this fragment were isolated from an A. thaliana cDNA library.
      From their sequence analyses a protein kinase was predicted composed of 410 amino
      acid residues (APK1, Arabidopsis protein kinase 1), in which the kinase domain
      was flanked by short non-kinase domains. Upon expression of APK1 in Escherichia
      coli cells, several bacterial proteins became reactive with anti-phosphotyrosine
      antibody but not with the same antibody preincubated with phosphotyrosine,
      convincing us that APK1 phosphorylated tyrosine residues. APK1 purified from an
      over-producing E. coli strain showed serine/threonine kinase activity, and no
      tyrosine kinase activity, towards APK1 itself, casein, enolase, and myosin light
      chains. APK1 was thus concluded to be a novel type of protein kinase, which could
      phosphorylate tyrosine, serine, and threonine residues, though tyrosine
      phosphorylation seemed to occur only on limited substrates. Since the structure
      of the APK1 N-terminal portion was indicative of N-myristoylation, APK1 might
      associate with membranes and thereby contribute to signal transduction. The A.
      thaliana genome contained two APK1 genes close to each other (APK1a and APK1b).

PMID- 1450381
TI  - Structure and expression of a sugarcane gene encoding a housekeeping
      phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase.
AB  - A gene (SCPEPCD1) encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) was isolated
      from the C-4 monocot sugarcane (Saccharum hybrid var. H32-8560). SCPEPCD1 is ca.
      6800 bp long, with 10 exons. The entire gene sequence from -1561 to 262 bp
      downstream of the putative poly(A) addition signal is reported. A low-level,
      essentially constitutive pattern of expression, amino acid sequence similarities
      to other 'housekeeping' PEPC enzymes, and the absence of DNA sequence elements
      conserved in the upstream region of maize and sorghum C-4-specific PEPC genes
      indicate that SCPEPCD1 encodes a housekeeping PEPC. Despite this, a motif
      proposed to act as a phosphorylation site in light-mediated activation of
      photosynthetic PEPC enzymes [10] is present in the SCPEPCD1 protein; evidence is
      presented for the presence of this site in other housekeeping PEPC proteins.

PMID- 1450382
TI  - Ozone-induced changes of mRNA levels of beta-1,3-glucanase, chitinase and
      'pathogenesis-related' protein 1b in tobacco plants.
AB  - Treatment of the ozone-sensitive tobacco cultivar Bel W3 with an ozone pulse
      (0.15 microliter/l, 5 h) markedly increased the mRNA level of basic beta-1,3
      glucanase and to a lower degree that of basic chitinase. The increase of beta-1,3
      glucanase mRNA level occurred within 1 h and showed a transient maximum.
      Seventeen hours after ozone treatment, the beta-1,3-glucanase mRNA level
      decreased to lower values. The increase of basic chitinase mRNA level was delayed
      and was less pronounced than that of beta-1,3-glucanase mRNA. Cultivar Bel B
      showed only a small increase of beta-1,3-glucanase mRNA level after the same
      ozone treatment, whereas its basic chitinase mRNA was more strongly induced.
      Prolonged ozone treatment for 2 days of tobacco Bel W3 led to a persistent level
      of beta-1,3-glucanase and basic chitinase mRNAs, as well as to an increase of
      acidic chitinase and 'pathogenesis-related' (PR) 1b mRNA levels. The results
      indicate that genes so far considered to code for PR proteins may also be
      involved in the plant response to oxidative stress.

PMID- 1450383
TI  - Analysis of the region in between two closely linked patatin genes: class II
      promoter activity in tuber, root and leaf.
AB  - From a potato genomic library a phage lambda clone was isolated that carried
      nucleotide sequences of two patatin genes, thus demonstrating a close physical
      linkage between these two members of the patatin gene family. Sequence and
      restriction analysis showed the genes to be oriented in tandem. The more upstream
      gene was a pseudogene truncated at the 3' end, whereas the downstream gene was a
      class II patatin gene. In addition to a 208 bp fragment also present in patatin
      class I promoters, the region in between both genes contained various direct
      repeats also found in other patatin genes. To study the promoter activity of this
      intergenic region, a 2.78 kb fragment was transcriptionally fused to the beta
      glucuronidase gene and reintroduced into potato cultivar Bintje. Histochemical
      analysis revealed expression in the outermost layer of cells of the cortex, in
      the tuber phellogen, in or around the root vascular system, and also in the
      abaxial phloem layer of the vascular bundle in leaves.

PMID- 1450384
TI  - Dynamical behavior of psb gene transcripts in greening wheat seedlings. I. Time
      course of accumulation of the pshA through psbN gene transcripts during light
      induced greening.
AB  - The time course of the accumulation of the transcripts from 13 psb genes encoding
      a major part of the proteins composing photosystem II during light-induced
      greening of dark-grown wheat seedlings was examined focusing on early stages of
      plastid development (0.5 h through 72 h). The 13 genes can be divided into three
      groups. (1) The psbA gene is transcribed as a single transcript of 1.3 kb in the
      dark-grown seedlings, but its level increases 5- to 7-fold in response to light
      due to selective increase in RNA stability as well as in transcription activity.
      (2) The psbE-F-L-J operon, psbM and psbN genes are transcribed as a single
      transcript of 1.1 kb, two transcripts of 0.5 and 0.7 kb and a single transcript
      of 0.3 kb, respectively, in the dark-grown seedlings. The levels of accumulation
      of every transcript remain unchanged or rather decrease during plastid
      development under illumination. (3) The psbK-I-D-C gene cluster and psbB-H operon
      exhibit fairly complicated northern hybridization patterns during the greening
      process. When a psbC or psbD gene probe was used for northern hybridization, five
      transcripts differing in length were detected in the etioplasts from 5-day old
      dark-grown seedlings. After 2 h illumination, two new transcripts of different
      length appeared. Light induction of new transcripts was also observed in the psbB
      H operon.

PMID- 1450385
TI  - Molecular cloning of an alanine aminotransferase from NAD-malic enzyme type C4
      plant Panicum miliaceum.
AB  - We have determined the nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding AlaAT-2, which is
      believed to function in the C4-pathway of Panicum miliaceum. An open reading
      frame (1446 bp) encodes a protein of 482 amino acid residues. The deduced amino
      acid sequence of AlaAT-2 shows 44.2 and 44.8% homology with the amino acid
      sequences of AlaATs from rat and human livers, respectively. Northern blot
      analysis showed that the gene encoding AlaAT-2 in mesophyll and bundle sheath
      cells was the same and transcribed similarly in the cells. The level of
      translatable mRNA for AlaAT-2 increased dramatically during greening.

PMID- 1450386
TI  - Assaying synthetic ribozymes in plants: high-level expression of a functional
      hammerhead structure fails to inhibit target gene activity in transiently
      transformed protoplasts.
AB  - A hammerhead ribozyme designed against the mRNA coding for the Escherichia coli
      beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter enzyme was constructed. The synthetic ribozyme
      appeared able to correctly cleave in vitro the target RNA. This catalytic
      molecule was then assayed for in vivo activity in plant protoplasts. Plasmids
      coding either for the ribozyme or for the GUS target gene were cotransfected into
      the cells by the PEG-calcium procedure and GUS gene expression monitored
      following transient expression by measuring the intracellular GUS enzymatic
      activity. Expression of the ribozyme to high molar excess over the GUS transcript
      did not lead to any significant decrease of GUS activity in the transfected
      protoplasts. Insertion of the ribozyme sequence in the 3'-untranslated region of
      the GUS mRNA also had no detectable effect on GUS reporter gene expression
      whereas the corresponding RNA appeared able to self-cleave in vitro. These
      results indicate that the ability of ribozymes to perform catalytic cleavage of
      their substrate mRNA in vitro is essential but clearly not sufficient to ensure
      that efficient inhibition of the corresponding target gene will occur upon
      endogenous expression of this catalytic RNA in the plant cell.

PMID- 1450387
TI  - An alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cDNA encoding an acidic leghemoglobin (MsLb3).
AB  - We have found an alfalfa cDNA clone that encodes an acidic leghemoglobin. To
      date, 14 alfalfa leghemoglobin clones have been identified. Five different
      leghemoglobin 'components' have been biochemically defined on the basis of their
      pI. A higher-resolution comparison, provided by sequence data analysis,
      identifies six leghemoglobin 'classes'. All 14 leghemoglobins are assigned to the
      six 'classes', which can be distributed among the five leghemoglobin
      'components'. The newly identified leghemoglobin is the only member of a sixth
      'class' of leghemoglobins, and it also is the only member of one of the acidic
      leghemoglobin 'components' IV or V.

PMID- 1450388
TI  - Chloroplast import of the precursor of the gamma subunit of pea chloroplast ATP
      synthase.
AB  - A cDNA clone encoding the complete precursor of the gamma subunit of the pea
      chloroplast ATP synthase has been isolated from a pea leaf cDNA library in lambda
      gt 11 following detection with antibodies to the purified gamma subunit. The cDNA
      insert of 1.4 kbp is smaller than transcripts of about 1.6 kb detected by
      northern hybridisation of RNA from both light- and darkgrown pea leaves. The cDNA
      encodes a polypeptide of 376 amino acid residues, of which 52 residues constitute
      an N-terminal presequence and 324 residues make up the mature protein.
      Transcription and translation of the cDNA in vitro produced a protein of 42 kDa,
      which was imported by isolated pea chloroplasts and processed to the mature 36
      kDa subunit.

PMID- 1450389
TI  - cDNA sequence and expression of a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase gene from
      soybean.
AB  - A full-length cDNA encoding a subunit of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC)
      was isolated from a developing seed expression library of the C3 plant Glycine
      max. The corresponding mRNA is present at similar levels in leaf, stem, root and
      developing seed. Two potential start codons exist, and the activity of protein
      initiated from the first such codon could be subject to regulation by protein
      kinase. Sequence comparison shows a similar upstream start codon in the case of
      the Ppc2 gene from Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, previously assumed to lack the
      sequences necessary for phosphorylation. The soybean encoded protein tends to
      resemble other 'C3-type' PEPC proteins more closely than those implicated in C4
      or crassulacean acid metabolism.

PMID- 1450390
TI  - Organization of the major latex protein gene family in opium poppy.
AB  - Opium poppy latex contains a group of laticifer-specific, low-molecular-weight
      polypeptides called major latex proteins (MLPs). Here we describe a new member of
      the MLP gene family (gMLP 22) which shares 79.6% nucleotide and 84.6% amino acid
      sequence identity with previously isolated clones. DNA gel blot analysis
      indicates that the MLPs are encoded by at least eight genes which are divided
      into two subfamilies. The expression pattern for each subfamily, as seen in RNA
      gel blots, appears to be identical and laticifer-specific.

PMID- 1450391
TI  - Stress distribution and bone density in the lumbar spine.
AB  - The stress distribution of the lumbar spine was analyzed with a mechanical model
      of the lumbar motion segment constructed by a three-dimensional finite element
      method, and the results were compared with the corresponding bone density
      represented by the value of CT. The results showed that the stress levels in the
      various parts of the lumbar spine were closely related to the CT values. The
      authors conclude that the dynamic balance of bone growth is maintained in large
      part by mechanical stress.

PMID- 1450392
TI  - Quantitative assessment of regional wall motion abnormalities with 2DE in cases
      of myocardial infarction.
AB  - The severity, extent and localization of regional wall motion abnormalities
      (RWMA) were quantitatively assessed with apical biplane two-dimensional
      echocardiography (2DE) using a fixed-axis system, ten-segment division area
      method in 56 patients with old myocardial infarction (OMI). RWMA were found to be
      more severe in the anterior wall MI (AWMI) group than in the inferoposterior wall
      MI (IWMI) group and most severe in the extensive AWMI with ventricular aneurysm
      (EAWMI with VA) group; the extent of RWMA was smallest in the IWMI group,
      significantly larger in the AWMI group, and largest in the EAWMI with VA group.
      The location of the RWMA segments showed group-specific tendencies. For example,
      both coronal and sagittal apices were much more frequently involved in both the
      EAWMI with VA and the AWMI groups than in the IWMI group (100%, 87% and 0%,
      respectively, all P < 0.001). The results demonstrated that quantitative analysis
      of RWMA using 2DE in cases of MI is accurate and feasible.

PMID- 1450393
TI  - Atrial natriuretic factor and renin synthesized in cultured aortic smooth muscle
      cells of rats.
AB  - This study was designed to determine whether or not atrial natriuretic factor
      (ANF) is present in the vascular walls and to observe the differences in ANF
      between control (WKY) and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRsp).
      It was found that ANF is indeed present in the vascular wall of the distal aorta.
      HPLC analysis of the extracts from cultured aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMC) and
      medium revealed that intracellular ANF was mainly in the form of ANF(1-126), at
      levels of 0.82 +/- 0.03 (SHRsp) and 1.04 +/- 0.10 ng/10(6) cells (WKY), while the
      major form in the medium was ANF(99-126), at levels of 0.40 +/- 0.06 and 0.60 +/-
      0.06 ng/10(6) cells, respectively. Both forms were present in smaller amounts in
      SHRsp than in WKY rats. On the contrary, both renin activity and angiotensin I
      concentrations in SHRsp cells were significantly higher than those in the WKY
      controls. In addition, immunocytochemistry showed positive ANF staining in
      cultured ASMC of both strains. The results suggest that ANF can be synthesized
      and secreted by cultured ASMC from rats.

PMID- 1450395
TI  - The purification of a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein from rat brain
      membrane and the measurement of its GTPase.
AB  - A guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (G-protein) was purified to homogeneity
      from rat brain membrane though a series of chromatography runs, including DE-52
      ion exchange, AcA-34 ultrogel, and octyl-Sepharose columns. The purified G
      protein consisted of 3 subunits with molecular weights of 41000, 36000, and 8000,
      respectively. The alpha-subunit of the G-protein possessed high affinity GTP
      binding sites (k = 22.5 nmol/L) and GTPase activity (Km = 82.5 nmol/L, Vmax = 2.8
      pmol/min/microgram protein), and it could be ADP-ribosylated by [adenylate-32P]
      NAD in the presence of pertussis toxin. These results suggest that the purified
      protein was Gi-protein.

PMID- 1450394
TI  - Identification of Leishmania donovani isolates from different kala-azar foci in
      China by kDNA hybridization.
AB  - kDNA sequence homology of Leishmania donovani isolates from three types of kala
      azar foci in China were analyzed by using dot and Southern hybridization with
      biotin- and 32P-labelled probes. The results revealed kDNA sequence heterogeneity
      among Leishmania donovani isolates from the three kala-azar foci: sequence
      homology between isolates of hill and desert foci was higher than that between
      hill and plain foci isolates. The kDNA hybridization technique was also found to
      be specific and sensitive for direct identification of Leishmania in animal
      tissues. In a preliminary survey, kDNA hybridization of cutaneous tissue blots of
      71 dogs from endemic regions showed a positive rate of 40.8%, and the rate of
      double positive cases (touch blot hybridization and bone marrow smear) reached
      91.3%. The direct identification of Leishmania in tissues by kDNA hybridization
      seems to be a useful and convenient method for epidemiological study and clinical
      diagnosis, especially for species/strain characterization.

PMID- 1450396
TI  - Metabolism in and function of the central dopamine system after transplanting
      adrenal medullary tissue into the rat brain.
AB  - The unilateral nigrostriatal pathway of rats was destroyed by microinjecting 6
      hydroxydopamine (6-OH-DA), and isogenous rat adrenal medullary tissue was then
      transplanted into the lesioned lateral caudate nucleus. After 2 months,
      rotational movement was almost abolished in 40% of the transplanted rats, and it
      was significantly reduced in the remaining 60%. Dopamine (DA) and its metabolites
      contents were significantly decreased in the lesioned side of the forebrain,
      while no changes of NA were found. After transplanting adrenal medullary tissue,
      the DA contents increased by 9% only, whereas the NA contents increased
      significantly. In addition, by examining synaptosomes in the brains of these
      rats, we found that on the lesioned side of nontransplanted rats, DA uptake and
      DA receptor binding were increased significantly, while no such changes were seen
      in the transplanted group.

PMID- 1450397
TI  - Flow cytometry for analyzing changes in irradiated and heated HeLa S3 cells.
AB  - In the present study, we have compared the distribution in various phases, DNA
      content, cell survival and ultrastructure of HeLa S3 cells after irradiation
      and/or hyperthermia. After 220 KV X-ray irradiation, the Do of the survival curve
      was 0.94 Gy, Dq was 1.3 Gy, and N was 4.26. After Ir-192 gamma-ray irradiation,
      the Do of the survival curve was 2.26 Gy, Dq was 3.9 Gy, and N was 5.7. The Do of
      the survival curve of HeLa S3 cells after treatment at 43.5 degrees C and 44
      degrees C was 2.2 min and 1.6 min, respectively. Ultrastructural changes were
      also observed. The marked increase of the DNA content after 6 Gy irradiation
      corresponded with changes of distribution in various phases, which indicated a
      delay in the G2 + M phase. The survival fraction after 6 Gy irradiation was less
      than 1%. The changes of cell cycle distribution after Ir-192 irradiation were
      similar to those seen after X-ray exposure. The delay of G2 + M phase after
      hyperthermia was dose-dependent. An obvious delay of the G2 + M phases was also
      observed at 24 h after treatment with X-rays plus hyperthermia.

PMID- 1450398
TI  - Multiple organ injuries after abdominal high energy wounding in animals and the
      protective effect of antioxidants.
AB  - Multiple organ injuries caused by high energy abdominal wounds were studied in 8
      pigs and 24 dogs, and at the same time the protective effect of antioxidants in
      14 dogs with multiple organ injuries was also studied. The experimental results
      showed that: 1) more than two organs (six organs at most) were wounded in each of
      the animals studied; 2) the injuries were characterized by hemorrhaging, tissue
      rupture and hematoma, and the main pathologic changes were local edema and
      necrosis; 3) the marked increase of lipid peroxide (LPO) levels in the vital
      organs indicated that multiple organ injuries could also involve the molecular
      level; 4) the injuries were due to the direct effect of pressure waves and
      ischemic reperfusion and not to shock or infection; and 5) antioxidants (vitamin
      E and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.) exhibited significant protective effects against
      multiple organ injuries through a free radical mechanism.

PMID- 1450399
TI  - Nude mouse interim host model for human parathyroid grafts. I. Structure and
      secretory function.
AB  - Human parathyroid (PTG) tissues from cadaver (C-PTG), fetus (F-PTG) and PTG
      adenoma (A-PTG) were transplanted into the kidney subcapsule of Balb/C nude mice
      as interim host. The structure and secretory function of the tissues were checked
      30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 days after operation. The results showed that PTG
      tissues from all three donors could retain their structure and secretory function
      for more than 100 days in the nude mice. The growth and function of PTG tissues
      from the three donors in nude mice were compared.

PMID- 1450400
TI  - Nude mouse interim host model for human parathyroid grafts. II. Alteration of MHC
      antigens in human PTG grafts in the nude mouse.
AB  - Human parathyroid (PTG) tissues from cadaver (C-PTG), 5-month fetus (F-PTG) and
      PTG adenoma (A-PTG) were transplanted into the kidney subcapsular areas of Balb/C
      nude mice as interim host. Dynamic changes in the amount of tissue major
      histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen present within the transplantation
      period were observed. The results showed that during 100 days of interim hosting,
      no obvious changes in the expression of tissue MHC class I antigens were seen,
      but the expression of tissue MHC class II antigens was significantly reduced. The
      changes of MHC antigens in different donor human PTG tissues were compared.

PMID- 1450401
TI  - Ion-exchange chromatography (IC) in the determination of serum transition metals
      and its clinical application.
AB  - The reproducibility of ion-exchange chromatography (IC) (Dionex Bio-LC) in
      measuring the serum transition metals Cu and Zn was found to be fairly good (CV =
      +/- 2.1% and +/- 2.7% within runs, and +/- 2.5% and +/- 4.3% among runs for Cu
      and Zn, respectively). For clinical application, sera from 20 normal volunteers
      and 20 patients with cancers of the digestive tract (10 early and 10 late stage
      cases) were analyzed. The means of serum Cu (15.54 +/- 0.31 mumol/L) and serum Zn
      (14.84 +/- 0.31 mumol/L) in normal volunteers were very close to the values
      previously determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in our laboratory.
      In the group of late stage cancer patients, the means of serum Cu (24.18 +/- 0.63
      mumol/L) and the Cu/Zn ratio (1.97 +/- 0.07) were significantly elevated (P <
      0.01), while serum Zn (13.01 +/- 0.61 mumol/L) was remarkably decreased (P <
      0.05). There were no significant changes of serum Cu, Zn and Cu/Zn ratio in early
      stage cancer patients. It is concluded that the IC method is rapid, accurate,
      sensitive, relatively simple and could be useful in diagnosing late stage cancers
      of the digestive tract.

PMID- 1450402
TI  - Pregnancy-associated thrombocytopenia: pathogenesis and management.

PMID- 1450403
TI  - Interleukin-4 (IL-4) receptor expression on human T cells is affected by
      different intracellular signaling pathways and by IL-4 at transcriptional and
      posttranscriptional level.
AB  - Interleukin-4 (IL-4) modulates the survival, proliferation, and differentiation
      of a variety of hematopoietic cells. The effects are mediated through a single
      class of high-affinity receptors for IL-4. To understand the biologic effects of
      IL-4 on human T cells, we studied the regulation of IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) gene
      expression. We showed that IL-4R mRNA accumulation in human T cells is enhanced
      fourfold after activation of different secondary signaling pathways by
      concanavalin A (Con A), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), the calcium ionophore
      A23187, and combinations of these factors. This could be ascribed to an increase
      in the IL-4R transcription rate and to stabilization of IL-4R mRNA resulting in a
      half-life of 80 to 90 minutes (v 35 to 40 minutes in resting T cells). IL-4 did
      enhance the IL-4R mRNA accumulation by a factor 10, which was caused by an
      increase in the IL-4R transcription rate and prolonging the half-life of IL-4R
      transcripts to 140 to 160 minutes. Finally, it was shown that A23187 induced IL
      4R mRNA expression is a protein synthesis-dependent process. In contrast, Con A-,
      PMA-, Con A + PMA-, and Con A + A23187-induced expression of IL-4R mRNA is
      protein-synthesis independent. Cyclosporine A inhibited the A23187- and Con A +
      A23187-induced IL-4R mRNA accumulation, whereas Con A-, PMA-, and Con A + PMA
      induced IL-4R mRNA expression was not affected by this drug. These data indicate
      that expression of IL-4 receptors on human T cells can be modulated by different
      intracellular signaling pathways at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional
      levels.

PMID- 1450404
TI  - Detergent-resistant cytoskeleton of the surface-activated platelet differs from
      the suspension-activated platelet cytoskeleton.
AB  - This study contrasts the protein composition of the detergent-resistant
      cytoskeleton of platelets fully spread on glass with the cytoskeletal composition
      of resting platelets and platelets aggregated in suspension with thrombin.
      Complete Triton X-100-insoluble cytoskeletons were isolated from spread, resting,
      and suspension-activated platelets in the presence of protease inhibitors,
      solubilized in sodium dodecyl sulfate/EDTA and analyzed on reduced, one
      dimensional polyacrylamide gels. The protein composition of the cytoskeletons
      differed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Most notable were more extensive
      incorporation of total protein, talin, and vinculin into the cytoskeleton of
      spread platelets than the cytoskeleton of suspension-activated platelets. Varying
      the concentration and time of exposure to thrombin during suspension activation
      did not mimic the cytoskeletal changes of surface activation. Scanning electron
      microscopy, measurement of lipid phosphorus content, and varying the duration of
      Triton extraction did not show incomplete solubilization or nonspecific trapping
      of constituents in the spread platelet cytoskeleton. Proteolysis of talin was
      minimal in suspension-activated platelets and in platelets spread for 50 minutes.
      The differences in the detergent-resistant cytoskeletons of surface- and
      suspension-activated platelets indicate significant divergence in the
      physiologies of platelet spreading on surfaces and platelet activation in
      suspension.

PMID- 1450405
TI  - Thrombin interaction with platelet glycoprotein Ib: effect of glycocalicin on
      thrombin specificity.
AB  - We describe here the alteration of thrombin specificity induced by its
      interaction with glycocalicin. Glycocalicin is the external part of platelet
      glycoprotein Ib alpha (GPIb alpha) and contains binding sites for von Willebrand
      factor and thrombin. Taking advantage of its solubility, we have used
      glycocalicin in competition assays on various thrombin activities. Glycocalicin
      did not inhibit chromogenic substrate hydrolysis nor diisopropylfluorophosphate
      iPr2 (PF) incorporation, indicating that thrombin binding to GPIb does not alter
      access to or the conformation of the thrombin catalytic site. Glycocalicin
      competitively inhibited thrombin binding to fibrin (Ki = 0.1 mumol/L) and blocked
      fibrinogen clotting activity of thrombin. Glycocalicin also inhibited thrombin
      binding to thrombomodulin in a competitive manner (Ki = 3 to 5 mumol/L), but
      failed to prevent thrombin interaction with protein C in the absence of
      thrombomodulin. Previous results have indicated that GPIb binds to thrombin
      within the anion binding exosite masked by the carboxy-terminal hirudin peptide
      54-65. The present results confirm the implication of the anion binding exosite
      in GPIb recognition, and further indicate that the thrombin binding site for GPIb
      overlaps with the thrombin binding sites for fibrin and thrombomodulin, whereas
      it is distinct from the thrombin binding site for protein C. Some of the
      structural requirements for thrombin binding to GPIb appear to be very similar to
      those reported for binding to its platelet receptor. However, thrombin-GPIb
      interaction does not appear to compete with receptor hydrolysis but rather
      increases the sensitivity and the rate of platelet responses elicited by the
      receptor.

PMID- 1450407
TI  - Potentiation of lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression
      by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.
AB  - The immunomodulatory hormone 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) has been
      shown to suppress T-cell proliferation and interleukin-2 synthesis as well as B
      cell immunoglobulin synthesis, while stimulating many macrophage functions. We
      have previously shown increased synthesis of interleukin-1 beta in
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated U937 cells after pretreatment with 10 nmol/L
      1,25-(OH)2D3. We now show that 1,25-(OH)2D3 also primes the increase in U937 cell
      tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-accumulated mRNA after activation with LPS; 50%
      effective concentration (EC50) for the LPS-induced expression of TNF-alpha mRNA
      was decreased by two orders of magnitude after incubation with 10 nmol/L 1,25
      (OH)2D3. Pretreatment of U937 cells with 10 nmol/L 1,25-(OH)2D3 also increased
      subsequent LPS-induced TNF-alpha mRNA expression by twofold and cell-associated
      TNF protein levels by more than ninefold. This potentiation was steroid-specific
      for 1,25-(OH)2D3 because dexamethasone inhibited TNF-alpha mRNA. The potentiation
      required prior exposure to 1,25-(OH)2D3 for more than 6 hours and was clearly
      seen after 12 hours. The finding that the sensitivity of the U937 cell monokine
      response to LPS was dramatically increased by 1,25-(OH)2D3 and the delayed effect
      on the LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha gene transcript levels indicated that 1,25
      (OH)2D3 may be altering the expression of a protein(s) in the U937 cell LPS
      signal transduction pathway. In fact, 1,25-(OH)2D3 induced expression of the mRNA
      for CD14, the high affinity, cell-surface glycoprotein receptor for LPS, which
      could account for the enhancement of LPS-stimulated monokine gene expression by
      1,25-(OH)2D3. Thus, local monokine gene expression may be regulated by both the
      amount and the temporal entry of the vitamin D hormone and activator(s) into the
      inflammatory microenvironment.

PMID- 1450406
TI  - Interleukin-11 promotes accessory cell-dependent B-cell differentiation in
      humans.
AB  - Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is a recently described stromal-derived cytokine that
      supports the growth of an IL-6-dependent murine plasmacytoma line in the presence
      of antibody to IL-6 and appears to act in a manner similar to IL-6 on
      hematopoietic stem cells. Because IL-6 is known to promote differentiation of
      normal human B cells, the role of IL-11 on B-cell differentiation in vitro was
      characterized. IL-11 does not result in significantly increased DNA synthesis or
      Ig secretion by purified B cells alone or B cells cultured with Staphylococcus
      Cowan I, a T-cell-independent B-cell mitogen. In contrast, purified B cells
      cultured in the presence of pokeweed mitogen (PWM), irradiated T cells, and
      monocytes show increased DNA synthesis at day 3 and increased IgG and IgM
      secretion at day 7 of culture; addition of IL-11 further augments Ig secretion
      without change in DNA synthesis, an effect that can only be partially blocked by
      monoclonal antibody to IL-6. Similar experiments confirmed that increased IgG
      secretion was demonstrable when either IL-11 or IL-6 was added to B cells +
      CD4+/45RA- T cells + monocytes + PWM; in contrast, Ig secretion was low and
      equivalent when CD4+/45RA+ T cells were cultured with B cells+monocytes+PWM with
      or without IL-6 or IL-11. Neither IL-6 nor IL-11 could significantly increase
      phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced DNA synthesis by CD4+/45RA- or CD4+/45RA+ T
      cells. Although PWM or IL-11 induced IL-6 mRNA expression in both CD4+/45RA- T
      cells and monocytes, in neither cell did IL-11 increase IL-6 mRNA expression over
      that noted to PWM alone. These observations support the view that IL-11 promotes
      differentiation of human B lymphocytes only in the presence of accessory T cells
      and monocytes and that a minor component of this effect may be through
      stimulation of IL-6 production by CD4+/45RA- T cells and monocytes.

PMID- 1450408
TI  - Retroviral gene transfer induced constitutive expression of interleukin-2 or
      interferon-gamma in irradiated human melanoma cells.
AB  - Cytokines are important modulators of host antitumor responses. Two of these
      cytokines, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), are produced
      after antigen-induced activation of helper lymphocytes. The cytokines are
      released into the immediate vicinity where they either interact with the
      appropriate receptors on effector cell populations or are rapidly degraded. To
      mimic this physiologic release of cytokines at the effector-target site, we used
      retroviral vectors to transduce melanoma cells with the IL-2 or IFN-gamma cDNA.
      Five melanoma cell lines were transduced with IL-2- or IFN-gamma-containing
      vectors and secreted IL-2 at 1 to 40 U/mL/10(6) cells/24 h or IFN-gamma 1 to 8
      U/mL/10(6) cells/24 h, respectively. After gamma irradiation, these cells
      continued to secrete cytokines for about 3 to 4 weeks. Secretion of IFN-gamma
      induced upregulation of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules in a
      subset of melanoma cell lines. IL-2 production by human melanoma xenografts
      induced tumor rejection in BALB/c nu/nu mice, showing the in vivo effect of this
      cytokine. This study shows that (1) human melanoma cells can be stably transduced
      with cytokine-containing retroviral vectors; (2) cytokines are secreted
      constitutively by the transduced tumor cells and have the expected biologic
      effects in vitro and in vivo; and (3) after gamma irradiation, cytokines continue
      to be secreted for several weeks. These data suggest that irradiated cytokine
      secreting allogenic or autologous tumor cells can be used in vaccination
      protocols for cancer patients.

PMID- 1450409
TI  - Long-term engraftment of fresh human myeloma cells in SCID mice.
AB  - Using highly purified myeloma cells from patient bone marrow, we established
      human-murine myeloma chimeras in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice and
      documented secretion of monoclonal human immunoglobulins (Hulgs) in the mice for
      up to 299 days. Monoclonality of circulating Hulgs was found only when highly
      purified myeloma cells were injected intraperitoneally. In contrast, injection of
      unfractionated myeloma marrow led to the development of polyclonal Hulgs in the
      SCID mice. The criteria for myeloma engraftment included prolonged presence of
      monoclonal Hulgs in the sera of SCID mice and/or detection of human myeloma cells
      in their tissues by immunohistochemical examination. Ninety-one percent (10/11)
      of the fresh purified myeloma specimens engrafted in the SCID mice. Fifty-five
      percent (6/11) of the patient samples resulted in human B-cell grafts, and 45%
      (5/11) were identifiable as human myeloma chimeras. Pathologic studies showed
      that most human plasmacytes were located in the peritoneal cavity but metastatic
      infiltrates were also found in other organs in 69% of the SCID-human myeloma
      chimeras. This chimeric model should provide a useful tool for characterization
      of growth modulation and microenvironmental interactions as well as a means of
      testing new therapeutic approaches to multiple myeloma.

PMID- 1450410
TI  - T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia--the associated gene SCL/tal codes for a 42
      Kd nuclear phosphoprotein.
AB  - SCL/tal is a putative oncogene originally identified through its involvement in
      the translocation t(1;14)(p32;q11) present in the leukemic cell line DU.528.
      Subsequent studies have shown an upstream deletion activating expression of
      SCL/tal to be one of the most common genetic lesions in T-cell acute
      lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). The cDNA sequence of SCL/tal encodes a basic
      helix-loop-helix (bHLH) protein with regions of marked homology to lyl-1 and tal
      2, two other bHLH proteins involved in T-ALL chromosomal translocations. The bHLH
      motif suggests that the SCL/tal product localizes to the nucleus, binds to
      specific DNA sequences, and regulates transcription of a specific array of target
      genes. Our studies directly identify the SCL/tal product as a 42-Kd
      phosphoprotein that efficiently localizes to the nucleus. Deletion mutagenesis
      has allowed identification of a region critical for nuclear localization, a
      region that corresponds to the DNA-binding basic domain within the bHLH motif.
      Because this domain is shared by lyl-1 and tal-2, these latter putative T-cell
      oncoproteins probably use a nuclear localization mechanism identical to that of
      SCL/tal.

PMID- 1450411
TI  - Expression of human recombination activating genes (RAG-1 and RAG-2) in Hodgkin's
      disease.
AB  - The differentiation status of Sternberg-Reed (SR) cells is still not well
      defined, primarily because of their scarcity in tumor biopsies of Hodgkin's
      disease (HD). In this study we have determined the genomic differentiation status
      of SR cells by quantitation of recombinase activating gene (RAG) expression. RAG
      genes are selectively transcribed in immature lymphoid cells. In B cells they are
      silent after genomic rearrangement has occurred, whereas in T cells they are
      downregulated during positive selection of double-positive thymocytes into single
      positive cells. RNA from tumor biopsies either with numerous (11 cases) or a with
      few SR cells (16 cases) was assessed by a sensitive reverse transcriptase
      polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the results compared with established
      positive and negative controls. In all except two cases levels of RAG expression
      were within the range of those determined in negative controls. In both positive
      cases and in the positive control RAG mRNA was further quantitated by competitive
      PCR. In cases with abundant SR cells RAG expression was still below that observed
      in 10(-2) dilutions of positive controls. These results suggest that SR cells are
      derived from lymphoid cells, more differentiated than the pre-B or common
      thymocyte stage, which have already undergone genomic rearrangement. They show
      the value of assessing RAG expression by RT-PCR in the characterization of
      lymphoid malignancies.

PMID- 1450412
TI  - Clinical, morphologic, and cytogenetic characteristics of 26 patients with acute
      erythroblastic leukemia.
AB  - We have performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical, morphologic, and
      cytogenetic findings in 26 patients diagnosed between January 1969 and September
      1991 with acute erythroblastic leukemia de novo (EL or AML-M6). Clonal
      chromosomal abnormalities were found in 20 (77%) patients (95% confidence
      interval [CI], 61% to 93%). Loss of all or part of the long arm (q) of
      chromosomes 5 and/or 7 was observed in 17 (65%) patients (95% CI, 47% to 83%). In
      addition, the karyotypes were often complex, with multiple abnormalities and
      subclones. Among the remaining nine patients, six had a normal karyotype and one
      each had trisomy 8, t(3;3), or t(3;5). The overall frequency of abnormalities of
      chromosomes 5 and/or 7 observed in our M6 patients is similar to that observed in
      our patients with therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML; 99 of 129
      patients, 77%), but substantially higher than that noted in our other patients
      with AML de novo (French-American-British [FAB] subtypes M1-M5: 52 of 334
      patients, 16%). Our M6 patients with abnormalities of chromosomes 5 and/or 7 were
      older and had a shorter median survival (16 v 77 weeks [P = .005]) than did the
      M6 patients without these abnormalities. We found no correlation between
      morphologic features and either cytogenetic abnormalities or clinical outcome. Of
      note was the finding that the percentage of myeloblasts, which may account for
      only a small fraction of the total marrow elements when the revised FAB criteria
      are applied, had no bearing on prognosis. We conclude that acute erythroblastic
      leukemia, when defined by morphologic criteria, consists of two distinctive
      subgroups: one group tends to be older, has complex cytogenetic abnormalities,
      especially of chromosomes 5 and/or 7, and shares biologic and clinical features
      with t-AML; the other group, with simple or no detectable cytogenetic
      abnormalities, has a more favorable prognosis when treated with intensive
      chemotherapy.

PMID- 1450413
TI  - Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor/interleukin-3 fusion protein
      (pIXY 321) enhances high-dose Ara-C-induced programmed cell death or apoptosis in
      human myeloid leukemia cells.
AB  - High dose Ara-C (HIDAC) induces programmed cell death (PCD) or apoptosis in vitro
      in human myeloid leukemia cells, which correlates with the inhibition of their
      clonogenic survival. Hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs) granulocyte-macrophage
      colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-3 (IL-3) have been
      demonstrated to enhance the metabolism and cytotoxic effects of HIDAC against
      leukemic progenitor cells. We examined the effect of pIXY 321 (a GM-CSF/IL-3
      fusion protein) on HIDAC-induced PCD and related gene expressions as well as
      HIDAC-mediated colony growth inhibition of human myeloid leukemia cells. Unlike
      the previously described effects of HGFs on normal bone marrow progenitor cells,
      exposure to pIXY 321 alone for up to 24 hours did not suppress PCD in HL-60 or KG
      1 cells. However, exposure to pIXY 321 for 20 hours followed by a combined
      treatment with Ara-C plus pIXY 321 for 4 or 24 hours versus treatment with Ara-C
      alone significantly enhanced the oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation
      characteristic of PCD. This was temporally associated with a marked induction of
      c-jun expression and a significant decrease in BCL-2. In addition, the treatment
      with pIXY 321 plus HIDAC versus HIDAC alone produced a significantly greater
      inhibition of HL-60 colony growth. These findings highlight an additional
      mechanism of HIDAC-induced leukemic cell death that is augmented by cotreatment
      with pIXY 321 and may contribute toward an improved antileukemic activity of
      HIDAC.

PMID- 1450414
TI  - Expression of the novel intermediate filament-associated protein restin in
      Hodgkin's disease and anaplastic large-cell lymphoma.
AB  - In this study, the expression of the novel intermediate filament protein Restin
      in human tissues was analyzed. Restin expression was studied by
      immunohistochemistry using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Restin was not
      detected in normal tissues, a range of B- and T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and
      nonlymphoid tumors. However, Restin was present in Reed-Sternberg cells and
      variants thereof in Hodgkin's disease, with the exception of the lymphocyte
      predominant, paragranuloma subtype. Restin was also highly expressed in
      anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (so-called Ki-1 lymphoma). As expected, Restin was
      also expressed in Hodgkin cell lines L428, L428KSA, Co, and KM-H2 and the
      anaplastic large-cell lymphoma cell line Karpas 299, which was confirmed by
      sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting,
      as well as Northern blotting. The presence of Restin in both Hodgkin's disease
      and anaplastic large-cell lymphoma is intriguing and might indicate a role of
      this structural protein in the pathogenesis of both conditions.

PMID- 1450415
TI  - Human macrophage colony-stimulating factor levels are elevated in pregnancy and
      in immune thrombocytopenia.
AB  - Plasma macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) levels were measured by
      enzyme immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using horse and rabbit polyvalent antibodies
      raised against human M-CSF purified from urine (hM-CSF). Plasma M-CSF levels in
      nonpregnant female controls were 364 +/- 69 U/mL (mean +/- SD, n = 20). Pregnancy
      results in significant elevation of circulating M-CSF levels (541 +/- 164 U/mL, n
      = 46, P < .0005). M-CSF levels were increased by 28 weeks' gestation and did not
      increase further in later pregnancy. M-CSF levels were also measured in 20 female
      controls before and after commencing on the oral contraceptive pill. There was no
      effect of the contraceptive pill on plasma M-CSF levels (364 +/- 69 U/mL before v
      373 +/- 66 U/mL after commencing on the pill). In 28 nonpregnant patients with
      untreated immune thrombocytopenic purpura, (ITP), plasma M-CSF levels were
      significantly increased (797 +/- 402 U/mL, n = 28, v 364 +/- 69 U/mL in controls,
      N = 20, P < .0005). Pregnant ITP patients had higher levels of plasma M-CSF (929
      +/- 327 U/mL, n = 25) than nonpregnant patients, but this difference was not
      significant. Elevated levels of M-CSF in ITP may reflect activation of the
      reticuloendothelial system (RES), which could result in positive feedback to
      increase the destruction of platelets. The increase in M-CSF associated with
      pregnancy could contribute to the exacerbation of latent ITP in pregnancy.

PMID- 1450416
TI  - Eosinophil peroxidase deficiency: morphological and immunocytochemical studies of
      the eosinophil-specific granules.
AB  - Five eosinophil peroxidase (EPO)-deficient subjects were identified from 131,000
      peripheral blood samples examined for routine automated analysis. The EPO
      deficient eosinophils of these subjects met the main criteria established for EPO
      deficiency: absent or strongly decreased reaction for peroxidase, absent or
      strongly decreased staining with Sudan Black, and an increased ratio of the
      granule core volume to the total granule volume. In this report we show that this
      granule alteration is caused mainly by a decrease of its volume, particularly of
      the matrix, and that two other matrix proteins, eosinophil cationic protein and
      eosinophil derived neurotoxin, appear to be present in normal amounts in the EPO
      deficient granules.

PMID- 1450417
TI  - Prevalent skipping of an individual exon accounts for shortened protein 4.1
      Presles.
AB  - An asymptomatic shortened variant of protein 4.1 (-8.5 Kd) was first recognized
      in the red blood cells and designated protein 4.1 Presles. We show here that the
      missing segment belongs to the 22/24 Kd domain. Protein 4.1 cDNA from
      reticulocytes was amplified, mapped, and sequenced. The truncation appeared to
      result from the prevalent skipping of an individual and alternatively spliced
      exon, also called motif II, whereas this motif is preferentially retained under
      normal conditions. The same phenomenon was observed in lympho-blastoid cells.
      Sequencing over 80 bp of intronic sequences 5' and 3' of motif II failed to
      reveal any change. A new alternative splice site was incidently found 81
      nucleotide downstream of motif II in both normal and truncated 4.1 mRNA.

PMID- 1450418
TI  - Effects of leukocyte depletion and UVB irradiation on alloantigenicity of major
      histocompatibility complex antigens in platelet concentrates: a comparative
      study.
AB  - Recent technologic advancement enables us to prepare leukocyte-depleted or UVB
      irradiated platelet concentrates for possible prevention of primary HLA
      alloimmunization. However, it is yet not known which of these two approaches is
      more efficacious. Because well-controlled studies cannot be easily conducted in
      human subjects to answer this question, a series of experiments were performed
      using a mouse transfusion model. The results showed that 100% of CBA mice with
      H2k haplotype developed antibody to donor H2d major histocompatibility complex
      (MHC) antigens after two weekly transfusions of platelet concentrates containing
      2000 leukocytes/microL. In contrast, only 50% of the mice became alloimmunized
      after receiving platelets containing < or = 2 leukocytes/microL. More
      impressively, none developed anti-H2d antibodies after receiving two platelet
      concentrates irradiated with 1,200 mJ/cm2 UVB. UVB irradiation was found to be
      equally effective in reducing the alloantigenicity of platelet concentrates
      regardless of whether they contained more than a fully immunogenic dose of
      leukocytes. The antibody titers determined after five weekly transfusions also
      supported the observation that UVB irradiation was more efficacious than a 3-log
      leukocyte depletion in the prevention of primary alloimmunization to MHC
      antigens. In addition, the studies showed that only transfusions of UVB
      irradiated platelet products could induce the suppression of immunologic
      responses to donor MHC antigens in recipients and the induced immunologic
      suppression could not be further enhanced by gamma irradiation or by leukocyte
      depletion.

PMID- 1450419
TI  - Bone marrow transplantation for peripheral T-cell lymphoma in children and
      adolescents.
AB  - We report nine children with relapsed (n = 8) or high-risk (n = 1) peripheral T
      cell lymphoma (PTCL) who underwent autologous (n = 6) or allogeneic (n = 3) bone
      marrow transplantation (BMT). These children received transplants as part of a
      prospective phase I/II study of thioTEPA (TT) and total body irradiation (TBI)
      with escalating doses of VP-16. The median age of these patients at time of BMT
      was 6.5 years (range 2.5 years to 14 years). Three were transplanted with active
      disease after failing salvage chemotherapy. Of the other six, one was
      transplanted in first complete remission (CR) and five in second or subsequent
      CR. Of these nine patients, eight are free of disease a median of 25 months after
      BMT (range, 6 to 48 months), with an estimated 2-year relapse-free survival (RFS)
      of 89%. Six of these eight patients have been followed for 12 or more months
      after BMT, and in each their current remission exceeds their longest previous
      remission duration. The toxicity of the TT/TBI +/- VP-16 regimens was significant
      but manageable, predominantly consisting of severe mucositis. For a comparison,
      we reviewed retrospective data on the six additional children and adolescents
      with PTCL who underwent BMT during the 3-year period preceding this phase I/II
      study. The median age at BMT of these six patients was 19 years (range 15.5 years
      to 20 years). These patients were prepared for BMT with a variety of other
      regimens. One had no response to BMT and the other five relapsed at 1.5 to 5
      months after BMT (median, 3 months) with an RFS of 0%. Our data suggest that
      thioTEPA plus TBI, with or without VP-16, is an effective preparative regimen for
      BMT for young patients with relapsed or high-stage PTCL and leads to prolonged
      RFS.

PMID- 1450420
TI  - Expansion of a paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) clone after cyclosporine
      therapy for aplastic anemia/PNH syndrome.

PMID- 1450421
TI  - Circulating endogenous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor levels after bone
      marrow transplantation.

PMID- 1450422
TI  - Role of busulfan pharmacokinetics on outcome after bone marrow transplantation
      for acute myelogenous leukemia.

PMID- 1450423
TI  - Graft-versus-host disease or graft-versus-host-like syndrome.

PMID- 1450424
TI  - Microtubule organization in lymphoid malignancies.
AB  - The abnormal organization of actin-containing microfilaments and vimentin
      containing intermediate filaments in neoplastic lymphocytes of T and B cell
      origin has been described. We investigated microtubules of pathologic cells from
      34 lymphoid malignancies, by immunofluorescence microscopy, using monoclonal
      tubulin antibody. In most cases, apart from two cases of lymphoma, one T cell
      lymphoma and one B cell lymphoma, interphase leukemia cells, lymphoma cells, and
      myeloma cells were shown to contain well-organized microtubules which were
      associated with a microtubule organization center at one end. In the cells of a
      patient with T cell lymphoma, although microtubules were not visible in the
      lymphoma cells from lymph nodes, they became visible after 72 hours in culture
      with concanavalin A (Con A) and interferon alpha. Cap formation was observed with
      antitubulin monoclonal antibody in the peripheral blood lymphocytes from a
      chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient, but well-developed microtubules were
      observed on other occasions in the same patient. There were no obvious structural
      differences between microtubules in T and B cell lymphoid malignancies, but
      leukemia cells and lymphoma cells with irregularly shaped nuclei, such as adult T
      cell leukemia cells and B cell lymphoma cells with cleaved nuclei, had
      complicated microtubules surrounding their irregular nuclei. In general, after
      blastogenic stimuli with phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P), Con A, and pokeweed
      mitogen (PWM), the development of the microtubules was proportional to the
      incorporation of 3H thymidine (3H-TDR). In most cases, after incubation with
      granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and interferon alpha, the number of
      intact cells decreased and the number of degenerated cells increased, but the
      intact cells had intact microtubules.

PMID- 1450425
TI  - Optical evaluation of red blood cell geometry using micropipette aspiration.
AB  - Although red blood cell (RBC) geometry has been extensively studied by
      micropipette aspiration, the small size of RBC and pipettes vs. the optical
      resolution of light microscopy suggests the need to consider potential errors.
      The present study addressed such difficulties and investigated four specific
      problems: (1) use of exact equations to calculate RBC membrane area and volume;
      (2) calibration of the pipette internal diameter (PID); (3) correction for a
      noncylindrical pipette barrel; (4) diffraction distortion of the RBC image. The
      observed PID represents a cylinder lens enlargement that can be theoretically
      derived from the glass/buffer refractive index ratio (1.49/1.33 = 1.12). This
      enlargement was experimentally confirmed by: (1) studying pipettes bent to allow
      measurement through the barrel (horizontal) and at the orifice (vertical), with a
      resulting diameter ratio of 1.12 +/- 0.01; (2) and by replacing the surrounding
      buffer with immersion oil and hence abolishing the lens phenomenon (ratio = 1.12
      +/- 0.02). In addition, use of aspirated oil droplets demonstrated a 3.2 +/- 0.2%
      error when the PID is focused at a sharp, maximum diameter. The average pipette
      cone angle was 1.49 +/- 0.09 degrees and varied considerably with pipette pulling
      procedures; calculated tongue geometry inside the pipette was affected by the
      noncylindrical pipette barrel. The RBC diffraction error, demonstrated by
      touching two aspirated cells held by opposing pipettes, was 0.091 +/- 0.002
      microns. The PID, cone angle, and diffraction artifacts significantly (p < 0.001)
      affected calculated RBC geometry (average errors up to 5.4% for area and 9.6% for
      volume). Two new methods to calculate, rather than directly measure, the PID from
      images of a single RBC, during either osmotic or pressure manipulation, were
      evaluated; the osmotic method closely predicted the PID, whereas the pressure
      method markedly underestimated the PID. Our results thus confirm the need to
      consider the above-mentioned phenomena when determining RBC geometric parameters
      via micropipette aspiration.

PMID- 1450426
TI  - Locomotion of human bone marrow and peripheral blood leukocytes is associated
      with maturational stage and altered in malignancy.
AB  - Using high-resolution phase contrast time-lapse microcinematography, slow
      movements (0.8-2.0 microns/minute) of human myeloblasts, monoblasts, and
      megakaryocytes can be recorded. Upon maturation to promyelocytes, motility is
      lost until cells have reached the stage of metamyelocytes (0.4 microns/minute).
      Motility increases sharply following maturation into segmented neutrophils (20.4
      microns/minute). Monocytes and promonocytes display a mean track velocity of 7.1
      microns/minute. The distribution of lymphocyte velocities is not bell-shaped but
      shows three maxima of 2.1 microns/minute, 7.8 microns/minute, and 18.4
      microns/minute. Atypical lymphocytes from patients with infectious mononucleosis
      belong to the fast group, whereas lymphocytes activated in vitro by mitogens
      belong to the slow group. Red blood cell precursors from normal human bone marrow
      do not move actively. In contrast, erythroleukemic blasts show a motility
      comparable to normal myeloblasts. Similarly, acute promyelocytic leukemia cells
      move at 6.7 microns/minute, while their normal counterparts are sessile.
      Increased motility is also observed in blast cells from a variety of acute
      myelogenous and lymphoblastic leukemias.

PMID- 1450427
TI  - Stress platelets in normal individuals and patients with idiopathic
      thrombocytopenic purpura.
AB  - To test the hypothesis that stress platelets (SPs) described by Tong et al. in
      rats may be a parameter of young platelets in humans, we examined and
      characterized SPs in normal individuals and in patients with idiopathic
      thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Our results indicated that SPs comprise about
      1.2% of the circulating platelets in normal individuals and 2.6% in ITP patients.
      The configuration of SPs as well as of various irregular forms of circulating
      platelets was found to be supported by synergism of both the platelet
      microfilaments and microtubules. SPs showed some segmentation, the degree of
      which was similar in normal individuals and ITP patients, and they underwent
      further segmentation during in vitro incubation, mainly promoted by microtubules,
      so that they sometimes appeared like discoid platelets in a chain. These
      observations suggest a new mode of production of discoid platelets in the
      circulation. Thus, identification and enumeration of SPs may be useful for
      evaluating thrombocytopoiesis in humans.

PMID- 1450428
TI  - Stress platelet: a platelet equivalent of stress reticulocyte.

PMID- 1450429
TI  - Bone marrow cell differential counts obtained by multidimensional flow cytometry.
AB  - Five-dimensional flow cytometric analysis of normal bone marrow aspirates was
      utilized to determine the frequency of neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes,
      lymphocytes, nucleated erythrocytes, reticulocytes, platelets, and a cell
      population that included blasts of each of the cell lineages, megakaryocytes,
      plasma cells, and basophils. Each of these bone marrow cell populations had
      unique features with respect to forward light scatter, orthogonal light scatter,
      and staining with Thiazole-Orange, LDS-751, and CD45 labeled with Phycoerythrin
      (PE). The identity of the cell populations was verified by sorting each of the
      cell populations and subsequent light microscopic examination of the cells. The
      frequencies of the nucleated bone marrow cell subpopulations of 50 normal donors
      were for neutrophils, mean 72.3%; SD +/- 5.1; 95% limits, 70.9-73.8%;
      eosinophils, mean 1.8%; SD +/- 1.3; 95% limits, 1.4-2.1%; monocytes, mean, 2.8%;
      SD +/- 1.2; 95% limits, 2.5-3.1%; lymphocytes, mean 12.1%; SD +/- 3.6; 95% limits
      11.1-13.2%; nucleated erythrocytes, mean 8.9%; SD +/- 3.9; 95% limits, 7.8-10.1%;
      and the cell population that included blasts of each of the cell lineages,
      megakaryocytes, plasma cells, and basophils, mean 1.6%; SD +/- 1.2; 95% limits,
      1.3-1.9%. The percentage of reticulocytes in bone marrow aspirates from 50 normal
      donors correlated with the reticulocyte frequency in the peripheral blood of
      these donors. However, the mean frequency of reticulocytes was significantly
      greater (p < 0.0001) in bone marrow (mean 2.19%; SD +/- 0.88) than in peripheral
      blood (mean 1.71%; SD +/- 0.88). The technique could discriminate between
      immature and mature reticulocytes based on the brighter staining with both
      Thiazole-Orange and LDS-751 of the immature reticulocytes. This was confirmed by
      cell sorting of both reticulocyte populations, which revealed larger clumps of
      New Methylene Blue staining material in the brighter Thiazole-Orange and LDS-751
      stained reticulocytes. The immature reticulocytes were present in normal bone
      marrow, but not in normal peripheral blood. As expected, a significantly greater
      frequency of nucleated cells was found in bone marrow aspirates (mean 0.85%; SD
      +/- 0.59) than in peripheral blood (mean 0.20%; SD +/- 0.11). The frequency of
      platelets was significantly lower in bone marrow (mean 1.24%; SD +/- 0.69) than
      in peripheral blood (mean 2.94%, SD +/- 1.14). Flow cytometric bone marrow
      analysis can provide clinical laboratories with a technique that generates
      quantitative bone marrow cell differentials and potentially can reduce the need
      for light microscopic examination of bone marrow smears.

PMID- 1450430
TI  - Kinetics of granulocyte deformability following exposure to chemotactic stimuli.
AB  - In order to quantitate the kinetics of granulocyte deformability changes
      consequent to chemotactic stimulation, transit times (TT) of neutrophils through
      8-microns diameter pores were studied via a modified cell transit analyzer (CTA).
      Cells isolated from normal human blood were tested at 20-second intervals for 5
      minutes following stimulation with N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenyl-alanine
      (fMLP) or zymosan-activated plasma (ZAP). The effects of cytochalasin B (CB), N
      ethylmaleimide (NEM), and ibuprofen were also evaluated. Salient results
      included: (1) greater TT with increasing fMLP concentration (0.01-100 nM) with a
      peak response at 40-60 seconds followed by a return to or toward control at 5
      minutes; (2) longer TT at 60 seconds for at least 75% of the cells at all fMLP
      concentrations, yet for 1 nM at 5 minutes nearly one half had TT less than
      unstimulated cells; and (3) similar temporal responses during a 5-minute period
      to ZAP simulation, with a nonlinear relation between cell rigidity and F-actin
      content. CB (20 microM) and NEM (1 mM) caused an immediate 30% to 35% decrease of
      TT for unstimulated cells; ibuprofen (10-1000 micrograms/ml) did not affect
      unstimulated TT, yet significantly reduced the response to fMLP and ZAP. Cell
      volume, as judged by CTA pulse height, decreased following fMLP stimulation, thus
      indicating that cell swelling does not contribute to the longer pore transit
      times of activated granulocytes. Our results, combined with literature reports
      describing microvascular occlusion by neutrophils, strongly suggest the
      importance of kinetic rather than static studies of granulocyte deformability;
      further, they indicate the usefulness of the modified CTA for such measurements.

PMID- 1450431
TI  - Epidermal growth factor (EGF) expression in human salivary glands. An
      immunohistochemical study.
AB  - Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a biologically active peptide involved in
      differentiation, growth, regeneration and repair of human and animal tissues.
      Quantitative biochemical studies showed in man the highest concentration of EGF
      in the parotid gland. The aim of the present study was to define EGF
      immunolocalization in the individual segments of the human major salivary glands
      (salivon). The material consisted of sections obtained from the surgically
      removed salivary glands: parotid, submaxillary and sublingual.
      Immunohistochemical studies were performed by PAP method using monoclonal
      antibody against human epidermal growth factor. EGF expression was found almost
      exclusively in the efferent pathways of the salivary glands, mostly in the
      intercalated ducts and Pfluger salivary tubules. These segments of the salivon
      are most developed in the parotid gland in which the staining was stronger than
      in other salivary glands.

PMID- 1450432
TI  - Adenosine mediation of mesenteric blood flow.
AB  - The mesenteric circulation is regulated by multiple mechanisms, there is
      sufficient reason to support the suspicion that local metabolic factors are
      especially important in the control of intestinal vasculature. Of these,
      adenosine, a purine nucleoside and mesenteric vasodilator, may be the messenger
      of the intestinal tissue to signal appropriate responses of the intestinal
      vessels. The evidence supporting the candidacy of the nucleoside as a local
      regular of mesenteric circulation may be summarized, as follows: Adenoside is
      present in the tissue of the gut in measurable quantities. Exogenous adenosine is
      a powerful dilator of mesenteric resistance vessels. Blockade of adenosine
      receptors in the mesenteric circulation interferes significantly with three
      autoregulatory phenomena, i.e., postprandial hyperemia, pressure-flow
      autoregulation, and reactive hyperemia. The evidence which weakens the role of
      adenosine as mesenteric vasoregulator includes: Findings in several reports that
      adenosine depressed intestinal oxygen consumption. The failure of adenosine
      receptors to inhibit some autoregulatory hyperemias of the gut and the rather
      limited amount of evidence regarding tissue adenosine release in autoregulatory
      responses of the gut's vasculature.

PMID- 1450433
TI  - Ornithine decarboxylase in large bowel mucosa: regulation by gastrin, secretin
      and EGF.
AB  - Rats were fasted 48 h and then injected once with either saline, pentagastrin,
      EGF, secretin or combinations of secretin and pentagastrin or EGF. Another group
      of rats was fasted and refed. Animals were killed 4 h later and ODC assayed in
      mucosa of the cecum, proximal colon, and distal colon. EGF significantly
      increased ODC activity in all 3 tissues. Secretin had no effect by itself on ODC
      or ODC stimulated by EGF. Pentagastrin significantly increased ODC of the cecum,
      and secretin completely inhibited the effect of pentagastrin. Refeeding fasted
      rats significantly induced activity in all three tissues. Immunocytochemistry
      using a highly specific polyclonal ODC antibody showed that ODC was confined to
      the crypt cells of the proximal colon. Antibody dilution techniques demonstrated
      that gastrin, EGF and refeeding increased the level of enzyme in these cells.
      Refeeding in addition caused the appearance of enzyme in surface epithelial
      cells. These results showed that colonic mucosal ODC is present in proliferative
      cells and is regulated by the same peptides known to regulate growth in this
      tissue. Colonic mucosal ODC also responds the same way as it does in the oxyntic
      gland and small bowel mucosa.

PMID- 1450434
TI  - Aminergic control of vasopressin secretion in the conscious rat.
AB  - The influence of aminergic pathways on basal and stimulated vasopressin (AVP)
      release was studied in conscious rats, the stimulus for hormone release being an
      intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of 5 microliters 0.85M sodium chloride.
      The animals were treated with either phenoxybenzamine, propranolol or haloperidol
      prior to administration of the central hypertonic stimulus. Phenoxybenzamine
      elevated basal plasma vasopressin concentrations, while propranolol and
      haloperidol had no effect. The secretion of AVP in response to the hypertonic
      stimulus was potentiated by phenoxybenzamine and haloperidol, but the effect of
      propranolol was equivocal. The antagonists had no effect on basal arterial
      pressure at the time of hypertonic saline administration or the pressor response
      to ICV sodium chloride.

PMID- 1450435
TI  - Effect of vasopressin and V1 receptors blockade on hypotensive action of ANP in
      normotensive (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats.
AB  - The aim of the study was to find out whether vasopressin (AVP) modifies
      hypotensive and heart rate accelerating effects of atrial natriuretic peptide
      (ANP) in normotensive (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) conscious rats.
      The effect of i.v. administration of 1; 2 and 4 micrograms of ANP on blood
      pressure (MP) and heart rate (HR) was compared during i.v. infusion of 0.9% NaCl
      (NaCl), NaCl+AVP (1.2 ng kg-1 min-1) and NaCl+dEt2AVP (V1 receptors antagonist,
      0.5 microgram kg-1 min-1). AVP increased MP in SHR and WKY and decreased HR in
      SHR. V1 antagonist decreased MP and increased HR only in SHR. In SHR ANP
      decreased MP and increased HR during NaCl, AVP and V1 antagonist infusion. In WKY
      these effects were observed only during AVP administration. In each experimental
      situation hypotension and tachycardia induced by ANP were greater in SHR than in
      WKY. In both strains ANP induced changes in MP and HR were enhanced during AVP in
      comparison to NaCl infusion. V1 antagonist did not modify effects of ANP in WKY
      and SHR. The results indicate that ANP abolishes hypertensive response induced by
      blood AVP elevation and that the basal levels of endogenous vasopressin acting
      through V1 receptors does not interfere with hypotensive action of ANP neither in
      WKY nor in SHR.

PMID- 1450436
TI  - Atrial natriuretic peptide inhibits neurohypophysial hormones' release in the rat
      (in vitro and in vivo studies).
AB  - Intracerebroventricular hANP (50 nmol) inhibits release of vasopressin and
      oxytocin following dehydration as well as after haemorrhage. 10 nmol/L hANP
      markedly inhibits vasopressin and oxytocin release in vitro from the
      neurointermediate lobes both under basal condition as well as during stimulation
      with excess (56 mM) potassium. It is suggested that ANP may serve as a modulator
      of vasopressin and oxytocin release. The respective processes are localized, at
      least in part, at the neurohypophysial level.

PMID- 1450437
TI  - Cell membranes as targets for anti-cancer drug action.
AB  - A variety of studies strongly hint that cell membranes can be important targets
      for new and existing anti-tumor drugs. Traditionally, the search for new anti
      cancer agents has focused on compounds designed to act on the biosynthesis,
      stability or function of DNA; it may be timely, however, to broaden our search
      horizon and consider targets outside of the nucleus. Thus, the cell membrane as
      well as membraneous organelles may well play a key role in the future of anti
      tumor drug development.

PMID- 1450438
TI  - Bone metastasis in breast cancer.
AB  - Bone metastases in breast cancer are common and frequently lead to serious
      skeletal related morbid complications. Metastases develop in areas of
      metabolically active trabecular bone. It is presumed that breast cancer cells
      undergo the same stepwise process for metastases development as demonstrated in
      other tumor types. The specific factor or factors responsible for the
      osteotropism of breast cancer have not been identified. The morbid events
      associated with skeletal metastases, such as pathologic fracture, and spinal cord
      compression, may be assessed objectively by a variety of techniques including
      skeletal radiography, radionuclide scanning, computed tomographic scanning and
      magnetic resonance imaging. Biochemical parameters or markers of skeletal
      metastases are not sensitive enough to detect clinically occult disease.
      Therapeutic interventions for bone metastases include local and systemic
      therapies. Surgery and radiation therapy are most frequently used for relief of
      pain or impending fracture, or when bone fracture or neurologic compromise has
      already developed. Systemic treatment of bone metastases appears to be as
      effective as systemic treatment of other metastatic sites. Both hormone and
      chemotherapy may provide significant palliation. Clinical research suggests that
      the adjunctive use of bisphosphonates may significantly reduce the incidence of
      skeletal-related morbid events associated with osteolytic bone disease. Future
      research efforts directed at determining the osteotrophic factors responsible for
      bone metastases in breast cancer, the pathophysiology of the bone remodeling
      process in metastatic disease and the prophylactic use of bisphosphonates may
      lead to significant clinical benefit for those in whom bone metastases from
      breast cancer develop.

PMID- 1450439
TI  - Therapy of patients with metastatic breast cancer with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin
      and carboplatin.
AB  - Thirty-four women with metastatic breast cancer were treated at the National
      Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, with a regimen of
      leucovorin (L), 500 mg/m2 i.v. over 30 min, followed in 1 h by 5-fluorouracil (5
      FU), 375 mg/m2 i.v. bolus on days 1-5, and carboplatin (CBDCA), 50-100 mg/m2 i.v.
      bolus on days 2-4, every 28 days. All patients had received previous combination
      chemotherapy with at least one regimen (29 patients with 5-FU-containing
      regimens). CBDCA, 100 mg/m2 on days 2-4, resulted in grade 4 neutropenia in 10
      out of 11 patients associated with sepsis in all 10 patients. CBDCA, 75 mg/m2
      (seven patients) and 50 mg/m2 (15 patients), resulted in grade 4 neutropenia in
      six and eight patients, and neutropenic sepsis in five and two cases,
      respectively. Grade 4 thrombocytopenia occurred in 10, five and two patients
      receiving 100, 75 and 50 mg/m2 of CBDCA, respectively. Other toxicities included
      grade 3/4 mucositis in 18 patients and grade 3/4 diarrhea in 10 patients. Twenty
      nine patients were evaluable for response, with one pathologic complete response
      (3%), two partial responses (6%), 18 stable disease (53%) and eight (24%)
      progressive disease. Sites of response included bone, viscera and soft tissue.
      The median time from entry on study to progression, for responders, was 15
      months. When platinum-DNA adduct formation in peripheral white blood cells was
      analyzed in 27 patients at 24 h after drug administration, a significant
      correlation between adduct level and CBDCA cumulative dose was found.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450440
TI  - Salvage chemotherapy with mitoxantrone and mitomycin with or without methotrexate
      in advanced breast cancer.
AB  - Thirty-three patients with advanced and refractory breast cancer were treated
      with two mitoxantrone-containing regimens (mitoxantrone plus mitomycin and
      mitoxantrone plus mitomycin plus methotrexate). All patients had received
      previous chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil (CMF);
      cyclophosphamide, adriamycin and fluorouracil (CAF); or CMF and CAF. Partial
      response occurred in five patients (15 +/- 12%), stable disease occurred in 15
      patients (45 +/- 17%) and progressive disease occurred in 13 patients (40 +/-
      17%). The median duration of response was 5 months. The median actuarial survival
      was 11 months. Toxicity was mild, even in patients who had previously received
      anthracyclines; generally it was mainly hematological. We thus recommend
      mitoxantrone-containing regimens as salvage chemotherapy in advanced breast
      cancer.

PMID- 1450441
TI  - Mitoxantrone, cytosine-arabinoside and 6-thioguanine (MAT) in the treatment of
      newly diagnosed acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia in adults.
AB  - Between January 1986 and September 1989, 28 patients over the age of 14 years
      were treated with a combination of mitoxantrone, cytosine-arabinoside (Ara-C) and
      6-thioguanine (MAT) at the Kuwait Cancer Control Centre (KCCC). All patients were
      newly diagnosed cases of acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL). Fifty-eight
      courses of treatment were given as induction and consolidation therapy. The main
      toxicity was bone marrow suppression. Other toxicities were mainly nausea and
      vomiting, hepatotoxicity, renal dysfunction and alopecia. In most patients these
      were mild and tolerable. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 18 out of 28
      (64%) patients. In six patients it was achieved after one course, in 11 patients
      after two courses and in one patient after three courses. The median survival was
      16 months and for those who achieved CR it was 33 months. The actuarial 3 year
      survival following CR was 43% and the relapse-free survival was 24%. There was
      little difference in the CR rate for patients below 40 years compared with older
      patients. However, there was a remarkable difference in survival, with none of
      the older patients surviving more than 2 years and an actuarial 3 year survival
      for younger patients of 49%. The study confirms the efficacy of the mitoxantrone
      containing combination as a first-line therapy for ANLL.

PMID- 1450442
TI  - Salvage cisplatin and adriamycin for advanced or recurrent basal or squamous cell
      carcinoma of the face.
AB  - Is it justified to treat a small, localized and relatively indolent malignancy by
      systemic combined chemotherapy? Five patients with locally advanced skin tumors
      were treated by salvage cisplatin and adriamycin for three to five courses. Three
      achieved complete response, one achieved partial response and one succumbed to an
      unrelated cause. The rapid induction of response, high response rate,
      unmaintained complete remissions of long duration and relatively low rate of
      toxicity may justify the use of this combination for the treatment of small skin
      tumors when other treatment options are of no avail.

PMID- 1450443
TI  - Inhibition of colon tumor cell growth by 8-chloro-cAMP is dependent upon its
      conversion to 8-chloro-adenosine.
AB  - Recent interest in site-selective cAMP analogs has focused on the role of 8
      chloro-adenosine (8-Cl-adenosine) in the inhibition of tumor cell growth by 8
      chloro-cAMP (8-Cl-cAMP) (Van Lookeren Campagne, et al. Cancer Res 1991; 51: 1600
      5). We have evaluated 8-Cl-cAMP and 8-Cl-adenosine for their growth inhibitory
      activity against two human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines, HCT116 and FET.
      Because these cell lines have been adapted to grow in chemically defined medium
      we were able to evaluate the effect of serum on 8-Cl-cAMP's growth inhibitory
      activity. In addition, cells grown in serum-free medium were tested for their
      sensitivity to 8-Cl-cAMP, serum-activated 8-Cl-cAMP and 8-Cl-adenosine. IC50
      values, determined by measuring cell growth using a MTT colorimetric assay,
      showed that 'serum activation' of 8-Cl-cAMP was required to achieve inhibition of
      HCT116 (IC50 = 1.3 +/- 0.1 microM) and FET (IC50 = 2.0 +/- 0.1 microM) cell
      growth. IC50 values were not reached at the highest concentrations tested (IC50 >
      500 microM) in the absence of serum, permitting us to conclude that 8-Cl-cAMP
      does not have growth inhibitory activity between 1.0 and 500 microM doses. HCT116
      and FET cells grown in media containing serum and in the presence of 8-Cl
      adenosine had IC50 values of 0.6 +/- 0.1 and 0.9 +/- 0.2 microM, respectively.
      HCT116 and FET cells grown in chemically defined medium containing 8-Cl-adenosine
      exhibited IC50 values of 1.0 +/- 0.1 and 3.1 microM, respectively.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450444
TI  - Anti-neoplastic effect of halocynthiaxanthin, a metabolite of fucoxanthin.
AB  - We have reported that fucoxanthin, a natural carotenoid, inhibited the growth of
      human neuroblastoma GOTO cells. In the present study, we show that a metabolite
      of fucoxanthin, halocynthiaxanthin, which is isolated from sea squirt Halocynthia
      roretzi, has a more potent inhibitory effect. Halocynthiaxanthin (5
      micrograms/ml) caused complete suppression of GOTO cell proliferation, whereas
      fucoxanthin reduced the growth rate by only 88.8% compared with the control, at
      day 2 after the drug treatment. Furthermore, halocynthiaxanthin also inhibited
      the growth of other human malignant tumor cells. Thus halocynthiaxanthin seems to
      be a promising anti-neoplastic agent.

PMID- 1450445
TI  - Identity of the N-terminal sequences of the three A chains of mistletoe (Viscum
      album L.) lectins: homology with ricin-like plant toxins and single-chain
      ribosome-inhibiting proteins.
AB  - Mistletoe lectin (ML) I increases the production of cytokines by mononuclear
      cells and has been proposed as a useful biological response modifier in the
      treatment of cancer. Two other lectins, ML II and ML III, have been identified in
      mistletoe. We report that the N-terminal sequences of the three A chains of ML I,
      ML II and ML III are identical, and have interesting homology with the N-terminal
      sequences of the A chain of ricin-like toxins and of single-chain ribosome
      inhibiting proteins. In addition, the three mistletoe lectins inhibit the growth
      of the human tumor cell line Molt 4, ML III being the most potent. followed by ML
      II and ML I. This inhibition is suppressed by addition of rabbit anti-ML I
      antibodies to the cultured cells. The data obtained suggest that the three
      lectins have amino acid sequences which show extensive homology and exert very
      similar biological effects. They may be derived from the same precursor.

PMID- 1450446
TI  - Antiproliferative effect of complexes of platinum (II) with plasmanyl-(N-acyl)
      ethanolamine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C.
AB  - Antiproliferative activities of combinations of semisynthetic plasmanyl-(N-acyl)
      ethanolamine [PNAE(s)], an inhibitor of protein kinase C, with two antitumor
      complexes of platinum (II) [cisplatin and ammine(cyclopentylamine)-S-(-)
      malatoplatinum (cycloplatam)] were investigated. The exposure of human melanoma
      BRO cells in culture simultaneously with cisplatin (1-10 microM) and PNAE(s) (100
      microM-1 mM) in a molar ratio of 1/100 for 24 h induced a considerable decrease
      in the ability of these cells to incorporate [3H]thymidine into DNA. A
      considerable antiproliferative synergism of these agents was observed. The effect
      of cycloplatam/PNAE(s) combination in similar experiments was significantly
      different from cisplatin/PNAE(s), i.e. interaction of these agents was complex
      and synergism was not found.

PMID- 1450447
TI  - Differential inhibition of proliferation of human squamous cell carcinoma,
      gliosarcoma and embryonic fibroblast-like lung cells in culture by plant
      flavonoids.
AB  - We investigated the antiproliferative effect of two polyhydroxylated (quercetin
      and taxifolin) and two polymethoxylated (nobiletin and tangeretin) flavonoids
      against three cell lines in tissue culture. Tangeretin and nobiletin markedly
      inhibited the proliferation of a squamous cell carcinoma (HTB 43) and a
      gliosarcoma (9L) cell line at 2-8 micrograms/ml concentrations. Quercetin
      displayed no effect on 9L cell growth at these concentrations, while at 8
      micrograms/ml it inhibited HTB 43 cell growth. Taxifolin slightly inhibited HTB
      43 cell growth at 8 micrograms/ml, while moderately inhibiting HTB 43 cell growth
      at 2-8 micrograms/ml. The proliferation of a human lung fibroblast-like cell line
      (CCL 135) was relatively insensitive to low concentrations of the above
      flavonoids.

PMID- 1450448
TI  - Preclinical activity of hepsulfam and busulfan in solid human tumor xenografts
      and human bone marrow.
AB  - Hepsulfam (1,7-heptanediol disulfamate, NSC 329680) is a new antineoplastic
      alkanesulfonate agent which has demonstrated a broader preclinical activity than
      busulfan. The compound is currently undergoing clinical trials. We have studied
      the activity of hepsulfam and busulfan simultaneously in human tumor xenografts
      in vitro in a clonogenic assay and in vivo in tumor-bearing animals in order to
      assess the activity of both compounds in model systems of slowly growing
      malignancies. In a total of 37 different tumors of various histologies, both
      agents demonstrated broad spectrum in vitro activity. The median IC50 of
      hepsulfam and busulfan was determined as 0.93 and 3.31 micrograms/ml,
      respectively. At a concentration of 1.0 micrograms/ml, hepsulfam was active in
      eight of 37 tumors (22%) in the clonogenic assay, whereas busulfan effected
      inhibition of colony formation in one of 37 lines (3%). At the same
      concentration, however, hepsulfam demonstrated a clear in vitro toxicity to human
      bone marrow cells (CFU-GM) from healthy donors, whereas busulfan did not reveal a
      myelosuppressive effect. Evaluation of equitoxic concentrations in vitro revealed
      a higher activity of hepsulfam, especially in non-small cell lung cancer. In
      tumor-bearing nude mice, the approximate LD10 dose was determined as 150 mg/kg
      single bolus injection given i.p. on day 1 for both compounds. Hepsulfam
      demonstrated superior in vivo activity in a large cell lung cancer xenograft and
      a gastric carcinoma model. The preclinical activity of hepsulfam suggests a
      possible role of this compound in the treatment of solid human malignancies.
      However, the increased bone marrow toxicity of hepsulfam as compared with
      busulfan might be critical for further clinical application.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450449
TI  - Curative effects of all-trans-retinoic acid on rat sarcomas.
AB  - The effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (all-trans-RA) on benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P]
      induced malignant sarcomas in Sprague-Dawley female rats were evaluated. Ninety
      eight days after B(a)P administration, all-trans-RA was daily injected to animals
      with or without clinically palpable tumors. The growth of tumors was slowed down
      compared with controls. Magnetic resonance imaging analyses showed that all-trans
      RA-treated rat tumors presented early necrotic areas. Animal survival was
      slightly increased. Anti-phosphatidylinositol autoantibody levels which were
      significantly higher in B(a)P-treated rat sera were not modified by all-trans-RA
      treatment.

PMID- 1450450
TI  - Identification of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, 5,6-dihydroxyindole, and N
      acetylarterenone during eumelanin formation in immune reactive larvae of
      Drosophila melanogaster.
AB  - 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine, 5-6-dihydroxyindole, and N-acetylarterenone were
      detected by electrochemical methods in the hemolymph of immune reactive larvae of
      Drosophila melanogaster following parasitization by the wasp Leptopilina
      boulardi. Determinations of the catechols were made after separation by reverse
      phase, ion-pairing high pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical
      detection. The presence of 5,6-dihydroxyindole unequivocally establishes the
      eumelanin pathway in the defense response of Drosophila, and confirms previous
      investigations which have implicated certain catecholamine metabolizing enzymes
      in insect immunity. The occurrence of N-acetylarterenone, a derivative of the
      principal sclerotizing agent N-acetyldopamine, verifies the existence and
      proposed involvement of quinone methide isomerase in the regulation of
      catecholamine metabolism, and suggests that the cellular capsule formed by
      Drosophila in immune reactions against parasites is most likely a composite of
      both eumelanin and sclerotin. The absence of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in
      hemolymph samples from immune reactive hosts suggests that during parasitization
      certain catecholamines and metabolic precursors may be re-employed in alternate
      pathways, some of which may be used in defense reactions.

PMID- 1450451
TI  - A FMRFamide-like peptide is associated with the myotropic ovulation hormone in
      Rhodnius prolixus.
AB  - The protocerebral neurosecretory cells previously shown to be the source of the
      myotropin controlling ovulation in Rhodnius prolixus react in an
      immunocytochemical assay using an antiserum against FMRFamide. When the same
      antiserum was injected into fed mated females at the appropriate time the timing
      of oviposition was delayed, but the total number of eggs developed was unaffected
      compared to controls injected with pre-immune rabbit serum. The titer of
      FMRFamide-like peptide (assayed by RIA) in the hemolymph of mated and virgin
      females was found to fluctuate with the egg laying cycle, and to reflect earlier
      determinations of the titer of myotropic activity. Western blots of SDS-PAGE
      revealed a FMRFamide-immunoreactive peptide of approximately 8.5 kDa in both
      hemolymph and extracts of the ovulation hormone cells.

PMID- 1450452
TI  - The gonad of the desert snail Eremina ehrenbergi Roth, 1839 (Stylommatophora
      Gastropoda) and its role in the production of the male gametes.
AB  - Specimens of Eremina ehrenbergi Roth, 1839, were collected in the El-Omayed area
      of the Sahara Desert, west of Alexandria. This simultaneously hermaphrodite snail
      has a comparatively small gonad enclosed in a thin membrane. The gonad is
      composed of a mass of branched tubules, each differentiated to a generative
      proximal half and a conducting distal half. The primitive germ cells proliferate
      from germinal cells forming a discontinuous layer in the germinal wall of each
      tubule; they undergo spermatogenesis or oogenesis at the original site of their
      proliferation. A cluster of spermatogonia may be derived from one primitive germ
      cell and it develops round a "Sertoli" cell. The division and differentiation of
      the cells in each cluster are strictly synchronized. The role of the gonad in
      formation of the spermatophore is restricted to the production of clusters of
      mature spermatozoa, which are discharged, without the "Sertoli" cell, via three
      efferent ductuli connecting the conducting portions of the gonadal tubules with
      the hermaphrodite duct. The sperm has the same appearance as in vertebrates and
      can be studied in smears prepared from the gonad or the middle of the
      hermaphrodite duct, where they are collected and stored for a time.

PMID- 1450454
TI  - Development of medical genetics in the Czech Republic from 1986 to 1990.

PMID- 1450453
TI  - A study of the formation of the neural network in the lungs of Perdicula
      asiatica, as revealed by the cholinesterase technique.
AB  - The investigation was undertaken to investigate the formation and association of
      neural network and their fibres with nerve cells and ganglia in the parenchyma.
      The staining of the neural network was done by the cholinesterase technique under
      the maintained pH 5.2, temperature 40 degrees C and incubation period 30 hrs. The
      neural network was formed by a good number of tortuous thick nerves and was
      related either with nerve cells or ganglia. At times, it was formed by a good
      number of thick nerves and a few thin nerves in the connective tissue space.

PMID- 1450455
TI  - Ethical aspects of genetic counselling.

PMID- 1450456
TI  - Preclinical diagnostics for polycystic kidney disease.

PMID- 1450457
TI  - Clinical and cytogenetical findings in five patients with the Prader-Willi
      syndrome.

PMID- 1450458
TI  - Prenatal diagnosis of congenital nephrotic syndrome of Finnish type.

PMID- 1450459
TI  - Ultrasonographic and biochemical markers in prenatal detection of Down's syndrome
      and neural tube defects.

PMID- 1450460
TI  - Haplotype analysis of the CFTR gene region and the proportion of delta F508
      deletion in Slovak patients with cystic fibrosis.

PMID- 1450461
TI  - Histoenzymological demonstration of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and
      succinate dehydrogenase in the telencephalic nuclei and fibre tracts of
      hillstream cyprinoid, Barilius bendelisis (Hamilton).
AB  - The authors studied the regional localization of two dehydrogenases--glycerol-3
      phosphate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase--in the telencephalic nuclei
      and fibre tracts of Barilius bendelisis by histoenzymological methods. The
      activity of these dehydrogenases varied from moderately positive to strongly
      positive in the nuclear areas and from intensely to strongly positive in the
      fibre tracts, except those related to the olfactory tubercle. G3PD appears to
      play an important role in the biosyntheses of phospholipids and to form a link
      between glycolysis and the pathway of the hexose-monophosphate shunt, in addition
      to its usual role in the degradation of glucose, along with other dehydrogenases,
      including succinate dehydrogenase.

PMID- 1450462
TI  - Studies of the histoenzymological mapping of acid and alkaline phosphatases in
      the hindbrain of Barilius bendelisis (Hamilton).
AB  - The regional localization of acid and alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2. and
      3.1.3.1. respectively), determined histoenzymologically, is described in the
      cerebellum and medulla oblongata of Barilius bendelisis (Hamilton). Acid
      phosphatase activity in nuclear areas was observed to be moderately positive,
      whereas alkaline phosphatase activity varied from weak to strongly positive. The
      localization pattern of these enzymes in the fibre tracts differed. One
      interesting finding in this study was that the Purkinje cells in the cerebellum
      and the Mauthner cells in the medulla oblongata contained these enzymes in a high
      concentration. The contrasting cytological distribution patterns of the two
      enzymes indicate that their roles in the neurons and fibre tracts are probably
      different.

PMID- 1450463
TI  - Wallagotrema indicus n.sp., a new monogenean from the freshwater sheat-fish
      Wallagu attu Bloch and Schneider.
AB  - The paper describes Wallagotrema indicus n.sp., a freshwater monogenean recovered
      from the gill filaments of the freshwater sheat-fish Wallago attu Bloch and Schn.
      It is characterized by the number of head organs, an accessory piece on the
      cirrus, wings on the anchors and a beak-like outgrowth on the dorsal anchors,
      together with numerous other differences in the shape and size of various body
      parts. On the basis of these findings, the generic diagnosis of Wallagotrema is
      amended and a key to the various species of this genus is appended.

PMID- 1450464
TI  - Variability of the v. cava caudalis and its tributaries in some laboratory
      animals. II. The laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus v. alba).
AB  - Duplication of the v. renalis was found in 11 of the regions examined (18.3%),
      when it was more frequent on the right side. A v. capsularis was found in 35
      regions (58.3%), usually as a single vein. There were 1-3 vv. suprarenales (but
      mostly two; on the right they usually joined the v. cava caudalis and on the left
      the v. renalis sinistra). A v. spermatica was present on the right side in every
      case, but on the left side in 11 cases only; in one case it was duplicated. In
      the rat, the v. spermatica was rather thin; if absent, it was replaced by the v.
      deferentialis. In nine cases (60.0%) the v. uterina cranialis dextra opened into
      the v. cava caudalis, while in 12 cases (80.0%) the left vein opened into the v.
      renalis sinistra. A v. uterina media, draining blood from the caudal third of the
      cornu uteri, was found in only five cases (16.7%). The v. uterina caudalis
      drained blood from the corpus and cervix uteri. The v. ovarica was a constant
      finding; it was mostly joined by the v. lumbalis--and on the left side by the v.
      phrenica sinistra. In males, the vv. lumbales occurred mostly as a pair of veins
      lying just below the vv. renales. In females, they were present on both sides. As
      a rule, the v. iliolumbalis occurred as a single vein on both sides. The v. cava
      caudalis originated at the level of the transition between the lumbar and the
      sacral spine, usually at the confluence of the two vv. iliacae communes, which in
      14 cases (46.7%) were joined by the v. sacralis mediana. Duplication of the v.
      cava caudalis was found in only one case (a female). Comparison of the morphology
      of the v. cava caudalis and its tributaries in the rat and the guinea pig showed
      more slight differences between the two species.

PMID- 1450465
TI  - Effect of testosterone on the ovotestis of the land snail Theba pisana.
AB  - The effect of testosterone on the histological pattern of the gonads of the land
      snail Theba pisana was studied. It was found that testosterone accelerated
      spermatogenesis, as indicated by the large increase in the number of spermatozoa
      and the decrease in the number of primary spermatocytes. The diameter of the
      acini in treated snails was greater than in the normal controls. Conversely,
      testosterone led to reduction of the number of mature ova.

PMID- 1450466
TI  - Current strategies for vascular access in patients on hemodialysis.

PMID- 1450467
TI  - What we have learned about uremia from peritoneal dialysis.
AB  - Weekly clearances of small solutes such as urea are relatively low on continuous
      ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) compared to those of thrice weekly
      hemodialysis (HD); large solute clearances are more comparable. Some believe that
      good clinical outcomes with chronic peritoneal dialysis support the importance of
      larger molecular weight toxins. However, CAPD patients of large size or
      approaching an anephric state occasionally develop uremic symptoms that can be
      reversed with an increased exchange volume or an increased number of exchanges.
      Increasing exchange volume or the number of exchanges increases small solute
      clearances by an amount near the increase in drain volume, but clearances of
      larger molecular weight substances are minimally affected. Thus, peritoneal
      dialysis experiences initially focused attention on large molecules and now
      appear to confirm the importance of small solutes in uremic toxicity but at lower
      clearance requirements than needed in HD.

PMID- 1450469
TI  - Recent research in extracorporeal life support for respiratory failure.

PMID- 1450468
TI  - ECMO in the management of cardiac failure.
AB  - Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can provide univentricular or
      biventricular cardiac, as well as respiratory, support; it has extended the
      application of ECMO to infants and children who develop refractory cardiogenic
      shock before or after repair of congenital heart defects. The Pediatric Cardiac
      ECMO Registry, recently established by the Extracorporeal Life Support
      Organization, reports an overall survival rate of 47%. All were believed to have
      little chance of survival without mechanical support. ECMO has also been used for
      perioperative cardiac support after cardiac transplant. Hemorrhage remains the
      most common complication of ECMO. The future of ECMO for cardiac support depends
      on development of methods to prevent cardiac failure, improved ECMO techniques,
      and increased pediatric cardiac transplantation.

PMID- 1450470
TI  - Implantable pumps. Recent progress and anticipated future advances.
AB  - The implantable pump field is now more than 20 years old. The original goal of
      developing a totally artificial beta-cell remains unrealized, but programmable
      insulin pumps that contain all of the elements of the artificial beta-cell except
      the glucose sensor are involved in clinical trials in the United States and are
      commercially available in Europe. Currently, both single-rate and programmable
      implantable pumps are in general clinical use in the United States for the
      treatment of pain and spasticity, cancer, and osteomyelitis. Only a few of the
      potential applications of implantable pumps have been developed to the stage of
      commercial availability. This is, in part, because drug companies have
      traditionally developed parenteral drug applications only as a last resort and,
      in part, because of the complexity of the regulatory process for implantable
      pumps, often requiring review by both the drug and device branches of the Food
      and Drug Administration.

PMID- 1450471
TI  - Effects of the Berlin Heart biventricular assist device on microvascular
      responses in pre-transplant patients.
AB  - Microcirculatory forearm cutaneous blood flow was monitored continuously and
      noninvasively by laser doppler flow-metry (LDF) in 15 patients treated with the
      Berlin Heart biventricular assist device system (BVAD) for end-stage heart
      failure under stable hemodynamic states (BVAD pts, n = 10) and norepinephrine
      therapy (BVAD nor pts, n = 5). Ten healthy human subjects served as controls (C).
      Cutaneous blood flow was measured before, during, and after external brachial
      artery occlusion to evaluate the post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) as a
      standardized response. To examine microvascular responses to macrohemodynamic
      changes, the cardiac output (CO) was decreased by a 20% reduction in BVAD pump
      rate. No significant differences in baseline LDF measurements (in millivolts)
      were observed among the three groups (C, 470.7 mV +/- 177.3; BVAD pts, 328.0 mV
      +/- 122.7; BVAD nor pts, 360.0 mV +/- 160.0). After cuff pressure release (1 min
      later), a significant (p < 0.004) three-fold to four-fold blood flow increase
      (PORH) occurred in each group (C, 1113.6 mV +/- 469.2; BVAD pts, 813.0 mV +/-
      190.1; BVAD nor pts, 498.0 mV +/- 191.8). The difference in PORH between the BVAD
      pts and BVAD nor pts was significant (p < 0.01), and the time to peak PORH values
      was different (p < 0.05) among the three groups (C, 22.2 s +/- 10.7; BVAD pts,
      11.3 s +/- 12.5; BVAD nor pts, 7.0 s +/- 5.8). A markedly delayed return to
      baseline occurred in the BVAD pts. The 20% reduction in BVAD pump rate decreased
      CO significantly (p < 0.05) and increased (p < 0.01) systemic vascular resistance
      (SVR).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450472
TI  - Simple membrane models for peritoneal dialysis. Evaluation of diffusive and
      convective solute transport.
AB  - Currently used mathematical models to estimate parameters describing diffusive
      (diffusive mass transport coefficient, KBD) and convective (sieving coefficient,
      S) solute transport during peritoneal dialysis, as proposed by Pyle, Popovich,
      and Moncrief (PPM model) and Babb, Randerson, and Farrell (BRF model), require
      nonlinear regression and advanced numerical methods for parameter estimation. In
      this study, a simplified approach to the evaluation of KBD and S, using the same
      transport equation used in the PPM and BRF models but based on two-dimensional
      linear regression, is proposed. This new approach can be extended to generate a
      family of membrane models that differ in assumption concerning the average solute
      concentration (c) inside the peritoneal membrane. In particular, c was assumed to
      be equal to the arithmetic mean value of the dialysate and blood concentrations
      (PPM model), the blood concentration (BRF model), or the dialysate concentration
      (D model). The investigated family of models was used to study the transport of
      urea, creatinine, glucose, sodium, potassium, and total protein in 20 single, 6
      hr dwell studies carried out in 20 nondiabetic patients in stable clinical
      condition using hypertonic (3.86%) glucose solution. For the PPM model, the
      linear and nonlinear regressions were able to provide almost identical values of
      KBD and S. The theoretical dialysate to plasma concentration ratio (D/P) was
      adequately fitted to experimental D/P for both the PPM and BRF models, but the
      fit was worse for the D model. However, unphysiologic (i.e., out of the 0-1
      range) values of S were found for urea, potassium, and glucose independent of the
      version of the model used.

PMID- 1450473
TI  - Oxalate removal by differing dialysis techniques.
AB  - Secondary hyperoxalemia is a common feature in patients with chronic renal
      failure, but oxalate removal is not adequately accomplished by regular dialysis
      treatment. Oxalate removal in two groups of patients, 11 on continuous ambulatory
      peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and 12 on hemodialysis (HD), was investigated. HD
      patients were studied during a regular bicarbonate dialysis and during
      hemodiafiltration (HDF) with a high convective component (UF = 66 mL/min) and
      AN69 filter (Hospal Filtral 12, 1.2 m2, Hospal Industrie, Meyzieu, France). All
      HD and HDF spent dialysate and all 24 hr CAPD effluents were collected; oxalate
      concentration was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using
      an ion exchange column. Both oxalate flux and total extraction were statistically
      higher during HDF treatments (HDF = 1.87 +/- 0.77 mg/min and 335.9 +/- 131.5
      mg/session, respectively; HD = 0.99 +/- 0.74 mg/min, 226 +/- 153 mg/session,
      respectively; p < 0.02). The positive interaction of convective and diffusive
      fluxes probably played a major role in oxalate removal during treatment with a
      high convective component; solute-membrane interactions can occur by using either
      cellulosic or synthetic fibers. In CAPD patients, oxalate removal (76.42 +/-
      50.85 mg/day) was lower than in patients on either HD or HDF, although weekly
      oxalate extraction was statistically no different between CAPD (535.46 +/- 356
      mg/week) and HD (677.72 +/- 460.82 mg/week). It was concluded that HDF is more
      effective than HD or CAPD in oxalate removal. Long-term studies are needed to
      demonstrate whether these kinetic findings have clinical relevance.

PMID- 1450474
TI  - Where should the hemofiltration circuit be placed in relation to the
      extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit?
AB  - Patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) frequently
      experience hypervolemia and metabolic abnormalities that can be effectively
      managed by hemofiltration. Although several options for hemofiltration circuit
      placement exist, some may have the disadvantage of recirculation or shunting of
      poorly oxygenated blood to the patient. Attachment of the entire hemofiltration
      circuit to the pre-ECMO pump region is described. Despite the absence of pump
      generated pressure and a low blood flow rate, effective hemofiltration and
      diafiltration were achieved. This article examines whether placement of the
      hemofiltration circuit proximal to the ECMO pump has advantages over other
      hemofiltration circuit placements.

PMID- 1450475
TI  - Current functional status of Symbion total artificial heart recipients after
      transplantation.
AB  - This multicenter study examines long-term data from the five most experienced
      North American centers (> 8 total artificial heart [TAH] implants), investigating
      the functional status of 37 patients who received a Symbion TAH followed by a
      heart transplant (TX) with post-TX survival > or = 1 year. Primary indications
      for TAH use included acute cardiogenic shock in 38% (14/37) of patients and
      deterioration while on the TX waiting list in 35% (13/37). At the time of this
      study, 86% (32/37) of patients were alive, 94% of whom were functioning at a New
      York Heart Association (NYHA) classification of I (75% [24/32]) or II (19%
      [6/32]). NYHA classification before death was I for all five patients who died 40
      +/- 17 (r = 14-58) months after transplant. Of the 32 surviving patients, 47%
      (15) were working, 16% (5) were retired, 12% (4) chose not to work, and 9% (3)
      were in school. The remaining 16% (5) were unable to work due to surgical
      limitations. After TX, significant infections occurred in 81% (26/32) of patients
      and rejection in 72% (23/32). At 1 year after TX, creatinine was within normal
      limits (< or = 1.4 mg/100 ml or 65-125 mol/L) for 41% (13/32) of patients, 1-2
      times normal for 56% (18/32), and > 2 times normal for 3% (1/32). Although TAH is
      not required for most patients awaiting TX, the device allows excellent long-term
      functional status in patients otherwise at risk for death. No long-term problems
      related to the use of temporary mechanical circulatory support were found.

PMID- 1450476
TI  - Accuracy of intravenous infusion pumps in continuous renal replacement therapies.
AB  - Most extracorporeal continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRT) require inflow
      pumping of either dialysate, filtrate replacement solution, or both. Outflow of
      spent dialysate and ultrafiltrate can be accomplished by gravity drainage or
      pump. Intravenous infusion pumps have been commonly used for these purposes,
      although little is known about the accuracy of these pumps. To evaluate accuracy
      of two different types of intravenous infusion pumps used in CRRT, we studied
      flow rates at nine different pressure variations in three piston type and three
      linear peristaltic pumps. The results showed that error of either pump was not
      different for flow rates of 4 and 16 ml/min. Both types of pumps were affected by
      fluid circuit pressures, although pressure conditions under which error was low
      were different for each pump type. The linear peristaltic pumps were most
      accurate under conditions of low pump inlet pressure, whereas piston pumps were
      most accurate under conditions of low pump pressure gradient (outlet minus inlet)
      of 0 or -100 mmHg. The magnitude of error outside these conditions was
      substantial, reaching 12.5% for the linear peristaltic pump when inlet pressure
      was -100 mmHg and outlet pressure was 100 mmHg. Error may be minimized in the
      clinical setting by choosing the pump type best suited for the pressure
      conditions expected for the renal replacement modality in use.

PMID- 1450478
TI  - Effect of endotoxin clearance using whole body rinse-out on some blood-gas and
      metabolic parameters in rats.
AB  - Conscious and unrestrained male Wistar rats were infused over a 10 min period
      with 60 mg/kg Escherichia coli endotoxin (LD100) and observed for 6 hr.
      Hypotension, metabolic acidosis, hyperlactemia, hypoglycemia, and elevated oxygen
      extraction from blood developed in the rats. Another group of rats was subjected
      to blood substitution with FC-43 emulsion (artificial blood) 30 min after
      endotoxin application until hematocrit dropped to 3%, after which 6-9 ml of donor
      blood was exchange transfused with the emulsion. This method resulted in 98%
      endotoxin clearance, improved blood alkaline reserves, preserved blood glucose,
      and normalized arterial mixed venous oxygen gradient and O2 extraction from the
      blood (which implies preserved blood circulation status). Side effects included
      hypotension, a transitory rise in blood lactate level, and a fall in arterial
      oxygen content due to the lower hemoglobin (erythrocyte) level.

PMID- 1450477
TI  - Disordered breathing patterns during bicarbonate hemodialysis in COPD. Effect of
      cuprophane versus polysulfone membranes.
AB  - This study explored the breathing patterns and arterial blood gases before and
      during cuprophane (CU) bicarbonate and polysulfone (PS) bicarbonate dialysis in
      six chronic dialysis patients with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
      (COPD). The studies were performed in random order during two consecutive
      dialyses. Breathing patterns were monitored by respiratory impedance
      plethysmography. Apneic episodes, defined as a decrease in tidal volume of 75%
      lasting 10 sec, were present before and during hemodialysis. In these patients
      with COPD a high number of apneic episodes (17 +/- 6 [SE]) were observed during
      CU bicarbonate hemodialysis. Most of these episodes were central rather than
      obstructive in character. There were fewer events when the same patients were
      dialyzed with PS membranes (10 +/- 5; p = 0.05). The decrement in PO2 (baseline
      to 60 min) was 17 +/- 7 during CU and 4 +/- 5 mmHg during PS dialysis (p = 0.10).
      Minute ventilation decreased in four of six patients on CU bicarbonate and
      increased in all six patients on PS bicarbonate. It was concluded that
      bicarbonate hemodialysis does not completely prevent hypoxemia or apnea during
      dialysis in patients with COPD. Apneic episodes and hypoxemia appear to be less
      severe during PS bicarbonate than during CU bicarbonate hemodialysis.

PMID- 1450479
TI  - Prevention of hemodialysis associated hypoxemia by use of low-concentration
      bicarbonate dialysate.
AB  - Hypoxemia during acetate dialysis is caused by hypoventilation due to bicarbonate
      loss across the dialyzer and its regeneration from acetate by a CO2 consuming
      process. Loss of bicarbonate is prevented by using a bicarbonate containing
      dialysate, but hypoxemia is still found by many authors. In the current study,
      ten patients were dialyzed twice against acetate dialysate, high concentration
      bicarbonate (36 mmol/L), and low concentration bicarbonate (29 mmol/L)
      dialysates. A significant decrease in PO2 was found during both acetate and high
      concentration bicarbonate dialysis. Hypoxemia was prevented by low concentration
      bicarbonate dialysate. A possible explanation for the hypoxemia in high
      concentration bicarbonate dialysis may be hypoventilation induced by alkalosis.
      It was concluded that low concentration bicarbonate dialysate prevents hypoxemia
      during hemodialysis.

PMID- 1450480
TI  - Peritoneal transfer of carbon dioxide in the rat.
AB  - In the authors' previous rat studies (Kidney Int 39: 608-617, 1991), peritoneal
      clearances (Cp) representing near exclusively diffusive CO2 transfer were
      evaluated: for isosmotic (0.37% dextrose) and hyperosmotic (15% dextrose)
      solutions with pH 7.2-7.3, Cp CO2 were 1.20 +/- 0.08 and 1.84 +/- 0.04 ml/min,
      respectively. In the present studies peritoneal transfer parameters (D/B, Cp) of
      CO2 gas, HCO3-, and total CO2 (tCO2) in anesthetized rats have been compared (n =
      22) using solutions with dextrose contents as mentioned above but with a pH of
      6.5 or 7.6; how much Cp CO2 measurements obtained with solutions at these pH
      values differ from Cp shown earlier with solutions of pH 7.2-7.3 has also been
      evaluated. When the pH was the same, transfer parameters of CO2 gas, HCO3-, and
      tCO2 were significantly higher under hyperosmotic conditions. The use of
      solutions with a pH different from 7.2-7.3 resulted in higher Cp of CO2 gas: with
      isosmotic solutions at pH 6.5 and 7.6, mean increases were 25 and 75%,
      respectively; with hyperosmotic solutions respective increases were 45 and 134%.
      The authors conclude that dialysis solution pH, especially under hyperosmotic
      conditions, significantly changes parameters of diffusive CO2 transfer in the
      rat. For evaluation of peritoneal blood flow from diffusive transfer parameters
      of CO2 gas, smaller overestimation can be expected when dialysis solution pH is
      slightly under than overadjusted compared to blood pH.

PMID- 1450481
TI  - Influence of aspirin and carbacyclin on bovine platelet function.
AB  - Cows, calves, and sheep are the animals of choice for in vivo studies on total
      artificial hearts. In this study, the response of human and bovine platelets to
      agonists and antagonists was followed. Epinephrine and arachidonate failed to
      cause aggregation of bovine platelets. Exposure of bovine platelets to
      prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) resulted in inhibition of response to the action of
      adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Although epinephrine restored the response of PGE1
      treated human platelets, it failed to restore the sensitivity of bovine platelets
      to the action of ADP. Exposure of bovine platelets to aspirin (100.0 mumol/L) or
      administration to calves intravenously (10.0 mg/kg) inhibited platelet cyclo
      oxygenases. Infusion of carbacyclin (U55185) inhibited the ex vivo platelet
      response to the action of ADP. Results of this study demonstrate that the
      response of bovine platelets to agonists such as epinephrine, arachidonate, and
      the endoperoxide mimetic, U46619, is severely compromised. The authors'
      observations in this study, as well as earlier findings demonstrating the
      inability of bovine platelets to fully spread on a surface, suggests that the cow
      may not be an appropriate "model" for evaluating thrombogenicity caused by
      artificial organs and implants.

PMID- 1450482
TI  - Comparison of a new venous control device with a bladder box system for use in
      ECMO.
AB  - During extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), forward pump flow must not be
      allowed to exceed the rate of blood drainage from the patient so that excessive
      negative pressure does not develop within the ECMO circuit or in the patient's
      right atrium. A distensible reservoir ("bladder") and mechanically actuated
      electronic switch ("bladder box"), has typically been used for this purpose. If
      the rate of blood flow from the patient to the pump is insufficient to support
      the perfusion rate desired and adjustments in volume status and catheter position
      do not increase blood drainage, the only recourse is to increase the siphon
      pressure by elevating the patient. At the author's institution, a novel venous
      control module (VCM), without a reservoir, that can provide increased venous
      drainage without elevating the patient is used. Using an in vitro model of
      neonatal ECMO, the authors' compared their VCM to a commercially available
      "bladder box" system. Pressures were monitored in a collapsible chamber inside a
      water bath (simulating the right atrium), at the gravitational high point of the
      ECMO circuit ("neck site") and at the low point of the circuit ("venous site") at
      flow rates of 100, 450, 900, and 1,300 cc/min. Pump shut-off characteristics for
      both systems were also measured with either sudden interruption of venous
      drainage ("cross-clamping") or restriction of venous inflow ("hypovolemia").
      Under continuous flow conditions, higher flows could be achieved with the VCM.
      With acute venous catheter occlusion, instantaneous ("trough") pressures at the
      neck site were lower, and venous monitoring site pressures were higher with the
      bladder box system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450483
TI  - Hepatocytes from rat liver perfusions. Physicochemical effects on polyribosome
      size.
AB  - Hepatocytes have been used extensively both in vitro and in vivo for a wide
      variety of studies. Although isolated hepatocytes appear similar to their in vivo
      counterparts, they are different in some respects. One aspect in which they
      differ is their ability to translate proteins. The isolation process appears to
      inflict sufficient damage to reduce the average polyribosome size within the
      isolated hepatocytes and this size reduction correlates with a lower rate of
      protein production. Two methods of liver perfusion that better maintain the
      normal distribution of polyribosomes are described in this report. It is clear
      from these studies that new isolation methods that result in high yields of
      viable hepatocytes that function maximally are needed.

PMID- 1450484
TI  - Cardiac output regulation in the moving actuator total artificial heart without a
      compliance chamber.
AB  - A new cardiac output regulation method for the moving actuator total artificial
      heart (TAH) has been developed without using an extra compliance chamber or any
      transducer. The left and right ventricular sacs are alternately pumped by the
      pendulous moving actuator, with the left sac attached to the actuator and a free
      right ventricle. Preload sensitive cardiac output response is achieved by
      adjusting heart rate just below the level needed to generate atrial collapse,
      while maintaining full-fill and full-ejection conditions. The motor current
      waveform analysis detects mild atrial suction related to the amount of venous
      return. In addition, the structural characteristic of the pendulous moving
      actuator allows for manipulation of the left and right ventricular output
      difference by adjusting the asymmetry of stroke angle to either the left or
      right. In mock circulatory system tests, cardiac output increased from 5 to 9
      L/min, with left atrial pressure (LAP) maintained at approximately 5 mmHg higher
      than right atrial pressure (RAP) over a physiologic range of preload (0-12 mmHg
      of RAP) and afterload [80-120 mmHg of aortic pressure (AoP)].

PMID- 1450485
TI  - Glucose-insulin kinetics of the extravascular bioartificial pancreas. A study
      using microencapsulated rat islets.
AB  - The success of the extravascular bioartificial pancreas (BAP) is contingent on
      the rapid transfer of the glycemic signal across both an extravascular
      compartment and a semipermeable membrane and of insulin from the BAP to the
      recipient. To examine the possibility of microencapsulated islets such as the BAP
      to achieve satisfactory in vivo glucose-insulin kinetics, islets were isolated
      from Lewis rats, encapsulated in poly-L-lysine-alginate membranes, and
      isogenically transplanted into the peritoneal cavity of 14 streptozotocin induced
      diabetic rats. Fasting blood glucose (BG) was measured and intravenous glucose
      tolerance was tested at 8-10 weeks and compared with three control groups: 1)
      normal Lewis rats (n = 6); 2) untreated diabetic rats (n = 5); and 3) diabetic
      rats that received intraperitoneal implants of empty capsules (n = 4). Ten
      animals that received microencapsulated islets (5,271 +/- 431) promptly became
      normoglycemic, with a mean BG of 128 +/- 17 ng/dl 3 days after transplantation
      and maintained this level > 100 days. Intravenous glucose tolerance K-value for
      the group was 3.84 +/- 0.32 compared with 3.96 +/- 0.39 (p = 0.83) for the normal
      control group, and 0.60 +/- 0.12 (p < 0.01) and 0.40 +/- 0.15 (p < 0.01) for the
      diabetic control groups with and without empty capsules. The authors conclude
      from these results that, given sufficient beta-cell mass, a BAP without any
      vascular access can respond appropriately to an increase in blood glucose
      concentration, without overshoot hypoglycemia and within a lag lapse compatible
      with normal physiologic insulin delivery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450486
TI  - Administration of GSH has no influence on the RBC membrane: oxidative damage to
      patients on hemodialysis.
AB  - In patients on hemodialysis, a metabolic block of the pentose phosphate shunt has
      been described that impairs the reduction of oxidized glutathione. The block
      results in lack of detoxication of the free hydroxyl radicals produced inside the
      red blood cell (RBC) and causes oxidative damage to the polyunsaturated fatty
      acids of the RBC membrane that results in formation of aldehydes.
      Malonyldialdehyde has been used as an index of the oxidative damage. In a study
      group of 13 patients on hemodialysis, the authors have tested whether
      administering reduced glutathione (GSH) at 1200 mg/day for 1 month could minimize
      oxidative damage to the RBC membranes and improve the hematologic parameters.
      Treatment with GSH was followed by significant improvement of hematocrit (P =
      0.008), hemoglobin (P = 0.03), and RBC count (P = 0.0037); however, oxidative
      damage to the membranes was increased (P = 0.0004), which suggests that
      improvement of the hematologic parameters is not related to reduction of the
      oxidative damage. This is because oxidized glutathione, formed in the oxidative
      process, cannot be reduced back to GSH because of alteration of the pentose
      phosphate shunt.

PMID- 1450487
TI  - Identification and certification of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
      specialists in the United States.
AB  - Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a highly specialized technique
      widely practiced in many hospitals. Despite the proliferation of ECMO, little
      information has been generated relating to ECMO specialists, a new professional
      group responsible for managing the extracorporeal life support (ELS) system. A
      telephone survey of ECMO centers in the United States was conducted to determine
      the number of ECMO specialists, team composition by profession, and clinical
      components of ECMO specialist certification. Data were obtained in May 1991 from
      all 63 (100%) active ELS centers. The survey found that the average ECMO program
      performs 3,770 +/- 1,019 clinical hours of ELS per year with a team of 23 +/- 11
      specialists. There are 1,431 practicing ECMO specialists in the United States:
      73% registered nurses, 22% respiratory therapists, and 5% others. Most ECMO
      specialist teams (56%) are comprised of a single profession, with 44% of programs
      using a mixture of professions. The average ECMO specialist manages the ELS
      system 171 +/- 91 hr/yr. Thirty-six (57%) programs have a mean yearly clinical
      requirement of 77 +/- 23 ELS hours per specialist. These results represent the
      first complete report identifying the number of ECMO specialists in the United
      States. In addition, program demographics demonstrate variability in ECMO
      experience and certification requirements.

PMID- 1450488
TI  - Intra-aortic balloon rupture. An increasing trend?

PMID- 1450489
TI  - Influence of recombinant interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha on the
      development of ethyl nitrosourea-induced brain tumors.
AB  - Using the experimental model of brain tumors induced by ethyl-nitrosourea (ENU),
      human recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF
      alpha) were administered to Wistar rats in early stages of carcinogenesis. The
      results obtained suggest that IL-2 does not influence the development of nervous
      system tumors. In contrast, TNF-alpha was capable of modulating the development
      of ENU-induced tumors, producing a reduction in the number of schwannomas and a
      delay in the appearance of intraparenchymatous brain tumors.

PMID- 1450490
TI  - HL-60 cells isolated for resistance to vincristine are defective in 12-O
      tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate induced differentiation and the formation of a
      functional AP-1 complex.
AB  - HL-60 cells isolated for resistance to vincristine are multidrug resistant and
      defective in the cellular accumulation of drug. Further studies demonstrate that
      these cells are also highly defective in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate
      (TPA) induced differentiation to macrophages. Analysis of this system
      demonstrates that certain protooncogenes which may contribute to differentiation
      are expressed at similar levels in sensitive and resistant cells. Thus, treatment
      of cells with TPA results in a reduction in the levels of c-myb and c-myc mRNA,
      while the expression of c-fos, c-jun, and junB is greatly enhanced.
      Immunoprecipitation experiments also demonstrate a TPA induced increase in the c
      jun protein in both sensitive and resistant cells. Gel mobility shift assays show
      that TPA induces AP-1 formation in sensitive cells, whereas in parallel
      experiments with the HL-60/Vinc isolate, AP-1 is essentially absent. It has been
      found, however, that in resistant cells which have reverted to drug sensitivity,
      the levels of TPA inducible AP-1 is essentially identical to that of sensitive
      cells. Revertant and sensitive cells differentiate at similar levels in the
      presence of TPA. These studies therefore demonstrate that HL-60/Vinc cells are
      defective in the TPA induction of a functional AP-1 complex and that this may
      account for the inability of these cells to differentiate to macrophages. The
      molecular basis of the finding that AP-1 is not formed in resistant cells remains
      to be determined.

PMID- 1450491
TI  - Measurement of folylpolyglutamate synthetase activity in head and neck squamous
      carcinoma cell lines and clinical samples using a new rapid separation procedure.
AB  - The activity of folylpolyglutamate synthetase was measured in extracts of head
      and neck squamous carcinoma cell lines and in surgical specimens utilizing a new
      rapid method to separate free [3H]glutamate from [3H]glutamate incorporated into
      methotrexate, used as a substrate for the enzyme. The validity of this new
      method, based on reversed phase chromatography via a Sep-Pack C18 cartridge, was
      observed between both methods, but the Sep Pack C18 assay has the advantage that
      it can be accomplished in less than 5 min, whereas the DE-52 procedure requires
      approximately 2 hr. In seven head and neck cell lines, activity of folylpoly
      glutamate synthetase varied from 335-1305 pmol [3H]glutamate incorporated/mg
      protein/hr. In nine head and neck tumor biopsies, a broad range in activity of
      folylpolyglutamate synthetase was observed (25-1827 pmol/mg/hr) which partly
      overlapped the enzyme activity in 'normal' tissue (7-297 pmol/mg/hr). For six
      patients, folylpolyglutamate synthetase was measured in the center of the tumor,
      in the transitional region from tumor to 'normal' tissue, and in the 'normal'
      tissue. The enzyme activity was higher in tumor tissue vs 'normal' tissue in four
      of six cases, whereas in all cases, the enzyme activity in the transitional
      region was higher than in 'normal' tissue. The results of this study provide
      further support for the concept that putative differences in folylpolyglutamate
      synthetase activity between tumor tissue and normal tissue can be exploited to
      improve the effectiveness of antifolate-based chemotherapy in general, and in
      head and neck cancer in particular.

PMID- 1450492
TI  - Therapeutic trials on progressive muscular dystrophy.
AB  - The special medical care in the National Sanatorium prolonged the life span of
      the patients with progressive muscular dystrophy from 15.8 years to 20.4 years
      over the last 20 years. Various new drug trials for muscular dystrophy have been
      implemented in the last 12 years in Japan. Bestatin and Loxistatin, protease
      inhibitors, showed definite improvement on dystrophic mice or hamsters, animal
      models of muscular dystrophy. However clinical application of these drugs failed
      to prove the effects on patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The difficulty
      of clinical evaluation and judgement of effects in progressive neurological
      diseases is discussed.

PMID- 1450493
TI  - Acute and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: clinical evaluation and the criteria.
AB  - The clinical courses of 11 cases of eosinophilic pneumonia which were clinico
      pathohistologically diagnosed and found to be unassociated with organic disorders
      producing peripheral blood eosinophilia were extensively investigated and
      compared with various types of eosinophilic pneumonia previously reported. Five
      cases of acute eosinophilic pneumonia fulfilled the following criteria: 1) less
      than a one-month history of symptoms prior to diagnosis, 2) a short clinical
      course and 3) no recurrence. Six cases of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia
      fulfilled the following criteria: 1) more than a two-month history of symptoms
      prior to diagnosis, 2) a prolonged clinical course and 3) recurrence. The results
      suggested that various types of previously reported eosinophilic pneumonia
      classified by sex, the presence or absence of peripheral blood eosinophilia, the
      degree of clinical symptoms or peripheral blood eosinophilia, and the degree of
      abnormalities on chest X-ray films should be extensively reevaluated.

PMID- 1450494
TI  - Selective IgM deficiency: functional assessment of peripheral blood lymphocytes
      in vitro.
AB  - The functional aspects of the peripheral blood lymphocytes from 6 patients with
      primary selective IgM deficiency (sIgMD) were analyzed to elucidate its
      pathogenesis. The surface IgM positive B cells were present at almost the same
      percentage as in controls, but the percentage of cluster of differentiation
      (CD)4+ T cells was higher and that of CD8+ T cells was low. The patient B cells
      showed a significantly lower proliferative response to Staphylococcus aureus
      Cowan strain I (SAC) than control B cells and did not produce a significant
      amount of IgM when co-cultured with control T cells. Interestingly, mitomycin C
      (MMC)-treated patient T cells induced a greater amount of IgM production by
      control B cells. In addition, patient B cells treated with SAC and B cell
      differentiation factors (BCDF) failed to secrete IgM. These results suggest that
      the pathogenesis of sIgMD may be mainly due to an intrinsic defect in B cell
      maturation.

PMID- 1450495
TI  - Ten-year follow-up of Japanese overweight subjects with impaired glucose
      tolerance: identification of a diabetes-prone subpopulation.
AB  - Ninety-four overweight subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) or impaired
      glucose tolerance (IGT) were followed for 10 years. No one from the NGT group
      developed diabetes, however 32% of the IGT subjects did develop diabetes. Initial
      data of the IGT subjects who developed diabetes were significantly different from
      those who did not develop diabetes. Fasting, peak and/or sigma plasma glucose
      (PG), IRI and CPR at 180 minutes and CPR/IRI at 0 and 180 minutes were increased,
      and the peak time of PG was delayed; also the prevalence of a positive family
      history was higher, and the body weight heavier. Seventy-nine percent of IGT
      subjects with the initial sigma PG of greater than or equal to 40 mM or a
      positive family history developed diabetes whereas only 3% of those with sigma PG
      of less than 40 mM and a negative family history developed diabetes. Therefore,
      it might be considered that among the overweight adults with IGT, those with
      sigma PG of greater than or equal to 40 mM or a positive family history are
      diabetes prone and those with sigma PG of less than 40 mM and a negative family
      history are diabetes resistant.

PMID- 1450497
TI  - Ataxic hemiparesis following thalamic lacunar infarction.
AB  - A 60-year-old man developed left hemiparesis and homolateral ataxia with normal
      sensation and normal somatosensory evoked potentials. A lacunar infarct with
      gadolinium enhancement in the right dorsolateral part of the thalamus was
      demonstrated on magnetic resonance imaging. Thalamic lesion is a relatively rare
      cause of ataxic hemiparesis; most of the reported cases of ataxic hemiparesis
      caused by thalamic lesion were accompanied by sensory disturbances. This is an
      interesting case which suggested that the thalamic lesion could be responsible
      for the ataxic hemiparesis without a sensory disturbance.

PMID- 1450496
TI  - The role of recombinant human tissue-type plasminogen activator in the treatment
      of acute pulmonary thromboembolism.
AB  - The effect of intravenous recombinant human tissue-type plasminogen activator
      (tPA) on arterial blood gases was compared with the effect of heparin treatment
      in acute pulmonary thromboembolism. Fifteen patients received heparin alone
      (group A), 5 cases were treated with 7.7 x 10(6) I.U. of tPA (group B) and 10
      cases with 15 x 10(6) I.U. of tPA (group C) combined with heparin treatment.
      Arterial oxygen tension before treatment was not significantly different among
      the three groups. PaO2 was dramatically improved on the 1st day in group C. By
      the 7th day, PaO2 of group B had improved to the level of group C. However, the
      PaO2 of group A on the 7th day was not significantly different compared to the
      pre-treatment value. In group C, post-treatment perfusion lung scintigrams were
      improved compared to the pre-treatment images, but this was not the case in group
      B. Treatment with tPA is more effective for acute pulmonary thromboembolism than
      heparin alone and a high dose of tPA (15 x 10(6) I.U.) leads to rapid improvement
      in arterial blood gases and lung perfusion images.

PMID- 1450498
TI  - Periodic fever compatible with familial Mediterranean fever.
AB  - A 55-year-old male presented with a recurrent fever of over 38 degrees C,
      occurring at irregular intervals 1-6 times a month with chest, back or abdominal
      pain. After admission to our hospital, we found the following characteristics: 1)
      the febrile attacks were accompanied by obvious inflammatory findings and
      pleuritis or peritonitis; 2) the patient's elder sister had a similar periodic
      fever; and 3) there were no apparent causative factors responsible for his
      symptoms. Therefore, we diagnosed this as a case compatible with familial
      Mediterranean fever. The febrile attacks have been completely suppressed by daily
      colchicine. This is the seventh case of familial Mediterranean fever reported in
      Japan.

PMID- 1450500
TI  - Hyperparathyroidism associated with parkinsonism.
AB  - A 70-year-old woman with hyperparathyroidism associated with parkinsonism is
      reported. Her primary initial symptom was parkinsonism, but it was levodopa
      resistant. Chemical and hormonal findings revealed that she had
      hyperparathyroidism. The symptoms were relieved after the surgical removal of a
      parathyroid adenoma. Although this type of case has been reported only rarely, it
      suggests that hypercalcemia might be an aggravating factor in levodopa-resistant
      parkinsonism.

PMID- 1450499
TI  - Portal hepatic venous shunt via an intrahepatic portal vein aneurysm.
AB  - A rare case of portal hepatic venous shunt (PHVS) via an intrahepatic portal vein
      aneurysm (PVA) is presented. A 66-year-old man was admitted for examination of a
      mass in the liver. Ultrasonography demonstrated a cystic lesion (15 mm in
      diameter) at the posterior superior segment of the right hepatic lobe which
      communicated with the right portal vein (RPV) and right hepatic vein (RHV).
      Superior mesenteric portography showed a biloculate aneurysm in RPV and PHVS.
      Color doppler ultrasonography indicated that flow in the tracts entered the
      aneurysmal cavity from RPV and drained into RHV.

PMID- 1450501
TI  - Noonan syndrome presenting growth hormone neurosecretory dysfunction.
AB  - Noonan syndrome has been diagnosed by the characteristic physical stigmata for
      more than two decades. Recent studies of growth hormone secretory pattern provide
      a new category of growth hormone neurosecretory dysfunction to characterize short
      stature. We describe herein a case of growth hormone neurosecretory dysfunction
      in a 16-year-old boy with Noonan syndrome. Growth hormone neurosecretory
      dysfunction was diagnosed primarily based on the low amplitude and small numbers
      of the spontaneous bursts of growth hormone secretion during 12-hour nocturnal
      growth hormone sampling. Treatment with synthetic human growth hormone has
      markedly accelerated the growth velocity for one year and a half. This case notes
      the wide spectrum of short stature in Noonan syndrome and the effectiveness of
      treatment with human growth hormone.

PMID- 1450502
TI  - Klinefelter's syndrome accompanied by diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus.
AB  - The first case of Klinefelter's syndrome accompanied by diabetes insipidus and
      diabetes mellitus is reported. A 41-year-old man admitted for hyperosmolar
      diabetic coma with a past history of diabetes insipidus was diagnosed as having
      Klinefelter's syndrome by endocrinological examination and sex chromosome
      analysis. In this case, glucose tolerance test was normalized half a year later
      and blood glucose was well controlled with diet therapy alone.

PMID- 1450503
TI  - Quadriceps myositis.
AB  - A young woman with slowly progressive muscular weakness and atrophy localized in
      both thighs is reported. Laboratory, electromyographic and histological findings
      suggested that the patient suffered from chronic myositis with a background of
      autoimmune disorder. Quadriceps myositis is a rare condition. The previously
      reported cases of this disease in the literature are reviewed.

PMID- 1450504
TI  - Fatal pneumonia caused by Corynebacterium group JK after treatment of
      Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia.
AB  - A 76-year-old man who was admitted to the hospital because of chronic renal
      insufficiency and chronic hepatitis died of Corynebacterium group JK pneumonia,
      after showing a slight improvement by treatment of Staphylococcus aureus with
      sulbactam/cefoperazone and minocycline. Transtracheal aspiration (TTA) just
      before his death revealed numerous gram-positive bacilli phagocytized by many
      neutrophils and more than 10(8) colony forming units (CFU)/ml of Corynebacterium
      group JK. A drug susceptibility test showed Corynebacterium group JK was
      resistant to many antibiotics, with the exception of vancomycin and amikacin.

PMID- 1450505
TI  - Pseudomembranous bronchitis (non-diphtherial) resulting in sudden death: an
      autopsy report.
AB  - A 69-year-old woman was admitted because of dyspnea. Thereafter, she fell into a
      state of shock. Resuscitation was attempted but she did not respond to it and
      died on the second hospital day. According to the autopsy findings, a wide range
      of area from the larynx to the trachea was covered with pseudomembrane. In the
      culture of bacteria, alpha Streptococcus and Corynebacterium genus (non
      diphtherial) were all that was detected. These findings suggest that
      pseudomembranous lesion, an endogenous foreign matter of the air passage should
      be suspected when a patient presents with sudden dyspnea.

PMID- 1450506
TI  - Multiple myeloma complicated by congestive heart failure following first
      administration of recombinant alpha-interferon.
AB  - A 59-year-old female was admitted to Tsukuba University Hospital and diagnosed as
      IgA-lambda multiple myeloma (stage IIIA). No cardiovascular disorder with the
      exception of minor ischemic changes in ECG was revealed before treatment.
      Recombinant human alpha-interferon (IFN) at a dose of 3 million units combined
      with melphalan and prednisolone was administrated. Sixteen hours after the first
      administration of IFN, IFN was suspended by the symptoms of congestive heart
      failure (CHF). Treatment with diuretics and catecholamine products showed almost
      complete recovery from CHF in 3 weeks. An adverse reaction to IFN was strongly
      suspected as the cause of CHF.

PMID- 1450507
TI  - Inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen.
AB  - The case of a 39-year-old man with inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen is
      presented. This is an extremely rare benign lesion with histologic features of
      non-specific inflammatory and reparative changes. The literature is reviewed and
      this case is compared clinically and radiologically with the previously reported
      cases.

PMID- 1450508
TI  - Pulmonary intralobar sequestration accompanied by aneurysm of an anomalous
      arterial supply.
AB  - A 47-year-old woman presented with hemoptysis and her chest X-ray films showed an
      opacity suggesting a mass in the left lower lung field. Based on radiographic
      investigations, the mass was diagnosed as an aneurysm develop in an anomalous
      vessel and was considered to be a Pryce type I pulmonary intralobar
      sequestration. Resection of the left lower lobes was performed and the aneurysm
      was found to be filled with thrombus. It is rare for an aneurysm to form in an
      aberrant vessel. This complication may have been the result of regional sclerosis
      affecting the anomalous artery as well as systemic atherosclerosis.

PMID- 1450509
TI  - Rheumatoid nodules of the lung in a patient with palindromic rheumatism.
AB  - We report a case of rheumatoid nodules of the lung seen in a patient with
      palindromic rheumatism. A 54-year-old man with palindromic rheumatism was
      admitted for evaluation of three nodules in the right upper lobe on chest
      roentgenogram. Wedge resection was performed for the purpose of confirmative
      diagnosis and treatment. Histology of these lung lesions revealed palisaded
      histiocytic cells surrounding a layer of central necrosis, which were considered
      to be characteristic findings of rheumatoid nodule. Such a case is extremely
      rare. To our knowledge, only one other case has been reported before in the
      literature.

PMID- 1450510
TI  - Serum interleukin-2 receptor and interferon-alpha levels in a patient with
      allergic granulomatous angiitis (Churg-Strauss).
AB  - A patient with allergic granulomatous angiitis accompanied by increases in serum
      interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) levels is
      reported. Laboratory findings revealed leukocytosis with eosinophilia and
      increased serum IgE and IgG. The serum IL-2R and IFN-alpha were increased. The
      serum immune complex, interferon-beta, -gamma and complements remained at normal
      levels. The serum IgE, IgG, IL-2R and IFN-alpha correlated with disease activity.
      Immunofluorescent studies using frozen sections obtained from the dermal lesion
      showed no immunoglobulin or complement deposits on vascular walls. Measurements
      of serum IL-2R and IFN-alpha might be considered reliable serologic indicators of
      disease activity.

PMID- 1450511
TI  - Hybridization fingerprinting of high-density cDNA-library arrays with cDNA pools
      derived from whole tissues.
AB  - As part of an integrated mapping and sequencing analysis of genomes, we have
      developed an approach allowing the characterization of large numbers of cDNA
      library clones with a minimal number of experiments. Three basic elements used in
      the analysis of cDNA libraries are responsible for the high efficiency of this
      new approach: (1) high-density library arrays allowing thousands of clones to be
      screened simultaneously; (2) hybridization fingerprinting techniques to identify
      clones abundantly expressed in specific tissues (by hybridizations with labeled
      tissue cDNA pools) and to avoid the repeated selection of identical clones and of
      clones containing noncoding inserts; and (3) a computerized system for the
      evaluation of hybridization data. To demonstrate the feasibility of this
      approach, we hybridized high-density cDNA library arrays of human fetal brain and
      embryonal Drosophila with radiolabeled cDNA pools derived from whole mouse
      tissues. Fingerprints of the library arrays were generated, localizing clones
      containing cDNA sequences from mRNAs expressed at middle to high abundance (> 0.1
      0.15%) in the respective tissue. Partial sequencing data from a number of clones
      abundantly expressed in several tissues were generated to demonstrate the value
      of the approach, especially for the selection of cDNA clones for the analyses of
      genomes based on expressed sequence tagged sites. Data obtained by the technique
      described will ultimately be correlated with additional transcriptional and
      sequence information for the same library clones and with genomic mapping
      information in a relational database.

PMID- 1450512
TI  - Mouse microsatellites from a flow-sorted 4:6 Robertsonian chromosome.
AB  - Twenty microsatellites were generated from a previously characterized lambda gt10
      library containing C57BL/6J mouse DNA from a flow-sorted 4:6 Robertsonian
      chromosome. These sequences were analyzed for size variation between different
      strains of mice with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and mapped by use of
      either strain distribution patterns (SDPs) in recombinant inbred (RI) strains, or
      intra- and interspecific backcrosses. Eighty-five percent of the sequences showed
      allelic variations between different inbred strains of mice and the wild mouse,
      Mus spretus, and 70% were variant between inbred strains. Eight (62%) of the 13
      repeats that have been mapped lie on Chromosomes (Chr) 4 and 6. This approach is
      an effective way of generating informative markers on specific chromosomes.

PMID- 1450513
TI  - Mapping of the structural gene for S-adenosyl homocysteine hydrolase to mouse
      chromosome 2, and related sequences to chromosomes 8 and X.
AB  - Comparative mapping studies in human and mouse have shown that, to date, human
      Chromosome (Chr) 20 is completely syntenic with distal mouse Chr 2. The
      structural locus for S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase (EC 3.3.1.1) in human,
      AHCY, maps to 20 qter-->q13.1, and we report here that the homologous locus in
      the mouse, Ahcy, maps to distal mouse Chr 2 with gene order Pcna-Ahcy-Ada.
      Analysis of 123 progeny of an interspecific backcross between a laboratory stock,
      AN, and Mus spretus using a rat cDNA probe revealed the presence of at least two
      other Ahcy-related sequences segregating independently in the mouse genome. One,
      Ahcy-rs1, was mapped to Chr 8 in the BXH recombinant inbred strains, and the
      other, Ahcy-rs2, shows a pattern of inheritance consistent with X-linkage.

PMID- 1450514
TI  - Genomic mapping by single copy landmark detection: a predictive model with a
      discrete mathematical approach.
AB  - One of the goals of the Human Genome Project is to produce libraries of largely
      contiguous, ordered sets of molecular clones for use in sequencing and gene
      mapping projects. This is planned to be done for human and many model organisms.
      Theory and practice have shown that long-range contiguity and the degree to which
      the entire genome is covered by ordered clones can be affected by many biological
      variables. Many laboratories are currently experimenting with different
      experimental strategies and theoretical models to help plan strategies for
      accomplishing long-range molecular mapping of genomes. Here we describe a new
      mathematical model and formulas for helping to plan genome mapping projects,
      using various single-copy landmark (SCL) detection, or "anchoring", strategies.
      We derive formulas that allow us to examine the effects of interactions among the
      following variables: average insert size of the cloning vector, average size of
      SCL, the number of SCL, and the redundancy in coverage of the clone library. We
      also examine and compare three different ways in which anchoring can be
      implemented: (1) anchors are selected independently of the library to be ordered
      (random anchoring); (2) anchors are made from end probes from both ends of clones
      in the library to be ordered (nonrandom anchoring); and (3) anchors are made from
      one end or the other, randomly, from clones in the library to be ordered
      (nonrandom anchoring). Our results show that, for biologically realistic
      conditions, nonrandom anchoring is always more effective than random anchoring
      for contig building, and there is little to be gained from making SCL from both
      ends of clones vs. only one end of clones.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450515
TI  - Mapping of two human homologs of a Drosophila heterochromatin protein gene to the
      X chromosome.

PMID- 1450516
TI  - Linkage among esterase-6 (Es-6), neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), and
      apolipoprotein C-III (apoc-3) genes on rat chromosome 8.

PMID- 1450517
TI  - The gene coding for the immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein BiP (Hsce-70)
      maps to mouse chromosome 2.

PMID- 1450518
TI  - Factors in biological fluids affect gel filtration behavior of epidermal growth
      factor.
AB  - There have been conflicting reports on the presence of multiple forms of
      epidermal growth factor (EGF) in human saliva. The present study was initiated to
      study the gel filtration behavior of EGF in saliva and other biological fluids.
      In addition, studies were performed to determine if there were factors in saliva
      or other biological fluids that would influence the gel filtration behavior of
      EGF. Gel filtration studies with saliva and urine demonstrated EGF migration
      consistent with a molecular weight of 35 kDa with no heterogeneity observed. The
      addition of radiolabeled EGF to either saliva or urine resulted in an altered
      migration on gel filtration. These results provide evidence for a protein-peptide
      interaction in saliva and other biological fluids that alters the apparent
      physical properties of mature EGF.

PMID- 1450519
TI  - Suppression of interleukin-1 action by phospholipase-A2 inhibitors in helper T
      lymphocytes.
AB  - The mechanism by which interleukin 1 (IL-1) and T cell receptor (TCR) activation
      co-stimulate T helper (Th) cells is not clear. In chondrocytes, fibroblasts and
      several other cell types, much of the evidence suggests a linkage between IL-1
      action and increased phospholipase-A2 (PLA2) activity. Although Th cells have
      very low levels of PLA2, they are well known targets for IL-1. We studied the
      effects of PLA2 inhibitors, i.e., lipocortin-1 (LC-1) and the synthetic peptide
      antiflammin-P2 (AF-2), on the enhancing effect of IL-1 upon activation of TCR.
      When murine D10.G4.1 Th2 cells were stimulated by their clonotypic anti-TCR
      antibody 3D3, both LC-1 and AF-2 inhibited the biological response to IL-1. This
      blockade was not seen when D10 cells were induced to proliferate with interleukin
      2 (IL-2) and 3D3 in the presence of the same inhibitors, LC-1 or AF-2. These
      results strongly suggest that PLA2 also plays a central role in mediating the
      actions of IL-1 in the helper T cell.

PMID- 1450520
TI  - Compatibility of the S-(3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl) protecting group with
      DCC/HOBt coupling chemistry.
AB  - Two recent reports on the partial lability of the 3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl
      (Npys) thiol protecting group towards 1-hydroxy-benzotriazole (HOBt) have
      prompted a rechecking of the chemical behavior of this group. Using both soluble
      and polymer-bound forms of Cys(Npys) as test materials, the complete stability of
      this protection against HOBt has now been definitively established, and its
      compatibility with Boc-benzyl-based solid-phase synthesis strategies has been
      clearly confirmed by stability assays against a wide range of reagents, as well
      as by the successful synthesis of several Cys(Npys)-containing peptides.

PMID- 1450521
TI  - Solution synthesis of calciseptine, an L-type specific calcium channel blocker.
AB  - Calciseptine, an L-type specific calcium channel blocker consisting of 60 amino
      acid residues with four intramolecular disulfide bonds, was synthesized by the
      solution procedure applying our maximum protection strategy. The recently
      developed solvent systems used were a mixture of chloroform or dichloromethane
      and trifluoroethanol; they were useful for the synthesis of slightly soluble
      protected peptides. After removal of all the protecting groups by our two-step HF
      procedure followed by treatment with mercuric acetate, the peptide was folded
      into its native form by air oxidation, in which redox reagents were necessary to
      accelerate the correct disulfide bond formation. The product was purified to
      homogeneity and found to block contractions of the rat thoracic aorta induced by
      40 mM K+ with the same potency as that of the natural product. In addition, this
      peptide was found to block contractions of various rat smooth muscle preparations
      as well as increase in cytosolic free calcium concentration induced by a high
      concentration of extracellular K+.

PMID- 1450522
TI  - Preference of human cdc2 kinase for peptide substrate.
AB  - Human cyclin B1-bound cdc2 kinase phosphorylated the threonine residue in the
      sequence -Thr-Pro-Lys-Lys-Ala- but hardly phosphorylated it in the sequence -Thr
      Pro-Lys-Ala-Lys. The sequence -Thr-Pro-Ala-Pro-Lys-, as found in p53 protein, was
      also phosphorylated by this enzyme, but less efficiently than in the sequence
      described above. When the threonine residue in -Thr-Pro-Lys-Lys-Ala- was changed
      to a serine or a tyrosine residue, the enzyme phosphorylated the serine, but not
      the tyrosine residue. Changing the lysine next to the proline to alanine reduced
      its efficiency as a substrate. The peptide, Ala-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys-Thr-Pro-Ala-Lys
      Ala-Ala, containing the -Thr-Pro-Ala-Lys- sequence, but not the other lysine
      residues, was not used as a substrate by the kinase.

PMID- 1450523
TI  - N alpha-trifluoroacetylation of N-terminal hydroxyamino acids: a new side
      reaction in peptide synthesis.
AB  - In the synthesis of the double-chain bis-cystinyl hinge fragment 225-232/225'
      232' of the human IgG1, which contains two N-terminal threonine residues, the
      final acidolytic deprotection step, with 99% aqueous trifluoroacetic acid, was
      accompanied by formation of remarkable amounts of an unknown side product. This
      has been identified as the N alpha-mono-trifluoroacetylated product; however,
      even bis-trifluoroacetylation was found to occur by prolonged exposure of the
      parallel dimer to the reaction medium. Similarly, the model compounds H-Thr(tBu)
      Phe-OH, [Boc-Thr(tBu)-Cys-OH]2 and Boc-Thr(tBu)-Cys(StBu)-Ala-OH were acylated by
      treatment with trifluoroacetic acid at rates that suggest a rather pronounced
      sequence dependency. Since, on the other hand, the model compound [Boc-Ala-Cys
      OH]2 was not trifluoroacetylated at all under identical conditions, the reaction
      has to proceed prevalently via intermediate formation of the trifluoroacetyl
      ester of N-terminal hydroxyamino acids, followed by O-->N shift according to the
      hydroxyoxazolidine mechanism. The experimental data indicate also that under
      favored conditions aminolysis of the trifluoroacetyl ester via an inter- or
      intramolecular pathway may contribute to the overall reaction rate.

PMID- 1450524
TI  - Use of 6 M HCl for removal of the N-alpha-tert-butyloxycarbonyl group during
      solid-phase peptide synthesis.
AB  - We describe the use of 6 M HCl to remove the Boc group in solid-phase peptide
      synthesis. Three peptides, 4-10 amino acid residues in length, have been
      successfully synthesized using 6 M HCl and were found to be comparable in purity
      to the same peptides prepared using the standard 50% trifluoroacetic acid in
      dichloromethane method of N-alpha-Boc removal.

PMID- 1450525
TI  - Copper (II) complexes as a laccase model in the catalytic removal of the
      phenylhydrazide protecting group under mild oxidative conditions.
AB  - Copper (II) complexes, with nitrogen-containing ligands (pyridine and imidazole),
      simulate perfectly the catalytic activity of laccase in the oxidative removal of
      the phenylhydrazide protecting group. Deblocking occurs under mild conditions,
      preventing the oxidation of labile amino acids. The effect of certain factors on
      the rate of deblocking and the degree of conversion were studied, and optimal
      conditions providing 100% yield of the deblocked products were chosen.

PMID- 1450526
TI  - [Laudatio with reference to presenting the Johann-Peter-Frank Medal 1992].

PMID- 1450527
TI  - [The environment and ethics].

PMID- 1450528
TI  - [Approach to current topics in public health].

PMID- 1450529
TI  - [Education and continued education in public health. Wishes and reality at the
      present time; demands for the future].
AB  - Sociomedicine in research and practice, i.e. in universities and in public health
      services, has experienced an upswing many had not expected. The health
      requirements of society and not only those of the individual have gained a new
      topicality as social factors were rediscovered in connection with health. Public
      health services can be advisors to politicians and defence attorneys for the
      population by assuming a new role and a new measure of self-understanding in the
      realisation of old but always fresh topics such as environmental medicine
      (formerly known as environmental hygiene). To translate the multitude of
      sociomedical tasks effectively into reality, the practically active sociomedical
      officer in public health services stands in need of the backing and help by
      sociomedical researchers in the relevant university departments. It will be
      imperative to achieve in future a greatly improved and closer cooperation between
      research and practice in sociomedicine.

PMID- 1450530
TI  - [Educational emphasis at university centers].
AB  - In Germany four postgraduate courses in public health were set up since 1989.
      They all offer a public health training including research activities, field
      experience and international perspectives. The public health administration
      should decide in the near future whether this new training could be passed by the
      public health officers instead of the compulsory courses in the academies in
      Dusseldorf and Munchen.

PMID- 1450531
TI  - [Quality assurance: introduction and legal principles].
AB  - Quality assurance has been part of clinical medicine and public health for
      decades, but only recently have structured and well documented procedures of
      quality assurance been introduced. Industry has been a model. Since 1. 1. 1989
      quality assurance in Germany has been a legal requirement for a wide range of
      health services. Structure, process and outcome as part of quality assurance is
      defined as well as criteria, standards and norms. The development of quality
      assurance in Germany is described. The importance of quality assurance for the
      efficacy, efficiency and the aim-orientated work of the public health services
      and for the medical service of the compulsory health insurance is stressed.

PMID- 1450532
TI  - [Quality assurance in the public health office].
AB  - Quality is assured not only by long-standing experience; it must be continually
      safeguarded. Preconditions are as follows: qualified training with scientific
      background and continual scientific supervision; regular continuing education via
      exchange of experience; standardising of methods on a intra-office level and by
      inter-office exchange on Lander level; internal and external cooperation;
      validity and plausibility controls; interdisciplinary cooperation. These
      principles are discussed by means of examples of health protection--health
      protection on environmental protection principles--expertising--medical
      statistics/health planning--health care aid/health advisory service.

PMID- 1450533
TI  - [Health promotion by the public health service (with special reference to
      promoting the self help movement)].
AB  - During the last decade there has been a new orientation in public health
      policies. The question of prevention is gaining importance and has assumed social
      and political dimensions alongside the traditional medical issues. In future the
      public health service will increasingly recognise the value of an
      interdisciplinary approach, as was emphasised in a Resolution by the 64th German
      State Health Ministers' Conference. The need for cooperation and coordination in
      important future fields of action--especially the area of Self-Help--is presented
      as a major challenge for the Public Health Department. Details are given on the
      new requirements in terms of organisation, staffing and facilities.

PMID- 1450534
TI  - [High immunization rates--how can they be achieved at all?].
AB  - High rates of immunization are achieved not only by compulsory vaccination.
      Strict discipline is necessary as well as motivation of medical assistants and of
      patients in their social environment. All people have a natural instinct for
      protecting themselves against risks of life. This instinct can in fact be
      stimulated by repeated motivation and can be enforced by propaganda. The process
      of propaganda alone cannot stimulate urges. Strategy of immunization must be
      standardised in all districts of the Federal Republic. This means: immunisation
      schedule, information of patients, children and of their parents. This is part of
      discipline of vaccination, same as is the permanent training of medical staff.
      They should be sent to seminars and training workshops. Specialist opinions must
      be differentiated as to whether they are scientists or articulate their own and
      personal opinion or whether their attitude is conditioned by general medical
      considerations. Any legal claims arising from vaccination accidents would be
      decided 'in dubio pro aegroto'.

PMID- 1450535
TI  - [Vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae B and rubella].
AB  - Haemophilus influenzae B was the most frequent pathogen of bacterial meningitis
      in childhood during the mid-eighties to the end of the eighties of the present
      century, taking the place of meningococci since approximately 1984 at about twice
      the rate of that pathogen, as shown by the records kept during 1980-1990 in
      Bavarian Departments of Paediatrics. In fact, in 1990 the incidence of HIB
      meningitides was about 2.5 times that of meningococcus meningitides (85 vs. 34,
      respectively). For practically 2 years now vaccination against HIB is being
      publicly recommended and should be made use of as intensively as possible to
      prevent all HIB infections. For several years the principle of on-target rubella
      vaccination has been applied to schoolgirls in Lower Saxony, Bremen and Hamburg
      to prevent rubella embryopathy, a procedure that has proved much more successful
      than blank vaccination. None of the other Federal German Laender have been
      following this procedure to date; in consequence there of, although the strategy
      of on-target vaccination will be continued in Lower Saxony, greater uniformity
      and greater efficiency are being aimed at throughout Germany by public
      recommendation of rubella vaccination at an infant age.

PMID- 1450536
TI  - [Between isolation and acceptance--hepatitis B and AIDS in community facilities].
AB  - Both Hepatitis B and the HIV-infection are spread either through blood or sexual
      contact. The danger of these infections spreading in day nurseries and schools is
      very remote but nonetheless there are confused fears. These fears lead to
      isolation and enormous problems for the carriers, who, for the most part, are
      children but can also be adults. As far as Hepatitis B, HIV and AIDS are
      concerned there are clear scientific recommendations for those attending these
      social institutions. Such recommendations have been published in decrees by the
      responsible ministries of the Lander of the Federal Republic of Germany. These
      decrees enable infected children and adolescents to lead an accepted life within
      the community. They reduce the remaining extremely small risk of transmitting the
      diseases to a level that is in fact lower than the general risk of every-day life
      and can be tolerated in an empathic society.

PMID- 1450537
TI  - [The epidemiology of whooping cough].
AB  - Due to a low acceptance of active immunisation against Bordetella pertussis,
      whooping cough continues to be a frequent childhood disease in parts of Germany.
      The age distribution in the lower Rhine area showed a peak incidence at 4.3 years
      of age, whereas 11% of all cases were observed in infants, and 6% were observed
      in adults. A significant sex difference was not found in children suffering from
      pertussis; in adult patients, however, women were more often affected. Whooping
      cough occurred during the whole year, its peak incidence was found during early
      winter. In children, paroxysmal coughing fits, vomiting and whooping were the
      primary symptoms of disease; adults and infants, however, developed these
      symptoms only in reduced frequency. About 25% of all cases showed an atypical
      course, and could only be diagnosed by laboratory tests. While leukocyte count
      and ESR did not have diagnostic significance, a combination of microbiological
      and serological tests showed a high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. In
      contrast to the former GDR and to most European neighbours, the former Federal
      Republic overrated the side effects of active vaccination as compared to the
      various risks of natural infection. This resulted in a decline of vaccine
      acceptance to less than 10% in several areas of the former FRG. It is anticipated
      that the altered recommendation in favour of vaccination, and especially the
      future application of acellular vaccines with less side effects, will result in
      the elimination of whooping cough in all areas of Germany.

PMID- 1450538
TI  - [Early special education and integration from the viewpoint of a social pediatric
      center].

PMID- 1450539
TI  - [Rehabilitation of handicapped children as the combined responsibility of
      medicine and pedagogics--approach and contradictions in the process of integrated
      education].
AB  - The development of common education of handicapped and non-disabled children in
      kindergartens and schools has removed all doubt that disabled children are
      encouraged and helped to a considerable degree whereas non-disabled children
      acquire more social aptitude. In no case need one fear that their learning
      performance is negatively affected by integrated education. This is of course
      conditional on the availability of suitable conditions under which such
      integrated education takes place. The medical profession as a whole did not
      participate in the development and testing of integrative models and test
      projects. The main reasons for this are difficulties in communication between
      physicians and educationists, which require to be discussed. The article
      describes the need for cooperation by physicians in further development of
      integrative measures, their possibilities of influencing the development, and
      their special task in cooperating with educational experts, from a paedogical
      aspects; finally, the sociopolitical and medicopolitical tasks of the medical
      profession in Public Health services are pointed out.

PMID- 1450540
TI  - [Responsibilities of pediatric medicine in integrated rehabilitation of
      handicapped children in Bremen].
AB  - Integrated education of handicapped children in Bremen is both goal and method.
      In the case of infants (0-3 years old) integration means integrating the child
      into the family by working with and within the family; for pre-school children (3
      6 years old) this means education with non-handicapped children in a pre-school
      setting; integration in school settings using various approaches is still a goal.
      Integrated education is understood as a multi-disciplinary approach with the
      necessary inclusion of sociopaediatric competencies. The contribution to the
      concept of integration by paediatricians in Bremen is presented in this article.
      The work described is viewed as a perfect fit for paediatricians in the Public
      Health Services if they have the necessary preliminaries in self-understanding
      and qualification.

PMID- 1450541
TI  - [Psychological testing within the scope of social psychiatric service].
AB  - As a psychologist working within the Social Psychiatric Service I find myself
      exposed to certain assignments and methodological expectations. One of the most
      common images is that of a "trick- and test specialist" that most of the time
      would appear along with multitude of open and hidden fantasies towards
      psychological methods of testing. It's not always easy to meet such expectations
      appropriately. But due to the severe consequences that may arise from statements
      of the Service we have to emphasise the limitations of such means of assistance.
      The mathematical operations of test constructors may be extraordinarily
      brilliant; the possibilities of transforming psychic phenomena into abstract
      numbers create however, as many complications as the choice of social scales and
      standards we have to make for our measurements. Hence, psychological results will
      still have to follow several different steps of examination that are reciprocally
      related to each other, even when using methods that seem to provide more
      comfortable, easier solutions.

PMID- 1450542
TI  - [Prostitution--a sequela of sexual abuse].
AB  - AIDS has consolidated the isolated state of prostitutes and stigmatized them as
      HIV carriers. Due to the threat of AIDS, the Berlin senate has worked out a
      programme for prostitutes. For the programme to succeed, knowledge of the causes
      of prostitution is a prerequisite, such as sexual abuse during childhood and
      adolescence. The sexually abused who have gone without psychological help are
      prone to prostitution. The work and its evaluation by a psychologist is presented
      to help counselling Services on Venereal Diseases in their work.

PMID- 1450543
TI  - [AIDS counseling in social welfare for prostitutes in the rural area].
AB  - Prostitute welfare and AIDS counselling are in the hands of one person in the
      rural area of the Westerland district. This offers the opportunity of
      continuously preventing this disease and giving guidance and the "human touch" in
      close care in case of a possible infection, especially in view of the lower
      number of cases examined and advised compared with the figures in the big cities.
      An anonymous poll among 41 prostitutes shows that they approve of and are
      satisfied with the concept of the "G-welfare". It also shows that the prostitutes
      themselves are hardly aware of the HIV-risk, that their customers only rarely
      accept condoms and that there are problems in the use and the toleration of
      condoms. These difficulties are the main aspects of the preventive work, as well
      as the psycho-social care and the personal relationship to those examining.

PMID- 1450544
TI  - [Results from the Frankfurt a.M. AIDS counseling unit 1988 and 1989].
AB  - An AIDS counselling office of the Public Health Service has been available to the
      public of Frankfurt a.M. since September 1985. 6969 blood samples were examined
      for HIV antibodies between January 1988 and the end of December 1989. The
      prevalence of positive tests was 1.9% (n = 141). Until now most of the HIV
      positive clients are homo- and bisexual persons. Security and partnership were
      the most frequent reasons stated by heterosexual clients at the AIDS-counselling
      office.

PMID- 1450545
TI  - [Yes to sex education, but comprehensive, please. The health fair medium in
      health promotion, 6 years experiences exemplified by AIDS education].
AB  - The basic conditions for HIV/AIDS prevention have been changing during the last
      years. The interdisciplinary approach must be emphasised very clearly nowadays.
      Models of cooperation within the community must be enhanced. AIDS counselling in
      Bremen underwent various stages: from a critical analysis of the risk factor
      theory to the life-style concept and to a call for community action. The paper
      points out how the 6 years of experience with a special AIDS exhibition can be
      utilised for health education in other fields.

PMID- 1450546
TI  - [Special characteristics of physician involvement in AIDS counseling].
AB  - Characteristic features of medical work at an AIDS Information Centre are pointed
      out with particular regard to the present situation in the city and district of
      Crenter? Hannover. Persons infected with HIV are reviewed, drawing particular
      attention to the extreme stress of living with the knowledge of being HIV
      infected. The arising social problems of HIV-positive patients are described
      together with the doctor's adviser of easing the patient's stress and guiding him
      into accepting the necessary changes in life. Intensive cooperation hospital
      doctors, GP's and social workers is described.

PMID- 1450547
TI  - [Medical management of HIV infected and AIDS patients in the Hannover
      metropolitan area as an interdisciplinary construct].
AB  - Two wards for consultation of AIDS have opened in Hannover in 1987, one in the
      Public Health Department for the city of Hannover, the other in the Public Health
      Department for the surroundings. It was a big step towards prevention of AIDS. At
      the same time a centre, especially for AIDS, was opened at the Medical college of
      Hannover, consisting of an ambulance and beds in a ward. An official laboratory
      tests the medical analyses. Today the doctor in the Public Health Department
      plays an important part: he is the first partner with whom the infected patient
      can talk. He must also maintain contact with all institutions including the
      family doctor for optimum patient care.

PMID- 1450548
TI  - [Effect of air pollutants on the organism of the child].
AB  - The Institute of Hygiene at Rostock initiated studies in 1980 on schoolchildren
      (1st to 4th form) in air-hygienically differently affected areas of the former
      GDR, as well as studies on probationers of the same age in non-polluted areas.
      The spectrum of methods included besides clinical, sensorial and psycho
      diagnostical investigations, also haematological, immunological and pulmonary
      functions tests. The results indicate that the state of health of children living
      in industrial areas is impaired. After a recuperating for four weeks under clean
      air conditions the changed values were normalised and adapted to the values of
      the non-exposed control group. The long-term effect of the recuperating stay
      lasts for 9 months.

PMID- 1450549
TI  - [Incidence of leukemia in the Elbmarsch area].
AB  - The extremely conspicuous excess of leukaemia in the immediate neighbourhood of
      the world's largest boiling water reactor Krummel is shown in its temporal and
      spatial context. An early extensive Lower Saxony state research programme gives
      no hint what so ever for a cause beyond three known risks of the region: 1. the
      main point is that the radiation exposure is well-known for causing leukaemia; 2.
      contamination of drinking water with an unknown substance containing nitrogen; 3.
      emissions from a chemical factory (according to a brief toxicological report,
      however, without potential for causing leukaemia). The leukaemia cluster is
      discussed against the background of a new valuation of radiation risk derived
      from recent Hiroshima data and the Mainz Leukaemia Study published in February,
      which points out in analogy to late British studies a significant increase in the
      leukaemia risk for the most radiation-sensitive group of infants and young
      children (aged 0-4) in the proximity of nuclear power plants.

PMID- 1450550
TI  - [Legionella contamination in warm water systems of a large German city].
AB  - Since 1988 the Frankfurt City Health Department examined the hot water systems of
      all public indoor swimming pools, old age homes and hospitals, and made
      subsequent checks on the corrective measures introduced. In the 6 public indoor
      swimming pools the percentage of positive legionella findings, after corrective
      measures has dropped since 1988: at the central hot-water supply units from 47%
      to 23%, and at the peripheral tap connections from 66% to 22%. The number of
      negative samples rose from 43% to 77%. Thus the favourable effect of the
      corrective measures is demonstrated. Since 1988 samples have been taken from the
      shower water at old age homes. An increase in negative findings could be shown
      (from 58% to 70%). From 1990, however, an increase of high-level legionella
      contamination (> 10,000 Legionella colonies per litre) was detected as well. In
      one home with a generally high legionella contamination level (up to 75,000
      legionella colonies per litre) an investigation of the legionella antibodies was
      done in the blood of 44 residents whose medical history included fever or
      bronchial symptoms. In no case a previous infection could be demonstrated.
      However, there was one patient with a definite legionella pneumonia in the home:
      this patient usually had been showering for at least 20 minutes a day. Legionella
      were found in the hot water systems of 16 of the 17 hospitals in Frankfurt. In
      1991 more than half to the 204 samples were legionella positive. 5% of the
      samples had legionella contamination levels of more than 100,000 per litre.
      Corrective measures have been taken.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450551
TI  - [Ethical judgments in environmental medicine].
AB  - Among the main tasks of environmental medicine within the framework of the German
      Public Health Service are the assessment and management of risks involved in
      environmental problems. The article points out that both tasks involve ethical
      judgments in crucial matters. An important part of risk management is to
      establish limit and guiding values. The examples of drinking water regulations
      and WHO Air Quality Guidelines show that these values depend mainly on decisions
      on standard settings. It is pointed out that these cannot be derived from
      knowledge gained from research in natural science and that our present
      heterogeneous civilization is not conductive to a generally recognised basis for
      an evaluation. It is suggested to solve this dilemma by a process of mutual
      agreement on a reciprocal basis. The models of "proxy consent" and "presumed
      intent" are discussed. Public Health Service must therefore systematically
      reflect, expose and develop the standard settings of its judgments and actions.

PMID- 1450552
TI  - [Regional service for senior citizens--a responsibility of the public health
      office].
AB  - At present the share of persons over 60 years of age in the total population is
      about 20 per cent. The number of persons of very advanced age and of persons in
      need of permanent care is increasing. Planning care of such persons is one of the
      major problems of society in the coming decades. This means that Public Health
      offices will have to tackle important problems in planning, in an advisory
      capacity and in expertising. The article describes the activities of the
      "Planning Group Concerned with Care for Persons of Advanced Age" under the
      supervision of the Public Health Office in Schleswig-Holstein district.

PMID- 1450553
TI  - [Assistance for the aged from the viewpoint of the public health office].
AB  - Problems of old age and ways of helping the old were discussed with various
      social and age groups, among them secondary pupils as well as people living in
      old people's homes. The main questions which arose were: "How can one give a
      purpose to one's old age?"--"How does one win sufficient recognition?"--"What can
      be done to avoid, or overcome, isolation?" Most senior citizens were in favour of
      spending their old age in their familiar surroundings--either on their own or
      with their families, in whose life they wanted to participate. Our inquiries have
      shown that there are more institutions than generally assumed which offer advice
      and help and can be consulted by those in particular who have decided against
      living in an old people's home. With the support of other institutions and
      authorities, the staff of the local Health Service drew up a brochure on
      "Assistance in Old Age", which covers the Kulmbach area. Then we tried to find
      ways of improving the quality of our senior citizens' lives without spending too
      much money. The key issue which emerged was prevention.

PMID- 1450554
TI  - [Social medicine aspects in expert assessment according to the new long-term care
      legislation].
AB  - According to the new German 'Betreuungsgesetz' (BtG) legislation concerning care
      for the mentally and or physically disabled, instituting a "case of care"
      requires an expert opinion on the patient's mental and physical impairments as
      well as on the question as to what degree the patient lacks the ability to manage
      his or her own affairs. The respect for the personal autonomy has to be weighed
      against the need to take action for the patient's benefit. The concept of
      'neglect' ('Verwahrlosung') plays an important role in judging a patient's
      situation. Criteria for the use of this term are derived from a study carried out
      by the author, and lead to a questionnaire designed for preparatory
      investigations. As to the question of who should act as an expert in BtG cases,
      the author argues that the public health offices qualify best for this task.

PMID- 1450555
TI  - [Expert assessment for long-term care--starting point for comprehensive help in
      medical and social rehabilitation].
AB  - Based on the various definitions of people in need of constant care the authors
      describe the needs and chances of professional assessment in the process of
      financing care at home and in nursing homes. They stress the often neglected
      point of rehabilitation and plead for participation of social workers and nurses
      in the assessment process. The precarious situation for many relatives of people
      in need of care is pointed out. The authors come to the conclusion that public
      health offices in Germany should--as an important task in the future--concentrate
      more intensively on the actual problems of people in need of care and participate
      in local strategies to improve their living conditions.

PMID- 1450556
TI  - Effectiveness of a bioremediation product in degrading the oil spilled in the
      1991 Arabian Gulf War.

PMID- 1450557
TI  - Degradation of selected insecticides by bacteria isolated from soil.

PMID- 1450558
TI  - Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides, and chlorophenols
      in the Kupa River water and in drinking waters from different areas in Croatia.

PMID- 1450559
TI  - Sources of pollution at Mina al Fahal coastal area.

PMID- 1450560
TI  - Characterization of monochlorinated biphenyl products formed by Paul's Scarlet
      Rose cells.

PMID- 1450561
TI  - Determination of N-nitrosodimethylamine in thiram formulations using steam
      distillation followed by solid phase extraction/enrichment.

PMID- 1450562
TI  - Photochemical degradation of pesticides: photocatalytic effect of Fe(III) ions on
      methylene blue sensitized interaction of 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid with H2O2.

PMID- 1450563
TI  - Distribution and metabolism of 2,5,2'-trichlorobiphenyl in houseflies (Musca
      domestica L.).

PMID- 1450564
TI  - Effect of long-term uptake of mercuric sulphide on thyroid hormones and
      glutathione in mice.

PMID- 1450565
TI  - Alterations in biochemical composition of skeletal muscle during aflatoxicosis in
      rabbits.

PMID- 1450566
TI  - Alterations in erythrocytes during induced chronic aflatoxicosis in rabbits.

PMID- 1450567
TI  - Induction of micronuclei in mice bone marrow cells by home made aguardientes
      collected in southern Chile and their incidence in gastric cancer.

PMID- 1450568
TI  - Cutaneous toxicity of sodium lauryl sulphate, nickel, and their combination in
      guinea pigs: biochemical and histopathological observations.

PMID- 1450569
TI  - Use of 4-(nitrobenzyl)pyridine (4-NBP) to test mutagenic potential of slow
      reacting epoxides, their corresponding olefins, and other alkylating agents.

PMID- 1450570
TI  - Toxicity of acrylonitrile in a human neuroblastoma cell line and its effect on
      glutathione and glutathione-S-transferase.

PMID- 1450571
TI  - Chemosensory and electrophysiological responses in toxicity assessment:
      investigations with a ciliated protozoan.

PMID- 1450572
TI  - Acute toxicity of cadmium, copper, mercury, and zinc to ciliates from activated
      sludge plants.

PMID- 1450573
TI  - Influence of rain and sulphur dioxide on low level chemiluminescence from leaf of
      Populus tomentosa.

PMID- 1450574
TI  - Effects of different dilution water types on the acute toxicity to juvenile
      Pacific salmon and rainbow trout of fluroxypyr formulated product XRM-5084.

PMID- 1450575
TI  - Effects of contaminants of macrobenthic communities in the upper Calcasieu
      Estuary, Louisiana.

PMID- 1450576
TI  - Parathion and salinity effects on gills and mesonephros carbonic anhydrase
      activity of the fish Oreochromis hornorum.

PMID- 1450577
TI  - Free radical theory of aging: history.
AB  - Aging is the accumulation of changes responsible for the sequential alterations
      that accompany advancing age and the associated progressive increases in the
      chance of disease and death. These changes can be attributed to disease,
      environment, and the inborn aging process. The aging process is now the major
      risk factor for disease and death after about age 28. The free radical theory of
      aging arose in 1954 from a consideration of aging phenomenon from the premise
      that a single common process, modifiable by genetic and environmental factors,
      was responsible for the aging and death of all living things. The theory
      postulates that aging is caused by free radical reactions, i.e., these reactions
      may be involved in production of the aging changes associated with the
      environment, disease and the intrinsic aging process. The origination of the
      theory and its application to the problem of increasing the functional life span
      are discussed. Support for the free radical theory of aging has increased
      progressively and now includes: 1) studies on the origin of life and evolution,
      2) studies on the effect of ionizing radiation on living things, 3) dietary
      manipulations of endogenous free radical reactions, 4) the plausible explanations
      it provides for aging phenomena, and 5) the growing numbers of studies that
      implicate free radical reactions in the pathogenesis of specific diseases. The
      rapidly growing number of scientists involved in studies on the role of free
      radical reactions in biological systems should assure future significant
      increases in the healthy, useful, life span of man.

PMID- 1450578
TI  - Relationship between antioxidants, lipid peroxidation and aging.
AB  - Experiments performed on species as different as flies, rats and frogs are not
      conclusive about the possibility that antioxidant defenses decrease in old
      animals. Even when these decreases are found, their physiological meaning is far
      from clear. Furthermore, a constancy of antioxidant capacity in old age is
      consistent with the fact that aging is a progressive phenomenon which occurs at a
      rather constant rate from the mature young to the very old animal, without
      showing a great acceleration rate in the aged. Nevertheless, experimental results
      strongly suggest that the maintenance of an appropriate antioxidant/prooxidant
      balance does have an important role in maintaining health in the aging animal. It
      is possible that the continuous presence of small amounts of free radicals in the
      adult tissues of both mature adults and old animals is an important factor in
      aging (a progressive phenomenon) and susceptibility to disease. Since, similarly
      to what occurs in procariota, the whole antioxidant system seems to be under
      homeostatic control in vertebrates, it is imperative to perform comprehensive and
      detailed studies on the effects of carefully controlled doses of antioxidants on
      biomarkers of health as well as on the different endogenous cellular antioxidant
      and prooxidant systems. These studies should have as a final goal the knowledge
      of which doses of antioxidants are high enough to increase antioxidant protection
      but low enough to avoid feedback depression of other endogenous antioxidants;
      this could further improve the health state of humans situated in the middle and
      last phases of their life span.

PMID- 1450579
TI  - Free radical theory of aging: view against the reliability theory.
AB  - The reliability theory approach to the free radical theory of aging is presented.
      First, the structural and functional inhomogeneity - hierarchy - of living
      systems has been taken into account. Hence, the existence of the finite number of
      critical structures - supervisors - in the system has been postulated. Second, I
      have postulated the stochastic nature of age-changes in the supervisors, paying
      particular attention to oxygen free radicals as the by-products of normal
      oxidative metabolism. Third, according to the cooperativity of main processes in
      biological systems, the existence of the threshold values of the reliability
      parameters of the supervisors has been postulated. In the terms of this
      reliability free radical theory of aging it becomes possible to explain the
      character of age-changes in mortality data for humans and animals; to explain how
      the linear kinetics of accumulation of free radical damages in the cellular
      targets (supervisors) can lead to the exponential kinetics of the mortality rate
      growth with age, i.e., to deduce the so-called Gompertz law of mortality; to
      explain the nature of the well-known empiric interspecies correlations between
      the maximum life span values and metabolic factors; to estimate species-specific
      life span potentials of humans and animals. The chromosomes of neural postmytotic
      cells have been suggested to function as the supervisors. In the terms of the
      theory it has been estimated that the life span of primates could run up 250
      years but for the damages due to the oxygen free radicals.

PMID- 1450580
TI  - The metabolism of 4-hydroxynonenal, a lipid peroxidation product, is dependent on
      tumor age in Ehrlich mouse ascites cells.
AB  - 4-Hydroxynonenal is a major product formed by lipid peroxidation from omega 6
      polyunsaturated fatty acids as linoleic acid and arachidonic acid. This aldehyde
      is cytotoxic at high concentrations (in the range of 100 microM), disturbs cell
      proliferation at low concentrations and exhibits genotoxic effects. Furthermore,
      in the submicromolar range 4-hydroxynonenal is chemotactic and stimulates
      phospholipase C. 4-Hydroxynonenal is rapidly metabolized in eucaryotic cells.
      Here the metabolism of 4-hydroxynonenal was studied in suspensions of Ehrlich
      mouse ascites cells at different periods of the tumor age. The Ehrlich ascites
      tumor is a convenient biological model for the investigation of tumor cells in
      different age and proliferation phases of the tumor. The main products of 4
      hydroxynonenal which were identified in the Ehrlich ascites cells were
      glutathione-HNE-conjugate, hydroxynonenoic acid and 1,4-dihydroxynonene. The
      formation of glutathione conjugates following the addition of 4-hydroxynonenal
      was higher in cells of the early phase in comparison with cells of the late phase
      of tumor growth. That was in accordance with the increased consumption of the
      reduced form of glutathione during 4-hydroxynonenal utilization. The degradation
      of 4-hydroxynonenal and other aldehydic products of lipid peroxidation is
      postulated to be an important part of the intracellular antioxidative defense
      system.

PMID- 1450581
TI  - Effect of aging on glutathione metabolism. Protection by antioxidants.
AB  - The free radical theory of aging suggests that oxygen free radicals may be
      involved in the aging process. Thus, changes in antioxidant mechanisms may occur
      with aging. Since glutathione is one of the most effective antioxidant systems in
      the cell, its metabolism may change with aging. In this chapter we describe
      experiments which show the involvement of glutathione in the aging process and
      which provide a rationale for the administration of antioxidants to old organisms
      to protect them against some of the changes that occur with aging.

PMID- 1450582
TI  - Inhibition of LDL oxidation by antioxidants.
AB  - Low density lipoprotein (LDL) consists of about 3000 fatty acids (50%
      polyunsaturated) and a single molecule apolipoprotein B (500 kDa). The endogenous
      antioxidants of LDL consist mainly of tocopherols and few carotenoids, which
      protect the PUFAS against oxidation. That native LDL contains traces of oxidation
      products has not been proved yet. Oxidatively modified LDL (oLDL) exhibits
      cytotoxic and chemotactic activities, furthermore it leads to foam cell
      formation, a critical step in atherogenesis. The oxidation of LDL is a free
      radical process and leads to various aldehydic products. The oxidation of LDL is
      initiated by cells as well as by transition metals like Cu2+. In both cases the
      oxidation goes through three consecutive phases. The lag-phase is characterized
      by minimal degradation of PUFAs but a loss of the antioxidants. Thereafter the
      PUFAs are oxidized to lipid hydroperoxides, which are only intermediates
      (propagation-phase). These intermediates will decompose to aldehydic products,
      accompanied by several additional changes in the LDL particle (decomposition
      phase). For increased macrophage uptake oLDL must reach the late decomposition
      phase; the presence of lipid hydroperoxides in LDL is not sufficient. It is
      suggested that binding of aldehydes to free amino groups of Apo B is the reason
      for macrophage uptake. This is supported by the finding that antibodies against
      aldehyde-modified LDL are able to recognize oxidized LDL in atherosclerotic
      lesions. Antioxidants like alpha-tocopherol are able to protect LDL against
      oxidation. The duration of the lag-phase shows a linear relationship with the
      content of alpha-tocopherol in LDL. Yet the efficiency of alpha-tocopherol to
      protect LDL shows strong individual variation.

PMID- 1450583
TI  - Desialylated low density lipoproteins and atherosclerosis.
AB  - Oxidative modification of LDL is accompanied by a number of compositional and
      structural changes, now well known. In addition, other atherogenic modifications
      of LDL exist, such as desialylation. The present article summarizes the recent
      data related to desialylated LDL and to the presence of these LDL in blood plasma
      of patients with coronary atherosclerosis. In addition, this review examines the
      sensitivity of these LDL to peroxidative stress.

PMID- 1450584
TI  - Molecular basis of alpha-tocopherol inhibition of smooth muscle cell
      proliferation in vitro.
AB  - The molecular events responsible for the inhibition of cell proliferation by
      alpha-tocopherol have been investigated. Smooth muscle cells in vitro have been
      shown to be specifically inhibited by alpha-tocopherol with a concomitant
      inhibition of protein kinase C activity. beta-Tocopherol was inactive, despite
      its similar radical scavenging activity. The point of inhibition of alpha
      tocopherol relative to the cell cycle was localized in the late G1 phase. A
      second effect of alpha-tocopherol observed with smooth muscle cells was the
      stimulation of protein kinase C biosynthesis in both the S and G2 phases of the
      cell cycle. The implications of these findings for the onset of arteriosclerosis
      are discussed.

PMID- 1450585
TI  - Oxidative damage in Alzheimer's dementia, and the potential etiopathogenic role
      of aluminosilicates, microglia and micronutrient interactions.
AB  - While evidence implicating free radical oxidative processes in the
      etiopathogenesis of Alzheimer's dementia is accumulating, the specific cellular
      and biochemical mechanisms involved remain to be identified. The potential
      pathogenic role of microglial cells in neurodegenerative processes is indicated
      by the finding that purified murine microglial cells exposed in vitro to various
      model aluminosilicate particles stimulate the generation of tissue-injurious free
      radical reactive oxygen metabolites. Analogous inorganic aluminosilicate deposits
      have been reported to occur in the core of the characteristic senile plaques
      found in the brains of Alzheimer disease subjects. The possible modulation of
      free radical oxidative activity by antioxidant micronutrients and pharmacological
      agents, provides a rational basis for further preventative and therapeutic
      clinical investigations.

PMID- 1450586
TI  - The role of alterations in free radical metabolism in mediating cognitive
      impairments in Down's syndrome.
AB  - Down's syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder involving an excess of chromosome 21
      (trisomy 21) in approximately 96% of the cases and comprises approximately 15% of
      the population with mental retardation (Heller, 1969). In addition to the
      constitutional mental deficiencies associated with the syndrome many DS patients
      develop dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in their later years of
      life (Thase et al., 1984). The genetic locus for Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase
      (SOD1), a key enzyme in free radical metabolism, is located on chromosome 21, and
      the activity level of this enzyme is elevated by approximately 50% in a variety
      of cells of DS patients (see Kedziora and Bartosz, 1988; Sinet, 1982). Because
      alterations in free radical metabolism may be involved in neuronal death and may
      be associated with a number of pathological manifestations of DS, it is important
      to understand the role of free radical metabolism in cognitive impairments of DS,
      the topic discussed in this chapter.

PMID- 1450587
TI  - Evidence for drug metabolism as a source of reactive species in the brain.
AB  - Several pathways for reactive species formation involving xenobiotic metabolism
      exist in the brain. They include oxidative activation by different enzymatic
      systems like cytochrome P-450 and monoamine oxidases, and superoxide radical
      production issued from reductive xenobiotic metabolism. They may contribute to
      cellular impairment observed in various physiopathological situations.

PMID- 1450588
TI  - Anticarcinogenic activities of carotenoids in animals and cellular systems.
AB  - A large number of studies have indicated that carotenoid pigments act as
      anticarcinogenic agents in animals treated with either ultraviolet light,
      ultraviolet light with chemicals, or with chemical carcinogens alone. Although
      pharmacological doses of cartenoids were used in the early experiments, more
      recent evidence indicates that relatively small doses can be effective. These
      studies have been complemented by investigations in bacteria and mammalian
      tissue, either in cell culture or in organ culture, where it has been
      demonstrated that various carotenoid pigments can prevent mutagenesis, genotoxic
      effects, or malignant transformation. It would appear that these effects are
      intrinsic to the carotenoid molecule, and not necessarily due to the metabolic
      conversion to retinoids. Partially based on these observations, it has been
      suggested that carotenoid pigments may function as chemopreventive agents for
      reducing the risk of cancer in humans. Numerous studies are underway to test this
      hypothesis.

PMID- 1450589
TI  - Aging and cancer: plasma antioxidants and lipid peroxidation in young and aged
      breast cancer patients.
AB  - The relationship between aging and cancer is complex because the intrication
      takes place at the cell, the organism and the environment levels. On the other
      hand, carcinogenesis is a multi-step process, and different mechanisms may be
      involved in each step. For example, oxidants and antioxidants may play a
      different role depending upon the phase considered. Tumors in older patients are
      generally described as slow growing. The difference in tumor aggressiveness
      between young and older patients is especially obvious in breast cancer patients.
      The age specificity of some breast risk factors suggests that breast cancer which
      has been diagnosed in an aged woman was induced late in her life. We address the
      question whether the characteristics of a senescent organism with regards to
      oxidant-antioxidant status could be causally related to the slow evolution of
      tumors in old patients.

PMID- 1450590
TI  - DNA damage in mammalian cell lines with different antioxidant levels and DNA
      repair capacities.
AB  - A wide range of DNA damage is known to be caused by reactive oxygen species
      (ROS). Defence against the effects of such damage include damage prevention (e.g.
      antioxidant activity) and the removal of damaged moieties from DNA (DNA repair).
      Radiation (X-ray) sensitive murine lymphoma (LY) cells were seen to be more
      susceptible to ROS-induced damage than were radiation resistant cells. This
      difference was unlikely to be due to the marginally decreased DNA excision repair
      capacity of the sensitive cells. Radiation sensitive cells did, however, have
      lower endogenous antioxidant enzyme levels. Thus, the importance of assessing all
      levels of a cell's response to ROS, in determining the major factors leading to
      increased mutagen sensitivity, is emphasised.

PMID- 1450591
TI  - Effect of photooxidation on the eye lens and role of nutrients in delaying
      cataract.
AB  - The function of the eye lens is to collect and focus light on the retina. To do
      so, it must remain clear during the decades of life. Upon aging, lens
      constituents are damaged and precipitate in opacities called senile cataracts.
      Laboratory and epidemiologic data indicate that the damage is due in part to
      light and active forms of oxygen. Antioxidant nutrients - ascorbate, carotenoids,
      and tocopherol - appear to offer protection against cataract. Fifty million
      persons worldwide are blind due to cataract, and, in the U.S., there are 1.2
      million cataract surgeries performed at an annual cost (including physician
      visits) of over $3.2 billion. It has been estimated that a 10-year delay in the
      development of cataract would eliminate the need for half the surgeries. Since it
      will not be possible to replace most of the damaged lenses, it is essential to
      determine the efficacy of supplying adequate levels of antioxidant nutrients
      early in life to preserve lens function.

PMID- 1450592
TI  - Carotenoids in the retina--a review of their possible role in preventing or
      limiting damage caused by light and oxygen.
AB  - Two of the circa 600 naturally occurring carotenoids, zeaxanthin and lutein, the
      major carotenoids of maize and melon respectively, are the constituents of the
      macula lutea, the yellow spot in the macula, the central part of the retina in
      primates and humans. Of the circa ten carotenoids found in the blood these two
      are specifically concentrated in this area, which is responsible for sharp and
      detailed vision. This paper reviews the ideas that this concentration of dietary
      carotenoids in the macula is not accidental, but that their presence may prevent
      or limit damage due to their physicochemical properties and their capability to
      quench oxygen free radicals and singlet oxygen, which are generated in the retina
      as a consequence of the simultaneous presence of light and oxygen. Additionally,
      in vitro and in vivo animal experiments are reviewed as well as observational and
      epidemiological data in humans. These show that there is enough circumstantial
      evidence for a protective role of carotenoids in the retina to justify further
      research. Some emphasis will be put on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a
      multifactorial degenerative retinal disease for which the exposure to light and
      thus photochemical damage has been suggested as one of the etiological factors.
      Recent attempts at nutritional intervention in this condition will also be
      reviewed.

PMID- 1450593
TI  - Oxidative stress in diabetic retina.
AB  - The authors describe the alterations usually associated with diabetic
      retinopathy. They concern the classical thickening of the basal membrane of
      retinal capillaries and the associated modification of retinal vessel
      permeability. These alterations correspond to the blood-retinal barrier
      disruption. The authors then discuss the participation of oxygenated free
      radicals in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. They report several
      experimental studies establishing such a participation and finally describe their
      own results obtained on a model of retinas isolated from alloxan-induced diabetic
      rats. After one month of evolution, the electroretinograms (ERG) recorded on
      isolated retinas from diabetic rats had an amplitude about 20% lower than the
      controls, whereas after two months of diabetes, this decrease was about 60%.
      Under these conditions, the authors tested the protective properties of Ginkgo
      biloba extract (EGb 761) on their model. They observed that in EGb-treated
      animals (100 mg/kg/day), the ERG had a significantly (p less than 0.001) greater
      amplitude than untreated animals after two months of diabetes evolution. In
      conclusion, the authors discuss the possible utilization of a free radical
      scavenger, such as EGb 761, in the prevention of the retinal impairment in
      diabetes.

PMID- 1450594
TI  - Genetic stability and oxidative stress: common mechanisms in aging and cancer.
AB  - Much evidence indicates that age-related diseases as well as the aging process
      itself may be a result of genetic instability, resulting in cells changing their
      proper state of differentiation. Such genetic changes could be of an epigenetic
      or genetic nature (or both) and suggest that mechanisms acting to stabilize the
      differentiated state of cells could be major determinants of animal species'
      general health and longevity. There is also much data indicating that a causative
      factor in cancer is genetic instability, suggesting the importance of genetic
      stabilized factors governing the frequency of this disease. Possibly related to
      these two observations is the good positive correlation between rate of cancer
      and the rate of aging of different mammalian species. In addition, cells from
      longer-lived species appear to have a higher intrinsic ability to maintain their
      proper differentiated state and animals whose life span has been extended by food
      restriction also have a postponed onset of cancer. These data suggest the
      possibility that genetic instability may represent a common causative mechanism
      for both aging and cancer. This suggestion is supported by evidence indicating
      that oxidative stress can increase cancer frequency and that longer-lived species
      appear to have a lower oxidative stress state. However, there appears to be a
      serious lack of evidence indicating that physical and chemical mutagenic agents
      accelerate aging as they do cancer. For these and other considerations, it is
      proposed that aging is not a result of genetic instability as are many different
      age-related diseases. Thus, physiological aging and some age-related diseases
      could have separate and distinct mechanisms of causation and control.

PMID- 1450595
TI  - Free radicals and aging of the skin.
AB  - Cutaneous aging is the result of genetically determined or intrinsic aging
      superimposed by degenerative changes due to actinic irradiation, also called
      photoaging. The manifestations of cutaneous aging, as it relates to the
      perception of age, is caused by ultraviolet light, in particular in those parts
      of the body exposed daily to solar radiation. Free radical generation in the skin
      by UV light and from other sources, such as cellular infiltrations or the
      xanthine oxidase reaction, may be detected by direct and indirect methods. The
      decrease in antioxidant enzymes and small molecular weight antioxidants such as
      glutathione, vitamin E and ubiquinone upon exposure to UV light is an indication
      that the pro-antioxidant balance can be overwhelmed by acute or chronic photo
      oxidative stress. Antioxidant supplementation is therefore a means for prevention
      or at least retardation of premature cutaneous aging.

PMID- 1450596
TI  - Modulators of free radical activity in diabetes mellitus: role of ascorbic acid.
AB  - Free radical mechanisms are increasingly being implicated in the pathogenesis of
      tissue damage in diabetes. Various sources of free radicals may modulate
      oxidative stress in diabetes, including non-enzymatic glycosylation of proteins
      and monosaccharide autooxidation, polyol pathway activity, indirect production of
      free radicals through cell damage from other causes, and reduced antioxidant
      reserve. Ascorbic acid, which may be a principal modulator of free radical
      activity in diabetes, is shown to be consumed, presumably through free radical
      scavenging, thus preserving levels of other antioxidants such as glutathione.

PMID- 1450597
TI  - Possible role of free radicals in the chronic inflammation of the gut.
AB  - Recent studies have demonstrated that intracolonic administration of
      trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNB) dissolved in ethanol produces chronic colitis
      in rats, and that this model shares many features of human inflammatory bowel
      disease (IBD), particularly Crohn's disease. We investigated the role of free
      radicals in the pathogenesis of this colitis model. In the early stage of this
      colitis, antioxidant enzymes (such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione
      peroxidase) and an antioxidant, alpha-tocopherol, were significantly decreased
      with the severity of colonic damage. Mn-SOD at a dose of 50000 U/kg attenuated
      this colitis when preadministered subcutaneously one hour before the induction of
      colitis. These results suggest that oxygen-derived free radicals may play an
      important role in this colitis.

PMID- 1450598
TI  - Age-related variations of enzymatic defenses against free radicals and peroxides.
AB  - Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase are the three main
      enzymatic systems of defense of the organism against free radicals and peroxides.
      A survey of the literature shows that no general tendency of evolution of these
      systems in aging emerges, even if some recent studies in humans demonstrate the
      existence of a concomitant decrease in most of the antioxidant enzymes in blood
      of the elderly. The study of the antioxidant systems and their interrelations in
      the elderly represents a large field of future investigations.

PMID- 1450599
TI  - Antioxidant status (selenium, vitamins A and E) and aging.
AB  - Antioxidant status can be evaluated by blood selenium, vitamins A and E. The
      level of selenium was determined in whole blood, erythrocytes and plasma of 170
      French people (70-95 years old) healthy and with intercurrent illness, by using
      PIXE (proton-induced X-ray emission analysis). These results are discussed with
      other values from the literature. Plasma levels of vitamins A and E have been
      measured by HPLC. All data were compared with those obtained for younger
      subjects. Healthy elderly people residing in a geriatric home received selenium
      supplements during 1 month. The influence of this supplementation brought to
      light a deficiency for this trace element. The correlation of aging and
      nutritional requirements with immune function, heart and cancer death rate is
      presented and discussed.

PMID- 1450600
TI  - Inverse correlation between essential antioxidants in plasma and subsequent risk
      to develop cancer, ischemic heart disease and stroke respectively: 12-year follow
      up of the Prospective Basel Study.
AB  - There is accumulating evidence that free radicals may contribute to various
      diseases such as cancer or cardiovascular disease. Possible health hazards can to
      some extent be prevented by the body's multilevel defense system against free
      radicals, which comprises, besides others, antioxidant vitamins. The 12-year
      mortality follow-up of 2,974 participants of the Basal Study allowed to test the
      hypothesis that low antioxidant vitamin plasma concentrations (vitamin A, C, E
      and carotene) were associated with increased death from cancer of various sites
      and death from atherosclerosis such as ischemic heart disease and stroke,
      respectively. For the analysis 204 cancer cases, 132 fatalities from ischemic
      heart disease (IHD) and 31 deaths from cerebral vascular disease were available.
      Cancer mortality. Overall mortality from cancer was associated with low mean
      plasma levels of carotene adjusted for cholesterol (p less than 0.01) and of
      vitamin C (p less than 0.01). Bronchus and stomach cancers were associated with a
      low mean plasma carotene level (p less than 0.01). Subjects with subsequent
      stomach cancer had also lower mean vitamin C and lipid-adjusted vitamin A levels
      than survivors (p less than 0.05). Calculating the relative risk with exclusion
      of mortality during the first two years of follow-up, low plasma carotene was
      associated with an increased risk for bronchus cancer (RR 1.8, p less than 0.05),
      and the small number of stomach cancer cases (RR 2.95, p less than 0.05) low
      plasma levels of carotene and vitamin A with all cancer types (RR 2.47, p less
      than 0.01), and low plasma retinol in older subjects (greater than 60 years) with
      lung cancer (RR 2.17, p less than 0.05). Studies in other cohorts with a poor
      vitamin E status revealed an increased risk of subsequent cancer at low vitamin E
      levels as well. It is concluded that low plasma levels of all major essential
      antioxidants are associated with an increased risk of subsequent cancer
      mortality. Cardio-vascular mortality. Plasma carotene concentration below
      quartile 1 was associated with an increased risk for IHD (RR 1.53, p = 0.02). The
      same was true for low levels of both carotene and vitamin C (RR = 1.96, p =
      0.022). The risk of cerebrovascular death was elevated in subjects with low
      carotene in the presence of low vitamin C plasma concentration (RR 4.17, p less
      than 0.01). These data confirm and extend recent findings on an inverse
      correlation of beta-carotene and vitamin C respectively to CVD.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1450601
TI  - Vitamin E requirement in relation to dietary fish oil and oxidative stress in
      elderly.
AB  - A growing body of evidence shows that oxygen radicals and other products of free
      radical reactions are involved in aging and age-related degenerative diseases.
      Recent studies have suggested that fish oils (FO) have a potentially beneficial
      effect on age-associated diseases. Consumption of FO may increase requirement for
      vitamin E, especially under conditions where oxidative stress is increased.
      Vitamin E requirement increases with increased intake of dietary polyunsaturated
      fatty acids (PUFA). This relationship may be exaggerated in elderly subjects. Our
      studies, as well as those of others, have shown that plasma lipid peroxides are
      significantly higher in older subjects compared to young subjects. Thus, in
      conditions where the percentage of highly unsaturated fatty acid increases in the
      membrane, older subjects may be more susceptible to oxidative damage. In a series
      of human studies, we found that older women, receiving FO supplements for 3
      months exhibited a greater increase in plasma PUFA compared to young subjects. By
      substituting membrane fatty acids with the potentially unstable (n-3) fatty acids
      of FO, older subjects were found to be at greater risk of oxidative stress than
      young subjects. In addition, when exposed to eccentric exercise-induced oxidative
      stress, older men, receiving vitamin E supplements for 48 days, exhibited
      significantly lower levels of lipid peroxides in urine compared to placebo
      control. These data indicate that older subjects are more susceptible to
      oxidative stress and may benefit from the antioxidant protection provided by
      vitamin E.

PMID- 1450602
TI  - Vitamin C and vitamin E--synergistic interactions in vivo?
AB  - The synergistic relationship between ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and alpha
      tocopherol (vitamin E) in the inhibition of lipid peroxidation has been known for
      some time and is now well established in vitro systems. The possibility that
      ascorbic acid may also reduce tocopheroxyl radicals in vivo is a subject of some
      interest and speculation. Although not all experiments have failed to suggest a
      synergistic antioxidant interaction, recent data indicate that the postulated
      synergism between these vitamins might be relatively unimportant compared with
      other metabolic processes.

PMID- 1450603
TI  - The threshold of age in exercise and antioxidants action.
AB  - Physical activity and exercise are important factors in determining the quality
      of life in old animals and humans. With age there is a slow but significant
      reduction in muscle mass and ability to perform certain physical activities. This
      may be due to changes with the age of muscle composition and protein turnover, as
      well as decrease of trophic influence in neural control of muscles of old
      individuals. Exercise in general was shown to improve muscle performance even in
      old age. However a concept of threshold of age in exercise was advanced forward
      in the 1970s. Accordingly, the idea was that for a given exercise of a particular
      duration and intensity there is a certain age beyond which this exercise may not
      have a positive influence, but can become detrimental to the exercising animal or
      human. Recent studies on the effect of antioxidants such as Vitamins C and E and
      selenium have shown that these agents could decrease the free radical associated
      muscle damage caused by extensive exercise. Thus, administration of these
      antioxidants especially vitamins C and E may reduce the oxidative damage due to
      exercise, and may alter the threshold of age by delaying it to an older age.

PMID- 1450604
TI  - Antioxidant therapy in the aging process.
AB  - A total of 1,265 patients with age-related diseases such as diabetes, arthritis,
      vascular disease and hypertension as well as 1,100 persons in diminished health
      without apparent disease, were treated with the metal chelator EDTA and
      antioxidants such as vitamin C, E, beta-carotene, selenium, zinc and chromium.
      Good results were observed in the majority of patients. This is encouraging for
      the initiation of controlled clinical trials.

PMID- 1450605
TI  - Oxygen-induced mitochondrial damage and aging.
AB  - Although the views of Harman and Gerschman provide a reasonable explanation for
      many of the effects of aging, they fail to explain why many cell types, from
      amoebae to mammalian spermatogonia, do not show a time-related involution, while
      other cells (especially the neurons) change with age. We feel that a better
      understanding of senescence (from the molecular to the organ and organismic
      levels) can be gained by integrating the free radical theory of aging with the
      classic concepts of Minot and Pearl on the role of cell differentiation and
      metabolic rate in, respectively, triggering and pacing senescence. In agreement
      with the above, we maintain that aging is the non-programmed but unavoidable
      "side effect" of oxy-radical damage to the membrane and genome of the
      mitochondria of irreversibly differentiated cells. If oxy-radical damage to mtDNA
      occurs, it will block the rejuvenation of the mitochondrial population by the
      process of organelle division, thus leading to bioenergetic decline and cellular
      death.

PMID- 1450606
TI  - Instabilities of metabolic regulations in aging.
AB  - 1) That non-invasive NMR and optical methods can a) quantify the work stress on
      mitochondria for ATP production, and b) indicate the tissue O2 tension in the
      capillary bed that is responsible for the rate of radical generation. 2) That
      free radical damage to mitochondrial function can be quantified by reciprocal
      plots of inverse slope giving the extrapolated Vm of mitochondria. 3) That a
      particular genetically deficient individual requiring high dosages of menadione
      has survived over 9 years. 4) That mitochondrial deficiency leads to an exercise
      hyperoxia.

PMID- 1450607
TI  - Lipofuscinogenesis in a model system of cultured cardiac myocytes.
AB  - Lipofuscin, or age pigment, is a yellowish-brown, autofluorescent, protein, and
      lipid containing pigment that accumulates in the lysosomal vacuome of a variety
      of post-mitotic cells in man and animals during aging. Lipofuscin seems to be an
      end product of peroxidation, fragmentation and polymerization of proteins and
      lipids. Protein and lipid containing materials are regularly sequestered to the
      lysosomal system by means of endocytosis and autophagocytosis. Lysosomes and
      acidified endosomes constitute cellular compartments where iron for short periods
      of time may exist in reactive form allowing for peroxidative processes. The
      importance was demonstrated in model systems of cultured cells subjected to
      oxidative stress and augmented amounts of FeCl3 in the culture medium. This
      combination was considered to result in increased intracellular, mainly
      mitochondrial, production of hydrogen peroxide as well as increased
      intralysosomal concentration of iron. One of the results of this situation was
      dramatically increased lipofuscinogenesis.

PMID- 1450608
TI  - Cellular clones and transgenic mice overexpressing copper-zinc superoxide
      dismutase: models for the study of free radical metabolism and aging.
AB  - Down's Syndrome (DS), the most frequent of congenital birth defects, results from
      the trisomy of the chromosome numbered 21 in all cells of affected patients. This
      disease is characterized by developmental anomalies, mental retardation and
      features of rapid aging, particularly in the brain where the occurrence of
      Alzheimer's disease (AD) is observed in all trisomy 21 patients over the age of
      35. Elucidation of the biological mechanisms leading to brain aging in DS might
      provide new insight into the understanding of brain aging and AD in normal
      people. Copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) is one of the genes encoded by
      chromosome 21. As a consequence of gene dosage excess, CuZnSOD activity and
      protein are increased by 50% in all DS tissues. The level of CuZnSOD protein and
      mRNA is particularly high in hippocampal pyramidal neurons susceptible to
      degenerative processes in AD and in dopaminergic melanized-neurons vulnerable in
      Parkinson's disease. Increased CuZnSOD activity in these age-related
      neurodegenerative disorders might result in H2O2 overproduction and subsequently
      promote peroxidative damages within cells. Increase of seleno-dependent
      glutathione peroxidase (Se-GPx) in DS cells supports this concept. In order to
      test this hypothesis, cell and animal models of CuZnSOD overexpression have been
      designed. In cells transfected with the human CuZnSOD gene, and increased Se-GPx
      activity is observed, a situation which mimics DS. In mice transgenic for the
      human CuZnSOD, the expression pattern of the transgene in the brain is similar to
      that in humans, and we can observe an increased peroxidation in this tissue.
      These data, like others in the literature, support the hypothesis that excess
      CuZnSOD induces an imbalance in the regulation of oxygen-derived free radical
      production which might result in peroxidative brain damage and possibly
      contribute to accelerated aging and age-related neuropathology.

PMID- 1450609
TI  - The importance of antioxidant enzymes in cellular aging and degeneration.
AB  - Aerobic cells contain various amounts of the three main antioxidant enzymes:
      superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and GSH peroxidase. These three enzymes are
      necessary for cell survival since inhibition of their activity leads to the
      arrest of cell mitosis and to cell death. Amongst them, GSH peroxidase was shown
      to be more efficient than catalase and much more than SOD. This result was
      obtained by comparing the cell protection against oxidative stress after their
      microinjection in the cytoplasm. With age, the level of these antioxidant enzymes
      does not change in several experimental models, so that it is not possible to
      explain the aging process by a lack of protection due to a decrease in the
      activity of these three enzymes. However, tissues and cells are more susceptible
      to free radical attacks with age. In order to understand the importance of free
      radicals in this process, we have to distinguish between their respective effects
      on cell mitosis, cell death and cell aging. The effects on mitosis and cell death
      are well described, and the results clearly show a threshold of response which is
      determined by the antioxidant content of the cell. There is now evidence that
      short free radical stresses can also speed up the aging of in vitro cultured
      human fibroblasts. However, such effects are not typical of free radicals but are
      also obtained with many other deleterious substances so that free radicals have
      to be considered as one amongst other factors responsible for influencing the
      evolution of a cell to an older stage or to cell death. The lowering of the
      general metabolism and of the free energy in old cells are probably the main
      factors responsible for the increased susceptibility of these cells to stresses
      such as oxidative stresses.

PMID- 1450610
TI  - The importance of molecular size in the pathophysiology of CSF proteins.

PMID- 1450611
TI  - Increased serum N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and alpha-D-mannosidase
      activities in obese subjects.
AB  - We have studied N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and alpha-D-mannosidase
      activities in human sera from 35 control subjects, 47 normo- and hyperinsulinemic
      obese persons, and 12 diabetic patients after a fasting period of 12 h and at 30,
      60, 90, and 120 min after an oral glucose overload. The results show a
      significantly higher activity of these 2 enzymes in obese subjects and diabetic
      patients, of similar magnitude, especially in those obese persons with a higher
      grade of obesity. Moreover, the activity of these glycosidases decreases in a
      similar way in all these 3 groups after the oral glucose overload.

PMID- 1450612
TI  - Effects of calcium channel blocking and atrial stimulation on QT time during
      hyper- and normocalcemia in man.
AB  - We investigated how calcium channel blocking agents modify the known decrease of
      QT time with increasing heart rate and calcium level. Furthermore, we examined
      how the influence of calcium channel blocking agents is modulated by atrial
      stimulation. To answer these questions, we measured the QT time both at a
      spontaneous heart rate and during atrial stimulation with 90 and 110 beats/min
      before and after intravenous administration of 5 mg verapamil in 23 patients with
      primary hyperparathyroidism, pre- and postoperatively. Atrial stimulation
      increased the frequency-related standard values of QT time. The spontaneous heart
      rate (HR) was influenced by neither the calcium level nor verapamil. The
      statistically significant correlations QT vs. HR and QT vs. Ca were reduced by
      verapamil, which indicated its influence. However, this effect did not achieve
      statistical significance.

PMID- 1450613
TI  - Comparison of dietary intakes in four selected European populations.
AB  - The composition of diet and food intakes in four selected European populations
      were compared. Dietary data (from the World Health Organization Project on
      Monitoring Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease) were measured by
      record methods and were available for middle-aged men in Finland (n = 653),
      France (n = 1128), Northern Ireland (n = 356), and southern Germany (Augsburg
      region; n = 899). Nutritional variables--which are independent of the absolute
      energy intake, such as the percentage supply of energy from macronutrients and
      the ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids--were on the whole similar.
      However, striking differences were found in food intake and in the percentage
      supply of fat from different foods. The results indicate that detailed knowledge
      of consumption figures is necessary to develop prudent and acceptable nutrition
      intervention programs.

PMID- 1450614
TI  - Positive correlation between aortic valve pressure gradient and mitochondrial
      respiratory chain capacity in hypertrophied human left ventricle.
AB  - The effect of chronic left ventricular pressure overload on the activities of
      mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes was investigated in myocardial biopsies
      from the left ventricular apex of 13 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement
      for aortic valve stenosis. Transvalvular pressure gradients measured by left
      sided heart catheterization ranged from 52 to 100 mmHg. The specific activity of
      mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme complexes I+III (antimycin A sensitive
      NADH cytochrome c oxidoreductase) and the myocardial concentrations of coenzyme
      Q10 (CoQ10) increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing aortic valve
      pressure gradient. In contrast, the specific activities of complex IV (cytochrome
      c oxidase), succinate dehydrogenase, and citrate synthase, a mitochondrial matrix
      enzyme, showed no significant correlation with the pressure gradient. Since CoQ10
      is the rate-limiting compound of the activity of complexes I+III but not of
      cytochrome c oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase, or citrate synthase, these data
      suggest that the increase in the activity of complexes I+III is due to the
      increase in CoQ10 content.

PMID- 1450615
TI  - Induction of the fed pattern of human exocrine pancreatic secretion by nutrients:
      role of cholecystokinin and neurotensin.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to assess the role of cholecystokinin and
      neurotensin in converting the cyclical interdigestive pattern of pancreatic
      secretion into the non-cyclical fed pattern. Six healthy male volunteers were
      studied on 4 separate days. During each experiment a mixed liquid meal or
      solutions of individual nutrients were perfused intraduodenally for 180 min at 2
      ml/min. The mixed meal contained 4.3 g glucose, 2.0 g fractionated soya oil, and
      1.7 g casein hydrolysate per 100 ml, which delivered a caloric load of 0.9
      kcal/min into the duodenum. The isocaloric and isotonic solutions of individual
      nutrients contained 44.5 g glucose, 17.8 g fractionated soya oil, or 44.5 g
      hydrolysed serum bovine albumin per liter and delivered 0.36 kcal/min into the
      duodenum. Duodenal aspirates and blood samples were collected at regular
      intervals for determination of pancreatic enzyme outputs and plasma levels of
      cholecystokinin and neurotensin, respectively. The mixed meal converted the
      cyclical interdigestive secretory pattern into the noncyclical fed pattern
      whereas none of the three individual nutrients abolished the interdigestive
      pattern. Not only the mixed meal but also lipid and protein perfusion
      consistently stimulated cholecystokinin release. Integrated incremental
      cholecystokinin release amounted to 32.3 +/- 9.9 pg/ml x 180 min with the mixed
      meal, 23.2 +/- 6.5 with lipid perfusion (P < 0.05 versus mixed meal) and 13.4 +/-
      3.8 with protein perfusion (P < 0.05 versus mixed meal). The carbohydrate
      solution did not significantly release cholecystokinin. None of the duodenal
      perfusates raised neurotensin plasma levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450616
TI  - Long-term follow-up of renal transplantation in type 1 and type 2 diabetic
      patients.
AB  - This study evaluated the long-term outcome of renal transplantation in type 1 (n
      = 25) and type 2 (n = 18) diabetic patients. Overall postoperative survival at 1
      year was 69% in type 1 diabetes and 75% in type 2; at 5 years it was 62% in type
      1 diabetes and 58% in type 2. Death was due mainly to cardiovascular disease
      (60%) and septic gangrene (20%). Outcome was examined in terms of graft function,
      which was poor in the majority (86%) of patients who died. Patients with fatal
      outcome suffered major vascular complications prior to renal transplantation and
      frequently had impaired graft function. Metabolic control was better in patients
      with good graft function (HbA1c < 6.2%) than in those with poor or no function of
      kidney transplant (HbA1c > 9.8%). In the absence of severe vascular complications
      renal transplantation may be the treatment of choice for both type 1 and type 2
      diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease. Otherwise, renal transplantation
      is not able to improve the prognosis of patients with a history of severe
      vascular complications prior to renal replacement therapy.

PMID- 1450617
TI  - Q fever endocarditis: diagnostic approaches and monitoring of therapeutic
      effects.
AB  - The scope of current diagnostic methods for Q fever endocarditis includes
      serology, direct demonstration of Coxiella burnetii in the resected heart valve
      tissue, and animal inoculation studies. Illustrated by a clinical case report,
      the different methods are presented and discussed. Serology represents the
      primary method, using the techniques of complement fixation, indirect
      immunofluorescence, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The latter two
      techniques allow the detection of immunoglobulins G, M, and A to the phase I and
      II antigens of C. burnetii. After cardiac surgery, we visualized C. burnetii on
      smears and specifically stained it on histologic sections of the resected heart
      valve by light and electron microscopic immunohistochemistry. In addition,
      seroconversion in animals after inoculation with valve specimens confirmed the
      presence of C. burnetii in the heart valve. The antibody titers determined by
      ELISA correlated well with the patient's clinical course during the treatment
      period. Therefore it is suggested that its usefulness for monitoring the efficacy
      of antimicrobial agents in patients with Q fever endocarditis should be further
      evaluated.

PMID- 1450618
TI  - Successful treatment of primary adrenal insufficiency due to malignant non
      Hodgkin's lymphoma.
AB  - Although the adrenal glands are frequently the site of tumor metastases, adrenal
      insufficiency is exceedingly rare. We report on a patient with high-grade B-cell
      centroblastic lymphoma who initially presented with right axillary
      lymphadenopathy and bilateral adrenal masses. Four months after axillary
      lymphadenectomy the patient developed overt signs of Addison's disease. He
      recovered promptly after initiation of hormone replacement therapy and bilateral
      adrenalectomy. At present, 16 months after additional chemo- and radiation
      therapy the patient is considered free of tumor. To our knowledge this is the
      first report on a patient who presented with adrenal insufficiency in the course
      of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and who was successfully treated. Demonstrating this
      case, we would also like to stress that the development of adrenal insufficiency
      does not necessarily indicate widespread tumor manifestation in patients with non
      Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PMID- 1450619
TI  - Renal long-term effects of calcium antagonist treatment in patients with diabetes
      mellitus.
AB  - Although calcium antagonists have long been introduced into antihypertensive
      treatment, little is known of their renal long-term action in patients with
      diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy, or hypertension. Much of the current
      information concerning this issue is from short-term studies. While urinary
      albumin excretion, a major indicator of glomerular damage in patients with
      diabetes mellitus, remains unchanged or even increases during short-term calcium
      antagonist treatment in type 1 diabetic patients, it is mostly reduced in type 2
      diabetic patients, especially by diltiazem and nicardipine. There have been
      discrepant observations in studies lasting 6-months or longer. In many of the
      studies, urinary albumin excretion is not decreased by calcium antagonist
      treatment, although blood pressure is well controlled. Albuminuria is markedly
      reduced, however, after nitrendipine or diltiazem treatment. While calcium
      antagonists such as diltiazem, nicardipine, or nitrendipine may be as efficacious
      as converting enzyme inhibitors in preventing the progression of diabetic kidney
      disease in diabetic patients, the beneficial efficacy of others is less apparent.
      Reduced albuminuria may be more difficult to attain in macroalbuminuric patients
      with advanced nephropathy. However, considerations on the potential effects of
      calcium antagonist long-term treatment on cardiovascular morbidity or mortality
      in diabetic patients should not be overlooked when their renal action is under
      discussion. Thus, further studies are needed to define the role of calcium
      antagonists more precisely in the long-term treatment of diabetic patients with
      hypertension or diabetic nephropathy.

PMID- 1450620
TI  - Three cases of malignant neoplasm, pneumonitis, and pancytopenia during treatment
      with low-dose methotrexate.
AB  - A 77-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was treated with low
      dose methotrexate (7.5-15 mg per week). After 15 months a diagnosis of urothelial
      carcinoma of the bladder was made; after a further 6 months pneumonitis and
      pancytopenia developed. The patient died due to massive pulmonary hemorrhage. A
      malignant teratoma was diagnosed in a 65-year-old asthmatic man 16 months after
      initiation of methotrexate therapy (15 mg per week). The patient died 4 months
      later due to fulminant progression of the neoplasm. A third malignant neoplasm
      (dermal squamous cell carcinoma) was seen in a 64-year-old woman with rheumatoid
      arthritis after 13 months treatment with 7.5 mg methotrexate per week. These
      three cases, while obviously not proving a causal relationship between long-term
      treatment with low-dose methotrexate and development of malignant neoplasm, do
      call for stringent treatment criteria, close surveillance, and prospective
      studies.

PMID- 1450621
TI  - HLA-DRB3 gene alleles in Caucasian patients with Graves' disease.
AB  - Graves' disease (GD) is a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) linked organ-specific
      autoimmune disease. In German GD patients the disease is associated with HLA
      specificities of the HLA-DRw52 family (HLA-DR3, -DR5, and DR6; HLA-DRB3 positive
      HLA haplotypes). Recently, a strong association with a HLA-DRB3 restriction
      fragment length polymorphism gene has been described. To study HLA-DRB3 alleles
      and their association with the disease, a large cohort of controls (n = 3724) and
      GD patients (n = 304) was analyzed. HLA-DR allelic combinations revealed an
      increase in HLA-DR3/DR5 heterozygous patients (relative risk 2.9; P < 0.001). HLA
      DRB3 alleles, as defined by DNA typing in HLA-DR matched groups revealed a
      significant increase in DRB3*0101 homozygosity (relative risk 17.5; P < 0.001) in
      HLA-DR3 homozygous patients. In GD patients with ophthalmopathy (grade II or
      higher, according to Werner) DRB3*0101/*0202 heterozygosity revealed an increased
      relative risk of 5.5 (P < 0.001). Non-HLA-DR3 homozygous, DRB3*0101/*0202
      heterozygous patients were at the highest risk for endocrine ophthalmopathy
      (relative risk 10; P < 0.001). Our data, based on DNA typing methods of HLA-D
      genes, provide evidence that the susceptibility is strongly associated with HLA
      DRB3 genes.

PMID- 1450623
TI  - Failure to detect any effect of amalgam restorations on peripheral blood
      lymphocyte populations.
AB  - Dental amalgam has been considered to have adverse side effects on the immune
      system. Reports have been contradictory, indicating both an increase and a
      decrease in peripheral blood lymphocyte counts associated with amalgam
      restorations. We investigated two groups of patients, one of which was treated
      with amalgam restorations for the first time. In the other group, all existing
      amalgam fillings were removed. Prior to and after treatment, we determined the
      absolute and relative numbers of granulocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, T cells, B
      cells, cytotoxic T cells, helper T cells and natural killer cells. In addition,
      functional investigations of T cells were performed. We failed to find any effect
      of amalgam restorations on the immune system in terms of the parameters
      investigated.

PMID- 1450622
TI  - Immediate and long range effects of the uptake of increased amounts of
      arachidonic acid.

PMID- 1450624
TI  - Caries susceptibility and renal excretion of calcium.
AB  - Clearance studies were performed for 2 days in two groups of age-matched young
      female volunteers: those with low caries prevalence and those with high caries
      prevalence. Both groups were kept on a low-calcium diet for 1 week and received
      0.5 g calcium at the beginning of the second day. In both groups, glomerular
      filtration rate, urinary flow rate and renal excretions of sodium, calcium, and
      phosphate were subject to significant circadian variations. In both groups the
      administration of calcium led to a significant increase in renal excretion of
      sodium and calcium and a significant decrease in that of phosphate. On the first
      day, calcium excretion was significantly greater in those with low caries
      prevalence than in those with high caries prevalence, pointing to altered calcium
      homeostasis in this group.

PMID- 1450625
TI  - Esophageal dysfunction in diabetes mellitus: is there a relation to clinical
      manifestation of neuropathy?
AB  - In a prospective study, we evaluated 33 diabetic patients [type I (n = 8) and
      type II (n = 25)]. Esophageal motor functions were examined by registering
      clinical symptoms and by performing esophageal manometry. We also investigated
      peripheral and autonomic neuropathy. In diabetics, the lower and upper esophageal
      sphincter pressure and amplitudes of peristaltic waves were reduced. Compared
      with controls (n = 30), in diabetics the esophageal peristaltic velocity was
      reduced significantly, and the duration of contractions were decreased as well.
      Multipeaked waves were uncommon in diabetics, while non-propulsive contractions
      were seen more often. No correlation was found between esophageal dysfunction and
      peripheral or autonomic neuropathy. Some 60% of diabetics reported esophageal
      symptoms; however, no relationship between these symptoms and the extent of
      dysfunction in esophageal motility was found.

PMID- 1450626
TI  - Disturbed calcium metabolism in subjects with elevated diastolic blood pressure.
AB  - Essential hypertension has been associated with disturbed calcium metabolism, but
      the available data are controversial. We measured parameters of calcium
      metabolism in groups of untreated male subjects (n = 78) with elevated diastolic
      blood pressure (101 +/- 6 mmHg, mean +/- SD) and age-matched male subjects (n =
      79) with low diastolic blood pressure (62 +/- 4 mmHg). The participants of the
      study were drawn from a random population sample. Subjects with high diastolic
      blood pressure had significantly higher carboxy-terminal parathyroid hormone
      (PTH) plasma concentrations than controls with low diastolic blood pressure
      (median 114 vs. 43 pmol/l, P less than 0.01). The 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25
      dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations were comparable in both groups. Individuals
      with high diastolic blood pressure had significantly lower total serum calcium
      (2.41 +/- 0.10 vs. 2.47 +/- 0.10 mmol/l, mean +/- SD; P less than 0.01). PTH
      concentrations were correlated with diastolic pressure (r = -0.39, P less than
      0.001). The data are compatible with increased parathyroid activity despite
      unchanged concentrations of vitamin D metabolites in human hypertension.

PMID- 1450627
TI  - Sulfadiazine therapy for toxoplasmosis in heart transplant recipients decreases
      cyclosporine concentration.
AB  - Toxoplasmosis may cause serious problems after organ transplantation. For
      treatment of active infection, pyrimethamine combined with a sulfonamide is
      recommended. During oral sulfadiazine therapy, a significant decrease in
      cyclosporine concentrations was observed in three heart transplant recipients.
      This interaction has not been reported previously.

PMID- 1450628
TI  - Pentoxifylline influences acute-phase response in acute myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1450629
TI  - Molecular mechanisms involved in the etiology and pathogenesis of autoimmune
      diseases.

PMID- 1450630
TI  - Current status of HLA matching in renal transplantation. The Collaborative
      Transplant Study.
AB  - The impact of HLA compatibility on the success rate of kidney transplants was
      studied in over 80,000 recipients of primary transplants. The transplants were
      done from 1982 to 1991 at over 300 transplant centers in 43 countries. The
      results show that matching the HLA chromosomes in related donor transplants has a
      striking influence. It is also important that matching for individual HLA
      antigens in cadaver transplants provides a highly significant improvement in
      graft survival (P less than 0.0001). After 5 years, matched grafts have a
      survival rate approximately 20% higher than completely mismatched grafts. The
      matching effect is particularly strong in presensitized and second graft
      recipients. There is now direct evidence that even if it is necessary to
      transport well-matched kidneys a long way, they have a significantly higher
      success rate than locally transplanted poorly matched kidneys. New data based on
      molecular technology show that the precise identification of HLA-DR antigens by
      DNA typing further improves the success rate of HLA-matched transplants.

PMID- 1450631
TI  - Progress towards a molecular understanding of cyclosporin A-mediated
      immunosuppression.
AB  - Immunosuppressive drugs like cyclosporin A (CsA), FK506 and rapamycin exert their
      immunosuppressive potential primarily by interfering with the activation and
      proliferation of T cells. These substances bind to intracellular receptor
      proteins, called immunophilins. Immunophilins are ubiquitous and abundant
      proteins, found in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells investigated, as well as
      in many subcellular compartments. Immunophilins display an inherent enzymatic
      activity, the prolyl-peptidyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase). The eukaryotic
      PPIases are inhibited upon the binding of immunosuppressants. In addition, the
      complex of immunophilins and CsA or FK506 acquires a new activity, namely the
      binding and inhibition of the cytoplasmic Ca(2+)-binding phosphatase calcineurin.
      This inhibition is postulated to prevent the proper assembly and nuclear
      positioning of the transcription factor NF-AT (nuclear factor of activated T
      cells). The correct DNA binding of NF-AT to regulatory elements of the
      interleukin 2 (IL-2) promoter normally contributes to the transcriptional
      activation of this gene. Thus, immunosuppressive drugs prevent T-cell activation
      by interfering with Ca(2+)-dependent signal transduction pathways which regulate
      gene activities.

PMID- 1450633
TI  - Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: from molecular genetics to the
      patients.
AB  - One of the gene loci (PKD1) responsible for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney
      disease was located in 1985 to the short arm of chromosome 16. The clinical
      consequences of this finding are analyzed. Genetic heterogeneity has been
      demonstrated since 5%-15% of the families inherit a non-PKD1 mutation. Progress
      in molecular genetics allows better classification of patients with some atypical
      manifestations, e.g., those with early renal failure or those with congenital
      hepatic fibrosis. Identification of the gene(s) and of their defects will provide
      further progress.

PMID- 1450632
TI  - Towards understanding the pathophysiology of chronic rejection.
AB  - Chronic allograft rejection is the major reason why allografts are lost. While
      only 2%-3% of all allografts are lost during the first year to irreversible acute
      rejection, approximately 6%-7% are lost during each subsequent year to chronic
      rejection. The major manifestation of chronic rejection in all organs is
      persistent perivascular inflammation and allograft arteriosclerosis. Bearing this
      in mind, we have developed a model to investigate the pathophysiology of
      allograft arteriosclerosis using aortic transplantations between inbred rat
      strains. The results obtained thus far indicate that several different
      inflammatory cascades are operative within the vascular wall during allograft
      arteriosclerosis. The relative importance of these different cascades, and
      particularly the role of growth factors as final effectors, has not yet been
      defined. Attempts to suppress allograft arteriosclerosis under experimental
      conditions have already met with some success: under conditions where no
      immunosuppression is provided we have been able to delay the process by at least
      3 months, though we have not been able to block it indefinitely. It may be
      expected, however, that once the inflammatory cascades leading to smooth muscle
      cell replication in the allograft media and their influx into the intima are
      better defined, more specific approaches to the inhibition of allograft
      arteriosclerosis will be developed.

PMID- 1450634
TI  - Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease.
AB  - Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease is a rare inherited disorder which
      usually becomes clinically manifest in early childhood, whereas autosomal
      dominant polycystic kidney disease usually is a disorder of adult onset. With
      increasing knowledge and improving diagnostic techniques, it becomes evident that
      the spectrum of both entities is much more variable than generally known. The
      presentation of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease at later ages and
      survival into adulthood have been reported. The diagnostic criteria, clinical
      course, genetics and differential diagnosis of autosomal recessive polycystic
      kidney disease will be presented.

PMID- 1450635
TI  - The nephronophthisis complex: clinical and genetic aspects.
AB  - Familial juvenile nephronophthisis (NPH) and medullary cystic disease (MCD) are
      hereditary forms of early-onset chronic renal failure caused by the bilateral
      formation of cysts at the corticomedullary junction of the kidney. Polyuria,
      polydipsia, anemia, and growth retardation precede end-stage renal failure. The
      absence of edema and hypertension frequently leads to a delay in the diagnosis
      and commencement of therapy. The condition is a major cause of end-stage renal
      disease (ESRD) in children, accounting for 10%-25% of these patients. About 300
      cases of NPH or MCD have been described. Although they are almost
      indistinguishable clinically and pathologically, the two conditions are separated
      by a characteristic age of onset (11.5 years in NPH vs. 28.5 years in MCD) and by
      the mode of inheritance (autosomal recessive in NPH vs. autosomal dominant in
      MCD). An association of NPH with retinitis pigmentosa is known as the Senior
      Loken syndrome (SLS). Hepatic fibrosis, skeletal defects, and central nervous
      system abnormalities have been described in association with NPH but are
      typically absent in MCD. Since the pathology of NPH and MCD is similar, the term
      "nephronophthisis complex" has been introduced to summarize the related diseases.
      At present, there are no means of identifying heterozygotes, conducting prenatal
      diagnosis, or screening children in affected families. The histologic changes of
      NPH are characteristic but not specific for the disease. Cysts of 1-15 mm in
      diameter, located primarily at the corticomedullary junction, are seen in 70% of
      the patients. Light microscopy reveals a chronic sclerosing tubulo-interstitial
      nephropathy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450636
TI  - Molecular aspects of Alport's syndrome.
AB  - We review the recent progress achieved on the understanding of the molecular
      basis of Alport's syndrome. This inherited disease is defined as progressive
      nephritis with sensorineural hearing loss. In 80%-85% of the families,
      inheritance is compatible with X-linked dominant transmission, whereas in the
      remaining cases autosomal dominant transmission is assumed. Histology studies
      demonstrated that the main defect is within the glomerular basement membrane
      (GBM). In addition, evidence for an altered GBM antigenicity came from
      immunofluorescence studies which showed a reduced or absent binding of anti-GBM
      autoantibodies or monoclonal antibodies to the "Goodpasture antigen" in some
      families. Subsequent studies added substantial evidence that Alport's syndrome is
      a type IV collagen disease. Genetic linkage analyses coherently identified an
      Alport locus at the X-chromosomal region Xq21.3-22. Recently, a previously
      unknown alpha 5 chain of type IV collagen was identified, and the corresponding
      gene was also mapped to Xq22. Subsequent studies on Alport families by various
      groups identified more than 25 COL4A5 lesions. Segregation in linkage with the
      Alport phenotype could be shown in large kindreds. Mainly deletions and only a
      few point mutations were described. Most lesions reported so far are
      heterogeneous. We were able to identify two deletions and one point mutation
      involving a 3' splice site in 20 Alport families from Germany. One of the
      patients with a COL4A5 deletion and the patient with the splice site mutation
      developed anti-GBM antibodies after renal transplantation. In contrast, no COL4A5
      lesions have been found in 2 further patients with posttransplant anti-GBM
      nephritis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450637
TI  - Oscillations: a key event in transformed renal epithelial cells.
AB  - Intracellular pH (pHi) plays a critical role in the entry of cells into the DNA
      synthesis phase of the cell cycle. Alterations in pHi may contribute to abnormal
      proliferative responses such as those seen in tumorigenic cells. We observed that
      alkaline stress leads to genomic transformation of Madin-Darby canine kidney
      (MDCK) cells. Transformed cells (F cells) form "foci" in culture, lack contact
      inhibition, and are able to migrate, typical characteristics of dedifferentiated
      tumorigenic cells. F cells exhibit spontaneous biorhythmicity. Rhythmic
      transmembrane Ca2+ flux activates plasma membrane K+ channels and Na+/H+
      exchange. This leads to periodic changes of membrane voltage and pHi at about one
      cycle per minute. We conclude that endogenous oscillatory activity could be a
      trigger mechanism for DNA synthesis, proliferation, and abnormal growth of renal
      epithelial cells in culture.

PMID- 1450638
TI  - The inflammatory function of renal glomerular mesangial cells and their
      interaction with the cellular immune system.
AB  - The autoimmune nature of chronic progredient glomerular diseases has been well
      established. Like in other chronic inflammatory diseases, the active role of
      organ-borne cells has become increasingly apparent--both for the inflammatory
      process and for the initiation and perpetuation of the immune reaction. In most
      forms of glomerulonephritis, intrinsic glomerular mesangial cells are likely
      candidates to come into intimate contact with immune cells such as monocytes or
      lymphocytes. On the basis of cell culture studies we would like to integrate the
      current knowledge available about the responsiveness of mesangial cells to
      inflammatory agents and the resulting secretory capacity and, moreover, their
      possible role in sustaining chronic inflammatory injury and autoimmune reactions
      through a direct interaction with lymphocytes. Apart from being responsive to
      physiological stimuli such as angiotensin II, glomerular mesangial cells are
      predominantly activated by agents related to inflammation. This includes
      exogenous substances such as the components of gram-negative bacteria and an
      array of highly potent immunological stimuli like antigen-antibody complexes,
      activated complement, or various cytokines. The transformation of resting
      mesangial cells to proliferating cells with an accompanying expansion of their
      secretory profile and responsiveness is due to mediators like platelet-derived
      growth factor, transforming growth factor, and others. Numerous low-molecular
      weight substances (O2-, H2O2, NO, platelet-activating factor, eicosanoids),
      proteins (proteinases, matrix components, interleukins 1 and 6, colony
      stimulating factors, growth factors), and cell-surface molecules released or
      expressed by mesangial cells participate in the inflammatory process. Among these
      products interleukin 1 and/or 6, class II major histocompatibility antigen and
      integrins also support an interaction with the cellular immune system. It has
      been well documented that mesangial cells induced in vitro by recombinant T-cell
      lymphokines, such as interferon-gamma, do express MHC II and ICAM-1 and could
      function as antigen-presenting cells. However, and perhaps more interestingly,
      our own recent experiments with cocultures of syngeneic mouse lymphocytes and
      mesangial cells have demonstrated that T-cells are directly activated by cultured
      mesangial cells, thus resembling a mesangial cell-specific autoimmune reaction.
      In parallel to clinical studies searching for a mesangial autoantigen these
      experiments might help to elucidate the mechanisms of initiation and perpetuation
      of mesangial cell-dependent autoimmune glomerulonephritis.

PMID- 1450639
TI  - The glomerular mesangium: capillary support function and its failure under
      experimental conditions.
AB  - We present a structural analysis of the ability of the biomechanical unit
      consisting of mesangium and glomerular basement membrane to maintain normal
      capillary architecture in the face of mechanical challenges due to high
      intraglomerular pressures. Capillary support function may be considered in terms
      of the stabilization of local form (development of wall tension against capillary
      dilation) and global form (centripetal fixation of capillary loops to maintain
      higher order form). The pathologic consequences of the loss of this support are
      illustrated by way of experimental models of mechanical mesangial failure. Such
      failure may express itself as mesangial widening, increased transmesangial
      macromolecule "traffic," ballooning of capillary segments, and unfolding of
      capillary loops. Mechanisms are described by which these structural changes may
      lead to segmental glomerular sclerosis.

PMID- 1450640
TI  - Mesangial cells in the pathogenesis of progressive glomerular disease in animal
      models.
AB  - Increasing evidence supports a role for glomerular mesangial cell proliferation
      and over-production of extracellular matrix by mesangial cells in the development
      of focal or diffuse glomerulosclerosis. Experimental data obtained mainly in the
      chronic progressive remnant kidney model and in the acute mesangioproliferative
      anti-Thy 1.1 glomerulonephritis in rats have shed some insights into the factors
      governing mesangial cell proliferation and matrix synthesis in vivo. In these
      experimental models, mesangial cell activation can be demonstrated early in the
      course of disease as exemplified by the de novo expression by the mesangial cell
      of a smooth muscle "specific" actin isotype (i.e., alpha-smooth muscle actin).
      Following mesangial cell activation, cellular proliferation ensues both in the
      acute anti-Thy 1.1 model and, to a lesser degree, in the chronic remnant kidney
      model. While a multitude of mitogens for mesangial cells has been proposed on the
      basis of in vitro experiments, the factors involved in the regulation of
      mesangial cell proliferation in vivo remain largely undefined. Three growth
      factors which may have important roles in the in vivo mesangioproliferative
      response are platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), basic fibroblast growth
      factor (bFGF), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). All three cytokine
      growth factors are present in various inflammatory cells as well as in mesangial
      cells themselves, thereby allowing these factors to mediate cell proliferation by
      either paracrine and/or autocrine pathways. In vivo studies show that PDGF, bFGF,
      and TGF-beta participate in the mesangial cell proliferation and/or the mesangial
      matrix expansion that follows mesangial cell injury with anti-Thy 1.1
      antibody.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450642
TI  - A review of nursing strategies to reduce patient anxiety in coronary care. Part
      2.
AB  - Illness and associated hospitalisation are stressful events for any individual.
      The stress associated with an admission to a coronary care unit may be related to
      the severity and acuteness of the illness, the effects of hospitalisation on the
      individual, their family, their job and financial position, and often manifests
      itself as anxiety, fear or depression. This paper highlights the use of anxiety
      reduction strategies such as muscle relaxation, music, education and counseling.
      The literature reviewed does not provide any clear messages regarding the
      effectiveness of these strategies in the coronary care unit setting. As a
      consequence, there is a need to continue researching this important area of
      nursing practice.

PMID- 1450641
TI  - Pathology of the human mesangium in situ.
AB  - Mesangial cells play an important role in the development and progression of
      human glomerular disease. This article summarizes some important aspects of
      mesangial properties and behaviour in situ. Intrinsic mesangial cells express
      alpha-smooth muscle actin and are best characterized as myofibroblasts or
      glomerular pericytes. The main integrin receptor in the mesangium is the alpha 1
      beta 1 integrin. The beta 2 and beta 3 integrins have not been detected.
      Mesangial cells in situ fail to react with many monoclonal antibodies which stain
      human mesangial cells in culture, including leukocyte activation antigens.
      Prominent reactions in glomerular disease are mesangial expansion and progressive
      glomerular sclerosis, which are preceded by or associated with mesangial cell
      hypertrophy and/or proliferation. Mesangial enlargement is accompanied by an
      altered integrin expression and an abnormal composition of extracellular
      mesangial matrix. From the numerous autocrine and paracrine mediators identified
      in vitro which stimulate or inhibit mesangial cell growth and extracellular
      matrix synthesis, up to now only a few factors have been shown to be present in
      selected human glomerulopathies. These include platelet derived growth factors
      and platelet derived growth factor receptor beta, transforming growth factors
      beta, interleukin 1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin 6. Further
      identification of such mediators in situ will improve our understanding of
      pathological glomerular processes, particularly with respect to the
      multifunctional properties of the mesangial cell.

PMID- 1450643
TI  - Cerebral aneurysms and subarachnoid haemorrhage.
AB  - Up to 2000 Australians each year rupture a cerebral aneurysm. This is immediately
      fatal in some, and others remain disabled. The main risks after a first
      haemorrhage are recurrent bleeding, prevented by early surgery, and delayed
      cerebral ischaemia due to vasospasm. This is minimised by keeping a good fluid
      balance, calcium antagonists, and possibly newer treatments such as aminosteroids
      or plasminogen activator. An important problem is that of the missed haemorrhage,
      which often leads to delay in treatment and a fatal or disabling recurrence.

PMID- 1450644
TI  - Critical care nursing is a relatively new nursing specialty, but its membership
      is continuing to grow.

PMID- 1450645
TI  - A national communications campaign to disseminate information about the
      Disability Reform Package.

PMID- 1450646
TI  - Specialisation and developing standards within the national standards framework.

PMID- 1450647
TI  - Emergency nurse. Look to the future.

PMID- 1450648
TI  - Emergency nurse profile. Preparing for war--ready for disaster. Interview by
      Brian Dolan.

PMID- 1450649
TI  - Emergency nurse. Value for money reports. A & E departments: value for money?

PMID- 1450650
TI  - RITA--Registry of Industrial Toxicology Animal-data--progress of the working
      group.
AB  - A data base for the collection of histopathological diagnoses of neoplastic and
      pre-neoplastic lesions and related data from control animals involved in long
      term carcinogenicity or toxicity studies has been operated since 1988. Factors
      which may have an influence on the spontaneous tumor rate are integrated in the
      data base. Systematized nomenclature and standardized diagnostic criteria have
      been established as well as the applied data acquisition and data validation
      procedure.

PMID- 1450651
TI  - Ultrastructure and biochemistry of ischemic damages of small intestinal
      epithelial cells.
AB  - Ischemia (one hour) and following reperfusion (up to one hour) of the small
      intestine induce biochemical changes which are indices for the formation and
      action of oxygen free radicals and which occur predominantly during the
      reperfusion period. But the villi and the epithelial cells show different
      patterns of damage, occurring both at the end of the ischemic period and during
      the reperfusion period. Although the quantitative morphological changes are
      increased during the reperfusion in comparison with the ischemic phase the
      quality of the pattern of structural damage is the same in both periods of the
      experiment. This pattern of the damage includes: 1. the neighbourhood of groups
      of villi with total ischemic-lytic dissolution of the villi, of villi with damage
      of the epithelial cells at the tip and at the lateral area and of normal villi;
      2. the different degree of structural damage of neighbouring epithelial cells
      within one villus whose cells are either of regular structural or damaged at
      subcellular organelles including the plasma membrane or of those being
      necrotically destroyed and on the way of release into the luminal space; 3. a
      differentiation of the structural changes of the microvilli and other organelles
      within single and neighbouring epithelial cells. The biochemical findings on
      purine nucleotide metabolism and on the formation of oxygen free radicals as
      "mean values" of a homogenate from a large group of cells cannot reflect the
      morphological-ultrastructural changes of single villi or even single epithelial
      cells. The possible reasons for the mosaicism of the morphological changes during
      ischemia and reperfusion are discussed.

PMID- 1450652
TI  - A new simulation approach for the determination of the error of parameters of
      biological importance describing the growth of the Ehrlich ascites tumor of the
      mouse.
AB  - Some aspects of the growth of the Ehrlich ascites tumor of the mouse can be
      described by the logistic function. The parameters used are fitted to the
      experimental data in a nonlinear way. It is important to determine the error of
      these parameters of biological importance in order to discriminate between
      different consequences induced by various experimental situations by means of
      statistics. But often there is a gap between the data that are available and the
      stronger assumptions necessary for statistics. We propose a simulation approach
      which also works in a much larger range of similar situations to close this gap.

PMID- 1450653
TI  - The influence of systemic hypoxia and reoxygenation on the glutathione redox
      system of brain, liver, lung and plasma in newborn rats.
AB  - The concentrations of reduced (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (glutathione
      disulfide, GSSG) in lung, liver, brain and plasma of newborn rats were
      investigated under the condition of reversible hypoxia. Brain and lung of newborn
      rats seem to be susceptible to reversible hypoxia. We found an increase in GSSG
      concentration after hypoxia in these organs. This alteration of the GSH-GSSG
      redox system was reversible within 2 hours of reoxygenation. A second increase in
      cerebral GSSG concentration after 4 hours of reoxygenation was connected with
      fasting during the experiment. In the liver we found a hypoxia dependent decrease
      in the GSH level, followed by a decrease in GSSG concentration. The increased
      GSSG concentrations in lung and brain are accompanied by an enhancement of plasma
      GSSG concentration.

PMID- 1450654
TI  - Bile salt-associated electrolyte secretion. A study following a short-term
      biliary obstruction in the rat.
AB  - The mechanisms involved in bile salt-induced choleresis are poorly known. To give
      an insight in this physiological process, bile salt-associated electrolyte
      secretion was studied following relief of a short-term (2h) biliary obstruction
      in the rat, an experimental model that shows an important diminution of bile salt
      choleretic efficiency. For this purpose, biliary excretion of total bile salts
      and electrolytes (sodium, chloride and bicarbonate) were studied in such a model
      during taurocholate infusion at increasing rates. The results showed that bile
      flow, bile salt output and electrolyte secretion stimulated by taurocholate
      administration were decreased in the rats that were subjected to biliary
      obstruction. Besides, the choleretic efficiency of the excreted bile salts, as
      estimated by the slope of the regression line of bile flow vs. bile salt output,
      was diminished by 46% (p < 0.005). Multiple regression analysis of bile flow vs.
      bile salt and electrolyte outputs allowed to detect a selective diminution of the
      fraction of bile flow related to bile salt-associated electrolyte secretion
      ("secretory fraction" of the choleretic efficiency of bile salts) (3.2 +/- 0.3
      vs. 2.5 +/- 0.2 L/mol, p < 0.05) whereas the "osmotic fraction" of the choleretic
      efficiency of bile salts was not modified by the treatment (5.0 +/- 0.4 vs. 5.1
      +/- 0.3 L/mol, p > 0.05). Since both chloride and bicarbonate biliary
      concentrations in the volume of bile stimulated by taurocholate were reduced by
      53% and 52% respectively, a role of these anions in the generation of bile salt
      induced choleresis was suggested. Possible mechanisms involved in such a process
      and in its early impairment during cholestasis are discussed.

PMID- 1450655
TI  - Laser treatment of diffuse retinal pigment epitheliopathy.
AB  - The Authors report laser treatment of 18 eyes (14 patients) with a variant of
      central serous chorioretinopathy associated with widespread decompensation of the
      retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the macula, diffuse retinal pigment
      epitheliopathy (DRPE). All eighteen eyes with DRPE were treated with Krypton red
      laser photocoagulation in a grid pattern to leaking RPE in areas of neurosensory
      retinal detachment. All eyes showed anatomic improvement with resolution of the
      serous macular detachment and lipid exudation. The visual acuity was stabilized
      in 15 eyes (83%) at 6 months' follow-up, but only 3 eyes (17%) demonstrated
      improved visual acuity in the same time interval. At eighteen months, 2 of 15
      eyes (13%) retained improved visual acuity, 11 eyes (74%) remained unchanged, and
      2 eyes (13%) had visual loss. In this series of patients with DRPE, grid laser
      photocoagulation treatment was uniformly successful in producing an anatomic
      improvement in the exudative manifestations of the macula and in preventing or
      slowing progression of vision loss.

PMID- 1450656
TI  - Surgical management of exudative maculopathies: preliminary report.
AB  - A new surgical approach to the management of exudative maculopathies has been
      developed including the transvitreal route. As a result of surgery the subretinal
      spaces are drained and their viscous content removed. A special tool was designed
      for this operation. The method has been clinically tested on 32 patients (32
      eyes) with different forms of age-related macular degeneration in the phase of
      complicated pigment epithelium detachment and on six patients (six eyes) with
      myopic exudative maculopathy. The follow-up ranged from 6 to 32 months. No fluid
      reappeared in the macular zone in patients with age-related macular degeneration,
      except one; visual function improved in 26 out of 32 cases (81.3%). Similar
      results were obtained in all six patients with myopic exudative maculopathy.

PMID- 1450657
TI  - Ophthalmic aid to eastern Europe: can the individual ophthalmologist help?
AB  - The problems of ophthalmic care in the newly independent countries of Central and
      Eastern Europe may not be fully appreciated by Western ophthalmologists.
      Information that has been received as a result of a questionnaire is discussed
      and some suggestions are made by which help can be given to countries that have
      been disadvantaged by political and economic influences for nearly half a
      century.

PMID- 1450658
TI  - Fundus angiography with fluorescein-labelled peptide fraction from bovine factor
      VIII: correlation with histologic findings.
AB  - A peptide fraction (VUEFFE) obtained from bovine factor VIII, with a high
      affinity for vessel endothelium, was bound to fluorescein and used for
      angiography in rabbits. Several eyes had undergone laser photocoagulation on the
      retina. The location of the dye was studied histologically with fluorescence
      microscopy on the enucleated, freeze-dried eyes. The angiographic and histologic
      findings were compared with findings obtained using sodium fluorescein.
      Fluorescein-labelled VUEFFE gave a longer lasting fluorescence of the retinal
      vessels with histologic evidence of dye deposition on the vessel wall. It also
      showed marked affinity for the photocoagulated tissues, giving intense and
      prolonged staining of the laser burns. Possible clinical applications are
      discussed.

PMID- 1450659
TI  - Randomised double-masked trial of lodoxamide and sodium cromoglycate in allergic
      eye disease. A multicentre study.
AB  - 135 patients were entered into a 28-day randomized double-masked multicentre
      study comparing the efficacy and short-term safety of lodoxamide 0.1% ophthalmic
      solution (Alomide--Alcon Laboratories), a mast cell stabilizer, with sodium
      cromoglycate 2% ophthalmic solution (Opticrom--Fisons Pharmaceuticals) in the
      treatment of allergic eye disease. Patients given lodoxamide 0.1% showed a
      significantly more rapid and greater improvement in their signs and symptoms of
      allergic eye disease than patients given sodium cromoglycate 2%. Both treatments
      were found to be safe, and side-effect profiles were comparable between the two
      treatment groups, although the overall incidence of side-effects in this study
      was found to be less frequent in the lodoxamide-treated group.

PMID- 1450660
TI  - Metastatic or dystrophic conjunctival calcification in renal failure?
AB  - In renal failure the incidence of pingueculae is significantly higher than in a
      comparable control group but there is no evidence that the calcific precipitation
      in renal failure is of a dystrophic nature. The lime salts are not located within
      the area of elastotic degeneration, a prerequisite for dystrophic degeneration.
      Moreover there is no association between the magnitude of the conjunctival
      degeneration and the degree of calcification. This makes it likely that the
      calcium precipitates represent metastatic calcification even though admittedly
      support for this assumption is tenuous.

PMID- 1450661
TI  - Multifunctional DNA-binding proteins in yeast.

PMID- 1450662
TI  - Sequences within the R region of the long terminal repeat activate basal
      transcription from the HIV-1 promoter.
AB  - The importance of the R region in basal human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV
      1) transcription was addressed by comparing a panel of HIV-1 R region mutants
      using in vitro and in vivo assays. Using deletion, base substitution mutants, and
      compensatory mutants, the precise R region sequences essential for basal HIV-1
      promoter activity in vitro were mapped to sequences between +17 to +21. Within
      this regulatory domain, nucleotides +19 and +21 appear to be critical. The effect
      of these mutations on steady state RNA levels in transfected cells has been
      analyzed by S1 nuclease protection assay using uniformly labeled probes. Two main
      conclusions may be drawn from these studies. First, HIV-1 basal transcription is
      abundant, with the majority of correctly initiated transcripts truncated between
      sequences +57 to +70. Second, analysis of the compensatory mutants indicates the
      secondary structure of the nascent R region RNA is not an obligate requirement
      for the production of the truncated transcripts. Mutations in R region primary
      sequence that selectively abolish the production of the truncated transcripts in
      vivo also exhibit reduced promoter activity in vitro. The appearance of high
      levels of truncated transcripts raise the interesting possibility that-similar to
      c-myc, c-myb, and c-fos--basal HIV-1 expression is regulated by transcription
      elongation.

PMID- 1450663
TI  - Members of the USF family of helix-loop-helix proteins bind DNA as homo- as well
      as heterodimers.
AB  - We have isolated human cDNA clones for USF2, a new member of the upstream
      stimulatory factor (USF) family of transcription factors. Analysis of these
      clones revealed the existence of highly conserved elements in the C terminal
      region of all USF proteins. These include the basic region, helix-loop-helix
      (HLH) motif, and, in the case of the human proteins, the C-terminal leucine
      repeat (LR). In addition, a highly conserved USF-specific domain is located
      immediately upstream of the basic region. Using in vitro translated proteins, we
      found that all members of the USF family bound DNA as dimers. The N-terminal
      portion of USF, including the USF-specific domain, was entirely dispensable for
      dimer formation and DNA-binding. However, deletion mutants of USF2 lacking the LR
      were deficient in DNA-binding activity. Interestingly, each of the USF proteins
      could form functional heterodimers with the other family members, including the
      sea urchin USF, which does not have a LR motif. This indicates that the conserved
      LR in human USF is not required for dimer formation, and influences only
      indirectly DNA-binding.

PMID- 1450664
TI  - Regulation of E2F/cyclin A-containing complex upon retinoic acid-induced
      differentiation of teratocarcinoma cells.
AB  - Retinoic acid-induced differentiation of mouse P19 teratocarcinoma cells is
      accompanied by alterations in the level of E2F transcription factor. P19 stem
      cells contain free, uncomplexed E2F and an E2F complex termed E2F/stem. This stem
      cell complex is a heterotrimeric protein aggregate consisting of E2F
      transcription factor, E2F-binding protein (E2F/bp1), and cyclin A. Retinoic acid
      treatment converts P19 stem cells into differentiated neurons, glial cells, and
      fibroblasts. The presented experiments clearly show that the level of uncomplexed
      E2F gradually decreases upon differentiation, and fully differentiated cells do
      not contain free E2F. In addition, the stem cell-specific E2F aggregate is
      converted into a smaller complex, termed E2F/diff. This smaller complex, which is
      specific for differentiated cells, does not contain cyclin A and consists of E2F
      transcription factor associated with E2F/bp1. Finally, the role of E2F complexes
      in the cessation of cell proliferation, which accompanies P19 cell
      differentiation, is discussed.

PMID- 1450665
TI  - Differential modes of activation define orphan subclasses within the
      steroid/thyroid receptor superfamily.
AB  - We report that three orphan receptors, hERR1, hERR2, and hTR2, members of the
      steroid/thyroid receptor (SR/TR) superfamily, can be activated by different
      ligand-independent pathways. hERR1 and hERR2 exhibit constitutive activity in the
      absence of exogenously added ligands. Furthermore, this constitutive activity is
      localized in the carboxy terminal domain of both receptors and can be transferred
      to other members of this superfamily using domain switch strategies. In addition,
      we show that hERR1 can remain constitutively active in the less evolved
      eukaryotic cell Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In contrast, hTR2 is not constitutively
      active. However, a chimera of hTR2 can be activated in a ligand-independent
      manner through a signal transduction pathway initiated at the cell membrane by
      the neurotransmitter dopamine. Like hERR1 and hERR2, hTR2 is ligand-independently
      activated through its carboxy terminal domain. Together, these results suggest
      the existence of emerging subgroups within the SR/TR superfamily that can
      regulate gene expression through different modes of activation.

PMID- 1450666
TI  - Mutation analysis of the Cys-X2-Cys-X19-Cys-X2-Cys motif in the beta subunit of
      eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2.
AB  - Recessive lethal mutations in the beta subunit of eIF-2 that restore HIS4
      expression in the absence of an AUG start codon were isolated from diploid
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. DNA sequence analysis of these alleles and of
      eIF-2 beta suppressor alleles isolated from haploid strains, identified point
      mutations that altered one of six amino acids that map to a Cys-X2-Cys-X19-Cys-X2
      Cys "zinc finger" motif and immediately adjacent residues. Five of the affected
      amino acids are identical in the human and yeast eIF-2 beta protein. Together
      with earlier studies (Donahue et al., 1988), these point mutations implicate the
      zinc finger domain of eIF-2 beta in start-site selection during the scanning
      process. We have supplemented the mutations obtained by genetic selection with an
      additional set of constructed mutations in this region. Our studies indicate that
      the cysteine residues and the intervening amino acids of this motif are essential
      for eIF-2 beta function in translation initiation in vivo. However, the effects
      observed in cells containing a copy of eIF-2 beta with a deletion of this motif
      suggest that this mutated form is still able to associate with other components
      of the initiation complex, imparting defects on translation initiation. Thus,
      this motif may be required only for later events that lead to initiator codon
      recognition. Alterations in defined positions, as found in our suppressor
      alleles, could lead to recognition of non-AUG codons.

PMID- 1450667
TI  - Fotemustine: an overview of its clinical activity in disseminated malignant
      melanoma.
AB  - Fotemustine is a new chloronitrosourea which is active against disseminated
      malignant melanoma (DMM), and especially against cerebral metastases (CM). This
      efficacy has been widely demonstrated through many phase II studies. A
      multicentre trial of monotherapy was undertaken in 153 evaluable French patients.
      A response rate (RR) of 24.2% (25.0% RR in CM; 31.8% in non-visceral metastases
      (NVM) was obtained. Three other phase II studies confirmed these results with
      respective objective RR of 16.7%, 20.0% and 47.0% and RR in CM of 8.3%, 14.3% and
      60.0%. Fotemustine has also been used in combination with dacarbazine (DTIC), in
      patients with DMM. The RR among 103 patients was 27.2% (26.3% in CM, 37.5% in
      NVM), confirming the activity of fotemustine. The two drugs have also been
      administered sequentially, in order to exploit their synergism in interfering
      with the O6 alkyltransferase. Impressive RR have been achieved, especially in
      patients with visceral metastases (VM) but at the expense of a pulmonary toxicity
      that does not arise with other treatment schedules and which precludes its use
      outside of strictly conducted clinical trials.

PMID- 1450668
TI  - Tamoxifen as a single agent for advanced melanoma in postmenopausal women. A
      phase II study of the EORTC Malignant Melanoma Cooperative Group.
AB  - Between 1983 and 1989 a phase II study was carried out by the EORTC Malignant
      Melanoma Cooperative Group in which postmenopausal women with advanced melanoma
      but a good performance status received tamoxifen, 40 mg per day, as a single
      agent. From 12 centres, 114 patients were registered of whom 107 appeared to be
      eligible and 102 evaluable. Seven died of progressive disease within 4 weeks,
      eight others had early progressive disease (of whom seven died within 7 weeks).
      The response rate was 4.9%, the complete response rate 1%. Without prior
      chemotherapy three of 58 responded, with prior chemotherapy two of 44. Except for
      one of 46 patients with lung metastases who experienced a PR of these metastases,
      all responders were patients with slowly growing small soft tissue metastases. We
      conclude that, because of the few side effects, tamoxifen can be recommended for
      (postmenopausal) patients who have only a small number of slowly growing
      metastases and who are not yet candidates for treatment with toxic drugs.

PMID- 1450669
TI  - BANS: a discussion of the problem.
AB  - The significance of the BANS location (upper Back, posterior Arm, Neck and Scalp)
      as a prognostic factor in patients with stage I melanoma is controversial. A meta
      analysis performed by Weinstock et al. on their own and five comparable studies
      corroborated the hypothesis that this location is influential in the prognosis of
      intermediate thickness (0.76-1.69 mm) melanomas. Our study investigated the
      relationship between BANS subsites, thickness and prognosis in 1,082 stage I
      melanoma patients from two major Italian centres, Turin and Florence. A BANS
      primary was observed in 212 (19.5%) patients: recurrences occurred in 85 of them
      (40.1%) vs 309/870 non-BANS patients (35.5%). Overall survival probabilities were
      significantly shorter (p less than 0.01) in the BANS group (69.1% vs 76.7% at 5
      years; 59% vs 68.5% at 10 years). The prognostic value of the BANS location was
      confirmed by a multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model.
      Stratification of BANS and non-BANS groups by thickness clusters showed a
      significant difference in both survival (p less than 0.001) and disease-free
      interval (p less than 0.05) in the 3.01-4.00 mm thickness subset, due to the
      greater incidence of distant and visceral metastases. In the 0.76-1.69 mm
      thickness range the significance was p = 0.06.

PMID- 1450670
TI  - Results obtained by using a computerized image analysis system designed as an aid
      to diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma.
AB  - Results obtained using a computerized image analysis system as an aid to clinical
      diagnosis of melanoma are reported. The system comprises a colour television
      camera connected through a digitizing board to a 386 personal computer. By means
      of original algorithms able to measure the shape, the colours and texture of a
      pigmented lesion of the skin, the system provides eight on/off indicators that
      are matched with the histological diagnosis to identify benign and malignant
      pigmented lesions. The chances that a given lesion is malignant increase with the
      increasing number of positive indicators. The training field of the system was
      constituted of images and data of 169 cutaneous lesions in 165 patients. Taking
      two positive indicators as the threshold between pigmented benign and malignant
      lesions, the efficiency of the system is 0.98, the positive predictive value is
      0.45 and the negative predictive value is 0.95. These values were confirmed in a
      series of 44 pigmented lesions, 10 of which were melanoma, that constitute the
      present test series. The authors conclude that this computerized image analysis
      system should be regarded as a useful aid to diagnosis for a non-expert
      clinician. The system limit is transformation within a naevus.

PMID- 1450671
TI  - A unique in vivo assessment of 4-[10B]borono-L-phenylalanine in tumour tissues
      for boron neutron capture therapy of malignant melanomas using positron emission
      tomography and 4-borono-2-[18F]fluoro-L-phenylalanine.
AB  - A unique in vivo approach to assessing the concentrations of 4-[10B]borono-L
      phenylalanine (L-BPA), a melanoma targeting compound for boron neutron capture
      therapy (BNCT), was investigated using L-BPA labelled with positron-emitting 18F
      (half-life = 110 min), i.e., 4-[10B]borono-2-[18F]fluoro-L-phenylalanine (L
      [18F]FBPA). High melanoma uptake of L-[18F]FBPA was reduced slightly by
      competition with L-BPA in the two animal models of the murine B16 melanoma and
      the melanotic Greene's melanoma No. 179 in hamsters. In mice given L-[18F]FBPA
      and L-BPA, the concentrations of 10B in B16 estimated from 18F radioactivity were
      lower than those measured by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission
      spectroscopy. Lower estimated values were dependent on the time after injection
      and on the loading dose of L-BPA. The estimated 10B concentrations for Green's
      melanomas were comparable to the measured values. Positron emission tomography
      (PET) using L-[18F]FBPA allowed Greene's melanomas to be clearly visualized. In
      conclusion, when L-[18F]FBPA is used as a probe for L-BPA in BNCT of malignant
      melanomas, the melanoma can be localized and the 10B concentrations in tissues
      can be assessed in vivo using 18F radioactivity by PET.

PMID- 1450672
TI  - Expression of cytokine genes, including IL-6, in human malignant melanoma cell
      lines.
AB  - As a preliminary to transducing human melanoma cells with lymphokine genes, we
      sought for constitutive gene expression and production of eight interleukins,
      tumour necrosis factors and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in 19 human
      melanoma cell lines. Conversion of RNA into cDNA by reverse transcriptase and
      polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were employed to evaluate gene expression
      while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) or biological assays were used
      to assess the presence of proteins. No expression of interleukins (IL) 3, 4, and
      5 or interferon-gamma RNA was found, while the other cytokines were variably
      expressed in melanoma lines, with IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, being
      detectable in most of the lines. At protein level, 10 melanoma cells were tested
      with ELISA and all were found to produce IL-8, five produced IL-6, two tumour
      necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, one IL-1 alpha and two TNF beta. The levels of TNF
      beta were at the limit of test sensitivity. The amount of various cytokines
      released by the different lines varied widely. Biological assay with the D10-G4
      clone confirmed the presence of IL-1 alpha in the supernatant of melanoma (ME)
      10221 and revealed an IL-1 activity in the supernatant of Me 4024/1. The
      proliferating activity of melanoma supernatants on D10-G4 was inhibited by
      treatment with polyclonal antibodies against IL-1 alpha but not with antibodies
      against IL-1 beta. TNF biological activity was tested against the TNF-susceptible
      fibrosarcoma WEHI 164 clone 13.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450673
TI  - High sensitivity of human melanoma cell lines to the growth inhibitory activity
      of mycoplasmal arginine deiminase in vitro.
AB  - Arginine deiminase (AD) is a potent growth inhibitor for some but not all tumour
      cell lines in vitro. As AD catalyses the direct conversion of L-arginine to L
      citrulline, the AD-sensitivity of various tumour cells might be attributed to the
      levels of urea cycle enzymes involved in L-arginine biosynthesis. This study
      demonstrated that human melanoma cells were highly sensitive to the growth
      inhibitory activity of AD. Five melanoma cell lines tested also exhibited reduced
      argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) gene expression--being almost absent in four
      cell lines and at low level in one cell line. This resulted in an inability of
      the cells to utilize L-citrulline for growth. Based on the tissue-specific
      regulation of ASS gene, the feature of melanomas suggests that it might be
      possible to develop agents with strong AD activity for chemotherapeutic use for
      human melanomas in vivo.

PMID- 1450674
TI  - Febrile infections and malignant melanoma: results of a case-control study.
AB  - Several reports have described an inverse relationship between the frequency of
      infections and various malignancies. In this paper results of a hospital-based
      case control study on 139 melanoma patients and 271 suitable selected controls
      are presented, addressing the question of whether this relationship exists with
      respect to malignant melanoma while simultaneously controlling for the effects of
      other risk factors. Data on childhood diseases (group I), febrile diseases of
      adulthood (group II) and common febrile infections within a 5-year period prior
      to the diagnosis of melanoma (group III) were collected using a standardized
      interview. Group I diseases did not show a marked influence on the risk of
      malignant melanoma. Considering group II diseases, a significant protective
      effect was determined for chronic infectious diseases (OR = 0.32) and also for
      wound infections, abscesses and furunculosis (OR = 0.21). In group III, herpes
      simplex infections (OR = 0.45) and influenza/common cold (OR = 0.32)
      substantially reduced the melanoma risk. This effect was less pronounced for
      gastroenteritis (OR = 0.52). Analysis of the cumulative influence of infections
      pointed to a strong dose-response relationship between the frequency of febrile
      infections in adulthood and malignant melanoma. In particular, the risk reduction
      was striking when two or more febrile infections were compared to no febrile
      infections in group II (OR = 0.09) and group III (OR = 0.20). The study confirms
      the hypothesis that an inverse relationship exists between febrile infections and
      malignant melanoma, but these results have to be interpreted cautiously due to
      the inherent limitations of the case-control design.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1450675
TI  - Chronically evolving viral hepatitis. Meeting. Siena, Italy, 1990.

PMID- 1450676
TI  - Immune pathogenesis of hepatitis B.
AB  - Available information about the immune pathogenesis of HBV infection in man is
      very limited. However, the present availability of recombinant sources of the
      different HBV antigens expressed in the appropriate forms to induce activation of
      either HLA class I or HLA class II-restricted T cells, provides the necessary
      tools to investigate directly the mechanisms of liver damage, the role of the
      different cellular components of the immune system in HBV clearance and the
      specific nature of the immune defects potentially responsible for the chronic
      evolution of HBV infection. In addition, improved knowledge of HBV biology
      suggests a dynamic interpretation of the HBV-immune system interactions, based on
      which viral mutations as well as direct interferences of HBV with specific immune
      functions are believed to play a relevant role with respect to the outcome of HBV
      infection.

PMID- 1450677
TI  - PCR analysis of HBV infected sera: relationship between expression of pre-S
      antigens and viral replication.
AB  - In order to determine the biological significance of the pre-S antigens in HBV
      infection, HBsAg sera were tested for the presence of pre-S1 and pre-S2. HBV DNA
      was detected by spot-hybridization and PCR. The data show a complete correlation
      between pre-S antigenemia and HBV DNA replication in anti-HBe positive cases. PCR
      but not spot-hybridization was adequately sensitive to also detect HBV DNA in
      roughly half of the preS negative sera as well. Thus PCR appears to be a valuable
      technique for detection of potentially infectious anti-HBe carriers.

PMID- 1450678
TI  - Detection of HBV DNA by PCR in serum from an HBsAg negative blood donor
      implicated in cases of post-transfusion hepatitis B.
AB  - An HBsAg negative blood donor, and three of her recipients, who developed HBsAg
      positive post-transfusion hepatitis B, were all positive for serum HBV DNA by
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and by subtype discriminating PCR were found to
      harbour HBV specifying ayw. Thus HBV specifying ayw. Thus HBV DNA may be detected
      and sub-typed by PCR in infectious HBsAg negative individuals.

PMID- 1450679
TI  - Measurement of anti-HBc IgM levels using the Amerlite anti-HBc IgM assay.
AB  - The Amerlite anti-HBc IgM assay was evaluated as a tool for determination of
      antibody levels. With an assay time of 1 hour, the test showed a broad dose
      response range with high sensitivity and specificity. The software configuration
      of the analyser can be customized to suit specific research requirements.

PMID- 1450680
TI  - Evaluation of a new enhanced luminescence immunoassay for confirming the presence
      of HBsAg in human serum or plasma.
AB  - An enhanced luminescence assay was developed to confirm the presence of HBsAg in
      weakly reactive sera. The test proved reliable in differentiating between truly
      reactive and falsely reactive samples.

PMID- 1450681
TI  - Functions of hepatitis B surface proteins.
AB  - HBV surface proteins play a number of functional roles in cellular infection,
      viral synthesis and in immune responses of the host. Three coterminal proteins of
      differing sizes and three subdomains of the individual molecules can be
      recognized. In this brief review, functions of the various proteins and domains
      are described and their significance as potential immunogens is discussed.
      Although it is apparent that the surface proteins are involved in the development
      of persistent HBV infections, the underlying mechanisms of liver involvement
      remain unknown.

PMID- 1450682
TI  - Diverging policies for vaccination against hepatitis B.
AB  - Policies toward vaccination against hepatitis B vary globally according to local
      prevalence and the population of infected individuals. In the present report,
      vaccination plans, policies, risks, and experiences of both apparent successes
      and failures are described. Possible plans, including local vaccine production,
      are discussed in regard to problems of third-world countries with high HB
      prevalence. Recommendations are made for vaccination policies in various
      circumstances.

PMID- 1450683
TI  - Immunogenicity and safety of a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine produced in
      mammalian cells and containing the S and the preS2.
AB  - A group of 273 health care workers, at risk of HBV infection, underwent
      vaccination with recombinant HBsAg produced in mammalian cells and containing
      protein sequences coded by both the S and pre-S2 regions (Genhevac B).
      Preliminary results show that a very early pre-S2 response occurred which may be
      useful in post-exposure prophylaxis. This observation, in addition to reduced
      influence by the vaccination protocol, provides grounds for optimism in spite of
      the fact that the efficiency spectrum of this vaccine was not superior to that of
      recombinant vaccines produced in yeast.

PMID- 1450684
TI  - Kinetics of anti-HBs after hepatitis B vaccination: a comparison of two
      recombinant and one plasma-derived vaccines.
AB  - Geometric mean titers were determined for three groups of medical students who
      had been vaccinated against hepatitis B with two different yeast-derived
      recombinant vaccines and one plasma-derived vaccine. The antibody kinetics for
      the three groups were similar over a period of 4 years. A formula for prediction
      of titers from the post-booster anti-HBs concentration is provided.

PMID- 1450685
TI  - Enhanced luminescent assays for hepatitis markers: assessment of post vaccine
      responses.
AB  - A range of solid phase immunoassays have been developed using enhanced
      chemiluminescence to provide a signal which can be measured in a qualitative or
      quantitative manner. The "Amerlite" anti-HBs assay has been used routinely to
      test more than 3000 post-vaccine anti-HBs levels. The results show that 5% of
      vaccinees are non-responders, but that more than 30% produce antibody levels
      greater than 1000 mIU/ml.

PMID- 1450686
TI  - Hepatitis C viral RNA in serum of patients with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis:
      detection by the polymerase chain reaction using multiple primer sets.
AB  - The recently introduced antibody test for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has
      proven to have certain limitations. Since HCV itself is usually present in
      clinical specimens at very low titers, a useful assay for the virus must have
      very high sensitivity. We have developed a simple, highly sensitive assay for HCV
      RNA based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In this test, RNA extracted
      from HCV infected serum or plasma is used as the template for double PCR with
      nested primers. Sensitivity studies demonstrate that this assay is able to detect
      HCV at or beyond the sensitivity level of chimpanzee infectivity. We tested, with
      several sets of nested primers, 40 patients with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis
      (36 seropositive and 4 seronegative) and found that 35/40 were PCR positive
      including all 4 seronegative patients. Normal human plasma and plasma from
      hepatitis B infected patients did not react in this test. This assay has proven
      to be valuable for determining the presence of HCV in various samples;
      furthermore, it offers the possibility of diagnosis of HCV infection in
      seronegative patients.

PMID- 1450687
TI  - Sequence analysis of PCR amplified hepatitis C virus cDNA from French non-A, non
      B hepatitis patients.

PMID- 1450688
TI  - T cell recognition of hepatitis B envelope proteins.
AB  - We have studied the T-cell processing pathways of Hepatitis B antigens and the
      role of specific B lymphocytes. It could be shown that some form of processing by
      specific B cells is required for class I CTLs. This mechanism differs from class
      II endosomal processing. In addition, it could be shown that lysis of HBsAg
      specific B cells may be partly responsible for chronic HBV carrier states.

PMID- 1450689
TI  - HCV infection and chronic active hepatitis in alcoholics.
AB  - Histological signs of chronic active hepatitis were found in 11/41 (27%) patients
      with chronic alcoholic liver disease. All these 11 patients tested positive for
      antibodies to HCV and no other causes of chronic hepatitis were found.

PMID- 1450690
TI  - Diagnostic reagents for hepatitis C virus.
AB  - The development of diagnostic methods for hepatitis C virus is presented. Special
      attention is paid to the selection of antigenic markers, the type of assay
      selected and the interpretation of results. A few of the pitfalls and ambiguities
      of various assays are discussed and possible future methods are described.

PMID- 1450691
TI  - Follow-up of patients with hepatitis non-A, non-B: incidence and persistence of
      anti-HCV depend on route of transmission.
AB  - Of 32 patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis, 10 (31%) were still anti-HCV-positive
      12.8 years after the acute phase of the disease. Seven of the patients (21.9%)
      still had elevated ALT levels, and among these, 5 out of 5 patients who had been
      subject to parenteral risk were anti-HCV-positive. In contrast, none of the
      patients who had not been subject to parenteral risks were positive.

PMID- 1450692
TI  - Recombinant immunoblot assay for hepatitis C virus antibody in chronic hepatitis.
AB  - Testing for hepatitis C virus by ELISA requires confirmation by recombinant
      immunoblot assay (RIBA). The first-generation RIBA uses the same antigen as used
      in the ELISA and one further antigen. A second-generation RIBA in which two
      further antigens are present, detects positivity that is not found by either the
      ELISA or the original RIBA. Consequently, although it is adequate to test ELISA
      positive sera with the first-generation RIBA, the second-generation assay is
      recommended for confirming negativity.

PMID- 1450693
TI  - PCR detection of HCV RNA among French non-A, non-B hepatitis patients.
AB  - Hepatitis C virus (HCV) cDNA was amplified from serum of 26/40 French chronic non
      A, non-B hepatitis patients by the nested polymerase chain reaction. Compared
      with anti-C100, viral cDNA represents a more reliable marker of active HCV
      replication.

PMID- 1450694
TI  - Evaluation of anti-HCV positive blood donors identified during routine screening.
AB  - Of 30,231 donors tested, 368 (1.2%) were anti-HCV positive. Of these, 254 have
      been evaluated, with the following results: only 25% have a history of parenteral
      risk, seroprevalence increases with age and approximately 80% of those that are
      anti-HCV positive in our population are probably infected with HCV. In addition,
      an unexpectedly large number of these persons have chronic and/or severe liver
      disease and will require combined diagnostic approaches for accurate evaluation.

PMID- 1450695
TI  - Presence of HCV RNA in serum of asymptomatic blood donors involved in post
      transfusion hepatitis (PTH).
AB  - To study the causes of residual posttransfusion hepatitis, serum from implicated
      donors was tested by PCR for the presence of HCV RNA. Of 20 anti HCV negative
      donors, 4 were HCV RNA positive and thus, infective. The results suggest that
      higher-level investigations are necessary for prospective donors who present
      blood enzyme abnormalities or other questionable characteristics.

PMID- 1450696
TI  - Epidemiology of anti-HCV antibodies in France. Viral Hepatitis Study Group of the
      French Blood Transfusion Society.
AB  - The aim of this large survey which covered 173,038 unselected blood donors, was
      to determine the seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibodies and surrogate markers (ALT
      and anti-HBc) in France. The results revealed a frequency of 0.63% of anti-HCV
      positive donors. The correlation with surrogate markers was very poor but since
      we know nothing about the infectivity of anti-HCV negative donations, screening
      of surrogate markers must still be performed to prevent post-transfusional
      hepatitis.

PMID- 1450697
TI  - Assay of antibodies to hepatitis C virus protein C100-3 in blood donors from
      northern Germany.
AB  - The prevalence of anti-C100-3 increases with age from 0.41% to 1.26%. It is more
      frequent in donors with elevated ALT (4.5%). Most ALT elevations, however, are
      not related to anti-C100-3. Low EIA signals (< 3 x cutoff) are often non
      specific. The cutoff value should be 2.5 times higher. High EIA signals correlate
      with ALT elevations.

PMID- 1450698
TI  - Chronic viral hepatitis in children.
AB  - Hepatitis B virus is the most common causative agent of chronic viral hepatitis
      in children. The disease may take an aggressive course, but remains mostly
      asymptomatic. HDV infection occurs in about 13% of those children who are chronic
      carriers and are HBsAg positive. HCV infection is generally related to parenteral
      risk and generally remains asymptomatic. In addition to describing the course of
      the various diseases, treatment and control measures are discussed.

PMID- 1450699
TI  - Long-term outcome of chronic type B hepatitis in childhood.
AB  - The course of hepatitis B was followed in 35 children. Various prognostic factors
      are evaluated. The long-term outcome of the disease is poor, often progressing to
      cirrhosis.

PMID- 1450700
TI  - Repeated course of interferon treatment in chronic hepatitis B in childhood.
AB  - Ten children affected by HBV chronic hepatitis, not responding to a previous
      treatment with interferon (IFN), have been treated with a reiterated IFN therapy.
      The response obtained is not encouraging and only one patient became negative for
      HBeAg and HBV-DNA.

PMID- 1450701
TI  - Effect of prednisone priming followed by alfa-interferon in treatment of children
      with chronic hepatitis B: an interim analysis of a controlled trial.
AB  - A six-month analysis of a controlled trial on the treatment of chronic hepatitis
      B in children shows that prednisone priming followed by alpha-interferon 2A was
      effective in 6 of 9 treated patients in reducing HBV replication and disease
      activity.

PMID- 1450703
TI  - Treatment of chronic viral hepatitis anno 1990.
AB  - The therapeutic efficacy of alpha-interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis is
      discussed in light of various international studies. Although beneficial to some
      extent, treatment is of limited value and is accompanied by more-or-less serious
      side effects. Development of complementary drugs and new therapeutic methods must
      therefore be continued.

PMID- 1450702
TI  - Association between HLA class I antigens and response to interferon therapy in
      children with chronic HBV hepatitis.
AB  - In this preliminary study, children with chronic HBV hepatitis, as was also
      previously shown for adults, respond to interferon therapy in an HLA class I
      antigen dependent manner. If this can be confirmed on a large scale, HLA typing
      may serve as a useful indication of interferon-therapy responders.

PMID- 1450704
TI  - HBcAg induced T-cell independent anti-HBc production in chronic HBsAg carriers.
AB  - The capacity of the nucleocapsid protein of HBV to function as a T-cell
      independent antigen in man was studied. When T-cell depleted B-cell cultures were
      challenged with E coli-derived HBcAg, anti-HBc production was registered in
      culture supernatants from the majority of chronic HBsAg carriers in a quiescent
      stage of disease. In contrast, similarly prepared and stimulated cultures from
      donors with natural acquired immunity to hepatitis B or HB-susceptible controls
      were non-responsive. Addition of autologous T-cells effectively restored anti-HBc
      responsiveness in T-cell depleted B-cell cultures from HB-immune donors,
      demonstrating the T-cell dependency for anti-HBc induction in natural HBV
      infection.

PMID- 1450705
TI  - Induction of autoantibodies during alpha interferon treatment in chronic
      hepatitis B.
AB  - Thirty-two patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with alpha interferon were
      tested for 12 different antibodies. Only a minority (18%) of cases developed
      antinuclear antibodies and none developed clinical signs of autoimmune disease.
      These data suggest that, at the dose regimen used, interferon therapy of chronic
      hepatitis B is not associated with triggering of autoimmunity.

PMID- 1450706
TI  - One course versus two courses of recombinant alpha interferon in chronic C
      hepatitis.
AB  - Fifty-five patients with antibodies to HCV and chronic liver disease have been
      enrolled in the study. Thirty-four patients were treated with recombinant alpha
      interferon (IFN, 3 MU daily for 10 days followed by 3 MU twice/week for 3
      months), and were compared to 21 untreated controls. Alanine aminotransferase
      (ALT) normalization was observed in a significant proportion of treated patients
      (52.9%), but 66.6% of them experienced a relapse after discontinuation of the
      therapy. The evaluation of the early ALT behavior after the 10 days priming with
      daily IFN administration was useful in predicting the response. The
      administration of a second IFN course with the same schedule and duration as the
      first course did not increase the efficacy of the treatment. Increased dosage
      and/or prolonged administration are probably required.

PMID- 1450707
TI  - Interferon therapy of cryptogenic chronic active liver disease and its
      relationship to anti-HCV.
AB  - In a randomized controlled trial of Interferon (IFN) in 60 patients (30 treated
      and 30 controls) with cryptogenic chronic active liver disease, 70% of treated
      patients showed complete response, but a high rate of biochemical relapse (62%)
      was noted. In these cases, a second response to higher doses of IFN has been more
      difficult and less frequent. A response to IFN was found in 88.5% of anti-HCV
      positive treated patients and only in 25% of anti-HCV negative. We suggest that
      serum anti-HCV is a suitable test to predict the response to IFN.

PMID- 1450708
TI  - Immune pathogenesis of hepatitis A.
AB  - In an effort to elucidate the mechanism of liver damage resulting from Hepatitis
      A virus (HAV) infection, we have studied infected skin fibroblasts and autologous
      lymphocytes from HAV patients. We report here that HLA-restricted virus-specific
      T cells play an essential role in HAV-related hepatocellular injury.

PMID- 1450709
TI  - Interferon alpha 2-b therapy of HCV and nonBnonC chronic hepatitis.
AB  - Twenty-four patients with HCV and NonBNonC chronic hepatitis--4 with HIV
      coinfection--were treated with r-IFN alpha for at least six months. In this
      period 62.5% of patients show a normalization of ALT but not a sustained
      remission. Non-responders have histologically more severe and long-lasting
      chronic hepatitis.

PMID- 1450710
TI  - Long-term effects of recombinant leukocyte alpha interferon in the treatment of
      chronic delta hepatitis.
AB  - A pilot study is described, in which 25 chronic CDH patients were treated with 3
      MU recombinant alpha-interferon per week for 4 months. Improvement was transient
      and no long-term effects were noted. Side effects were well tolerated and
      reversible so that longer treatment and higher dosages should be possible.

PMID- 1450711
TI  - Liver transplantation and hepatitis viruses.
AB  - Considerations regarding liver transplantation in viral-hepatitis-related acute
      liver failure and end-stage chronic liver disease are discussed. Parameters of
      prognosis and indications for transplantation are presented. Differences
      according to the causative agent are noted, in particular regarding the danger of
      reinfection. The role of immunoprophylaxis is addressed as is the question of
      additional antiviral (interferon) treatment.

PMID- 1450712
TI  - Antibody to hepatitis C virus in acute, self-limited, type B hepatitis.
AB  - Sera from 104 patients with self-limited, acute type B hepatitis were tested for
      the presence of anti-HCV antibodies. The results show that especially drug users
      with acute type B (and occasionally coinfected with type D) hepatitis commonly
      are infected with HCV. Furthermore, HCV infection may have preceded infection
      with the other agents and may be responsible for high ALT levels.

PMID- 1450713
TI  - HCV infection in HBsAg positive chronic liver disease.
AB  - The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was determined for a group of 68 patients
      with various forms of chronic liver disease. All patients that were anti-HCV
      positive but did not show signs of HBV replication had severe liver disease. We
      therefore suggest that HCV may be responsible for liver damage in HBsAg positive
      subjects when there are no evident signs of HBV replication.

PMID- 1450714
TI  - HBV and HCV infection in i.v. drug addicts; coinfection with HIV.
AB  - A group of 122 drug addict patients were studied to evaluate the incidence of
      HIV, HBV, HCV infections and of laboratory findings of hepatic damage. Our data
      show that hepatic damage is more frequent in patients affected by HBV-HCV
      coinfection than those with HBV or HCV infection alone and that HIV positivity
      supports HBV-HCV coinfection.

PMID- 1450715
TI  - HCV and HIV infection among intravenous drug abusers in eastern Sicily.
AB  - In a study of 175 intravenous drug addicts from Eastern Sicily, 58.3% were found
      to be anti-HCV positive. In this population, the presence of anti-HCV was
      independent of HIV infection, age, duration of drug use and the practice of
      needle sharing. This may indicate that HCV is more readily transmitted (or spread
      earlier in this population) among drug addicts than is HIV.

PMID- 1450716
TI  - Anti-hepatitis C antibody prevalence among intravenous drug addicts in the
      Catanzaro area.
AB  - A higher seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibodies (63.4%) was found in 41
      intravenous drug addicts (IVDA) when compared to 220 controls (1.8%). Life style
      is an important risk factor for HCV transmission among IVDA.

PMID- 1450717
TI  - Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the Piacenza dialysis center.
AB  - In a group of 110 dialysis patients, 21% had anti-HCV antibodies. Statistical
      differences were noted according to method and duration of dialysis as well as
      the presence of further risk factors.

PMID- 1450718
TI  - Preliminary investigation on intrafamilial spread of hepatitis C virus (HCV).
AB  - To determine the risk of cohabitant HCV infection, we investigated the sera of
      101 family members of 53 anti-HCV antibody positive chronic liver disease
      patients. Altogether 14.8% of the cohabitants were also anti-HCV antibody
      positive, compared to a prevalence of 1.4% in the general population. These
      results suggest that hepatitis-C-virus may spread by person-to-person infection.

PMID- 1450719
TI  - Involved factors in the intrafamilial spread of hepatitis C virus.
AB  - To investigate the risk of non-parenteral HCV infection, sera from 302 relatives
      of 120 anti-HCV positive subjects were tested for the presence of anti-HCV
      antibodies. For the sake of comparison, sera from 17,000 blood donors were also
      assayed. The prevalence of HCV positivity was 4.3% in household contacts,
      compared to 0.78% in the donor population, indicating a significantly higher risk
      of infection for family members. Close personal contact may not be as critical a
      factor for infection as is duration of the disease.

PMID- 1450720
TI  - Divergent anti-HBc reactivities in HB-immune and chronic HBsAg carriers.
AB  - We have monitored titers of anti-HBc antibodies in sera from acutely HBV-infected
      and chronic HBsAg carriers. Our data show that there is a divergence in the
      specificity of the antibodies in these two populations. We also present
      preliminary results showing that serum from HB-immune carriers contain antibodies
      that are multispecific and display autoimmune characteristics, reacting with
      human serum albumin.

PMID- 1450721
TI  - Absence of free core antigen in anti-HBc negative viremic hepatitis B carriers.
AB  - Using enzyme immune assay and immune electron microscopy, we have examined the
      sera of immune-suppressed anti-HBc negative HBV-infected patients for the
      presence of HBcAg. Our results suggest that free HBV core particles are absent or
      present only in minute amounts in the blood of chronic carriers and that at the
      most, only minimal amounts of core antigen are found on the surface of the virus
      particles.

PMID- 1450722
TI  - Homing of T-lymphocytes in acute and chronic HBV positive inflammatory liver
      disease.

PMID- 1450723
TI  - Hepatitis B virus specific transcripts in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
AB  - We report on the analysis of HBV transcription in peripheral blood mononuclear
      cells of chronically infected patients by polymerase chain reaction
      amplification. Our results suggest that in these cells gene expression occurs
      either as pregenomic or subgenomic transcripts.

PMID- 1450724
TI  - Relapsing hepatitis A in Saimiri monkeys experimentally reinfected with a wild
      type hepatitis A virus (HAV).
AB  - Saimiri monkeys were inoculated three times with hepatitis A virus and observed
      in a follow-up study for sixteen months. The monkeys developed recurrent
      hepatitis involving liver damage and cycles of HAV antigen shedding in stools.
      The relapses were presumably due to immune response effects.

PMID- 1450725
TI  - Detection of transcriptionally active hepatitis B virus DNA in peripheral
      mononuclear blood cells after infection during immunosuppressive chemotherapy
      using the polymerase chain reaction.
AB  - Using PCR we have studied mononuclear peripheral blood leucocytes (PMBLs) from
      HBV-infected immunosuppressed patients in order to detect the presence of HBV
      genomes. Our results indicate that non-transient PMBL infection is common in
      immunotolerant carriers. In addition, the presence of pregenomic mRNA sequences
      suggests that virus replication may take place in PMBLs, possibly implicating the
      latter as a source of virus after replication has ceased in the liver.

PMID- 1450726
TI  - The hepatitis B virus X protein transactivation of c-fos and c-myc proto
      oncogenes is mediated by multiple transcription factors.
AB  - We have constructed two expression vectors in order to study the action of the
      HBV 17 Kd X protein on the c-fos and c-myc promoters. The results show that the
      promoters contain multiple elements that respond to X protein, suggesting
      involvement of multiple transcription factors. The exact mechanism of the
      interaction remains elusive, but our data allow speculation about the factors
      that may be influenced.

PMID- 1450727
TI  - Trans-activation by hepatitis B virus X protein is mediated via a tumour promoter
      pathway.
AB  - We have studied the c-myc gene as a possible target of HBV X protein in liver
      carcinogenesis. Our results indicate that trans-activation by X protein occurs
      via PKC/AP1 signal transduction, suggesting a possible two-step mechanism in HBV
      related liver carcinogenesis.

PMID- 1450728
TI  - Truncated pre-S/S proteins transactivate multiple target sequences.
AB  - In order to investigate the transactivational function of HBV truncated preS/S
      proteins we have constructed two sets of plasmids and have tested their
      transactivational potential on the c-myc regulatory sequences and the TPA
      responsive element. We found that preS/S proteins only become transactivationally
      active when truncated at the carboxy terminal end. Furthermore, using
      immunofluorescence microscopy we determined that the proteins are located
      exclusively in the cytoplasm, apparently ruling out DNA binding and activation of
      factors in the nucleus.

PMID- 1450729
TI  - Variants of hepatitis B virus.
AB  - Variations in the course of disease caused by hepatitis B virus may often be
      attributed to genomic variants of the virus. It must be kept in mind, however,
      that other factors, i.e. immunocompetence of the host and new methods of
      detection such as PCR, may also result in apparently aberrant phenotypic
      expression. Examples of both situations are presented here and the need is
      stressed for combined virological, biochemical and clinical studies.

PMID- 1450730
TI  - Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genomic variations in chronic hepatitis.
AB  - Using PCR we have examined the sequence of the pre-C/C region of HBV from sera of
      anti-HBe positive, chronically HBV-infected patients. The large majority of sera
      tested contained a mixture of heterogeneous pre-C sequences with 1-3 non-randomly
      located point mutations. Some of the resultant variant viruses are incapable of
      synthesizing immunogenic proteins and may be involved in viral persistence in
      chronic carrier states.

PMID- 1450731
TI  - Lack of pre-C region mutation in woodchuck hepatitis virus from seroconverted
      woodchucks.
AB  - Woodchuck hepatitis virus, which shares a large degree of homology with human
      HBV, was examined for indications of mutational variants. No alteration in the
      pre-C region was found, but as in HBV, viral DNA could still be detected by PCR
      after seroconversion to anti-WHe.

PMID- 1450732
TI  - Potyvirus serology, sequences and biology.
AB  - Amino acid sequences of the cytoplasmic cylindrical inclusion protein (CIP),
      large nuclear inclusion protein (NIb), and coat protein (CP) of potyviruses were
      re-examined in light of reported serological relationships, and correlated with
      known and deduced biological functions. No obvious correlations were observed
      between either amino acid sequences or epitopes recognized by monoclonal
      antibodies and the natural host ranges of the potyviruses examined. Whereas the
      identified sequence motifs of the RNA helicase (CIP) and replicase (NIb) are
      predicted to be antigenic, most of the conserved sequences and epitopes in the
      CIP, NIb and CP were presumed to be maintained for structural rather than
      functional reasons. Three possible potyvirus clusters are proposed on the basis
      of the length and composition of the virion surface-exposed amino terminal
      extension of the CP; these clusters do not correlate with overall CP sequence
      homology, host range, or vectors, but are of potential evolutionary significance
      and hence of possible taxonomic value.

PMID- 1450733
TI  - Coat protein phylogeny and systematics of potyviruses.
AB  - The feasibility of applying molecular phylogenetic methods of analysis to aligned
      coat-protein sequences and other molecular data derived from coat proteins or
      genomic sequences of members of the proposed taxonomic family of Potyviridae, is
      discussed. We show that comparative sequence analysis of whole coat-protein
      sequences may be used reliably to differentiate between sequences of closely
      related strains, and to show groupings of more distantly related viruses; that
      coat proteins of putative Potyviridae cluster according to the proposed generic
      divisions, and, even if some are only very distantly related, the members of the
      family form a cluster distinct from coat proteins of other filamentous and rod
      shaped viruses. Taxonomic revisions based on perceived evolutionary
      relationships, and the lack of feasibility of erecting higher taxa for these
      viruses, are discussed.

PMID- 1450734
TI  - Application of genome sequence information in potyvirus taxonomy: an overview.
AB  - The application of protein and nucleic acid sequence analysis in evolutionary and
      phylogenetic studies is well established. Available sequence information for the
      5' untranslated region of potyviruses including the fungus-transmitted barley
      yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV) RNA-1 suggests that a 12-nucleotide conserved
      sequence, the "potybox" is unique to this group. Various non-structural proteins
      of potyviruses share considerable "signature" sequence homology across a broad
      spectrum of unrelated viruses, which makes their value limited to "supergroup" or
      "superfamily" identity. However, in potyviruses, the coat-protein N-terminal
      sequences and 3' noncoding regions are variable among viruses, but similar among
      strains of the same virus. This suggests that these sequences may be an accurate
      marker of genetic relatedness. Until complete genome sequences from a large
      number of potyviruses become available and their value in systematics is tested,
      coat protein and 3' noncoding regions remain as the choice of taxonomic
      indicators. The reason being, that cloning and sequencing of the coat-protein
      gene and 3' noncoding regions are less complicated and time consuming and the
      sequences show significant differences among the virus species within the family
      Potyviridae.

PMID- 1450735
TI  - Importance of host ranges and other biological properties for the taxonomy of
      plant viruses.
AB  - With reference to the confusion regarding the value of biological properties for
      the taxonomy of plant viruses, following proposal is made. Distinction between
      viruses should be based on the nucleotide sequences of the genome, whereas that
      between strains should take also biological characteristics into account.

PMID- 1450736
TI  - Clustering Potyviridae species on the basis of four major traits.
AB  - Cluster analysis was used to examine taxonomic relationships among 31
      potyviruses, using four categorical variables; genome segmentation, vector,
      inclusion bodies produced and host range. Analysis showed that regardless of
      weight given to genome segmentation, the fungus-transmitted viruses clustered in
      one group and the rest of the viruses in another at 60% level of similarity. It
      has been concluded that the creation of one family to include both the
      bymoviruses and potyviruses seems to be a reasonable compromise at the present
      time.

PMID- 1450737
TI  - Specific infectivity and host resistance have predicated potyviral and pathotype
      nomenclature but relate less to taxonomy.
AB  - The names of potyviruses and viral-strains have represented the occurrence of
      predominant pathotypes on predominant crop genotypes. Thus virus nomenclature,
      but not viral taxonomy, has been decisively influenced by plant-genotype
      susceptibility and indirectly by host genetic resistance. REsistance to infection
      (i.e., host range) continues to serve a practical role in differentiating
      recognized viruses. Plant genes that confer disease tolerance or viral resistance
      remain a principal means of viral pathotype differentiation, as well as a
      principal control measure against major viral pathogens. Degrees of genetic
      diversity among isolates of recognized viruses should not be underestimated, and
      any system of viral taxonomy should be prepared for flexibility at the species
      level.

PMID- 1450739
TI  - Potential for using transgenic plants as a tool for virus taxonomy.

PMID- 1450738
TI  - Sources of resistance to viruses in the Potyviridae.
AB  - Resistance to 56 viruses in the family Potyviridae in 334 plant species was
      tabulated. Studies conducted in the last 60 years have elucidated the genetics
      and usefulness of 135 resistance genes, but no reports on the heritability of
      other sources of resistance are available. In most of the plant species,
      resistance to species of Potyviridae was simply inherited, either dominantly (60
      genes) or recessively (39 genes). In some cases resistance was conferred by two
      or more genes. Symbols have been assigned to 86 genes, of which very few are
      duplicate entities. Resistance genes can be useful in determining relationships
      among these viruses, as well as for their identification. The role of
      conventional breeding and biotechnology in transferring genes from one species to
      another is discussed.

PMID- 1450740
TI  - A potyvirus in nature: indistinct populations.
AB  - Potyviruses occur in nature as a variable population. A number of strains have
      been reported for many potyviruses. Two or more viruses have been separated from
      "one virus" isolate. Experimental isolation and/or transmission often results in
      atypical viral isolates. A virus may be considered as a fuzzy population. We
      should properly understand the range of variation in one virus. The range of
      variation as well as typical characteristics of a virus should be included in
      future descriptions.

PMID- 1450741
TI  - Potyvirus taxonomy: potyviruses that affect solanaceous crops.
AB  - Serology has been the main, or at least an important, tool for differentiating
      potyviruses that affect solanaceous crops. At present, analysis of the genome by
      hybridization techniques has supported the differentiation of viruses
      demonstrated by serology. Phylogenetic groupings, based on nucleic acid
      sequences, should be combined with serological detection to make the groupings
      more usable.

PMID- 1450742
TI  - Biological variants of tobacco etch virus that induce morphologically distinct
      nuclear inclusions.
AB  - The presence of distinctive nuclear inclusions has been used for many years as a
      diagnostic character for tobacco etch virus (TEV). Cytological examinations of
      isolates of TEV in both weeds and solanaceous crops from areas widely separated
      geographically have demonstrated the presence of a variety of nuclear inclusions
      that vary considerably in form. Such inclusions can, in many cases, be related to
      differences in symptom expression. It is suggested that distinctive nuclear
      inclusions may be used to select biological variants of TEV that may be useful in
      the study and manipulation of closely related "strains" of this potyvirus.

PMID- 1450743
TI  - Biological variability of potyviruses, an example: zucchini yellow mosaic virus.
AB  - Potyviruses present an important variability which may affect biological
      properties such as host range, symptomatology, virulence towards resistance
      genes, and transmissibility by vectors. A brief account of this potential is
      presented and illustrated by some aspects of the biological variability of
      zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV).

PMID- 1450744
TI  - Designation of potyvirus genera: a question of perspective and timing.
AB  - It may be premature to subdivide the Potyviridae into genera (Bymovirus,
      Potyvirus, Rymovirus) since definitive serological and vector interrelationships
      between them remain to be established. Monogenic proposals for classifying
      Potyviridae should also be viewed askance until their practical value in
      agricultural settings can be demonstrated.

PMID- 1450745
TI  - Fungal transmission of a potyvirus: uredospores of Puccinia sorghi transmit maize
      dwarf mosaic virus.
AB  - Maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) and maize rust, Puccinia sorghi Schw., occur as
      natural infections on cultivated maize in South Africa. P. sorghi often occurs as
      a secondary late infection on maize plants which have already been infected with
      MDMV earlier in the season, either seed or aphid transmitted. When MDMV isolates
      from maize plants naturally infected by both virus and fungus were propagated by
      sap inoculation in plant growth rooms, residual uredospores in the sap gave rise
      to the development of uredia under conditions of high humidity. When uredospores
      developing on MDMV-B-infected plants were germinated on virus free maize
      seedlings, these plants became infected with MDMV-B. Similarly, when uredospores,
      originating from maize plants infected with MDMV-A, were scattered onto virus
      free maize seedlings, these plants became infected with MDMV-A. The presence of
      virus on uredospores in infected plant tissue was visualized by indirect
      immunofluorescence. Identification of virus infection was by DAS-ELISA and
      immunoelectro-blotting utilizing strain-specific antisera. Virus transmission
      occurred between closely situated plants which had no actual contact (unaided
      transmission). MDMV-B transmission by uredospores, to new maize seedlings, has
      been maintained for three successive years (1988-1991) in a plant growth room.
      The MDMV-B isolate remained sap and non-persistently aphid transmissible.

PMID- 1450746
TI  - Inclusion bodies.
AB  - All viruses in the family Potyviridae which have been studied cytologically
      (currently 111) induce cylindrical inclusions in host cytoplasm. These inclusions
      are controlled by portions of the virus genome, therefore, viruses which induce
      them are related. Viruses in other groups do not induce this type of inclusion.
      Cylindrical inclusions have come to be recognized as one of the main
      characteristics of the family Potyviridae. They are used in diagnosis of diseases
      induced by these viruses. For diagnostic purposes the family can be separated
      into four subdivisions on the basis of differences in cylindrical inclusion
      morphologies. Assigning viruses to subdivisions assists in virus identification
      at the specific and in some instances at the strain level.

PMID- 1450747
TI  - The usefulness of aphid transmission as a taxonomic criterion for potyviruses.
AB  - In the past vector relationships have been one of the criteria used for
      delineating plant virus taxa. The proposed family, the Potyviridae, continues
      that practice. Aphid transmission of viruses within the genus Potyvirus is a
      useful characteristic in terms of identification, but is of only limited use in
      terms of taxonomy. This conclusion is based on a greater understanding of the
      molecular biology of potyviruses. The molecular basis of aphid transmission is
      not well understood at the present, but these data suggest that, beyond disease
      diagnosis, virus identification and characterization, and potential
      identification of genome microheterogeneity, aphid transmission should only be
      considered as a minor taxonomic criterion.

PMID- 1450748
TI  - Viruses of the Potyviridae with non-aphid vectors.
AB  - The large majority of members of the family Potyviridae are aphid-transmitted.
      However, 17 viruses whose vectors are unknown have been classified as members of
      the genus Potyvirus. Loss of aphid transmissibility has been observed in some
      strains of several potyviruses. There are currently 11 members of the Potyviridae
      whose vectors are not aphids. These viruses with non-aphid vectors exhibit most
      of the characteristics of the family. Viruses of the Potyviridae induce
      cytoplasmic cylindrical inclusions in their hosts whether their vectors are
      aphids, non-aphids, or are unknown. The virus genome produces the inclusion
      protein and thus the viruses have related inclusion body gene sequences. Non
      aphid-transmitted viruses of the Potyviridae also are serologically related to
      aphid-transmitted potyviruses.

PMID- 1450749
TI  - Potyviridae: genus Rymovirus.
AB  - The genus Rymovirus of the family Potyviridae is comprised of seven rod-shaped
      viruses with the shared characteristic of being transmitted by mites. Aside from
      this distinguishing feature, rymoviruses are similar to aphid-transmitted
      potyviruses in that they share a similar particle morphology, some similar
      antigenic determinants, similar physico-chemical properties, the ability to
      induce the formation of cytoplasmic cylindrical inclusions, and the ability to
      infect only graminaceous hosts. In vitro translation studies with wheat streak
      mosaic virus (WSMV) suggest that this rymovirus uses a potyviral proteolytic
      processing strategy to express the 3' terminal capsid protein. At the molecular
      level, limited nucleotide sequence data for WSMV show similarities with aphid
      transmitted potyviruses in the potyviral capsid protein, large nuclear inclusion
      and cylindrical inclusion regions. Thus, given the similarities between the
      rymoviruses and the potyviruses, it is appropriate to include this genus within
      the family Potyviridae.

PMID- 1450750
TI  - How important is genome division as a taxonomic criterion in plant virus
      classification?
AB  - The number of nucleic acid components that constitute a virus genome has been
      used as an important discriminatory character in defining groups of plant
      viruses. However, with some virus groups, in particular potyviruses, recent
      results of nucleotide sequencing have reinforced previously deduced tentative
      relationships among viruses with different numbers of genome parts. A convenient
      solution is to classify these different types into groups or genera within a
      family (e.g. Potyvirus and Bymovirus in the family Potyviridae).

PMID- 1450751
TI  - Sequence data as the major criterion for potyvirus classification.
AB  - Recent knowledge of the structure of the potyvirus particle and its components
      appears to have resolved what was thought to be an intractable problem of plant
      virology. This review describes how coat-protein and gene sequence data can be
      used to provide an hierarchical classification of potyviruses. This
      classification puts the aphid and non-aphid-transmitted potyviruses into a single
      family, divides this family into four genera that correspond to the four modes of
      vector transmission, discriminates distinct potyvirus species from strains, and
      provides a basis for the formation of subgroups composed of closely related
      species within a genus.

PMID- 1450752
TI  - The recombinative nature of potyviruses: implications for setting up true
      phylogenetic taxonomy.
AB  - Sequence comparisons reveal that positive-strand RNA viruses not only evolve by
      divergence from common ancestors but also by interviral recombination. A
      considerable number of these viruses, exemplified by the family Potyviridae, can
      in fact, be regarded as successful products of a number of recombination events.
      It is concluded that the recombinative character of RNA viruses will hamper any
      attempt to set up a true phylogenetic taxonomy. It is advisable, therefore, to
      avoid the introduction of any taxon higher-than-family in virus taxonomy.

PMID- 1450753
TI  - The general properties of potyviruses.
AB  - The criteria used during the past three decades for including viruses in the
      potyvirus group are briefly discussed and evaluated. The biological and physico
      chemical properties of the viruses transmitted by aphids, mites, whiteflies, or
      the fungus Polymyxa graminis are reviewed, and the taxonomic value of their
      molecular properties in regrouping the viruses into four groups or genera within
      the family Potyviridae is discussed.

PMID- 1450754
TI  - Nomenclature and relationships of some Brazilian leguminous potyviruses related
      to bean common mosaic and/or passionfruit woodiness viruses.
AB  - The main Brazilian literature of the last 10 years on potyviruses of leguminous
      plants related to bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) and/or to passionfruit
      woodiness virus (PWV) is discussed and summarized. The viruses dealt with are
      canavalia acronecrosis, mosaico de canavalia, cassia yellow spot, cowpea green
      vein-banding, cowpea rugose mosaic and cowpea severe mottle. The viruses have
      similar biological properties, such as a host range restricted mainly to the
      Leguminosae, aphid transmission, seed transmission in leguminous plants, and
      various degrees of serological relationships with BCMV and PWV.

PMID- 1450755
TI  - Potyviruses, chaos or order?
AB  - At first potyviruses were easily distinguished by biological and serological
      properties because only a few were known and information on their host ranges was
      limited. The first evidence of serological cross reaction between two of these
      viruses was reported in 1951 and was further corroborated for three obviously
      distinct members of the group in 1960. In 1968 attention was drawn to the fact
      that some legume and non-legume potyviruses have much wider host ranges than
      previously known and that within the potyvirus group there is as much biological
      variation within viruses and overlap between viruses as there is in serology. The
      concept of continuity within the group was soon supported by others and became
      known as the "continuum hypothesis." Results with highly sensitive serological
      methods using polyclonal antisera were conflicting, and nucleic acid
      hybridization techniques did not unambiguously discriminate between potyviruses.
      Recent results, obtained with antibodies directed toward epitopes located in the
      N-termini of the coat proteins of potyviruses, suggest that there are ways to
      more definitely group strains of one potyvirus and distinguish them from other
      potyviruses. However, there are exceptions to this rule, as in the case of bean
      yellow mosaic virus and clover yellow vein virus which are clearly distinct in
      host range, inclusion bodies, and migration velocity of coat protein, but which
      still react with antibodies to the N-terminal epitopes of one virus. So the
      question remains of whether coat-protein properties, especially the serological
      reactivity of N-termini, which do not alter overall virus integrity when lost,
      sufficiently represent the genome of a pathogenic virus entity as a single
      criterion for classification.

PMID- 1450756
TI  - Ecology and taxonomy of some European potyviruses.

PMID- 1450757
TI  - Relationships among iris severe mosaic virus (ISMV) isolates.
AB  - The ISMV isolates studied so far, have been found to be indistinguishable both by
      serological and hybridization assays. Therefore, the different symptoms induced
      by these isolates may be based on only minor molecular changes.

PMID- 1450758
TI  - A comparison of pepper mottle virus with potato virus Y and evidence for their
      distinction.
AB  - Pepper mottle virus (PepMOV) was identified as a distinct potyvirus infecting
      peppers in Arizona and Florida in the 1970's. The distinction of PepMoV from
      potato virus Y (PVY) has recently been challenged on the basis of sequence
      comparisons of the coat proteins and of the 3' nontranslated regions of the viral
      RNAs. We summarize the biological, cytological, serological, and in vitro
      translational studies which compare the apparent differences, and also
      similarities, between PepMoV and PVY. We conclude that although PepMoV may be
      more closely related to PVY than to other known potyvirus, PepMoV should be
      maintained as a separate virus on the basis of its distinctive characteristics.

PMID- 1450759
TI  - Is pepper mottle virus a strain of potato virus Y?
AB  - On the basis of serological properties and host plant reactions pepper mottle
      virus (PepMoV) has been classified as a potyvirus related to, but distinct from,
      other pepper-infecting potyviruses, potato virus Y (PVY) and tobacco etch virus
      (TEV). Recent amino acid and nucleotide sequence data show that PepMoV is more
      closely related to PVY than previously assumed. PepMoV shows a high degree of
      homology to various PVY strains in both the coat protein and the 3' non
      translated sequences, while unrelated potyviruses are generally less homologous
      in these regions. Detailed coat-protein amino acid sequence and 3' non-translated
      region (3' NTR) nucleotide sequence comparisons described in this paper confirm
      the close relationship between PepMoV and PVY and it is concluded that the
      isolate sequenced indeed represents a strain of PVY. Sequence data for several
      strains of PVY gave two groups with closer relationships among strains in a group
      than between groups.

PMID- 1450761
TI  - A viewpoint on the taxonomy of potyviruses infecting sugarcane, maize, and
      sorghum.
AB  - The value of taxonomy lies in its ability to communicate concepts and
      relationships. Our present concepts of the poaceous potyviruses, based on their
      biology, serology, and biochemistry, identify four viruses that can be
      distinguished by each characteristic. Identifying these as four distinct viruses
      has important implications for disciplines such as epidemiology, plant breeding,
      and diagnostics.

PMID- 1450760
TI  - Evidence that pepper mottle virus and potato virus Y are distinct viruses:
      analyses of the coat protein and 3' untranslated sequence of a California isolate
      of pepper mottle virus.
AB  - Pepper mottle virus (PepMoV) is a member of the large and complex genus
      Potyvirus, and is classically distinguished from other members of the genus by
      differential host range and cytopathology as well as serology of the coat protein
      and cytoplasmic inclusion body proteins. Here we report the deduced amino acid
      sequence of the coat protein of a California potyvirus identified by a variety of
      classical methods as PepMoV (PepMoV C). Comparison of the 3' untranslated nucleic
      acid sequence and the deduced coat-protein amino acid sequence of the PepMoV C
      isolate with those of PVY and other potyviruses indicates that PepMoV C is
      sufficiently diverged to be considered a distinct virus species. Thus,
      comparative sequence analyses of the PepMoV C isolate support earlier serological
      and biological evidence that PepMoV and PVY are distinct viruses.

PMID- 1450762
TI  - Differentiation of the four viruses of the sugarcane mosaic virus subgroup based
      on cytopathology.
AB  - A cytological comparison has been made of representative isolates of johnsongrass
      mosaic (JGMV), maize dwarf mosaic (MDMV), sorghum mosaic (SrMV) and sugarcane
      mosaic (SCMV) viruses. These four viruses now encompass the complex of virus
      strains which were formerly considered as strains of sugarcane mosaic and/or
      maize dwarf mosaic viruses. The structure of the cytoplasmic cylindrical
      inclusions induced by these viruses, together with other cytological alterations,
      allow the four viruses to be distinguished. Pinwheels, scrolls and laminated
      aggregates were produced only by SCMV whereas JGMV, MDMV, and SrMV produced only
      pinwheels and scrolls. SrMV produced amorphous cytoplasmic inclusions which are
      not produced by JGMV and MDMV. The latter two were rather similar in cytological
      effects except that the SCMV-JG (U.S.A.) isolate of MDMV produced aggregates of
      needle-like structures in the cytoplasm which were not found with JGMV and the
      other MDMV isolates. The specific cytological effects induced by these viruses
      thus corroborate the recent classification of these viruses based mainly on the
      properties of the coat-protein gene, the 3' noncoding nucleotide sequences, and
      host reactions.

PMID- 1450763
TI  - Present status of the sugarcane mosaic subgroup of potyviruses.
AB  - Until recently, sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) was believed to be a single
      potyvirus consisting of a large number of strains, differing from each other in
      certain biological and antigenic properties. The use of affinity-purified
      polyclonal antibodies directed towards the surface-located, virus-specific amino
      termini of the coat proteins showed that 17 strains from Australia and the United
      States represented four distinct potyviruses, namely johnsongrass mosaic virus
      (JGMV), maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV), sorghum mosaic virus (SrMV) and SCMV.
      Comparisons of strains from each of these four viruses on the basis of reactions
      on differential sorghum and oat cultivars, cell-free translation of RNAs,
      morphology and serology of cytoplasmic cylindrical inclusions, amino acid
      sequence and peptide profiling of coat proteins, 3' non-coding nucleotide
      sequences, and molecular hybridization with probes corresponding to the 3' non
      coding regions, resulted in exactly the same taxonomic assignments as obtained
      using amino-terminal serology. These results further confirm that the former
      sugarcane mosaic virus actually consists of four distinct viruses and show that
      MDMV, SrMV, and SCMV are more closely related to each other than they are to
      JGMV. Because these four viruses are closely related but distinct, formation of a
      sugarcane mosaic subgroup in the genus Potyvirus would be appropriate.

PMID- 1450764
TI  - Bean yellow mosaic virus subgroup; search for the group specific sequences in the
      3' terminal region of the genome.
AB  - In order to examine relationships among viruses of the bean yellow mosaic
      subgroup of the Potyvirus genus, several isolates of bean yellow mosaic virus
      (BYMV) and clover yellow vein virus (C1YVV) were compared by amino acid sequence
      of the coat protein and nucleotide sequence of the 3' terminal non-coding region.
      The sequence comparisons showed that BYMV and C1YVV were distinct viruses but had
      close affinity to each other (85-95% homology among isolates of a virus but 70
      77% homology between viruses), justifying establishment of the BYMV subgroup.
      There was an oligonucleotide consensus sequence present in the 3' terminal non
      coding region of all potyviruses examined. This consensus sequence divided the
      potyviruses into three groups whose significance is not clear.

PMID- 1450765
TI  - A proposal for a bean common mosaic subgroup of potyviruses.
AB  - In order to elucidate the taxonomic positions of bean common mosaic virus (BCMV)
      and blackeye cowpea mosaic virus (B1CMV), several strains of these viruses were
      compared on the basis of host ranges, antigenic properties established with
      antisera to virions and to N-terminal peptide domains of their coat proteins, and
      high performance liquid chromatographic peptide profiles. The comparison includes
      three strains of BCMV, viz. NL1, NL3 and NY15, four strains of B1CMV, viz. Fla,
      Ind, NR, and W, and the Moroccan isolate (Mor) of cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus
      (CABMV), formerly designated as B1CMV-Mor. Based on these parameters, Fla, NR,
      and W are strains of one virus, whereas NL3, Ind and CABMV-Mor (and possibly NL1
      and NY15) are separate viruses. In view of these characteristics which allow
      similar viruses to be separated, we propose that these viruses be included in a
      bean common mosaic subgroup of the genus Potyvirus.

PMID- 1450766
TI  - Serological and biological relationships among viruses in the bean common mosaic
      virus subgroup.
AB  - Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), blackeye cowpea mosaic virus (B1CMV), cowpea
      aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV), azuki bean mosaic virus (AzMV), and peanut
      stripe virus (PStV) are five species of the genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae
      which are seed-transmitted in beans or cowpeas. Eighteen isolates of BCMV, five
      isolates of B1CMV, four isolates of CABMV, and one isolate each of AzMV, and PStV
      were compared serologically using a panel of 13 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs)
      raised against BCMV, B1CMV, CABMV, or PStV in indirect enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Four MAbs detected all virus isolates; one detected
      all isolates except those of CABMV. Three MAbs were specific only for serotype A
      isolates of BCMV. Four MAbs detected all serotype B isolates of BCMV plus all
      isolates of B1CMV, AzMV, and PStV. None of the antibodies distinguished among
      these four viruses. However, in biological tests with 11 bean cultivars selected
      for differentiating BCMV pathotypes, all isolates of B1CMV, AzMV, and PStV could
      be differentiated from the BCMV serotype B isolates by their reactions on a few
      bean cultivars in host group I and the cowpea cultivar California Blackeye #5.
      Potential problems that can arise from the use of nonauthenticated isolates are
      also discussed.

PMID- 1450767
TI  - Strains of bean common mosaic virus consist of at least two distinct potyviruses.
AB  - Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) consists of a large number of pathotypes and
      strains which have largely been identified by their characteristic interactions
      with a selected number of differential bean cultivars. The relationships among
      these strains and other potyviruses that infect legumes are complex, with
      indications that BCMV, blackeye cowpea mosaic virus (BlCMV) and azuki bean mosaic
      virus (AzMV) may be strains of the one virus. Using high performance liquid
      chromatographic peptide profiles of coat-protein digests, the NL3 and NY15
      strains of BCMV were compared with each other, with the Type and W strains of
      BlCMV and with the mild mottle strain of peanut stripe virus (PStV). The results
      suggest that BCMV-NL3 and BCMV-NY15 are distinct potyviruses, not strains of the
      one virus, and that BCMV-NY15 is a strain of the same potyvirus that includes
      BlCMV, PStV, AzMV and three potyvirus isolates (74, PM, PN) from soybeans.

PMID- 1450768
TI  - A summary of potyvirus taxonomy and definitions.
AB  - The current taxonomic status of the family Potyviridae is presented with
      suggestions for resolving some taxonomic problems. Terms such as strain,
      pathotype, serotype, variant, mutant, and isolate are discussed in relation to
      the family.

PMID- 1450769
TI  - What is a virus?
AB  - The earlier reluctance of some plant virologists to use the term "virus species"
      has been overcome and the species has now been accepted as the basic unit in
      virus classification. A virus species is a polythetic class of viruses that
      constitutes a replicating lineage and occupies a particular ecological niche.
      Because of the polythetic nature of virus species, there is no single property,
      such as a particular level of genome homology, that could be used as the sole
      criterion for delineating individual virus species.

PMID- 1450770
TI  - Serology of potyviruses: current problems and some solutions.
AB  - The serological relationships among members of the family Potyviridae are
      extremely complex and inconsistent. Variable cross-reactivity of polyclonal
      antisera, unexpected paired relationships between distinct viruses, and lack of
      cross-reactions between some strains are the major problems associated with the
      serology of potyviruses. Recent biochemical and immunochemical investigations of
      coat proteins have established the molecular basis for potyvirus serology and
      provided explanations for most of the problems with serology of potyviruses.
      Information from these studies has also formed the basis for the development of
      several novel approaches to the accurate detection and identification of
      potyviruses. However, even these novel approaches are not without drawbacks and
      some of them cannot be applied easily in plant virus laboratories, since they
      require prior sequence information and facilities for peptide synthesis. These
      findings suggest that serology is an imperfect criterion for the identification
      and classification of potyviruses.

PMID- 1450771
TI  - Polyclonal reference antisera may be useful for the differentiation of potyvirus
      species.
AB  - Attention is directed to the usefulness of polyclonal antisera for the
      identification of potyviruses on the species level. A scheme for the preparation
      of such antisera is given.

PMID- 1450772
TI  - Proteolytic cleavage of the N-terminal region of potyvirus coat protein and its
      relation to host recovery and vector transmission.
AB  - The proteolytic cleavage of potyvirus coat N-terminal region is discussed with
      relation to host recovery and aphid transmission. The relationship of this coat
      protein region and the HC, may affect the host range and should be considered in
      this virus group classification.

PMID- 1450773
TI  - Some unusual serological reactions among potyviruses.
AB  - The determination of relationships among and the identification of potyviruses
      with polyclonal antibodies does not always lead to a proper conclusion. The
      potyvirus specific monoclonal PTY 1 does not detect all potyviruses tested.

PMID- 1450774
TI  - Serological relationships involving potyviral nonstructural proteins.
AB  - This report represents a compilation of many of the publications on antigenic
      properties of potyviral-specified nonstructural proteins. Polyclonal antisera
      have been prepared for use in characterization of six nonstructural proteins.
      These include antisera to the cylindrical inclusion proteins of at least 28
      potyviruses, to small nuclear inclusion protein (protease) of four potyviruses,
      to large nuclear inclusion protein (putative replicase) of three viruses, helper
      component-protease or amorphous inclusion protein of at least four viruses, to
      the P1 protein (located at the N-terminus of the polyprotein) of one virus, and
      to the P3 protein (located between helper component protease and cylindrical
      inclusion protein) of one virus. Monoclonal antibodies also have been prepared to
      several of these nonstructural proteins. The evidence thus far indicates that
      cylindrical inclusions of different potyviruses have both conserved and unique
      epitopes. Nuclear inclusion proteins and amorphous inclusion proteins also may
      have conserved and unique epitopes. Antigenic relationships of potyviral
      nonstructural proteins have potential for the identification and classification
      of potyviruses.

PMID- 1450775
TI  - The question of nursing scholarship.

PMID- 1450776
TI  - Emerging role for nurses in health communication.

PMID- 1450778
TI  - The real experts.

PMID- 1450777
TI  - Nursing education and professional autonomy.

PMID- 1450779
TI  - Legal implications of the Patient Self-Determination Act.
AB  - Passage of the Patient Self-Determination Act provides professional nurses with
      the opportunity to expand their existing roles of educator and advocate.
      Institutional policies and procedures implementing the Act should be flexible
      enough to permit registered nurses to answer questions about the right to refuse
      medical treatment and how to implement that right. Patients and their families
      have been asking nurses these questions since before the Quinlan case was decided
      in 1976.

PMID- 1450780
TI  - The Patient Self-Determination Act: the ethical dimensions.
AB  - Advanced, sophisticated technology, rising health care costs, and consumerism all
      combined to drive the development of the Patient Self-Determination Act. Ethical
      implications include, but are not limited, to the principles of autonomy and
      beneficence. Paternalism is also discussed as a compromise to autonomy. Caring is
      used to focus on the contextual perspective of both patients and nurses for
      ethical decision making. Implications for future ethical practice conclude the
      discussion.

PMID- 1450781
TI  - Carolyn Coolidge: caring for the Chinese elderly at On Lok.

PMID- 1450782
TI  - Family perspective on the necessity for advance medical directives.
AB  - Although our parents made no written advance medical directives before becoming
      terminally ill, with the support of the nursing staff we were able to assist them
      in their quest for a natural death with dignity. This article presents some of
      the dilemas faced by families in making end-of-life decisions. The author
      acknowledges the importance of permission for and support of the decision making
      by other health care providers, and reflects that advance directives would have
      facilitated the process.

PMID- 1450783
TI  - Advance care directives: counseling the patient and family in the primary care
      setting.
AB  - NPs are in an excellent position to provide primary care patients with the
      appropriate counseling for the development of required advanced care directives
      before the onset of serious illness and hospitalization. Discussion of how and
      whom to counsel assists the NP in undertaking this important responsibility
      encountered by primary care providers.

PMID- 1450784
TI  - Organ donation authorization: an advance medical directive.
AB  - Primary health care providers may increase the number of organ donations by
      providing an opportunity for authorization during a health care visit. Lack of
      authorization prevents many recipients from the benefits of life saving
      transplants.

PMID- 1450785
TI  - Health decisions: maintaining control of health care choices.
AB  - Advanced technology sometimes prolongs life without improving the quality of
      life. California's Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPAHC) provides
      individuals with a tool to maintain control over their future health care should
      they become unable to make health care decisions. California Health Decisions
      (CHD) developed a comprehensive workshop designed to inform people about the
      DPAHC and its options and has played a leadership role in educating health care
      professionals, the general public, seniors, and employee groups. CHD has set a
      goal of helping 1 million Californians complete a DPAHC by 1995. This article
      describes the issues involved in implementing the educational goals to achieve
      this objective.

PMID- 1450786
TI  - Who speaks for the children: consent for treatment of minors.

PMID- 1450787
TI  - Understanding current federal reimbursement: what's next?

PMID- 1450788
TI  - Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a review for the 1990s.

PMID- 1450789
TI  - Standard algorithm for oscillometric blood pressure measurement.

PMID- 1450790
TI  - Effective technology management in a cost-conscious environment.

PMID- 1450791
TI  - Utilizing a systems approach to categorize device-related failures and define
      user and operator errors.

PMID- 1450792
TI  - Microcontroller-based real-time QRS detection.
AB  - The authors describe the design of a system for real-time detection of QRS
      complexes in the electrocardiogram based on a single-chip microcontroller
      (Motorola 68HC811). A systematic analysis of the instrumentation requirements for
      QRS detection and of the various design techniques is also given. Detection
      algorithms using different nonlinear transforms for the enhancement of QRS
      complexes are evaluated by using the ECG database of the American Heart
      Association. The results show that the nonlinear transform involving
      multiplication of three adjacent, sign-consistent differences in the time domain
      gives a good performance and a quick response. When implemented with an
      appropriate sampling rate, this algorithm is also capable of rejecting pacemaker
      spikes. The eight-bit single-chip microcontroller provides sufficient throughput
      and shows a satisfactory performance. Implementation of multiple detection
      algorithms in the same system improves flexibility and reliability. The low chip
      count in the design also favors maintainability and cost-effectiveness.

PMID- 1450793
TI  - A computerized system to evaluate volumetric infusion pumps.
AB  - A computerized system was developed to examine the performance characteristics of
      infusion pumps. This system collects solution delivered by an infusion pump
      through an intravenous needle into a collection vessel. Using an inductor-type
      weight sensor and a semiconductor type of strain-gauge pressure sensor, the
      weight of the collection vessel and the pressure at the needle were monitored
      over a specific period (the sampling time), and changes in pressure, flow rate,
      and volume of fluid were calculated. This system was applied to five volumetric
      infusion pumps with different pumping mechanisms. Test conditions involved two
      different solutions, two sizes of needle gauge, and seven flow rates, for a total
      of 28 measurements per pump. Results showed considerable variation in the
      infusion pumps' performances based on differences in these indices. Use of an
      inductance weight sensor as a means to evaluate gravimetric performance appears
      to be an improvement over conventional methods, which use analytical balances for
      data generation. The results indicate that this system will be useful in
      evaluating the performances of commercially available infusion pumps as well as
      those in development.

PMID- 1450794
TI  - Quantitative measurement of ventilation at the mouth and nose with heat sensors.
AB  - Airflow at the nose and mouth is routinely measured during polysomnography for
      the evaluation of respiratory disturbances during sleep. The usual monitoring
      device is a small thermocouple placed in front of the nose and mouth that
      qualitatively detects airflows in or out. A more accurate pneumotachometer on a
      tight-fitting mask is less frequently used because of the discomfort that is
      introduced and its potential interference with sleep. The authors tested ten heat
      sensing devices modified to increase accuracy without increasing discomfort. The
      designs of these ventilation monitors differed in choices of specific heat
      detector, techniques of mounting on the face, and types of heat-trapping covers
      employed. The goal was to find a comfortable oronasal monitor and to define a
      procedure that could identify those units that generate signals approaching
      quantitative ventilatory flow. The signal from each device was compared with a
      "standard" signal derived from respiratory belts during contrived respiratory
      maneuvers that assessed specific potential sensing problems. The devices behaved
      differently, and design perturbations could be controlled to construct flow
      detectors to closely match actual flow. The more accurate devices could be as
      comfortable as commonly used monitors that do not have the enhanced accuracy. The
      principles and techniques described for improving the measurement of oronasal
      ventilation by heat sensor can be invoked to develop monitors that can closely
      measure actual quantitative ventilatory flow.

PMID- 1450795
TI  - The clinical terms project.

PMID- 1450796
TI  - Upper gastrointestinal complaints and complications in chronic rheumatic patients
      in comparison with other chronic diseases.
AB  - The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of upper gastrointestinal (GI)
      complaints and complications between chronic rheumatic patients who are most
      often non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) users and patients with
      other chronic conditions. In this comparison we took into account known risk
      factors for upper GI disease. To achieve the study aims we performed a combined
      cross-sectional and retrospective study. We therefore interviewed by means of a
      standard questionnaire, an index and a reference group, about current upper GI
      complaints and previous complications. The former group comprises 578 outpatients
      of the Department of Rheumatology, the latter of 531 outpatients of the
      Departments of Internal Medicine, Pulmonology, and Cardiology. Although the
      number of patients in the index group being chronically treated with NSAIDs was
      very high (62% versus 9% in the reference group: P < 0.00001), no between-group
      differences were found for the frequency of several current upper
      gastrointestinal complaints or for the number of upper gastrointestinal
      investigations ever performed (35% and 37%: NS) or for the use of gastric drugs
      (14% and 10%: NS). Risk factors for upper GI complaints were not related to NSAID
      use but with the use of prednisolone, history of duodenal ulcer disease, family
      history of peptic ulcer disease and female sex. For peptic ulcer disease,
      bleeding, and gastric surgery, the only difference between the index and
      reference groups concerned the frequency of gastric ulcers (6.7% and 2.8%: P <
      0.005), which was highest in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Upper GI
      bleeding had more often been present in male seropositive rheumatoid arthritis
      patients (13.2% [corrected] and 4.5%: P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450797
TI  - The gastroduodenal safety and efficacy of the fixed combination of diclofenac and
      misoprostol in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
AB  - A double-blind, randomized, parallel group study was conducted to compare the
      gastroduodenal safety and antiarthritic efficacy of a fixed combination of
      diclofenac 50 mg and misoprostol 200 micrograms with that of a combination of
      diclofenac 50 mg and placebo in patients with osteoarthritis. Three hundred and
      sixty-one patients with no significant gastroduodenal lesions were enrolled and
      received study medication two or three times daily for 4 weeks. Post-treatment
      endoscopic examination of the gastroduodenal mucosa revealed ulcers in 4% of
      patients in the diclofenac/placebo group compared with none in the
      diclofenac/misoprostol group (P = 0.015). There were no clinically or
      statistically significant differences between the two treatment groups in formal
      assessments of osteoarthritis after either 2 or 4 weeks. It was concluded that
      diclofenac/misoprostol was associated with significantly less gastroduodenal
      damage than diclofenac, whilst being as effective as diclofenac alone in the
      treatment of osteoarthritis.

PMID- 1450798
TI  - Urinary collagen crosslinks reflect the radiographic severity of knee
      osteoarthritis.
AB  - The collagen crosslinks deoxypyridinoline and pyridinoline are indices of mature
      collagen breakdown and reflect increased bone turnover. Urinary levels were found
      to be significantly raised in a group of 59 women with knee OA compared to 110
      female controls from the general population. Levels of the crosslinks correlated
      significantly with X-ray grade of all subjects including women from the general
      population with mild, often asymptomatic, disease. These correlations were not
      diminished after adjustment for age and weight.

PMID- 1450799
TI  - Sibship size does not increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - Although the cause of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unknown, one hypothesis is
      that an infectious episode may trigger the disease and this may occur in
      childhood. Observational studies performed at least 25 years ago have suggested
      that the incidence of RA is increased in individuals from large families. We
      therefore tested this hypothesis using data from a case-control study of 218
      females with RA aged 35-70 (mean 58.9 years) and 210 similar aged osteoarthritis
      (OA) females. Information was obtained by postal questionnaire on sibship size,
      position in family and sex ratio of siblings. No significant differences were
      found between the cases and controls for any of these variables. This study did
      not support the hypothesis that early childhood infection as a consequence of
      overcrowding is an important factor in the development of RA.

PMID- 1450800
TI  - Clinical differentiation of oral ulceration in Behcet's disease.
AB  - Behcet oral ulceration (BOU) is described as being indistinguishable from
      conventional recurrent oral ulceration (ROU). A clinical comparison between 38
      Behcet patients and 38 control ROU cases was effected by completion of a standard
      questionnaire. Behcet patients reported an increased number of concurrent ulcers
      and involvement of the soft palate and oropharynx. No differences were detected
      with respect to duration, frequency, age of onset or family history. In addition,
      photographs of BOU in 15 patients revealed the concurrence of atypical aphthous
      and herpetiform varieties. Number, site and appearance of oral ulceration may
      therefore provide diagnostic features for the development of Behcet's disease.

PMID- 1450801
TI  - Seronegative arthritis.

PMID- 1450802
TI  - Lupus comes of age.

PMID- 1450803
TI  - Injection therapy of superficial rheumatoid nodules.
AB  - Although intralesional corticosteroid injection of subcutaneous rheumatoid
      nodules was mentioned in 1968, this simple procedure is not commonly practised. A
      placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of intralesional corticosteroid injection
      using 24 rheumatoid nodules from 11 patients was carried out to determine the
      efficacy and safety of the procedure. Nodules injected with methylprednisolone
      and lignocaine regressed significantly more than nodules injected with placebo
      (lignocaine alone). This was consistently shown in all modalities of assessments
      which included patients' assessments (P < 0.001) and investigator's assessments
      (P < 0.001) of the percentage change in nodule size, and gross measurements of
      nodule volumes using a pincer (P < 0.001). Nine of 12 active injections produced
      > or = 50% loss in nodular volume with complete disappearance of two nodules.
      This compares with only one out of 12 placebo injections which resulted in > or =
      50% loss in nodular volume. The patients found all 12 active injections to be
      worthwhile compared to only two of 12 placebo injections being worthwhile. The
      only complication of injection therapy observed was that of pain during the
      procedure.

PMID- 1450804
TI  - Papular mucinosis (scleromyxoedema) complicating diffuse systemic sclerosis:
      clinical features and electron microscope observations.
AB  - Papular mucinosis (scleromyxoedema) is an uncommon disorder characterized by
      generalized papular eruption and cutaneous induration, which may be associated
      with a variety of extracutaneous manifestations. Although scleroderma and papular
      mucinosis share many features, they are clinically and histologically distinct
      entities. We report here a patient with diffuse scleroderma who developed
      superimposed papular mucinosis. Degranulating mast cells were a prominent
      ultrastructural finding in the involved skin. The occurrence of scleroderma and
      papular mucinosis, two uncommon cutaneous indurative diseases, in the same
      patient has not been described previously.

PMID- 1450805
TI  - The evolution of a case of overlap syndrome with systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid
      arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
AB  - An unusual case of overlap syndrome which evolved over a 12-year period is
      described. The patient initially presented with limited cutaneous systemic
      sclerosis. She then developed seropositive erosive rheumatoid arthritis and
      subsequently vasculitis with positive lupus serology. There was no evidence that
      she had mixed or undifferentiated connective tissue disease, and antibody to
      ribonuclearprotein was negative. This unusual combination of connective tissue
      disorders in one patient is reported and the literature is reviewed.

PMID- 1450806
TI  - Central neurological manifestations of primary Sjogren's syndrome.

PMID- 1450807
TI  - Renal vein thrombosis in Chinese systemic lupus erythematosus with high titre
      anticardiolipin antibody.

PMID- 1450808
TI  - 'Snake oil'.

PMID- 1450809
TI  - Extracorporeal photochemotherapy.

PMID- 1450810
TI  - Chloroquine-induced vitiligo in a patient with juvenile onset rheumatoid
      arthritis.

PMID- 1450811
TI  - Juvenile arthritis and coeliac disease.

PMID- 1450812
TI  - Gouty arthropathy and synovial uric acid.

PMID- 1450813
TI  - Efficiency of a lead-containing tie for radiation protection of the thyroid
      gland.
AB  - During fluoroscopy the examiner is usually protected by a radiation-reducing body
      shield, leaving the thyroid unprotected. The fact that the thyroid is located in
      a region of the neck usually covered by the shirt collar led to the idea of
      designing a tie with lead core, providing easy and "decorative" reduction of the
      radiation dose. Sonographic examinations were carried out in 20 volunteers (10
      men, 10 women) to determine the size of the gland and its coverage by such a tie.
      The reduction of the surface and organ dose was assessed using film dosimetry
      with scattered radiation, the body of the examiner being simulated by an Alderson
      phantom. On average 88% of the thyroid gland surface area was covered. Surface
      dose was reduced to 1%, and organ dose to 10% of the value without the protection
      tie.

PMID- 1450814
TI  - Measuring radiation exposure during percutaneous drainages: can shoulder
      dosemeters be used to estimate finger doses?
AB  - Some previous studies have shown remarkably high finger doses to radiologists
      performing percutaneous drainage under fluoroscopy. To assess the possible need
      for extra finger dosemeters in addition to the general dosemeter, radiologists'
      and assistants' radiation exposure at both shoulders and at the third fingers of
      both hands were recorded using thermoluminescent dosemeters during 27
      interventional drainage procedures. Under couch screening was used. Mean dose
      rates were calculated by dividing the doses by the screening time. The dose rates
      for the sites measured were correlated with each other. The radiologists'
      bilateral finger dose rates did not correlate with each other; nor did dose rates
      between the left shoulder and the right hand. The radiologists' dose rates at
      both shoulders, however, correlated with each other, as did the shoulder dose
      rates with the dose rates at the ispilateral hand. The right shoulder dose rates
      correlated with the left hand dose rates. The assistants' dose rates at the
      places of measurement all showed significant correlations with each other. It is
      therefore concluded that radiologists involved in percutaneous drainages should
      use finger dosemeters on both hands; for assistants this may not be necessary.

PMID- 1450815
TI  - Effect of diatrizoate on the function of the isolated perfused rat kidney.
AB  - The mechanism of the nephrotoxicity of water-soluble contrast media (WSCM)
      remains ill defined. We have studied the effect of diatrizoate on the isolated
      perfused rat kidney (IPRK). Emphasis was on the effect of low- and high-dose
      diatrizoate on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal perfusate flow (RPF),
      fractional excretion of albumin (FE Alb) and fractional reabsorption of sodium
      (FR Na). The addition of diatrizoate to the IPRK led to a dose-dependent biphasic
      change in RPF and GFR characterized by an initial transient increase followed by
      a marked and sustained decrease. Diatrizoate induced a diuresis and a parallel
      increase in urinary sodium excretion (fall of FR Na). Fe Alb was also increased
      in kidneys exposed to diatrizoate. Electron microscopy of a control kidney showed
      preservation of cellular architecture, which contrasted with the observed
      cytoplasmic vacuolation of proximal tubular cells after perfusion with
      diatrizoate. This study confirms a direct effect of WSCM on the function of the
      IPRK. In this experimental model, diatrizoate reproduces the effects observed in
      vivo on GFR and renal perfusion.

PMID- 1450816
TI  - Stage IB cervical carcinoma: a clinical audit.
AB  - All patients with FIGO Stage IB cervical cancer registered with the Department of
      Clinical Oncology at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, during the 6 years
      from 1979 to 1984 have been reviewed, as part of a continuing programme of
      clinical audit. Of the 140 patients with Stage IB disease, 68 (49%) were treated
      by primary surgery of whom 44 (31%) also received adjuvant radiotherapy. Radical
      radiotherapy was the definitive treatment for 69 patients (49%). Three patients
      (2%) were not treated with curative intent. The crude 5-year survival rate for
      all cases was 72% and the cause-specific 5-year survival rate was 78%. Local
      tumour control at 5 years was 72%. There was no significant difference in outcome
      between the surgically treated and irradiated groups of patients. Age, histology
      and nodal status did not influence outcome. Irradiated patients with bulky
      tumours fared significantly worse than the other patients who received radical
      radiotherapy. Multivariate analysis of all patients revealed no significant
      independent prognostic variables. Primary surgery appears to confer no benefit
      over radical radiotherapy in terms of either survival or local control. Treatment
      related late bladder and bowel morbidity was, however, significantly worse in
      irradiated patients.

PMID- 1450817
TI  - Calcium antagonists protect mice against lethal doses of ionizing radiation.
AB  - Currently available radioprotectors are poorly tolerated in man and the general
      use of aminothiol radioprotectors is compromised by their side-effects. In a
      search for less toxic radioprotective agents, diltiazem, a calcium antagonist
      with a benzothiazepine structure, was found to protect mice against a lethal
      (LD100) gamma radiation dose allowing survival of up to 93%. Dihydropyridine
      calcium antagonists such as nifedipine, nimodipine, isradipine and nitrendipine
      also provided radioprotection. Calcium antagonists might attenuate radiation
      induced injury by inhibiting cellular calcium overload, subsequent to cell
      membrane damage caused by radiation-generated free radicals. In view of their
      good tolerance, calcium antagonists may be applied safely in situations of
      radiation exposure, including radiotherapy and internal radionuclide
      contamination. These calcium antagonists may also be viewed in other contexts
      where free radicals are implicated in pathological processes.

PMID- 1450818
TI  - Phantoms for evaluating the performance characteristics of bone densitometers.

PMID- 1450819
TI  - Segmental reversal of intrahepatic portal flow due to a liver metastasis.

PMID- 1450820
TI  - Intrarenal varices mimicking hydronephrosis.

PMID- 1450821
TI  - Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder associated with Crohn's disease: case
      report and review of the literature.

PMID- 1450822
TI  - The swiss cheese brain.

PMID- 1450823
TI  - Demonstration by computed tomography of a case of internal small bowel
      herniation.

PMID- 1450824
TI  - Caecal herniation through the foramen of Winslow: diagnosis by computed
      tomography.

PMID- 1450825
TI  - Dense bones.

PMID- 1450826
TI  - Correlations between alpha/beta and T1/2: implications for clinical biological
      modelling.

PMID- 1450827
TI  - The role of 99Tcm-HMPAO white cell imaging in suspected orthopaedic infection.

PMID- 1450828
TI  - Coil embolization using a saline flush technique.

PMID- 1450829
TI  - Fluid levels in a spinal aneurysmal bone cyst following biopsy.

PMID- 1450830
TI  - Direct coronal computed tomography of the temporomandibular joint in patients
      with rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - Direct coronal computed tomography (CT) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) was
      performed in 26 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 26 control subjects.
      Erosions and cysts of the mandibular condyle had a significantly higher frequency
      in the RA group than in the control group (p < 0.05) but there was no significant
      difference in the incidence of other abnormalities. Bone changes were bilateral
      in RA. A wide range of CT abnormalities was present in patients with RA and in
      the control group. There are no CT abnormalities specific for RA, but the
      incidence of erosions and cysts of the mandibular condyle was significantly
      higher in the RA group and should suggest the diagnosis.

PMID- 1450831
TI  - Vasoconstriction by angiographic contrast media in isolated canine arteries.
AB  - To study the mechanism of the pain produced by contrast media (CM) in peripheral
      arteriography, we examined the direct effects of low concentrations (1.85-100 mg
      I/ml) of CM (diatrizoate, iopamidol, ioxaglate, and iotrolan) on helically cut
      strips of canine blood vessels taken from six different regions. We found that:
      (a) low concentrations of CM induced vasoconstriction. (b) This occurred
      immediately after the application of CM and produced sustained constriction. (c)
      The constriction produced in arteries was dose-dependent. (d) The production and
      intensity of constriction in the arterial strips differed as follows: cranial
      mesenteric artery > renal artery > femoral artery > common carotid artery >
      thoracic aorta > coronary artery. The effects of the CM were, in order of
      magnitude: diatrizoate > iopamidol > ioxaglate > iotrolan. Differences between CM
      corresponded with the differences in osmolality of the CM solutions. (e) Low
      concentrations of meglumine and mannitol also produced vasoconstriction. (f)
      Constriction caused by all drug samples used was reversible, but the process of
      relaxation to the original tension was much slower in CM-treated arterial strips
      than in the other strips. From these results, we confirmed that the incidence and
      degree of vasoconstriction produced by all drug samples used in this experiment
      depended on solution osmolality, rather than on chemotoxicity or ionicity. We
      discuss the physiological mechanism of these results and stress the importance of
      CM hyperosmolality in vasoconstriction and vascular pain production.

PMID- 1450832
TI  - Percutaneous drainage of splenic abscesses: an effective and safe procedure.
AB  - Percutaneous drainage of splenic abscesses has not yet become a common procedure
      due to the potential risk of bleeding and the danger of damage to neighbouring
      organs. We present our experience of percutaneous drainage in eight patients with
      splenic abscesses. Four patients were treated by therapeutic percutaneous needle
      aspiration of the fluid collection, and four by percutaneous trocar catheter
      insertion. All procedures were guided by ultrasound or computed tomography. The
      procedure was successful in all eight patients with no complications.

PMID- 1450833
TI  - One-view versus two-view mammography in baseline screening for breast cancer: a
      review.
AB  - Two-view mammography is generally preferred as an initial screening examination
      because the number of missed carcinomas and false positive results in one-view
      mammography is considered too large. The present review was performed to assess
      the difference in screening quality between one- and two-view mammography.
      Nineteen previous studies were reviewed and differences in sensitivity as well as
      specificity between two-view and one-view mammography were calculated. The
      results ranged from -5.7% to 19.4% (median 3.9%), and 2.7% to 36.1% (median
      14.8%), respectively, and indicate a higher screening quality of two-view
      mammography. However, in the studies considered there is a large variation in
      study population, screening tests used and assessment of disease outcome, which
      makes the numerical results less conclusive. None of the studies provided
      adequate information for deciding whether two-view mammography in baseline
      screening for breast cancer is preferable to one-view mammography. If a screening
      programme using one-view mammography has already achieved high sensitivity and
      specificity, the value of an additional craniocaudal view is only marginal.

PMID- 1450834
TI  - Sonography in thyroid carcinoma in children.
AB  - This paper reviews the clinical, sonographic and pathological findings of 20
      children with thyroid carcinoma in an attempt to determine the value and
      limitations of sonography in thyroid neoplasms in this age group. Although
      sonography is an excellent technique for the evaluation of thyroid disorders and
      masses, certain limitations must be kept in mind. Microscopic foci of tumour
      might be missed and sonography cannot predictably differentiate benign from
      malignant disease. Previous radiation exposure should increase the level of
      suspicion for malignancy.

PMID- 1450835
TI  - Enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes in the fibrosing alveolitis of systemic
      sclerosis.
AB  - The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of enlarged mediastinal
      lymph nodes in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and relate this to the extent of
      pulmonary disease and disease activity as judged by high resolution computed
      tomography (HRCT). The HRCT scans of 78 patients with SSc were reviewed. The
      extent of lung disease and HRCT pattern were analysed and CT scans examined on
      soft tissue window settings for evidence of mediastinal lymph node enlargement.
      Sixty six (85%) patients had evidence of lung involvement on CT. Enlarged
      mediastinal lymph nodes were present in 21 (32%) patients with lung involvement
      but in only 1 (8%) patient without. The prevalence of enlarged mediastinal nodes
      increased with more extensive lung involvement on CT (p < 0.025), but correlated
      poorly with the type of CT appearance and concurrent erythrocyte sedimentation
      rate. Mediastinal lymph node enlargement occurs frequently in patients with SSc,
      particularly if lung involvement is extensive.

PMID- 1450836
TI  - Prediction of birthweight by fetal ultrasound biometry.
AB  - A total of 104 women with singleton pregnancies who were delivered between 37 and
      42 weeks gestation had ultrasound scans during the fortnight before delivery. The
      biparietal diameter (BPD), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL)
      were measured in all cases. Estimation of fetal weight (EFW) was done by four
      different methods: using AC alone, AC/BPD, AC/FL and AC/BPD/FL. Results were
      compared with values of actual birthweights at delivery. There was no significant
      difference between the mean birthweights of the 47 boy and 57 girl fetuses
      studied. The EFW(Shepard) method showed the least bias overall: mean percentage
      error 1.7%, standard deviation (SD) 10.6%. The other three methods significantly
      underestimated birthweights on average: EFW(Deter), mean error 2.2%, SD 9.3%, p <
      0.02; EFW(Campbell), mean error 5.4%, SD 9.5%, p < 0.001; EFW(Hadlock), mean
      error 5.6%, SD 9.3%, p < 0.001. The percentage error in each group was
      significantly negatively correlated (p < 0.001) with the scan-delivery interval.
      Two new equations were generated which gave more accurate predictions for the
      cases under study using AC, BPD and FL as a combination and also in addition to
      scan-delivery interval (SDI) in days.

PMID- 1450837
TI  - The effect of thin K-edge filters on radiation dose in dental radiography.
AB  - The use of thin K-edge filters has been found to reduce considerably the
      radiation dose in intra-oral radiography. The aim of this study was to
      investigate the effect of filtration on the skin entrance dose and several sites
      (representing organs or areas of interest within the head) along the central beam
      axis, at other points within the primary beam and at two points just outside the
      primary beam. The subject was a sliced head phantom (a human skull embedded in
      tissue-equivalent material) which was exposed to X rays from a conventional
      dental X-ray unit in the range of tube voltage 55-85 kVp for each of four filter
      systems. These were 2.7 mm of aluminium alone (the existing total filtration) or
      with an added 0.1 mm erbium, 0.1 mm yttrium or 0.05 mm niobium metal foils.
      Measurements of radiation dose were made using thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLD
      rods) and were adjusted to simulate the exposure resulting from a typical dental
      radiograph of a maxillary molar. The results suggest that the use of thin K-edge
      filters significantly reduces the entrance skin dose and to a certain extent
      reduces the total dose imparted to the head. However, the dose to the ipsilateral
      orbit at higher tube voltages may be increased.

PMID- 1450838
TI  - The distribution of medical X-ray doses amongst individuals in the British
      population.
AB  - This study has estimated the distribution of diagnostic X-ray doses amongst
      individuals in the British population by sampling the records kept by general
      practitioners (GPs) on their patients and the records held by the radiology
      department of a district general hospital. Deceased patients were chosen in the
      former case in order to evaluate the dose acquired over a complete lifetime. In
      each case, several hundred records were sampled. The GP data obtained have
      enabled an estimate to be made of the likelihood of reaching various dose levels
      in a lifetime. It is estimated that about 1% of the population has received a
      lifetime effective dose-equivalent of more than 100 mSv. The largest cumulative
      dose revealed by the samples of GP and radiology department records was about 200
      mSv. The GP data have also shown that the last year of life sees a four-fold
      increase in the number of X-ray examinations experienced compared with the
      previous 9 years. The hospital data have allowed an estimate to be made of
      current rates of dose acquisition amongst the population of a District Health
      Authority.

PMID- 1450839
TI  - The use of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for medullary sponge kidneys.
AB  - A number of patients with medullary sponge kidney recurrently form and pass
      stones with the risk of developing an obstructive nephropathy. These patients may
      benefit from extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy to the medullary collections,
      as this appears to reduce the frequency of symptomatic stone passage.

PMID- 1450840
TI  - In vitro inhibition of struvite crystal growth by acetohydroxamic acid.
AB  - Struvite (MgNH4PO46H2O) crystals were produced by Proteus mirabilis growth in
      artificial urine, in the presence and absence of the urease inhibitor,
      acetohydroxamic acid (AHA). In the absence of AHA, struvite crystals assumed an
      "X-shaped" or dendritic crystal habit due to rapid growth along their 100 axis.
      When AHA was present, crystal growth, as monitored by phase contrast light
      microscopy, was greatly slowed, and the crystals assumed an octahedral crystal
      habit. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that crystals grown in the presence
      of AHA were pitted on their surface. This pitting was absent in control samples.
      While most of this inhibition by AHA was due to lowered urease activity, some
      crystal growth inhibition occurred in struvite produced in the absence of urease
      activity through NH4OH titration of artificial urine. We conclude that while AHA
      is primarily a urease inhibitor, it may also disrupt struvite growth and
      formation directly through interference with the molecular growth processes on
      crystal surfaces.

PMID- 1450841
TI  - Pyonephrosis: diagnosis and treatment.
AB  - A series of 23 confirmed cases of pyonephrosis initially treated by percutaneous
      nephrostomy drainage were reviewed. Presentation was extremely variable, ranging
      from sepsis to asymptomatic bacteriuria. Fever, flank pain and leukocytosis were
      often absent. Ultrasonography was diagnostic in only 3 of 12 patients. In all, 17
      patients had associated nephrolithiasis, and 5 patients ultimately required
      nephrectomy. Renal urine cultures were positive in 16 of 21 instances, with
      multiple organisms found in 8 of 21, and added bacteriological data not provided
      by bladder urine cultures in 11 cases. A pre-existing history of urinary tract
      infection, hypertension and malignancy was common. Percutaneous drainage was a
      safe, quick and effective diagnostic and therapeutic method.

PMID- 1450842
TI  - Does DNA flow cytometry give useful prognostic information in renal parenchymal
      adenocarcinoma?
AB  - DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction (SPF) were measured by flow cytometry on 381
      paraffin blocks from 93 unselected primary renal parenchymal adenocarcinomas
      (RPA). The results were compared with tumour grade and T category and patient
      survival, with a mean follow-up of 87 months. Only 21% of the tumours were
      uniformly diploid and ploidy was heterogeneous in 49% of cases. DNA ploidy and
      SPF were significantly associated with grade, but not T category of disease. Both
      flow cytometric parameters were significantly related to survival in a univariate
      analysis. However, when tumour grade was taken into account, both DNA ploidy and
      SPF lost their prognostic significance. Thus, neither of these parameters gave
      prognostic information additional to that provided by tumour grade in unselected
      cases of primary RPA.

PMID- 1450843
TI  - Increase in presumptive sensory nerves of the urinary bladder in idiopathic
      detrusor instability.
AB  - The density of subepithelial, presumptive sensory nerves in the bladder wall was
      assessed in 21 women with idiopathic detrusor instability and compared with the
      density of these nerves in 21 asymptomatic women, using a point-counting
      technique on sections of bladder biopsies stained for acetylcholinesterase
      activity. The mean value (+/- S.E.) for the amount of such nerves in patients
      with detrusor instability (91 +/- 13/mm2) was significantly greater than that
      from the control group (61 +/- 7/mm2). This suggests that a relative abundance of
      subepithelial sensory nerves may serve to increase the appreciation of bladder
      filling, giving rise to the frequency and urgency of micturition which are
      characteristic of patients with detrusor instability.

PMID- 1450844
TI  - Loss of sensory neuropeptides in the obstructed human bladder.
AB  - This is the first investigation of alterations in the innervation of the
      obstructed human bladder by nerves containing neuropeptides. The patient groups
      studied were those with stable detrusor function, those with unstable detrusor
      function, and those presenting with acute retention of urine. Specimens of
      bladder tissue were taken from the lateral wall of the bladder below the
      peritoneal reflection. A total of 23 patients was studied (control, n = 4; acute
      retention, n = 5; stable obstruction, n = 5; unstable obstruction, n = 9).
      Substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide and vasoactive intestinal
      polypeptide levels in the bladder were quantified by immunoassay. The density of
      innervation of the bladder detrusor by nerves containing these neurotransmitters
      and by those containing neuropeptide Y and somatostatin was assessed using both
      semiquantitative and quantitative immunohistochemical techniques. A reduction in
      the density of innervation by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, calcitonin gene
      related peptide, substance P and somatostatin-immunoreactive but not neuropeptide
      Y-immunoreactive nerve fibres was shown in the obstructed bladder. These
      findings, combined with the significant reduction in substance P content of the
      obstructed bladder and in particular of the acute retention bladder, indicate
      that there may be an afferent nerve dysfunction resulting from prostatic bladder
      outflow obstruction.

PMID- 1450845
TI  - Is there still a place for prolonged bladder distension?
AB  - Over a 2-year period, 31 patients underwent prolonged hydrostatic bladder
      distension for benign and malignant bladder disease in this unit. Of these, 29
      patients had benign functional disorders or bladder contracture, and in 2
      patients hydrodistension was performed for complications of treatment for bladder
      neoplasia. Of the 29 patients with benign disease, 6 observed marked improvement
      and 8 some improvement in their symptoms, and 12 received no benefit. Patients
      with detrusor hypersensitivity fared better than those with detrusor instability
      or interstitial cystitis. A patient with malignant bladder disease died soon
      after the procedure as a result of a myocardial infarction. Problems attributed
      to the hydrostatic balloon catheter were responsible for 2 failures. The regional
      anaesthetic technique failed to provide adequate anaesthesia for hydrodistension
      in 9 procedures and limited the duration to 2 h in 13 others. Following recall of
      the perished balloon catheters by the manufacturer, and the introduction of
      continuous spinal anaesthesia, the number of technical failures has been reduced.
      This technique still has an important role to play in the relief of severe
      symptoms unresponsive to medical treatment, but it is important that ideal
      conditions are provided for hydrodistension in order to ensure maximum success,
      particularly when the alternative is major surgery.

PMID- 1450846
TI  - Botulinum toxin in the treatment of chronic urinary retention in women.
AB  - Six women were identified as having difficulty in voiding or complete urinary
      retention due to abnormal myotonic-like electromyographic (EMG) activity in the
      striated muscle of the urethral sphincter. An attempt was made to improve voiding
      by injection of botulinum toxin into the striated sphincter muscle. Although 3
      patients then developed transient stress incontinence, demonstrating that
      sufficient botulinum toxin had been given to cause sphincter weakness, no patient
      had significant symptomatic benefit.

PMID- 1450847
TI  - The open access Continence Resource Centre for Greater Glasgow Health Board.
AB  - The development of an open access Continence Resource Centre is described. The
      role of the Centre in helping the sufferers and carers is highlighted. The
      educational role exceeded expectations. The benefits of the centre in education,
      research and potential cost saving are discussed. The aims and achievements are
      in accord with the Department of Health document "An Agenda for Action on
      Continence". From its opening in August 1989 to the end of February 1992 the
      centre has served 8070 incontinent individuals and 4736 carers. At a cost of
      44,000 pounds per annum this represents good value for money.

PMID- 1450848
TI  - Preliminary results of concurrent cisplatin and radiation therapy in locally
      advanced bladder cancer.
AB  - Between March 1981 and March 1990, 15 patients with locally advanced transitional
      cell carcinoma of the bladder were treated concurrently with cisplatin and
      radiotherapy. Treatment comprised a radiation dose of 40-50 Gy in 20-25 fractions
      over 4-5 weeks and intravenous infusion of cisplatin with hydration during days 1
      5 and 22-26. The total scheduled dose of cisplatin was 200 mg. A complete
      response (CR) was seen in 3 patients (2 T2 tumours and 1 T3) and the other 12
      were regarded as partial responders. Two of the 12 partial responders (1 T2
      tumour and 1 T4) underwent cystectomy after treatment, but 9 patients (2 T2, 6 T3
      and 1 T4) underwent only transurethral resection. The remaining patient (with a
      T4 tumour) died from systemic disease, further treatment not being possible
      because of unrelated heart failure. In 3 CR patients and 9 with a partial
      response (PR), bladder function was preserved and they have survived for a mean
      of 18.3 months (range 5-47) after therapy. Although 4 patients in this group had
      recurrent bladder tumours and 1 died from cancer in another part of the body, 7
      have survived with normal bladder function and no recurrence. It is concluded
      that concurrent cisplatin and radiation therapy is a safe and viable regimen and
      may be considered as a means of preserving the bladder in patients with locally
      advanced transitional cell carcinoma.

PMID- 1450849
TI  - Cold sensation and bladder instability in patients with outflow obstruction due
      to benign prostatic hyperplasia.
AB  - A series of 73 patients with bladder outflow obstruction caused by benign
      prostatic hyperplasia underwent urodynamic investigation, including the cold
      water test. The presence of detrusor instability was associated with a higher
      urethral opening pressure, maximum detrusor pressure and detrusor pressure at
      maximum flow. Instability was more common and more pronounced in patients with a
      lack of cold sensation, but there were some patients who, whilst lacking cold
      sensation, still possessed the cold reflex. This suggests partial denervation of
      the bladder or some form of altered modulation of sensory activity within the
      spinal cord or central nervous system. On the other hand, some of the patients
      lacked cold sensation but showed a stable detrusor and a high maximum cystometric
      capacity. This leads to the conclusion that there are different mechanisms by
      which the bladder reacts to outflow obstruction.

PMID- 1450850
TI  - Is indoramin an effective alternative to prostatectomy?
AB  - Alpha-1-adrenergic antagonists are recommended for symptomatic treatment of
      patients awaiting prostatic surgery. Their efficacy has been confirmed in placebo
      controlled clinical trials, but to date no comparison of their effects with the
      results of subsequent prostatectomy has been made. Fifty-five patients awaiting
      prostatectomy were assessed (by symptom scores and peak urinary flow rates) prior
      to treatment, on indoramin 20 mg bd, and 2 months following prostatectomy. Side
      effects while taking indoramin were experienced by 36% of patients. Despite an
      overall improvement in mean symptom scores, 26% of patients with obstructive and
      30% of those with irritative symptoms who were assessed while taking indoramin
      failed to experience any improvement. Of the 31 patients assessed while on
      indoramin and again following surgery, prostatectomy produced a greater
      symptomatic relief than indoramin. The increase in peak flow rate following
      prostatectomy was 11.7 ml/s compared with 3.2 ml/s on indoramin. However, 5
      patients preferred to continue taking indoramin rather than proceeding to
      surgery. Indoramin is no substitute for prostatectomy. Although some patients
      might benefit from treatment while awaiting surgery, significant side effects may
      severely restrict its use for this purpose. The response to indoramin cannot be
      used as an accurate predictor of response to prostatectomy.

PMID- 1450851
TI  - Outcome and prognostic factors in patients with advanced prostate cancer and
      obstructive uropathy.
AB  - In a series of 51 patients with prostate cancer and obstructive uropathy,
      unilateral or bilateral obstruction was identified in 22 (43%) and 29 (57%)
      respectively. This included a non-functioning kidney in 12 patients. In 86% of
      patients the T category was advanced. Bone metastases were present in 36 cases
      (71%); 19 patients (37%) had chronic retention. All patients with metastatic
      disease underwent hormonal manipulation and 43 underwent transurethral resection
      of the prostate. External beam radiotherapy, percutaneous nephrostomy and
      ureteric reimplantation were performed in 4, 5 and 1 patient respectively.
      Actuarial survival of all 51 patients was 57 and 25% at 2 and 5 years.
      Presentation with bilateral or non-function did not predict a worse prognosis in
      comparison with patients with unilateral hydroureteronephrosis. Raised alkaline
      phosphatase and prostatic acid phosphatase were of no prognostic value, while
      creatinine reached marginal significance. A positive bone scan and raised urea
      were strongly predictive of a poor outlook. It was concluded that prostate cancer
      and obstructive uropathy should not uniformly imply a terminal event, and
      interventional therapy is justified with a 25% 5-year survival rate.

PMID- 1450852
TI  - Testicular denervation. A new surgical procedure for intractable testicular pain.
AB  - Chronic testicular pain has many different aetiologies. Identification and
      treatment of an underlying problem resolve the issue in most cases. However, a
      proportion of patients with chronic testicular pain have no demonstrable
      aetiological factor and pose a difficult treatment problem. All of these patients
      are initially treated by non-surgical measures. Various operations advocated in
      the literature for non-responders include epididymectomy, scrotal orchiectomy and
      inguinal orchiectomy, all of which have a significant failure rate. We describe a
      hitherto unreported operative procedure in a series of 4 patients, with immediate
      and lasting relief of their pain.

PMID- 1450853
TI  - Testicular prostheses: the patient's perception.
AB  - There is a paucity of data to determine if the insertion of a testicular
      prosthesis is effective in overcoming the psychological effects of an absent
      testis. A review of 25 patients who had had testicular prostheses showed a high
      overall level of satisfaction in the 19 patients who were traced. This
      satisfaction was subject to some qualification.

PMID- 1450854
TI  - In vitro investigations into the formation and dissolution of infection-induced
      catheter encrustations.
AB  - Encrustations are the most frequent complications occurring with indwelling
      catheters and urine drainage systems. The conditions for bacterial infections,
      using synthetic urine and controlled contamination by Proteus vulgaris, were
      standardised by using an in vitro model. Crystal deposits on catheters were
      analysed by infra-red spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The main
      components of deposits in all investigations were struvite (MgNH4PO4.6H2O) 60-70%
      and carbonate apatite (Ca10(PO4,CO3)6 (OH,CO3)2) 30-40%. Investigations as to the
      quality and quantity of encrustations confirmed the analysis. Irrigation
      treatment was carried out with physiological saline solution and citric acid
      solution (Suby G) to study and quantify the dissolution of crystal deposits.
      Regular irrigation with citric solution resulted in a 70% dissolution of
      encrustations and ensured free flow as ascertained by measuring flow rates.

PMID- 1450855
TI  - Familial hollow visceral myopathy with varying urological manifestations.
AB  - A family with hereditary hollow visceral myopathy is described, with
      characteristic variation in expression between affected members. Very severe and
      widespread involvement of the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts in 1 patient
      contrasted with isolated urinary tract involvement in 2 others, and it is
      suggested that hollow visceral myopathy should be considered in the differential
      diagnosis of primary detrusor failure. The management of urinary tract
      involvement is discussed and a conservative approach is recommended.

PMID- 1450856
TI  - Endoscopic reappraisal of the morphology of congenital obstruction of the
      posterior urethra.
AB  - Congenital obstruction of the posterior urethra was first systematically
      classified by Young in 1919. Since then, no-one has seriously challenged the
      presence of both Type I and Type III "valves", although the presence of Type II
      lesions has often been disputed. A review of Young's papers and more recent
      anatomical studies, together with endoscopic findings in our own patients,
      indicates that most congenital posterior urethral obstructions are anatomically
      similar. Consequently, Young's classification now seems redundant.

PMID- 1450857
TI  - Paraplegia following spinal anaesthesia in a patient with prostatic metastases.

PMID- 1450858
TI  - Carcinoma in situ following tuberculous cystitis: an immunotherapeutic dilemma?

PMID- 1450859
TI  - Articular complications of intravesical BCG treatment for bladder carcinoma.

PMID- 1450860
TI  - Renal milk of calcium--a new contraindication to extracorporeal shock wave
      lithotripsy?

PMID- 1450861
TI  - Systemic candidiasis caused by a renal transplant ureteric stent.

PMID- 1450862
TI  - Profound haemorrhage causing acute obstruction in medullary sponge kidney.

PMID- 1450863
TI  - Urethro-vaso-cutaneous fistula: an unusual complication following bladder neck
      incision.

PMID- 1450864
TI  - Severe allergic reaction to an intraurethral preparation containing
      chlorhexidine.

PMID- 1450865
TI  - Upper quadrant end ureterostomy as urinary diversion for a solitary kidney in a
      case of extensive urothelial tumours.

PMID- 1450866
TI  - Endoscopic removal of non-deflating Foley balloon catheter.

PMID- 1450867
TI  - Simple technique for everting a spout ileostomy.

PMID- 1450868
TI  - Percutaneous dilatation of difficult nephrostomy tracts.

PMID- 1450869
TI  - Pre-vesical ureteric calculi: modified prone position for extracorporeal shock
      wave lithotripsy using the Siemens Lithostar.

PMID- 1450870
TI  - Epidemiology of the menopause.
AB  - Profound changes in birth and mortality rates in this century are resulting in
      the ageing of the population of Britain and other developed countries. The
      enormous decline in maternal mortality, in particular, has meant that increasing
      proportions of women are surviving to the menopause and years of active life
      beyond it. Women aged 55 years and over now comprise 15% of the population of
      Britain. The average life expectancy for women in developed countries is around
      75 years; approximately 90% of women reach the age of 65 years, and 30% reach 80
      years. If the average age of menopause is 50 years, most women will spend
      approximately one third of their lifetime in postmenopausal life; one in every
      two women will experience about 30 years of postmenopausal life.

PMID- 1450871
TI  - Endocrinological aspects of the menopause.
AB  - On average women live for about 30 years after the menopause. About 60-70% of
      consultations at the general practitioner and hospital specialist levels are for
      people over the age of 60, the majority of who are females. Therefore it is
      crucial to examine the effect of oestrogen prior to the menopause and how it
      interacts with other systems at cellular level. It is also important to examine
      why cells multiply and differentiate more efficiently in an oestrogenic milieu.
      This will give a better understanding of the degenerative processes of the
      menopause and will have profound implications on the design of effective hormone
      replacement therapy protocols.

PMID- 1450872
TI  - Hormone replacement therapy and cardiovascular disease.
AB  - Oestrogen alone probably confers a degree of protection against ischaemic heart
      disease and stroke and is appropriate for women requiring hormone replacement
      therapy (HRT) who have undergone hysterectomy. However, the cardiovascular
      effects of the progestogens used with oestrogen in the much larger number of
      women who have not undergone hysterectomy are unknown. Some widely used
      progestogens have adverse effects on lipoprotein levels and may raise blood
      pressure. The antithrombin III level may be involved in determining the response
      to oestrogen in different settings. The indications for HRT and the effects of
      different formulations on cardiovascular disease constitute one of the most
      pressing but complex issues in present-day medical practice. These questions can
      only be satisfactorily answered by the randomised controlled trials that should
      have been initiated several years ago and the feasibility of which is only now
      being investigated.

PMID- 1450873
TI  - HRT and osteoporosis.
AB  - Osteoporosis is characterised by low bone mass, leading to an increased risk of
      fragility fracture, particularly in the femoral neck, vertebrae and radius. These
      fractures constitute a major public health problem in the Western world; the
      estimated annual cost to the health services of hip fracture alone is over 500
      million pounds in the United Kingdom. Using population-based data from the USA,
      Cummings et al. have estimated that the lifetime risks of hip, vertebral and
      Colles' fractures in a 50 year old, white, postmenopausal woman are 16%, 32% and
      15% respectively. Of these, vertebral fractures probably cause the most
      significant morbidity, since they occur at a younger age than hip fractures and
      may result in pain, deformity and disability for many years until death
      intervenes from other causes. Hip fractures occur most commonly in the eight and
      ninth decades of life and have a mortality at six months of around 15%, increased
      dependency occurring in the majority of survivors. Colles' fractures, although
      not usually associated with long-term morbidity, nevertheless cause considerable
      inconvenience and require hospital treatment.

PMID- 1450874
TI  - Hormone replacement and cancer.
AB  - The increasing extended use of noncontraceptive oestrogen by postmenopausal
      women, intended to prevent other conditions, may at the same time increase their
      risk of reproductive cancer. The risk of endometrial cancer triples after only a
      few years of unopposed oestrogen, persists for many years after oestrogen has
      been discontinued, and appears to be preventable by the addition of a progestin.
      The effect of replacement hormones on the risk of breast or ovarian cancer is
      unknown. Most studies suggest a small but significant increased risk of breast
      cancer after long-term use. Awareness of the known and uncertain cancer risks
      should be included in decisions to use replacement hormones.

PMID- 1450875
TI  - Hormone replacement therapy and other menopause associated conditions.
AB  - In Britain a large majority of the women who use Hormone Replacement Therapy
      (HRT) use it in order to alleviate symptoms thought to relate to the menopause.
      These include vasomotor instability, 'minor' psychological disturbance and sexual
      difficulties. Other HRT effects gained by the women include effects on
      maintenance of collagen, as in the skin, and on oestrogen sensitive tissues
      related to the lower urinary tract.

PMID- 1450876
TI  - HRT: an analysis of benefits, risks and costs.
AB  - A cost-effectiveness analysis of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was undertaken
      to assess the relative benefits of different treatment strategies, and to
      identify which factors most influence cost-effectiveness. The current lack of
      conclusive evidence on the effects of HRT, especially in relation to combined
      therapy and cardiovascular disease, necessitated the use of a large number of
      assumptions in our model. In terms of net health benefits, the potential
      reduction in cardiovascular disease would have greatest impact, and would
      overshadow any small increase in breast cancer risk possibly associated with long
      term use. Net expenditure by the NHS will depend critically on the direct costs
      of treatment, rather than on any indirect costs incurred or averted as a result
      of side-effects. In terms of cost-effectiveness, long-term prophylactic treatment
      of hysterectomised women and treatment of symptomatic women with a uterus compare
      favourably with other accepted health care interventions.

PMID- 1450877
TI  - HRT: developments in therapy.
AB  - Various forms of oestrogen have been available for use as Hormone Replacement
      Therapy (HRT) for approximately 50 years. However, there has been little change
      in the mode of administration until the last 10-15 years. Although the oral route
      has remained the mainstay of therapy, non-oral routes of administration have been
      developed. During the 1970s it became clear that use of unopposed oestrogens in
      women with an intact uterus resulted in an increase in risk of endometrial
      carcinoma and thus the current practice of adding a sequential progestogen each
      month, to prevent endometrial hyperplasia, was introduced. However, certain
      progestogens can cause side-effects and some of the metabolic changes which they
      induce are potentially undesirable. Thus the search continues for new oral
      progestogens which are more 'metabolically friendly' than those in current use.
      Additionally, non-oral delivery systems for progestogens have been studied, such
      as the transdermal route (patches) and local administration within the uterine
      cavity (progestogen-containing intra-uterine devices). Both these strategies may
      minimise their symptomatic, psychological and metabolic effects. Continuous
      (every day) administration of progestogens in combination with the oestrogen, or
      the use of new compounds (e.g. tibolone) may overcome the problem of regular
      withdrawal bleeding which some women find unacceptable. However, it remains to be
      determined whether such therapies are as efficacious as conventional
      oestrogen/sequential progesterone regimens.

PMID- 1450878
TI  - Management of the menopause.
AB  - The management of the peri- or postmenopausal patient, whether symptomatic or
      asymptomatic, involves a careful assessment of the problems and expectations of
      each patient and the matching of appropriate treatment to their needs. The
      effects of the menopause and its treatment on the patient's immediate and long
      term health must be taken into account. This may involve consideration of aspects
      of medical topics as diverse as gynaecological endocrinology, bone metabolism,
      oncology and cardiology. Although the benefits of oestrogen therapy are well
      established the response to therapy must be carefully monitored. Vigilance in the
      monitoring and seeking out of adverse effects both in individuals and populations
      must continue to ensure that any problems with this form of therapy are detected
      at the earliest possible stage.

PMID- 1450879
TI  - Future prospects for hormone replacement therapy.
AB  - To avoid the complication of osteoporosis, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is
      now standard therapy in women with premature ovarian failure. The indications for
      HRT after the age of 50 are more controversial. There are strong indications from
      case-control studies that in N. America and Europe HRT protects against
      osteoporotic fracture, myocardial infarction and stroke; yet the evidence from
      case control studies is insufficiently precise to quantitate accurately the
      potential benefits that would accrue from its more widespread use. Clear
      guidelines also need to be established on the potential usefulness of selective
      prescribing of HRT using one or more screening procedures. The only effective way
      of achieving this and of quantitating the potential benefits of HRT with
      sufficient accuracy is by means of one or more randomized controlled trials.
      Future research will also address concerns such as the possible increase in the
      risk of breast cancer after 10 or more years of therapy. Critical to the more
      widespread acceptance of HRT may be the development of safe regimes which do not
      promote uterine bleeding as well as minimizing other unwanted side-effects.

PMID- 1450880
TI  - Hormone replacement therapy. Comments from the editor.

PMID- 1450881
TI  - Sport and the overtraining syndrome: immunological aspects.
AB  - Acute exercise of varying severity and corresponding levels of long term
      competition and training have been found to affect various components of the
      immune system including lymphocyte subsets, immunoglobulin levels, the
      mononuclear phagocytic system, polymorphonuclear leukocytes and cytokines,
      especially IL-1, IL-2, IL-6 and TNF. A tentative trend may be discerned whereby
      light to moderate exercise may increase immune responsiveness but high-level
      competition sport, especially if it involves extensive endurance training, may
      lead to a degree of immunosuppression. Such immune malfunction may be a component
      of the overtraining syndrome, in which recurrent infections during periods of
      maximum training or competition stress may form part of the syndrome. Evidence is
      presented that such overworked muscle may fail to supply adequate glutamine for
      normal lymphocyte function. Principles of an overtraining treatment strategy are
      suggested.

PMID- 1450882
TI  - Sudden cardiac death in athletes.
AB  - Sudden death in athletes is a rare but tragic occurrence. Congenital
      cardiovascular abnormalities, usually asymptomatic and often undiagnosed during
      life, are the main causes in young athletes. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and
      congenital coronary anomalies are the most commonly occurring disorders.
      Idiopathic concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (non-physiological),
      arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and Marfan's syndrome with aortic
      rupture have also been implicated. Rarer causes include mitral valve prolapse and
      myocarditis. Coronary atherosclerosis is the major cause in older, and
      occasionally in younger athletes. Those involved in the medical care of athletes
      should be aware of the potential causes of sudden death in these groups.
      Symptomatic athletes should be fully investigated. Screening programmes are
      probably not justified on a cost effective basis.

PMID- 1450883
TI  - Exercise, amenorrhoea and the skeleton.
AB  - One of the accepted benefits of regular exercise is the development of increased
      bone mineral density (BMD) and hence a skeleton more capable of withstanding the
      rigours of physical activity throughout life. However an apparent paradox is seen
      in the observed decrease in lumbar BMD in female athletes who experience
      menstrual disturbance and athletic amenorrhoea (AA). Despite high levels of
      activity these athletes suffer the consequences of hormonal deficiency and are at
      risk of not achieving peak BMD and experiencing further bone loss. It is
      increasingly evident however that exercise itself continues to exert a protective
      effect of maintaining BMD at skeletal sites under physical stress. The observed
      increase then of stress fractures at these sites in amenorrhoeic athletes remains
      unexplained.

PMID- 1450884
TI  - The growing child in sport.
AB  - An increasing number of children undergo intensive training routines and high
      level competition from an early age. Although physical training may foster health
      benefits, many are injured as a result of it. Carefully controlled studies on the
      effects of training routines from childhood are however lacking. This paper
      reviews some of the effects of training in young athletes, focusing on physical,
      cardiovascular and muscular effects, and sports injuries. Psychological effects
      of intensive sports participation are briefly considered. Measures should be
      taken to modify the present structure of competitive sport to avoid the possible
      deleterious effects of intensive physical activity on children.

PMID- 1450885
TI  - Aerobic exercise, anaerobic exercise and the lactate threshold.
AB  - All exercise draws first on intramuscular stores of ATP and creatine phosphate;
      initially these are replenished by anaerobic glycolysis. The lactic acid produced
      contributes to the rapid development of fatigue in high intensity exercise.
      Aerobic metabolism (at first mainly of glycogen, later increasingly of fat) is
      the principal route of ATP resynthesis in activities lasting longer than 2 min,
      but can only maintain work-rates about 1/4 of those possible in very brief
      bursts. Blood lactate rises at the higher aerobic work rates. 'Lactate threshold'
      (LT: approximately 2 mmol/l) is almost exactly the speed at which endurance races
      are won, and close to those apparently providing optimal aerobic training. This
      training, predominantly of muscle aerobic capacity, elevates LT more than maximum
      oxygen consumption. LT is not now thought to indicate oxygen-deprivation, but
      intracellular adjustments driving oxidative phosphorylation faster. Ventilatory
      breakpoints, formerly considered to indicate LT, correlate more closely with the
      accumulation of potassium than lactate.

PMID- 1450886
TI  - Strength of skeletal muscle and the effects of training.
AB  - The performance of any sporting activity involves a combination of skill and
      strength and it is very difficult to disentangle their separate contributions.
      The strength of an individual muscle depends on a number of factors. The major
      factor is the cross-sectional area of the muscle but others include the extent to
      which the muscle can be activated by voluntary effort, the overall length of the
      muscle and the position in which it is used, the fibre type composition and the
      velocity at which the movement takes place. Over a period of 2 to 3 months the
      major benefit of training is to improve the skill with which the training
      exercise is carried out. The effect is very specific so that there is
      considerable doubt as to whether weight training does anything other than train
      the athlete to lift weights. Increases in muscle size and strength in a healthy
      athlete occur relatively slowly and apart from the fact that high forces are
      required, little is known about the factors which stimulate growth. Accumulation
      of metabolites and damage to the muscle fibres are possible stimuli for growth
      but the prescription of optimal training regimes remains a matter of personal
      choice between the athlete and trainer rather than athlete and physiologist.

PMID- 1450888
TI  - Psychological stress, performance, and injury in sport.
AB  - This paper reviews the empirical literature on psychological stress in sport, and
      the effects that such stress may have upon performance, vulnerability to injury,
      and rehabilitation from injury. It also examines the strategies that sports
      performers could use to overcome these effects. The major sources of stress that
      have been reported by sports performers include fear of failure, concerns about
      social evaluation by others (particularly the coach), lack of readiness to
      perform, and loss of internal control over one's environment. Various models and
      theories of the effects of such stress upon performance and vulnerability to
      injury are reviewed, including multidimensional anxiety theory and a catastrophe
      model of anxiety and performance. The cognitive and physiological processes which
      are thought to underly these effects are also reviewed, together with the
      intervention strategies that are implied by these processes. Research on the
      psychological stress that appears to be experienced by performers when they are
      injured is very limited. However, that which is available suggests that many of
      the same psychological skills that are thought to enhance performance can also be
      used to reduce the risk of injury, and promote a speedy recovery from injury.
      These include goal-setting, imagery, self-talk, and relaxation skills.

PMID- 1450887
TI  - Food and drink in sport.
AB  - The nutrition and fluid requirements of a sportsperson should be tailored not
      only to the sport, with endurance being the most important variable, but also to
      the individual competitor and the physical environment at the time of the event.
      This applies especially to fluid intake. There is agreement that the proportion
      of carbohydrate in the diet should be high and that of fat low. The evidence for
      increased metabolic demands for vitamins and minerals (except possibly calcium
      and iron) in exercise is equivocal. Fluid is still the priority constituent that
      needs monitoring.

PMID- 1450889
TI  - Exercise in prevention of disease.
AB  - Measures to increase individual participation in adequate amounts of physical
      exercise have a key place among the strategies to improve health and prevent
      disease. The scientific justification is based on a variety of evidence drawn
      from numerous epidemiological, clinical and physiological studies and is accepted
      as sound. The prevalence of physical disability is high. Disability attributable
      to age or chronic disease is helped by exercise. Inactivity compounds the effects
      of disability--an effect which deserves recognition because it is reversible and
      not inevitable. The association between a high level of habitual physical
      activity and a reduction in the individual risk for coronary vessel disease (CVD)
      is real and appears to be causal. Regular vigorous aerobic exercise is certainly
      effective in maintenance of health. Weight-bearing exercise has been shown to
      prevent osteoporosis at any age. The links between many of the functional
      adaptations which occur with exercise and improvements in health have been
      demonstrated. The exercise programmes which are effective have been defined.

PMID- 1450890
TI  - Focal points in orthopaedics.
AB  - Orthopaedic surgeons have long had an association with sport, although it is
      arguable whether Galen who was the first sports medicine doctor, appointed to the
      Pergamum Gladiators in 157 AD was a surgeon by todays definition. This surgical
      role is now out of proportion to the more global aspects of sports medicine as
      reflected in the rest of this publication, but accurately related to the
      consequences of injury to the elite performer, where a minor injury may have a
      major consequence. As the title makes clear this chapter is a series of cameos
      some describing aspects of the management of common injuries and others
      indicating new developments.

PMID- 1450891
TI  - Exercise, injury and chronic inflammatory lesions.
AB  - The increasing frequency of injury over the last two decades reflects the
      activities of a more exercise conscious public. However, all too often injury may
      be due to ill-advised or inappropriate exercise and can be prevented by
      relatively simple modification of technique, equipment or gait abnormalities.
      Nevertheless, many injuries may simply reflect overtraining and the effects of
      repetitive strain on soft tissue and bony structures. This has led to an urgent
      need to understand better the mechanisms of injury, the importance of chronic
      inflammation and the factors involved in recovery of soft tissue strength. In the
      case of injuries to tendons or ligaments it is often difficult to define the
      contribution to symptomatology of collagen breakdown or chronic inflammation as a
      response to this. Furthermore, radiological changes at tendon and ligament
      attachments (entheses) through overuse can be indistinguishable from chronic
      inflammatory conditions such as spondarthritis, adding weight to the view that
      the body has a limited number of ways in which it can react to a variety of
      chronic stimuli. Marathon runners or footballers, for example, may develop
      symphysitis through chronic loading and radiologically there may be apparent
      erosive changes. Rheumatologists, dealing primarily with the chronic inflammatory
      arthritides, are beginning to understand better the factors involved in chronic
      inflammation and the effects of exercise. The Sports Physician must equally be
      aware of some of the pitfalls of misdiagnosis because of the masquerading of some
      primary inflammatory conditions as soft tissue injury or 'traumatic' joint
      effusion. This article will therefore review advances in current understanding of
      the influence of exercise on chronic inflammation and on recovery of tissue
      strength in sporting injuries. Improving understanding should lead to more
      defined rehabilitation programmes and a reduction in the all too common reinjury
      cycle.

PMID- 1450892
TI  - Gender verification testing in sport.
AB  - Gender verification testing in sport, first introduced in 1966 by the
      International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) in response to fears that males
      with a physical advantage in terms of muscle mass and strength were cheating by
      masquerading as females in women's competition, has led to unfair
      disqualifications of women athletes and untold psychological harm. The
      discredited sex chromatin test, which identifies only the sex chromosome
      component of gender and is therefore misleading, was abandoned in 1991 by the
      IAAF in favour of medical checks for all athletes, women and men, which preclude
      the need for gender testing. But, women athletes will still be tested at the
      Olympic Games at Albertville and Barcelona using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
      to amplify DNA sequences on the Y chromosome which identifies genetic sex only.
      Gender verification testing may in time be abolished when the sporting community
      are fully cognizant of its scientific and ethical implications.

PMID- 1450893
TI  - Pathophysiology of soft tissue repair.
AB  - Inflammation with subsequent migration of leucocytes and connective tissue cells
      to the site of damage, together with the release of cytokines by these cells are
      essential for healing in common sports injuries. Injury to the musculotendinous
      unit resulting from either blunt trauma, tears or laceration, heal primarily by
      formation of granulation tissue and scarring. Early diagnosis with appropriate
      therapy may minimize any potential loss of function. Ligament repair also follows
      a classical healing response, although the quality of healing is site dependent
      and may be related to exposure to synovial fluid. In contrast, cartilage, which
      is avascular, lacks the inflammatory response seen in other connective tissues
      and this frequently results in poor tissue repair with subsequent degeneration of
      the injured cartilage. Mechanisms of repair in these tissues are described.

PMID- 1450894
TI  - Morphology, behavior, and evolution: comparative kinematics of aquatic feeding in
      salamanders.
AB  - The kinematics of aquatic prey capture were studied in species representing six
      salamander families (Ambystomatidae, Amphiumidae, Cryptobranchidae,
      Dicamptodontidae, Proteidae, and Sirenidae) to test the hypothesis that the
      process of aquatic prey capture is similar in these families. Seven variables
      were digitized from high-speed video records of prey capture, and a nested
      analysis of variance was performed to test for both significant individual within
      taxon and among taxa effects. The time-to-peak head angle and gape variables
      showed no taxon effect, while the other five variables exhibited highly
      significant differences among taxa. Cryptobranchus and Siren showed the most
      divergent kinematic pattern from the other taxa in a multivariate analysis of all
      variables, while Ambystoma, Dicamptodon, and Amphiuma tended to have similar
      overall patterns of head movement. These results show that kinematic patterns
      during aquatic feeding are not conserved across salamander taxa, and that
      phylogenetic differentiation in head morphology has been accompanied by novelties
      in feeding function. The feeding mechanisms of Cryptobranchus and Amphiuma have a
      bidirectional hydrodynamic design with kinematic correlates that are similar to
      kinematic characteristics of aquatic feeding in turtles and transformed
      ambystomatid salamanders. A general framework is presented as an aid to
      understanding the interrelationships among muscle activity patterns, morphology,
      and behavior (kinematic patterns). By considering the distribution of taxa in
      three multivariate spaces, corresponding to three of the levels at which one
      might analyze a behavior (kinematics, morphology, and motor pattern), it is
      possible to identify patterns of correspondence among the levels, which aid in
      understanding the evolution of behavior.

PMID- 1450895
TI  - Changes in retinal projections and ganglion cell morphology after unilateral
      enucleation in the common carp.
AB  - Changes in retinal projections and ganglion cell morphology were studied in one
      eyed individuals of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio, which were enucleated at a
      juvenile stage (within 6 months after hatching) and kept for 18 months after the
      operation. Gross examination of the brains showed a marked atrophy of the
      contralateral optic tectum and a fine attenuated optic tract ipsilateral to the
      remaining eye. All retinal recipient areas were bilateral, but numerous
      projections were heavier contralaterally. Terminal branches in the recipient
      areas showed more complex patterns with tortuous courses and larger numbers of
      terminal swellings than in normal animals. Total numbers and distribution
      patterns of ganglion cells in Nissl-stained retinal whole mounts of one-eyed carp
      were compared with those in normal carp. The total number of ganglion cells was
      estimated to be 14 x 10(4)-18 x 10(4) in both one-eyed and normal carp. No
      difference was observed in isodensity maps and soma area histograms between one
      eyed and normal carp. Following injections of horseradish peroxidase and nuclear
      yellow into the optic tectum of each side, three different types of tectal
      projecting ganglion cells were observed in the remaining retina: contralaterally
      projecting (CP) cells, ipsilaterally projecting (IP) cells, and bilaterally
      projecting (BP) cells. The distribution pattern of CP and BP cells in the retina
      suggested normal retinotopy. However, BP cells were found in a more restricted
      zone within the CP cell distribution area. The IP cells had a tendency to be
      scattered sparsely in a wide central area and a dorsal quadrant of the retina. No
      IP or BP cells were found in the peripheral retina. The time course and
      morphological changes in axons of these cells are discussed.

PMID- 1450896
TI  - Physiological characterization of lateral line function in the Antarctic fish
      Trematomus bernacchii.
AB  - The Antarctic notothenioids are a monophyletic radiation of fishes that have
      evolved under conditions of low light and cold, where non-visual sensory systems,
      such as the mechanosensory lateral line system, would be of importance. As part
      of a study of the structure and function of the mechanosensory lateral line
      system in these fishes we systematically characterized the function of the
      anterior lateral line system in one of the common benthic species, Trematomus
      bernacchii. Frequency-response and threshold-tuning curve methods yield similar
      functional characterizations of single afferent fibre responses to vibrational
      stimulation. Curve fitting of generalized transfer function to frequency-response
      curves allows an objective splitting of responses into velocity and acceleration
      sensitive populations thought to correspond to superficial and canal neuromasts,
      respectively. Both response types are characterized by a low-pass frequency
      response curve, with a relatively low upper frequency cut-off when compared with
      data from temperate species. The sensitivity of the lateral line system of T.
      bernacchii is comparable to that of the mottled sculpin Cottus bairdi.

PMID- 1450897
TI  - Fibers innervating different parts of the lateral line system of an Antarctic
      notothenioid, Trematomus bernacchii, have similar frequency responses, despite
      large variation in the peripheral morphology.
AB  - Regional differences in the architecture and size of lateral line canals and
      neuromasts were measured in an Antarctic fish, Trematomus bernacchii, and the
      data were used in models of canal and cupular mechanics to predict the frequency
      response of these two peripheral structures. These modeled predictions were then
      compared to frequency response functions measured with single unit recording
      techniques from anterior and posterior lateral line fibers innervating different
      canals on the head and trunk of fish of various sizes. Despite large variations
      in the peripheral morphology of head and trunk canals in fish of different sizes,
      lateral line fibers were relatively homogeneous in their frequency response
      properties. In response to stimuli of equal pk-pk acceleration levels, all canal
      neuromast fibers responded with equal and maximum responsiveness in the 10-45 Hz
      range, after which responsiveness fell off at about 18 dB/octave. Whereas the
      biomechanical models of cupular and canal responsiveness predicted the region of
      equal and maximum responsiveness in the 10-45 Hz range, they did not predict the
      high frequency cutoff nor the slope. Rather, these models predicted
      responsiveness out to at least 540 Hz, and a high frequency slope of 12
      dB/octave. In terms of the frequency response of peripheral fibers, we conclude
      that (1) there can be considerable morphological variability, with little
      consequence for function, as long as some minimum standards for maintaining
      constant acceleration responsiveness in the 10-45 Hz range are met, and (2) there
      must be additional filters between the cupula and primary afferent fibers.

PMID- 1450898
TI  - Immunohistochemical study of the development of serotoninergic neurons in the
      brain of the brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis.
AB  - Serotonin is believed to play an important role in the neuronal development of
      various invertebrates and mammals, but only one study has yet investigated the
      development of serotoninergic neurons in the brain of a teleost. In the present
      study, we investigate the development of serotoninergic neurons in the brain of
      the brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, by immunohistochemistry, from
      fertilisation to the resorption of the yolk sac and in juveniles for reference.
      Maintaining trout embryos and larvae in 9L:15D or in complete darkness made no
      difference in the appearance and distribution of serotonin immunoreactive (5
      HTir) neurons. On day 56, the first 5-HTir perikarya, indicative of the primordia
      of the nuclei raphe medialis/dorsalis, have stained in the presumptive isthmus
      region. At hatching time (days 95-115), all the 5-HTir nuclei reported in the
      juvenile are present, except for the population observed in the lobus inferior
      hypothalami. We observed that the nucleus recessus lateralis stained on day 58,
      the raphe caudal nucleus on day 60, the nuclei raphe pallidus and obscurus on day
      65, the area praetectalis on day 80, and the nucleus recessus posterioris and the
      anterior group of the nucleus recessus lateralis on day 92. At the complete
      resorption of the yolk sac (days 175-190), the nucleus reticularis
      paragigantocellularis, the nuclei raphe pallidus and obscurus and the caudal
      raphe of the brainstem are very weakly immunoreactive, and in juveniles, only one
      caudal immunoreactive nucleus is still present. A comparison of our result with
      those previously reported in the three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus
      aculeatus, suggest a similar distribution of 5-HTir neurons in the brain of both
      species but also reveal species differences in the sequence of appearance of 5HT
      immunoreactivity in the different neuronal populations.

PMID- 1450899
TI  - Quantitative histological study of the optic nerve in species of minnows
      (Cyprinidae, Teleostei) inhabiting clear and turbid water.
AB  - Quantitative analysis of the optic nerve of minnows using light- and electron
      microscopy demonstrated that anatomical characteristics of the visual system are
      closely related to habitat turbidity. Species in the genera Notropis and
      Cyprinella inhabiting predominantly clear water had larger eyes and almost twice
      as many optic nerve fibers compared to minnows of turbid habitats. No differences
      were detected in the thickness of myelination, the axon diameter profile, or the
      number of optic nerve fibers per retinal area, indicating that the relative
      number of fibers, as well as their anatomical characteristics, are similar in all
      species and independent of habitat turbidity. It is therefore hypothesized that
      quantitative differences in the number of visual elements available for sampling
      and processing in the retina, optic nerve, and optic tectum are sufficient to
      account for presumed differences in visual performance.

PMID- 1450900
TI  - Variation of tectal morphology in teleost fishes.
AB  - The morphological organization of the optic tectum was analyzed in a number of
      divergent teleost species. Particular attention was focused on the organization
      of the periventricular gray zone and of afferent and efferent fiber systems
      within or adjacent to it. A dorsal part of the periventricular gray zone is
      recognized which is in register with the distribution of tangentially and
      radially oriented fascicles. A lateral part of the periventricular gray can be
      identified as being lateral to the lateral-most of the tangentially and radially
      oriented fascicles and being in register with a large number of circular
      fascicles in the deep white zone. Circular fascicles pass between the lateral
      part of the periventricular gray and a more ventral part. There are few if any
      circular fascicles in the part of the deep white zone that is in register with
      the ventral part of the gray. These parts of the periventricular gray are most
      clearly apparent in clupeomorph fishes, due to an exaggerated separation related
      to the presence of two tectal lobes within the hemisphere. It is hypothesized
      that the dorsal part of the gray, as can be recognized cytoarchitectonically, is
      in register with the projection of the dorsal optic tract and that the lateral
      and ventral parts of the gray are in register with the projection of the ventral
      optic tract.

PMID- 1450901
TI  - Characteristics of saccades induced by neck torsions: a re-examination in the
      normal guinea pig.
AB  - Torsion of the neck relative to the fixed head results in several reflexes
      involving the eyes, the neck and the body. One of these reflexes, the cervico
      ocular reflex, has been described as having a small gain in the normal animal.
      However, when the body of a guinea pig is moved relative to the fixed head with a
      ramp-like velocity profile, saccades are systematically elicited in the direction
      of body movement. We re-examined the characteristics of this reflex in the normal
      guinea pig and demonstrated that: (1) it occurs mainly in the range of high
      velocity body movements; (2) the latency of the saccades is shorter than
      previously suspected; (3) the saccades are triggered at specific positions
      relative to the starting and ending positions of rotation, revealing some degree
      of flexibility in the reflex. We hypothesize that these saccades of nuchal origin
      are under the control of the same neuronal circuit as visually triggered saccades
      and quick phases of vestibular nystagmus. Thus, this nuchal reflex may
      fundamentally subserve orienting behaviour in normal animal.

PMID- 1450902
TI  - Paradoxical analgesia produced by naloxone in diabetic mice is attributable to
      supersensitivity of delta-opioid receptors.
AB  - The effects of naloxone on the analgesic response were examined using the tail
      flick test, in mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Subcutaneous injection
      of naloxone (5 mg/kg, s.c.) produced a marked analgesia in diabetic mice but not
      in age-matched non-diabetic mice. Naloxone-induced analgesia in diabetic mice was
      significantly reduced by pretreatment with naltrindole (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.), a
      selective antagonist of delta-opioid receptors. By contrast, no significant
      naloxone-induced increase in tail-flick latency in diabetic mice was observed
      after chronic treatment with naloxone (5 mg/kg, s.c.) for 5 days. However, the
      tail-flick latency was significantly increased by chronic treatment with naloxone
      in non-diabetic mice. Furthermore, the significant naloxone-induced increase in
      tail-flick latency in non-diabetic mice that had been chronically treated with
      naloxone was also antagonized by pretreatment with naltrindole. Chronic
      pretreatment with 5 mg/kg of naloxone for 5 days markedly attenuated the
      analgesic effect of the delta-agonist DPDPE in diabetic mice, whereas this
      pretreatment significantly enhanced the effect of DPDPE in non-diabetic mice.
      These results suggest that naloxone-induced 'paradoxical' analgesia in mice may
      be mediated predominantly by delta-opioid receptors.

PMID- 1450903
TI  - Effect of amygdaloid kindling on [3H]dopamine and [14C]acetylcholine release from
      rat prefrontal cortex and striatal slices.
AB  - The involvement of the dopaminergic (DA) systems in the control of limbic kindled
      seizures is ill defined. The effects of kindling on DA activity may have been
      overlooked in the past, because of its subtle unilateral occurrence and/or the
      variance of the endogenous imbalance of DA activity in normal animals. In the
      present study rats were screened for their endogenous DA imbalance using
      amphetamine-induced rotational behaviour. Electrical or sham kindling was applied
      in the hemisphere with the higher endogenous DA activity. Sections of the
      bilateral prefrontal cortex and dorsal and ventral striatum were dissected either
      2 hours or 21 days after the final seizure and the electrically stimulated
      release of [3H]DA and [14C]acetylcholine (ACh) determined. Release was also
      measured in the presence of quinpirole or sulpiride to assess the activity of pre
      and postsynaptic DA D2-receptors. Long-term effects of kindling consisted of
      facilitation of ACh release in the ventral striatum contralateral to the kindled
      amygdala and bilateral depression of DA release in the prefrontal cortex.
      Kindling therefore produced area specific changes in neurotransmitter systems
      giving rise to increased pro-convulsive cholinergic activity in the ventral
      striatum and decreased anti-convulsive dopaminergic activity in the prefrontal
      cortex.

PMID- 1450904
TI  - Neural sensitivity to pentylenetetrazol convulsions in inbred and selectively
      bred mice.
AB  - In these experiments, sensitivity to the convulsant drug pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)
      was measured in 10 inbred mouse strains, and in 4 mouse lines selectively bred
      for severe (WSP1, WSP2) or minimal (WSR1, WSR2) ethanol withdrawal convulsions.
      Using a timed infusion procedure, sensitivity to convulsions was assessed by
      measures of latency to convulsion, effective dose (ED) infused at time of
      convulsion, and brain concentration (BC) of PTZ at time of convulsion. In
      addition, ED and latency to convulsion were measured in WSP and WSR mice at 5
      different concentrations of PTZ. Higher concentrations, which increased rate of
      drug infusion, reduced latency but had little effect on ED. WSP1 mice were
      slightly more sensitive to PTZ than WSR1 mice, but WSP2 mice were equally or less
      sensitive than WSR2 mice. Among the inbred strains, latency, ED and brain PTZ
      concentration were found to be highly correlated, suggesting that pharmacokinetic
      factors do not significantly influence access of PTZ to sites of action in the
      central nervous system. The C57BL/6J strain was least sensitive by all measures,
      while DBA/2J mice were highly sensitive. The BALB/cJ strain was the most
      sensitive strain as assessed by ED and latency, but BC indicated relatively
      average sensitivity. Apparently, pharmacokinetic factors in this strain result in
      a relatively rapid accumulation of drug in brain, making it appear to be more
      sensitive. Thus, although ED provides a reliable estimate of neural sensitivity
      in general, genetic factors exist which, in some strains, modify access of PTZ
      and possibly other drugs to brain, potentially affecting determination of
      sensitivity in the absence of a measure of brain drug concentration.

PMID- 1450905
TI  - Impaired learning and memory in mature spontaneously hypertensive rats.
AB  - In very old, normotensive rats, a disorganization occurs selectively in the
      retrosplenial cortex, and a similar disorganization occurs in this area in
      spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) at a much earlier age. Since this breakdown
      compromises a neural circuit involved in learning and memory, this study tests
      the hypotheses that these functions are disturbed in mature SHR and that they can
      be prevented or attenuated by long-term, anti-hypertensive therapy. SHR and
      Sprague Dawley rats (SD) at 3- and 12 months of age, and a group of SHR that had
      been normotensive from 3 to 12 months of age (CAP-SHR) were trained on an 8 arm
      radial maze task. Of the 12-month-old groups, SD reached criterion earliest (28
      +/- 2 days) and made the least number of total errors. In comparison, 12-month
      old SHR took significantly longer to reach criterion (39 +/- 2 days) and made
      nearly twice as many total errors. CAP-SHR were intermediate between the other
      two groups (32 +/- 2 days). Three-month-old SD learned the task at the same rate
      as the 12-month-old SD. In contrast, 3-month-old SHR learned the task
      significantly faster (21 +/- 1 days) and with fewer errors than any other group.
      These data indicate that, in SHR, learning and memory are compromised by 12
      months of age, and that anti-hypertensive therapy with captopril partially
      prevents this decline.

PMID- 1450906
TI  - Influence of medial septal cholinoceptive cells on c-Fos-like proteins induced by
      soman.
AB  - The effects of intraseptal application of atropine on c-fos proto-oncogene
      expression related to soman treatment were studied by immunohistochemistry for c
      Fos-like proteins. In control rats, 2 h after the onset of convulsion, c-Fos-like
      immunoreactivity was intense in the piriform and entorhinal cortices, but also in
      the cingulate, frontoparietal and retrosplenial cortices. In addition, the
      staining was moderate in the hypothalamus, amygdala and fascia dentata. The
      intraseptal application of atropine, which prevented soman-induced convulsions,
      reduced or even blocked c-Fos-like protein production related to soman treatment.
      This inhibition of Fos induction was significant in most of the limbic structures
      but also in non-limbic areas. The data in this study strongly suggest that the
      cholinergic cells of the medial septal area play a key role in soman-induced
      seizures, and confirm that c-Fos-like protein induction is closely related to
      neuronal hyperactivity.

PMID- 1450907
TI  - Perinatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy affects the proportion of GABA
      immunoreactive neurons in the cerebral cortex of the rat.
AB  - The hypothesis was tested whether perinatal hypoxic ischemia leads to a
      preferential degeneration of the GABAergic inhibitory neurons in the cerebral
      cortex which, in turn, could account for the reported higher risk of developing
      epilepsy later in life. To that end rat pups, aged 12-13 days, were made hypoxic
      by employing a combination of unilateral ligation of one of the carotid arteries
      and a 90-min exposure to 8% O2. After recovery periods of 3, 7, 35 and 150 days,
      the animals were sacrificed by perfusion fixation and the brains embedded in
      Epon. Transverse semi-thin sections were alternately stained with an antibody
      against GABA and with Toluidine blue. By using an unbiased morphometric method
      (the disector) the number of GABA-immunoreactive (GABA-IR) neurons and the total
      number of nerve cells per unit volume of tissue were estimated in corresponding
      neocortical areas in the ipsilateral (damaged) and contralateral ('control')
      hemisphere. For all animals with post-ischemic survival times of 3 and 7 days
      GABA-IR cells constituted a lower proportion of the total number of nerve cells
      in the damaged than in the 'control' cortical areas. This finding was consistent
      with the outcome of an earlier in vitro study. By contrast, in all animals with a
      survival time of 35 and 150 days, the proportion of GABA-IR neurons was higher on
      the damaged than on the 'control' side. This switch in the direction of the
      left/right differences, apparently depending on the length of the post-ischemic
      survival time, was statistically significant. No lateralization in the proportion
      of GABA-IR cells was detected in the cerebral cortex of the control rats. These
      observations, therefore, do not support the hypothesis that perinatal hypoxic
      ischemia ultimately leads to a preferential loss of GABAergic neurons in the
      cerebral cortex.

PMID- 1450908
TI  - Gravitoinertial force level affects the appreciation of limb position during
      muscle vibration.
AB  - Illusory motion and displacement of the restrained forearm can be elicited by
      vibrating the biceps brachii or triceps brachii muscle. We measured the influence
      of gravitoinertial force level on these perceptual responses to vibration during
      parabolic flight maneuvers where normal (1G) and high force (1.8G) background
      levels alternated with microgravity (0G). Subjects indicated the apparent forearm
      position of the vibrated arm with the other forearm and also made verbal reports.
      Biceps brachii vibration induced illusory extension of the forearm and triceps
      brachii, illusory flexion; these apparent motions and displacements were highly G
      force-dependent being enhanced at 1.8G and diminished at 0G relative to normal 1G
      force level. These alterations are discussed in terms of vestibulo-spinal and
      propriospinal influences on alpha-gamma motoneuronal control of muscle tone and
      the varying requirements for postural load support in different force
      backgrounds. Their implications for the control and appreciation of limb
      movements during exposure to different G force levels are also described.

PMID- 1450909
TI  - Lesions of the nucleus paragigantocellularis alter ex copula penile reflexes.
AB  - The effects of electrolytic lesions of the rostral nucleus paragigantocellularis
      (nPGi) were examined on ex copula sexual reflexes in male rats. Bilateral lesions
      of the nPGi significantly reduced (by 50%) the onset of the first ex copula
      reflex, which usually was a glans erection. In addition, the number of
      dorsiflexions (flips) was significantly increased. In the anesthetized spinally
      intact rat the urethrogenital reflex cannot be evoked. However, after chronic
      bilateral lesions of the rostral nPGi, half of the rats tested displayed the
      urethrogenital reflex prior to section of the spinal cord. These data support a
      role for the rostral nPGi in the descending inhibition of male sexual reflexes.

PMID- 1450910
TI  - Histamine H1 receptors in UC-11MG astrocytes and their regulation of cytoplasmic
      Ca2+.
AB  - Experiments were carried out on UC-11MG human astrocytoma cells, a continuous
      cell line that expresses a broad range of the biochemical and
      electrophysiological properties found in well-differentiated astrocytes. Because
      of a number of recent reports that astrocytes may express receptors for a variety
      of neuro-active substances, we measured the effects of 12 different
      neurotransmitters on intracellular free Ca2+ (Ca2+i) in UC-11MG cells. Of these
      neurotransmitters only histamine was found to have a significant effect. Further
      characterization of the nature of the histamine response showed that UC-11MG
      cells express mepyramine-sensitive H1 receptors the activation of which causes
      both mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and entry of Ca2+ from the
      extracellular solution. No evidence was found for the presence of H2 receptors.
      The Ca2+i response was maximal at 300 microM histamine and was attenuated by
      increasing cell density. We suggest that this neurotransmitter may play a role in
      astrocytic function in the human CNS.

PMID- 1450911
TI  - Histamine stimulates glycogenolysis in human astrocytoma cells by increasing
      intracellular free calcium.
AB  - Astrocytes from a variety of sources, including the human UC-11MG astrocytoma
      line, express receptors for histamine on their plasma membranes, but the function
      of these receptors is largely unknown. Here we report studies on the effect of
      histamine on newly synthesized glycogen in the human astrocytoma-derived cell
      line, UC-11MG. We have found [3H]glycogen hydrolysis with a EC50 of 2 microM and
      a maximum effect of 30% at 300 microM histamine. The glycogenolytic effect of
      histamine was completely blocked by the H1 receptor antagonist, mepyramine, and
      was insensitive to the H2 receptor antagonist, cimetidine. Histamine-induced
      glycogenolysis was significantly reduced in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ and
      the residual response could be accounted for by Ca2+ released from intracellular
      stores. The Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin, induced a similar concentration-dependent
      increase in both intracellular Ca2+ concentration and in glycogenolysis. These
      results suggest that one function of astrocytic histamine receptors in vivo may
      be the stimulation of glucose release from astrocytes, and that this process is
      mediated by increased intracellular free Ca2+. The glycogenolytic effect of
      histamine and other neurotransmitters in different systems, and the possible
      implication of astrocytic glycogenolysis in the pathophysiology of ischemia are
      discussed.

PMID- 1450912
TI  - The striatopallidal projection displays a high degree of anatomical specificity
      in the primate.
AB  - The striatopallidal projection in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) was
      studied with two highly sensitive anterograde tracers, the lectin Phaseolus
      vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) and biocytin. After small PHA-L injections into
      various sectors of the striatum, the striatopallidal projection was found to
      display a very precise topographical organization. Fibers from the head of the
      caudate nucleus emerge as several distinct fascicles that penetrate the dorsal
      portion of the pallidum at various points along its rostrocaudal extent. Each
      fascicle arborizes into the dorsal third of the pallidum as dense plexuses
      composed of numerous fibers that closely entwined the dendrites of pallidal
      neurons, hence forming typical 'woolly' fiber arrangements. In contrast, fibers
      from the postcommissural putamen emerge as a few compact bundles that reach the
      pallidum through its lateral surface. In the pallidum, thin fibers detach
      themselves from these compact bundles, sweep caudally, and arborize in the form
      of narrow and elongated bands aligned parallel to the medullary laminae. Each
      band appears composed of numerous, thin and weakly varicose fibers that make only
      en passant type of contact with pallidal cell bodies rostrally, but form a dense
      field of woolly fibers caudally. In cases in which two PHA-L injections were made
      at two different rostrocaudal levels in the putamen, two rostrocaudally distant
      fields of woolly fibers, separated one another by thin varicose fibers, occur in
      each band. Furthermore, each PHA-L injection site in the striatum gives rise to
      at least two bands in each pallidal segment, indicating that the primate striatum
      has a dual representation at pallidal level. Finally, injections of PHA-L and
      biocytin into two small and mediolaterally adjacent areas of the postcommissural
      putamen lead to the formation of two clearly distinguishable sets of bands in
      each pallidal segment. Even though they lie very close to one another these two
      types of bands never really overlap. This experiment shows that, in contrast to
      previous beliefs, axons of striatal neurons from two small adjacent populations
      do not converge upon the same pallidal neurons but instead project to several
      distinct subsets of pallidal neurons. The findings of the present study reveal
      that the striatopallidal projection system in primates is highly ordered and
      displays a high degree of specificity with respect to its target sites in the
      pallidum. Different anatomical strategies are used to maximally exploit the
      relatively small pallidal space and ensure that the finely tuned corticostriatal
      information is not blurred as it flows through the funnel-shaped pallidum.

PMID- 1450913
TI  - Nerve growth factor effects on pyridine nucleotides after oxidant injury of rat
      pheochromocytoma cells.
AB  - Neurotrophic factors regulate neuronal survival and neurite growth in development
      and following injury. Oxidative stress produced in neurons as a consequence of
      primary injury, or during reperfusion following ischemia, may contribute to cell
      death. Here, the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on the response to H2O2
      injury were examined in the PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cell line. Specifically,
      the effect of NGF on cell viability after H2O2 injury was measured. Pretreatment
      with NGF enhanced survival after H2O2 treatment, as measured by Trypan blue dye
      exclusion, radiolabeled amino acid incorporation, tetrazolium salt reduction, or
      cytoplasmic enzyme release. One early event associated with H2O2 treatment was a
      rapid decrease in NAD+. Although initial decreases in NAD+ levels were similar in
      control and NGF-treated cells, the latter recovered more rapidly and extensively.
      The decline in total NAD observed after NGF treatment was almost equal in
      magnitude to the measured increase in NADP. Inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose)
      polymerase also enhanced viability following H2O2 injury. Treatment with both NGF
      and an inhibitor of this enzyme resulted in a greater reduction of H2O2 toxicity
      than was observed with either agent alone. These data suggest that NGF protection
      is multifactorial and that a significant component of the NGF effect is due to
      its regulatory role in the metabolism of pyridine nucleotides.

PMID- 1450915
TI  - Morphology of central terminations of intra-axonally stained, low-threshold
      mechanoreceptive primary afferent fibers from oral mucosa and periodontium in the
      rat.
AB  - Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was injected intra-axonally into functionally
      identified primary afferent fibers within the rat spinal trigeminal tract in
      order to study the morphology of their central terminations. They were
      physiologically determined to be large, myelinated afferent fibers from
      periodontium or oral mucosa by means of electrical and mechanical stimulation of
      their receptive fields. Twenty-eight axons that innervated the periodontium of
      incisors and 21 axons that innervated the oral mucosa were stained for distances
      of 2-5 mm from the injection sites at the levels of the main sensory nucleus
      (Vms), spinal trigeminal nucleus and rostral cervical spinal cord. The
      collaterals of these primary afferent fibers formed terminal arbors in the medial
      or dorsomedial part of the Vms, and the oral and interpolar spinal trigeminal
      nuclei (Vo and Vi). In the caudal spinal trigeminal nucleus (Vc), the collaterals
      of one half of the periodontium afferent fibers terminated mainly in lamina V at
      the rostral and middle levels of Vc. On the other hand, the collaterals of the
      other half of the periodontium afferent fibers terminated mainly in lamina IV at
      the rostral level of Vc, and rostrally these terminal areas shifted to the most
      medial part of Vi. The collaterals of mucosa afferent fibers terminated in lamina
      V at the rostral level of Vc, and these terminal areas shifted gradually to
      laminae III and IV as the parent axons traveled more caudally. These shifts were
      staggered rostrocaudally according to the rostrocaudal locations of the receptive
      fields. The density of collaterals of periodontium afferent fibers in Vi was
      significantly larger than that of mucosa afferent fibers. The average size of the
      varicosities of periodontium afferent fibers was significantly larger than those
      of mucosa afferent fibers in Vo, Vi and Vc. The average number of varicosities
      belonging to single collaterals of slowly-adapting periodontium afferent fibers
      in Vi were significantly larger than those in Vo. In Vi, the average number of
      varicosities of single collaterals of slowly-adapting periodontium afferent
      fibers were significantly larger than those of rapidly-adapting periodontium
      afferent fibers.

PMID- 1450914
TI  - Central carbachol stimulates vasopressin release into interstitial fluid adjacent
      to the paraventricular nucleus.
AB  - We have used an in vivo double microdialysis probe technique in conscious rats to
      determine whether the application of carbachol to one paraventricular nucleus
      (PVN) can result in increased local release of vasopressin from that PVN.
      Experiments were carried out 24 h after placement of microdialysis probes lateral
      to each PVN. When both probes were perfused initially with 0.9% NaCl, vasopressin
      was detected in the outflow (dialysate) from both probes. When carbachol (100
      micrograms/ml) was included in the perfusate of one probe for the first 10 min of
      a 30-min collection period, while the other probe continued to be perfused with
      saline alone, there was a seven-fold increase in the concentration of vasopressin
      in the dialysate from the carbachol-perfused probe; the vasopressin concentration
      in the dialysate from the contralateral probe increased only slightly. The plasma
      vasopressin concentration was also elevated. When one of the paired probes was
      perfused with carbachol (100 micrograms/ml) for 30 min, there were similar
      increases in the concentration of vasopressin in the dialysate from both probes
      and a sustained increase in the plasma vasopressin concentration. Thus,
      vasopressin is released into the interstitial fluid adjacent to the PVN under
      basal conditions, and this release can be substantially increased when
      vasopressin secretion to the periphery is stimulated.

PMID- 1450916
TI  - 5-HT3 receptor antagonists fail to block the suppressant effect of cocaine on the
      firing rate of A10 dopamine neurons in the rat.
AB  - In the present study, we have shown that cocaine is significantly more potent in
      suppressing the firing rate of dopamine cells in the ventral tegmental area (VTA
      or A10) than in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC or A9). We have also
      determined the ability of several 5-HT3 receptor antagonists to alter the
      electrophysiological response of A10 dopamine neurons in the rat to cocaine, as
      these compounds have been implicated in modulating the effects of drugs of abuse
      on the dopamine system. It was found that the 5-HT3 receptor antagonists ICS205
      930, zacopride and ondansetron do not alter either the firing rate or cocaine
      induced suppression of the basal firing rate of A10 dopamine cells.

PMID- 1450917
TI  - Involvement of nucleus accumbens dopamine in the motor activity induced by
      periodic food presentation: a microdialysis and behavioral study.
AB  - Two experiments were undertaken to investigate the role of accumbens dopamine
      (DA) in food-related motor activities. Although presentation of large amounts of
      food elicits feeding behavior, periodic food presentation (PFP; e.g. a 45-mg
      pellet every 45 s) induces considerable locomotion, rearing and other motor
      activities in food-deprived rats. In the first experiment, in vivo microdialysis
      methods were used to study DA release and metabolism in the nucleus accumbens of
      behaving rats exposed to periodic food presentation. Four behavioral conditions
      were used: high rate of PFP (one pellet per 45 s), low rate of PFP (one pellet
      per 4 min), massed food presentation and food deprivation control. The rats that
      received a high rate of PFP showed substantial increases in locomotor activity,
      and also showed significant increases in extracellular DA and DA metabolites.
      Rats that received massed presentation of food pellets consumed large quantities
      of food, but showed no significant increases in locomotor activity or DA release.
      Although the group that received the high rate of PFP showed the highest motor
      activity and the largest increase in DA release, there was only a modest
      correlation (r = 0.34) between motor activity and increased DA release. In the
      second experiment, the neurotoxic agent 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) was injected
      into the nucleus accumbens in order to assess the effects of DA depletion of PFP
      induced motor activity. DA depletion significantly reduced PFP-induced motor
      activity in the first week after surgery, but by the second week DA-depleted rats
      had recovered normal levels of motor activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450918
TI  - Low concentrations of penicillin partially suppress CA3 hippocampal IPSPs in
      vitro.
AB  - Low concentrations of penicillin (50-300 IU/ml) produce a pro-convulsant state in
      CA3 hippocampus characterized by low amplitude, low frequency (2-3 Hz)
      spontaneous field potential oscillations. Evoked field potentials were used to
      demonstrate that this distinct, coordinated behavior of the hippocampal neuronal
      network which is intermediate between normal activity and fully synchronized
      epileptiform bursting is the result of partial blockade of GABAA-mediated IPSPs.
      A new method for estimating the degree of IPSP block relative to convulsant doses
      of penicillin (2,000 IU/ml) indicates that the half-maximal effect occurs at 300
      IU/ml. Fully synchronized bursts may require almost complete IPSP block.

PMID- 1450919
TI  - A single restraint stress exposure potentiates analgesia induced by intrathecally
      administered DAGO.
AB  - In rats, restraint exposure potentiates the magnitude and duration of analgesia
      following both the peripheral and intracerebroventricular administration of
      several opioid agonists as compared to non-stressed controls. It has been
      suggested that the site of action whereby restraint leads to potentiated opioid
      analgesia is located supraspinally. However, the possible contribution of spinal
      analgesic mechanisms also warrants investigation. Thus, the purpose of the
      present study was two-fold: (1) to determine whether a single exposure to
      restraint stress would result in the dose-dependent potentiation of analgesia
      following the intrathecal (i.t.) administration of the mu (mu)-receptor selective
      opioid agonist [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin (DAGO) and (2) to quantify
      the degree of analgesia in restrained vs. non-restrained rats using the tail
      flick and hot-plate analgesic assays. Using rats implanted with chronic i.t.
      cannula, dose- and time-course curves were observed following the i.t.
      administration of DAGO. The results demonstrate that both the duration and
      magnitude of analgesia was significantly potentiated in restrained rats compared
      to non-restrained controls. Restraint-treated rats receiving 0.15-0.6 micrograms
      of DAGO i.t. showed 1.3-1.5-fold potentiation of analgesia in the tail-flick
      assay and a 2.3-5.6-fold potentiation using the hot-plate assay. Restraint
      immobilization potentiated the magnitude and duration of DAGO-induced analgesia
      administered by the i.t. route as measured by the tail-flick and hot-plate
      assays. These data suggest that spinal analgesic mechanisms significantly
      contribute to the enhanced analgesic potency of opioids in subjects exposed to
      restraint stress.

PMID- 1450920
TI  - Nitric oxide modulates NMDA-induced increases in intracellular Ca2+ in cultured
      rat forebrain neurons.
AB  - We studied the effects of nitric oxide (NO) and the NO-releasing agents sodium
      nitroprusside (SNP), S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) and isosorbide
      dinitrate (ISDN) on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced increases in
      intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), whole-cell patch-clamp currents and on glutamate
      stimulated [3H]dizocilpine binding. NO and agents that release NO partially
      inhibit increases in [Ca2+]i at concentrations between 1 microM and 1 mM. These
      agents also decrease [Ca2+]i changes produced by kainate and potassium, but to a
      smaller extent. As the effects of NO are still present following alkylation of
      the redox modulatory site on the NMDA receptor this action of NO is probably not
      a consequence of oxidation of the redox site. In contrast to SNP, ISDN does not
      inhibit NMDA-induced whole cell patch-clamp currents suggesting that NO modulates
      [Ca2+]i via perturbation of a Ca2+ homeostatic process. Furthermore, SNP may have
      a direct action on the NMDA receptor complex in addition to the generation of NO.
      8-Bromo-cGMP does not mimic the inhibitory effect of NO suggesting that this
      effect is not the result of NO stimulation of neuronal cGMP production. As the
      production of NO in neurons is dependent on increases in [Ca2+]i associated with
      NMDA receptor activation, these data suggest that NO-mediated decreases in
      [Ca2+]i may represent a novel feedback inhibitory mechanism for NO production in
      the brain.

PMID- 1450921
TI  - Presence of D-alanine in proteins of normal and Alzheimer human brain.
AB  - This report constitutes the first demonstration of the presence of D-alanine in
      the proteins of the human nervous system. Proteins of the frontal lobe white and
      gray matter of human brains, both normal and Alzheimer subjects, contain D
      alanine at concentrations between 0.50 and 1.28 mumol/g of wet tissue, 50-70
      times lower than the concentration of L-alanine. Both white and gray matter of
      Alzheimer brains contain D-alanine 1.4-times higher than the respective regions
      of normal brains. The gray matter proteins of Alzheimer brains show a highly
      significant 8% decrease in total alanine content, when compared with normal brain
      gray matter proteins. Since Alzheimer's disease is exhibited by deterioration of
      the gray matter, the occurrence of elevated D-alanine levels in the gray matter
      of Alzheimer brains is a significant discovery and raises the question whether
      this enantiomer causes the degeneration of the gray matter proteins in
      Alzheimer's disease, or whether it is an effect of the disease.

PMID- 1450922
TI  - Regeneration of neural lobe-like neurovascular contact regions in explanted
      neural lobes placed in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial tract in the lateral
      retrochiasmatic area.
AB  - Neural lobes that had been explanted 30 days earlier were transplanted into
      retrochiasmatic lesions of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial tract 15 days before
      being observed by electron microscopy and neurophysin immunohistochemistry.
      Neurovascular contact regions consisting of microvascular networks surrounded by
      neurophysin-immunoreactive terminals developed in 86% of the grafted explants.
      The fine structure of such regions resembled that of the neural lobe, with
      palisades of neurosecretory axon terminals abutting the basal laminae associated
      with the microvessels and plexuses of neurosecretory axons occupying the spaces
      within the vascular network. Both continuous and fenestrated blood vessels were
      present. Lamellopodia from glial cells partially ensheathed both axons and
      terminals, and sometimes separated the terminals from the perivascular basal
      lamina. Profiles in which neurosecretory granulated vesicles were depleted and
      many microvesicles were present were interpreted as terminals from which hormones
      had been released. No regeneration occurred into explants that had been
      cryotreated to kill their pituicytes and other cells before transplantation.
      These observations demonstrate that neurosecretory axons served in the
      hypothalamus can regenerate to form a new neural lobe-like structure when an
      appropriate microenvironment is available, and that neural lobes explanted 21
      days earlier retain the elements required to supply that microenvironment. They
      also provide evidence that viable pituicytes are essential for regeneration of
      neurosecretory axons and terminals into transplanted explants.

PMID- 1450923
TI  - Iron and transferrin uptake by brain and cerebrospinal fluid in the rat.
AB  - Iron and transferrin uptake into the brain, CSF and choroid plexus, and albumin
      uptake into the CSF and choroid plexus, were determined after the intravenous
      injection of [59Fe-125I]transferrin and [131I]albumin into control rats aged 15,
      21 and 63 days and 21-day iron-deficient rats. Iron uptake by the brain was
      unidirectional, greatly exceeded that of transferrin and was equivalent to 39 and
      36% of the plasma iron pool per day in the 15-day control and 21-day iron
      deficient rats. The rate of transferrin catabolism in the rats was only about 20%
      of the plasma pool per day. Iron and transferrin uptake into the brain and CSF
      decreased with increasing age and was greater in the iron-deficient than in the
      control 21-day rats. The quantity of 125I-transferrin recovered in the CSF could
      account for only a small proportion of the iron taken up by the brain. Albumin
      transfer to the CSF also decreased with age but was lower than that of
      transferrin and was not affected by iron deficiency. Similarly, the plasma: CSF
      concentration ratios of transferrin and albumin, as determined immunologically,
      decreased with age and were greater for transferrin than albumin. It is concluded
      that iron uptake by the brain is dependent on iron release from transferrin at
      the cerebral capillary endothelial cells with recycling of transferrin to the
      plasma and transfer of the iron into the brain interstitium. Only a small
      fraction of the transferrin bound by brain capillaries is transcytosed into the
      brain and CSF, this being one source of CSF transferrin while other sources are
      local synthesis and transfer from the plasma by the choroid plexuses.

PMID- 1450924
TI  - Saturable uptake of [125I]L-triiodothyronine at the basolateral (blood) and
      apical (cerebrospinal fluid) sides of the isolated perfused sheep choroid plexus.
AB  - The uptake of 125I-labelled L-triiodothyronine (T3) was measured on the blood
      side of the isolated perfused choroid plexus of the sheep using steady-state and
      single-circulation paired tracer techniques. The steady-state uptake of T3 was
      33.5% (perfusion fluid protein content was 0.05 g.dl-1) which could be reduced to
      9.4% in the presence of 500 microM unlabelled T3 showing partial saturation. The
      CSF to blood steady-state [125I]T3 measurements gave plasma/CSF ratio, R%, of
      24.6 +/- 4.8% which was reduced to 9.8 +/- 2.1% in the presence of 500 microM
      unlabelled T3 in the mock CSF. The transport of T3 across the blood face of the
      choroid plexus and the CSF to blood transport, failed to show sodium dependence.
      Using the single circulation paired tracer technique, the initial uptake in less
      than 60 s, Umax of [125I]T3 was 50.4 +/- 3.9% relative to the extracellular
      marker [3H]D-mannitol. However, when 250 microM unlabelled T3 was present, Umax
      was reduced by 66%, although further significant inhibition at higher
      concentrations was not observed. Uptake of T3 at the blood side of the choroid
      plexus was partially saturated in the presence of unlabelled reverse T3 and DT3,
      suggesting little uptake stereospecificity. Unlabelled thyroxine (T4) and the
      amino acid analogues cycloleucine (aminocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid) and BCH
      (beta-2-aminobicyclo-[2,2.1]-heptane-2-carboxylic acid) each reduced [125I]T3
      uptake significantly, but not to the same degree as T3 stereoisomers. The neutral
      amino acids alanine and phenylalanine, had no effect on uptake.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450925
TI  - Behavior of VRG neurons during the atonia of REM sleep induced by pontine
      carbachol in decerebrate cats.
AB  - The microinjection of carbachol into the pons of acute decerebrate cats elicits a
      REM sleep-like atonia and a profound suppression of respiratory motoneuronal
      activity (J. Appl. Physiol., 69 (1990) 2280-2289). To assess whether this
      suppression is mediated by medullary neurons that provide respiratory drive to
      motoneurons of the respiratory pump muscles (diaphragm and intercostals), we
      studied the effect of pontine carbachol on the activity of neurons of the ventral
      respiratory group (VRG) in decerebrate, vagotomized, paralyzed and artificially
      ventilated cats. VRG neurons were recorded extracellularly along with the
      activity of phrenic and intercostal (external and internal) nerves. Both
      inspiratory (I) and expiratory (E) VRG neurons had incrementing, ramp-like bursts
      of activity during their firing periods and were not vagal motoneurons. Carbachol
      produced a depression of the peak firing rate in most (42/57) neurons studied.
      However, five cells showed no change and ten had an increase in activity in spite
      of consistent depression at the motoneuronal level. For the total population of
      cells (34 I and 23 E), the peak firing was reduced to 88.5% +/- 16.3 (S.D.) of
      control. The simultaneously recorded phrenic activity was reduced to 77.9% +/-
      11.5, while inspiratory intercostal activity fell to 63.4% +/- 21.6 and
      expiratory to 23.2% +/- 21.2 of control. The carbachol-induced changes in peak
      firing of both I and E cells were quantitatively similar, and positively
      correlated to changes in peak phrenic activity. Analysis of this correlation
      suggested that phrenic and intercostal activities will be depressed to some
      degree by carbachol even when the average VRG cell activity remains unchanged. In
      addition, our data show that VRG cells may receive a combination of inhibitory
      and excitatory inputs during the carbachol-induced depression of respiratory
      motoneurons. Thus, although some disfacilitation from VRG cells may occur, there
      must be additional inhibitory or disfacilitatory pathways that mediate the
      decrease in activity of both phrenic and intercostal motoneurons that accompanies
      the REM sleep-like atonia.

PMID- 1450926
TI  - Graded postischemic reoxygenation reduces lipid peroxidation and reperfusion
      injury in the rabbit spinal cord.
AB  - The effect of graded postischemic reoxygenation on lipid peroxidation,
      neurological recovery and the degree of spinal cord damage after 20 min abdominal
      aorta ligature was tested in the rabbit. In comparison with normoxic
      recirculation, the graded postischemic reoxygenation (GPIR) during early phase of
      reperfusion (30 min) significantly reduced the level of lipid peroxidation
      products (LPP) in vivo and in vitro after 1 h survival. Neuropathological changes
      in animals with normoxic reperfusion showed gradual deterioration ranging from
      appearance of heavy argyrophilic neurons after 1 h reperfusion followed by
      neuronal necroses after 12 h survival to the development of an extensive spongy
      lesion reaching ventral horn and intermediate zone 2 days postoperatively. The
      neuroprotective effect of graded postischemic reoxygenation was evident even
      after 2 days survival with preserved structural integrity of the gray matter as
      confirmed by light and electron microscopy. The results indicate that graded
      postischemic reoxygenation during 1 h reperfusion can reduce lipid peroxidation
      and suppress irreversible neuronal damage using developing during the early
      reperfusion phase.

PMID- 1450927
TI  - Effects of calcium on the dynamic process of transmitter release which generates
      either skew- or bell-MEPPS.
AB  - Miniature endplate potential (MEPP) amplitudes, MEPP frequencies and ratios of
      skew:bell-MEPPs were determined as well as synaptic vesicle diameters and
      densities at the mouse diaphragm neuromuscular endplate during exposure to
      elevated calcium concentrations. Additions of external Ca2+ had variable effects
      on MEPP frequencies and percentages of skew-MEPPs, regardless of concentrations
      used (1-25 mM). Nevertheless, changes in MEPP amplitudes were most sensitive (4
      fold decrease) to low value increases of Ca2+. Changes in MEPP frequencies
      produced by an increase in Ca2+ were very sensitive to initial frequencies as
      well as the initial calcium concentration. An increase in Ca2+ usually increased
      MEPP frequency (providing skew-MEPPs were measured). Changes in the percentage of
      skew-MEPPs were extremely variable (4-90%) and these changes depended on initial
      frequencies, initial skew- to bell-MEPP ratios and age of the mouse. With a
      change in Ca2+ concentration, synaptic vesicle diameters and densities remained
      constant during changes in MEPP frequencies and large changes in the skew:bell
      MEPP ratios; and, vesicle numbers were sometimes slightly increased. Because of
      the wide range in MEPP frequencies and amplitudes, this study demonstrates that
      the effect of various treatments should be evaluated on identified endplates and
      that analyses of randomly selected endplates must consider the large variability
      between endplates. These results show that the skew-MEPP class must not be
      ignored in studies of spontaneous MEPP release, and that initial frequencies and
      age of the mouse are also important in evaluating changes in skew-MEPP to bell
      MEPP ratios. The rapid changes in skew- to bell-MEPP classes indicate that MEPP
      class and size are determined at the moment of release by the state of the
      release process as proposed by Kriebel et al. (1990). Because changes in calcium
      concentration can immediately alter the ratio of skew- to bell-MEPPs we conclude
      that the release process has two states to generate the two classes of MEPPs, and
      that the release process is very sensitive to conditions so that states are
      easily changed. We propose that the release process meters transmitter in subunit
      amounts to form both classes of MEPPS and that the calcium ions modulate the
      process.

PMID- 1450928
TI  - Hippocampal activity, olfaction, and sniffing: an olfactory input to the dentate
      gyrus.
AB  - Experiments in freely moving rats showed that olfactory stimuli elicit a burst of
      rhythmical 15-30 Hz waves in or near the hilus of the dentate gyrus but not in
      adjacent regions of CA1. This fast wave burst is not elicited by visual,
      auditory, or somatosensory inputs and is not related to motor activity.
      Electrical stimulation of the olfactory bulb evokes a complex potential in the
      hilus of the dentate gyrus but not in adjacent regions of CA1. Experiments making
      use of wave-triggered averaging demonstrated that there is a degree of phase
      locking between (a) hippocampal RSA and sniffing or other respiratory patterns,
      (b) hippocampal RSA and the initiation of jumping, and (c) respiration and the
      initiation of jumping. An early hypothesis that the hippocampus and dentate gyrus
      are part of an olfacto-motor mechanism may merit re-examination.

PMID- 1450929
TI  - N-methyl-D-aspartate and vasopressin activate distinct voltage-dependent inward
      currents in facial motoneurones.
AB  - Facial motoneurones of the rat respond to arginine vasopressin by generating a
      voltage-dependent inward current which is sodium-dependent and is resistant to
      tetrodotoxin. In the present study, we have investigated the action of N-methyl-D
      aspartate (NMDA) on these same neurones. We have obtained single-electrode
      voltage-clamp recordings from brainstem slices of newborn rats. In a majority of
      vasopressin-sensitive facial motoneurones, NMDA induced an inward current. This
      action was direct, was concentration-related and could be suppressed by the
      specific competitive antagonist D-2-amino-5-phosphopentanoic acid (D-AP5). The
      NMDA-evoked current increased in amplitude as the neuronal membrane was
      depolarized. It could be blocked by the noncompetitive antagonist MK-801. It was
      potentiated following removal of extracellular magnesium, and was attenuated or
      suppressed when the external magnesium concentration was increased from 1 to 10
      mM. By contrast, none of these treatments affected the vasopressin-induced
      current. These results show that facial motoneurones in the rat possess
      functional NMDA receptors and indicate that NMDA and vasopressin affect the
      bioelectrical properties of these neurones by turning on distinct voltage
      dependent inward currents.

PMID- 1450930
TI  - Isradipine is able to separate morphine-induced analgesia and place conditioning.
AB  - The effect of isradipine, a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, on morphine
      induced place preference and analgesia in rats and mice was studied. Isradipine
      (0.6-5.0 mg/kg s.c.) inhibited an acquisition of morphine-induced place
      preference in rats and mice in a dose-related manner. Isradipine did not affect
      or strengthen morphine-induced analgesia as measured by tail-clip and hot-plate
      tests in mice and tail-clip and tail-flick tests in rats. The results suggest
      that analgesic and reinforcing effects of morphine might be pharmacologically
      separated by isradipine.

PMID- 1450931
TI  - Calbindin D-28k and choline acetyltransferase are expressed by different neuronal
      populations in pedunculopontine nucleus but not in nucleus basalis in squirrel
      monkeys.
AB  - Single- and double-immunostaining procedures were used to study the distribution
      of the acetylcholine synthesizing enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and the
      calcium binding protein calbindin D-28k in the nucleus basalis of Meynert (nbM)
      and in the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) of the squirrel monkey (Saimiri
      sciureus). As expected from previous studies in other primates, including humans,
      the nbM in the squirrel monkey is enriched with large ChAT-immunoreactive neurons
      that form clusters in the substantia innominata. Some ChAT-positive neurons are
      also scattered more dorsally within the internal and external medullary laminae
      of the pallidal complex. A smaller number of calbindin-immunoreactive cells occur
      in the same locations and their mean cross-sectional somatic area (424 microns 2)
      is not significantly different from that of the ChAT-immunoreactive cells (450
      microns 2). Furthermore, 60% of the ChAT-immunopositive cells in the nbM display
      calbindin immunoreactivity. Most of these double-immunoreactive neurons occur in
      the typical clusters of the nbM, whereas the large neurons scattered in between
      the clusters display ChAT immunoreactivity only. In the PPN, ChAT-positive
      neurons are scattered around and partly within the superior cerebellar peduncle
      and also form a dense cluster in the lateral portion of the mesopontine
      tegmentum. Calbindin-immunoreactive cells also abound around the superior
      cerebellar peduncle, but they are more sparsely distributed and cover a larger
      sector of the tegmentum than the ChAT-positive neurons. These calbindin
      immunoreactive cells are significantly smaller (200 microns 2) than the ChAT
      immunoreactive cells (471 microns 2) and no double-immunostained neurons are
      present in the PPN.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1450932
TI  - Sex differences of hypothalamic prolactin cells develop independently of the
      presence of sex steroids.
AB  - There is evidence for a hypothalamic prolactin (PRL) system that expresses
      sexually dimorphic traits. The aim of this in vitro study is to gain an insight
      into the process of sexual differentiation of hypothalamic PRL cells. In
      particular, we wanted to determine whether sexual differentiation of these cells
      can occur independently of the surge of gonadal testosterone which, in the male
      rat embryo, takes place at embryonic day (E) 18 and is commonly believed to start
      the critical period of sexual differentiation of the brain. Gender-specific cell
      cultures were prepared from E 14 or E 17 rat diencephalon and raised in the
      absence of gonadal steroids. After 10 days in vitro, numbers of PRL
      immunoreactive (IR) cells and PRL levels were quantified by immunocytochemistry
      and Western blotting, respectively. Numbers of PRL-IR cells and PRL levels were 2
      3 times higher in cultures prepared from female than from male embryos of either
      age. It is concluded that sexual differentiation of hypothalamic PRL cells starts
      well before the generally acknowledged onset of the critical period and may
      proceed independently of the action of gonadal testosterone. Besides gonadal
      steroids, other mechanisms, such as cell-intrinsic realization of a sex-specific
      genetic program, may be responsible for initiating the development of sexually
      dimorphic neuronal phenotypes.

PMID- 1450933
TI  - Activation of the dentate gyrus by pentylenetetrazol evoked seizures induces
      mossy fiber synaptic reorganization.
AB  - Kindled seizures evoked by electrical stimulation of limbic pathways in the rat
      induce sprouting and synaptic reorganization of the mossy fiber pathway in the
      dentate gyrus (DG). To investigate whether seizures evoked by different methods
      also induce reorganization of this pathway, the distribution of mossy fiber
      terminals in the DG was examined with Timm histochemistry after systemic
      administration of pentylenetetrazol, a chemoconvulsant that reduces Cl- mediated
      GABAergic inhibition. Myoclonic seizures evoked by subconvulsant doses of
      pentylenetetrazol (24 mg/kg i.p.) were not accompanied by electrographic seizures
      in the DG, and did not induce mossy fiber sprouting. Generalized tonic-clonic
      seizures evoked by repeated administration of PTZ (24 mg/kg i.p.) were
      consistently accompanied by electrographic seizure activity in the DG, and
      induced sprouting and synaptic reorganization of the mossy fiber pathway. The
      results demonstrated that repeated generalized tonic-clonic seizures evoked by
      pentylenetetrazol induced mossy fiber synaptic reorganization when ictal
      electrographic discharges activated the circuitry of the DG.

PMID- 1450934
TI  - Effects of 1,3-di-o-tolylguanidine (DTG), a sigma ligand, on local cerebral
      glucose utilization in rat brain.
AB  - The 2-deoxy-D-[1-14C]glucose ([14C]DG) method was used to examine the effects of
      the relatively selective sigma ligand 1,3-di-o-tolylguanidine (DTG) on cerebral
      metabolism in freely moving rats. Each animal received an i.p. injection of DTG
      (0.2, 1, or 5 mg/kg) or normal saline 20 min prior to the infusion of [14C]DG.
      DTG induced dose-dependent changes in local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU)
      in several motor and limbic structures. Most structures showed increases in LCGU,
      with a maximum effect at 1 mg/kg. The most profound increases in LCGU were
      observed in brain regions that are rich in sigma receptors. These included
      cerebellar and related nuclei (interpositus, lateral and medial cerebellar n.,
      vestibular n., olivary n.), ambiguus n., superior colliculus (superior layers),
      hippocampus (CA2, CA3, DG), n. basalis of Meynert interpeduncular n., and the
      substantia nigra pars compacta and pars reticulata. No significant decreases in
      glucose utilization were observed at any dose. Although the areas affected by DTG
      are similar to those previously reported for other sigma ligands, future studies
      employing a range of doses for additional selective sigma ligands must be carried
      out in order to confirm whether these changes in LCGU were sigma-mediated.

PMID- 1450935
TI  - High molecular weight basic fibroblast growth factor-like protein is localized to
      a subpopulation of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons in the rat brain.
AB  - A rabbit antiserum (R917) was raised to a purified fraction of bovine brain basic
      fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). On Western blots of rat midbrain extract, the
      antiserum did not recognize low molecular weight forms of bFGF. Instead, it
      recognized a single band of 27-28 kDa. Immunohistochemically, the antiserum
      preferentially stained a subpopulation of calbindin-negative mesencephalic
      dopaminergic neurons. The positive somata were mainly packed in a ventral portion
      of the tegmentum including the A10 region, the ventral tegmental area and the
      pars compacta of the medial substantia nigra, but were also scattered in both the
      pars compacta and reticulata portions of the lateral substantia nigra. Processes
      of dendrites and axons were clearly visible. Terminal fields were located in
      striosomes, the dorsolateral rim of the neostriatum, the anterodorsal aspect of
      the nucleus accumbens shell, the infralimbic cortex, and the medial prefrontal
      cortex. These results suggest that trophic specialization in subpopulations may
      occur in all three of these dopaminergic projection systems, i.e. the
      nigrostriatal, mesolimbic and mesocortical pathways.

PMID- 1450936
TI  - Anticonvulsant effect of intranigral fluoxetine.
AB  - Bilateral focal injections of the serotonin uptake inhibitor, fluoxetine (1.75
      7.0 nmol) into substantia nigra (SN) protected against convulsive seizures evoked
      by the focal injection of bicuculline methiodide into area tempestas, an
      epileptogenic site within the deep prepiriform cortex. Injection of fluoxetine
      unilaterally in SN or bilaterally into a site dorsal to SN was not
      anticonvulsant. Blockade of nigral gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors with
      bicuculline in SN did not reverse the anticonvulsant action of intranigral
      fluoxetine. These data suggest that serotonergic transmission in SN exerts a
      seizure suppressing action which is independent of GABA transmission in SN.

PMID- 1450937
TI  - Amphibian olfactory receptor neurons express olfactory marker protein.
AB  - Expression of olfactory marker protein (OMP) in olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs)
      in two amphibians was investigated by immunohistochemical methods. The OMP
      immunoreactivity was observed in the cilia, apical dendritic knobs, dendrites and
      somas of ORNs; the axons of ORNs also showed intense immunoreactivity for OMP
      throughout their course from the olfactory epithelium to the glomerular layer of
      the olfactory bulb. Seven days after olfactory nerve transection in salamander,
      the number of OMP-positive ORNs was markedly reduced in the ipsilateral
      epithelium. The results demonstrate that amphibian ORNs express OMP and confirm
      its phylogenetic conservation across diverse species.

PMID- 1450938
TI  - Chronic fluoxetine treatment reduces hypothalamic vasopressin secretion in vitro.
AB  - Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) hypersecrete the arousal
      producing neurohormone arginine vasopressin (AVP) into the cerebrospinal fluid
      and plasma. Because OCD responds preferentially to potent serotonin uptake
      inhibitors, we compared the effect of chronic fluoxetine treatment to that of
      other antidepressants (trazodone and desipramine) on AVP release from rat
      hypothalamic organ culture and showed that only fluoxetine significantly reduced
      in vitro AVP release.

PMID- 1450939
TI  - Basal extracellular dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens are decreased during
      cocaine withdrawal after unlimited-access self-administration.
AB  - The effects of withdrawal from cocaine on extracellular dopamine (DA) levels in
      the nucleus accumbens (NAC) were examined by intracranial microdialysis in awake
      rats after periods (9.5-21.75 h) of unlimited-access, intravenous cocaine self
      administration. Cocaine withdrawal was associated with significant reductions in
      basal DA overflow that persisted up to 12 h. Maximal inhibition of DA release
      (mean +/- S.E.M. 66.15 +/- 3.30 percent of basal levels) was observed between 4-6
      h after cessation of cocaine intake and was positively correlated (r = 0.88) with
      the duration of the preceding self-administration episode. The results suggest
      that suppression of basal DA release in the NAC is an adaptive consequence of
      sustained cocaine exposure and may in part underlie the post-cocaine anhedonia
      observed in behavioral models of cocaine withdrawal.

PMID- 1450940
TI  - Amyloid precursor protein is localized in growing neurites of neonatal rat brain.
AB  - Previous studies have indicated that amyloid precursor protein (APP) might be a
      trophic agent in the nervous system, possibly through the regulation of cell
      adhesion and the protease/protease inhibitor activity. Additionally, APP is
      upregulated during the development of the nervous system. In order to further
      study the role of APP in neuritic outgrowth, we examined the patterns of
      distribution of APP in the immature neonatal rat brain (P1). Laser-scanning
      confocal imaging of double-immunolabeled sections showed that a subpopulation of
      the anti-GAP43-immunoreactive outgrowing neurites contained APP immunoreactivity
      in the neocortex and hippocampus. These fine, long neuritic processes were also
      positive with antibodies against phosphorylated neurofilaments and were glial
      fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) negative. In addition, anti-APP strongly
      immunolabeled neurons in the inner cortical layers, while GAP43 strongly
      immunolabeled the neuropil surrounding them. These observations are consistent
      with a previous study where APP was localized to aberrant sprouting neurites and
      suggest a possible role for APP in neuritic outgrowth in plaques of patients with
      Alzheimer's disease (AD), which might explain the abnormal neuritic response
      found in AD.

PMID- 1450941
TI  - Comparison of anticonvulsant effects of valproic acid entrapped in positively and
      negatively charged liposomes in amygdaloid-kindled rats.
AB  - Intraperitoneal injection of free valproic acid (VPA) suppressed amygdaloid
      kindled seizure 1 h after injection in rats, but had no effect at 24 h. VPA
      entrapped in positively charged liposomes showed a prolonged anticonvulsant
      effect lasting for 2 days, while the effect evaluated at 1 h was not different
      from that with free VPA. VPA entrapped in negatively charged liposomes exerted a
      significantly stronger effect at 1 h than did free VPA, while it had no
      significant effect at 24 h. These results suggest that surface charges on
      liposomes play an important role in modifying the anticonvulsant effect of VPA.

PMID- 1450942
TI  - Effects of epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor on
      generation of long-term potentiation in the dentate gyrus of fimbria-fornix
      lesioned rats.
AB  - The effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor
      (bFGF) on long-term potentiation (LTP) in the dentate gyrus in vivo were
      investigated in fimbria-fornix (FF)-lesioned rats. Transection of FF resulted in
      decreased frequency of LTP generation. Intracerebroventricular injection of EGF
      (50 ng) and bFGF (50 ng) significantly facilitated LTP generation in the FF
      lesioned rats. These results suggest that EGF and bFGF can promote the
      hippocampal LTP impaired by loss of subcortical afferents.

PMID- 1450943
TI  - Differences in the dopaminergic innervation of the electroreceptive and
      mechanoreceptive medullary lateral line nuclei of the ray, Raja radiata.
AB  - An immunohistochemical study was made of the octavolateral centres in the medulla
      of a cartilaginous fish, using an antibody specific for dopamine. No
      immunopositive cell bodies were observed but dopaminergic fibres were present in
      parts of the region. The overlying cerebellar crest was devoid of dopamine; the
      dorsal (electroreceptive) nucleus was poorly innervated, but the medial
      (mechanoreceptive) nucleus received a rich dopaminergic innervation comprising
      very fine, varicose fibres.

PMID- 1450944
TI  - Neuromelanin-containing neurons of the substantia nigra accumulate iron and
      aluminum in Parkinson's disease: a LAMMA study.
AB  - The Laser Microprobe Mass Analyzer (LAMMA) is a sensitive instrument for
      identifying and localizing trace elements in tissue samples. Using LAMMA, we have
      examined melanin-containing neurons of the substantia nigra in patients with
      Parkinson's disease (PD) and controls. We found that iron significantly
      accumulates within neuromelanin granules of patients with PD compared to
      controls. Increased aluminum was found in the neuromelanin granules of 2 of 3 PD
      cases but in no controls. The accumulation of iron and aluminum, which are known
      to promote oxidant stress, may account for the selective degeneration of
      neuromelanin-containing neurons in PD.

PMID- 1450945
TI  - HIV-1 envelope protein evokes intracellular calcium oscillations in rat
      hippocampal neurons.
AB  - Treatment of single rat hippocampal neurons with 200 pM recombinant HIV-1
      envelope glycoprotein, gp120, resulted in large increases in the intracellular
      free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) as measured with indo-1-based
      microfluorimetry. Three patterns of [Ca2+]i increases were observed: in one
      pattern the [Ca2+]i rose rapidly and transiently as a single peak, in a second
      pattern gp120 induced [Ca2+]i oscillations that subsided when the protein was
      removed, and in a third pattern the oscillations continued long after washout of
      gp120. Both single peak and oscillatory [Ca2+]i increases were completely blocked
      by the Ca2+ channel blocker nitrendipine (1 microM). The sustained oscillatory
      responses were also blocked completely and reversibly by the N-methyl-D-aspartate
      (NMDA) receptor antagonist CGS19755 (10 microM) and the Na+ channel blocker
      tetrodotoxin (1 microM). Complete block by antagonists of Ca2+, Na+, and NMDA
      gated ion channels suggests that at least two cells are required to maintain the
      [Ca2+]i oscillations. We hypothesize that gp120 acts as an excitotoxin by
      increasing synaptic activity in the network of neurons established in primary
      culture.

PMID- 1450946
TI  - The pontine parabrachial region mediates some of the descending inhibitory
      effects of stimulating the anterior pretectal nucleus.
AB  - Electrical stimulation of the anterior pretectal nucleus (APtN) elicits
      antinociception by inhibiting the responses of spinal multireceptive neurones to
      noxious stimuli. This descending inhibition is mediated, in part, by activating
      cells in the ventrolateral medulla. Neuronal tract tracing has previously shown
      that the APtN also projects directly to the pontine parabrachial region (PPR).
      The PPR, investigated by Katayama et al. (Brain Res., 296 (1984) 263-283),
      corresponds to the cholinergic cell group Ch5 of Mesulam et al. (Neuroscience, 10
      (1983) 1185-1201). In this study, the pathway from APtN to PPR was investigated
      using urethane anaesthetised rats. Electrical stimulation (single square wave 0.2
      ms pulses, 1-10 V, 5 Hz) of the APtN potently excites 40% of the cells recorded
      in the PPR. In the reverse experiment, stimulation of the PPR at the same
      parameters excited 36% of the cells recorded in the APtN. The contribution of
      this pathway to the spinal inhibitory effects of APtN stimulation was then
      examined. Unanaesthetised animals received electrical stimulation to the APtN (35
      microA r.m.s., 15 s) and the increase in tail-flick latencies was measured.
      Bilateral electrolytic lesions of the PPR caused a 67% reduction of the
      antinociceptive effect of APtN stimulation. In urethane anaesthetised rats,
      microinjection of tetracaine into the PPR blocked the inhibition of
      multireceptive dorsal horn neurones caused by APtN stimulation (20 s train of 50
      microA square wave 0.1 ms pulses, 100 Hz). In conclusion, these experiments
      strongly sugget that the PPR may be an important part of a descending
      antinociceptive pathway originating in the APtN.

PMID- 1450947
TI  - Primary culture of postnatal rat hypothalamic neurons in astrocyte-conditioned
      medium.
AB  - Mature functional hypothalamic neurons of male and female rats (21-day postnatal)
      were successfully cultured without attachment to non-neuronal cells in serum-free
      astrocyte-conditioned medium (ACM). A novel cell-collecting method was designed
      for these vulnerable cells by allowing the dissociated cell suspension to stand
      in a vertically held, wide-tipped syringe so that the cells were concentrated
      near the lower liquid surface, from which position they could be easily dropped
      into the medium, leaving most of the small debris in the syringe. This method
      made it possible to study statistically the survival of cultured neurons. It was
      impossible to collect many viable cells by the commonly used dissociating
      technique for fetal rat brain. However, neuron-like cells with a few processes
      could be isolated from sliced hypothalamic tissues by means of enzymatic and
      mechanical treatments. The original processes disappeared within 1-2 days and
      some new processes were generated after 2-3 days in vitro; the cells survived for
      28 days in vitro. The cells were identified as neurons by the immunostaining
      method for microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and neurofilament (NF). Such
      neurons were obtained from every site of hypothalamic tissue sampled. These
      phenomena were not observed in chemically-defined medium (CDM), CDM supplemented
      with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) or
      nerve growth factor (NGF).

PMID- 1450948
TI  - Systemic morphine reduces GABA release in the lateral but not the medial portion
      of the midbrain periaqueductal gray of the rat.
AB  - Neuroanatomical, electrophysiological and pharmacological studies have provided
      indirect evidence indicating that GABAergic neurons play a key role in opiate
      analgesia mediated by the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) and ventromedial
      medulla. Although these studies suggest that systemic administration of opiates
      inhibits GABA release in the PAG, there have been no investigations to date that
      have directly examined this issue. The present study was thus designed to
      determine whether systemic morphine injection inhibits GABA release in the PAG of
      awake, freely moving rats using in vivo microdialysis and subsequent HPLC
      analysis. Extracellular levels of GABA, glutamate, aspartate, glycine,
      homocysteic acid and taurine were monitored with the microdialysis technique in
      either the lateral or medial portion of the ventrocaudal PAG in unanesthetized,
      unrestrained rats. Amino acid release was induced by infusing veratridine (75
      microM, a sodium channel activator) directly through the dialysis probe. The
      effect of veratridine alone and the effect of veratridine in the presence of
      systemic morphine on the concentrations of amino acids in the PAG dialysate were
      determined. There were no significant differences in the basal concentrations of
      GABA, taurine, aspartate, glutamate, homocysteic acid and glycine between
      dialysates collected from the medial versus the lateral ventrocaudal PAG.
      Glycine, taurine and glutamate were present in the highest concentrations in
      dialysis samples both before and after treatment with veratridine, whereas GABA,
      homocysteic acid and aspartate were present in the lowest concentrations.
      Perfusion of veratridine into the ventrocaudal PAG resulted in significant
      elevation of all amino acids investigated. Except for taurine, no significant
      difference in veratridine-induced release between the lateral and medial PAG was
      observed. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) significantly blocked veratridine-induced release of
      GABA, aspartate, glutamate, glycine and taurine but not homocysteic acid. When
      rats were injected with morphine (10 mg/kg i.p.), veratridine-induced release of
      GABA was selectively and significantly decreased in the lateral but not the
      medial PAG as compared to control rats injected with saline followed by
      veratridine perfusion. Systemic injection of morphine or saline caused no
      significant change in the basal concentration of amino acids in PAG dialysate
      samples. These findings are consistent with the proposed mechanism of action of
      morphine in the lateral ventrocaudal PAG and offer the first direct evidence that
      systemic opiates decrease GABA release in this midbrain region.

PMID- 1450949
TI  - Effects of prazosin on the blood-brain barrier during experimental autoimmune
      encephalomyelitis.
AB  - Alterations in normal function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) are important in
      the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis and its laboratory counterpart,
      experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). As part of studies on drugs that
      affect vascular tone in rats with EAE, we have shown previously that the specific
      alpha 1-adrenoreceptor antagonist, prazosin, suppressed clinical and pathologic
      disease. In the present study we used quantitative morphometric analysis of
      capillary endothelium and the tracer horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to define
      effects of this drug on vascular events associated with central nervous system
      edema. In prazosin-treated and saline-treated EAE rats, protein extravasation in
      the spinal cord correlated with clinical presentation. Consistent with our
      previous data, the results showed that increased edema was associated with
      increased vesicular content of capillary endothelium. In prazosin-treated rats
      with no clinical signs, vesicular content was comparable to that found in normal
      animals. With increasing severity of disease, vesicular content increased and
      mitochondrial content decreased. In both prazosin- and saline-treated rats,
      mitochondrial content was reduced even when clinical signs were slight, and
      sharply declined when clinical signs increased. These results suggest that damage
      to mitochondria may be associated with early pathological events. In prazosin
      treated animals, HRP accumulated in pericytes, suggesting that these cells were a
      target for the action of prazosin and may restrict the extravasation of fluid
      into the perivascular parenchyma. Our results underscore the presence of
      capillary changes associated with inflammation of the central nervous system, in
      addition to the well-recognized cellular inflammation that is targeted to the
      venular bed. The extent of capillary changes was closely associated with extent
      of tracer leakage in the spinal cord and support the conclusion that transcytotic
      vesicles are involved in transport of edema fluid during EAE, and that high
      mitochondrial levels are important for the normal function of BBB endothelium.

PMID- 1450950
TI  - A1 neurons and excitatory amino acid receptors in rat caudal medulla mediate
      vagal excitation of supraoptic vasopressin cells.
AB  - Extracellular recordings from the supraoptic nucleus of the rat established that
      vasopressinergic neurosecretory cells were excited by stimulation of cervical but
      not abdominal vagal afferents. This response was absent or significantly
      attenuated after microinjection of gamma-aminobutyric acid into a region of the
      caudal medulla known to contain the A1 noradrenaline cell group. Consistent with
      the possible involvement of the A1 group, vagal stimulation approximately doubled
      the frequency of proto-oncogene expression in A1 noradrenaline neurons, as
      indicated by the occurrence of nuclear Fos-like immunoreactivity in tyrosine
      hydroxylase-positive neurons of the caudal ventrolateral medulla. Finally, A1
      region microinjection of either the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor
      antagonist DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV), or the non-NMDA antagonist 6
      cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), significantly reduced vasopressin cell
      responses to vagal stimulation. These findings suggest that: (i) the A1 group is
      an essential component in a pathway which relays facilitatory vagal input of
      cardiopulmonary origin to neurosecretory vasopressin cells, and (ii) the
      activation of A1 neurons in this pathway involves both NMDA and non-NMDA
      excitatory amino acid receptors, an observation consistent with an input to A1
      cells which generates 'mixed' excitatory postsynaptic potentials.

PMID- 1450951
TI  - Convergence and segregation of septal and median raphe inputs onto different
      subsets of hippocampal inhibitory interneurons.
AB  - The convergence and segregation of medial septal and median raphe afferents in
      the innervation of different subpopulations of GABAergic interneurons was
      investigated in the rat hippocampal formation. Following local injections of 5,7
      dihydroxytryptamine into the median raphe nucleus destroying all serotonergic
      neurons, iontophoretic injections of Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHAL)
      into the medial septum resulted in anterograde labelling of axons in the
      hippocampus. The labelled varicose fibres made multiple contacts with calbindin
      D28K-, parvalbumin-, and cholecystokinin-immunoreactive interneurons. These
      results disproved the possibility that PHAL-labelled afferents innervating
      hippocampal interneurons following septal PHAL injections would have been raphe
      axons passing through the injection site. In the second set of experiments a
      double anterograde tracing technique (PHAL from the septum and biotinylated-PHAL
      from the median raphe) and a triple or double immunostaining procedure was used
      to determine the types of interneurons (calbindin D28K-, parvalbumin-, or
      cholecystokinin-immunoreactive) innervated by one, or the other, or both
      pathways. The results showed that parvalbumin-containing neurons were innervated
      by septal afferents but avoided by raphe axons, whereas calbindin D28K-containing
      cells, and to a smaller extent cholecystokinin-containing cells served as targets
      for both pathways. In some cases the same individual calbindin D28K- or
      cholecystokinin-containing neurons received multiple contacts from afferents of
      both septal and raphe origin. Thus, our results indicate that different
      subcortical nuclei modulate largely different inhibitory circuits in the
      hippocampal formation. However, considering the occasional convergence of the two
      subcortical nuclei not only onto the same type, but even onto the same individual
      calbindin D28K-containing interneurons, we propose that a particular inhibitory
      function, most probably feed-forward inhibition in the distal dendritic region,
      is under the control of both pathways.

PMID- 1450952
TI  - Progressive transformation of the cytoskeleton associated with normal aging and
      Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - Transitional and end-stage forms of neurofibrillary tangles associated with
      normal aging and Alzheimer's disease were identified using thioflavine staining
      combined with tau and neurofilament protein immunofluorescence. Normal aging was
      marked by transitional pathology in layer II of the entorhinal cortex but no
      neurofibrillary tangles in prefrontal cortex, whereas, in Alzheimer's disease
      cases, layer II entorhinal neurons had progressed to end-stage neurofibrillary
      tangles and the prefrontal cortex contained a high representation of transitional
      forms of the neurofibrillary tangle.

PMID- 1450953
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging of neural transplants in rat brain using a
      superparamagnetic contrast agent.
AB  - Rat fetal brain tissue was incubated in vitro with superparamagnetic ferrite
      particles covalently coupled to the lectin wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and
      transplanted into the adult rat striatum. At 6 days and at 3 weeks post-surgery
      the transplants were observed on T1 weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images of
      the rat head as an area of relatively low signal intensity which could be clearly
      differentiated from the higher signal intensity produced by the host brain.
      Histological analysis revealed that the ferrite particles were largely restricted
      to the transplant in a patchy distribution. The ferrite particles were associated
      with cells having an apparent normal morphology. Superparamagnetic ferrite
      particles act as potent MR contrast agents and can be used to label transplanted
      cells. The labeled cells are apparently not adversely affected by the WGA-ferrite
      particles and can be monitored for at least three weeks in vivo using noninvasive
      MR imaging.

PMID- 1450954
TI  - Neuroprotective effect of protein kinase C inhibitors on oxygen/glucose free
      induced decreases in 2-deoxyglucose uptake and CA1 field potentials in rat
      hippocampal slices.
AB  - Staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, was found to produce a
      neuroprotective effect against an ischemic insult in both gerbils and rats in
      vivo. We have demonstrated that rat hippocampal slices exposed to oxygen/glucose
      free medium showed decreases in 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake and CA1 field
      potentials elicited by the stimulation of Schaffer collaterals. Therefore we
      examined the effect of protein kinase C inhibitors on oxygen/glucose free-induced
      impairments of 2-DG uptake and CA1 field potentials. Pretreatment with
      staurosporine, K252a and H-7 attenuated decreases in 2-DG uptake and CA1 field
      potentials. Treatment with phorbol ester, a protein kinase C activator, for a
      long period (90 min) was found to induce a down-regulation of protein kinase C
      activity. Therefore we examined the effect of pretreatment with phorbol ester for
      90 min on oxygen/glucose free-induced decreases in 2-DG uptake and CA1 field
      potentials. These decrements were not attenuated by 5-min treatment with phorbol
      ester but were attenuated by 90-min treatment. The present results suggest that
      the treatment which decreases protein kinase C activity shows a neuroprotective
      action against oxygen/glucose free-induced deficits of metabolic and synaptic
      activity in hippocampal slices.

PMID- 1450955
TI  - Intravenous angiotensin II induces Fos-immunoreactivity in circumventricular
      organs of the lamina terminalis.
AB  - Conscious rats were infused intravenously with either angiotensin II (30-55
      pmol/kg/min), isotonic saline or phenylephrine for 2 h, then killed. Fos was
      identified by immunohistochemistry in the brains. Fos expression occurred in many
      neurons of the subfornical organ and organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis
      (OVLT) with angiotensin infusion but not with isotonic NaCl or phenylephrine. Fos
      immunoreactivity was induced in cells in several medullary, hypothalamic and
      limbic structures with infusions of angiotensin II or phenylephrine at pressor
      doses. The results suggest that blood-borne angiotensin II at physiological
      levels causes angiotensin receptive neurons in the subfornical organ and OVLT to
      express Fos. Activation of baroreceptor pathways may also induce Fos expression
      at several other sites.

PMID- 1450956
TI  - Redirection of the hypoglossal nerve to facial muscles alters central
      connectivity in human brainstem.
AB  - Functional motor control requires perfect matching of central connectivity of
      motoneurones with their peripheral connections. However, it is not known to what
      extent central circuitry is influenced by target muscles, either during
      development or following a lesion. Surgical interventions aimed at restoring
      function following peripheral nerve lesions provide an opportunity for studying
      this interaction in the mature human nervous system. We have followed 8 patients
      in whom the hypoglossal nerve was anastomosed into a lesioned facial nerve,
      allowing voluntary contractions of the previously paralyzed muscles. We show
      that, in addition to replacing the facial neurons at peripheral synapses, a new
      short-latency trigemino-hypoglossal reflex, of the R1 blink reflex type, can be
      demonstrated in patients showing recovery, implying a sprouting of trigeminal
      neurons towards hypoglossal motoneurones, over a distance of at least 0.5 cm.
      These surprising results show an unexpected influence of the periphery in
      remodelling central connectivity in man.

PMID- 1450957
TI  - Mild traumatic brain injury enhances muscarinic receptor-linked inositol
      phosphate production in rat hippocampus.
AB  - Recent evidence suggests that muscarinic receptors play a role in the hippocampal
      hypersensitivity to imposed ischemia following mild traumatic brain injury (TBI).
      In rat hippocampal tissue, carbachol-stimulated inositol phosphate production was
      found to be enhanced by mild TBI, at 1 h post injury. This finding suggests that
      mild TBI may result in enhanced coupling between muscarinic receptors and
      phosphoinositide hydrolysis, which may contribute to post-traumatic hippocampal
      vulnerability to secondary ischemia.

PMID- 1450958
TI  - Sexual dimorphisms in the soma size of neurons in the brain of whiptail lizards
      (Cnemidophorus species).
AB  - Soma area was significantly larger in the anterior hypothalamus-preoptic area of
      male than female Cnemidophorus inornatus, and it was significantly larger in
      females than males in the ventromedial hypothalamus. These results parallel those
      on the volume of the brain areas in these animals, and therefore probably explain
      at least part of the dimorphisms seen in this sexually reproducing species. Soma
      size in parthenogenetic C. uniparens also parallels volume.

PMID- 1450959
TI  - The progressive changes of neuronal activities of the nigral dopaminergic neurons
      upon withdrawal from continuous infusion of cocaine.
AB  - Sensitivity of the nigral dopamine neurons to intravenous apomorphine was
      examined in rats pretreated with continuous cocaine or saline for two weeks. One
      day after withdrawal from pretreatment, a subsensitivity was observed while a
      supersensitivity was found on day 7, along with a significant increase in the
      baseline firing rates. In humans, an increased sensitivity of dopamine
      soma/dendritic autoreceptors may partly account for the symptomatology associated
      with the intermediate phase of withdrawal from cocaine binges.

PMID- 1450960
TI  - Short latency excitation of upper cervical respiratory neurons by vagal
      stimulation in the rat.
AB  - Extracellular recordings were made from 29 respiration-phased neurons in the
      upper cervical spinal cord (C1-C3) in nine anesthetized rats while ipsilateral
      and contralateral vagi were stimulated via platinum hook electrodes. Neuronal
      responses to vagal stimulation were recorded using peristimulus histograms. An
      accumulation of spikes with an average latency of 4.0 +/- 0.8 (S.D.) ms occurred
      in 11 cells after ipsilateral stimulation. These results indicate that there are
      fibers in the vagus which oligosynaptically excite respiratory neurons in the
      upper cervical spinal cord.

PMID- 1450961
TI  - Activation of paraventricular neurosecretory cells by local osmotic stimulation
      of the median preoptic nucleus.
AB  - Both electrical and local osmotic stimulation of the median preoptic nucleus
      (MnPO) predominantly produced excitation of paraventricular (PVN) neurosecretory
      cells in the rat. By contrast osmotic stimulation of the medial septal region was
      without effect, although electrical stimulation excited most cells. The results
      suggest that the MnPO is one of the osmosensitive sites controlling electrical
      activity of PVN neurosecretory cells.

PMID- 1450962
TI  - Gamma-glutamyltaurine has potent and long-lasting antiepileptic action as
      demonstrated by intra-amygdaloid injection in amygdala-kindled rats.
AB  - Intra-amygdaloid injections of gamma-glutamyltaurine, a recently identified brain
      dipeptide, strongly suppressed seizures in amygdala-kindled rats stimulated with
      intensities 10 or 50 microA above the generalized seizure triggering threshold
      (mean 82 microA). The suppressive effect persisted as long as 3 days. Taurine had
      relatively weak suppressive effects. Thus gamma-glutamyltaurine seems much more
      potent than taurine in the suppression of epileptic seizures when injected
      directly into the kindling site.

PMID- 1450964
TI  - The ecorche model and Pre-Vesalian medical illustration.

PMID- 1450963
TI  - A continuing signal maintains NGF receptor expression in hypoglossal motor
      neurons after crush injury.
AB  - Inhibition of axonal transport by vincristine applied to hypoglossal nerves 7
      days after crush injury turns off the usual injured-induced expression of low
      affinity nerve growth factor receptor (p75NGFr). Vincristine applied proximal but
      not distal to the crush prevents p75NGFr induction. These results indicate that a
      continuing signal is axonally transported from the crush site that induces and
      maintains p75NGFr expression by injured motor neurons.

PMID- 1450965
TI  - Leonardo da Vinci's anatomy revisited.

PMID- 1450966
TI  - Depth studies: illustrated anatomies from Vesalius to Vicq d'Azyr.

PMID- 1450967
TI  - Visions of body and soul.
AB  - Inspiration for the Sacred Mirrors emerged after I had a series of mystical
      experiences that caused me to redefine my view of consciousness and the self. I
      saw the body as not just a solid isolated object in a world of separate forms and
      existential anxiety, but more like a manifestation of primordial energy of
      awareness that was everywhere present.... I wanted my paintings to visually chart
      the spectrum of consciousness from material perception to spiritual insight, and
      to function, if possible, as symbolic portals to the mystical dimension.... The
      obvious way was to present a believable and almost hyper-real portrayal of the
      physical body and then seduce the viewer into the stranger mystical dimensions.

PMID- 1450968
TI  - Value of magnetic resonance imaging as perceived by referring clinicians.

PMID- 1450969
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging of reconstructed knee ligaments.
AB  - Reconstruction of knee ligaments is now a common orthopedic procedure. Patients
      are frequently referred for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after later
      reinjury, and the ability to recognize normal reconstructed knee ligaments is
      therefore becoming increasingly important. This pictorial essay demonstrates
      various reconstructions of the cruciate and the collateral ligaments, as well as
      several abnormalities of these ligaments.

PMID- 1450970
TI  - Fetal cystic hygromas: further insights into their natural history.
AB  - The authors report their experience with 17 cases of cystic hygroma diagnosed in
      utero over a period of 6 years and followed to early infancy. Attempts were made
      to determine which ultrasonographic features were significant in predicting the
      outcome of this condition. The intrauterine course of the 6 fetuses with a normal
      karyotype and the 11 fetuses with Turner's syndrome or another form of aneuploidy
      was analysed to determine whether the size of the hygroma or the presence of
      septation or nonimmune hydrops could be used to predict the eventual outcome of
      the pregnancy. An association between the presence of septation and outcome was
      not demonstrated, but there was a strong association between septation and
      aneuploidy. Septate lesions were present in 6 of the 10 fetuses with Turner's
      syndrome and only 2 of the 6 fetuses with a normal karyotype. In this series the
      most significant features indicating a favourable outcome were the size of the
      hygroma (no fetus in which the hygroma had a diameter greater than 6 cm survived)
      and the change in size from the time of diagnosis until 24 weeks' gestation. Of
      the three fetuses in which the hygroma did not regress by 24 weeks, two died in
      utero.

PMID- 1450971
TI  - Ultrasonographic findings in the anterior segment of the eye obtained with a
      nondedicated unit.
AB  - Many abnormalities of the anterior segment of the eye can be detected by
      ultrasonography (US), and associated anomalies of the posterior segment that are
      difficult to detect clinically may also be demonstrated by this modality. A total
      of 48 patients with ultrasonographically detectable abnormalities in the anterior
      segment were examined with real-time high-resolution US; 51 abnormalities were
      demonstrated. The most common problems were cataract (19 cases), intraocular lens
      implant (10), dislocated lens (9) and tumour (8). In addition, 23 abnormalities
      of the posterior segment of the eye were found. Six of the lesions in the
      posterior segment were obscured by those in the anterior segment and could be
      detected only by US.

PMID- 1450972
TI  - Varicocele embolization through competent internal spermatic veins.
AB  - Transvenous embolization has gained wide acceptance as a primary therapeutic
      technique in the management of varicocele. In most cases incompetence of the
      internal spermatic vein is the main cause of the disorder. In 18 of 165 patients
      treated with embolization, venography demonstrated competence of the internal
      spermatic vein; the varicocele was due to incompetence of some other anastomotic
      connection to the vein or the pampiniform plexus. The finding of valvular
      competence during embolization in a patient with clinical or ultrasonographic
      evidence of varicocele should not lead to termination of the procedure; instead,
      a concerted effort should be made to cross the valve to allow therapeutic
      embolization.

PMID- 1450973
TI  - Metastatic neuroblastoma presenting as a mandibular mass.
AB  - Neuroblastoma is the third most common type of cancer seen in children, after
      leukemia and tumours of the central nervous system. Although bony metastasis to
      the skull and the orbits has been well described, metastasis to the mandible is
      exceptional; 32 cases have been reported. Two more are presented here, along with
      a short review of the topic emphasizing the radiographic features and the
      differential diagnosis.

PMID- 1450974
TI  - The computed tomographic appearance of subcutaneous nodules occurring in
      metastatic neuroblastoma.
AB  - The authors report a case of subcutaneous nodules in a 2-month-old girl with
      metastatic neuroblastoma; the appearance of the nodules in computed tomography
      scans is described. Such nodules are sometimes overlooked by clinicians and
      radiologists, even though they almost always occur in disseminated disease. In
      patients with neuroblastoma and other neoplasms subcutaneous nodules may be an
      easily accessible source of samples for histopathologic examination.

PMID- 1450975
TI  - Computed tomographic detection of skeletal muscle calcifications in
      rhabdomyolysis.
AB  - The authors report a case of rhabdomyolysis with extensive calcification of the
      paravertebral muscles secondary to ingestion of desipramine hydrochloride, a
      tricyclic antidepressant. Computed tomography (CT) and isotope scanning were
      performed, and pathological confirmation of the condition was obtained. The
      extent of the calcification was probably due to the administration of
      supplementary calcium to correct hypocalcemia. The authors discuss the
      correlation between the CT and isotope scan findings.

PMID- 1450976
TI  - Angiography of a bronchial carcinoid tumour.
AB  - The author describes a patient in whom a bronchial carcinoid tumour was
      demonstrated preoperatively only by bronchial arteriography. The reported
      arteriographic characteristics of such a lesion include hypertrophy of the
      bronchial artery, a tumour blush and the apparent absence of venous drainage.

PMID- 1450977
TI  - Hemorrhagic colitis caused by Escherichia coli O157:H7--unusual ultrasonographic
      and computed tomography findings.
AB  - Hemorrhagic colitis due to Escherichia coli O157:H7 occurs sporadically but
      widely throughout North America. Radiographically this condition may mimic
      ischemic colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, acute appendicitis or appendiceal
      abscess. Correlation of radiologic and clinical findings is required to ensure
      diagnostic accuracy and avoid unnecessary surgical intervention.

PMID- 1450978
TI  - Ultrasonography of foreign-body tenosynovitis.
AB  - A patient presented with cellulitis of the hand 4 weeks after she was injured by
      sea urchin spines. Ultrasonography proved useful in identifying three small
      fragments of spine and suggested tenosynovitis. This method should be considered
      the imaging technique of choice for wounds of the hand when foreign bodies are
      suspected.

PMID- 1450979
TI  - Residents' corner. Answer to case of the month #16. Balkan nephropathy.

PMID- 1450980
TI  - Planning a safe technique for embolization of pseudoaneurysms of the inferior
      gluteal artery.

PMID- 1450981
TI  - [Study in the anuran amphibian Xenopus laevis, some blood characteristics and
      nitrogen excretion based on changes in the water osmolarity].
AB  - The pH, the osmolality and the urea and ammonia concentrations in blood, as well
      as the net urea and ammonia excretions, were studied in the amphibian Xenopus
      laevis exposed for several weeks to increased osmotic pressure (OP) of the
      ambient water, as a result of the addition of either NaCl or mannitol to the
      water. The pH and the ammonia concentration of the blood were independent of the
      variations of the ambient osmolarity. On the contrary, the blood osmolality and
      its urea concentration increased markedly when the ambient OP was augmented. The
      increase of ambient OP by NaCl addition to the medium augmented the urea net
      excretion and slightly decreased the ammonia excretion. When the increase of
      ambient OP resulted from the addition of mannitol in the water, excretions of
      urea and ammonia became negligible.

PMID- 1450982
TI  - [Taste thresholds and above-threshold responses to fructose solution in relation
      to diet in Callitrichidae primates].
AB  - Taste thresholds and consumption responses to above-threshold concentrations of
      fructose solutions were determined in eight callitrichid primate species using
      the "two-bottle preference test". Although taste thresholds are relatively
      similar across species, above-threshold responses may differ considerably between
      marmosets and tamarins. As fructose concentration increases, the rate of
      consumption increases less for most marmoset species (Cebuella and Callithrix
      spp.) than for Goeldi's monkey (Callimico) and tamarins (Saguinus and
      Leontopithecus spp.). It is proposed that distinct shapes of the curves
      illustrating these responses characterize species in terms of global taste system
      adaptations to different diets.

PMID- 1450983
TI  - [Binocular coordination during reading].
AB  - Is there an effect on binocular coordination during reading of oculomotor
      imbalance (heterophoria, strabismus and inadequate convergence) and of functional
      lateral characteristics (eye preference and perceptually privileged visual
      laterality)? Recordings of the binocular eye-movements of ten-year-old children
      show that oculomotor imbalances occur most often among children whose left visual
      perceptual channel is privileged, and that these subjects can present optomotor
      dissociation and manifest lack of motor coordination. Close binocular motor
      coordination is far from being the norm in reading. The faster reader displays
      saccades of differing spatial amplitude and the slower reader an oculomotor
      hyperactivity, especially during fixations. The recording of binocular movements
      in reading appears to be an excellent means of diagnosing difficulties related to
      visual laterality and to problems associated with oculomotor imbalance.

PMID- 1450984
TI  - [Stimulation of the prostate growth in rats by milk casomorphins].
AB  - Thymidine kinase activity of the ventral prostate from adult rats could be
      stimulated by administration to the animal of casomorphin or casomorphin
      (morphiceptin). On the other hand addition of both drugs to the culture medium of
      prostatic cells from immature rats enhanced the cells growth. In both cases,
      morphiceptin was more efficient than casomorphin. These results suggest than
      casomorphins have other properties than their morphinomimetic effects previously
      described.

PMID- 1450985
TI  - [Contribution of "bobbed" phenotype to the magnification of ribosomal DNA in
      Drosophila melanogaster].
AB  - Phenotype and magnification of two bobbed mutations allelic to the XNO region
      were studied at various temperatures. Results showed that magnification increases
      with increased severity of bobbed phenotype in that the reversion of the bbT6
      allele is the same at high and low temperature whereas the thermosensitive bbP5
      allele shows increased reversion at high temperature. Temperature shift
      experiments carried out during the development of premagnified males show that
      magnification which is followed by selection stage occurs during embryogenesis.

PMID- 1450986
TI  - [Molecular and cellular action of butyrate].
AB  - Butyrate has a dramatic effect on transformed cells in culture. This effect
      disappears as soon as butyrate is removed from the medium. The other short chain
      fatty acids are much less effective. Butyrate produces an arrest of cell
      proliferation at the early G1 phase of the cell cycle. The effect is very general
      and may be used for cell growth synchronization. This compound increases the
      expression of the c-fos oncogene and inhibits the expression of c-myc in all
      phases of the cell cycle. Butyrate modulates the expression of several genes. In
      general it induces the expression of markers of cell differentiation. Many
      studies have been devoted to hemoglobin synthesis which is induced in
      erythroleukemia cells. In general it induces the synthesis of embryonic and of
      fetal hemoglobin, and delays and even suppresses the switch to adult hemoglobin,
      which could be useful for the treatment of sickle cell anemia and beta
      thalassemia. This effect of butyrate seems to require specific DNA regulatory
      sequences. Butyrate induces the synthesis of alkaline phosphatase, placental and
      intestinal isozymes, especially in cells where these syntheses are ectopic. It
      has the same effect on peptidic hormone syntheses and also on receptors of
      thyroid hormone and insulin. It stimulates their synthesis in cells which are
      poor in receptor and inhibits the synthesis in cells which have high amounts of
      these receptors. The use of antibiotics and of the run on method strongly suggest
      that butyrate acts at the transcriptional level. Butyrate inhibits the induction
      of proteins, including enzymes, by steroid hormones as has been shown for the
      induction of tyrosine aminotransferase by glucocorticoids, of ovalbumin and
      transferrin by estradiol in chick oviduct. Butyrate strongly alters cell
      morphology, usually it produces an enlargement of the cells with formation of
      protrusions. In HTC cells alteration of nucleoli and of the nuclear shape are
      observed. All these alterations are reversible and the cells recover the normal
      morphology upon removal of butyrate. These alterations result at least partly
      from modifications of the cytoskeleton: induction of vimentin and cytokeratin,
      formation of microfilaments, of microtubules and of actin fibers. The external
      matrix is also modified, as are the cell surface glycoproteins, and gangliosides.
      Most of these alterations are consistent with the loss of transformation
      characteristics of the cell. The mechanism of action of butyrate has been studied
      by many authors. It has been well established that butyrate induces an
      hyperacetylation of histones by inhibiting histone deacetylases, which is
      consistent with its stimulatory effect on gene expression.4+ and would require
      transacting proteins. The use of butyrate in therapeutics would require the
      synthesis of new molecules including butyrate but more active and metabolized at
      a slower rate. Several such molecules have been synthesized: monobutyrate 3 (or
      6) monoacetate glucose, pivalyloxymethyl-butyrate. The use of such molecules in
      human therapeutics has been suggested, especially in hematology (sickle cell
      anemia, beta thalassemia) and in cancerology.

PMID- 1450987
TI  - [Demonstration of cerebral lateralisation disorder in autistic children: study of
      auditory reactivity by transcranial pulsed Doppler].
AB  - Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonographic recordings of the middle cerebral arteries
      were performed on children with autistic behavior (AUT), compared to retarded
      children without autistic behavior (NON-AUT) and normal children (NOR). Blood
      flow measurements (resistance index) were performed at rest and during auditory
      stimulations. Compared to NOR and NON-AUT, significant differences of the
      resistance index were found in AUT on the left side, thus suggesting differences
      in metabolic mechanisms evoked by auditory stimulations. This result confirms the
      hypothesis of abnormal development of cerebral lateralization in autism.

PMID- 1450988
TI  - [Relation between the change of slope of heart rate and second lactic and
      ventilatory thresholds in muscular exercise with large load].
AB  - The time-course of heart rate, blood lactate, and ventilatory gas exchange was
      studied during an incremental exercise test on cycloergometer in order to
      ascertain whether heart rate deflection occurred at the same load as the second
      lactate S[La]2) and ventilatory (SV2) thresholds. Twelve moderately trained
      subjects, 22 to 30 years old, participated in the study. The initial power
      setting was 30 W for 3 min with successive increases of 30 W every min except at
      the end of the test where the increase was reduced to 20 and 10 W.min-1.
      Ventilatory flow (VE), oxygen uptake (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2,
      ventilatory equivalents of O2 (EO2 = VE/VO2) and CO2 (ECO2 = VE/VCO2), and heart
      rate (HR) were determined during the last 20 s of every min. Venous blood samples
      were drawn at the end of each stage of effort and analyzed enzymatically for
      lactate concentration ([La]). The HR deflection, S[La]2, and SV2 were represented
      graphically by two investigators using a double blind procedure. Following the
      method proposed by Conconi et al. 1982, the deflection in HR was considered to
      begin at the point beyond which the increase in work intensity exceeded the
      increase in HR and the linearity of the work rate/HR relationship was lost.
      S[La]2 corresponded to the second breaking point of the lactate time-course curve
      (onset of blood lactate accumulation) and SV2 was identified at the second
      breaking point in the increase in VE and ventilatory equivalent for O2 uptake
      accompanied by a concomitant increase in ventilatory equivalent for CO2 output.
      We observed that the deflection point in HR was present only in 7 subjects. The
      work load, VO2, HR, and [La] levels at which heart rate departed from linearity
      did not differ significantly from those determined with S[La]2 ans SV2. The VO2
      and HR values at HR deflection point were significantly correlated with those
      measured at S[La]2 and SV2. It is concluded that deflection in heart rate does
      not always occur, and when it does, it coincides with the second lactate and
      ventilatory gas exchange thresholds. It can thus be used for the determination of
      optimal intensity for individualized aerobic training.

PMID- 1450989
TI  - [Detection of the deletion of interferon-alpha and beta genes in lymphoblastoid
      cells by PCR].
AB  - The HuIFN-alpha and beta genes were examined by the PCR method in the 11 human
      lymphoblastoid cell lines. The results showed that the homozygous deletion of
      HuIFN-alpha and beta genes was detected in 5 of 11 cell lines and in 5 of 11 cell
      lines, respectively. The deletions of both the HuIFN-alpha and beta genes were
      observed in 4 of 11 cell lines. One T cell leukemia cell line deleted only HuIFN
      alpha gene, while the other T cell leukemia line deleted only HuIFN-beta gene.
      This suggests that the deletions of HuIFN-alpha and beta genes may be related the
      development of leukemia or lymphoma.

PMID- 1450990
TI  - [Pain: physiopharmacological aspects].

PMID- 1450991
TI  - [Current data on the exploration and the evaluation of clinical pain].
AB  - Pain is a complex, multidimensional and multifactorial neuropsychological
      phenomenon with sensory-discriminative, affective, cognitive and behavioral
      components. Issues on pain assessment are related to the objective evaluation of
      a subjective phenomenon. Different levels of evaluation are to be considered.
      Some methods like visual analogue scale, numerical scale and verbal permit a
      global pain estimation. The aim of other methods like the McGill Pain
      Questionnaire is a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the sensory and
      affective pain components. The measure of objective behavioral changes is an
      interesting approach, but at the present time there is no valid, simple and
      commonly used method. There is also a need for methods permitting a better
      exploration of a pain, and in particular a selective evaluation of organic and
      functional factors. The limits of psychological factors evaluation are reported.

PMID- 1450992
TI  - [Targeting of tumor cells by low density lipoproteins: principle and use of
      ellipticin derivatives].
AB  - Cells acquire cholesterol via de novo synthesis and high affinity receptor
      mediated uptake of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Some tumor tissues display
      increased receptor-mediated uptake of LDL as compared with the corresponding
      normal tissues. This increased LDL receptor activity is unexplained: a high
      cholesterol demand for cell growth or a mechanism directly linked to cell
      transformation. LDL has therefore been proposed as a potential carrier for
      chemotherapeutic agents. Various methods have been used to incorporate
      antineoplastic lipophilic drugs into LDL. The resultant drug-LDL complexes have
      been shown to be cytotoxic towards tumor cells in vitro, via the LDL receptor
      dependent pathway. However little is now on the in vivo fate of this complex. We
      described the incorporation of lipophilic derivatives of ellipticine into LDL by
      a fusion or facilitated transfer technique between drug containing microemulsions
      and LDL. The drug-LDL complex expressed similar metabolic activity, in vitro and
      in vivo, than native LDL. Initial experiments with melanoma B16 tumor-bearing
      mice suggest that LDL may be a potential drug carrier in the treatment of
      malignant diseases. The knowledge of the molecular mechanism of the expression of
      the LDL receptor in tumor cells and the ability to downregulate the LDL receptor
      in the normal tissues, will define the application field of this targeting
      approach.

PMID- 1450993
TI  - [Antitumor photochemotherapy: biochemical bases, therapeutic uses and
      perspectives].
AB  - The photodynamic therapy of tumors (PDT) is a recent and promising technique for
      the treatment of tumors which can be reached by the light (directly or by
      endoscopic illumination). Excellent results are now obtained with hematoporphyrin
      derivatives such as Photofrin II, provided the concerned tumors are small and
      well delimited. Porphyrins are transported in blood mainly by lipoproteins, and
      the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-mediated pathway is probably one of
      the important factors involved in the selective accumulation of porphyrins by
      tumor tissues, as cancer cells generally express much more LDL receptors than
      normal cells. In the present paper, after a brief presentation of the biochemical
      basis of the light-dependent cytotoxicity of porphyrins, we shall examine the
      role of lipoproteins, especially LDL, in the transport and the cellular uptake of
      these compounds. We shall also present recent approaches for the improvement of
      the PDT efficiency.

PMID- 1450994
TI  - Dentistry and the European community--1992 and all that!

PMID- 1450995
TI  - A classification of residential neighbourhoods (ACORN) in relation to dental
      health and dental health behaviours.
AB  - Five-year-old children in two district health authorities in the North Western
      Region of England were examined during 1989-90. Questionnaires were issued to
      parents to determine whether dental health and related behaviours were associated
      with socio-economic status. Parents of 1858 children in Salford (response rate =
      78 per cent) and 1691 in Trafford (response rate = 81 per cent) returned the
      questionnaires. Their replies were analysed by dividing the children into a
      hierarchy according to a classification of residential neighbourhood (ACORN).
      Significantly fewer in the highest of three Divisions in both districts had
      suffered from toothache and had undergone a general anaesthetic to have teeth
      extracted. They were also more likely to have had their teeth brushed with
      toothpaste by their first birthday and to have visited the dentist by their
      second. Because ACORN had detected these differences in dental health related
      behaviour it was possible to identify localities towards which dental health
      promotion activities can be directed.

PMID- 1450996
TI  - Loss of the first permanent molar and caries experience of adjacent teeth.
AB  - The caries experience of the occlusal and distal surfaces of the second premolars
      and the occlusal and mesial surfaces of the second permanent molars was examined
      in four groups of subjects aged 19-20 years. Group 1 comprised subjects with
      first permanent molars present, Group 2 subjects with early loss of the first
      permanent molar (before the age of 11-12 years), Group 3 subjects with late loss
      of the first permanent molar (after 11-12 years but before 15-16 years) and Group
      4 included a combination of Group 2 and Group 3. Loss of the first permanent
      molar was associated with increased caries or restorations in the occlusal
      surfaces of adjacent teeth, but reduced caries or restorations in the proximal
      surfaces of adjacent teeth. Early loss of the first molar was associated with
      significantly greater caries or restoration experience in proximal surfaces than
      late loss, but no difference was detected for occlusal surfaces.

PMID- 1450997
TI  - The prevalence of developmental defects of enamel in 15-16-year-old children
      residing in three districts (natural fluoride, adjusted fluoride, low fluoride)
      in the north east of England.
AB  - Developmental defects of enamel were assessed in 15-year-old children born and
      continuously resident in three communities in the north east of England. In
      naturally fluoridated Hartlepool (F = 1.0-1.3 ppm), artificially fluoridated
      Newcastle (F = 1.0 ppm) and non-fluoridated Middlesbrough (F < 0.2 ppm) 361, 356
      and 376 children respectively were examined. Conventional clinical recording and
      a photographic technique where colour slides are assessed at random were used and
      compared. Scoring in both assessments was done by using a modified version of
      both the Murray and Shaw index and the developmental defects of enamel index. In
      the clinical assessment more white lines and diffuse opacities were found in the
      fluoridated areas than in the non-fluoridated area. More opacities were recorded
      using the photographic assessment than with the clinical assessment, but a
      similar trend of an increased prevalence of white lines and diffuse opacities was
      observed using the photographic method. Overall, there was only a small increase
      in the prevalence of milder forms of enamel defects in fluoridated compared with
      non-fluoridated areas.

PMID- 1450998
TI  - A programme of preventive dentistry in field conditions carried out in Glasgow,
      Scotland.
AB  - A caries-preventive regime comprising fluoride supplementation in age-related
      doses, three monthly acid-phosphate-fluoride applications, fissure sealing of
      deciduous and first permanent molars and chair-side dental health education, had
      been proved cost-effective in a single health centre setting. It was therefore
      expanded to a community-wide project in the Greater Glasgow area. This study
      describes the coverage achieved by the scheme, the demographic details of the
      children involved, and measured the dental health benefits accrued by the
      participants. The children received an annual dental examination and, to assess
      the effects of the programme, the records of 310 subjects who had attended three
      annual examinations were used. The deft and defs reductions ranged from 60 to 6.5
      per cent and 58.8 to 9.6 per cent respectively, and equivalent DMFT and DMFS
      reductions ranged from 11.1 to 0 per cent, and 33.3 to 16.7 per cent
      respectively. Previously, deft reductions of 63.7 to 86.2 per cent, and defs
      reductions of 77.6 to 92.6 per cent had been reported (Stephen et al., 1983). In
      contrast, the corresponding deft and defs reductions achieved in this project
      were only up to 16.7 and 9.6 per cent respectively. The programme was most
      beneficial for children who had reached the age of three years after two year's
      participation in the scheme. The dental health benefits accrued by those
      receiving the preventive programme appear to be inversely proportional to its
      size. Therefore it represents an important example of the reduction of a
      preventive agents' effectiveness when used under field conditions, as opposed to
      those of controlled clinical trials.

PMID- 1450999
TI  - A comparison between commercial kits and conventional methods for enumeration of
      salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli.
AB  - Mutans streptococci (ms) and lactobacilli levels were determined by conventional
      and commercial dip-slide methods in three groups of young subjects, aged 5-6
      years (93 subjects), 12-13 years (78 subjects) and 18-20 years (81 subjects).
      Using the same paraffin-stimulated saliva samples, ms and lactobacilli were
      estimated by conventional viable counts on modified mitis-salivarius agar (MSB)
      and Rogosa agar plates, and by inoculation of Dentocult SM and Dentocult LB dip
      slides (Orion Diagnostica, Finland). The salivary ms and lactobacilli counts
      obtained from conventional agar plates were significantly correlated (P < 0.0001)
      with the dip-slide estimates of these organisms (Kendal Tau = 0.56, 0.71
      respectively). Subjects in Group 2 showed the highest proportion (77 per cent) of
      individuals with salivary ms levels above 2.5 x 10(5) cfu/ml saliva; 99 per cent
      of that group had detectable levels of lactobacilli. Significantly different
      median salivary ms and lactobacilli levels were demonstrated between all groups
      except for lactobacilli levels between Groups 2 and 3. These dip-slide tests
      provided suitable and simple methods for screening salivary lactobacilli and ms
      levels which may have a useful role in the assessment of caries risk.

PMID- 1451000
TI  - A multivariate model to predict caries increment in Montreal children aged 5
      years.
AB  - A study was carried out in Montreal (Canada) to predict caries development over
      the period of one year in primary teeth of kindergarten children (mean age 5
      years 8 months +/- 4 months) living in a non-fluoridated area. The 302 children
      were examined at school on two occasions, one year apart. At the first
      examination selected predictors were collected: caries experience, salivary S.
      mutans and lactobacilli, buffer capacity, debris index, parents' education,
      fluoride consumption and family structure (one or two parents). Regression
      analysis was performed to select the significant factors. A total of 143 children
      developed new caries over the study period; the mean increment for the whole
      group was 2.1 dmfs. Sensitivity (Sn) and specificity (Sp) were calculated for
      each predictor and for the final model. The best model comprised only two
      factors, caries experience and lactobacillus. This could identify 81.8 per cent
      of children who would develop new caries during the next 12 months (Sn) and 77.4
      per cent of those who would not (Sp). Among the single predictors caries
      experience alone reached 78.3 per cent for sensitivity and 77.4 per cent for
      specificity. None of the other predictors, except parents' education, was very
      good at predicting caries increment over one year.

PMID- 1451001
TI  - Factors affecting dental attendance among school leavers and young workers in
      Greater Manchester.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate those factors which could influence
      adolescents in their dental attendance habits. Discussion groups were formed with
      school pupils in their final school year and with Youth Training Scheme trainees
      who had been working for six months or more. Fourteen discussions, involving 97
      adolescents, were carried out and recorded on tape. Analysis of these tapes
      permitted comparison of the responses of the school leavers and the trainees
      which revealed some recurring themes. No major differences were found between the
      adolescents in their views on dental attendance before and after leaving school.
      Many respondents said that they had been able to decide for themselves about
      going to the dentist since they were 12, 13 or 14 years old, well before school
      leaving time. A low perception of need and a high level of confidence in self
      care were widely reported and these tended to reduce the likelihood of
      attendance. The desire to maintain or produce a good dental appearance was
      frequently given as the main motive for attending the dentist.

PMID- 1451002
TI  - Dental attendance patterns among mothers and their children in an area of social
      deprivation.
AB  - Dental attendance behaviour was recorded for 358 children aged 5-6 and 10-11
      years and their mothers living in a socially deprived area of south Manchester.
      Information obtained by questionnaire was verified by the local dentists
      concerned. Forty-four per cent of mothers and 61 per cent of children had
      attended a dentist in the previous 12 months. The mothers' attendance was a good
      predictor of children's attendance, although a substantial proportion of mothers
      who did not attend the dentist themselves did ensure the attendance of their
      children.

PMID- 1451003
TI  - Factors determining satisfaction with dental care.
AB  - The objective of the present study was to study satisfaction with previous dental
      care in a Swedish population aged 45-69 years. The relationship between a number
      of factors and satisfaction with care was studied, and differences between people
      attending private and public dental clinics were examined. The data were
      collected by an anonymous questionnaire. A multivariate analysis showed that
      reported satisfaction with previous dental care depended primarily on three
      factors; treatment by the dentist of choice, chewing ability and contentment with
      their own dental conditions.

PMID- 1451004
TI  - Presidential address to the British Association for the Study of Community
      Dentistry, Cardiff, March 1992.

PMID- 1451005
TI  - Calcium involvement in free radical effects.

PMID- 1451006
TI  - Assessment of bone formation by biochemical markers in metabolic bone disease:
      separation between osteoblastic activity at the cell and tissue level.
AB  - In this study , serum levels of classical serum markers of bone formation
      [carboxyterminal propeptide of procollagen type I (S-PICP), bone Gla protein (S
      BGP)], and total alkaline phosphatase (S-AP)) were related to the calcium kinetic
      index of whole skeletal mineralization rate (m) by regression analysis in a
      variety of metabolic bone diseases. For each disease, the regression coefficient
      (r) as well as the fraction: standard error of estimate/mean dependent variable
      (SEE/Y) were determined. In a group of 19 normals, only the regression of S-PICP
      on m reached significance (r = 0.53, P < 0.02, SEE/Y = 0.44), whereas regressions
      of S-AP and S-BGP on m were nonsignificant. In a pooled material of high- and low
      turnover bone diseases without mineralization defects or spinal fracture
      [myxedema, thyrotoxicosis, and primary hyperparathyroidism (n = 48)], a highly
      significant positive regression of S-PICP on m was demonstrable (r = 0.50, SEE/Y
      = 0.63, P < 0.001). The regression coefficients obtained for S-BGP and S-AP were
      0.74 (P < 0.001, SEE/Y = 0.41) and 0.42 (P < 0.01, SEE/Y = 0.55), respectively.
      When analyzing individual diseases in this group, significant differences among
      the three markers were detectable. In a group of 52 osteoporotics, S-PICP
      correlated significantly to m (r = 0.49, P < 0.001, SEE/Y = 0.50). Corresponding
      r-values for S-BGP and S-AP were 0.21 (NS) and 0.48 (P < 0.001, SEE/Y = 0.61),
      respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451007
TI  - Serum intact parathyroid hormone levels in elderly Chinese females with hip
      fracture.
AB  - Serum intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25 hydroxyvitamin D(25OHD), 1,25
      dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), albumin, and ionized calcium were measured in 61
      Chinese female patients with hip fracture and 61 control subjects. Hip fracture
      patients had low albumin, ionized calcium, and 250HD levels. Serum PTH and
      1,25(OH)2D values were not different between the two groups. We conclude that
      although 250HD level in hip fracture patients is low, there is no evidence of
      secondary hyperparathyroidism, suggesting that the low 250HD levels may be a
      secondary phenomenon in response to the fracture.

PMID- 1451008
TI  - The relationship between ultrasound and densitometric measurements of bone mass
      at the calcaneus in women.
AB  - Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) of the calcaneus predicts axial density in
      women and is decreased in women who sustain hip fractures. To determine the
      relationship between ultrasonic and densitometric assessments of bone mass at the
      same site, BUA and velocity of sound (VOS) were correlated with bone density as
      measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the calcaneus in 64
      Caucasian women aged 35-83 years. BUA, VOS, and bone density in these women
      decreased annually as a function of age by 1.0%, 0.3%, and 0.9%, respectively.
      Holding age, years since menopause, height and weight constant, BUA correlated
      with VOS (r = 0.74, P < 0.001), and calcaneal density correlated with BUA (r =
      0.73, P < 0.001) and with VOS (r = 0.66, P < 0.01). The results indicate that
      both BUA and VOS measurements reflect density at the calcaneus, but suggest that
      they measure properties of bone other than density and different from each other.
      The assessment of these additional properties may be useful in the prediction of
      fracture risk.

PMID- 1451009
TI  - Caffeine has the capacity to stimulate calcium release in organ culture of
      neonatal mouse calvaria.
AB  - In view of the possible association between ingestion of caffeine (a constituent
      of coffee, tea, and several beverages) and osteoporosis, we have studied the
      effect of caffeine on bone resorption in vitro. Caffeine caused a dose-dependent
      increase of the spontaneous release of 45Ca from neonatal mouse calvarial bones.
      The effect of caffeine was less pronounced than that of parathyroid hormone
      (PTH), but of the same magnitude as that of theophylline, a structurally related
      methylxanthine. The enhancement of 45Ca release induced by caffeine and PTH was
      observed in 5 days culture. In 2 days culture, however, only PTH stimulated
      mineral mobilization. The delayed stimulatory effect of caffeine in long-term
      cultures was abolished by indomethacin and flurbiprofen. In indomethacin-treated
      bones, however, caffeine potentiated the stimulatory effect on 45Ca release
      induced by choleratoxin and forskolin. In contrast, caffeine did not potentiate
      45Ca release stimulated by PTH. These data show that caffeine can stimulate
      calcium release from bone in vitro and that this effect is due to potentiation of
      a stimulatory action of a bone resorptive agonist acting via the adenylate
      cyclase-cyclic AMP system.

PMID- 1451010
TI  - Modulation of matrix vesicle enzyme activity and phosphatidylserine content by
      ceramic implant materials during endosteal bone healing.
AB  - This study examined effects of bone bonding and nonbonding implants on parameters
      associated with matrix vesicle-mediated primary bone formation, matrix vesicle
      alkaline phosphatase and phospholipase A2 specific activities, and
      phosphatidylserine content. Tibia marrow ablation followed by implantation of KG
      Cera, Mina 13 (bonding), KGy-213, or M 8/1 (nonbonding) was used as the
      experimental model. Postsurgery, matrix vesicle-enriched microsomes (MVEM) were
      isolated from implanted and contralateral limbs. MVEM alkaline phosphatase and
      phospholipase A2 were stimulated adjacent to bonding implants with similar,
      though reduced, effects contralaterally. Alkaline phosphatase exhibited slight
      stimulation in nonbonding tissue; phospholipase A2 was inhibited or unchanged in
      treated and contralateral limbs. Phosphatidylserine content of MVEM was
      differentially affected by the implant materials. Thus, MVEM are modulated by
      implant materials locally and systemically. The data demonstrate that the model
      is a biologically relevant diagnostic for assessing the tissue/implant interface,
      primary calcification is affected by implant materials, and implant-specific
      effects are detected in the contralateral unimplanted limb.

PMID- 1451011
TI  - Affinity of bone sialoprotein and several other bone and dentin acidic proteins
      to collagen fibrils.
AB  - Bone and dentin contain several kinds of mineral-binding proteins and cell
      attachment proteins. The authors examined the affinity of these proteins to type
      I collagen, a major matrix protein of the tissue. Bone sialoprotein (BSP), bone
      Gla protein (BGP), bone small proteoglycan II (PG II), osteonectin (ON), and
      dentin phosphophoryn (DPP) were labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate and
      incubated with reconstituted type I collagen fibril. DPP, BGP, BSP, and PG II
      were absorbed significantly to the collagen fibril at physiological ionic
      strength with dissociation constants of 10(-6)-10(-7) M. BSP and PG II enhanced
      the fibrillogenesis of collagen. These acidic proteins can affect the surface
      properties of collagen fibril, and BSP, having the cell-attachment sequence Arg
      Gly-Asp, possibly mediates interaction between collagen fibril and cells.

PMID- 1451012
TI  - FT-IR microscopic mappings of early mineralization in chick limb bud mesenchymal
      cell cultures.
AB  - Chick limb bud mesenchymal cells differentiate into chondrocytes and form a
      cartilaginous matrix in culture. In this study, the mineral formed in different
      areas within cultures supplemented with 4 mM inorganic phosphate, or 2.5, 5.0,
      and 10 mM beta-glycerophosphate (beta GP), was characterized by Fourier-transform
      infrared (FT-IR) microscopy. The relative mineral-to-matrix ratios, and
      distribution of crystal sizes at specific locations throughout the matrix were
      measured from day 14 to day 30. The only mineral phase detected was a poorly
      crystalline apatite. Cultures receiving 4 mM inorganic phosphate had smaller
      crystals which were less randomly distributed around the cartilage nodules than
      those in the beta GP-treated cultures. beta GP-induced mineral consisted of
      larger, more perfect apatite crystals. In cultures receiving 5 or 10 mM beta GP,
      the relative mineral-to-matrix ratios (calculated from the integrated intensities
      of the phosphate and amide I bands, respectively) were higher than in the
      cultures with 4 mM inorganic phosphate or in the in vivo calcified chick
      cartilage.

PMID- 1451013
TI  - Acronyms in bone densitometry.

PMID- 1451014
TI  - Toxicity and pharmacokinetics of intravitreally injected ciprofloxacin in rabbit
      eyes.
AB  - To assess the toxicity of intraocular injection of ciprofloxacin, 22 New Zealand
      white rabbits received midvitreal injections of 100, 200, 400, 800 or 3200
      micrograms of ciprofloxacin in 0.1 mL of distilled water (39 eyes) or 0.1 mL of
      distilled water only (5 eyes). The ocular pharmacokinetics of intravitreally
      injected ciprofloxacin was determined by aqueous humour and vitreous sampling 1,
      2, 4, 8, 12, 18 or 24 hours after midvitreal injection of 100 micrograms of the
      drug in one eye each of 25 New Zealand white rabbits. The samples were analysed
      by means of a disc diffusion bioassay. No ocular damage was noted on
      ophthalmoscopy at any of the concentrations tested. Histologic study showed mild,
      transient vacuolation of the nerve-fibre layer in all eyes, including the control
      eyes, 2 hours after injection; at 24 hours no vacuolation was evident except at
      concentrations of 800 and 3200 micrograms, at which plexiform layer damage was
      evident. Peak aqueous and vitreous levels of ciprofloxacin were obtained at 1
      hour (0.59 and 27.26 micrograms/mL respectively); the vitreous level fell to
      below 1.0 micrograms/mL 12 hours after injection. We conclude that intravitreally
      injected ciprofloxacin may be a safe and useful antibiotic in the treatment of
      aminoglycoside-resistant bacterial endophthalmitis.

PMID- 1451015
TI  - Ethmoidectomy decompression for the treatment of Graves' optic neuropathy.
AB  - When orbital decompression becomes necessary in Graves' optic neuropathy, medial
      wall decompression is a necessary component of the decompression procedure. The
      ethmoidectomy approach allows more direct visualization of the posterior ethmoids
      and sphenoids to effect maximum decompression. This is particularly important in
      cases in which computed tomography shows the medial rectus muscle to be enlarged
      posteriorly in the orbit. The procedure provides excellent visualization of the
      medial rectus. As with any medial wall decompression procedure, postoperative
      restriction of horizontal motility is a frequent complication, often
      necessitating more than one subsequent operation. The authors describe their
      experience with the procedure in 25 patients with Graves' optic neuropathy.

PMID- 1451016
TI  - Automated detection and quantification of venous beading using Fourier analysis.
AB  - Venous beading associated with diabetic retinopathy is currently assessed by
      means of subjective comparison to standard photographs from the modified Airlie
      House classification scheme. We describe a computerized grading scheme for venous
      beading. The algorithm, based on Fourier analysis of vessel width measurements,
      generates a venous beading index (VBI) for digitized colour fundus photographs.
      Colour photographs of local vessel segments about 1200 microns in length were
      evaluated by experienced graders. A comparison between the VBI and subjective
      grading showed good agreement. The mean VBI values across the four levels of
      clinical grading were significantly different (p = 0.000). Multiple comparison
      testing indicated that the VBI was able to significantly differentiate between
      all four categories except the "questionable" (grade 1) category (p < 0.05). We
      also found that progression of venous beading can be followed with the VBI. The
      results indicate that further development of automated grading of venous beading
      is warranted.

PMID- 1451017
TI  - Collagen shields: efficacy, safety and comfort in the treatment of human
      traumatic corneal abrasion and effect on vision in healthy eyes.
AB  - To study the efficacy, safety and comfort of porcine collagen shields in the
      treatment of traumatic corneal abrasion, patients with corneal abrasions that had
      occurred within 24 hours before examination were treated with either a collagen
      shield (18 patients) or tight patching (12 patients). There was no significant
      difference in the rate of healing or the proportion of corneas healed between the
      two groups. The collagen shield was significantly more comfortable than the patch
      (p < 0.05). After 1 hour of wear the collagen shield allowed useful vision (mean
      20/100) in nine healthy volunteer subjects. Collagen shields may be of benefit in
      carefully selected cases of traumatic corneal abrasion.

PMID- 1451018
TI  - Role of tear secretory IgA in hard contact lens-related changes in the tarsal
      conjunctiva.
AB  - The role of tear secretory IgA in contact lens-related conjunctival changes was
      investigated in 40 subjects (80 eyes) who wore polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)
      contact lenses and 10 subjects (20 eyes) who did not wear contact lenses. The
      eyes in the contact lens group had significantly higher tear IgA levels than the
      control eyes (p < 0.05). We were not able to demonstrate a relation between
      increased IgA levels and the presence of symptoms or duration of contact lens
      wear. Increased IgA levels were correlated to papilla formation in the contact
      lens group. A rise in tear IgA levels seems to be the first abnormal change
      related to papilla formation in patients who wear PMMA contact lenses.

PMID- 1451019
TI  - Cyclosporine in the treatment of nonmicrobial inflammatory ophthalmic disease.
AB  - Eighteen patients with severe, progressive nonmicrobial inflammatory ophthalmic
      disease (including five with intermediate uveitis, four with sympathetic
      ophthalmia and three with serpiginous choroiditis) that had not responded to
      conventional therapy were treated with cyclosporine. Three of the four patients
      with sympathetic ophthalmia responded quickly and maximally, and the fourth
      showed partial improvement. One patient, with several corneal graft failures in
      the right eye, started cyclosporine therapy after undergoing left corneal
      transplantation; at the last follow-up visit the graft had been clear for almost
      3 years. The response was inconsistent in patients with other types of eye
      disease. In general, the drug was well tolerated; however, two patients stopped
      treatment because of unpleasant side effects. No serious or irreversible
      complications developed. The results suggest that cyclosporine therapy is useful
      in the treatment of sympathetic ophthalmia and in high-risk corneal
      transplantation.

PMID- 1451020
TI  - Ocular findings and visual evoked potential response in the Prader-Willi
      syndrome.
AB  - It has recently been suggested that aberrant misrouting of retino-geniculate
      cortical (RGC) projections, a finding previously noted only in albinism, may be
      an additional feature of the Prader-Willi syndrome. To determine the prevalence
      of ocular abnormalities in patients with the syndrome and to look for evidence of
      misrouted RGC projections by means of testing of the pattern-onset visual evoked
      potential (VEP) response, we examined 12 patients with Prader-Willi syndrome, 8
      albino subjects and 5 healthy control subjects. Ocular findings in the first
      group included telecanthus (in five subjects), strabismus, nystagmus, foveal
      hypoplasia, visual field defects and cataract. However, the VEP asymmetry
      typically seen in albinism was not noted in any of the patients with Prader-Willi
      syndrome. Our findings do not support previous claims of abnormal optic nerve
      fibre decussation in Prader-Willi syndrome.

PMID- 1451021
TI  - Drug-induced fatal aplastic anemia following cataract surgery.
AB  - Aplastic anemia attributed to medications used in ophthalmology is rare. We
      report a fatal case that developed in a 73-year-old woman 7 weeks after cataract
      extraction performed under local anesthesia. Postoperative medications included a
      chloramphenicol-containing ointment, flurbiprofen sodium drops, prednisone
      acetate drops and orally given acetazolamide. It was felt that the aplastic
      anemia was related to therapy with chloramphenicol or acetazolamide or both. We
      recommend that the course of prophylactic antibacterial therapy after intraocular
      surgery be kept short, regardless of the preparation used. We urge caution in the
      choice and use of drugs known to be associated with aplastic anemia and recommend
      close monitoring of the hemogram.

PMID- 1451022
TI  - Influence of low-flow infusion and magnesium on tissue necrosis during regional
      ischemia in the canine myocardium.
AB  - Passive intracoronary perfusion of therapeutic agents has been used in the
      clinical setting to attenuate the effects of brief episodes of myocardial
      ischemia. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of low-flow
      coronary infusion with or without Mg2+ on tissue necrosis and cardiac
      hemodynamics after prolonged regional ischemia. In 33 anesthetized dogs (5
      excluded during study), the left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded
      for 6 h. Dogs were assigned to three groups: the first group (n = 8) was
      subjected to 6 h coronary occlusion without low-flow perfusion (controls), the
      second group (n = 10) received a low-flow coronary infusion of Ringer's lactate
      (Mg(2+)-free), and the third group (n = 10) received a low-flow coronary infusion
      of Ringer's lactate plus Mg2+ sulfate (15 mM). Tissue necrosis was evaluated
      using tetrazolium staining and was normalized to the principal baseline
      predictors of infarct size including anatomic risk zone (microsphere
      autoradiography) and coronary collateral flow. In control hearts, infarct size
      comprised 51.1 +/- 4.1% of the risk zone (40.8 +/- 5.1% left ventricular cross
      sectional area (LV)). In the Mg(2+)-free and Mg2+ groups, risk zone size was 17.3
      +/- 2.2 and 16.8 +/- 1.8% LV (p < 0.05 vs. controls), while infarct size was 23.1
      +/- 3.1 and 24.9 +/- 8.1% (p < 0.05 vs. controls), respectively. Coronary
      collateral flow in the endocardium was similar for all of the experimental
      groups; however, hearts subjected to ischemia with low-flow perfusion of Ringer's
      lactate demonstrated significantly higher epicardial coronary collateral flow
      levels compared with controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451023
TI  - Renal adrenergic receptors: localization of [125I]prazosin binding sites along
      the microdissected rat nephron.
AB  - Norepinephrine stimulates renal tubular sodium reabsorption, probably through an
      alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated mechanism. Although the distribution of alpha 1
      adrenoceptors in the kidney has been studied with autoradiography, the precise
      location of these receptors in isolated nephron segments is unclear. Using a
      microassay we determined the specific binding of [125I]iodoarylazidoprazosin
      ([125I]prazosin), a high specific radioactivity analog of the selective alpha 1
      antagonist prazosin, to microdissected glomeruli and tubule segments. Specific
      binding of [125I]prazosin (3 nM) in the proximal convoluted tubule was time- and
      concentration-dependent, saturable, and reversible. In this segment the apparent
      KD by association and dissociation rate constants of [125I]prazosin binding was
      0.47 nM, and the maximum receptor density was approximately 0.19 fmol/mm, or 720
      fmol/mg protein. Binding specificity was verified in competition studies with
      excess (3 microM) unlabeled prazosin and probes for alpha 2- (yohimbine), beta-
      (propranolol), dopamine1- (SCH23390), and dopamine2- (S-sulpiride) receptors.
      [125I]Prazosin binding was inhibited significantly only by unlabeled prazosin.
      Mapping of prazosin binding along the nephron revealed that the highest density
      was in the proximal convoluted tubule, followed by the proximal straight tubule.
      Lesser binding was found in the thick ascending limb and in the distal convoluted
      tubule, whereas in the cortical and outer medullary collecting duct and in
      glomeruli, binding was not significantly different from zero.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451024
TI  - Catecholamine-induced changes in vascular capacitance and sympathetic nerve
      activity in dogs.
AB  - The effects of three catecholamines, dopamine, epinephrine, and dobutamine, on
      the systemic circulation, especially on systemic vascular capacitance, were
      studied using cardiopulmonary bypass in dogs anesthetized with pentobarbital.
      Venous outflow was divided into three compartments: splanchnic, renal, and other;
      changes in systemic blood volume (SBV) were calculated from the changes in total
      venous outflow. To examine the contribution of sympathetic discharge to these
      vascular responses, sympathetic efferent nerve activity (SENA) from the ventral
      ansa subclavian nerve was recorded simultaneously. Experiments were done under
      three conditions: control, after baroreceptor deafferentation, and after
      hexamethonium injection with low and high doses of each catecholamine. During
      control and after baroreceptor deafferentation, dopamine- and epinephrine-induced
      changes in SBV were less than those after hexamethonium, and not significant
      except with low dose epinephrine. After hexamethonium, dopamine (200
      micrograms/kg), epinephrine (10 micrograms/kg), and dobutamine (100
      micrograms/kg) reduced SBV by 10.6 +/- 3.4, 13.1 +/- 1.7, and 1.9 +/- 0.3 mL/kg,
      respectively. Splanchnic outflow increased significantly with dopamine and
      epinephrine after hexamethonium. High dose dopamine and epinephrine significantly
      suppressed SENA to 38 +/- 9 and 15 +/- 6% of baseline, respectively. Low dose
      dopamine decreased arterial pressure and SENA. This suppression in SENA was
      attenuated but still observed after baroreceptor deafferentation. Dobutamine
      reduced SBV, but had no effect on SENA. These results suggest that dopamine and
      epinephrine primarily decrease SBV by venoconstriction in the splanchnic region,
      however, these effects are greatly modified by basal sympathetic discharge and
      changes in SENA and vascular tone.

PMID- 1451025
TI  - Regional venous outflow, blood volume, and sympathetic nerve activity during
      hypercapnia and hypoxic hypercapnia.
AB  - We examined the changes in systemic blood volume and regional venous outflow from
      the splanchnic, coronary, and other remaining vascular beds in response to acute
      hypercapnia or hypoxic hypercapnia in dogs, using cardiopulmonary bypass and a
      reservoir. Hypercapnia (PCO2 = 105 mmHg) (1 mmHg = 133 Pa) and hypoxic
      hypercapnia (PO2 = 23 mmHg, PCO2 = 99 mmHg) caused marked decreases in systemic
      blood volume of 14 +/- 3 and 16 +/- 3 mL/kg in spleen-intact dogs, and 3 +/- 2
      and 10 +/- 2 mL/kg in splenectomized dogs, respectively. Splanchnic venous
      outflow increased by 12% at 3.5 min hypercapnia, whereas it decreased by 60% at
      3.5 min hypoxic hypercapnia. Coronary venous outflow increased by 85 and 400% at
      3.5 min hypercapnia and hypoxic hypercapnia, respectively. Sympathetic efferent
      nerve activity revealed a significant augmentation during hypoxic hypercapnia and
      a relatively smaller increase (30% of the response to hypoxic hypercapnia) during
      hypercapnia. Carotid and aortic chemoreceptor and baroreceptor denervation
      attenuated significantly the response of systemic blood volume to hypercapnia and
      hypoxic hypercapnia. The regional venous outflow responses to hypercapnia were
      not altered after chemodenervation, but those to hypoxic hypercapnia were
      significantly attenuated after chemodenervation. These results suggest that acute
      hypercapnia and hypoxic hypercapnia caused a marked decrease in vascular
      capacitance owing primarily to an increase in sympathetic efferent nerve activity
      via chemoreceptor stimulation. They also indicate that blood flow to the
      splanchnic vascular bed during hypercapnia increased (even though the cardiac
      output was constant), whereas it increased to the extrasplanchnic and coronary
      vascular beds during hypoxic hypercapnia.

PMID- 1451026
TI  - Diabetic type of cardiomyopathy in food-restricted rats.
AB  - We have demonstrated that food restriction that is associated with weight loss
      can produce a type of cardiac dysfunction similar to that produced by diabetes.
      As in diabetic atria, the food-restricted atria had a 2-fold increase in
      contraction force, rate of force development, and rate of force decline compared
      with controls. Both food-restricted and diabetic atria could tolerate anoxia
      better than controls. The contractile function of the whole perfused heart from
      the food-restricted rat was reduced, as in the case of the diabetic heart. As the
      left ventricular volume was increased, the left ventricular developed pressure
      and the rate of rise and fall in pressure were significantly reduced in both food
      restricted and diabetic hearts, compared with those of age- and weight-matched
      controls. The positive inotropic responses of atria and whole perfused heart to
      increasing concentrations of extracellular calcium were similarly altered in food
      restricted and diabetic hearts. The possible molecular mechanisms of these
      findings and some of the differences observed between food-restricted and
      diabetic hearts are discussed.

PMID- 1451027
TI  - The influence of calcium on ANF release in the isolated rat atrium.
AB  - We developed an in vitro model of the isolated, perfused rat atrium with which to
      examine the mechanisms linking muscular stretch to atrial natriuretic factor
      (ANF) secretion. It was shown that an increase in atrial pressure causing
      distension of the atria is associated with a rise in ANF secretion correlating
      with the degree of pressure load. Pressure-induced ANF secretion is enhanced by
      the calcium blocker nifedipine or omission of calcium from the perfusion buffer.
      The changes in atrial volume in response to a given pressure load are also more
      pronounced in the absence of calcium or following the addition of the calcium
      blocker. These data suggest that in nonbeating atria, stretch-induced ANF
      secretion does not rely on calcium influx.

PMID- 1451028
TI  - Evidence for an effector role of endothelin in closure of the ductus arteriosus
      at birth.
AB  - The ductus arteriosus is a special muscular shunt that in the fetus allows blood
      to bypass the unexpanded lungs. It closes rapidly after birth and this event is
      initiated by the physiologic rise in blood oxygen tension. Endothelin-1 has been
      proposed by us as a local mediator for oxygen after demonstrating that it is
      formed within the ductus and is a potent ductus constrictor. To confirm this
      possibility, we have now measured the release of endothelin-1 from the isolated
      ductus of near-term fetal lambs at different oxygen concentrations of the medium.
      In addition, using the same preparation, we have examined the effect on
      contractile tone of compounds interfering with the synthesis (phosphoramidon, 50
      microM) and action (BQ123, 1 microM) of endothelin-1. We report that release of
      endothelin-1 from the ductus tends to increase with the oxygen concentration up
      to a value mimicking the neonatal condition. Phosphoramidon and, to a greater
      degree, BQ123 inhibit the contraction of the vessel to oxygen. These results
      implicate endothelin-1 as the effector agent for oxygen in the ductus and, by
      extension, assign to this peptide a critical role in the closure of the vessel at
      birth.

PMID- 1451029
TI  - Extracellular ATP stimulates elastase secretion from human neutrophils and
      increases lung resistance and secretion from normal rat airways after
      intratracheal instillation.
AB  - The effect of ATP on intracellular Ca2+ levels and elastase secretion in isolated
      normal human peripheral blood neutrophils was investigated as was its in vivo
      effect on lung resistance and mucous secretion. ATP (10(-5) M) increased [Ca2+]i
      from 61 +/- 3 to 165 +/- 15 nM in nonactivated neutrophils; elastase secretion
      was increased by 40% from nonactivated neutrophils but was unaffected in fMLP
      (10(-5) M) activated cells. Instillation of ATP (10(-5) and 10(-3) M) into the
      airways of brown Norway rats increased both lung resistance and secretion. These
      findings suggest that aerosolization of ATP into the cystic fibrosis-affected
      bronchial tree might be hazardous in terms of enhancement of parenchymal damage,
      which would result from neutrophil elastase release, and in terms of impaired
      respiratory lung function.

PMID- 1451030
TI  - Inhibition of chick embryo hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase by components
      of xenobiotic-treated chick embryo hepatocytes in culture. II.
AB  - A variety of xenobiotics, viz., 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCBP), sodium
      phenobarbital (PB), 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-2, 4,6-trimethylpyridine (OX-DDC), and
      nifedipine, cause a decrease in uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROG-D) activity,
      accompanied by uroporphyrin accumulation, in chick embryo hepatocytes in culture.
      In this study the activity of 17-day-old chick embryo hepatic UROG-D was
      determined by measuring the conversion of pentacarboxylporphyrinogen I to
      coproporphyrinogen I, and it was shown that a UROG-D inhibitor, previously
      reported to accumulate in TCBP-treated and PB-treated chick embryo hepatocytes in
      culture, also accumulates in OX-DDC-treated and nifedipine-treated chick embryo
      hepatocytes in culture. It was concluded that the accumulation of a UROG-D
      inhibitor provides an explanation for the UROG-D inhibition observed in this
      culture system with xenobiotics that cause uroporphyrin accumulation. Studies of
      the UROG-D inhibitory fraction isolated from the 10,000 x g, 40,000 x g, and
      100,000 x g supernatant fractions of cultured chick embryo hepatocyte homogenate
      led to the conclusion that the UROG-D inhibitor is derived from a soluble
      component of the homogenate.

PMID- 1451031
TI  - M2 muscarinic ([3H]N-methyl scopolamine) binding in micropunches of rat
      ventricular myocardium: characterization and modification by progesterone.
AB  - A new technique is outlined for the characterization and quantification of M2
      muscarinic binding sites (receptors) in micropunches (1 mm diam.), cut from
      slices (350 microns), of fresh cardiac tissue using the hydrophilic antagonist
      [3H]N-methyl scopolamine. The use of this water-soluble ligand allows us to
      label, and quantify, M2 receptors on the cell surface of intact cells contained
      within the micropunch. We believe that cardiac micropunches offer a simple but
      powerful approach to the investigation of membrane receptor regulation in tissue
      that largely retains the in vivo cytoarchitecture. Specific binding is
      reversible, stereospecific, saturable, of high affinity, and has the drug
      specificity typical of an M2 muscarinic receptor. In rat left ventricle, Bmax was
      151.2 +/- 10.3 fmol/mg protein while KD was 1.0 +/- 0.1 nM. Nonspecific binding
      of the ligand was very low, varying from 2.8% (at 0.27 nM) to 7.7% (at 3.58 nM).
      This micropunch assay was used to determine that progesterone can compete with
      the muscarinic ligand for the M2 receptor in vitro (IC50 = 50 x 10(-6) M). The
      steroids estradiol and testosterone, as well as ouabain, were without effect.
      Progesterone inhibited [3H]N-methyl scopolamine binding competitively (KD reduced
      from 1.9 to 4.3 nM) without affecting the rate of association of the ligand.
      However, progesterone induced a rapid dissociation of the ligand from its
      receptor. We conclude that the micropunch assay described here is suitable for
      the continued study of sex hormone effects on cardiac function.

PMID- 1451032
TI  - Impact of increased infarct transmurality on remodeling and function during
      healing after anterior myocardial infarction in the dog.
AB  - To determine the impact of greater infarct transmurality on changes in left
      ventricular remodeling and function after acute anterior myocardial infarction,
      serial topographic and functional parameters (two-dimensional echocardiograms)
      and hemodynamics over 6 weeks, and postmortem topography (planimetry) at 6 weeks,
      were measured in chronically instrumented dogs randomized to standard coronary
      artery ligation (group 1) or a modified lower ligation plus collateral
      obliteration to decrease collateral inflow and increase transmurality (group 2).
      At 6 weeks, postmortem scar size and collagen were similar in the two groups, but
      group 2 had greater transmurality associated with more necrosis relative to area
      at risk, Q waves, infarct expansion, thinning, regional bulging, and cavity
      dilatation. Over the 6 weeks, group 2 showed more early expansion, late thinning
      and regional bulging in the short axis, larger diastolic and systolic volumes,
      and more apical aneurysmal bulging in the long-axis, reflecting more topographic
      deterioration. More important, group 2 showed greater regional and global left
      ventricular dysfunction over 6 weeks, lower ejection fraction at 2 days with
      further decrease over 6 weeks, and more left ventricular thrombus, ventricular
      arrhythmias, and deaths. In addition, transmurality correlated with the severity
      of remodeling and dysfunction. The findings indicate that transmurality is a
      major determinant of remodeling and left ventricular dysfunction during healing
      after anterior infarction.

PMID- 1451033
TI  - 85Sr uptake by the chick embryonic heart: effect of high doses of isoproterenol.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to establish whether intraamnial administration
      of toxic doses of isoproterenol to chick embryos increases cardiac accumulation
      of strontium, the homologue element of calcium. It has been shown that the
      ability of embryonic tissues (blood, heart, and liver) to accumulate 85Sr
      decreases significantly during ontogeny. Administration of isoproterenol to chick
      embryos did not elevate the concentration of 85Sr in the heart. It seems,
      therefore, that isoproterenol-induced developmental changes in the chick
      embryonic myocardium are not necessarily due to intracellular calcium (as
      measured by 85Sr) overload.

PMID- 1451034
TI  - Modulatory effect of steroid hormones on GnRH-induced LH secretion by cultured
      rat pituitary cells.
AB  - The purpose of the present experiments was to examine the short- and long-term
      effects of estradiol-17 beta (E2), progesterone (P), and 5 alpha
      dihydrotestosterone (DHT), alone and in combination, on the gonadotrophin
      releasing hormone (GnRH)-induced luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion, using an
      ovariectomized rat pituitary cells culture model. After 72 h in steroid-free
      medium, pituitary cells were further cultured for 24 h in medium with or without
      E2 (1 nM), P (100 nM), or DHT (10 nM). Cultures were then incubated for 5 h in
      the absence or presence of 1 nM GnRH with or without steroids. LH was measured in
      the medium and cell extract by radioimmunoassay. The results show that the
      steroid hormones exert opposite effects on the release of LH induced by GnRH,
      which seems to be dependent upon the length of time the pituitary cells have been
      exposed to the steroids. In fact, short-term (5 h) action of E2 resulted in a
      partial inhibition (64% of control) of LH release in response to GnRH, while long
      term (24 h) exposure enhanced (158%) GnRH-induced LH release. Similar results
      were obtained with DHT, although the magnitude of the effect was lower than with
      E2. Conversely, P caused an acute stimulatory action (118%) on the LH released in
      response to GnRH and a slightly inhibitory effect (90%) after chronic treatment.
      GnRH-stimulated LH biosynthesis was also influenced by steroid treatment.
      Significant increases in total (cells plus medium) LH were observed in pituitary
      cells treated with E2 or DHT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451035
TI  - Intrafibre distribution of succinate dehydrogenase in cat tibialis anterior motor
      units.
AB  - Using isolated ventral root filament stimulation and glycogen depletion
      techniques, 14 motor units from the cat tibialis anterior were studied. Based on
      their mechanical properties, the units were classified as either slow-fatigue
      resistant, fast-fatigue resistant, fast-fatigue intermediate, or fast-fatigable.
      Quantitative histochemical and computer assisted image analysis techniques were
      used to determine the activity of succinate dehydrogenase in a population of
      fibres in each unit. In addition, the intrafibre distribution of succinate
      dehydrogenase activity was measured in those same fibres by calculating the
      enzymatic activity of circumferential layers every 0.5 microns starting from the
      fibre edge to its centre. It was established that enzymatic activity and radial
      distance were linearly related in the fibres. A range in succinate dehydrogenase
      activity (mean coefficient of variation, 29%) was observed among the fibres of a
      unit. In contrast, the intrafibre distribution of that activity was rather
      consistent (mean variation, 4%) across the fibres of a unit. Further, the
      intrafibre distribution was similar among the fibres of units classified as the
      same type. However, the intrafibre distribution was disparate among the different
      unit types. These data suggest that the intrafibre distribution of mitochondrial
      enzymes may contribute to the mechanical properties of a motor unit. In this
      regard, a hypothesis is proposed that describes how the absolute activity of a
      mitochondrial enzyme, and the intrafibre distribution of that activity, may
      interactively contribute to the fatigue resistance of a unit.

PMID- 1451036
TI  - Reversibility of renal tubular dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in
      the rat.
AB  - Enzymuria and specific proteinuria were examined over a period of 19 days in 4
      groups of 5 rats: a control group, a nondiabetic polyuric group, a group of
      streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats treated with insulin as of the 10th day
      after the injection of the drug, and a similar group of untreated diabetic rats.
      Increased urinary excretion of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase, lactate
      dehydrogenase, and alanine aminopeptidase was observed shortly after the
      induction of diabetes. It was partly or totally reversible following insulin
      treatment. Nondiabetic polyuria had a slight effect on the excretion of alanine
      aminopeptidase only. The urinary excretion of beta 2-microglobulin also rapidly
      increased after the onset of diabetes to a level approximately 50 times the
      control values. This effect was largely reversible with insulin treatment and was
      absent in the nondiabetic polyuric group. A small but significant 3-fold increase
      in albumin excretion was also noted but was not affected by insulin treatment. We
      conclude that streptozotocin-induced diabetes causes an early tubular dysfunction
      that is unrelated to polyuria and is reversible upon insulin treatment. This
      tubular dysfunction is best revealed by the urinary excretion of the low
      molecular weight protein beta 2-microglobulin. Our results suggest that it would
      be of interest to further examine the usefulness of sensitive markers of tubular
      dysfunction, especially low molecular weight proteinuria, in the detection of
      early stages of diabetic nephropathy.

PMID- 1451037
TI  - Effects of clentiazem (TA-3090) and nifedipine on basal circulating catecholamine
      levels and on stimulation-evoked adrenal catecholamine secretion in anesthetized
      dogs.
AB  - The effects of TA-3090 (clentiazem) and nifedipine on basal sympathoadrenal
      activity and on the adrenal medullary response during splanchnic nerve
      stimulation were studied in dogs anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital. Plasma
      concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine were measured in aortic and
      adrenal venous blood before and after acute administration of the drugs, as well
      as during left splanchnic nerve stimulation before and after administration of
      drugs. Following intravenous injections, TA-3090 (30, 100, and 300 micrograms/kg)
      did not affect basal circulating catecholamine levels, whereas nifedipine (10,
      30, and 100 micrograms/kg) markedly increased aortic epinephrine and
      norepinephrine concentrations in a dose-dependent manner in correlation with
      progressive decreases in mean arterial pressure. The changes in aortic
      epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations were inversely related to those in
      mean arterial pressure (r = 0.603, p < 0.01; r = 0.536, p < 0.01; respectively).
      In response to direct splanchnic nerve stimulation (2 Hz, 2 ms, 1 min, 12 V),
      adrenal venous epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations significantly
      increased, with a high degree of reproducibility. The catecholamine responses to
      splanchnic nerve stimulation were not affected by either TA-3090 or nifedipine at
      any dose tested. The present results suggest that the increases in circulating
      catecholamine levels following nifedipine administration are due to baroreflex
      activation secondary to the drug-induced hypotension. The study indicates that
      both TA-3090 and nifedipine did not significantly affect L-type Ca2+ channels
      related to catecholamine release in the adrenal medulla under the present
      experimental conditions.

PMID- 1451039
TI  - Sensitivity of early human vision to 3-D orientation in line-drawings.
AB  - The modern "textbook" view of visual perception contains an inherent paradox. On
      the one hand, it claims that relatively simple edge-extraction processes requires
      a stimulus exposure of approximately 50 ms. On the other hand, it says that the
      identification of objects in photographs and line-drawings can be highly accurate
      with exposure durations as short as 100 ms. It is tempting to conclude that all
      the difficult work of perception occurs in the 50 ms that elapse between when
      these two tasks are accomplished. This article argues against this view,
      suggesting instead that much more than edge-extraction is accomplished by the
      early visual processes. To illustrate this view, a computational model is
      described that is capable of recovering the 3-D orientation of objects from some
      line-drawings, rapidly and in parallel. Data from recent visual search
      experiments with human observers are presented in support of this model and the
      implications of this view for the "textbook" view are discussed.

PMID- 1451038
TI  - Prostaglandin production by porcine allantochorion in vitro: effect of cortisol
      infusion in vivo.
AB  - The effect of cortisol infusion into the porcine fetus on subsequent
      prostaglandin (PG) production in vitro by the fetal placenta (the allantochorion)
      was studied. Also, the possible in vitro effects of glucocorticoids and other
      steroids on PG production by dispersed cells were examined. Two fetuses in each
      of 6 sows were catheterized on day 100 or 101 of gestation (normal gestation is
      114-116 days); one was infused with cortisol (6 mg/day) and one with saline for 5
      days beginning on day 103. On day 108, fetal allantochorionic tissue was
      aseptically collected from the infused fetuses and 2 uninfused litter mates
      (controls). Pieces of tissues were cut from the allantochorion (4 sows) and
      dispersed cell preparations were made from each fetus (4 sows). Each preparation
      was cultured for 24 h, and the production of PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and 6-keto-PFG1
      alpha (prostacyclin metabolite) measured. In vivo cortisol infusion had no
      significant effect on the in vitro production of PGE2 or PGF2 alpha by tissues or
      dispersed cell preparations. However, tissue from the fetuses infused with
      cortisol produced significantly less 6-keto-PGF1 alpha than uninfused controls
      (54% of control, p < 0.05). The dispersed cells from uninfused fetuses and 2
      cortisol-infused animals were also incubated for 24 h with 10(-7) and 10(-9) M
      concentrations of estrone, estradiol, progesterone, cortisol, and dexamethasone,
      and the production of PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and 6-keto-PFG1 alpha was measured. No
      significant effect of any of these steroids in vitro on prostanoid production was
      observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451040
TI  - Recognizing novel views of three-dimensional objects.
AB  - The purpose of the experiments reported was to examine how novel, three
      dimensional shapes are represented in long-term memory and how this might be
      differentially affected by monocular and binocular viewing. Three experiments
      were conducted. The first experiment established that slide projections of the
      novel objects could be recognized readily if seen in the same orientation as seen
      during learning. The second and third experiments examined generalization to
      novel depth rotations of the objects. The second experiment used slide
      projections of the objects. The results indicated that the representation of the
      objects seen during training was quite viewpoint-specific as recognition of
      objects in novel orientations was relatively poor. In the third experiment
      subjects were shown the real objects under monocular or binocular viewing.
      Overall, the results are consistent with a growing body of recent research
      showing that, at least under certain conditions, the visual system stores
      viewpoint-specific representations of objects.

PMID- 1451041
TI  - Metric invariance in object recognition: a review and further evidence.
AB  - Phenomenologically, human shape recognition appears to be invariant with changes
      of orientation in depth (up to parts occlusion), position in the visual field,
      and size. Recent versions of template theories (e.g., Ullman, 1989; Lowe, 1987)
      assume that these invariances are achieved through the application of
      transformations such as rotation, translation, and scaling of the image so that
      it can be matched metrically to a stored template. Presumably, such
      transformations would require time for their execution. We describe recent
      priming experiments in which the effects of a prior brief presentation of an
      image on its subsequent recognition are assessed. The results of these
      experiments indicate that the invariance is complete: The magnitude of visual
      priming (as distinct from name or basic level concept priming) is not affected by
      a change in position, size, orientation in depth, or the particular lines and
      vertices present in the image, as long as representations of the same components
      can be activated. An implemented seven layer neural network model (Hummel &
      Biederman, 1992) that captures these fundamental properties of human object
      recognition is described. Given a line drawing of an object, the model activates
      a viewpoint-invariant structural description of the object, specifying its parts
      and their interrelations. Visual priming is interpreted as a change in the
      connection weights for the activation of: a) cells, termed geon feature
      assemblies (GFAs), that conjoin the output of units that represent invariant,
      independent properties of a single geon and its relations (such as its type,
      aspect ratio, relations to other geons), or b) a change in the connection weights
      by which several GFAs activate a cell representing an object.

PMID- 1451042
TI  - Variant points of view on viewpoint invariance.
AB  - In order to recognize an object, the visual system must make abstraction of
      proximal stimulus variations concomitant with the incidental vantage point.
      Theoretical models can be distinguished according to the degree to which they
      require the achievement of viewpoint independence prior to matching a stored
      object model. Recognition-by-components is one theory which incorporates the
      realization of general viewpoint invariance as one of its hallmarks. Some aspects
      of this theory, especially the orientation independence of the represented
      relations between object parts, are scrutinized. Next, an alternative approach is
      sketched in which object recognition is accomplished on the basis of a stimulus
      description which is dependent on the object's orientation, but which makes
      abstraction of other stimulus variations. Relevant neurophysiological findings
      are discussed, as well as behavioural evidence from experiments investigating
      orientation-dependent priming effects in the perception of biological motion.

PMID- 1451043
TI  - Perceptual use of nonaccidental properties.
AB  - Under the assumption of a general viewpoint, particular image properties, such as
      cotermination, straightness, and parallelism, can be used to infer, more or less
      reliably, the corresponding characteristics in the world. In this paper, the
      literature about these nonaccidental properties (NAPs) is reviewed to trace its
      historical roots, to list the properties that function as NAPs, and to discuss
      the psychological evidence for their detection and use. Against this background,
      four experiments are reviewed and four are fully described that were designed to
      test the perceptual use of skewed symmetry (SS), which results from orthographic
      projection of planar bilateral or mirror symmetry (BS). Despite the large
      symmetry advantage obtained in all experiments, SS is only perceived as BS-in
      depth in cases of closed polygons or dot patterns with higher-order types of
      symmetry. In all random dot patterns and in some symmetric patterns with low
      "Gestalt", subjects relied on more local groupings which are qualitatively affine
      invariant, such as clusters based on proximity or curvilinearity. Based on
      previous approaches in the literature and these new findings, I suggest some
      distinctions between different ways of using NAPs, which might foster further
      research.

PMID- 1451044
TI  - Orientation congruency effects in visual search.
AB  - Subjects searched for the letter E in a background of Ls and Fs in displays that
      had 1, 2, 4, 8, or 12 letters. The letters could be shown at one of six
      orientations (upright or rotated clockwise in 60 degrees increments). The
      displays were either congruent for orientation (all letters had the same
      orientation) or incongruent (letters in haphazard orientations except for the
      target on E-present trials). Search time increased linearly with the number of
      letters in the display, and more so for E-absent trials than for E-present
      trials. Letter orientation, in general, increased search time and produced an M
      shaped function. Furthermore, orientation effects were attenuated in congruent
      displays relative to those produced by incongruent displays. The results
      demonstrated systematic orientation effects on the time to search for a simple
      pattern embedded in simple backgrounds, and provided converging evidence for the
      orientation-congruency effect found by Jolicoeur (1990b, Journal of Experimental
      Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 16, 351-364).

PMID- 1451045
TI  - Texture discrimination with and without abrupt texture gradients.
AB  - A common assumption is that effortless, visual texture discrimination relies on
      the detection of gradients between two textures. This assumption was assessed in
      two experiments with manipulations that smoothed (Experiment 1) or interrupted
      (Experiment 2) the gradient between textures comprising L- and X-type
      micropatterns. Compared to discrimination performance when there was an abrupt
      discontinuity between juxtaposed textures, performance declined moderately (about
      10 percent) when the texture boundary was smoothed. In this case the two textures
      were asymmetrically discriminated but there was no interaction of this asymmetry
      with the abruptness of the texture gradient. Abrupt texture gradients, therefore,
      are not a necessary condition for the asymmetrical discrimination of two
      textures. A comparison of discrimination performance with juxtaposed textures-
      having an abrupt gradient--and discrimination performance when the textures were
      separated into distinct regions--by non-textured areas--yielded very similar
      results across several texture pairs. Taken together these results indicate that,
      in certain instances, texture discrimination may involve pattern classification
      like processes that are operative in the absence of texture gradients.

PMID- 1451046
TI  - Acute pain management: i.v. patient controlled analgesia places the patient in
      control.

PMID- 1451047
TI  - Breast cancer: recent progress.

PMID- 1451048
TI  - Where are you when we need you?

PMID- 1451049
TI  - Preoperative functional anxiety: a conceptual framework.
AB  - Preoperative functional anxiety is an important phenomenon for the patient
      undergoing surgical intervention. Functional anxiety facilitates the patient's
      ability to cope with surgery. Personal control enhances the patient's coping and
      modifies anxiety to a functional level. The phenomenon of preoperative functional
      anxiety and related concepts of coping and locus of control have a direct effect
      on the concept of postoperative recovery. Current research is focusing primarily
      on preoperative anxiety levels and postoperative recovery. There is a need for
      further nursing research to develop nursing theory about the concepts of coping
      and personal control as they relate to preoperative functional anxiety and
      postoperative recovery. This paper focuses on the development of a conceptual
      framework for understanding the biopsychosocial phenomenon of preoperative
      functional anxiety.

PMID- 1451050
TI  - Production of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and metalloproteinase-3 related to
      malignant behavior of esophageal carcinoma. A clinicopathologic study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are a gene family of zinc enzymes
      capable of degrading almost all of the extracellular matrix macromolecules in
      vivo. Their enzymic activities are believed to be responsible for tumor invasion
      and metastasis. METHODS: In this study, using peroxidase-antiperoxidase method,
      monospecific antisera against MMP-1 (tissue collagenase), MMP-2 (type IV
      collagenase/72-kilodalton [KD] gelatinase), and MMP-3 (stromelysin) were applied
      to 29 squamous cell carcinomas and normal epithelium of the esophagus to identify
      cells synthesizing and secreting these enzymes. RESULTS: Immunoreactivity of MMP
      1, -2, and -3 was observed in small cancer nests of the deeply invasive or
      marginal portion of the tumor. Among the 29 patients studied, the presence of at
      least one MMP was observed in 17 (58.6%). All three enzymes were observed in six
      (20.6%) patients, MMP-2 and -3 in five (17.2%) patients, only MMP-2 in three
      (10.3%) patients, and MMP-3 alone in three (10.3%) patients. There was a good
      correlation among histologic stage and tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, and
      MMP expression. In particular, expression of MMP-2 and -3 was closely related to
      lymph node metastasis and vascular invasion. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest
      that MMP, especially MMP-2 and -3, play an important role in tumor invasion and
      metastasis and that analysis of MMP-2 and -3 production is useful for evaluation
      of malignant potential in esophageal carcinoma.

PMID- 1451051
TI  - Cytohistologic assessment of antitumor effects of intraperitoneal hyperthermic
      perfusion with mitomycin C for patients with gastric cancer with peritoneal
      metastasis.
AB  - For 15 patients with refractory gastric cancer and peritoneal metastasis,
      intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion (IPHP) using mitomycin C combined with
      extensive surgery was prescribed. The antitumor effects were assessed
      cytohistologically in pre-IPHP and post-IPHP specimens of the abdominal effusion
      and peritoneal tissue. Gastric cancer cells in the abdominal effusion and/or
      lavage vanished from post-IPHP peritoneal exudate obtained from the pouch of
      Douglas. Peritoneal tissues from nine patients were harvested just after the IPHP
      treatment. All the nuclei of cancer cells were pyknotic in three of nine
      patients, and two of these three patients are alive with no local recurrence; one
      patient died of hepatic metastasis. In the remaining six patients, four with
      preoperative ascitic effusion and positive post-IPHP histologic findings died of
      peritoneal, intraabdominal, and pericardial metastases. The other two had some
      residual microscopic foci in the subperitoneal deep layer; one patient died of
      pleural recurrence, and the other is alive with no evidence of recurrence 42
      months after the IPHP. Among the other six patients, whose post-IPHP peritoneal
      tissues were not available because of disappearance of disseminating foci as a
      result of the IPHP, two are living with no recurrence and, of the remaining four
      patients, three died of hepatic and intraabdominal metastases and the other one
      died of other causes. The histologic findings are suggestive of the following:
      (1) uniform heat and drug distribution in the abdominal cavity with IPHP
      treatment, except for an area adjacent to the inflow point of the perfusate; and
      (2) limited penetration of heat and drug through the subperitoneal layer. Thus,
      IPHP treatment results in complete destruction of cancer cells in the abdominal
      effusion and on and just beneath the peritoneum.

PMID- 1451052
TI  - Schedule-dependent inhibition of thymidylate synthase by 5-fluorouracil in
      gastric cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: An optimal treatment schedule of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) remains to be
      clarified. METHODS: A randomized study was conducted to investigate schedule
      dependent thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibition by 5-FU in 16 patients with
      gastric cancer who underwent surgical resection. Surgical specimens of tumor,
      normal gastric mucosa, and regional lymph nodes were obtained 12 hours after
      administration of 5-FU either as a continuous infusion (1000 mg/m2 for 48 hours)
      or as a bolus injection (500 mg/m2 x 2 in 48 hours). RESULTS: The total TS
      activity (567.8 +/- 294 fmol/mg protein) and the rate of TS inhibition (74.7 +/-
      23.1%) in cancer tissues were significantly higher in the continuous-infusion
      group than in the bolus-injection group (228.5 +/- 104.6 fmol/mg protein and 48.8
      +/- 12%, respectively). Likewise, the total TS activity (807.4 +/- 440.3 fmol/mg
      protein) and the rates of TS inhibition in lymph nodes (72.3 +/- 17.1%) and in
      normal gastric mucosa (85.1 +/- 12.2%) were significantly higher in the
      continuous-infusion group than those in the bolus-injection group (232.4 +/-
      142.3 fmol/mg protein and 53.6 +/- 17.0% in lymph nodes and 46.5 +/- 14.3% in
      normal gastric mucosa, respectively). There was a significant correlation between
      the total TS activity and TS inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous infusion of 5-FU
      provides a superior antimetabolic effect in the treatment of gastric cancer,
      which may lead to a superior antitumor effect.

PMID- 1451053
TI  - Adenocarcinoma of the proximal small intestine. A marker for familial and
      multicentric cancer?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Adenocarcinoma of the small intestine is uncommon. The Hawaii Tumor
      Registry (HTR) has identified 49 of these tumors since 1960, and the Japan-Hawaii
      Cancer Study (JHCS) has identified only four of these tumors among a cohort of
      8006 Hawaiian-Japanese men followed up for a period of 22 years. Each of the four
      men reported by the JHCS had multicentric gastrointestinal cancers. METHODS:
      Newly diagnosed cancers are recorded separately by the HTR and JHCS, and linkage
      is maintained between the two files. Family histories are available from the
      JHCS, and these are supplemented by a state population file maintained by the
      Department of Genetics, University of Hawaii. RESULTS: Five men, all Japanese,
      were found to have carcinoma of the proximal small intestine. Each had
      multicentric carcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract. Carcinoma of the stomach
      and colon was found in the primary relatives of each of four men whose families
      lived in Hawaii. CONCLUSIONS: The familial clustering of uncommon neoplasms
      (small bowel carcinoma and multicentric large bowel carcinoma), and the
      concurrence of gastric and colonic carcinoma suggests that these subjects have a
      genetic trait that increases susceptibility to a broad range of carcinogens.

PMID- 1451054
TI  - Expression of p53 protein in invasive colorectal carcinomas of different
      histologic types.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study was performed to determine whether morphologic differences
      of colonic cancer types can be related to different genotypes of these tumors.
      METHODS: Paraffin sections of 76 human invasive colorectal carcinomas were
      examined for the overexpression of p53 oncoprotein with the avidin-biotin complex
      peroxidase staining procedure and CM-1 antiserum, which detects p53 protein in
      paraffin-embedded material. The tumors were categorized as mucinous (22 cases),
      most of which originated from adenomas, and nonmucinous, which were subdivided
      into carcinomas originating from adenoma-carcinoma sequence (ACS) (29 cases) and
      de novo (DN) carcinomas (25 cases). RESULTS: Nineteen DN carcinomas (76%), 21 ACS
      carcinomas (72%), and 8 mucinous carcinomas (36%) exhibited detectable amounts of
      p53 protein in the tumor cell nuclei. Strong overexpression of p53 protein
      coincided with a high percentage (> 40%) of stained nuclei in 40% of ACS and 48%
      of DN carcinomas versus 9% of mucinous tumors. The percentage of stained nuclei,
      intensity of staining, and distribution of the stained areas did not correlate
      with the grade of differentiation or the invasive edge of the tumors. Along with
      nuclear staining of the tumor area, a distinct perinuclear staining of normal
      epithelial cells adjacent to the tumor was observed in 48% of DN, 7% of ACS, and
      9% of mucinous carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: The current results, in combination with
      the recently published data on Ki-ras and c-myc alterations, indicate that
      mucinous carcinomas differ from nonmucinous colorectal carcinomas in their
      genetic lesions.

PMID- 1451055
TI  - Expression of p53 protein in colorectal cancer and its relationship to short-term
      prognosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND METHODS: The expression of p53 protein in 100 large bowel cancers
      was studied immunohistochemically by use of a monoclonal antibody (PAb1801).
      RESULTS: Immunoreactivity was found in 61.0% of specimens from 100 patients with
      colorectal cancer. The pattern of p53 expression was mainly detected in the
      nuclei of the cancer cells. There was no significant correlation between the
      expression of p53 and the histologic grade, tumor size, serosal invasion,
      lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, lymph node metastasis, or liver metastasis.
      However, patients with p53-positive tumors had a greater relative risk of death
      compared with those with p53-negative tumors. The p53 negative-tumors showed a
      recurrence rate of 5.9%; for the p53 positive-tumors, a recurrence rate of 23.8%
      was recorded. The 3-year survival rate was 96.7% of 39 patients with p53-negative
      carcinomas and 61.8% for the patients with p53-positive tumors; there was a
      significant difference in the rate between the two groups of patients (P < 0.05).
      The growth fraction of p53-positive tumors determined with a monoclonal antibody
      against DNA polymerase alpha (49.0%) was significantly higher than that of p53
      negative tumors (40.7%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the
      immunoreactivity of p53 may be a biologic marker of prognostic significance.

PMID- 1451056
TI  - Effects of hyperthermia and iodine-131-labeled anticarcinoembryonic antigen
      monoclonal antibody on human tumor xenografts in nude mice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many studies have demonstrated synergistic interaction between
      hyperthermia and radiation. This study was undertaken to determine whether
      hyperthermia could enhance the effect of radioimmunotherapy (RIT) in the
      treatment of human colon adenocarcinoma xenografts in nude mice. METHODS: The
      experiments were conducted in two parts. During the first part of the study,
      preliminary information was obtained regarding the effect of various temperatures
      (41 degrees C, 42 degrees C, and 43 degrees C for 45 minutes) and iodine-131
      labeled anticarcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) monoclonal antibodies (RMoAb) with
      administered activity ranging from 130 +/- 19 microCi to 546 +/- 19 microCi on
      tumor regrowth delay (TRD) and volume doubling time. This information was used in
      Part 2 of the study, which included four groups of mice: (1) a control group, (2)
      a group treated with hyperthermia, (3) a group treated with RMoAb, and (4) a
      group treated with a combination of RMoAb and hyperthermia. RESULTS: Maximum and
      significantly increased TRD was observed in the group treated with RMoAb and
      hyperthermia (slope, 0.057) compared with the control group (slope, 0.322), the
      hyperthermia-treated group (slope, 0.302), and the group treated with RMoAb alone
      (slope, 0.098). The ratio of the slopes between the groups treated with RMoAb and
      those treated with RMoAb and hyperthermia was 1.72. No correlation was detected
      between the percent of antibody uptake in the tumor and tumor regression in the
      groups treated with heat and RMoAb and those treated with RMoAb alone.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results of these experiments show that hyperthermia increased
      the effectiveness of iodine-131-labeled anti-CEA monoclonal antibodies against
      human colon carcinoma xenografts in nude mice. This study offers a rationale for
      combining hyperthermia and low-dose radiation produced from RIT in clinical
      practice.

PMID- 1451057
TI  - Prognostic factor of telecobalt therapy for early glottic carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Local control rates of T1 and T2 glottic carcinoma treated with
      radiation alone were reported as 80-91% and 63-76%, respectively. The authors
      investigated the factors that affect the local control rate for early glottic
      carcinoma. METHODS: From 1967 through 1982, 330 patients with early glottic
      carcinoma (T1: 274 patients; T2: 56) were treated with telecobalt therapy at the
      Department of Radiology, Osaka University Hospital, Osaka, Japan. RESULTS: Five
      year actuarial survival rates of patients with T1 and T2 were 79% and 80%,
      respectively. Five-year local disease control rates of patients with T1 and T2
      disease were 81% and 67%, respectively. In 243 of 254 patients treated with 2 Gy
      a day, tumor response could be evaluated at the dose level of 40 Gy. For tumors
      treated with a daily dose of 2 Gy, local control rates of 153 tumors that
      disappeared at 40 Gy and 90 tumors that persisted at 40 Gy were 83% and 62%,
      respectively (P < 0.001). Field size and daily fraction size did not affect the
      local control rate. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of tumor response at 40 Gy was an
      important indicator of local disease control for early glottic cancers treated
      with 2 Gy a day.

PMID- 1451058
TI  - Malignant transformation in Paget disease of bone.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The previously reported incidence of malignant transformation of
      Paget disease up to 5.5% and its dismal prognosis have prompted the clinical
      investigation of a large population with Paget disease. METHODS: A chart review
      of symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with a diagnosis of Paget disease
      between 1970 and 1985 at four large Montreal Hospitals revealed 1078 patients.
      Eight patients with malignant transformation were studied in detail. RESULTS: The
      incidence of malignant transformation was 0.7%, and the most frequent histologic
      type was osteogenic sarcoma. The most prevalent site was the femur, and
      pathologic fracture with focal osteolysis was present in 50% of patients at the
      initial appearance of the tumor. Healing at the fracture site was demonstrated in
      one patient. Another patient died of uncontrollable hemorrhage. A case of
      malignant lymphoma in Paget disease is recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery or biopsy
      should be preceded by preoperative scintigraphic bone blood flow evaluation and,
      if necessary, administration of a preoperative course of mithramycin and
      selective embolization to minimize bleeding. The prognosis of malignant
      transformation in Paget disease is poor, although one patient with malignant
      lymphoma survived after aggressive treatment. Early biopsy and aggressive
      treatment should not be delayed.

PMID- 1451059
TI  - The prognostic value of cytogenetic analyses in patients with acute
      nonlymphocytic leukemia treated with the same intensive chemotherapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Some specific chromosome abnormalities for the leukemias have been
      proven to be associated with the prognosis of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia
      (ANLL). However, most of these reports included patients treated with different
      protocols. Therefore, some bias has been involved in the evaluation of the
      prognostic factors in such reports. METHODS: The authors studied the morphologic,
      cytogenetic, and clinical features of 136 patients (86 males and 50 females) with
      de novo ANLL treated with the same protocol of intensive induction chemotherapy
      using multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Chromosome abnormalities were detected in
      62.5% of the patients. The overall complete remission (CR) rate of disease was
      85.5% in these patients. More than 90% of the patients with t(8;21) and
      pseudodiploid abnormalities achieved experienced CR. However, CR rates in the
      patients with abnormalities of chromosome 5 or 7 were 50%. With multivariate
      analyses by the type of karyotypic abnormality, CR duration and survival time of
      the patients with t(8;21) were longer than those of patients with normal
      karyotype and abnormalities of chromosome 5 or 7. Abnormalities of chromosome 5
      or 7 and hyperdiploid were associated with poor prognosis. Older age and lower
      platelet counts also were factors contributing to shorter survival times. With
      the analysis with French-American-British (FAB) classification, only hypoplastic
      leukemia was a poor prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that
      cytogenetic analyses plays an important role in estimating the prognosis of
      patients treated with intensive induction chemotherapy.

PMID- 1451060
TI  - Prognostic significance of histologic parameters of soft tissue sarcomas.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND METHODS: A univariate and multivariate analysis for the
      correlation between histomorphologic factors and prognosis was made using data
      from 1116 patients with soft tissue sarcoma, including 1005 cases available with
      complete histologic and follow-up data. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival rate
      was 43.6%. The univariate analysis using Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that
      tumor differentiation, cellularity, nuclear atypia, cellular pleomorphism,
      mitotic activity, amount of fibrous stroma, extent of myxoid areas, extent of
      tumor necrosis, and histologic grading (determined by the estimated range of
      malignancy for each type of sarcoma using a reported guideline) were all
      significant prognostic factors in the overall soft tissue sarcoma group. By a
      multivariate analysis using a procedure based on the Weibull model to failure
      data, the histologic grading and extent of tumor necrosis were proved to be
      prognostically significant in the overall sarcoma group. However, after
      additional analysis on each histologic type of sarcoma, it was determined that
      both tumor necrosis and histologic grading were applicable in only two types:
      malignant fibrous histiocytoma and leiomyosarcoma. Liposarcoma, synovial sarcoma,
      and malignant schwannoma each also showed some determinable factor of prognostic
      significance. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that there seemed to be no single
      universal prognostic parameter that could be applied to each soft tissue sarcoma
      type. These results suggest that the predictive significance of the various
      histologic parameters should be based on each specific type of sarcoma.

PMID- 1451061
TI  - DNA flow cytometry of epithelioid sarcoma.
AB  - DNA ploidy of paraffin-embedded tissue from 11 patients with epithelioid sarcoma
      and 20 control specimens (granuloma annulare and sarcoid) was studied. DNA
      aneuploidy was found in 64% of the epithelioid sarcomas and in none of the
      control samples. Aneuploidy did not correlate with necrosis, vascular invasion,
      or mitotic rate. There was also no association of aneuploidy with adverse
      outcome.

PMID- 1451062
TI  - Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma. A clinicopathologic study of ten patients
      with long-term follow-up.
AB  - Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMC) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma that has
      been reported to have a relatively good prognosis. The authors report ten
      patients with EMC on whom there was a minimum follow-up of 10 years. The
      patients' ages ranged from 31 to 72 years (mean, 57 years); there were six men
      and four women (seven white, three black). The tumor locations included the knee
      area and thigh (three patients each), the shoulder (two patients), and the leg
      and foot (one patient each). The tumors ranged from 3.5 to 18 cm in greatest
      dimension (median, 11.5 cm). All cases had typical histologic features. Lung
      metastases developed in all patients but one, and three patients had
      extrathoracic metastases (one in regional lymph nodes; one in subcutis; and one
      widespread). Four of the patients who had metastases also had local recurrence,
      as did the only patient without known metastases. Seven patients died of tumor at
      4, 5, 8, 10, 15, 16, and 17 years, respectively, and the three remaining patients
      were alive with metastatic disease at latest follow-up of 13, 14, and 16 years.
      The authors' results are distinctly different from those previously reported in
      series with shorter follow-up times. The authors conclude that extraskeletal
      myxoid chondrosarcomas are indolent but resilient and capricious tumors with a
      high potential for metastasis, especially to the lungs, over the long-term.

PMID- 1451063
TI  - CA 15-3 in patients with locoregional and metastatic breast carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The value of circulating CA 15-3 levels was assessed in 129 patients
      with recurrent breast carcinoma. METHODS: Patients were divided into four
      subgroups, according to the following: Group A, locoregional recurrence alone;
      Group B, locoregional and subsequent systemic recurrence; Group C, combined
      locoregional and systemic recurrence; and Group D, differing sites of systemic
      disease. RESULTS: One of 14 patients with locoregional disease alone had
      increased levels of CA 15-3 (> 25 U/ml). However, 96% of patients (22 of 23
      patients) with combined local and systemic disease had increased tumor marker
      levels. The difference in CA 15-3 levels in patients with combined disease
      compared with patients with local disease alone was statistically significant
      (117.0 versus 17.5 U/ml, respectively; P < 0.02). Twenty-four patients with
      locoregional recurrence later had distant metastasis develop. In this group,
      patients with an increased CA 15-3 value had a significantly shorter lead time to
      the development of distant metastases compared with patients with normal tumor
      marker levels (20.8 +/- 3.3 versus 10.3 +/- 2.7 months, respectively; P < 0.03).
      CA 15-3 values at diagnosis were increased in 88% of 115 patients with metastatic
      disease. There was no significant difference in CA 15-3 levels among metastases
      to lung, liver, and bone nor was there any difference between single and multiple
      sites of distant metastasis. CA 15-3 is an excellent marker for systemic
      recurrence of breast carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Increased levels and no clinical
      evidence of recurrence strongly indicate the presence of occult metastatic
      disease.

PMID- 1451064
TI  - Pelvic exenteration for the treatment of vulvar cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Advanced vulvar cancer can be treated by pelvic exenteration.
      METHODS: A clinical review of patients treated by exenteration surgery for vulvar
      cancer was performed. RESULTS: From 1950 through 1989, 19 patients underwent
      pelvic exenteration for advanced or recurrent squamous cell cancer of the vulva.
      The mean age was 53 years (median, 50 years; range, 40-74 years). The cumulative
      5-year survival was 60%. Fourteen patients had posterior exenteration; 2 had
      anterior exenteration; and 3 had total exenteration. The survival was
      significantly influenced by lymph node status. When lymph nodes were not
      involved, 10 of 14 patients survived, whereas all 5 patients with lymph node
      involvement died of disease (P = 0.002). When exenteration was performed as
      primary therapy, 7 of 11 patients survived, whereas 3 of 8 survived when
      exenteration was performed for recurrent disease (P = 0.4). The extent of vulvar
      involvement did not influence survival (P = 0.99). There was no mortality, but
      ten patients had complications, including vesicovaginal fistula (three); stomal
      hernia (two); abscess (one); stress urinary incontinence (one); deep venous
      thrombosis (one); conduit leak (one); enterocutaneous fistula (one); and small
      intestinal obstruction (one). CONCLUSIONS: Acceptable survival for advanced or
      recurrent vulvar cancer can be achieved with pelvic exenteration, but the
      presence of metastatic disease to lymph nodes markedly decreases survival.

PMID- 1451065
TI  - Roles of Langerhans' cells and T-lymphocytes infiltrating cancer tissues in
      patients treated by radiation therapy for cervical cancer.
AB  - Correlations between infiltration of immunologic cells in tumor tissues and
      prognosis of radiation therapy were investigated for 275 patients with cervical
      cancer who were treated with radiation therapy alone, including 216 patients with
      Stage III squamous cell carcinomas and 59 with adenocarcinomas of all stages.
      Langerhans' cell (LC) and T-cell were stained immunohistochemically on the
      specimens excised from the cervical cancer. In squamous cell carcinoma, 5-year
      survival rates for patients with LC infiltration were significantly better than
      those without LC (78% versus 60%; P < 0.01). The 5-year survival rate of patients
      with T-cell infiltration also was significantly better than that of patients
      without such infiltration (83% versus 61%; P < 0.05). Similar trends were
      observed in patients with adenocarcinoma; 5-year survival rates for patients with
      LC infiltration and those without LC infiltration were 49% and 25%, respectively
      (P < 0.025). The survival rates for patients with T-cell infiltration and those
      without were 50% and 33%, respectively (P < 0.1). An analysis of patterns of
      failure of radiation therapy demonstrated that the favorable prognosis in LC
      infiltration was attributable mainly to improvement of local control rates, but
      that in T-cell infiltration was not. T-cells infiltrated into tumor specifically
      in the patients with LC infiltration in both cell types. The authors suggest that
      the host anti-cancer immune response of individual patients may be remarkably
      different at the first step of antigen recognition by LC. The LC may induce T
      cell-mediated antitumor response and improve local response in radiation therapy.

PMID- 1451066
TI  - The development of hypercalcemia in a patient with an ovarian tumor producing
      parathyroid hormone-related protein.
AB  - Hypercalcemia developed in a 34-year-old woman with a clear cell carcinoma of the
      ovary. Osseous involvement with the tumor cells was not present. Primary
      hyperparathyroidism was absent. Operative partial resection of the metastatic
      supraclavicular lymph node, followed by radiation therapy, decreased her serum
      calcium concentrations. This case belongs to the category of humoral
      hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM). Detection of a significant quantity of
      immunoreactive parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH-rP) in the metastatic
      lymph node suggested that the HHM of the patient was induced by PTH-rP produced
      by the tumor. From a review of 17 cases of ovarian tumors showing HHM-like
      morbidity, it was found that clear cell carcinoma and cystadenocarcinoma were the
      major types of ovarian tumors associated with HHM.

PMID- 1451067
TI  - Different antigenic nature in apparently healthy women with high serum CA 125
      levels compared with typical patients with ovarian cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: CA 125 is a representative ovarian cancer-associated antigen defined
      by monoclonal antibody OC125. Recently, monoclonal antibodies were produced
      (designated 130-22 and 145-9) that were reactive with CA 125 but bound to a
      separate epitope named CA 130. There was a close correlation between serum CA 125
      and CA 130 values in most instances. However, among more than 8000 serum samples,
      5 apparently normal women had high serum CA 125 values, despite having normal CA
      130 values. In this study, the antigenic nature of these five women was
      investigated. METHODS: Using gel chromatography, the molecular masses of CA 125
      and CA 130 were estimated that were found in the five women with false-positive
      CA 125 values. The sera were examined using double-determinant assays combining
      iodine-125-labeled OC125 or iodine-125-labeled 130-22 with OCI25-coated or 145-9
      coated beads. RESULTS: The molecular masses of both CA 125 and CA 130 were
      estimated as greater than 1000 kilodaltons (KD); the CA 130 mass from one of the
      five women with an abnormal CA 125 level was approximately 200 KD using gel
      chromatography. Using the double-determinant assays that combined iodine-125
      labeled OC125 or iodine-125-labeled 130-22 with OC125-coated or 145-9-coated
      beads, high radioactivity was found only in the homologous assay using iodine-125
      labeled OC125 with OC125-coated beads. These results suggest that the antigenic
      nature of CA 125 found in apparently healthy women differs from that found in
      patients with ovarian cancer and that CA 130 epitopes are not present.
      CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of serum CA 130 concentrations may be useful for
      excluding women with falsely elevated CA 125 values.

PMID- 1451068
TI  - Geographic patterns of prostate cancer mortality. Evidence for a protective
      effect of ultraviolet radiation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is the most prevalent nonskin cancer among men in the
      United States and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. The cause
      of prostate cancer remains obscure. Recently it was hypothesized that low levels
      of vitamin D, a hormone with potent antitumor properties, may increase the risk
      for clinical prostate cancer. METHODS: Because the major source of vitamin D is
      casual exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, the authors examined the
      geographic distributions of UV radiation and prostate cancer mortality in 3073
      counties of the contiguous United States using linear regression and trend
      surface analyses. RESULTS: The geographic distributions of UV radiation and
      prostate cancer mortality are correlated inversely (P < 0.0001). Prostate cancer
      mortality exhibits a significant north-south trend, with lower rates in the
      South. These geographic patterns are not readily explicable by other known risk
      factors for prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS: These data lend support to the
      hypothesis that UV radiation may protect against clinical prostate cancer. Viewed
      in conjunction with other recent data, including those demonstrating a
      differentiating effect of vitamin D on human prostate cancer cells, these
      findings suggest that vitamin D may have an important role in the natural history
      of prostate cancer.

PMID- 1451069
TI  - Prognostic factors for survival of patients with bidimensionally measurable
      metastatic hormone-refractory prostatic cancer treated with single-agent
      chemotherapy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A range of response proportions have been reported using the same
      single-agent inpatients with hormone refractory prostatic cancer. To assess
      whether these results were due to imbalances in prognostic factors, the authors
      evaluated a series of prognostic factors for survival in patients with prostatic
      cancer treated with chemotherapy. METHODS: Complete data sets were available in
      146 patients, in whom 27 individual variables were considered in univariate
      analysis. Significant factors (P < 0.05) were then evaluated using regression
      analysis along with transformations of the data to obtain a Cox and exponential
      model. The derived model was then evaluated on an independent data set from the
      National Cancer Institute treated with suramin. RESULTS: In univariate analysis
      in order of significance, the serum alkaline phosphate (0.0018), serum lactic
      dehydrogenase (0.006), prior radiation therapy (0.007), serum aspartate amino
      transferase (0.02), presence of liver disease (0.033), and pretreatment Karnofsky
      performance status (0.04) were associated with survival. In the regression
      analysis, only the log-transformed lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and normal versus
      abnormal alkaline phosphatase were significant. This model was confirmed with an
      independent data set from patients treated with the putative growth factor
      inhibitor suramin. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis emphasizes important factors that
      can be used to stratify patients in future phase II and III trials.

PMID- 1451070
TI  - Concurrent vinblastine and radiation therapy in bladder cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Since mid-1987, 29 patients with invasive transitional cell carcinoma
      of the urinary bladder (T1-3 N0-X M0) were treated with concurrent radiation
      therapy (RT) (target dose [TD], 62-66 Gy) 1.8-2.0 Gy/day for 5 days a week with a
      break in the middle of treatment of 2-3 weeks and vinblastine weekly 2 mg/5-12 h
      intravenous infusion. METHODS: Patients were divided into two groups: those had
      only the initial therapy (Group 1) and those who had both courses of RT combined
      with vinblastine (Group 2). Patients eligible for cystectomy were selected for
      full-dose RT, according to the results of treatment with a TD of 36 Gy. RESULTS:
      Tolerable toxicity rates were noted. No patient was excluded from the study. The
      authors report a clinical complete remission rate of 71% at early evaluation of
      treatment and a 3-year local progression-free survival of 66% (for Group 2
      patients). These results are comparable to those obtained with more aggressive
      chemoradiation therapy regimens. The authors also noted improved local disease
      control in patients who received combination therapy in comparison with the 17
      patients treated with RT alone. CONCLUSIONS: The authors suggest that concurrent
      RT and vinblastine therapy is an attractive alternative to other chemoradiation
      therapy regimens, and is especially superior to RT therapy alone in caring for
      old patients or patients in poor general condition.

PMID- 1451071
TI  - Occupation and risk of uveal melanoma. An exploratory study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Little is known about the cause of uveal melanoma, the most common
      primary intraocular malignant lesion in adults. This population-based case
      control study evaluated occupational exposures. METHODS: One hundred ninety-seven
      newly diagnosed cases of uveal melanoma participated. Approximately two control
      subjects matched for age, sex, and telephone exchange area were selected for each
      case by random-digit dialing. Data were collected by a structured telephone
      interview. Two systems of occupational coding were used: an occupation-exposure
      linkage system and the Bureau of Census data. Conditional logistic regression for
      matched studies was used to examine various occupational exposures while
      controlling for previously reported potential confounders and for family income.
      The occupation-exposure matrix was used to define clusters of cases exposed to a
      particular chemical group from various occupations. RESULTS: Odds ratios were
      elevated for agriculture and farming work for both industry and occupation; this
      was consistent across both classification systems. Elevated odds ratios also were
      found for occupations involving machine operations, fabrication, assembling,
      equipment cleaning, and exposure to metal industries. Exposure to alkylating
      agents and phenols was associated with a lower risk compared with all other
      exposures. Several self-reported exposures also were studied. Exposures
      associated with elevated odds ratios were inks, insecticides, gases, radioactive
      substances, polybromated biphenyls, and chemical solvents. CONCLUSIONS: This
      exploratory study suggests various occupational associations for uveal melanoma
      and areas for future research.

PMID- 1451072
TI  - A reassessment of histologic classification and an immunohistochemical study of
      88 retinoblastomas. A special reference to the advent of bipolar-like cells.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Despite perpetual efforts of investigators, the histogenesis of
      retinoblastoma is still in dispute and histologic classification satisfactorily
      predictive of prognosis does not seem to be in use. METHODS: The authors studied
      88 cases of retinoblastoma clinicopathologically and immunohistochemically,
      paying special attention to the presence of a "bipolar-like cell" element that
      would be used as one of the criteria for the diagnosis of differentiated
      retinoblastoma. RESULTS: Twelve cases of retinoblastoma with the bipolar-like
      cell element in the absence of rosettes and 41 cases of the tumor with rosettes
      were classified as differentiated retinoblastomas. The other 35 cases without
      rosettes or bipolar-like cells were classified as undifferentiated tumors. Tumor
      cells forming rosettes usually had positive results for synaptophysin and neuron
      specific enolase (NSE) and negative results for glial fibrillary acidic protein
      (GFAP) and S-100 protein; however, undifferentiated cells had negative results
      for these four antibodies. The bipolar-like cells had positive results for
      synaptophysin and NSE but negative results for GFAP and S-100 protein. Twelve
      tumors with bipolar-like cells that lacked rosettes showed no optic nerve
      invasion, and the patients had a significantly better prognosis (100% 5-year
      survival rate) than 35 patients with undifferentiated tumors (71% 5-year survival
      rate) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The findings support a neuronal origin of the
      tumor and indicate that, not only the rosettes symbolizing the photoreceptor
      differentiation, but also other neuronal elements, such as bipolar-like cells,
      can be used as criteria for histologic classification of retinoblastoma.

PMID- 1451073
TI  - A randomized trial of accelerated hyperfractionated radiation therapy and bis
      chloroethyl nitrosourea for malignant glioma. A preliminary report of Radiation
      Therapy Oncology Group 83-02.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The third and final randomization of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group
      (RTOG) 83-02 was performed to identify the maximal tolerated dose and potential
      efficacy of accelerated hyperfractionated radiation therapy (AHRT) in 1.6 Gy
      twice-daily fractions for adult malignant glioma. METHODS: From December 1987 to
      July 1989, 304 patients with malignant glioma were stratified by age, performance
      status, and histologic findings and randomized to receive total AHRT doses of
      48.0 or 54.4 Gy, with 80 mg/m2 of bis-chloroethyl nitrosourea (BCNU) for 3 days
      every 8 weeks. Distribution of other prognostic factors, including neurologic
      function, extent of surgery, tumor size, and sex, was comparable in each
      treatment arm. RESULTS: One Grade 5 radiation therapy (RT)-related toxic effect
      was reported (in the 54.4-Gy treatment arm), and the incidence of late Grade 3-5
      RT-related toxic effects at 18 months was 1% at 48.0 Gy and 4% at 54.4 Gy. The
      median survival times (MST) for the 48.0 Gy and 54.4 Gy treatment arms were 11.7
      and 10.8 months, respectively, comparable to the MST in prior RTOG trials with a
      similar proportion of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (79%). For the 123
      patients who were 60 years of age or older, the MST for the 48.0 Gy and 54.4 Gy
      treatment arms were 8.9 and 10.4 months, respectively, and compare favorably with
      the MST of 6.0 months reported with standard RT and BCNU treatment used for 101
      patients who were 60 years of age or older in two prior RTOG malignant glioma
      trials (74-01 and 79-18). Although these results differ significantly (P =
      0.0015), this contrast is not significant when adjusted by performance status.
      CONCLUSIONS: The maximum tolerated dose of AHRT has yet to be identified, and
      pursuit of this information may most benefit patients with malignant glioma who
      are 60 years of age or older.

PMID- 1451074
TI  - Protein kinase C activity in human thyroid carcinoma and adenoma.
AB  - Protein kinase C (PKC) activity was examined in the cytosolic and particulate
      fractions of homogenates obtained from 12 papillary thyroid carcinomas, 12
      follicular thyroid adenomas, and the adjacent normal thyroid tissue. Particulate
      PKC activity was elevated significantly in thyroid carcinomas compared with
      normal thyroid tissue (P < 0.01) and adenomas (P < 0.05). By contrast, cytosolic
      PKC activity of carcinomas and adenomas was lower significantly than that of
      normal thyroid tissue (P < 0.01). The percentage of particulate PKC activity in
      carcinoma and adenoma was higher than in normal thyroid tissue (carcinoma, P <
      0.001; adenoma, P < 0.01). The average particulate PKC activity of carcinomas
      more than 3 cm in diameter was significantly lower than that of carcinomas less
      than or equal to 3 cm in diameter (P < 0.05). The average cytosolic PKC activity
      of carcinomas more than 3 cm also was lower significantly than that of smaller
      carcinomas (P < 0.05). These results suggest that alterations in PKC activity may
      be important in the development of papillary thyroid cancer.

PMID- 1451075
TI  - Peculiar nuclear clearing composed of microfilaments in papillary carcinoma of
      the thyroid.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid frequently occurs in young women.
      Four cases of papillary carcinoma were found in women in their 20s, and the
      disease was characterized by unusual morphologic and clinical features. METHODS:
      Four cases were analyzed clinically, grossly, microscopically, ultrastructurally,
      and immunohistochemically and compared with control cases of papillary carcinoma.
      RESULTS: The tumors histologically showed various appearances with trabecular,
      solid cribriform, follicular, and papillary patterns. A striking finding was that
      stratified cancer cell nests with prominent nuclear clearings were scattered in
      the tumors. Ultrastructurally, the nuclear clearings were composed of fine thread
      like fibrils, and they were bound unselectively to various antibodies against
      hormones and intermediate filaments. The four patients also had common
      clinicopathologic features as follows: they were all women in their 20s and their
      preoperative serum thyroglobulin levels were all normal despite the large size of
      their thyroid tumors. The tumors were grossly well encapsulated, and there was no
      lymph node metastasis, except in one patient who had only one positive node.
      CONCLUSIONS: The peculiar nuclear features were distinct from intranuclear
      cytoplasmic inclusions or ground-glass nuclei, and these have not been reported
      previously to the authors' knowledge in conventional thyroid neoplasms. These
      tumors might represent another subtype of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

PMID- 1451076
TI  - High-dose intravenous zidovudine with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin. A phase I
      trial.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The inhibition of pyrimidine metabolism by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)
      enhances the anti-cancer effects of zidovudine (formerly called AZT) in in vitro
      and in vivo model systems without additive toxicity. Zidovudine-induced DNA
      damage correlates with cytotoxicity. METHODS: A Phase I trial of high-dose
      continuous-infusion intravenous zidovudine therapy in combination with 5-FU and
      leucovorin therapy was performed. Eighteen patients with advanced malignant
      tumors were treated with 43 courses of oral leucovorin (50 mg every 4 hours);
      continuous-infusion 5-FU (800 mg/M2/day) for 72 hours (3 days); and zidovudine,
      begun 24 hours after the start of 5-FU and leucovorin, for 48 hours, and
      terminating with the end of the 5-FU infusion. Zidovudine plasma levels and
      zidovudine-induced DNA damage were assessed. RESULTS: Zidovudine administered in
      doses of 2-20 g/M2/day, added no obvious toxicity to the basic chemotherapeutic
      treatment with 5-FU and leucovorin but resulted in a dose-dependent biologic
      effect manifested by an increase in DNA strand breaks in peripheral blood cells.
      At doses greater than 15 g/M2/day, altered plasma kinetics of zidovudine were
      observed; plasma zidovudine levels increased dramatically in relation to the dose
      of zidovudine. Limitations in drug administration restricted administration of
      higher intravenous doses without achieving a maximally tolerated dose. No
      responses were seen in this heavily pretreated population. CONCLUSIONS: Based on
      the results of preclinical studies, plasma zidovudine levels greater than those
      achieved at the maximal dose (133 microns) are required for increased anti-cancer
      activity with 5-FU. Additional studies using a bolus or rapid infusion as a
      method of achieving higher peak levels are indicated.

PMID- 1451077
TI  - Education and cancer risk.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic factors have been associated, to a variable degree,
      with the risk of serious cancers. METHODS: The relationship between education and
      cancer risk was analyzed using data from a series of case-control studies
      conducted in northern Italy between 1983 and 1990, including 119 histologically
      confirmed cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx, 294 of the esophagus, 564 of
      the stomach, 673 of the colon, 406 of the rectum, 258 of the liver, 41 of the
      gallbladder, 303 of the pancreas, 149 of the larynx, 2860 of the breast, 692 of
      the cervix, 567 of the corpus uteri, 742 of the ovary, 107 of the prostate, 365
      of the bladder, 147 of the kidney, and 120 of the thyroid, 72 Hodgkin diseases,
      173 non-Hodgkin lymphomas, 117 myelomas, and a total of 6147 control subjects
      admitted to the same network of hospitals for acute, non-neoplastic conditions.
      RESULTS: Nine types of cancer were inversely related to education. Those were
      oral cavity and pharynx, with a relative risk (RR) of 0.3 for the highest versus
      the lowest level; esophagus, RR = 0.6; stomach, RR = 0.5; liver, RR = 0.7;
      gallbladder, RR = 0.5; larynx, RR = 0.3; cervix, RR = 0.7; endometrium, RR = 0.5;
      and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, RR = 0.6. Five cancer sites were directly related to
      education: colon, RR = 1.3; pancreas, RR = 1.3; breast, RR = 1.5; kidney, RR =
      1.3; and thyroid, RR = 1.5. No consistent gradient in risk with education was
      observed for the six other neoplasms considered, including rectum, prostate,
      bladder, Hodgkin disease, and multiple myeloma. The patterns of risk for
      education were consistent in men and women for most cancer sites except colon,
      for which the direct relationship was stronger in males. CONCLUSIONS: This study
      confirms the existence of and quantifies a number of strong socioeconomic
      correlates of cancer risk and indicates a few points open to additional
      investigation, such as the different pattern of risk for rectal and colon cancer,
      the strong negative gradient for endometrial cancer, and the absence of any clear
      association with education for cancers of the ovary, prostate, urinary tract,
      lymphomas, and myeloma.

PMID- 1451078
TI  - The spectrum of cancer in Papua New Guinea. An analysis based on the Cancer
      Registry 1979-1988.
AB  - Malignant tumors registered with the Tumour Registry of Papua New Guinea (PNG)
      from 1958-1988 were analyzed with emphasis on the variation of incidence with
      time and different regions. Cancer incidence was generally low in PNG. During
      this period, carcinoma of oral cavity, cervix, breast, and skin, hepatoma, and
      lymphoma were the most common types of malignant lesions detected. The incidence
      of carcinoma of the oral cavity has increased. Currently, it is more common in
      the Highlands region and is associated with the spread of betel nut chewing. A
      threefold increase in cervical carcinoma registration was observed nationally,
      with a sixfold increase in the Highlands region; this was attributed both to
      social changes and improved registration. The incidence of breast cancer has
      doubled, in keeping with better registration, but there is little interregional
      variation. The decline in registrations of hepatocellular carcinoma is
      artifactual. PNG is a high-incidence area for Burkitt lymphoma, but Hodgkin
      disease is rare. Both Burkitt and other non-Hodgkin lymphomas are uncommon in the
      Highlands. A decline in the incidence of squamous carcinoma of skin was observed
      that was associated with improved control of tropical ulcers. The incidence of
      stomach cancer is falling. The registered cancer incidence in PNG is low, even
      when compared with that in native people from other Pacific nations, such as
      Fijians and New Caledonian Melanesians. Preventive measures have been hitherto
      ineffective, with the exception of squamous carcinoma of skin.

PMID- 1451079
TI  - Epidemiology of lymphomatoid papulosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Lymphomatoid papulosis is a rare skin disease with malignant
      potential. Its epidemiology is largely unknown. METHODS: A case-control study of
      lymphomatoid papulosis was done to characterize the patient population and
      investigate the risk factors for its development. Fifty-seven patients with
      biopsy-proven lymphomatoid papulosis and 67 individually matched control subjects
      who were recruited among relatives and acquaintances of the patients answered a
      standard questionnaire over the telephone. RESULTS: Among patients with
      lymphomatoid papulosis, 3 had a history of Hodgkin disease, 3 had non-Hodgkin
      lymphoma, and 10 had mycosis fungoides; none of the control subjects reported
      such histories. No significant differences were observed between patients and
      control subjects in regard to residence or travel history or exposures to various
      physical, chemical, and biologic agents. A higher, although not statistically
      significant, percentage of patients than control subjects reported a history of
      radiation therapy and nonlymphoid malignant lesions. No differences were found
      between patients and control subjects in regard to other medical conditions or
      family medical history. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with lymphomatoid papulosis have a
      significantly increased frequency of prior or coexisting lymphoproliferative
      disorders, an increased frequency of nonlymphoid malignant lesions, and exposure
      to radiation therapy.

PMID- 1451080
TI  - New strategies are needed in diffuse malignant mesothelioma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Medical records of 50 patients with malignant mesothelioma were
      reviewed to determine the clinical features and factors influencing survival.
      METHODS: Charts of all patients whose conditions were diagnosed as malignant
      mesothelioma were abstracted and analyzed by statistical software. RESULTS: The
      male-to-female ratio was 4:1. The age distribution was younger than 45 years of
      age, 10%; 45-54 years of age, 12%; 55-64 years of age, 37%; 65-74 years of age,
      33%; and 75 years of age or older, 8%. Both mean and median ages were 58 years.
      Among the 32 patients in whom asbestos exposure was recorded, 24 had documented
      exposure. The sites were pleura, 73%; peritoneum, 20%; and both, 6%. The
      histologic types were epithelial, 51%; sarcomatous, 10%; mixed, 15%; and not
      specified, 24%. The stage at presentation was Stage I, 37%; II, 39%; III, 12%;
      IV, 6%; and unknown, 6%. The common symptoms in pleural disease were dyspnea and
      pain; in peritoneal disease, abdominal distension and pain were common. The
      median time from first symptom to diagnosis was 3 months (range, 0-23 months).
      The median survival after the appearance of symptoms, the diagnosis, and the
      treatment were 13, 10, and 8 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The survival was
      independent of age, sex, and smoking behavior. It was longer in patients with
      earlier-stage disease, a good performance status, a longer duration of symptoms,
      an absence of pain, and who were treated with combined surgery and chemotherapy.
      Chemotherapy using anthracyclines yielded more remissions (9 of 21) than that
      using nonanthracyclines (0 of 13). The remission rate after primary chemotherapy
      with anthracyclines (7 of 16) may be higher than in recurrent tumor (2 of 14). In
      future trials, stratification into primary chemotherapy and chemotherapy of
      recurrent cancer is suggested. There is a need for multitechnique trials
      incorporating primary chemotherapy.

PMID- 1451081
TI  - Concomitant mucinous tumors of appendix and ovary. Result of a neoplastic field
      change?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mucinous tumors of the appendix and ovary are known to occur together
      in association with pseudomyxoma peritonei. It has been postulated that this
      association may be attributable to the development of independent tumors or to
      metastasis from one site to another. METHODS AND RESULTS: This article reports
      two patients with concomitant mucinous ovarian and appendiceal tumors in the
      absence of pseudomyxoma peritonei. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence suggests that these
      tumors are independent primary neoplasms that develop as a result of neoplastic
      field change that affects colonic-type epithelium.

PMID- 1451082
TI  - The Clinical Oncology Career Development Award of the American Cancer Society. A
      5-year evaluation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In 1985, the American Cancer Society (ACS) replaced their Junior
      Faculty Clinical Oncology Program with the 3-year Clinical Oncology Career
      Development Award (COCDA). It was proposed that the longer duration and larger
      stipend of the COCDA would have a greater impact in encouraging promising young
      clinical oncologists to enter and remain in academic oncology. The COCDA was
      evaluated at this time to determine whether these goals had been achieved.
      METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 104 of the total of 121 people who received
      awards in 1985, 1986, and 1987. RESULTS: A review of the 85 completed
      questionnaires showed that the COCDA had a significant impact on the recipients.
      Most have remained in academic settings and have flourished, as evidenced by
      their publication record and success in obtaining extramural funds, despite their
      clinical orientation. CONCLUSIONS: The COCDA has achieved its initial goals and
      will remain an important part of the professional education efforts of the ACS.

PMID- 1451083
TI  - The WHO Histological Typing of Odontogenic Tumours. A commentary on the Second
      Edition.
AB  - This article introduces the revised World Health Organization (WHO)
      classification of odontogenic tumors and jaw cysts and certain bone lesions that
      either are peculiar to the jaws or have distinctive features in that location.
      The new and revised classification is compared with the previous version, the
      reasons for the changes are outlined, and reference is made to a number of newly
      characterized lesions that have been included.

PMID- 1451084
TI  - Boron neutron capture therapy for cancer. Realities and prospects.
AB  - Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is based on the nuclear reaction that occurs
      when a stable isotope, boron-10 (10B), is irradiated with low-energy thermal
      neutrons (nth) to yield (4He) alpha-particles and 7Li nuclei (10B+nth-->[11B]-
      >4He+7Li+2.31 MeV). The success of BNCT as a tumoricidal modality is dependent on
      the delivery of a sufficient quantity of 10B and nth to individual cancer cells
      to sustain a lethal 10B(n, alpha) 7Li reaction. The current review covered the
      radiobiologic considerations on which BNCT is based, including a brief discussion
      of microdosimetry and normal tissue tolerance. The development of tumor
      localizing boron compounds was discussed, including the sulfhydryl-containing
      polyhedral borane, sodium borocaptate (Na2B12H11SH), and boronophenylalanine
      (BPA), both of which are currently being used clinically in Japan as capture
      agents for malignant brain tumors and melanomas, respectively. Compounds
      currently under evaluation, such as boronated porphyrins, nucleosides, liposomes,
      and monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), were also considered. Nuclear reactors have
      been used as the exclusive source of neutrons for BNCT. The use of low-energy
      (0.025 eV) thermal neutrons and higher-energy (1-10,000 eV) epithermal beams,
      beam optimization, and possible alternative neutron sources (accelerators) were
      also discussed. Clinical studies performed in the United States during the 1950s
      and 1960s for the treatment of malignant brain tumors were reviewed. Current
      studies in Japan and future studies in Europe and the United States concerning
      the treatment of glioblastomas and melanomas by BNCT were discussed, as were
      critical issues that must be addressed if BNCT is ever to be a useful therapeutic
      modality.

PMID- 1451085
TI  - Leadership through alliances.

PMID- 1451086
TI  - TENS: an adjunct to analgesia.

PMID- 1451087
TI  - Ketamine. A solution to procedural pain in burned children.
AB  - Our experience has shown ketamine to be a safe and effective method of providing
      pain relief during specific procedures in burned children. It renders high doses
      of narcotics unnecessary and offers children the benefit of general anesthesia
      without the requirement of endotracheal intubation and a trip to the operating
      room. The response of parents and staff to the use of ketamine has been positive.
      Parents often experience feelings of guilt following injury to a child and are
      eager to employ methods that reduce their child's pain. So far, no parent has
      refused the administration of ketamine; some have even asked that it be used
      during subsequent procedures on their child. With adequate pre-procedure
      teaching, parents are prepared for the possible occurrence of emergent reactions
      and can assist in reorienting the child during recovery. Staff have found that
      the stress of doing painful procedures on children is reduced when ketamine is
      used. The procedures tend to be quicker and the predicament of working on a
      screaming, agitated child is eliminated. At the same time, nursing staff have had
      to get used to the nystagmic gaze of the children and accept that these patients
      are truly anesthetized even though they might move and talk. Despite the success
      we and others have had with ketamine, several questions about its use in burn
      patients remain unanswered. The literature does not answer such questions as:
      Which nursing measures reduce the incidence of emergent reactions? How many
      ketamine anesthetics can safely be administered to one individual? How does the
      frequency of administration relate to tolerance in a burn patient? Are there
      detrimental effects of frequent or long-term use? Clearly, an understanding of
      these questions is necessary to determine the safe boundaries of ketamine use in
      burn patients. Ketamine is not a panacea for the problem of pain in burned
      children. But it is one means of managing procedural pain, which is, after all, a
      significant clinical factor in treatment and recovery.

PMID- 1451088
TI  - Child sexual abuse. What parents need to know.

PMID- 1451089
TI  - [Routes to modify the impact of stress].
AB  - The combined effects that daily frustations and tensions have upon you depend,
      among other factors, on the evaluation you make of the importance of your needs
      as well as your confidence in your abilities. This effect is equally dependent
      upon your evaluation of the availability, quality and adequacy of your support
      system. To minimize the effects of stress, it is important to develop your
      internal and external resources. Stress management requires more than learning
      relaxation techniques. It demands the development of certain attitudes that will
      eventually influence your entire life. This includes the development of a
      realistic perception of situations and demands the realization that you can only
      do your best, keeping in mind your knowledge, and resources as well as the
      context of the moment. Stress management is time management. The management of
      your energies is related to your resources, your values, your needs and your
      priorities. The bottom line is the management of your life. Daily, nurses
      confront the challenge of discovering their own way of gathering information, of
      resolving problems, of planning pleasant activities, of benefiting from those
      surrounding them, as well as generating ideas, thoughts and emotions. Caring for
      patients must also include taking care of one's self.

PMID- 1451090
TI  - [Family intervention according to Roy].
AB  - The author presents a care plan based upon Sister Callista Roy's conceptual
      model, that is recognized as well suited to the family system. This, the first of
      two-part series, focuses on the first two steps of the care plan--the theoretical
      and practical aspects of data collection and data analysis. The subjects are a
      single mother and her son. During the first level of evaluation of the family
      system, the nurse observes and explores the family system's behavior as well as
      that of each of the family members using the four modes of adaptation:
      physiological needs, self-concept, role function, and interdependence relations.
      During the second level of evaluation, the nurse identifies observed and reported
      stimuli or factors within the family environment that influence observed
      behaviors. During the data analysis, the nurse determines if the reported or
      observed behaviors are adaptive or non-adaptive toward maintaining the bio-psycho
      social integrity of the family. The nurse also determines if the behaviors allow
      for achievement of identified goals. The nurse establishes links between the
      behaviors and the stimuli, classes and organizes the findings, and formulates an
      appropriate nursing care plan. Next month's article will focus on the planning,
      implementation and evaluation of the nursing care plan. It will focus equally on
      the ways in which the nurse can facilitate the family's adaptation.

PMID- 1451091
TI  - Role of polyamines in the growth of hormone-responsive and -resistant human
      breast cancer cells in nude mice.
AB  - Recent in vitro data suggest that at least some hormone-independent breast cancer
      cells exhibit increased polyamine biosynthesis and resistance to antipolyamine
      therapy. To address this issue under conditions of in vivo growth, we tested the
      antiproliferative effect of the polyamine synthetic inhibitor alpha
      difluoromethyl-ornithine (DFMO) on hormone-dependent (MCF-7) and -independent
      (MDA-MB-231, BT-20) breast cancer cell lines growing in nude mice. We observed
      that DFMO significantly inhibited the growth of established tumors to a similar
      extent in all cell lines, even though tumor regression was only observed with MCF
      7 cells. DFMO, while inhibiting E2-supported MCF-7 breast cancer growth, did not
      inhibit E2-stimulated progesterone receptor synthesis. Cellular levels of
      polyamines were highest in MCF-7 cells and lowest in the BT-20 cell line. Tumor
      content of spermidine was similarly suppressed by DFMO treatment in the 3 cell
      lines, while the spermine level was unaffected. Cellular putrescine levels were
      suppressed in MCF-7 and BT-20 cells. Administration of DFMO prior to implantation
      of fragments of MCF-7 or MDA-MB-231 tumors in nude mice significantly inhibited
      tumor development to a similar extent. The action of DFMO seemed to be
      predominantly tumoristatic since new tumors develop in some mice upon
      discontinuation of the drug. We conclude that the hormone-independent breast
      cancer cell lines tested do not exhibit increased polyamine biosynthesis or
      resistance to antipolyamine therapy when grown in vivo in nude mice.

PMID- 1451092
TI  - Effects of NSAIDs on NNK-induced pulmonary and gastric tumorigenesis in A/J mice.
AB  - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NS-AIDs) are among the most widely
      prescribed drugs. In this study, we compared the efficacies of four NSAIDs to
      inhibit lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice. The tobacco-specific carcinogen, 4
      (methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), was given in drinking water
      between week 0 and week +7. Groups of 25 mice were fed sulindac (123 mg/kg diet),
      ibuprofen (263 mg/kg), piroxicam (25 mg/kg) or naproxen (230 mg/kg) in AIN-76A
      diet from week -2 to the end of the bioassay (week +23). Sulindac was the most
      effective inhibitor and reduced lung tumor multiplicity by 51%. Ibuprofen and
      piroxicam reduced lung multiplicity by 38% and 30%, respectively. Naproxen
      demonstrated no inhibitory capacity. Forestomach tumor multiplicity and incidence
      were both reduced by sulindac and ibuprofen. Sulindac administered from week -2
      to week +7 was less effective (28% inhibition) than when given throughout the
      bioassay. Sulindac induced more intestinal adhesions than any other NSAID and was
      directly related to the cumulative dose of sulindac. These results show that
      chemoprevention of lung tumorigenesis by NSAIDs is not limited to sulindac
      although it is the most effective.

PMID- 1451093
TI  - Increased survival of L1210 leukemic mice by prevention of the utilization of
      extracellular polyamines. Studies using a polyamine-uptake mutant, antibiotics
      and a polyamine-deficient diet.
AB  - When L1210 leukemia cells are inhibited in their polyamine synthesis by treatment
      with alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), their growth in culture is strongly
      suppressed. In striking contrast, the survival of L1210 leukemic mice is only
      marginally prolonged by DFMO treatment. This inconsistency is due to the fact,
      that in the mouse the tumor cells can utilize extracellular polyamines to
      compensate for the decrease in putrescine and spermidine synthesis caused by DFMO
      treatment. In the present study, we demonstrate that a reduction in the transport
      of polyamines into the tumor cells is a more effective means of increasing the
      therapeutic effect of DFMO than is a reduction in the supply of extracellular
      polyamines. DFMO treatment cured 30-75% of leukemic mice bearing mutant L1210
      MGBGr cells deficient in polyamine uptake, but only slightly increased the
      survival time of leukemic mice bearing the parental L1210 cells despite the fact
      that the supply of extracellular polyamines was reduced (by feeding the mice a
      polyamine-deficient diet containing antibiotics). The effectiveness by which DFMO
      cured leukemic mice bearing L1210-MGBGr cells appeared to be sex dependent. Thus,
      58% of the female mice, as compared to 30% of the male mice, were cured by DFMO
      treatment.

PMID- 1451094
TI  - Increased fucosylation and other carbohydrate changes in haptoglobin in ovarian
      cancer.
AB  - Cancer sera have high levels of an abnormal form of haptoglobin (Hp) that can be
      extracted from blood using the fucose-specific lectin, Lotus tetragonolobus. In
      order to investigate the carbohydrate abnormality that is responsible for this
      effect, the monosaccharide composition of Hp has been measured in Hp preparations
      isolated from blood samples of healthy women and women with ovarian cancer. The
      fucose content (g/100 g protein) of Hp was considerably elevated (7-fold) in
      ovarian cancer; whereas the concentrations of the other sugars were not
      significantly increased. There were significant increases in the galactose and N
      acetylglucosamine contents of the 'cancer' Hp if the levels were expressed
      relative to the mannose content. This latter finding suggests that there are more
      oligosaccharide branches on the 'cancer' Hp. The results indicate that Hp is
      extracted by lotus lectin from ovarian cancer sera because of the increased
      fucose levels and provide further support for a disturbance in fucose metabolism
      in cancer.

PMID- 1451095
TI  - Potentiation of mitomycin C cytotoxicity by glutathione depletion in a multi-drug
      resistant mouse leukemia cell line.
AB  - This study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanism of cross-resistance to
      mitomycin C (MMC) in a multi-drug resistant mouse leukemia cell line (P388/R-84).
      The P388/R-84 cells were 6.2-fold more resistant to MMC as compared to the
      sensitive cells (P388/S). Since oxygen radical formation has been suggested to be
      important in MMC cytotoxicity, MMC-dependent peroxidation of membrane lipids (an
      index of oxygen radical formation) was compared in these cell lines. MMC
      dependent lipid peroxidation was 2.56-fold higher using P388/S cell extract when
      compared to that of P388/R-84 cells. Depletion of cellular glutathione (GSH)
      levels in the resistant cells produced a 1.76-fold increase in MMC-dependent
      lipid peroxidation. MMC cytotoxicity was also increased significantly by GSH
      depletion in P388/R-84 cells. These results suggest that cellular resistance to
      MMC in P388/R-84 cells may, at least in part, be due to the reduced formation of
      oxyradicals in these cells.

PMID- 1451096
TI  - Effect of the progestagen R5020 (promegestone) and of progesterone on the uptake
      and on the transformation of estrone sulfate in the MCF-7 and T-47d human mammary
      cancer cells: correlation with progesterone receptor levels.
AB  - In the present study we have explored the actions of the progestagen R5020
      (Promegestone: 17 alpha, 21-dimethyl-19-nor-pregna-4, 9-diene-3,20-dione) and
      progesterone on the uptake of [3H]estrone sulfate ([3H]E1S) and its conversion to
      estradiol (E2) by two hormone-dependent mammary cancer cell lines: MCF-7 and T
      47D. R5020 or progesterone significantly decreased the uptake of [3H]E1 and its
      conversion to (E2). In the cells of the two lines, R5020 or progesterone (5 x 10(
      6) M) decreased the E2 concentrations by 2-3 times in relation to the levels in
      untreated cells. E1S (1 x 10(-7) M) also increased expression of the progesterone
      receptor (PR) and both R5020 (5 x 10(-6) M) and progesterone (5 x 10(-6) M)
      blocked this stimulatory action of E1S in cells of both cell lines. As E2 is one
      of the main factors of cancerization in the breast and estrone sulfate is
      quantitatively the most important precursor of E2 in this tissue, the decrease of
      E2 by these progestagens could open new possibilities for the control of E2 in
      the breast cancer tissue.

PMID- 1451097
TI  - Droloxifene (3-hydroxytamoxifen) has membrane antioxidant ability: potential
      relevance to its mechanism of therapeutic action in breast cancer.
AB  - Droloxifene (3-hydroxytamoxifen), is a triphenylethylene derivative recently
      developed for the treatment of breast cancer. Droloxifene was found to exhibit a
      membrane antioxidant ability in that it inhibited Fe(III)-ascorbate dependent
      lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes and ox-brain phospholipid liposomes.
      It also inhibited microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by Fe(III)-ADP/NADPH.
      Droloxifene was a better inhibitor of lipid peroxidation than tamoxifen, but was
      less effective than 17 beta-oestradiol in the two microsomal systems and in the
      preformed liposomal system. When introduced into ox-brain phospholipid liposomes,
      droloxifene inhibited Fe(III)-ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation to
      approximately the same extent as similarly introduced cholesterol and tamoxifen,
      although to a lesser extent than 17 beta-oestradiol. This inhibition of lipid
      peroxidation by droloxifene may result from a membrane stabilization that could
      be associated in cancer cells with decreased plasma membrane fluidity. This
      mechanism may be related to the clinically important antiproliferative action of
      droloxifene on cancer cells.

PMID- 1451098
TI  - Comparison of aflatoxin B1-DNA binding and glutathione conjugate formation by
      liver preparations from rats of different ages.
AB  - The capability of the newborn rat liver to detoxify aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a potent
      hepatocarcinogen is not well understood. Our present results show that immature
      rats are deficient in the hepatic key factors involved in biotransformation of
      AFB1. The activities of cytosolic glutathione S-transferases and microsomal
      cytochrome P-450 along with cellular glutathione (GSH) content show postnatal
      developmental changes. The ability of hepatic subcellular preparation from
      newborn rats to convert AFB1 to its reactive epoxide form, is reported for the
      first time in this communication. Epoxidation of [3H]AFB1 in the presence of
      liver microsomes from different age-groups as measured by its adduct formation to
      calf thymus DNA in vitro shows that newborn rats are capable of catalyzing only
      minimal AFB1-DNA binding compared with that of adults. Addition of cytosolic
      fraction of various age groups to the system suggests that young rats are less
      efficient in modulating the binding as compared with adults. The amount of AFB1
      GSH conjugate formed is also significantly higher when adult GSH S-transferase is
      involved in the system. These observations show that immature liver is less
      efficient than a mature organ in handling a chemical carcinogen and the
      metabolism of AFB1 by neonatal liver differs from that in the adult.

PMID- 1451099
TI  - Differential induction of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) by interferon-gamma
      in human gynecologic cancer cells.
AB  - Induction of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is
      thought to be one mechanism underlying IFN-gamma's antineoplastic properties.
      Since clinical trials with IFN-gamma have yielded variable efficacy in treating
      cancers of gynecological origin, we tested the effects of IFN-gamma on cell
      growth and IDO activity in cell lines from seven gynecologic and five breast
      cancers. At a dose of 250 IU/ml, IFN-gamma suppressed cell growth and induced IDO
      activity in one cervical (C41), one vulva (A431), one breast (HS578T) and two
      ovarian (OVCAR-3, CAOV-3) cancer cell lines. Differing inhibition of cell growth,
      but with no induction of IDO activity, was found with IFN-gamma treatment of the
      other cell lines.

PMID- 1451100
TI  - Transcriptionally active non-ligand binding oestrogen receptors in breast cancer.
AB  - Data were obtained on soluble oestrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors from
      273 primary breast tumours, using an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and ligand binding
      assay with dextran-coated charcoal (DCC) or isoelectric focussing separations.
      The p29 and total cathepsin D content was also assayed in the same samples.
      Tumours expressing ER (by either steroid binding assay or EIA) had higher levels
      of p29 than those which did not express the receptor (P < 0.0001). Moreover,
      tumours co-expressing ER, PR and p29 appeared to have higher levels of cathepsin
      D than those which were negative for at least one protein (P < 0.0001). Twenty
      out of the 273 human breast cancer samples, containing a level of ER positive by
      EIA, which did not bind labelled oestradiol, were identified; isoelectric
      focussing showed that such a receptor was also unable to bind hydroxytamoxifen.
      These tumours did not significantly differ from those in the whole population in
      their capacity to express ER (positive by EIA), PR, p29 and cathepsin D. It was
      concluded that the EIA can detect both a ligand binding ER and a receptor which
      is able to initiate PR transcription but does not bind radio-labelled ligands in
      vitro; such a receptor could have a bearing on the variability of tumour response
      to endocrine therapy.

PMID- 1451101
TI  - Isolation of a 18,000-Da molecular weight form of parathyroid hormone-related
      protein from the rat Walker carcinosarcoma 256.
AB  - The hypercalcaemic Walker carcinosarcoma 256 is a rat model for humoral
      hypercalcaemia of malignancy (HHM). Tumour products such as parathyroid hormone
      related proteins (PTHRP) and various growth factors appear to be responsible for
      this syndrome. Recently, PTHRP immunoreactivity has been detected in the
      conditioned medium of Walker tumour cells. The present report describes the
      isolation of a 18,000-Da molecular weight form of PTHRP from Walker tumour
      homogenates, by using a relatively simple immunoaffinity purification method. Our
      results suggest that this PTHRP form is similar to that purified from other HHM
      related tumours.

PMID- 1451102
TI  - The distribution of the tumour photosensitizers Zn(II)-phthalocyanine and Sn(IV)
      etiopurpurin among rabbit plasma proteins.
AB  - Zn-phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and Sn-etiopurpurin (SnET2) incorporated in unilamellar
      liposomes or solubilized in a Cremophor-EL emulsion have been incubated in vitro
      with rabbit plasma or intravenously administered to rabbits. Ultracentrifugation
      and chromatographic analysis of the plasma showed that ZnPc and SnET2 are mainly
      released to lipoproteins; within the lipoprotein family, both dyes are
      preferentially bound by low-density (LDL) and high-density (HDL) lipoproteins.
      The amount of dye bound with these two lipoprotein classes was related to their
      relative concentration in the plasma; in most cases a larger amount of
      photosensitizer was bound to HDL as compared to LDL on a protein concentration
      basis.

PMID- 1451103
TI  - Investigation on glutamine amidohydrolase (EC 3.5.1.2) and glutamine
      aminotransferase (EC 2.5.1.15) activity in liver and plasma of EAC-bearing mice
      following glutaminase therapy.
AB  - The anti-neoplastic activity of bacterial glutaminase on Ehrlich ascites tumor
      bearing mice was studied by determining the reduction in the tumor cell count and
      extension of life span of the host after therapy. The therapeutic effect of
      glutaminase in relation to change in activity of glutaminolytic enzymes
      (glutamine amidohydrolase (GNase) and glutamine aminotransferase (GAt)) in liver
      and plasma were also studied. Bacterial glutaminase was shown to be effective in
      lowering the tumor burden with increased life span of the host. Glutamine
      amidohydrolase activity in the liver and plasma was raised significantly with
      increased tumor burden, whereas GAt activity remained unchanged. Following
      glutaminase therapy, this high level of GNase activity decreased in comparison to
      the untreated control. These changes were not seen when normal mice were treated
      with the same enzyme. Thus alteration in the enzyme levels, particularly GNase
      was observed to have some correlation with progression of the tumor growth.

PMID- 1451104
TI  - Dietary retinoids are essential for skin papilloma formation induced by either
      the two-stage or the complete tumorigenesis model in female SENCAR mice.
AB  - Our previous work has shown that dietary retinoic acid (RA) is necessary for skin
      tumor formation induced by the two-stage protocol with the initiator 7,12
      dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and the promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13
      acetate (TPA) (De Luca et al., Cancer Res., 36 (1976) 2334-2339). Here we report
      that retinoids are required for tumorigenesis by the two-stage as well as by the
      complete tumorigenesis protocol. Mice were treated with a single dose of DMBA (20
      micrograms), followed by 20 applications of TPA (2 micrograms), or by 20
      applications of DMBA (25 micrograms for 2 weeks and 51 micrograms thereafter).
      Regardless of the tumor induction protocol, tumor formation was inhibited by
      vitamin A-deficiency, while RA (3 micrograms/g of diet) or retinyl palmitate (RP,
      6 micrograms/g) supplementation permitted the appearance of tumors. In addition,
      in comparison to the purified diets and regardless of their RA levels, the non
      purified Purina chow diet enhanced tumor yield especially in the two-stage
      tumorigenesis protocol. This effect was less striking in mice with tumors induced
      by the complete tumorigenesis protocol. In summary, dietary retinoids are
      essential for skin tumor formation induced either by the two-stage or the
      complete tumorigenesis protocol.

PMID- 1451105
TI  - Effect of dietary oxidized cholesterol on azoxymethane-induced colonic
      preneoplasia in mice.
AB  - The effect of cholesterol and oxidized cholesterol on azoxymethane-induced
      colonic preneoplasia was evaluated in C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ mouse strains. Mice
      were fed either a control AIN 76 semisynthetic diet or the control diet
      supplemented with 0.1% or 0.3% cholesterol, or 0.1% or 0.3% oxidized cholesterol
      for an 8-week period. For the first 4 weeks of the experiment, mice received
      weekly injections of azoxymethane (5 mg/kg body weight). Dietary cholesterol
      increased fecal concentrations of neutral and acid sterols. A dose-response
      relationship was observed in both mouse strains between the level of dietary
      cholesterol or oxidized cholesterol and formation of preneoplastic aberrant crypt
      foci. Enhanced cell proliferation along with alterations in several crypt
      morphometric parameters were also observed. These anomalies were enhanced to a
      greater extent by oxidized cholesterol. This data shows a very strong effect of
      cholesterol in enhancing the development of preneoplastic lesions in chemically
      induced cells. It also demonstrated that the state of oxidation of cholesterol
      influences colonic preneoplasia. This factor has been overlooked in previous
      animal experiments.

PMID- 1451106
TI  - Species and sex differences of aflatoxin B1-induced glutathione S-transferase
      placental form in single hepatocytes.
AB  - Species and sex differences of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced glutathione S
      transferase placental form (GST-P) positive single hepatocytes have been
      investigated 48 h after an intraperitoneal injection of AFB1 to young male and
      female Fischer rats (2 mg AFB1/kg body wt) and male Syrian golden hamsters (6 mg
      AFB1/kg body wt). The presence of GST-P positive hepatocytes was examined by the
      immunohistochemical method. Male rats formed three times as many AFB1-induced GST
      P positive hepatocytes as females. Pretreatment of both male and female rats with
      an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) (4 mmol/kg body wt),
      2 h and 4 h before AFB1 injection increased AFB1-induced GST-P positive
      hepatocytes by about 120% above the controls. Male hamsters formed several-fold
      less AFB1-induced GST-P positive hepatocytes than male rats. Pretreatment with
      BSO did not increase AFB1-induced GST-P positive hepatocytes in hamsters even
      though it produced an increase in hepatic necrosis. It appears that GSH and GSH S
      transferases play an important role in modulating hepatic AFB1-DNA binding and
      AFB1-induced GST-P positive hepatocytes in rats and hamsters.

PMID- 1451107
TI  - Bcl-2: an antidote to programmed cell death.
AB  - The maintenance of homoeostasis in normal tissues reflects a balance between cell
      proliferation and cell death. The importance of both positive and negative
      regulators of cell growth has been well documented in neoplasia. bcl-2 argues for
      the existence of a new category of oncogenes, regulators of programmed cell
      death. The bcl-2 gene was identified at the chromosomal breakpoint of t(14;18)
      bearing B cell lymphomas. Bcl-2 has proved to be unique among proto-oncogenes in
      being localized to mitochondria and in blocking programmed cell death rather than
      affecting proliferation. In adults, bcl-2 is topographically restricted to
      progenitor cells and long-lived cells in tissues characterized by apoptotic cell
      death. Bcl-2 is confined to the zones of surviving B cells in germinal centres.
      Within thymus, bcl-2 is present in the surviving mature thymocytes of the medulla
      but absent from the majority of immature cortical thymocytes, most of which die
      by apoptosis. Transgenic mice that overexpress bcl-2 in the B cell lineage
      demonstrate extended cell survival and prolonged immune responses and indicate a
      role for bcl-2 in B cell memory. Transgenic models that overexpress bcl-2 in the
      thymus have expanded the involvement of bcl-2 to multiple apoptotic pathways and
      indicate its involvement in thymocyte maturation. Moreover, the development of
      tumours in transgenic mice that overexpress bcl-2 indicates the potential
      importance of oncogenes in interfering with programmed cell death. Alterations in
      genes that regulate cell death may prove to be key events in neoplasia, extending
      the life span of cells and thus increasing their opportunity to acquire
      additional genetic aberrations.

PMID- 1451108
TI  - Oncogene co-operation in leukaemogenesis.
AB  - The multistep development of haematopoietic malignancies, like other neoplasms,
      reflects sequential mutations that either activate proto-oncogenes or disrupt
      tumour suppressor genes. In a few spontaneous leukaemias or lymphomas, more than
      one mutation has now been identified, and the experimental analysis of oncogene
      co-operation is advancing rapidly via retroviral gene delivery and
      characterization of transgenic mice bearing oncogenes. In transgenic models,
      tumorigenesis can be accelerated by introducing another oncogene or by using a
      retrovirus as an insertional mutagen to identify cellular genes that collaborate
      with the transgene. Leukaemogenesis can be promoted by some ten pairs of
      oncogenes. The myc nuclear oncoprotein, for example, can collaborate with
      cytoplasmic oncoproteins such as ras, raf, bcl-2, pim-1 and v-abl, as well as
      with nuclear products such as bmi-1 or the tumour suppressor p53. The genes in
      such partnerships seem to provide complementary functions. For example, myc seems
      to prevent cells from becoming quiescent, whereas bcl-2 blocks programmed cell
      death; and others, for example ras, may diminish growth factor requirements. The
      products of genes that collaborate may lie on separate signal transduction
      pathways, leading to distinct nuclear targets. Key targets are postulated to be
      regulators of the cell cycle, especially the cyclins and associated kinases that
      govern progression in the G1 phase.

PMID- 1451109
TI  - Deletions of chromosome 5 in malignant myeloid disorders.
AB  - Loss of a whole chromosome 5 or deletion of 5q are recurring abnormalities in
      malignant myeloid neoplasms. Chromosomal loss or deletion are the hallmarks of
      tumour suppressor genes, suggesting that a gene(s) located on 5q may function as
      a leukaemia suppressor gene. To determine the location of genes on 5q that may be
      involved in myeloid leukaemogenesis, we examined the breakpoints of the del(5q)
      in a series of 117 patients with malignant myeloid diseases. By comparing the
      breakpoints, we identified a small segment of 5q, consisting of band 5q31, that
      was deleted in each patient. This segment has been termed the critical region. A
      striking number of genes encoding haematopoietic growth factors have been mapped
      within or adjacent to the critical region. These include the genes encoding CSF
      2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-9. By using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we
      have refined the localization of these genes to 5q31.1. To facilitate the
      identification of a tumour suppressor gene on 5q, we are currently preparing a
      physical map of 5q31. With FISH analysis of a series of cosmid and phage clones,
      we identified a number of clones within 5q31. By hybridizing these probes to
      metaphase cells with a del(5q) involving proximal or distal breakpoints within
      5q31, we have narrowed the critical region to a small segment of 5q31 containing
      eight of the cosmids. In addition, we found that the five growth factor genes are
      excluded from this region. We have used dual colour FISH to determine the order
      of these cosmids, the order of the known genes mapped to 5q23-33 and the
      relationship of these genes to the critical region. To date, mutations of these
      genes in leukaemia cells have not been identified. The clinical features of
      myeloid diseases associated with a del(5q) are variable (RA 5q- syndrome v. AML);
      thus, once the involved gene is identified, it will be important to determine
      whether the same gene is involved in both types of myeloid disorders.

PMID- 1451110
TI  - Murine models of normal and neoplastic human haematopoiesis.
AB  - The ability to transplant human haematopoietic cells into immune deficient mice
      provides a unique opportunity for studying the organization and regulation of the
      human stem cell developmental program. One challenge for the future will be to
      reconstitute mice with functional cells of all lineages. The creation of animal
      models of many haematopoietic diseases should revolutionize the development and
      testing of novel therapeutic strategies. Significant progress has been made in
      establishing models of human neoplastic diseases such as leukaemia and lymphoma.
      Although the number of patients examined is still small, it appears that there
      may be a correlation between growth in immune deficient mice and clinical
      outcome. Future studies should examine the range of diseases that grow in mice
      and whether in vivo assays have prognostic value clinically. These leukaemia
      models, in conjunction with high efficiency gene transfer techniques, offer a
      powerful approach to examine the biological consequences of expressing oncogenes
      or other key regulatory genes on human leukaemic transformation and progression.

PMID- 1451111
TI  - The interaction of the erythropoietin receptor and gp55.
AB  - Friend virus induced erythroleukaemia can be conveniently divided into a first
      stage and a second stage. The first stage results from the mitogenic stimulation
      of EPO-R by gp55. In the second stage, multiple proviral integrations appear to
      result in further transformation of the SFFV infected erythroblast to a
      leukaemogenic state. The first stage results from EPO-R activation. After
      retroviral entry, mediated through an unknown receptor, and after cDNA synthesis
      and proviral integration, viral proteins are synthesized. Gp55 binds and
      activates EPO-R. A small but measurable amount of gp55-EPO-R complex is
      transported to the cell surface (Casadewall et al, 1991). In the presence of
      helper virus, the defective SFFV genome is packaged and released for subsequent
      rounds of infection. During the first stage, erythroblasts proliferate but are
      not tumorigenic. During the second stage of Friend disease, subsequent infections
      result in further proviral integrations in the host genome. Some of these
      integrations result in increased Spi-1 expression, whereas others result in
      decreased p53 expression. These events appear to account for the leukaemogenic
      properties of cells at this stage, 4-6 weeks after the initial SFFV infection.
      The interaction between EPO-R and gp55 persists at this later stage, although its
      contribution to the malignant phenotype of the MEL cells is not known. The
      sequence of events during stage 1 and stage 2 does not appear to have absolute
      requirements. Starting with IL-3 dependent immortalized Ba/F3 cells, which
      already have some unknown proliferative mutation (Mathey-Prevot et al, 1986),
      gp55 and EPO-R can subsequently be introduced, resulting in tumorigenicity (Li et
      al, 1990). The primary focus of this review has been the early mitogenic stage of
      Friend disease. Several concepts have emerged regarding the interaction between
      gp55 and EPO-R. The interaction between the polypeptides is highly specific,
      occurs in the extracytoplasmic regions and the transmembrane region of the
      polypeptides and occurs within the same cell, not via cell-cell contact. Both EPO
      and gp55 activate EPO-R, via different binding sites, resulting in increased
      cellular tyrosine kinase activity. The first stage of Friend disease is an
      example of how a non-oncogene bearing retrovirus can induce leukaemia. The env
      gene of the SFFV is not a classical oncogene. It does not appear to be derived
      from a normal cellular proto-oncogene. The interaction of gp55 and EPO-R
      therefore supports the "receptor mediated leukaemogenesis" hypothesis (McGrath
      and Weissman, 1978, 1979).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1451112
TI  - The haematopoietic stem cell and its clonal progeny: mechanisms regulating the
      hierarchy of primitive haematopoietic cells.
AB  - Transplantation and marking studies have provided an accurate description of
      various aspects of developmental and proliferative behaviour of totipotent
      haematopoietic stem cells. In particular, the remarkable ability of different
      clones to contribute to all lineages in a continuous, stable and long term manner
      is a hallmark of stem cell behaviour. Taken together, in vivo reconstitution
      experiments also provide the basis for a model of stem cell regulation that
      incorporates stochastic and non-stochastic components. More recent approaches
      provide optimism that many descriptive aspects of stem cell biology will soon be
      supported by elucidation of molecular mechanisms.

PMID- 1451113
TI  - The bcr-abl gene in chronic myelogenous leukaemia.
AB  - The observation made over 30 years ago that the Philadelphia chromosome is
      present in nearly all patients with CML led to the identification of a novel
      fusion gene bcr-abl. In the past few years, the biochemical and biological
      properties of bcr-abl have been extensively explored. Bcr sequences appear to
      activate c-abl for transformation by binding to the SH2 domain of c-abl in an
      intramolecular interaction, presumably interfering with the adjacent SH3
      regulatory domain. Upon introduction into bone marrow cells, bcr-abl can cause
      acute or chronic leukaemias in mice and can stimulate the growth of many cell
      types, including multipotent stem cells, in vitro. Although their growth is
      stimulated, these cells are not fully malignant blastic leukaemias. The molecular
      events that occur during the progression to blast crisis of CML remain largely
      undefined, but existing animal models and in vitro culture systems will be useful
      for identifying or testing candidate genes. The study of tyrosine kinase
      oncogenes in general will probably lead to the identification of relevant bcr-abl
      substrates. The elucidation of these molecules as well as more downstream events
      in the bcr-abl signalling pathway offers the hope for novel therapeutic
      interventions to control Philadelphia chromosome leukaemias.

PMID- 1451114
TI  - Avian erythroblastosis: a model system to study oncogene co-operation in
      leukemia.
AB  - Avian erythroblastosis virus, AEV-ES4, provides an ideal in vitro system to study
      oncogene co-operation in the development of erythroid leukaemias in chickens. Two
      oncogenes that use distinct signal transduction pathways have been identified;
      these act to produce a highly malignant phenotype and are an oncogenic version of
      a plasma membrane growth factor receptor that regulates haematopoietic progenitor
      self renewal and a mutated version of a transcription factor that suppresses
      specific gene expression. These two diverse types of oncogenes act together to
      generate a more malignant phenotype than would be expected merely from a
      summation of the individual oncogene effects. The aspects of normal growth
      control and the regulation of differentiation, which are altered in this system
      to generate the leukaemic phenotype, include changes in the balance between
      proliferation versus maturation, altered expression of differentiation genes and
      changes in growth factor responsiveness. These are exactly those features that
      are altered in human leukaemias. Thus, the avian leukaemia virus model has taught
      us important lessons that will help us to understand the basic molecular
      mechanisms that give rise to human leukaemia.

PMID- 1451115
TI  - Role of rel family genes in normal and malignant lymphoid cell growth.
AB  - The rel family of genes encodes transcription factors, such as the v-rel
      oncoprotein and cellular transcription complexes (eg NF-kappa B), consisting of c
      rel and related polypeptides. The expression of these genes is correlated most
      closely with lymphoid cell differentiation and growth stimulation in a variety of
      cell types. Similarly, rel family proteins control a number of genes involved in
      lymphoid cell growth and differentiation. Thus, it is not surprising that
      mutations in rel genes have been implicated directly and circumstantially in a
      number of lymphoid malignancies, as have a number of other cellular and viral
      transcription factors (see also Cleary M, Hayman M and Beug H, this issue and
      reviewed in Rabbitts, 1991). In addition, rel proteins are likely to be involved
      in T cell diseases caused by the human retroviruses HTLV-I and HIV-1. Therefore,
      rel proteins could serve as targets for anti-viral or anti-cancer therapies.

PMID- 1451116
TI  - Transcription factors in human leukaemias.
AB  - At the present time, two general mechanisms account for deregulation and
      subsequent oncogenic conversion of transcriptional proteins in human leukaemias.
      One involves quantitative alterations in expression, suggesting that activity of
      the involved factors is primarily controlled by their accessibility within the
      cell. Neoplastic transformation may result from excessive expression or,
      conversely, complete loss of functional products (eg tumour suppressor proteins
      not described here). The second mechanism involves mutation by protein fusion (or
      truncation) and illustrates the modular composition of transcriptional proteins.
      The loss or inappropriate combination of specific modules creates chimaeric
      proteins with presumably altered transcriptional properties that may contribute
      to the neoplastic phenotype. Both mechanisms underscore the importance of cognate
      interactions, particularly heterodimerization between various transcriptional
      proteins with other members of the transcription complex. Future efforts will
      continue to focus on the interactions of oncogenic transcription factors with
      other cellular proteins and their biologically relevant target genes.

PMID- 1451117
TI  - Echocardiographic and ultrasonographic evaluation of cardiac and vascular
      hypertrophy in patients with essential hypertension.
AB  - High-resolution ultrasonography is a noninvasive technique that allows to
      investigate the cardiovascular system, in particular the wall thickness and the
      lumen diameter of the arteries with accuracy and reproducibility. We measured the
      intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CCA) and of its bifurcation
      (BIF) in 40 patients with essential hypertension, 20 of them with left
      ventricular hypertrophy (LVH; age 42 +/- 10 years) and 20 without LVH (age 44 +/-
      12 years); no other major cardiovascular risk factor was present in all the
      patients. Both carotid axes have been scanned from different views (anterior,
      lateral, posterior) on a transversal and longitudinal section using a high
      resolution steerable linear array of 5.0 MHz. Carotid diameter and thickness were
      measured in the longitudinal section. CCA parameters were assessed 20 mm caudally
      to the flow divider. In patients with LVH, blood pressure (172 +/- 21/108 +/- 9
      mm Hg) and left ventricular mass index (156 +/- 38 g/m2) were significantly (p <
      0.01) higher than in patients without LVH (blood pressure: 158 +/- 11/99 +/- 12
      mm Hg; left ventricular mass index: 98 +/- 10 g/m2), while there was no
      difference in serum glycemia, triglycerides, total and fractioned cholesterol
      levels. The intima-media thickness of both the CCA and BIF was significantly
      higher in the hypertensives with LVH (CCA: 0.85 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.65 +/- 0.02 mm;
      BIF: 0.93 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.70 +/- 0.03 mm, p < 0.01). There was a statistically
      significant correlation between the carotid wall thickness and the left
      ventricular mass index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451118
TI  - Loss of nocturnal increase in plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic peptide
      in hypertensive chronic renal failure.
AB  - Diurnal change of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentration was
      investigated in 12 patients with hypertension due to chronic renal failure (CRF)
      and in 12 patients with essential hypertension (EH) of comparable degree. Blood
      pressure (BP) monitoring was performed at 15-min intervals, while peripheral
      blood samples were obtained at 4-hour intervals starting from 8.00 h. The mean 24
      hour plasma levels (+/- SEM) of ANP were 24.3 +/- 1.8 pmol/l in EH and 23.4 +/-
      1.2 pmol/l in CRF. In EH, plasma ANP concentration was highest at 4.00 h (33.5 +/
      0.8 pmol/l) and lowest at 16.00 h (15.5 +/- 0.6 pmol/l). In CRF, no significant
      circadian change was present (22.2 +/- 3.1 and 20.4 +/- 3.6 pmol/l,
      respectively), and the nocturnal fall in BP was lost. Our data demonstrate that
      in CRF the loss and possible reversal of the nocturnal decline in BP is
      associated with the disappearance of any significant circadian variation in the
      circulating concentrations of ANP. These findings suggest a role for ANP in the
      alteration of BP variability of CRF, possibly mediated by autonomic dysfunction,
      and are further evidence for the existence of a relation between the circadian
      rhythms of ANP and BP.

PMID- 1451119
TI  - Gallopamil in chronic stable angina: antianginal effect and mechanism of action.
      A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over trial.
AB  - A double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial of oral gallopamil was
      performed in 10 patients with stable angina. Gallopamil significantly increased
      mean exercise time and 1-mm ST time. The rate-pressure product was increased at 1
      mm ST time, but unmodified at the highest comparable work load and at peak
      exercise. The ST segment depression was significantly reduced both at the highest
      comparable work load and at peak exercise. Gallopamil proves safe and effective;
      the mechanism of its anti-ischemic effect seems to be due both to an increase in
      myocardial oxygen supply and to a reduction in myocardial oxygen demand.

PMID- 1451120
TI  - Role of adrenal androgens in the development of arteriosclerosis as judged by
      pulse wave velocity and calcification of the aorta.
AB  - To evaluate the role of adrenal androgens in the development of arteriosclerosis,
      serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA),
      aortic calcification and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured in 69 males and
      119 females without overt cardiovascular disease. The steroids decreased with age
      in both sexes, and the reduction was significantly steeper in younger (< or = 40
      years) than in older (> 40 years) subjects only in females. When adjusted for
      age, the steroids were significantly lower in subjects with aortic calcification
      than in those without it, and the PWV was significantly slower in the latter.
      Adrenal androgens appear to retard the development and/or progression of
      arteriosclerosis.

PMID- 1451121
TI  - Fibrinogen values in patients with and without restenosis following percutaneous
      transluminal coronary angiography.
AB  - Fibrinogen has turned out to be an independent risk factor for coronary heart
      disease (CHD). It is not known whether or not this parameter could be a
      prognostic factor for restenosis following percutaneous transluminal coronary
      angioplasty (PTCA), which represents the main problem limiting the long-term
      efficacy of this procedure. Therefore, we studied fibrinogen concentrations in a
      series of 50 males (mean age: 55, range: 38-70 years) with CHD and successful
      PTCA. Follow-up coronary angiography was performed 12 months following PTCA.
      Twenty-two patients had restenosis, and 28 patients were without restenosis. Both
      groups did not differ significantly in medical history (smoking habits,
      hypertension, positive family history for cardiovascular diseases), in routine
      lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol,
      triglycerides, apolipoproteins A1 and B). Fibrinogen values were 405 +/- 128
      mg/dl (range: 202-725) in patients with restenosis and 352 +/- 94 mg/dl (range:
      187-568) in patients without restenosis (not significant). Elevated fibrinogen
      levels of more than 400 mg/dl were found in 8 patients in each group. Although
      fibrinogen is a proven marker for CHD in men, fibrinogen is not a risk factor for
      restenosis following PTCA.

PMID- 1451122
TI  - Hemodynamic effects of ibopamine on the pulmonary circulation and right
      ventricular performance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
AB  - We have studied the effects of ibopamine, an oral dopamine derivative, on
      pulmonary hemodynamics and blood gas values when given as a single oral dose (100
      mg) to patients with severe hypoxic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A
      small but significant increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure from 29 +/- 8
      to 32 +/- 7 mm Hg (p < 0.01) was noted 30 min after ibopamine was given
      associated with a small increase in cardiac index. No other consistent
      hemodynamic changes were observed, and no alteration in blood gas values or
      oxygen saturation occurred. These results do not indicate a role for ibopamine in
      the treatment of patients with hypoxic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and
      pulmonary hypertension, but, in addition, do not indicate any major deleterious
      effects of ibopamine on pulmonary hemodynamics or blood gas values in such
      patients.

PMID- 1451123
TI  - Hemodynamic effects and pharmacokinetics of long-term therapy with ibopamine in
      patients with chronic heart failure.
AB  - To evaluate the attenuation of the effectiveness of long-term ibopamine therapy,
      ibopamine was administered in single doses of 100 and 200 mg to 10 patients with
      chronic heart disease. The hemodynamic studies using Swan-Ganz catheter and
      pharmacokinetic studies were carried out. Ibopamine was found to increase cardiac
      output and stroke index and to decrease systemic vascular resistance in this
      acute study. Six patients underwent long-term therapy with the drug and were
      evaluated for the development of tolerance. Three out of 5 patients experienced
      an improvement in NYHA functional class after 12-23 weeks of treatment. There was
      no attenuation in the effects of ibopamine on hemodynamics, pharmacokinetic
      parameters remained almost unchanged, and tolerance was not observed. These
      results suggest that ibopamine is useful as an orally administered anti-heart
      failure drug.

PMID- 1451124
TI  - Difference in the residual left ventricular pump function between anterior and
      inferior myocardial infarctions.
AB  - To evaluate the left ventricular regional ejection fraction (EF) of noninfarcted
      area in relation to the left ventricular end-diastolic volume (EDV) in patients
      with recent myocardial infarction (MI), 75 patients with Q-wave MI (anterior: 51
      patients; inferior; 24 patients) were studied. The regional EF of noninfarcted
      area was obtained by radionuclide angiocardiography 4 weeks after the onset of MI
      and was used to estimate the left ventricular regional function of the
      noninfarcted area. Peak creatine kinase and QRS scores were not significantly
      different between anterior and inferior MI in each left ventricular EDV (EDV < or
      = 100, 101-139 and > or = 140 ml). Global EF and regional EF of noninfarcted area
      in anterior MI with left ventricular EDV > or = 140 ml was significantly lower
      than in those with EDV < or = 139 ml (p < 0.01), whereas there were no
      significant differences in global EF and regional EF of noninfarcted area in the
      three groups of left ventricular EDV in inferior MI. Thus, the effect of left
      ventricular EDV on regional EF of noninfarcted area and on the total cardiac
      performance was more important in anterior than in inferior MI, because a similar
      degree of left ventricular dilatation resulted in more severe derangements after
      anterior MI.

PMID- 1451125
TI  - Risk stratification after acute myocardial infarction by means of
      echocardiographic wall motion scoring and Killip classification.
AB  - In order to perform risk stratification, 195 consecutive, unselected patients
      with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) underwent independent echocardiographic
      and clinical evaluation of their left ventricular function by means of the wall
      motion index (WMI) and Killip classification 5 days after AMI. The patients were
      prospectively allocated to a low, medium or high risk class depending on WMI
      alone, and the 1-year mortality in these classes was 2, 34 and 37%, respectively
      (p < 0.0001). The 1-year mortality of the patients in Killip class I, II, or III
      and IV was 6, 26 and 48%, respectively (p < 0.00001). The number of patients
      allocated to the low risk group by means of WMI was 87, and the number of
      patients in Killip class I was 86. Since these groups were not identical, a total
      of 103 patients, i.e. 53% of the study population, could be identified as low
      risk patients regarding 1-year mortality 5 days after AMI, when WMI and Killip
      classification were used in combination. We conclude that the combination of
      echocardiographic and clinical evaluation of left ventricular function after AMI
      provides a strong and yet very simple procedure to identify low risk patients,
      which could be easily implemented in the routine work of coronary care units.

PMID- 1451126
TI  - Electrocardiographic Q-waves inconstancy during thrombolysis in acute anterior
      wall myocardial infarction.
AB  - It is the purpose of this paper to describe the electrocardiographic inconstancy
      of Q-waves during administration of thrombolytic therapy. This was documented in
      four patients given streptokinase early in the course of anterior wall myocardial
      infarction. Understanding the pathogenesis of sequential dynamic variations of Q
      waves in this setting may offer important insights into coronary physiology and
      management of acute coronary events. We discuss the possible explanations for
      such changes with respect to tissue viability, dynamic vascular changes and
      electrophysiological properties of the reperfused infarcted myocardium.

PMID- 1451127
TI  - Progression of systolic dysfunction correlated with the ultrasonographically
      assessed myocardial tissue damage in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.
AB  - An echocardiographic follow-up study was performed in 59 patients with dilated
      cardiomyopathy to characterize the relationship between left ventricular systolic
      dysfunction and the myocardial tissue character assessed by echocardiographic
      myocardial gray level distributions. All the selected patients were divided into
      two groups; those with (group A) and those without (group B) progressive systolic
      dysfunction. In group A, the ejection fraction decreased from 47 +/- 5 to 23 +/-
      4% (p < 0.05) during the follow-up period. The histogram of the myocardial gray
      level distribution became wider, less peaked and more right-sided in those
      patients. The relative echo intensity of the myocardium increased from 1.29 +/-
      0.19 to 1.60 +/- 0.18 (p < 0.01). In group B, however, neither the shape of the
      gray level distribution nor ejection fraction changed during the same follow-up
      period. The relative echo intensity did also not change. Our present results
      suggested that some of the patients with dilated cardiomyopathy showed
      progressive systolic dysfunction with extensive myocardial tissue damage.

PMID- 1451128
TI  - Effects of a 1-year exercise training program on myocardial ischemia in patients
      after myocardial infarction.
AB  - To determine the effects of exercise training on exercise-induced ischemia in
      patients following myocardial infarction, the experience of 13 patients with
      exercise-induced ST depression, who were moderate-to-high intensity trained for 1
      year, has evaluated. After training, the maximum ST depression was significantly
      less (1.9 +/- 0.8 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.8 mm; p < 0.01), despite an increased maximal
      rate-pressure product (RPP; heart rate x blood pressure/100; 241.3 +/- 44 vs.
      262.0 +/- 58; p < 0.01). For the onset of 0.1 mV of ST depression, we found a
      significant increase in RPP from 204.1 +/- 34.7 to 234.1 +/- 49.4 (p < 0.01) and
      also in heart rate (117.1 +/- 15.1 vs. 125.1 +/- 21.7 b.p.m.; p < 0.05), blood
      pressure (167.6 +/- 18 vs. 180.3 +/- 18 mm Hg; p < 0.01) and workload (93.8 +/-
      17.4 vs. 121.1 +/- 23.2 W; p < 0.01). The relationship between ST depression and
      RPP (RPP/STmax) was favorably modified after training. The ratio RPP/STmax
      improved significantly from 143.6 +/- 49.4 to 209.1 +/- 69.5 (p < 0.0001). These
      findings support the hypothesis that a 1-year moderate-to-high training program
      in some patients following myocardial infarction can elicit adaptations that may
      well be attributed, at least in part, to an improvement in coronary blood flow.

PMID- 1451129
TI  - Menopause-related changes in left ventricular function in healthy women.
AB  - Using technetium scans, this study was aimed at examining possible changes in
      left ventricular function related to the natural process of cessation of ovarian
      estrogen production. Fourteen healthy postmenopausal women, divided into two
      groups according to the time-lapse from menopause (A > 3 years; B < 5 years),
      underwent a technetium heart scan. The two groups did not differ in heart rate,
      blood pressure, double product, systemic vascular resistance and cardiac index.
      The mean end-systolic volume in group A was 14.9 and 25.7 ml/m2 in group B (p =
      0.003). The mean pressure/volume ratio was significantly higher in group A than
      in group B (8.6 vs. 4.7 mm Hg/ml/m2, p = 0.02). Peak ejection rate and peak
      filling rate were also significantly greater in group A compared to group B (3.3
      vs. 2.8 end-diastolic volumes/s, p = 0.02; 2.8 vs. 2.1 end-diastolic volumes/s, p
      = 0.001, respectively). Our findings suggest that women at an early phase of
      menopause have a higher degree of myocardial contractility than women of a
      similar age whose menopause is of longer duration.

PMID- 1451130
TI  - Physical rehabilitation in coronary patients who have suffered from episodes of
      cardiac failure.
AB  - The effects of bicycle training for 5 weeks were evaluated in 12 patients after
      myocardial infarction with left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular
      ejection fraction < 40%) and at least one episode of cardiac failure in the past.
      The patients were divided into two groups of six according to the Weber
      classification: Group B (VO2/kg/min: 16-20) and Group C (VO2/kg/min: 10-15).
      Cardiopulmonary and hemodynamic parameters were evaluated during a maximal
      exercise test and a simultaneous catheterization of the right side of the heart
      before and after the training. An increase in the capacity for work was recorded
      in Group B (p < 0.02), while Group C remained unchanged. A statistically
      significant increase in minute ventilation (p < 0.05) and VO2/kg/min (p < 0.0006)
      was recorded in Group B. Group C showed an increase in the mean pulmonary
      arterial pressure (p < 0.03). All of the other parameters remained unchanged
      after training. We conclude that physical rehabilitation improves the tolerance
      to exercise in patients with a mildly depressed cardiac function (Group B) but
      not in patients with a very depressed cardiac function (Group C).

PMID- 1451131
TI  - Endomyocardial biopsies in chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy. Immunohistochemical
      and ultrastructural findings.
AB  - Mononuclear cellular infiltrates and extensive fibrosis, with or without apical
      ventricular aneurysms, are the usual morphological findings in chronic chagasic
      cardiomyopathy. These lesions are thought to be mediated by immune phenomena
      rather than by continuing parasitic invasion of the heart. In the present report,
      we correlated clinical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings in 30
      endomyocardial biopsies from patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy. In 12
      of these biopsies, immunocytochemical techniques were used to identify and count
      leukocytes (common leukocyte antigen, CLA), T lymphocytes (UCHL-1 antibody) and B
      lymphocytes (L-26 antibody). The biopsy specimens showed variable degrees of
      myocardial hypertrophy and mononuclear infiltrates. No tissue forms of
      trypanosomes were found. The endocardium averaged 24 +/- 12.6 microns (mean +/-
      SD) in thickness. The mean myocyte diameter was 20 +/- 7.33 microns. The hearts
      were severely fibrotic containing a mean of 24.1 +/- 12.8% of fibrous tissue
      (range 8.2-49%), mast cells were scarce. Mononuclear cell infiltrates were found
      in 25 of the 30 biopsies. In 12 biopsies, immunohistochemical studies showed that
      the majority of the lymphocytes were T lymphocytes and associated with necrotic
      or degenerating myocytes. 10 of the 12 biopsy samples showed 5 or more CLA
      positive mononuclear cells/high power field. In these 10 patients, T and B
      lymphocytes represented 32 and 13% of the total mononuclear infiltrating cells,
      respectively. The remaining cells were monocytes and macrophages.

PMID- 1451132
TI  - Physiological features of pericardial constriction in the absence of pericardial
      disease.
AB  - To sustain a clinical diagnosis of constriction it is classically held that the
      fibrous pericardium must be thickened and adherent to the surface of the heart. A
      case is presented in which leukaemic infiltration of the fat overlying the
      myocardium resulted in the physiological features of constriction, although all
      layers of the pericardium itself were normal. Constriction is thus a
      physiological diagnosis; it may develop in the absence of the classical
      anatomical findings.

PMID- 1451133
TI  - Variability in the transtricuspid gradient by continuous wave Doppler
      echocardiography.
AB  - In order to examine the day-to-day variability in the tricuspid regurgitant
      velocity jet and to determine the degree of physiological changes under exercise
      and volume loading, repeated echo cardiographic Doppler measurements in 1 single
      subject were performed.

PMID- 1451134
TI  - The Sicilian Gambit: reasons for maintaining the present antiarrhythmic drug
      classification.

PMID- 1451135
TI  - The Sicilian Gambit: a response to Drs Colatsky and Harrison.

PMID- 1451136
TI  - Effects of intravenous amiodarone on electrical dispersion in normal and
      ischaemic tissues and on arrhythmia inducibility: monophasic action potential
      studies.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to study the effects of intravenous amiodarone on: (1)
      repolarisation and other monophasic action potential characteristics of normal
      and ischaemic tissues, and (2) vulnerability to pacing induced repetitive
      ventricular firing following acute left anterior descending coronary artery
      ligation. METHODS: Epicardial monophasic action potentials were continuously and
      simultaneously recorded from ischaemic and non-ischaemic regions of the hearts of
      24 pentobarbitone anaesthetised dogs. Monophasic action potential duration, rise
      time, and amplitude, as well as the degree of dispersion of repolarisation
      between normal and ischaemic areas and vulnerability to electrical induction of
      repetitive ventricular firing, were determined using hand held silver-silver
      chloride "contact pressure" electrodes, before and 15 min after coronary
      ligation; and 15 min after exposure to low (10 mg.kg-1) doses of amiodarone.
      Similar determinations were made in drug free controls. RESULTS: Under control
      conditions, monophasic action potentials from both the (potentially) ischaemic
      and non-ischaemic regions were comparable, dispersion of repolarisation was
      minimal, and repetitive ventricular firing could not be induced. Coronary
      ligation significantly decreased monophasic action potential duration and
      increased rise time in the ischaemic, but not in the non-ischaemic, regions.
      Dispersion of repolarisation increased markedly. Repetitive ventricular firing
      could be induced in all dogs. "Low dose" amiodarone caused a much greater
      prolongation of repolarisation duration at ischaemic than at non-ischaemic sites.
      Dispersion of repolarisation decreased virtually to control levels and repetitive
      firing could no longer be induced in six of seven dogs. "High dose" amiodarone
      increased ischaemic region repolarisation duration and rise time relative to the
      non-ischaemic region to an even greater extent than the "low" dose, with the
      result that dispersion of repolarisation increased rather than decreased and
      repetitive ventricular firing again became inducible. CONCLUSIONS: The data
      indicate that: (1) intravenous amiodarone prolongs repolarisation of ischaemic
      tissues to a greater extent than that of normal tissues; (2) "low" dose
      amiodarone resulted in an overall decrease in dispersion of repolarisation, with
      little or no change in dispersion of rise time; (3) the "high" dose increased
      dispersion of both repolarisation and rise time. These changes were paralleled by
      changes in vulnerability to induction of repetitive ventricular firing by
      programmed ventricular pacing, the "low" dose being associated with decreases,
      and the "high" dose with further increases, in vulnerability, respectively.

PMID- 1451137
TI  - Left ventricular hypertrophy in a canine model of reversible pressure overload.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The goal of therapy for left ventricular pressure overload should
      include regression of the associated left ventricular hypertrophy, but this
      process is incompletely understood. The aim of the study was to characterise the
      extent and time course of the progression and regression of pressure overload
      left ventricular hypertrophy in a canine hypertrophy model. METHODS: Six puppies
      were studied longitudinally with haemodynamic and echocardiographic measurements
      for 10 months. The study animals underwent ascending aortic banding at nine weeks
      of age which produced an initial gradient of 30 mm Hg. Subsequent growth led to
      an increase in gradient and the development of left ventricular hypertrophy. Then
      thoracotomy was again performed to remove the band. One month later, balloon
      aortoplasty was performed to remove the residual gradient. The animals were then
      observed for six months. RESULTS: Growth increased the gradient to 105(SEM 10) mm
      Hg three months after banding. The left ventricular weight to body weight ratio
      (g.kg-1), an index of hypertrophy, was 7.2(0.5) after three months of pressure
      overload. Subsequently the band was surgically removed, reducing the gradient to
      an average of 58(10) mm Hg. Balloon dilatation of the residual aortic stricture
      reduced the gradient further to 6(5) mm Hg. Over the ensuing six months,
      echocardiographic determination of left ventricular mass showed the regression in
      left ventricular hypertrophy. After six months, left ventricular weight to body
      weight ratio in the previously banded animals was significantly reduced from
      7.2(0.5) to 5.3(0.2) (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The model produced over
      100% left ventricular hypertrophy, most of which regressed following removal of
      the pressure overload.

PMID- 1451138
TI  - Effects of chronic oral administration of nifedipine and diltiazem on occlusive
      thrombus of small coronary arteries in (NZW x BXSB)F1 male mice.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: (NZWxBXSB)F1 male mice were used as a model to study the effects of
      chronic administration of nifedipine and diltiazem on small coronary artery
      disease and mortality. METHODS: 16 week old (NZWxBXSB)F1 male mice were given
      either nifedipine (n = 29) at 20 mg.kg-1.d-1 orally or diltiazem (n = 28) at 100
      mg.kg-1.d-1 orally in two divided doses until they were 24 weeks old (ie, for 60
      d). Age matched control mice were given an equivalent volume of vehicle (n = 30).
      Mice that died received immediate necropsy. After 60 d, all surviving mice were
      killed and hearts and kidneys were examined histologically. RESULTS: The survival
      rate at 24 weeks was significantly higher in mice given nifedipine than in the
      controls (71% and 47%, respectively, p less than 0.05). The number of mice with
      myocardial necrosis, scar formation, or both, the percentage of areas of the
      ventricular wall with myocardial necrosis and scar formation, and the number of
      mice with small intramyocardial arteries showing greater than or equal to 75%
      stenosis were all significantly lower in the mice given nifedipine than in the
      controls. In the mice given diltiazem, there were no such differences from the
      controls. There was no evidence of significant stenosis or thrombosis in the
      extramyocardial coronary arteries in any of the mice. Systolic blood pressure and
      the rate-pressure product at 24 weeks of age, as well as the histological score
      for glomerulonephritis changes, were significantly lower in mice given nifedipine
      or diltiazem than in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Despite an equivalent improvement
      of systolic blood pressure, the double product, and renal disease in nifedipine
      treated and diltiazem treated mice, only nifedipine prevented small coronary
      artery disease and increased the survival of (NZWxBXSB)F1 male mice, suggesting
      that nifedipine prevents occlusive thrombi of small coronary arteries better than
      diltiazem.

PMID- 1451139
TI  - Histochemical demonstration of endothelial superoxide and hydrogen peroxide
      generation in ischaemic and reoxygenated rat tissues.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aims were to test and evaluate two novel and independent
      histochemical methods for detecting the initial postischaemic burst of superoxide
      and hydrogen peroxide in buffer perfused rat tissues during reflow after 60 min
      warm ischaemia. METHODS: The first is a high manganese/diaminobenzidine
      technique, in which superoxide oxidises Mn2+ to Mn3+, which in turn oxidises
      diaminobenzidine to form amber coloured polymers, observable by light microscopy.
      The second is a high iron/diaminobenzidine technique, in which hydrogen peroxide
      oxidises diethylenetriaminepenta-acetate chelated Fe2+ to form intermediate
      species, which in turn oxidise diaminobenzidine similarly to Mn3+. Various
      isolated organs of the rat were rendered ischaemic for 60 min, and reperfused
      with oxygen or air equilibrated buffers containing diaminobenzidine and either
      Mn2+ or Fe2+. Tissues were fixed by perfusion with Trump's solution and processed
      for light microscopy. RESULTS: Both manganese and iron methods consistently
      showed the appearance of reaction product on the luminal surfaces of arterial,
      capillary, and venular endothelial cells in lung, heart, and intestine of the rat
      during the first 2 to 3 min of reoxygenation after ischaemia. The histochemical
      reactions were nearly absent in non-manganese-treated and non-iron-treated
      controls. Superoxide dismutase strongly inhibited Mn2+/diaminobenzidine reaction
      product formation and catalase strongly inhibited Fe2+/diaminobenzidine reaction
      product formation, when tested in specially perfused lung preparations in which
      these specific antioxidant enzymes were concentrated. CONCLUSIONS: These
      histochemical techniques provide direct, visual evidence that a burst of reactive
      oxygen species is generated in postischaemic rat tissues. The
      Mn2+/diaminobenzidine and Fe2+/diaminobenzidine techniques permit investigation
      of the endothelium derived reactive oxygen by simple laboratory procedures
      available to almost any investigator at low marginal cost. The endothelial
      oxidants so revealed may be of pathophysiological significance in a variety of
      cardiovascular disorders.

PMID- 1451140
TI  - Decreased collagen mRNA and regression of cardiac fibrosis in the ventricular
      myocardium of the tight skin mouse following thyroid hormone treatment.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to study the effect of thyroid hormone on collagen gene
      expression in the myocardium of the tight skin mouse (TSK), a genetic model of
      myocardial fibrosis. METHODS: Heterozygous male (TSK/+) (n = 20) and normal (+/+)
      homozygous mice (n = 20), 1.5-2 months old of the C57 BL/6 strain were studied.
      Ventricular hypertrophy following thyroid hormone treatment (L-thyroxine, 10
      micrograms.100 g-1 body weight daily intraperitoneally) was examined by
      measurement of the heart weight/body weight ratios and histological changes.
      Expression of fibrillar collagen types I and III in the ventricular myocardium
      was examined by measurement of the abundance of their respective mRNAs. Collagen
      synthesis was examined by measurement of hydroxyproline. Deposition of collagen
      types was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining. Expression of non-collagenous
      proteins, sarcomeric and cytoskeletal actin, was measured at the mRNA level.
      RESULTS: After 12 days of treatment ventricular hypertrophy was induced in the
      heart of the TSK mice. The results of northern hybridisation analyses showed that
      in the hearts of TSK mice 24 h after thyroxine treatment the abundance of mRNA
      for pro alpha 2 (I) collagen was decreased by 32% (p less than 0.05), pro alpha 1
      (III) collagen by 47% (p less than 0.002), cytoskeletal actin by 50% (p less than
      0.005), and sarcomeric actin mRNA by 34% (p less than 0.01) compared to the
      untreated TSK mice. The abundance of mRNA for pro alpha 2 (I) and pro alpha 1
      (III) collagens in the thyroxine treated TSK mice were nearly comparable to that
      in normal homozygous mice. In TSK mice which were treated for 12 d, collagen
      content of the ventricular myocardium, as determined by hydroxyproline
      measurements, was decreased by 22.5% (p less than 0.01) compared to that in the
      heart of normal homozygous mice. CONCLUSIONS: Effects of thyroid hormone on
      ventricular gene expression in TSK mice result in a diminished collagen mRNA and
      collagen content and the disappearance of cardiac fibrosis. Thyroid hormone may
      selectively prevent the induction of cardiac fibrosis and play an important role
      in regression of cardiac fibrosis via endocrine pathways.

PMID- 1451141
TI  - Exogenous nitric oxide inhibits in vivo platelet adhesion following balloon
      angioplasty.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim was to investigate the effects of an exogenous source of
      nitric oxide on in vivo platelet adhesion at the site of endothelial denudation
      after balloon angioplasty. METHODS: The study group consisted of 12 anaesthetised
      Large White pigs. Pigs were randomised to receive SIN-1 (3-morpholino
      sydnonimine), an exogenous donor of nitric oxide, or placebo before and during
      balloon induced vessel wall injury. Platelet deposition was quantified using the
      injection of autologous 111indium labelled platelets. Platelet function was also
      monitored by the measurement of bleeding time and ex vivo whole blood
      aggregometry. RESULTS: Superficial vessel wall injury was confirmed
      histologically and platelet monolayer formation was demonstrated by scanning
      electron microscopy. Platelet deposition at the site of endothelial denudation
      was markedly reduced following SIN-1 administration compared to placebo:
      1.266(SEM 0.063) v 1.732(0.060) log platelets x 10(5).cm-2, p = 0.001. SIN-1
      raised platelet cyclic GMP concentration, from 4.47(2.48) to 6.14(2.44)
      pg.platelet-1 (p less than 0.01) and prolonged the bleeding time, from 135(5) to
      202(6) s (p = 0.001), but had non-significant effects on ex vivo whole blood
      aggregometry. CONCLUSIONS: Exogenous nitric oxide, through the activation of
      platelet soluble guanylate cyclase, inhibits platelet adhesion in vivo following
      balloon angioplasty.

PMID- 1451142
TI  - Fluorescence spectroscopy for identification of atherosclerotic tissue.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Vessel perforation and limited steerability of the laser light are the
      major limitations of laser angioplasty. To improve steerability fluorescence
      spectroscopy has been proposed for identification of atherosclerotic plaques. The
      aim was to investigate this. METHODS: Fluorescence spectroscopy with three
      different excitation wavelengths (325 nm, 380 nm, 450 nm) was tested in an
      emission range of 400 nm to 600 nm. Intensity ratios at 480/420 nm were
      determined in different types of blood vessels. Necropsy material from 40
      patients (punch biopsies of 4 mm diameter from the coronary and carotid artery as
      well as from the ascending and descending aorta) was studied spectroscopically.
      Histological alterations of the vessel wall were assessed by a semiquantitative
      score (0 to 10 points): (a) normal tissue, 0 to 2 points (mean = 0.25; n = 38);
      (b) mild atherosclerotic lesions, 3 to 5 points (mean = 3.35; n = 39); (c) severe
      atherosclerotic lesions, greater than or equal to 6 points (mean = 6.75; n = 43).
      RESULTS: Best spectroscopic results were obtained with an excitation wavelength
      of 325 nm. In samples with severe atherosclerotic lesions the fluorescence
      spectra showed a significant reduction of the emitted wavelength intensities when
      compared to normal tissue. There was a clear separation of the fluorescence
      spectra between normal and mild as well as between normal and severe
      atherosclerotic lesions; normal tissue showed an increased intensity in the range
      from 420 nm to 540 nm, whereas atherosclerotic lesions had no or only a small
      peak at 480 nm. There was a significant correlation between the semiquantitative
      score (n = 120) and the fluorescence ratio at 480/420 nm (excitation wavelength
      325 nm) with a correlation coefficient of 0.87. The spectroscopic results showed
      no differences between the samples taken from different types of vessels.
      CONCLUSIONS: Fluorescence spectroscopy allows a reliable identification of normal
      and atherosclerotic lesions. The close correlation between the emitted light
      intensity ratio at 480/420 nm and the histological alterations of the vessel wall
      suggests a relationship between vessel wall fluorescence and the atherosclerotic
      alterations of the wall.

PMID- 1451143
TI  - Afterload dependent prolongation of left ventricular relaxation: importance of
      asynchrony.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Acute increases in afterload and in left ventricular asynchrony both
      independently prolong left ventricular isovolumetric relaxation. The aim of the
      study was to investigate whether an increased left ventricular afterload augments
      left ventricular asynchrony, which in turn could mediate the afterload dependent
      prolongation of left ventricular isovolumetric relaxation. METHODS: Seven
      chloralose anaesthetised open chest dogs were instrumented with a left
      ventricular pressure gauge and two pairs of ultrasonic wall thickness crystals in
      the antero-apical and postero-basal left ventricular wall. At a constant heart
      rate of 149(SEM 7) beats.min-1, left ventricular pressure was acutely increased
      by brief manual clamping of the descending (AOCD) and ascending AOCA) thoracic
      aorta. Left ventricular asynchrony was quantified by the phase difference of the
      first Fourier harmonic between postero-basal and antero-apical wall motion.
      Global left ventricular relaxation was measured as the time constant of
      isovolumetric pressure fall, tau. Regional myocardial relaxation was assessed as
      the mean rate to half end diastolic thinning. RESULTS: AOCD increased left
      ventricular peak systolic pressure from 141.9(6.9) mm Hg to a maximum of
      182.0(5.1) mm Hg and tau from 34.3(2.4) ms to 48.0(5.0) ms (p less than 0.05).
      Simultaneously, phase difference increased markedly during AOCD, from 12.7(3.5)
      degrees to 24.4(2.2) degrees (p less than 0.05). At matched left ventricular peak
      systolic pressures, AOCA increased tau from 33.4(2.5) ms to only 42.5(4.3) ms (p
      less than 0.05 v control and AOCD). Concomitantly, the increase in phase
      difference was smaller and statistically non-significant, at 13.7(2.9) degrees v
      17.1(2.5) degrees. During 13 out of the 14 aortic clampings (7 AOCD, 6 AOCA), tau
      correlated linearly with phase difference [mean r = 0.74(0.03)]. In contrast to
      their effects on global left ventricular relaxation and asynchrony, neither AOCD
      nor AOCA influenced the rate to half end diastolic thinning. CONCLUSIONS: (1)
      left ventricular asynchrony may increase during an acute augmentation of left
      ventricular afterload; (2) this increased left ventricular asynchrony possibly
      contributes to the afterload dependent prolongation of left ventricular
      isovolumetric relaxation rate.

PMID- 1451144
TI  - Commentary on viewpoint article by A H Henderson, M J Lewis, A M Shah, and J A
      Smith (April, pages 305-8)

PMID- 1451145
TI  - Cardiac metabolism--emergence, decline, and resurgence. Part I.

PMID- 1451146
TI  - Ischaemic preconditioning: from mechanisms to exploitation.

PMID- 1451147
TI  - Mechanisms of ventricular arrhythmias in cardiac failure and hypertrophy.

PMID- 1451148
TI  - Variable effects of human and canine polymorphonuclear leucocytes on vascular
      smooth muscle tone.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown variable effects of human and canine
      polymorphonuclear leucocytes (neutrophils) on vascular tone. The aim of this
      study was to identify whether these variations in neutrophil function are due to
      species differences. METHODS: Canine and human arterial rings (with and without
      endothelium) were contracted with the thromboxane A2 analogue U46619, and then
      exposed to isolated neutrophils. RESULTS: Human neutrophils caused a significant
      relaxation of the human mammary arterial rings, and the relaxation was unaffected
      by the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, enhanced by superoxide dismutase
      (SOD), and inhibited by oxyhaemoglobin. The relaxant effect of human neutrophils
      was also diminished upon pretreatment with NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (L-NMMA),
      indicating that the vasorelaxant material released by the neutrophils was nitric
      oxide (NO). Human neutrophils also relaxed canine femoral arterial rings, and the
      relaxant effect was potentiated by SOD and inhibited by pretreatment with
      oxyhaemoglobin or L-NMMA, confirming that the vasorelaxation was via release of
      NO. Canine neutrophils, on the other hand, caused an endothelium dependent
      contraction of autologous femoral arterial rings. This vasoconstriction was not
      affected by indomethacin, SOD, oxyhaemoglobin, or L-NMMA. However, treatment of
      canine neutrophils with the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor piriprost attenuated (p <
      0.02) their contractile effect on vascular rings, suggesting that neutrophil
      generated 5-lipoxygenase products were probably responsible for smooth muscle
      contraction. Presence of the leukotriene C4 and D4 receptor antagonist FPL 55,712
      totally blocked the contractile effects of canine neutrophils, indicating that
      femoral arterial ring contraction was mediated by peptido-leukotrienes.
      CONCLUSIONS: The endothelium dependent nature of the canine neutrophil induced
      contraction suggests that the 5-lipoxygenase product leukotriene A4 is taken up
      by endothelial cells for conversion to peptido-leukotrienes. Since SOD had no
      effect and FPL 55,712 totally blocked the vasoconstrictor effects of canine
      neutrophils, it appears that the vasoconstrictor effects of the latter are
      mediated primarily through peptido-leukotrienes. In contrast, the vasorelaxation
      by human neutrophils is mediated through release of NO.

PMID- 1451149
TI  - Metabolic vasodilatation with glucose-insulin-potassium does not change the
      heterogeneous distribution of coronary blood flow in the dog.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The heterogeneous distribution of coronary blood flow could represent
      regional differences in demand, or mismatching of regional O2 supply to demand,
      caused by regionally exhausted vasodilatation (anatomical/mechanical factors) or
      by regional arteriovenous diffusional O2 shunting. Regional coronary blood flow
      and global myocardial oxygenation and metabolism were measured during metabolic
      vasodilatation with glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK). METHODS: Variables were
      studied before and 30 and 60 min after start of a 30 min infusion of GIK (50%
      glucose, 4 ml.kg-1, 8 mM KCl, and 3 U insulin.kg-1). Regional blood flows were
      measured by radioactive microsphere technique and cardiac output by
      thermodilution. Experimental subjects were six anaesthetised mongrel dogs,
      weighing 20-27 kg. RESULTS: GIK increased plasma osmolarity and lactate,
      decreased haemoglobin, and increased cardiac output by 67(29)% and systemic O2
      supply by 32(13)%, at unchanged arterial and central venous pressures and heart
      rate. Coronary blood flow rose by 97(50)% and left ventricular O2 supply by
      56(41)%. Although regional blood flows in small tissue samples of about 1 g in
      the left ventricle ranged from a factor 0.31 to 1.73 of mean flow, GIK did not
      change flow heterogeneity and regional flows significantly correlated in time.
      Left ventricular O2 uptake rose by 42(40)%, while venous PO2 increased and O2
      extraction decreased. Global lactate uptake increased at unchanged extraction.
      Changes were reversed after GIK. CONCLUSIONS: GIK transiently increases
      myocardial O2 uptake following a raised cardiac output, caused by a
      hyperosmolarity induced rise in cardiac contractility rather than by
      haemodilution. Although myocardial O2 supply is distributed heterogeneously, the
      fractional rise with GIK is almost equal among regions. At constant lactate
      extraction, increased venous PO2 and decreased O2 extraction do not indicate
      overperfusion in some regions at the cost of underperfusion in others, are
      probably caused by a small, direct vasodilating effect of hyperosmolarity, and
      argue against diffusional O2 shunting. As for global O2 supply to demand, the
      increase in regional O2 supply is probably well adapted to regionally increased
      demand during GIK, so that the heterogeneous distribution of O2 supply can be
      explained by regional differences in demand and not by regionally exhausted
      vasodilatation or O2 shunting.

PMID- 1451150
TI  - Echocardiographic determination of stroke volume during rapid atrial pacing and
      volume loading in normal rats.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to validate echocardiographic assessment of acute changes
      of left ventricular stroke volume in normal rats. METHODS: By transthoracic use
      of a 7.5 MHz ultrasonic transducer, the left ventricular dimensions were
      determined before and during rapid atrial pacing and saline infusion in seven
      Wistar rats weighing 310-470 g. Left ventricular volume was calculated from short
      axis dimensions according to a cube function formula. Echo stroke volume (SVE)
      was then compared with that obtained simultaneously using a pulsed Doppler flow
      meter placed around the ascending aorta (SVF). RESULTS: The SVE (ml) was
      decreased from 0.30(SD 0.12) to 0.13(0.06) by rapid pacing and increased from
      0.27(0.12) to 0.63(0.16) by volume loading. Regression analysis showed high
      correlations between SVE and SVF during both pacing (r = 0.84) and infusion (r =
      0.91) studies. Furthermore, correlations between SVE and SVF in individual
      animals were very close (r = 0.87-0.99 in the pacing study and 0.92-0.99 in the
      volume study). Interobserver and intraobserver variances were small, with close
      correlations (r = 0.96-0.99) and modest standard errors of the estimate (0.02
      0.04 ml) between the two measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiography allows
      reliable in vivo measurement of cavity dimensions and assessment of acute
      alterations in stroke volume in normal rats.

PMID- 1451151
TI  - Effects of exercise stress on left ventricular end diastolic pressure-length
      strain relations in dogs with and without coronary stenosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to elucidate the alterations of left ventricular diastolic
      properties, taking into account changes in unstressed length during exercise
      stimuli with and without coronary stenosis. METHODS: Left ventricular end
      diastolic pressure-length strain relations using segment length normalised to
      Lagrangian strain, and the rate of relaxation, were studied in seven open chest
      anaesthetised dogs with and without coronary stenosis on both left anterior
      descending and circumflex coronary arteries (approximately 30% resting flow
      reduction) during simulated dynamic exercise. Regional segment length was
      measured with ultrasonic crystals placed in the left anterior descending
      subendocardial region, and unstressed segment length at zero transmural pressure
      was obtained by occluding the vena cava. RESULTS: Peak negative dP/dt was
      decreased and isovolumetric left ventricular relaxation time constant increased
      by coronary stenoses; however neither changed significantly during simulated
      exercise. Left ventricular end diastolic pressure was significantly increased by
      coronary stenoses, from 3.1(SEM 0.8) to 7.0 (0.9) mm Hg (p < 0.05), and further
      increased to 15.5(1.1) mm Hg (p < 0.01) during simulated exercise, although right
      ventricular end diastolic pressure did not change. Unstressed length was
      increased in coronary stenoses from 9.03(0.08) to 9.89(0.13) mm (p < 0.01), and
      further increased to 10.34(0.14) mm (p < 0.01) during exercise, whereas it tended
      to decrease without coronary stenosis, from 9.03(0.08) to 8.79(0.11) mm during
      exercise. Left ventricular end diastolic pressure-length strain relations
      progressively shifted upward and leftward with coronary stenoses and subsequent
      exercise, but shifted downward and rightward during exercise without coronary
      stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in unstressed length or volume may contribute
      to exercise induced left ventricular dilatation observed in patients in effort
      angina. End diastolic distensibility decreases in both mild supply induced and
      exercise induced ischaemia, whereas in the normal heart, left ventricular end
      diastolic distensibility increases during exercise.

PMID- 1451152
TI  - Mechanical restitution during alternans in guinea pig papillary muscles.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate alternate acceleration and retardation of
      mechanical restitution as a possible mechanism for mechanical alternans in
      isolated myocardium. METHODS: Mechanical alternans was induced in papillary
      muscles from the right ventricles of 11 guinea pigs (200-300 g) by rapid pacing
      under hypothermic conditions (T = 27 degrees C). Mechanical restitution curves
      were constructed by measuring the force responses to stimuli applied following
      variable test intervals during steady state pacing. Curves were obtained under
      control conditions (steady state stimulation interval 3 s), and for the beats
      following the large and small contractions during mechanical alternans.
      Monoexponentials were fitted to the restitution curves. RESULTS: The mean rate
      constant for restitution following the large beat in alternans was found to be
      slightly but significantly smaller than that following the small. Both rate
      constants obtained during alternans were significantly larger than the control
      rate constant (restitution was faster in alternans). In addition, as the
      alternation widened, the restitution curve of the beat following the small
      contraction developed a higher plateau than that following the large.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm that the small beat in alternans is followed by
      faster restitution than the large. This alone is insufficient to explain the
      observed extent of alternans. The restitution curve for the beat following the
      small contraction must also rise to a higher plateau. Both the amount of calcium
      available for intracellular release and the rate at which it is made available
      vary from beat to beat.

PMID- 1451153
TI  - Haemodynamic and neurohumoral response in heart failure produced by rapid
      ventricular pacing.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine the exact sequence of hormone changes during
      the progression of fluid retention in a canine model of "congestive cardiac
      failure" induced by rapid right ventricular pacing, and during recovery when
      pacing is stopped. METHODS: Rapid ventricular pacing at a rate of 250 pulses.min
      1 was used in six mongrel dogs with implanted right ventricular pacemakers. Right
      heart haemodynamics were measured by means of Swan Ganz catheterisation, allowing
      flow measurement by thermodilution and pressure measurement by external
      manometry. Plasma renin activity, arginine vasopressin, and atrial natriuretic
      factor were assayed on venous blood samples by radioimmunoassay. Noradrenaline
      was assayed by high pressure liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The onset of rapid
      pacing was accompanied by a fall in cardiac output and a rise in pulmonary
      arterial, pulmonary capillary wedge, and right atrial pressures. Noradrenaline
      and atrial natriuretic factor rose. Plasma renin activity showed an initial fall
      followed by a rise, and arginine vasopressin was unchanged in the first 8 h. When
      rapid pacing was continued for a further 35 d, clinical signs of fluid retention
      appeared by day 28, by which time cardiac output had fallen, and central
      pressures risen further. Atrial natriuretic factor peaked at around 14 d whereas
      plasma renin activity, arginine vasopressin, and noradrenaline tended to reach a
      plateau at about d 20 and then to show further increases as clinical signs of
      fluid retention appeared; this was most marked with plasma renin activity.
      Cessation of pacing at d 35 caused a rapid reversal (increase) of cardiac output
      but a more gradual reversal (decrease) of right heart pressures over 5 d; only
      wedge pressure returned to base line. Arginine vasopressin and plasma renin
      activity fell rapidly to around 40% of the final pacing levels and reached basal
      values after 8 h and 48 h respectively. Noradrenaline fell after 8 h and reached
      basal levels in 5 d. Atrial natriuretic factor fell quickly by 60% after 8 h but
      remained above basal levels for 5 d. At the end of pacing, body weight fell
      rapidly in conjunction with a large diuresis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are
      compatible with a major role of one or more of renin, vasopressin, and
      noradrenaline in the pathophysiology of the fluid retention of heart failure; the
      manifestations are not counteracted by the rise in atrial natriuretic factor.

PMID- 1451154
TI  - Myocardial oxygen requirements during experimental cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aims were to determine myocardial oxygen requirements during
      cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and to test the hypothesis that endogenous
      catecholamines have a major effect on myocardial oxygen requirements in this
      setting. METHODS: Myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) was measured during 20
      minutes of CPR in eight anaesthetised dogs. Coronary blood flow was maintained at
      prearrest levels using an external pump to provide a permissive level of oxygen
      delivery during ventricular fibrillation. Oxygen content was measured in arterial
      and coronary sinus blood samples under prearrest conditions and at 5 min
      intervals during CPR. Four dogs were given propranolol (1 mg.kg-1) following the
      5 min measurements. RESULTS: MVO2 averaged 108.7(SEM 12.8)% of the initial
      prearrest values after 5 min CPR (n = 8). After 10 min CPR, MVO2 fell to
      53.8(13.3)% of the initial prearrest values in the subset of animals given
      propranolol after the 5 min measurements (n = 4), but remained at prearrest
      levels in untreated animals (p < 0.05 for an interactive effect between treatment
      and time). MVO2 subsequently tended to decrease with time in untreated animals,
      but remained a high percentage of prearrest values throughout the 20 min period
      of CPR. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that endogenous sympathetic
      stimulation of the fibrillating heart results in high myocardial oxygen
      requirements during CPR.

PMID- 1451155
TI  - Effect of 5-aminosalicylic acid on myocardial capillary permeability following
      ischaemia and reperfusion.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate the effect of 5-aminosalicylic acid on
      myocardial capillary permeability for small hydrophilic molecules after ischaemia
      and reperfusion. METHODS: Open chest anaesthetised dogs were subjected to a 20
      min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by 1 h
      reperfusion. 5-Aminosalicylic acid (bolus injection 12 mg.kg-1, followed by 105
      micrograms.kg-1.min-1) (n = 10) or saline (control, n = 12) was given
      intravenously for 1 h, starting 20 min before ischaemia. The myocardial plasma
      flow rate, myocardial capillary extraction fraction, and myocardial capillary
      permeability-surface area (PS) product for 99mTc-DTPA were determined before
      ischaemia, and 5 and 60 min after the start of reperfusion by employing the
      single injection residue detection method. Immediately after reperfusion, the
      reactive hyperaemic plasma flow was measured by the 133Xe washout method.
      RESULTS: Four dogs (two untreated and two treated with 5-aminosalicylic acid)
      were eliminated due to ventricular fibrillation at the time of reperfusion. In
      the remaining animals (10 controls and eight treated) the plasma flow rate,
      capillary extraction fraction and PS were similar before myocardial ischaemia.
      After 5 min reperfusion, the plasma flow rate and PS were significantly increased
      in control animals (p < 0.02 and p < 0.008, respectively), but were unchanged in
      dogs treated with 5-aminosalicylic acid. In addition, after 5 min reperfusion, PS
      was significantly higher in the control group than in treated animals (p <
      0.005). Microcirculatory variables returned to preocclusive values in both groups
      by 60 min after reperfusion. 5-Aminosalicylic acid had no significant effect on
      haemodynamics or on reactive hyperaemic plasma flow. CONCLUSIONS: The results
      suggest that 5-aminosalicylic acid can attenuate the microvascular changes after
      reversible myocardial ischaemia. The effect is potentially beneficial, and may be
      mediated by well recognised anti-inflammatory actions of 5-aminosalicylic acid
      (ie, scavenging of oxygen free radicals and neutrophil inhibition).

PMID- 1451156
TI  - Imipramine induced heart failure in the dog: a model to study the effect of
      cardiac assist devices.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The value of intravenous imipramine in creating a reversible model of
      short term heart failure was evaluated in anaesthetised dogs. METHODS: Acute
      effects of imipramine were studied in 11 dogs using invasive haemodynamic
      pressure measurements and two dimensional echo evaluation. RESULTS: After a 30
      min imipramine infusion (7.5 mg.kg-1.h-1), positive left ventricular dP/dtmax
      decreased from 1368(SEM 108) to 909(119) mm Hg.s-1 (p < 0.05), left ventricular
      end diastolic pressure increased from 8(1) to 12(2) mm Hg (p < 0.05), while left
      ventricular pressure decreased from 106(4) to 87(6) mm Hg (p < 0.05). Cessation
      of imipramine administration resulted within 60 min in partial restoration of
      cardiac function. This deterioration and subsequent recovery was also
      demonstrated with echocardiographic measurements, which showed a decrease in
      ejection fraction from 54(3)% to 28(2)% (p < 0.05). During administration of
      imipramine neither significant electrophysiological changes nor
      supraventricular/ventricular arrhythmias were seen. Repeated infusions of
      imipramine in three anaesthetised dogs with a two week interval showed the
      reproducibility of the haemodynamic effects and the recovery of ventricular
      function. Since the model was developed to evaluate the use of cardiomyoplasty in
      heart failure, the effect of imipramine was also evaluated on latissimus dorsi
      muscle contraction. Administration of imipramine did not affect skeletal muscle
      force development at the dosage used to create heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: This
      model can be used to produce short term reversible heart failure in anaesthetised
      animals to test the efficacy of supportive interventions like dynamic
      cardiomyoplasty, intra-aortic balloon pumping, and mechanical cardiac assist
      devices.

PMID- 1451157
TI  - Adenosine induced chest pain--a comparison between intracoronary bolus injection
      and steady state infusion.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Adenosine may induce chest pain in at least two ways, either by direct
      stimulation of sensory afferents before actual ischaemia occurs or secondary to
      ischaemia. The aim was to study if the mechanism of pain induction may depend on
      the method of adenosine administration. METHODS: Increasing doses of adenosine
      were given to seven male patients with ischaemic heart disease referred for
      coronary angiography: first as a bolus intracoronary injection (2.5-50 mumol),
      second as a 1 ml.min-1 steady state infusion (0.01-20 mumol.min-1) and third as
      an intravenous steady state infusion (0.076-0.76 mumol.kg-1 x min-1). Pain, rate
      pressure product, coronary sinus blood flow, and ECG were monitored. Lactate was
      analysed in coronary sinus and arterial blood. RESULTS: After intracoronary bolus
      injection there were no signs of myocardial ischaemia, whereas during
      intracoronary steady state infusion, and in spite of a lower, but definite,
      degree of pain, 5/7 patients showed myocardial lactate production and three
      patients showed ST depression. During the intravenous steady state infusion 6/6
      patients showed ST depression. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that when
      using adenosine for studies on the mechanisms of chest pain in patients with
      ischaemic heart disease it is preferable to use an intracoronary bolus injection
      technique rather than a steady state infusion, as the risk of inducing ischaemia
      with the latter model cannot be ignored.

PMID- 1451158
TI  - Cardiac metabolism--emergence, decline, and resurgence. Part II.

PMID- 1451159
TI  - Onset of acute myocardial infarction--circadian variation and triggers.

PMID- 1451160
TI  - Pulmonary artery compliance: its role in right ventricular-arterial coupling.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the ventricular/vascular coupling of the
      intact right heart under conditions of normal operation and acute pulmonary
      hypertension. METHODS: Right ventricular contractility was obtained by
      calculating the end systolic pressure-volume relationship (Ees) and the effective
      pulmonary arterial elastance (Ea), applying the Windkessel parameters of the
      pulmonary arterial input impedance. Coupling between the ventricle and its load
      could be determined in terms of Ees and Ea. Acute pulmonary hypertension was
      induced by injecting glass microspheres into the pulmonary vascular bed until a
      mean pulmonary arterial pressure of more than 35 mm Hg had been reached.
      Experimental subjects were Landras/Large white pigs (n = 11), studied under
      general anaesthesia. Ees was obtained by normalising the right ventricle pressure
      diameter equivalent of Ees to stroke volume. The lumped element parameters of the
      Windkessel analogue were calculated from the pulmonary artery pressure and blood
      flow. Stroke work was calculated from the pressure-volume loop and oxygen
      consumption derived from the pressure-volume area. Efficiency was taken to be the
      ratio between stroke work and oxygen consumption. RESULTS: Ea increased
      significantly as mean pulmonary artery pressure rose, while Ees remained linear
      and constant. Stroke work, as well as efficiency, increased, with the maximum of
      the stroke work curve lying to the right of the efficiency maximum. At the
      control step (before pulmonary artery hypertension), Ees = 1.71 Ea (n = 11).
      CONCLUSIONS: Under control conditions, the right ventricle operates at maximum
      efficiency and submaximal work output. Compliance of the pulmonary artery is a
      significant factor in decoupling the right ventricle from its vascular load. As
      the compliance decreases with acute pulmonary hypertension, the maximum stroke
      work against load point shifted in such a manner that the right ventricle changed
      its operational status from a flow to a pressure pump, resulting in a decreased
      stroke volume.

PMID- 1451161
TI  - Functional changes in the right and left ventricle during development of cardiac
      hypertrophy and after its regression.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine left and right ventricular functional
      reserves and collagen concentration during the development of cardiac hypertrophy
      and after its regression. METHODS: Two experimental models of cardiac hypertrophy
      (chronic thyroxine or isoprenaline treatment of adult rats) were compared 24 h
      and five weeks after the agent was last given. Pressure changes in the left
      (right) ventricle before and after acute aortic (pulmonary artery) ligation were
      recorded in open chest anaesthetised animals. The difference in dP/dtmax after
      and before ligation was regarded as the functional reserve. The total collagen
      concentration was determined in both ventricles separately by means of
      hydroxyproline. RESULTS: Left and right ventricular weight increased by 20% and
      30% respectively in the two models employed. In the thyroxine treated group, the
      functional reserve of the left ventricle rose very noticeably, whereas in the
      isoprenaline treated group it decreased. The right ventricular functional reserve
      did not differ from that in the controls in either of the two groups. The
      collagen concentration rose in the left ventricle in the isoprenaline group only.
      Five weeks after the last administration of the agent, cardiac mass and
      ventricular function did not differ from the control values in either of the
      models studied; the only exception was the incomplete regression of left
      ventricular hypertrophy and persistent structural and functional impairment of
      the left ventricle in the isoprenaline treated group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results
      indicate that hearts undergoing a comparable degree of experimental hypertrophy
      may have different functional and structural properties; significant differences
      were found between the right and left ventricular response. Regression of
      hypertrophy together with a reversal of ventricular function usually occurs
      unless the myocardium has received severe structural damage.

PMID- 1451162
TI  - Effects of adenosine on cardiac performance and phosphate compounds in
      microembolised guinea pig hearts.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The excessive release of adenosine has been reported to cause
      hyperaemia and to attenuate ischaemic injury in microembolised hearts. The direct
      effects of exogenous adenosine on cardiac performance were investigated in
      microembolised guinea pig hearts with the simultaneous measurement of phosphate
      compounds. METHODS: 21 male guinea pig hearts were perfused according to the
      Langendorff technique and microembolism was induced by injecting microspheres.
      Hearts were then treated as follows: group A, adenosine 20 microM and
      theophylline 60 microM; group B, theophylline 60 microM; group C, saline
      (control). Cardiac performance was monitored and phosphate compounds were
      measured by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy. RESULTS: Group A showed a
      significant increase in the left ventricular developed pressure and coronary
      flow, and a modest restoration of ATP content. Pi/(Pi+Pcr) remained virtually
      constant. There were no significant changes in left ventricular developed
      pressure or coronary flow in groups B and C. There was a gradual decrease in
      tissue ATP content and slight increase in Pi/(Pi+Pcr). CONCLUSIONS: Adenosine
      improved cardiac performance without adverse effect on energy metabolism in
      microembolised hearts. Adenosine also restored the ATP stores in microembolised
      hearts. (Pi = inorganic phosphate; Pcr = phosphocreatine.)

PMID- 1451163
TI  - Myocardial stretch alters twitch characteristics and Ca2+ loading of sarcoplasmic
      reticulum in rat ventricular muscle.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine the influence of diastolic muscle length on
      force development and timing parameters of cardiac muscle twitch contraction and
      to determine whether a length dependency exists for the calcium loading capacity
      of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. METHODS: Right ventricular papillary muscles and
      trabeculae were isolated from hearts of female Wistar rats weighing 220-280 g.
      Papillary muscles were stretched to diastolic lengths of 90, 95, and 100% Lmax
      and paced at 1.0 Hz. Individual twitch profiles were characterised by their peak
      force and the maximum rate (dF/dt) of the positive and negative force changes.
      Intrinsic timing was identified through waveform analysis that divided the twitch
      profile into time domains for the ascending limb (T0-T1; T1-T2) and the
      descending limb (T2-T3; T3-T4). Each domain was compared at three muscle lengths.
      The sarcoplasmic reticular calcium content at short (1.88 microns) and long (2.11
      microns) sarcomere lengths was characterised by rapid cooling contractures after
      1 s and 60 s of diastolic rest. RESULTS: Peak developed force and the maximum
      rate of positive and negative force development decreased as diastolic muscle
      length was reduced from Lmax to 90% Lmax. The intrinsic timing for the segment
      that reflects the relaxation phase of the twitch (T1-T4) was shortened as muscle
      length was reduced. The time domain that reflects the combined effects of calcium
      release and the early phase of contraction (T0-T1) was insensitive to diastolic
      muscle length. The fractional release of sarcoplasmic reticular calcium at
      different muscle lengths was approximately 32-35% of the total sarcoplasmic
      reticulum calcium pool. CONCLUSIONS: The data on the intrinsic timing of the
      twitch characteristics coupled with rapid cooling contracture analysis suggests a
      fractional calcium release that is approximately 32-35% of the total sarcoplasmic
      reticular capacity at either long or short muscle lengths. However, the loading
      capacity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum is greater when the muscle operates at a
      shorter diastolic length. This can be interpreted as meaning that diastolic
      muscle length differentially influences sarcoplasmic reticular calcium storage
      and release processes.

PMID- 1451164
TI  - Dietary fat modulation of left ventricular ejection fraction in the marmoset due
      to enhanced filling.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the influence of long term dietary fish oil
      consumption on cardiac function in a non-human primate, to elucidate further the
      basis of the apparently reduced cardiovascular disease mortality associated with
      its consumption in man. METHODS: Adult male marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus)
      were fed diets supplemented with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of marine
      (tuna fish oil) or plant (sunflower seed oil) origin, saturated animal fat (sheep
      perirenal fat), or a low fat reference diet for 24 months. Cardiac function was
      assessed using radionuclide angiography under pentobarbitone anaesthesia with a
      counts based adaptation for ventricular volume estimations. Measures were made at
      rest and during infusion of adrenaline. RESULTS: The mean left ventricular
      ejection fraction was greater in the tuna fish oil group [55.0(SEM 1.1)% n = 7]
      and the sunflower seed oil group [58.1(2.4)% n = 8] than in the reference group
      [48.5(1.4)% n = 9] and the sheep fat group [47.6(1.8)% n = 8]. This was
      associated with a more than 25% greater end diastolic volume and 40-70% increases
      in stroke volume in tuna fish or sunflower seed oil fed animals. There was no
      evidence of cardiac hypertrophy. In contrast, adrenaline increased stroke volume
      and ejection fraction by increasing emptying, thus reducing residual end
      systolic. Tuna fish oil fed animals had a low resting heart rate. When this was
      raised to comparable levels by adrenaline, lower pressure-rate indices and
      greater cardiac minute work suggested higher myocardial energy efficiency in PUFA
      fed animals compared with the reference and sheep fat groups. CONCLUSIONS:
      Dietary fish oil and sunflower seed oil increased the left ventricular ejection
      fraction in the marmoset monkey by enhancing ventricular filling, thus providing
      an energy sparing promotion of diastolic relaxation.

PMID- 1451165
TI  - Mechanical determinants of myocardial oxygen consumption with special reference
      to external work and efficiency.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the ambiguous effect of left
      ventricular afterload on myocardial work, oxygen consumption, and efficiency.
      METHODS: Myocardial oxygen consumption and mechanical parameters of the left and
      right ventricle were measured in situ in a modified heart-lung preparation in the
      rat. Left ventricular afterload was adjusted arbitrarily by means of a Starling
      resistor mounted in a shunt circuit between the left ventricle and the caudal
      caval vein. Left and right ventricular pressure and aortic pressure as well as
      pulmonary flow and the flow in the shunt circuit were measured. The left
      ventricular pressure and volume values were converted into wall stress and length
      data assuming a thick walled sphere, and external work was calculated from left
      ventricular force and shortening. RESULTS: Left ventricular external work ran
      through a maximum with decreasing aortic pressure. Left ventricular oxygen
      consumption per gram and beat correlated linearly with left ventricular peak wall
      stress, tension-time integral, and maximum rate of stress development. Left
      ventricular force and shortening, the two components of external work, acted
      differently: force determined left ventricular oxygen consumption, whereas
      shortening had no direct effect on myocardial oxygen consumption, but was
      important in determining left ventricular efficiency. CONCLUSIONS: The interplay
      between left ventricular afterload and coronary perfusion pressure is of special
      significance for the heart in situ. The decrease in shortening and external work
      as well as the diminution in efficiency, observed at low aortic pressure values,
      can be attributed to impaired coronary perfusion. The coronary perfusion pressure
      must therefore be taken into consideration for the critical examination of the
      efficiency of the heart in situ.

PMID- 1451166
TI  - Failure of mannitol to reduce myocardial infarct size in the baboon.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine whether mannitol, previously shown to have
      several myocardial protective properties, could reduce the myocardial infarct
      size after coronary occlusion in the baboon. METHODS: Anaesthetised baboons
      underwent a 2 h transient coronary artery occlusion. Each was randomised into one
      of two groups receiving either mannitol (n = 6) or no adjunct (n = 8). Mannitol
      (20%) was given at a rate of 0.4 ml.min-1 x kg-1 starting at 105 min
      postocclusion until reperfusion was allowed at 2 h, and at a rate of 0.2 ml.min-1
      x kg-1 thereafter, until a total of 500 ml had been delivered. Changes in the ST
      segments were recorded with epicardial wires. The animals were killed at 24 h
      postocclusion and the hearts excised. Silicone microvascular dye was injected
      into the previously occluded coronary artery to delineate the perfusion bed. The
      hearts were fixed in formalin, sliced, and mounted on slides. Using planimetry
      the ratios of the mean volume of infarct to the mean volume of the perfusion bed
      (VI/VPB) were calculated and compared. RESULTS: The VI/VPB for the mannitol
      treated group was 71.7(SEM 14.0)% and for the control group, 65.6(6.9)% (NS). No
      significant difference was noted in the mean summated ST segment elevations
      between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Mannitol does not reduce myocardial infarct
      size or ischaemia in the baboon.

PMID- 1451167
TI  - Interdependence of intracellular taurine and sodium in guinea pig heart.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the effects of raising intracellular
      taurine on the intracellular sodium activity (aNa1) in isolated guinea pig
      ventricular myocytes, and the effect of procedures that raise intracellular
      sodium on taurine concentration in the perfused guinea pig ventricular tissue.
      METHODS: Taurine was introduced into the sarcoplasm of isolated ventricular
      myocytes, either during cell isolation or by diffusion from a penetrating
      micropipette, and the effect on aNai was measured using an ion sensitive
      microelectrode. Guinea pig hearts, mounted on a Langendorff apparatus, were
      perfused with a variety of physiological media and the level of taurine in the
      ventricles determined using high pressure liquid chromatography. RESULTS: An
      increase in intracellular taurine caused by its presence during cell isolation or
      by diffusion from a micropipette significantly reduced the aNai of isolated
      myocytes at rest, during perfusion with Ca depleted solutions, or on inhibition
      of the Na pump. In the guinea pig ventricles, taurine at 13.0(SEM 0.6) mmol.kg-1
      wet weight comprised up to 45% of the free amino acids; since plasma taurine was
      64(13) mumol.litre-1, this means that in vivo a large outwardly directed gradient
      for taurine exists (equivalent to a free energy of 13.7 KJ.mol-1). Upon perfusion
      with Ca,Mg free Tyrode solution (which raises intracellular sodium markedly), a
      time dependent loss of taurine occurred. Both the rate of loss and the total
      amount lost were increased when the Na pump was also inhibited. This loss of
      tissue taurine was not due to release from dead or lysed cells, as it was
      antagonised by procedures known to reduce the rise of aNai during Ca depletion,
      was inhibited by beta alanine (an inhibitor of taurine transport), and the fall
      in tissue taurine was not correlated with the appearance of lactate dehydrogenase
      in the effluent. CONCLUSIONS: The data from isolated myocytes and perfused guinea
      pig hearts were consistent with the presence of a Na/taurine symport which is
      activated to cause efflux of Na and taurine when either rise above their
      physiological level.

PMID- 1451168
TI  - Digoxin and digoxin derivative induced arrhythmias: in vitro binding and in vivo
      abolition of arrhythmias by digoxin immune Fab (DIGIBAND).
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The aim was to compare the binding characteristics of a highly
      purified digoxin specific antigen binding fragment (digoxin immune Fab: DIGIBIND)
      with digoxin and with two commonly used derivatives of digoxin, beta methyl
      digoxin and beta acetyl digoxin, and to assess its ability to abolish the
      arrhythmogenic effects of these digitalis glycosides. METHODS: The binding
      characteristics of DIGIBIND with digoxin, beta methyl digoxin, and beta acetyl
      digoxin were assessed in vitro by measuring their ability to inhibit the binding
      of DIGIBIND to 3H-digoxin. From these studies the affinities of the interactions
      between DIGIBIND and these glycosides, and the binding capacity of DIGIBIND for
      each of these glycosides, could be measured. The ability of DIGIBIND to abolish
      the arrhythmogenic effects of digoxin, beta methyl digoxin, and beta acetyl
      digoxin was assessed using an in vivo anaesthetised guinea pig model (n = 36,
      weight 300-400 g), in which these glycosides were infused intravenously (50
      micrograms.kg-1 x min-1) until the onset of ventricular arrhythmias, at which
      point the total amount of glycoside given was calculated. A single bolus dose of
      either vehicle or DIGIBIND was then given intravenously, and the time to
      restoration of normal cardiac rhythm noted. After the administration of DIGIBIND,
      a second infusion of the same glycoside was given to reinitiate the ventricular
      arrhythmias. The time to onset of the arrhythmias was noted, and the additional
      amount of glycoside given calculated. RESULTS: In vitro studies showed the
      binding of DIGIBIND to 3H-digoxin to be inhibited by digoxin and by the two
      derivatives. The affinities of these interactions with DIGIBIND were
      significantly different, that for digoxin being some twofold greater than that
      for beta methyl digoxin and beta acetyl digoxin. The ED50 concentrations were
      14.1 (95% CI 12.2, 15.2), 29.2(26.1, 32.7), and 36.2(33.0, 39.8) nM,
      respectively. However, there were no significant differences between these
      glycosides in their binding capacities. The in vivo studies showed that
      intravenous infusion of digoxin, beta methyl digoxin, or beta acetyl digoxin
      induced similar ventricular arrhythmias. The onset of the arrhythmias was clearly
      discernible, and required a significantly lower dose of digoxin compared with
      that of beta methyl digoxin and beta acetyl digoxin. These doses were 667(SEM
      55), 868(33), and 854(40) nmol.kg-1, respectively. Termination of the infusion
      had no effect on the arrhythmias, and in those animals which received a bolus
      intravenous injection of saline there was no return to normal cardiac rhythm. By
      contrast, in animals which received a bolus intravenous injection of DIGIBIND,
      there was complete abolition of the arrhythmias within 4-6 min. Although the dose
      of DIGIBIND given to abolish digoxin induced arrhythmias was approximately 25%
      less than that given to abolish beta methyl digoxin and beta acetyl digoxin
      induced arrhythmias (p < 0.05), the time to restoration of normal cardiac rhythm
      after DIGIBIND was not significantly different for digoxin compared with beta
      methyl digoxin and beta acetyl digoxin, at 4.6(0.9), 4.9(0.8), and 5.7(0.8) min,
      respectively. To reinitiate the arrhythmias in those animals which had received
      DIGIBIND, a dose of glycoside was required which was not significantly different
      from that given prior to the DIGIBIND. This observation therefore confirmed the
      stoichiometric relationship between DIGIBIND and each of the glycosides in
      respect of the neutralising action of DIGIBIND in abolishing the arrhythmogenic
      effects of these agents. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is some small difference in
      the affinities of the binding interactions, there is no difference in the binding
      capacities of DIGIBIND for digoxin, beta methyl digoxin, or beta acetyl digoxin
      in vitro. These binding interactions are manifest as the ability of DIGIBIND to
      abolish the arrhythmogenic effects of digoxin and the two derivatives in vivo.

PMID- 1451169
TI  - Anatomical identification of glomeruli in the antennal lobes of the male sphinx
      moth Manduca sexta.
AB  - Computer-assisted neuroanatomical methods have been used to demonstrate unique
      identities of the glomeruli of the antennal lobes (ALs) in males of the sphinx
      moth Manduca sexta. The glomerular neuropil consists of the male-specific
      macroglomerular complex, which comprises two closely apposed bulky subunits, and
      64 +/- 1 "ordinary" glomeruli arrayed in a shell around a central region of
      coarse neuropil. Computer-generated maps show the exact locations of all
      glomeruli and adjacent groups of neuronal somata in a constant Cartesian
      coordinate system, such that these can be accurately identified in any
      individual. The glomeruli belong to three classes according to the number and
      type of identification criteria they satisfy. The larger class comprises
      glomeruli (n = 44) identified only in the computer-generated maps on the basis of
      their relative positions. The other two classes include glomeruli that were also
      identified in sections, either directly from their proximity to readily
      identifiable structures and their shape and size (n = 10, including the labial
      palp-pit-organ (LPO) glomerulus), or indirectly from their positions relative to
      the former (n = 9). Two very small glomeruli were present in only one AL,
      demonstrating the existence of anomalous glomeruli, whereas another glomerulus
      had no homologue in both ALs of one individual. The true number of ordinary
      glomeruli (per male AL) was thus estimated to be 64. The uncertainty in
      delineating some glomeruli might affect this number without implying modification
      of the homologies proposed. The locations of tracts and cell groups, both within
      and near the AL, are also invariant with respect to glomeruli, as shown in the
      computer maps. The methods employed are general and might be useful to
      researchers in related fields. The results obtained call for more attention to
      the precise geometry of neural structures.

PMID- 1451170
TI  - Distribution of laminin, type IV collagen, and fibronectin in the cell columns
      and trophoblastic shell of early macaque placentas.
AB  - The cytotrophoblastic cell columns and trophoblastic shell of macaque placentas
      accumulate progressively greater amounts of intercellular material during early
      gestation. We studied the composition of this material in placentas collected
      from 22-34 days of gestation by using immunoperoxidase techniques directed to the
      extracellular matrix molecules fibronectin, type IV collagen, and laminin. These
      antigens co-localized within the intercellular deposits at all stages studied. At
      day 22 the proximal cell columns were composed of cells with narrow interstices
      and which lacked immunoreactivity for the 3 antigens. Distally the cells were
      vacuolated and the intercellular spaces increased in size and contained dense
      matrix deposits. The trophoblastic shell consisted of closely packed, non
      vacuolated cytotrophoblast cells with only a delicate meshwork of matrix. By day
      27 the matrix deposits of the distal cell columns increased markedly in size. The
      trophoblastic shell contained larger numbers of vacuolated cells and was occupied
      by accumulations of matrix. By 34 days the matrix deposits of the cell columns
      expanded substantially along the longitudinal axes of the columns. These deposits
      were often continuous with a matrix-dense, cell-deficient layer in the
      trophoblastic shell. This matrix-rich zone lay between a cellular layer adjacent
      to the intervillous space and a similar, but discontinuous, cell layer that
      formed the junctional zone with the endometrium.

PMID- 1451171
TI  - Localization of xenopsin and xenopsin precursor fragment immunoreactivities in
      the skin and gastrointestinal tract of Xenopus laevis.
AB  - Xenopsin (Xp) and xenopsin precursor fragment (XPF) are bioactive peptides
      derived from a single precursor molecule; both were isolated previously from
      extracts of Xenopus laevis skin. The present immunohistochemical study was
      undertaken to determine the specific cellular localization of these two peptides
      in the skin and also in the gastrointestinal tract of adult Xenopus. We report
      here that Xp-like and XPF-like immunoreactivities co-exist in the granular glands
      of the skin and specific granular cells in the lower esophagus and stomach.
      However, only Xp-like immunoreactivity, not XPF-like immunoreactivity, was
      detected in tall, thin cells of the duodenum and in club-shaped cells of the
      large intestine. The immunochemical co-localization of the two peptides in
      specific cells of the skin, lower esophagus and stomach suggests that the same
      gene is expressed in each of these cells, and that the precursor molecule
      undergoes similar post-translational processing. In contrast, the observation
      that certain cells of the duodenum and large intestine display only one peptide
      immunoreactivity suggests an alternative phenomenon, possibly involving selective
      peptide accumulation or expression of a different gene.

PMID- 1451172
TI  - Characterization of macrophage-like cells in the external layers of human small
      and large intestine.
AB  - In the external layers of human small and large intestine macrophage-like cells
      were characterized by immunohistochemical, histochemical and electron
      microscopical methods. Using immunohistochemistry and a number of monoclonal
      antibodies, the presence and distribution of phenotypic subpopulations of
      macrophages were evaluated. In all locations macrophage-like cells were
      identified with antibody EBM11, which recognizes CD68 antigen, C3bi which
      recognizes CD11b, and partly with an antibody which recognizes protein 150,95
      (CD11c). Macrophage-like cells in the external muscle layer were HLA-DR-positive
      (expressing the MHC class-II antigen), in contrast to macrophage-like cells in
      the subserosa and submucosa. Macrophage-like cells in the external muscle layer
      were mostly acid phosphatase-negative, and at the electron-microscopic level they
      were found to have features of macrophages: primary lysosomes, coated vesicles
      and pits. However, very few secondary lysosomes were present. Birbeck granules
      were not observed. It is concluded that in the external muscle layer of human
      small and large intestine numerous macrophages of a special type are present. It
      is discussed whether this cell type plays a role in gastrointestinal motility
      and/or has an immunological function.

PMID- 1451173
TI  - Postsmolt change in numbers of acetylcholinesterase-positive cells in the pineal
      organ of the Pacific coho salmon.
AB  - We have examined the occurrence of acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-positive cells in
      the pineal organ of different developmental stages of the Pacific coho salmon.
      Large numbers of AChE cells were present in freshwater living alevins, in all
      stages of presmolts (n = 307-544), and in adult spawners (n = 696-1774), whereas
      seawater-living postmolts displayed a total lack of labeled cells. The AChE
      reactive cells were evenly distributed within the pineal end-vesicle and stalk of
      the presmolts and adults. However, the AChE-positive cells that occurred in the
      pineal stalk were of a smaller type and more uniform in shape than the cells of
      the pineal end-vesicle. The dense populations of AChE-stained cells in the
      alevins were all situated in the caudal part of the pineal end-vesicle. We
      conclude that changes in pineal metabolism occur in postsmolt salmon that live in
      salt-water. It is not clear whether the observed change in pineal AChE expression
      is an "unspecific" change caused by the life in the sea, reflecting alterations
      that are related to aspects of osmoregulation, and/or is involved in the visual
      function of the pineal organ resulting from changes in the environmental lighting
      conditions, e.g., photoperiod, light-intensity, or spectral composition. This
      study adds to our previous findings of changes that occur in the central nervous
      system of the salmon during the time of the parr-smolt transformation and
      migration between limnic and marine environments, and indicates a possible
      central role of the pineal organ in the control of these events.

PMID- 1451174
TI  - Peptidergic neurons of the crab, Cardisoma carnifex, in defined culture maintain
      characteristic morphologies under a variety of conditions.
AB  - Peptidergic neurons dissociated from the neurosecretory cell group, the X-organ,
      of adult crabs (Cardisoma carnifex) show immediate outgrowth on unconditioned
      plastic dishes in defined medium. Most of the neurons can be categorized as small
      cells, branchers or veilers. A fourth type, "superlarge," found occasionally, has
      a soma diameter greater than 40 microns and multipolar outgrowth. We report here
      the effects on morphology that follow alterations of the standard defined
      culturing conditions. The three common types of neurons are present when cells
      are grown in crab saline or saline with L-glutamine and glucose (saline medium).
      Changes of pH between 7.0 to 7.9 have no effect. Osmolarity changes cause
      transient varicosities in small cells. In some veilers, pits rapidly appear in
      the veil and then disappear within 35 min. In cultures at 26 degrees C instead of
      22 degrees C, veilers extend processes from the initial veil in a pattern similar
      to branchers, and the processes of adjacent veilers sometimes form appositions.
      Culturing in higher [K+]o medium ([K+]o = 15-110 mM; standard = 11 mM) has no
      long-term effect, but growth is arrested by [K+]o greater than 30 mM. Cultures
      were also grown in media in which [Ca2+]o ranged from 0.1 microM to 26 mM
      (standard = 13 mM). Outgrowth occurred from all neuronal types in all [Ca2+]o
      tested. Thus, the expression of different outgrowth morphologies occurs under a
      wide variety of culturing conditions.

PMID- 1451175
TI  - Embryonic chicken gizzard: immunolocalization of collagen and smooth muscle
      myosin.
AB  - Antibodies to chicken gizzard myosin and to chicken skin collagen type I allow
      the myofibrillar and connective tissue development in the embryonic chicken
      gizzard to be followed. Fibroblasts are assumed to synthesize collagen prior to
      the onset of smooth muscle cell development in the muscle primordium (day 5);
      they are presumably also responsible for collagen synthesis close to the
      presumptive lamina propria and in the developing tubular glands (day 14 to 17).
      From day 6 to 8, myosin and collagen are colocalized intracellularly, and from
      day 9 onward collagen fibers start to appear extracellularly, eventually forming
      the trellis-like connective tissue septa that give the rhomboid profile found in
      the adult muscle. The close association of collagen and myosin in early
      development suggests that the muscle cells themselves produce and export
      collagen.

PMID- 1451176
TI  - Gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons and pathways in the brain of the female
      mink (Mustela vison).
AB  - The distribution of gonadotropin-releasing hormone-immunoreactive neurons and
      processes was mapped in the female mink brain using coronal, horizontal and
      sagittal sections. Perikarya were found along a ventral continuum including the
      olfactory tubercle, the diagonal band of Broca, the lateral septum, the preoptic
      and anterior hypothalamic area and the mediobasal hypothalamus; 80% of the
      perikarya were counted in the mediobasal hypothalamus. Fibres were mainly
      observed in the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and the median
      eminence. A few processes terminated in the ependymal cells lining the third and
      lateral ventricles. The total number of immunoreactive perikarya was the highest
      in the brains of females sacrificed in July; it then significantly decreased
      until December. This variation is discussed in relation to the annual breeding
      cycle.

PMID- 1451177
TI  - Glycophorin A interacts with interleukin-2 and inhibits interleukin-2-dependent T
      lymphocyte proliferation.
AB  - Sialoglycolipids shed by tumor cells have been implicated in tumor-induced
      inhibition of T-lymphocyte responses to interleukin-2 (IL-2). In the present
      study, we have used glycophorin A, the major sialoglycoprotein of the human
      erythrocyte membrane, to investigate whether shedding of glycoproteins might also
      contribute to immunosuppression. Glycophorin A inhibited IL-2-stimulated
      proliferation of the IL-2-dependent cell lines HT-2 and CTLL-2 in a dose
      dependent manner. Time course studies on synchronized cell populations indicated
      that the glycoprotein acted early in the activation process. On the other hand,
      glycophorin A had essentially no effect on IL-1-mediated stimulation of the IL-1
      sensitive thymocyte cell line EL-4 NOB-1. Gel filtration FPLC demonstrated that
      IL-2 was able to bind to glycophorin aggregates under physiological conditions.
      Reconstituted vesicles containing glycophorin were also shown to bind IL-2. In
      addition, both soluble glycophorin aggregates and lipid vesicles containing
      glycophorin blocked binding of IL-2 to high-affinity cellular IL-2 receptors.
      Taken together, these results suggest that shedding of tumor sialoglycoproteins
      with oligosaccharide chains similar to glycophorin A might contribute to negative
      modulation of IL-2-mediated immune responses.

PMID- 1451178
TI  - Phenotypic comparison of the three populations of human lymphocytes defined by
      CD45RO and CD45RA expression.
AB  - Published reports indicate that CD45RO-CD45RAbright T cells are native T cells,
      CD45RObrightCD45RA- T cells are memory T cells, and that concomitant loss of
      CD45RA expression and gain of CD45RO expression occurs during transition from
      naive to memory status. Thus, following in vitro activation of CD45RO-
      CD45RAbright T cells, a subset of transitional CD45ROdimCD45RAdim T cells is
      observed before conversion to a CD45RObrightCD45RA- phenotype is completed.
      Interestingly, all three of these phenotypic subsets are represented in the
      circulating human lymphocyte pool. We thus used dual-color flow cytometry to
      phenotypically characterize CD45RObrightCD45RA-, CD45ROdimCD45RAdim, and CD45RO-
      CD45RAbright lymphocytes. Both the CD45RObrightCD45RA- and CD45ROdimCD45RAdim
      subsets consisted almost entirely of T cells, whereas the CD45RO-CD45RAbright
      subset contained T cells plus essentially all of the B and natural killer cells.
      Additional studies used three-color flow cytometry to assess activation markers
      on T cells within the three subsets defined by CD45RO/CD45RA expression. CD25
      expression increased with conversion from naive to memory status (5% of CD45RO
      CD45RAbright, 24% of CD45ROdimCD45RAdim, and 42% of CD45RObrightCD45RA- T cells),
      whereas CD38 expression decreased during conversion (76, 53, and 27%,
      respectively). We also assessed the fluorescent intensities of CD11a, CD2, and
      CD44, shown by others to be increased on memory, compared to naive T cells.
      Visual inspection of fluorescence cytograms confirmed these findings, and further
      showed that transitional T cells express these markers at levels
      indistinguishable from those for naive T cells. These findings suggest that
      acquisition of CD25 and loss of CD38 occur relatively early in the naive-to
      memory transition process, being evident in the transitional cell subset. In
      contrast, increased expression of CD11a, CD2, and CD44 appear to represent late
      events, occurring after loss of CD45RA and gain of CD45RO has been completed.

PMID- 1451179
TI  - Down-regulation of cell surface CD4 molecule expression induced by anti-CD4
      antibodies in human T lymphocytes.
AB  - Antigenic modulation was defined as the down-regulation of a cell surface antigen
      expression induced by exposure to specific antibody. We investigated the
      modulation of CD4 surface expression in human peripheral blood lymphocytes
      incubated in vitro with anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Modulation of
      surface CD4 was achieved at 37 degrees C, but not at 4 degrees C, with five
      different murine anti-CD4 mAbs of IgG1 and IgG2a subclasses, with different
      epitope specificities. Modulation was dose dependent with a maximum at
      nonsaturating mAb concentration. It was reversible upon culture in mAb-free
      medium. It was accelerated and amplified in the presence of monocytes or after
      cross-linking of anti-CD4 mAbs. It could be induced with solid phase anti-CD4
      mAbs, but not with soluble F(ab')2 fragments. Its magnitude was identical on all
      CD4+ lymphocytes. It was associated with a moderate down-regulation of CD2 and
      CD3 but not of CD8 and HLA class I surface expression. Modulation was slightly
      augmented by addition of inhibitors of the endosome/lysosome pathway but not by
      protein synthesis inhibitors. The anti-CD4 mAb initially bound to cell surface
      was no longer detectable after 24 hr of culture. Most of surface CD4 proteins
      complexed with antibody were rapidly internalized and transiently replaced by CD4
      from an intracytoplasmic pool and then no longer were expressed. CD4 mRNA was
      moderately decreased in cells incubated with anti-CD4 mAb while beta-actin and
      beta 2-microglobulin mRNAs remained at stable levels. It was concluded that down
      regulation of CD4 surface expression induced by anti-CD4 mAb concerned only a
      part of CD4 molecules and was associated with a decreased synthesis. The delay
      required to achieve maximal modulation is likely to reflect exhaustion of the
      intracytoplasmic recycling pool of CD4 molecules.

PMID- 1451180
TI  - Enhancement of antigen-induced interleukin 4 and IgE production by specific IgG1
      in murine lymphocytes.
AB  - Conalbumin (CA)-specific type 2 helper T cell (Th2) clone, D10G4.1 (D10) produces
      IL4 when stimulated with varying doses of TNP-CA in the presence of mitomycin C
      treated C3H spleen cells or purified B cells as antigen-presenting cells (APC).
      The production of IL4 was assessed by bioassay and by expression of IL4 mRNA. IL4
      production reached maximum at 100 micrograms/ml of TNP-CA, whereas 1 microgram/ml
      of the antigen induced less than 10% of the maximum level of IL4. This lower
      level of IL4 production was augmented to the maximum level when monoclonal anti
      TNP IgG1 was added to the culture at 0.5-1 microgram/ml. Anti-TNP IgE, but not
      anti-TNP IgM, was also effective, though IgE was 1/10 as effective as IgG1. IgG1
      with an irrelevant specificity and F(ab')2 of anti-TNP IgG1 did not show
      augmenting effects. Moreover, the enhancement by anti-TNP IgG1 was completely
      abolished by monoclonal antibody against murine Fc gamma RII, 2.4G2. These
      results suggest that a low dose of the antigen complexed with IgG1 is focused on
      APC by means of Fc gamma RII, processed, and presented efficiently to the Th2
      clone. On the other hand, the co-culture of D10 with normal C3H B cells in the
      presence of 1-100 micrograms/ml TNP-CA resulted in polyclonal IgE production.
      Anti-TNP IgG1 markedly augmented the lower level of IgE production induced by a
      suboptimal dose of the antigen (1 microgram/ml). This augmentation was shown to
      be dependent on endogenous IL4 because the enhancement was abolished by
      monoclonal anti-IL4 (11B11).

PMID- 1451181
TI  - Modulation of the transcriptional rate of Fc gamma receptor mRNA in human
      mononuclear phagocytes.
AB  - Human monocytes and macrophages bear three classes of cell surface receptors for
      the Fc portion of IgG (Fc gamma RI, Fc gamma RII, and Fc gamma RIII). These
      receptors mediate phagocytosis and other effector functions and are important in
      the pathophysiology of hematologic disease, inflammation, and host defense. We
      have previously shown that interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and dexamethasone
      modulate total Fc gamma RII mRNA levels as well as Fc gamma RI and Fc gamma RII
      protein expression on monocytes and the monocyte-like cell line U937. In this
      study, we investigated the modulation of Fc gamma RI mRNA. Additionally, we
      utilized mRNA stability and nuclear run-on assays to study the mechanism of the
      modulation of Fc gamma receptor transcripts in the monocyte/macrophage cell line
      U937. In U937 cells, IFN-gamma increased Fc gamma RI mRNA levels 7.5-fold.
      Treatment with dexamethasone reduced Fc gamma RI mRNA levels to 0.6-fold of
      baseline and inhibited by 20-60% the increase in mRNA observed after treatment of
      the U937 cells with IFN-gamma. On monocytes, treatment with IFN-gamma increased
      monocyte Fc gamma RI mRNA 6.7-fold. Cotreatment of the IFN-gamma-stimulated
      monocytes with dexamethasone resulted in a 160% further increase in Fc gamma RI
      expression. Fc gamma RI and Fc gamma RII mRNA half-lives were then determined in
      U937 cells by incubation with dexamethasone and/or IFN-gamma for 16 hr and then
      arresting mRNA transcription with actinomycin-D (10 micrograms/ml). The mRNA half
      lives in untreated U937 cells were 3.3 +/- 0.3 hr (Fc gamma RI) and 3.1 +/- 0.3
      hr (Fc gamma RII). For either Fc gamma RI and Fc gamma RII, the effect of
      dexamethasone and/or IFN-gamma on mRNA half-life was not significant (P > 0.5).
      We also performed nuclear run-on experiments with U937 cells which indicated that
      IFN-gamma increased the transcription of Fc gamma RI 4.2-fold and Fc gamma RII
      1.7-fold. Our data suggest that these changes in Fc gamma RI and Fc gamma RII
      protein are likely due, at least in part, to increases in mRNA levels secondary
      to alteration in gene transcription.

PMID- 1451182
TI  - Differential responsiveness of immature- and mature-stage murine B cells to anti
      IgM reflects both FcR-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
AB  - Mature and immature B cells differ in their responses to antigen receptor
      crosslinking. Whereas mature B cells enter cell cycle in response to such
      stimulation, immature B cells exhibit proliferative unresponsiveness and undergo
      induced tolerance following surface immunoglobulin (sIg) engagement. Previous
      studies evaluating antigen receptor-mediated negative signaling have utilized
      intact goat anti-immunoglobulin (anti-Ig) antibodies as polyclonal ligands based
      upon observations that the Fc portion of these reagents does not interact with
      and mediate negative signaling through the FcR on mature B cells. Thus, the
      negative effects of goat anti-Ig on immature B cells have been attributed solely
      to signals mediated via their antigen receptors. In the studies reported here we
      show that the activation unresponsiveness inherent to immature B cells is FcR
      independent. However, we also show that immature B cells are sensitive to FcR
      mediated inhibition and that these effects can be mediated by intact goat
      antibodies at concentrations that promote positive activation signals in mature B
      cells. Our results demonstrate that inhibition of immature B cell LPS responses
      by anti-Ig antibodies, used in previous studies as an in vitro model for B cell
      tolerance induction, is an FcR-mediated phenomenon. We show that developmentally
      associated anti-Ig-mediated inhibition of LPS requires the use of intact
      antibodies, and that this inhibition can be blocked by the anti-FcR monoclonal
      antibody 2.4G2. Flow cytometric analysis of FcR-positive B cells indicates that
      both mature and immature B cells express equivalent levels of FcR gamma.
      Therefore, the sensitivity of immature, but not mature, cells to intact goat anti
      mu antibodies suggests that either FcRs or their associated inhibitory pathways
      change during B cell development.

PMID- 1451183
TI  - Immunological tolerance to hapten prevents subsequent induction of hapten-immune
      pulmonary interstitial fibrosis (HIPIF).
AB  - Pulmonary interstitial fibrosis (PIF) is a morphological term which in part can
      be defined as accumulation of collagen in the extracellular matrix. Previously we
      showed that hamsters sensitized with 2,4,6-trinitro-1-chlorobenzene (TNCB)
      developed PIF 14 days after an intratracheal challenge with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene
      sulfonic acid (TNBS). The participation of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in
      lung collagen deposition was clearly demonstrated. In this paper, we use an
      adaptation of this model to mice and show that the lung collagen deposition
      observed was related to the genetic ability of the strain to maintain a DTH
      response to the immunizing hapten (TNP). Specifically, the lung collagen
      deposition on Day 14 in hapten-sensitized, challenged animals in high responder
      to TNP (BALB/c, H-2d) was higher than that in low responder mouse (C57BL/6, H
      2b). Furthermore, aged C57BL/6 strain (retired breeders) possessed a DTH response
      to TNP and produced significantly higher accumulation of hydroxyproline than that
      of TNBS-challenged-only animals. A DTH mechanism for the induction of the
      fibrosis is consistent with the observation that responder mice that were made
      tolerant to the antigen were unable to respond to the lung challenge with a
      specific increase in lung index or collagen deposition. These results suggest
      that effector T lymphocytes that are important in DTH play a key role in the
      regulation of lung collagen deposition in hapten-immune pulmonary interstitial
      fibrosis (HIPIF) in mice.

PMID- 1451184
TI  - Mouse splenic macrophage cell lines with different antigen-presenting activities
      for CD4+ helper T cell subsets and allogeneic CD8+ T cells.
AB  - A panel of seven mouse splenic macrophage cell lines, derived from cloned
      progenitors, was compared for their ability to present antigen to Th1 or Th2
      helper T cell lines and hybridomas, as well as to naive T cells, and to provide
      accessory cell function for the synthesis of antibody from primed B cells. One of
      the cell lines expressed MHC class II molecules and was the only line with
      constitutive antigen-presenting activity for Th1 cells. It may represent a subset
      of splenic macrophages responsible for the activation of naive Th1 helper cells
      in situ. The remaining six cell lines responded to INF-gamma by up-regulating
      their class II expression and acquiring Th1 antigen-presenting activity. They may
      represent cells which, in situ, lack constitutive antigen-presenting activity but
      are promoted to presenting status by Th1-derived INF-gamma. Five of the cell
      lines provided accessory cell function to Th2 cells, as indicated by antibody
      synthesis in suspensions of spleen cells from primed mice depleted of their
      antigen-presenting cells. One of the cell lines lacking accessory cell activity
      had constitutive antigen-presenting activity for Th1 cells. This reciprocal
      expression of antigen-presenting activity supports the idea that Th1 and Th2
      helper cells are activated by different antigen-presenting cells. Finally, the
      cell lines differed in their ability to constitutively induce an allogeneic
      response; a response that was limited to CD8+ T cells occurred in a CD4+ helper
      cell-independent manner and was unaffected by the addition of INF-gamma. The
      alloantigen-presenting macrophage cell lines also possessed the most efficient
      accessory cell activity for antibody synthesis. These cell lines, which represent
      a spectrum of antigen-presenting activities in the spleen afford models for
      defining the roles of macrophages in the induction of immune responses and for
      resolving issues concerning their development.

PMID- 1451185
TI  - Human recombinant migration inhibitory factor activates human macrophages to kill
      tumor cells.
AB  - A recombinant form of human migration inhibitory factor (rMIF) obtained from COS
      1 cells transfected with MIF-specific cDNA is able to activate cultured human
      peripheral blood monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages, in a dose-dependent
      manner to become cytotoxic for tumor cells in vitro. The cytotoxicity exhibited
      by macrophages treated with rMIF is > or = 30% above that of cells incubated with
      control supernatants or with media and peaks 72 hr after the addition of tumor
      targets. rMIF also induces macrophages to produce tumor necrosis factor (TNF
      alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). These results demonstrate that rMIF is
      able to modulate macrophage functions and plays a role in cell-mediated immune
      response.

PMID- 1451186
TI  - A high molecular weight centrosomal protein of mammalian cells is antigenically
      related to myosin II.
AB  - Available data on the molecular composition of the centrosome, the typical
      microtubule-organizing center of animal cells, are still fragmentary. To address
      this important issue we have taken advantage of centrosome isolation from a human
      lymphoblastic cell line (KE37) to generate a monoclonal antibody (mAb) library.
      Here we present the characterization of one of these mAbs (CTR56). On the basis
      of both its immunofluorescence staining pattern and its reactivity with a major
      200 kD antigen on immunoblots, CTR56 has been tentatively classified as an
      anticellular myosin heavy chain. In light of cytological and biochemical data
      obtained in parallel with two other well-characterized myosin antibodies, it
      appears that myosin cannot be considered as a genuine centrosomal protein. We
      have resolved the paradoxical results with CTR56 by showing that in addition to
      the cellular myosin heavy chain, this antibody also recognizes a high molecular
      weight protein specifically enriched in centrosomal fractions. The possible
      biological significance of this finding is discussed in structural and functional
      terms.

PMID- 1451187
TI  - Antikinetochore antibodies interfere with prometaphase but not anaphase
      chromosome movement in living PtK2 cells.
AB  - Injection of CREST antikinetochore antiserum (AKA) containing antibodies to the
      kinetochore into living prometaphase PtK2 cells decreased chromosome velocity to
      near zero. Injection of either phosphate-buffered saline or CREST antiserum
      without antikinetochore antibodies (antikinetochore negative: AKN) had no effect
      on prometaphase oscillations. AKA antiserum injected into anaphase cells at the
      beginning of chromatid separation had no effect on anaphase chromosome velocity,
      spindle elongation, or cytokinesis. Visible binding of antikinetochore antibodies
      in prometaphase cells at room temperature occurred between 5 and 15 minutes after
      injection. Anaphase cells injected at the beginning of chromatid separation had
      bound antibody at the end of anaphase. AKA antiserum recognizes in Western blots
      proteins associated with the primary constriction: CENP-B, -C, and -D, as
      reported by other workers. The control antiserum, AKN, does not recognize these
      proteins. These results imply that the antigens recognized by CREST antibodies
      are important for chromosome movement. Whether or not these antigens are
      themselves motor molecules cannot be addressed by the present data. In addition,
      the results suggest that these antigens are not involved in an important way in
      anaphase movement.

PMID- 1451188
TI  - [An anniversary of the Comenius University Pharmacy School in Bratislava].

PMID- 1451189
TI  - [An overview of the development of pharmacy education in Slovakia].
AB  - Before 1777, the pharmacist in Slovakia gained their professional qualification
      by practising in a pharmacy. From the establishment of the University of Trnava
      to 1777, they attended lectures and took examinations at its Faculty of Medicine,
      then from 1784 onwards in Budapest. After the establishment of Czechoslovakia,
      the candidates of pharmacy studied in Prague, and after the closing of Czech
      universities (1939) in Bratislava. Between 1940 and 1948 there existed a three
      year course, and later a four-year course at the Faculty of Medicine, the
      contents of which were close to the level of the development of sciences and the
      requirements of pharmaceutical practice. A logical completion of the development
      of the course of studies was the establishment of independent Faculties of
      Pharmacy in Bratislava and Brno and the prolongation of the course to five years.
      Commencing with the academic year 1977/78, the course of studies was divided into
      three specializations, General Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy and Technological
      Pharmacy. Since the academic year 1990/91 the course is uniform again, with
      possible differentiations in the profile of the graduate during the course
      according to the interests and options of the student.

PMID- 1451190
TI  - [Anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activity of aqua-dihydroxybenzoate copper
      complexes].
AB  - Using screening methods, the anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of
      mononuclear otahedral complexes [composition:Cu(2,YDHB)2.H2O;dihydroxybenzoate
      ion - DHB; Y(n)-4(8).5(4) and 6(8)] and the corresponding carboxylic acids were
      studied. On paw dextran edema (rats, an effective dose of 10 mg/kg), a higher
      efficacy of the complexes was found as compared with the acids. All compounds
      significantly reduced the endotoxin pyretic reaction (rabbits, in a single dose
      of 20 mg/kg; in the case of the first two complexes half-dose was administered).
      Marked toxic effects were determined for Cu(II) salts when they were administered
      i.p. The observed biological activities of complexes are discussed in relation to
      their proposed structures.

PMID- 1451191
TI  - [Changes in the relative levels of fatty acids in blood and myocardium in the
      Prague breed of rats with hereditary hypercholesteremia after administration of
      slow calcium channel blockers].
AB  - The present paper describes the effect of six-week oral administration of
      verapamil and diltiazem (1 mg.kg-1 of weight two times daily in 12 hour
      intervals) on the content of fatty acids of the serum and myocardium of PHHC
      rats. A cholesterol diet changes the content of fatty acids of the serum and
      myocardium of PHHC rats in comparison with control rats without the cholesterol
      diet. A significant decrease in the content of palmitic acid, a decrease in the
      content of stearic acid, linoleic acid and arachidonic acid and a significant
      increase in the content of oleic acid were observed in the serum. Long-term
      administration of the slow calcium channel blockers produces another decrease in
      the content of the bound form of arachidonic acid. Changes in the representation
      of other fatty acids are not marked. Long-term administration of a cholesterol
      diet produces an increase in the content of palmitic acid and stearic acid and a
      decrease in the content of oleic acid, linoleic acid and arachidonic acid in the
      myocardium. Administration of verapamil results in a modification of the above
      mentioned changes in all parameters excepting the content of arachidonic acid,
      the content of which was decreased in an even more marked manner. Administration
      of diltiazem produced an accumulation of both saturated and mono-unsaturated
      fatty acids (palmitic, stearic and oleic acids) and produced a significant
      decrease in the content of linoleic acid and mainly the bound form of arachidonic
      acid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451192
TI  - [Substitutional relations in the expression of drug consumption].
AB  - The present paper analyzes the formal equivalence of expressing the consumption
      of medicines in financial and physical units. The study was carried out on a
      representative sample of population; for the sake of the need of analytical
      expression also the factor of the age in the consumption of drugs measured per 1
      inhabitant was taken into consideration. A highly close relationship between the
      two specific variables is observed. On this basis the postulate of the validity
      of equivalence is formulated. The paper points to the stability of this formal
      equivalence also in the conditions of the action of the seasonal component and
      the pragmatic significance of the obtained results for pharmaco-epidemiological
      studies is stressed.

PMID- 1451193
TI  - [Drug consumption of certain pharmacotherapeutic groups in relation to age and
      sex. Psychopharmacueticals].
AB  - The paper presents data on the consumption of psycho-active drugs in the urban
      population, which are expressed by the number of packages and costs. The
      consumption of the group of agents under study represents 6.2% of total costs of
      drugs within the framework of out-patient care. The results of a one-year survey
      have revealed that the curve of the consumption of psycho-active drugs for the
      whole population after calculation per one person possesses the shape of a 2nd
      degree parabola. Consumption of psycho-active drugs per one person is
      significantly higher in women than in man and it consistently grows with the age.

PMID- 1451194
TI  - [Prescriptions for individually prepared dermatologic agents. I].
AB  - The present paper reports the results of a survey of contemporary medical
      prescriptions of solutions, suspensions and emulsions used in dermatological
      practice. The obtained results were compared with the district prescription lists
      from Slovakia. The analysis of contemporary prescription was carried out in 27
      districts in the years 1987 and 1989. The results show that 112 drugs are
      prescribed in the preparation of solutions. Most solutions are composite and 90%
      of solutions are hydrophilic. An analysis of suspensions revealed that in
      hydrophilic suspensions the liquid media water-glycerol or spirit-water prevail,
      and in hydrophobic suspensions nearly always plant oils are used. Emulsions are
      represented in topical extemporaneous preparations in a smaller amount than
      solutions and suspensions; it is 0.7% in the set under study.

PMID- 1451195
TI  - [Antibiotic consumption in relation to sex and age].
AB  - The present paper aims at an analysis of the consumption of antibiotics in
      relation to age, sex and diagnosis in the district of Bratislava-vidiek. The
      prescription of 17 primary out-patient care physicians was evaluated. The set
      under study included 17,771 inhabitants divided into 10 age categories. Drug
      consumption was expressed by the number of packages per 1000 inhabitants and a
      month. The processed data were statistically evaluated. The results of the paper
      showed a higher consumption in women. Within the framework of the age categories
      under study, the consumption of antibiotics does not increase with age. The
      highest consumption of antibiotics, 70.45%, was found in the diseases of the
      respiratory system, the consumption in acute diseases being 60.46%. Tetracycline
      and penicillin antibiotics are the most frequently used preparations in the
      population under study.

PMID- 1451196
TI  - [Phytochemical overview of the components of Calendula officinalis L. and their
      therapeutic evaluation].

PMID- 1451197
TI  - [The status of fluvoxamine among the antidepressive agents].
AB  - Fluvoxamine was administered in an open trial of 50 hospitalized patients with
      major depression of the melancholic type (DSM-III-R) for an average period of
      24.56 days in mean minimal and maximal daily doses of 100-311 mg orally after a
      wash-out interval of 1-14 days. Treatment achieved complete improvement in 54%
      and partial improvement in 16% of the patients, significantly more frequently in
      women than in men. The antidepressant effect of fluvoxamine was confirmed also by
      a statistically significant reduction of the global HAMD and FKD score, starting
      on the 7th day of the trial. The therapeutic effect was clinically apparent
      during the second week of treatment. The best therapeutic effect was achieved in
      anxiety depressions (65%), to a lesser degree inhibitory depressions (50%) and
      atypical ones (46%), as apparent from the value of Nahunek's antidepressive index
      0.88 which suggests a significant anxiolytic effectiveness of fluvoxamine.
      Fluvoxamine had a positive effect on the majority of HAMD and FKD items, incl. a
      depressive mood, anxiety, feelings of guilt, anhedonia, reduced interest and
      ability, obsession, depressive thoughts and suicidal tendencies. Reduced motor
      activity, loss of appetite, insight, somatic symptoms, paranoidity and
      hypochondria were less influenced. At the onset of treatment the preparation did
      not reduced insomnia and thus in 72% patients hypnotics were added. In the course
      of fluvoxamine therapy no suicidal attempts were observed although 34 (68%) of
      the patients initially admitted had suicidal thoughts. Fluvoxamine is well
      tolerated by patients; as to side-effects gastrointestinal complaints were most
      frequent (in 28% of the patients).

PMID- 1451198
TI  - [Criteria for selection of first choice antidepressive agents].
AB  - Specific inhibitors of the re-uptake of serotonin provide more adequate criteria
      for the selection of antidepressants of first choice, as compared with classical
      tricyclic antidepressants. These criteria comprise a specific therapeutic effect
      (e.g. influence on suicidal thoughts and action), a wider area of indications,
      serotonergic side-effects and relative safety of overdosage.

PMID- 1451199
TI  - [Fluvoxamine--pharmacologic properties].

PMID- 1451200
TI  - [Fevarin--a selective serotonin uptake inhibitor. Clinical implications of
      serotonin selectivity].
AB  - The author explains the development of specific inhibitors of serotonin re
      uptake. Fluvoxamine differs from classical tricyclic antidepressants by a
      pharmacological profile of side-effects and safety of overdosage, while the
      therapeutic effect is comparable. The serotonin selectivity opens perspectives of
      further indications.

PMID- 1451201
TI  - [Adrenergic and serotonergic receptors during depression and its therapy].
AB  - It is supposed that adrenergic and serotonergic receptor systems can play a
      crucial role in pathophysiology of depressive disorder. The hypothesis are based
      on changes of levels of serotonin and noradrenaline and on changes of their
      binding sites during depression and its treatment. Study of adrenergic and
      serotonergic receptors by pharmacological and molecular biological methods give
      rise to their division to many types and subtypes. This division makes possible
      to study the depressive disorder and its treatment on well defined receptors
      systems. Decreased density of beta- and 5-HT1-receptors was found during
      depression. Antidepressants influence 5-HT2 and adrenergic receptors mainly.
      Consequently, interaction between adrenergic and serotonergic systems exerts both
      in the origin of depression and during the treatment. Mutual influence and
      cooperation of different receptors systems are the main topics of research in
      this field.

PMID- 1451202
TI  - [A short questionnaire as a means of screening for psychiatric disorders in the
      aged].
AB  - The authors elaborated a brief questionnaire of mental health of old people. They
      discuss the the suitability of the self-evaluating part of the questionnaire for
      detection of mental disorders. Hundred and forty subjects above 65 years of age
      were examined: living in their homes or hospitalized at the psychiatric clinic.
      The mean score of the self-evaluating part of the questionnaire in the group of
      healthy and mentally ill differs significantly. The sensitivity of the self
      evaluating part for the non-differentiated group of patients is 62.07% and the
      specificity is 73.08%. Self-evaluation with the best reliability differentiates
      from healthy subjects the group of depressive patients (sensitivity 82.76%). It
      was revealed that self-evaluation can help also with detection of dementia
      (sensitivity (61.11%). An enhanced discriminating sensitivity of the
      questionnaire is expected from a combination of self-evaluation with items
      expressing objective evaluation. The authors emphasize the possibility to entrust
      the questionnaire to paramedical workers, and its non-pretentious character which
      makes it suitable for old people.

PMID- 1451203
TI  - [An international study of the course and outcome of schizophrenia coordinated by
      the World Health Organization].
AB  - Psychiatry Demography Unit of Psychiatric Center Prague is one of the
      participating sites in the transcultural study on Long-term Course and Outcome of
      Schizophrenia coordinated by World Health Organization (WHO). The aim of the
      project is to learn more about factors predicting the long-term course and
      outcome and to investigate socio-cultural differences in schizophrenic patients.
      The present research builds upon the earlier WHO coordinated studies:
      International Pilot Study of Schizophrenia (IPSS) carried out in 1968-1969 in 13
      centers including Czechoslovakia (N = 1202) and Study on Determinants of Outcome
      of Severe Mental Disorder (DOSMed) taken place between 1978-1980. The finding of
      IPSS and DOSMed were notable: incidence of narrowly defined schizophrenia did not
      vary greatly across cultures in opposite of the variation of short term outcome
      of illness that was more favourable in developing than in industrialized nations.
      The present follow-up study of the DOSMed and the IPSS patients (after 14 and 24
      years) allow the examination of a large enough sample in a relatively short time
      and facilitate the development of new instruments, which provide a unique
      opportunity of their further cultural valid application for our center.

PMID- 1451204
TI  - [Neurotic disorders and personality disorders in the 10th revision of the
      International Classification of Diseases].

PMID- 1451205
TI  - [Present trends in the development of drugs within the cholinesterase inhibitor
      group as therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease].
AB  - With prolongation of human age rises also the incidence of senile dementia,
      inclusive dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT). At the same time the authors
      present views in the aetiology of this illness, the role of cholinergic
      mechanisms of the development dementia and they mention DAT treatment strategy
      focusing attention on a group of drugs-cholinesterase inhibitors.

PMID- 1451206
TI  - [The 140th anniversary of the birth of Dr. O. Binswanger].
AB  - Otto Binswanger be one of noted psychiatrist of this era. Authors get acquainted
      with his biography and extensive scientific, pedagogic and organize activity.

PMID- 1451207
TI  - Child abuse & neglect--let's focus on prevention.

PMID- 1451208
TI  - The ISBA year of the child.

PMID- 1451209
TI  - Advocating for the traumatically brain injured child.

PMID- 1451210
TI  - Medication administration in Illinois schools.

PMID- 1451211
TI  - Anaesthetic drug costs are not increased by propofol.

PMID- 1451212
TI  - Tracheal intubation and cervical injury.

PMID- 1451213
TI  - Guidelines to the practice of obstetrical anaesthesia.

PMID- 1451214
TI  - Anaesthesia and myasthenia gravis.

PMID- 1451215
TI  - Perioperative stroke.

PMID- 1451216
TI  - Anaesthesia and leucocyte locomotion.

PMID- 1451217
TI  - Neutrophils from patients undergoing hip surgery exhibit enhanced movement under
      spinal anaesthesia compared with general anaesthesia.
AB  - The purpose of this research was to investigate whether the effects of regional
      anaesthesia on neutrophil migration differ from those due to general anaesthesia
      during major orthopaedic surgery in human patients. Eighteen patients underwent
      spinal or general anaesthesia (halothane or isoflurane) for surgery (six patients
      in each group). Blood samples were taken prior to induction of anaesthesia and
      after surgery was in progress for one hour. The movement of isolated neutrophils
      was measured in both samples in the chemotactic chamber toward lipopolysaccharide
      activated pooled serum. In addition plasma concentrations of catecholamines were
      determined in the blood samples. Neutrophils extracted from peripheral blood
      during spinal anaesthesia and surgery moved further towards a complement-derived
      attractant than neutrophils obtained from patients undergoing surgery under
      general anaesthesia with halothane or isoflurane and surgery (156.4 +/- 7.6
      microns vs 114.3 +/- 6.1 microns or 119 +/- 8.4 microns respectively, P < 0.05).
      Increased concentrations of adrenaline were present in both general anaesthetic
      groups whereas the spinal group had lower concentrations than those prior to
      anaesthesia and surgery. It is considered unlikely that these differences in
      neutrophil reactivity are due to the direct effects of anaesthetic agents
      employed. The effects are likely to be the result of differing effects of spinal
      anaesthesia on the stress response or immunological mediators.

PMID- 1451218
TI  - Epidural morphine reduces halothane MAC in humans.
AB  - The effect of epidural morphine sulphate (4 mg in 10 ml saline) on the minimum
      alveolar concentration of halothane was investigated in a double-blind,
      randomized fashion in ten adult patients undergoing abdominal surgery, and
      compared with the minimum alveolar concentration of halothane after epidural
      administration of 10 ml saline in a similar group of patients. Morphine sulphate,
      administered through the epidural catheter 98 +/- 33 min before to skin incision
      reduced the minimum alveolar concentration of halothane by 28% (0.57% vs 0.78%, P
      < 0.05).

PMID- 1451219
TI  - Spinal anaesthesia with lidocaine 2% for caesarean section.
AB  - Spinal anaesthesia with 2, 2.5 or 3 ml of glucose-free lidocaine 2% was studied
      in 50 patients undergoing Caesarean section. Onset time, cephalad spread of
      analgesia, quality of analgesia, muscle relaxation, the cardiovascular effects
      and duration of analgesia and motor block were assessed. Reliable anaesthesia was
      provided with 2.5 and 3 ml while 2 ml of 2% lidocaine was insufficient. Onset
      time varied between 5.5 to 6 min and maximum cephalad spread was achieved in 10
      15 min. The mean maximum extent of sensory analgesia was higher after 2.5 ml
      (T4.1) and 3 ml (T3.6) than after 2 ml (T7) (P < 0.001). Complete motor block was
      achieved in all the patients. The mean duration of sensory block was 123 +/- 6.23
      min (2 ml) to 126 +/- 7.53 min (2.5 and 3 ml). The mean duration of motor block
      in 2.5 and 3 ml groups was higher (P < 0.001) than in the 2 ml group and was
      correlated with the dose of lidocaine (P < 0.05). Hypotension (SBP < 100 mmHg)
      was noted in 10% (n = 5) of patients in whom the cephalad spread of analgesia was
      also higher. All the neonates had an apgar score of 7 or more at 1 min. These
      results suggest that 2.5 to 3 ml of 2% lidocaine provides satisfactory
      anaesthesia for Caesarean section.

PMID- 1451220
TI  - Hyaluronidase improves regional ophthalmic anaesthesia with etidocaine.
AB  - The effect of adding hyaluronidase to regional ophthalmic anaesthesia with
      etidocaine 1.5% was examined. Two studies were performed in a double-blind
      fashion. In Study #1, 70 patients were given peribulbar anaesthesia with
      etidocaine either with or without hyaluronidase (7.5 IU.ml-1) using a standard
      intraorbital injection and separate lid injections. The block was supplemented as
      needed. Lower intraorbital volumes (6.4 +/- 2.2 ml vs 8.2 +/- 2.3 ml, P < 0.01)
      and improved scores for globe akinesia (P < 0.01), lid akinesia (P < 0.01) and
      analgesia (P < 0.05) were recorded in the hyaluronidase group than in the plain
      etidocaine group. In Study #2, 80 patients were randomized to receive etidocaine
      and hyaluronidase either at a concentration of 7.5 IU.ml-1 or 15 IU.ml-1 using a
      two-injection-site technique. No differences were noted in the volumes of local
      anaesthetics required or in the success rates between the two groups. It was
      concluded that the addition of hyaluronidase to etidocaine decreases the volume
      needed and improves the quality of block compared with plain etidocaine. Doubling
      the dose of hyaluronidase does not improve the effectiveness of block.

PMID- 1451221
TI  - Treatment of intraoperative hypertension with enflurane, nicardipine, or human
      atrial natriuretic peptide: haemodynamic and renal effects.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of the calcium entry blocker
      nicardipine and alpha human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) on antihypertensive
      and diuretic activity in hypertensive surgical patients. The site of the diuretic
      actions of these drugs along the nephron were also investigated by measuring the
      excretion rate of inorganic phosphate (PO4). Hypertension during gastrectomy was
      treated by increasing the concentration of enflurane, by nicardipine infusion
      (0.5-2.0 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1), or by hANP infusion (0.05-0.2 microgram.kg-1 x
      min-1) under general anaesthesia. Enflurane, nicardipine and hANP all decreased
      arterial pressure to the same extent. Urine flow, Na and PO4 excretion increased
      following the administration of nicardipine or hANP. Fractional distal
      reabsorption of sodium was suppressed from 89.7 +/- 2.8% to 82.1 +/- 5.0% by the
      hANP, but not by the nicardipine infusion. Creatinine clearance was increased by
      hANP infusion, but did not change in the nicardipine group. It is concluded that
      nicardipine and hANP can be used safely for the treatment of hypertension during
      surgery. Both drugs induced phosphaturic diuresis, but the site of action of the
      two drugs on the nephron may be different. Phosphate reabsorption is considered
      to occur largely in the renal proximal tubule, so that its appearance in the
      urine in increased quantities without the change of renal circulation in the
      nicardipine group suggests a proximal tubular action of this drug. However, the
      site of action of hANP in the kidney was not determined because GFR increased and
      distal sodium reabsorption was suppressed due to the drug infusion.

PMID- 1451222
TI  - Anaesthetic technique does not influence postoperative bowel function: a
      comparison of propofol, nitrous oxide and isoflurane.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of propofol, nitrous oxide
      and isoflurane on recovery, postoperative bowel function and postoperative
      complications after major gastrointestinal surgery. Sixty patients undergoing
      elective colonic operations were included in the study. They were randomly
      allocated to anaesthesia with isoflurane-nitrous oxide, propofol-air, or propofol
      nitrous oxide, with fentanyl and vecuronium being used in all three groups. The
      same anaesthetic and surgical teams performed all the operations. The
      postoperative course was judged once each day by the Acute Physiology Score (APS)
      based on the Apache II classification, passage of gas, tolerance of enteral
      feeding, hospital stay and complications up to 30 days after surgery. The
      demographic data, magnitude of operation, duration of operation, intraoperative
      blood loss, and post-operative analgesic needs were similar in the groups. In all
      groups the APS was normal by median day 1 (range 1-7). A similar impairment of
      bowel function after operation, with passage of gas median 3 (1-6) days after
      surgery and tolerance of enteral intake median day 5 (1-10), was found in all
      groups. The incidence of complications and the length of postoperative hospital
      stay, median 11 (6-45) days, did not differ among the groups. It is concluded
      that overall recovery, bowel function, postoperative hospital stay, and
      complications were not influenced by the anaesthetic technique.

PMID- 1451223
TI  - Alfentanil sedation for cardiac catheterization of children with Fontan shunts.
AB  - After Fontan operation, prolonged invasive cardiac assessment is often needed.
      This study is a clinical evaluation of the effectiveness of flunitrazepam
      premedication, EMLA cream, and alfentanil continuous infusion for management of
      children undergoing such catheterization. Fourteen consecutive subjects aged 5-20
      yr with Fontan shunts (right atrium to pulmonary artery) undergoing elective
      haemodynamic and electrophysiological catheterization were sedated with an
      individually titrated alfentanil infusion. After oral premedication with
      flunitrazepam 2 mg, the mean induction dose and mean maintenance requirement of
      alfentanil were 4.4 +/- 2.7 micrograms.kg-1 and 10.3 +/- 8.6 micrograms.kg-1 x hr
      1, respectively. Mean oxygen consumption during haemodynamic catheterization was
      4.1 +/- 0.4 ml.kg-1 x min-1 with an average individual variation of 10%. For
      every patient, tranquil and stable conditions during catheterization could be
      produced. It is concluded that alfentanil infusion is a method of sedation of
      children and adolescents with Fontan shunts during haemodynamic and
      electrophysiologic catheterization. However, continuous monitoring of ventilation
      and an understanding of the slow circulation time after Fontan operation are
      essential with such sedation in these patients.

PMID- 1451225
TI  - Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula: mechanical ventilation and hypoxemia.
AB  - Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) is an uncommon congenital anomaly. As
      PAVM is a direct communication between branches of the pulmonary artery and vein,
      major disturbances in gas exchange can result. We present a patient with an
      unsuspected PAVM who came to our institution for drainage of a brain abscess.
      Arterial blood gas analysis during and after surgery demonstrated a large
      alveolar-arterial gradient for oxygen in the absence of any obvious pulmonary
      pathology while the patient was receiving positive pressure ventilation (PPV).
      Oxygenation improved considerably upon resumption of spontaneous ventilation. A
      diagnosis of PAVM was made subsequently. We conclude that positive pressure
      ventilation can worsen right to left shunting in patients with PAVM.

PMID- 1451226
TI  - Multicore myopathy in a patient with anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia.
AB  - We report a patient with multicore myopathy, a rare myopathy not previously
      reported in the anaesthetic literature. It is characterised by a myopathy of
      proximal muscles which tends to follow a benign course but may be associated with
      a severe form of cardiomyopathy. The myopathy is related to central core disease
      so these patients should be considered to have a potential for developing
      malignant hyperthermia. Complicating this case was an associated anhidrotic type
      of ectodermal dysplasia resulting in the absence of sweating, febrile episodes,
      recurrent pulmonary infections, conical and missing teeth, scaly skin and fine,
      sparse hair. The patient had a scoliosis repair which was uneventful but died
      three weeks later following a major pulmonary aspiration while on the ward. The
      cause of the aspiration is thought to have been unsuspected laryngeal
      incompetence associated with ectodermal dysplasia, the myopathy involving his
      bulbar muscles and analgesic medication.

PMID- 1451224
TI  - The use of muscle relaxants in the intensive care unit.
AB  - Neuromuscular blocking agents are frequently used in the Intensive Care Unit to
      facilitate tracheal intubation and the application of continuous paralysis. This
      review will focus on various conditions of the critically ill patient such as
      multi-organ dysfunction, acid-base and electrolyte imbalance, prolonged
      immobility, multiple drug interactions and specific disease/injury processes that
      may affect the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behaviour of muscle relaxants.
      As such, due to the complex nature of the critically ill patients, the effects of
      neuromuscular blocking agents are unpredictable. Therefore, guidelines regarding
      their administration and the methodology and requirement for continuous bedside
      monitoring of neuromuscular function will be presented.

PMID- 1451227
TI  - Kinetics of dissolution of gaseous halothane in Krebs-Ringer's solution.
AB  - The responses of biological tissues to volatile anaesthetics are commonly studied
      by incubating specimens in a bath containing dissolved anaesthetic. One accepted
      technique is to bubble an anaesthetic gas into several incubation chambers
      simultaneously. To assess the validity of this technique in producing dissolved
      anaesthetic (the biologically active form) at equal rates among the several
      chambers, we determined the kinetics of dissolution of halothane gas in three
      tissue incubation chambers containing Krebs-Ringer's solution. We found that (1)
      the dissolution kinetics were first-order in all three chambers; (2) the rate of
      halothane dissolution depended on the gas bubbling rate; (3) even with the same
      bubbling rates, chamber shapes and chamber volumes, the dissolution rates for the
      three chambers were not equal, suggesting that dissolution rate depended on small
      differences in chamber geometry; (4) the dissolution rates could be made equal by
      adjusting chamber bubbling rates according to calculations involving the first
      order rate equation; and (5) the maximum coefficient of variation of dissolved
      halothane concentration was 9% at 63% approach to equilibrium and 3% at
      equilibrium.

PMID- 1451228
TI  - Arterial baroreflex attenuation during and after continuous propofol infusion.
AB  - The reduction of arterial blood pressure produced by propofol may be, in part,
      attributable to impaired baroreflex integrity. The purpose of this study was to
      investigate arterial baroreflex sensitivity during and after continuous propofol
      infusion. In urethane anaesthetized rabbits, left renal sympathetic nerves were
      exposed and placed on a bipolar silver electrode to record renal sympathetic
      nerve activity (RSNA). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) via a femoral artery and
      heart rate (HR) by electrocardiogram were continuously recorded. The rabbits were
      divided into two groups of eight each: Group 1, propofol 5 mg.kg-1 bolus followed
      by infusion 0.5 mg.kg-1 x min-1; Group 2, propofol 2 mg.kg-1 bolus followed by
      0.2 mg.kg-1 x min-1. Phenylephrine pressor and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)
      depressor tests were carried out before propofol was started (control), at 15 and
      30 min during 30 min infusion, and at 15, 30 and 60 min after its
      discontinuation. The change of RSNA was plotted with respect to every 5 mmHg
      increment and decrement of MAP to construct sympathetic baroreflex sigmoid
      curves, and to evaluate baroreflex sensitivity. The baroreflex sensitivity was
      also evaluated by calculating the ratio of maximum increase of RSNA or HR to SNP
      induced maximum decrease of MAP (delta RSNA/delta MAP, delta HR/delta MAP).
      Despite the same decreases or increases in MAP, RSNA was attenuated after 15 and
      30 min of propofol infusion in both groups compared with control (P < 0.05).
      Decreased delta RSNA/delta MAP gradually returned to the control level 60 min
      after discontinuation of propofol in Group 1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451229
TI  - Lupus anticoagulant, paramyotonia congenita and pregnancy.
AB  - A case report is presented of the anaesthetic management of a parturient with
      paramyotonia congenita and lupus anticoagulant antibodies. She had been treated
      with prophylactic, subcutaneous heparin and aspirin throughout her pregnancy.
      Epidural analgesia was provided for labour and delivery.

PMID- 1451230
TI  - Inspiratory valve malfunction in a circle system: pitfalls in capnography.
AB  - Capnography is a useful technique in monitoring the integrity of anaesthetic
      equipment such as the malfunctioning of unidirectional valves in circle system.
      However, the lack of a precise mechanism in existing capnographs to identify the
      start of inspiration and the beginning of expiration in the capnograms, makes the
      analysis of the carbon dioxide waveforms during inspiration difficult and thus
      results in inaccurate assessment of rebreathing. We report a case where, during
      the malfunction of the inspiratory unidirectional valve in the circle system, the
      capnograph failed to detect the presence of substantial rebreathing. Critical
      analysis of the capnogram recorded during the malfunction revealed that there was
      substantial rebreathing which was underestimated by the capnograph as it reports
      only the lowest CO2 concentration rebreathed during inspiration in such abnormal
      situations.

PMID- 1451231
TI  - Antitumor activity of treosulfan against human breast carcinomas.
AB  - Treosulfan (L-threitol-1,4-bismethanesulfonate, Ovastat) is a bifunctional
      alkylating agent that shows a formal structural similarity to busulfan and is
      applied clinically to patients suffering from ovarian cancer. The present study
      demonstrated the pronounced antitumor activity of this drug against three of five
      human breast carcinomas xenografted to athymic mice. It was shown that treosulfan
      is capable of inducing irreversible and complete remission of the
      heterotransplanted human breast carcinomas MDA-MB-436 and MX-1 within 14 days
      after drug application and of effecting growth inhibition by more than 90% in the
      MDA-MB-435S xenograft. In all three carcinomas, treosulfan caused more pronounced
      growth reduction than did equitoxic doses of the alkylator cyclophosphamide.
      Adriamycin, an intercalating cytostatic agent that is an important component of
      clinical nonhormonal chemotherapy of breast carcinomas, induced only partial
      remission of these three xenografts and inhibited the tumor growth by 80%-90%
      (MDA-MB-436, MX-1) and by 70%-80% (MDA-MB-435S), respectively. In the M 3
      xenograft, treosulfan just led to a retardation and stagnation of tumor growth;
      it was again more effective than Adriamycin but was clearly less active than
      cyclophosphamide. The FM 2 breast carcinoma, finally, was the only xenograft
      whose growth was not influenced by treosulfan at doses up to that which was
      lethal to 50% of the treated mice (LD50 value). These results confirm that
      treosulfan is effective against human breast carcinomas. Because of this activity
      as well as the known low toxicity and good clinical compatibility of treosulfan,
      it should be considered for introduction into nonendocrine chemotherapeutic
      regimens against human breast carcinomas and investigation in clinical trials.

PMID- 1451232
TI  - Hepatic intra-arterial infusion of fotemustine: pharmacokinetics.
AB  - Fotemustine is a new nitrosourea derivative that contains an alpha
      aminophosphonic acid and has a short half-life and a high plasma clearance. As
      myelosuppression occurs as the dose-limiting toxicity, local drug delivery has
      been investigated in the treatment of liver metastases arising from colorectal
      cancer. A pharmacokinetic study was undertaken in patients who received either
      i.v. or hepatic intra-arterial (HIA) infusion of 100 mg/m2 fotemustine so as to
      estimate the advantage of local chemotherapy, considering the pharmacokinetic
      differences between the two routes together with the resultant toxicities (when
      available). Our findings substantiated the hypothesis that a 4-h HIA infusion of
      foetmustine would result in a lower exposure of healthy tissues to the drug,
      since the AUC measured in systemic plasma was reduced by approximately 50%
      following such treatment as compared with i.v. infusion. This reduction in AUC
      should indicate a manyfold increase in exposure of the liver tumour to the
      alkylating properties of the drug, since it represents the proportion of the dose
      that has degraded within the liver. The first-pass liver-extraction ratio of
      fotemustine given as a 4-h HIA infusion, which ranged from 0.4 to 0.9 as
      estimated in patients receiving i.v. and HIA infusions in a cross-over study,
      argues for further investigation of HIA foetemustine infusion for the treatment
      of liver metastases so as to increase the response rate and decrease the
      occurrence of major toxic side effects in such patients.

PMID- 1451233
TI  - Intrathecal 5-fluorouracil in the rhesus monkey.
AB  - Because meningeal spread of both leukemia and solid tumors remains a difficult
      therapeutic problem, there is a compelling need to develop new agents for
      intrathecal administration. 5-Fluorouracil (5FU), an active anticancer agent,
      penetrates into the central nervous system to some degree following intravenous
      dosing. Significant systemic toxicity, however, is associated with this route of
      administration. Therefore, the pharmacokinetic behavior of 5FU following its
      intrathecal administration was studied in a rhesus monkey model. After a 10-mg
      intraventricular dose, the disappearance of the drug from ventricular
      cerebrospinal fluid was monoexponential, the half-life being 51 min; the area
      under the concentration-time curve (AUC) being greater than 18 mM h-1; and the
      peak ventricular 5FU concentrations ranging between 10 and 15 mM. After a 1-mg
      intralumbar dose, the AUC was 1235 microM h-1. No toxicity was observed following
      intraventricular administration of 5FU. After intralumbar administration of
      either a 10-mg or a 1-mg dose, however, local toxicity was observed in the lumbar
      spinal cord. These findings suggest that intrathecal administration of 5FU is not
      presently a feasible means of achieving cytotoxic cerebrospinal fluid
      concentrations.

PMID- 1451234
TI  - Nitric oxide: its production in host-cell-infiltrated EMT6 spheroids and its role
      in tumour cell killing by flavone-8-acetic acid and 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4
      acetic acid.
AB  - Flavone-8-acetic acid (FAA) and its more dose-potent analogue 5,6
      dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (5,6-MeXAA), appear to exert their antitumor
      effects through vascular and other host-mediated mechanisms and are known to
      induce the synthesis of nitric oxide by murine macrophages. We investigated the
      role of nitric oxide in the cytotoxic effects of these drugs in host-cell
      infiltrated spheroids. EMT6 murine mammary adenocarcinoma cells were grown in
      culture to produce multicellular spheroids in vitro spheroids), which were then
      inoculated i.p. into mice. After 6 days the spheroids were removed ex vivo
      spheroids). Exposure to FAA (890 microM) and 5,6-MeXAA (80 microM) in vitro for
      20 h increased nitrite concentrations to 6.7 and 9.7 nmol/spheroid, respectively,
      as compared with 0.7 nmol/spheroid in the absence of drug. FAA and 5,6-MeXAA did
      not increase nitrite production in in vitro spheroids in cells obtained by
      peritoneal lavage. However, mixed cultures of in vitro spheroids and peritoneal
      cells treated with 5,6-MeXAA produced nitrite (2.4 nmol/spheroid), indicating
      that interactions between host cells and tumour cells were important for
      induction. The effects of these drugs on ex vivo spheroids were prevented by co
      incubation with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, indicating that nitrite originated from
      the oxidation of L-arginine to nitric oxide. Cell sorting of disaggregated
      spheroids into EMT6 cells and Mac-1-positive macrophage populations indicated
      that both of these cell populations could be induced to synthesise nitric oxide
      by subsequent incubation with 5,6-MeXAA. Incubation of ex vivo spheroids with FAA
      and 5,6-MeXAA decreased the clonogenicity of EMT6 cells, and this effect was
      wholly (FAA) or partially (5,6-MeXAA) reversed by the presence of NG
      monomethylarginine (250 microM). FAA and 5,6-MeXAA may therefore exert some of
      their cytotoxic effects on tumour cells through the production of nitric oxide.

PMID- 1451235
TI  - Analysis and pharmacokinetics of N-l-leucyldoxorubucin and metabolites in tissues
      of tumor-bearing BALB/c mice.
AB  - Leucyldoxorubicin (Leu-Dox) was developed as a prodrug of doxorubicin (Dox) with
      the aim of lowering the cardiotoxicity and improving the therapeutic index
      produced by Dox. To support the preclinical findings on its antitumor activity
      and cardiotoxicity, concentrations of Leu-Dox and its metabolites were determined
      in plasma, heart, and tumor after the administration of Leu-Dox to tumor-bearing
      mice. A liquid-liquid extraction procedure employing a chloroform/2
      propanol/dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) mixture was developed. By means of high
      performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection, Leu-Dox and
      six of its metabolites could be assayed in the tissues with high sensitivity.
      Detection limits ranged from 0.01 nmol/g tissue for the aglycons to 0.06 nmol/g
      for Dox. Recoveries were in the range of 82%-110%, and calibration curves were
      linear over the concentration range tested (0.1-10 nmol/g tissue, r > or =
      0.998). Concentration versus time curves were constructed for plasma, heart, and
      tumor over the first 72 h, and areas under the curves (AUCs) for the first 48 h
      were determined by the trapezoidal rule. Dox was rapidly formed from Leu-Dox,
      reaching peak levels in plasma within 5 min and in tissues within 1 h after i.v.
      administration of Leu-Dox (12 mg/kg). The elimination of Leu-Dox was also fast as
      illustrated by final half-lives of 1.1, 0.8, and 0.9 h in the plasma, heart, and
      tumor, respectively. For Dox, the final half-lives were 16.7 h in plasma, 15.3 h
      in heart tissues, and 27.4 h in tumor tissues. AUC values determined for Leu-Dox
      and Dox were 221 and 51 nmol ml-1 min, 443 and 4,262 nmol g-1 min, and 153 and
      1,466 nmol g-1 min in the plasma, heart, and tumor, respectively. Comparison of
      these values with those obtained after an equimolar dose of Dox indicated 26%,
      30%, and 16% of Leu-Dox appeared as Dox in the plasma, heart, and tumor,
      respectively. Thus, not only is the plasma compartment not representative for
      calculations of the conversion of Leu-Dox into Dox in tissue, but differences in
      its appearance also exist between the tissue compartments. The AUC values found
      for Dox in the heart may explain the reduced cardiotoxicity elicited by Leu-Dox
      as compared with Dox; however, the values obtained for Dox in the insensitive
      murine colon tumor cannot explain the enhanced antitumor activity exerted by Leu
      Dox in the sensitive human tumor xenografts in nude mice.

PMID- 1451236
TI  - Multicenter phase II trial of brequinar sodium in patients with advanced squamous
      cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
AB  - A total of 19 patients with advanced squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck
      who had not previously been exposed to chemotherapy were treated with brequinar
      sodium as first-line chemotherapy. Brequinar was given intravenously at a median
      weekly dose of 1,200 mg/m2. The toxicity was moderate, with 7 patients (37%)
      experiencing grade 3 or 4 toxicity. In all, 16 patients who were evaluable for
      efficacy showed no objective response. We conclude that brequinar given at this
      dose and on this schedule has no significant activity in advanced squamous-cell
      carcinoma of the head and neck.

PMID- 1451237
TI  - Is metabolism an important arbiter of anticancer activity of ether lipids?
      Metabolism of SRI 62-834 and hexadecylphosphocholine by [31P]-NMR spectroscopy
      and comparison of their cytotoxicities with those of their metabolites.
AB  - Antineoplastic ether lipids have entered phase I clinical trial and, although
      their mechanism of action remains unclear, it is widely believed that the plasma
      membrane is the primary cellular drug target. In the present study the hypothesis
      was tested that metabolism of ether lipids acts as a detoxification process.
      [31P]-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to study the
      metabolism of the ether lipid SRI 62-834 (SRI) and the phosphate ester
      hexadecylphosphocholine (HPC) in the presence of both isolated phospholipases C
      and D and post-mitochondrial rat liver homogenate. Both SRI and HPC were slowly
      metabolised by phospholipase D to their alkyl phosphates and choline, and the
      alkyl phosphates were subsequently metabolised by phosphatase to yield the
      alcohols and inorganic phosphate. These studies failed to detect any metabolism
      of either SRI or HPC by phospholipase C, and the metabolism of platelet
      activating factor (PAF) by this enzyme was not inhibited by the addition of
      either compound. The cytotoxicity of SRI, the related compound HPC and their
      metabolites was determined in vitro using three cell lines. Cytotoxicity was
      measured by analysis of cell growth kinetics, MTT assay and lactate dehydrogenase
      release. Closely similar results were obtained in the JB1 rat hepatoma cell line,
      in the non-transformed BL8 rat hepatocyte cell line, and in A549 human lung
      adenocarcinoma cells. SRI was the most toxic of the compounds analysed, the
      concentration required to produce 50% toxicity or growth inhibition (IC50) being
      6-9 microM. The putative metabolite of SRI, 2,2'
      bis(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran, and the known metabolites [2'
      (octadecyloxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran-2'-yl]methyl phosphate and 2-hydroxymethyl-2
      octadecyloxymethyltetrahydrofuran exhibited IC50 values of > 200, > 100 and 40-70
      microM, respectively, consistent with metabolic detoxification. HPC was more
      cytotoxic (IC50, 37 microM) than its phosphate metabolite (IC50, 140 microM), but
      its toxicity was similar to that of its metabolite hexadecanol (IC50, 28 microM),
      suggesting that only the former metabolic route leads to detoxification.

PMID- 1451238
TI  - Schedule-dependent synergistic action of tiazofurin and dipyridamole on hepatoma
      3924A cells.
AB  - Tiazofurin is an oncolytic nucleoside analog that has shown therapeutic activity
      in end-stage acute non-lymphocytic leukemia and in chronic granulocytic leukemia
      in blast crisis. Tiazofurin is anabolized to the active metabolite, TAD, which
      inhibits IMP dehydrogenase activity, leading to a reduction in guanylate pools
      and to the cessation of neoplastic cell proliferation. The drug exhibits potent
      cytostatic and cytotoxic activity against hepatoma 3924A cells in culture. In
      growth-inhibition and clonogenic assays, the 50% inhibitory concentration of
      tiazofurin was 3.8 and 4.2 microM, respectively. Dipyridamole, an inhibitor of
      nucleoside transport, curtails the salvage of nucleosides and bases for
      nucleotide biosynthesis. Dipyridamole exhibited cytotoxicity against hepatoma
      3924A cells, with an LC50 of 24 microM and an IC50 of 29 microM being recorded. A
      combination of tiazofurin and dipyridamole provided synergistic cytotoxicity in
      hepatoma 3924A cells in culture. This synergistic activity was dependent on the
      order of addition of the drugs. Simultaneous addition of the two drugs produced
      antagonism, whereas preincubation of cells with tiazofurin or dipyridamole
      followed by addition of the second drug resulted in synergy. TAD concentrations
      were significantly higher (129% and 135%) in cells that had been pretreated with
      tiazofurin or dipyridamole before the addition of the second agent as compared
      with cells that had been treated simultaneously (113%). These studies indicate
      the importance of the order of the addition of drugs to obtain a synergistic
      response in combination chemotherapy and suggest the need for a careful selection
      of drug modulation in clinical trials of tiazofurin and dipyridamole.

PMID- 1451239
TI  - Myocardial 'stunning' in man.

PMID- 1451240
TI  - Interposed abdominal compression-cardiopulmonary resuscitation and resuscitation
      outcome during asystole and electromechanical dissociation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Coronary perfusion pressure has been shown to be a significant
      determinant of return of spontaneous circulation from cardiac arrest during
      asystole and electromechanical dissociation. The addition of interposed abdominal
      compression to otherwise standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) increases
      coronary perfusion pressure in animal and human models. METHODS AND RESULTS:
      Accordingly, we conducted a randomized prospective study of 143 consecutive
      patients experiencing cardiac arrest in a large university-affiliated teaching
      hospital in whom the initial arrest rhythm was asystole or electromechanical
      dissociation. Patients were randomized to receive either interposed abdominal
      compression-CPR or standard CPR. The two end points studied were return of
      spontaneous circulation and 24-hour survival. In addition, we studied the
      complications associated with interposed abdominal compression-CPR. Sixty-nine
      men and 74 women with a mean age of 64 years (range, 19-97 years) were studied.
      The overall rate of return of spontaneous circulation was 38%. Return of
      spontaneous circulation was significantly greater in the group receiving
      interposed abdominal compression-CPR compared with the group receiving standard
      CPR (49% versus 28%, p = 0.01). At 24 hours, there was a significantly greater
      number of patients alive in the experimental group than in the control group (33%
      versus 13%, p = 0.009). We found no complication directly related to the
      procedure of interposed abdominal compression in a small subset of patients who
      died and underwent necropsy. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the addition of
      interposed abdominal compression may be a useful adjunct to otherwise standard
      CPR that can improve resuscitation outcome of patients experiencing in-hospital
      cardiac arrest from asystole and electromechanical dissociation.

PMID- 1451241
TI  - Evaluation of colestipol/niacin therapy with computer-derived coronary end point
      measures. A comparison of different measures of treatment effect.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Cholesterol Lowering Atherosclerosis Study has demonstrated
      beneficial effect of colestipol/niacin on coronary atherosclerosis using a panel
      determined global coronary change score. We now report treatment group
      comparisons using quantitative coronary angiographic (QCA) measures from all
      processable segments in 85 of 162 randomly selected baseline/2-year film pairs.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: Treatment benefit was established for percent stenosis for
      either continuous or categorical analyses with regression established regardless
      of the per-patient scoring procedure. In addition, treatment benefit favoring
      regression was established in some cases for roughness and for percent
      involvement, a longitudinal estimate of the percent of coronary surface involved
      by raised lesions. Benefit on minimum diameter was directly related to whether
      the segment was proximal to a graft insertion and hemodynamically related to the
      bypass graft. QCA correlates of panel-determined progression were increases in
      percent stenosis and numbers of occluded lesions in native arteries and the
      number of progressing lesions in bypass grafts. CONCLUSIONS: These results
      demonstrate that a variety of computer measures can be used as end points in
      coronary angiographic therapy trials, but change in percent stenosis correlates
      best with visual panel assessments and best reflects the treatment benefit; when
      treatment effect sizes are moderate to large, the required sample size of
      coronary angiographic trials can be reduced when QCA is used.

PMID- 1451242
TI  - A prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of intravenous streptokinase
      and angioplasty versus lone angioplasty therapy of acute myocardial infarction.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The value of routine administration of intravenous thrombolytic
      agents during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) therapy of
      acute myocardial infarction (MI) has not been determined. Therefore, we
      prospectively randomized 122 patients with evolving MI to PTCA therapy with or
      without adjunctive intravenous streptokinase therapy. METHODS AND RESULTS:
      Patients with ECG ST segment elevation who presented within 4 hours of symptom
      onset, had no contraindication to thrombolytic therapy, and were not in
      cardiogenic shock were enrolled. They were treated immediately with intravenous
      heparin (10,000 units) and oral aspirin (325 mg) and randomized to treatment with
      placebo or streptokinase (1.5 M units) administered intravenously over 30
      minutes. Patients then were taken immediately to the catheterization laboratory,
      and those with suitable coronary anatomy underwent immediate PTCA. Subsequent
      clinical course, serial radionuclide ventriculography, and 6-month repeat
      angiography were analyzed. A total of 106 patients were treated with PTCA. Use of
      PTCA was similar for placebo (92%) and streptokinase (83%) groups. Angioplasty
      was successful in 95% of patients, with no difference in placebo (93%) and
      streptokinase (98%) groups. Serial radionuclide ventriculography demonstrated no
      difference in 24-hour (52 +/- 12% versus 50 +/- 12%) or 6-week (51 +/- 12% versus
      51 +/- 13%) ejection fraction values for placebo and streptokinase groups,
      respectively. Contrast ventriculography demonstrated improvement in immediate (54
      +/- 12%) versus 6-month (60 +/- 15%, p < 0.05) values for the overall group. No
      differences in 6-month values were present (58 +/- 15% versus 62 +/- 15%, p = NS)
      for placebo and streptokinase groups, respectively. Coronary angiography was
      performed in 75% of the 90 patients eligible for restudy. Arterial patency was
      87% at 6 months, and coronary restenosis was present in 38% of patients. No
      differences in chronic patency or restenosis were detected for the two treatment
      groups. Although adjunctive intravenous streptokinase therapy did not improve
      outcome, it did complicate the hospital course. Hospitalization was longer (9.3
      +/- 5.0 versus 7.7 +/- 4.4 days, p = 0.046) and more costly ($25,191 +/- 15,368
      versus $19,643 +/- 7,250, p < 0.02). Transfusion rate was higher (39% versus 8%,
      p = 0.0001) and need for emergency coronary bypass surgery was greater (10.3%
      versus 1.6%, p = 0.03) for the streptokinase-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS:
      Adjunctive intravenous streptokinase therapy does not enhance early preservation
      of ventricular function, improve arterial patency rates, or lower restenosis
      rates after PTCA therapy of acute MI. Hospital course is longer, more expensive,
      and more complicated. For these reasons, PTCA therapy of acute MI should not be
      routinely performed with adjunctive intravenous streptokinase therapy.

PMID- 1451243
TI  - Mitral valve replacement with and without chordal preservation in patients with
      chronic mitral regurgitation. Mechanisms for differences in postoperative
      ejection performance.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Standard mitral valve replacement (MVR) in patients with chronic
      mitral regurgitation consistently results in a decrease in postoperative left
      ventricular (LV) ejection performance. This fall in ejection performance has been
      attributed, at least in part, to unfavorable loading conditions imposed by the
      elimination of the low-impedance pathway for LV emptying into the left atrium. In
      contrast to standard MVR in which the chordae tendineae are severed, however, MVR
      with chordal preservation (MVR-CP) does not usually decrease LV ejection
      performance despite similar removal of the low-impedance pathway. The purpose of
      the present study was to define the mechanisms responsible for this discordance
      in postoperative ejection performance between MVR with and without chordal
      preservation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Echocardiography and sphygmomanometer blood
      pressures were obtained in 15 patients with pure chronic mitral regurgitation
      before and 7-10 days after mitral valve surgery. These measurements were used to
      calculate ventricular volume, wall stress, and ejection fraction. Seven patients
      underwent MVR with chordal transection (MVR-CT), and eight patients underwent MVR
      CP. MVR-CT resulted in no postoperative change in LV end-diastolic volume, a
      significant increase in LV end-systolic volume, a significant increase in end
      systolic stress, from 89 +/- 9 to 111 +/- 12 g/cm2 (p < 0.05), and a significant
      decrease in ejection fraction, from 0.60 +/- 0.02 to 36 +/- 0.02 (p < 0.05). In
      contrast, patients who underwent MVR-CP had a significant decrease in LV end
      diastolic and end-systolic volumes. End-systolic wall stress actually fell from
      95 +/- 6 to 66 +/- 6 g/cm2 (p < 0.05), and ejection fraction was unchanged (0.63
      +/- 0.01 before and 0.61 +/- 0.02 after mitral valve surgery) instead of reduced.
      CONCLUSIONS: MVR-CT resulted in a decrease in ejection performance caused in part
      by an increase in end-systolic stress, which in turn increased end-systolic
      volume. Conversely, MVR-CP resulted in a smaller LV size, allowing a reduced end
      systolic stress and preservation of ejection performance despite closure of the
      low-impedance left atrial ejection pathway.

PMID- 1451244
TI  - Increased expression and regional differences of atrial myosin light chain 1 in
      human ventricles with old myocardial infarction. Analyses using two monoclonal
      antibodies.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study was designed to examine the expression of atrial/fetal
      type myosin light chain 1 (ALC1) in human ventricles with old myocardial
      infarction and in control hearts. METHODS AND RESULTS: The expression of
      immunoreactive (ir) ALC1 was examined in the subendocardial and subepicardial
      myocardium of the infarcted and the noninfarcted regions in the left ventricles
      with old myocardial infarction (n = 12) and of the control left ventricles (n =
      8). For the analysis, we prepared two monoclonal antibodies, KA1 and KB1, that
      were specific for only ALC1 and for both ALC1 and ventricular myosin light chain
      1 (VLC1), respectively. The ir-ALC1 expression ratio [ALC1/(ALC1 + VLC1), %] of
      the subendocardial myocardium, determined densitometrically by Western blotting
      with KB1, was significantly higher in the infarcted region (11.4 +/- 7.3%) than
      in the noninfarcted region (4.7 +/- 2.3%, p < 0.001) and the control ventricle
      (1.0 +/- 1.5%, p < 0.0001). In the infarcted region, the subendocardial
      myocardium contained a significantly greater percentage of ir-ALC1 than the
      subepicardial myocardium (5.8 +/- 6.7%, p < 0.005). The ir-ALC1 expression ratio
      had a significant negative correlation with the value of tissue protein
      concentration (milligrams protein per gram wet weight). The immunohistochemical
      study with KA1 revealed that the surviving myocytes included in the infarcted
      region, especially in the ventricular aneurysm, expressed ir-ALC1 strongly in
      comparison with those in the noninfarcted or the control ventricles. CONCLUSIONS:
      These results demonstrate increased expression of ALC1 and the regional
      differences in the failing left ventricles with old myocardial infarction. We
      conclude that the reexpression of ALC1 in infarcted ventricles occurs as one of
      the regional responses to increased load and may be a useful biochemical marker
      for the appearance of fetal-type myocytes.

PMID- 1451245
TI  - Preoperative prediction of the outcome of coronary revascularization using
      positron emission tomography.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous assessments of myocardial viability using positron emission
      tomography (PET) relied on demonstration of glucose metabolism in hypoperfused
      asynergic segments using the glucose analogue [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG).
      Recently, it was shown that myocardial viability could be assessed by calculating
      the water-perfusable tissue index (PTI) for the asynergic region. PTI represents
      the proportion of the myocardium that is capable of rapid transsarcolemmal
      exchange of water and thus perfusable by water. The aim of the present study was
      to assess myocardial viability by PET using PTI in patients undergoing coronary
      revascularization. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twelve patients with chronic coronary
      artery disease and previous myocardial infarction were studied. Analysis of
      transmission (tissue density) and 15O-labeled carbon monoxide (blood pool), and
      15O-labeled water (myocardial blood flow [MBF]) emission PET data enabled the
      simultaneous quantification of MBF (ml.min-1.g perfusable tissue-1) and PTI (gram
      of perfusable tissue per gram of total anatomic tissue). In addition, PET imaging
      with FDG after 75-g oral glucose load was performed in eight patients.
      Preoperative echocardiography identified 33 hypocontractile and 26 control
      segments. Follow-up echocardiography performed 3 to 5 months later demonstrated
      26 of 33 segments with improved wall motion (recovery) and seven of 33 segments
      without improvement (nonrecovery). MBF in the control segments (0.97 +/- 0.22
      ml.min-1.g perfusable tissue-1) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in both
      the recovery (0.73 +/- 0.18 ml.min-1.g perfusable tissue-1) and the nonrecovery
      (0.45 +/- 0.11 ml.min-1.g perfusable tissue-1) segments. PTI in the recovery
      regions (0.99 +/- 0.15) was > or = 0.7 in all cases and slightly less than in
      control regions (1.10 +/- 0.15, p < 0.02). FDG uptake in these regions was 92 +/-
      17% (n = 13) of the uptake in control segments with normal wall motion. In the
      nonrecovery group, PTI was 0.62 +/- 0.06 (p < 0.02 versus control and recovery)
      and always < 0.7. In the one patient in whom a comparison with metabolic imaging
      was made, FDG uptake was 46% of the uptake in a reference region with normal wall
      motion. CONCLUSIONS: These data showed that contractile recovery occurred only in
      segments where PTI was > or = 0.7, suggesting that > or = 70% of myocardial
      tissue in a given asynergic segment should be perfusable by water to enable
      contractile recovery. There was good agreement between the PTI and FDG methods
      for predicting improvements in regional wall motion after revascularization.
      Although further studies should be performed in a larger patient group, the
      preliminary results are promising and suggest that PTI may be a good predictor of
      contractile recovery after coronary revascularization.

PMID- 1451246
TI  - Preservation of atrioventricular nodal conduction during radiofrequency current
      catheter ablation of midseptal accessory pathways.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Septal accessory atrioventricular (AV) pathways may be located in
      close vicinity of the His bundle-AV nodal conduction system. Attempts at surgical
      or electrical interruption of these pathways may therefore result in impairment
      of normal AV conduction. This study focuses on a subset of septal pathways with
      an atrial insertion located inside the triangle of Koch. In this study, they were
      called "midseptal." METHODS AND RESULTS: Six patients with a midseptal accessory
      pathway (mean +/- SD age, 40 +/- 12 years; five with Wolff-Parkinson-White
      syndrome and one with a concealed accessory pathway) underwent attempts at
      ablation of their pathway using 500-kHz radiofrequency current applied to the
      atrial insertion of the accessory connection. Guided by the recording of
      accessory pathway activation potentials, the ablation catheter was positioned in
      all patients in an area bounded anteriorly by the tip electrode of the His bundle
      catheter and posteriorly by the coronary sinus ostium. All pathways were
      successfully ablated without the induction of complete heart block. First-degree
      AV conduction block occurred in one patient in whom a concealed accessory
      connection was located closer to the AV node than to the coronary sinus ostium.
      CONCLUSIONS: Radiofrequency current catheter ablation may be used effectively for
      midseptal accessory pathways and should be preferred in experienced centers as a
      safe alternative to surgical therapy.

PMID- 1451247
TI  - Natural history and patterns of recovery of contractile function in single left
      ventricle after Fontan operation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Before the era of the Fontan procedure, the typical course of
      patients with single left ventricle (LV) consisted of heart failure and death
      during the second or third decade of life. Despite the advent of effective
      palliative therapy, ventricular dysfunction remains a significant clinical
      problem for these patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: To investigate the causes of
      ventricular dysfunction in these patients and to determine whether Fontan-type
      repair reverses deterioration of LV function, the ventricular dimensions, volume,
      shape, wall stress, and systolic function were determined by echocardiography in
      84 patients 0.2-35 years old with double-inlet single LV or tricuspid atresia.
      Measurements were obtained in 67 patients after palliation (arterial shunt or
      pulmonary artery band) and in 47 patients a median of 4.4 years after a Glenn (n
      = 9) or a Fontan operation (n = 38). Before a Fontan procedure, ventricular
      volumes were 2 to 3 times normal. Ventricular afterload, assessed as
      circumferential and meridional end-systolic wall stress, became abnormal after 2
      years of age. With age, LV shape changed progressively from ellipsoidal to
      spherical, as indicated by the decrease in long axis:short axis ratio from normal
      (1.9) toward unity. Concomitantly, the ratio of circumferential to meridional end
      systolic wall stress fell from 1.3 to unity, the ratio of a sphere at
      equilibrium. This age-related change in shape and load occurred in concert with
      progressive deterioration of LV systolic function and contractility. Aortic
      oxygen saturation, an indicator of pulmonary blood flow and therefore volume work
      in single-ventricle physiology, was inversely and independently correlated with
      contractility. In the group of patients in whom a Glenn or a Fontan operation was
      performed at < 10 years of age, ventricular dimensions, volumes, and wall stress
      diminished and LV function and contractility improved after surgery (p < 0.001).
      In patients undergoing surgery after 10 years of age, few had improvement of LV
      function after surgery. Postoperative ventricular function and contractility were
      inversely related to age at surgery and to aortic oxygen saturation measured
      before surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although Fontan-type repair of single ventricle
      early in life is associated with reversal of the abnormal contractile mechanics
      associated with age and volume load, this capacity for recovery diminishes with
      age at surgery.

PMID- 1451248
TI  - Effect of baffle fenestration on outcome of the modified Fontan operation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The "fenestrated Fontan" (surgical baffle fenestration followed by
      transcatheter test occlusion and permanent closure after postoperative recovery)
      was adopted in an effort to reduce perioperative mortality and morbidity. This
      study assesses the effect of baffle fenestration on outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS:
      Patients having a modified Fontan operation with a cavocaval baffle and
      cavopulmonary anastomosis were retrospectively selected for study. Those with
      baffle fenestration (n = 91) were compared with those without baffle fenestration
      (n = 56) with respect to preoperative risk factors, age, anatomy, surgical date,
      and presence or absence of a previous bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis.
      Outcome variables were failure (death or take-down) and duration of postoperative
      pleural effusions and hospitalization. Survival and clinical status after
      hospital discharge were ascertained. The two groups did not appear to differ with
      respect to age or anatomic diagnosis. Patients having baffle fenestration were at
      significantly greater preoperative risk by univariate and multivariate analysis
      (p < 0.01). Operative failure was low in both groups (11% without and 7% with
      baffle fenestration, p = NS). Durations of pleural effusions and hospitalization
      were significantly shorter with baffle fenestration (p < 0.01). Neither date of
      surgery nor a previous bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis appeared to
      contribute to improved outcome. Patients with baffle fenestration had lower
      postoperative systemic venous pressure (p < 0.01). There were no late deaths.
      Functional status in both groups is good (82% in New York Heart Association class
      I). CONCLUSIONS: Baffle fenestration is associated with low mortality,
      significantly less pleural effusion, and significantly shorter hospitalization
      among high-risk patients having a modified Fontan operation.

PMID- 1451249
TI  - Effects of pacing tachycardia and balloon valvuloplasty on pulmonary artery
      impedance and hydraulic power in mitral stenosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Mitral stenosis is characterized by progressive pulmonary
      hypertension and eventual right ventricular failure. However, the correlation
      between right ventricular failure and the level of pulmonary hypertension is
      poor, suggesting that factors other than those recognized from nonpulsatile
      hemodynamic parameters may contribute to impaired right ventricular performance
      in this condition. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 16 patients with severe mitral
      stenosis (mean valve area, 1.0 +/- 0.2 cm2) at supine rest and during pacing
      tachycardia using high-fidelity catheter recordings of pulmonary artery (PA)
      pressure and flow velocity. Pulmonary impedance spectra, wave reflection
      properties, and hydraulic power data were derived from Fourier analysis of signal
      averaged data. Pacing tachycardia (baseline heart rate, 81 +/- 11 beats per
      minute; pacing, 132 +/- 11 beats per minute) significantly raised pulmonary wedge
      and mean PA pressures. There was no change in pulmonary vascular resistance (209
      +/- 144 to 232 +/- 164 dyne-sec/cm5) or PA characteristic impedance (62 +/- 25 to
      55 +/- 28 dyne-sec/cm5). However, first harmonic impedance (Z1) significantly
      decreased (134 +/- 71 to 100 +/- 68 dyne-sec/cm5; p < 0.001). Accordingly,
      oscillatory and total dissipated hydraulic power per unit forward flow (WT/CO)
      fell during tachycardia (2.6 +/- 1.6 to 2.3 +/- 1.4 mW/ml.sec-1; p = 0.06)
      despite acute pulmonary hypertension. Reflected pressure waves returned earlier
      to the proximal PA, suggesting increased vessel stiffness. Immediately after
      percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBV) in eight of the patients,
      baseline and pacing data were again recorded. Compared with the pre-PBV baseline
      state, post-PBV resting data demonstrated no change in resistance or
      characteristic impedance, but there was a significant fall in Z1 (166 +/- 75 to
      103 +/- 45 dyne-sec/cm5; p < 0.05) and in the magnitude of pulmonary wave
      reflections. WT/CO tended to decrease after PBV, and pacing after PBV produced a
      further decrease in WT/CO, again in association with lower Z1. CONCLUSIONS: These
      data demonstrate that 1) increased pulmonary characteristic impedance, although a
      feature of mitral stenosis, is not exacerbated by the acute effects of increased
      distending pressure; 2) pacing tachycardia in mitral stenosis causes little
      change in the pulmonary impedance spectrum except at low frequencies, where
      decreased impedance lowers power requirements per unit flow; and 3) relief of
      mitral stenosis produces immediate improvement in low-frequency impedance and in
      hydraulic power requirements. These findings suggest that although characteristic
      impedance may be a measure of the long-term effects of pulmonary hypertension on
      the pulmonary circulation, acute increases and decreases in PA pressure produce
      effects on right ventricular load that are best described in terms of the low
      frequency properties of the PA system. Improvement in low-frequency impedance
      diminishes hydraulic power requirements and thus reflects improved ventricular
      vascular coupling, irrespective of distending PA pressure. Efforts to treat or
      prevent right heart failure in the presence of pulmonary hypertension should take
      account of the potential benefit of changes in low-frequency impedance
      characteristics of the pulmonary vascular bed.

PMID- 1451250
TI  - Multivariate genetic analysis of blood pressure and body size. The Medical
      College of Virginia Twin Study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In subjects of all ages, those who weigh the most often have the
      highest blood pressure. Thus, in epidemiological studies, weight is the most
      important correlate of blood pressure. Using the data from the Medical College of
      Virginia Twin Study, we asked these questions: 1) Do the same genetic paths that
      regulate body size also regulate systolic and diastolic blood pressure? 2) Are
      there distinct genetic pathways that regulate each of these variables? 3) Does
      environment play a major regulatory role? 4) Are the correlations among these
      variables mainly due to genetic or environmental effects? 5) Do genetic paths
      that regulate body size mediate the correlation between systolic blood pressure
      and diastolic blood pressure? METHODS AND RESULTS: We ascertained 253 Caucasian
      twin pairs living in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The average age was 11.2 +/-
      0.2 years. We used multivariate path analyses to investigate the genetic
      relations among systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and body size.
      We found that there was a highly significant genetic relation between systolic
      blood pressure and body size and between systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
      There are genetic paths that are shared within these two sets of variables, but
      in each case, the paths for each pair appear to be separate from one another.
      CONCLUSIONS: These analyses provide a method to partition correlation
      coefficients found in epidemiological studies into genetic and environmental
      components. The correlations found among these three variables are in large part
      due to these genetic relations. We found no genetic relation between diastolic
      blood pressure and body size.

PMID- 1451251
TI  - Augmented forearm vasoconstriction during dynamic exercise in healthy older men.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We tested the hypothesis that the nonactive limb vasoconstriction
      evoked during large-muscle dynamic exercise becomes augmented with aging in
      humans. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixteen young control subjects (age, 26 +/- 1 year)
      and twelve older (65 +/- 1 year) healthy men with similar chronic physical
      activity levels were studied during supine leg cycling exercise. Both peak work
      load (1,100 +/- 60 versus 1,400 +/- 40 kpm/min) and peak O2 uptake (1.85 +/- 0.10
      versus 2.38 +/- 0.07 l/min) were lower in the older men (p < 0.05). There were no
      differences in the two groups under conditions of quiet supine (basal) rest.
      During cycling for 5 minutes each at mild, moderate, and heavy submaximal
      intensities (approximately 45%, 65%, and 85% of peak O2 uptake), the increases in
      arterial blood pressure generally were similar in the young and older subjects;
      however, heart rate rose less in the older men (p < 0.05). Whole forearm blood
      flow (venous occlusion plethysmography) was lower and vascular resistance was
      higher (approximately 55-90%) in the older men at all loads (p < 0.05), but the
      steady-state forearm skin blood flow responses (laser Doppler velocimetry) were
      not different in the two groups. The increases in antecubital venous
      norepinephrine concentrations were greater in the older men at each work load (p
      < 0.05), although the plasma epinephrine responses were similar in the two
      groups. In other studies, 1) peak whole forearm reactive hyperemia and vascular
      conductance after sustained circulatory arrest (ischemia) were slightly
      (approximately 20%) but not significantly lower in the older men and 2) the
      forearm vasoconstrictor and plasma norepinephrine responses to a nonexercise
      sympathoexcitatory stimulus (limb immersion in ice water) tended to be blunted in
      the older men. CONCLUSIONS: During brief, submaximal, large-muscle dynamic
      exercise, healthy older men demonstrate augmented forearm vasoconstriction that
      is probably caused by greater constriction of skeletal muscle resistance vessels;
      this appears to be mediated, at least in part, by increased sympathetic outflow.
      These altered sympathetic vasoconstrictor adjustments do not represent a
      nonspecific hyperresponsiveness to acute stress with human aging. Finally, the
      regulation of arterial blood pressure appears to be normal in these healthy older
      men.

PMID- 1451252
TI  - Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition restores cardiac and hormonal responses
      to volume overload in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and mild heart
      failure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition exerts a favorable
      effect on the response to exercise in heart failure. This study was planned to
      define the influence of ACE inhibition on the adaptation to volume overload.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied the hemodynamic, hormonal, and renal responses to
      acute volume expansion (sodium chloride, 0.9%, 0.25 ml.kg-1.min-1 for 2 hours) in
      patients with idiopathic or ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and mild heart
      failure (New York Heart Association class I or II, ejection fraction < or = 50%).
      The patients were studied without any pretreatment (n = 14) or after 1 week of
      treatment with the oral ACE inhibitor quinapril at a dosage of 10 mg/day (n =
      11). Seven patients were studied during constant intravenous infusion with
      nitroglycerin (0.1 micrograms.kg-1.min-1). The study groups had similar
      hemodynamic and clinical characteristics and hormonal profile at baseline
      evaluation. In the untreated patients, volume expansion did not increase left
      ventricular end-diastolic volume measured by echocardiography and was associated
      with a reduction in ejection fraction (p < 0.05) and with a paradoxical increase
      in forearm vascular resistance (p < 0.05) estimated by plethysmography. In
      addition, plasma atrial natriuretic factor did not change, and plasma
      norepinephrine was increased by saline loading. In contrast, in the patients
      treated with quinapril, volume expansion induced an increase of both left
      ventricular volumes (p < 0.001) without changing ejection fraction and reduced
      forearm vascular resistance (p < 0.05). In addition, in this group, plasma atrial
      natriuretic factor levels increased (p < 0.05) and plasma norepinephrine did not
      change during volume overload. During nitroglycerin infusion, volume expansion
      was associated with peripheral vasodilatation, increases of left ventricular
      volumes, and no change in ejection fraction. In this group, however, plasma
      atrial natriuretic factor levels did not change in response to volume overload.
      CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that pretreatment with the ACE inhibitor quinapril
      significantly improves compromised responses to acute isotonic volume overload in
      patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and mild heart failure. The favorable
      influence of ACE inhibition on cardiovascular and hormonal responses to volume
      expansion seems to be related to the cardiac unloading produced by this
      treatment.

PMID- 1451253
TI  - 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy in dilated cardiomyopathy and coronary artery
      disease. Altered cardiac high-energy phosphate metabolism in heart failure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this work was to further define the value of cardiac
      31P magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy for patients with coronary artery
      disease and dilated cardiomyopathy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Blood-corrected and T1
      corrected 31P MR spectra of anteroseptal myocardium were obtained at rest using
      image-selected in vivo spectroscopy localization, a selected volume of 85 +/- 12
      cm3, and a field strength of 1.5 T. Nineteen volunteers had a creatine phosphate
      (CP)/ATP ratio of 1.95 +/- 0.45 (mean +/- SD) and a PDE/ATP ratio of 1.06 +/-
      0.53; in four patients with left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD)
      stenosis, six patients with chronic anterior wall infarction, and four patients
      with chronic posterior wall infarction, CP/ATP and phosphodiester (PDE)/ATP
      ratios did not differ from those in volunteers. Twenty-five measurements of 19
      patients with dilated cardiomyopathy yielded a CP/ATP of 1.78 +/- 0.51 and a
      PDE/ATP of 0.98 +/- 0.56 (p = NS versus volunteers). When these patients were
      grouped according to the severity of heart failure, however, CP/ATP was 1.94 +/-
      0.43 in mild (p = NS versus volunteers) and 1.44 +/- 0.52 in severe DCM (p <
      0.05), respectively. No correlation was found between CP/ATP and left ventricular
      ejection fraction or fractional shortening, but correlation of CP/ATP with the
      New York Heart Association (NYHA) class was significant (r = 0.60, p < 0.005).
      Six patients with dilated cardiomyopathy were studied repeatedly before and after
      12 +/- 6 weeks of drug treatment leading to clinical recompensation with
      improvement of the NYHA status by 0.8 +/- 0.3 classes. Concomitantly, CP/ATP
      increased from 1.51 +/- 0.32 to 2.15 +/- 0.27 (p < 0.01), whereas PDE/ATP did not
      change significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac high-energy phosphate metabolism at
      rest is normal in LAD stenosis and chronic myocardial infarction in the absence
      of heart failure. The CP/ATP ratio has low specificity for the diagnosis of
      dilated cardiomyopathy. However, CP/ATP correlated with the clinical severity of
      heart failure and may improve during clinical recompensation.

PMID- 1451254
TI  - Cross-bridge dynamics in human ventricular myocardium. Regulation of
      contractility in the failing heart.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To investigate whether altered cross-bridge kinetics contribute to
      the contractile abnormalities observed in heart failure, we determined the
      mechanical properties of cardiac muscles from control and myopathic hearts.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: Muscle fibers from normal (n = 5) and dilated cardiomyopathy
      (n = 6) hearts were obtained and chemically skinned with saponin. The muscles
      were then maximally activated at saturating calcium concentrations. Unloaded
      shortening velocities (V0) were determined in both groups. V0 in control was 0.72
      +/- 0.09 Lmax/sec, whereas in myopathic muscles, V0 was 0.41 +/- 0.06 Lmax/sec at
      22 degrees C. The muscles were also sinusoidally oscillated at frequencies
      ranging between 0.01 and 100 Hz. The dynamic stiffness of the muscles was
      calculated from the ratio of force response amplitude to length oscillation
      amplitude. At low frequencies (< 0.2 Hz) the stiffness was constant but was
      larger in myopathic muscles. In the range of 0.2-1 Hz, there was a drop in the
      magnitude of dynamic stiffness to approximately one quarter of the low-frequency
      baseline. This range reflects cross-bridge turnover kinetics. In control muscles,
      the frequency of minimum stiffness was 0.78 +/- 0.06 Hz, whereas it was 0.42 +/-
      0.07 Hz in myopathic muscles. At higher frequencies, the dynamic stiffness
      increased and reached a plateau at 30 Hz. There were no differences in the
      plateau reached between control and myopathic muscles. CONCLUSIONS: Because
      myopathic hearts have a markedly diminished energy reserve, the slowing of the
      cross-bridge cycling rate plays an important adaptational role in the observed
      contractility changes in human heart failure. Although the potential to generate
      maximal Ca(2+)-activated force is similar in normal and myopathic hearts,
      alterations in contractile protein composition could explain the diminished cross
      bridge cycling rate in failing hearts.

PMID- 1451255
TI  - The importance of acute luminal diameter in determining restenosis after coronary
      atherectomy or stenting.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We evaluated native coronary arteries treated by directional coronary
      atherectomy or balloon-expandable stent placement in an effort to derive a
      quantitative geometric model relating the luminal diameter immediately after
      intervention to that present 6 months later. The minimal luminal diameter of each
      lesion was measured before and immediately after intervention in 102 single
      Palmaz-Schatz stents and 134 directional atherectomies, 192 (81%) of which had
      repeat angiographic measurement of minimal luminal diameter 6 months after the
      intervention. The immediate enlargement in luminal diameter produced by the
      intervention (acute gain) and the subsequent reduction in luminal diameter from
      the time of intervention to 6 months of follow-up (late loss) were calculated.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: Luminal diameter increased from 0.69 +/- 0.40 mm to 3.11 +/-
      0.64 mm (acute gain, 2.41 +/- 0.64 mm) after intervention, providing an immediate
      postprocedure residual stenosis of 1 +/- 14% relative to a reference diameter of
      3.13 +/- 0.65 mm. At 6-month follow-up, the late luminal diameter was 1.97 +/-
      0.92 mm (late loss, 1.13 +/- 0.89 mm), yielding a late diameter stenosis of 36 +/
      26%. The restenosis rate (according to the traditional definition of diameter
      stenosis > or = 50%) was 30%. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that late
      luminal diameter (p = 0.02), late percent stenosis (p = 0.04), and restenosis
      (according to a > 50% definition, p = 0.04) were each strongly associated with
      the luminal diameter present immediately after the procedure. Whereas late
      luminal diameter was also influenced by reference artery size and the vessel
      treated (left anterior descending versus right coronary artery), reference vessel
      size was rejected by the multivariable models of late percent stenosis and binary
      restenosis after they were adjusted for the effect of postprocedure luminal
      diameter. Once adjusted for postprocedure luminal diameter, neither late luminal
      diameter nor late loss was found to be independently determined by which device
      was used (atherectomy versus stents). Rather, late loss was determined
      independently by the immediate postprocedure luminal diameter (p = 0.005) and the
      postprocedure percent stenosis (p = 0.02). Although late loss thus increased with
      acute gain, the net beneficial effect of increased acute gain was maintained:
      Late loss was only a fraction (0.47) of acute gain, so the ability of a larger
      postprocedure luminal diameter to reduce the probability of subsequent restenosis
      was preserved. CONCLUSIONS: This quantitative model demonstrates that the late
      coronary lumen diameter and the probability of restenosis after Palmaz-Schatz
      stenting or directional atherectomy are influenced strongly by the lumen diameter
      present immediately after the procedure rather than by the specific device used.
      Although the influence of a larger acute result on reduced restenosis appears to
      be well established in this treatment population, the interplay among the
      multiple other biological influences on restenosis limits the ability to predict
      the probability of restenosis for the individual patient based on a large acute
      result alone. Future studies of restenosis, however, can further refine this
      multivariable quantitative model by adjusting for the effects of other clinical
      variables, mechanical interventions, or drug therapies in addition to the clear
      effect of postprocedure luminal diameter.

PMID- 1451256
TI  - Restenosis after placement of Palmaz-Schatz stents in native coronary arteries.
      Initial results of a multicenter experience.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several metallic intracoronary stents are currently undergoing
      preliminary evaluation to ascertain potential benefit as means to reduce the 30
      40% incidence of restenosis after balloon angioplasty. METHODS AND RESULTS: To
      determine the incidence and correlates of restenosis after placement of Palmaz
      Schatz stents in native coronary arteries in the first group of patients selected
      for this procedure, clinical and quantitative angiographic data from 206
      consecutive patients (221 stenoses) with successful stent placement (diameter
      stenosis < 50%) were analyzed. Six patients (2.9%) had thrombosis-mediated stent
      closure within 1 month after stent placement and were excluded from long-term
      angiographic follow-up. One hundred eighty-one (91%) of the remaining 200
      patients had angiography at 5.8 +/- 2.1 months. Patients with and without follow
      up did not differ in any baseline characteristic; in particular, history of
      restenosis at the site stented (73% versus 65%), placement of multiple
      overlapping stents (17% versus 20%), and mean poststent diameter stenosis (16 +/-
      12% versus 14 +/- 12%). The overall incidence of restenosis (diameter stenosis >
      or = 50% at follow-up) in this group at high risk for restenosis was 36% (95%
      confidence interval, 29-43%) on a per-stenosis basis. The incidence of restenosis
      when a single stent was placed was 30% (95% confidence interval, 23-37%). Risk
      was dependent upon a history of restenosis (present versus absent 36% versus 16%,
      p = 0.02) and upon whether or not a poststent stenosis < or = 0% was achieved (6%
      versus 33%, p = 0.02). When multiple overlapping stents were placed, restenosis
      occurred at 64% of sites, and placement of multiple stents was discouraged during
      the later phases of this study as these results became apparent. CONCLUSIONS:
      Although multiple stents appear to yield a poor long-term result, placement of
      single stents may offer a benefit compared with standard coronary angioplasty,
      particularly if an excellent angiographic result can be obtained in patients
      without prior restenosis. Further randomized trials in such patients are needed.

PMID- 1451257
TI  - How does angioplasty work? Serial analysis of human iliac arteries using
      intravascular ultrasound.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous studies regarding the mechanism by which balloon angioplasty
      increases luminal patency have generally used animal models or postmortem
      specimens from occasional fatal cases of angioplasty performed in human patients.
      In either case, conclusions regarding participatory mechanisms have relied
      exclusively on nonserial, postangioplasty histopathological examination. METHODS
      AND RESULTS: In the present study, intravascular ultrasound examination was
      performed before and after balloon angioplasty in 40 consecutive patients with
      iliac artery stenoses. The areas of the arterial wall, plaque, lumen, and areas
      resulting from angioplasty-induced plaque fractures were measured immediately
      after angioplasty in vivo and compared with findings recorded immediately before
      angioplasty. Angioplasty increased luminal cross-sectional area (CSA) from 11.5
      +/- 0.6 mm2 before angioplasty to 25.4 +/- 1.2 mm2 after angioplasty (p =
      0.0001). CSA of the portion of the postangioplasty neolumen contained within
      angioplasty-induced plaque fractures measured 10.0 +/- 0.8 mm2; the neolumen
      excluding the area contributed by these plaque fractures measured 15.4 +/- 0.8
      mm2. Thus, the area contained within plaque fractures accounted for 10.0 mm2
      (71.9%) of the 13.9-mm2 increase in luminal CSA after angioplasty. Analysis of
      CSA occupied by atherosclerotic plaque disclosed that plaque CSA decreased from
      33.8 +/- 1.8 mm2 before angioplasty to 22.5 +/- 1.5 mm2 after angioplasty (p =
      0.0001). Plaque CSA was thus reduced ("compressed") by 11.3 +/- 1.1 mm2. Total
      artery CSA increased ("stretched") slightly from 45.3 +/- 2.6 mm2 before
      angioplasty to 47.8 +/- 2.0 mm2 after angioplasty (p = 0.0025). CONCLUSIONS: In
      vivo analysis of iliac stenoses by intravascular ultrasound immediately before
      and after angioplasty demonstrates that plaque fractures and "compression" of
      atherosclerotic plaque are the principal factors responsible for increased
      luminal patency resulting from balloon angioplasty. "Stretching" of the arterial
      wall provides an additional, but minor, contribution.

PMID- 1451258
TI  - Endothelial dysfunction in patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A subgroup of patients with chest pain and angiographically normal
      epicardial coronary arteries have reduced dilator response to metabolic or
      pharmacological stimuli, but the mechanisms responsible for this reduced dilator
      response are unknown. In this study, we have investigated whether microvascular
      endothelial dysfunction is a cause of the observed reduced vasodilator reserve.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: The functional response of the microvasculature was studied
      with rapid atrial pacing at 150 beats per minute. Fifty-one patients, 20
      hypertensive and 31 normotensive, with chest pain and normal epicardial coronary
      arteries (< 10% stenosis) were studied. Endothelial function was tested with
      incremental infusions of acetylcholine to achieve estimated intracoronary
      concentrations ranging from 10(-7) M to 10(-5) M. Endothelium-independent smooth
      muscle vasomotion was measured using intracoronary sodium nitroprusside.
      Endothelial dysfunction of epicardial coronary arteries, demonstrated as severe
      (> 50%) constriction with < 10(-5) M acetylcholine concentration, was evident in
      five patients (10%). In the remaining 46 patients, coronary blood flow increased
      with acetylcholine (mean, 78 +/- 43%) and atrial pacing (mean, 51 +/- 37%), and
      coronary vascular resistance decreased by 35 +/- 16% and 29 +/- 14%,
      respectively, but the responses were heterogeneous. There was a correlation
      between the coronary resistance change with acetylcholine and the change with
      atrial pacing: r = 0.68, p < 0.001 in these 46 patients. Thus, patients with
      depressed dilation with atrial pacing had reduced endothelium-dependent dilation
      with acetylcholine, and vice versa. However, the microvascular dilation caused by
      sodium nitroprusside was not significantly different between patients with and
      those without reduced dilation with atrial pacing, indicating that the
      vasodilator defect was not caused by smooth muscle dysfunction. There were no
      differences in the vasodilator responses with atrial pacing, acetylcholine, or
      nitroprusside between normotensive and hypertensive patients. Multivariate
      regression analysis was performed to determine whether age, sex, serum
      cholesterol level, hypertension, presence of mild epicardial vessel
      atherosclerosis, resting left ventricular function, change in left ventricular
      ejection fraction with exercise, vasodilation with acetylcholine, and
      vasodilation with sodium nitroprusside were independently related to the
      vasodilator response to atrial pacing. Only the change in coronary vascular
      resistance with acetylcholine was independently correlated with the change in
      resistance with atrial pacing: R2 = 0.46, p < 0.0001. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with
      chest pain, normal epicardial coronary arteries, and reduced vasodilation in
      response to atrial pacing appear to have associated endothelial dysfunction of
      the coronary microvasculature. Thus, microvascular endothelial dysfunction may
      contribute to the reduced vasodilator reserve with atrial pacing and anginal
      chest pain in these patients.

PMID- 1451259
TI  - Reentrant and focal mechanisms underlying ventricular tachycardia in the human
      heart.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To determine the mechanisms of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in
      humans, three-dimensional intraoperative mapping of up to 156 intramural sites
      was performed in 13 patients with healed myocardial infarction and refractory VT.
      METHODS AND RESULTS: Mapping was of sufficient density to define the mechanism of
      10 VTs in eight patients. In five of 10 cases, sustained VT was initiated in the
      subendocardium or epicardium by intramural reentry with marked conduction delay
      as well as functional and anatomic block most prominent in the subendocardium and
      midmyocardium. The initiating beats of reentrant VT induced by programmed
      electrical stimulation arose in the endocardium or midmyocardium by progressive
      slowing of conduction leading to unidirectional block. Multiple simultaneous
      reentrant circuits can be present. In contrast, five of the 10 sustained VTs were
      initiated by a focal mechanism as defined by the absence of electrical activity
      between the termination of one beat and the initiation of the next despite the
      presence of multiple intervening intramural electrode recording sites.
      Comparisons of the mapping data with results of histopathological analysis of
      tissue demonstrated that the location of infarction as well as that of adjacent
      fibrotic muscle determined sites of both fixed and functional conduction block
      during macroreentrant VT and that slowing of conduction occurred in a direction
      transverse rather than longitudinal to fiber orientation. CONCLUSIONS: Both
      intramural reentry and a focal mechanism underlie sustained VT in patients with
      healed myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1451260
TI  - Contribution of myocardium responsible for ventricular tachycardia to
      abnormalities detected by analysis of signal-averaged ECGs.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Current methods of signal-averaged ECG analysis interrogate the
      terminal 40 msec of the QRS complex and/or the ST segment and have a low positive
      predictive accuracy for detecting vulnerability to sustained ventricular
      tachycardia (VT). The extent to which abnormalities detected during these ECG
      intervals are generated by myocardial tissue responsible for VT has not been well
      defined. The purpose of this study was to determine when, during sinus rhythm,
      myocardium responsible for VT is activated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three
      dimensional ventricular activation maps were analyzed during sinus rhythm and
      during 10 VTs in eight patients with healed myocardial infarctions undergoing
      arrhythmia surgery for sustained monomorphic VT. The mechanism of VT was focal in
      five instances and macroreentrant in five. During sinus beats, myocardium
      responsible for all focal VTs activated 43 +/- 38 msec before the onset of the
      terminal 40-msec interval of the QRS complex. During sinus rhythm, activation of
      the myocardium critical to macroreentrant VT began 72 +/- 13 msec before the
      onset of the terminal QRS interval and in only three instances extended 2-25 msec
      into the terminal 40 msec of the QRS complex. Electrograms recorded during the ST
      segment represented late activation of epicardial sites overlying zones of
      infarction that were temporally and spatially remote from tissue critical to VT.
      CONCLUSIONS: Current methods of signal-averaged ECG analysis limiting
      interrogation to the terminal QRS/ST segment exclude detection of > 95% of the
      signals generated by myocardium responsible for sustained VT. These results
      establish a pathophysiological basis for expanding signal-averaged ECG analysis
      to include more of the cardiac cycle.

PMID- 1451261
TI  - Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale after presumed paradoxical
      embolism.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many have proposed a relation between presence of a patent foramen
      ovale, with or without atrial septal aneurysm, and cryptogenic stroke. The effect
      of foramen ovale closure on the risk for subsequent strokes is unknown. METHODS
      AND RESULTS: Transcatheter closure of a patent foramen ovale was undertaken in 36
      patients with known right-to-left atrial shunting and presumed paradoxical emboli
      (31 strokes, 25 transient neurological events, four systemic arterial emboli, and
      two brain abscesses). Individual patients had between one and four such events.
      None had a left heart or carotid source of embolism; 31 of 35 had no known risk
      factors for stroke. Events occurred in 12 patients while they were taking
      warfarin. At cardiac catheterization, patent foramina ovalia were significantly
      larger than predicted for age in 67% of the patients. Implantation of a double
      umbrella device in the patent foramen ovale was achieved in all without serious
      procedural complications. Of 34 who have returned for follow-up, one has a
      residual atrial communication that may be clinically important, five had trivial
      leaks, and 28 have complete closure. There have been no strokes during a mean
      follow-up of 8.4 months. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter closure of a patent foramen
      ovale can be accomplished with little morbidity and may reduce the risk of
      recurrence. Further investigations directed toward identifying the population at
      risk and assessing the effect of intervention are warranted.

PMID- 1451262
TI  - Parallel cardiac and vascular adaptation in hypertension.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although vascular damage in the noncoronary circulation is a major
      cause of complications in hypertension, relatively little is known of the in vivo
      geometry and function of the arterial circulation in patients with uncomplicated
      hypertension or of their relation to left ventricular hypertrophy, a marker of
      enhanced risk of cardiovascular complications. METHODS AND RESULTS: Wall
      thickness and internal diameter of the common carotid artery and the presence of
      atherosclerosis within the extracranial carotid arteries were determined by
      ultrasound in 43 asymptomatic hypertensive patients and 43 normotensive subjects
      matched for sex, age, and body size. Vascular stiffness was estimated from
      simultaneous superimposed carotid pressure waveforms obtained with an external
      solid-state transducer. Left ventricular size and function were determined
      echocardiographically. Compared with normal subjects, hypertensive patients had
      greater left ventricular absolute and relative wall thicknesses, left ventricular
      mass, and carotid absolute and relative wall thicknesses (p < 0.005). Carotid
      intimal-medial thickness exceeded the 95th percentile of normal values in 28% of
      hypertensive patients (p < 0.01). Carotid atherosclerosis was equally prevalent
      within the two blood pressure groups and was associated with older age, larger
      left ventricular and carotid wall thicknesses, and carotid diameter. Despite
      similar carotid pulse pressures, vascular stiffness was significantly increased
      in the hypertensive patients. Among the population as a whole, significant
      relations existed between cardiac and vascular wall thicknesses and internal
      dimensions. In multivariate analyses, these relations were statistically
      independent of age and blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: The present study documents
      the presence of geometric and functional changes within the common carotid artery
      in uncomplicated hypertension that parallel findings within the left ventricle.
      The potential contribution of these changes to the cardiovascular complications
      of hypertension, particularly in the setting of left ventricular hypertrophy, is
      unknown.

PMID- 1451263
TI  - Evaluation of left ventricular segmental wall motion in hypertrophic
      cardiomyopathy with myocardial tagging.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Segmental wall motion was assessed noninvasively in eight patients
      with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and six healthy volunteers by magnetic resonance
      myocardial tagging. METHODS AND RESULTS: Localization scans were performed for
      determination of the true short-axis views of the left ventricle (double
      angulated view). Spatial modulation of magnetization was used to produce a
      rectangular grid of landmarks. Distortion of the grid was assessed at end
      diastole, mid systole, and end systole with multiphase gradient echoes. Image
      sets were acquired at three different planes, namely, the base, the equator, and
      the apex. Quantitative evaluation was carried out by computer-assisted image
      analysis. Each individual grid crossing point was identified automatically and
      the displacement calculated. A polar coordinate system with the center of gravity
      as motion reference point was chosen to assess fractional rotation and radial
      displacement at the endocardial, midwall, and epicardial layers of the septal,
      anterior, posterior, and inferior regions. A wringing motion of the left
      ventricle with a clockwise rotation of 5.0 +/- 2.4 degrees at the base and a
      counterclockwise rotation of -9.6 +/- 2.9 degrees at the apex was observed in
      control subjects. An equal rotation of 5.0 +/- 2.5 degrees at the base and a
      slightly reduced rotation of -7.3 +/- 5.2 degrees at the apex was found in
      patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. A transmural gradient in fractional
      rotation and radial displacement was observed, with the highest values in the
      endocardial layer. Rotation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was
      significantly less than in normal volunteers in the posterior region of the
      equatorial and apical planes. Furthermore, radial displacement was significantly
      reduced in the septum and inferior wall. In the anterior and posterior wall
      segments, a reduction of the radial displacement was observed only in the
      epicardium and midwall layers. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance myocardial tagging
      allows the noninvasive assessment of regional wall motion. Both in normal
      volunteers and in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathies, cardiac motion
      occurs in a complex mode, with the base and the apex rotating in opposite
      directions and the equatorial plane as a transitional zone (wringing motion). A
      reduced cardiac rotation can be observed in patients with hypertrophic
      cardiomyopathy mainly in the posterior region, whereas a reduced radial
      displacement is found in the inferior septal zone.

PMID- 1451264
TI  - Control of sympathetic nerve activity by vagal mechanoreflexes is blunted in
      heart failure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous studies have documented abnormalities of arterial
      baroreflexes in animals and patients with congestive heart failure. This study
      determined whether cardiopulmonary reflex control of sympathetic nerve activity
      was abnormal in a canine model of low-output heart failure induced by rapid
      ventricular pacing. METHODS AND RESULTS: We stimulated mechanoreceptors
      throughout the cardiopulmonary region by volume expansion and left atrial
      mechanoreceptors selectively by inflating small balloons at the junctions of the
      pulmonary veins and left atrium. Responses of renal sympathetic nerve activity
      and left atrial and systemic arterial pressures were recorded. In the control
      group, 15% volume expansion raised left atrial pressure 3.5 +/- 0.8 mm Hg and
      resulted in a 70 +/- 8% reduction in renal nerve activity. In the heart failure
      group, 15% volume expansion resulted in a 6.8 +/- 3.0 mm Hg rise in left atrial
      pressure with only a 16 +/- 20% reduction in renal nerve activity (p < 0.01).
      When volume expansion was performed after pretreatment with hemorrhage to lower
      left atrial pressure to the normal range in the heart failure group, the markedly
      attenuated response in the heart failure group persisted. After vagotomy, volume
      expansion elicited no change in renal nerve activity. Inflation of the atrial
      balloons caused a 28 +/- 9% reduction in renal sympathetic nerve activity and a
      13 +/- 4 mm Hg decrease in arterial pressure in the control group. Renal nerve
      activity (-5 +/- 3%) and mean arterial pressure (-1 +/- 1 mm Hg) did not change
      with balloon inflation in the heart failure group. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that
      dogs with low-output heart failure exhibit marked attenuation of cardiopulmonary
      mechanoreflex control of sympathetic nerve activity. This attenuated response is
      mediated via cardiac vagal afferent fibers and is due to either abnormalities in
      cardiopulmonary baroreceptors or abnormalities in the central nervous system.

PMID- 1451265
TI  - Myocardial cell hypertrophy after myocardial infarction with reperfusion in dogs.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The potential role of myocardial cell hypertrophy in the ischemic
      zone in the mechanism of late recovery of regional contractile function after
      myocardial infarction followed by reperfusion has not been examined. METHODS AND
      RESULTS: Eight chronically instrumented, conscious dogs were subjected to 90-120
      minutes of circumflex coronary artery occlusion followed by reperfusion. The
      thickness and function of the anterior (AT) and posterior (PT) walls was measured
      by ultrasonic gauges at control, during occlusion, and after reperfusion. After 3
      weeks, cross-sectional areas of surviving cells were determined from
      subepicardial (epi), midwall (mid), and subendocardial (endo) regions in six dogs
      and compared with those from six animals without infarction, including three sham
      operated control dogs. PT systolic wall thickening showed dyskinesia during
      occlusion but recovered after reperfusion to 48% of control at 1 week and 67% at
      3 weeks. End-diastolic thickness of the PT wall increased markedly after
      reperfusion, but AT and PT walls were only slightly thicker (p = NS) than in
      control dogs at 3 weeks. Cross-sectional areas of reperfused dogs in the infarct
      region averaged 279 (PTepi), 291 (PTmid), and 317 microns 2 (PTendo) and were
      significantly larger than in control animals (237 [PTepi], 241 [PTmid], and 233
      microns 2 [PTendo]). PT cell areas were significantly larger than AT cells, ENDO
      cell areas were larger than EPI cells (both p < 0.05), and ENDO cells of the AT
      wall were larger than those of noninfarcted dogs (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In dogs
      with myocardial infarction followed by reperfusion, the cross-sectional areas of
      cells in the infarcted PT wall were larger than those in the noninfarcted AT
      wall, and within both the infarcted and noninfarcted zones, cell areas were
      larger in the endocardial than the epicardial region. In all regions of the
      infarcted wall and in the ENDO region of the noninfarcted wall, cell areas were
      generally larger than those of control dogs without infarction, and the control
      dogs showed no transmural differences in cell areas. The mechanisms responsible
      for this significant remodeling of the reperfused infarcted zone, which involves
      myocardial cellular hypertrophy, are unknown, but it is possible that hypertrophy
      of surviving regions of the infarcted wall played a role in the late recovery of
      regional function that accompanied this hypertrophic response.

PMID- 1451266
TI  - Effects of calcium and EMD-53998 on oxygen consumption in isolated canine hearts.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Most positive inotropic agents increase cardiac contractility by
      increasing the amount of Ca2+ cycled with each beat. The additional amount of
      oxygen that is consumed by the heart to cycle this additional Ca2+ is believed to
      reduce myocardial efficiency. On the other hand, it has been suggested that the
      agent EMD-53998 increases the Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile proteins
      without affecting the intracellular Ca2+ transient in cardiac muscle. Therefore,
      application of this agent may increase cardiac contractility without decreasing
      myocardial efficiency. The purpose of the present study was to test this
      hypothesis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2)
      in six isolated, isovolumically beating blood-perfused canine hearts. The hearts
      were paced at 120 beats per minute. Contractility was varied in each heart by
      infusion of either CaCl2 or EMD-53998. With infusion of either agent, MVO2 was a
      linearly proportional function of contractility. No significant difference
      between CaCl2 and EMD-53998 could be detected in the interrelation between
      contractility and MVO2. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the "calcium-sensitizing
      agent" EMD-53998 is a potent positive inotropic agent in the isolated, blood
      perfused canine heart. However, EMD-53998 does not provide an energetic advantage
      over currently used positive inotropic agents.

PMID- 1451267
TI  - Diastolic vibration improves systolic function in cases of incomplete relaxation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Incomplete relaxation of the left ventricle (LV) affects LV filling,
      but the subsequent effect on LV systolic function remains unclear. We attempted
      to improve relaxation by applying oscillatory mechanical perturbation during
      diastole (diastolic vibration) and examined the extent to which systolic function
      improved. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using 10 open-chest canine preparations, pacing
      tachycardia and administration of propranolol were imposed to induce various
      levels of incomplete relaxation. Myocardial length perturbation was induced with
      an oscillator attached to the LV surface (50 Hz, 1-mm amplitude) and was
      restricted to the period from the beginning of isovolumic relaxation to end
      diastole. At resting heart rates, diastolic vibration caused an immediate
      decrease in the time constant (T) of LV pressure fall without any influence on
      heart rate, LV peak systolic pressure (peak LVP), stroke volume (SV), LV peak
      positive dP/dt, and total systemic vascular resistance. With pacing tachycardia,
      diastolic vibration increased both peak LVP and SV at 160 beats per minute
      (before) and 120 beats per minute (after propranolol), simultaneously decreasing
      both T and LV diastolic pressures and increasing end-diastolic segment length.
      The increase in peak LVP and SV caused by diastolic vibration correlated with the
      T/diastolic interval (r = 0.82), the assumed index of severity of incomplete
      relaxation. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that diastolic vibration
      accelerates the LV relaxation rate and that this increased relaxation improves
      systolic function through the Frank-Starling mechanism.

PMID- 1451268
TI  - Myocardial uptake of 111In monoclonal antimyosin Fab in detecting doxorubicin
      cardiotoxicity in rats. Morphological and hemodynamic findings.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The therapeutic value of doxorubicin (DOX) is limited by its
      cardiotoxicity, which is dose dependent. To improve the detection of such
      myocardial damage, this study was designed to determine whether the 111In
      antimyosin antibody Fab could serve as a marker for cardiotoxicity in treated
      versus control rats on the basis of comparative morphological and hemodynamic
      findings. METHODS AND RESULTS: DOX was administered by intravenous injection to
      rats at a dose of 3 mg.kg-1.week-1 for 5 weeks. Three weeks after the final
      injection, an intravenous dose of 111In antimyosin, 740 kBq (20 microCi), was
      administered, and tissue distribution of the radioisotope (percent kilogram dose
      per gram) was assessed in 48 hours. Myocardial uptake of radioactivity by both
      ventricles was more prominent in the DOX-treated rats than in control rats (p <
      0.001). The heart-to-blood and heart-to-lung uptake ratios were markedly higher
      in the treated rats than in controls (p < 0.001). As the severity of the
      myocardial damage increased, there was a progressive increase in myocardial
      uptake. There was a strong correlation between the severity of myocardial damage
      and the ventricular end-diastolic pressure (r = 0.84 and r = 0.83 in the left and
      right ventricles, respectively). On microscopic immunoautoradiography of the DOX
      treated heart, there was a specific immunolocalization of the radiotracer in the
      injured myocytes but no radioactivity in the control myocytes. CONCLUSIONS: 111In
      antimyosin antibody appears to be a useful immunoradiotracer in detecting cardiac
      damage induced by DOX administration and in assessing the severity of
      cardiotoxicity. These data reinforce the clinical observation that myocardial
      imaging using 111In antimyosin Fab is able to provide information to guide the
      course of patients receiving DOX treatment.

PMID- 1451269
TI  - Effects of calcium channel blockers on calcium uptake in rat aortic valve
      allografts.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The life span of human aortic valve allografts is finite, and many
      fail because of cusp rupture or calcification. Subcellular changes occurring in
      aortic valves in response to transplantation include the uptake of calcium. This
      study uses a heterotropic rat aortic valve transplant model to determine whether
      the calcium channel blockers diltiazem and verapamil might attenuate leaflet
      calcification. METHODS AND RESULTS: The 60 rats studied were divided into the
      following groups: 1) control: valves from normal, unoperated F1 generation of
      Lewis and Brown Norway cross (LBNF1) rats; 2) control: valves from syngeneic
      transplant combinations (Lewis/Lewis); 3) control: valves from allogeneic
      transplant combinations (LBNF1/Lewis, donor/recipient); 4) experimental: valves
      from allogeneic strain combinations treated with 30 mg/kg per day diltiazem; 5)
      experimental: valves from allogeneic strain combinations treated with 30 mg/kg
      per day verapamil. Drugs or saline (controls) were administered with osmotic
      pumps placed subcutaneously 2 days before transplantation. Animals were killed 3
      weeks later, and the valves were harvested and prepared for calcium analysis.
      Energy-dispersive x-ray microanalysis was used to measure the calcium in a
      section of one leaflet from each valve studied. Paired t tests showed that
      allograft valves treated with diltiazem or verapamil contained significantly less
      calcium than allograft controls treated with saline (p < 0.001). When all five
      groups were subjected to one-way ANOVA, the valves in the allograft control group
      contained significantly more calcium than all other groups. All other groups were
      not different from each other. CONCLUSIONS: The calcium channel blockers
      verapamil and diltiazem were effective in preventing early calcification that
      occurs in aortic valves after transplantation. Thus, these agents might play a
      role in prolonging the life of human aortic valve allografts.

PMID- 1451270
TI  - Effects of vagal stimulation on cesium-induced early afterdepolarizations and
      ventricular arrhythmias in rabbits.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous evidence has shown that increased sympathetic tone enhances
      the cesium chloride (Cs)-induced early afterdepolarizations (EADs) and
      ventricular tachycardias (VTs). METHODS AND RESULTS: We assessed the effects of
      vagal stimulation on Cs-induced EADs and ventricular arrhythmias in the rabbit
      heart. Monophasic action potentials (MAPs) of the left ventricular endocardium
      were recorded simultaneously with surface ECG. Two protocols were used: 1) While
      in their intrinsic sinus rhythm, 11 rabbits were given three intravenous Cs
      injections (1 mM/kg) 20 minutes apart, and the effects of vagal stimulation on
      the ventricular arrhythmias thus induced were examined. 2) Under constant atrial
      pacing (cycle length, 250 msec), EAD amplitude was measured after Cs injection (1
      mM/kg) without (five rabbits, control group) or with (four rabbits, vagal
      stimulation group) vagal stimulation. We observed the following. 1) Cs produced
      EADs and VTs of polymorphic (PVT) and monomorphic (MVT) types. During PVT, the
      take-off potential of repetitive premature action potentials in MAP recordings
      was about the same as the peak level of EADs, and during MVT, the take-off
      potential was the level of full repolarization. Vagal stimulation suppressed PVT
      but not MVT. Vagal stimulation after spontaneous termination of MVT restarted MVT
      of the same morphology at a rate much slower than the preceding sinus rate. 2)
      EAD amplitude was significantly smaller in the vagal stimulation group than in
      the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that PVT originated from
      triggering by EADs, whereas MVT was of different origin, and that vagal
      stimulation suppressed PVT by decreasing the amplitude of EADs.

PMID- 1451271
TI  - Combination of inhibition of thrombin and blockade of thromboxane A2 synthetase
      and receptors enhances thrombolysis and delays reocclusion in canine coronary
      arteries.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The efficacy of thrombolytic therapy in treating patients with acute
      myocardial infarction is limited by failure to achieve reperfusion in some
      patients, by the prolonged time required to achieve reperfusion, and by
      reocclusion of some coronary arteries. We designed this study to examine the
      effect of combined inhibition of thrombin and thromboxane synthesis and blockade
      of thromboxane A2 receptors in addition to tissue-type plasminogen activator (t
      PA) on thrombolysis and reocclusion in an experimental canine model with coronary
      thrombosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Blood flow velocity in the left anterior
      descending coronary artery (LAD) of 32 anesthetized mongrel dogs was monitored by
      a pulsed Doppler flow probe. Coronary thrombosis was induced by applying
      electrical stimulation to the LAD at the site where an external constrictor was
      used to narrow the artery. Three hours after the formation of occlusive thrombus,
      animals were randomly assigned to receive one of the following: 1) t-PA (80
      micrograms/kg + 8 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 i.v.) and saline; 2) t-PA and hirulog, a
      hirudin-based synthetic peptide and specific thrombin inhibitor (2 mg/kg + 2
      mg.kg-1.hr-1 i.v.); 3) t-PA and ridogrel, a combined thromboxane A2 synthetase
      inhibitor and receptor antagonist (5 mg/kg + 2.5 mg.kg-1.hr-1 i.v.); or 4) t-PA,
      hirulog, and ridogrel. Reperfusion developed in 14% (one of seven) of dogs
      treated with t-PA alone at an average of 86 +/- 4 minutes after treatment, in 78%
      (seven of nine) of dogs treated with t-PA plus hirulog at 53 +/- 11 minutes, in
      13% (one of eight) of dogs treated with t-PA plus ridogrel at 85 +/- 5 minutes,
      and in 88% (seven of eight) of dogs treated with t-PA, hirulog, and ridogrel at
      37 +/- 10 minutes (comparison of the frequency of and the time to reperfusion,
      both p < 0.01). Among the dogs with reestablished coronary blood flow,
      reocclusion developed in the one treated with t-PA alone at 36 minutes after
      reperfusion, in seven of the seven treated with t-PA plus hirulog at 66 +/- 15
      minutes, and in two of the seven treated with t-PA, hirulog, and ridogrel at 151
      +/- 21 minutes (comparison of the frequency of and time to reocclusion, both p <
      0.05). Reocclusion was not detected in the one dog treated with t-PA and ridogrel
      or in the other five dogs treated with t-PA, hirulog, and ridogrel within 180
      minutes after reperfusion. Hirulog prolonged and maintained activated clotting
      times at a level twice that of baseline values. Hirulog inhibited ex vivo
      platelet aggregation induced by thrombin, and ridogrel inhibited platelet
      aggregation induced by U46619, a thromboxane mimetic. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of
      thrombin in addition to treatment with t-PA enhances thrombolysis. A combination
      of inhibition of thrombin and thromboxane synthetase and blockade of thromboxane
      A2 receptor enhances thrombolysis and delays or may prevent reocclusion of the
      recanalized coronary arteries.

PMID- 1451272
TI  - Induction of endothelial cell expression of the plasminogen activator inhibitor
      type 1 gene by thrombosis in vivo.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We have shown previously that products from activated platelets can
      augment synthesis of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) in cultured
      endothelial and hepatoma (Hep G2) cells in vitro and increase plasma PAI-1
      activity in vivo in rabbits. Accordingly, the effects of activation of platelets
      associated with thrombosis and thrombolysis in vivo on plasma PAI-1 activity and
      expression of the PAI-1 gene in endothelium, liver, and other organs were
      characterized. METHODS AND RESULTS: Endothelial injury giving rise to platelet
      rich thrombi was induced with electrical stimulation in carotid arteries in
      rabbits. Clot lysis and recanalization were induced subsequently with intravenous
      tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and verified with Doppler flow probes.
      Plasma PAI-1 activity (mean +/- SD) increased from 6 +/- 2 arbitrary units
      (AU)/ml to 129 +/- 48 AU/ml (n = 15) within several hours after recanalization.
      When t-PA had failed to induce recanalization, the increase was much less (from 7
      +/- 2 to 42 +/- 23 AU/ml, n = 11). To define mechanisms responsible for these
      changes, PAI-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) was evaluated by Northern blot analysis and
      localized in tissues by in situ hybridization. Strong and consistent induction of
      PAI-1 mRNA was evident in aorta, heart, and liver of animals subjected to
      thrombosis (twofold to threefold increases compared with values in controls),
      particularly in those in which thrombolysis had been induced (fourfold to
      sixfold). After thrombolysis, an intense, PAI-1 mRNA-specific signal was detected
      in endothelium of aorta, liver, and heart, with less intense signals in
      endothelium of lung, adrenals, and kidneys. CONCLUSIONS: The increases in plasma
      PAI-1 activity follow a preceding increase in endothelial cell expression of the
      PAI-1 gene as reflected by PAI-1 mRNA levels. Thus, increased synthesis of
      endothelial cell PAI-1 after thrombosis and thrombolysis may attenuate endogenous
      fibrinolysis early after coronary thrombolysis, thereby potentiating early,
      thrombotic reocclusion.

PMID- 1451273
TI  - Interposed abdominal compression-CPR. Low technology for the clinical
      armamentarium.

PMID- 1451274
TI  - Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale. Therapeutic overkill or elegant
      management for selected patients at risk?

PMID- 1451275
TI  - Quantitative assessment of coronary artery stenosis by intravascular Doppler
      catheter technique.

PMID- 1451276
TI  - Heart rate variability in myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1451277
TI  - Force-frequency relation in human heart failure.

PMID- 1451278
TI  - Relation between ventricular depolarization duration and cardiac cycle length.

PMID- 1451279
TI  - CT of pelvic infection after cesarean section.
AB  - The CT findings in 6 women with puerperal sepsis after Cesarean section were
      reviewed. In four patients a right-sided mass was palpated. CT scan confirmed the
      diagnosis of Tubo-ovarian abscess in two of the patients, puerperal ovarian vein
      thrombosis (POVT) in the third and an enlarged adnexa with no signs of abscess
      formation in the fourth patient. The last two patients had normal adnexae but a
      large amount of gas in the uterus. All patients recovered after appropriate
      treatment. In patients with severe puerperal sepsis who do not respond to
      antibiotic therapy, CT scanning of the abdomen and pelvis is useful. This study
      can demonstrate whether there is an abscess which requires surgical intervention
      or POVT which needs additional anticoagulant treatment.

PMID- 1451280
TI  - The effectiveness of danazol therapy in postmenopausal women affected by
      endometrial hyperplasia.
AB  - Forty eight patients in postmenopause affected by histologically confirmed
      endometrial hyperplasia (34 with simplex and 14 with complex forms) were
      administered Danazol therapy, 400 mg/day for 3 consecutive months. At the end of
      treatment, regression of the endometrial hyperplasia was histologically
      ascertained in 46 patients (95.9%) with disappearance of the metrorrhagia.
      Endometrial atrophy was obtained in 75% of the cases, while secretive (14.7%) or
      proliferative (6.2%) aspects resulted in the others. Only 2 patients (4.1%)
      showed persistence of the hyperplastic endometrium. On the basis of this
      experience, treatment with Danazol appears to be effective and safe with only
      scarce and transient side effects. This therapy is therefore proposed as a valid
      alternative to progestogen therapy in cases of postmenopausal endometrial
      hyperplasia.

PMID- 1451281
TI  - Twin pregnancy in a patient with complete heart block. A case report.
AB  - A 22 year old primigravida with previously undiagnosed congenital complete heart
      block and a twin gestation is described. Early diagnosis of both problems and
      cardiac consultation allowed a temporary pacemaker to be inserted early in the
      third trimester. The patient was delivered by caesarean section at 36 weeks
      following spontaneous rupture of membranes. Maternal and fetal outcomes were
      excellent.

PMID- 1451282
TI  - Effectiveness of magnesium pidolate in the prophylactic treatment of primary
      dysmenorrhea.
AB  - To evaluate Magnesium (Mg) effectiveness in the treatment of primary
      dysmenorrhea, 30 volunteer dysmenorrheic women of mean age 22.6 years were
      selected from the out-patients of the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the
      University of Parma during the period January-December 1989. Patients affected by
      secondary dysmenorrhea were excluded from the trial. The women considered were
      asked to self-evaluate their menstrual pain for 6 subsequent cycles using the VAS
      (Visual Analogue Scale). In the first cycle, as control, no drug was
      administered; in the following ones, every woman was given 4.5 mg oral Mg
      Pidolate in 3 administrations daily, from the 7th day preceding the onset of
      menses till the 3rd day of menstruation. Data were statistically analyzed. In Mg
      treated cycles compared with the control one, first day dysmenorrhea
      progressively decreased, with a significant drop (p < 0.05) from the 1st to the
      6th cycle. A similar trend, but not statistically significant, was seen for the
      2nd and 3rd day of cycle. No side effect was remarked. These data suggest Mg
      administration to be a reliable therapy of primary dysmenorrhea.

PMID- 1451283
TI  - Vaginal sonography of the endometrium in postmenopausal women.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to compare transvaginal ultrasound scanning and
      histology of the endometrium obtained by curettage. One hundred twenty women with
      postmenopausal bleeding were examined by vaginal sonography, before undergoing
      curettage. Endometrial thickness, as measured by vaginal sonography, was used as
      an indicator of endometrial abnormality. The mean endometrial thickness in those
      women with endometrial cancer was 16.6 +/- 5.4 mm as compared with 3.2 +/- 1.1 mm
      in those women with atrophic endometrium, and 9.5 +/- 2.3 in those with
      hyperplasia. If a cutoff limit of 5 mm had been used in this study, 82% of the
      curettage procedures could have been avoided, without missing a single case of
      serious endometrial pathology. We conclude that vaginal sonography is a reliable
      examination in the detection of endometrial abnormality in women with
      postmenopausal bleeding.

PMID- 1451284
TI  - Fertility after ovarian cancer treatment.
AB  - Considering the important improvement of surgical techniques and chemotherapy in
      the last few years, it is possible today, in selected cases of patients
      previously treated for ovarian cancer, to support their desire for motherhood,
      thus improving the quality of life for them. The major problem for the
      Gynecologic Oncologist in treating young women for ovarian tumour is the lack of
      statistically significant experience world-wide, because of the very few cases in
      which the reproductive function is preserved, and pregnancy is subsequently
      possible. In this report the problem is discussed, and the results obtained in
      our Institute are presented.

PMID- 1451285
TI  - Bacchetti (1853) and the first electro-puncture: a milestone in the non-surgical
      therapy of extrauterine pregnancy.

PMID- 1451286
TI  - The enigma of Kaposi's sarcoma: an answer at last?

PMID- 1451287
TI  - Follicle mites and their role in disease.

PMID- 1451288
TI  - Hazards from hedgehogs: two case reports with a survey of the epidemiology of
      hedgehog ringworm.
AB  - Two related cases of ringworm caused by contact with an infected hedgehog are
      reported. The causal fungus, Trichophyton erinacei, was isolated from human and
      animal cases. The epidemiology of hedgehog ringworm is discussed.

PMID- 1451289
TI  - Topical fish oil in psoriasis--a controlled and blind study.
AB  - Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids compete with arachidonic acid as substrates
      for lipoperoxidases, which transform them into leukotrienes with low biological
      activity. As this process, in skin, may benefit psoriatic patients, a randomized
      controlled single blind-study was carried out on a sample of 25 patients. In the
      study fish oil (FO) was compared with liquid paraffin (LP); both were topically
      applied and administered daily for 6 h under an occlusive dressing over a 4-week
      period. Evaluations were performed weekly assessing erythema, scaling, plaque
      thickness (induration) and itching. The results showed statistically significant
      improvement in erythema and scaling for both treatments compared to basal values;
      significant differences between treatments were achieved in scaling but not in
      erythema. Compared to baseline, FO significantly improved plaque thickness while
      LP did not. After 4 weeks, FO proved to be significantly better than LP. All
      patients accepted the treatment despite its unpleasant smell. Irritation and a
      burning sensation were reported in the FO treated plaque of one patient. This
      adverse effect reverted after completing the treatment. These findings
      demonstrate that topical FO shows a better performance than LP under an occlusive
      dressing.

PMID- 1451290
TI  - Topical tretinoin: a new treatment for black hairy tongue (lingua villosa nigra).
AB  - Black hairy tongue is the name given to the appearance of an abnormal coating of
      the tongue and occurs only in adults. It is the result of hyperkeratosis of the
      filiform lingual papillae which, on gross examination appear hair-like with a
      variable tinctorial aspect from yellow-brown to black. The pathogenesis is
      unknown and often no definite cause can be identified. A number of aetiologic
      factors have been implicated including the administration of topical or systemic
      antibiotics, poor oral hygiene, smoking, alcohol and the use of mouthwashes.
      Often there are no symptoms other than the aesthetic or anxiety over its
      aetiology. Some patients complain of gagging, nausea, alteration of taste or
      halitosis. The condition may be very persistent and recognized treatments include
      brushing with a soft tooth brush which is enhanced by the prior application of a
      40% solution of urea, scraping, topical triamcinolone acetonide, gentian violet,
      thymol, salicylic acid, vitamin B complex, and surgical excision of the papillae.

PMID- 1451291
TI  - A double-blind evaluation of topical isotretinoin 0.05%, benzoyl peroxide gel 5%
      and placebo in patients with acne.
AB  - A double-blind, randomized study comparing isotretinoin gel (Isotrex), its
      vehicle base, and benzoyl peroxide was performed on 77 patients with mild to
      moderate acne vulgaris. The effect of treatment was assessed by acne grade and
      lesion count. The vehicle base had no effect, but both active groups produced
      significant improvements. Benzoyl peroxide and isotretinoin significantly reduced
      non-inflamed lesions at 4 (P < 0.05), 8 (P < 0.01), 12 (P < 0.01) weeks. Benzoyl
      peroxide had a more rapid effect on inflamed lesions, their being significant
      reductions at 4, 8 and 12 weeks (P < 0.01), whereas with isotretinoin there was a
      significant improvement at 12 weeks (P < 0.01). In addition, compared to placebo,
      both active treatments significantly reduced inflamed and non-inflamed lesions.
      Acne grade had improved significantly in the benzoyl peroxide group by 4 weeks (P
      < 0.01) and in the isotretinoin group by 8 weeks (P < 0.05). No significant
      change in haematological or biochemical parameters occurred. An irritant
      dermatitis occurred equally with both treatments but was well tolerated by the
      patients. This data confirms the clinical benefit of benzoyl peroxide in acne.
      The initial effect of isotretinoin on non-inflamed lesions in this study suggests
      that the prime mode of action is on comedone formation or separation whereas
      benzoyl peroxide has an effect on both comedones and inflammation.

PMID- 1451292
TI  - Skin conditions in epileptics.
AB  - The prevalence of skin and mucous membrane conditions occurring in 173 epileptics
      between the ages of 6 and 19 years was compared with that of an age-matched group
      of 211 non-epileptics. The most frequently used anticonvulants, singly or in
      combination, were carbamazepine in 54.9%, phenytoin in 47.8%, barbiturates in
      36.6% and ethosuximide in 11.2% of epileptics. The most frequent combination was
      phenytoin and carbamazepine in 14% of the males and 18.4% of the females. An
      increased prevalence of acne was found in epileptic females; 80.3% compared to
      30.2% in non-epileptic females. Hirsutism was found in 43.9% of the female
      epileptics compared to 7.5% of the non-epileptic females. Of interest was the
      finding of punctate and linear scars on the dorsum of the hands of 27.7%
      epileptics compared to 3.8% non-epileptics. Both ephilides and naevocellular
      naevi occurred in 12.7% of the epileptics compared to 29.4% and 52.1%
      respectively of the non-epileptics. Leukonychia was also found more frequently in
      epileptics than in non-epileptics; 52% and 28.9% respectively.

PMID- 1451293
TI  - Seborrhoea--an indicator for poor clinical response in acne patients treated with
      antibiotics.
AB  - The relationship between sebum excretion rate (SER) and clinical improvement was
      investigated in 255 acne patients treated for 6 months with either oral
      erythromycin (1 g/day), minocycline (100 mg/day), oxytetracycline (1 g/day) or
      cotrimoxazole (400 mg/day); topical therapy was 5% benzoyl peroxide. In all but
      the cotrimoxazole treated group, there was a significant correlation between a
      high SER and reduced clinical response. This was particularly evident in those
      patients with an SER of greater than 2.5 micrograms/cm2/min. These patients
      showed only 17% improvement compared with 100% improvement in those subjects with
      an SER of 1.0 micrograms/cm2/min or less. The presence of obvious seborrhoea in a
      patient who has failed to respond to an adequate 6-month course of antimicrobial
      therapy, should indicate the earlier rather than later use of isotretinoin for
      their acne.

PMID- 1451294
TI  - Coexistence of numerous superficial basal cell epithelioma of the back and non
      specific ulcers of the small intestine: occurrence of two rare diseases in the
      same patient.
AB  - A 53-year-old female developed multiple disseminated brownish macules that were
      confirmed histologically as superficial basal cell epitheliomas on her lower
      back. She also suffered from short bowel syndrome after repeated resection of a
      segment of the small intestine because of non-specific ulcers of the small
      intestine, a rare ulcerative disorder of unknown aetiology. The association of
      these two rare conditions in the same patient is of interest because it may be
      more than a simple coincidence.

PMID- 1451295
TI  - Reticulate porokeratosis--successful treatment with CO2-laser vaporization.
AB  - A 35-year-old male patient affected with extensive, itching skin lesions of
      reticulate porokeratosis is reported. He was successfully treated by CO2-laser
      vaporization.

PMID- 1451296
TI  - Unilateral linear capillaritis.
AB  - We present four cases of a distinctive type of pigmented purpuric eruption
      occurring in a striking linear and pseudo-dermatomal distribution in young males.
      Whilst these cases share some of the clinical and histological features of other
      pigmented purpuric dermatoses, they are not readily classified with any of the
      entities so far defined in this group of disorders. We believe these cases
      represent a distinct group not previously described. Four patients with an
      unusual pigmented purpuric eruption are presented.

PMID- 1451297
TI  - Inflammatory ringworm with unusual features.
AB  - Zoophilic dermatophyte infections are often inflammatory but severe widespread
      inflammatory lesions of glabrous skin, as in the female patient described, are
      unusual. Most cases of M. canis ringworm can be traced to an infected animal.
      This dermatophyte is associated with a variety of clinical presentations on
      glabrous skin and is being isolated with increasing frequency in some countries.

PMID- 1451298
TI  - Hereditary hypotrichosis (Marie-Unna type) and juvenile macular degeneration
      (Stargardt's maculopathy).
AB  - Hypotrichosis of the Marie-Unna variety is a distinctive syndrome eponymously
      named following a publication in 1925 describing a family in which 27 individuals
      in seven generations were affected by a previously unreported type of
      hypotrichosis. Its inheritance is determined by an autosomal dominant gene and it
      usually occurs as an isolated abnormality. Hereditary macular degeneration
      (Stargardt's maculopathy) is also well recognized and has been reported in one
      family in association with alopecia areata but never in association with Marie
      Unna hypotrichosis. Inheritance of Stargardt's maculopathy is autosomal
      recessive. Our patient demonstrates the co-existence of these two uncommon
      genetic disorders and it would appear that both defects have been independently
      inherited.

PMID- 1451299
TI  - Subcutaneous nodules as the first clinical manifestation of sarcoidosis.
AB  - We report the case of a 61-year-old male who presented with a febrile illness
      accompanied by arthralgia and myalgia. Two months later he developed multiple
      subcutaneous nodules and enlarged parotid glands. Later two erythematous plaques,
      clinically compatible with erythema nodosum (EN), were observed. Laboratory
      investigations revealed abnormal levels of angiotensin converting enzyme and
      chest radiography showed bilateral hilar enlargement. The biopsy of the cutaneous
      lesions demonstrated multiple non-caseating granulomas in the subcutaneous tissue
      without any alterations in the epidermis and the dermis. The cultures for
      Mycobacteria and fungi were both negative. The clinical picture and
      histopathological findings were compatible with subcutaneous nodular sarcoidosis.
      The response to steroid treatment was satisfactory.

PMID- 1451300
TI  - Localized multiple neurofibromas.
AB  - Two cases of localized multiple neurofibromas are reported. The patients had
      fairly large, closely grouped neurofibromas limited to a circumscribed part of
      the body, a very different clinical feature from segmental neurofibromatosis, but
      with otherwise had typical histopathological features. Possible aetiology is
      discussed.

PMID- 1451301
TI  - Wegener's granulomatosis presenting as pyoderma gangrenosum.
AB  - We report three cases of Wegener's granulomatosis presenting with cutaneous
      ulceration resembling pyoderma gangrenosum. Wegener's granulomatosis classically
      affects the upper and lower respiratory tracts and the kidneys. Skin involvement
      occurs in up to 50% of patients. Increased awareness that cutaneous involvement
      can take the form of pyoderma gangrenosum and that it can be a presenting sign
      may lead to more rapid diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis.

PMID- 1451302
TI  - Hailey-Hailey disease--exacerbation by herpes simplex virus and patch tests.
AB  - Benign familial chronic pemphigus, or Hailey-Hailey disease, is a rare hereditary
      condition characterized by development of blisters at sites of friction such as
      the neck, axillae and groin. Contact sensitivity to topical medications is
      reported to be common and routine patch testing has been strongly advocated. We
      report a case of Hailey-Hailey disease in a 43-year-old veterinary surgeon who
      presented with an acute exacerbation of his disease caused by herpes simplex
      virus type 1 (HSV). Patch testing was carried out to exclude a coexistent contact
      dermatitis and was complicated by severe local blistering. We are reporting this
      case to remind clinicians that HSV is a recognized cause of exacerbations of this
      disease and to warn that patch testing is not without hazard.

PMID- 1451303
TI  - Acute monocytic leukaemia in a HIV-seropositive man.
AB  - Individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been
      reported to develop a number of malignant neoplasms. We recently treated an HIV
      patient who had acute monocytic leukaemia which was first evident in the skin. To
      our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of acute monocytic leukaemia
      occurring in a HIV-infected person.

PMID- 1451304
TI  - Acquired eruptive haemangiomata with primary biliary cirrhosis and prostatic
      carcinoma.
AB  - We report a male patient with acquired eruptive haemangiomata occurring in
      association with primary biliary cirrhosis and a carcinoma of the prostate. The
      possible explanations include an abnormality of sex sterol metabolism associated
      with his liver disease, secretion of an angiogenic factor by his carcinoma or a
      combination of the two mechanisms.

PMID- 1451305
TI  - Atypical systemic sclerosis following exposure to vinyl chloride monomer. A case
      report and review of the cutaneous aspects of vinyl chloride disease.
AB  - An unusual case of systemic sclerosis occurring in a patient exposed to the vinyl
      chloride monomer (VCM) is presented. The dermatological aspects of vinyl chloride
      disease (VCD) are outlined and the mechanisms of pathogenesis discussed.

PMID- 1451306
TI  - Normolipaemic plane xanthomas: an association with increased vascular
      permeability and serum lipoprotein(a) concentration.
AB  - We present a normolipaemic young man with extensive facial plane xanthomas and
      xanthelasmas with a high level of lipoprotein(a) and possibly increased vascular
      permeability. These associations are of potential importance in understanding the
      pathogenesis of xanthoma formation and in the identification of patients at risk
      from coronary atherosclerosis.

PMID- 1451308
TI  - Minimizing the pain of local anaesthesia.

PMID- 1451307
TI  - Selenium plasma levels in psoriasis.
AB  - Little is known about factors that may have modulating effects on inflammatory
      diseases such as psoriasis. Recently it has been proposed that trace elements
      like selenium may play an active role. Selenium concentrations were determined in
      plasma and in whole blood from 64 patients with psoriasis. Values were compared
      with those of matched controls: no significant reduction was observed in contrast
      with previous reports of reduced selenium levels in psoriasis.

PMID- 1451309
TI  - Pemphigus associated with multiple sclerosis.

PMID- 1451310
TI  - Mucocutaneous infections with herpes simplex virus and their management.

PMID- 1451311
TI  - Factitious purpura.
AB  - Factitious purpura may present as a perplexing problem for the dermatologist and
      can mimic serious disease. This form of mechanical purpura, often caused by
      suction may be deliberately or unknowingly induced by the patient. Some cases may
      go unrecognized for a considerable length of time and undergo unnecessary
      investigation before the diagnosis is realized. Three cases of purpura are
      reported in which the causative agents were very different.

PMID- 1451312
TI  - Flow cytometry analysis of adhesion molecules on human Langerhans cells.
AB  - The Langerhans cell (LC) migrates between the epidermis and the regional lymph
      nodes to present antigens. This migration pattern requires the expression of a
      changing repertoire of cell-surface molecules. In this work, we have investigated
      the expression of the adhesion molecules CD 11/CD 18 and CD 58 on LCs. Human
      epidermal cell suspensions were enriched in LCs (mean enrichment 75%) using a two
      step technique including a Ficoll-Hypaque gradient followed by Fc receptor
      panning with IgG-coated sheep erythrocytes. The number of cells obtained per
      experiment was 750,000 (extremes 280,000-1,800,000), and the following antibodies
      were tested on fresh suspensions and/or after 48 hours in culture: BB3
      (antithyroglobulin negative control IgG2a), OKT6 (anti CD1a, Ortho), anti HLA-DR
      (Becton-Dickinson), MHM 24 (anti CD 11a, leukocyte typing workshop n(0)3), MO1
      and 44 (anti CD 11b, leukocyte typing workshop n(0)3), anti CD 11c (Immunotech),
      60.3 and MHM 23 (anti CD 18, leukocyte typing workshop n(0)2), TS2/9.1.1 (anti CD
      58, leukocyte typing workshop n(0)3). We found that amongst CD 11 subunits, only
      CD 11c was expressed in fresh suspensions, but was weaker than CD 18, and
      disappeared with culture. CD 58 was not detected in fresh suspensions but
      appeared after 2 days of culture, confirming earlier work. Thus the LC exhibits
      cell surface characteristics similar to tissue macrophages (CD 18 and CD 11c)
      prior to culture. The expression of CD 58 after culture is in accordance with the
      interaction of LC with CD2 bearing T-lymphocytes during antigen presentation in
      peripheral lymph-nodes.

PMID- 1451313
TI  - An evaluation of the irritancy potential of povidone iodine solutions: comparison
      of subjective and objective assessment techniques.
AB  - A double-blind study has been carried out in 12 normal volunteer subjects in
      order to determine the relative irritancy of povidone-iodine solutions. Aqueous
      solutions of 10% povidone-iodine (PI), standardized 10% povidone-iodine (SPI) and
      reformulated standardized 10% povidone-iodine (RSPI) were applied to the backs
      and occluded using aluminium chambers. At 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 hours, chambers
      were removed and the degree of cutaneous irritancy assessed. As well as
      subjective assessment of erythema, objective measurement of skin colour was
      performed using an erythema meter. In addition, laser Doppler blood-flow
      measurements have been carried out. The results show a rapid increase in
      cutaneous irritancy as evidenced by an increase in visual scores of erythema,
      increased erythema meter readings and increased cutaneous blood-flow. The
      increase was greatest for SPI treated sites for all three methods. Statistically
      these differences were significant at P < 0.05. Thus in this controlled study it
      has been possible to discriminate between the similar formulations in terms of
      their cutaneous irritancy.

PMID- 1451314
TI  - Acute Achilles tendonitis following oral isotretinoin therapy for acne vulgaris.
AB  - We report three cases of acute Achilles tendonitis following administration of
      isotretinoin for acne vulgaris. In this rarely documented side-effect, the
      symptoms were intimately related to the isotretinoin therapy. Modification of
      dose regimes permitted control of the tendonitis and an eventual successful
      response to isotretinoin therapy. Oral isotretinoin has been in use for more than
      10 years and is known to cause a wide variety of predictable side-effects the
      most common of which are cutaneous and dose related. Musculoskeletal problems are
      also well known to occur and these include myalgia, arthralgia and less commonly
      arthritis and muscle damage, however, isolated Achilles tendonitis has been
      reported on a rare and sporadic basis. We wish to report a series of three
      patients who developed acute Achilles tendonitis during administration of
      isotretinoin for acne.

PMID- 1451315
TI  - The efficacy of methotrexate in psoriasis--a review of 40 cases.
AB  - Forty patients with psoriasis treated with methotrexate (MTX) are reviewed. MTX
      was particularly effective in controlling erythrodermic and generalized pustular
      psoriasis. The treatment was discontinued in seven patients due to nausea in two
      and because of abnormal laboratory tests in five. Two patients developed toxic
      epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and died. Patients under 60 years of age had a liver
      biopsy before treatment and repeat biopsy after each cumulative MTX dose of 1500
      mg. We consider that MTX is the drug of choice for treating difficult psoriasis.

PMID- 1451316
TI  - Myiasis due to Parasarcophaga argyrostoma--first recorded case in Britain.
AB  - A case is described of a 79-year-old man in whom a gangrenous toe was invaded by
      maggots of the flesh fly Parasarcophaga argyrostoma. This is the first recorded
      case of myiasis by this fly in Britain.

PMID- 1451317
TI  - Toxic epidermal necrolysis treated with cyclosporin.
AB  - Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a severe life-threatening disorder which has
      many features in common with graft-versus-host disease. However,
      immunosuppression with steroids gives disappointing results and is possibly
      detrimental. We treated two patients who had TEN with a combination of
      cyclosporin and steroids which resulted in an apparent halt to the evolution of
      the disease, and a further relapse was aborted using cyclosporin in one of these
      patients. We feel that the use of this drug in the early treatment of TEN where
      it is used as a specific therapy aimed at the primary immunopathological events
      and is used in conjunction with the supportive care patients require, needs to be
      further evaluated.

PMID- 1451318
TI  - Skin nodules and macules resembling vasculitis in the antiphospholipid syndrome-
      a report of two cases.
AB  - Two patients who demonstrated skin lesions in the presence of antiphospholipid
      antibodies are documented. The first had a long history of recurrent painful
      nodules. She had also suffered two deep vein thromboses. The second developed a
      rash on the lower limbs resembling vasculitis which did not respond to
      prednisolone, but to low dose salicylate therapy. Histology in both patients
      revealed microthrombosis of cutaneous vessels.

PMID- 1451319
TI  - A primary cutaneous multi-lobed B-cell lymphoma.
AB  - Multi-lobed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has recently been recognized as a NHL
      variant. A patient presented with a scalp nodule which, upon skull X-Ray, was
      seen to be associated with a bone defect. Immunophenotyping clearly demonstrated
      that this was a B-cell proliferation. Histologically the B-lymphocytes were
      closely related to centroblasts. There were no other extra cutaneous
      localizations. The present report emphasizes the importance of this clinico
      anatomical entity which shows prominent extra-nodal involvement, large lymphoid
      cells with multi-lobed nuclei and a good response to chemotherapy. Multi-lobed
      NHL may be a T-cell lymphoma, or a B-cell lymphoma closely related to
      centroblastic NHL. Although multi-lobed lymphomas have a predilection for
      cutaneous localizations, our case is the first primary cutaneous multi-lobed B
      NHL, proven by immunophenotyping.

PMID- 1451320
TI  - Leukonychia due to cytostatic agents.
AB  - Chromonychia induced by antineoplastic agents has been known for several years.
      The most frequent of these is melanonychia, either diffuse or in tranverse or
      longitudinal bands, that may co-exist with diffuse pigmentation of the skin.
      Although any cytostatic agent may be involved in melanonychia, this condition
      appears most commonly after treatment with adriamycin and cyclophosphamide or in
      polychemotherapy. Leukonychia, either true or apparent, seems to be less frequent
      and is the reason for our reporting two patients with this colour change.

PMID- 1451321
TI  - Langerhans-cell histiocytosis in an adult patient with multiple myeloma.
AB  - A 44-year-old man who had suffered for 6 years from multiple myeloma developed
      multiple papules on the face and chest. Histological examination of these papules
      revealed the infiltration of predominantly histiocytic cells into the dermis and
      into parts of the epidermis. These cells were seen on electron-microscopic study
      to have Langerhans granules in the cytoplasm, which led to a diagnosis of
      Langerhans-cell histiocytosis concomitant with multiple myeloma. Possible
      explanations for this unusual association are discussed.

PMID- 1451322
TI  - ILVEN responding to occlusive potent topical steroid therapy.

PMID- 1451324
TI  - Abstracts from the 19th annual meeting of the Society for Cutaneous
      Ultrastructural Research. Lyon, France, 17-19 September 1992.

PMID- 1451323
TI  - Skin metastasis in laryngeal carcinoma.
AB  - Cutaneous metastases from carcinoma of the larynx are very rare. We observed a 64
      year-old Japanese patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx who
      developed a subcutaneous nodule on the abdomen. It was found to be a metastatic
      tumour from the laryngeal cancer, histopathologically as well as histochemically.

PMID- 1451325
TI  - Is thymosin alpha 1 a thymic hormone?

PMID- 1451326
TI  - Elevation of feline interleukin 6-like activity in feline immunodeficiency virus
      infection.
AB  - The involvement of feline interleukin 6 (IL-6)-like activity in polyclonal B-cell
      activation in feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection was investigated by
      using the proliferative response of hybridoma cell clone B3B1. Cats spontaneously
      infected with FIV had hyperimmunoglobulinemia, as shown by increases in the
      percentage of gamma-globulin and the plasma IgG concentration and decrease in the
      albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio. Because IL-6 plays an essential role in the
      differentiation of activated B cells into Ig-secreting cells, we examined the
      effect of FIV infection on the plasma IL-6 level. Plasma IL-6-like activity was
      found to be significantly higher in FIV-infected cats than in healthy controls.
      Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from FIV-infected cats and
      cultured without any exogenous activators of IL-6 production released more feline
      IL-6-like activity than cells from healthy controls. This phenomenon was mainly
      due to the increase in the production of IL-6 by adherent cells such as
      monocytes/macrophages, but also partly by nonadherent cells. These results
      indicate that elevation of feline IL-6-like activity is associated with FIV
      infection and that overproduction of IL-6 may contribute to the polyclonal B-cell
      activation seen in FIV infection.

PMID- 1451327
TI  - Expanded macrophage precursor populations in BXSB mice: possible reason for the
      increasing monocytosis in male mice.
AB  - The BXSB mouse spontaneously develops an autoimmune disease that resembles human
      systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). During their lifetime, male BXSB mice show an
      increasing monocytosis in the peripheral blood as opposed to their female
      littermates. This monocytosis is unique among autoimmune-prone mice. To test the
      hypothesis that alterations at the stem cell level may be responsible for this
      monocytosis, myeloid bone marrow precursor cells were examined in both male and
      female BXSB mice from 4 to 40 weeks of age. The number of M-CSF responding stem
      cells (CFU-M) and the number of GM-CSF responding stem cells (CFU-GM) were higher
      than in all other inbred mouse strains tested. In addition, male BXSB mice
      developed a progressive increase of CFU-M and CFU-GM in the bone marrow during
      their lifetime, which paralleled the peripheral blood monocytosis. The
      monocytosis in male BXSB mice is the result of a further expansion of the strain
      specific high number of macrophage precursors by intrinsic factors, which may be
      attributed to the influence of the Yaa factor. The sex-specific expanded
      mononuclear phagocyte system may promote the autoimmune process and may be one
      reason for the dramatic course of murine SLE in male BXSB mice.

PMID- 1451328
TI  - Attenuation of murine acute lethal graft-versus-host disease by the
      administration of DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine.
AB  - Intravenous injection of 5 x 10(7) C57BL/6 (B6) lymphocytes into adult (C57BL/6 x
      DBA/2)F1 recipient mice results in acute lethal graft-versus-host (ALGVH)
      disease. This disorder is characterized by anemia, a diminished number of
      splenocytes, impaired cytotoxicity (CTX) against third party alloantigen, and
      impaired natural killer cell (NK) activity. Parental anti-F1 CTX is critical to
      the induction of ALGVH disease, and CTX in general has been reported to be
      dependent upon the presence of the low molecular weight polyamines essential for
      cell growth and differentiation. We now report that DL-alpha
      difluoromethylornithine, a specific inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis,
      attenuates the clinical expression of disease in mice undergoing ALGVH disease.

PMID- 1451329
TI  - Immune response to tumor antigens in a patient with colorectal cancer after
      immunization with anti-idiotype antibody.
AB  - An active vaccination protocol was performed on one patient with colon carcinoma
      as a pilot to a prospective randomized double-blind clinical trial with the
      vaccine SDZ SCV 106. This vaccine is an anti-idiotype goat antibody to the
      monoclonal antibody 17-1A, which is directed against the tumor antigen 17-1A. To
      study the effect of the therapy on the immune reactivity, several tests were
      performed to detect anti-tumor antibodies in the serum as well as in eluates of
      metastatic tissue. Furthermore metastases removed from the lung were examined by
      immunohistochemistry. The results suggest that the humoral and cellular immune
      reactivity against the tumor are enhanced.

PMID- 1451330
TI  - Cytokine production and serum levels in systemic sclerosis.
AB  - Serum levels of various cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha),
      interleukin 1-beta (IL1-beta), and interleukin 2 (IL2), and of soluble IL2
      receptors (sIL2R) were determined in 30 patients with definite systemic sclerosis
      (SSc). Spontaneous and lipopolysaccharide-or mitogen-induced production of the
      cytokines, TNF-alpha, IL1-beta, and IFN-gamma, by peripheral blood mononuclear
      cells (PBMNC) of these SSc patients was measured by immunoassays. The patients
      were divided into three groups: 12 with limited cutaneous disease (lcSSc), 7 with
      diffuse cutaneous disease (dcSSc) < 3 years duration, and 11 with dcSSc > 3 years
      duration. None were treated with cytotoxic drugs or biologic response modifiers.
      Sera of patients with SSc had elevated sIL2R levels, and only low levels of IL2
      (1-2 U/ml) were detected in 10/29 sera tested. Spontaneous production of TNF
      alpha and IL1-beta by PBMNC of patients with SSc (829 pg/ml +/- 215 SEM and 728
      pg/ml +/- 186, respectively) was significantly higher than that by normal PBMNC
      obtained from 30 volunteers (25 +/- 10 and 34 +/- 6 pg/ml, respectively) and
      tested at the same time as patients' PBMNC. The largest increases in spontaneous
      release of TNF-alpha or IL1-beta were seen in patients with early dcSSc. No
      significant difference in spontaneous IFN-gamma production by patient or control
      PBMNC was detected. On the other hand, the mean level of mitogen-induced IFN
      gamma production by PBMNC was significantly depressed in patients with SSc (103
      U/ml +/- 18 vs 255 +/- 33 U/ml in controls). In vitro-induced production of TNF
      alpha or IL1-beta by patients' PBMNC was comparable to that of normal PBMNC.
      These data indicate that in vivo-activated PBMNC of patients with SSc
      spontaneously secrete excessive amounts of fibrogenic cytokines, which are
      involved in modulation of connective tissue synthesis.

PMID- 1451331
TI  - Parathyroid hormone inhibits immunoglobulin production without affecting cell
      growth in human B cells.
AB  - The effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on immunoglobulin (Ig) production and
      proliferation in the human B-cell lines CBL, SKW, and CESS was studied. PTH
      inhibited Ig production from all the B-cell lines in a dose-dependent manner
      during 5 days of culture. As little as 0.1 ng/ml was inhibitory. PTH also
      inhibited Ig production from cell lines stimulated by vasoactive intestinal
      peptide (VIP), interleukin 2 (IL-2), and IL-6. This inhibition was not due to
      decreased cell growth since proliferation was not affected and cell viability was
      always greater than 98%. In contrast to PTH, inactivated PTH or triiodothyronine
      failed to affect Ig production. Inhibition by PTH was blocked by anti-PTH serum,
      but not by control serum. Of the various cytokines tested, IL-4 reduced the PTH
      induced inhibition of Ig production, whereas other cytokines, including IL-1
      beta, IL-3, IL-5, interferon alpha (IFN-alpha), IFN-gamma, and granulocyte
      macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), failed to do so. The reducing
      effect of IL-4 was blocked by anti-IL-4 antibody but not by control antibody.
      Moreover, IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma, but not GM-CSF, overcame the reducing effect
      of IL-4. PTH also inhibited IgG, IgM, and IgA production by tonsillar B cells
      stimulated with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I (SAC) and IL-6 without
      affecting proliferation. This inhibition was blocked by anti-IL-4 antibody but
      not by control antibody. These results indicate that, in addition to its
      regulatory effect on calcium metabolism, PTH also acts as an immunoregulatory
      factor, and that it interacts with the cytokine, IL-4.

PMID- 1451332
TI  - Association between mast cells and the development of experimental autoimmune
      uveitis in different rat strains.
AB  - To study the role of anterior uveal mast cells in experimental autoimmune uveitis
      (EAU), the mast cells in the iris and ciliary body of Lewis rats, Brown Norway
      (BN) rats, and their F1 hybrids (LBNF1) were quantitated in normal rats and
      during the induction period of EAU. The mean baseline mast cell number was 68.9
      +/- 10.8 per anterior uvea for Lewis rats, 0.3 +/- 0.2 for BN rats, and 4.6 +/-
      0.6 for LBNF1 rats. Detectable mast cells in the anterior uvea of S-Ag-immunized
      Lewis rats decreased to 60% of control at 6 days postimmunization, recovered to
      80% at 10 days, and dropped again to 16% at 13 days, with disease onset around 14
      days. In Lewis rats that were adoptively transferred with a uveitogenic T
      lymphocyte line, a profound drop in anterior uveal mast cell numbers occurred in
      the eyes with early signs of EAU, 3 days after the transfer. The decrease in
      detectable mast cells is consistent with mast cell degranulation. The data
      suggest that anterior mast cells participate in the immunopathogenesis of EAU and
      may influence the genetic susceptibility to EAU.

PMID- 1451333
TI  - Effect of exogenous cytokines on the inhibition of macrophage-induced, antigen
      specific T cell proliferation by poly(I:C).
AB  - We have previously demonstrated that IFN-alpha/beta, poly(I:C) (an inducer of IFN
      alpha/beta), or IFN-gamma can inhibit the ability of KLH-pulsed peritoneal
      macrophages (M phi) to induce the proliferation of syngeneic, KLH-immune T
      lymphocytes from CBA/J mice. In this study we investigated whether the mechanism
      by which poly(I:C) inhibits M phi-induced, antigen-specific T cell proliferation
      involved decreased cytokine production by poly(I:C) treated KLH-pulsed M phi or
      by T cells cultured with these M phi. The production of IL-2 by T cells cultured
      with poly(I:C)-treated, KLH-pulsed M phi was decreased by 80%; however, addition
      of exogenous rIL-2 could not restore proliferation. Although IL-1 production by
      poly(I:C)-treated M phi was comparable to the level produced by saline-treated,
      KLH-pulsed M phi controls, addition of exogenous rIL-1 was still examined to
      explore the possibility that a greater amount of IL-1 may be needed to induce T
      cell proliferation with poly(I:C)-treated, KLH-pulsed M phi. Increasing
      concentrations of rIL-1 alone or with rIL-6 did not abrogate the inhibition of M
      phi-induced, antigen-specific T cell proliferation by poly(I:C). Interestingly,
      the addition of combinations of IL-1 and IL-6 increased the proliferation of T
      cells in response to KLH presented by either saline- or poly(I:C)-treated M phi.
      The effect of the combination of rIL-1 and rIL-6 was synergistic in that addition
      of either monokine alone had no effect on T cell proliferation. These results
      suggest that although poly(I:C)-induced inhibition of T cell proliferation is not
      due to insufficient quantities of IL-1, IL-2, or IL-6, a combination of IL-1 and
      IL-6 can augment proliferation of freshly isolated T cells in response to antigen
      presented by freshly isolated accessory cells.

PMID- 1451335
TI  - ETB interactive technology resources for nurse educators.

PMID- 1451334
TI  - Heterozygosity of the major histocompatibility complex controls the autoimmune
      disease in (NZW x BXSB) F1 mice.
AB  - In the F1 hybrid of phenotypically normal NZW (H-2z) and systemic lupus
      erythematosus (SLE)-prone BXSB mice (H-2b), features of the disease became more
      severe than those seen in the BXSB mice, regardless of the presence or absence of
      the Yaa (Y-chromosome-linked autoimmune acceleration) mutant gene. To determine
      whether the gene(s) linked to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of NZW
      mice is involved in this event, we developed the H-2-congenic NZW.H-2d strain and
      compared the severity of autoimmune disease between (NZW x BXSB) F1 (H-2z/b) and
      (NZW.H-2d x BXSB) F1 mice (H-2d/b). The H-2z/b, but not H-2d/b, heterozygous F1
      mice of both sexes showed an accelerated, higher incidence of proteinuria and a
      more severe thrombocytopenia than did the BXSB mice. In NZW x (NZW x BXSB) F1
      backcross mice, the H-2z/b heterozygous progeny showed more severe disease than
      did the H-2z/z homozygotes. Thus, disease-accelerating events in (NZW x BXSB) F1
      mice are linked to the H-2z/b heterozygosity. Because H-2d/z heterozygosity plays
      a crucial role for SLE in (NZB x NZW) F1 mice, in which SLE features differ from
      those in (NZW x BXSB) F1 mice, the present observations may imply that the
      different but related MHC heterozygosity acts as a predisposing genetic element
      in these different SLE syndromes.

PMID- 1451336
TI  - Classification of diabetes in patients with end-stage renal disease. Validation
      of clinical criteria according to fasting plasma C-peptide.
AB  - An epidemiologic study of end-stage diabetic nephropathy in France (Uremidiab)
      was performed, aiming to establish the prevalence of both types of diabetes in
      dialysis patients. Because discrimination between type I and type II diabetes
      remains mostly clinical, our aim was to evaluate what the most fitted clinical
      criteria were. We studied 494 hemodialyzed diabetic patients. A first
      classification (Cn) was offered by the nephrologist. Clinical data of 472
      patients (22 patients of the 494 have been excluded) were then collected with a
      standardized questionnaire, allowing one diabetologist of us to establish the
      diagnosis of type of diabetes (classification Cd). Plasma C-peptide at this stage
      of the disease was expected to be very discriminative, measured in 88 patients
      and defined classification Ccp (< or = 0.6 ng/ml = "negative C-peptide" = type I,
      > 0.6 ng/ml = "positive C-peptide" = type II). Classification Cd observed 98 type
      I and 374 type II diabetes. Cn overestimated type I diabetes, 37% of type II
      diabetes being misclassified because insulin-treated. Classification Ccp observed
      74 positive C-peptide patients, classified as type II, among whom 45 were insulin
      treated. Only 3 patients were discordant for classification Cd and Ccp.
      Predictive value of "negative C-peptide" and "positive C-peptide" were 100% and
      96% respectively. Multiple regression analysis of the Ccp classification was
      performed with the clinical criteria and showed very significant correlation
      with: age at the time of diagnosis of diabetes (AGE), maximal body mass index
      ever reached (BMI MAX) and delay between diagnosis and consistent insulin use
      (DI).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451337
TI  - Proteinuria and renal function in relation to renal morphology. A
      clinicopathological study of IgA nephropathy at the time of kidney biopsy.
AB  - At the time of kidney biopsy the pattern of urinary protein excretion (UPE) and
      renal function were studied in 54 patients (age 16-62 years) with IgA nephropathy
      (IgAN). Serum and urinary albumin (alb), IgG, beta-2-microglobulin and creatinine
      were analysed, and excretion rates (UV) and clearances were calculated. The
      glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was determined by plasma 51Cr-EDTA clearance
      (51Cr-EDTA) and by 24-hour creatinine clearance (C-Cr 24 h). Glomerular mesangial
      (volume expansion and cell proliferation), tubulo-interstitial (fibrosis and
      inflammation) and vascular lesions were classified semiquantitatively on a five
      degree scale, and the percentage of glomeruli showing global sclerosis, segmental
      sclerosis and cellular crescents was calculated. One third of our patients had
      reduced renal function, three patients uremia and 70 per cent of the patients
      overt albuminuria. The mean GFR was reduced in microalbuminurics and further
      decreased in albuminurics and nephrotics. A lower GFR and more proteinuria were
      found in the patients with more advanced morphological lesions also when the
      uremic patients were excluded. Segmental glomerular sclerosis correlated with GFR
      as well as with UalbV and UIgGV, while global sclerosis correlated only with GFR.
      UalbV and UIgGV also correlated with the extent of interstitial damage but not
      with mesangial lesions. In summary an accurate determination of GFR and UPE at
      the time of the kidney biopsy may give an indication of the extent of renal
      damage. A lowered GFR was also found in mild proteinuria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451338
TI  - Growth, serum lipoproteins and apoproteins in infants with congenital nephrosis.
AB  - Retarded growth and extremely high cholesterol levels have been reported in
      infants with congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type (CNF). In an
      attempt to normalize growth and lipid disturbances the high-calorie diet (130
      kcal/kg/d) containing protein 4 g/kg/d and supplemented with unsaturated fatty
      acids (mean P/S-ratio 1.40) was given to ten infants with CNF from birth. Growth,
      lipoprotein and apoprotein concentrations were measured. All patients exhibited
      normal growth, which allows renal transplantation, the only life-saving treatment
      in CNF, already at an early age. In spite of the diet lipid profiles at 3 and 9
      months revealed marked elevation of triglyceride in all lipoproteins, especially
      in VLDL fraction, compared to controls. The abnormalities increased significantly
      with time (p for VLDL-TG 0.04). The elevation of serum cholesterol was mainly
      attributable to the increase of cholesterol in triglyceride-rich particles
      (chylomicrons, VLDL, IDL). Analysis of VLDL, LDL and HDL revealed significant
      triglyceride enrichment and cholesterol deficiency in all lipoproteins. The
      concentrations of the low-molecular weight apoproteins A-I and A-II were
      significantly decreased, but the concentration of high-molecular apo B was high.
      Urinary analysis revealed progression and decreasing selectivity of proteinuria
      with time. Thus the mechanisms leading to lipid abnormalities in CNF are multiple
      including stimulated hepatic lipoprotein synthesis, impaired conversion of VLDL
      and IDL to LDL, compositional changes, urinary loss of low-molecular apoproteins
      and presumably reduced LPL activity. The abnormalities indicate an increased risk
      of arteriosclerosis in CNF patients.

PMID- 1451339
TI  - Lipids and apolipoproteins change during the progression of chronic renal
      failure.
AB  - Uremic hyperlipidemia was recently suggested to contribute to progression of
      chronic renal failure (CRF). To investigate the relationship between lipoprotein
      abnormalities and decline of renal function, plasma lipids with apoproteins A1,
      B, E, CII, CIII, CII/CIII and E/CIII ratios, parathyroid hormone (PTH), insulin
      and glucose levels were examined in 72 patients with different degrees of CRF and
      compared to 28 patients of a reference group. A significant decrease of CII/CIII
      ratio was already evident below a Ccr of 60 ml/min, while increased apo-CIII and
      triglycerides (TG) with reduced HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels occurred below a
      Ccr of 30 ml/min. Both TG and apo-CIII showed a positive correlation with
      creatinine levels. On the contrary, apo-CII/apo-CIII and HDL-C inversely
      correlated with the progression of renal failure. PTH and insulin showed a
      positive correlation with TG, the former being also inversely related to apo
      CII/apo-CIII ratio. Our results point to early apolipoprotein changes in the
      course of CRF. Elevated apo-CIII and reduced apo-CII/apo-CIII ratio may be
      considered the most typical features of uremic hyperlipidemia and likely account
      for the impaired TG removal and the hypertriglyceridemia (HTG). Secondary
      hyperparathyroidism may contribute to reduce peripheral lipolytic activity and
      cause HTG. A contributory role of hyperlipidemia in the progression of renal
      disease is also supported.

PMID- 1451340
TI  - High serum lipoprotein(a) concentrations in uremic patients treated with
      continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.
AB  - We measured serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp (a)] concentrations in 50 uremic patients
      treated on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and compared them
      with those in 29 uremic patients on hemodialysis (HD) and those in 62 normal
      controls. The median values were 47.9 mg/dl in CAPD patients, 25.2 mg/dl in HD
      patients, and 11.7 mg/dl in controls, respectively. These differences were
      statistically significant when assessed by Kruskal-Wallis test (p < 0.0001).
      Thirty-five out of 50 patients on CAPD (70%) and 12 out of 29 patients on HD
      (41%) had Lp(a) concentrations above 30 mg/dl, whereas these high values were
      observed in only 15% of normal controls. This difference in prevalence of high
      Lp(a) was also significant by 2 x 3 chi-square test (p < 0.01). There was a
      significant positive correlation between Lp(a) and apolipoprotein B (r = 0.517, p
      < 0.0001). In CAPD patients, 9 with ischemic heart disease had a significantly
      higher median Lp(a) than those without it (67.4 vs 40.9 mg/dl, p < 0.01 by Mann
      Whitney U-test). These results suggest that high levels of serum Lp(a) might
      contribute to an increased risk for ischemic heart disease in CAPD patients, and
      that there may be a relationship between Lp(a) and apolipoprotein B metabolism in
      CAPD patients.

PMID- 1451341
TI  - The effects of recombinant human erythropoietin on hemostasis and fibrinolysis in
      hemodialysis patients.
AB  - Thromboembolism might complicate the treatment of patients with chronic renal
      failure with Recombinant Human Erythropoietin (ReHuEPO). In order to detect
      prothrombotic changes, a number of hemostatic and fibrinolytic parameters was
      determined during ReHuEPO treatment of fifteen chronic hemodialysis patients
      (mean age 47.1 years; ten females, five males). To avoid the influence of
      hemoconcentration and/or dilution, the patients were kept normovolemic, using the
      method of echography of the inferior vena cava diameter. In a first group of
      eight patients, we investigated platelet count and function. During ReHuEPO, a
      significant rise of hematocrit (19 +/- 3 to 34 +/- 5%, p < 0.001) was observed.
      Bleeding time shortened (7'33'' +/- 3'39'' to 3'41'' +/- 3'19''; p < 0.001) and
      platelet count increased (222 +/- 45 to 254 +/- 49 10 9/l; p < 0.005). The
      initial negative in vitro spontaneous platelet reactivity became positive in two
      of them, whereas the decrease in ADP threshold in the whole group (2.0 +/- 0.1 to
      1.10 +/- 0.4 mumol, p < 0.02) indicated an increased induced platelet reactivity.
      In all patients prothrombotic changes were observed. The protein-C antigen and
      protein-C activity and the total and free protein-S antigen decreased
      significantly. The plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity in the whole
      group did not change significantly (6.4 +/- 4.1 to 5.4 +/- 4.8 AU/ml). However,
      in the patients with fistula thrombosis (n = 3), higher values in all test points
      were found compared to those without thrombosis.

PMID- 1451342
TI  - RBC improved survival due to recombinant human erythropoietin explains
      effectiveness of less frequent, low dose subcutaneous therapy.
AB  - Effectiveness of less frequent, once weekly, low dose subcutaneous recombinant
      human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) in maintaining 35% hematocrit in patients with
      chronic renal failure, predialysis and ESRD receiving dialysis, is dependent on
      rHuEPO induced prolonged RBC survival. One year of weekly rHuEPO doses to 7
      patients originally part of the National Cooperative Protocol were evaluated for
      a total of 372 weeks for an average of 53 weeks per patient. The original 8 to 12
      week dosage was directed by protocol for units per dose at 3 doses per week (4
      IV, 3 subcutaneous). Thereafter, all doses were subcutaneous. Units/dose and
      doses/week were titrated to keep hematocrit at 35-38%. Dosage reduction of rHuEPO
      was determined by two investigators at the time of each examination. Statistical
      correlation was performed on effect of rHuEPO on 51Cr T1/2 RBC survival changes
      and changes of rHuEPO weekly doses. Patients evaluated at specific time points in
      the study were compared to themselves as their own controls by paired t-test
      analysis. The long-term increased RBC count correlated with prolonged RBC
      survival by 51Cr T1/2 rather than reticulocytosis. A relatively increased ease of
      sustaining the target hematocrit of 35% was demonstrated from the 8th week to 1
      year. Thirty-two percent of the expanded RBC mass was older at 12 weeks and 22%
      was older at 1 year. rHuEPO dosage was reduced to 27% at weeks 8-12, to 21% at
      weeks 20-24, and to 38% at 1 year corresponding to prolonged RBC survival. 51Cr
      T1/2 increased from 21.6 days control to 28.6 days at 12 weeks and 26.3 days at 1
      year.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451343
TI  - Is folate supplementation necessary in hemodialysis patients on erythropoietin
      therapy.
AB  - The need for folate supplementation in hemodialysis (HD) patients receiving
      erythropoietin (EPO) therapy remains unknown. Twenty stable HD patients, taking
      folic acid, 5 mg, after a meal during each HD session were divided into two
      groups. Supplementation was withdrawn at the start of the study in group 1 and
      after a 12-month-observation period in group 2. EPO treatment, 1500 u x 3/week
      i.v. was started in both groups. Pre- and post-HD blood samples were obtained at
      the beginning of the study for baseline values, then 12 and 18 months later.
      Folate levels decreased to normal after withdrawal of the supplements. The
      response to EPO treatment was exactly the same in both groups and the anemia was
      effectively improved. We conclude that there is no need for routine folic acid
      supplements in HD patients receiving EPO therapy if they are eating an adequate
      mixed diet.

PMID- 1451344
TI  - Crescentic glomerulonephritis in a patient taking penicillamine associated with
      antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody.

PMID- 1451345
TI  - Fungus ball: a cause of early obstructive uropathy in renal transplantation.

PMID- 1451346
TI  - Up-regulation of TIMP-1 expression in B16-F10 melanoma cells suppresses their
      metastatic ability in chick embryo.
AB  - Clonal B16-F10 cell lines with increased expression of tissue inhibitor of
      metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) have been generated by transfection with a TIMP-1
      containing expression vector. The parental B16-F10 and control 1-2 cells, and two
      TIMP-1 up-regulated clones (2-10, 6-5), were studied for their growth
      characteristics in tissue culture and their experimental metastatic ability in
      the chick embryo. Both of the TIMP-1 up-regulated clones showed slower in vitro
      growth and had lower saturation densities. Both clones were also less metastatic
      following intravenous injection into chick embryos, and formed significantly
      fewer metastatic tumors in the chorioallantoic membrane and in the liver than did
      parental B16-F10 and control cells. Furthermore, the size of tumors formed by
      TIMP-1 up-regulated cells was significantly reduced in comparison to the tumors
      produced by B16-F10 or control cells. Our results show that malignant cell lines
      genetically modified to express increased levels of TIMP-1 exhibit a suppressed
      experimental metastatic ability in vivo. We propose that TIMP-1 suppresses
      metastatic ability by decreasing both invasive and growth abilities.

PMID- 1451347
TI  - Suppression by interferon-gamma of tumor cell-induced increase in mesothelial
      permeability.
AB  - The effect of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the interaction between tumor cells
      and mesothelial cell layers was studied from the aspect of changes in mesothelial
      permeability. Mesothelial permeability was assessed as the percentage diffusion
      of radiolabeled albumin across the mesothelial cell sheets on Matrigel-coated
      filter cup assemblies. When lined gastric carcinoma cells (KATO-III) were seeded
      on the confluent mesothelial cell layers, the fine cobblestone appearance of the
      cell sheet was disrupted and mesothelial permeability significantly increased.
      The increase in permeability was suppressed by the addition of as little as 1
      U/ml of IFN-gamma. The effect of IFN-gamma was observed when either the
      conditioned medium of tumor cells alone or the IFN-gamma-resistant tumor cells, K
      562, was placed onto the mesothelium. The cobblestone appearance of the cell
      sheet was relatively well preserved in the presence of IFN-gamma. In contrast,
      IFN-alpha did not suppress tumor-induced mesothelial permeability. These results
      suggest that IFN-gamma has the potential to protect the human mesothelial cell
      layers against tumor cells.

PMID- 1451348
TI  - A murine model of intracranial invasion: morphological observations on central
      nervous system invasion by murine melanoma cells.
AB  - We describe a model of tumour invasion in which murine melanoma/lymphocyte hybrid
      cells are injected into the lateral ventricle of neonatal mice. CSF circulation
      carries cells to the third ventricle where attachment to the ependyma and
      invasion of the underlying brain may be observed. At this distance from the
      injection site, invasion can be studied free from trauma or inflammation induced
      by the injection procedure. Accordingly we restricted our attention to the third
      ventricle. Our results reveal an unusual form of tumour invasion of the ependyma
      characterized by progressive attenuation of the ependymal cell layer immediately
      beneath tumour cell aggregates. Continuity of the ependymal cell layer is
      ultimately lost at a focal point immediately beneath the tumour, permitting
      direct contact between tumour cells and the neuropil. Subsequent deep invasion of
      the brain parenchyma is accomplished by pericapillary infiltration.

PMID- 1451349
TI  - Urokinase-type plasminogen activator activity increases during the growth of two
      murine mammary adenocarcinomas with different metastasizing abilities.
AB  - Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) plays an important role in tumor
      growth and metastasis. The aim of this work was to study the u-PA production, in
      vitro and in vivo, in a transplantable murine mammary adenocarcinoma (M3),
      moderately metastatic to lung, and in a related tumor variant (MM3), highly
      metastatic to the same organ, during tumor development. At different times post
      transplantation, tumors were employed to prepare either primary cell cultures or
      homogenates. PA activity from conditioned media (CM), cell lysates (CLs) and
      tumor homogenates (THs) was quantitated by means of a fibrinolytic assay.
      Immunoneutralization and zymographic assays were performed to identify the PA
      present in both tumors. PA activity in CM, CLs and THs, that was undetectable at
      early stages, increased significantly along the growth of M3 adenocarcinoma.
      Secreted PA activity in MM3 CM was measurable at early stages and consistently
      increased up to 37 days post-transplantation, but a marked fall of activity was
      found at 48 days. PA activity in MM3 THs exhibited the same enhancement and late
      fall found in vitro. A positive correlation was observed between tumor size and
      THs PA values in both tumors. The PA present in cell cultures and THs was
      identified as of the u-PA type. These results support the hypothesis that high u
      PA levels are important for tumor invasion and that the stage of tumor
      development is a critical factor in their PA activity.

PMID- 1451350
TI  - A quantitative model for spontaneous bone metastasis: evidence for a mitogenic
      effect of bone on Walker 256 cancer cells.
AB  - A new model for the study of spontaneous bone metastasis has been developed which
      allows for the quantification of metastatic tumor burden and cancer cell growth
      rate, and which describes the progressive changes in bone morphology. Walker 256
      (W256) cells or vehicle were injected into the left upper thigh muscle of male
      Fischer rats, which were killed 7, 10 or 14 days later. By day 7, metastases had
      appeared in the distal femur, in the glomeruli of the kidney, and diffusely
      throughout the liver and lungs. The extent of tumor burden in these organs
      increased over time. In the femur, 14 days of tumor burden was associated with a
      53 +/- 10% decrease in trabecular bone content, a 61 +/- 15% increase in
      osteoclast surface, and a 95 +/- 10% decrease in osteoblast surface, as compared
      with non-tumor-bearing controls. By autoradiography, metastatic tumor cells in
      all organs were determined to have greater growth rates than did cells in the
      primary tumor. However, within the femur, W256 cells located adjacent to
      trabecular bone surfaces had a 33 +/- 7% greater growth rate than did W256 cells
      located > 50 microns from bone surfaces (P < 0.05), suggesting a mitogenic effect
      of bone.

PMID- 1451351
TI  - Stimulation of bone resorption results in a selective increase in the growth rate
      of spontaneously metastatic Walker 256 cancer cells in bone.
AB  - To test the hypothesis that bone metastasis is related to the rate of bone
      remodeling, we have examined the effect of enhanced bone resorption on the growth
      of spontaneously metastatic Walker 256 (W256) cancer cells. Bone resorption was
      stimulated in male Fischer rats by injecting Rice H-500 Leydig tumor cells
      subcutaneously. The resorptive response of the skeleton was confirmed in a pilot
      study by evaluating parameters of bone morphometry after 4, 7 and 10 days of
      tumor burden. The distal femoral epiphyses had 35 +/- 10% more osteoclast
      surface, 83 +/- 11% less osteoblast surface, and 46 +/- 5% less trabecular bone
      after 10 days of tumor burden, compared to non-tumor-bearing controls. To
      evaluate the effect of Leydig tumor-induced bone resorption on the growth
      response of W256 cells, 20 rats were injected intramuscularly with 2 x 10(7) W256
      cells, and 20 rats were vehicle-injected. Two days later, 10 rats from each group
      were injected subcutaneously with Leydig tumor cells. Twelve days after
      W256/vehicle injection, rats were injected with [3H]thymidine, killed 2 h later,
      and their femurs, liver, lungs and kidneys were processed for histology. In rats
      injected with Leydig tumor cells only, enhanced bone resorption was confirmed by
      a 40 +/- 4% increase in serum calcium concentration, a 48 +/- 8% decrease in
      trabecular bone content, and a 72 +/- 15% decrease in osteoblast surface,
      compared with non-tumor-bearing rats. Metastatic W256 cells adjacent to
      trabecular bone in Leydig tumor-bearing rats had a 56 +/- 18% greater relative
      [3H]thymidine labeling index (TdR) than did W256 cells in the bones of non-Leydig
      tumor-bearing rats. The TdRs of W256 cells in the liver, lungs, and kidneys were
      not affected by Leydig tumor burden. In this model, enhanced bone resorption was
      associated with the selective growth promotion of metastatic W256 cells in bone,
      suggesting the existence of a bone-derived factor which is mitogenic to W256
      cells.

PMID- 1451352
TI  - Patterning of B16 melanoma metastasis and colonization generally relates to tumor
      cell growth-stimulating or growth-inhibiting effects of organs and tissues.
AB  - The mouse B16 melanoma metastasizes first to the lungs and secondarily to
      systemic sites, involving mainly the adrenals, ovaries and pancreas. Systemic
      colonization effected by intracardiac injection of tumor cells establishes
      similar patterning, but in addition frequently colonizes the bones. To assess
      possible systemic site influences on metastasis and colony formation, the
      capacity of B16 melanoma cells to proliferate in these sites in vivo and in ex
      vivo explants following intracardiac injection was examined. Effects of cells
      isolated from these sites, and of organ- or tissue-conditioned medium, on growth
      of B16 cells in monolayer culture were also studied. Injected fluorochrome
      labeled tumor cells initially distributed without site preference, but within 48
      h had begun proliferating in the adrenals, ovaries and lungs, while remaining
      static in the pancreas and bones, and disappearing from the spleen, liver,
      kidneys, brain, and skeletal muscles. Mitogenic activity releasable in soluble
      form was associated with all favorable organs and tissues and was the predominant
      influence of those tissues on cultured tumor cells. In contrast, the overall
      effects of liver, spleen, kidney, and brain tissues were to inhibit tumor cell
      growth. Soluble growth-promoting activity enhanced clonogenic growth of isolated
      tumor cells stimulated by mouse serum, suggesting that metastasis or colony
      formation might be stimulated in favorable sites by those factors together with
      blood-borne growth factors. The observed effects of organ- and tissue-derived
      cells and soluble factors on tumor cells generally reflected the in vivo
      consequences of tumor cell entrapment in the corresponding sites. However, the
      failure of metastases to develop in the bones, which are favorable sites for
      colonization by the same cells, remains puzzling.

PMID- 1451353
TI  - Combination of interleukin-2 and irradiation in therapy of murine tumors.
AB  - Experiments were designed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of interleukin
      2 (IL-2) combined with radiotherapy. The effect of IL-2 and local thoracic
      irradiation (LTI) was determined on 4-day-old lung micrometastases, generated by
      i.v. injection of tumor cells into mice. IL-2 alone reduced the number of lung
      nodules more effectively when given from 1 to 4 than 4 to 7 days after tumor cell
      injection. The combination of IL-2 and LTI reduced the number of lung nodules
      more than did the individual treatments alone. When IL-2 therapy was combined
      with local irradiation of 8-mm leg tumors, there was no change in the TCD50
      (radiation dose yielding 50% local tumor control). However, the combination of IL
      2 treatment on days 1-4 with irradiation of tumor-bearing legs on day 1 after
      inoculation of tumor cells reduced the TCD50 by a factor of 1.3. These results
      show that IL-2 improves tumor radiotherapy, but that the improvement depends on
      anatomic localization and tumor size at the time of treatment.

PMID- 1451354
TI  - What is obstetric ethics?

PMID- 1451355
TI  - The beginning of human life: medical observations and ethical reflections.

PMID- 1451356
TI  - Maternal-fetal conflict: positions and principles.

PMID- 1451357
TI  - Legal dimensions of maternal-fetal conflict.

PMID- 1451358
TI  - Assisted reproduction.

PMID- 1451359
TI  - Ethical issues in obstetric ultrasonography.

PMID- 1451360
TI  - Ethics in reproductive genetics.

PMID- 1451361
TI  - The abortion debate: can this chronic public illness be cured?

PMID- 1451362
TI  - An ethical framework for managing fetal anomalies in the third trimester.

PMID- 1451363
TI  - Ethical challenges in medical care for the pregnant substance abuser.

PMID- 1451364
TI  - Human immunodeficiency virus infection during pregnancy.

PMID- 1451365
TI  - Anencephalic infants as organ donors.

PMID- 1451366
TI  - The substantive ethics of clinical trials.

PMID- 1451367
TI  - The teaching of biomedical ethics in obstetrics and gynecology residency
      programs.

PMID- 1451369
TI  - Making a decision to perform a hysterectomy.

PMID- 1451368
TI  - Contraception for the transitional years of women older than 40 years of age.

PMID- 1451370
TI  - Estrogens and progestins: what to use and how to use it.

PMID- 1451371
TI  - Alternatives to estrogen for menopausal symptoms.
AB  - It is not within the scope of this chapter to discuss the long-term effects of
      menopause, such as osteoporosis or heart disease, or to disentangle the complex
      psychosocial complications and treatments of menopausal mood disorders. All long
      term consequences of hypoestrogenism are more amenable to prevention than to
      cure, as are all the negative consequences of aging. Women should maintain
      regular physical activity, consume a diet low in fat and high in fiber, ensure
      adequate calcium intake, and possibly lower animal protein consumption. Moreover,
      they should know their cholesterol levels and undergo regular physical
      examinations with an emphasis on health maintenance. Despite the many advantages
      of estrogen replacement therapy, it is not appropriate for all women. Cultural,
      personal, and medical considerations may eliminate the use of estrogen, in which
      case it is important to offer alternative medical advice and direction to
      minimize bothersome symptoms of menopause and enhance the quality of life.

PMID- 1451372
TI  - Estrogen replacement and heart disease.

PMID- 1451373
TI  - Perspectives on osteoporosis.
AB  - The goal of this chapter was to provide enough information so that the following
      questions could be answered in a clinical context: 1. Does the patient have
      osteoporosis or a risk for it? Is densitometry needed? 2. Why does the patient
      have osteoporosis? Is the diagnosis "the tip of the iceberg" because of an occult
      secondary cause? 3. Is the patient receiving adequate calcium? Can the patient
      benefit from estrogen? 4. What clinical information or tests are required to
      follow a patient with osteoporosis? 5. What drugs are indicated for osteoporosis?
      Which are promising and which require further research?

PMID- 1451374
TI  - Hormonal management of osteoporosis.

PMID- 1451375
TI  - Menopause: a normal view.

PMID- 1451376
TI  - The carboxyhemoglobin method for estimating bilirubin production in neonates.
      Japanese studies.

PMID- 1451377
TI  - Hyperbilirubinemia in black infants. Role of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
      deficiency.

PMID- 1451378
TI  - Jaundice in Navajo neonates.

PMID- 1451379
TI  - Racial differences in neonatal jaundice. Hyperbilirubinemia in Hispanic infants-
      a survey.

PMID- 1451380
TI  - Human growth hormone: a new substance of abuse among adolescents?
AB  - It has been estimated that as many as 250,000 adolescents are using anabolic
      steroids (AS). Recently, anecdotal reports suggest that athletes may also be
      using human growth hormone (HGH). The purpose of the present study was to
      determine the following: 1) if adolescents in two suburban midwestern high
      schools (83% white, 14% Asian, and 3% black) were using HGH; 2) knowledge of its
      effects; 3) reasons for use; and 4) concurrent AS use. After we obtained informed
      written consent, 224 male and 208 female 10th-grade students were surveyed using
      a 15-item questionnaire. Of male students surveyed, 5% (n = 11) reported past or
      present use of HGH, and one female student reported use. Our data suggest that
      among male adolescents surveyed, a majority had heard of this substance, and 31%
      of males reported knowing someone who was using HGH. Chi-square analysis found a
      significant association between AS and HGH use where seven AS users reported past
      or present use of HGH. Most HGH users were unaware of its side effects and
      reported first use between 14 and 15 years of age. No differences in sports
      activity, ethnicity, or age were found between users and nonusers of HGH.

PMID- 1451381
TI  - Early childhood tooth decay. Pediatric interventions.
AB  - Pediatricians in the greater Chicago area were surveyed to probe their awareness
      and approaches to management of dental caries in early childhood. A total of 298
      pediatricians (21% of those surveyed) responded to the questionnaire. Ninety-five
      percent of the respondents stated they examined their patients' teeth; 85%
      considered dental examinations part of their responsibility for children under 3
      years of age. However, our data suggest that many pediatricians are unaware of
      the decay and the dietary patterns associated with tooth decay in early
      childhood. Although 96% of the respondents referred patients to a dentist when
      decay was diagnosed, analysis of diet and dietary counseling were performed by
      only 61% and 65% of the respondents, respectively. Recommendations for preventive
      measures that can be adopted by pediatricians are offered.

PMID- 1451382
TI  - Behavioral correlates of caffeine consumption by children.

PMID- 1451383
TI  - A computerized automatic exposure device for chest radiography in infants.

PMID- 1451384
TI  - Late presentation of a subglottic hemangioma masquerading as asthma.

PMID- 1451385
TI  - Gentian violet toxicity.

PMID- 1451386
TI  - Accidental intravenous administration of semi-elemental formula in an infant.

PMID- 1451387
TI  - Good news for health promotion in schools.

PMID- 1451388
TI  - Decade of the Child in Colorado.

PMID- 1451389
TI  - Recommendations for assessing children's lead exposure and screening for lead
      poisoning.

PMID- 1451390
TI  - Prevention of low birthweight births by reduction of behavioral risks during
      pregnancy.

PMID- 1451391
TI  - Additional changes to immunization requirements.

PMID- 1451392
TI  - Medical training in Costa Rica.

PMID- 1451393
TI  - Colorado National Guard doctors in Latin America.

PMID- 1451394
TI  - Americans with Disabilities Act: steps toward compliance.

PMID- 1451395
TI  - Abraham Lincoln: malpractice defense attorney.

PMID- 1451396
TI  - Intra-ocular haemorrhage, a frequent complication of acute promyelocytic
      leukaemia.
AB  - We have found a high incidence of ocular haemorrhage in patients with acute
      promyelocytic leukaemia (APL). We describe a series of seven consecutive cases of
      APL, five of which developed ocular haemorrhage. There were no consistent
      detectable abnormalities in coagulation predictive of ocular damage. Ocular
      haemorrhage occurred despite the use of aggressive blood product support and its
      incidence was not altered by the use of the anti fibrinolytic agent tranexamic
      acid or by the use of heparin. Complete spontaneous resolution of the ocular
      pathology occurred in three of the five cases of ocular haemorrhage and partial
      recovery occurred in one. The fifth patient required surgical intervention. The
      mechanisms underlying the coagulopathy associated with APL are poorly understood.
      We discuss the evidence in support of primary disseminated intravascular
      coagulation and primary fibrinolysis. A logical approach to the management of the
      bleeding complications in APL can only follow greater understanding of the
      underlying pathophysiology.

PMID- 1451397
TI  - Haematological splenectomy. Changing indications and complications.
AB  - Review of splenectomies carried out for haematological disease over a ten-year
      period, at a district hospital, shows that the indications for splenectomy have
      changed substantially over this time. Fewer patients with idiopathic
      thrombocytopenic purpura now require splenectomy, however its role in the
      management of lymphoproliferative disorders has expanded. Splenectomy remains an
      important therapeutic option for a range of haematological disorders: this series
      shows it to be a safe and effective operation in selected patients, although it
      is not without both short and long-term sequelae.

PMID- 1451398
TI  - Evans syndrome: a report on 12 patients.
AB  - From 1981 to 1989, 12 patients of the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, were
      diagnosed to have Evans syndrome based on direct antiglobulin test (DAT) positive
      haemolytic anaemia and immune thrombocytopenia occurring either simultaneously (7
      patients) or consecutively (5 patients). Their mean age at presentation was 24.8
      years with a marked female preponderance. All 12 patients were given high dose
      steroid after diagnosis. Subsequently, other modalities including intravenous
      immunoglobulin (1 patient) and high dose methylprednisolone (1 patient) were
      given. Three patients died of intracranial haemorrhage during the first admission
      while 1 patient died of pulmonary embolism six months after diagnosis. Three
      patients had splenectomy because of thrombocytopenia. Six patients tested
      positive for antinuclear factor and antibodies to double stranded DNA and four of
      them died. Positive serology appeared to be associated with a poorer prognosis.
      Follow up observations indicate that patients who survive the acute attacks fare
      reasonably well.

PMID- 1451400
TI  - The haemodynamic responses to venesection and the effects of cardiovascular
      disease.
AB  - The haemodynamic effects of the venesection of one unit (450 ml) of blood over 9
      min were measured using non-invasive techniques, in 14 healthy controls and 18
      patients with coronary heart disease or hypertension. Venesection was associated
      with significant reductions in supine and standing systolic and diastolic blood
      pressure, stroke volume index and cardiac index, and increases in standing heart
      rate, in both patient groups. No significant differences were observed between
      the responses of subjects with and without cardiovascular disease. The authors
      conclude that, in contrast to established teaching, blood loss can be detected in
      its early stages by careful haemodynamic monitoring and that venesection can be
      performed safely without volume replacement in patients with stable
      cardiovascular disease.

PMID- 1451399
TI  - Venesection in haemoglobin Yakima, a high oxygen affinity haemoglobin.
AB  - High oxygen affinity haemoglobins result in polycythaemia and cardiovascular
      adaptation to maintain tissue oxygenation. The polycythaemia can cause symptoms
      of hyperviscosity and vaso-occlusive disease. We report a kindred with a high
      affinity haemoglobin (Haemoglobin Yakima) one of whose members gave birth to two
      infants with intra-uterine growth retardation and who suffered with symptoms of
      hyperviscosity which settled on reduction of the PCV by venesection.

PMID- 1451401
TI  - Ultrastructure of the bone marrow in HIV infection: evidence of dyshaemopoiesis
      and stromal cell damage.
AB  - The ultrastructure of bone marrow cells was studied in nine patients infected
      with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Two of these (cases 1 and 3) were
      thrombocytopenic, had never suffered from opportunistic infections and had not
      received any drugs prior to the time of study. A number of ultrastructural
      abnormalities were found in a variable proportion of the affected cell types in
      all nine patients. These were: (a) an increased prevalence of multivesicular
      bodies within several cell types and of abnormalities of the nuclear membrane in
      neutrophil granulocytes, (b) an increase in the size of the Golgi apparatus and
      in the quantity of endoplasmic reticulum in neutrophil granulocytes, (c)
      dysplastic features, including multiple long intranuclear clefts and large
      cytoplasmic vacuoles in some erythroblasts and (d) vacuolation of the plasma
      cells. Other abnormalities seen in a proportion of the patients were: (a)
      cylindrical confronting cisternae (CCC) in some of the lymphocytes, macrophages
      (phagocytic reticular cells), non-phagocytic reticular cells (including
      adventitial cells) and endothelial cells of marrow sinusoids, (b) tubuloreticular
      structures (TRS) in some lymphocytes, plasma cells, monocytes and endothelial
      cells and (c) precipitates of protein within occasional erythroblasts and marrow
      reticulocytes. There was also a striking and hitherto undescribed abnormality of
      the structure of the nucleus in intersinusoidal and perisinusoidal non-phagocytic
      reticular cells. This was seen in six patients, including case 3, and was
      characterized by the extensive detachment of masses of abnormally electron-dense
      heterochromatin from the nuclear membrane, the presence of a uniformly thin layer
      of electron-dense material at the inner surface of the areas of nuclear membrane
      denuded of heterochromatin masses and an abnormal electron lucency of areas
      containing euchromatin. The CCC and TRS were found in the six patients with the
      lowest number of circulating CD4-positive T cells. The precipitation of protein
      within erythroid cells may have been caused by the oxidant effect of dapsone or
      high doses of co-trimoxazole. The abnormalities in the stromal cells and in
      particular the nuclear changes seen in the non-phagocytic reticular cells support
      the possibility that one of the mechanisms underlying the cytopenia in patients
      infected with HIV may be a disturbance of the microenvironmental regulation of
      haemopoiesis.

PMID- 1451402
TI  - Measurement of whole blood phagocyte chemiluminescence in a microtitreplate
      format.
AB  - Zymosan-induced luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence of phagocytes was measured in
      whole blood using a microtitreplate format. A consistent reaction response curve
      could be obtained using a normal blood sample, with low intra-assay variations in
      peak light index, cumulated response as well as time taken to reach the peak.
      Variations were common when tests were done on different days for the same
      individual, or when different persons were compared simultaneously. Reactions
      were hastened and enhanced if continuous shaking at 37 degrees C was applied. The
      interval between time zero and peak was the most consistent variable, with a
      coefficient of variation of 12% in inter-assay analysis. Because of its
      simplicity and ease of operation, the method is potentially useful in studying
      phagocyte functions in pathological states.

PMID- 1451403
TI  - Spurious platelet counts in acute leukaemia with DIC due to cell fragmentation.
AB  - Automated platelet counts in a patient with newly diagnosed AML M5 with extreme
      leukocytosis were reported as 129, 166 and 121 x 10(9)/1. Routine blood films
      showed a corresponding number of platelet-sized particles, judged to be
      platelets. The patient was treated for DIC with low-dose heparin infusion.
      Platelet transfusions were not given initially. The patient died 14 h after
      admission from intracerebral haematoma. The origin of the platelet-sized
      particles seen in routine stained blood films was examined by cytochemical and
      immunological staining for peroxidase, non-specific esterase, CD 13 and CD 33.
      About 1/3 of the fragments had the same staining characteristics as the leukaemia
      cells, indicating leukaemia cell origin. Staining for platelet-specific antigen
      GpIIIa was positive only in 4% of the platelet-sized fragments, with a calculated
      true platelet count of 4 x 10(9)/1. The presence of cell fragments masquerading
      as platelets should be suspected in leukaemia patients with bleeding symptoms and
      normal or near normal platelet counts.

PMID- 1451404
TI  - A mainframe interfacing computer management system for the control of oral
      anticoagulant therapy.
AB  - A unique computerized management system has been used to control the
      anticoagulation of over 400 patients at a large teaching hospital for the last
      eighteen months. The system is located on the main pathology computer which can
      be interfaced with the patient administration system (PAS). This enables files in
      the anticoagulant program to be linked with files in the PAS and files in the
      haematology database. This system has many advantages over a stand-alone
      microcomputer system and will form the basis for the next generation of
      computerized anticoagulant management systems.

PMID- 1451405
TI  - High Eo-CSF activity in T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with eosinophilia.

PMID- 1451406
TI  - Hodgkin's disease and paraproteinaemia: a case report and review of the
      literature.

PMID- 1451407
TI  - Spurious anoxaemia in a patient with chronic myeloid leukaemia.

PMID- 1451408
TI  - Interphase cytogenetic analysis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PMID- 1451409
TI  - Which tests are most useful in distinguishing between reactive thrombocytosis and
      the thrombocytosis of myeloproliferative disease?

PMID- 1451410
TI  - Use of the Technicon H1 hypochromia flag in detecting spurious macrocytosis
      induced by excessive K2-EDTA concentration.

PMID- 1451411
TI  - Monocyte counts on the Coulter STKS.

PMID- 1451412
TI  - Discourse influences during parsing are delayed.
AB  - Subjects read sentences containing either a syntactically ambiguous prepositional
      phrase attachment or a syntactically ambiguous reduced relative clause. The
      sentences were embedded in passages of text that were consistent with either the
      minimal or non-minimal attachment reading. In addition, a discourse factor (i.e.,
      whether or not the target sentence was in the discourse focus) was varied.
      Subjects' eye movements were recorded as they read the passages of text. Our
      primary finding was that subjects were garden-pathed even when there was biasing
      context. However, when the target sentence was in the discourse focus, subjects
      were able to recover more readily from their initial erroneous parse of the
      sentence. The data thus support models of sentence parsing that postulate that
      the parsing of a sentence is based upon structurally based principles and the
      influence of semantic or pragmatic information makes itself felt only after the
      initial parsing decision has been made.

PMID- 1451413
TI  - Wishful thinking impairs belief-desire reasoning: a case of decoupling failure in
      adults?
AB  - Subjects were presented with a scenario that described how a certain type of
      opinion poll can be manipulated by respondents to put one particular political
      party (the threatened party) at a disadvantage. In a first experiment, people
      supporting this party but pretending to oppose it were found to be as likely to
      say that they would manipulate the poll as people who actually opposed it. In a
      second experiment, the threat embodied in the scenario was made more direct. It
      was also more salient because the study was carried out at a time of heightened
      political awareness when supporters of the threatened party were genuinely
      concerned about its future. People supporting the threatened party but pretending
      to oppose it were now about half as likely to say that they would manipulate the
      poll as those who actually opposed it. Two explanations for this breakdown in the
      belief-desire reasoning subserving pretense are considered.

PMID- 1451414
TI  - Using children's humor to clarify the relationship between linguistic awareness
      and early reading ability.
AB  - This study uses linguistic humor to show that an awareness of only those
      linguistic units transcribed by the orthography bears a special relation to early
      reading success. The subjects were 48 second-grade children tested on ten
      "phoneme/morpheme" riddles which manipulate phonemes and bound morphemes and ten
      "control" riddles which depend on awareness of other aspects of linguistic
      structure and "common sense". Each child also received the Word Identification
      and Word Attack subtests of the Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests and the Peabody
      Picture Vocabulary Test. Reading ability was significantly related to correct
      resolution of the phoneme/morpheme riddles but not to correct resolution of the
      control riddles. PPVT scores were significantly related to performance on both
      types of riddles but not to reading ability. Thus, while IQ is related to the
      resolution of riddles in general, reading ability has a special relation to
      riddles which manipulate phonemes and morphemes, consistent with the
      morphophonological nature of English orthography.

PMID- 1451415
TI  - Sexual segregation in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus): a transactional
      analysis of adult social dynamics.
AB  - Female agonism against males and male interventions in social transactions
      between the sexes are 2 explanations for the low rates of social engagement
      observed between male and female squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus). These
      possibilities were evaluated by comparing the frequency, structure, and content
      of transactions between the sexes in 3 experimental social units: male-female
      pairs, single-male-multifemale groups, and multimale-multifemale groups.
      Affiliative transactions between the sexes occurred 3-5 times less often in
      multimale-multifemale groups than in male-female pairs and in single-male
      multifemale groups. Intermale agonism in the multimale-multifemale groups often
      coincided with ongoing transactions between the sexes, whereas female agonism
      against males was rather uncommon in all social units. The results failed to
      support the female agonism hypothesis and indicate a need for more detailed
      studies of intermale social dynamics.

PMID- 1451416
TI  - Transitive inference in rats (Rattus norvegicus).
AB  - Although Piagetian theory proposes that the ability to make transitive inferences
      is confined to humans above age 7, recent evidence has suggested that this
      logical ability may be more broad based. In nonverbal tests, transitive inference
      has been demonstrated in preschool children and 2 species of nonhuman primates.
      In these experiments, I demonstrate evidence of transitive inference in rats
      (Rattus norvegicus). I used an ordered series of 5 olfactory stimuli (A < B < C <
      D < E) from which correct inferences were made about the novel B versus D pair.
      Control procedures indicated that performance did not depend on the recency with
      which the correct answer was rewarded during training and may be disrupted by the
      addition of logically inconsistent premises (F > E and A > F). The possibility
      that logical transitivity may reflect a form of spatial paralogic rather than
      formal deductions from a syllogistic-verbal system is discussed.

PMID- 1451417
TI  - Silhouettes elicit alarm calls from captive vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus
      aethiops).
AB  - In Part 1, we analyzed alarm calls produced by captive vervets (Cercopithecus
      aethiops) in response to naturally occurring stimuli. Females and juveniles
      regularly alarm called to airplanes, birds, and barking dogs. Juvenile females
      accounted for 60% of these alarm calls. In Part 2, we isolated several monkeys
      from the colony and presented them with life-sized silhouettes of a leopard,
      snake, eagle, baboon, vervet, and goose. Adult monkeys alarm called more than did
      juveniles. Alarm calls were elicited by leopard, snake, baboon, and vervet
      silhouettes, but none were elicited by eagle or goose silhouettes. Some leopard
      and snake alarm calls matched those recorded in the wild in the context of the
      vervets' natural predators. Results indicate that silhouette stimuli are a useful
      technique for eliciting monkey vocalizations in the laboratory.

PMID- 1451418
TI  - Rodent ultrasonic short calls: locomotion, biomechanics, and communication.
AB  - Rodents of many species emit short ultrasonic vocalizations during copulation,
      aggression, and other activities. Thiessen and Kittrell (1979) hypothesized that
      ultrasound emission by gerbils is the acoustic by-product of physical compression
      of the thorax during certain locomotor behaviors. I carry this hypothesis further
      by relating gerbil ultrasound to the biomechanics of respiration during
      locomotion. I also suggest that at least some of the ultrasonic emissions of
      other rodent species are, like the gerbil's, by-products of thoracic compression
      during locomotion. Support for this suggestion comes from descriptions in the
      literature of ultrasound emission as well as slow-motion analysis of rat
      copulatory behavior. Finally, this alternative view of rodent ultrasound has
      consequences for the interpretation of experimental findings in ultrasound
      research and for the understanding of messages and meanings in rodent
      communication.

PMID- 1451419
TI  - Estrus induction in four species of voles (Microtus).
AB  - Male-induced estrus was examined in montane (Microtus montanus), meadow (M.
      pennsylvanicus), prairie (M. ochrogaster), and pine (M. pinetorum) voles.
      Duration of male contact needed for receptivity, effects of parity, and vaginal
      cytology were assessed. Among nulliparous females, montane voles attained
      receptivity with less male contact than prairie voles. Meadow and pine voles
      showed very low receptivity rates. Among parous females, montane and meadow voles
      did not differ in duration of male contact needed for receptivity and required
      less than prairie voles. Overall, parous females had higher receptivity rates
      than nulliparous females. When isolated from males, prairie and pine voles had
      more leukocytes and fewer cornified cells in vaginal smears than montane or
      meadow voles. Species differences in estrus induction are discussed in relation
      to species differences in social organization.

PMID- 1451420
TI  - Loudness bisection and masking in the rat (Rattus norvegicus).
AB  - The bisection method of animal psychophysical scaling was examined as a
      measurement procedure. The critical assumptions of bisection scaling, as
      described by Pfanzagl (1968), were tested to determine if a valid equal-interval
      scale could be derived. A valid scale was derived in which loudness for the rat
      (Rattus norvegicus; n = 13) was a power function of sound pressure for 4-kHz
      tones. Masking noise reduced the discriminability of tonal stimuli but did not
      affect the bisection point. This result is consistent with an interval scale
      representation of loudness and demonstrates scale meaningfulness. Loudness
      bisection data that have been reported in the literature for 3 species (humans,
      rats, and pigeons) are in substantial agreement with our results.

PMID- 1451421
TI  - Ejaculate disruption in two species of voles (Microtus): on the PEI matching law.
AB  - We permitted male prairie and montane voles (Microtus ochrogaster and M.
      montanus) five thrusts, without ejaculation, with a female at variable times
      after a 1st male ejaculated. In both prairie and montane voles, there were fewer
      sperm, in relation to control conditions, in the female's tract 1 hr after
      ejaculation if the female received thrusts immediately or 15 min after the
      ejaculate. There was no such effect after a 50-min delay. There was no
      significant decrease in litter production in prairie voles caused by thrusts
      delivered either immediately or after a 15-min delay. Sperm transport in these
      species is susceptible to disruption for a longer period than in deer mice or
      rats. The proposal that the postejaculatory interval protects a male from
      disrupting its own sperm transport (the PEI matching law) appears not to hold for
      these species.

PMID- 1451422
TI  - Behavioral asymmetries of psychomotor performance in rhesus monkeys (Macaca
      mulatta): a dissociation between hand preference and skill.
AB  - Hand preferences were recorded for 35 rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) as they
      manipulated a joystick in response to 2 computerized tasks. These preferences
      were then used to contrast 8 left- and 10 right-handed subjects on performance
      measures of hand skill. Individual hand preferences were found, but no
      significant population asymmetry was observed across the sample. However, the
      performance data reveal substantial benefits of right-handedness for joystick
      manipulation, as this group of monkeys mastered the 2 psychomotor tasks
      significantly faster than did their left-handed counterparts. The data support
      earlier reports of a right-hand advantage for joystick manipulation and also
      support the importance of distinguishing between hand preference and manual
      performance in research on functional asymmetries.

PMID- 1451423
TI  - Object manipulation and the use of tools by infant baboons (Papio cynocephalus
      anubis).
AB  - Infant baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis) in a captive peer group used objects
      as containers, drinking utensils, and sponges in the context of play. The baboons
      later used paper, browse, and other materials as tools to extract sweet liquids
      from apparatus designed to accommodate sponging and probing behavior. The results
      of this study demonstrate flexible combinatorial manipulation and spontaneous use
      of tools by infant baboons. These data are consistent with hypotheses that (a) an
      evolutionary history of omnivorous extractive foraging is associated with the use
      of tools and (b) free play in an object-enriched captive environment may
      facilitate combinatorial manipulation in nonhuman primates.

PMID- 1451424
TI  - Object permanence in cats (Felis catus): an ecological approach to the study of
      invisible displacements.
AB  - A single invisible displacement object permanence task was administered to 19
      cats (Felis catus). In this task, cats watched a target object from behind a
      transparent panel. However, cats had to walk around an opaque panel to reach the
      object. While cats were behind the opaque panel, the object was hidden behind one
      of two screens. As cats did not perceive the disappearance of the object behind
      the target screen, the object was invisibly hidden. Results showed that cats
      solved this task with great flexibility, which markedly contrasts with what has
      been observed in previous research. The discussion emphasizes the difference
      between the typical Piagetian task in which the information necessary to succeed
      must be dealt with in retrospective way, whereas in our task cats had to
      anticipate a new position of the object. The ecological relevance of this new
      task is also discussed.

PMID- 1451425
TI  - Rats (Rattus norvegicus) modulate eating speed and vigilance to optimize food
      consumption: effects of cover, circadian rhythm, food deprivation, and individual
      differences.
AB  - The eating behavior of rats (Rattus norvegicus) given food pellets of specified
      size was examined as a function of environmental, circadian, and experiential
      influences. Eating times were shorter in lighted, exposed environments than in
      dark, covered environments, even though in novel, exposed conditions the rats
      made many scanning movements as they ate. Eating time also varied as a function
      of the circadian cycle in that eating times were shorter in the night portion of
      the day-night cycle. Finally, eating times decreased if rats were food deprived,
      and deprivation had a small but enduring influence. Within the tests there were
      differences in the eating times of individual rats that were not attributable to
      the experimental manipulations. That rats can optimize food intake by varying
      eating speed is discussed in relation to physiological regulation of feeding and
      to optimal foraging theory.

PMID- 1451426
TI  - The Drosophila genome project: current status of the physical map.

PMID- 1451427
TI  - Glycerolipid biosynthesis in adipose tissue of the bovine during growth.
AB  - 1. Rates of palmitate esterification in tissue slices and glycerophosphate
      acyltransferase activity in homogenates were determined in bovine subcutaneous
      and intermuscular adipose tissue at 340, 418 or 498 kg of live weight. 2. Lower
      rib section fat accretion rates were observed from 340 to 418 kg than from 418 to
      498 kg. 3. Changes in palmitate esterification rates at different body weights
      were consistent with reduced rib section fat accretion as well as with reported
      differences in fat accretion in subcutaneous and intermuscular fat depots. 4.
      Glycerophosphate acyltransferase activity was increased at 418 kg and remained
      elevated whereas palmitate esterification was decreased at 418 and then increased
      at 498 kg. 5. Differences between palmitate esterification and glycerophosphate
      acyltransferase in vitro may have been related to differences in substrate
      supply.

PMID- 1451428
TI  - Intestinal disaccharidases in five species of phyllostomoid bats.
AB  - 1. Intestinal disaccharidases were studied in nectarivorous (Leptonycteris
      curasoae and Glossophaga soricina), frugivorous (Artibeus jamaicensis and
      Sturnira lilium), and insectivorous (Pteronotus personatus) adult bats. 2. Adult
      bats lacked measurable lactase activity. With the exception of trehalase
      activity, which was present only in P. personatus, nectar- and fruit-eating bats
      exhibited higher disaccharidase activities standardized by intestinal nominal
      area than insect-eating P. personatus. 3. Maltase and sucrase activities were
      significantly linearly correlated. 4. Apparent affinity of sucrase varied almost
      5-fold among species. This variation may reflect unstirred layer effects
      resulting from sucrase being a membrane bound enzyme rather than differences in
      the "true" affinity of sucrase in solution. 5. Passerine birds showed higher
      maltase activity per unit of sucrase activity than bats and hummingbirds. Maximal
      sucrase and maltase activities standardized per intestinal nominal area are 1.5-2
      times higher in hummingbirds than in nectar-feeding bats.

PMID- 1451429
TI  - Changes in apyrase activity in uterus and mammary gland during the lactogenic
      cycle.
AB  - 1. The purpose of this present research was to explore the possible roles of ATP
      diphosphohydrolase (apyrase) in two tissues with high energetic demands during
      cell proliferation and differentiation. 2. Changes in apyrase activities during
      the pregnancy lactation cycle were examined in the rat uterus and mammary gland.
      3. A significant decrease in apyrase activity (ATPase-ADPase) was observed in the
      pregnant uterus; this observation correlates with a minor inhibitory effect on
      platelet aggregation. 4. In mammary gland, the enzyme activity increases during
      lactation in parallel with an increase in blood supply, synthesis of
      glycoproteins and cell proliferation. 5. Apyrase activity did not change during
      the estrous cycle. Estradiol administration to rats slightly increased (20%) both
      ATPase-ADPase activities. 6. The probable function of apyrase is finally
      discussed, based on its substrate specificity and subcellular localization.

PMID- 1451430
TI  - Small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptides in rat sperm.
AB  - 1. Immunoblot analysis of rat sperm head proteins revealed the presence of
      polypeptides recognized by anti-Sm serum obtained from patients with systemic
      lupus erythematosus. 2. Two of these polypeptides have molecular weights of
      26,000 and 15,000 and they were identified as small nuclear ribonucleoprotein
      components present in other rat tissues. 3. When the autoimmune serum was used in
      the immuno-gold procedure for electron microscopy, gold particles were found only
      on the sperm nucleus. 4. The results indicate that some polypeptides of the small
      nuclear ribonucleoprotein complex are components of the rat sperm chromatin.

PMID- 1451431
TI  - Apparent deficiency of metallothionein in the liver of the Antarctic icefish
      Chionodraco hamatus. Identification and isolation of a zinc-containing protein
      unlike metallothionein.
AB  - 1. A zinc-binding protein has been isolated and purified from the liver of the
      icefish Chionodraco hamatus. 2. The icefish Zn-protein has characteristics
      distinct from those of metallothionein. 3. The amino acid composition shows a low
      content of cysteine and a high content of glutamate and aspartate. 4. No
      metallothionein has been detected in the extracts from icefish liver.

PMID- 1451432
TI  - Progesterone stimulates prostaglandin synthesis in eggshell gland mucosa of
      estrogen-primed chickens.
AB  - 1. Prostaglandins may be involved in calcium translocation in the avian shell
      gland, since indomethacin, administered at the beginning of shell formation,
      reduces eggshell thickness as well as 45Ca-uptake and prostaglandin synthesis by
      a homogenate of eggshell gland mucosa. 2. The stimulus for calcium transport in
      the shell gland during shell formation remains unknown. 3. The present study was
      undertaken to investigate the effects of progesterone on prostaglandin formation
      by the eggshell gland mucosa of the domestic fowl. 4. Progesterone significantly
      stimulated synthesis of PGF2 alpha, PGE2 and TXB2 by eggshell gland mucosa
      homogenate. 5. Progesterone treatment also induced the synthesis of the biotin
      binding protein, avidin. 6. A microsomal fraction prepared from the eggshell
      gland mucosa had a high affinity for binding PGE2. 7. Progesterone treatment
      reduced the KD value of this binding without affecting the maximal number of
      binding sites. 8. Progesterone did not change the total calcium content of shell
      gland mucosa. 9. The role progesterone plays in prostaglandin formation and
      calcium transport in the eggshell gland mucosa is discussed.

PMID- 1451433
TI  - Developmental changes of L-lysine-ketoglutarate reductase in rat brain and liver.
AB  - 1. Developmental aspects of L-lysine-ketoglutarate reductase, the first enzyme in
      saccharopine pathway of L-lysine degradation in rat liver and brain tissues were
      studied. 2. Although the adult rat brain shows negligible activity, the enzyme
      activity was shown to be highly active during the early stages of development. 3.
      The enzyme activity gradually decreased through development in the brain, whereas
      it gradually increased in the liver, establishing the fact that the saccharopine
      pathway is the major pathway in liver. 4. Our results also show that glucagon
      stimulated the induction of this enzyme by 2-3-fold in both adult liver and brain
      tissues.

PMID- 1451434
TI  - Affinity purification and characterization of CIF, an insect immunoresponsive
      factor with NF-kappa B-like properties.
AB  - 1. A rapid DNA affinity purification procedure was worked out for the
      purification of the Cecropia Immunoresponsive Factor (CIF) from the pupae of
      Hyalophora cecropia. 2. CIF consists of a single polypeptide chain of 65 kDa and
      is present as a homodimer under native conditions. 3. CIF binds to the kappa B
      like sequences upstream of the H. cecropia immune genes with the following order
      of affinity: attacin kappa B greater than lysozyme kappa B greater than cecropin
      A kappa B greater than cecropin B kappa B. 4. The purified CIF also strongly
      binds to the kappa B sequences from both the immunoglobulin kappa light chain
      gene and the MHC class I gene. 5. The DNA binding of CIF can be inhibited by
      antisera directed against NF-kappa B-related proteins. 6. The cytoplasmic factor
      Cl, co-purified from the affinity column, contains two polypeptide chains, one of
      which has the same molecular weight as CIF.

PMID- 1451435
TI  - Purification and properties of the F1-ATPase from liver mitochondria of Gallus
      gallus.
AB  - 1. This paper is the first detailed report of the purification of a mitochondrial
      ATPase from an avian species. 2. The Gallus gallus liver mitochondrial F1-ATPase
      was purified by chloroform extraction and ion-exchange chromatography. 3. The
      enzyme shows the five alpha, beta, tau, delta, and epsilon subunits
      characteristic of mitochondrial F1-ATPases. 4. The Km for ATP is 1 mM and for Mg
      0.5 mM with a specific activity of 25.2 mu moles of ATP hydrolyzed x min-1 x mg
      1. 5. Unlike mammals enzymes the chicken mitochondrial ATPase shows maximal
      activity with ITP as substrate, and is strongly inhibited by Cu.

PMID- 1451436
TI  - Ontogeny of DNA synthetic rhythms in chick (Gallus domesticus) liver.
AB  - 1. The diurnal pattern of DNA synthesis and mitotic activity in neonatal (1-4-day
      old) chick liver were investigated under various feeding and lighting regimens.
      2. In the meal-fed chicks under the condition of light-dark cycle, DNA synthesis
      exhibited a 12 hr cycle; the peaks occurring at 9:00 and 21:00. 3. Fasting caused
      a gradual decrease in the 21:00 peaks. 4. The changes in the lighting regimen to
      24 hr continuous lighting also caused a profound change in the DNA-synthetic
      pattern, suggesting a complex interplay of feeding and lighting regimens in the
      manifestation of the DNA-synthetic rhythm in neonatal chick liver.

PMID- 1451437
TI  - Heme biosynthesis pathway regulation in a model of hepatocarcinogenesis pre
      initiation.
AB  - 1. Heme regulation before the appearance of hyperplastic nodules was investigated
      in mice models of hepatocarcinogenesis. 2. With this aim 5-aminolaevulinate
      synthetase (ALA-S), microsomal heme-oxygenase (MHO), mitochondrial and
      cytoplasmic rhodanese activities were examined throughout a period of 35 days in
      animals exposed to dietary p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (DAB). 3. ALA-S activity was
      significantly diminished (50%) on day 14, then showing a sharply rising profile
      from day 28 onwards, and reaching 350% on day 35. 4. A similar profile was
      observed for mitochondrial rhodanese activity. 5. Changes in MHO and cytoplasmic
      rhodanese activities were almost the opposite to those observed for ALA-S. 6. The
      distinctive alteration in mitochondrial and cytoplasmic rhodanese would suggest
      that it plays a subtle role in ALA-S regulation during carcinogenesis initiation
      through a mechanism that appears to involve subcellular localization controls
      perhaps by means of the breakage of cystine trisulphide postulated to act as an
      ALA-S activator. 7. Taking into account the present results, we suggest a
      probable mechanism for the onset of hepatocarcinogenesis that includes a primary
      activating liver status, provoking biochemical aberration leading to the stage of
      initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis involving the whole organ.

PMID- 1451438
TI  - Presence and genetic polymorphism of an epithelial mucin in milk of the goat
      (Capra hircus).
AB  - 1. Analysis of individual samples of goat's milk by SDS-PAGE confirmed that they
      contain a polymorphic, high molecular weight (M(r) greater than 205 kDa)
      glycoprotein. 2. On SDS-gels, the polymorphism takes the form of two bands of
      variable mobility which usually stain with equal intensity. This polymorphism
      resembles that detected in milk mucins of other species and is best explained by
      an expression of codominant genes containing variable numbers of a tandemly
      repeated 60-base segment. 3. Analysis of milk fractions provided evidence that
      the goat mucin is exclusively a membrane protein, and that it can be purified
      from other fat globule proteins by gel filtration and peanut lectin affinity
      chromatography. 4. Among proteins in the goat milk fat globule, the mucin appears
      to be a strong immunogen but the resulting antibodies applied to Western blots
      only stained the cow's milk mucin mildly and the guinea pig and human milk mucins
      not at all.

PMID- 1451439
TI  - Correlations between the activities of semen acid phosphatase and Ca(2+)
      dependent ATPase and age in different breeds of cocks.
AB  - 1. The present work aims to find a biochemical criterion for evaluating the
      evolution of sperm according to age through the study of the ATPase activity from
      the spermatozoa and the acid phosphatase from the seminal plasma of cocks from
      three different breeds. 2. The optimal parameters of action of the cock semen
      acid phosphatase and the Ca(2+)-dependent ATPase from the spermatozoa were
      studied. 3. The substrate specificity of the semen acid phosphatase and its
      inhibition by tartrate, fluoride, metavanadate, molybdate and Hg2+ were also
      studied. 4. The two enzymes were determined from the Sussex, Golden Cornish and
      Plymouth Rock breeds at different ages. 5. The data lead to the conclusion that
      some properties of bird spermatozoa are less influenced by breed while the acid
      phosphatase activity, secreted in the ductus deferens is a breed characteristic.

PMID- 1451440
TI  - Selected biological activities of saraines.
AB  - 1. The Mediterranean sponge Reniera sarai, Pulitzeri-Finali, 1969 (Demospongiae:
      Haploscleridae: Renieridae) possesses in large amounts a series of unprecedented
      polycyclic alkaloids, saraines 1-3 and saraines A-C. 2. The structural
      peculiarities of saraines, their chemical-physical characteristics, along with
      their relevant abundance in the sponge, prompted a study aimed at investigating
      their biological properties. 3. Saraines were assayed for their cytotoxic,
      antibacterial, insecticidal and potential antitumoral activities. These results,
      along with the growth inhibition of fertilized sea urchin eggs, are reported.

PMID- 1451441
TI  - Evidence of the presence of GTPase inhibiting proteins for a low M(r) GTP-binding
      protein, ram p25, in rat spleen and pheochromocytoma PC12 cells.
AB  - 1. GTPase inhibiting activity for a low M(r) GTP-binding protein, ram p25, was
      detected in the cytosolic fractions of rat spleen and PC12 cells. 2. The
      inhibitors were heat-labile and trypsin-sensitive, indicating that they were of
      proteinous nature. 3. The molecular mass of the inhibitor in the spleen appeared
      to be about 65 kDa on the elution profile from the gel filtration column.

PMID- 1451442
TI  - A comparative study on defense systems for lipid peroxidation by free radicals in
      spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rat myocardium.
AB  - 1. Antiperoxidation ability and lipid peroxidation in myocardium were examined in
      spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) at
      6 and 16 weeks of age. 2. Glutathione peroxidase activity was higher in SHR at 6
      weeks of age, but lower at 16 weeks compared to that in WKY. alpha-Tocopherol
      content was lower in SHR at both 6 and 16 weeks of age than in WKY. 3. In vitro
      formation of free malondialdehyde was more pronounced in SHR myocardium than in
      WKY. 4. Coincidence of lower antiperoxidation ability and higher peroxidation of
      membrane phospholipid indicate myocardial cell vulnerability in SHR hypertrophied
      myocardium.

PMID- 1451443
TI  - Purification and characterisation of glutathione transferase from the giant
      African snail, Archachatina marginata.
AB  - 1. Glutathione-S-transferase has been purified from the hepatopancreas of
      Archachatina marginata to homogeneity. 2. The enzyme was found to be a dimer with
      a molecular weight of 44,000. The subunits sizes were 22,500 and 23,500
      respectively. The isoelectric points of the enzyme were 8.35, 7.95 and 4. The
      enzyme was most stable at temperature below 40 degrees C. Upon denaturation by 4
      M urea, only 56% of the activity could be recovered. 3. The Kms for glutathione
      and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenze (CDNB) were 0.23 mM and 0.4 mM respectively. The
      specific activity of the enzyme with CDNB and p-nitrophylacetate as substrates
      were 47 mumol/mg and 38 mumol/mg respectively. 4. Inhibition studies showed that
      S-hexylglutathione, Rose Bengal, iodoacetamide, sodium azide and Procion Blue H-B
      were good inhibitors with I50 values ranging from 18.5 microM to 299 mM. 5. The
      amino acid composition showed that the enzyme had a relatively high content of
      hydrophobic and acidic amino acid residues. The peptide maps of the tryptic
      digests of the native and performic acid-oxidised enzyme indicated that there
      might be about two disulphide bridges per molecule of the enzyme.

PMID- 1451444
TI  - Changes in liver microsome lipids and plasma fatty acids induced by dietary
      orotate in the weanling rat.
AB  - 1. Dietary orotate produced a decrease in total plasma fatty acids which was
      reflected in low values of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty
      acids longer than 18 carbon atoms of the n-6 series. The relative content of
      saturated fatty acids in microsomes of animals fed orotate was also decreased. 2.
      Rat liver delta-9 desaturase activity was lower in the group fed orotate.
      However, delta-6 desaturase activity did not show significant differences between
      the groups. 3. Microsomal cholesterol content was lower in rats fed orotate than
      in controls but phospholipid phosphorus contents were similar. These results
      suggest a direct effect of dietary orotate on the key enzymes which regulates
      cholesterol liver metabolism.

PMID- 1451445
TI  - Cytosolic modulators of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity in
      hepatic tissue of the chicken (Gallus domesticus).
AB  - 1. An enzymatic assay for microsomal acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT)
      activity in chicken hepatic tissues was developed using silicic acid
      chromatography. 2. ACAT activity was increased in response to liver cytosolic
      protein preparations suggesting the presence of cytosolic modulators of the
      enzyme. 3. Fractions containing low molecular weight proteins (12-15 kDa)
      prepared by molecular sieve chromatography also stimulated ACAT activity. 4.
      Liver-FABP was specifically implicated as a cytosolic modulator of ACAT activity
      in chicken liver tissue.

PMID- 1451446
TI  - Comparison of glycerolipid biosynthesis in homogenates from human, ovine, bovine
      and rat adipose tissue in vitro.
AB  - 1. Assay conditions were compared for glycerolipid biosynthesis in homogenates
      prepared from human abdominal, ovine and bovine subcutaneous, and rat epididymal
      adipose tissues. 2. In contrast to other species, longer incubation time and
      greater homogenate concentration resulted in decreased glycerolipid biosynthesis
      with rat adipose tissue homogenates. 3. Species differences were observed in
      concentration-dependency for ATP and fatty acids (palmitate, oleate and
      palmitoleate). 4. Results indicated that glycerolipid biosynthesis transpired at
      different rates in the four species, and that ovine and human adipose tissue
      homogenates had similar properties.

PMID- 1451447
TI  - The Suicide and Aggression Survey: a semistructured instrument for the
      measurement of suicidality and aggression.
AB  - Despite the rising concern with the increasing rate of violent and suicidal
      behaviors in this country and others, we remain relatively limited in our ability
      to rigorously define, classify, and measure these behaviors. In addition to our
      previous work in developing self-rating scales assessing aspects of aggressive
      behaviors, we have developed the Suicide and Aggression Survey (SAS), a new,
      comprehensive, semistructured interview and research tool, for the purpose of
      comprehensively evaluating and understanding the multiple constituents of these
      behaviors, and for assisting in predicting which individuals might be at high
      risk for suicide or violence. The present report describes the need for such an
      instrument and the theoretical models that have guided us in constructing it; one
      of these is a sequential description of the major classes of variables related to
      aggression and the other is a two-stage model of countervailing forces.
      Preliminary reliability data and a description of the structure of the interview
      are included.

PMID- 1451448
TI  - Prediction of suicide intent in hospitalized parasuicides: reasons for living,
      hopelessness, and depression.
AB  - This study examined the risk prediction efficiency of the Reasons for Living
      Inventory Survival and Coping Beliefs Scale, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Beck
      Depression Inventory, and the Life Experiences Survey with a sample of 51 newly
      hospitalized parasuicides. The index of suicidal potential chosen for this study
      was suicide intent as measured by Beck's Suicide Intent Scale. Regression
      analyses indicated that the Survival and Coping Beliefs Scale emerged as the
      single most important predictor of suicide intent. Hopelessness and depression
      made secondary and nonsignificant contributions. Hopelessness was a significant
      predictor of suicide intent when analyzed apart from Survival and Coping Beliefs,
      but not among a subsample of 43 repeat parasuicides. Classification analyses
      showed that neither hopelessness nor survival and coping beliefs were accurate at
      classifying low- or high-intent parasuicides. Factors contributing to the
      efficacy of survival and coping beliefs as a risk prediction index are discussed,
      as is the false-negative dilemma in suicide risk assessment and prediction.

PMID- 1451449
TI  - The PBI-BC: a brief current form of the Parental Bonding Instrument for
      adolescent research.
AB  - The present report describes the development of a brief form of the Parental
      Bonding Instrument (PBI-BC) intended to measure perceptions of current parental
      characteristics. The PBI-BC, consisting of eight items and inquiring into
      parental characteristics as perceived by the adolescent respondent over the
      previous 3 months, is shown to closely replicate the factor structure reported
      for the PBI. The scales are shown to have reasonable internal reliability.
      Arithmetic difference scores representing the two bipolar factors seem to be
      adequate for studies requiring easily calculated measures of parental care versus
      rejection, and parental control versus autonomy. The PBI-BC may be particularly
      useful in multivariate studies of adolescent samples, where the two dimensions of
      parental care versus rejection and parental control versus autonomy are thought
      to be potentially relevant.

PMID- 1451450
TI  - Construct validation in adolescents of the brief current form of the Parental
      Bonding Instrument.
AB  - We have reported elsewhere the development of a brief version of the Parental
      Bonding Instrument (PBI), which we have called the Parental Bonding Instrument
      Brief Current form (PBI-BC), for use in survey research in adolescent samples. It
      was shown in that report that PBI-BC retained the factor structure of the
      original instrument. The structure remained stable in adolescents' ratings of
      their mothers and their fathers. Given the evidence of a relationship between the
      dimensions from the original scale and psychopathology, it was expected that the
      PBI-BC would be similarly related to measures of psychopathology, namely, that
      there would be a set of positive correlations between the perceived parental
      bonding styles of high control and low autonomy-giving and measures of pathology,
      with a negative relationship between pathology and perceived parental styles of
      high care and low rejection. In addition, the present study explored the
      relationships between perceived parental styles and bipolar positive and negative
      self-concept measures, with the expectations that high control and low autonomy
      would be associated with more negative self-concept and that high care and low
      rejection would be associated with more positive self-concept. The results
      generally confirmed these expectations, suggesting that the brief instrument has
      adequate construct validity and would be particularly useful as a brief index in
      studies of adolescents.

PMID- 1451451
TI  - Suicide attempts of high medical seriousness in schizophrenic patients.
AB  - A retrospective study was conducted that included all patients who in the
      previous 6 years had required admission to our hospital for medical reasons
      following attempted suicide (N = 253). Those diagnosed as schizophrenic (n = 43)
      in accordance with DSM-III-R criteria were compared with the other
      nonschizophrenic suicide attempters. Schizophrenic patients were significantly
      different in that they were younger and generally unmarried, usually used violent
      methods, made more attempts while in a psychiatric center, and presented a lower
      incidence of concurrent organic illness than the nonschizophrenics; almost all of
      them were chronic. A large majority (80%) showed delusional and hallucinatory
      symptoms at the time of the attempt. In contrast, depressive symptoms were noted
      in an appreciably lower percentage of subjects than that in other studies of
      suicidal behavior in schizophrenics.

PMID- 1451452
TI  - Crisis intervention response and long-term outcome: a pilot study.
AB  - We investigated whether process variables (therapeutic alliance and insight)
      measured at the termination of crisis intervention predict long-term treatment
      compliance and 2-year outcome. Thirty-seven consecutive depressed psychiatric
      patients assigned to outpatient crisis intervention (CCI) were assessed with both
      questionnaires and standardized instruments at intake, 1 week, and CCI
      termination (mean, 6 weeks). Thirty-one subjects (84%) were also evaluated at 1
      year and 2-year follow-up. We found that working alliance and development of
      insight predicted positive global change and symptom improvement at 1 and 2
      years' follow-up. Furthermore, the observed correlation between process measures
      and 2-year outcome was found to be independent of age, sex, symptoms severity at
      intake, improvement of symptoms at CCI termination, premorbid adjustment, DSM-III
      R axis I/axis II diagnosis, and therapeutic alliance at intake.

PMID- 1451453
TI  - DSM-III-R narcissistic personality disorder evaluated by patients' and
      informants' self-report questionnaires: relationships with other personality
      disorders and a sense of entitlement as an indicator of narcissism.
AB  - Modified versions of the revised Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire (PDQ-R) for
      DSM-III-R personality disorders (PDs) were completed by 60 patients and their
      informants. Patients' ratings gave a mean number of 4.5 PDs per subject and
      narcissistic (NAR) PD in 42%. Informants' ratings gave NAR PD in 38%. For
      patients and informants, NAR PD scores (i.e., the number of positive NAR PD
      criteria for each subject) were significantly correlated with histrionic (HIS)
      and borderline (BOR) PD scores and with scores of some PDs outside DSM-III-R's
      "cluster B." Also, there were significant correlations between patients' and
      informants' NAR PD scores and between NAR PD scores and total number of positive
      criteria (i.e., for all 13 PDs) for patients and informants. For patients'
      ratings, there were significant associations between NAR PD and HIS, BOR, and
      passive-aggressive (PAG) PDs and, for informants' ratings, between NAR and HIS
      PDs. There was no significant association between patients' and informants'
      diagnoses of NAR PD. Grandiosity, the most characteristic feature of narcissism,
      is related to NAR PD criteria 3 through 6. The patients' evaluation of criterion
      6 (i.e., "Has a sense of entitlement ...") shows satisfactory item-total
      correlation and endorsement frequency, together with "fair to good" reliability
      when patients' and informants' ratings are compared (kappa = 0.62). The
      identification of a sense of entitlement by the patient may be a relatively
      reliable and valid indicator of narcissism.

PMID- 1451454
TI  - A case of subcortical grey matter heterotopia presenting as bipolar disorder.
AB  - A case of previously diagnosed bipolar disorder was found to be associated with
      unilateral subcortical grey matter heterotopia, cortical hemiatrophy, midline
      shift, and ventriculomegaly on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patient
      responded to pharmacotherapy with lithium carbonate and carbamazepine. This case
      dramatically illustrates the need for neuroimaging in psychiatric patients with
      apparently "functional" affective illness.

PMID- 1451455
TI  - Psychiatric disorders among wife batterers.
AB  - Sixty-one male spouse batterers were identified from a population of relatives of
      treated alcoholics and compared to 319 married or formerly married men without a
      reported history of battering on lifetime psychiatric diagnoses and antecedent
      behaviors. Batterers had higher lifetime rates of alcoholism, antisocial
      personality disorder, and depression than nonbatterers, but not other psychiatric
      disorders. While batterers and nonbatterers could not be differentiated based on
      violent behaviors occurring before the age of 15, 95% of batterers reported other
      fighting as an adult. Batterers also were more likely to have been divorced two
      or more times and to report repeated infidelity. Implications for treatment of
      batterers and identifying groups at high risk for battering are discussed.

PMID- 1451456
TI  - The value of the local lymph node assay in quantitative structure-activity
      investigations.
AB  - The development of quantitative correlations between the physicochemical
      properties of a compound and its ability to act as a skin sensitizer is
      complicated by the number of variables associated with the current sensitization
      test data, combined with the absence of a truly objective end point. Recently,
      however, a novel approach to the assessment of skin sensitization potential, the
      local lymph node assay (LLNA), has been described, which determines the skin
      sensitization by measuring lymphocyte proliferation in lymph nodes draining the
      site of chemical exposure. The assay offers several advantages over traditional
      methods in the context of quantitative structure-activity relationship studies.
      In the present work, a range of bromoalkanes has been employed which demonstrate
      the robustness and reproducibility of the LLNA. Sensitizing activity increased
      with chain length up to a maximum at C15/C16, whereafter the response declined.
      The data were modelled against hydrophobicity, expressed as Clog P and (ClogP)2
      to fit the biphasic nature of the results. The results demonstrate the utility of
      LLNA data for interpretation in the context of quantitative structure-activity
      relationships, the limited number of variables, inter-test reproducibility and
      quantitative end point, lending themselves to mathematical interpretations.

PMID- 1451457
TI  - Eyelid dermatitis: an evaluation of 150 patients.
AB  - This study was performed to evaluate eyelid dermatitis in a group of patients of
      our Allergy Unit between January 1990 and April 1991. Among the 1158 patients
      seen during this period, 150 had eyelid dermatitis: 135 females and 15 males,
      with a mean age of 35 years. Of the 150 patients with eyelid dermatitis, 54 had
      eczema localized to the eyelids only, 49 to the eyelids and face, 19 to the
      eyelids and hands, and 28 to the eyelids and other sites. 98 patients (65.3%)
      were diagnosed as having allergic contact dermatitis, 25 (16.6%) irritant contact
      dermatitis, 21 (14%) atopic dermatitis, and 6 (4%) seborrhoeic dermatitis. Patch
      test reactions to nickel sulphate, Kathon CG and fragrance-mix occurred more
      frequently in patients with eyelid dermatitis than in those without.

PMID- 1451458
TI  - Irritant cutaneous reactions to N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP).
AB  - Several workers in a small electrotechnical company in Norway experienced
      irritant reactions of the skin after a few days of working with the solvent N
      methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Due to concern about the health risk of commonly-used
      organic solvents, the company had chosen to use NMP when one of its products had
      to be treated with a solvent. After 2 days of work with NMP, 10 of the 12
      involved workers displayed acute irritant contact dermatitis of the hands.
      According to published reports, NMP is not considered to be particularly irritant
      to the skin. The Safety Data Sheet of a Norwegian sales firm contained no
      information on cutaneous hazards, but the Safety Data Sheet of an American
      producer of NMP stated the risk of severe dermatitis upon prolonged contact. NMP
      seems to be more irritant to the human skin than reported thus far.

PMID- 1451459
TI  - Monitoring of skin response to sodium lauryl sulphate: clinical scores versus
      bioengineering methods.
AB  - The present trial was designed to evaluate clinical scores (single observer) of
      sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)-induced skin irritation in a group of subjects (n =
      10) over a 10-day period along with various skin function parameters. In order to
      avoid significant variations due to secondary phenomena, the following parameters
      were recorded with non-invasive instruments in this order: skin capacitance (C1;
      arbitrary units; CM420 Corneometer), transepidermal water loss (TEWL; g/m2.h;
      Evaporimeter) and laser Doppler flowmetry (CBFV: cutaneous blood flow values;
      Periflux). All examinations were performed during winter on reclined relaxed
      subjects present for at least 10 min in a test room with controlled temperature
      and relative humidity (t degrees: 19.5-20.7 degrees C and RH: 47.3-60.3%). The
      analysis of differential data (delta = value at tx-value before test; 2-way
      ANOVA) was made on single parameters as a function of site (volar forearm versus
      neck) and time (from 24 h after 48-h occlusion with 5% SLS up to 10 days later).
      The profile of erythema scores over time differed between neck and forearm, but
      the delta CBFV readings with the laser Doppler instrument did not detect
      significant site-time interactions. Roughness (blind evaluation with palpating
      finger) and capacitance readings (delta C1) showed significant differences
      between sites, but the profile over time was similar in both locations. delta
      TEWL did not differ according to anatomical location. The reason for different
      erythema scores on neck and forearm might be related to inherent regional
      variation of optical properties of the skin or to a substantial contribution of
      SLS-induced roughness to the readings of erythema.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1451460
TI  - Patch test reactions to metal salts in patients with oral mucosal lesions
      associated with amalgam restorations.
AB  - Patch testing with various metal salts was performed in patients with oral
      mucosal lesions associated with amalgam restorations, by using polypropylene
      coated aluminium discs. Positive reactions to mercuric chloride were obtained in
      5/12 (42%) of these patients, but only in 1/11 patients (9%) with oral mucosal
      lesions unassociated with amalgam restorations and in 3/36 patients (8%) in a
      control group without mucosal lesions. The difference between the former group
      and the control patients is statistically significant (p less than 0.05). In
      addition, a positive test reaction to copper sulfate was obtained in 2 patients
      (16%) with amalgam-associated mucosal lesions and negative reactions to mercuric
      chloride. 2 of the 5 positive test reactions to mercuric chloride, in the
      patients with lichenoid mucosal lesions associated with amalgam, became lichenoid
      and persisted for at least 3 weeks. The patients with these reactions were also
      positive at a concentration of 0.05% mercuric chloride, but were negative to
      metallic mercury, in contrast to 2 other patients in the same group. This
      indicates the necessity of including mercuric chloride when patch testing such
      patients.

PMID- 1451461
TI  - Occupational dermatitis from exposure to polyurethane chemicals.
AB  - In addition to asthma, contact dermatitis may also develop from occupational
      contact with polyurethane (PU) chemicals. 6 cases of allergic contact dermatitis
      from exposure to PU chemicals were diagnosed in 1974-1990. The present paper
      summarizes the results and gives detailed descriptions of 3 such patients. 3
      patients were allergic to 5 different diisocyanates (DICs), including 4,4'
      diphenylmethane DIC (MDI), toluene DIC (TDI), 1,6-hexamethylene DIC (HID), and
      furthermore to diaminodiphenylmethane (MDA). 3 patients were sensitized by
      exposure to MDI. 2 of these reacted to MDI and MDA, and 1 to TDI in addition. 1
      of the 3 patients reacted only to MDA, possibly formed by hydrolysis of MDI.
      Primary sensitization to MDA and cross-allergy to MDI could explain the reactions
      of the patients exposed to MDI, but separate sensitization may also be possible.
      Patch tests with fresh petrolatum (pet.) mixtures were first made and a 2%
      concentration was recommended for MDI and TDI. In order to determine the
      stability of DIC test substances, the last 2 patients were tested with old test
      substances. Tests with MDI 1.5% pet. and TDI 1.5% pet., 5.5 months and 15.5
      months old, were positive. The results suggest that, when allergy to PU chemicals
      is suspected, patch tests should include, in addition to MDA, at least MDI and
      TDI 1.5-2% pet. They also suggest that test substances can be used for over a
      year, and that allergy to MDA may point to MDI exposure contained in PU
      chemicals.

PMID- 1451462
TI  - A method for identifying causative chemicals of allergic contact dermatitis using
      a combination of chemical analysis and patch testing in patients and animal
      groups: application to a case of rubber boot dermatitis.
AB  - A 63-year-old woman developed allergic contact dermatitis from rubber boots.
      Initial investigation, by patch testing in the patient and chemical analysis of
      the causative rubber boots, revealed that mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) and
      dibenzothiazyl disulfide (MBTS) were the causative chemicals. Subsequent
      investigations were performed by patch testing in animal groups. An extract of
      the causative rubber boots, MBT and MBTS were used for sensitization of guinea
      pigs by the guinea pig maximization test (GPMT). 3 animal groups, A (with the
      boot extract), B (with MBT) and C (with MBTS) were successfully prepared. The
      boot extract was fractionated by column chromatography and thin-layer
      chromatography (TLC). Each fraction was subjected to patch testing in the animal
      groups. Positive reactions in all groups would show that the active fractions
      contained MBT-type compounds, whereas a positive reaction in group A but negative
      ones in group B and C would show that the active fractions did not contain any
      MBT-type compounds. Each fraction was then analyzed by gas chromatography (GC),
      GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), direct inlet-MS (DI-MS) and high-performance liquid
      chromatography (HPLC). By this investigation, we found not only known allergens
      (MBT, MBTS), but also unknown allergens: S-substituted MBT-type compounds and
      styrenated phenol (SP). Thus, SP was shown to be a candidate as a human
      sensitizer even though the patient did not react to it.

PMID- 1451463
TI  - Evaluation of skin irritancy of sodium lauryl sulphate: a comparative study
      between the replica method and visual evaluation.
AB  - For 20 years, using the replica method, we have evaluated the skin irritancy of
      about 10,000 commercial products which come into contact with the skin. In this
      method, test substances are usually applied on the flexor side of the upper arm
      for 24 h by semi-open patch test. Subsequently, skin replicas are taken and skin
      irritancy is evaluated microscopically. In the semi-open patch test, test
      substances are not completely occluded as in the closed patch test. Thus, this
      method is less invasive than the closed patch test method to the tested subjects.
      In this study, we investigated the sensitivity of microscopic scoring (MS) of the
      replica and visual scoring (VS) of the skin. Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) at
      0.02%, 0.05%, and 0.2% was applied on 20 subjects' upper arms, using closed and
      semi-open methods. In both the closed patch test and the semi-open patch test,
      the value of MS correlated with the concentration of SLS, while VS did not show
      such a clear correlation. In addition, we compared 2 clinical tests for skin
      irritancy which are commonly performed in Japan: VS of 48 h closed patch test
      reaction on the subjects' upper backs and MS of 24 h semi-open patch test
      reaction on the subjects' upper arms (replica method). MS on the upper arms
      resulted in a constant score, regardless of the location of application, while VS
      on the upper back produced results which differed widely depending on the
      location. Thus, the replica method is a useful clinical test for skin irritancy,
      because it is sensitive, reproducible and non-invasive.

PMID- 1451464
TI  - Results of routine patch testing of 834 patients in Turin.
AB  - 834 consecutive patients (630 female), aged between 26 and 46 years, who were
      suspected of having allergic contact dermatitis were patch tested with the GIRDCA
      standard series during 1989-1990. The most frequent sensitizers observed included
      nickel sulphate, cobalt, Kathon CG, perfumes, potassium dichromate and balsam of
      Peru. We have evaluated the influence of individual factors such as sex, age and
      occupation on the patch test results, and the coexistence of 2 or more unrelated
      but statistically significant sensitivities.

PMID- 1451465
TI  - Occupational dermatitis in an accordion repairer.

PMID- 1451466
TI  - Bullous fixed drug eruption induced by vinburnine.

PMID- 1451467
TI  - Patch tests with Tactylon in patients with contact allergy to rubber.

PMID- 1451468
TI  - Occupational contact urticaria from beef associated with hand eczema.

PMID- 1451469
TI  - Occupational contact dermatitis from cyclohexanone as a PVC adhesive.

PMID- 1451470
TI  - The patch test dilution of oleamidopropyl dimethylamine.

PMID- 1451471
TI  - Contact allergy to undecylenamide diethanolamide in a liquid soap.

PMID- 1451472
TI  - Teats and pacifiers--an allergy risk for infants?

PMID- 1451473
TI  - Patch test preparations of mercury ammonium chloride under the microscope.

PMID- 1451474
TI  - Jellyfish dermatitis due to Carybdea marsupialis.

PMID- 1451475
TI  - Immunologic contact urticaria syndrome from raw rice.

PMID- 1451476
TI  - Allergic contact dermatitis from dibutyl phthalate, propyl gallate and
      hydrocortisone in Timodine.

PMID- 1451477
TI  - Cross-sensitivity between resorcinol, resorcinol monobenzoate and phenyl
      salicylate.

PMID- 1451478
TI  - Contact dermatitis from topical alkylamines.

PMID- 1451479
TI  - Photocontact allergy due to thiocolchicoside.

PMID- 1451480
TI  - 17 cases of epoxy resin dermatitis in Shanghai.

PMID- 1451481
TI  - The reaction index: a parameter to assess the quality of patch test preparations.

PMID- 1451482
TI  - Contact sensitivity to topical aminoglycosides in India.

PMID- 1451483
TI  - Occupational contact allergy to 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one in the manufacture of
      air fresheners.

PMID- 1451484
TI  - Sulphanilic acid: divergent results in the guinea pig maximization test and the
      local lymph node assay.
AB  - The guinea pig maximization test (GPMT) has proven to be a valuable tool for the
      identification of the skin sensitization potential of chemicals. The method
      identifies a hazard which can lead in the EC to compulsory labelling of that
      chemical. In the present study, data on sulphanilic acid derived from the GPMT
      has been compared with results from a second guinea pig assay (the cumulative
      contact enhancement test) and the murine local lymph node assay, both of which
      require only topical application of chemical. Except for the GPMT, no test
      identified any sensitizing activity associated with exposure to sulphanilic acid.
      These latter results are consistent with the experience gained from substantial
      human exposure in an occupational setting and from which no cases of allergic
      contact dermatitis to sulphanilic acid have arisen over a 20-year period. In
      consequence, it is questioned which test protocol in practice has given the more
      accurate identification of sensitization hazard relevant to man.

PMID- 1451485
TI  - Prognosis of occupational chromate dermatitis.
AB  - To elucidate further the natural history and prognosis of occupational chromate
      dermatitis, 120 affected patients, diagnosed between 1980 and 1989, were
      reviewed. The incidence of chromate dermatitis in Western Australia appeared to
      remain unchanged over the decade. 65% of patients were construction workers with
      cement-induced chromate dermatitis. Workers at greatest risk of sensitization
      were those mixing bagged cement at the work site. The median age at onset of
      symptoms was 34 years, with 48% having been exposed to chromate for 5 years or
      less. Only 37% presented to the dermatologist within 12 months of developing
      symptoms. 76% of patients had ongoing dermatitis at the time of review. Although
      48% of the study population had completely changed their occupation to avoid
      chromate exposure, symptoms persisted in 69%. A delayed diagnosis of chromate
      sensitivity was noted to be a predictor of chronicity. In view of the potential
      chronicity of chromate dermatitis and its associated social and occupational
      impairment, we recommend the addition of ferrous sulphate while mixing bagged
      cement at the work site. This simple technique targets the workers at greatest
      risk of becoming sensitized.

PMID- 1451486
TI  - Studies on the allergenicity of Baltic amber.
AB  - Baltic amber is a fossil resin deposited 36-7 million years ago and one source
      may be the extinct tree Pinites (Pinus) succinifer. Palaeobotanical studies of
      amber have an extensive literature, but the aspect of allergenicity has not been
      addressed before. The aim of our study was to present the results from
      sensitization studies with Baltic amber and to discuss these in view of possible
      cross-reactivity with contact allergens in colophony. It is concluded that
      allergens found in colophony can also be present in Baltic amber. The main resin
      acids were identified in an ether-soluble extract of amber. Amber suspended in
      petrolatum caused positive patch test reactions in patients with contact allergy
      to colophony. Furthermore, animals sensitized to colophony showed positive
      reactions to amber, but animals induced with amber did not react when challenged
      with amber. A use test with an amber necklace in patients with positive test
      reactions to amber and colophony was negative, which supports the view that amber
      in personal ornaments is not a clinical problem.

PMID- 1451487
TI  - Erythema multiforme reaction to patch testing.
AB  - A young woman developed erythema multiforme in association with multiple patch
      test reactions. Sequential patch testing revealed 2 true positive reactions
      (colophony and fragrance mix), and was not associated with flare of erythema
      multiforme-type lesions. The development of erythema multiforme should be
      included in the list of possible adverse reactions to patch testing, albeit a
      rare occurrence.

PMID- 1451488
TI  - A survey of formaldehyde in shampoos and skin creams on the Danish market.
AB  - To evaluate the exposure of the general population to formaldehyde from the use
      of cosmetic products, as well as to monitor whether cosmetic products comply with
      national regulations, 285 shampoos, creams, etc., were analysed for formaldehyde.
      Identification and determination of formaldehyde was performed by the EEC method
      for the analysis of formaldehyde in cosmetic products. It was shown that 29.5% of
      the products investigated contained 0.001%-0.147% total formaldehyde. In 10 of
      the products (3.5%), total formaldehyde content was > 0.05%. 8 of these products
      contained > 0.05% free formaldehyde. None of these products was labelled
      'contains formaldehyde'. 17 of the products investigated were declared to contain
      specific formaldehyde-releasers. Formaldehyde could not be detected (detection
      limit 0.001%) in cosmetic products that were declared to contain
      Bronidox/Bronopol.

PMID- 1451489
TI  - Skin reactivity to metallic cobalt in patients with a positive patch test to
      cobalt chloride.
AB  - 458 consecutive patients were patch tested with a metallic cobalt disc as a
      supplement to the standard series. 23 patients had a positive reaction to CoCl2
      1% pet. Of these, 19 were tested with the cobalt disc. 11 had a positive reaction
      and 5 a questionable reaction. There were no positive reactions to the cobalt
      disc in patients with a negative patch test to CoCl2 1% pet. Patch testing with
      CoCl2 1% pet. diagnoses all patients with allergy to metallic cobalt, but the
      test method is limited by a high number of irritant and questionable reactions.

PMID- 1451490
TI  - Heat treatment of Japanese lacquerware renders it hypoallergenic.
AB  - Japanese lacquer is made from the sap of the Japanese lacquer tree (Toxicodendron
      vernicifluum), a member of the Anacardiacae plant family. Objects painted with
      this material are described collectively as lacquerware. Both fresh lacquer and
      lacquerware may evoke allergic contact reactions ascribable to the urushiols
      contained therein. In this study, we have examined the effects of heating on the
      ability of lacquerware to elicit an allergic contact reaction. Lacquer films
      prepared with and without heat treatment were tested on urushiol-sensitive
      subjects. Patch test reactions were strongest to untreated film and decreased
      with increasing level of heat treatment. Assays for free urushiol in the lacquer
      films demonstrated that free urushiol content decreased with increasing heat
      treatment and that urushiols with saturated and monounsaturated alk(en)yl chains
      predominated.

PMID- 1451491
TI  - Diagnostic value of the lymphocyte proliferation test in nickel contact allergy
      and provocation in occupational coin dermatitis.
AB  - The lymphocyte proliferation test (LPT) was compared with the patch test in the
      diagnosis of nickel contact sensitivity. Of the 21 subjects with nickel contact
      allergy, the patch test detected 20 (95%). The subject remaining negative in the
      patch test was positive in the intradermal test. 18/21 subjects with nickel
      contact sensitivity were positive in the LPT, whereas in the control group 2/23
      subjects were false positive. These results were obtained at nickel sulfate
      concentrations of less than 10 micrograms/ml, higher concentrations led to
      nonspecific lymphocyte stimulation. 3 nickel-sensitive cashiers with suspected
      coin contact-induced deterioration of their hand eczema were challenged by having
      them count nickel-containing coins daily for 15 min. 2 of them developed
      vesicular eczema on their palms and fingers in 2 to 3 days. The present results
      show that the LPT is a reliable additional test in the diagnosis of nickel
      contact sensitivity. Furthermore, provocation is a valuable procedure when
      assessing the relevance of nickel contact in occupational hand eczema in certain
      occupations.

PMID- 1451492
TI  - Contact sensitivity to N-A Dressing.

PMID- 1451493
TI  - Occupational contact dermatitis from airborne nicergoline.

PMID- 1451494
TI  - Compositae dermatitis presenting as hand eczema.

PMID- 1451495
TI  - Generalized eczema from vitallium osteosynthesis material.

PMID- 1451496
TI  - Systemic contact dermatitis from an orthodontic appliance.

PMID- 1451497
TI  - Allergic contact dermatitis from diaminodiphenylmethane in an ostomy bag.

PMID- 1451498
TI  - Contact allergy to piroxicam gel.

PMID- 1451499
TI  - Concomitant sensitization to enoxolone and mafenide in a topical medicament.

PMID- 1451500
TI  - Contact cheilitis in Singapore.

PMID- 1451501
TI  - Immediate and delayed hypersensitivity to the nettle plant.

PMID- 1451502
TI  - Caustic ulcers caused by calcium hydroxide in 2 adolescent football players.

PMID- 1451503
TI  - Allergic contact dermatitis from fepradinol.

PMID- 1451504
TI  - Allergic contact cheilitis from a lipstick containing oxybenzone.

PMID- 1451505
TI  - Laxative-induced contact dermatitis.

PMID- 1451506
TI  - Normal standards for dermatological health screening at places of work.

PMID- 1451507
TI  - Delayed hypersensitivity to cefuroxime.

PMID- 1451508
TI  - Allergic contact dermatitis due to 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one in paint
      manufacture.

PMID- 1451509
TI  - Can 'label dermatitis' become 'creeping neurotic excoriations'?

PMID- 1451510
TI  - Vulvar contact dermatitis from nifuratel.

PMID- 1451511
TI  - Contact dermatitis from ketoconazole cream.

PMID- 1451512
TI  - Allergic contact dermatitis from ethanol in a transdermal estradiol patch.

PMID- 1451513
TI  - Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from ethyl chloro oximido acetate.

PMID- 1451514
TI  - Contact sensitization by alternative topical medicaments containing plant
      extracts. The Dutch Contact Dermatoses Group.

PMID- 1451515
TI  - Systemic contact dermatitis from tea tree oil.

PMID- 1451516
TI  - Clinical trial on termination of early pregnancy with RU486 in combination with
      prostaglandin.
AB  - Termination of early pregnancy was performed in 1572 healthy women with RU486
      (mifepristone, 600mg orally once), followed 36-60 hours later by administration
      of methyl ester of dl-15-methyl-PGF2 alpha (PG05, 1mg vaginal suppository).
      Complete abortion was accomplished in 91.2% (1433/1571), incomplete abortion in
      4.8% (76/1571), and continued pregnancy in 3.9% (62/1571). The time elapsed
      between RU486 intake and complete expulsion was 2.4 +/- 1.3 days. Expulsion took
      place on the third day in 935 women (72%), and on the 4th day in 273 women
      (21.0%). Uterine bleeding occurred on the second or third day after RU486 intake
      in 1256 women (88.8%), and lasted 11.7 +/- 6.4 (SD) days, range 2-55 days. One
      subject had blood transfusion due to excessive bleeding. The main side effects
      were nausea/vomiting (22.3%), abdominal pain (10.2%), headache/dizziness (4.1%)
      and diarrhea (2.8%). Fatal side effects have not been reported in this study.
      About 73% of subjects with complete abortion assessed the treatment as good to
      excellent. Even in the failed cases, 25-42% of subjects considered the treatment
      as good. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal dose of the RU486
      regimen. It should be emphasized that the treatment must be used under close
      medical supervision in order to monitor the uterine bleeding.

PMID- 1451517
TI  - Role of ultrasonography in managing IUD-related complaints.
AB  - The study included 211 women using Cu-T 380A, of whom 155 presented with
      complaints related to IUD use. All women were examined by real-time ultrasound
      using abdominal sector and/or vaginal scanners. The parameters that were studied
      included the top-fundal distance (distance between the device top and the highest
      point in the uterine cavity), the intercornual and the fundus-isthmus diameters
      (of the uterine cavity). Any abnormal finding was also recorded. About 50% of
      complainers had top-fundal distance more than 4 mm, compared to 28% of non
      complainers. An intercornual diameter, too small (less than 30 mm) or too wide
      (greater than or equal to 38 mm), was significantly more frequent in women
      complaining of bleeding and pain. Other abnormal findings were diagnosed in 25%
      of complainers compared to 7% in those without complaint. These findings included
      partial expulsion, appearance suggestive of pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian
      swellings, embedding and fibroid uterus. Ultrasonography can give useful insights
      in managing IUD-related complaints in selected cases.

PMID- 1451518
TI  - Comparison of two uterine cavity-shaped IUDs.
AB  - For the purpose of lowering the pregnancy rate of the uterine cavity-shaped
      stainless steel IUD (first generation UCD) and maintaining its advantages, the
      copper-plated uterine cavity-shaped IUD (second generation UCD or UCDcu) was
      designed. A randomized use-effectiveness study in ten centres with the UCDcu and
      UCD have been analyzed at twelve months. The UCDcu had a significantly lower
      pregnancy rate (0.3 per 100 women) than the UCD (2.9 per 100 women), p less than
      0.005. Whereas, the other cumulative rates such as expulsion, removals for
      bleeding and pain, and other personal were not significantly different for the
      two IUDs, p greater than 0.05.

PMID- 1451519
TI  - Lipid and biochemical changes after low-dose oral contraception.
AB  - A randomized double-blind study of the metabolic effects of 2 low-dose combined
      oral contraceptives was carried out in Singaporean women. The subjects comprised
      58 women randomly allocated to two treatment groups (29 each): norethisterone 1
      mg/ethinyl estradiol 35 micrograms (NET/EE) or levonorgestrel 150
      micrograms/ethinyl estradiol 30 micrograms (LNG/EE) and a control group of 23
      women using intra-uterine devices (IUD). Blood samples were taken on admission
      and at 3 and 12 months after pills or insertion of IUDs. Fasting glucose levels
      were decreased while 2h glucose and triglyceride were increased throughout the
      treatment period in NET/EE group [corrected]. LNG/EE group only showed
      significant increase of 2h glucose at 12 months and decrease of LDL cholesterol
      at 3 months while total cholesterol was significantly suppressed at 3 and 12
      months [corrected]. The atherogenic index, LDL/HDL cholesterol was significantly
      reduced by 12 months. Both groups had no change in hemoglobin, hematocrit and
      total protein levels but alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin and aspartate
      transaminase (SGOT) were suppressed. While NET/EE suppressed albumin
      significantly, this was not observed with LNG/EE group. However, these
      differences observed with use of each pill preparations, were not so obvious
      between treatment groups and control. Changes in total, HDL and LDL cholesterol
      and SGOT were not significantly different than the IUD group. Furthermore, except
      for 2h glucose, there was no increase in the number of abnormal parameters after
      treatment. On the contrary, there was a reduction of abnormal values in most
      liver function parameters. Thus, except for glucose intolerance, the observed
      changes in metabolic parameters may not constitute any clinical
      significance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451520
TI  - Long-term effect of low-dose combined steroid contraceptives on body iron status.
AB  - The present study was aimed to evaluate iron metabolism in active and healthy
      adult women having taken oral contraceptives (OC) long-term. Mean dietary iron
      intake in age-matched control and experimental groups was adequate. Serum
      ferritin used as a marker for body iron stores was marginal in both groups
      underlying a high prevalence of deficient-iron reserves among subjects. This
      parameter was not correlated to the iron content of the diet. The serum iron
      concentration was significantly higher in OC users than control subjects (p less
      than 0.001). Biochemical results commanded a discussion on the pertinence of
      evaluating the total dietary iron intake and on the sensitivity of biochemical
      methods used to assess the iron status.

PMID- 1451521
TI  - Oral contraceptives in premenstrual syndrome: a randomized comparison of
      triphasic and monophasic preparations.
AB  - Thirty-seven women with cyclical mood changes, either only in the premenstrual
      phase ('pure PMS') or during the entire cycle with premenstrual aggravation
      ('PMA'), were recruited to participate in a randomized study investigating the
      effect of three different oral contraceptives (OCs) on mood symptoms; 32 out of
      the 37 women completed the study. The monophasic ethinylestradiol
      (EE)/desogestrel (DSG) OC was compared, in a single (doctor)-blind cross-over
      design, with a monophasic and a triphasic levonorgestrel (LNG)-containing
      combined OC. The women kept a record of their symptoms and complaints by noting
      daily ratings using a validated visual analogue scale. One pretreatment cycle was
      followed by four treatment cycles, two cycles on each OC. All OCs had a
      beneficial effect on the PMS symptoms compared to the pre-treatment period. There
      were no changes between consecutive cycles. Cyclical symptom changes were noted
      during all OC treatment. The monophasic desogestrel pill provoked less changes in
      mood parameters than the monophasic and triphasic levonorgestrel OCs. However,
      physical complaints were less frequently reported during the use of the triphasic
      preparation as compared to the monophasic desogestrel preparation. Women with
      'pure' PMS (premenstrual syndrome) were more consistent in their reactions on OCs
      compared to women with PMA.

PMID- 1451522
TI  - Ovarian activity and bleeding patterns during extended continuous use of a
      combined contraceptive vaginal ring.
AB  - A combined contraceptive vaginal ring with a mean release rate of 0.015 mg of
      ethinyloestradiol and 0.120 mg of 3-ketodesogestrel per day was used by female
      volunteers, for either 28, 42, 56 or 84 days. Contraceptive efficacy was assessed
      by pelvic ultrasound scanning, endocrine monitoring and cervical mucus
      assessment. Menstrual diary cards were analysed to assess the effect on cycle
      control. Ovulation inhibition was seen in all treatment groups. Following removal
      of the ring, a return to an ovulatory cycle was observed in all volunteers. With
      extension of the treatment cycle beyond the recommended 21 days, there is an
      increase in the occurrence of bleeding and spotting episodes. This can be
      compared to patterns obtained during continuous use of combined oral
      contraceptives.

PMID- 1451523
TI  - Study to determine the correlation between condom breakage in human use and
      laboratory test results.
AB  - The present study examined the value of laboratory tests in predicting condom
      breakage for 20 lots of latex condoms which differed in age, storage history and
      laboratory test performance. Two-hundred-sixty-two participating U.S. couples
      used a total of 4589 latex condoms (mean = 229 condoms per lot, range 224-235).
      Breakage rates ranged from 3.5 percent for a brand new condom lot to 18.6 percent
      for a lot that was 81 months old at the time of the study. The statistical
      predictor models, separately using ultimate elongation from the tensile test, the
      Condom Quality Index from the airburst volume test, and the percent of condoms
      failing the airburst volume test as the independent variables and the condom
      breakage rate as the dependent variable, all appear to have a high level of
      accuracy in predicting condom breakage in use. The three models had correlation
      coefficients (R2s) of 0.81, 0.74 and 0.69, respectively. Perhaps the most
      unexpected result was that the age of the condom lot was the best predictor of
      condom breakage during use (correlation coefficient (R2) = 0.92). Although the
      present investigation does not provide sufficient justification to use age as the
      only factor for decisions on condom lot disposition, it does provide some
      guidance.

PMID- 1451524
TI  - Post-coital contraceptive agents from extracts of Sri Lankan alcyonacean soft
      corals--I.
AB  - Dichloromethane-methanol (1:1) extracts of ten species of alcyonacean soft corals
      were screened for post-coital interceptive effects on female rats, using oral
      administration, from day 1 to day 7 of pregnancy. Significant suppression of
      fertility was observed in the animals treated with the crude extracts of
      Sarcophyton ehrenbergi (250 mg/kg/day, P less than 0.05; 500 mg/kg/day, P less
      than 0.001), Sinularia crispa (500 mg/kg/day, P less than 0.05; 1000 mg/kg/day, P
      less than 0.001), Sinularia abrupta (1000 mg/kg/day, P less than 0.001),
      Sinularia spp--III (500 mg/kg/day, P less than 0.05). This antifertility effect
      appears to be due to interruption of embryonic events during implantation and/or
      pre-implantation periods.

PMID- 1451525
TI  - Immunohistochemical localization of basic fibroblast growth factor in mature and
      developing retinas of normal and RCS rats.
AB  - Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) delays photoreceptor degeneration when
      injected intraocularly in Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats with inherited
      retinal dystrophy. In the present study, we have determined the localization of
      endogenous bFGF in retinas of normal and RCS rats during the normal developmental
      period (postnatal days 0-20) and the period of photoreceptor degeneration in RCS
      rats (days 20-90). bFGF was localized immunohistochemically by indirect
      immunoperoxidase using two different polyclonal antibodies and one monoclonal
      antibody against bFGF. bFGF was present in retinas as early as birth, and
      remained through adult age. Controls using either PBS, non-immune IgG or antibody
      preabsorbed with bFGF peptide were devoid of label. In normal rats between the
      ages of birth and postnatal day (P) 4, bFGF was found in developing ganglion
      cells, superficial blood vessels, some of the innermost cells in the neuroblastic
      layer, developing horizontal cells, and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.
      Between P0 and P4, the intensity of staining increased significantly in
      horizontal cells. From P6-P10, some cells in the inner nuclear layer remained
      positive, but horizontal cell staining became less intense in the central retina.
      The superficial vessels, ganglion cells and RPE cells also remained positive for
      bFGF. At P20-25, when the retina was essentially mature, bFGF was found in RPE
      cells, most cells of the ganglion cell layer, and many cells of the inner nuclear
      layer, but horizontal cells and blood vessels showed a lower concentration of
      bFGF than they did at younger ages. At P45 and older, blood vessels no longer
      showed bFGF immunoreactivity. The staining pattern in RCS rats was
      indistinguishable from that for normal rats at all ages examined. These results
      show that bFGF is present in the developing and adult rat retina in some neural
      cells, in addition to vessels and RPE cells. The transient elevated expression of
      bFGF immunoreactivity in developing horizontal cells and blood vessels suggests a
      possible role for this growth factor in retinal development. In addition, if RCS
      retinas possess any difference in bFGF localization or concentration compared to
      normal retinas, it must be too small to detect by immunohistochemical means, or
      at least with the reagents used.

PMID- 1451526
TI  - Oxygen-induced retinopathy in the rat: hemorrhages and dysplasias may lead to
      retinal detachment.
AB  - Rearing neonatal rats in hyperoxia induces the development of retinal hemorrhages
      and retinal dysplasia. Albino rats were placed in 80% oxygen immediately after
      birth and were exposed for either 5, 10, or 14 days, followed by sacrifice or
      exposure to normoxia for an additional 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 38, 45 or 56 days.
      Control rats were simultaneously raised in room air and sacrificed at the same
      times. All animals were enucleated and their eyes processed for light and
      electron microscopy. Eyecups were trimmed to facilitate cross-sectioning of the
      retina in the vertical meridian. No control rats showed signs of retinal
      hemorrhages or of dysplastic folds or rosettes. Nor did the retinas of rats
      killed immediately after oxygen exposure contain hemorrhages, but the incidence
      of retinal folds or rosettes in this group was 54%. For rats exposed to
      combinations of hyperoxia and brief normoxia (10 days or less), 40% suffered
      hemorrhages and 50% developed retinal folds or rosettes. Although hemorrhages
      were more prominent in rats subjected to longer periods of oxygen (73% of all
      rats exposed for 14 days followed by brief normoxia vs. 6% of those exposed for 5
      days followed by brief normoxia), the incidence decreased with time post-exposure
      in room air. Hemorrhages occurred in 100% of the rats raised in oxygen for 14
      days followed by 2 days in room air, and decreased to 50% by 7 days in room air
      and to 0% by 38 days, indicating a spontaneous resolution with time. In each
      case, the blood appeared to leak from the newly-forming vessels of the deep
      capillary net, with most of the red blood cells migrating to the subretinal
      space. Retinal fold or rosette formation, indicative of developmental dysplasia,
      occurred in a fraction of virtually all groups of exposed rats, and persisted at
      the longest post-exposure periods. These two manifestations of oxygen-induced
      retinopathy are emphasized because they lead to an abnormal separation of the
      retina from the epithelial layer, which may increase the likelihood of the most
      serious consequence of ROP--retinal detachment. In fact, all rats that endured
      post-exposure periods of 38 days or longer before sacrifice exhibited retinal
      detachment.

PMID- 1451527
TI  - Ultrastructural localization of hydrogen peroxide in experimental autoimmune
      uveitis.
AB  - One of the most prominent features of S-antigen induced uveitis is the massive
      infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and mononuclear cells in the
      ocular tissues and fluids. These inflammatory cells generate reactive oxygen
      metabolites as microbicidal agents and release these oxidants into the
      surrounding tissues. Using the cerium perhydroxide method, we have localized
      subcellular hydrogen peroxide in various inflamed ocular tissues. Most notably,
      the positive electron-dense granules were seen in the plasma membranes of PMNs
      that were infiltrating in the retina and uvea. These deposits were noted also in
      PMNs located within the extravascular spaces. For the intravascular PMNs, the
      positive reaction products were seen in much lower concentrations. A direct
      demonstration of substantial concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in experimental
      autoimmune uveitis, therefore, suggests the possibility that this reactive
      metabolite is an inflammatory mediator in this condition.

PMID- 1451528
TI  - Suitability of slit lamp retroillumination photographs for classifying cataracts
      according to 'Lens Opacities Classification System II (LOCS II)'.
AB  - The Lens Opacities Classification System II (LOCS II) utilizes photographic
      standards (two retroilluminated Neitz-CTR and one standard slit lamp Zeiss
      photographs) for the classification of cortical and posterior subcapsular
      cataracts, nuclear color and nuclear opalescence. However, dedicated photographic
      devices, particularly retroillumination cameras, are not always available and
      this study was aimed at evaluating the suitability of a retroillumination
      photographic technique with a standard slit lamp camera for cortical and
      posterior subcapsular cataract classification according to LOCS II. Two observers
      examined 273 eyes. Kappa statistics demonstrated that agreement between the
      standard slit lamp, clinical grading (according to published LOCS II methodology)
      and photographic grading (according to our photographic technique), as well as
      inter- and intraobserver reproducibility, were excellent (Kappa > 0.74) for the
      classification of all lenticular regions. The results indicate that a standard
      slit lamp camera can be as useful as a dedicated retroillumination camera when
      LOCS II standards are used for cataract classification.

PMID- 1451529
TI  - Concentration and molecular weight dependency of rabbit corneal epithelial wound
      healing on hyaluronan.
AB  - Hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid) is a high molecular weight viscoelastic polymer
      which has been postulated to enhance wound healing. We investigated the dose and
      molecular weight (9 x 10(4)-280 x 10(4) dependent effects of hyaluronan on the
      rate of migration of rabbit corneal epithelium in organ culture and on wound
      closure in vivo after debridement with n-heptanol. When corneal blocks were
      cultured with hyaluronan for 20 hours, distances of epithelial migration
      significantly increased over exposed stroma in proportion to hyaluronan
      concentration. However, there was no difference in the stimulatory action of
      hyaluronan on epithelial migration when corneal blocks were cultured at 1 mg/ml
      of hyaluronan irrespective of changes in the molecular weight range between 9 x
      10(4) and 280 x 10(4). Glycosaminoglycans other than hyaluronan (chondroitin,
      chondroitin sulfate, keratan sulfate and heparan sulfate) failed to increase the
      epithelial migration. When hyaluronan eye drops were instilled after corneal
      epithelial removal with n-heptanol, hyaluronan stimulated wound closure in a dose
      dependent manner, but its stimulatory efficacy was not dependent on molecular
      weight.

PMID- 1451530
TI  - Monitoring the genotoxicity of radiocontaminants in Swedish lakes by fish
      micronuclei.
AB  - The frequency of micronuclei in erythrocyte cells from fish collected in six
      Swedish lakes with high concentrations of radiocaesium and other suspected
      natural and induced pollutants, was investigated. The frequency was enhanced in
      some lakes but was not correlated with caesium concentrations. Fish could prove
      to be interesting models for investigations of ionizing radiation effects at low
      doses because of their sensitivity.

PMID- 1451531
TI  - Silver staining of synaptonemal complexes in surface-spread spermatocytes of
      fallow deer (Dama dama L.).
AB  - Surface-spread spermatocytes of the fallow deer were examined by light microscopy
      after silver staining. The development and behaviour of synaptonemal complexes
      and the partial synapsis of the X and Y chromosomes were investigated during
      leptotene to diplotene chromosome pairing.

PMID- 1451532
TI  - An ultrastructural evaluation of the reaction of the host cell membrane to the
      invasive phase of Candida albicans.
AB  - Ultrastructural studies of the invasive form of Candida albicans in patients with
      acute or chronic candidosis have demonstrated either (a) a close seal between the
      host cell membrane and the fungal cell wall or (b) a ruptured or damaged host
      cell membrane at the point of invasion. This was observed in samples from either
      oral or vaginal candidosis as the pathogen successfully enters the adjoining host
      cell. The variations appear to be related to the degree of resistance of the host
      cell membrane to the invading pathogen. This view is discussed.

PMID- 1451533
TI  - Cytotoxic effects of antimony trichloride on mice in vivo.
AB  - Clastogenic effects of antimony trichloride, used in small industries, were
      monitored in laboratory bred white Swiss mice in vivo, following oral
      administration by gavaging, after 6, 12, 18 and 24 h. Chromosomal aberrations
      were principally breaks and damaged cells observed from bone marrow preparations.
      The frequencies of chromosomal aberrations were directly related to the dose used
      and were significantly higher than the control. The chemical did not alter the
      frequency of dividing cells to any significant level.

PMID- 1451534
TI  - Role of interleukin 2, interleukin 4 and interleukin 5 in the T helper cell
      driven B cell polyclonal differentiation in the elderly.
AB  - There is evidence for an impaired T cell-mediated B cell response during
      senescence. In thirty aged donors, pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-driven immunoglobulin
      (Ig) synthesis by B cells co-cultured with autologous enriched CD4+ lymphocytes
      and low amounts of monocytes, was evaluated. Under such experimental conditions,
      elderly cultures displayed a reduced IgG and/or IgM production when compared with
      the younger counterpart. Moreover, interleukin (IL)-2 and/or IL-5 addition to
      cultures led to an enhancement of Ig release. In contrast, IL-4 supplementation
      failed to positively modulate B cell differentiation. At the same time, aged
      cells cultured in the presence of IL-2 + IL-5 exhibited an increased Ig
      synthesis, while the addition of IL-2 + IL-4 or IL-4 + IL-5 mixtures did not
      induce any significant effect in comparison with homologous untreated samples.
      The results suggest a critical role for IL-2, IL-4 and IL-5 in the modulation of
      T helper cell-driven B cell polyclonal responsiveness in the elderly.

PMID- 1451535
TI  - A method for G-banding chromosomes in one-cell mouse embryos.

PMID- 1451536
TI  - Nuclear proteins of hamster hepatoma after administration of antitumour agents.
AB  - One- and two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis of nuclear proteins of
      Kirkman-Robbins hepatoma was used to study the effects of the tumour growth
      inhibitors methotrexate (MTX) and acyclonucleoside (DHPQtB) on protein
      composition. MTX and DHPQtB inhibited Kirkman-Robbins hepatoma growth by 89.2 +/-
      3.5% and 16.3 +/- 6.1% respectively. The biosynthesis and/or metabolism of some
      polypeptide spots was affected by these antitumour agents, especially among
      components with molecular wt/isoelectric points of 52,000-64,000/4.9-5.5, 69,000
      78,000/5.0-5.9 and 88,000-100,000/5.1-5.9.

PMID- 1451537
TI  - Deep vein thrombosis in spinal cord injury. Summary and recommendations.

PMID- 1451538
TI  - Deep venous thrombosis in spinal cord injury. Overview of the problem.

PMID- 1451539
TI  - Pathogenesis of venous thrombosis.
AB  - This brief review attempts to describe the present understanding of the
      pathogenesis of venous thrombosis in general with special reference to venous
      thromboembolism in spinal cord injury patients with paralysis. The component
      parts of Virchow's triad are examined. Most venous thrombi seem to originate in
      regions of slow blood flow, ie, the large venous sinuses of the calf and thigh or
      in valve cusp pockets. Decreased blood flow or even stasis due to lack of the
      pumping action of the large muscle packages in paralyzed patients is undoubtedly
      one of the major factors. As blood pools, activation products of the coagulation
      system accumulate locally leading potentially to local hypercoagulability.
      Activation products of clotting and fibrinolysis can induce endothelial damage
      which in turn leads to further activation of the hemostasis system. Endothelial
      damage may also result from distension of the vessel walls by the pooling blood.
      Blood flow is further decreased by hyperviscosity due to elevated fibrinogen
      levels and dehydration. Some spinal cord injury patients may sustain direct
      trauma to the legs; others may encounter vessel wall damage by the immobilized
      limbs. Shortly after injury, certain changes develop in the clotting system,
      especially increases in components of the von Willebrand factor macromolecular
      complex and increased platelet aggregability which could further contribute to
      hypercoagulability. Recently, an inhibition of the fibrinolytic system was
      suggested which also could add to a prothrombotic state. All of these
      interrelated processes clearly explain the high risk of venous thromboembolism in
      spinal cord injury patients with paralysis which has been clearly demonstrated by
      many investigators. It is hoped that intense thrombosis prophylaxis will reduce
      the incidence of this potentially devastating complication.

PMID- 1451540
TI  - Deep vein thrombosis in spinal cord-injured patients. Evaluation and assessment.

PMID- 1451541
TI  - Management of deep vein thrombosis in spinal cord injury.

PMID- 1451542
TI  - Venous thromboembolism in spinal cord injury patients.

PMID- 1451543
TI  - China's expanded program on immunization.

PMID- 1451544
TI  - Isradipine treatment for hypertension in general practice in Hong Kong.
AB  - A 6-week open study of the introduction of isradipine treatment was conducted in
      general practice in Hong Kong. 303 Chinese patients with mild to moderate
      hypertension entered the study. Side effects were reported in 21% of patients and
      caused withdrawal from the study in 3 patients. The main side-effects were
      headache, dizziness, palpitation and flushing and these were not more frequent
      than reported in other studies with isradipine or with placebo. Supine blood
      pressure was reduced (P less than 0.01) from 170 +/- 20/102 +/- 6 mmHg to 153 +/-
      19/92 +/- 8, 147 +/- 18/88 +/- 7 and 144 +/- 14/87 +/- 6 mmHg at 2, 4 and 6 weeks
      respectively in evaluable patients. Similar reductions occurred in standing blood
      pressure and there was no evidence of postural hypotension. Normalization and
      responder rates at 6 weeks were 86% and 69% respectively. Dosage was increased
      from 2.5 mg b.d. to 5 mg b.d. at 4 weeks in patients with diastolic blood
      pressure greater than 90 mmHg and their further response was greater than those
      remaining on 2.5 mg b.d.

PMID- 1451545
TI  - Protective effect of puerarin against myocardial reperfusion injury. Myocardial
      metabolism and ultrastructure.
AB  - To ascertain the beneficial effect of puerarin on the myocardium against
      reperfusion injury, studies on myocardial metabolism and ultrastructure were
      made. Twelve dogs divided into two equal groups were placed on moderate
      hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, and their hearts were subjected to 140
      minutes cold cardioplegic arrest and 60 minute reperfusion. In the control group,
      the hearts were perfused with crystalloid cardioplegic solution (CPS) every 20
      minutes during arrest. In the treated group, the hearts received CPS containing
      puerarin (2 mg/kg). Myocardial oxygen consumption, lactate production, creatine
      phosphokinase (CPK) release, water content and ultrastructural alterations were
      determined before ischemia, during cardiac arrest and at reperfusion. The results
      showed that intermittent infusion of CPS containing puerarin significantly
      decreased myocardial lactate production during ischemia, as well as myocardial
      oxygen consumption, CPK release and water content during reperfusion. Under
      electronmicroscopy, the degree of ischemic damage judged by a scoring method was
      less pronounced in the puerarin group than in the control. The authors conclude
      that puerarin has protective effects on the function of hearts that have
      undergone long periods of arrest and reperfusion.

PMID- 1451546
TI  - Electrophysiologic follow-up in dogs receiving intracoronary ethyl alcohol
      injection.
AB  - 96% ethyl alcohol was injected into a diagonal branch of the left anterior
      descending coronary artery of 10 out of 12 anesthetized dogs, and saline solution
      was injected in the remaining 2. After chest closure, the dogs were subjected to
      ambulatory monitoring (H) during days 1, 2, 3 and 7. The electrophysiologic study
      (EPS) and signal-averaged electrocardiography. (SA-ECG) were performed before the
      injection and again at day 7 after injection. H failed in one dog which died of
      ventricular fibrillation. In the other 9 dogs that received alcohol injection, H
      showed frequent ventricular premature and ventricular tachycardia (VT) after
      injection; six of the 9 dogs sustained VT, which was not inducible by EPS. VT was
      not found in 2 control dogs receiving saline solution injection. The SA-ECG
      showed no ventricular late potentials in dogs receiving alcohol injection. Post
      ablation ventricular arrhythmia (including VT) occurred after intracoronary ethyl
      alcohol injection in all dogs. Arrhythmogenicity markedly declined during the
      first 3 days and almost completely disappeared on day 7 after ablation. There was
      no evidence in favor of reentry as the mechanism of these arrhythmias. Enhanced
      automaticity was considered as the mechanism for ventricular arrhythmia.

PMID- 1451547
TI  - Potential pitfalls in using DNA probes to counsel Duchenne and Becker muscular
      dystrophy families.
AB  - Although the accuracy in prenatal diagnosis and carrier detection with DNA probes
      in families with Duchenne and Becker's muscular dystrophies is very high, various
      factors limit the accuracy of these probes in many families. We report four
      potential pitfalls, ie, intragenic recombination, genetic heterogeneity, germline
      mosaicism, and an evolving genetic defect encountered in a population of Duchenne
      and Becker families, and describe a strategy to incorporate these factors into
      genetic counseling.

PMID- 1451548
TI  - Treatment of blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm and strabismus with botulinum a
      toxin.
AB  - Thirty patients with blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm, strabismus and entropion
      were treated with botulinum A toxin giving satisfactory results. Rapid spasm
      relief, correction of strabismus and entropion were obtained. Only mild,
      transient and local side-effects occurred. The patients were followed up for 4-12
      weeks with no recurrence. The clinical results show that local injection of a
      minute dose of botulinum A toxin in treating blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm,
      strabismus and entropion is a safe, effective and simple method of nonsurgical
      therapy.

PMID- 1451549
TI  - Linkage between Rh blood group and autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa in ten
      Chinese families.
AB  - Since Fei et al reported a tentative linkage between ADRP and the Rhesus(Rh)
      blood group in the unrelated Chinese families in 1987, additional individuals of
      these ADRP families have been typed for Rh. Further linkage analysis with the
      LIPED Program on the Rh data of the ten ADRP families showed a maximum summed LOD
      score of 2.01 at theta = 0.12, which is a further suggestion of linkage between
      ADRP and Rh. However, genetic heterogeneity certainly exists in these families.
      It is our presumption that ADRP in those families, which do not exhibit linkage
      to 3q markers, may map to the short arm of chromosome 1.

PMID- 1451550
TI  - CT evaluation of malformed external and middle ear and its surgical correlation.
AB  - This study evaluated the diagnostic value of high resolution CT (HRCT) for
      atresia of the external auditory meatus (EAM) and isolated middle ear
      malformation. CT scan of the temporal bone was done in 33 patients with such
      disorders and 5 patients with otosclerosis etc. were studied in the same way for
      comparison. Coronal HRCT clearly showed conditions of the atresia plate and
      malformation of the malleus, incus, abnormal course of facial canal and changes
      in the vestibular window. The axial HRCT is useful to demonstrate the
      articulations in between the malleus, incus, stapes and the cochlear window. All
      the HRCT findings were confirmed during operation. Axial and coronal HRCT for
      external and middle ear deformation is highly valuable for decision making and
      surgical planning.

PMID- 1451551
TI  - Location of lectin UEA-I receptors in histological diagnosis of nasopharyngeal
      precancerous lesion.
AB  - Three kinds of lectins (UEA-I, ConA, PNA) were used to study normal, dysplastic,
      neoplastic nasopharyngeal epithelium by lectin affinitive histochemical method.
      UEA-I (ulex europeus agglutinin-I) displayed membrane distribution in normal
      squamous epithelium, but most of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells were negative.
      Notably, severe dysplastic epithelium (precancerous lesion) exhibited a strong
      membranous and cytoplasmic affinity, which contrasted sharply with the normal
      epithelium and carcinoma cells. The statistically significant difference in the
      content and distribution of lectin UEA-I in these three groups suggest that UEA-I
      is a hopeful marker for diagnosing precancerous lesion of the nasopharynx.
      However, PNA and ConA are of less diagnostic value.

PMID- 1451553
TI  - Glial polyp of the cervix. A case report.

PMID- 1451552
TI  - Comparison of serum bactericidal activity of 4 fluoroquinolones in healthy
      volunteers.
AB  - In vitro antibacterial activities (MBCs) and serum bactericidal activities (SBAs)
      of fluoroquinolones were compared. The MBCs were measured by the agar disk
      dilution test. The 40 tested strains belonging to 8 species were isolated from
      hospitalized patients. Against Gram positive cocci, Ciprofloxacin (CPLX) and
      ofloxacin (OFLX) were the more active and nefloxacin (NFLX) was less potent than
      the others. Against Ps. aeruginosa, CPLX had the highest activity, enoxacin (ENX)
      as well as OFLX had powerful activity, whereas NFLX was less active. All the 4
      agents showed high activity against Gram negative bacilli. In the self
      controlled, randomized crossover study, 4 fluoroquinolones were given to 10
      healthy volunteers and then SBAs were determined using microdilution method. The
      peak SBAs of CPLX and OFLX were significantly higher than NFLX, and those of ENX
      were comparatively low, but there was no difference between ENX and OFLX against
      most of the strains tested. The percentages of peak SBAs greater than 1:8 of the
      4 fluoroquinolones suggest that in the treatment of serious infections, CPLX and
      OFLX are more effective and ENX can also achieve high cure rate. The trough SBAs
      of the 4 fluoroquinolones suggest that the time interval of administration of
      CPLX and OFLX should be more than 8 hours, but increase of the dosage or
      shortening of the time interval between the administrations is recommended for
      ENX and NFLX.

PMID- 1451554
TI  - Abdominal pain, ascites, jaundice and oliguria.

PMID- 1451555
TI  - No epidemics despite devastating floods.

PMID- 1451556
TI  - Characteristic changes of DNA stemlines during hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.
AB  - DNA stemlines of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) model of adult Wistar rats
      established by diethylnitrosamine were quantitatively measured by flow cytometry.
      The cancer-inducing course was divided into four stages, eg, precirrhosis stage,
      cirrhosis stage, early cancer stage and cancer progression stage. The
      advantageous DNA stemline of hepatocytes of normal adult Wistar rats was
      tetraploid (4C). It was from the cirrhosis stage that atavistic proliferation of
      hepatocytes with diploid (2C) DNA stemline started and replaced 4C hepatocytes,
      resulting in a new advantageous population. The features of early cancer stage
      were formation of HCC with 2C DNA stemline, whereas during the cancer progression
      stage, HCC cells with aneuploid (AN) DNA stemline presented the advantageous
      growth. The study clearly shows the change pattern of DNA stemline during the
      course of hepatocarcinogenesis from 4C-2C-AN, which is believed to be the
      biokinetic mechanism of the development and progression of HCC.

PMID- 1451557
TI  - Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in Chinese patients with viral
      hepatitis and hepatic failure.
AB  - Anti-HCV assay with ORTHO kits was done in 100 blood donors and recipients and
      374 cases of viral hepatitis, including 65 cases of fulminant, subacute and
      chronic hepatic failure. None of the 100 blood donors and recipients showed
      positive anti-HCV response. Anti-HCV was positive in 7.6% of the patients with
      chronic persistent hepatitis, 9.7% of the patients with chronic active hepatitis
      and 23.1% of the patients with liver cirrhosis. High prevalence of anti-HCV was
      observed in subacute hepatic failure (60.8%) and chronic hepatic failure (53.9%).
      Fifty-two (83.9%) of 62 anti-HCV positive cases were infected concurrently with
      HBV. The incidence of HBV replicating marker in patients with HCV or co-infected
      with HBV was lower than that of those with HBV alone. It is suggested that HCV
      might inhibit the replication of hepatitis B virus. The mortality rate of
      patients with anti-HCV positive hepatic failure was higher than that of those
      with HBV infection. Therefore, anti-viral therapy for anti-HCV positive hepatic
      failure should be considered.

PMID- 1451558
TI  - Myeloid and erythroid hemopoiesis supported by human bone marrow fibroblasts in
      vitro.
AB  - The passages 0 and 3 purified human bone marrow fibroblast layers (FLs) were
      established by long-term liquid cultures. After 12-day coculture of stromal. cell
      depleted marrow cell suspensions with passage 0 FLs, 68.33 +/- 4.04% of the
      hemopoietic colonies adhered to FLs was myeloid in nature and the other 31.67 +/-
      4.04% was erythroid. There were still CFU-E (colony forming unit-erythroid), BFU
      E (burst forming unit- erythroid), and CFU-GM (colony forming unit
      granulocyte/macrophage) among the nonadherent cells. The media conditioned by
      passage 0 (F0-CM) and passage 3(F3-CM) FLs stimulated the growth of myeloid and
      erythroid (BFU-E) colonies. From these data, it is concluded that both FLs and
      the media conditioned by fibroblasts can stimulate myeloid and erythroid
      hemopoiesis.

PMID- 1451559
TI  - Effect of gluco- and mineralocorticoids on gene expression of atrial natriuretic
      peptide by rat atria in vivo.
AB  - The effect of gluco- and mineralocorticoids on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
      gene expression as well as plasma sodium and potassium concentrations was studied
      in both intact and adrenalectomized Wistar rats. Atria total RNA was extracted
      with cold phenol method and hybridized to alpha-32P labeled rat ANP-cDNA probe.
      The ANP gene transcripts in intact rats receiving dexamethasone and in
      adrenalectomized rats receiving both dexamethasone and deoxy-corticosterone
      increased by twofold, while there were no significant changes in the other
      groups. There were no parallel correlations between the rise of corticoid
      hormones-induced plasma Na+ concentration and the enhancement of rANP-mRNA level.
      The results suggest that glucocorticoids, when used together with
      mineralocorticoids, may directly increase ANP gene expression, whereas
      administration of mineralocorticoids alone has no effect on ANP gene expression.

PMID- 1451560
TI  - Surgical treatment of cervical spine tumors.
AB  - Of 40 patients with cervical spine tumor treated from 1980 to 1990, 24 had a
      primary tumor and 16 a metastatic tumor. Thirty-four patients were operated on
      through anterior and 5 through posterior approach. Preoperative neck pain was
      relieved and muscular strength of shoulder and arm increased after operation.
      Total excision methylmethacrylate or metal prosthesis replacement was used. Total
      excision of the lesion was emphasized for preventing the recurrence of the tumor.
      Indications and aims of the operation are discussed.

PMID- 1451561
TI  - Oculomotor neuropathy syndrome. A diagnostic challenge in nasopharyngeal
      carcinoma.
AB  - Of 22 patients with different kinds of oculomotor neuropathy syndrome (ONS), 18
      were initially suspected of suffering from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
      However, in a series of evaluations, their diagnoses eventually proved to be
      other diseases such as cranial neuritis, aneurysm of intracranial internal
      carotid artery, chordoma, etc. The remaining four patients initially diagnosed as
      having aneurysm of skull base or pituitary lesion were actually NPC sufferers.
      Therefore, one should be very careful in differentiating NPC from many other
      diseases contributing to the similar manifestation of ONS.

PMID- 1451562
TI  - Evaluation of penetrating keratoplasties with long-term cryopreserved corneas
      using simplified method.
AB  - Since March 1986, the authors have studied and simplified the corneal
      cryopreservation technique using a self-made QL Bio-freezer. On the basis of
      successful animal experiments, penetrating keratoplasties with human cadaver
      corneas cryopreserved 9 to 571 days (averaging 131 days) were performed in 60
      patients (61 eyes). The patients were followed up for 1.5 to 50 months. 41 of the
      corneal grafts remained clear, 9 became translucent and 11 cloudy. A total of 46
      eyes had their visual acuity improved significantly. The results show that
      clinical use of corneal cryopreservation by the simplified two-step method is
      noteworthy.

PMID- 1451563
TI  - Ultrastructures of the glial epiretinal membrane induced by activated
      macrophages.
AB  - A rabbit model of glial epiretinal membrane was established following the
      injection of activated macrophages into the vitreous. The membrane was composed
      entirely of cells with glial characteristics, ie, abundant intermediate
      filaments, microvilli, junctional complexes and basement membranes. The
      extracellular matrix of the mature membranes contained collagen fibrils of 10 to
      15 and 20 to 25 nm in diameter. Fusiform densities were seen adjacent to the cell
      membrane and cells with indented nuclei were found in thick membranes. These
      observations demonstrate that glial cells in epiretinal membranes may synthesize
      collagen and possess myofibroblast-like properties.

PMID- 1451564
TI  - Functional compartments in the portal system. An experimental study.
AB  - The pressure of the portal trunk, the left gastric vein, the left and right
      gastroepiploic veins, the mesenteric vein and the abdominal aorta was measured
      experimentally at the same time in 10 normal dogs. The levels of the raised
      pressure in the different compartments with their outflow tracts obstructed
      respectively were observed and the potentials of the functional barriers between
      these compartments were quantitatively evaluated. The findings showed that the
      average power of the functional barriers was 45.1 +/- 5.7% between the different
      compartments in the gastrosplenic area and 74.3% in the mesenteric region. The
      weakness of the functional barriers' capacity limiting the collateral diversion
      between the lesser and greater splanchnic systems may be one of the causes making
      the distal splenorenal shunt lose its selectivity.

PMID- 1451565
TI  - Syndrome of endemic arsenism and fluorosis. A clinical study.
AB  - Sixty-five patients in Xinjiang with syndrome of endemic arsenism and fluorosis
      (SEAF) were investigated clinically from March 1982 to August 1989. SEAF is a
      kind of chronic syndrome resulting from the combined, harmful effects of two
      trace elements, arsenic and fluorine. Peripheral neuritis and cardiovascular
      changes were observed in this syndrome more often than in simple arsenism or
      simple fluorosis. The excessive quantities of these two trace elements in blood
      might have a synergic, harmful effect on the nervous and circulatory systems. No
      definite conclusion could be reached with regard to the morbidity of skin and
      visceral tumors in this series. The incidence of associated skin cancer was found
      to be 7.7% and an associated Grade II squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus
      was encountered in one patient.

PMID- 1451566
TI  - Biokinetics of tritium incorporation into the tissues of rats during continuous
      ingestion of tritiated water or tritium-labeled food.
AB  - Wistar strain male rats were continuously given tritiated water or tritiated
      wheat as drinking water or food for 70 days. During the ingestion, the tritium
      incorporation into rat tissues was examined in both wet and dry samples of liver,
      kidney, testis and blood. The concentration of organically bound tritium (OBT) in
      dry tissues of rats exposed to tritiated water (HTO) and 3H-food (tritiated
      wheat) attained an equilibrium within 2-3 weeks after the exposure. The
      concentration of OBT in dry tissues of rats exposed to HTO also reached an
      equilibrium within 3-4 weeks after the exposure. However, rats exposed to 3H
      food, except for the liver, such an equilibrium state was not reached in other
      tissues and the OBT concentrations increased gradually throughout the exposure.
      The relative concentrations of total 3H and OBT at the end of the chronic
      ingestion of 3H food (70 day), expressed in percentages of the total activity
      were 1 and 9 times higher than those in rats exposed to HTO, respectively. In
      both groups, OBT as well as total 3H was almost uniformly distributed among the
      tissues examined.

PMID- 1451567
TI  - Pheochromocytoma: dizziness, palpitation, abdominal pain and vomiting.

PMID- 1451568
TI  - National epidemiological survey of blindness and low vision in China.
AB  - According to the National Sample Survey of Blindness and Low Vision, the
      prevalence of blindness in China was 0.43%, resulting chiefly from cataract
      (41.06%), corneal diseases (15.38%), trachoma (10.87%), and glaucoma (8.80%); and
      the prevalence of low vision in China was 0.58%, of which the main causes were
      cataract (49.83%), ametropia/amblyopia (14.98%), trachoma (9.55%), corneal
      diseases (8.48%), chorioretinal diseases (6.27%), etc. Among children under 14
      years of age, the leading cause of blindness and low vision was heredity
      (48.46%). Among elderly of 60 years and over, the leading cause of blindness and
      low vision was cataract (73.13%).

PMID- 1451569
TI  - Treatment of hemophilia A by living mother-to-son splenic transplantation. First
      case report in the world.
AB  - A case of severe hemophilia A was treated by living mother-to-son splenic
      transplantation. The recipient was a 9-year-old boy. After splenic
      transplantation, the level of blood factor VIII:C was increased, and no
      spontaneous hemorrhage occurred. The boy was followed up for over two years. This
      is a case of spleen allotransplantation with the longest function in the world.

PMID- 1451570
TI  - Electrophysiological analyses of serotonergic actions on neurons in hypothalamic
      ventromedial nucleus in vitro: receptor subtypes involved and implications for
      regulation of feeding and lordosis behaviors.
AB  - Previously, we have shown that serotonin (5-HT) can inhibit, excite, or
      biphasically inhibit and excite individual neurons of the ventromedial nucleus
      (VMN) in hypothalamic slices from female rats. In the present study, similar in
      vitro methods were used to further characterize VMN neurons responsive to 5-HT,
      and to identify the receptor subtypes involved in mediating these 5-HT actions.
      Results from a dose-response experiment indicate that increasing the dose of 5-HT
      can transform an inhibitory response into a biphasic or even an excitatory
      response. This indicates that modulation of 5-HT release in the VMN could alter
      the net response of the VMN to this transmitter. By comparing the actions of 5-HT
      with the effects of selective agonists and antagonists, the inhibitory action was
      found to be mediated predominantly, if not exclusively, by 5-HT1A receptors,
      while the excitatory action was mediated predominantly or exclusively through 5
      HT2 receptors. There appear to be few, if any, 5-HT3 receptors in the VMN, and
      their functions are unclear. The inhibitory and the excitatory phases of the
      biphasic responses were not mediated together by a single receptor subtype but
      were mediated separately by 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptors, respectively. The
      presence of the biphasic response in a large proportion of neurons, therefore,
      indicates the coexistence of different subtypes of 5-HT receptors in many
      individual VMN neurons. The use of selective agonists and antagonists further
      indicates that the coexistence also occurs in neurons showing monophasic
      responses, and that the opposite actions mediated by the coexisting receptor
      subtypes can interact with each other. Therefore, changing the ratio of
      coexisting receptor subtypes could modify the net output of the VMN response to 5
      HT. Together with behavioral studies by others, it emerges from our findings that
      the inhibitory action of 5-HT on VMN neurons is associated with, and may be
      responsible for, the stimulation of feeding and inhibition of lordosis, while the
      excitatory action is related and may lead to the opposite behavioral effects.
      Finally, with the coexistence in VMN neurons of two receptor subtypes that can
      mediate 5-HT effects on both feeding and lordosis, the VMN can serve as a
      substrate for 5-HT to coordinate these two behaviors.

PMID- 1451571
TI  - Vasodilator and oxidant scavenger in the neurogenic pulmonary edema induced by
      cerebral compression.
AB  - In vagotomized rats, cerebral compression (CC) produced marked increase in
      arterial pressure and pulmonary hemorrhagic edema (PHE). We studied the effects
      of a vasodilator and an oxidant scavenger to delineate the role of hemodynamic
      and permeability factors in this type of neurogenic PHE. Infusion of sodium
      nitroprusside at a dose of 5 micrograms/kg/min significantly reduced the CC
      induced pressor response by 14% and the lung edema by 41%. A dose of 10
      micrograms/kg/min blocked the pressor response by 51%, and completely prevented
      the lung injury. Dimethylthiourea (DMTU), a potent scavenger for oxidants such as
      hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide, in doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg was
      pretreated 15 min before CC. Although DMTU was shown to block the permeability
      lung damage caused by phorbol myristate acetate (a neutrophil activator), this
      agent did not exert any effect on the CC-induced pressor response and lung
      injury. The data indicate that granulocyte-mediated oxidants such as hydroxyl
      radical and hydrogen peroxide do not appear to be involved in this type of
      neurogenic lung pathology. The results support the concept that PHE induced by
      intracranial hypertension is initiated by hemodynamic changes in the systemic and
      pulmonary circulation. Hydrostatic effect plays a major role in this type of
      neurogenic lung pathology.

PMID- 1451572
TI  - Effects of intra-raphe injection of amino acids on cardiovascular function in
      rats.
AB  - The effects of microinjection of an excitatory amino acid (glutamate, 10
      micrograms) or several inhibitory amino acids (taurine 10 micrograms, GABA 10 ug
      or glycine 10 ug) into the dorsal raphe region on cardiovascular function were
      assessed in rats under pentobarbital sodium. Intra-raphe administration of
      glutamate, but not saline, caused an increase in the mean arterial pressure. By
      contrast, intra-raphe administration of taurine, GABA or glycine, but not saline,
      caused a decrease in both the mean arterial pressure and the heart rate. The
      glutamate-induced hypertension or both the hypotension and the bradycardia
      induced by taurine, GABA or glycine was antagonized by pretreatment with intra
      raphe injection of a serotonergic receptor antagonist (1 ug cyproheptadine). In
      addition, the vasopressor and bradycardia responses to an intravenous dose of
      epinephrine (2.5 ug/kg) were assessed in saline-treated rats and amino acid
      treated rats. Intra-raphe injection of glutamate produced a significant decrease
      in reflex bradycardia compared to the controls. On the other hand, administration
      of taurine, GABA or glycine into the dorsal raphe region led to an enhancement of
      epinephrine-induced bradycardia. Again, the reduction or the facilitation of the
      epinephrine-induced bradycardia following administration of these amino acids was
      antagonized by pretreatment with cyproheptadine. The results suggest that the
      serotonergic receptor mechanisms in the dorsal raphe region play a role in the
      elaboration or modulation of the cardiovascular responses to amino acids
      (including glutamate, taurine, GABA and glycine).

PMID- 1451573
TI  - Antidiuresis and natriuresis induced by gastric distension in water-loaded rats.
AB  - Antidiuretic and natriuretic responses were observed following gastric distension
      in anesthetized, water-loaded rats. An increase of intragastric pressure to 25,
      30, 35, and 40 cm H2O of 2-minute duration respectively elicited 11, 35, 45, and
      55% inhibition of water diuresis with concomitant, graded increase of sodium
      excretion by the kidney. These antidiuretic and natriuretic responses to gastric
      distension persisted and sustained the same intensity after acute bilateral
      cervical vagotomy, indicating that the sensory input conveyed from the gastric
      mechanoreceptors to central nervous system during gastric distension should
      involve afferent fibers other than vagus nerve. Rats with diabetes insipidus (D1)
      produced by hypothalamic lesions were also tested, but neither antidiuresis nor
      natriuresis in response to gastric distension was observed in these D1 rats whose
      neurohypophysis contained little antidiuretic hormone (ADH). In conclusion,
      gastric distension may induce liberation of ADH and probably other
      neurohypophysial hormone which affects renal handling of sodium and water in
      anesthetized, water-loaded rats.

PMID- 1451574
TI  - Effects of thyroidectomy on the hematocrit and blood viscosity in ovariectomized
      rats.
AB  - The hematocrit and blood viscosity were measured in ovariectomized (Ovx) rats
      following thyroidectomy or sham operation. Rats were thyroidectomized (Tx) or
      sham Tx immediately after ovariectomy. Three months later, Ovx, Ovx+Tx, and
      intact rats at proestrus stage were bled. Blood was collected by heart puncture
      in rats under ether anesthesia and heparinized. One month after the first
      bleeding, Ovx and Ovx+Tx rats were bled once again. the viscosity of whole blood
      and plasma was measured at various shear rates at 37 degrees C by means of a
      Mooney-Ewart viscometer. The hematocrit was determined by a microhematocrit
      centrifuge. The plasma osmolality was measured by a computerized micro-osmometer.
      Concentrations of plasma sodium and potassium were measured by a flame
      photometer. The concentration of plasma thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was
      measured by a radioimmunoassay. In Ovx+Tx rats, the plasma TSH concentration was
      higher, but the hematocrit and blood viscosity were lower than those in Ovx and
      proestrus rats. The levels of plasma sodium, osmolality and viscosity were not
      altered by ovariectomy and thyroidectomy. These results suggest that the lower
      blood viscosity in thyroidectomized rats is due to a reduction of hematocrit.

PMID- 1451575
TI  - Influence of temperature on rheology of human erythrocytes.
AB  - The effect of variation in temperature on the rheological properties of human red
      blood cells was studied by determining the cell deformation in response to
      aspiration pressure applied via a micropipette. The time history of the
      deformation was analyzed by the use of a Voigt viscoelastic model consisting of
      an elastic element (E) in parallel with a viscous element (eta). Viscosity values
      were obtained during the initial rapid deformation phase (phase I), the later
      slow deformation phase (phase II), and the recovery phase. With a rise in
      temperature from 0 to 45 degrees C, both E and eta values decreased. A
      thermotropic transition temperature was found at approximately 21 degrees C for
      phase I viscosity and at approximately 9 degrees C for viscosity in the recovery
      phase, but not for phase II viscosity. These responses to temperature variations
      provide insights into the viscoelastic properties of the erythrocyte membrane.

PMID- 1451576
TI  - Cardiovascular effects of endothelin in chronic hypoxic rats.
AB  - This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of endothelin (ET) on
      cardiovascular function in chronic hypoxic rats (HA) and sea level controls (SL).
      Catheters were placed in femoral and pulmonary arteries for measurements of mean
      systemic arterial pressure (Psa) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa). The
      cardiac output was measured by thermodilution method. It is very interesting to
      find that intravenous injection of ET (0.2 and 1 nmol/kg) caused a decrease in
      pulmonary arterial pressure (from 44 +/- 2.6 to 36 +/- 1.9 mmHg, p < 0.05) which
      sustained for about 10 min while the systemic arterial pressure rise (1 nmol/kg)
      or no significant change (0.2 nmol/kg) in the HA rats. The depressor action of ET
      is mainly resulted from the drop of cardiac output in HA rats, since the
      pulmonary vascular resistance resisted to the action of ET in those chronic
      hypoxic rats could be due to a simple loss of reaction to ET or the release of
      vascular dilators which balance the ET vasoconstrictive action. This report also
      found indomethacin and saralasin did not involve the action of ET on pulmonary
      arterial depression.

PMID- 1451577
TI  - [Advances in the prevention of liver neoplasms in China].

PMID- 1451578
TI  - [Combined use of glucose and rest period between noise exposure to reduce noise-
      induced hearing loss].
AB  - This paper reports the way which protects hearing from harmful effects of noise.
      67 guinea pigs were divided into four groups, 8-9 guinea pigs in each group. The
      total time of noise exposure at 125 dB SPL white noise in each group was one
      hour. The control was exposed continuously for 1 hour. Group I was exposed to
      noise for 30 minutes after intraperitoneal injection of glucose at 2 mg/g body
      wt., then rest for 30 minutes and exposed for 30 minutes again. Group II was
      exposed continuously to noise for 1 hour after intraperitoneal injection of
      glucose at 2 mg and 4 mg/g body wt. Group III was exposed to noise for 30
      minutes, rested for 30 minutes and exposed for 30 minutes again without glucose
      injection. The auditory brain stem response (ABR) was measured before,
      immediately, 3 days, and 7 days after noise exposure. The effect on hearing
      conservation was evaluated according to ABR threshold. We observed that the
      auditory threshold in group I was significantly lower than that of the control in
      the given time after noise exposure (P less than 0.05), but not so in group II
      and III. Combined use of glucose and rest period between noise exposure was able
      to decrease the threshold shift by 15 dB and 10 dB immediately and 7 days after
      noise exposure respectively.

PMID- 1451579
TI  - [Studies on metabolism of a fungicide yekuling in rat].
AB  - The metabolism of a fungicide Yekuling was studied in rat after oral
      administration. Four metabolites were isolated and purified by means of reverse
      phase HPLC and TLC. They were identified to be acetic acid, 1,3-dithiolan-2
      ylidenehydrazide; pyruvic acid, 1,3-dithiolan-2-ylidenehydrazide; benzoic acid
      and hippuric acid with UV and MS. The latter was further confirmed by chemical
      synthesis. The experimental results showed that Yekuling was metabolized
      extensively in rat. Yekuling was hydrolyzed by amidase to produce benzoic acid
      and 1,3-dithiolan-2-ylidenehydrazide. The latter was further acetylated by N
      acetyltransferase to form acetic acid, 1,3-dithiolan-2-ylidenehydrazide, or
      condensed spontaneously to form pyruvic acid, 1,3-dithiolan-2-ylidenehydrazide.
      Benzoic acid was further conjugated with glycine to produce hippuric acid.

PMID- 1451580
TI  - [Biomechanics study during march with different military equipment of equal
      carrying load].
AB  - The purpose of the study is to select the best military equipment of equal
      carrying load by the index of biomechanics. Six healthy young men whose age
      varied between 19 and 25 years were volunteered, in the experiment. They were
      required to march 1.5 h, carried with different military equipment of equal
      weight, 25 kg, at a speed of 5 km/h. The centre of gravity of the body and its
      kinesic parameters were measured before and after the march. The frequency and
      length of pace were measured during the march. The results of the study indicated
      that the displacement of the body's centre of gravity carrying equipment I was
      the most evident, whereas the least displacement of centre of gravity of the body
      was that carrying equipment II. The frequency of pace during the march was
      reduced in all three carrying different kinds of equipment, the most evident
      being that carrying equipment I; the length of pace became bigger with those
      carrying equipment II and III; the speed of pace was decelerated using equipment
      I, but it was quickened with equipment II. The change of kinesic parameters have
      no significant difference among the three. In summary; equipment II conforms best
      to biomechanical principles, whereas equipment I is the worst.

PMID- 1451581
TI  - [A study on lymphocyte subpopulations and immunologic status of female workers
      exposed to benzene].
AB  - Peripheral blood from 29 female subjects occupationally exposed to benzene for an
      average duration of 8.6 years were analysed with monoclonal antibodies (McAbs).
      Acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE)-positive cells among lymphocytes and
      serum IgG, IgA and IgM levels were determined simultaneously. The results showed
      a decreased total number of lymphocytes, reduction of percentages and absolute
      numbers of both CD2+ and CD4+ cells, decreased CD8+ and CD57+ cell numbers
      without significant changes in their percentages, a decreased CD4+/CD8+ ratio, an
      increased CD20+ cell percentage without significant change in its absolute number
      and a decreased serum IgM level. ANAE(+)-cell percentages of lymphocytes were of
      marked positive correlation to CD2+ cell percentages. These results indicate that
      benzene can cause immunosuppressive effects to the exposed subjects and the
      analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations by means of McAbs may be useful for
      evaluating early adverse health effects on workers exposed to the toxicant.

PMID- 1451582
TI  - [Experimental study of antagonizing effect of calcium and magnesium against
      fluoride toxicity in collagen].
AB  - SD rats were given fluoride 20 mg/kg for 14 days through a gastrointestinal tube,
      body weight growth depressed obviously, the ratio of the Liver and Kidney weight
      to body weight increased significantly, hemoglobin concentration dropped and
      morphology and metabolism of collagen all became abnormal. All these effects can
      be antagonised by giving calcium (100 mg/kg), magnesium (100 mg/kg) or calcium
      and magnesium combined (50 mg/kg each). When Ca and Mg is given combined, the
      antagonizing effect is even better.

PMID- 1451583
TI  - [Inhibition of eight natural foods on mutagenic effect by aflatoxin B1 and
      extracts of fungi].
AB  - Eight natural foods were tested for their antimutagenic activities on AFB1,
      metabolic extracts of A. versicolor and A. ochraceus which induced mutagenic
      activity in TA 98 and TA 100 mutants. The tested substances were extracted
      repeatedly with acetone. The revertance induced by AFB1, metabolic extracts of A.
      versicolor and A. ochraceus were significantly decreased when the eight natural
      foods were added into the medium. The results showed that the eight natural foods
      had different degrees of anti-mutagenic effect in vitro, suggesting that anti
      mutagenic substances were present in these natural foods. It is considered that
      these foods may be practically valuable in the chemoprophylaxis of liver cancer
      in men.

PMID- 1451584
TI  - [The effects of kitchen air pollution on animals immune function].
AB  - The paper determined the activity of mitogenic response of T lymphocyte, NK cell
      activity and lymphocyte IL-2 production activity after the mice had been exposed
      to the polluted kitchen air. The results showed that these immune functions were
      inhibited in descending order in the mice exposed to pollutants from burning coal
      mixed with oily smoke.

PMID- 1451585
TI  - [Multivariate analyses of causal factors included cooking oil fume and others in
      matched case-control study of lung cancer].
AB  - This paper reports the study of 1:1 matched case-control for eighty-three cases
      of primary lung squamo-carcinoma and seventy-one cases of primary lung
      adenocarcinoma from urban districts of Nanjing. The result of conditional
      analysis reveals that cooking oil fume is a common risk factor for lung squamo
      carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Its relative risk and population attributable risk
      (%) are 3.8138, 3.4466 and 51.56%, 60.99% respectively. Besides, smoking, family
      history of tumors, fuel types and keeping warm by coal stove in winter are
      selected as risk factors for lung squamo-carcinoma, while history of chronic
      bronchitis and family history of tumors are screened as risk factors for lung
      adenocarcinoma. Summary population attributable risk for all five factors of lung
      squamo-carcinoma and all three factors of lung adenocarcinoma are 99.47% and
      76.65% respectively.

PMID- 1451586
TI  - [A SOS induction test screening study for vegetables inhibiting mutagenicity
      caused by antineoplastic drugs].
AB  - Using mutational and anti-mutational synchronous in SOS inductest (+/- S9), We
      found that 7 out of 11 kinds of commonly eaten vegetables had the ability to
      inhibit mutagenicity caused by chemical drugs such as Mitomycin C, Bleomycinia,
      Fluorouracil, Cis-Diaminodichloroplatinum, Arabinosylcytosin and mustargen, They
      were garlic, green Chinese onion, onion, garlic bulb, tomato, cucumber and water
      radish. The other 4 lacking this ability were rape, chinese toon, ginger and
      asparagus lettuce stalk. We believe that our results can be helpful in the
      preparation. of cancer patients' diet, who are receiving chemotherapy and in the
      prevention of cancer.

PMID- 1451587
TI  - [The confidence interval of micronuclei and chromosome aberration induced by
      radiation].
AB  - This paper proposes a revised method of determining confidence interval of
      population rate based on statistical theory. The confidence interval of
      population rate can be obtained accurately by using this method. In addition, it
      includes a discussion of confidence interval about some basic indexes of
      micronuclei and chromosome aberration induced by radiation.

PMID- 1451588
TI  - Preparation and microscopic visualization of multicolor luminescent
      immunophosphors.
AB  - The preparation of charge-stabilized suspensions of small phosphor particles (0.1
      0.3 micron) and their coupling with antibodies to immunoreactive conjugates is
      described. Phosphor particles consisting of yttriumoxisulfide activated with
      europium served as a model system in the evaluation of the stabilizing properties
      of several polycarboxylic acids. The optimal reagents were then applied to other
      phosphors which differ in spectral characteristics as well as in luminescence
      lifetime. These phosphors were ground to a size of 0.1-0.3 micron and proteins or
      other macromolecules were adsorbed to the phosphor particles to prepare
      conjugates of different physico-chemical properties. A time-resolved microscope,
      suitable for real time visualization of the time-delayed luminescence of the
      immunophosphors by the human eye, is described in detail. Since most phosphors
      require excitation with far UV light, a special fluorescence microscope allowing
      far UV excitation was developed for conventional visualization of the
      luminescence emitted by the phosphor. The possibility of multiple color labeling
      using various phosphor conjugates was demonstrated in a model system consisting
      of haptenized latex beads.

PMID- 1451589
TI  - Quantification by laser scan microscopy of intracellular doxorubicin
      distribution.
AB  - Changes in intracellular drug localization accompany doxorubicin resistance in
      multidrug resistant tumor cells. The purpose of this study was to develop a
      method to quantify these changes and so detect different levels of resistance.
      Tumor cells were incubated with the fluorescent anthracycline doxorubicin
      (excitation at 480 nm; emission maximum at 560-590 nm) and were quantified using
      laser scanning microscopy. The fluorescent mode was used to record the
      intracellular drug distribution, whereas the absorption mode was used to define
      the nuclear and cytoplasmic boundaries. The cell compartments were delineated
      interactively on an image processing system and the ratio nuclear
      fluorescence/cytoplasmic fluorescence (N/C ratio) was determined. N/C ratios
      were: 1.8 in the Chinese hamster ovarian cell line AUXB1 and 0.1 in its MDR
      subline CHRC5; 3.8 in the human squamous lung cancer cell line SW-1573 and 1.8
      and 0.4 in its MDR sublines SW-1573/2R120 and SW-1573/2R160, respectively; and
      3.6 in the human myeloma cell line 8226/S and 2.1 and 1.0 in its MDR sublines
      8226/Dox4 and 8226/Dox40, respectively. The doxorubicin distribution was
      independent of the doxorubicin concentration within a range from 1-32 microM.
      Furthermore, the progressive mean of the nuclear/cytoplasmic doxorubicin
      fluorescence ratio showed that a minimal sample size of 30 cells is necessary for
      reliable results. The results of two independent assessments showed a high
      reproducibility (r = 0.97). Thus, with the method described in this paper, it is
      possible to detect relatively low levels of doxorubicin resistance (factor 8).

PMID- 1451590
TI  - Image cytometric DNA analysis in human breast cancer analysis may add prognostic
      information in diploid cases with low S-phase fraction by flow cytometry.
AB  - Measurements of DNA ploidy can be performed either with image cytometry (ICM) or
      flow cytometry (FCM); both methods provide independent prognostic information in
      primary breast cancer. The aim of the present investigation was to compare the
      two methods and to relate the findings to prognosis (median follow-up 42 months).
      Concordance in ploidy status (diploid, tetraploid, aneuploid) was obtained in 76%
      of the samples (168/222). When the fraction of S-phase cells (SPF) from FCM
      analysis was also taken into consideration, four different groups of samples were
      obtained (Flow I-IV), which were considered to correspond to the Auer
      classification (Auer I-IV) of DNA histograms obtained from image cytometry.
      Complete concordance between the two techniques now was 70% (155/222). Samples
      classified as Flow I (diploid or near-diploid with low SPF) and Auer I had a
      distant metastasis rate of 3/60 (5%), as compared to 62/154 (40%) for all other
      combinations of the Flow and Auer classifications taken together. Thus, the only
      findings of prognostic importance were that some samples were Flow I but not Auer
      I, or vice versa. These two groups represent 17 (7.7%) and 14 (6.3%),
      respectively, of the total number of samples, and had frequencies of distant
      metastasis similar to those of the other high-risk groups, namely, 7/17 and 5/14,
      respectively. In a multivariate analysis, flow cytometric S-phase value was a
      stronger prognostic factor than either the Flow and Auer classification. We
      conclude that when routine FCM DNA analysis is used, diploid or near-diploid
      samples with a low S-phase value should be reanalyzed with ICM.

PMID- 1451591
TI  - Methods for topographical analysis of intra-nuclear BrdUrd-tagged fluorescence.
AB  - The observation of BrdUrd staining in the nuclei of cells from exponentially
      growing populations reveals different typical replicating patterns. We propose a
      methodological approach to order and characterize BrdUrd intranuclear
      distributions. First, visual ordering of the patterns is assessed using a
      spectral analysis coupled to a k-nearest neighbors clustering technique.
      Subsequently, nine topographical features are introduced to characterize the
      spatial distribution of BrdUrd-tagged fluorescence in the nuclei of proliferating
      cells. These topographical features are based on a structural approach. The
      localization of fluorescence spots is expressed in terms of the normalized
      distance from the nuclear border and its standard deviation. These topographical
      features are simple to calculate and easy to relate to visual experience.

PMID- 1451592
TI  - Eukaryotic DNA replication is a topographically ordered process.
AB  - This paper describes the relationship between the BrdUrd replicating pattern of a
      cell and its localization within the S phase by means of topographical features
      and DNA content measurement. The present study follows an objective ranking of
      the BrdUrd patterns obtained from a spectral analysis of the BrdUrd images. The
      pattern ranking was consistent with the DNA content increase throughout the S
      phase. Five texture groups were arbitrarily set up for the purpose of
      multivariate analysis. Nine topographical parameters were computed for each
      BrdUrd-labelled nucleus. The descriptive quality of these parameters was assessed
      by means of factorial discriminant analysis. These parameters made it possible to
      characterize objectively the known pattern distributions of replication sites
      qualitatively described in the literature.

PMID- 1451593
TI  - Neutrophil function screening in patients with chronic granulomatous disease by a
      flow cytometric method.
AB  - Neutrophils from patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) fail to
      produce a significant oxidative burst following stimulation. We have evaluated
      the use of flow cytometry and the dye 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF)
      for routine screening for deficiencies of neutrophil oxidative burst. A range for
      DCF fluorescence for phorbol myristate acetate stimulated and non-stimulated
      neutrophils was established based on data from 52 healthy adults. Samples from
      three patients with suspected neutrophil dysfunction, three patients with X
      linked CGD, and one patient with autosomal recessive (AR) CGD were evaluated with
      both the DCF assay and the quantitative nitroblue tetrazolium dye reduction (NBT)
      test. For the DCF test, the ratio of mean fluorescence intensity of stimulated to
      non-stimulated neutrophils was less than 5 for CGD patients and from 16 to
      greater than 50 for healthy individuals. With the DCF test, two populations of
      neutrophils could be identified in samples from four carriers of X-linked CGD,
      although two carriers of AR CGD had NBT and DCF results in the normal range. Our
      data suggest the DCF test is a sensitive and convenient method for detecting CGD.

PMID- 1451594
TI  - Differences between platelet and microparticle glycoprotein IIb/IIIa.
AB  - Glycoprotein (GP) IIb and IIIa are major constituents of the platelet membrane
      which are involved in forming the fibrinogen receptor on activated platelets. We
      used flow cytometry to study the effects of ethylene-diamine tetraacetic acid
      (EDTA) on the membrane GPIIb/IIIa complexes of platelets and microparticles, and
      to study the effects of cations on dissociated GP complexes. Microparticles were
      detected by both the volume signal and by fluorescence using an FITC-conjugated
      anti-GPIb antibody (NNKY5-5). When platelets were stimulated with ADP, calcium
      ionophore A23187, or thrombin, fibrinogen binding to the platelet surface
      increased markedly. However, fibrinogen binding to microparticles showed little
      increase in response to such agonists. Microparticle GPIIb/IIIa complexes were
      dissociated by incubation with EDTA at 37 degrees C but did not reassociate after
      treatment with divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, and Mn2+) in contrast to platelet
      GPIIb/IIIa complexes. These results suggest that some interaction of GPIIb/IIIa
      and linked structures like the platelet cytoskeleton may be involved in the
      reassociation of dissociated GPIIb and GPIIIa, perhaps explaining the failure of
      reassociation of microparticle GPIIb/IIIa (i.e., the fibrinogen binding to
      microparticles).

PMID- 1451595
TI  - Differential analysis of animal bone marrow by flow cytometry.
AB  - A simple procedure was developed for rapid analysis of animal bone marrow by flow
      cytometry using the lipophilic cationic dye 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide
      [DiOC6(3)]. The batch process allows differentiation of bone marrow cells into
      lymphoid, erythroid, and myeloid populations and enables classification of
      erythroid and myeloid cells into proliferating and maturing subpopulations. From
      these data, myeloid:erythroid (M:E) ratios and maturation indices for erythroid
      and myeloid cells (EMI and MMI, respectively) can be derived. This procedure
      provides the opportunity to analyze bone marrow quantitatively and offers
      distinct advantages to current manual methods in terms of simplicity, throughput,
      and reproducibility. The method has been tested successfully using marrow from
      Wistar rats, B6C3F1 mice, beagle dogs, and cynomolgus monkeys. This technique
      facilitates the evaluation of bone marrow samples taken from preclinical safety
      studies or from animal colonies of large size.

PMID- 1451596
TI  - Drop-delay measurement using enzyme-coated particles.
AB  - A simple technique is suggested for the measurement of drop delay for flow
      sorting. While the flow cytometer was set to sort a fixed number of particles,
      the drop-delay setting was changed step by step, and at each step the HRP-coupled
      particles were sorted into a well of an immunoassay strip. Then the HRP activity
      of the sorted samples was revealed by routine methods. The maximum level of the
      enzyme activity shows the proper drop-delay setting. Determination of the drop
      delay setting takes only a few minutes. The technique is independent of the type
      of flow cytometer and does not require any additional equipment.

PMID- 1451597
TI  - Protooncogene expression in subpopulations of cells from leukemia patients.
AB  - This report describes a method for preserving the light scatter patterns of cells
      in which myc and myb expression are being measured. Exposure of cells to 1%
      paraformaldehyde for 72 h prior to antibody staining for myc and myb proteins
      preserved the light scatter patterns. Using this method, myc and myb expression
      was found to be highest in lymphocytes and monocytes and lowest in granulocytes.
      The measurement of differences in the level of expression of these genes in
      subpopulations of leukemia cells obtained from individual patients is possible as
      is assessment of the levels of expression amongst normal and leukemia cells
      present in the same patient.

PMID- 1451598
TI  - Flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood erythrocyte chimerism in alpha
      thalassemic mice.
AB  - A rapid and reliable method for longitudinal studies on the degree of red cell
      chimerism following bone marrow transplantation of alpha-thalassemic recipient
      mice is presented. Blood obtained by tail clipping from transplanted mice was
      analyzed by measuring forward light scatter (FLS) distribution of red cells using
      a flow cytometer. Amplification and threshold of FLS were specifically adjusted.
      For flow cytometric analysis, the red cells needed to be suspended in hypotonic
      saline (103 mmol/l NaCl). Osmotic fragility testing showed that lysis of
      erythrocytes did not significantly influence the measurements. Flow cytometric
      measurement allowed for a rapid determination of the degree of red cell
      chimerism.

PMID- 1451599
TI  - Flow cytometric measurement of lipid peroxidation in vital cells using parinaric
      acid.
AB  - A method for measuring lipid peroxidation using time resolved flow cytometry is
      described. Because of its chemical nature, the naturally fluorescent fatty acid
      cis-parinaric acid is readily consumed in lipid peroxidation reactions. It could
      be loaded into Chinese hamster ovary cells in a time and concentration dependent
      manner at 37 degrees C, with 5 microM for 60' giving consistent, bright
      fluorescence without evidence of cytotoxicity. Examination of cells by
      fluorescence microscopy showed diffuse staining of surface and internal
      membranes. Cells were maintained at 37 degrees C while being examined in an Epics
      Elite flow cytometer equipped with a 325 nm HeCd laser, and parinaric acid
      fluorescence at 405 nm was measured over time. Addition of the oxidant tert-butyl
      hydroperoxide resulted in a burst of intracellular oxidation, shown by
      simultaneously loading the cells with dichlorofluorescein, and loss of parinaric
      fluorescence over time. This was followed by cell death, indicated by loss of
      forward light scatter and uptake of propidium iodide. Pretreatment of the cells
      with the antioxidant alpha-tocopherol, 200 microM, reduced the rate of loss of
      parinaric acid fluorescence and delayed the onset of cell death. Simultaneous
      biochemical determination of the lipid peroxidation breakdown product
      malondialdehyde confirmed a close temporal relationship with loss of parinaric
      acid fluorescence, both with and without alpha-tocopherol pretreatment and
      suggested that the flow cytometric assay for lipid peroxidation is of comparable
      sensitivity. The mitochondrial stain dodecyl acridine orange and the cyanine dye
      DiOC(6)3 were combined with cis-parinaric acid staining and could be excited by
      the latter using resonance energy transfer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451600
TI  - Signal transduction in monocytes and granulocytes measured by multiparameter flow
      cytometry.
AB  - The novel calcium indicator fura red and the oxidative burst indicator
      dihydrorhodamine (both excited at 488 nm) were used in combination with
      multiparameter flow cytometry to allow simultaneous kinetic measurements of
      calcium fluxes and oxidative bursts in monocytes and granulocytes. Using this
      method it was possible to obtain direct evidence for the following cell type- and
      stimulus-specific differences in signal transduction pathways: 1) n-formyl
      methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP)/cytochalasin B-induced oxidative burst is
      several-fold higher in granulocytes than in monocytes although the calcium fluxes
      have similar amplitudes in the two cell types; 2) stimulus-induced calcium fluxes
      in granulocytes are mainly due to release from intracellular stores, whereas
      monocytes mobilize calcium mainly by influx from the medium; 3) the
      FMLP/cytochalasin B-induced calcium flux in monocytes is less sensitive to the G
      protein inhibitor pertussis toxin than the flux in granulocytes; 4) in contrast
      to FMLP/cytochalasin B, the protein kinase C activator phorbol myristate acetate
      (PMA) induces an oxidative burst that is not preceded by a cytoplasmic calcium
      flux; 5) the PMA-induced oxidative burst can be triggered in monocytes and
      granulocytes that are depleted of intracellular calcium ions, whereas that
      induced by FMLP/cytochalasin B can not; 6) the G-protein inhibitor pertussis
      toxin blocks an early event in the signal transduction pathway of
      FMLP/cytochalasin B, as shown by inhibition of both calcium fluxes and oxidative
      burst; and 7) 100 nM of the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine blocks the
      FMLP/cytochalasin B-induced respiratory burst by interfering with a step
      downstream to cytoplasmic calcium fluxes, whereas only 10-20 nM is necessary to
      block PMA-induced oxidative burst.

PMID- 1451601
TI  - Swine chromosomal DNA quantification by bivariate flow karyotyping and karyotype
      interpretation.
AB  - Human and swine chromosomes were analyzed separately and as a mix to obtain
      bivariate flow karyotypes. They were normalized to each other in order to use the
      human chromosomal DNA content as standard. Our results led to the
      characterization of the "DNA line" in swine identical to the human "DNA line."
      Estimation of the DNA content in mega-base pairs of the swine chromosomes is
      proposed. Chromosomal assignment to the various resolved peaks on the bivariate
      swine flow karyotype is suggested from the relation between DNA content
      quantified by flow cytometry and chromosomal size. Swine chromosomes 1, 13, 6, 5,
      10, 16, 11, 18, and Y were assigned to peaks A, B, C, K, L, N, O, Q, and Y,
      respectively. Peaks D and E were assumed to contain chromosomes 2 and 14, but
      without specific assignment. Similarly, P and M peaks were expected to correspond
      to chromosomes 12 and 17. Of the remaining chromosomes (3, 7, X, 8, 15, 9, and
      4), chromosomes 3, 7, and X, which were assigned previously to peaks F, G, and H,
      respectively, led us to deduce that chromosomes 15 and 8 belonged to peaks I and
      J, and chromosomes 9, 4, and X to peak H.

PMID- 1451602
TI  - Comparative evaluation of fresh, fixed, and cryopreserved solid tumor cells for
      reliable flow cytometry of DNA and tumor associated antigen.
AB  - Five different protocols for the short-term preservation of cells used for
      multiparameter flow cytometric assay of tumour associated antigens (TAA) and DNA
      were assessed in cell suspensions prepared by mechanical disaggregation of 15
      gynecological tumors. The protocols at 4 degrees C were 1) storage in buffer, 2)
      storage in 50% methanol, and 3) storage in buffer after formalin fixation.
      Tissues were also cryopreserved as cell suspensions and tissue blocks. When the
      TAA expression and DNA histograms of the preserved cells were compared with those
      in fresh cell suspensions, cryopreservation was found to be the best method: TAA
      expression was well preserved and there was a good correlation between TAA
      expression and the quality of the DNA histograms, respectively, in fresh and
      cryopreserved cells (RS: 0.82-0.91, P less than 0.001 for all TAAs). The cell
      suspensions preserved at 4 degrees C all showed a significant increase in
      background fluorescence (P less than 0.05) and a reduction in the TAA specific
      fluorescence (P less than 0.011). Methanol fixation was better than buffered
      formalin for the proteins studied, though both gave significantly worse results
      than cryopreservation. The quality of these cell suspensions and the correlation
      with TAA measurements in fresh cell suspensions deteriorated progressively with
      time, particularly if they were stored more than a week.

PMID- 1451603
TI  - Quantitation of resistance of leukemic cells to cytosine arabinoside from
      BrdUrd/DNA bivariate histograms.
AB  - The cytotoxicity of ara-C derives from an inhibition of DNA synthesis after
      incorporation of ara-CTP into DNA. The rate of DNA synthesis can be determined
      from the amount of bromodeoxy-uridine (BrdUrd) incorporated into cells after a
      short exposure to BrdUrd. We developed a computer program to quantify the
      inhibition of the rate of DNA synthesis by analysis of the distribution of
      BrdUrd/DNA. Inhibition was evaluated in ara-C-sensitive and resistant cells after
      incubation with different doses of ara-C. An index of resistance to ara-C (RI)
      was expressed as the ratio of the amount of BrdUrd incorporated into S phase
      cells incubated with ara-C to that incorporated in the absence of ara-C. In the
      ara-C-sensitive and resistant HL60 cells, a linear relationship between RI and
      log ara-C concentration was observed. Small numbers of slightly resistant cells
      in mixtures of ara-C-sensitive and resistant cells could be determined using this
      method, making it suitable for clinical use to test the resistance of leukemic
      cells to ara-C.

PMID- 1451604
TI  - Calcein: a novel marker for lymphocytes which enter lymph nodes.
AB  - Previous studies have identified unique cell surface antigens which are
      associated with the specific binding of lymphocytes to high endothelial venules
      (HEV). Evidence is presented in this paper which demonstrates that uptake of the
      fluorescent dye calcein by lymphocytes represents an additional marker for the
      lymph node homing subpopulation of lymphocytes. Calcein exhibits a characteristic
      ability to label lymphocytes differentially into two distinct populations, based
      on fluorescence intensity, that does not occur with three other structurally
      related, fluorescein-based dyes. In vivo lymphocyte migration studies revealed
      that cells displaying the "dull" fluorescence phenotype, although entering all
      lymphoid organs examined, preferentially homed to the lymph nodes, particularly
      the popliteal lymph node (PLN). By contrast, lymphocytes displaying the "bright"
      phenotype were essentially excluded from entering lymphoid organs, where entry is
      HEV dependent, but were observed entering spleen, where entry is HEV independent.
      Furthermore, a high proportion (76.5%) of lymphocytes displaying the dull
      fluorescence phenotype expressed the PLN homing receptor MEL-14. Based on these
      observations it is suggested that calcein uptake may be a marker for general
      membrane properties, such as fluidity and plasticity, essential for the passage
      of lymphocytes through HEV.

PMID- 1451605
TI  - Flow-cytometric enumeration of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in mouse
      peripheral blood.
AB  - A flow-cytometric assay is described that can be used to determine the frequency
      and the DNA content of micronucleated polychromatic (PCE) and normochromatic
      (NCE) erythrocytes in mouse peripheral blood. Thiazole orange was used for
      discrimination between PCEs and NCEs, while Hoechst 33342 was used to detect
      micronucleated PCEs and NCEs. Up to 70,000 polychromatic erythrocytes can be
      analyzed in less than 10 min. This corresponds to 150-3,000 micronucleated
      polychromatic erythrocytes, 90-95% of which are true events as determined with a
      fluorescence microscope after sorting. Using X-rays as the inducing agent in dose
      response experiments, a significant increase can be registered at doses of 0.02
      Gy. It seems possible that the method will also allow the detection of
      clastogenic effects of other inducing agents at lower doses than previously
      possible.

PMID- 1451606
TI  - Three-dimensional image processing for morphometric analysis of epithelium
      sections.
AB  - The reproducible classification of poorly differentiated abnormal epithelium
      specimens is still a diagnostic problem. The computer-aided method described here
      improves the differentiation between benign and malignant epithelium specimens.
      Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of normal squamous epithelium, dysplasia,
      carcinoma in situ, and carcinoma were scanned in a TV microscope system and
      analyzed by means of image processing methods on a DEC 5000/200 workstation. From
      the 15-20 microns thick histological sections, 3-5 focus positions in steps of 1
      4 microns were scanned. The segmentation of the cell nuclei was performed
      automatically by color analysis and geometric operations. For each nucleus the
      best focus level was selected and at this level the center of the cell was
      calculated. Graph theoretical methods were applied to analyze the morphometry of
      the epithelium specimens. The minimal spanning tree was computed in the three
      dimensional (3D) space of the sections with the selected centers of the nuclei as
      vertices. The best feature found for discrimination of the specimens is the
      average length of all edges in a tree. In the two-dimensional (2D) analysis we
      had to accept an error probability of about 20% in differentiation of dysplasia
      and carcinoma. In contrast to this we differentiated normal squamous epithelium,
      dysplasia, and carcinoma with a correct classification rate of 100% in the 3D
      analysis.

PMID- 1451607
TI  - Automated image detection and segmentation in blood smears.
AB  - A simple technique which automatically detects and then segments nucleated cells
      in Wright's giemsa-stained blood smears is presented. Our method differs from
      others in 1) the simplicity of our algorithms; 2) inclusion of touching (as well
      as nontouching) cells; and 3) use of these algorithms to segment as well as to
      detect nucleated cells employing conventionally prepared smears. Our method
      involves: 1) acquisition of spectral images; 2) preprocessing the acquired
      images; 3) detection of single and touching cells in the scene; 4) segmentation
      of the cells into nuclear and cytoplasmic regions; and 5) postprocessing of the
      segmented regions. The first two steps of this algorithm are employed to obtain
      high-quality images, to remove random noise, and to correct aberration and
      shading effects. Spectral information of the image is used in step 3 to segment
      the nucleated cells from the rest of the scene. Using the initial cell masks,
      nucleated cells which are just touching are detected and separated. Simple
      features are then extracted and conditions applied such that single nucleated
      cells are finally selected. In step 4, the intensity variations of the cells are
      then used to segment the nucleus from the cytoplasm. The success rate in
      segmenting the nucleated cells is between 81 and 93%. The major errors in
      segmentation of the nucleus and the cytoplasm in the recognized nucleated cells
      are 3.5% and 2.2%, respectively.

PMID- 1451608
TI  - DNA signal splitting improves detection and analysis of tetraploid populations.
AB  - Detection of DNA tetraploid populations requires a high index of suspicion at the
      time of data acquisition and frequently requires subsequent off-line analysis for
      confirmation, including evaluation of the hypertetraploid region. To analyze
      these specimens, the flow cytometer operator must run all specimens with the G0G1
      peak in low channels or rerun specimens in which tetraploidy is suspected with a
      lower photomultiplier tube (PMT) voltage or lower amplifier gain setting. Re
      analysis may not be possible in specimens with few cells. A simple modification
      to the cytometer allows PMT signal splitting with simultaneous processing of the
      signal by two different amplifiers. This allows simultaneous acquisition of
      histograms optimized for both the hypotetraploid and hypertetraploid regions.

PMID- 1451609
TI  - Molecular approach in spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae): preliminary data on
      ribosomal DNA sequences.
AB  - DNA sequence data were used to examine phylogenetic relationships between six
      species of economically important Tetranychidae mites: Eotetranychus carpini
      (Oudemans), E. pruni (Reck), Tetranychus pacificus McGregor, T. mcdanieli
      McGregor, T. turkestani Ugarov & Nikolski and T. urticae Koch. With primers
      directed toward conserved elements flanking the target region, the Polymerase
      Chain Reaction was used to amplify the ITS2 spacer of the ribosomal DNA molecule.
      The nucleotide sequence of a 300-bp fragment of the ITS2 was determined by direct
      sequencing and nucleotide divergence used for intra-generic comparison in mites.
      The resulting phylogenetic tree expressing interspecific relationships in genus
      Tetranychus agrees with morphological data. The study demonstrates the usefulness
      of the approach in the assessment of the systematics and evolution of the group.

PMID- 1451610
TI  - An evaluation of the effectivity of the scrub technique in quantitative
      ectoparasite ecology.
AB  - The effectivity of the scrub technique used in quantitative parasite ecology to
      collect ectoparasites from mammalian skins was evaluated. This was done by
      reprocessing already scrubbed skins with the alkali digestion technique to remove
      any remaining parasites. The skins of six adult impala (Aepyceros melampus) ewes
      were used in the study. The results showed that the scrub technique is variable
      in its effectivity, and on average removed only 30.2% ectoparasites from the
      skins. It was also shown that the scrub technique is unreliable and more labour
      intensive and time consuming than the digestion technique, and should preferably
      not be used in quantitative studies.

PMID- 1451611
TI  - Preventing complications in the CAVH patient.
AB  - Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH) is a recently developed
      extracorporeal technique for treating the fluid overloaded, critically ill
      patient. Severe complications can occur during this procedure, including clotting
      and malfunction of the filter, exsanguination, or fluid and electrolyte
      imbalance. The critical care nurse who understands the principles of filtration,
      the concepts of heparinization, and the care and maintenance of the large
      invasive lines required for CAVH can frequently prevent these complications.

PMID- 1451612
TI  - Catheter-related sepsis: an analysis of the research.

PMID- 1451613
TI  - The DCCN education STATPack. Reducing intravascular catheter-related sepsis.

PMID- 1451614
TI  - Guidelines for selecting a conceptual model of nursing: focus on the individual
      patient.
AB  - How do conceptual models help you in clinical practice? How can you select the
      best model to guide successful interventions for your critical care patients?
      These authors present three guidelines for selection of a conceptual model for
      your patient situation. Six case studies of patients requiring critical care
      nursing demonstrate the fit of the patient's problems and goals for care with
      particular conceptual models of nursing.

PMID- 1451615
TI  - Strategies for teaching decision making: discrepancies in cuff versus invasive
      blood pressures.
AB  - With advanced technology the nurse has multiple assessment information to
      consider at once. Sometimes the data from different assessment modes conflicts
      and the nurse needs to evaluate the discrepancies to determine the most reliable
      assessment measurement. Teaching nurses clinical decision making is more
      difficult than before because of this increase in the amount and complexity of
      the data. These authors show how using an algorithm helps to teach decision
      making. They describe the use of an algorithm as a teaching tool for a course on
      evaluating the differences in cuff versus invasive blood pressure readings.

PMID- 1451616
TI  - A comparison of family needs based on the presence or absence of DNR orders.
AB  - This investigator found no differences between the needs of family members who
      selected "Do-Not-Resuscitate" (DNR) orders from those who did not. She suggests
      reevaluating the assumptions about families who select DNR.

PMID- 1451617
TI  - Continuing education.

PMID- 1451618
TI  - Islet cell transplants: putting the cart before the horse.

PMID- 1451619
TI  - Preparing for college: an interdisciplinary workshop for teens with insulin
      dependent diabetes mellitus.

PMID- 1451620
TI  - Diet education for children with IDDM.

PMID- 1451621
TI  - Evaluation of diabetic patients' home urine glucose testing technique and ability
      to interpret results.
AB  - The attention of diabetes educators has focused on home blood glucose monitoring,
      with little attention being given to the educational needs of patients who choose
      to perform home urine glucose monitoring. This study assessed patients' urine
      glucose testing technique and ability to interpret test results. A questionnaire
      was developed and administered by clinic nurses to 100 adults with diabetes who
      perform home urine glucose monitoring. Patients selected the urine testing
      product they used at home and demonstrated the technique using a prepared glucose
      solution. The nurse recorded whether patients correctly performed each step in
      the procedure according to product instructions. Results indicated that 61% of
      patients did not perform the procedure correctly. Patients had difficulty reading
      package insert instructions, could not correctly read a clock, did not wait the
      correct amount of time before reading test results, and did not routinely keep
      written result diaries. This study demonstrates the importance of routine review
      of home urine glucose testing with the product used at home.

PMID- 1451622
TI  - Adjusting insulins.
AB  - The teaching of effective insulin adjustment is a formal process that benefits
      from being carried out in a standardized way. The unique methods outlined in this
      report have been taught to people with diabetes for over 8 years. Iterative in
      nature, the methods are safe and work to achieve specified blood glucose or HbA1c
      targets. They are designed to accommodate each individual's habits, recognizing
      that acceptance depends on adapting the medication to the life-style rather than
      vice versa. New technology was used to mediate insulin adjustments at home.
      Insulin adjustment of itself, however, is but one of five interdependent factors
      involved in successful self-management. These include (1) choosing sites of
      insulin injection; (2) choosing species of origin of insulins to be used; (3)
      reviewing life-style habits, including diet and exercise; (4) implementing dosage
      titration; and (5) follow-up. Lack of formalized insulin adjustment methods may
      be a major reason why many diabetes control programs fail to demonstrate
      significantly better metabolic control in their patients.

PMID- 1451623
TI  - A survey of patient preference for insulin jet injectors versus needle and
      syringe.
AB  - Many studies have tested the insulin absorption rate and mechanical reliability
      of jet injectors. However, no published papers have dealt exclusively with
      patient preference for this method of administering insulin over a period of
      years. This paper reports the results of a survey done to determine if use of a
      jet injector for delivering insulin has an effect on acceptance of and adherence
      to a regimen of multiple doses of insulin. Over the past 15 years, the authors
      have instructed approximately 70 patients to use various jet injectors. A
      questionnaire was developed and sent to 75 patients. Of these, 42 completed and
      returned the questionnaire. Survey results indicate that even though some
      problems with the injectors were identified, 70% of those responding still
      preferred to take insulin by jet injector.

PMID- 1451624
TI  - Comparison of first-generation and second-generation blood glucose meters for use
      in a hospital setting.
AB  - This study evaluated and compared a first- and a second-generation blood glucose
      meter for precision, accuracy, and user preference. Two separate capillary blood
      glucose fingersticks were performed on 25 outpatients and 60 inpatients with
      diabetes. Samples were drawn for serum glucose determinations immediately
      following the capillary fingersticks. Comparison of the Accu-Chek II and
      Satellite G meters in the outpatient setting gave results similar to the
      reference laboratory's. When the meters were tested on inpatients, the blood
      glucose results were significantly higher than those obtained from the hospital
      laboratory. The Accu-Chek II was more precise than the Satellite G on both normal
      and high blood glucose samples. Nursing staff indicated preference for the
      Satellite G because of its quick testing time but not for other preference
      factors surveyed. Both meters provided more accurate assessments of blood glucose
      concentration than were obtained from the serum glucose samples routinely
      processed by our hospital laboratory. Use of a nonfluorinated tube and delayed
      separation of the sample with resultant glycolysis likely account for this
      difference.

PMID- 1451625
TI  - Pancreas transplantation: a University of Minnesota perspective.
AB  - Because of various difficulties, transplantation is restricted to specific
      situations. Surgery is considered elective by many insurers, so costs are often
      borne by the patient. Surgical work-up includes a thorough evaluation of diabetes
      related complications, tissue typing, psychological state, and social issues.
      Options of cadaver versus living related donors are explored. The surgical
      procedure is lengthy and the hospital stay long and intensive. Once a patient is
      ambulatory, education is begun to meet the extensive learning needs. After
      discharge, surgical follow-up focuses primarily on blood chemistries, medication
      doses, and surgical complications. Medical follow-up includes monitoring for
      infections and rejection as well as addressing long-term complications of
      diabetes. Studies of the effects of transplantation on diabetes complications are
      encouraging which, when coupled with improved surgical outcomes, may increase
      opportunities for transplant.

PMID- 1451626
TI  - A better method for demonstrating the relationship between factors affecting
      glycemic control.

PMID- 1451627
TI  - Preparing for natural disasters: a survival plan for persons with diabetes.

PMID- 1451628
TI  - Volunteer Protection Act (H.R. 911): protection for AADE volunteers.

PMID- 1451629
TI  - Photography as a tool in assessment and rapport development in clients with
      diabetes: research brief.
AB  - Certainly no major conclusions or generalizations can be made from a pilot study
      of this size. However, as is the nature of pilot studies, needed modifications in
      methodology have been discovered. Also, it is obvious that rapport development
      may be evaluated with the MISS, and the use of a camera has proven to be a
      worthwhile assessment and intervention tool. The results of this pilot study
      would certainly warrant continuation with a larger study. Rapport development has
      not been studied in diabetes. Perhaps rapport may be at risk because of the
      lengthy provider-patient relationship and the need for repeated physician
      reinforcement of required medical regimens and some associated life-style
      changes. In this study, rapport appeared to increase slightly in the experimental
      (camera) group and decrease in the control (non-camera) group. From the patients'
      perspective, use of photography communicates that the health care provider cares
      about them as individuals, is interested in their life-styles, and is seeking
      methods to best integrate the treatment regimen into their individual life
      patterns. However, rapport development may deteriorate over time with individuals
      who have a chronic illness (as indicated by some decrease in pretest/posttest
      mean differences in both groups), thus emphasizing the responsibility of health
      care providers to actively work to preserve rapport. The camera may be one method
      to accomplish this goal. When treating an individual with a chronic illness,
      health care providers tend to view the patient and problem as one entity rather
      than as two separate components. The camera may help to enhance this separation
      and promote understanding of the individual by means of rapport development.

PMID- 1451630
TI  - [Mathematical model of membrane potential oscillations in bursting neurons of
      Helix pomatia].

PMID- 1451631
TI  - [Formation of the dose burdens on agricultural animals during the accident at the
      Chernobyl AES and effect of their evacuation on the dose absorbed].

PMID- 1451632
TI  - [Growth inhibiting and cytostatic activity of binuclear platinum (II) triamine
      complexes with polymethylenediamines].

PMID- 1451633
TI  - [High molecular weight nuclear matrix phosphoprotein as an analog of the MAP1
      protein from brain microtubules associated with DNA in a Mg- dependent manner].

PMID- 1451634
TI  - [Decreased MR-activity among chromosomes with a lethal mutation in a Drosophila
      melanogaster natural population].

PMID- 1451635
TI  - [Isotopic effects in biosystems and the problem of aging of the organism].

PMID- 1451636
TI  - [Excitonic cleavage--the reason for spectral features of the colchicine-tubulin
      complex].

PMID- 1451637
TI  - [Effect of phorbol esters and amiloride on the radiation-induced interphase death
      of thymocytes].

PMID- 1451638
TI  - [The effect of ftorofok on the enzymatic activity of various isoforms of
      cytochrome P-450].

PMID- 1451639
TI  - [Functional changes in lymphokine-activated lymphocytes depending on the
      incubation time with interleukin-2].

PMID- 1451640
TI  - [Further studies on the removal of (134), (137)Cs from animal meat].

PMID- 1451641
TI  - Effects of macrolide antibiotics on gastrointestinal motility in fasting and
      digestive states.
AB  - The effect of macrolide antibiotics on gastrointestinal motility was studied in
      unanaesthetized dogs by using strain-gauge transducers. Midecamycin acetate,
      leucomycin, josamycin and acetylspiramycin, which are 16-membered macrolides, did
      not affect the gastrointestinal motility and no symptoms of gastrointestinal
      disorder were observed. On the other hand, erythromycin, roxithromycin,
      clarithromycin and oleandomycin, which are 14-membered macrolides, caused giant
      contraction and disorder symptoms. Moreover, it was found that the glycosidic
      linkages of the lactone ring were necessary for a structure to exert strong
      contractile activity.

PMID- 1451642
TI  - Transfer of beta-lactam preparations created in Japan to lung tissue and the drug
      selection for chemotherapy of respiratory tract infections.
AB  - Intraoperative transfer of eight beta-lactam preparations to lung tissues was
      investigated by one-gram one-hour intravenous drip infusion immediately prior to
      operation. The Japanese drugs used were piperacillin, cefotiam, ceftizoxime,
      cefuzonam, latamoxef, flomoxef, cefotetan and cefbuperazone. The serum peak level
      was highest with cefotetan, 104.1 micrograms/ml, followed by cefbuperazone,
      latamoxef, ceftizoxime, cefotiam, piperacillin, flomoxef and cefuzonam, in
      decreasing order. Except for cefuzonam, there was a correlation between the serum
      peak level and the human serum protein binding rate (r = 0.89). There was a
      correlation (r = 0.98) between the Cmax of normal lung tissue (alveoli) level and
      the serum peak level (Cmax), but no correlation between the former and the human
      serum protein binding rate. The tumour level was lower than that in normal lung
      tissue (alveoli), but the tissue level at the obstructive pneumonia area was
      higher. The Cmax of bronchiolar tissue level was highest with cefuzonam, followed
      by latamoxef. There was no correlation between the Cmax of bronchiolar tissue
      level and the serum peak level, human serum protein binding rate or the Cmax of
      lung tissue (alveoli) level. It is therefore presumed that the drug level in
      tissue of the acute pneumonia area can be determined from the serum peak level of
      the respective drug. An appropriate drug for chemotherapy may be selected from
      beta-lactam preparations which are effective against main causative organisms in
      acute respiratory tract infections. Cefuzonam and latamoxef are especially useful
      for chemotherapy in patients with acute bronchiolitis.

PMID- 1451643
TI  - Microbiologic profile of ceftibuten, a new oral cephalosporin.
AB  - The bactericidal activity of ceftibuten, alone and in combination with other
      drugs, has been assessed in vitro. The ability to induce a post-antibiotic effect
      (PAE), the rate of emergence of spontaneous resistant mutants, and the presence
      of Eagle's phenomenon were also investigated. Ceftibuten rapidly killed most
      Enterobacteriaceae, Haemophilus, Moraxella and Streptococcus species tested,
      including beta-lactamase-producing strains with over 90% cfu reduction after only
      2 h. Using chequerboard and time-kill tests, ceftibuten was found to react
      synergistically with aminoglycosides, and to give an indifferent response with
      ofloxacin against a large number of Gram-negative aerobes and streptococci.
      Antagonism was never observed. Ceftibuten induced a PAE of approximately 1 h on
      S. pneumoniae. As expected, no PAE was observed with Gram-negative species.
      Spontaneous emergence of ceftibuten-resistant strains exposed to supra-MICs of
      the drug was rare (< or = 10(-8)) in all pathogens tested. No marked Eagle effect
      was detected when bacteria were treated with ceftibuten at concentrations
      exceeding 100-fold their MICs. This rules out the possibility that in vivo the
      high concentrations of ceftibuten reached in the urinary tract may hinder its
      excellent bactericidal activity.

PMID- 1451644
TI  - Comparison of norfloxacin and pefloxacin in the prophylaxis of bacterial
      infection in neutropenic cancer patients.
AB  - In this study the efficacy of norfloxacin and pefloxacin for the antibacterial
      prophylaxis of granulocytopenia was compared in cancer patients following
      cytostatic treatment. A total of 136 patients was randomly selected to receive
      either norfloxacin or pefloxacin. Nineteen patients remained afebrile in the
      norfloxacin group compared with thirty one in the pefloxacin group (p = 0.045).
      Twenty four microbiologically documented infections (twelve with and twelve
      without bacteraemia) occurred in sixty seven patients taking norfloxacin, and
      twelve in sixty nine patients taking pefloxacin (five with and seven without
      bacteraemia) (p = 0.015). Only one infection caused by Gram-negative bacilli was
      observed in the pefloxacin group compared with seven in the norfloxacin group (p
      = 0.019). In conclusion, both microbiological and clinical results showed
      pefloxacin to be a better antibacterial agent than norfloxacin for these
      patients.

PMID- 1451645
TI  - Acute systemic and splanchnic haemodynamic effects of L-carnitine in patients
      with cirrhosis.
AB  - L-carnitine (L-C) is a naturally occurring substance in mammalian tissues that
      has recently been proposed as a therapeutic agent in hepatic encephalopathy and
      liver steatosis. L-C also produces some acute, non-metabolic, haemodynamic
      effects that have not previously been studied in patients with cirrhosis.
      Therefore, the authors evaluated the acute effect of i.v. administration of L-C
      (30 mg/kg) on systemic and splanchnic haemodynamics in ten patients (L-C group)
      with chronic liver disease (Child-Pugh's class A: 4, B: 3, C: 3 patients) and a
      control group composed of ten patients with similar clinical characteristics
      (Child-Pugh's class A: 5, B: 2, C: 3 patients) who received placebo. Heart rate,
      cardiac index and pulmonary arterial pressure (measured by right heart
      catheterization) decreased slightly but significantly in the L-C group and the
      changes observed in stroke volume were highly correlated to the Pugh's score.
      Moreover, the hepatic venous pressure gradient (measured by hepatic vein
      catheterization) decreased significantly in the L-C group, whereas no changes
      occurred in the placebo group. The overall response to L-C was contradictory to
      that previously observed in animals and humans with normal liver function, and
      the extent seemed to depend on the severity of liver disease. The effect of the
      drug on cardiac index, heart rate and hepatic venous gradient could possibly be
      beneficial for patients with hyperdynamic circulatory condition and portal
      hypertension.

PMID- 1451646
TI  - Phase I trial of cystemustine, a new cysteamine (2-chloroethyl) nitrosourea: an
      intrapatient escalation scheme.
AB  - A trial of cystemustine, a cysteamine nitrosourea, was carried out on 34 patients
      with advanced malignancies at increasing dosage of the drug over a period of up
      to 190 days in seven or eight cycles. A partial response to treatment was
      obtained in three patients. A degree of haematological toxicity developed in a
      number of the patients.

PMID- 1451647
TI  - [The effect of acute cellular rejection on liver function following orthoptic
      liver transplantation. Quantitative functional studies with the 14C-aminopyrine
      breath test].
AB  - To test the effect of acute cellular rejection on liver function as represented
      by cytochrome-P-450 enzyme activity, the 14C-aminopyrine breath test (ABT) was
      performed prospectively in 46 patients (31 men, 15 women; mean age 48 [15-66]
      years) who had undergone a total of 50 orthotopic liver transplantations. Routine
      biochemical tests were performed daily until the 30th postoperative day, while
      the ABT was done daily on days 1-10 and three times weekly on days 11-30, and
      liver puncture biopsies were obtained once weekly or more often if there was
      clinical suspicion of rejection. Histologically confirmed cellular rejection
      occurred within the stated period of observation in eight patients (five women,
      three men; median age 45 [18-59] years). Results of routine laboratory tests
      (transaminases, bilirubin, thromboplastin time), as well as bile-flow and body
      temperature, did not vary uniformly. On the other hand, results of ABT at the
      time of rejection showed a decrease in all patients by an average of 65% (P <
      0.01). Changes in the ABT preceded those in other tests by 1-2 days in four
      patients, being the only measurable functional abnormality in one. All rejection
      episodes responded to glucocorticoid pulse-treatment (three times 1 g methyl
      prednisolone). Using ABT results as criterion, liver function became normal after
      the glucocorticoid injection within 4-11 days. These data indicate that the ABT
      is suitable in the routine monitoring of transplant function, thus facilitating
      early diagnosis and controlled treatment of acute cellular rejection.

PMID- 1451648
TI  - [Intra-arterial calcium provocation for the preoperative diagnosis of the
      location of an occult insulinoma].
AB  - Blood-sugar levels below 40 mg/dl were measured during syncope in two female
      patients (aged 59 and 73 years). Suspected organic hyperinsulinism was confirmed
      by a fasting test. Ultrasound examination and computed tomography failed to
      demonstrate an insulinoma. Coeliacomesentericography was then undertaken together
      with a selective intra-arterial calcium provocation test of the pancreas (0.4 or
      0.5 mmol calcium in physiological saline was injected into the pancreas-supplying
      arteries--proximal and distal splenic, superior mesenteric and gastroduodenal).
      The insulin level was determined in simultaneously obtained hepatic venous blood.
      In case 1, the insulin level rose tenfold after calcium injection into the
      proximal splenic artery, indicating a process in the body of the pancreas. In
      case 2, a steep rise in insulin occurred after injection into the truncus
      coeliacus and the proximal and distal splenic artery, suggesting an insulinoma in
      the tail of the pancreas. The site of the insulinoma was confirmed in both cases
      at surgery. The adenoma was enucleated in case 1, removed by partial resection of
      the tail of the pancreas in case 2.--These observations show that occult
      insulinomas can be localized preoperatively by intraarterial calcium injection
      with measurement of insulin concentration in simultaneously obtained hepatic
      venous blood.

PMID- 1451649
TI  - [The therapy of the heparin-induced thrombosis-thrombocytopenia syndrome with
      immunoglobulins].
AB  - A 51-year-old obese woman who had just undergone a second osteotomy for arthrosis
      of the hip joint was given unfractionated heparin, 7,500 IU subcutaneously three
      times daily, as thrombosis prophylaxis. Signs of fulminant pulmonary embolism
      occurred on the 16th postoperative day with a platelet count of
      33,000/microliters. Suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis
      (HITT) was confirmed by platelet tests. When heparin had been discontinued
      immunoglobulin G was administered, seven times 5 g intravenously, in view of the
      immunological genesis of HITT. In addition thrombolysis treatment with
      streptokinase combined with phenprocoumon was undertaken, until satisfactory
      anticoagulation was achieved after 4 days. Platelet count rose to
      136,000/microliters within 20 hours of the first immunoglobulin dose. Complete
      clinical normality was restored, scintigraphy showed no perfusion deficit in the
      lungs.

PMID- 1451650
TI  - [The diagnostic significance of lipoprotein(a)].

PMID- 1451651
TI  - [Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition and angina pectoris].

PMID- 1451652
TI  - [Quality assurance in publications].

PMID- 1451653
TI  - [The indications for acetazolamide].

PMID- 1451654
TI  - [Physical activity and type-II diabetes mellitus].

PMID- 1451655
TI  - Imprinting of phosphoribosyltransferases during preimplantation development of
      the mouse mutant, Hprtb-m3.
AB  - The measurement of the activity of the X-linked enzyme HPRT has been widely used
      as an indicator of X-chromosome activity during preimplantation development in
      the mouse. More recently, the concomitant measurement of the activity of the
      autosomally-encoded enzyme APRT has been used in an attempt to decrease the
      variability inherent in the measurement of enzyme activity from minute samples
      such as preimplantation embryos. In this study the use of the HPRT-deficient
      mouse mutant, Hprtb-m3, allowed the unequivocal identification of the parental
      origin of HPRT activity measured in embryos derived from crosses between wild
      type mice, and mice which were homozygous or hemizygous for the Hprtb-m3 allele.
      Results were similar to those of a previous study, where oocyte-encoded HPRT
      activity accounted for about 10% of total HPRT activity at 76 hours post human
      chorionic gonadotrophin injection and the paternally-derived Hprt allele was
      shown to be transcriptionally active by the late 2-cell stage. In contrast to
      other studies, differential expression of the two Hprt alleles was detected
      during the preimplantation period, in embryos derived from crosses between wild
      type and HPRT-deficient mice. Evidence was also found for the existence of an X
      linked locus which influences the amount of APRT activity in the unfertilized
      oocyte. We propose that the expression pattern of this locus may be influenced by
      its parental origin.

PMID- 1451656
TI  - Platelet-derived growth factor-A and its receptor are expressed in separate, but
      adjacent cell layers of the mouse embryo.
AB  - The localized developmental expression of murine platelet-derived growth factor A
      (PDGF-A) was compared to that of its receptor (Pdgfra). Our in situ hybridization
      study included germ layers of primitive streak embryos, early axial structures
      (dermatome, myotome, sclerotome, floor plate), the skin and some of its
      derivatives (hair and mammary gland), the developing forelimb, the branchial
      arches and various sense organs (otic vesicle, olfactory epithelium and the eye).
      We report that PDGF-A and Pdgfra are expressed in separate, but adjacent cell
      layers in these structures and that in most, the ligand is expressed in the
      epithelium, whereas the receptor in the mesenchyme. This localization corresponds
      to classical experimental evidence for developmental interactions across cell
      layers. We suggest that the spatio-temporal regulation of PDGF-A and Pdgfra, and
      other related systems, represents one model for the spatial regulation of
      receptor-ligand interactions.

PMID- 1451657
TI  - BHK-21-derived cell lines that produce basic fibroblast growth factor, but not
      parental BHK-21 cells, initiate neuronal differentiation of neural crest
      progenitors.
AB  - We present evidence that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-producing cells
      stimulate primary differentiation of neurons from neural crest progenitors. Baby
      hamster kidney (BHK-21) cells were stably cotransfected with plasmid pSV2/neo,
      which contains the gene conferring resistance to the neomycin analog G418 and
      expression vectors containing the human bFGF cDNA. Various clones, which differed
      in their bFGF production levels, were isolated. Homogeneous neural crest cells
      were cultured on monolayers of bFGF-producing, BHK-21-derived cell lines. While
      the parental BHK-21 cells, which do not produce detectable bFGF, had poor
      neurogenic ability, the various bFGF-producing clones promoted a 1.5- to 4-fold
      increase in neuronal cell number compared to the parental cells. This increase
      was correlated with the levels of bFGF produced by the different transfected
      clones, which ranged between 2.3 and 140 ng/mg protein. In contrast, no
      stimulation of neuronal differentiation was observed when neural crest cells were
      grown on monolayers of parental BHK cells transfected with plasmid pSV2/neo
      alone, or on a parental BHK-derived clone, which secretes high amounts of
      recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Furthermore, the neuron
      promoting ability of bFGF-producing cells could be mimicked by addition of
      exogenous bFGF to neural crest cells grown on the parental BHK line. A similar
      treatment of neural crest cells grown on laminin substrata, instead of BHK cells,
      resulted in increased survival of non-neuronal cells, but not of neurons (see
      also Kalcheim, C. 1989, Dev. Biol. 134, 1-10). Taken together, these results
      suggest that bFGF stimulates neuronal differentiation of neural crest cells by a
      cell-mediated signalling mechanism.

PMID- 1451658
TI  - Development of left/right handedness in the chick heart.
AB  - The chick heart tube develops from the fusion of the right and left areas of
      precardiac mesoderm and in almost all cases loops to the embryo's right-hand
      side. We have investigated whether any intrinsic difference exists in the right
      and left areas of precardiac mesoderm, that influences the direction of looping
      of the heart tube. Chick embryos incubated to stages 4,5 and 6 were cultured by
      the New method. Areas of precardiac mesoderm were exchanged between donor and
      host embryos of the same stage and different stages to form control, double-right
      and double-left sided embryos. Overall, double-right sided embryos formed many
      more left-hand loops than double-left sided embryos. At stages 4 and 5 a small
      percentage of double-right embryos formed left-hand loops (13%) whereas at stage
      6 almost 50% of hearts had left-hand loops. Control embryos formed right-hand
      loops in 97% of cases. The stability of right-hand heart looping by double-left
      sided embryos, may be related to the process of 'conversion', whereas the
      direction of looping by double-right sided embryos has become randomised. There
      is some indication that an intrinsic change occurred in the precardiac mesoderm
      between stages 5 and 6 that later influenced the direction of looping of the
      heart tube. The direction of body turning is suggested to be linked to the
      direction of heart looping.

PMID- 1451659
TI  - Inhibin alpha- and beta A-subunit immunoreactivity in the chicken embryo during
      morphogenesis.
AB  - Antibodies against synthetic peptides selected from the amino acid sequences of
      human inhibin alpha- and beta A-subunits were used to examine the distribution of
      inhibin subunit immunoreactivity in chicken embryos during the first week of
      development. Inhibin alpha-subunit immunoreactivity was localized in skeletal and
      smooth muscle myoblasts as well as developing cardiac muscle cells. In somites,
      immunostaining was seen exclusively in myotomes. The appearance of alpha-subunit
      immunoreactivity was correlated with myogenic differentiation; immunoreactivity
      was not seen in non-differentiated mesenchymal cells or in terminally
      differentiated adult muscle cells. In cardiac muscle, some immunopositive
      myocytes were seen also in the adult. In the adult heart, the Purkinje fibers
      were strongly immunoreactive, suggesting a possible role of the immunoreactive
      protein in the impulse-conducting function of these specialized cells. Inhibin
      alpha-subunit immunoreactivity was also seen in the visceral and parietal cells
      of the Bowman's capsule in both mesonephric and metanephric kidneys. In addition
      to mesodermal derivatives, alpha-subunit immunoreactivity was localized in
      neuroepithelial cells and axons in the developing central nervous system.
      Immunoblotting with anti-alpha(1-32) revealed two protein bands with M(r) values
      of 50,000 and 32,000 in cytosol samples of whole embryos under nonreducing
      conditions. In reduced samples an approximately 14,000 M(r) protein species was
      detected. Inhibin beta A-subunit immunoreactivity was detected only in
      chondrocytes, suggesting that the immunoreactive protein might represent a
      chicken homologue of the various cartilage and bone morphogenetic proteins
      expressed in mammals.

PMID- 1451660
TI  - Induction of follicle formation and hair growth by vibrissa dermal papillae
      implanted into rat ear wounds: vibrissa-type fibres are specified.
AB  - Adult vibrissa follicle dermal papillae have the capacity to induce hair growth
      and follicle formation when associated with epidermis from various sources.
      However, the range of conditions under which hair follicle induction will take
      place has not been established. The question of whether or not the adult papilla
      carries information to impose fibre-type specificity has also not been fully
      answered. This study describes how the implantation of isolated papillae into
      small incisional cuts on the rat ear pinna resulted in the subsequent emergence
      of abnormally large hair fibres from the wound sites. Many of these hairs were
      found to display vibrissa-type characteristics. Histological observations
      indicated that the papillae had interacted with the edges of the wound epidermis
      to produce new, and particularly large follicles, while immunohistochemical
      staining revealed that early follicle construction was accompanied by a profusion
      of the basement membrane constituents laminin and type IV collagen in the
      subjacent dermis. These findings show that adult rat papillae retain the
      capacity, as displayed by embryonic dermis, to determine vibrissa specificity in
      induced follicles.

PMID- 1451661
TI  - Developmental modulation of myosin expression by thyroid hormone in avian
      skeletal muscle.
AB  - It is well established that a rise in circulating thyroid hormone during the
      second half of chick embryo development significantly influences muscle weight
      gain and bone growth. We studied thyroid influence on differentiation in slow
      anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) and fast posterior latissimus dorsi (PLD) muscles
      of embryos rendered hypothyroid by hypophysectomy or administration of an anti
      thyroid drug. The expression of native myosins and myosin light chains (MLCs) was
      studied by electrophoretic analysis, and the myosin heavy chain (MHC) was
      characterized by immunohistochemistry. The first effects of hypothyroid status
      were observed at day 21 of embryonic development (stage 46 according to Hamburger
      and Hamilton). Analysis of myosin isoform expression in PLD muscles of
      hypothyroid embryos showed persistence of slow migrating native myosins and slow
      MLCs as well as inhibition of neonatal fast MHC expression, indicating retarded
      differentiation of this muscle. In ALD muscle, hypothyroidism maintained fast
      embryonic MHC and induced noticeable amounts of fast MLCs, thus delaying slow
      muscle differentiation. Our results suggest that thyroid hormones play a role in
      modulating the appearance of neonatal fast MHC and the disappearance of
      isomyosins transiently present during embryogenesis. However, T3 supplemental
      treatment would seem to compensate in part for the effects of hypothyroidism
      induced by hypophysectomy, suggesting that thyroid hormone might interfere with
      other factors also accounting for the observed effects.

PMID- 1451662
TI  - The developmental switch in embryonic rho-globin expression is correlated with
      erythroid lineage-specific differences in transcription factor levels.
AB  - During chicken embryogenesis, the rho-globin gene is expressed only in the early
      developmental stages. We have examined the mechanisms that are responsible for
      this behavior. The transcription of the rho-globin gene is strongly correlated
      with the presence during development of primitive erythroid lineage cells,
      consistent with the idea that the expression of the rho-globin gene is restricted
      to that lineage. The "switching off" of rho-globin during development thus
      reflects the change from primitive to definitive cell lineages which occurs
      during erythropoiesis in chicken. We use transient expression assays in primary
      erythroid and other cells to show that the information for lineage- and tissue
      specific expression of the rho-globin gene is contained in a 456 bp region
      upstream of the gene's translational start site. DNA-binding studies, coupled
      with analysis of the effect on expression of deletions and binding site
      mutations, were used to identify important control elements within this 456 bp
      region. We find that binding sites for the ubiquitous transcription factor Sp1,
      and the specific hematopoietic factor GATA-1, are crucial for expression of the
      gene in primitive erythroid cells. Quantitative analysis shows that nuclei of the
      primitive erythroid lineage contain 10-fold more of these factors than do the
      nuclei of definitive cells. We show that in principle these differences in factor
      concentration are sufficient to explain the lineage-specific behavior that we
      observe in our assays. We suggest that this may be an important part of the
      mechanism for lineage-restricted rho-globin expression during chicken erythroid
      development. Similar mechanisms may be involved in regulation of other (but not
      all) members of the globin family.

PMID- 1451663
TI  - Ventrolateral regionalization of Xenopus laevis mesoderm is characterized by the
      expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin.
AB  - Mesodermal patterning in the amphibian embryo has been extensively studied in its
      dorsal aspects, whereas little is known regarding its ventrolateral
      regionalization due to a lack of specific molecular markers for derivatives of
      this type of mesoderm. Since smooth muscles (SM) are thought to arise from
      lateral plate mesoderm, we have analyzed the expression of an alpha-actin isoform
      specific for SM with regard to mesoderm patterning. Using an antibody directed
      against alpha-SM actin that recognized specifically this actin isoform in
      Xenopus, we have found that the expression of alpha-SM actin is restricted to
      visceral and vascular SM with a transient expression in the heart. The overall
      expression of the alpha-SM actin appears restricted to the ventral aspects of the
      differentiating embryo. alpha-SM actin expression appears to be activated
      following mesoderm induction in animal cap derivatives. Moreover, at the gastrula
      stage, SM precursor cells are regionalized since they will only differentiate
      from ventrolateral marginal zone explants. Using the animal cap assay, we have
      found that alpha-SM actin expression is specifically induced in treated animal
      cap with bFGF or a low concentration of XTC-MIF, which induce ventral structures,
      but not with a high concentration of XTC-MIF, which induces dorsal structures.
      Altogether, these results establish that alpha-SM actin is a reliable marker for
      ventrolateral mesoderm. We discuss the importance of this novel marker in
      studying mesoderm regionalization.

PMID- 1451664
TI  - Spatial and developmental changes in the respiratory activity of mitochondria in
      early Drosophila embryos.
AB  - Mitochondria of early Drosophila embryos were observed with a transmission
      electron microscope and a fluorescent microscope after vital staining with
      rhodamine 123, which accumulates only in active mitochondria. Rhodamine 123
      accumulated particularly in the posterior pole region in early cleavage embryos,
      whereas the spatial distribution of mitochondria in an embryo was uniform
      throughout cleavage stages. In late cleavage stages, the dye showed very weak and
      uniform accumulation in all regions of periplasm. Polar plasm, sequestered in
      pole cells, restored the ability to accumulate the dye. Therefore, it is
      concluded that the respiratory activity of mitochondria is higher in the polar
      plasm than in the other regions of periplasm in early embryos, and this changes
      during development. The temporal changes in rhodamine 123-staining of polar plasm
      were not affected by u.v. irradiation at the posterior of early cleavage embryos
      at a sufficient dosage to prevent pole cell formation. This suggests that the
      inhibition of pole cell formation by u.v. irradiation is not due to the
      inactivation of the respiratory activities of mitochondria. In addition, we found
      that the anterior of Bicaudal-D mutant embryos at cleavage stage was stained with
      rhodamine 123 with the same intensity as the posterior of wild-type embryos. No
      pole cells form in the anterior of Bic-D embryos, where no restoration of
      mitochondrial activity occurs in the blastoderm stage. The posterior group
      mutations that we tested (staufen, oskar, tudor, nanos) and the terminal mutation
      (torso) did not alter staining pattern of the posterior with rhodamine 123.

PMID- 1451665
TI  - The generation of cell diversity during early neurogenesis in Drosophila.

PMID- 1451666
TI  - Generation and early differentiation of glial cells in the first optic ganglion
      of Drosophila melanogaster.
AB  - We have examined the generation and development of glial cells in the first optic
      ganglion, the lamina, of Drosophila melanogaster. Previous work has shown that
      the growth of retinal axons into the developing optic lobes induces the terminal
      cell divisions that generate the lamina monopolar neurons. We investigated
      whether photoreceptor ingrowth also influences the development of lamina glial
      cells, using P element enhancer trap lines, genetic mosaics and birthdating
      analysis. Enhancer trap lines that mark the differentiating lamina glial cells
      were found to require retinal innervation for expression. In mutants with only a
      few photoreceptors, only the few glial cells near ingrowing axons expressed the
      marker. Genetic mosaic analysis indicates that the lamina neurons and glial cells
      are readily separable, suggesting that these are derived from distinct lineages.
      Additionally, BrdU pulse-chase experiments showed that the cell divisions that
      produce lamina glia, unlike those producing lamina neurons, are not spatially or
      temporally correlated with the retinal axon ingrowth. Finally, in mutants lacking
      photoreceptors, cell divisions in the glial lineage appeared normal. We conclude
      that the lamina glial cells derive from a lineage that is distinct from that of
      the L-neurons, that glia are generated independently of photoreceptor input, and
      that completion of the terminal glial differentiation program depends, directly
      or indirectly, on an inductive signal from photoreceptor axons.

PMID- 1451667
TI  - The involvement of the Notch locus in Drosophila oogenesis.
AB  - The Notch gene in Drosophila encodes a transmembrane protein with homology to EGF
      that, in a variety of tissues, appears to mediate cell interactions necessary for
      cell fate choices. Here we demonstrate that oogenesis and spermatogenesis depend
      on Notch. We examine the phenotypes of the temperature-sensitive Notch allele,
      Nts1, and, using a monoclonal antibody, determine the cellular and subcellular
      distribution of Notch protein during oogenesis. We show that Nts1 is associated
      with a missense mutation in the extracellular, EGF homologous region of Notch and
      that at non-permissive temperatures oogenesis is blocked and the subcellular
      distribution of the protein is altered. In wild-type ovaries, Notch protein is
      found on the apical surface of somatically derived follicle cells, while in the
      germline-derived cells the protein is not polarized. These findings are discussed
      in view of the hypothesis that Notch acts as a multifunctional receptor to
      mediate developmentally important cell interactions.

PMID- 1451668
TI  - Reorganization of the cytoskeleton during Drosophila oogenesis: implications for
      axis specification and intercellular transport.
AB  - Inhibitor studies have implicated microtubules in at least three important
      developmental processes during Drosophila oogenesis: oocyte determination and
      growth during stages 1 through 6, positioning of the anterior determinant bicoid
      mRNA during stages 9 through 12, and ooplasmic streaming during stages 10b
      through 12. We have used fluorescence cytochemistry together with laser scanning
      confocal microscopy to identify distinct microtubule structures at each of the
      above three periods that are likely to be involved in these processes. During
      stages 1 through 7, maternal components synthesized in nurse cells are
      transported through cytoplasmic bridges to the oocyte. At this time, microtubules
      that appear to originate in the oocyte pass through these cytoplasmic bridges
      into the adjacent nurse cells; these microtubules are likely to serve as a
      polarized scaffold on which maternal RNAs and proteins are transported. During
      stages 7 and 8, microtubules in the oocyte cortex reorganize to form an anterior
      to-posterior gradient, suggesting a role for microtubules in the localization of
      morphogenetic determinants. Finally, when ooplasmic streaming begins during stage
      10 b, it is accompanied by the assembly of subsurface microtubule arrays that
      spiral around the oocyte; these arrays disassemble as the oocyte matures and
      streaming stops. During ooplasmic streaming, many vesicles are closely associated
      with the subsurface microtubules, suggesting that streaming is driven by vesicle
      translocation along microtubules. We believe that actin plays a secondary role in
      each of these morphogenetic events, based on our parallel studies of actin
      organization during each of the above stages of oogenesis.

PMID- 1451669
TI  - A comparison of intracellular changes in porcine eggs after fertilization and
      electroactivation.
AB  - The experiments compare intracellular changes in porcine eggs induced by
      electrical activation with those induced by sperm penetration. Adequate
      electrostimulation induces changes in both cortical granule exocytosis and
      protein synthesis similar to those induced by sperm during fertilization.
      However, ionic changes induced by electrostimulation differ markedly from those
      initiated at fertilization. Thus, dynamic video imaging using Fura-2 as a Ca2+
      probe provides evidence that parthenogenetic activation induced by
      electrostimulation is initiated by a single sharp rise in the concentration of
      intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in the egg. The intracellular Ca2+ transient
      increase is triggered by an influx of extracellular Ca2+ immediately after
      electrostimulation. The amplitude of the intracellular Ca2+ transient increase is
      a function both of the extracellular Ca2+ concentration and of electric field
      parameters (field strength and pulse duration). Imaging demonstrates further that
      a single electrical pulse can only induce a single Ca2+ transient which usually
      lasts three to five minutes; no further Ca2+ transients are observed unless
      additional electrical stimuli are applied. By contrast, sperm-induced activation
      is characterised by a series of Ca2+ spikes which continue for at least 3 hours
      after sperm-egg fusion. The pattern of Ca2+ spiking after fertilization is not
      consistent during this period but changes both in frequency and amplitude.
      Overall, the results demonstrate that, although electrostimulation induces both
      cortical granule exocytosis and protein reprogramming in porcine eggs, it does
      not reproduce the pattern of [Ca2+]i changes induced by sperm entry at
      fertilization.

PMID- 1451670
TI  - 3' non-translated sequences in Drosophila cyclin B transcripts direct posterior
      pole accumulation late in oogenesis and peri-nuclear association in syncytial
      embryos.
AB  - We have characterised forms of the Drosophila cyclin B transcript that differ as
      a result of a splicing event which removes a nucleotide segment from the 3'
      untranslated region. In oogenesis, both cyclin A RNA and a shorter form of the
      cyclin B transcript are seen in the cells of the germarium that are undergoing
      mitosis. The shorter cyclin B transcript alone is then detectable in the
      presumptive oocyte until stages 7-8 of oogenesis. Both cyclin A RNA and a longer
      form of the cyclin B RNA are then synthesised in the nurse cells during stages 9
      11, to be deposited in the oocyte during stages 11-12. These transcripts become
      evenly distributed throughout the oocyte cytoplasm but, in addition, those of
      cyclin B become concentrated at the posterior pole. Examination of the
      distributions of RNAs transcribed from chimeric cyclin genes indicates that
      sequences in the 3' untranslated region of the larger cyclin B RNA are required
      both for it to become concentrated at the posterior pole and to direct those
      transcripts in the body of the syncytial embryo to their peri-nuclear
      localisation. These sequences are disrupted by the splicing event which generates
      smaller cyclin B transcripts.

PMID- 1451671
TI  - Pleomorphic adenoma: a preliminary histopathologic comparison between tumors
      occurring in the deep and superficial lobes of the parotid gland.
AB  - Twenty-four cases of pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland were
      retrospectively reviewed. The histopathological features of capsular thickness,
      penetration and completeness, tumoral cell population and mitotic activity were
      analyzed in twelve superficial lobe and twelve deep lobe tumors. The capsules
      were found to be significantly thicker and less likely to be penetrated by tumor
      in the deep lobe group. No significant differences in completeness of
      encapsulation, cell population or mitotic activity were found between the two
      groups. This may explain the clinical suggestion that the less aggressive
      surgical approach which is often performed does not compromise the prognosis for
      recurrence in the deep lobe lesions.

PMID- 1451672
TI  - Sinusitis--inspecting the causes and treatment.
AB  - In summary, sinusitis is a common disease caused by viruses, bacteria and the
      accumulation of excessive secretions and inflammatory mediators that impair the
      function of the mucociliary transport. Combination treatment is usually necessary
      to treat the cause and relieve the symptoms of sinusitis. Therapy aims at
      eliminating causative bacteria with antibiotics, decongesting edematous
      membranes, and thinning mucus with use of a mucolytic-expectorant. Improving the
      rheology of mucus by thinning abnormally thickened secretions may improve
      mucociliary transport and enhance penetration of antibiotics. Acute sinusitis
      usually responds to treatment within 2 weeks. However, if treatment is
      unsuccessful or a severe complication occurs, intravenous antibiotics may be
      necessary along with antral puncture and lavage. In resistant cases, an
      appropriate surgical procedure may enhance the drainage.

PMID- 1451673
TI  - Inverted papilloma of the nose and paranasal sinuses in children.
AB  - Inverted papillomas are rare nasal and sinus neoplasms in children. The
      disturbing biological characteristics of these tumors seen in adults, including
      malignant degeneration and the high frequency of recurrence, have been similarly
      observed in the pediatric population. Therefore, inverted papilloma in children
      mandates similar treatment to that proven effective in adults, including wide
      excision and careful histopathological examination of any tissue excised.
      Radiation therapy should be reserved for those tumors associated with carcinoma.
      Since recurrences can occur after long periods of time, life-long follow-up is
      warranted.

PMID- 1451674
TI  - Postcricoid surface laryngeal electrode.
AB  - Progress in identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve in thyroid and
      parathyroid surgery has lagged behind the identification of other head and neck
      nerves. Attempts to use electronic pulsed nerve stimulators with evoked response
      electromyography have failed due to the absence of a convenient and effective
      method of monitoring the larynx. A Postcricoid Laryngeal Surface Electrode as
      herein described shows excellent initial results as an electrode for
      electromyographic monitoring of the larynx for recurrent laryngeal nerve
      identification.

PMID- 1451675
TI  - Auditory brainstem evoked response in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy.
AB  - Auditory brainstem evoked response-(ABR) may be affected by changes in cerebral
      blood flow. Apart from its primary indications for prevention of stroke and
      transient ischemic attacks-(TIA's), internal carotid endarterectomy-(ICE) has
      been shown to improve cognitive function and cause diminution of tinnitus and
      vertigo. A one-week postoperative ABR previous study of patients undergoing ICE
      demonstrated no change in ABR recordings. In order to evaluate possible late
      changes, we have conducted a prospective study of the delayed effects of ICE on
      ABR in 13 patients. No initial pathology was noted and no significant change
      found in any of the absolute and interpeak latencies of ABR waves.

PMID- 1451676
TI  - Extrusion rate of Shah and Shepard ventilation tubes in children.
AB  - Shah and Shepard ventilation tubes are the two most commonly used ventilation
      tube in current practice. In some centres these two tubes are used
      interchangeably, in others the Shepard is often used as the first 'grommet' of
      insertion and the Shah for subsequent insertions. A study was undertaken of
      extrusion rate of these ventilation tubes in 180 children who had surgery for
      Serous otitis media in 1987. Extrusion time was found to be very significantly
      different between these tubes. The Shah ventilation tube remains in situ 3 months
      longer than the Shepard. A case is made for the use of Shah ventilation tubes as
      the first "grommet" of insertion. Otorrhoea following insertion of ventilation
      tube did not affect the extrusion rate of ventilation tubes in this study. Nor
      has otorrhoea a predilection for any particular ventilation tube.

PMID- 1451677
TI  - Reflux laryngopharyngitis.

PMID- 1451678
TI  - Antibiotics and chronic otitis media.

PMID- 1451679
TI  - A single-fluor approach to DNA sequence determination using high performance
      capillary electrophoresis.
AB  - The Tabor and Richardson strategy for enzymatic chain termination sequencing of
      DNA using relative peak intensity has been adapted to high performance capillary
      gel electrophoresis with laser induced fluorescence detection. This approach to
      DNA sequencing involves the use of only a single fluor and results in significant
      reduction in the time required to determine a DNA sequence without the use of
      highly complicated and expensive instrumentation. We present a modification of
      the Tabor and Richardson approach employing two reactions, each containing
      complementary mixtures of only three ddNTP's in the concentration ratio 4:2:1.
      The DNA sequence is determined by relative peak height and by assigning the
      missing ddNTP to "gaps" between the peaks. The use of only three
      terminators/reaction simplifies the software task of differentiating between the
      termination types and makes more efficient use of the available dynamic range.
      Both complementary mixes generate complete sequence information and the two data
      files are combined in order to make a more confident sequence call. This process
      helps to eliminate errors caused by occasional non-uniform incorporation of
      ddNTP's or false terminations and also alleviates some of the difficulty
      associated with reading through compressed regions of the electropherogram.

PMID- 1451680
TI  - Stability of capillary gels for automated sequencing of DNA.
AB  - Recent interest in capillary gel electrophoresis has been fueled by the Human
      Genome Project and other large-scale sequencing projects. Advances in gel
      polymerization techniques and detector design have enabled sequencing of DNA
      directly in capillaries. Efforts to exploit this technology have been hampered by
      problems with the reproducibility and stability of gels. Gel instability
      manifests itself during electrophoresis as a decrease in the current passing
      through the capillary under a constant voltage. Upon subsequent microscopic
      examination, bubbles are often visible at or near the injection (cathodic) end of
      the capillary gel. Gels have been prepared with the polyacrylamide matrix
      covalently attached to the silica walls of the capillary. These gels, although
      more stable, still suffer from problems with bubbles. The use of actual DNA
      sequencing samples also adversely affects gel stability. We examined the
      mechanisms underlying these disruptive processes by employing polyacrylamide gel
      filled capillaries in which the gel was not attached to the capillary wall. Three
      sources of gel instability were identified. Bubbles occurring in the absence of
      sample introduction were attributed to electroosmotic force; replacing the
      denaturant urea with formamide was shown to reduce the frequency of these
      bubbles. The slow, steady decline in current through capillary sequencing gels
      interferes with the ability to detect other gel problems. This phenomenon was
      shown to be a result of ionic depletion at the gel-liquid interface. The decline
      was ameliorated by adding denaturant and acrylamide monomers to the buffer
      reservoirs. Sample-induced problems were shown to be due to the presence of
      template DNA; elimination of the template allowed sample loading to occur without
      complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451681
TI  - Formamide modified polyacrylamide gels for DNA sequencing by capillary gel
      electrophoresis.
AB  - Compressions are occasionally found during the separation of DNA sequencing
      fragments, particularly in G/C-rich regions and in gels operated at room
      temperature. Addition of at least 10% formamide to urea/polyacrylamide sequencing
      gels improves the denaturing capacity of the gel, minimizing compressions.
      Addition of 20% or more formamide decreases the separation rate, theoretical
      plate count, and resolution for normally migrating fragments. An optimum
      concentration of 10% formamide improves resolution of compressed regions without
      degrading the other characteristics of the gel. Operation of gels at room
      temperature simplifies the engineering associated with automated sequencers based
      on capillary gel electrophoresis.

PMID- 1451682
TI  - Continuous, on-line DNA sequencing using a versatile infrared laser
      scanner/electrophoresis apparatus.
AB  - A new apparatus for continuously detecting fluorescently labeled DNA fragments is
      based on infrared fluorescence technology. This technology combines state-of-the
      art developments in chemistry, laser technology, and detection, while achieving
      improved reliability, sensitivity, and flexibility for applications including DNA
      sequencing. DNA molecules labeled with a novel infrared fluorophore are detected
      during electrophoresis using a scanning infrared fluorescence microscope. The
      microscope consists of a laser diode for exciting the fluorophore and a silicon
      avalanche photodiode for detecting the infrared emission. Optimum conditions for
      detection and throughput are obtained by adjusting electrophoresis, scanning and
      imaging parameters. Typical DNA sequencing runs (test templates) allow
      identification of over 500 bases per sample with greater than 99% accuracy.

PMID- 1451683
TI  - High resolution-separation of DNA bands by electrophoresis with a long gel in a
      fluorescence-detection DNA sequencer.
AB  - A high-resolution separation of DNA bands is achieved by electrophoresis with a
      long gel in DNA base sequencing using fluorescence detection. We separate 760 and
      761 base DNA fragments using the 93 cm migration electrophoresis optimized for
      the separation of DNA bands. A T7 DNA polymerase and an Mn++ buffer are used in
      sequencing reactions to obtain fluorescence peaks of uniform strength, and the
      peak areas in the spectrum are used for recognizing the peak number in a cluster
      of successive peaks. This method is successfully applied to the DNA fragment
      spectrum obtained by 93 cm migration electrophoresis, which results in a single
      band differentiation of bands of 1040 base DNA.

PMID- 1451684
TI  - Compensation for mobility inequalities between lanes computed from band signals
      in on-line fluorescence DNA sequencing.
AB  - Among on-line fluorescence DNA sequencing systems, the four-lane method exhibits
      the potential for reporting an erroneous sequence due to nonuniform mobility of
      the DNA fragments migrating among the four lanes. This error is manifest in
      phenomenon commonly called smiling. This paper presents a computational algorithm
      which compensates for the mobility inequalities between lanes using signal data
      obtained from the shorter DNA fragments forming the faster migrating bands. The
      program mainly consists of two routines: (i) calculation of calibration
      coefficients (mobility ratios between lanes), and (ii) examination of the
      coefficients by applying them to a later domain of the same signals. Both
      routines are connected with several feed-back branches for recalculation.
      Homology analysis of final sequences has shown that the accuracy rate is
      maximized with this algorithm and any ambiguous result can be assigned to the
      residual error inherent in the band identification method used.

PMID- 1451685
TI  - cDNA sequence of three cysteine-rich clusters in the iron-sulfur subunit of
      complex II (succinate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase) from Caenorhabditis elegans
      determined by automated DNA sequencer.
AB  - Homology probing by using mixed primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a
      subsequent sequence analysis by automated DNA sequencer were applied to determine
      a partial cDNA sequence of the iron-sulfur subunit of complex II (succinate
      ubiquinone oxidoreductase). Complex II is a membrane-bound flavoenzyme, which
      catalyzes the oxidation of succinate to fumarate in the tricarboxylic acid cycle,
      and it is a component of the mitochondrial and bacterial respiratory chains. In
      this study, the partial amino acid sequence of iron-sulfur subunits in
      Caenorhabditis elegans mitochondria was deduced from the DNA sequence obtained
      from cDNA-PCR. Mixed oligonucleotide primers corresponding to two conserved
      regions which appear to be the binding site for the prosthetic group were used.
      The product of PCR was cloned into plasmid vector pUC 119 and the sequence was
      determined from double strand plasmid DNA by the dideoxy method using of one-dye,
      four-lane type the automated DNA sequencer (DSQ-1, Shimadzu). The PCR product
      contained 483 nucleotides and its deduced amino acid sequence was highly
      homologous with that in human liver (68.9%) and that of Escherichia coli sdh B
      product (50.3%). As expected, striking sequence conservation was found around the
      three cysteine-rich clusters which have been thought to comprise the iron-sulfur
      centers of the enzyme.

PMID- 1451686
TI  - Microelectrophoresis for the separation of DNA fragments.
AB  - A methodology has been developed which significantly reduces the linear dimension
      necessary for the electrophoretic separation of DNA fragments and
      oligonucleotides. DNA fragments are rapidly separated into compact, resolvable
      microscopic banding patterns which can be detected using a high-resolution
      electronic imaging system. Separations can be carried out in either capillary
      tube or thin-layer (slab) microgel formats of one centimeter or less in length.
      The complete separation of all eleven fragments (1353 to 72 base pairs) of the pi
      X174 DNA/HaeIII restriction ladder was achieved in a total running distance of
      less than 2 mm and in less than 2 min. The observed band widths for the larger
      fragments (1353-603 bp) ranged from 18 to 25 microns, with the intermediate and
      smaller fragments (310 to 72 bp) ranging from 30 microns to 60 microns. The
      ethidium bromide-stained microgels were analyzed using an epifluorescent
      microscope combined with an intensified charged coupled device imaging system. In
      other experiments, single-base resolution of fluoresceinated oligonucleotides in
      the 20-30 nucleotide range was demonstrated. DNA sequencing may be possible with
      further optimization. This new methodology departs from the conventional gel
      formulations and electrophoretic procedures used for the separation DNA
      fragments. High voltage gradients and the use of highly concentrated and
      crosslinked homogeneous polyacrylamide gels effects the rapid separation of DNA
      fragments in very short distances. Analysis of the microgels with proteins of
      known size (Stokes radius) indicates that separations are occurring in gels with
      pore sizes close to the diameter of double-stranded DNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451687
TI  - Electrophoresis and detection of tin-labeled DNAs on open-faced gels.
AB  - Alternative protocols are necessary for the use of polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis in genome scale sequencing and mapping studies. The use of
      radioisotopes and manual gel reading will have to be replaced with a flexible
      labeling system that can be detected at levels similar or to better than
      radioisotopes but allows automated, high-speed detection. Labeling with stable
      isotopes is such an alternative. These nondecaying isotopes have the potential to
      be detected in sub-attomole quantities, despite being surrounded by the gel
      matrix, due to the high selectivity and sensitivity of resonance-ionization
      spectroscopy coupled with a mass spectrometer. In this study the detection limits
      of sputter-initiated resonance ionization spectroscopy (SIRIS) are investigated
      using thin, open-faced polyacrylamide gels supported by plastic. This system
      allows reproducibility and flexibility in the choice of gel size and buffer
      system since the gel can be cast, washed free of polymerization by-products,
      dried, and stored until use. Various concentrations of an Sn-labeled oligomer
      were run on these gels and loads of 5 femtomoles/mm could be detected on a 240
      microns thick gel. Gels as thin as 60 microns lower the detectable concentration
      loads to 1 femtomole/mm. The limiting factor is tin contamination in the gel
      which, if reduced, will further increase detection. Polymerase chain reaction
      (PCR) products can also be labeled and detected using Sn isotopes, which could
      prove useful in mapping studies. Also presented are techniques which will
      facilitate resolution of these PCR products on open-faced gels by employing
      discontinuous buffers systems and DNA mobility modifiers.

PMID- 1451688
TI  - Pulsed field sequencing gel electrophoresis.
AB  - The effect of pulsed fields on sequencing gel electrophoresis is investigated,
      using DNA fragment markers ranging in size from 20 to 6557 bases. For high
      continuous electric fields (5000 V/55 cm) band inversion is observed in which
      fragments larger than 4000 bases migrate faster than those of 800-1000 bases. The
      use of one-dimensional pulsed field gel electrophoresis (ODPFGE) eliminates band
      inversion and extends the monotonic size-mobility relationship of the DNA markers
      up to about 4000 bases. The relevance of these results, obtained using a manual
      sequencing process with autoradiographic detection, to automated sequences is
      discussed.

PMID- 1451689
TI  - Movement of fluorescence pattern after photobleaching: an accelerated procedure
      for DNA electrophoretic mobility analysis.
AB  - A new approach which is compatible with many of the existing procedures for the
      analysis of DNA species in gel electrophoresis is being demonstrated. It takes
      advantage of fluorescence photobleaching in order to create a sharp boundary
      between the stained and the (partially) photobleached DNA. By arbitrarily
      creating a stained DNA band of narrower width, the sensitivity to detect
      (averaged) DNA band movements has been increased. This feature permits
      measurements of time-dependent electrophoretic mobility over very short time
      periods. The approach can be used to shorten the running time of gel
      electrophoresis experiment and to increase the resolution because of the sharper
      boundary and narrower band width. With faster running time, diffusion of both DNA
      and dye in the gel also becomes less serious. Movement of fluorescence pattern
      after photobleaching also permits measurements of localized motions when the gel
      pores are small in comparison with DNA sizes. Experiments demonstrating some
      aspects of the proposed technique, as well as the anticipated limitations, are
      presented and discussed.

PMID- 1451690
TI  - Photodestruction of fluorophores and optimum conditions for trace DNA detection
      by automated DNA sequencer.
AB  - Although automated DNA sequencers are becoming popular, their sensitivity in
      detecting DNA bands is still around 10(-17) mole/band. The sensitivity of a
      system depends on the laser power, labeling fluorophore, and the fluorescence
      collecting yield. The emission and photodestruction cross-sections of the
      fluorophores are critical in optimizing the irradiated laser power and the
      migration speeds of DNA fragments to achieve high sensitivity. We investigated
      photodestruction cross-sections of various fluorophores to optimize the
      irradiation laser power. In addition, we used a cylindrical lens system to
      improve the fluorescence-collecting yield of a DNA sequencer using side entry
      laser irradiation. Fluoresceine isothiocyanate (FITC) commonly used in
      fluorescence studies, is very photo-destructive, the cross-section of the
      destruction being about 3.8 x 10(-20) cm2 in buffer solution while that of Texas
      Red is 1.5 x 10(-21) cm2. When the time for DNA fragments to transit through the
      irradiated region is 11 s, the optimum laser powers are 0.9 mW, with an Ar laser
      (488 nm) for FITC-DNA, and 18 mW, with an He-Ne laser (594 nm) for Texas Red DNA.
      We have developed a DNA sequencer, with a cylindrical lens system which improves
      the fluorescence-collecting efficiency by a factor of 4, and an He-Ne laser (5
      mW). Although the sequencer uses a slab gel, an ultra-high sensitivity of 5 x 10(
      20) mole/band (S/N-4) was achieved under optimized conditions.

PMID- 1451691
TI  - Automated magnetic preparation of DNA templates for solid phase sequencing.
AB  - An integrated protocol for solid-phase DNA sequencing using a robotic work
      station is described involving magnetic separation of DNA and analysis of the
      sequencing product by electrophoresis with automated detection of the
      fluorescently labeled fragments. The method, which is based on magnetic beads in
      combination with streptavidin-biotin technology, can be used for sequencing both
      genomic and plasmid DNA. The DNA template is obtained by the polymerase chain
      reaction (PCR). Protocols to prepare five and ten immobilized samples is
      described, giving 10 and 20 single-stranded templates, respectively. The magnetic
      purification steps are performed in a microtiter plate and this allows for an
      integrated scheme involving a subsequent procedure for automated primer annealing
      and sequencing reactions. Here, the procedure is examplified by direct genomic
      sequencing of DNA in blood sample from a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
      infected patient and a cloned human antibody DNA fragment using fluorescently
      labeled sequencing primers.

PMID- 1451692
TI  - Fluorescence chemistries for automated primer-directed DNA sequencing.
AB  - A major limitation in the applicability of automated DNA sequencing instruments
      has been the difficulty in using user-defined oligonucleotide primers which allow
      sequencing reactions to start at any specific point in a region of interest.
      Recently, new chemistries have become available for fluorescent labeling which
      will begin to facilitate the use of any oligonucleotide primer with automated DNA
      sequencers. In this report, we describe several methods for automated primer
      directed DNA sequencing, and compare and discuss the relative merits and
      limitations of these methods.

PMID- 1451693
TI  - High-sensitive fluorescent DNA sequencing and its application for detection and
      mass-screening of point mutations.
AB  - We describe a rapid and sensitive DNA sequencing method for an automated
      fluorescent DNA sequencer (AFDS) and its application for detection of point
      mutations. The method is based on an improved cycle sequencing procedure in which
      only 10-50 fmol of template DNA is required. Furthermore, it is able to use crude
      DNA preparation as a template as well as the purified one. Thus, the improved
      method provided a simplified procedure for sequencing of various types of DNA,
      including cosmid DNA, in which purification steps were unnecessary. We also
      developed a novel system for detection of point mutations using AFDS. A set of
      four lanes is used for the parallel analysis of single-base profiles of four
      different samples, instead of for the four-base profile of a sample. The AFDS
      exhibits the base profiles of the samples with four different colors in the
      analyzed data, which enables us to identify a mutation as an additional peak with
      a color specific for the lane. The feasibility of our system was tested by
      analyzing polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified genomic DNAs from four
      individuals including a carrier of a mutation of C to T. The mutation was clearly
      identified as an additional "T" peak of a color specific for the carrier. The
      mutation was also detectable even if 16 individuals including the carrier were
      simultaneously analyzed on a set of four lanes (four individual samples for each
      lane). Thus, the novel system is useful for simultaneous detection of mutations
      in a large number of individual samples.

PMID- 1451694
TI  - Sequencing by hybridization: towards an automated sequencing of one million M13
      clones arrayed on membranes.
AB  - An immediately applicable variant of the sequencing by hybridization (SBH) method
      is under development with the capacity to determine up to 100 million base pairs
      per year. The proposed method comprises six steps: (i) arraying genomic or cDNA
      M13 clones in 864-well plates (wells of 2 mm); (ii) preparation of DNA samples
      for spotting by growth of the M13 clones or by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of
      the inserts using standard 96-well plates, or plates having as many as 864
      correspondingly smaller wells; (iii) robotic spotting of 13,824 samples on an 8 x
      12 cm nylon membrane, or correspondingly more, on up to 6 times larger filters,
      by offset printing with a 96 or 864 0.4 mm pin device; (iv) hybridization of
      dotted samples with 200-2000 32P-labeled probes comprising 16-256 10-mers having
      a common 8-mer, 7-mer, or 6-mer in the middle (20 probes per day, each hybridized
      with 250,000 dots); (v) scoring hybridization signals of 5 million sample-probe
      pairs per day using storage phosphor plates; and (vi) computing clone order and
      partial-to-complete DNA sequences using various heuristic algorithms. Genome
      sequencing based on a combination of this method and gel sequencing techniques
      may be significantly more economical than gel methods alone.

PMID- 1451695
TI  - Why can we not sequence thousands of DNA bases on a polyacrylamide gel?
AB  - Pulsed fields have been remarkably useful at extending the range of DNA molecular
      sizes that can be separated on agarose gels by controlling the field-induced
      molecular orientation that often limits the resolution of large molecules.
      Unfortunately, the same approach seems to be much less effective for DNA
      sequencing on polyacrylamide gels. We present an experimental and theoretical
      (modelling) study of DNA sequencing which shows that molecular orientation is
      indeed not the main limiting factor for sequencing devices that use moderate
      field intensities and polyacrylamide as a separating matrix. We examine the
      interplay between electric field intensity, molecular size and resolution, and we
      suggest different approaches to increase the resolution limit of standard and
      automated sequencing gels. The theoretical limits of high-field electrophoretic
      sequencing are also discussed. We conclude that new ideas will be needed to go
      beyond one kilobase.

PMID- 1451696
TI  - The prospects for imaging lymph nodes in breast cancer.

PMID- 1451697
TI  - Quantitative single photon emission tomography: verification for sources in an
      elliptical water phantom.
AB  - Accurate absorbed dose calculations are important for a proper dose planning in
      internal radionuclide therapy. The activity distribution must be measured and the
      target volume defined. This can be done with single photon emission tomography
      (SPET) if proper attenuation and scatter correction are employed. This study
      investigated the calculation of the activity and the volume of different
      spherical sources. These two parameters are essential for a proper dose
      calculation. The scatter and attenuation correction method is based on spatially
      variant scatter functions and density maps. The volume calculation method is
      based on obtaining a threshold from a grey-level histogram. Both point sources
      and spheres of different diameters containing technetium-99m were placed in
      different locations in an elliptical water phantom and imaged by SPET. The
      activity and the volume of the spheres were calculated from the SPET images and
      compared with known activities. Results show a quantification of activity within
      10% for most of the sources. Important influences on the quantification are (a)
      the presence of artefacts due to improper reconstruction and (b) the finite
      spatial resolution which affects the total number of counts within the determined
      volume.

PMID- 1451698
TI  - Role of bone scanning in the management of non-united fractures: a clinical
      study.
AB  - Technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) bone scintigraphy was
      performed in 45 patients (42 male and 3 female) with established non-united
      fractures to predict the healing response to pulsing electromagnetic field
      stimulation therapy. The bone scans revealed 3 different scintigraphic patterns.
      The most frequent pattern was an increased uniform uptake of the tracer at the
      non-union site (group 1). The second pattern was increased activity at the bone
      ends with a photon-deficient area between the fracture sites (group 2a) or a
      generalized decrease in the radionuclide concentration in the region of bone
      fragments (group 2b). When the scintigraphic pattern did not fit either of the
      two patterns or when the presence of the cold area between the bone fragments
      could not be judged with certainty, it was called indeterminate (group 3). All
      patients underwent pulsing electromagnetic field stimulation. The healing rate
      was 87.5% and 42.8% in group 1 and group 3 patients, respectively. None of the
      group 2 patients had any evidence of healing, and they all underwent surgical
      exploration, revealing complicated non-unions. We conclude that 99mTc bone
      scintigraphy is a useful tool in determining complicated non-unions and selecting
      the proper therapy mode.

PMID- 1451699
TI  - The reliability of the 3-phase bone scan in suspected scaphoid fracture: an inter
      and intraobserver variability analysis.
AB  - In the diagnosis of scaphoid fracture, the dynamic phase of the radionuclide bone
      scan alone has been recommended as an early test. To evaluate the independent
      reliability of the dynamic and static phases of the 3-phase bone scan in this
      diagnosis, 3 examiners reviewed the 3-phase bone scans of a series of 60 patients
      with clinical signs of fracture of the carpal scaphoid and with negative or non
      diagnostic initial radiographs. The interpretation was performed independently
      and without the benefit of additional data. The bone scans were reviewed after 1
      year by the same observers. The results were analyzed using kappa statistics. The
      bone scan was suspicious of fracture of the scaphoid in 15 patients. Irrespective
      of training and experience, the kappa values of the dynamic bone scan between any
      2 observers did not exceed 0.57. The kappa values increased significantly when
      the static phase of the bone scan was examined (> 0.81). The intraobserver
      variability showed a similar pattern. We conclude that in suspected scaphoid
      fracture, the dynamic phase of the radionuclide bone scan alone cannot be used as
      a reliable diagnostic approach because of the low inter- and intraobserver
      agreement in the interpretation, irrespective of the experience and training of
      the observer.

PMID- 1451700
TI  - Scintigraphic evaluation of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis: a
      comparison of technetium-99m human non-specific immunoglobulins, leucocytes and
      albumin nanocolloids.
AB  - Technetium-99m-labelled, non-specific, polyclonal, human immunoglobulin G (99mTc
      hIG) has been used to quantify synovial inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. A
      comparison was carried out between the scintigraphic results obtained with this
      tracer, 99mTc-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime-labelled white blood cells (99mTc
      WBC) and 99mTc-albumin nanocolloids (99mTc-NC). Twenty patients affected by
      rheumatoid arthritis and suffering from clinically active synovitis were studied
      with 99mTc-hIG. The number and sites of the involved joints had been previously
      assessed on the basis of the presence of pain and/or swelling. A radiological
      examination had already been carried out on all the joints. Two days after the
      99mTc-hIG scan, 10 patients (group 1) underwent 99mTc-WBC scintigraphy and the
      other 10 (group 2) underwent a 99mTc-NC scan. The results show that the results
      of 99mTc-hIG and 99mTc-NC scans are in agreement with clinical examinations in
      the majority of cases. However, a certain number of positive joint scans
      corresponding to negative clinical examinations was found. The numerical
      distribution of these results according to the radiological stages seems to show
      that 99mTc-hIG is more useful than 99mTc-NC in the initial phases of the disease.
      The 99mTc-WBC scan was negative in a consistent percentage of the joints
      previously assessed as clinically and 99mTc-hIG scan positive.

PMID- 1451701
TI  - Photopenic defects in marrow-containing skeleton on indium-111 leucocyte
      scintigraphy: prevalence at sites suspected of osteomyelitis and as an incidental
      finding.
AB  - The skeletal distribution of red marrow-containing sites with a decreased uptake
      of indium-111-labelled leucocytes was examined as part of a retrospective review
      of 128 consecutive scans in 113 patients. The prevalence of photopenic defects
      was determined for sites of suspected osteomyelitis and for other skeletal
      locations included as part of limited or total-body surveys. Of 52 sites
      suspected of osteomyelitis based upon radiological and clinical data, 21 (40%)
      demonstrated a decreased leucocyte uptake. The prevalence of photopenia ranged
      from 79% (11/14) in the spine and 63% (5/8) in the pelvis to 25% (4/16) in the
      proximal femur and 0% elsewhere in the extremities (0/9) and in the skull (0/3).
      Fourteen of these 21 defects (67%) were due to active (n = 9) or healed (n = 5)
      osteomyelitis/discitis. All sites of active osteomyelitis showed destructive
      changes on correlative radiographs and were associated with infectious processes
      of more than 1 months duration. Thirty-seven photopenic defects were observed as
      incidental findings. The prevalence of photopenia as an incidental finding ranged
      from 0% in the skull, neck and chest to 3%-4% in the thoracolumbar spine and
      pelvis and 14% in the femoral heads, the latter reflecting primarily bilateral
      loss of femoral head marrow. No incidentally found photopenic defect reflected
      active osteomyelitis. At sites in the spine and pelvis with radiologic evidence
      of bone destruction suggestive of osteomyelitis, an absence of normal red marrow
      uptake of labelled leucocytes often reflects a variant presentation for active
      chronic infection. In contrast, incidental photopenia is uncommon at all skeletal
      sites except the femoral heads, and should not raise concern over unsuspected
      active osteomyelitis.

PMID- 1451702
TI  - Liver transplant rejection and cholestasis: comparison of technetium 99m
      diisopropyl iminodiacetic acid hepatobiliary imaging with liver biopsy.
AB  - To determine whether the scintigraphic evaluation of technetium-99m diisopropyl
      iminodiacetic acid (DISIDA) uptake and excretion can distinguish among liver
      transplant patients with biopsy evidence for rejection, cholestasis or neither
      condition, we reviewed scintigrams and biopsies in 36 patients. There were 76
      scintigrams with corresponding biopsies. Uptake and excretion were graded from
      image data on scales reflecting normal through severely abnormal values. Biopsies
      were evaluated for findings of cholestasis and rejection. The majority of
      scintigrams demonstrated normal uptake (60/75, 80%) and delayed excretion (65/76,
      85%), which was most marked immediately after transplantation. One-way analysis
      of variance showed that the mean excretion values significantly differed between
      patients with normal biopsies and those with cholestasis and/or rejection (P =
      0.0003). However, mean uptake scores demonstrated no statistically significant
      difference between these two groups of patients (P = 0.1). These findings suggest
      that 99mTc-DISIDA scintigraphy can differentiate between transplants with and
      without rejection/cholestasis but not between rejection and cholestasis. If 99mTc
      DISIDA excretion is normal, rejection and cholestasis are unlikely.

PMID- 1451703
TI  - Myocardial perfusion damage after mediastinal irradiation for Hodgkin's disease:
      a thallium-201 single photon emission tomography study.
AB  - Conflicting data have been reported on the incidence of myocardial abnormalities
      after mediastinal irradiation for Hodgkin's disease. We studied myocardial
      perfusion in 31 clinically asymptomatic patients (13 male, 18 female, mean age 35
      years) 7 years (range 3-11 years) after mantle field radiotherapy. Thallium-201
      tomoscintigraphic data were obtained after exercise, 4 h later and at rest (8-15
      days later). Images were analysed visually and quantitatively (sectorial
      quantification of 201Tl uptake on the bull's eye images of the short-axis slices)
      compared with those of 35 subjects with a low likelihood of coronary artery
      disease. Twenty-five tomographic data sets were available. Images were visually
      abnormal in 21 patients (84%) showing an heterogeneous 201Tl uptake. In 68%, the
      sectorial 201Tl uptake was lower than the mean 201Tl uptake value minus 2
      standard deviations measured in subjects with a low likelihood of coronary artery
      disease. Significant redistribution (quantitatively assessed > or = 10%) was
      present in 10 patients (40%). In most of the patients, the location and the shape
      of the defect(s) could not be anatomically related to an epicardial coronary
      vessel disease. These results indicate that after mediastinal irradiation the
      201Tl myocardial uptake is frequently abnormal. The observed patterns suggest a
      disease of the small coronary vessels and/or the existence of a myocardial
      fibrosis rather than epicardial coronary artery disease.

PMID- 1451704
TI  - Presurgical identification of hibernating myocardium by combined use of
      technetium-99m hexakis 2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile single photon emission
      tomography and fluorine-18 fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography
      in patients with coronary artery disease.
AB  - We tested the possibility of identifying areas of hibernating myocardium by the
      combined assessment of perfusion and metabolism using single photon emission
      tomography (SPET) with technetium-99m hexakis 2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc
      MIBI) and positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorine-18 fluoro-2-deoxy-D
      glucose (18F-FDG). Segmental wall motion, perfusion and 18F-FDG uptake were
      scored in 5 segments in 14 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), for a
      total number of 70 segments. Each subject underwent the following studies prior
      to and following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG): first-pass radionuclide
      angiography, electrocardiography gated planar perfusion scintigraphy and SPET
      perfusion scintigraphy with 99mTc-MIBI and, after 16 h fasting, 18F-FDG/PET
      metabolic scintigraphy. Wall motion impairment was either decreased or completely
      reversed by CABG in 95% of the asynergic segments which exhibited 18F-FDG uptake,
      whereas it was unmodified in 80% of the asynergic segments with no 18F-FDG
      uptake. A stepwise multiple logistic analysis was carried out on the asynergic
      segments to estimate the postoperative probability of wall motion improvement on
      the basis of the preoperative regional perfusion and metabolic scores. The
      segments with the highest probability (96%) of functional recovery from
      preoperative asynergy after revascularization were those with a marked 18F-FDG
      uptake prior to CABG. High probabilities of functional recovery were also
      estimated for the segments presenting with moderate and low 18F-FDG uptake (92%
      and 79%, respectively). A low probability of functional recovery (13%) was
      estimated in the segments with no 18F-FDG uptake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1451705
TI  - Evaluation of myocardial viability with technetium-99m hexakis-2-methoxyisobutyl
      isonitrile and iodine-123 phenylpentadecanoic acid and single photon emission
      tomography.
AB  - The detection of viable myocardium in infarcted regions, i.e. hibernating
      myocardium, is a major goal in clinical cardiology today. We applied combined
      planar and single photon emission tomography (SPET) to the non-invasive
      estimation of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), myocardial blood
      flow and free fatty acid uptake in the heart. Of the 31 patients with coronary
      artery disease, 25 (81%) had had a previous myocardial infarction. All patients
      had at least one persistent perfusion defect on the stress-rest technetium-99m
      hexakis-2-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile (Sestamibi) study, and the results revealed
      57/124 (46%) persistent perfusion defects. As a part of the perfusion study, the
      LVEF was measured at rest using the first-pass 99mTc-Sestamibi injection, and the
      mean LVEF was 47% +/- 9% (mean +/- 1 standard deviation). Iodine-123
      phenylpentadecanoic acid (123I-pPPA) imaging at rest was performed within 2 weeks
      from the perfusion study. Then 6-mm transaxial, sagittal and coronal slices of
      the perfusion and 123I-pPPA studies were reconstructed. The bull's eye displays
      of the coronal slices were visually surveyed and divided into 4 quadrants:
      anterior, lateral, posterior and septal. The following image score was used: 0 =
      fixed defect, 1 = partial uptake and 2 = normal uptake. Moreover an index of
      metabolic reserve (MR) was calculated by dividing the bull's eye of the 123I-pPPA
      study by the bull's eye of resting 99mTc-Sestamibi, and its maximum value was
      normalized to 100%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451706
TI  - Investigation of joint disease.
AB  - The role of nuclear medicine in the diagnosis and management of the major
      arthropathies is critically reviewed, with particular reference to
      osteoarthritis, rheumatoid and similar forms of arthritis, ankylosing
      spondylitis, non-specific back pain, gout, the neuropathic joint, avascular
      necrosis, infection and the consequences of prosthetic joint insertion. Attention
      is drawn both to practical applications and deficiencies in current techniques
      and knowledge.

PMID- 1451707
TI  - The small intestine and colon: scintigraphic quantitation of motility in health
      and disease.
AB  - Radioisotopes allow accurate quantitation of the pattern and effectiveness of the
      transit of chyme through the small and large intestines. Abnormalities of small
      bowel transit can be demonstrated in patients with the irritable bowel syndrome,
      and patients with chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction due to either
      a visceral myopathy or neuropathy. In the colon, radioisotopic studies of transit
      have demonstrated the site of delayed transit in some severely constipated
      patients. In patients with these disorders of transit, functional studies may
      influence the choice of medical or surgical therapy although there are few
      prospective studies which have established their worth in this context.
      Radioisotope studies can also be utilised to study the effectiveness of delivery
      of drugs to the small and large bowel, and to study the adequacy of rectal
      evacuation in patients with a defaecatory disturbance. The low radiation dose and
      possibility of frequent observations make radioisotope studies valuable for
      clinical and research studies in functional gastrointestinal disorders.

PMID- 1451708
TI  - Merkel cell carcinoma and iodine-131 metaiodobenzylguanidine scan.
AB  - Two cases of Merkel cell carcinoma, a neuroendocrine neoplasia of the skin,
      investigated with iodine-131 metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I-mIBG) scintigraphy,
      are reported. Uptake in the tumor was evident only in 1 case. The possible
      diagnostic and therapeutic role of 131I-mIBG in patients with this rare neoplasm
      is discussed.

PMID- 1451709
TI  - Results for a gamma-camera with a new 511-keV collimator.

PMID- 1451710
TI  - The clinical pharmacology of 6-mercaptopurine.

PMID- 1451711
TI  - Effects of prior use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on renal function
      and transfusion requirements after upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage.
AB  - The possibility has been investigated that, after admission to hospital with
      acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding, patients who have been users of aspirin
      and non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have poorer baseline renal
      function, a greater improvement in renal function during their hospital stay, and
      a larger transfusion requirement than non-users. Patients over 50 years of age
      admitted to public hospitals with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding were
      studied. Creatinine clearance was estimated from serum creatinine and the
      transfusion requirement was recorded as the number of units of blood transfused
      on Day 1 and throughout the entire hospital stay. Data were obtained
      prospectively from case notes and by structured interview. Users of non-steroidal
      anti-inflammatory drugs were significantly older than non-users. The estimated
      creatinine clearance on admission to hospital declined with age. Creatinine
      clearance was 13.2 (95% CI 6.0 to 20.4) ml.min-1 lower in users than non-users of
      non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, the difference was
      attributable to the older age of the drug users rather than to the drugs
      themselves. On average, the increase in creatinine clearance during hospital stay
      was the same in users and non-users of non-aspirin non-steroidal anti
      inflammatory drugs. Prior use of aspirin had no effect on any measure of renal
      function. The incidence of blood transfusion was higher in older than in younger
      patients but neither the incidence of transfusion, nor the transfusion
      requirement, was different between users and non-users of non-aspirin non
      steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451712
TI  - Analgesic efficacy of an ibuprofen-codeine combination in patients with pain
      after removal of lower third molars.
AB  - A double-blind, randomised analgesic trial was carried out in 165 patients
      undergoing surgical removal of one impacted lower wisdom tooth. In a two-dose
      regimen, the analgesic efficacy of the combination ibuprofen-codeine 200 mg : 30
      mg was compared with that of acetylsalicylic acid-codeine 500 mg : 30 mg and
      codeine 30 mg. Each dose was taken when the patient needed pain relief. The
      intensity of the pain was measured on a visual analogue scale during the 10-h
      period after the first dose. The mean pain reduction by Dose 1 in patients on
      ibuprofen-codeine, acetylsalicylic acid-codeine and codeine was 64%, 45% and 26%,
      respectively, and the mean duration of effect was 8.3, 6.3 and 5.6 h. According
      to the pain reduction, duration of effect and pain reduction index after Doses 1
      and 1 + 2, there was a significant difference between ibuprofen-codeine and the
      other two drugs. The maximum pain reduction within 4 hours was 84% with ibuprofen
      codeine. This was significantly different from the reduction achieved both with
      acetylsalicylic acid-codeine (64%) and codeine (35%). Seventeen patients reported
      adverse events: 5 on ibuprofen-codeine, 4 on acetylsalicylic acid-codeine and 8
      on codeine. The most common events were tiredness and vertigo. It is concluded
      that the combination ibuprofen-codeine 200 mg : 30 mg had greater analgesic
      efficacy compared to the combination acetylsalicylic acid-codeine 500 mg : 30 or
      codeine 30 mg in patients with pain after removal of the lower third molars.

PMID- 1451713
TI  - Bromocriptine lessens the incidence of mortality in L-dopa-treated parkinsonian
      patients: prado-study discontinued.
AB  - L-Dopa supplemented by a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor is considered the
      most potent therapeutic regimen prolonging active life in Parkinsonian patients.
      The long-term benefit of therapy is limited by adverse effects, such as
      dyskinesia and on-off phenomena, which can be mitigated by the concomitant
      administration of dopamine agonists, such as bromocriptine. In order to quantify
      the beneficial impact of early combination therapy, a controlled clinical trial
      (PRADO: PRA videl1 + DO pa) in patients with early Parkinson's disease was
      carried out, whereby L-Dopa monotherapy (in a fixed combination with benserazide
      (DoBe) was being compared with the same combination plus bromocriptine (DoBeBro).
      Patients were recruited and treated by 101 practising neurologists in the Federal
      Republic of Germany and in Hungary. Twenty seven clinical university centers
      cross-checked the patients at regular intervals. The trial started with 3 months
      of DoBe monotherapy (median dose of 375 mg L-Dopa for both randomized groups)
      followed by gradual substitution of DoBe by bromocriptine over 3 months in one of
      the groups (250 mg L-Dopa/10 mg bromocriptine). The target medication was
      maintained from study months 6 to 54. Parkinsonian symptoms were classified
      according to the Webster rating scale, the Hoehn and Yahr scale and the Zung Self
      Rating Depression Scale. Adverse events and life status were checked at regular
      intervals. Special emphasis was given to motor performance tests. 587 patients
      (302 in the DoBe group and 285 in the DoBeBro group) were available for intention
      to-treat analysis. Both groups were homogeneous at baseline in all observed
      parameters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451714
TI  - Effect of doxazosin on insulin sensitivity in hypertensive non-insulin dependent
      diabetic patients.
AB  - The effect of doxazosin, an alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocking drug, on blood
      pressure, sensitivity to insulin and serum lipids has been evaluated in 14
      hypertensive, non-insulin dependent diabetic patients. The dose was titrated
      individually upwards from 1 mg until the diastolic blood pressure was below 90 mm
      Hg, side-effects precluded further dosage increase or the maximum daily dose of
      16 mg was achieved. After 12 weeks of treatment (mean doxazosin dose 5.6 +/- 5.1
      mg daily), the supine and standing diastolic blood pressure of the patients had
      declined by about 7 mm Hg, whereas their systolic blood pressure and heart rate
      were not significantly changed. The metabolic clearance rate of glucose increased
      from 2.35 to 3.37 ml.min-1.kg-1 during treatment, suggesting improved sensitivity
      to insulin. Fasting plasma glucose was 11.9 mmol.l-1 before and 10.9 mmol.l-1
      after doxazosin therapy (NS). Serum electrolytes and lipids did not change
      significantly but serum uric acid decreased from 305 to 281 mumol.l-1. Doxazosin
      may be a useful alternative for the treatment of hypertension in NIDDM patients.

PMID- 1451715
TI  - Changes in Lp(a) lipoprotein levels during the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia
      with simvastatin.
AB  - Thirty-six patients with total serum cholesterol levels above 6.5 mmol/l and
      Lipoprotein(a) levels above 100 mg.l-1 were evaluated in a 24 week double-blind,
      placebo controlled, cross-over study to assess the possible changes in Lp(a)
      during treatment with the HMG CoA reductase inhibitor simvastatin. The median
      plasma Lp(a) increased from 359 to 464 mg.l-1 during simvastin treatment as
      compared to placebo (not significant). Individual changes in Lp(a) varied. In a
      multivariate linear regression analysis the individual change in Lp(a) was
      correlated with the baseline Lp(a) (r = 0.64), the change in serum triglycerides
      (r = 0.48) and the baseline apolipoprotein B (r = 0.36). Differences between the
      Lp(a) phenotypes may explain some of the varied Lp(a) responses. It appears that
      the effect of simvastatin on the Lp(a) level in individuals is usually
      insignificant, but in patients with a high Lp(a) simvastatin may further increase
      it.

PMID- 1451716
TI  - General well-being during treatment with different ACE-inhibitors: two double
      blind placebo-controlled cross-over studies in healthy volunteers.
AB  - Two randomised, double-blind, cross-over studies in healthy volunteers given
      captopril 50 mg b.d. (n = 37; Study I) or enalapril 20 mg o.d. (n = 40; Study 2)
      and placebo for 2 weeks have been done to examine general well-being. Subjective
      experiences were evaluated using the standardised, Minor Symptoms Evaluation
      profile (MSEP), which was completed during Run-in and on Days 1, 4, 7 and 14 in
      the morning. In comparison to placebo and the Run-in period, neither captopril
      nor enalapril affected the MSEP dimensions of Vitality, Contentment and Sleep.
      Captopril treatment was also assessed by applying the Quality of Life Clinical
      Questionnaire during Run-in and on Days 7 and 14. No improvement in the quality
      of life was demonstrated during treatment in comparison with the placebo or the
      Run-in period. Thus, no mood elevating effect of the ACE-inhibitors captopril and
      enalapril was demonstrated in healthy volunteers. Cough, which is believed to be
      a common adverse effect of ACE-inhibitors, was no more frequent during the
      treatment with captopril or enalapril than with placebo. It is concluded, that
      short-term treatment with captopril or enalapril is not perceived differently by
      healthy volunteers than placebo or no treatment at all. Furthermore, the cough
      associated with ACE-inhibition may be dependent on the duration of treatment, and
      two weeks was apparently too short for it to emerge.

PMID- 1451717
TI  - The disposition of valproate and its metabolites in the late first trimester and
      early second trimester of pregnancy in maternal serum, urine, and amniotic fluid:
      effect of dose, co-medication, and the presence of spina bifida.
AB  - We have studied 52 pregnancies in epileptic women taking long-term valproate and
      have measured the concentrations of the parent compound and 13 of its metabolites
      by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in amniotic fluid, maternal serum, and 24
      h maternal urine samples. All metabolites of valproate present in the serum could
      also be detected in the amniotic fluid, although at much lower concentrations.
      Amniotic fluid concentrations of valproate and several of its metabolites ((E)
      delta 2-valproate, (2E,3'E) delta 2,3'-valproate, and 3-keto-valproate)
      correlated with total valproate concentrations as well as with unbound valproate
      concentrations in maternal serum. We suggest that the amniotic fluid acts as a
      deep compartment, with slow appearance and disappearance of valproate and its
      main metabolites. The data further suggest that during the first and early second
      trimesters of pregnancy the beta-oxidation of valproate decreases. In pregnancies
      associated with fetal neural tube defects (n = 5) significantly higher daily
      doses of valproate were used compared with normal pregnancies (n = 47). This
      resulted in higher concentrations of valproate in maternal serum. However, the
      metabolite patterns in maternal serum, 24 h urine samples, and amniotic fluid did
      not show any significant differences in pregnancies with neural tube defects.

PMID- 1451718
TI  - Phenytoin metabolism during pregnancy.
AB  - The steady-state 72 h urinary excretion of various phenytoin metabolites has been
      measured in 10 epileptic women, whose plasma phenytoin concentrations relative to
      the phenytoin dose fell during pregnancy and rose again post-partum. In later
      pregnancy and post partum, a mean of 61.3% and 48.9%, respectively, of the total
      daily phenytoin dose was eliminated as 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin (p
      HPPH). Even though p-HPPH accounts for not much more than half the total daily
      phenytoin dose, increased excretion of this metabolite sufficed to account for
      the elimination of the entire increase in the dose of phenytoin required during
      pregnancy. There was no definite increase in the excretion of any other (minor)
      metabolite measured. Thus pregnancy seems not to enhance uniformly the capacity
      of the various metabolic pathways of phenytoin.

PMID- 1451719
TI  - Carbamazepine kinetics and adverse effects during and after ethanol exposure in
      alcoholics and in healthy volunteers.
AB  - The influence of ethanol on the single-dose kinetics of carbamazepine (400 mg
      syrup) was assessed in 7 alcoholics after a debauche (mean daily consumption 240
      g ethanol) and after 9 days of controlled abstinence, and in 8 healthy volunteers
      after intake of the drug with and without a single dose of ethanol (25 g). Twelve
      h after the first test dose of carbamazepine the alcoholics were treated with the
      drug for 4 days (200 mg tablet b.d.). Carbamazepine was then withheld until a
      single test dose was given on day 9. Serum levels of carbamazepine and its 10,11
      epoxide metabolite were measured by liquid chromatography. Carbamazepine
      absorption appeared to be delayed in alcoholics, both after debauche and
      withdrawal, but its bioavailability did not seem to be reduced. Carbamazepine
      levels were higher and those of its metabolite lower in alcoholics after a
      debauche than after 9 days of controlled abstinence, but neither was changed in
      healthy volunteers after the ingestion of carbamazepine together with a single
      dose of ethanol. The difference may have been due to inhibition of carbamazepine
      metabolism by ethanol at the high levels attained in alcoholics but not in
      volunteers. However, it could also be an expression of the unmasking of enzyme
      induction after ethanol withdrawal. None of the alcoholics had any withdrawal
      seizures. Despite similar carbamazepine levels, side effects occurred in all
      volunteers but in none of the alcoholics, indicating that long-term ethanol
      exposure may promote central nervous adaptation to the acute untoward effects of
      carbamazepine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451720
TI  - Prediction of phenotype for acetylation and for debrisoquine hydroxylation by DNA
      tests in healthy human volunteers.
AB  - The debrisoquine/sparteine-type polymorphism of drug oxidation and the
      polymorphism for acetylation are two common inherited variations in human drug
      metabolism. The phenotypes for hydroxylation and acetylation can be predicted be
      newly developed methods based on mutation-specific amplification of DNA by the
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which also allow for identification of
      heterozygous carriers of one mutant allele. In the present study, the results of
      genotyping of 81 healthy European volunteers were compared with the phenotype
      obtained by the classical biochemical approach using debrisoquine and caffeine as
      probe drugs. Genotyping correctly predicted all 73 extensive metabolisers (EMs)
      and 6 out of 8 poor metabolisers (PMs) of debrisoquine. All 48 rapid acetylators
      and 33 of 35 slow acetylators were predicted. Overall, the DNA analysis result
      matched the in vivo phenotype in 97.5% of individuals.

PMID- 1451721
TI  - Steady-state plasma levels of clomipramine and its metabolites: impact of the
      sparteine/debrisoquine oxidation polymorphism. Danish University Antidepressant
      Group.
AB  - After an initial placebo week, 37 depressed inpatients were treated with the
      fixed dose of 75 mg clomipramine b.d. A sparteine test was carried out during the
      placebo period and again during the second week of active therapy. Blood for drug
      assay was collected at the end of the inter-dose interval in the (morning) at
      weekly intervals. Clomipramine and four metabolites (desmethylclomipramine,
      didesmethylclomipramine, 8-hydroxyclomipramine, and 8
      hydroxydesmethylclomipramine) in plasma were assayed by reversed phase HPLC. The
      clomipramine and desmethylclomipramine steady-state plasma levels varied by
      factors of 11 and 9, respectively, and the clomipramine/8-hydroxyclomipramine and
      desmethylclomipramine/8-hydroxydesmethylclomipramine ratios both varied by 7
      fold. During the placebo week, 36 patients were phenotyped as extensive
      metabolizers (EM) (metabolic ratio, MR, 0.1-2.0), and one patient was phenotyped
      as a poor metabolizer (PM) (MR > 300). During clomipramine treatment, one patient
      changed phenotype from EM to PM (MR = 140). In the EM, the median of the MR
      increased from 0.4 to 2.3. There was a statistically significant correlation
      between the MR before and during clomipramine treatment, even when the PM was
      excluded. Neither the steady-state plasma clomipramine levels nor the
      clomipramine/desmethylclomipramine ratios showed a significant correlation with
      the MR. In contrast, the desmethylclomipramine and didesmethylclomipramine steady
      state levels and the desmethylclomipramine/8-hydroxydesmethylclomipramine and
      clomipramine/8-hydroxyclomipramine ratios showed a significant positive
      correlation with the MR. The PM had the highest steady-state plasma
      desmethylclomipramine level and the highest desmethylclomipramine/8
      hydroxydesmethylclomipramine ratio. These correlation coefficients (rs) were
      generally increased when the correlation analyses were based on the MR obtained
      during clomipramine treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451722
TI  - Drug utilization at primary health care level in southern India.
AB  - Primary health centres provide health care to the majority of the population in
      developing countries. A drug utilization study was conducted for 1 y at two
      primary health centres in Pondicherry, India. Information on complaints,
      diagnosis and drugs prescribed was collected. From the 2953 prescriptions
      studied, it was found that on an average each patient received 2.71 drugs.
      Vitamins, antibiotics, analgesics and antihistamines were the most commonly used,
      accounting for more than 80% of the drugs prescribed. The antimicrobials which
      constituted one fourth of the drug consumption, comprised sulphonamides,
      tetracycline and cotrimoxazole. About half of the patients received injections,
      particularly of the vitamin B Complex and antibiotics. The results will be used
      to plan intervention strategies for the promotion of rational drug use.

PMID- 1451723
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of carteolol in patients with impaired renal function.
AB  - In order to determine the appropriate dosage of carteolol in renal dysfunction,
      the pharmacokinetics of carteolol has been examined in appropriate patients. The
      plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of carteolol were investigated in 15
      patients with varying degrees of renal impairment during the administration of 5
      20 mg carteolol hydrochloride (5 mg/tablet) for 2-45 months. Plasma carteolol
      levels were linearly correlated with the serum creatinine concentration (r =
      0.87) and reciprocally with the creatinine clearance (r = 0.82). The urinary
      carteolol concentration was correlated with the urinary creatinine concentration
      (r = 0.69) and the urinary carteolol excretion was also correlated with the
      creatinine clearance (r = 0.79). These relationships become even closer when the
      plasma carteolol concentrations and urinary excretion rate of carteolol were
      factored by the administered tablets. The fractional renal excretion of carteolol
      was virtually constant at various degrees of renal function, and it always
      exceeded 100%, which indicates that carteolol was actively secreted, even in
      patients with renal failure. The estimated tubular secretion rate of carteolol
      was logarithmically correlated with the fractional renal excretion of carteolol
      (r = 0.93). The results indicate that the dose of carteolol should be determined
      according to the degree of renal impairment.

PMID- 1451724
TI  - Uptake and localisation of O-(beta-hydroxyethyl)-rutosides in the venous wall,
      measured by laser scanning microscopy.
AB  - The uptake and localisation of O-(beta-hydroxyethyl)-rutosides (HR) in the venous
      wall was studied in 8 patients undergoing crossectomy for a varicose long
      saphenous vein. The fluorescence of cross-sections of the vein wall was measured
      by laser scanning microscopy, based on the autofluorescence of HR. Four patients
      (treated group) received 2 x 1.5 g HR IV before surgery, and four (untreated
      patients) served as controls. Uptake of HR into the veins from treated patients
      was seen, with a mean fluorescence intensity of 80.9 units compared to 49.4 units
      in the untreated veins. The increase in fluorescence was clearly demarcated on
      the endothelial side of the vein wall. It is concluded that HR passes into the
      vascular wall, where it is localised in the endothelial and sub-endothelial
      areas.

PMID- 1451725
TI  - Plasma drug profiles and tolerability of MK-571 (L-660,711), a leukotriene D4
      receptor antagonist, in man.
AB  - We have studied the tolerability and plasma drug profiles of a leukotriene D4
      receptor antagonist, MK-571, given intravenously and as an oral solution in two
      separate trials. Study I (i.v.) involved 2 panels of 6 healthy men in a double
      blind, alternating, incrementally increasing dose study with single doses up to
      1500 mg. There was good tolerability at all doses. Plasma was assayed
      stereospecifically by HPLC for the S(+) and R(-) enantiomers of MK-571. For each
      enantiomer AUC values increased more than proportionately with increasing dose,
      suggesting nonlinear kinetics. The S(+) enantiomer was cleared more rapidly than
      the R(-) enantiomer. The apparent initial volume of distribution was less than
      101 for both enantiomers. Study II (oral) involved 18 healthy subjects in 3
      parallel groups who took multiple oral doses of 100, 300, and 600 mg t.i.d. for
      31 doses. MK-571 administration was well tolerated, with only mild to moderate
      gastrointestinal discomfort at the highest dose. Total MK-571 (plasma samples
      assayed nonstereoselectively) was rapidly absorbed after oral administration,
      reaching peak concentrations at 1-2 h. Mean 8 h AUC increased from dose 1 to dose
      31 in all subjects at all doses, suggesting a modest extent of accumulation
      (about 50%) of total MK-571 in plasma with a t.i.d. dosage regimen.

PMID- 1451726
TI  - Dose-dependent kinetics of the enantiomers of MK-571, and LTD4-receptor
      antagonist.
AB  - The disposition of the enantiomers of MK-571 (MK-0679 and L-668,018) following
      single i.v. doses of MK-571 (L-660,711) was studied in a three way cross-over
      study in 12 healthy male volunteers. Each volunteer received 75 mg, 300 mg and
      600 mg i.v. doses of MK-571 at weekly intervals. The disposition of both
      enantiomers appeared dose-dependent, since the AUC increased disproportionately
      faster than the dose. The dose dependency was much more pronounced for L-668,018:
      its AUC increased 6-fold from the 75 to the 300 mg dose, 16-fold from 75 to 600
      mg and 2.7 fold from 300 to 600 mg. For MK-0679, the corresponding increases in
      AUC were 4.8-, 11-, and 2.3 fold. Regardless of dose, the elimination of L
      668,018 was more rapid than that of MK-0679. The disposition of MK-0679 needs to
      be investigated independently to detect any potential influence of L-668,018 on
      its disposition.

PMID- 1451727
TI  - Population pharmacokinetic parameters for Bayesian monitoring of amikacin therapy
      in intensive care unit patients.
AB  - The pharmacokinetics of amikacin has been studied in 40 intensive care unit
      patients using the bayesian estimation method implemented in the USC PC PACK
      program of Jelliffe. The volume of the central compartment was significantly
      higher in these patients than in the reference population, while other
      pharmacokinetic parameters did not differ significantly from the reference
      values. The population values may be employed, in addition to those supplied with
      the software, to adapt dosage regimens of amikacin in ICU patients.

PMID- 1451728
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of pirmenol in young and elderly subjects.
AB  - The steady state pharmacokinetics of pirmenol was compared in twelve healthy
      young (aged 18 to 45 y) and 11 elderly subjects (over 65 y) subjects given
      pirmenol HCl 100 mg every 12 h for a total of 14 doses. In addition, the single
      dose pharmacokinetics of pirmenol was determined following a 100 mg oral dose in
      the young subject group for comparison with the results of repeated
      administration. In the young subjects, the mean single-dose and steady-state CLR
      of pirmenol were similar; however, Ae was 29% higher and CL/f was 22% lower at
      steady state than after the single dose. Steady-state (fourteenth dose) Cmin,
      Cmax, tmax, lambda z, Ae, CL/f, CLR and V values were similar in the young and
      elderly subjects. Based on pharmacokinetic considerations, the dosage of pirmenol
      is unlikely to differ in young and elderly subjects.

PMID- 1451729
TI  - The effect of a low dose of quinidine on the disposition of flecainide in healthy
      volunteers.
AB  - We have studied the effects of quinidine on ECG intervals and on the
      pharmacokinetics of flecainide and its two metabolites in 6 healthy men in an
      open randomized crossover study. Flecainide acetate (150 mg) was given as a
      constant rate i.v. infusion over 30 min. Quinidine (50 mg orally), given the
      previous evening, did not change the volume of distribution of flecainide (7.9 vs
      7.4 l.kg-1), but significantly increased its half-life (8.8 vs 10.7 h). This was
      attributable to a reduction in total clearance (10.6 vs 8.1 ml.min-1 x kg-1),
      most of it being accounted for by a reduction in non-renal clearance (7.2 vs 5.2
      ml.min-1 x kg-1). The excretion of the metabolites of flecainide over 48 h was
      significantly reduced. These findings suggest that quinidine inhibits the first
      step of flecainide metabolism, although it may also reduce its renal clearance,
      but to a lesser extent (3.5 vs 2.9 ml.min-1 x kg-1). The effects of flecainide on
      ECG intervals were not altered by quinidine. Thus, quinidine tends to shift
      extensive metabolizer status for flecainide towards poor metabolizer status and
      may also alter its renal excretion.

PMID- 1451730
TI  - Captopril does not interact with the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of
      digitoxin in healthy man.
AB  - The chronic oral administration of 0.07 mg digitoxin o.d. for up to 58 days to 12
      healthy volunteers caused a small drop in mean heart rate HR (95% CI: -7.9 to 
      1.6 beats.min-1), in mean diastolic blood pressure (95% CI: -8.3 to -0.4 mmHg),
      shortening of the QTc-interval (95% CI: -42 to -19 ms), shortening of the HR
      corrected pre-ejection period PEPc (95% CI: -16 to -1 ms) and electromechanical
      systole QS2c (95% CI: -25 to -1 ms), and an increase in the impedance
      cardiographic Heather index (dZ/dtmax/RZ, 95% CI: 0.3 to 4.3) relative to the
      baseline measurements before digitalisation. The concomitant administration of 25
      mg oral captopril b.d. did not significantly alter these responses relative to
      the concomitant double-blind administration of placebo, nor did it alter the
      pharmacokinetic characteristics of plasma digitoxin at steady state. Thus, no
      relevant change in the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of
      chronically administered digitoxin were induced by concomitant treatment with
      captopril.

PMID- 1451731
TI  - Effect of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester on the hypotensive and hypertensive
      responses to 5-hydroxytryptamine in pithed rats.
AB  - The potential ability of the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L
      arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 1 to 10 mg/kg), to modulate blood pressure
      responses to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) and (1
      (2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane) (DOI) was studied in pithed rats.
      The hypotensive responses to 5-HT in the presence of ketanserin were augmented by
      L-NAME as well as by phenylephrine infusion, both of which themselves increased
      blood pressure. L-NAME also tended to prolong the duration of the response of 5
      HT. Likewise, the hypotensive responses to 5-CT were potentiated. The magnitude
      of the hypertensive responses to 5-HT was unaffected by L-NAME or phenylephrine.
      However, in contrast to phenylephrine, L-NAME prolonged the duration of these
      responses. The magnitude and duration (middle dose only) of the hypertensive
      responses to DOI were augmented by L-NAME, but phenylephrine was ineffective.
      These results suggest that L-NAME increases blood pressure, probably by
      inhibiting the basal release of NO in animals with a low vascular tone. However,
      the hypotensive responses to 5-HT and 5-CT seem to be largely independent of NO
      release by the endothelium, but the hypertensive responses to 5-HT and DOI appear
      to be limited by the release of NO in the pithed rat.

PMID- 1451732
TI  - ucb L059, a novel anti-convulsant drug: pharmacological profile in animals.
AB  - The anticonvulsant activity of ucb L059 ((S)-alpha-ethyl-2-oxo-pyrrolidine
      acetamide) was evaluated in a range of animal models. ucb L059 was active after
      oral and intraperitoneal administration in both rats and mice, with a unique
      profile of action incorporating features in common with several different types
      of antiepileptic drugs. The compound was active, with ED50 values generally
      within the range of 5.0-30.0 mg/kg, in inhibiting audiogenic seizures,
      electrically induced convulsions and convulsions induced chemically by
      pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), bicuculline, picrotoxin and N-methyl-D-aspartate
      (NMDA). ucb L059 retarded the development of PTZ-induced kindling in mice and
      reduced PTZ-induced EEG spike wave discharge in rats. The R enantiomer, ucb L060,
      had low intrinsic anticonvulsant activity, showing the stereospecificity of
      action of the molecule although the actual mechanism of action remains unknown.
      Neurotoxicity, evaluated with an Irwin-type observation test, the rotarod test
      and open-field exploration, was minimal, with only mild sedation being observed,
      even at doses 50-100 times higher than the anticonvulsant doses; at
      pharmacologically active doses, the animals appeared calm but slightly more
      active. ucb L059 thus presents as an orally active, safe, broad-spectrum
      anticonvulsant agent, with potential antiepileptogenic and anti-absence actions.

PMID- 1451733
TI  - Effects of phorbol ester on lower urinary tract smooth muscles in rabbits.
AB  - The contractile effects of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) on rabbit urinary
      bladder dome and urethra were investigated using muscle bath techniques. PDBu
      caused concentration-dependent contractions in both tissues, and these responses
      were not affected by pretreatment with atropine, phentolamine, hexamethonium or
      indomethacin. In both tissues, 1-(5-isoquinolinyl-sulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H
      7), a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), inhibited PDBu-induced
      contractions in a concentration-dependent manner. The maximum PDBu-induced
      contractions in bladder dome and urethra were 33.5 +/- 3.4 and 33.3 +/- 4.1% of
      KCl-induced maximum contractions, respectively. In Ca(2+)-free solution or after
      pretreatment with nifedipine (10(-6) M), PDBu-induced contractions were reduced
      but not completely abolished. Although pretreatment with PDBu (10(-8) M) did not
      have a significant effect on the contractile responses induced by carbachol (in
      bladder dome) and phenylephrine (in urethra), pretreatment with H-7 (100 microM)
      had an inhibitory effect on carbachol- and phenylephrine-induced contractions;
      tonic phase contractions were more sensitive than phasic contractions. These
      results indicate that PDBu has significant contractile effects in rabbit bladder
      dome and urethra, and that the effects may be partly mediated by activation of
      PKC. PKC activation might also contribute to agonist-induced contractile
      responses in these tissues.

PMID- 1451734
TI  - Effect of Mn2+ on neonatal and adult rat heart: initial depression and late
      augmentation of contractile force.
AB  - In the present study, we examined the inotropic effect of Mn2+ on adult and
      neonatal rat myocardia, contraction of which is known to be highly dependent on
      Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and trans-sarcolemmal Ca2+ influx,
      respectively. Mn2+ produced an initial negative inotropic effect followed by a
      late augmentation of contractile force in both neonatal and adult preparations,
      accompanied by marked prolongation of the contraction duration. The attenuation
      of the late augmentation by ryanodine was greater in the adult while the effect
      of nicardipine was greater in the neonate, which was similar to the effects of
      the two drugs in the absence of Mn2+. We tentatively concluded that Mn2+ produces
      late augmentation of the contractile force in neonatal and adult rat myocardia
      through some action on the general mechanism of force development, rather than by
      acting specifically on the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

PMID- 1451735
TI  - Dopaminergic modulation of pilocarpine-induced motor seizures in the rat: the
      role of hippocampal dopamine D1 receptors.
AB  - The present study addressed the role of dopamine D1 receptors in pilocarpine
      induced motor seizures in rats. Bilateral pretreatment of the hippocampus with
      the D1 agonist SKF 38393 (0.1-5 micrograms) did not alter the animals'
      sensitivity to a threshold (200 mg/kg i.p.) or fully convulsant dose (600 mg/kg
      i.p.) of pilocarpine, as compared to hippocampal saline-treated controls.
      Similarly, direct injection of pilocarpine (200 micrograms per side) into both
      hippocampi elicited low level seizure activity that was not modified by SKF
      38393, either coadministered (2 micrograms per side) or injected systemically (30
      mg/kg i.p.). On the other hand, intrahippocampal microinjections of the D1
      antagonist, SCH 23390 (2 micrograms per side), whilst unable to prevent
      epileptogenesis to 600 mg/kg pilocarpine, delayed the onset of seizures and
      reduced their severity. These results suggest that hippocampal dopamine lowers
      the seizure threshold by activating D1 receptors, an effect which is only
      disclosed by D1 receptor blockade and is not surmountable by additional D1
      stimulation.

PMID- 1451736
TI  - Influence of pertussis toxin on thermic responses to morphine and neurotensin in
      rats.
AB  - The influence of pertussis toxin (PTX) on thermic responses elicited by morphine
      and neurotensin was evaluated in unrestrained rats kept at 22 degrees C. High
      doses of morphine (9-36 micrograms/rat i.c.v.) lowered body temperature and low
      doses (1.25, 2.5 micrograms/rat i.c.v.) produced hyperthermia. The hyperthermic
      effect was more resistant than the hypothermic effect to naloxone antagonism.
      Neurotensin (50, 100 micrograms/rat i.c.v.) induced marked hypothermia followed
      by hyperthermia. I.c.v. injection of PTX (1 microgram), six days before morphine
      (18 micrograms/rat i.c.v.), replaced the opiate hypothermia by consistent
      hyperthermia and reduced by 60% the hyperthermia elicited by morphine (2.5
      micrograms/rat i.c.v.). The toxin also affected the thermic responses induced by
      neurotensin (50 micrograms/rat i.c.v.) administered six days after PTX (1
      microgram/rat i.c.v.). The initial hypothermia was enhanced by 173% and the late
      hyperthermia was fully antagonized. It thus appears that PTX-sensitive G-proteins
      play different roles in the molecular events underlying the thermoregulatory
      responses to morphine and neurotensin.

PMID- 1451737
TI  - Pancopride, a potent and long-acting 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, is orally
      effective against anticancer drug-evoked emesis.
AB  - Pancopride ((+-)N-(1-azabicyclo-[2,2,2]-oct-3-yl)-2-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-ami no-5
      chlorobenzamide) is a new potent and selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, orally
      and parenterally effective against cytotoxic drug-induced emesis. In vitro,
      pancopride displayed high affinity (Ki = 0.40 nM) for [3H]GR65630-labelled 5-HT3
      recognition sites in membranes from the cortex of rat brains. In vivo, pancopride
      antagonized 5-HT-induced bradycardia in anaesthetized rats when administered i.v.
      5 min (ID50 = 0.56 microgram/kg) or p.o. 60 min (ID50 = 8.7 micrograms/kg) before
      5-HT challenge. A single oral dose (10 micrograms/kg) of pancopride produced a
      significant inhibition of the bradycardic reflex over an 8-h period. Pancopride
      dose dependently inhibited the number of vomiting episodes and delayed the onset
      of vomiting induced by cisplatin in dogs (ID50 = 3.6 micrograms/kg i.v. and 7.1
      micrograms/kg p.o.). Pancopride was also effective in blocking mechlorethamine-
      and dacarbazine-induced emesis. Unlike metoclopramide, pancopride was shown to
      lack any measurable antidopaminergic activity both in vitro and in vivo. These
      results support clinical data, indicating that pancopride will be a useful drug
      for treating cytostatic-induced emesis in humans.

PMID- 1451738
TI  - Dexamethasone attenuates altered insulin secretion elicited by interleukin-1 beta
      in HIT cells.
AB  - The effects of dexamethasone on the modulation of insulin secretion by
      recombinant human interleukin-1 beta (IL-1) were examined in HIT-T 15 cells. The
      addition of IL-1 from 1.2 x 10(-8) to 10(-10) M increased insulin secretion in
      the 0-4-h period after IL-1 administration and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production
      was suppressed by IL-1 from 1.2 x 10(-8) to 10(-12) M. At all doses used, IL-1
      inhibited insulin secretion in the 4-24-h period after IL-1 administration and
      PGE2 levels were increased in the culture medium. In the second experiment, the
      addition of 10(-7) M dexamethasone prevented the inhibitory effects of IL-1 on
      insulin secretion. In the third experiment, dexamethasone at 10(-7) M attenuated
      both the short-term stimulation of insulin release and the long-term suppression
      of insulin release caused by IL-1. It also prevented the effects of IL-1 on PGE2
      production. The present studies suggest that dexamethasone may have a suppressive
      action on the effects of IL-1 on in vitro insulin secretion.

PMID- 1451740
TI  - Effects of baclofen on amino acid release.
AB  - This study showed the effects of baclofen on endogenous excitatory (Glu and Asp)
      and non-excitatory (Tau, Gly and Ala) amino acid release. (A) Release was
      stimulated by K+ 30 mM in rat frontal cortex slices in vitro (evoked release in
      ng/g tissue per 5 min): 3739 +/- 215 (Asp), 3429 +/- 357 (Glu), 763 +/- 181
      (Tau), 945 +/- 71 (Ala), 468 +/- 44 (Gly). (B) Release was largely Ca(2+)
      dependent for all amino acids but Ca(2+)-independent release was observed for Asp
      and Glu (29 and 32%, of total evoked release respectively). (C) Ca(2+)-dependent
      release was inhibited by baclofen 100 microM (% of inhibition taking as 100%, the
      Ca(2+)-dependent release in the absence of baclofen): 46 (Asp), 96 (Glu) (85%
      inhibition by baclofen 10 microM), 100 (Tau), 77 (Ala). Ca(2+)-independent
      release was inhibited: 87 and 88% (Asp), 85 and 95% (Glu) by baclofen 10 and 100
      microM respectively. It is concluded that baclofen at a high concentration
      inhibits the evoked release of Glu, Asp, Tau and Ala due to inhibition of the
      Ca(2+)-dependent fraction and also of the Ca(2+)-independent component in the
      case of Glu and Asp. Baclofen at a low concentration inhibits only Glu- and Asp
      evoked release (total release) due to inhibition of both Ca(2+)-dependent and 
      independent fractions in the case of Glu and to inhibition of the Ca(2+)
      independent fraction in the case of Asp. The possibility that baclofen might
      affect the Ca(2+)-independent carrier-mediated release of Glu-Asp is discussed.

PMID- 1451739
TI  - The vasoconstrictor action of big endothelin-1 is phosphoramidon-sensitive in
      rabbit saphenous artery, but not in saphenous vein.
AB  - The effects of big endothelin-1 and endothelin-1 on vascular reactivity were
      compared in isolated rabbit saphenous artery and vein. The contractile potency of
      endothelin-1 was three times higher in the vein than in the artery. In contrast,
      big endothelin-1 was two times more effective in the artery. Phosphoramidon (100
      microM), a metalloproteinase inhibitor, antagonised the contractile action of big
      endothelin-1 in the artery but not in the vein. These data suggest that the
      biosynthetic pathway leading to the formation of endothelin differs in arterial
      and venous vessels.

PMID- 1451741
TI  - Involvement of haloperidol-sensitive sigma-sites in antitussive effects.
AB  - The effects of selective sigma-ligands on the capsaicin-induced cough reflex in
      rats were studied. Intraperitoneal injection of (+)-N-allylnormetazocine ((+)-SKF
      10,047) and N,N'-di(ortho-tolyl)guanidine (DTG) in doses that ranged from 0.3 to
      3.0 mg/kg decreased the number of coughs dose dependently. The antitussive
      effects of these sigma-ligands were significantly attenuated by pretreatment with
      haloperidol. Pretreatment with haloperidol also markedly reduced the antitussive
      effects of (+/-)-pentazocine and dextromethorphan. These results suggest that
      haloperidol-sensitive sigma-sites may be involved in the regulation of coughs.

PMID- 1451742
TI  - Investigation into the 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced relaxation of the circular
      smooth muscle of guinea-pig stomach fundus.
AB  - The 5-HT receptor that mediates relaxation of circular muscle strips of the
      guinea-pig stomach fundus under resting tone was investigated. Concentration
      dependent relaxation was obtained in the presence of atropine (0.2 microM) with 5
      hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (apparent mean pEC50 value, 5.27), 5
      carboxamidotryptamine (7.35), 5-methoxytryptamine (4.98) and 5-methyltryptamine
      (4.58). 1-(m-Trifluoromethyl-phenyl)piperazine and 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-
      propylamino)tetralin acted as partial agonists while 2-methyl-5
      hydroxytryptamine, alpha-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine, sumatriptan, metoclopramide
      and cisapride had little or no effect on the guinea-pig stomach fundus. The
      concentration-response curve for 5-HT was not affected by tetrodotoxin (0.3
      microM), guanethidine (5 microM) or indomethacin (2 microM), suggesting that the
      relaxation is non-neuronal in origin and is independent of the release of
      catecholamines or prostanoids. The non-selective 5-HT receptor antagonist,
      metitepine (0.03-0.1 microM), the 5-HT1C/5-HT2 receptor antagonists, mianserin
      (0.3-1 microM), pizotifen (0.3-1 microM), ketanserin (3-10 microM), and the 5
      HT1A/5-HT2 receptor antagonist, spiperone (3 microM), shifted the concentration
      response curves for 5-HT to the right. A 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, ICS205-930 (1
      microM), propranolol (1 microM) and phentolamine (1 microM) failed to block the 5
      HT-induced relaxation. In conclusion, the results found with agonists and
      antagonists are compatible with the view that a 5-HT1-like receptor is involved
      in 5-HT-induced direct relaxation of circular muscle of guinea-pig stomach
      fundus.

PMID- 1451743
TI  - Neuroprotective effect of 5-HT3 receptor antagonist on ischemia-induced decrease
      in CA1 field potential in rat hippocampal slices.
AB  - The effect of 5-HT3 receptor agonists and antagonists on the hypoxia/hypoglycemia
      (ischemia)-induced decrease in CA1 field potential elicited by stimulation of
      Schaffer collaterals was investigated using rat hippocampal slices. Treatment
      with the 5-HT3 receptor agonist, 2-methyl-5-HT (1-10 microM), exacerbated the
      ischemia-induced decreased in CA1 field potential, whereas treatment with the 5
      HT3 receptor antagonist, Y-25130 (0.1-100 microM), or the 5-HT2 receptor
      antagonist, ketanserin (10, 100 microM), produced dose-dependent neuroprotection
      against the ischemia-induced decrease. However, in normal non-ischemic solution
      these treatments did not significantly change the CA1 field potential. The
      protective action of Y-25130 was blocked by co-treatment with 2-methyl-5-HT. The
      magnitude of protection in the Y-25130-treated group (EC50, 1.8 microM) was about
      20 times greater than that in the ketanserin-treated group (EC50, 33 microM). The
      present study demonstrated that stimulation of 5-HT3 receptors plays a
      detrimental role in the development of ischemic damage, whereas blockade of the 5
      HT3 receptor plays a neuroprotective role in ischemic damage, suggesting a
      facilitatory role of 5-HT neurons in ischemia-induced neuronal deficits.

PMID- 1451744
TI  - Effects of ouabain on muscle tension and intracellular Ca2+ level in guinea-pig
      aorta.
AB  - The effects of ouabain on muscle tension and the intracellular Ca2+ level
      ([Ca2+]i) were examined in guinea-pig aorta loaded with fura-2. Ouabain caused a
      gradual and sustained increase in both [Ca2+]i and muscle tension. There was a
      positive correlation between these two parameters. In Ca(2+)-free solution,
      ouabain did not affect either [Ca2+]i or muscle tension, suggesting that the
      ouabain-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was not due to Ca2+ release from storage
      sites. The ouabain-induced increase in [Ca2+]i and muscle tension was inhibited
      by Ni2+, which inhibits the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, but not by verapamil.
      Furthermore, anionic and cationic amphiphiles were used as modulators of the
      Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. Sodium dodecyl sulfate accelerated the responses to ouabain,
      whereas dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide inhibited them. These results suggest
      that in the guinea-pig aorta, ouabain induces contraction by increasing the Ca2+
      influx through the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger on the plasma membrane, but not through
      verapamil-sensitive Ca2+ channels.

PMID- 1451745
TI  - Analgesic effect of salmon-calcitonin administered by two routes. Effect on
      morphine analgesia.
AB  - We compared the analgesia induced by intraperitoneally (i.p.) and
      intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) administered salmon-calcitonin (S-CT), using
      the hot-plate test and the writhing test. The influence of the route of
      administration on the analgesia induced by morphine was also studied. After i.p.
      administration the analgesic effect was observed only in the writhing test. When
      S-CT was administered i.c.v., analgesia was observed in both tests, although it
      was greater in the writhing test than in the hot-plate test. I.c.v. injected S-CT
      increased the analgesia of i.p. injected morphine. Our results provide new
      information about the analgesic effect of S-CT and suggest that central
      mechanisms are involved.

PMID- 1451746
TI  - Action of externally applied ATP on rat reticulospinal vasomotor neurons.
AB  - In anesthetized rats, iontophoretic application of ATP excited the spinal cord
      projection neurons in the rostral ventrolateral reticular nucleus of the medulla
      oblongata. The neuronal response to ATP was mimicked and then blocked by
      alpha,beta-methylene-ATP, a metabolically stable ATP analogue, and the response
      was abolished by suramin. Microinjections of ATP (3-100 pmol) into the rostral
      ventrolateral medulla produced a powerful pressor response. The results suggest
      that ATP may function as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator involved in
      medullary regulation of cardiovascular functions.

PMID- 1451747
TI  - D-cycloserine reverses the working memory impairment of hippocampal-lesioned rats
      in a spatial learning task.
AB  - It is shown that D-cycloserine has cognition-enhancing properties in quinolinic
      acid hippocampal-lesioned rats. Lesioned rats had a severe impairment of working
      memory in an allocentric spatial reversal paradigm in the 8-arm maze, and
      performance could be restored with 12 mg/kg i.p. D-cycloserine, given 30 min
      before testing. The present findings favour the testing of D-cycloserine for
      clinical efficacy in patients with Alzheimer's disease with loss of pyramidal
      neurons and disconnected glycine-NMDA receptor activation.

PMID- 1451748
TI  - Ethanol can inhibit nitric oxide production.
AB  - Endogenous nitric oxide (NO) in exhaled air from anaesthetized rabbits was
      monitored by chemiluminescence. Ethanol (3-30 mmol kg-1) infused i.v. dose
      dependently reduced the levels of exhaled NO, with an IC50 of 23 +/- 3 mmol kg-1.
      L-Arginine (1 g kg-1) did not reverse the effect of ethanol. These results
      demonstrate the inhibition of NO formation by ethanol in vivo.

PMID- 1451749
TI  - [Immunopathology of lupus nephritis revealed in the mouse models].

PMID- 1451750
TI  - Postnatal behavioral development in methylazoxymethanol-induced microcephalic
      rats--a behavioral teratology study.
AB  - Behavioral testings in methylazoxymethanol (MAM)-induced microcephalic rats were
      conducted. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated intraperitoneally with 0, 20
      or 40 mg/kg of MAM once a day on day 14 of gestation and were allowed to
      delivery. Male pups from each litter were examined for open field test at 6 weeks
      of age and shuttle-box avoidance test at 7 weeks or more of age. In the open
      field activity of pups, the counts of ambulation and locomoting distance in 40
      mg/kg group have increased significantly as compared with those in control group.
      In the shuttle-box avoidance test, the avoidance response rate was dose
      dependently high in the session of the 1st day. As to the interaction between the
      avoidance response rate and sequence of sessions, however, the avoidance response
      rate in 40 mg/kg group was significantly low. Rate of the rats with errors and
      number of response during the intertrial interval was significantly high in 40
      mg/kg group. Thus, we could demonstrate functional disturbance in the memory
      retaining ability in utero MAM-exposed rats.

PMID- 1451751
TI  - [Biological effects of exposure to high frequency electromagnetics on rabbits and
      guinea pigs].
AB  - To investigate the biological effects of exposure to feeble high frequency
      electromagnetism, skin surface temperature, blood vessel (arterioles and venules)
      diameter were examined, using infrared thermography, a laser doppler flowmeter,
      and a video microscope, respectively, in the ear of rabbits. After exposing the
      ear of rabbits to high frequency electromagnetism value of 9 MHz for 15 minutes,
      continued rising of local temperature was demonstrated. Though dilatation of
      arterioles was not seen. In addition, venules tended to dilate and blood flow
      also to increase, and microcirculation was accelerated at the site where
      electromagnetism was exposed. Hazardous effects of long term exposures of high
      frequency electromagnetism (9 MHz for 30 days, 8 hours/day) on guinea pigs were
      not observed in their behavior, food consumption, body and organ weights,
      hematological and biochemical values, macroscopic and microscopic findings on
      autopsy.

PMID- 1451752
TI  - [Morphometric and immunohistochemical studies of the suprachiasmatic nucleus in
      the hereditary microphthalmic rat].
AB  - Morphometric and immunohistochemical analyses of the suprachiasmatic nucleus
      (SCN) were performed on hereditary microphthalmic rats. In normal rats, the
      number of cells and the volume of the SCN were 11, 631 and 6.7 x 10(-2) mm3 (an
      average taken from 12 SCNs). However, the neuronal population and volume of the
      SCN in hereditary microphthalmic rats were 7,450 and 4.5 x 10(-2) mm3 (an average
      taken from 14 SCNs), respectively. There were no significant differences in the
      size of neurons between normal and microphthalmic SCN neurons.
      Immunohistochemical studies showed that a considerable number of antivasopressin
      positive neurons were present in microphthalmic rats, despite their lack of the
      optic nerve. However, further detailed studies revealed that the number of
      antivasopressin positive neurons present in microphthalmic rats was only 68% of
      those found in normal rats. These findings suggest that the complete development
      of the SCN and vasopressin neurons depends on the visual input.

PMID- 1451753
TI  - [Cryopreservation of unfertilized rat oocytes by ultrarapid freezing].
AB  - Unfertilized rat oocytes were placed in a highly concentrated solution of
      cryoprotectant (DAP 224:2M dimethylsulphoxide, 2M acetamide, 4M propylene glycol
      in PB1) in 0.5 ml sampling tubes and then immediately immersed into liquid
      nitrogen; thawing was conducted in a 37 degrees C waterbath. After thawing, 630
      out of 968 oocytes (65.1%) were morphologically normal. After insemination in
      vitro of cryopreserved oocytes, the proportion of pronuclear oocytes with
      spermatail (s), male (s) and female pronuclei (8-10 h post insemination), and 2
      cell embryos with two identical blastomeres (28-30 h post insemination) was 60.8%
      (152/250) and 29.8% (39/131), respectively. One hundred and fifty oocytes that
      were judged as pronuclear oocytes under the inverted microscope 8-10 h after
      insemination were transferred to the oviducts of pseudopregnant recipients; 18.7%
      (28/150) of the oocytes developed to normal young.

PMID- 1451754
TI  - The domestication of Crocidura dsinezumi as a new laboratory animal.
AB  - The dsinezumi shrew (Crocidura dsinezumi), a small insectivore, has been bred for
      the first time as a laboratory animal. The original animals were captured using
      Sherman's live traps and transferred into wooden cages. After several generations
      they were housed in plastic cages. Their diet consisted of trout pellets, cat
      food, and water provided ad libitum. Monogamous pairs were housed together for 2
      3 weeks for mating, and the male was separated from the female during delivery
      and nursing. In captivity, the reproductive activity was observed throughout the
      year and the gestation period was estimated at 28-30 days with a litter size of
      between 1 and 4 pups. Pups grew very rapidly, and reached adult body size (mean:
      male, 9.7 g; female, 8.3 g) and sexual maturation at 6-8 weeks of age. The
      reproductive life was estimated at one and a half years, while the longevity was
      approximately 2 years.

PMID- 1451755
TI  - Spontaneous lesions in cynomolgus monkeys used in toxicity studies.
AB  - Spontaneous lesions in wild-caught, laboratory-maintained cynomolgus monkeys used
      in drug-toxicity studies were examined histopathologically in an effort to better
      distinguish toxic changes from spontaneous lesions and assess the toxicity of
      drugs more exactly. In the liver and kidney, where toxic changes are observed
      frequently, many spontaneous lesions were observed. Infiltration of mononuclear
      cells, vacuolization of the hepatocytes, dilatation of the renal tubules, and
      vacuolization of the renal epithelia were observed at a relatively high
      frequency. It is considered important to examine these changes carefully, because
      they closely resemble the changes recognized as toxic. Deposition of brownish
      pigment was observed in various organs such as the liver, kidney, spleen,
      intestinal tract, lung and brain, however the type of pigment differed among the
      organs, and histochemical examination revealed anthracosis or accumulation of
      hemosiderin, or melanin. Since the monkeys were caught in the wild, many
      parasitic lesions were observed especially in the large intestine and liver.
      Helminthous worms were frequently observed in the granulomas in the large
      intestine, however, no parasites were observed in the granulomas in the liver.
      Such lesions in the liver may be misinterpreted as toxic changes, when only scars
      or inflammatory lesions are observed.

PMID- 1451756
TI  - [Immunocytochemical and morphometric studies on the development of renin
      immunoreactive cells in the rat kidney].
AB  - The development of renin-immunoreactive cells was immunocytochemically studied in
      Wistar-Imamichi rats. The renin-immunoreactivity was localized in the walls of
      the abdominal aorta, renal artery and arterioles in the kidney. The renin
      immunoreactive cells converged with the progress of development from the renal
      artery via several arterioles to the afferent arteriole in the kidney. In the
      afferent arteriole, renin-immunoreactive cells appeared only in those of matured
      glomeruli. The matured glomerulus first appeared at 17 days of gestation followed
      by the initial appearance of renin-immunoreactive cells at 18 days. The
      juxtaglomerular index showing the relation between matured glomeruli and renin
      immunoreactive cells increased rapidly until 20 days of gestation, shifted
      thereafter at a level similar to that at 20 days until 7 days after birth, and
      increased again until 20 days after birth. Although the area of the transverse
      section at the hilus of the kidney increased all through the period examined, the
      number of matured glomeruli increased rapidly from 17 days of gestation to 7 days
      after birth and maintained a fixed level thereafter. This led to the decrease in
      the number of matured glomeruli per unit area after 7 days after birth. The fine
      structure of renin-immunoreactive cells showed no difference according to their
      sites of localization.

PMID- 1451757
TI  - [Effect of sex hormones on the onset of diabetic syndrome in WBN/Kob rats].
AB  - The effects of sex hormone on diabetic conditions were investigated in WBN/Kob
      strain rats, i.e., castrated or spayed, hormone-treated, and non-treated rats.
      The effects of sex hormone on glycosuria, body-weight change, glucose tolerance
      and histopathology of the pancreas were compared among these animals. There were
      no abnormal changes in these parameters in the non-treated females and estrogen
      treated males. The glycosuria began to be observed from the age of about 30 weeks
      in the non-treated group and from the age of 52 weeks in the castrated group. In
      the female animals, this symptom began to appear from the age of 55 weeks in the
      testosterone-treated group and from the age of 72 weeks in the spayed group.
      Before the onset of the diabetic symptoms, glucose tolerance was impaired in
      these animals. Body weights of the castrated and estrogen-treated males were
      lower than that of the non-treated males, especially in the estrogen-treated
      males. Those of the spayed and testosterone-treated females were much heavier
      than that of the non-treated females. Testosterone treatment accelerated body
      weight gain in the spayed female animals. Histopathological examination of the
      pancreas revealed atrophy of the aciner tissue and atrophy and disappearance of
      the islet cells similar to those of the non-treated WBN/Kob male rats in the
      castrated males, spayed females and testosterone-treated females. However, these
      changes were not observed in the non-treated females or estrogen-treated males.
      These findings suggest that female hormone suppressed the onset of hyperglycemia
      along with glycosuria and male hormone accelerates the onset of hyperglycemia in
      the WBN/Kob rats.

PMID- 1451758
TI  - Fine structure of the parotid gland in the crest-tailed marsupial-rat
      (Dasyuroides byrnei).
AB  - The parotid gland of Dasyuroides byrnei was examined by light microscopy, and
      transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The acini were composed
      predominantly of seromucous cells with a few mucous cells. The seromucous cells
      were light or dark cells containing acidophilic spherical granules of moderate to
      high electron density and had well-developed cytoplasmic organelles-ordinary
      mitochondria and large mitochondria with tubular cristae, RER with vesicular or
      tubular elements, and Golgi apparatus with lamellae, vesicles and vacuoles. The
      mucous cells had basophilic amorphous granules of low electron density, like
      those of ordinary mucous cells. The intercalated ducts were composed of simple
      cuboidal light cells having a few electron-dense granules. The striated ducts
      consisted of tall columnar light cells containing numerous vesicles and
      mitochondria with tubular cristae, the same as found in acinar seromucous cells.

PMID- 1451759
TI  - [Hematological and serum biochemical effects of nursing on the mother in
      cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)].
AB  - The effects of nursing on maternal hematological and serum biochemical values
      were analyzed in cynomolgus monkeys reared in indoor cages at Tsukuba Primate
      Center. In our breeding system, infants are usually separated from their mothers
      at the age of 121 to 180 days. Mother monkeys of such infants were studied
      hematologically and biochemically (Group B), as were mother monkeys who happened
      to have nursed their infants past 181 days after parturition (Group A). During
      the period with their infants, mother monkeys in the latter group showed lower
      white blood cell counts (WBC) and higher red blood cell counts (RBC), hematocrit
      values (Ht) and blood urea nitrogen concentrations (BUN) than the mother monkeys
      who had been separated from their infants. Also, serum calcium concentrations
      (Ca) were decreased with prolonged nursing periods, indicating that lactation by
      the mother monkey probably continues even for a period from 181 days to about one
      year after parturition if she nurses her infant. Lactation during this period may
      accelerate hematogenesis and protein metabolism in the mother monkey.

PMID- 1451760
TI  - [Diurnal rhythm of drinking activity in the house musk shrew].
AB  - A diurnal rhythm of drinking activity in 7 male and 6 female house musk shrews
      (Jic: SUN) aged about one year was observed over a period of 10 days under a
      schedule of 12 hr light and 12 hr darkness (light on at 07:00). In general, the
      pattern of drinking activity was similar among both sexes, with around 24-hr
      diurnal rhythm. A few typical drinking patterns of these animals were represented
      as follows: 1) Drinking interval was very close in the dark phase, while it was a
      little too sparse in the light phase (n = 4). 2) Its interval remains stationary
      through a whole day (n = 5). 3) Drinking was performed between the latter half of
      light and the first half of dark phases (n = 4).

PMID- 1451761
TI  - Production of normal young following insemination of frozen-thawed mouse
      spermatozoa into fallopian tubes of pseudopregnant females.
AB  - Mouse epididymal spermatozoa in the cryopreservation solution (18% raffinose and
      3% skim milk in distilled water) were frozen and stored at -196 degrees C, and
      later thawed at room temperature. The thawed sperm suspension was inseminated
      into the Fallopian tubes containing ovulated oocytes in pseudopregnant females on
      the day of finding the vaginal plug. Five out of 12 females gave birth to 28
      Young (5.6 per liter).

PMID- 1451762
TI  - Behavioral study on the gracile axonal dystrophy (GAD) mutant mouse.
AB  - We investigated motor function and pain sensation in the gracile axonal dystrophy
      (GAD) mutant mouse, using the tail-flick test and the rotarod test. GAD (gad/gad)
      and normal sib mice (gad/+ or +/+) were used between 5 and 11 weeks of age,
      during which time the behavioral signs of GAD mice shifted from sensory ataxia
      (about 4 to 8 weeks of age) to paresis (after about 9 weeks of age). In the tail
      flick test, significant shortening of latency was observed at 6 and 8 weeks of
      age in female GAD mice, in comparison with normal female mice. This may be
      related to dysfunction or degeneration of axons in the fasiculus gracilis, whose
      collaterals are thought to control the transmission of nociceptive information.
      In the rotarod test, a cumulative chi 2 test showed significant reduction in the
      performance times of GAD mice beginning at 5 and 6 weeks of age in males and
      females, respectively, indicating that the rotarod test can detect the
      development of motor incoordination as early as these ages. The performance times
      of GAD mice dropped sharply from 9 weeks of age onwards, and this is believed to
      reflect the progression of paresis. The rotarod test therefore appears to be a
      good method of quantifying behavioral changes in GAD mice and to be applicable
      both to objective selection of GAD mice before 8 weeks of age and to evaluation
      of drugs to treat ataxia or paresis.

PMID- 1451763
TI  - Lymphocyte blastogenesis in hairless dogs following stimulation by various
      mitogens.
AB  - Lymphocyte blastogenesis in hairless descendants of Mexican hairless dogs was
      examined using the following mitogens: phytohemagglutinin (PHA-M), Concanavalin A
      (Con A), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM). Blastogenetic
      responses to these mitogens were measured by glucose consumption test (GCT) and
      compared with those of haired beagle dogs. The response to PHA-M was
      significantly less in the hairless dogs than in the beagles. No significant
      differences in the responses to Con A, PWM and LPS were recognized. These results
      indicated T-cell dysfunction in the hairless dogs, coinciding with our previous
      work showing reduction of the delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction and early
      degeneration of the thymus.

PMID- 1451764
TI  - [The influence of serum separators on biochemical values in experimental
      animals].
AB  - The influence of three serum separators, A, B and C, on biochemical values was
      examined. With A or B, changes in the values of ChE, LAP, UN, K, P, Cl and Ca in
      rat serum; ChE, UN, Cl and Ca in dog serum; and K and P in monkey serum took
      place over a period of 20 min after blood collection. Therefore, the biochemical
      values of whole blood were considered to be stable after 20 min. Thus,
      biochemical tests were conducted on serum from the three serum separators after
      allowing the blood to stand 20 min. The values obtained for each separator were
      not markedly different from those of the control. These results suggest that a
      serum separator is useful for separation of serum of experimental animals under
      the proper conditions.

PMID- 1451765
TI  - [Cryopreservation of spermatozoa of a transgenic mouse].
AB  - Spermatozoa of a homozygous transgenic mouse, in which the firefly luciferase
      gene was expressed under the control of beta-actin promoter, were frozen at -196
      degrees C. One fourth of the frozen sperm was later thawed and used for in vitro
      fertilization. Thirty-six of 65 oocytes (55.4%) developed to the 2-cell stage.
      All the 2-cell embryos were transferred to the oviducts of pseudopregnant
      recipients and 23 young (63.9%, 23/36) were born. All of young analyzed carried
      the transgene and showed the luciferase gene expression.

PMID- 1451766
TI  - [Genetic profile of LIBP/1 inbred strain derived from the Kunming outbred stock
      of the mouse].
AB  - To make the genetic profile of the LIBP/1 inbred strain obtained from Kunming
      mice, the most widely used outbred stock in China, 26 loci were examined. The
      genotypes of four kinds of coat color genes were a/a, B/B, c/c and D/D. The
      results of testing 21 biochemical marker genes showed Akp-1b, Amy-1a, Car-2a, Ce
      2a, Es-1b, Es-3a, Es-10a, Es-11a, Gpd-1a, Gpi-1a, Gus-1b, Hbbs, Idh-1a, Ldr-1a,
      Mod-1a, Mup-1b, Pep-3b, Pgm-a, Sep-1b, Tam-1c, and Trfb. The H-2 gene loci were
      Kb and Db.

PMID- 1451767
TI  - [Developmental study of the ventral scent gland of the Mongolian gerbil].
AB  - Male and female in bred Mongolian gerbils aged 4, 5, 10, and 20 weeks were
      examined for the presence of a ventral scent gland macroscopically and
      histologically. It was found in about half of the gerbils aged 4 weeks and in all
      of the gerbils aged over 5 weeks. In adult male gerbils it weighed three times as
      much as in females. The ventral scent gland exhibited a sebaceous-like structure
      which consists of giant glandular cells with small vacuoles in the cytoplasm and
      the glandular cells displayed eosinophilic bodies contained within a duct, which
      are extruded through the lumen as holocrine-type secretion.

PMID- 1451768
TI  - The California Family Health Project.

PMID- 1451769
TI  - Navigating treatment impasses at the disclosure of incest: combining ideas from
      feminism and social constructionism.
AB  - This article describes an approach to the social and emotional schisms that
      characterize the disclosure of intrafamilial sexual abuse (incest). It argues
      that ideas from social constructionism and feminism can be combined in such a way
      that what appear as either/or choices become both--and possibilities. These
      include: social control versus therapy, shame versus pride, attachment to one's
      abusive partner versus attachment to one's injured child, and "justice" versus
      "care."

PMID- 1451770
TI  - Transformations: a blueprint for narrative changes in therapy.
AB  - When problematic-symptomatic behaviors are conceived as embedded, retained, and
      maintained in collective stories, therapy can be described as the transformative
      process by which patients, families, and therapists co-generate qualitative
      changes in those stories. An emphasis on narratives allows one to specify further
      how those transformations unfold at the more "micro" level of the exchanges that
      take place throughout the consultation. To that specification is devoted the core
      of this essay, which closes with a discussion of the clinical, training, and,
      especially, research potentials of this systematization.

PMID- 1451771
TI  - The California Family Health Project: I. Introduction and a description of adult
      health.
AB  - Little research has addressed patterns of family and health relationships that
      reflect both the scope and complexity of family life and the breadth and
      diversity of health. In the first of a series of articles, we describe the
      California Family Health Project, a study in which four large "domains" of family
      life (Structure/Organization, World View, Problem Solving, and Emotional
      Management) were mapped, described, and compared with a large battery of adult
      health measures. We first present a brief critical overview of the literature on
      family and health research, then explain our rationale, define our approach to
      the multivariate analysis of family and health data, and describe our sample of
      225 community-based families. To prepare for analyses with the family variables,
      we next present descriptive data based on separate principal components analysis
      (PCA) and multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS) of 14 self-reported health
      scores for husbands and for wives. No grouping or clustering of health variables
      emerged for either husbands or wives in the PCAs. A two-dimensional MDS analysis
      for husbands and for wives displayed the health variables in a circular pattern
      in which no predominant descriptive dimension or group of discrete dimensions
      emerged. Consequently, we decided that all 14 health scores will be used in the
      analyses, with the family variables to follow.

PMID- 1451772
TI  - The California Family Health Project: II. Family world view and adult health.
AB  - This article explores the pattern of relationships between family World View and
      adult Health in a community-based sample of 225 families. Family World View
      refers to the beliefs, appraisals, and values that define a family's orientation
      to the world. The interrelationships among eight self-reported family World View
      variables are described, using principal components analyses (PCA) and
      multidimensional scaling analyses (MDS). Derived, joint-spouse World Views also
      are examined using inter-battery factor analysis. The World View variables then
      are analyzed as a set with 14 self-reported health variables for husbands and
      wives separately, using canonical correlation. The PCAs for family World View
      yielded poor solutions for both husbands and wives. The MDS displayed the eight
      variables in a circular pattern for husbands and for wives, indicating the
      absence of a single broad dimension, or subgroupings of separate dimensions, that
      could be used to "describe" the domain. In the canonical analyses, family World
      View was a strong correlate of Health, with approximately 50% of the variance
      accounted for by the respective canonical variates. For husbands, what we called
      Family Coherence, Family Religiousness, Family Life Engagement, and Family
      Optimism, were correlated with Health. For wives, Family Coherence, Family
      Religiousness, and Family Optimism, were correlated with Health. Different
      patterns of health scores emerged by gender, with behavioral indicators, such as
      Smoking and Drinking, more salient for husbands, and mood indicators, such as
      Anxiety and Depression, more salient for wives.

PMID- 1451773
TI  - The California Family Health Project: III. Family emotion management and adult
      health.
AB  - This article explores the broad patterning of interrelationships between family
      Emotion Management and adult Health in a community-based sample of 225 families.
      Emotion Management refers to how emotion is expressed, acknowledged, and managed
      by the marital partners. Fifteen reliable-observer ratings of husband-wife
      behavior were made during each of three 10-minute Emotion Management Interaction
      Tasks (EMITs). Each of the three tasks "pulled" for the expression of a different
      emotional theme: loss, intimacy, or conflict. A principle components analysis of
      the 15 ratings yielded a poor solution. A nonmetric, multidimensional scaling
      analysis described a two-dimensional, bipolar display with ordering among the
      variables in each of two wings. One dimension reflected positive versus negative
      Emotion Management characteristics, and the second reflected active and overt
      versus passive or covert emotional expression. The pattern of relationships among
      the couple ratings was similar for each of the three tasks. Using canonical
      correlation, the couple ratings demonstrated significant associations with 14
      adult Health scores for both husbands and wives for the intimacy and conflict
      tasks, but not for the loss task. Specific gender patterns also emerged. In
      general, couple overt emotional aversiveness was negatively associated with
      husbands' health, and couple emotional avoidance/distance was negatively
      associated with wives' health.

PMID- 1451774
TI  - From front line to home front: a study of secondary traumatization.
AB  - While the long-term effects of combat trauma on veterans have been studied
      extensively, its impact on veterans' wives has yet to be investigated. This study
      examined the implications of combat-induced psychopathology--wartime combat
      stress reaction (CSR) and current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)--in a
      sample of 205 wives of Israeli combat veterans of the 1982 Lebanon war. Results
      show that both CSR and PTSD were associated with increased psychiatric symptoms
      in the wives. In addition, current PTSD was particularly found to contribute to
      impaired social relations among veterans' wives in a broad range of contexts,
      from inner feelings of loneliness, through impaired marital and family relations,
      and extending to the wider social network. Implications of these findings for
      treatment and further research are discussed.

PMID- 1451775
TI  - Behavioral problems in sons of incarcerated or otherwise absent fathers: the
      issue of separation.
AB  - The decade of the 1980s witnessed more than a doubling in the number of
      incarcerated individuals. Little is known about the psychological reactions of
      children whose parents are incarcerated, although a variety of behavioral
      disorders apparently related to separation, stigma, and deception of the child
      has been reported. The possibility of aggressive or antisocial behavior emerging
      in sons of incarcerated fathers has been mentioned as of particular concern in
      some reports. This article discusses salient themes in the literature on the
      reactions of children to parental incarceration, with an emphasis on boys'
      reactions to incarceration of their fathers. It critiques this literature and
      compares the findings with literature on the effects of separation in father
      absence related to other causes (for example, divorce, death, military service).
      Behavioral or emotional disorder associated with paternal incarceration probably
      is related mainly to associated factors such as the meaning of the incarceration
      to the child, the remaining caretaker's psychological characteristics and
      psychopathology, the parenting relationship between the caretaker and the child,
      and the coping capacities and resources of the family, rather than to the
      separation itself. Recommendations for further research in this increasingly
      important field are provided.

PMID- 1451776
TI  - Purification, inhibitory properties and amino acid sequence of a new serine
      proteinase inhibitor from white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seed.
AB  - A new serine proteinase inhibitor, mustard trypsin inhibitor 2 (MTI-2), has been
      isolated from white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seed by affinity chromatography and
      reverse phase HPLC. The protein inhibits the catalytic activity of bovine beta
      trypsin and bovine alpha-chymotrypsin, with dissociation constants (Kd) of 1.6 x
      10(-10) M and 5.0 x 10(-7) M, respectively, at pH 8.0 and 21 degrees C, the
      stoichiometry of both proteinase-inhibitor complexes being 1:1. The amino acid
      sequence of MTI-2, which was determined following S-pyridylethylation, is
      comprised of 63 residues, corresponding to a molecular weight of about 7 kDa, and
      shows only extremely limited homology to other serine proteinase inhibitors.

PMID- 1451777
TI  - Effects of okadaic acid on the activities of two distinct phosphatidate
      phosphohydrolases in rat hepatocytes.
AB  - Incubation of hepatocytes with okadaic acid displaced the N-ethylmaleimide
      sensitive phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from the membrane fraction into the
      cytosol and partially prevented the oleate-induced movement of phosphohydrolase
      from cytosol to membranes. However, higher concentrations of oleate still caused
      translocation and activation of the phosphohydrolase. This enzyme is stimulated
      by Mg2+, and is probably involved in glycerolipid synthesis. Okadaic acid also
      decreased the concentration of diacylglycerol within the hepatocytes. Okadiac
      acid had no observable effect on the activity of an N-ethylmaleimide-insensitive
      phosphatidate phosphohydrolase which remained firmly attached to membranes. This
      activity is not stimulated by Mg2+ and is probably involved in signal
      transduction by the phospholipase D pathway.

PMID- 1451778
TI  - Phorbol ester-induced secretion of human hepatocyte growth factor by human skin
      fibroblasts and its inhibition by dexamethasone.
AB  - Human skin fibroblasts secreted a certain amount of human hepatocyte growth
      factor (hHGF), as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for hHGF.
      This hHGF secretion was remarkably stimulated by protein kinase C (PKC)
      activating phorbol esters, which was inhibited by the simultaneous addition of
      dexamethasone. Pretreatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) caused a
      down-regulation in hHGF secretion. hHGF secreted by the PMA-treated cells showed
      a potent hepatocyte growth-promoting activity which was neutralized by an anti
      hHGF antiserum. These results indicate both that PMA-treated human skin
      fibroblasts produce biologically active hHGF and the possible involvement of PKC
      activation in this process.

PMID- 1451779
TI  - The consensus sequences for cdc2 kinase and for casein kinase-2 are mutually
      incompatible. A study with peptides derived from the beta-subunit of casein
      kinase-2.
AB  - Two series of synthetic peptides that reproduce the amino- and carboxyl-terminal
      segments of the beta-subunit of casein kinase-2, including the sites
      phosphorylated by CK2 and cdc2 kinase, respectively, have been used as model
      substrates for these enzymes. The N-terminal peptide beta(1-9), MSSSEEVSW, is
      readily phosphorylated by CK2 but not all by cdc2. The opposite is true of the C
      terminal peptide beta(206-215), NFKSPVKTIR, whose Ser-4 is a good target for cdc2
      while being unaffected by CK2. The individual substitutions of Pro-5 and Lys-7 in
      the latter peptide with Gly and Ala (or Glu), respectively, prevent its
      phosphorylation by cdc2, whereas the substitution of Lys-3 with Ala is well
      tolerated and the substitution of the target Ser with Thr actually improves
      phosphorylation. Thus the consensus sequence for cdc2 is shown to be X-S-P-X-K.
      Such a requirement for a basic residue at position +3 is opposite to that of CK2
      whose consensus sequence (S-X-X-E/D/Yp/Sp) includes an acidic residue at the same
      position. Moreover the motif Ser-Pro is detrimental for CK2, preventing the
      phosphorylation of otherwise suitable peptides. These observations would rule out
      the possibility that the site specificity of CK2 might overlap with that of cdc2
      and possibly of other Pro-directed protein kinases.

PMID- 1451780
TI  - Unimpaired effect of insulin on glucokinase gene expression in hepatocytes
      challenged with amylin.
AB  - Amylin appears to interfere with the action of insulin in muscle and possibly in
      liver. We have attempted to detect a direct antagonism between amylin and insulin
      in cultured rat hepatocytes. The stimulation of glucokinase gene expression was
      used as a marker of insulin action. Amylin proved ineffective in suppressing
      subsequent accumulation of glucokinase mRNA in response to maximal or submaximal
      doses of insulin. When applied to cells already induced by prior incubation with
      insulin alone, amylin failed to reverse induction, in contrast to the
      effectiveness of glucagon under the same conditions. Thus, amylin is not a
      physiological antagonist of insulin in the control of hepatic glucokinase gene
      expression.

PMID- 1451781
TI  - Rapid kinetics of the interaction between daunomycin and drug-sensitive or drug
      resistant P388 leukemia cells.
AB  - The initial stages of the interaction of daunomycin (DNM) with drug-sensitive
      (P388/S) and drug-resistant (P388/100) cells have been defined by a rapid
      kinetics stopped-flow procedure. The process can be described by two kinetic
      components. The faster component accounts for rapid occupation of cell surface
      sites by DNM, as supported by experiments with liposomes with different surface
      charge. On the other hand, the effect of verapamil in the assays, suggests that
      the slower component is involved in the transport of the drug into the cells. Our
      observations are consistent with a loss in the control of the passive
      permeability to the drugs in the drug-resistant tumor cells.

PMID- 1451782
TI  - Molecular cloning of three cDNAs that encode cysteine proteinases in the
      digestive gland of the American lobster (Homarus americanus).

PMID- 1451783
TI  - A gene family homologous to the S-phase specific gene in higher plants is
      essential for cell proliferation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - Previously we reported the isolation and characterization of the gene, cyc07,
      which was specifically expressed in the S phase during the cell cycle in
      synchronous cell division cultures of the higher plant, Catharanthus roseus. We
      found that the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains two closely related genes
      which show a high degree of similarity (about 64% at the amino acid level) to
      cyc07 of C. roseus. Site-directed disruption mutations demonstrated that the two
      yeast genes, homologous to cyc07, constitute an essential gene family for cell
      proliferation in yeast cells. Furthermore, the rate of cell proliferation varied
      with the gene copy number.

PMID- 1451784
TI  - A dysfunctional C1 inhibitor protein with a new reactive center mutation (Arg-444
      ->Leu).
AB  - A P1 mutation (Arg-444-->Leu) was identified in a dysfunctional C1 inhibitor from
      a patient with type 2 hereditary angioneurotic edema. The mutation was defined at
      the level of the protein (by sequence analysis of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa
      elastase-derived reactive center peptide), and the mRNA (CGC-->CTC) (by sequence
      analysis of PCR-amplified DNA).

PMID- 1451785
TI  - Pine stilbene synthase cDNA, a tool for probing environmental stress.
AB  - Stilbene synthase cDNAs were isolated from a pine (Pinus sylvestris) cDNA
      library. Poly(A)+RNA required for the preparation was obtained from young
      seedlings challenged with Botrytis cinerea. A full-length cDNA encoding
      pinosylvin-forming stilbene synthase was sequenced, and the deduced amino acid
      sequence was compared with sequences of resveratrol-forming stilbene synthases.
      The cDNA coding for the key enzyme of pinosylvin formation is a valuable tool for
      detecting early effects of environmental stress in pine needles.

PMID- 1451786
TI  - Cloning and characterization of the rat glutathione peroxidase gene.
AB  - The increased activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) in rat lungs is
      associated with the development of tolerance of the animals to hyperoxia. To
      understand further the regulation of expression of this enzyme, the molecular
      structure of the corresponding rat gene was characterized. The rat GSHPx gene
      consists of two exons interrupted by a single intron of 217 base pairs. The same
      initiation sites for transcription were found to be utilized in both lung and
      liver. The promoter of the GSHPx gene contains neither a 'TATA' box nor a 'CAAT'
      box. Instead, it comprises two copies of Sp1 binding motif and one copy of AP-2
      binding motif. These features of the promoter may offer a clue to the mechanisms
      by which the expression of this gene is controlled.

PMID- 1451787
TI  - Rainbow trout cytochrome P-450c17 (17 alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase). cDNA
      cloning, enzymatic properties and temporal pattern of ovarian P-450c17 mRNA
      expression during oogenesis.
AB  - A cDNA clone encoding cytochrome P-450c17 (17 alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase) was
      isolated from a rainbow trout ovarian follicle cDNA library. The cDNA contained
      an open reading frame of 1,542 nucleotides encoding a protein of 514 amino acid
      residues. The amino acid sequence of trout P-450c17 shows a much greater homology
      with chicken P-450c17 than with that of human, bovine and rat. The trout P-450c17
      expressed in non-steroidogenic mammalian COS-1 cells showed both 17 alpha
      hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase activities. The cDNA only hybridized to a single
      species of mRNA (2.4 kb) isolated from rainbow trout ovaries; the 2.4 kb
      transcripts were abundant in trout ovaries during the later stages of oogenesis.

PMID- 1451788
TI  - cDNA cloning of rat proteasome subunit RC1, a homologue of RING10 located in the
      human MHC class II region.
AB  - The nucleotide sequence of a cDNA that encodes a new subunit, named RCl, of rat
      proteasomes (multicatalytic proteinase complexes) has been determined. The
      polypeptide predicted from the open reading frame consisted of 208 amino acid
      residues with a calculated molecular mass of 23, 130, which is consistent with
      the size obtained by electrophoretic analysis of purified RCl. The partial amino
      acid sequences of several fragments of RCl, obtained by protein chemical
      analyses, were found to be in excellent accordance with those deduced from the
      cDNA sequence. Surprisingly, the overall structure of RCl was found to be almost
      identical to that of recently isolated RING10, whose gene is located in the class
      II region of the human MHC gene cluster. This finding suggests that RCl is a
      homologue of human RING10, supporting the proposal that proteasomes are involved
      in the antigen processing pathway.

PMID- 1451789
TI  - Development of insulin sensitivity in rat skeletal muscle. Studies of glucose
      transporter and insulin receptor mRNA levels.
AB  - Expression of GLUT-4 and insulin receptor mRNAs was investigated in rat skeletal
      muscle by Northern hybridization. GLUT-4 mRNA was barely detectable in foetal
      muscle, was expressed at low levels by 1-8 days and at 2-3-fold higher levels
      during and after weaning (18-40 days). In contrast there was little change in
      insulin receptor mRNA levels prior to weaning and a reduction in mRNA abundance
      between 18 and 40 days. Weaning rats on to a diet rich in fat prevented the
      increase in GLUT-4 abundance seen between 15 and 29 days in animals weaned on a
      high-carbohydrate diet.

PMID- 1451790
TI  - Expression of 9 Salmonella typhimurium enzymes for cobinamide synthesis.
      Identification of the 11-methyl and 20-methyl transferases of corrin
      biosynthesis.
AB  - Nine of the cbi genes from the 17.5 kb cob operon of Salmonella typhimurium
      previously shown by genetic studies to be involved in the biosynthesis of
      cobinamide from precorrin-2, have been subcloned and expressed in Escherichia
      coli. Seven of the gene products were found in the soluble fraction of cell
      lysates and have been purified. The gene products corresponding to cbi E, F, H
      and L were shown by SAM binding and by homology with other SAM-binding proteins
      to be candidates for the methyltransferases of vitamin B12 biosynthesis. The
      enzymatic functions of the gene products of cbiL and cbiF are associated with C
      methylation at C-20 of precorrin-2 and C-11 of precorrin-3.

PMID- 1451791
TI  - A consensus repeat sequence from the human insulin gene linked polymorphic region
      adopts multiple quadriplex DNA structures in vitro.
AB  - A hypervariable region consisting of repeats of a 14 base pair (bp) consensus
      sequence ACAGGGGT(G/C)(T/C)GGGG is located 363 bp upstream of the human insulin
      gene. Different repeat numbers of this oligonucleotide give rise to a
      polymorphism, and so this region is commonly known as the insulin gene linked
      polymorphic region (ILPR). Here we present evidence, based on the mobility in non
      denaturing polyacrylamide gels of two dissimilarly sized oligonucleotides
      containing the ILPR consensus sequence, that this sequence can adopt a number of
      quadriplex DNA structures in vitro.

PMID- 1451793
TI  - Expansion of the mammalian 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/plant
      dihydroflavonol reductase superfamily to include a bacterial cholesterol
      dehydrogenase, a bacterial UDP-galactose-4-epimerase, and open reading frames in
      vaccinia virus and fish lymphocystis disease virus.
AB  - Mammalian 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and plant dihydroflavonol
      reductases are descended from a common ancestor. Here we present evidence that
      Nocardia cholesterol dehydrogenase, E. coli UDP-galactose-4 epimerase, and open
      reading frames in vaccinia virus and fish lymphocystis disease virus are
      homologous to 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and dihydroflavonol reductase.
      Analysis of a multiple alignment of these sequences indicates that viral ORFs are
      most closely related to the mammalian 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases. The
      ancestral protein of this superfamily is likely to be one that metabolized sugar
      nucleotides. The sequence similarity between 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
      and the viral ORFs is sufficient to suggest that these ORFs have an activity that
      is similar to 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase or cholesterol dehydrogenase,
      although the putative substrates are not yet known.

PMID- 1451792
TI  - Cloning and sequence analysis of the phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase genes (pheST)
      from Thermus thermophilus.
AB  - While crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction analyses are available of
      phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (PheRS) from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus
      thermophilus, neither the primary structure of its constituent alpha and beta
      subunits nor the nucleotide sequence of the corresponding pheS and pheT genes
      were known. Using specific oligonucleotides of conserved pheS regions that were
      adapted to the T. thermophilus codon usage, we identified, cloned and
      subsequently sequenced the pheST genes of this bacterium. The sequences reported
      here will greatly aid in the three-dimensional structure determination of T.
      thermophilus PheRS, a heterotetrameric (alpha 2 beta 2), class II aminoacyl-tRNA
      synthetase.

PMID- 1451794
TI  - Stimulation of glucose transport in L6 muscle cells by long-term intermittent
      stretch-relaxation.
AB  - Skeletal muscle stretch increases resting metabolism and causes hypertrophy. We
      have examined the effect of mechanical stretch in vitro on glucose transport
      activity and transporter contents in L6 muscle cells. Long-term (24-48 h) stretch
      relaxation (25% maximal elongation at 30 cycles per min) of cell monolayers
      significantly increased glucose uptake by 1.6- to 2-fold in myotubes but not in
      myoblasts. The presence of serum was required for the stretch-relaxation induced
      increase in glucose uptake. Cycloheximide inhibited the mechanical stimulation of
      glucose uptake, and the latter response was not additive to the stimulatory
      effect of long-term exposure to insulin. GLUT1 and GLUT4 glucose transporter
      contents were not changed in total cell membranes from mechanically stimulated
      cells relative to controls. These results indicate that mechanical stimulation
      through passive stretch may be an important regulation of nutrient uptake in
      fetal myotubes independent of innervation.

PMID- 1451795
TI  - Glycation of crystallins in lenses from aging and diabetic individuals.
AB  - Water-soluble crystallins were obtained from clear human lenses of different age
      (4-81-year-olds) and lenses of individuals showing senile or diabetic cataracts.
      Levels of early glycation products were high in the high molecular weight
      material (HM) and the alpha-crystallin fractions, compared with beta- and gamma
      crystallins. This difference becomes more prominent upon aging. The content of
      total early glycation products in HM and alpha-crystallin increases clearly with
      age, whereas levels remain relatively constant in the beta- and gamma
      crystallins. There is an elevation of early products in cataractous lenses from
      diabetic individuals compared with those suffering from senile cataract. Specific
      non-tryptophan fluorescence (excitation/emission wavelengths 370/440 nm), used as
      an indicator for late glycation products, increased dramatically with age and was
      2-fold higher in the diabetic subjects. Levels of fluorescence decreased in the
      order HM > alpha- > beta- > gamma-crystallins. The results suggest an increase in
      glycation rate in alpha-crystallin as a result of aging and diabetes, while the
      rate of glycation of beta- and gamma-crystallins remains almost constant.

PMID- 1451796
TI  - Structure of UvrABC excinuclease-UV-damaged DNA complexes studied by flow linear
      dichroism. DNA curved by UvrB and UvrC.
AB  - The interaction between UvrABC excinuclease from Escherichia coli and ultraviolet
      light-(UV) damaged DNA was studied by flow linear dichroism. The dichroism signal
      from DNA was drastically decreased in intensity upon incubation with UvrA and
      UvrB or whole enzyme in the presence of effector ATP. The change was specific for
      UV-damaged DNA, and a concluded suppressed DNA orientation suggests the wrapping
      of DNA around the protein. The incubation with the UvrC subunit alone also
      somewhat reduces the signal, however, in this case the change was smaller and not
      specific for UV-damaged DNA. The structural modification of DNA, promoted by the
      (UvrA2-UvrB) complex, probably facilitates or stabilizes the interaction of the
      UvrC subunit with DNA for the excision.

PMID- 1451797
TI  - Correlation of cofactor binding and the quaternary structure of pyruvate
      decarboxylase as revealed by 31P NMR spectroscopy.
AB  - The pH dependence of the quaternary structure of pyruvate decarboxylase (EC
      4.1.1.1) has recently been discovered [(1990) FEBS Lett. 266, 17-20; (1992)
      Biochemistry (in press)]. In the present study we have investigated the change in
      quaternary structure by observing the binding of the cofactor, thiamine
      pyrophosphate, using 31P NMR spectroscopy. The dissociation of the native
      tetramers into dimers when increasing the pH coincides with a weaker binding of
      the cofactor and loss of enzyme activity. The results provide further evidence
      that thiamine pyrophosphate is bound primarily via the beta-phosphate moiety. In
      addition, a phosphoserine has been discovered in two of the four subunits.

PMID- 1451798
TI  - Initiator-promoter coupling of phospholipases D and A2 in platelets upon
      cholesterol incorporation.
AB  - Since phospholipases exist within a membrane lipid environment, it is not
      unreasonable to assume that cholesterol capable of changing the lipid environment
      can effect the coupling relationship among the signal transducing components. Our
      previous study showed that the 'molecular switch' through which membrane
      cholesterol modulates cyclic nucleotide levels and Na+/H+ exchange within human
      platelets is phospholipase A2. We demonstrate here that membrane cholesterol
      initiates the activation of phosphatidyl choline phospholipase D and phosphatidic
      acid thus generated promotes the activation of its phospholipase A2 in the
      presence of extraplatelet calcium. More important, inhibition of phospholipase D
      by zinc blocks the activation of phosphatidic acid phospholipase A2 in platelets
      upon cholesterol incorporation. Our result led us to postulate that membrane
      cholesterol induced initiation promotion coupling of phospholipases D and A2 in
      human platelets may be responsible for the hypersensitized state of platelets in
      hypercholesterolemic patients.

PMID- 1451799
TI  - Na(+)-dependent AIB transport by neuroblastoma cells.
AB  - Na(+)-dependent amino isobutyric acid transport by two neuroblastoma cell lines
      with and without amplification of the oncogene N-myc is studied. Surprisingly,
      the contribution of system A is greater in the cell line showing no N-myc
      amplification. Preliminary data support a role for essential tyrosine and
      cysteine residues in the active center of the carriers, mainly in system A.

PMID- 1451800
TI  - Human peripheral blood lymphocytes express D5 dopamine receptor gene and
      transcribe the two pseudogenes.
AB  - Sequential reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of the
      mRNA were used to investigate the expression of dopamine receptors in human
      peripheral blood lymphocytes. The RT-PCR products contained three types of
      sequences, each corresponding to those of the D5 dopamine receptor gene and the
      two related pseudogenes. The lymphocyte cDNA library also contained the clones
      encoding parts of the three genes. Binding profiles of dopaminergic ligands to
      the lymphocytes were similar to those for the native neuronal membranes.

PMID- 1451801
TI  - Interaction of alpha subunit of GTP-binding protein Go with a 20-kDa Triton
      insoluble membrane protein in bovine brain.
AB  - Heterotrimeric Go bound to the membranes of bovine brain, but Go alpha remained
      bound to the membranes even after activation with GTP gamma S. Furthermore, Go
      alpha bound to a Triton X-100-insoluble fraction of the membranes in a saturable
      manner. However, the 37-kDa Go alpha eliminated by trypsin at the amino-terminus
      could not bind to the fraction. Using a blot overlay approach of the Triton
      insoluble fraction, only a 20-kDa protein was identified that interacts with Go
      alpha. These results indicate that Go alpha binds to a 20-kDa Triton-insoluble
      protein in the bovine brain membranes.

PMID- 1451802
TI  - The influence of oligodeoxyribonucleotide phosphorothioate pyrimidine strands on
      triplex formation.
AB  - Analogues of the homopyrimidine oligonucleotide dT15 that contained
      phosphorothioate bonds of a mixture of diastereoisomers or one of the two
      stereoisomers (either Rp or Sp) were synthesized. The analogues were mixed under
      conditions conducive to the formation of triple-stranded assemblies. The mixtures
      were characterized by their thermal stabilities (Tm values), CD spectra, and gel
      electrophoresis pattern. The 34-mer duplexes containing 15 central purines on one
      strand and 15 complementary pyrimidines on the other strand gave no detectable
      triple helix upon combination with dT15S14. On the other hand, 34-bp duplexes
      with dT15S1, having Rp or Sp, formed triple helixes. This suggests that a steric
      factor plays an important role in triple helix formation.

PMID- 1451803
TI  - A GC box in the bidirectional promoter is essential for expression of the human
      dihydrofolate reductase and mismatch repair protein 1 genes.
AB  - The human dihydrofolate reductase and mismatch repair protein 1 genes are
      organized in a head-to-head configuration separated by an 88 base-pair segment
      and directed by a bidirectional promoter. In vivo transient assays of the site
      directed mutant promoters using firefly luciferase as a reporter showed that an
      AT-rich sequence, ACAAATA, in the GC-rich promoter sequence is not required for
      transcription. However, two out of four GC boxes were shown to function as
      bidirectional positive regulatory elements. Among them, a GC box at the midpoint
      of the region between the two initiation sites is essential for supporting
      minimal bidirectional activity.

PMID- 1451804
TI  - Comparison of the Ca2+ binding properties of the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid
      containing module of protein Z in the intact protein and in N-terminal fragments.
AB  - Protein Z is a vitamin K-dependent plasma protein of unknown function. Its
      modular structure is identical with those of factors VII, IX, X, and protein C.
      These proteins have an N-terminal gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla)-containing
      module which binds six to ten Ca2+. In factors IX, X, and protein C, the adjacent
      epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like module binds one Ca2+ whereas the EGF-like
      module in protein Z does not. We have compared the Ca2+ binding properties of a
      fragment of protein Z comprising the Gla and N-terminal EGF-like modules (pZ
      GlaEGFN) with those of intact protein Z and the isolated Gla module by measuring
      the Ca(2+)-induced quenching of the intrinsic protein fluorescence. The similar
      Ca2+ affinities of pZ-GlaEGFN and protein Z indicate that pZ-GlaEGFN has a native
      conformation and normal Ca2+ binding properties. A comparison of the Ca2+ binding
      to pZ-GlaEGFN with those to the corresponding fragments of factors IX, X, and
      protein C indicate that Ca2+ binding to the N-terminal EGF-like modules in the
      latter proteins does not influence the folding and Ca2+ binding properties of
      their Gla modules. Furthermore, the Ca(2+)-induced fluorescence enhancements of
      GlaEGF fragments from factors IX, X, and protein C appear to be caused by Ca2+
      binding to the site in the EGF-like modules since it is not observed for pZ
      GlaEGFN.

PMID- 1451806
TI  - Complex formation between glutamyl-tRNA synthetase and glutamyl-tRNA reductase
      during the tRNA-dependent synthesis of 5-aminolevulinic acid in Chlamydomonas
      reinhardtii.
AB  - The formation of a stable complex between glutamyl-tRNA synthetase and the first
      enzyme of chlorophyll biosynthesis glutamyl-tRNA reductase was investigated in
      the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Apparently homogenous enzymes, purified
      after previously established purification protocols were incubated in various
      combinations with ATP, glutamate, tRNA(Glu) and NADPH and formed complexes were
      isolated via glycerol gradient centrifugation. Stable complexes were detected
      only after the preincubation of glutamyl-tRNA synthetase, glutamyl-tRNA reductase
      with either glutamyl-tRNA or free tRNA(Glu), ATP and glutamate, indicating the
      obligatory requirement of aminoacylated tRNA(Glu) for complex formation. The
      further addition of NADPH resulting in the reduction of the tRNA-bound glutamate
      to glutamate 1-semialdehyde led to the dissociation of the complex. Once
      complexed to the two enzymes tRNA(Glu) was found to be partially protected from
      ribonuclease digestion. Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Synechocystis
      6803 tRNA(Glu) were efficiently incorporated into the protein-RNA complex. The
      detected complexes provide the chloroplast with a potential channeling mechanism
      for Glu-tRNA(Glu) into chlorophyll synthesis in order to compete with the
      chloroplastic protein synthesis machinery.

PMID- 1451805
TI  - Characterization of a spinach psbS cDNA encoding the 22 kDa protein of
      photosystem II.
AB  - An intrinsic 22 kDa polypeptide is found associated with the oxygen-evolving
      photosystem II (PSII) core complex in all green plants and cyanobacteria so far
      examined, although it does not appear to be required for oxygen evolution. Amino
      acid sequence information obtained from the purified 22 kDa protein was used to
      construct a probe that was employed to isolate a full-length cDNA clone encoding
      the 274-residue precursor of the 22 kDa protein. Hydropathy plot analysis
      predicts the existence of four membrane-spanning helices in the mature protein.
      The two halves of the approximately 200-residue mature protein show high sequence
      similarity to each other, suggesting that the psbS gene arose from an internal
      gene duplication. The 22 kDa protein has some sequence similarity to chlorophyll
      a/b-binding proteins.

PMID- 1451807
TI  - Natural human tumor necrosis factor beta (lymphotoxin). Variable O-glycosylation
      at Thr7, proteolytic processing, and allelic variation.
AB  - Natural human tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-beta) purified from supernatants of
      a human B-lymphoblastoid cell line was found to be heterogeneous in molecular
      mass, with seven components resolved by gel electrophoresis. All components are N
      glycosylated at Asn62; N-glycosylation does not contribute to heterogeneity. In
      addition, part of the molecules are O-glycosylated at Thr7; O-glycosylation is
      heterogeneous due to variable decoration with neuraminic acid. The four lower
      molecular mass forms are derived from the full-length protein by trypsin-like
      proteolytic cleavage in the N-proximal region; these clipped molecules lack O
      linked carbohydrates. Two allelic variants differing in amino acid position 26
      (threonine/asparagine) were identified.

PMID- 1451808
TI  - 'All-or-none' mechanism of the molten globule unfolding.
AB  - The Gdm-HCl-induced unfolding of bovine carbonic anhydrase B and S. aureus beta
      lactamase was studied at 4 degrees C by a variety of methods. With the use of
      FPLC it has been shown that within the transition from the molten globule to the
      unfolded state the distribution function of molecular dimensions is bimodal. This
      means that equilibrium intermediates between the molten globule and the unfolded
      states are absent, i.e. the molten globule unfolding follows the 'all-or-none'
      mechanism.

PMID- 1451809
TI  - Clinical and therapeutic ambiguities in patients suffering from claudication due
      to atheromatous disease of the lower limbs.

PMID- 1451810
TI  - Endarterectomy: a brief look into the past and perspectives for the future.

PMID- 1451811
TI  - Vessel repair after balloon angioplasty: morphological appearance and
      prostacyclin synthesising capacity.
AB  - Immediately after balloon dilatation of the rabbit aorta the release of
      prostacyclin is diminished. In this study the morphological appearance and time
      course for recovery of prostacyclin production after balloon dilatation have been
      investigated. Healthy rabbit aortas were analysed 1 h (n = 12), 1 week (n = 13)
      and 1 month (n = 13) after angioplasty. The production of prostacyclin, from
      dilated and non-dilated aortic segments, was recorded in a perfusion system.
      Prostacyclin was measured as its stable degradation product 6-keto-PGF1 alpha.
      Scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy were used to analyse the type
      of cells present at the luminal surfaces of the segments. When endothelial cells
      were found their degree of coverage was also estimated. One hour after balloon
      dilatation there was a lower production of prostacyclin from the angioplasty
      segments than from controls. Also, the response to added arachidonic acid (AA)
      was lower in the angioplasty segments. No endothelial cells were present in the
      angioplasty segments. After 1 week there was no difference in the basic
      production of prostacyclin but there was still a lower response from angioplasty
      segments to the addition of AA. The inner surfaces of the angioplasty segments
      were covered by three to five layers of smooth muscle cells (SMC). After 1 month,
      there was no difference in either the basic production or after the addition of
      AA between control and angioplasty segments. The angioplasty segments were
      covered with a multilayer of SMC. The control segments had an almost complete
      cover of endothelial cells at every time interval after angioplasty.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451812
TI  - Management of acute arterial trauma of the upper extremity.
AB  - During a 3.5 year period ending in September 1991, 50 patients with 51 arterial
      injuries of the upper extremity were operated on and followed up for more than 6
      months. The majority of the cases suffered penetrating injuries, but in 18% blunt
      trauma led to thrombosis. The most frequently observed signs were haemorrhage,
      neurological disorders and a peripheral pulse deficit. The brachial artery was
      most frequently injured. Preoperative arteriography was performed in 20% and
      peroperative angiography in 16% of cases. Reconstructive surgery was performed in
      88% and the brachial artery was ligated in a single patient who was in shock. An
      end to end anastomosis was possible in 55% and in 45% of cases an autogenous vein
      graft was used. A microsurgical technique was used in cases of forearm arterial
      injuries. In five patients with prolonged ischaemia, forearm fasciotomies were
      needed. Additional procedures such as venous, bone or nerve repair was also
      necessary. In four cases a temporary shunt was used. All patients were alive with
      late patency of 91% in the axillobrachial arterial segment. A single failure
      after repeated brachial artery reconstruction was observed following severe
      traumatic amputation with large tissue defects. Post-operative arteriography
      revealed a good anastomosis with patent grafts. Arterial reconstruction is
      clearly necessary in these injuries and we believe that an experienced vascular
      surgeon should be involved.

PMID- 1451813
TI  - Amputation level is not adversely affected by previous femorodistal bypass
      surgery.
AB  - Data was reviewed on patients presenting with lower limb-threatening ischaemia to
      a single vascular unit between September 1984 and December 1990. Three hundred
      and thirty patients underwent either femoro-popliteal or femoro-infrapopliteal
      reconstructive surgery and 316 primary amputations were performed on 281
      patients. Sixty-three secondary amputations were performed following a femoro
      distal bypass failure. The below-knee amputation to above-knee amputation ratio
      (BKA/AKA) was 1.0 in the primary amputation group to 0.91 in the secondary
      amputation group. A direct comparison cannot be made as the patients represent
      two separate clinical groups. The ratio of reconstructive operations to primary
      amputations more than doubled between the first and second halves of the study.
      The BKA:AKA ratio in the secondary amputation group and the total number of
      secondary amputations remained relatively constant. This study supports the view
      that previous femoro-distal surgery does not adversely affect the overall outcome
      of amputation.

PMID- 1451814
TI  - The potential risk for subclavian vein occlusion in patients on haemodialysis.
AB  - Subclavian vein (SCV) stenosis or occlusion can be a late complication of
      temporary haemodialysis or following catheterisation for intravenous
      hyperalimentation. In five patients with prior catheterisation or trauma of the
      SCV, incapacitating oedema of the upper extremity developed only after the
      creation of ipsilateral arteriovenous (AV) fistulas for haemodialysis. The
      duration of the previous catheterisation was 2 to 4 weeks. Massive upper
      extremity oedema developed at 10 days to 22 months with an average of 11 months
      after the establishment of AV fistulas. Subclavian-axillary vein bypass using a
      ringed polytetrafluoroethylene graft was successful for one patient and ligation
      of the AV fistulae led to good results for the other three. In planning vascular
      access procedures in the upper extremity, venography should be mandatory to try
      to prevent such complications if a previous history of subclavian catheterisation
      exits.

PMID- 1451815
TI  - Femoropopliteal arterial reconstruction with intraoperative iliac transluminal
      angioplasty for disabling claudication: results of a combined approach.
AB  - Seventeen patients with disabling claudication resulting from multilevel
      arteriosclerotic disease were treated by combined intraoperative iliac
      transluminal angioplasty and femoropopliteal arterial reconstruction. Clinical
      improvement or total relief of ischaemic symptoms was observed in 15 out of 17
      patients. Iliac pressure gradients were reduced with balloon dilatation to < 2
      mmHg in all cases. The mean (+/- S.D.) resting ankle-brachial systolic pressure
      index increased from 0.42 +/- 0.14 to 0.87 +/- 0.21. Complications from
      intraoperative angioplasty were not encountered and no early graft failures were
      seen. The primary actuarial graft patency at 1, 2 and 5 years was 100, 88 and
      67%, respectively. Combined intraoperative iliac transluminal angioplasty and
      femoropopliteal arterial reconstruction is a useful alternative to conventional
      surgical revascularisation in the treatment of selected patients with disabling
      claudication in the presence of multilevel arteriosclerotic disease.

PMID- 1451816
TI  - Peroperative anticoagulation with antithrombin or heparin in infrainguinal bypass
      surgery.
AB  - Patients suffering from atherosclerosis may have a hypercoagulable state which is
      further aggravated by surgery. Thrombin, a central enzyme in the coagulation
      process, cleaves fibrinogen to fibrin. Therefore, inhibition of thrombin is an
      important anticoagulant mechanism. This is accomplished by heparin in concert
      with antithrombin III (AT), but vessel wall glycosaminoglycans may act as
      substitutes for heparin and catalyse thrombin inhibition. The present study
      examines whether administration of AT or heparin is effective as an anticoagulant
      during infrainguinal bypass surgery. Preoperatively and during surgery the
      patients had elevated levels of fibrinogen, fibrinopeptide A (FPA) and thrombin
      antithrombin (T-AT) complexes. There were higher levels of FPA in the venous
      outflow from the ischemic leg than in the arterial inflow. Taken together these
      measurements indicate ongoing coagulation in the operated leg. Administration of
      heparin decreased FPA levels and prevented intraoperative graft thrombosis,
      whereas in patients receiving AT, T-AT levels increased but FPA levels were
      unchanged. In the latter group, intraoperative graft thrombosis occurred in a
      high proportion. Based on additional case histories in these patients with
      hypercoagulability, it is suggested that fibrinogen is a risk factor for
      thromboembolic complications and that a combination of low dose of heparin and AT
      might be an effective regimen to prevent intraoperative thrombosis with a low
      risk of haemorrhage.

PMID- 1451817
TI  - Infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms less than five centimetres in diameter: the
      surgeon's dilemma.
AB  - A number of recent studies have brought new data and a better understanding of
      the risk versus benefit of abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. The present evidence
      indicates that the risk of rupture for non tender aneurysms less than 5 cm is so
      low that patients can generally be followed by 6 monthly ultrasound and not
      undergo immediate operation. Surgery should be the method of choice for most
      patients where the aneurysm is greater than 5 cm.

PMID- 1451818
TI  - Popliteal vein entrapment in the normal population.
AB  - The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and severity of popliteal
      vein compression by full knee extension in the normal population. The popliteal
      veins in 100 healthy volunteers (200 limbs) with no history of previous deep vein
      thrombosis (DVT) or venous obstruction were examined using duplex scanning with
      the knee slightly flexed and then fully extended. Knee extension produced
      complete obstruction in 17 subjects and severe obstruction (< 50% decrease in
      diameter) in a further 10 subjects. Thirteen subjects had unilateral compression
      and 14 bilateral. The 27 subjects were tested for functional venous outflow
      obstruction with air plethysmography. In flexion, the outflow fraction was normal
      (> 40%) in all subjects. With the knee fully extended, severe or complete venous
      obstruction (outflow fraction < 10%) was found in eight subjects. Moderate
      obstruction (outflow fraction 10-40%) was found in all the remaining 19 subjects.
      When digital compression of the long saphenous vein was performed, these subjects
      also demonstrated severe outflow obstruction. Although the incidence of symptoms
      of functional venous obstruction is rare in the general population, these
      findings have important implications for venous stasis for patients on the
      operating table and in those having prolonged bed rest. Studies investigating the
      association between popliteal vein compression and postoperative deep venous
      thrombosis are needed.

PMID- 1451819
TI  - Adverse outcome in surgery for chronic leg ischaemia--risk factors and risk
      prediction when using different statistical methods.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: to compare two different statistical methods in predicting the outcome
      of surgery for chronic leg ischaemia. MATERIAL: the present study from the
      Swedvasc registry is based on an inception cohort of 1635 patients with chronic
      leg ischaemia (intermittent claudication in 609 and critical ischaemia in 1026
      patients), who have been followed until 1 year after surgery. Outcome was
      classified as improved vs. not improved, amputated or dead in claudication and as
      the intact leg vs. amputation or death in critical ischaemia. METHODS: logistic
      regression analysis was compared to the inductive expert system program,
      Assistant Professional, in the prediction of outcome. Seventy per cent of cases
      in the data base were used to create a risk factor model including 17 variables
      registered in Swedvasc. These variables included an assessment of patients
      overall health status, severity of disease, the surgeon's experience and surgical
      procedures. This model was then evaluated using the remaining 30% of the patients
      in the data base. RESULTS: a risk score indicating a probability of an adverse
      outcome exceeding 0.5 was, in patients with intermittent claudication, associated
      with a sensitivity of 38% using logistic regression and 26% using Assistant
      Professional. The percentages of correctly predicted adverse outcomes were 29 and
      50%, respectively. In patients with critical ischaemia, the sensitivities with
      the two methods were 68 and 38% and the predictive values 42 and 57%,
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: the risk scores created with the two methods gave low
      sensitivities. It is concluded that risk functions could not be used to predict
      an adverse outcome in patients operated on for chronic leg ischaemia with the
      data set used.

PMID- 1451820
TI  - Growth factor release by smooth muscle cells is dependent on haemodynamic
      factors.
AB  - Abnormal proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is a key event in the
      development of the atherosclerotic plaque. The early atherosclerotic plaque
      localises preferentially in areas of flow separation. The basic mechanisms which
      correlate haemodynamic forces and atherosclerotic plaque formation are not known.
      Bovine arterial SMCs were subjected to increasing levels of shear stress for 24 h
      in an in vitro system. The control group was subjected to similar incubation
      conditions without flow. SMCs subjected to shear stress released a higher
      quantity of mitogens, including a platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-like
      substance. This mitogenic activity was partially reduced (30%, p < 0.01) by an
      excess of monospecific anti-PDGF antibody. The release of mitogens was
      proportional to the level of shear stress and was still evident 24 h after flow
      cessation. In conclusion, shear stress influences the release of mitogens; this
      might represent a mechanism which links haemodynamic forces and atherosclerotic
      plaque formation.

PMID- 1451821
TI  - Simultaneous resection of abdominal aortic aneurysms and early gastric cancer by
      retroperitoneal and transperitoneal approach.
AB  - The surgical approach to patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and
      gastrointestinal malignancy remains controversial. We experienced two cases with
      abdominal aortic aneurysm and gastric cancer, which were treated by a one-stage
      operation using a different approach. At first, the operation for the aneurysm
      was done through a retroperitoneal approach and then, a partial gastrectomy for
      gastric cancer was done through a transperitoneal approach. The postoperative
      course of both cases was uneventful. The patients were discharge on the 19th and
      21st postoperative days, respectively. This one-stage operation using different
      isolated approaches, such as the retroperitoneal approach for abdominal aortic
      aneurysm and transperitoneal approach for gastric cancer, was useful for the
      patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and particularly early gastric cancer in
      terms of preventing an infection of the prosthetic graft.

PMID- 1451822
TI  - Co-variation between walking ability and circulatory alterations in patients with
      intermittent claudication.
AB  - Unselected patients (n = 183) with subjective symptoms of intermittent
      claudication were examined clinically and by various circulatory tests (calf
      blood-flow, ankle, toe pressures). The aims of the present study were to evaluate
      to what extent the central or peripheral circulation is limiting in unselected
      patients with subjective symptoms of intermittent claudication, to determine the
      co-variation between the maximum walking capacity and traditional haemodynamical
      measures mentioned above and to evaluate to what extent a traditional bicycle
      ergometer exercise test and treadmill walking test give similar information
      regarding maximum performance. Eighty-five per cent of all patients were or had
      been smokers and 16% were diabetics. The mean ankle/brachial blood pressure index
      was 0.58 +/- 0.02 and the average post-ischemic maximum calf bloodflow was 13.3
      +/- 0.6 ml/min/100 ml tissue. Leg arterial insufficiency was the limiting factor
      of walking capacity in 90% of all patients at 87 +/- 2 W corresponding to a
      walking distance of 282 +/- 13 m, while leg exhaustion was the limiting factor in
      80% of the patients during test on the bicycle ergometer at maximum 84 +/- 2W.
      The mean maximum walking capacity for all patients was 86 +/- 3W and the mean
      maximum capacity on the bicycle ergometer was 87 +/- 2W. The ankle/brachial index
      showed only a weak correlation (r = 0.30, p < 0.002) to walking capacity. Our
      results demonstrate that the maximum walking capacity on a treadmill agrees with
      mean values of maximum exercise capacity on a bicycle ergometer.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451823
TI  - Epidemiology of abdominal aortic aneurysm: the effect of differing definitions.
AB  - There have been several published definitions for abdominal aortic aneurysm
      (AAA), however, it is not known how different definitions affect what is
      reported. This paper presents an evaluation of three definitions taken from the
      literature on (a) aneurysm frequency, (b) prevalence rate and (c) prevalence
      ratio from an ongoing case-control study evaluating whether male siblings of
      patients with known AAA have a higher prevalence of aneurysms compared to a
      control group. Depending on the definition used, the frequency of AAA could vary
      from a low of five to a high of 23; the prevalence of AAA in siblings could range
      from 2.1 to 18.8. Changing definitions alters the prevalence ratio (risk of
      disease) in both magnitude and direction. On the one hand, male sibling of
      affected patients are at approximately one and a half times (1.6) greater risk of
      having an AAA compared to controls, whereas using a different definition they are
      at less than half the risk (0.3).

PMID- 1451824
TI  - Endarterectomy of the superficial femoral artery: a procedure worth
      reconsidering.
AB  - The preferred management of superficial femoral artery occlusive disease remains
      unresolved. The oldest technique for restoring vascular continuity,
      endarterectomy, has been largely replaced by bypass operations and percutaneous
      transluminal angioplasty. We have continued to perform semi-closed endarterectomy
      in selected cases and review here a series of 231 consecutive cases in 197
      patients treated during the last 10 years. The indication for the endarterectomy
      was disabling claudication in 186 operations (80%), rest pain in 21 (9%) and
      gangrene in 24 (11%). The superficial femoral artery abnormality consisted of 1
      10 cm occlusion in 52 cases (23%), > 10 cm occlusion in 96 (41%), single stenosis
      in 21 (9%), multiple stenoses in 28 (12%) and it was unknown in 34 cases (15%).
      Postoperative mortality was 0.8% with a complication rate of 10%. Five year
      cumulative primary patency was 71% overall, 75% in patients with disabling
      claudication, 61% in those with rest pain and 46% in those with gangrene. Eight
      year patency was 55% (S.E. 5.4%). No difference in 5-year cumulative patency was
      seen between treatment for stenosis or occlusion (74 and 70%, respectively). The
      results of earlier studies and the current study raise the question of whether
      endarterectomy should be the first treatment of choice in obstructive lesions of
      the superficial femoral artery. The results of endarterectomy are better than can
      be achieved with angioplasty and compare well with the results of femoropopliteal
      bypass. Endarterectomy has specific advantages above femoro-popliteal bypass: the
      autologous saphenous vein is spared for future use and in case of failure of the
      endarterectomy, femoro-popliteal bypass remains possible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451825
TI  - A method of single-incision, four compartment fasciotomy of the leg.
AB  - A method of achieving four compartment fasciotomy of the leg using a single skin
      incision is described. This procedure may be used to decompress the leg in acute
      compartment syndromes.

PMID- 1451826
TI  - Verrucous carcinoma (epithelioma cuniculatum) plantare.
AB  - A case of plantar verrucous carcinoma is described. The lesion was treated as an
      ischaemic ulcer before the true nature was recognised. Prior to the diagnosis the
      patient had a femoro-popliteal arterial bypass graft performed. An amputation was
      undertaken once the diagnosis was established.

PMID- 1451827
TI  - Ruptured mycotic aneurysm of the abdominal aorta in childhood.
AB  - Aortic aneurysms are exceedingly rare in childhood and, when mycotic, the risk of
      rupture is high. We report a case of ruptured mycotic abdominal aortic aneurysm
      presenting in a 9 year old girl, that was successfully repaired after initial
      misdiagnosis.

PMID- 1451828
TI  - Fibromuscular dysplasia of visceral arteries.
AB  - The case histories of two patients with combined renal and extra-renal
      fibromuscular dysplasia are presented. Readers are reminded of this rare but
      important condition as a cause of obscure abdominal symptoms and abdominal
      bleeding in the absence of atherosclerotic aortic aneurysm. The aetiology,
      histology, and management of the condition are discussed.

PMID- 1451829
TI  - Delayed presentation of bilateral popliteal artery injury.
AB  - We describe a patient who developed serious vascular complications following
      gunshot wounds to both popliteal fossae. There was minimal evidence of vascular
      injury on presentation to hospital, in particular ankle systolic pressures were
      normal. Five days following the initial injuries he was found to have a false
      aneurysm of the popliteal artery in his right leg and an arteriovenous fistula
      affecting the popliteal vessels of his left leg. The roles of arteriography and
      Doppler pressure studies in assessment of possible peripheral vascular injury
      following penetrating trauma are discussed. It is emphasised that a high index of
      suspicion and careful clinical review is essential if vascular injuries and their
      complications are not to be missed.

PMID- 1451830
TI  - First rib abnormalities in association with cervical ribs: a cause for
      postoperative failure in the thoracic outlet syndrome.

PMID- 1451831
TI  - Autumnal aneurysmal ruptures.

PMID- 1451832
TI  - Seasonal variation in the incidence of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

PMID- 1451833
TI  - Naftidrofluryl dose and vascular resistance.

PMID- 1451834
TI  - Chromosome preparation from human bone marrow--technique modified for immediate
      clinical investigation.
AB  - A modified method for chromosome preparation from bone marrow aspirates of normal
      individuals and leukaemic patients is described for immediate clinical
      investigation. Hanks' balanced salt solution at different concentrations was used
      for in vitro incubation and hypotonic treatment. The method yields quite a high
      mitotic index with good metaphase spreads.

PMID- 1451835
TI  - Quantification of neutral red pinocytosis by small numbers of adherent cells:
      comparative studies.
AB  - A colorimetric assay has been developed for studies on neutral red (NR)
      pinocytosis by small numbers (below 2 x 10(5)) of adherent cells cultured in 96
      well plates. The NR uptake per cell mass was much higher in the sea urchin
      perivisceral adherent cells and human HL-60 cell line monolayers than in the
      murine and Atlantic salmon macrophages. The apparent difference points to the
      usefulness of this novel assay in comparative studies.

PMID- 1451836
TI  - Properties of acid beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase from cock semen.
AB  - Two forms (I and II) of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase from cock seminal plasma
      and one form (III) from spermatozoa were separated by chromatofocusing. The
      active enzyme forms I and II had pI values of 6.6 and 6.3, respectively, while
      form III had two subforms with pI values of 6.3 and 6.1, as determined by
      polyacrylamide gel electrofocusing. The molecular weights were 76,000 for forms I
      and III and 32,000 for form II. The optimum pH of enzyme forms I and III ranged
      from 3.6 to 4.0. In contrast, form II showed one distinct maximum at pH 3.7. The
      Km values obtained with p-nitrophenyl-beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminide as substrate
      were 0.35, 0.28, and 0.39 mM for forms I, II, and III, respectively. It is
      assumed that both cock spermatozoa and cock seminal plasma contain a common,
      enzymatically active beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase subunit with M(r) about
      32,000 and pI 6.3.

PMID- 1451837
TI  - Toxic effect of lead on fertility of inbred strain mice.
AB  - Males of inbred strains were orally given lead acetate water solution during 150
      days. Changes were found in the structure of the seminiferous tubules and in
      spermatozoa. The pathological changes in Leydig cells brought about a decline in
      levels of androgens.

PMID- 1451838
TI  - Down-regulating effect on cellular immunity of the NSF17 factor produced by
      murine neonatal spleen cells fused with BW 5147 thymoma cells.
AB  - The non-specific factor NSF17 produced by mouse newborn splenocytes fused with BW
      5147 thymoma cells was tested in vivo for its immunosuppressive activity. NSF17
      administered i.p. in a single dose into adult mice significantly decreased the
      PHA-induced proliferative response of lymphocytes, regional graft-versus-host
      reaction, and delayed-type hypersensitivity.

PMID- 1451839
TI  - The influence of peat extract on the seminiferous epithelium of mouse testes.
AB  - Because of the interest in the peat extract as a potential therapeutic agent, its
      effect on the seminiferous epithelium cells was studied. Adult male mice were
      intraperitoneally injected with peat extract during 34 days. At intervals equal
      to the duration of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium (every 8.5 days),
      gametogenic cells were quantitatively analysed. It was revealed that the peat
      extract causes a decrease in the production of the A1 spermatogonia, and as a
      result a decrease in the intensity of spermatogenesis. Besides, in some
      individuals disturbances of meiosis took place, leading to an increased
      degeneration of pachytene spermatocytes and formation of diploid spermatids.

PMID- 1451841
TI  - The state of the Medical Society of Delaware 1992.

PMID- 1451840
TI  - Effect of prolonged administration of insecticide (Cyhalothrin/Karate) on the
      blood and liver of rabbits.
AB  - A sublethal dose of Karate administered to rabbits produced a significant
      increase in the total erythrocyte count and packed cell volume after 15 days of
      administration, though no significant change was observed after 30 days. The
      transaminases (glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, GOT; glutamate pyruvate
      transaminase, GPT) also increased after 15 days of treatment. The GPT activity
      increased 119% and 60% after 15 and 30 days, respectively. From amongst
      metabolites, glucose content increased 17% and 185%, while cholesterol decreased
      40% and 66%, and bilirubin 84% and 61%, after 15 and 30 days, respectively. The
      hepatic AkP activity decreased 30%, while the GPT activity increased 44%. Other
      enzymes such as AcP, GOT and LDH remained unaffected. The concentration of other
      metabolites, except for FAA which increased 35%, remained unaffected.
      Histological changes were marked by atrophied hepatic cells and hypertrophied
      nuclei and nucleoli. A trend towards necrosis of hepatic cells was also observed.
      All these results indicate that Karate is moderately toxic to mammals.

PMID- 1451842
TI  - The prehospital use of nebulized albuterol on patients with wheezing whose chief
      complaint is shortness of breath.
AB  - The use of prehospital nebulized beta-agonists has become widespread, and their
      safety and efficacy has been documented. Our purpose was to study their broadened
      use and determine their effectiveness in specific sub-sets of wheezing patients.
      We conducted a six and one-half month prospective study to determine the benefit
      of nebulized albuterol treatments on a variety of wheezing patients whose chief
      complaint to paramedics was shortness of breath. Sixty-two patients were enrolled
      in the study and were subdivided into four groups based on patient history;
      asthma, COPD, asthma & COPD (A/C), and non-Asthma/non-COPD (NANC). The
      effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated objectively by peak expiratory flow
      rates (PEFR) obtained before and immediately after treatment and subjectively by
      the patients' evaluation of their own dyspnea. Changes in PEFR were subjected to
      analysis by a paired T-test. Albuterol was effective in increasing the PEFR in
      patients with asthma, COPD and NANC. Patients with both asthma and COPD did not
      demonstrate increased PEFR after treatment. The majority of all patients were
      subjectively improved after nebulized albuterol treatments. We conclude that
      aerosolized albuterol is safe and effective in the prehospital treatment of
      patients complaining of dyspnea who are wheezing.

PMID- 1451843
TI  - Is better access to medical care needed in Delaware?
AB  - Improved access will require more primary care providers, a reduction in
      administrative red tape, and a clientele with healthy lifestyles who know how to
      use the system appropriately. Prevention is a necessary component of access even
      though it often takes years to produce results and is usually not dramatic or
      glamorous (the heart attack which does not occur is hard to measure). Over time,
      the health of Delawareans should show improvement through appropriate access to
      medical care, which should not only be cost effective but add to the quality of
      life.

PMID- 1451844
TI  - Tax issues affecting physician recruitment and development.

PMID- 1451845
TI  - Advance directives.

PMID- 1451846
TI  - Physical therapy of any individual shall be administered only by a licensed
      physical therapist.

PMID- 1451847
TI  - Voluntary Initiative Program proposals, now implementation.

PMID- 1451848
TI  - Hepatic incidentalomas: imaging hemangiomas.

PMID- 1451849
TI  - Radiograph of the month. Pleural lipoma.

PMID- 1451850
TI  - 1991 end-of-year AIDS case summary.

PMID- 1451851
TI  - Defending the healthcare fraud case: parallel proceedings and collateral
      consequences.

PMID- 1451852
TI  - The noninstitutionalized elderly: ability to perform daily activities.

PMID- 1451853
TI  - Crime and punishment?

PMID- 1451854
TI  - Comment on hepatic incidentalomas.

PMID- 1451855
TI  - Schizophrenia or ambivalence.

PMID- 1451856
TI  - Current concepts in the diagnosis and management of aortic stenosis.

PMID- 1451857
TI  - Rheumatic fever: a case report.
AB  - The case of a previously healthy nine-year-old female who presented with a two
      week history of fever and five days of joint pain is discussed. She was admitted
      to the hospital, where the diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever was made. Although
      this diagnosis is made infrequently, it should be part of the differential
      diagnosis of persistent fever in patients presenting to the Emergency Department.

PMID- 1451858
TI  - Radiography of the month. Renal angiomyolipoma.

PMID- 1451859
TI  - Primary care physicians.

PMID- 1451860
TI  - The preexisting condition.

PMID- 1451861
TI  - Physicians as Johnnys-come-lately: overcoming misperceptions.

PMID- 1451862
TI  - [Functional occlusion puzzle. Directional points for form and function].

PMID- 1451863
TI  - [Morita-Cyclarc system. Vacuum pouring with cover gas vents].

PMID- 1451864
TI  - [Preparation of a prosthesis of cold polymerizing synthetic resin].

PMID- 1451866
TI  - [Measurement procedures for improvement of accuracy of fit of cast dental
      objects].

PMID- 1451865
TI  - [Light-curing tray resin for precision improvement of working models].

PMID- 1451867
TI  - [Multi-color layer technique. Systems for individualization].

PMID- 1451868
TI  - [Practice oriented use of modern composite blends and bonding technology].

PMID- 1451869
TI  - [Metal-free restoration techniques. Pin-supported by In-Ceram].

PMID- 1451870
TI  - [Ohara-titanium dental casting system. Centrifugal casting with argon cover
      atmosphere].

PMID- 1451871
TI  - [Accurately fitting milled attachments in the double crown technique].

PMID- 1451872
TI  - [Bending of Tenti modified Adams clasp. Principles of orthodontic technique].

PMID- 1451873
TI  - [Contrasts between two full porcelain systems. 1. Optec-hsp vs. IPS-Empress].

PMID- 1451874
TI  - [Four young parrots with massive prognathic problems].

PMID- 1451875
TI  - [Arrangement of protuberance-free teeth in complete dentures].

PMID- 1451876
TI  - [Individualized composite technique demonstrated in a case report].

PMID- 1451877
TI  - [Bending the Adams clasp with the Nance-sling-forceps].

PMID- 1451878
TI  - [Key to the success of teamwork in a dental laboratory].

PMID- 1451879
TI  - [What happens when plastic must oppose porcelain? Argument for a weak complete
      denture against a fixed partial denture].

PMID- 1451880
TI  - [Contrasts between two full porcelain systems. 2. Optec-hsp vs. IPS-Empress].

PMID- 1451881
TI  - [Rematitan-pour-vacuum melting in two-chamber system].

PMID- 1451882
TI  - [Preparation of tooth colored adhesive inlays. Prisma AP.H-inlay system].

PMID- 1451883
TI  - [What the technician should be careful of in preparation of full porcelain
      artificial teeth].

PMID- 1451884
TI  - [Prosthetic concerns in facial defects].

PMID- 1451885
TI  - [Work guides for set-up and fitting of functional tooth relations].

PMID- 1451886
TI  - Outcome and long-term effects of pregnancy in women with hyperprolactinaemia.
AB  - Twenty-four women with high circulating prolactin became pregnant on 39
      occasions, of which 32 ended in delivery. Sixteen patients showed radiological
      evidence of pituitary tumour, 6 exhibited a normal CT and 2 had an empty sella.
      The pregnancies were induced in 4 patients after successful pituitary surgery, in
      3 after surgery and medical treatment, and in the rest by bromocriptine (16) long
      acting repeatable bromocriptine (1) and methergoline (1). No major complications
      related to hyperprolactinaemia or its treatment were observed during pregnancy in
      the patients or offspring. Prolactin after pregnancy was lower than before (basal
      95 micrograms/l, after 1st pregnancy 38 micrograms/l P < 0.002, after 2nd
      pregnancy 24 micrograms/l P < 0.005 compared to basal prolactin); this prolactin
      reduction tended to be greater in the 9 multiparous patients, but did not attain
      statistical significance, probably because the number of multiparous patients was
      too small. A new empty sella developed after delivery in 4 women and persisted in
      another 2, all of which were medically treated; prolactin fell in all 6 cases
      normalizing in 3; 4 of these patients had undergone two or more pregnancies. The
      mean period of follow-up from the last pregnancy was 41.6 months (8-101). These
      data suggest that pregnancy may hasten a tendency to spontaneous improvement of
      hyperprolactinaemia, and multiparity may be beneficial in this way.

PMID- 1451887
TI  - Paradoxical ovarian stimulations in the use of LHRH analogs.
AB  - In the case of in vitro fertilization, LHRH analogs are used to induce a
      hypophysial blockage before the phase of stimulation, via administration of
      exogenous gonadotropin. During in vitro fertilization attempts using LHRH
      analogs, the blockage is controlled after 14 days of treatment by measuring
      plasmatic estradiol and by pelvic ultrasonography. In this retrospective study,
      which concerned 1075 in vitro fertilization cycles, a paradoxical ovarian
      stimulation with LHRH analogs was observed in 93 cases (8.7%) with high estradiol
      levels and follicular growth (detected by ultrasonography), in spite of low FSH
      and LH levels. In 4 cases, a follicular puncture was performed, which made it
      possible to collect oocytes from which embryos were obtained, thus confirming the
      observed follicular growth and maturation. The most probable hypothesis
      explaining this phenomenon seems to be direct ovarian stimulation effectuated in
      vivo by LHRH analogs. This stimulation is only observed in certain patients, and,
      more frequently it seems, with certain LHRH analogs, which is probably due to a
      variation in the expression of ovarian LHRH receptors.

PMID- 1451888
TI  - A comparative analysis of two preparations of human chorionic gonadotrophin.
AB  - A biophysical analysis of two pharmaceutical preparations of human chorionic
      gonadotrophin (Endo and Profasi) demonstrated that both contained high hCG
      specific activity. HCG protein analysis by occlusion HPLC and SDS gel
      electrophoresis showed similar profiles for both products. Although the purified
      protein components of both preparations were similar their were differences in
      the contents of the unpurified preparations. The Endo preparation exhibited
      greater inter-vial variability and contained an unidentified aromatic substance
      which interacted with the desalting column.

PMID- 1451889
TI  - Cytogenetic analysis of 1508 spontaneous abortions originating from south
      Slovakia.
AB  - Knowledge with regard to the spontaneous abortion cytogenetics has been derived
      exclusively from populations of the highly developed countries; its full
      applicability to east-european populations living in the peculiar conditions of
      the former 'socialist countries' may be questioned. The consecutive series of
      1912 spontaneous abortion products with identifiable embryonal tissue was
      collected in six maternal clinics in south Slovakia. 1508 specimens were set in
      culture. Among 926 (61.4%) successfully karyotyped abortions, 46.0% were
      chromosomally abnormal specimens. The proportion of the groups of abnormalities
      is similar to that in other large series, with the exception of a higher
      proportion of mosaics (14.3% of the abnormalities). The abnormality rate in the
      whole sample also lies within the range of values published. However, significant
      inter-regional variability has been established: the chromosome abnormality rate
      in the urban subsample is 47.8%, whereas the value was only 35.3% for rural
      southern districts. The anomaly rates are lower for all maternal ages and
      gestation phases in the country subsample. The possibility of the environmental
      diversity effect was discussed. No other major peculiarity of cytogenetic
      abortion characteristics can be determined in the population studied.

PMID- 1451890
TI  - The prognostic significance of maternal serum CA125 measurement in threatened
      abortion.
AB  - The prognostic predictive value of maternal serum CA125 measurement was
      investigated in 25 cases of threatened abortion. The women were non-smoker, had a
      ultrasonographically verified viable single fetus, and the gestational ages
      ranged from 7 to 12 weeks. Twenty-five healty pregnant women, with the same
      characteristics were used as the control group. The overall abortion rate was
      found to be 20% (5/25) in the study group. In serial measurements the mean serum
      CA125 level of the patients with an unfavorable pregnancy outcome was
      significantly higher than that of the patients with a favorable outcome. When the
      cut-off level of maternal serum CA125 was taken as > 65 U/ml in the first and >
      60 U/ml in the second measurements of the study group, the risk of termination of
      the pregnancy by spontaneous abortion was 83.3% in the patients with elevated
      serum CA125 levels. No statistically significant difference was observed with
      respect to the duration of vaginal bleeding between the aborters and the patients
      with a favorable outcome. Nevertheless, when vaginal bleeding had been present
      for 3 days or more and there was high maternal serum CA125 activity, the abortion
      risk was found to be 100% (3/3). These findings suggest that the maternal serum
      CA125 measurement in threatened abortion can be useful to determine the extent of
      decidual destruction which is directly related to the outcome of pregnancy.

PMID- 1451891
TI  - Carbon dioxide laser treatment of cervical dysplasia in teenagers.
AB  - Over a 6-year period, 40 young women under 20 years of age with cervical
      intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade I (58%) to grade III (10%) were treated by
      laser vaporisation or excisional conisation. This prevalence of CIN in young
      women (nearly 4% of laser-treated cases) underscores the need for detection of
      cervical abnormalities in all teenagers engaged in sexual relations. The
      colposcopically-guided carbon dioxide laser technique is the treatment of choice
      for vaporisation and conisation of intraepithelial lesions (extending to the
      periphery of the cervix in 20% of cases) and for vaporisation of associated
      condylomatous lesions of the cervix (75%), vagina (23%), vulva (48%) and/or anus
      (8%).

PMID- 1451892
TI  - An unusual type of endometrial cancer, related to tamoxifen?
AB  - Tamoxifen, which is increasingly being used in breast cancer patients, has been
      associated with an elevated frequency of endometrial carcinoma. To our knowledge
      not a single case of uterine serous papillary carcinoma (USPC) has been
      documented during tamoxifen treatment. No conclusions as to a causal relationship
      are yet being made, but if it is due to tamoxifen, we should advise a strategy
      for prevention, because this subtype is not as curable as endometrioid carcinoma.

PMID- 1451893
TI  - Ruptured intracranial aneurysm in pregnancy: a case report and review of the
      literature.

PMID- 1451894
TI  - Unsuccessful methotrexate treatment of a tubal pregnancy with a live embryo.
AB  - Two cases with unsuccessful local and systemic methotrexate (MTX) therapy of
      tubal pregnancy with fetal heart rate activity are reported. The three modes of
      therapy, the first with local potassium chloride solution injection, the second
      with local MTX injection, and the third with systemic MTX injection, failed in
      the resolution of viable ectopic pregnancy. Therapy of MTX in cases of tubal
      pregnancy with demonstrable fetal heart rate beats, should be reconsidered.

PMID- 1451895
TI  - Congenital absence of fallopian tube and ovary.
AB  - Absence of one or both uterine tubes and ovaries is a finding that has rarely
      been described. Two such cases are presented. In one the anatomical abnormalities
      were discovered during investigations for primary infertility, in the other the
      absence was discovered at the time of laparoscopic sterilisation. There are two
      possible aetiologies. The first involves an asymptomatic torsion of one or both
      adnexes during adult life or childhood, or even before birth. Alternatively, the
      absence may be congenital, due either to a defect in the development of the
      entire Mullerian and Mesonephric systems on one side, or to a defect localised to
      the region of the genital ridge and the caudal part of the Mullerian duct.

PMID- 1451896
TI  - Primary amenorrhea-galactorrhea with hyperprolactinemia and huge pituitary
      enlargement in juvenile primary hypothyroidism.
AB  - We report a girl with juvenile primary hypothyroidism revealed by growth
      retardation and a syndrome of primary amenorrhea-galactorrhea with
      hyperprolactinemia and suprasellar pituitary enlargement. Resolution of the
      pituitary enlargement and the amenorrhea-galactorrhea syndrome occurred after
      thyroid hormone replacement. No similar observation has been reported earlier in
      juvenile hypothyroidism.

PMID- 1451897
TI  - Antenatal uterine activity monitoring of women at increased risk of preterm
      labour.
AB  - The aim of the study was to investigate the usefulness of antenatal uterine
      activity monitoring in the management of women at increased risk of preterm
      labour on the basis of a past history of preterm birth or mid-trimester abortion.
      Uterine activity was recorded every 2 weeks between 20 and 28 weeks gestation.
      Activity was considered to be increased if pressure changes > 15 mmHg were
      detected. Fifty-eight women had uterine activity monitoring. Of them, 39 had
      normal uterine activity. Nineteen women had increased activity and they were
      randomized to either a study group (9) where the findings were revealed to the
      clinicians caring for them or a control group (10) where the findings were not
      revealed. There was no standard regimen of management for the study group except
      that additional uterine activity monitoring was performed to provide feed back to
      the clinicians about their interventions. The sensitivity, specificity, positive
      predictive value and negative predictive value of uterine activity monitoring for
      preterm births and for preterm births before 32 weeks were disappointing. Uterine
      activity monitoring was not useful for predicting births prior to 32 weeks; most
      of these were preceded by prelabour rupture of the membranes. The pregnancy
      outcome of women with increased uterine activity was not better if clinicians
      were aware of that increased activity than if they were not.

PMID- 1451898
TI  - Survival and long-term morbidity in preterm infants with and without a clinical
      diagnosis of periventricular, intraventricular hemorrhage.
AB  - The prognosis of clinically diagnosed periventricular, intraventricular
      hemorrhage on the survival and long-term outcome of 169 infants delivered at 24
      to 30 weeks gestation who survived more than 48 hours was evaluated.
      Periventricular, intraventricular hemorrhage was confirmed by ultrasound in 37.9%
      of the survivors. In this group the survival rate was 64% and the major handicap
      rate was 14.6%. In contrast, the survival of infants who did not have a clinical
      diagnosis of periventricular, intraventricular hemorrhage was greater than 90%
      with a major handicap rate of only 3.2% (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.03, respectively).
      Infants with clinical diagnosis of periventricular, intraventricular hemorrhage
      who were found to have grades 1-2 by ultrasound had the same survival rate as
      those without a clinical diagnosis of periventricular, intraventricular
      hemorrhage (90.5%), while infants with grades 3-4 had a survival rate of only
      51.2% (P < 0.01). We conclude, that preterm infants who survive longer than 48
      hours and do not have a clinical suspicion of periventricular, intraventricular
      hemorrhage, have an excellent prognosis. In these circumstances brain sonography
      can be deferred without jeopardizing the infants' health.

PMID- 1451899
TI  - Understanding the pathophysiology of intra-uterine growth retardation: the role
      of the 'lower limb reflex' in redistribution of blood flow.
AB  - Doppler ultrasound was used to investigate the circulatory redistribution and
      underlying reflex responses of fetal cardiovascular compensation in 30 small-for
      gestational age (SGA) fetuses. The utero-placental bed, umbilical artery and
      vein, thoracic and abdominal aorta, internal and external cerebral arteries were
      evaluated. The values were compared to reference ranges constructed from 135
      normal pregnancies, correlated to fetal blood gases obtained by cordocentesis and
      compared to the outcomes. In Group I (mortality and morbidity), all fetuses had
      loss of end-diastolic frequencies (L-EDF) in the abdominal aorta (100%), but only
      20 (87%) and 13 (56%) had L-EDF in the thoracic aorta and umbilical artery
      respectively. High vascular resistance in the placental bed and low impedance in
      the middle cerebral and common carotid arteries was found in 14 (61%), 12 (52%)
      and 20 (87%) fetuses, respectively. In Group II (Healthy infants) two fetuses had
      high utero-placental vascular resistance and one had brain-sparing. Doppler
      indices did not always reflect fetal hypoxaemia demonstrating that redistribution
      in SGA fetuses may not be triggered by a fall in pO2, and that hypoxaemia is an
      associated pathology but may not be the underlying cause. It is postulated that
      redistribution in SGA fetuses is regulated by reflex mechanisms (the 'lower limb
      reflex') which result in severe vasoconstriction in the abdominal aorta,
      mesentery and carcass, favouring the brain and cardiac muscles. This mechanism
      explains the good predictive value of L-EDF in the abdominal aorta for poor
      neonatal outcome (sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value, all
      100%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451900
TI  - A comparative study of intramuscular ketorolac and pethidine in labour pain.
AB  - A single dose block randomised double-blind study comparing intramuscular
      ketorolac, 50 mg of pethidine and 100 mg pethidine was carried out in multiparous
      women. Pain intensity and sedation effect were recorded at inclusion to the
      study, half hourly for the first 2 h, then hourly until 6 h after delivery.
      Maternal and neonatal side effects were noted including the Apgar scores and the
      baby's requirements for resuscitation. All three treatments are relatively
      ineffective in relieving labour pain. There was no difference in the analgesic
      efficacy between the two doses of pethidine but both doses of pethidine were
      statistically more effective compared with ketorolac. There was no difference in
      the retrospective assessment of the three groups or when comparison was made with
      the previous labour. A similar number of patients required further analgesia in
      each group. In all three groups, no adverse effect occurred in the mother or
      fetus. Maternal sedation and fetal depression were statistically less in the
      ketorolac group. Although ketorolac had inferior analgesic effect, its use was
      not associated with clinically significant sequelae and it showed a superior
      safety profile compared with either dose of pethidine. The study was not powerful
      enough to detect a difference between 50 mg and 100 mg of pethidine.

PMID- 1451901
TI  - Reduced albumin binding of MADDS--a measure of bilirubin binding--during
      pregnancy and delivery.
AB  - It was the purpose of the present study to investigate whether the decrease in
      the ability of plasma albumin to bind bilirubin, noted in pregnancy and during
      delivery, takes place in one step, during pregnancy alone, or in two steps,
      during both pregnancy and delivery. Furthermore, it was investigated whether a
      possible decrease during labor was related to the method of delivery itself. The
      material comprised (a) 17 pregnant women who delivered vaginally; (b) 25 women
      who were delivered by Cesarean Section; and (c) a group of 25 non-pregnant women.
      The reserve albumin concentration for binding of MADDS (a measure of the binding
      of unconjugated bilirubin), the total albumin concentration and the ratio between
      them were constant in the 6-week period up to birth and were significantly lower
      than the corresponding values in the non-pregnant group. During labor a
      significant decrease in reserve albumin and ratio of reserve albumin to total
      albumin was observed, while no change in the total albumin concentration was
      noted. No significant difference in reserve albumin concentration, total albumin
      concentration and ratio between them was found when the group of mothers who
      delivered vaginally was compared to the Cesarean Section group. It is concluded
      that the decrease in the ability of plasma albumin to bind unconjugated bilirubin
      takes place stepwise. The first step is a significant reduction during pregnancy
      followed by a further decrease during labor. The method of delivery is of no
      significance.

PMID- 1451902
TI  - Shape of the myosin head.

PMID- 1451903
TI  - Some aspects of activation and inhibition of rat brain lipoxygenase.
AB  - 1. Regulatory properties of lipoxygenase activity in rat brain cytosol were
      studied using linoleic acid (LA) as a substrate. 2. A change in the absorbance at
      234 nm was biphasic when a mixture of LA and pre-formed hydroperoxide (LA-OOH)
      was incubated with freshly isolated native brain cytosol. Initially, a rapid
      depletion of LA-OOH was observed with a concomitant formation of LA-oxo
      compounds. This phase was followed by LA dioxygenation. 3. Both hydroperoxidase
      and dioxygenase activities of lipoxygenase were inhibited by micromolar
      concentrations of classic lipoxygenase inhibitors (phenidone, 5,8,11
      eicosatriynoic acid and nordihydroguaiaretic acid). 4. The dioxygenase activity
      in dialysed cytsool was stimulated by nanomolar concentrations of H2O2 and
      micromolar concentrations of LA-OOH and it was inhibited by serotonin, dopamine
      and norepinephrine (IC50 25-43 microM).

PMID- 1451904
TI  - Allosteric regulation of rat testis mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase by
      capronaldehyde and magnesium ion.
AB  - 1. The influence of Mg2+ on the kinetic behaviour of mitochondrial aldehyde
      dehydrogenase from rat testis has been investigated using capronaldehyde as
      substrate. 2. The kinetic data, obtained by numerical analysis of the progress
      curves of aldehyde oxidation, were fitted to a modified version of the Monod
      Wyman-Changeux model and the fitting procedure resulted in a good correspondence
      between theoretical and experimental reaction rates over a wide range of
      capronaldehyde and Mg2+ concentrations. 3. According to the model, the tetrameric
      enzyme is in equilibrium between two conformational states R and T which display
      comparable affinities for capronaldehyde (the dissociation constants are 0.17 and
      0.3 microM, respectively), but different catalytic power (VT = 2VR). The T state
      can bind with lower affinity a second molecule of aldehyde (K = 2.5 microM). 4.
      Mg2+ stabilizes the T state (the dissociation constants for the R and T states
      are 2.2 and 0.12 mM, respectively) and acts as a strong activator of the R state,
      but as a weak inhibitor of the T state. In the absence of substrates and Mg2+,
      the R<-->T equilibrium favors the R state ([T]/[R] = 0.16). 5. The model is able
      to predict the kinetic behaviour also when the NAD+ concentrations are not
      saturating and when inhibitory effects by NADH are taken into account.

PMID- 1451905
TI  - Rat erythrocyte glycophorins can be isolated by the lithium diiodosalicylate
      method used for other glycophorins.
AB  - 1. The lithium diiodosalicylate/phenol method, widely employed for the isolation
      of membrane sialoglycoproteins (glycophorins) from mammalian erythrocytes, was
      applied for the first time to the purification of homologous glycoproteins from
      rat erythrocyte membranes. 2. The resulting preparations showed to be composed of
      four components, fractionated on SDS-PAGE. All four were positive for periodic
      acid-Schiff's reagent stain, the two largest of them being major. 3. Isolated rat
      glycophorins accounted for 60% of the ghost sialic acid and 1.5% of their
      protein. The presence of O-acetyl groups was confirmed in one-third of the sialic
      acid residues. 4. The molecular masses of the four glycophorin components were
      determined by a method which takes into account the anomalous mobility of
      glycoproteins on SDS-electrophoresis. Estimated values thus obtained for the
      actual molecular masses were 74, 32, 25 and 17 kDa.

PMID- 1451906
TI  - The condensing action of Mg2+, hexamminecobalt3+ and spermidine3+ on chromatin
      with gene regions activated by 17-beta estradiol.
AB  - 1. Hepatic vitellogenin synthesis was induced by injecting 17-beta estradiol into
      fish. Liver nuclei were incubated with the endonuclease EcoRI at an increasing
      concentration of Mg2+ (0.15-1.50 mM), hexamminecobalt3+ or spermidine3+ (0.10
      1.00 mM). Chromatin was separated into a 5000 g supernatant, S-fraction, and
      pellet fraction. 2. The release of chromatin into the S-fraction was higher for
      the induced than the control chromatin. Hybridization of the vitellogenin gene
      retained in the pellet fraction of the controls was unaffected by the individual
      cations. After activation of the vitellogenin gene, Mg2+ at its lowest
      concentration retained a high amount of the vitellogenin gene in the pellet
      fraction. The level of hybridization decreased by increasing the Mg2+
      concentration. Retention of the gene rose by adding hexamminecobalt3+ and more so
      by adding spermidine3+. 3. The condensing action of spermidine3+ was extended to
      the activated vitellogenin gene regions of chromatin.

PMID- 1451907
TI  - Gluconeogenesis from methylglyoxal in isolated murine hepatocytes. Does an
      alternative pathway exist in which pyruvate is not an intermediate?
AB  - 1. Gluconeogenesis from alanine can be prevented by the addition of monoiodo
      acetic acid (an inhibitor of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase), while
      glucose production from methylglyoxal is only partially inhibited by this
      compound. 2. It is supposed that methylglyoxal can enter gluconeogenic sequence
      not only at pyruvate.

PMID- 1451908
TI  - Metabolic utilization of muscular L-proline in 24-hr starved rats.
AB  - 1. The aim of this paper was to study the in vivo skeletal muscle L-proline
      related to its destination to other key tissues such as liver and intestine as
      well as to give some insight into the role of blood cells in proline handling. 2.
      L-U-[14C]Proline was injected intramuscularly and following by sampling of blood,
      liver, intestine and contralateral muscle at 20 and 30 min after injection. 3.
      The distribution of radioactivity between blood cells and plasma and in total and
      individual amino acids, protein and glycogen fractions was determined in the
      above tissues. 4. The pattern of well fed rats was compared with those submitted
      to 24-hr complete starvation. 5. During starvation a minor degree of proline
      oxidation occurs. 6. The main destruction of proline in the liver seem to be the
      synthesis of proteins. 7. The radioactivity recovered in the blood proline
      fraction of starved rats is twice that of the fed rats and that it could be
      attributed mainly to plasma protein. 8. We have obtained in vivo evidence for the
      role of erythrocyte in the interorgan proline transport.

PMID- 1451909
TI  - Purification and characterization of glutathione S-transferase isozymes in dog
      lens.
AB  - 1. Two isozymes of glutathione S-transferase (GST-dl1 and GST-dl2) were purified
      to homogeneity from dog lens. 2. The subunit size and the isoelectric point were
      determined to be 24,000 and > pI 9.5 for GST-dl1 and 22,000 and pI 8.1 for GST
      dl2. 3. It was judged that GST-dl1 is a class alpha enzyme and GST-dl2 belongs to
      class pi on the basis of their immunological properties and N-terminal amino acid
      sequences. 4. The expression pattern of glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes in
      dog lens is different from that in pig, rat and bovine lenses.

PMID- 1451910
TI  - Steady-state kinetic properties of FoF1-ATPase: the pH effect.
AB  - 1. The kinetic properties of FoF1-ATPase from submitochondrial particles isolated
      from rat heart were studied, with emphasis to the pH effect. The velocity data
      were treated according to the Hill equation, and the results were discussed on
      the basis of the knowledge on the soluble F1-ATPase properties. 2. Three kinetic
      phases were observed in the range of pH 6.0-8.5, with apparent dissociation
      constant values (K0.5) of 0.001, 0.04 and 1.5 mM (respectively sites I, II and
      III) at pH 7.0. Their contribution to the total activity of the enzyme were pH
      dependent on the range of 6.0-7.0, but not from 7.0 to 8.5, where the maximal
      velocity (V) for site III was some 4-fold larger than for site II, and the total
      V of sites II and III was some 40-fold larger than V assumed for site I.
      Therefore, two catalytic sites seem to participate significantly in the catalysis
      at steady-state condition. 3. Azide increased the sites II and III K0.5 values as
      well as decreased the site III V. In the presence of bicarbonate these two sites
      were not distinguishable, and the kinetic parameters at pH 7.0 were similar to
      those for sites II and III combined. Both azide and bicarbonate did not have a
      significant effect on site I, and this behavior was not pH-dependent. 4. The
      studies on the effect of pH on the kinetic parameters showed the following
      results: (1) the optimum pH for V was around 8.5; (2) decrease in the K0.5 values
      at pH below 7.0 for site II, and increase at pH over 7.0 for sites II and III;
      (3) in the pH range of 6.0-8.5 the Hill coefficient increased for site II,
      decreased for site III, and an intermediary effect was observed for the sites II
      and III combined, with a Michaelis-Menten behavior in the highest affinity pH,
      which was found in the physiological range.

PMID- 1451911
TI  - Characterization of rat liver nuclear proteins which recognize the cAMP
      responsive element.
AB  - 1. The data herein reveal the existence of cAMP-responsive element (CRE)-binding
      factors (CRF) in the nuclear extracts from cAMP-treated rat liver. 2. DNAase I
      and DMS footprinting analysis showed that the CRFs protected the CRE (-77 to -92)
      in the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) promoter and the TGACGTCA motif
      in a consensus oligodeoxynucleotide based on the sequence of the CRE's of 6 cAMP
      regulated genes (C32mer). 3. Competition assays indicate that the CRF(s) is a
      CGTCA-specific, ATF/CREB-like factor(s). 4. Southwestern (SW) blot analysis
      detected 2 apparent CRFs which have molecular weights of about 30 and 32 kDa,
      respectively. 5. Based on the comparison of the size and binding specificity of
      the CRFs with the CREBs reported to date, the CRFs appear to be novel CRE-binding
      nuclear factors.

PMID- 1451912
TI  - Differential effects of aluminum ion on smooth muscle calpain I and calpain II
      activities.
AB  - 1. In millimolar Ca2+, smooth muscle calpains I and II were inhibited by aluminum
      ion. 2. At sub-millimolar Ca2+, calpain II, but not calpain I, was activated by
      low millimolar aluminum ion. 3. Calpastatin inhibited aluminum ion-activated
      calpain II. 4. Aluminum ion-activated and Ca(2+)-activated calpain II gave almost
      identical patterns of desmin cleavage. 5. Aluminum-activated calpain II, unlike
      the Ca(2+)-activated enzyme, did not autolyze and retained its proteolytic
      activity over extended periods of time.

PMID- 1451913
TI  - Fluorescamine-induced membrane permeability in mitochondria.
AB  - 1. Addition of fluorescamine (75 microM) to mitochondria induced an increase in
      membrane permeability. 2. The leakiness of the inner mitochondrial membrane is
      characterized by extensive release of accumulated Ca2+, collapse of the
      transmembrane potential, mitochondrial swelling and efflux of matrix proteins,
      among them, malate dehydrogenase. 3. These effects were diminished by
      supplementing the media with 1 mM phosphate, and partially prevented by Mg2+. 4.
      These results indicate that the primary amino groups of membrane components
      contribute, partially, to the maintenance of the permeability barrier in
      mitochondria.

PMID- 1451914
TI  - Protein kinase NII from calf thymus chromatin. Isolation, characterization and
      some functional properties.
AB  - 1. A protein kinase type II was purified from calf thymus chromatin using
      ammonium sulphate fractionation, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE and
      phosphocellulose and affinity chromatography on phosvitin- and casein-sepharose
      columns. 2. The enzyme moves as a single band in non-denaturing gel
      electrophoresis at pH 8.3, which coincides with the enzyme activity assayed on
      gel slices. 3. Sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis shows three separate
      polypeptide chains having M(r) of 40,000, 38,000 and 25,000, respectively. The
      native M(r) was about 130,000, as measured by HPLC on Superose 12 column,
      suggesting a subunit structure of alpha, alpha', beta 2 type. The enzyme
      incubated with [gamma 32P]ATP or [gamma 32P]GTP as phosphoryl donors undergoes
      autophosphorylation in the M(r) = 25,000 subunit. 4. The enzyme phosphorylates
      casein (Km = 7 microM) and phosvitin (Km = 5 microM) but not histones and was
      strongly deactivated by Zn2+ ions (I50 = 0.05 mM) and heparin (I50 = 0.1
      micrograms/ml). 5. The enzyme seems to be the major phosphorylating system
      present in the 0.35 M NaCl chromatin extract of calf thymus. The RNA polymerase
      II from calf thymus and RNA polymerase from E. coli are both phosphorylated by
      protein kinase NII. The effect of phosphorylation, which causes a remarkable
      increase of DNA transcription rate, was studied in vitro and extensively
      discussed.

PMID- 1451915
TI  - Lysosomal beta-hexosaminidase is highly resistant towards proteolytic degradation
      in vitro.
AB  - 1. A partially purified enzyme preparation of beta-hexosaminidase from human
      fibroblasts was treated with proteases and the effect on its molecular weight and
      enzymatic activity was studied. 2. Both the forms A and B of the enzyme appeared
      to be resistant to a protease treatment that degraded the majority of the
      contaminating proteins to a large extent. 3. The same result was obtained with
      enzyme preparations from cells treated with tunicamycin. 4. Also the molecular
      weights of the individual polypeptide chains of the enzyme were not decreased, as
      was shown by SDS-PAGE, followed by immuno-blotting.

PMID- 1451916
TI  - pH dependent kinetic studies of lipoamide dehydrogenase catalysis.
AB  - 1. Kinetic studies of lipoamide dehydrogenase and its modified enzymes catalyzing
      lipoamide oxidoreduction and ancillary reactions at various pH are compared. 2.
      The asymptotic kinetics of lipoamide oxidoreductions switch between the ping pong
      and ordered mechanisms by varying pH of the reactions. 3. pH-rate profiles of
      these reactions are bell-shaped suggesting the participation of 2 ionizable
      residues with pK values of 6.6 +/- 0.5 and above 8 respectively. 4. The unusually
      high pK value for the catalytic site histidine is attributed to its involvement
      in an ion-pair formation. 5. In the absence of the catalytic site histidine, the
      pH-rate profile for the lipoamide reduction of the photooxidized enzyme is no
      longer bell-shaped but it is similar to those of the transhydrogenation and NADH
      oxidation of the native enzyme. 6. This implies the participation of a low-pK
      protonated group in these reactions.

PMID- 1451917
TI  - Cytotoxicity and cytokinetic effects of mitomycin C and/or photochemotherapy in a
      human colon adenocarcinoma cell line.
AB  - 1. The cytotoxicity and cytokinetic effects of Mitomycin C (MC) and/or
      photochemotherapy (PCT) in cultured human colon adenocarcinoma (WiDr) cells were
      investigated using colony formation to determine cell survival and DNA flow
      cytometry to analyze cell kinetics. 2. A low concentration of MC (0.01
      micrograms/ml) caused accumulation of cells in late S and early G2 phase; higher
      concentrations (0.05-0.5 micrograms/ml) induced accumulation of the cells in mid
      and early S phase. 3. The effects of the lowest concentration of MC (0.01
      micrograms/ml) were reversible upon removal of the drug, whereas a higher
      concentration of MC (0.1 micrograms/ml) resulted in a permanent inhibition of
      cell cycle progression. 4. The sensitivity of Photofrin II-loaded cells to PCT
      can be enhanced significantly by the addition of MC. 5. The MC-induced
      accumulation of the cells in S phase may be one reason for the increased
      cytotoxicity of PCT combined with MC. 6. The data suggest that MC may also
      inhibit repair of PCT-induced DNA damage.

PMID- 1451918
TI  - Conversion of skeletal tartrate-sensitive acid phosphatases into tartrate
      resistant isoenzymes in vitro.
AB  - 1. Chicken skeletal tartrate-sensitive (TsACP) and -resistant (TrACP) acid
      phosphatase isoenzymes could be separated from each other by carboxylmethyl
      sepharose ion exchange chromatography. 2. Chicken skeletal TsACP showed a gradual
      time-dependent loss of sensitivity to tartrate inhibition when incubated at room
      temperature, but not at 4 degrees C. 3. The loss of sensitivity to tartrate
      inhibition was associated with an activation of the enzyme activity. 4. These
      changes were accompanied with a shift in the electrophoretic mobility of the
      enzyme activity from a large molecular sized form to a smaller molecular sized
      form that resembled the freshly prepared TrACP on the native acidic
      polyacrylamide electrophoresis gels, and on molecular sieve Superose-12 Fast
      Protein Liquid Chromatography. 5. Kinetic evaluations of the biochemical
      properties of the "converted" TsACP activity resembled the TrACP. 6. The apparent
      "conversion" was not unique to chicken TsACP, since similar "conversion" was
      observed with partially purified preparations of bovine bone matrix TsACP and of
      human osteoblastic TsACP. 7. Addition of several serine protease inhibitors did
      not prevent the "conversion". 8. These findings are consistent with the
      possibility that skeletal TsACPs are precursors of skeletal TrACPs.

PMID- 1451919
TI  - The effects of exercise and feeding on the activity of lipoprotein lipase in nine
      different adipose depots of guinea pigs.
AB  - 1. The activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) was measured in whole adipose tissue
      from 9 identified adipose depots of sedentary, fasting adult guinea pigs and
      following 30 min of exercise or voluntary ingestion of chow, and in adipocyte and
      stromal-vascular fractions from exercised specimens. 2. In sedentary, fasting
      specimens, LPL activity was up to 4 times higher in the small intermuscular
      depots than in the perirenal and epididymal depot (Table 1). 3. LPL activity
      increased significantly after feeding only in the large superficial depot, groin,
      and in the perirenal depot. LPL activity decreased after exercise only in the 2
      intermuscular depots and in small anterior superficial depots. These effects of
      exercise were consistently greater in males than in females (Table 3). 4.
      Following exercise, there was up to twice as much LPL in the adipocytes as in the
      stromal-vascular fraction of the intermuscular depots, about 50% more in
      adipocytes from the minor superficial depots and about equal quantities in the 2
      fractions of the intra-abdominal and groin depots (Table 2). 5. The data
      demonstrate the physiological inhomogeneity of both superficial and internal
      adipose depots, and are consistent with the hypothesis that LPL originating from
      adipose tissue may enter the circulation.

PMID- 1451920
TI  - Vegetable foods in weaning.
AB  - Vegetable foods (cereals, non-starchy vegetables, legumes) make a unique
      nutritional and metabolic contribution during weaning. They provide proteins that
      are of low biological value individually but whose value can be raised by
      consuming appropriate combinations: minimal amounts of lipids, mostly essential
      polyunsaturated fats; complex carbohydrates; and soluble fibre, which are
      fermented by colonic flora to short-chain fatty acids that have beneficial
      effects. Insoluble fibre, minerals, trace elements and vitamins are also
      nutritionally important components of vegetable foods. Vegetable foods lower the
      calorific density of meals, modulate nutrient and antigen absorption, and promote
      a physiological copropoiesis. Recent nutritional surveys have shown that 12-month
      old children eat an excessive amount of animal proteins. Whole cereals and non
      starchy vegetables, including whole legumes, should be routinely eaten during
      weaning to improve nutritional balance and to make children accustom to eating
      fibre, which has prophylactic properties. The daily intake of fibre should be
      progressively increased to 5 g during the first year of life.

PMID- 1451921
TI  - The effect of Vivida cream as compared with placebo cream in the treatment of sun
      damaged or age-damaged facial skin.
AB  - Vivida when used orally has been previously shown to be effective in treating
      degenerated skin of women. In the present study, 30 women with moderate to severe
      sun-damaged facial skin applied Vivida cream twice daily for 120 days on one side
      of the face and placebo to the other. Vivida was significantly (P < 0.001) more
      effective than placebo in improving wrinkles. The effects of Vivida cream on
      mottles and telangiectasis were also significantly (P < 0.01) greater than those
      of placebo. Scanner measurement showed that epidermal thickness increased from
      0.13 mm to 0.29 mm and dermal thickness from 0.91 mm to 1.29 mm on the Vivida
      treated side; only minimal changes were observed on the placebo-treated side. The
      elasticity index increased from about 50% to 69% on the Vivida-treated side and
      from 49% to 50% on the placebo-treated side.

PMID- 1451922
TI  - Pregnancy by means of tubal insemination and subsequent spontaneous pregnancy in
      rabbits.
AB  - The purpose of the study was to determine whether or not physical stimulation by
      tubal insemination had any unfavourable influences upon the tubal fimbria. Tubal
      insemination was carried out on 14 rabbits and subsequent pregnancy results were
      monitored. After a period of 69-123 days following tubal insemination, 10 of the
      rabbits were mated spontaneously and these rabbits were then monitored for
      pregnancy. Newborn were obtained, with normal gestation periods in six out of the
      14 rabbits, following tubal insemination and all 10 of the rabbits that were
      mated spontaneously with males following tubal insemination subsequently
      delivered. It is concluded that physical stimulation by tubal insemination does
      not produce adhesive changes on the tubal fimbria.

PMID- 1451923
TI  - Onset and duration of the effects of three antihistamines in current use-
      astemizole, loratadine and terfenadine forte--studied during prolonged,
      controlled allergen challenges in volunteers.
AB  - In a three-way, double-blind, crossover study the onset of action and effects at
      the end of the dosing interval of 10 mg/day astemizole, 10 mg/day loratadine and
      120 mg/day terfenadine forte given for 3 days to six atopic volunteers were
      assessed using the Vienna challenge chamber (VCC). With each treatment, two long
      term pollen challenges were performed in the VCC: the first to assess the onset
      of action started 1 h before the first dose and lasted continuously for 5 h; the
      second to assess the effects at the end of dosing took place 21 h after the last
      of the three doses and lasted 3 h. All three drug treatments initiated 1 h after
      the beginning of challenge with grass pollen reversed the adverse effects of
      challenge on the subjective symptoms (runny, blocked or itchy nose, sneezing,
      itchy eyes, tears) and the objective parameters (nasal secretions, nasal
      resistance, nasal flow, flow increase, nasal peak flow) within 1-3 h. The mean
      time to onset of action was 107 min for astemizole, 117 min after treatment for
      loratadine and 153 min for terfenadine forte. During the second allergen
      challenge, 21-24 h after intake, astemizole consistently provided better
      protection for all parameters than did loratadine or terfenadine forte; however
      the differences were not statistically significant.

PMID- 1451924
TI  - Clinical appraisal of vinpocetine for the removal of intractable tumoral
      calcinosis in haemodialysis patients with renal failure.
AB  - Previous studies have shown that vinpocetine [14-ethoxycarbonyl-(3 alpha, 16
      alpha-ethyl)-14,15-eburnamenine] scavenges minerals and/or metals in the soft
      tissues of rabbits with artificially induced arteriosclerosis. The present study
      was carried out to determine whether or not vinpocetine would bring about the
      removal of intractable tumoral calcinosis in haemodialysis patients with renal
      failure. After administration of 15 mg/day vinpocetine for 3-12 months in
      haemodialysis patients with X-ray evidence of tumoral calcinosis, calcinosis was
      completely eliminated in all eight cases. Serum alkaline phosphatase and bone
      osteocalcin concentrations tended to decrease after treatment with vinpocetine
      compared with before treatment. Vinpocetine thus appears to be an effective
      scavenger of tumoral calcinosis in haemodialysis patients with renal failure
      without any side-effects during treatment.

PMID- 1451925
TI  - Low-dose sultamicillin oral suspension in the treatment of mild to moderate
      paediatric infections in Turkey.
AB  - A total of 101 children (47 males, 54 females; age range, 3 months-16 years) with
      mild to moderate upper or lower respiratory tract infections, or skin and soft
      tissue infections entered a clinical study conducted at two centres in Izmir,
      Turkey. The children received a mean daily dose of 25 mg/kg sultamicillin oral
      suspension administered as two equal doses approximately 12 h apart. In total,
      100 children met all requirements for evaluability and were included in the
      clinical efficacy assessment, and 49 children were evaluated for bacteriological
      efficacy. Clinical cure was reported by the investigators in 93 patients,
      improvement in six and failure in only one. The bacteriological eradication rate
      of isolated pathogens was 100%. Of the 101 patients evaluated for drug safety,
      four experienced adverse drug-related or possibly drug-related reactions. All
      side-effects were gastro-intestinal and diarrhoea was reported in three patients.
      No discontinuation of therapy was reported, nor were any significant laboratory
      abnormalities recorded.

PMID- 1451926
TI  - An open non-comparative pilot study of the safety and efficacy of oral
      sultamicillin in the treatment of mild to moderate upper respiratory tract
      infections in children.
AB  - A total of 49 children (20 females, 29 males; age range, 6 months-12 years) with
      upper respiratory tract infections (otitis media, sinusitis, pharyngitis and/or
      tonsillitis) were treated orally with 25 mg/kg.day sultamicillin suspension in
      two equal doses for an average of 9.2 days. There was bacteriological evidence of
      sultamicillin-sensitive pathogens in 44 patients prior to treatment. On
      completion of treatment, 42 (85.7%) patients were rated as clinically cured and
      there was improvement in the remaining seven (14.2%) patients. Pathogens were
      totally eradicated in 32/44 (73.7%) cases but were still present in two (4.5%)
      and in 10 cases follow-up bacteriological evaluation was not possible.
      Tolerability of sultamicillin was good and only three possible or probable
      treatment-related adverse events were recorded.

PMID- 1451927
TI  - An open comparative study of the efficacy and safety of sultamicillin versus
      cefaclor in the treatment of acute otitis media in children.
AB  - In an open study, children (age range 6 months-12 years) with otitis media due to
      a bacterial infection were treated orally with 50 mg/kg sultamicillin (n = 30) in
      two equal doses each day for a mean of 10 days, or 40 mg/kg cefaclor (n = 30) in
      three equal doses each day for a mean of 11 days. Earache was rapidly improved by
      either treatment; none of the 27 evaluable sultamicillin-treated or the 29
      evaluable cefaclor-treated patients had earache after 8-10 days. Other signs and
      symptoms (reddened eardrums, perforated eardrums, middle ear fluid, hearing loss)
      gradually improved during treatment. All the pathogens isolated from patients in
      the sultamicillin treatment group were eradicated, as were all but one of the
      pathogens isolated from patients in the cefaclor treatment group. In the
      sultamicillin treatment group 65.4% of patients were cured and 34.6% were
      improved, and in the cefaclor group 65.5% were cured and 31.0% improved, but
      there was one treatment failure. Study drug-related adverse events were
      experienced by 33.3% of sultamicillin- and 40.0% of cefaclor-treated patients,
      all but one (urticaria in a cefaclor-treated patient) were gastro-intestinal. The
      dose administered was reduced by approximately 50% in patients experiencing
      adverse effects. This did not lead to any reduction in efficacy and no patient
      was withdrawn due to adverse events.

PMID- 1451929
TI  - Treatment of lower respiratory tract infections with sultamicillin.
AB  - Oral tablets containing 375 mg sultamicillin were used to treat 30 adult patients
      of either sex suffering from lower respiratory tract infections. The dose used
      was one tablet every 12 h for 22 cases and one tablet every 8 h for eight cases.
      The duration of therapy varied between 5 and 14 days (mean 8.6 days). The
      therapeutic response was rated as cure in 23 (76.6%) patients, with complete
      disappearance of pretreatment signs and symptoms, and as improvement in seven
      (23.3%) patients, with amelioration of the pretreatment manifestations. All 52
      microorganisms isolated before treatment were eradicated. No adverse effects were
      reported in 25 (83.3%) patients, whereas the remaining five (16.7%) patients
      reported mild loose stools with normal bowel motion. There were no abnormal
      changes in blood count and liver and renal functions following sultamicillin
      treatment.

PMID- 1451928
TI  - Relative bio-availability of sultamicillin in healthy volunteers following
      administration of two tablet formulations.
AB  - The pharmacokinetics of both ampicillin and sulbactam obtained from a balanced,
      open two-way crossover study in 20 normal adult volunteers receiving a single 375
      mg oral tablet of sultamicillin administered as two different formulations--the
      original product (Duocid) and a generic formulation that is commercially
      available in Turkey--were compared. Pharmacokinetic parameters for the two
      formulations and for both ampicillin and sulbactam were tested for bio
      equivalence by the two one-sided Student's t-test (80-120% range; P < 0.1). Area
      under concentration--time curves and maximum concentrations for both components
      were found to be non-equivalent for the two formulations, the generic formulation
      having consistently lower mean values. The results were consistent with studies
      of the in vitro release of sultamicillin from the two tablets. It is concluded
      that the generic formulation is pharmacokinetically inferior to the original
      product.

PMID- 1451930
TI  - An open multicentre study to compare the efficacy and safety of sultamicillin
      with that of cefuroxime axetil in acute ear nose and throat infections in adults.
AB  - A total of 110 adults with acute ear, nose and throat infections were treated
      orally with 750 mg/day (n = 9) or 1500 mg/day (n = 46) sultamicillin, or 500
      mg/day (n = 51) or 1000 mg/day (n = 4) cefuroxime axetil for a minimum of 5 days.
      Variations in dose and duration of treatment were due to severity of symptoms.
      After treatment with sultamicillin for 8.1 +/- 1.5 days or with cefuroxime axetil
      for 7.9 +/- 1.6 days, local pain, erythema, exudate, oedema and adenopathies were
      improved in both treatment groups and all sultamicillin-treated patients were
      apyretic. All sultamicillin-treated and all but three cefuroxime axetil-treated
      patients experienced cure or improvement; only one cefuroxime axetil-treated
      patient discontinued treatment due to treatment failure. Gastrointestinal adverse
      events occurred in both treatment groups (eight sultamicillin-treated patients
      and three cefuroxime axetil-treated patients); one patient receiving cefuroxime
      axetil discontinued treatment due to nausea. Pruritus was reported by one
      sultamicillin-treated patient.

PMID- 1451931
TI  - Sultamicillin in the treatment of obstetric and gynaecological infections.
AB  - A total of 40 adult females were studied suffering from different obstetric and
      gynaecological infections. In 30 patients two 375 mg sultamicillin tablets were
      taken twice daily, whereas 10 patients received one 375 mg sultamicillin tablet
      twice daily. The duration of treatment ranged from 5 to 12 days, with a mean of
      6.6 days. Cure or improvement was reported in 35 (87.5%) cases, whereas five
      (12.5%) patients did not respond to therapy. Of the 61 pathogens isolated before
      treatment, 56 (91.8%) were eradicated. Clinical tolerability of the therapy was
      excellent, with no adverse effects being observed in any of the studied patients.
      The absence of significant differences between the mean values of blood count,
      hepatic and renal function tests performed before and after treatment confirmed
      the safety of treatment. It is concluded that sultamicillin is a suitable and
      useful additional antibiotic therapy for the treatment of obstetric and
      gynaecological bacterial infections.

PMID- 1451932
TI  - Attachment--and loss.

PMID- 1451933
TI  - Childhood physical disability and attachment.

PMID- 1451934
TI  - Myelomeningocele: a review of the orthopaedic aspects of 206 patients treated
      from birth with no selection criteria.
AB  - Two hundred and six consecutive children with spina bifida who have been treated
      since the first day of life were analysed in terms of walking ability, motor
      level, orthopaedic deformities, operative procedures and balance deficit. The
      authors found that: (1) ambulation was quite delayed compared with the normal
      population; (2) sitting balance was a useful predictor of future walking; (3)
      almost all patients with quadriceps function were able to walk and were community
      ambulators; and (4) a significant number of congenital and acquired orthopaedic
      deformities required surgical intervention.

PMID- 1451935
TI  - Perceptions of pediatricians' helpfulness: a national study of mothers of young
      disabled children.
AB  - A national sample of 503 mothers of young children (up to six years of age) with
      developmental disabilities was surveyed to determine the extent to which their
      family pediatricians are helpful in providing information and support. The
      respondents ranged from lower-middle to upper class, with the mean SES reflective
      of middle socio-economic status. Their children had a variety of disabilities
      that qualified them to receive early intervention services. The majority of the
      mothers found their pediatricians helpful about issues related directly to their
      child's medical condition. However, few found them helpful with issues relating
      to the effect of the disability on their child's development, or to their own
      personal or family needs.

PMID- 1451936
TI  - The effects of maternal epidural anesthesia on neonatal behavior during the first
      month.
AB  - The effects of maternal epidural anesthesia with bupivacaine on the infant's
      performance on the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) over the first
      month of life were examined. 20 non-medicated infants were matched for biomedical
      and demographic variables with 20 infants delivered with bupivacaine epidural
      anesthesia. The NBAS was administered on days 1, 3, 7 and 28. The epidural group
      showed poorer performance on the orientation and motor clusters during the first
      month of life. Epidural mothers reported spending less time with their infants
      while in the hospital; post hoc analyses showed that they had longer labor, more
      forceps deliveries and a greater amount of oxytocin. Controlling for the effects
      of these medical variables, a dose effect was found for the mean orientation and
      motor cluster scores. The results are discussed in terms of possible effects of
      the infant's early disorganization on the mother-infant interaction.

PMID- 1451937
TI  - Fanconi anemia: a model for genetic causes of abnormal brain development.
AB  - Fanconi anemia is an autosomal recessive disease resulting in bone-marrow
      failure, phenotypical abnormalities and predisposition to malignancy. The authors
      reviewed 257 clinical and neuropathology results from the International Fanconi
      Anemia Registry at The Rockefeller University. Two patients had hydrocephalus and
      ventriculoperitoneal shunts. Of 15 neuropathology reports, 10 found CNS
      abnormalities, with the most common--ventriculomegaly--seen in six, two of whom
      required shunts. Aqueductal stenosis, agenesis of the corpus callosum and septum
      pellucidum, and holoprosencephaly were found. The authors conclude that
      neurological derangements are probably more common in Fanconi anemia than
      previously recognised. Fanconi anemia cells in culture are highly sensitive to
      oxidative stress and alkylating agents; Fanconi anemia may provide a model for a
      genetic disorder potentially predisposing to environmental insults.

PMID- 1451938
TI  - Antecedents and outcome of simple and complex febrile convulsions among Saudi
      children.
AB  - Of 215 Saudi children seen with their first febrile convulsion (FC) at the King
      Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, between January 1984 and December 1988, the
      index FC was simple for 133 children and complex for the remaining 82. History of
      adverse antecedent factors, particularly perinatal asphyxia, birth injuries and
      pre-existing neurological deficits, were significantly more associated with
      complex FC, as was occurrence of first FC before the age of 12 months. Recurrence
      of FCs and development of epilepsy were also more common among the group of
      children with complex FC. Complex FCs were less benign in the present study
      population than has been reported in some Western studies.

PMID- 1451939
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging in pseudotumor cerebri.
AB  - The pathophysiology of pseudotumor cerebri is unclear, but may relate to an
      abnormality in water transport in the brain. The authors performed MR imaging in
      seven children with pseudotumor cerebri; the signal intensity in the white matter
      was normal in all patients. These data suggest that periventricular brain water
      content is not increased markedly in children with pseudotumor cerebri. The
      authors speculate that this may relate to the establishment of an equilibrium
      between increased resistance to cerebrospinal fluid outflow and increased brain
      stiffness, occurring as a consequence of increased cerebral blood-volume and/or
      interstitial pressure.

PMID- 1451940
TI  - Epidemiology of headache and childhood migraine in an urban general practice
      using Ad Hoc, Vahlquist and IHS criteria.
AB  - In a survey conducted by a UK urban general practice, 98.1 per cent (1083) of the
      children registered aged three to 11 years took part in an interview. Possible
      migraine subjects took part in an extended interview, the results of which were
      recorded using three different sets of diagnostic criteria: Vahlquist, Ad Hoc and
      International Headache Society. The prevalence of migraine ranged from 3.7 to 4.9
      per cent, depending on the criteria used. The prevalence of migraine with aura
      (1.5 per cent) was similar by all criteria, whereas that for migraine without
      aura ranged from 2.2 to 3.4 per cent. The prevalence of migraine increased with
      age. The IHS criteria appeared less sensitive than the Ad Hoc for migraine
      without aura. Operational criteria using three attacks lasting longer than one
      hour may be more specific for the diagnosis of migraine in young children.

PMID- 1451941
TI  - Transient loss of speech followed by dysarthria after removal of posterior fossa
      tumour.
AB  - The authors report three children who suffered transient loss of speech during
      six to eight weeks following removal of a large midline cerebellar tumour. None
      manifested speech difficulties immediately after surgery, but all developed
      mutism within 24 to 48 hours. The speech of all children slowly but completely
      recovered, after a period of severe dysarthria. The re-organization of speech
      functions is discussed in relation to the functioning of musculature.

PMID- 1451942
TI  - Pathological left-handedness and preserved function associated with a slowly
      evolving brain tumor.
AB  - The authors report the serial neuropsychological evaluations of a patient with
      acquired left-handedness who had a massive brain tumor that infiltrated the
      entire temporal and posterior parietal lobes of the left hemisphere. Although the
      patient had pre-operative impairment of non-verbal memory, follow-up assessment
      31 and 66 months after the tumor was resected revealed cognitive functions to be
      in the high-average to superior range. This case demonstrates the sparing of
      neuropsychological functions that can be seen with a slowly evolving lesion. The
      authors suggest that such functional sparing may be due to transfer of function
      rather than to the residual function of tumor-infiltrated neuronal tissue.
      Possible mediators of functional preservation include slow lesion growth, the
      patient's youth at disease onset and the large size of the lesion.

PMID- 1451943
TI  - 'Identification of neurodevelopmental abnormality at four and eight months by the
      movement assessment of infants'.

PMID- 1451945
TI  - The fiftieth anniversary of hypoglycaemic sulphonamides. How did the mother
      compound work?

PMID- 1451944
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging of the kidney in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes
      mellitus.
AB  - Reductions in the physiological cortical to medullary signal intensity ratio are
      found in magnetic resonance scans of the kidney in non-diabetic glomerular
      disease. Whether this abnormality can also characterise patients with Type 1
      (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and nephropathy is not known. We measured
      the cortical to medullary signal intensity ratio in magnetic resonance images of
      the kidney in 34 patients with Type 1 diabetes (ten with either clinical
      proteinuria or raised serum creatinine or both, nine with microalbuminuria, seven
      with normal urinary albumin excretion and long duration of diabetes and eight
      with Type 1 diabetes of short duration). The cortical to medullary signal
      intensity ratio showed a trend to cluster at lower values in the normoalbuminuric
      patients with normal serum creatinine rather than in the nine healthy
      individuals, independent of Type 1 diabetes duration (1.47 +/- 0.06 and 1.41 +/-
      0.13 vs 1.63 +/- 0.16; five groups Scheffe F-test p = 0.05-0.1). Among the Type 1
      diabetic patients, significant reductions in the cortical to medullary signal
      intensity ratio characterised overt nephropathy (1.19 +/- 0.15, p less than 0.05
      vs all groups), but not microalbuminuria (1.47 +/- 0.13, p = NS), concomitantly
      with low glomerular filtration rate and elevated fractional excretion of uric
      acid, but independent of glycaemic control. The determinants of the renal
      cortical to medullary signal intensity ratio in Type 1 diabetes are uncertain.
      Reductions in the cortical to medullary signal intensity ratio may be a late
      finding in diabetic nephropathy, and parallel the accompanying impairment in
      kidney haemodynamics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451946
TI  - Protective effect of vitamin E supplementation on increased thermal stability of
      collagen in diabetic rats.
AB  - Products similar to non-enzymatic glycation end products are known to arise from
      the interactions between proteins and lipid peroxides in vitro. In this study, we
      assessed the effect of vitamin E, which possibly modifies lipid peroxide, on
      advanced glycation end products or similar products in vivo by measuring the
      fluorescence and thermal rupture time of tail tendon collagen in streptozotocin
      induced diabetic rats. The diabetic rats and non-diabetic rats were fed a vitamin
      E supplemented diet, and a control diet starting 3 days after the streptozotocin
      injection. After the 4-week treatment, the serum lipid peroxide levels expressed
      as thiobarbituric acid reactants in the diabetic rats on control diet (15.9 +/-
      2.6 mumol/l[SEM]) were significantly (p less than 0.05) higher than in the non
      diabetic rats (7.9 +/- 1.3 mumol/l on control diet and 3.3 +/- 0.4 mumol/l on
      supplemented diet), but the levels in the diabetic rats on supplemented diet (7.9
      +/- 2.3 mumol/l) were reduced to the normal levels. No significant differences
      were found in serum glucose and glycated haemoglobin levels within the diabetic
      rats on control and supplemented diets. Both the fluorescence and thermal rupture
      time of collagen were significantly (p less than 0.05) increased in the diabetic
      rats on both diets compared with those in the corresponding non-diabetic rats.
      Although there was no significant difference in the collagen-linked fluorescence
      within the diabetic rats on control and supplemented diets, the thermal rupture
      time was significantly (p less than 0.01) shortened with supplemented diet (10.8
      +/- 0.7 min on supplemented diet vs 15.0 +/- 0.7 min on control diet).(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451947
TI  - Insulin secretion by rat islet isografts of a defined endocrine volume after
      transplantation to three different sites.
AB  - We have analysed the graft function of rat islet isografts of identical and well
      defined endocrine volumes after transplantation to three different sites (kidney,
      liver and spleen). Graft endocrine mass was determined by measuring the total
      islet volume prior to transplantation and was chosen to be similar to the
      endocrine volume in the normal adult rat pancreas. Graft function was tested in
      unanaesthetized, unstressed rats by the responses to glucose infusion and to a
      meal. All transplanted animals returned to normoglycaemia within one week after
      transplantation. At one month, basal glucose and insulin levels were similar to
      controls in rats with grafts to the spleen, but higher in rats with grafts to the
      kidney or liver. Irrespective of the transplantation site, recipients had higher
      glucose and lower insulin levels than controls in response to glucose infusion,
      but in response to a meal these differences from normal were less obvious.
      Finally, recipients showed both an acute insulin response to glucose infusion as
      well as a pre-absorptive insulin release after food ingestion, irrespective of
      the transplantation site. Our findings indicate that the insulin response to
      glucose infusion and to a meal is quantitatively reduced, but qualitatively
      intact after transplantation to the kidney, liver or spleen.

PMID- 1451948
TI  - Role of infiltrating T cells for impaired glucose metabolism in pancreatic islets
      isolated from non-obese diabetic mice.
AB  - Pancreatic islets isolated from non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, all of which have
      insulitis, exhibit an impaired glucose metabolism. In order to investigate the
      role of infiltrating lymphocytes for this altered metabolism, we injected 12- to
      13-week-old female NOD mice with monoclonal antibodies directed against either
      the alpha beta-T cell receptor, CD4+ or CD8+ T cells. Control NOD mice were
      injected with normal rat IgG or with the vehicle (phosphate buffered saline)
      alone. Injection of the three different monoclonal antibodies markedly reduced
      the mononuclear cell infiltration. An intravenous glucose tolerance test showed
      no differences between the groups. Islet insulin release in response to glucose
      was similar in all groups. In contrast, islets isolated from the control NOD mice
      with insulitis showed a high basal (1.7 mmol/l glucose) glucose oxidation rate
      and a small increase in the glucose oxidation rate in response to a high glucose
      concentration (16.7 mmol/l glucose). The monoclonal antibodies counteracted the
      elevated basal glucose oxidation rate of the islets. Parallel studies of
      stimulated mononuclear cells suggested that the contribution of glucose oxidized
      by islet-infiltrating lymphocytes could only partially explain the observed
      alterations in NOD mouse islet metabolism. Culture of islets obtained from NOD
      mice in the presence of the cytokine interleukin-1 beta induced a similar pattern
      of glucose metabolism as seen earlier in IgG or phosphate-buffered saline treated
      control NOD mice. In conclusion, alterations in the glucose oxidation rates seem
      to be an early sign of disturbance in islets isolated from NOD mice. These early
      alterations in glucose metabolism can be reversed in vivo by monoclonal
      antibodies directed against effector lymphocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1451949
TI  - Acute actions of insulin-like growth factor II on glucose metabolism in adult
      rats.
AB  - The metabolic potency of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor II was
      studied in anaesthetized adult rats by obtaining dose-response curves for the
      hypoglycaemic action and for the stimulation of glucose metabolism during
      euglycaemic clamping. Compared to insulin, about 50 times higher doses of insulin
      like growth factor II were required to result in identical in vivo responses,
      with half-maximally effective serum concentrations for the stimulation of glucose
      disposal during clamp studies of about 0.8 and 50 pmol/ml, respectively. A
      similar difference in potency was observed for the dose-dependent stimulatory
      actions on glucose metabolism in individual target tissues. Half-maximally
      effective serum concentrations in the range of 0.8 to 3.0 pmol/ml for insulin and
      of 40 to 70 pmol/ml for insulin-like growth factor II were seen to be required
      for 2-deoxyglucose uptake, glycogen formation in skeletal muscle and lipogenesis
      in epididymal fat. Maximal responses were identical with both peptides. These
      data suggest that in vivo acute metabolic actions of insulin-like growth factor
      II on carbohydrate metabolism occurred through insulin receptors.

PMID- 1451950
TI  - Persistent reduction of pancreatic beta-cell mass after a limited period of
      protein-energy malnutrition in the young rat.
AB  - Kwashiorkor, the human disease of protein-energy malnutrition, has been
      implicated in the aetiology of malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus, a form of
      diabetes not uncommon in developing countries. We have previously demonstrated
      that temporary protein-energy malnutrition in young rats causes a persisting
      impairment of insulin secretion. The present study investigates whether this
      secretory deficiency is accompanied by structural alterations of the endocrine
      pancreas. Three-week-old rats were weaned onto semi-synthetic diets containing
      either 15% or 5% protein and these diets were maintained for 3 weeks. From 6
      weeks of age all rats were fed a commercial chow containing 18% protein. The
      endocrine pancreas was investigated by light and electron microscopic morphometry
      at 3, 6 and 12 weeks of age. In rats not subjected to protein-energy malnutrition
      there was a progressive increase, with age, of total pancreatic Beta-cell weight
      and individual Beta-cell size. In 6-week-old rats fed the low protein diet total
      pancreatic Beta-cell weight and individual Beta-cell size were diminished. In 12
      week-old rats previously fed the low protein diet total Beta-cell weight remained
      lower compared to control rats. It is concluded that protein-energy malnutrition
      early in life may result in a diminished reserve for insulin production. This may
      predispose to glucose intolerance or even diabetes in situations with an
      increased insulin demand.

PMID- 1451951
TI  - Effects of aminoguanidine on peripheral nerve function and polyol pathway
      metabolites in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.
AB  - The effect of 2 months aminoguanidine treatment on nerve conduction abnormalities
      was studied in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Treatment with aminoguanidine from
      the induction of diabetes mellitus prevented a 22% decrease in sciatic motor
      nerve conduction velocity (p less than 0.001), and a 10% deficit in sensory
      saphenous conduction velocity (p less than 0.01). There was a 49% increase in
      resistance of sciatic nerve to hypoxic conduction failure in vitro. This was not
      significantly affected by aminoguanidine treatment. Sciatic nerve polyol pathway
      metabolites, sorbitol and fructose, were elevated 10-fold by diabetes (p less
      than 0.001). Myo-inositol levels were 18% decreased by diabetes. Aminoguanidine
      treatment had no significant effect on sorbitol, fructose or myo-inositol levels.
      Aminoguanidine has been identified as both an inhibitor of the formation of
      advanced glycation end products, and an aldose reductase inhibitor. The data
      suggest that beneficial actions on nerve function do not depend on the latter
      property. They support the notion that advanced glycation end products contribute
      to the aetiology of early diabetic neuropathy, possibly acting via a vascular
      mechanism, and that aminoguanidine treatment may have therapeutic applications.

PMID- 1451952
TI  - Life table analysis of the risk of type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus
      in siblings according to islet cell antibodies and HLA markers. An 8-year
      prospective study.
AB  - To determine whether genetic markers can improve the predictive value of islet
      cell antibodies for development of Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus,
      536 siblings aged 2-29 years were consecutively enrolled in a 8-year prospective
      survey. The risk of developing diabetes was estimated, using life-table methods,
      by years of follow-up and age, according to genetic factors (shared HLA
      haplotypes, DR antigens, C4 allotypes) and islet cell antibody status. Fifteen
      siblings (2.8%) developed Type 1 diabetes during the study period (risk 4.4%
      after 8 years, 4% by age 22 years). DR3,4 heterozygosity identified higher risk
      (16% after 8 years, 12% by age 22 years, p less than 10(-5)) than HLA-identity
      (10% and 7%, respectively, p less than 0.01); risks for DR3 or DR4 positive and
      for haplo-identical siblings were low (4%, 3% and 4.4%, respectively, NS). C4BQO
      also conferred significant risk (11% vs 3% in non-C4BQO siblings, p less than
      0.01). The predictive value of genetic markers alone was poor (12% for DR3,4, 7%
      for HLA-identity, 9% for C4BQO) compared with that of islet cell antibody levels
      greater than 4 Juvenile Diabetes Foundation units (41%, risk 56% after 8 years, p
      less than 10(-7)). HLA markers significantly contributed to risk prediction in
      combination with islet cell antibodies: islet cell antibody-positive DR3,4+
      subjects had the highest risk (70% after 8 years, predictive value 58%, p less
      than 10(-7)) compared with islet cell antibody-positive DR3,4- (37% and 20%,
      respectively) and islet cell antibody-negative DR3,4+ (5% and 3.6%,
      respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451953
TI  - Reproducibility of glycaemic thresholds for activation of counterregulatory
      hormones and hypoglycaemic symptoms in healthy subjects.
AB  - Nine healthy subjects were studied on two separate occasions, at least two weeks
      apart, using the glucose clamp technique to produce a gradual hypoglycaemia.
      Glucose thresholds for neuroendocrine and symptom responses varied up to 1.5
      mmol/l between subjects. There was a significant correlation between individual
      glucose thresholds on day 1 and 2 for adrenaline (p = 0.0008), growth hormone (p
      = 0.007) and pancreatic polypeptide (p = 0.02), and for autonomic (p = 0.018) and
      neuroglycopoenic (p = 0.023) symptoms, whereas no significant correlations were
      found for glucagon and cortisol. The mean intra-individual differences in glucose
      thresholds between day 1 and 2 were 0.22 mmol/l for the hormones and 0.25 mmol/l
      for the symptoms. We conclude that healthy subjects differ in hypoglycaemic
      thresholds, and that the difference reflects individual variation.

PMID- 1451954
TI  - Factors associated with basal metabolic rate in patients with type 2 (non-insulin
      dependent) diabetes mellitus.
AB  - To examine determinants of basal metabolic rate we studied 66 Type 2 (non-insulin
      dependent) diabetic and 24 healthy age- and weight-matched control subjects with
      indirect calorimetry and infusion of [3H-3-] glucose. Eight Type 2 diabetic
      patients were re-studied after a period of insulin therapy. Basal metabolic rate
      was higher in Type 2 diabetic patients than in control subjects (102.8 +/- 1.9
      J.kg LBM-1.min-1 vs 90.7 +/- 2.8 J.kg LBM-1.min-1; p less than 0.01) and
      decreased significantly with insulin therapy (p less than 0.01). The basal rate
      of hepatic glucose production was higher in Type 2 diabetic patients than in
      control subjects (1044.0 +/- 29.9 vs 789.3 +/- 41.7 mumol/min; p less than 0.001)
      and decreased after insulin therapy (p less than 0.01). Hepatic glucose
      production correlated positively with basal metabolic rate both in Type 2
      diabetic patients (r = 0.49; p less than 0.001) and in control subjects (r =
      0.50; p less than 0.05). Lipid oxidation was increased in Type 2 diabetic
      patients compared with control subjects (1.68 +/- 0.05 vs 1.37 +/- 0.08 mumol.kg
      LBM-1.min-1; p less than 0.01) and decreased significantly after insulin therapy
      (p less than 0.05). The rate of lipid oxidation correlated positively with basal
      metabolic rate both in Type 2 diabetic patients (r = 0.36; p less than 0.01) and
      in control subjects (r = 0.51; p less than 0.01). These data demonstrate that
      basal metabolic rate, rates of hepatic glucose production and lipid oxidation are
      interrelated in Type 2 diabetic patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451955
TI  - Oral contraceptive use and the risk of type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes
      mellitus in a large prospective study of women.
AB  - We examined the association between oral contraceptive use and incidence of Type
      2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus among 115117 female nurses free of
      diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer in 1976 and followed-up for 12 years.
      During 1237440 person years of follow-up, 2276 women who provided information on
      oral contraceptive use were clinically diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Women who
      used oral contraceptives in the past had only a slight and marginally increased
      relative risk of 1.10 (95% confidence interval 1.01, 1.21) compared to those
      women who had never used oral contraceptives after controlling for known risk
      factors of disease. We found no evidence of increased risk with longer duration
      of use or with shorter interval since last use. Current users did not have an
      increased risk of Type 2 diabetes (relative risk = 0.86, 95% confidence interval
      0.46, 1.61) when compared to women who had never used the drug. There was no
      effect modification by obesity, family history of diabetes, or physical activity.
      These data suggest that past or current oral contraceptive use does not
      substantially influence subsequent risk of Type 2 diabetes.

PMID- 1451956
TI  - Trends in mortality from diabetes mellitus in Taiwan, 1960-1988.
AB  - The increasing trends of mortality from diabetes mellitus in Taiwan are becoming
      a public health concern. The age-adjusted death rate for diabetes was 3.7 per
      100,000 population in 1960, which increased to 23.2 per 100,000 in 1988, a 6.3
      fold increase over the past 30 years. The mortality data for diabetes in Taiwan
      from 1960 to 1988 for both sexes are presented and analysed using an age-period
      cohort model in order to gain a better understanding of the possible determinants
      of the time trends of this disease. Steeply increasing trends which are
      particularly prominent in the elderly are found in the periods studied. Females
      and urban dwellers demonstrated greater risks for developing the disease.
      Significant cohort effects were found which peaked in the birth-cohort 1910-1917.
      This declined thereafter for females but has levelled since then for males.
      Further study is necessary to assess the aetiological implications of diet and
      urbanization on time trends of diabetes.

PMID- 1451957
TI  - An increased level of antibodies to beta-lactoglobulin is a risk determinant for
      early-onset type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus independent of islet
      cell antibodies and early introduction of cow's milk.
AB  - Using a case-control design we have studied whether antibodies to cow's milk
      proteins are risk determinants for childhood-onset Type 1 (insulin-dependent)
      diabetes mellitus independent of early exposure to cow's milk formula and islet
      cell antibodies. Sera from 116 recent-onset diabetic children and 112 age- and
      sex-matched control children were analysed for cow's milk protein IgA, IgG and
      IgM antibodies, beta-lactoglobulin IgA and IgM antibodies and islet cell
      antibodies. The titres were compared to questionnaire data on duration of breast
      feeding and introduction of formula feeding. Most antibody levels tended to be
      increased among diabetic compared to control children. This was statistically
      significant for cow's milk protein IgA antibodies (p less than 0.001) and beta
      lactoglobulin IgA antibodies (p less than 0.01) as well as for islet cell
      antibody-positivity which was found among 92% of the diabetic and 3% of control
      children. The differences in cow's milk protein antibodies as well as beta
      lactoglobulin antibodies were more pronounced among children with an early onset
      of Type 1 diabetes. Breast-feeding duration was significantly inversely related
      to the log of beta-lactoglobulin IgG (r = -0.16, p = 0.04) and the log of cow's
      milk protein IgA antibodies (r = -0.17, p less than 0.001). A positive
      correlation was found between formula feeding and the logarithm of beta
      lactoglobulin IgG antibodies (r = 0.22, p = 0.01) and the log of cow's milk
      protein IgA antibodies (r = 0.16, p = 0.04).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451958
TI  - Disease-associated anti-bovine serum albumin antibodies in type 1 (insulin
      dependent) diabetes mellitus are detected by particle concentration
      fluoroimmunoassay, and not by enzyme linked immunoassay.
AB  - We recently developed a particle concentration fluoroimmunoassay for the
      measurement of serum antibodies to bovine serum albumin in patients with Type 1
      (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. We observed elevated IgG-anti-bovine serum
      albumin antibodies in 100% of newly-diagnosed diabetic children and in 2.5% of
      matched control children. Here we compare the fluoroimmunoassay and the more
      commonly available enzyme linked immunoassay technique, exchanging coded serum
      samples from 40 newly-diagnosed diabetic children and 179 control children
      between two laboratories. Particle concentration fluoroimmunoassay detected
      elevated IgG-anti-bovine serum albumin antibodies in all diabetic children,
      enzyme immunoassay in 25% (p less than 0.0001). Fluoroimmunoassay detected
      elevated levels in 2.2% and enzyme immunoassay in 10% of control children (p less
      than 0.002). Elevated IgA-anti-bovine serum albumin antibodies in patients were
      slightly more often detected by fluoroimmunoassay than by enzyme immunoassay,
      while in control children enzyme immunoassays detected elevated levels three
      times more often (p less than 0.01). Values measured in either assay showed
      overall no correlation in either patient (IgG:rs = 0.28; IgA:rs = 0.11) or
      control sera (IgG:rs = 0.02; IgA:rs = -0.05). Fluoroimmunoassay for IgG was 100%
      disease-sensitive (enzyme immunoassay: 25%, p less than 0.0001) and more disease
      specific (IgG; p less than 0.02). Our findings demonstrate that these assay
      techniques detected distinct subsets of anti-bovine serum albumin antibodies with
      little (IgG) or some (IgA) overlap. In fluoroimmunoassay procedures,
      antigen:antibody binding occurs within 1-2 min while hours are allowed in an
      enzyme immunoassay.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451959
TI  - Increases in plasma lysosomal enzymes in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes
      mellitus: relationship to diabetic complications and glycaemic control.
AB  - Lysosomal enzymes degrade membrane glycoconjugates, and increased circulating
      enzyme activity may be an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of diabetic
      microangiopathy. We have assayed a profile of seven lysosomal enzyme activities
      (nmol.h-1.ml-1) in platelet-free plasma from 54 Type 1 (insulin-dependent)
      diabetic subjects (median age 31 years) and 42 matched normal control subjects. A
      significant increase in median (interquartile range) enzyme activity was measured
      in diabetic compared to control subjects for beta-D-glucuronidase, 121 (97.7-171)
      vs 88.8 (62.8-113), p less than 0.001; beta-D-Nacetylglucosaminidase, 693 (568
      799) vs 568 (462-686), p less than 0.001; alpha-D-mannosidase, 23.8 (16.7-28.9)
      vs 14.5 (10.1-20.0), p less than 0.001; and beta-D-galactosidase, 6.94 (6.11
      9.99) vs 6.66 (4.78-8.33), p less than 0.04. In contrast, alpha-L-fucosidase,
      alpha-D-galactosidase and beta-D-mannosidase activities were similar in diabetic
      and control subjects. None of the enzyme activities differed significantly (p
      less than 0.05) between 24 diabetic patients with clinical complications and 30
      complication-free diabetic patients with similar glycaemic control which does not
      support the hypothesis that enzyme increases in diabetes arise simply by leakage
      from damaged tissues. In the diabetic subjects HbA1, median (interquartile range)
      9.10 (7.40-10.60), was significantly related to beta-D-glucuronidase (rs = 0.56,
      p less than 0.001) and beta-D-Nacetylglucosaminidase (rs = 0.55, p less than
      0.001). We have therefore demonstrated in diabetic subjects an increase in
      certain lysosomal glycosidases, that correlates with glycaemic control.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1451960
TI  - The small heat shock protein hsp25 is accumulated in P19 embryonal carcinoma
      cells and embryonic stem cells of line BLC6 during differentiation.
AB  - Murine embryonal carcinoma and embryonic stem cell lines were investigated with
      regard to the occurrence of the small heat shock protein hsp25 during cell growth
      and differentiation. In the embryonal carcinoma cell line F9 considerable
      constitutive levels of hsp25 were observed which could be slightly increased by
      treatment with retinoic acid. No hsp25 was found, however, in the embryonal
      carcinoma cell line PCC4. When analyzing the pluripotent embryonal carcinoma cell
      line P19 and the pluripotent embryonic stem cell line BLC6, both characterized by
      high differentiation capacity, no hsp25 was observed under cell culture
      conditions maintaining the undifferentiated state. Induction of differentiation
      caused by prolonged cell culture, retinoic acid treatment, or embryoid body
      formation, however, resulted in an increase of the level of hsp25. The finding
      that hsp25 is accumulated in a differentiation-dependent manner suggests that
      this protein is associated with processes involved in differentiation. Therefore,
      hsp25 can be regarded as a marker of differentiation in the investigated
      embryonal carcinoma cell line P19 and the embryonic stem cell line BLC6.

PMID- 1451961
TI  - The hamster cheek pouch as a convenient ectopic site for studies of uterine
      morphogenesis and endocrine responsiveness.
AB  - The Syrian hamster cheek pouch was evaluated as a convenient transplantation site
      for studies of estrogen-dependent uterine growth and morphogenesis. At one month
      of age, hosts were either ovariectomized (Ovex) or ovariectomized and estrogen
      implanted (Ovex+E2), and at the same time the uterus from a 7-day old untreated
      donor was transplanted into the host's right cheek pouch. Periodic inspection (by
      simple eversion of the pouch) revealed viable transplants in the majority of
      hosts for both groups, and clear evidence of estrogen-dependent transplant growth
      that continued for at least 9 months. At that time, weight of the transplanted
      uterus was comparable to that of a given host's own in situ uterus, but uteri at
      both sites weighed six to eightfold more in Ovex+E2 hosts than in Ovex hosts.
      Histological analysis also revealed similar degrees of endometrial atrophy in
      Ovex hosts and hypertrophy/hyperplasia in Ovex+E2 hosts for both in situ and
      transplanted uteri. Furthermore, while only scant and rudimentary endometrial
      glands developed in both in situ and transplanted uteri within Ovex hosts, uteri
      at both sites within the Ovex+E2 hosts were riddled with cystic glandular
      structures and exhibited marked leukocytic infiltration. These data demonstrate
      that neonatal uteri transplanted to the hamster cheek pouch will grow,
      differentiate and follow an endocrine-responsive morphogenetic program that is
      quantitatively and qualitatively consistent with that of the host's in situ
      uterus. Lastly, we were able to cleanly separate epithelium from the stroma of 5
      day old hamster uteri, reassociate the two tissues in vitro, transplant the
      recombinants into cheek pouches of adult female hamsters and subsequently observe
      growth and maintenance of a generally normal uterine morphology and
      differentiated function.

PMID- 1451962
TI  - Immunohistochemical study of secretory proteins in the developing human exocrine
      pancreas.
AB  - We have studied, by immunohistochemical methods using specific antisera, the
      development of three glycoproteins of human pancreatic secretion: lipase,
      carboxyl ester hydrolase (CEH) and the P19 protein (precursor of the non
      glycosylated protein X or "pancreatic thread/stone protein"). We have compared
      their development to that of trypsinogens (Tgs) and chymotrypsinogen A (ChTgA),
      as well as to that of FAP (feto acinar pancreatic protein), a glycoprotein
      associated with the differentiation of human pancreas. Our studies show the
      characteristic appearance and development of lipase, the immunoreactivity of
      which appears later (at the 21st week of pregnancy) than it does for Tgs and ChTg
      (at the 16th week of pregnancy). Moreover, the lipase labelling is first observed
      in a few acini dispersed in the pancreas and then spreads out progressively to be
      present in all the acini after the age of 15 days. By contrast, as soon as they
      appear, Tgs and ChTg are observed uniformly in all acinar cells. The intensities
      of the lipase, Tgs and ChTg labellings increase greatly at birth. The ontogenesis
      of CEH does not follow that of lipase but that of Tgs and ChTg. The ontogenesis
      of P19 is parallel to that of Tgs. As previously observed, FAP presents a maximal
      immunoreactivity at the 24th-27th weeks of pregnancy, which decreases slowly up
      until birth.

PMID- 1451964
TI  - The future of gastrointestinal practice and education: self-regulation or
      governmental control?

PMID- 1451963
TI  - Modulation of differentiation markers in human choriocarcinoma cells by
      extracellular matrix: on the role of a three-dimensional matrix structure.
AB  - During spontaneous or chemically induced differentiation human choriocarcinoma
      cells express typical characteristics of the normal differentiating trophoblast:
      1) increased production of peptide and steroid hormones (chorionic gonadotropin,
      placental lactogen, estrogens, progesterone); 2) increased activity of cellular
      alkaline phosphatase; 3) morphological transition from cytotrophoblast to
      syncytiotrophoblast-like cells; and 4) arrested cell proliferation. Since the
      extracellular matrix is known to control gene expression we have examined the
      effects of different substrates composed of matrix macromolecules on the
      differentiation of BeWo choriocarcinoma cells. Matrices tested were: fibronectin,
      laminin, collagens type I and type IV, the basement membrane-like complex matrix
      Matrigel, and a complex matrix extracted from human term placenta. Irrespective
      of the type of molecule(s), it was consistently found that, whenever the matrix
      molecules were presented as three-dimensional structures (as opposed to protein
      coatings on tissue culture plastic) the response of affected differentiation
      markers monitored was highly pronounced. Morphology was changed from monolayers
      to rounded colonies, cell proliferation was reduced, and the secretion of
      chorionic gonadotropin was increased up to tenfold. Heterogeneous effects were
      observed on progesterone secretion and on the activity of cellular alkaline
      phosphatase. Cell adhesion to matrix molecules, however, did not depend on the
      structure of the matrix. This study demonstrates that gene expression in these
      tumor cells can be modified by extracellular matrix and highlights that not only
      the presence of effector molecules in the matrix but also the three-dimensional
      structure of the matrix is important for the induction of differentiation.

PMID- 1451965
TI  - Presentation of the Julius Friedenwald Medal to Basil I. Hirschowitz, M.D.

PMID- 1451966
TI  - Predictors of outcome in patients with achalasia treated by pneumatic dilation.
AB  - This prospective study investigates whether the effect of pneumatic dilation in
      patients with achalasia can be predicted on the basis of patient characteristics,
      type of treatment, or results of postdilation investigations. Over a period of 10
      years, 54 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed achalasia were treated with
      pneumatic dilation and underwent pretreatment and posttreatment manometric,
      radiographic, and scintigraphic investigations. They were followed up every 2
      years until the fall of 1991. Among the factors evaluated in the initial
      examination, only young age adversely affected outcome (P < 0.05). With the
      exception of the diameter of the dilating balloon, the treatment characteristics
      had a low predictive value. Postdilation lower esophageal sphincter pressure was
      the single most valuable factor for predicting the long-term clinical response (P
      < 0.0005). However, patients with high sphincter pressures and poor treatment
      results benefited from repeated dilations by having progressively longer
      remissions. It is concluded that young patients are poor candidates for pneumatic
      dilation, that treatment should be aimed at near complete inflation of the
      dilating bag, and that postdilation sphincter pressure may guide further
      treatment.

PMID- 1451967
TI  - Patchy expression of lactase protein in adult rabbit and rat intestine.
AB  - Enzymatic and immunohistological analyses of lactase were performed at different
      stages of development and within different regions of the small intestine of the
      rabbit and rat. As previously reported, there seems to be a sharp decline of
      lactase activity on weaning but variable and higher levels of activity are seen
      in adult animals. Two monoclonal antibodies to rat lactase were available to
      study the protein in rats. Four monoclonal antibodies to human lactase were shown
      to cross-react with rabbit lactase and used for the rabbit studies.
      Immunohistological analysis of small intestine of adult rabbits and rats showed
      residual lactase protein within the enterocytes throughout the small intestine.
      In the middle of the small intestine (lower jejunum, upper ileum), uniform
      staining of the brush border was observed. In the proximal and distal regions, a
      patchy pattern of staining was observed. This pattern, which resembles that
      observed in adult hypolactasic humans, indicates an underlying heterogeneity of
      enterocyte differentiation.

PMID- 1451968
TI  - Activation of human phagocyte oxidative metabolism by Helicobacter pylori.
AB  - A characteristic feature of chronic antral gastritis is the abundant inflammatory
      response in close association with Helicobacter pylori, but the
      immunopathological mechanisms of tissue damage are unknown. Because reactive
      oxygen radicals have been implicated in the tissue damage of other chronic
      inflammatory disorders, we investigated the potential ability of H. pylori
      sonicate to influence the oxidative burst responsiveness of human
      polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes. For both cell types, a dose-dependent
      stimulation in a chemiluminescence system was observed. Furthermore,
      preincubation in sonicate caused a marked priming of the cells to subsequent
      stimulation with the oligopeptide N-f-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and phorbol
      myristate-acetate. The sonicate activity was nondialysable, completely destroyed
      by proteinase and resistant to heat treatment. However, dialysis of boiled
      sonicate significantly reduced the activity, suggesting the breakdown of a larger
      molecule(s) to smaller fragments still biologically active. Preliminary
      experiments suggest that the activity is 25-35 kilodaltons. The demonstration of
      a protein with stimulatory activity for production of reactive oxygen radicals by
      human phagocytes may contribute to the understanding of the immunopathology
      associated with H. pylori infection.

PMID- 1451969
TI  - Adaptive changes in the pyloric motor response to intraduodenal dextrose in
      normal subjects.
AB  - Gastric emptying of glucose is faster after dietary supplementation of glucose,
      suggesting specific adaptation to changes in nutrient intake. In the present
      study, the effects of a continuous long-term (0-120-minute) and two short-term (0
      20- and 80-100-minute) intraduodenal infusions of dextrose (2.4 kcal/min) on
      antropyloroduodenal motility and blood glucose, plasma gastric inhibitory
      polypeptide, and insulin concentrations were evaluated in nine volunteers. In
      four volunteers, an intraduodenal infusion of triglyceride (2.4 kcal/min) was
      administered immediately after the long-term dextrose infusion. The long-term
      dextrose infusion initially increased isolated pyloric pressure waves (IPPWs) and
      basal pyloric pressure (P < 0.05 for both), but after about 30 minutes IPPWs and
      basal pyloric pressure decreased and returned to baseline within 80 minutes. Each
      short-term infusion increased IPPWs and basal pyloric pressure (P < 0.05 for
      both). Antral pressure waves remained suppressed during the long-term dextrose
      infusion. Intraduodenal triglyceride increased IPPWs and basal pyloric pressure
      (P < 0.05 for both). The long-term dextrose infusion was associated with a
      sustained increase, and both short-term dextrose infusions were associated with
      peaks in glucose, insulin, and gastric inhibitory polypeptide levels. There was
      no significant relationship between biochemical measurements and
      antropyloroduodenal motility. It is concluded that specific adaptive changes
      occur rapidly in the phasic and tonic pyloric motor response, but not the antral
      motor response, to intraduodenal dextrose.

PMID- 1451970
TI  - Uremia increases gastric mucosal permeability and acid back-diffusion injury in
      the rat.
AB  - The possibility that chronic uremia renders the gastric mucosa more susceptible
      to acid injury was investigated. A rat model of chronic renal failure was induced
      by subtotal nephrectomy. [H+] back-diffusion across the mucosa, following
      intragastric perfusion of 0.15N HCl or 15% ethanol in 0.15N HCl, was
      significantly greater in uremic than in sham-operated rats. Gastric mucous gel
      thickness and transmural potential difference were significantly lower in rats
      with renal insufficiency. Furthermore, a significantly greater acidification rate
      of the surface epithelial cells was found in uremic rats than in sham-operated
      rats during superfusion with pH 1.7 buffer. Intragastric administration of
      acidified ethanol or aspirin solutions markedly increased gastric mucosal blood
      flow (68% and 89% respectively) in the sham-operated group producing mild injury,
      in contrast to uremic rats, where a lesser increase in mucosal blood flow (7% and
      14% respectively) was associated with more pronounced mucosal injury. It was
      concluded that enhanced susceptibility to acid injury in uremia is due to a
      reduction of function of pre-epithelial, epithelial, and postepithelial elements
      of the gastric mucosal barrier.

PMID- 1451971
TI  - Differential induction of major histocompatibility complex molecules on mouse
      intestine by bacterial colonization.
AB  - The aim of this study was to determine what factors induce major
      histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules on the mouse small intestinal
      epithelium by using immunohistochemical methods. In germ-free mice, although MHC
      class I molecules such as H-2K and thymus leukemia antigen (TLa) were expressed
      on the small intestinal epithelium, class II molecules were absent. The
      introduction of microorganisms into germ-free mice induced characteristic MHC
      molecules on the small intestinal epithelial cells. The I-A molecule was induced
      on the villus tip and crypt epithelial cells 7 days after conventionalization,
      and the I-E molecule was induced on the mid villus and crypt epithelial cells 14
      days after conventionalization. The staining intensity of the H-2K molecules was
      increased 4 days after conventionalization. In contrast, TLa did not change
      during conventionalization of germ-free mice. These results suggest that the
      expression of MHC molecules, except for the TLa, is greatly dependent on the
      presence of intestinal microorganisms.

PMID- 1451972
TI  - Subepithelial collagen table thickness in colon specimens from patients with
      microscopic colitis and collagenous colitis.
AB  - Microscopic colitis and collagenous colitis are similar conditions that are
      differentiated by the presence or absence of subepithelial collagen table
      thickening. To better understand the relationship between these two disorders and
      the role of collagen table thickening in the pathogenesis of diarrhea, colonic
      mucosal biopsy specimens from 24 patients with microscopic or collagenous colitis
      and 9 control subjects were analyzed using a computer-assisted morphometric
      method to evaluate the average thickness of the subepithelial collagen table. The
      collagen table thickness in colitis patients taken together formed a multimodal
      rather than a unimodal distribution. There was no tendency for collagen table
      thickening to increase with age or with duration of symptoms. In general, the
      types and distribution of inflammatory cells were similar in patients with normal
      and thickened collagen tables. Stool weight correlated with lamina propria
      cellularity but not with collagen table thickening. The multimodal distribution
      of collagen table thickening and the lack of correlation with age, duration of
      symptoms, or inflammation suggest that microscopic colitis and collagenous
      colitis are discrete conditions, although the inflammatory changes in the two
      conditions are similar. Moreover, because stool weight correlates with lamina
      propria cellularity but not with collagen table thickening, diarrhea probably is
      caused by the inflammatory changes and not by collagen table thickening per se.

PMID- 1451973
TI  - Stimulation of acid secretion increases the gastric gland luminal pressure in the
      rat.
AB  - The gastric mucosal gland luminal pressure was measured in vivo with a pressure
      sensitive microelectrode technique (servo-null) in anesthetized rats. A
      microelectrode was inserted into a gland lumen by means of a micromanipulator at
      an angle of 30 degrees to the mucosal surface. Acid secretion was estimated by
      measuring the pH in the solution covering the mucosa. During control conditions,
      when the mucosa was secreting acid spontaneously, gland luminal pressure was 12.3
      +/- 1.2 mm Hg. At about 9 minutes after starting pentagastrin administration, the
      luminal pressure stabilized at 17.2 +/- 1.7 mm Hg. In the rats given impromidine
      (500 micrograms.kg-1.h-1) luminal pressure gradually increased (during 9-10
      minutes) from a control level of 9.0 +/- 1.9 to 17.3 +/- 2.6 mm Hg. During the
      majority of experiments, the luminal pressure oscillated at 3-7 cycles per
      minute. The results show that intraluminal pressure increases during stimulated
      acid secretion, indicating that a resistance to the volume secretion exists in
      the upper part of the gastric crypts. This hydrostatic pressure may well be the
      driving force for creating channels for acid and pepsin to cross the mucus layer
      covering the mucosal surface.

PMID- 1451974
TI  - Sex differences in gastric alcohol dehydrogenase activity in Sprague-Dawley rats.
AB  - The effects of sex differences and of fasting on gastric alcohol dehydrogenase
      activity were determined in Sprague-Dawley rats. Gastric alcohol dehydrogenase
      activity and enzyme protein levels were higher in female than in male rats.
      Ovariectomy and orchiectomy had no effect on alcohol dehydrogenase and did not
      alter the sex difference in enzyme activity. Fasting decreased the enzyme
      activity more in female than in male rats, abolishing the sex difference. Serum
      gastrin levels measured in female rats decreased on fasting and returned to
      normal levels within 24 hours of refeeding. Short- and long-term administration
      of pentagastrin to fasted and fed female rats did not affect the enzyme activity
      or enzyme protein level, except for a transient increase in enzyme activity but
      not in enzyme protein level 12 hours after administration to fasted fats.
      Omeprazole, which increased serum gastrin levels and decreased enzyme activity
      but not enzyme protein levels, was found to be a competitive inhibitor of the
      enzyme with a Ki of 0.40 mmol/L. The mechanisms for the sex differences and
      changes with fasting in rat gastric alcohol dehydrogenase activity remain
      unknown.

PMID- 1451975
TI  - Human gastric myoelectric activity and gastric emptying following gastric surgery
      and with pacing.
AB  - Postoperative gastric myoelectric activity, gastric emptying, and clinical course
      were correlated in 17 patients at high risk of developing gastroparesis after
      gastric surgery. In addition, an attempt was made to pace the stomach with an
      electrical stimulus and determine the effect of pacing on early postoperative
      gastric emptying. Gastric dysrhythmias (bradygastria, slow wave frequency < 2
      cycles/min; tachygastria, slow wave frequency > 4 cycles/min) persisted beyond
      the first postoperative day in 6 patients (35%). Delayed gastric emptying was
      identified by a radionuclide meal in 15 patients (88%), but symptoms of
      gastroparesis developed in only 6 of 15 (40%). Patients with postoperative
      gastroparesis had more frequent dysrhythmias than asymptomatic patients (67% vs.
      18%), but these differences were not significant, although we cannot exclude a
      type II statistical error. Gastric rhythm was entrained in 10 of 16 patients
      (63%). Pacing increased the gastric slow wave frequency (3.1 vs. 4.1 cycles/min;
      P < 0.01) but did not improve gastric emptying (gastric retention at 60 minutes,
      86% +/- 6% for control and 90% +/- 2% for paced). In conclusion, gastric
      dysrhythmias do not appear to play a major role in the development of
      postsurgical gastroparesis. Although gastric rhythm could be entrained in the
      majority of patients, pacing did not improve gastric emptying overall.

PMID- 1451976
TI  - Estradiol is trophic for colon cancer in mice: effect on ornithine decarboxylase
      and c-myc messenger RNA.
AB  - The mitogenic role of estradiol on the growth of colon cancer was examined in
      mice. Sham-operated or ovariectomized mice were injected with cancer cells and
      received estradiol treatment. Tumor growth was noted: tumor weights were higher
      in female than male mice. The growth of the tumors was least in ovariectomized
      mice and highest in estradiol-treated ovariectomized mice. Tumor messenger RNA
      (mRNA) levels for ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and proto-oncogenes c-myc, c-fos,
      and H-ras were examined. Two transcripts (2.2 and 2.7 kilobase pairs) of ODC were
      observed. The steady-state mRNA levels for ODC paralleled the changes observed in
      the weight of the tumors in all groups of animals. Less dramatic changes were
      observed in c-myc mRNA levels. No significant differences were observed in the
      mRNA levels for H-ras and c-fos. It thus appears likely that an increase in the
      ODC mRNA levels and, to a lesser extent, an increase in c-myc mRNA levels may be
      some of the important mechanisms by which estradiol mediates its growth effects
      on colon cancer cells in vivo.

PMID- 1451977
TI  - Modulation of salivary secretion by acid infusion in the distal esophagus in
      humans.
AB  - To examine the relationship between esophageal acid exposure and development of
      salivation and heartburn, 15 healthy subjects underwent perfusion of the distal
      esophagus with varying concentrations of hydrochloric acid, different-osmolality
      saline solutions, and deionized water. In five study subjects, hydrochloric acid
      was infused in the body of the stomach only. During the study, timed samples of
      whole and parotid saliva were collected and analyzed for flow rate and
      bicarbonate concentration. Only hydrochloric acid concentrations of 20 mmol/L or
      greater (pH 1.8 or lower) induced a rapid (within 2 minutes) and significant (P <
      0.05) increase in salivation. The hydrochloric acid-induced salivation was
      associated with significant (P < 0.05) increase in bicarbonate secretion in both
      parotid and whole saliva samples. Intravenous atropine administration completely
      inhibited hydrochloric acid-induced salivary secretion in all six subjects.
      Changes in osmolality of saline solution infused in the esophagus and
      hydrochloric acid infused in the stomach did not significantly alter parotid and
      whole saliva flow rates. These data suggest that in humans, rapid salivation in
      response to esophageal mucosal exposure to intraluminal hydrochloric acid is a pH
      dependent and osmolality-independent phenomenon that is most likely mediated by
      pH-sensitive chemoreceptors located in the esophageal mucosa.

PMID- 1451978
TI  - Decreased expression of transforming growth factor alpha during differentiation
      of human pancreatic cancer cells.
AB  - The relationship between cell differentiation and transforming growth factor
      alpha (TGF-alpha) expression in human pancreatic cancer cells was analyzed in
      Capan 1 cells. These cells differentiate either spontaneously or after butyrate
      treatment. During differentiation (spontaneous or butyrate induced), TGF-alpha
      messenger RNA (mRNA) levels decreased, whereas the TGF-beta 1 mRNA levels
      remained unchanged. TGF-alpha was present in cells as proTGF-alpha, which
      decreased after butyrate treatment. Secretion of TGF-alpha was not found. Under
      the two conditions of differentiation, the membrane-bound protein kinase C
      activity was also reduced. Conversely, long-term phorbol ester treatment
      increased both membrane-bound protein kinase C activity (260%) and TGF-alpha mRNA
      level (500%), a not significant increase of TGF-beta 1 mRNA was observed.
      However, phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate did not induce TGF-alpha synthesis or
      secretion. These data suggest that expression of TGF-alpha can be reduced in
      cancer cells; they also suggest the existence of a relationship between TGF-alpha
      expression and cell differentiation. In addition, the protein kinase C-induced
      TGF-alpha mRNA level was not followed by the increase of TGF-alpha biosynthesis,
      suggesting a translational control. Finally, the expression of TGF-alpha and 
      beta 1 messengers appears to be differently regulated.

PMID- 1451979
TI  - Immunoglobulin A antibody to a 200-kilodalton cytosolic acetaldehyde adduct in
      alcoholic hepatitis.
AB  - Considerable clinical and experimental evidence points to the importance of
      immune responses in the development of alcoholic liver disease. In the present
      study it was investigated whether circulating antibodies from patients with
      alcoholic liver disease recognize acetaldehyde-liver protein adducts. Cytosolic
      and microsomal fractions from livers of Wistar rats or from normal human liver
      were incubated with acetaldehyde (0.5-2.5 mmol/L) and/or cyanoborohydride (100
      mmol/L) then analysed by immunoblotting. Cytosolic fractions that had been
      incubated with acetaldehyde and cyanoborohydride expressed a 200-kilodalton
      protein antigen not present in untreated fractions or fractions incubated with
      acetaldehyde or cyanoborohydride alone. The 200-kilodalton antigen was recognized
      by immunoglobulin (Ig)A antibodies in a large proportion of sera from patients
      with alcoholic hepatitis (70%, n = 23), but in significantly smaller proportions
      of sera from patients with alcoholic cirrhosis without hepatitis (30%, n = 10; P
      < 0.05), heavy drinkers without overt liver disease (20%, n = 10; P < 0.02),
      patients with nonalcoholic liver disease (35%, n = 17; P < 0.05), or normal
      control subjects consuming moderate quantities of alcohol (25%, n = 20%; P <
      0.005). These results indicate that IgA antibodies to a 200-kilodalton
      acetaldehyde-protein adduct are present in a large proportion of patients with
      alcoholic liver disease and in a significantly smaller proportion of other
      individuals.

PMID- 1451980
TI  - Increased gastric mucosal perfusion in cirrhotic patients with portal
      hypertensive gastropathy.
AB  - To characterize gastric mucosal perfusion in cirrhotic patients with portal
      hypertensive gastropathy, 34 cirrhotics with this lesion and 24 noncirrhotics
      were studied by reflectance spectrophotometry and laser-Doppler flowmetry during
      endoscopy. A significant correlation was observed between the hemoglobin content
      of the gastric mucosa, measured by reflectance spectrophotometry, and the serum
      hemoglobin concentration both in cirrhotics (r = 0.72) and in noncirrhotics (r =
      0.87). IHb ratio (hemoglobin content of gastric mucosa divided by blood
      hemoglobin concentration) was higher in cirrhotics with portal hypertensive
      gastropathy than in noncirrhotics (P < 0.001), whereas the oxygen content of the
      gastric mucosa was similar in both groups. This pattern indicates that cirrhotics
      with portal hypertensive gastropathy have increased gastric perfusion without
      congestion. Gastric blood flow estimated by laser-Doppler was significantly
      higher in cirrhotics with portal hypertensive gastropathy than in noncirrhotics
      (P < 0.001). In cirrhotic patients, gastric areas with cherry red spots showed a
      significantly higher IHb ratio than areas with a mosaic or scarlatina pattern (P
      < 0.05). The magnitude of changes in gastric perfusion and the endoscopic
      severity of portal hypertensive gastropathy had no relationship with the degree
      of portal hypertension or the azygos blood flow.

PMID- 1451981
TI  - Cytological changes in the pancreas of transgenic mice overexpressing
      transforming growth factor alpha.
AB  - Transgenic mice overexpressing human transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha)
      predictably develop an enlarged, firm pancreas. The present study investigated
      the changes that occur in the different components of the pancreas in these
      animals. The increase in size of the pancreas may be accounted for by increased
      connective tissue. The added collagen is mainly type I. Thin, elongate
      fibroblasts are frequently bordered by a basal lamina, a relationship that is
      normally restricted to the perineurium. Collagen is intimately associated with
      epithelial cells. Fingers of connective tissue extend close to acinar lumina.
      Redifferentiation of acinar cells produces tubular complexes. In some cases,
      acinar cells take on the appearance of ductular cells. In some, there is a
      transition to mucin-producing cells. Intermediate forms between acinar and mucin
      producing cells are present. The growth factor is localized in acinar cells and
      decreases with redifferentiation. The pancreas of these animals routinely
      displays characteristics that also are observed in diseases of the exocrine
      pancreas in humans, including fibrosis and redifferentiation. It is likely that
      the changes are the result of both direct and indirect effects of TGF-alpha, some
      of which may parallel altered control mechanisms in human pancreatic disease.
      Study of this model may provide clues to understanding the initiation of fibrosis
      and redifferentiation in human pancreas.

PMID- 1451982
TI  - Primary sclerosing cholangitis: refinement and validation of survival models.
AB  - The natural history of primary sclerosing cholangitis was studied in 426 patients
      from five medical centers. The median follow-up time was 3.0 years (range, 0.01
      16.6 years); 100 patients had died by the time of last follow-up. Survival
      analysis (Cox proportional-hazards regression) was used to identify the variables
      most useful in predicting survival of patients with primary sclerosing
      cholangitis. Serum bilirubin concentration, histological stage on liver biopsy,
      age, and the presence of splenomegaly were independent predictors of a high risk
      of dying. A mathematical model to predict survival of patients with primary
      sclerosing cholangitis (based on referral values of those predictors) was
      statistically validated using two methods. Confidence intervals for predicting
      patient-specific survival probabilities are also presented. This model to predict
      survival could be used to stratify participants in therapeutic trials, counsel
      patients and their families, decide on candidacy for and timing of liver
      transplantation, and provide mathematical controls for evaluating the efficacy of
      therapies for primary sclerosing cholangitis, including transplantation.

PMID- 1451983
TI  - Human pancreatic tissue concentration of bactericidal antibiotics.
AB  - Pancreatic infection represents the most important cause of fatal outcome in
      human acute pancreatitis. In a comparative analysis, human pancreatic tissue
      concentrations of 10 different bactericidal antibiotics were determined in 89
      patients undergoing pancreatic surgery. Concentrations of the antibiotics were
      determined in the blood and pancreatic tissue using high-pressure liquid
      chromatography. Pancreatic tissue concentrations 120 minutes after intravenous
      administration were as follows: mezlocillin, 19.0 mg/kg; piperacillin, 20.3
      mg/kg; cefotaxime, 9.1 mg/kg; ceftizoxime, 7.9 mg/kg; netilmicin, 0.4 mg/kg;
      tobramycin, 0.4 mg/kg; ofloxacin, 1.7 mg/kg; ciprofloxacin, 0.9 mg/kg; imipenem,
      6.0 mg/kg; metronidazole, 3.5 mg/kg. Three groups of antibiotics were
      established: group A, substances with low tissue concentrations (netilmicin,
      tobramycin), which were below the minimal inhibitory concentrations of most
      bacteria found in pancreatic infection; group B, antibiotics with pancreatic
      tissue concentrations which were sufficient to inhibit some but not all bacteria
      in pancreatic infection (mezlocillin, piperacillin, ceftizoxime, cefotaxime);
      group C, substances with high pancreatic tissue levels as well as high
      bactericidal activity against most of the germs present in pancreatic infection
      (ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, imipenem). These data could serve as the basis for
      adequate antibiotic prophylaxis or treatment of pancreatic infection.

PMID- 1451984
TI  - Modulation of the hyperdynamic circulation of cirrhotic rats by nitric oxide
      inhibition.
AB  - The effects of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide
      (NO) biosynthesis on the splanchnic and systemic circulation, were investigated
      in rats with cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride. Portal hypertension in
      these rats was accompanied by decreased arterial blood pressure and peripheral
      vascular resistance as well as by splanchnic vasodilation with increased portal
      venous inflow and decreased splanchnic resistance. Intravenous bolus
      administration of L-NMMA (25 mg/kg) significantly increased systemic blood
      pressure and decreased cardiac output. L-NMMA also significantly increased
      systemic and splanchnic vascular resistance; whereas blood flow to the stomach,
      small intestine, colon, pancreas, mesentery, spleen, and kidney was decreased
      significantly. L-NMMA did not alter the portal pressure or portosystemic shunting
      in these cirrhotic rats, yet portal vascular resistance increased, suggesting
      effects on the intrahepatic and collateral circulation. Pretreatment with L
      arginine (300 mg/kg) prevented the hemodynamic changes induced by L-NMMA. These
      findings support the concept that local excess formation of NO contributes to
      changes in splanchnic circulation associated with portal hypertension in
      cirrhosis.

PMID- 1451985
TI  - Comparison of different treatment modalities in experimental pancreatitis in
      rats.
AB  - Lipolytic enzymes may play a role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis.
      Therefore, the effects of a lipase inhibitor, THL (tetrahydrolipstatin), a
      protease inhibitor, FUT (nafamostat mesilate), and albumin under different
      conditions in rats were investigated. (a) Isolated pancreatic acini were
      incubated with pancreatic homogenates and triglycerides or lecithin with or
      without albumin and the degree of cellular destruction quantitated. (b)
      Taurocholate was injected into the pancreatic duct of isolated pancreas and the
      organ continuously perfused with either FUT, THL, or albumin. Organ damage was
      evaluated by measurement of pancreatic enzymes in the portal effluence. (c)
      Necrotizing pancreatitis was induced in vivo via retrograde taurocholate
      injection. FUT, THL, or albumin was applied either intravenously or injected into
      the pancreatic parenchyma. (a) Albumin prevented the cellular damage caused by
      both fatty acids and lysolecithin. (b) THL was ineffective, FUT lowered the
      release of pancreatic enzymes into the portal effluence, and albumin was most
      effective. (c) Albumin prevented the development of panlobular necrosis and
      lowered the degree of extrapancreatic fat necrosis. Albumin, via its ability to
      bind detergents, may have therapeutic implications.

PMID- 1451986
TI  - Possible role of transforming growth factor alpha in the pathogenesis of
      Menetrier's disease: supportive evidence form humans and transgenic mice.
AB  - Menetrier's disease is an uncommon disorder of unknown etiology characterized by
      enlarged gastric folds with foveolar hyperplasia and cystic dilatation of gastric
      glands. Biochemical features that are seen frequently include hypoproteinemia,
      hypochlorhydria, and increased gastric mucus. Because transforming growth factor
      alpha (TGF alpha) is an epithelial cell mitogen that inhibits gastric acid
      secretion and increases gastric mucin content, we hypothesized that its altered
      expression might be involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. Therefore, we
      characterized TGF alpha immunoreactivity in the gastric mucosa of 4 patients with
      Menetrier's disease. In contrast to the normal pattern of TGF alpha
      immunostaining in which TGF alpha appears most concentrated in parietal cells,
      there was intense staining in the majority of mucous cells in the gastric mucosa
      of patients with Menetrier's disease. In one patient from whom sufficient fresh
      tissue was obtained to isolate RNA, expression of TGF alpha and the epidermal
      growth factor receptor was higher in the gastric mucosa relative to a normal
      control. In addition, metallothionein-TGF alpha transgenic mice, which
      overexpress TGF alpha in gastric mucosa, show a number of features characteristic
      of Menetrier's disease. These include foveolar hyperplasia and glandular cystic
      dilatation, increased gastric neutral mucin staining, and reduced basal and
      histamine-stimulated rates of acid production. Taken together, observations
      derived from the human material and correlation with data from a transgenic mouse
      model support an important role for TGF alpha in the pathogenesis of Menetrier's
      disease.

PMID- 1451987
TI  - Pacing the gut.

PMID- 1451988
TI  - Immune responses to acetaldehyde-protein adducts: role in alcoholic liver
      disease.

PMID- 1451989
TI  - Prenylation of the large hepatitis delta virus antigen: a target for antiviral
      therapy.

PMID- 1451990
TI  - Bleeding esophageal varices--inject or band?

PMID- 1451991
TI  - The special problem of colitis in the elderly: expanding the spectrum.

PMID- 1451992
TI  - Acalculous right upper quadrant pain: is cholescintigraphy worthwhile?

PMID- 1451993
TI  - Determinants of portal hypertensive gastropathy reconsidered.

PMID- 1451994
TI  - Hemodynamics of octreotide in hepatitis B-related cirrhosis.

PMID- 1451995
TI  - Manometry in classic and vigorous achalasia.

PMID- 1451996
TI  - Selective bowel decontamination and liver regeneration.

PMID- 1451997
TI  - Malabsorption secondary to intestinal hurry.

PMID- 1451998
TI  - Does erythromycin really have a prokinetic effect on the gallbladder?

PMID- 1451999
TI  - Atrial natriuretic factor in experimental cirrhosis.

PMID- 1452000
TI  - [Hormonal contraception and substitution therapy: the importance of progestogen
      for cardiovascular diseases].
AB  - Epidemiological data have demonstrated, that the progestogen component of oral
      contraceptives is involved in the development of hypertension, ischaemic heart
      diseases and stroke. It had been suggested, that atherosclerotic lesions due to
      the unfavourable effect on lipid metabolism of progestogens with androgenic
      properties, play a causal role. It has, however, been shown, that there is no
      development of atherosclerosis despite reduced HDL and elevated LDL, presumably
      because of the induction of hepatic LDL- and remnant-receptors by the strong
      effect of ethinyl-oestradiol upon the liver. A series of experimental and
      clinical findings indicates that vasospasms caused by the vasoconstrictory effect
      of progestogens are involved in the development of arterial thromboses. In
      postmenopausal women, the additional administration of progestogens to the
      oestrogen treatment may trigger ischaemic diseases, particularly in the presence
      of vascular lesions. Oestrogens exercise a pronounced vasodilatory effect and
      stabilize the vascular tonus--through changes in the responsiveness of
      endothelium and smooth muscle cells to vasoactive compounds, through modulation
      of neurotransmitter release from nerve endings, and through direct blocking of
      calcium channels. The effects depend essentially on an intact endothelium. By a
      direct action on the vascular wall, progestogens increase the sensitivity of
      arteries to vasoconstrictory compounds and reduce blood flow. As aldosterone
      increases the number of beta-adrenergic receptors in the arterial smooth muscle
      cells and thus act vasodilatorily, it cannot be excluded, that progestogens with
      high affinity to the aldosterone receptor and antimineralocorticoid properties,
      may exert a strong vasoconstrictory effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1452001
TI  - [Diagnosis of tubal function using intraluminal ultrasound--initial results].
AB  - The extremely small ultrasound transducers of the intraluminal ultrasound
      instruments, introduced via catheters, enable diagnosis to be made inside hollow
      organs. In order to test the possible uses and indications for this new method in
      gynaecology, we conducted preliminary examinations in the diagnosis of the uterus
      and tubes. We employed an intraluminal instrument supplied by Dornier. The
      intraluminal transducers of this instrument have a diameter of 3.5 and 5 F.
      Following in-vitro examinations, hysteroscopy and laparoscopy/laparotomy were
      performed in 15 patients during which the transducer was pushed up via the cervix
      uteri to the tubes with full vision. This was successful in all 15 patients; in 9
      cases the transducer could be pushed as far as the distal end. The tubal walls
      were examined in detail by this method and for the first time it became possible
      to achieve functional diagnosis of the motility of the tubes. Strictures can be
      visualised. The endometrium of the uterus, however, cannot as yet be diagnosed
      exactly by the present-day state of examination technique. If image quality can
      be further improved, this method will be the first to enable a functional
      diagnosis of the tubes and the uterus.

PMID- 1452002
TI  - [Fetal plexus cysts. An indication for prenatal karyotyping].
AB  - From March 1988 to September 1990, 1844 patients (pregnant women) were
      sonographically examined following a pregnancy monitoring programme and for
      further diagnostic clarification of unclear sonographic patterns. The ultrasound
      examinations were carried out with a 3.5 Mhz convex transducer, and by
      pregnancies before the 16th week with a 5 Mhz vaginal transducer (Toshiba SSA 250
      a), respectively. In 13 cases (0.7%), foetal chorioidal plexus cysts were found;
      in 6 of them they occurred unilaterally and in the other 7 bilaterally. In
      general, most of the cases were diagnosed between the 13th and 22nd weeks of
      pregnancy. All unilateral cysts appeared transitorily, were of small size and
      receded by the 24th week of pregnancy. From the 7 patients with bilateral plexus
      cysts, 4 foetuses showed no signs of anatomical abnormalities. In the other 3
      foetuses, it was possible, to recognise further anatomical abnormalities, when
      performing ultrasound i.e. 2 of them proved to be a trisomy 18 and the third case
      a trisomy 21.

PMID- 1452003
TI  - [Pelviscopic hysterectomy--a prospective comparative study of 40 cases].
AB  - We review to date 20 pelviscopic extirpations of the uterus. This new method of
      hysterectomy shows some advantages over the common vaginal hysterectomy. Anatomy
      of the supporting ligaments of the uterus remains the same, recovery from the
      operation goes quicker. Morbidity rate seems to be less than in the case of
      vaginal hysterectomy.

PMID- 1452004
TI  - [Systematic aspects of depot peritoneal lavage in gynecology].
AB  - After 9 years of experience in gynaecology, the systematics of depot peritoneal
      lavage is now open for discussion. Intraoperatively, a liquid residual depot of
      1.5-2.0 l Ringer's solution remains, while the abdominal cavity is continuously
      rinsed with varying amounts of liquid according to the indication. By maintaining
      the depot in all lavages, the formation of adhesions is therefore prevented.
      Forms and indications of the lavages: 1. "Postoperative Clear Lavage": a) Removal
      of blood and tissue residues must be removed b) Control/early diagnosis of
      secondary haemorrhage 2. "Adhesion Lavage": Prophylaxis 3. "Anti-septic Massive
      Lavage": In all cases of inflammatory diseases of the abdominal cavity, to
      prevent abscess and adhesion formation, and in peritonitis, to remove bacteria,
      endotoxins and detritus. In severe ascending infections, complete organ
      preservation was possible in 94% of 330 patients by combining early laparoscopy
      with an antiseptic massive lavage. Results of the first two indications will be
      published shortly.

PMID- 1452005
TI  - [The magnesium and calcium content of pre- and postmenopausal myometrium].
AB  - Magnesium and calcium, as well as sodium and potassium, have an important
      influence on the physiology of contraction of the uterus. The ionic
      concentrations in the pre- and postmenopausal myometrium were examined. We
      assumed, that there are differences in the electrolytic contents because of the
      different functions of the corpus, isthmic part and cervix uteri during pregnancy
      and throughout labour. Small tissue samples from 37 premenopausal and 20
      postmenopausal patients, who underwent an operation with different indications,
      were dissected after hysterectomy. Magnesium and calcium levels were determined
      by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and potassium and sodium by emission
      spectrometry in the wet tissue. In both groups, we found significant differences
      of the electrolytic contents of the myometrium. In the premenopausal uteri, the
      magnesium levels decrease significantly (p < 0.001) from the corpus (mean = 4.14
      mmol/kg) to the cervix (mean = 2.14 mmol/kg). The same scenario can be observed
      for the potassium levels (Corpus mean = 56.2 mmol/kg and cervix mean = 25.4
      mmol/kg). In contrary, the calcium levels (Corpus mean = 1.60 mmol/kg and cervix
      mean = 2.26 mmol/kg) and sodium levels (Corpus mean = 69.3 mmol/kg and cervix
      mean = 93.0 mmol/kg) increase significantly (p < 0.001). In the postmenopausal
      group, we found slightly elevated concentrations of magnesium, sodium and
      potassium. Only the calcium content of the corpus uteri rises up to three times
      about 20 years after the menopause (from mean = 1.60 mmol/kg) (p < 0.001). The
      electrolytic contents in the myometrium were shown to be different in the corpus,
      isthmus and cervix uteri.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452006
TI  - [Subjective stress of adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients].
AB  - 50 patients, suffering from carcinoma of the breast pT1-3 with concomitant
      metastatic affection of the lymph nodes with no evidence of distant metastases,
      and who received adjuvant chemotherapy (either CMF od AC/EC) were examined.
      Somatic and psychic interferences, the feeling of well-being and general
      condition, as well as a critical estimation of the clinical situation were
      assessed. Besides nausea and vomiting, and still prior to hair fall out,
      chemotherapy activated the memory of the carcinoma. 92% of the patients agreeing
      to chemotherapy described their decision as having been based exclusively on the
      medical information. Nevertheless, 30% feel insufficiently informed, so the fear
      of side effects, the waiting period prior to application, and the confrontation
      with the seriously ill, were described as a negative experience. An optimistic
      view with respect to improving the prognosis of the disease were correlated with
      chemotherapy: 74% would agree to a further chemotherapy. Psychic abnormalities,
      e.g. depressions, could not be shown following chemotherapy when compared to a
      reference population.

PMID- 1452007
TI  - [Acute non-immunologic hydrops fetalis with bilateral chylothorax in the 36th
      week of pregnancy].
AB  - Since the introduction of anti-D gamma-globulin prophylaxis non-immune hydrops
      fetalis (NIHF) has become the relevant and more common form of fetal hydrops. A
      case of an NIHF with chylothorax, diagnosed in the 36th week of pregnancy, is
      discussed with regard to obstetrical and neonatological management.

PMID- 1452008
TI  - [Intraplacental hematoma following chorionic villi biopsy].
AB  - One of the most typical complications following chorionic villae sampling (CVS)
      is vaginal bleeding shortly or some days after the intervention, resulting in
      abortion in some cases. We report on a case of intraplacental haematoma
      (pathology: massive subtotal acute haemorrhagic placental infarct), followed by
      acute placental insufficiency in the 29th week of pregnancy. Therefore, we
      decided on an emergency caesarean section.

PMID- 1452009
TI  - [The timing of patient education in surgical interventions].

PMID- 1452010
TI  - [Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Berlin. Meeting of 8 January 1991].

PMID- 1452011
TI  - [In the light of a petroleum lamp the operation could begin. Richard Frommel
      (1854-1912): pioneer in treatment of ruptured extrauterine pregnancy].
AB  - Richard Frommel (1854-1912) can be called an outstanding German gynaecologist
      during the late 19th century. This article is intended to give a picture of his
      life, work, and personality. Frommel was director of the department of obstetrics
      and gynaecology at the university of Erlangen from 1887 to 1901. Science owes to
      him, amongst other contributions, an important impulse for changing the therapy
      of ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Up to the present day Frommel's name together with
      that of Johann Chiari (1817-1854), serve as eponyms for a special form of the
      amenorrhoea-galactorrhoea syndrome, namely, the persistent one-post partum. It
      remains puzzling why Frommel resigned office, when he was just 46 years old,
      giving up gynaecology completely only a short time later.

PMID- 1452012
TI  - Fine structure mapping and complementation studies of the metD methionine
      transport system in Salmonella typhimurium.
AB  - A fine structure deletion map of the metD region of the chromosome of Salmonella
      typhimurium responsible for a high-affinity methionine transport system has been
      constructed. Complementation tests involving the introduction of metD+DNA
      contained in a pUC8 vector into metD strains indicated the presence of four
      complementation groups in the metD region. This suggested that the methionine
      system belongs to the osmotic shock-sensitive class of transport system, and
      therefore should possess a periplasmic methionine-binding protein and several
      membrane proteins. But a deletion mutation covering all known metD point
      mutations did not affect the level of a methionine binding activity in osmotic
      shock fluids, suggesting either that the deletion did not extend into the gene
      encoding the binding protein, or that the binding activity is not associated with
      the metD system. Possible reasons for the failure to isolate mutations in the
      gene for the binding protein are discussed.

PMID- 1452013
TI  - Genetics of sexual isolation in females of the Drosophila simulans species
      complex.
AB  - Genetic analysis of hybrids between Drosophila simulans and D. sechellia shows
      that sexual isolation in females is caused by at least two genes, one on each
      major autosome, while the X chromosome has no effect. These results are similar
      to those of a previous study of hybrids between D. simulans and another sibling
      species, D. mauritiana. In this latter hybridization, each arm of the second
      chromosome carries genes causing sexual isolation in females, implying a total
      divergence of at least three loci. The genetic similarity between the D.
      simulans/D. mauritiana and D. simulans/D. sechellia hybridizations probably
      results from independent evolution and not phylogenetic artifacts, because the
      dominance relationships and behavioural interactions differ between the two
      hybridizations. The lack of an X-chromosome effect on sexual isolation contrasts
      with genetic studies of post-zygotic reproductive isolation, which invariably
      show strong effects of this chromosome.

PMID- 1452014
TI  - Polymorphisms distinguishing different mouse species and t haplotypes.
AB  - Three anonymous chromosome 17 DNA markers, D17Tu36, D17Tu43, and D17Le66B,
      differentiate between house mouse species and/or between t chromosomes. The
      D17Tu36 probe, which maps near the Fu locus and to the In(17)4 on t chromosomes,
      identifies at least 15 haplotypes, each haplotype characterized by a particular
      combination of DNA fragments obtained after digestion with the Taq I restriction
      endonuclease. Ten of these haplotypes occur in Mus domesticus, while the
      remaining five occur in M. musculus. In each of these two species, one haplotype
      is borne by t chromosomes while the other haplotypes are present on non-t
      chromosomes. The D17Tu43 probe, which maps near the D17Leh122 locus and to the
      In(17)3 on t chromosomes, also identifies at least 15 haplotypes in Taq I DNA
      digests, of which nine occur in M. domesticus and six in M. musculus. One of the
      nine M. domesticus haplotypes is borne by t chromosomes, the other haplotypes are
      borne by non-t chromosomes; two of the six M. musculus haplotypes are borne by t
      chromosomes and the remaining four by non-t chromosomes. Some of the D17Tu43
      haplotypes are widely distributed in a given species, while others appear to be
      population-specific. Exceptions to species-specificity are found only in a few
      mice captured near the M. domesticus-M. musculus hybrid zone or in t chromosomes
      that appear to be of hybrid origin. The D17Leh66B probe, which maps to the
      In(17)2, distinguishes three haplotypes of M. domesticus-derived t chromosomes
      and one haplotype of M. musculus-derived t chromosomes. Because of these
      characteristics, the three markers are well suited for the study of mouse
      population genetics in general and of t chromosome population genetics in
      particular. A preliminary survey of wild M. domesticus and M. musculus
      populations has not uncovered any evidence of widespread introgression of genes
      from one species to the other; possible minor introgressions were found only in
      the vicinity of the hybrid zone. Typing of inbred strains has revealed the
      contribution of only M. domesticus DNA to the chromosome 17 of the laboratory
      mouse.

PMID- 1452015
TI  - The role of DNA replication and isochores in generating mutation and silent
      substitution rate variance in mammals.
AB  - It has been suggested that isochores are maintained by mutation biases, and that
      this leads to variation in the rate of mutation across the genome. A model of DNA
      replication is presented in which the probabilities of misincorporation and
      proofreading are affected by the composition and concentration of the free
      nucleotide pools. The relationship between sequence G+C content and the mutation
      rate is investigated. It is found that there is very little variation in the
      mutation rate between sequences of different G+C contents if the total
      concentration of the free nucleotides remains constant. However, variation in the
      mutation rate can be arbitrarily large if some mismatches are proofread and the
      total concentration of free nucleotides varies. Hence the model suggests that the
      maintenance of isochores by the replication of DNA in free nucleotide pools of
      biased composition does not lead per se to mutation rate variance. However, it is
      possible that changes in composition could be accompanied by changes in
      concentration, thus generating mutation rate variance. Furthermore, there is the
      possibility that germ-line selection could lead to alterations in the overall
      free nucleotide concentration through the cell cycle. These findings are
      discussed with reference to the variance in mammalian silent substitution rates.

PMID- 1452016
TI  - Evidence for random distribution of sequence variants in Tenebrio molitor
      satellite DNA.
AB  - Tenebrio molitor satellite DNA has been analysed in order to study sequential
      organization of tandemly repeated monomers, i.e. to see whether different monomer
      variants are distributed randomly over the whole satellite, or clustered locally.
      Analysed sequence variants are products of single base substitutions in a
      consensus satellite sequence, producing additional restriction sites. The ladder
      of satellite multimers obtained after digestion with restriction enzymes was
      compared with theoretical calculations and revealed the distribution pattern of
      particular monomer variants within the satellite. A defined higher order
      repeating structure, indicating the existence of satellite subfamilies, could not
      be observed. Our results show that some sequence variants are very abundant,
      being present in nearly 50% of the monomers, while others are very rare (0-1% of
      monomers). However, the distribution of either very frequent, or very rare
      sequence variants in T. molitor satellite DNA is always random. Monomer variants
      are randomly distributed in the total satellite DNA and thus spread across all
      chromosomes, indicating a relatively high rate of sequence homogenization among
      different chromosomes. Such a distribution of monomer variants represents a
      transient stage in the process of sequence homogenization, indicating the high
      rate of spreading in comparison with the rate of sequence variant amplification.

PMID- 1452017
TI  - Involvement of the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase alpha subunit in
      transcriptional activation by the bacteriophage lambda CI and CII proteins.
AB  - Escherichia coli cells harbouring the rpoA341 mutation produce an RNA polymerase
      which transcribes inefficiently certain operons subject to positive control.
      Here, we demonstrate that the rpoA341 allele also prevents lysogenization of the
      host strain by bacteriophage lambda, a process dependent upon the action of two
      phage-encoded activators. This phenomenon was shown to arise from an inability to
      establish an integrated prophage rather than a failure to maintain the lysogenic
      state. The inability of the rpoA341 host to support lysogenization could be
      completely reversed by CII-independent expression of int and cI in trans. These
      results led us to propose that the inhibition of lysogenization arises from a
      defective interaction between the phage lambda transcriptional activator CII and
      the mutant RNA polymerase at the phage promoters pI and pE. Finally, we also
      provide genetic evidence for impaired transcription of the cI gene from the CI
      activated promoter, pM in the rpoA341 background.

PMID- 1452018
TI  - Multiple protein tyrosine phosphatase-encoding genes in the yeast Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae.
AB  - In higher eukaryotic organisms, the regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation is
      known to play a major role in the control of cell division. Recently, a wide
      variety of protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase)-encoding genes (PTPs) have been
      identified to accompany the many tyrosine kinases previously studied. However, in
      the yeasts, where the cell cycle has been most extensively studied,
      identification of the genes involved in the direct regulation of tyrosine
      phosphorylation has been difficult. We have identified a pair of genes in the
      yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which we call PTP1 and PTP2, whose products are
      highly homologous to PTPases identified in other systems. Both genes are poorly
      expressed, and contain sequence elements consistent with low-abundance proteins.
      We have carried out an extensive genetic analysis of PTP1 and PTP2, and found
      that they are not essential either singly or in combination. Neither deletion nor
      overexpression results in any strong phenotypes in a number of assays. Deletions
      also do not affect the mitotic blockage caused by deletion of the MIH1 gene
      (encoding a positive regulator of mitosis) and induction of the heterologous
      Schizosaccharomyces pombe wee1+ gene (encoding a negative regulator of mitosis).
      Molecular analysis has shown that PTP1 and PTP2 are quite different structurally
      and are not especially well conserved at the amino acid sequence level. Low
      stringency Southern blots indicate that yeast may contain a family of PTPase
      encoding genes. These results suggest that yeast may contain other PTPase
      encoding genes that overlap functionally with PTP1 and PTP2.

PMID- 1452019
TI  - Imported sequences in the mitochondrial yeast genome identified by nucleotide
      linguistics.
AB  - In addition to universally appearing mitochondrial (mt) genes, origins of
      replication and transcription start regions typical of all mt genome variants of
      the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the mt genomes of some of the strains contain
      variable sequences. These sequences are apparently largely dispensable. They are
      mainly composed of group-I and -II introns and intergenic open reading frames
      (ORFs). Many of the introns contain ORFs, some of which were shown by genetic and
      biochemical means to be involved in splicing and transposition of the mt introns.
      Some of the optional sequences are hypothesized to be mobile genetic elements.
      Nucleotide (nt) sequences of the mt genome of S. cerevisiae were examined by
      analyzing occurrences of oligodeoxyribonucleotide (oligo) 'words'. This
      linguistic technique had been found to be sensitive to both function and origin
      of the sequence [Pietrokovski et al., J. Biomol. Struct. Dyn. 7 (1990) 1251
      1268]. A clear difference is found between the oligo vocabularies of the optional
      and basic yeast mt sequences. The difference is mainly located in protein coding
      segments of the optional sequences which contain conserved amino acid motifs,
      characteristic of intronic and intergenic ORFs. The use of nt linguistics to
      detect the sequence dissimilarity and its causes in yeast mitochondria provides
      fast and straightforward results, identifying the intronic and intergenic ORFs as
      DNA sequences of foreign, non-mt origin.

PMID- 1452020
TI  - High-level production of a peroxisomal enzyme: Aspergillus flavus uricase
      accumulates intracellularly and is active in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - Strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae producing Aspergillus flavus uricase (Uox)
      have been constructed. An artificial promoter which combined the upstream and
      downstream sequences of the GAL7 and ADH2 promoters, respectively, was found to
      be efficient in directing the synthesis of uaZ mRNAs encoding Uox. A good
      proportionality between the copy number of the uaZ expression cassette and the
      level of Uox production was found in the range of 1-10 copies. Transformants
      accumulated active and soluble Uox to a level exceeding 13% of total protein, as
      deduced from enzymatic assays. This relative level could be improved two- to
      threefold by using a recipient strain in which the wild-type GAL4 gene had been
      deleted and which expressed a GAL4 construct placed under the control of the ADH2
      promoter.

PMID- 1452021
TI  - Structural and functional analysis of the amdR regulatory gene of Aspergillus
      oryzae.
AB  - We have isolated the Aspergillus oryzae homologue of the amdR regulatory gene of
      Aspergillus nidulans by cross hybridization. Sequence analysis and functional
      studies have shown that the amdR genes are highly conserved and functionally
      interchangeable between the two species. The homology between the two genes
      extends throughout most of the coding sequences, including sequences encoding the
      DNA-binding domain and putative activation domains. Two regions of nonconserved
      sequence were also identified. Studies using various amdS::lacZ fusion constructs
      indicate that the A. oryzae gene product binds similar sequences and responds to
      inducer in a similar manner to the A. nidulans protein. Inactivation of the A.
      oryzae gene results in the inability to grow on gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA)
      as a carbon and/or nitrogen source indicating that GABA utilization is amdR
      dependent in A. oryzae as it is in A. nidulans.

PMID- 1452022
TI  - Heterologous gene expression in Aspergillus niger: a glucoamylase-porcine
      pancreatic prophospholipase A2 fusion protein is secreted and processed to yield
      mature enzyme.
AB  - The cDNA gene encoding porcine pancreatic prophospholipase A2 (proPLA2) was
      cloned into an Aspergillus niger expression vector downstream of the glucoamylase
      (glaA) gene promoter region. When this construct was transformed into A. niger,
      no detectable PLA2 was produced. Evidence was obtained showing that the PLA2 gene
      was transcribed and that PLA2 is extremely susceptible to both intracellular and
      extracellular proteases of A. niger, thus indicating that translation products
      would be rapidly degraded. By fusing the proPLA2-encoding sequence to the entire
      glaA gene, secreted yields of PLA2 up to 10 micrograms/ml were obtained from a
      transformed protease-deficient strain of A. niger. PLA2 was secreted in young
      cultures as a fusion protein, but in older cultures, it was processed from the
      glucoamylase carrier protein. Secreted PLA2 was shown to be enzymatically active
      and to have the correct N-terminal amino acid (aa) sequence, although another
      form of processed PLA2 was also produced. This form included two aa of the
      proregion from PLA2. The potential for improving yields of secreted heterologous
      proteins from A. niger still further is discussed.

PMID- 1452023
TI  - Cloning and differential expression during the sexual cycle of a meiotic
      endonuclease-encoding gene from the basidiomycete Coprinus cinereus.
AB  - The naturally synchronous meiosis of the fungus, Coprinus cinereus, provides an
      ideal system for the investigation of differential gene expression in relation to
      meiosis and fruiting body development. We have cloned a cDNA from the fruiting
      body of C. cinereus encoding the 12-kDa subunit of a meiotic endonuclease
      (mENase). The identification of the 12-kDa subunit cDNA clone was achieved by the
      mENase antiserum against a lambda gt11 cDNA expression library. It was confirmed
      by a direct match of the amino acid (aa) sequence obtained from purified 12-kDa
      polypeptide with the nucleotide sequence. Northern blot analysis using the cDNA
      clone as a probe showed that the mENase-encoding gene (MenA) for the 12-kDa
      subunit was expressed mainly in fruiting bodies and at a very low level in the
      asexual vegetative mycelium. In addition, it was differentially expressed in the
      early meiotic stages. The MenA transcript was most abundant in fruiting body
      primordia prior to the premeiotic S-phase; it remained high from karyogamy to
      early pachytene, declined drastically by late pachytene and diplotene, and was
      undetectable by sterigma stage. Western blot analysis showed that the mENase
      protein was produced at a very low level in mycelium; it was produced in great
      quantity during the early meiotic stages and decreased to a low level at the end
      of meiosis.

PMID- 1452024
TI  - Mutagenesis and regulation of the cysJ promoter of Escherichia coli K-12.
AB  - The cysJ promoter of Escherichia coli K-12, which is positively controlled by the
      CysB regulatory protein, was localized through the formation of a fusion of cysJ,
      the gene encoding NADPH-cytochrome c reductase with lacZ. The position of the
      transcription start point was determined and the orientation of transcription was
      shown to be counterclockwise on the E. coli K-12 map. Oligodeoxyribonucleotide
      directed mutagenesis of the inferred -10 and -35 regions indicated that both
      sites could be altered to produce promoter 'down' mutations. When the -10 region
      was made to agree with the -10 consensus sequence, there was increased function
      under conditions of repression (that is, in the presence of cysteine). Upstream
      deletions, as well as mutations in a region proposed to be involved in binding of
      the CysB regulatory protein, identified sequences important for promoter activity
      from -90 to -78 and from -71 to -66. By comparison of the sequences of four cys
      promoters, a possible CysB-binding site was found which included the region shown
      to be required for the positive regulation of the cysJ promoter.

PMID- 1452025
TI  - A small plasmid for recombination-based screening.
AB  - We reported recently the construction of the 4.4-kb R6K-derived pMAD1 plasmid
      carrying supF [Stewart et al., Gene 106 (1991) 97-101] that does not share nt
      sequences with ColE1 and therefore permits recombination-based screening of
      lambda libraries that contain ColE1 sequences. Here we describe the construction
      of the 2.5-kb R6K-derived plasmid, pMAD3, that lacks the pi-encoding pir gene
      required for R6K replication. To supply pi [Inuzuka and Helinski, Proc. Natl.
      Acad. Sci. USA 75 (1978) 5381-5385] in trans, we employed pPR1 delta 22pir116,
      referred to henceforth as pPR1 [McEachern et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86
      (1989) 7942-7946; Dellis and Filutowicz, J. Bacteriol. 173 (1991) 1279-1286].
      Plasmid pMAD3 is small enough to be amplified readily by PCR [Saiki et al.,
      Science 230 (1985) 1350-1354]. This permits the insertion of larger fragments and
      the retrieval of larger lambda inserts, as well as the use of a simplified PCR
      based cloning protocol which utilizes annealing rather than ligation to create
      recombinants in pMAD3 [Nisson et al., PCR Methods and Applications 1 (1991) 120
      123].

PMID- 1452026
TI  - Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of the gene encoding an extracellular
      deoxyribonuclease (DNase) from Aeromonas hydrophila.
AB  - The gene encoding an extracellular DNase from Aeromonas hydrophila CHC-1 has been
      cloned and sequenced. Following expression of the dns in Escherichia coli, it was
      revealed that some of the cloned enzyme was present in the cell-free
      extracellular supernatant fluid, and there was no cell lysis and concurrent
      release of cytoplasmic or periplasmic proteins. Therefore, results suggest that
      E. coli cells were capable of secreting the DNase extracellularly, albeit very
      inefficiently. The dns is transcribed from its own promoter in E. coli, and
      expressed as a 25-kDa product, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate
      polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of the culture supernatant preparations
      followed by a DNA-hydrolysis assay. Nucleotide sequence analysis predicted a
      single open reading frame of 690 bp encoding a 230-amino acid (aa) polypeptide,
      with a potential 20-aa signal peptide located at the N terminus of the predicted
      protein. The deduced aa sequence of the entire protein is highly homologous with
      that of the DNase of Vibrio cholerae.

PMID- 1452027
TI  - Cloning of a gene from Bacillus cereus with homology to the mreB gene from
      Escherichia coli.
AB  - We have cloned and sequenced a gene coding for a putative shape-determining
      protein (MreB) highly homologous to the mreB gene product of Escherichia coli.
      The amino acid (aa) identity was 53% and the similarity 72%. The gene is
      expressed early in the logarithmic phase. The aa sequence comparison showed that
      the protein, like the E. coli MreB, has structural similarity to actin and heat
      shock protein Hsc70 encoded by a new super-gene family.

PMID- 1452028
TI  - A series of shuttle vectors for Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli.
AB  - A series of shuttle vectors for Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli was
      developed. These are derived from one basic construct composed of parts of the
      Gram+ plasmid pUB110 and the Gram- plasmid pBR322. They contain multiple cloning
      sites flanked by transcriptional terminators. In one plasmid, a vegetative B.
      subtilis promoter drives transcription of inserted genes. For the construction of
      operon and gene fusions, the cat of pUB112 and the lacZ gene of E. coli were
      employed as reporter genes. With these vectors, cloning and expression of genes
      as well as probing of regulatory signals can be performed in B. subtilis and E.
      coli.

PMID- 1452029
TI  - Cloning and sequence analysis of the gene encoding L-lactate dehydrogenase from
      Lactococcus lactis: evolutionary relationships between 21 different LDH enzymes.
AB  - Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; EC1.1.1.27) is a key enzyme in the fermentation of
      milk by lactic acid bacteria used in the dairy industry. An 800-bp DNA fragment
      containing part of the gene (ldh) encoding LDH was amplified from Lactococcus
      lactis in a polymerase chain reaction using primers designed from the partial
      amino acid sequence of a lactococcal LDH. This fragment was radioactively
      labelled and used to probe a phage lambda library of Lc. lactis genomic DNA.
      Fragments containing ldh were subcloned from lambda to pUC13 and pUC18 and a 1.2
      kb region was sequenced. The deduced aa sequence reveals that the lactococcal LDH
      is highly homologous to the LDHs of other organisms. The active site and several
      other domains of unknown function are highly conserved between all LDH enzymes
      (prokaryotic and eukaryotic). An evolutionary study of LDH sequences clearly
      divides the prokaryotic from the eukaryotic enzymes except for the
      Bifidobacterium longum LDH which anomalously groups with the eukaryotic enzymes.
      The LDHs from Gram-positive bacteria form a separate group from the enzymes from
      the Gram-negative organisms. The lactococcal LDH is phylogenetically closest to
      the streptococcal LDH.

PMID- 1452030
TI  - Sequence of a Rhodococcus gene encoding a protein with extensive homology to the
      mammalian propionyl-CoA carboxylase beta chain.
AB  - Sequence analysis of a 2-kilobase DNA fragment from Rhodococcus sp. NI86/21
      revealed an open reading frame encoding a 476-amino-acid protein with striking
      homology to the rat and human propionyl-CoA carboxylase beta subunits. The
      nucleotide sequence of a corresponding prokaryotic gene has not yet been
      reported. Upstream, the C-terminal part of a putative beta-ketoacyl synthase was
      identified.

PMID- 1452031
TI  - A homolog of the proteasome-related RING10 gene is essential for yeast cell
      growth.
AB  - Proteasomes are intracellular protein complexes displaying multiproteolytic
      activities. These complexes have been implicated in the antigen degradation
      process that generates peptides associated with the major histocompatibility
      complex (MHC) class-I molecule. RING10 and RING12 are genes encoded by the class
      II region of the human MHC that have sequence homology to proteasome-encoding
      genes. We have identified a yeast gene, called PRG1, that encodes a protein
      predicted to contain 55.6% sequence identity to 80% of the RING10 gene product.
      Genomic disruption of PRG1 revealed that it is essential for yeast cell growth.
      These data strongly indicate that the antigen-processing system present in
      vertebrates evolved from a basic cellular process present in all organisms.

PMID- 1452033
TI  - An inducible expression system for the production of human lactoferrin in
      Aspergillus nidulans.
AB  - The production and secretion of human lactoferrin (hLF) in Aspergillus nidulans
      is described. The hLF cDNA was expressed under the control of the strong ethanol
      inducible alcohol dehydrogenase (alcA) promoter. Recombinant hLF (re-hLF) is
      produced at levels up to 5 micrograms/ml. Approximately 30% of the re-hLF
      produced in this system is secreted into the growth medium. The re-hLF is
      indistinguishable from native hLF with respect to size and immunoreactivity.
      Furthermore, re-hLF is functional by the criterion of iron-binding capacity. The
      A. nidulans expression system offers an inexpensive, convenient method for the
      controlled production of mg amounts of biologically active mammalian
      glycoproteins.

PMID- 1452032
TI  - Cloning the Cryptococcus neoformans TRP1 gene by complementation in Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae.
AB  - We have cloned the phosphoribosyl anthranilate isomerase (PRAI)-encoding gene
      (TRP1) of Cryptococcus neoformans by genetic complementation in Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae. Sequence analysis of this gene revealed it to be 939 bp in length,
      and without known promoter or termination sequences. Unlike some of the
      filamentous fungi, where PRAI enzymatic activity is controlled by a trifunctional
      gene product, the C. neoformans PRAI appears to be unifunctional. PRAI of C.
      neoformans exhibits 39% amino acid (aa) sequence identity compared to the S.
      cerevisiae counterpart. The TRP1 gene of C. neoformans maps to different size
      chromosomes in strains with different serotypes. The cloning of this gene for
      vector constructions, and the demonstration that S. cerevisiae can be used as a
      surrogate for C. neoformans gene expression, should help with the molecular
      studies of this significant fungal pathogen in our increasing immunocompromised
      population.

PMID- 1452034
TI  - Cloning and molecular characterization of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate
      dehydrogenase-encoding gene and cDNA from the plant pathogenic fungus Glomerella
      cingulata.
AB  - The glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (gpdA) has been identified from
      a genomic DNA library prepared from the plant pathogenic fungus Glomerella
      cingulata. Nucleotide sequence data revealed that this gene codes for a putative
      338-amino-acid protein encoded by two exons of 129 and 885 bp, separated by an
      intron 216 bp long. The 5' leader sequence is also spliced by an intron of 156
      bp. A cDNA clone was prepared using the polymerase chain reaction, the sequence
      of which was used to confirm the presence of the intron in the coding sequence
      and the splicing of the 5' leader sequence. The transcriptional start point (tsp)
      was mapped at -253 nt from the site of the initiation of translation by primer
      extension and is adjacent to a 42-bp pyrimidine-rich region. The general
      structure of the 5' flanking region shows similarities to gpdA from Aspergillus
      nidulans. The putative protein product is 71-86% identical at the aa level to
      GPDs from Aspergillus nidulans, Cryphonectria parasitica, Curvularia lunata,
      Podospora anserina and Ustilago maydis.

PMID- 1452035
TI  - Sequence of the URA1 gene encoding dihydroorotate dehydrogenase from the
      basidiomycete fungus Agrocybe aegerita.
AB  - The URA1 gene encoding dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHOdehase) from the edible
      basidiomycete, Agrocybe aegerita, has been cloned by complementation of the
      Escherichia coli pyrD mutation. The nucleotide sequence of a 1531-bp genomic
      fragment carrying URA1 revealed two uninterrupted open reading frames (ORFs)
      separated by 61 bp. The larger ORF can encode a 328-amino acid (aa) DHOdehase
      that has 53% homology with the corresponding protein from E. coli. Comparison
      with other DHOdehase aa sequences showed essentially conservation of the cofactor
      binding site of flavoproteins.

PMID- 1452036
TI  - The Rhizobium meliloti pmi gene encodes a new type of phosphomannose isomerase.
AB  - Interspecific complementation of a Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris
      phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) mutant was used to isolate a cosmid from a genomic
      library of Rhizobium meliloti 2011 carrying the pmi gene of this strain.
      Subcloning experiments localized the coding region to a 2.0-kb SalI-ClaI
      fragment. Nucleotide sequence analysis of this fragment indicated the presence of
      two open reading frames (ORFs), coding for 18- and 43-kDa polypeptides. The
      analysis of the gene function by gene disruption experiments showed that ORF2
      codes for pmi. A comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence with the
      corresponding sequences of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli PMIs
      revealed no significant homology, indicating that the isolated gene encodes a new
      type of PMI. The construction of a pmi-deficient mutant of R. meliloti using the
      sacB-sacR cassette technique showed that the loss of PMI activity does not affect
      the symbiotic properties of this strain.

PMID- 1452037
TI  - Cloning and sequencing of the genes encoding glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate
      dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate kinase and triosephosphate isomerase (gap operon)
      from mesophilic Bacillus megaterium: comparison with corresponding sequences from
      thermophilic Bacillus stearothermophilus.
AB  - The structural genes encoding glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), 3
      phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) and the N-terminal part of triosephosphate
      isomerase (TIM) from mesophilic Bacillus megaterium DSM319 have been cloned as a
      gene cluster (gap operon) by complementation of an Escherichia coli gap amber
      mutant. Subsequently, the entire tpi gene, encoding TIM, was isolated by colony
      hybridization using a homologous probe. Nucleotide (nt) sequence analysis
      revealed an unidentified open reading frame (urf1) of 1029 bp located 50 nt
      upstream from the start codon of the gap gene. Gene expression from subclones
      containing different coding regions was studied by enzyme assay and SDS-PAGE.
      Both GAPDH and TIM are synthesized in transformed E. coli cells, whereas PGK is
      not. There is no unequivocal evidence for urf1 expression. Two putative promoter
      sites are present: one 100 nt upstream from urf1 and one 200 nt upstream from the
      pgk gene. An inverted repeat following the second promoter site is postulated to
      be involved in the transcriptional regulation of the operon. Each coding region
      shows a G+C content of 40% attained by the adaptation of the G+C content of the
      third base in the codon to compensate the G+C content of the first and second
      bases. The deduced amino acid (aa) sequences of B. megaterium GAPDH, PGK and TIM
      were compared with those from the thermophilic Bacillus stearothermophilus by
      antisymmetrical matrices. The detected characteristic thermophilic-mesophilic
      exchange pattern concerning aa substitutions between hydrophobic-polar and
      charged-charged residues corresponds to data obtained for thermophilic and
      mesophilic lactate dehydrogenases (LDH). The determination of the thermostability
      of these enzymes revealed two regions of stability for B. megaterium TIM at high
      enzyme concentrations. Heat treatment seems to be responsible for the conversion
      of two differently active conformations or the induction of a new quaternary
      structure.

PMID- 1452038
TI  - Four genes in Streptomyces aureofaciens containing a domain characteristic of
      principal sigma factors.
AB  - Four genes encoding sigma-factor-like proteins, hrdA, hrdB, hrdD, and hrdE, were
      identified in a Streptomyces aureofaciens genomic library using an
      oligodeoxyribonucleotide probe encoding a peptide motif homologous to the core
      binding domain in sigma factors. The deduced proteins have M(r) values of 43,363,
      57,172, 36,591, and 57,565, respectively, and strongly resemble all known
      principal sigma factors, including possession of the characteristic 'rpoD box'.
      Transcription analysis of the hrd genes by Northern blot hybridization indicated
      only the expression of hrdB and hrdD and weak transcription of hrdA. A repetitive
      region of a pentapeptide tandemly repeated 6 and 4 times was identified in the N
      terminal part of HrdB and HrdE, respectively. No such domain was found in any
      principal sigma factors.

PMID- 1452039
TI  - tDNA(ser) sequences are involved in the excision of Streptomyces griseus plasmid
      pSG1.
AB  - Plasmid pSG1 is maintained in some derivatives of Streptomyces griseus NRRL3851
      mainly in the chromosomally integrated form (pSG1int). In others, the integrated
      plasmid is co-maintained with free pSG1 [Cohen et al., Plasmid 13 (1985) 41-50].
      The pSG1 plasmid integration site (attP) and the pSG1int-chromosome boundaries
      (attL and attR) were cloned and sequenced. The results indicate that pSG1int is
      flanked at attL by a functional tRNA(ser) gene and at attR by a 60-nt sequence of
      the 3' end of the same tRNA(ser) gene. A single mismatch distinguishes the 60-nt
      sequence at attR from its direct repeat at attL. The attP site contains a single
      copy of the 60-nt repeat, identical to the one at attL. This observation
      indicates that pSG1, like integrating plasmids of other Actinomycetes, is
      integrated in a tRNA gene and suggests that the exact excision of pSG1int occurs
      by a recombinational crossing-over event at the first 43 nt of the 60-nt repeat.

PMID- 1452040
TI  - Transcription map of the early region of the Streptomyces bacteriophage phi C31.
AB  - Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), lysogenised by the temperature-sensitive cts1
      mutant of phi C31, can be synchronously induced into the lytic cycle by heat
      treatment. A transcription map of 10 kb of the phi C31 early gene cluster was
      deduced using low-resolution S1 nuclease mapping of RNA prepared 10 min after
      induction. At least nine early transcripts, early (e)RNAs 1-9, were localised
      reading exclusively rightwards with respect to the standard physical map of phi
      C31. The mRNAs were extensively overlapping, frequently initiating at the same
      place but terminating at different sites, and vice versa. Gene expression during
      the lytic cycle was tightly regulated; no transcription was observed before
      induction. Transcription was maximal at 10 min post-induction, and at 20 min,
      eRNAs 5 and 6 persisted whilst eRNAs 7-9 were severely reduced or absent. The
      pattern of transcription of the early region is consistent with the simultaneous
      activation of a large number of promoters and differential termination
      efficiency.

PMID- 1452041
TI  - A method for generating transcripts with defined 5' and 3' termini by autolytic
      processing.
AB  - Plasmids containing both the hammerhead and hairpin ribozyme autocatalytic
      cassettes were constructed for the purpose of generating RNA transcripts with
      specific termini at both the 5' and 3' ends. Following transcription, the RNA
      encoded by these cassettes was capable of intramolecular cleavage. This resulted
      in the generation of a processed RNA, which was located between the two
      cassettes, with specifically engineered 5' and 3' ends. The two different
      ribozymes were selected for their efficient intramolecular cleavage ability and
      to reduce the possibility of DNA recombination that could occur if identical
      cassettes were used. An application of this technique was the generation of a
      processed RNA which was itself a ribozyme, with specific 5' and 3' termini. The
      ribozyme generated was a hairpin ribozyme specific for a sequence in the gene
      encoding hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCoA reductase). The
      processed ribozyme was fully catalytically active against an RNA substrate
      sequence of HMGCoA reductase.

PMID- 1452042
TI  - Histone-like proteins are required for cell growth and constraint of supercoils
      in DNA.
AB  - The gene hns of Escherichia coli K-12, which encodes the histone-like protein H
      NS, was inactivated by insertion of a DNA (gene hph) encoding hygromycin
      phosphotransferase. The growth rates of two mutants lacking either one or the
      other of the histone-like proteins, HU and IHF, were not affected by introduction
      of the hns mutation. However, cells depleted of HU, IHF and H-NS simultaneously,
      could not be constructed by P1 phage-mediated transduction. These results,
      together with our previous finding that cells deficient in both HU and IHF are
      viable at 30-37 degrees C [Kano and Imamoto, Gene 89 (1990) 133-137] showed that
      E. coli cells deficient in any two of these three histone-like proteins are
      viable at 30-37 degrees C, and suggested that simultaneous deficiency of all
      three of the proteins is lethal. There were no detectable differences in the
      levels of superhelicity of the reporter plasmids isolated from cells deficient in
      either IHF or H-NS, or from wild-type cells, but about 15% decrease in negative
      superhelicity was detected for the reporter plasmid isolated from cells lacking
      HU and lacking both HU and H-NS. However, the cryptic bgl operon, whose
      expression was reported to be regulated through topological changes of cellular
      DNA, could not be activated in cells depleted of HU or IHF. The bgl operon was
      expressed in cells depleted of both HU and H-NS as well as in cells depleted of H
      NS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452043
TI  - The mosaic organization of the mitochondrial introns of Saccharomyces cerevisiae:
      features and evolutionary origins.
AB  - The introns of three genes (oxi3, cob and 21S) from the mitochondrial (mt) genome
      of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contain closed reading frames (CRFs). In the present
      work, we have analyzed these sequences in their oligodeoxyribonucleotide (oligo;
      isostich) patterns. We have shown that the relative amounts of di- to
      hexanucleotides, when compared to random sequences having the same sizes and
      compositions, exhibit the same deviations as the intergenic noncoding sequences
      of the mt genome (except for the CRFs from 21S intron). In contrast, intronic
      open reading frames (ORFs) showed oligo patterns which were generally quite
      distinct from those of CRFs, although some similarities could be detected in some
      cases (especially for aI5 alpha). The mt introns of yeast, therefore, are endowed
      with a mosaic structure, in which CRFs derive from mt intergenic sequences,
      whereas ORFs have a different origin (indicated as exogenous by other evidences)
      yet show, in some cases, the effects of 'sequence assimilation' with CRFs.

PMID- 1452044
TI  - Computer-aided cephalometric tracing and analysis.

PMID- 1452045
TI  - Pediatric orthodontics.

PMID- 1452047
TI  - A simple solution to open-bite treatment: retention follow-up.

PMID- 1452046
TI  - The Bimler appliance--a step by step approach. A case report.

PMID- 1452048
TI  - The Jasper Jumper technique.

PMID- 1452049
TI  - The Spahl split vertical appliance.

PMID- 1452050
TI  - An overview of Twin Block appliance therapy applications. Part 1.

PMID- 1452051
TI  - A patient "menu" for colored arch-wire ties.

PMID- 1452052
TI  - The addition of composite to the occlusal surfaces in order to alter
      condyle/fossa relationships.

PMID- 1452053
TI  - The Spahl split vertical appliance system. Part 2.

PMID- 1452054
TI  - An overview of Twin Block appliance therapy applications. Part 2.

PMID- 1452055
TI  - A comparison of Twin Block, Andresen and removable appliances in the treatment of
      Class II Division 1 malocclusion.
AB  - Cephalometric radiographs were taken before and after treatment in three groups
      of patients. Ten were treated with removable appliance therapy involving
      extraction of upper first premolars and retraction of anterior teeth. Ten were
      treated on a non extraction basis coupled with wearing an upper expansion
      appliance followed by an Andresen appliance. Another group of ten patients were
      treated in an identical manner except that they wore a Twin Block instead of the
      Andresen appliance. When comparing the patient groups before and after treatment,
      statistically significant differences were found for upper incisor angulation in
      the Removable (t = 9.49 p < 0.001) Andresen (t = 4.48 p < 0.001) Twin Block (t =
      2.81 p < 0.001) groups and for angle ANB in the Andresen (t = 2.88 p < 0.01) and
      Twin Block (t = 2.65 p < 0.01) groups. Thus the overjet was reduced purely by
      incisor tipping with the removable appliance as would be expected, but both
      functional appliances produced some bodily correction with an improvement in the
      dental base relationship. Although the Twin Block appliance group showed a
      greater reduction in angle ANB this was not significantly different from that in
      the Andresen appliance group. The treatment time from insertion of the first
      appliance to reduction of the overjet to 3mm or less was also recorded. The
      treatment time for the Twin Block group (8.1 months) was significantly less (t =
      2.79 p < 0.05) than the Andresen group (12.8 months), but neither functional
      group differed significantly from the removable appliance group (10.1 months).

PMID- 1452056
TI  - Diagnostic treatment chart.

PMID- 1452057
TI  - Achieving excellence in TMJ, functional orthopedics, and case finishing: Part 1.
      Locating position of maxilla.

PMID- 1452058
TI  - Truax Clasp-Less appliance system.

PMID- 1452059
TI  - The Twin Block technique. Part 1.

PMID- 1452060
TI  - The bicuspid buildup as an alternative in Phase II treatment of craniomandibular
      dysfunction.

PMID- 1452061
TI  - Maintaining a positive cash flow in an orthodontic practice.

PMID- 1452062
TI  - Recontouring teeth for excellence in orthodontic case finishing. Part 1: Air
      Rotor Slenderizing (ARS).

PMID- 1452063
TI  - Molecular biology and infections of the gut.

PMID- 1452064
TI  - Genetic predisposition to alcoholic liver disease.

PMID- 1452065
TI  - Epidermal growth factor in the oesophagus.
AB  - Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been implicated in mitogenesis and oncogenesis
      in the gastrointestinal tract. To determine the role of EGF in oesophageal
      disease, its quantity and distribution in the oesophageal mucosa of control
      subjects and patients with oesophageal disease were studied. Oesophageal biopsy
      specimens, taken 20-40 cm from the incisors in 72 patients, were graded
      histologically and adjacent specimens were taken for immunohistochemical analysis
      of the distribution of EGF. In patients with Barrett's columnar lined oesophagus,
      specimens were also taken from the gastric cardia for comparison. Twenty two
      biopsy specimens showed oesophagitis, 20 Barrett's mucosa, and 30 were
      histologically normal. EGF was found in the capillary endothelium of the normal
      oesophageal papillae and basal mucosa. Significantly more EGF positive papillae
      were found in the normal mucosa (81%) than in the inflamed mucosa (42%) (p <
      0.001). The 20 patients with Barrett's mucosa showed abnormal expression of EGF
      in 25% of the isthmus and superficial epithelial cells. This study has shown that
      EGF is found only in the endothelial cells of the capillaries of the normal
      oesophageal mucosa and that the peptide is detectable significantly less
      frequently than normal in the inflamed oesophageal mucosa. EGF is also abnormally
      present, in large quantities, in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells of
      Barrett's mucosa compared with gastric mucosa.

PMID- 1452066
TI  - Outcome of surgical treatment of adenocarcinoma in Barrett's oesophagus.
AB  - A retrospective study was performed of an 11 year period (1978-88) to analyse the
      survival of 112 patients (85 men and 27 women, mean age 63 years) with
      adenocarcinoma in a columnar lined (Barrett's) oesophagus in respect of surgical
      treatment, tumour staging, and histological grading. Presenting symptoms were
      dysphagia (60%) and pain (25%). Only six patients were previously known to have a
      columnar lined oesophagus. Eighty five patients (76%) underwent partial resection
      of the oesophagus and cardia. Postoperative mortality was 6%. After resection (n
      = 85), the 5 year survival was 24%. Survival was significantly better for
      patients without regional lymph node metastases (stage 0, I, IIA (n = 61): 5 year
      survival 30%) and even better if the tumour was restricted to the submucosa
      (stage 0, I (n = 12): 5 year survival 63%). Survival was not influenced by the
      histological grade of the tumour. Staging based on infiltration of the
      oesophageal wall and lymph node spread is valuable in determining the prognosis
      for patients with adenocarcinoma in Barrett's oesophagus.

PMID- 1452067
TI  - Endosonography can detect residual tumour infiltration after medical treatment of
      oesophageal cancer in the absence of endoscopic lesions.
AB  - Endoscopic ultrasound (endosonography) is useful in the preoperative staging of
      oesophageal tumours. It may also have a role in evaluation and surveillance of
      patients with inoperable carcinomas. Thirty four patients with inoperable
      oesophageal cancer were investigated by endosonography and computed tomography
      before medical treatment. In 10 patients receiving combined chemotherapy and
      radiotherapy, the endoscopic lesions resolved and biopsy specimens were negative.
      When endosonography suggested the persistence of tumour infiltration in these
      patients, a local recurrence or distant metastases appeared within a few months.
      In contrast, when no infiltration was detected, no tumoral recurrence or
      progression was observed within eight months. These results suggest that
      endosonography is better than endoscopic biopsy specimens and computed tomography
      in assessing the response of oesophageal carcinoma to non-surgical treatment.

PMID- 1452068
TI  - Dyspepsia, Helicobacter pylori, and peptic ulcer in a randomly selected
      population in India.
AB  - There seems to be a worldwide geographic variation in the prevalence of peptic
      ulcer disease, although there are few reliable population based studies. This
      study aimed to determine the prevalence of peptic ulcer disease in a community in
      southern India and to evaluate the relationship between dyspeptic symptoms,
      Helicobacter pylori infection, gastritis, and peptic ulcer disease. A sample
      population was selected randomly from a rural monastic settlement in southern
      India. Subjects were interviewed using a standardised symptom and demography
      questionnaire then underwent upper endoscopy and antral biopsy for histology and
      CLO rapid urease test. Altogether 197 subjects from a population of 1499 (13.1%)
      were studied. All were male monks and ethnically Tibetan. The median age was 28
      years (range: 21-81). None smoked or took NSAIDs. The six month period prevalence
      of dyspeptic symptoms was 68.5%. Current symptoms were present in 58.9% of
      subjects. Dyspepsia was more common in subjects aged 40 years or younger (p <
      0.0001). H pylori was detected in 77.2% subjects. There was no association
      between dyspepsia and the presence of H pylori or histological gastritis,
      although there was a strong correlation between symptoms and ulcer (p < 0.003).
      The point prevalence of active peptic ulcer was 6.6% (13/197). All ulcers
      detected were either prepyloric or pyloroduodenal in location. A further 6.6% of
      subjects had definite evidence of scarring or deformity indicative of ulceration
      in the past. Subjects with past or present ulcers comprised 17.8% of dyspeptic
      subjects. H pylori was present in all subjects with active ulcers and in 12/13 of
      those with scarring. Dyspepsia, H pylori infection, gastritis, and peptic ulcer
      are all more common in this population than in those from developed countries.
      Ulcer disease, however, accounts for only a small proportion of subjects with
      symptoms and neither H pylori infection nor gastritis are significantly
      associated with the presence of dyspepsia.

PMID- 1452069
TI  - Mucosal reactive oxygen metabolite production in duodenal ulcer disease.
AB  - To investigate the hypothesis that reactive oxygen metabolites are important in
      the pathophysiology of duodenal ulcer disease, their production by duodenal
      mucosal biopsy specimens was measured using luminol and lucigenin amplified
      chemiluminescence. Luminol chemiluminescence, expressed as background corrected
      median photon emission/mg/min x 10(3) (95% confidence intervals), was increased
      in duodenal inflammation as assessed macroscopically: ulcers 20.3 (4.8 to 51.3),
      n = 29; severe duodenitis 13.9 (6.6 to 75.3), n = 16; mild duodenitis 0.0 (-0.5
      to 0.8), n = 56; controls -0.8 (-1.3 to -0.1), n = 41; p = 0.0001, Kruskal
      Wallis) and microscopically: severe 17.0 (9.3 to 51.3), n = 12; moderate 0.3 (
      2.8 to 5.8), n = 17; mild -0.1 (-1.8 to 1.0), n = 17; controls -0.8 (-1.6 to
      0.0), n = 15; (p = 0.0001). Luminol chemiluminescence was directly related to
      both the macroscopic and microscopic severity of duodenal damage (Spearman's R =
      + 0.53, + 0.55 respectively, both p = 0.0001), to histochemical assessment
      (myeloperoxidase activity) of neutrophil infiltration (R = + 0.63; p = 0.04), and
      to lucigenin chemiluminescence (R = + 0.56, p = 0.0002). Luminol
      chemiluminescence was inhibited by sodium azide (-80%), catalase (-73%), and
      dimethyl sulphoxide (-24%). Superoxide dismutase inhibited lucigenin more than
      luminol dependent chemiluminescence (-61% and -7% respectively, p < 0.05). Within
      disease groups, Helicobacter pylori antral infection was associated with
      increased duodenal chemiluminescence, whereas smoking, alcohol, and use of NSAIDs
      or H2 blockers had no influence. Their disease related generation in duodenal
      mucosa supports a role for reactive oxygen metabolites in the pathogenesis of
      duodenitis and duodenal ulcer. These metabolites might include superoxide,
      hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl, and products of myeloperoxidase activity.

PMID- 1452070
TI  - Effect of immunisation against vasoactive intestinal polypeptide on gastric
      corpus tone and motility in the ferret.
AB  - The role of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in the control of gastric corpus
      tone and motility was investigated using auto-antibodies to neutralise endogenous
      vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. Six ferrets were immunised with vasoactive
      intestinal polypeptide thyroglobulin conjugate in Freund's complete adjuvant
      which resulted in a significant increase in plasma vasoactive intestinal
      polypeptide binding activity compared with unimmunised control animals. In acute
      experiments the level of spontaneous motility in the period immediately after
      completion of the surgical preparation was 15 times higher in immunised v control
      animals (p < 0.02). Surprisingly, however, there was no deficit in the ability of
      the corpus to accommodate fluid. Peak pressure at the end of a 20 ml ramp
      distension was not different in immunised animals (5.7 (0.6) cm H2O) compared
      with controls (4.8 (0.3) cm H2O). It is concluded that the non-adrenergic non
      cholinergic inhibitory mechanisms regulating corpus tone and motility are
      different and that vasoactive intestinal polypeptide acts primarily to regulate
      phasic contractile activity. Alternatively, because of plasticity in the
      mechanisms controlling corpus tone, the effect of vasoactive intestinal
      polypeptide may have been superceded during the timecourse of the immunisation
      procedure.

PMID- 1452071
TI  - Gastric antral dysrhythmias in children with chronic idiopathic intestinal
      pseudoobstruction.
AB  - Chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudoobstruction is a serious disorder of
      intestinal neuromuscular function resulting in recurrent episodes of intestinal
      obstruction, and is caused by primary disease of the enteric nerves or enteric
      smooth muscle. Gastric electrical control activity detected by the non-invasive
      technique of surface electrogastrography was investigated in 11 children (0.1-16
      years) with proven chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudoobstruction (four with
      known disease of the enteric nerves, three with disease of smooth muscle cells,
      and four without defined pathology), to determine whether abnormalities were
      present and whether these were useful in detecting the underlying pathology.
      Abnormalities were present in eight of 11 patients. Persistent tachygastria
      (electrical control activity frequency > 5 cycles/minute) was found in three
      patients, all with a proven neuropathy. A continuously irregular frequency was
      found in five patients, three with a proven myopathy and two with undefined
      pathology. A normal electrical control activity frequency was present in three
      patients, one with a proven neuropathy and two with undefined pathology. It is
      suggested that this non-invasive technique may provide a useful screening test of
      the pathophysiological basis of the functional obstruction in children with
      chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudoobstruction.

PMID- 1452072
TI  - Immunohistochemical analysis of mucosal gamma-interferon production in coeliac
      disease.
AB  - The role of gamma-interferon in the pathogenesis of enteropathies with an
      immunological basis such as coeliac disease, is unclear. Gamma-interferon
      immunoreactive lymphocytes were quantified in jejunal biopsies from patients with
      coeliac disease and from normal controls. In coeliac disease, there was an
      apparent decrease in the percentage of both intraepithelial (3.5% v 13.5%) and
      lamina propria (10.3% v 47.2%) lymphocytes expressing gamma-interferon compared
      with controls. In patients successfully treated with a gluten free diet, the
      percentage of gamma-interferon immunoreactive intra-epithelial lymphocytes was
      10.3%. Intraepithelial lymphocytes were immunonegative for class II major
      histocompatibility complex, while epithelial cells showed increased expression of
      this product in coeliac disease. The results show that a relatively large
      proportion of lymphocytes in normal small bowel express gamma-interferon. They
      also indicate that in coeliac disease the major increase in the numbers of
      mucosal lymphocytes is the result of infiltration by lymphocytes not expressing
      gamma-interferon.

PMID- 1452073
TI  - Gliadin uptake in human enterocytes. Differences between coeliac patients in
      remission and control individuals.
AB  - The pepsin trypsin digest of the wheat prolamin gliadin (PT-gliadin) is
      deleterious to the small intestinal mucosa of coeliac patients. The handling of
      PT-gliadin by the intestinal epithelium in coeliac patients in remission and
      control individuals was investigated by in vivo instillation of PT-gliadin. The
      uptake of PT-gliadin was monitored by immunofluorescence microscopy of intestinal
      biopsy specimens, using affinity purified PT-gliadin antibodies. Control
      individuals show weak staining in the apical region of the enterocytes thereby
      showing an uptake of PT-gliadin. Coeliac patients have a conspicuous fluorescence
      in relation to the lateral membrane/intercellular space of enterocytes and
      intense staining intracellularly in the apical region. There is only weak
      staining in the enterocytes after the instillation was terminated, indicating an
      intracellular clearance. The study shows that normal enterocytes are able to take
      up PT-gliadin. The increased uptake in coeliac patients might be of importance
      for the pathogenesis either by direct toxicity or by presentation to
      immunocompetent cells. Furthermore, the results are in agreement with the
      suggestion of a functional alteration in the zonula occludens in the intestinal
      epithelium of coeliac patients.

PMID- 1452074
TI  - Colonic preservation reduces need for parenteral therapy, increases incidence of
      renal stones, but does not change high prevalence of gall stones in patients with
      a short bowel.
AB  - Forty six patients with less than 200 cm of normal jejunum and no functioning
      colon were compared with 38 patients with similar jejunal lengths in continuity
      with a functioning colon. Women predominated (67%), and the most common diagnosis
      in each group was Crohn's disease (33 of 46 no colon, 16 of 38 with colon). All
      patients without a colon and less than 85 cm of jejunum and all those with a
      colon and less than 45 cm jejunum needed long term parenteral nutrition. Six
      months after the last resection 12 of 17 patients with less than 100 cm jejunum
      and no colon needed intravenous supplements compared with 7 of 21 with a colon.
      Between 6 months and 2 years, little change occurred in the nutritional/fluid
      requirements in either group, though there was weight gain. Of 71 patients
      assessed clinically at a median of 5 years, none with more than 50 cm of jejunum
      and a colon needed parenteral supplements. Most (25 of 27) of those without a
      colon who did not need parenteral supplements required oral electrolyte
      replacement compared with few (4 of 27) with a colon. None of the patients
      without a colon developed symptomatic renal stones compared with 9 of 38 (24%)
      with a colon (p < 0.001). Stone analysis in three patients showed calcium
      oxalate. Gall stone prevalence was high but equal in the two groups--43% of those
      without and 44% of those with a colon.

PMID- 1452075
TI  - Ketotifen effectively prevents mucosal damage in experimental colitis.
AB  - The effects of ketotifen, a 'mast cell stabiliser,' on two models of experimental
      colitis were examined. The inflammatory response elicited by either
      trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid or acetic acid resulted in increased colonic
      synthesis of platelet activating factor, prostaglandin E2, thromboxane B2,
      leukotrienes B4 and C4, and myeloperoxidase activity. Intragastric administration
      of ketotifen 100 micrograms/100 grams twice daily significantly decreased mucosal
      damage when given prophylactically 48 hours before the induction of colitis and
      then throughout the experiment. This effect was consistent in both models and was
      accompanied by a significant reduction in mucosal generation of platelet
      activating factor, prostaglandin E2, thromboxane B2, and leukotrienes C4 and B4.
      Myeloperoxidase activity was reduced as well, reaching significance only in the
      acetic acid model. This study shows that both trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid and
      acetic acid colitis can be pharmacologically manipulated by ketotifen. The
      mechanism of action of ketotifen has not yet been determined. Ketotifen's
      potential in the treatment of active inflammatory bowel disease or in the
      prevention of exacertations, or both, remains to be elucidated.

PMID- 1452076
TI  - Predictors of presence, multiplicity, size and dysplasia of colorectal adenomas.
      A necropsy study in New Zealand.
AB  - Three hundred and thirty six forensic necropsy specimens of large bowel were
      examined in order to identify subject related variables that independently
      predicted the following adenoma characteristics: presence, size (largest),
      multiplicity and high grade dysplasia. The variables were age, gender, body mass
      index, race (European origin versus Maori/Polynesian) and presence of
      hyperplastic (metaplastic) polyp(s). Subjects included 303 New Zealanders of
      European origin (M = 185, F = 118) yielding 149 adenomas and 251 hyperplastic
      polyps and 33 Maori/Polynesians (M = 25, F = 8) yielding five adenomas and one
      hyperplastic polyp. Independent predictors of adenoma presence as determined by
      regression analysis were age (p = 0.0001), presence of hyperplastic polyps (p =
      0.0001) and male gender (p = 0.05). Models were poor at explaining variation in
      size, multiplicity, and dysplasia. Larger adenomas occurred more frequently in
      subjects with multiple adenomas (p = 0.03) and multiple adenomas were probably
      associated with hyperplastic polyps (p = 0.09) and male gender (p = 0.09) in
      Europeans. High grade dysplasia was more frequent in women (p = 0.05) and
      possibly in subjects with hyperplastic polyps (p = 0.2). Body mass index and
      ethnicity did not predict any adenoma characteristics, but hyperplastic polyp
      prevalence was influenced by European origin (p = 0.04) and to a lesser extent by
      body mass index (p = 0.08) as well as presence of adenoma (p = 0.0002) and age (
      = 0.005). The association of hyperplastic polyp with presence, multiplicity but
      not size of adenoma and with a high risk group for colorectal cancer (New
      Zealanders of European origin) suggests that the hyperplastic polyp serves as a
      marker for a factor which influences neoplastic evolution at the stages of
      initiation/transformation but not promotion. Fifty nine per cent of individuals
      with adenoma(s) did not have hyperplastic polyp(s) emphasising that the last
      would serve only as a marker of populations and not individuals at high risk of
      bowel cancer. Low intracolonic butyrate may be the factor linking the expression
      of the two types of polyp.

PMID- 1452077
TI  - Dietary calcium does not reduce experimental colorectal carcinogenesis after
      small bowel resection despite reducing cellular proliferation.
AB  - It has been proposed that colorectal carcinogenesis is accompanied by increased
      mucosal cell proliferation and that the converse may also apply. To examine this
      thesis, the crypt cell production rate (CCPR) was measured in eight groups of
      rats (n = 187) that had received 1,2 dimethylhydrazine, 70% small bowel
      resection, supplemental dietary calcium, or a combination of these. Analysis of
      variance showed the following: (1) the CCPR decreased between the ileum and
      distal colon; (2) the CCPR decreased between 16 and 32 weeks; (3) 1,2
      dimethylhydrazine and small bowel resection increased the CCPR and calcium
      decreased the CCPR independently of one another; (4) the CCPR interacted with 1,2
      dimethylhydrazine x small bowel resection, calcium x 1,2 dimethylhydrazine and
      interacted between the site of bowel and calcium, 1,2 dimethylhydrazine, small
      bowel resection, and 1,2 dimethylhydrazine x small bowel resection (p = 0.014 to
      p < 0.001). The tumour yield was reduced by calcium in 1,2 dimethylhydrazine
      treated animals (chi 2 = 14.1, df = 3, p < 0.01) but was unaffected by calcium in
      1,2 dimethylhydrazine and small bowel resection treated animals despite
      significant differences in the CCPR. An increase of the CCPR both preceded and
      accompanied colorectal carcinogenesis but reduction of the CCPR was not
      invariably accompanied by reduced carcinogenes.

PMID- 1452078
TI  - Crypt cell production rates at various sites around the colon in Wistar rats and
      humans.
AB  - The crypt cell production rate (CCPR) is considered the most robust estimate of
      cell turnover. The CCPR was determined at various sites around the colon in the
      Wistar rat (using an in vivo technique) and in six healthy humans (using in vitro
      organ culture). In both the rat and human colon, the CCPR increased proximally
      from the rectum to the caecum. The caecum had a significantly higher cell
      turnover than any other site in the colon (p < 0.05 in the rat, p < 0.01 in
      humans, Student's t test). These findings are of interest when considering
      cellular proliferation studies in both inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal
      cancer, and draw attention to the importance of choosing a constant reference
      site for comparative studies. This is the first time the CCPR had been measured
      along the length of the human colon.

PMID- 1452079
TI  - Anorectal function in patients with complete supraconal spinal cord lesions.
AB  - Anorectal manometry and sphincter electromyography were performed in 23 patients
      with complete supraconal traumatic spinal injuries and 30 age and sex matched
      control subjects. Basal pressures in the spinal group were similar to those in
      normal subjects but conscious control of sphincter activity was abolished in all
      spinal patients. Discriminant rectal sensation was also abolished during rectal
      distension, but 40% of patients experienced a dull pelvic ache at maximum levels
      of distension. Phasic rectal contraction and anal relaxation were present but
      exaggerated and induced at lower distending volumes than in normal subjects. The
      configuration of the rectal pressure/volume relationship was linear in patients
      compared with a reversed 'S' shape in normal subjects. The external anal
      sphincter response to rectal distension was noticeably attenuated, reinforcing
      the view that this spinal reflex is heavily modulated by supraspinal centres
      under normal circumstances. The external anal sphincter response to increases in
      abdominal pressure was also attenuated, and the anal pressures were strongly
      correlated with the level of the lesion and the abdominal pressure the patient
      could generate. No spinal patient showed a decrease in external anal sphincter
      activity during straining 'as if to defecate.' The exaggerated anorectal smooth
      muscle responses to rectal distension and the attenuated external sphincter
      response explain why patients with complete supraconal spinal lesions experience
      uncontrollable reflex defecation, while the persistance of external and sphincter
      contraction and the absence of any external anal sphincter relaxation during
      straining 'as if to defecate' might explain the difficulty that these patients
      have in consciously expelling rectal contents.

PMID- 1452080
TI  - Detection of subclinical autonomic neuropathy in constipated patients using a
      sweat test.
AB  - Chronic idiopathic constipation may be the result of an autonomic neuropathy.
      This hypothesis was tested in 23 constipated patients and 17 age matched
      controls, using the acetylcholine sweat spot test devised to test autonomic
      integrity in diabetes. Acetylcholine (0.01%) was injected in the dorsum of the
      foot painted with a mixture of starch and iodine. Active sweat glands appeared on
      the surface of the skin as small black dots which were photographed and counted,
      using a grid with 60 subareas. Two measurements were made: the number of dots per
      unit subarea (sweat spot test score) and the % number of abnormal subareas (with
      less than six spots). These two parameters were correlated. The median sweat spot
      test score was 9.53 in patients and 13.92 in controls (p = 0.0001), the receiver
      operating characteristic curve showing that a score of 12 delimited normal and
      abnormal subjects. Increasing age was correlated with a low score in patients,
      probably because of prolonged symptoms. Seventy per cent of patients and one
      control had a borderline or abnormal number of subareas. These results suggest
      that idiopathic constipation is associated with a degree of autonomic
      denervation. The sweat spot test is an easy, inexpensive method to test this
      hypothesis and deserves a place in the clinical assessment of slow transit
      constipated patients.

PMID- 1452082
TI  - Plasma concentrations of endogenous heparinoids in portal hypertension.
AB  - Bleeding as a complication of liver disease can occur in the absence of
      recognised haemostatic defects. It is now possible to measure the concentration
      of endogenous heparinoid substances in the blood using a competitive binding
      assay. One such substance, heparan sulphate (normal range < 600 ng/ml) was
      assayed in the plasma of 49 patients admitted because of oesophageal varices. In
      27 patients with recent upper gastrointestinal bleeding the median plasma heparan
      sulphate value was 1700 ng/ml (interquartile (IQ) range 900-3900) compared with
      390 ng/ml (IQ range 256-800) in 22 patients with no recent bleed (p < 0.01). As
      heparan sulphate is metabolised by the same route as exogenous heparin, an
      attempt to establish a cause for the raised heparan concentrations was made by
      measuring the clearance of exogenous heparin in 10 portal hypertensive patients
      and 10 controls. The median half life of heparin in plasma in the portal
      hypertensive patients (25.5 minutes; IQ range 22-34) was significantly longer (p
      < 0.007) than the median half life in the controls (18.7 minutes; IQ range 17
      21.5). Thus, there is evidence of raised concentrations of endogenous heparin
      like substances in portal hypertensive patients after gastrointestinal bleeding.
      These high concentrations may result from reduced hepatic clearance.

PMID- 1452081
TI  - Intrahepatic expression of pre-S1 and pre-S2 antigens in chronic hepatitis B
      virus infection in relation to hepatitis B virus replication and hepatitis delta
      virus superinfection.
AB  - Hepatocyte expression of pre-S1 and pre-S2 in relation to hepatitis B virus
      replication (hepatitis B virus-DNA in serum and HBcAg in the liver), histological
      activity and hepatitis delta virus superinfection was studied by indirect
      immunofluorescence on frozen sections of liver specimens from 68 patients with
      chronic hepatitis B virus infection. All 44 patients with chronic type B
      hepatitis had pre-S1 and pre-S2 display in the liver. The distribution of pre-S1
      in the liver was membranous in one, mixed membranous and cytoplasmic in 12, and
      cytoplasmic in 31. The distribution of pre-S2 was membranous in one, mixed
      membranous and cytoplasmic in 26, and cytoplasmic in 17. Membranous expression of
      pre-S1 was significantly more prevalent in patients with active hepatitis B virus
      replication than in those without (13/28 v 0/16, p < 0.001), regardless of the
      histological activity, as was membranous expression of pre-S2 (27/28 v 0/16, p <
      0.001). In contrast, a significantly higher extent of cytoplasmic expression of
      pre-S1 and pre-S2 was noted in patients without active hepatitis B virus
      replication than in those with. Of 24 patients with chronic type D hepatitis
      virus, eight had active hepatitis B virus replication, and the other 16 did not.
      The distribution and quantitative expression of pre-S1 and pre-S2 in the liver in
      these patients also correlated significantly with the status of hepatitis B virus
      replication and, moreover, showed little or no difference from those without
      hepatitis delta virus infection. In conclusion, all patients with chronic type B
      hepatitis had synthesis and display of pre-S1 and pre-S2 in the liver. The
      distribution and quantitative expression of pre-S1 and pre-S2, however, were
      closely related to the status of hepatitis B virus replication, but not to the
      histological activity. Hepatocyte expression of pre-S1 and pre-S2 in chronic type
      D hepatitis also correlated significantly with status of hepatitis B virus
      replication, and was not modulated by concurrent hepatitis delta virus infection.

PMID- 1452083
TI  - A prospective trial of endoscopic sclerotherapy v oesophageal transection and
      gastric devascularisation in the long term management of bleeding oesophageal
      varices.
AB  - In a prospective three centre study oesophageal transection and gastric
      devascularisation have been compared with endoscopic sclerotherapy in the long
      term management of bleeding oesophageal varices. Cirrhotic patients (Child's A or
      B grade) with documented bleeding oesophageal varices were treated initially with
      emergency sclerotherapy, and after five days stability, were allocated to one of
      the two treatment regimes. The endoscopic sclerotherapy group underwent regular
      sclerotherapy until variceal obliteration while those undergoing surgery were not
      endoscoped unless bleeding recurred, when they were treated by sclerotherapy if
      appropriate. Ninety two patients were eligible for analysis (68% alcoholic
      cirrhosis; mean age 50.1 years) and follow up was achieved for a mean of 52.5
      months (range 17-83). Mortality in the first three months was greater in the
      oesophageal transection and gastric devascularisation group (20% v 1%) but by two
      years the survival curves were the same and thereafter there was no difference in
      mortality. Rebleeding occurred in 13/41 (31%) patients, undergoing oesophageal
      transection and gastric devascularisation. The costs incurred during the first
      year of oesophageal transection and gastric devascularisation treatment were
      significantly greater than with endoscopic sclerotherapy (4369 pounds v 1067
      pounds, p < 0.0001) and the high rate of rebleeding in the surgical group meant
      that no cost savings occurred in subsequent years. It is concluded that
      oesophageal transection and gastric devascularisation confers no benefit over
      endoscopic sclerotherapy in terms of long term survival and that it is not cost
      effective as judged by the current health care costs in the United Kingdom.

PMID- 1452084
TI  - Value of ultrasound and liver function tests in determining the need for
      endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in unexplained abdominal pain.
AB  - The value of serum liver function tests and abdominal ultrasound as screening
      tests of the need for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was
      determined in patients with unexplained abdominal pain without associated
      jaundice. In 1989 and 1990 1005 ERCPs were undertaken, of which 138 (14%) were
      for this indication. The duct or ducts of interest were delineated by ERCP in 95%
      of patients. The lesions found were bile duct stones in 10 patients, chronic
      pancreatitis in five, pancreatic carcinoma in one, peptic ulcer or duodenitis in
      four. A satisfactory ultrasound examination had been performed in 94% of
      patients. For chronic pancreatitis, its sensitivity was 60% and specificity 95%.
      For choledocholithiasis, the ultrasonic detection of duct dilatation or stones
      had a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 86%. Of the liver function tests, the
      alkaline phosphatase was more sensitive (67%) than the transaminases (44%) in
      indicating the presence of bile duct stones and had a high specificity (95%).
      None of the 10 patients with duct stones had normal ultrasound and normal
      alkaline phosphatase. Thus it was found that demonstration of a normal common
      bile duct by abdominal ultrasound and normal serum alkaline phosphatase together
      have 100% specificity in excluding bile duct stones. Using such knowledge over
      the two year period of this study would have spared 36 patients the need for
      ERCP.

PMID- 1452085
TI  - Intracerebroventricular neuropeptide Y stimulates bile secretion via a vagal
      mechanism.
AB  - The effect of intracerebroventricular injection of neuropeptide Y on biliary
      secretion was studied in conscious dogs, prepared with gastric and duodenal
      fistulas and cerebroventricular guides. Bile secretion was increased in a dose
      dependent fashion by intracerebroventricular neuropeptide Y. The peak increase
      was seen after 500 pM/kg of neuropeptide Y which resulted in a 30 x 2% increase
      in bile flow over the period 30-150 minutes after injection. ( CONTROL: 23 x 2 (1
      x 2) ml/2 hours; neuropeptide Y 500 pM/kg: 30 x 5 (1 x 1) ml/2 hours). Biliary
      lipid composition was not altered significantly but bicarbonate output was
      increased at all doses tested. Intravenous infusion of neuropeptide Y (1000 pM)
      for 1 hour had no significant effect. Intracerebroventricular neuropeptide Y
      (1000 pM/250-300 mg body weight) also increased bile flow in urethane
      anaesthetised rats. This effect was abolished by cervical vagotomy. The
      demonstration of a central stimulation of alkaline bile flow suggests that bile
      secretion may be subject to central modulation.

PMID- 1452086
TI  - Minimal change chronic pancreatitis.
AB  - In patients with severe abdominal pain, of pancreatic origin, there are a few
      with minimal or equivocal findings on pancreatic investigation and in whom the
      aetiology of their pancreatic disease is elusive. The findings and outcome in 16
      of these patients (four men and 12 women) who underwent resection are reported.
      Pancreatic imaging showed minimal or equivocal findings in all 16; pancreas
      divisum was present in five. All were managed conservatively at first but
      resection was required for progression of symptoms. A drainage procedure was
      performed initially in five patients but relief of pain was at best transitory
      before further surgery was required. Partial resection was needed in 12, of whom
      eight required subsequent completion pancreatectomy and four had a one stage
      total resection. Nine patients are currently pain free after resection or are
      very much improved, while six are no better and one patient has died from an
      unrelated cause. Histology of resected specimens showed chronic inflammatory
      changes accompanied by subtle non-inflammatory changes in all but one. These
      changes include duct proliferation, duct complex formation, adenomatous nodules,
      and acinar cell atrophy, the significance of which is unclear. These findings
      suggest a syndrome of minimal macroscopic and radiological change chronic
      pancreatitis with pain as its chief clinical feature and a distinct histology,
      the aetiology of which is unclear. It seems that there is a distinct syndrome of
      minimal change pancreatitis, among the group of patients which presents with the
      clinical features of chronic pancreatitis.

PMID- 1452087
TI  - Effective treatment of diabetic diarrhoea with somatostatin analogue, octreotide.
AB  - A 22 year old insulin dependent diabetic with high volume, secretory chronic
      diarrhoea refractory to standard andiarrhoeal drugs was treated with the
      somatostatin analogue octreotide, 50 micrograms twice daily by subcutaneous
      injection. She improved markedly with a decrease in mean stool weight from 1170
      g/24 h range 440-2900 g) to 440 g/24 h (range 180-800 g) (p < 0.05). Stool
      frequency also decreased from six (range two to 12) to one (range one to three)
      bowel movements per day (p < 0.01). Mouth to caecum transit time increased from
      45 minutes to > 210 minutes, although total gut transit time was unchanged and
      remained rapid at nine hours. Thus octreotide can reduce stool volume and
      frequency in high volume diabetic diarrhoea when conventional antidiarrhoeal
      agents have failed. Its therapeutic benefit appeared to be predominantly related
      to a marked increase in mouth to caecum transit time.

PMID- 1452088
TI  - Hepatic aberrations in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

PMID- 1452089
TI  - Helicobacter pylori infection rates in relation to age and social class in a
      population of Welsh men.

PMID- 1452090
TI  - Cholestatic hepatitis associated with clavulanic acid.

PMID- 1452091
TI  - Pugh's grading in the classification of liver decompensation.

PMID- 1452092
TI  - Superior mesenteric blood flow.

PMID- 1452093
TI  - The possibilities of changing the production of exocellular polysaccharides of a
      mutant Mycobacterium strain.
AB  - By second-step mutagenesis and treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N
      nitrosoguanidine a mutant strain of Mycobacterium sp. V-649 producing a glucan
      extracellular polymer and another new streptomycin-resistant mutant were
      prepared. This mutant strain formed more than 100% first-rate (1.0-1.2%)
      exocellular polysaccharide. Treatment with 1% dimethyl sulfoxide during submerged
      cultivation of the mutant strain did not increase the production of the
      extracellular polysaccharide.

PMID- 1452094
TI  - Virulence of silver-resistant mutant of Klebsiella pneumoniae in burn wound
      model.
AB  - A silver-resistant mutant of Klebsiella pneumoniae B-5 was produced by passaging
      in nutrient broth containing graded concentrations of silver nitrate up to 150
      ppm. The development of silver resistance in the strain resulted in rough
      colonies, decrease in cell size, carbohydrate content and change in klebocin
      pattern. The virulence of the AgR strain as checked by the burn wound model
      decreased as the mutant could not establish itself in the skin and spleen of the
      animals and the organism was cleared more efficiently by human lymphocytes than
      the parent AgS strain.

PMID- 1452095
TI  - Immobilized beta-glucosidase from Curvularia lunata.
AB  - beta-Glucosidase from Curvularia lunata was immobilized in pellets of
      polyacrylamide, sodium alginate and agar. The activity of the enzyme was
      estimated at different times by measuring the absorbance of a solution into which
      2-nitrophenol was released by the enzyme. The effect of pH and temperature was
      studied to select the optimum conditions. Thermostability of the beta-glucosidase
      in each of the carriers was assessed over a period of 12-26 d. The immobilized
      enzyme on all the three carriers retained its activity longer than free enzyme
      did. Polyacrylamide was the best carrier both in terms of thermostability and of
      reusability of the immobilized enzyme preparations. The Michaelis constant (Km)
      for each of the immobilized enzyme preparation was calculated.

PMID- 1452096
TI  - UV-induced mutability in repair-deficient rad6-1 strains of Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae is caused by a suppressor gene.
AB  - The RAD6 gene is a multifunctional gene required for DNA repair, induced
      mutagenesis and sporulation. The survival and revertibility of two loci in four
      rad6-1 mutant strains of different origin after UV irradiation were followed. As
      expected, all the rad6-1 strains tested were more sensitive to UV radiation in
      comparison with RAD6 strains. The reversion frequency per survivor in trp1-289
      and arg4-17 alleles was significantly higher in all four rad6-1 mutant strains
      than in wild-type strains after equal doses of UV radiation. On the basis of
      genetic analysis we suggest that the phenomenon of increased frequency of induced
      mutagenesis is caused by a suppressor gene.

PMID- 1452097
TI  - Expression of Japanese quail ovalbumin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - A cDNA sequence coding for Japanese quail ovalbumin was used for the construction
      of expression plasmid under the ADH1 promoter of the yeast shuttle vector pVT101
      U. The resulting recombinant expression vector pJK2 was used for the
      transformation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Expression of quail ovalbumin in
      yeast cells was demonstrated by Western blotting followed by immunochemical
      detection.

PMID- 1452098
TI  - Intrapopulation variability of antibiotic biosynthesis in streptomycetes.
AB  - Spontaneous variants making up parallel series of hereditary variability inside
      the populations of antibiotic-producing actinomycetes differ in the level of
      their antibiotic activity. As a rule, spontaneous variants of the basic type
      possess the highest antibiotic activity. Other variants representing parallel
      series have a lower activity level. This raises the possibility to carry out a
      directed selection of previously known active colonies from populations on the
      basis of their easily discernible morphological properties. It enhances the
      efficiency of selection work both in the case of stabilization of the level of
      antibiotic activity and in the case of obtaining more productive commercial
      strains.

PMID- 1452099
TI  - Ethanol-induced death and lipid composition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: a
      comparative study of the role of sterols.
AB  - Ethanol tolerance of four Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains characterized by
      different amounts of delta 5,7-sterols was tested. The individual tolerances did
      not correlate with the strains sterol levels. The highly and medium-accumulating
      strains exhibited the highest and lowest ethanol tolerances, respectively.

PMID- 1452100
TI  - The K3 type killer strains of genus Saccharomyces for wine production.
AB  - Using simultaneous fusion of protoplasts of three strains the auxotrophic K3
      killer designated MH1 was prepared at a very low frequency and further employed
      for the transfer of the K3 killer character into a commercial wine yeast. A novel
      Saccharomyces Bratislava 1K3 strain with desirable technological and anti-yeast
      killer abilities was thus constructed. Attempts to prepare double K1/K3 killers
      were made. The obtained fusion products contained M1 dsRNA and were able to
      produce only the K1 type killer toxin.

PMID- 1452101
TI  - Enhanced biodegradation of a hard bis-quaternary ammonium salt.
AB  - Bacterial strains with a high biodegradation potential were isolated from
      activated sludge. Their ability to decompose the hard bis-quaternary ammonium
      salt FB was determined by the method of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in a mineral
      medium, where the compound FB was the only source of carbon. The COD values were
      very low after 21 d and in the course of this period they reached zero level
      twice. The contribution of adsorption to decrease the COD value was small. The
      maximum COD decrease was accompanied by an increase of cell respiration. It is
      suggested that FB is effectively decomposed in spite of the fact that according
      to its structure it is a typical hard detergent.

PMID- 1452102
TI  - Consumption of a large dose of alcohol in a short time span.
AB  - Blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) and time to peak BAC were determined in 16
      subjects after ingestion of a large quantity of alcoholic beverages within a
      short drinking time span not exceeding 30 min. The first group (7 subjects)
      consumed alcohol after a 3- to 4-h fast. In the second group (9 subjects) the
      consumption of alcohol took place after eating a large meal. Venous blood samples
      taken 30 min after drinking finished were compared to the near-simultaneous
      Breathalyzer results. In addition, the minimum duration of a BAC plateau for
      these drinking circumstances was assessed.

PMID- 1452103
TI  - Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of the toxic
      glycoside cleistanthin B.
AB  - Cleistanthus collinus is a highly toxic plant frequently implicated in suicidal
      and homicidal poisoning cases referred to our laboratory. An enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is reported in this paper for the quantitation of the
      active principles of C. collinus. This method is highly reproducible and
      sensitive to detect as low as 2 ng/ml of cleistanthin B, a toxic constituent of
      C. collinus. The ELISA can be successfully applied for the specific
      identification of C. collinus poisoning in clinical and forensic toxicology.

PMID- 1452104
TI  - Precision of estimating time of death by vitreous potassium--comparison of
      various equations.
AB  - This paper is a study of the precision of estimating the time since death
      comparing the equations developed by different authors. Our aim is to determine
      with the maximum degree of accuracy the exact time of death of the individual. We
      consider that the study has been fully justified by the observed differences in
      the results obtained from the different equations under study when the
      concentration of potassium in the vitreous humour was identical.

PMID- 1452105
TI  - Grading rigor mortis with myotonometry--a new possibility to estimate time of
      death.
AB  - Myotonometry has been applied to grade rigor mortis. The myotonometer is a hand
      held instrument which gives a mechanical impact against the muscle. The muscle
      responds with a damped vibration which is registered and treated mathematically.
      The period and the logarithmic decrement of decay of the vibrations were found to
      change with the development of rigor mortis. The method gives quantitative
      information on the muscular stiffness and it can be used when estimating the time
      of death.

PMID- 1452106
TI  - Bupropion and alcohol fatal intoxication: case report.
AB  - A fatality due to the ingestion of bupropion and ethanol is presented. Bupropion
      and its metabolites were extracted from several tissues and identified using gas
      chromatography with nitrogenphosphorus and mass spectrometry detection. The
      concentrations of bupropion, hydroxybupropion and the erythroamino and threoamino
      alcohol metabolites in heart blood were 4.2, 5.0, 0.6 and 4.6 mg/l, respectively.
      The heart blood ethanol concentration was 0.27 g/dl. In addition, bupropion was
      distributed as follows: subclavian blood, 6.2 mg/l; bile, 1.4 mg/l; kidney, 2.4
      mg/l; liver, 1.0 mg/kg; stomach contents, 16 mg and urine, 37 mg/l.

PMID- 1452107
TI  - Suicidal hanging in Cardiff--a 15-year retrospective study.
AB  - A retrospective study of 84 cases of suicidal hanging was undertaken in which
      petechial haemorrhages or congestion were seen in 27%, soft tissue haemorrhage in
      29% and fracture of the hyoid or laryngeal cartilages in 36%. Fractures were
      found to be related to increasing age and were not found when a soft ligature had
      been employed. Petechial haemorrhages and congestion were related to the
      completeness of suspension. Apart from the lack of fractures in the soft ligature
      group any of these findings, either singly or in combination, was found to occur
      without regard to age, suspension type or ligature type. No evidence was found of
      clustering or seasonality. The findings are compared to other series and
      discussed with regard to the mechanisms of causation.

PMID- 1452108
TI  - Determination of cocaine and benzoylecgonine in human amniotic fluid using high
      flow solid-phase extraction columns and HPLC.
AB  - A new solid-phase extraction procedure for the determination of cocaine and
      benzoylecgonine in amniotic fluid, using high flow co-polymeric sorbents is
      reported. The recoveries of cocaine and benzoylecgonine within the range 0.1-1
      mg/l were 95.7% and 50.3%, respectively. The use of high-flow sorbents allowed
      the easy extraction of amniotic fluid regardless of sample viscosity or physical
      nature. The use of these solid-phase columns provided many advantages over the
      more commonly used solvent extraction, including an increase in extraction speed
      and efficiency, reduced operator time, reduced solvent use and disposal volumes
      and exceptional extract quality. Further, the determination of amniotic fluid
      obtained from pregnant cocaine users may provide important information about
      handling of cocaine by the fetus at various gestational ages. The procedure was
      successfully applied to amniotic fluid from suspected cocaine abusers.

PMID- 1452109
TI  - A matter of large body passing through a small hole: the holeproof out the
      window.
AB  - A baffling case of fall-from-height is described focusing on aspects of a human
      body passing through a small hole, within a holeproof window. It is a classic
      example of an unsatisfactory outcome when a scene of death is modified adversely
      due to delay in the commencement of scene management. The operative factors may
      be entirely outside the control of scene investigators. The primary medical
      attendant is reminded of the forensic obligations at a scene of unnatural death.
      Reporting this case might encourage forensic practitioners having experience of a
      similar case to respond through this journal.

PMID- 1452110
TI  - Early and late meningeal reaction to trauma after long-term brain death.
AB  - We examined histologically the meninges adherent to traumatic lesions of a
      patient with brain death sustained for 101 days and observed both early and late
      reactions of wound healing at the same site of the dura mater. Some parts of the
      dura mater were thick and histological examinations revealed formation of new
      vessels and fibrosis with strong positive reaction for iron and fat staining. We
      also observed fresh haemorrhage and some cell infiltration in the dura and fresh
      haemorrhage in a small piece of necrotic brain tissue adhered to the dura mater,
      while other areas of the brain tissue were completely necrotic, enabling the
      sites of head injury to be localised. These observations suggested that the blood
      flow in the dura mater fluctuates due to a change of microenvironment, which
      probably causes repeated secondary petechial haemorrhages in the dura and its
      adherent necrotic brain tissue, even 101 days after brain death.

PMID- 1452111
TI  - Widespread myocardial and pulmonary bone marrow embolism following cardiac
      massage.
AB  - Widespread fatal massive bone marrow embolism of the coronary and the pulmonary
      arteries are described in a 71-year-old man with a respiratory disease. Cardiac
      massage was carried out during the cardiac arrest. In autopsy findings there were
      no fractures of the ribs or the sternum. The authors suggested that the cardiac
      massage was the most important predisposing factor for the bone marrow embolism.

PMID- 1452112
TI  - Post-mortem toxico-kinetics of trazodone.
AB  - Trazodone is a structurally unique bicyclic anti-depressant, said to be
      significantly less toxic than other anti-depressants following an acute overdose.
      We studied the tissue distribution and post-mortem redistribution of trazodone in
      two fatalities, one of which allowed comparison with trimipramine, a typical
      tricyclic anti-depressant. Case 1, a 53-year-old female weighing 72 kg, had
      femoral vein concentrations of trimipramine 5.5 micrograms/ml, trazodone 14.4
      micrograms/ml and alcohol 107 mg%. Case 2, a 48-year-old female of 70 kg, had a
      femoral vein trazodone of 15.5 micrograms/ml and alcohol 34 mg%, with no other
      drugs detected. For case 1 and case 2 respectively, trazodone tissue
      concentrations were: skeletal muscle 7.3 and 9.0 micrograms/g; left and right
      lungs 13.3, 12.9 and 35.3, 40.1; myocardium, 30.9 and 28.9; kidneys 34.7 and
      39.6; liver 73.7 and 82.4; fat 18.5 and 16.5; brain 48.6 and 20.9. For case 1 and
      2, respectively, blood trazodone concentrations in 10 initial autopsy samples
      ranged from 13.7-17.3 and 14.4-16.9 micrograms/ml. Twenty-four and forty-eight
      hours later the respective ranges were 12.8-18.0 and 12.4-19.9 for case 1, 12.5
      20.1 and 12.7-27.0 for case 2. By contrast, for trimipramine, blood
      concentrations at 0 time, 24 h and 48 hours ranged from 5.5-11.4, 5.2-14.3, and
      4.2-18.2, respectively. We conclude that trazodone shows little preferential
      concentration in solid organs and consequently has relatively stable post-mortem
      blood concentrations with little drug redistribution artefact. Both the clinical
      pharmacokinetics and post-mortem toxicokinetics of trazodone differ significantly
      from the tricyclic anti-depressants.

PMID- 1452114
TI  - Influence of paracetamol, sulfanilamide and ascorbic acid on the electrocatalytic
      glucose sensor.
AB  - An electrocatalytic glucose sensor for in vivo application has been developed.
      The principle of measurement is based on the direct electrochemical oxidation of
      glucose at a platinum electrode without an enzymatic reaction. In an in vivo
      experiment with sheep the glucose sensor was tested with respect to its cross
      sensitivity towards ascorbic acid, paracetamol and sulfanilamide. The influence
      of these substances could be reduced by an adapted calibration to such an extent,
      that the sensor performance could be ensured.

PMID- 1452113
TI  - Insulin modulation of chronotropic response to Adrenaline in diabetic dogs.
AB  - In 8 unanesthetized dogs, 10-21 days post pancreatectomy, the cardiac
      chronotropic response to rapid infusion of a pharmacological dosage of Adrenaline
      was begun. During the subsequent month, the response was recorded
      electrocardiographically on 19 occasions. On 8 occasions, animals were treated
      with continuous intravenous administration of fluids and insulin up to the time
      of the test; on 11, insulin was omitted for 18 hours before Adrenaline injection.
      Insulin treated animals responded with the typical brief initial bradycardia,
      followed by some 2 minutes of ventricular tachycardia, and restoration of
      preinjection heart rate and electrocardiograph pattern within 5 minutes. On those
      occasions when insulin was omitted, the tachycardia was replaced by ventricular
      bradycardia. The altered chronotropic response of non-insulin treated dogs
      indicates impairment of their cardiac beta receptors.

PMID- 1452115
TI  - Protective effect of diltiazem hydrochloride on the occurrence of alloxan- or
      streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.
AB  - This study demonstrated that 20 mg/kg of the Ca2+ channel blocker, diltiazem
      hydrochloride, administered by intraperitoneal injection 15 min before 200 mg/kg
      of alloxan given by the same route to induce diabetes, served to suppress disease
      onset completely in rats. Even though 48-h fasting promoted the onset of alloxan
      diabetes, 40 mg/kg of diltiazem hydrochloride completely prevented the occurrence
      of diabetes induced by intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg/kg of alloxan. Forty
      mg/kg of the same agent, however, failed to prevent the onset of diabetes induced
      by the intravenous injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). From the fact that
      Ca2+ channel blockers such as nicardipine, verapamil and bepridil have a similar
      suppressive effect on the occurrence of alloxan diabetes, one may readily infer
      that this action is characteristic of Ca2+ channel blockers. Moreover, the
      results suggest the close connection of Ca2+ in the occurrence of alloxan
      diabetes in rats.

PMID- 1452116
TI  - Endurance exercise training causes adrenal medullary hypertrophy in young and old
      Fischer 344 rats.
AB  - The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the effects of
      endurance exercise training on adrenal medullary volume and epinephrine content
      in young (5 month) and old (23 month) female Fischer 344 rats. Animals from each
      group underwent 10 weeks of treadmill running (60 minutes per day, 5 days per
      week). 72 hours following the last training session animals were killed and the
      adrenal glands removed for subsequent analysis. Plantaris muscle citrate synthase
      activity increased with training in both young and old animals (39.8% young;
      36.4% old). Trained animals had larger adrenal medullary volumes (48% increase in
      young, and 18% in old) than untrained controls. Trained animals also had higher
      total adrenal medullary epinephrine content (36% increase in young, and 24% in
      old). There were no differences in adrenal medullary epinephrine or
      norepinephrine concentration (micrograms/microliters medulla). It was concluded
      that the training-induced increase in adrenal epinephrine content is due to an
      increase in the size of the medulla, and not to a greater medullary epinephrine
      concentration. Furthermore, similar responses to training occur in both old and
      young animals.

PMID- 1452117
TI  - Normal tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor activity
      in plasma from patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
AB  - The fibrinolytic system was investigated in 38 patients (21 males and 17 females)
      affected by type 1 diabetes mellitus (18 free from complications, 10 with
      retinopathy, and 10 with autonomic neuropathy) and in 8 healthy controls. Two
      separate fibrinolysis-stimulating tests were done: standardized venous occlusion
      and 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin infusion. Plasma tissue plasminogen
      activator antigen and activity and plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor
      activity were measured. All the patients were in good metabolic control (mean
      HbA1c 7.4%, range 6.1-8.0%). No significant differences were observed either
      between the diabetic patients and the control subjects, nor among the subgroups
      of diabetic patients. The fibrinolytic system is probably not involved in type 1
      diabetes mellitus.

PMID- 1452118
TI  - The role of estrogen in the TSH and prolactin responses to thyrotropin-releasing
      hormone in postmenopausal as compared to premenopausal women.
AB  - The basal and TRH (Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone) stimulated TSH (Thyrotropin)
      and PRL (Prolactin) responses (incremental area; IA) to 200 micrograms TRH was
      studied in 13 pre- and 13 postmenopausal women of 60 years of age. Both groups
      consisted of healthy women, none had goiter and all were negative for thyroid
      autoantibodies. The serum levels of TSH, T3, T4 and SHBG (sex hormone-binding
      globuline) were in the normal range and did not differ significantly between the
      groups. There were no differences in basal TSH (1.3 +/- 0.5 vs 1.4 +/- 0.5 mIU/l)
      or PRL (6.4 +/- 2.7 vs 6.6 +/- 2.5 micrograms/l) or for PRL IA (498 +/- 126 vs
      584 +/- 165) between pre- and postmenopausal women. However, for TSH IA there was
      a slight decrease (15%), but not significant, in the postmenopausal group
      compared to the premenopausal group (1630 +/- 598 vs 2067 +/- 893). In
      conclusion, a weak but not significant decrease in the TSH response to TRH in
      postmenopausal women may be explained by the lower endogenous estradiol level.

PMID- 1452119
TI  - The origin of oestrone sulphate in normal and malignant breast tissues in
      postmenopausal women.
AB  - Conversion of oestrone sulphate to oestrone has been suggested to make a major
      contribution to the level of oestrone found in breast tissues. In order to
      examine the ability of breast tissues to take up oestrone sulphate (E1S), 3H E1S
      or E1-35S was infused into postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer. For
      3 subjects infusion of 3H E1S was repeated after treatment with Danazol, a
      potential inhibitor of oestrone sulphatase activity. After infusion of 3H E1S
      significant levels of 3H E1S were detected in normal and malignant breast tissues
      (tissue: plasma ratios 0.14 +/- 0.13 and 0.24 +/- 0.12 respectively, mean +/-
      S.D., n = 5). Similar 3H E1S tissue: plasma ratios were detected after infusions
      of 3H E1 indicating that the 3H E1S detected in breast tissues after infusion of
      3H E1S may have originated from the hydrolysis of 3H E1S in tissues other than
      the breast, with subsequent uptake and sulphation in breast tissues. After
      infusion of E1-35S no significant levels of radioactivity were detectable in
      normal or malignant breast tissues. Treatment with Danazol had no significant
      effect on tissue levels of 3H E1S or on the CRE1S E1 or MCR-E1S. It is concluded
      that oestrone sulphate, as such, is not taken up by breast tissues and that any
      contribution that oestrone sulphate makes to the oestrogen content of breast
      tissues will depend upon prior hydrolysis.

PMID- 1452120
TI  - Does glucagon preserve its insulinogenic effect during tolbutamide-induced
      hypoglycemia?

PMID- 1452121
TI  - Effect of muscle constriction on 3-hydroxybutyrate uptake using the microdialysis
      technique.

PMID- 1452122
TI  - Pathomorphological findings in thyroid cancers of children from the Republic of
      Belarus: a study of 86 cases occurring between 1986 ('post-Chernobyl') and 1991.
AB  - Recently, an impressive increase in malignant thyroid tumours has been observed
      among children less than 15 years of age living in the Republic of Belarus at the
      time of the nuclear accident of Chernobyl in 1986. More than half of these
      patients lived in the region of Gomel, nearest to Chernobyl. Because of the very
      short time interval between the accident and the tumour occurrence an independent
      review of the available histopathological material was done. Out of 101 cases
      diagnosed as thyroid cancers, we reviewed slides of 93 cases and agreed the
      diagnosis of malignancy in 92.5%. Of these tumours 96.5% were papillary
      carcinomas, 61.5% were moderately or poorly differentiated. Extrathyroidal
      extension was observed in 60.5%, regional lymph node metastases in 74% and
      distant metastases in 7%. One of the patients died from lung metastases. Our
      results confirm that the neoplasms increasingly diagnosed between 1986 and 1991
      among children of this region are thyroid carcinomas. In addition, we correlate
      several histopathological findings with sex and age of the patients and other
      parameters, and compare the results with data from other studies.

PMID- 1452123
TI  - Histological examination of first trimester spontaneous abortions: the impact of
      materno-embryonic interface features.
AB  - Cytogenetic findings and placental histological features of 319 consecutive first
      trimester spontaneous abortions were retrospectively investigated. Correlation of
      cell culture results and microscopic examination based on conventional villous
      histological criteria showed an overall sensitivity of 45.1% for histology in
      detecting chromosomal anomalies. Discrepant cases, i.e. normal histology with
      unequivocal chromosomal anomaly and abnormal histological features suggesting a
      chromosomal anomaly according to the classical criteria but with a normal
      karyotype, were reviewed by two independent observers using extended histological
      criteria including features of the materno-embryonic interface. There was a
      significant (P < 0.001) increase of the sensitivity of histology to 66.4% for
      both observers after the second histological examination. Macerated specimens or
      incomplete specimens made of chorion laeve or maternal decidua only are difficult
      to evaluate, and represent the main cause of discrepancy between cytogenetics and
      morphology. The results of this study indicate that the sensitivity and
      specificity of microscopic examination in cases of early spontaneous abortion may
      be improved by adding features of the materno-embryonic interface to classical
      villous histological criteria.

PMID- 1452124
TI  - The lymphoepithelial lesion of gastric low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa
      associated lymphoid tissue (MALT): an ultrastructural study.
AB  - Lymphoepithelial lesions are a characteristic feature of primary, gastric low
      grade lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). The lymphoepithelial
      lesions in 12 such lymphomas have been examined by electronmicroscopy and
      immunohistochemistry. The lymphocytes present in these lesions are neoplastic
      centrocyte-like (CCL) B-cells and are morphologically and immunophenotypically
      similar to those of the surrounding lymphoma. Once the CCL cells penetrate the
      gastric glands, there is marked structural distortion and disruption of the
      epithelial cells which leads to their ultimate death. The close association of
      the neoplastic CCL cells and epithelial cells suggests the presence of a factor,
      an antigen or other receptor, on the plasma membrane of the latter through which
      these effects are mediated.

PMID- 1452125
TI  - The peritubular myoid cells in the testes from men with varicocele: an
      ultrastructural, immunohistochemical and quantitative study.
AB  - Ultrastructural and some immunophenotypic features of the peritubular myoid cells
      of testes from normal men and from men with varicocele were studied. The
      seminiferous tubules were classified into five types (a-e), related to the
      progressive degree of sclerosis measured as thickening of the lamina propria. In
      normal testes only type a and b tubules were found, whereas the testes from men
      with varicocele showed type b-e tubules. Myoid cells in tubule types a and b
      showed slender cytoplasmic projections with abundant, parallel arranged
      microfilament bundles and electron-dense bodies. In c tubules, the myoid cells
      showed the same ultrastructure. The myoid cells of tubules with advanced (type d)
      or complete (type e) sclerosis showed irregularly outlined nuclei, scant
      microfilament bundles and absence of electron-dense bodies. Immunostaining of
      myoid cells with anti-actin antibodies was intense in types a-c tubules and scant
      in types d and e. Immunostaining with anti-desmin antibodies was intense in
      tubules types a-d, but the immunoreactive cells in types c and d tubules were
      irregularly shaped and distributed and were scanty in tubule type e.
      Immunostaining with anti-vimentin antibodies was weak in types a-c tubules and
      intense in types d and e tubules. Quantitative studies revealed that, with the
      progression of sclerosis, the numbers of both actin- and desmin-immunoreactive
      cells per cross-sectioned tubule, and the surface area occupied by the
      immunostained portion of these cells, decreases while the number of vimentin
      immunoreactive cells and their immunostained surface area increases.

PMID- 1452126
TI  - Cribriform intra-tubular epididymal change and adenomatous hyperplasia of the
      rete testis--a consequence of testicular atrophy?
AB  - We have observed an unusual change in the epididymal tubules, ranging from focal
      epithelial proliferation forming bridges, to a pronounced intra-tubular
      cribriform pattern of the epithelium. This often occurs in association with
      adenomatous hyperplasia of the rete testis which is an uncommon, usually
      incidental finding. Both processes appear associated with underlying testicular
      atrophy and may be related to local hormonal imbalance.

PMID- 1452127
TI  - Lymph node findings in generalized mastocytosis.
AB  - Lymph nodes from 21 cases of generalized mastocytosis were studied histologically
      to confirm or exclude mast cell infiltration, and to investigate their micro
      architecture. Mast cell infiltrates were detected in 17 (80%) of the lymph nodes
      and were found mainly in the medullary cords and sinuses. Diffuse infiltration
      was seen in 14 cases and focal infiltration in three cases. The following
      pathological findings were frequently observed: germinal centre hyperplasia (n =
      14), which is probably a nonspecific finding; and hyperplasia of small blood
      vessels, which sometimes resembled high endothelial venules (14), eosinophilia
      (8), plasmacytosis (7) and collagen fibrosis (6), all of which may well be
      related to the effects of mediators released by mast cells. Infiltrates of acute
      or chronic myeloid leukaemia were seen in six lymph nodes. Division of the cases
      into two prognostically different groups, i.e. systemic mastocytosis, in which
      the skin lesions of urticaria pigmentosa are present and the prognosis is
      favourable, and malignant mastocytosis, in which there is no cutaneous
      involvement and the prognosis is poor, revealed that all six lymph nodes
      exhibiting leukaemic infiltrates came from the malignant mastocytosis group;
      eosinophilia, plasmacytosis and fibrosis were seen significantly more often in
      malignant than in systemic mastocytosis, but blood vessel hyperplasia and
      germinal centre hyperplasia were encountered with the same high frequency in both
      groups; and mast cell atypia tended to be more pronounced in malignant
      mastocytosis; this diagnosis could therefore easily be missed without naphthol AS
      D chloroacetate esterase staining.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452128
TI  - Benign epithelial neoplasms of the appendix: classification and clinical
      associations.
AB  - The nomenclature of non-carcinoid epithelial proliferations of the appendix is
      confused and many of the terms used have no histogenetic basis. A classification
      based on the well-established diagnostic categories of colonic epithelial polyps
      has been proposed recently. We have applied this classification to 42 benign
      epithelial lesions of the appendix in order to determine its suitability for
      routine diagnostic use, and in order to determine the prognosis of patients with
      these lesions. All lesions could be classified as either hyperplastic,
      adenomatous, mixed hyperplastic/adenomatous or dilated appendices. Six cases were
      associated with a synchronous carcinoma of the colon with all types of
      appendiceal histology being represented. Follow-up of the remainder of the
      patients revealed two subsequent colonic carcinomas, at 3 and 6 years post
      appendicectomy respectively. In both of these patients, the appendix had shown
      adenomatous epithelium. We suggest that adenomas of the appendix may have a
      similar prognostic significance to adenomas elsewhere in the large bowel.

PMID- 1452129
TI  - Immunohistochemical localization of basement membrane type VII collagen and
      laminin in neoplasms of the head and neck.
AB  - The distribution pattern of the basement membrane components type VII collagen
      and laminin, was studied immunohistochemically in normal human head and neck
      tissues and in a series of benign and malignant tumours from the same site. Using
      monoclonal antibodies, a basement membrane containing type VII collagen and
      laminin could be demonstrated beneath the epithelial cell layer in 16 normal head
      and neck tissues from different localizations. Unlike type VII collagen, laminin
      was also abundantly present around blood vessels and muscle fibres. With respect
      to 42 squamous cell carcinomas studied, type VII collagen and laminin were
      present in basement membranes surrounding small and large tumour fields,
      independent of the tumour grade. Type VII collagen was demonstrated in the
      cytoplasm of tumour cells in 36% of the cases, while the antibody to laminin
      displayed a basement membrane staining pattern mainly. Both antibodies showed a
      staining gradient in more than half of the cases, with strong staining in the
      centre of the tumour and weakening of the staining towards the tumour periphery.
      In a series of 22 salivary gland tumours consisting of 19 pleomorphic adenomas
      and three adenoid cystic carcinomas, the distribution pattern of type VII
      collagen and laminin was very heterogeneous. Laminin was present in 17 and type
      VII collagen in 10 of 19 cases of pleomorphic adenoma, mostly scattered
      throughout the tumour fields. In the tumours positive for type VII collagen areas
      with little or no positivity were also found. A correlation between type VII
      collagen positivity and the presence of basal cell keratin 14 positivity was
      noticed in the majority of cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452130
TI  - C-cell hyperplasia in secondary hyperparathyroidism.
AB  - Calcitonin is a hypocalcaemia producing hormone and is secreted by C-cells of the
      thyroid. The current study was undertaken on a hypothesis that C-cell hyperplasia
      may develop in the secondary hyperparathyroidism of chronic renal failure in
      response to sustained hypercalcaemia. With an immunoperoxidase staining method
      for calcitonin, C-cell hyperplasia was noted in four of six cases of autosomal
      dominant polycystic kidney disease and in three of six cases of acquired renal
      cystic disease, an overall incidence of 58% compared with an incidence of 36%
      (five of 14) in cases of primary hyperparathyroidism with parathyroid adenoma.
      Thus, both primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism may trigger C-cell
      hyperplasia in an attempt to produce a hypocalcaemic effect.

PMID- 1452131
TI  - Secretory meningioma.

PMID- 1452132
TI  - Vasculitis in ileocaecal tuberculosis: similarities to Crohn's disease.

PMID- 1452133
TI  - An unusual presentation of transitional cell carcinoma of the distal urethra.

PMID- 1452134
TI  - Lymphangioma-like change of the thyroid.

PMID- 1452135
TI  - Solitary microcarcinoid in ulcerative colitis.

PMID- 1452136
TI  - Primary Kaposi's sarcoma of intraparotid lymph node.

PMID- 1452137
TI  - [Composition and distribution of lipid and apolipoprotein in plasma lipoproteins
      of endogenous hypertriglyceridemia].
AB  - Lipids and apolipoproteins in plasma VLDL, IDL, LDL, HDL2 and HDL3 isolated by
      one-step density gradient ultracentrifugation from 7 subjects with endogenous
      hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) and 4 normalipemics were determined. HTG VLDL was
      enriched with cholesterol, and its triglyceride (TG), phospholipid (PL) and apo
      CII, CIII contents (mg/100 mg protein) were significantly higher than those in
      normal VLDL. ApoE content in HTG VLDL was prone to increasing, and apoB100
      content had no apparent difference from that in normal VLDL. Compared with normal
      HDL2 and HDL3, the contents of total cholesterol (TC), apoAI, CII, and CIII in
      HTG HDL2, and apoCII, CIII in HTG HDL3 decreased. HTG HDL2 and HDL3 were rich in
      TG. By analysis of distribution of these lipids and apolipoproteins in various
      plasma lipoproteins, it was found that the abnormal composition of VLDL and HDL
      in HTG seemed to be a result of transport of TC, PL, and apoCII, CIII from HDL to
      VLDL. There was a significantly positive correlation between TC and apoAI, CII,
      CIII in HDL respectively, which indicated that apoCII and CIII were also
      associated with the alteration of HDL cholesterol. It is suggested that the
      elevated plasma VLDL-TG concentration in endogenous hypertriglyceridemia may
      induce abnormal redistribution of lipid and apolipoprotein among apoCII plasma
      lipoproteins, and and CIII may play an important role in these changes.

PMID- 1452138
TI  - [Assay of genomic DNA homology among strains of different virulent leptospira by
      DNA hybridization].
AB  - Nick translation labelling technique was applied to the preparation of two 32P
      labelled genomic DNA probes from L. interrogans serovar Lai strain 017 and
      Leptonema illini strain 3055, respectively. Dot-blotting and Southern-blotting
      with DNA of five strains leptospira from different genus and species were
      performed. The results showed that certain differences among the L. interrogans,
      L. biflexa and Leptonema illini could be detected by endonuclease assay. L.
      interrogans strain 017 with L. biflexa strain Patoc I and Leptonema illini 3055
      strain exhibited very little homology. L. interrogans strains 017, 601, and 245
      from different serogroup and serovar had a high degree of homology. Leptonema
      illini strain 3055 showed little homology with L. interrogans and L. biflexa.
      Therefore DNA hybridization may be used as a tool for the identification and
      classification of leptospira.

PMID- 1452139
TI  - [Investigation of microbicidal activity of neutrophil defensins against
      leptospires].
AB  - Defensins play an important role in oxygen-independent microbicidal mechanisms of
      neutrophils. They are effective against many bacteria, fungi and enveloped
      viruses. However, the effect of defensins upon leptospires has not been studied.
      In the present report, human defensins (i.e. HNP, a mixture of HNP1, HNP2 and
      HNP3 were prepared from human polymorphonuclear neutrophils by chromatography on
      Sephadex G-100 and then on Biogel P-10. Rabbit defensin NP1 was purified from
      rabbit peritoneal granulocytes by preparative acid urea polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis. By using the most-probable-number procedure, HNP and NP1 were
      tested in vitro for the killing of leptospira interrogans serogroup
      icteroheamorrhagiae serovar lai strain 017. NP1 was highly effective. When
      leptospires of strain 017 were incubated with 1 microgram/ml of NP1 at 30 degrees
      C for 4 hours, > 99% of these organisms were killed. HNP was less potent than
      NP1, and at 50 micrograms/ml, it killed > 90% of leptospires. As is also the case
      for the killing of bacteria, NP1 was active against leptospires in nutrient-free
      buffer, whereas HNP required the addition of glucose. The data suggest that
      defensins could play a major role in the killing of leptospires by neutrophils.

PMID- 1452140
TI  - [Detection of leptospira by dot blot hybridization with photobiotin- and 32P
      labelled DNA].
AB  - Photobiotin- and 32P-labelled DNA probes of L. interrogans sv. lai strain 017
      were produced and the DNA and leptospires were dotted on the NC filter and
      hybridized. The results showed that photobiotin and 32P-labelled DNA probes could
      detect DNAs of homology. The smallest amount of DNA that could be detected with
      the probes were 5pg and 1pg, and the smallest numbers of pathogenic leptospires
      were 5 x 10(3) and 10(3), respectively. Nonpathogenic leptospires. L. biflexa sv.
      patoc strain Patoc 1, L. illini strain 3055, Escherichia coli, Bacillus aerogenes
      capsulatus, and Salmonella anatis, could not be detected by the probes. The study
      demonstrates that leptospires DNA probe could be produced by labelling the DNA
      with photobiotin. It has higher sensitivity and specificity and can be used for
      detection of leptospires in the field and clinic.

PMID- 1452141
TI  - [The construction of rich genomic library of bovine Y chromosome].
AB  - According to the fundamentals of DNA renatured kinetics, we made a study in which
      genomic DNA from male cattle was completely digested with Sau 3A, while female
      DNA was sheared to an average size of 500 bp fragments. The Y derived DNA
      sequence rich library of bovine has been contracted with pUC19 plasmid as vector
      and JM109 as host bacteria by reassociation of male and female DNA. Male and
      female DNA probes, were used. The result of colony hybridization showed that out
      of 1000 recombinants analysed, 6 were found to be stronger signal with male
      probe. Analysis of Pvu' I digested DNA fragment revealed that most of the inserts
      were in the 90-300 bp.

PMID- 1452142
TI  - [Thixotropic properties of whole blood in children with congenital heart
      disease].
AB  - The thixotropic parameters of whole blood in two groups of children with
      congenital heart disease (CHD) were measured. Group 1. cyanotic heart disease
      (CCHD), 20 cases; Group 2. acyanotic heart disease (ACHD), 30 cases. Fifty
      healthy children were controls matched with the patients in sex and age. Their
      thixotropic parameters were compared; the paired t-test was used. In the children
      with CCHD, the hematocrit (HCT), the yield stress (tau 0) the Newtonian
      contribution of viscosity (mu), the equilibrium value of the structural parameter
      (A), the apparent viscosity at 2.37 sec-1 (eta s) and the Non-Newtonian
      contribution of viscosity (eta s-mu) were significantly higher than those in
      corresponding control groups. In the children with ACHD, only the values of tau
      0, eta s-mu, and eta s were higher than those in control groups. All of the
      thixotropic parameters in CCHD group were significantly higher than those in ACHD
      group. Thus we described quantitatively CHD in terms of thixotropy of blood. The
      thixotropic parameters of blood could be used as indexes of severity for
      pathologic changes of CHD.

PMID- 1452143
TI  - [Noradrenaline fluorescence histochemical study on the locus coeruleus of
      kindling rat induced by coriaria lactone].
AB  - Fourteen male Wistar rats were divided into two groups. The experimental rats
      were injected with subconvulsive dosage of coriaria lactone (1 mg/kg)
      intramuscularly per 3.5 days. The controls were injected with normal saline.
      After 26 injections, the loci coeruleus of kindling rats were studied with the
      noradrenaline (NA) fluorescence histochemical technique at the time between
      seizures. The NA fluorescence could be clearly visualized under fluorescent
      microscope. The intensity of fluorescence was reflected by autoexposure-meter of
      the fluorescent microscope. The brighter the fluorescence, the shorter the
      autoexposure time. The intensity of NA fluorescence in the locus coeruleus of
      experimental animals was weaker than that of the controls. Since NA plays an
      inhibitory role in cerebral cortex, the decrease of NA, either induced by
      repeated injections of coriaria lactone or due to the time of sample taken after
      seizure, needs further study.

PMID- 1452144
TI  - [Histochemical and image-analytic study of the rat locus coeruleus during status
      epilepticus].
AB  - Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were used in this study. Status epilepticus
      was provoked in 10 rats by embedding coriaria lactone particle into the left
      cerebral motor cortex. In the controls were embedded particles without coriaria
      lactone. After 6 h of continuous seizure, the locus coeruleus was studied with
      the noradrenaline (NA) fluorescence histochemical technique and enzyme
      histochemical test for monoamine oxidase (MAO). The intensity of NA fluorescence
      was detected with fluorescent microscope autoexposuremeter and analysed with MIAS
      200 Image Analyser. The study group showed a parallel increase of NA fluorescence
      as compared with that of the control group by both measurements. NA plays an
      inhibitory role in the cortex. Our data suggest that the increase of NA in locus
      coeruleus may be due to the reduction of NA release from axon terminal. Reduction
      in inhibition could be one of the mechanisms of seizure activity. The intensity
      of MAO was detected with MIAS-200 Image Analyser. The regulation of monoamine
      metabolism by MAO in the central nervous system and the increase of MAO activity
      in the continuous seizure group may be induced by the accumulation of NA in the
      locus coeruleus soma.

PMID- 1452145
TI  - [Ultrastructural observation of SC1001-sodium on brain neurons kindled seizures
      by coriaria lactone in rabbits].
AB  - The ultrastructural changes of hippocampus and cerebral cortex neurons were
      derived from the rabbits kindled by coriaria lactone and from the kindled rabbits
      after treatment with SC1001 Na. The results of experiment showed that the
      hippocampus and cerebral cortex neurons in the kindled group had some
      degenerative changes, such as the swelling mitochondria, dilated rough
      endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complexes when the injuries of neurons were not
      serious, but the seriously injured neurons were subjected to rupture of the cell
      membrane and solution of most organella, with only a small amount of degenerative
      organella. In the group treated with SC1001 Na, the ultrastructure of brain
      neurons demonstrated a tendency of recreation to normal which showed that SC1001
      Na had cured many of the degenerative brain cells. This suggested that active
      treatment is very important for the epileptic patients.

PMID- 1452146
TI  - [The purification and properties of LD5 from normal C57 mouse liver, H22 hepatoma
      and S180 sarcoma].
AB  - Type-A LDH (LD5), isolated from normal C57 mouse liver, H22 hepatoma and S180
      sarcoma after a sequential ion-exchange and affinity chromatography, was examined
      to be quite pure. Studies on the enzyme kinetics and immunological properties
      showed that there were no differences in optimal pH, optimal temperature, subunit
      MW., isoelectric point between normal and malignant (H22 hepatoma and S180
      sarcoma) LD5. Km to pyruvate decreased in malignant LD5 while LD5 content and
      percentage increased. Three LD5 antibodies raised against rabbits showed cross
      reaction. These antibodies as probes are useful in the isolation of LD5-mRNAs
      from G57 mouse liver H22 hepatoma and S180 sarcoma.

PMID- 1452147
TI  - [Isolation and identification of a strain of Pseudomonas SP. producing insoluble
      glucan hydrolase].
AB  - A strain, CIB871, isolated from the natural world can hydrolyze insoluble
      glucan(IG) produced by S. mutans. This organism has been identified to be a
      strain of Pseudomonas SP. It grows well at 30 degrees C. The optimum medium for
      producing insoluble glucan hydrolase (IGase) is composed of 0.3% peptone, 0.03%
      IG and M1 salt solution (NH4)2 SO4 1mg/ml, MgSO4 50 micrograms/ml, FeCl2 50
      micrograms/ml, K2HPO4 0.5mg/ml). The IGase production reached maximum when
      cultured for 65-70 hours.

PMID- 1452148
TI  - [Age-related change of synaptic number in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the rat
      hypothalamus].
AB  - Numerical changes of the synapses in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei
      (SCN) of rats at different ages were investigated with electron microscope, The
      population of the major SCN synapses formed with dendrite and total number of
      synapses were found to be reduced with advancing age. Compared with the young
      animal group, the synaptic number was statistically different from that in the
      adult or senescent group. As a result of these changes, the function of SCN might
      decline with aging.

PMID- 1452149
TI  - [Effects of insulin on expression of oncogenes in CWE mouse brain].
AB  - By RNA dot blot hybridization, we observed the expression of c-myc, c-fos, Ha-ras
      and erbB genes in normal brain of CWE mouse after the injection of insulin.
      Transcription of the c-myc and c-fos genes is greatly increased, which peaks
      approximately 2 h after insulin stimulation, decreases in 6 h and returns to the
      initial levels within 48 h. The alteration in Ha-ras transcription appears more
      complex; its expression decreases first but increases subsequently. We also
      detected the expression of erbB gene which decreases after the injection of
      insulin. The results suggest that c-myc, c-fos, Ha-ras and erbB might be directly
      involved in growth control. Their protein products might play a role in
      intracellular signal transduction.

PMID- 1452150
TI  - [Comparative study on activity of adenylate cyclase in normal human ovary with
      ovarian tumors].
AB  - It has been documented that the binding activity sites of human chorionic
      gonadotropin (HCG) receptor and kd in human ovarian tumors are different from
      those in the normal ovary. And some observations suggest that the HCG receptor
      depends on adenylate cyclase (AC) for its physiological functions. We studied the
      activity of AC in normal human ovary and ovarian tumors. Five human ovarian
      specimens and eighteen ovarian tumor specimens were obtained from women patients
      undergoing gynecological surgery. Ovaries were homogenized and sonicated. The
      homogenates were centrifuged at 1000 x g for 15 min. After sucrose density
      gradient ultracentrifugation (78000 x g, 4 h), the membrane fraction was
      collected from interface between 33% and 37%. The membrane protein approximately
      10 micrograms, ATP 1 mmol/L, 3H-ATP 5 x 10(4) cpm, sulphydryl-ethyl alcohol 10
      mmol/L, in a final volume of 200 microliters of Tris-HCl buffer (50 mmol/L),
      pH7.5, containing MgSO4 5 mmol/L, were incubated at 35 degrees C for 10 min. The
      reaction was stopped by boiling water bath for 3 min. The AC activity (U/mg): of
      human normal ovary, 67 +/- 8, of cystadenocarcinoma serous, 146 +/- 70; of
      cystadenocarcinoma mucinous, 289 +/- 83.

PMID- 1452151
TI  - [Two pairs of particular structures of mandibular joints of mammalian sorex].
AB  - The mandibular joints of Chinese Anouroserex squamipes, spuamipes, MILNE-EDWARDS
      were examined by gross and microscopic studies. We discovered that there were two
      pairs of joints in these animals. The upper pair of joints, named lateral
      mandibular joints, were placed on both sides under the parietal bone. The lower
      pair of joints, named skull-base mandibular joints, were placed on both sides of
      the skull-base. These two pairs of joints could not be observed simultaneously in
      the same plane either sagittally or frontally. The lateral fossa and condyle were
      obliquely from outward, backward and upward to inward, forward and downward on
      both sides; the fossa looked like a groove concave downward, and the head of the
      condyles appeared in a cylindrical form. The lower fossae and condyles were
      transversely forward and inward from the lateral mandibular joints; the fossa
      looked like a shallow spoon concave upward, and the condyle appeared in a flat
      surface to fit the upward fossa. The sorex likes to dig holes on the ground to
      live in and search for insects in the soil to eat. The skull-base mandibular
      joints will support the jaw to counteract the digging force and protect the
      lateral mandibular joints from injury. This study has suggested that the
      morphology of the mandibular joints is adapted to their functional requirements
      during evolution.

PMID- 1452152
TI  - [Circadian rhythm of blood pressure in renovascular hypertensive goats treated
      with captopril].
AB  - Blood pressure (BP) was recorded directly and automatically by a microcomputer
      aid system for 48 h in normotensive and Goldblatt hypertensive goats. By
      population-mean cosinor fitting, significant circadian rhythms were found for SBP
      and DBP in both groups of goats. The BP during nighttime was higher than that
      during daytime in our goats. An angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor,
      captopril, was given to hypertensive goats with usual schedule of drug
      administration (25mg, t.i.d) or form of chronotherapy (62.5 mg, given before the
      acrophase of BP, q.n). BP significantly decreased throughout the whole day in
      both treated groups. But there was no statistical difference of cosinor
      parameters between the effects of BP in these two groups. BP could be decreased
      by the method of chronotherapy with less amount of drug and less frequency of
      drug administration.

PMID- 1452154
TI  - [Observation of the morphological genesis of pleural mesothelioma induced by
      asbestos in rats].
AB  - In order to observe the lesions of pleural mesothelia caused by asbestos, we
      injected asbestos fiber into the pleural cavity of Wistar rats. The result showed
      that there Was an obvious process for the morphological genesis of mesothelioma.
      Simple hyperplasia and stratified pleomorphic hyperplasia of mesothelial cells
      were found on the 30th and 106th day after the injection of asbestos fiber,
      respectively. The benign and malignant mesotheliomas were noted on the 300th day.
      Meanwhile, a two-way differentiation may be observed in the process of
      mesothelial hyperplasia.

PMID- 1452153
TI  - [Effect of Chinese-made vesnarinone on experimental heart failure of dog].
AB  - Intravenous drip of sodium pentobarbital 6 mg/kg per min induced obvious heart
      failure of anesthetic dogs (n = 11) followed by an infusion of 0.25 mg/kg per min
      to maintain the heart failure state. The Chinese-made vesnarinone 3 mg/kg was
      injected, followed by an infusion of 0.1 mg/kg per min, or the solvent in the
      same volume, for 30 min. Vesnarinone increased significantly and instantly the
      cardiac output and left ventricular maximum + dp/dt, which almost recovered to
      normal at the end of the infusion and also significantly increased 30 min after
      administration. The positive inotropic effect of vesnarinone was not accompanied
      by an increase in the heart rate and the blood pressure. The results of our
      experiment reveal that the Chinese-made vesnarinone has a potent and relatively
      selective positive action on heart failure of dogs.

PMID- 1452156
TI  - [The toxicity of herbicide Asulam].
AB  - We conducted a series of toxicity tests and short-term mutagenic assays of Asulam
      and 40% (W/V) sodium Asulam. It was found that the LD50 of Asulam with acute oral
      toxicity was 30000 mg/kg for mice, and the LD50 of sodium Asulam for mice and
      rats were equal (8250 mg/kg). The cumulative coefficient of sodium Asulam in
      Wistar rats was 9.42. None died from sodium Asulam absorbed via skin. Negative
      results were obtained in Ames test, Bacillus subtilis repair test and the
      micronucleus test. There was no significant difference between the control group
      and the treated groups in the chromosomal aberration rates of spermatogonia and
      primary spermatocytes of mice testis. The results indicated that Asulam should be
      regarded as a substance of low toxicity and low accumulation. No mutagenicity was
      observed in our experiment.

PMID- 1452157
TI  - [A method of mercapto cotton/Ag-DDC determination for inorganic arsenic in
      seafood].
AB  - A method of mercapto cotton/Ag-DDC determination for inorganic arsenic in seafood
      was developed. It is reliable and simple--The coefficients of variation for 1.0
      5.0 micrograms As (III), kelp and dried small shrimp samples are 1.5-5.6%, 4.4%
      and 9.5%, respectively. The recoveries of kelp and dried small shrimp samples are
      82.0-102.6% and 83.0-97.1%, respectively. As compared with the results of the
      extraction method (Government standard) in the determination of inorganic arsenic
      levels in 10 kinds of seafood, the results of this simple method showed no
      significant difference.

PMID- 1452155
TI  - [Aluminum and fluorine in blood and bone of rats fed on diet mixed with various
      contents of aluminum, fluoride or their mixture].
AB  - Wistar rats were divided into 8 groups:control, 300 ppm F, 130 ppm F, 300 ppm Al,
      1200 ppm Al, 130 ppm Al + 130 ppm F. 300 ppm Al + 300 ppm F and 1200 ppm Al + 300
      ppm F. The chemicals were mixed into the standard diet. The animals were fed on
      the diets for 12 weeks. Contents of F, Al, Ca and P in the blood (or serum) and
      humerus were determined at the end of 12 weeks. The results showed that the level
      of F in the blood and bone in the unadulterated F group was increased, especially
      F in the bone reached a level more than 10 times that of the control. In the 3
      mixture groups, blood F and bone F were lowered, while blood F was restored to
      normal level, but bone F was not nevertheless, the results showed that Al was in
      antagonism to the absorption of F. In the unadulterated Al groups, blood and bone
      Al did not parallel with the amount of Al administered. The level of Al in the
      median Al group was higher than that of the high Al group. Taking the level of
      blood and bone Al as a measure, when different doses of Al were administered with
      F, in the low and median dosage of Al, F was in antagonism to Al absorption, but
      in case of high dosage of Al, F was in potentiation to Al absorption. In all the
      experimental groups serum P was elevated, but serum Ca was not disturbed. Bone Ca
      and P were decreased only in the 3 groups with unadulterated F as well as
      unadulterated and adulterated high dosage of Al. Mechanism of the nonlinearity of
      Al absorption vs Al dosage, as well as the dual effect of F on the absorption of
      Al was proposed.

PMID- 1452159
TI  - [A study on the pathogenicity of Helicobacter pylori in chronic gastritis and
      peptic ulcer disease].
AB  - Gastroendoscopic biopsy specimens from 366 patients were stained with HE, Warthin
      Starrys or Giemsa and mucin histochemical methods. Positive rate of Helicobacter
      pylori (HP) was 73.8% in chronic gastritis. Positive rates of HP in gastric ulcer
      disease were 88.2%, 91.9%, and 11.1% at the near and distant mucosa of ulcer and
      in duodenitis, respectively. Positive rates of HP in duodenal ulcer disease were
      81.5%, 24.6% and 7.2% at the pyloric-antral area and at the near and distant
      mucosa of duodenal ulcer, respectively. The number of HP in active inflammation
      was higher than that in inactive inflammation (P < 0.05). The HP almost lived in
      the neutral mucin. There was no statistical significant difference between near
      and distant mucosa of ulcer (P > 0.05). HP might play an important role in the
      pathogenesis of chronic gastritis, and it might aggravate the peptic ulcer
      disease.

PMID- 1452158
TI  - [Determination of bendazac lysine by RP-HPLC].
AB  - Bendazac (BD) was separated on a CLC-ODS column, 150 x 6 mm id (Shimadzu), using
      methanol acetic acid 0.1 mol/L (67:33) as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.0
      ml/min and the detection wavelength, 254 nm. The detection limit of BD was 0.1 ng
      (R/N, 3:1), which was determined by the peak area measurement using an external
      standard method. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 5-10 micrograms
      (r = 0. 9998). The average recovery of BDL was 99.46 +/- 0.59% (n = 9). This
      method has been applied satisfactorily to the determination of BDL samples.

PMID- 1452160
TI  - [Alveolar soft part sarcoma: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of
      13 cases].
AB  - Thirteen cases of alveolar soft part sarcoma were studied clinicopathologically
      and by the PAP technique antisera against desmin, myoglobin, S-100 protein,
      neuron-specific enolase (NSE). We suggested, light microscopically, the main
      points for diagnosis and differential diagnosis of alveolar soft part sarcoma.
      Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells reacted positively for desmin (five
      cases), myoglobin (three cases) and NSE (four cases). No immunoreactivity for S
      100 protein was observed. Similar results had been reported by others. No
      definite conclusion about histogenesis of alveolar soft part sarcoma could be
      drawn from the small number of cases in this study.

PMID- 1452161
TI  - [Hepatic segmentectomy using microwave tissue coagulator].
AB  - Hepatic segmentectomy using a microwave tissue coagulator guided by
      intraoperative ultrasonography is a new operative procedure, which our research
      unit was the first to start using from 1990. Up to now we have performed this
      kind of operation with success in 26 cases. Our results suggested that the new
      procedure simplified the original operation and greatly reduced the risk of
      hemorrhage and iatrogenic spread of the cancer cells during operation. Besides,
      this operation as a kind of definite anatomic hepatectomy can minimally resect
      the tumor bearing tissue in a radical fashion, while maximally preserve the tumor
      free tissue of the liver.

PMID- 1452162
TI  - [Measurement of T-lymphocyte subsets in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid on
      smokers and patients with lung cancer].
AB  - The measurements of T-lymphocyte subsets (as expressed by, CD3 CD4 and CD8) in
      the peripheral blood and bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) on 30 cases of
      lung cancer, 26 cases of smoker and 25 cases of nonsmoker have been done. The
      results showed that there existed no differences in the peripheral blood of the
      above said subsets of lymphocyte. In BALF the percentage of CD3 in all the
      lymphocytes did not show any significant difference among the three tested
      groups, either (P > 0.05). But the percentage of CD4 and the ratio of CD4/CD8
      manifested the following peculiarity: patients with lung cancers < smokers <
      nonsmokers (P < 0.01). On the contrary, the percentage of CD8 showed just the
      opposite: patients with lung cancer > smokers nonsmokers (P < 0.01). It was
      suggested that the cellular immunity as shown in the peripheral blood did not
      correspond with the findings in the BALF. The cellular immunity of the lungs was
      decreased both in patients with lung cancer and smokers, but more severely in the
      group of lung cancer patients. Smokers who have had changes of above said subsets
      of lymphocytes in the lungs may develop lung cancer. As the lung cancer advances,
      it may suppress body immunity and in turn enhance the cancer growth. Both the
      cause and the effect are interrelated. Therefore, the provocative agents for
      cellular immunity may act as one of the adjunctive therapies for patients with
      lung cancer. Giving up smoking should play an important role in recovering or
      promoting the immunity of the lungs and decreasing the incidence as well as
      improving the prognosis in patients with lung cancer.

PMID- 1452163
TI  - [Cost-effectiveness analysis of short-term course and regular course of
      antithyroid drug therapy for Graves' disease].
AB  - One hundred and- eighteen newly diagnosed patients with Graves' disease were
      treated by tapazole for 6 months (short-term course) and followed up for another
      12 months. Forty three percent remission rate was found in this group. A regular
      course of antithyroid drug therapy for 1.5-2 years with 50% remission rate was
      taken as control. Cost-effectiveness analysis was made to compare the cost in the
      two different kinds of therapy. The results showed that the total costs of the
      treatment per 100 cases were 17,746 yuan for the short-term therapy and 30,708
      yuan for the regular therapy, with an average of 412.7 yuan and 614.2 yuan per
      case respectively. In comparison with the short-term therapy, the regular course
      could remit 7 more cases at a cost of 12,962.40 yuan, with an average of 1851.80
      yuan per case. Therefore, the cost was high by prolonged course of therapy to
      increase slightly remission rate, although it could remit a few more cases. This
      study suggests that six-month treatment is preferable for those who live in the
      rural or remote area where the economy was less developed. A longer course of
      therapy may be unnecessary for those who have been treated by antithyroid drugs
      for 6 months or longer and are predicted to obtain a possible prolonged
      remission.

PMID- 1452164
TI  - [Female pseudohermaphroditism with a phallic urethra--a case report].
AB  - Female pseudohermaphroditism with penile urethra caused by virilizing adrenal
      tumor in the mother is rare. A case is reported in this article. After operation
      the diagnosis was verified pathologically. Exposure of a female fetus to
      endogenous or exogenous androgens before the seventh or eighth week of fetal age
      may result in male external genitalia. It is emphasized that any cryptorchid
      phenotypic male born to a virilized mother should be proved by sex chromatin and
      sex chromosomes to exclude pseudohermaphroditism and that in any case of
      unexplained female pseudohermaphroditism one should explore the possibility of a
      maternal virilizing tumor.

PMID- 1452165
TI  - [Metastatic tumor of posterior fossa].
AB  - Twenty-seven cases of metastatic tumor of posterior fossa were presented in this
      paper. Of the patients, 20 were males and 7 females; their age ranged from 20 to
      68, and 89% of them were over 40 years of age. The primary foci found were
      bronchopulmonary carcinomas (7 cases), rhinopharyngeal carcinomas (3 cases), and
      cancer of the liver (1 case), but in 16 cases the primary foci were not found.
      All of these patients presented symptoms and signs of obviously increased
      intracranial pressure, and most of them had the signs of cerebellar and cranial
      nerves' lesions. Ventriculorgraphy and brain CT scanning were important
      procedures in the diagnosis, and MRI was most valuable in establishing the
      diagnosis and localization of posterior fossa metastatic tumors. Twenty-six
      patients underwent operation. The short-term follow-up study showed an
      improvement in 25 cases. There was one death. The surgical treatment of posterior
      fossa metastatic tumor was emphasized. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy were
      discussed.

PMID- 1452166
TI  - [Reduction mammaplasty].
AB  - Twenty-eight breasts of 15 patients with macromastia underwent reduction
      mammaplasty from 1982 to 1989. We followed up these patients postoperatively for
      6 months to 7 years. The follow-up time for 8 patients was over 1 year, and 4
      patients over 5 years. And 3 patients labored and lactated. These 15 patients
      were satisfied with this operative results. The operative technology was based on
      Pitange's method. This method improved the site of the nipple, transposition of
      nipple-areola complex, and design of dermal pedicle, so that it had better
      effects in the breast shape, breast fixation and incision scar concealed. We
      suggest that the purpose of macromastia treated in reducing volume, improving
      breast shape, preserving lactating function. This paper also discusses the
      methods for nipple site, nipple-areola complex transposition, breast resection
      and mastopexy.

PMID- 1452167
TI  - Origin of changes in the epigastric impedance signal as determined by a three
      dimensional model.
AB  - The impedance technique can be used for the noninvasive monitoring of the
      stomach, with the epigastric impedance signal being a function of the position
      and configuration of the electrodes. The changes observed could be due to meal
      resistivity, meal volume and contractions of the gastric smooth muscles. The
      effect of these various factors on the epigastric impedance signal was determined
      for several electrode configurations using a three-dimensional model of the
      abdomen. When the voltage sensing electrodes are located close to the current
      electrodes, the signal varies linearly with meal volume. The relationship between
      meal resistivity and the epigastric impedance signal is nonlinear. The impedance
      signal varies linearly with the contractions of the circular smooth muscles of
      the stomach.

PMID- 1452168
TI  - Calculation of Doppler spectral power density functions.
AB  - A volume integral method for the calculation of Doppler ultrasound spectral power
      density (spd) functions is described. Axisymmetric flow in a circular tube with a
      power law velocity profile is assumed. The spd function is regarded as a
      probability density function for scatterer velocity, and the assumptions under
      which this is justified are considered. It is shown that the spd function is
      independent of Doppler angle except in the presence of wall reflection effects. A
      coordinate system centered on the beam is used and this enables the integrals to
      be easily formulated for arbitrary beams. Irregularly shaped and nonuniform beams
      can be treated. For the common flow and beam patterns, which exhibit symmetry,
      the volume integrals can often be reduced to a single integral and evaluated
      directly. The method is applied and the spectra are calculated for various
      different cases. Results are obtained for uniform rectangular and circular
      insonating beams, and for nonuniform beams with Gaussian, jinc, and sinc
      profiles. The effects of narrow beams and wall reflection are shown. The method
      may be readily applied to other beam and flow patterns, and extension to more
      complicated situations is also discussed.

PMID- 1452169
TI  - Adaptive filter for event-related bioelectric signals using an impulse correlated
      reference input: comparison with signal averaging techniques.
AB  - Many bioelectric signals result from the electrical response of physiological
      systems to an impulse that can be internal (ECG signals) or external (evoked
      potentials). In this paper an adaptive impulse correlated filter (AICF) for event
      related signals that are time-locked to a stimulus is presented. This filter
      estimates the deterministic component of the signal and removes the noise
      uncorrelated with the stimulus, even if this noise is colored, as in the case of
      evoked potentials. The filter needs two inputs: the signal (primary input) and an
      impulse correlated with the deterministic component (reference input). We use the
      LMS algorithm to adjust the weights in the adaptive process. First, we show that
      the AICF is equivalent to exponentially weighted averaging (EWA) when using the
      LMS algorithm. A quantitative analysis of the signal-to-noise ratio improvement,
      convergence, and misadjustment error is presented. A comparison of the AICF with
      ensemble averaging (EA) and moving window averaging (MWA) techniques is also
      presented. The adaptive filter is applied to real high-resolution ECG signals and
      time-varying somatosensory evoked potentials.

PMID- 1452170
TI  - A comparative study of simultaneous vibromyography and electromyography with
      active human quadriceps.
AB  - Vibromyographic (VMG) signals, which are low-frequency vibration signals
      generated during muscle contraction, were studied in comparison with
      electromyographic (EMG) signals recorded simultaneously during isometric
      contraction of the human quadriceps muscles. The comparison was accomplished by
      evaluating the averaged root mean squared (rms) value, mean frequency (MF), and
      peak frequency (PF) of the VMG and EMG signals for four muscle contraction levels
      at joint angles of 30 degrees, 60 degrees, and 90 degrees. The four contraction
      levels, namely 20, 40, 60, and 80% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), were
      estimated and controlled by the torque readings of a Cybex II dynamometer. It was
      found that the VMG and EMG under the same conditions on the same muscle group are
      in general equally sensitive to the levels of muscle contraction. Results show
      that the rms value of the VMG signal increases linearly, in a manner similar to
      the EMG rms/%MVC relationship, with increasing muscle contraction levels.
      Furthermore, the study indicates that the averaged MF (6-24 Hz) and PF (9-19 Hz)
      of the VMG signals are much lower than the MF (75-109 Hz) and PF (40-80 Hz) of
      the EMG signals. The slopes of MF/%MVC curves for the VMG and EMG are
      approximately the same for 60 degrees and 90 degrees joint angles (approximately
      3.1 Hz per 20% MVC for VMG and approximately 2.6 Hz per 20% MVC for
      EMG).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452171
TI  - Phase delay of pulmonary acoustic transmission from trachea to chest wall.
AB  - The frequency-dependent propagation time, or phase delay tau (f), of sonic noise
      transmission from the trachea to the chest wall was estimated over the 100-600 Hz
      frequency range using a phase estimation technique from measurements performed on
      eight healthy subjects. Since tau (f) can be greater than one period of the input
      signal at frequencies greater than 100 Hz, the unambiguous phase estimate at 100
      Hz was used as a starting-point to determine the phase angle H(f) and tau (f) at
      higher frequencies under the constraint that the spectra did not exhibit large
      point-to-point discontinuities. The resulting tau (f) range of 0.9-4.1 ms is
      consistent with sound propagation to the chest wall through both airways and
      surrounding parenchyma. The frequency and spatial dependence of tau (f) indicates
      that with increasing frequency more sonic energy travels further into the
      branching airway structure before coupling into the parenchyma. These results
      suggest that information concerning distinct regional lung structures may be
      obtained by probing the system acoustically over selected frequency bands.

PMID- 1452172
TI  - Fuzzy control of mean arterial pressure in postsurgical patients with sodium
      nitroprusside infusion.
AB  - We developed a fuzzy control system to provide closed-loop control of mean
      arterial pressure (MAP) in postsurgical patients in a cardiac surgical intensive
      care unit setting by regulating sodium nitroprusside (SNP) infusion. The fuzzy
      controller, originally expert-system-based, was analytically converted to ten
      nonfuzzy control algorithms, which reduced execution time dramatically. The core
      of the control algorithms was a nonlinear proportional-integral (PI) controller
      whose proportional gain and integral gain adjusted continuously according to
      error and rate change of error of the process output. The gains became larger
      when process output was far from desired setpoint and smaller when process output
      was close to desired setpoint, resulting in more dynamic and stable control
      performance than the regular PI controller, especially when a linear process with
      time-delay or a nonlinear process was involved. The control algorithms, encoded
      in C programming language, were implemented to control MAP in patients.
      Preliminary clinical results showed that the average percentage of time in which
      MAP stayed between 90% and 110% of the MAP setpoint was 89.31%, with a standard
      deviation of 4.96%. These were calculated based on 12 patient trials, with total
      trial time of 95 and 13 min.

PMID- 1452173
TI  - Adaptive control of multiplexed closed-circuit anesthesia.
AB  - This paper describes the design of an adaptive closed-circuit anesthesia
      controller based on a multiplexed mass spectrometer system. The controller deals
      with measurement deterioration caused by measurement delay and rise time through
      a long catheter as well as long sampling times due to the multiplexed
      measurements. Measurement data are extrapolated between sampling periods to
      increase the estimation convergence rate. A multiple-step-ahead predictive
      control algorithm is used to calculate intermediate control inputs between
      sampling intervals. Simulations are used to validate the designed controller.

PMID- 1452174
TI  - A worst-case optimal parameter selection model of cancer chemotherapy.
AB  - An optimal parameter selection model of cancer chemotherapy in which two system
      parameters are unknown is formulated as a worst-case optimal parameter selection
      model. The model assumes that the unknown parameters lie within a known set. The
      system constraints must be satisfied over this entire set, and the objective
      function minimized in the worst case. The continuous dependence of the objective
      function and the system constraints upon the unknown parameters can be removed,
      making a numerical solution tractable. For the data considered it is proven that
      a cure is impossible no matter what the values of the unknown parameters in the
      parameter set. The optimal policy is shown to be relatively low dose intensity
      for the majority of the treatment, with the remaining drug delivered towards the
      end of the treatment interval.

PMID- 1452175
TI  - Evaluation of microwave and radio frequency catheter ablation in a myocardium
      equivalent phantom model.
AB  - A highly localized burst of energy applied to the myocardium via a transvenous
      catheter-mounted power source can be used to destroy endocardial tissue regions
      which mediate life-threatening arrhythmias. In the past, high-voltage direct
      current pulses, radio-frequency (RF) current, and laser light have been used as
      energy sources. In this paper, the use of 2450 MHz microwave energy applied via a
      miniature coaxial cable-mounted helical coil antenna designed specifically for
      this application was investigated as a means to increase the treated volume of
      cardiac tissue in a controllable and efficient manner during ablation. Using an
      array of fiber optic temperature probes implanted in a saline-perfused, tissue
      equivalent gel phantom model designed to simulate the myocardium during ablation,
      the heating pattern from the microwave antenna was characterized and compared to
      that induced by a commercial RF electrode catheter at 550 kHz. Effects of
      variable contact angle between the heat source and heart wall were assessed in
      terms of the radial penetration and overall volume of heated tissue. Heating
      patterns from the RF electrodes dropped off much more abruptly both radially and
      axially than the microwave antenna such that the volume of effectively heated
      tissue was more than ten times larger for the microwave antenna when the heat
      sources were well-coupled to the tissue, and more than four times larger for the
      microwave antenna when the sources were angled 30 degrees away from the tissue
      surface.

PMID- 1452176
TI  - Clinical application of an active electrode using an operational amplifier.
AB  - An active electrode (d10 mm, t6 mm) is presented, that functions as an impedance
      transformer (an input impedance > 10 G omega, an output impedance < 1 omega) by
      means of which we can derive surface EMG without any skin preparation and paste.
      This electrode was compared with a conventional one, and it was ascertained that
      the electrode could be replaced with the conventional one, and, moreover, it was
      preferable because it required less preparation time, and was less affected by
      environmental noise.

PMID- 1452177
TI  - Estimation of the spatio-temporal correlations of biological electrical sources
      from their magnetic fields.
AB  - Quasi-static electromagnetic systems, such as those found in biological systems,
      produce electric and magnetic fields whose temporal and spatial correlations
      reflect the source correlations in a straightforward manner. These fields can be
      noninvasively measured, providing information about the coherence properties of
      the source, which may directly represent ordered physiological processes of the
      organism. The description "biocoherence" will be adopted here to refer to the
      manifestation of the coherence in the magnetic measurements of these sources due
      solely to physiological processes. In this paper a general formulation linking
      the spatial and temporal coherence of measurable magnetic fields with the
      corresponding spatial and temporal coherence of the inaccessible current sources
      is derived in the quasi-static model. A method for reconstructing the spatial and
      temporal coherence of the source distribution is then presented. Such coherence
      maps would be useful descriptors of physiological processes occurring over time
      and space, and would represent more information than an image of the current
      sources frozen in time, or even a temporal sequence of such images.

PMID- 1452178
TI  - Knowing the patient: one aspect of clinical knowledge.
AB  - This paper analyzes the concept "knowing the patient" which was identified in a
      qualitative study of expert nursing practice during ventilator weaning of adult
      patients. The concept signified a cognitive and relational process by which the
      study participants determined salient aspects of a particular patient situation,
      while at the same time demonstrating their credibility and eliciting patient
      trust. The paper describes the clinical judgments, decisions, actions and patient
      outcomes that ensue from knowing the patient. This analysis offers a contextually
      specific description of nurses' clinical reasoning that illustrates a dimension
      of expert clinical practice from actual rather than simulated clinical content.

PMID- 1452179
TI  - Quality of life of hospitalized persons with AIDS.
AB  - This study explores quality of life from the viewpoint of Persons with AIDS
      (PWAs) who were interviewed during periods of hospitalization. Quality of life
      was viewed as the patients' perception of the relative effectiveness of a chosen
      or ascribed management style in solving the practical problems associated with
      being ill. Six management styles used by the respondents to improve their quality
      of life were identified. Results of this study suggest that nurses can improve
      PWAs' quality of life by supporting their respective management styles.

PMID- 1452180
TI  - Spiritual well-being, religiousness and hope among women with breast cancer.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to clarify spiritual health by examining the role
      of spiritual well-being (SWB), religiousness and hope in spiritual health. This
      was accomplished by obtaining questionnaire information from a convenience sample
      of 175 women diagnosed with breast cancer. Patients classified as intrinsically
      religious were found to have significantly higher scores on SWB than did those
      classified as extrinsically religious. There was no difference in hope scores
      between intrinsically religious and extrinsically religious patients, although
      hope was positively correlated with SWB. Existential well-being, a component of
      SWB, was the primary contributor of hope. The two major prognostic variables,
      stage of disease at diagnosis and number of positive lymph nodes, did not predict
      any of the scores.

PMID- 1452181
TI  - Exploring empathy: a conceptual fit for nursing practice?
AB  - After three decades, the efficacy of empathy in the clinical setting remains
      undocumented. Recently, concerns have been raised that the concept may be
      inappropriate and even harmful to the nurse-patient relationship. An analysis of
      the concept indicates that empathy consists of moral, emotive, cognitive and
      behavioral components. By tracing the integration of this concept into nursing,
      we suggest that empathy was uncritically adopted from psychology and is actually
      a poor fit for the clinical reality of nursing practice. Other communication
      strategies presently devalued, such as sympathy, pity, consolation, compassion
      and commiseration, need to be reexamined and may be more appropriate than empathy
      during certain phases of the illness experience. Directions for future research
      are suggested.

PMID- 1452182
TI  - A theory of care-seeking behavior.
AB  - Although much research has focused upon why people do and do not engage in
      recommended health behaviors, there is a need to develop more accurate theories
      to explain and predict engagement in health behaviors. Because health behaviors
      differ in important ways, it could be most fruitful to understand one type of
      health behavior, such as secondary prevention behavior. This paper proposes a
      theory of care-seeking behavior (CSB), based on a theory of general behavior by
      Triandis. Other popular theories about health behavior (i.e., Health Belief Model
      and Theory of Reasoned Action) also are reviewed. Empirical support for the
      variables identified in the theory of CSB is presented, drawing from the
      literature on secondary prevention for cancer. The theory of CSB is applied to
      the situation of seeking care for cancer symptoms. Directions for future research
      based upon this theory are delineated.

PMID- 1452183
TI  - Portrayal of nurses in advertisements in medical and nursing journals.
AB  - This investigation examined the content of advertisements in medical and nursing
      journals to determine if the images of nurses reflect the roles nurses play in
      health care. The method used was content analysis. Thirty-five nursing journals
      and 48 medical journals yielded 313 different advertisements picturing nurses.
      Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, correlation
      coefficients, and interpreted for overall impressions of the portrayals. Nurses
      are portrayed as sex objects, ornaments and as handmaidens to physicians. The
      findings demonstrate a freezing of the image of nurses in the print media.

PMID- 1452184
TI  - Attitudes of nurse managers and assistant nurse managers toward chemically
      impaired colleagues.
AB  - The purpose of this research was to determine attitudes among nurse managers and
      assistant nurse managers toward impaired colleagues in a descriptive
      correlational study method, using the Perceptions of Nursing Impairment
      Inventory. The study revealed no significant differences in attitudes between
      groups; assistant nurse managers demonstrated a more disciplinary orientation
      toward impairment within nursing. Both groups tended to have supportive attitudes
      toward impaired colleagues. Racial/ethnic origin had the most influence on nurse
      managers' attitudes toward chemically impaired colleagues. The
      Philippine/Oriental group demonstrated a stronger need to know when a colleague
      is impaired or receiving treatment, exhibited less belief in the treatability of
      impairment and displayed a stronger belief in impairment as a personality
      weakness.

PMID- 1452185
TI  - Nurses' job satisfaction: are there differences between foreign and U.S.-educated
      nurses?
AB  - This article reports the results of a job satisfaction survey administered to
      foreign-educated and U.S. nurses at six New York City public hospitals. Although
      a comparison of results for foreign-educated nurses on temporary visas (N = 322)
      and U.S. nurses (N = 535) revealed demographic, education and work differences,
      no differences in level of satisfaction were found between the two groups.
      Cultural and work status differences that may have affected these results are
      discussed.

PMID- 1452186
TI  - Nursing chronotherapeutics: a conceptual framework.
AB  - Nurses frequently make decisions about when treatments and actions are performed.
      The nursing concern driving this review is the timing of nursing activities to
      optimize desired and minimize untoward effects. A nursing conceptual framework is
      proposed that highlights individual and environmental factors, as they relate to
      rhythmic responses; as well as places within the framework for nursing actions
      based on customary and usual temporal patterns.

PMID- 1452187
TI  - Esther Lucile Brown--a memorial.
AB  - Esther Lucile Brown, who died in 1990 at the age of 92, was a social
      anthropologist at the Russell Sage Foundation for more than 30 years. Among her
      contributions were ground-breaking studies of the professions and stimulation of
      the development of medical social science. Her research on nursing stimulated
      professionalization and nursing education's move into the university. The
      accuracy of her research findings on nursing and psychosocial aspects of patient
      care led many to assume that she was a nurse. This memorial focuses on her
      contributions and personal impact on friends and colleagues.

PMID- 1452188
TI  - Temperament theory and research.

PMID- 1452189
TI  - On the dangers of invisibility.

PMID- 1452190
TI  - The imposter phenomenon.

PMID- 1452191
TI  - [New strategies in parasitological research].

PMID- 1452192
TI  - [Recent findings on the pathogenicity of Entamoeba histolytica].
AB  - Entamoeba histolytica is the causative agent of human amoebiasis. During recent
      years, research in amoebiasis has concentrated on two subjects: 1. the dual
      manifestation of the infection as harmless colonization of the intestinal cavity
      or pathogenic tissue invasion and 2. the molecular analysis of functions of E.
      histolytica that are considered essential for pathogenicity. Besides
      epidemiological studies and isoenzyme analyses, molecular genetics have revealed
      additional evidence that two genetically distinct forms of E. histolytica do
      exist, named "pathogenic" and "nonpathogenic" forms, respectively. Both can
      infect humans but only the "pathogenic" form is able to invade the tissue and
      cause disease whereas the "nonpathogenic" is not. Questions remain open about the
      mechanism that triggers "pathogenic" E. histolytica to become invasive and about
      the molecules that are involved. Current data indicate that at least three
      functions of the amoebae are considered essential for pathogenic tissue invasion.
      Pathogenicity is viewed as a result of 1. adherence of the amoeba to host cells,
      predominantly mediated by a galactose- and N-acetylgalactosamine-inhibitable
      lectin, 2. killing of host cells by a pore-forming peptide known as amoebapore,
      and 3. proteolysis of the host's extracellular matrix mediated by cysteine
      proteinases. Structural detailed molecular analysis including cloning of the
      corresponding genes have led to a better understanding of the function of these
      proteins.

PMID- 1452193
TI  - [New views on the pathogenesis and diagnosis of toxoplasmosis].
AB  - T. gondii is one of the most occurring human pathogenic parasites in Europe.
      While the majority of immunocompetent individuals with T. gondii infection do not
      present clinical symptoms, congenital toxoplasmosis and reactivation of a latent
      infection in immunocompromised patients (i. e. patients with AIDS) are of high
      clinical relevance. A classification of T. gondii isolates is not available so
      far, although it was possible to demonstrate strain differences by the use of
      several methods, i. e. by using monoclonal antibodies. T. gondii seems to be able
      to infect any mammalian cell. Host cell-derived as well as parasite-derived
      factors seem to be important for the contact between host cell and parasite and
      the subsequent internalization. Following invasion, T. gondii is located within a
      parasitophorous vacuole that does not fuse with lysosomes. The multiplication
      rate of these obligately intracellular growing parasites decreases during
      conversion from the tachyzoite stage to the bradyzoite stage. Finally, the
      bradyzoites-harbouring cysts persist for the lifetime of the host. Reconversion
      from bradyzoites to tachyzoites may occur in immunocompromised patients.
      Probably, IFN-gamma is involved in this process. In addition to serological
      methods, direct detection of T. gondii using PCR or demonstration of circulating
      antigens might be routinely used as diagnostical tools in the future.
      Determination of specific IgA antibodies, which can be evaluated using the
      immunoblot technique, seem to be important for early serological diagnosis. The
      use of recombinant antigens might be helpful in future diagnosis to circumvent
      discrepancies between serological test results which could have resulted from
      strain-specific differences.

PMID- 1452194
TI  - [Malaria: immune mechanisms and immunization].
AB  - In the 1990s, malaria worldwide is still the most important infectious disease.
      In endemic areas mostly children carry the highest burden of morbidity and
      mortality. Nevertheless an increasing incidence in adults can be expected.
      Patterns of disease and immunity within a population may be related to host
      parasite interactions and recent advances in immunology have contributed to a
      better understanding at the molecular level. Humoral and cellular responses play
      a major part in the immunity as well as immunopathology of malaria. Due to their
      extensive adaptive modulation, it will be extremely difficult to expel malaria
      parasites from their ecological niche. Most approaches of immunization targeted
      at different parasite stages, interfere with the acquisition of natural immunity
      and should thus be pursued with great care if implemented in the field.

PMID- 1452195
TI  - [The vir-regulon of Streptococcus pyogenes: coordinate expression of important
      virulence factors].
AB  - Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococci; GAS) expresses important virulence
      factors like the antiphagocytic M protein, the complement factor-inactivating C5a
      peptidase and the immunoglobulin-Fc-binding proteins on its surface. The
      corresponding emm, scpA, and emm-related (fcrA, ennX) genes are adjacently
      encoded on the genome. They are coordinately in trans regulated by the positive
      regulatory VirR factor. The responsible virR gene is also located within this
      segment of the genome which was called vir-regulon. There are at least three
      different types of organization of the vir-regulon. A frequently encountered type
      is the "Large vir-regulon". It comprises from 5' to 3' the following genes: virR,
      fcrA, a relatively small emm, ennX, and a 4.6 kb version of scpA. Another common
      type is the "Small vir-regulon", which contains a virR deviating in its 3'
      region, a relatively large emm, and a 3.5 kb version of scpA. The "Unusual vir
      regulon" is less frequently detected. It closely resembles the small one, but
      harbors an additional 3 to 4 kb DNA fragment between emm and scpA, occasionally
      encoding an emm-related gene. The type of vir-regulon encoded by a GAS strain
      correlates to its serotype, its M class, and its expression of serum opacity
      factor. The structural genes of the vir-regulon are expressed at a high level
      during growth in exponential phase, under anaerobiosis, and at body temperature.
      The sensor molecule which modulates VirR activity according to these
      environmental conditions has not yet been detected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1452196
TI  - [The role of antibiotics in the management of verotoxin-associated hemolytic
      anemia syndromes].
AB  - Significant improvements of dialysis techniques and the supportive treatment of
      the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) during the last three decades do not veil the
      fact that causal therapy is not yet feasible. This holds true for the classic HUS
      associated with infections by verotoxin-(VT-)producing E.coli (VTEC) as for the
      majority of the much less frequent "atypical" forms. The influence of
      antimicrobial agents on production of verotoxins produced by clinical VTEC
      isolates was examined. Co-trimoxazole significantly increased the total yield of
      toxin. In contrast, ciprofloxacin, lincomycin and gentamicin caused significant
      reduction in toxin yields. The pathogenetic and therapeutic relevance of this
      finding is not yet known. Analysis of the clinical literature for the postulated
      relation between antibiotic treatment and development of HUS or its impact on the
      severity of the disease reveals a controversial picture. Based on the dynamics of
      the disease, the in vitro findings, and reports on unfavourable outcomes after
      treatment, it is concluded that antibiotics are not indicated in most cases of
      the enteropathic HUS or other VTEC infections. Antibiotic prophylaxis has neither
      been proven to be efficacious nor safe for the prevention of secondary cases
      during VTEC outbreaks. Apart from the implementations of hygienic measures,
      prospective studies on the role of antibiotics seem clearly warranted. Possible
      future strategies may include the design of immunological therapeutic concepts.

PMID- 1452197
TI  - Variants of the mucosal mast cell line (RBL-2H3) deficient in a functional
      membrane glycoprotein.
AB  - We have isolated and characterized subpopulations of the rat mucosal mast cell
      line, RBL-2H3, carrying either high or low density of a glycoprotein, recently
      established as mast cell function-associated antigen (MAFA, Ortega et al., 1991),
      on their surface. These populations were investigated in order to better define
      the involvement of the MAFA in coupling the immunological stimulation of mast
      cells to mediator release. The MAFA density on the cell surface of the deficient
      subpopulation was less than or equal to 10-20% that of the parental population
      and this phenotype was found to be stably maintained for several months. In
      contrast, the MAFA-enriched cells had maximally twice the number of copies per
      cell surface than that of the parental population and this phenotype was less
      stable. Significantly, low copy number of MAFA on the cell's surface was
      accompanied by a markedly different secretory response, i.e. (i) a considerable
      decrease in the secretory response to the Fc epsilon RI-mediated stimulus (ii) a
      marked enhancement of the ionomycin induced secretion. In order to gain insight
      into the causes for this decrease in cellular response to the Fc epsilon RI
      mediated stimulus, we measured the amplitudes of several biochemical processes
      which are assigned to the stimulus-secretion coupling cascade. The Fc epsilon RI
      mediated uptake of 45Ca2+ by the MAFA-deficient cells was considerably lower than
      that of the parental and MAFA-enriched cells. Similarly, these cell's Fc epsilon
      RI-induced rise in [Ca2+]i (both the initial transient as well as the sustained
      elevation), was markedly lower than that of the parental line and the MAFA
      enriched cells. Moreover, the low initial transient rise in [Ca2+]i was found to
      be correlated with the decrease in Fc epsilon RI-mediated IP3 levels. We
      therefore examined the cell's content of the phosphatidyl-inositides hydrolyzing
      enzyme, phospholipase C gamma 1. This was found to be similar in the parental
      line and in its derived subpopulations. However, PLC gamma 1 activation, as
      measured by the time course of phosphorylation of its tyrosines, showed a marked
      difference: while PLC gamma 1 tyrosine phosphorylation, in the parental cells,
      was only transient (detected already 1 min after antigen addition and declined
      afterwards to basal levels at ca. 10 min), in the MAFA-deficient cells, tyrosine
      phosphorylated PLC gamma 1 was also observed 1 min after antigen addition, yet
      showed no decrease with time in its phosphorylation intensity for up to 30
      min.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1452198
TI  - Inhibition of murine erythroleukemia cell differentiation by normal and partially
      deleted c-myc genes.
AB  - In our study of normal and partially deleted myc genes we found that N-myc,
      similarly to L-myc, can substitute for c-myc and inhibit MEL cell
      differentiation. All of the known putative functional domains of c-myc seem to be
      required for this inhibition. It is conceivable that c-myc inhibits
      differentiation by a mechanism that is related to its normal role in the cell,
      possibly by regulating transcription of genes involved in growth promotion. As
      was previously found for all of the other known activities of c-Myc, the HLH and
      LZ dimerization motifs are absolutely necessary for inhibition of MEL cell
      differentiation. Heterodimerization of Myc with Max or Max-like proteins could be
      a prerequisite for such inhibition. It is, therefore, of interest to study the
      regulation of max in MEL cells expressing normal and deregulated myc genes.

PMID- 1452199
TI  - Polymorphism of the human Fc gamma receptor II (CD32): molecular basis and
      functional aspects.

PMID- 1452200
TI  - Calcium signalling by the high affinity macrophage Fc gamma receptor requires the
      cytosolic domain.
AB  - Hematopoietic cells express multiple receptors which bind the Fc domain of IgG.
      We utilized transfection of COS-1 cells, a cell line which lacks endogenous Fc
      receptors, to study the expression and function of Fc gamma RI, the high affinity
      Fc gamma receptor in the absence of other Fc gamma receptors. Fc gamma RI was
      efficiently expressed in transiently transfected COS-1 cells as measured by flow
      cytometry and the binding of IgG sensitized RBCs (EA). In addition, analysis at
      the single cell level demonstrated that individually transfected COS-1 cells
      release cytosolic free Ca2+ [(Ca2+)i] upon activation with anti-Fc gamma RI
      antibody. The calcium response required Fc gamma RI cross-linking. COS-1 cells
      transfected with mutant Fc gamma RI lacking the cytosolic domain expressed Fc
      gamma receptors and bound EA as well as wild type receptors, but failed to induce
      an increase in [Ca2+]i. These data indicate that Fc gamma RI in the absence of
      other Fc gamma receptors mediates a calcium signal and that the cytoplasmic
      domain of Fc gamma RI contains the elements required for calcium dependent signal
      transduction.

PMID- 1452201
TI  - Induction and function of Fc epsilon RII on YT cells; possible role of
      ADF/thioredoxin in Fc epsilon RII expression.
AB  - The regulation of low-affinity Fc receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RII) and the
      characteristics of both membrane and soluble forms of Fc epsilon RII were studied
      using YT cell line. We found that YT cells, a human NK like cell line, expressed
      Fc epsilon RII after IL-1 stimulation. Cross-linking of Fc epsilon RII on IL-1
      stimulated YT cells as well as the transfectant of Fc epsilon RII-cDNA (YTSER)
      resulted in the up-regulation of IL-2R alpha (p55/Tac). A 59 kDa protein
      phosphorylated at tyrosine residues was co-immunoprecipitated with Fc epsilon RII
      from YTSER lysate using H107 anti-Fc epsilon RII mAb. YTSER not only expressed Fc
      epsilon RII on their surface but also secreted soluble form of Fc epsilon RII
      (sFc epsilon RII/sCD23; IgE binding factor). Affinity purification revealed that
      sFc epsilon RII released from YTSER is heterogeneous and consisted of several
      proteins differing in molecular weight. Both EBV+ B cells and HTLV-1+ T cells are
      high producers of ATL derived factor (ADF)/thioredoxin (TRX) and express Fc
      epsilon RII and IL-2R alpha respectively. To clarify the mechanism of Fc epsilon
      RII and IL-2R alpha induction by ADF/TRX, we examined the effect of ADF/TRX on
      the bindability of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B), which is known to
      regulate IL-2R alpha gene expression. In the gel shift assay, ADF/TRX was shown
      to enhance the bindability of NF-kappa B to its responsive element.

PMID- 1452202
TI  - Soluble Fc gamma R (sFc gamma R): detection in biological fluids and production
      of a murine recombinant sFc gamma R biologically active in vitro and in vivo.
AB  - Soluble forms of receptors for the Fc portion of IgG (sFc gamma R) were detected
      in biological fluids from mice and humans. In mouse bearing tumors, circulating
      amounts of sFc gamma R increased concurrently with tumor growth. Tumors secreting
      IgG2a, IgG2b or IgG3 led to a 5- to 10-fold increase in serum sFc gamma R levels
      whereas tumors secreting IgG1, IgGA or other types of tumors (non Ig B cell
      tumors, T cell lymphoma and a melanoma) increased 2- to 3-fold the levels of
      circulating sFc gamma R. In the human, sFc gamma R were also detected in whole
      unstimulated saliva. Levels of sFc gamma RII and of sFc gamma RIII were variable
      and did not seem to depend on the dental status of the individuals. Finally, a
      murine recombinant sFc gamma R (rsFc gamma R) composed of the two extracellular
      domains of Fc gamma RII was produced by culture of transfected L cells in
      bioreactors. The purified rsFc gamma R was found to inhibit antibody production
      in vitro in anti-SRBC responses and by cultures of small B cells stimulated by
      anti-IgM antibodies in the presence of IL-4 and IL-5. Moreover, the i.p.
      injection of this material into adult mice immunized with SRBC led to a decrease
      of IgG antibody production by splenocytes, as measured by a hemolytic plaque
      assay, and in serum, as measured by antigen-specific ELISA.

PMID- 1452203
TI  - Two distinct regions of the mouse beta Fc gamma R gene control its transcription.
AB  - The low-affinity receptors for the Fc portion of IgG (Fc gamma RII and Fc gamma
      RIII) are born by most of the immunocompetent cells and mediate a wide spectrum
      of biological activities. Macrophages, mast cells and lymphocytes express the
      type II Fc gamma R whereas the type III Fc gamma R is expressed on macrophages,
      mast cells and NK cells. In mice, the beta Fc gamma R gene codes for Fc gamma RII
      and the alpha Fc gamma R gene codes for the ligand-binding Fc gamma RIII alpha
      chain. We have previously demonstrated that the methylation of the 5' region of
      these genes control their expression. In the present paper, we investigate the
      role of two unmethylated regions of the beta gene, the promoter and the third
      intron, in the control of its transcription. We show, by using two cell lines
      representative of B and mast cells, that different promoter fragments determine,
      in these two cell types, the transcription of the beta Fc gamma R gene. The third
      intron of the beta Fc gamma R gene contains sequences, which, introduced upstream
      to homologous or heterologous promoter, inhibit the transcriptional activity of
      these promoter. Thus, in B cells and in mast cells, the transcription of the beta
      Fc gamma R gene is controlled by two distinct regions of the gene.

PMID- 1452204
TI  - Lymphocyte Fc receptors: the immunobiology and pathology of CD23.

PMID- 1452205
TI  - TCR induced expression of Fc receptors on murine T cell subsets in vitro and in
      vivo.

PMID- 1452206
TI  - Autocrine regulation of murine B lymphocyte growth by an IgM antibody.
AB  - Culture supernatants of LPS-stimulated murine B lymphocytes are able to inhibit
      the growth of freshly isolated splenic B cells via an IgM antibody. The binding
      specificity of this IgM is not yet defined, but appears to be a B lymphocyte
      surface structure distinct from membrane immunoglobulin, MHC class II antigen,
      transferrin and Fc gamma receptors, and B220. The regulatory autoantibody allows
      the normal progression of early, but not late steps in the cycle of polyclonally
      stimulated B lymphocytes and does not affect the increased antigen-presenting
      capacity of activated B cells. Therefore, this autoregulatory cycle is apparently
      ubiquitous and may be a major component of B lymphocyte homeostasis under
      physiological, as well as pathological conditions. Moreover, these findings bring
      into focus a possible regulating role of B lymphocytes in the humoral immune
      response.

PMID- 1452207
TI  - Restriction mechanisms of B cell regulation by a physiological IgG-anti
      immunoglobulin autoantibody.
AB  - Immunization of LEW rats with strongly histoincompatible BN blood cells induces,
      in addition to anti-donor antibody, a broadly reactive IgG autoantibody which
      binds to IgG and IgM molecules (IgG anti-Ig). Minute amounts of affinity purified
      IgG anti-Ig (0.2 pg/10(6) cells) suppress the antibody production in vitro of
      antigen receptor (AgR)-stimulated B cells derived from rats of the same strain.
      The suppressive antibody is also active in the whole serum IgG fraction.
      Importantly, anti-Ig-induced suppression is governed by restriction mechanisms:
      only AgR-occupied B cells are affected, the suppression is cell cycle dependent,
      and maximum suppression is obtained at an optimum IgG concentration. Treatment of
      rats in vivo with 0.8 mg Ig-anti-Ig (whole IgG fraction) along with allogeneic
      cells resulted in nearly complete suppression of the anti-donor antibody
      response. Possible mechanisms of B cell suppression by IgG anti-Ig are
      crosslinking of AgR with FcR, or cocapping of the two receptors with sterical
      interaction as a consequence of their separate occupation. Both alternatives lead
      to the release of an inactivating signal.

PMID- 1452208
TI  - Macrophage-bound C3 fragments as adhesion molecules modulate presentation of
      exogenous antigens.
AB  - The involvement of complement in the response to T cell dependent antigens is
      generally accepted, however the mechanism has not been clarified. We compared the
      T cell response in vitro, using antigen-pulsed macrophages from normal and
      genetically C3-deficient guinea pigs, and show, that C3-fragments fixed
      covalently to the surface of the antigen-presenting cells are involved in the
      triggering of responder T cells. Binding of guinea pig C3-specific mAb to oil
      elicited, OVA- and PPD-pulsed macrophages of C3D guinea pigs is reduced compared
      to normal cells, while the expression of Ia antigens is the same. C3-like
      peptides can be immunoprecipitated only from the lysate of oil-elicited normal
      cells. These C3-fragments are fixed to the cell-membrane via ester-bonds, since
      they are released upon treatment with hydroxylamine. In comparison with normal
      cells, the antigen-presenting capacity of macrophages derived from C3D animals is
      strongly impaired in cultures containing 10% normal guinea pig serum. A further
      impairment is observed in cultures with 10% C3D guinea pig serum. Two of the
      tested C3-specific mAb inhibited antigen-induced T cell proliferation in a dose
      dependent manner. Our data point to the importance of C3, as a bivalent molecule,
      having the capacity to facilitate the cooperation between the antigen-presenting
      cell and the responder T lymphocytes.

PMID- 1452209
TI  - Dynamic physical interactions of plasma membrane molecules generate cell surface
      patterns and regulate cell activation processes.
AB  - Molecular interaction and transmembrane signal transducing events generate a very
      dynamic and ever changing "pattern" in the plasma membranes. Lymphocytes, the key
      functional elements of the immune system, are eminently suited to be the primary
      targets to investigate these proximity, mobility, or other physical-chemical
      changes in their plasma membranes. Recently, a number of experiments suggested
      that processed peptides from antigens can bind specific components of MHC
      molecules (Elliott et al., 1991). This is certainly a way to alter their
      structure. Cell surface patterns of topological nature, assembly and disassembly
      of oligomeric receptor structure like the IL-2 receptor have been investigated by
      sophisticated biophysical techniques. The dynamic changes in the two-dimensional
      cell surface pattern and intramolecular conformational changes within this
      "larger" macro-pattern may have a strong regulatory role in signal transducing
      and intercellular recognition processes. Recent data on these problems are
      presented together with brief and critical discussions.

PMID- 1452210
TI  - Detection of cytokine receptors by high-sensitivity immunofluorescence/flow
      cytometry.
AB  - Cytokines have profound effects on cells, and act through receptors which need
      only be at low concentrations (around 100 copies per cell) to transmit activation
      signals. The detection of such low concentrations is possible using monoclonal
      antibodies and fluorescence/flow cytometry, but only by using specialized
      techniques. The best results so far have been obtained using biotinylated second
      antibody followed by phycoerythrin-streptavidin, and batches of these reagents
      have to be carefully selected. Analysis of the fluorescence is best done using
      546 nm excitation from a mercury arc lamp, but 512 nm excitation from an argon
      ion laser can also be used. With appropriate alignment, instruments with 488 nm
      fixed-wavelength lasers can give sensitivity almost as good as the 546 nm system.
      Working at high sensitivity, background levels also increase, particularly for B
      lymphocytes. Background staining can be reduced to acceptable levels by blocking
      the two major mechanisms for non-specific binding. Applications of these methods
      to the detection of cytokine receptors on normal and malignant cells are
      reviewed.

PMID- 1452211
TI  - In vivo and in vitro death of mature T cells induced by separate signals to CD4
      and alpha beta TCR.
AB  - To investigate whether a clonal deletion mechanism is responsible for the mature
      T cell tolerance that may be induced in vivo by TCR signal to anti-CD4 (H129.19
      mAb) coated cells, we analyzed the T cell repertoire in anti-CD4 mAb treated
      BALB/c mice by flow cytometry following TCR signals through anti-alpha beta TCR
      mAb or SEB superantigen. Lymph nodes showed a strong reduction in the CD4+/CD8+
      cell ratio, and a selective clonal loss of CD4+ V beta 8+ cells 4d following anti
      alpha beta TCR or SEB injection, respectively. Following lymph node cell
      activation in a short-term in vitro assay with SEB or anti-V beta 8 mAb, a
      selective elimination of CD4+ V beta 8+ cells was again detected, and DNA
      fragmentation analysis disclosed a cell death by apoptosis. These findings
      suggest that TCR triggering transduces an apoptotic signal into CD4+ mAb
      saturated cells that in turn leads to specific holes in the mature T cell
      repertoire.

PMID- 1452212
TI  - Targeting of anti-tumor responses with bispecific antibodies.
AB  - T cells can be induced to specifically lyse tumor cells with bispecific
      antibodies containing anti-T cell receptor mAbs crosslinked to anti-tumor mAbs.
      Such "targeted cytolysis" requires that the target cell be bound directly to the
      cytotoxic cell. In addition, targeted T cells mediate a second activity, the
      secretion of factors that can block the growth of both tumor target cells and
      bystander tumor cells. When given to nude mice bearing intraperitoneal human
      ovarian carcinoma, targeted human T cells cause the rapid removal of most tumor
      cells from the peritoneum, and markedly prolong the times of survival of treated
      mice. The efficacy of targeted T cells for treating human cancer is currently
      being tested in clinical trials.

PMID- 1452213
TI  - Possibilities of interference with the immune system of tumor bearers by non
      lymphoid Fc gamma RII expressing tumor cells.
AB  - The ectopic expression of Fc gamma RII by PyV transformed 3T3 cells derived from
      tumors of long latency has been established. It was suggested that this
      expression is one of several changes conferring upon the cells an increased
      capacity for survival. We found that in one case cells expressing a very high
      level of Fc gamma RII had also a very high metastatic phenotype as compared to
      FcR negative cells. Direct evidence that Fc gamma RIIbl functions as a
      progression factor was provided by transfection experiments. The transfected gene
      conferred an increased malignancy and invasive phenotype upon PyV or c-Ha-ras
      transformed cells. In the present study we tested the possibility that Fc gamma
      RII expressing tumor cells could interfere with the immune system. The following
      subjects were investigated: 1) The ability of Fc gamma R on the tumor cells to
      bind the ligand and/or release IBF. 2) The effect of a local accumulation of
      ligand and/or IBF (assumed to take place in situ in the tumor) on Fc gamma RII
      expressing T cells. It was found that both tumor-derived receptor positive and
      beta l transfected PyV transformed cells were capable of binding aggregated mouse
      IgG. The binding of bivalent ligand was followed by an increase in membrane Fc
      gamma RII expression. Also both types of cells were capable of releasing IBF. We
      then tested the possibility that a local accumulation of IgG within the tumor
      could effect Fc gamma R expressing T cells. It was found that aggregated mouse
      IgG (as well as IgGl) could stimulate the proliferation of the T cell hybridoma
      (T2D4) and other Fc gamma RII expressing T cells. We also found that the
      expression of beta Fc gamma RII specific mRNA peaked at the logarithmic phase of
      T2D4 cultures, in parallel with their maximal potential to release IBF. Several
      pathways for interference with the immune system are suggested.

PMID- 1452214
TI  - Tumor growth changes the contribution of granulocyte-macrophage colony
      stimulating factor during macrophage-mediated suppression of allorecognition.
AB  - Tumor-bearing host (TBH) macrophages (M phi) suppress T cell alloresponses, and
      this study suggests granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a
      molecule associated with suppressive M phi activity during tumor growth, signals
      more immunosuppression. In the absence of M phi, GM-CSF increased T cell
      proliferation in response to alloantigen. However, TBH M phi-mediated suppression
      of allorecogntion was further induced by GM-CSF. Allogeneic mixed lymphocyte
      reaction (MLR) cultures, containing normal host (NH) M phi, were either
      unaffected or enhanced. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a highly suppressive monokine
      that decreases alloreactivity, did not seem to be involved in the suppression
      caused by the TBH M phi/GM-CSF interaction. M phi-CSF (M-CSF) addition to
      cultures did not reverse the suppression caused by TBH M phi and GM-CSF, and
      inhibition of PGE2 synthesis did not change the response to M-CSF. TBH Ia- M phi,
      a suppressor population that predominates among splenic M phi during tumor
      growth, demonstrated significantly lower reactivity in the presence of GM-CSF. In
      contrast, alloresponses suppressed by NH Ia- M phi demonstrated higher reactivity
      in the presence of GM-CSF. The data collectively suggest that TBH M phi respond
      differently to GM-CSF, and that tumor-induced changes in GM-CSF responsiveness
      affect M phi accessory ability.

PMID- 1452215
TI  - HLA molecules in basal cell carcinoma of the skin.
AB  - Fifty basal cell carcinomas (BCC) and 8 samples of healthy skin were studied for
      HLA class I and class II antigen expression and for the presence of mutations in
      codon 12 of the K-ras and H-ras genes. All samples of healthy skin and of
      epithelium near the tumor showed high levels of class I molecules, whereas 38% of
      the tumors showed complete absence. Sixty-two percent of the tumors presented
      positive class I expression with heterogeneous staining. These losses were due to
      the simultaneous lack of heavy chain and beta 2-microglobulin. Selective losses
      of HLA-A or HLA-B antigens were not detected. Class II antigens were absent in
      most of the tumors, only two tumors showing a few weakly positive cells with anti
      HLA-DR mAb. The loss of class I expression correlated significantly with the
      degree of histological differentiation and aggressiveness. We were unable to
      correlate class I expression with clinical size, depth of invasion or the extent
      of leukocytic infiltrate surrounding the tumor. Analysis by PCR amplification of
      codon 12 of the K-ras and H-ras oncogenes detected H-ras mutations in 1 out of 50
      cases, and no K-ras mutations in any of the tumors studied. Thus, a positive
      relationship between K-ras and H-ras mutations and BCC tumorigenesis or MHC
      alterations seems unlikely in this neoplasia.

PMID- 1452216
TI  - Differences of two Borrelia burgdorferi strains in complement activation and
      serum resistance.
AB  - Complement activation and serum resistance of the Borrelia burgdorferi strains
      B31 (American strain) and PKo (European strain) were compared. In 25% (v/v)
      normal human serum (NHS) free of B. burgdorferi-specific antibodies the cells of
      the PKo strain were high activators of complement as indicated by rapid and
      strong C9 consumption, by deposition of up to 336763 C9 molecules per cell and by
      the formation of the terminal complement complex on the cell surface. By
      comparison, complement activation by the B31 strain was low with 5.4-fold less C9
      deposited per cell. The addition of B. burgdorferi-specific antibodies to NHS
      either as purified IgG or heat-inactivated patient sera, had no influence on the
      results with both strains. After an incubation period of 2h at 37 degrees C in
      25% (v/v) NHS most cells of the PKo strain had lost their viability as indicated
      by cell immobilization and failure to multiply in subcultures. In addition,
      extensive cell fragmentation and bleb formation were observed in the electron
      microscope. In contrast, the B31 strain remained alive and morphologically intact
      after the same incubation with NHS. We conclude from our results that complement
      activation and serum resistance are properties which differ considerably between
      isolated strains of B. burgdorferi.

PMID- 1452218
TI  - Proceedings of the Australasian Society for Experimental Pathology. 24th annual
      meeting. Sydney, 28 September-1 October 1992. Abstracts.

PMID- 1452217
TI  - T cell receptor variable region repertoire in lymphocytes from rheumatoid
      arthritis patients.

PMID- 1452219
TI  - Burnet oration. Autoimmunity: paradigms of Burnet and complexities of today.

PMID- 1452220
TI  - Evaluation of thrombus detection in a rabbit model using a technetium-99m
      labelled anti-fibrin monoclonal antibody.
AB  - Technetium-99 m (99mTc)-labelled conjugates of an anti-fibrin monoclonal
      antibody, DD-3B6/22, have been assessed for their detection of vascular thrombi
      in a rabbit model. DD-3B6/22 binds to a D-dimer epitope present on cross-linked
      fibrin but absent from the fibrin monomer or fibrinogen. Injection of a 99mTc
      labelled Fab' fragment of DD-3B6/22 allowed delineation of model thrombi as early
      as 30 min postinjection (p.i.) with optimal localization at 4-5 h. Thrombus label
      uptake at 4 h p.i. was 0.304 +/- 0.106% injected dose/g (% ID/g) compared with
      0.022 +/- 0.001% ID/g after the injection of a control Fab' fragment. These
      results suggest that the 99mTc-labelled Fab' fragment of DD-3B6/22 has excellent
      potential for scintigraphic detection of vascular thrombi in humans.

PMID- 1452222
TI  - Structural basis of antigenic variation: studies of influenza virus
      neuraminidase.

PMID- 1452221
TI  - Western blot analysis of antibody responses to influenza virion proteins.
AB  - An immunoblotting procedure was developed to detect antibody responses in mice
      and humans to influenza virion proteins. The technique was capable of detecting
      1.5 micrograms of haemagglutinin (HA) on nitrocellulose strips at a 1:5000
      dilution of a mouse serum with an initial haemagglutination inhibition titre of
      20. The effects of the use of the blocking agent Tween-20 on virion proteins were
      also studied. The commonly used concentration of 0.05% (v/v) Tween-20, when
      included in blocking and incubation buffers, greatly reduced the amount of
      detectable matrix protein but caused no detectable loss of HA and
      neuraminidase/nucleoprotein proteins. If virion proteins were separated by
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions, antibody bound to
      HA2 more strongly than to HA1. Under non-reducing conditions, more antibody bound
      to the uncleaved HA protein than to other proteins. IgG1 and IgG2a antibody
      responses in mice to each protein were stronger than IgG2b and IgG3 responses.

PMID- 1452223
TI  - Diversity and variation in human immunodeficiency virus: implications for immune
      control.

PMID- 1452224
TI  - Sporostatic effect of some oils against fungi causing otomycosis.
AB  - In vitro animycotic effect of mustard, groundnut, soybean, coconut and amla oils
      on five fungi i.e., Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Absidia corymbifera,
      Penicillium nigricans and Candida albicans isolated from otitic fungal infection
      of external ear (Tympanic membrane) of human being was studied. Spore germination
      was evaluated in the oil samples as such after heating for two minutes & after
      boiling the oil. Data show that mustard and coconut oil seem to be effective as
      in these the spore germination was poor. Other oils were not found to be much
      effective. Sporostatic effect was noted only when the oils were used after
      heating or boiling this may be correlated by the synthesis of enzymes during
      spore germination.

PMID- 1452225
TI  - Results of pars plana vitrectomy in 62 cases of vitreous haemorrhage.
AB  - 62 Cases with unresolving Vitreous Haemorrhage due to varied etiology, underwent
      pars plana Vitrectomy. A vitreous rebleed on the table and post-operatively, was
      the main complication encountered. Despite limited equipment, a visual
      improvement was obtained in 59.68% eyes with visual acuity greater than FC 6
      meters in 33.87% eyes. This is far better than not being able to offer any
      treatment at all.

PMID- 1452226
TI  - Cholesterol can curb heart attacks: study.

PMID- 1452227
TI  - Changes in pulmonary diffusing capacity and blood gases in chronic obstructive
      lung diseases.
AB  - Pulmonary diffusing capacity (TLco) of 19 cases of chronic obstructive lung
      diseases (Chronic obstructive bronchitis and chronic obstructive emphysema) in
      the age group of 39 to 58 years (mean age: 49.8 +/- 5.5 SD years) are reported at
      rest in this investigation. The diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (TLco)
      measured by standard methods was significantly reduced in all cases. The mean was
      13.1 +/- 2.3 SD ml/min/mmHg. The blood gas findings revealed low arterial oxygen
      saturation (mean value: 90.2 +/- 2.2%). Arterial carbon dioxide tension was
      higher than in normal subjects. The mean for this series was 44.8 +/- 4.9 SD
      mmHg. The mean for normal subjects was 37.5 mmHg and the range 28.2 to 41.5.

PMID- 1452228
TI  - Effect of different levels of iron supplementation on the iron status and
      physical work capacity of anaemic Indian women.

PMID- 1452229
TI  - Differential identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from various clinical
      specimens from Sassoon General Hospital, Pune.
AB  - A total of 619 clinical specimens from cases of pulmonary and extrapulmonary
      tuberculosis were processed by smear, culture and biochemical tests. Acid fast
      bacilli could be demonstrated in 93 samples (15.02%) by Z.N. staining method.
      Culture yielded positive growth in 95 samples (15.35%) M. tuberculosis human type
      was the most predominient pathogen obtained from 82 cultures (13.40%) M
      tuberculosis bovine type was isolated from 2 cases of ascitic fluids (0.32%).
      Atypical Mycobacteria were isolated from 11 samples (1.73%). 5 turned out to be
      M. scrofulacium, 4 were M. Kansasii, 1 was M. phlei and 1 was M. smegmatis.

PMID- 1452230
TI  - Study of bacterial pathogens causing diarrhoeal disease in Bombay with special
      reference to their antibiotic sensitivity pattern.
AB  - Diarrhoeal disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing
      countries, especially among children. In a study of 720 faecal samples from acute
      diarrhoeal patients various bacterial pathogens were isolated. An account is
      given of their antibiotic sensitivity pattern. Many of the E. coli, Salmonella
      and Shigella strains were found to be multidrug resistant. This resistance was
      transferable and plasmid mediated. A few of the E. coli strains isolated from
      healthy controls also showed multidrug resistance.

PMID- 1452231
TI  - WHO commends India.

PMID- 1452232
TI  - Low-dose pill is launched.

PMID- 1452233
TI  - High salt intake can cause gastric cancer.

PMID- 1452234
TI  - Correlation of microproteinuria and histopathological changes in kidney in
      diabetes mellitus.
AB  - Single attempt kidney biopsy was successful in 60 cases of diabetes mellitus out
      of 83. Histopathological evidence of nephropathy was found in 30 (50%) out of 60
      (4 of IDDM and 56 of NIDDM). Microproteinuria was a sensitive indicator of
      histopathological evidence of nephropathy (by biopsy) and should be used as a non
      invasive method of evidence of kidney involvement in diabetes mellitus regardless
      of duration of the disease. Routine renal function tests--commonly used
      indicators of kidney disease in the presence of hypertension were of no value and
      should not be relied upon. Duration of diabetes mellitus was important
      correlation with the evidence of the disease and and its severity but nephropathy
      was found in newly detected cases of diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Nephropathy was
      present in case of DM who had retinopathy and is a better factor of correlation.

PMID- 1452235
TI  - Development outcome of Down's syndrome in eastern Libya.
AB  - The psychometric evaluations in 60 cases of Down's syndrome non-institutionalized
      children in the age group 1-15 years drawn after random selection was compared
      with 60 children with mental handicap from a residential institution drawn by
      matching for age, sex and sociocultural conditions. Results of the study show
      significant difference between the two groups in respect to IQ's but not in
      respect to DQ's.

PMID- 1452236
TI  - Neutral sterol excretions in rats fed skim milk and skim milk yogurt diets.
AB  - Acceleration of cholesterol catabolism (through feces) has been proposed as one
      of the mechanisms for the hypocholesterolemic effect of dairy products. This
      study examined the effects of feeding two milk products (skim milk and skim milk
      yogurt) on fecal neutral sterol excretions in rats. Six groups of nine rats each
      were fed iso-caloric Chow-based diets containing water, 45% skim milk (SM), or
      45% skim milk yogurt (SMY), without or with cholesterol. The results indicate
      that both SM and SMY increased the excretion of total neutral sterols under
      hyperlipemic conditions. The SMY diet (with cholesterol) also increased the
      excretion of coprostanol, a bacterial metabolite.

PMID- 1452237
TI  - National quality control programme in Indian clinical laboratories.

PMID- 1452238
TI  - An epidemic of human anthrax--a study.
AB  - Twenty-five cases of human anthrax, occurring after contact with a Jercy cow
      infected with B. anthracis and consumption of its improperly cooked meat after
      death, were reported. Cutaneous anthrax was the predominant variety in 18
      persons, 7 had intestinal anthrax, out of them 2 children died, 5 adults survived
      and one among them developed associated cutaneous anthrax also. All the persons
      with cutaneous anthrax recovered with treatment.

PMID- 1452239
TI  - Chloramphenicol resistant Salmonella typhi: the cause of recent out-break of
      enteric fever in Calcutta.
AB  - Fifty one strains of Salmonella typhi were isolated during the recent outbreak of
      enteric fever in and around Calcutta. Forty strains were multidrug resistant
      including Chloramphenicol. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of
      Chloramphenicol was between 200 mcg per ml and 500 mcg per ml. All these strains
      were sensitive to Cephalexine, Gentamicin, Furazolidine and Ciproflexacin. Widal
      test was done in all the cases but the result was inconclusive.

PMID- 1452240
TI  - Quantitative immunological status of males of unexplained infertility in eastern
      U.P.
AB  - 126 males of unexplained infertility and 75 fertile males were studied during a
      period of more than 2 years. Statistically significant increase in the levels of
      serum IgM was observed in cases of males of unexplained infertility. Level and
      percentage of cases showing semen IgM was more in study group (134.61 +/- 25.5 mg
      %, 41.26%) than control (24%, 99.3 +/- 8.3%). Semen IgA was found only in study
      group in 30.15% cases. Though definite correlation between serum and semen
      immunoglobulin was not observed, semen immunoglobulin was found to be 1-2 fold
      lower than serum. Results of the present study indicate towards a possible
      immunological role in cases of unexplained infertility in males.

PMID- 1452241
TI  - A preliminary study on the interaction of cell-polymer extract towards
      biodegradation.
AB  - Two newly synthesised polyurethanes were subjected to a preliminary study, in
      vitro, on the interaction of cell polymer extract to understand the phenomenon of
      biodegradation by employing VERO cells. VERO cells exposed to the saline extract
      of the polymer showed cytopathic effect with granulations in the digestive
      vacuoles. It is suggested that the long term material performance of an implant
      material can be evaluated by using VERO cells and/or macrophages and by analysing
      metabolic products secreted by the cells during interaction.

PMID- 1452242
TI  - Frozen sections--a retrospective study.
AB  - Two hundred and forty-four (244) specimens were examined by frozen section (FS)
      from 1987 through 1988 at the Kidwal Memorial Institute of Oncology. Of these,
      eleven (11) were performed for evaluation of the surgical margin of tumours and
      fifty four (54) for detection of lymph node metastasis. All these examinations
      (65) proved to be hundred percent (100%) accurate. The remaining 179 frozen
      sections were performed for the diagnosis of an unknown pathologic process. Of
      these, 44.69 percent were precisely diagnosed, in 41.9 percent the pathologic
      process was correctly but not precisely diagnosed, in 11.17 per cent the
      diagnosis was deferred and remaining 2.24 percent were incorrectly diagnosed with
      no harmful consequences to the patients. By eliminating the cases where diagnosis
      was deferred and combining results of "precise diagnosis" with those of "correct
      pathologic process", the overall accuracy rate was 98.2 percent. Thus, FS has
      greater benefit when used for the general diagnosis of an unknown pathologic
      process rather than for an exact or precise diagnosis.

PMID- 1452243
TI  - Identification of family Enterobacteriaceae using a three tube method.
AB  - Four hundred isolates of Gram Negative bacilli from different samples were tested
      by three tube method and conventional tests. An overall agreement between the two
      methods was 89.5%. Non-agreement was in respect of less stable tests like gas
      production and motility. This does not reflect adversely on the efficacy and
      suitability of the method. The three tube method is simple, rapid, economical and
      accurate, saving both time and material.

PMID- 1452244
TI  - Chronic granulomatous mastitis: review of 26 cases with special reference to
      chronic lobular mastitis.
AB  - Twenty six cases of chronic granulomatous mastitis are reported in a 5 year
      period and the slides are reviewed. They are sub-classified into Chronic lobular
      mastitis (CLM), Plasma cell mastitis and subareolar granuloma. There are 10 cases
      each of CLM and plasma cell mastitis and one of subareolar granuloma. All the
      three conditions are associated with duct ectasia. Fat necrosis and infective
      granulomas were 2 each and one of foreign body granuloma. These lesions can be
      easily differentiated by histology. While most of the CLM occurred in younger age
      group, plasma cell mastitis is seen in older women. Histologically, there is a
      florid inflammatory cell reaction of the stroma with dilatation and destruction
      of some ducts, with microabscess formation. In plasma cell mastitis, the lesion
      is more chronic with predominance of plasma cells and involutionary changes of
      the ducts are seen.

PMID- 1452245
TI  - MHA-Tp testing on HIV positive and negative women in vigilance home at Madurai.
AB  - In the study group of 94 cases of female prostitutes and their children 55 cases
      showed positive for HIV infection by ELISA and Western Blot tests. They showed
      positive also for syphilis in 37 cases by VDRL and in 43 cases by MHA-Tp tests
      among HIV positive and negative women. The association of HIV infection and
      syphilis was observed in this study due to sexual transmission of these
      infections. But congenital spread from infected mother to their children was not
      observed in this study since both mothers and their children were negative for
      these infections. MHA-Tp testing confirmed VDRL test results in 27 cases and also
      increased specificity of MHA-Tp test result over VDRL result in 16 cases and
      exclusion of biological false positive by VDRL in 10 cases were noticed in this
      study.

PMID- 1452246
TI  - Serum adenosine deaminase activity in bacillary or paucibacillary pulmonary
      tuberculosis.
AB  - Serum Adenosine Deaminase (ADA) enzyme levels were estimated in 61 patients with
      symptoms and signs suggestive of Pulmonary Tuberculosis and correlated with "Gold
      standards" such as smear positivity of sputum for Acid Fast bacilli, Tuberculin
      skin testing and Radiological evidence. The mean ADA levels in smear and
      Tuberculin negative patients was 13.13 +/- 5.97 u/L, while in those with smear
      and/or strongly positive Tuberculin reaction, the mean levels of ADA were 33.52
      +/- 15.22 u/L. The mean serum ADA levels in 25 healthy voluntary donors with no
      evidence of active or old Tuberculous lesion, were found to be 16.5 +/- 3.18 u/L.
      The specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive
      value of the test was found to be 87%, 71%, 90% and 66.5% respectively. The
      results conclude that the serum ADA value is sufficiently useful in identifying
      those patients in whom the diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis should be actively
      considered.

PMID- 1452247
TI  - A study of humoral factors in carcinoma cervix.
AB  - Serum immunoglobulins, circulating immune-complexes and blocking effect of
      patients' sera on normal T lymphocytes were studied in 10 patients with chronic
      cervicitis, 25 with carcinoma cervix and 20 age matched healthy women. No
      significant difference was observed between the healthy controls and chronic
      cervicitis. In carcinoma, there was a significant increase in IgG and IgA in
      stage I, IgG and IgM in stage II and in all the three immunoglobulins in stage
      III as compared to chronic cervicitis. Circulating immune-complexes and T cell
      depression were also found to be increased and stage related. After radiotherapy,
      both these parameters and IgG were found to be significantly reduced. The study
      of these immune parameters seems to be a promising aid in the diagnosis and
      prognosis of patients with carcinoma cervix.

PMID- 1452248
TI  - Epithelioid sarcoma of the thigh--a case report.

PMID- 1452249
TI  - A case of hitherto unreported cutaneous geotrichosis from India.

PMID- 1452250
TI  - Leydig cell tumour of testis--a case report.

PMID- 1452251
TI  - Primary malignant haemangiopericytoma of lung--a case report.

PMID- 1452252
TI  - Extensive fatal bone marrow necrosis in typhoid fever.

PMID- 1452253
TI  - The perinatal autopsy.

PMID- 1452254
TI  - Hairy cell leukemia (HCL)

PMID- 1452255
TI  - Bellagio brief on vitamin A deficiency.

PMID- 1452256
TI  - Hemostatic profile in septicemic neonates with and without bleeding.
AB  - Hemostatic profile was studied in 25 full term, non-asphyxiated neonates with
      blood culture-proven septicemia. Nine (36%) of these neonates manifested
      bleeding. Detailed coagulation tests and platelet studies were deranged in 24
      (96%) of neonates with septicemia. Abnormalities in coagulation tests did not
      differ in those with and without bleeding. Only platelet aggregation with ADP was
      deranged to a significantly greater extent in those with bleeding as compared
      with those without bleeding.

PMID- 1452257
TI  - Hepatitis B virus infection in pregnant mothers and its transmission to infants.
AB  - Screening for serological markers of hepatitis B virus infection was done on 500
      pregnant mothers. HBsAg, AntiHBs and HBeAg were done. HBsAg was positive in 3.6%,
      AntiHBs in 17.4% and HBeAg in 0.4% cases. The infants born to the asymptomatic
      HBsAg carrier mothers were followed up to 6 months to determine the vertical
      transmission of HBV infection. Rate of transmission of infection from HBsAg
      positive mothers to infants were 16.66% irrespective of HBeAg status, whereas it
      was nearly 100% in case of HBeAg positive mothers. All of the HBsAg positive
      infants developed the antigenemia between 3-6 months of age, supporting the
      hypothesis that intrapartum transmission is the major mode of vertical
      transmission.

PMID- 1452258
TI  - A screening tool for assessment of the home environment and psychosocial
      development of preschool children.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to develop a short tool for the assessment of home
      environment and psychosocial development of preschool children, based on the data
      collected on a sample of one hundred and fifty children in the age range of 2
      years 10 months to 3 years 8 months. Co-relation analysis was used in identifying
      home environment and psychosocial development variables for the development of
      the tool.

PMID- 1452259
TI  - Epidemiological aspects of school dropouts in children between 7-15 years in
      rural Maharashtra.
AB  - A study on school dropouts from primary and secondary school children was
      undertaken in September '91 from 16 schools at the headquarters of 8 Primary
      Health Centres, where 172 school dropouts were identified. A home visit was paid
      and information about socio-economic and cultural aspects was collected and a
      psychological screening was undertaken. Although there was no significant
      difference in overall dropout rates for both sexes, it increased sharply at 11
      years of age in girls. The majority of children dropped out due to financial
      problems or unsatisfactory scholastic performance, and 142 (82.5%) of the 172
      children studied were poor performers in one or more function tests. Maximum
      difficulty was observed in concept formation 87 (50.5%), followed by numerical
      ability in 78 (45%). Identification of children with learning difficulties and
      intervention using special educational methods within the framework of existing
      network of primary and secondary schools in rural areas is suggested.

PMID- 1452260
TI  - Psycho-social aspects of HIV infection and AIDS in multiple transfused
      thalassemic children.
AB  - Two hundred and three multi-transfused children with thalassemia attending the
      thalassemia clinic of the Charak Palika Hospital, New Delhi were screened for
      human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) antibodies by ELISA test. All positive cases
      were confirmed by the Western blot test. Of the 203 children screened, 17 (8.37%)
      were HIV seropositive and the other 3 children referred to the AIIMS were from
      neighbouring states. These children were compared with 20 age matched HIV
      negative thalassemics as controls. Of the 20 HIV positive children, four were
      diagnosed to have clinical AIDS according to the WHO criteria. The clinical
      features were similar to those described in pediatric AIDS from other parts of
      the world. This paper describes the clinical features, behavioural problems,
      cognitive functions and developmental milestones of the children with AIDS.

PMID- 1452261
TI  - Pulmonary tuberculosis in Ahmedabad: epidemiology, diagnosis and short course
      chemotherapy.
AB  - Five hundred children below the age of 12 years suffering from lung tuberculosis
      viz., primary complex (PC) or progressive primary complex (PPC) were studied.
      Diagnosis was based on Kenneth Jones criteria; selected cases having score of 5
      or more. One hundred and eighty cases of PC were given A-1 (6 RH) regimen, while
      312 cases of PPC were given A-2 (2SHRZ/4 RH) or A-3 (2 SRH/4 RH) or A-4 (2 RHE/4
      RH) regimen. Follow-up was done for 6 months after completing the treatment to
      observe the relapse rate. In cases of PC, 6 RH regimen appeared adequate and
      cheaper with no relapse rate. In cases of PPC with short course chemotherapy,
      compliance of patients had been very good. Relapse rate was up to 13% which is
      acceptable. Drug toxicity was very low.

PMID- 1452262
TI  - Childhood myelodysplastic syndromes: clinical features, cytogenetics and
      prognosis.
AB  - Sixteen children with myelodysplastic syndrome as defined by the French-American
      British co-operative group are presented. The mean age was 10.5 (2.5 to 16)
      years, with a male predominance. All patients belonged to the more aggressive
      subtypes of myelodysplastic syndromes. Seven patients presented with refractory
      anaemia with excess blasts, six had refractory anemia with excess blasts in
      transformation, and three had chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Cytogenetic
      analysis done in 7 of the 16 patients, revealed karyotype abnormalities involving
      chromosomes 7, 8 and 17. One patient with Down's syndrome had karyotype of 47,
      XY, +21 (major clone) and 46, XY (minor clone). Five of these patients evolved to
      acute leukemia. The mean duration of survival was 5.5 months. Aggressive
      chemotherapy as a primary line of treatment induced remission in five out of six
      patients. Predominance of aggressive types of myelodysplastic syndromes in
      children and their good but short-lived response to aggressive chemotherapy
      suggests the need for early bone marrow transplantation following chemotherapy.

PMID- 1452263
TI  - Reproductive profile of mothers in relation to hemoglobin E genotypes.
AB  - The reproductive profile of 190 Ahom-Kachari mothers belonging to Mongoloid
      ethnic stock of Assam has been studied in relation to hemoglobin (Hb) E
      genotypes. No significant variations have been observed in the reproductive
      performance between the normal population and abnormal hemoglobin homozygote
      (HbEE) and heterozygote (HbAE) mothers. However, the reproductive wastage among
      the hemoglobin homozygote (HbEE) mothers has been observed to be double than the
      normal hemoglobin (HbAA) and abnormal hemoglobin heterozygote (HbAE) mothers. The
      reproductive performance parameters have also been compared with the other
      available studies.

PMID- 1452264
TI  - Risk factors for stillbirths in a rural community.
AB  - To determine the risk factors for stillbirth, a case-control study was carried
      out in a rural community of Haryana. Stillbirths (cases) were identified
      retrospectively from a household survey, while the controls, matched individually
      with each case for the month of birth, were live born infants from the same
      neighbourhood as the case. The stillbirth rate in the study population was 26.8
      per 1000 (68/2539) births. The distribution of socio-economic and environmental
      factors was similar in the cases and the controls (P > 0.05). Multivariate
      analysis indicated higher risk of stillbirth for first order births (Odds Ratio
      [OR] 7.9, Confidence Interval [CI] 2.1-29.2, P 0.002), history of prior
      stillbirths/child deaths (OR 15.2, CI 2.3-98.2, P 0.004), and absence of
      antenatal care (OR 3.3, CI 0.9-14.3, P 0.07). Mothers' age, birth interval (< 24
      months), delivery place (hospital or home) and type of birth attendant (trained
      vs untrained) did not show significant influence on the risk of stillbirth. An
      improvement in the coverage of antenatal care in socio-economically weaker rural
      community is suggested as the most appropriate strategy for reducing the high
      stillbirth rate.

PMID- 1452265
TI  - Intersex disorder associated with ambiguous genitalia.

PMID- 1452266
TI  - Embryology and classification of intersex states.

PMID- 1452267
TI  - Etiopathogenesis, classification, investigations and diagnosis in intersex
      disorders.

PMID- 1452268
TI  - Mixed gonadal dysgenesis and dysgenetic male pseudohermaphroditism--a critical
      analysis.
AB  - A 10 year prospective study of 14 patients with mixed gonadal dysgenesis (MGD)
      and six patients with dysgenetic male pseudohermaphroditism (DMP) is reported.
      All of them had internal mullerian structures, along with unilateral or bilateral
      dysgenetic testes, ambiguous external genitalia. Twelve had been brought up as
      male, nine of whom had a unilateral descended testis. Eight had been reared as
      females, as they had bilaterally undescended gonads, and ambiguous genitalia.
      Clinical examination, retrograde genito-urethrography and cytogenetic studies
      suggested the diagnosis in 16 patients, while four were diagnosed on inguino
      abdominal exploration for undescended testis. This report delineates more clearly
      the clinical profile of these orders. All the patients reared as male were
      assigned the male gender following abdominal gonadectomy, retention of scrotal
      testis and male genitoplasty. The eight patients who were reared as females
      underwent bilateral salpingo-gonadectomy and female genitoplasty. This management
      differs from the usual recommendation that all such children should be reared as
      females. Ten patients (50%) had maternal history of previous abortion/stillbirth,
      or drug intake in the first trimester of pregnancy suggesting a role of these
      factors in the etiology. All cases of DMP had a 46,XY karyotype, while eight of
      14 cases of MGD had mosaicism with 45X/46,XY cell lines in blood or gonadal
      cultures. The clinicopathological features of patients of MGD and DMP were
      similar. It is suggested that these two disorders represent different spectra of
      the same disorder. A unifying concept of etiopathogenesis is proposed.

PMID- 1452270
TI  - Prenatal treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase
      deficiency: a 10 year experience.

PMID- 1452271
TI  - Intersex disorders: an approach to surgical management.

PMID- 1452269
TI  - Steroid enzyme defects leading to male pseudohermaphroditism.

PMID- 1452272
TI  - Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: experience at intersex clinic, AIIMS.
AB  - During 1981-88, 63 cases of female pseudohermaphroditism (FPH) were seen at the
      Intersex clinic at AIIMS, of whom 34 (54%) were diagnosed as due to congenital
      adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Though ambiguity was present at birth in most cases,
      only one child was brought immediately after birth, while 14 presented after one
      year. Family history of affected siblings and fetal wastage was present in 10.
      Salt wasting symptoms were present in 13 (38.2%), evidence of early virilization
      in 10 (29.4%) and generalised hyperpigmentation in 7 (20.6%). Clitoromegaly was
      present in 30 children with labial fusion in 10 and scrotalisation of labia in 6.
      The urogenital opening was single in 25 (73.5%). Buccal smear was positive for
      sex chromatin in 19. Chromosomal pattern showed 46 XX in 33. Dyselectrolytemia
      was present in 16 children. Bone age was advanced in all. Adrenal hyperplasia
      could be documented in 3 on CT scan. All the girls were put on hydrocortisone or
      prednisolone, and fluodrocortisone was given only to children with salt wasting
      CAH. Children with CAH are being brought to medical attention much too late and
      investigative and therapeutic facilities are grossly inadequate. There is a need
      to educate primary care physicians for early case detection and provide minimum
      diagnostic and therapeutic facilities in regional centres.

PMID- 1452273
TI  - Trisomy 18 evaluated by Marion's scoring system.

PMID- 1452274
TI  - Gastric teratoma--review of literature.

PMID- 1452275
TI  - Counselling concerns as related to familial vesico-ureteral reflux in two
      siblings.

PMID- 1452276
TI  - Urolithiasis in children.

PMID- 1452277
TI  - Parsplana surgery.

PMID- 1452278
TI  - Pars plana vitrectomy in vitreous haemorrhage due to Eales' disease.
AB  - Repeated vitreous haemorrhage is a common occurrence in Eales disease. 25 eyes of
      unresolving vitreous haemorrhage were subjected to pars plana vitrectomy. 18 eyes
      improved to 1/60 or better. Vitreous rebleed was the commonest problem
      encountered. We discuss our experience, complications and limitations.

PMID- 1452279
TI  - Vitrectomy for intra ocular foreign body removal.
AB  - Ten consecutive cases of perforating ocular injuries with retained intraocular
      foreign bodies over a period of 2 years were reviewed retrospectively in this
      study. All cases were operated upon by a 3 port pars plana vitrectomy and if
      necessary endolaser done. All ten cases (100%) were successful in terms of
      intraocular foreign body removal through the pars plana sclerotomy but ultimately
      we lost three [3] [30%] cases of which two had retinal detachments with P.V.R. D
      3 preoperatively and the other had endophthalmitis. Of the seven (70%) successful
      cases four eyes (40%) had a post-operative vision of 6/12 or better while 2 [20%]
      had 6/24 and the last had 6/60 [10%]. Nine cases [90%] had a magnetic Intraocular
      foreign body. Various complications of Intraocular foreign bodies like vitreous
      haemorrhage, retinal incarceration, cataract and retinal detachment were noted
      preoperatively. Silicone oil was used in three (30%) cases. Sulfur Hexafluoride
      was used in 5 cases (50%). Endolaser photocoagulation was done in 7 cases (70%).

PMID- 1452280
TI  - Comparative results of limbal based versus fornix based conjunctival flaps for
      trabeculectomy.
AB  - Among 100 cases of primary glaucomas, 50 cases were operated for trabeculectomy
      by making fornix based flap and 50 cases were operated by fashioning limbal based
      conjunctival flap. Operative and post operative complications were studied
      thoroughly in the two groups. All the cases were followed up for six months to
      one year to assess control of intra ocular pressure, nature and functioning of
      filtering bleb, field changes and visual status in the two groups. It was found
      that the fornix based flap is much superior and carries various advantages over
      the limbal based flap. The operative and post operative complications are minimum
      in the fornix based flap as compared to the limbal based flap.

PMID- 1452281
TI  - "A retrospective cohort study for prognostic significance of visual acuity for
      near over that for distance in anisometropic amblyopia.".
AB  - A cohort of 50 anisometropic amblyopes, between the ages of 2.5 to 10 years, was
      studied retrospectively to assess the prognostic significance of visual acuity
      for near over that for distance. There is ample evidence in the literature for a
      significantly lower accommodative response in the anisometropic amblyopic eye. It
      has been proposed that the efferent accommodative dysfunction may be a
      fundamental and causative factor in anisometropic amblyopia. A reduced visual
      acuity for near over that for distance was found in 17 [34%] patients and in 11
      out of these the near vision improved after an addition of +3.0D sph. When a
      reduced visual acuity for near, was obtained it was difficult to determine
      whether the visual afferent system (due to insufficient visual input), or the
      accommodation efferent mechanism was responsible. However an improvement in
      corrected near vision by addition of +3.0D sph. suggested an accommodative
      dysfunction. In patients with reduced visual acuity for near over that for
      distance, not only was the final visual outcome poor but also the onset of visual
      improvement in response to amblyopia therapy was delayed.

PMID- 1452282
TI  - Emergency surgery in orbital trauma: a neurosurgical view.
AB  - This study is an analysis of five cases of orbital trauma causing proptosis,
      paralysis of extraocular muscles with or without associated visual failure. All
      the cases were treated by a Neurosurgical team. Either a frontal craniotomy or a
      lateral orbitotomy was performed. Plain X-rays of the skull and Computerised
      Tomography (C.T. Scanning) were the main investigations. Results were encouraging
      both functionally and cosmetically. Early diagnosis and an aggressive approach to
      orbital decompression can achieve good results.

PMID- 1452283
TI  - Conjunctival and corneal peroxidases in vitamin A deficiency.
AB  - Xerophthalmia is a commonly encountered nutritional disorder that affects the
      growing population of the world. Conjunctival and corneal epithelial cells
      contain peroxidase enzyme. In experimentally induced Vitamin A deficiency
      conjunctival and corneal peroxidases are markedly lowered indicating direct or
      indirect relation of Vitamin A to epithelial functional integrity.

PMID- 1452284
TI  - A clinico-investigative profile in Graves' ophthalmopathy.
AB  - A clinico-investigative profile was studied in 30 patients with Graves'
      Ophthalmopathy (GO) (15 each with early and late). In accordance to the thyroid
      status 63.3% of patients were hyperthyroid and 36.7% euthyroid. There was slight
      female preponderence, with ratio being 1.5:1. Exophthalmometric readings were
      significantly high in GO patients as compared to controls. However, no
      significant diagnostic role of postural exophthalmometry was seen. Positional
      tonometery may have respectable place among the tests for early diagnosis of GO;
      however, it could not differentiate between hyperthyroid and euthyroid cases.
      Further the role of ultrasonography, if available could not be overemphasized.

PMID- 1452285
TI  - Spontaneous extrusion of cysticercosis: report of three cases.
AB  - We report three cases of spontaneous extrusion of cysticercosis. In two cases, it
      got extruded from the orbit and in one case from the subconjunctival space.
      Extrusion of cysticercosis was associated with improvement in clinical signs and
      symptoms.

PMID- 1452286
TI  - Ocular motility disturbances (Duane retraction syndrome and double elevator
      palsy) with congenital heart disease, a rare association with Goldenhar syndrome-
      a case report.
AB  - This report is a case of a 4 year old male child who was admitted for meningitis.
      On clinical examination he was diagnosed as a case of oculo-suriculo-vertebral
      dysplasia with congenital heart disease, i.e., tetralogy of Fallots besides his
      presenting picture of meningitis. During his ophthalmic checkup for the
      conspicuous presence of epibulbar dermoid, he was discovered to have upper lid
      coloboma, double elevator palsy, and Grade 1 Duane retraction syndrome in his
      right eye while the pathognomic feature, a dermolipoma, was present in the left
      eye. The oculo-auriculo-vertebral dysplasia, as described by Goldenhar, is a
      disease complex of structures developed from the Ist and IInd branchial arch. The
      important feature of this case is the bilateral involvement of the disease
      complex over and above the presence of ocular motility disorders--Duane
      retraction syndrome and double elevator palsy.

PMID- 1452287
TI  - Bilateral optic nerve infarction following acute systemic hypotension and anemia-
      a case report.
AB  - Presented here are case reports of two patients who became completely blind in
      both eyes following acute systemic hypotension - in one following bouts of
      vomiting and in the other after repeated gastrointestinal bleeding. Both patients
      had severe degree of anemia. There were no other risk factors for vascular
      disease such as arteriosclerosis or vasculitis.

PMID- 1452288
TI  - Pharmacology of smooth muscle cell replication.
AB  - The suggestion that smooth muscle cell proliferation contributes to hypertension,
      atherosclerosis, and restenosis after angioplasty has led to a growing interest
      in the use of drugs to inhibit this process. This review summarizes
      pharmacological studies of smooth muscle cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo
      and identifies specific mediators of proliferation that are implicated by drugs
      binding with high affinity to enzymes or receptors.

PMID- 1452289
TI  - Role of angiotensin subtype 2 receptor in neointima formation after vascular
      injury.
AB  - The role of angiotensin receptor subtypes 1 and 2 was assessed on neointima
      formation after injury in rat carotid artery. The effects of angiotensin
      converting enzyme inhibition by perindopril (3 mg.kg-1 x day-1 p.o.) and
      selective blockade of angiotensin subtype 1 receptors by DuP 753 (5 and 30 mg.kg
      1 x day-1 p.o.) were compared on proliferative response to balloon injury. In
      rats treated 6 days before and for 14 days after injury, perindopril
      significantly reduced (-76%, p < 0.01) myointimal hyperplasia. In contrast, DuP
      753 at 5 mg.kg-1 x day-1 did not modify the hyperplastic response to balloon
      catheterization. Only at 30 mg.kg-1 x day-1 was DuP 753 able to reduce neointima
      formation (-47%, p < 0.05). This dose was equipotent to perindopril on the renin
      angiotensin system as assessed by the pressor response to angiotensin II and
      angiotensin I. Therefore, blockade of subtype 1 receptors was a less effective
      means of suppression of myointimal growth than angiotensin converting enzyme
      inhibition, suggesting that another angiotensin receptor subtype or converting
      enzyme substrates are involved in this process. For the determination of whether
      angiotensin subtype 2 receptors were implicated, the specific subtype 2 receptor
      antagonist CGP 42112A (1 mg.kg-1 x day-1) was continuously infused perivascularly
      for 14 days in the vicinity of the injured carotid artery. CGP 42112A was as
      effective in preventing neointima formation as perindopril (-73%, p < 0.01,
      versus -76%, p < 0.01, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452290
TI  - Receptor-mediated effects of angiotensin II on growth of vascular smooth muscle
      cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats.
AB  - This study examines the effects of angiotensin II on hypertrophy and
      proliferation of aortic smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive and
      Wistar-Kyoto rats and the receptor subtypes mediating these effects. In quiescent
      confluent cells, angiotensin II induced a dose-dependent increase in thymidine
      and leucine incorporation without stimulating cell proliferation. In nonconfluent
      cells, angiotensin II stimulated cell proliferation only in combination with a
      submaximal concentration of fetal calf serum. These effects were enhanced in
      cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats compared with Wistar-Kyoto rats. The
      effects of angiotensin II could be blocked by the AT1 receptor antagonist DuP 753
      but not by the AT2 receptor ligand PD 123177. In receptor binding studies with
      cells derived from both rat strains, AT1-typical binding was observed. These data
      show that the angiotensin II receptors present in vascular smooth muscle cells in
      culture from both rat strains are of the AT1 receptor subtype. This receptor
      subtype appears to mediate vascular smooth muscle cell hypertrophy and
      proliferation as well as vasoconstriction. Although no difference in the receptor
      profile was detectable between the two rat strains, the affinity for the ligands
      to the receptor and the receptor density tended to be greater in cells from
      spontaneously hypertensive rats than in cells from Wistar-Kyoto rats. These
      results may partly explain the greater hypotensive response to angiotensin II
      receptor blockade in spontaneously hypertensive rats than in Wistar-Kyoto rats,
      although both rat strains have the same plasma concentrations of angiotensin II.

PMID- 1452291
TI  - Blocking hypothalamic AT1 receptors lowers blood pressure in salt-sensitive rats.
AB  - Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that microinjection of DuP 753 (2
      n-butyl-4-chloro-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1-[[2'-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl) biphenyl-4
      yl]methyl]imidazole, potassium salt), a highly selective nonpeptide antagonist of
      type 1 angiotensin II receptors, into the anterior hypothalamic area produces a
      dose-related depressor response in salt-sensitive spontaneously hypertensive rats
      fed a basal (1%) salt diet. The current study tested the hypothesis that the
      depressor response to anterior hypothalamic type 1 angiotensin II receptor
      blockade with DuP 753 or its metabolite EXP 3174 is enhanced by high (8%) salt
      feeding in this model. DuP 753 or EXP 3174 (40 micrograms in 100 nl artificial
      cerebrospinal fluid vehicle) or vehicle alone was microinjected into the anterior
      hypothalamic area of conscious salt-sensitive spontaneously hypertensive and
      Wistar-Kyoto rats that had been fed 1% or 8% salt diets for 3 weeks. Both DuP 753
      and EXP 3174 caused significant decreases in mean arterial pressure in
      spontaneously hypertensive but not in Wistar-Kyoto rats fed either diet. The
      magnitude and duration of the depressor responses to DuP 753 and EXP 3174 were
      significantly greater in the 8% salt-fed spontaneously hypertensive rats than in
      1% salt-fed rats. Vehicle injections had no effect on blood pressure in either
      strain-diet group. Microinjection of angiotensin II (2 micrograms in 100 nl
      artificial cerebrospinal fluid vehicle) into the anterior hypothalamic area
      caused significant pressor and bradycardiac responses in all strain-diet groups;
      dietary salt supplementation enhanced these effects in salt-sensitive
      spontaneously hypertensive rats but not in Wistar-Kyoto rats. These responses
      were blocked by pretreatment with EXP 3174.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452292
TI  - Discovery of a well-absorbed, efficacious renin inhibitor, A-74273.
AB  - The development of orally active renin inhibitors has been plagued by limited
      bioavailability in animals and humans. A-74273 is a novel, potent nonpeptide
      inhibitor of human renin (IC50 = 3.1 nM). This compound was absorbed into the
      portal and systemic circulations of anesthetized rats, ferrets, monkeys, and dogs
      after intraduodenal dosing. This favorable pattern also was observed after oral
      dosing in conscious animals, except in monkeys. Hepatic extraction of A-74273 was
      more efficient in rats and monkeys than in dogs or ferrets. A-74273 modestly
      inhibits dog renin, and when given orally as the base (0, 0.3, 1, 3, 10, and 30
      mg/kg; n = 8 per dose) to conscious, salt-depleted dogs it induced dose-related
      reductions in mean arterial pressure and plasma renin activity. Peak falls in
      mean arterial pressure from normotensive baselines were -14 +/- 1, -26 +/- 3, and
      -44 +/- 3 mm Hg for the 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg groups, respectively (p < 0.05).
      Baseline plasma renin activity values (10.9 +/- 1.1-12.7 +/- 1.1 ng angiotensin
      I/ml/hr) were maximally inhibited, ranging from 43 +/- 8% at 0.3 mg/kg to 98 +/-
      1% at 30 mg/kg. Bioavailability in this model was estimated to be 54 +/- 13% when
      plasma drug levels were determined by a renin inhibitory activity assay, but
      bioavailability was lower when compared with high-performance liquid
      chromatographic analysis of A-74273. This discrepancy was accounted for by the
      identification of structurally similar metabolites that are as active as the
      parent drug against human renin but much less potent against dog renin.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452293
TI  - Molecular determinants of human prorenin processing.
AB  - In humans, active renin is generated by the removal of a 43-amino acid prosegment
      from the zymogen prorenin. This cleavage event is highly specific, occurring at
      only one of the seven pairs of basic amino acids in the body of preprorenin. This
      cleavage site selectivity is also displayed by a number of other proteases in
      vitro and in mouse pituitary AtT-20 cells transfected with a human preprorenin
      expression vector, suggesting that specificity of cleavage is directed in part by
      the primary sequence, the higher order structure, or both of prorenin itself. To
      test this hypothesis, single amino acid mutations were introduced in the region
      of human preprorenin surrounding the natural cleavage site, and the resultant
      recombinant proteins were expressed in cultured Chinese hamster ovary and AtT-20
      cells. The results suggest that amino acids in addition to the pair of basic
      amino acids surrounding the cleavage site affect the ability of both trypsin and
      the endogenous AtT-20 processing enzyme to cleave prorenin. Notably, although a
      proline at position -4 is essential for processing of prorenin in AtT-20 cells
      and is correlated with predicted formation of a beta-turn at this position, site
      directed mutations suggest that this structural feature in addition to a pair of
      basic amino acids is not sufficient to lead to proteolytic activation of
      prorenin. Displacement of sequences surrounding the cleavage site to a position
      10 amino acids toward the amino terminus led to partial processing of a mutated
      prorenin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452294
TI  - Non-modulation as an intermediate phenotype in essential hypertension.
AB  - Non-modulation is a trait characterized by abnormal angiotensin-mediated control
      of aldosterone release and the renal blood supply. To determine whether non
      modulation defines a specific subgroup of the hypertensive population and its
      utility as an intermediate phenotype, we have studied the distribution of this
      quantitative trait, whether its features are reproducible on repeated testing,
      and whether there is concordance of its multiple features. Essential hypertensive
      patients (224) and normotensive subjects (119) received an infusion of
      angiotensin II (Ang II) at 3 ng.kg-1.min-1 for 30-45 minutes. p-Aminohippurate
      (PAH) clearance was assessed as an index of renal plasma flow while the subjects
      were on a 200 meq sodium diet; plasma aldosterone levels were measured while the
      subjects were on a 10 meq sodium diet. In 54 subjects, diuretic-induced volume
      depletion superimposed on a low salt diet was substituted for the Ang II
      infusion. The results of each study were submitted to maximum likelihood analysis
      to assess bimodality. In response to both diuretic-induced volume depletion (p <
      0.000023) and Ang II infusion (p < 0.0009), aldosterone responses were bimodally
      distributed in the essential hypertensive but not in the normotensive subjects,
      suggesting that this trait identifies a discrete subgroup. In the 59 subjects who
      had both an adrenal and renal study, 50 (85%) were concordant. Finally, in 27
      subjects studied two to six times over a span of 1-60 months, the intraclass
      correlations of the adrenal, PAH, or both responses were highly significant (p
      values between 0.001 and 0.00007), indicating high reproducibility of results on
      repeated testing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452295
TI  - Fasting insulin in relation to subsequent blood pressure changes and hypertension
      in women.
AB  - The role of hyperinsulinemia in the development of hypertension is not well
      understood, particularly insofar as both conditions relate to obesity. The
      present analysis examines the hypothesis that hyperinsulinemia, independent of
      obesity, precedes hypertension and natural blood pressure increases in women. The
      subjects were 50-year-old women from a prospective population study in
      Gothenburg, Sweden. Fasting insulin levels were determined at baseline (1968
      1969) and were evaluated in relation to subsequent hypertension. Blood pressures
      were measured at the initial physical examination and at the 6- and 12-year
      follow-up examinations. The first analysis presented here (n = 278) identified
      incident cases of hypertension during the 12-year follow-up period, whereas the
      second analysis (n = 219) examined continuous changes in blood pressure. In both
      analyses, degree, type, and changes in obesity were considered as possible
      confounding factors. High fasting insulin values were predictive of subsequent
      incidence of hypertension over the 12-year follow-up period. Subjects with
      insulin values above the 75th percentile experienced three times more
      hypertension than did those below the 25th percentile. There was also a
      significant association between insulin at baseline and increases in diastolic
      (but not systolic) blood pressure. The positive relations between fasting
      insulin, on one hand, and diastolic blood pressure changes and hypertension, on
      the other, could not be explained by confounding effects of body mass index,
      waist/hip ratio, or weight gain. These findings are consistent with the
      hypothesis that fasting insulin levels may be one predisposing factor in the
      etiology of hypertension.

PMID- 1452296
TI  - Hyperdynamic circulation and the insulin resistance syndrome ("syndrome X").
AB  - The insulin resistance syndrome ("syndrome X") consists of hyperinsulinemia,
      glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, although the inclusion of
      hypertension has been challenged. Insulin has biological effects that could
      produce a hyperdynamic circulation. We therefore postulated that an insulin
      induced hyperdynamic circulation is an early feature of the insulin resistance
      syndrome and that this circulatory abnormality leads to later fixed hypertension.
      The San Antonio Heart Study cohort, a population-based cohort of 3,301 Mexican
      Americans and 1,857 non-Hispanic whites, was used to define individuals who were
      hyperdynamic (pulse pressure and heart rate in the upper quartile of their
      respective distributions), intermediate, and hypodynamic (pulse pressure and
      heart rate in the bottom quartile). The characteristics of the insulin resistance
      syndrome were then examined according to these three hemodynamic categories. We
      also examined the 8-year incidence of hypertension and of type II diabetes
      according to these hemodynamic categories. A hyperdynamic circulation was
      associated with statistically significant increases in body mass index (BMI) (p <
      0.001), subscapular-to-triceps skinfold ratio (p = 0.042), triglyceride (p =
      0.002), 2-hour glucose (p = 0.002), and fasting and 2-hour insulin (p = 0.019 and
      0.006). When hemodynamic status was examined separately in lean (BMI < 27 kg/m2)
      and obese (BMI > or = 27 kg/m2) individuals, the above effects persisted,
      although they were somewhat attenuated. The odds ratio for the hyperdynamic state
      as a predictor of future hypertension was 1.66, although this was not
      statistically significant (p = 0.304). The odds ratio for predicting future type
      II diabetes was 3.97, which was statistically significant (p = 0.047).(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452297
TI  - Silent cerebral infarction as a form of hypertensive target organ damage in the
      brain.
AB  - The incidence, number, size, and location of silent cerebral infarction on 0.1 T
      magnetic resonance imaging was investigated in 66 hypertensive patients (63 +/- 9
      years old; mean +/- SD) and 42 age-matched normotensive subjects (61 +/- 9 years
      old) to determine the clinical significance of hypertension in silent cerebral
      infarction. Cerebrovascular risk factors and the severity of hypertensive changes
      in other major target organs were also investigated. The incidence of silent
      infarction in hypertensive patients (47%) tended to be higher than that of
      normotensive subjects (33%) and increased significantly with advancing age. In
      hypertensive patients, a significantly higher incidence of silent lesions was
      noted in patients with hypertensive changes in major target organs (72-73% in
      patients with organ involvement versus 33-39% in those without). The average
      number of lesions in hypertensive patients was significantly higher than that in
      normotensive subjects (6.0 versus 2.1), and the lesions in the hypertensive
      patients were more frequently detected in the brain areas supplied by perforating
      arteries than those in normotensive subjects (47% versus 24%). These results
      clearly demonstrate that silent cerebral infarction is frequently seen in older
      hypertensive patients, especially when moderate hypertensive changes are noted in
      major target organs, and suggest that hypertensive arterial changes play a
      crucial role in the occurrence of silent infarction.

PMID- 1452298
TI  - Morphology of renal afferent arterioles in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
AB  - We present a new perfusion technique that allows arteries down to the level of
      capillaries to be fixed while relaxed and under a known intravascular pressure.
      Through a catheter inserted into the right renal artery of 12-week-old male
      spontaneously hypertensive rats (n = 9) and control Wistar-Kyoto rats (n = 11),
      the kidney vessels were rinsed with human plasma, relaxed by papaverine, and
      perfused with a casting resin containing microspheres. The microspheres (12
      microns) became trapped in the glomeruli of the kidney and, together with a
      closing of the venous outflow, they caused the flow through the kidney to stop,
      so that the intravascular pressure was raised to the level of the input perfusion
      pressure (100 mm Hg). The resin material was allowed to harden, and the kidney
      was immersion-fixed and prepared for histomorphometrical investigations. This
      technique made it possible to measure both the structurally determined lumen
      diameter and the corresponding media thickness under clearly defined conditions.
      The lumen diameter of afferent arterioles close to the glomeruli showed a 17%
      reduction in spontaneously hypertensive rats (15.4 +/- 0.6 microns; mean +/- SEM)
      compared with Wistar-Kyoto rat arterioles (18.5 +/- 0.3 microns, p < 0.001).
      However, this was not due to media hypertrophy, because media cross-sectional
      area was smaller (p < 0.001) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (210 +/- 6
      microns 2) compared with Wistar-Kyoto rats (274 +/- 16 microns 2). We conclude
      that the lumen reduction in renal afferent arterioles in spontaneously
      hypertensive rats is not the result of an encroachment on the lumen by a
      hypertrophic media.

PMID- 1452299
TI  - Development of hypertension in animals with reduced total peripheral resistance.
AB  - The object of the present study was to determine whether deoxycorticosterone
      acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension can be produced in rats in the presence of low
      total peripheral resistance (TPR) induced by long-term administration of
      minoxidil, a vasodilator. The rats were divided into four groups: sham-control,
      DOCA-salt, minoxidil, and DOCA-salt with minoxidil. The rats in both DOCA groups
      had DOCA pellets implanted subcutaneously and were given saline to drink. The
      rats in both minoxidil groups were given minoxidil (3 mg/day) in the drinking
      water throughout the experiment. Final measurements, including mean arterial
      blood pressure, cardiac index, and renal blood flow were made after 4-6 weeks.
      Flow measurements were made using radioactive microspheres. Cardiac index (ml.min
      1.100 g-1) in sham-control rats averaged 18 +/- 2 and was higher in the other
      groups: 23 +/- 4 (DOCA-salt), 25 +/- 2 (minoxidil), and 30 +/- 2 (DOCA-salt plus
      minoxidil). Mean arterial pressure (mm Hg) was increased in both DOCA-salt rats
      (160 +/- 8) and DOCA-salt plus minoxidil rats (153 +/- 5) as compared with sham
      control (116 +/- 2) and minoxidil (113 +/- 3) rats. There was no significant
      difference in TPR between the sham-control and DOCA-salt rats, but TPR in
      minoxidil and DOCA-salt plus minoxidil rats was 30% and 28% lower than that in
      untreated sham-control and DOCA-salt hypertensive rats, respectively. In
      contrast, renal vascular resistance was significantly increased in both DOCA-salt
      groups as compared with non-DOCA-salt groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452300
TI  - Twenty-four-hour blood pressure profiles in normotensive sons of hypertensive
      parents.
AB  - We investigated whether blood pressures are higher in normotensive offspring of
      hypertensive parents than in normotensive offspring of normotensive parents
      outside the physician's office and, if so, whether these higher blood pressures
      are dependent on the level of dietary sodium intake. We compared 24-hour
      ambulatory blood pressure profiles between 11 normotensive sons of two
      hypertensive parents and 11 normotensive sons of two normotensive parents;
      profiles were recorded after 1 week of a low sodium diet (10 meq/day) and after 1
      week of a high sodium diet (200 meq/day). The sons of hypertensive parents were
      on average 6 years older than the sons of normotensive parents (47 +/- 5 [SD]
      versus 41 +/- 4 years, p < 0.05). The shift from low to high sodium diet did not
      significantly change the magnitude of differences in office or ambulatory blood
      pressures between the groups (i.e., no group-by-diet interaction); thus, we
      assessed group effects by contrasting blood pressure means for each group pooled
      across diets. Age-adjusted office blood pressure was higher in sons of
      hypertensive parents than in sons of normotensive parents (116 +/- 7/80 +/- 6
      versus 111 +/- 7/75 +/- 6 mm Hg; p = 0.020 for systolic and p = 0.003 for
      diastolic blood pressure).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452301
TI  - Sodium-lithium countertransport and probability of hypertension in Caucasians 47
      to 89 years old.
AB  - The objectives of the present study were to determine whether sodium-lithium
      countertransport contributes to predicting the probability of having hypertension
      and to determine whether it does so after other predictor traits have been
      considered. We used logistic regression to model the relation between sodium
      lithium countertransport and the probability of having hypertension, estimated by
      the prevalence of hypertension among 172 men and 252 women, aged 47-89 years,
      from the Caucasian population of Rochester, Minn. When sodium-lithium
      countertransport was the only predictor trait considered, it made a statistically
      significant contribution to prediction both in men (model chi(2)1df = 20.50, p <
      0.001) and in women (model chi(2)1df = 16.69, p < 0.001). For each standard
      deviation increase in sodium-lithium counter-transport, the expected odds of
      having hypertension increased 2.25 times in men (95% confidence interval [CI],
      1.44-3.51) and 1.77 times in women (95% CI, 1.32-2.37). When sodium-lithium
      countertransport was not considered, the other traits identified as predictors
      were age, body mass index, and plasma apolipoprotein CII and CII squared; plasma
      apolipoprotein AI was an additional predictor in women but not in men. When
      sodium-lithium countertransport was added to models that included the other
      predictors, it improved prediction both in men (increase in model chi(2)1df =
      12.29, p < 0.001) and in women (increase in model chi(2)1df = 4.86, p < 0.027).
      Based on these complete models, when the other predictors remained at their mean
      values, each standard deviation increase in sodium-lithium countertransport
      increased the expected odds of having hypertension 2.06 times in men (95% CI,
      1.31-3.22) and 1.48 times in women (95% CI, 1.04-2.21). These results establish
      that sodium-lithium countertransport provides information that is helpful in
      predicting the probability of having hypertension and is not reflected in other
      identified predictor traits.

PMID- 1452302
TI  - Aftereffects of exercise.

PMID- 1452303
TI  - In search of recognition.

PMID- 1452304
TI  - Routine hematological values in term newborns.
AB  - Routine hematological parameters were investigated in 240 term normal neonates,
      40 neonates in the first week of life and 49 infants between 3 and 6 months of
      age. Term normal neonates were selected on the basis of well defined criteria.
      Cord blood Hb values of 16.2 +/- 1.5 g/dl compared well with some of the recent
      Indian studies and Caucasian figures. Cord blood hemoglobin was lower in the
      presence of low maternal hemoglobin and in newborns delivered by Cesarean
      section. A wide variation existed in the total and differential leucocyte counts,
      thus limiting the clinical utility of white cell counts in the newborn period.
      Platelet counts were within the adult normal range.

PMID- 1452305
TI  - Micro-invasive management of neonatal bilirubinemia.
AB  - The present study aims at analyzing the suitability of transcutaneous approach
      and filter paper technique using Minolta Jaundicemeter in the management of
      neonatal bilirubinemia. I compared serially measured values of Serum Bilirubin
      Index (SBI) by using filter paper technique and transcutaneous bilirubin index
      (TcBI) with serum bilirubin level determined by Diazo Method in 100 clinically
      jaundiced newborns and in 25 neonates at birth. The estimation of TcBI is simple,
      quick, reliable and non-traumatic to the newborn with no workload on the
      laboratory and technician. However, different nomograms are to be prepared for
      different laboratories, as also for the newborns with difference in skin
      pigmentation, gestational age and after phototherapy. SBI determined by filter
      paper technique eliminates these limitations. Moreover, the linear correlation
      was stronger between SBI and Diazo values (r = 0.9343, p < 0.001) in comparison
      to TcBI with Diazo values (r = 0.9090, p < 0.001). Further SBI readings almost
      correspond with actual serum bilirubin levels while corresponding TcBI values
      were much higher especially at higher diazo values. Thus TcBI can be used
      routinely for the surveillance of neonatal jaundice till it reaches a level
      corresponding to critical serum bilirubin level at which active management is
      required. At this point, serum bilirubin level may be confirmed by SBI.

PMID- 1452306
TI  - Prognostic score for kerosene oil poisoning.
AB  - Ninety five consecutive children with kerosene oil poisoning were studied, the
      first 70 retrospectively (internal group) and the rest 25, prospectively
      (external group) over a period of 3 years and 8 months. Based on clinical
      features and severity of illness in initial 70 cases, a weighted scoring system
      to determine the outcome was evolved. This included: (i) fever--absent 0, present
      1; (ii) severe malnutrition--absent 0, present 1; (iii) respiratory distress-
      absent 0, present 2, with cyanosis 4; and (iv) neurological symptoms--absent 0,
      present 2, with convulsions 4. The scores ranged from 0 to 10 in the internal
      group. Using discriminate function analysis, a score of 4 or more was found to be
      associated with prolonged hospital stay and complications. The risk of dying
      increased if the score was equal to or more than 8. The predictive value of the
      score was 85.7%. For validation, this scoring was applied to the external group
      as well and 84% of cases could be correctly predicted.

PMID- 1452307
TI  - Congenital heart disease in Down syndrome: an echocardiographic study.
AB  - We evaluated the utility of echocardiography in assessing the frequency and
      nature of cardiac malformations in children with Down syndrome. Fifty cases of
      chromosomally proven Down syndrome were studied. A physical examination, electro
      cardiogram, radiograph of chest and two-dimensional echocardiography was
      performed on all patients. Twenty-two (44%) children had heart diseases.
      Endocardial-cushion-defect was the commonest anomaly, followed by ventricular
      septal defect. Three children with heart disease were asymptomatic and had normal
      X-ray films of chest and ECGs. The prevalence and specific type of congenital
      heart disease in this study is comparable to the studies using invasive means for
      diagnosis. The study further suggests that clinical examination of the
      cardiovascular system alone may not be sufficient in detecting heart disease. Two
      dimensional echocardiography offers an excellent non-invasive tool for diagnosing
      cardiac malformations in Down syndrome.

PMID- 1452308
TI  - A study of hepatitis B and C prevalence and liver function in multiply transfused
      thalassemic and their parents.
AB  - A series of clinics were conducted in Delhi, India, in January, 1990. Of 54
      patients with beta thalassemia major (mean age 7.6 years), 11.1% (6 out of 54)
      tested positive for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti HCV antibodies) and
      66.6% (36 out of 54) showed evidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Only
      7.4% (4 out of 54) were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive. Of their
      parents, 2.2% (2 out of 90) tested positive for anti HCV antibodies, 28.9% (26
      out of 90) showed evidence of previous HBV infection and 11.1% (10 out of 90)
      were HBsAg positive. We argue that HCV constitutes a greater long term threat
      than HBV in these patients due to the higher incidence of chronic liver disease.
      We would advocate the introduction of HCV screening of donated blood as well as
      reinforcing the importance of HBV screening and immunization.

PMID- 1452309
TI  - Shigellosis in children: a prospective hospital based study.
AB  - From 1985 to 1988, fecal samples of 950 hospitalized children suffering from
      diarrhea or dysentery were screened for Shigella species using standard methods.
      Shigella species were isolated as sole pathogen from 192 (20.2%) cases and S.
      flexneri type 2 was the predominant serotype. Shigella infection was prevalent
      throughout the year with high isolation rate during the summer and early monsoon
      months. Shigella strains isolated during the period were resistant to most of the
      commonly used drugs for the treatment of shigellosis. Nearly 16% of the Shigella
      strains were also resistant to nalidixic acid. Presence of blood and mucus in
      stools (dysentery) was the common clinical presentation of shigellosis cases.
      Malnutrition was associated with longer duration of illness. High cases fatality
      rate (16.7%) was observed among hospitalized children infected with Shigella.

PMID- 1452310
TI  - Osteoarticular tuberculosis in children.
AB  - One hundred and four cases of osteoarticular tuberculosis were studied. There
      were 74 boys (71.2%) and 30 girls (28.8%). The mean age at the onset of symptoms
      was 7.3 years, ranging from 9 months to 18 years. Seventy four cases (71%)
      reported 3 months after onset of symptoms. The spine was the commonest site
      involved (43%) followed by hip (14.9%) and knee joints (10.3%). Evidence of
      active or inactive pulmonary tuberculosis was found in 16.2%. All cases were
      treated by three drug regimen of rifampicin, isoniazid and ethambutol; rifampicin
      was discontinued after 6 months, ethambutol after 12-14 months. In 12 cases
      (11.5%) isoniazid was continued for 18 months. Along with chemotherapy suitable
      braces, splints, tractions, exercises and other form of physical therapy produced
      satisfactory results. Seventy eight patients (75%) showed clinical and
      radiological improvement with one year of treatment. The follow up period ranged
      between 4 months to 24 months with an average of 17 months. Children because of
      capacity to grow, showed progressive deformity in knee in 3 cases (2.8%), hip in
      98 cases (8.6%), shortening of limbs in 14 cases (13.4%) and kyphosis in 13 cases
      (12.5%).

PMID- 1452311
TI  - Colonoscopically reduced intussusception and testicular involvement in Henoch
      Schonlein purpura.

PMID- 1452312
TI  - Prenatal diagnosis of Bochdalek's type of diaphragmatic hernia.

PMID- 1452313
TI  - Gastric teratoma revealed by gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

PMID- 1452314
TI  - Total intestinal anganglionosis.

PMID- 1452315
TI  - Congenital absence of ribs.

PMID- 1452316
TI  - Anterior sacral meningocele: an uncommon cause of constipation in early
      childhood.

PMID- 1452317
TI  - Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome: oligosymptomatic form.

PMID- 1452318
TI  - Congenital subclavian artery aneurysm.

PMID- 1452319
TI  - Starvation--a rare cause of intussusception in preadolescence.

PMID- 1452320
TI  - Problems in the anesthetic management of Pierre Robin and Treacher Collin
      syndromes.

PMID- 1452321
TI  - Incidence of mitral valve prolapse in children.

PMID- 1452322
TI  - Cerebral symptoms with P. vivax malaria.

PMID- 1452323
TI  - Assessment of newborn baby's temperature by human touch: a potentially useful
      primary care strategy.

PMID- 1452324
TI  - Discarded infant feeding bottle as spacer.

PMID- 1452325
TI  - Management of hypertensive emergencies.

PMID- 1452326
TI  - Intrauterine intussusception as a cause of intestinal atresia.

PMID- 1452327
TI  - Immunogenicity of conjugate vaccines consisting of pneumococcal capsular
      polysaccharide types 6B, 14, 19F, and 23F and a meningococcal outer membrane
      protein complex.
AB  - In an effort to prepare pneumococcal (Pn) capsular polysaccharide (Ps) vaccines
      that would be immunogenic in infants, covalent conjugates were prepared for Pn
      types 6B, 14, 19F, and 23F. Each Ps type was covalently bound to an outer
      membrane protein complex from Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B and evaluated
      for immunogenicity in mice and infant monkeys. The conjugates induced specific
      anti-Ps antibody responses in mice and in infant rhesus and African green
      monkeys; a conjugate of 6B and outer membrane protein complex was immunogenic at
      Ps doses as low as 20 ng. Although low levels of the Pn group-common cell wall
      polysaccharide were present in all type-specific Ps preparations, anti-cell wall
      polysaccharide responses induced by covalent conjugates were < 1% of the total
      anti-Ps response after two doses of vaccine. In contrast, the anti-cell wall
      polysaccharide response of a noncovalent conjugate represented 41% of the anti-Ps
      response after two doses. Relative T-cell dependence, a requirement for the human
      target population of infants less than 18 months old, was demonstrated for all
      four Pn Ps conjugates in an athymic mouse model. Therefore, these Pn Ps-outer
      membrane protein complex conjugate vaccines are excellent candidates for
      evaluation in human infants.

PMID- 1452328
TI  - Effect of Pasteurella multocida toxin on bone resorption in vitro.
AB  - Pasteurella multocida toxin (PMT), which is the primary etiologic factor in the
      pathogenesis of progressive atrophic rhinitis in pigs, was found to stimulate
      bone resorption in vitro. This stimulation was observed both in cultures of
      murine calvaria by measuring the release of calcium and of the lysosomal enzyme
      beta-glucuronidase and in murine long bone cultures by measuring the release of
      calcium. Both systems showed the same dose response curve, with the maximal
      effect at a concentration of 5 ng/ml. The effect on calvaria was studied in more
      detail. PMT increased bone resorption 24 h after its addition and always had to
      be present to express an effect. Calcitonin was able to inhibit this increase of
      resorption completely, and inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis suppressed it
      partially. Although the data show an effect of PMT on bone tissue, the results do
      not exclude an action on cells in the nasal cavity, which could indirectly
      stimulate bone resorption.

PMID- 1452329
TI  - Protection of neonatal mice from group B streptococcal infection by maternal
      immunization with beta C protein.
AB  - Group B streptococci (GBS) cause the majority of cases of neonatal sepsis and
      meningitis in the United States. Immunization of women of childbearing age is one
      strategy under consideration for the prevention of neonatal disease. The beta C
      protein, a 130-kDa antigen present in many clinical isolates of GBS, was purified
      from GBS by extraction into sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-containing buffer,
      preparative SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and electroelution. Purified
      beta C protein antigen (25 micrograms) with Freund's adjuvant was used to
      immunize rabbits. Rabbits developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers of >
      1:1.6 x 10(6), and sera from immunized rabbits were administered to pregnant
      mice. Their neonatal pups were then challenged with a strain of GBS expressing
      beta C protein; 68% of these pups were protected by immune antiserum, whereas no
      controls were protected (P < 0.001). The immune serum (diluted 1:100) facilitated
      opsonophagocytic killing of GBS strains expressing the beta C protein but not
      those that do not express the antigen (mean log kill +/- standard deviation =
      0.71 +/- 0.8 log10 CFU for beta+ strains and 0.09 +/- 0.2 for beta- strains; P =
      0.02). In subsequent experiments, adult female mice were actively immunized with
      two doses of 2, 5, or 10 micrograms of beta C protein 2 months prior to mating.
      One- to two-day-old offspring of these dams were challenged with GBS and were
      protected in a dose-dependent manner, with 96% survival in the high-dose (10
      micrograms) group and 20% survival in a sham-immunized control group (P < 0.001).
      Thus, active immunization of mice with the GBS beta C protein confers protection
      against lethal infection with beta+ GBS to their offspring.

PMID- 1452331
TI  - Phagolysosomes of Coxiella burnetii-infected cell lines maintain an acidic pH
      during persistent infection.
AB  - Coxiella burnetii, the agent of Q fever, is an obligate intracellular bacterium
      that multiples within vacuoles of phagolysosomal origin. Persistently infected
      cell lines were maintained in continuous culture for months. We studied the pH of
      the phagolysosomes by using two murine cell lines during early propagation of the
      bacteria and after establishment of persistent infection. Three strains of C.
      burnetii were studied because of the purported propensity of each strain to cause
      acute or chronic disease and to be resistant or susceptible to antibiotics. The
      pHs were calculated from fluorescence experiments with fluoresceinated dextran as
      a lysosomal probe. Phagolysosomal vacuoles maintained an acidic pH during a 36
      day infection. Minimal variation of the pH occurred over the duration of the
      experiment with strains that caused either acute or chronic disease.
      Phagolysosomal pH remained stable for as long as 153 days with the Nine Mile
      phase II isolate. Thus, neither the course of C. burnetti infection nor the
      diversity of antibiotic susceptibility of the strains is related to variations in
      the phagolysosomal pH.

PMID- 1452330
TI  - Purification and immunological characterization of a major low-molecular-weight
      lipoprotein from Borrelia burgdorferi.
AB  - Borrelia burgdorferi resembles gram-negative bacteria in having both cellular and
      outer membranes. We previously showed that a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-like
      material could be extracted from B. burgdorferi with phenol-chloroform-petroleum
      ether (PCP). The PCP extract of B. burgdorferi exhibited biological activity in
      several in vitro assays (e.g., mitogenicity, pyrogenicity, and cytokine release).
      These activities suggested the presence of endotoxin. The PCP extract of B.
      burgdorferi, however, also contained a small amount of protein. Preliminary
      studies showed that monoclonal antibody prepared against this protein inhibited
      the mitogenic activity of the PCP extract toward murine spleen cells. The current
      study was therefore undertaken to characterize this protein and to establish
      methods for its separation from the LPS. The PCP-extracted protein consisted of a
      single, low-molecular-weight lipoprotein (apparent M(r), 10,000 by sodium dodecyl
      sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) (SDS-PAGE). By protein analysis, it
      accounted for 2% of the dry weight of defatted cells, thus making it a major
      constituent of the spirochete. It was purified from the LPS by initial extraction
      into 10% Triton X-100 followed by immunoaffinity chromatography in the presence
      of detergent. On removal of the LPS, the purified lipoprotein formed aggregates
      stable to SDS-PAGE which were detectable on Western blots (immunoblots) probed
      with either the monoclonal antibody or polyclonal antiserum. From a plot of the
      aggregate molecular weight versus aggregate size, a monomer molecular weight of
      7,500 was obtained. Indirect immunofluorescence with the monoclonal antibody
      showed that the lipoprotein was exposed at the surface of the spirochete in only
      a small percentage of cells. The lipoprotein was present in several strains of B.
      burgdorferi but absent in other Borrelia spp., treponemes, and gram-negative
      human pathogens, indicating species specificity.

PMID- 1452332
TI  - Pathogenesis of Providencia alcalifaciens-induced diarrhea.
AB  - Providencia alcalifaciens is a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae. There are
      reports that P. alcalifaciens can cause diarrhea, but the mechanism(s) by which
      it causes diarrhea is known. We studied P. alcalifaciens isolated from a child
      and two adults with diarrhea for enteropathogenicity. The three isolates did not
      exhibit any characteristic adherence to cultured HEp-2 cell monolayers, and they
      did not produce enterotoxins, cytotoxins, or keratoconjunctivitis in the Sereny
      test. Two isolates invaded cultured HEp-2 cell monolayers, producing localized
      bacterial clusters and actin condensation. The pattern of actin condensation was
      different from that produced by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli but similar to
      that produced by Shigella flexneri. Invasion and actin condensation were poor for
      the third isolate. Histology of adult rabbit small intestinal loops inoculated
      with all three isolates revealed bacterial attachment to, penetration of, and
      microulcer formation on the surface epithelium and hyperemia, edema, and
      polymorphonuclear cell infiltration of lamina propria. All the isolates produced
      diarrhea in rabbits with removable intestinal ties, and some of these rabbits
      developed hindlimb paralysis. Intestinal histology of the rabbits with removable
      intestinal ties which developed diarrhea showed changes similar to that in adult
      rabbits on which ileal loop assays had been performed. Transmission electron
      microscopy of intestinal tissues also confirmed tissue penetration by the
      isolates. Nerve tissue histology of two rabbits that developed hindlimb paralysis
      showed focal mononuclear cell infiltration around peripheral nerve sheaths. It is
      concluded that some strains of P. alcalifaciens are enteropathogenic and that
      they cause diarrhea by invading the intestinal mucosal epithelium. However, the
      relevance to human disease of the hindlimb paralysis observed in this animal
      model is not clear.

PMID- 1452333
TI  - Relative abilities of distinct isotypes of human major histocompatibility complex
      class II molecules to bind streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin types A and B.
AB  - The relative ability of distinct isotypes of human leukocyte antigen class II
      molecules to bind streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins A and B (SPE A and SPE B,
      respectively) was investigated by a direct-binding assay with 125I-labeled toxin
      for SPE A and by a functional assay system measuring the accessory cell activity
      of human leukocyte antigen class II transfectants in toxin-induced T-cell
      activation for SPE A and SPE B. SPE A binding was observed in L cells transfected
      with DQw1 genes. By contrast, it was not detected in L cells transfected with
      DR2, DR4, DPw4 or DP(Cp63) genes. All the transfectants supported SPE-induced
      interleukin-2 production by human T cells except the DP transfectants for SPE B.
      Levels of accessory cell activity were low in the DP transfectants induced by
      stimulation with SPE A and in the DR and DP transfectants induced by SPE B. The
      results indicate that SPE A and SPE B bind well to DQ molecules, less well to DR
      molecules, and very weakly to DP molecules.

PMID- 1452334
TI  - Complement and antibody participation in opsonophagocytosis of type IV and V
      group B streptococci.
AB  - Requirements for complement and antibody in neutrophil-mediated killing of
      serotype IV and V group B streptococci were investigated. Neutrophils from adults
      were tested in an opsonophagocytic assay with sera from healthy adults, healthy
      newborns, and hypogammaglobulinemic, agammaglobulinemic, and C4-deficient
      patients. For all serum sources, the bactericidal index for both serotypes
      exceeded 84% after 40 min of incubation. Heat inactivation of sera ablated
      killing. Blockade of neutrophil receptor FcIII effected a maximum of 16%
      inhibition of opsonophagocytosis, and FcII receptor blockade demonstrated
      negligible inhibition. When neutrophil complement receptor 1 or 3 blockade was
      employed, the maximum inhibition detected was 26%. Simultaneous blockade of
      complement receptors 1 and 3 effected maximum inhibition levels of 25 and 65% for
      serotypes IV and V, respectively. Blockade of complement receptor 3 and
      neutrophil receptor FcIII inhibited opsonophagocytosis by 56% for both serotypes.
      When serum complement concentrations were restricted, neutrophil-mediated killing
      diminished but was restored by the addition of hyperimmune rabbit antiserum.
      These findings suggest that complement and antibody are major participants in the
      opsonophagocytosis of serotypes IV and V group B streptococci. A low prevalence
      of carriage or mediation of efficient phagocytosis by interactions of neutrophil
      complement and Fc receptors may contribute to the rarity of human infections
      caused by these two serotypes.

PMID- 1452335
TI  - Role of fibrinogen in complement inhibition by streptococcal M protein.
AB  - M protein, the major virulence factor of group A streptococci, has antiopsonic
      activity in that it inhibits activation of the alternative complement pathway on
      the streptococcal surface. Two properties of M protein have been claimed to
      account for the inhibitory activity, namely, (i) its binding affinity for
      complement factor H, which is an inhibitor of alternative pathway activation, and
      (ii) its high binding affinity for fibrinogen. We have recently shown that
      fibrinogen, like M protein, inhibits alternative pathway activation by possessing
      binding affinity for factor H. Here we report that fibrinogen effectively
      competes with factor H for binding to M protein but retains its own binding
      affinity for factor H. The presence of fibrinogen did not significantly affect
      alternative pathway inhibition on the streptococcal surface.

PMID- 1452336
TI  - eNAP-2, a novel cysteine-rich bactericidal peptide from equine leukocytes.
AB  - We purified a novel cysteine-rich antibiotic peptide, eNAP-2 (M(r), approximately
      6,500), from acid extracts of equine neutrophils by sequential gel filtration and
      reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and determined its partial
      N-terminal amino acid sequence. Although its cysteine motif distinguished eNAP-2
      from all other currently known endogenous antibiotic peptides, including
      defensins and granulins, it showed substantial sequence similarity to WDNM1, a
      putative member of the four-disulfide-core protein family that also includes
      animal and human antiproteases, snake venom neurotoxins, and rat and mouse whey
      proteins. The antibacterial properties of eNAP-2 were tested against several
      equine uterine pathogens, namely, Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Escherichia coli,
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Killing of S. zooepidemicus
      was very efficient, as evidenced by a 94% decrease in numbers of CFU per
      milliliter after exposure to 100 micrograms of eNAP-2 per ml (approximately 15
      microM) for 2 h. Exposure of E. coli and P. aeruginosa to 200 micrograms of eNAP
      2 per ml for 2 h resulted in 90.2 and 77.6% reduction, respectively, in the
      numbers of CFU per milliliter. Bacteriostasis, without bactericidal activity,
      occurred after K. pneumoniae was incubated with 200 micrograms of eNAP-2 per ml.
      Additional studies will be required in other species and cell types to determine
      whether eNAP-2 is restricted to equine neutrophils or is the index member of a
      larger family of endogenous antibiotics.

PMID- 1452337
TI  - Characterization of a polysaccharide capsular antigen of septicemic Escherichia
      coli O115:K "V165" :F165 and evaluation of its role in pathogenicity.
AB  - Escherichia coli strains of serogroup O115:K(-):F165 have been associated with
      septicemia in calves and piglets. These strains express a capsular antigen
      referred to as K"V165" which inhibits agglutination of the O antigen by anti-O115
      serum. We used hybrid transposon TnphoA mutants M48, 18b, and 2, and a
      spontaneous O-agglutinable mutant, 5131a, to evaluate the role of K"V165" in the
      pathogenicity of E. coli O115. Mutant M48 was as resistant to 90% rabbit serum
      and as virulent in day-old chickens as the parent strain 5131, mutants 18b and
      5131a were less resistant to serum and less virulent in chickens, and mutant 2
      was serum sensitive and avirulent. Analysis of outer membrane protein and
      lipopolysaccharide profiles failed to show any difference between the transposon
      mutants and the parent strain. In contrast, the spontaneous O-agglutinable mutant
      showed additional bands in the 16-kDa region of the polysaccharide ladder-like
      pattern. Mutants 2 and 5131a produced significantly less K"V165" capsular antigen
      than the parent strain, as demonstrated by a competitive enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay with adsorbed anti-K"V165" serum. In addition, electron
      microscopic analysis revealed that mutants 2 and 5131a had lost the capsular
      layer observed in the parent strain after fixation with glutaraldehyde-lysine.
      This capsule contained carbohydrate compounds and resembled an O-antigen capsule
      since it prevented O-antigen agglutination before the bacteria were heated at 100
      degrees C and induced bacterial serum resistance. The capsule-defective mutants
      colonized the intestinal epithelium of experimentally infected gnotobiotic pigs
      but failed to induce clinical signs of septicemia. We concluded that E. coli
      strains of serogroup O115 expressed a polysaccharide capsular antigen which
      induced serum resistance and consequently contributed to the pathogenicity of the
      bacteria.

PMID- 1452338
TI  - Proteins with molecular masses of 25 to 40 kilodaltons elicit optimal protective
      responses against Plasmodium chabaudi adami infection.
AB  - The presence of the CD4+ T cell has been shown to be crucial for resolution of
      acute infection in the Plasmodium chabaudi adami murine malaria model. This model
      is, therefore, suitable for the isolation of malaria antigens that are capable of
      activating protective T cells. In light of this, we set out to identify P.
      chabaudi adami molecules that activate protective responses in this model.
      Denatured P. chabaudi adami proteins were isolated by continuous-flow
      electrophoresis on the basis of their apparent molecular masses and then
      sequentially assessed for the ability to protect mice in immunization
      experiments. We report here that low-molecular-mass P. chabaudi adami
      polypeptides in the range from 25 to 40 kDa are most effective at immunizing mice
      against a challenge infection with viable P. chabaudi adami. The method used to
      obtain these proteins could also be applied to identify molecules that activate
      protective cell-mediated responses in other infectious disease models.

PMID- 1452339
TI  - Construction of a diphtheria toxin A fragment-C180 peptide fusion protein which
      elicits a neutralizing antibody response against diphtheria toxin and pertussis
      toxin.
AB  - A genetically engineered gene fusion was constructed which encoded a nontoxic
      derivative of the A fragment of diphtheria toxin joined to the C180 peptide of
      the S1 subunit of pertussis toxin. The product of this gene fusion, termed the
      DTA-C180 protein, was purified from the periplasm of Escherichia coli to
      approximately 80% purity. The DTA-C180 protein possessed an apparent molecular
      weight of 43,000 by reduced sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis. The DTA-C180 protein was cleaved into two tryptic peptides,
      which migrated with apparent molecular weights of approximately 22,000. One
      tryptic peptide reacted with diphtheria antitoxin, while the other tryptic
      peptide reacted with anti-C180 peptide immunoglobulin G. The DTA-C180 protein did
      not inhibit protein synthesis or stimulate clustering morphology in Chinese
      hamster ovary cells. The DTA-C180 protein elicited an immune response, in guinea
      pigs, against both the DTA and C180 peptide components of the fusion protein,
      with alum being a more efficient adjuvant than Freund's adjuvant for eliciting
      neutralization titers. Neutralization titers elicited by DTA-C180 protein were
      weaker than those elicited by diphtheria toxoid and pertussis toxin 9K/129G, a
      genetically engineered double mutant of pertussis toxin. Three doses of DTA-C180
      protein yielded a neutralization titer of 1/750 against pertussis toxin in
      Chinese hamster ovary cells and a neutralization titer of 1/50 against diphtheria
      toxin in Vero cells. This is the first report of a protein derived from a
      recombinant S1 subunit that elicits a neutralizing titer against pertussis toxin.

PMID- 1452340
TI  - Differences in the binding specificities of Pseudomonas aeruginosa M35 and
      Escherichia coli C600 for lipid-linked oligosaccharides with lactose-related core
      regions.
AB  - Membrane glycolipids contain the lactose sequence (galactose linked to glucose),
      and the oligosaccharide is variously extended such that there is a cell-type
      specific repertoire. In this study, binding of Pseudomonas aeruginosa M35 to
      lipid-linked lactose (Gal beta 1-4Glc [structure 1]), lacto-N-neotetraose (Gal
      beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc [structure 2]), lacto-N-tetraose (Gal beta
      1-3GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc [structure 3]), and asialo GM1 (Gal beta 1
      3GalNAc beta 1-4Gal beta 1-4Glc [structure 4]) was evaluated and compared with
      binding of Escherichia coli C600 to these compounds. Oligosaccharides were linked
      to the lipid phosphatidylethanolamine dipalmitoate, and the resulting
      neoglycolipids were resolved on thin-layer chromatograms or coated onto plastic
      microtiter wells. Lipid-linked structures 1 to 4 were bound by P. aeruginosa and
      E. coli in the chromatogram assay, but only structure 4 was bound in the
      microtiter well assay. As shown previously for E. coli binding to lipid-linked
      structures 1 to 3, binding to lipid-linked structure 4 was not inhibited with
      oligosaccharide, indicating a requirement for lipid and oligosaccharide. With few
      exceptions, sialylation and fucosylation of structures 1 to 4 resulted in
      impaired or abolished binding. Comparisons of binding intensities in the
      chromatogram assay indicated that recognition by P. aeruginosa and recognition by
      E. coli are not identical. Presence of the additional disaccharide unit, as in
      structure 2, resulted in enhanced binding of P. aeruginosa but diminished binding
      of E. coli relative to lactose binding; fucosylation at galactose of lactose
      resulted in markedly diminished binding of P. aeruginosa only. In the microtiter
      well assay, binding of E. coli to asialo GM1 was much weaker than P. aeruginosa
      binding. The saccharide-plus-lipid-dependent adhesion may be an important factor
      in increased susceptibility to infection of epithelia already damaged by
      microbial and chemical agents; the differing strengths of adhesion to the
      structural variants may relate to tissue tropism.

PMID- 1452341
TI  - Interaction of pertussis toxin with human T lymphocytes.
AB  - The binding of pertussis toxin (PT) to the human T-cell line Jurkat was examined
      by using flow cytometry. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled PT bound
      rapidly to the cells in a specific manner as determined by blocking experiments
      with unlabeled toxin, B oligomer, and the S2-S4 and S3-S4 dimers. Monoclonal
      antibodies against the S3 subunit of the toxin also significantly inhibited the
      binding of FITC-PT. Sialidase treatment of the cells resulted in decreased
      binding of FITC-PT, indicating that sialic acid residues are involved in the
      binding process. In addition, we studied the effect of PT binding on the
      expression of cell surface molecules. On binding of PT to the cell surface, a
      rapid down-regulation of the T-cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex was observed. The
      modulation of the TCR-CD3 complex was independent of the toxin's enzymatic
      activity, as the B oligomer and a nonenzymatic toxin mutant induced modulation
      comparable to that caused by the native holotoxin. Isolated dimers did not cause
      down-regulation. Stimulation of the TCR-CD3 complex, leading to reduced cell
      surface expression of this complex, provides a possible explanation for the
      second messenger production associated with the interaction of PT or B oligomer
      with T lymphocytes. We therefore conclude that PT activates T cells by divalent
      binding to the TCR-CD3 complex itself or by binding a structure closely
      associated with it.

PMID- 1452342
TI  - Identification of p60 antibodies in human sera and presentation of this listerial
      antigen on the surface of attenuated salmonellae by the HlyB-HlyD secretion
      system.
AB  - Antibodies directed against the major secreted protein of Listeria monocytogenes,
      termed p60, were found more frequently than antilisteriolysin antibodies in sera
      of listeriosis patients. Anti-p60 antibodies were also identified in all tested
      sera from healthy individuals. To test whether p60 provides protection against L.
      monocytogenes, we constructed an attenuated Salmonella typhimurium aroA strain
      which secretes p60 via the Escherichia coli hemolysin secretion pathway.
      Application of this Salmonella strain to BALB/c mice prior to an L. monocytogenes
      infection induced p60 antibodies in these mice and led to a significantly reduced
      number of viable bacteria in the spleen compared with that in control animals
      which were primed with the S. typhimurium aroA strain alone.

PMID- 1452343
TI  - Demonstration and partial characterization of antigens of Rickettsia rhipicephali
      that induce cross-reactive cellular and humoral immune responses to Rickettsia
      rickettsii.
AB  - The relatively unrelated spotted fever group rickettsia Rickettsia rhipicephali
      conferred on guinea pigs protective immunity against challenge with virulent R.
      rickettsii. Immunity was conferred at all doses of R. rhipicephali used in the
      study. Because of the serologic unrelatedness of these two rickettsiae,
      determined by the use of microimmunofluorescence and other serological assays,
      further studies were performed to define the nature of the immune response
      elicited by R. rhipicephali and the characteristics of the rickettsial antigens
      that evoke cross-reactive antibody responses. Animals immune to R. rhipicephali
      tested at the time of challenge showed a complete cross-reactive lymphocyte
      proliferative response to rickettsial antigens prepared from each species. In
      fact, spleen cells from R. rhipicephali-immune animals responded better to R.
      rickettsii antigens than to homologous immunizing antigens. Serum samples were
      obtained from R. rhipicephali-infected animals at various times after infection
      and tested by the use of Western immunoblot assay for antibodies that were cross
      reactive with antigens of R. rickettsii. By 10 days after infection with R.
      rhipicephali, antibodies to antigens of both species were noted, and by 37 days
      after infection, sera from immune animals showed strong reactivity to antigens of
      R. rhipicephali with apparent molecular masses of 107 and 151 kDa. The cross
      reactive antibody response to antigens of R. rickettsii was relatively strong and
      involved predominantly the rOmpB protein and the rickettsial lipopolysaccharide.
      These findings establish the presence of T-cell-dependent epitopes associated
      with antigens of R. rhipicephali, which confer protective immunity against
      challenge with R. rickettsii. Results of Western immunoblot assays support the
      contention that the R. rickettsii rOmpB surface antigen contains important
      protective epitopes.

PMID- 1452344
TI  - Endogenous tumor necrosis factor alpha is required for enhanced antimicrobial
      activity against Toxoplasma gondii and Listeria monocytogenes in recombinant
      gamma interferon-treated mice.
AB  - In vitro studies have shown that macrophages stimulated with recombinant gamma
      interferon (rIFN-gamma) produce tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), which in
      an autocrine fashion activates these cells. The aim of the present study was to
      determine whether endogenously formed TNF-alpha also is required for rIFN-gamma
      induced macrophage activation and enhanced antimicrobial activity in vivo. After
      an intraperitoneal injection of rIFN-gamma into CBA/J mice, their peritoneal
      macrophages released enhanced amounts of NO2- and inhibited the intracellular
      proliferation of Toxoplasma gondii. Injection of neutralizing antibodies against
      TNF-alpha simultaneously with the rIFN-gamma completely inhibited both the
      release of NO2- by macrophages and their toxoplasmastatic activity. Similar
      results were observed after intraperitoneal injection of a competitive inhibitor
      of L-arginine, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, together with rIFN-gamma, demonstrating
      that in vivo L-arginine-derived reactive nitrogen intermediates are essential for
      the induction of toxoplasmastatic activity. Intravenous injection of rIFN-gamma
      inhibited the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in the livers and spleens of mice;
      this effect was abrogated by antibodies against TNF-alpha. Intravenous injection
      of a large dose of rTNF-alpha resulted in a decrease in the number of bacteria in
      the liver and spleen, but an injection of rIFN-gamma and rTNF-alpha did not
      result in enhanced inhibition of the proliferation of L. monocytogenes. Together,
      the results of the present study are the first to demonstrate that endogenous TNF
      alpha is required in vivo for the expression of macrophage activation with
      respect to the release of reactive nitrogen intermediates and toxoplasmastatic
      activity and for enhanced listericidal activity in the livers and spleens of mice
      stimulated with rIFN-gamma.

PMID- 1452345
TI  - Expression of protein F, the fibronectin-binding protein of Streptococcus
      pyogenes JRS4, in heterologous streptococcal and enterococcal strains promotes
      their adherence to respiratory epithelial cells.
AB  - In a previous study we reported the identification of protein F, a fibronectin
      binding protein that was essential to the ability of Streptococcus pyogenes JRS4
      to adhere to respiratory epithelial cells (E. Hanski and M. Caparon, Proc. Natl.
      Acad. Sci. USA, 89:6172-6176, 1992). To further evaluate the role of protein F in
      the adherence of the group A streptococci, we screened other group A
      streptococcal strains, including six recent clinical isolates, and one strain of
      Enterococcus faecalis for their capacity to bind fibronectin and for the presence
      of the gene encoding protein F (prtF). Seven of eight group A streptococcal
      strains analyzed, including all recent clinical isolates, both bound fibronectin
      at high affinity and contained DNA sequences that hybridized with a prtF-specific
      probe. One group A streptococcal isolate and the strain of E. faecalis examined
      neither contained a prtF-related gene nor bound fibronectin. These two strains
      also could not efficiently adhere to respiratory epithelial cells. However, upon
      the introduction of the cloned prtF gene, both of these strains gained the
      capacity to bind fibronectin and to adhere to respiratory epithelial cells. These
      results suggest that protein F is an important adhesin, which may have a general
      role in the virulence of the group A streptococci.

PMID- 1452346
TI  - The arginine-dependent cytolytic mechanism plays a role in destruction of
      Naegleria fowleri amoebae by activated macrophages.
AB  - Mouse peritoneal macrophages activated by different immunomodulators
      (Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin or Propionibacterium acnes) destroy
      Naegleria fowleri amoebae by a contact-dependent process and by soluble cytolytic
      molecules secreted by macrophages in response to lipopolysaccharide. The goal of
      this study was to determine whether the arginine-dependent cytolytic mechanism
      which results in the production of nitric oxide from arginine by activated
      macrophages destroys the amoebae. Amoebicidal activity of activated macrophages
      was determined by coculturing macrophages with N. fowleri amoebae radiolabeled
      with 3H-uridine. The percent specific release of radiolabel was used as an index
      of cytolysis of the amoebae. The inhibitors NG-monomethyl-L-arginine and arginase
      were used to determine whether the arginine pathway was a major effector
      mechanism responsible for amoebicidal activity of activated macrophages. Both the
      arginine analog NG-monomethyl-L-arginine and arginase, which breaks down
      arginine, decreased macrophage amoebicidal activity. Addition of arginine to
      arginine-free medium restores amoebicidal activity to activated macrophage
      cultures. These results demonstrate that the arginine pathway is an important
      mechanism for the destruction of susceptible N. fowleri amoebae.

PMID- 1452348
TI  - Lack of vessel wall elastolysis in human invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.
AB  - In experimental studies, the apparent ability of Aspergillus fumigatus isolates
      to produce elastase in agar plates correlates with their ability to cause
      invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in mice pretreated with cortisone. Thus,
      elastase production may govern the pathogenicity of particular isolates. If this
      is so, then disruption of the elastic layers within blood vessel walls in
      invasive aspergillosis would be expected. To test this hypothesis, tissue blocks
      were prepared from nine patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Separate
      but immediately adjacent histological sections were stained by the Grocott and
      periodic acid-Schiff methods for fungal hyphae and by the elastic van Gieson
      technique for elastic tissue. Comparison of those segments of vessel walls
      infiltrated by hyphae with those not infiltrated by hyphae showed no overall loss
      of elastic tissue. Material from five of the cases was also stained with an
      unconventional combination of histochemical stains, allowing accurate
      identification of both fungal hyphae and elastic laminae in the same histological
      sections. The results showed no more disruption of elastic laminae than would be
      expected from simple physical displacement of elastic laminae. We conclude that
      if elastolysis contributes at all to invasion of vessel walls by aspergilli, then
      it seems to be very localized and/or transient.

PMID- 1452347
TI  - Characterization of a > 900,000-M(r) Cryptosporidium parvum sporozoite
      glycoprotein recognized by protective hyperimmune bovine colostral
      immunoglobulin.
AB  - Cryptosporidium parvum, a zoonotic Apicomplexan pathogen, causes profound
      diarrhea, malnutrition, and dehydration in patients with AIDS. A less severe,
      self-limited disease occurs in immunocompetent individuals, particularly
      children, animal handlers, and residents of the developing world. Very little is
      known about the biology of the organism, the pathophysiology of the disease
      process, or the mechanism of protective immunity. There is no effective therapy
      for cryptosporidiosis, but hyperimmune bovine colostrum raised against
      Cryptosporidium oocysts and sporozoites has ameliorated infection and disease in
      some patients with AIDS, and a variety of monoclonal antibodies, as well as
      hyperimmune bovine colostrum, have significantly reduced cryptosporidial
      infection of mice and calves. We report here the identification and initial
      characterization of a > 900,000-M(r) Cryptosporodium sporozoite glycoprotein
      (GP900) that is a prominent antigen recognized by protective hyperimmune bovine
      colostral immunoglobulin. Three of six murine anticryptosporidial monoclonal
      antibodies reacted with GP900, indicating that the molecule is highly immunogenic
      in mice as well as in cows. GP900 is Triton X-100 soluble and N glycosylated.
      Western blotting of the N-deglycosylated protein, detected with antibodies eluted
      from recombinant clones expressing a partial GP900 fusion protein, suggested that
      the polypeptide backbone of the glycoprotein has an M(r) of < 190,000. GP900 is
      encoded by a single-copy gene that resides on the largest Cryptosporidium
      chromosome.

PMID- 1452349
TI  - Respiratory epithelial cell invasion by group B streptococci.
AB  - Group B streptococci (GBS) are the most common cause of pneumonia and sepsis
      during the neonatal period; however, the pathogenesis of this infection is poorly
      understood. We investigated the ability of GBS to enter epithelial cells in
      culture. Two strains of GBS were capable of invading immortalized respiratory
      epithelial cell lines in vitro at different levels, suggesting strain differences
      in invasiveness. Intracellular replication was not observed. Invasion required
      actin microfilaments but not microtubular cytoskeletal elements. Active bacterial
      protein, DNA, and RNA syntheses were required for invasion. These findings are
      consistent with our previous observation of intracellular GBS in the lungs of
      infected primates. We hypothesize that this organism may access the bloodstream
      by direct invasion of the epithelial cell barrier.

PMID- 1452350
TI  - Early pathogenesis of infection in the liver with the facultative intracellular
      bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, Francisella tularensis, and Salmonella
      typhimurium involves lysis of infected hepatocytes by leukocytes.
AB  - The results show that Listeria monocytogenes, Francisella tularensis, and
      Salmonella typhimurium are facultative intracellular bacteria with a capacity to
      invade and grow in nonphagocytic cells in vivo. In the liver, all of these
      pathogens were seen to invade and to multiply extensively in hepatocytes. In all
      three cases, inflammatory phagocytes were rapidly marshalled to foci of infection
      where they appeared to cause the destruction of infected hepatocytes, thereby
      releasing bacteria into the extracellular space, in which presumably they could
      be ingested and destroyed by the phagocytes. If phagocytic cells were prevented
      from accumulating at foci of liver infection by treatment of the mice with a
      monoclonal antibody (NIMP-R10) directed against the type 3 complement receptor of
      myelomonocytic cells, then lysis of hepatocytes failed to occur and bacteria
      proliferated unrestrictedly within them. Under these circumstances, otherwise
      sublethal infections became rapidly lethal. These findings strongly suggest that
      lysis of infected hepatocytes by phagocytic cells is an important general early
      defense strategy against liver infection with at least three different
      intracellular bacteria.

PMID- 1452351
TI  - Ovine pulmonary surfactant induces killing of Pasteurella haemolytica,
      Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae by normal serum.
AB  - Pulmonary surfactant has been shown to play an increasingly important role in
      bacterial clearance at the alveolar surface in the lung. This study describes a
      bactericidal mechanism in which ovine pulmonary surfactant induces killing of
      Pasteurella haemolytica by normal serum. To demonstrate killing, six bacterial
      species were incubated first with pulmonary surfactant for 60 min at 37 degrees C
      and then with serum for an additional 60 min at 37 degrees C. P. haemolytica type
      A1 strains 82-25 and L101, a P. haemolytica type 2 strain, Escherichia coli, and
      Klebsiella pneumoniae were susceptible and Pasteurella multocida, Serratia
      marcescens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were not susceptible to killing by ovine
      pulmonary surfactant and normal serum. No bacteria incubated with bovine
      pulmonary surfactant were killed by normal serum. Although the species origin of
      pulmonary surfactant was selective, the species origin of serum was not. P.
      haemolytica incubated with ovine pulmonary surfactant was killed by fetal calf
      serum, gnotobiotic calf serum, pooled normal sheep serum, pooled normal rabbit
      serum, and pooled guinea pig serum. Ultrastructurally, killed P. haemolytica
      suspensions contained dead cells and cells distorted with vacuoles between the
      cytoplasmic membrane and the cytoplasm. The mechanism of killing did not
      correlate with concentrations of complement or lysozyme or titers of residual
      antibody in either the pulmonary surfactant or the serum, and killing was reduced
      by preincubation of surfactant with P. haemolytica lipopolysaccharide.
      Preliminary characterization of both surfactant and serum implicate a low
      molecular-weight proteinaceous component in the surfactant and serum albumin in
      the serum. This mechanism may help clear certain gram-negative bacteria from the
      lungs of sheep as a part of the pulmonary innate defense system.

PMID- 1452352
TI  - Dual roles for class II major histocompatibility complex molecules in
      staphylococcal enterotoxin-induced cytokine production and in vivo toxicity.
AB  - The staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) specifically bind to class II major
      histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins, resulting in activation of monocytes
      and T cells. The SE cause weight loss in mice, which is dependent on T-cell
      stimulation and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production. Here we use a
      mutant of staphylococcal enterotoxin A that binds class II MHC molecules and
      activates monocytes but not T cells to evaluate the relative contributions of
      monocyte- and T-cell-stimulatory activities to in vivo toxicity. The mutant toxin
      did not cause weight loss in B10. BR mice but did stimulate monocyte TNF-alpha
      production in vitro, as did the wild-type toxin. Addition of a supernatant from
      toxin-activated T cells enhanced monocyte-stimulatory activity of both mutant and
      wild-type toxins fivefold. The effect of the supernatant could be mimicked by
      recombinant gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and was inhibited by antibody to IFN
      gamma. These results suggest that toxin-induced monocyte TNF-alpha production is
      upregulated by IFN-gamma, which likely represents the T-cell requirement in SE
      mediated weight loss. Our studies thus implicate two distinct class II MHC
      dependent signaling pathways for SE, the first involving direct signal
      transduction through class II MHC molecules mediated by either mutant or wild
      type toxin and the second requiring T-cell stimulation by toxin-class II MHC
      complexes with consequent production of IFN-gamma. We suggest that both pathways
      are required for optimal monocyte TNF-alpha production in vitro and SE-induced
      toxicity in vivo.

PMID- 1452353
TI  - Adherence of Legionella pneumophila to guinea pig peritoneal macrophages, J774
      mouse macrophages, and undifferentiated U937 human monocytes: role of Fc and
      complement receptors.
AB  - Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, is a
      facultative intracellular pathogen of alveolar macrophages. Although previous
      studies have demonstrated that specific antibody facilitates uptake of L.
      pneumophila by phagocytic cells, the role of complement has been unclear. Thus,
      we have examined the relative contributions of Fc gamma- and complement receptor
      mediated adherence to guinea pig peritoneal macrophages, U937 human monocytic
      cells, and J774 mouse macrophage cells. Opsonization of L. pneumophila
      (Philadelphia 2) with polyclonal immunoglobulin G promoted maximum adherence to
      guinea pig macrophages. In contrast, incubation in the presence of 20% fresh
      nonimmune human serum from a single donor did not promote adherence. The results
      obtained with U937 and J774 cells paralleled those obtained with guinea pig
      macrophages. In the absence of specific antibody, opsonization with guinea pig
      complement did not enhance adherence of the Philadelphia 1, Philadelphia 2, or
      Knoxville strain. However, when complement was added to heat-inactivated,
      specific antiserum, a fourfold increase in the number of adherent organisms was
      observed. Blocking studies utilizing membrane receptor-specific monoclonal
      antibodies demonstrated that both Fc and complement receptors mediated adherence
      of organisms treated with complement in the presence of specific antibody. These
      results suggest that complement augments adherence of L. pneumophila only when
      acting in concert with specific antibody.

PMID- 1452354
TI  - Streptococcal C5a peptidase is a highly specific endopeptidase.
AB  - Compositional analysis of streptococcal C5a peptidase (SCPA) cleavage products
      from a synthetic peptide corresponding to the 20 C-terminal residues of C5a
      demonstrated that the target cleavage site is His-Lys rather than Lys-Asp, as
      previously suggested. A C5a peptide analog with Lys replaced by Gln was also
      subject to cleavage by SCPA. This confirmed that His-Lys rather than Lys-Asp is
      the scissile bond. Cleavage at histidine is unusual but is the same as that
      suggested for a peptidase produced by group B streptococci. Native C5 protein was
      also resistant to SCPA, suggesting that the His-Lys bond is inaccessible prior to
      proteolytic cleavage by C5 convertase. These experiments showed that the
      streptococcal C5a peptidase is highly specific for C5a and suggest that its
      function is not merely to process protein for metabolic consumption but to act
      primarily to eliminate this chemotactic signal from inflammatory foci.

PMID- 1452355
TI  - Organization of aerobactin, hemolysin, and antibacterial resistance genes in
      lactose-negative Escherichia coli strains of serotype O4 isolated from children
      with diarrhea.
AB  - Epidemiologically related, non-lactose-fermenting (NLF) Escherichia coli strains
      of serotype O4 have been isolated at a high frequency from children with diarrhea
      in Somalia (M. Nicoletti, F. Superti, C. Conti, A. Calconi, and C. Zagaglia, J.
      Clin. Microbiol. 26:524-529, 1988). In order to define the virulence potential of
      these strains, we characterized the replication properties of their high
      molecular-weight plasmids and studied the genetic locations and organization of
      the aerobactin (aer) and hemolysin (hly) determinants encoded by 23 NLF O4 E.
      coli strains. Southern blot hybridizations, mobilization assays of nonconjugative
      plasmids, and incompatibility-exclusion experiments conducted with a conjugative
      incompatibility group FI (IncFI) plasmid showed that (i) 20 out of the 23 strains
      examined harbor a 160- to 180-kb IncFI plasmid that shares homology with the
      basic replicons RepFIA, RepFIB, and (except for the plasmid of one strain)
      RepFIC, and 22 strains also contain a 40- to 140-kb IncFII plasmid sharing
      homology with the RepFIIA replicon; (ii) the IncFI plasmid is nonconjugative and
      carries antibiotic resistance genes; (iii) the aer system is located on the IncFI
      plasmids and/or the chromosomes in the three strains not harboring IncFI, and it
      is found in an inverted orientation; (iv) the hly determinants are located on the
      chromosome, and their genetic organization is well conserved and closely
      resembles that of the reference hemolytic plasmid pHly152; and (v) Hly- mutants
      obtained by transposon insertion mutagenesis are not cytotoxic to HeLa cell
      monolayers, indicating that hemolysin is responsible for the high cytotoxic
      activity we have previously reported for these strains. The structural
      organization of the plasmid-encoded aer operon, together with the finding that
      those plasmids also carry antibiotic resistance genes, indicates that the IncFI
      plasmid of the NLF O4 E. coli strains studied more closely resembles aer-encoding
      virulence IncFI Salmonella R plasmids than E. coli ColV plasmids. The data
      presented here cannot rule out whether the strains examined are potentially
      intestinal or extraintestinal pathogens. Nevertheless, the genetic organization
      of the virulence genes, together with the epidemiological behavior and the wide
      spectrum of antibiotic resistance of the NLF O4 E. coli strains, indicates that
      these strains are structured as typical E. coli pathogenic isolates of human
      origin.

PMID- 1452356
TI  - Histological and immunocytochemical characterization of Coxiella burnetii
      associated lesions in the murine uterus and placenta.
AB  - The fetoplacental units and the postgravid uterus of BALB/cJ (H-2d) mice
      inoculated intraperitoneally with Coxiella burnetii (Nine Mile isolate, phase I)
      on day 6 of pregnancy were examined histologically and immunocytochemically at 1
      to 160 days postinoculation. Clinically, abortions, stillbirths, and perinatal
      deaths were observed. Histological lesions in the placenta were characterized by
      severe necrosis of the decidua basalis and the labyrinth, fibrinoid degeneration
      of decidual vessels, and microthrombosis. Pyometra and endometritis at the sites
      of previous placental attachment, characterized by ulceration, central necrosis,
      and moderate cellular infiltration consisting of neutrophils and macrophages,
      were observed postpartum. Pups sacrificed at the age of 9 days exhibited
      interstitial pneumonia with few granulomas and granulomatous hepatitis and
      splenitis. Immunocytochemically, antigen-bearing cells were first detected in the
      decidua 9 days postconception, and single immunopositive cells were detected in
      the fetal placenta 4 days later. Thereafter, until abortion or parturition,
      abundant accumulation of C. burnetii antigen was observed in the maternal and
      fetal compartments of the placenta. Up to 28 days postinoculation, many
      immunopositive cells were demonstrated at the sites of previous placental
      attachment, whereas the adjacent endometrium contained only a few antigen
      positive cells. C. burnetii antigen was demonstrated in decidual cells,
      trophoblasts, and macrophages and extracellularly within the sinuses of the
      labyrinth and in the uterine lumen but not in granulated metrial gland cells.
      Fetuses in utero and aborted, stillborn, or perinatally dying offspring were
      immunocytochemically negative for C. burnetii antigen; however, pups killed 9
      days after birth showed lesion-associated positive immunoreaction in the lung,
      liver, and spleen. The present study shows that infection with C. burnetii during
      pregnancy results in uncontrolled growth of the organism in the murine
      uteroplacental unit and that associated lesions are characterized by necrosis of
      placental tissues, fibrinoid degeneration of decidual vessels, and
      microthrombosis.

PMID- 1452357
TI  - Yersinia pestis YopM: thrombin binding and overexpression.
AB  - In previous studies, Yersinia pestis YopM has been shown through mutational
      analysis to be necessary for virulence in mice and found to have homology with
      the thrombin-binding domain of the platelet receptor GPIb alpha. In this study,
      YopM was purified and shown by dot blot and chemical cross-linking tests to bind
      to human alpha-thrombin. No cross-linked product could be detected when human
      prothrombin was incubated with YopM. As a functional test of thrombin binding, it
      was shown that native but not boiled YopM inhibits thrombin-induced aggregation
      of human platelets. Control tests showed that YopM did not inactivate the
      platelets themselves, nor was its effect a nonspecific consequence of its very
      acidic isoelectric point. Microsequencing of YopM revealed an intact N terminus,
      indicating that functional YopM is not processed at the N terminus or secreted by
      a mechanism involving a cleavable signal sequence. Further characterization was
      made of an interesting effect on yopM expression that had been noticed in a
      previous study. A 1.5-kb HaeIII subclone overexpressed YopM in both Y. pestis and
      Escherichia coli compared with a larger clone containing the 5.3-kb HindIII-F
      fragment. To search for a possible regulator of YopM expression, the HindIII-F
      fragment was sequenced, revealing several open reading frames and three large
      repeated sequences. Deletional analysis showed that these were not involved in
      regulation of yopM. The data implicated a DNA structure 5' to yopM in moderating
      yopM expression.

PMID- 1452358
TI  - Interleukin-8 is a major neutrophil chemotactic factor derived from cultured
      human gingival fibroblasts stimulated with interleukin-1 beta or tumor necrosis
      factor alpha.
AB  - Inflammatory mediators produced by cells in the gingiva have been implicated in
      the initiation and progression of periodontal disease, a common infectious
      disease. In this study, we examined the biological activity of neutrophil
      chemotactic factors and the kinetics of expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8) mRNA
      derived from normal gingival fibroblasts in response to inflammatory mediators in
      an in vitro model. Gingival fibroblasts stimulated by either recombinant human
      interleukin-1 beta or recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha produced
      neutrophil chemotactic factors after 4 h, whereas expression of cell-derived IL-8
      mRNA was detected within 1 h after stimulation. Furthermore, in a neutralization
      assay, rabbit anti-recombinant human IL-8 antiserum inhibited neutrophil
      chemotactic activity to basal levels. These results provide evidence that
      gingival fibroblasts synthesize potent chemotactic factors such as IL-8 in the
      presence of the inflammatory mediators interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis
      factor alpha. The activity of these factors may contribute to neutrophil-mediated
      processes in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease.

PMID- 1452359
TI  - Purification and characterization of the urease enzymes of Helicobacter species
      from humans and animals.
AB  - The urease enzymes of Helicobacter pylori, H. mustelae, H. felis, and H.
      nemestrinae have been purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography and
      characterized. The native urease enzymes of the four organisms were found to be
      almost identical, with a pI of 6.1 and molecular masses of 480 to 500 kDa, as
      determined by electrophoretic mobility in nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels.
      Transmission electron microscopy of the native urease showed it to be a molecule
      approximately 13 nm in diameter, with hexagonal symmetry. Denaturation studies
      indicated that each urease enzyme molecule was composed of two nonidentical
      subunits with molecular masses of approximately 64 and 30 kDa. The subunits were
      present in a 1:1 ratio, suggesting a hexameric stoichiometry for the native
      molecule. The predicted molecular mass of H. pylori urease, based on subunit
      molecular weight and stoichiometry, is 568 kDa. N-terminal amino acid sequencing
      of the enzyme subunits from the four species revealed high levels of homology.
      The large subunits (UreB) were found to be 92 to 100% homologous, and the small
      subunits (UreA) were 75 to 95% homologous over the first 12 to 20 residues. The
      high degree of homology suggests a common ancestral origin and an important role
      for the urease enzymes of these organisms.

PMID- 1452360
TI  - Clonal and antigenic analysis of serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis with
      particular reference to epidemiological features of epidemic meningitis in the
      People's Republic of China.
AB  - Representative strains of serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis were chosen from all
      major meningitis epidemics worldwide since 1960 and subjected to analysis for the
      electrophoretic variation of 15 cytoplasmic allozymes and four outer membrane
      proteins. The 290 strains defined 84 unique electrophoretic types which were
      classified in nine subgroups. Tests with monoclonal antibodies specific for
      conserved pilin epitopes showed that the class I, IIa, and IIb epitopes were
      uniform within the subgroups. Similarly, the subgroups were uniform for
      expression of different variable regions of class 1 outer membrane protein, with
      a few minor exceptions. Many of the bacteria tested were isolated in the People's
      Republic of China, and the epidemiology of Chinese epidemics of meningococcal
      meningitis is described. The analysis approaches a global description of epidemic
      meningitis caused by serogroup A meningococci in the past 30 years.

PMID- 1452361
TI  - Intestinal changes associated with expression of immunity to challenge with
      Eimeria vermiformis.
AB  - To provide more information on the mechanisms involved in the immune inhibition
      of eimeria infections, NIH mice were adoptively immunized against infection with
      Eimeria vermiformis by the transfer of mesenteric lymph node cells from primed
      animals and homologously challenged. Subsequent changes in the architecture and
      cellular composition of the intestine were compared with those observed in
      similarly challenged susceptible control mice and correlated with the development
      of the parasite in the two groups. Actively immunized mice were also examined. In
      adoptively immunized mice, the development of E. vermiformis was inhibited within
      3 days of administering the challenge inoculum. Concurrent changes in the
      intestine included lymphocytic infiltration, crypt hyperplasia, flattening of the
      crypt epithelium, and a reduction in the number of Paneth cells. Hyperplasia of
      goblet and pyroninophilic cells in response to challenge, although accelerated
      and enhanced in adoptively immunized hosts, occurred after the inhibition of the
      parasites, and mastocytosis was not observed in these animals, findings which
      suggest that the activities of goblet, pyroninophilic, and mast cells were not
      instrumental in reducing the numbers of parasites. The intestines of immunized
      mice contained fewer intraepithelial lymphocytes at the time of inhibition of the
      parasites than did those of the controls. The protective effects and intestinal
      changes described above did not differ appreciably from those seen after
      challenge of mice that had been immunized by infection.

PMID- 1452362
TI  - An 87-kilodalton glucan-binding protein of Streptococcus sobrinus B13.
AB  - An 87-kDa glucan-binding protein (GBP) of Streptococcus sobrinus B13 (serotype d)
      was isolated and purified from extracellular culture supernatant by using
      affinity chromatography on Sephadex G-50 and elution with a guanidine HCl
      gradient. Western blot (immunoblot) analysis showed it to be antigenically
      related, but not completely identical, to the 74-kDa GBP of Streptococcus mutans
      Ingbritt. The 87-kDa GBP has no glucosyltransferase activity. A possible role for
      this GBP in the cariogenicity of S. sobrinus B13 is suggested.

PMID- 1452363
TI  - Frequency of antigen-specific B cells during experimental ocular Chlamydia
      trachomatis infection.
AB  - Chlamydia-specific antibody-secreting cells have been identified in conjunctiva
      and draining cervical lymph nodes by an ELISPOT assay in a cynomolgus monkey
      model of trachoma. These local sites contained numbers of chlamydia-specific B
      cells that were higher than those in distant inguinal lymph nodes and peripheral
      blood. The numbers of chlamydia-specific immunoglobulin G-secreting B cells
      observed were 5 to 57 per 10(6) cells in conjunctiva and 24 to 996 per 10(6)
      cells in cervical lymph nodes during conjunctival infection or after challenge of
      immune monkeys with the chlamydial 57-kDa heat shock protein (hsp60). These
      studies demonstrate a large chlamydia-specific B-cell component in the
      conjunctiva during ocular chlamydial infection. These results are similar to our
      findings for chlamydia-specific T-cell responses.

PMID- 1452364
TI  - Studies with enteroaggregative Escherichia coli in the gnotobiotic piglet
      gastroenteritis model.
AB  - Two strains of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli of human origin fed to
      gnotobiotic piglets caused diarrhea or death in the majority of them.
      Histological examination revealed moderate hyperemia of the distal small
      intestine and cecum, swelling of small intestinal villi, and layers of aggregated
      bacteria stacked together in a mucus gel-like matrix overlying intact epithelium.
      These findings confirm that enteroaggregative E. coli strains produce distinctive
      intestinal lesions different from those caused by other major categories of
      diarrheagenic E. coli.

PMID- 1452365
TI  - Alteration of cytoplasmic Ca2+ in resting and stimulated human neutrophils by
      short-chain carboxylic acids at neutral pH.
AB  - The results reported here indicate that the short-chain carboxylic acids acetate
      and propionate stimulate cytoplasmic calcium mobilization in human
      polymorphonuclear leukocytes, while butyrate and lactate do not. Together with
      the results of previous work, this indicates that there are at least three
      classes of short-chain carboxylic acids: those which can alter only cytoplasmic
      pH (e.g., lactic acid), those which can alter cytoplasmic pH and actin (e.g.,
      butyric acid), and those which can alter cytoplasmic pH, actin, and calcium
      (e.g., acetate and propionate).

PMID- 1452366
TI  - Encystation of Giardia lamblia leads to expression of antigens recognized by
      antibodies against conserved heat shock proteins.
AB  - During in vitro encystation, Giardia lamblia expresses several stage-specific
      proteins which are recognized in immunoblots by antisera raised against antigens
      from three different pathogens. The antigens belong to two different families of
      conserved stress proteins: (i) HSP60 purified from Legionella pneumophila and
      recombinant HSP60 from Mycobacterium bovis BCG and (ii) recombinant HSP70 from
      Plasmodium falciparum.

PMID- 1452367
TI  - A bactericidal monoclonal antibody specific for the lipooligosaccharide of
      Bordetella pertussis reduces colonization of the respiratory tract of mice after
      aerosol infection with B. pertussis.
AB  - A mouse immunoglobulin G3 monoclonal antibody specific for the core
      oligosaccharide moiety of the lipooligosaccharide (LOS) of Bordetella pertussis
      has been shown to have complement-dependent bactericidal activity. This
      monoclonal antibody exhibits bactericidal activity against strains of B.
      pertussis that express the LOS A phenotype. In addition this monoclonal antibody
      was effective in reducing colonization by B. pertussis in both the lungs and
      tracheas of mice after aerosol infection.

PMID- 1452368
TI  - Effects of duration of pressure overload on the reversibility of impaired
      coronary autoregulation in rats.
AB  - The aim of this study was to determine the effects of duration of pressure
      overload on the reversibility of impaired coronary autoregulation in hypertropied
      hearts. The experiments were performed on 38 anesthetized male Wistar rats aged 6
      to 8 weeks. The ascending aorta was banded for 4 or 10 weeks, then in some rats
      the bands were removed for 4 weeks. We estimated coronary hemodynamics in a model
      consisting of isolated non-working hearts perfused with Tyrode's solution
      containing bovine red blood cells and serum albumin. Myocardial mass increased
      significantly in 4 and 10-week banded groups compared to controls. Four weeks
      after debanding in 4- and 10-week banded groups, the value returned to that of
      controls. Autoregulation gain was significantly lower in banded groups than in
      controls in the range between 50 and 100 mmHg of coronary perfusion pressure.
      Although the gain normalized in the debanded group after 4 weeks of banding, the
      value in the debanded groups after 10 weeks of banding remained less than zero
      between 25 and 150 mmHg of perfusion pressure. In transient flow response to a
      stepwise increase of perfusion pressure within the autoregulatory range, promptly
      increased flow was followed by more rapid and greater decrease in controls than
      in banded groups. The flow response regressed in the debanded group after 4 weeks
      of banding, while it remained unchanged in the debanded group after 10 weeks of
      banding. Thus, duration of pressure overload alters the regression of impaired
      coronary autoregulation in cardiac hypertrophy.

PMID- 1452369
TI  - Serum cortisol levels predict infarct size and patient mortality.
AB  - We have investigated prospectively the serum cortisol response to acute
      myocardial infarction in 70 consecutive patients admitted to a coronary care unit
      and we have shown that the levels are significantly raised early in the course of
      the illness and prior to elevation of the cardiac specific enzyme fraction,
      creatine kinase MB. The magnitude of the cortisol response is related to the size
      of the ensuing infarction (rs = 0.54) as calculated from the total creatine
      kinase MB release (P < 0.001) and very high levels (> 2000 mumol/l) are
      predictive of mortality (P < 0.05). Serum cortisol levels may have a role in the
      early identification of myocardial infarction and in predicting those patients
      with a poor prognosis.

PMID- 1452370
TI  - Non-invasive evaluation of cardiac abnormalities in heat stroke pilgrims.
AB  - Serial electrocardiograms as well as echocardiographic studies of 51 pilgrims
      suffering from acute heat stroke (mean rectal temperature 41.6 degrees C) were
      performed. All patients were examined immediately after cooling and 24 h later
      whenever possible. Regional wall motion abnormalities were detected in 9 cases
      (17.6%) while pericardial effusion was observed in 13 cases (25%) and
      asymmetrical septal hypertrophy was detected in 8 cases (15.6%). Other cardiac
      abnormalities included right ventricular dilatation and increased in left
      ventricular internal dimensions in 4 cases (7.8%), respectively. Thirteen cases
      (25.5%) had normal echocardiographic findings. Forty (78%) patients had sinus
      tachycardia while 8 cases (15.7%) showed atrial fibrillation with uncontrolled
      ventricular rate, and 3 (5.8%) had sinus bradycardia. Heat stroke
      electrocardiograms showed tracings demonstrating ST segment depression,
      compatible with ischaemia in 9 cases, while in 6 cases there were nonspecific T
      wave changes, whereas in another 4 cases the tracings demonstrated different
      conduction abnormalities. The collected data were analysed and compared to those
      of 43 control patients. The adverse effects of heat stroke on the heart are
      multifactorial requiring the utmost attention and understanding, as they reflect
      the patient's cardiovascular status.

PMID- 1452372
TI  - Acute myocardial ischemia resulting in dynamic obstruction to the left
      ventricular outflow relieved by successful angioplasty.
AB  - A patient was admitted because of an acute myocardial infarction which evolved
      with heart failure and postinfarction angina. A pattern consistent with dynamic
      left ventricular outflow obstruction was found. It disappeared after coronary
      angioplasty was performed on the vessel responsible for the ischemia.

PMID- 1452371
TI  - Right ventricular volumes and hemodynamics after successful orthotopic heart
      transplantation. A comparison to coronary artery disease using thermodilution.
AB  - Only few data exist concerning right ventricular function in the chronic stage
      after cardiac transplantation. Therefore, we investigated hemodynamic and right
      ventricular volumetric data by a computerized thermodilution Swan-Ganz catheter
      in 17 patients (median age: 53, range: 18-63 yr) at a median of 24 (4 to 44)
      months after cardiac transplantation during rest and supine bicycle exercise.
      Myocardial biopsy showed grade one or less according to the classifications of
      Billingham. Sixteen patients with coronary artery disease, but without prior
      myocardial infarction, served for comparison. While angiographic left ventricular
      ejection fraction was nearly identical in transplant recipients [77 (60-92)%,
      median (range)] and in patients with coronary artery disease [78 (64-94)%], right
      ventricular ejection fraction was lower (p < 0.001) in patients after cardiac
      transplantation [37 (16-58)%] as compared to patients with coronary artery
      disease [56 (46-62)%]. In transplant recipients right atrial pressure was
      significantly higher both at rest [10 (2-18) mmHg] and exercise [18 (8-30) mmHg]
      than in patients with coronary artery disease [5 (1-11) and 8 (3-18) mmHg].
      Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure behaved similar in both groups. To further
      evaluate reasons for right ventricular impairment, a correlation analysis was
      performed. This showed a negative correlation between right ventricular ejection
      fraction and the time interval after transplantation (p < 0.0002). However, there
      was no correlation between right ventricular ejection fraction and acute
      rejection or a rejection score. In conclusion, right ventricular function may be
      severely altered in transplant recipients, in contrast to an only slight
      impairment of left ventricular function.

PMID- 1452373
TI  - The impact of thrombolytic therapy on hospital mortality from acute myocardial
      infarction in the Chinese in Hong Kong.
AB  - Thrombolytic therapy using recombinant-tissue plasminogen activator, urokinase
      and streptokinase for acute myocardial infarction was instituted in the coronary
      care unit of the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong in 1988. To evaluate its
      impact on hospital mortality of acute myocardial infarction, the database of 465
      patients (mean age 65.2 +/- 12.6 yr) admitted into the coronary care unit in the
      period between 1985-1990 was collected prospectively and their clinical course
      reviewed. Three hundred and thirty-five patients were males and 130 were females.
      Patients in the prethrombolytic era (1985-87) and the thrombolytic era (1988-90)
      were matched for age, proportion of females and clinical severity. One hundred
      and two patients (39.5%) received thrombolytic therapy. The overall hospital
      mortality (18.6%) in the thrombolytic era and that for each sex (18.2% in the
      males; 19.5% in the females) were significantly lower than those of
      prethrombolytic era (27.1%, 23.4% and 37.7%, respectively). No death was due to
      bleeding complication. The benefit of thrombolytic therapies in the Chinese was
      confirmed. More effort is needed to popularize this concept in the Chinese
      communities, to shorten the prehospital delay of patients and to extend its
      utilisation to the elderly patients.

PMID- 1452374
TI  - Effect of diltiazem on silent ischemic episodes, plasma bradykinin and
      prostaglandin metabolism.
AB  - Plasma bradykinin and prostaglandin metabolism are related to the anginal pain
      modulating system in patients with ischemic heart disease. We carried out a
      placebo controlled single blind test of diltiazem (30 mg three times a day) in 15
      patients with chronic stable angina. The effect of diltiazem was evaluated by
      exercise treadmill testing and 48-h ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring.
      Plasma bradykinin, thromboxane B2, and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha levels were
      determined by radioimmunoassay prior to and during diltiazem therapy. Diltiazem
      significantly increased the exercise time and reduced episodes of angina.
      Diltiazem, however, did not appreciably improve either the frequency of silent
      myocardial ischemic episodes or the total duration of the silent myocardial
      ischemic episodes. Diltiazem also tended to decrease plasma bradykinin,
      thromboxane B2, and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha levels. When ischemic episodes
      on ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring are categorized according to heart
      rate change at the onset of episode (type A, preceded by heart rate increase > or
      = 5 beats/min; type B, no preceding heart rate increase), diltiazem was only
      effective on type A ischemic episodes as well as on symptomatic ischemia.
      Further, bradykinin was significantly decreased by diltiazem only in patients
      with exercise-induced silent ischemia or no exercise-induced ischemia, while the
      thromboxane B2/6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha ratio was unaffected by the
      administration of diltiazem. Thus, silent and symptomatic ischemia may be
      associated with different bradykinin and prostaglandin responses.

PMID- 1452375
TI  - Prodromal chest pains: clues to the pathogenesis of non-Q wave acute myocardial
      infarction?
AB  - Prodromal chest pains were recorded from consecutive admissions to a single
      coronary care unit and the symptoms of those with Q wave and non-Q wave acute
      myocardial infarction were compared. Of 809 admissions there were 201 with Q wave
      ad 88 with non-Q wave infarction. The non-Q wave infarction group was older,
      included more women and a greater proportion had suffered a previous myocardial
      infarct. Effort angina was equally common in both groups, but in the Q wave
      infarction group, angina was more often of recent onset, within the previous 4
      weeks. Symptoms to indicate worsening angina, more prolonged, intense or frequent
      pain, were equally common in both groups. These findings suggest that although
      the extent of coronary artery disease may differ, Q wave and non-Q wave
      myocardial infarction share a common pathogenic mechanism.

PMID- 1452376
TI  - Thrombolysis following pre-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
AB  - Forty-eight patients were discharged from hospital following successful
      resuscitation from out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation. Sixteen of these
      patients received intravenous thrombolytic therapy on admission to hospital.
      There were 3 significant bleeding complications and 2 cases of inappropriate
      administration of streptokinase. One of the patients that did not receive
      thrombolysis also had a significant bleeding complication of cardiopulmonary
      resuscitation. Patients admitted to hospital following resuscitation should only
      receive thrombolytic therapy when there is overwhelming electrocardiographic
      evidence of acute myocardial infarction, and even then with caution.

PMID- 1452377
TI  - Radiofrequency catheter ablation for treatment of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome-
      short- and long-term follow-up.
AB  - One hundred and twenty-five patients with accessory pathways mediated
      tachyarrhythmias underwent radiofrequency ablation. Right-sided accessory
      pathways were ablated from the atrial aspect of the tricuspid anulus (all from
      the femoral vein approach) and the left-sided accessory pathways were ablated
      from the atrial or ventricular aspect of the mitral anulus. Immediately after the
      procedures, 3 of 8 accessory pathways (38%) and 131 of 137 accessory pathways
      (95%) were ablated successfully with radiofrequency through a small-tip (2 mm)
      and a large-tip (4 mm) electrode catheter, respectively. Seven of the 11
      accessory pathways that failed radiofrequency ablation had a later successful
      direct current ablation. During follow-up (3 to 22 months), serial
      electrophysiological study showed that 11 of the 114 patients (10%) with
      successful ablation had return of accessory pathway conduction (2 had recurrence
      of tachycardia, 2%). Complications included accidental AV block (1 patient),
      cardiac tamponade (1 patient) and possible aortic dissection (1 patient).
      Transient proarrhythmic effects (more atrial and ventricular premature beats)
      were seen during the first week and sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias were
      not inducible. In a successful session, procedure and radiation exposure times
      (including the time for diagnostic procedures) were 3.8 +/- 0.2 h and 45 +/- 4
      min, respectively. This study confirms that radiofrequency ablation with a large
      tip electrode catheter is an effective and relatively safe nonsurgical method for
      treatment of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, with a low complication and
      recurrence rate.

PMID- 1452378
TI  - Acute and chronic performance of a steroid eluting electrode for ventricular
      pacing.
AB  - Studies have demonstrated consistently low stimulation thresholds in the first
      months following implantation of steroid eluting electrodes. There have been no
      reported cases of exit block. There is little information on the long-term
      performance of these leads. Data were collected on 15 patients in whom Medtronic
      steroid eluting leads (5023 and 4003) had been implanted in 1987. Stimulation
      thresholds were measured at implantation and at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 12.
      Stimulation threshold, lead impedance and sensing thresholds were monitored
      periodically for 3 yr using the telemetered function of the pulse generator.
      Three-month follow-up was obtained in all the patients and 3-yr follow-up in 10.
      Stimulation thresholds remained low throughout the follow-up period in all but
      one patient who developed exit block necessitating the replacement of the pacing
      system. In the remaining patients there was a significant increase in mean
      stimulation threshold from implantation to week 1 (mean stimulation threshold at
      implantation = 0.106 ms, mean ST at week 1 = 0.182 ms; p = 0.05), and also a
      gradual increase in the stimulation threshold over the first 2 yr of follow up
      (mean stimulation threshold 1 week = 0.182 ms, mean stimulation threshold months
      13-24 = 0.243 ms; p = 0.05). Lead impedance showed no significant change over the
      follow-up period (mean change in impedance = 4.3 omega, SD 163.2, p = 0.97).
      Unlike many conventional electrodes, steroid eluting leads show no early peak in
      stimulation threshold but exit block can occur. Stimulation thresholds show a
      small but significant rise over time.

PMID- 1452379
TI  - Biophysical parameters of radiofrequency catheter ablation.
AB  - Radiofrequency catheter ablation has been shown to be an effective treatment for
      patients with accessory pathways in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and other
      supraventricular tachycardias. However, the biophysical parameters used so far in
      vivo did not correlate to the size of myocardial lesions and provided no
      information about the myocardial wall contact of the electrode. In this study 104
      radiofrequency applications were performed on excised pig myocardium in
      circulating heparinized pig blood as well as in blood alone, and root mean square
      (rms) voltage, root mean square current and phase angle were measured using a
      specially developed device. The calculated effective power and output power
      differed by only 2-7% when measured at the point of maximum current during
      coagulation. A drop of current following a rise in impedance led to a phase
      displacement of more than 80 degrees and thereby to a drop of effective power to
      17% of the output power. Hence, apparent output power consists mainly of
      ineffective power. The time dependent variations of phase angle, impedance and
      current were found to be useful for distinguishing between the media blood and
      myocardium. These results show that physical parameters measured during
      radiofrequency catheter ablation may help to control electrode position in the
      clinical situation and reduce the number and duration of ineffective energy
      applications.

PMID- 1452380
TI  - Left ventricular function response to exercise in normotensive obese subjects:
      influence of degree and duration of obesity.
AB  - This study has been designed to evaluate whether duration and severity of obesity
      can influence left ventricular function response to exercise in obese subjects
      without other known cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes or
      hyperlipoproteinemia. A total of 29 obese subjects were included and they were
      divided, according to their body mass index and to Garrow's criteria as follows:
      Overweight or mildly obese subjects: body mass index from 25 to 30 kg/m2;
      moderately obese subjects: body mass index > 30 and < 40 kg/m2. Both obese groups
      were further subdivided according to their duration of obesity evaluated by
      accurate anamnesis in subgroup A (duration of obesity less than 120 months) and
      subgroup B (duration of obesity more than 120 months). Left ventricular ejection
      fraction was detected by blood pool gated radionuclide angiocardiography both at
      rest and after symptom-limited bicycle ergometer procedure. At peak exercise left
      ventricular ejection fraction increased significantly (p < 0.05) only in
      overweight subjects. Exercise produced an increase of left ventricular ejection
      fraction in 14 overweight and in 5 moderately obese subjects and a decrease in 2
      moderately obese subjects. At peak exercise mean heart rate and mean blood
      pressure increased significantly (p < 0.001) in both groups. When obese subjects
      were subgrouped according to duration of obesity, left ventricular ejection
      fraction increased significantly (p < 0.05) only in overweight subjects with
      duration of obesity less than 120 months. Duration of obesity correlated
      inversely with percent change in left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) at peak
      exercise (delta EF) (r = -0.59; p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452381
TI  - Antihypertensive effects of low doses of hydrochlorothiazide in hypertensive
      black Zimbabweans.
AB  - The antihypertensive effects of low doses of hydrochlorothiazide have not been
      examined in black African hypertensive patients although hydrochlorothiazide is
      commonly used as first-line therapy. The antihypertensive effects of
      hydrochlorothiazide in a daily dose of 6.25, 12.5, 25 and 50 mg were examined in
      19 black Zimbabwean hypertensive patients in a double-blind, random order,
      placebo-controlled, cross-over trial. The mean systolic blood pressure on placebo
      was 170.2 mmHg (95% CI +/- 9.0 mmHg) and on daily doses of hydrochlorothiazide
      decreased to: 161.1 mmHg (95% CI + 10.0 mmHg) on 6.25 mg; 156.6 mmHg (95% CI +/-
      8.6 mmHg) on 12.5 mg; 154.9 mmHg (95% CI +/- 8.5 mmHg) on 25 mg and 149.1 mmHg
      (95% CI +/- 9.2 mmHg) on 50 mg. The mean diastolic blood pressure on placebo was
      101.4 mmHg (95% CI +/- 5.0 mmHg) and decreased to: 98.0 mmHg (95% CI +/- 5.7
      mmHg) on 6.25 mg; 96.1 mmHg (95% CI +/- 4.5 mmHg) on 12.5 mg; 93.6 mmHg (95% CI
      +/- 5.3 mmHg) on 25 mg and 90.5 mmHg (95% CI +/- 3.9 mmHg) on 50 mg.
      Hydrochlorothiazide in doses of 25 mg and 50 mg decreased systolic and diastolic
      blood pressure and the 12.5 mg dose decreased systolic blood pressure
      significantly more than placebo. We conclude that in this population maximum
      antihypertensive effect is not seen with the lower doses of hydrochlorothiazide
      and 25 mg is an appropriate starting dose for most patients.

PMID- 1452382
TI  - Echocardiographic variables affecting surgical outcome in patients undergoing
      closed mitral commissurotomy.
AB  - We studied, by transthoracic cross-sectional echocardiography, the influence of
      subvalvar pathology on the early hemodynamic result of closed mitral
      commissurotomy in 132 patients with severe rheumatic mitral stenosis (56 males,
      76 females, mean age 25.2 yr, range 10-55) in our tertiary care hospital in North
      India from July 89 to December 91. The mitral subdistance ratio was calculated by
      dividing the distance between the papillary muscle tip and mitral valve in
      systole (apical 4-chamber view) by left ventricular diastolic length (apical long
      axis view). Nineteen patients with mild subvalvar pathology (mitral subdistance
      ratio > 0.18) and 71 patients with moderate, achieved a larger valve area (2.26
      cm2 SD 0.54) than 42 patients with severe subvalvar pathology (mitral subdistance
      ratio < 0.12, postoperative valve area 2.09 cm2 SD 0.6, p < 0.05). In addition, 9
      of these 42 patients (21%) developed significant mitral regurgitation (4 deaths),
      in contrast to 1/19 with mild and 6/71 with moderate subvalvar pathology. We
      conclude that echocardiography identifies patients with severe subvalvar
      pathology who fare poorly after closed mitral commissurotomy. However, this
      procedure would still be practised in developing countries like ours due to
      financial constraints.

PMID- 1452383
TI  - Simultaneous measurement of left atrial pressure by Doppler echocardiography and
      catheterization.
AB  - Simultaneous, continuous wave Doppler echocardiography, left ventricular systolic
      and mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure measurements were performed during
      cardiac catheterization in 54 patients with mitral regurgitation. Doppler-derived
      left atrial pressure, which was calculated by subtracting mitral regurgitant
      gradient from brachial artery systolic pressure, correlated well with mean
      pulmonary capillary wedge pressure by catheter (r = 0.933, SEE = 2.9 mmHg, P <
      0.001); a comparison between non-invasive and invasive systolic gradients across
      the mitral valve yielded a high correlation (r = 0.91, SEE = 6.0 mmHg, P <
      0.001); and there was also a high correlation between brachial artery and left
      ventricular systolic pressures (r = 0.93, SEE = 4.9 mmHg, P < 0.01). It is
      concluded that Doppler echocardiography provides a reliable and accurate method
      for complete non-invasive assessment of left atrial pressure in patients with
      mitral regurgitation.

PMID- 1452384
TI  - Left-atrium-to-right-ventricle shunting after surgery for atrioventricular septal
      defect: an unusual sequel detected by transesophageal echocardiography.
AB  - A 25-yr-old female who had undergone surgery for common atrium and
      atrioventricular septal defect at the age of 9, was found to have residual
      shunting at the level of the atrioventricular junction. Precordial
      echocardiography failed to assess the direction of the shunt. Transesophageal
      echocardiography showed dehiscence of the atrial patch at the level of the
      atrioventricular junction. Through this defect left-atrium-to right ventricle
      shunting occurred in diastole, whereas in systole the defect was closed by the
      juxtaposition of the anterior tricuspid valve leaflet.

PMID- 1452385
TI  - Right atrial thrombus in constrictive pericarditis.
AB  - We describe right atrial thrombus complicated by tricuspid valve obstruction in a
      patient with constrictive pericarditis. This report highlights the role of
      surgical thrombectomy, and the investigation of constrictive pericarditis to
      exclude intra-cardiac thrombus.

PMID- 1452386
TI  - Pericardial metastasis and effusion as the initial manifestation of malignant
      thymoma: identification by cross-sectional echocardiography.

PMID- 1452387
TI  - Hypoplastic right ventricle with mild pulmonary stenosis in an adult.
AB  - A rare cyanotic heart disease surviving to adulthood with minimal symptoms is
      presented. The final diagnosis was hypoplastic right ventricle with mild
      pulmonary stenosis, where the latter was not responsible for the right-to-left
      shunting across a large atrial septal defect. The differences from cases reported
      in the literature are highlighted.

PMID- 1452388
TI  - Multichamber intracardiac thrombi in a patient without any predisposing cardiac
      or non-cardiac disease.
AB  - A patient who developed multichamber (left ventricle, right ventricle, right
      atrium) intracardiac thrombi without having any predisposing cardiac or non
      cardiac disease is discussed. The thrombi were diagnosed echocardiographically
      and confirmed histopathologically. The occurrence of multichamber mural thrombi
      without any predisposing disease is extremely rare. Risk factors for their
      development have been reviewed.

PMID- 1452389
TI  - Coping and maintenance strategies of spontaneous remitters from problem use of
      alcohol and heroin in Switzerland.
AB  - A short review of the literature is followed by data from a Swiss study on
      spontaneous remission from problem use of alcohol and heroin conducted in 1988.
      The analysis of the collected life histories led to the identification of a
      motivation phase, a stage of decision implementation, and a struggle for
      maintenance as the major sequence of the autoremission process. The discussion
      focuses on the "tools" which remitters use to put their decision into practice.
      The coping mechanisms identified are "diversion," "self-monitoring," and
      "distancing." In relation to the maintenance phase, the perception of possible
      relapse situations and intuitive predictions of the subjects and collaterals are
      analyzed.

PMID- 1452390
TI  - Alcohol-related problems encountered by Japanese, Caucasians, and Japanese
      Americans.
AB  - Using population-based survey data, personal-problematic and socioproblematic
      factors were examined among Japanese in Japan, Japanese-Americans in Hawaii, and
      Japanese-Americans; Caucasians in California were analyzed as a control group.
      Caucasian males were more likely to exhibit drinking-related social problems,
      whereas Japanese males showed more personal-problematic symptoms. Japanese
      American men, both in Hawaii and California, were least likely among the three
      ethnic groups to have personal-problematic symptoms and were more likely to have
      socioproblematic symptoms than Japanese men. These differences might be explained
      by differences in the perception of social problems.

PMID- 1452391
TI  - Voluntary agencies dealing with drug and alcohol misusers: a comparison of three
      surveys conducted in London, Scotland, and Tasmania.
AB  - A comparison is presented of three independent surveys of voluntary agencies
      dealing with drug misusers in London, Scotland, and Tasmania. The comparison
      shows that in all three locations: (1) agencies demonstrate a recent and rapid
      growth, are predominantly small and rely on the commitment of a few workers, are
      heavily dependent on government funding and most funds are spent on salaries; (2)
      staff are largely unqualified and recently appointed, see their primary activity
      as counseling; and (3) clients are predominantly male. The community base of
      these agencies means wide variability in type of agency and creates problems in
      assessing success and in developing relationships between them and agencies in
      the statutory sector.

PMID- 1452392
TI  - Behavioral characteristics of seroconverted intravenous drug users.
AB  - A total of 440 participants (218 in 1987 and 222 in 1988) were recruited from
      methadone maintenance clinics in New York City. After obtaining informed consent,
      a standardized questionnaire was administered. Also, sera were collected and
      tested for HIV antibody. The overall HIV infection rate was 60% in 1987 and 52%
      in 1988. In 1987 and 1988, respectively, 19 of 23 and 23 of 40 participants who
      admitted to a previous HIV seronegative result were found to test HIV
      seropositive. The behavioral factors which differentiated suspected
      seroconverters from participants who remained seronegative were frequencies of
      sharing needles (p < .01), sharing cookers (p < .02), and use of shooting
      galleries (p < .05) during the last 5 years. Needle-sharing behaviors continue to
      be associated with HIV seroconversion among IVDUs. More effective education to
      stop needle sharing among IVDUs is needed.

PMID- 1452393
TI  - Outpatient care participation and six-month status: results with an inner city
      impoverished alcoholic veterans population.
AB  - One hundred and thirty-seven impoverished, inner city, predominately Black
      alcoholic veterans were divided into four groups based on the frequency of their
      attendance at an outpatient clinic. They were assessed 6 months after their
      joining the clinic. In general, many variables reflecting lessened alcohol
      consumption were connected with greater amounts of clinic attendance. In most
      instances a month or more of attendance at the clinic appeared necessary before
      the positive changes started to occur.

PMID- 1452394
TI  - Mortality associated with drug misuse among blacks in New York City, 1979-1981.
AB  - A comparison of age-specific death rates from "drug dependence" (ICD 304) among
      Blacks and Whites in New York City for 1979-1981 found two distinct patterns of
      mortality. Blacks have higher levels of mortality which extend from the central
      adult years into middle age while deaths among Whites are confined largely to the
      younger years (below 35). Among both racial groups, mortality is much higher for
      males than for females. When male undercount is "corrected," the ratios between
      male and female deaths are smaller. The difference in economic opportunities for
      Whites and Blacks is suggested as a reason why Whites "age out" of the years of
      highest risk before Blacks.

PMID- 1452395
TI  - Violence and illegal drug use among adolescents: evidence from the U.S. National
      Adolescent Student Health Survey.
AB  - The relationships between violence, drug use, and victimization were examined in
      a representative sample of American adolescents. The commonly used illegal drugs
      (marijuana, amyl/butyl nitrites, psychedelics, amphetamines, and cocaine) and
      alcohol were considered. Drug users, compared to nonusers, fought more, took more
      risks which predisposed them to assault, and were assaulted more both at school
      and outside school supervision. Adolescents who were victims at school were also
      more likely to be victimized outside of school supervision. This study clearly
      demonstrates that the aggressor may also be the victim, and that illegal
      drug/alcohol use is related to victimization.

PMID- 1452396
TI  - Does the codependent encourage substance-dependent behavior? Paradoxical
      injunctions in the codependent relationship.
AB  - It is argued that the paradoxical nature of the power structure within the
      codependent relationship places limits on the types of control strategies that
      codependents can utilize in their attempts to extinguish their partner's
      substance-dependent behavior. From a social exchange and learning theory
      perspective, it is argued that the types of control strategies that codependents
      utilize are not only ineffective, but they actually operate to strengthen the
      likelihood that substance misuse will be repeated in the future. Types of
      communication behaviors that codependents utilize in order to control are
      considered, along with ensuing implications for intervention.

PMID- 1452397
TI  - Alcohol and other drug use among adolescents with disabilities.
AB  - This study assessed the incidence rates of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use among
      a sample of five groups of adolescents: (1) nondisabled students, (2) learning
      disabled students, (3) behaviorally disordered/less aggressive students, (4)
      behaviorally disordered students, and (5) behaviorally disordered/self-contained
      students. The learning disabled, behaviorally disordered/less aggressive, and
      nondisabled students reported similar AOD use rates. The behaviorally
      disordered/self-contained students reported substantially more AOD use than the
      other groups. The behaviorally disordered students reported higher usage of some
      AODs, but the differences were not as dramatic as those of the behaviorally
      disordered/self-contained group.

PMID- 1452398
TI  - Effects of sodium valproate on the immune response.
AB  - The effects of long-term treatment with sodium valproate (VAL) on humoral
      immunity (Jerne plaque assay) and the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH)
      response of mice were studied. The resistance of treated animals to bacterial
      infection was also investigated. Various doses of sodium valproate were
      administered intraperitoneally (on alternate days) for periods of 1, 3 and 7
      weeks. Although treatment for 1 week produced no significant effect, VAL
      treatment (50 and 150 mg/kg/48 h) for periods of 3 and 7 weeks resulted in
      enhanced numbers of plaque-forming cells (PFC) per spleen and increased spleen
      weights (after 3 weeks treatment). In contrast, VAL pretreatment of spleen cells
      in vitro was without effect. Also, no effect of VAL on DTH was observed after 1
      or 3 weeks treatment (150 mg/kg/48 h).

PMID- 1452399
TI  - Anticomplementary activity of boswellic acids--an inhibitor of C3-convertase of
      the classical complement pathway.
AB  - Boswellic acids (BA), an anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic principle/s of
      Boswellia serrata, were found to possess anticomplementary activity. It inhibits
      the in vitro immunohaemolysis of antibody-coated sheep erythrocytes by pooled
      guinea-pig serum. The reduced immunohaemolysis was found to be due to inhibition
      of C3-convertase of the classical complement pathway. The threshold concentration
      for inhibiting C3-convertase was found to be 100 micrograms. However, higher
      concentrations of BA showed constant inhibitory effects on immunohaemolysis. BA
      also exhibited weak inhibitory effects on individual components of the complement
      system. In vivo administration of BA also showed the inhibitory effect on guinea
      pig serum.

PMID- 1452400
TI  - Modification of spleen cell subsets by chronic cocaine administration and murine
      retrovirus infection in normal and protein-malnourished mice.
AB  - We have developed an experimental mouse model to study the effect of daily
      cocaine administration on the immune system during an acquired immune deficiency
      syndrome (AIDS). Mice were infected with LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus, a
      retrovirus which causes immunosuppression with the development of functional
      murine AIDS. Increasing doses of cocaine given by daily intraperitoneal injection
      for 11 weeks reduced body weight. A daily cocaine injection in some mice as well
      as a saline injection in others showed a decrease in the percentage of Thy 1.2+,
      CD4+ and CD8+ cells, while both treatments increased the percentage and absolute
      numbers of B-cells per spleen. Saline and cocaine treatment induced an increase
      in gamma-IFN and TNF-alpha production by splenocytes. Cocaine treatment favored a
      decrease in sIL-2R secretion. Saline and cocaine treatment had slightly different
      effects on the splenocytes of protein-malnourished mice. Cocaine treatment
      induced an increase in the percentage of CD8+ cells. Saline and cocaine
      treatments decreased the number of Mac 1+ cells in the spleen. Moreover, saline-
      and cocaine-treated protein-malnourished mice splenocytes did not present the
      increase in gamma-IFN production as well-nourished mice splenocytes showed.
      Retrovirus-infected mice showed a decrease in the percentage of Thy 1.2+ and CD8+
      cells and an increase in the percentage and absolute numbers of CD4+, IL-2R+, Mac
      1+ and B-cells. Cocaine partially prevented the enlargement of lymphoid organs
      due to lymphoid cell proliferation induced by murine retrovirus infection, but
      had little effect on the elevated percentage of CD4+ cells or B-cells or the
      depressed numbers of CD8+ cells associated with virus infection. However, cocaine
      did reduce the number of activated IL-2R+ cells and macrophages (Mac 1+) in
      addition to reducing the total number of cells per spleen in all subsets in
      retrovirus-infected mice, but not in uninfected controls. Cocaine treatment and
      retrovirus infection alone or in combination suppressed the release of sIL-2R
      into supernatant fluid during in vitro culture of splenocytes. These data
      illustrate that cocaine treatment modulates cell proliferation in retrovirus
      infected mice and thus modifies the absolute number of cells in those subsets
      already altered by retrovirus infection. Retrovirus-infected and retrovirus
      infected cocaine-treated protein-malnourished mice showed similar results.

PMID- 1452401
TI  - Drug-induced modulation of IL-2 production in experimental murine
      trypanosomiasis.
AB  - In this study we evaluated the effects of N-acetyl-cysteine and indomethacin in
      restoring IL-2 producing ability in vitro of splenocytes from mice infected with
      Trypanosoma equiperdum. Spleen cells from these mice were found to produce
      significantly lower levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in response to mitogen
      stimulation than spleen cells from uninfected control mice. This was accompanied
      by considerable suppression of IL-2-receptor expression, which was not
      attributable to the elimination of a particular T-cell subset. Impairment of IL-2
      production was not due to a primary defect in L3T4+ T-cells, but rather to the
      presence of both adherent and non-adherent suppressor cells that apparently acted
      via prostaglandin-independent and dependent mechanisms. In fact, the IL-2
      producing ability of lymphocytes from infected mice could be efficiently restored
      by in vitro exposure to N-acetyl-cysteine or indomethacin.

PMID- 1452402
TI  - Suppression of T-lymphocyte proliferation by sulphonamide hydroxylamines.
AB  - Hypersensitivity adverse drug reactions, characterized by fever and multi-organ
      involvement, are the most severe adverse reactions to sulphonamides. Although
      there is evidence that these reactions are initiated by metabolic events, these
      reactions appear to be propagated on an immune basis. We investigated the effect
      of a sulphonamide reactive metabolite, the hydroxylamine of sulphamethoxazole
      (SMX H/A), on the ability of T-lymphocytes to respond to stimulation with
      mitogens. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected and incubated
      with SMX H/A in increasing concentrations. PBMCs were then incubated with
      phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or with PHA and
      ionomycin. T-lymphocyte proliferation was then determined by tritiated thymidine
      uptake. The hydroxylamine of sulphamethoxazole produced a concentration-dependent
      decrease in T-lymphocyte proliferation; this decrease was significant even at
      concentrations of hydroxylamine that were not associated with a decrease in cell
      viability. PBMCs incubated with SMX H/A that were washed and then added to fresh
      PBMCs failed to inhibit the proliferation of fresh PBMCs. The hydroxylamine of
      sulfamethoxazole produces profound suppression of T-lymphocyte proliferation.
      This suppression appears to be a direct event and does not involve the activation
      of suppressor cells. These findings may explain the infectious complications
      contributing to mortality associated with sulphonamide hypersensitivity
      reactions.

PMID- 1452403
TI  - Selective inhibition of T-cell-dependent immune responses by
      bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids in vivo.
AB  - The bisbenzylisoquinoline (BBI) alkaloids, chondocurine, tetrandrine,
      isotetrandrine and cepharanthine, were tested for immunosuppressive activity in
      mice. A plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to a T-cell-dependent antigen, sheep
      red blood cell, was significantly suppressed by a 7 day treatment of chondocurine
      or tetrandrine at 1 mg/kg/day and of isotetrandrine at 50 mg/kg/day, but not
      suppressed by cepharanthine treatment. The suppressive effect of chondocurine was
      greater when it was given after immunization rather than before or concurrently.
      However, it did not affect the PFC response to a T-cell-independent antigen,
      lipopolysaccharide. A delayed-type hypersensitivity was also suppressed by
      chondocurine treatment. There was no significant change in lymphocyte number and
      proportion of T-cell subsets in the BBI alkaloid-treated mice. These data suggest
      that there is selective inhibition by chondocurine and tetrandrine of the T-cell
      dependent immune reactions.

PMID- 1452404
TI  - Immunomodulatory effects of neem (Azadirachta indica) oil.
AB  - Immunomodulatory effects of neem oil were studied in mice. The animals were
      treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with neem oil; control animals received the
      emulsifying agent with or without peanut oil. Peritoneal lavage, collected on
      subsequent days, showed a maximum number of leukocytic cells on day 3 following
      treatment with neem oil; peritoneal macrophages exhibited enhanced phagocytic
      activity and expression of MHC class-II antigens. Neem oil treatment also induced
      the production of gamma interferon. Spleen cells of neem oil-treated animals
      showed a significantly higher lymphocyte proliferative response to in vitro
      challenge with Con A or tetanus toxoid (TT) than that of the controls. Pre
      treatment with neem oil, however, did not augment the anti-TT antibody response.
      The results of this study indicate that neem oil acts as a non-specific
      immunostimulant and that it selectively activates the cell-mediated immune (CMI)
      mechanisms to elicit an enhanced response to subsequent mitogenic or antigenic
      challenge.

PMID- 1452405
TI  - Immunotoxicity of subchronic versus chronic exposure to aldicarb in mice.
AB  - In this study we compared the immunotoxicity of subchronic vs chronic exposure to
      the aldicarb insecticide at a relatively low, 0.1-10 ppb, level in drinking
      water. The immunotoxicity of aldicarb was evaluated in 28- and 90-day studies by
      determination of the humoral, cellular and nonspecific immunity in inbred C57BL/6
      mice. Quantification of splenic plaque-forming cells (PFC) to sheep erythrocytes
      (SRBC), mitogen activation of spleen lymphocytes, mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR)
      and the cytofluorometric assay of the phagocytic uptake of fluorescent beads were
      among the parameters studied. Neither the cell viability nor the splenic cell
      count was affected by the insecticide exposure. Immunophenotyping and cytometric
      determination of L3T4+, Lyt2+ and Ig+ cells revealed no effect of the insecticide
      exposure on the total count of cell subsets in the ungated splenocyte population.
      However, a marked shift in the percentages of L3T4+ and Lyt2+ cells was noted
      after subchronic exposure to 1 and 10 ppb aldicarb, possibly indicating
      activation of these splenic T-cell subsets. Subchronic aldicarb exposure
      significantly suppressed the splenic PFC response to SRBC at 1 ppb dose, however,
      no dose-effect correlation could be concluded. Similarly, no dose-effect
      correlation was observed for subchronic aldicarb-related changes in mitogen
      responses. Subchronic exposure to aldicarb had no statistically significant
      effect on the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) or on the macrophage phagocytosis.
      Chronic exposure to 0.1-10 ppb aldicarb did not affect any of the parameters
      measured, including the cell subsets. Thus, aldicarb-related changes in immune
      parameters, noted after a 28-day exposure, were compensated over chronic exposure
      to the insecticide.

PMID- 1452406
TI  - Cocaine augments proliferation of human peripheral blood T-lymphocytes activated
      with anti-CD3 antibody.
AB  - Previously we observed that cocaine can suppress the phytohemagglutinin-induced
      proliferation of cultured, purified human T-lymphocytes. However, because the
      receptor activation pathways stimulated by this mitogen are not fully understood,
      we decided in the present study to examine the effects of cocaine on T-lymphocyte
      cultures stimulated with the anti-CD3 antibody which is known to stimulate these
      cells through the T-cell receptor complex. The results show that cocaine augments
      T-lymphocyte proliferation to anti-CD3 stimulation at drug concentrations
      observed in the blood of cocaine abusers. This augmentation was dose dependent
      reaching a plateau at a concentration above 0.75 microM. The amount of
      interleukin-2 (IL-2), as measured by ELISA, in the supernatants of T-cell
      cultures and the level of cytosolic free-calcium (Ca2+) mobilization in the T
      cells were also increased at approximately the same concentrations that increased
      proliferation. Cocaine treatment alone had no effects on proliferation, IL-2
      production, or Ca2+ mobilization. These results suggest that cocaine augments
      proliferation of human T-lymphocytes when the cells are activated through the T
      cell receptor complex by increasing cytosolic Ca2+ mobilization and subsequent IL
      2 production.

PMID- 1452407
TI  - Effects of 2-mercaptoethanol and buthionine sulfoximine on cystine metabolism by
      and proliferation of mitogen-stimulated human and mouse lymphocytes.
AB  - Cysteine is an essential amino acid for lymphocytes and its anabolic products are
      intimately involved in lymphocyte activation. The purpose of this study was to
      assess the uptake and subsequent utilization of cyst(e)ine by mitogen-stimulated
      human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), to evaluate the effect of an
      exogenous thiol, 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME), on these processes, and to compare
      human and mouse lymphocyte reactivities. Unlike mouse lymphocytes, the
      proliferation of human T-cells was inhibited by addition of 2ME although 2ME
      enhanced cystine uptake. Optimal responses to T-cell mitogens (Con A and PHA)
      were obtained with a cystine concentration of greater than or equal to 25 and 200
      microM for human and mouse cells, respectively, and 2ME enhanced DNA synthesis of
      Con A-stimulated mouse cells regardless of the cystine dose; however, 2ME
      enhanced the response of human cells only in the presence of suboptimal doses of
      cystine. To assess whether 2ME's inability to enhance human PBMC responses was
      related to their glutathione (GSH) content, the human PBMC were pretreated with
      buthionine sulfoximine (BSO, an inhibitor of GSH synthesis). Even when the
      initial intracellular GSH concentration was lowered to below that of mouse
      lymphocytes, 2ME still inhibited proliferation. In contrast, addition of 2ME to
      human PBMC maintained in the presence of BSO enhanced the proliferative response
      suggesting that a critical level of thiols is needed for proliferation. The
      ability of 2ME to enhance proliferative responses in cystine deficient medium
      supports this contention. Consistent with thiol involvement in activation, Con A
      increased [35S]cystine uptake 2-fold within 4 h of incubation and enhanced
      subsequent conversion of cystine into cysteine and GSH. Interestingly, BSO
      treatment only slightly inhibited Con A-induced protein synthesis (5%), but it
      significantly suppressed conversion of cystine into cysteine or GSH (80-95%) and
      blocked DNA synthesis (90%). Overall, the results indicate that various
      differential thiol characteristics must exist between human and mouse lymphocytes
      and that a reducing equivalent is necessary for DNA synthesis but not lymphocyte
      activation.

PMID- 1452408
TI  - Normal development of lymphokine activated killing (LAK) in peripheral blood
      lymphocytes from hyperprolactinemic patients.
AB  - The effect of prolactin on the interleukin 2 (IL2)-driven development of
      Lymphokine Activated Killing (LAK) by normal PBL and by PBL from
      hyperprolactinemic patients was investigated. Concentrations of PRL corresponding
      to the physiological serum levels of the hormone and to the Kd of the PRL
      receptors on NK cells (6-20 ng/ml, 0.3-1 nM) had no effect on the generation of
      LAK activity by normal PBL, whereas 100-200 ng/ml were slightly, although
      significantly, inhibitory. By contrast, PBL from 16 hyperprolactinemic patients
      developed levels of LAK activity comparable with those generated by PBL from age-
      and sex-matched normoprolactinemic donors.

PMID- 1452409
TI  - Experimental model of autoimmune hemolytic anemia induced in mice with levodopa
      by intraperitoneal injection or oral feeding.
AB  - In this paper we describe a murine experimental model of autoimmune hemolytic
      anemia induced with multiple injections or oral feeding of levodopa. Strain A
      mice were intraperitoneally injected or fed with levodopa, at a dose equivalent
      to the one used in human therapy, and subsequently they developed cycles of IgM,
      IgG and IgA anti-mouse red blood cells (MRBC) autoantibody responses. Levodopa
      injection induced serum IgM and IgG anti-MRBC responses and levodopa feeding
      enhanced the serum anti-MRBC IgA response. The appearance of autoantibodies in
      the serum was followed by binding of the autoantibodies to mice erythrocytes and
      three phases of anemia. Red cell bound IgM and IgG autoantibodies were
      predominant in levodopa-injected mice whereas red cell bound IgA autoantibodies
      were predominant in levodopa-fed mice. The specificity of the serum IgA
      autoantibody was not restricted since it interacted with erythrocytes of various
      species.

PMID- 1452410
TI  - Potentiation of immune responses in mice by a new inosine derivative--methyl
      inosine monophosphate (MIMP).
AB  - Inosine 5'-methyl monophosphate (MIMP) is a new immunomodulator designed to
      improve upon the activity of other thymomimetic purines. In Balb/c mice, MIMP was
      assessed for toxicity and activity on immune responses. The lethal dose for half
      the mice (LD50) exceeded 500 mg/kg of body weight by both the parenteral and oral
      routes. At doses of 1-100 mg/kg, the mice showed no visible untoward effects. The
      antibody response of splenocytes to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) was measured by IgM
      plaque-forming cells (PFC) in soft agar under optimal conditions of immunization
      and challenge. MIMP (1-100 mg/kg) was given by both the intraperitoneal and oral
      routes (gavage) at the time of SRBC injection and 4 days thereafter. The PFC
      response was found to be significantly augmented. The maximum effect
      (approximately 2x) was observed at 50 and 100 mg/kg, via intraperitoneal (i.p.)
      and oral routes, respectively. Increases (maximally 1.5x) in the responses of
      splenic lymphocytes to mitogen stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and
      concanavalin A (Con A) were observed under similar conditions of MIMP treatment.
      SRBC-induced delayed-hypersensitivity (DTH) was also measured under optimal
      conditions. By both i.p. and oral routes, enhancement of DTH response was
      produced by the lower doses of MIMP (0.01-1 mg/kg). Again, a second peak of
      optimum stimulation of DTH response was produced by 50 mg/kg of MIMP when
      administered by both routes. The effect was observed mainly on the sensitization
      rather than on the expression phase. MIMP qualifies as an effective
      immunopotentiator in normal mice.

PMID- 1452411
TI  - Identification of immunoreactive forms of thymosin alpha 1 in serum and
      supernatants by combining HPLC and RIA.
AB  - Thymosin alpha 1 (T alpha 1) is a biologically active peptide, originally
      isolated from the thymus and currently undergoing clinical trials as an
      immunomodulator in cancer patients, in individuals with chronic active hepatitis,
      and as an immunoenhancer of vaccines in immunocompromised individuals. Absorption
      of rabbit antibody to thymosin alpha 1 with a synthetic C-14 fragment of T alpha
      1 results in an antiserum with increased affinity for the amino terminal region
      of T alpha 1 and the precursor protein prothymosin alpha (ProT alpha). Using HPLC
      methodologies, the predominant form of immunoreactivity in serum and thymus was T
      alpha 1 not the precursor. Using this assay we detected a decline in mouse serum
      T alpha 1 following irradiation but not thymectomy, an observation consistent
      with the existence of an important radiation sensitive lymphoid source of serum T
      alpha 1. The secretion of authentic T alpha 1 but not the precursor into culture
      medium by thymic epithelial cells as well as in mitogen-stimulated peripheral
      blood lymphocytes was also demonstrated by HPLC/RIA. HPLC analysis by molecular
      weight sizing columns demonstrated that unlike thymic epithelial cells or
      peripheral blood lymphocytes, the immunoreactive T alpha 1 (IRT alpha 1) form in
      the supernatants from tumor cells such as MCF-7 breast carcinoma was of a lower
      molecular weight than authentic T alpha 1. These studies suggest that the
      authentic form of T alpha 1 is the major immunoreactive form in normal serum and
      that it is secreted by the medullary thymic epithelial cells as well as by
      peripheral blood lymphocytes. An additional immunoreactive form, secreted by
      tumor cells has also been identified and is the subject of future studies.

PMID- 1452412
TI  - In vitro and ex vivo effect of tiaprofenic acid on human peripheral blood
      mononuclear cells.
AB  - The effect of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) tiaprofenic acid
      on different human immune parameters was investigated in vitro or following in
      vivo administration in healthy adult volunteers. Results from the in vitro study
      demonstrated an increased mitogen-induced blastogenesis and interleukin 2 (IL-2)
      production together with a reduced polyclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion in
      the presence of the drug. Results from the ex vivo study showed that treatment
      with tiaprofenic acid had no significant effects on the immune parameters
      investigated, i.e. unstimulated and mitogen-induced proliferation and IL-2
      production, spontaneous and stimulated Ig synthesis, lymphocyte subpopulations,
      serum Ig and complement levels.

PMID- 1452413
TI  - Peptides and their constituent amino acids influence the immune response and
      phagocytosis in different ways.
AB  - To elucidate the role of immunoactive amino acids (which are capable of
      stimulating the immune response) in the peptide regulation of antibody production
      and phagocytic processes we have studied the influence of some fragments of
      natural peptides and the amino acids included in them on the thymus-dependent
      immune response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and on the phagocytosis of
      Staphylococcus by murine peritoneal neutrophils. It has been found that the
      effects of amino acids, as well as of peptides that they form, on the immune
      response and on phagocytosis were diverse. Glutamic and aspartic acids, threonine
      and valine stimulated both the immune response and phagocytosis. Glycine and
      isoleucine influenced neither the immune response nor phagocytosis, whereas
      lysine, proline, tyrosine and leucine did not influence the immune response, but
      enhanced the phagocytic activity of neutrophils. Arginine inhibited the immune
      response but stimulated phagocytosis. Peptide TTKD section (the fragment 77-80 of
      murine Thy-1-antigen) contained in C- and N-terminus amino acids (T and D) which
      stimulated the antibody production and phagocytosis, and lysine (K) which
      stimulated phagocytosis only, enhanced both processes. Peptides LGIP and PYIK
      (the fragments 49-53 and 66-69 of murine Thy-1 antigen) which contained both
      immunologically inert amino acids (L, G, I, P, Y, K) and phagocytosis stimulating
      amino acids (L, Y, P, K) influenced neither the immune response nor the
      phagocytic activity of neutrophils.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452414
TI  - Anti-CD3-induced T-cell activation in vivo--I. Flow cytometric analysis of dose
      responsive, time-dependent, and cyclosporin A-sensitive parameters of CD4+ and
      CD8+ cells from the draining lymph nodes of C57Bl/6 mice.
AB  - An in vivo model to assess the effects of chemicals on T-cell activation has been
      characterized and validated using the immunosuppressive drug, cyclosporin A
      (CsA). The dose response and kinetic effects of the hamster anti-mouse monoclonal
      antibody 145-2C11 (anti-CD3) on various parameters of T-cell activation were
      examined in cells from the draining popliteal and inguinal lymph nodes of C57Bl/6
      mice. Parameters of anti-CD3-induced T-cell activation included 3H-TdR
      incorporation (+/- recombinant murine IL-2), and flow cytometric analysis of CD3
      and IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression on CD4+ and CD8+ cells. Increases in the
      percentage of lymphocyte subsets in the S/G2M phase of the cell cycle and total
      cell recovery following anti-CD3 are also reported. Increased 3H-TdR
      incorporation was maximal over a dose range of 0.25-25 micrograms anti-CD3, while
      maximal increases in the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ cycling occurred after a
      dose of 2.5 micrograms anti-CD3. At 24 h after anti-CD3 treatment, CD3 expression
      on both CD4+ and CD8+ cells was dose dependently down-modulated while IL-2R
      expression and IL-2-driven 3H-TdR incorporation were dose dependently increased.
      In addition, total cell recovery increased at 24 h and correlated with an
      increase in the percentage of B220+ cells present in the lymph nodes. There was a
      corresponding decrease in the percentage of Thy 1.2+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells. No
      increase in cycling of B220+ cells was observed, suggesting an influx of B220+
      cells into the node rather than proliferation. Elevation in 3H-TdR incorporation
      occurred as early as 4 h after anti-CD3 treatment, while increases in the
      percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ cells cycling were not apparent until 24 h. At 48 h,
      the percentage of CD8+ cells cycling doubled while the percentage of CD4+ cells
      cycling remained constant. Down-modulation of CD3 expression on CD4+ and CD8+
      cells was apparent as early as 1 h after treatment with less than 10% of CD4+ and
      CD8+ cells expressing CD3 by 12 h. Induction of IL-2R expression and IL-2-driven
      3H-TdR incorporation was maximal at 12 h after anti-CD3. The immunosuppressive
      drug, CsA (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg, i.p.) decreased anti-CD3-induced 3H-TdR
      incorporation. Concurrently, anti-CD3-induced increases in the percentage of CD4+
      and CD8+ cells cycling were inhibited by CsA. Likewise, IL-2 responsiveness and
      IL-2R expression on both T-cell subsets were inhibited by CsA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1452415
TI  - Macular oedema and retinal neovascularisation in juvenile diabetics.
AB  - Thirteen young diabetic patients with peripheral capillary non perfusion who
      presented with symptoms of mild maculopathy were reviewed retrospectively. In
      this group, peripheral retinal ischaemia was often overlooked and a rapidly
      progressive proliferative retinopathy developed. Fluorescein angiography of the
      peripheral retina showed capillary closure, but with preservation of arterioles
      and venules. In this series, half of the eyes lost vision. In seven eyes where
      the peripheral ischaemia was treated by pan retinal photocoagulation, the
      maculopathy resolved without any specific laser treatment to the macula. In young
      diabetics presenting with maculopathy, the peripheral retina should be examined
      for ischaemia, and if present, pan retinal laser photocoagulation should be
      performed. Focal treatment for the macular disease can be delayed until after the
      peripheral photocoagulation, as the maculopathy may remit.

PMID- 1452416
TI  - Xerophthalmia clinics in rural eye camps.
AB  - Even though the primary prevention of many eye diseases can be effectively
      incorporated into the existing pattern of rural eye camps, efforts in this
      direction are restrained and insubstantial. We describe our technique and
      experience in the prevention of xerophthalmia by organising a distinct entity
      called a xerophthalmia clinic in our eye camps. The clinic consists of an
      Ophthalmologist or an Ophthalmic assistant who will exclusively examine children
      who come to the eye camp. This is perhaps, the first report on rural
      xerophthalmia clinics, in ophthalmic literature. Over a seven year period from
      1984 to 1990 we have conducted 71 xerophthalmia clinics amongst the ninty eye
      camps organised. A total of 11,370 children were examined in the xerophthalmia
      clinic out of which 18.9% were afflicted with the disease. Therapeutic doses of
      Vitamin A were administered on the spot to the afflicted and prophylactic doses
      were administered to the rest. Intensive health education efforts are made
      through clinics to effectuate change in dietry habits towards consumption of
      locally grown DGLV (Dark Green Leafy Vegetables) like Anthenum, chenopodium and
      Amaranthus. A bipronged offensive consisting of mega-dosing and health education
      is, for the present and the foreseeable future, the best strategy to combat
      xerophthalmia in this desert region. A year by year breakdown of prevalence rates
      in the present study shows that in years of severe drought the prevalence of
      xerophthalmia increases three fold over the non-drought or mild drought years,
      thereby demonstrating that drought is a substantial risk factor in developing
      countries leading to vitamin A deficiency and xerophthalmia.

PMID- 1452417
TI  - Anti-retinal S-antigen antibodies in human sera: a comparison of reactivity in
      ELISA with human or bovine S-antigen.
AB  - Various studies have demonstrated anti-retinal S-antigen (S-ag) antibodies in
      uveitis sera in assays using bovine S-ag. Because of its molecular similarity and
      cross-reactivity with human S-ag, reactions with bovine S-ag have been considered
      a reliable indication of anti-S-ag autoimmunity. To test this assumption, the
      cross-reactivity of purified human and bovine S-ags was quantitated by ELISA
      titration of various anti-human and anti-bovine S-ag immune reagents raised in
      mice, rats and rabbits. Anti-human S-ag reagents appeared to be largely cross
      reactive with bovine S-ag, whereas anti-bovine S-ag reagents were 6-10 times less
      reactive with the cross-reacting human S-ag than with bovine S-ag, thus showing a
      predominant role of species-specific epitopes on bovine S-ag. Furthermore, a
      large number of human control and uveitis sera was tested in ELISA with both
      human S-ag- and bovine S-ag-coated microwells. Both the numbers of positive sera
      and the levels of anti-S-ag antibodies in the two tests significantly correlated,
      but many exceptions were found, and the predictive value of reactions with bovine
      S-ag for the presence and levels of anti-S-ag autoantibodies was low. For
      individual human sera, assessment of anti-S-ag autoantibodies requires the use of
      human S-ag in immunoassays.

PMID- 1452418
TI  - Retinal toxicity of intravitreal lazaroid (21-aminosteroid U75412E).
AB  - The 21-aminosteroids or lazaroids are a novel series of compounds being developed
      for the acute treatment of traumatic or ischemic injury of the nervous system.
      These compounds were specifically designed to localize within cell membranes and
      inhibit lipid peroxidation reactions. In this study, 21-aminosteroid U75412E was
      injected into the vitreous body of rabbit eyes to evaluate its suitability for
      intraocular injection and its toxicity on intraocular tissues. Doses ranged from
      20 micrograms to 200 micrograms. Retinal toxicity was determined through light
      and transmission electron microscopy and electroretinography. No retinal toxicity
      was noted in doses of 30 micrograms and below.

PMID- 1452419
TI  - Ocular involvement in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: an echographic study.
AB  - We report a case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with ocular involvement in
      which bilateral swelling of the optic disk head was noticed. Massive direct
      infiltration of the optic nerve head by leukemic cells can give rise to a
      clinical picture identical to that of a true papilledema. Ocular echography
      allowed a better and more complete interpretation of the optic disk involvement.
      No echographic description of a leukemic infiltration of the optic nerve head has
      been reported previously.

PMID- 1452420
TI  - Postural behaviour of intraocular pressure following trabeculoplasty.
AB  - Postural behaviour of intraocular pressure (IOP) was studied in 29 glaucomatous
      eyes before and after argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) and compared with that of
      60 normal eyes. Although argon laser trabeculoplasty was successful in lowering
      the IOP below 21 mm Hg, it produced little effect on the postural behaviour of
      the IOP. No significant change was observed in the amplitude of postural rise of
      IOP in ALT treated eyes.

PMID- 1452421
TI  - Biophysical characteristics of the Meibomian lipid layer under in vitro
      conditions.
AB  - The biophysical behaviour of the Meibomian gland secretion was tested under in
      vitro conditions. Thereby, simultaneous recording of surface pressure and surface
      potential was performed. The Meibomian lipid layer was compared with other
      surface-active components like polyvinylalcohol and polyvinylpyrrolidone. On the
      other hand, Eledoisin was tested as an example for a surface-inactive substance.
      An attempt was made to describe the biophysical interaction between a given
      artificial tear substitute and the Meibomian lipid layer. With respect to the
      surface potential Dipalmitoyl-phosphatidyl-choline was established as an analogue
      for Meibomian gland secretion. Fluorescence measurements in the presence of a
      cyanine dye (1 N,N'dioctadecyloxacarbocyanine) were used as a method to localize
      the site of the characteristic potential change. From the fluorescence spectra
      under compression we conclude that the molecular change takes place at the lipid
      subphase interface of the Meibomian lipid layer.

PMID- 1452422
TI  - Astigmatism following cataract surgery: comparison of a scleral and a corneal
      incision in a mixed group of patients with and without glaucoma.
AB  - We retrospectively analysed the course of postoperative corneal astigmatism and
      corrected visual acuity after extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior
      chamber lens implantation with either a corneal or a scleral incision in 170 eyes
      of 155 patients with and without glaucoma. A continuous 10/0 nylon shoelace
      suture was used for wound closure in two groups. In a third group, corneal wound
      closure was performed with a shorter shoelace suture in combination with two
      vicryl wing sutures at 11 and 1 o'clock. Although early postoperative mean
      astigmatism in eyes operated through a corneal incision was high (range 2.92-6.67
      diopters at 1 month postoperatively) and significantly different when compared to
      eyes operated through a scleral incision (1.96 diopters), final mean astigmatism
      did not differ significantly between those two groups. Moreover, in 27% of eyes
      operated through a corneal incision, mean astigmatism at 2 months postoperatively
      was not significantly different from the scleral group and suture removal was not
      necessary. There was no statistically significant difference in corrected visual
      acuity over the entire study period between groups. Since safety and functional
      results of the corneal incision were not different from the scleral incision, we
      prefer a corneal incision in cataract surgery because of its surgical advantages,
      especially in patients with cataract and coexisting glaucoma.

PMID- 1452423
TI  - Berson test for blue cone monochromatism.
AB  - The Berson test for blue cone monochromatism discriminates X-linked blue cone
      monochromatism from achromatopsia but not from X-linked progressive c dystrophy.

PMID- 1452424
TI  - Rhodotorula glutinis keratitis.

PMID- 1452425
TI  - Anterior segment photography using the Oxford retro-illumination camera.
AB  - The use of the Oxford retro-illumination camera in documenting cataract is now
      well established. Repeatability has been shown to be good. This article describes
      its use in photographing the anterior segment of the eye.

PMID- 1452426
TI  - A 'tent trabeculectomy' (T.T)--surgical alternative for countries of the Third
      World.

PMID- 1452428
TI  - Calcium and mitosis.

PMID- 1452427
TI  - Photoreceptor rescue in the dystrophic retina by transplantation of retinal
      pigment epithelium.

PMID- 1452429
TI  - Polyamine cytochemistry: localization and possible functions of polyamines.

PMID- 1452430
TI  - Mitochondrial genomes of the ciliates.

PMID- 1452431
TI  - Animal mitochondrial DNA: structure and evolution.

PMID- 1452432
TI  - Transcription and replication of animal mitochondrial DNAs.
AB  - The development of in vitro transcription and replication systems has allowed the
      identification of promoter sequences and origins of replication for several
      animal mtDNAs. As a consequence, the necessary reagents and basic information are
      available to permit the characterization of transacting factors that are required
      for transcription and replication. All of the animal trans-acting species
      purified at this time are known or reasoned to be nuclear gene products. There is
      now the opportunity to learn how these nuclear genes are regulated and the
      mechanisms that are utilized for the import of their products into the organelle.
      With regard to import, the human transcription factor mtTF1 appears to have an
      amino-terminal sequence characteristic of other imported mitochondrial proteins
      (Parisi and Clayton, 1991). An interesting issue is the degree to which
      fundamental features of mtDNA replication and transcription are conserved between
      species. With regard to animal mtDNAs, there is very little in the way of
      conservation of DNA sequence at the promoters and origins of replication. The
      exceptions to this are the presence of a characteristic stem-loop L-strand origin
      of replication sequence in vertebrates [except for chicken mtDNA (Desjardins and
      Morais, 1990)] and the general presence of CSBs II and III (and to a lesser
      extent CSB I) in most higher animal mtDNAs. Because mtDNA promoters are not
      highly conserved, it is perhaps not surprising that general cross-species
      transcription does not occur, except for very limited examples of closely related
      species and sequences (Chang et al., 1985b). Using crude mtRNA polymerase
      holoenzyme preparations, there is no specific transcriptional initiation when
      proteins from human mitochondria are used with mouse mtDNA promoter templates,
      and vice versa. However, in contrast to this overall observation, purified
      fractions of human or mouse mtTF1 can be exchanged and shown to function across
      species boundaries (Fisher et al., 1989). The ability of mitochondrial mtTF1-type
      proteins to operate across even greater evolutionary distances was suggested by
      the ability of human and yeast proteins to recognize some mitochondrial promoter
      sequences in common (Fisher et al., 1992). More recent studies suggest that human
      mtTF1 can substitute for its yeast homolog in vivo, and thereby perform at least
      the most critical functions required to maintain yeast mtDNA in the cell (M.A.
      Parisi, B. Xu, and D.A. Clayton, submitted for publication). The other sites of
      conserved macromolecular interactions are related to the two origins of DNA
      replication.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1452433
TI  - The endosymbiont hypothesis revisited.

PMID- 1452434
TI  - Evolution of mitochondrial genomes in fungi.

PMID- 1452435
TI  - A review of the nature and activity of a general surgical service in Ireland.
AB  - The steady increase in hospital costs has led to demands for closer scrutiny of
      activity levels, workloads and outcomes. This study sought to examine these
      parameters in a typical district general surgical unit in this country. In the
      five year period 1985-89, 11,227 inpatient and 3,354 outpatient procedures were
      performed; 83% of the inpatient procedures were elective and 17% were emergency
      surgical operations. All inpatient procedures were categorized: minor (41%),
      intermediate (42%) and major (17%). A prospective one year review in 1990/1991
      confirmed the accuracy of the retrospective data. During that year 2,335
      inpatient operations and 765 outpatient operations were performed, of which 80.5%
      of the inpatient operations were elective and 19.5% were emergency procedures. Of
      these 16.6% were major, 34.4% intermediate and 49% were minor operations. 60% of
      the operations were performed by consultants. The in-hospital surgical mortality
      for the 1 year prospective review was 1.35% and the perioperative mortality was
      0.64%. The overall operation morbidity rate was 9% and the procedure-related
      morbidity was 4.7%. The wound infection rate was 2%. Of the common operations
      performed throughout the six year study period appendicectomies and external
      hernia operations accounted for 20% of the caseload; 14% were urological, 7% were
      breast and 6% were biliary operations. The average waiting time for elective
      admissions was less than 4 weeks. The average length of hospital stay and the bed
      occupancy rates did not change.

PMID- 1452436
TI  - Contemporary risk factors for sudden infant death in an Irish population--a case
      control study.
AB  - This case-controlled study examines some recently implicated risk factors for
      Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (S.I.D.S.) in Irish infants. Irish S.I.D.S. infants
      are lighter at birth than controls (3463g) compared to (3542g) and boys out
      number girls by a ratio of 1.3:1. S.I.D.S. infants are more frequently: breast
      fed (42% vs 25%) and sleep in a location other than the parent's bedroom (54% vs
      21%), but start solids at a similar age and appear not to be sicker prior to
      death than the control group. This study highlights the frequency of symptoms of
      possible ill-health (i.e. snuffles and being "chesty") in well infants during the
      first months of life with 32% of the control group having snuffles and 35%
      described as "chesty". In addition these symptoms are frequently treated with
      antibiotics with 31% of the control group having already received antibiotics by
      2 months of age. A majority of S.I.D.S. infants were described as cold when found
      (52%) with 39% described as warm and 15% as sweaty. Obviously the recently
      implicated role of overheating may be relevant in the latter 15% of S.I.D.S.
      cases. In this series, 88% of infants had died by 6 months of age. Of the 97
      parents of S.I.D.S. infants questioned, 78 had subsequently become pregnant by
      the time the study was conducted at an average time of 5 months post the S.I.D.S.
      event.

PMID- 1452437
TI  - The correlation between clinical diagnosis of knee pathology and findings at
      arthroscopy.
AB  - 175 patients referred for arthroscopy were studied prospectively to assess the
      accuracy of clinical examination supplemented by standard radiology in the
      evaluation of knee symptoms. Clinical diagnosis of medial meniscal tears was
      inaccurate while greater confidence could be placed in the diagnosis of anterior
      cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus tears. Clinical accuracy rates could be
      improved if patients with minimal symptoms were excluded from arthroscopy
      examination.

PMID- 1452438
TI  - Hyperthyroidism associated with acute suppurative thyroiditis.
AB  - Acute suppurative thyroiditis is a rare condition with potentially serious
      complications. It has been suggested that hyperthyroidism may be a feature in
      occasional cases but this has been poorly documented. We describe a patient in
      whom acute suppurative thyroiditis caused transient hyperthyroidism.

PMID- 1452439
TI  - Colo-rectal carcinoma 1975 and 1990: no improvement in the stage of disease at
      resection.
AB  - There is no overall consensus as to what screening patterns should be adopted for
      individuals of average risk for colo-rectal carcinoma. The single most important
      prognostic factor in survival is the stage of the colo-rectal neoplasm at the
      time of resection. Consequently significant resources have been directed to early
      detection while the disease is at a curative stage. To assess the impact of
      widespread availability of faecal occult blood testing and large bowel endoscopy
      we prospectively examined all large intestine specimens resected for carcinoma in
      1990 and compared them with specimens resected for colonic carcinoma in 1975. We
      excluded adenomatous polyps with malignant change which had been treated by
      snaring at colonoscopy, without subsequent colectomy, as their precise Duke's
      staging was so difficult. In any event, their numbers were small (> 5 in 1990).
      Our study shows that despite the resources targeted at early diagnosis of colo
      rectal carcinoma resection of tumours at a prognostically favourable stage has
      not been improved in the 25 years since 1975.

PMID- 1452440
TI  - Irish Cardiac Society. Annual general meeting. Galway, 8-9 November 1991.
      Abstracts.

PMID- 1452441
TI  - Cd-metallothionein in liver and kidney of goldfish (Carassius auratus): effects
      of temperature and salinity.
AB  - Treatment of goldfish with Cd, by intraperitoneal injection, resulted in Cd
      metallothionein (Cd-MT) synthesis mainly in liver and kidney. The relative amount
      of Cd sequestered by liver metallothionein was always greater in fish maintained
      at 20 degrees C compared to those reared at 10 degrees C, indicating a
      temperature dependence of metallothionein biosynthesis; in the kidney this
      dependence was not so clearly evident. Changes in MT levels induced by adapting
      fish to different salinities did not correlate with the salinity change.

PMID- 1452442
TI  - In vivo treatment with a monoclonal antibody to interferon-gamma neither affects
      the survival nor the incidence of lupus-nephritis in the MRL/lpr-lpr mouse.
AB  - The effects of the in vitro treatment with a mAb (DB-1) that neutralizes mouse
      IFN-gamma on the development of the SLE-like syndrome in MRL/lpr-lpr (MRL-lpr)
      mice were studied. The results show that the i.p. administration of 2.6 mg/week
      of DB-1 from the 12th to the 20th week of age neither affected the survival nor
      the incidence and severity of lupus nephritis in MRL-lpr mice. This study argues
      against the pathogenic relevance of IFN-gamma in this experimental model of human
      SLE.

PMID- 1452443
TI  - Mitogenic activities of heteroglycan and heteroglycan-protein fractions from
      culture medium of Lentinus edodes mycelia.
AB  - The water soluble material (LEM) was prepared from the solid culture medium in
      which Lentinus edodes mycelia were growing actively. An alcohol insoluble
      material was prepared from LEM and subjected to Sepharose 6B gel filtration. The
      void fraction (LAP1) was composed mainly of xylose-rich heteroglycan and protein.
      From LAP1, a heteroglycan fraction (LAF1) was prepared by DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B
      column chromatography. LAP1 and LAF1 enhanced the incorporation of [3H]thymidine
      into mouse splenic cells (SPs). At each of the optimum doses, the rate of the
      incorporation was about 10 times as high with LAF1 as with LAP1. Such mitogenic
      responses were not induced in nylon-column effluent SPs and thymocytes. sIg
      expressed cells were responsive to LAF1, but not to LAP1. Moreover, with each
      fraction, the incorporation was enhanced more in plastic adherent splenic cells
      (ADs) than in SPs. The flow cytometric assay revealed that the number of Mac-1+
      cells is about 13 times as many in ADs as in SPs and that the number of Ly-5+ or
      Thy-1.2+ cells is considerably reduced in ADs compared with that in SPs. Thus,
      the present studies suggest that LAP1 and LAF1 act as mitogens predominantly for
      mouse splenic macrophages and/or monocytes.

PMID- 1452444
TI  - Subtractive antibody to a human immunosuppressive lymphokine affinity isolates a
      suppressive factor and blocks its function.
AB  - Hybridoma suppressor factor(s) (HSF), secreted by a human thymus hybridoma (8E
      24) established in this laboratory, suppresses Ig as well as IL-2 synthesis by
      peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). To aid in the characterization of this
      lymphokine, we prepared a subtractive antibody to HSF using the products of the
      hybridoma parent cell line to generate antibodies to irrelevant proteins. The
      concentrated supernatant fluid of the hybridoma parent cell line (CEM) was used
      to generate rabbit antibodies and titers of anti-CEM were monitored by enzyme
      immunoassay (EIA). Next, to remove factors shared by both the parent cell line
      and hybridoma, the concentrated supernatant fluid of 8E-24 (crude HSF) was passed
      over an immunoaffinity column, composed of protein A beads coupled to anti-CEM.
      The 'subtracted' HSF, termed partially purified HSF, was shown to be suppressive
      in vitro and was then used to prepare a second rabbit antisera. Using partially
      purified HSF as antigen, the presence of specific antibody was monitored by EIA.
      This antibody (anti-HSF) was used to prepare another immunoaffinity column by
      covalently coupling this antibody to protein A beads. Factors bound and then
      eluted from this affinity column were shown to inhibit IL-2 production by PBMC in
      a manner similar to HSF. Specific activity of the affinity purified HSF was 50
      times that of partially purified HSF. Furthermore, the suppressive activity of
      affinity purified HSF was abrogated in the presence of anti-HSF. Western blot
      analysis performed on the concentrated crude HSF, using both the anti-HSF and
      anti-CEM antibodies, revealed the presence of several bands that selectively
      reacted with anti-HSF and not anti-CEM. Each of these bands were present in the
      affinity purified HSF. Of particular interest due to their similar size to the
      suppressive agent are a band at 12 kDa that reacts selectively with anti-HSF and
      is detected in crude and affinity purified HSF and a band at 10 kDa. In summary,
      this protocol resulted in the detection and separation of hybridoma specific
      proteins within the predicted size range of the suppressive lymphokine.

PMID- 1452445
TI  - The role of designated driver programs in the prevention of alcohol-impaired
      driving: a critical reassessment.
AB  - We review the "designated driver" concept and the current debate over its role in
      preventing alcohol-impaired driving. In our view, the focus on this strategy by
      broadcasters, the alcohol industry, and various public service groups has
      deflected attention from other alcohol-related problems that account for the vast
      majority of deaths and injuries associated with alcohol use. This focus has also
      distracted many public health advocates and policymakers from the bigger and more
      important jobs of increasing public awareness of the social, environmental, and
      economic factors that influence alcohol consumption and promoting debate on
      legislation and other public policy solutions to alcohol-impaired driving. As
      part of a comprehensive strategy, we strongly encourage a renewed focus on
      "sobriety checkpoints," strict enforcement of laws against alcohol sales to
      minors, alcohol advertising reform, increased excise taxes, and other public
      policy initiatives supported by the Surgeon General. These measures will curb
      underage and heavy alcohol consumption and will create a legal and social
      environment in which individuals are motivated to avoid impaired driving through
      several alternative strategies, including but not limited to the use of
      designated drivers.

PMID- 1452446
TI  - Mammography usage and the health belief model.
AB  - Regular screening mammograms for asymptomatic women are the most effective method
      for early detection of breast cancer. This study assessed the relative influence
      of Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs on prior mammography usage and the
      intention to obtain mammograms with data from a sample of 1,057 women over the
      age of 35 years residing in an urban community in the United States. Covariance
      structure analysis with latent variables was used initially to perform a
      confirmatory factor analysis of indicators of Socioeconomic Status (SES),
      Perceived Susceptibility, Perceived Barriers, Perceived Benefits, Cues to Action,
      Prior Mammography, and Future Intentions. Once a plausible factor structure was
      confirmed, a predictive path model was tested with Future Intentions and Prior
      Mammography as the outcome variables. Cues to Action, operationalized as a
      physician influence variable, particularly impacted Prior Mammography, and
      Perceived Susceptibility was the most powerful predictor of Future Intentions.
      SES only related significantly to Perceived Barriers, and Cues to Action, and did
      not directly influence Prior Mammography and Future Intentions. HBM predictor
      variables alone accounted for the relationship between previous mammography
      experience and intentions to obtain mammograms in the future. Health education
      implications and an applied outreach program are discussed.

PMID- 1452447
TI  - A three-year evaluation of the know your body program in inner-city
      schoolchildren.
AB  - The impact of the Know Your Body (KYB) comprehensive school health education
      program was evaluated in a sample of first through sixth-grade students from New
      York City, using two analytic strategies: a longitudinal cohort and a "posttest
      only" cohort. In both cohorts, program impact was examined between condition
      (i.e., KYB vs. no-treatment comparison group) as well as within condition (i.e.,
      low, moderate, and high student exposure). Students in the longitudinal cohort (n
      = 1,209) who were exposed to high implementation teachers had significantly (p <
      .05) lower total plasma cholesterol and systolic blood pressure at 3-year
      posttest than comparison students. Students in the posttest only cohort (n =
      3,066) who had high implementation teachers showed significantly (p < .05) lower
      total plasma cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, self-reported intake of meat
      and desserts, as well as higher health knowledge and self-reported intake of
      "heart healthy" foods and vegetables than comparison students. In both cohorts,
      program effects for several outcome variables were linearly related to level of
      student exposure to the curriculum, suggesting a dose-response effect. While
      several methodologic limitations may have influenced study outcomes, these data
      nonetheless appear to confirm that the KYB program can have a significant
      positive impact on the knowledge, behavior, and selected risk factors of students
      in primary grades and that efforts to disseminate and evaluate school health
      education programs should include strategies to monitor and enhance teacher
      implementation.

PMID- 1452448
TI  - Patient attitudes concerning health behaviors during pregnancy: initial
      development of a questionnaire.
AB  - The major determinant of infant mortality in the United States is low birthweight
      (LBW). Health behaviors related to LBW are inadequate prenatal care, poor
      nutrition, smoking, and moderate to heavy alcohol use. Before interventions can
      be designed to assist women in modifying these health behaviors, more must be
      understood about their causes. The Health Belief Model (HBM) is a framework for
      analyzing beliefs that motivate health behaviors and is well established as a
      model for understanding health behavior decisions. The chief aim of this study
      was to develop an instrument to assess women's health beliefs during pregnancy.
      Questions for the instrument were generated around the four major constructs of
      the HBM: perceived susceptibility, seriousness, benefits, and barriers. Four
      focus group interviews, a literature review, and consultation with an HBM expert
      provided content for questions. The questionnaire was administered to a
      convenience sample of 127 women. The measurement models were tested using
      confirmatory factor analysis. Parsimony was achieved by reducing the original 106
      item scale to 64 items. The final instrument provides support for the HBM but not
      for all of its discrete constructs.

PMID- 1452449
TI  - The impact of tailored self-help smoking cessation guides on young mothers.
AB  - It has been suggested that tailoring self-help materials for specific target
      populations will increase their effectiveness. This study tested the value of a
      self-help guide tailored specifically for women with young children. These women
      were recruited through a media campaign that encouraged smokers to call the
      Cancer Information Service (CIS) for assistance in stopping smoking. Women
      smokers with young children (under the age of 6) who called the CIS were given
      telephone counseling on quitting and were mailed one of three stop smoking
      guides. One third of callers received Quitting Times, a guide written
      specifically for women with young children; one third received the American Lung
      Association guide, Freedom from Smoking for You and Your Family; and one third
      received Clearing the Air, a guide developed by the National Cancer Institute.
      Six months after calling the CIS, these women were contacted by telephone to
      assess changes in smoking behavior. Overall, 12.5% of the women reported not
      smoking for at least 1 week at the time of the 6-month follow-up interview. There
      were no significant differences between subjects in the three groups in use of
      the self-help guides, methods used to attempt quitting, and quitting behavior.
      Findings from this study do not support the hypothesis that using a tailored stop
      smoking guide increases the targeted audience's cessation rate or affects
      quitting-related behavior. However, it should be noted that the smokers who
      called were predominantly in the contemplation or action stages.

PMID- 1452450
TI  - Morphological heterogeneity of secretory granules of rat Clara cells: an
      immunocytochemical study.
AB  - The secretory granules of rat bronchiolar Clara cells were classified into
      different types by their ultrastructural appearances followed by
      immunocytochemistry using anti-rat 10 kDa Clara cell-specific protein (10 kDa
      CCSP) antibody. One predominant type was the oval to round granule (type A
      granule), of which the matrix was composed of a map-like mixture of electron
      dense and less electron-dense material. Another predominant type was the rod
      shaped granule (type B granule). The content of type B granules varied from a
      finely fibrillar (type B1 granule) to an electron-dense, rod-like (type B3
      granule) structure. Various intermediate types (type B2 granule) between type B1
      and B3 granules were also found. Small cytoplasmic vesicles were found
      occasionally in close proximity to type B2 or B3 granule. Another type of granule
      (type C granule) was large, up to 8 microns in diameter, and contained a
      moderately electron-dense amorphous matrix. Both type A and C granules stained at
      a similar density with the antibody. The nascent form of type A granules, which
      was found in the vicinity to the trans face of the Golgi apparatus, was also
      labeled. On the other hand, the labeling density of type B granules varied: type
      B1 granules were almost devoid of immunolabeling, whereas type B3 granules were
      intensely labeled. Type B2 granules stained with the antibody; however, the
      labeling density was less than that of type B3 granules. The small cytoplasmic
      vesicles of type B2 granules were labeled.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452451
TI  - Comparative lectin histochemistry on taste buds in foliate, circumvallate and
      fungiform papillae of the rabbit tongue.
AB  - Taste buds (TB) in the foliate, circumvallate and fungiform papillae of the
      rabbit tongue were examined with lectin histochemistry by means of light (LM) and
      electron (EM) microscopy. Biotin- and gold-labeled lectins were used for the
      detection of carbohydrate residues in TB cells and subcutaneous salivary glands.
      At the LM level, the lectins of soybean (SBA) and peanut (PNA) react with
      material of the foliate and circumvallate taste pores only after pretreatment of
      the section with neuraminidase. This indicates that the terminal trisaccharide
      sequences are as follows: Sialic acid-Gal-GalNAc in O-glycosylated glycoproteins
      or Sialic acid-Gal-GlcNAc in N-glycosylated glycoproteins. In fungi-form taste
      buds the lectins of Dolichos biflorus (DBA) and Helix pomatia (HPA), also
      specific to GalNAc residues, are reactive without preincubation with
      neuraminidase. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), specific to GlcNAc, reacts with TBs
      of all papillae; and the lectin from Ulex europaeus (UEA I), specific to fucose,
      binds to individual TB cells. The presence of sialic acid may protect mucus or
      other glycoproteins in TB cells and inside the taste pore from premature
      enzymatic degradation. In a post-embedding EM procedure on LR-White-embedded
      tissue sections, only gold-labeled HPA was found to bind especially on membrane
      surfaces of the microvilli which protrude into the taste pore; however HPA did
      not bind to the electron-dense mucus inside the taste pore. The mucus situated in
      the trough and at the top of the adjacent epithelial cells also is strongly HPA
      positive, but is of different origin and composition than that found in the taste
      pore. These results demonstrate distinct carbohydrate histochemical differences
      between fungiform and circumvallate/foliate taste buds. The different
      configuration of galactosyl residues and the occurrence of mannose in
      circumvallate and foliate TBs leads to the suggestion that the lectin
      reactivities of TBs are not only due to the presence of mucins, but also to N
      linked glycoproteins, possibly with a hormone-like paraneuronal function. A
      possible relationship to v. Ebner glands in these papillae is discussed.

PMID- 1452453
TI  - Case report. Maxillofacial injury.

PMID- 1452452
TI  - Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunocytochemistry by exonuclease III (Exo III)
      digestion.
AB  - A new procedure is described to generate single-stranded DNA by exonuclease III
      (Exo III) digestion for bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunocytochemistry on tissue
      sections. We compared this procedure with the most widely used procedure of DNA
      denaturation with 2 N HCl. In vivo and in vitro pulse and continuous labelling of
      tissues and cells were used. The specimens were fixed in formalin, ethanol,
      glutaraldehyde, Carnoy's, Bouin's or Zamboni's fixative and embedded in paraffin
      or used unfixed as cryostat sections or cytospin preparations. After Exo III
      digestion, BrdU substituted DNA was detected irrespective of the fixation
      procedure applied. The optimal protocol for nuclease digestion appeared to be
      simultaneous incubation, of 10 Units Exo III per ml EcoRI buffer and anti-BrdU
      monoclonal antibody at 37 degrees C. The advantages of Exo III digestion for BrdU
      immunocytochemistry compared to acid denaturation were: less non-specific nuclear
      background reactivity, no DNA renaturation, less DNA loss, optimal nuclear
      morphology, increase in antibody efficiency and the possibility for simultaneous
      detection of acid-sensitive tissue constituents. Disadvantages of the Exo III
      digestion are decreased sensitivity and the need for more rigorous pepsin
      pretreatment. We conclude that Exo III digestion of DNA is an appropriate
      alternative for acid denaturation for BrdU immunocytochemistry on sections of
      pulse-labelled specimens.

PMID- 1452455
TI  - Atrophic gastritis and stomach cancer risk: cross-sectional analyses.
AB  - The relationship between atrophic gastritis and stomach cancer risk was
      investigated in case-control analyses involving 387 cases with stomach cancer and
      5,422 control subjects who received gastroscopic examination at Aichi Cancer
      Center Hospital from April, 1985 to March, 1989. The presence of atrophic
      gastritis, the degree and extension of the atrophy and the presence of
      granularity and erosion were diagnosed endoscopically by six gastroenterologists.
      The prevalence of atrophic gastritis increased with age and was higher in males
      than in females. The relative risk (RR) of stomach cancer was 5.13 (95%
      confidence interval (CI): 2.79-9.42) if a subject had any type of atrophic
      gastritis. The risk further increased with advancing degree of atrophy and
      increasing extension on the greater and lesser curvatures. The RR associated with
      severe atrophy was 7.73 (95% CI: 3.95-15.12). These associations remained
      significant when analyzed by sex and age. The presence of granularity and erosion
      did not much affect the estimated risks. A clear difference in risk appeared in
      the analyses by histological type of cancer. The RR associated with atrophic
      gastritis was 24.71 (95% CI: 3.46-176.68) for the intestinal type and 3.49 (95%
      CI: 1.77-6.87) for the diffuse type. These findings may suggest a need for
      intensive follow-up of patients with severe atrophic gastritis.

PMID- 1452454
TI  - Adduct formation at C-8 of guanine on in vitro reaction of the ultimate form of 2
      amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine with 2'-deoxyguanosine and its
      phosphate esters.
AB  - We examined the reactivity of the N-hydroxyamino derivative of a carcinogenic
      heterocyclic amine, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), after
      its O-acetylation with four 2'-deoxyribonucleoside 3'-monophosphates. 32P
      Postlabeling analysis demonstrated that the levels of adducts with 2'
      deoxyguanosine 3'-monophosphate were much higher than those with the other three
      nucleotides. 1H-NMR, mass spectral and UV absorption spectral analyses of the
      major adducts formed by N-acetyoxy-PhIP with 2'-deoxyguanosine and with its
      phosphate esters indicated that PhIP bound at the C-8 position of guanine, as
      previously demonstrated with other heterocyclic amines.

PMID- 1452456
TI  - Species difference among experimental rodents in induction of P450IA family
      enzymes by 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine.
AB  - Rats, mice, hamsters and guinea pigs were given an i.p. injection of 2-amino-1
      methyl-6-phenyl-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), a protein-derived pyrolysate
      component present in cooked foods, and inductions of cytochrome P450 (P450) in
      the liver and kidney of these animals were examined. The activity and amount of
      P450s corresponding to the rat P450IA1 and P450IA2 were assessed by means of a
      bacterial mutation test using 3 carcinogenic heterocyclic aromatic amines
      including PhIP as substrates and by Western blotting with a monoclonal antibody
      reactive with both P450IA1 and P450IA2. In rats, PhIP induced P450IA1, P450IA2
      and a new but unspecified P450 isozyme in the liver, and induced P450IA1 in the
      kidney. However, PhIP induced none of these P450 isozymes in mice, hamsters and
      guinea pigs.

PMID- 1452457
TI  - Significance of strain and sex differences in the development of 252Cf neutron
      induced liver tumors in mice.
AB  - Mouse liver tumors occurring in C3H/HeN, C57BL/6N and C3B6F1 hybrid (C3H x C57BL)
      were studied following 252Cf fission neutron irradiation. Three strains of mice
      of both sexes (about 30 mice/group) were irradiated once with 252Cf at doses of
      0, 12.5, 50 and 200 cGy. The groups were observed for 13 months after
      irradiation. The incidence of liver tumors in the non-irradiated controls was 0%
      in both sexes of C57BL/6N, 11.7% in males and 0% in females of C3B6F1 and 39.5%
      in males and 11.4% in females of C3H/HeN mice. In the four strains of mice thus
      far studied, including B6C3F1 hybrid (C57BL x C3H) which was previously studied,
      252Cf irradiation has increased the tumor incidence dose-dependently in males and
      in females, but less effectively in females. The mean number and size of liver
      tumors were clearly correlated with tumor incidence. The incidence was always
      highest in C3H/HeN mice of both sexes, followed by B6C3F1, C3B6F1 and C57BL/6N
      mice. The influence of sex hormones was studied in B6C3F1 mice of both sexes
      after 200 cGy of 252Cf irradiation. In males, the incidence of liver tumors was
      significantly decreased from 55.2% to 23.3% and 25.9% after orchidectomy, and in
      females it was slightly decreased from 27.6% to 14.8% and 18.8% after
      ovariectomy. Supplementation of testosterone in orchidectomized mice did not
      restore the occurrence of liver tumors.

PMID- 1452458
TI  - ras mutations in endocrine tumors: mutation detection by polymerase chain
      reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism.
AB  - To elucidate the molecular basis for endocrine tumorigenesis, ras mutations in
      human endocrine tumors were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-single
      strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis. Mutations of the H-, K-, N
      ras genes were examined in genomic DNAs from 169 successfully amplified primary
      endocrine tumors out of 189 samples. Four out of 24 thyroid follicular adenomas
      analyzed contained mutated N-ras codon 61, and one contained the mutated H-ras
      codon 61. One of the 19 pheochromocytomas revealed mutation of the H-ras codon
      13. No mutations of the ras gene were detected in pituitary adenomas, parathyroid
      tumors, thyroid cancers, endocrine pancreatic tumors, and adrenocortical tumors.
      Based on these findings we conclude that activation of the ras gene may play a
      role in the tumorigenesis of a limited number of thyroid follicular adenomas and
      pheochromocytomas, and that mutation of the ras gene is not frequent in other
      human endocrine tumors.

PMID- 1452459
TI  - Altered glycosylation of membrane glycoproteins associated with human mammary
      carcinoma.
AB  - N-Linked sugar chains of normal mammary gland, mammary carcinomas (primary
      lesion), and axillary lymph node metastases of mammary carcinomas were released
      from their membrane preparations by hydrazinolysis and their structures were
      analyzed. Fractionation using a Datura stramonium agglutinin (DSA)-Sepharose
      column revealed that the metastasized carcinomas contain more than twice as much
      DSA-binding oligosaccharides as the normal gland, and the primary carcinomas
      contain an intermediate amount. These oligosaccharides were elucidated to have
      tri- and tetraantennary structures containing the GlcNAc beta 1-->6(GlcNAc beta 1
      ->2)Man group with and without N-acetyllactosamine repeating units. Lectin blot
      analysis of membrane glycoproteins and histochemical staining of tissues using
      biotinylated DSA indicated that these glycosylation changes predominantly occur
      in a limited number of glycoproteins with apparent molecular weights of 90, 160,
      and 210 kilodaltons, and mammary carcinomas are distinguishable from normal gland
      by their intense intracytoplasmic staining.

PMID- 1452460
TI  - DT-5461, a new synthetic lipid A analogue, inhibits lung and liver metastasis of
      tumor in mice.
AB  - We have investigated the antimetastatic effect of a new synthetic lipid A
      analogue, of low endotoxicity, DT-5461, against two highly metastatic tumor cell
      lines, L5178Y-ML25 T-lymphoma and B16-BL6 melanoma cells in mice. Four
      intermittent i.v. administrations of DT-5461 at intervals of 4 days resulted in a
      significant inhibition of liver metastasis caused by i.v. injection of L5178Y
      ML25 cells and lung metastasis of B16-BL6 cells in the experimental metastasis
      models. Intraperitoneal and intranasal administrations as well as i.v.
      administration of DT-5461 were also effective in preventing lung metastasis of
      the melanoma cells. Multiple administrations of DT-5461 before the surgical
      excision of primary tumors significantly reduced the number of lung colonies of
      melanoma cells and primary tumor size. Similarly, this treatment modality after
      the surgical excision of primary tumors showed a greater reduction of lung tumor
      colonies as compared with lipopolysaccharide, a synthetic lipid A (No. 506) and
      its analogue as well as untreated control in the spontaneous lung metastasis
      model. Furthermore, the group that received DT-5461 after the inoculation of
      lymphoma or melanoma cells showed significantly enhanced survival rate compared
      with the untreated control. These results suggested that DT-5461 may be
      therapeutically useful for the inhibition of tumor metastasis.

PMID- 1452461
TI  - Inhibition by fibrin coagulation of lung cancer cell destruction by human
      interleukin-2-activated killer cells.
AB  - We examined the effect of fibrin coagulation on tumor cytotoxicity mediated by
      human lymphokine (IL-2)-activated killer (LAK) cells. LAK cells were induced from
      peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) by culture with recombinant IL-2 for 4
      or 5 days, and LAK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against tumor cells was assessed by
      51Cr release assay in the presence or absence of plasma from normal subjects and
      lung cancer patients. Plasma did not affect the phase of induction of LAK
      activity by IL-2, but dose-dependently inhibited the effector phase of LAK cell
      mediated cytotoxicity against Daudi cells. Similar inhibition of LAK cell
      mediated cytotoxicity was observed on pretreatment of Daudi cells and human lung
      cancer cell lines with human fibrinogen plus thrombin. A parallel relationship
      was found between the amount of fibrinogen in plasma of lung cancer patients and
      inhibition of LAK cytotoxicity. This inhibition was reduced by addition of
      anticoagulants (heparin or argatroban). These findings suggest that fibrin
      coagulation on tumor cells protects them from LAK cell-mediated tumor
      cytotoxicity in malignant lesions and that a combination of an anticoagulant drug
      and IL-2/LAK therapy may be effective for treatment of lung cancer patients.

PMID- 1452462
TI  - Fluorouracil catabolism in the combination treatment of cyclophosphamide,
      methotrexate and fluorouracil.
AB  - The CMF-regimen is amongst the most effective chemotherapeutic approaches in the
      treatment of breast cancer. It is generally accepted that the efficacy of the
      combination of the three agents used in the regimen, i.e., cyclophosphamide (CY),
      methotrexate (MTX) and fluorouracil (FUra), is based on interactions between the
      drugs at the intratumoral level. In WAG/Rij rats we previously demonstrated that
      change of FUra clearance at the first day of the CMF-regimen occurs owing to
      concomitant CY + MTX. In the present study clearance of FUra and the first
      product of FUra catabolism, FUraH2, were monitored at day 1 and day 8 of the
      regimen upon treatment with single agent FUra (F), MTX + FUra (MF), CY + FUra
      (CF), and CY + MTX + FUra (CMF). At the first day of treatment, FUra and FUraH2
      systemic exposure was demonstrated to be increased in CMF-treated rats owing to
      concomitant CY+MTX. At the eighth day of treatment it was found that repeated CY
      administration during the previous seven days in CF-treated rats resulted in
      increased FUra and FUraH2 systemic exposure and therefore increased the dose of
      FUra artificially. It is concluded that altered FUra clearance owing to
      extratumoral interactions by concomitant CY and MTX contributes to the efficacy
      of the CMF-regimen.

PMID- 1452463
TI  - The orbital glands of the chelonians Pseudemys scripta and Testudo graeca:
      comparative histological, histochemical and ultrastructural investigations.
AB  - The orbital glands of the chelonians Pseudemys scripta and Testudo graeca were
      investigated at the histological, histochemical and ultrastructural levels. Four
      acinar cell types were seen in the harderian gland of P. scripta on the basis of
      histochemical reactions and ultrastructure. Secretory granules were of 2 types,
      one showing moderate electron density with an electronlucent core, the other
      being smaller and more osmiophilic with an electron-dense core. In the harderian
      gland of T. graeca only 2 glandular cell types were found; one type contained
      secretory granules with a dense core surrounded by a wide zone of lower density.
      Acinar cells of the anterior lacrimal gland in both species were of 2 types, one
      being of mucous type. In the harderian gland and in the lacrimal gland of both
      species, one cell type appeared not to be involved in the secretion of organic
      material. These cells contained numerous tightly packed mitochondria among which
      were abundant clumps of glycogen; the cell membrane was specialised at both
      edges. This cell type was similar ultrastructurally to the 'salt cells' described
      in the salt-secreting glands of various marine vertebrates, i.e. of the cells
      involved in transport processes. These combined histological, histochemical and
      ultrastructural studies have allowed us to distinguish orbital glands. In the
      past, the harderian and lacrimal glands in chelonians have often been mistaken
      for one another.

PMID- 1452464
TI  - The cutaneous branches of the superior gluteal nerve with special reference to
      the nerve to tensor fascia lata.
AB  - Cutaneous branches from the superior gluteal nerve were studied in 39 half pelves
      (18 right, 21 left) of 23 adult Japanese cadavers. A detailed description of the
      branches is not currently available in the literature. Most of these branches
      perforated tensor fascia lata and were distributed to the centre of the lateral
      gluteal region.

PMID- 1452465
TI  - Characterisation of ramified microglial cells: detailed morphology, morphological
      plasticity and proliferative capability.
AB  - Several cellular properties of brain microglia in the rat were investigated using
      both whole tissue and cultures of dissociated cerebral cortical cells. As
      revealed by thiamine pyrophosphatase histochemistry, tissue microglia possessed a
      highly distinctive cellular morphology. Stained microglia showed similar overall
      features of morphology and distribution in both preparations; however, the cells
      in culture displayed some slight differences from those of the tissue, including
      larger somata and less developed processes. Through studying living ramified
      cells in culture, both morphological plasticity as evidenced by patterned
      variations in soma size and mitotic activity were directly confirmed. It was
      concluded that ramified microglia definitely possess proliferative capability,
      and this may reduce the need for blood cell recruitment in brain immune
      responses. In addition, cultured microglia exist in a somewhat more activated
      state than those in normal tissue, and in some instances undergo further
      activation as macrophages. This cortical tissue culture system should provide an
      amenable preparation for investigating the regulation of microglial function.

PMID- 1452466
TI  - The foramen meningo-orbitale and its relationship to the development of the
      ophthalmic artery.
AB  - The incidence of the foramen meningo-orbitale is reported from a sample of 50
      adult dried skulls. The foramen meningo-orbitale is not an inconsistent finding,
      being identifiable in half of the samples studied. Multiple foramina may exist.
      Although the location of the foramen meningo-orbitale is not fixed, it lies along
      or near the suture leading superolaterally from the superior orbital fissure. The
      foramen represents the remnant of an embryonic conduit for the supraorbital
      division of the stapedial artery en route to the orbit and the developing
      ophthalmic artery. An alternative, more medial, pathway exists through the
      superior orbital fissure. The embryonic anastomosis that occurs between the
      internal and external carotid systems does not occur at the level of this
      foramen, but closer to the optic nerve as a portion of the primitive 'ring'
      artery. The term 'stapedial-ophthalmo-lacrimal' foramen is proposed to proclaim
      the embryonic significance of this foramen.

PMID- 1452467
TI  - The hamster harderian gland: a combined scanning and transmission electron
      microscopic investigation.
AB  - Scanning electron microscopy of the epithelial cells of the female hamster
      harderian gland reveals a range of surface features. Some cells exhibit a uniform
      covering of microvilli while others, often with swollen apices, are relatively
      devoid of microvilli. Surface pitting is frequent for all cells; pits represent
      regions of exocytotic lipid vacuole release. A similar range of surface
      appearances occurs in the male gland but here cells with uniform microvilli
      represent type I cells (characterised by small lipid vacuoles) while swollen
      cells with sparse microvilli are type II cells (characterised by large lipid
      vacuoles). It is suggested that different cell forms represent a single cell type
      in varying activity states. Luminal debris is often marked, consisting chiefly of
      lipids. Solid porphyrin accretions, sometimes surrounded by neutrophils, are
      numerous in female (but not male) glands. Interstitial mast cells are also
      numerous in the female gland. The gland contains fenestrated capillaries and
      extensive lymphatics. The duct of the gland, which has received little attention,
      possesses ciliated cells, nonciliated cells and basal cells. Ciliated cells
      possess kinocilia and relatively tall thin microvilli, as well as some lipid
      vacuoles. Nonciliated cells bear shorter microvilli, apically located mucoid
      granules, and lamellar formations of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The basal
      cells are squat and pyramidal; their lateral walls, which interdigitate with the
      main duct cell types, show pronounced folding.

PMID- 1452468
TI  - Human intervertebral disc acid glycosaminoglycans.
AB  - Alcian blue critical electrolyte concentration (CEC) staining of intervertebral
      discs (annulus and nucleus of cervical, thoracic and lumbar discs) distinguished
      3 groups where CEC staining correlated with age (less than 3 months; from 3
      months to 5 years; over 10 years). The CEC increased markedly (implying increased
      sulphation of the glycosaminoglycans) in the period of maturation (fetal life to
      10 years) and then remained constant throughout adult life. This is at variance
      with accepted views which attribute such changes to degenerative changes in old
      age. The major part of the CEC increase occurred after the disappearance of blood
      vessels from the disc, which is almost complete by 4 years. Our results are
      compatible with the hypothesis that keratan sulphate replaces chondroitin
      sulphate, functionally, in conditions of oxygen lack.

PMID- 1452469
TI  - Delamination of neuroepithelium and nonneural ectoderm and its relation to the
      convergence step in chick neurulation.
AB  - We have analysed the characteristics of the neuroectoderm-nonneural ectoderm
      meeting point at several axial levels in relation to the mechanics of neurulation
      in each level. The results show wide differences at cephalic and somitic levels.
      At cephalic levels, where convergence plays an important role, the delamination
      process appears at the beginning of the convergence step. This phenomenon
      produces a major isolation of the basal lamina, forming a space between this
      structure and the epithelial sheet in whose basal surface a new basal lamina
      begins to form. This cavity contains abundant extracellular matrix stained with
      ruthenium red (RR) and tannic acid (TA), and its increase in volume correlates
      with the progressive convergence of neural folds. At somitic levels, where the
      convergence is not important, delamination involves the progressive formation of
      a half-moon-shaped cavity. This structure appears between a dorsal attachment
      point, in the tip of neuroectodermal wall, and a ventral attachment point which
      coincides with the point of bending that determines the bilateral furrow, if it
      exists. In this small cavity, delamination is not related to an isolation of
      basal lamina. The RR-staining of the extracellular matrix in this cavity is
      scarce and the volume increase is smaller than in the cephalic region. These
      results are discussed in terms of neural fold convergence and neural tube
      closure.

PMID- 1452470
TI  - RT97- and calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity in lumbar
      intervertebral discs and adjacent tissue from the rat.
AB  - The innervation of rat intervertebral disc and adjacent ligamentous tissue has
      been investigated using 2 antibodies, RT97 and anti-calcitonin gene-related
      peptide. Immunoreactivity to the peptide was found in many fibres throughout the
      long ligaments around the intervertebral discs and in the periosteum, especially
      associated with vascular channels entering the vertebral bodies. Few of the
      immunoreactive fibres entered the annular lamellae of the disc tissue. Most of
      those which terminated did so as fine fibres which lay close to, or in, the
      interlamellar spaces of the outer annulus fibrosus. Calcitonin gene-related
      peptide-like immunoreactivity was also found in more complex endings in the
      longitudinal ligaments and rarely within the annulus fibrosus. RT97
      immunoreactivity was also present in the complex endings and associated fibres.
      Conversely, RT97-immunoreactivity was apparent only in a few fine filamentous
      fibre endings. This suggested that the majority of fine filamentous, or free,
      nerve endings were of an unmyelinated sensory origin. Alternatively, those
      endings of a more complex nature, which were RT97-immunoreactive, were of a
      myelinated sensory origin. No immunoreactivity to either antibody was seen in the
      inner annular or nuclear tissue. It was therefore concluded that the sensory
      innervation of the rat intervertebral disc has both myelinated and unmyelinated
      components, the latter being more extensive. Both types of innervation appear to
      be restricted to the outermost rings of the annulus fibrosus.

PMID- 1452471
TI  - Morphometry of cupromeronic blue-stained proteoglycan molecules in animal
      corneas, versus that of purified proteoglycans stained in vitro, implies that
      tertiary structures contribute to corneal ultrastructure.
AB  - Isolated, purified small chondroitin (dermatan) sulphate proteoglycans from
      corneas of cow and rabbit and cow sclera were stained with Cupromeronic blue in
      'model' experiments. The lengths and thicknesses of the images were compared with
      those of the same proteoglycans stained in the tissue, using the critical
      electrolyte concentration principle to give specificity for sulphated
      proteoglycans, and keratanase 1 or chondroitinase ABC digestion to distinguish
      between chondroitin and keratan sulphate. Corrections for orientation of the
      stained glycan filaments within the section plane were made to convert the
      observed lengths to true average lengths. Observed lengths of stained chondroitin
      (dermatan) sulphate were greater than those of keratan sulphate, both in models
      and tissues, in agreement with published data from biochemical and rotary
      shadowing studies, in both species. Corrected (true) average lengths of stained
      isolated chondroitin (dermatan) sulphate proteoglycans were slightly, but not
      significantly, longer than expected from rotary shadowing or biochemical
      measurements. Keratan sulphate lengths were similarly somewhat longer. The data
      support the idea that Cupromeronic blue acts as a scaffold that helps maintain
      polyanion shape against distortion on staining. Stained filaments in tissues were
      sometimes over twice the length of isolated stained proteoglycans, suggesting
      that 2 glycan chains were aligned end-to-end. Thicknesses of proteoglycan
      filaments suggested that at least 2 glycan chains were aligned side-by-side, both
      in models and in tissues. A scheme for proteoglycan tertiary structure in cornea
      is proposed, in which glycan chains may bridge collagen fibrils in duplexed forms
      similar to those observed in rotary shadowed preparations.

PMID- 1452472
TI  - Parvalbumin and calbindin immunoreactivity in the cerebral cortex of the hedgehog
      (Erinaceus europaeus).
AB  - To investigate the morphology and distribution of nonpyramidal neurons in the
      brain of insectivores, parvalbumin and calbindin 28 kDa immunoreactivity was
      examined in the cerebral cortex of the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus).
      Parvalbumin-immunoreactive cells were found in all layers of the isocortex, but
      in contrast to other mammals, a laminar organisation or specific regional
      distribution was not seen. Characteristic parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons were
      multipolar cells with large ascending and descending dendrites extending
      throughout several layers. Calbindin-immunoreactive neurons were similar to those
      found in other species, although appearing in smaller numbers than in the
      cerebral cortex of more advanced mammals. The morphology and distribution of
      parvalbumin- and calbindin-immunoreactive cells in the piriform and entorhinal
      cortices were similar in hedgehogs and rodents. Parvalbumin-immunoreactive cells
      in the hippocampal complex were pyramidal-like and bitufted neurons, which were
      mainly found in the stratum oriens and stratum pyramidale of the hippocampus, and
      in the stratum moleculare and hilus of the fascia dentata. Heavily stained cells
      were found in the deep part of the stratum granulare. Intense calbindin
      immunoreactivity occurred mainly in the granule cell and molecular layers of the
      dentate gyrus and in the mossy fibre layer. The most outstanding feature in the
      hippocampal complex of the hedgehog was the extension of calbindin
      immunoreactivity to CA1 field of the hippocampus, suggesting, in agreement with
      other reports, that mossy fibres can establish synaptic contacts throughout the
      pyramidal cell layer.

PMID- 1452473
TI  - Quantitative study of the development and maturation of human oesophageal
      innervation.
AB  - By 8 wk gestation, the human fetal oesophagus is identifiable as a hollow
      epithelium-lined tube with primitive nerve and muscle precursors present. From 8
      16 wk gestation, the muscle layers and innervation mature until fetal swallowing
      commences at 16 wk. This study examines quantitatively the development and
      maturation of nerve fibres and cell bodies within the oesophagus using
      histochemistry. Oesophageal samples (n = 35) from 8 wk gestation to 28 months of
      age and adults (n = 3) were immunostained using antisera for the general nerve
      marker, protein gene product (PGP 9.5), the glial tissue marker S100, and the
      synaptic vesicle protein synaptophysin (p38). Histochemical staining for NADH
      diaphorase enzyme activity was also used to identify neurons. Computer-assisted
      image analysis of the muscularis externa permitted detailed quantification of
      cell size, nerve density and myenteric (plexus) fraction. At 8 wk gestation, PGP
      and synaptophysin were present in immature neurons throughout the cytoplasm, but
      from 10 wk synaptophysin was localised solely at nerve synapses. S100
      immunoreactivity was also detected from 8 wk gestation onwards and was confined
      to glial tissue. Nerve cell size increased with maturation from 6 microns at 8 wk
      gestation to 20 microns at term and 21 microns at 28 months. The numbers of
      cells, nerve density (% area occupied by nerves throughout section) and myenteric
      fraction (% area occupied by ganglion cells and nerve fibres within the myenteric
      plexus) all peaked at 16-20 wk gestation and, whereas the number and density then
      fell towards adult levels, the myenteric fraction fell during the late second
      trimester and became constant from 30 wk gestation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1452474
TI  - High incidence of the median artery of the forearm in a sample of recent southern
      African cadavers.
AB  - Observations of the presence of the median artery, providing substantial blood
      supply to the hand, were conducted on 96 dissected forearms of 15 adult African
      females and 49 adult males. The artery has a much higher incidence (27.1%) than
      previously reported by any author. There is no significant difference in its
      occurrence between sexes, nor between right and left limbs. The artery seems to
      occur more often bilaterally than unilaterally. The presence of the artery is not
      related to age. From a theoretical standpoint it is difficult to accept that a
      structure present in more than 1 in 4 of individuals should be considered an
      'anomaly' or a 'variant'. A different approach to description of normal human
      anatomy is therefore necessary--that of presenting alternative anatomical
      patterns of equal standing rather than a single 'normal' pattern.

PMID- 1452475
TI  - A variant of flexor carpi ulnaris causing ulnar nerve compression.
AB  - Anatomical variations of the muscles and nerves around the wrist are common.
      Knowledge of such variations is derived from 2 sources: anatomical dissections
      and clinically reported cases. We present a case of duplication of the tendon of
      flexor carpi ulnaris with splitting of the ulnar nerve. The ulnar slip of the
      tendon was inserted into the pisiform bone and the radial slip into the proximal
      phalanx of the ring finger. The anatomical literature and the clinically reported
      cases of variations of the flexor carpi ulnaris are reviewed.

PMID- 1452476
TI  - Structural variations in the jugular foramen of the human skull.
AB  - The jugular foramen was examined in 300 Anatolian skulls from the 17th and 18th
      centuries. In 61.6% the foramen was larger on the right and in 26% on the left,
      with the remainder being of almost equal size. An obvious dome caused by a
      superior jugular bulb was present bilaterally in 49%, on the right only in 36%,
      on the left only in 6%; it was absent bilaterally in 10.3%. Complete bony
      septation occurred in 5.6% on the right and in 4.3% on the left, partial
      septation was observed in 2.6% on the right and in 19.6% on the left. Another
      foramen which is completely separated by a spicule of bone and which transmits
      the inferior petrosal sinus was present in 5.6% of skulls on the right and in
      4.6% on the left.

PMID- 1452477
TI  - Interference with interparietal growth in the human skull by the tectum synoticum
      posterior.
AB  - The tectum synoticum posterior, which is one of the 3 skull roof elements of the
      chondrocranium, interferes with the growth of the human interparietal bone, thus
      giving rise to lateral incisures in the bone. Our observations on the
      developmental fate of the incisures strongly suggest that the sutura mendosa is
      the remnant of these incisures.

PMID- 1452478
TI  - A rare anomaly of 5 ossicles in the pre-interparietal part of the squamous
      occipital bone in north Indians.
AB  - Examination of 125 adult north Indian skulls revealed a rare anomaly of 5 large
      ossicles in the upper central part of the squamous occipital bone. Their location
      and possible derivation are briefly discussed.

PMID- 1452479
TI  - Undergraduate medical anatomy teaching.

PMID- 1452480
TI  - Intracellular axonemes within ciliated cells in the tracheal epithelium of
      domestic pigs.
AB  - Extended aggregates of intracellular axonemal derivatives can be seen within the
      apical cytoplasm of ciliated cells of apparently healthy domestic pigs. Such
      alterations were observed in 15 out of 20 animals. Complete (9 + 2) or incomplete
      (8 + 2 - 5 + 2) intracellular axonemes were found which sometimes arose from
      mature, irregularly arranged kinetosomes. In addition, bundles of single
      microtubules and microtubular pairs were found. In previous investigations on the
      ciliated epithelium of different mammals, intracellular axonemes were
      investigated only under pathological or experimental conditions. Our findings
      indicate that these alterations also occur in healthy animals. The extended
      aggregates of intracellular axonemal derivatives are more likely to be due to a
      failure of ciliary maturation than to a degradation of incorporated mature cilia.

PMID- 1452481
TI  - Cytoarchitectonic and quantitative Golgi study of the hedgehog supraoptic
      nucleus.
AB  - A cytoarchitectural study was made of the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the
      hedgehog with special attention to the quantitative comparison of its main
      neuronal types. The main purposes were (1) to relate the characteristics of this
      nucleus in the hedgehog (a primitive mammalian insectivorous brain) with those in
      the SONs of more evolutionarily advanced species; (2) to identify quantitatively
      the dendritic fields of the main neuronal types in the hedgehog SON and to study
      their synaptic connectivity. From a descriptive standpoint, 3 neuronal types were
      found with respect to the number of dendritic stems arising from the neuronal
      soma: bipolar neurons (48%), multipolar neurons (45.5%) and monopolar neurons
      (6.5%). Within the multipolar type 2 subtypes could be distinguished, taking into
      account the number of dendritic spines: (a) with few spines (93%) and (b) very
      spiny (7%). These results indicate that the hedgehog SON is similar to that in
      other species except for the very spiny neurons, the significance of which is
      discussed. In order to characterise the main types more satisfactorily (bipolar
      and multipolars with few spines) we undertook a quantitative Golgi study of their
      dendritic fields. Although the patterns of the dendritic field are similar in
      both neuronal types, the differences in the location of their connectivity can
      reflect functional changes and alterations in relation to the synaptic
      afferences.

PMID- 1452482
TI  - The effects of clenbuterol on satellite cell activation and the regeneration of
      skeletal muscle: an autoradiographic and morphometric study of whole muscle
      transplants in mice.
AB  - The beta-2 agonist clenbuterol was tested for its effect on the proliferation of
      satellite cells in transplanted skeletal muscles. Using autoradiographic
      techniques it was found that satellite cells in clenbuterol treated transplants
      began proliferating earlier than in control animals. The effect of clenbuterol on
      the growth of regenerating muscle fibres was also examined using morphometric
      techniques, which manifested itself as hypertrophy of the fibres when compared
      with the controls.

PMID- 1452483
TI  - The effects of pre- and posttransplantation exercise on satellite cell activation
      and the regeneration of skeletal muscle transplants: a morphometric and
      autoradiographic study in mice.
AB  - The effects of pre- and posttransplantation exercise on satellite cell
      activation, and the eventual regeneration of skeletal muscle transplants, were
      studied histologically, morphometrically and autoradiographically. It was found
      that satellite cells in these transplants were synthesising DNA 30 h after
      transplantation, and the transplants appeared to be revascularising at 60 h after
      surgery. Respectively, this was 18 and 12 h earlier than found in previous
      studies on nonexercising muscle using the same techniques. The morphometric
      analysis showed hypertrophy of the muscle fibres of the exercised transplants
      when compared with controls, and also an increase in the capillarity of the
      exercised transplants.

PMID- 1452484
TI  - Anatomical aspects of the lacrimal gland of the tufted capuchin (Cebus apella).
AB  - In the tufted capuchin (Cebus apella) the main lacrimal gland is composed of 2
      distinct portions with an intraorbital and extraorbital localisation,
      interconnected by a bridge of glandular tissue which crosses the lateral orbital
      wall through the lateral orbital fissure located in the sphenozygomatic suture.
      The intraorbital lacrimal gland is flattened and extremely thin, with a variable
      outline. It lies on the upper and outer third of the globe of the eye, and the
      aponeurosis and the belly of the lateral rectus muscle, extending antero
      posteriorly from the upper lateral angle of the orbit midway along the orbital
      cavity. The extraorbital lacrimal gland is compact, halfmoon-shaped, with 3
      surfaces, 3 borders and 2 extremities. It lies in the temporal fossa between the
      temporalis muscle and the temporal surface of the zygomatic bone, fitting into a
      depression in this bone, and totally surrounded by adipose tissue. The secretory
      cells have a flocculent appearance and either low or high density. They possess a
      basal region containing the nucleus and rich in granular endoplasmic reticulum,
      and an apical region filled with secretory granules varying in size, form and
      density.

PMID- 1452485
TI  - Characterisation of secondary spermatocytes in the marbled newt (Triturus
      marmoratus).
AB  - Secondary spermatocytes in the marbled newt (Triturus marmoratus) were identified
      by means of cytophotometric quantification of nuclear DNA in the testicular
      lobules containing primary spermatocytes in advanced stages of the first meiotic
      division (from pachytene onwards) and newly formed spermatids. The nucleus of
      secondary spermatocytes has an intermediate size between that of primary
      spermatocytes and round spermatids and was characterised by the presence of
      abundant masses of dense chromatin and the absence of a nucleolus. At the
      prophase the chromatin masses were located at the periphery of the nucleus. The
      ultrastructural study revealed that the nuclear envelope displayed blebs and that
      the cytoplasm was very similar to that of primary spermatocytes including the
      presence of smooth endoplasmic reticulum whorls, multiple small dictyosomes, and
      a proacrosomal-like granule near the nucleus. This granule stained weakly with
      aqueous PTA and was observed in about 6% of secondary spermatocytes. Many of the
      mitochondria were grouped beneath the plasma membrane. Approximately 2% of these
      cells presented an axoneme which was not associated with other flagellar
      components.

PMID- 1452486
TI  - Microvessel and astroglial cell densities in the mouse hippocampus.
AB  - In order to study the factors responsible for glucose uptake in the mouse
      hippocampus, microvessel and astroglial cell densities were measured and compared
      in each laminal region. Microvessel density was examined on histologically
      prepared sections after injection of Indian ink and measured by means of an image
      analyser. Astroglial cell density was determined after the cells were stained
      immunohistochemically. Microvessel and astroglial cell densities were determined
      in 10 different hippocampal structures. Microvessel and astroglial cell densities
      were strongly correlated in all layers except the pyramidal cell layers. The
      highest density of perfused microvessels was found in the stratum lacunosum
      moleculare, compared with other regions, and the lowest values were found in the
      stratum lucidum and dentate granular cell layer. Among pyramidal cell layers,
      microvessel density in sector CA3a was significantly higher than that in CA1.

PMID- 1452487
TI  - The ampulla of the ductus deferens in man: morphological and ultrastructural
      aspects.
AB  - In order to compare the histology of the ampulla of the ductus deferens with that
      of the other segments of the duct in man, the seminal vesicle and the adjacent 13
      15 cm of the ductus deferens were obtained during cystectomy from 15 adult men,
      and were processed for light and electron microscopy. Each ductus deferens
      specimen was divided into 3 segments: segment A or initial segment (the most
      proximal to the testis) showing a smooth outer surface and, on section, a uniform
      lumen and absence of mucosal invaginations; segment B (1.5-4 cm) showing a smooth
      outer surface and, on section, small cavities in the mucosa; and segment C or
      ampulla (3-4 cm), which was easily recognisable because of the cerebriform
      pattern on its outer surface. Segment A showed the usual histological pattern
      reported in studies of the human ductus deferens. Segment B consisted of mucosa,
      muscularis mucosae, submucosa, muscular coat and adventitia. The epithelial
      lining formed multiple branched invaginations in the lamina propria and submucosa
      giving rise to glandular structures. The lumen of the duct and the glands were
      lined by the same cell types: (1) basal cells; (2) mitochondrion-rich cells; and
      (3) columnar cells with the ultrastructural features of glycoprotein-secreting
      cells. The latter cells could be classified into 3 subtypes suggesting different
      stages of development: (a) with abundant mitochondria; (b) with abundant rough
      endoplasmic reticulum; and (c) with abundant secretory granules. Segment C or the
      ampulla showed the same histology as segment B except for the presence of many
      diverticula in the ampulla.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452488
TI  - Rethinking options for the treatment of shigellosis.

PMID- 1452489
TI  - The site concentrations of antimicrobial agents in the lung.

PMID- 1452490
TI  - Antibacterial profile of flurithromycin, a new macrolide.
AB  - The in-vitro activity of flurithromycin against common respiratory tract Gram
      positive (85 strains) and Gram-negative (44 strains) pathogens, and a collection
      of anaerobes (125 strains) was compared with that of erythromycin, cefixime,
      amoxycillin, co-amoxiclav, ciprofloxacin, netilmicin and clindamycin.
      Flurithromycin possessed the same spectrum and potency of antimicrobial activity
      as erythromycin. The presence of 50% human serum in the test media enhanced the
      activity of flurithromycin against all isolates, with the exception of
      Streptococcus pyogenes. Flurithromycin induced a post-antibiotic effect (PAE)
      that ranged from 0.25 h (Haemophilus influenzae) to 3.5 h (Streptococcus
      pneumoniae) for all strains tested. The presence of serum increased or diminished
      the duration of the PAE, depending on the strain being analysed. No interaction
      between flurithromycin and the other drugs tested was observed by the
      checkerboard technique, but when the time-kill system was used, 35 cases of
      synergy were noted out of 120 tests performed (29%), of which 15 (43%) were with
      Moraxella catarrhalis, 12 (34%) with Staphylococcus aureus, four (11%) with H.
      influenzae and the remainder with S. pneumoniae and S. pyogenes. Netilmicin
      produced most synergic interactions. Antagonism was not detected by either
      methods.

PMID- 1452491
TI  - The combined effect of iron chelators and classical antimalarials on the in-vitro
      growth of Plasmodium falciparum.
AB  - The emergence of drug resistant malaria has prompted an intensified search for
      new antimalarials or combinations of such drugs. Iron chelating agents may
      represent a new approach to antimalarial treatment and could possibly be used in
      combination with classical antimalarials. Plasmodium falciparum (FCR-3) strain
      used at a 1% haematocrit, was subjected to various combinations of the classic
      antimalarials (chloroquine, pyrimethamine and quinine) and iron chelating agents
      (desferrioxamine and 2,2'-bipyridyl) in vitro. Tritiated hypoxanthine
      incorporation was used to determine the growth of the malarial parasites. The
      iron chelating agents and classic antimalarials when tested alone were found to
      inhibit the growth of the late stages of the parasite. The combination of the
      classic antimalarials and iron chelating agents resulted in additive effects on
      the in-vitro growth of P. falciparum.

PMID- 1452492
TI  - Decreased susceptibility of penicillin-resistant pneumococci to twenty-four beta
      lactam antibiotics.
AB  - The in-vitro activity of 24 beta-lactam antibiotics was compared using three
      groups of pneumococci and an agar dilution method comprising 100 penicillin
      susceptible, 100 intermediately penicillin-resistant, and 100 highly penicillin
      resistant pneumococcal strains. Our results show that intermediately penicillin
      resistant and highly penicillin-resistant pneumococci had decreased sensitivity
      to other beta-lactam agents. According to their relative in-vitro activity, the
      antimicrobials were classified into three groups. The first group included drugs
      more active than penicillin (imipenem, meropenem, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and
      cefpirome), which could be useful for the treatment of infections due to
      penicillin-resistant strains. The second group showed slightly lesser activity
      than did penicillin, and included: ampicillin, cefdinir, cefuroxime,
      cefoperazone, azlocillin, mezlocillin, piperacillin, cephalothin, and
      cefamandole. The remaining antibiotics (oxacillin, cefixime, ceftizoxime,
      cefetamet, cefaclor, ceftazidime, cefoxitin, cefonicid, and latamoxef) showed
      poor activity against penicillin-resistant strains, precluding their use for
      empirical treatment in areas with a high prevalence of penicillin-resistant
      strains.

PMID- 1452493
TI  - Rapid increase in the prevalence of high-level aminoglycoside resistance among
      enterococci isolated from blood cultures during 1989-1991.
AB  - At St Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center in Youngstown, Ohio, USA, the first blood
      culture isolate of Enterococcus faecalis with high-level gentamicin resistance
      (MIC > 2000 mg/L) was seen in 1985, and the prevalence of high-level gentamicin
      resistance among enterococci isolated from blood cultures during 1985-8 was 9%.
      During the period 1989-91, the prevalence of high-level gentamicin resistance
      among enterococci isolated from blood cultures increased to 35% (44 of 126
      strains). Increases in the prevalence of high-level resistance to amikacin,
      tobramycin, netilmicin, kanamycin and streptomycin were also demonstrated. Ten of
      44 strains (23%) with high-level gentamicin resistance did not exhibit high-level
      resistance to streptomycin. Of the 126 strains of enterococci, 52% had high-level
      resistance to at least one aminoglycoside.

PMID- 1452494
TI  - Antibiotic sensitivity of ribosomes from wild-type and clindamycin resistant
      Bacteroides vulgatus strains.
AB  - The sensitivity to different antibiotics of in-vitro polyuridylic acid-dependent
      polypeptide synthesizing system from Bacteroides vulgatus RYC18F6 and two
      clindamycin-resistant derivatives was studied. The ribosomes from the resistant
      strains were not affected by concentrations of up to 0.1 mM clindamycin and
      lincomycin. In contrast, streptogramin B was found to cause strong stimulation of
      the clindamycin-resistant polymerizing systems. The modified ribosomes from the
      resistant strains were more sensitive to other antibiotics like sparsomycin and
      chloramphenicol. The data indicate that resistance in these B. vulgatus mutant
      strains is due to alteration of the ribosome structure.

PMID- 1452495
TI  - Inhibition of Chlamydia trachomatis growth in mouse fibroblasts by liposome
      encapsulated tetracycline.
AB  - The in-vitro susceptibility of Chlamydia trachomatis to liposome-encapsulated
      tetracycline was determined and compared with free tetracycline. Anionic,
      cationic and neutral small unilamellar liposomes were used in this study.
      Chlamydia-infected mouse fibroblast monolayers were continuously exposed to
      varying concentrations of antibiotic, incubated for 48 h and Giemsa stained. The
      minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for anionic, cationic and neutral
      liposomes containing tetracycline were 0.38, 0.08 and 0.04 mg/L, respectively.
      This was approximately 2, 10, and 20 times more efficient than free tetracycline
      (MIC, 0.79 mg/L). Neutral liposomes displayed no visible toxic side-effects on
      the host cells. When compared with free tetracycline, neutral liposomes were the
      most efficient for the delivery of inhibitory concentrations of tetracycline to
      chlamydia-infected mouse fibroblast L cell cultures.

PMID- 1452496
TI  - In-vitro effects of liposome-encapsulated amphotericin B (AmBisome) and
      amphotericin B-deoxycholate (Fungizone) on the phagocytic and candidacidal
      function of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes.
AB  - Liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome), at concentrations > or = 20 mg/L, and
      amphotericin B-deoxycholate (DC) (Fungizone), at concentrations > or = 1 mg/L,
      both caused a significant reduction in neutrophil uptake of Candida albicans
      blastospores following simultaneous addition of the drug with the blastospores.
      The reduction in uptake was seen also in tests in which blastospores were pre
      treated with the drugs for 60 min, but was not detected in tests in which
      neutrophils were pre-treated for 60 min. Neither formulation affected neutrophil
      killing of C. albicans blastospores following simultaneous addition of the drug
      with the blastospores. However, previous treatment of the neutrophils with either
      formulation at a concentration of 20 mg/L led to enhanced killing of ingested
      blastospores. The results suggest that much higher concentrations of liposomal
      amphotericin B (AmBisome) are required to produce deleterious effects on
      neutrophil phagocytic function than with the conventional formulation of the
      drug.

PMID- 1452497
TI  - Comparative activity of glycopeptide antibiotics against coagulase-negative
      staphylococci embedded in fibrin clots.
AB  - The susceptibilities of 16 strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci to
      vancomycin and teicoplanin were determined by three microdilution methods run in
      parallel; (i) a reference method in which the medium was Iso-Sensitest broth,
      (ii) a method in which the organisms were suspended in plasma and (iii) one in
      which the bacteria were incorporated into a fibrin clot. In comparison with the
      reference method there was a less than two-fold change in the geometric mean MICs
      of both antibiotics in plasma, while in clot the increase was 12-fold for
      vancomycin and 28-fold for teicoplanin. MBCs showed a similar trend although the
      increase was greater for teicoplanin. These results suggest that protein binding
      may have a much greater impact on antimicrobial activity when the mobility of the
      protein is reduced within a clot.

PMID- 1452498
TI  - In-vitro and in-vivo evaluation of the antistaphylococcal activity of S-5556, a
      new 16-membered macrolide.
AB  - During recent years, a resurgence of interest in the macrolides had led to the
      discovery of new derivatives of erythromycin with improved antibacterial activity
      and pharmacokinetic properties. In this study the in-vitro and in-vivo
      antistaphylococcal activity of S-5556, a 16-membered macrolide, was evaluated. In
      vitro, S-5556 was slightly less active than erythromycin against methicillin
      susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. In contrast, it had superior activity for
      methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA); several of these strains with inducible
      resistance to the macrolides-lincosamides-streptogramins group were susceptible
      to S-5556 whereas erythromycin was inactive. The combination of S-5556 with
      oxacillin was synergic for most MRSA strains tested. In vivo, a single
      prophylactic dose of S-5556 prevented 75%-100% of the cases of acute
      staphylococcal subcutaneous foreign body infection in a guinea pig-model. In a
      rat-model of chronic implant infection due to a methicillin- and erythromycin
      resistant S. aureus strain, S-5556 significantly decreased the bacterial
      concentration around the foreign material, however resistant mutants emerged.

PMID- 1452499
TI  - The anti-inflammatory effect of erythromycin in zymosan-induced peritonitis of
      mice.
AB  - The anti-inflammatory effect of erythromycin was investigated using zymosan
      induced peritonitis in mice. When mice were given erythromycin 10 mg/kg/day po
      for 28 days, a marked suppression of inflammatory responses, including the
      reduced influx of leucocytes, plasma exudation and prostaglandin E2 synthesis,
      was observed. However, neither a 7-day treatment with erythromycin nor a 28-day
      treatment with clindamycin suppressed the response. The anti-inflammatory
      activity induced after a 28-day treatment with erythromycin was comparable to the
      anti-inflammatory effect conferred by a 2-day treatment with dexamethasone 40
      microgram/mouse/day. Thus, these data confirm previous studies which show that
      erythromycin can exert an anti-inflammatory effect when used over long periods of
      time.

PMID- 1452500
TI  - Amoxycillin-resistant oral streptococci and experimental infective endocarditis
      in the rabbit.
AB  - The ability of three amoxycillin-resistant strains of Streptococcus sanguis 254,
      24 and 297 (MIC 40 mg/L) to cause infective endocarditis (IE) in the rabbit was
      investigated. These strains all produced infection in the rabbit, as did an
      antibiotic sensitive control strain NCTC 7864. Prophylactic amoxycillin (400
      mg/kg body weight) administered one hour before bacterial challenge prevented 80%
      of the animals developing IE irrespective of the challenging strain. It is
      concluded that amoxycillin-resistant strains of S. sanguis can cause IE and that
      amoxycillin prophylaxis can still be effective against these bacteria.

PMID- 1452501
TI  - Efficacies of amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) and conventional amphotericin B
      against murine coccidioidomycosis.
AB  - The comparative activities of two preparations of amphotericin B against
      Coccidioides immitis were investigated. These preparations were a deoxycholate
      suspension (conventional amphotericin B) and a lipid-based formulation,
      amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC). In-vitro susceptibility testing demonstrated
      that the MICs of ABLC were < or = 0.25 mg/L and of conventional amphotericin B
      were 0.5 mg/L for C. immitis. However, conventional amphotericin B was at least
      four-fold more fungicidal, with a minimum fungicidal concentration of 4.0 vs > 16
      mg/L for ABLC. The therapeutic efficacies were tested in murine models of acute
      systemic coccidioidomycosis. Female CD-1 mice were infected iv with C. immitis
      arthroconidia to establish high (> 50%) or low (< 50%) mortality models. Therapy
      with conventional amphotericin B or ABLC was given three times per week for two
      weeks starting three days post-infection. Controls received no therapy or drug
      free diluent only. Survival was tallied up to 49 days post-infection and the
      fungal cfu counts in spleen, liver, and lungs of all survivors were determined.
      In the low mortality study all treated mice survived and all therapy regimens
      reduced infection in all organs. All mice given ABLC 6.6 or 13.2 mg/kg/dose and
      80% given ABLC 16.5 mg/kg/dose, as well as 90% given conventional amphotericin B
      0.66 mg/kg/dose were free of infection; all controls remained infected. In two
      high mortality studies, all mice given ABLC 0.66-20 mg/kg/dose or conventional
      amphotericin B 0.22 or 0.66 mg/kg/dose survived compared with 0-20% of controls.
      Thirty per cent of uninfected mice given ABLC 20 mg/kg/dose and 40% given
      conventional amphotericin B 2.0 mg/kg/dose died due to drug toxicity. Mice given
      ABLC or conventional amphotericin B had lower residual cfu counts of C. immitis
      in all organs than did controls. Sixty to one hundred per cent of mice given ABLC
      regimens > or = 6.6 mg/kg/dose were cured, whereas all controls and 50-60% of
      mice receiving the highest non-toxic conventional amphotericin B regimen (0.66
      mg/kg/dose) remained infected. At equal non-toxic amphotericin B doses,
      conventional amphotericin B was more effective than ABLC in reducing cfu in
      infected organs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1452502
TI  - Multiple dose pharmacokinetics, safety, and effects on faecal microflora, of
      cefepime in healthy volunteers.
AB  - In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 12 healthy volunteers
      pharmacokinetics, safety and impact on the faecal microflora of cefepime were
      determined. For eight days eight volunteers received cefepime 1000 mg bd by
      constant infusion over 30 min, four volunteers received placebo. Concentrations
      of cefepime in serum and urine were measured by bioassay and HPLC. The
      correlation between the two methods was good and the bioassay results were used
      for pharmacokinetic calculations. The faecal flora was analysed twice before the
      study, twice during the study and four times after cefepime administration. There
      were no significant differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters between days 1
      and 8. The following values (mean +/- S.D.) represent day 1. The maximum
      concentration of 72.69 +/- 12.2 mg/L immediately after infusion decreased to 0.56
      +/- 0.17 mg/L after 12 h. The mean 12 h recovery in urine was 93.69 +/- 2.14%.
      Pharmacokinetic parameters based on an open two-compartment model were as follows
      (mean +/- S.D.): area under the curve, 142.65 +/- 18.35 mg.h/L; elimination half
      life 110.3 +/- 8.3 min; steady state volume of distribution 16.0 +/- 1.9 L/70 kg;
      total clearance, 107.0 +/- 16.0 mL/min; renal clearance 103.0 +/- 15.2 mL/min. No
      accumulation was observed during the eight day study period with cefepime at this
      dosage; trough levels on days 2-7 ranged from 0.52 +/- 0.26 mg/L to 0.90 +/- 0.33
      mg/L. In the cefepime treated group the following side-effects were noted:
      headache (5), fatigue (4), nausea/stomach ache (2), soft stool (2), transient
      scotoma (1). Side-effects in the placebo group were: headache (2) fatigue (3),
      nausea/stomach-ache (1), soft stool (2) and photophobia (1). During cefepime
      administration a decrease in the number of Escherichia coli and bifidobacteria in
      faeces was observed, whereas Bacteroides spp. and clostridia showed a slight
      increase. The numbers of faecal bacteria returned to normal 20 to 48 days after
      the study was completed.

PMID- 1452503
TI  - Bronchoalveolar distribution of cefuroxime axetil and in-vitro efficacy of
      observed concentrations against respiratory pathogens.
AB  - The concentrations of cefuroxime in human alveolar macrophages (AM), epithelial
      lining fluid (ELF), bronchial mucosal biopsies and serum were measured after a
      single dose, equivalent to 500 mg of cefuroxime base, given in the form of the
      orally-administered pro-drug, cefuroxime axetil. Fourteen patients undergoing
      fibreoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage were studied. The mean ELF
      concentration was 0.7 mg/L, that of bronchial biopsies was 1.8 mg/kg and that of
      serum 3.5 mg/L. AM-associated cefuroxime was detected in nine patients. To assess
      the in-vitro activity of the concentrations achieved at the potential sites of
      infection, clinical isolates of common respiratory pathogens were exposed to two
      concentrations of cefuroxime, based on the observed concentrations in ELF and
      bronchial mucosa. ELF and mucosal site concentrations were effective against
      Streptococcus pneumoniae (except one strain with reduced susceptibility to benzyl
      penicillin) and Haemophilus influenzae. The ELF concentration was less effective
      against Moraxella catarrhalis.

PMID- 1452504
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of aztreonam in patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites.
AB  - The pharmacokinetics of aztreonam were studied in six healthy male subjects
      (group I) and 12 male patients with post-hepatitis liver cirrhosis and ascites.
      Patients were allocated into two groups according to serum creatinine; group II
      included nine patients with serum creatinine. < or = 15 mg/L while group III
      included three patients with serum creatinine > 15 mg/L. Aztreonam 1 g was given
      as iv bolus injection. Aztreonam reached a peak concentration in the ascitic
      fluid (AF) of 6.2 +/- 2.3 mg/L at 4 h, and of 8.7 +/- 4.4 mg/L at 6 h in groups
      II and III respectively. The level of the drug in AF 24 h post-dosing was still
      higher than MIC90 for Enterobacteriaceae in most patients. The half-life of
      elimination from serum increased significantly (P > 0.001) from 1.82 +/- 0.14 h
      in group I to 6.6 +/- 2.1 h and to 8.87 +/- 0.2 h in groups II and III,
      respectively. Both the central and the terminal volumes of distribution were
      higher in cirrhotic patients than in healthy volunteers. Liver cirrhosis and
      ascites resulted in a significant increase (P < 0.001) of the total body
      clearance (Cl) of aztreonam from 84 +/- 8 mL/h/kg in group I to 209 +/- 87
      mL/h/kg in group II. However, the concomitant association of mild renal
      impairment in group III abolished this increase; Cl in group III was 122 +/- 50
      mL/h/kg. The AUC0-infinity serum was 137.5 +/- 12.2, 78.5 +/- 24.9 and 151 +/- 42
      mg.h/L in groups I, II and II, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452505
TI  - Stability of ceftriaxone solution.

PMID- 1452506
TI  - Oral cephalosporins.

PMID- 1452507
TI  - Detection of beta-lactamase production in Moraxella catarrhalis.

PMID- 1452508
TI  - Serum monitoring of teicoplanin.

PMID- 1452509
TI  - Acquired platelet function defects.
AB  - Platelet dysfunctions, especially acquired forms, are common causes of
      hemorrhage, especially when associated with trauma or surgery. Although the
      hereditary platelet function defects are generally quite rare, hereditary storage
      pool disease is common enough to be suspected in an individual, usually a child,
      with characteristic historical and clinical findings. The acquired platelet
      function defects, especially those resulting from drugs, are very common and
      should promptly be suspected in patients developing easy and spontaneous
      bruising, mild to moderate mucosal membrane hemorrhage, or unexplained bleeding
      associated with trauma or surgery. The template bleeding time is generally useful
      as a screening test of platelet function, but a normal template bleeding time, in
      the face of a suggestive history, suggestive clinical findings, or in the patient
      frankly bleeding, is not reliable, and platelet aggregation or lumi-aggregation
      should be done in appropriate clinical situations. Also, prolongation of the
      template bleeding time is an unreliable predictor of clinical bleeding
      propensity. The mainstay of therapy for essentially all these defects, if
      bleeding is significant, is the liberal infusion of appropriate numbers of
      platelet concentrates. The acquired platelet function defects should also be
      managed by attempts to treat or control the underlying disease, if possible, and
      offending drugs or potentially offending drugs should immediately be stopped.

PMID- 1452510
TI  - Drug-induced alterations of hemostasis and fibrinolysis.
AB  - The hemostatic and fibrinolytic systems contribute significantly to the overall
      pathophysiologic status of a patient in a given clinical setting. Drug modulation
      of these systems plays a crucial role in the facilitation of the therapeutic
      effects but may also produce bleeding or thrombotic disorders. Many drugs appear
      inert; they can, however, modulate both the hemostatic and fibrinolytic systems.
      Such effects depend on several factors, however, but are significant enough to be
      recognized for the optimal care of patients. Therefore, it is recommended that
      the hemostatic and fibrinolytic systems should be routinely monitored during drug
      delivery.

PMID- 1452511
TI  - Disseminated intravascular coagulation.
AB  - Current concepts of the etiology, pathophysiology, clinical and laboratory
      diagnosis, and management of fulminant and low-grade DIC have been presented.
      Considerable attention has been devoted to interrelationships within the
      hemostasis system. Only by clearly understanding these pathophysiologic
      interrelationships can the clinician and laboratory scientist appreciate the
      divergent and wide spectrum of often confusing clinical and laboratory findings
      in patients with DIC. Many therapeutic decisions to be made are controversial and
      will remain so until more is published about specific therapeutic modalities and
      survival patterns. Also, therapy must be highly individualized depending on the
      nature of DIC, age, etiology of DIC, site and severity of hemorrhage or
      thrombosis, and hemodynamic and other clinical parameters. Many syndromes that
      are organ-specific share common pathophysiology with DIC but are typically
      identified as an independent disease entity, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome,
      adult shock-lung syndrome, eclampsia, and many other isolated "organ-specific"
      disorders.

PMID- 1452512
TI  - Anticardiolipin antibodies and thrombosis.
AB  - Anticardiolipin antibodies (ACLAs) are strongly associated with thrombosis and
      appear to be the most common of the acquired blood protein defects causing
      thrombosis. Although the precise mechanism(s) whereby ACLAs alter hemostasis to
      induce a hypercoagulable state remain unclear, several theories, as previously
      discussed, have been advanced. The most common thrombotic events associated with
      ACLAs are deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus (type I syndrome), coronary
      or peripheral artery thrombosis (type II syndrome), or cerebrovascular/retinal
      vessel thrombosis (type III syndrome), and occasionally patients present with
      mixtures (type IV syndrome). The relative frequency of ACLAs in association with
      arterial and venous thrombosis strongly suggests that these should be looked for
      in any individual with unexplained thrombosis; all three idiotypes (IgG, IgA, and
      IgM) should be assessed. Also, the type of syndrome (I through IV) should be
      defined if possible, because this may dictate both type and duration of both
      immediate and long-term anticoagulant therapy.

PMID- 1452513
TI  - Hemostatic abnormalities in multiple myeloma and related disorders.
AB  - Patients with multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, benign
      monoclonal gammopathy, and other B-cell disorders associated with high titer
      serum paraproteins can manifest unique hemostatic disorders. Most of these
      disorders predispose the patient to hemorrhage, especially following surgical
      procedures. Mechanisms can include: acquired von Willebrand syndrome, paraprotein
      induced platelet function defects, factor X deficiency, and local tissue
      fragility associated with amyloidosis, abnormalities of the function of fibrin,
      circulating anticoagulants, and thrombocytopenia. The mainstay of therapy is the
      treatment of the underlying disease. Depending on clinical circumstances,
      additional therapies might include: plasmapheresis with appropriate factor
      replacement, arginine vasopressin, fibrinolysis inhibitors, and splenectomy. Less
      commonly, the paraprotein disorders are associated with thrombotic complications,
      especially in those cases in which the lupus anticoagulant is present.

PMID- 1452514
TI  - Bleeding problems in the cancer patient.
AB  - Bleeding problems in the cancer patient may result from the effects of the tumor
      on hemostatic mechanisms or from the treatment of the tumor by cytotoxic and
      other agents. Among the tumor-related bleeding problems are disseminated
      intravascular coagulation, primary fibrinolysis, thrombocytopenia, acquired
      platelet dysfunction, and circulating inhibitors or anticoagulants. Disseminated
      intravascular coagulation in most solid tumors is associated with
      hypercoagulability, whereas in acute promyelocytic leukemia bleeding is the most
      common presentation. Treatment-related bleeding disorders include the common
      problem of thrombocytopenia secondary to myelosuppressive chemotherapy as well as
      the interesting microangiopathic hemolytic anemia syndrome associated with
      mitomycin C and other agents.

PMID- 1452515
TI  - Diagnosis and treatment of cancer-related thrombosis.
AB  - Thrombotic events are common causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with
      neoplastic diseases. Standard diagnostic tests may give misleading results, and
      the effects of treatment may not be as expected. This article discusses the
      pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of thrombosis in this difficult
      setting.

PMID- 1452516
TI  - Acquired circulating anticoagulants.
AB  - Acquired inhibitors of blood coagulation, which are pathologic circulating
      substances that directly inhibit clotting factors or their reactions, most
      commonly occur in patients with hereditary bleeding disorders. This article
      contains a discussion of acquired circulating anticoagulants that arise de novo
      in patients with previously normal hemostatic mechanisms. Pathogenesis and
      management are also discussed. Treatment of these patients poses a challenge for
      the hematologist because, unlike hereditary hemophiliacs who have learned to
      adjust their lifestyle, the acquired hemophiliac is unprepared for hemorrhagic
      episodes.

PMID- 1452517
TI  - Cancer cell procoagulants and their implications.
AB  - Cancer cells induce abnormal blood coagulation through a process that probably
      involves a combination of increased activators and deficiencies of
      anticoagulants. The probable participating factors (including tissue factor
      factor VII and cancer procoagulant) and their role in this process are discussed.
      The current theory on the role of coagulation in malignant disease is also
      discussed.

PMID- 1452518
TI  - Use of blood components in cancer patients with bleeding.
AB  - The need for blood components for oncology patients is small compared with the
      need for patients with hematologic malignancies. The subject is important because
      use of these valuable components is dependent on a limited supply and
      availability. Agreement on when to use components is extremely important. In
      fact, at the time of this writing, the Transfusion Practices Committee of the
      American Association of Blood Banks is conducting an extensive survey on the use
      of platelets in oncology and hematology cancer patients (Questionnaire on
      Institutional Policy on Platelet Transfusion Practice for Hematology/Oncology
      Patients). The results will, we hope, provide a consensus on the proper times and
      counts that require prophylactic use of components for these patients. Because
      these patients use the vast majority of components (see Table 15), their proper
      use is imperative to maintaining an adequate platelet and frozen plasma supply.
      Transfusion support in cancer patients is vital for their survival. Platelets, in
      particular, are necessary to prevent serious bleeding. The risks from transfusion
      must always be considered. Fortunately, with increased monitoring of the blood
      supply, they have been reduced. As with any therapeutic regimen, these risks must
      be weighed against the benefit the patient may gain. Transfusion should always be
      used prudently.

PMID- 1452519
TI  - Structure and mechanism of action of serpins.
AB  - Serpins have a central role in regulating proteolysis in blood coagulation,
      fibrinolysis, and inflammation. Congenital serpin deficiencies cause specific
      clinical syndromes such as thrombosis with antithrombin III deficiency or
      emphysema with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency. Acquired serpin abnormalities have
      also been reported, for example, increased PAI-1, which is believed to represent
      a major risk factor for the development of thromboembolic complications. This
      article has reviewed the structure/function relationships of serpins and have
      presented ideas concerning their mechanism of action. The implications of this
      information for designing drugs that could interfere with serpin function has
      also been described, and mention has been made of the therapeutic potential of
      such compounds.

PMID- 1452520
TI  - Acquired von Willebrand's disease.
AB  - avWD is a rare entity that is primarily associated with lymphoproliferative
      disorders, most commonly with multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and the
      myeloproliferative diseases. Various pathogenetic mechanisms have been
      postulated. The most commonly seen is antibodies directed against the FVIII
      complex, resulting in either its accelerated destruction or its accelerated
      clearance by the reticuloendothelial system. There may be immunoadsorption of the
      FVIII complexes onto the clones of malignant cells, as has been reported in
      several cases, or proteolysis may be causing the peripheral destruction of the
      FVIII complex. Lastly, as seen in hypothyroidism, global decrease in production
      of the multimers also results in avWD. The treatment, in general, should be aimed
      at controlling the underlying disorder and at stopping any life-threatening
      hemorrhage. The treatment includes any or all of the following: DDAVP,
      cryoprecipitate, FVIII concentrates, extracorporeal immunoadsorption, and
      chemotherapy as needed to control the underlying disorders. The screening tests
      that will allow for the detection of the avWD include measurement of the bleeding
      time, the FVIII:C, FVIII:vWF, and the FVIII:RCoF. FVIII:C inhibitors can be
      demonstrated by mixing the patient plasma with normal plasma. A normal
      prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and thrombin
      time (TT) are expected. Clinically, these patients present with mucosal bleeding,
      and in avWD tend to have an association with lymphoproliferative malignancies.
      They tend to be elderly patients with no prior history of bleeding diathesis and
      to have negative family histories for coagulopathies. Further study of these
      patients is warranted, because this disorder appears to have a multifactorial
      etiology. Increasing our understanding of avWD may increase our understanding of
      congenital vWD, thus allowing us to more effectively treat all patients with von
      Willebrand's disease.

PMID- 1452521
TI  - Hypercoagulability and thrombosis.
AB  - This article has summarized known congenital and acquired alterations of
      hemostasis leading to thrombosis. Decreases in coagulation inhibitors, including
      antithrombin III, heparin cofactor II, and protein C and protein S, are of major
      importance in assessing patients with hypercoagulable states or patients with
      unexplained thrombosis. Newer assays for components of the fibrinolytic system,
      plasminogen, t-PA and t-PA inhibitor are also now readily available and are
      important for defining congenital or acquired fibrinolytic defects leading to
      hypercoagulability and thrombosis. By judicious use of these assays, combined
      with clinical evaluation, many patients with thrombosis will have an underlying
      etiologic blood protein defect defined. Delineating reasons for a thrombotic
      event is of obvious importance for planning long-term prophylactic therapy and
      for diagnosing and counseling afflicted family members. In this manner, newly
      found patients can be treated prophylactically before unalterable morbidity or
      mortality occurs.

PMID- 1452522
TI  - Interesting profile emerges amid the clouds of smoke.

PMID- 1452523
TI  - Radiological case of the month. Osteoblastoma.

PMID- 1452524
TI  - Glomerular disease in the tropics.

PMID- 1452525
TI  - Primary isolated hormone deficiencies of hypothalamic pituitary origin.

PMID- 1452526
TI  - Nervous system cryptococcosis in the immunocompromised.

PMID- 1452527
TI  - Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome.
AB  - Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) clinically presents with rectal bleed.
      Twenty three cases of SRUS are described highlighting that it is a distinct
      clinicopathological entity which can be diagnosed in the presence of typical
      clinical features, sigmoidoscopic findings and histopathological appearance of
      mucosal biopsy.

PMID- 1452528
TI  - Effect of vasodilator and surface active drugs on the efficacy of peritoneal
      dialysis.
AB  - The effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a vasodilator drug, and chlorpromazine
      (CPZ), a surface active drug, on the efficacy of peritoneal dialysis was studied
      in 25 patients with acute or acute on chronic renal failure in a double blind
      fashion. Each drug was added to the dialysate during different sets of cycles. In
      each patient, six clearance periods of 3 cycles each were studied and peritoneal
      clearances of creatinine and urea and ultrafiltration rates were measured during
      each clearance period. SNP increased the peritoneal clearance of creatinine and
      urea by 28.8 percent each (p < 0.001) while CPZ increased the peritoneal
      creatinine and urea clearance by 17.7 and 26.0 percent respectively (p < 0.001
      each). Both drugs significantly increased the ultrafiltration rates (p < 0.001).
      SNP was found to be superior to CPZ and had prolonged effect even after cessation
      of administration.

PMID- 1452529
TI  - Prevalence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
AB  - To assess the prevalence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), ascitic
      fluid cell count, and ascitic fluid culture by conventional method and by bedside
      inoculation in blood culture bottles were performed in 31 consecutive patients of
      liver cirrhosis. Seven (22.58%) patients had ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear
      count (PMN) more than 500/mm. Ascitic fluid culture by conventional method was
      negative in all the patients, while in 4 patients culture was positive by bedside
      inoculation method. Six of 7 patients with SBP or its variant were in Child class
      C. Clinical features in these patients were abdominal pain (5 patients), fever
      (4) and encephalopathy (2); serum bilirubin level was 6.8 +/- 5.5 mg/dl, serum
      albumin 1.98 +/- 0.2 g/dl, prothrombin index 59.8 +/- 12.2%, ascitic fluid
      protein 0.78 +/- 0.24 g/dl. Three of 7 patients with SBP or its variant expired
      during hospital stay; the other 4 patients recovered after appropriate antibiotic
      therapy. We conclude that SBP is a serious complication in patients of liver
      cirrhosis with ascites. Ascitic fluid PMN count and bedside inoculation of blood
      culture bottles with ascitic fluid are sensitive indicators of SBP. Hence they
      should be performed routinely for early detection of SBP.

PMID- 1452530
TI  - Acquired toxic methaemoglobinaemia.
AB  - Eighty Six adult males presented with central cyanosis and constitutional
      symptoms 2 to 4 hours following ingestion of meal from a common kitchen. On
      spectrometry methaemoglobin was detected. All recovered fully in 12 to 36 hours
      on symptomatic treatment. Epidemiological study and toxicological examination
      revealed that metanil yellow used for colouring the rice was responsible.

PMID- 1452531
TI  - Insulin responses to varying hyperglycaemia in newly diagnosed non-insulin
      dependent diabetic patients.
AB  - The effect of varying degrees of hyperglycaemia on insulin secretion was studied
      in newly diagnosed non-insulin dependent diabetic patients, stratified according
      to the fasting plasma glucose values. Of the 116 patients studied, 62 were non
      obese and 54 obese. Insulin response patterns during 2h oral glucose tolerance
      test were analysed in comparison with the values in weight matched control
      subjects and also with respect to the degree of hyperglycaemia. The effect of
      hyperglycaemia on beta cell secretion differed in obese and non-obese patients.
      In the non-obese, fasting insulin levels were within normal range even in those
      with severe hyperglycaemia while the corresponding values in response to glucose
      stimulation showed a decreasing pattern. In obese patients, even fasting
      immunoreactive insulin (IRI) value was decreased and with increasing
      hyperglycaemia the reduction in IRI response to glucose stimulation was of
      greater magnitude compared to non-obese patients. Thus the modulating effect of
      obesity on insulin secretion appears to disappear with development of
      hyperglycaemia. The insulinogenic index was low in all the diabetic patients.

PMID- 1452532
TI  - Adverse effects of oral amiodarone therapy.
AB  - Oral amiodarone was administered to 38 patients (25 males, 13 females) with mean
      age of 43.6 years. Ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias were present in
      30 and 8 patients respectively. Amiodarone was given as 400-1200 mg/day for 1-2
      weeks as loading dose and then it was maintained as 100-600 mg/day. The mean
      duration of therapy was 12.4 months. Adverse effects were noted in 21 (55.3%)
      cases. The commonest adverse effects observed were asymptomatic corneal
      microdeposits followed by gastrointestinal, cardiac, neurological and cutaneous
      disturbances. The drug was withdrawn in 2 (5.3%) patients because of nausea and
      vomiting. One patient died of pulmonary infiltrations. It is concluded that
      adverse effects are common with amiodarone but are tolerated well, making this
      drug an excellent choice for treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.

PMID- 1452533
TI  - Experience with bone marrow trephine biopsy.
AB  - One hundred and ten bone marrow trephine biopsies were studied from January 1987
      to July 1989, using Zenker's acetic acid as fixative and routine paraffin
      embedding. Trephine biopsies were useful in differential diagnosis of cytopenias,
      especially when bone marrow aspiration was hypocellular or a dry tap, and in
      staging of lymphomas and multiple myeloma.

PMID- 1452534
TI  - Entry of drugs into target tissues: antimicrobials.

PMID- 1452535
TI  - Non A non B hepatitis epidemic in Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh.
AB  - An epidemic of viral hepatitis occurred at Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh during
      December 1989 through April 1990. A total of 302 cases were admitted to Gandhi
      Memorial Hospital. Few cases were reported from the adjacent rural areas. Twenty
      six of the 40 wards of the city were affected and 7 wards were most affected with
      attack rates ranging from 3-7 per cent. Seventy one per cent of the hospitalised
      cases were 15 to 35 years of age. Males constituted 72.2% of the cases. In 37
      patients (12.2%) the illness had a fatal outcome. The cases fatality rate was
      7.9% in males and 20.6% in females. There were leakages in water supply pipe
      lines at many places which ran parallel to or were laid across open gutters. The
      source of infection appeared to be water contaminated by sewage. Results of
      serological tests indicated a non-A, non-B hepatitis viral aetiology of the
      epidemic.

PMID- 1452536
TI  - Functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea-isolated gonadotropin deficiency.
AB  - A 21 year old female patient with primary amenorrhoea was diagnosed to have
      isolated gonadotropin deficiency with probable functional hypothalamic
      amenorrhoea. The evaluation included buccal smear for sex chromatin, trial of
      medroxy-progesterone acetate, trial of oestrogen-progesterone preparation and
      estimation of serum prolactin, gonadotrophin and oestrogen levels. When diagnosed
      as isolated gonadotropin deficiency, treatment with gonadotropin is rewarding.

PMID- 1452537
TI  - Efficacy of oral fluconazole in Cryptococcus neoformans infection.
AB  - We report a renal allograft recipient who developed disseminated cryptococcosis,
      which was treated effectively, with oral fluconazole, a new triazole antifungal
      agent. The patient is doing well on maintenance therapy with fluconazole and
      immunosuppressive agents.

PMID- 1452538
TI  - Hereditary angioedema in a family.
AB  - Hereditary angioedema is an uncommon clinical condition. Life-long episodic
      brawny and non-itchy swelling of the extremities, face and trunk, with episodic
      abdominal pain and familial occurrence are the typical features. Oedema causing
      obstruction of airways may lead to suffocation and even death. The diagnosis can
      be confirmed by finding low levels of C1 esterase inhibitor, C4 and C2. Therapy
      with synthetic androgenic agents can ameliorate the condition to a large extent.

PMID- 1452539
TI  - Rabies presenting as catatonic stupor.

PMID- 1452540
TI  - Bilateral cataracts as the presenting manifestation of chronic renal failure.
AB  - A 26 year old female, a case of chronic renal failure secondary to chronic
      pyelonephritis with renal osteomalacia, came with dimunition vision as the
      presenting complaint. She was found to have bilateral cataracts. All other known
      causes of cataract were excluded. Cataracts due to hypocalcaemia in chronic renal
      failure are a rare phenomenon.

PMID- 1452541
TI  - Gelatinous transformation of bone marrow.
AB  - Gelatinous transformation of bone marrow is usually encountered in patients of
      anorexia nervosa. We report two cases of gelatinous transformation of the marrow,
      one without any detectable cause and the other associated with visceral
      leishmaniasis.

PMID- 1452542
TI  - Specific chiroglyphic, bronchial asthma and yoga.

PMID- 1452543
TI  - Chloramphenicol vs ciprofloxacin in enteric fever.

PMID- 1452544
TI  - Idiopathic oedema.

PMID- 1452545
TI  - Fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes in an elderly male.

PMID- 1452546
TI  - High dose atropine in organophosphorus poisoning.

PMID- 1452547
TI  - Cholesterol estimation--uniformity suggested at national level.

PMID- 1452548
TI  - Mitoxantrone for advanced breast cancer.

PMID- 1452549
TI  - Profile of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in India.

PMID- 1452550
TI  - Changing trends in the presentation and treatment of enteric fever: our
      experience.

PMID- 1452552
TI  - Chronic myeloid leukaemia with massive lymphadenopathy.

PMID- 1452551
TI  - Severe hypotension with enalapril.

PMID- 1452553
TI  - Vegetarians dominate in dermatological disorders.

PMID- 1452554
TI  - Ciprofloxacin dose in enteric fever.

PMID- 1452555
TI  - Recognising medical journalism.

PMID- 1452556
TI  - Total gastrectomy in Zollinger Ellison syndrome: does it have no role today?

PMID- 1452557
TI  - Combination therapy of parkinsonism with deprenyl.
AB  - In view of the encouraging results in various trials with deprenyl as an added
      drug therapy for Parkinson's disease, a pilot study to study deprenyl's efficacy
      in the Indian population was undertaken. Eleven patients were recruited in this
      open trial and were objectively assessed by Unified Rating Scale for Parkinsonism
      of Columbia University, Modified Hoehn and Yahr Staging and Schwab and England
      activities of daily living. Side effects, mood changes, changes in dyskinesia
      percentage, early morning dystonia and off period percentage were also noted.
      This study suggests improvement in the above parameters with minimal side
      effects.

PMID- 1452558
TI  - Arrhythmias and conduction defects in patients with mitral valve prolapse: a
      study based on ambulatory monitoring and electrophysiologic studies.
AB  - Twenty consecutive symptomatic patients of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and 20
      normal age, sex and symptom matched controls were studied. Ambulatory monitoring
      studies revealed the presence of atrial premature beats (APC) in 16 subjects in
      each group. Isolated ventricular premature beats (VPC) were observed in 12
      patients with MVP and 15 subjects in control group (p = ns). Complex VPCs (Lown
      IVa, IVb) were recorded in 4 patients of MVP vs 3 controls (p = ns). There was no
      correlation between the occurrence of arrhythmias with the degree of MVP or the
      degree of mitral regurgitation. Likewise, MVP patients with prolonged QTc
      interval did not show higher incidence of spontaneous arrhythmias when compared
      to those with normal QTc interval. Nineteen patients underwent
      electrophysiological studies. Two patients showed evidence of abnormal sinus node
      function. Both these patients in addition had AV nodal abnormalities, manifested
      by prolonged AH interval. Programmed stimulation studies induced AV nodal
      tachycardia in one and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia in two (polymorphic
      in one and monomorphic in the other). Ambulatory monitoring in both these
      patients did not show any evidence of complex VPCs or VT, indicating poor
      correlation between inducibility and presence of spontaneous complex VPCs.
      Patients with MVP do not have a higher prevalence of spontaneous atrial or
      ventricular arrhythmias when compared to matched normal controls with similar
      symptomatology. The presence of mitral regurgitation, severity of MVP and
      associated prolonged QTc interval is not associated with higher prevalence of
      arrhythmias. The correlation between spontaneous and inducible arrhythmias is
      poor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452559
TI  - Subclavian vein catheters for haemodialysis with and without a subcutaneous
      tunnel.
AB  - We have retrospectively analysed the usefulness of a subcutaneous tunnel in
      patients undergoing haemodialysis through a double lumen subclavian catheter; 194
      catheters were used in 145 patients. In 105 patients a subcutaneous tunnel was
      created. Entry site infection was significantly higher in the no tunnel group
      (30%; P < 0.02). There was no statistically significant difference in the
      incidence of septicaemia in the two groups. Eighty five percent of episodes of
      septicaemia and 67% of entry site infections were due to Staphylococcus aureus.
      All responded to removal of the catheter and to antibiotics. The average duration
      the catheter was in place was 20.39 and 21.94 days in the groups with and without
      tunnel respectively. The average number of dialyses was 9.13 and 9.33 per
      catheter in the tunnel and no tunnel groups respectively. Three patients had
      pneumothorax. Subclavian vein thrombosis was suspected clinically in 3 cases.
      There was no catheter related mortality. We concluded that while entry site
      infection occurred more frequently in the no tunnel group, the overall incidence
      of septicaemia was not different in the two groups. Creation of a subcutaneous
      tunnel has no added advantage.

PMID- 1452561
TI  - A critical review of prescriptions in internal medicine.
AB  - A study was undertaken to assess the prescribing trends in inpatients of the
      Internal Medicine Department of Government General Hospital which is attached to
      Guntur Medical College, Guntur. Prescriptions for 250 patients were audited under
      various heads like details of drugs used, generic versus trade name prescribing,
      dosage, dosage form, dose interval, drug of choice and duration of treatment.
      Among 250 prescriptions audited, 7 percent used generic names, 22 percent trade
      names, and 71 percent combinations of both generic and trade names. Dosages and
      dosage intervals were appropriate. In 75 percent of the audited cases, the
      duration of treatment was appropriate; 25 percent did not specify the duration.
      The choice of drugs was proper in 84 percent and inappropriate in 16 percent of
      cases. Certain deficiencies in the prescribing trends are analysed.

PMID- 1452560
TI  - Betamethasone in tetanus patients: an evaluation of its effect on the mortality
      and morbidity.
AB  - The effect of betamethasone on the outcome in moderate to severe tetanus was
      studied in a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study in 22 patients.
      The mortality rate was reduced by 36.1% with the addition of corticosteroids to
      the regime of treatment. Betamethasone did not alter the duration of intensive
      care in those requiring it, but reduced the need for tracheostomy and
      ventilation. The mean daily dose of diazepam required was not significantly
      different between the two groups and there was no increase in the incidence of
      infections in the betamethasone group.

PMID- 1452562
TI  - Atypical presentations of falciparum malaria.
AB  - To identify the uncommon presentations of falciparum malaria in an endemic area
      and to assess the outcome of treatment, a study was carried out on 35 proved
      cases whose clinical presentations were either dominated by features other than
      fever or the history of fever was totally absent. Both urban and rural patients
      were included. Seventeen cases (48.3%) presented with features of cerebral
      malaria. Acute abdomen, urticaria, and unexplained shock were the other atypical
      presentations. Five cases (14.3%) of cerebral malaria died. We conclude that
      awareness of atypical presentations is important to detect cases of falciparum
      malaria in an endemic area. Intravenous quinine may need to be given promptly
      even when cerebral malaria is diagnosed empirically.

PMID- 1452563
TI  - Study of foetal antigen in haematological malignancy.
AB  - Forty patients with different varieties of leukaemia and lymphoma were studied
      before and after therapy. Red cells and lymphocytes from each patient were tested
      for foetal antigen by lectin-agglutination test. The antigen was detectable on
      red cells in all untreated cases, the highest titre being found in chronic
      myeloid leukaemia. The titre showed significant reduction after treatment in all
      cases. We conclude that foetal antigen on red cells is a useful diagnostic aid in
      haematological malignancy and is a good indicator of the outcome of therapy.

PMID- 1452564
TI  - Diagnostic evaluation of ascitic adenosine deaminase activity in tubercular
      peritonitis.
AB  - Activity of adenosine deaminase (ADA) in serum and peritoneal fluid was studied
      prospectively in 24 aetiologically proved cases of ascites and 10 age-matched
      controls. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to causes of ascites,
      viz. malignant ascites (11), tubercular peritonitis (7) and cirrhosis of liver
      (6). Serum ADA values and peritoneal: serum ADA ratio did not show any consistent
      pattern in any group. But in patients with tubercular peritonitis ADA activity in
      ascitic fluid was significantly higher (P < .001) than in the other groups. An
      ascitic ADA level of 30 units/L had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of
      94.1% for tubercular peritonitis. These findings suggest that the ascitic fluid
      ADA activity is useful for the diagnosis of tubercular peritonitis; this method
      is simple and least invasive.

PMID- 1452565
TI  - Prevalence of hepatitis surface antigen among rural population of Loni area in
      Ahmednagar district of Western Maharashtra.
AB  - Three hundred and fifty three subjects among the rural population of Loni area
      admitted in the hospital, and 188 medical staff members working in the Rural
      Medical College and Hospital, Loni, were screened for the presence of HBsAg.
      Reveresed passive haemagglutination assay was used for screening; it showed an
      HBsAg positivity rate of 21.8% and 15.8% among hepatitis and non hepatitis cases
      respectively, and 1.2%, 0% and 4.2% among medical students, doctors and nursing
      staff respectively. A high HBsAg positivity rate has been observed in the rural
      population of Loni area.

PMID- 1452566
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of antiepileptic drugs and its application to therapeutics.

PMID- 1452567
TI  - Aluminium phosphide poisoning: present status and management.

PMID- 1452568
TI  - Current molecular techniques and strategies for gene localization.

PMID- 1452569
TI  - Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in untreated acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemia.
AB  - Mixed opportunistic infection with Pneumocystis carinii and Candida prior to
      cytotoxic therapy in a young male diagnosed as having acute non-lymphoblastic
      leukaemia resulted in early catastrophe. The role of awareness of this
      complication and its prompt management is discussed.

PMID- 1452570
TI  - Primary sclerosing cholangitis.
AB  - A case of primary sclerosing cholangitis is reported. There was no history of
      choledocholithiasis, operation or traumatic biliary injury.

PMID- 1452571
TI  - Pulsus paradoxus with tense pleural effusion.

PMID- 1452572
TI  - Paraneoplastic syndromes: fads and facts (1) and neurological manifestations of
      malignant diseases (2)

PMID- 1452573
TI  - Chloramphenicol resistant typhoid fever.

PMID- 1452574
TI  - An outbreak of multidrug resistant typhoid fever in Nagpur.

PMID- 1452575
TI  - Drug resistant typhoid fever (DRT)

PMID- 1452576
TI  - Routine use of ciprofloxacin.

PMID- 1452577
TI  - Is ciprofloxacin a panacea or do we need a 'use-restricted' drug?

PMID- 1452578
TI  - Ciprofloxacin induced psychosis.

PMID- 1452579
TI  - Treatment of acute viral hepatitis with ribavirin.

PMID- 1452580
TI  - Seventh cranial nerve palsy in a case of viral hepatitis (type B)

PMID- 1452581
TI  - Therapy of enteric fever.

PMID- 1452582
TI  - Burn rehabilitation: our unanswered challenge. The 1992 presidential address to
      the American Burn Association.

PMID- 1452583
TI  - Decreased pulmonary barotrauma with the use of volumetric diffusive respiration
      in pediatric patients with burns: the 1992 Moyer Award.
AB  - Pulmonary barotrauma is a frequent, life-threatening complication in the
      pediatric patient who is treated with mechanical ventilation. The volumetric
      diffusive respiration (VDR) ventilator, which employs a high-frequency
      progressive accumulation of subtidal volume breaths in a pressure-limited format
      with a percussive waveform, is capable of providing adequate gas exchange at
      lower airway pressures; this theoretically decreases the incidence of pulmonary
      barotrauma compared with conventional mechanical ventilation (CV). The incidence
      of pulmonary barotrauma since 1988 was evaluated in pediatric patients with burns
      who were younger than 2 years of age. Twenty-four patients who were treated with
      only CV were compared with 15 patients who were treated with only VDR. Pulmonary
      barotrauma was defined as the development of pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum,
      pneumopericardium, or pneumoperitoneum. There were no significant differences
      between CV-treated and VDR-treated groups (mean +/- SEM) in the patient
      characteristics of age (15.9 +/- 1.3 months vs 16.6 +/- 1.8 months), weight (11.2
      +/- 0.5 kg vs 12.5 +/- 0.7 kg), percent total body surface burn (46.2% +/- 4.9%
      vs 55.6% +/- 6.2%), percent full-thickness burn (38.1% +/- 5.3% vs 50.0% +/-
      6.6%), inhalation injury (40% vs 60%), or total number of days that mechanical
      ventilation was required (18.2 +/- 4.2 days vs 22.4 +/- 5.9 days); although these
      parameters show a slightly more severe degree of injury in the VDR-treated group.
      There was a reduction in the incidence of pulmonary barotrauma when VDR was
      used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452584
TI  - Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A: its role in retardation of wound healing: the
      1992 Lindberg Award.
AB  - Bacterial concentrations greater than 10(5) colony-forming units/gm of tissue
      prevent wound healing. However, it has not been determined whether it is the
      number of bacteria or a toxin produced by these organisms that impedes the wound
      healing process. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PSAR), a burn wound pathogen, produces a
      dermonecrotic toxin, exotoxin A. Studies have indicated a role for exotoxin A in
      the pathogenicity of PSAR. We investigated the role of exotoxin A in the
      retardation of contraction. Acute granulating wounds were created on 90 Sprague
      Dawley rats. The animals were equally divided into six groups and were treated
      topically as follows: group 1, sham: no infection, no treatment; group 2,
      exotoxin A; group 3, exotoxin A and antiexotoxin; group 4, autoclaved PSAR 10(6);
      group 5, 10(6) viable PSAR inoculated in the wound; group 6, 10(6) viable PSAR
      and antiexotoxin. Wound contraction was measured with the use of planimetry twice
      a week. Serial biopsies were performed on all wounds. Contraction rates revealed
      significantly (p < 0.05) retarded closure in the animals treated with exotoxin A
      and in the viable PSAR group when compared with the rates of the noninfected
      control groups. Animals treated with exotoxin A plus antiexotoxin A and those
      treated with live PSAR and antiexotoxin showed contraction rates identical to the
      control groups. These data suggest that exotoxin A in PSAR infections retards
      wound healing and that neutralization of the toxin restores the normal healing
      process.

PMID- 1452585
TI  - Clinical trials of a living dermal tissue replacement placed beneath meshed,
      split-thickness skin grafts on excised burn wounds.
AB  - We evaluated the ability of Dermagraft (Advanced Tissue Sciences, La Jolla,
      Calif.), a living tissue analog that is composed of human neonatal fibroblasts,
      which are grown on a polyglactin acid Vicryl mesh (Ethicon Inc., Somerville,
      N.J.), to function as a dermal replacement when placed beneath meshed, expanded
      split-thickness skin grafts (MESTSGs). Full-thickness burn wounds in 17 patients
      with burns (mean age, 31 years; range, 6 to 69 years; mean burn size, 23.8% total
      body surface area) were excised to subcutaneous fat (nine patients), to fascia
      (three patients), or to a combination of deep dermis and fat (five patients).
      Dermagraft was placed over the experimental sites, which were then covered with
      MESTSGs. Paired control sites on each patient received MESTSGs only. The results
      showed that "take" of MESTSGs on control sites was slightly better than take on
      experimental sites that contained the Dermagraft; however, the differences were
      not statistically significant. Mesh interstices epithelialized over the surface
      of the full-thickness wound (control sites) or over the surface of Dermagraft
      (experimental sites). Wound biopsy specimens demonstrated no evidence of
      rejection of the cultured allogeneic fibroblasts and minimal inflammatory
      reaction to the Vicryl fibers. Evidence of continuous basement membrane formation
      at the epithelial-Dermagraft junction, which was identified by
      immunohistochemical staining for laminin and type IV collagen, was seen by day 14
      beneath the healed epithelium in the skin graft interstices. The Vicryl fibers
      were hydrolyzed in the wound over a 2-to-4-week period, although some expulsion
      of fibers occurred as the healing epithelium advanced to close the MESTSG
      interstices. Elastic fibers were not seen in neodermal tissue in either control
      or experimental wounds at periods of up to 1 year after grafting. Further trials
      with this living tissue replacement are in progress.

PMID- 1452586
TI  - Efficacy of leupeptin, superoxide dismutase, and verapamil in modulating delayed
      reperfusion damage after burn injury.
AB  - Reperfusion damage has been identified as an important factor in multiorgan
      failure after severe burn injury. We wondered if leupeptin, a protease inhibitor,
      superoxide dismutase (SOD), a scavenger of free oxygen radicals, or verapamil, a
      calcium antagonist, would protect the cellular energy metabolism when they were
      given with fluid resuscitation that was delayed 6 hours after a severe burn
      injury. Fifty male rats weighing 280 to 300 gm received a 50% third-degree scald
      burn. Ten of these received fluid resuscitation at 30 minutes and 1 1/2 hours
      after injury, and 40 received delayed fluid resuscitation at 6 and 7 hours after
      injury. Thirty of these 40 rats were given leupeptin (n = 10), SOD (n = 10), or
      verapamil (n = 10). Heart, liver, and kidney tissue samples were obtained 8 hours
      after injury; adenosine triphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, and adenosine
      monophosphate were measured; and the energy charge potential was calculated.
      Tissue water content (TWC) in lung and skeletal muscle was also determined. The
      adenine nucleotide pool and the energy charge potential in heart, liver, and
      kidney tissue were all significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in rats receiving
      delayed fluid resuscitation compared with those receiving early resuscitation.
      Leupeptin was effective in protecting the heart against reperfusion damage, and
      verapamil and leupeptin showed some efficacy in protecting kidney tissue. Liver
      tissue, however, showed no protective response with therapy. TWC was
      significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in skeletal muscle with SOD treatment, and
      though all treatments appeared to keep lung water content reduced, none was
      significant at p < 0.01. We thus conclude that both the decreases in heart and
      kidney adenine nucleotides and the increase in TWC that are caused by delayed
      fluid resuscitation can be attenuated with appropriate pharmacologic agents.

PMID- 1452587
TI  - Effect of indomethacin and Impact liquid diet administration on inflammatory
      mediator production by murine splenocytes after burn injury.
AB  - Production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)
      by various cells is increased after injury, and these mediators are implicated in
      the downregulation of immune responses. We attempted to modulate the production
      of immune suppressive mediators by inhibiting prostaglandin production in a
      murine model that had a burn covering 25% of the total body surface area. Two
      treatments were performed. One was the intraperitoneal administration of
      indomethacin after burn injury at 2 mg/kg day for 10 days. The control group
      received saline solution injections. The other treatment was the ad libitum
      administration of a commercial diet after burn injury for 10 days. This diet
      contained mixed fats, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. The control
      group received standard mouse food. On days 1, 5, and 10 after burn injury,
      spleens were removed aseptically, and splenocyte cultures were established and
      stimulated with phytohemagglutinin. TNF-alpha and PGE2 concentrations were
      determined in culture supernatants at 48 hours with the use of commercial enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay kits. Splenocytes from burned animals produced
      elevated levels of both mediators in culture supernatants, reaching significant
      levels of TNF-alpha on day 10 after burn injury and of PGE2 on days 5 and 10
      after burn injury. Neither the administration of indomethacin for 10 days nor the
      administration of the commercial diet for 10 days decreased production of these
      mediators in culture. However, cells in culture may escape the in vivo regulating
      effects of biologic modifying agents.

PMID- 1452588
TI  - Modification of calcium flux of twitch skeletal muscle in mice subjected to 20%
      body surface area burn.
AB  - One systemic effect of burn trauma is skeletal muscle weakness. This is the
      result of changes in second messenger systems involving calcium (Ca2+). Kinetic
      analysis of Ca2+ from cellular compartments of skeletal muscle of mice that were
      subjected to small burn injury (20% body surface area) was performed. Muscles of
      the burn group showed an increased 45Ca2+ uptake maxima compared with those of
      time-matched control groups. Also, 45Ca2+ efflux analysis showed a lack of
      differentiation between electrically stimulated tissues and nonstimulated tissues
      that was easily observed in time-matched control groups. This lack of
      differentiation indicated changes in intracellular compartmentation. It can be
      speculated that burn trauma may have a regulatory role in the excitation
      contraction coupling mechanism by altering myoplasmic levels of Ca2+ even before
      skeletal muscle dysfunction occurs. These findings suggest that agents capable of
      controlling myoplasmic Ca2+ levels may aid in alleviating chronic skeletal muscle
      dysfunction in patients with burns.

PMID- 1452589
TI  - Micrografts: the "super" expansion graft.
AB  - A novel technique for producing micronized skin grafts that was introduced in a
      paper presented at the 1990 ABA meeting was evaluated to quantify maximum
      expansion. Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups representing
      10:1 and 25:1 expanded micrograft ratios, respectively. Grafted sites in both
      groups were shown to heal better than those of the control group, and both
      grafted groups showed comparable healing at day 10.

PMID- 1452590
TI  - Effects of high-dose vitamin C administration on postburn microvascular fluid and
      protein flux.
AB  - The effects of vitamin C treatment (14 mg/kg/hr) on burn injury were evaluated in
      the hind paws of 12 mongrel dogs. A lymph duct above one hind paw of each dog was
      cannulated. Hourly lymph flow rates (QL) and plasma and lymph total protein
      concentrations were measured before the burn injury and for 6 hours after the
      burn injury. Data from 24 paws were divided into four groups: nonburn without
      treatment, nonburn with treatment, burn without treatment, and burn with
      treatment. The nonburn groups showed no significant differences in QL or in total
      protein flux. In the burn groups the postburn hourly QL increased by sevenfold in
      the nontreatment group and only by threefold in the treatment group, whereas the
      postburn hourly total protein flux increased by fifteenfold and fivefold,
      respectively. We conclude that administration of high-dose vitamin C reduces
      early postburn microvascular leakage of fluid and protein.

PMID- 1452591
TI  - How long do we need to give antioxidant therapy during resuscitation when its
      administration is delayed for two hours?
AB  - Twenty-four guinea pigs with third-degree burns over 70% of the body surface area
      were divided equally into four groups. All animals received Ringer's lactate
      (R/L) beginning 30 minutes after burn injury. Group 1 received R/L without
      vitamin C beginning 2 hours after burn injury. Groups 2, 3, and 4 received R/L
      with vitamin C until 4, 8, and 24 hours after burn injury, respectively.
      Beginning 3 1/2 hours after burn injury the hourly fluid volume was reduced to
      25% of the Parkland formula calculation. The hourly sodium and fluid intake in
      each group was the same. Groups 1 and 2 demonstrated higher hematocrit and lower
      cardiac output values as compared with those values for group 3, indicating
      hypovolemia and hemoconcentration in these groups. Group 3 showed hematocrit and
      cardiac output values equivalent to those values for group 4. We conclude that
      high-dose vitamin C must be given until 8 hours after burn injury to maintain
      adequate hemodynamic stability in the presence of a reduced resuscitation fluid
      volume.

PMID- 1452592
TI  - Inhalation injury: a decade without progress.
AB  - Despite major advances in the management of patients with critical burn injuries,
      inhalation injury continues to be a major determinant of death resulting from
      burn injuries. Two cohort groups of victims with burn and inhalation injuries,
      separated by a decade, were retrospectively reviewed in an effort to determine
      the impact of newer treatment modalities. Patients were categorized as being at
      "high" or "low" risk on the basis of primary and secondary diagnostic criteria.
      Despite a statistically significant decrease in the percent of total body surface
      injury, no change in mortality rate was noted between the two groups. The advent
      of sophisticated diagnostic and management techniques does not appear to have
      decreased the mortality rate associated with inhalation injury.

PMID- 1452593
TI  - A distraction technique for control of burn pain.
AB  - Research has indicated that analgesics alone do not adequately relieve pain for
      75% of patients with burns. The purpose of this study was to determine the
      effects of a distraction therapy, in which videos were used in combination with
      administration of analgesics, on intensity and quality of pain and on levels of
      anxiety in adults during burn dressing changes. The sample consisted of 17
      patients who were randomly assigned to the treatment or the control group. The
      treatment group viewed video programs that were composed of scenic beauty
      accompanied by music. Each was asked to score his or her present pain intensity
      and pain rating index with the McGill questionnaire and anxiety with the
      Spielberger questionnaire before and after the dressing change. A nested general
      linear model using the "F" test in multiple regression analysis was adjusted for
      age, percent partial-thickness burn, and choice of topical agent demonstrated
      that the use of videos during the dressing changes significantly reduced pain and
      anxiety: present pain intensity (F = 8.69; p = 0.01), pain rating index (F =
      5.57; p = 0.03), anxiety (F = 9.10; p = 0.01). It is recommended that the use of
      pain medication be augmented by use of videos during burn dressing changes.

PMID- 1452594
TI  - Use of morphine sulfate (MS Contin) in patients with burns: a pilot study.
AB  - Morphine sulfate (MS Contin), a proven analgesic in the treatment of cancer pain
      and chronic benign pain, seems to be a good analgesic for the treatment of burn
      pain. MS Contin is morphine sulfate incorporated in a wax cellulose matrix
      delivery system. This wax cellulose delivery system gives MS Contin its duration
      of action. Ten patients were enrolled in an open-labeled, nonrandomized study.
      The study was designed to examine the analgesic efficacy of MS Contin in the burn
      population. Each patient remained in the study for 6 days. The efficacy of the
      analgesic regimen was subjectively measured by the visual pain scale. The MS
      Contin group was retrospectively compared with a group of patients who were given
      continuous intravenous infusions of morphine. The two groups were matched
      according to age, burn size, surgical procedures, and hospital stay. The
      analgesic qualities of MS Contin were comparable to those of continuous
      intravenous morphine sulfate infusions. MS Contin is a possible candidate for the
      treatment of patients with burn pain because of its analgesic qualities, oral
      dosing, and duration of action.

PMID- 1452595
TI  - Updating upper extremity temporary prosthesis: thermoplastics.
AB  - Since 1989 amputees with upper-extremity burns have been fitted with a temporary
      prosthesis fabricated from low-temperature thermoplastic. Before 1989
      conventional temporary prostheses were fabricated with plaster. The use of the
      thermoplastic material has produced a lightweight, cost-effective, modular
      system. No patients exhibited skin breakdown with the thermoplastic material. It
      appears that thermoplastics may be the next major breakthrough in terms of a
      design for a temporary upper-extremity prosthesis.

PMID- 1452596
TI  - Mixing inpatient with outpatient care: establishing an outpatient clinic on a
      burn unit.
AB  - Outpatient care of patients with burns is an important aspect of a total health
      care plan. Changes in the health care system, which focuses on cost containment,
      force reevaluation of the methods used for delivery of high-tech care,
      particularly in areas such as burn care. Great advances that have taken place
      over the past decade in the field of burn care have enabled health care providers
      to treat more patients with burns as outpatients. Those who are specially trained
      in burn care continue to be the optimal caregivers. The appropriate facilities,
      spray tables, hydrotherapy, and dressing rooms in which patients with burns are
      treated are equally important and must be adapted to meet the needs of patients
      who are ambulatory. The goals of an outpatient burn clinic should be to provide
      daily wound care and patient education to prevent unnecessary admissions and to
      promote early discharge for hospitalized patients. Nurses trained in burn care
      are the optimal providers of ambulatory burn care; therefore the clinic location
      should be where the caregivers are available. Several obstacles needed to be
      overcome before an outpatient clinic could be established on the burn unit
      itself. Wound care is now provided by burn unit nurses, which leads to better
      results and more consistent follow-up. Patient satisfaction is increased, patient
      teaching is provided by experienced staff, unnecessary admissions are prevented,
      and patients are able to be discharged from the hospital earlier or to be
      followed as outpatients even if surgery is eventually required.

PMID- 1452597
TI  - Color pressure garments versus traditional beige pressure garments: perceptions
      from the public.
AB  - Social acceptance of patients with burns may be affected by the color of the
      pressure garment they wear. The purpose of this study was to ask students (n =
      712), health care providers (n = 354), and the public (n = 250) their perceptions
      of beige versus color pressure garments. It was assumed that beige pressure
      garments have negative connotations and that colored pressure garments have
      positive connotations. Data were collected from subjects after they viewed beige,
      pink, and blue pressure garments. Items on the instrument contained bipolar word
      pairs rated on a 5-point scale; a rating of 1 indicated positive feelings, and a
      rating of 5 indicated negative feelings. Cronbach's alpha reliability for the
      instrument was 0.85, indicating a high internal consistency among items. Paired t
      test indicated a significant difference between the subjects' perceptions of the
      beige garments versus their perceptions of the color garments (t = -44.82, p =
      0.000) among all subjects (n = 1259). Results indicate that positive feelings
      toward color garments may lead to social acceptance of the patient with burns,
      which in turn could increase the patient's self-esteem.

PMID- 1452598
TI  - Burn center reimbursement analysis.
AB  - If burn centers are to survive in the current fixed-payment environment, managers
      and physicians must be knowledgeable of the parameters and regulators of
      reimbursement. The purpose of this study was to assess the reimbursement status
      of a burn center in a private, not-for-profit facility. The analysis included
      both internal and external constraints imposed on the hospital. Data from fiscal
      year 1989-90 were used to identify the most frequently coded burn diagnosis
      related groups and third-party payers. Actual reimbursement rates per diagnosis
      related group were examined, and the average charge per patient discharge was
      compared with reimbursement per patient. Total billed charges versus received
      revenue for Medicaid patients were explored. Problems and solutions were
      identified and discussed after completion of the assessment.

PMID- 1452599
TI  - When is enough enough? Ethical dilemmas on the burn unit.
AB  - Modern burn care often leads to the dilemma of what should or should not be done
      for patients with clinical deterioration and organ system failure who fail to
      respond to therapy. The questions are, "When is enough enough?" and "Who
      decides?" We have developed a structured conference to address these issues and
      to help us decide whether to recommend continued invasive diagnostic and
      therapeutic intervention or to allow the patient to "die with dignity." This
      conference can be requested by any member of the burn team who feels
      uncomfortable with what is being done for and/or to a patient. It is a meeting of
      the entire team, and its purpose is to discern the judgment of the group. When
      the consensus decision is to forego additional therapy, the decision is then
      presented to the patient (if he or she is able to understand and respond) and to
      the patient's family. The decision made by the group removes the responsibility
      of any individual from making a stressful decision if the patient's condition
      deteriorates abruptly. Patients who accept this decision exhibit a peaceful calm
      that invariably reaffirms the group dynamics. The family often experiences a
      great deal of relief, because they are not forced to make the decision even
      though they wanted it made. Inviting nurses to be active participants in the
      decision process builds their personal and professional self-esteem and binds the
      team members into a more tightly knit community. The attending staff may perceive
      this process as an abdication of responsibility; however, in our experience the
      consensus conference has led to a conviction that the wisdom of the team is
      always best.

PMID- 1452600
TI  - NSAID-induced gastroenteropathy: a biochemical dissection.
AB  - The most widely accepted view is that damage to the mucosa sets the stage for
      lesions related to NSAIDs. An alternative hypothesis is that NSAID-induced damage
      to GI microvasculature is the primary pathologic event.

PMID- 1452601
TI  - SI units: wrong for the right reasons.

PMID- 1452602
TI  - Wrong impression.

PMID- 1452603
TI  - Acute MI pattern in diabetic ketoacidosis.

PMID- 1452604
TI  - Palpable purpura: identifying the cause.

PMID- 1452605
TI  - Liposomes: realizing their promise.
AB  - Thirty years of study have proved that these artificial organelles are versatile
      tools for learning about the cell membrane. Researchers are now actively
      investigating their potential for some interesting practical uses as vehicles for
      gene transfer, as artificial erythrocyte surrogates, as a lubricant for
      degenerated joint surfaces, and most imminently as "targeted carriers" of
      pharmacologic agents.

PMID- 1452606
TI  - Thromboembolism and prosthetic heart valves.

PMID- 1452607
TI  - Determination of fatty acid and triacylglycerol composition of human adipose
      tissue.
AB  - The fatty acid composition of adipose tissue was studied in a population in
      western Andalusia with a diet in which the fat contribution is mainly from olive
      oil. The lipid composition of adipose tissue, including the fatty acid
      composition of triacylglycerols, was examined by capillary gas chromatography.
      Thirty-five peaks were resolved, ranging in chain length from 12 to 24 carbon
      atoms, including geometric and positional isomers. The major triacylglycerol was
      POO, followed by PLO and OOO.

PMID- 1452608
TI  - Application of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring
      to the urinanalysis of 4-pyridoxic acid.
AB  - An analytical protocol has been developed for the analysis of urinary 4-pyridoxic
      acid (4-PA) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for use in metabolic
      studies. Aliquots of urine were deproteinised and fractionated by isocratic
      reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The eluent fraction
      containing the 4-PA was collected, freeze-dried and silylated using N-methyl-N
      (tert.-butyldimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide. Derivatisation produced the mono
      tert.-butyldimethylsilyl derivative of 4-PA lactone. This derivative was readily
      amenable to GC-MS analysis in the electron ionisation (70 eV) mode, yielding a
      prominent fragment ion at m/z 222 ([M-57]+; base peak). A heavy isotope-labelled
      derivative of pyridoxine [dideuteriated pyridoxine; 3-hydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)-5
      [hydroxymethyl-2H2]-2-methylpyridine] has been synthesised and is being employed
      to determine the kinetics of labelling of the body pools of vitamin B6. Kinetic
      measurements are based on the determination of the relative proportions of
      metabolically produced deuterium-labelled and non-labelled 4-PA in urine,
      obtained from stable isotope ratios determined by low-resolution selected ion
      monitoring using a bench-top quadrupole GC-MS system.

PMID- 1452609
TI  - Characterisation of oligosaccharides from a glycoprotein variant of human serum
      albumin (albumin Casebrook) using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography
      and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
AB  - The characterisation of oligosaccharides present on albumin Casebrook, a
      glycoprotein variant of human serum albumin, which contains an N-linked
      oligosaccharide at an attachment site formed by a point mutation of 494 Asp-
      >Asn, is described. The monosaccharide compositional analysis of purified
      glycopeptides suggested the presence of complex biantennary carbohydrate
      structures. The oligosaccharides which were released by N-glycosidase-F appeared
      to be a single molecular species according to their retention on high-performance
      anion-exchange chromatography. The structure of the oligosaccharide was suggested
      by sequential exoglycosidase digestions and confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic
      resonance spectroscopy. It was concluded that the oligosaccharides were
      essentially homogeneous and consisted of an alpha(2-6)-desialylated complex
      biantennary glycan.

PMID- 1452610
TI  - Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for routine monitoring of 5
      fluorouracil in plasma of patients receiving low-level protracted infusions.
AB  - A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) method is described which
      quantitates 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plasma levels ranging from 0.5 to 50 ng/ml. The
      analysis uses two internal standards, 1,3-[15N2]-5-fluorouracil and 5
      chlorouracil. Extraction and derivatization of the pyrimidine bases were
      accomplished in a single step using acetonitrile. Compounds were analyzed as
      their 1,3-dipentafluorobenzyl derivatives by electron-impact MS, and the GC-MS
      analysis was automated with respect to sample injection and data reduction.
      Stability of the analysis was demonstrated by continuous unattended analysis of 5
      FU in human plasma for periods of up to three days with no deterioration of the
      quantitative results. The method is applicable to quantitating 5-FU plasma levels
      in patients receiving protracted infusions of the drug for colorectal cancer or
      other malignancies.

PMID- 1452611
TI  - Identification of metabolites of halofantrine, a new candidate anti-malarial
      drug, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
AB  - Two previously unknown metabolites of halofantrine, a candidate anti-malarial
      drug, have been isolated by thin-layer chromatography from the plasma of dogs
      administered a single oral dose of 60 mg/kg. Their identifies were investigated
      after trimethylsilylation by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry under electron
      impact and negative-ion chemical ionization conditions. The structural assignment
      was further confirmed by using a combination of elemental composition analysis of
      all the isotope peaks at low mass resolution and isotope pattern matching. These
      two metabolites were formed by modification of the dibutylaminopropyl side-chain
      of the parent compound involving deamination and oxidation or reduction.

PMID- 1452612
TI  - Comparison of high-performance liquid chromatography and high-performance
      capillary electrophoresis for the determination of cicletanine in plasma.
AB  - A sensitive and selective high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE)
      procedure was developed for the determination of total cicletanine in human
      plasma. The procedure consisted in extraction of the drug with diethyl ether and
      analysis by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography in a fused-silica
      capillary using sodium dodecyl sulphate in the run buffers and ultraviolet
      detection. The concentrations of cicletanine obtained by this method were
      compared with those obtained by a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC)
      method used routinely. The within-run precision of the methods, expressed as
      relative standard deviation, ranged from 1.6 to 7.8% for HPLC and from 6.4 to
      11.1% for HPCE. Both methods showed an adequate level of accuracy; the relative
      errors ranged from 0.02 to 3.25% for HPLC and from 0.21 to 2.90% for HPCE. The
      HPCE method required less than half the time taken by the HPLC method, making
      HPCE a useful alternative technique for the routine determination of cicletanine
      in plasma. Both methods were used to follow the time course of total cicletanine
      in human plasma after a single oral therapeutic dose of the drug.

PMID- 1452613
TI  - Determination of picogram levels of heptylphysostigmine in human plasma using
      high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.
AB  - A sensitive (50 pg/ml) method for the determination of heptylphysostigmine in
      human plasma is described. The procedure is based on liquid-liquid extraction of
      the drug from buffered plasma, and analysis of the concentrated organic extract
      using high-performance liquid chromatography on a silica column, under normal
      phase chromatographic conditions, with fluorescence detection. Physostigmine was
      used as an internal standard. The assay has been fully validated in the
      concentration range 50-2000 pg/ml and utilized for the analysis of clinical
      samples from subjects dosed with heptylphysostigmine.

PMID- 1452614
TI  - Determination of zolpidem, a new sleep-inducing agent, and its metabolites in
      biological fluids: pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism and overdosing
      investigations in humans.
AB  - For the determination of zolpidem, a new sleep inducer, and its metabolites in
      human plasma and urine, three methods were developed that are suitable for
      pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism and overdosing investigations. The methods used
      for pharmacokinetic and drug metabolism studies are based on column-switching
      high-performance liquid chromatography; they do not require any sample
      manipulation because the plasma or diluted urine is injected into a pre-column
      where clean-up and preconcentration take place. The analytes are transferred by
      valve-switching to the C18 analytical column for chromatography. To investigate
      overdose cases, urine samples only are used: the method is simple, because the
      diluted urine can be injected directly into the analytical column (phenyl type).
      This allows the identification and quantification of the principal urinary
      metabolite of zolpidem, the unchanged drug being practically undetectable. All
      the methods use fluorescence detection, which affords high sensitivity and
      selectivity. It is necessary to use a method capable of the determination of
      metabolites even if these are apparently pharmacologically inactive, because in
      different physiopathological populations the qualitative and quantitative
      metabolic profiles of zolpidem could be different. The method designed for the
      investigation of (accidental or deliberate) overdose cases is, as required on
      such occasions, simple and rapid, with good selectivity with respect to commonly
      prescribed psychotropic drugs.

PMID- 1452615
TI  - High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of ambroxol in human
      plasma.
AB  - Ambroxol has been determined in biological fluids using a rapid and sensitive
      high-performance liquid chromatographic method. The samples prepared from plasma
      by liquid-liquid extraction were analysed on reversed-phase silica gel by
      competing-ion chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The method was applied
      to the determination of ambroxol levels in twelve healthy volunteers after oral
      administration of 90 mg of ambroxol in tablets of Mucosolvan and Ambrosan.

PMID- 1452616
TI  - Coupling of microdialysis with capillary electrophoresis: a new approach to the
      study of drug transfer between two compartments of the body in freely moving
      rats.
AB  - The feasibility of in vivo microdialysis and capillary electrophoresis for
      pharmacokinetic studies was tested. Microdialysis probes were inserted in the
      jugular vein and brain of rats. After an intraperitoneal injection of
      phenobarbital, microdialysis was performed in the brain and the blood
      simultaneously in each rat under freely moving conditions. Capillary
      electrophoresis with ultraviolet absorption was used to measure phenobarbital in
      blood and brain dialysates. The time course of phenobarbital in the blood and in
      the extracellular space of the brain was followed. The results demonstrated that
      microdialysis can be used for pharmacokinetic studies in freely moving animals.
      Capillary electrophoresis has the potential to improve the time resolution of
      microdialysis. Other advantages of microdialysis and capillary electrophoresis
      for pharmacokinetic studies are discussed.

PMID- 1452617
TI  - Fluorimetric detection of serum corticosterone using high-performance liquid
      chromatography.
AB  - A simple, sensitive, specific and reproducible method for the determination of
      corticosterone concentrations in rat serum using high-performance liquid
      chromatography (HPLC) with fluorimetric detection is described. Corticosterone is
      detectable down to 0.1 ng injected onto the HPLC column. Cortisol is used as an
      internal standard. Ethyl acetate was used for both initial serum corticosteroid
      extraction and the subsequent fluorophore extraction after sulfuric acid
      hydrolysis; thus sulfuric acid does not enter the HPLC system. The resultant
      fluorophores for both corticosterone and cortisol are stable for at least two
      weeks at ambient temperature not requiring storage at -20 degrees C. The
      procedure is highly suitable for use with HPLC systems utilising automatic sample
      injectors. The method is specific for corticosterone; dexamethasone, cortisone
      and gonadal steroids are not detectable and do not interfere in this assay.

PMID- 1452618
TI  - Determination of urinary 3-methylhistidine by high-performance liquid
      chromatography with o-phthaldialdehyde precolumn derivatization.
AB  - A high-performance liquid chromatographic method to measure the concentration of
      3-methylhistidine in human urine with o-phthaldialdehyde precolumn derivatization
      is described. A clear separation of the 3-methylhistidine derivative from other
      derivatives in urine was achieved within 25 min. The linearity, recovery and
      coefficients of variation were determined. The method was successfully applied to
      clinical assays and used for diagnostic purposes.

PMID- 1452619
TI  - Assay of timolol in human plasma using gas chromatography with electron-capture
      detection.
AB  - A simple and sensitive gas chromatographic method has been developed for the
      determination of timolol in plasma using electron-capture detection and
      propranolol as internal standard. Timolol was extracted using butyl chloride and
      derivatized using trifluoroacetic anhydride in butyl acetate. The lower detection
      limit for the assay was found to be 1 ng/ml from 1 ml of plasma. Extracted
      standards gave within-day precision of 12.55, 9.68 and 3.78% for 1, 20 and 100
      ng/ml plasma samples, respectively. A recovery of at least 80% of timolol was
      found using the extraction method described. The assay was used in a randomized
      cross-over bioequivalence trial using an oral administration of 20 mg of timolol.
      Pharmacokinetic parameters compare favourably with other literature values.

PMID- 1452620
TI  - Analysis of 5-fluorouracil in plasma and urine by high-performance liquid
      chromatography.
AB  - A relatively simple, sensitive and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic
      method is described for measuring the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in
      human plasma and urine. The procedure includes liquid-liquid extraction using
      ethyl acetate-methanol (95:5) and preparative column chromatography to separate 5
      FU from constituents normally occurring in these biological samples. The columns
      contained a specially modified form of diatomaceous earth, which requires no pre
      conditioning washes. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography was
      performed on a C18 column (70 mm x 4.6 mm I.D.) with a mobile phase of water
      methanol (95:5) and ultraviolet detection (268 nm). The overall recovery from
      plasma and urine was 91 and 94%, respectively, at the concentration of 50 ng/ml.
      The determination limit of the assay for 5-FU was 10 ng/ml of plasma and urine.
      Concentrations of 5-FU between 10 and 500 ng/ml were measured in plasma and urine
      with a relative standard deviation of 6.8%. In order to evaluate the procedure,
      plasma and urine samples from three patients treated with 5-FU by continuous
      intravenous perfusion, were investigated.

PMID- 1452622
TI  - High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of pilocarpine in plasma.
AB  - A high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure requiring neither
      derivatization nor complex sample work-up is reported for reproducibly and
      sensitively determining pilocarpine in plasma. Following stabilization of
      pilocarpine against in vitro hydrolysis using sodium fluoride, plasma samples
      were extracted and the extracts chromatographed on a 5-microns, low-carbon-load
      (6%) C18 reversed-phase column. The assay was linear between 10 and 300 ng/ml (r
      = 0.998). It had sufficient sensitivity to quantitate pilocarpine at
      concentrations as low as 10 ng/ml (signal-to-noise ratio > or = 4) using a 500
      microliters sample. The assay appears to be the first published specifically for
      plasma determinations and has proven capable of supporting pharmacokinetics
      studies of pilocarpine disposition in the anesthetized dog.

PMID- 1452621
TI  - High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of N-methylformamide and N
      methyl-N-(hydroxymethyl)-formamide in human urine.
AB  - A reliable high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method which allows the
      determination in human urine of two important metabolites of N,N
      dimethylformamide (DMF), namely N-methylformamide (MMF) and N-methyl-N
      (hydroxymethyl)formamide (DMFOH), is reported. A single-step rapid purification
      of urine was performed on a C18 solid-phase extraction column and the eluate was
      injected directly on to the HPLC column. HPLC was carried out isocratically on
      Aminex Ion Exclusion HPX-87H column using 7.5.10(-4) M sulphuric acid as the
      mobile phase with ultraviolet detection at 196 nm. The method is specific,
      accurate, precise and sufficiently sensitive to be applied to the biological
      monitoring of MMF and DMFOH in workers exposed to DMF.

PMID- 1452623
TI  - Determination of zopiclone in plasma using column liquid chromatography with
      ultraviolet detection.
AB  - A reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method with ultraviolet detection for the
      determination of zopiclone in plasma is described. It is rapid, sensitive,
      reproducible and linear over a wide range. The method was used to study plasma
      zopiclone concentrations in a case of acute intoxication after oral ingestion of
      300 mg of the drug. The plasma level was 1600 ng/ml 4.5 h after the dose and the
      elimination half-life was 3.5 h.

PMID- 1452624
TI  - Determination of remoxipride in human plasma and urine by reversed-phase ion-pair
      high-performance liquid chromatography.
AB  - A sensitive method is described for the measurement of remoxipride in human
      plasma and urine. Remoxipride and its internal standard are extracted from plasma
      or urine at pH 12 with a mixture of hexane and methyl tert.-butyl ether. After
      washing the organic phase with base, the compounds are extracted into acid and
      analyzed on a C18 column with ultraviolet detection at 214 nm. The mobile phase
      is composed of acetonitrile and aqueous buffer (sodium perchlorate and phosphoric
      acid, pH 1.7). The limits of reliable quantitation for remoxipride are 12.5 and
      50 ng/ml for plasma and urine, respectively. The run times are 6 min for plasma
      and 3 min for urine. The method has been successfully used to assay remoxipride
      clinical study samples. This mobile phase has also been successfully applied to
      the analysis of other basic drugs such as cimetidine, codeine, diltiazem and
      quinidine with minor modifications.

PMID- 1452625
TI  - Evaluation of a high-performance thin-layer chromatographic technique for the
      determination of salbutamol serum levels in clinical trials.
AB  - Salbutamol concentrations were determined by high-performance thin-layer
      chromatography in the sera of two sets of ten volunteers at hourly intervals for
      6 h after taking one 8-mg slow-release tablet. The influence of time lapse in
      processing of serum samples, i.e. centrifugation, extraction and chromatography,
      was studied. A statistical significant instability of salbutamol in the sera of
      patients was found which was not present in standard drug-free serum samples
      spiked with salbutamol and used for construction of standard curves.

PMID- 1452626
TI  - Determination of tetracycline antibiotics by reversed-phase high-performance
      liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.
AB  - A highly sensitive method for the determination of tetracycline antibiotics (TCs)
      using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence
      detection is presented. This method was based on the use of disodium
      ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) and calcium chloride as fluorescence
      increasing reagents in the mobile phase. The concentrations of each reagent in
      the mobile phase greatly influenced the fluorescence intensity of TCs. When the
      concentration of EDTA and calcium chloride were 25 and 35 mM, respectively, and
      the pH of the mobile phase was 6.5, the maximum fluorescence intensity was
      obtained. The column temperature hardly influenced the fluorescence intensity. At
      3.75 ng of TCs injected, the precision (relative standard deviation) ranged from
      1.12 to 2.20%. In the range 0.075-37.5 ng for tetracycline and oxytetracycline
      and 0.225-37.5 ng for chlortetracycline, a linear response was observed. The
      detection limits of this method were 49-190 pg for three different TCs. The
      proposed method was applied to the determination of one of the TCs in
      pharmaceuticals by the internal standard method using other TCs as internal
      standards and was also applied to determination of TCs added to fish tissue.

PMID- 1452627
TI  - Separation of the enantiomers of some potassium channel activators using an alpha
      1-acid glycoprotein column.
AB  - The separations of the enantiomers of some 3,4-dihydro-2,2'-dimethyl-2H-1
      benzopyrans and a related tetrahydronaphthalene on alpha 1-acid glycoprotein
      (Chiral-AGP) are presented, together with the results from an investigation of
      the effects of organic modifier and pH on the separations achieved. The general
      utility of Chiral-AGP in separating the enantiomers of compounds from this class
      of antihypertensive agents is demonstrated in this paper.

PMID- 1452628
TI  - Analysis of legume oligosaccharides by high-resolution gas chromatography.
AB  - The suitability of high-resolution gas chromatography (HGRC) for the analysis of
      the raffinose family oligosaccharides (raffinose, stachyose, verbascose) was
      investigated. Aqueous methanol (80%) extracts of pea flour were dried and
      derivatized with either trimethylimidazole or N-methyl-bis(trifluoroacetamide).
      Separation of the sugar derivatives was achieved utilizing a 10-m DB5-60W
      capillary column. The effects of carrier gas (He) flow-rate and split ratio on
      resolution and reproducibility were studied. HRGC analysis was characterized by
      excellent resolution and satisfactory reproducibility, and proved to be a rapid,
      sensitive method for quantitation of oligosaccharides in pea flours.

PMID- 1452629
TI  - Efficient enantioselective separation and determination of trace impurities in
      secondary amino acids (i.e., imino acids).
AB  - An R-(-)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl carbamoylated-beta-cyclodextrin bonded phase in
      conjunction with a nonaqueous polar mobile phase was used for the highly
      selective enantioseparation of a number of secondary amino acids after their pre
      column derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC). Under the
      conditions employed, the FMOC reagent served to "lock" the imino acid into their
      existing conformation thereby preventing the possibility of racemization.
      Furthermore, it served to increase the sensitivity to the point that trace level
      enantiomeric impurities were easily detected. Compared with separations that use
      traditional reversed-phase solvents, this method showed several advantages:
      higher selectivity towards the imino acid enantiomers investigated, shorter
      analysis times, faster equilibration of the column, more stable baseline and more
      sensitive fluorescence detection. The detection limits for FMOC derivatives of
      proline, trans-4-hydroxyproline, cis-4-hydroxyproline, pyroglutamic acid, 3,4
      dehydroproline, thiaproline, penicillamine acetone adduct and pipecolic acid are
      in the low femtomole range. The method was used for evaluation of
      enantioselectivity of a number of "optically pure" commercial imino acid
      standards. Enantiomeric impurities as low as 0.0001% (1 ppm) can be determined in
      some cases. High precision determination of trace levels of D-imino acids in the
      presence of large amounts of corresponding (opposite) L enantiomer at 1, 0.1,
      0.01% and below are demonstrated.

PMID- 1452630
TI  - Determination of diaminopimelic acid in biological materials using high
      performance liquid chromatography.
AB  - A method for the determination of diaminopimelic acid (DAPA) concentrations in
      feeds and rumen digesta by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography
      using precolumn derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde and fluorimetric detection
      was developed. Samples were oxidized and hydrolysed prior to analyses by HPLC.
      Hydrogen peroxide and formic acid were used for oxidation; hydrolyses were
      performed using 3 M hydrochloric acid under vacuum at 120 degrees C for 17 h.
      Oxidation allowed more space for DAPA-OPA peak elution and hydrochloric acid
      hydrolysis reduced sample clean-up and extended the column life. Hydrolysates
      were diluted, adjusted to pH 7 and filtered. A Beckman Model 507 autosampler with
      a precolumn derivatization cassette was used for the derivatization process and
      fluorimetric detection was used to measure the OPA derivatives. Samples were
      prepared in order to have on-column DAPA concentrations in the range 10-100 pmol.
      The relative recovery of the standard solutions added to the feed samples ranged
      from 98.4 to 102.8 %. The reproducibility of the method was evaluated by the
      analysis of eight alfalfa hay samples and eight alfalfa hay samples incubated in
      the rumen for 48 h and they yielded relative standard deviations of 2.04 % and
      2.02%, respectively.

PMID- 1452631
TI  - Thermal desorption cold trap-injection in high-resolution gas chromatography:
      multivariate optimization of experimental conditions.
AB  - In studies of low concentrations of volatile compounds in air, the method of
      adsorption on porous polymers and determination by thermal desorption cold trap
      injection high-resolution gas chromatography is finding increasing application.
      Factors considered important for injection and chromatographic separation of
      volatile compounds by this method were investigated with the use of multivariate
      techniques. For the amount injected on to the chromatographic column, the factors
      of main importance were found to be the temperature of the injection block, the
      thickness of the internal coating of the cold trap and the flow-rate. Strong
      interaction effects were noted. For the sharpness of the chromatographic peaks,
      the flow-rate was the most important factor.

PMID- 1452632
TI  - Differential diagnosis of HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections by restriction enzyme
      analysis of 'nested' PCR products.
AB  - A 'nested' polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay is described which is capable of
      detecting single copies of human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) in genomic DNA
      extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). A single set of
      'nested' oligonucleotide primers, based on the highly conserved tax/rex region of
      the viral genome, was able to detect both HTLV-I and HTLV-II proviral sequences
      in clinical samples of diverse geographical origins, from the United States,
      Great Britain, Japan, the Caribbean, Italy, Greece, Iraq and West Africa. Rapid
      discrimination between HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections was achieved by restriction
      enzyme analysis of unpurified second-round PCR products, even in those cases in
      which serological assays had failed to provide a definitive result. Over a 2-year
      period, a total of 53 HTLV infections (37 HTLV-I and 16 HTLV-II) were identified
      by this technique and complete concordance with serological typing, available in
      41 cases, was observed.

PMID- 1452633
TI  - Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measurement of IgG antibody to Molluscum
      contagiosum virus and investigation of the serological relationship of the
      molecular types.
AB  - An ELISA was developed for measuring levels of IgG antibodies to Molluscum
      contagiosum virus (MCV) using DNA typed purified virus as antigen. The assay was
      found to be specific and sensitive for antibodies to MCV as well as being
      economical in its use of antigen. A close relationship was found between antibody
      levels to the MCV molecular types 1, 1v and 2 by cross-testing sera on plates
      coated with the different molecular types of the virus as antigen (P < 0.001).

PMID- 1452634
TI  - Geographical clusters of dengue virus type 2 isolates based on analysis of
      infected cell RNA by the chemical cleavage at mismatch method.
AB  - Genetic variation in 12 strains of dengue virus type 2, isolated from several
      epidemic areas in different years, was studied by chemical cleavage at mismatched
      cytosine in DNA:RNA heteroduplexes. End-labelled cDNA probes derived from the E
      and NS2A genes of the New Guinea C strain were hybridized to total RNA extracted
      from cells infected by individual isolates. Following modification of mismatched
      cytosine by hydroxylamine and nucleic acid strand cleavage by piperidine, the
      resulting fragments of radiolabelled probe were analysed by electrophoresis and
      autoradiography. The patterns of bands generated corresponded to the geographical
      groupings of the isolates. Thus this method is suitable in epidemiological
      studies for rapidly surveying a large number of isolates for genetic variation in
      a particular gene of interest.

PMID- 1452635
TI  - Directed and divided attention in Alzheimer's disease: impairment in shifting of
      attention to global and local stimuli.
AB  - This study investigated the relative performance of Alzheimer's disease (AD)
      patients and normal controls on directed and divided attention reaction time (RT)
      tasks that involved the use of global-local stimuli (e.g., a large '1' made from
      small '2s'). Relative to normals, AD patients displayed disproportionately
      greater impairment on the divided attention task compared to the directed
      attention task. On the divided attention task, when the target remained at the
      same global-local level across consecutive trials, the AD patients displayed a
      greater facilitation effect than did the controls when responding to the second
      stimulus. However, when the target changed levels across consecutive trials
      (i.e., from the global to the local, or vice versa) the AD patients' RTs to the
      second stimulus were disproportionately slower than were the controls' RTs. These
      results demonstrated that AD patients are impaired in disengaging and shifting
      attention across levels of perceptual organization within the same stimulus.

PMID- 1452636
TI  - Neuropsychological functioning in adolescents with diabetes.
AB  - Investigated the relationship between disease variables, neuropsychological
      performance, and psychosocial status in adolescents with Insulin Dependent
      Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM). The study group consisted of 85 adolescents, aged 14 to
      16.5 years who had been diabetic for longer than 12 months. Parameters of both
      recent and long-term metabolic control were determined, including diabetic
      incidents such as severe hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis. The mothers completed
      standardised measures of adolescent adjustment, and the adolescents provided self
      reports of psychosocial status. Neuropsychological functioning was evaluated with
      standardised tests of verbal and nonverbal intelligence, memory and new learning,
      visuo-graphic skills, mental flexibility, and problem-solving ability. Using
      retrospective accounts of disease history, there was no relationship between
      neuropsychological functioning and variables such as age of onset, chronic poor
      control, or major metabolic crises. The findings emphasise the need for a long
      term, prospective study of a cohort of diabetic children from the time of
      diagnosis to clarify causal relationships, if any, between illness variables,
      neuropsychological performance, and psychosocial factors.

PMID- 1452637
TI  - Cognitive rehabilitation of the hemineglect disorder in chronic patients with
      unilateral right brain damage.
AB  - Thirteen patients with a stabilized hemineglect symptomatology due to right
      hemisphere lesions were subjected to a rehabilitation training specifically aimed
      at reducing the scanning deficit. The training consisted of four procedures
      (visual-spatial scanning, reading and copying training, copying of line drawings
      on a dot matrix, and figure description) which lasted 40 sessions. By the end of
      therapy, the patients as a group showed significant improvements on several
      standard tests of hemineglect. The results on a Semi-structured Scale for the
      Functional Evaluation of Hemineglect pointed to the extension of exploratory
      improvements to situations similar to those of daily life. In contrast, patients
      improved very slightly on a variety of standard visual-spatial tests, indicating
      the specificity of training in reducing the scanning defect. Seven patients were
      examined at a follow-up several months after the end of therapy and appeared
      stable on both standard and functional tests of neglect.

PMID- 1452638
TI  - Cognitive dysfunction after aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery.
AB  - The present study examined the nature of the amnestic syndrome following aneurysm
      of the anterior communicating artery (ACoA) in humans. Eleven ACoA and 13
      subjects with intracranial hemorrhages (ICH) elsewhere in the brain were
      administered a battery of standard neuropsychological tests. The ACoA group
      performed significantly worse than the ICH controls on tests of delayed verbal
      memory and on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, despite significantly higher Full
      Scale IQ. No significant differences were observed between groups on tests of
      immediate recall, attention and concentration, and visuo-spatial functions,
      although the ACoA group tended to perform better on many of these tests. The
      results do not support the hypothesis that the cognitive impairments observed
      following ACoA aneurysm are the result of diffuse cortical damage. The role of
      specific anterior cerebral structures in defining the "ACOA syndrome" are
      discussed.

PMID- 1452639
TI  - Factorial structure of the Waterloo Handedness Questionnaire for control and
      learning-disabled adults.
AB  - This study examined the factorial structure of the 32-item version of the
      Waterloo Handedness Questionnaire (Steenhuis & Bryden, 1989) with a sample of
      control (n = 325) and learning-disabled (LD) (n = 147) subjects. On the basis of
      Principal Components Analyses, we have replicated the work of Steenhuis and
      Bryden (1989) who suggested that hand preference factors for control subjects are
      multifactorial in nature and are related more to "skilled" and "less skilled"
      activities rather than on distal/proximal musculature. Further, we have found
      that the factor structure for hand preference in LD adults is somewhat different
      than of normally achieving adults. The primary difference occurred within Factor
      2. Unlike control subjects, whose Factor 2 items were classified as "less
      skilled" and preference was less lateralized, items loading on this factor for LD
      subjects were classified as "skilled" and showed strongly lateralized responses
      for both left and right handers. Presumably, LD adults show a less marked
      distinction between "skilled" and "less skilled" unimanual motor activities than
      control subjects suggesting different degrees of manual laterality between the
      groups.

PMID- 1452640
TI  - Evidence of presymptomatic cognitive decline in Huntington's disease.
AB  - Asymptomatic persons at risk for Huntington's disease (HD) (N = 28) were assessed
      with neuropsychological, psychiatric, and neurologic tests while undergoing
      genetic linkage studies to determine their probability of carrying the HD gene.
      Those participants who were subsequently identified as probable gene carriers did
      not differ on neurologic or psychiatric examination from those subsequently
      identified as probable noncarriers. Neuropsychological data are presented for a
      subset of participants free of other conditions (such as alcoholism) putting them
      at risk for cognitive deficits. Among these subjects, probable gene carriers were
      inferior to probable noncarriers on the neuropsychological battery as a whole and
      on several individual tests involving learning and memory. The results suggest
      the presence of cognitive decline prior to identifiable motor impairments in HD.

PMID- 1452641
TI  - Peer review for manuscript and grant submissions: relevance for research in
      clinical neuropsychology.

PMID- 1452642
TI  - Adjusting for demographic covariates by the analysis of covariance.

PMID- 1452643
TI  - Multicenter evaluation of the AntigEnz Chlamydia enzyme immunoassay for diagnosis
      of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection.
AB  - To evaluate the AntigEnz Chlamydia enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (Baxter/Bartels,
      Issaquah, Wash.), we studied 320 men and 1,209 women attending clinics for
      sexually transmitted diseases in Baltimore, San Francisco, and Seattle. At
      examination, two separate swabs were obtained from each patient, one for
      chlamydial culture and one for EIA. Cervical samples were collected from women,
      and urethral samples were collected from men. The prevalence of chlamydial
      infection by culture was 9% in Baltimore (n = 532), 11% in Seattle (n = 500), and
      9% in San Francisco (n = 497). To resolve specimens with discrepant culture and
      EIA results, the EIA transport buffer was centrifuged and the resuspended pellet
      was stained by direct immunofluorescence to determine whether elementary bodies
      were present. Overall sensitivity of the AntigEnz Chlamydia assay compared with
      culture was 87% in men and 86% in women, and overall specificities were 94 and
      97%, respectively. Differences between centers were seen, with sensitivities
      ranging from 76% among men and 79% among women in Seattle to 100% among men and
      95% among women in Baltimore. With a true positive considered to be either a
      culture-positive or an EIA- and direct immunofluorescence-positive specimen, the
      revised sensitivity was 91% in men and 88% in women. Overall revised specificity
      was 99% in both men and women. We conclude that in this high-prevalence
      population, the sensitivity and specificity of this assay compare favorably with
      those of other noncultural antigen detection tests for the diagnosis of
      chlamydial genital infection.

PMID- 1452644
TI  - Seroprevalence of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies to polysaccharides of
      Streptococcus pneumoniae in different age groups of Ecuadorian and German
      children.
AB  - The age-specific prevalence of serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody to capsular
      polysaccharides of Streptococcus pneumoniae, as detected by enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay, was studied in 1,301 Ecuadorian children enrolled in a
      national nutrition and health survey. This prevalence was 6% in infants < 6
      months old and increased to 28% in children 6 to 11 months old, 49% in those 12
      to 17 months old, and 58% in those 18 to 23 months old. About 80% of the 5-year
      old children had this antibody. When tested separately against six different
      capsular polysaccharides, serum IgM antibody reacted with decreasing frequency
      with serotype 3, 8, 19, 6, 23, and 1 capsular polysaccharides. We did not observe
      a broadening of the antibody response with increasing age in the sense that more
      and more serotypes were recognized. A similar age-related prevalence was found
      for IgM antibody to the species-specific C-polysaccharide of S. pneumoniae and
      for IgG antibody to capsular polysaccharides of S. pneumoniae. A smaller German
      serum collection showed a comparable age-related prevalence of pneumococcus
      specific serum IgG and IgM antibodies. The highest incidence of respiratory
      diseases was observed in 1- and 2-year-old Ecuadorian children. It thus seems
      that acquisition of serum antibody to S. pneumoniae reflects more the
      developmental maturation of an immune response than an actual exposure to
      different pneumococcal serotypes.

PMID- 1452646
TI  - Whole-cell protein electrophoresis for typing Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
AB  - A method of discriminating between strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by using
      sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of whole-cell proteins
      combined with a sensitive silver stain is described. Thirty-five isolates of M.
      tuberculosis and five isolates from other species of Mycobacterium were examined,
      including serial isolates from the same patients and isolates from a small
      cluster of hospital cases. Different species of Mycobacterium were clearly
      distinguished, and within the species M. tuberculosis, different fingerprints
      were obtained, allowing discrimination of some strains from different patients.
      The reproducibility and discrimination of the technique are discussed.

PMID- 1452645
TI  - Detection of specific antibodies in gingival crevicular transudate by enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1
      infection.
AB  - The purpose of this open and multicenter trial was to determine the usefulness of
      antibody detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in gingival
      crevicular transudate (GCT), which was collected with an investigational device
      (Orasure; Epitope, Beaverton, Oreg.), for the diagnosis of human immunodeficiency
      virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and to compare it with antibody detection in
      serum. A total of 1,880 individuals were tested, as follows: 354 HIV-1-infected
      individuals (111 asymptomatics individuals and 243 individuals with AIDS), 46
      individuals with autoimmune diseases (AD), 296 individuals with dental diseases,
      42 individuals with other chronic diseases, and 1,142 healthy individuals. Sera
      from 356 individuals and GCT from 354 individuals were positive for HIV-1
      antibodies. There were two false-negative gingival samples, one from an HIV-1
      positive asymptomatic individual and one from a patient with AIDS. HIV-1
      antibodies were unexpectedly detected in both serum and GCT of two individuals,
      one with dental disease and one with pulmonary tuberculosis. None of the sera or
      GCTs from healthy subjects or patients with AD were positive. Compared with the
      serum assay, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive
      values of the GCT assay were 99.5, 100, 100, and 99.9%, respectively. Of 355
      paired serum-GCT samples that were HIV-1 positive by ELISA and that were tested
      by Western blot (immunoblot), all were positive for HIV-1 by using the U.S.
      Public Health Service interpretation criteria, while among gingival samples, 301
      were positive, 52 were indeterminate, and 2 were negative. Of 82 negative paired
      samples selected at random, 80 were negative by Western blotting of serum and GCT
      and 2 were indeterminate by Western blotting of serum and negative by Western
      blotting of GCT (a healthy blood donor and a patient with dermatopolymyositis).
      Testing for HIV-1 antibodies in GCT is a simple and reliable screening procedure
      in populations with high and low prevalences of infection because of the high
      sensitivity and specificity of the method, and it offers improved safety for
      hospital personnel.

PMID- 1452648
TI  - Evaluation of three immunoassays for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in urine
      specimens from asymptomatic males.
AB  - The performances of three commercially available immunoassays
      (Chlamydiazyme/Antibody Blocking Assay [Abbott Diagnostics, Abbott Park, Ill.],
      IDEIA [Analytab Products, Plainview, N.Y.], and Microtrak EIA [Syva Co. Palo
      Alto, Calif.]) were evaluated for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in urine
      specimens from asymptomatic males. Assay results were compared with direct
      specimen immunofluorescence (DFA) analysis of urine sediment (Syva Microtrak;
      Syva Co.), which was chosen as the study confirmation assay. An overall Chlamydia
      prevalence of 7% (24 of 340) was found in our study population, with peak
      incidences occurring in the adolescent (8 of 93 specimens) and young adult (11 of
      146 specimens) age groups. Sensitivity and specificity data among the
      Chlamydiazyme, IDEIA, and Microtrak enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) were determined to
      be 79.1 and 99%, 91.7 and 98%, and 95.8 and 99%, respectively. The Microtrak EIA
      and IDEIA products demonstrated sensitivities and specificities equal to or
      greater than those claimed for urine specimens. The diagnostic accuracies of
      these assays on asymptomatic subjects, along with the ease of this collection
      method, suggest a role for these products as screening tools. The sensitivity of
      the Chlamydiazyme assay was lower than that claimed previously in symptomatic
      patients, with 5 of 24 positive specimens demonstrating false-negative results.
      In those cases, centrifugation of the original immunoassay aliquot material and
      then DFA examination confirmed specimen positivity. Urine immunoassay screening
      in combination with DFA confirmation (which was chosen because it has antibody
      epitopic specificity different from that of the primary assay) provides a high
      degree of diagnostic precision. The use of noninvasive collection methods could
      result in greater testing compliance among asymptomatic males and, subsequently,
      could reduce the incidences of both symptomatic and silent chlamydial infections.

PMID- 1452647
TI  - Use of a recombinant 170-kilodalton surface antigen of Entamoeba histolytica for
      serodiagnosis of amebiasis and identification of immunodominant domains of the
      native molecule.
AB  - We expressed the gene that encodes one of the major surface antigens of Entamoeba
      histolytica, the 170-kDa protein (1,270 amino acids), as a glutathione S
      transferase fusion protein containing amino acids 1 to 1202 (lacking the putative
      transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions) and as separate fusion proteins containing
      each of three major domains of the 170-kDa molecule. Lysates from bacteria
      induced to express one of these proteins were used as the target antigens in a
      Western blot (immunoblot) analysis to determine whether a recombinant 170-kDa
      antigen could serve as the basis for a serologic test used to detect invasive
      amebiasis and whether there are differences in humoral immunogenicity among the
      three major domains of the 170-kDa antigen. Among patients with invasive
      amebiasis from three major areas where the disease is endemic and two sites in
      the United States, 54 (90%) of 60 had antibodies to the recombinant 170-kDa
      protein. Among 37 patients from regions where the disease is endemic and 20
      patients from the United States without amebic disease, 1 (2%) of 57 had
      antibodies to the recombinant 170-kDa protein. We found significant differences
      in seroreactivity to each of three major domains of the molecule among patients
      seropositive for the complete construct, ranging from 100% seroreactivity with
      the fusion protein containing the domain designated cysteine rich and 89%
      seropositivity with the fusion protein incorporating a portion of the region
      designated cysteine poor to only 9% seropositivity for the fusion protein
      containing the pseudorepeat domain. Our study indicates that a serologic test
      based on the recombinant 170-kDA antigen could serve as a highly sensitive and
      specific test for acute invasive amebiasis.

PMID- 1452649
TI  - Scedosporium inflatum osteomyelitis in a dog.
AB  - Scedosporium inflatum Malloch et Salkin was found to cause osteomyelitis in a 6
      year-old spayed female beagle. The previously healthy dog suddenly developed
      right-forelimb lameness. Bony changes consisting of proliferation with some lysis
      were noted on radiographic examinations. Microscopic observations of stained
      sections of tissue obtained by biopsy of the distal humerus revealed the presence
      of septate branching hyphae. Cultures inoculated with tissue from a later biopsy
      yielded a mold subsequently identified as S. inflatum. Tissue sections stained
      with specific Scedosporium fluorescent-antibody conjugate were positive, further
      substantiating the diagnosis. Although the dog was treated with oral
      itraconazole, no improvement in the animal's condition was noted, and it was
      euthanized. Autopsy revealed dissemination of the etiologic agent to the lungs.

PMID- 1452650
TI  - Detection of Shigella dysenteriae type 1 and Shigella flexneri in feces by
      immunomagnetic isolation and polymerase chain reaction.
AB  - A combination of immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and a polymerase chain reaction
      (PCR) procedure was used for direct isolation and identification of Shigella
      dysenteriae type 1 and Shigella flexneri from feces. Immunomagnetic particles
      were coated with monoclonal antibody MASFB, which is specific for a common
      epitope of the O polysaccharides of S. dysenteriae type 1 and S. flexneri.
      Bacteria bound to the beads were boiled in water, and target DNA was amplified
      with a primer pair specific for a gene coded on the invasion-associated locus
      (ial) of the large virulence plasmid of all four Shigella spp. and enteroinvasive
      strains of Escherichia coli. A 320-bp DNA fragment was generated and detected by
      an alkaline phosphatase-conjugated probe. Nonviable cells were also captured and
      detected by this technique. The method is simple and fast (7 h) and has a
      detection limit of ca. 10 Shigella organisms per g in fecal samples. The combined
      IMS-PCR assay correctly identified all 57 samples carrying S. dysenteriae type 1
      and 68 samples carrying S. flexneri from 238 fecal specimens and also permitted
      detection of 17 samples carrying Shigella spp. from 113 specimens from diarrheal
      patients in whom shigellae were not detected by conventional culture.

PMID- 1452651
TI  - A monoclonal antibody for distinction of invasive and noninvasive clinical
      isolates of Entamoeba histolytica.
AB  - Approximately 10% of the world population is infected with Entamoeba histolytica,
      but only 10% of the carriers develop symptomatic amebiasis. This discrepancy
      could be explained by the genotypic differences between the morphologically
      indistinguishable invasive and noninvasive strains of E. histolytica currently
      identified by zymodeme analysis, a technique that is unsuitable for routine
      diagnostic laboratories. Here we report the production of a monoclonal antibody
      against E. histolytica and its use in an immunofluorescence assay to identify
      invasive isolates cultured from stool samples of infected patients in several
      regions where amebiasis is endemic: Bangladesh, Colombia, and Mexico. After
      testing a total of 88 E. histolytica isolates, the correlation between zymodeme
      characterization and the immunofluorescence assay with the invasive isolate
      specific monoclonal antibody was 100%. The epitope detected by the invasive
      isolate-specific monoclonal antibody resides in a previously undescribed internal
      protein with molecular masses of 84 and 81 kDa in axenic and polyxenic E.
      histolytica strains, respectively.

PMID- 1452652
TI  - Identification of meningococcal serosubtypes by polymerase chain reaction.
AB  - The polymerase chain reaction was used as the basis of a novel typing method for
      Neisseria meningitidis. Southern hybridization experiments demonstrated that it
      was possible to identify genes encoding different serological variants of the
      meningococcal class 1 outer membrane protein by probing with polymerase chain
      reaction products corresponding to known epitopes. A set of 14 defined variable
      regions was prepared in bacteriophage M13mp19 by the cloning of polymerase chain
      reaction products. The phage were dot blotted onto membrane filters, which were
      used as targets for hybridization of radiolabeled amplified class 1 outer
      membrane protein genes. Thus, the presence of many different subtype-specific
      epitopes could be investigated in one experiment. This technique was evaluated
      with a set of serological reference strains, mainly of serogroup B organisms, and
      provided an alternative, rapid, and comprehensive typing system that was capable
      of distinguishing known serosubtypes and also of defining currently untypeable
      strains independently of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis or serological analysis. An additional advantage of this
      technique was that in the case of an unknown serosubtype (i.e., one that did not
      hybridize with any of the known samples), the DNA amplified from the original
      sample could be used to determine the nucleotide sequence of the novel
      serosubtype and to clone the corresponding variable region into bacteriophage
      M13. It may be possible to develop this procedure for the diagnostic detection
      and typing of meningococci directly from clinical samples even when culture is
      not possible because of antibiotic treatment of an acute case.

PMID- 1452653
TI  - Epidemiology of Tsutsugamushi disease in relation to the serotypes of Rickettsia
      tsutsugamushi isolated from patients, field mice, and unfed chiggers on the
      eastern slope of Mount Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.
AB  - A total of 59 strains of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi were isolated from patients (24
      isolates), Apodemus speciosus mice (30 isolates), and unfed larvae of
      Leptotrombidium scutellare (2 isolates) and Leptotrombidium pallidum (3 isolates)
      in the Gotenba-Oyama District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. All these isolates
      were classified into the three serotypes Karp, Kawasaki, and Kuroki based on
      reactivity with strain-specific monoclonal antibodies. Kawasaki- and Karp-type
      rickettsiae were isolated from L. scutellare and L. pallidum, respectively, and
      the geographic distribution of patients and rodents infected with these two types
      of rickettsiae coincided with the areas densely populated by the respective
      chiggers. From these results, we conclude that Kawasaki-type rickettsiae are
      transmitted by L. scutellare and Karp-type ones are transmitted by L. pallidum.
      Kawasaki-type rickettsial infections were prevalent in early autumn, and Karp
      type infections showed a peak of occurrence in the late autumn, reflecting the
      seasonal fluctuations of L. scutellare and L. pallidum. Isolates of Kuroki-type
      rickettsiae were obtained only from four patients in October and November, and
      the relationship between this type of rickettsia and its vector species could not
      be fully defined.

PMID- 1452654
TI  - Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in endocervical specimens by polymerase chain
      reaction.
AB  - A rapid and sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay for detection
      of Chlamydia trachomatis in cervical specimens is described. This assay consists
      of (i) sample preparation which avoids the use of heat, centrifugation, or
      organic extractions; (ii) rapid, two-temperature PCR amplification of C.
      trachomatis cryptic plasmid sequences; and (iii) capture and colorimetric
      detection of amplified DNA in microwell plates. PCR was compared with culture by
      using 503 cervical specimens. After resolution of discrepant specimens with a
      confirmatory PCR assay directed against the chlamydial major outer membrane
      protein gene, PCR had a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 99.7% while
      culture had a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificity of 100%. In a separate
      study, PCR was compared with a direct specimen enzyme immunoassay (Chlamydiazyme;
      Abbott Diagnostics) by using 375 cervical specimens. After resolution of
      discrepant specimens, PCR had a sensitivity and specificity of 100%, while the
      enzyme immunoassay had a sensitivity of 58.8% and a specificity of 100%.

PMID- 1452655
TI  - Polymerase chain reaction-based detection of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in serum.
AB  - DNAs prepared from chagasic patients' sera were amplified by the polymerase chain
      reaction using oligonucleotide primers which anneal specifically to a highly
      repetitive sequence of Trypanosoma cruzi nuclear DNA. Samples from both acutely
      and chronically infected patients yielded positive results by this method. No
      significant difference was observed when either whole blood or serum samples of
      the patients were used. These results indicate that serum instead of whole-blood
      samples could be used for polymerase chain reaction-based detection of T. cruzi
      in field studies without the need of applying any special chemical treatment to
      the specimens. This would represent a considerable advantage due to the easier
      handling and transportation of serum as compared with whole-blood samples,
      especially in tropical climates.

PMID- 1452656
TI  - Improved stool concentration procedure for detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts
      in fecal specimens.
AB  - Epidemiologic and laboratory data suggest that coprodiagnostic methods may fail
      to detect Cryptosporidium oocysts in stool specimens of infected patients. To
      improve the efficacy of stool concentration procedures, we modified different
      steps of the Formalin-ethyl acetate (FEA) stool concentration technique and
      evaluated these modifications by examining stool samples seeded with known
      numbers of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Because these modifications failed to improve
      oocyst detection, we developed a new stool concentration technique that includes
      FEA sedimentation followed by layering and flotation over hypertonic sodium
      chloride solution to separate parasites from stool debris. Compared with the
      standard FEA procedure, this technique improved Cryptosporidium oocyst detection.
      The sensitivities of the two concentration techniques were similar for diarrheal
      (watery) stool specimens (100% of watery stool specimens seeded with 5,000
      oocysts per g of stool were identified as positive by the new technique, compared
      with 90% of stools processed by the standard FEA technique). However, the most
      significant improvement in diagnosis occurred with formed stool specimens that
      were not fatty; 70 to 90% of formed stool specimens seeded with 5,000 oocysts
      were identified as positive by the new technique, compared with 0% of specimens
      processed by the standard FEA technique. One hundred percent of formed specimens
      seeded with 10,000 oocysts were correctly diagnosed by using the new technique,
      while 0 to 60% of specimens processed by the standard FEA technique were found
      positive. Similarly, only 50 to 90% of stool specimens seeded with 50,000 oocysts
      were identified as positive by using the standard FEA technique, compared with a
      100% positive rate by the new technique. The new stool concentration procedure
      provides enhanced detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in all stool samples.

PMID- 1452657
TI  - Baculovirus expression of the nucleoprotein gene of measles virus and utility of
      the recombinant protein in diagnostic enzyme immunoassays.
AB  - A recombinant baculovirus that expresses the nucleoprotein gene of measles virus
      (Edmonston vaccine strain) under the transcriptional control of the polyhedrin
      promoter was generated. The expressed protein (B-MVN) comigrated with the
      authentic viral nucleoprotein as observed by sodium dodecyl sulfate
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and it was phosphorylated. The B-MVN protein
      proved to be reactive with monoclonal antibodies in radioimmunoprecipitations,
      and it was immunogenic, eliciting in mice antisera that recognized the native
      nucleoprotein. In addition, the B-MVN protein was evaluated as a replacement
      source of antigen for whole virus in enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for detection of
      measles virus-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies. A capture IgM
      EIA with the B-MVN protein as antigen detected specific IgM antibodies in 18
      (72%) acute- and all convalescent-phase specimens from 25 clinical measles cases
      and exceeded 99% specificity with 120 control specimens. An indirect IgG EIA with
      the B-MVN protein detected specific IgG antibodies in 129 of 131 (98%) serum
      specimens with antibodies to measles virus, and results obtained from testing 268
      additional serum specimens were better correlated with measles virus-neutralizing
      antibodies than those obtained with a commercial EIA.

PMID- 1452658
TI  - Susceptibility testing of Cryptococcus neoformans: a microdilution technique.
AB  - We studied a series of test conditions in a microtiter system to define the
      optimal method for determining the susceptibility of Cryptococcus neoformans to
      antifungal agents. Twenty-one isolates of C. neoformans were grown for 24 or 48 h
      in four chemically defined media: yeast nitrogen base (BYNB 7); RPMI 1640;
      synthetic amino acid medium--fungal (SAAMF), buffered at pH 7.0 to select the
      medium that best supported growth of this fastidious yeast; and yeast nitrogen
      base, pH 5.4 (YNB 5.4). Maximum growth of C. neoformans, at 35 degrees C, was
      obtained in YNB 5.4, with the next highest growth levels in BYNB 7, SAAMF, and
      RPMI. Growth at 24 h was uniformly poor in all media and lacked reproducibility.
      In contrast, incubation for 48 h gave adequate growth with low standard
      deviations, and 48 h was selected as the optimal incubation period for this
      study. Comparison of the relationship between growth kinetics and initial
      inoculum size for eight cryptococcal isolates showed that 10(4) cells per ml
      yielded optimal growth in BYNB 7 and YNB 5.4, whereas 10(5) cells per ml was
      optimal in RPMI and SAAMF. Furthermore, variation of inocula from 10(3) to 10(5)
      cells per ml showed small but significant inoculum effects in determining MICs of
      fluconazole, amphotericin B, and flucytosine for C. neoformans. Therefore, 10(4)
      cells per ml was chosen as the optimal inoculum for susceptibility testing in
      this study. Mean MICs of fluconazole, amphotericin B, and flucytosine for 21
      crytococcal isolates in RPMI and BYNB 7 were low (for example, fluconazole had
      mean MICs of 1.2 and 1.3 micrograms/ml in RPMI and BYNB 7, respectively) and
      differed significantly from medium to medium. In contrast, the MICs obtained in
      SAAMF were significantly higher (e.g., fluconazole had a mean MIC of 2.2
      micrograms/ml). Variance in MICs was large with fluconazole and flucytosine but
      small with amphotericin B, irrespective of the medium used. A microtiter system
      employing BYNB 7 as the medium, 48 h as the incubation period, and 10(4) cells
      per ml as the final inoculum is a simple, accurate, and reproducible method for
      the testing of C. neoformans susceptibility to fluconazole, amphotericin B, and
      flucytosine.

PMID- 1452659
TI  - A novel polymerase chain reaction method for detection of human immunodeficiency
      virus in dried blood spots on filter paper.
AB  - A method for detection of proviral human immunodeficiency virus DNA in dried
      blood spots on filter paper by direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been
      developed. To develop the method, a standard system was used which was prepared
      from cells each containing a single integrated provirus and titrated with normal
      donor blood. This rapid procedure provides virtually quantitative yields of
      nuclear DNA and exploits most of the standard methodology described for blood
      specimens. A nested PCR using SK38-SK39 gag as the internal primer pair was also
      designed; this PCR detected a single copy of provirus per filter at near
      theoretical frequency with SK19 probe. The utility of the procedure was
      demonstrated with clinical specimens. Blood spot filters from human
      immunodeficiency virus-infected and uninfected individuals were readily and
      unequivocally discriminated. The method is designed for ultimate use with large
      (1.5-ml) sample preparation tubes that are compatible as PCR tubes with thermal
      cyclers. This will permit convenient, direct single-tube PCR of dried blood
      specimens on filters. It should be adaptable to analysis of dried blood spots for
      a variety of infectious or genetic diseases.

PMID- 1452660
TI  - Characterization and comparison of Australian human spotted fever group
      rickettsiae.
AB  - The microbiological and molecular characteristics of the rickettsiae isolated
      from humans with Queensland tick typhus (QTT) caused by Rickettsia australis and
      the recently described Flinders Island spotted fever (FISF) were compared.
      Clinically and serologically, the diseases are similar. Cell culture reveals
      differences in the plaque-forming abilities of the isolates. Characterization of
      the gene encoding the genus-specific 17-kDa antigen of R. australis revealed a
      unique nucleotide sequence unlike those of the FISF isolate and Rickettsia
      rickettsii. Southern blot analysis of rickettsial DNA from the isolates with a 17
      kDa-antigen gene probe revealed the presence of this gene in all isolates but no
      difference in banding patterns. When a probe for the rRNA genes was used, clear
      differences in banding patterns of isolates from patients with QTT and FISF were
      revealed. Thus, the rickettsiae isolated from patients with FISF differ from
      those from patients with QTT and may represent a new rickettsial species.

PMID- 1452661
TI  - Evaluation of the autoSCAN-W/A rapid system for identification and susceptibility
      testing of gram-negative fermentative bacilli.
AB  - The autoSCAN-Walk-Away (W/A) system for identification and susceptibility testing
      was evaluated for 400 gram-negative fermentative bacteria by using the API 20E
      (366 isolates) and/or tube biochemical tests as the reference identification
      system and a frozen microdilution MIC tray system for susceptibility testing. The
      W/A system performed well for identification of this group of organisms
      representing 14 genera and 30 species, showing a sensitivity of 96% and results
      available in 2 h. Of the 16 misidentifications, 6 were with Serratia
      liquefaciens. A total of 63 isolates (17%) required further tests to complete the
      identification, compared with 106 (29%) of the isolates which required additional
      tests for the API 20E identification. Approximately half (32) of the additional
      tests with the W/A system were required in order to separate Citrobacter diversus
      from C. amalonaticus. For susceptibility determinations, the W/A system
      demonstrated an overall agreement of 93% (4,102 determinations) with 40 major
      errors (0.98%). However, of the 906 resistant organism-drug combinations in the
      study, there were 115 very major errors, for a false-susceptibility rate of 12.7%
      of the resistance determinations. Among these very major errors, 80% occurred
      with piperacillin and the cephalosporins. The W/A system completed the MIC
      determinations in 7 h; however, the difficulty in detecting resistance with some
      antimicrobial agents limited the advantages of the rapid susceptibility testing.

PMID- 1452662
TI  - Establishment of a particle-counting method for purified elementary bodies of
      chlamydiae and evaluation of sensitivities of the IDEIA Chlamydia kit and DNA
      probe by using the purified elementary bodies.
AB  - To evaluate the sensitivity of commercially available test kits for detection of
      chlamydiae, we established a method of purifying Chlamydia trachomatis and
      Chlamydia pneumoniae elementary bodies (EBs). We then subjected the purified EBs,
      together with the purified EBs of Chlamydia psittaci, to the IDEIA Chlamydia
      (IDEIA) and DNA probe test kits to determine the EB numbers at the detection
      limits. The sensitivities of the test kits were thus compared. The results can be
      summarized as follows. (i) Intact EBs in the purified preparations were present
      at 100, 96.3, and 97% for the C. psittaci Cal 10, C. trachomatis L2/434/Bu (L2),
      and C. pneumoniae TW-183 strains, respectively. The preparations of the L2 and TW
      183 EBs contained a few EB envelopes, which reacted with antilipopolysaccharide
      monoclonal antibodies, as did the intact EBs, indicating that elimination of EB
      envelopes is not required for testing of the IDEIA kit's sensitivity. (ii) We
      established a method of counting intact EBs and EB envelopes under a scanning
      electron microscope after sedimentation of EBs on a coverslip by centrifugation.
      (iii) The EB numbers per assay at the cutoff level, which is set up in the IDEIA
      kit, were 9.6 x 10(2), 6.5 x 10(3), and 2.5 x 10(4) for the L2, TW-183, and Cal
      10 strains, respectively. When the same EB preparations were applied to the DNA
      probe kit, the EB number at the cutoff level was 7.5 x 10(3) per assay for the L2
      strain, but no reaction occurred for the Cal 10 and TW-183 strains at any EB
      number, indicating that the DNA probe kit is highly specific for C. trachomatis.
      Although the IDEIA kit designed for detection of C. trachomatis showed a
      sensitivity superior to that of the DNA probe, the chlamydial species was not
      determined by the IDEIA kit.

PMID- 1452664
TI  - Comparison of two culture approaches, blind passage and dual observation, for
      detecting Chlamydia trachomatis in various prevalence populations.
AB  - Chlamydia trachomatis diagnosis in our laboratory consisted of dual inoculation
      of shell vials and detection of inclusions by using fluorescein-conjugated
      monoclonal antiserum; the second culture vial was conventionally used for blind
      passage when the first vial was negative. We compared the increase in positivity
      using blind passage with that of a strategy utilizing observation of two stained
      monolayers (dual observation) without blind passage, in an effort to reduce the
      reporting time and labor associated with the conventional approach. A total of
      4,329 specimens were obtained from an obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) clinic
      (2,563 specimens) and the sexually transmitted disease clinic (1,766 specimens).
      These specimens were used to compare the two strategies. Blind passage of 1,269
      initially culture-negative specimens from the OB-GYN clinic resulted in an
      additional 6 positive chlamydial diagnoses. In comparison, a similar number of
      specimens (1,294) from the OB-GYN clinic collected subsequently to the first
      group were tested by dual observation. There were five additional positive
      findings. A similar evaluation of specimens from the sexually transmitted disease
      clinic was performed. Blind passage of 313 initially culture-negative specimens
      yielded 3 additional positive diagnoses, whereas dual observation of 1,435
      similar specimens resulted in 9 positive diagnoses. On the basis of analysis of
      4,332 specimens, sensitivity of dual observation is comparable to that of blind
      passage; labor, cost, and reporting time of dual observation are reduced in
      comparison to those of blind passage.

PMID- 1452663
TI  - Analysis of relationships among isolates of Citrobacter diversus by using DNA
      fingerprints generated by repetitive sequence-based primers in the polymerase
      chain reaction.
AB  - Oligonucleotide probes which match consensus sequences of the repetitive
      extragenic palindromic (REP) element hybridize to genomic DNA of diverse
      bacterial species. Primers based on the REP sequence generate complex band
      patterns with genomic DNA in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a technique
      named REP-PCR. We used REP-PCR with genomic DNA to fingerprint 47 isolates of
      Citrobacter diversus. Previously, 37 were assigned electrophoretic types (ETs) by
      multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and 35 were evaluated by using outer membrane
      protein profiles. Fingerprints were compared by visual inspection and by
      similarity coefficients (SimCs) based on the number of common bands versus total
      bands between two given isolates. DNA fingerprints were highly similar visually
      for patient pairs and outbreak-related sets. SimCs for these were > or = 0.952.
      Fingerprints of isolates with different ETs generally were distinctive. Among 21
      unrelated isolates representing 15 ETs, only 6 of 210 comparisons had SimCs of >
      or = 0.952. REP-PCR rapidly generated DNA fingerprints which were highly similar
      for epidemiologically linked isolates of C. diversus and distinct for previously
      characterized strains within this species. The ability of this method to
      discriminate between C. diversus isolates with the same biotype was similar to
      that of multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and outer membrane protein profiles.
      REP-PCR may be useful in evaluation of apparent outbreaks of this or other
      bacterial species which possess these extragenic, repetitive elements.

PMID- 1452665
TI  - Urinary tract infection due to Rahnella aquatilis in a renal transplant patient.
AB  - Rahnella aquatilis is an unusual gram-negative rod belonging to the family
      Enterobacteriaceae. It inhabits fresh water and is rarely isolated from clinical
      specimens. We report the case of a urinary tract infection caused by this
      organism in a renal transplant patient.

PMID- 1452666
TI  - DNA probe for strain typing of Cryptococcus neoformans.
AB  - A 7-kb linear plasmid, harbored by a URA5 transformant, hybridized to all the
      chromosomes of Cryptococcus neoformans separated by contour-clamped homogeneous
      electric field electrophoresis. Its linear maintenance was determined to have
      been facilitated by the presence of telomere-like sequences at its free ends.
      Hybridization of this plasmid to AccI-digested genomic DNAs of 26 C. neoformans
      strains generated 21 unique DNA fingerprints. The DNA fingerprints of isolates
      within the same serotype were more similar to one another than to those from
      different serotypes. An acapsular clinical isolate, strain 602, widely used in
      immunological studies and previously thought to be in serotype D, showed DNA
      fingerprints typical of serotype A isolates. Isogenic strains of C. neoformans
      exhibited DNA fingerprints that were identical to one another. The DNA
      fingerprints were stable and reproducible in spite of repeated transfers in the
      laboratory on either complex (1% yeast extract, 2% Bacto Peptone, 2% glucose) or
      minimal (yeast nitrogen base) medium. The DNA fingerprints of isolates recovered
      from primary blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures of patients for whom AIDS had
      been diagnosed showed that the original infection in each of these patients
      contained a homogeneous population of C. neoformans. The DNA fingerprints of
      isolates recovered from different tissues of infected mice and from patients
      undergoing different drug therapy regimens were also found to be very stable.

PMID- 1452667
TI  - Comparative study of antipneumocystis agents in rats by using a Pneumocystis
      carinii-specific DNA probe to quantitate infection.
AB  - A repetitive genomic DNA clone (B12-2) that specifically hybridizes to
      Pneumocystis carinii DNA has been identified. No cross-hybridization to genomic
      DNA prepared from bacteria, other fungi, protozoa, or mammals was observed. Clone
      B12-2 is multiply represented in the P. carinii genome. By direct hybridization
      to DNA prepared from the lungs of immunosuppressed rats, the probe can detect the
      equivalent of fewer than 1,000 P. carinii organisms. A hybridization assay
      employing clone B12-2 has been developed to quantitate organism load in the rat
      model for P. carinii. Application of the assay to track the accumulation of
      organisms during the immunosuppression regimen as well as to monitor the efficacy
      of two drug therapies used clinically for the treatment of P. carinii pneumonia
      is described here. The clone B12-2 hybridization assay for the determination of
      P. carinii organism load possesses several advantageous features and thus should
      serve to complement conventional staining and immunohistochemical methods.

PMID- 1452668
TI  - Colonization of the female genital tract with Staphylococcus saprophyticus.
AB  - The prevalence of colonization by Staphylococcus saprophyticus of the urogenital
      tracts of 276 women from an outpatient gynecology practice was determined by
      using selective and enrichment culture techniques. Nineteen subjects (6.9%) were
      found to be colonized by S. saprophyticus. The rectum was the most frequent site
      of colonization and was responsible for 40% of the isolates; this was followed in
      decreasing order by the urethra, urine, and cervix. Women colonized by S.
      saprophyticus were more likely to have experienced a urinary tract infection in
      the previous 12 months (P = 0.058; odds ratio, 2.844; 95% confidence interval,
      1.054 to 7.671). Patients colonized by S. saprophyticus tended to have had their
      menstrual periods more recently (P = 0.066), experienced sexual intercourse more
      recently (P = 0.168), and had a recent or concurrent diagnosis of vaginal
      candidiasis (P = 0.111; odds ratio, 2.393; 95% confidence interval, 0.877 to
      6.528). A seasonal variation in colonization was observed, with colonization most
      likely occurring during the summer and fall. Follow-up for an average of 6.75
      months failed to document any colonized woman progressing to symptomatic urinary
      tract infection. In addition, 21 women colonized by non-S. saprophyticus,
      novobiocin-resistant, coagulase-negative staphylococci were identified and
      characterized.

PMID- 1452669
TI  - Immunoblot analysis of the humoral immune response to Pythium insidiosum in
      horses with pythiosis.
AB  - Reactions to Pythium insidiosum by sera from horses with active pythiosis were
      investigated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS
      PAGE) and immunoblotting. Five strains of P. insidiosum were grown in nutrient
      broth and then sonicated. After centrifugation, supernatant antigens were
      separated by SDS-PAGE. An exoantigen of Conidiobolus coronatus was also tested.
      Bands with molecular weights between 97,000 and 14,000 were identified by
      Coomassie blue and silver staining. After being transferred to nitrocellulose,
      the antigens were reacted against sera from six horses with pythiosis, sera from
      four horses cured a year earlier by vaccination, and sera from five healthy
      horses. The sera from horses with pythiosis recognized at least 20 antigens in
      all strains. Three antigens with molecular weights of 32,000, 30,000, and 28,000
      appeared to be immunodominant and specific. Sera from horses cured by
      immunotherapy showed only five very weak bands, three of them the 32,000
      molecular-weight (32K), 30K, and 28K antigens. No bands were observed with sera
      from healthy horses or sera from horses with a variety of other infections. Sera
      from horses with pythiosis cross-reacted with the 44K antigen of C. coronatus.
      The immunodominant antigens described here may be useful for diagnostic purposes
      and in immunotherapy for this oomycotic infection in horses.

PMID- 1452670
TI  - Characterization and distribution of Pasteurella species recovered from infected
      humans.
AB  - During a 3-year period, all Pasteurella strains recovered at the Clinical
      Microbiological Laboratory, Lund, Sweden, were studied biochemically with respect
      to their relationship to the recently described taxa of this genus. Of 159
      strains recovered from 146 infected humans, 95 were identified as Pasteurella
      multocida subsp. multocida, 21 as Pasteurella multocida subsp. septica, 28 as
      Pasteurella canis, 10 as Pasteurella stomatis, and 5 as Pasteurella dagmatis. The
      homology within and between the Pasteurella species regarding cellular fatty
      acids and enzymatic activities was also studied. Strains of the different
      Pasteurella species were indistinguishable from each other regarding fatty acid
      composition; all strains contained major amounts of C14:0, C16:1, C16:0, and 3-OH
      C14:0 acids and minor amounts of C18:2, C18:1, and C18:0 acids. Neither did the
      enzymatic activities distinguish between strains belonging to different species.
      In addition, of 56 strains examined, toxin production was demonstrated only in 1
      strain each of P. multocida subsp. multocida and P. canis. Except for one severe
      case of necrotizing cellulitis involving P. dagmatis, P. multocida subsp.
      multocida or P. multocida subsp. septica was recovered in the more serious cases
      of infection. Except for P. canis, which in all cases was associated with dog
      bites, most Pasteurella strains were recovered in cases of infection associated
      with cat bites or scratches. Pasteurella strains occurred in four infected
      patients without evident connections with animals.

PMID- 1452671
TI  - Comparison of cytobrushes with swabs for recovery of endocervical cells and for
      Chlamydiazyme detection of Chlamydia trachomatis.
AB  - Endocervical swab and cytobrush specimens from 1,301 symptomatic women were
      microscopically analyzed for adequacy and tested using Chlamydiazyme (CZ) (Abbott
      Laboratories). When the swab specimen was collected first, blocking antibody
      confirmed CZ-positive results were obtained from 48 (8.0%) of 599 patients, 42
      (87.5%) from swabs and 46 (95.8%) from cytobrushes (not significant). When the
      swab specimen was collected second, confirmed CZ-positive results were obtained
      from 46 (6.6%) of 702 patients, 44 (95.6%) from swabs and 41 (89.1%) from
      cytobrushes (not significant). Cytobrushes offered no significant advantage over
      swabs for CZ detection of Chlamydia trachomatis.

PMID- 1452672
TI  - Differential susceptibilities of Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium
      intracellulare to sodium nitrite.
AB  - Sixty-seven of 72 strains of Mycobacterium avium (93.1%) were resistant to sodium
      nitrite at a concentration of 3 mg/ml in 7H11 agar medium, while 57 of 59 strains
      of Mycobacterium intracellulare (96.6%) were susceptible to the agent. The
      difference in the susceptibilities of M. avium and M. intracellulare to sodium
      nitrite is therefore useful for the differentiation of the two species.

PMID- 1452673
TI  - Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in cerebrospinal fluid from AIDS patients by
      polymerase chain reaction.
AB  - The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect Toxoplasma gondii DNA in
      cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 14 patients with AIDS by amplification of the
      repetitive B1 gene. Positive PCRs were obtained in CSF from four of nine patients
      with toxoplasmic encephalitis. CSF samples from five control patients were
      negative for T. gondii DNA by PCR.

PMID- 1452674
TI  - Evaluation of a chemiluminescent probe assay for identification of Histoplasma
      capsulatum isolates.
AB  - Fifty-three of 54 isolates of fungi were correctly identified with an acridinium
      ester-labelled probe for Histoplasma capsulatum (Accuprobe; Gen-Probe, San Diego,
      Calif.). One isolate of Aspergillus niger was incorrectly identified as H.
      capsulatum. Age of the culture, medium for isolation, and morphologic state did
      not affect the results.

PMID- 1452675
TI  - Experimental Borrelia burgdorferi infection of outbred mice.
AB  - Infectivity of Borrelia burgdorferi strain 297 in normal outbred ddY mice was
      examined. Strain 297 was inoculated intraperitoneally in 3-week-old outbred ddY
      mice. B. burgdorferi was routinely cultured from the heart and urinary bladder 5
      to 84 days postinoculation. The combined isolation rate from both heart and
      urinary bladder was significantly higher than the rate from spleen, kidney,
      liver, urine, and blood samples. Three- and 10-week-old mice were infected with
      inocula of 10(4) and 10(5) or more, respectively. Passive transfer of undiluted
      and 10-fold-diluted anti-297 rabbit serum and active immunization of 50 to 100
      micrograms of lyophilized whole cells completely protected mice from infection
      with B. burgdorferi. These results suggest that the outbred mouse is a convenient
      model for experimental infection with B. burgdorferi.

PMID- 1452676
TI  - Fatal disseminated infection caused by Myceliophthora thermophila, a new agent of
      mycosis: case history and laboratory characteristics.
AB  - We report a case of human infection caused by the hyphomycete Myceliophthora
      thermophila. A 7-year-old male with neurofibromatosis (type 1) was diagnosed in
      1987 with acute myeloblastic leukemia associated with the chromosomal abnormality
      monosomy 7. The patient experienced multiple serious infections over a three-year
      period before expiring in 1990 while in the end stage of leukemia. Autopsy
      findings included fungal vegetations of the left atrium, ascending aorta, and
      pulmonary arteries and fungal invasion of both lungs. Cultures yielded M.
      thermophila. We believe that this is the first reported fatality caused by M.
      thermophila.

PMID- 1452677
TI  - Uncommon Campylobacter species in infant Macaca nemestrina monkeys housed in a
      nursery.
AB  - Studies were conducted to characterize 18 isolates of Campylobacter spp. that
      could not be identified as either Campylobacter jejuni or C. coli. The isolates
      were cultured from specimens from 13 of 18 infant nonhuman primates during a
      prospective epidemiologic study reported previously. Phenotypic tests, DNA
      hybridization, and analysis of DNA coding for rRNA identified the isolates as C.
      butzleri (seven isolates), C. hyointestinalis (seven isolates), and C. fetus
      subsp. fetus or C. fetus subsp. fetus-like organisms (four isolates). Ribotype
      and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns indicated that there was
      heterogeneity among the isolates of C. butzleri and C. fetus subsp. fetus-like
      organisms.

PMID- 1452678
TI  - Detection of diacetyl (caramel odor) in presumptive identification of the
      "Streptococcus milleri" group.
AB  - The caramel odor associated with the "Streptococcus milleri" group was shown to
      be attributable to the formation of the metabolite diacetyl. Levels of diacetyl
      in the 22- to 200-mg/liter range were produced by 68 strains of the "S. milleri"
      group; apart from one strain of Streptococcus mutans, all 92 other strains of
      streptococci belonging to 12 species produced < 13 mg of diacetyl per liter.
      Quantitation of diacetyl levels from cultures of streptococci is suggested as a
      rapid presumptive test for the "S. milleri" group.

PMID- 1452679
TI  - Use of the E test to predict high-level resistance to aminoglycosides among
      enterococci.
AB  - The E test and the reference agar dilution methods were compared for detecting
      high-level aminoglycoside resistance (HLAR) among 71 selected clinical isolates,
      including 62 Enterococcus faecalis and 9 Enterococcus faecium isolates. High
      level gentamicin resistance alone was found in 11% (5 E. faecalis and 3 E.
      faecium strains) and high-level streptomycin resistance was found in 42% (28 E.
      faecalis, 2 E. faecium strains) of the strains tested, and 31% of the strains
      demonstrated high-level resistance to both antimicrobial agents (21 E. faecalis
      and 1 E. faecium strains). The E test detected all HLAR populations, but the
      streptomycin strip may require recalibration to achieve absolute MIC comparisons
      with the reference value (twofold less) or the use of an alternative interpretive
      resistance breakpoint, e.g., > 1,000 micrograms/ml. By the E test, MIC results
      indicate that ampicillin, imipenem, penicillin, piperacillin, and vancomycin
      remain active against the HLAR E. faecalis isolates; however, these tested drugs
      were less effective on the HLAR E. faecium isolates (< 50%).

PMID- 1452680
TI  - Processing urine specimens: overnight versus two-day incubation.

PMID- 1452681
TI  - In vitro susceptibility testing of Haemophilus influenzae: review of new National
      Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards recommendations.

PMID- 1452682
TI  - Stability of dried blood spot specimens for detection of human immunodeficiency
      virus DNA by polymerase chain reaction.
AB  - Blood sampling on filter paper has many advantages for the detection of perinatal
      human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection by the polymerase chain reaction
      (PCR). However, if the method is to be widely used, an assessment of its
      performance under field conditions is required. To simulate conditions in the
      field, 50-microliters aliquots of whole blood containing low levels of HIV
      proviral DNA (4 to 1,024 copies per 100,000 nucleated cells) were spotted onto
      filter paper; dried; and subjected to heat, humidity, and prolonged storage at
      room temperature. After exposure, the DNA was recovered and amplified with
      primers to human leukocyte antigen DQ alpha- and HIV-specific sequences.
      Treatment at 37 degrees C and 60% humidity for 7 days, storage for 12 weeks at 22
      degrees C, and freeze-thawing twice had no adverse effect on PCR reactivity when
      compared with the results obtained with reference spots stored at -20 degrees C.
      The lower limits of HIV detection in all tests ranged from 4 to 16 HIV copies per
      100,000 cells. Fixation in 70% ethanol improved the amplification of low levels
      of HIV DNA and reduced biohazard risks. These findings suggest that dried blood
      spots will provide a powerful new resource for testing for HIV by PCR, especially
      in remote areas where refrigeration and immediate sample processing are
      unavailable.

PMID- 1452683
TI  - Western immunoblot analysis and serologic characterization of Blastomyces
      dermatitidis yeast form extracellular antigens.
AB  - A major 98-kDa extracellular protein antigen of Blastomyces dermatitidis was
      shown in Western blot (immunoblot) analysis to be highly reactive with serum
      antibodies from patients with blastomycosis. Sodium dodecyl sulfate
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of yeast form B. dermatitidis culture
      filtrates and cell extracts demonstrated over 50 proteins, only 24 of which were
      immunoreactive. Of these, a 98-kDa protein was found to be the most specific and
      was isolated. This protein was found in both broth culture filtrates and extracts
      of yeast forms. Western blot tests with this antigen detected serum antibodies in
      91% of 32 patients with clinically proven blastomycosis, in contrast to an enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with DEAE-purified antigen, which detected 88%
      of the cases. The Western blot test also exhibited lower reactivity with a panel
      of sera from patients with heterologous fungal infections that were cross
      reactive in the ELISA with DEAE-purified B. dermatitidis antigen. The 98-kDa
      protein electroeluted from polyacrylamide gels was identical to the diagnostic A
      antigen used in the blastomycosis immunodiffusion test. Comparison of the 98-kDa
      antigen with a previously described 120-kDa yeast form cell wall protein antigen
      of B. dermatitidis showed that these two antigens are almost identical.

PMID- 1452684
TI  - Salmonella serogroups C2 and C3 identified by agglutination using an
      immunoglobulin G3(kappa) monoclonal antibody (32-1-E3) reactive with a somatic
      factor 8-like polysaccharide antigen.
AB  - An immunoglobulin G3(kappa) monoclonal antibody (MAb), MAb 32-1-E3, which was
      prepared in BALB/c mice by using a heated, alcohol-acetone-extracted Salmonella
      newport CDC 50 antigen, reacted with protein-free lipopolysaccharides from
      Salmonella groups C2 (O:6,8) and C3 (O:-,8) but not with those from any other
      serogroup tested. Sodium periodate did not inhibit antigen reactivity, which was
      consistent with its identity as the abequose-containing disaccharide O:8 antigen.
      Reactivity was inhibited by competition with serogroup C2 (O:6,8) and C3 (O:-,8)
      antigens but not with non-O:8 antigens. Reactivity was also inhibited by
      preincubation of the antigen with polyclonal rabbit antiserogroup C2 or C3
      antibodies but not with antisera to serogroup C1 or other Salmonella serogroups.
      The MAb agglutinated with all strains of Salmonella serogroups C2 and C3 tested
      but not with other bacteria. Agglutination was inhibited by preabsorbing the MAb
      with either of two serogroup C3 Salmonella strains, S. virginia CDC 189 or S.
      haardt MDL 83A4545, which contain only O:8, but not by preabsortion with O:8
      negative S. cholerasuis MDL 81A7623 (group C1; O:6,7), S. paratyphi type B CDC
      157 (group B; O:1,[4],5,12), or Escherichia coli (O:157) (which contains no
      Salmonella serogroup antigens). The MAb reacted strongly (4+ agglutination) with
      all 140 wild-type strains of group C2 and C3 Salmonella spp. tested and showed no
      reaction with any of 1,324 wild-type strains of non-C2 or non-C3 Salmonella spp.
      tested. The MAb is useful as a replacement for absorbed, polyclonal, single
      factor O:8 antiserum to discriminate Salmonella serogroups C2 and C3 from
      serogroup C1.

PMID- 1452685
TI  - Comparison of epidemiological markers of Salmonella strains isolated from
      different sources in Spain.
AB  - A comparative study of the phage types, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns,
      and plasmid profiles of 171 strains of Salmonella isolated from food, epidemic
      outbreaks, and water-contaminated environments as well as sporadic human isolates
      was carried out to determine the most adequate marker in epidemiological
      investigations. Typing based on the plasmid profiles appears to be the most
      effective method for grouping strains with the same serotype obtained from a
      single outbreak and from environmental sources. However, none of the three
      markers tested allow us total discrimination and identification of related
      strains from a common source for epidemiological tracing. Therefore, the combined
      use of the three methods is necessary for determining whether common source
      isolates are related.

PMID- 1452686
TI  - Production of monoclonal antibody to a phenolic glycolipid of Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis and its use in detection of the antigen in clinical isolates.
AB  - A monoclonal antibody (MAbIII604) specific to phenolic glycolipid Tb (PGL-Tb), a
      Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigen, was produced and used in the
      detection of the antigen. MAbIII604 reacted with the PGL-Tb antigen but not with
      other phenolic glycolipids from Mycobacterium leprae, M. bovis, and M. kansasii,
      thus indicating the specificity of the monoclonal antibody to PGL-Tb. A dot
      enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with MAbIII604 was employed to detect the PGL
      Tb antigen in lipids purified from M. tuberculosis clinical isolates. Of 50
      isolates, 32 (64.0%) showed clear evidence of the PGL-Tb antigen by the dot
      enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, but there were marked variations in the
      intensities and sizes of spots. This suggests differences in PGL-Tb antigen
      production among M. tuberculosis strains even when they are grown in the same
      culture media and conditions. This was most evident from the fact that in only
      eight (16.0%) of the isolates examined was the PGL-Tb antigen detectable by thin
      layer chromatography, which is much less sensitive for the detection of
      glycolipid antigens. This study shows that monoclonal antibodies specific to PGL
      Tb are useful in detecting the antigen in lipid extracts and that there is a
      marked variation in the PGL-Tb production among M. tuberculosis clinical
      isolates.

PMID- 1452687
TI  - Functional and serological analysis of type II immunoglobulin G-binding proteins
      expressed by pathogenic group A streptococci.
AB  - Bacterial immunoglobulin-binding proteins expressed on the surface of group A
      streptococci represent a heterogeneous family of functionally related proteins.
      In this report, we describe efficient methods for extracting immunoglobulin
      binding proteins and classifying them functionally and antigenically. A common
      characteristic of immunoglobulin-binding proteins expressed by group A
      streptococci appears to be the absence of internal methionine residues in the
      binding protein. This has enabled development of a rapid, efficient, cyanogen
      bromide-based extraction procedure for solubilizing these molecules from intact
      bacteria. Studies carried out with a series of monospecific polyclonal antibodies
      prepared in chickens have identified two major antigenic classes of
      immunoglobulin-binding proteins. The methods described in this report facilitate
      a rapid functional and serological screening of immunoglobulin-binding proteins
      that should now enable detailed epidemiological studies of the importance of
      these molecules in group A streptococcal infections and their relationship to
      other surface proteins, in particular, the antiphagocytic M protein.

PMID- 1452688
TI  - Diagnosis of early Lyme disease by polymerase chain reaction amplification and
      culture of skin biopsies from erythema migrans lesions.
AB  - Current laboratory diagnosis of Lyme disease relies on tests for the detection of
      antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of the disease. These
      tests are often unreliable because of a lack of sensitivity and specificity and
      test-to-test variability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the
      sensitivity and specificity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification for
      detection of B. burgdorferi in skin biopsy specimens. Forty-six 2-mm skin biopsy
      samples were obtained from 44 patients with a clinical diagnosis of erythema
      migrans, 9 of whom were receiving antibiotic therapy at the time of biopsy.
      Specimens were ground in BSK medium with separate aliquots taken for culture and
      PCR. Of the specimens from the untreated group, 57% (21 of 37) were positive by
      culture and 22% (8 of 37) were culture negative; 22% (8 of 37) of the cultures
      were uninformative because of contamination. By comparison, 22 (59%) of 37
      specimens were positive by PCR amplification. Of 21 culture-positive samples, 13
      (62%) were also positive by PCR analysis. Thus, the sensitivity of the PCR was 59
      to 62%, based on either a clinical or cultural diagnosis of untreated Lyme
      disease. None of the nine specimens from antibiotic-treated patients grew in
      culture, whereas two of the nine were positive by PCR analysis. Given the
      complexity and time required for culture, PCR is a promising technique for the
      diagnosis of early Lyme disease.

PMID- 1452689
TI  - Preliminary evaluation of the ligase chain reaction for specific detection of
      Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
AB  - Rapid identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in clinical specimens is essential
      for effective control. Traditional culture requires a minimum of 24 h, and for
      some specimens harboring gonococci, the gonococci fail to grow or are
      misidentified. The recently described ligase chain reaction (LCR) is a highly
      specific and sensitive DNA amplification technique which was evaluated as an
      alternative to routine culture. Three LCR probe sets were used. Two of the probe
      sets were directed against the multi-copy Opa genes (Omp-II), while the third set
      was targeted against the multicopy Pilin genes. Each LCR probe set was evaluated
      with 260 microorganisms including 136 global isolates of N. gonorrhoeae, 41
      isolates of N. meningitidis, and 10 isolates of N. lactamica; 26 nonpathogenic
      Neisseria strains; and 47 isolates of non-Neisseria species that may reside in
      clinical specimens. Amplification products were detected by using the IMx LCR
      format (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill.). Strains of N. gonorrhoeae were
      assayed at 270 cells per LCR (approximately 6.7 x 10(4) CFU/ml) with the Opa and
      Pilin probes, producing signals at least 21 and 15 times above background,
      respectively. In contrast, only background values were observed when testing the
      probe sets with 124 nongonococcal strains at 1.3 x 10(6) cells per LCR
      (approximately 3.2 x 10(8) CFU/ml). One hundred urogenital specimens were assayed
      by LCR, and compared with culture, the three probes were 100% sensitive (8 of 8)
      and 97.8% specific (90 of 92), resulting in an agreement of 98% (98 of 100). On
      the basis of the results of these preliminary studies, LCR has the potential to
      be an accurate and rapid DNA probe assay for the detection of N. gonorrhoeae in
      clinical specimens.

PMID- 1452690
TI  - Effects of fixation on polymerase chain reaction detection of Mycobacterium
      leprae.
AB  - The effects of standard fixatives (10% neutral buffered formalin, ethanol and
      mercury based) on the detection of Mycobacterium leprae DNA by the polymerase
      chain reaction (PCR) were studied. Mercury-based fixatives (Zenker's and Carnoy
      Lebrun's fluids) strongly inhibited PCR amplification of M. leprae DNA. Ten
      percent neutral buffered formalin was inhibitory, but significant inhibition was
      observed only when fixation times exceeded 24 h. Ethanol-based fixatives provided
      the best medium for holding specimens for subsequent PCR with both free bacilli
      and skin biopsy specimens containing M. leprae. The M. leprae-specific, 360-bp
      region of the 18-kDa protein gene could be amplified from paraffin-embedded
      sections of formalin-fixed skin biopsy specimens from patients with either
      multibacillary or paucibacillary infections when proper fixation conditions were
      used. Results of the study demonstrate that tissues properly fixed with two
      standard fixatives (10% neutral buffered formalin and 50 or 70% ethanol) can be
      analyzed by PCR for the presence of M. leprae with no loss in specificity and
      only minimal diminution in sensitivity compared with the specificities and
      sensitivities obtained by use of freshly prepared, unfixed specimens.

PMID- 1452691
TI  - Differentiation of Moraxella nonliquefaciens, M. lacunata, and M. bovis by using
      multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and hybridization with pilin-specific DNA
      probes.
AB  - Genetic relationships among strains of Moraxella nonliquefaciens, M. lacunata,
      and M. bovis were studied by using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and DNA-DNA
      hybridization. The 74 isolates analyzed for electrophoretic variation at 12
      enzyme loci were assigned to 59 multilocus genotypes. The multilocus genotypes
      were grouped in four major clusters, one representing strains of M.
      nonliquefaciens, two representing strains of M. lacunata, and one comprising
      strains of M. bovis and the single strain of M. equi analyzed. DNA-DNA
      hybridization with total genomic probes also revealed four major distinctive
      entities that corresponded to those identified by multilocus enzyme
      electrophoresis. The two distinct clusters recognized among the M. lacunata
      strains apparently corresponded to the species previously designated M. lacunata
      and M. liquefaciens. Distinction of the four entities was improved by
      hybridization with polymerase chain reaction products of nonconserved parts of
      pilin genes as DNA probes. With these polymerase chain reaction probes, new
      isolates of M. nonliquefaciens, M. lacunata, M. liquefaciens, and M. bovis can be
      identified easily by hybridization.

PMID- 1452692
TI  - Comparative evaluation of a chemiluminescent DNA probe and an exoantigen test for
      rapid identification of Histoplasma capsulatum.
AB  - A chemiluminescent DNA probe (Accuprobe) assay developed by Gen Probe, Inc., for
      the rapid identification of Histoplasma capsulatum was evaluated and compared
      with the exoantigen test by using 162 coded cultures including Histoplasma
      capsulatum var. capsulatum, Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii, Histoplasma
      capsulatum var. farciminosum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis,
      Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, and morphologically related saprobic fungi. Each
      test uses a chemiluminescent, acridinium ester-labeled, single-stranded DNA probe
      that is complementary to the rRNA of the target organism. Lysates of the test
      cultures were prepared by sonication with glass beads and heat treated. After the
      rRNA was released from the target organism, the labeled DNA probe combined with
      the target H. capsulatum rRNA to form a stable DNA-RNA hybrid. A hybridization
      protection assay was used, and the chemiluminescence of hybrids was measured
      initially with a Leader 1 luminometer as relative light units and later during
      the investigation with a probe assay luminometer as probe light units. Of the 162
      coded mycelial cultures tested by the Accuprobe assay, 105 were identified as H.
      capsulatum. The test could be performed with an inoculum of a few square
      millimeters (1 to 2 mm2) of growth. In the primary evaluation, the Accuprobe
      identified 103 of the 105 cultures as H. capsulatum within 2 h. The remaining two
      cultures, contaminated with bacteria, had to be purified before the Accuprobe
      assay identified them correctly as H. capsulatum. Since each coded culture was
      concurrently tested for H. capsulatum, B. dermatitidis, and C. immitis
      exoantigens, the identification of all three dimorphic pathogens was provided
      simultaneously. Of the 162 coded cultures tested, 105 were identified by the
      exoantigen test as H. capsulatum, 12 were identified as B. dermatitidis, 13 were
      identified as C. immitis, and 32 were negative for H. capsulatum, B.
      dermatitidis, and C. immitis. The bacterial contamination in two isolates did not
      interfere with the exoantigen testing. The exoantigen test required 7- to 10-day
      old colonies and required 48 to 72 h of incubation before definitive
      identification was obtained.

PMID- 1452693
TI  - Evaluation of the RapID ANA II and API ZYM systems for identification of
      Actinomyces species from clinical specimens.
AB  - Classification and identification of fermentative actinomycetes are labor
      intensive and problematic. In this study, we evaluated the applicability and
      reliability of the RapID ANA II system (Innovative Diagnostic Systems, Inc.,
      Atlanta, Ga.) and the discriminatory value of the API ZYM system (Societes
      Analytab Products Inc., La Balme Les Grottes, France) in the identification of
      Actinomyces-like bacteria by using conventional methods as a reference. Eighty
      five strains, including 71 isolates from mixed anaerobic infections and 14
      reference strains, were tested. The RapID ANA II system correctly identified all
      Actinomyces odontolyticus strains and 65% of Actinomyces israelii strains. All
      Arcanobacterium haemolyticum strains were misidentified as Actinomyces pyogenes.
      The most common isolates in the study were Actinomyces meyeri-like organisms, 84%
      of which, however, were aerotolerant. The identification of these aerotolerant
      strains thus remains unresolved and warrants further studies. New characteristics
      and changes to the conventional API ZYM enzyme profiles are suggested. The API
      ZYM enzyme profiles of A. odontolyticus and A. israelii were very similar, the
      only discriminating enzyme being alpha-fucosidase. In differentiation between A.
      pyogenes and Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, the production of beta-glucuronidase
      by the former and the production of acid phosphatase by the latter are suggested
      as new helpful characteristics for use in clinical laboratories. In summary, the
      RapID ANA II and API ZYM systems can be used as rapid preliminary methods in the
      identification of Actinomyces species but accurate identification requires
      supplementary conventional tests and gas-liquid chromatography.

PMID- 1452694
TI  - Risk factors for sporadic Campylobacter infections: results of a case-control
      study in southeastern Norway.
AB  - In 1989 and 1990, a case-control study designed to identify risk factors for
      sporadic infections with thermotolerant Campylobacter bacteria was conducted in
      three counties in southeastern Norway. The investigation was confined to
      infections which were acquired in Norway. A total of 52 bacteriologically
      confirmed cases and 103 controls matched by age, sex, and geographic region were
      interviewed. The following risk factors were found to be independently associated
      with illness in conditional logistic regression analysis: consumption of sausages
      at a barbecue (odds ratio [OR] = 7.64; P = 0.005), daily contact with a dog (OR =
      4.26; P = 0.024), and eating of poultry which was brought into the house raw
      (frozen or refrigerated) (OR = 3.20; P = 0.024). The risk associated with
      consumption of sausages at a barbecue could not be attributed to cross
      contamination from poultry products. By univariate analysis, consumption of
      poultry which was brought raw and frozen was associated with illness (OR = 2.42;
      P = 0.042), even though freezing substantially reduces the number of viable
      campylobacters. When poultry consumption was examined by country of origin,
      eating of poultry produced in Denmark or Sweden was strongly associated with
      illness (OR = 13.66; P = 0.014), whereas consumption of poultry produced in
      Norway was not (OR = 1.33; P = 0.41).

PMID- 1452695
TI  - Streptococcal erythrogenic toxin genes: detection by polymerase chain reaction
      and association with disease in strains isolated in Canada from 1940 to 1991.
AB  - The presence of genes encoding pyrogenic exotoxins type A (speA), B (speB), and C
      (speC) and streptolysin O (slo) was determined by the polymerase chain reaction
      (PCR) to target specific sequences in 152 strains of group A streptococci. These
      included reference strains, representative M and T type strains, and strains
      associated with scarlet fever and pharyngitis collected between 1940 to 1991 and
      included strains from patients with severe invasive streptococcal infections. PCR
      amplicons were detected by agarose gel electrophoresis, and specificity was
      established by restriction fragment analysis. The frequency of occurrence for
      each target gene among all strains tested was 33.6% for speA, 99.3% for speB,
      28.9% for speC, and 100% for slo. Strains of non-group A streptococci, recognized
      toxigenic bacterial pathogens, and pneumolysin-producing Streptococcus pneumoniae
      strains were negative for all targeted gene sequences. Detection limits in the
      PCR were found to be 100 pg of total nucleic acids for the speB and speC genes
      and 1 ng for the speA and slo genes. Isolates associated with scarlet fever,
      pharyngitis, and severe invasive infections showed statistically significant
      differences in the presence of speA, with scarlet fever strains having the
      highest association (81.3%), severe infections the next highest association
      (42.9%), and pharyngitis the lowest association (18.4%). Although no significant
      differences were observed in speC frequencies in isolated associated with the
      three disease categories, a genotype of speB slo was significantly higher in
      isolates associated with pharyngitis (54.1%) than in strains associated with
      scarlet fever (18.8%) or severe invasive disease (23.8%). Streptolysin O targets
      were present in all the isolates tested, and only a single strain (T-11-M-11) was
      devoid of targeted speB sequences, thereby demonstrating that neither speB nor
      slo is associated with any particular clinical presentation.

PMID- 1452696
TI  - Detection of serum Candida antigens by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a
      latex agglutination test with anti-Candida albicans and anti-Candida krusei
      antibodies.
AB  - Serum samples from 197 patients with and without candidiasis were assayed for
      Candida albicans mannan and Candida krusei mannan by an enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a latex agglutination test (LA) and for D
      arabinitol by the enzymatic fluorometric method. Of the 43 patients positive for
      C. albicans mannan (> or = 0.2 ng/ml), 34 were infected with C. albicans and 9
      were infected with Candida tropicalis. C. krusei mannan (> or = 0.3 ng/ml) was
      detected in 10 patients infected with Candida parapsilosis, 2 patients infected
      with Candida guilliermondii, and 1 patient infected with C. krusei. With both
      anti-C. albicans antibodies and anti-C. krusei antibodies, the sensitivities of
      ELISA and LA for detection of invasive candidiasis (58 patients) were 74 and 38%,
      respectively. No false-positive reactions were observed by the ELISA or the LA.
      The sensitivity and specificity of the D-arabinitol/creatinine ratio (> or = 1.5
      mumol/mg) to invasive candidiasis were 50 and 91%, respectively. The ELISA with
      antibodies against both C. albicans and C. krusei may be useful in diagnosing
      invasive candidiasis caused by medically important Candida strains excluding
      Candida glabrata.

PMID- 1452697
TI  - Collaborative comparison of broth macrodilution and microdilution antifungal
      susceptibility tests.
AB  - A collaborative comparison of macro- and microdilution antifungal susceptibility
      tests was performed in five laboratories. MICs of amphotericin B, fluconazole,
      flucytosine, and ketoconazole were determined in all five centers against 95
      coded isolates of Candida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans, and Torulopsis glabrata.
      A standard protocol with the following National Committee for Clinical Laboratory
      Standards Subcommittee on Antifungal Susceptibility Testing recommendations was
      used: an inoculum standardized by spectrophotometer, buffered (RPMI 1640) medium
      (pH 7.0), incubation at 35 degrees C, and an additive drug dilution procedure.
      Two inoculum sizes were tested (1 x 10(4) to 5 x 10(3) to 2.5 x 10(3) CFU/ml) and
      three scoring criteria were evaluated for MIC endpoint determinations, which were
      scored as 0 (optically clear), < or = 1 (slightly hazy turbidity), and < or = 2
      (prominent decrease in turbidity compared with that of the growth control).
      Overall intra- and interlaboratory reproducibility was optimal with the low
      density inoculum, the second-day readings, and MICs scored as either 1 or 2. The
      microdilution MICs demonstrated interlaboratory agreement with most of the four
      drugs higher than or similar to that of the macrodilution MICs. In general, there
      was good interlaboratory agreement with amphotericin B, fluconazole, and
      flucytosine; ketoconazole gave more variable results.

PMID- 1452698
TI  - Comparison of commercial serological tests for detection of Helicobacter pylori
      antibodies.
AB  - Serological testing for Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the diagnostic
      methods of choice. Various commercial kits that use different antigens have been
      developed, but data on their diagnostic accuracy and direct comparisons between
      the tests are lacking. We aimed to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and
      predictive value of three immunoglobulin G enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
      kits: Pylori stat, Helico-G, and Premier H. pylori. Serum samples and gastric
      biopsy findings from 76 patients were evaluated. We found by using a priori
      cutoff values that the Pylori stat, Helico-G, and Premier kits had overall
      sensitivities of 96, 96, and 88%, respectively, and specificities of 94, 86, and
      96%, respectively, compared with gastric biopsy findings. For 232 serum samples,
      the Pylori stat test and a previously validated standard serological assay on
      which the test was based disagreed in 3% of the cases, while for 76 samples that
      were tested, Helico-G and a previously validated standard assay on which it was
      based disagreed in 8% of the cases. The intra- and interassay precision of each
      of the test kits was high. We conclude that serology based on any of these
      commercial tests represents a reliable and valid method for the diagnosis of H.
      pylori whether or not highly purified antigens are used.

PMID- 1452699
TI  - Sensitive and specific serodiagnosis of invasive amebiasis by using a recombinant
      surface protein of pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica.
AB  - A recombinantly expressed protein, recEh-P1, representing part of an
      immunodominant surface antigen of pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica, was used for
      serodiagnosis of invasive amebiasis. Expression was performed under the control
      of a T7-RNA promoter by using a modified procaryotic expression vector,
      designated pHisT7. This vector allowed high-yield expression of recEh-P1 fused to
      a stretch of sequence containing eight histidine residues, which facilitated
      purification by metal chelate affinity chromatography on Ni2+ columns under
      highly denatured conditions. Purified recEh-P1 was found to be water soluble
      after prolonged dialysis and was used as the antigen for the detection of
      antiamebic serum antibodies by immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent
      assay. In both tests all sera of patients with invasive amebiasis reacted to
      recEh-P1 whereas none of those collected from healthy controls, including
      individuals with noninvasive amebiasis, or from patients suffering from bacterial
      or protozoan infections unrelated to E. histolytica did so.

PMID- 1452700
TI  - Antibody response to Brucella outer membrane proteins in bovine brucellosis:
      immunoblot analysis and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using
      monoclonal antibodies.
AB  - Sera from Brucella-infected bovines were analyzed by immunoblotting by using
      sonicated cell extracts of B. melitensis or B. abortus and a competitive enzyme
      linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with monoclonal antibodies against outer
      membrane proteins (OMPs) with molecular masses of 10, 16.5, 19, 25 to 27, 36 to
      38, and 89 kDa. Antibody responses against OMPs were compared with antibody
      responses against smooth lipopolysaccharide. Immunoblot analysis indicated that
      the antibody response in infected animals was largely different from one animal
      to another. The antigens of concern were OMPs with molecular masses of 10, 16.5,
      19, 25 to 27, 36 to 38, and 89 kDa and other proteins with molecular masses of
      between 40 and 80 kDa. According to the specificity of the competitive ELISA,
      OMPs useful for the detection of infected animals are the OMPs of 10, 16.5, 19,
      25 to 27, and 36 to 38 kDa. A competitive ELISA with the anti-89 kDa monoclonal
      antibody was not specific. Results of the competitive ELISA confirmed the
      individual variability of the humoral immune response against OMPs. It therefore
      seems that a combination of several protein antigens is necessary for the
      development of an immunoassay with a sensitivity comparable to that of the smooth
      lipopolysaccharide ELISA.

PMID- 1452701
TI  - Detection of Toxoplasma gondii parasitemia by gene amplification, cell culture,
      and mouse inoculation.
AB  - Diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection is difficult, especially in
      immunosuppressed people. The AIDS epidemic has increased the number of people at
      risk and increased the need for better diagnostic methods. We have compared three
      methods for detection of T. gondii parasitemia. Rabbits were infected
      subcutaneously with 10(4) T. gondii tachyzoites. Blood samples were obtained, and
      buffy coat or leukocyte fractions were prepared. We sought the T. gondii B1 gene
      by gene amplification by the polymerase chain reaction, and we sought viable T.
      gondii cells by inoculating fibroblast cell cultures and by mouse inoculation.
      Thirty-two blood samples were obtained from seven infected rabbits, and 18 were
      obtained from four control, uninfected rabbits. Parasitemia was detected in 20 of
      32 samples (62%) from infected samples by mouse inoculation, 12 of 32 samples
      (37%) by gene amplification and detection, and 8 of 32 samples (25%) by cell
      culture. Mouse inoculation requires use of live animals and has a long turnaround
      time. Currently, cell culture is the least sensitive but most practical and
      widely available method for the detection of T. gondii parasitemia. Gene
      amplification and detection was more sensitive than cell culture and may become
      available in clinical laboratories as techniques are developed further and
      automated.

PMID- 1452702
TI  - The magnetic immuno polymerase chain reaction assay for direct detection of
      salmonellae in fecal samples.
AB  - Direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection with fecal specimens is
      hampered by inhibitory compounds, such as bilirubin and bile salts. These fecal
      compounds showed significant inhibition of PCR at low concentrations (10 to 50
      micrograms/ml). For direct PCR analysis, fecal samples must be diluted 500-fold
      to overcome inhibition. Therefore, the magnetic immuno PCR assay (MIPA), which
      combines immunomagnetic separation by using specific monoclonal antibodies and
      PCR, was used to directly detect salmonellae in feces from humans.
      Immunomagnetically extracted stool samples needed to be diluted only 10-fold when
      1 microgram of T4 gene 32 protein was added to the PCR. The MIPA sensitivity
      obtained was 10(5) CFU/ml of feces. A panel of monoclonal antibodies specific for
      Salmonella serogroups A to E was used to extract salmonellae from clinical
      samples. MIPA detection of salmonellae occurred with 11 out of 14 stool samples
      stored at 4 degrees C for 2 months. MIPA detection of salmonellae in stool
      samples is a promising, fast method for detection and identification.

PMID- 1452703
TI  - Comparison of nine antigen detection kits for diagnosis of urogenital infections
      due to Chlamydia psittaci in koalas.
AB  - Chlamydia psittaci is the major cause of infectious disease in the koala
      (Phascolarctos cinereus). It causes four disease syndromes in the koala, namely,
      conjunctivitis, rhinitis, cystitis, and infertility (females only). Diagnosis of
      chlamydial infections in koalas relies primarily on isolation of the organism in
      cell culture. Serology has generally not been useful, and little use has
      previously been made of the commercially available antigen detection kits. We
      examined the sensitivity, specificity, and usefulness of three direct fluorescent
      antibody kits (Vet-IF [Cell Labs], IMAGEN [Celltech], Chlamydia-Direct IF [Bio
      Merieux]) and six antigen detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
      kits (Clearview [Unipath], Surecell [Kodak], Pathfinder [Kallestad], Chlamydia
      EIA [Pharmacia], Chlamydiazyme [Abbott], IDEIA [Celltech]) for the detection of
      urogenital infections in koalas. Laboratory studies showed that the direct
      fluorescent-antibody kits were the least sensitive in this case and did not
      detect fewer than 10(4) elementary bodies per ml, while most ELISA kits detected
      between 130 and 600 elementary bodies per ml. Field study results showed that the
      Clearview kit was the most sensitive (91%) compared with the IDEIA (88%) and the
      Surecell (73%) kits. All three kits were more sensitive than cell culture (36%),
      highlighting viability loss problems that occur during transport. This study
      showed that the Clearview kit is sensitive, specific, and easy to use for the
      detection of type II (urogenital) C. psittaci from koalas in the field and
      warrants further evaluation.

PMID- 1452704
TI  - Application of rejection criteria for stool ovum and parasite examinations.
AB  - We retrospectively determined the yield of 2,015 stool ovum and parasite (O&P)
      examinations performed over an 11-month period. Two aspects were evaluated: the
      yield of positive results from multiple specimens per patient versus the result
      of a single examination, and the yield of positive results from stools submitted
      after 3 days of hospitalization. There were 131 (6.7%) positive O&P examinations
      from 75 patients: for 35 patients the single examination was positive; for 18,
      two of two examinations were positive; and for 15, three of three examinations
      were positive. The remaining seven patients had at least one negative examination
      in a series, but pathogenic intestinal parasites were detected in only three of
      these patients. Seventeen patients with positive O&P examinations were
      inpatients: seven of nine patients examined for O&P within 3 days of admission
      had stool specimens that contained recognized pathogens, in contrast to only two
      of eight patients examined after 3 days of hospitalization. After reviewing the
      data and informing hospital clinics, wards, and physicians, we instituted the
      following policy for screening stool specimens submitted for O&P examination.
      Only one O&P examination was performed for each outpatient visit and for
      inpatients hospitalized for 3 days or less, and examinations were not performed
      on stools submitted after 3 days of hospitalization unless the clinician arranged
      for the examination on the basis of clinical need. Over the 6-month follow-up
      period, 29.9% of O&P requests were rejected, 22% for patients in hospital for
      longer than 3 days and 7.9% for multiple O&P requests. Of 265 initially rejected
      specimens, 22 (8.3%) were examined after the referring physician contacted the
      laboratory. None of these specimens was positive. We conclude that eliminating
      O&P examinations of patients hospitalized for more than 3 days and initially
      performing only one examination per patient significantly reduces the number of
      examinations performed and reduces laboratory charges without adversely affecting
      patient care.

PMID- 1452705
TI  - Evaluation of methods for differentiation of coagulase-positive staphylococci.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine the minimum number of tests that could
      be used to differentiate between the coagulase-positive strains of
      staphylococcus: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus hyicus, and Staphylococcus
      intermedius. Eighty coagulase-positive strains of each of the three species were
      examined. The five tests conducted were growth on modified Baird-Parker agar,
      growth on P agar supplemented with acriflavin, production of acetoin, anaerobic
      fermentation of mannitol, and presence of beta-galactosidase. Positive test
      percentages for S. aureus were 100% for growth on modified Baird-Parker agar,
      100% for growth on P agar supplemented with acriflavin, 94% for production of
      acetoin, 99% for anaerobic fermentation of mannitol, and 0% for presence of beta
      galactosidase. Positive test percentages for S. intermedius were 0% for growth on
      modified Baird-Parker agar, 0% for growth on P agar supplemented with acriflavin,
      1% for production of acetoin, 0% for anaerobic fermentation of mannitol, and 100%
      for presence of beta-galactosidase. S. hyicus isolates were negative in all five
      tests. Results from the 240 coagulase-positive staphylococcus strains tested
      would suggest correct identification of coagulase-positive staphylococci with P
      agar supplemented with acriflavin and the beta-galactosidase test. These two
      tests are simple to conduct and result in quick and easy differentiation of the
      three coagulase-positive staphylococcal species.

PMID- 1452706
TI  - Cellular fatty acids in Fusobacterium species as a tool for identification.
AB  - Identification of fusobacteria from clinical specimens currently requires
      analysis of metabolic end products by gas-liquid chromatography in addition to
      certain biochemical and enzymatic tests because of the relative biochemical
      inactivity of these bacteria. Even the finding of pointed, thin gram-negative
      cells on Gram-stained slides can no longer be relied on for identification of
      Fusobacterium nucleatum, since at least four other species of fusobacteria have
      been seen to exhibit similar morphology. We examined 46 clinical isolates and six
      American Type Culture Collection type strains of fusobacteria by conventional
      methods and by the Microbial ID Systems MIDI software package for analyzing
      cellular fatty acid patterns measured by capillary column gas-liquid
      chromatography. Distinctive patterns of major fatty acids could be used to
      reliably identify most clinical isolates to the species level. The MIDI system
      identified 89% of the isolates correctly and provides an alternative to
      conventional methods.

PMID- 1452707
TI  - Evaluation of a commercially available complement fixation test for diagnosis of
      Helicobacter pylori infection and for follow-up after antimicrobial therapy.
AB  - Commercially available complement fixation test reagents (Institute Virion Ltd.,
      Ruschlikon, Zurich, Switzerland) available in package format were evaluated for
      the serodiagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. The assay was compared with
      bacterial culture and histological Giemsa stain of gastric biopsy specimens
      obtained from 930 patients of different ages and from different ethnic groups,
      with a variety of upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms. The prevalence,
      sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values,
      respectively, were 35, 71, 90, 80, and 85% for Belgian patients aged 40 years or
      younger, 50, 81, 93, 92, and 83% for Belgian patients older than 40 years, and
      83, 83, 79, 95, and 48% for Mediterranean patients. Using 645 serum specimens
      from 226 patients, we also evaluated the complement fixation test for its ability
      to monitor the eradication of H. pylori following antimicrobial therapy. Overall,
      H. pylori was eradicated from 122 patients while 104 patients remained infected
      with the organism. A significant decrease in antibody levels was observed 3 to 6
      months after the end of therapy in the group of patients from whom H. pylori was
      eradicated.

PMID- 1452708
TI  - Value of extended agitation and subculture of BACTEC NR 660 aerobic resin blood
      culture bottles for clinical yeast isolates.
AB  - From 10,351 blood cultures, we prospectively studied 1,000 BACTEC NR 660 aerobic
      resin blood culture bottles (26+ and Peds Plus) for patients suspected of having
      yeast septicemia to determine whether extended agitation and subculturing would
      increase the recovery of yeasts. Aerobic bottles were agitated continuously for
      144 h. On day 7, 1,000 culture-negative aerobic bottles which had fungal blood
      culture requests were agitated for an additional 14 days. During this time they
      were subcultured twice and read twice by BACTEC NR 660. ON days 1 to 7, 81
      bottles were cultured positive for yeasts from 36 patients, which included 44
      isolates of Candida albicans, averaging 1.4 days to detection, and 12 isolates of
      Cryptococcus neoformans, averaging 3.8 days to detection. The average detection
      time for all yeasts was 2.2 days. On days 7 to 21, no yeasts were detected by
      BACTEC or recovered from the subcultures. We conclude that when continuously
      agitated for at least 5 full days (120 h), the BACTEC NR 660 aerobic resin
      bottles reliably isolate yeasts, and it is unnecessary to subculture or hold
      these bottles beyond 5 days. It also eliminates the need for an additional blood
      culture system for yeast detection, thus saving (i) confusion in the collection
      process, (ii) patients' blood and money, and (iii) laboratory technologists'
      time.

PMID- 1452709
TI  - Accuracy of the E test for determining antimicrobial susceptibilities of
      staphylococci, enterococci, Campylobacter jejuni, and gram-negative bacteria
      resistant to antimicrobial agents.
AB  - We compared the results of the E test MIC method with the results of agar
      dilution susceptibility testing for 18 antimicrobial agents against 324 strains
      of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including 99 strains of
      staphylococci, 101 strains of antimicrobial-resistant gram-negative bacteria, 40
      strains of enterococci, and 84 isolates of Campylobacter jejuni. Overall
      agreement of MICs (+/- 1 log2 dilution) was 97.3% for staphylococci, 94.6% for
      gram-negative bacilli, and 100.0% for enterococci. The MIC results for C. jejuni
      showed an overall agreement of only 82.9%. This was due primarily to a number of
      offscale values that limited the number of comparisons with clindamycin,
      trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline. Interpretative criteria for the
      results of the two test methods, however, were similar. Overall, the E test
      produced MIC results comparable to those of agar dilution when multiresistant
      organisms were tested. However, it was necessary to add 2% NaCl to the agar when
      testing oxacillin against staphylococci for both the E test and agar dilution to
      obtain results comparable to those of the broth microdilution method.

PMID- 1452710
TI  - Genotypic identification and characterization of species and strains within the
      genus Candida by using random amplified polymorphic DNA.
AB  - Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to better characterize the
      genotypic relatedness among medically important Candida species. By using short
      oligomer primers (10-mers) with arbitrarily chosen sequences in the polymerase
      chain reaction, distinctive and reproducible sets of polymerase chain reaction
      products were observed for isolates of C. albicans, C. lusitaniae, C. tropicalis,
      and Torulopsis (Candida) glabrata. The RAPD analysis differentiated a
      physiologically homogeneous panel of C. parapsilosis into three distinct groups
      and showed genetic diversity within C. haemulonii. Intraspecies DNA-length
      polymorphisms were seen for RAPD profiles derived from different isolates of each
      species. Analysis of RAPDs from a panel of C. albicans, which included 16
      laboratory derivatives of two reference strains, showed that the profiles of
      unrelated strains differed and that the derivatives of each reference strain were
      identifiable. Minor differences in the RAPD profiles, suggestive of mutations
      that had occurred during the long-term maintenance of the strains, were detected.
      Because of its ease and reliability, RAPD analysis should be useful in providing
      genotypic characters for taxonomic descriptions, for confirming the identities of
      stock isolates, for typing Candida species in epidemiologic investigations, and
      for use in the rapid identification of pathogenic fungi.

PMID- 1452711
TI  - Evaluation of a new monoclonal antibody combination reagent for direct
      fluorescence detection of Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts in human
      fecal specimens.
AB  - Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum can cause severe symptoms in humans,
      particularly in the immunologically compromised. Monoclonal antibody reagents
      offer increased sensitivity and an excellent alternative to conventional staining
      methods. These reagents are helpful when screening large numbers of patients or
      those with minimal symptoms. Problems of false-positive and false-negative
      results with routine staining methods for stool parasites can be eliminated with
      monoclonal antibody reagents. Known positive formalinized specimens [Giardia sp.
      (n = 60), Cryptosporidium sp. (n = 55), and mixed Giardia-Cryptosporidium spp. (n
      = 10)] and negative formalinized specimens (n = 105), of which 46 contained other
      yeast or human cells or protozoa), were tested by the MERIFLUOR Cryptosporidium
      Giardia direct immunofluorescence detection procedure. The MERIFLUOR reagent
      exhibited +/- to 4+ (majority, 2+ to 3+) on all Giardia cysts and 2+ to 4+
      (majority, 3+ to 4+) on all Cryptosporidium oocysts. The cysts were generally
      oval (11 to 15 microns), while the oocysts were round (4 to 6 microns); both
      showed apple-green fluorescence against a background free of nonspecific
      fluorescence. All specimens positive for Giardia sp. and/or Cryptosporidium sp.
      showed fluorescence, and all specimens negative for the two organisms showed no
      fluorescence. There were eight specimens previously negative by the ova and
      parasite examination which were positive by the direct fluorescence method; four
      contained Giardia sp., and four contained Cryptosporidium sp. These positive
      results were confirmed after the examination of additional trichrome and modified
      acid-fast smears. The MERIFLUOR reagent was very easy to use, and even with a
      lower fluorescence intensity for Giardia sp. cysts, no false-negative or false
      positive results among the specimens tested for either organism were found.

PMID- 1452713
TI  - Novel coagglutination method for serotyping group B streptococci.
AB  - A group G streptococcal strain was coated with antibody against six different
      serotypes (Ia, Ib, II, III, IV, and V) of group B streptococci. The
      coagglutination patterns of 114 strains of group B streptococci were compared
      with the serotypes determined after immunoprecipitation. The specificity of the
      method was 100% and the sensitivity 97%. It was used for the typing of 89
      invasive and 101 colonizing isolates. The new method is swift, specific, and
      highly sensitive. It consumes only minute amounts of antibody.

PMID- 1452712
TI  - An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for enumeration of Pneumocystis carinii in
      vitro and in vivo.
AB  - An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantitate Pneumocystis carinii
      organisms from culture supernatant and rat lung has been developed. A polyclonal
      antibody specific to P. carinii was produced in Sprague-Dawley rats by allowing
      P. carinii-infected animals to recover from infection. This antibody reacted
      strongly to P. carinii proteins of 50 to 55 kDa and weakly to those of 33 and 116
      kDa. The ELISA used this convalescent-phase antibody to quantitate the number of
      P. carinii organisms in lung homogenates of infected rats and supernatants from
      infected tissue cultures which were used to screen drugs for P. carinii. The
      results of the ELISA were compared with those of direct microscopic counting of
      organisms, and the two methods were highly correlated (r > 0.9). Thus, the ELISA
      can be used as an alternative method for the quantitation of P. carinii
      organisms, and it is superior to the conventional microscopic method because it
      is easier to perform and less labor-intensive.

PMID- 1452714
TI  - Capsular polysaccharide serotyping scheme for Staphylococcus epidermidis.
AB  - A scheme for the capsular typing of Staphylococcus epidermidis that is based on
      direct slide agglutination between proteinase-treated bacterial cells and
      specific antisera is described. Antisera were prepared from serum from rabbits
      immunized with two selected strains of encapsulated S. epidermidis isolated from
      bacteremic patients. Antisera were shown to be type specific and designated type
      1 and type 2. Blood isolates of S. epidermidis from hospitals in different
      locations within the United States and Europe were serotyped, and it was found
      that over 90% of all strains were of type 1 or type 2. Type-specific antibodies
      mediated type-specific opsonophagocytosis and killing of S. epidermidis. The
      specificity was shown to be due to two distinct capsular polysaccharides. The
      data presented in this report may open a new window on the pathogenesis of S.
      epidermidis which could lead to the development of new vaccines and therapies.

PMID- 1452715
TI  - Evaluation of the Wellcolex Colour Salmonella Test for detection of Salmonella
      spp. in enrichment broths.
AB  - The Wellcolex Colour Salmonella Test was evaluated for detection of Salmonella
      spp. in enrichment broths of 1,010 stool samples. In 39 specimens, Salmonella
      spp. could be isolated from the selenite F broth (SF). Wellcolex agglutination
      indicative of the presence of Salmonella spp. was noted with the SF in 36 cases,
      34 of which were in agreement with the subculture results. Therefore, relative to
      subculture, the sensitivity and specificity of the Wellcolex-selenite F procedure
      were 87 and 99%, respectively. Five false-negative results were noted. The gram
      negative broth (GN) subculture revealed only 23 Salmonella spp. (59%
      sensitivity). The Wellcolex agglutination procedure applied to the GN indicated
      Salmonella spp. for 21 samples; its sensitivity was 70% and its specificity was
      99% compared with GN subcultures. The Wellcolex agglutination procedure applied
      to the SF performed better than the agglutination of GN or direct plating
      procedures and detected 17 of the 39 Salmonella spp. at least 24 h earlier than
      did culture.

PMID- 1452716
TI  - Bovine humoral immune response to Cryptosporidium parvum.
AB  - Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal disease predominantly affecting cattle and
      humans. Sera from experimentally infected calves and calves of various ages with
      no histories of exposure were evaluated for immunoglobulin G to Cryptosporidium
      parvum. An age-associated increase in immunoglobulin G was present in
      experimental calves and in calves with no histories of infection from 1 to 3, but
      not > 3, months of age.

PMID- 1452717
TI  - Rapid, sensitive detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in simulated clinical
      specimens by DNA amplification.
AB  - The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was investigated as a means of diagnosing
      Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections. The target DNA sequence was a 375-bp segment of
      the P1 virulence protein. This DNA segment was amplified in pure cultures of five
      different strains of M. pneumoniae but not in other species of Mycoplasma,
      Acholeplasma, or Ureaplasma that were tested. Simulated clinical specimens were
      used to compare PCR, culture, and the gene probe. The sensitivity of PCR was
      between 1 and 10 organisms. The sensitivity of culture was approximately 10(3)
      organisms, and the gene probe detected between 10(4) and 10(5) organisms. These
      results indicate that PCR has significant potential as a rapid, sensitive method
      for detecting M. pneumoniae in clinical specimens.

PMID- 1452718
TI  - Peripheral intramonocytic leishmanias in an AIDS patient.
AB  - Intramonocytic leishmanias were unexpectedly observed in blood smears of a
      Spanish AIDS patient. In immunodepressed patients from exposed countries, careful
      microscopic examination of blood smears should be requested by the clinician in
      cases of prolonged fever, and biologists must be informed that leishmanias may be
      fortuitously observed in the peripheral blood.

PMID- 1452719
TI  - Early diagnosis of toxoplasmic encephalitis in AIDS patients by dot blot
      hybridization analysis.
AB  - Central nervous system toxoplasmosis is a life-threatening infection with a
      mortality rate of higher than 60%. An early and rapid diagnosis is important for
      effective treatment of the disease. A new approach for detection of cerebral
      toxoplasmosis is described here. DNAs extracted from cells in cerebrospinal fluid
      samples (0.3 to 0.8 ml) of patients suspected of having cerebral toxoplasmosis
      were analyzed by a dot blot hybridization technique. A highly repetitive DNA
      sequence of Toxoplasma gondii (ABGTg4) was nonisotopically labelled with
      digoxigenin-dUTP and used as a specific DNA probe. Four of six patients analyzed
      gave positive signals in our hybridization assay. Two of them recovered with
      pyrimethamine-sulfadiazine, a drug recommended for treatment of toxoplasmosis.
      The other two patients with positive signals died soon after diagnosis. Patients
      with negative signals were found to suffer from mycobacterial infection (patient
      1) or varicella-zoster virus infection (patient 6).

PMID- 1452720
TI  - Immunoglobulin G antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: a versatile
      assay for detection of anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and 2 antibodies
      in body fluids.
AB  - In tests on specimens of dried blood, saliva, and urine from 55 human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive and 55 HIV-seronegative patients, an
      immunoglobulin G capture enzyme immunoassay for the detection of antibodies to
      HIV types 1 and 2, GACELISA, gave 109 of 110, 109 of 109, and 109 of 110 correct
      results, respectively. This performance, achieved in a laboratory previously
      unfamiliar with the assay, suggests that GACELISA is a useful new epidemiological
      tool for the study of HIV infection, equally applicable to all three kinds of
      specimen.

PMID- 1452721
TI  - Aspergillus quadrilineatus, a new causative agent of fungal sinusitis.
AB  - Aspergillus quadrilineatus was found to be the etiologic agent of pansinusitis in
      a patient suffering from acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia and who had undergone
      allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. A. quadrilineatus was cultured from
      biopsy specimens of the maxillary sinus, and tissue sections with fungal stains
      showed a necrotic area containing dichotomously branching septate hyphae, which
      is morphologically consistent with Aspergillus species. The patient was
      successfully treated with a combination of surgical debridement, granulocyte
      transfusions, and intravenous administration of amphotericin B-cholesterol
      sulfate colloidal dispersion. This is the first report of an infection caused by
      A. quadrilineatus.

PMID- 1452722
TI  - Autoagglutination and latex particle agglutination assays.

PMID- 1452723
TI  - Zoonotic tuberculosis in Latin America.

PMID- 1452724
TI  - Bordetella pertussis versus non-L. pneumophila Legionella spp.: a continuing
      diagnostic challenge.

PMID- 1452725
TI  - The customized facemask.

PMID- 1452726
TI  - Potential patients are in your office.

PMID- 1452727
TI  - Designs and applications of palatal expansion appliances.

PMID- 1452728
TI  - Optiflex archwire treatment of a skeletal class III open bite.

PMID- 1452729
TI  - Indirect-bonded bite plate to prevent impingement on ceramic brackets.

PMID- 1452730
TI  - Recruitment and development of a stable orthodontic team.

PMID- 1452731
TI  - The post-treatment consultation.

PMID- 1452733
TI  - Direct bonding with light-cured adhesive precoated brackets.

PMID- 1452732
TI  - Space required for arch leveling.

PMID- 1452734
TI  - Clinical experience with direct-bonded labial retainers.

PMID- 1452735
TI  - Shear bond strengths of two ceramic brackets.

PMID- 1452736
TI  - Treatment of severe spondylolisthesis in children by reduction and L4-S4
      posterior segmental hyperextension fixation.
AB  - Twenty children with severe lumbosacral spondylolisthesis underwent reduction,
      posterolateral fusion, and posterior fixation with an L4 to S2, 3, and 4
      sublaminar wired rectangular rod to lessen lumbosacral kyphosis, allow early
      ambulation, and maintain correction. All patients had a postural deformity, 10
      had preoperative neurologic findings, and 8 had severe pain. The average
      percentage of slip improved from 76% preoperatively to 55% postoperatively, and
      the slip angle improved from 25 degrees to 5 degrees (p < 0.0001). All patients
      had solid fusion by 6 months and no progression at 43 month follow-up on the
      average. We conclude that this technique reliably provides partial reduction,
      solid fixation, and fusion for patients with severe spondylolisthesis while
      allowing early ambulation. As with any spondylolisthesis reduction technique,
      neurologic risk should limit this procedure to well-selected patients.

PMID- 1452737
TI  - Ambulation after transfer of adductors, external oblique, and tensor fascia lata
      in myelomeningocele.
AB  - Forty-seven patients with myelomeningocele underwent triple (adductor, external
      oblique, and tensor fascia lata) transfers or double (adductor and external
      oblique) transfers and were retrospectively reviewed. Six patients lost
      significant neurologic function during the 4-years 6-month follow-up. Thirty
      seven of the remaining 41 patients had improved gait pattern. Seventeen required
      less bracing after the muscle transfers. The need for assistive devices decreased
      in 21 patients. Twenty-seven were able to ambulate independently postoperatively
      as compared with seven preoperatively. The muscle transfers are indicated in
      midlumbar and lowlumbar spina bifida patients to improve hip stability, control,
      balance, and gait pattern.

PMID- 1452738
TI  - Triple osteotomy of the innominate bone in treatment of developmental dysplasia
      of the hip.
AB  - Ten children (11 hips) who underwent triple innominate osteotomy between the ages
      of 11 and 16 years for treatment of symptomatic acetabular dysplasia and who had
      > 10 years of follow-up since operation were reviewed to determine if
      satisfactory results reported in an earlier review were maintained. The mean
      length of follow-up was 12 years (range 10-16 years). All hips were examined
      roentgenographically, and functional assessment was made with the Iowa hip
      scoring system. Ten of the 11 hips improved roentgenographically and eight
      improved functionally after operation. One hip required replacement arthroplasty
      16 years after triple innominate osteotomy.

PMID- 1452739
TI  - Developmental hip dysplasia potentiated by inappropriate use of the Pavlik
      harness.
AB  - Nineteen patients with 28 dislocated hips treated in a Pavlik harness for > 8
      weeks with no evidence of hip reduction were identified. After discontinuation of
      the harness use, reduction was often difficult to obtain and maintain. Thirteen
      of these patients (17 hips) required operative intervention to obtain stable
      located hips. In this group of patients, we attempted to identify factors that
      led to an unusually high number of failures of closed management techniques.
      Prolonged positioning of the dislocated hip in flexion and abduction potentiates
      dysplasia, particularly of the posterolateral acetabulum, and increases the
      difficulty of obtaining a stable closed reduction. Confirmation of satisfactory
      reduction during treatment with the Pavlik harness is mandatory. Such treatment
      should be discontinued promptly if reduction is unobtainable.

PMID- 1452740
TI  - Computed tomography for early evaluation of developmental dysplasia of the hip.
AB  - Computed tomography (CT) provides an axial image of the dysplastic hip. We
      reviewed 130 CT scans performed after closed reduction for developmental
      dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in 42 patients (52 hips). We evaluated methods of
      measuring CT scans and found no described measurement that was predictive of
      development of avascular necrosis (AVN) or persistent acetabular dysplasia. The
      CT scan provides an excellent image of the infant hip when the child is in a
      spica cast and is useful to confirm an adequate reduction. No patient in this
      series lost reduction after 2 weeks.

PMID- 1452741
TI  - Changes of blood flow of the femoral head after subtrochanteric osteotomy in Legg
      Perthes' disease: a serial scintigraphic study.
AB  - Serial quantitative scintigraphic studies using 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate
      were performed on 25 hips with Legg-Perthes' disease to evaluate changes in local
      blood flow of the femoral head after subtrochanteric varizational and/or
      derotational osteotomy. Studies were made preoperatively and were repeated
      postoperatively at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks at 3 and 6 months, at 1 year, and finally
      at 2 years after osteotomy. The relative vascularity of the affected femoral head
      at 2 weeks after osteotomy was significantly decreased as compared with the
      preoperative value. Thereafter, it increased steadily, reaching the preoperative
      level by 6 months with no further statistically significant increase at < or = 2
      years. Our scintigraphic study showed that local blood flow of the femoral head
      does not increase significantly after subtrochanteric femoral osteotomy in Legg
      Perthes' disease.

PMID- 1452742
TI  - Proximal femoral osteotomy using the AO fixed-angle blade plate.
AB  - We describe the technique and results of proximal femoral osteotomy performed
      with the AO fixed-angle blade plate in 157 hips of 101 pediatric patients.
      Postoperative immobilization or restriction of activity was not prescribed.
      Fourteen complications occurred in 11 patients. Use of preoperative antibiotics
      decreased the rate of infection from 12% to 0%, which was significant. All
      osteotomies healed by 16 weeks postoperatively with no nonunions, malunions,
      device failures, or avascular necrosis. Using no postoperative immobilization in
      these children was successful and resulted in few complications when the
      appropriate-sized blade plate was used.

PMID- 1452743
TI  - Single versus double screw fixation for treatment of slipped capital femoral
      epiphysis: a biomechanical analysis.
AB  - Slipped capital femoral epiphyses (SCFE) were created in 10 pair of bovine
      femurs. Each pair was pinned with a single screw on one side and two screws
      contralaterally. The specimens were reloaded to failure. Double pin fixation
      yielded only a 33% increase in stiffness as compared with single pin fixation.
      Resistance to further slip was not proportional to screw number. The stiffness of
      neither double nor single screw fixation approximated that of the intact physis.
      Single screw fixation in slipped epiphyses is recommended because the small gains
      in stiffness with a second screw do not offset the risk of complications.

PMID- 1452744
TI  - Primary epiphyseal transplants and bone overgrowth in childhood amputations.
AB  - Seventeen children aged newborn to 14 years underwent major through-bone
      amputations or revision at our two institutions. Ten patients (group 1) had
      primary autogenous epiphyseal transplants taken from the amputated limb and used
      to cap the open medullary canal of the residual limb. Seven patients (group 2)
      did not have epiphyseal transplants. Nine of 10 patients in group 1 (90%) had no
      problems related to bone overgrowth or delay in prosthetic fitting. In group 2,
      six of seven patients (86%) had clinically symptomatic bony overgrowth of 20
      months after the index amputation on the average. Four patients had surgical
      revisions. Therefore, provided healthy autogenous donor epiphyses are available,
      we recommend primary epiphyseal transplants to avoid the complications of bone
      overgrowth in childhood through-bone amputations.

PMID- 1452745
TI  - Bone remodeling after leg lengthening: evaluation with plain radiographs, and
      computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans.
AB  - Ten patients who had undergone leg lengthening were monitored with plain
      radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans at 3-month intervals. Four of them
      were examined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. When the external
      fixator was removed, MRI scans could not demonstrate any continuous fat signals
      in the lengthened region, suggesting the lack of medullary cavity. CT scans
      disclosed double cortex in three patients and irregular new bone formation in
      seven. At 6 months, a medullary cavity could be detected. Other aberrations were
      less evident. Remodeling of new bone material required at least 1 year.

PMID- 1452746
TI  - Tetracycline labeling as an aid to complete excision of partial physeal arrest: a
      rabbit model.
AB  - We determined whether ultraviolet (UV) visualization of tetracycline-labeled bone
      allows more complete excision of experimentally created physeal arrests while
      minimizing required bone resection. Lateral distal femoral growth arrests were
      surgically created bilaterally in eight 6-week-old New Zealand white rabbits,
      given 3 daily oxytetracycline doses (10 mg/kg); the animals were killed 6 weeks
      postoperatively. Femurs were excised and dissected free of soft tissue. Ten of 16
      operated femurs randomized into two groups had consistent deformity. In group I,
      arrest was excised with a high-speed burr without, and, in group II, with
      ultraviolet visualization. In group II, metaphyseal bone and calcified arrest
      glowed brightly, contrasting well with the epiphyseal plate. All excised
      specimens were examined under x 9 magnification to assess remaining bone bridges.
      Excision defects were filled with modeling clay, which was then removed and
      weighed. Thorough excision was confirmed in each specimen. Resection was easier
      and less bone usually was resected in the UV group (difference not statistically
      significant). This technique would best be used in resection of arrests involving
      small physes such as the distal radius, in which maximal visualization and
      minimal resection are essential to preserve all possible growth potential.
      Tetracycline labeling and intraoperative UV visualization of fluorescence allows
      thorough excision of partial physeal arrest while minimizing required bone
      resection.

PMID- 1452747
TI  - Meniscal cyst and magnetic resonance imaging in childhood and adolescence.
AB  - We retrospectively reviewed 11 cases of meniscal cyst diagnosed at the Mayo
      Clinic from 1976 through 1990. Patient age ranged from 4 to 18 years (average 13
      years). Two cases were diagnosed on clinical findings alone. Arthrograms were
      available in five cases. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used in four cases.
      These cases illustrate the difficulty in making the diagnosis of meniscal cyst.
      MRI is a useful tool for diagnosing meniscal cyst and aids in surgical planning.
      Because of the extensive differential diagnosis of the meniscal cyst, we
      recommend MRI in preoperative evaluation of soft tissue masses about the knee.

PMID- 1452748
TI  - Physeal reconstruction with blocks of cartilage of varying developmental time.
AB  - Reconstruction of physeal regions excised from the distal femoral
      chondroepiphysis was performed in a murine model. The excised regions were
      replaced with analogous blocks of syngeneic tissue. Vascularity, matrix
      formation, and cell division were assessed as well as growth. The blocks of
      tissue did not produce growth consistently, although individual specimens did
      show some growth. Tritiated thymidine incorporation by the proliferative zone of
      the transplanted block of tissue was not normal. The blocks of tissue did receive
      a nutritional supply from the host and did continue matrix formation after
      transplantation.

PMID- 1452749
TI  - Tibial physeal changes in renal osteodystrophy: lateral Blount's disease.
AB  - In a group of 27 children with chronic renal failure and renal osteodystrophy, we
      identified eight patients with significant involvement of the proximal tibial
      physis (15 knees). The radiographic changes observed were analogous to those
      observed in tibia vara (Blount's disease) but involved the lateral physis rather
      than the medial physis. This observation is offered as further evidence that such
      changes are related to eccentric weight-bearing rather than alternative
      etiologies such as trauma, infection, or heredity.

PMID- 1452750
TI  - Brachymetatarsia of the first metatarsal treated by surgical lengthening.
AB  - The first metatarsal of six feet in four patients was surgically lengthened.
      Brachymetatarsia was caused by a congenital defect in two patients, nonunion
      after metatarsal osteotomy in one patient, and premature physeal closure
      associated with pin placement across the physis in one patient. In each patient,
      middiaphyseal osteotomy was performed, pins were placed into the proximal and
      distal metatarsal fragments, and an external distracting device was attached.
      After distraction, a fibular graft was inserted and the device was removed. The
      percentage of metatarsal length gained from the lengthening averaged 36% (range
      12-68%). The fibular graft healed in the lengthened position in all patients.

PMID- 1452751
TI  - Neuropathic foot ulceration in patients with myelodysplasia.
AB  - To determine if a significant relationship existed between type of operation and
      eventual development of pedal skin breakdown in a spina bifida patient
      population, 72 feet in 36 ambulatory patients with low lumbar or sacral
      myelomeningocele were followed for an average of 14 years 5 months. Using a
      clinical classification for foot suppleness and position, we determined that foot
      rigidity, nonplantigrade position, and performance of surgical arthrodesis were
      clinical indicators that had a strong statistical relationship with eventual
      development of neuropathic skin changes.

PMID- 1452752
TI  - Supracondylar fractures of the humerus: a prospective study of percutaneous
      pinning.
AB  - In 1981, we designed a protocol to treat displaced supracondylar fractures using
      a modified technique of closed reduction and percutaneous pinning. After the
      fracture was internally fixed, intraoperative anteroposterior (AP) radiographs of
      each distal humerus were compared. The reduction and pinning was accepted only if
      the radiographs demonstrated that Baumann's angle was < or = 4 degrees of that on
      the normal side. Seventy-one patients had clinical and radiographic evaluations
      at an average of 2 years 6 months after the operation. According to Flynn's
      criteria, the results were satisfactory in 70 patients and unsatisfactory in one.
      No patient had a cubitus varus deformity at follow-up evaluation.

PMID- 1452753
TI  - Preliminary results of orthotic treatment of pectus deformities in children and
      adolescents.
AB  - Fifty-five children and adolescents with different types of pectus deformities
      and a minimum follow-up of 1 year were assessed to determine the effectiveness of
      nonoperative treatment with a dynamic chest compressor orthosis. Thirty-seven
      patients were treated and compared with 18 untreated patients. The treated
      patients had a better outcome. Reshaping of the contour of the chest wall was
      observed in 21 patients with inferior and lateral types of pectus carinatum. The
      dynamic chest compressor has minimal morbidity and is a valuable treatment option
      of pectus deformities in the growing period.

PMID- 1452754
TI  - Osteoarticular complications of childhood brucellosis: a study of 57 cases in
      Saudi Arabia.
AB  - Fifty-seven (36%) of a cohort of 157 children with brucellosis from Saudi Arabia
      had arthritis. Most gave a history of contact with farm animals or drinking
      unpasteurized milk. Associated features included pyrexia, arthralgia,
      hepatosplenomegaly, and lymphadenopathy. A subacute presentation with peripheral
      oligoarthritis predominantly affecting hips or knees was common. Specific
      chemotherapy resulted in rapid defervescence followed by slower resolution of the
      arthritis. Children with osteoarticular brucellosis had a higher relapse rate and
      a longer hospital stay. Supervised combination chemotherapy for at least 6 weeks
      was effective in preventing relapse. A brucellar etiology should be considered in
      any child from an endemic area who has osteoarticular manifestations.

PMID- 1452755
TI  - Long-term effects of neonatal bone and joint infection on adjacent growth plates.
AB  - Review of children with physeal damage from neonatal infection other than the hip
      at Winnipeg Children's Hospital showed that six patients had residual growth
      interference from adjacent infection in the bone or joint. Several of the
      infections involved multiple joints, with growth plate arrest occurring in the
      distal femoral growth plate in four, in the proximal humerus in four, in the
      proximal femur in two, in the distal radius in one, and in the distal humerus in
      one. Although the initial infection was frequently believed to be successfully
      treated in the neonate, the clinical effect of these infections on the growth
      plate was not fully appreciated in five of the infants until the children reached
      a mean age of 9 years. Because growth abnormalities in physeal bars may not be
      clinically evident for several years after the initial infection has been
      treated, we recommend that children with bone and joint infections occurring in
      the first month of life be followed to skeletal maturity, observing the adjacent
      physis for late tethering.

PMID- 1452756
TI  - Intralesional infiltration of corticosteroids in localized Langerhans' cell
      histiocytosis.
AB  - The approaches to treatment of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) have been as
      varied as the clinical presentation of the disease. The clinical course of
      localized LCH of bone is generally benign, and it tends to heal spontaneously in
      a period of months to years. If treatment is required, the disease can be
      controlled by local measures such as surgical curettement, low-dose irradiation,
      or intralesional infiltration with corticosteroids. We reviewed 15 children
      treated with intralesional infiltration of corticosteroids, either primarily for
      disease of bone (8 patients) or as adjunctive therapy for disseminated LCH (7
      patients). Two patients developed complications as a result of this treatment
      method.

PMID- 1452757
TI  - Post-traumatic stress disorder and coping in veterans who are seeking medical
      treatment.
AB  - The present study examined psychological coping styles and mental health
      treatment histories in veterans with PTSD. This study also served as a
      replication and extension of an earlier investigation that assessed the
      prevalence of PTSD in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam combat veterans who were
      seeking medical treatment. Thirty-six combat veteran medical patients were
      compared to 38 war-era controls. Nearly a third of the combat veterans met
      psychometric criteria for PTSD; none of the controls met these criteria. Both
      PTSD-positive subjects and mental health treatment seekers showed a significantly
      greater use of emotion-focused coping. Results also showed that Vietnam
      combatants were more likely to have received individual mental health treatment.
      These findings and their treatment implications are discussed.

PMID- 1452758
TI  - Are the physical and TABP risk factors for heart disease unique to CHD?
AB  - Scores of 40 hospitalized CHD patients on 11 Type A-related and 7 physical CHD
      risk factors were compared to those of 40 hospitalized non-CHD patients. Family
      history for CHD was the only physical risk factor for which a significant
      difference was found. CHD patients scored significantly higher on all seven
      interview-measured Type A and Type A subcomponent variables. Only two of the four
      Jenkins Activity Survey-measured Type A variables produced significant
      differences, with one higher for non-CHD subjects. It was concluded that some CHD
      risk scores also may be associated with other diseases, to the experience of
      being seriously ill, and/or to the experience of hospitalization.

PMID- 1452759
TI  - A comparison of 16 systems to diagnose schizophrenia.
AB  - Sixteen diagnostic classification systems were compared to determine the degree
      of agreement on the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Data were collected by a
      structured interview method with 284 patients, 52 first admissions, and 196
      readmissions. The kappa coefficient was used to calculate interrater reliability
      and concordance of the systems. Adequate reliability was found for 12 of the
      systems. However, concordance was generally low; 11 of 120 combinations reached
      kappa of .40 or higher for the total sample, 16 of 120 for first admissions, and
      only 6 of 120 for readmissions. These results indicate the restriction of
      generalization and raise questions as to the empirical validity of the construct
      of schizophrenia.

PMID- 1452760
TI  - Personality predictors of bulimic behavior and attitudes in males.
AB  - This study was an investigation of personality factors associated with bulimic
      behaviors and attitudes in males. Various measures that have been noted as
      predictors of female bulimia were tested on 96 college students. Chronic dietary
      restraint and interoceptive awareness were the strongest predictors of more
      maladaptive eating patterns. The results suggest that maladaptive eating patterns
      in males and females may share a common set of features.

PMID- 1452761
TI  - Differentiating symptom clusters of borderline personality disorder.
AB  - This study is an attempt to delineate symptom clusters that may be considered
      most distinctive of patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder
      (BPD). Medical records were examined to assess the extent to which each of the
      eight DSM-III-R BPD criteria was present in 89 psychiatric in-patients diagnosed
      with BPD. Structural analysis revealed three symptom clusters that can explain
      symptomatology for a majority of the sample. BPD patients can be identified
      initially by a core factor and separated subsequently into several BPD subtypes
      based on the patients' remaining symptomatology. A hierarchical diagnostic scheme
      for delineating BPD subtypes is proposed, and the implications of these findings
      for a theoretical separation of several BPD subtypes are discussed.

PMID- 1452762
TI  - The Missouri Children's Behavior Checklist behavioral classification system: a
      construct validity study with nonreferred children.
AB  - This study provides validity information about the Missouri Children's Behavior
      Checklist (MCBC) classifications system with nonreferred children. MCBC behavior
      patterns of 41 children were related to DSM-III symptomatology ascertained
      through a structured clinical interview, the Child Assessment Schedule, conducted
      with the mother. The findings indicated that considering the Undifferentiated
      Disturbance pattern as an indicator of poor adjustment may be unwarranted with
      nonreferred children.

PMID- 1452763
TI  - Do computer-administered Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventories
      underestimate booklet-based scores?
AB  - We ran meta-analyses that compared the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality
      Inventory scale scores produced in 770 booklet and 762 computer administrations
      described by nine studies. While most of the differences were small, the computer
      based scores significantly underestimated their booklet counterparts on 8 of the
      13 scales. The average underestimate was about three-quarters of a T-score point
      and accounted for around 4% of the reliable variance. These findings suggest that
      separate norms and profile sheets for computer-administered MMPIs might be
      helpful.

PMID- 1452764
TI  - Depression, problem-solving ability, and problem-solving appraisals.
AB  - Behavioral analytic methods were used to create a college student version of the
      Means Ends Problem Solving Procedure (MEPS). This instrument then was
      administered with measures of perceived problem-solving ability to depressed and
      nondepressed students to determine whether differences exist in both problem
      solving ability and problem-solving appraisal. Analyses revealed that depressed
      subjects had more negative expectations and lower appraisals of their problem
      solving ability. However, the groups did not differ in terms of the actual
      quality of their behavioral solutions to interpersonal, intrapersonal, and
      emotional problem situations. The results are interpreted as support for the role
      of cognitive factors in depression and problem-solving across a range of problem
      solving situations.

PMID- 1452765
TI  - Left cerebral dominance for bilateral simultaneous sensory stimulation?
AB  - Hom and Reitan (1982) reported findings with respect to sensorimotor deficits in
      groups with lateralized cerebral lesions, but evaluated the results only within a
      framework that related cerebral dominance to deficits that resulted from
      lateralized lesions. Some of the variables they studied, however, depend upon
      evidence of retention of functions by one hemisphere under conditions of
      distracting input. While the right cerebral hemisphere appears to be dominant for
      tactile-perceptual abilities in terms of resulting deficits, the present study
      suggests that the left cerebral hemisphere is dominant for certain non-language
      functions that reflect maintenance of sensory-perceptual abilities under
      conditions of distracting stimuli.

PMID- 1452766
TI  - Anatomy of self-injurious, stereotypic, and aggressive movements: evidence for
      involuntary explanation.
AB  - Self-injurious movements, common in persons diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, or
      mental retardation, are typically difficult to eliminate. The author considers
      the possibility that certain self-injurious movements are involuntary phenomena.
      An anatomical analysis of high-frequency movements in a patient with severe head
      slapping is presented by tracing the muscles and nerves involved. The median
      nerve innervates muscles that bring the hand/arm to the head and also muscles
      that control this patient's other frequent movements, viz., pill-rolling, thumb
      gouging, wrist-flapping, and pinching the neck or cheek. Other patients underwent
      similar investigation: one who headbangs, one who hits out repetitively, and one
      with non-injurious stereotypic movements. An anatomical explanation suggests that
      certain self-injurious, aggressive, and stereotypic movements are involuntary
      muscle contractions that reflect abnormal innervation along specific nerves.

PMID- 1452767
TI  - The sensitivity of the Mini-Mental State Exam in the white matter dementia of
      multiple sclerosis.
AB  - Fifty-six patients diagnosed with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) according to
      Poser criteria were administered the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a
      comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests. Extent of cerebral lesion
      involvement was determined by quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
      ratings. The MMSE correlated with overall levels of physical disability, but did
      not correlate with total lesion area on MRI. Sensitivity of the MMSE to the
      subcortical dementia of MS was low (28%) when performance on the
      neuropsychological testing battery was used as the criterion. Impairment on tests
      of memory, speed of information processing, abstract reasoning, naming/verbal
      fluency, as well as visuoperceptual organization, were correlated highly with
      total lesion area on MRI. The low sensitivity of the MMSE to cognitive impairment
      in MS is discussed in terms of its item composition and the characteristic
      pattern of deficits found in MS.

PMID- 1452768
TI  - Responsivity to cognitive therapy as a function of treatment format and client
      personality dimensions.
AB  - The effects of treatment format and client personality dimensions upon
      responsivity to cognitive therapy were investigated. Depressed subjects were
      assigned to either 12 weeks of individual or group cognitive therapy. The two
      formats were found to be equally effective in significantly reducing depression.
      Subjects were categorized at pretreatment using Beck's Sociotropy/Autonomy Scale
      in conducting a post hoc analysis of the impact of client personality dimensions
      upon responsivity to treatment. Consistent with Beck's (1983) interactional
      model, sociotropic subjects who received group therapy and autonomous subjects
      assigned to individual therapy showed greater improvement than subjects whose
      predominant personality dimension did not match the type of treatment received.

PMID- 1452769
TI  - Prescott Lecky: pioneer in consistency theory and cognitive therapy.
AB  - Prescott Lecky's theory of self-consistency consists of an organization of ideas
      that revolve around those of the self and a master motive that serves to preserve
      and modify the unity of ideas. Self-consistency theory anticipated several
      cognitive-phenomenological theories of personality and remains relevant to
      contemporary personality and clinical psychologists. Regrettably, Lecky left few
      details about the structure, processes, and development of personality. This
      paper first will review Lecky's career, theory, and influence. Next, the nuclear
      theory of the mind, attributed to Frederick Thorne, will be described. The
      nuclear theory refines and extends Lecky's work and will be evaluated on
      conceptual, empirical, and practical grounds.

PMID- 1452770
TI  - Correlates of suicide ideation in French-Canadian adults and adolescents: a
      comparison.
AB  - Five hundred fifty-eight French-Canadian adolescents and 150 adults served as
      subjects in a study that compared correlates of suicide ideation. Results of
      multivariate analyses indicated that suicide ideation in adolescents is related
      positively to depression and negative stress and negatively to self-esteem and
      satisfaction with social support. Adult ideation was found to be related
      negatively to self-esteem and positively to negative life experiences.

PMID- 1452771
TI  - A comparison of traditional and computer-generated psychological reports in an
      adolescent inpatient setting.
AB  - Although individual personality tests and occasionally test batteries have been
      the focus of considerable research, the psychological report itself has largely
      escaped direct scrutiny. This study examined the perceived accuracy, utility, and
      specificity of traditional psychological reports and compared these values with
      those obtained for the computer-generated report for the Millon Adolescent
      Personality Inventory (MAPI). Analyses indicated no difference in rated accuracy
      by either therapists or nursing staff. Both reports were judged as mediocre in
      accuracy and usefulness. The MAPI was judged to offer more specific
      interpretations than was the traditional psychological report and to be superior
      in quality of writing. A variety of substantive and extraneous variables were
      examined and found not to alter these results.

PMID- 1452772
TI  - Sadistic and self-defeating personality disorder criteria in a rural clinic
      sample.
AB  - A sample of 176 outpatients at a mental health clinic in rural southern Georgia
      were rated for the presence or absence of the DMS-III-R sadistic and self
      defeating personality disorder criteria. On the basis of these ratings, 48
      patients met the criteria for sadistic (n = 14) and self-defeating (n = 41).
      Surprisingly, half of the patients who met the sadistic criteria also fulfilled
      the self-defeating criteria. A factor analysis failed to divide the criteria
      cleanly into sadistic and self-defeating subsets.

PMID- 1452773
TI  - Factors affecting the precision of warfarin treatment.
AB  - AIM: To determine what factors influence the precision of anticoagulant control
      using warfarin by examining the computerised records of 2207 patients. METHODS:
      Records from seven district general hospitals were combined and analysed. The
      precision of anticoagulant control was taken as the absolute deviation of
      International Normalised Ratio (INR) from target at the most recent
      determination. This quantity was examined using univariate and multiple
      regression analyses. RESULTS: Deviation of INR from target was continuously
      distributed, almost symmetrically about a mean of zero. The patients' age and sex
      had little bearing on control. Patients with a high target INR were more likely
      to be undertreated, and patients taking higher doses of warfarin were more likely
      to be overtreated. Previous over- or undertreatment were strongly related to
      poorer current control. The control of treatment varied substantially among the
      seven hospitals. One possible cause of this variation was the dose adjustment
      coefficient: the greater the dose adjustment for a given deviation from target
      INR, the better was the control achieved. CONCLUSION: Several groups of patients
      were identified whose control was less satisfactory and in whom anticoagulant
      treatment needs particular scrutiny: these include patients with a record of
      previous over- or undertreatment, but not elderly patients in general. The
      variation in control among hospitals is a source of concern that merits further
      attention to achieve better uniformity of anticoagulant treatment.

PMID- 1452774
TI  - p53 protein in odontogenic cysts: increased expression in some odontogenic
      keratocysts.
AB  - AIMS: To assess p53 protein expression in a range of odontogenic cysts arising in
      the mouth, including those of developmental and inflammatory origin. METHODS: p53
      protein was identified using the polyclonal antibody CM-1, together with a
      standard immunoperoxidase technique. A total of 36 cystic lesions were examined,
      all of which were histologically benign. RESULTS: Expression of p53 protein was
      identified within the lining of five of 12 odontogenic keratocysts but was not
      detected in the other cystic lesions in the series. CONCLUSIONS: This is believed
      to be the first report that identifies increased expression of p53 protein in
      benign cystic epithelium. The increased expression of p53 protein in the nucleus
      is usually associated with malignant disease. These findings are relevant to the
      management of odontogenic keratocysts which have a tendency to recur, and also to
      Gorlin Goltz syndrome in which keratocysts and multiple basal cell carcinomas are
      features.

PMID- 1452775
TI  - p53 expression in lymphatic malignancies.
AB  - AIMS: To investigate the expression of p53 protein in malignant and benign
      lymphoid tissues. METHODS: Tissue from 42 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, 10 Hodgkin's
      lymphomas, three atypical hyperplasias and five benign reactive hyperplasias was
      studied immunohistochemically for the expression of p53 protein. RESULTS: Of the
      42 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, 13 (31%) were positive for p53 in some of the tumour
      cells. In two cases the proportion of positive cells was more than 10% and in
      four cases it was between 1-5%. These six cases consisted of three Burkitt's
      lymphomas, one immunoblastic lymphoma, one centroblastic diffuse lymphoma and one
      angioimmunoblastic lymphoma. In seven cases the proportion of p53 positive tumour
      cells was less than 1%. These cases comprised three centroblastic diffuse, three
      centroblastic polymorphic diffuse, and one angioimmunoblastic type lymphoma. In
      three out of 10 (30%) Hodgkin's lymphomas, a proportion of the Reed-Sternberg
      cells were p53 positive. One of these was a mixed cellular subtype and two
      nodular sclerosing subtypes. p53 protein was not expressed in the three atypical
      hyperplasias or the five benign reactive hyperplasias of the lymph nodes.
      CONCLUSIONS: The presence of p53 positivity in non-Hodgkin's and Hodgkin's
      lymphomas indicates that mutations of the p53 gene may play a part in the
      development of these tumours. The concentration of p53 positivity in high grade
      lymphomas suggests that p53 is involved in the transformation of low grade
      lymphomas to more aggressive types. Because no p53 positivity was observed in
      benign lesions of the lymph nodes, positive p53 immunohistochemical staining in a
      lymphoid lesion suggests malignancy.

PMID- 1452776
TI  - Intramammary lymph nodes.
AB  - AIMS: To determine the prevalence and pathology of intramammary lymph nodes in
      breast specimens. METHODS: All breast specimens examined by a single pathologist
      over 70 months in a large teaching hospital were studied retrospectively. All the
      surgical pathology reports were reviewed. Relevant glass slides from cases in
      which intramammary lymph nodes were identified were also reexamined. RESULTS:
      Breast specimens (n = 682) were examined. Seven lymph nodes were found in five
      patients. The specimens comprised 533 biopsy specimens, 29 segmental resections,
      22 reduction mammoplasties, 77 modified radical mastectomies and 20 gynecomastia
      mastectomies. No clinically relevant microscopical abnormalities were found in
      four lymph nodes and slight sinus histiocytosis was seen in two nodes. One node
      contained metastatic adenocarcinoma and benign glandular epithelial inclusions.
      CONCLUSION: Although rare, intramammary lymph nodes may be detected by careful
      gross examination of breast specimens even in the absence of clinical
      identification. They can occur in any quadrant of the breast and can display a
      variety of pathological conditions. Pathologists should be alert to the existence
      and potential importance of these lymph nodes.

PMID- 1452777
TI  - Immunohistological study of distribution of gamma/delta lymphocytes after
      allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.
AB  - The distribution of T lymphocytes expressing the gamma/delta form of the T cell
      receptor was studied in the liver, intestine, and major lymphoid organs, after
      bone marrow transplantation (BMT), including cases of graft versus host disease
      (GvHD). The number of gamma/delta as a proportion of the total number of CD3
      positive cells did not differ from that found in normal tissues; the higher
      percentage normally found in the intestinal epithelium and splenic red pulp was
      maintained. This, and the results of a previous study undertaken on the skin,
      provide no evidence that gamma/delta T cells have a particularly important role
      in T cell regeneration after marrow transplantation or in the pathogenesis of the
      epithelial lesions associated with GvHD.

PMID- 1452778
TI  - Well differentiated (benign) papillary mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis.
AB  - An unusual mesothelial lesion occurred in the tunica vaginalis of the testis. It
      conformed histologically and immunohistochemically to well differentiated
      papillary mesothelioma of the peritoneum. Its aetiology remains uncertain, but
      this lesion, more than likely, is innocuous. It is important to recognise this
      entity, which is not well documented in the tunica vaginalis, because it may be
      misdiagnosed as a malignant mesothelioma and the patient may be subjected to
      unnecessary treatment.

PMID- 1452779
TI  - Mucous metaplasia of the pleura.
AB  - A case of mucous metaplasia of mesothelium in an 80 year old woman is described.
      Its cause is unknown, but it is important not to confuse it with secondary
      tumour.

PMID- 1452780
TI  - Intradural bronchogenic cysts.
AB  - The pathological findings of an intradural and extramedullary cyst in the mid
      cervical spinal canal are described in a 55 year old woman who presented with a
      short history of pain and paraesthesia of the right arm. Intradural well defined
      solitary cystic lesions in the spinal canal are uncommon, their pathogenesis is
      poorly understood, and their nomenclature is confusing. In this case the cyst was
      a bronchogenic cyst; these are a rare form of such cysts and they are thought to
      be a malformation arising from a split notochordal syndrome and not a teratoma.

PMID- 1452781
TI  - Pneumococcal endocarditis and disseminated infection.
AB  - A 61 year old woman presented with back pain and clinical signs of meningitis.
      Pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid was found, but although Streptococcus
      pneumoniae was cultured from her blood it failed to grow from the cerebrospinal
      fluid. An echocardiogram detected vegetations on the mitral valve and a lesion at
      S1/S2 was demonstrated on a bone scan. Treatment for one month with
      benzylpenicillin (1200 mg four hourly) was successful for both the cardiac and
      neurological components of her infection, but her back pain only resolved after
      treatment was changed to clindamycin. The clinical presentation and metastatic
      spread of the S pneumoniae infection is much more commonly seen in the context of
      S aureus endocarditis. It is rare for the pneumococcus to be associated with
      endocarditis and when it is mortality is usually high. This case shows the
      metastatic potential of the organism and the requirement for appropriate
      antibiotics with regard not only to the sensitivity of the organism, but also for
      the site of infection.

PMID- 1452782
TI  - Screening for Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
AB  - A throat swab from a 9 year old girl with pharyngitis yielded a non-toxigenic
      strain of Corynebacterium diphtheriae var mitis and Streptococcus group G. C
      pseudodiphtheriticum was isolated from the throats of two of her four brothers.
      In each case the isolate was sent to the reference laboratory before full
      identification. The growth was found to be mixed for one brother; the other
      isolate being a toxin producing C diphtheriae var gravis. The child was
      asymptomatic and the case proves that all colonial types on the Hoyles plate
      should be identified.

PMID- 1452783
TI  - Chronic giardiasis of the stomach.
AB  - Two cases of chronic giardiasis of the stomach diagnosed from gastric mucosal
      biopsy specimens are reported. The first case was associated with an acute-on
      chronic gastritis and Helicobacter-like organisms, and the second with an
      adenocarcinoma of the stomach. In both cases the trophozoites had been missed in
      earlier biopsy specimens. As far as is known this is the first report of
      giardiasis of the stomach.

PMID- 1452784
TI  - Restrictive endocardial fibroelastosis in a neonate without other cardiac
      pathology.
AB  - A case is presented of constrictive endocardial fibroelastosis without other
      cardiac abnormality in a newborn infant who was treated successfully by
      orthotopic heart transplantation.

PMID- 1452785
TI  - Changing trends in infective endocarditis.

PMID- 1452786
TI  - Safety in the laboratory.

PMID- 1452787
TI  - ACP Broadsheet 133: November 1992. Gross examination of the stomach.

PMID- 1452788
TI  - New rapid identification test for Clostridium difficile.
AB  - AIMS: A set of five tests were developed and tested for their ability to confirm
      the identity of C difficile colonies within 30 minutes. METHODS: The relevant
      substrates were incorporated into four filter paper squares attached to a plastic
      carrier (Diffstrip), five enzymes/products (prolyl aminopeptidase, galactosidase,
      leucine aminopeptidase, acid phosphatase and indole). The strips were inoculated,
      incubated for 20 minutes, and reagents added. RESULTS: 96.4% (212 of 220) strains
      of C difficile were immediately differentiated from 51 other Clostridium spp
      tested. The remaining 3.6% (eight of 220) of C difficile isolates produced a
      reaction pattern similar to some of the Clostridium sporogenes tested and
      required additional tests. None of the other Clostridium spp tested produced
      reaction patterns similar to C difficile. CONCLUSION: The Diffstrip allowed
      colonies of C difficile to be confirmed within 30 minutes for 96.4% of isolates,
      with less than 4% requiring any additional tests. No strains of C difficile were
      misidentified and no strains of other Clostridium spp tested were misidentified
      as C difficile.

PMID- 1452789
TI  - Aeromonas spp as a potential cause of diarrhoea in children.
AB  - AIMS: To determine the prevalence of Aeromonas spp in the faeces of children and
      the association with symptoms of gastroenteritis. METHODS: Faecal specimens (n =
      1026) were cultured for Aeromonas spp using three selective media and an
      enrichment broth at both 30 degrees C and 37 degrees C. The isolation of
      Aeromonas spp was correlated with symptoms of gastroenteritis, previous
      antibiotic use, and environmental temperature. RESULTS: Aeromonas spp (n = 28)
      from 26 (2.5%) patients were recovered. Bile salt, Irgasan, and brilliant green
      agar was the most efficient selective culture medium. Eleven of the patients had
      symptoms of gastroenteritis, usually mild diarrhoea of two to three days'
      duration, in the absence of other recognised enteropathogens. A caviae was a
      particularly frequent isolate (nine out of 11 cases) in symptomatic individuals.
      Only one out of seven Aeromonas spp recovered by enrichment culture alone was
      possibly associated with symptoms of gastroenteritis. There was a close
      correlation between the environmental temperature and isolation of Aeromonas spp.
      CONCLUSIONS: Aeromonas spp and particularly A caviae may cause gastroenteritis in
      children, most often during warmer months of the year. Culture for these
      potential enteropathogens could be confined to summer and autumn months. Bile
      salt, Irgasan, and brilliant green selective agar, but not alkaline peptone water
      enrichment, is an efficient culture medium for recovering possibly clinically
      important isolates.

PMID- 1452790
TI  - Gastric giardiasis.
AB  - AIMS: To assess the prevalence of gastric giardiasis in patients undergoing upper
      gastrointestinal endoscopy, and to define the clinicopathological correlates of
      gastric Giardia lamblia infection. METHODS: Consecutive gastric biopsy specimens
      (n = 15,023) from 11,085 patients, taken at Feltre City Hospital (north eastern
      Italy) from January 1986 to December 1991, were histologically and
      immunocytochemically examined for the occurrence of G lamblia trophozoites. Three
      gastric biopsy specimens from patients harbouring G lamblia infection, who
      repeated endoscopy before treatment, were also examined electron microscopically.
      RESULTS: Forty one patients (0.37% of the population study) harboured gastric
      giardiasis. All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy because of
      dyspepsia, epigastric pain, or abdominal distension. Only two patients had
      diarrhoea at the time of investigation. Giardiasis was clinically unsuspected in
      all cases, although the nine patients who also had duodenal biopsies performed
      had concomitant intestinal giardiasis. Gastric giardiasis was invariably
      associated with chronic atrophic gastritis. Intestinal metaplasia of the gastric
      mucosa and Helicobacter pylori infection were found in 32 and 37 of the 41
      patients with gastric giardiasis, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The invariable
      association of gastric giardiasis with chronic atrophic gastritis, most often
      showing intestinal metaplasia and H pylori infection, indicates that a decreased
      gastric acidity is a prerequisite for localisation of G lamblia to the gastric
      mucosa. Though its possible role as a gastric pathogen remains to be elucidated,
      these findings suggest that trophozoites should be carefully searched for when
      examining gastric biopsy specimens showing chronic atrophic gastritis.

PMID- 1452791
TI  - Parasitology: United Kingdom National Quality Assessment Scheme.
AB  - AIMS: To assess the results from parasitology laboratories taking part in a
      quality assessment scheme between 1986 and 1991; and to compare performance with
      repeat specimens. METHODS: Quality assessment of blood parasitology, including
      tissue parasites (n = 444; 358 UK, 86 overseas), and faecal parasitology,
      including extra-intestinal parasites (n = 205; 141 UK, 64 overseas), was
      performed. RESULTS: Overall, the standard of performance was poor. A
      questionnaire distributed to participants showed that a wide range of methods was
      used, some of which were considered inadequate to achieve reliable results.
      Teaching material was distributed to participants from time to time in an attempt
      to improve standards. CONCLUSIONS: Since the closure of the IMLS fellowship
      course in 1972, fewer opportunities for specialised training in parasitology are
      available: more training is needed. Poor performance in the detection of malarial
      parasites is mainly attributable to incorrect speciation, misidentification, and
      lack of equipment such as an eyepiece graticule.

PMID- 1452792
TI  - Solitary necrotic nodule of the liver: parasitic origin?
AB  - AIMS: To report further cases of solitary necrotic nodule of the liver and to
      study its nature. METHODS: Seven nodules were retrieved from 4000 necropsy and
      surgical liver specimens coming to light over the past five years. All of them
      satisfied the diagnostic criteria of solitary necrotic nodule: a solid lesion
      with a central necrotic core and a hyalinised fibrotic capsule containing elastic
      fibres. Their clinicopathological features were reviewed. RESULTS: The nodules
      were incidental findings at surgery or necropsy in four men and three women whose
      ages ranged from 48 to 79 years (mean 63.7 years). Four were found in the right
      lobe and three in the left. Six were subcapsular and only one deep in the
      parenchyma, with sizes ranging from 0.3-2.5 cm. Each of them was solitary, well
      demarcated, and round to oval with a firm, whitish rim and a core of yellowish
      white cheese-like to solid material. In addition to the basic architecture, there
      were a number of common and undescribed histological features: presence of
      varying numbers of small mural vessels with intimal fibrosis and obliteration,
      presence of cholesterol clefts and foamy cells among necrotic material, and
      sparsity of inflammatory cells. In the two cases where ghosts of degenerated
      cells and partially preserved liver reticulin pattern were noted, worms were
      identified, one being Clonorchis sinensis. CONCLUSIONS: The entity is believed to
      be a "burnt-out phase" of a variety of benign lesions. Parasitic infestation is
      another possible cause, and presence of ghosts of degenerate cells, partially
      preserved liver reticulin pattern, cholesterol clefts and foamy cells among
      necrotic material are auxiliary features pointing to such an aetiology. The
      variation in morphological fine details reflects both the lesion's diverse
      pathogenesis and the fact that it can be of varying duration.

PMID- 1452793
TI  - Effects of chemotherapy on ultrastructure of oesophageal adenocarcinoma.
AB  - AIMS: To compare and contrast the ultrastructural appearance of resected
      oesophageal adenocarcinomas treated with preoperative chemotherapy with that of
      non-treated resected controls; and to determine the usefulness of this method in
      the assessment of the effectiveness of the chemotherapeutic regimen. METHODS: Ten
      resected oesophageal adenocarcinomas treated with preoperative chemotherapy-
      mitomycin-C, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (MIC)--were examined by transmission
      electron microscopy and their appearance compared with that of 13 concurrent
      untreated resected oesophageal adenocarcinomas. RESULTS: The treated
      adenocarcinomas showed cytotoxic damage although complete tumour eradication was
      not achieved. In all 10 treated cases a variable proportion of the neoplastic
      cells showed unusual degenerative and necrotic changes not seen in untreated
      cases. In the most affected carcinomas the stroma contained increased numbers of
      inflammatory cells. CONCLUSIONS: This ultrastructural method is useful for the
      assessment of the in vivo effect of MIC.

PMID- 1452794
TI  - Histopathological and microanalytical study of zirconium dioxide and barium
      sulphate in bone cement.
AB  - AIMS: To report the appearances of zirconium dioxide and barium sulphate in
      interface membranes, synovium, and other tissues around joint prostheses.
      METHODS: Histological sections from 23 specimens were reviewed by light
      microscopy and polarisation. Scanning electron microscopy and x ray microanalysis
      were performed on routinely processed paraffin wax sections. RESULTS:
      Polyethylene, metals, and polymethylmethacrylate cement debris were easily
      recognisable. Almost all the cement remnants contained either zirconium dioxide
      or barium sulphate, confirmed by microanalysis. The contrast media had
      characteristic light microscopic appearances. Zirconium was identified in
      macrophages away from cement remnants. CONCLUSION: The presence of radiographic
      contrast media in tissues around prosthetic joints is common but not widely
      recognised.

PMID- 1452795
TI  - Remodelling of subchondral bone in osteoarthritis: a histomorphometric study.
AB  - AIMS: To determine whether remodelling of subchondral bone in osteoarthritis is
      related to anatomical and mechanical factors operating on the joint surface.
      METHODS: Ten femoral heads were examined. Patients due to have the femoral head
      removed because of osteoarthritis were given a double tetracycline label before
      surgery. The specimens were divided in three roughly equal parts, corresponding
      to the medial, central (weight bearing), and lateral aspects of the femoral
      heads. Undecalcified methylmethacrylate embedded sections were prepared. The
      subchondral bone was assessed for appositional bone formation by ultraviolet
      light microscopy, for resorptive activity by osteoclast count, and for trabecular
      bone volume by semiautomatic computerised image analysis. Appositional bone rate
      was also correlated with the presence or absence of overlying cartilage. RESULTS:
      Bone density was reduced in the medial aspect of the femoral heads but there was
      no significant difference between the appositional bone rate or the resorptive
      activity in the three areas. Nor was there any correlation between appositional
      bone rate in the subchondral bone and the presence or absence of overlying
      cartilage. CONCLUSION: Remodelling of subchondral bone in osteoarthritis, at
      least in the short term, is fairly constant and is not related to weight bearing.

PMID- 1452796
TI  - Chronic transmural bronchiolitis: a non-specific lesion of small airways.
AB  - AIMS: To investigate nine patients with histological changes at open lung biopsy
      compatible with so-called "small airways disease"; to define these changes and
      distinguish them from other types of bronchiolitis; and to correlate them with
      clinical features, respiratory physiology, and other laboratory investigations.
      METHODS: The open biopsy sections and the clinical records were reviewed.
      RESULTS: There was chronic inflammation of the walls of centri-acinar respiratory
      bronchioles and peribronchiolar alveoli. Peripheral alveoli of affected acini
      were spared. Although lumens were narrowed and distorted, obstruction by
      granulation tissue plugs was not a feature. Clinical backgrounds included
      Hodgkin's disease, yellow nail syndrome, sicca syndrome, asthma and psoriasis.
      The main presenting symptoms were cough, dyspnoea and wheeze, often associated
      with basal crackles and basal shadowing. There was no consistent immunological or
      haematological abnormality. Sputum culture was negative in six patients, and a
      variety of organisms were cultured from three others. In most cases respiratory
      function tests revealed an irreversible obstructive defect (combined in some
      cases with a restrictive defect), gas trapping, and well preserved gas transfer.
      Lung volumes were normal. Bronchodilators, with steroids and azathioprine in more
      seriously affected patients, stabilised the disease process. CONCLUSIONS: The
      histological changes may be distinguished from bronchiolitis obliterans and
      bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia by the absence of intraluminal
      granulation tissue plugs, and from the obliterative bronchiolitis of rheumatoid
      disease and diffuse peribronchiolitis on clinical grounds. Although often
      striking, this lesion does not represent a clinico-pathological entity, and may
      occur in the distal lung in association with a number of different diseases.
      "Small airways disease" is often used by clinicians in a functional context, and
      may lead to confusion. It is suggested that "chronic transmural bronchiolitis" is
      a more appropriate term.

PMID- 1452797
TI  - The effect of strontium chloride hexahydrate dentifrices on plaque accumulation
      and gingival inflammation.
AB  - 2 strontium chloride hexahydrate-containing dentifrices (SCH), similar except for
      their respective abrasive systems, diatomaceous earth or silica-based, were
      compared for their effects on plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation as
      part of a 2-month randomised double-blind parallel clinical study. No attempt was
      made to change the patients' oral hygiene prior to participation in the study.
      Plaque was assessed using the Silness & Loe index and the gingival condition by
      the Loe & Silness index GI. There was a slight and non-significant increase in
      plaque accumulation at 2 weeks from baseline, but relatively negligible change
      thereafter, the effect being identical in both groups. Similarly, the gingival
      condition showed a slight index change from baseline, although it tended to be
      slightly higher in the diatomaceous earth group. The results do not support the
      conclusions of previous studies which indicated that SCH dentifrices increased
      plaque accumulation. Neither plaque accumulation nor gingival condition
      significantly changed from baseline levels during the course of the study.

PMID- 1452798
TI  - Mineralized tissue-formation in periodontal wound healing.
AB  - The purpose of the present study was to examine and compare the different
      mineralized tissues that are found on and around the dental root following
      treatment of different periodontal pathosis. The material has been compiled from
      previously published experimental studies on periodontal therapies and trauma
      treatments. 4 distinctly different appearances of the mineralized tissue layers
      on the marginal dentin surfaces were described; new cementum, non-attached bone
      like tissue, partly attached bone-like tissue and ankylosis preceded by root
      resorption. It was concluded that, healing in the periodontal/root interface
      following periodontal therapy may yield different mineralized tissues, depending
      on a number of host-specific and external factors. The temporal pattern of such
      healing processes is schematically represented.

PMID- 1452799
TI  - A comparison of delmopinol and chlorhexidine on plaque regrowth over a 4-day
      period and salivary bacterial counts.
AB  - Delmopinol has been considered as a potential agent for the chemical control of
      plaque. The aims of these studies were to measure the effects of a 0.2%
      delmopinol hydrochloride mouthrinse on (1) plaque reformation and (2) salivary
      bacterial counts. Comparisons were made with a 0.2% chlorhexidine rinse and a
      placebo rinse. A group of 12 male volunteers took part in the plaque study which
      was of a double blind, randomised, 3 cell, cross-over design. From a zero plaque
      baseline subjects rinsed, 2x a day, under supervision, for 1 min with 10-ml
      volumes of the allocated rinse. After 4 days, during which no other form of oral
      hygiene was performed, plaque was scored by area and index. Plaque results were
      significantly lower with chlorhexidine and delmopinol compared with control, and
      with chlorhexidine compared to delmopinol. Side-effects with delmopinol were
      transient tingling and numbness of the tongue in some subjects. A 2nd group of 12
      male volunteers received single, 1-min rinses of the 3 formulations. Salivary
      bacterial counts were determined immediately before and up to 420 min after
      rinsing. Compared to the control rinse, chlorhexidine significantly reduced
      bacterial counts of 420 min. Delmopinol produced a small reduction in bacterial
      counts which was only significantly different from control at one time point.
      Delmopinol deserves further evaluation as a chemical plaque inhibitor,
      particularly when used as an adjunct to normal toothcleaning.

PMID- 1452800
TI  - Probing pocket depth at mobile/nonmobile teeth.
AB  - The aim of the present investigation was to study the influence of an increased
      tooth mobility on the resistance offered by the periodontal tissues to probing. 6
      beagle dogs were used. At the start of the experiment, the animals had clean
      teeth and normal gingival and periodontal conditions. In each dog, a device was
      installed in the lower left jaw quadrant to expose the third premolar (P3) to
      jiggling forces which would enhance the mobility of this "test" tooth. The
      contralateral tooth served as the non-jiggled control. During the 3 months of
      experimentation, the teeth of the dogs were cleaned on a regular basis. Clinical
      examinations including tooth mobility measurements were performed on days 0 and
      90. After the examination on Day 90, a probe was inserted in the buccal "pocket"
      of the mesial root of 3P and P3. The probe was retained with composite. Biopsies
      including the test or control tooth with adjacent buccal periodontal tissues were
      harvested, fixed and decalcified. Each biopsy was divided in one mesial and one
      distal portion (root). The distal portion was embedded in Epon, sectioned and
      stained in PAS and toluidine blue, while the mesial portion, following probe
      removal was embedded in paraffin, sectioned and stained in hematoxylin-eosin. The
      sections were exposed to histometric and morphometric measurements. The findings
      demonstrated that tissue alterations which occur at mobile teeth may reduce the
      resistance offered by the periodontal tissues to clinical probing. Such
      alterations include (i) reduced height of the alveolar bone, (ii) reduced amount
      of collagen, and increased vascularity in the enlarged supracrestal connective
      tissue.

PMID- 1452801
TI  - The effect of supragingival plaque control on the composition of the subgingival
      flora in periodontal pockets.
AB  - The effect of mechanical supragingival plaque control on the composition of the
      subgingival microflora in untreated 4-6 mm deep periodontal pockets was
      investigated. 13 subjects with chronic periodontitis were recruited for the
      study. Periodontally-diseased sites were subjected to professional plaque control
      3 x weekly for a period of 3 weeks. Contralateral sites received no prophylaxis
      and served as controls. No instructions in oral hygiene procedures were given to
      the patients who maintained their habitual oral hygiene regime during the
      observation period. Clinical examination and darkfield microscopic analysis of
      bacterial samples were performed every week. The PlI scores for the experimental
      sites were reduced markedly, while those for the control sites remained stable
      throughout the observation period. No changes in the other clinical parameters
      were detected during the study. The composition of the subgingival microflora at
      the control sites did not change during the experimental period. In contrast, at
      the test sites, the proportion of spirochetes+motile rods decreased continuously.
      This decrease reached statistical significance at the end of the experiment. The
      results indicate that at periodontally diseased sites with an established
      subgingival ecosystem, supragingival plaque removal may influence the composition
      of the subgingival microflora.

PMID- 1452802
TI  - Guided tissue regeneration in the treatment of infrabony defects on maxillary
      premolars. A pilot study.
AB  - The present study evaluated clinically and radiographically the short-term
      results of the healing of infrabony defects at maxillary premolars treated
      according to guided tissue regeneration (GTR). 9 patients with bilateral presence
      of infrabony defects with or without furcation involvements at maxillary
      premolars were selected. At baseline assessments of plaque and gingival indices,
      bleeding, probing pocket depth and attachment level, and furcation measurements
      were recorded. Conventional radiographs were obtained in a way that assured a
      reproducible projection geometry. One premolar was randomly treated with GTR and
      the contralateral with open debridement. Clinical and radiographic examinations
      were performed again 6 months postoperatively. The bone tissue changes were
      assessed by means of conventional radiographs and subtraction images. Sites
      treated by both procedures demonstrated an improvement of gingival conditions and
      a reduction of pocket depths. A statistically significant attachment gain was
      obtained for the test (mean 1.2 mm), but not for the control sites (mean 0.6 mm).
      The differences, though, were not significant between the test and control sites.
      Limited improvement in furcation closure was recorded. The radiographic
      examination demonstrated loss of bone tissue in four sites treated with GTR. The
      findings suggest that the regeneration of the periodontal soft and bone tissues
      was not significantly enhanced with the GTR therapy.

PMID- 1452803
TI  - Intrafamily influences on health behavior. A study of interdental cleaning
      behavior.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to assess quantified measures of intrafamily
      patterns of influence on interdental cleaning behavior based on a conceptual
      model of family influences on health behavior. Data stemmed from the Norwegian
      National Health Survey 1985, comprising 295 two-parent families with 2 children
      above 6 years of age. Analyses were performed with the family as the sampling
      unit. Logistic regression analyses were applied. The results showed that there
      were statistically significant associations of interdental cleaning behavior
      among all pairs of family members, the strongest association being between
      sibling (OR = 36.6). The multivariate analyses of interdental cleaning behavior
      of the children showed that the strongest explanatory factor was the interdental
      cleaning behavior of the mother (OR = 2.4). Thus, the mother seems to play an
      important role in the formation and maintenance of the elder child's interdental
      cleaning behavior. The highly correlated interdental cleaning behavior of the 2
      siblings could be explained by correlated measurement errors as well as equity in
      rules and parental control and reinforcement of the behavior, in addition to
      substantive influential effect of the elder sibling's interdental cleaning
      behavior on that of the younger sibling.

PMID- 1452804
TI  - The power of tests to detect differences between periodontal treatments in
      published studies.
AB  - 10 studies comparing periodontal treatment modalities were re-examined to see if
      they had adequate power to detect true differences. Attachment level (AL) and
      pocket depth (PD) were the 2 variables assessed. A statistical test's power
      refers to its probability of detecting a significant sample difference in
      treatment means, given a predetermined value for alpha (level of significance),
      delta (a clinically meaningful underlying difference), and the sample size.
      Studies were included that stratified their data by initial pocket depths,
      reported sample size, and lasted at least 6 months. Power calculations were done
      for 173 treatment comparisons, using delta = 0.5 mm and alpha = 0.05. For shallow
      pockets (1-3 mm), most studies had a strong chance of detecting true differences
      (median power = 83%). For moderate pockets (4-6 mm), median power dropped to 38%.
      However, median power dropped to 14% for deep pockets (> 6 mm), with 75% of the
      tests having less than a 20% chance of detecting a 0.5 mm difference. Many of the
      modalities reported as "not significantly different" from each other have not had
      a fair trial, especially for deep pockets. In order to improve a study's power, 4
      factors are discussed: the number of compared treatments, the expected noise or
      random error, the patient sample size, and the average number of sites per
      patient for each pocket depth category.

PMID- 1452805
TI  - Crossover trials comparing several treatments.
AB  - Designs exist for crossover studies in which the possibility of distortion by
      carryover effects is minimised. A novel design including 5 treatments and 15
      subjects with this property is presented, along with existing designs. These
      designs incorporating balance for carryover effects should be used in preference
      to cyclical permutation designs. Statistical analysis of the resulting data is
      readily performed.

PMID- 1452806
TI  - Patient preference regarding 4 types of periodontal therapy following 3 years of
      maintenance follow-up.
AB  - It has been shown that certain types of periodontal therapy result in greater
      post-therapy gingival recession. It has been suggested that this recession may
      lead to maintenance complications for patients. This study evaluated patient
      perceptions 3 years following the completion of 4 types of periodontal therapy
      (coronal scaling (CS), root planing (RP), modified Widman surgery (MW), and flap
      with osseous resectional surgery (FO)). 75 individuals completed split-mouth
      therapy and 3 years of maintenance follow-up. An interview survey of all patients
      categorized their perception for each treatment of their mouth concerning
      difficulty in cleaning, sensitivity to temperature, general "feeling" of the
      region, prevalence of localized symptoms, food retention, comfort of oral
      examination, and attitude toward repeating therapy. Responses to questions showed
      no statistically significant differences between treatment regions. Patterns
      demonstrated that FO-treated regions were perceived to have less food retention,
      but were more difficult to clean. It was generally found that at the end of 3
      years of maintenance, patients felt their mouths were "normal", they experienced
      few localized symptoms, and were very willing to repeat any of the treatment
      regimens if necessary.

PMID- 1452807
TI  - Periodontal changes by HIV serostatus in a cohort of homosexual and bisexual men.
AB  - These data represent 20 months of follow-up on 114 homo/bisexual men. Periodontal
      changes were analyzed in relation to HIV-1 serostatus, immune status, age and
      plaque. Gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), and relative attachment levels
      recorded by the computerized Florida disk probe were performed every 4 months. A
      threshold of > or = 3.0 mm of relative attachment loss (RAL) was selected as a
      significant longitudinal change. RAL > or = 3 mm occurred 6.16 times (95% CI =
      1.95, 19.40) more frequently among subjects with T4 counts < 200 compared to
      subjects with counts of 200 or more. Among older subjects (age > or = 35 years),
      the incidence (33%) of RAL > or = 3 mm was significantly higher (p = 0.004) in
      more immunosuppressed subjects (T4 < 200) compared to the incidence (5%) in less
      immunosuppressed subjects (T4 > or = 200); this association was not significant
      in younger subjects less than 35 years old (p = 0.55). In 78 subjects present at
      all follow-up visits, averaged GI increased and were significantly higher in the
      seropositive subjects compared to seronegative subjects, but, GI was not related
      to T4 cell counts within the seropositive group. Separate linear regression of GI
      by PI by HIV serostatus revealed a significantly higher slope in the seropositive
      group compared to the seronegative group (p = 0.04), suggesting greater
      sensitivity to plaque in the seropositive group. CONCLUSION: immunosuppression,
      especially in combination with older age, may be a risk factor for attachment
      loss, and HIV seropositivity, independent of T4 cell counts, may be a risk factor
      for gingival inflammation.

PMID- 1452808
TI  - The effect of supragingival plaque control on the subgingival microbiota in
      subjects with periodontal disease.
AB  - The present investigation was performed to study the effect on the subgingival
      microbiota, of a plaque control program which included meticulous oral hygiene
      instruction, supragingival scaling and professional monitoring during a 2 year
      period. 300 subjects were examined for periodontal disease and monitored for 2
      years without treatment. After the 2 year examination, 80 subjects were invited
      to participate in a treatment program intended to improve the standard of their
      self-performed plaque control. 40 of the invitees had a gingivitis and only minor
      attachment loss, while 40 subjects had moderate signs of periodontitis. 62
      subjects volunteered for this treatment. 23 of the volunteers (Group AB) had
      several sites with deep pockets (> 4 mm). 39 of the volunteers had gingivitis but
      shallow pockets only (Group C). Group AB contributed 31 shallow pocket sites (A
      sites) and 40 deep pocket sites (B-sites), while Group C contributed 63 shallow
      sites (C-sites). After the clinical examination, samples of the subgingival
      microbiota were harvested from the 134 A, B and C sites. The 62 subjects were
      enrolled in a supervised oral hygiene program. Supragingival scaling was carried
      out. Oral hygiene instruction was provided and repeated on an individual need
      basis so that all subjects reached and maintained a supragingival plaque score
      which was < 20%. 24 months after the year 2 examination, the 62 subjects were
      examined again using both clinical and microbiological examination procedures.
      The findings demonstrated that carefully performed supragingival plaque control
      changed the quantity and the composition of the supragingival
      microbiota.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452809
TI  - A survey and review of hepatobiliary lesions in Australian macropods.
AB  - This report presents information on the range of diseases and lesions that
      occurred in sections of livers of macropods held in the Non-Domestic Animal
      Registry at Taronga Zoo. Of 142 affected livers, 52 were due to parasites, 24 to
      bacteria, nine to Macropod Herpesvirus, four to fungal agents and ten to tumours.
      In addition, 17 livers had acute degenerative or necrotic lesions, 22 were
      affected by fibrosis or other chronic lesions and four had miscellaneous
      degenerative lesions. Common parasitic diseases included toxoplasmosis, coccidial
      cholangitis, cestode cholangitis (Progamotaenia sp.), fascioliasis and
      capillarial hepatitis. Bacterial diseases were varied but lesions due to
      anaerobic bacteria or Mycobacteria spp. were most common. Many of the acute
      degenerative lesions were associated with cardio-respiratory disease. Chronic
      lesions were often of unknown origin, although it was speculated that parasitic
      and bacterial organisms contributed to the aetiology. There were four primary and
      six metastatic tumours.

PMID- 1452810
TI  - Peripheral neuropathy in German shepherd dogs.
AB  - Three aged (10-year-old) German Shepherd Dog litter mates, separately reared,
      were affected with familial and adult onset peripheral neuropathy. They developed
      clinical signs, unsteady gait of their hind legs with progressive muscular
      weakness at almost the same time. The main lesions were systemic neurogenic
      muscular atrophy, segmental demyelination and Wallerian degeneration of the
      peripheral nerve fibres. Histochemically, collateral ramification and multiple
      terminal arborization were observed in terminal axons of motor neurones in the
      muscles. These changes were attributed to a dying-back process.

PMID- 1452811
TI  - Immunofluorescent antibody response to lactic dehydrogenase virus in different
      strains of mice.
AB  - The development of antibody against lactic dehydrogenase virus in five strains of
      mice (NZB x NZWF1, BALB/c, C.B-17, ICR and C.B-17 scid or SCID mice) was examined
      by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) of infected liver sections. IIF antibody
      appeared 1 to 3 weeks and rose progressively 2 to 4 weeks after infection in four
      strains of mice (NZB x NZWF1, BALB/c, C.B-17 and ICR mice). SCID mice did not
      develop antibody. These results suggest that IIF may be applicable for detecting
      LDV infection in many other ordinary strains of mice.

PMID- 1452812
TI  - Histochemistry of glandular metaplasia at the trigone of the urinary bladder in
      cows.
AB  - The epithelium at the trigone of the urinary bladder showed intestinal metaplasia
      of a colonic type in three Holstein-Friesian cows affected with chronic polypoid
      cystitis. Except for Ricinus communis (RCA-I), almost all goblet cells in the
      whole crypt were positive to periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), alcian blue (AB) pH 2.5,
      AB pH 1.0, periodate borohydride-potassium hydroxide-PAS (PB-KOH-PAS), Ulex
      europaeus (UEA-I), Triticum vulgare (WGA) and Arachis hypogaea (PNA) after
      neuraminidase digestion. This result indicated that most goblet cells contained
      acidic and neutral glycoconjugates as O-acetylated sialomucin, L-fucose, N-acetyl
      glucosamine, neuraminic acid residues and sialic acid-galactose dimers and were
      devoid of beta-D-galactose. The goblet cells at the surface in the upper half of
      the crypt contained both sulpho- and sialo-mucins with N-acetyl-galactosamine
      residues by AB (pH 2.5)-PAS, high iron diamine (HID)-AB (pH 2.5), Dolichos
      biflorus (DBA) and Glycine maximus (SBA) reactions. On the other hand, the lower
      goblet cells were found to contain predominantly sulphated mucins with D-mannose
      and D-glucose residues by AB-PAS, HID-AB and Concanavalia ensiformis (Con A)
      reactivities. This suggested that mucin secreted from these cells was similar to
      that secreted from the goblet cells of the large intestine in cattle.

PMID- 1452813
TI  - A pathological study of bovine alimentary mycosis.
AB  - A 10-year study showed that 45 of 692 cattle aged > 6 months had systemic mycosis
      and, of these, 38 had alimentary mycosis. The percentages of these 38 cattle with
      lesions in various sites were: rumen (73.7), omasum (71.1), abomasum (34.2),
      reticulum (21.1), intestine (15.8), omasoabomasal orifice (7.9) and tongue (2.6).
      Infections in both the forestomachs and abomasum occurred in 31.6 per cent;
      mucormycosis was found in 94.7 per cent and aspergillosis in 31.6 per cent; 26.3
      per cent (10 cattle) had complicated infections with both Mucorales and
      Aspergillus and eight of these animals had mixed lesions of both mucormycosis and
      aspergillosis. Macroscopically, focal haemorrhagic necrosis was seen in all 38
      cattle. Histologically, thrombosis, coagulative necrosis and hyphae typical of
      the order Mucorales or of Aspergillus spp. were found. Many of the cattle were
      also affected by ruminal acidosis-inducing factors (ruminal atony 81.6 per cent,
      mastitis 63.2 per cent, "downer cow syndrome" 57.9 per cent and parturition 50.0
      per cent), which may have predisposed to alimentary mycosis.

PMID- 1452814
TI  - An epidemic of toxoplasmosis in a captive colony of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri
      sciureus).
AB  - An epidemic of acute, disseminated toxoplasmosis caused 30 per cent mortality and
      an apparent 100 per cent morbidity in a captive colony of squirrel monkeys
      (Saimiri sciureus). The source of the infection could not be elucidated. Although
      most deaths were due to pulmonary oedema, one monkey probably died of heart and
      liver failure. These findings support the view that New World monkeys are
      unusually sensitive to Toxoplasma gondii infection. The similarity of the disease
      in these monkeys with that in immunocompromised human beings is an observation
      worthy of further investigation.

PMID- 1452815
TI  - Immunopathology in Aujeszky's disease virus-infected pigs exposed to fluctuating
      temperatures.
AB  - Pigs exposed to fluctuating temperatures (high, 30 +/- 2 degrees C; low, 4 +/- 1
      degrees C) were intranasally inoculated with Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV). ADV
      infected pigs, exposed to the fluctuating temperatures, showed severe clinical
      signs and ADV in the nasal secretions persisted longer than in the ADV-infected
      control pigs kept at the normal temperature (20 +/- 2 degrees C). High
      concentrations of ADV were isolated from nasal secretions on the 1st day after
      inoculation of the virus. Pathologically, all ADV-infected pigs had non
      suppurative encephalitis and trigeminal ganglionitis. The lesions were more
      widely distributed in pigs exposed to fluctuating temperatures than in infected
      control pigs. Two infected pigs given the stress had severe malacic foci in the
      frontal lobe and four of them had prominent interstitial pneumonia. In the pigs
      exposed to fluctuating temperatures, a significant number of immunoglobulin
      containing cells, especially IgM-containing cells, did not respond to ADV
      infection. A significant (P < 0.01) difference in the number of IgG- and IgM
      containing cells was observed between the ADV-infected pigs exposed to the
      fluctuating temperature and ADV-infected control pigs, respectively. These
      results demonstrated that the stress of fluctuating temperatures enhanced the
      susceptibility to ADV infection.

PMID- 1452816
TI  - Neosporosis in the aborted fetus and newborn calf.
AB  - Protozoal encephalitic lesions were found in four aborted fetuses and one dead
      newborn calf. The organism was identified as Neospora caninum by
      immunoperoxidase. The brain lesions were of two forms. One was observed in three
      fetuses of 5 months gestation and was characterized by multifocal necrosis. The
      other was found in a 7-month fetus and in a newborn calf, and showed severe
      infiltration with macrophages and plasma cells containing IgG. This association,
      between the age of fetus and inflammation, may reflect development of the immune
      system in bovine fetuses.

PMID- 1452817
TI  - Isolation of Brucella melitensis from aborting ruminants in Jordan.
AB  - Thirty-four isolates (16.5 per cent) of Brucella melitensis were cultured from
      206 samples from aborted, still-born or weak full-term animals and vaginal swabs
      from aborted animals. Twenty-six of 31 isolates from sheep were B. melitensis
      biovar 3. Two isolates were biovar 1 and one of these was the vaccine strain Rev
      1. The three remaining isolates were from vaginal swabs and were not biotyped
      since B. melitensis biovar 3 had been isolated from the aborted fetuses. One of
      two isolates from cattle and one isolate from a goat were biovar 1. The remaining
      cattle isolate was biovar 3.

PMID- 1452818
TI  - From generation to generation.

PMID- 1452819
TI  - Managing change: strategies for continuing education.
AB  - Nurses who provide continuing education have a role, primarily through staff
      education, in helping to bring about change within their institutions. To fulfill
      this role requires that nurse educators understand the change process and
      anticipate the range of human responses to it. This article presents an overview
      of two change theories that incorporate strategies for CE offerings that
      facilitate the implementation of change.

PMID- 1452820
TI  - Nursing internships: taking a second look.
AB  - Nursing internships are associated with recruitment and retention efforts of
      hospitals to gain new nursing employees. They are recognized as a benefit to new
      nursing staff and the hospital as well. Reported to bridge the gap and ease the
      transition to registered nurse, internships have been reported in the literature
      for over 30 years. But how effective are they? This article reviews the recent
      literature for evidence that internship programs improve recruitment and
      retention, have a positive cost benefit ratio, and ease the role transition of
      newly employed nurses.

PMID- 1452821
TI  - Enjoyable learning experiences--an aid to retention?
AB  - Stress is related to job dissatisfaction and is a significant factor in high
      turnover rates for nursing staff. In the current labor market, all possible aids
      to retention need to be considered and innovative approaches need to be tried.
      Perhaps one of the most powerful retention tools, laughter, is being overlooked.
      Research indicates that laughter and humor have positive effects by reducing
      stress and enhancing the immune system. Stress within the hospital environment
      contributes to burnout. Burnout results in absenteeism, decreased productivity,
      and turnover. Incorporating laughter and humor into educational programs is one
      strategy to reduce stress and may be an antidote for burnout. A game called "Not
      So Trivial ... Protective Pursuit" was used with 150 staff on the evening and
      night shift. The observed effects were very positive. The implications are that
      nurse educators can make a significant contribution to preventing hospital
      burnout by making learning experiences enjoyable.

PMID- 1452822
TI  - Using a game format to improve compliance with required review of hospital
      standards and policies.
AB  - Maintaining quality patient care requires frequent review of hospital standards
      and policies. This repetition, however, proves to be boring and not much fun,
      resulting in poor staff participation. The anticipation of a visit from the Joint
      Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) provided the
      impetus for individual nursing units to develop a means of addressing this
      problem. Utilizing shared governance concepts, staff developed a game format to
      stimulate interest. This not only made learning and reviewing fun, but also
      empowered the staff to become accountable for the quality of their work. This
      article describes the development of the game format, its implementation, and
      evaluation of its effectiveness.

PMID- 1452823
TI  - Preceptors: a comparison of their perceived needs before and after the preceptor
      experience.
AB  - This study supports the need to establish selection criteria that emphasize an
      individual's clinical experiences as part of the preceptor application process.
      This study further supports the need to provide a comprehensive workshop to
      prepare participants for the preceptor role.

PMID- 1452824
TI  - An orientation program for new graduate nurses: the basis of staff development
      and retention.
AB  - The nursing shortage and an increased demand for obstetric nurses led a Central
      Texas hospital to hire new graduates for the Level Three obstetric unit. This
      change in hiring policy necessitated a reevaluation of the orientation program
      resulting in a new approach in staff development. A three-phase program was
      developed beginning with orientation and socialization of the new staff member,
      continuing with the development of advanced skills, and leading to assignments of
      complex cases after completing appropriate educational programs. The program has
      fostered autonomy in the experienced staff nurse and increased job satisfaction
      as measured by advancement in the career ladder and retention rate. The program
      is regularly monitored by chart and peer review audits, as well as by the
      orientees' six-week and six-month evaluations.

PMID- 1452825
TI  - A 10-year follow-up study: nurse refresher program.
AB  - A university-based school of nursing has provided a refresher course for inactive
      nurses since 1980. In 1985, the nursing shortage and declining enrollments in
      generic nursing schools emphasized the need to return inactive nurses to work.
      This article describes the 10-year follow-up evaluation of the course with
      attention to the long-term effectiveness in returning inactive registered nurses
      to the work force. This study also describes the employment profile of course
      graduates and the continuing education acquired by respondents since completing
      the course. Of the 71 respondents, 91% successfully reentered the work force and
      remained employed in nursing. Nearly half of these individuals were employed in
      acute care settings. Further, the employment profile of the working graduates
      showed that 74% had obtained an initial nursing position and remained in it until
      the time of the follow-up evaluation. Implications of the study and changes
      planned for the course are also described.

PMID- 1452826
TI  - RN students' satisfaction with clinical teaching in a distance education program.
AB  - This study examined student satisfaction with clinical teaching and student
      perceived difficulties in three introductory nursing courses offered by distance
      education. The sample consisted of 41 registered nurse respondents enrolled in a
      baccalaureate nursing program. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected
      by mailed questionnaire. The results indicate that the degree of satisfaction
      with the clinical teacher role was high and that unfamiliarity with the clinical
      settings and roles were perceived as difficulties. As well, the qualitative data
      suggest that RN learners need gradual exposure to self-directed learning to
      acquire these skills.

PMID- 1452827
TI  - Efficacy of a substance abuse primary prevention skills conference for nurses.
AB  - A conference on substance abuse prevention skills was presented by the New York
      State Nurses Association (NYSNA) to provide nurses with skills to help patients
      in various practice settings. Information covered assessment, intervention, and
      tools for interviewing and identifying resources. A six-month follow-up
      evaluation showed that the majority of the participants incorporated the skills
      in their nursing practice primarily in interviewing and use of assessment
      questions. Directions for future conferences were identified.

PMID- 1452828
TI  - A practical approach to CPR recertification.

PMID- 1452829
TI  - Characterization and kinetics of gastric emptying of peptides derived from milk
      proteins in the preruminant calf.
AB  - The gastric emptying kinetics of peptides derived from milk protein were studied
      in vivo in preruminant calves by collecting and characterizing the whole effluent
      leaving the stomach for 12 h after ingestion of crude skim milk. Peptides were
      isolated by reversed-phase HPLC and identified. Particular attention was paid to
      biologically active peptides and to peptides that could be precursors of
      biologically active sequences. A gastrin inhibitor, the caseinomacropeptide, was
      emptied from the stomach only during the first 0.5 h of digestion and rapidly
      hydrolysed. Precursors of immunostimulatory peptides from alpha s1- and beta
      caseins were emptied throughout digestion in the gastric effluent. A precursor of
      beta-casomorphins (peptide 58-93 of beta-casein) was emptied from the stomach 3.5
      h after the meal when it was taken on an empty stomach. From this precursor,
      peptides that may be resistant to hydrolysis by intestinal peptidase were
      obtained after in vitro hydrolysis by pancreatic enzymes. A phosphopeptide
      (fragment 110-142 of alpha s1-casein) was also found in digesta after a few hours
      of digestion. When the meal was not taken on an empty stomach, these peptides
      were emptied in the first digesta at a low concentration. The potential activity
      of these peptides is discussed. The results support the hypothesis that active
      sequences could still be present in the gut after the action of pancreatic
      enzymes.

PMID- 1452830
TI  - Cost benefit analysis of bovine mastitis in the UK.
AB  - Bovine mastitis reduces the yield and quality of milk and increases the rate of
      culling and veterinary costs. This reduces the profitability of farm milk
      production but the calculation of the extent of this economic loss is complex
      because of the many factors involved and deficiencies in the evidence on the
      relationship between the disease and various production factors. This paper
      examines the available evidence for the UK and provides a consistent analytical
      framework within which the benefits arising from reduced mastitis in dairy herds
      constrained by quota can be considered. It is estimated that since 1970 the farms
      that have followed the recommended control procedures have reduced the average
      annual number of cases of clinical mastitis from 135 to 40 cases/100 cows each
      year, while the quarters remaining uninfected for a whole year has increased from
      65 to 80% of the total quarters. The costs of the main control procedures (e.g.
      8.60 pounds/cow for dry-cow therapy and teat dipping or spraying) are broadly
      covered by the reduction in clinical mastitis, leaving the benefits of reduced
      subclinical infection (e.g. 3810 pounds for a 100 cow herd unconstrained by quota
      and achieving the average reduction in infection) as a substantial bonus. The
      imposition of quotas reduces the financial benefit of mastitis control but it
      still remains a worthwhile investment. The results of this analysis can be used
      to suggest maximum costs of additional new control measures produced by research.
      It also indicates that there is considerable value in production research which
      gives more precise knowledge of production systems, thus allowing producers to
      respond optimally to quota cuts.

PMID- 1452831
TI  - Effect of mastitis on plasminogen activator activity of milk somatic cells.
AB  - This study was conducted to examine the effects of mastitis and stage of
      lactation on plasminogen activator (PA) activity in milk somatic cells. An assay
      system, which measures the plasmin-mediated hydrolysis of the chromogenic
      substrate D-valyl-leucyl-lysine p-nitroanilide, was used to assess PA activity
      present within milk somatic cells. Milk cell associated PA activity was increased
      (P < 0.05) by 50% in the presence of fibrin fragments. This suggests that milk
      somatic cells contain tissue PA which, unlike urokinase PA, is preferentially
      activated in the presence of fibrin fragments. An increase of the milk somatic
      cell count from < 5 x 10(4) to > 10(6) cells/ml resulted in an 8-fold increase in
      PA activity per cell. Elevated levels of PA activity were associated with milk
      somatic cells isolated from mastitic quarters obtained from cows in early (< 4
      months in lactation) or late lactation (> 8 months in lactation). We conclude
      that PA activity is increased during severe mastitic inflammation. Although the
      physiological function of this enzyme is as yet unclear, we propose that it may
      be involved in the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, contributing to the
      higher levels of plasmin occurring in milk isolated from mastitic quarters.

PMID- 1452832
TI  - Transepithelial potential difference in the goat mammary gland and its change
      during hand milking, and administration of oxytocin and catecholamines.
AB  - The reaction of secretory epithelium and myoepithelial cells in the alveoli to
      hand milking and i.v. injection of oxytocin and catecholamines was studied in
      lactating goats. The reaction of secretory cells was assessed by changes in the
      transepithelial (blood-milk) potential difference (PD), and the contractile
      reaction of myoepithelial cells by the growth of intramammary pressure (IP). The
      initial value of PD was 24.6 +/- 0.6 mV, that of IP 3.32 +/- 0.08 kPa (24.9 +/-
      0.6 mmHg). Milking and oxytocin administration caused a rise in PD and an
      increase in IP. After noradrenaline and adrenaline injections two-phase PD
      changes and a short-term rise in IP were recorded. Isoproterenol, a beta-agonist,
      caused a rise in PD but did not affect IP. Phenylephrine, an alpha-agonist,
      caused two-phase and one-phase changes in PD. Simultaneously, a rise in IP was
      recorded. The results show that the reaction of the mammary gland to the
      substances administered is complex. Myoepithelial and secretory cells respond
      differently to short-term rises in the level of mediators and hormones in the
      blood.

PMID- 1452833
TI  - Aetiology of disturbed milk ejection in parturient primiparous cows.
AB  - Milk flow in nine primiparous cows with disturbed milk ejection (D) and in six
      corresponding control animals (C) with normal milk removal was recorded during
      machine milking and blood samples were taken before and during milking to
      determine plasma oxytocin, vasopressin, prolactin, cortisol, oestradiol-17 beta,
      luteinizing hormone, progesterone and beta-endorphin concentrations. Manual teat
      stimulation before milking lasted for 1 min. After milk flow had stopped, air was
      blown into the vagina for 2 min. When milk flow had stopped again, 1 i.u.
      oxytocin and finally 10 i.u. oxytocin were injected to remove residual milk.
      During and after teat stimulation, oxytocin remained basal in D, but increased in
      C, whereas prolactin increased in both groups. While 94% of total milk was
      obtained in C during this period, only 9% could be removed from D, indicating
      lack of alveolar milk ejection. During vaginal stimulation, oxytocin increased
      transiently in D and more than by teat stimulation in C. This allowed the removal
      of 75% of milk in D, whereas almost no more milk was available in C. After
      oxytocin injections, 3 and 16% of residual milk were obtained in C and D
      respectively. Basal oestradiol-17 beta concentration was higher in D than in C
      (11.6 and 2.0 ng/l respectively), whereas beta-endorphin level was lower (24.1
      and 86.6 micrograms/l respectively). Basal concentration of luteinizing hormone
      and progesterone, and concentration of cortisol and vasopressin before and during
      milking were comparable in C and D. We conclude that in cows with disturbed milk
      ejection afferent nervous pathways to the hypothalamus were intact, because
      prolactin was released by teat stimulation. However, oxytocin was only released
      by vaginal stimulation, i.e. milk ejection was centrally inhibited during teat
      stimulation.

PMID- 1452834
TI  - Effect of methionyl bovine somatotropin in a prolonged-release vehicle on milk
      production, hormone profiles and health in dairy cows.
AB  - Milk production of dairy cows in 14 herds was increased by 3.8-32.1% by the
      administration of recombinant methionyl bovine somatotropin (bST) in a sustained
      release vehicle at 14 d intervals at 40-94 d post partum. A greater response in
      multiparous than in primiparous cows was found in cows turned out to graze spring
      pasture. Administration of recombinant bST resulted in elevated plasma bST during
      the first 9 d after injection. Clinical characteristics such as respiration,
      heart rate and body temperature were unaffected by bST treatment, as were blood
      erythrocyte and leucocyte counts, haemoglobin concentrations and haematocrit
      values. Plasma levels of glucose, free fatty acids, urea and P, and serum alanine
      aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were not affected by bST
      treatment, and acetone was not detected. No adverse effects of bST on general
      health, infection status of mammary glands, mastitis incidence and reproduction
      were found.

PMID- 1452835
TI  - Heat-related changes to the hydrophobicity of cheese whey correlate with levels
      of native beta-lactoglobulin and alpha-lactalbumin.
AB  - Correlations were identified between levels of the native whey proteins, beta
      lactoglobulin and alpha-lactalbumin and the surface and total hydrophobicities of
      cheese whey in response to different heat treatments. Heat-induced changes in the
      native beta-lactoglobulin content and surface hydrophobicity of whey exhibited
      the most significant linear relationship while correlations between total
      hydrophobicity and the native proteins were less significant because of an
      atypical rise in the n-heptane-binding capacity of whey after high-temperature
      treatment. The content of native beta-lactoglobulin in whey was more sensitive to
      heating than the content of native alpha-lactalbumin, while heat-related changes
      in the total hydrophobicity of whey were generally greater than similar changes
      in surface hydrophobicity.

PMID- 1452837
TI  - Purification of alpha s-, beta- and kappa-caseins by batchwise ion-exchange
      separation.

PMID- 1452836
TI  - Studies on antimutagenic effect of milk cultured with lactic acid bacteria on the
      Trp-P2-induced mutagenicity to TA98 strain of Salmonella typhimurium.
AB  - The inhibitory effects of cultured milk using 76 strains of lactic acid bacteria
      isolated from milk products were investigated on the mutagenicity of 3-amino-1
      methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P2), a tryptophan pyrolysate for Salmonella
      typhimurium TA98. Each cultured milk sample displayed its characteristic
      antimutagenic effect against the mutagenicity of Trp-P2. The milk cultured with
      Lactobacillus acidophilus LA106 (LA2) showed the highest inhibition of 82.1%
      among the strains used. Milk samples cultured with Lactococcus lactis subsp.
      lactis, Lll103 (10-3) and Lll102 (KM) also exhibited higher inhibition
      percentages.

PMID- 1452838
TI  - Preparative-scale purification of bovine caseins on a cation-exchange resin.

PMID- 1452839
TI  - Gredos goats' milk cheese: microbiological and chemical changes throughout
      ripening.

PMID- 1452840
TI  - Salmonellae, salmonellosis, and dairy foods: a review.
AB  - Salmonellae continue to be a major concern for the dairy industry because these
      bacteria have caused recent outbreaks of illness and have been isolated from
      various dairy products in the market place. Salmonellae are generally not heat
      resistant and normally grow at 35 to 37 degrees C, but they can grow at much
      lower temperatures, provided that the incubation time is suitably extended. To
      minimize problems, foods should be held at or below 2 to 5 degrees C at all
      times. Both conventional and rapid methods are available to isolate salmonellae
      from dairy foods and to identify the bacteria. Salmonellae behave differently in
      different kinds of cheese: they survived in ripening Cheddar cheese for up to 7
      mo at 13 degrees C and for 10 mo at 7 degrees C; in coldpack cheese food for
      several weeks, depending on the pH and preservative used; and in Domiati cheese
      13 to 36 d, depending on the manufacturing process used. When Mozzarella cheese
      was made, temperatures of stretching and molding (60 degrees C) killed all
      salmonellae present, but, in cottage cheese, survival of the pathogen depended on
      the cooking temperature of curd. Spray drying of skim milk killed substantial
      numbers of salmonellae, but some survivors remained. Butter readily supported
      growth of salmonellae at room temperature, and neither freezing nor refrigeration
      for brief periods eliminated salmonellae from butter. Use of appropriate hygienic
      procedures, e.g., Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point system, during
      processing should reduce the likelihood of salmonellosis outbreaks associated
      with dairy foods.

PMID- 1452841
TI  - Growth and activities of Lactococcus lactis in milk enriched with low mineral
      retentate powders.
AB  - The growth and activities of three strains of Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris
      (Wg2, E8, and HP) and their proteinase-negative variants were studied in skim
      milk enriched with three types of retentate powder. The performance of these
      strains in enriched milks was compared with that determined in reconstituted skim
      milk. Proteinase-positive strains of L. lactis ssp. cremoris exhibited higher
      maximum specific growth rates than protease-negative variants. Moreover, maximum
      specific growth rates of lactococci were lower in skim milk than in enriched milk
      with a high buffering capacity. The performance of proteinase-positive strains
      was better than that of proteinase-negative variants. Growth of proteinase
      positive lactococci in milk media increased alpha-amino groups as determined by
      the increase of equivalent glutamic acid concentration. Available alpha-amino
      groups decreased with proteinase-negative variants. Proteinase-positive strain
      Wg2 exhibited the most proteolytic activity but showed the least specific overall
      productivity of lactic acid despite high biomass concentration in milk. Among
      proteinase-positive lactococci, strain E8 produced more lactic acid than other
      strains, and, among proteinase-negative variants, strain HP had the best specific
      overall productivity of lactic acid.

PMID- 1452842
TI  - Production of an electrolyte beverage from milk permeate.
AB  - The objective of this study was to prepare shelf-stable electrolyte beverages
      from milk permeate. The average composition of permeate was 4.59% total solids
      and .40% ash. Lactose was hydrolyzed (approximately 80%) with a commercial fungal
      lactase enzyme. Additional sweetness was provided by sucrose. The pH was reduced
      to 3.5 to 3.8 by the addition of citric acid. Shelf-stable products were made
      using four processes: 1) UHT followed by aseptic filling, 2) heating of filled
      bottles to 85 degrees C for 30 min, 3) addition of .05% benzoate, and 4) nanopore
      filtration. The mineral composition of the finished product, expressed in parts
      per million, was calcium, 150; phosphorus, 157; magnesium, 43; potassium, 1166;
      sodium, 286; iron, 17; copper, 8; and zinc, 3.4. Listeria monocytogenes,
      Salmonella dublin, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus
      aureus, and Streptococcus agalactiae grew well when they were inoculated into
      unacidified, hydrolyzed permeate. None of these organisms were isolated from
      properly processed products. A shelf-stable electrolyte beverage high in minerals
      was made from whole milk permeate. This beverage could be used to replace
      electrolytes lost from the human body. The production of a permeate beverage
      would help alleviate disposal problems of permeate.

PMID- 1452843
TI  - Vitamin A supplementation of Holsteins at high concentrations: progesterone and
      reproductive responses.
AB  - Five trials involving 168 Holstein cows and 20 heifers were conducted to
      determine the effect of vitamin A supplementation at high concentrations, 1 or 2
      million IU, compared with 100,000 IU/d, on peripheral concentrations of
      progesterone and on several measures of reproductive performance. Supplemental
      vitamin A at high concentrations had no effect on circulating concentrations of
      progesterone in either cyclic or pregnant cows or on most measures of
      reproductive performance examined in trials. Thus, it was concluded that
      providing vitamin A at these high concentrations is not warranted.

PMID- 1452844
TI  - Evaluation of a system for rating edema in dairy cattle.
AB  - Our objective was to evaluate a subjective edema rating system to quantitate
      edema severity. Edema was evaluated with 20 nulliparous Holstein heifers from 3
      wk before their expected calving date until 3 wk postpartum. Severity of udder
      edema was evaluated independently daily by five people throughout the 68-d
      experiment; a 10-point rating system (0 = no edema, 10 = severe edema) was used.
      One of the people developing the scoring system served as the official scorer.
      The accuracy of the rating system, defined as the closeness of test evaluator
      scores to official scores, was highest for scores 2 to 8. The precision of the
      system, identified by the standard error of the mean, was similar for each score
      in the rating system. The largest disagreement between official and test
      evaluator scores was evident postpartum. The large number of defined points in
      this rating system and the similarity between official and test scores in this
      study indicate the usefulness of this tool to evaluate precisely the severity of
      edema in dairy cattle.

PMID- 1452845
TI  - Influence of calcium chloride fed prepartum on severity of edema and lactational
      performance of dairy heifers.
AB  - Twenty Holstein heifers in a completely randomized design were used to evaluate
      the effects of prepartum dietary CaCl2 on the development and regression of edema
      and on subsequent lactational performance. Heifers were assigned to diets
      containing either 2.17% limestone or 1.5% CaCl2 (DM basis) at 3 wk before
      expected calving date. Except for the Ca sources, diets were identical. Test
      diets were only fed prepartum; at calving, all heifers were offered a lactation
      diet for 3 wk. Severity of edema was evaluated independently by five people daily
      throughout the experiment; a 10-point rating system was utilized to quantify the
      severity of edema. Calcium chloride reduced the severity of edema, although this
      response was most evident during the 1st wk that this salt was fed. The
      beneficial effects of CaCl2 on edema prepartum disappeared postpartum, when CaCl2
      was removed from the diet. Indeed, edema was higher for heifers fed CaCl2 than
      for those fed limestone at 2 wk postpartum. Calcium chloride reduced DMI
      prepartum, but, following parturition, a compensatory increase in feed intake
      occurred. Postpartum daily DMI averaged 1.3 kg higher for heifers fed CaCl2 than
      for those fed the limestone diet prepartum. Milk yield and composition were
      somewhat lower for heifers fed CaCl2, although this response was most evident at
      1 wk postpartum. Feeding CaCl2 prepartum to prevent milk fever also may reduce
      the severity of udder edema prepartum and increase feed intake during early
      lactation.

PMID- 1452846
TI  - Etiology of acetonemia in Norwegian cattle. 1. Effect of ketogenic silage,
      season, energy level, and genetic factors.
AB  - Plasma acetoacetate concentration in the 1st mo of lactation and its relation to
      BW change, milk yield, DMI, and BW postpartum were studied in 361 first lactation
      cows during 6 yr. The cows were fed concentrate at 6 and 3 kg/d. Calvings took
      place from August to December. Single observations for all cows were fitted by a
      multitrait animal model that accounted for all genetic relationships.
      Heritability for acetoacetate was .11 with a genetic correlation of .87 for milk
      yield, -.65 for weight change, and -.13 for BW postpartum. Acetoacetate was
      higher at 3 kg/d of concentrate than at 6 kg/d, and calving after 3 to 4 mo of
      indoor feeding was related to higher acetoacetate than was calving shortly after
      the pasture season. Acetoacetate was related to weight loss postpartum, but at a
      different degree in different years. In some years, compounds of the silage
      caused strongly elevated plasma concentrations of acetoacetate after feeding.
      Experiments were performed to compare hay with silages of different qualities.
      Rumen concentration of different amines 3 h postfeeding was taken as an index of
      the amine load of the cow. The concentration of several amines in rumen fluid
      were high after feeding ketogenic silage.

PMID- 1452847
TI  - Etiology of acetonemia in Norwegian cattle. 2. Effect of butyric acid, valeric
      acid, and putrescine.
AB  - A feeding experiment was performed on 16 cows in order to test the effect of
      naturally occurring substances in silage on forage intake, ketonemia, and milk
      yield. The cows were divided into a control group and three experimental groups.
      The cows in the three experimental groups were fed 100 g/d of putrescine, 200 g/d
      of valeric acid, or 200 g/d of butyric acid through a ruminal tube for 3 d.
      Butyric acid increased plasma acetoacetate; the effect was largest in high
      yielding cows. Putrescine influenced both milk yield and forage intake and may
      possibly be a contributory factor, alone or combined with other amines, for the
      development of ketonemia. Valeric acid did not influence feed intake or plasma
      acetoacetate concentration. A rapid method for acetoacetate analysis also is
      described.

PMID- 1452848
TI  - Ruminal in vitro degradability of protein in alfalfa harvested as standing forage
      or baled hay.
AB  - Eighty-nine samples, 45 of standing forage and 44 of baled hay, were collected
      from alfalfa harvested at various maturities over three cuttings each during 2
      yr. Alfalfa was cut and conditioned mechanically; samples of standing forage were
      collected by removing bunches of forage from windrows and freeze-drying them.
      Forage was allowed to field cure and was harvested at an average 80% DM as small
      rectangular bales; samples of baled hay were collected by coring bales after
      storing for 3 to 6 mo. Samples were analyzed for DM, ADF, total N, fractions of
      total N present as ADIN, N degraded at 0 h, and potentially degradable protein N.
      Ruminal protein degradation rates and escapes were estimated using an inhibitor
      in vitro system, assuming that ADIN was unavailable and that ruminal passage rate
      was .06/h. Standing forage contained smaller fractions of ADIN and N degraded at
      0 h, contained a larger fraction of potentially degradable N, and had more rapid
      degradation rates and lower estimated protein escapes than baled hay. Mean
      degradation rates and estimated escapes were .171/h and 24% for standing forage
      and .075/h and 40% for baled hay. There were no differences in degradation rate
      or estimated escape because of harvest year, and neither was significantly
      related to maturity or to ADF concentration. Results indicate a significant
      advantage in ruminal protein escape, compared with grazed alfalfa, for alfalfa
      harvested and stored as hay.

PMID- 1452849
TI  - In vivo degradation of protein in diets formulated for two degradabilities.
AB  - In vivo protein degradability of two basal diets and bacterial protein synthesis
      were determined in four lactating dairy cows equipped with ruminal and duodenal
      cannulas. The diets contained corn silage, high moisture corn, and either soybean
      meal or a 60:40 mixture of soybean meal and corn gluten meal. Diets had
      calculated ruminal protein degradabilities of 69.3 and 62.3%, respectively. Both
      diets contained approximately 14% CP and 21% ADF. Duodenal flows of total N,
      total protein N, microbial N, and duodenal recovery of ingested N tended to be
      higher for the soybean meal and corn gluten meal diet; ruminally degraded CP was
      significantly lower than for the soybean meal diet. Ruminal ammonia and plasma
      urea concentrations tended to be higher for the soybean meal diet, as were molar
      percentages of butyrate and valerate. Ruminal and total tract apparent
      digestibilities of CP and OM were not significantly different between diets.
      Ruminal degradation of protein in the two diets differed by the amount predicted
      by the NRC system for lactating cows, although absolute values were lower than
      most previous estimates for similar diets.

PMID- 1452850
TI  - Effect of fish meal and expeller-processed soybean meal fed to dairy cows
      receiving bovine somatotropin (sometribove).
AB  - Forty-eight multiparous cows were blocked by calving date and milk production and
      assigned randomly to a TMR formulated to contain 68 or 55% of dietary CP as
      ruminally degradable CP. Diets contained corn silage, alfalfa haylage, and ground
      corn. Supplemental CP was soybean meal for the control diet or a combination of
      soybean meal, expeller-processed soybean meal, and fish meal for the low
      degradable protein diet. Two 10-wk phases began on d 31 +/- 3 (phase 1) and 110
      +/- 7 postpartum [phase 2, all cows received subcutaneous implantations of
      pelleted (400 mg) bST (sometribove) every 14 d]. Dietary energy, CP, ruminally
      degradable CP, NDF, and ADF were similar between dietary treatments. Production
      of FCM increased in response to bST but was not affected by dietary treatment.
      Cows fed the expeller-processed soybean meal and fish meal TMR produced milk that
      contained less milk fat in phase 1 and less milk protein content in both phases.
      The DMI, BW, and body condition scores were not affected by diet. Hematocrit,
      plasma urea N, albumin, total protein, creatinine, glucose, and serum insulin
      were similar between dietary treatments. Replacing soybean meal with expeller
      processed soybean meal and fish meal did not affect ruminal degradation of
      protein or milk production but decreased milk fat and protein contents.

PMID- 1452851
TI  - Fatty acids, calcium soaps of fatty acids, and cottonseeds fed to high yielding
      cows.
AB  - We examined the effects of dietary fat as cottonseed, fatty acids, or calcium
      soaps of fatty acids in the rations of high yielding lactating cows receiving low
      forage. Experiments were with isoenergetic, isonitrogenous diets containing equal
      amounts of forage. Inclusion of up to 510 g/d of fatty acids in the ration
      enhanced FCM yield. With cottonseed, increased FCM was mainly due to increased
      fat yield. Dietary fatty acids tended to increase milk in mid and late lactation
      and to decrease fat percentage. Calcium soaps of fatty acids enhanced FCM,
      particularly in early lactation. Feeding cottonseed and fatty acids together did
      not enhance yield. Effects described may be attributed in part to changes in
      ruminal fermentation in which cottonseed increased acetate concentrations and
      fatty acids decreased the ratio of acetate and butyrate to propionate and in part
      to enhanced efficiency of milk yield when fat was included in the ration.

PMID- 1452852
TI  - Weekly balancing crude protein in diets for Holstein cows throughout lactation
      using one versus two grains.
AB  - Holstein cows (n = 72, 28 primiparous) were fed for ad libitum intake a forage
      mixture (corn and haycrop silages, 63:37 DM) and a 71:29 ratio of two grain
      mixtures (13.8 and 36.2% CP, DM basis) at 1 kg/2.5 kg of the previous day's milk
      during 1 to 28 DIM (covariate period). Thereafter, rations were balanced and
      adjusted for energy and CP weekly based on monthly DHI data, forage analyses, and
      NRC requirements. Cows were blocked by parity (1 vs. greater than 1) and assigned
      randomly to receive one grain (blend of 13.8 and 36.2% CP grains, herd mean) or
      two grains according to individual needs. Daily yields of milk, 4% FCM, SCM, and
      resulting intakes of grain were higher for cows fed two grains, but the increase
      in daily DMI and the decreases in daily forage intake and SCM:grain ratio were
      not significant. Fewer pluriparous cows (3 vs. 8 out of 19) on the two-grain
      treatment conceived after first service, but overall services per conception
      (1.97) were equal. Percentage of cows with SCC below linear score 4 (91%) was
      equal between treatments. Means adjusted by covariate 4% FCM resulted in more
      modest treatment effects. Advantage of two-grain versus one-grain treatment for
      milk per day was 7.7% for parity 1 and only 1.6% for parities greater than 1;
      corresponding responses (nonsignificant) for 4% FCM were 2.8 and 4.3,
      respectively. Forage DMI depressions on two-grain treatment were not significant.
      When covariate-adjusted means were used, the advantage in income over feed cost
      for individualized feeding of CP was $106 and $36/yr per cow in parities 1 and
      greater than 1 when cows produced 8209 kg (313 DIM) and 8527 kg (320 DIM) of
      milk, respectively.

PMID- 1452853
TI  - Epiphytic microflora on alfalfa and whole-plant corn.
AB  - Epiphytic microflora were identified and counted on four cuttings of alfalfa,
      each harvested at three stages of maturity, and on three whole-plant corn
      hybrids. Enterobacteriaceae were predominant on both crops. Yeasts and molds also
      were major epiphytic microorganisms on whole-plant corn. The group--including
      lactobacilli, pediococci, and leuconostocs, which are genera that produce lactic
      acid and thus are instrumental in silage preservation--constituted only a small
      proportion of the total population (less than .5%) on both crops. Lactate
      fermenting clostridial spores were not detected on standing alfalfa, and
      occurrences of these spores on standing corn plants were due to soil
      contamination from rainfall prior to harvest. The numbers of epiphytic
      microorganisms, except for the lactobacilli, pediococci, and leuconostocs group,
      were higher on standing corn than on alfalfa. The epiphytic microflora on alfalfa
      increased with increasing temperature during the growing season. However, neither
      cutting number nor maturity affected the epiphytic microflora on standing
      alfalfa, and wilting following mowing had little effect on most populations.
      Higher temperatures during wilting increased yeast and mold counts but had no
      effect on other microbial counts. The chopping process tended to increase the
      epiphytic microflora populations compared with those on the standing crops, and
      the group containing lactobacilli, pediococci, and leuconostocs was most
      enhanced. Only yeast and mold counts on the chopped alfalfa increased with
      greater DM content and buffering capacity.

PMID- 1452854
TI  - In vitro effects of the thiopeptide A10255 on ruminal fermentation and microbial
      populations.
AB  - Experiments used unadapted mixed cultures of ruminal microorganisms in batch or
      continuous culture fermentation to investigate the effect of a thiopeptide,
      A10255, on ruminal fermentation and microbial populations. After 24 h of
      fermentation in batch culture, addition of A10255 (.5 to 20 ppm of the culture
      fluid) to 0, 45, 60, and 75% concentrate diets had no effect on total VFA but
      increased molar proportion of propionate and decreased butyrate. The molar
      proportion of acetate was decreased by treatment only in the 0 and 75%
      concentrate diets. The increase in molar proportion of propionate by 20 ppm of
      A10255 was less than the increase caused by a similar concentration of monensin.
      The same concentration of A10255 (20 ppm) decreased ADF digestion less than 20
      ppm of monensin. In continuous culture, A10255 (33 mg/kg of dietary DM) did not
      affect total VFA concentration, culture pH, OM digestion, or ADF digestion.
      Ruminal bacterial populations of total anaerobes and lactate-producing, lactate
      utilizing, cellulolytic and amylolytic bacteria were unaffected by treatment.
      However, molar proportions of acetate, butyrate, and isovalerate were decreased,
      and propionate was increased, by addition of A10255.

PMID- 1452855
TI  - Effects of lasalocid and undegradable protein on growth and body composition of
      Holstein heifers.
AB  - Effects of lasalocid (0 or 200 mg/d per head) and undegradable intake protein (32
      vs. 42% of CP in concentrate) on growth and body composition were evaluated using
      32 Holstein heifers (253 kg initial BW, SE = 4). Heifers were housed in an open
      barn in eight pens of 4 heifers and fed 12.7 kg per pen daily of experimental
      concentrate with medium quality fescue hay for ad libitum consumption for 12 28-d
      periods. Body measurements were taken every 28 d; ultrasonic fat and muscle
      depths at the 13th rib, empty body fat, and protein were measured every 84 d.
      Heart girth and fat and muscle depth at the 13th rib increased when lasalocid and
      undegradable protein were fed individually, but not in combination. Rates of
      average daily gain and feed efficiency were not increased significantly when
      lasalocid and undegradable protein were fed. Data suggest that the combination of
      lasalocid and undegradable protein may have impaired microbial protein synthesis
      in the rumen, thereby influencing changes in body composition.

PMID- 1452856
TI  - Effect of extra energy as fat or milk replacer solids in diets of young dairy
      calves on growth during cold weather.
AB  - The effects of feeding two levels of supplemental fat and extra milk replacer
      solids on Holstein calves housed in hutches during the winter were investigated.
      Fifty calves (10 per treatment) were assigned to the following dietary
      treatments: 1) milk replacer (control) reconstituted to 12.5% DM fed at 10% of BW
      (adjusted weekly), 2) same as treatment 1 plus 113 g/d of supplemental fat, 3)
      milk replacer reconstituted to 15% DM and fed at 10% of BW (adjusted weekly), 4)
      same as treatment 1 plus 226 g/d of supplemental fat, and 5) milk replacer
      reconstituted to 15% DM fed at 14% of BW (adjusted weekly). Half the amount of
      milk replacer consumed during wk 4 was fed during wk 5, and calves were weaned to
      dry feed at 35 d of age. A pelleted starter was offered for ad libitum intake
      throughout the 42-d trial. Gains in BW were greater for calves fed 226 than 113
      or 0 g/d of supplemental fat (d 3 to 28). Calves fed milk replacer reconstituted
      to 15% DM at 14% of BW had greater BW gains during d 3 to 28 than control.
      Starter consumption was similar between groups receiving 113 and 0 g/d of fat
      supplement but lower in the group fed 226 g/d. Extra milk replacer solids in
      diets increased fecal scores to levels greater than those of calves in other
      groups. The benefit of fat supplementation of milk replacers was manifested as
      increased BW gain during the 1st mo of life.

PMID- 1452857
TI  - Genetic and environmental relationships among somatic cell count, bacterial
      infection, and clinical mastitis.
AB  - Incidence of bacterial infection in 9784 lactations of 7763 cows in 31 herds, SCC
      in 32,448 lactations of 19,764 cows from 54 herds, and incidence of first parity
      mastitis recorded in the first lactations of 148,143 cows in 828 herds were
      analyzed. Bacterial infection was analyzed dichotomously by both threshold and
      linear models. The effects of parity, season, stage of lactation, and parity by
      stage of lactation interaction on SCC were estimated. Heritability of mean
      lactation log SCC--corrected for the effects of parity, season, and stage of
      lactation--varied from .13 to .27 for all parities in different data sets.
      Heritability of bacterial infection was .04 for the threshold model and .02 for
      the linear models. Heritability of field-recorded mastitis was .01. The genetic
      correlation between bacterial infection and SCC was near unity, but the genetic
      correlation between SCC and mastitis was .3. Selection for lowered SCC should
      reduce incidence of bacterial infection by 2% per unit of selection intensity.

PMID- 1452858
TI  - Genetic analysis of fertility traits in Israeli Holsteins by linear and threshold
      models.
AB  - Conception rates of Israeli Holstein cows and heifers were analyzed separately by
      linear and threshold models. Fixed effects for both data files were insemination
      number, AI institute, geographical region, and calendar month. Analysis of cows
      also included the fixed effects of parity, calving status, and DIM at
      insemination. Random effects included in the models were herd-year-season,
      insemination technician, sire of cow, and service sire. Fixed effect solutions
      for heifers and cows were not similar. For cows, insemination month had the
      greatest effect on conception rate. Heritability of conception rate ranged from 2
      to 3.5% for heifers and from 1 to 2% for cows. Correlations between corresponding
      threshold and linear model random effect solutions were all greater than or equal
      to .99. Correlations between heifer and cow analyses for sire and service sire
      solutions were less than .4. Analysis with an incorrect herd-year-season variance
      component affected only the technician solutions.

PMID- 1452859
TI  - Associations between milk protein polymorphisms and milk production traits.
AB  - Associations between milk protein genotypes and milk production traits were
      estimated from 6803 first lactation records. Exact tests of associated hypotheses
      and unbiased estimates of genotype effects were from an animal model. Milk
      protein genotype effects were estimated using a model in which each milk protein
      gene was analyzed separately (single-gene analysis) and a model in which all milk
      protein genes were analyzed simultaneously (multigene analysis). The results of
      the two models indicate that some effects ascribed to certain milk protein genes
      in the single-gene analysis are not effects of the milk protein gene itself but
      of linked genes. Results from this study and from literature indicate that the
      kappa-casein gene or a very closely linked gene affects protein percentage, and
      the beta-lactoglobulin gene or a very closely linked gene affects fat percentage.
      Furthermore, effects of beta-casein genotypes on milk production, fat percentage,
      and protein yield were significant, and beta-lactoglobulin genotypes had
      significant effects on milk production and protein yield. It is less clear
      whether those effects are due to effects of milk protein genes themselves or to
      effects of linked genes.

PMID- 1452860
TI  - Heat stress and milk production in the South Carolina coastal plains.
AB  - A model developed for the South Carolina coastal plains relates hours with
      temperature-humidity index values above 74 and 80 to summer season daily milk
      production. When tested on an independent production data set for 1985, the root
      mean square model error was less than 1.3 kg/d per cow. The model can be used to
      develop expected summer season dairy production climatologies. Real-time milk
      production forecasts obtained using daily predicted maximum and minimum
      temperatures can be used in herd management to reduce effects of heat stress on
      productivity.

PMID- 1452861
TI  - External and internal markers for appraising site and extent of digestion in
      ruminants.
AB  - Digesta markers are used routinely to calculate fecal output and to estimate
      kinetics within the digestive tract. A marker suitable for estimating fecal
      output may not be a suitable kinetic marker because of problems with marker
      migration, phase separation, inhibition of digestion, osmotic effects within the
      gut, and quantitation. Marker validity should be checked when possible based on
      alternative methods (e.g., fecal output and ruminal evacuation). Certain
      parameters, such as pool size and passage rate, that can be estimated with
      markers cannot be measured by other noninvasive procedures. Nevertheless, only
      when marker results are verified by other methods can one evaluate the magnitude
      of error associated with assumptions inherent in marker mathematics (steady
      state, instantaneous mixing, and first-order kinetics). When marker results do
      not meet expectations, marker failure, rather than inadequate knowledge of
      gastrointestinal function or analytical difficulties, is blamed. No marker is
      ideal, but research to compare markers is useless if results are not related to
      direct flow or output measurements. Marker results often are adjusted for marker
      recovery based on the premise that analysis is precise and that losses are
      constant. Such adjustment is appropriate only if the error is analytical and
      proportional. Despite imprecision in marker procedures, inherent variation may be
      small relative to other sources of variation (e.g., gut physiology, diet,
      environment, and feed intake). Even though absolute values may be imprecise and
      inaccurate, marker-based estimates usually provide reliable information about the
      direction and extent of kinetic changes induced by treatments.

PMID- 1452862
TI  - Markers for quantifying microbial protein synthesis in the rumen.
AB  - Measurement of ruminal microbial protein is necessary to quantify ruminal escape
      of dietary protein and microbial yields. Microbial markers used most widely have
      been the internal markers, diaminopimelic acid and nucleic acids (RNA, DNA,
      individual purines and pyrimidines, or total purines), and the external isotopic
      markers (e.g., 15N and 35S). Combined with digesta flow markers in ruminally and
      abomasally or intestinally cannulated ruminants, microbial yields can be
      estimated. An ideal marker system must account for both the bacterial and
      protozoal pools associated with both the fluid and particulate phases of digesta.
      No marker has proven completely satisfactory; hence, yield estimates are relative
      rather than absolute. Total purines represent robust microbial markers that
      should be adaptable by most investigators. Principal concerns about total purines
      relate to unequal purine: N ratios in protozoal and bacterial pools and to the
      need to assume that dietary purines are completely degraded in the rumen. A
      theoretically sounder, but more costly, method is continuous intraruminal
      infusion of 15N ammonium salts. However, 15N enrichments of bacterial and
      protozoal pools are not equal, so the basis for calculating microbial yield in
      faunated ruminants is uncertain. Urinary purine excretion may prove to be a
      noninvasive method for estimating microbial protein yields in intact dairy cows.

PMID- 1452863
TI  - Initial biological testing of root canal sealing materials--a critical review.
AB  - A number of systems for the biological testing of dental materials have been
      suggested. This paper presents a critical review of the protocols suggested in
      the ISO standards for the initial and secondary biological testing of root canal
      sealing materials.

PMID- 1452864
TI  - Prevalence and distribution of cervical dentine hypersensitivity in a population
      in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
AB  - The prevalence, distribution and possible causal factors of cervical dentine
      hypersensitivity were studied in a population from a Marine Dental Clinic in the
      city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A total of 635 patients were examined for the
      presence of cervical dentine hypersensitivity by means of a questionnaire and
      intraoral tests (air and probe stimuli). There were 157 patients (25%) reporting
      to have hypersensitive teeth, but only 108 patients (17%) were diagnosed as
      having cervical dentine hypersensitivity. The prevalence of hypersensitivity was
      higher among females than males, but this difference was not statistically
      significant. Most females with hypersensitivity were aged 20-49 and most males
      were aged 40-59. Incisors and premolars had the highest prevalence of dentine
      hypersensitivity to air and probe stimuli, while molars had the lowest. The
      presence and history of dentine hypersensitivity were positively correlated with
      previous exposure to periodontal treatment. Only a few of the patients who
      claimed to have dentine hypersensitivity had tried treatment with desensitizing
      toothpastes or sought professional help.

PMID- 1452865
TI  - Secondary retention of permanent molars: a report of five families.
AB  - The aetiopathogenesis of secondary retention is not fully understood, but
      heredity is involved in at least some cases. In this study first-degree relatives
      of 52 patients with secondary retention of permanent molars were screened for the
      presence of the same phenomenon in their dentition. Familial occurrence could be
      shown in five families. The pedigrees are compatible with autosomal dominant
      inheritance. HLA phenotypes and blood groups ABO, rhesus and P1 were studied in
      two families. The lod scores for linkage with secondary retention were added to
      previously reported information. The lod score for linkage for blood group system
      P increased from +0.940 to +1.475 at a recombination fraction of 5 per cent. It
      is concluded that secondary retention of permanent molars is an aetiologically
      heterogeneous condition in which some cases are caused by the presence of an
      abnormal autosomal dominant gene.

PMID- 1452866
TI  - A critical comparison of dentifrice abrasion scores on dentine recorded by
      gravimetric and radiotracer methods.
AB  - Dentifrice abrasivity on dentine is conventionally ranked by various in vitro
      methods. The abrasivity of selected dentifrices in Switzerland was ranked in 1985
      by the gravimetric and in 1989 by the radiotracer method. Because same-named
      brands of dentifrices were differently ranked by these methods, Swiss clinicians
      were unsure which ranking to follow. This paper lists the errors known to occur
      in both techniques, but unfortunately it is difficult to quantitate the
      magnitudes of these errors. Consequently, it is impossible to determine which
      method yields the more reliable results. Thus, researchers should look into the
      problem of dentifrice abrasion scores and try to formulate tests which could
      simplify the selection of brand-named dentifrices by clinicians and the
      consumers.

PMID- 1452867
TI  - Cavity convergence angles for direct composite inlays.
AB  - Direct composite inlays may sometimes be difficult to remove from the cavity
      following primary polymerization. The aim of this work was to find the lowest
      cavity convergence angle (taper) which would allow reliable inlay removal. Cavity
      finish and cavity size were also taken into account. Standardized mesio-occlusal
      distal cavities of 6 degrees taper were cut into 10 teeth of varying mesiodistal
      width and finished with either 12-bladed tungsten carbide or 25 microns diamond
      burs. After separating medium had been applied. Coltene Brilliant Dentin
      composite resin was packed into the cavity and light cured. The force required to
      remove the inlay was measured with an Instron Universal Testing Machine. The
      cavities were then refinished with the alternative finish and the experiment
      repeated. The same sequence was used for cavities of 12 degrees and finally 18
      degrees convergence angle which were cut consecutively in the same 10 teeth.
      Force levels related to cavity convergence angle, cavity finish and tooth size
      were tested by ANOVA and regression analysis. The forces required to remove some
      of the inlays from the 6 degrees, and to a lesser extent 12 degrees angled
      cavities, proved unacceptably high, while an 18 degrees convergence angle
      resulted in statistically significant lower forces which were unlikely to damage
      tooth or inlay. Cavity finish and tooth size did not influence inlay withdrawal
      force.

PMID- 1452868
TI  - Trigeminal somatosensory evoked potentials: a normal value study.
AB  - Normal somatosensory evoked potentials were obtained from the lower lip of 40
      volunteers. Efforts were made to exclude artefact. A consistent triphasic wave
      form of three peaks and troughs was defined. There were greater variations in
      amplitude than latency between subjects. Statistically, one side of the lower lip
      can be used as a control for the contralateral side, but it may not be possible
      to have reliable normal values between subjects. Somatosensory evoked potentials
      may however represent an objective method of evaluating trigeminal sensory nerve
      function.

PMID- 1452869
TI  - A confocal microscopic evaluation of the interface between Syntac adhesive and
      tooth tissue.
AB  - The aim of this study was to microscopically evaluate the effect of dentine smear
      layer thickness, tubular orientation and immediate stress application on a modern
      dentine bonding agent. Eighty mesial and distal wedge-shaped cavities were cut
      into dentine/cementum cervically in 40 extracted human lower third molars. The
      thickness of the dentine smear layer was reduced by polishing the cavity surface
      in half the samples. Each component of the bonding agent (Syntac: Ivoclar
      Vivadent) was labelled with a fluorescent dye, the unfilled resin being light
      cured for 30 s with the composite restoration placed in one increment and light
      cured for 40 s. The samples were longitudinally sectioned using a slow speed
      diamond saw underwater, either immediately or 24 h post placement. The sectioned
      surfaces were then viewed using a confocal optical microscope. The thickness of
      the smeared layer only effected the penetration of adhesive in dentine tubules
      which were separated from the pulp chamber by the cavity design. These areas were
      well filled with adhesive; however, areas communicating with the pulp chamber
      showed no penetration differences due to smear layer reduction by polishing. The
      interdependence of the adhesive components was illustrated by failure to achieve
      a well-impregnated tooth/adhesive hybrid layer when the materials were
      incorrectly handled. The Syntac/dentine interface was generally able to withstand
      the stress of sectioning immediately post placement, but showed signs of failure
      in the cavity line angle when the applied stresses were greatly
      increased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452870
TI  - Determination of doughing and manipulation times of acrylic resin denture base
      material and a proposal for a specification for a packing plasticity test.
AB  - The doughing and manipulation times of a range of acrylic resin denture base
      polymers are presented in this study. The methods evaluated were: (i) probing
      following American Society for testing materials specification, F451-76; (ii)
      hole penetration following British Standard, 2487: 1989 and International
      Standard Organisation, 1567: 1988; (iii) probing using a penetrometer employing a
      20 g load and 1 mm diameter needle; (iv) oscillating rheometer apparatus used at
      a fixed frequency of 1 Hz by sweeping through a programmed linear increase in
      strain. The results indicate that each of the methods is capable of evaluating
      the doughing and manipulation times of the unprocessed polymers. It is concluded
      that the Bohlin VOR Oscillating Rheometer is excellent for investigating the flow
      properties of denture base polymers but it cannot be recommended for a standards
      specification test because of the high cost. The penetrometer method has been
      shown to be superior to the current standards specification test and would be
      ideal for a packing plasticity standards test.

PMID- 1452871
TI  - Intraligamentary anaesthesia.
AB  - The introduction of specialized syringes in the late 1970s and early 1980s has
      led to an increase in the use of intraligamentary anaesthesia as a means of pain
      control in dentistry. This paper reviews the technique and its efficacy and
      considers the advocated advantages and disadvantages of the method in the light
      of the published scientific evidence. It is concluded that intraligamentary
      anaesthesia has a role to play in modern dental local anaesthesia but it does not
      fulfil all the requirements of a primary technique.

PMID- 1452872
TI  - Tooth wear and facial morphology.
AB  - This review sets out to explore the relationship between tooth wear and facial
      morphology, with particular reference to the occlusal vertical dimension.
      Evidence from anthropological and archaeological investigations suggests that
      severe tooth wear may not only affect the teeth and occlusion, but may also have
      more wide ranging effects on overall dentofacial morphology. Studies on
      contemporary subjects confirm this finding, and the literature on the nature of
      these effects is reviewed. It is concluded that the adult dentofacial complex is
      not a static entity, but can compensate for the dental effects of wear. The
      consequences of this with respect to reconstruction of the worn dentition are
      discussed, and it is proposed that the dynamic nature of this complex may be
      employed to help simplify the treatment of severe tooth wear.

PMID- 1452873
TI  - Titanium nitride coatings in clinical dentistry.
AB  - Titanium and its alloys are increasingly important in dentistry. Thin titanium
      nitride (TiN) coatings improve properties of metallic material for industrial
      purposes. Recently TiN coatings have been advocated in dentistry. In a survey of
      the literature, aspects of biological, mechanical and corrosive behaviour are
      assessed. Moreover, specific problems for clinical application are indicated. It
      is concluded that as long as the integrity of the TiN coating is not guaranteed
      under critical conditions, one should be cautious with its clinical application,
      and in no situation can it be used to improve deficient dental alloys.

PMID- 1452874
TI  - GDPs' and specialists' decisions in the management of fissure caries.
AB  - As part of a continuing education programme in dentistry, four specialists and 27
      selected general dental practitioners were asked to rate 58 clinical management
      options relating to fissure caries in six simulated patient management problems
      called challenges. Their ratings are presented and the advantages and
      disadvantages of the approach are discussed. Areas of agreement and disagreement
      are highlighted and possible reasons for these explored.

PMID- 1452875
TI  - An analysis of multiple failures of resin-bonded bridges.
AB  - A clinical trial involving 203 resin-bonded bridges (RBBs) was undertaken to
      investigate the influence of several variables on the survival of these
      prostheses. This article presents the experiences with rebonded and replacement
      RBBs after failure of the originally bonded RBBs. A total of 62 dislodged and
      rebonded RBBs was included in this study and evaluated using Kaplan-Meier
      estimates. Rebonded RBBs that dislodged for a second time were replaced by
      another type of RBB ('replacement' RBBs, n = 32). The study revealed that
      rebonded RBBs were more susceptible to dislodgement than originally bonded RBBs.
      Fifty per cent survival was reached 2.1 years after rebonding. The sooner the
      first dislodgement occurred, the lower the retention rate of the rebonded RBB (PH
      model, beta = 0.78, P = 0.02). Also some failure characteristics were evaluated.
      Failure characteristics (i.e. fracture site and partial versus complete
      dislodgement) of first and second dislodgement were not correlated (Chi-square, P
      values > 0.25). The survival of 'replacement' RBBs was significantly better than
      the survival of multiply failure RBBs (median survivals respectively 1.6 years
      and 1.0 year, P = 0.03). From the results of this study it may be concluded that
      the survival rates of rebonded and replacement RBBs were unacceptable.

PMID- 1452876
TI  - In vivo confocal microscopy in clinical dental research: an initial appraisal.
AB  - Until recently, the in vivo microscopic investigation of intraoral tissues at
      high resolution has been virtually impossible. Confocal microscopy enables high
      resolution imaging to be achieved below semitransparent surfaces in intact living
      specimens, but this may still be impractical for intraoral applications because
      of the need to stabilize the sample. The development of a steadying objective (x
      240 overall mag.) which is held against the sample surface and is focused by
      moving internal elements, avoids the need for fine adjustment of the living
      sample under the microscope to achieve a change of focus. It is therefore more
      comfortable and also reduces the problems of movement due to the pulse. The
      objective was used with a tandem scanning microscope, with images recorded via a
      SIT video camera. Using this system internal tooth structure (e.g. enamel
      prisms/adhesive restoration interfaces) and the lining cells of the gingival
      crevice through to the junctional epithelium may be examined. It is also possible
      to image the oral mucous membrane, focusing to the capillary loops in the basal
      layers, where streaming red blood cells can be seen. Access is limited to the
      anterior regions as far back as the premolar teeth. Applications could include
      caries research, soft and hard tissue responses to biomaterials (e.g. implants),
      wound healing and monitoring the effect of periodontal treatment regimens. This
      new technique offers numerous exciting opportunities for the microscopic
      investigation of many clinical operative procedures in vivo, allowing the
      response of the tissues to be non-destructively monitored, over time, at high
      resolution.

PMID- 1452877
TI  - Surface pH of resin-modified glass polyalkenoate (ionomer) cements.
AB  - The recently developed group of materials known as light-activated, or resin
      modified, glass polyalkenoate (ionomer) cements have been produced in response to
      clinical demands for a command set cavity base material. This study monitored the
      surface pH of three commercially available resin-modified glass ionomer cements
      over a 60-min period following either mixing alone or mixing followed by a 30-s
      exposure to a curing lamp. The results indicate that each material behaves in a
      unique manner. For all materials and conditions the pH reached after a 60-min
      period was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than the initial value. Light curing
      the materials significantly increased (P < 0.01) the surface pH of two of the
      materials (Baseline VLC and Vitrebond) as compared to the same materials in the
      uncured state. In the case of XR-Ionomer, however, no significant (P > 0.05)
      effect of light curing upon the surface pH was apparent. The precise clinical
      consequences of a low surface pH are unclear but may be an aetiological factor in
      postoperative pulpal sensitivity. It is therefore recommended that a sublining of
      a proprietary calcium hydroxide lining material should be placed routinely
      beneath these materials and every effort made to ensure effective light curing.

PMID- 1452878
TI  - Microleakage of three generically different fluoride-releasing liner/bases.
AB  - Three generically different fluoride-releasing materials that function as a liner
      or base were assessed for their microleakage performance on enamel and dentine.
      Group 1 (light-cured liner/base) showed much more leakage, but less bulk
      absorption of tracer, than Group 2 (traditional glass ionomer) or Group 3 (light
      cured glass ionomer). The response of the three materials to tracer penetration
      was consistent with what is known about their chemistry. The Group 2 and 3
      materials are probably the materials of choice at the caries-vulnerable margins,
      which are not easily visible for inspection.

PMID- 1452879
TI  - Effect of the curing cycle on residual monomer levels of acrylic resin denture
      base polymers.
AB  - It has been shown previously that high levels of residual monomer have a
      deleterious effect on the properties of denture base polymers. Levels of residual
      monomer were determined on a homopolymer and a copolymer using gas-liquid
      chromatography. A wide range of recommended and 'short cut' curing cycles were
      then investigated which produced values ranging from 0.56 to 18.46%. From the
      ranges examined an optimum cycle of 7 h at 70 degrees C and 1 h at 100 degrees C
      was established which was used to polymerize 23 currently available synthetic
      denture base polymers. Only small differences were found between the materials
      tested with a range from 0.54 to 1.08% of residual monomer.

PMID- 1452880
TI  - Selection of dental procedures for antibiotic prophylaxis against infective
      endocarditis.
AB  - A dental source of infection remains the most common identifiable risk factor in
      infective endocarditis and this may be particularly important in patients at
      'high risk'. We therefore performed a questionnaire survey of dental
      practitioners to assess acceptance of The British Society of Antimicrobial
      Chemotherapy (BSAC) recommendations, especially with regards to selection of
      dental procedures for antibiotic prophylaxis. The results showed that the dental
      practitioners surveyed treated the 'high risk' patient group differently by
      extending the range of dental procedures covered by antibiotics but the BSAC only
      recommend that they be treated differently by hospital treatment and/or
      parenteral antibiotics. This must be an area of concern and deserves further
      attention, especially with regards to the need for wider publicity and the range
      of dental procedures that should be covered in the 'high risk' group where
      morbidity and mortality from infective endocarditis are higher.

PMID- 1452881
TI  - Sources of error in gnathosonics.

PMID- 1452882
TI  - Periodontics: a practical approach.

PMID- 1452883
TI  - The fit of gold-alloy full-crown castings made with pre-wetted casting ring
      liners.
AB  - Measurements were made of the fit of full-crown gold-alloy castings produced with
      two types of pre-wetted ring liner (asbestos and cellulose) and a typical gypsum
      bonded investment (Cristobalite Inlay, Sybron/Kerr Products, Romulus, MI; W/P =
      0.40). Laboratory measurements were made of the effects of the liners on
      potential investment expansion, and properties of the lining materials considered
      relevant to casting accuracy were also measured. There was a wide variation in
      values for mean dimensional inaccuracy. One liner produced a series of castings
      all of whose inaccuracies lay within the range +/- 0.1%, with a mean value of +
      0.01%. With the other five liners, all or most castings were undersize. With
      three, all or most castings showed inaccuracies worse than -0.2%. The values for
      casting inaccuracy with the various liners showed a probable correlation with
      potential investment expansion (p < 0.05); however, no correlation was found
      between casting inaccuracy and any apparently relevant liner properties, alone or
      in combination. In casting techniques which use a pre-wetted ring liner, the
      choice of a specific lining material is an important factor which has a
      significant effect on casting inaccuracy. With at least three of the six liners
      tested, a higher investment expansion was needed for accurate full-crown castings
      to be ensured.

PMID- 1452884
TI  - The fit of gold-alloy full-crown castings made with ceramic casting ring liners.
AB  - Measurements were made of the fit of gold-alloy full-crown castings produced with
      dry ceramic ring liners. When used with vacuum investing, these liners absorb
      relatively large amounts of water from the investment mix (thereby reducing its
      original W/P ratio) and then function as wet liners, thus increasing the
      investment's potential expansion and giving castings which are consistently
      larger than when air investing is used. With four of the five liners tested,
      investing in air produced many castings which were unacceptably undersized
      (inaccuracy worse than -0.2%). The fifth liner, an industrial material 2 mm
      thick, gave only one casting out of 12 which was outside this limit, although all
      castings were undersized to a lesser extent. Vacuum investing gave improved
      casting accuracy; with four of the five liners, the improvement was highly
      significant (p < 0.001), and with the fifth, probably significant (p < 0.05).
      Even with vacuum investing, however, with only two of the liners did all castings
      show inaccuracies within +/- 0.2%. With the other three liners, some castings
      (ranging from 2/10 to 7/9) had inaccuracies worse than -0.2%. With both air and
      vacuum investing, changing from one liner to another caused changes in relative
      casting accuracy which were often significant (p < 0.01) or highly significant (p
      < 0.001). In casting techniques where a ceramic ring liner is used, the choice of
      specific lining material and the choice between investing in air or under vacuum
      are important factors which can have a major effect on the fit of castings.

PMID- 1452885
TI  - The effect of using layered specimens for determination of the compressive
      strength of glass-ionomer cements.
AB  - Compressive strength is widely used as the criterion of strength of glass-ionomer
      dental cements, despite the difficulties in interpretation of the findings. With
      the introduction of light-cured glass-ionomer cements, which can be used only in
      thin layers, the question arises of how test specimens should be prepared for the
      measurement of compressive strength. A suggested method has been to prepare test
      pieces by building them up in layers, an approach which is examined critically in
      the current paper. Two different conventional (acid-base) glass-ionomers were
      studied with the use of layered and unlayered specimens of dimensions 6 mm
      (height) x 4 mm (diameter) and 12 mm (height) x 6 mm (diameter). While smaller
      samples gave the same value of compressive strength as larger specimens, layered
      specimens gave significantly lower values of compressive strength for both sizes.
      In view of these findings, and since the layered specimens are tedious to
      prepare, we conclude that compressive strength is unsatisfactory as a criterion
      of strength for light-cured glass-ionomer cements.

PMID- 1452886
TI  - Association between salivary flow rate and the use of systemic medication among
      76-, 81-, and 86-year-old inhabitants in Helsinki, Finland.
AB  - The aim of this study was to examine salivary flow rate and its association with
      the use of medication in a representative sample of 76-, 81-, and 86-year-old
      subjects, totaling 368. In this study, 23% (n = 80) of the subjects were
      unmedicated. From one to three daily medications were used by 47% (n = 168) and
      more than four medications by 30% (n = 104). The most commonly used medications
      were nitrates, digitalis or anti-arrhythmic drugs (47.7%), analgesics and
      antipyretics (32.6%), and diuretics (29.5%). The mean number used daily was
      significantly higher in 86-year-olds than in the two younger age groups (p <
      0.01). No significant differences in this respect were found between genders.
      Among the unmedicated subjects, 76-year-olds had significantly higher stimulated
      salivary flow rates than did the 81-year-olds (p < 0.05). Unmedicated women
      showed significantly lower unstimulated (p < 0.01) and stimulated flow rates than
      did men (p < 0.05). Stimulated salivary flow rate was also significantly higher
      in the 76-year-old medicated subjects than in the medicated 86-year-old subjects
      (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in unstimulated
      salivary flow rates among the three age groups. Medicated women showed
      significantly lower unstimulated salivary flow rates than men (p < 0.001),
      although the difference in stimulated saliva flow was not significant. A
      statistically significant difference in unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow
      rates was found between unmedicated persons and those who took from four to six,
      or more than seven, prescribed medications daily.

PMID- 1452887
TI  - Immunocytochemical localization of cathepsins B and G in odontoclasts of human
      deciduous teeth.
AB  - For clarification of the mechanisms by which odontoclasts resorb deciduous teeth
      during physiological root resorption, cysteine-proteinases such as cathepsins B
      and G were immunocytochemically localized in odontoclasts at the ultrastructural
      level. Extracted human deciduous teeth undergoing root resorption were fixed with
      a mixture of formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde and processed for immunocytochemical
      detection of these enzymes. Sheep antisera, raised against either human cathepsin
      B or G, were used as primary antibodies. In odontoclasts, specific immunogold
      labeling of both anti-cathepsin B and G was clearly localized in lysosomes and
      pale vacuoles of various sizes, and in a portion of the extracellular canals of
      odontoclastic ruffled borders. In the presence of either antibody, the
      cytoplasmic matrix, mitochondria, and nuclei were minimally labeled by immunogold
      particles. The presence of these proteolytic enzymes in odontoclasts suggests
      that, during odontoclastic root resorption, these enzymes are involved in the
      formation of resorption lacunae by means of intra/extracellular degradation of
      collagen and other non-collagenous matrix proteins of deciduous teeth.

PMID- 1452888
TI  - Effects of sialagogues on ornithine decarboxylase induction and proto-oncogene
      expression in murine parotid gland.
AB  - The mechanism of a sialagogue-induced increase in ornithine decarboxylase (ODC)
      activity and the expressions of proto-oncogenes in murine parotid gland were
      investigated by use of isoproterenol (IPR), carbachol (CC), and methoxamine
      (MTX). The results were as follows: (1) The three sialagogues had similar effects
      on the parotid in vivo (mouse parotid after a single injection of IPR) and/or in
      vitro (rat parotid explants cultured on siliconized lens paper floating on 199
      medium containing IPR, CC, or MTX), the order of their effectiveness being IPR >
      CC > MTX. (2) Northern/dot and Western blot analyses revealed that the
      sialagogues elevated the steady-state levels of ODC mRNA and ODC protein to
      maxima at two h and six h, respectively, after stimulation. The increases were
      roughly proportional to those in ODC activity, suggesting that sialagogue
      dependent enzyme induction is regulated at the transcriptional level. (3) The
      mRNAs of four of nine proto-oncogenes examined showed sialagogue-dependent
      increases to maxima at 30 min (c-fos) or 60 min (c-jun, c-myc, and c-src) after
      the beginning of stimulation. These increases were all transient, with the levels
      returning to the control values (without sialagogue) within 60 min. (4) The IPR
      dependent elevations of ODC activity and the mRNAs of ODC, c-fos, and c-jun were
      inhibited by monensin, but not by polymyxin B. On the other hand, the CC
      dependent increases in these parameters were inhibited by polymyxin B but not by
      monensin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452889
TI  - Effect of age on immunoglobulin content and volume of human labial gland saliva.
AB  - Stimulated lower labial (LLGF) and parotid salivary volumes and IgG, IgA, and IgM
      concentrations were measured in 264 subjects whose ages ranged from 17 to 76
      years. A significant (p < 0.001) age-related decline in LLGF output was observed
      for subjects over this age range. Sixty-three percent of the subjects in the 18
      20-year-old group (n = 46) secreted at least 10 microL of labial saliva in a 7-10
      minute period, while approximately 70% of the subjects in the two oldest groups
      (61-70 and 71-76 years old) secreted less than 1 microL of LLGF during this time
      period (n = 64). No significant gender-based differences occurred in the volumes
      of labial saliva secreted. Stimulated parotid salivary flow showed no age-related
      trend in these subjects. Lower labial gland salivary IgA concentrations in an
      older population (mean age +/- SD = 55.6 yr +/- 1.3) were significantly lower (p
      < 0.025) than IgA concentrations in a younger population (20.7 yr +/- 0.8), when
      IgA was expressed as microgram/mL LLGF collected. Immunoglobulin A concentrations
      in parotid saliva and IgG and IgM concentrations in labial and parotid saliva
      were not significantly different when the two age populations were compared.
      These data suggest that the physiological and immunological potential of labial
      gland saliva may decrease with age.

PMID- 1452890
TI  - The effect of chewing gum use on in situ enamel lesion remineralization.
AB  - Two independent cross-over studies investigated the possibility of enhanced early
      enamel lesion remineralization with the use of chewing gum. The first study
      involved a sorbitol-containing chewing gum, and the second, which had an
      identical protocol, tested a sucrose-containing chewing gum. In each study, 12
      volunteers wore in situ appliances on which were mounted enamel sections
      containing artificial caries lesions. Subjects brushed twice daily for two min
      with a 1100-ppm-F (NaF) dentifrice (control and test) and in the test phase
      chewed five sticks of gum per day for 20 min after meals and snacks.
      Microradiographs of the enamel lesions were made at baseline and at the end of
      the seven-week experimental period. In the sugar-free gum study, the weighted
      mean total mineral loss (delta z) difference [(wk7-wk0) x (-1)] was 788 vol.%
      min. x micron for the gum, corresponding to remineralization of 18.2%, vs. the
      control value of 526 vol.% min. x micron, 12.1% remineralization (p = 0.07).
      There were no significant differences for the surface-zone (p = 0.20) and lesion
      body (p = 0.28) values. In the sucrose-containing gum study, the delta z
      difference was 743 vol.% min. x micron for the gum, corresponding to a
      remineralization of 18.3%, vs. the control value of 438 vol.% min. x micron,
      10.8% remineralization (p = 0.08). The surface-zone values were not significantly
      different (p = 0.55). For the lesion body, however, the sucrose-containing gum
      value of 6.11 vol.% min. was significantly different (p = 0.01) from that of the
      control (2.81 vol.% min.).

PMID- 1452891
TI  - Characterization of fibroblast clones from periodontal granulation tissue in
      vitro.
AB  - Connective tissues are known to be composed of heterogeneous fibroblast
      subpopulations. The significance of this heterogeneity in different physiological
      and pathological conditions is poorly understood. Granulation tissue is formed in
      connective tissue during wound healing, chronic inflammation, and certain
      pathological conditions. In this study, heterogeneity of fibroblasts from
      granulation tissue was investigated by cell-cloning techniques. Granulation
      tissue fibroblasts (GTFs) from both chronically inflamed periodontal lesions and
      healing wound granulation tissue behaved similarly. GTFs showed a more pronounced
      decrease in proliferative capacity with increasing cumulative population doubling
      levels (CPDLs) and 30-40% lower cloning efficiency compared with normal gingival
      fibroblasts (HGFs). Morphologically, cells in GTF cultures were mainly large,
      whereas HGFs were mainly small in size. Both cell-line types showed heterogeneity
      in cell morphology. Clones composed of large stellate-like cells predominated in
      GTF cultures, whereas clones composed of small spindle-shaped or epithelioid
      cells predominated in HGF cultures. In both cell-line type the proportion of
      clones composed of large cells increased without increasing CPDL. These findings
      show that the properties of the fibroblasts changed during their in vitro life
      spans. The finding that normal connective tissue and granulation tissues contain
      morphologically distinct fibroblast clones in different proportions suggests that
      local factors could stimulate local fibroblasts to differentiate into GTFs.
      Alternatively, local factors could select some fibroblast subpopulations to
      overgrow the others to form granulation tissue.

PMID- 1452892
TI  - Histomorphometric study of the periodontal vasculature of the rat incisor.
AB  - This study assessed quantitatively the vascular system in the cementum-related
      periodontal ligament (PDL) along the rat incisor. The lower left incisors of six
      rats (+/- 200 g) were subjected to routine histological procedures and cross
      sectioned serially (2 microns), and the distance between each section and the
      apex was computed. The PDL of five sections at different levels along the tooth
      was divided into mesial, lingual, and lateral parts. The number and area of small
      and terminal arterioles, capillaries (C), sinusoids (S), post-capillary venules
      (PCV), and connecting venules, as well as the area of the PDL, were established.
      Blood vessels (BV) occupied 47 +/- 2% of the PDL area in the apical half and 4 +/
      2% at the incisal end. Of the total BV area, 41%, 32%, and 27% were located on
      the lingual, mesial, and lateral tooth sides, respectively. The majority of BV
      belonged to the venous system (98.5 +/- 0.6% and 82.5 +/- 3.0% in the apical and
      incisal parts, respectively). The apical venous system comprised 95.4 +/- 1.6% S
      and 3.2 +/- 1.0% PCV, reversing to 27.2 +/- 14.2% S and 55.2 +/- 11.3% PCV in the
      incisal half. The number of arterial profiles increased gradually from 6.8 +/-
      1.5 at the apex to 25.3 +/- 2.4 in the incisal part and that of C from 9.0 +/-
      1.18 to 25.0 +/- 4.3. The extensive vascularization in the apical half of the PDL
      is consistent with the high metabolic demands and with the need for protective
      cushioning of the constantly growing dental and periodontal tissues.2+_

PMID- 1452893
TI  - The vascularity of dental pulp in cats.
AB  - The fraction of the volume of the coronal pulp of cat canines that is occupied by
      blood vessels was estimated by measurement of the cross-sectional areas of all
      the vessels in a complete transverse section of the pulp from each of four teeth.
      The sections were taken 0.5 mm from the pulp cornu. Overall, 14.4% of the area of
      the pulp was occupied by vessels. In the core of the pulp, the average value was
      42.9%, and superficially, near the odontoblast layer, it was between 5 and 10%.
      The average capillary density was 1402/mm2, which is higher than in most other
      tissues. Laser Doppler flow meters can be used for recording blood flow from the
      coronal pulp of intact teeth, but these instruments are linear only if the moving
      blood cells occupy no more than 1% of the tissue volume. The present results
      suggest that this figure is exceeded in pulp.

PMID- 1452894
TI  - Suppressor cell function in oral lichen planus.
AB  - Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common inflammatory condition of the oral mucous
      membranes which affects between one and two percent of the general population. In
      accordance with the protracted clinical course of OLP and its association with
      known auto-immune diseases, the level of self-tolerance is questionable and
      possibly diminished in patients with this disorder. Normal suppressor T
      lymphocyte function is reputedly an essential element in the maintenance of self
      tolerance, and deficient cell-mediated suppressor activity is implicated in the
      pathogenesis of auto-immune diseases. For assessment of in vitro cell-mediated
      suppressor activity in OLP, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from ten
      patients with OLP and from 11 control subjects were activated with the plant
      mitogen concanavalin A (Con A), followed by co-culture with autologous responder
      cells. The ability of irradiated Con A-activated cells to suppress the
      proliferation of Con A-stimulated responder cells was determined. Con A-induced
      suppressor activity of PBMC in the OLP patients was significantly less than that
      in control subjects (p = 0.001). Results of the present investigation complement
      previous in vitro findings which provided indirect evidence of deficient cell
      mediated suppressor activity in OLP, particularly a decreased proportion of
      circulating CD4+CD45RA+ lymphocytes and reduced Con A-stimulated PBMC
      proliferation. The depressed Con A-induced suppressor activity of PBMC in the OLP
      patients provides direct evidence of deficient in vitro cell-mediated suppressor
      function in OLP, and suggests that defective cell-mediated suppressor circuits
      and reduced self-tolerance may be involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

PMID- 1452895
TI  - Effect of a pulsing electromagnetic field on demineralized bone-matrix-induced
      bone formation in a bony defect in the premaxilla of rats.
AB  - A 2-mm non-healing bony defect was prepared in the premaxilla of male Wistar rats
      weighing about 180 g as a simulation of an alveolar cleft, for determination of
      whether a pulsing electromagnetic field (PEMF) could promote regeneration of bone
      induced by demineralized bone matrix (DBM). The defect was either treated with 7
      mg DBM or was left as a non-grafted control. The rats were exposed to a PEMF with
      a frequency of 100 Hz, a 10-ms-wide burst with 100 microseconds-wide quasi
      rectangular pulses, repeating at 15 Hz, and magnetic field strength of 1.5-1.8 G.
      Alkaline phosphatase activity increased significantly from day 7 in the DBM-graft
      plus-PEMF group and from day 10 in the DBM-graft group, reaching a maximum on day
      14. A greater-than-two-fold rise in alkaline phosphatase activity and a three
      fold rise in the amount of 45Ca incorporation in the DBM-graft-plus-PEMF group
      were attained compared with those of the DBM-graft group. The DBM-graft-plus-PEMF
      group produced more bone with almost complete osseous bridging in the defect
      sites than did the group treated with DBM only on day 35. The findings indicate
      that PEMF had an enhancing effect on the bone-inductive properties of the DBM
      through the stimulation of osteoblast differentiation induced by DBM.

PMID- 1452896
TI  - Dental predictors of high caries increment in children.
AB  - A comprehensive set of dental variables was investigated to find the "best"
      combination of predictors for high caries increment in 7/8-year-old and 10/11
      year-old children. Four populations with widely different caries prevalence were
      studied. Logistic regression analysis supplied multiple-input models by stepwise
      selection of predictors. A "low number of sound primary molars" was the best and
      most consistent predictor of high caries increment. The second best predictors
      were "high numbers of pre-cavity lesions on permanent first molars" (discolored
      pits and fissures in the younger age group and white spots on the smooth parts of
      buccolingual surfaces in the older age group). Inclusion of radiological
      variables did not substantially increase the quality of prediction. For practical
      application, models with various multiple inputs selected by stepwise procedures
      were compared with "fixed" three-input models. These three-input models resulted
      in predictive quality nearly equal to those of the multiple models. Traditional
      one-input models, containing DMFT or dmft, were inferior to the three-input
      models, particularly in the older age class. The lower the caries prevalence of
      the source data, the better was the prediction. As a summary measure
      characterizing the predictive performance of a model, we used the index "area
      under the receiver operating characteristic curve" A. For the 1984 data and the
      three-input models, the area was approximately 80%, and for the 1972 data, the
      area was 65-70%.

PMID- 1452897
TI  - Accuracy of visual inspection, fiber-optic transillumination, and various
      radiographic image modalities for the detection of occlusal caries in extracted
      non-cavitated teeth.
AB  - Occlusal caries lesions may progress into the dentin without this resulting in a
      macroscopic breakdown of the enamel surface. Imaging methods may therefore be
      needed to aid in the visual detection of occlusal caries. It was the aim of this
      study to evaluate diagnostic accuracy in a laboratory set-up of visual inspection
      (VI), fiber-optic-transillumination (FOTI), conventional radiography (CR), and
      two digital radiographic image modalities (DRm and DRr) for detection of occlusal
      caries in clinically non-cavitated teeth. Eighty-one extracted third molars from
      18-20-year-old males were assessed by four observers on a five-rank confidence
      scale by the five methods. Ground sections (500-600 microns) served as validation
      for true state of disease: 1 = no caries in dentin, 2 = caries just beyond
      dentino-enamel junction, or 3 = deep dentinal caries, halfway or more to the
      pulp. ROC analysis was performed on the basis of the confidence rank scale data
      on two diagnostic thresholds, T1 = caries in dentin (disease state 2+3) and T2 =
      caries deep in dentin (state 3). On the T1 level, use of the FOTI method gave on
      average the most accurate diagnosis, closely followed by VI, both performing
      better than use of radiography. On the T2 level, all five diagnostic methods
      performed equally well.

PMID- 1452898
TI  - Robustness of the t test applied to data distorted from normality by floor
      effects.
AB  - In calculus, plaque, and gingivitis trials, measures are taken on subjects both
      prior to the use of an active treatment and after its use. When the trial is
      short-term, or when a cleaning of the mouth takes place after the baseline
      measurement, distributions of such measures (e.g., the Volpe-Manhold score or the
      Loe and Silness scale) are approximately normally distributed above zero but also
      can have a proportion of subjects who attain scores of zero. When the effects of
      an active treatment are compared with those of a control, the two-independent
      sample t test can be applied to outcome scores or to differences between the
      baseline and outcome scores. Robustness of these t tests, in the presence of
      distributions "distorted" from normality as described, was investigated by
      computer simulation. In general, both t tests produced actual significance levels
      which were close to nominal significance levels, even in the presence of small
      samples and distributions in which as many as 50% of the subjects attained scores
      of zero.

PMID- 1452899
TI  - Dentistry--some thoughts for the future.

PMID- 1452900
TI  - [The action of low doses of nitrosomethylurea on a stationary cell population. An
      experiment and modelling].
AB  - The change of stationary cell population (murine spleen) following an exposure to
      low doses of methylnitrosourea (10(-11)-10(-5) g/kg of mouse weight) was
      investigated and modelled mathematically. The suggested model is based on the
      idea that the effect of cytotoxic agent in low doses has nondestructive "signal"
      character, changing dynamic balance between cells in proliferating and quiescent
      compartments.

PMID- 1452901
TI  - [The effectiveness of ultralow doses and concentrations of biologically active
      compounds].
AB  - Numerous data of literature are analysed on the biological activity of ultra-low
      (10(-12)-10(-19) M) concentrations and corresponding doses of same bioregulators.
      Our own data are presented on the modulation of lymphatic vessel contractility by
      peptides (thyroliberin, defensin, and tuftsin) in concentrations ranging from 10(
      13) to 10(-16) M. Hypothetic mechanisms of these phenomena are discussed.

PMID- 1452902
TI  - [The MB1 family of repeats in clones from the genomes of mammals].
AB  - Members of MB1 family repeats are revealed in genomes of many mammals (cow,
      rabbit, opossum, horse, ...). The MB1 repeats from cow and rabbit genomes are
      mirror-reflected about the SINE families repeats from cow and rabbit genomes. The
      life time of MB1 repeats are no less than 100 million years. Classification of
      MB1 repeats from human genome using the information similarity was performed.
      This classification has revealed two subfamily MB1 repeats in human genome.
      Possible processes of creation of MB1 family repeats common for many mammals are
      discussed.

PMID- 1452903
TI  - [The suppression of the chemiluminescence of mammalian cells by the metabolites
      of Crithidia oncopelti].
AB  - Effect of water-soluble (polypeptides) fraction (PF) of Crithidia oncopelti on
      the chemiluminescence of human blood cells and murine splenocytes was studied.
      The study has shown that PF possessed a capacity to inhibit oxygen-dependent
      killer system of polymorphonuclear leucocytes in dose-dependent manner. This
      effect was of a complex nature. The inhibitory effect of PF was demonstrated also
      in respect to murine mononuclear phagocytes and splenocytes. It was suggested
      that, in this case, the suppressor effect was related with the influence on
      membranous cytokines.

PMID- 1452904
TI  - [The systems-related preconditions of aging].

PMID- 1452905
TI  - [The adaptational-regulatory theory of age-related development].

PMID- 1452906
TI  - [The physiological mechanisms of aging and research on age-related mortality].

PMID- 1452907
TI  - [Experimental approaches to elucidating the patterns of the aging of the body].

PMID- 1452908
TI  - [The impossibility in principle of an appreciable increase in the life expectancy
      of the human species].

PMID- 1452909
TI  - [Aging is a result of a shortening of the "differotene" in the telomere due to
      end under-replication and under-repair of DNA].

PMID- 1452910
TI  - [Aging and the immortalization of animal cells: the key role of nuclear proto
      oncogenes].

PMID- 1452911
TI  - [The trigger of the aging process--in the nucleus or the mitochondria?].

PMID- 1452912
TI  - [The bioenergetic aspects of the mechanism of aging].

PMID- 1452913
TI  - [The mitochondrial theory of aging].

PMID- 1452914
TI  - Papillon-Lefevre syndrome.
AB  - Papillon-Lefevre syndrome, also known as hyperkeratosis palmaris et plantaris or
      hyperkeratosis palmoplantaris, is a devastating dermatological disease
      characterized by a thickening of the stratum corneum of the skin on the palms of
      the hands and soles of the feet. In addition, some patients manifest excessive
      sweating (hyperhidrosis), the growth of fine body hair and the development of
      dirty-colored skin on the affected parts. Calcification of the falx cerebri of
      the dura mater, as well as other areas of the brain, have been reported. From a
      dental standpoint, young patients with Papillon-Lefevre syndrome have juvenile or
      precocious periodontosis, with severe destruction of the alveolar bone in both
      deciduous and permanent dentitions. Bone loss has been observed as early as two
      years of age, with premature exfoliation of the teeth. There is usually gingival
      enlargement, gingival ulceration and the formation of deep periodontal pockets;
      but in some cases, there is no inflammatory reaction and only the periodontium of
      the secondary teeth is affected. This disease eludes all known forms of therapy
      and results in edentulousness after only a few years.

PMID- 1452915
TI  - Advertising and the dental profession. Retrospective and prospective.
AB  - "Advertising" has become a very controversial topic, not just among dentists, but
      among all professionals. That controversy focuses on three questions. First, what
      are the legal issues surrounding dental advertising and how are these issues
      being resolved? Second, what are the attitudes toward advertising among
      practicing dentists and how are these attitudes changing? Finally, how many
      dentists advertise and what are those advertising dentists actually doing? The
      purpose of this paper is to neither praise nor excoriate advertising, but to
      refer to the law and to published research in order to provide dental
      practitioners with a broader understanding of this topic.

PMID- 1452916
TI  - Invasive versus conservative strategy after thrombolytic therapy for acute
      myocardial infarction in patients with antecedent angina. A report from
      Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Phase II (TIMI II).
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the possibility that a subgroup of
      patients at high risk for recurrent ischemia and reinfarction after thrombolytic
      therapy might benefit from early intervention. BACKGROUND: The Thrombolysis in
      Myocardial Infarction Phase II (TIMI II) study recently concluded that an
      obligatory invasive strategy after thrombolytic therapy offered no advantage over
      a more conservative strategy. METHODS: Data from the 3,534 patients enrolled in
      the TIMI II trial were analyzed to determine whether a history of antecedent
      angina before myocardial infarction identifies patients at high risk for
      subsequent ischemia and whether these patients might benefit from an invasive
      strategy. RESULTS: Within the TIMI II population, antecedent angina identified
      patients at increased risk for recurrent chest pain in the hospital (32.3% vs.
      22.1%, p < 0.001) and recurrent infarction during the 1st year of follow-up
      (11.2% vs. 7.9%, p = 0.001) compared with that of patients without antecedent
      angina. Among patients assigned to the invasive strategy, coronary arteriography
      revealed that those with antecedent angina had a more severe residual stenosis of
      the infarct-related artery after thrombolytic therapy (77.1 +/- 0.7% vs. 73.0 +/-
      0.9%, p < 0.001) and more multivessel disease (37.9% vs. 26.4%, p < 0.001). The
      clinical outcome of the patients with antecedent angina assigned randomly to
      either the invasive or the conservative strategy were compared. The invasive
      strategy patients had a slightly lesser incidence of recurrent chest pain in the
      hospital (29.9% vs. 34.8%, p = 0.13) and more negative (normal) findings on
      exercise tolerance tests (24.7 vs. 18.9%, p = 0.003), but there was no difference
      between the treatment strategies in the end point variable of recurrent
      myocardial infarction or death. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that
      antecedent angina identifies patients at increased risk for recurrent ischemic
      events after thrombolytic therapy. However, similar to the results for the
      overall population, the invasive strategy does not alter the risk of reinfarction
      or death compared with the conservative approach.

PMID- 1452917
TI  - Long-term survival in 618 patients from the Western Washington Streptokinase in
      Myocardial Infarction trials.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether streptokinase
      treatment improves long-term survival in patients with acute myocardial
      infarction. BACKGROUND: Thrombolytic treatment for acute myocardial infarction
      reduces early mortality and improves the 1-year survival rate, but the long-term
      (3 to 8 years) survival benefits of treatment and the relation between survival
      and baseline clinical characteristics, infarct size and ventricular function have
      not been established. METHODS: We assessed survival status at a minimum of 3 and
      a mean of 4.9 +/- 2.3 years in 618 patients randomized between 1981 and 1986 to
      receive conventional treatment (n = 293) or thrombolysis with streptokinase (n =
      325) in the Western Washington Intracoronary (n = 250) and Intravenous (n = 368)
      Streptokinase in Myocardial Infarction trials. The relation between long-term
      survival and thrombolytic treatment, admission baseline clinical characteristics
      and late radionuclide tomographic thallium-201 infarct size and ejection fraction
      was assessed in a subset of patients. RESULTS: Survival at 6 weeks was 94% in
      patients who received streptokinase versus 88% in the control group (p = 0.01).
      However, survival at 3 years was 84% in the streptokinase group and 82% in the
      control group and for the total period of follow-up, there was no significant
      survival benefit (p = 0.16). Analysis by infarct location showed a higher
      survival rate at 3 years for patients treated with anterior infarction (76% vs.
      67% for the control group), but no overall survival benefit (p = 0.14). Survival
      at 3 years for patients with an inferior infarction was 89% in the streptokinase
      group and 91% in the control group (p = 0.62). By stepwise Cox regression
      analysis, admission clinical variables associated with decreased long-term
      survival were anterior infarction, advanced age, history of prior infarction and
      the presence of pulmonary edema or hypotension. Although streptokinase therapy
      was associated with improved survival, it was not an independent determinant of
      survival (p = 0.069). Ejection fraction and thallium-201 infarct size measured
      approximately 8 weeks after enrollment had a strong association with long-term
      survival. Univariate analysis in a subgroup of 289 patients with complete data
      selected infarct size, ejection fraction, age and history of prior infarction as
      predictors of survival. In the multivariate model, only ejection fraction (p <
      0.0001), age (p = 0.008) and prior myocardial infarction (p = 0.02) remained
      strong predictors. CONCLUSIONS: In these early trials of thrombolytic therapy for
      acute myocardial infarction, streptokinase improved early survival, but there was
      little long-term survival benefit. This failure to show an improvement in the 3-
      to 8-year survival rate may also reflect the need to study a larger group of
      patients or to initiate treatment earlier after symptom onset.

PMID- 1452918
TI  - Additional ST segment elevation during the first hour of thrombolytic therapy: an
      electrocardiographic sign predicting a favorable clinical outcome.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of further
      ST elevation that occurs during the 1st h of thrombolytic therapy before the
      expected resolution. BACKGROUND: Early resolution of ST segment elevation is
      commonly accepted as a marker of clinical reperfusion during thrombolytic therapy
      for acute myocardial infarction. Using frequent electrocardiographic recordings,
      we observed in some patients further ST elevation that occurred during hour 1 of
      thrombolysis before the expected resolution. METHODS: To investigate the
      significance of this pattern, we classified 177 consecutive patients with a first
      acute myocardial infarction into two groups: Group A, 98 patients with ST
      elevation > or = 1 mm above the initial ST elevation during the 1st h of
      thrombolytic therapy, and Group B, 79 patients without this finding. RESULTS:
      Although the presence or absence of additional ST elevation was not associated
      with a clinical or prognostic difference in patients with a first inferior or
      posterior acute myocardial infarction, its presence indicated a more favorable
      clinical outcome and prognosis in patients with anterior infarction. Among the
      patients with anterior infarction the 65 patients in Group A had a higher
      ejection fraction (44 +/- 9% vs. 35 +/- 11%, p < 0.01), less heart failure (15%
      vs. 35%, p = 0.02) and a lower in-hospital mortality rate (0% vs. 8%, p = 0.04)
      than did the 37 patients from Group B. CONCLUSIONS: Additional ST elevation early
      during thrombolytic therapy in patients with anterior infarction suggests a
      favorable clinical outcome and thus may be indicative of successful reperfusion.

PMID- 1452919
TI  - Relation of deep arterial resection and coronary artery aneurysms after
      directional coronary atherectomy.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to document the frequency of coronary
      artery aneurysm formation in patients undergoing directional coronary atherectomy
      and to determine the relation of such aneurysms to the depth of arterial
      resection. BACKGROUND: Deep arterial injury is relatively frequent with the use
      of directional coronary atherectomy, but the potential for subsequent coronary
      artery aneurysm formation is unknown. METHODS: Results in a consecutive series of
      64 successfully treated patients (a total of 69 lesions; mean angiographic follow
      up at 5 months) treated with directional coronary atherectomy were
      retrospectively analyzed with use of quantitative angiographic and histologic
      data. RESULTS: Coronary aneurysms (ratio of dilated vessel segment to the
      adjacent reference segment > 1.2:1) occurred in seven patients (10%). The only
      significant clinical correlate of aneurysm formation was a relatively shorter
      duration of angina. There were no significant preprocedural angiographic
      predictors of aneurysms, although 6 (86%) of the 7 aneurysmal lesions arose from
      restenosis lesions compared with 30 (48%) of 62 lesions with no subsequent
      aneurysm development (p = 0.06). Histopathologic examination of 414 specimens
      from 68 treated lesions showed no significant difference in the occurrence of
      subintimal resection (media +/- adventitia) between those with and without
      subsequent aneurysm (29% vs. 22%). Media alone was found in 14% of specimens from
      lesions that later became aneurysmal versus 15% of those that did not;
      adventitial resection was found in 14% and 7% of specimens, respectively (p =
      0.08), with relatively more adventitia per specimen from those with aneurysm (55%
      vs. 30% without aneurysm, p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Aneurysms occur relatively
      frequently after directional coronary atherectomy. Although there was no
      statistically significant correlation with the depth of arterial resection, the
      evidence from this study suggests that the role of adventitial resection in the
      occurrence of late aneurysm development should be explored further.

PMID- 1452920
TI  - Prognosis in cardiogenic shock after acute myocardial infarction in the
      interventional era.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to describe the outcome in cardiogenic
      shock treated with aggressive reperfusion therapy and to identify factors
      predictive of in-hospital and long-term mortality. BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic shock
      is the most common cause of death in patients admitted to the coronary care unit.
      Although studies have reported lower mortality rates in shock treated with
      angioplasty, few studies have described a cohort of patients with shock who were
      not selected because they were most likely to benefit from reperfusion therapy.
      METHODS: A consecutive series of 200 patients admitted with acute myocardial
      infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock were studied. RESULTS: The in
      hospital mortality rate was 53%. Variables with significant univariable
      association with in-hospital death included patency of the infarct-related
      artery, patient age, lowest cardiac index, highest arteriovenous oxygen
      difference and left main coronary artery disease. The most important independent
      predictors of in-hospital death were patency of the infarct-related artery,
      cardiac index and peak creatine kinase, MB fraction. The mortality rate in
      patients with patent infarct-related arteries was 33% versus 75% in those with
      closed arteries and 84% in those in whom arterial patency was unknown. Patients
      who survived to hospital discharge were followed up for a median of 2 years, with
      a mortality rate of 18% after 1 year. The best descriptors of the relation
      between these variables and postdischarge mortality included age, peak creatine
      kinase, ejection fraction and patency of the infarct-related artery. CONCLUSIONS:
      In a large consecutive series of patients with cardiogenic shock with complete
      follow-up, patency of the infarct-related artery was most strongly associated
      with in-hospital and long-term mortality. This finding supports an aggressive
      interventional strategy in patients with cardiogenic shock.

PMID- 1452921
TI  - Effects of acute, transient coronary occlusion on global and regional right
      ventricular function in humans.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in right
      ventricular function during acute coronary occlusion produced by inflating a
      coronary angioplasty balloon catheter. BACKGROUND: Alterations in right
      ventricular function are well known to occur in patients with acute myocardial
      infarction or ischemic cardiomyopathy. However, the changes in right ventricular
      function resulting from acute, transient coronary occlusion of each of the major
      coronary arteries have been scantily studied, perhaps because of serious
      limitations of currently available technology. METHODS: A newly designed, mobile,
      multiwire gamma camera, in combination with generator-produced tantalum-178,
      affords high count rate first-pass radionuclide angiography and is thus ideal for
      studying right ventricular function at the bedside. Accordingly, 46 patients
      underwent first-pass radionuclide angiography at baseline and during transient
      coronary occlusion induced by a coronary angioplasty balloon catheter. RESULTS: A
      significant, albeit modest, decrease in global right ventricular ejection
      fraction occurred during occlusion of the left anterior descending (from 42.9 +/-
      9.3% to 39 +/- 8.7%, p < 0.05) and left circumflex (from 44 +/- 9.1% to 38.8 +/-
      7.9%, p = 0.03) coronary arteries, but diagonal artery occlusion caused no
      significant change in right ventricular ejection fraction. Occlusion of the right
      coronary artery proximal (but not distal) to the acute marginal branch caused a
      significant decrease in right ventricular ejection fraction (from 42.6 +/- 4.7%
      to 35.7 +/- 7.2%, p < 0.01). Although occlusion of the left anterior descending,
      left circumflex and proximal right coronary arteries all caused significant
      deterioration in regional right ventricular function, only proximal right
      coronary occlusion caused right ventricular dilation (p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS:
      Significant impairment of right ventricular function occurs during transient
      occlusion of the left anterior descending, left circumflex and proximal right
      coronary arteries, but only occlusion of the latter causes acute right
      ventricular dilation, probably as a result of ischemia.

PMID- 1452922
TI  - Relation between stimulation site of cardiac afferent nerves by adenosine and
      distribution of cardiac pain: results of a study in patients with stable angina.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to establish whether stimulation of
      cardiac sensory receptors in different myocardial regions results in different
      distributions of cardiac pain. BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that
      adenosine provokes cardiac pain through stimulation of sensory receptors in the
      absence of myocardial ischemia. In this study adenosine was used to obtain a
      regional stimulation of cardiac sensory receptors. METHODS: Increasing doses of
      adenosine (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/min) were selectively infused into the right and
      then into the left coronary artery in 26 patients with stable angina. RESULTS: No
      patient developed ischemic electrocardiographic changes during either adenosine
      infusion. Eighteen patients experienced cardiac pain during both infusions.
      Despite the stimulation of sensory receptors in different myocardial regions, 13
      patients experienced cardiac pain in the same body area. Adenosine-induced pain
      was always similar to the anginal pain. By contrast, the remaining five patients
      experienced adenosine-induced cardiac pain in different body areas. In two of
      these patients, the distribution of anginal pain was similar to that experienced
      during one of the two adenosine infusions. In the remaining three patients, the
      distribution of anginal pain was similar to that experienced during adenosine
      infusion into the right coronary artery during some anginal episodes and to that
      experienced during adenosine infusion into the left coronary artery during other
      episodes. CONCLUSIONS: During stimulation by adenosine of sensory receptors in
      different myocardial regions, the majority of patients experience cardiac pain in
      the same body area; only a few experience pain in different areas. These
      differences might be caused by different organizations of the ascending neural
      pathways to the cortex. Our results suggest that in the same patient different
      distributions of pain during anginal attacks are probably due to ischemia in
      different myocardial regions.

PMID- 1452923
TI  - Comparison of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in evaluation of
      47 Starr-Edwards prosthetic valves.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were to characterize by transesophageal
      echocardiography the normal appearance of the Starr-Edwards prosthetic heart
      valve and to compare the utility of transesophageal and transthoracic
      echocardiography in detection of valve abnormality. BACKGROUND: The Starr-Edwards
      prosthetic heart valve, the first mechanical valve to be used, has demonstrated
      excellent durability. METHODS: Fifty transthoracic and transesophageal
      echocardiographic studies on 37 patients with 47 Starr-Edwards prosthetic valves
      were analyzed retrospectively. Six cases of surgically confirmed infective
      endocarditis were studied. RESULTS: Vegetation or abscess formation, or both, was
      identified by transesophageal echocardiography in all six cases of infective
      endocarditis but was found in only one of these cases by transthoracic
      echocardiography. Thrombus was detected by transesophageal echocardiography in 9
      of 11 patients with transient ischemic attacks or stroke and in 2 patients by
      transthoracic echocardiography with 3 confirmed at surgery. In 26 of the 30
      patients with a mitral Starr-Edwards valve, the valve demonstrated a trivial or
      mild "closing volume" early systolic or holosystolic leak on transesophageal
      echocardiography alone. Transthoracic evaluation identified significant mitral
      regurgitation in six of the eight patients who had this finding on
      transesophageal echocardiography. Serial studies were performed to assess
      response to treatment or need for surgical intervention in eight patients.
      Seventeen valves have been implanted for 12 years; six of these had significant
      leakage without apparent cause, a finding not observed more recently implanted
      valves. CONCLUSIONS: These observations demonstrated the unique utility of
      transesophageal echocardiography in patients with Starr-Edwards prosthetic valve
      dysfunction, endocarditis or thrombus formation, and of the clear superiority of
      transesophageal echocardiography over transthoracic echocardiography in these
      situations.

PMID- 1452924
TI  - Aortic valve replacement in octogenarians with aortic stenosis: a case-control
      study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to compare the results of aortic valve
      replacement in patients greater than or equal to 80 years old with those in
      patients 65 to 75 years old. BACKGROUND: Aortic valve replacement may be
      potentially more complicated and require the use of more resources when performed
      in octogenarians rather than in younger patients. Few hard data on this
      possibility are available. METHODS: The study group comprises all 44 patients
      greater than or equal to 80 years old (mean age 82 years) who underwent aortic
      valve replacement at our institution between January 1981 and July 1989. A
      control group of 83 patients with a mean age of 70 years was matched with the
      study group for gender and approximate date of valve replacement. Before
      operation, 86% of the older patients versus 36% of the younger patients were in
      New York Heart Association functional class III or IV (p less than 0.001). Data
      were retrospectively collected from hospital records and a self-assessment
      telephone interview was conducted. RESULTS: The early mortality rate was 14% in
      the older group versus 4% in the younger group (p = 0.045). The duration of
      respirator support, intensive care and the total duration of the hospital stay
      did not differ significantly between groups. The incidence of postoperative low
      cardiac output syndrome was higher in the older group (p = 0.049), but the
      incidence of late valve-related complications was similar in the two groups. The
      2-year survival rate (including data on patients who died early) was 73% in the
      older group and 90% in the younger group (p = NS). Six months postoperatively all
      patients but one were in functional class I or II. CONCLUSIONS: Although the
      patients greater than or equal to 80 years old had a poorer preoperative status
      than that of younger patients, aortic valve replacement in this group did not
      require more use of hospital resources and resulted in a clinical improvement
      comparable to that of younger patients.

PMID- 1452925
TI  - Aortic valve resistance as an adjunct to the Gorlin formula in assessing the
      severity of aortic stenosis in symptomatic patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to determine the utility of aortic valve
      resistance in assessing the severity of aortic stenosis. BACKGROUND: Assessment
      of the severity of aortic stenosis has traditionally employed hemodynamic data
      and the Gorlin formula to calculate the area of the aortic valve. Recently, flow
      dependence of the Gorlin formula has been identified and the accuracy of the
      formula challenged. Aortic valve resistance, the quotient of gradient and cardiac
      output, has been advanced as potentially useful in assessing the severity of
      valve stenosis. METHODS: We studied 48 symptomatic patients with an initial
      diagnosis of severe aortic stenosis based on a calculated aortic valve area of
      less than or equal to 0.8 cm2 by the Gorlin formula. Forty of these patients
      (Group I) were confirmed to have severe aortic stenosis, whereas 8 (Group II)
      were subsequently proved not to have severe aortic stenosis. The 18 patients in
      Group I with a valve area of 0.6 to 0.8 cm2 (Group IA) were directly compared
      with Group II patients who had a similar valve area. RESULTS: Aortic valve area
      was nearly identical in Group IA and Group II patients (0.69 +/- 0.05 and 0.71 +/
      0.06 cm2, respectively, p = NS). However, aortic valve resistance was much less
      in Group II patients (212 +/- 6 vs. 316 +/- 11 dynes.s.cm-5, p less than 0.0001).
      In this small cohort, aortic valve resistance achieved nearly complete separation
      of patients in Groups IA and II. CONCLUSIONS: In some patients with relatively
      mild aortic stenosis, the calculated valve area may indicate that the stenosis is
      severe. The use of aortic valve resistance in conjunction with the Gorlin formula
      helps separate patients with truly severe aortic stenosis from those with milder
      disease.

PMID- 1452926
TI  - Diastolic function of the nonfilling human left ventricle.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To investigate an early-diastolic left ventricular suction effect in
      humans, tip-micromanometer left ventricular pressure recordings were obtained in
      patients with mitral stenosis at the time of balloon inflations during
      percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty performed with a self-positioning Inoue
      balloon, which fits tightly in the mitral orifice. BACKGROUND: When mitral inflow
      was impeded in anesthetized dogs, left ventricular pressure decayed to a negative
      asymptote value. This negative asymptote value was consistent with an early
      diastolic suction effect. METHODS: Tip-micromanometer left ventricular pressure
      recordings were obtained in 23 patients with symptomatic mitral stenosis at the
      time of balloon inflations during percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty performed
      with a self-positioning Inoue balloon. RESULTS: The left ventricular diastolic
      asymptote pressure (P(asy)) was determined in 47 nonfilling beats with a
      sufficiently long (greater than 200 ms) diastolic time interval (that is, the
      interval from minimal first derivative of left ventricular pressure to left
      ventricular end-diastolic pressure) and equaled 2 +/- 3 mm Hg for beats with
      normal intraventricular conduction and 3 +/- 2 mm Hg for beats with aberrant
      intraventricular conduction. Left ventricular angiography was performed in five
      patients during the first inflation of the Inoue balloon at the time of complete
      balloon expansion. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume of the nonfilling beats
      averaged 38 +/- 14 ml and was comparable to the left ventricular end-systolic
      volume (39 +/- 19 ml) measured during baseline angiography before mitral
      valvuloplasty. Time constants of left ventricular pressure decay were calculated
      on 21 nonfilling beats with a diastolic time interval greater than 200 ms, normal
      intraventricular conduction and peak left ventricular pressure greater than 50 mm
      Hg. Time constants (T0 and TBF) derived from an exponential curve fit with zero
      asymptote pressure and with a best-fit asymptote pressure were compared with a
      time constant (T(asy)) derived from an exponential curve fit with the measured
      diastolic left ventricular asymptote pressure. The value for T(asy) (37 +/- 9 ms)
      was significantly smaller than that for TBF (68 +/- 28 ms, p less than 0.001) and
      the value for the measured diastolic left ventricular asymptote pressure (2 +/- 4
      mm Hg) was significantly larger than that for the best-fit asymptote pressure (-9
      +/- 11 mm Hg, p less than 0.001). T0 (44 +/- 20 ms) was significantly (p less
      than 0.01) different from TBF but not from T(asy). CONCLUSIONS: During balloon
      inflation of a self-positioning Inoue balloon, left ventricular pressure decayed
      continuously toward a positive asymptote value and left ventricular cavity volume
      was comparable to the left ventricular end-systolic volume of filling beats. In
      these nonfilling beats, the best-fit asymptote pressure was unrelated to the
      measured asymptote pressure and T0 was a better measure of T(asy) than was TBF.
      Reduced internal myocardial restoring forces, caused by different extracellular
      matrix of the human heart, reduced external myocardial restoring forces caused by
      low coronary perfusion pressure during the balloon inflation and inward motion of
      the balloon-occluded mitral valve into the left ventricular cavity could explain
      the failure to observe significant diastolic left ventricular suction in the
      human heart.

PMID- 1452927
TI  - Quantitation of chronotropic response: comparison of methods for rate-modulating
      permanent pacemakers.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop a technique for quantitating
      chronotropic response. BACKGROUND: Although the importance of chronotropic
      response for optimizing cardiac output during exercise is widely recognized,
      methods for quantitating the rate-modulating behavior of permanent pacemakers
      have not been developed. For a method of quantitating chronotropic response to be
      clinically useful, the rate-modulating characteristics of a pacing system should
      be defined at the onset of exertion, over a variety of exercise work loads and
      during recovery. METHODS: Three methods for quantitation of rate modulation were
      assessed in 10 patients during treadmill exercise testing using the chronotropic
      assessment exercise protocol with expired gas exchange analysis. To compare the
      observed chronotropic response with a standard, the "expected" heart rate
      throughout exercise was calculated by using the concept of heart rate reserve as
      described by Wilkoff. The pacing rate observed during exercise was analyzed with
      1) standard linear regression analysis, 2) comparison of observed and expected
      pacing rates at the midpoint and end of each quartile of exercise, and 3)
      integration of the area under the rate-response curve with comparison with the
      area under the expected curve. RESULTS: With use of a normalized scale relating
      change in heart rate to change in metabolic work load, with values of heart rate
      and metabolic work load at rest set to 0 and those at maximal exertion set to a
      value of 1, the mean y intercept for the study group was 0.10 +/- 0.20 (range 
      0.14 to +0.45), with a mean slope of 0.81 +/- 0.25 (range 0.31 to 1.19). The
      correlation coefficient relating change in heart rate to change in exercise work
      load was a mean of 0.90 +/- 0.09 (range 0.63 to 0.98). Integration of the area
      under the rate-response curve observed during exercise yielded a mean area that
      was 101 +/- 36% of that expected. When the range of exercise work loads was
      divided into quartiles, the area under the observed rate-response curve was 151
      +/- 114% of that expected during the first quartile of exercise, 113 +/- 70%
      during the second, 96 +/- 38% during the third and 92 +/- 20% during the fourth.
      The mean area under the curve during recovery was 93 +/- 29% of that expected.
      Although calculation of the observed heart rate as a percent of that expected at
      the midpoint and end of each quartile of exercise used fewer observations, it
      provided similar results. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitation of the rate-response curve
      with comparison with the expected heart rate curve provides accurate methods for
      quantitation of chronotropic response. Adoption of this method would facilitate
      comparisons of artificial sensors and provide a framework to address issues of
      optimal rate modulation.

PMID- 1452928
TI  - Flosequinan, a new vasodilator: systemic and coronary hemodynamics and
      neuroendocrine effects in congestive heart failure.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate and long-term
      systemic and coronary hemodynamic, metabolic and neurohormonal effects of
      flosequinan in patients with congestive heart failure. BACKGROUND: Preliminary
      studies have shown that this new long-acting oral systemic vasodilator may have
      beneficial effects in patients with heart failure. METHODS: Thirteen patients
      with congestive heart failure were studied. Systemic and coronary hemodynamic,
      metabolic and neurohormonal effects of flosequinan were assessed acutely with
      repeat systemic hemodynamic studies after 6 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: The
      administration of flosequinan acutely and after long-term treatment, resulted in
      a significant increase in cardiac index, stroke work index and stroke volume
      index with a reduction in systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances. The
      improvement in ventricular function was associated with an improvement in left
      ventricular efficiency without a change in myocardial oxygen consumption or
      coronary sinus blood flow. Myocardial oxygen extraction and net myocardial
      lactate extraction also did not change significantly with flosequinan therapy.
      Systemic catecholamine levels and myocardial catecholamine balance did not
      change. Plasma arterial and coronary sinus atrial natriuretic factor
      concentrations were elevated at baseline; the latter concentrations at the level
      of the great cardiac vein were significantly higher than those of arterial
      concentrations, indicating increased left ventricular release of atrial
      natriuretic factor in congestive heart failure. Both arterial and coronary sinus
      atrial natriuretic factor levels were significantly reduced with the
      administration of flosequinan at peak effect in association with an improvement
      in systemic hemodynamics. CONCLUSIONS: Flosequinan therapy in patients with
      congestive heart failure results in a sustained beneficial hemodynamic action and
      improved cardiac performance without an increase in metabolic demand or
      activation of the sympathetic nervous system.

PMID- 1452929
TI  - Counteraction of the vasodilator effects of enalapril by aspirin in severe heart
      failure.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to determine if a standard dose of aspirin
      interacts relevantly with the circulatory effects of enalapril in severe heart
      failure. BACKGROUND: The frequent association of heart failure with coronary
      artery disease confers potential for combined treatment with an angiotensin
      converting enzyme inhibitor and the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor aspirin,
      the pharmacodynamic actions of which are, in part, mutually opposed. METHODS: In
      18 patients, on 3 consecutive days, hemodynamic measurements were performed at
      baseline and 4 h after administration of a double placebo, enalapril (10 mg) plus
      placebo and enalapril plus aspirin (350 mg) according to a double-blind,
      randomized, crossover protocol. RESULTS: Enalapril given before aspirin led to
      significant decreases in systemic vascular resistance, left ventricular filling
      pressure and total pulmonary resistance together with a significant increase in
      cardiac output. When given with or on the day after aspirin, enalapril did not
      elicit significant changes in any of these variables. There was a clear tendency
      to lower values for pulmonary artery pressure on all regimens, and slowing of the
      heart rate was incurred whether or not aspirin had been given. Chi-square
      analysis of the individual responses showed that the probability of effecting a
      decrease in systemic vascular resistance > or = 300 dynes.s.cm-5 was six times
      greater when enalapril was given without aspirin (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In
      severe heart failure, the prostaglandin synthesis inhibition by aspirin
      counteracts the systemic arterial vasodilation of angiotensin-converting enzyme
      inhibition with enalapril and substantiates its dependence on the integrity of
      prostaglandin metabolism. Trends toward reductions of pulmonary artery pressure
      and slowing of the heart rate were still observed, presumably subsequent to
      lowered norepinephrine concentrations indicating maintenance of prostaglandin
      independent actions of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition.

PMID- 1452930
TI  - Amiodarone therapy does not compromise subsequent heart transplantation.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of
      pulmonary complications, feasibility of early hospital discharge and requirements
      for postoperative inotropic and chronotropic support in patients receiving
      amiodarone therapy before heart transplantation. BACKGROUND: Although many
      patients waiting for heart transplantation will die of arrhythmias before a donor
      heart is found, the use of amiodarone has been limited by concern about increased
      complications in the perioperative period. METHODS: The 29 patients receiving
      amiodarone at the time of heart transplantation at University of California, Los
      Angeles Medical Center between October 1986 and September 1990 were compared with
      29 control recipients to evaluate postoperative morbidity. Patients were
      receiving amiodarone for recurrent ventricular tachyarrhythmias (n = 11), atrial
      fibrillation (n = 2) or complex ventricular ectopic activity (n = 16). The
      average daily dose was 360 +/- 230 mg/day for an average of 11 +/- 22 months
      before transplantation. Amiodarone and control groups had a similar ejection
      fraction (0.18 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.20 +/- 0.08), frequency of coronary disease, age
      and gender. There were three more status I patients in the control group. OKT3
      was given to only two patients receiving amiodarone and 12 control patients at
      high risk for renal dysfunction. RESULTS: Postoperatively, the duration of
      assisted ventilation was 21 +/- 19 h after amiodarone therapy versus 26 +/- 2 h
      in the control group (20 +/- 18 h vs. 15 +/- 9 h after excluding patients
      receiving OKT3), discharge arterial oxygen saturation was > 95% in both groups.
      Two patients in the amiodarone group with a smoking history of > 100 pack-years
      developed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates of brief duration. Although patients
      receiving amiodarone required atrial pacing more frequently (eight vs. two
      patients) and had a lower heart rate at discharge (75 +/- 18 vs. 86 +/- 11
      beats/min), the duration of inotropic support (2.1 +/- 1.5 vs. 3.5 +/- 2.5 days)
      and of hospital stay (10 +/- 3 vs. 15 +/- 10 days) was not higher in the
      amiodarone than in the control group. The mortality rate at 30 days was similar
      in the two groups (6.8% vs. 3.4%, p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: Amiodarone therapy before
      heart transplantation may contribute to occasional pulmonary complications but
      does not significantly increase perioperative morbidity or mortality with the
      regimens used in this retrospective study.

PMID- 1452931
TI  - Comparative effects of diabetes mellitus and hypertension on physical properties
      of human large arteries.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The effects of hypertension and diabetes on the physical properties
      of large arteries were compared in men. BACKGROUND: Although these two diseases
      are linked to vascular stiffening, no study has analyzed whether the arterial
      rigidity in diabetes is as substantial as in hypertension. METHODS: Noninvasive
      measurements of brachial artery mean pressure, diameter (pulsed Doppler study)
      and compliance (pulse wave velocity) were obtained in 29 men: 11 control
      subjects, 9 hypertensive nondiabetic patients and 9 diabetic normotensive
      patients. Individual diameter- and compliance-pressure curves extrapolated from
      the measured diameter and mean pressure point with a logarithmic elastic model
      permitted calculation of isobaric diameter and compliance at the same pressure in
      each subject. RESULTS: Compared with control subjects, hypertensive patients had
      a larger brachial artery measured diameter and isobaric diameter (p < 0.01) and
      lower measured and isobaric compliance (p < 0.001, p < 0.01). Compared with
      control subjects, diabetic patients had lower measured and isobaric compliance (p
      < 0.01). Comparison of diabetic and hypertensive patients showed that measured
      diameter and isobaric diameter were decreased in the former (p < 0.01). In the
      control and hypertensive groups, mean pressure correlated positively with
      measured diameter and isobaric diameter (p < 0.01) and negatively with measured
      and isobaric compliance (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). In the control
      and diabetic groups, fasting glucose correlated negatively with measured and
      isobaric compliance (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Intrinsic alterations of
      the large artery independent of a stretching pressure effect reduce arterial
      elasticity similarly in those with hypertension or diabetes. The loss of
      compliance is related to the chronic elevation of blood pressure in hypertension
      and to that of glycemia in diabetes and is associated with a relative large
      artery vasoconstriction in diabetic patients as compared with patients with
      hypertension.

PMID- 1452932
TI  - Pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy with and without dilation.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The present study was designed to produce a small animal model
      showing compensated hypertrophy followed by congestive heart failure within a
      reasonable time period. BACKGROUND: Although there are various large animal
      experimental models of hypertrophy and heart failure, the occurrence of these two
      stages within a reasonable time period has not been shown very successfully in
      small animals. METHODS: A mildly constricting band was placed around the
      ascending aorta of very young guinea pigs (mean age 25 +/- 3 days) to impose a
      gradually increasing pressure overload. The animals were examined at different
      postoperative intervals up to 20 weeks. RESULTS: At 10 weeks, there was a 56%
      increase in ventricular weight/body weight ratio, a 33% increase in left
      ventricular wall thickness and a significant increase in left ventricular
      systolic pressure. The animals with 20 weeks of banding had developed various
      clinical symptoms of congestive heart failure including dyspnea, cyanotic
      appearance of the extremities, hydrothorax and ascites. Although at this stage
      there was 86% hypertrophy, the increase in wall thickness was only 20%,
      indicating cardiac dilation. Depressed left ventricular systolic pressure and
      increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and the increase in wet
      weight/dry weight ratio in the lungs and liver at 20 weeks also indicated the
      occurrence of heart failure. The collagen content in the heart of animals with
      banding for 10 and 20 weeks was 160% and 240%, respectively, of that in
      corresponding sham control animals. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the heart
      was in a stage of compensated hypertrophy for up to 10 weeks, whereas heart
      failure was seen at 20 weeks. The two functional stages, compensatory hypertrophy
      followed by prolonged failure, make this model appropriate for studies on the
      transition of heart hypertrophy to congestive heart failure.

PMID- 1452933
TI  - Pressure recovery in aortic stenosis: an in vitro study in a pulsatile flow
      model.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to study pressure recovery in various models
      of aortic valve stenosis by performing hemodynamic measurements under physiologic
      conditions in a pulsatile aortic flow circuit. The results were used to validate
      calculations of pressure recovery based on theoretic considerations derived from
      fluid dynamics. BACKGROUND: Pressure recovery in aortic stenosis has not been
      systematically analyzed. METHODS: Stenoses varying in size, shape (circular, Y
      shaped, slitlike) and inlet configuration (sharp-edged, nozzle-shaped inlet,
      artificially stenosed bioprostheses) were used. Aortic pressures were measured at
      multiple sites distal to the stenotic orifice to determine pressure gradients and
      recovery. RESULTS: With decreasing orifice area (2, 1.5, 1 and 0.5 cm2) pressure
      recovery increased (5, 7, 10 and 16 mm Hg, respectively) and the index pressure
      recovery to maximal peak to peak gradient decreased (56%, 37%, 24% and 14%,
      respectively). For a given orifice size of 0.5 cm2, this index ranged between 12%
      for a Y-shaped orifice and 15% for a circular orifice with a nozzle (cardiac
      output 4 liters/min). Increasing the cardiac output increased pressure recovery,
      whereas the ratio of pressure recovery to maximal pressure gradient remained
      constant. CONCLUSIONS: The index pressure recovery to transvalvular pressure
      gradient, which expresses the hemodynamic relevance of pressure recovery,
      decreases with increasing severity of aortic stenosis but is independent of
      transvalvular flow. Thus, pressure recovery is of minor importance in severe
      aortic stenosis but may account for discrepancies between Doppler and manometric
      gradients observed in patients with mild to moderate aortic stenosis or a
      prosthetic valve in the aortic position.

PMID- 1452934
TI  - Left ventricular shape is the primary determinant of functional mitral
      regurgitation in heart failure.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the temporal association between
      the onset of functional mitral regurgitation and the development of changes in
      left ventricular shape, chamber enlargement, mitral anulus dilation and regional
      wall motion abnormalities during the course of evolving heart failure.
      BACKGROUND: Despite extensive characterization, the exact etiology of functional
      mitral regurgitation in patients with chronic heart failure remains unknown.
      METHODS: Heart failure was produced in seven dogs by multiple sequential
      intracoronary microembolizations. Serial changes in left ventricular chamber
      volume and shape were evaluated from ventriculograms. Changes in mitral anulus
      diameter and ventricular regional wall motion abnormalities were evaluated
      echocardiographically. The presence and severity of mitral regurgitation were
      determined with Doppler color flow mapping. Measurements were obtained at
      baseline and then biweekly until mitral regurgitation was first observed.
      RESULTS: No dog had mitral regurgitation at baseline but all developed mild to
      moderate regurgitation 12 +/- 1 weeks after the first embolization. The onset of
      mitral regurgitation was not associated with an increase in left ventricular end
      diastolic volume relative to baseline (58 +/- 3 vs. 62 +/- 3 ml), mitral anulus
      diameter (2.4 +/- 0.1 vs. 2.4 +/- 0.1 cm) or wall motion abnormalities of left
      ventricular wall segments overlying the papillary muscles. In contrast, the onset
      of mitral regurgitation was accompanied by significant changes in global left
      ventricular shape evidenced by increased end-systolic chamber sphericity index
      (0.22 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.30 +/- 0.01) (p < 0.01) and decreased end-systolic major
      axis/minor axis ratio (1.71 +/- 0.05 vs. 1.43 +/- 0.04) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:
      These data indicate that transformation of left ventricular shape (increased
      chamber sphericity) is the most likely substrate for the development of
      functional mitral regurgitation.

PMID- 1452935
TI  - Early and rapid prediction of patency of the infarct-related coronary artery by
      using left ventricular wall thickness as measured by two-dimensional
      echocardiography.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether echocardiography can
      distinguish between persistent coronary occlusion and reperfusion. BACKGROUND:
      There are no adequate clinical or noninvasive laboratory markers to accurately
      predict successful reperfusion in an acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: In a
      closed chest swine model, the effect of reperfusion on myocardial wall thickness
      was studied by comparing a 150-min total coronary artery occlusion (group 1) with
      120 min of occlusion followed by 30 min of reperfusion (group 2) in the area of
      risk as measured by echocardiography. Wall thickness was measured at baseline and
      at 90 and 150 min. RESULTS: In group 1 (n = 4), there was no appreciable change
      in mean wall thickness from 90 min to 150 min of occlusion at either end-diastole
      or end-systole (0.54 +/- 0.02 to 0.52 +/- 0.03 cm, 0.55 +/- 0.03 to 0.54 +/- 0.03
      cm, respectively; p = NS). In contrast, in group 2 (n = 6), an increase in mean
      wall thickness from 0.53 +/- 0.02 to 0.97 +/- 0.05 cm at end-diastole and from
      0.56 +/- 0.04 to 1.04 +/- 0.07 cm at end-systole was found from 90 min of
      occlusion to 30 min of reperfusion (p < 0.001). Reperfusion resulted in an
      increase in wall thickness of 83 +/- 11% at end-diastole and 92 +/- 17% at end
      systole. In contrast, persistent coronary occlusion showed minimal changes of 
      3.0 +/- 5% at end-diastole and -2.0 +/- 6% at end-systole. CONCLUSIONS: This
      study confirms the hypothesis that an increase in wall thickness can accurately
      distinguish between reperfusion and permanent coronary occlusion.

PMID- 1452936
TI  - Comparison of single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) myocardial
      perfusion imaging with thallium-201 and technetium-99m sestamibi in dogs.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to compare single-photon
      emission computed tomographic (SPECT) myocardial images of technetium-99m (Tc
      99m) sestamibi and thallium-201 (Tl-201) isotopes in the same dog undergoing
      partial coronary occlusion during pharmacologic vasodilation. BACKGROUND: To
      date, no controlled study has been reported comparing SPECT Tc-99m sestamibi with
      SPECT Tl-201 imaging during stress with anatomic and physiologic standards.
      METHODS: Mongrel dogs were anesthetized with chloralose and instrumented to
      record left anterior descending coronary blood flow and aortic pressure. Partial
      coronary occlusion with a hydraulic cuff reduced coronary vascular conductance,
      which is equal to the coronary blood flow normalized to aortic pressure during
      peak vasodilation with intravenous adenosine. Each dog received 5 mCi of Tl-201,
      then 30 mCi of Tc-99m sestamibi during partial coronary occlusion at peak
      vasodilation. Tomographic myocardial imaging was performed in a 180 degrees
      anterior arc scan for 33.5 min, first with Tl-201, and later, without moving the
      dog, for 33.5 min with Tc-99m sestamibi. Postmortem staining defined the region
      underperfused because of its dependence on the artery that was partially
      occluded. RESULTS: In seven dogs with moderate reduction in coronary blood flow,
      coronary vascular conductance decreased with partial coronary occlusion (47 +/-
      12%) during Tl-201 imaging and (47 +/- 8%, p = NS) during Tc-99m sestamibi
      imaging. The underperfused region was 23.9 +/- 6.4% of total left ventricular
      mass. Counts in the defects were 39% higher (0.86 +/- 0.08 of normal counts) for
      Tc-99m sestamibi than for Tl-201 (0.64 +/- 0.09 of normal counts, p < 0.001), and
      the defect on SPECT Tc-99m sestamibi images occupied only a fraction (0.37 +/-
      0.30) of the area of the defect on the Tl-201 images of the same dog. Bull's-eye
      displays constructed from the pathologic slices showed that the Tl-201 defect
      size was closer to the underperfused region of the left ventricular mass
      determined pathologically than was the Tc-99m sestamibi defect size. In four
      additional dogs a severe, near total coronary occlusion was created during Tl-201
      and Tc-99m sestamibi administration. In these dogs, similar defect contrast (0.55
      +/- 0.12 vs. 0.62 +/- 0.09, p = NS) and areas (0.18 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.18 +/- 0.11, p
      = NS) were observed with Tl-201 and Tc-99m sestamibi, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:
      Tomographic myocardial imaging with Tc-99m sestamibi during moderately severe
      partial coronary occlusion underestimated the area of the defect relative to Tl
      201 or to the pathologic reference standard in dogs. Defect contrast was sharper
      with tomographic myocardial Tl-201 than with tomographic myocardial Tc-99m
      sestamibi during moderately severe partial coronary occlusion.

PMID- 1452937
TI  - Marked systemic hypotension depresses coronary thrombolysis induced by
      intracoronary administration of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the level of
      aortic blood pressure affects the rate and extent of coronary thrombolysis
      induced by intracoronary administration of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen
      activator (rt-PA). BACKGROUND: Although many studies have confirmed the efficacy
      of thrombolytic therapy in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, the
      effects of altered blood pressure on coronary thrombolysis have not been studied.
      Because the aortic pressure represents the coronary artery inflow pressure, first
      principles predict that changes in blood pressure will affect the delivery of the
      thrombolytic agent and thus affect thrombolysis. METHODS: The effects of large
      changes in blood pressure on coronary thrombolysis were studied in a canine
      model. Coronary thrombosis was induced by injection of radioactive blood clot
      through a catheter placed in the left anterior descending coronary artery.
      Subsequently, 24 dogs were classified into three groups of 8 dogs each: Group 1
      dogs underwent phlebotomy to adjust systolic blood pressure to 130 mm Hg; Group 2
      dogs underwent phlebotomy to decrease systolic blood pressure to 75 mm Hg. Dogs
      in Group 3 also underwent phlebotomy to achieve a systolic blood pressure of 75
      mm Hg and then received norepinephrine to increase this pressure to 130 mm Hg.
      After adjustment in blood pressure, all dogs received an infusion of rt-PA (0.25
      mg/kg body weight) over 30 min through the left anterior descending artery
      catheter. In a fourth group of six dogs, the effect of altered blood pressure on
      the rate of coronary thrombolysis was assessed. RESULTS: In dogs in Groups 1 and
      3, the rate and extent of coronary thrombolysis were significantly increased
      compared with values in Group 2. In each of the six Group 4 dogs the rate of
      coronary thrombolysis increased when norepinephrine increased systolic blood
      pressure from 75 to 130 mm Hg. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that a
      moderate increase in coronary inflow pressure increases the rate and extent of
      coronary thrombolysis compared with values during marked systemic hypotension.

PMID- 1452938
TI  - Delineation of acute myocardial infarction with dysprosium DTPA-BMA: influence of
      dose of magnetic susceptibility contrast medium.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The contrast enhancement of acutely infarcted myocardium produced by
      the nonionic magnetic susceptibility-enhancing agent dysprosium
      diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-bis-methylamide (DyDTPA-BMA [S-043
      Injection]) was assessed in the current study to establish the lowest dose that
      would yield optimal contrast between normal and acutely infarcted myocardium.
      BACKGROUND: Magnetic susceptibility contrast agents enhance differences between
      normal and ischemic tissue by reducing the signal of the normally perfused tissue
      to which they distribute. METHODS: Acute myocardial infarctions were produced by
      ligation of the left coronary artery. At 3 to 4 h after occlusion, a dose of 0.1,
      0.3 or 0.5 mmol/kg of DyDTPA-BMA was injected intravenously into eight rats each
      in group 1, 2 or 3, respectively; a fourth group of seven rats served as a
      control group. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) transverse relaxation time (T2)
      weighted images (electrocardiographically gated to every 5th beat, echo delay
      time [TE] = 60 ms) were acquired before and for 1 h after administration of
      contrast agent. RESULTS: Images obtained before the injection of contrast agent
      showed moderate differences in signal intensity between normal and infarcted
      myocardium (p < 0.05). The contrast enhancement and the duration of delineation
      between infarcted and normal myocardium produced by this agent were dose
      dependent. At doses of 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mmol/kg, DyDTPA-BMA produced signal loss
      in normal myocardium: 63 +/- 5%, 41 +/- 4% and 28 +/- 4% of the baseline values,
      respectively, without any significant reduction in signal intensity of the
      infarcted region. The reduction in signal of normal myocardium and delineation of
      the infarct persisted for 5 min at a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg, for 20 min at a dose of
      0.3 mmol/kg and for 40 min at a dose of 0.5 mmol/kg. No change in signal
      intensity or signal intensity ratio between normal and infarcted myocardium was
      observed in the control group during the same observation period. CONCLUSIONS:
      These results suggest that low doses of this agent, comparable to those of
      longitudinal relaxation time (T1)-enhancing agents, can delineate acutely
      infarcted myocardium. A dose of 0.3 mmol/kg of DyDTPA-BMA (S-043 Injection)
      provides reasonably persistent demarcation of acute myocardial infarction.
      Because this dose dramatically suppresses the NMR signal of normal myocardium, it
      shows the infarcted region as a region of high intensity (bright spot) on NMR
      images.

PMID- 1452939
TI  - Effect of Buckberg cardioplegia and peripheral cardiopulmonary bypass on infarct
      size in the closed chest dog.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To simulate a human catheterization laboratory setting of controlled
      reperfusion during myocardial infarction, regional infusion of commercially
      available Buckberg cardioplegic solution and peripheral vented bypass were
      administered in the closed chest dog. BACKGROUND: Studies in open-chest dogs have
      demonstrated a significant reduction in infarct size and improvement in regional
      wall motion with a similar controlled reperfusion method using infusion of
      substrate-enriched (Buckberg) cardioplegic solution during cardiopulmonary bypass
      coupled with left ventricular venting. METHODS: After 100 or 180 min of balloon
      occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending artery, controlled reperfusion
      was performed with cardioplegic infusion and vented bypass. Dogs matched for
      occlusion time underwent balloon deflation without bypass or cardioplegia
      (uncontrolled reperfusion groups). Microspheres were used to quantify coronary
      ischemia during balloon inflation. All four groups (n = 8 to 9 per group) were
      followed up at 1 week to determine regional wall motion and infarct size.
      RESULTS: Qualitative echocardiographic analysis demonstrated no significant
      difference among groups in recovery of regional wall motion at 1 week; however,
      wall motion improved significantly in all groups between the ischemia and 1-week
      recovery periods. The histologic infarct size compared with the area at risk for
      dogs with uncontrolled versus controlled reperfusion, respectively, was 17.9 +/-
      10.5% versus 31.9 +/- 8.3% (p < 0.05) for dogs with 100 min of occlusion and 40.1
      +/- 11.7% versus 46.2 +/- 8.4% (p = NS) for dogs with 180 min of occlusion. A
      greater rate-pressure product in the dogs with controlled reperfusion after 100
      min of occlusion (p < 0.05) may explain the larger infarct size observed for that
      group. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that regional infusion of substrate
      enriched cardioplegic solution in combination with peripheral vented bypass does
      not further reduce infarct size after prolonged ischemia in the closed chest dog
      (compared with uncontrolled reperfusion).

PMID- 1452940
TI  - Effect of chronic supraventricular tachycardia on left ventricular function and
      structure in newborn pigs.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of
      supraventricular pacing tachycardia on left ventricular function and myocardial
      structure in newborn, immature pigs and to determine whether immature pigs
      respond to supraventricular tachycardia differently from adults. BACKGROUND:
      Previous studies have shown that supraventricular tachycardia causes dilated
      cardiomyopathy in adult animals; however, in humans, supraventricular tachycardia
      induced congestive heart failure occurs most frequently in children and newborns.
      Because some clinical diseases may cause myocardial failure in adults but rarely
      do so in children, it was hypothesized that the effects of supraventricular
      tachycardia in newborns may be different from those in adults. METHODS: In two
      groups of newborn swine (3 weeks of age), left ventricular volume, mass and
      function were assessed with simultaneous echocardiography and cardiac
      catheterization and myocardial structure was examined with light and electron
      microscopy. Six piglets underwent 3 weeks of left atrial pacing tachycardia (240
      beats/min) and six littermates served as a control group. Both groups were
      followed up for 3 weeks. RESULTS: At the end of the protocol, left ventricular
      dimensions increased in the piglets with supraventricular tachycardia compared
      with values in the control group, but there were no differences in left
      ventricular mass. Systolic function, assessed by fractional shortening, peak
      ejection rate and maximal rate of pressure development, was decreased in the
      group with supraventricular tachycardia. The fractional shortening-end-systolic
      stress relation in the piglets with supraventricular tachycardia decreased below
      normal values. Left ventricular diastolic function assessed by the relaxation
      time constant was prolonged, the peak filling rate was decreased and left
      ventricular stiffness was increased in the supraventricular tachycardia group.
      The morphologic data demonstrated that supraventricular tachycardia did not
      change total myocyte volume but did decrease total myofibrillar volume.
      CONCLUSIONS: Supraventricular tachycardia caused dilated cardiomyopathy in
      immature pigs. These changes in left ventricular function were associated with a
      decrease in cellular contractile proteins. Thus, the effects of supraventricular
      tachycardia on left ventricular function and structure in immature animals were
      comparable to previous findings in mature animals.

PMID- 1452941
TI  - Echocardiographic "smoke" is produced by an interaction of erythrocytes and
      plasma proteins modulated by shear forces.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to determine the blood elements responsible
      for spontaneous echocardiographic contrast. BACKGROUND: Spontaneous contrast or
      "smoke" is an echocardiographic image usually found in low flow conditions. Two
      blood elements, erythrocytes and platelets, have been related to the generation
      of smoke. METHODS: The echogenicity of porcine blood products was assessed in
      static and flow conditions and was graded on a digitized videodensity computer
      program that assigned a score of 0 for black and 100 for white images. Blood
      elements were circulated from a small tube (4-mm diameter) into a larger
      cylindric chamber (30-mm diameter) under controlled flow rate conditions. The
      following blood products were studied: whole blood, platelet-depleted blood,
      platelet-rich plasma, platelet-poor plasma, erythrocytes suspended in saline
      solution, adenosine diphosphate (ADP) added to platelet-rich plasma, and saline
      solution as a control medium. RESULTS: As blood flow was increased in 30 ml/min
      increments from 0 to 180 ml/min, whole blood echo videodensity (scale 0 to 100)
      progressively decreased in the larger tube from 38 and 42 to 20, 12, 14, 16 and
      14, respectively. When flow increased from 0 to 30 ml/min in the smaller tube,
      corresponding to a wall shear rate of 0 to 80 s-1, the blood entering the chamber
      was completely echolucent. The echogenicity of blood products in the larger tube
      was for static flow (0 ml/min) and high flow (180 ml/min), respectively: platelet
      depleted blood = 36 and 14; platelet-rich plasma = 2 and 2; platelet-poor plasma
      = 0 and 0; erythrocytes in saline solution = 8 and 12; ADP added to platelet-rich
      plasma = 0 and 15; saline solution = 0 and 0. Because platelets alone were
      nonechogenic but platelet-depleted blood produced a flow-dependent echogenicity
      similar to that produced by whole blood, platelets may not be involved in the
      production of smoke. However, when platelets were aggregated by ADP, they were
      echogenic but in dense clumps and in a flow-independent pattern not typical of
      the smokelike images. Erythrocytes suspended in saline solution had an
      intermediate density image. CONCLUSIONS: Echogenic smoke appears to be due
      primarily to the interaction of red blood cells and plasma proteins at low flow
      and low shear rate conditions.

PMID- 1452942
TI  - Mitral regurgitant jets after valvuloplasty--I.

PMID- 1452943
TI  - Mitral regurgitant jets after valvuloplasty-II.

PMID- 1452944
TI  - Meta-analyses of the effects of thrombolysis and aspirin on clinical outcomes.

PMID- 1452945
TI  - Choline: an important nutrient in brain development, liver function and
      carcinogenesis.
AB  - Choline is required to make certain phospholipids which are essential components
      of all membranes. It is a precursor for biosynthesis of the neurotransmitter
      acetylcholine and also is an important source of labile methyl groups. Much
      attention has been given to the effect of supplemental choline upon brain
      function, i.e., enhancement of acetylcholine synthesis and release. In addition,
      choline supplements administered to rats in utero or shortly after birth
      permanently after brain function. The mechanisms for this effect is unknown and
      under investigation at this time. Healthy humans fed diets deficient in choline,
      and humans fed parenterally have decreased plasma choline concentrations and
      develop liver dysfunction that is similar to that seen in choline-deficient
      animals. In experimental animals, fatty liver occurs in choline deficiency
      because phosphatidylcholine synthesis is required for very low-density
      lipoprotein secretion. This accumulation of lipids in liver may explain why
      choline-deficient rats spontaneously develop hepatocarcinoma. We found that
      choline deficiency was associated with the accumulation of 1,2-diacylglycerol, an
      activator of protein kinase C. Several lines of evidence indicate that cancers
      might develop secondary to abnormalities in protein kinase C-mediated signal
      transduction.

PMID- 1452946
TI  - Effect of interleukin-2 on some micronutrients during adoptive immunotherapy for
      various cancers.
AB  - In 20 patients, we investigated the effect of interleukin-2 (IL-2) treatment
      during adoptive immunotherapy for various cancers on circulating levels of:
      thiamin; biotin; folate; pantothenate; riboflavin; nicotinate; vitamins A, B6,
      B12 and E; carotenes; free and total cholines; inositol; and free and total
      carnitines. Of the above micronutrients, only vitamins A, B6, B12, inositol,
      carotenes and folate varied markedly from normal levels (pre IL-2 exposure) to
      abnormal levels (post IL-2). Following IL-2 exposure, every patient's B12 level
      was significantly elevated; 50% of the levels were abnormally increased above
      1000 pg/ml. Extreme significant elevations of inositol were also seen in 90% of
      the patients. In contrast, IL-2 exposure depressed normal vitamins A, B6,
      carotene, and folate levels to subnormal; 90% of the patients became B6
      hypovitaminemic; 60% for vitamin A, 80% for carotene, and 45% for folate. Other
      micronutrients tested showed no clear deviations from normal levels post IL-2
      exposure. Some reasons for micronutrient variations are discussed.

PMID- 1452947
TI  - Vitamin E and cancer prevention: recent advances and future potentials.
AB  - Many animal and in vitro experiments have shown that the supplementation of diet
      with vitamin E within a certain dose range reduced the risk of chemical- and
      radiation-induced cancers. In vitro studies revealed that alpha-tocopheryl
      succinate (TS) induced differentiation and growth-inhibition in certain animal
      and human tumor cells in culture, whereas alpha-tocopherol (alpha-T), alpha
      tocopheryl acetate (alpha-TA) and alpha-tocopheryl nicotinate (alpha-TN) were
      ineffective, alpha-TS also reduced basal and ligand-stimulated adenylate cyclase
      activity, and expression of c-myc and H-ras oncogenes in certain tumor cells in
      culture. The relative efficacy of various forms of vitamin E in cancer prevention
      in animal or human models has not been evaluated. Human epidemiologic studies
      utilizing retrospective and prospective case-control experimental designs are not
      suitable for evaluating the role of vitamin E in cancer prevention due to several
      inherent problems associated with these methodologies. Intervention trials
      utilizing vitamin E with appropriate biological and statistical rationales are
      most suitable for testing the role of vitamin E in cancer prevention in humans.
      Some human trials utilizing vitamin E alone or in combination with other
      nutrients are in progress.

PMID- 1452948
TI  - Plasma amino acid responses of trained athletes to two successive exhaustion
      trials with and without interim carbohydrate feeding.
AB  - The purpose of this research was to measure changes in selected plasma amino
      acids (AA) during two successive exercise trials to exhaustion. Eleven trained
      male athletes completed these trials at weeks 4, 6, 8 and 12. Blood samples for
      each test were collected after a 12-hour fast at times (in minutes) 0 (Resting),
      45, 90, 135, 180, at exhaustion (EI), after a 20-minute recovery period, and at
      the second exhaustion (EII). At the end of EI, subjects consumed an artificially
      sweetened water replacement (placebo) treatment or a carbohydrate (CHO)
      replacement (1.1 g CHO/kg BW) in order to determine any effect of CHO replacement
      on changes in energy substrates or AA, adjusted for plasma volume changes. From
      baseline to EI, alpha-aminobutyric acid, alanine, glycine, isoleucine, serine,
      valine threonine, and tyrosine decreased significantly (p less than or equal to
      0.05), while taurine increased significantly. During the recovery period
      following EI, isoleucine, leucine, ornithine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, urea and
      valine increased significantly. From the end of recovery until EII, alanine,
      aspartic acid, glycine, isoleucine, leucine, ornithine, phenylalanine, serine,
      threonine, tyrosine and valine decreased significantly. CHO replacement had no
      effect on the mean change scores for any AA from EI to the end of the recovery
      period and affected only serine, citrulline, glycine and threonine from the end
      of the recovery period to EII.

PMID- 1452949
TI  - Role of nutrition in the management of malnutrition and immune dysfunction of
      trauma.
AB  - Current nutrition support improves patient outcome in trauma patients. It appears
      to do so by limiting the adverse effects of specific nutrient or generalized
      nutrient deficiencies. Immunosuppression, however, continues as a significant
      clinical problem. This immunosuppression appears to be part of the inflammatory
      response that accompanies trauma, and in part, to represent the need for
      conditional nutrients in this setting. Three nutrients that are being evaluated
      include arginine, uracil as ribonucleic acid and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty
      acids. Animal studies report improved immune function. Early clinical trials are
      reporting improved immune function and patient outcomes.

PMID- 1452950
TI  - Benefits of oral protein supplementation in elderly patients with fracture of the
      proximal femur.
AB  - Malnutrition has been often suggested as contributing to both the high incidence
      of hip fracture in elderly people and its complications. In a recent prospective
      controlled randomized study, the clinical outcome of elderly patients with
      osteoporotic fracture of the proximal femur (hip fracture) improved by giving a
      simple oral dietary supplement. This study, however, did not prove that protein
      was responsible for the clinical improvement since the supplement also contained
      vitamins and minerals. We addressed this question by comparing the clinical
      outcome and bone mineral density (BMD) changes in elderly patients with hip
      fracture, receiving two different dietary supplements with different protein
      contents. Sixty-two patients (mean age 82) admitted into the orthopedic ward for
      fracture of the proximal femur were randomized into two groups. One group (n =
      33) received 250 ml/day of an oral nutritional supplement containing protein
      (20.4 g), mineral salts (Ca: 0.525 g) and vitamins A = 750 IU; D3 = 25 IU) for a
      mean of 38 days. A control group (n = 29) received the same supplement dose, but
      with no protein, for the same period of time. The clinical course was
      significantly better in the group receiving protein, with 79% having a favorable
      course as compared to 36% (p less than 0.02) in the control group during the stay
      in the recovery hospital. The rate of complications and deaths was also
      significantly lower in the protein-supplemented vs the control group (52 vs 80%,
      p less than 0.05) 7 months after hip fracture. The median hospital stay was
      significantly lower in the protein-supplemented group (69 vs 102 days, p less
      than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452951
TI  - The Salt Step Test: its usage in the diagnosis of salt-sensitive hypertension and
      in the detection of the salt hypertension threshold.
AB  - The Salt Step Test was devised to characterize the response of the hypertensive
      patient to dietary salt. The test has three phases: unrestricted salt, to
      document hypertension and customary salt intake; restricted salt (2 g/day), to
      identify the salt-sensitive patient; and stepwise increased salt (each step = 1
      g/day), to find the level that precipitates hypertension. The Salt Step Test
      identified that out of 30 well-established adult hypertensives, 13 were salt
      sensitive. It also revealed that in each salt-sensitive patient, a distinct level
      of salt (range 3-16 g/day) precipitated hypertension, i.e., a Salt Hypertension
      Threshold. Definition of the Salt Hypertension Threshold should be useful in
      providing specific, individualized guidelines for dietary salt restriction.

PMID- 1452952
TI  - Predicting total body water and extracellular fluid volumes from bioelectrical
      measurements of the human body.
AB  - Two biological impedance analyzers, a 50 kHz (RJL) and 20-100 kHz (BMA)
      instrument, and a total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) instrument were used
      to estimate total body water (TBW), extracellular (ECF) and intracellular (ICF)
      fluid volumes by repeated measurements of 16 normal men (19-38 years old) to
      assess which, if any, would provide the best estimates. At 3-week intervals, TBW
      was determined by deuterium dilution, ECF by bromide dilution, ICF by difference
      (TBW-ECF) and lean body mass by density. Prediction equations were obtained by
      regression; predicted values for the body fluid volumes were calculated and the
      results were statistically evaluated. Both the TOBEC and the BMA provided rapid
      and reliable estimates for body fluid volumes with standard errors of the
      estimates of about 0.5-1.1 L for ECF, 1.0-1.8 L for TBW, and 1.0-1.3 L for ICF.
      Part of the error was attributable to standard tracer-dilution methods.

PMID- 1452953
TI  - Modification by food of the calcium absorbability and physicochemical effects of
      calcium citrate.
AB  - The food-calcium (Ca) interaction was examined in 12 healthy women (mean age 38
      years) maintained on a constant metabolic diet. They underwent three phases of
      study, comprised of control (no Ca), Ca citrate (1 g Ca/day) during meals, and Ca
      citrate separately from meals. Each phase was 7 days in length and two 24-hour
      urine samples were collected on days 6 and 7. The rise from the control phase in
      urinary Ca was slightly more prominent when Ca citrate was given with meals than
      without (68 and 62%, respectively). The fall in urinary phosphorus was equivalent
      at about 25% between Ca citrate phases. The rise in urinary citrate and pH and
      the decline in urinary ammonium were more prominent when Ca citrate was given
      with meals; however, the changes were small or nonsignificant. The urinary
      saturation of Ca oxalate, brushite or monosodium urate did not differ between the
      two Ca citrate phases. There was a nonsignificant rise in serum iron during Ca
      citrate phases. The results suggest that: 1) dissolution and absorption of Ca
      citrate might be slightly greater when given with food than without; 2) that the
      ability of Ca citrate to attenuate crystallization of stone-forming Ca salts in
      urine is not modified by food; and 3) that Ca citrate may not impair iron
      absorption from food.

PMID- 1452954
TI  - Comparison of in vitro and in vivo tests for determination of availability of
      calcium from calcium carbonate tablets.
AB  - In vitro tests of calcium (Ca) availability and the oral Ca load test were
      conducted on eight brands of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) tablets (products A-H)
      each providing 500 mg Ca. Data were collected over three experiments with nine to
      11 healthy premenopausal women testing two to four products. Subjects followed a
      low Ca diet (less than 10 mmol/day). On test mornings, fasting subjects collected
      baseline urine for 2 hours (-2 to 0 hours), then ingested the tablet with water.
      Urine was collected from 0 to 2 hours and 2 to 4 hours; for products E-H, urine
      was collected for an additional 2 hours (4 to 6 hours). Blood was sampled at
      hours 0, 4 and 6 during testing of products E and F. Three in vitro tests were
      run: the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) dissolution test, USP disintegration
      test, and a disintegration test using vinegar. Ca excretion rose significantly at
      hours 2 to 4 (p less than 0.05) compared to baseline for seven products. Ca
      excretion either fell or remained constant between hours 4 and 6. Serum Ca rose
      and serum parathyroid hormone fell at hour 4, compared to fasting values,
      suggesting that 4 hours represents peak response time. In vivo availability,
      measured as the incremental increase in Ca excretion (mmol/mmol creatinine) in
      hours 2 to 4 compared to baseline, did not correlate significantly with results
      of the USP dissolution test but did with results of either the USP disintegration
      test or the vinegar test.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452955
TI  - Further studies of the effect of zinc on intestinal absorption of calcium in man.
AB  - In a previous study dietary supplementation with 140 mg zinc (Zn) as Zn sulfate
      (ZnSO4) per day significantly decreased absorption of calcium (Ca) during a low
      Ca intake (230 mg/day) but not during a normal Ca intake (800 mg/day). The
      purpose of the present study was to determine whether smaller doses of Zn would
      also inhibit Ca absorption during the 230 mg Ca intake, and whether the 140 mg
      dose of Zn would inhibit Ca absorption during a Ca intake less than 800 mg/day.
      To investigate the first aspect, 100 mg Zn as ZnSO4, was given daily during a low
      Ca intake (230 mg/day) in six studies, and in the second phase, 140 mg Zn as
      ZnSO4 was given during a Ca intake of of 500 mg/day in five studies. Intestinal
      absorption of Ca was determined with tracer doses of 47CaCl2 in control studies
      and in the two Zn supplementation studies. Results showed that 100 mg Zn/day
      during a low Ca intake (230 mg/day) did not inhibit Ca absorption and that 140 mg
      Zn given during the 500 mg Ca intake also did not affect the absorption of Ca.

PMID- 1452956
TI  - Hypothesis: etiology of atherosclerosis and osteoporosis: are imbalances in the
      calciferol endocrine system implicated?
AB  - Atherosclerosis and osteoporosis are currently considered unrelated diseases.
      Osteoporosis involves bone calcium (Ca) loss and predominantly affects females
      after menopause. Atherosclerosis is an illness predominantly affecting males, and
      is primarily characterized by abnormal lipid metabolism. However, pathological
      calcification of the arterial wall is an underlying feature of atherosclerosis.
      Ca homeostasis is thus important in atherosclerosis as well as in osteoporosis.
      Men also develop osteoporosis although at a later age than women, and, as
      osteoporosis progresses in women, there is an accompanying calcification of
      arteries leading to increased incidence of atherosclerosis in aging women. Thus,
      during old age, both atherosclerosis and osteoporosis are prevalent in both males
      and females. The dramatic increase in atherosclerosis among women as they develop
      osteoporosis suggests that the two illnesses may be more closely related than
      previously realized. The use of vitamin D as a food supplement coincides with
      epidemic onsets of atherosclerosis and osteoporosis, and excess vitamin D induces
      both conditions in humans and laboratory animals. These observations suggest a
      role for chronic vitamin D excess in the etiology of the two illnesses. Magnesium
      (Mg) deficiency, nicotine, and high dietary cholesterol are contributing factors
      that accentuate adverse effects of vitamin D.

PMID- 1452957
TI  - Safeguarding supplements. US Pharmacopeia sets quality standards for FDA and the
      supplement industry.

PMID- 1452958
TI  - Food intake measurements: is there a "gold standard"?

PMID- 1452959
TI  - Improving dietitians' teaching skills.
AB  - Many health professionals lack important teaching skills, perhaps adding to
      patient difficulties in understanding and adopting therapeutic diets. Research
      suggests that teaching skills improved after dietitians took a continuing
      education course entitled "Effective Patient Teaching." Our study tested whether
      dietitians' new skills would persist in the field and whether selected patient
      outcomes would differ as a result. Thirty staff dietitians from six urban
      hospitals were videotaped teaching patients, then randomly assigned to take the
      Effective Patient Teaching course or not (control group). Follow-up videotapes
      were made after 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. After each teaching session,
      patient satisfaction and recall were assessed. Two judges rated 20 teaching
      skills, which were divided into four subsets for analysis. Repeated measures
      analyses of variance showed overall gains only for the group that took the
      Effective Patient Teaching course, which scored higher than the control group at
      1 week and 1 month, but not at baseline or 3 months. Gains occurred in
      presentation skills and essential teaching functions. Throughout the study,
      interpersonal skills were high and adherence promotion skills were low for
      dietitians in both groups. Groups did not differ on patient satisfaction or
      recall. Improvements in dietitians' teaching skills translated to the field
      immediately after they completed the continuing education program, but not all
      gains were sustained after 3 months. We recommend that dietitians assess their
      teaching and adherence promotion skills, obtain training where warranted, and
      periodically reassess the application of those skills during patient teaching
      sessions.

PMID- 1452960
TI  - Cravings and aversions of pregnant adolescents.
AB  - Adolescents from 31 eastern Tennessee counties were interviewed during the third
      trimester of pregnancy (n = 97) and at 1-year postpartum (n = 64) to assess
      cravings and aversions, beliefs about dietary cravings, and how these factors
      influence dietary intake. Characteristics of cravings and aversions were assessed
      using a semistructured interview. Beliefs about cravings during pregnancy were
      measured with a 13-item Likert-type scale (alpha = 0.79). Two 24-hour recalls and
      2 days' food records provided dietary data. Most adolescents (86%) reported
      cravings during pregnancy. They most frequently reported cravings for sweets,
      especially chocolate; fruits and fruit juices; fast foods; pickles; ice cream;
      and pizza. Many participants (66%) experienced aversions during pregnancy toward
      previously liked foods. The most common aversions were to meats, eggs, and pizza.
      Fewer cravings and aversions were noted during the first year postpartum. No
      significant relationship existed between craving and aversions and belief scores.
      Adolescents craving sweets during pregnancy consumed more sugar and energy than
      those who did not crave sweets. Cravings generally resulted in increased intake,
      and aversions led to decreased food consumption. On the basis of these results,
      we suggest that nutritional assessment of pregnant adolescents include questions
      about cravings and aversions.

PMID- 1452961
TI  - Self-reported and measured weights and heights of participants in community-based
      weight loss programs.
AB  - Self-reported weights and heights of 82 adults were compared with measured
      weights and heights 1 to 3 years after participation in community weight loss
      programs. The mean self-reported weight was 2.3 +/- 1.9 kg lower than measured
      weight (P < .05). Differences in underreporting were not significant for gender
      or age group. Heavier individuals misreported their weight to a greater extent (P
      < .05) than lighter persons, and individuals who had not recently weighed
      themselves underreported their weight to a greater extent than those who had
      weighed recently (P < .05). On the average, height was overreported by a mean of
      1.8 +/- 2.7 cm. Overreporting increased with increasing height, and men
      overestimated their height to a greater extent than women (P < .05). Younger
      subjects reported their height more accurately than those older than 60 years.
      Results of our study are similar to those of previous investigations that
      examined self-reporting bias in subjects enrolled in weight loss programs. The
      mean discrepancy in body weight, however, was greater than that reported in
      samples drawn from the general population. Our findings indicate that self
      reported weight and height values in overweight populations should be interpreted
      with caution.

PMID- 1452962
TI  - Dietary patterns of elderly Boston-area residents defined by cluster analysis.
AB  - The dietary patterns of 680 noninstitutionalized, predominantly white, elderly
      volunteers from the Boston area (447 women and 233 men) were examined by cluster
      analysis of food contribution to energy intake. Data were derived from 3-day
      dietary records. The four major patterns identified corresponded to high
      consumption of (a) alcohol, (b) milk, cereals, and fruits, (c) bread and poultry,
      and (d) meat and potatoes. The resulting clusters of subjects differed
      significantly in gender, education, income, and frequency of smoking. Those with
      diets high in milk, cereals, and fruits had the highest intakes of micronutrients
      and the best hematologic profile. Those with high meat and potato intakes had the
      lowest intakes of micronutrients and lowest levels of plasma folate and vitamin B
      6. High alcohol consumers had lowest blood levels of riboflavin and vitamin B-12
      and highest levels of high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol. Those with high bread
      and poultry intakes had lowest reported energy intakes, but, paradoxically, they
      had the highest mean body mass index. Neither total serum cholesterol nor
      cholesterol intake varied significantly among groups. Our findings suggest that
      the nutritional status of the elderly may be improved by promoting food patterns
      rich in milk, fruit, and cereals and by counseling the elderly to limit
      consumption of alcohol and meats high in saturated fats.

PMID- 1452963
TI  - Nutrient intakes of 2- to 10-year-old American children: 10-year trends.
AB  - Nutrient intakes of American children aged 2 to 10 years were compared for the
      years 1978 and 1988 using a unique nutrient assessment system designed and
      developed by the Nutrition Department at General Mills. This system integrated
      data from three sources: 14-day food consumption diaries collected from 4,000
      households in the Market Research Corporation of America Menu Census panel
      surveys; serving-size data from the spring 1977 Nationwide Food Consumption
      Survey; and nutrient data from the Michigan State University Nutrient Data Bank.
      The results indicate that energy and macronutrient intakes remained fairly
      constant over the 10-year period. Average daily vitamin and mineral intakes were
      lower in 1988 than in 1978 for the majority of those studied; however, most
      nutrient levels remained over 100% of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs).
      For more than 50% of the population, the intakes of calcium, vitamin B-6, and
      zinc were below the RDAs. Our findings indicate the need for continued monitoring
      of the impact of changing food consumption patterns on the diets of American
      children.

PMID- 1452965
TI  - Journal reading habits of dietitians.
AB  - Professional journals are an important resource for continuing education. To
      explore the journal reading habits of registered dietitians (RDs), we mailed a
      questionnaire to all RDs in the state of Delaware. Responses were received from
      71 RDs (47%) who identified 44 professional journals they rely on for current,
      practical information. RDs who have journals available at work tend to devote
      more time to reading at work than at home. The Journal of The American Dietetic
      Association was clearly the professional journal read with most regularity by
      respondents. Articles of practical interest, followed by abstracts and book
      reviews, were sections most widely read. Lack of time was the primary reason RDs
      identified for not devoting adequate time to reading. Many attempted to resolve
      this problem through reliance on newsletters and less involvement with journal
      articles. Suggestions for improving and maximizing journal reading habits are
      offered.

PMID- 1452964
TI  - Effects of dietary calcium from dairy products on ambulatory blood pressure in
      hypertensive men.
AB  - The effect of consumption of 400 mg vs 1,500 mg of dietary calcium per day was
      examined in 13 male volunteers who had been diagnosed as hypertensive. Dietary
      calcium consumption was varied by manipulation of the intake of dairy products
      over 4-week periods. Caffeine intake (mean = 500 mg/day) was monitored. Neither
      laboratory blood pressure measured by standard sphygmomanometry nor ambulatory
      blood pressure monitored by automated sphygmomanometry varied significantly among
      men consuming baseline, low-calcium, or high-calcium diets (laboratory blood
      pressure = 136/83, 133/83, and 137/84 mm Hg, respectively; ambulatory blood
      pressure = 136/86, 138/87, and 138/87 mm Hg, respectively). Serum ionized calcium
      values did not vary with the three diets (1.25, 1.26, and 1.25 mmol/L,
      respectively). The parathyroid hormone level decreased (39 mmol/L vs 37 mmol/L)
      and the urinary calcium:creatinine ratio was elevated (0.41 vs 0.50) in the high
      calcium diet. Consumption of a diet containing 1,500 mg calcium per day over 4
      weeks did not produce a significant decrease in blood pressure or alterations in
      calcium metabolic indexes.

PMID- 1452966
TI  - Potential role of energy and nutrient intakes in decreasing the incidence of
      genitourinary tract infections in pregnant adolescents.

PMID- 1452967
TI  - Prepregnancy weight and rate of maternal weight gain in adolescents and young
      adults.

PMID- 1452968
TI  - A food frequency questionnaire that rapidly and accurately assesses intake of
      fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and energy.

PMID- 1452970
TI  - Professional attitudes of dietetics students and practitioners.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an instrument for measuring
      differences in professional attitudes of dietetics students and practitioners.
      Comparisons were made between junior and senior dietetics students, new and
      experienced (5 years or more) registered members of The American Dietetic
      Association (ADA), and registered ADA members and registered nonmembers
      (individuals who dropped ADA membership). The sample consisted of 371 junior and
      senior students from 18 coordinated dietetics programs and 1,041 dietetics
      practitioners. Principal component analysis was used to categorize conceptually
      51 professionalism statements into 13 factors identified as professional attitude
      scales. Mean scores for the two scales "personal obligations for professional
      development" and "mastery of substantive content" were highest for all three
      groups; lowest scores were for the scale "professional isolation." Overall,
      significant differences were found on eight scales for one or more of the
      comparison groups. Students rated the scale "respect for the profession's
      intellectual challenge" higher than did new and experienced registered ADA
      members. Discriminant analysis indicated that junior (70%) and senior students
      (65%) were successfully differentiated on four scales, new (62%) and experienced
      (60%) registered ADA members on five scales, and ADA members (70%) and nonmembers
      (72%) on four scales. Results of this study could be used by educators to support
      inclusion of concepts of professionalism in dietetics curriculums. Results also
      could aid practitioners in marketing their knowledge and skills by presenting a
      more positive professional image to clients.

PMID- 1452969
TI  - Food beliefs and diets of pregnant Korean-American women.

PMID- 1452971
TI  - The effects of probenecid on the excretion kinetics of stanozolol, an anabolic
      steroid, in rats.
AB  - The pharmacokinetic behaviour and the mechanism of renal excretion of stanozolol
      (STZ), as affected by co-treatment with probenecid, were studied in male Sprague
      Dawley rats. Pharmacokinetic parameters following intravenous (i.v.)
      administration of STZ (20 mg kg-1 body wt.) were measured in both STZ-treated
      (control) and STZ plus probenecid-treated (treatment) groups. In order to assess
      the renal clearance of STZ, bolus doses of STZ and inulin (40 mg kg-1 body wt.)
      were injected i.v. either in the presence or absence of probenecid (40 mg kg-1
      body wt.). The blood and urine concentrations of STZ were determined by capillary
      gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the probenecid treatment group,
      the area under the plasma disappearance and urinary excretion curves (AUC) of STZ
      were significantly decreased (P < 0.01) and the volume of distribution (Vd) and
      total clearance (CLt) were significantly increased statistically (P < 0.05 and P
      < 0.01, respectively). No remarkable differences in the urine flow rate, urine pH
      values, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) or renal clearance were observed in the
      treatment group. However, the clearance ratio in the treatment group was
      significantly increased from 11.72 to 17.27. From these results, it is suggested
      that the significant decrease of AUC, i.e. increase of disappearance of STZ in
      plasma by co-administration with probenecid, is due to the increase of the
      clearance ratio.

PMID- 1452972
TI  - Retention of inhaled perfluoroisobutene in the rat.
AB  - Perfluoroisobutene (PFIB) is produced by the pyrolysis, and as a by-product
      during the manufacture, of polytetrafluoroethylene. When inhaled it produces a
      fulminating and sometimes fatal pulmonary oedema similar to that of phosgene
      after a latent period of 6-8 h. As part of a study to determine the retained dose
      and the factors that control the amount retained, this study has investigated the
      retention in rats of inhaled PFIB at concentrations of 10, 50 and 250 micrograms
      l-1 in a flow-through system combining head-only exposure and plethysmography.
      Uptake of PFIB was measured by gas chromatography during elevated and reduced
      inspired volume and respiratory rate induced by exposure to increased CO2 and
      injection of pentobarbitone, respectively. The percentage of PFIB retained in the
      upper airways and lungs was found to be 27.5, 28.1 and 23.7% of the amount
      inspired at the three concentrations tested. The rate of uptake (nmol min-1 kg-1)
      of PFIB was a power law of the amount inhaled, an n-fold increase in minute
      volume producing an nb-fold increase in uptake, where b varied between 0.4 and
      0.85. Thus, doubling the inhaled dose produces a 1.3-1.8-fold increase in uptake
      with a corresponding decrease in percentage retained. The relative contribution
      of respiratory rate and tidal volume upon PFIB retention could not be defined.

PMID- 1452973
TI  - Effect of lead on hepatic microsomal enzyme activity.

PMID- 1452974
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging of the rat brain following acute carbon monoxide
      poisoning.
AB  - Magnetic resonance (MR) may be used for repeatedly and non-invasively imaging the
      brain. Until now, no studies have used this approach to study the effects of
      carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in a defined animal model. Conscious, Levine
      prepared female rats (unilateral carotid artery and jugular vein occlusion) were
      exposed to 2400 ppm CO for 90 min, with or without the infusion of 50% glucose
      solution; CO-stimulated increases in blood glucose and lactate occurred in both
      groups, while blood pressure and body temperature fell. One to four hours
      following termination of CO exposure, increased cortical pixel intensity,
      cortical surface area and brain midline shift were observed on the operated side
      of the brain in some rats of both groups (i.e. responders = R), providing
      evidence of edema. At sacrifice, 5 h following termination of CO exposure, gross
      water content was increased on the left side in the corresponding cortical slices
      in R rats, providing another measure of edema. Significant positive correlations
      were found between left to right pixel intensity difference and water content
      difference, and between the extent of midline shift and water content difference.
      The elevations of blood glucose and lactate concentrations, and the magnitudes of
      CO-induced hypothermia and hypotension were similar to those in past studies, but
      appeared to exert no effect on the severity of cortical edema in terms of
      differences in pixel intensity, surface area, midline shift or gross tissue water
      content. Thus, the observed differences between the R rats is not explained by
      the available data.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452975
TI  - Effects of 3-methylcholanthrene or diethyl maleate on the hepatotoxicity of
      acetaminophen.
AB  - This report presents a set of investigations on the hepatotoxic action of
      acetaminophen (AA). Male mice of Balb C strain were given [3H]acetaminophen in
      doses of 100, 300 and 600 mg kg-1 with or without pretreatment with 3
      methylcholanthrene (3MCh) or diethyl maleate (DEM). The results of this study
      show that AA administered in moderate doses brings about necrotic changes due to
      adduct formation with macromolecules. Adduct formation was inversely correlated
      with the level of glutathione. Both modifiers enhanced hepatic necrosis and
      lethality. Diethyl maleate exerted these effects without enhancing covalent
      binding to macromolecules, while 3MCh increased both adduct formation and lipid
      peroxidation.

PMID- 1452976
TI  - Pulmonary reactivity to vanadium pentoxide following subchronic inhalation
      exposure in a non-human primate animal model.
AB  - An experimental study was conducted to evaluate changes in pulmonary reactivity
      resulting from repeated vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) dust inhalation. The study
      assessed pulmonary reactivity to V2O5 through the use of provocation challenges,
      and compared V2O5 reactivity before and after subchronic V2O5 exposure. A total
      of 24 adult, male cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were exposed by
      inhalation for 6 h per day, 5 days per week, for 26 weeks. Two V2O5-exposed
      groups (n = 8 each) received equal weekly V2O5 exposures (concentration x time)
      with different exposure profiles. One V2O5-exposed group received 0.1 mg V2O5 m-3
      on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays, with a twice-weekly peak exposure of 1.1 mg
      V2O5 m-3 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and was included to investigate the influence
      of an exposure regimen with peaks on the development of pulmonary hyper
      reactivity. The other V2O5-exposed group received a constant daily concentration
      of 0.5 mg V2O5 m-3. A control group (n = 8) received filtered, conditioned air.
      Pre-exposure challenges with V2O5 produced a concentration-dependent impairment
      in pulmonary function, characterized by airway obstructive changes (increased
      resistance and decreased flow). Analysis of respiratory cells recovered from the
      lung by bronchoalveolar lavage demonstrated that airway obstruction was
      accompanied by a significant influx of inflammatory cells into the lung.
      Subchronic V2O5 inhalation did not produce an increase in V2O5 reactivity in
      comparison to the control group, and cytological, immunological and skin test
      results indicate the absence of allergic sensitization. Instead, a trend toward
      decreased pulmonary reactivity was found following subchronic V2O5
      inhalation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1452977
TI  - The pattern of poisoning in urban Zimbabwe.
AB  - A 10-year (1980 to 1989 inclusively) retrospective analysis of poisoning
      admissions to the six major referral hospitals in Zimbabwe revealed 6018 cases.
      The majority of the patients were aged 0-5 years (35%) and 21-30 years (22.6%).
      The main agents associated with acute poisoning were traditional medicines (22.9%
      of the total), household chemicals (18.8%, 13.2% of which was due to paraffin),
      snake and insect envenomation (17.1%), orthodox medicines (16.7%) and
      insecticides (14.8%, 10% of which is accounted for by organophosphates).
      Mortality was 15% and the main agents associated with fatality were pesticides,
      traditional medicines and orthodox medicines, in descending order. The prevention
      and treatment of intoxication caused by traditional and orthodox medicines, the
      proper storage and disposal of pesticides and legislation regulating their sale
      and distribution are of high priority in the fight to reduce poisoning caused by
      these agents.

PMID- 1452978
TI  - User's review of the Canon Colour Copier.
AB  - The ability to link the new Canon Colour Laser Copier to a computer opens up new
      boundaries of data manipulation. A report from the user's point of view,
      describes a system comprising the copier with computer input, slide scanner and
      flat copy capacity. Information is given on the types of materials produced, the
      types of users, the cost of purchase and maintenance, and the potential for
      generating profit.

PMID- 1452979
TI  - Medical illustration enters the market economy.
AB  - The department of medical illustration at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School
      (RPMS) has been operating as a registered company for just over 1 year. As other
      similar departments are forced into cost recovery, some may be considering this
      extra step. This paper sets out some of the pitfalls as well as giving some handy
      tips which will make the journey down this uneven road a little easier.

PMID- 1452980
TI  - Endoscopy and endoscopic photography in ENT.
AB  - Doctors have been concerned with ear, nose and throat (ENT) diseases since the
      earliest times, but there was no single specialty before the introduction of
      endoscopic methods last century. Effective visualization of the ears, nose and
      throat poses significant problems for the medical illustrator today. The
      development of endoscopy and endoscopic photography is outlined with background
      information to help the illustrator who has to work in this field.

PMID- 1452981
TI  - Diabetic retinopathy screening service.
AB  - The planning, establishment, financing and general organization of a Diabetic
      Screening Service within a District Health Authority can be a daunting task if
      not handled correctly. This paper outlines such a service, established in 1987,
      at a District General Hospital serving a population of 202,000 permanent
      residents. It highlights the necessity for such a service and its diagnostic
      value to the local diabetic population.

PMID- 1452982
TI  - The Sri Lanka cleft lip and palate project--the medical illustrator's
      contribution.
AB  - Since 1984, a series of visits to the island of Sri Lanka by an assessment team,
      and a team of surgeons and anaesthetists, has amassed a huge dataset on
      unoperated cleft lip and palates and carried out surgery on over 600 patients. In
      addition, the training of local Sri Lankan professionals was undertaken. The two
      most recent trips in 1990 are described with reference to the photographic and
      audiovisual records collected.

PMID- 1452983
TI  - Ni-Cds: the memory lingers on.
AB  - The medical photographer's source of power for portable electronic flash has
      evolved from the disposable, single-use battery via the wet cell to the nickel
      cadmium rechargeable battery, and recently to the 'dry-fit' rechargeable battery.
      This paper looks at the ubiquitous nickel-cadmium rechargeable battery with
      reference to its charge/discharge cycling and chemical 'memory' during discharge,
      and compares single-use and other rechargeable batteries with respect to ease of
      use, capacity and working life.

PMID- 1452984
TI  - The image database: pictures and computers.
AB  - Information technology offers important new ways of using pictures for teaching
      in medicine. Methods for storing and delivering high quality images for computer
      based learning systems are discussed.

PMID- 1452985
TI  - The Wellcome Trust tropical diseases videodisc project.
AB  - This presentation sets out the aims and methodology involved in creating a
      sophisticated teaching archive in tropical medicine based on the Wellcome Museum
      of Medical Science. This visual archive will take the form of a videodisc
      database containing 30,000 video stills combined with a limited amount of moving
      material. While authoring tools will ensure the continuing production of
      interactive learning material from the archive, users will have access to several
      hundred hours of ready made tutorials, and an expert system to teach clinical
      skills. They will also be able to browse through any part of the archive.
      Successful management strategies have involved a close and supportive
      relationship with the project sponsors, the formation of expert groups to solve
      specific problems, and a process of continuous formative evaluation.

PMID- 1452986
TI  - A survey of videodisc and interactive videodisc projects in North America: Part
      I.
AB  - Selected videodisc (VD) and interactive videodisc (IVD) programs, projects and
      topics are presented in two articles in this and a subsequent issue of the
      journal. Part I reviews the impact of Information Science developments on image
      management. The American Society of Hematology Slide Bank and other specific
      applications in urology, paediatric neurology, obstetrical nursing, medical
      decision making, dental diagnosis and treatment (DDT), and paediatric cardiology,
      are reviewed as educational and informatics research projects. This is followed
      by a section on three-dimensional reconstructions of the brain which stresses
      digital images. Multi-purposing and repurposing are reviewed in two prototype
      programs. A discussion of the multidisciplinary Slice of Life projects completes
      this first article.

PMID- 1452987
TI  - An interactive videodisc 'cancer patients and their families at home', designed
      for education in primary health care.
AB  - This article describes the development of an interactive videodisc program to
      support professional education in the field of cancer for the primary health care
      team. Based on a survey of needs, it concentrates on common symptoms and their
      control, and problems in communication. The educational approach adopted was
      chosen on the basis of an extensive consideration of the needs, and what was felt
      most appropriate for adult learners. Plans were carefully reviewed at each stage,
      with external advisers, and the prototype system independently evaluated in four
      sites before completing the package. With financial backing from the 'Europe
      against Cancer' initiative of the European Commission, and close cooperation with
      national practitioners, Dutch, German, Greek and Portuguese versions of the
      package have been developed. Local differences in practice are taken into account
      and translations of key aspects are provided.

PMID- 1452988
TI  - Hypermedia in biomedical education: a case study.
AB  - The origination, development and application of a hypermedia system for use in
      the life sciences is described. Implemented in the Apple Macintosh HyperCard
      environment, the project has been designed to make use of commercially produced
      laser discs as visual archives and has included the production of authoring and
      navigational tools. We report here on our experience in authoring stacks for
      undergraduate teaching, monitoring of student use and assessment of effectiveness
      as a self-teaching resource. Future developments and applications within the
      biomedical sciences are discussed.

PMID- 1452989
TI  - Digital imaging--dipping a toe in the water.

PMID- 1452990
TI  - Redial generations of Fasciola gigantica in the pulmonate snail Lymnaea
      truncatula.
AB  - Lymnaea truncatula, 4 mm in height, were subjected to infection by a single
      miracidium of Fasciola gigantica, then raised at 23 degrees C until day 60 of the
      experiment. Histological study of these snails demonstrated a mean redial burden
      of 34 parasites at day 60, of which one third were degenerating forms. The mean
      number of living independent rediae did not exceed 5 for the first and second
      generations. Conversely, in subsequent generations there were as many as 18
      rediae per snail at day 60. The first living redia of the first generation in
      particular gave rise to daughter rediae. Mature rediae appeared at day 35 and
      especially concerned the first and second generations at day 60. The authors
      conclude that development of the first and second redial generations occurs
      during the same period, and that the forms of the first cohort of the second
      generation are produced from the first redia of the first generation which
      originated from the sporocyst.

PMID- 1452991
TI  - Ultrastructural observations on the redial tegument of Paramphistomum epiclitum
      from the planorbid snail, Indoplanorbis exustus.
AB  - The morphology of the tegument in the redia of Paramphistomum epiclitum (Digenea:
      Paramphistomidae) resembles that shown by most larval and adult digeneans; an
      outer surface syncytium is in continuity with the cytoplasm of in-sunken,
      nucleated cytons. Although tegumental cytons usually contain a single nucleus,
      some display up to six nuclei. The tegumental syncytium lining the pharynx of P.
      epiclitum rediae lack underlying cytons. The apical membrane of the tegument is
      elaborated by folds and microvilli, which presumably facilitate uptake of
      nutrients and/or exchange of ions involved in osmoregulation. A single type of
      secretory body, resulting from the fusion of smaller vesicles produced at Golgi
      complexes in the cytons, occurs throughout the tegument. Uniciliate sensory
      receptors occur in the surface syncytium particularly around the oral opening.

PMID- 1452992
TI  - The diagnostic value of haematuria and proteinuria in Schistosoma haematobium
      infection in southern Nigeria.
AB  - Haematuria and proteinuria as detected by chemical reagent strips correlated
      moderately (r = 0.7) with prevalence and intensity of infection with Schistosoma
      haematobium in an area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Differences attributable to age
      and sex were also reflected in a similar pattern, all peaks occurring in the 5-14
      year age group. The differences observed with varying levels of intensity and
      haematuria at both 10 and 50 erythrocytes/microliter (p < 0.001) and proteinuria
      at 0.3 g/dl (p < 0.01) were statistically significant. At a proteinuria level of
      1 g/dl, the observed differences were however not statistically significant (p >
      0.5). The percentage of specimens from children (0-14 years) positive for S.
      haematobium eggs and with at least traces of haematuria and proteinuria (63.4%
      and 95%, respectively) was higher than in adults (33.3% and 80.2%, respectively).
      All individuals with more than 50 eggs/10 ml of urine were correctly identified
      using both indices either separately or in combination. For egg counts of less
      than 50 eggs/10 ml of urine, false diagnosis occurred in only 5% of all specimens
      examined. The sensitivity and specificity of haematuria and proteinuria at trace
      quantities was very high, but haematuria had a higher predictive value for a
      positive test (PvPt) and was considered the overall better indicator. A
      combination of both indices did not significantly increase the PvPt. When trace
      haematuria and moderate proteinuria were combined, both the sensitivity,
      specificity and PvPt were all above 90%, giving the best overall values in all
      the combinations made.

PMID- 1452993
TI  - Abundance/host size relationship in a fish trematode community.
AB  - The abundance of six species of trematodes: Aphanurus stossichi, Bacciger
      israelensis, Diphterostomum israelense, Plagioporus idoneus, Leprocreadium album
      and L. pegorchis, parasitic in the digestive tract of marine teleostei (Sparidae)
      collected near Jounieh (east Mediterranean), was analysed as a function of the
      host-size. In two parasite/host systems, infections were observed from the lowest
      size classes of the sample, with a clear tendency to an increase of abundance in
      older fish. In four others, parasites appear only above a rather high threshold
      class, young individuals never being infected. In the last three parasite/host
      systems, host invasion may occur early or late, but infection decreases above a
      well defined size class, old fishes rarely or never being infected. A given
      trematode species, when parasitizing several host species, shows similar
      abundance/host size relationships, e.g., P. idoneus in Diplodus vulgaris and
      Oblada melanura. When more than one species of trematode infects a single host
      species, curves can be markedly distinct; for instance, L. pegorchis was
      collected from Pagellus erythrinus below 15 cm. whereas D. israelense parasitized
      the same fish approximately above the same size. There is no evidence that such a
      replacement of one trematode by another in the course of host growth is a result
      of inter-specific competition.

PMID- 1452994
TI  - A hidden break in the 28.0S rRNA from Diphyllobothrium dendriticum.
AB  - Nondenatured and denatured total RNA from the tapeworm Diphyllobothrium
      dendriticum (Cestoda) was analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis. It was found
      that the large subunit ribosomal RNA (lrRNA) is 28.0S and the small subunit
      ribosomal RNA (srRNA) is 19.5S. Following denaturation the 28.0S rRNA was
      disrupted into a 19.5S subfragment and a 20.7S subfragment due to the presence of
      a centrally located hidden break. By hybridization of Northern blot membranes
      with oligonucleotide probes specific for the 5'- and 3'-ends of the lrRNA
      respectively, we have shown that the 19.5S subfragment is from the 5'-end (the
      alpha-subfragment) and the 20.7S subfragment from the 3'-end (the beta
      subfragment) of the 28.0S rRNA of D. dendriticum.

PMID- 1452995
TI  - Experimental infection with Taenia saginata (Poland strain) in Taiwanese pigs.
AB  - Two 22-day-old Landrace-Small Ear Miniature (L-SEM) pigs, five 45 to 66-day-old
      Small Ear Miniature (SEM) pigs, and one 16-day-old Holstein calf were each fed
      1000, 3000 or 10,000 Taenia saginata (Poland strain) eggs respectively and killed
      34-77 days after inoculation. Four of the five SEM pigs and the Holstein calf
      were susceptible to this parasite. However, two L-SEM pigs and one SEM pig
      remained negative. The cysticerci recovery rates for the SEM pig and Holstein
      calf were 36% and 3%, respectively. All cysticerci from the SEM pigs were found
      in the livers, more in the parenchyma (89%) than on the surface (11%). Only
      eleven cysticerci in two SEM pigs were mature and the remainder were either
      immature, degenerated or calcified. The cysticerci in the calf were distributed
      throughout the body: leg muscles (248), heart (27), tongue (17), intercostal
      muscles (14), diaphragm (5), kidney (1) and liver (1). Most (299) of the
      cysticerci were mature, one was immature and 13 were degenerated or calcified.
      The length, width, diameter of the protoscolex and sucker of the cysticerci from
      the calf were larger than those from the SEM pigs. However, the diameter of the
      rostellum of the latter was slightly larger than the former. Hooklets were not
      found on any mature cysticercus recovered. The results of the present study
      provide evidence that the SEM pig can be used as an experimental intermediate
      host for T. saginata.

PMID- 1452996
TI  - Influence of desiccation of faeces on survival and infectivity of first-stage
      larvae of Muellerius capillaris and Neostrongylus linearis.
AB  - First-stage larvae of pure strains of M. capillaris and N. linearis (Nematoda:
      Protostrongylidae) from goats were used to assess the influence of rapid
      desiccation on survival. M. capillaris survived desiccation of faeces better than
      N. linearis. The latter species was particularly susceptible to duration of
      storage after desiccation (0 to 10 days). Surviving larvae of desiccated batches
      of M. capillaris were less able to infect the land-snail Candidula intersecta.
      Resistance of first-stage larvae to desiccation is a key factor in infectivity
      and may partly account for the geographical distribution of the two species of
      protostrongylids.

PMID- 1452997
TI  - Experimental infections with Nematodirus spathiger in rabbits.
AB  - The feasibility of infecting laboratory rabbits experimentally with the ovine
      nematode Nematodirus spathiger was examined. Eight-week-old rabbits were dosed
      either with 5000 or with 17,000 third-stage larvae and killed on days 10, 21 or
      42 post-infection. With the lower dose, 20 to 40% of the inoculum were recovered
      at necropsy. Similar values were observed with the 17,000 dose on days 10 and 21
      post-infection, but on day 42 the worm population was residual (0.6%). With both
      dose levels, during the course of infection, the worm populations were mainly
      composed of fourth-stage larvae and worm egg excretion was low. N. spathiger
      mainly inhabited the proximal jejunum. The results were compared with N.
      spathiger infection in sheep to assess the usefulness of the rabbit as an
      experimental model for Nematodirus infection.

PMID- 1452998
TI  - A longitudinal study of porcine serological responses to experimental infections
      with T-1 and T-3 Spanish Trichinella isolates.
AB  - Comparison of antibody response and antigen recognition was made by ELISA and
      western-blot analysis in pig experimental infections by T-1 and T-3 Spanish
      Trichinella isolates. Two groups of Iberian pigs were experimentally infected
      with 150 larvae/kg body weight of GM-1 and C-76 Spanish Trichinella isolates as
      representatives of T-1 and T-3 gene pools respectively. Antibody levels and
      antigen recognition were measured on days -14, 0, 6, 16, 20, 27, 34, 49, 63 and
      82 after infection by ELISA and western-blotting assays. Antibody response
      against C-76 infection was significantly delayed and lower than against GM-1. The
      two Trichinella isolates were indistinguishable, however, by western blotting
      analysis, although recognition of larval antigens was quantitatively higher than
      adult ones. Interestingly, the principle larval antigenic components recognized
      by pigs were those recognized by the monoclonal anti-sera NIM-M1. Finally, there
      were no serological patterns indicative of the stage of infection ("antibody
      windows") discriminating, for example between early versus late infections.

PMID- 1452999
TI  - Acanthocephalan infection in man in northern Nigeria.
AB  - Acanthocephalan ova, indistinguishable from the ovoid eggs of Moniliformis
      moniliformis, were detected in the stools of a 45-year-old man at the University
      of Jos Health Clinic, Nigeria. The patient complained of general body weakness,
      occasional giddiness and intermittent burning sensations around the umbilicus.
      Successful treatment with niclosamide and the possible source of infection are
      communicated.

PMID- 1453000
TI  - Ultrastructural localization of bcl-2 protein.
AB  - Previous cell subfractionation studies have indicated that bcl-2 is an inner
      mitochondrial membrane protein. We have sought to determine the ultrastructural
      localization of bcl-2 protein in lymphoma and breast carcinoma cell lines and
      biopsy material known to overexpress bcl-2 using immunoelectron microscopy. To
      avoid the possibility of processing artifacts, samples were prepared by three
      different methods: progressive lowering of temperature, cryosectioning, and
      freeze-substitution. In all instances the labeling of bcl-2 protein was
      relatively weak but the distribution the same. In both lymphoma and breast
      carcinoma tissues, bcl-2 protein was detected on the periphery of mitochondria:
      little labeling of either the mitochondrial matrix or cristae could be detected.
      Labeling was also detected on the perinuclear membrane and throughout the
      cytoplasm, as also indicated by confocal microscopy. These data therefore
      indicate that bcl-2 protein can be detected at several intracellular sites and
      that at the likely functional destination, the mitochondria, there appears to be,
      contrary to expectations, a preferential association with the outer membrane.

PMID- 1453001
TI  - GRAMP 100: a membrane protein concentrated on secretory granule membranes and the
      apical cell surface in exocrine acinar cells.
AB  - Using a monoclonal antibody (SG10A6) raised against secretion granule membranes
      of the rat parotid gland, we have identified an antigen that is a common
      component of both exocrine pancreatic and parotid granule membranes. SG10A6 (an
      IgM) immunoprecipitates antigen that migrates as a single band (M(r)
      approximately 80 KD unreduced; M(r) approximately 100 KD reduced) and immunoblots
      at least two polypeptides that are similar to the reduced and nonreduced
      immunoprecipitated antigen. This granule-associated membrane polypeptide (GRAMP
      100; named for the apparent M(r) in reduced form) is also a prominent component
      of plasma membrane fractions. Immunocytochemical localization at the electron
      microscopic level demonstrates the presence of GRAMP 100 on granule membranes,
      especially condensing vacuoles and exocytotic figures, and the apical plasma
      membrane. Lower levels of antigen are detected on basolateral plasma membrane and
      on peri-Golgi membranes that may be part of the endosomal system. Both the cell
      fractionation and immunocytochemical localization indicate that GRAMP 100 differs
      in distribution from GRAMP 92 and 30K SCAMPs, two other components of exocrine
      granule membranes identified with monoclonal antibodies. To date, no polypeptides
      have been identified with this approach that are exclusive components of exocrine
      granule membranes.

PMID- 1453002
TI  - Immunoelectron microscopic localization of phosphoproteins associated with the
      mitotic spindle.
AB  - We examined the immunogold staining of microtubules and microtubule organizing
      centers using an improved silver-enhancement reagent for small (1-1.4 nm) gold
      conjugated secondary antibodies. First, the staining properties of different
      commercial preparations of gold-labeled antibodies were compared for sample
      penetration, label uniformity, and labeling density, and Nanogold 1.4-nm gold
      conjugated F(ab') was found to be superior to the other probes examined. However,
      in samples examined for the localization of alpha- and beta-tubulin, gold
      staining did not extend through the pericentriolar material nor were the
      centrioles labeled. This apparent lack of centrosomal staining was not due to
      problems associated with penetration of the antibody probes, since staining
      adjacent to and within the centriolar cylinder was observed when phosphoprotein
      antigens recognized by the MPM-2 antibody were localized. The MPM-2 antibodies
      also localized to mitotic kinetochores, kinetochore fibers, and midbodies, in
      addition to mitotic centrosomes. The level of MPM-2 staining of the centrosome
      varied through the cell cycle. At interphase, this staining was restricted within
      the centriolar cylinder, whereas in mitotic cells extensive staining throughout
      the pericentriolar material was also observed. These results established the
      close relationship of MPM-2-reactive phosphoproteins with the centrosome, and
      suggest that this technique may be useful for ultrastructural localization of
      other cytoskeletal proteins.

PMID- 1453003
TI  - Silver enhancement of gold antibody probes in pre-embedding electron microscopic
      immunocytochemistry.
AB  - In pre-embedding EM immunocytochemistry with gold probes, the gold must be small
      enough to penetrate through cell membranes treated with mild detergents.
      Antibodies labeled with small gold probes (1-1.4 nm) are too small to be resolved
      in thin sections but can be seen if they are silver-enhanced after the gold has
      bound to the antigens in the cells. We investigated several aspects of gum arabic
      silver lactate-hydroquinone enhancement solution (Danscher solution) by examining
      gold-conjugated antibodies embedded in agar, sectioned on a vibrotome, and
      enhanced with different solutions. The rate of silver enhancement was optimized
      in 50% gum arabic and 200 mM HEPES buffer, pH 5.8. We also examined chemicals
      used as developers and found that N-propyl gallate (NPG) gave a more uniform
      development than the routinely used hydroquinone (HQ). The diameter of the silver
      enhanced particles after incubation in osmium tetratoxide (OSO4) decreased
      somewhat with longer incubation time and higher percentages, but the density
      (number per unit area) of silver-enhanced particles was little changed. The loss
      of silver-enhanced particle diameter was reduced by lowering the concentration of
      OSO4 to 0.1%. Comparison of commercial small gold probes showed that NPG
      enhancement of Nanogold gave more uniform particle size and a better correlation
      between enhancement time and particle density. When this procedure was applied to
      cell cultures with monoclonal antibodies, the silver-enhanced particles were
      similar to those in the agar sections. When free-floating tissue sections were
      used, longer silver enhancement times were needed to obtain similarly sized
      particles. This new NPG-silver-enhancement procedure offers a reliable and easy
      method to localize proteins in cultured cells and tissue sections by pre
      embedding electron microscopic immunocytochemistry.

PMID- 1453004
TI  - Immunohistochemical localization of carbonyl reductase in human tissues.
AB  - Carbonyl reductase, an NADPH-dependent oxidoreductase of broad specificity, is
      present in many human tissues. Its precise localization, however, has remained
      unclear, as well as its physiological and possible pathophysiological
      significance. The present study reports the immunohistochemical localization of
      the enzyme in normal human tissues. Immunostaining was detectable in all organs
      investigated. The highest concentrations were found in the parenchymal cells of
      the liver, the epithelial cells of the stomach and small intestine, the
      epidermis, the proximal tubules of the kidney, neuronal and glial cells of the
      central nervous system, and certain cells of the anterior lobe of the pituitary
      gland. Consistently pronounced staining was also observed in smooth muscle fibers
      and the endothelium of blood vessels. The results are in agreement with a
      housekeeping function of carbonyl reductase in the elimination of reactive
      carbonyl compounds.

PMID- 1453005
TI  - Immunocytochemical and biochemical demonstration of formaldhyde dehydrogenase
      (class III alcohol dehydrogenase) in the nucleus.
AB  - Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), the major enzyme catalyzing the biological oxidation
      of ethanol in mammals, includes four classes with very different capacities for
      ethanol oxidation. Class III ADH is present in all the tissues and is well
      conserved throughout evolution. This enzyme has a low activity with ethanol, is
      specific for the glutathione-dependent oxidation of formaldehyde, and is
      therefore a formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FALDH). Until now there have been few and
      conflicting studies concerning its intracellular distribution, which is important
      for the understanding of its role in cell function. In the present work we used
      biochemical and immunocytochemical methods to assess the distribution of FALDH in
      rat hepatocytes and astroglial cells. With the glutathione-dependent formaldehyde
      dehydrogenase assay, we found the highest activity in the cytosol of hepatocytes
      and brain cells (12 and 2.6 mU/mg protein, respectively), but nuclei also
      exhibited significant activity (1.16 and 2.1 mU/mg protein, respectively). The
      immunocytochemical results showed the presence of FALDH binding sites in both the
      cytoplasm and the nucleus of the different cell types studied. Whereas no
      specific gold particle labeling was seen associated with any cytoplasmic
      component, in the nucleus the particles were found mainly over condensed
      chromatin and interchromatin regions. Finally, the gold particle density over
      both the nucleus and cytoplasm was greater in differentiated than in
      proliferating astrocytes in primary culture. In contrast, class I ADH, primarily
      responsible for ethanol metabolism, was found only in the cytoplasm of
      hepatocytes. We propose that one of the functions of FALDH is to protect cell
      structures, including DNA, from the toxic effects of endogenous formaldehyde,
      which is an intermediate in many metabolic process.

PMID- 1453006
TI  - Iron content correlates with peroxidase activity in cysteamine-induced astroglial
      organelles.
AB  - A subpopulation of astrocytes in periventricular brain regions and in cysteamine
      treated neuroglial cultures contains cytoplasmic granules that exhibit an
      affinity for Gomori stains, orange-red autofluorescence, and non-enzymatic
      peroxidase activity. The autofluorescence and pseudoperoxidase activity are
      consistent with the presence of porphyrins and heme iron, respectively. In the
      present study, we employed diaminobenzidine cytochemistry, transmission electron
      microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (electron microprobe) in an
      attempt to correlate fine structure with the peroxidase activity and elemental
      composition of the cysteamine-induced inclusions in cultured astrocytes. In
      osmicated preparations, these membrane-bound inclusions varied greatly in size,
      were round or ovoid in shape, and exhibited an intensely electron-dense granular
      matrix. In non-osmicated preparations, many inclusions exhibited internal
      membranous partitions producing complex subcompartmentalization. Diaminobenzidine
      reaction product, indicative of endogenous peroxidase activity, was occasionally
      observed distributed diffusely throughout the granule matrix. More commonly,
      peroxidase activity was restricted to specific intraorganellar compartments.
      Elemental iron was detected in the inclusions by electron microprobe analysis.
      The presence and concentration of iron in these organelles correlated closely
      with the presence and intensity of diaminobenzidine staining, suggesting that
      redox-active iron mediates the pseudoperoxidase reactions in these cells.
      Cysteamine-induced derangements of porphyrin-heme biosynthesis may be responsible
      for the proliferation of iron-containing gliosomes in these astrocytes.

PMID- 1453007
TI  - Immunocytochemical localization of 67 KD Ca2+ binding protein (p67) in
      ventricular, skeletal, and smooth muscle cells.
AB  - By using immunocytochemical techniques, we examined the localization of a 67 kDa
      Ca2+ binding protein (p67) and calpactin I heavy chain (p36) in ventricular
      myocytes, skeletal myocytes, and intestinal smooth muscle cells.
      Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that the p67 was expressed in all these
      muscle cells, whereas anti-p36 antibody stained cells in connective tissues but
      failed to stain these muscle cells. Immunogold electron microscopy was carried
      out to examine the subcellular localization of the p67 in muscle cells. The
      results showed that the p67 was exclusively confined to the plasma membrane of
      muscle cells and the presumptive transverse tubules of the striated myocytes.
      Immunoblot analysis with anti-p67 antibody showed that the p67 was indeed a
      constitutive protein of the sarcolemma isolated from rat hearts. These results
      indicate that the p67 is a sarcolemma-associated Ca2+ binding protein expressed
      in both striated myocytes and intestinal smooth muscle cells.

PMID- 1453008
TI  - Ecto-calcium-dependent ATPase activity of mammalian taste bud cells.
AB  - Histochemistry was utilized to characterize Ca-ATPases associated with lingual
      taste buds in the golden hamster. Taste buds showed elevated staining for
      magnesium- or calcium-dependent ATPase (Ca-ATPase) relative to the surrounding
      epithelium. At low calcium concentrations (0.1-0.5 mM), intracellular staining
      predominated. Most of the studies were conducted at calcium concentrations of >
      or = 10 mM, in which most of the staining was localized to the external face of
      plasma membranes of taste bud cells (including receptor and basal cells) located
      in the core of fungiform taste buds, or the entire vallate or foliate taste buds.
      The peripheral fungiform taste bud cells stained much less intensely, but the
      peripheral cells adjacent to the core showed intermediate levels. GTP and ITP
      were just as effective substrates as ATP. Millimolar concentrations of magnesium
      were as effective as calcium. Inhibitors of intracellular ATPases, including
      quercetin, sodium azide, and 2,4-dinitrophenol, had no effect on the staining.
      Therefore, the Ca-ATPase staining of plasma membranes at mM concentrations of
      calcium is thought to correspond to one or more ecto-Ca-ATPase activities with
      unknown functions. Roles related to increased energy requirements or to the
      possible function of ATP as a neurotransmitter or -modulator are proposed.

PMID- 1453009
TI  - Quantitation of gold labeling and estimation of labeling efficiency with a
      stereological counting method.
AB  - The amount of immunolabeling over a cell compartment of an average cell was
      estimated by use of an adaptation of the double disector method introduced by
      Gundersen. The first and last sections of a stack of ultra-thin sections formed a
      disector in which cell number could be estimated and related to a defined
      reference volume to give the cell density. Another stack section, selected at
      random, was immunolabeled and the number of gold particles associated with unit
      volume reference space (gold "density") estimated in quadrats placed
      systematically across the section. The ratio of gold density to cell density was
      used to estimate the number of gold particles lying over a chosen compartment of
      an average cell, N(gold)/N(cell). Such estimates required neither cell volume nor
      section thickness measurement and were reproducible. By combining the number of
      gold particles per cell with estimates of the number of protein antigens per
      cell, the number of gold particles associated with each antigen could be found
      (labeling efficiency).

PMID- 1453010
TI  - Lectin binding sites as markers of neonatal porcine uterine development.
AB  - To identify lectin binding sites and to determine if lectin binding patterns
      change with age in developing neonatal porcine uterine tissues, gilts (n = 3/day)
      were hysterectomized on Day 0 (birth), 7, 14, 28, 42, or 56. Lectin binding was
      visualized in Bouin's-fixed uterine tissues with seven biotinylated lectins
      (ConA, DBA, PNA, RCA-I, SBA, UEA-I, and WGA) and avidin-peroxidase staining
      procedures. Lectin specificities were demonstrated by pre-incubating lectins with
      appropriate inhibitory sugars (0.2 M). Staining intensity was evaluated visually
      (absent, weak, moderate, or strong) for three endometrial tissues; luminal
      epithelium, glandular epithelium, and stroma. Staining intensities for DBA, PNA,
      SBA, and WGA were not affected by neonatal age. Staining with these lectins was
      greater in uterine epithelium (moderate or strong) than in stroma (weak). In
      contrast, binding patterns for ConA, UEA-I, and RCA-I were affected by neonatal
      age. Strong epithelial staining associated with ConA binding was observed on all
      days, whereas stromal ConA staining decreased in intensity from moderate to weak
      after Day 14. Epithelial staining with UEA-I increased from moderate to strong
      after Day 28, whereas stromal UEA-I staining decreased from moderate to weak
      after day 28. Staining with RCA-I was homogeneous for luminal epithelium and
      stroma but variegated for glandular epithelium on and after Day 7. These
      observations indicate that a variety of lectin binding sites are present in
      developing neonatal porcine endometrial tissues and that developmentally related
      alterations in the distribution and/or orientation of glycoconjugates containing
      alpha-D-mannose, beta-D-galactose, beta-D-acetyl-N-galactosamine, and alpha-L
      fucose residues occur between birth and Day 56 as these tissues mature.

PMID- 1453011
TI  - The human erythropoietin receptor.
AB  - Molecular analysis of the human erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) promises to yield
      a greater mechanistic understanding of erythropoiesis and disease states that
      affect red cell production. The cloned receptor molecule is a 66 kDa membrane
      protein that is structurally related to a large superfamily of
      haemopoietin/growth factor receptors. The 66 kDa EpoR alone is capable of binding
      to erythropoietin (Epo) with nanomolar affinity. The native EpoR may form dimers
      before or after binding Epo. EpoR dimers and/or associated molecules are probably
      necessary for high-affinity Epo binding. The 66 kDa EpoR probably exists as a
      protein complex with as yet unidentified proteins of 100 and 85 kDa. The
      molecular mechanism of Epo signal transduction remains largely undefined. The
      possible role of the EpoR in human diseases has been studied in a variety of
      clinical conditions. A structurally abnormal EpoR gene has been identified in a
      human erythroleukemia cell line. In polycythemia vera, red cell progenitors
      exhibit exaggerated sensitivity to Epo and express only low-affinity EpoR. Some
      cases of hereditary polycythemia may be due to a mutant EpoR conferring enhanced
      Epo sensitivity. Other pathologic conditions may also be associated with
      abnormalities of the EpoR or its associated molecules. Soluble, immunoreactive
      EpoR is detectable in human serum, but its physiological significance is unknown.

PMID- 1453012
TI  - In vitro revelations of aplastic anemia.
AB  - Aplastic anemia (AA) is a most difficult disease to study in vitro. By the time
      the disease presents, the marrow is already hypocellular and the peripheral blood
      shows pancytopenia, leaving little material remaining for study. However, an
      understanding of its pathogenesis could provide insight into the control of
      normal hemopoiesis since AA is an in vivo manifestation of failure of normal
      hemopoiesis and may provide a way of examining stromal cell-stem cell
      relationships. Recent interest in the pathogenesis of AA has resulted from a) new
      laboratory techniques, such as stem cell purification used with modifications of
      the long-term bone marrow culture system and analysis of stem cells at the
      molecular level with X-linked DNA probes, and b) the availability of recombinant
      human hemopoietic growth factors (HGF) in large quantities. Consequently,
      analyses of the function of some of the individual components of stromal cell
      mediated hemopoiesis in AA patients have been performed. This has been
      paralleled, and in some instances preceded, by clinical trials of HGF in patients
      with AA.

PMID- 1453013
TI  - SCL and related hemopoietic helix-loop-helix transcription factors.
AB  - The helix-loop-helix (HLH) proteins are a family of transcription factors that
      include proteins critical to differentiation and development in species ranging
      from plants to mammals. Five members of this family (MYC, SCL, TAL-2, LYL-1 and
      E2A) are implicated in oncogenic events in human lymphoid tumors because of their
      consistent involvement in chromosomal translocations. Although activated in T
      cell leukemias, expression of SCL and LYL-1 is low or undetectable in normal T
      cell populations. SCL is expressed in erythroid, megakaryocyte and mast cell
      populations (the same cell lineages as GATA-1, a zinc-finger transcription
      factor). In addition, both SCL and GATA-1 undergo coordinate modulation during
      chemically induced erythroid differentiation of mouse erythroleukemia cells and
      are down-modulated during myeloid differentiation of human K562 cells, thus
      implying a role for SCL in erythroid differentiation events. However, in contrast
      to GATA-1, SCL is expressed in the developing brain. Studies of the function of
      SCL suggest it is also important in proliferation and self-renewal events in
      erythroid cells.

PMID- 1453014
TI  - Characteristics of the hematopoietic stem cell compartment in adult mice.
AB  - Mouse hematopoietic stem cells can be enriched from adult bone marrow by a number
      of methods. The resulting cell populations are heterogeneous in function,
      suggesting a complex organizational structure within the stem cell compartment.
      Several assays can be applied to the study of early stages of hematopoiesis;
      however clonal assays for long-term repopulation, the most critical operational
      definition of hematopoietic stem cells, are lacking. Further complicating the
      prospect of understanding early hematopoiesis is the finding that genetic
      variations among laboratory strains of mice lead to major differences in
      phenotypic and functional characteristics of hematopoietic stem cells.
      Application to the human situation of the methodology developed for stem cell
      isolation and characterization in the mouse will be hampered by the possibility
      of genetic variations among human subjects and the lack of a well-characterized
      assay system to detect and quantify cells capable of long-term repopulation of
      irradiated recipients.

PMID- 1453015
TI  - Retinyl acetate and all-trans-retinoic acid enhance erythroid colony formation in
      vitro by circulating human progenitors in an improved serum-free medium.
AB  - Retinyl acetate (RA) dramatically increased the production of early (d16)
      erythroid colonies in vitro by circulating human progenitor cells growing in an
      improved serum-free (SF) medium. In the absence of either erythropoietin (Epo) or
      insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), RA alone was able to induce the
      hemoglobinization of cells in these erythroid colonies. RA synergized with Epo or
      with IGF-I to yield increased numbers of well-hemoglobinized early colonies. In
      the presence of defined burst promoting activity (BPA) provided by recombinant
      human interleukin 3 (rHuIL-3) and hemin, RA and all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA)
      were identical with respect to their differentiation-inducing function for early
      erythroid colonies. ATRA increased the number of these colonies in a
      concentration-dependent manner, with maximal stimulation (3.5-fold) occurring at
      30 nM in the presence of 5.5 ng/ml IL-3, 0.1 mM hemin, 3.0 U/ml Epo and 30 nM IGF
      I. This appears to be the first demonstration of erythropoietic activity of two
      metabolic derivatives of vitamin A in SF medium.

PMID- 1453016
TI  - Clonogenic assay is not predictive but reflects therapeutic efficacy of
      interferons in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia.
AB  - Patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) have been treated with
      interferon (IFN) alpha-2b alone or in combination with IFN gamma. In order to
      predict clinical response to IFN, bone marrow samples from 15 CML patients were
      incubated with serial dilutions of IFN alpha-2b to obtain the IC50 values for
      erythroid burst forming units (BFU-E) and granulocyte-macrophage colony forming
      units (CFU-GM). A dose-dependent inhibition of at least one lineage was observed
      in all but one sample. An inhibitory effect of greater than 50% was reached for
      BFU-E in 8/14 patients and for CFU-GM in 10/14 patients. All three patients with
      no response (NR) to IFN treatment had IFN-sensitive BFU-E and CFU-GM. In four
      patients with hematologic remission (HR) or partial hematologic remission (PHR),
      BFU-E or CFU-GM were affected very little by the inhibitory effect of IFN. These
      observations suggest no predictive value for pretesting IFN sensitivity in vitro.
      The in vivo effect of IFN on the hemopoietic progenitor cells BFU-E and CFU-GM
      was evaluated in patients treated with either IFN alpha-2b alone (n = 11), or in
      combination with low dose IFN gamma (n = 10). All patients were newly diagnosed
      and not pretreated. After a median treatment duration of 11 months (range 3-25) a
      significant decrease in BFU-E and CFU-GM was observed in both groups of patients.
      We conclude that in vitro colony growth reflects the therapeutic efficacy of IFN.

PMID- 1453017
TI  - Dynamic changes in cytokine secretion by stromal cells during prolonged
      maintenance under protein-free conditions.
AB  - Stromal cells of bone marrow origin produce a variety of known cytokines and some
      factors exhibiting apparently new biological activities. Several of these were
      identified by the study of cell to cell interactions and were not found in
      detectable amounts in media conditioned by the cells. We describe here a culture
      system that enables the release of stromal cytokines into medium free of any
      added proteins and supplemented with peptides from casein hydrolysate (0.1%). The
      absence of serum proteins allows extensive concentration and monitoring of
      activities that are otherwise undetectable. Stromal cells of the MBA-2.1 clonal
      cell line were seeded in a stationary bed reactor packed with a carrier of non
      woven fabric matrix. After a proliferation phase with serum containing medium,
      the cells were maintained for over 10 months in protein-free medium. Throughout
      this extended incubation in the absence of serum or serum replacing proteins,
      stromal cells retained their viability and continuously released transforming
      growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and
      restrictin-P, a cytotoxic factor that specifically arrested the growth of
      plasmacytoma cells. In addition, interleukin-6 (IL-6) was first undetectable, and
      later in culture its titer reached a maximum of 180,000 international units
      (IU)/ml. Concomitantly, the production of restrictin-P diminished and reached its
      lowest levels at the end of 10 months. The results may imply a possible causal
      relationship between the expression of IL-6 and restrictin-P, since no similarly
      significant changes were observed in the titers of M-CSF and TGF-beta. This novel
      bioreactor system may be adaptable for efficient production of different
      cytokines under absolute serum-free conditions.

PMID- 1453018
TI  - Primary reconstruction of the mandibular alveolar ridge following resection.
AB  - Standard techniques of mandibular reconstruction aim at the restoration of
      function. However, the height and shape of the alveolar ridge are often neglected
      and reconstruction often results in difficulty in subsequent denture wear.
      Immediate reconstruction of the alveolar process with particulate autologous
      iliac bone is described, a technique used in 10 patients since 1978.

PMID- 1453019
TI  - A nasal vestibular flap for reconstruction of the upper lip.
AB  - A technique to reconstruct the hair-bearing upper lip by means of a hair-loaded
      nasal vestibular flap is described. This flap is elevated from the nasal
      vestibular area, and does not result in nasal deformity. This flap is especially
      suitable to reconstruct the medial portion of the hair-bearing upper lip in adult
      males.

PMID- 1453020
TI  - Midline cervical cleft. A case report.
AB  - A case of incomplete midline cervical cleft of the upper neck is reported. It
      showed histological resemblance to a mature teratoma with three different germ
      cell components, including cartilage, striated muscles, small salivary glands,
      and nerves.

PMID- 1453021
TI  - The use of fresh frozen allogeneic bone for maxillary and mandibular
      reconstruction.
AB  - The use of fresh frozen bone (FFB) alone, or in combination with autogenous bone
      (AB), for bony augmentation of the maxilla and mandible in preparation for dental
      reconstruction with endosseous implants has been studied. Ten patients received
      FFB +/- AB for augmentation of a severely atrophic mandible (n = 6) or for
      reconstruction of a jaw defect secondary to trauma or tumor resection (n = 4).
      Average follow-up was 26.3 +/- 5.4 months. At the time of implant placement, the
      bone grafts were found to be firm in consistency, well incorporated, and well
      vascularized in all 10 patients. Twenty-nine endosseous implants were placed an
      average of 8.3 +/- 3.1 months following bone grafting. One implant failed and was
      replaced, and one implant remains buried as a nonfunctional unit. All patients
      have been restored prosthetically by means of 28 of the 29 implants. This
      preliminary study indicates that FFB may be used alone or in combination with
      autogenous bone for augmentation or reconstruction of the atrophic maxilla and
      mandible. The resultant ridge is adequate to support loaded endosseous implants.
      A potential disadvantage is the minimal risk of disease transmission.

PMID- 1453022
TI  - Endosseous implants in the irradiated composite radial forearm free flap.
AB  - This paper describes the application of endosseous titanium implants that have
      been inserted into the vascularized bone of the radial forearm composite flap,
      used for mandibular reconstruction. The technique described allows full orofacial
      rehabilitation to be achieved, following ablative surgery and adjuvant
      radiotherapy.

PMID- 1453023
TI  - Long-term clinical and radiologic evaluation of autotransplanted teeth.
AB  - The purpose of the present study was to investigate the radiologic results of 40
      autotransplantations (20 molars and 20 premolars) performed in the orthodontic
      department of the University of Geneva between 1979 and 1990. The sample
      demonstrated persistence of pulp vitality and continuous root development,
      followed, however, in most cases by replacement root resorption. The data were in
      accordance with previously published studies and point to an ideal developmental
      stage for molar and premolar transplantation to ensure pulpal and periodontal
      survival.

PMID- 1453024
TI  - Shoulder-arm-syndrome after radical neck dissection: its relation with the
      innervation of the trapezius muscle.
AB  - In a clinical and electromyographic follow-up of 54 patients who underwent
      radical neck dissection, vast differences in the individual severity of the
      shoulder-arm-syndrome were found: 31% experienced severe limitations of shoulder
      mobility combined with severe pain, whereas 41% suffered only mild discomfort and
      28% were free of complaints. These clinical findings were compared to recent
      anatomical observations concerning individual patterns of innervation of the
      trapezius muscle. It could be shown that the role of the cervical plexus in the
      innervation of the trapezius muscle is of great importance and that its
      subfascial branches are able to maintain the motor supply following radical neck
      dissection in about 2/3 of patients.

PMID- 1453025
TI  - Extensive malignant schwannoma of the mandibular nerve. Case report.
AB  - An extensive malignant schwannoma of the mandibular nerve in an 8-year-old boy is
      presented. The clinical presentation, light microscopic findings, and
      radiographic features are described. The patient was successfully treated with
      surgery in combination with chemotherapy. He is still well, without evidence of
      metastasis or local recurrence, 5 years postoperatively.

PMID- 1453026
TI  - Breast angiosarcoma metastatic to the maxillary gingiva. Case report.
AB  - A case of breast angiosarcoma metastatic to the maxillary gingiva is reported. A
      review of the literature revealed only three previously reported cases.
      Angiosarcomas often present as benign lesions. The surgeon should maintain a high
      level of vigilance when patients present with oral lesions and a history of
      breast tumor.

PMID- 1453027
TI  - Second reconstruction of the posterior maxilla with a free latissimus dorsi
      muscle flap. Case report.
AB  - This paper reports a case in which a latissimus dorsi free muscle flap was used
      for a second reconstruction following resection of a maxillary ameloblastoma when
      the ipsilateral temporalis muscle flap had already been used. The case
      illustrates the dilemma of immediate versus delayed reconstruction following
      excision of maxillary tumours.

PMID- 1453028
TI  - Intraosseous hemangioma of the zygomatic bone. A case report.
AB  - Intraosseous hemangiomas of the facial skeleton are infrequently seen, with most
      cases occurring in the mandible and maxilla. Hemangioma of the zygomatic bone,
      however, is extremely rare. A case is presented in which selective embolization,
      resection of the tumor, and immediate reconstruction were carried out.

PMID- 1453029
TI  - Esthesioneuroblastoma. A case report.
AB  - Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is a rare neuroectodermal tumor originating from the
      olfactory mucosa and therefore usually arising from the nasopharynx. A case in
      which the diagnosis was made in connection with the extraction of a tooth is
      reported. Manifestation in the dento-alveolar region is unusual for this tumor.
      The case presented is also unusual in that the classic symptoms of ENB were not
      present. Diagnosis, classification, and therapy are described with a brief review
      of the literature.

PMID- 1453030
TI  - Malignant lymphoma presenting as pericoronitis. A case report.
AB  - A case of diffuse, large-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting as pericoronitis
      in the oral cavity is described. The diagnostic pitfalls are briefly discussed.

PMID- 1453031
TI  - Central schwannoma of the maxilla.
AB  - A case of schwannoma in the maxilla associated with the nasopalatine nerve of a 9
      year-old boy is reported. The diagnosis is supported by an immunohistochemical
      demonstration of S-100 protein within the tumor cells. The patient is free of
      disease 6 years after tumor removal.

PMID- 1453032
TI  - Does metronidazole prevent alveolitis sicca dolorosa? A double-blind, placebo
      controlled clinical study.
AB  - The effect of a single preoperative dose of metronidazole in the prevention of
      alveolitis sicca dolorosa (ASD) after surgical removal of one impacted, non
      infected mandibular third molar was investigated. A patient sample of 270 were
      given either 1000 mg of metronidazole or placebo at least 30 min before surgery.
      The preoperative recordings included gender, age, tooth to be removed, experience
      of surgeon, time of test medication, and duration of surgery. No difference was
      found between the metronidazole and placebo groups in the occurrence of ASD. The
      duration of surgery and the experience of the operating surgeons had no effect on
      the occurrence of ASD. The present study failed to demonstrate any preventive
      effect of a single dose of metronidazole on the development of ASD.

PMID- 1453033
TI  - Sagittal split osteotomy fixed with biodegradable, self-reinforced poly-L-lactide
      screws. A pilot study in sheep.
AB  - Self-reinforced poly-L-lactide (SR-PLLA) screws were used to fix bilateral
      mandibular sagittal split osteotomies (SSO) in six sheep. No intermaxillary
      fixation was used postoperatively. The follow-up time was 16 weeks, after which
      the sheep were killed. Both sides of the mandible were photographed and
      radiographed. The bending strength of the osteotomy was measured on the left side
      of the mandible. Histological and microradiographic studies were performed on the
      right side of the mandible. The results showed that the SR-PLLA screws were
      strong enough to fix the SSO rigidly. The bending force needed to break the bone
      was greater than that for the average unoperated mandible. The histological and
      microradiographic studies showed uneventful healing of the osteotomies in all six
      sheep. The results indicate that this method should be suitable for rigid
      fixation of SSO and fractures of the mandible in human beings.

PMID- 1453034
TI  - Muscle spindles in the mylohyoid muscle of rats.
AB  - The mylohyoid muscle has several functions in relation to respiration,
      deglutition, and phonation, but these functions are not fully understood. The
      interaction of the mylohyoid nerve and muscle in 25 rats was studied by
      neurophysiologic and histologic methods. Stretching of the muscle elicited
      electrical responses from the branch of the mylohyoid nerve innervating the
      mylohyoid muscle, and stretch-sensitive receptors were demonstrated
      histologically in the mylohyoid muscle. This study indicates that the mylohyoid
      muscle plays an active role in functions such as swallowing, breathing, and
      phonation.

PMID- 1453035
TI  - Application of the condylar positioning appliance in mandibular sagittal split
      osteotomies with rigid skeletal fixation.
AB  - During orthodontic-surgical treatment of dentofacial deformities, centric
      relation of the mandibular condylar head to the fossa articularis must be
      maintained. Intraoperative application of the condylar positioning appliance, in
      combination with different surgical splints, allows three-dimensional adjustment
      of the jaw segments. The condylar positioning appliance can be used in
      osteotomies of the mandible alone, in isolated Le Fort I osteotomies, or in
      simultaneous osteotomies of the maxilla and mandible.

PMID- 1453036
TI  - Electrognathographic patterns of mandibular motion after bilateral vertical ramus
      setback osteotomy.
AB  - The purpose of this investigation was to study, by means of an
      electrognathographic procedure, mandibular motion after bilateral vertical ramus
      osteotomy for correction of mandibular prognathism in 27 adults. Each patient had
      kinesiographic registrations taken within 1 week before the operation and 6
      months postsurgery. The results of the study demonstrated that, on average,
      orthognathic surgery did not adversely affect the postoperative mandibular
      motion. On the contrary, postoperative improvement in most of the variables was
      revealed by analysis of postoperative changes and comparison of the postoperative
      values with normative data.

PMID- 1453037
TI  - Disfigurement and psychosocial handicap of adults with extreme mandibular
      prognathism.
AB  - Questionnaires and psychological tests were used to assess the psychosocial
      impact of mandibular prognathism. Patients with mandibular prognathism were asked
      to assess the impediments caused by their dentofacial deformity. In addition,
      they were asked to rate their appearance and to report the effect that it had on
      their social contacts. The self-assessment revealed that patients felt
      esthetically impaired, but that they had a fairly positive autostereotype, as
      revealed by their self-descriptive choices on a personality scale. These results
      were compared with the assessments made by two different control groups composed
      of persons with no esthetic impairment. The attitudes of the control groups
      toward the patients were more negative than perceived by the patients, indicating
      that mandibular prognathism does result in a social handicap.

PMID- 1453038
TI  - Surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion in adults.
AB  - Twelve adults with maxillary width discrepancy of greater than 5 mm were treated
      by surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion. The procedure consisted of
      bilateral zygomatic buttress and midpalatal osteotomies combined with the use of
      a tooth-borne orthopedic device postoperatively. Mean palatal expansion of 7.5 mm
      (range of 6 to 13 mm), measured in the first molar region, was achieved within 3
      weeks in all patients. Expansion remained stable during the 12-month study
      period, with a mean relapse for the entire group of 0.88 +/- 0.48 mm. Morbidity
      was limited to mild postoperative discomfort. The results of this preliminary
      study indicated that surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion is a safe,
      simple, and reliable procedure for achieving a permanent increase in skeletal
      maxillary width in adults. Further study is necessary to document the three
      dimensional movements of the maxillary segments and long-term stability of the
      skeletal and dental changes.

PMID- 1453039
TI  - Severely impacted canines: autotransplantation as an alternative.
AB  - Although orthodontic repositioning of impacted teeth is widely used, the
      treatment has its limitations. Autotransplantation is an alternative therapy that
      may be used in selected cases of severe impaction or when orthodontic
      repositioning is unsuccessful. Two case reports are presented to illustrate the
      use of the technique in patients with severely impacted canines. Indications and
      limitations are discussed.

PMID- 1453040
TI  - Prevalence and variance of temporomandibular dysfunction in orthognathic surgery
      patients.
AB  - Seventy-five patients were studied retrospectively to assess the prevalence and
      variance of temporomandibular dysfunction in an orthognathic surgery population.
      Preoperatively, 49.3% of the sample presented with temporomandibular dysfunction.
      After orthognathic surgery, of the symptomatic patients, 89.1% had improved
      temporomandibular function after surgery, 2.7% were unchanged, and 8.1% had
      increased symptoms. Of the patients asymptomatic prior to surgery, 7.9% developed
      temporomandibular dysfunction postoperatively. Temporomandibular dysfunction was
      significantly more prevalent in patients with a Class II skeletal deformity than
      in those with a Class III deformity, and temporomandibular function generally
      improved in both groups postsurgically.

PMID- 1453041
TI  - [Effect of coagulation inhibitor proteins (Calphobindins) on tissue factor
      expression of endothelial cells].
AB  - We established a method for measuring procoagulant action on human umbilical vein
      endothelial cells (HUVEC). HUVEC (2.5 x 10(4)/well) were stimulated with 1
      microgram/ml endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide: LPS) for 6 hours at 37 degrees C in
      5% CO2. After washing, the HUVEC were incubated with assay buffer containing
      Proplex ST 1 unit (factor VII)/ml, S2222 0.6 mg/ml and CaCl2 6.6 mM, for 30
      minutes at 37 degrees C. The procoagulant activity was determined by measuring
      the supernatant at OD405. Calphobindin I, II and III (CPB I, CPB II and CPB III)
      are the calcium dependent phospholipid binding proteins that exhibit
      anticoagulant activity in vitro. In this study, we investigated the effects of
      CPB I, CPB II and CPB III on procoagulant activity (PCA) expressed on HUVEC. The
      results are as follows 1) CPBI inhibits the procoagulant activity on HUVEC in a
      dose-dependent manner (IC 50% less than 0.4 microM). The same doses (0.4 microM)
      of CPBII and CPBIII decreased the procoagulant activity to 28.1% (CPBII), and to
      84.6% (CPB III). CPB anticoagulant activities were, CPBII greater than CPBI
      greater than CPBIII, in that order. 2) When 0.05% H2O2 was added to the cell
      culture medium wells, concentrations of CPBI in supernatants increased in a time
      dependent manner, and they reached to the maximum after 8 hours. CPBI in
      supernatants after 24 hours were not detected without H2O2, but concentrations of
      4.88 ng/ml/10(4) cells with 0.01% H2O2, and 9.60 ng/ml/10(4) cells with 0.05%
      H2O2 were detected.

PMID- 1453042
TI  - [The study of DNA ploidy as a prognostic factor in uterine cervical cancer].
AB  - Nuclear DNA content was measured in 410 paraffin-embedded samples from 136 cases
      (43 stage Ib and 93 stage IIb) of uterine cervical cancer by flow cytometry, and
      the significance of DNA ploidy for use as a prognostic factor was evaluated.
      Positive parametrial invasion cases (p less than 0.05), metastasis to pelvic
      lymph nodes cases and lymphatic vessel permeation form (p less than 0.05) showed
      a high incidence of DNA aneuploidy. In the study of the relationship between DNA
      ploidy and prognosis by the Kaplan-Meier method, the DNA aneuploid group showed a
      tendency to a poor prognosis in all cases, large cell non-keratinizing cases (p
      less than 0.05), and large cell non-keratinizing pT2b with pelvic lymph nodes
      metastasis cases (p less than 0.05), and the DNA aneuploid group had
      significantly lower three- and five-year survival rates (p less than 0.05).

PMID- 1453043
TI  - [Comparison of YAG and CO2 laser excisional conization for the treatment of
      uterine cervical neoplasia].
AB  - Thirty-nine patients with cervical neoplasia who were treated by CO2 laser
      excisional conization were compared with a group of 37 patients whose diagnosis
      and age were similar were treated by YAG laser excisional conization. Every
      operation in our series was performed on an outpatient basis. The differences
      between two groups were statistically significant: The CO2 laser group revealed
      the advantages in the healing periods from treatment to the end of epithelization
      (p less than 0.01: T test) and irradiation time (p less than 0.001). There was no
      difference in the blood loss during the operation. Both initial cure rates were
      100% during the follow-up period of 21 to 65 months. During and post operations,
      more patients required additional measures such as sutures for uncontrollable
      bleeding in the CO2 laser group. In conclusion, both methods are felt to be good
      diagnostic and also therapeutic procedures for cervical neoplasia on an
      outpatient basis.

PMID- 1453044
TI  - [Effect of endothelium-derived nitric oxide and prostaglandins on the endothelium
      dependent vascular refractoriness to angiotensin II in pregnant rabbits].
AB  - Recently we demonstrated that the vascular response to angiotensin II (A-II) was
      attenuated in an endothelium-dependent manner by using the isolated ring specimen
      iliac arteries of pregnant rabbits. In this paper we investigated the possibility
      that three vasoactive substances, thromboxane A2(TXA2), prostacyclin (PGI2), and
      endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO), might be involved in this refractoriness
      to A-II during pregnancy, by measuring the changes in the vascular response to A
      II (pA2, intrinsic activity) of the isolated arterial rings of rabbits before and
      after the addition of an inhibitor specific for each of these three substances.
      Sodium ozagrel, TXA2 synthetase inhibitor, decreased the vascular response to A
      II more in the blood vessels of pregnant rabbits, regardless of whether the
      endothelium was intact or denuded, than in the blood vessels of non pregnant
      rabbits. Tranylcypromine, a PGI2 synthetase inhibitor, significantly increased
      contractility in the blood vessels with intact endothelium of pregnant rabbits
      (i.a. = 1.39 +/- 0.099, n = 11, mean +/- SEM), compared to that in the blood
      vessels with intact endothelium of non pregnant rabbits (i.a. = 1.08 +/- 0.090, n
      = 7). Methylene blue, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor which blocks the effect of
      EDNO, amplified the vascular response in blood vessels with intact endothelium of
      both groups, and more intensely in the blood vessels of pregnant
      rabbits.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453045
TI  - [Development of a fetal breathing movement tracking system using pulsed Doppler
      ultrasound].
AB  - Fetal breathing movements (FBM) form a useful means of monitoring fetal
      conditions and functional development. To develop a continuous and quantitative
      FBM monitoring system for clinical use, a non-imaging method using pulsed Doppler
      was devised. A pulsed Doppler cardiotocograph module was extended to obtain low
      frequency Doppler signals, by the addition of a 90 degree phase shifter, analog
      multipliers, quadrature detector, sample and hold circuits and low pass filters,
      to produce five simultaneous outputs representing movement at depths separated by
      1.5cm intervals. These outputs represent the displacement inside tissue at the
      various depths. Signal processing was executed on a 32-bit computer with an A/D
      converter. On-line processing by means of a zero-crossing method and off-line arc
      tangent method with high accuracy displacement estimation were applied for
      calculation. With this system, FBM was detected as cyclic and regular
      displacements of a few hundred microns ranging from 0.5 to 1.5Hz. With digital
      signal processing of 2/3Hz high pass filtering, precise evaluation FBM was
      possible while rejecting gross movements due to maternal breathing, etc. Although
      further studies are required for clinical application, it appears that
      quantitative assessments of FBM should be possible with this technique.

PMID- 1453046
TI  - [Mass-screening for ovarian cancer by means of transvaginal ultrasonography-
      study on size of ovary to select subjects requiring second screening].
AB  - Mass-screening for ovarian cancer by means of transvaginal ultrasonography has
      been performed in Aomori Prefecture since 1989. To select appropriate candidates
      to receive the second screening, the size of 44 normal ovaries removed by surgery
      and was measured studied on 10,692 ultrasonic pictures recorded on a VTR. The
      results were as follows: (1) All 44 ovaries were under 40mm. (2) In 3,806 (35.6%)
      of 10,692 women at the first screening, their ovaries were detected by
      ultrasonography. This detection rate was higher in young subjects and in the
      luteal and menstrual phases than in others. (3) Of these ovaries, 1,303 (34.2%)
      were under 19mm, 1,891 (49.7%) were 20-29mm and 614 (16.1%) were over 30mm in
      size. (4) The second screening was performed in 472 of the 614 women, and the
      size of the ovaries in 83 (17.6%) of them was under 29mm. (5) The frequency of
      ovarian size exceeding 40mm at the second screening, was 12.5% of the 30-39mm
      diameter group and 48.0% of the 40-49mm group at the first screening. There was
      no malignant tumor in the former, but there were one pre-malignant and one
      malignant tumor in the latter. These results indicate that the second screening
      should be performed for women having ovaries over 40mm in size.

PMID- 1453047
TI  - [Usefulness of intraperitoneal carboplatin administration-- pharmacokinetic
      analysis].
AB  - A bolus of carboplatin (CBDCA) 200-450mg/body (148-292mg/m2) with 500ml saline
      was administrated into the abdominal cavity (ip) of 4 patients with ovarian
      cancer and 2 patients with uterine endometrial cancer, and concentrations of free
      and total platinum (Pt) in the blood and ascites were measured with the passage
      of time. Moreover, the results were analyzed with a 2-compartment model and
      moment analyses in order to study in vivo kinetics of CBDCA at the time of the ip
      administration. 1) The shift of Pt to blood through ip administration depended on
      the peritoneal clearance. Cmax in blood was seen one hour after ip in patients
      with a normal peritoneum, and was seen between 4 and 6 hours after ip in patients
      with peritonitis carcinomatosa. The level was lower in the latter group. 2) The
      non-binding rate of Pt with protein in the ascites at the time of the ip
      administration was correlated with the CBDCA concentration in the ascites. 3) The
      non-binding rate was 80% or more both in the ascites and in the blood within 4
      hours after ip. The high level of the nonbinding rate appeared to cause
      prolongation of the presence of the free-Pt in the ascites and blood, especially
      in patients with peritonitis carcinomatosa. 4) AUC level in blood was equal to or
      higher than that observed when the same dose was administered iv. The levels of
      free-Pt and AUC in the abdominal cavity were 2 to 5 times higher than those in
      blood in patients with a normal peritoneum, and 7 to 14 times higher in patients
      with peritonitis carcinomatosa.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453048
TI  - [Transrectal ultrasonographic detection of uterosacral ligaments--preliminary
      study for ultrasonographic evaluation of endometriosis].

PMID- 1453049
TI  - [Invasive hydatidiform mole in the fallopian tube: report of a case].

PMID- 1453050
TI  - [A case of prenatal diagnosis on the VATER association].

PMID- 1453051
TI  - [A case of rhabdomyoma arising from the ovary].

PMID- 1453052
TI  - [Regulatory factors of blood pressure and clinical study of hypertension].

PMID- 1453053
TI  - [Clinical study of glomerular diseases].

PMID- 1453054
TI  - [clinical study and physiopathology of multiple myeloma].

PMID- 1453055
TI  - [Progress on study of calcium metabolism].

PMID- 1453056
TI  - [Molecular biological approach to hematologic diseases].

PMID- 1453057
TI  - [Osteocytes and bone metabolism].

PMID- 1453058
TI  - [Hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia].

PMID- 1453059
TI  - [Calcium metabolism and osteoporosis].

PMID- 1453060
TI  - [Treatment of digestive system neoplasms by biochemical modulation].

PMID- 1453061
TI  - [Stomach cancers and angiotensin II induced hypertension chemotherapy].

PMID- 1453062
TI  - [Immunochemical therapy of stomach neoplasms].

PMID- 1453063
TI  - [Cytokine therapy of neoplasms].

PMID- 1453064
TI  - [Combined radio-chemotherapy of progressive esophageal cancers].

PMID- 1453065
TI  - [Endoscopic therapy of early-stage stomach cancer].

PMID- 1453066
TI  - [Photodynamic therapy of early-stage stomach cancers].

PMID- 1453067
TI  - [Image diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases].

PMID- 1453068
TI  - [Aldosteronism and the related diseases].

PMID- 1453069
TI  - [Clinical and epidemiological study of cerebrovascular diseases].

PMID- 1453070
TI  - [Clinical study on eosinophils].

PMID- 1453071
TI  - [Progress on therapy of rheumatoid arthritis].

PMID- 1453072
TI  - [Methicillin resistance staphylococcal infections].

PMID- 1453073
TI  - [Clinical study on drug-induced nephropathy].

PMID- 1453074
TI  - [Physiopathology of systemic lupus erythematosus].

PMID- 1453075
TI  - [Clinical study on kidney transplantation].

PMID- 1453076
TI  - [Heart lesions in collagen diseases].

PMID- 1453077
TI  - [Clinical study on demyelinating diseases].

PMID- 1453079
TI  - [Patient's compliance and clinical practice].

PMID- 1453078
TI  - [Efficacy and adverse effect of drugs monitored by blood concentration].

PMID- 1453081
TI  - [Drug interactions in combination drug therapy].

PMID- 1453080
TI  - [Administration of antibiotics for patients with kidney diseases].

PMID- 1453082
TI  - Effects of D- and L-isomers of timolol on retinal and choroidal blood flow in
      ocular hypertensive rabbit eyes.
AB  - An ocular hypertensive rabbit eye model was used to study the effect of L- and D
      timolol on retinal and choroidal blood flow. Ocular hypertension was induced
      artificially by raising the intraocular pressure to 40 mmHg which reduced the
      ocular blood flow to 1/3 that of the normal blood flow. The effects of L- and D
      isomers of timolol on the ocular blood flow of ocular hypertensive eyes were then
      determined using the colored microspheres technique over a range of 0-180 min
      after eyedrop instillation. It was found that L-timolol produced biphasic action
      on the blood flow in the iris, ciliary body and choroid by significantly reducing
      it initially at 30 min, then markedly increasing it later at 90 min and
      thereafter. Although L-timolol produced a tendency to reduce the blood flow in
      the retina, it was not statistically significant. At 90 min and thereafter, the
      blood flow in all ocular tissues was markedly increased by L-timolol. D-timolol
      did not reduce the blood flow of ocular tissues initially. There was a tendency
      to increase the blood flow in all ocular tissues from the very beginning by D
      timolol. The increase of blood flow became significant at 90 min and thereafter,
      up to 3 hrs. D-timolol was less potent than L-timolol in increasing the blood
      flow in ocular tissues.

PMID- 1453083
TI  - Effect of aldose reductase inhibitors on lenticular dulcitol level in galactose
      fed rats.
AB  - We have shown that galactose cataract development is delayed or inhibited with
      the administration of aldose reductase inhibitors (ARIs). Dulcitol forms and
      accumulates in the lens of rats fed galactose. We undertook investigations to
      study the effectiveness of ARIs in preventing the formation and accumulation of
      dulcitol in the lens. Young Sprague Dawley rats were fed Purina Rat Chow with 50%
      galactose either with or without 15 mg sorbinil, 0.15, 0.5, or 1.0 mg E
      0722/day/Kg body weight. At desired intervals following the initiation of diets,
      the lenses were processed for the determination of galactose and dulcitol levels.
      The lenticular dulcitol increased significantly in all animals fed galactose
      reaching a maximum level by approximately 15 days with comparatively lower levels
      in the groups fed ARIs with galactose; this increase was dose dependent in the
      groups fed E-0722. There was a subsequent, rapid drop in lenticular dulcitol by
      18 days in all dietary groups. Interestingly, a second peak of increased
      lenticular dulcitol was observed in all groups. The correlation between dulcitol
      accumulation and cataract development is discussed.

PMID- 1453084
TI  - Inhibition of ocular inflammation by chalcone derivatives and prednisolone.
AB  - Posterior uveitis was induced by injection of 10 micrograms endotoxin
      intravitreally into rat eyes and anterior ocular inflammation was induced by
      injection of 0.75 mg of lens protein intracamerally into rabbit eyes. Four
      chalcone derivatives, RVC-556 (2'-hydroxychalcone), RVC-574 (2'-hydroxychalcone
      hydrazone), RVC-574P (2'-hydroxychalcone phenyl hydrazone) and RVC-588 (4,4'
      dihydroxy chalcone) were studied along with prednisolone at a dose of 10 mg/kg
      i.p. t.i.d. for their anti-inflammatory actions. RVC-574 was more active than
      prednisolone in inhibiting posterior uveitis by 65% and 43%, respectively. RVC
      556, RVC-574P, and RVC-588 did not affect the posterior uveitis in rats. On the
      other hand, anterior ocular inflammation was inhibited by 1% eyedrops of RVC-556,
      RVC-574P and RVC-588 but not by RVC-574. RVC-556 was more active than; RVC-574P
      was less active than; and RVC-588 was about equiactive as prednisolone in
      inhibiting anterior ocular inflammation by 77%, 47%, 69%, and 64%, respectively.

PMID- 1453085
TI  - Influence of ion pairing salts on the transcorneal permeability of ionized
      sulfonamides.
AB  - The effects of cationic ammonium, phosphonium, and arsonium ion pairing salts as
      well as anionic organic and inorganic salts on the transcorneal permeability of
      ionized sulfonamide carbonic anhydrase inhibitors have been studied in the
      excised rabbit cornea. Benzolamide, trichloromethazolamide (TCM), MK-927, and
      quaternary ammonium sulfonamide (QAS) were examined. The enhancement in the first
      order rate constants (k(in)) for the first compound in the presence of pairing
      salts was as much as 15 times the basal rate, with smaller increases seen with
      the remaining three drugs. Ion pairing salts may represent a means for enhancing
      the transcorneal permeability of highly ionized drugs.

PMID- 1453086
TI  - Ocular penetration of topically applied norfloxacin 0.3% in the rabbits and in
      humans.
AB  - The kinetics of topically applied norfloxacin 0.3 percent were studied in rabbit
      and man. All measurements were performed by high-pressure liquid chromatography.
      Norfloxacin concentrations were investigated five to 120 minutes in rabbit ocular
      tissues after instillation of a single drop. In normal eyes, after 30 minutes,
      mean +/- SEM levels were 14.3 +/- 3.7 micrograms/g in cornea, 3.3 +/- 0.7
      micrograms/g in conjunctiva, 0.2 +/- 0.1 microgram/g in aqueous humor. After
      removal of the corneal epithelium concentrations were as follows: 84.2 +/- 15.8
      micrograms/g, 7.3 +/- 2.3 micrograms/g, 8.6 +/- 1.9 micrograms/g respectively.
      Penetration in posterior ocular tissues were rather poor. In human eyes, the
      intracorneal concentrations were assessed in patients being operated on corneal
      grafts. After instillation of 5 drops, the concentration in cornea was 15.5 +/-
      2.1 micrograms/g. These data show that therapeutic levels of norfloxacin can be
      achieved in anterior ocular tissues, which may be of help in superficial
      infections of the eye.

PMID- 1453087
TI  - Biopharmaceutical explanation for the topical activity of 6-hydroxyethoxy-2
      benzothiazolesulfonamide in the rabbit eye.
AB  - 6-Hydroxyethoxy-2-benzothiazolesulfonamide (compound 1), 6-hydrogen-2
      benzothiazolesulfonamide (compound 2) and ethoxzolamide (compound 3) are carbonic
      anhydrase inhibitors, of which only compound 1 is active in lowering intraocular
      pressure when administered to the rabbit eye. They were compared for potency by
      inhibiting carbonic anhydrase I (CAase I) using the pH stat procedure. No
      differences were detected. Binding affinity and number of binding sites were
      identical; only a single binding site was operative. 14C-labelled compound 1 was
      used to measure the presence of an ocular metabolite which ranged from 17 to 57%
      in cornea, iris/ciliary body and aqueous humor. By maintaining drug solutions on
      either the corneal or conjunctival/scleral surfaces of the eye of anesthetized
      rabbits for 120 minutes, steady state concentrations of compounds 1-3 were
      determined in cornea, aqueous humor and iris/ciliary body. It was concluded that
      compound 1 penetrated both routes equally well and also accumulated at the active
      site in considerably higher concentrations than compounds 2 and 3. Compounds 2
      and 3 did not accumulate in the iris/ciliary body nor did compound 3 penetrate
      the conjunctival/scleral route very well, approximately 5-20 fold lower than from
      the corneal route.

PMID- 1453088
TI  - Lenticular uptake and distribution of xenobiotics and amino acids.
AB  - The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between lipophilicity
      and the lenticular uptake of radiolabeled xenobiotics. The lenticular uptake of
      amino acids was also investigated. An organ-culture technique was employed and
      the partitioning of compounds into the rabbit lens was measured for compounds
      with log octanol/water partition coefficients (log P o/w) ranging from -1 to 7.3.
      Drug distribution in the lens was expressed as the concentration ratio of that in
      the lenticular section (capsule/epithelium, cortex, and nucleus) to that in the
      incubation medium, (C(lens) section/Cm). The drug partitioning into the lens
      capsule was facile for all of the compounds tested. The drug concentrations in
      the lens capsule were higher than those in the cortical and nuclear regions. For
      compounds with low partition coefficients (such as sulfacetamide and cimetidine),
      an apparent distribution equilibrium was achieved during a 5-hr period. The
      C(lens)/Cm value of polar compounds, being less than one, did not further
      increase by prolonging the incubation period. Only compounds with log Po/w values
      between 3 and 6 had Cnucleus/Cm values exceeding unity. The maximal values of
      Ccortex/Cm and Cnucleus/Cm, approximately 15 and 4, respectively, for anthracene
      (log Po/w = 4.5) and diethylstilbestrol (log Po/w = 5.1), were observed in this
      study. A bell-shaped relationship was observed between the lenticular uptake rate
      and drug lipophilicity, of which the maximum occurred around log Po/w of 4. These
      results indicate the existence of a lipophilicity window for favorable drug
      distribution into the deeper region of the lens. For several lipophilic
      compounds, such as padimate-O, values of Cnucleus/Cm increased steadily over a 24
      hour incubation period. This suggests that the nucleus behaved as a deep
      compartment for these compounds. L-Cysteine and L-serine were actively taken up
      by the lens and the lenticular absorption of L-cysteine was concentration
      dependent with Vmax and Km values of 18.3 mumol/gm/hr and 49.8 mM, respectively.
      In summary, a relationship between lenticular uptake and drug lipophilicity was
      demonstrated. The optimal log Po/w value for drug uptake into the lens was
      between 4 and 5. The slowness of reaching significant drug concentrations in the
      nucleus necessitates a chronic dosing regimen to deliver therapeutic drug levels
      inside the lens.

PMID- 1453089
TI  - ECG of the month. Brain or heart? Intracranial hemorrhage.

PMID- 1453090
TI  - Eagle's syndrome: the Ochsner experience.
AB  - Eagle fully described the syndrome that bears his name in 1948. He noted that the
      typical patient had undergone tonsillectomy in the past. Although reported in the
      literature, the carotid artery syndrome is frequently overlooked in patients
      manifesting craniofacial or pharyngeal pain but who have not undergone
      tonsillectomy. Cases representative of the variety of patients with Eagle's
      syndrome treated at the Ochsner Clinic Department of Otolaryngology are
      presented. The diversity of symptoms and its rather uncommon occurrence often
      make the diagnosis of Eagle's syndrome elusive. The anatomy and embryology of the
      stylohyoid complex is discussed, as well as the symptoms, differential diagnosis,
      workup, and treatment of Eagle's syndrome. We hope to refamiliarize the clinician
      with this condition in order that it be considered in the assessment of patients
      with craniofacial pain.

PMID- 1453091
TI  - Preventing the acquisition and further transmission of the HIV virus.

PMID- 1453092
TI  - TB: new problems for an old menace.

PMID- 1453093
TI  - AIDS and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: an epidemic transforms an old disease.
AB  - Since 1985, tuberculosis case counts in the United States have increased,
      primarily because of the influence of the HIV epidemic. In addition, during this
      time outbreaks of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis among patients with AIDS or
      HIV infection have been reported in New York City and Florida. These outbreaks
      have occurred in hospitals and prisons and have been characterized by high case
      fatality rates, disease transmission within the institutions, and high infection
      rates in health care workers. The increase in tuberculosis rates and the
      outbreaks have raised concern that multidrug-resistant tuberculosis could become
      a widespread problem in the United States. Dealing with tuberculosis in the 1990s
      will require reconsideration of our current methods of tuberculosis prevention,
      diagnosis, treatment, and control.

PMID- 1453094
TI  - Current concepts in the management and prevention of tuberculosis in adults.
AB  - After a steady decline in incidence during most of this century, tuberculosis
      case rates stabilized in the mid-1980s, and since then have steadily increased.
      Several factors may have been responsible for the increase, including the influx
      of immigrants from endemic areas and the appearance of AIDS. This review outlines
      the current recommendations for treatment of tuberculosis in the otherwise normal
      patient, then discusses special problems which may affect treatment, including
      primary drug failure and relapse, pregnancy and lactation, extrapulmonary
      disease, AIDS, renal failure, and liver disease. The appearance and significance
      of multiple-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDRT) in AIDS victims is discussed, and
      current recommendations for screening patients for the presence of tuberculosis
      are reviewed.

PMID- 1453095
TI  - Attacking today's tuberculosis problem: a multifaceted, coordinated effort.
AB  - Tuberculosis is making a comeback in communities across the nation. Increased
      rates of the disease, particularly with those having HIV/AIDS, have sounded the
      alarm that quick and decisive action is needed to halt the spread of TB.
      Multidrug-resistant TB is becoming a primary concern with public health
      officials. Specific plans and efforts, instigated by the Centers for Disease
      Control, have outlined the appropriate steps local public health workers, the
      medical community, and civic and community organizations should take in order to
      eliminate TB by the year 2010. With the creation of the Task Force on Drug
      Resistant Tuberculosis, Louisiana has a vehicle with which to combat its growing
      TB problem.

PMID- 1453096
TI  - Tuberculosis in children in 1992.
AB  - In children, as in adults, tuberculosis is much commoner among minority
      population groups, in Louisiana particularly among blacks. Since 1986
      tuberculosis in some states has increased notably; in Louisiana the increase is
      only now, in 1992, becoming apparent. Eighteen new cases in children under 20
      were reported in 1991. Diagnosis in children still depends largely on history of
      contact and on the Mantoux tuberculin test. Treatment has changed markedly to a
      more intensive 6 month course including three or four drugs. Preventive treatment
      of tuberculin positive children is particularly emphasized because it will play
      an important role in achieving the stated public health goal of elimination of
      tuberculosis by the year 2010. With the increasing number of children exposed to
      tuberculosis, the increasing number of HIV-positive children at risk, and the
      rising number of multiresistant tubercle bacilli, vaccination with BCG must be
      considered.

PMID- 1453097
TI  - New developments in mycobacteria identification: public health laboratory
      modernization.
AB  - Clinical laboratory mycobacteriology has traditionally involved long delays for
      results, primarily due to the slow growth rate of most members of the genus
      Mycobacterium. Several new methodologies are now available that enable dramatic
      reductions in turn-around times. These methodologies include the Bactec TB System
      for isolation and drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the
      use of DNA probes, and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the
      identification of mycobacterial isolates. The spread of multidrug-resistant
      tuberculosis has made it imperative that laboratories take advantage of these new
      methodologies whenever possible. The Mycobacteriology Unit of the Louisiana
      Office of Public Health's Division of Laboratories has pioneered the use of these
      methodologies in a public health laboratory setting. Great reductions in turn
      around times have been achieved and further reductions are expected as the
      methods are refined and adapted to the needs of a high-volume public health
      laboratory.

PMID- 1453098
TI  - More lessons from the remnant kidney.

PMID- 1453099
TI  - Neonatal neutrophil dysfunction.

PMID- 1453100
TI  - Ionized calcium in gallbladder bile: new insights into a clear and ever-present
      danger.

PMID- 1453101
TI  - The placental transport and use of acyclovir in pregnancy.

PMID- 1453102
TI  - Aldosterone, cardiac fibrosis, und der freischutz.

PMID- 1453103
TI  - A sophisticated technique for measurement of nitric oxide: implications for the
      mechanism of action of nitroglycerin.

PMID- 1453104
TI  - Biologic markers for cancer: the search for the Holy Grail continues.

PMID- 1453105
TI  - Medical futility: values, goals, and certainty.

PMID- 1453106
TI  - The clinical, biochemical, and molecular spectrum of ornithine transcarbamylase
      deficiency.

PMID- 1453107
TI  - Supplemented low-protein diets protect the rat kidney without causing
      undernutrition.
AB  - Low-protein diets supplemented with keto-analogues and essential amino acid (KA
      EAA) mixtures or with EAA have been widely used to retard renal deterioration
      without affecting nutrition. These assumptions have recently been challenged in
      clinical studies and rest on little or no experimental data. The effects of EAA
      and KA-EAA supplementations have not been compared. We compared three groups of
      rats with subtotal nephrectomy that were fed (1) a 16% casein reference (R) diet,
      (2) a 6% casein plus EAA (A) diet, or (3) a 6% casein plus KA-EAA (K) diet with
      KA as amino acid salts. The three diets had the same energy and mineral contents,
      and they induced comparable growth. The two supplements had the same nitrogen
      content. The only difference found until month 3 was higher proteinuria and
      plasma urea levels in group R rats. Renal biopsies performed at month 3 showed
      more severe glomerular sclerosis and tubular changes in R rats than in A and K
      rats. From months 3 through 7, R rats developed higher plasma creatinine levels
      than did A and K rats (final median values: 167, 106, and 83 mumol/L; p < 0.04),
      had more proteinuria (232, 56, and 84 mg/day), and showed greater mortality
      rates. At the time the rats were killed, 2 R, 6 A, and 5 K rats had survived
      while receiving the diets. Examination of the remnant kidneys, regardless of time
      of death, showed that renal lesions were significantly worse in R than in A and K
      rats, with sclerosis affecting more than 50% of the glomeruli in 7 of 13 R, 4 of
      14 A, and 4 of 15 K rats, and less than 25% glomeruli in 2 of 13 R, 10 of 14 A,
      and 10 of 15 K rats (A and K vs R: p < 0.03). In conclusion, restriction of
      nonessential amino acids compensated by EAA or by KA-EAA mixtures retards renal
      damage without affecting growth, but no real benefit of KA or EAA has been
      observed.

PMID- 1453108
TI  - Effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition in diabetic rats with reduced
      renal function.
AB  - To test the effect of converting enzyme inhibition (CEI) on diabetes, with or
      without renal insufficiency, we studied streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats,
      with or without reduced renal mass, which were treated with insulin in sufficient
      amounts to maintain glucose values in the mild to moderately hyperglycemic range.
      We found that diabetes increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (inulin
      clearance, 2.3 +/- 0.5 ml/min vs 1.9 +/- 0.1 ml/min; p < 0.05) and blood pressure
      (137 +/- 15 mm Hg vs 116 +/- 6 mm Hg; p < 0.05) but did not increase plasma
      atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) values, when compared with control rats (72 +/-
      38 vs 68 +/- 24 pg/ml). CEI decreased GFR and blood pressure to control values.
      In rats with diabetes and concomitantly reduced renal mass, hypertension,
      elevated ANP values, proteinuria, and glomerulosclerosis were prominent features.
      CEI was associated with reduced blood pressure (172 +/- 17 mm Hg vs 138 +/- 15 mm
      Hg; p < 0.05), without a concomitant decrease in GFR (1.1 +/- 0.1 ml/min vs 1.1
      +/- 0.1 ml/min). Further, CEI reduced the elevated ANP values (140 +/- 34 pg/ml
      vs 66 +/- 19 pg/ml; p < 0.05) to those of control rats. CEI reduced proteinuria
      by 50% and ameliorated the histopathologic changes. In separate experiments, rats
      with 5/6th nephrectomy and hypertension but without diabetes were also found to
      have elevated ANP levels that decreased to control values with CEI. The data
      speak for a renal protective effect of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibition
      in this model but do not support a specific role for ANP in the model of diabetes
      with concomitantly reduced renal mass.

PMID- 1453109
TI  - Calcium in human gallbladder bile.
AB  - Biliary calcium is believed to be of great importance in gallstone pathogenesis.
      These studies were therefore performed to determine if quantitative and/or
      qualitative differences in calcium are present in gallbladder bile from patients
      with and without gallstones. Bile was obtained by direct gallbladder aspiration
      from 68 obese patients undergoing elective gastric bypass surgery. Forty-five
      patients had no evidence of gallstones or sludge, 18 had cholesterol gallstones,
      and five had black pigment stones. Gallbladder bile was also obtained from 27
      nonobese patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy (19 cholesterol; eight
      black pigment gallstones). For all patients, total calcium ranged from 1.50 to
      16.44 mmol/L (mean: 6.05 +/- 0.31 mmol/L); free Ca++ ion ranged from 0.53 to 2.83
      mmol/L (mean: 1.28 +/- 0.05 mmol/L). Considerable overlap was observed between
      obese and nonobese subjects and between patients with and without gallstones. For
      all patient groups, calcium, Ca++, and bound calcium increased linearly with
      increasing concentrations of bile salt. No significant differences in the slopes
      of these relationships were observed with obesity or gallstones. In contrast,
      free Ca++ ion was greater in gallbladder bile from gallstone patient groups
      throughout the entire range of bile salt. We hypothesize that this observed
      increase in Ca++ resulted from increased Gibbs-Donnan forces and excess
      gallbladder mucin present within the gallbladder bile of patients with
      gallstones.

PMID- 1453110
TI  - Acyclovir transport by the human placenta.
AB  - Genital Herpes simplex infection is noted increasingly in women of childbearing
      age and in neonates. Concern about transmission of herpes to the newborn has led
      to cesarean delivery of many pregnant women with a history of genital herpes.
      Severe herpes hepatitis has also been noted in pregnancy. Acyclovir is the drug
      of choice for this infectious organism. Because there are no data on the
      mechanism(s) of transport of this drug by the human placenta, this study
      addressed this issue. We used normal term human placentas. For study of overall
      placental transport of acyclovir, we used the single, isolated perfused cotyledon
      technique. For assessment of initial acyclovir uptake, we used microvesicles
      prepared from the maternal-facing syncytiotrophoblast. Overall transfer of
      acyclovir at therapeutic concentrations from maternal to fetal compartment was at
      a rate of about 30% that of a freely diffusible marker, antipyrine. The overall
      transport was not saturable, was not inhibited by 50-fold adenine concentration,
      and did not proceed against a concentration gradient. There was no placental
      metabolism of the drug. Fetal-to-maternal transfer of acyclovir was at a similar
      rate. In maternal-facing microvesicles net uptake of acyclovir was not saturable,
      but was temperature dependent and was inhibited by high concentrations of adenine
      and ganciclovir, but not by nucleosides (adenosine, cytidine, cytosine). These
      data are most consistent with a carrier-dependent, nucleobase-type uptake of the
      drug, but passive overall net transfer of acyclovir, dependent on its solubility
      characteristics.

PMID- 1453111
TI  - Mineralocorticoid excess, dietary sodium, and myocardial fibrosis.
AB  - Unlike the non-renin-dependent hypertension associated with infrarenal aorta
      banding, an abnormal accumulation of fibrillar collagen occurs within the
      adventitia of intramural coronary arteries and neighboring interstitial space of
      the left and right ventricles in arterial hypertension associated with primary or
      secondary hyperaldosteronism. Based on these findings it was suggested that this
      interstitial and perivascular fibrosis was mediated by mineralocorticoid excess
      (i.e., elevated plasma aldosterone relative to dietary sodium) and not
      ventricular loading. To further address the importance of mineralocorticoid
      excess, we examined the fibrous tissue response after 8 weeks in the following
      uninephrectomized rat groups receiving a high-sodium diet: D-aldosterone (ALDO)
      infusion (0.75 micrograms/hr sc, n = 16); deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)
      administration (100 mg/kg/wk sc, n = 8); and administration of a
      mineralocorticoid-like substance, glycyrrhizic acid (GA; 1 gm kg/wk sc, n = 8).
      Compared with ALDO infusion and sodium deprivation (n = 9), untreated controls (n
      = 14), and uninephrectomized rats with high dietary sodium and no
      mineralocorticoid administration (n = 15), we found (1) hypertension and left
      ventricular hypertrophy with all forms of mineralocorticoid excess; (2) a rise in
      collagen volume fraction with ALDO, and an increase in perivascular collagen with
      DOCA; and (3) no observance of myocardial fibrosis with GA or experimental
      controls, including ALDO infusion and sodium deprivation. Thus, in the presence
      of enhanced sodium intake, chronic administration of ALDO or DOCA are associated
      with collagen accumulation in the myocardium, whereas with the mineralocorticoid
      like compound GA, myocardial fibrosis was not seen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1453112
TI  - Endogenous urinary 3-hydroxyproline has 96% specificity and 44% sensitivity for
      cancer screening.
AB  - A method for determining the endogenous urinary excretion levels of both 3
      hydroxyproline and 4-hydroxyproline that may be useful for cancer screening of
      the general population and at the workplace is evaluated in this report. The
      excretion levels of 3-hydroxyproline and 4-hydroxproline were estimated in 97
      patients with cancer and in 99 patients with various nonmalignant diseases and
      were compared with those of 211 healthy persons. Measurable 3-hydroxyproline
      peaks (by amino acid autoanalyzer) were absent from 93 samples from 211 healthy
      persons (44%), 50 of 99 patients with nonmalignant disease (50%), and 10 of 96
      patients with cancer (10%). The levels of both 3-hydroxyproline and 4
      hydroxyproline in cancer patients were significantly higher than those in healthy
      persons (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively) and those in patients with
      nonmalignant diseases (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Cancer patients were
      classified into three groups according to grade of cancer growth and invasion.
      The sensitivity of 3-hydroxyproline was 44% and higher than that of 4
      hydroxyproline for the detection of stage II cancers (no distant metastasis); the
      sensitivities of both hydroxyprolines for the detection of stage I (very early
      cancer) were low. The specificity of these assays for healthy persons and
      patients with nonmalignant disease was 96% and 92% for 3-hydroxyproline, and 97%
      and 79% for 4-hydroxyproline, respectively. Urinary 3-hydroxyproline level should
      be further investigated as a cancer screening method for healthy persons in the
      community or the workplace, but appears unlikely to detect many cancers in the
      earliest stages.

PMID- 1453113
TI  - Reduced membrane fluidity and increased glycation of membrane proteins of
      platelets from diabetic subjects are not associated with increased platelet
      adherence to glycated collagen.
AB  - Platelets could contribute to vascular disease in diabetes through enhanced
      adherence to collagen exposed in injured vessels. Increased platelet adherence to
      collagen in diabetes could result from an alteration in platelets and/or platelet
      hypersensitivity to collagen that has been glycated to a greater extent. In this
      study, the adherence of platelets from diabetic or control subjects to glycated
      or nonglycated collagen coated onto glass surfaces was examined. Membrane
      fluidity of platelets was also determined, since decreased membrane fluidity
      associated with increased glycation of membrane proteins of platelets from
      diabetic subjects was shown in a previous study, and decreases in membrane
      fluidity have been shown by others to increase platelet adhesion. Thirteen
      diabetic subjects were compared with 13 age-and sex-matched control subjects.
      Collagen was glycated (9.7 nmol glucose/mg protein) by preincubation for 12 days
      in glucose-rich medium (500 mmol/L). A control solution of collagen incubated
      without glucose for the same time had 3.3 nmol glucose/mg protein. There were no
      differences in the adherence of platelets from diabetic and control subjects to
      nonglycated and glycated collagen-coated glass. The mean steady-state
      fluorescence polarization value (0.187 +/- 0.002) in 1.6-diphenyl-1,3,5
      hexatriene-labeled platelets from diabetic subjects was significantly greater
      than in platelets from control subjects (0.174 +/- 0.002, p < 0.002); thus
      membrane fluidity in platelets from the group of diabetic subjects was decreased.
      The extent of glycation of membrane proteins from diabetic subjects (25.4 +/- 0.5
      nmol glucose/mg protein) was significantly greater than from control subjects
      (20.2 +/- 0.4 nmol glucose/mg protein, p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1453114
TI  - Mechanisms of glucagon-induced renal vasodilation: role of prostaglandins and
      endothelium-derived relaxing factor.
AB  - The mechanisms underlying the renal hemodynamic responses (vasodilation and
      hyperfiltration) to an amino acid or protein load are currently unknown and are
      relevant to understanding the effect of dietary protein on the progression of
      chronic renal failure. Glucagon (GLC) has been suggested to be important in these
      renal hemodynamic responses, although the mechanism is again unclear. Thus we
      investigated potential mediators of the renal hemodynamic response to GLC in the
      anesthetized rat, including prostanoids and endothelium-derived relaxing factor
      (EDRF). The effects of glucagon alone and after pretreatment were tested as
      follows: (1) after baseline renal hemodynamic measurements done with clearance
      techniques, rats were given GLC alone (n = 5; 200 ng/min IV continuous infusion);
      (2) glucagon was given after pretreatment with the EDRF synthesis inhibitor nitro
      arginine-methyl-ester (NAME; n = 6; 125 micrograms/kg/min intrarenal artery by
      continuous infusion); (3) glucagon was given after pretreatment with indomethacin
      (INDO; n = 6; 5 mg/kg IV bolus). Repeat clearances demonstrated that GLC infusion
      increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR; basal vs GLC, 0.87 +/- 0.04 ml/min vs
      1.14 +/- 0.09 ml/min, p < 0.05); renal plasma flow (RPF; 4.10 +/- 0.18 ml/min vs
      5.56 +/- 0.32 ml/min, p < 0.05) and decreased renal vascular resistance (RVR;
      15.82 +/- 1.17 mm Hg/[ml/min] vs 10.72 +/- 0.65 mm Hg/[ml/min], p < 0.05).
      Intrarenal N-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester (NAME) infusion significantly reduced
      basal GFR (-20% +/- 8%, p < 0.05) and RPF (-43% +/- 2%, p < 0.05), while
      increasing RVR (+108% +/- 9%, p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453115
TI  - The pituitary-gonadal axis in experimental nephrotic syndrome in male rats.
AB  - Basal and luteinizing releasing hormone-stimulated gonadotropin secretion were
      studied in male rats made nephrotic with puromycin, and in pair-fed and normal
      control animals. In addition, plasma concentrations of testosterone,
      androstenedione, estradiol, and estrone were measured in the three groups of
      animals. Urinary testosterone concentrations were also measured in the three
      experimental groups. The data showed that basal luteinizing hormone concentration
      was significantly elevated in the nephrotic group compared with the pair-fed and
      normal control groups. Gonadotropin response to luteinizing releasing hormone
      stimulation was not significantly different in the three groups, suggesting an
      intact hypothalamic-pituitary axis in nephrotic syndrome. Urinary testosterone
      concentration in the nephrotic animals was significantly higher than in the pair
      fed and normal control groups. Plasma testosterone, androstenedione, estradiol,
      and estrone concentrations were significantly lower in the nephrotic and pair-fed
      animals than in the normal control animals, indicating possibly impaired gonadal
      steroidogenesis in these two groups that may be related to the catabolic state of
      the animals. It thus appears that urinary loss of protein-bound (sex hormone
      binding globulin-bound) testosterone in the nephrotic syndrome leads to increased
      basal secretion of luteinizing hormone, presumably as a result of increased
      luteinizing releasing hormone secretion. This occurs to compensate for the
      abnormal urinary testosterone loss and is an attempt to restore plasma
      testosterone concentrations to normal. The higher basal plasma luteinizing
      hormone concentration in the nephrotic group supports this conclusion.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453116
TI  - Amiodarone-induced endothelial injury is associated with phospholipase C-mediated
      hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids.
AB  - Phospholipids accumulate within the lysosomes of various cells from individuals
      taking amiodarone. Studies on cultured cells suggest that inhibition of lysosomal
      phospholipase A1 and phospholipase A2 by amiodarone may be responsible for this
      derangement in phospholipid metabolism. Inhibition of lysosomal phospholipases by
      amiodarone has been suggested as a mechanism of its toxicity, but this
      relationship has not been clearly established. To examine this question, membrane
      phospholipids of cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAEC) were
      labeled with 14C-stearic acid, 3H-arachidonic acid, 14C-choline, or 14C
      ethanolamine. Radiolabeled BPAEC were then exposed to various concentrations of
      amiodarone, and endothelial phospholipase activity was measured by isolating and
      quantifying various phospholipase products. These findings were compared to a
      standard indicator of endothelial cytotoxicity using 51Cr release. Six-hour
      exposures to 5 to 20 micrograms/ml amiodarone produced no BPAEC toxicity and were
      accompanied by some evidence of decreased phospholipid hydrolysis. At
      concentrations above 20 micrograms/ml, amiodarone caused significant BPAEC
      toxicity as indicated by 51Cr release, and this was closely associated with the
      liberation of substantial amounts of 3H-arachidonic acid and 14C-stearic acid
      from phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. In BPAEC labeled with 14C
      choline and 14C-ethanolamine, cytotoxic doses of amiodarone caused accumulations
      of 14C-phosphocholine and phosphorylethanolamine, expected products of
      phospholipase C, but without increases in phospholipase A products. We conclude
      that exposure of BPAEC to toxic concentrations of amiodarone is associated with
      extensive hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylethanolamine via
      a phospholipase C-specific mechanism, and suggest that this may be a mechanism in
      the pathogenesis of amiodarone toxicity.

PMID- 1453117
TI  - The effects of extracellular calcium on prairie dog gallbladder ion transport.
AB  - Recent studies suggest that experimentally induced gallstone formation is
      associated with altered gallbladder absorptive function. Moreover, elevated
      biliary levels of calcium have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cholesterol
      gallstones. Nonetheless, the relationship between gallbladder ion transport and
      biliary calcium remains obscure. We tested the hypothesis that extracellular
      calcium modulates gallbladder ion transport. Prairie dog gallbladders were
      mounted in an Ussing chamber, and short-circuit current (Isc), transepithelial
      potential difference (Vms), and tissue resistance (Rt) were measured. Tissues
      were randomly exposed to physiologic salt solutions containing the following
      concentrations of calcium: 0.01, 1.3, 5, and 10 mmol/L. Exposure of gallbladder
      epithelium to increasing calcium concentrations resulted in concomitant increases
      in Isc and Vms (p < 0.001), without altering Rt. Regression analysis demonstrated
      a curvilinear correlation between calcium and Isc (Y = 167 + 22.5x - 1.4 x 26; p
      < 0.001). We conclude that extracellular calcium may be a modulator of
      gallbladder ion transport.

PMID- 1453118
TI  - Laminin B1 is preferentially expressed in the cortex of rat kidney and is not
      affected by cyclosporine administration.
AB  - Cyclosporine has proven beneficial as an immunosuppressive agent for organ
      rejection in kidney transplants as well as in heart and liver transplants.
      Cyclosporine administration, however, is associated with certain adverse effects,
      one of the most important being chronic nephrotoxicity characterized by focal
      cortical scarring. Recent experimental data show involvement of type I and
      possibly type IV collagens in this process. Because laminin represents another
      potential extracellular matrix target, we examined the effects of cyclosporine
      administration in rats on the expression of laminin at the messenger ribonucleic
      acid (mRNA) and protein levels. In untreated normal rats, laminin B1 mRNA is
      preferentially expressed in the renal cortices, as demonstrated by northern
      blots. Daily administration of cyclosporine leads to focal cortical interstitial
      fibrosis and tubular atrophy by 4 weeks with, as shown previously, elevated
      procollagen alpha-1 (type I) mRNA levels at 1 and 4 weeks. In contrast, the
      amounts of message for laminin B1 remain identical after 1 week and 4 weeks of
      cyclosporine administration, despite the development of fibrosis at 4 weeks.
      Similar results were obtained with antilaminin antibody. We conclude that laminin
      is abundant in renal cortical tissues as compared with its medullary contents and
      is not altered in the process of renal cortical fibrosis induced by cyclosporine.

PMID- 1453119
TI  - 183rd meeting of the Society for Endocrinology. London, 25-27 November 1992.
      Abstracts.

PMID- 1453120
TI  - Quality assurance in internal medicine.

PMID- 1453121
TI  - First-line pharmacological treatment of hypertension.

PMID- 1453122
TI  - Metabolic disturbances in hypertension: results from the population study 'men
      born in 1913'.
AB  - A clustering of metabolic disturbances has been indicated in hypertension. The
      distribution of such factors was assessed among hypertensives and normotensives
      in a general population sample of 644 men aged 67 years. Fasting serum insulin,
      glucose and triglyceride levels were measured. In this study hypertension was
      defined as DBP > or = 95 mmHg or present use of antihypertensives. Impaired
      glucose tolerance (IGT) or diabetes mellitus, hyperinsulinaemia (> or = 20 mU l
      1) and hypertriglyceridaemia (> or = 2.3 mmol l-1) were defined as metabolic
      disturbances. When all these disturbances were present simultaneously a complete
      'metabolic syndrome' was considered to be present. Hypertension was found in 185
      (29%) men, IGT in 15%, diabetes mellitus in 11%, hyperinsulinaemia in 18% and
      hypertriglyceridaemia in 19%. Among hypertensives, 11 (6%) men had a 'metabolic
      syndrome', compared to 12 (3%) men in the normotensive group (P = 0.039). At
      least one metabolic disturbance was present in 109 (59%) of the hypertensive men,
      and in 173 (38%) of the normotensive men (P < 0.001). The prevalence rates of
      metabolic disturbances did not differ significantly between lean (BMI < 26 kg m
      2) and obese (BMI > or = 26 kg m-2) hypertensives. Only hypertriglyceridaemia was
      more frequent in obese than in lean hypertensives (20% vs. 37%, P = 0.015). The
      'metabolic syndrome' was found in 6% of all hypertensives, which was twice as
      common as in the normotensive population. The 'metabolic syndrome' was uncommon
      in both lean and obese hypertensives (5% vs. 7%, NS). These findings indicate
      that hypertension and metabolic disturbances may have a common underlying cause,
      at least in some individuals.

PMID- 1453123
TI  - Association between high levels of growth factors in plasma and progression of
      coronary atherosclerosis.
AB  - Although intimal proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMC) is recognized as one
      of the key mechanisms in the development of atherosclerosis, our knowledge of the
      role of circulating growth factors for SMC in this process is limited. In the
      present study the plasma levels of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), beta
      thromboglobulin (beta-TG), platelet factor 4 (PF 4) and total growth factor
      activity were determined in a group of 30 young postinfarction patients who had
      participated in an angiographic study of mechanisms associated with progression
      of coronary atherosclerosis. Significant correlations were found between the
      total growth factor activity in plasma and progression (r = 0.42, P < 0.05), as
      well as severity (r = 0.52, P < 0.01), of global coronary atherosclerosis.
      Attempts to identify the nature of the total growth factor activity indicated
      that less than 20% could be attributed to PDGF, the major serum mitogen for SMC.
      PDGF levels determined by radioimmunoassay were not related to progression or
      severity of global coronary atherosclerosis, but showed a significant association
      with the number and severity of distinct stenoses (r = 0.40, P < 0.05). Due to
      the retrospective design of this study, it is not possible to conclude whether
      there is a causal relationship between circulating growth factors and development
      of coronary atherosclerosis.

PMID- 1453124
TI  - Occurrence of species of low-density lipoprotein with defective clearance in
      patients with primary moderate hypercholesterolaemia.
AB  - Recent studies have shown that one cause of primary moderate
      hypercholesterolaemia is familial defective apolipoprotein B-100 (FDB), a
      condition in which a mutation in apolipoprotein B-100 (apo B-100) causes low
      density lipoproteins (LDL) to bind poorly to LDL receptors. One specific
      mutation, a glutamine-for-arginine transformation at position 3500 of apo B-100,
      has been reported to produce FDB. However, other mutations in apo B-100 might
      also cause FDB. The present study was designed to determine whether some patients
      with hypercholesterolaemia, who do not have the 3500 defect, may have a slowly
      cleared subfraction of LDL compatible with other forms of FDB. It was postulated
      that slowly removed LDL should accumulate excess cholesterol ester and hence be
      less dense than normal LDL. If so, in patients who are heterozygous for FDB, two
      forms of LDL might be separable by ultracentrifugation. To test this hypothesis,
      less-dense (d = 1.030 g ml-1) and more-dense (d = 1.040 g ml-1) subfractions of
      LDL were isolated from a patient with proven FDB (3500 mutation); the two forms
      of LDL were labelled with different isotopes of radioiodine and re-injected into
      the patient. The less-dense form was removed much more slowly (0.285 pools day-1)
      than more-dense LDL (0.570 pools day-1). This finding appeared to confirm the
      validity of the approach. The same procedure was then applied to 18 other
      patients having elevated LDL cholesterol but not the 3500 mutation. In 13
      patients, the two forms of LDL were removed at essentially identical rates,
      suggesting that they did not have an abnormal form of LDL. In the other five,
      less-dense LDL were removed at a significantly slower rate than more-dense LDL;
      this finding suggests that a significant portion of patients with moderate
      hypercholesterolaemia have an abnormal LDL species, which is not the 3500
      mutation, but delays clearance of LDL from the circulation.

PMID- 1453125
TI  - The relationship between the transfer factor obtained at rest, and arterial
      oxygen tension during exercise, in patients with miscellaneous pulmonary
      diseases.
AB  - Forty-one consecutive patients with the symptom 'exertional dyspnoea' were
      referred to the Department of Clinical Physiology for evaluation. Pulmonary
      fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were the most common diagnoses
      but other diagnoses were also represented. Some patients had no clinical
      diagnosis or radiological signs. All patients underwent exercise testing with
      sampling of arterial blood for blood gas analysis and pulmonary function testing
      including measurement of the transfer factor (carbon monoxide diffusing capacity)
      at rest. Independent of spirometric findings and diagnosis a significant
      correlation (r = 0.80, P < 0.001) was shown to exist between the transfer factor
      measured at rest and the arterial oxygen tension at maximal exercise level. We
      recommend measurement of the transfer factor as a screening test for exertional
      hypoxaemia and suggest that exercise blood gas analysis only seems necessary in
      patients with a transfer factor between 55% and 80% of the predicted value.

PMID- 1453126
TI  - Increasing parathyroid hormone concentrations in untreated primary
      hyperparathyroidism.
AB  - Twenty-four patients with mild to moderate primary hyperparathyroidism were
      followed for an average of 2.45 years with serial determinations of serum ionized
      calcium and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH). For the entire group serum ionized
      calcium remained stable, whereas serum PTH increased significantly. Eleven
      patients (group 1) demonstrated a significant increase in PTH with time. The
      remaining 13 patients formed group 2. Comparison of the changes (%) in each
      subgroup showed a small but significant increase in serum ionized calcium of 2.6%
      with time in group 1, while serum PTH increased by 78%. In group 2 serum ionized
      calcium remained stable whereas PTH increased modestly by 22%. Serum
      concentrations of creatinine were stable throughout the follow-up period in both
      groups. Despite the greater precision of serum ionized calcium, measurements of
      intact PTH are evidently more sensitive than measurements of serum ionized
      calcium for the detection of progression in primary hyperparathyroidism.

PMID- 1453127
TI  - Diagnosis of acute symptomatic aortic aneurysm--ultrasonography an important
      tool.
AB  - Symptomatic aortic aneurysm is an extremely acute condition with manifest or
      threatening aortic rupture. The mortality is high and urgent surgery is essential
      and often life-saving. A correct diagnosis needs to be made without delay, a fact
      which places great demands on the doctor--often not a surgeon--who is first
      consulted by the patient. The differential diagnosis and emergency management are
      discussed here against the background of the course of events in four patients
      with aortic aneurysm who were referred erroneously for admission to a coronary
      intensive care unit during a 12-month period. Two of the patients died. The
      ultrasonographic findings were decisive for the outcome in the two surviving
      patients and yielded a rapid diagnosis in one further case. Ultrasonography is
      recommended as the method of first choice for verifying or excluding this
      condition when it is suspected on clinical grounds.

PMID- 1453128
TI  - Survival in 91 adults with acute myelogenous leukaemia treated with 1-6 intensive
      courses of chemotherapy.
AB  - Ninety-one patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) aged 17-59 years were
      treated with a chemotherapy programme which could be completed within 30 weeks
      for patients who achieved complete remission (CR). Four courses included
      daunorubicin, cytarabine and thioguanine, while two courses included amsacrine,
      etoposide and cytarabine. Sixty-five patients obtained CR (71%), more often in
      patients below (82%) than above (60%) 40 years of age (P = 0.03). Five patients
      underwent allogenic bone-marrow transplantation, and one patient received an
      autologous bone-marrow transplant after relapse. Five patients developed central
      nervous system leukaemia. The overall actuarial 3- and 5-year survival was 29%
      and 21%, respectively; for patients who obtained CR the corresponding survival
      rates were 40% and 30%, respectively. Patients below 40 years of age appeared to
      fare better (5-year survival 26%) than older patients (5-year survival 16%). The
      estimated disease-free survival rate was 26% at 3 years and 22% at 5 years. The
      main advantage of this regimen is that results compare favourably with those
      obtained with other regimens were achieved, without exposing patients to long
      periods of maintenance therapy.

PMID- 1453129
TI  - Immunoreactive interleukin-6 in serum of patients with B-lymphoproliferative
      diseases.
AB  - Serum immunoreactive interleukin-6 (ir-IL-6) concentration was measured by
      radioimmunoassay in nine patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), 16
      patients with multiple myeloma (MM), 12 patients with monoclonal gammapathy of
      undetermined significance (MGUS), 22 patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome
      (SS), and in 32 control subjects. Measurable quantities of ir-IL-6 were detected
      in every sample studied. Patients with MGUS and SS had significantly higher serum
      ir-IL-6 (mean +/- SD) concentrations (337 +/- 92 ng l-1 and 299 +/- 100 ng l-1,
      respectively) than controls (92 +/- 77 ng l-1) and patients with CLL and MM (120
      +/- 32 ng l-1 and 113 +/- 58 ng l-1, respectively). Longitudinal studies of ir-IL
      6 concentration in a few patients with MM showed a decrease before remission and
      an increase prior to relapse, but no consistent pattern was detected. In
      conclusion, we found that serum ir-IL-6 levels are higher in patients with benign
      hypergammaglobulinaemic states than in patients with malignant neoplastic B-cell
      disorders.

PMID- 1453130
TI  - Haematologic effects of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor in a
      patient with thiamazole-induced agranulocytosis.
AB  - A 61-year-old female patient, treated for hyperthyroidism with thiamazole,
      developed a severe maturation arrest in the granulocytic lineage and a total
      agranulocytosis. Subcutaneous GM-CSF was started immediately and given for 6
      days. Bone marrow samples were taken before GM-CSF therapy and on days 3 and 8.
      An increased number of colonies per 10(5) bone marrow cells documented before
      institution of GM-CSF treatment was followed by a gradual decline to normal
      values. An increase of granulocyte count to > 0.5 x 10(9) l-1 was recorded on the
      4th day of treatment and was preceded by an increase in the number of immature
      granulocyte precursors in the bone marrow on day 3. The patient was discharged on
      day 8 and experienced no adverse effects of GM-CSF treatment. Haematopoietic
      growth factor therapy has a place in the management of patients with drug induced
      neutropenia/agranulocytosis, which should be further delineated by prospective
      studies.

PMID- 1453131
TI  - The bone mineral density in acquired growth hormone deficiency correlates with
      circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor I.
AB  - Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is an important anabolic factor for
      osteoblasts in vitro. Low plasma levels of IGF-I have been observed in young men
      with osteoporosis. In the present study, we have studied bone mineral density
      (BMD) and the circulating levels of IGF-I and growth hormone (GH) in adults with
      acquired GH deficiency. BMD was determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in
      17 men and 12 women (age 27-54 years). Spinal BMD was positively correlated with
      the plasma levels of IGF-I (r = 0.43, P = 0.019), with the median of GH values
      obtained by repeated sampling at night (r = 0.43, P = 0.0019), and with the peak
      of GH values during GHRH provocation test (r = 0.49, P = 0.039). The total BMD
      was positively related to plasma IGF-I and median of GH values, but not to peak
      GH by GHRH provocation. In a multiple regression analysis model, IGF-I, peak GH
      by GHRH provocation test and duration of GH deficiency explained 49% of the
      variation in spinal BMD. As compared to healthy controls, total, but not spinal,
      bone mass was lower in men with GH deficiency, but no clinical symptoms of
      osteoporosis were observed. The positive relationships between BMD and
      circulating IGF-I and other indices of GH secretion suggest that IGF-I has an
      endocrine effect on bone mass.

PMID- 1453132
TI  - Testosterone/epitestosterone ratio in urine: a possible diagnostic tool in the
      disclosure of exogenous testosterone administration.
AB  - A 37-year-old woman presented with a history of secondary amenorrhoea and
      hirsutism for 4 years. She had elevated serum levels of testosterone and
      dihydrotestosterone, and decreased serum levels of sex hormone binding globulin
      and oestradiol. Almost daily use of a testosterone-containing ointment in the
      vulvar region for 6 years was disclosed as the cause of the hyperandrogenism.
      Serum testosterone, testosterone excretion rate in urine and
      testosterone/epitestosterone ratio in urine were determined at fixed intervals 24
      h before and 48 h after application of the testosterone-containing ointment.
      There was a rapid increase in serum testosterone, with a peak level after 4-6 h.
      The testosterone excretion rate and the testosterone/epitestosterone ratio in
      urine peaked after 2-4 h. After 48 h the serum testosterone level was still about
      twice the basal value. The testosterone/epitestosterone level was over the
      'doping limit' of 6 for 28 h. We conclude that determination of the
      testosterone/epitestosterone ratio in urine would have disclosed exogenous
      testosterone administration in this patient. We recommend this test for patients
      in whom exogenous testosterone administration is suspected.

PMID- 1453133
TI  - Two UV-induced episodes of myelitis in a patient with systemic lupus
      erythematosus.
AB  - Two flares of acute myelitis were observed in a 31-year-old woman with previously
      known mild SLE. The two myelitic episodes both occurred within 1 week after
      intense sun exposure, and for this reason photobiological induction of the
      manifestation is considered likely. The diagnostic utility of MRI in the acute
      situation and the possible influence of sex-steroids on SLE manifestations are
      also illustrated by this case.

PMID- 1453134
TI  - On estimating processing variance: commentary and reanalysis of Kail's
      "Developmental functions for speeds of cognitive processes".
AB  - A recent paper by Kail (1988) in this journal appears to contain a significant
      error in the data analysis. The "goodness-of-fit" coefficients reported which
      suggest that overall about 94% of the variance can be accounted for by the model
      seem to be a substantial overestimation as a result of inappropriate procedures
      for statistical modeling. Using the data made available to us by Kail, we have
      reanalyzed these results. The corrected values range from 0.9 to 92.1% for the
      individual tasks with an overall average between 40 and 60%. We suggest that the
      support for the original conclusions is considerably weaker than reported.

PMID- 1453135
TI  - Evidence for global developmental change is intact.
AB  - In this article, I argue that most of the claims made by Morrison, Morrison, and
      Keating (1992) do not undermine the key results of the Kail (1988) study and
      that, contrary to their claims, the evidence still provides support for the
      original conclusion that a global mechanism is implicated in age-related change
      in speed of processing.

PMID- 1453136
TI  - Covert orienting to central visual cues and sport practice relations in the
      development of visual attention.
AB  - This study examines the development of controlled covert orienting of visual
      attention, according to the age and the level of performance of tennis players.
      Practicers and nonpracticers age 13, 16, and 25 participated in a covert
      orienting task. On each trial, subjects responded to a target which appeared in
      one of four locations arrayed horizontally across the display. Three central cues
      were used: neutral, the cue did not specify in which location the target would
      appear; valid, the target was present in the cued location on 80% of the trials;
      invalid, the target was present in one of the uncued locations on the remaining
      20% of the trials. The results showed that (1) practicers were not faster than
      nonpracticers in processing the signals, (2) observers of all ages oriented
      attention voluntarily to the cued locations, (3) central cues had a smaller
      effect on older and practiced subjects, and (4) developmental and sport practice
      factors had similar effects on orienting efficiency. The implications of these
      findings for theories of attentional development are discussed.

PMID- 1453137
TI  - Operativity and the superordinate categorization of artifacts.
AB  - Relations between typical and atypical exemplars of superordinate categories are
      low in figurative similarity, i.e., similarity based in appearance or in
      spatial/temporal context. Operativity, as an emergent competence to overcome
      figurative cues and establish nonfigurative relations, might be expected to
      contribute to superordinate categorization. The present study assessed the
      relative consistency of age-equivalent preoperational and concrete-operational
      groups of first graders across two categorization tasks employing color drawings
      of exemplars of superordinate artifact categories. Concrete-operational subjects
      categorized two exemplars together on a Sample-Match Task if they had previously
      included both exemplars under the same category on a Category-Membership Task. In
      addition to membership in the same category, preoperational subjects required
      that both exemplars be typical before categorizing them together on the Sample
      Match Task. The cognitive levels did not differ in their category membership
      decisions. Results are discussed in terms of both utilization and acquisition of
      superordinate knowledge.

PMID- 1453138
TI  - The role of attention in children's time perception.
AB  - This study tested the role of attention in 7- to 9-year-old children's time
      estimation. Based on an attentional model of time estimation, it was hypothesized
      that prospective estimates of short intervals are a function of the degree to
      which a child is occupied with the passage of time and is focusing his or her
      attention on estimating the exposure time of a stimulus. Two experiments with two
      different manipulations on attentional focus were conducted. Eighty children were
      exposed to two types of light bulbs, one a big bulb kindled with high intensity
      and the other a small one kindled with low intensity. The light bulbs were
      kindled for different intervals ranging from 3 to 10 s. In both experiments
      children estimated the lighting time of the bulbs in each condition by a
      reproduction method. In the first experiment prospective time estimates were
      found to be significantly longer than retrospective ones. In the second
      experiment children gave shorter time estimates when their attention was
      attracted away from the time estimation task than when it was not. In both
      experiments the attentional hypothesis was supported. In addition, support for
      the "more is more" hypothesis was obtained. Implications for understanding
      children's time perception processes are discussed.

PMID- 1453139
TI  - Counting knowledge and skill in cognitive addition: a comparison of normal and
      mathematically disabled children.
AB  - The relationship between counting knowledge and computational skills (i.e., skill
      at counting to solve addition problems) was assessed for groups of first-grade
      normal and mathematically disabled (MD) children. Twenty-four normal and 13 MD
      children were administered a series of counting tasks and solved 40 computer
      administered addition problems. For the addition task, problem-solving strategies
      were recorded on a trial-by-trial basis. Performance on the counting tasks
      suggested that the MD children were developmentally delayed in the understanding
      of essential and unessential features of counting and were relatively unskilled
      in the detection of certain forms of counting error. On the addition task, the MD
      children committed many more computational errors and tended to use
      developmentally immature counting procedures. The immature counting knowledge of
      the MD children, combined with their relatively poor skills at detecting counting
      errors, appeared to underlie their poor computational skills on the addition
      task. Suggestions for future research are presented.

PMID- 1453140
TI  - Clarifying the role of shape in children's taxonomic assumption.
AB  - When asked to find a new referent of a novel label children tend to ignore
      thematic relations (e.g., the relation between a spider and its web) and focus
      instead on taxonomic relations (e.g., the relation between a spider and a snake).
      The precise nature of children's taxonomic assumption has not been clear,
      however. One possibility is that the taxonomic assumption reduces to a "similar
      shape rule": perhaps children tend to select objects of the same taxonomic kind
      when asked to extend new labels simply because these objects are more similar in
      shape than objects which are only thematically related. Sixty children between 3
      and 5 years of age participated in three studies which examined children's
      attention to thematic relations, similarity of shape, and taxonomic relations
      when extending novel object labels. The findings indicated that shape has some
      primacy in children's expectations about object label reference, yet when shape
      is not available as a guide, children also take taxonomic kind into consideration
      when searching for new referents of novel labels. Thus children make use of a
      relatively rich and somewhat varied set of expectations to guide their inferences
      about object label reference.

PMID- 1453141
TI  - "Right decisions, right now".

PMID- 1453142
TI  - Consultations and referrals.

PMID- 1453143
TI  - Spirituality.

PMID- 1453144
TI  - Drug-prescribing questions.

PMID- 1453145
TI  - Current management of streptococcal pharyngitis.

PMID- 1453146
TI  - Clarithromycin vs penicillin in the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Streptococcal pharyngitis, caused by group A beta-hemolytic
      streptococci (GABHS), is among the most common infections seen by primary care
      physicians. Because the illness can result in rheumatic fever, early eradication
      of infection is important. Penicillin has been the standard treatment for GABHS
      pharyngitis for over four decades, but reports of bacteriologic failure with this
      drug in recent years have led to trials of alternative antimicrobials. METHODS:
      In this investigator-blind, randomized multicenter trial (30 centers), oral
      clarithromycin, 250 mg twice daily, or oral penicillin VK, 250 mg three times
      daily, was given to outpatients > or = 12 years old with GABHS pharyngitis as
      documented by positive cultures for Streptococcus pyogenes and positive rapid
      immunoassay tests. The clinical and bacteriologic efficacy of clarithromycin was
      compared with that of penicillin in the 356 evaluable patients. Safety analysis
      was performed in all patients who had received at least one dose of the study
      drug (N = 453). RESULTS: Overall, clinical outcomes were comparable in the two
      groups. However, more clarithromycin-treated patients than penicillin-treated
      patients had resolution of sore throat (94% vs 86%, P = .014) and disappearance
      of pharyngeal erythema and exudate (89% vs 82%, P = .05). Bacteriologic cure
      rates were higher in clarithromycin-treated patients (95% vs 87%, P = .009). No
      serious adverse events were observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: This study
      suggests that clarithromycin twice daily is as effective and as well tolerated as
      penicillin in the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis.

PMID- 1453147
TI  - Patients' attitudes regarding chaperones during physical examinations.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to determine the preference of patients
      concerning the presence of a chaperone during physical examination of the
      breasts, genitals, rectum, heart and lungs, or abdomen. The study was designed to
      quantify preference differences between male and female patients and between
      teenagers and adults, and to determine whether the sex of the examining physician
      influenced chaperone preference. METHODS: Preference survey data were obtained
      from 251 female subjects and 201 male subjects over the age of 13 years who
      visited a family practice center in a midwestern urban community. RESULTS: The
      majority of patients of either sex and all ages did not care if a chaperone was
      present. However, substantial proportions of adult women (29%) and female
      teenagers (46%) preferred that a chaperone be present during a breast, pelvic, or
      rectal examination by a male physician. Thirty-six percent of adult women and 63%
      of female teenagers wanted a chaperone present during a first examination of
      these regions. Adults of both sexes felt the nurse would be the best chaperone,
      whereas teenagers ranked a parent first and the nurse second. Patients indicated
      that they felt comfortable asking for a chaperone. CONCLUSIONS: Although most
      patients have no strong preference, female patients, especially female teenagers,
      should be given the option of having a chaperone present during an examination of
      the breasts, pelvis, or rectum by a male physician.

PMID- 1453148
TI  - Relationship between Pap smear performance and physician ordering a mammogram.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although Pap smear screening for cervical cancer in general has been
      successfully implemented, mammography screening for breast cancer remains
      relatively underused. Patients having one screening test are more likely to have
      other screening tests performed. The objective of this study was to determine
      whether visits by women for Pap smears serve as opportunities for physicians to
      order a screening mammogram. METHODS: A matched case-control design was used for
      this retrospective study. Eligible women included those over 50 years of age who
      had no history of breast cancer or mastectomy and who had made at least one visit
      to a family practice residency program during the 2-year study period. Cases were
      randomly selected from women who had mammograms performed. For each case, one
      control subject who did not have a mammogram was matched by age and number of
      visits. A chart audit was performed to collect data on the characteristics of
      these women and whether they completed their screening tests. RESULTS: The
      adjusted odds ratio (controlling for the patient's age and number of physician
      visits) for mammogram completion among women who had a Pap smear compared with
      those who did not was 6.67. This effect persisted after controlling for other
      confounding factors using logistic regression. CONCLUSIONS: Performing a Pap
      smear appears to serve as a prompt for the physician to order a screening
      mammogram. That physicians appear to provide screening tests, particularly Pap
      smears and mammograms, as a package of services should be considered when future
      efforts to improve implementation are made.

PMID- 1453149
TI  - Outpatients' attitudes regarding advance directives.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although many bedside ethical dilemmas can be avoided if patients
      discuss their wishes regarding the use of life-prolonging treatment and
      aggressiveness of care, many physicians are reluctant to raise this issue with
      their patients. Physicians may wait for such discussions until a patient is ill
      or elderly or until the patient raises the issue first. METHODS: Three hundred
      adult patients visiting their family physician's office were asked to complete a
      19-item questionnaire. In addition to providing demographic information, they
      were asked whether they had discussed their wishes regarding life-prolonging
      treatments with their physician; what their attitude was toward having these
      discussions in various situations; whom they wanted to initiate the discussion,
      and with whom else they had discussed their wishes. RESULTS: Of the respondents
      who had not previously discussed their wishes with their physician, 68% wanted
      the physician to initiate the discussion. Only 11% did not want their physician
      to bring up the subject. A majority of respondents in all age groups thought it
      was somewhat or very important to discuss this matter both when healthy and when
      very ill. CONCLUSIONS: Very few patients would be upset if their physician raised
      the issue of life-prolonging treatment even if he or she did so during an initial
      patient visit. To avoid problems later, physicians should take an active role by
      raising these questions early in the patient-physician relationship rather than
      waiting for the patient to do so.

PMID- 1453150
TI  - The impact of a patient survey or a physician reminder on the provision of
      adolescent preventive health care.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine if the use of a patient
      survey or a chart stamp could increase the implementation of adolescent
      preventive health care in a family practice center. METHODS: Subjects were all
      patients 13 to 18 years old (date of birth 1972 to 1977), who visited the Aultman
      Family Practice Centers from October 1, 1989, through September 30, 1990 (N = 801
      patient visits). Three different 1-month interventions (patient questionnaire,
      physician stamp, and both patient questionnaire and physician stamp) as well as a
      1-month control period were implemented. The effect of the intervention on
      adolescent preventive health care was measured by review of documentation in the
      patient's chart. RESULTS: Those charts that indicated that either the
      questionnaire or stamp had been used showed significantly more documented
      discussion of issues relating to mood, injury, sexuality, exposure to toxins, and
      lifestyle (all P < .01). These discussions most commonly took place during a
      visit for a physical examination. The percentage of visits with documented
      discussions did not vary significantly according to type of reminder, nor with
      any physician or patient characteristic. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a reminder,
      especially in the context of an office visit for a physical examination,
      significantly increased the implementation of adolescent preventive health care
      in this family practice center.

PMID- 1453151
TI  - Coding and reimbursement of primary care debridement and excision procedures.
AB  - Current medical practice requires physicians to accurately report services
      provided to patients. Patient billing for debridement and excision procedures
      involves the selection of specific 1992 Physicians' Current Procedural
      Terminology codes. Although a site-specific surgical procedure code often yields
      higher reimbursement than a general procedure code, physicians should select the
      code that most accurately reflects the procedure performed. This review
      identifies the codes used to report destruction and excision procedures performed
      by primary care physicians. Included in this review are skin debridement, burn
      debridement, excision of benign and malignant lesions of the skin and
      subcutaneous tissue, cyst and ganglion excision, nail excision, anorectal lesion
      excision, shave, paring, and skin tag excision procedures, and foreign body
      removal. The Health Care Financing Administration's relative value units and one
      state's published Medicaid payment rates are included for each procedure code.
      Instructions are provided for selecting between multiple coding options when more
      than one code describes the service provided.

PMID- 1453152
TI  - Gastroesophageal reflux disease in adults: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and
      management.
AB  - Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) refers to symptoms or tissue damage that
      result from gastroesophageal reflux. Reflux esophagitis is a subset of GERD and
      implies the presence of esophageal inflammation, ie, esophageal erosions that are
      visible endoscopically, or nonerosive inflammation that can be documented by
      biopsies. Heartburn is the most common and specific symptom of GERD. In some
      patients, chest pain or respiratory symptoms may be the only presenting signs. In
      patients aged < 50 years with uncomplicated GERD, empiric therapy (typically with
      antacids or an H2-receptor antagonist) is appropriate. For older patients, those
      with complications, and those whose symptoms do not respond to empiric therapy,
      endoscopic evaluation is indicated. Many patients will improve with standard
      twice-daily dosing of an H2-receptor antagonist. However, GERD is generally more
      resistant to antisecretory pharmacologic therapy than is peptic ulcer disease.
      Those patients who fail to respond to standard dosing of an H2-receptor
      antagonist may get relief from high-dose H2-receptor antagonists or omeprazole
      therapy.

PMID- 1453153
TI  - Laboratory outbreak of Q fever.
AB  - An outbreak of Q fever in a university department where sheep placentas were
      being used for research is described. Of six persons exposed to the sheep, four
      had positive titers with only one person developing an acute febrile illness and
      liver disease. This report illustrates the value of the family physician
      obtaining an occupational history and conducting an outbreak investigation.

PMID- 1453154
TI  - Conducting clinical trials in practice settings. Research in progress by family
      physicians.

PMID- 1453155
TI  - Steroidogenesis in Fundulus heteroclitus. IV. Dichotomous effects of a phorbol
      ester on ovarian steroid production and oocyte maturation.
AB  - The possible role of protein kinase C (PKC) activation in mediating the
      stimulatory actions of a Fundulus pituitary extract (FPE) on ovarian
      steroidogenesis and oocyte maturation was investigated. The phorbol ester,
      phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), alone slightly increased basal 17 alpha
      hydroxy,20 beta-dihydroprogesterone (DHP) and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) synthesis
      and significantly stimulated germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). Addition of FPE
      promoted synthesis of DHP, testosterone (T), and E2, and initiated GVBD. Phorbol
      ester inhibited FPE-induced steroidogenesis but increased the number of oocytes
      that underwent GVBD. Phorbol ester also markedly impeded induction of
      steroidogenesis by dibutyryl cAMP and differentially affected the conversion of
      25-hydroxycholesterol, pregnenolone, or progesterone to DHP, T, and E2: DHP
      production was not affected; T production diminished; and E2 synthesis increased
      (T aromatization also increased). These results suggest an inhibitory role for
      the PKC pathway on FPE-induced ovarian steroid production, with PMA appearing to
      affect various steroidogenic steps. The stimulatory action of PMA on oocyte
      maturation seems to be independent of follicular steroid production since
      aminoglutethimide, an inhibitor of steroidogenesis, did not block PMA-induced
      GVBD. Moreover, PMA had a marked stimulatory effect on GVBD in denuded oocytes.
      Thus, in contrast to the inhibitory role found for the PKC pathway on ovarian
      follicular steroidogenesis, activation of PKC in the oocyte may serve as a signal
      transducing mechanism leading to GVBD.

PMID- 1453156
TI  - Continuous cell movements rearrange anatomical structures in intact sponges.
AB  - Time-lapse cinemicrography was used to record the active movements of cells in
      living intact sponges. Each of the three main cell types (pinacocytes, mesohyl
      cells, and choanocytes) continuously moved and rearranged themselves so that the
      internal anatomy of the sponge was continuously remodeled. The shape and
      appearance of the sponges anatomical structures often changed substantially
      within a few hours. The most motile were the mesohyl cells, with many moving as
      fast as one cell-length per minute (15 microns/min). Mesohyl cell locomotion was
      often accompanied by displacements of spicules, canals, and choanocyte chambers;
      the patterns of these displacements suggested that the mesohyl cells were
      providing the motive forces for these rearrangements. The locomotion of the
      pinacocytes varied according to position: those along the outer sponge margins
      were most active, whereas those in other parts of the surface moved relatively
      little. Choanocytes were never observed to undergo independent locomotion but
      were always found grouped together in choanocyte chambers. These choanocyte
      chambers interacted with pinacocytes and mesohyl cells to form excurrent canals,
      which continuously moved, fused with, and branched from one another. These
      observations suggest that the experimental phenomenon of sponge cell
      reaggregation and reconstitution, discovered by H. V. Wilson, represents an
      extreme version of morphogenetic processes that normally go on continuously
      within intact sponges. The results from the present study also suggest that these
      cellular rearrangements are controlled by active cell movements and behavioral
      responses that include but are not limited to selective cell adhesion.

PMID- 1453157
TI  - Effects of diapause on lethal yellow (Ay/Ay) mouse embryos.
AB  - One of the problems in studying early acting recessive lethal genes is
      recognizing the homozygotes prior to their demise. Molecular probes can assist in
      this task, but their use generally requires removal of cells and consequent
      damage to the embryo, which may compromise its subsequent development. The
      present study was undertaken in an attempt to distinguish intact, living, lethal
      yellow (Ay/Ay) embryos from Ay/ae and ae/ae littermates before implantation by
      placing them in implantation delay or diapause. After 2 days in the reproductive
      tract of prepubertal females, the great majority of presumptive lethal Ay/Ay
      embryos has failed to hatch from the zona pellucida and they exhibited a marked
      deficiency of cells relative to controls, particularly in the inner cell mass.
      This argues against a stage-specific role for the gene in implantation.

PMID- 1453158
TI  - Sexually differentiated mechanisms of sterility in interspecific hybrids between
      Oryzias latipes and O. curvinotus.
AB  - Fertility of interspecific hybrids between Oryzias latipes and O. curvinotus was
      examined. F1 females were able to lay eggs but males were sterile. Histological
      examination of the ovaries of hybrids revealed that oogenesis does not proceed
      normally in spite of the apparent fertility. Most oocytes degenerated at the
      pachytene stage of the meiotic prophase, and only a few entered the diplotene
      stage to develop into ova. Hybrid males could induce females to spawn eggs, an
      indication that they had differentiated completely into true males. However, they
      did not produce fertile sperm. Most germ cells in testes of hybrids passes
      through almost the entire process of spermatogenesis, but deviations from the
      normal course of events were observed during spermiogenesis. The condensation of
      chromatin in spermatids occurred, but the diameters of sperm heads were about 1.5
      fold larger than those of normal ones. Prominent abnormalities were apparent in
      the quantity and arrangement of microtubules in the cytoplasm. Abnormal
      spermatozoa were phagocytized by Sertoli cells. These observations indicate that
      the mechanisms of impaired gametogenesis in these interspecific hybrids are
      sexually differentiated.

PMID- 1453159
TI  - Laboratory guidelines in analytical toxicology: how to approach qualitative
      analysis.

PMID- 1453160
TI  - Facial reconstruction.

PMID- 1453161
TI  - Contribution of rodents to postmortem artifacts of bone and soft tissue.
AB  - Postmortem disturbance of human remains by rodents extends beyond production of
      characteristic tooth mark artifacts in dry bones. Three case examples are
      presented that demonstrate a spectrum of rodent damage to dry and fresh bone and
      to fresh and mummified soft tissue. In one case, human remains are used for
      nesting purposes. Rodents are also noted to be vectors of bone transport. Rodent
      activities can affect bone recovery, human identification, and interpretation of
      artifacts to bone and soft tissue. Guidelines to differentiate soft tissue
      artifacts caused by rodents and carnivores are suggested.

PMID- 1453162
TI  - Ultraviolet radiation and its role in wound pattern documentation.
AB  - The history of ultraviolet illumination in photography is discussed. Particular
      attention is devoted to the forensic aspects of ultraviolet photography as it
      relates to patterned injury on human skin. The authors discuss the theory
      underlying ultraviolet illumination of wounds on skin as well as the equipment
      required for this type of imaging.

PMID- 1453163
TI  - The detection and documentation of trace wound patterns by use of an alternative
      light source.
AB  - This article is a discussion of the use of narrow-band light sources coupled with
      cameras equipped with band-pass filters to document patterned injuries on human
      skin. Several case reports are included.

PMID- 1453164
TI  - A statistical analysis of successional patterns in carrion-arthropod assemblages:
      implications for forensic entomology and determination of the postmortem
      interval.
AB  - A set of statistical protocols is proposed for analyzing carrion-arthropod
      succession in forensic entomology investigations. A total of 23 carrion-arthropod
      data sets from temperate, tropical, desert, and coastal environments were
      assembled in a standard format and analyzed using randomization tests and methods
      derived from quantitative community ecology. The data were analyzed in three
      ways. First, patterns of arthropod visitation on nonhuman carcasses were analyzed
      in each of the 23 cases. Analysis revealed two groups of taxa: those that persist
      on the carcass over a single time interval (= nonreoccurring taxa, 80% of the
      taxa) and those that appear, leave, and reappear over time on the carcass (=
      reoccurring taxa, 20%). Reoccurring taxa, which can confound estimation of the
      postmortem interval (PMI), were found in 6 classes, 12 orders, and 29 taxonomic
      families of arthropods, including some forensically important taxa (for example,
      calliphorids, sarcophagids, histerids). The recognition that reoccurring taxa
      exist and that they are found in forensically important groups is an early step
      toward factoring in their potential importance in future entomological
      investigations. Second, temporal changes in the taxonomic composition of the
      carrion-arthropod community were studied by quantifying the degree of taxonomic
      similarity between pairwise combinations of time-specific samples of the
      succession. In 13 of the 18 illustrated cases, the midsuccessional samples, owing
      to their higher species richness, were taxonomically more similar to all other
      pairwise samples, on the average, than early and late successional samples which
      were poorer in species. Variability in taxonomic composition is the norm for most
      periods of the succession; however, in 17 of the 23 cases, some successional
      periods (particularly endpoint samples) revealed no changes in arthropod species
      composition (= matching sample-pairs). When applied to medicolegal cases, it is
      suggested that data sets with large fractions of matching sample-pairs should
      produce wider-ranging PMI estimates, on the average, than data sets with smaller
      fractions of matching sample-pairs. Third, Monte Carlo simulation was applied to
      each of the 23 assemblages to test specific hypotheses about community-wide
      patterns of arthropod visitation times on nonhuman carcasses. Simulation results
      revealed that arthropod residence times in the majority of cases (13 or 56%)
      followed a "clumped" succession model, whereas, the remaining 10 cases (44%)
      showed a more "uniform" spacing pattern of residence times on carcasses.
      Comparison of species accumulation curves for observed and simulated data further
      revealed that among the 13 "clumped" cases, most (9 or 69%) followed a "clumped,
      early" model (rather than "clumped, midterm" or "clumped, late" models).(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1453165
TI  - Transferrin (TF) typing from semen stains using isoelectric focusing and
      immunoblotting: correlation of TF types among blood, semen, urine, and vaginal
      secretion.
AB  - We describe a method for obtaining nondistorted and reproducible transferrin (TF)
      typing from liquid semen and semen stains. Isoelectric focusing of TF isoproteins
      on polyacrylamide gel (IEF-PAGE, pH 4 to 6.5) was accomplished using a 0.5 mm
      thick gel. The separated isoproteins were then visualized by immunoblotting with
      TF-specific antibody. Pretreatment of semen samples with neuraminidase enhanced
      the TF band resolution. The method was reliable, sensitive and simple, with a
      high resolution. When maintained at room temperature, laboratory-prepared semen
      stains were TF-typable for up to at least 50 weeks. The TF types in semen stains
      were correlated with the types found in the corresponding blood and urine
      samples. TF typing could therefore provide an additional discriminant
      characteristic in the forensic examination of semen stains. An evaluation of TF
      typing by IEF-PAGE and immunoblotting was also performed on casework samples
      submitted to our laboratory.

PMID- 1453166
TI  - The decision theory of paternity disputes: optimization considerations applied to
      multilocus DNA fingerprinting.
AB  - The solution of paternity disputes using results from scientific analyses is
      studied from a decision-theoretical viewpoint. Two alternative approaches to
      decision making, the so-called 'Bayes' and 'Minimax' strategies, are described
      and discussed. If prior probabilities of paternity are exactly known, then Bayes
      decisions are (a) independent of the source of evidence and (b) optimal with
      respect to average losses caused by wrong decisions. However, it is concluded
      that Minimax decisions, which depend upon the employed test system but not upon
      prior probabilities, are more appropriate in paternity cases if equal prior good
      will towards disclaimed children and alleged fathers is demanded. It is further
      demonstrated that, when major evidence about paternity comes from multilocus DNA
      fingerprinting, prior probabilities must be known quite accurately for Bayes
      decisions to be superior with respect to average losses. Finally, we are able to
      show that 'quasi' Bayes decision making, that is, adopting a neutral prior
      probability of 0.5 but leaving thresholds for decision making unchanged,
      coincides with Minimax decision making if multilocus DNA fingerprinting is
      employed.

PMID- 1453167
TI  - Comparison of fingernail striation patterns in identical twins.
AB  - The fingernail ridge patterns of a pair of identical twins were compared to each
      other, their parents, and an unrelated subject. The patterns of the twins' nails
      showed regions of strong similarity but were distinguishable from one another.
      Fewer similarities were found when comparing the nails to those of the parents
      and the unrelated control. The twins were shown to be monozygotic by means of DNA
      profiling. This therefore represents the first demonstration of unique fingernail
      ridge patterns in subjects shown conclusively to be identical twins. When the
      fingernail ridge patterns were examined with a scanning electron microscope, the
      backscattered electron (BEI) images were found to have superior contrast when
      compared to the secondary electron (SEI) images.

PMID- 1453168
TI  - A statistical approach to drug sampling: a case study.
AB  - In many countries it is left to the discretion of the court to accept or reject
      conclusions based on sampling procedures as applied to the total drug exhibit. As
      an alternative to this subjective approach, a statistical basis is presented
      using binomial and hypergeometric distributions to determine a lower limit for
      the proportion of units in a population which contains a drug, at a given
      confidence level. A method for calculating the total weight of a drug present in
      a population within a given confidence interval is also presented. In the event
      of no failures (all units sampled contain a drug), a sample size of six or seven
      units is generally sufficient to state that a proportion of at least 0.70 of the
      population contains a drug at a confidence level of at least 90%. When failures
      do occur in the sample, point estimation is used as the basis for selecting the
      appropriate sample size.

PMID- 1453169
TI  - Ion mobility spectrometry of drugs of abuse in customs scenarios: concentration
      and temperature study.
AB  - A custom-built ion mobility spectrometer has been used to obtain the IMS spectra
      of cocaine, heroin, amphetamine sulfate and LSD at different drug concentrations
      and desorption temperatures. Practical detection limits for these four drugs were
      obtained as a function of desorber temperature and for heroin as a function of
      analysis time. Spectral and ionization interferences for each of the four drugs
      of interest were determined. Spectral interferences by innocuous materials are
      few; ionization interferences occur only at very high ratios of the mass of
      innocuous material to that of the drug of interest.

PMID- 1453170
TI  - Gunshot residue particles formed by using ammunitions that have mercury fulminate
      based primers.
AB  - Ammunition having mercury fulminate-based primers are commonly manufactured by
      Eastern Bloc countries and used extensively in the Middle East. Gunshot residue
      (GSR) particles formed by firing these types of ammunition were examined. It was
      observed that much lower percentage of mercury-containing GSR particles were
      found in samples taken from a shooter as compared to the percentage of such
      particles in samples from cartridge cases. This fact must therefore be taken into
      account when interpreting case results. A plausible explanation for the results
      described is proposed.

PMID- 1453171
TI  - Linguistic evidence indicative of authorship by a member of the deaf community.
AB  - Documents authored by Deaf Americans were examined in order to determine if
      linguistic evidence indicative of this group of people is present. The native
      language of deaf people is not English, but rather American Sign Language (ASL).
      ASL is a visual-gestural language with its own principles of syntax. The evidence
      examined includes vocabulary, syntax, and word usage. Such characteristics are
      class evidence and are not a means of identification, but rather an investigative
      tool. Such information may be of assistance to the field investigator in either
      developing a suspect or limiting the number of initial suspects in a case. This
      research revealed that the use of ASL syntax and idioms and the problems
      associated with the use of English as a second language are indicative of
      authorship by a member of the Deaf Community. The results of this research will
      be of assistance to Document Examiners should they need to determine if a
      document was authored by a deaf individual.

PMID- 1453172
TI  - Family violence as a determinant factor in juvenile maladjustment.
AB  - The family is one of the major socialization agencies for children. Parents are
      one of the most important models from whom the child and adolescent acquire a
      wide variety of behavior patterns, attitudes, values, and norms. The aim of this
      study was to determine the importance of factors related to family conflicts in
      the genesis of social maladjustment. A total of 189 young people (110 boys and 79
      girls) from training schools connected with the juvenile court in Murcia (Spain)
      were studied. The subjects' ages ranged from 11 to 18 years (mean 13.51, SD
      0.16). Our sample comprised a group of minors who experienced a high incidence of
      intrafamilial pathology, which was found to be a significant discriminant factor.
      Aggressive behavior, rules, norms, values, opinions, and attitudes toward
      aggressivity can be learned in the family setting.

PMID- 1453173
TI  - The application of immunoblotting to the phenotyping of haptoglobin.
AB  - An immunoblotting method for phenotyping haptoglobin in serum and bloodstains has
      been developed. Haptoglobin isoproteins were separated by polyacrylamide gradient
      gel electrophoresis and then transferred to nitrocellulose by electroblotting.
      The use of 1 mm gels facilitated more rapid and effective transfer than
      conventional 3 mm thick gels. Nitrocellulose blots were developed by double
      antibody enzyme immunoassay. The detection limit for serum and bloodstains was
      improved 16 times compared to conventional staining using O-tolidine. The method
      could detect haptoglobin phenotypes from 0.001 microliter of whole blood. This
      detection limit is approximately 8 times lower than that of group specific
      component analysis by immunoblotting.

PMID- 1453174
TI  - Car surfing in Indiana--an unusual form of motor vehicle fatality.
AB  - A new form of joyride known as "car surfing" with fatal results is documented.
      The possible role of this activity in extra-vehicular motor vehicle deaths
      involving teenage or youthful drivers is described. Potential scene and autopsy
      findings are discussed.

PMID- 1453175
TI  - An unusual fatal case of accidental asphyxia in a child.
AB  - The death of a three-year-old child by asphyctic mechanism is described. The
      child was accidentally suspended by the neck from a half-opened car window. This
      report details the form in which the accident occurred. The influence of the type
      of window and the autopsy findings.

PMID- 1453176
TI  - Mona Lisa: the enigma of the smile.
AB  - The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo Da Vinci, 1503, pictures a smile that has been
      long the subject of conjecture. It is believed, however, that the Mona Lisa does
      not smile; she wears an expression common to people who have lost their front
      teeth. A closeup of the lip area shows a scar that is not unlike that left by the
      application of blunt force. The changes evident in the perioral area are such
      that occur when the anterior teeth are lost. The scar under the lower lip of the
      Mona Lisa is similar to that created, when, as a result of force, the incisal
      edges of the teeth have pierced the face with a penetrating wound.

PMID- 1453177
TI  - An antiplatelet aggregation principle and X-ray structural analysis of cis
      khellactone diester from Peucedanum japonicum.
AB  - Three structurally related khellactone coumarins, 1-3, were isolated from the
      aerial parts of Peucedanum japonicum (Umbelliferae). Compound 2 was identified as
      a new coumarin (cis-3'-isovaleryl-4'-senecioylkhellactone) by spectral and
      chemical analysis. Conformation of the dihydropyrano ring of cis-3',4'
      disenecioylkhellactone [3] was elucidated by X-ray crystallographic analysis.
      These three natural khellactone esters were subjected to the antiplatelet
      aggregation bioassay where cis-3',4'-diisovalerylkhellactone [1] showed
      significant activity (at 50 micrograms/ml).

PMID- 1453178
TI  - Synthesis of ellagic acid O-alkyl derivatives and isolation of ellagic acid as a
      tetrahexanoyl derivative from Fragaria ananassa.
AB  - Ellagic acid [1] is a gallic acid dimer that occurs in plants, fruits, and nuts,
      either in its free form, or in a series of ellagitannins, or as a glucoside. It
      has been shown to inhibit cancer induced by several types of chemical carcinogens
      including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, N-nitrosamines, aflatoxin, and
      aromatic amines. It has been extracted from a number of fruits, including
      strawberries; however, its presence in the extracts was determined only by hplc
      connected with a diode array detector. In the present report, ellagic acid was
      isolated as a tetrahexanoyl derivative 2 from Fragaria ananassa and identified by
      13C and 1H nmr and ms. The 13C-nmr shifts of the aromatic carbons adjacent to a
      hexanoyloxy group were assigned using two new synthetic model compounds: 3,3'
      dihexanoyloxydiphenic-2,2',6,6'-dilactone [3] and 4,4'-dihexanoyloxydiphenic
      2,2',6,6'-dilactone [4]. Two new derivatives of ellagic acid [1],3,3'-di-beta-D
      glucopyranosylellagic acid decaacetate [5] and 3,3'-di-n-octyl-4,4'
      dihexanoylellagic acid [7], were also synthesized. Both derivatives were less
      effective as inhibitors of benzo[a]pyrene tumorigenesis in the lungs of strain
      A/J mice than ellagic acid.

PMID- 1453179
TI  - Diterpene metabolites from two chemotypes of the marine sponge Myrmekioderma
      styx.
AB  - Three apparent chemotypes of the marine sponge Myrmekioderma styx exist. An
      acyclic diterpene, styxenol A [1], has been isolated from the shallow water
      chemotype, while three tricarbocyclic diterpenes 3, 6, and 7 have been isolated
      from the deep chemotype. The structures were elucidated based on spectral methods
      including homo- and hetero-nuclear 2D nmr experiments. Compounds 1, 3, and 6
      exhibit moderate cytotoxicity against the P-388 murine leukemia cell line and the
      A549 human lung tumor cell line.

PMID- 1453180
TI  - Antibacterial activity of totarol and its potentiation.
AB  - Antimicrobial activity of six diterpenoids isolated from the bark of Podocarpus
      nagi (Podocarpaceae) has been tested against twelve selected microorganisms.
      Totarol [1], the most abundant compound among the six, exhibited potent
      bactericidal activity only against Gram-positive bacteria, among which
      Propionibacterium acnes was the most sensitive bacterium. Totarol also showed
      strong activity against four other Gram-positive bacteria tested: Streptococcus
      mutans, Bacillus subtilis, Brevibacterium ammoniagenes, and Staphylococcus aureus
      (both penicillin-resistant and penicillin-susceptible strains). The bactericidal
      activity of totarol was enhanced when it was tested in combination with several
      other natural products. Noticeably, the activity of totarol against Sta. aureus
      was increased eightfold when tested in combination with 1/2MIC of anacardic acid
      [9]. The synergistic activity of anacardic acid caused the minimum bactericidal
      concentration (MBC) of totarol to be lowered from 1.56 to 0.2 micrograms/ml.

PMID- 1453181
TI  - New trichoverroids from Myrothecium verrucaria isolated by high speed
      countercurrent chromatography.
AB  - Three new double-bond isomers of the trichothecene trichoverrins (3, 4a and 4b)
      have been isolated, principally through the use of high speed countercurrent
      chromatography, which proved to be a powerful tool in the separation of these
      closely related structural isomers.

PMID- 1453182
TI  - Bioactive constituents from the twigs of Asimina parviflora.
AB  - The EtOH extract of Asimina parviflora (Annonaceae), when subjected to activity
      directed fractionation using lethality to brine shrimp, led to the isolation and
      identification of five bioactive compounds: asimicilone [1], which is a new 2
      quinolone alkaloid, 6-cis-docosenamide [2], which is a new amide of a long
      hydrocarbon chain fatty acid, and three known compounds, asimicin, (+)
      syringaresinol, and beta-sitosterol-beta-D- glucopyranoside. The structure
      determination of the new alkaloid was performed by extensive nmr analyses,
      including HMQC and HMBC. Selective cytotoxic activities of these compounds in
      three human solid tumor cell lines are also reported.

PMID- 1453183
TI  - Antitumor agents, 135. Structure and stereochemistry of polacandrin, a new
      cytotoxic triterpene from Polanisia dodecandra.
AB  - A new dammarane triterpene, polacandrin [1], has been isolated from Polanisia
      dodecandra. The structure of 1 was established as 1 beta, 3 alpha, 12 beta, 25
      tetrahydroxy-20(S),24(S)-epoxydammarane by chemical and spectroscopic methods,
      which included the concerted application of a number of 2D nmr techniques that
      involved 1H-1H COSY, HETCOR, NOESY, and long-range HETCOR. Single-crystal X-ray
      analysis of polacandrin pentahydrate verified the complete structure and
      stereochemistry. Polacandrin showed potent cytotoxicities against KB (ED50 = 0.60
      microgram/ml), P-388 (ED50 = 0.90 microgram/ml), and RPMI-7951 (ED50 = 0.62
      microgram/ml) tumor cells.

PMID- 1453184
TI  - Two new alkaloids from Xestospongia sp., a New Caledonian sponge.
AB  - Five alkaloids have been isolated from a New Caledonian sponge Xestospongia sp.
      These include three known xestospongin derivatives, the new demethylxestospongin
      B (1) and a tetrahydrocarboline derivative 5. The structures of the new compounds
      1 and 5 have been established by nmr studies and comparison with previously
      described products.

PMID- 1453185
TI  - Experimental and clinical evaluation of a noninvasive reflectance pulse oximeter
      sensor.
AB  - The objective of this study was to evaluate a new reflectance pulse oximeter
      sensor. The prototype sensor consists of 8 light-emitting diode (LED) chips (4 at
      665 nm and 4 at 820 nm) and a photodiode chip mounted on a single substrate. The
      4 LED chips for each wavelength are spaced at 90-degree intervals around the
      substrate and at an equal radial distance from the photodiode chip. An optical
      barrier between the photodiode and LED chips prevents a direct coupling effect
      between them. Near-infrared LEDs (940 nm) in the sensor warm the tissue. The
      microthermocouple mounted on the sensor surface measures the temperature of the
      skin-sensor interface and maintains it at a present level by servoregulating the
      current in the 940-nm LEDs. An animal study and a clinical study were performed.
      In the animal study, 5 mongrel dogs (weight, 10-20 kg) were anesthetized,
      mechanically ventilated, and cannulated. In each animal, arterial oxygen
      saturation (SaO2) was measured continuously by a standard transmission oximeter
      probe placed on the dog's earlobe and a reflectance oximeter sensor placed on the
      dog's tongue. In the first phase of the experiment, signals from the reflectance
      sensor were recorded while the dog was immersed in ice water until its body
      temperature decreased to 30 degrees C. In the second phase, the animal's body
      temperature was normal, and the oxygen content of the ventilator was varied to
      alter the SaO2. In the clinical study, 18 critically ill patients were monitored
      perioperatively with the prototype reflectance sensor. The first phase of the
      study investigated the relationship between local skin temperature and the
      accuracy of oximeter readings with the reflectance sensor. Each measurement was
      taken at a high saturation level as a function of local skin temperature. The
      second phase of the study compared measurements of oxygen saturation by a
      reflectance oximeter (SpO2[r]) with those made by a co-oximeter (SaO2[IL]) and a
      standard transmission oximeter (SpO2[t]). Linear regression analysis was used to
      determine the degree of correlation between (1) the pulse amplitude and skin
      temperature; (2) SpO2(r) and SaO2(IL); and (3) SpO2(t) and SaO2(IL). Student's t
      test was used to determine the significance of each correlation. The mean and
      standard deviation of the differences were also computed. In the animal study,
      pulse amplitude levels increased concomitantly with skin temperature (at 665 nm,
      r = 0.9424; at 820 nm, r = 0.9834; p < 0.001) and SpO2(r) correlated well with
      SaO2(IL) (r = 0.982; SEE = 2.54%; p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1453186
TI  - Noninvasive cardiac output determined with a new method based on gas exchange
      measurements and carbon dioxide rebreathing: a study in animals/pigs.
AB  - A system has been designed to determine cardiac output noninvasively. The
      system's main component is a closed breathing circuit and it measures oxygen
      uptake (VO2), carbon dioxide elimination (VCO2), and end-tidal CO2 partial
      pressure (PET). As an integral part of the system, periods of CO2 rebreathing can
      be automatically implemented. The CO2 partial pressure of oxygenated mixed venous
      blood (Pv) is obtained from the measured exponential rise of the PET value during
      such a CO2 rebreathing maneuver. A new method is described for estimating the
      pulmonary blood flow, alveolar ventilation, cardiac output (CO), and mixed venous
      oxygen saturation (SVO2) from PV, PET, VO2, VCO2, tidal volume, and arterial
      oxygen saturation. The method was evaluated in 6 anesthetized and mechanically
      ventilated pigs. A wide range of cardiac output, shunt fractions, and dead space
      to tidal volume ratios were induced by combinations of bronchoalveolar lavage,
      hypervolemia, hypovolemia, and variable levels of positive end-expiratory
      pressure (PEEP). The bias between the CO obtained with the noninvasive technique
      (CO L/min) and the thermodilution CO (Qt L/min) was 0.13 L/min (SD = 0.78 L/min)
      and the correlation was N = 64; R = 0.92; CO = 0.95*Qt + 0.38. The bias obtained
      for double determinations with the noninvasive CO technique was 0.3 L/min (SD =
      0.5 L/min). The bias between the noninvasive estimates of Svo2 and the directly
      measured values was 1.1% (SD = 9.3%). For double determination with the
      noninvasive technique the bias was -0.9% (SD = 4.7%). It is concluded that in
      mechanically ventilated pigs the proposed method produces good estimates of CO
      and SVO2 also in the presence of significant ventilation/perfusion mismatch.

PMID- 1453187
TI  - Methods to produce calibration mixtures for anesthetic gas monitors and how to
      perform volumetric calculations on anesthetic gases.
AB  - A simple procedure for making calibration mixtures of oxygen and the anesthetic
      gases isoflurane, enflurane, and halothane is described. One to ten grams of the
      anesthetic substance is evaporated in a closed, 11,361-cc glass bottle filled
      with oxygen gas at atmospheric pressure. The carefully mixed gas is used to
      calibrate anesthetic gas monitors. By comparison of calculated and measured
      volumetric results it is shown that at atmospheric conditions the volumetric
      behavior of anesthetic gas mixtures can be described with reasonable accuracy
      using the ideal gas law. A procedure is described for calculating the deviation
      from ideal gas behavior in cases in which this is needed.

PMID- 1453188
TI  - Evaluation of users' abilities to recognize musical alarm tones.
AB  - The problem of accurate identification of alarm sounds in the operating room,
      recovery room, and intensive care environment has persisted for many years.
      Monitors made by different companies may have different alarm sounds for the same
      monitored variable, and similar alarm sounds for different variables. In an
      effort to illustrate universal alarms sounds, a system of six musical alarm tones
      was designed with musical themes from popular songs used for oxygenation,
      ventilation, cardiovascular monitoring, temperature monitoring, artificial
      perfusion, and drug administration systems. These melodies were played for a
      group of anesthesiologists and others, who were initially asked to guess the
      organ system for each melody. The answers were then given to the participants,
      and after a short delay the melodies were played again in a different order.
      Seventy-nine response sheets were collected. The expected random score was 1.0 +/
      1.0 SEM correct. The observed score on the first hearing was 1.5 +/- 1.6 SEM, p
      = 0.01 compared with the random score. The observed score on the second testing
      was 4.3 +/- 2.2 SEM, p = 0.001 compared with the first hearing. Indeed, 42 of 79
      (53%) respondents got all six answers correct on the second testing, versus three
      respondents for the first testing. The implications of these findings are
      discussed in the context of integrated alarm systems used in complex medical
      environments such as the operating room.

PMID- 1453189
TI  - A widely unappreciated cause of failure of an automatic noninvasive blood
      pressure monitor.
AB  - Many anesthesiologists have come to depend on automatic noninvasive blood
      pressure monitoring to obtain blood pressure (BP) readings. A case is presented
      in which, during a critical phase of the anesthetic, an automatic noninvasive
      blood pressure (ANIBP) device not only failed to provide meaningful clinical data
      but, in fact, gave an error message that was misleading. At the time of the
      message, the patient was noted to be in ventricular trigeminy at a rate of 92
      beats/min. It appears that the repetitive beat-to-beat fall in blood pressure due
      to the dysrhythmia "fooled" the automatic noninvasive blood pressure device's
      software algorithm into believing that there was an air leak in the system. Thus,
      in addition to pointing out an unappreciated and potentially troubling device
      related critical event, the present case demonstrates the importance of good
      human factors design for medical devices used in the critical care setting. In
      particular, the issue is raised of how medical devices should deal with uncertain
      or potentially misleading data.

PMID- 1453190
TI  - Anesthesia systems. Part 1: Operating principles of fundamental components.
AB  - This article is the first in a two-part series on the operation of principal
      components within Narkomed anesthesia systems. Part 1 illustrates the structure
      and function of various sections of the machine's internal piping, including
      components of the pneumatic circuit and the oxygen flush valve, and several
      safety features, such as the oxygen supply pressure alarm, oxygen failure
      protection device, and oxygen ratio monitor controller. The article progresses to
      other basic components of the anesthesia system. Topics include the function of
      the absorber unit and the flow of gas through it, the principle of operation of
      the positive end-expiratory pressure valve, the function and mechanics of the
      adjustable pressure limiter valve, and the open reservoir scavenger system. Part
      1 is a valuable tool in understanding the function and pneumatics of the primary
      components of the anesthesia system.

PMID- 1453191
TI  - Patient-related data management.
AB  - Patient-related data management (PDM) has become an increasingly important and
      time-consuming task in intensive care medicine. Currently, all data are usually
      collected in a poorly structured patient chart consisting of forms and pictures,
      with about 400 manual entries a day. To handle this amount of data, we have
      designed a three-level patient system: level 1, summarizing the whole patient;
      level 2, summarizing one organ system or one isolated problem; and level 3,
      variables describing morphology and function of organ systems. PDM must be
      adapted to different clinical situations. We observed three different scenarios:
      (1) Exploratory PDM, where the clinician learns about the patient and builds up
      an individual patient model in his or her mind. (2) Operational PDM, where in
      routine care clinicians are part of a feedback control system, in which they use
      the patient-related model. (3) Summary PDM, where a clinician summarizes all the
      information gathered during a period when he or she was responsible for the
      patient. Computing tools based on clinical thinking and adapted to different
      situations can ensure accurate, clear, and concise patient care communication
      among the members of the intensive care staff.

PMID- 1453192
TI  - How can a standard software package for data management in anesthesia be
      achieved?
AB  - Collecting data for administrative, statistical, medical, and organizational
      purposes is becoming increasingly important in anesthesia. In 1986 the Swiss
      Society for Anesthesiology decided to create a program that would be compatible
      for different computers and would expedite data collection. The system developed
      was called Information System for Operations (ISOP), which was written in the
      database and programming system Massachusetts General Hospital Utility Multi
      Programming System (MUMPS). It was installed in eight hospitals and met the
      initial requirements, but the individual requirements of the hospitals were
      greatly underestimated. MUMPS has an impressive data storage capability and
      handling when used in a personal computer (PC) network. The user-interface,
      however, is inferior to other PC packages, partly because windowing and mouse
      support were not implemented when the ANSI standard was set. Improved statistical
      programs, a module for on-line data acquisition, and intensive care unit (ICU)
      use will be additional modules to the program.

PMID- 1453193
TI  - Computerization of anesthesia information management: yet another application.

PMID- 1453194
TI  - Anesthesia machine check.

PMID- 1453195
TI  - Quality-of-life assessment: performance status upstaged?

PMID- 1453196
TI  - Cancer pain: from curriculum to practice change.

PMID- 1453197
TI  - Prognostic value of quality-of-life scores during chemotherapy for advanced
      breast cancer. Australian New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group.
AB  - PURPOSE: We observed that quality-of-life (QL) scores, collected to evaluate
      treatment in a randomized trial in advanced breast cancer, predicted survival
      duration. This report explores the prognostic associations between QL and
      survival in more detail. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a randomized clinical trial
      comparing intermittent and continuous therapy policies for patients with advanced
      breast cancer, QL was measured by linear analog self-assessment (LASA) and the
      Quality-of-Life Index (QLI). Baseline scores and subsequent changes were included
      in statistical models of survival duration, with and without other prognostic
      factors. RESULTS: Physician assessment of QLI and patient LASA scores for
      physical well-being (PWB), mood, nausea and vomiting, appetite, and overall QL
      (but not pain) at the commencement of treatment were significant predictors of
      subsequent survival. Scores for PWB and QLI were independent of other prognostic
      factors. Changes in scores were also prognostically important. Both baseline and
      change in scores for PWB, mood, pain, and QLI after the first three treatment
      cycles, but before an arbitrary 180-day time point, were significantly predictive
      of survival beyond that time. Both QLI and PWB were prognostically independent of
      tumor response. Although QL improvement was correlated with tumor response,
      continuous therapy yielded significantly better QL scores, even in nonresponders.
      CONCLUSION: These findings support the validity of the simple QL measures used in
      the trial. They are compatible with the simple explanation that patients perceive
      disease progression before it is clinically evident, but also with a causal
      relationship between QL and survival duration.

PMID- 1453198
TI  - Prognostic value of DNA flow cytometry in the locally recurrent, conservatively
      treated breast cancer patient.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study attempted to determine the prognostic value of DNA flow
      cytometry in the treatment of patients with locally recurrent, conservatively
      treated breast cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Of 433 patients with clinical stage
      I and II breast cancer treated with conservative surgery and radiotherapy at Yale
      New Haven Hospital before January 1985, 50 patients experienced an ipsilateral
      breast relapse as a first site of treatment failure. Using standard flow
      cytometric techniques, DNA ploidy, DNA index, and S-phase fraction (SPF) were
      measured for 38 of the 50 (76%) paraffin-embedded specimens available for
      analysis. RESULTS: At a median postrecurrence follow-up of 5.8 years, the 5-year
      and disease-free survival rates following ipsilateral breast treatment failure
      were 48% and 54%, respectively. Sixty-three percent of the recurrent tumors were
      DNA diploid and 37% were aneuploid. Both DNA ploidy and SPF were statistically
      significant prognostic indicators for 5-year survival and disease-free survival
      after local recurrence. The 5-year survival rate of the DNA diploid population
      was 64%, compared with 15% in the aneuploid population (P < .02). Patients with
      low SPF (< 12%) experienced an 83% 5-year survival rate, compared with a 24% 5
      year survival rate in patients with high SPF (> or = 12%) (P < .03). Ploidy and
      SPF were combined to define the categories of favorable (diploid, low SPF) and
      unfavorable (diploid, high SPF or any aneuploid subgroups). Patients in the
      favorable category experienced an 89% 5-year postrecurrence survival rate and a
      100% disease-free survival rate, whereas patients in the unfavorable category had
      a 24% 5-year survival rate and a 32% disease-free survival rate (P < .01). The
      flow cytometry as a factor correlated with other clinical parameters previously
      shown to be of prognostic significance in this patient population. In a
      multivariate analysis, flow cytometry was a statistically significant and
      independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival following local
      recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: DNA ploidy and SPF as measured by currently available
      flow-cytometric techniques show promise as a tool in determining prognosis for
      the patient with locally recurrent breast cancer. Implications of these findings
      with respect to issues of adjuvant systemic therapy at the time of local
      recurrence are discussed.

PMID- 1453199
TI  - Adjuvant therapy with a doxorubicin regimen and long-term tamoxifen in
      premenopausal breast cancer patients: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group
      trial.
AB  - PURPOSE: A randomized trial was performed in premenopausal postoperative women
      with ipsilateral axillary node-positive (N+) breast carcinoma and known estrogen
      receptor (ER) status to assess the efficacy of an Adriamycin (doxorubicin; Adria
      Laboratories, Columbus, OH)-based induction regimen and 5 or more years of
      tamoxifen (Tam). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients received 12 28-day cycles of
      cyclophosphamide 100 mg/m2 orally days 1 to 14, methotrexate 40 mg/m2
      intravenously (IV) days 1 and 8, fluorouracil 600 mg/m2 IV days 1 and 8,
      prednisone 40 mg/m2 orally days 1 to 14, and Tam 10 mg orally twice daily
      (CMFPT), or the same regimen plus halotestin 10 mg orally twice daily (CMFPTH)
      alternating monthly with 22-day cycles of vinblastine 4.5 mg/m2 IV day 1,
      Adriamycin 45 mg/m2 IV day 1, thiotepa 12 mg/m2 IV day 1, halotestin, and Tam
      (ALTER). Prednisone in the ALTER regimen was stopped after the second CMFPTH
      cycle. After 12 cycles, patients were again randomized to stop or continue Tam.
      After 5 years, patients on Tam were again randomized to continue or stop Tam; the
      results from this randomization are still coded. Among 533 analyzed induction
      cases, 263 received CMFPT and 270 ALTER. Among 396 analyzed maintenance cases,
      201 continued Tam and 195 were observed. Pretreatment characteristics were
      balanced among treatments. The median follow-up times are 5.1 years for induction
      and 4.1 years for maintenance. RESULTS: The time to relapse (TTR) was superior
      for the ALTER regimen (P = .04) and for the maintenance Tam (P = .05). Overall
      survival comparisons between the regimens are not statistically different. A
      longer TTR was associated with decreasing nodal involvement, ER+ status, and
      increasing age. The favorable effects of decreasing nodal involvement and ER+
      status carried over to survival; a progesterone receptor-positive (PgR+) status
      and decreasing tumor size were also associated with longer survival. Development
      of amenorrhea was associated with improved TTR and survival. Toxicity was similar
      for the two induction regimens and for the two maintenance regimens. Overall
      relapse patterns were similar among the induction regimens, but continuing Tam
      led to fewer locoregional relapses. CONCLUSION: The results suggest significant
      overall TTR therapeutic benefits of an Adriamycin-containing alternating
      induction regimen and of continuing maintenance Tam therapy for at least 5 years.

PMID- 1453200
TI  - Treatment of recurrent and refractory pediatric solid tumors with high-dose
      busulfan and cyclophosphamide followed by autologous bone marrow rescue.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the toxicities of and
      responses to high-dose busulfan and cyclophosphamide with autologous bone marrow
      transplant (ABMT) in patients with recurrent or refractory pediatric solid
      tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We treated 18 patients (ages, 2 to 38 years;
      median, 14) who had tumors that were resistant to conventional chemotherapy and
      radiotherapy with busulfan 16 mg/kg and cyclophosphamide 200 mg/kg. Seventeen
      patients received bone marrow purged with 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide; one
      received unpurged marrow. RESULTS: Despite extensive prior treatment, including
      radiotherapy in 16 patients, toxicity generally was acceptable. For seven
      patients with measurable disease, there were three partial responses of 2, 10,
      and 20 months' duration, three patients with stable disease (SD), and one early,
      toxic death. Of the 11 patients with no measurable disease at the time of
      transplantation, one patient with osteosarcoma continues in remission at 57+
      months and one third of the patients survived for at least 16 months. Mucositis
      was the predominant nonhematopoietic toxicity. CONCLUSION: Although the high-dose
      busulfan and cyclophosphamide combination showed modest activity, changes in the
      preparative regimen should be considered to improve the response rate in
      refractory tumors.

PMID- 1453201
TI  - Improvement in outcome for children receiving allogeneic bone marrow
      transplantation in first remission of acute myeloid leukemia: a report from the
      Groupe d'Etude des Greffes de Moelle Osseuse.
AB  - PURPOSE: We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of children with acute myeloid
      leukemia (AML) in first complete remission (CR) who received HLA-identical bone
      marrow transplantation (BMT) in 13 French transplant centers. PATIENTS AND
      METHODS: Seventy-four children were treated from June 1979 through December 1990.
      The conditioning regimen included total-body irradiation (TBI) in 54 cases and
      busulfan in 20. Prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) consisted of
      cyclosporine (CycloA) plus methotrexate (MTX) for 38 patients, MTX for 17, CycloA
      for 18, and T depletion without other prophylaxis for one. The mean value of the
      interval from diagnosis to transplantation was 167 days. RESULTS: Sixteen
      patients died of transplant-related complications, 12 relapsed, and 46 are alive
      in continuous remission with a median follow-up of 46 months. We examined results
      obtained over three successive periods: 1979 to 1982 (n = 14 children), 1983 to
      1986 (n = 29), and 1987 to 1990 (n = 31). Probabilities of event-free survival
      (EFS) were 43%, 48%, and 82% for the three successive periods, respectively (P <
      .02). This improvement in EFS was linked to a decreased risk of transplant
      related mortality: 36%, 36%, and 3%, respectively (P < .01). Other factors
      associated with a better EFS in the univariate analysis were a short time
      interval from diagnosis to transplant (< 120 days), the absence of significant
      (grade > or = 2) acute GVHD, and the absence of chronic GVHD. In the multivariate
      analysis, two factors had a favorable impact on long-term survival: the year of
      transplantation (years 1987 to 1990 v others) and the absence of acute GVHD.
      CONCLUSION: The outcome for children receiving allogeneic BMT in first CR of AML
      has improved in France during recent years.

PMID- 1453202
TI  - Standard-dose and high-dose peptichemio and cisplatin in children with
      disseminated poor-risk neuroblastoma: two studies by the Italian Cooperative
      Group for Neuroblastoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: The objective of the present study was to determine whether an increase
      in the intensity of therapy improves outcome for children with disseminated poor
      risk neuroblastoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1982 through November
      1989, 181 children 1 year or older with newly diagnosed disseminated
      neuroblastoma were entered onto two consecutive studies of the Italian
      Cooperative Group for Neuroblastoma (ICGNB): 75 (study NB82) were enrolled from
      1982 to 1984 and were treated with standard-dose (SD) chemotherapy, and 106
      (study NB85) were enrolled from 1985 to 1989 and received high-dose (HD)
      chemotherapy. In both treatment protocols, induction therapy included peptichemio
      and cisplatin (at SD or HD, respectively) and removal of the primary tumor. In
      study NB82, children who achieved complete or partial tumor regression received
      SD consolidation therapy, and in study NB85 they received three cycles of HD
      chemotherapy (3cCT) or one cycle of myeloablative therapy (MAT) followed by
      autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). RESULTS: Compared with group NB82,
      the NB85 group had significantly fewer failures (no tumor response or disease
      progression) after administration of peptichemio (9% v 31%; P < .01), had more
      complete responses (CRs) and partial responses (PRs) both after treatment with
      cisplatin (60% v 43%; P = .01) and after surgery (76% v 57%; P < .01), and was
      more likely to have achieved complete excision of the primary tumor (70% v 46%; P
      < .01). Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) at 5 years were
      11% and 9% in NB82, and 27% and 18% in NB85 (P < .01 for both); however, in NB85,
      relapses occurred even after 5 years of CR, so that PFS curves converge
      approximately 7 years after diagnosis. Median survival time was 14 months in NB82
      and 24 months in NB85. Children in the NB85 group who after achievement of CR
      were consolidated with 3cCT had a 5-year PFS of 24% compared with 32% of those
      treated with MAT followed by ABMT (P = .5). CONCLUSION: Intensified therapy
      improves response rate and prolongs survival of children with disseminated
      neuroblastoma, although its impact on the eventual cure rate remains to be
      established.

PMID- 1453203
TI  - Residual disease at the end of induction therapy as a predictor of relapse during
      therapy in childhood B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
AB  - PURPOSE: More than 95% of children with B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia
      (ALL) achieve a clinical remission after the induction phase of chemotherapy
      (first 28 days) as evaluated by morphologic criteria. However, relapse occurs in
      approximately 30% of these children. The objective of this study was to determine
      whether the outcome of patients in clinical remission at the end of induction
      therapy could be predicted using a highly sensitive method to detect residual
      disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All children diagnosed with B-lineage ALL at the
      Children's Hospital of Philadelphia during a 2-year period were eligible. The
      extent of residual leukemia was quantitated in remission marrow samples obtained
      at the end of induction therapy in 44 children using a phage clonogenic assay in
      association with complementarity-determining-region 3 (CDR3)-polymerase chain
      reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Residual disease was a significant predictor of outcome
      independent of WBC count, age, or sex. The estimated relapse-free survival (RFS)
      during therapy was 50.4% (+/- 12.6%) for patients with high residual disease (>
      or = 0.6% leukemia cells among total marrow B cells) versus 91.9% (+/- 5.5%) for
      those with lower levels (P < .002). There were no significant differences in off
      treatment RFS between patients with high or low residual disease who completed
      therapy in continuous remission (P = .82). The overall estimated RFS was 32.3%
      (+/- 11.6%) for patients with high residual disease versus 62.6% (+/- 10.7%) for
      patients with lower levels of residual leukemia cells, with a median follow-up of
      5.3 years for patients in continuous remission (P < .008). CONCLUSION: PCR
      detection of high residual disease at the end of induction therapy identifies
      patients at increased risk for relapse during therapy.

PMID- 1453204
TI  - Phase I/II study of iodine 131 metaiodobenzylguanidine in chemoresistant
      neuroblastoma: a United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group investigation.
AB  - PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of iodine 131
      metaiodobenzylguanidine (mIBG) in metastatic neuroblastoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS:
      A multicenter phase I study of 131I mIBG has been undertaken by the United
      Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group (UKCCSG) in children with advanced
      chemoresistant neuroblastoma. Activity prescription was based on a prescribed
      whole-body radiation dose, which was established for individual patients by
      performing an initial tracer investigation with 75 MBq of 131I mIBG. An activity
      was derived from this pharmacokinetic study that would deliver an initial whole
      body-absorbed radiation dose of 1 Gy. Subsequent dose escalations were based on
      observed toxicity. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients, aged 1 to 10 years, were
      treated with prescribed whole-body dose levels of 1.0 Gy (n = 2), 2.0 Gy (n =
      13), and 2.5 Gy (n = 10). This necessitated administration of 2.4 to 12.1 GBq of
      activity. Hematologic, hepatic, kidney, and adrenal toxicity were observed, with
      bone marrow suppression being the principal dose-limiting toxicity. Bone marrow
      toxicity increased with prescribed whole-body-absorbed radiation dose, with 80%
      of patients developing grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia at a prescribed whole-body
      radiation dose of 2.5 Gy. Objective evidence of tumor response was seen in soft
      tissue (primary or nodal disease), bone, and bone marrow, with an overall
      response rate of 33% (partial response, n = 8; static disease, n = 9; progressive
      disease, n = 7). CONCLUSIONS: This study has established an effective method of
      activity prescription that predicts subsequent toxicity, with the maximally
      tolerated dose being sufficient activity to deliver a whole-body-absorbed
      radiation dose of 2.5 Gy. The objective response rate is comparable to other
      single agents in chemoresistant neuroblastoma and suggests that 131I mIBG may be
      a useful method for targeting radiotherapy in metastatic neuroblastoma.

PMID- 1453205
TI  - Plasma pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a new prodrug N-l
      leucyldoxorubicin and its metabolites in a phase I clinical trial.
AB  - PURPOSE: N-l-leucyldoxorubicin (Leu-Dox) was developed as a prodrug of
      doxorubicin (Dox) to circumvent the cardiotoxicity associated with repeated
      administration of Dox. Our purpose was to assess the pharmacokinetics of Leu-Dox,
      Dox, doxorubicinol (Dol) and four other metabolites for pharmacokinetically
      guided dose-escalation and to verify the prodrug character of Leu-Dox. PATIENTS
      AND METHODS: Blood and urine of 14 patients were sampled during the phase I
      clinical trial and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Dose
      levels of Leu-Dox ranged from 18 mg/m2 to 225 mg/m2, the maximum-tolerated dose
      (MTD). Hematologic parameters were monitored regularly in each patient. RESULTS:
      Leu-Dox was rapidly distributed (half-life at alpha phase [t1/2 alpha] = 2.5 +/-
      0.6 minutes) followed by a biphasic elimination (half-life at beta phase [t1/2
      beta] = 17.4 +/- 7.3 minutes; half-life at gamma phase [t1/2 gamma] = 1.5 +/- 0.5
      hours), as measured over the first 12 hours after administration. In three
      patients, in whom Leu-Dox was found in the plasma for up to 48 hours after
      injection, a final elimination half-life (t1/2,elim) of 16 hours was observed.
      The t1/2,elim of Leu-Dox was short (0.6 to 16.5 hours) compared with the
      t1/2,elim of Dox (38 +/- 11 hours). The mean residence time and apparent volume
      of distribution were 23 +/- 5 minutes and 19 +/- 6 L/m2, respectively. Only 1.5%
      to 5% of the dose was excreted in the urine over 48 hours, with Dox as major
      constituent. Dox was rapidly formed, reaching its maximum concentration within 10
      minutes after the end of Leu-Dox infusion. Areas under the plasma concentration
      versus time curve (AUC infinity, mean +/- SD, n = 16) of Leu-Dox, Dox, and Dol
      were 115 +/- 27 mumol.min/L, 41 +/- 12 mumol.min/L, and 33 +/- 14 mumol.min/L
      after a dose of 60 mg/m2 Leu-Dox (= 86 mumol/m2). After the same molar dose of
      Dox (50 mg/m2 = 86 mumol/m2), the AUC infinity of Dox was 179 mumol.min/L,
      indicating that Leu-Dox was converted into Dox for 23% in the plasma compartment.
      The AUCs infinity of Leu-Dox, Dox, and Dol increased linearly with the dose.
      Negligible AUCs were observed for the other four metabolites. The AUCs infinity
      of Leu-Dox and Dox at the MTD (517 and 145 mumol.min/L, respectively) were lower
      than those in mice at the LD10 (1,930 and 798 mumol.min/L, respectively), which
      means that the MTD could not be predicted from the preclinical pharmacokinetics
      in mice. Hematologic toxicity, especially the WBC count, appeared to correlate
      much better with the AUC of Dox (r = .91) than with the AUC of Leu-Dox (r = .74),
      thus confirming the prodrug character of Leu-Dox. CONCLUSIONS: Dox is rapidly
      formed from Leu-Dox, and seems causative in the observed myelotoxicity. The MTD
      could not be predicted from the AUC at the LD10 in mice.

PMID- 1453206
TI  - Phase II study of pentostatin and intermittent high-dose recombinant interferon
      alfa-2a in advanced mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome.
AB  - PURPOSE: This phase II study was undertaken to assess the efficacy and toxicity
      of alternating administration of pentostatin (deoxycoformycin [DCF]) and
      interferon alfa-2a (IFN) in patients with advanced or refractory mycosis
      fungoides (MF) or the Sezary syndrome (SS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-one
      patients underwent therapy with alternating cycles of DCF 4 mg/m2 intravenously
      (IV) days 1 through 3 and IFN 10 million U/m2 intramuscularly (IM) day 22, and 50
      million U/m2 intramuscularly (IM) days 23 through 26. Twenty-nine patients had
      not responded to prior chemotherapy or total-skin electron-beam irradiation
      (TSEB), six had not responded to topical therapies, and six had no previous
      treatment. RESULTS: Two patients achieved a complete response (CR) and 15
      achieved a partial response (PR), for an overall response rate of 41% (95%
      confidence interval, 26% to 58%). No responses were observed in the seven
      patients with visceral involvement. The median progression-free survival of
      patients who responded was 13.1 months. IFN-related constitutional symptoms were
      reported in 39% of patients; severe toxicities included cardiomyopathy in one
      patient, acute and chronic pulmonary dysfunction in four, and reversible mental
      status changes in two. Seven patients developed herpes zoster during therapy and
      six had staphylococcal bacteremia. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the
      combination of DCF and IFN is an active regimen in MF patients without visceral
      involvement.

PMID- 1453207
TI  - Preoperative systemic chemotherapy followed by adjuvant postoperative
      intraperitoneal therapy for gastric cancer: a University of Southern California
      pilot program.
AB  - PURPOSE: A clinical trial for patients with gastric cancer amenable to curative
      resection was undertaken to determine feasibility and response to preoperative
      systemic chemotherapy followed by postoperative intraperitoneal (IP)
      chemotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty-eight patients with resectable
      gastric tumor received two cycles of protracted intravenous (IV)-infusion
      fluorouracil (5FU), 200 mg/m2/d, for 3 weeks with weekly IV leucovorin 20 mg/m2
      and IV cisplatin 100 mg/m2 days 1 and 29. Resection of the gastric tumor followed
      within 3 weeks of completion of systemic chemotherapy. Those who had all visible
      tumor removed with clear margins received two cycles of IP floxuridine 3,000 mg
      (total dose) per day for 3 days and IP cisplatin 200 mg/m2 with IV sodium
      thiosulfate on the fourth day of IP therapy. RESULTS: Thirty-seven of 38 patients
      (97%) received two cycles of systemic chemotherapy. Thirty-five of 38 patients
      (92%) underwent laparotomy for gastric tumor resection. Thirty-three patients
      (87%) had gastric resections performed; 29 (76%) had all visible tumor removed
      with microscopically negative margins. No operative mortality was encountered.
      Twenty-six patients (68%) received IP treatment. IV neoadjuvant treatment was
      well tolerated and resulted in 68% of the patients reporting improvement in
      abdominal pain, 45% objective remissions by computed tomography (CT), 38%
      objective remissions by gastroscopy and biopsy, and 8% had complete surgical
      pathologic response. Neutropenic sepsis during the IP treatment phase contributed
      to the only treatment-related death. Four of 29 completely resected patients
      (14%) have had tumor recurrence. The median follow-up time of patients remaining
      alive is now 19 months. The median survival for 38 patients entered onto this
      protocol has not been reached at 17+ months. CONCLUSION: This novel approach to
      the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the stomach is feasible. The neoadjuvant
      systemic therapy results in significant primary tumor regression. The
      determination of whether systemic or IP components of the program contribute to
      decreased recurrence or increased survival awaits a prospectively randomized
      clinical trial.

PMID- 1453208
TI  - A prospective randomized trial comparing the infectious and noninfectious
      complications of an externalized catheter versus a subcutaneously implanted
      device in cancer patients.
AB  - PURPOSE: To compare the frequency of infectious episodes or other problems
      occurring with an externalized catheter (Hickman) versus a subcutaneously
      implanted device (Port-a-Cath, Pharmacia, Piscataway, NJ) in cancer patients, we
      performed a prospective, randomized study in 100 cancer patients (age range, 5 to
      74 years). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who were chemotherapy candidates and
      required an indwelling catheter were monitored prospectively and evaluated during
      the 180 days after the insertion of the catheter and again at time of study
      closure. The frequency of catheter use, reason for access, and any problems that
      might have been related to catheter use were noted. All data were collected
      prospectively and included the patient's age, sex, underlying malignancy,
      temperature, and leukocyte and absolute granulocyte counts at the time of
      catheter insertion and when complications occurred. The time to and reason for
      removal of the catheter, as well as any intercurrent infectious or mechanical
      problems, were also determined. RESULTS: Most of the infections that occurred
      were caused by gram-positive organisms, especially staphylococci or streptococci.
      A total of 22 complications (11 in each group) resulted in removal of the central
      line. Only one infection in the Hickman catheter group and four in the Port-a
      Cath group led to removal of the central line. All other infectious episodes were
      successfully treated without removal of the catheters. The mean device life was
      230 days for the Hickman catheter and 318 days for the Port-a-Cath (not
      significant). CONCLUSION: There were no differences between the two study groups
      regarding incidence of documented infections or mechanical or thrombotic
      complications.

PMID- 1453209
TI  - Salvage therapy with ProMACE-MOPP followed by intensive chemoradiotherapy and
      autologous bone marrow transplantation for patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
      who failed to respond to first-line CHOP.
AB  - PURPOSE: We used alternative chemotherapy immediately followed in early-response
      patients by high-dose chemoradiotherapy and autologous bone marrow
      transplantation (ABMT) to treat patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) who
      had failed to respond to first-line chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty
      one patients with NHL of intermediate- or high-grade malignancy who had failed to
      respond to first-line cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone
      (CHOP) chemotherapy were treated. Seventeen patients had primary refractory
      disease and 14 had relapsed from first complete response (CR). The treatment
      consisted of prednisone, methotrexate, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide,
      mechlorethamine, vincristine, and procarbazine (ProMACE-MOPP) salvage
      chemotherapy, followed, in case of responsive disease (at least partial response
      [PR]), by high-dose cyclophosphamide and total-body irradiation (TBI) with ABMT.
      RESULTS: Twenty-eight of 31 (90%) patients achieved PR (23 patients) or CR (five
      patients) with ProMACE-MOPP, and three failed to respond. Seventeen of 28 (61%)
      patients who responded underwent the ABMT procedure, which resulted in CR in 14
      patients (82%); three failed to respond. Eleven responsive patients were not
      transplanted because of residual bone marrow infiltration (five patients),
      patient refusal (four patients), and ProMACE-MOPP-related mortality (two
      patients). To date, nine patients are alive and in CR, seven with a median follow
      up of 41 months (range, 17 to 84 months). Referring to the original CHOP
      treatment, five of 17 (29%) patients with primary refractory disease remain free
      of disease at a median of 36 months after ABMT, and four of 14 (29%) patients in
      first relapse remain free of disease at a median of 33 months after ABMT. One
      patient died of AMBT-related toxicity. CONCLUSION: ProMACE-MOPP salvage
      chemotherapy produces a high early-response rate in patients who fail to respond
      to first-line CHOP, and more than half of the responding patients can be
      scheduled to receive ABMT, resulting in disease-free survival (DFS) at 3 years in
      50% of the transplanted patients and in 25% of the original number of patients
      intended to receive this treatment.

PMID- 1453210
TI  - Clinical evaluation of MGI 209, an anesthetic, film-forming agent for relief from
      painful oral ulcers associated with chemotherapy.
AB  - PURPOSE: This open-label, multicenter trial evaluated the efficacy of a
      mucoadherent, anesthetic medication (MGI 209) for relief from painful oral ulcers
      associated with cytotoxic chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight
      eligible cancer patients who had up to five discrete oral ulcers (total area < or
      = 5 cm2) completed this study. Mean age was 53.5 years (range, 21 to 81).
      Subjective assessments of oral discomfort before and after an orange juice pain
      challenge (OJPC), which was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS), and
      visual estimates of the amount of MGI 209 that remained on treated ulcers were
      collected at (1) baseline (before MGI 209 treatment); and (2) 30, 60, 120, and
      180 minutes posttreatment. RESULTS: Most subjects had low VAS scores (4 or less),
      which was indicative of oral discomfort, at baseline before and after the OJPC.
      At 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes after MGI 209 treatment, most subjects had high
      VAS scores before and after an OJPC compared with baseline scores, which was
      indicative of a substantial increase in oral comfort; these differences were
      statistically significant (P < .0001). Mean percent of MGI 209 estimated to
      remain on ulcers at the previously mentioned times was 93.7%, 90.3%, 79.6%, and
      71.3% of the total amount applied, respectively. CONCLUSION: Benzocaine
      hydrochloride in combination with the protective, mucoadherent film-coating
      relieved discomfort for at least 3 hours even with exposure to an irritating
      beverage. MGI 209 treatment should allow patients with chemotherapy-induced oral
      ulcers to drink and eat with significantly diminished pain or no pain.

PMID- 1453211
TI  - Stratified, randomized, double-blind comparison of intravenous ondansetron
      administered as a multiple-dose regimen versus two single-dose regimens in the
      prevention of cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting.
AB  - PURPOSE: This study compares the efficacy and safety of two single-dose regimens
      with the approved three-dose regimen of ondansetron in the prevention of
      cisplatin-induced emesis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This multicenter study was a
      stratified, randomized, double-blind, and parallel group design. Chemotherapy
      naive inpatients were randomized to receive intravenous (IV) ondansetron (Zofran;
      Glaxo Inc, Research Triangle Park, NC) 0.15 mg/kg times three doses, every 4
      hours or a single 8-mg or 32-mg dose followed by two saline doses that began 30
      minutes before cisplatin administration. Cisplatin (high-dose > or = 100 mg/m2 or
      medium-dose 50 to 70 mg/m2) was given as a single infusion (< or = 3 hours).
      Patients were monitored for emetic episodes, adverse events, and laboratory
      safety parameters for 24 hours after cisplatin administration. RESULTS: A total
      of 699 patients (359 high-dose, 340 medium-dose) were enrolled. Of these, 618
      were assessable for efficacy (15 ineligible, 66 protocol deviations). The 32-mg
      dose was superior to the 8-mg single dose with regard to total number of emetic
      episodes (high-dose, P = .015; medium-dose, P < .001), complete response (no
      emetic episodes: high-dose, 48% v 35%; P = .048; medium-dose, 73% v 50%; P =
      .001) and failure rate (> 5 emetic episodes, withdrawn or rescued: high-dose, 20%
      v 34%; P = .018; medium-dose, 9% v 23%; P = .005). The 32-mg single dose was also
      superior to the 0.15 mg/kg times three dose regimen with regard to total number
      of emetic episodes (medium-dose, P = .033) and failure rate (high-dose, 20% v
      36%; P = .009; medium-dose, 9% v 22%; P = .011). Ondansetron was well tolerated.
      The most common adverse event was headache. An approximate 10-fold increase in
      the incidence of clinically significant transaminase elevations was observed in
      the high-dose versus medium-dose cisplatin strata (aspartate aminotransferase
      [AST], 6.5% v 0.7%; serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT], 5.0% v 0.3%).
      CONCLUSION: A 32-mg single dose of ondansetron is more effective than a single 8
      mg dose and is at least as effective as the standard regimen of 0.15 mg/kg times
      three doses in the prevention of cisplatin-induced acute emesis.

PMID- 1453212
TI  - Cancer Pain Assessment and Treatment Curriculum Guidelines. The Ad Hoc Committee
      on Cancer Pain of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
AB  - PURPOSE: More than 70% of patients with cancer develop significant pain at some
      time during the course of their illness. Despite the general consensus that most
      cancer pain can be treated effectively, many patients receive inadequate
      treatment of their pain. One significant contributing factor is the failure of
      health care professionals to receive formal training in this important aspect of
      oncology. The Cancer Pain Assessment and Treatment Curriculum Guidelines reflect
      the American Society of Clinical Oncology's commitment to providing optimal pain
      relief to patients with cancer. These guidelines represent an effort to promote
      formal instruction on the assessment and treatment of cancer pain in training
      programs and continuing education courses. DESIGN AND RESULTS: The curriculum is
      broad in scope and applicable to patients of all ages. The guidelines emphasize
      the need for (1) routine pain assessment, (2) proficiency in prescribing opioids,
      nonopioid analgesics, and adjuvant medications, and (3) an understanding of the
      potential benefits of antineoplastic, anesthetic, neurosurgical, and behavioral
      approaches, which often require a coordinated multidisciplinary approach.
      CONCLUSION: This curriculum should prove a valuable guide to those who wish
      further education on the optimal treatment of cancer pain.

PMID- 1453213
TI  - Prerequisites for in vivo cell kinetic studies in patients.

PMID- 1453214
TI  - Suramin: is adaptive control necessary?

PMID- 1453215
TI  - Hepatic arterial floxuridine infusion and patient survival.

PMID- 1453216
TI  - Protein kinase C is activated and diacylglycerol is elevated in epidermal cells
      from Sencar mice fed high fat diets.
AB  - Studies reported here determined the effect of dietary fat level on membrane
      phospholipid composition, phosphoinositide labeling, 1,2-sn-diacylglycerol and
      protein kinase C activity in epidermal cells from female Sencar mice. Animals
      were fed either high fat (24.6 g/100 g diet) or control (5 g/100 g diet) diets at
      constant energy intake for 6 to 7 wk or 15 to 22 wk, and epidermal cells were
      isolated. The level of phosphatidylinositol was significantly lower in the
      animals fed the control diet than in the animals fed the high fat diet (0.6 vs.
      1.2 nmol/10(6) cells). The fatty acid composition of the phospholipids showed
      significantly lower arachidonic acid level in phosphatidylinositol when the
      animals were fed the high fat diet. Protein kinase C activity in the solubilized
      particulate and soluble fraction of the cells was 131 +/- 18% and 62 +/- 14%
      greater, respectively, in animals fed the high fat diet compared with animals fed
      control diet. The level of 1,2-sn-diacylglycerol was significantly higher in
      animals fed the high fat diet (mean nmol/mg lipid +/- SEM: control, 4.5 +/- 0.5;
      high fat, 7.0 +/- 0.5). Incorporation of [3H]inositol into inositol lipid was not
      altered by diet. Because protein kinase C and 1,2-sn-diacylglycerol have been
      implicated in tumor promotion, the increase in protein kinase C activity and the
      elevation of 1,2-sn-diacylglycerol in cells from animals fed the high fat diet
      may be important in the high cancer rate observed with these diets.

PMID- 1453217
TI  - Sweet lupin protein quality in young men.
AB  - The protein quality of Lupinus albus cv Multolupa was evaluated in young adult
      males using the nitrogen balance technique at graded levels of N intake, and
      compared with egg protein. Lupin protein was consumed at levels of 0.4, 0.6 and
      0.8 g/(kg.d) and egg protein at 0.3, 0.45 and 0.6 g/(kg.d). Each period started
      with 1 d of consuming a protein-free diet; the next 6 d were used as adaptation
      and the last 4 d for balance. The levels of protein intake were randomly assigned
      by a modified Latin square. Energy intake was individually adjusted. Mean
      apparent N digestibility values of lupin protein were 78.8, 76.1 and 70.2% for
      the levels of 0.8, 0.6 and 0.4 g protein(kg.d), respectively, and 83.8, 78.3 and
      67.1% for egg protein consumed at levels of 0.6, 0.45 and 0.3 g protein/(kg.d),
      respectively. The N balance results obtained when subjects consumed lupin were
      16.4, 0.2 and -15.1 mg N/(kg.d) for protein intakes of 0.8, 0.6 and 0.4 g/(kg.d),
      respectively. Those obtained for egg consumption were 12.6, -3.6 and -17.1 mg
      N/(kg.d) for protein intakes of 0.6, 0.45 and 0.3 g/(kg.d), respectively. The
      linear regressions of intake and absorbed N to retained N for lupin were: N
      retained = -43.41 + 0.50 N intake and N retained = -36.30 + 0.53 N absorbed. The
      corresponding regressions for egg were: N retained = -45.0 + 0.65 N intake and N
      retained = -30.65 + 0.58 N absorbed. The net protein utilization of lupin was 77%
      that of egg protein.

PMID- 1453218
TI  - Alkaline phosphatase activity and pyridoxal phosphate concentrations in the milk
      of various species.
AB  - Because pyridoxal phosphate does not normally cross membranes, it was intriguing
      that the concentration of pyridoxal phosphate is much higher in goat milk than in
      human milk. We also noted that, although the total vitamin B-6 concentration of
      bovine milk was similar to that of caprine milk, the bovine milk had lower
      pyridoxal phosphate. Preliminary data from five Alpine goats, five Brown Swiss
      cows, five Holstein cows and three humans suggested that there was an inverse
      relationship between pyridoxal phosphate concentration and phosphatase activity
      in the goats and cows but not in the humans. This was confirmed with additional
      data from Nubian goats, Jersey and Guernsey cows, and crossbred sows. Combining
      the animal data yielded the following relationship between pyridoxal phosphate
      (PLP, mumol/L) and alkaline phosphatase (P'ase) activity (mmol/(min.L): PLP =
      2.03e(-2.26 P'ase) + 0.03. The human milk samples were low in both pyridoxal
      phosphate and alkaline phosphatase. We conclude that in goats, cows and pigs a
      significant fraction of the vitamin B-6 appearing in the milk is secreted as
      pyridoxal phosphate, probably bound to protein, and varying amounts may then be
      hydrolyzed back to pyridoxal depending on the alkaline phosphatase activity.
      Human mammary tissue apparently secretes very little pyridoxal phosphate.

PMID- 1453219
TI  - Comparative metabolism and requirement of vitamin K in chicks and rats.
AB  - The metabolic basis for the high vitamin K requirement of chicks compared with
      rats was investigated. When chicks and rats were fed the same diet, containing
      500 micrograms phylloquinone/kg, the total amounts of phylloquinone and its
      epoxide metabolite found in the liver and plasma were similar in both species.
      However, phylloquinone 2,3-epoxide was present in high concentrations in chick
      liver and serum but not in rat liver and serum. This metabolite of the vitamin is
      normally reduced by a hepatic vitamin K epoxide reductase. The activity of this
      enzyme in chicks was approximately 10% of that in rats, and the inability of
      chicks to effectively recycle the epoxide of vitamin K seems to be the major
      factor in its high requirement. Other species differences in vitamin K metabolism
      were observed. Much higher concentrations of bacterial menaquinones were present
      in rat feces compared with chick feces, but neither species had appreciable
      hepatic concentrations of menaquinones. Chicks, but not rats, were found to have
      a liver concentration of menaquinone-4 that exceeded that of phylloquinone. This
      vitamer was present even when its recognized precursor, menadione, was not
      present in the diet, and the data indicate that chicks convert phylloquinone to
      menaquinone-4 under the conditions of these experiments. The mechanism of this
      conversion was not established.

PMID- 1453220
TI  - Neither dietary fructose, dextrose nor starch modifies in vitro glycerol release
      by adipocytes from streptozotocin-diabetic rats.
AB  - Because we found previously that fructose feeding could alter lipolytic responses
      to isoproterenol and insulin in normal rats, we studied the effects of the same
      diet in neonatal, streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Twenty-seven 5-wk-old diabetic
      Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a diet containing 57% carbohydrate as either
      fructose, dextrose or starch for 6 wk. At the end of the nutritional period,
      plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in fed rats were similar in the three
      diabetic groups. Plasma triacylglycerol concentrations were higher in the
      fructose-fed group than in the other two groups (P < 0.05). Neither the maximal
      adipocyte lipolytic response (fructose = 1147 +/- 165%, starch = 1823 +/- 329%
      and dextrose = 1287 +/- 239% of basal values) nor the sensitivity to
      isoproterenol (ED50) was changed by the dietary carbohydrate exchange. The
      maximal antilipolytic action of insulin (starch = 68 +/- 10%, dextrose = 41 +/-
      13%, fructose = 95 +/- 29% of stimulated lipolysis values) was comparable in the
      three diet groups. Thus, 6 wk of fructose feeding in diabetic rats increased
      plasma triacylglycerol concentrations, but had no detectable effect on plasma
      glucose or insulin concentrations, isoproterenol-induced lipolysis or the
      antilipolytic action of insulin.

PMID- 1453221
TI  - An extract of Gymnema sylvestre leaves and purified gymnemic acid inhibits
      glucose-stimulated gastric inhibitory peptide secretion in rats.
AB  - Gastric inhibitory peptide release into the portal vein in response to duodenal
      infusion of D-glucose was studied in the presence of a leaf extract of Gymnema
      sylvestre, purified gymnemic acid and inhibitors of some putative glucose sensors
      and carriers in the intestinal lumen. Intraduodenal infusion of D-glucose
      significantly increased the portal immunoreactive gastric inhibitory peptide
      concentration in a dose-dependent manner. The increase in the portal
      immunoreactive gastric inhibitory peptide induced by glucose was significantly
      depressed by concomitantly infused leaf extract of Gymnema sylvestre, purified
      gymnemic acid and phlorizin but not by cytochalasin B. Mannoheptulose, which
      inhibits glycolysis, and procaine and lidocaine, which inhibit the vagal
      glucoreceptor in the lumen, did not affect portal immunoreactive gastric
      inhibitory peptide concentrations. These results suggest that a glucose receptor,
      which interacts with the leaf extract of Gymnema sylvestre, purified gymnemic
      acid and phlorizin, exists for the release of immunoreactive gastric inhibitory
      peptide and that the glucose receptor for gastric inhibitory peptide release is
      not likely to be identical with a glucose transporter or a vagal glucoreceptor in
      the lumen.

PMID- 1453222
TI  - Placental composition does not respond to changes in maternal dietary
      carbohydrate intake in rats.
AB  - In this study we investigated whether placental glycogen reserves and protein and
      DNA content could be manipulated by altering the level of glucose in the maternal
      diet. Pregnant rat dams were fed isocaloric diets containing graded levels of
      glucose (0, 12, 24 and 60%), and placentas were analyzed for glycogen, protein
      and DNA content on gestational days 18.5 to 21.5. Regardless of the level of
      glucose in the maternal diet, there was a significant increase in placental size
      with advancing age, which was characterized by protein accretion but not by an
      increase in cell number of glycogen content. Restriction of glucose in the diets
      of pregnant dams failed to produce statistically significant reductions in
      placental protein, DNA and glycogen and did not retard placental growth, even
      though intrauterine growth retardation was observed. Fetal weight, plasma
      glucose, and liver and heart glycogen were positively correlated with placental
      weight and inversely correlated with placental glycogen and DNA concentrations;
      by contrast, no significant correlations were calculated between maternal and
      placental variables. Our study indicates that the placenta is not affected by a
      specific dietary glucose restriction and that changes in placental weight or
      glycogen content do not account for the growth retardation observed in fetuses of
      dams fed glucose-restricted diets.

PMID- 1453223
TI  - Prevention of immunologic stress contributes to the growth-permitting ability of
      dietary antibiotics in chicks.
AB  - The growth-permitting ability of antibiotics fed to broiler chicks was studied as
      it relates to the state of activation of the immune system. In Experiment 1,
      chicks were fed two levels of antibiotics (0 or 100 mg streptomycin + 100 mg
      penicillin/kg diet) and were raised either in an environment with poor sanitation
      to create a chronic immune stress or in a clean environment. Chicks raised in the
      unsanitary environment and not fed antibiotics had significantly lower (P < 0.05)
      rates of weight gain and efficiencies of feed utilization, and higher levels of
      plasma interleukin-1, compared with chicks raised in the clean environment or
      chicks raised in the unsanitary environment and fed antibiotics. Adding
      antibiotics to the diet of birds in the clean environment did not affect any
      variable. In Experiment 2, chicks were raised in a conventional environment and
      fed two levels of an antibiotic (0 or 100 mg tetracycline/kg diet). After a 15-d
      feeding period, half of the chicks were injected with Salmonella typhimurium
      lipopolysaccharide to create an acute immunologic stress. Feeding antibiotic
      resulted in improved weight gain, feed consumption and efficiency of feed
      utilization. Lipopolysaccharide-injected birds developed heavier livers, spleens
      and intestines relative to body weights and higher rectal temperatures and
      hepatic metallothionein concentrations, presumably due to an immunologic stress.
      Omitting antibiotic from the diet resulted in similar changes. These results
      indicate that feeding antibiotics may permit growth by preventing immunologic
      stress and associated metabolic changes brought about by monokines including
      interleukin-1.

PMID- 1453224
TI  - Dietary guar gum halts further renal enlargement in rats with established
      diabetes.
AB  - Guar gum, a dietary fiber known to improve glucose tolerance, was fed to rats
      with established diabetes to determine its effect on renal enlargement and
      microalbuminuria. Diabetic rats were fed a modified AIN-76A (basal) diet for 4
      wk, at which time half the rats continued to receive the same basal diet (DB-BA
      group) and half were switched to a 5% guar gum diet (DB-GG group). Nondiabetic
      rats fed the basal diet served as controls (NRL group). After 8 additional weeks
      the animals were killed. Glycated hemoglobin, a measure of long-term blood
      glucose control, was 14.4% in the DB-BA group and 12.4% in the DB-GG group, a
      statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). Kidney weight of the DB-BA group
      (3.51 g) was significantly greater than that of the DB-GG group (2.76 g) (P <
      0.05). Eight weeks after induction of diabetes, 24-h urinary albumin excretion
      was highest in the DB-BA group and lowest in the NRL group; excretion in the DB
      GG group (4 wk of guar feeding) was intermediate. However, by 12 wk no
      differences in albumin excretion among the groups were apparent. These results
      suggest that guar gum may be useful for slowing the progression of diabetic
      nephropathy and that guar gum deserves further study in this regard.

PMID- 1453225
TI  - Phenylalanine flooding dose procedure is effective in measuring intestinal and
      liver protein synthesis in sheep.
AB  - We conducted two experiments to evaluate the flooding dose method for measuring
      intestinal and liver protein synthesis in sheep. Experiment 1 showed that large
      doses of phenylalanine did not cause marked metabolic disturbances. Experiment 2
      examined the effectiveness of flooding with phenylalanine and the time dependency
      of the protein synthesis calculation. Rams were injected with 1.2 MBq L-[ring 2,6
      3H]phenylalanine/kg body wt and slaughtered 20, 40 or 60 min later. Plasma
      specific radioactivity reached a plateau within 2.5 min and did not change
      significantly (P > 0.05) throughout the experiment. Tissue intracellular free
      pool specific radioactivity also remained constant from 20 to 60 min
      postinfusion. Flooding conditions were achieved in the intracellular free pool of
      intestinal tissues (specific radioactivity 70-96% of plasma specific
      radioactivity), although liver flooding was less successful (57-67%). Protein
      synthesis rates measured after 20 min were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the
      liver, jejunum and ileum than those measured at 60 min. Protein synthesis rates
      also tended to decline with time in the duodenum and colon (P > 0.05). There were
      no significant differences (P > 0.05) between protein synthesis rates calculated
      using the intracellular specific radioactivity vs. plasma specific radioactivity
      in the duodenum, ileum or colon. Therefore, this method represents an improvement
      over continuous infusion methods for measurements of protein synthesis in
      visceral tissues.

PMID- 1453226
TI  - Erythrocyte metallothionein response to dietary zinc in humans.
AB  - The response of erythrocyte metallothionein to dietary zinc in human subjects was
      evaluated in a controlled metabolic protocol including standard indices of zinc
      status. Fifteen male subjects, age 27 +/- 3.6 y, participated in a 90-d, four
      phase study consisting of acclimation (7 d; 15 mg Zn/d), treatment (6 wk; either
      3.2, 7.2 or 15.2 mg Zn/d), depletion (12 d; 0.55 mg Zn/d) and supplementation (30
      d; self-selected diet plus 50 mg Zn/d) phases. During the treatment phase
      erythrocyte metallothionein decreased in the group fed 3.2 mg Zn/d. Erythrocyte
      metallothionein decreased during the depletion phase (46 +/- 10%) to below the
      normal concentration in all groups and increased in the supplementation phase.
      Plasma zinc concentration decreased in the group fed 3.2 mg Zn/d during the
      treatment phase relative to the acclimation phase. Erythrocyte zinc decreased in
      all groups during the depletion phase relative to the treatment phase, and then
      increased during the supplementation phase. These data suggest that erythrocyte
      metallothionein can be used as a measure of status in severe zinc depletion and
      that comparing the change in erythrocyte metallothionein over a 6-wk period can
      differentiate between low and adequate levels of dietary zinc intake.

PMID- 1453227
TI  - 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate is reabsorbed and metabolized in isolated perfused rat
      kidney.
AB  - The renal regulation of folate excretion is an important component in maintaining
      the body burden of folate. The tubular processes for folate disposition have been
      examined by a variety of methods to elucidate the mechanism by which renal folate
      excretion is regulated. Accordingly, the isolated perfused rat kidney technique
      was evaluated by investigating the clearance and metabolic patterns of 5
      methyltetrahydrofolate (5-CH3-H4PteGlu). Kidneys from male Sprague-Dawley rats
      were perfused in vitro with [3H]5-CH3-H4PteGlu (1-2000 nmol/L). Linear regression
      analysis of 5-CH3-H4PteGlu excretion vs. filtered load revealed a tubular
      transport maximum of 7.5 pmol x min-1.g-1. A dual component system for tubular
      transport of 5-CH3-H4PteGlu was found: a high capacity, nonsaturable system and a
      low capacity, saturable system represented by the transport maximum. Furthermore,
      HPLC analysis of urine demonstrated renal uptake and metabolism of the labeled
      tracer. Tetrahydrofolate was identified as one metabolic product that indicated
      secretion of this compound. Additional metabolites were identified from kidney
      samples. Results suggest that 5-CH3-H4PteGlu undergoes net reabsorption by a dual
      component transport system; some of the reabsorbed 5-CH3-H4PteGlu is metabolized
      to other products that may be secreted in the urine.

PMID- 1453228
TI  - Intestinal amino acid and monosaccharide transport in suckling pigs fed milk
      replacers with different sources of carbohydrate.
AB  - Omnivorous mammals are able to adaptively modulate rates of intestinal nutrient
      transport to match changes in diet. Because adaptive responses during suckling,
      when dietary composition is relatively constant, have not been adequately
      determined, we measured in vitro sugar and amino acid uptake [nmol/(mg
      tissue.min)] in suckling pigs fed milk replacers with either lactose (LAC) or a
      60:40 mixture of maltodextrin and sucrose (MDS). The MDS-fed pigs initially grew
      slower, but had intestinal dimensions similar to those of LAC-fed siblings when
      normalized to body weight. Carrier-mediated uptake for three monosaccharides
      (glucose, galactose, fructose) did not differ between LAC- and MDS-fed pigs at 5,
      10, 15 and 20 d of age. Interdiet differences in rates of leucine and proline
      uptake, despite identical types and concentration of protein in both milk
      replacers, are indicative of non-specific responses to diet during suckling.
      Uptake capacities (grams of monosaccharide absorbed per 24 h) never exceeded
      estimates of monosaccharide intake by more than fourfold and were less than
      aldohexose intake during early suckling. Our results indicate 1) age-related
      changes in rates of nutrient uptake are genetically programmed and little
      influenced by diet; 2) any responses to diet are nonspecific and likely involve a
      shift in the timing of the genetic program; and 3) at birth and throughout
      suckling, pigs are capable of absorbing limited quantities of alternative
      nutrients.

PMID- 1453229
TI  - Sesame seed lignans and gamma-tocopherol act synergistically to produce vitamin E
      activity in rats.
AB  - Vitamin E activity of sesame seed, which contains only gamma-tocopherol, a
      compound that has vitamin E activity equal to only 6-16% that of alpha
      tocopherol, was examined in two experiments. In the first experiment, groups of
      rats were fed four diets: vitamin E-free control diet, alpha-tocopherol
      containing diet, gamma-tocopherol-containing diet and sesame seed-containing
      diet. Changes in red blood cell hemolysis, plasma pyruvate kinase activity, and
      peroxides in plasma and liver, as indices of vitamin E activity, were examined.
      The sesame seed diet has high vitamin E activity, whereas this activity was low
      in the gamma-tocopherol diet. In plasma and liver, alpha-tocopherol was found in
      high concentration only in the alpha-tocopherol-fed group, and gamma-tocopherol
      was found in high concentration only in the sesame seed-fed group, with
      negligible amounts of gamma-tocopherol in liver of the gamma-tocopherol-fed
      group. In the second experiment, two diets containing sesame lignan (sesaminol or
      sesamin) and gamma-tocopherol were tested. Results in both of the sesame lignan
      fed groups were comparable to those observed in the sesame seed-fed group in
      Experiment 1. These experiments indicate that gamma-tocopherol in sesame seed
      exerts vitamin E activity equal to that of alpha-tocopherol through a synergistic
      interaction with sesame seed lignans.

PMID- 1453230
TI  - Soluble wheat pentosans exhibit different anti-nutritive activities in intact and
      cecectomized broiler chickens.
AB  - The role of the ceca in the anti-nutritive effect of wheat pentosans was studied
      in intact and cectomized broiler chickens. Addition of wheat pentosans
      (equivalent to 30 g pure arabinoxylans/kg diet) depressed the digestibilities of
      starch, protein and fatty acids in both types of birds. Cecectomized birds were
      less efficient (P < 0.01) in dry matter and energy utilization, but starch
      digestion was not influenced by cecectomy. Inclusion of isolated wheat pentosans
      decreased the fecal protein digestibility by 18% in intact birds and by 7% in
      cecectomized chickens, with the bird type x pentosan interaction being
      significant (P < 0.05). The ileal pentosan digestibility was not affected either
      by addition of isolated pentosans or by cecectomy; however, the fecal pentosan
      digestibility was significantly (P < 0.001) influenced. Thus, in intact birds the
      fecal pentosan digestibility coefficient was 0.216 in birds fed the control diet
      and 0.646 in those fed the diet with wheat pentosans; in cecectomized chickens
      the corresponding values were 0.193 and 0.399, indicating a significant influence
      of the hindgut microflora on pentosan digestion. The ileal and fecal
      digestibilities of fatty acids were also determined. There was no interaction
      between bird type and pentosan addition in the ileal digestibilities of fatty
      acids. Depressions in the fecal digestibilities of fatty acids 14:0 and 18:0 were
      significantly (P < 0.05) greater in intact birds. Our results indicate that anti
      nutritive effects of wheat pentosans in poultry are partially due to an increased
      activity of hindgut microflora.

PMID- 1453231
TI  - Reduction of phytic acid in soybean products improves zinc bioavailability in
      rats.
AB  - The inhibitory effect of phytic acid in soybean products on zinc bioavailability
      was evaluated in two experiments in rats. In Experiment 1, soybean flours
      containing different natural phytic acid levels produced by sand culture
      techniques that limited phosphorus during growth of the soybean plants were
      formulated into diets. The rats fed a higher phytic acid level diet had lower
      food intake, depressed weight gain, and lower tibia zinc gain (P < 0.05). A
      negative, linear relationship between tibia zinc gain and dietary phytic acid
      level was found. In Experiment 2, two commercially produced soybean isolates
      containing either normal phytic acid level or a reduced level were formulated
      into diets. Slope ratio analysis revealed that relative zinc bioavailability from
      phytic acid-containing soybean isolate-based diets was significantly reduced (P <
      0.05) compared with control diets. Reduced phytic acid soybean isolate-containing
      diets resulted in a significant increase of zinc bioavailability compared with
      normal phytic acid diets (P < 0.01). These results coupled with other reports
      indicate that phytic acid is the primary inhibitory factor in soybean products
      that results in reduced zinc bioavailability and that phytate reduction in
      soybean protein increases zinc bioavailability.

PMID- 1453232
TI  - Estimation of the dietary riboflavin required to maximize tissue riboflavin
      concentration in juvenile shrimp (Penaeus monodon).
AB  - The riboflavin requirements of marine shrimp (Penaeus monodon) were evaluated in
      a 15-wk feeding trial. Juvenile shrimp (initial mean weight, 0.13 +/- 0.05 g)
      were fed purified diets containing seven levels (0, 8, 12, 16, 20, 40 and 80
      mg/kg diet) of supplemental riboflavin. There were no significant differences in
      weight gains, feed efficiency ratios and survival of shrimp over the dietary
      riboflavin range. The riboflavin concentrations in shrimp bodies increased with
      the increasing vitamin supplementation. Hemolymph (blood) glutathione reductase
      activity coefficient was not a sensitive and specific indicator of riboflavin
      status of the shrimp. The dietary riboflavin level required for P. monodon was
      found to be 22.3 mg/kg diet, based on the broken-line model analysis of body
      riboflavin concentrations. Shrimp fed unsupplemented diet (riboflavin
      concentration of 0.48 mg/kg diet) for 15 wk showed signs of deficiency: light
      coloration, irritability, protuberant cuticle at intersomites and short-head
      dwarfism.

PMID- 1453233
TI  - Absorption and metabolism of pyridoxamine in mice. II. Transformation of
      pyridoxamine to pyridoxal in intestinal tissues.
AB  - The absorption of pyridoxamine from the intestine of the mouse was studied in
      whole animals. [3H]Pyridoxamine was orally administered and the distribution of
      isotope between the six recognized forms of vitamin B6 was determined in portal
      blood after the administration. When small doses (1.4 or 14 nmol) were
      administered, labeled pyridoxamine could hardly be found in the portal blood,
      although labeled pyridoxal and pyridoxal phosphate were found in the same blood.
      However, when a large amount (46 or 140 nmol) was given, a significant amount of
      labeled pyridoxamine was found with labeled pyridoxal and pyridoxal phosphate in
      the portal blood. These results suggest that a physiological dose of pyridoxamine
      is rapidly transformed to pyridoxal in the intestinal tissues and then released
      in the form of pyridoxal into the portal blood.

PMID- 1453234
TI  - Vitamin C activity of 2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid in guinea pigs.
AB  - The vitamin C activity of 2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid (AA-2G),
      which is one of chemically stable derivatives of L-ascorbic acid (AsA), in guinea
      pigs was investigated. Male guinea pigs were divided into 9 groups and fed AsA
      deficient diet for 24 days with the following supplement: AA-2G- or AsA
      supplemented groups were orally supplemented with 0.96, 1.92, 9.6 and 192 AA-2G
      mg/animal/day or equimolar amounts of AsA (0.5, 1, 5 and 100 mg/animal/day,
      respectively); AsA-deficient group received neither of them. The body weight
      gain, serum alkaline phosphatase activity, and the concentration of AsA and AA-2G
      in the liver, adrenals and urine of the guinea pigs were measured at the end of
      the experimental period. The AA-2G-supplemented guinea pigs showed similar body
      weight gain to the animals supplemented with equimolar amount of AsA. Serum
      alkaline phosphatase activity in both AA-2G- and AsA-supplemented groups was
      significantly higher than that of AsA-deficient group. But there was no
      significant difference between the groups supplemented with AA-2G and the
      equimolar amount of AsA. AA-2G-supplemented guinea pigs showed no apparent
      symptoms of scurvy. In AA-2G-supplemented groups, AA-2G was not detected in the
      liver, adrenals and urine, but AsA was found and the AsA concentration increased
      with increasing AA-2G dosage. The AsA concentration in the tissues of each AA-2G
      supplemented groups was higher than that of AsA-deficient group, which was
      similar to that of the groups supplemented with equimolar amount of AsA. These
      results showed that AA-2G has the same vitamin C activity as AsA on a molar basis
      for the orally supplemented guinea pigs.

PMID- 1453235
TI  - Comparative effect of casein and soybean protein isolate on body fat accumulation
      in adult rats.
AB  - The effect of dietary protein on the body fat accumulation was studied in rats.
      Adult rats weighing about 300 g were fed 21% protein (casein or soybean protein
      isolate) and 5% oil diets by pair-feeding for 65 days in Experiment 1. In
      Experiment 2, only protein and oil contents were changed, 25 and 10%,
      respectively. Final body weights of the two dietary groups were similar in both
      experiments, especially in Experiment 2. Total body fat was slightly lower in the
      soybean protein diet group than in the casein diet group in Experiment 2, only
      when it was expressed as the percentage against body weight. However, intra
      abdominal fat was significantly lower in the soybean protein diet groups than in
      the casein diet groups in both experiments. Serum lipid levels were greatly lower
      in the soybean protein diet group than in the casein diet group in Experiment 2
      (the data were not available in Experiment 1). The results suggest that dietary
      soybean protein has the effect to lower the intra-abdominal fat accumulation as
      compared with casein.

PMID- 1453236
TI  - Effects of dexamethasone on experimental atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed
      rabbits.
AB  - We studied the effects of a synthetic adrenocortical steroid, dexamethasone, on
      the development of experimental atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits. Daily
      intramuscular injection of dexamethasone (0.125 mg/day) remarkably inhibited the
      aortic atherosclerosis induced by feeding a 1% cholesterol-rich diet for 8 weeks,
      although it aggravated diet-induced hyperlipidemia. Histologically, less foam
      cell accumulation was observed in the atherosclerotic lesions of the
      dexamethasone-treated rabbits as compared with the control animals. When rabbits
      were fed a normal chow diet for 10 weeks after receiving the 1% cholesterol-rich
      diet for 8 weeks, no regression of atherosclerotic lesions was observed with the
      daily injection of dexamethasone (0.125 mg/day); however, the drug again tended
      to inhibit further progression of atherosclerosis. The anti-atherogenic mechanism
      of dexamethasone may involve an inhibition of recruitment of blood monocytes and
      the insudation of atherogenic lipoproteins, mainly beta-very low density
      lipoprotein (beta-VLDL) in the present experiments, into the aortic intima, or it
      may involve a change in the size and structure of the lipoproteins, resulting in
      their decreased passage through the aortic endothelium into the intima.

PMID- 1453237
TI  - Diurnal variation and increase of disaccharidase activity in diabetic rats.
AB  - The small intestinal disaccharidase activity and its daily variation in the
      diabetic rat have not been well described. Therefore, the small intestinal
      disaccharidase (maltase, lactase and sucrase) activity and its daily profile were
      studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats under physiological conditions.
      In diabetic rats, a similar pattern of diurnal variation of disaccharidase
      activity to control rats was observed, while the relationships between daily
      change of disaccharidase activity and that of food consumption suggested that
      there was a different mechanism of diurnal variation in diabetic rats. On the
      other hand, a significant increase of mean 24-h lactase and sucrase activities
      was noted in diabetic rats, while that of maltase was not significant. Using the
      in vitro incubation method, a significant correlation between glucose
      concentration and lactase or sucrase activity but not maltase activity was
      observed. However, insulin showed no effect on disaccharidase activity. Thus we
      clarified the presence of a diurnal variation of disaccharidase activity and an
      increase in its activity in diabetic rats. This change was suggested to be
      derived from high plasma glucose level.

PMID- 1453238
TI  - Effect of maltitol intake on intestinal calcium absorption in the rat.
AB  - To examine whether sugar alcohol affects intestinal calcium absorption, 5-week
      old male Wistar rats were fed a basal diet (66% starch) or the diets containing
      either 10% maltitol, 10% sorbitol or 10% lactose. At 2 and 6 weeks after the
      start of feeding, the animals were subjected to 5-day-period calcium balance
      study. Feeding maltitol diets as well as sorbitol diet led to a significantly
      elevated intestinal calcium absorption and calcium retention. Lactose diet did
      not produce an increased intestinal calcium absorption in the condition used in
      the present study. To explore whether maltitol can exert its effect in a short
      period of time, the rats were starved for 16h and were fed by a polyethylene tube
      the diet containing 0.44% calcium together with either 10% maltitol or 10%
      glucose. The total calcium remaining in the gastrointestinal tract at 6h after
      feeding was significantly decreased in the rats given maltitol diet as compared
      to the rats given glucose diet. When 10 microCi of 45CaCl2 was given orally with
      the diets containing maltitol or glucose, the amount of 45Ca remaining in the
      gastrointestinal tract at 6h after its administration was smaller in the rats fed
      maltitol diet than in the rats fed glucose diet. These results suggest that both
      di- and monosaccharide alcohols might affect intestinal epithelium, resulting in
      an enhanced intestinal calcium absorption.

PMID- 1453239
TI  - Qualitative and quantitative estimation of soluble indigestible polysaccharides
      as substrate for hindgut fermentation by mini-scale batch culture.
AB  - Pectin, guar gum, transgalactosylated oligosaccharide and glucose were estimated
      as substrate for hindgut fermentation by measuring the volume of gas released
      from a 1 ml scale batch culture using rat cecal contents. The amount of short
      chain fatty acids (SCFA) in cultures of glucose and pectin was also measured. The
      amount of SCFA (Y mumol/culture) or volume of gas released (Y ml/culture) was
      expressed as an exponential function of incubation time (t) (Y = A+B x (1-e-kt);
      A, B and k are constants). The amount of potential production of gas and SCFA (B)
      for glucose was higher than that for pectin and the rate constant of gas and SCFA
      (k) for pectin was higher than that for glucose. The volume of gas released
      (ml/culture) correlated positively and linearly with the amount of total SCFA
      (acetic, propionic and n-butyric acids, mumol/culture). A single regression stood
      for both glucose and pectin. The gas release followed saturation kinetics. The
      half maximal concentration and maximal velocity for gas release from pectin were
      higher than those from other substrates (glucose, guar gum and
      transgalactosylated oligosaccharide).

PMID- 1453240
TI  - Detection of injury-prone behaviors among internal medicine patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: 1) To describe the prevalence of eight injury-prone behaviors (IPBs)
      and the associations of these behaviors with ten standard chronic disease and
      sociodemographic risk factors (CDSRFs) among internal medicine patients and 2) to
      identify a subset of patients with multiple IPBs who might be at particularly
      high risk of injury. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: The University of
      Colorado Health Sciences Center general internal medicine clinic. PATIENTS: Four
      hundred ninety-two consecutive continuity care patients were eligible. The
      response rate was 94.3% (464/492). INSTRUMENT: A validated, self-administered
      questionnaire. MAIN RESULTS: Thirty-four percent of patients did not wear safety
      belts regularly and 32% had no smoke detector in their homes. Nearly 26% of
      patients had firearms at home and 6% had a loaded and unlocked gun at home.
      Fourteen percent of patients had seriously thought about suicide and 6% had
      attempted suicide. In the prior month, 10% had ridden with a drunk driver, and 4%
      had driven after drinking too much. Of patients aged 65 years or older, 50% had
      had recent falls. After adjustment for other CDSRFs, problem drinking was the
      CDSRF most frequently associated with IPBs. Among men, problem drinking was
      significantly associated with drinking and driving (OR = 35.3), safety belt non
      use (OR = 4.3), and previous thoughts of or attempts at suicide (OR = 6.2). Among
      women, problem drinking was significantly associated with drinking and driving
      (OR = 8.7). Among men, being unmarried was the demographic risk factor associated
      with the most IPBs. Of all IPBs, safety belt non-use was most frequently
      associated with CDSRFs (ORs ranged from 2.8 to 4.4). Men with three or more IPBs
      were more likely to be problem drinkers (OR = 9.6), smokers (OR = 15.8), obese
      (OR = 6.3), and unmarried (OR = 67.1). CONCLUSIONS: 1) Injury-prone behaviors are
      common among patients attending a university-based internal medicine clinic; 2)
      men and women have substantially different patterns of risk factor associations;
      3) CDSRFs, such as problem drinking smoking, and being unmarried, are associated
      with many IPBs; 4) safety belt non-use is the IPB associated with the most
      CDSRFs; and 5) CDSRFs appear to cluster in men with multiple IPBs, suggesting
      that screening for high-risk individuals may be feasible in clinical practice.

PMID- 1453241
TI  - Driving and Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the driving status of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients
      presenting to a geriatric clinic, and to investigate the ability of brief
      cognitive assessment measures to identify those who are no longer able to
      continue driving safely. DESIGN: Based on caregivers' reports of driving status,
      AD patients were divided into three groups: those who were still driving with no
      difficulty, those still driving but having difficulty, and those who had stopped
      driving due to their cognitive problems. Scores on commonly used cognitive tests
      were compared across groups. Age, gender, and duration of dementia were also
      investigated. SETTING: The University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC)
      outpatient Geriatric and Family Services Clinic. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred
      consecutive patients who met DSM-III-R criteria for primary degenerative dementia
      and were either currently driving or had stopped driving due to cognitive
      deficits. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-two subjects were reportedly still
      driving with no difficulty, 23 were still driving with difficulty, and 55 were no
      longer driving. Both mental status screening and functional assessments were
      significantly different between drivers and nondrivers, as were scores on a
      visual-spatial task. In addition, gender and age distinguished the groups:
      younger drivers and men drivers were less likely to stop driving despite
      significant cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Given the large number of AD
      patients who continue to drive and who experience problems with driving, this
      investigation highlights the need for assessment of driving safety as part of a
      clinical dementia evaluation. In addition, the results suggest a combination of
      cognitive and functional measures that may be helpful in identifying patients who
      are at greatest risk for unsafe driving.

PMID- 1453242
TI  - Long-term success with the national health objective for influenza vaccination:
      an institution-wide model.
AB  - PURPOSE: To assess the long-term effectiveness of an influenza vaccination
      program. SETTING: 725-bed university-affiliated VA teaching hospital providing
      care to over 35,000 outpatients. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: 500 randomly selected
      outpatients were surveyed following each immunization season using a validated,
      self-administered, postcard questionnaire. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The institution
      wide program, designed to function automatically and to be independent of
      physician initiative, emphasizes organizational and patient-oriented educational
      strategies: 1) a hospital policy allowing nurses to vaccinate without a
      physician's order; 2) a walk-in flu shot clinic; 3) reminders on clinic progress
      notes; and 4) an educational mailing to all outpatients. The program was
      initiated in 1987 and has been maintained for each subsequent immunization
      season. RESULTS: The response rate was over 75% for each of the four years in
      which there were two mailings. The response rate for 1988-1989, in which there
      were three mailings, was over 85%. Approximately 70% of the respondents were at
      high risk for influenza and its complications. Vaccination rates for these high
      risk outpatients have been sustained at over 58% for each immunization season.
      The program is well received by the hospital staff and now functions on autopilot
      each year. CONCLUSION: This highly successful institution-wide influenza
      vaccination program can be sustained long-term. Elements of this program may help
      others take advantage of opportunities for influenza prevention.

PMID- 1453243
TI  - Demographic differences in health status of homeless adults.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine how the physical health of homeless adults varies by the
      demographic characteristics of age, gender, ethnicity, lifetime length of
      homelessness, and work status. PARTICIPANTS: A community-based sample of 529
      homeless adults. STUDY DESIGN: In multivariate analyses, the authors studied the
      independent contributions of five demographic groups to variations in 12 physical
      health measures (based on self-reports from face-to-face interviews, screening
      physical examinations, and venous blood samples). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:
      Older persons were more likely to have a functional disability (p < 0.001),
      chronic disease (p < 0.001), and greater risk of dying (p < 0.001), but less
      likely to abuse substances (p < 0.001). Men were more likely than women to be
      substance users (p < 0.001) and to have a greater risk of dying (p < 0.001).
      Whites and blacks were less likely than respondents in other ethnic groups to
      have an abnormal blood test (p < 0.001). Persons homeless longer were more likely
      to be substance users (p < 0.001) and to have experienced trauma (p < 0.001).
      Working for pay was not related to any of our health measures. CONCLUSIONS: Age
      and gender contributed most to the understanding of differences in health status
      among homeless adults. Since the homeless have a wide variety of physical,
      mental, social, and substance-abuse problems, primary care providers are in the
      best position to provide the broad-based care needed by such persons.

PMID- 1453244
TI  - Patient characteristics related to intensity of weight reduction care in a
      university medical clinic.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify patient characteristics related to intensity of weight
      reduction care provided in a primary care practice. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study
      linking data from a patient survey and data from medical records. SETTING:
      Internal medicine housestaff clinic in an urban university hospital.
      PARTICIPANTS: 321 outpatients who represented a systematic sample of all
      outpatients who had visited the clinic over one year. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN
      RESULTS: The patient population was largely black (86%) and female (65%). Most
      patients (54%) were overweight [body-mass index (BMI) > 85th percentile for the
      United States by gender]. Intensity of care was defined by a composite scale:
      points were awarded for actions documented in the medical chart or recalled by
      the patient. Factors independently associated with a higher intensity of care
      among the 161 overweight patients were: BMI [odds ratio (OR) = 1.13 per kg/m2;
      95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.04, 122; p = 0.002], the patient's self
      perception of being overweight (OR = 5.37; 95% CI = 1.99, 14.46; p = 0.001), and
      age of 64 years or younger (OR = 2.48; 95% CI = 1.12, 5.48; p = 0.02). Race,
      gender, and presence of hypertension or hypercholesterolemia were not associated
      with greater intensity of care. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with hypertension and
      hypercholesterolemia may be receiving suboptimal weight reduction care.
      Heightened awareness of being overweight may enhance the provision of weight
      reduction care. Prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.

PMID- 1453245
TI  - Health behavior changes in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in health behaviors in the United States, the
      United Kingdom, and France over the previous two years. DESIGN: Cross-sectional
      survey of nationally representative samples. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Surveys
      conducted between June and November 1988 on persons aged 16 to 50 years in the
      United States (n = 1,940), the United Kingdom (n = 1,833), and France (n = 2,294)
      regarding health behaviors, attitudes toward health, and changes in health
      practices during the previous two years. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Using
      Bonferroni's adjustment for multiple comparisons, residents of the United States
      had significantly (p < 0.05) higher Quetelet indices and reported higher egg and
      red meat consumption, but had lower alcohol consumption, than did residents of
      either the United Kingdom or France. Americans were also significantly more
      likely to report attitudes accepting personal responsibility for their health and
      much more often endorsed the role of health behaviors (e.g., exercise) for
      decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Changes in health behavior over
      two years were consistently more likely in the United States for weight loss,
      decreased alcohol consumption, decreased red meat and egg consumption, and
      increased exercise. Americans were also much more likely to have changed at least
      three health behaviors in the previous two years (United States 41.5%, United
      Kingdom 25.5%, France 13.8%, p < 0.002). A multivariate linear model confirmed
      the high likelihood of health behavior changes in the United States compared with
      the United Kingdom or France. CONCLUSIONS: The findings confirm that changes in
      health behaviors are continuing to occur in the United States, but remain
      comparatively modest in the United Kingdom and France. These international
      variations in health behaviors parallel differential declines in mortality rates
      in ischemic heart disease.

PMID- 1453246
TI  - The unit of analysis error in studies about physicians' patient care behavior.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To estimate the frequency with which patients are incorrectly used as
      the unit of analysis among statistical calculations in published studies of
      physicians' patient care behavior. DESIGN: Retrospective review of studies
      published during 1980-1990. ARTICLES: 54 articles retrieved by a computerized
      search using medical subject headings for physicians and study characteristics.
      Article selection criteria included the requirement that the physician should
      have been the correct unit of analysis. INTERVENTION: Presence of the error was
      determined by consensus using published criteria. MAIN RESULTS: The error was
      present in 38 articles (70%). The number of study physicians was reported in 35
      articles (65%). The error was found in 57% of articles that reported the number
      of study physicians and in 95% of those that did not. The error rate was not
      lower among articles published more recently nor among those published in
      journals with higher rates of article citations in the medical literature.
      CONCLUSION: The unit of analysis error occurs frequently and can generate
      artificially low p values. Failure to report the number of study physicians can
      be a clue that this type of error has been made.

PMID- 1453247
TI  - What's preventing more prevention? Barriers to development at academic medical
      centers.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the views of leaders in academic medicine concerning the
      need for programs in preventive medicine (PM) and the prevailing barriers to
      program development. DESIGN: Structured interviews. SETTING: Medical schools of
      the United States. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: 90% of deans and chairpersons of
      departments of medicine and preventive medicine. INTERVENTIONS: None.
      MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: 91% considered academic PM underdeveloped and 100%
      considered their own programs average or worse. Identified barriers to
      development included funding constraints, academic partiality to biomedicine,
      inadequate quality of preventive medicine research and faculty, public
      preferences for technologic care, and organization of academic medical centers
      (AMCs). While 80% perceived a shortage of able PM faculty and 60% considered PM
      research quality to be inadequate, only 12% of PM units gave research training
      high priority. While 95% of respondents held that AMCs should develop community
      programs and 75% identified social problems as a cause of chronic diseases, 65%
      agreed that community programs are not considered scholarly. Only 23% of PM units
      gave community service high priority. CONCLUSIONS: A policy contradiction exists:
      academic leadership agreed on the problems and needed changes in PM, yet the
      problems were often attributed to nonacademic sources, particularly finding and
      public preferences, and current academic practices commonly fail to address
      recognized developmental barriers within academic institutions. A chain of
      barriers is apparent. Breaking the chain may require a change in our
      understanding of the role of prevention.

PMID- 1453248
TI  - Internal medicine training in ambulatory gynecology.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess internists' perceptions of their training in the management
      of common problems in ambulatory gynecology and to compare these perceptions with
      their clinical practice experiences. METHODS: We surveyed 325 internists in the
      Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area about their residency training and practice
      experiences in the diagnosis and management of 25 clinical problems in ambulatory
      gynecology and five nongynecologic problems. RESULTS: Responses were received
      from 159 internists (48.5%). Overall, the internists reported relatively little
      residency training in the management of many common gynecologic disorders. Women
      internists managed gynecologic problems more than did their male counterparts,
      independent of the number of women patients in their practices. CONCLUSIONS:
      Internal medicine residency programs need to expand training in ambulatory
      gynecology to better prepare graduates for clinical practice.

PMID- 1453249
TI  - Indeterminate HIV-1 western blots: implications and considerations for widespread
      HIV testing.

PMID- 1453250
TI  - An observational study of attending rounds.
AB  - The authors conducted an observational study of attending rounds to determine the
      current status of this form of clinical teaching in a university-based internal
      medicine department. Using two forms of measurement, questionnaires and timed
      observations, we found that 63% of attending physician time was spent in the
      conference room, 26% in hallways, and only 11% at the bedside. Significant
      differences were found between estimated and actual times, particularly in
      discussing previously admitted patients, patient interactions, data reviews,
      topic presentations, and the category of "other" activities. These results
      provide a framework for appraising attending rounds and identifying areas that
      may be improved with a teaching workshop intervention.

PMID- 1453251
TI  - Halitosis, or the meaning of bad breath.

PMID- 1453253
TI  - Internal medicine training and women's health: politics and Pap tests.

PMID- 1453252
TI  - Physicians and AIDS: sexual risk assessment of patients and willingness to treat
      HIV-infected patients.

PMID- 1453254
TI  - Coping with government regulations.

PMID- 1453255
TI  - Sex differences in signs and symptoms from masticatory and other muscles in 19
      year-old individuals.
AB  - Pain and tenderness of masticatory muscles are often related to muscle tenderness
      elsewhere in the body. It has been shown that women are more prone to
      musculoskeletal disorders than men. We sought to determine whether sex
      differences of muscular symptoms were established by the age of 19. The subjects
      comprised 51 boys and girls who received a questionnaire regarding the function
      of their masticatory system, frequency of headache, and neck, shoulder and low
      back pain. Their masticatory system was examined, and neck and shoulders were
      palpated. For all variables in the questionnaire girls reported symptoms more
      often than the boys. Of the subjects 50% had tender chewing muscles upon
      palpation. Again the girls had the most. There was good correlation between
      reports of pain in one area as compared to others. The number of clinically
      tender neck and shoulder muscles correlated with the number of tender masticatory
      muscles. It was concluded that girls presented more muscular symptoms than boys.

PMID- 1453256
TI  - Complete mandibular denture stability when posterior teeth are placed over a
      basal tissue incline.
AB  - Six patients with previous denture experience were provided with new dentures.
      Metal indicators were placed on either side of the mandibular denture and a
      cobalt-chromium alloy marker was inserted in the left bucco-posterior area of the
      mandible in each case. In the new dentures posterior teeth were positioned up to
      the retro-molar pad, over the basal tissue slope of the posterior mandibular
      alveolar ridge. After habituation had taken place, a cineradiographic recording
      was made of chewing. Prior to the second recording the mandibular teeth were
      removed to a point where the remaining teeth were not over inclined residual
      alveolar ridges. Denture movement was observed by measuring the distances between
      the markers on an analytical projector. The results show a significant difference
      between the cranial values of the two chewing experiences. Values for all denture
      movements were less after removal of the teeth over an incline. These results
      support the clinical observation that teeth placed over a basal tissue incline
      have a destabilizing effect during complete mandibular denture function.

PMID- 1453257
TI  - Discrimination of clenches at varied jaw positions using autoregressive model
      coefficients of myoelectrical activities of anterior temporal and masseter
      muscles.
AB  - During 10% maximum clenching at intercuspal, protruded, retruded contact and
      lateral positions, the surface electromyograms (EMG) of bilateral anterior
      temporal and masseter muscles of 20 normal subjects with intact natural
      dentitions were recorded. The autoregressive (AR) model of the sampled EMG was
      then built and the obtained coefficients of the AR model were accepted as
      featured parameters of the EMG. Finally Bayes' stepwise discriminant analysis was
      used for establishing discriminant functions of estimating low level clenches at
      varied jaw positions. It was found that total conformation rates of internal and
      external sample substitution (15 and 5 subjects) were 82.67% and 78%
      respectively; the discriminant effect between intercuspal and retruded contact
      position was not up to predicted standard. The results indicate that AR model
      coefficients may describe the characteristics of surface EMG of masticatory
      muscles and easily be used in multiple statistical analysis, from which the
      classification and diagnosis may be taken.

PMID- 1453258
TI  - Microleakage of indirect inlays placed on different kinds of glass ionomer cement
      linings.
AB  - The objective of this study is to compare the marginal seal of Class II cavities
      restored with indirect inlays constructed on glass ionomer cement linings having
      different curing properties. Also the effect of acid-etching of these liners on
      microleakage was investigated. Mesio-occlusal and disto-occlusal cavities in 80
      extracted human molars having the cervical floor below the cementoenamel junction
      were prepared (n:160). Half of the preparations were restored with Ceramco II
      porcelain and the rest with SR-Isosit resin inlay material. Liners as light
      curing Ionoseal light+chemically curing LCL 8 and Zionomer and chemically curing
      Ketac-Bond glass ionomer cements (GICs) were used. On mesial preparations GICs
      were acid-etched but were not on distal preparations. All inlays were cemented
      with Ultrabond composite material. After thermocycling the teeth were placed in a
      basic fuchsin dye solution for 24 h, then each tooth was sectioned. By using a
      stereomicroscope the extent of marginal leakage was scored and statistically
      evaluated. Microleakage was observed beneath all GIC linings and was more
      extensive between light curing GIC/dentine interface. By acid-etching of GICs the
      microleakage between GIC/dentine interface was increased significantly. Whether
      acid-etching was applied or not a significantly increased microleakage was
      recorded between chemically curing GIC/composite interfaces. Although the
      marginal microleakage was witnessed in both inlays, it appeared that porcelain
      inlays provided a better marginal seal, in comparison to SR-Isosit inlays.

PMID- 1453259
TI  - Physics and the sounds produced by the temporomandibular joints. Part I.
AB  - In clinical dentistry, the sounds (clicking) and noises (grating) produced by the
      temporomandibular joints (TMJ) usually signify dysfunction or disease of the
      mandibular locomotor system. In an attempt to provide guidance to the general
      practitioner, this article discusses some pertinent parameters defining the
      physics of airborne and solid-borne vibrations.

PMID- 1453260
TI  - Maximum jaw opening capacity in adolescents in relation to general joint
      mobility.
AB  - Mandibular jaw opening was related with general joint mobility in a non-patient
      adolescent group. The angular rotation of the mandible at maximum jaw opening was
      slightly larger in females than in males and significantly larger in hypermobile
      individuals. No significant relationship between linear measuring of maximal
      mandibular opening capacity and peripheral joint mobility was found either at
      active (AROM) or at passive range of mandibular opening (PROM). PROM was strongly
      correlated to the mandibular length. Clinical signs in the great jaw closer
      muscles could not be associated to decreased AROM. The mean value of the
      difference between PROM-AROM (DPA) was 1.2 mm. Frequent clenching and/or grinding
      was correlated to increased DPA only in hypermobile adolescents (r = 0.49***).
      Those with DPA exceeding 5mm had all reciprocal clicking.

PMID- 1453261
TI  - Electromyographic parameters related to clenching level and jaw-jerk reflex in
      patients with a simple type of myogenous cranio-mandibular disorder.
AB  - A discriminant analysis has been applied on several electromyographic (EMG)
      parameters of the masseter and the anterior temporal muscles, related to
      clenching and the jaw-jerk reflex, to characterize jaw muscle function of
      patients with craniomandibular disorder (CMD) with respect to controls. The
      subject samples, matched for age, consisted of 20 females with myogenous CMD, and
      20 symptom-free females. The jaw-jerk reflex was elicited by a downward-directed
      mandibular load, transmitted by a bite-fork causing a similar occlusion and bite
      rise as a splint. The patients differed mainly from the controls by smaller
      maximum EMG activity in both muscle groups (P less than 0.05 with the bite-fork
      inserted). This finding was related to a smaller muscle strength as the EMG level
      did not improve with pain-free jaw muscles after therapy using a relaxation
      splint. Discriminating factors of secondary importance were an enhanced bilateral
      asymmetry in the muscle activity of the patients, and in the reflex amplitude
      normalized for background EMG activity. In all subject samples, the activity of
      the anterior temporal muscles decreased with respect to the masseter muscles when
      the bite-fork was inserted (P less than 0.05-0.001). The therapeutic effect of a
      relaxation splint may, in part, be related to a relief of the temporal muscles.

PMID- 1453262
TI  - Shrinkage of tissue conditioners with time--effect of the particle size in powder
      and the EtOH content in liquid.
AB  - The dimensional change of tissue conditioners with time was measured until 4
      weeks after mixing. Shrinkage of the materials was evaluated in relation to
      particle size in powder and the EtOH content in liquid. The dissolution of EtOH
      and plasticizer were also measured to investigate the relation to dimensional
      change. Shrinkage with time was recorded. The smaller the particle size in powder
      and the more EtOH in liquid, the greater the shrinkage rate. The smaller the
      particle size in the powder and the more EtOH contained in the liquid, the
      greater the dissolution of EtOH. The dissolution of BPBG was below 1/100
      comparing that of EtOH and no difference was recognized by particle size and EtOH
      content. On the basis of these results it is suggested that the dissolution of
      EtOH is related to shrinkage of tissue conditioners with time and that the
      component particle size in the powder and EtOH content in the liquid have a
      significant influence on dissolution of EtOH associated with shrinkage.

PMID- 1453263
TI  - Relationship between autoregressive model coefficients of EMG and its potentials
      of jaw closing muscles at rest position and clenching.
AB  - At rest position and varied clenching levels at intercuspal position,
      autoregressive (AR) models of myoelectrical activities of both masseter and
      anterior temporal muscles of 11 healthy subjects with intact natural dentitions
      were established. The relationship between the AR model coefficients of surface
      EMGs and their potentials was analyzed by multiple linear regression. It was
      found that the fourth order coefficient of AR had the greatest effect on the EMG
      potential levels and their relationship was positive in all recorded muscles. The
      results indicate the AR coefficients may become a characteristic parameter to
      describe myoelectrical activity of jaw closing muscles.

PMID- 1453264
TI  - Effect of mechanical pressure on the blood flow in human palatal mucosa measured
      by temperature controlled thermoelectrical method.
AB  - Mucosal blood flow in the human palate was measured by a temperature controlled
      thermoelectrical method based on the thermal conductivity of mucosal tissue using
      a blood flow monitor and a non-invasive surface probe. The effect of mechanical
      pressure on the palatal mucosal tissue was studied. Mechanical pressure (2.5,
      5.0, 7.5, 10.0 or 15.0 g mm-2) to the mucosal surface was exerted
      circumferentially around the surface probe. In five out of seven subjects, the
      blood flow showed a tendency to be almost constant under the mechanical pressures
      which are 10.0 g mm-2 or higher. The effect of the duration of the pressure (10.0
      g mm-2) exertion on the blood flow was also investigated and it was revealed that
      the blood flow tended to be constant after 60s in every subject. In the present
      study, it was also demonstrated that the temperature controlled thermoelectrical
      method is appropriate for studying the blood flow dynamics in oral mucosa.

PMID- 1453265
TI  - A new guide for positioning of maxillary posterior denture teeth.
AB  - There is no definitive method for the arrangement of artificial teeth in complete
      denture construction. A new method is introduced whereby the maxillary posterior
      teeth have been set in approximate positions mediolaterally similar to their
      natural predecessors. The procedure is based on a constant relationship derived
      from the natural dentition. Its clinical application proved to be suitable for
      the arrangement of artificial teeth for complete dentures with minimal errors.

PMID- 1453266
TI  - Observation of proportionality of myoelectrical activity of anterior temporalis
      to masseter muscle during clenching at varied jaw positions.
AB  - Twelve healthy subjects with an intact permanent dentition and normal occlusion
      were selected for sampling of myoelectrical activity of their left and right
      anterior temporal and masseter muscles during habitual clenching level in varied
      positions. The proportionality of normalized myoelectrical potentials of anterior
      temporal muscle to masseter muscle at ICP and RCP was greater than one, while the
      proportionality at PP was less than one. In the lateral position, the
      proportionality on the working side was approximately equal to that at RCP, while
      the proportionality on the non-working side was similar to that at PP. These
      results suggest that temporal muscle contraction can bring the mandible upward
      and backward whilst the masseter muscle can elevate the mandible upward and
      forward.

PMID- 1453267
TI  - Retinoblastoma and p53 gene expression related to relapse and survival in human
      breast cancer: an immunohistochemical study.
AB  - Inactivation of tumour suppressor genes may be an important aetiological factor
      in many human cancers including breast. In a study of 197 breast cancer patients,
      tumour tissue was snap-frozen at the time of surgery and immunohistochemical
      labelling for p53 protein and retinoblastoma (Rb) gene product carried out using
      an indirect immunohistochemical technique. Tumours were scored by two independent
      observers for the intensity of nuclear staining for each antibody. Expression of
      p53 protein showed a significant association with a shorter time to relapse (P =
      0.03) and death (P = 0.02) (log rank test). p53 expression did not correlate with
      nodal status but showed a significant association with high tumour grade (P =
      0.001). Rb gene expression showed no relationship to relapse or survival but loss
      of expression showed a significant correlation with positive lymph node status.
      The manner by which these proteins might act to determine tumour behaviour
      remains to be established.

PMID- 1453268
TI  - Inhibin (10.7 kD prostatic peptide) in normal, hyperplastic, and malignant human
      endometria: an immunohistochemical study.
AB  - The expression of inhibin, a 10.7 kD follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
      suppressing prostatic peptide of 94 amino acids, was investigated in normal human
      endometrium, endometrial hyperplasia, and adenocarcinoma, employing the avidin
      biotin immunoperoxidase technique. The antiserum used was raised in rabbits
      against prostatic inhibin isolated from human seminal plasma. The study included
      15 well differentiated, 32 moderately differentiated, and 21 poorly
      differentiated endometrial adenocarcinomas; 26 simple, five complex, and two
      complex atypical endometrial hyperplasias; and, for comparison, 25 normal
      proliferative and 30 normal secretory endometria. In malignant and hyperplastic
      endometrial tissues, inhibin was localized in the epithelial cytoplasm of
      endometrial glands while the stroma showed weak reactivity. On the other hand,
      inhibin was undetectable in the early proliferative phase, but was present on the
      luminal border of the glandular epithelium in the mid- and late proliferative
      phases. Secretory endometrium displayed strong inhibin reactivity in the
      cytoplasm of glandular epithelium and in the stroma. The increased inhibin
      reactivity in secretory endometrium as compared with the proliferative phase is
      indicative of a functional role for inhibin in the uterus. In addition, its
      localization in proliferative, hyperplastic, and malignant endometria suggests a
      possible regulatory role for inhibin in endometrial proliferation and growth.

PMID- 1453269
TI  - Evaluation of PGP9.5 in the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease.
AB  - The ability of an acetylcholinesterase-stained frozen section to detect an
      increase in large cholinergic nerve fibres within the muscularis mucosae and
      extending into the lamina propria was a significant step forward in the diagnosis
      of Hirschsprung's disease (HD). However, such frozen section diagnosis is not
      always possible. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of PGP9.5 to
      detect this pattern of mucosal nerve fibre staining immunohistochemically. Sixty
      four specimens were included in the study. Twenty-six of these had been diagnosed
      as HD by conventional means. All cases were stained immunohistochemically with
      PGP9.5, S100, and anti-neurofilaments (NF). Twenty-four cases of HD were also
      stained with neurone-specific enolase (NSE). PGP9.5 reliably stained fibres in
      the mucosal and submucosal plexuses, and ganglion cells, when the latter were
      present. This positive staining of ganglion cells was more intense than that seen
      with NSE, and the positive fibre staining was more intense than that seen with
      NF. Increased lamina propria fibres were detected with PGP9.5 in only 37 per cent
      of HD cases compared with S100 positive staining in 60 per cent of cases.
      However, when S100 staining was assessed alone, it gave a higher false-negative
      rate in diagnosing HD than PGP9.5 used alone. Therefore we would recommend the
      use of PGP9.5 and S100 together for the immunohistochemical diagnosis of HD in
      formalin-fixed biopsies.

PMID- 1453270
TI  - The peritubular myofibroblasts in the testes from normal men and men with
      Klinefelter's syndrome. A quantitative, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical
      study.
AB  - The ultrastructure and immunostaining with antibodies against actin, desmin, and
      vimentin were studied in the peritubular myofibroblasts of testes from normal men
      and men with Klinefelter' syndrome (KS). The seminiferous tubules were classified
      into five types (a-e), related to the progressive degree of sclerosis measured as
      thickening of the lamina propria. In control testes, only types a and b tubules
      were present, whereas the testes from men with KS showed types b, c, d, and e
      tubules. The ultrastructural study revealed abundant microfilament bundles with
      electron-dense bodies in the cell periphery of the myofibroblasts in a and b
      tubules. In c tubules, the microfilament bundles of the myofibroblasts were
      lacking in electron-dense bodies. Myofibroblasts in tubules d and e showed scanty
      microfilament bundles. Immunostaining of peritubular myofibroblasts with anti
      actin antibodies was intense in tubule types a-c and scanty in types d and e.
      Immunostaining of myofibroblasts with anti-desmin antibodies was intense in
      tubule types a and b, and negative in types c-e. Immunostaining with anti
      vimentin antibodies was weak in tubule types a-c and intense in types d and e.
      Quantitative study revealed that with the progression of sclerosis, the number
      and volume per cross-sectioned tubule of actin-containing cells and, mainly,
      desmin-containing cells decrease while the number and volume of vimentin
      containing cells increase.

PMID- 1453271
TI  - Immunohistological detection of tumour growth fraction (Ki-67 antigen) in
      formalin-fixed and routinely processed tissues.

PMID- 1453272
TI  - The potential values of fractal dimension measurement in histopathology.

PMID- 1453273
TI  - Far-UV photochemistry and photosensitization of 2'-deoxycytidylyl-(3'-5')
      thymidine: isolation and characterization of the main photoproducts.
AB  - Far-UV irradiation of 2'-deoxycytidylyl-(3'-5')-thymidine (dCpT) gave rise to the
      pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone adduct and its Dewar valence isomer as the main
      photoproducts. The absolute configuration of the former adduct was determined and
      its photoisomerization studied. A comparison of the alkali lability of both
      compounds showed that hydrolysis of the phosphodiester bond occurs for the Dewar
      valence isomer but not for its (6-4) precursor. In addition, the trans-syn and
      cis-syn cyclobutane dimers of dCpT were obtained by acetophenone
      photosensitization and characterized. Finally, the deamination rate constants for
      this series of compounds were shown to be dramatically influenced by the nature
      and the configuration of the photoproducts.

PMID- 1453274
TI  - Laser photolysis of cytosine, cytidine and dCMP in aqueous solution.
AB  - Laser photolysis of cytosine and cytosine derivatives (cytidine and 2'
      deoxycytidine-5'-monophosphate) using acetone as a sensitizer have been carried
      out in aqueous solution using a KrF laser. The absorption spectra of triplet
      states of cytosine and cytosine derivatives have been observed for the first
      time. From detailed kinetic analyses, the reaction mechanisms including triplet
      triplet excitation transfer, and intramolecular excitation transfer within the
      exciplex arising from the interaction of triplet acetone with cytosine and
      cytosine derivatives, have been suggested. Accordingly, a series of kinetic
      parameters have also been obtained.

PMID- 1453275
TI  - Photoinduction of albino-3 gene expression in Neurospora crassa conidia.
AB  - The synthesis of carotenoids is induced by blue light in Neurospora crassa
      mycelia, while in conidia (the vegetative spores) the accumulation of carotenoids
      also occurs in the dark. The expression of the albino-3 (al-3) gene (coding for
      the carotenogenic enzyme geranyl-geranyl pyrophosphate synthetase) in isolated
      conidia was analysed. The level of al-3 mRNA was shown to be increased in light
      induced wild type (wt) conidia. This light response was elicited by blue light
      and was under the control of the white collar-1 (wc-1) and white collar-2 (wc-2)
      gene products. This indicates that the blue-light photoreceptor and the light
      transduction pathway which activate al-3 gene expression in mycelia are probably
      the same as in conidia.

PMID- 1453277
TI  - The Water Pressure Integrity Test--a new integrity test for hydrophobic membrane
      filters.
AB  - Sterilizing grade hydrophobic filters are used for the sterile filtration of
      gases in pharmaceutical and biological applications. Until now the integrity of
      these membrane filters and their ability to retain bacteria, has been correlated
      to a solvent based nondestructive integrity test. Current methods use solvents to
      wet the membranes in order to perform bubble point and diffusion integrity tests.
      Solvent based integrity tests make it difficult to test in situ following
      sterilization because of the risk of downstream solvent contamination. A newly
      developed method, the Water Pressure Integrity Test (WPIT), allows for the
      integrity testing of hydrophobic filters eliminating the problems associated with
      traditional test methods employing solvents. A prime advantage of WPIT is that it
      may be performed in situ post sterilization without any downstream manipulations.
      The test has been directly correlated to the retention of bacterial challenges.
      Data will be provided to show the reliability and sensitivity of this easy to
      perform test.

PMID- 1453276
TI  - Effects of photodynamic therapy with topical application of 5-aminolevulinic acid
      on normal skin of hairless guinea pigs.
AB  - Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a relatively new approach to the treatment of
      neoplasms which involves the use of photoactivatable compounds to selectively
      destroy tumors. 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is an endogenous substance which is
      converted to protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in the synthetic pathway to heme. PpIX is a
      very effective photosensitizer. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect
      of PDT using topical ALA on normal guinea pig (g.p.) skin and g.p. skin in which
      the stratum corneum was removed by being tape-stripped (TS). Evaluation consisted
      of gross examination, PpIX fluorescence detection, reflectance spectroscopy, and
      histology. There was no effect from the application of light or ALA alone. Normal
      non-TS g.p. skin treated with ALA and light was unaffected unless high light and
      ALA doses were used. Skin from which the stratum corneum was removed was highly
      sensitive to treatment with ALA and light: 24 h after treatment, the epidermis
      showed full thickness necrosis, followed by complete repair within 7 d. Time
      dependent fluorescence excitation and emission spectra were determined to
      characterize the chromophore and to demonstrate a build-up of the porphyrin in
      the skin. These data support the view that PDT with topical ALA is a promising
      approach for the treatment of epidermal cutaneous disorders.

PMID- 1453278
TI  - Microbiological validation of a new manufacturing complex for an injectable
      biological product.
AB  - The Raritan Biological Production Facility (RBPF) at Ortho Pharmaceutical
      Corporation, Raritan, NJ, is a unique facility designed and built exclusively for
      the production of a sterile, injectable biological product of murine monoclonal
      origin. This product is the first injectable monoclonal antibody product to be
      licensed by FDA's Center for Biologics-Evaluation and Research (CBER). Thus,
      Ortho's Biotechnology Division had a unique opportunity to work very closely with
      CBER throughout all aspects of facility design, construction and validation,
      including microbiological validation of the facility and its equipment. This
      paper will address how existing guidelines for pharmaceutical and sterile
      products were used to develop initial validation protocols for the different
      areas and applications within the facility, and how the data gathered were used,
      with the assistance of CBER, to develop operating specifications and monitoring
      programs, for the operations within the complex.

PMID- 1453279
TI  - Chemical stability of two sterile, parenteral formulations of cyclophosphamide
      (Endoxan) after reconstitution and dilution in commonly used infusion fluids.
AB  - The commercially available parenteral dosage forms of cyclophosphamide (Endoxan,
      Cycloblastine) are manufactured by an aseptic dry-filling technique and exhibit a
      slow dissolution rate. A novel dosage form has been developed by one of the
      manufacturers based on the technique of freeze drying. Dissolution rates of both
      types of formulations were determined and it was shown that the freeze-dried
      formulation dissolves more rapidly, within 20 seconds, while it takes at least
      three minutes to dissolve the dry-filled formulation. The chemical stabilities of
      the cyclophosphamide solutions, obtained after reconstitution and/or dilution of
      both formulations, have been investigated and tested as a function of drug
      concentration (20 and 1 mg/mL), solvent (water, 0.9% sodium chloride, 5%
      dextrose), container material (glass and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)), light
      conditions (normal room fluorescent light/dark) and temperature (4 degrees, 20-22
      degrees and 37 degrees C). The test solutions were analyzed by a stability
      indicating reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic method with
      ultraviolet detection at 214 nm. Cyclophosphamide solutions (solvent: water; drug
      concentration; 20 mg/mL) are stable when stored for seven days at 4 degrees C in
      the dark. At higher temperatures degradation occurred during the test period with
      10% loss after seven days at ambient temperature and 50% loss after seven days
      storage at 37 degrees C. Similar data were found in admixtures with 5% dextrose
      and 0.9% sodium chloride and initial drug concentration of 1 mg/mL. There are no
      significant differences in chemical stability between the solutions obtained from
      reconstitution and dilution of the dry-filled and lyophilized
      formulations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453280
TI  - Temperature profiles and sterilization within a dead-ended tube.
AB  - Use of steam-in-place (SIP) sterilization has increased as the complexity of
      biotechnology processing equipment has increased. Extensive biological testing is
      required prior to use of this equipment as no quantitative guidelines exist for
      the design of SIP sterilizable equipment. Dead-ended geometries present the most
      difficult challenge to SIP sterilization, but data are not available as to the
      effects of tube orientation, length and diameter on time required for
      sterilization. This study examines the effects on sterilization of location
      within a dead-ended tube and orientation of the tube with respect to the
      gravitational vector. Temperature profiles and biological kill of Bacillus
      stearothermophilus were determined for four tube orientations. Kill kinetics were
      characterized by time to start of kill and cycle log reduction (CLR) times. Both
      values increased with increasing distance up the tube and orientation of the tube
      in a more horizontal position. CLR values were as much as ten times greater than
      those resulting from saturated steam. Projected sterilization times were
      determined and found to be very dependent on tube orientation. Recommendations
      are given for sterilization and validation testing of dead-ended geometries.

PMID- 1453281
TI  - Formulation development of frozen parenteral dosage forms.
AB  - Many of the intravenously administered drug compounds are formulated as frozen
      dosage forms due to lack of sufficient chemical stability at room or refrigerated
      temperatures. The product is stored in a freezer in the hospital pharmacy and
      thawed prior to its use. These products therefore, require a long-term frozen
      shelf-life plus a short-term room temperature and/or refrigerated temperature
      shelf-life. The formulation is optimized for overall stability in the frozen
      state as well as in the thawed state. In this paper, the significance of phase
      changes in the frozen state and the influence of various formulation factors such
      as drug concentration, diluent, buffer concentration, pH, and raw material purity
      on the drug stability in the frozen state is reviewed. An overview of analytical
      and manufacturing considerations unique to frozen products is also presented.

PMID- 1453283
TI  - Compendial issues: Japan.

PMID- 1453282
TI  - A comparison of two commercially irradiated Trypticase Soy Agars containing
      lecithin and polysorbate 80.
AB  - Gamma-radiation sterilized Trypticase Soy Agar containing lecithin and
      polysorbate 80 (TSA++) (Becton Dickinson Microbiology Systems, Cockeysville, MD)
      and irradiated TSA++ (Adams Scientific, West Warwick, RI) were tested by a
      quantitative spread plate method. Four bacteria Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633,
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923,
      Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615 and the yeast Candida albicans ATCC 10231 were
      tested in two separate experiments using different lots of media. A strain of
      Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404, was tested by a qualitative streak plate method.
      The Becton Dickinson Microbiology Systems (BDMS) irradiated TSA++ overall
      recovered a greater number of organisms than the Adams Scientific TSA++ in both
      experiments and allowed for the earlier recovery of S. pyogenes ATCC 19615. The
      growth of A. niger ATCC 16404, was comparable on both media. Efficacy of the
      media to neutralize 1, 2 and 3% phenol as well as 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1%
      benzalkonium chloride (BC) solutions was done by a disk diffusion method using 2
      gram-positive and 4 gram-negative bacteria. Both media showed complete
      neutralization of the 0.001 and 0.01% BC solutions and partial neutralization of
      the 0.1% BC solution. The BDMS TSA++ showed better neutralization of the 2 and 3%
      phenol solutions than the Adams Scientific TSA++. This data indicates that not
      all irradiated TSA++ media perform in an equivalent manner.

PMID- 1453284
TI  - Routine growth monitoring and assessment of growth disorders.
AB  - Pediatric nurse practitioners have an important role in the routine monitoring of
      growth and the assessment of growth disorders. The development of good history
      taking skills and an accurate, repeatable measurement technique are central to
      the success of growth assessment and evaluation. Numerous causes exist for growth
      disorders. The pediatric nurse practitioner can be instrumental in identifying
      these disorders and in making appropriate referral to a pediatric endocrinologist
      for further evaluation and treatment.

PMID- 1453285
TI  - Assessment of infant growth.
AB  - Growth is one of the best indicators of neonatal and infant well being. By
      comparing the growth of an individual infant over a period of time with available
      standards, the determination can be made, within limitations, whether the infant
      is doing as well as should be expected or whether any growth abnormalities exist.
      The three most common physical measurements of growth are weight, length/height,
      and head circumference. Normal growth patterns and factors that impact growth
      within the first 2 years of life are discussed, with recommended techniques for
      assessment.

PMID- 1453286
TI  - The impact of genetic syndromes on children's growth.
AB  - Genetic syndromes that include short stature are recognized by their effect on
      children's growth rates, by their effect on the growth rate and pubertal
      development in adolescence, and by the presence of stigmata associated with
      certain syndromes. The effects of Down, Seckel, Turner, Russell-Silver, Prader
      Willi, and Noonan syndromes on growth and the growth-inhibiting features of
      achondroplasia, hypophosphatemic rickets, and Laron dwarfism are reviewed. The
      terminology used by professionals in discussing genetic alterations should
      minimize the effects of labeling and stigmatization and should emphasize the
      normal aspects of a child's life.

PMID- 1453287
TI  - Accelerated growth in children.
AB  - Many tall-statured children will display variations of normal growth patterns,
      such as familial tall stature or familial rapid maturation. However, precocious
      puberty and a number of rarer diseases that can cause accelerated growth require
      the earliest possible detection and treatment to ensure that underlying problems
      are appropriately treated and optimum final adult height is attained. Most of
      these syndromes are rare. Nevertheless, the pediatric nurse practitioner should
      be acquainted with them to make timely and appropriate referrals to
      endocrinologists, geneticists, cardiologists, or orthopedists.

PMID- 1453288
TI  - Educational, psychologic, and social aspects of short stature.
AB  - Children with short stature may experience academic difficulties, psychologic
      impairment, and emotional stress related to an underlying medical condition or
      social stigmatization. Educational and psychosocial problems associated with
      short stature often can be alleviated with appropriate interventions. Parents,
      health-care practitioners, and teachers should be aware of the potential
      academic, psychologic, and social problems related to short stature and growth
      delay, so they can support the short child's normal development and intervene
      promptly if problems arise.

PMID- 1453289
TI  - Perinatal mortality and morbidity--the Scottish perspective.
AB  - Although perinatal mortality has continued to fall in Scotland during the last
      decade, there has been little change during the last three years i.e. 8.9, 8.9,
      8.7 per thousand births respectively. Many deaths still result from antepartum
      haemorrhage and unknown causes so the Scottish Perinatal Mortality group is
      undertaking a confidential enquiry into the deaths of all normally formed infants
      of birthweight greater than 2500 g. The other major cause of prenatal death i.e.
      preterm delivery is also associated with a significant risk of neurological
      impairment. Results from the Scottish Low Birthweight Study show that 5.7 per
      cent and 9.5 per cent of very low birthweight infants have severe and moderate
      disability respectively, reveal once again the importance of research into the
      primary and secondary prevention of preterm delivery and the care of the preterm
      neonate.

PMID- 1453290
TI  - A comparison of postoperative morbidity following prophylactic antibiotic
      administration by combined irrigation and intravenous route or by intravenous
      route alone during cesarean section.
AB  - This study compared the efficacy of a single intravenous dose of Cefazolin alone
      or combined with an antibiotic containing preclosure-irrigation solution in
      patients undergoing cesarean section. A total of 308 patients were prospectively
      assigned to two groups by randomization. Group I received two grams of Cefazolin
      IV and abdomino-peritoneal irrigation with saline. Group II received one gram of
      Cefazolin IV and one gram in the saline irrigation solution. The rate of total
      postoperative morbidity was 2.3 times higher in Group I compared to Group II
      (16/154 or 10.4% vs 7/154 or 4.5%) and morbidity at the operative site was six
      times higher (13/154 or 8.4% vs 2/154 or 1.3%).

PMID- 1453291
TI  - Differences in somatic and organ growth rates in infants who died of sudden
      infant death syndrome.
AB  - The aim of present investigation was to study the changes in weight and external
      measurements and the rates of growth of the internal organs and to compare these
      findings in infants who died of the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The
      subjects were 165 infants (100 males and 65 females) who died in Leningrad in
      1983-1989 in the first five months of life. Relative growth rates for each month
      were calculated for weight, external measurements and organ growth, and their
      ratio was also calculated. Apparent discordance in growth rates was revealed when
      contrasting the rates for weight, length, head and chest circumference to the
      growth rates of internal organs and when compared them with each other. The
      present data show the relation of specific growth patterns to SIDS.

PMID- 1453292
TI  - In vitro lymphocyte functions in the presence of bovine surfactant and its
      phospholipid fractions.
AB  - Endotracheal administration of human or xenogenic surfactant preparations is an
      effective treatment of the respiratory distress syndrome of preterm infants. The
      application of large amounts of phospholipids to the lung may result in a
      significant alteration of the local immune response. We studied the influence of
      the bovine surfactant preparation SF-RI 1 (Alveofact) on lymphocyte functions in
      vitro. PHA-induced cell proliferation and immunoglobulin synthesis in the
      presence of whole surfactant as well as six different defined phospholipids were
      investigated. A marked concentration-dependent suppression of immunoglobulin
      production independent of the immunoglobulin isotype and cell proliferation was
      observed in the range of 5 ng/ml-3 mg/ml of a single phospholipid (or SF-RI 1
      respectively). It could be demonstrated that suppression of lymphocyte functions
      was only due to the phospholipid content of the surfactant preparation. These
      data indicate that in vivo immune functions may be significantly altered by the
      administration of exogenous surfactant. This may be particularly important in the
      presence of primary or secondary pulmonary infections.

PMID- 1453293
TI  - Calcium dependence of endogenous acetylcholine release into the fetal circulation
      of the dually perfused human placental lobule.
AB  - The aim of this study was to examine the role of calcium in the release of
      acetylcholine (ACh) from the fetal circulation of the dually perfused human
      placenta. The viability of this preparation was demonstrated; Glucose consumption
      and lactate production (as sums of both the fetal and maternal values) over the 4
      h perfusion period were 13.9 +/- 4.2 mmol/kg/h (mean +/- SEM, n = 7) and 15.1 +/-
      2.0 mmol/kg/h (n = 13) respectively. Mean pH levels of the fetal and maternal
      effluent perfusates were 7.26 +/- 0.02 (n = 5) and 7.32 +/- 0.01 (n = 5). None of
      these parameters varied significantly from 1 to 4 h of perfusion. ACh output into
      the fetal vessels after 1 h of perfusion was 0.31 +/- 0.02 nnmol/min/g wt weight
      (n = 5) in the presence of physostigmine (2.7 uM) and did not vary significantly
      from 1 to 4 h of perfusion. Perfusion with Ca+(+)-free Krebs solution and 2 mM
      EDTA (but not with Krebs in the absence of EDTA, or with both Ca++ and EDTA, or
      in the presence of 3.78 mM Ca++) for 60 min resulted in a significant reduction
      of ACh output in the fetal perfusate. Output in the former case was partially
      restored on subsequent perfusion with normal Krebs for 60 min. These results
      suggest ACh release in perfused human placenta lobules is at least partially
      Ca+(+)-dependent.

PMID- 1453294
TI  - Determination of t-PA activity and t-PA antigen in human milk.
AB  - Although a considerable number of publications on tissue plasminogen activator (t
      PA) in human milk have appeared, most investigators have determined t-PA activity
      using an assay on fibrin plates [1, 2, 3, 4]. We measured t-PA activity by a
      bioimmunoassay and t-PA antigen by ELISA using a monoclonal antibody (SP-322)
      [6], and estimated t-PA index ((t-PA activity, ng/ml)/(t-PA antigen, ng/ml) x
      100) in human colostrum and milk to evaluate the fluctuations of post-delivery t
      PA. The concentrations of t-PA activity decreased slowly related to the duration
      of lactation varying between days one and two hundred and ten and showed
      significant negative correlation with the duration (P less than 0.001). The t-PA
      antigen made a slow descent, followed by a reciprocal ascent of the t-PA index to
      the fifty eighth post-delivery day and showed significant correlations with the
      duration (P less than 0.001, P less than 0.05, respectively). This information
      suggests that a high concentration of t-PA may be released into the narrow
      channels of the glands functioning to maintain duct patency under the regulation
      of an inhibitor such as plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI).

PMID- 1453295
TI  - Fetal breathing movements and prostaglandin levels in pregnancies complicated by
      premature rupture of the membranes.
AB  - We have previously demonstrated that maternal and fetal prostaglandin levels may
      be elevated in patients with pregnancies complicated by premature and prolonged
      rupture of the membranes (PPROM) compared to patients with intact membranes. In
      the fetal lamb, infusion of prostaglandin abolishes fetal breathing movements and
      in human pregnancies with PPROM and with poor outcome, fetal breathing movements
      are absent. The aim of this study was to determine fetal breathing activity in
      pregnancies complicated by PPROM which had elevated prostaglandin levels. One
      hour ultrasound examinations were performed on nine fetuses whose mothers had had
      premature rupture of the membranes at 28 weeks gestation and a median of 4 days
      prior to the ultrasound examination. The number of fetal breathing movements
      (FBM) and percentage of time that each fetus spent breathing was documented and
      this was then related to control values. Following the completion of the
      ultrasound examination, cordocentesis was performed and blood sent for estimation
      of bicyclo PGEM levels. All of the fetuses made some breathing activity during
      the one-hour period, but the number of FBM varied from 1 to 181 (median 21). The
      percentage time that the fetuses spent breathing was much lower than that which
      would be expected for their gestational age, being a median of 1.3% (range less
      than 0.1 to 50.8%) of control values. As bicyclo PGEM levels were elevated in
      these nine fetuses, these data suggest that reduction in breathing activity in
      fetuses of pregnancies complicated by PPROM may be due to elevated prostaglandin
      levels.

PMID- 1453296
TI  - Femoral artery blood flow monitoring has distinct advantages for examining
      redistribution of blood flow in fetal acidosis.
AB  - Changes of blood flow in umbilical artery, carotid artery and femoral artery were
      examined during the progression of acidemia in fetal sheep by means of indwelling
      transit-time ultrasonic blood flow meters. Moreover, catecholamines in fetal
      blood were measured and its interrelation to the alteration in blood flow was
      examined. Gradually progressing fetal acidemia was induced by repeated cord
      compression. Umbilical blood flow showed a initial increase thereafter
      maintaining a plateau through the experiment, which seemed to be dependent on
      fetal arterial pressure. Carotid artery flow gradually increased until the
      arterial pH in fetal blood declined to 7.20 and remained at this level even
      though the acidemia further progressed. Femoral artery flow markedly decreased
      around fetal arterial blood pH 7.20 and its change correlated well with the
      plasma level of catecholamines. This change of femoral artery flow may be
      evaluated by examination of the flow index as well as flow volume. Redistribution
      of blood flow in the progression of fetal acidemia may be initiated at around
      fetal arterial pH 7.20 and can be detected by studying femoral artery flow.

PMID- 1453297
TI  - Catecholamine abnormalities in transient tachypnoea of the premature newborn.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to assess if there was an association between
      low catecholamine levels at birth in the premature infant and the development of
      TTN. Blood samples were collected at delivery from the umbilical artery of all
      preterm infants with a gestational age less than 36 weeks for determination of pH
      and catecholamine levels (noradrenaline and adrenaline). Amongst non-asphyxiated
      infants only, cord pH greater than 7.25 and/or Apgar score greater than 7 at five
      minutes, catecholamine levels were compared between the 10 infants who developed
      transient tachypnoea of the newborn (TTN) and 13 controls of a similar
      gestational age range (31-35 weeks) who developed no respiratory distress in the
      neonatal period. Infants who developed TTN were more often delivered without
      labour, 8 of 10 compared to 2 of 13 controls (p less than 0.01). There were no
      significant differences in adrenaline levels between the two groups.
      Noradrenaline levels, however, were significantly lower in the infants who
      developed TTN, being a median of 3.1 nmol/l (range 1.07-5.85 nmol/l) compared to
      a median of 6.4 nmol/l (range 2.38-22.83) in the controls (p less than 0.01).
      Infants who were delivered following labour had significantly elevated
      noradrenaline levels compared those delivered without labour (elective delivery)
      (p less than 0.05). These results suggest that low noradrenaline levels in
      preterm infants may explain the association in this group of TTN and "elective"
      delivery.

PMID- 1453298
TI  - The prediction of fetal compromise and acidosis by biophysical profile scoring in
      the small for gestational age fetus.
AB  - In a prospective blind study, 133 fetuses suspected of being small for
      gestational age (SGA), defined as an estimated fetal weight less than the 10th
      centile for gestation, were monitored by weekly biophysical profile assessment.
      Perinatal outcome was assessed by umbilical venous blood pH estimation and
      compared with the profile score determined within seven days of delivery. The
      positive and negative predictive values of the full biophysical profile score
      were not significantly better than combinations of two or three of the individual
      components in this group of fetuses. The use of amniotic fluid volume, non-stress
      testing and either fetal movement or breathing offers an acceptable alternative
      to full biophysical profile assessment in the fetus suspected of being small for
      gestation.

PMID- 1453299
TI  - Human choriogonadotropin (hCG) and placental lactogen (hPL) inhibit interleukin-2
      (IL-2) and increase interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), -6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis
      factor (TNF-alpha) expression in monocyte cell cultures.
AB  - The effect of the human trophoblast hormones chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and
      placental lactogen (hPL) on the expression of cytokines in peripheral blood
      mononuclear cell cultures was followed under a variety of culture conditions, (a)
      phytohemagglutinin stimulated cells (PHA-MSC), (b) allogenic mixed cells (AMC)
      and (c) spontaneously proliferating cells (SPC). A dose dependent enhanced
      release of IL-6, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha by hCG and hPL was observed under all
      culture conditions. However, an inhibitory effect on the IL-2 release was seen in
      PHA-MSC by hPL and in AMC by hPL and hCG. The role of the suppression of IL-2
      production/release on cytotoxicity towards trophoblast is discussed. These
      results suggest a sensitive, dose dependent hormonal control of the modulation of
      the immune response during pregnancy and strengthen the concept of a distinct
      regulation of monocytes and lymphocyte subpopulation by trophoblast hormones.

PMID- 1453300
TI  - Discordant anencephaly with a cleft lip and palate in a pergonal-induced triplet
      pregnancy.
AB  - Anencephaly in triplets and pergonal induced pregnancies is a very rare incident.
      Associated cleft lip and palate has never been reported in these case. In this
      paper we report the first case of an anencephalic infant with cleft lip and
      palate in a set of pergonal-induced discordant triplet pregnancy.

PMID- 1453301
TI  - Dental implants: a review.
AB  - The present article is a review presenting an update on the field of dental
      implants since the World Workshop in Clinical Periodontics in July 1989. Areas
      that are discussed include following: 1. Biomaterials and the implant interface,
      and the interaction of these with the environment. 2. Periodontal considerations
      including data supporting a perimucosal seal of implant to soft tissue and
      discussion of the endosseous interface between the bone and the implant. 3. Newer
      techniques of diagnostic imaging and their determination of bone types are
      related to the future practice of dental implants. 4. Implant selection and the
      surgical techniques involved in implant placement. 5. Current ideas of implant
      prosthodontics, implant maintenance, and the treatment of implant failures. 6.
      Finally, the use of dental implants in the United States and Sweden.

PMID- 1453302
TI  - The effect of certain systemic medications on oral calculus formation.
AB  - A quantitative comparison was made of supragingival calculus that formed in
      individuals using systemic medications for defined systemic medical problems and
      individuals not using medication. Measurements of supragingival plaque and
      calculus were made on the lingual surfaces of the 4 mandibular incisors of 68
      consecutive patients presenting for dental examinations and oral prophylaxes.
      Variables noted in addition to medication and plaque status were: age, sex, time
      interval since previous prophylaxis, and smoking status. Analysis of results
      indicated a statistically significant reduction of calculus among individuals
      medicated with beta-blockers, diuretics, anticholinergics, synthroid and
      allopurinol despite the high quantity of plaque present.

PMID- 1453303
TI  - Healing of the intrabony periodontal lesion following root conditioning with
      citric acid and wound closure including an expanded PTFE membrane.
AB  - The effect of citric acid conditioning of the root surface in conjunction with
      gingival flap surgery including barrier membranes (expanded
      polytetrafluoroethylene) was clinically evaluated in 26 intrabony periodontal
      defects in 23 patients. Control treatment included gingival flap surgery with
      barrier membranes alone. Twelve defects were treated with the experimental and 14
      with the control protocol. Healing was evaluated 12 months after surgery. Initial
      probing depths approximated 6.9 mm and defect depths measured during surgery
      exceeded 4 mm. The patients exhibited good oral hygiene over the study interval
      as substantiated by low plaque and bleeding scores. Acid conditioning of the root
      surface did not enhance periodontal healing in this study, similar amounts of
      defect resolution were observed following either treatment protocol. Probing
      depth reduction generally approximated 1.8 mm; gain of clinical attachment, 0.8
      mm; and defect bone fill, 1.2 mm. Under the prevailing conditions, the barrier
      membrane procedure apparently gave a healing result beyond which further
      improvement could not be achieved by root surface conditioning.

PMID- 1453304
TI  - In vitro effects of citric acid application techniques on dentin surfaces.
AB  - The present study evaluated the in vitro effects of different application
      techniques of citric acid on dentin root surfaces. Ten freshly extracted,
      periodontally involved teeth were obtained and 4 dentin slabs, approximately 4 x
      6 x 2 mm, were obtained from the roots of each tooth, for a total of 40 slabs.
      These slabs were identified by tooth and preserved in 1:1 anhydrous
      glycerol/absolute alcohol solution. Citric acid pH 1 was applied to 32 of the
      slabs for 5 minutes with one of 4 different techniques: 1) immersion; 2) placed
      with a saturated cotton pellet with no rubbing; 3) placed and burnished with a
      saturated cotton pellet; or 4) applied with a camel hair brush. The remaining 8
      dentin slabs were used as negative control specimens, root-planed and non-acid
      treated. Following the various treatments, the slabs were fixed, dehydrated,
      critical point dried, and coated for scanning electron microscopic (SEM)
      evaluation. Scanning photomicrographs were obtained at 2,000, 6,000, and 40,000
      magnifications. The surface characteristics of the treated dentin slabs were
      evaluated descriptively regarding the degree of fiber exposure; the number of
      exposed tubules and the surface area occupied by tubule orifices were also
      measured. Friedman's 2-way analysis for block designs was employed. Results
      demonstrated that root-planed, non-acid treated specimens had an amorphous,
      irregular surface which corresponded to a smear layer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1453305
TI  - Endotoxin levels in periodontally healthy and diseased sites: correlation with
      levels of gram-negative bacteria.
AB  - This study investigated the correlation between endotoxin levels and the
      percentage of Gram-negative bacteria in healthy sites and in periodontitis sites.
      Twelve healthy adults participated. Each subject provided 3 periodontitis sites
      with 5 to 8 mm probing depths that bled on gentle probing and 3 healthy sites
      with sulcus depths of 1 to 3 mm that did not bleed. Clinical examinations and
      sterile paper point sampling of all study sites were conducted on days 0, 7, and
      14, and site-specific endotoxin levels and percentage of Gram-negative bacteria
      were determined. There were significant differences in both endotoxin levels and
      percentage Gram-negative bacteria between healthy and periodontitis sites across
      all 3 sampling periods, but no difference across sampling periods in the healthy
      sites and the periodontitis sites, respectively. Correlation coefficients
      revealed a high degree of correlation between site-specific endotoxin levels and
      percentage of Gram-negative organisms. Using a sample dilution of 1 x 10(4),
      endotoxin levels differentiated healthy from periodontitis sites with a
      specificity of approximately 91% and a sensitivity of approximately 90%.

PMID- 1453306
TI  - Comparison of presurgical and immediate postsurgical ibuprofen on postoperative
      periodontal pain.
AB  - Previous studies have indicated that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
      administered prior to oral surgery procedures are effective in reducing
      postoperative pain. The purpose of the present study was to compare the efficacy
      of medicating with ibuprofen immediately presurgically to medicating immediately
      postsurgically on postoperative pain associated with periodontal surgery. Sixty
      patients who were to undergo periodontal surgery were randomly divided into 3
      groups: the I-pretreatment group received 600 mg ibuprofen immediately
      presurgically and placebo immediately after the surgery; the I-post-treatment
      group received placebo before surgery and 600 mg ibuprofen postsurgically; the
      placebo group received placebo at both time periods. Responses from an 8-hour
      pain diary completed by each subject were quantified and statistically evaluated
      non-parametrically. Results indicated that dosing with ibuprofen either
      immediately before or immediately after periodontal surgery significantly delays
      onset of pain as compared to placebo, with dosing after surgery demonstrating a
      significantly greater delay of onset of pain as compared to dosing presurgically.
      In addition, unlike the presurgical dosing, dosing postsurgically significantly
      decreases mean pain intensity for a combined 8-hour period following periodontal
      surgery as compared to placebo.

PMID- 1453307
TI  - Guided tissue regeneration versus mucogingival surgery in the treatment of human
      buccal gingival recession.
AB  - A surgical technique involving membranes was used to treat localized human buccal
      recessions 3 mm to 8 mm. The results on 25 patients (test group) were evaluated
      18 months postoperatively and compared with the results obtained in 25 other
      patients (control group) having undergone mucogingival surgery. In the test
      group, a trapezoidal flap with a large base was raised beyond the mucogingival
      junction. The exposed root surface was scaled thoroughly to a concave shape. A
      membrane was bent and adapted onto the concave root surface. The flap was sutured
      far coronally and the membrane removed one month later. The control patients
      underwent a 2-step procedure, consisting of a free gingival graft and a coronally
      positioned flap. The amount of root coverage obtained was similar in the 2 groups
      (test = 72.73%; control = 70.87%), although the clinical attachment gain (test =
      5.12 mm; control = 3.56 mm) and pocket variation (test = 1 mm reduction; control
      = 0.06 mm increase) differed significantly (P < 0.001). The keratinized tissue
      width was greater in the control group. The regression analysis showed that the
      amount of covered root surface after treatment was in strict correlation with the
      depth of the original recession in the test group, while no correlation was found
      in the control group. The expected root coverage was greater in the test group
      when the recession was greater than 4.98 mm, while it was greater in the control
      group when the recession was less than 4.98 mm. These results indicate that a
      guided tissue regeneration procedure can be used to successfully treat recession.
      The membrane procedure compared favorably with the mucogingival surgery in the
      treatment of deep recession.

PMID- 1453308
TI  - A comparison of ePTFE membranes alone or in combination with platelet-derived
      growth factors and insulin-like growth factor-I or demineralized freeze-dried
      bone in promoting bone formation around immediate extraction socket implants.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to compare bone promotion around implants which
      were augmented with ePTFE membranes alone or in combination with cortical
      demineralized freeze-dried bone (DFDB) or the combination of platelet derived
      growth factor-BB (PDGF) and insulin like growth factor I (PDGF/IGF-I). Membranes
      were placed over titanium implants which had been inserted into fresh extraction
      sockets with large buccal dehiscences. Twenty-four implants were placed in 4
      dogs. At 18 weeks clinical bone height measurements were taken, the animals were
      sacrificed, and all specimens retrieved for histologic evaluation. Clinically, a
      significant gain in bone levels was present in both the ePTFE membrane alone
      group (P < 0.005) and PTFE plus PDGF/IGF-I group (P < 0.01), but not in the PTFE
      plus DFDB group. Results from histometric measurements revealed an approximately
      2-fold increase in the percentage of implant surface in contact with bone, area
      of bone adjacent to the implant surface, and in the total length of the implant
      surface in contact with bone in the dehiscence defects treated with ePTFE plus
      PDGF/IGF-I compared to the defects receiving ePTFE membranes alone (each P <
      0.05). The response to the DFDB was highly variable and it did not significantly
      improve the efficacy of the PTFE membranes for any parameter measured. The
      distance from the outer surface of the new bone to the implant surface was
      statistically significant for ePTFE membranes alone and membranes plus PDGF/IGF
      I. The results demonstrated that clinically, ePTFE membranes alone or ePTFE
      membranes with PDGF/IGF-I were equally effective in promoting bone growth around
      the implants. Histologic measurements demonstrated that sites treated with ePTFE
      membranes plus PDGF/IGF-I had the highest bone density compared with sites which
      received ePTFE membranes alone or with ePTFE membranes and DFDB. The results of
      this study question the use of DFDB and support the use of ePTFE membranes alone
      or with PDG-F-BB/IGF-I as potential methods of promoting bone formation around
      dental implants.

PMID- 1453309
TI  - Effects of melatonin on water metabolism and renal function in male Syrian
      hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus).
AB  - The pineal indoleamine, melatonin, has been shown to influence many physiological
      systems within the mammalian body. Few studies, however, have examined the
      influence of melatonin on renal function. This study investigated the effects of
      melatonin on water metabolism and renal function. Young adult male Syrian
      hamsters were maintained on a long photoperiod (LD 14:10) in metabolic cages. The
      animals received daily (1700) injections of either control vehicle or 25
      micrograms of melatonin for 85 consecutive days. Melatonin administration
      resulted in significant increases in water consumption and urine production.
      Water budgets were also significantly influenced by melatonin, as were urinary
      osmolality, urinary sodium, and potassium concentrations, but urinary calcium
      concentrations were essentially unaltered. When excretion rates for sodium,
      potassium, and calcium were calculated, no differences were observed between the
      vehicle control and melatonin-treated groups. Injections of melatonin also
      significantly decreased plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH). These results
      demonstrate that afternoon injections of melatonin can alter renal function,
      which may involve direct (i.e., on ADH secretion and/or thirst mechanisms) or
      indirect (i.e., behavioral) effects.

PMID- 1453310
TI  - Androgenic function in adult rats: influence of the pineal gland of the mother
      and of the offspring.
AB  - Female rats exposed to long (LD 18:6) or short (LD 6:18) photoperiods from 21
      days of age were mated when they reached 55 days of age. On day 2 of gestation
      animals of each group were either pinealectomized or sham-operated. Lighting
      regimens were not changed during the course of the study. Male offspring of the
      four groups of dams were sacrificed on day 70 after birth. Rats that were
      maintained on long photoperiod had higher testicular testosterone,
      androstenedione, and dihydrotestosterone content than those raised on a LD 6:18
      cycle. Whatever the breeding photoperiod used, maternal pinealectomy induced no
      modification of reproductive function. Among rats kept in short photoperiod,
      neonatal pinealectomy (on day 5 after birth) resulted in an enhanced testicular
      androgen content without any modification of plasma androgen concentration. These
      results indicate that (1) the previously reported effect of the mother's pineal
      on pubertal rat testicular function is not present in adulthood and (2) the
      pineal of the offspring is required to maintain normal testicular androgen
      content in the adult rat but exerts no influence on circulating androgens.

PMID- 1453311
TI  - Inhibin-like "antigonadotropic" activity in the ovine pineal.
AB  - In an attempt to define the antigonadotropic activity associated with the
      protein/peptide extracts of ovine pineals, melatonin- and steroid-free fractions
      obtained after subjecting crude ovine pineal acetone powder to soft gel
      chromatography were tested in three bioassay systems: (1) the conventional
      compensatory ovarian hypertrophy inhibition assay in rats, (2) the coupled
      bioassay in immature mice that enables one to distinguish factors acting at the
      level of the pituitary from those acting at the gonadal level, and (3) the
      classical in vitro pituitary cell culture assay for inhibin. The large molecular
      weight fraction, referred to as PI, behaved like a classical antigonadotropin as
      it suppressed compensatory ovarian hypertrophy following unilateral ovariectomy.
      Further, it not only lowered the basal and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)
      stimulated release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) by the cultured
      pituitary cells, but also inhibited the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
      induced uterine weight gain in the coupled assay, thus acting like inhibin in
      these two assay systems. In addition, it showed immunological cross-reactivity
      with ovine testicular inhibin. The present results strongly support the view that
      inhibin-like activity may be the major player in what has so far been referred to
      as antigonadotropic activity.

PMID- 1453312
TI  - Determination of kinetic properties of serotonin-N-acetyltransferase in bovine
      pineal gland using HPLC with fluorimetric detection.
AB  - The determination of serotonin-N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity in the bovine
      pineal gland and other rat tissues was based upon the separation and detection of
      N-acetyltryptamine formed from tryptamine and acetyl CoA by means of high
      performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection. In the bovine
      pineal the enzyme exhibited a Km value of 31.45 +/- 4.98 microM and a Vmax value
      of 30.90 +/- 1.18 pmol N-acetyltryptamine/min/mg protein for tryptamine, and a Km
      value of 28.72 +/- 7.50 microM and a Vmax value of 25.90 +/- 1.50 pmol N
      acetyltryptamine/min/mg protein for acetyl CoA. The present method is simple,
      allows the determination of NAT activity from a variety of enzyme sources, has
      application to pharmacological studies of NAT regulation in tissue cultures, and
      provides an alternative to current radioenzymatic assays.

PMID- 1453313
TI  - Effect of immunization against melatonin on seasonal fleece growth in feral
      goats.
AB  - Four vaccination protocols were utilized to investigate the effects of
      immunoneutralizing circulating melatonin on the annual cashmere growth cycle and
      cashmere production in Australian feral goats. A fluctuating anti-melatonin
      antibody response, achieved by repeated booster vaccinations, resulted in an
      acceleration of the growth cycle in goats which exhibited a significant immune
      response, compared to sham-immunized controls. Responding goats showed two cycles
      of cashmere length growth in the first 16 months and increased annual cashmere
      production in the first year. However, in the second year, these effects were no
      longer apparent, suggesting either some form of desensitization to melatonin, or
      a diminished response due to declining antibody titre. The effects of
      immunization were observed in both sexes; the effect on cashmere length was
      greater in wethers than in does. Cashmere fibre growth in response to a
      continuously declining plane of specific antibody showed increased cycle
      frequency, albeit with a decreased amplitude; guard hair growth cycles were
      affected to a much lesser extent. Small transient peaks of specific immunity at
      the summer or winter solstice were without significant effect on cashmere growth.
      Immunization to provoke a persistent anti-melatonin antibody response at the
      winter solstice resulted in significantly increased greasy fleece weight, %
      cashmere yield, and mass of cashmere produced, but no change in fibre diameter in
      both sexes. Thus the timing of cashmere growth cycles in goats may be, at least
      transiently, altered by appropriately timed immunization against melatonin. The
      mechanism of pineal-mediated regulation of cashmere growth cycles may involve (i)
      entrainment of an endogenous rhythm by melatonin, or (ii) seasonal alteration of
      cashmere follicle sensitivity to the effect of melatonin.

PMID- 1453314
TI  - Effects of selective histamine receptor antagonists on skin responses to
      intradermal bradykinin in healthy volunteers.
AB  - The effects of chlorpheniramine and cimetidine on the cutaneous responses to
      intradermal injections of bradykinin were investigated in a randomized, double
      blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Chlorpheniramine significantly
      attenuated the increase in cutaneous blood flow and erythema induced by
      bradykinin but not the weal response. Cimetidine was without influence on these
      parameters and the effects of the combined therapy of chlorpheniramine and
      cimetidine were not significantly different from those due to chlorpheniramine
      alone. These results suggest that the cutaneous vasodilator effect of bradykinin
      is in part due to histamine release acting on histamine H1-receptors.

PMID- 1453315
TI  - Characterization of human immunodeficiency virus-1-infected cells of myeloid
      monocytic lineage (ML-1, HL-60, THP-1, U-937).
AB  - The myeloid-monocytic cells ML-1, HL-60, THP-1, and U-937 were chronically
      infected (for > 2 years) with the lymphotropic human immunodeficiency virus type
      1 (HIV-1) strain HTLV-IIIB. Reinfection experiments revealed that viruses
      obtained from chronically infected ML-1/HIV-1 and HL-60/HIV-1 cells showed a low
      infectivity if tested with uninfected ML-1 and HL-60 cells in contrast to virus
      preparations from chronically infected THP-1/HIV-1 and U-937/HIV-1 with their
      corresponding uninfected cell lines. Analyses of selected cell surface markers
      revealed a differential expression of CD4, CD8, CD11c, CD14, CD15, CD20, HLA-DR,
      and HLA-DQ in non- or chronically infected cells. In chronically infected cells,
      the steady-state levels for tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 beta,
      and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor mRNA remained unchanged
      whereas the one for IL-6 dropped.

PMID- 1453316
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of dideoxyinosine in pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina)
      after intravenous and subcutaneous administration.
AB  - Four macaques (Macaca nemestrina; 1 female and 3 males) were administered
      dideoxyinosine (DDI) at three dose levels (3.2 mg/kg i.v., 10 mg/kg i.v., and 20
      mg/kg s.c.). Blood and urine samples were collected during 6-8 h and 24 h after
      drug administration, respectively. The mean plasma clearance (16.7 +/- 4.9
      ml/min/kg), steady-state volume of distribution (1.5 +/- 0.4 L/kg), and terminal
      plasma half-life (96.8 +/- 7.5 min) did not differ significantly between the two
      i.v. doses. DDI was eliminated from the body primarily by excretion of the
      unchanged drug in the urine (74%). The absorption of DDI from the subcutaneous
      site was complete (bioavailability of 0.91 +/- 0.13) and rapid, with peak plasma
      concentration obtained at 30 min.

PMID- 1453317
TI  - Report of a Consensus Workshop, Siena, Italy, January 17-18, 1992. Maternal
      factors involved in mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1.
AB  - Although most children with AIDS have acquired HIV from their mothers,
      transmission from an HIV-infected mother to her infant is neither uniform nor
      currently predictable. With the rapid worldwide spread of HIV infection,
      particularly into women of child-bearing age, definition of the risk factors
      associated with maternal transmission is essential to develop and deliver
      intervention therapy that might impact on the devastating spread of AIDS. To
      promote research defining the risk factors of HIV transmission from mother to
      infant, an international workshop was held on January 17-18, 1992, in Siena,
      Italy. Epidemiology, immunology, virology, and health issues associated with
      maternal HIV transmission were actively discussed by participants. Current
      information from the literature and new data available from laboratories formed
      the basis for the consensus opinions developed at the meeting. Wide differences
      (10-39%) in HIV transmission seen at different geographic sites may be explained
      by multiple risk factors. The timing of transmission of HIV from mother to fetal,
      newborn, or breast-fed infants may be further complicated by viral burden and
      other cofactors. There are intriguing suggestions that the immunological status
      of the mother may be influential in preventing or reducing HIV transmission. But
      this appears to be interrelated with the HIV viral burden and health status of
      the mother and in turn her likelihood to transmit HIV to her offspring. The
      infecting "inoculum" may be low and/or selective because of biological barriers
      that favor reduced transmission with good health of the mother and the absence of
      other infectious diseases.

PMID- 1453318
TI  - Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in patients with HIV infection: lack
      of impact of early diagnosis by stereotactic brain biopsy.
AB  - Thirteen patients with HIV-related progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
      (PML), representing an institutional incidence of 4.2%, are reported. All cases
      were diagnosed by image guided stereotactic brain biopsy shortly after their
      presentation for neurologic complaints. All patients were males; risk factors
      included homosexual or bisexual activity or intravenous drug use. At the time of
      presentation with PML, the mean T4 count was 85 (range 9-240 cells/mm3). The most
      common neurologic symptoms were cognitive dysfunction and aphasia, whereas gait
      abnormalities and disordered cognition were the most common neurologic signs.
      Cerebrospinal fluid analysis was helpful only to rule out other causes of CNS
      disease. Magnetic resonance imaging, more sensitive than computed tomography (CT)
      scanning, typically revealed multiple areas of increased intensity on T2 weighted
      images although unifocal disease was seen in 23% of patients. Despite early
      stereotactic biopsy and aggressive symptomatic therapy, survival of these
      patients was poor with a mean of 2.6 months after the onset of neurological
      symptoms and 2.0 months after biopsy.

PMID- 1453319
TI  - The identification and tracking of Candida albicans isolates from oral lesions in
      HIV-seropositive individuals.
AB  - Restriction fragment polymorphism analysis was used to investigate the identity
      and genotypic relatedness of Candida albicans strains isolated from human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with or without oral candidiasis
      and from some of their sexual partners. Use of the species-specific DNA probe Ca3
      revealed that most subjects carried a single distinct C. albicans strain
      throughout the course of the study, during both symptomatic and asymptomatic
      periods. Sexual partners were more likely to carry the same or similar C.
      albicans isolates than unrelated subjects, raising the possibility of
      transmission via intimate contact. One patient appeared to acquire his partner's
      isolate, which then became predominant in both partners in subsequent isolations.
      These findings indicate that recurrent oral candidiasis is usually caused by a
      single persistent strain unique to each patient, but that in some cases
      transmission via intimate contact may occur between sexual partners.

PMID- 1453320
TI  - D-xylose malabsorption: characteristic finding in patients with the AIDS wasting
      syndrome and chronic diarrhea.
AB  - The AIDS wasting syndrome (AWS) is characterized by > 10% loss of baseline body
      weight during 6 months and may occur in patients with or without associated
      chronic diarrhea. To determine whether the presence of small-intestinal
      malabsorption is associated with the development of AWS in human immunodeficiency
      virus (HIV)-infected patients with chronic diarrhea, we retrospectively reviewed
      the results of D-xylose testing performed in the clinical evaluation of 21
      consecutive HIV-infected patients with chronic diarrhea. A thorough search for
      small-intestinal pathogens was performed including upper endoscopy, duodenal
      biopsy, and aspirate for culture and ova and parasite examination. These studies
      were negative in all patients except two who were excluded from the study. In the
      19 patients with no identifiable pathogens, the 1-h serum D-xylose concentration
      was significantly lower in patients with AWS than in those without, 8.3 +/- 0.8
      versus 23.7 +/- 3.4 mg/dl, respectively, p < 0.001. Urine D-xylose excretion
      during 5 h was also significantly lower in the group with AWS, although
      creatinine clearance was similar in the two groups. Patients with AWS were more
      often refractory to standard antidiarrheal therapy with loperamide or
      diphenoxylate and carried a poor prognosis (90% mortality at 1 year versus 22%
      mortality in the group without AWS). These data indicate that small intestinal
      malabsorption is a major component in the severe wasting seen in some HIV
      infected patients with chronic diarrhea. Patients with markedly abnormal D-xylose
      tests may require more potent antidiarrheal therapy and are expected to have a
      high mortality as a possible consequence of intestinal dysfunction.

PMID- 1453321
TI  - Pneumocystis carinii choroiditis in patients with AIDS: clinical features,
      response to therapy, and outcome.
AB  - To further characterize the clinical features, response to therapy, and outcome
      of Pneumocystis carinii choroiditis in patients with AIDS, we retrospectively
      reviewed the course of choroiditis for eight patients identified from two
      institutions through April 1991. Seven patients had prior Pneumocystis carinii
      pneumonia and had received aerosolized pentamidine prophylaxis for a median of 10
      months; one patient had no prior history of pneumonia or prophylaxis. The median
      CD4+ lymphocyte count for six patients was 11 cells/mm3. Choroiditis was a
      preterminal diagnosis for three patients--two with associated disseminated
      pneumocystosis. Ocular manifestations improved or resolved with therapy for five
      of the six treated patients. All five subsequently received prophylaxis with
      dapsone (n = 2), dapsone/trimethoprim (n = 2), or aerosolized pentamidine (n =
      1). Choroiditis recurred at 15 months in the one patient receiving aerosolized
      pentamidine. The median survival from time of diagnosis was 44 weeks. A
      literature review including an additional 40 cases support the conclusions that
      (a) Pneumocystis choroiditis is a rare complication of advanced HIV disease,
      occurring often in the context of systemic pneumocystosis; (b) ocular signs and
      symptoms may improve or resolve with specific antipneumocystis therapy; and (c)
      relapse may occur, particularly in those not receiving systemic prophylaxis.

PMID- 1453322
TI  - Rhodococcus equi cavitary pneumonia in HIV-infected patients: an unsuspected
      opportunistic pathogen.
AB  - Two patients seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and with no
      previous acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-defining conditions developed
      cavitary pneumonia and pleural disease caused by Rhodococcus equi. R. equi was
      isolated from these patients' sputum and lung biopsy specimens, respectively, but
      the microorganism was initially considered to be a contaminant (patient 1) or
      misidentified as a nontuberculous mycobacterium (patient 2). The R. equi
      infection was fatal in one patient, who died after 4 months without specific
      antimicrobial therapy; the second patient was unresponsive to combination therapy
      with various antimicrobial agents. R. equi may cause life-threatening infections
      in HIV-infected patients. Microbiology laboratories should be cognizant of the
      need to exclude R. equi as a cause of infection in highly immunosuppressed
      patients.

PMID- 1453323
TI  - The effect of antiviral therapy on the natural history of HIV infection.

PMID- 1453324
TI  - Very low seroprevalence of HTLV-I in patients with gynecologic disorders in
      Thailand.

PMID- 1453325
TI  - HIV disease and AIDS in women: current knowledge and a research agenda.
AB  - The study of the clinical manifestations, progression, and outcome of human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in women has begun in earnest. AIDS
      defining diseases that are more common in women than in men include wasting
      syndrome, esophageal candidiasis, and herpes simplex virus disease, whereas
      Kaposi's sarcoma is rare. Non-AIDS-defining gynecological conditions such as
      vaginal candida infections and cervical pathology are prevalent among women at
      all stages of HIV infection. Associations have been documented between the
      presence of human papillomavirus, lower genital tract neoplasia, and HIV-related
      immunosuppression. Pregnancy has not been confirmed to have an effect on the
      clinical progression of HIV disease in women incremental to the effect of time.
      Differential access and utilization of therapeutic interventions appear to
      account for much of the reported gender discrepancy in survival. Well designed
      epidemiological and clinical studies will help further scientific knowledge
      leading to early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and timely prevention of the
      manifestations of HIV disease in women.

PMID- 1453326
TI  - HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections in a high-risk population in Bombay, India: evidence
      for the spread of HIV-2 and presence of a divergent HIV-1 subtype.
AB  - A high-risk population (patients of a sexually transmitted disease clinic and the
      GT hospital in Bombay) was tested for antibodies against HIV-1 and HIV-2. Among
      405 serum samples, 226 had previously been classified HIV-positive in India using
      different locally available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests. The
      serology of 179 samples was unknown. All 405 samples were tested at the Georg
      Speyer-Haus (GSH) with the Pasteur HIV-1/2-Combi-ELISA. Positive samples were
      further analyzed with HIV-1 and HIV-2 Western blot kits from Dupont and Pasteur,
      respectively. A very high seroprevalence of HIV was found in this population.
      Among the 179 unscreened samples, 69 (38.5%) were positive in the ELISAs as well
      as the Western blots for HIV-1 or HIV-2. Among the prescreened samples, only 174
      (77%) were confirmed HIV-positive. Altogether, 243 of 405 sera were HIV-positive.
      Of these, 184 (76%) were reactive with HIV-1, 10 (4%) were reactive with HIV-2,
      and 49 (20%) had dual reactivity to HIV-1 and HIV-2. Previous data from the
      Indian Council of Medical Research had already suggested a possible high
      prevalence of HIV-1 in India. Our results confirm this view. The finding of a
      substantial spread of HIV-2 infection was, however, totally unexpected in India,
      but confirms our previous study which had already demonstrated the existence of
      HIV-2 in this country. Asia can thus no longer be considered free of HIV-2, and
      testing for HIV-2 appears mandatory, at least in India.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1453327
TI  - Variations in inpatient mortality for AIDS in a national sample of hospitals.
AB  - In this project, we examined the spectrum of AIDS-related conditions and
      variations in associated inpatient mortality for AIDS patients treated in a
      national sample of hospitals. We identified 10,538 adult discharges with a
      diagnosis indicating AIDS from 258 hospitals from a national sample of 438 acute
      care hospitals with 6 million discharges in 1986-1987. Opportunistic and other
      infections occurred in 55.9 and 37.9%, respectively, of AIDS discharges, and
      inpatient fatality rates varied considerably depending on complication type(s)
      and comorbidities. Clinical conditions were more important predictors of
      inpatient death than demographic or treatment site characteristics. Among
      opportunistic infections, odds of inpatient death were significantly increased
      for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (odds ratio [OR] = 2.8),
      Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (OR = 2.4), cryptococcosis (OR = 1.6), atypical
      mycobacterial infections (OR = 1.6), and toxoplasmosis (OR = 1.3). Odds of
      inpatient death were also significantly increased by non-AIDS-defining infections
      causing septicemia (OR = 3.1) or CNS involvement (OR = 1.6) or pulmonary
      involvement (OR = 1.5). After controlling for clinical conditions, significant
      differences in odds of death persisted across regions, age, and ethnic groups.
      Increases in hospitals' AIDS treatment experience were associated with a
      significant decrease in odds of inpatient death. These analyses provide a
      national perspective on the diversity of AIDS-related clinical conditions and
      their relative effects on inpatient mortality.

PMID- 1453328
TI  - The significance of western blot assays indeterminate for antibody to HIV in a
      cohort of homosexual/bisexual men. The Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.
AB  - The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and significance of
      nondiagnostic Western blot (WB) assays in homosexual/bisexual men at risk of
      infection with HIV-1. The presence of a positive enzyme-linked antibody assay
      (EIA) confirmed by a positive WB was used as evidence of infection and
      seroconversion. Indeterminate WB assays were defined as reactions to only one
      viral gene product of HIV-1. Three analyses were conducted to (a) determine the
      frequency of such reactions in men who, during a 4-year period, did not develop
      diagnostic serologic reactions; (b) determine, retrospectively, the
      preseroconversion frequency of indeterminate WB assays in 286 men who
      seroconverted; and (c) evaluate in vitro production of specific antibody by
      peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as a method of indicating whether or
      not an indeterminate WB assay represents HIV-1 infection. Reactions to products
      of gag, pol, or env were noted in 8.0, 4.0, and 6.7% of 1,595 first-visit tests
      of men who remained seronegative for 4 years. Indeterminate reactions occurred in
      204 men with negative EIAs who subsequently seroconverted and in 82 men with
      positive EIAs preconversion. Supernatants harvested from PBMCs of 2 of 36
      seroconverters obtained one or two visits preseroconversion and cultured with
      pokeweed mitogen were antibody-positive. All were positive at the visit, with
      diagnostic serology. None of the supernatants from cells of 19 men with EIA
      negative WB-indeterminate serologic assays were antibody-positive. Our results
      suggest that persistently EIA-negative homosexual/bisexual men who have
      indeterminate WB assays are unlikely to be infected with HIV-1.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453329
TI  - Inhibition of HIV-1 RNA production by the diphtheria toxin-related IL-2 fusion
      proteins DAB486IL-2 and DAB389IL-2.
AB  - Productive infection of cells by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is
      associated with the activation state of the cell and its obligatory expression of
      the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), the latter providing a new target for
      antiviral therapy. A quantitative RNA-RNA hybridization assay is employed to
      detect production of HIV-1 RNA and to show that two IL-2 diphtheria toxin-related
      fusion proteins (DAB486IL-2 and its more potent, truncated form DAB389IL-2)
      inhibit HIV-1 RNA production in infected cells. A mutant form of DAB486IL-2
      containing a single point mutation that inactivates the adenosine diphosphate
      ribosyltransferase activity of the toxin does not inhibit HIV RNA production,
      even though the molecule binds to the IL-2R. The active fusion proteins inhibit
      viral RNA replication in cells infected with HIV-1 clinical isolates as well as
      with a ZDV-resistant strain of HIV-1. These results indicate that IL-2 receptor
      targeted fusion proteins can be utilized to inhibit HIV-1 replication effectively
      in infected human lymphocytes.

PMID- 1453330
TI  - HIV-1 LTR activation model: evaluation of various agents in skin of transgenic
      mice.
AB  - Mice containing the HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) regulating the expression of
      firefly luciferase reporter gene were investigated for their use as a model for
      activation of the LTR. As a limited test of this model, a number of different
      factors were screened for their ability to affect reporter gene activities in the
      skin. Reporter gene levels were increased in the skin by topical treatment of
      dimethylsulfoxide, retinoic acid, phorbol ester, ultraviolet light, and hydrogen
      peroxide, all of which have previously been shown to cause increased HIV
      production in cultured human cells. Topically applied arachidonic acid,
      histamine, ethanol, acetone, and methanol did not increase reporter gene
      activities. A lack of published reports on activation of HIV-1 in human cells by
      these agents suggests that they do not activate viral expression in human cells,
      which corroborates with the findings of this report. Minor forms of skin wounding
      and intraperitoneally administered psoralen plus ultraviolet light also increased
      reporter gene activities in skin. Control and test treatments could be performed
      on the same mouse and repetitive samples could be obtained from each treatment
      area. These transgenic mice might be useful as predictive models for regulation
      of the LTR in epidermal or dendritic cells.

PMID- 1453331
TI  - Longitudinal study of homosexual couples discordant for HIV-1 antibodies in the
      Baltimore MACS Study.
AB  - Thirty-six sexually active couples serologically discordant for human
      immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1), within the Baltimore Multicenter AIDS
      Cohort Study (MACS) were assessed to determine whether evidence of HIV-1
      infection could be detected in the HIV-1-antibody-negative partners and whether
      factors associated with lack of transmission of HIV from the seropositive to the
      seronegative partner could be ascertained. Six HIV-1 seropositive couples and 18
      seronegative couples were followed concurrently for comparison. None of the
      seropositive subjects had an AIDS-defining illness at entry into the study, and
      all subjects were followed for 1 year. A separate evaluation of unprotected anal
      receptive and insertive intercourse between discordant couples indicated high
      risk activities for a median of 40 months, as reported by the HIV seropositive
      partner. Despite this finding, none of the HIV-1 seronegative men in discordant
      couples had evidence of HIV-1 infection by viral culture, p24 antigen testing, or
      polymerase chain reaction for HIV-1 DNA. Discordant seronegatives and
      seropositives did not differ from concordant seronegatives and seropositives in
      numbers of circulating CD4, CD8, and natural killer lymphocytes or in prevalence
      of antibodies to herpes simplex virus, type 1, Epstein-Barr virus, or
      cytomegalovirus, except that discordant seronegative men were less likely than
      their seropositive partners to have antibodies to herpes simplex virus, type 2.
      The reason for the apparent lack of HIV-1 infection in seronegative discordant
      individuals remains unexplained and did not appear to be associated with type of
      sexual activity, T-lymphocyte subsets or natural killer cells, or early stage of
      HIV-1 disease.

PMID- 1453332
TI  - A simplified surveillance case definition of AIDS derived from empirical clinical
      data. The Clinical AIDS Study Group, and the Working Group on AIDS case
      definition.
AB  - A clinical AIDS case definition is needed for surveillance in countries where the
      CDC case definition is not practical. To derive such a definition, we compared
      110 HIV-seropositive and 135 randomly selected HIV-seronegative adult medical
      ward inpatients in Brazil. Multivariate analysis of clinical signs and symptoms
      and simple diagnoses resulted in a discriminant function with sensitivity of 89%
      and specificity of 96% in predicting for AIDS. These data were the empirical
      basis for a clinical definition of AIDS in adults drafted in a Caracas,
      Venezuela, workshop sponsored by the Pan American Health Organization. The
      revised "Caracas" definition presented here requires a positive HIV serology, the
      absence of cancer or other cause of immunosuppression, plus > or = 10 cumulative
      points, as follows: Kaposi's sarcoma (10 points); extrapulmonary/noncavitary
      pulmonary tuberculosis (10); oral candidiasis or hairy leukoplakia (5); cavitary
      pulmonary/unspecified tuberculosis (5); herpes zoster < 60 years of age (5); CNS
      dysfunction (5); diarrhea > or = 1 month (2); fever > or = 1 month (2); cachexia
      or > 10% weight loss (2); asthenia > or = 1 month (2); persistent dermatitis (2);
      anemia, lymphopenia, or thrombocytopenia (2); persistent cough or any pneumonia
      except TB (2); and lymphadenopathy > or = 1 cm at > or = 2 noninguinal sites for
      > or = 1 month (2). This definition has a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of
      100% (91% without HIV serology) when applied to the Brazilian patients in this
      study. The Caracas definition has been adopted by Brazil, Honduras, and Surinam,
      and is in validation elsewhere. The use of a reasonably sensitive and specific
      case definition commensurate with available diagnostic resources should
      facilitate AIDS surveillance in developing countries.

PMID- 1453333
TI  - HIV neutralization assay using polymerase chain reaction-derived molecular
      signals.
AB  - Characterization of the capacity of human polyclonal antibody to neutralize wild
      type patient isolates has important implications for vaccine development. We
      report the development of a polymerase chain reaction-based neutralization assay
      that quantitatively measures each infection using HIV proviral formation. These
      molecular end points identified the absence or quantitative diminution of DNA
      provirus formation as well as a delay in the kinetics of HIV DNA provirus
      formation. Using both laboratory strain prototype isolates (HIV-1-MN, HIV-IIIb)
      and primary wild-type patients' isolates, neutralization end points were
      reproducibly determined. End points were reached within 72 h, thereby minimizing
      the impact of subsequent rounds of infection on interpretation of results.
      Although the neutralization titer of polyclonal sera was usually comparable using
      standard technology, this assay did find isolate-dependent variation in the
      relationship between p24 production and HIV proviral DNA formation. Finally, we
      noted the disparity between the ability of human sera to neutralize prototype and
      wild-type isolates in primary peripheral blood mononuclear cell targets. We
      believe this assay provides unique opportunities to characterize the initial
      events of virus-antibody interaction and will help to elucidate clinically
      relevant neutralization immunoregulatory mechanisms.

PMID- 1453334
TI  - Drug hypersensitivity reactions and human immunodeficiency virus disease.
AB  - Drug hypersensitivity reactions are often observed by clinicians treating
      patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). For certain drugs,
      the incidence of these reactions appears to be higher than previously reported in
      the general population. The best example is trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,
      associated with rash, fever, hematologic disturbances, transaminase elevation,
      and, less frequently, more severe reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome,
      toxic epidermal necrolysis, and anaphylactic-like reactions. Other sulfa
      congeners, pentamidine, antituberculosis regimens containing isoniazid and
      rifampin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, clindamycin, and thalidomide also have been
      associated with an increased incidence of adverse reactions, some of which could
      involve allergic mechanisms. Effective dosage and management strategies are
      needed to prevent or ameliorate hypersensitivity reactions when they occur.

PMID- 1453335
TI  - Tumor necrosis factor-alpha in advanced HIV infection in the absence of AIDS
      related secondary infections.
AB  - The effect of HIV infection on the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF
      alpha) was examined in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
      infection in the absence of AIDS-related secondary infections. Serum TNF-alpha
      and TNF-alpha production in vitro were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent
      assay in 26 male homosexuals with CDC stage IV HIV infection without active AIDS
      related secondary infections. In vitro TNF-alpha production was assayed from
      cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMs) or whole blood cultures under
      conditions for minimising endotoxin contamination. PBMs and whole blood were
      cultured with and without lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results were compared with
      those for 13 HIV-seronegative age- and sex-matched controls. Serum TNF-alpha
      concentrations were 5 +/- 16 pg/ml in HIV-infected patients and 12 +/- 17 pg/ml
      in controls. TNF-alpha levels in unstimulated cultures of PBMs obtained from
      patients were 426 +/- 511 pg/ml and 456 +/- 428 pg/ml in control cultures. There
      was no difference between groups in the maximal responses of cultured PBMs to
      stimulation with LPS (2,229 +/- 1,593 pg/ml vs. 2,504 +/- 961 pg/ml). TNF-alpha
      levels from unstimulated and LPS-stimulated whole blood cultures were not
      significantly different after adjusting for the number of cultured monocytes
      (2,038 +/- 1,469 pg/ml vs. 1,511 +/- 488 pg/ml). In 10 patients (38%) the TNF
      alpha levels from stimulated whole blood cultures were greater than the 95%
      confidence interval of the control group. TNF-alpha levels in patients were not
      significantly altered by antiretroviral therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453336
TI  - Infectivity of retroviral DNA in vivo.

PMID- 1453337
TI  - Can HIV-1 infection be transmitted by a "discarded" syringe?

PMID- 1453338
TI  - Prevalence of HTLV-I/II among blood bank donors in Argentina.

PMID- 1453339
TI  - Survival differences for 547 AIDS cases in Milan.

PMID- 1453340
TI  - Results of the 1992 journal of Post Anesthesia Nursing readership survey.

PMID- 1453341
TI  - The visiting needs of critically ill patients and their families.
AB  - The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of completed studies that
      consider visitors in critical care areas. Studies from coronary care, intensive
      care, pediatric PACUs, and adult PACUs are reviewed.

PMID- 1453342
TI  - Comparison of nurses' and family members' perceived needs during postanesthesia
      care unit visits.
AB  - Today, more PACUs are opening their doors to visiting family members. This change
      can be exciting and challenging for the PACU nurse. The expertise involved when
      caring for the patient must be also extended to the family. Literature shows that
      families have identifiable needs. By attending to those needs, the nurse may help
      decrease stress for the family during the patient's hospitalization and enable
      everyone to cope more effectively. Limited published research is available
      regarding the needs of family members of PACU patients. This descriptive study
      explores and compares needs identified by family members when visiting PACU
      patients with needs of these family members perceived by PACU nurses. Analysis of
      data using the Mann Whitney-U Test indicates a significant difference between the
      groups. PACU nurses believed that family members' most important need was
      information. Family members stated that the need to see the family member was
      more important than was perceived by the nurses. Both groups agreed that
      education was an important need. Further studies using a larger sample are needed
      to validate findings of this study.

PMID- 1453343
TI  - Alternate methods of teaching: use of self-learning packets.
AB  - Self-directed learning takes multiple forms, all of which allow a person to study
      at an individual pace and direction. By applying principles of adult learning and
      various other styles of learning, self-directed learning can be used as an
      alternative method of education. The focus of this article is one type of self
      directed learning, self-learning packets. The step-by-step process of designing a
      self-learning packet is covered. Various methods of topic selection and the key
      components of self-learning packet design are included. Finally, the usefulness
      of alternative methods of education such as self-learning packets is examined by
      cost analysis.

PMID- 1453344
TI  - The use of temperature as a discharge criterion for ambulatory surgery patients.
AB  - Evaluating each patient's return to an acceptable state after surgical and
      anesthetic intervention is the responsibility of the postanesthesia nurse.
      Postanesthesia nurses use criteria to determine ambulatory surgical patient
      readiness to be discharged from phase I recovery to phase II recovery and from
      phase II recovery to home. Temperature is one indicator of postanesthesia
      recovery. Temperature discharge criteria from phase I postanesthesia recovery
      have been reported. However, temperature discharge criteria for phase II
      postanesthesia recovery have been adapted from phase I standards and nursing
      traditions. This study sought to describe the postoperative temperatures of
      ambulatory surgical patients from admission to phase II postanesthesia recovery
      to discharge home. A convenience sample of 101 adult patients undergoing surgery
      at a hospital-based ambulatory surgical unit (ASU) participated. Tympanic
      temperature was measured preoperatively on admission to the ASU, postoperatively,
      at the beginning of phase II postanesthesia recovery, and at the end of phase II
      postanesthesia recovery immediately before discharge home. All subjects were
      normothermic during phase II postanesthesia recovery, with temperatures ranging
      from 36.0 degrees C (96.8 degrees F) to 38.3 degrees C (101 degrees F). Paired
      Student's t Test showed significant differences (P < .0001) between temperature
      means. There was a 0.38 degrees C (0.7 degree F) decrease between preoperative
      admission temperature and temperature on admission to phase II postanesthesia
      recovery. During phase II postanesthesia recovery the mean temperature increased
      0.16 degree C (0.3 degree F) before discharge home. However, the clinical and
      practical implications of these findings is questionable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453345
TI  - Practical points in the care of the patient post-thyroid surgery.
AB  - It is the purpose of this article to discuss the care of the patient after
      thyroid surgery. Preoperative preparation will be presented, thyroid anatomy
      reviewed, and surgical interventions identified. PACU care of the patient
      identifies specific patient priorities and potential postoperative complications.

PMID- 1453346
TI  - Instrument development: writing the items.
AB  - An important step in instrument development is writing the items that are derived
      from concept analysis and validation. It is also important to determine if the
      instrument is to be constructed for criterion-referenced or norm-referenced
      measurement; examples for both are discussed. Also discussed are methods for
      developing a blueprint for a psychosocial instrument. Additional methods
      presented are how to construct the items as simple rather than complex sentences,
      to keep the sentences short and unambiguous, and to construct the items for an
      eighth-grade reading level to facilitate patient use.

PMID- 1453347
TI  - Managers, monkeys, and mind-set.
AB  - One of the most difficult things for a manager to learn is effective time
      management. The challenge seems to be one of learning what tasks really should be
      done by the manager and what really can and should be delegated to the staff.
      This article provides some guidance to managers as they make those decisions.

PMID- 1453348
TI  - New opportunities for Americans with disabilities.
AB  - Historically, individuals with disabilities have been isolated and segregated.
      Physical and psychological barriers left them significantly disadvantaged,
      politically powerless, and without legal recourse in matters of discrimination.
      The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 is opening doors and promising new
      opportunities for individuals with disabilities to contribute and participate
      fully in our society. The author offers an overview of the purpose and major
      provisions of the act, which compares in scope to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

PMID- 1453349
TI  - [Use of semi-quantitative approaches in the evaluation and classification of
      potential teratogenicity of industrial poisons].
AB  - To provide a consistent teratogenic risk assessment from animals' data, the
      system described here suggests an evaluation by stages. Based on the expert
      system from Mattison, the toxic responses of common species of experimental
      animals are scored. The scores are then multiplied by the ratio of the lowest
      adult 'toxic dose A, to the lowest developmental toxic dose D (A/D). The products
      form 3 categories. Based on the reversibility of the developmental effects, the
      categories are subdivided into classes A B C D. This system should permit an
      unbiased risk assessment and a comparison of industrial chemicals' prenatal
      toxicity.

PMID- 1453350
TI  - [Toxicity of chloroform and vitamin A status in the rat].
AB  - After a chloroform intraperitoneal injection, lactate dehydrogenase, alanine
      aminotransferase and particularly aspartate aminotransferase serum activities are
      much more raised in deficient animals. Liver ornithine decarboxylase (ODC)
      activity normally decreases in rats between the 4th. and the 7th. month after the
      weaning. In vitamin A deficient animals, basal values of the enzyme activity are
      lower and the decrease is deeper. But even at month 7, liver sustains a partial
      capacity of ODC recovery if retinol is fed during 15 days. Chloroform
      administration strongly enhances liver ODC activity in normal rats. In the
      deficiency, stimulation is lower in absolute value but relatively higher if
      referred to basal level. After retinol refeeding, chloroform stimulates enzyme
      activity to nearly normal values. Vitamin A deficiency impairs obviously liver
      ODC activity and its response to chloroform stimulation in rats, but the stroke
      is at least partially reversible in our conditions. Moreover, deficient animals
      maintain a non negligible capacity of ODC response under chloroform stimulation.

PMID- 1453351
TI  - [Teratogenic action of alpha-asarone in the mouse].
AB  - The embryotoxicity and teratogenicity of alpha-asarone were investigated in mice.
      The drug was dissolved in corn oil, and administered daily, by gavage, on days 6
      to 15 of gestation, at 0 (controls), 5, 15, 30 and 60 mg/kg. Fetuses were removed
      on day 18 by caesarean section and examined using routine teratological methods.
      A significant maternal toxicity was observed in dams given 60 mg/kg, as indicated
      by a reduced weight gain. An embryolethality was observed in 15, 30 and 60 mg/kg
      treated groups. In addition, the highest dose induced fetal malformations, mainly
      represented by hydrocephaly, extra-ribs, clubfeet and cleft lips.

PMID- 1453352
TI  - [Effects of environmental tobacco smoke on prenatal development. (Review of the
      medical literature)].
AB  - For near thirty years, epidemiological studies have coped with the search of
      possible noxious consequences of an involuntary exposure of pregnant women to
      environmental tobacco smoke on the gestation and the intrauterine development of
      embryo and foetus. These studies were mainly retrospectives; a careful study of
      the methods used (questionnaires, evaluation of exposure, and so on ...) gives
      evidence that they can rarely avoid serious criticism. As possible effects of
      intrauterine exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, low birth weight and
      impairing of other body parameters, perinatal mortality, frequency of
      abnormalities have been reviewed. As a potential cause, the role of the father
      tobacco smoking has been especially examined. As a whole, the consequences of a
      prenatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke are an extremely controversial
      subject and no obvious effect has yet been universally recognized. The critical
      analysis of the studies has shown that, frequently, the epidemiological studies
      have been interpreted in order to find links between and involuntary exposure to
      tobacco smoke and some troubles of reproduction, particularly in offspring. As a
      matter of facts, fundamentally, the noted actually correlations, even if they are
      statistically significant, are not able to move such links. They are only able to
      indicate the existence of an association and only, if the eventual role of
      confounding factors has been properly treated. An interesting case is the
      potential effects of the father's tobacco smoking. The hypotheses emerging from
      these examined inquiries remain to be more precisely defined and thoroughly by
      new studies, preferentially prospective, and, when necessary, completed by animal
      experiments. It is suggested that a special effort shall be applied to the
      measurement of the exposure of pregnant women to define toxic compounds
      originating from environmental tobacco smoke. Presently, it is not possible to
      draw a conclusion on the noxious or innoxious influence of the involuntary
      exposure of pregnant women to environmental tobacco smoke, particularly as far as
      potential risks for foetus are concerned.

PMID- 1453353
TI  - An assessment of proteolytic enzymes in Tetrahymena thermophila.
AB  - Cellular extracts of Tetrahymena thermophila were found to contain substantial
      levels of proteolytic activity. Protein digestion occurred over broad ranges of
      pH, ionic strength, and temperature and was stimulated by treatment with thiol
      reductants, EDTA and sodium dodecyl sulfate. Incubation at temperatures > or = 60
      degrees C or with high concentrations of chaotropic reagents such as 10 M urea or
      6 M guanidine-HCl caused an apparent irreversible loss of activity. Activity was
      also strongly diminished by increasing concentrations of divalent cations.
      Several peptide aldehydes, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, and alkylating reagents such
      as iodoacetate, N-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone, N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine
      chloromethyl ketone, N-methylmaleimide, and trans-epoxysuccinyl-L-leucylamido-(4
      guanidino)-butane were potent inhibitors of proteolytic activity. Aprotinin
      diminished activity by approximately 40% while benzamidine, 3,4
      dichlorosocoumarin, and trypsin inhibitors from soy bean, lima bean, and chicken
      egg caused relatively modest inhibition of proteolytic activity.
      Phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride had no apparent effect. Electrophoretic separation
      of proteins on SDS-polyacrylamide gels copolymerized with gelatin substrate
      revealed that at least eight active proteolytic enzymes were present in cell
      extracts ranging in apparent molecular weight from 45,000 to 110,000. Five of
      these apparent proteases were detected in 70% ammonium sulfate precipitates.
      Gelatinase activity was not detectable when extracts were pretreated with
      iodoacetate or E-64, indicating that all of the enzymes observed in activity gels
      were sensitive to thiol alkylation. Cellular extracts of T. thermophila appeared
      to contain multiple forms of proteolytic enzymes which were stimulated by thiol
      reductants and inhibited by thiol modifying reagents. Accordingly, the
      proteolytic enzymes present in cell extracts appear to be predominantly cysteine
      proteinases.

PMID- 1453354
TI  - Electron microscopic analysis of circumsporozoite protein trail formation by
      gliding malaria sporozoites.
AB  - Immunoelectron microscopic techniques were utilized to characterize the
      morphology of circumsporozoite protein-containing trails deposited on various
      substrates by gliding Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites.
      The basic components of the trails are beadlike particles, 25 to 90 nm in
      diameter, which are devoid of unit membrane and have an electron-lucent center.
      Trails were captured on formvar-covered grids coated with anticircumsporozoite
      protein monoclonal antibodies and compared with trails produced on uncoated
      formvar; the results suggest that material containing circumsporozoite protein
      forms the matrix within which the particles are embedded. The trails exhibit
      morphological features similar to those displayed by circumsporozoite
      precipitation reactions; of note is the demonstration of sheaths of
      circumsporozoite protein-containing material that emanate from sporozoites prior
      to their gliding. The sheaths narrow into accumulations of electron-dense
      material, which eventually taper to form typical trails. The structural
      manifestation of sheaths and other morphological details of the formed trails
      enables us to correlate sporozoite behavior during trail formation with the
      motile actions of gliding sporozoites observed by light microscopy.

PMID- 1453355
TI  - Lysosomal membrane proteins of Amoeba proteus, as studied with monoclonal
      antibodies.
AB  - Monoclonal antibodies were prepared against lysosomal membrane proteins of
      amoebae and used to follow lysosome-phagosome fusion after induced phagocytosis.
      The specificity of antibodies was checked by indirect immunofluorescence
      microscopy, immunoelectron microscopy, and localization of the antigen in
      subcellular fractions. The antibody-recognized proteins started to appear on the
      membranes of phagolysosomes about 5 min after phagocytosis as detected by
      indirect immunofluorescence, and the intensity of fluorescence increased for up
      to 1 h. Results of injection experiments in which purified antibodies had been
      injected into living cells and probed by indirect fluorescence indicated that the
      antigens were located on the cytoplasmic side of the lysosomal membranes.
      Lysosomes fuse with phagosomes on the one hand but not with non-fusible vesicles
      such as symbiosomes on the other. The results support the view that a membrane
      component(s) of non-fusible vesicles somehow prevents lysosomes from fusing with
      them.

PMID- 1453356
TI  - Micronuclear DNA from Paramecium tetraurelia: serotype 51 A gene has internally
      eliminated sequences.
AB  - A method for the isolation of micronuclear DNA from Paramecium tetraurelia has
      been developed. After cell lysis, a low speed centrifugation at 1,000 g is used
      to remove all of the unbroken cells and macronuclei and approximately two thirds
      of the macronuclear fragments. Next a higher speed centrifugation of 9,000 g
      sediments the micronuclei and frees them from small particulates and soluble
      constituents. Advantage is then taken of the fact that micronuclei have a lower
      density than do macronuclear fragments in 45%-60% Percoll. Micronuclei float to
      the top during centrifugation at 24,000 g, while macronuclear fragments sediment.
      After several cycles of centrifugation in Percoll, the micronuclei, although
      heavily contaminated with cytoplasmic components, are essentially free of
      macronuclei and macronuclear fragments. Micronuclear DNA can then be extracted
      from the suspension. The whole procedure is very rapid and in about an hour
      micronuclear and macronuclear DNA can be separated. About 2 micrograms of
      micronuclear DNA can be obtained from 6 x 10(7) paramecia. We find that there are
      internal sequences in the micronuclear A gene DNA in wild type cells which are
      eliminated when the micronuclei develop into macronuclei. They yield unique
      restriction fragments for micronuclei and macronuclei. Therefore the purity of
      the preparations is easily monitored by probing Southern blots of restriction
      enzyme-digested DNA with the cloned A gene. No differences have been found
      between the micronuclear A gene in wild type and the d48 mutant.

PMID- 1453357
TI  - Meiosis-reinitiation-inducing factor of Tetrahymena functions upstream of M-phase
      promoting factor.
AB  - Reinitiation of meiosis (maturation) of amphibian Bufo and Xenopus oocytes can be
      induced if Tetrahymena extract is injected into them. The activity differed from
      M-phase-promoting factor, because action of the former factor on the induction of
      maturation was inhibited by treatment of the oocytes with cycloheximide. Activity
      of M-phase-promoting factor was not detected in Tetrahymena extract regardless of
      the presence of cdc2 homologues in the extract. However, cycloheximide-resistant
      maturation-inducing activity appeared in the recipients, when the maturation was
      induced by injection of Tetrahymena extract. Immunoblots using antibodies against
      cdc2 showed that injection of Tetrahymena extract induced fast mobility of the
      recipient cdc2 in the presence of the recipient protein synthesis. The same
      mobility shift of the cdc2 was also induced when M-phase-promoting factor
      containing Xenopus oocyte extract was injected into immature oocytes or when the
      immature oocyte extract was treated with alkaline phosphatase. These results
      indicate that meiosis-reinitiation-inducing factor of Tetrahymena functions
      upstream of M-phase-promoting factor to induce dephosphorylation of the recipient
      cdc2. Tetrahymena cdc2 homologues also showed fast mobility when the Tetrahymena
      extract was treated with alkaline phosphatase. Preliminary experiments showed
      that the meiosis-reinitiation-inducing factor of Tetrahymena was a soluble
      protein.

PMID- 1453358
TI  - Sporogonic development of Leucocytozoon smithi.
AB  - The sporogonic development of Leucocytozoon smithi in its black fly vector was
      studied by light and electron microscopy and was compared with that of other
      haemosporidians. Within 18 to 24 h after ingestion of gametocytes by black flies,
      ookinetes passing through the midgut epithelium were observed. Intracellular
      migration of ookinetes resulted in the apparent disruption and degeneration of
      host cells. Intercellular migration also occurred as was evidenced by the
      presence of ookinetes between midgut cells. Transformation of ookinete to
      spherical oocyst occurred extracellularly in three different sites. Although most
      oocysts were found between the host cell basal membrane and the basal lamina,
      large numbers also were found attached to the external surface of the basal
      lamina, projecting into the hemocoel. Ectopic development of oocysts in the
      midgut epithelium between cells was observed much less frequently than
      development on the basal side of the midgut. The oocyst wall of dense granules,
      believed to be of parasite origin, was distinguishable from the basal lamina of
      the host's midgut epithelium. As in other Leucocytozoidae, the cytoplasm of the
      oocyst differentiated into a single sporoblastoid from which 30-50 sporozoites
      were formed. Beginning on the third day post infection, elongation of segregated
      dense sporoblastoid material associated with pellicle thickening led to the
      formation of the finger-like sporozoite buds which projected into the oocyst
      cavity. Sporozoites within mature oocysts and salivary glands were structurally
      similar to sporozoites as described for other haemosporidians.

PMID- 1453359
TI  - Experimental horizontal transmission of Enterocytozoon salmonis to chinook
      salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha.
AB  - Enterocytozoon salmonis was transmitted to chinook salmon Oncorhynchus
      tshawytscha by feeding tissues infected with the parasite and by cohabitation of
      noninfected fish with experimentally infected fish. Affected fish (dead and
      survivors) in both transmission trials had gross and microscopic signs of the
      disease and merogonic and sporogonic stages of the parasite. There were no
      morbidities or mortalities, or evidence of the parasite among control fish in
      either study. Results suggest that the parasite may be contracted by indirect
      contact among healthy and infected fish held in crowded ponds or net pens or by
      direct ingestion of spores found in the water.

PMID- 1453360
TI  - Discontinuous genetic variation among mesophilic Naegleria isolates: further
      evidence that N. gruberi is not a single species.
AB  - Naegleria isolates which are currently placed in the type species N. gruberi
      display great genetic, physiological and morphological heterogeneity. There are
      two possible interpretations of the nature of this species--that N. gruberi is a
      species complex or that it is a single continuously variable species. To
      distinguish between these alternatives, allelic states were determined for 33
      loci in 74 new isolates selected to represent wide geographic sources and diverse
      temperature limits for growth. The results were compared with data for culture
      collection strains of N. gruberi and other species in the genus. The isolates
      formed a discontinuous series of clusters, separated by genetic distances similar
      to those separating the better-characterised taxa N. fowleri, N. lovaniensis, N.
      jadini, N. australiensis australiensis and N. australiensis italica. Culture
      collection strains assigned to N. gruberi fell into six distinct clusters, while
      other clusters were not represented by reference strains. The data are most
      consistent with the interpretation that N. gruberi is a group of several distinct
      species, each equivalent to the recently described species in the genus.
      Naegleria andersoni andersoni and N. andersoni jamiesoni also formed two distinct
      clusters, equivalent to species. Characteristics temperature limits for growth
      show that the mesophilic species are ecological as well as genetic entities.

PMID- 1453361
TI  - Immobilization antigens from Tetrahymena thermophila are glycosyl
      phosphatidylinositol-linked proteins.
AB  - We have studied four strains of Tetrahymena thermophila, each of which expresses
      a different allele of the SerH gene and produces a distinctive surface protein of
      the immobilization antigen (i-antigen) class. Following exposure of the strains
      to [3H]ethanolamine or [3H]myristic acid, a protein corresponding in molecular
      mass to the characteristic i-antigen for that strain became highly labeled, as
      determined by mobility in sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis
      gels. Furthermore, antibodies raised to the i-antigens of the T. thermophila
      strains selectively immunoprecipitated radioactive proteins having molecular mass
      identical to that of the i-antigen characteristic for that particular strain. The
      lipid moieties labeled by [3H]myristate were not susceptible to hydrolysis by
      exogenous phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from bacteria. However,
      when protein extraction was carried out in the absence of phospholipase C
      inhibitors, radioactive fatty acids derived from [3H]myristate were rapidly
      cleaved from the putative i-antigens. On the basis of available data, it was
      concluded that T. thermophila i-antigens contain covalently-linked glycosyl
      phosphatidylinositol anchors.

PMID- 1453363
TI  - A general practice trainee in Kurdistan.

PMID- 1453362
TI  - Case report: a case of rectal perforation by foreign body presenting as pyrexia
      of unknown origin.

PMID- 1453364
TI  - Advanced Trauma Life Support aboard RFA Argus.
AB  - The Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) system was adopted for casualty reception
      and resuscitation. ATLS permitted well-informed triage decisions to be made,
      coupled with appropriate initial, possibly life-saving, treatment. The training
      given on board has continued to benefit patients treated by ex-Argus staff in
      their peacetime roles.

PMID- 1453365
TI  - An insight into the life of Royal Naval surgeons during the Napoleonic War. Part
      2.

PMID- 1453366
TI  - The Knee Signature System: a preliminary report.

PMID- 1453367
TI  - Dura and cranial base reconstruction by external oblique fascia and rectus
      abdominis muscle flap.
AB  - The rectus abdominis muscle flap, combined with the external oblique fascia, were
      utilized in cranial-base reconstruction. In a wide defect caused by resection of
      a giant meningioma, the dura was reconstructed with the external oblique fascia
      and anterior sheath, and the cranial-base defect was reconstructed with the
      rectus abdominis muscle flap.

PMID- 1453368
TI  - Reconstruction of recurrent pressure sores using free flaps.
AB  - The authors describe two successful reconstructions of recurrent pressure sores
      with free fasciocutaneous flaps. In Case 1, a free lateral thigh flap pedicled on
      the first and third direct cutaneous branches of the deep femoral vessels was
      used to cover a large recurrent sacral pressure sore. The vascular pedicle was
      dissected to the deep femoral trunk proximally and anastomosed to the inferior
      gluteal vessels. In Case 2, a free medial plantar flap was transferred to a
      recurrent ischial pressure sore. The vascular pedicle was dissected to the
      posterior tibial vessels proximally. The long vascular pedicle of the flap was
      passed through the femoral subcutaneous tunnel, and end-to-side microvascular
      anastomoses were performed to the superficial femoral trunk without any vein
      grafts. The authors advocate the use of free tissue transfer for recurrent
      pressure sore reconstruction.

PMID- 1453369
TI  - Cryopreserved allogeneic vessel and nerve grafts: hind-limb replantation model in
      the rat.
AB  - The authors have previously reported the permanent storage of skin and cutaneous
      flaps using cryopreservation. In this study, replantation of the hind limb was
      performed in rats, using an allogeneic femoral artery, vein, and sciatic nerve
      which had been cryopreserved for more than 3 weeks. Femoral arteries, veins of 2
      cm in length, and sciatic nerves of 1.5 cm in length from Lewis rats were
      cryopreserved for more than 3 weeks to decrease antigenicity. The hind limb of a
      Brown Norway rat was completely amputated at its mid-length and the cryopreserved
      artery, vein, and nerve were interposed in the anastomosis of the femoral artery,
      vein, and sciatic nerve. Immunosuppressants were not used. Hind limbs were
      replanted in six rats, and all cases survived. Toe spread and gait-foot analysis
      revealed good results at 3 months postoperatively. Excellent axonal regeneration
      was observed in the pathologic examination of the sciatic nerve 1 cm distal to
      the transfer. This report introduces a long-term storage method for vessels and
      nerves and extends the possibilities for clinical use of cryopreserved vessels
      and nerves, using replantation in a rat model.

PMID- 1453370
TI  - Successful replantation of the lower leg after 42-hour ischemia: case report.
AB  - A case of right lower-leg replantation after 42-hr ischemia is presented.
      Revascularization of the other foot with circulatory decompensation after 36-hr
      ischemia was carried out simultaneously. The replanted lower leg survived.
      Following its shortening in replantation by 12 cm, right lower-leg lengthening by
      8 cm was carried out 1.5 years after replantation with the aid of a distraction
      apparatus. The locomotor function in both lower extremities recovered.

PMID- 1453371
TI  - Successful digital replantation after 42 hours of warm ischemia.
AB  - Previously, 6 to 10 hr were believed to be an acceptable limit of warm ischemia
      for successful digital replantation. The longest warm ischemia time ever reported
      was 33 hr. This report presents successful replantations of two fingers after 42
      hr of warm ischemia.

PMID- 1453372
TI  - Secondary coverage of the hand using a dorsalis pedis plus first web space free
      flap.
AB  - Traditionally, severe degloving injuries of the hand have been treated with
      random abdominal or pedicled groin flaps, which offer good cutaneous coverage but
      do not provide sensibility. The authors present the results of the application of
      an extended dorsalis pedis plus first web space of the foot flap to resurface the
      hands of five male patients who had been treated originally with random abdominal
      or pedicled groin flaps. The reported flap has the advantage of providing the
      patient with up to three different nerve territories, aiding in a better
      functional use of the hand.

PMID- 1453373
TI  - Reinnervated radial forearm free flaps in head and neck reconstruction.
AB  - The radial forearm flap has proved to be a reliable free flap for intraoral
      reconstruction after major head and neck ablative surgery for cancer. In contrast
      to the myocutaneous flap, it is thin and flexible, and as a result, it is better
      suited to conforming to the irregular surface which remains over an intact or
      restored mandible. A criticism of both techniques however, is that while the flap
      effectively fills the defect, it serves as an insensate reservoir in which food
      and saliva can collect. A modification of the reinnervated radial forearm free
      flap is presented, with discussion of its use in three patients, following
      extensive resection of the floor of the mouth and tongue.

PMID- 1453374
TI  - Morphologic characteristics of muscles grafted in rabbits with neurovascular
      repair.
AB  - In 34 female white rabbits, rectus femoris (RFM) muscles were grafted with
      immediate anastomoses of the vasculature (VA) and with nerves either left intact
      (NI-VA) or with nerves repaired (NR-VA). The purpose of the study was to compare
      the morphologic changes that occur in NI-VA grafts and NR-VA grafts from 8 to 120
      days after grafting. After 8 days, nearly complete survival of all muscle fibers
      was found. The muscle mass and single fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) of the NI
      VA group remained near control values for the first 30 days and then declined to
      82 percent and 62 percent of the control values, respectively. Little evidence of
      morphologic disruption was observed. The NR-VA grafts displayed a significant
      denervation atrophy within the first 15 days, with relative values 67 percent of
      the control value for mean mass and 53 percent for single fiber CSA. By 120 days,
      mass and CSA recovered to 80 percent and 62 percent of control values. Although
      the similarity of the deficits in the nerve-intact and nerve-repaired grafts
      suggest that tenotomy and repair, rather than innervation, were the major
      limitations, the mechanism was not resolved.

PMID- 1453375
TI  - A simple cuff-suture technique for microvascular anastomosis.
AB  - The use of synthetic cuffs to simplify and hasten microvascular anastomoses is
      offered as an alternative to conventional methods. In this study, a soft, non
      irritating, silicone rubber cuff was used to construct end-to-end and end-to-side
      cuff-sutured anastomoses in rats. This technique was as rapid as other non
      sutured anastomoses, required no assistant, and provoked no foreign-body
      reactions.

PMID- 1453376
TI  - Leukocyte adhesion to vascular endothelium.
AB  - Leukocyte adhesion and emigration are controlled by soluble mediators and
      effected by various adhesion molecules. Currently, three major families of
      adhesion receptors are known to contribute to this process: integrins, vascular
      selectins, and immunoglobulin-like receptors. These adhesion systems are not
      additive and mutually replaceable, but appear to constitute a cascade of events.
      Leukocyte margination is followed by rolling, firm adhesion, emigration, and
      migration in the interstitial space. In addition, biomechanical parameters like
      leukocyte deformability and shear stress exerted by the flowing blood modulate
      the efficacy of adhesive interaction. This article briefly reviews the molecular
      nature, biologic regulation, and physiologic function of pertinent adhesion
      receptors.

PMID- 1453377
TI  - Exercise induced injuries--the way ahead.

PMID- 1453378
TI  - Smoking impairs the response to a physical training regime: a study of officer
      cadets.
AB  - One hundred and sixty five officer cadets completed a 6 month physical training
      programme; 47 (28%) were smokers and 118 (72%) were not. Improvements in fitness
      were measured by the Army Personal Fitness Assessment (APFA) which scores for
      both strength and endurance. Initially both groups had similar APFA scores [mean
      (SEM)]: smokers 114 (3.1), non smokers 120 (2.3), difference not significant. Six
      months later both groups had improved their scores: smokers 131 (2.7), non
      smokers 143 (2.3), but the smokers were now significantly less fit (p < 0.01).
      The British Army needs a more effective anti smoking policy as 50% of young
      soldiers continue to smoke, and have an increased risk of premature ischaemic
      heart disease when compared with their civilian counterparts. Physical fitness
      remains important in the Army and evidence such as this may help persuade
      soldiers to give up smoking before standard tests of cardiovascular or lung
      function show any abnormalities, with benefits for the future health of the Army.

PMID- 1453379
TI  - A new chart to assist with advanced trauma life support.
AB  - Many studies have drawn attention to deficiencies in the management of major
      trauma, both in the UK and elsewhere. One area that has received little attention
      is the documentation of such cases in the Emergency Room. When outcome may be sub
      optimal, documentation assumes greater importance if advances are to be made in
      the organisation of trauma care. Based upon the American College of Surgeons
      Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) protocols, the authors have designed a
      document that records dynamically what happens to the multiply injured victim on
      arrival in the Emergency Room. It unifies the recording of vital signs, whilst
      acting as an assessment and resuscitation template. By ensuring no life
      threatening illness is missed it is likely to improve patient survival. The
      document can act as a basis for teaching and a medico-legal record, whilst
      providing the necessary data for quality assurance and outcome audit.

PMID- 1453380
TI  - Chronic pancreatitis in the British Army 1978-1989.
AB  - A retrospective study was made of all 28 soldiers with chronic pancreatitis first
      diagnosed between 1978 and 1989. All patients were male, alcohol was the
      aetiological factor in 90%, the mean age at diagnosis was 30 and the commonest
      mode of presentation was with recurrent painful episodes of pancreatitis.
      Endocrine and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency occurred in a quarter and a third
      of patients respectively and one third required surgical intervention.

PMID- 1453381
TI  - Experiences in a level-1 trauma centre.

PMID- 1453382
TI  - A case of factitious fever and 'epilepsy'.
AB  - We describe the case of a 23 year old male who presented with a history of
      intermittent pyrexia associated with apparent episodic loss of consciousness.
      During these events, thermometers placed in the rectum and axillae supported the
      elevated oral temperature readings. After numerous investigations including
      electroencephalography had excluded organic disease, the patient was observed
      applying a hot douche to his rectum prior to his temperature being recorded.

PMID- 1453383
TI  - Complications of prophylactic intercostal tube drainage--including tension
      pneumothorax.
AB  - A case is presented of tension pneumothorax associated with intercostal tube
      drainage. Complications of intercostal tube drainage are reviewed.

PMID- 1453384
TI  - The corps disease: brucellosis and its historical association with the Royal Army
      Medical Corps.
AB  - Brucellosis (also known as Malta, Mediterranean or Undulant Fever) has aptly been
      nicknamed the Corps Disease because of the major role played by the Royal Army
      Medical Corps in elucidating its nature and discovering its mode of spread, thus
      leading to its prevention and eradication. This history of brucellosis,
      incorporating a complete bibliography of all references to the disease in the
      Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps from 1903 to 1992, documents the
      fascinating story of this association.

PMID- 1453385
TI  - Battlefield surgical care--lest we forget.

PMID- 1453386
TI  - Leptospirosis.

PMID- 1453387
TI  - Leptospirosis--a cause for concern?

PMID- 1453388
TI  - Post-operative wound infections in Belize.

PMID- 1453389
TI  - The number of cells used for immunotherapy of repeated spontaneous abortion
      influences pregnancy outcome.
AB  - One hundred and sixty-eight women were immunized on a single occasion with
      paternal mononuclear cells (MNC) for recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) and
      pregnancy outcomes were analysed with respect to the number of MNC given. The
      study was done in a prospective sequential fashion using all MNC recoverable from
      a unit of the spouse's blood and both patients and investigators were blinded as
      to the number of cells injected. Women receiving low and mid-range doses of MNC
      (58-305 x 10(6) and 308-567 x 10(6), respectively) had a significantly higher
      pregnancy success rate (57%) than those receiving the high (568-2677 x 10(6))
      dose of MNC (41%). In 77 consecutive patients the diameter of the largest
      immediate skin flare reaction at the site of subcutaneous injection was recorded.
      No correlation was found between the skin flare response and the number of MNC
      injected. Our data suggest that a blinded trial of paternal MNC immunization
      comparing what appears to be optimum numbers of cells (100-550 million) to a low
      dose inoculum (e.g., 10 million), again noting the sizes of the skin flare
      reactions, might answer questions about efficacy and placebo effects of
      immunotherapy for RSA.

PMID- 1453390
TI  - Differential distribution of interleukin-1 alpha and interleukin-1 beta proteins
      in human placentas.
AB  - Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) were
      identified in samples of first trimester and term placentas by
      immunocytochemistry using two sets of polyclonal antibodies to recombinant IL-1.
      All samples contained the two species of IL-1, which predominated in different
      types of cells: IL-1 alpha was contained primarily in placental villous
      trophoblastic and stromal cells whereas IL-1 beta was localized to cells in fetal
      and maternal blood. With respect to the cellular localization of the two
      proteins, early and late gestation tissues were similar. Although these results
      were generally consistent for the two sets of antibodies, differences were noted
      in the binding patterns of the individual reagents. The findings in this study
      provide strong support for the postulate that IL-1 modulates placental
      development and suggest that IL-1 alpha may be the preferred species in
      extraembryonic tissues.

PMID- 1453391
TI  - Distribution of lymphocyte subsets in rat milk from normal and Trichinella
      spiralis-infected rats.
AB  - We have shown that T. spiralis-specific T lymphocytes can mediate maternal-to
      neonatal immunity during lactation. This study addresses the change of lymphocyte
      populations in rat milk during normal and disease conditions. Two color flow
      cytometric analysis was performed for milk lymphocytes. T cells (OX19+) made up
      45% of rat milk lymphocyte population. T helper cells (Th) composed 35% of total
      T cells while T cytotoxic/suppressor (Tcs) cells constituted 34%, giving a Th/Tcs
      ratio of 1.03. The corresponding ratio Th/Tcs in peripheral blood was 2.8.
      Approximately 21% of OX8+ cells in rat milk were OX19- natural killer (NK) cells.
      When using the monoclonal antibody 3.2.3 (NKR-P1), 43% of lymphocytes in control
      rat milk and 14% of blood lymphocytes were NK cells. This indicates a selective
      passage of these cells into milk. In T. spiralis-immunized rats, the percentage
      of total T cells was slightly decreased; however, Th and Tcs cells were
      consistent as compared to control milk. The percentage of NK cells (OX8+OX19-) in
      milk from T. spiralis-immunized rats was significantly higher than that from
      control milk (65% vs. 21%, respectively, P less than 0.01). This result was
      confirmed using the monoclonal antibody 3.2.3 which showed that milk from
      immunized rats contained 63% NK cells compared to 43% in normal milk (P less than
      0.01). This study suggests that NK cells are selectively passaged into rat milk
      and T. spiralis infection induces an increase of NK cells in milk.

PMID- 1453392
TI  - Antifertility effects of antisperm cell-mediated immunity in mice.
AB  - C57BL/6 female mice were immunized with allogeneic (DBA/2) sperm in Freund's
      adjuvant either subcutaneously (s.c.), transcervically into the uterine lumen
      (i.u.), or with a combination of s.c. and i.u. immunization approaches. Control
      mice received DBA/2 lymphocytes, human erythrocytes or saline in adjuvant using
      the same immunization protocols. Immunization with sperm or control cells in
      adjuvant exclusively by s.c. or i.u. approaches did not affect subsequent
      fertility, although sperm-injected mice from both protocols had high titers of
      circulating antisperm antibodies. In contrast, mice that were immunized with
      sperm in adjuvant by a combination of s.c. and i.u. injections demonstrated
      significant reductions in fertilization rate and number of viable fetuses and an
      increased rate of fetal resorption when compared with non-immunized and control
      immunized mice. Mice receiving sperm by the s.c./i.u. protocol had high titers of
      antisperm antibodies and a marked infiltration of T lymphocytes and macrophages
      into the uterine endometrium. To determine whether cellular immune mechanisms
      contributed to the infertility effect, T lymphocytes from spleens and pelvic
      lymph nodes of s.c./i.u. sperm-immunized mice and non-immunized mice were
      passively transferred to naive syngeneic female recipients which were
      subsequently mated. The total number of fetuses on day 15 of pregnancy was
      significantly reduced in mice receiving T-lymphocytes from sperm-immunized mice
      and a significant increase in fetal resorption sites was also observed. These
      mice did not have detectable titers of circulating antisperm antibodies, but had
      a significant infiltration of CD4+ T lymphocytes and macrophages in the uterine
      epithelium and endometrium. These data indicate that intrauterine antisperm cell
      mediated immunity can be induced in mice by a combination of systemic and
      intrauterine immunizations and provide evidence for the existence of reproductive
      tract mucosal antisperm cellular immune responses that adversely affect fertility
      and pregnancy.

PMID- 1453393
TI  - Alloimmune neonatal neutropenia is a potential side effect of immunization with
      leukocytes in women with recurrent spontaneous abortions.
AB  - Alloimmunization of a mother against granulocytes causing alloimmune neonatal
      neutropenia (ANN) in her newborn was found likely to be attributed to previous
      intradermal injections of paternal lymphocytes. Immunotherapy with leukocytes
      which was performed for recurrent spontaneous abortions hence provides the
      possibility of granulocyte alloimmunization and increases the risk of the
      occurrence of ANN.

PMID- 1453394
TI  - Laparoscopic uterine suspension as an adjunctive procedure at the time of laser
      laparoscopy for the treatment of endometriosis.
AB  - Uterine suspension has been advocated as an adjunctive procedure at the time of
      conservative surgery for endometriosis but has seldom been used at the time of
      CO2 laser laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis. In this study of 225 patients
      treated for cul-de-sac endometriosis by CO2 laser laparoscopy between 1984 and
      1989 uterine suspension was performed as an adjunctive procedure at the time of
      laparoscopy. The result was a cumulative pregnancy rate of 80.0%. Life-table
      analysis was performed, and monthly fecundity rates were calculated as 15.58%,
      6.29%, 17.86% and 7.89% for Revised American Fertility Society (RAFS)
      endometriosis stages I to IV respectively. CO2 laser laparoscopy and laparoscopic
      uterine suspension alleviated preoperative pelvic pain complaints in 94% of the
      patients. Monthly fecundity rates for RAFS stage I endometriosis, which exceeded
      previously reported rates following expectant management, medical management and
      conservative surgery, were attributed to laparoscopic uterine suspension, which
      had not been previously reported as an adjunct to CO2 laser laparoscopy.

PMID- 1453395
TI  - Effect of thrombin-induced hemostasis on the efficacy of an absorbable adhesion
      barrier.
AB  - Serosal injury, bleeding and fibrin deposition are major factors in the
      development of surgical adhesions; meticulous hemostasis is desirable but not
      always achievable. The effects of thrombin on adhesion formation and the
      performance of Interceed Barrier were tested in separate series using a standard
      model and two levels of bleeding: an "oozing" model in which rabbit uterine horns
      were scraped to produce uncontrolled punctate bleeding and a "bleeding" model, in
      which four small blood vessels nicked on the ligament to each horn produced
      heavier bleeding. Substantial clots in the bleeding model were not removed.
      Adhesions, assessed after two weeks, were not worsened by the use of thrombin to
      control bleeding. While Interceed Barrier alone did not reduce adhesions at sites
      of bleeding, achieving hemostasis with thrombin and then applying Interceed
      Barrier significantly reduced adhesions. The effect was not achieved by applying
      thrombin to previously blood-soaked Interceed Barrier. The efficacy of Interceed
      Barrier applied after achieving hemostasis was further improved by moistening it
      with heparin. Achieving hemostasis at a bleeding site with thrombin facilitates
      the efficacy of Interceed Barrier.

PMID- 1453396
TI  - Clinical and histologic classification of endometriomas. Implications for a
      mechanism of pathogenesis.
AB  - One hundred eighty-seven consecutive patients with persistent ovarian cysts and
      endometriosis underwent laparoscopic evaluation and ovarian cystectomy. All
      patients had been followed for a minimum of 6 weeks prior to surgery. The cysts
      were identified initially to be endometriomas based on their gross appearance and
      the presence of endometriosis at other pelvic sites. Presumed endometriomas were
      classified into three types based on size, cyst contents, ease of removal of the
      capsule, adhesions of the cyst to other structures and location of superficial
      endometrial implants relative to the cyst wall. After clinical laparoscopic
      classification, the cysts were evaluated histologically without knowledge of the
      clinical assessment. Histologically small (< 2 cm), superficial ovarian cysts
      were always endometriomas, and the cyst wall was very difficult to remove (type
      I). Large cysts with easily removed walls were usually luteal cysts (type II).
      Large cysts with walls adherent in multiple areas adjacent to superficial
      endometriosis were generally endometriomas but some also had histologic
      characteristics of functional (luteal or follicular) cysts (types IIIa and IIIb).
      These findings led to the conclusion that superficial ovarian endometriosis is
      similar to endometriosis in extra-ovarian sites in that the formation of
      superficial cysts is limited in size by fibrosis and scarring. In contrast, large
      endometriomas may develop as a result of secondary involvement of functional
      ovarian cysts by the endometriotic process.

PMID- 1453397
TI  - Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy using a single-umbilical puncture (mini
      laparoscopy).
AB  - Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
      utilizing the single-puncture technique (mini-laparoscopy) is presented here for
      the first time. The surgical outcome of four patients in whom this minimally
      invasive approach was employed demonstrates the effectiveness of the single
      puncture technique as an alternative to the currently used multiple-puncture
      method for hysterectomy. Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy with removal of
      the uterus and adnexa through the umbilical puncture site is an effective
      alternative for patients with a healthy cervix, no associated genital prolapse
      and moderate uterine enlargement. Advantages of this new modality include reduced
      blood loss and operating time, and the decreased possibility of surgical injury
      to the ureters, bladder and bowels. The risk of development of malignancy in the
      retained stump is almost eliminated by the laparoscopic removal of the upper
      endocervical canal and cauterization of the lower endocervical canal and
      exocervix.

PMID- 1453398
TI  - Determining the time of the urinary luteinizing hormone surge. Does it facilitate
      the interpretation of endometrial biopsy results?
AB  - Recent data suggest that endometrial maturation correlates highly with the
      postovulatory day as determined by ultrasound or identification of the urinary
      luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. A study was performed to determine the level of
      correlation between two methods of endometrial biopsy (EB) interpretation. Method
      1 correlated histology with the onset of the next menstrual period; method 2
      correlated it with the postovulatory day relative to the LH surge. Forty EBs were
      analyzed. Both methods agreed that 20/40 EBs were in phase and 6/40 EBs were out
      of phase (greater than a two-day lag between histologic endometrial maturation
      and chronologic dating). Of the remaining 14 EBs, 8 were in phase by method 1 and
      out of phase by method 2, and 6 were out of phase by method 1 and in phase by
      method 2. Thus, 35% of EBs were considered in phase by one method and out of
      phase by the alternative method. This implies that 35% of management decisions
      regarding whether to repeat an EB or treat an out-of-phase EB may be influenced
      by the method of interpreting EBs.

PMID- 1453399
TI  - Decreased amniotic fluid index in term pregnancy. Clinical significance.
AB  - In a study of 331 term pregnancies a four-quadrant technique was used to obtain
      amniotic fluid index measurements, and the results were compared with the current
      widely used single-pocket measurement. In contrast to the "2-cm rule," the
      amniotic fluid index measurements consistently demonstrated higher sensitivity in
      predicting poor fetal outcome with no decrease in specificity. It was noted that
      pregnancies with an index of < or = 8 cm showed higher incidences of meconium
      staining, cesarean delivery for fetal distress, abnormal fetal heart rate
      monitoring and Apgar scores of < or = 7 or less at one minute.

PMID- 1453400
TI  - Fetal weight-cerebellar diameter discordance as an indicator of asymmetrical
      fetal growth impairment.
AB  - In this study on the effect of fetal growth impairment < or = 25th percentile on
      the transverse cerebellar diameter and its relationship with other fetal
      biometric parameters, the sample comprised 50 women with singleton pregnancies
      referred for ultrasound evaluation because of clinically suspected intrauterine
      growth retardation. The cerebellar diameter of asymmetrically growth-impaired
      fetuses remained within the normal range although it was found to be reduced when
      compared with that of normal fetuses (4.4 +/- 0.9 versus 4.8 +/- 0.7, P < .05).
      Although other biometric parameters (biparietal diameter, femur length and
      abdominal and head circumferences) were also reduced in growth-impaired fetuses,
      the ratios of these biometric parameters to cerebellar diameter were similar to
      those of unaffected fetuses. Fetal weight was affected to a greater extent than
      the cerebellar diameter, leading to discordance between the two parameters. This
      discordance identified almost all asymmetrically growth-impaired fetuses with a
      sensitivity of 95.6% and specificity of 96.3%. In contrast, the ratio of head
      circumference to abdominal circumference remained normal in more than half of the
      fetuses. Fetal weight-to-cerebellar diameter discordance is a very sensitive and
      specific indicator of asymmetrical fetal growth impairment.

PMID- 1453401
TI  - Inflammatory cell infiltrate in the cervix as a predictor of residual cervical
      intraepithelial neoplasia after conization.
AB  - From January 1985 to January 1991, 112 patients underwent conization of the
      cervix for dysplasia. Twenty-one had incomplete resection, with cervical
      intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) extending to the endocervical margins of
      resection. Only 10 had persistent CIN in follow-up. A decrease in the
      inflammatory cell infiltrate in the cervical stroma of the conization specimen
      was associated with persistent disease. A simple technique for quantitating this
      inflammatory cell infiltrate was used. Smoking was associated with a suppression
      of this local immune response in the cervix.

PMID- 1453402
TI  - Nonstress test assessment of twins.
AB  - Twin pregnancies have higher perinatal morbidity and mortality rates than
      singleton pregnancies. Researchers have demonstrated that one major benefit of
      prenatal care in the twin gestation is reduced fetal death rate. This study to
      determine the relationship of nonstress tests (NSTs) to pregnancy outcome in twin
      gestations comprised 665 women who delivered at Los Angeles County-University of
      Southern California Women's Hospital from January 1985 to January 1989. These
      patients, all of whom had prenatal care (PNC), were subdivided into two groups:
      (1) PNC and NSTs and (2) PNC and no NSTs. The groups did not differ statistically
      with regard to gravidity, parity and abortions. NSTs were selectively done on
      twin gestations complicated by discordancy or other fetal/maternal complications.
      Ten pregnancies were complicated by fetal demise of one or both twins in patients
      who received prenatal care without NSTs. Among the NST group there was one fetal
      demise. Although the NST group had fewer fetal deaths, the reduction was not
      statistically significant (P = .062). Infant birth weight was identified as a
      confounder because the NST group had a statistically higher mean birth weight.
      Definitive proof of the ability of NSTs to reduce the fetal death rate in twin
      gestations complicated by discordancy or other pregnancy complications awaits a
      large, prospective, randomized trial.

PMID- 1453403
TI  - Epidermal thickness measurements in vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia. A basis
      for optimal CO2 laser vaporization.
AB  - The current management of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) often involves
      the use of laser vaporization. A study was performed to measure the epithelial
      thickness in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women with various grades of
      VAIN to determine the optimum depth of tissue destruction if laser vaporization
      is used for therapy. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue sections were examined
      with light microscopy and measurements made with a calibrated micrometer. Sixty
      three biopsies from 56 patients were studied. Patients' ages ranged from 22 to 84
      years, with a mean of 56. Thirty-six had a prior history of cervical neoplasia.
      Thirty-nine patients (70%) had VAIN III, 10 had VAIN II, and the remaining 7
      patients had VAIN I lesions. The involved epithelium varied from 0.10 to 1.4 mm
      in thickness, with a mean of 0.46. Noninvolved vaginal epithelium varied in
      thickness from 0.10 to 0.70 mm, with a mean of 0.28. Koilocytosis was noted in
      only 9 of the 63 biopsy specimens. In comparing the thickness of involved
      epithelium in a given patient to that of an adjacent area of normal-appearing
      epithelium, the epithelium containing VAIN tended to be thicker. The recommended
      depth of epithelial destruction with laser vaporization in the literature varies
      widely and appears to have largely an empiric basis. Our study attempted to
      provide a scientific basis for laser destruction of these lesions. The results
      obtained indicate that epithelial destruction to a depth of 1.5 mm, including the
      zone of thermal necrosis, should be sufficient to destroy epithelium containing
      VAIN without damage to surrounding structures.

PMID- 1453404
TI  - Extraovular and intraovular uterine contraction monitoring. A comparison.
AB  - We tested a new method of monitoring intrauterine contraction pressure. The
      pressure transducer is simply inserted between the fetal membranes and uterus
      after checking placental placement with ultrasonography. To evaluate this method,
      a prospective, randomized study was done to compare intraovular versus
      extraovular intrauterine contraction monitoring in patients undergoing serial
      labor induction with oxytocin. Study parameters were length of labor, cesarean
      section rate, Apgar scores and febrile morbidity rate. Two groups of 32 patients
      each underwent oxytocin induction for postdatism, diabetes or hypertensive
      disorders of pregnancy. Our results show that extraovular intrauterine
      contraction monitoring resulted in a better outcome with respect to all the
      parameters evaluated. Specifically, it had a shorter induction interval, lower
      cesarean section rate, lower rate of maternal febrile morbidity and comparable
      neonatal complications. The technique was safe and easy to learn and apply.

PMID- 1453405
TI  - Prophylactic intrapartum amnioinfusion for patients with oligohydramnios. A
      prospective randomized study.
AB  - This prospective study evaluated whether prophylactic saline amnioinfusion among
      patients with amniotic fluid index (AFI) < or = 5.0 cm decreases the incidence of
      adverse fetal outcomes. Randomization of 53 patients with decreased AFI at term,
      resulted in 21 patients' receiving prophylactic saline amnioinfusion early in
      labor, prior to development of an abnormal fetal heart rate tracing. For the
      treatment group the mean AFI on admission was 3.0 cm, and the postamnioinfusion
      AFI was 8.9 cm. For 32 comparison (noninfusion) patients, the mean AFI was 2.9
      cm; the group consisted of 17 patients randomized to receive no amnioinfusion
      (control group) and 15 patients who refused to participate in the study. There
      was no statistically significant difference between the amnioinfused and
      nonamnioinfused patients with regard to age, parity, gestational age, AFI at
      admission or duration of first or second stage of labor. Amnioinfusion resulted
      in no statistically significant reduction in the incidence of recurrent variable
      decelerations/bradycardia (26.3% vs. 46.6%), intrapartum resuscitation with
      terbutaline (5.2% vs. 10.0%), cesarean section for fetal distress (9.5% vs.
      9.3%), fetal-acidosis (10.5% vs. 12.0%) or Apgar scores < 7 at five minutes (5.2%
      vs. 0%) in patients with oligohydramnios.

PMID- 1453406
TI  - AIDS (HIV) risk assessment in an inner-city women's clinic.
AB  - Risk assessment and antibody testing are potential modalities through which
      interventions to reduce heterosexual and perinatal transmission of human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can occur. More than 98% of women attending inner
      city adult gynecology, adult contraception and teen family planning clinics
      successfully completed self-administered HIV (AIDS) risk assessment
      questionnaires and received individual counseling, risk-reduction education and
      referral for antibody testing. Fourteen percent of the women (671/4,802) reported
      at least one HIV risk factor. Multiple sexual partners and intravenous drug use
      were the most commonly reported HIV risk factors in this population.

PMID- 1453407
TI  - Incidence of salmonellosis in local hens' eggs.
AB  - Evidence indicates that outbreaks of salmonellosis may be due to infected eggs.
      This prompted a study on the incidence of salmonella in eggs. This study was done
      during summer 1991 and 900 eggs were examined in all. None of the eggs examined
      were found to be infected with salmonella. However, the result obtained should be
      treated with care and analysed with a critical eye. The result obtained does not
      imply that local flocks are not infected by salmonella.

PMID- 1453408
TI  - Mefenamic acid in prevention of premature labour.
AB  - Women at risk of premature delivery were divided randomly into 2 groups of 80
      each. Mefenamic acid 500mg 3 times a day or a placebo was given in a double blind
      fashion. Preterm delivery occurred in 15% of the treated group and 40% of the
      control group (p < 0.005). The mean birth weight in the test group was higher as
      compared to the controls. There were no cases of foetal malformations in either
      of the groups. The results support the use of Mefenamic acid in preventing
      premature labour.

PMID- 1453409
TI  - Dietary habits of technical and vocational students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--I.
      Meal skipping.
AB  - 452 male technical and vocational students aged 16-25 years old were surveyed for
      their dietary habits at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The data presented here cover the
      habit of meal skipping. Results showed that dinner was skipped by 28%, breakfast
      by 20% and lunch was skipped by 15%. Differences are discussed according to age
      cohorts and accommodation status subgroups.

PMID- 1453410
TI  - Environmental health and the South African community.
AB  - The success of an environmental impact assessment programme will depend on the
      perceptions of a community. There are differences in the opinion of the
      population groups of South Africa concerning the perceived environmental threats
      to health.

PMID- 1453411
TI  - Lying in children.
AB  - Lying is a common problem in children. The causes of lying are numerous. With
      proper management including good parental role models, minimising or preventing
      contributing factors, and appropriate discipline, most children outgrow the
      tendency to lie.

PMID- 1453412
TI  - Older adult learners: a guide for food safety trainers.

PMID- 1453413
TI  - Physical exercise/sports and biopsychosocial well-being.

PMID- 1453414
TI  - A consumer-led approach to designing buildings for elderly nursing care.

PMID- 1453415
TI  - Hypnotism--curse or cure for smokers?

PMID- 1453416
TI  - The Children Act--partnership with families.

PMID- 1453417
TI  - Multidisciplinary case conference; fulcrum, fudge, or fix?

PMID- 1453418
TI  - Health professions in 1992: the European challenge--the challenge for nursing.

PMID- 1453420
TI  - Presidential politics and health care issues.

PMID- 1453419
TI  - Single market or single Europe: the challenge for European social work.

PMID- 1453421
TI  - Setting a good example.

PMID- 1453422
TI  - Instability versus predictability: the molecular diagnosis of myotonic dystrophy.

PMID- 1453423
TI  - Comparison of the myotonic dystrophy associated CTG repeat in European and
      Japanese populations.
AB  - Gene amplification using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out on DNA
      samples from a total of 92 normal subjects and 52 subjects with myotonic
      dystrophy (DM) from European and Japanese populations, to determine the copy
      number of the CTG repeat associated with DM for each group. In the two
      populations, the number of repeats on normal chromosomes only were compared, as
      CTG copy number on DM chromosomes was difficult to determine by PCR alone. In
      this study, normal chromosomes were found which had as many as 35 copies of the
      repeat, which is larger than the normal range reported previously but still does
      not overlap with the repeat number associated with DM pathology, which is at
      least 50 copies. Using data from normal chromosomes from unrelated subjects, the
      frequencies of five, 11, and 13 copies of the CTG repeat were found to be
      significantly different between the two populations, with five and 11 copies more
      commonly seen in the European population and 13 copies in the Japanese
      population. This difference may be the result of natural divergence of the normal
      chromosomes between the population groups.

PMID- 1453424
TI  - Minimal expression of myotonic dystrophy: a clinical and molecular analysis.
AB  - A clinical and molecular study is reported of 83 patients considered to be
      minimally affected with myotonic dystrophy (DM). These had been identified in
      three ways: 60 subjects were identified on clinical grounds and were divided into
      those with and those without neuromuscular involvement (groups I and II); nine
      subjects were at high risk of carrying the DM gene but had a normal phenotype
      (group III); and 14 were parents of definitely affected patients where neither
      parent showed clinical abnormalities (group IV). PCR analysis of the CTG repeat
      in the DM gene showed a range of 70 to 230 repeats for the younger at risk
      patients in group III, while the asymptomatic gene carriers in group IV had 53 to
      60 repeats. The sensitivity of diagnosis by EMG was found to be 39%. For
      ophthalmic signs this was 97.5%. This suggests that assignment on the basis of
      minimal clinical features carries a significant error. Molecular analysis, in
      conjunction with established clinical investigations, should prove valuable in
      the identification and exclusion of minimal myotonic dystrophy.

PMID- 1453425
TI  - The correlation of age of onset with CTG trinucleotide repeat amplification in
      myotonic dystrophy.
AB  - The gene for myotonic dystrophy (DM) has recently been isolated and amplification
      of an unstable CTG trinucleotide repeat, located within the DM gene, has been
      identified in virtually all patients studied to date. A high proportion of DM
      families who are studied show a progressively earlier age of onset with
      succeeding generations and, in the few pedigrees reported so far, an increasing
      degree of amplification of the CTG repeat has been noted to parallel this trend.
      It has been implicit in several of the original reports on the nature of the
      changes in the DM gene that knowledge of CTG amplification status at the DM locus
      of a person will provide useful information concerning prognosis. However, no
      studies of genotype-phenotype correlation have been reported and there are no
      specific data on which to base such counsel. In this paper we report the
      correlation between the degree of CTG amplification and age of onset in 109 DM
      gene carriers from 17 families. Included are parent-child and sib-sib comparisons
      which provide a framework in which to incorporate DNA diagnostic studies when
      counselling subjects and families at risk for DM.

PMID- 1453426
TI  - Presymptomatic diagnosis of myotonic dystrophy.
AB  - The discovery of an expanded (CTG)n repeat sequence in myotonic dystrophy (DM)
      has greatly improved our ability to detect DM gene carriers who have few or none
      of the classical signs of this disorder. We report here our experience with two
      such groups of gene carriers. We used a PCR based protocol that should be
      especially sensitive to small increases in CTG triplet number which might escape
      detection by conventional Southern blot analysis. Our analyses show that on 100
      non-DM chromosomes the number of CTG triplets ranged from five to 37. We then
      studied 17 obligate gene carriers aged 55 years and over who showed no muscle
      weakness. All of the gene carriers in this group showed a relatively small
      increase in the number of CTG triplets (52 to 90 CTG triplets) with limited
      somatic mosaicism. We subsequently studied 11 subjects (aged 19 to 36 years) who
      had previously been identified as gene carriers by genetic linkage studies, but
      who lacked diagnostic signs. In this prospectively studied group, nine subjects
      showed an expanded allele, confirming the earlier prediction from linked genetic
      markers. The other two subjects had only two normal alleles and no expanded
      allele. Revision of the clinical data casts doubt on the original diagnosis of DM
      in their families. Preferential amplification of the normal non-expanded allele
      was noted in three asymptomatic gene carriers in this study (as well as in two of
      their clinically affected relatives). We caution that, at least in our hands, the
      DM mutation can be confidently excluded by this PCR based method only if both
      normal alleles have been identified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453427
TI  - Specific molecular prenatal diagnosis for the CTG mutation in myotonic dystrophy.
AB  - The results of DNA analysis for the specific mutation of myotonic dystrophy are
      reported in eight pregnancies (two studied retrospectively) in six families. Four
      results were normal; in the other four, large DNA expansions were found,
      comparable to the range seen in severely affected children with congenital onset
      of the disorder. The results agreed with those obtained by linked DNA markers in
      the six cases where they were available. We conclude that specific molecular
      prenatal diagnosis of myotonic dystrophy is feasible, and that an abnormal result
      may also give a guide to possible severity, though this should be interpreted
      with caution until greater experience is available.

PMID- 1453428
TI  - Expansion of the myotonic dystrophy gene in Italian and Spanish patients.
AB  - Myotonic dystrophy results from expansion of a (CTG)n repeat at the 3'
      untranslated region of the myotonin-protein kinase gene. We show here the genomic
      analysis of 322 symptomatic patients with the cDNA-25 probe detecting disease
      specific EcoRI restriction fragments. The expansion was found in the majority of
      Italian and Spanish patients (92%). The implications of these results for the
      detection of symptomatic patients in southern Europe are discussed.

PMID- 1453429
TI  - Intestinal pseudo-obstruction in myotonic dystrophy.
AB  - We describe four myotonic dystrophy (DM) patients who developed recurrent
      intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Some episodes were associated with
      gastroenteritis, while abdominal crowding may have occurred in one case during
      the third trimester of pregnancy. In most instances, however, no apparent cause
      could be identified. Intestinal pseudo-obstruction may occur at any stage of DM.
      In one of our cases intestinal pseudo-obstruction preceded significant muscle
      weakness by 15 years. Intestinal pseudo-obstruction is usually treated
      effectively with conservative measures. These include restriction of oral intake,
      intravenous fluids, and multiple enemas or colonoscopy. Improved intestinal
      function was noted in one case treated with the prokinetic agent cisapride. A
      partial sigmoid resection was performed in three cases with dolichomegacolon. No
      abnormalities were reported on histological examination. Since intestinal pseudo
      obstruction is a rare complication of DM, it is of interest that two of our cases
      are sibs. Review of published reports showed several reports of familial
      occurrence of specific complications. These include cardiac conduction
      disturbances, focal myocarditis, mitral valve prolapse, pilomatrixomas,
      polyneuropathy, normal pressure hydrocephalus, and dilatation of the urinary
      tract. Myotonic dystrophy may show a tendency to familial clustering of organ
      specific involvement.

PMID- 1453430
TI  - Inheritance of the fragile X syndrome: size of the fragile X premutation is a
      major determinant of the transition to full mutation.
AB  - The fragile X mental retardation syndrome is caused by unstable expansion of a
      CGG repeat. Two main types of mutation have been categorised. Clinical expression
      is associated with the presence of the full mutation, while subjects who carry
      only a premutation do not have mental retardation. Premutations have a high risk
      of transition to full mutation when transmitted by a female. We have used direct
      detection of the mutations to characterise large families who illustrate the wide
      variation in penetrance which has been observed in different sibships (a feature
      often called the Sherman paradox). A family originally found to show tight
      genetic linkage between the factor 9 gene and the fragile X locus was reanalysed,
      confirming the original genotype assignments and the observed linkage. The size
      of premutations was measured by Southern blotting and by using a PCR based test
      in 102 carrier mothers and this was correlated with the type of mutation found in
      their offspring. The risk of transition to full mutation was found to be very low
      for premutations with a size increase (delta) of about 100 bp, increasing up to
      100% when the size of premutation was larger than about 200 bp, even after taking
      into account (at least partially) ascertainment bias. These results confirm and
      extend those reported by Fu et al (1991) and Yu et al (1992) and explain the
      Sherman paradox.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453431
TI  - Frequent small amplifications in the FMR-1 gene in fra(X) families: limits to the
      diagnosis of 'premutations'.
AB  - In five of 40 fra(X) families reinvestigated using the new intragenic probe
      StB12.3, small amplifications of the DNA fragment appeared unexpectedly in
      addition to the mutations found in the probands. This suggests that enlargements
      of the FMR-1 gene detectable by Southern blotting using this probe must be
      present at an appreciable frequency in the general population. A proportion of
      these may be classifiable as 'premutations', or precursors of the much amplified,
      hypermethylated, and somatically unstable fragment associated with the fragile X
      syndrome, while others will merely represent stable polymorphisms in fragment
      length. Hence, accurate diagnosis of some fra(X) carriers will depend upon a more
      precise measurement of insert size than is currently provided by the newly
      available molecular probes.

PMID- 1453433
TI  - High frequency of the Lebanese allele of the LDLr gene among Brazilian patients
      with familial hypercholesterolaemia.
AB  - We analysed the LDL receptor (LDLr) gene in 18 Brazilian patients with familial
      hypercholesterolaemia (FH) from 10 unrelated families. The combination of a
      direct search for the Lebanese allele of the LDLr gene by a PCR method and
      Southern blotting using cDNA probes allowed the identification of the gene defect
      in six out of 10 families. The Lebanese allele was found in five families and in
      one family the disease was caused by a 4 kb deletion in the 3' half of the LDLr
      gene. The results indicate an important contribution of the Lebanese allele to
      the prevalence of FH in the Brazilian population and suggest that it may also be
      the most common cause of FH in other mixed populations outside the Middle East.

PMID- 1453432
TI  - Duplication within chromosome 17p11.2 in 12 families of French ancestry with
      Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1a. The French CMT Research Group.
AB  - Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type I (HMSN I), also designated Charcot
      Marie-Tooth disease type 1 (CMT1), is a peripheral neuropathy frequently
      inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, characterised by progressive distal
      muscular atrophy and sensory loss with markedly decreased nerve conduction
      velocity. A duplication within chromosome 17p11.2, cosegregating with the
      disease, has recently been reported in several CMT1a families. In order to
      estimate the frequency of this anomaly and determine the location of a
      duplication in this region, 12 CMT1 families were analysed with polymorphic DNA
      markers located within 17p11.2-12. Duplications were found in all families
      including loci D17S61 (EW401), D17S122 (VAW409R3a and RM11-GT), and D17S125
      (VAW412R3). The duplications were completely linked and associated with the
      disease (lod score of 20.77 at zero recombination). Screening for the RM11-GT
      microsatellite showed that most of the duplicated haplotypes were heterozygous,
      supporting the hypothesis that the duplication resulted from an unequal crossing
      over. There was no significant haplotype association within the duplicated region
      suggesting that the duplication resulted de novo as an independent event in each
      family. In one family, recombination within the duplicated region was observed,
      indicating that genetic instability in 17p11.2 might be related to a high
      recombination rate. Since most cases of CMT1a seem to result from this segmental
      trisomy, it can be used as a basis for DNA diagnosis of the disease.

PMID- 1453434
TI  - Clinical reinvestigation and linkage analysis in the family with Episkopi
      blindness (Norrie disease).
AB  - We present the results of a clinical and genetic reinvestigation of the Cypriot
      family affected by an X chromosomally inherited eye disease originally published
      by Taylor et al, who coined the term Episkopi blindness. The pedigree was
      extended to 160 members, including 16 affected males out of 48 males at risk for
      the disease, most of whom were seen by one of us (PA). Affected males are blind
      with no associated symptoms and apparently are not mentally retarded. Thirty-nine
      family members agreed to blood sampling for genetic investigations. RFLP analysis
      was performed using probes from the region known to be deleted in some Norrie
      patients and polymorphic markers (DXS77, DXS7, MAOA, DXS255) from the proximal
      short arm of the X chromosome. There was no deletion for any of the probes in the
      affected males. Linkage analysis yielded positive lod scores for all informative
      markers (Z (DXS255, theta = 0) = 6.54, Z (MAOA, theta = 0) = 2.23, Z (DXS7, theta
      = 0) = 2.13). Thus, the conclusion that Episkopi blindness and Norrie disease
      (NDP, MIM *310600) are the same entity based on clinical evidence is now
      reinforced by gene mapping.

PMID- 1453435
TI  - Factors affecting the uptake of prenatal diagnosis for sickle cell disease.
AB  - Between 1979 and 1990, 170 couples at risk of having children with sickle cell
      disease, resident in the UK and with a continuing pregnancy, were referred for
      counselling at the University College Hospital Perinatal Centre. Approximately
      50% of the couples, including those where one partner actually had sickle cell
      disease, requested prenatal diagnosis. This was requested in 82% of pregnancies
      when the mother was seen in the first trimester of pregnancy and in 49% when she
      was seen in the second trimester. More than 90% of referred couples who already
      had an affected child requested prenatal diagnosis. The type of sickle cell
      disease involved and ethnic group also influenced choice. These results show the
      importance of detecting and counselling couples at risk before pregnancy whenever
      possible.

PMID- 1453436
TI  - Polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type I among Iranian Jews.
AB  - Polyglandular autoimmune syndrome (PAS) has been well characterised and the
      accepted criteria for diagnosis are the presence of at least two of the three
      major components: hypoparathyroidism (HPT), candidiasis, and adrenal
      insufficiency (AI). HPT may, however, be the only manifestation of the syndrome.
      Iranian Jews, having a high rate of consanguinity, appear to be a community in
      which PAS type I is frequent. We report on 19 families of patients with HPT from
      the Iranian Jewish community assuming that they are in fact affected with PAS
      type I. In the 19 families, 23 patients were affected, including 11 males and 12
      females. All the patients but one had HPT (96%), and most were diagnosed by the
      age of 20 years (91%). AI was diagnosed in five of our patients; in all cases but
      one it appeared after HPT. Mild oral candidiasis was present in four patients and
      six of the patients (three males and three females) had hypogonadism. Other
      features of the syndrome found in some of our patients were pernicious anaemia,
      hypothyroidism, and alopecia. The disease is autosomal recessive and the
      calculated prevalence among the Iranian Jews is 1:6500 to 1:9000. The disease is
      also found with a very high incidence among Finns. A comparison of the symptoms
      between the two groups showed clinical differences including the relative rarity
      of candidiasis and absence of keratopathy among the Iranian Jews.

PMID- 1453437
TI  - Orofaciodigital syndrome type I in a girl with unilateral tibial pseudarthrosis.
AB  - The orofaciodigital syndromes are a group of possibly seven different
      malformation syndromes including oral, facial, and digital malformations. Type I
      has X linked dominant inheritance whereas the other types show autosomal
      recessive inheritance. An exact diagnosis is therefore important for genetic
      counselling. We here report a girl with orofaciodigital syndrome type I. She had
      cystic kidney disease at the age of 8 months which has not previously been
      reported in an infant with orofaciodigital syndrome. In addition she had
      unilateral tibial pseudarthrosis which has only rarely been reported in the
      orofaciodigital syndromes and in type II only.

PMID- 1453438
TI  - Lethal skeletal dysplasia owing to double heterozygosity for achondroplasia and
      spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita.
AB  - A male infant with lethal short limbed dwarfism is described. His father had
      spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita and his mother had achondroplasia. It is
      believed that the infant inherited both of these disorders and that their
      combined effects resulted in early death owing primarily to severe pulmonary
      hypoplasia.

PMID- 1453439
TI  - An atypical form of mucolipidosis III.
AB  - We report two sibs showing a very mild form of mucolipidosis III with no clinical
      signs but isolated involvement of the hip and very mild abnormalities of the
      spine. This indicates that a storage disease, in particular mucolipidosis III,
      should be considered in any case of isolated bilateral hip dysplasia. The
      differences from other reported atypical variants of mucolipidosis III are
      discussed.

PMID- 1453440
TI  - De novo inverted duplication of chromosome 7q.

PMID- 1453441
TI  - Numerous group I introns with variable distributions in the ribosomal DNA of a
      lichen fungus.
AB  - The length of the small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) differs significantly
      among individuals from natural populations of the ascomycetous lichen complex
      Cladonia chlorophaea. The sequence of the 3' region of the SSU rDNA from two
      individuals, chosen to represent the shortest and longest sequences, revealed
      multiple insertions within a region that otherwise aligned with a 520-nucleotide
      sequence of the SSU rDNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The high degree of
      variability in SSU rDNA size can be accounted for by different numbers of
      insertions; one individual had two group I introns and the second had five
      introns, two of which were clearly related to introns at identical positions in
      the other individual. Yet, introns in different positions, whether within an
      individual or between individuals, were not similar in sequence. The distribution
      of introns at three of the positions is consistent with either intron loss or
      acquisition, and clearly indicates the dynamic variability in this region of the
      nuclear genome. All seven insertions, which ranged in size from 210 to 228
      nucleotides, had the conserved sequence and secondary structural elements of
      group I introns. The variation in distribution and sequence of group I introns
      within a short highly conserved region of rDNA presents a unique opportunity for
      examining the molecular evolution and mobility of group I introns within a
      systematics framework.

PMID- 1453442
TI  - An accurate method for determining the helical repeat of DNA in solution reveals
      differences to the crystal structures of two B-DNA decamers.
AB  - Many DNA sequences have been studied by X-ray crystallography with the goal of
      deciphering a sequence-structure code. We have determined the helical repeats of
      two B-type DNA decamers in solution employing an electrophoretic method based on
      phasing of bent segments. The decamers contain recognition sites for the dcm
      methyltransferase and for the restriction nuclease NarI with a mutational
      hotspot. Their helical repeats are 10.59(+/- 0.05) bp and 10.52(+/- 0.03) bp,
      respectively, whereas crystallographic analysis yielded 10.0 bp in the solid
      state. This difference is greater than that for the transition between B- and A
      type DNA in solution. Thus, reliable information about the polymorphism of DNA in
      solution must be based on both X-ray and solution data. We describe a generally
      applicable approach to accurately determine helical repeats of small DNA duplexes
      in solution.

PMID- 1453443
TI  - Chromatin reconstitution on small DNA rings. V. DNA thermal flexibility of single
      nucleosomes.
AB  - The thermal flexibility of DNA minicircles reconstituted with single nucleosomes
      was measured relative to the naked minicircles. The measurement used a new method
      based on the electrophoretic properties of these molecules, whose mobility
      strongly depended on the DNA writhe, either of the whole minicircle, when naked,
      or of the extranucleosomal loop, when reconstituted. The experiment was as
      follows. The DNA length was first increased by one base-pair (bp), and the
      correlative shift in mobility resulting from the altered DNA writhe was recorded.
      Second, the gel temperature was increased so that the former mobility was
      restored. Under these conditions, the untwisting of the thermally flexible DNA
      due to the temperature shift exactly compensates for the increase in the DNA mean
      twist number resulting from the one bp addition. The relative thermal flexibility
      was then calculated as the ratio between the increases in temperature measured
      for the naked and the reconstituted DNAs, respectively. The figure, 0.69 (+/-
      0.07), was used to derive the length of DNA in interaction with the histones, 109
      (+/- 25) bp. Such length was in good agreement with the mean value of 115 bp we
      have previously obtained from the distribution of the angles between DNAs at the
      entrance and exit of similar nucleosomes measured from high resolution electron
      microscopy. This consistency further reinforces our previous conclusion that
      minicircle-reconstituted nucleosomes, with 1.3(109/83) to 1.4(115/83) turns of
      superhelical DNA, show no crossing of entering and exiting DNAs when the loop is
      in its most probable configuration, and therefore, that these nucleosomes behave
      topologically as "single-turn" particles. The present data are also within the
      range of values, 50 to 100 bp of thermally rigid DNA per nucleosome, obtained by
      others for yeast plasmid chromatin, suggesting that the "single-turn" particle
      notion may be extended to this particular case of naturally-occurring H1-free
      chromatin. However, these data are quite different from the 230 bp figure derived
      from thermal measurements of reconstituted H1-free minichromosomes. It is
      proposed that nucleosome interactions occurring in this chromatin, but not in
      yeast chromatin, may be partly responsible for the discrepancy.

PMID- 1453444
TI  - A peptide model for proline isomerism in the unfolded state of staphylococcal
      nuclease.
AB  - Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been used to investigate a synthetic
      peptide (YVYKPNNTHE) corresponding to residues 113 to 122 of staphylococcal
      nuclease. In the major folded state of the protein this region forms a type VIa
      beta-turn containing a cis Lys116-Pro117 peptide bond. There is, however, no
      evidence for any significant population of such a turn in the peptide in aqueous
      solution and the X-Pro bond is predominantly in the trans configuration. The
      peptide exhibits several well-resolved minor resonances due to the presence of a
      small fraction (4 +/- 2%) of the cis-proline isomer. The ratio of cis to trans
      isomer populations was found to be independent of temperature between 5 degrees C
      and 70 degrees C, indicating that delta H for the isomerism is close to zero.
      Using magnetization transfer techniques the rate of trans to cis interconversion
      was found to be 0.025(+/- 0.013) s-1 at 50 degrees C. The thermodynamics and
      kinetics of isomerism in the peptide are very similar to those estimated for the
      Lys116-Pro117 peptide bond in unfolded nuclease, suggesting that the cis-trans
      equilibrium in the unfolded protein is largely determined by the residues
      adjacent to Pro117 in the sequence. These results are consistent with previous
      suggestions that the cis-proline bond is stabilized late in the folding process
      and that the predominance of the cis form in folded nuclease is due to
      stabilizing interactions within the protein that give rise to a favorable
      enthalpy term.

PMID- 1453445
TI  - Molecular mechanism for ligand stabilization in the mollusc myoglobin possessing
      the distal Val residue.
AB  - Myoglobin extracted from the triturative stomach of Dolabella auricularia, a
      common mollusc found on the Japanese coast, possesses naturally occurring
      substitution at the distal E7 position (Val-E7) and its oxygen affinity is only
      slightly lower than those of the common mammalian myoglobins possessing the usual
      His-E7. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance studies of Dolabella met-cyano myoglobin
      have revealed that a guanidino NH proton of Arg-E10 is hydrogen-bonded to the Fe
      bound CN-. The role of Arg-E10 as a hydrogen-bond donor for Fe-bound ligand in
      the present myoglobin appears to be responsible for its relatively high ligand
      affinity.

PMID- 1453446
TI  - Absence of the thermal transition in apo-alpha-lactalbumin in the molten globule
      state. A study by differential scanning microcalorimetry.
AB  - To estimate the energy level of the molten globule state, the heat capacity
      function of apo-alpha-lactalbumin in the molten globule state has been examined
      using a scanning microcalorimeter at neutral pH. The results showed that the
      enthalpy difference between the molten globule state and presumed unfolded state
      by heating was almost zero at neutral pH, demonstrating that the molten globule
      state does not exhibit any co-operative transition upon heating. This is in
      agreement with the results already reported at acid pH, but is apparently in
      conflict with that recently reported with some assumptions at neutral pH.

PMID- 1453447
TI  - Folding on the ribosome of Escherichia coli tryptophan synthase beta subunit
      nascent chains probed with a conformation-dependent monoclonal antibody.
AB  - Experimental analysis of protein folding during protein synthesis on the ribosome
      is rendered very difficult by the low concentration of nascent polypeptides and
      the heterogeneity of the translation mixture. In this study, an original approach
      is developed for analysing nascent polypeptide structures still carried by the
      ribosome. Folding on the ribosome of nascent chains of the beta subunit of
      Escherichia coli tryptophan synthase was investigated using a monoclonal antibody
      (mAb 19) recognizing a conformation-dependent antigenic determinant. Upon
      synthesis of beta subunits in an E. coli coupled transcription-translation
      system, it is shown that ribosome-bound nascent polypeptides can react with the
      monoclonal antibody provided their size is above 11.5 kDa, which is smaller than
      that of both the N-terminal proteolytic and crystallographic domains (29 and 21
      kDa, respectively). The gene fragments coding only for the 11.5 kDa polypeptide,
      with and without stop codon at the end of the corresponding mRNAs, were
      constructed and expressed in a cell-free wheat germ translation system. It is
      shown that antibody 19 reacts with this polypeptide either bound to the ribosome
      or free in solution. That the 11.5 kDa polypeptide acquires a condensed structure
      is shown by gel filtration in native conditions and by urea gradient gel
      electrophoresis. Moreover, it is demonstrated that this condensed structure
      resembles that of native beta 2 in the vicinity of the epitope for antibody 19.
      Indeed, the affinity of antibody 19 for the 11.5 kDa fragment, either free or
      bound to the ribosome, was measured (6 x 10(8) M-1) and shown to be close to that
      for native beta 2. It is therefore proposed that the polypeptide chain may start
      to fold during its biosynthesis and that, even before the appearance of an entire
      domain, a folded intermediate is formed that already exhibits some local
      structural features of the native state and of an immunoreactive intermediate
      previously detected during the in vitro refolding of denatured complete beta
      chains.

PMID- 1453448
TI  - General mutagenesis/gene expression procedure for the construction of variant
      immunoglobulin domains in Escherichia coli. Production of the Bence-Jones protein
      REIv via fusion to beta-lactamase.
AB  - A novel mutagenesis/gene expression and protein purification scheme was
      established for ready construction and purification of variant immunoglobulin
      domains in Escherichia coli. This procedure, which has been applied to the
      production of the VK domain of the Bence-Jones protein REI and structural
      variants of it, rests on the synthesis of chimeric proteins with beta-lactamase
      as the amino-terminal fusion partner. The beta-lactamase not only guides the
      fusion protein to the periplasmic space, but also allows affinity chromatography
      on phenylboronate-Sepharose as an efficient and general purification procedure,
      independent of hypervariable loop structure. The REIv protein was released from
      the purified fusion protein by site-specific proteolytic cleavage. After a second
      passage through the same affinity column, up to 2 mg of pure REIv was obtained
      starting from one liter of bacterial liquid culture. A scheme of oligonucleotide
      directed mutagenesis was introduced for replacement of DNA stretches encoding
      hypervariable loops. It exploits a colony color genetic screen and can be applied
      to any DNA sequence replacement. Mutations can be constructed by simple co
      transformation with single-stranded template DNA and mutagenic oligonucleotide.

PMID- 1453449
TI  - Messenger RNA secondary structure and translational coupling in the Escherichia
      coli operon encoding translation initiation factor IF3 and the ribosomal
      proteins, L35 and L20.
AB  - The Escherichia coli infC-rpmI-rplT operon encodes translation initiation factor
      IF3 and the ribosomal proteins, L35 and L20, respectively. The expression of the
      last cistron (rplT) has been shown to be negatively regulated at a post
      transcriptional level by its own product, L20, which acts at an internal operator
      located within infC. The present work shows that L20 directly represses the
      expression of rpmI, and indirectly that of rplT, via translational coupling with
      rpmI. Deletions and an inversion of the coding region of rpmI, suggest an mRNA
      secondary structure forming between sequences within rpmI and the translation
      initiation site of rplT. To verify the existence of this structure, detailed
      analyses were performed using chemical and enzymatic probes. Also, mutants that
      uncoupled rplT expression from that of rpmI, were isolated. The mutations fall at
      positions that would base-pair in the secondary structure. Our model is that L20
      binds to its operator within infC and represses the translation of rpmI. When the
      rpmI mRNA is not translated, it can base-pair with the ribosomal binding site of
      rplT, sequestering it, and abolishing rplT expression. If the rpmI mRNA is
      translated, i.e. covered by ribosomes, the inhibitory structure cannot form
      leaving the translation initiation site of rplT free for ribosomal binding and
      for full expression. Although translational coupling in ribosomal protein operons
      has been suspected to be due to the formation of secondary structures that
      sequester internal ribosomal binding sites, this is the first time that such a
      structure has been shown to exist.

PMID- 1453450
TI  - A factor with Sp1 DNA-binding specificity stimulates Xenopus U6 snRNA in vivo
      transcription by RNA polymerase III.
AB  - We have previously shown that transcription of the Xenopus U6 snRNA gene by RNA
      polymerase III is stimulated in injected Xenopus oocytes by an activator element
      termed the DSE, which contains an octamer sequence. Data presented here reveal
      that the DSE contains, in addition, a GC-rich sequence capable of binding Sp1.
      Both elements are required to obtain wild-type levels of U6 transcription in
      vivo. The Xenopus U6 DSE exhibits optimal activation properties only when
      positioned at its normal location upstream from the start site. The U6 Sp1 motif
      binds the mammalian Sp1 transcriptional activator independently of the Oct-1
      protein in vitro. Those mutations that lead to a reduced transcription level in
      vivo abolish the binding of Sp1 in vitro. Thus, transcriptional stimulation
      through the Xenopus U6 Sp1 motif is likely to be mediated by a protein with DNA
      binding specificity identical to mammalian Sp1. These findings support the notion
      that RNA polymerase II and III transcription complexes share transactivators.

PMID- 1453451
TI  - In vitro analysis of mutant LexA proteins with an increased rate of specific
      cleavage.
AB  - Specific cleavage of LexA repressor plays a crucial role in the SOS response of
      Escherichia coli. In vivo, cleavage requires an activated form of RecA protein.
      However, previous work has shown that the mechanism of cleavage is unusual, in
      that the chemistry of cleavage is probably carried out by residues in the
      repressor, and not those in RecA; RecA appears to facilitate this reaction,
      acting as a coprotease. We recently described a new type of lexA mutation, a
      class termed lexA (IndS) and here called IndS, that confers an increased rate of
      in vivo cleavage. Here, we have characterized the in vitro cleavage of these IndS
      mutant proteins, and of several double mutant proteins containing an IndS
      mutation and one of several mutations, termed Ind-, that decrease the rate of
      cleavage. We found, first, that the autodigestion reaction for the IndS mutant
      proteins had a higher maximum rate and a lower apparent pKa than wild-type LexA.
      Second, the IndS mutations had little or no effect on the rate of RecA-mediated
      cleavage, measured at low protein concentrations, implying that the value of
      Kcat/Km was unaffected. Third, the rate of autodigestion for the double-mutant
      proteins, relative to wild-type, was about that rate predicted from the product
      of the effects of the two single mutations. Finally, by contrast, these proteins
      displayed the same rate of RecA-mediated cleavage as did the single Ind- mutant
      protein. We interpret these data to mean that the IndS mutations mimic to some
      extent the effect of RecA on cleavage, perhaps by favoring a conformational
      change in LexA. We present and analyze a model that embodies these conclusions.

PMID- 1453452
TI  - Early stages in RecA protein-catalyzed pairing. Analysis of coaggregate formation
      and non-homologous DNA contacts.
AB  - RecA protein will catalyze the in vitro pairing of homologous DNA molecules. To
      further explore the events involved in the search for homology, we have applied a
      nitrocellulose filter binding assay to follow pairing, and a sedimentation assay
      to follow the generation of aggregates (termed coaggregates) formed between RecA
      complexed single-stranded (ss) DNA and double stranded (ds) DNA. Electron
      microscopy (EM) was used to visualize the structures involved. RecA protein
      promoted the pairing of circular M13 ssDNA and linear M13mp7 dsDNA efficiently in
      the absence of coaggregates. Indeed, pairing of homologous ss- and dsDNAs
      involved coaggregate formation only if the dsDNA was circular. For DNAs
      containing only a few hundred base-pairs of homology, for example pUC7 dsDNA and
      M13mp7 ssDNA, pairing and joint formation was observed if the dsDNA was
      superhelical but not if it was topologically relaxed or linear with the homology
      internal to an end of the dsDNA. The effect of non-covalently attached
      heterologous dsDNA on the RecA-promoted joining of M13 ssDNA and linear M13mp7
      dsDNA (with non-M13 sequences at both ends) was found to depend on the topology
      and concentration of the heterologous DNA. A tenfold excess of superhelical
      pBR322 DNA strongly inhibited pairing. However, addition of relaxed or linear
      pBR322 DNA to the pairing reaction had little effect. As seen by EM, superhelical
      pBR322 DNA inhibited joint formation by excluding the homologous dsDNA form the
      coaggregates. EM also revealed heterologous DNA interactions presumably involved
      in the search for homology. Here the use of EM has provided a direct
      visualization of the form and architecture of coaggregates revealing a dense
      interweaving of presynaptic filaments and dsDNA.

PMID- 1453453
TI  - Structure of the pericentric long arm region of the human Y chromosome.
AB  - We have analysed the sequence organization of the DNA in the pericentric region
      of the long arm of the human Y chromosome. The structures of one cosmid and three
      yeast artificial chromosome clones were determined. The region consists of a
      mosaic of the known 5, 48 and 68 base-pair tandemly repeated sequences and at
      least five novel repeated sequence families. A long range-map of approximately
      3.5 x 10(6) base-pairs of genomic DNA was constructed that placed the clones
      between about 500 x 10(3) and 850 x 10(3) base-pairs from the long arm edge of
      the centromeric alphoid DNA array.

PMID- 1453454
TI  - DNA sequence analysis of 66 kb of the human MHC class II region encoding a
      cluster of genes for antigen processing.
AB  - The genomic sequence of a 66,109 bp long region within the human MHC has been
      determined by manual and automated DNA sequencing. From cDNA mapping and
      sequencing data it is known that this region contains a cluster of at least four
      genes that are believed to be involved in antigen processing. Here, we describe
      the genomic organization of these genes, which comprise two proteasome-related
      genes (LMP2 and LMP7), thought to be involved in the proteolytic degradation of
      cytoplasmic antigens and two ABC transporter genes (TAP1 and TAP2), thought to be
      involved in pumping of the degraded peptides across the endoplasmic reticulum
      membrane. Analysis of the sequence homology and the intron/exon structures of the
      corresponding genes suggests that one gene pair arose by duplication from the
      other. Comparison of the available sequence data from other organisms shows
      striking conservation (70 to 84%) of this gene cluster in human, mouse and rat.
      The presence of several potential interferon stimulated response elements (ISREs)
      is in agreement with the experimentally observed up-regulation of these genes
      with gamma-interferon.

PMID- 1453455
TI  - Nucleosome core binding region of chromosomal protein HMG-17 acts as an
      independent functional domain.
AB  - Chromosomal proteins HMG-14 and HMG-17 have a modular structure. Here we examine
      whether the putative nucleosome-binding domain in these proteins can function as
      an independent module. Mobility shift assays with recombinant HMG-17 indicate
      that synthetic molecules can be used to analyze the interaction of this protein
      with the nucleosome core. Peptides corresponding to various regions of the
      protein have been synthesized and their interaction with nucleosome cores
      analyzed by mobility shift, thermal denaturation and DNase I digestion. A 30
      amino acid long peptide, corresponding to the putative nucleosome-binding domain
      of HMG-17, specifically shifts the mobility of cores as compared to free DNA,
      elevates the tm of both the premelt and main melt of the cores and protects from
      DNase I digestion the same nucleosomal DNA sites as the intact protein. The
      binding of both the peptide and the intact protein is lost upon digestion of the
      histone tails by trypsin. The nucleosomal binding sites of the peptide appear
      identical to those of the intact protein. Thus, a region of the protein can acts
      as an independent functional domain. This supports the notion that HMG-14 and HMG
      17 are modular proteins. This finding is relevant to the understanding of the
      function and evolution of HMG-14/-17, the only nucleosome core particle binding
      proteins known to date.

PMID- 1453456
TI  - Two tRNA-binding sites in addition to A and P sites on eukaryotic ribosomes.
AB  - The interaction of tRNA with 80 S ribosomes from rabbit liver was studied using
      biochemical as well as fluorescence techniques. Besides the canonical A and P
      sites, two additional sites were found which specifically bind deacylated tRNA.
      One of the sites is analogous to the E site of prokaryotic ribosomes, in that
      binding of tRNA is labile, does not depend on codon-anticodon interaction, does
      not protect the anticodon loop from solvent access, and requires the presence of
      the 3'-terminal adenosine of the tRNA. In contrast, the stability of the tRNA
      complex with the second site (S site) is high. tRNA binding to the S site is also
      codon-independent; nevertheless, the anticodon loop is shielded from solvent
      access. Removal of the 3'-terminal adenosine decreases the affinity of tRNA(Phe)
      for the S site approximately 50-fold. tRNA(Phe) is retained at the S site during
      translocation and through poly(Phe) synthesis. Thus, the S site does not seem to
      be an intermediate site for the tRNA during the elongation cycle. Rather, the
      tRNA bound to the S site may allosterically modulate the function of the
      ribosome.

PMID- 1453457
TI  - Substitutions of hydrophobic amino acids reduce the amyloidogenicity of
      Alzheimer's disease beta A4 peptides.
AB  - The deposition of amyloid protein aggregates in brain is the main pathological
      feature of Alzheimer's disease. Their principal constituent is a peptide termed
      beta A4, which comprises up to 43 amino acid residues. It is highly insoluble
      under physiological conditions and aggregates into filaments that form very dense
      clusters in vivo and in vitro. Based on a beta A4 prototype sequence spanning
      residues 10 to 42 or 43, we have designed analogues in which hydrophobic amino
      acid residues in position 17 to 20 were substituted by more hydrophilic residues.
      Depending on the kind of newly introduced amino acids and their position within
      the sequence, the substitution of only two residues led to variants exhibiting a
      broad spectrum of different properties. Common to them was a reduced beta-sheet
      content after solubilization in water and in the solid state. Some of the
      variants showed significantly reduced amyloidogenicity: although still forming
      filaments, they did not aggregate into the highly condensed depositions that are
      typical for amyloid. In addition, they could be solubilized in 200 mM-NaCl and
      KCl. When mixed with beta A4 peptides bearing the natural sequence, two of the
      analogues could inhibit the formation of filaments in vitro. These results
      demonstrate that a well-preserved hydrophobic core around residues 17 to 20 of
      beta A4 is crucial for the formation of beta-sheet structure and the amyloid
      properties of beta A4. The introduction of structural alterations within this
      region may guide the development of reagents for the therapy of Alzheimer's
      disease.

PMID- 1453458
TI  - Structure of the myosin filaments of relaxed and rigor vertebrate striated muscle
      studied by rapid freezing electron microscopy.
AB  - Rapid freezing followed by freeze-substitution has been used to study the
      ultrastructure of the myosin filaments of live and demembranated frog sartorius
      muscle in the states of relaxation and rigor. Electron microscopy of longitudinal
      sections of relaxed specimens showed greatly improved preservation of thick
      filament ultrastructure compared with conventional fixation. This was revealed by
      the appearance of a clear helical arrangement of myosin crossbridges along the
      filament surface and by a series of layer line reflections in computed Fourier
      transforms of sections, corresponding to the layer lines indexing on a 43 nm
      repeat in X-ray diffraction patterns of whole, living muscles. Filtered images of
      single myosin filaments were similar to those of negatively stained, isolated
      vertebrate filaments and consistent with a three-start helix. M-line and other
      non-myosin proteins were also very well preserved. Rigor specimens showed, in the
      region of overlapping myosin and actin filaments, periodicities corresponding to
      the 36, 24, 14.4 and 5.9 nm repeats detected in X-ray patterns of whole muscle in
      rigor; in the H-zone they showed a disordered array of crossbridges. Transverse
      sections, whose Fourier transforms extend to the (3, 0) reflection, supported the
      view, based on X-ray diffraction and conventional electron microscopy, that in
      the overlap zone of relaxed muscle most of the crossbridges are detached from the
      thin filaments while in rigor they are attached. We conclude that the rapid
      freezing technique preserves the molecular structure of the myofilaments closer
      to the in vivo state (as monitored by X-ray diffraction) than does normal
      fixation.

PMID- 1453459
TI  - Characterization of bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase by linker insertion
      mutagenesis.
AB  - Thirty-four mutants of phage T7 RNA polymerase (RNAP) were generated by linker
      insertion mutagenesis and characterized with respect to their ability to carry
      out various steps in the transcription cycle. A number of mutants with
      interesting biochemical properties were identified. These include: (1) Mutant
      RNAPs that are catalytically active but that bind weakly to a T7 promoter; one of
      these mutants is affected in a region of the RNAP that exhibits homology with the
      sigma subunit of Escherichia coli RNAP. Another is affected in a region that has
      been previously implicated in the discrimination of T7 versus T3 promoters (Joho,
      et al., 1990). (2) Mutant RNAPs that can bind to the promoter but are
      transcriptionally inactive; some of these RNAPs lack catalytic activity, others
      are catalytically active but are unable to initiate productive transcription at a
      T7 promoter. Among the latter class of mutants are enzymes that appear to be
      weakened in their ability to melt open (or to remain associated with) double
      stranded DNA; these RNAPs make only abortive initiation products and are unable
      to proceed to the formation of a productive elongation complex. The mutations
      causing this phenotype affect regions of the RNAP that exhibit homology with the
      catalytic site of DNA polymerase I (Delarue et al., 1990). (3) A C-terminal
      insertion mutant with properties similar to a previously characterized "foot"
      mutant (Mookhtiar et al., 1991). This RNAP appears to be defective in the very
      early steps of transcription and may be unable to translocate and/or empty the
      active site. (4) A mutant that is transcriptionally active, but is unable to
      complement the growth of T7 gene 1- phage. This phenotype may result from
      disruption of a function of the RNAP that is distinct from its role in RNA
      synthesis.

PMID- 1453460
TI  - Substitution of a single bacteriophage T3 residue in bacteriophage T7 RNA
      polymerase at position 748 results in a switch in promoter specificity.
AB  - The bacteriophage T3 and T7 RNA polymerases (RNAP) are closely related, yet
      exhibit high specificity for their own promoter sequences. In this work the
      primary determinant of T7 versus T3 promoter specificity has been localized to a
      single amino acid residue at position 748 in the T7 RNAP. Substitution of this
      residue (Asn) with the corresponding residue found in T3 RNAP (Asp) results in a
      switch in promoter specificity, and specifically alters recognition of the base
      pairs (bp) at positions -11 and, possibly, -10 in the promoter. A complementary
      mutation in T3 RNAP (T3-D749N) results in a similar switch in promoter preference
      for that enzyme. The hierarchy of bp preference by the mutant and wild-type
      enzymes for bp at -10 and -11, and the results of previous experiments, lead to a
      model for specificity in which it is proposed that N748 in T7 RNAP (and D749 in
      T3 RNAP) make specific hydrogen bonds with bases at -11 and -10 on the non
      template strand in the major groove. The specificity determining region of T7
      RNAP does not appear to exhibit homology to any known sequence-dependent DNA
      binding motif.

PMID- 1453461
TI  - Structure of the U2 strain of tobacco mosaic virus refined at 3.5 A resolution
      using X-ray fiber diffraction.
AB  - The structure of the U2 strain of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) has been determined
      by fiber diffraction methods at 3.5 A resolution, and refined by a combination of
      restrained least-squares and molecular dynamics methods to an R-factor of 0.096.
      The structure is extremely similar to that of the common strain of TMV, with the
      largest differences being in the protein loop that makes up the inner surface of
      the virus, and in the C-terminal region on the outer surface. Differences in the
      inner loop can be correlated with differences in the properties of the two
      viruses.

PMID- 1453462
TI  - Is the bacteriophage lambda lysozyme an evolutionary link or a hybrid between the
      C and V-type lysozymes? Homology analysis and detection of the catalytic amino
      acid residues.
AB  - The relationship between the bacteriophage lambda lysozyme (lambda L) and the C
      and V-type lysozymes has been investigated by sequence alignment, secondary
      structure prediction and pattern recognition methods. The alignment of the amino
      terminal part of lambda L with that of V-type lysozymes suggests that Glu19 is a
      residue essential for catalysis. Its mutation to Gln leads to a completely
      inactive enzyme. In the alignment of the sequence of lambda L with those of the C
      type lysozymes a strongly homologous fragment of about 30 amino acid residues is
      detected. Taking into consideration this observation and the published structural
      alignments between C and V-type lysozymes, a repetition of the beta-sheet motif
      in lambda L is proposed. The multiple alignment draws the attention to a possible
      catalytic role for Asp34 that would be positioned in the middle of the second
      strand of the beta-sheet as in the C-type lysozymes. This role is confirmed by
      mutagenesis. The implications of these observations in terms of the evolutionary
      relationship between lambda L and the other lysozymes is discussed.

PMID- 1453463
TI  - Similarities and differences between human cyclophilin A and other beta-barrel
      structures. Structural refinement at 1.63 A resolution.
AB  - The structure of the unligated recombinant human cyclophilin A (CyP A) has been
      refined to an R-factor of 0.18 at 1.63 A resolution. The root-mean-squared
      deviations of the refined structure are 0.013 A and 2.50 degrees from ideal
      geometries of bond length and bond angle, respectively. Eight antiparallel beta
      strands of CyP A form a right-handed beta-barrel. The structure of CyP A is
      compared with other members in the antiparallel eight-stranded beta-barrel family
      and with the parallel eight-stranded alpha/beta barrels. Although all known eight
      stranded barrels are right-handed, the tilted angle of the strands against the
      barrel axis varies from 45 degrees for retinol binding protein and 49 degrees for
      CyP A to 70 degrees for superoxide dismutase. As a result, the beta-barrel of CyP
      A is not completely superimposable with other members of beta-barrels. The
      structure of CyP A has a unique topology, distinct from other members in the beta
      barrel family. In addition, CyP A is a closed beta-barrel so that neither the
      immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A (CsA) nor the proline-containing substrate
      can bind to the hydrophobic core of the CyP A barrel, while the hydrophobic core
      of most other barrels is open for ligation. These observations probably indicate
      that CyP A is neither functionally nor evolutionally related to other beta-barrel
      structures. Details of interactions between solvent molecules and the active site
      residues of CyP A are illustrated. A water-co-operated mechanism, where the cis<-
      >trans isomerization might possibly consist of (1) transition of the prolyl bond
      and (2) release of N or C-terminal residues of substrate from CyP, is addressed.
      The refined structure reveals no disulfide bridges in CyP A. Cys115 is near the
      CsA site, but unlikely to be directly involved in CsA binding because of steric
      hindrance from Thr119 and Leu122. This geometry probably rules out any mechanisms
      involving a tetrahedral intermediate formed between cysteine and substrate during
      cis<-->trans isomerization.

PMID- 1453464
TI  - High resolution crystal structures and comparisons of T-state deoxyhaemoglobin
      and two liganded T-state haemoglobins: T(alpha-oxy)haemoglobin and
      T(met)haemoglobin.
AB  - The origin of co-operativity in haemoglobin (Hb) resides in the reduced affinity
      of the T-state. T-state Hb crystals grown from polyethyleneglycol can be liganded
      without the molecule switching to the R high affinity state. X-ray analysis of T
      state alpha-oxy Hb and T-state met Hb has identified the structural basis for
      reduced affinity. The nature of the chemical tension at the haem environment is
      different in the alpha and beta haems. There are small but definite structural
      changes associated with ligation in the T-state: these prove to be mostly in the
      same direction as the larger changes that occur in the T-->R transition.

PMID- 1453465
TI  - The crystal structure of the Bacillus lentus alkaline protease, subtilisin BL, at
      1.4 A resolution.
AB  - The crystal structure of subtilisin BL, an alkaline protease from Bacillus lentus
      with activity at pH 11, has been determined to 1.4 A resolution. The structure
      was solved by molecular replacement starting with the 2.1 A structure of
      subtilisin BPN' followed by molecular dynamics refinement using X-PLOR. A final
      crystallographic R-factor of 19% overall was obtained. The enzyme possesses
      stability at high pH, which is a result of the high pI of the protein. Almost all
      of the acidic side-chains are involved in some type of electrostatic interaction
      (ion pairs, calcium binding, etc.). Furthermore, three of seven tyrosine residues
      have potential partners for forming salt bridges. All of the potential partners
      are arginine with a pK around 12. Lysine would not function well in a salt bridge
      with tyrosine as it deprotonates at around the same pH as tyrosine ionizes.
      Stability at high pH is acquired in part from the pI of the protein, but also
      from the formation of salt bridges (which would affect the pI). The overall
      structure of the enzyme is very similar to other subtilisins and shows that the
      subtilisin fold is more highly conserved than would be expected from the
      differences in amino acid sequence. The amino acid side-chains in the hydrophobic
      core are not conserved, though the inter-residue interactions are. Finally, one
      third of the serine side-chains in the protein have multiple conformations. This
      presents an opportunity to correlate computer simulations with observed
      occupancies in the crystal structure.

PMID- 1453466
TI  - Structure of oxidized bacteriophage T4 glutaredoxin (thioredoxin). Refinement of
      native and mutant proteins.
AB  - The structure of wild-type bacteriophage T4 glutaredoxin (earlier called
      thioredoxin) in its oxidized form has been refined in a monoclinic crystal form
      at 2.0 A resolution to a crystallographic R-factor of 0.209. A mutant T4
      glutaredoxin gives orthorhombic crystals of better quality. The structure of this
      mutant has been solved by molecular replacement methods and refined at 1.45 A to
      an R-value of 0.175. In this mutant glutaredoxin, the active site residues Val15
      and Tyr16 have been substituted by Gly and Pro, respectively, to mimic that of
      Escherichia coli thioredoxin. The main-chain conformation of the wild-type
      protein is similar in the two independently determined molecules in the
      asymmetric unit of the monoclinic crystals. On the other hand, side-chain
      conformations differ considerably between the two molecules due to heterologous
      packing interactions in the crystals. The structure of the mutant protein is very
      similar to the wild-type protein, except at mutated positions and at parts
      involved in crystal contacts. The active site disulfide bridge between Cys14 and
      Cys17 is located at the first turn of helix alpha 1. The torsion angles of these
      residues are similar to those of Escherichia coli thioredoxin. The torsion angle
      around the S-S bond is smaller than that normally observed for disulfides: 58
      degrees, 67 degrees and 67 degrees for wild-type glutaredoxin molecule A and B
      and mutant glutaredoxin, respectively. Each sulfur atom of the disulfide
      cysteines in T4 glutaredoxin forms a hydrogen bond to one main-chain nitrogen
      atom. The active site is shielded from solvent on one side by the beta-carbon
      atoms of the cysteine residues plus side-chains of residues 7, 9, 21 and 33. From
      the opposite side, there is a cleft where the sulfur atom of Cys14 is accessible
      and can be attacked by a nucleophilic thiolate ion in the initial step of the
      reduction reaction.

PMID- 1453467
TI  - Adjacent zinc-finger motifs in multiple zinc-finger peptides from SWI5 form
      structurally independent, flexibly linked domains.
AB  - Peptides containing either one, two or three of the three zinc-finger motifs from
      the yeast transcription factor SWI5 have been prepared by expression in
      Escherichia coli. The DNA binding characteristics of these peptides were
      investigated, and a two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) study
      undertaken to establish the three-dimensional structures of the two-finger
      peptide. The peptide containing fingers 1 and 2 binds sequence specifically to
      two thirds of the DNA binding site recognized either by intact SWI5 or by the
      isolated three-finger peptide, and hence has the correct tertiary fold for DNA
      recognition. These results also establish the polarity of DNA binding, since the
      N-terminal two fingers of SWI5 bind to the 5' end of the DNA binding site. Mild
      proteolysis of the three-finger peptide using trypsin results in a small number
      of discrete products, which is consistent with the presence of three structured
      mini-domains. Nearly complete n.m.r. signal assignments were obtained for two
      peptides containing finger 2 alone or fingers 1 + 2. Comparison of two
      dimensional spectra of these peptides and others clearly shows that the NOE
      enhancements and chemical shifts characteristic of each finger are quite
      insensitive to the presence or absence of neighbouring fingers. This clearly
      indicates that adjacent zinc-finger domains are structurally independent in these
      peptides from SWI5. However, there must be some steric limitations on the
      possible relative orientations of the fingers, and to establish limits for these
      a set of structures for the peptide containing fingers 1 + 2 was calculated using
      the YASAP simulated annealing protocol in conjunction with n.m.r.-based
      constraints. A more detailed description of the three-dimensional structures of
      finger 1 and finger 2, and their relationship to other previously determined
      structures of single zinc-fingers, is given in the accompanying paper.

PMID- 1453468
TI  - Solution structures of two zinc-finger domains from SWI5 obtained using two
      dimensional 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A zinc-finger structure
      with a third strand of beta-sheet.
AB  - This paper describes the detailed three-dimensional structures of two zinc-finger
      domains from the yeast transcription factor SWI5, calculated using the results of
      the n.m.r. experiments described in the accompanying paper. The structure of
      finger 2 is essentially similar to those previously obtained by others for
      isolated, synthetic single zinc-finger domains in solution, and for the three
      zinc-finger peptide Zif268 in its crystalline complex with DNA. The N-terminal
      half of the sequence forms a two-stranded, irregular beta-sheet containing both
      of the metal-binding cysteine residues, while the remainder of the structure
      forms a helix. Approximately the first half of this helix is alpha-helical,
      whereas the C-terminal portion, including the two metal-binding histidine
      residues, is 3(10) helical. Four invariant hydrophobic residues form a core to
      the structure. In contrast to all previously described structures of zinc-finger
      domains, finger 1 has an additional strand in the beta-sheet, formed by residues
      N-terminal to the formal start of the finger motif. This additional strand plays
      a role in stabilising the folded form of finger 1, since a two-finger peptide
      lacking the N-terminal residues showed folded structure in finger 2 but not in
      finger 1.

PMID- 1453469
TI  - Structural consequences of sequence patterns in the fingerprint region of the
      nucleotide binding fold. Implications for nucleotide specificity.
AB  - The dinucleotide binding beta alpha beta motif in the crystal structures of seven
      different enzymes has been analysed in terms of their three-dimensional
      structures and primary sequences. We have identified that the hydrogen bonding of
      the adenine ribose to the glycine-rich turn containing the fingerprint sequence
      GXGXXG/A occurs via a direct or indirect mechanism, depending on the nature of
      the fingerprint sequence but independent of coenzyme specificity. The major
      determinant of the type of interaction is the nature of the residue occupying the
      last position of the above fingerprint. In the NAD(+)-linked dehydrogenases, an
      acidic residue is commonly used to form important hydrogen bonds to the adenine
      ribose hydroxyls and, hitherto, this residue has been thought to be an indicator
      of NAD+ specificity. However, on the basis of the three-dimensional structure of
      the NAD(+)-linked glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) from Clostridium symbiosum we
      have demonstrated that this residue is not a universal requirement for the
      construction of an NAD+ binding site. Furthermore, considerations of sequence
      homology unambiguously identify an equivalent acidic residue in both NADP+ and
      dual specificity glutamate dehydrogenases. The conservation of this residue in
      these enzymes, coupled to its close proximity to the 2' phosphate implied by the
      necessary similarity in three-dimensional structure to C. symbiosum GDH,
      implicates this residue in the recognition of the 2' phosphate either via water
      mediated or direct hydrogen-bonding schemes. Analysis of the latter has led us to
      suggest that two patterns of recognition for the 2' phosphate group of NADP(+)
      binding enzymes may exist, which are distinguished by the ionization state of the
      2' phosphate.

PMID- 1453470
TI  - Three-dimensional structure of the high-potential iron-sulfur protein isolated
      from the purple phototrophic bacterium Rhodocyclus tenuis determined and refined
      at 1.5 A resolution.
AB  - The molecular structure of the high-potential iron-sulfur protein (HiPIP)
      isolated from the phototrophic bacterium, Rhodocyclus tenuis, has been solved and
      refined to a nominal resolution of 1.5 A with a crystallographic R-factor of
      17.3% for all measured X-ray data from 30 A to 1.5 A. It is the smallest of the
      HiPIP structures studied thus far with 62 amino acid residues. Crystals used in
      the investigation belonged to the space group P2(1) with unit cell dimensions of
      a = 36.7 A, b = 52.6 A, c = 27.6 A and beta = 90.8 degrees and contained two
      molecules per asymmetric unit. The structure was solved by a combination of
      multiple isomorphous replacement with two heavy-atom derivatives, anomalous
      scattering from the iron-sulfur cluster, symmetry averaging and solvent
      flattening. The folding motif for this HiPIP is characterized by one small alpha
      helix, six Type I turns, an approximate Type II turn and one Type I' turn. As in
      other HiPIPs, the iron-sulfur cluster is co-ordinated by four cysteinyl ligands
      and exhibits a cubane-like motif. These cysteinyl ligands are all located in Type
      I turns. The hydrogen bonding around the metal cluster in the R. tenuis protein
      is similar to the patterns observed in the Chromatium vinosum and
      Ectothiorhodospira halophila HiPIPs. Several of the amino acid residues invariant
      in the previously determined C. vinosum and E. halophila structures are not
      retained in the R. tenuis molecule. There are 13 solvent molecules structurally
      conserved between the two R. tenuis HiPIP molecules in the asymmetric unit, some
      of which are important for stabilizing surface loops. Interestingly, while it is
      assumed that this HiPIP functions as a monomer in solution, the two molecules in
      the asymmetric unit pack as a dimer and are related to each other by an
      approximate twofold rotation axis.

PMID- 1453471
TI  - Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the catalytic
      domain of Cex, an exo-beta-1,4-glucanase and beta-1,4-xylanase from the bacterium
      Cellulomonas fimi.
AB  - Single crystals of the catalytic domain of Cex, an exo-beta-1,4-glucanase and
      beta-1,4-xylanase from the cellulolytic bacterium Cellulomonas fimi, have been
      grown in the presence of polyethylene glycol 4000 using the vapour diffusion
      technique. The crystals, which diffract to better than 2.0 A resolution, belong
      to space group P4(1)2(1)2 or P4(3)2(1)2 and have cell constants: a = b = 88.21 A,
      c = 81.10 A; alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees.

PMID- 1453472
TI  - Crystallization of recombinant chitobiase from Serratia marcescens.
AB  - We are currently investigating the biochemical and structural properties of both
      chitin degrading enzymes chitinase and chitobiase from Serratia marcescens.
      Previously we have reported the first crystallization and characterization of
      chitinase crystals (Vorgias et al., 1992). In this communication we present the
      first crystallization of chitobiase. The protein was synthesized in Escherichia
      coli and purified to homogeneity using cation exchange chromatography and fast
      protein liquid chromatography. The crystals have the shape of small prisms and
      the space group is P2(1) with beta = 101.0 degrees and unit cell dimensions a =
      63.2 A, b = 133.2 A, c = 55.1 A. They diffract X-rays to about 2.5 A resolution
      and are suitable for three-dimensional structural analysis.

PMID- 1453473
TI  - A myoglobin evolved from indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.
AB  - Hemoglobins and myoglobins are some of the best studied proteins. They are
      distributed in animals, plants and bacteria, and the characteristic two intron
      three exon structure is widely conserved in animal globin genes (Jhiang et al.,
      1988). To date, all of the hemoglobins and myoglobins are believed to have a
      common origin, and so they are considered to be homologous. We have isolated a
      completely new type of myoglobin from the red muscle of the abalone Sulculus
      diversicolor aquatilis. The myoglobin consists of an unusual 41 kDa polypeptide
      chain, contains one heme per chain and forms a homodimer under physiological
      conditions. The cDNA-derived amino acid sequence of Sulculus myoglobin showed no
      significant homology with any other globins, but, surprisingly, showed high
      homology (35% identity) with human indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, a tryptophan
      degrading enzyme containing heme. This clearly indicates that Sulculus myoglobin
      evolved from a gene for indoleamine dioxygenase, but not from a globin gene.
      Sulculus myoglobin lacks the enzyme activity of indoleamine dioxygenase. However,
      in the presence of tryptophan, the autoxidation rate of oxymyoglobin was greatly
      accelerated, suggesting that a tryptophan binding site remains near or in the
      heme cavity as a relic of the molecular evolution.

PMID- 1453474
TI  - Differential expression of the presynaptic protein SNAP-25 in mammalian retina.
AB  - We have studied the expression of the nerve terminal protein synaptosomal
      associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) in the retina of adult rat, mouse, and monkey, as
      well as in the developing mouse retina. To evaluate SNAP-25 expression, its
      distribution was compared to those of the synaptic vesicle-associated proteins
      synapsin I and synaptophysin. In situ hybridization in adult rat retinas
      suggested that SNAP-25 mRNA is mainly expressed by ganglion, amacrine, and
      horizontal cells, but not by photoreceptors and bipolar cells. In all species,
      the SNAP-25 polypeptide was most abundant in the inner part of the inner and
      outer plexiform layers and was also found in the ganglion cell axons. In adult
      retina, synapsin I and synaptophysin were also mainly localized in synaptic
      fields and processes but all three proteins showed a distinct pattern of
      distribution. Finally, in mouse retina, the three proteins were first detectable
      at embryonic day 16 and subsequently showed developmentally regulated changes in
      their cellular localization. These results suggest that SNAP-25 is predominantly
      expressed in specific subtypes of conventional synapses, but not ribbon synapses,
      and that it may also be involved in the physiology of nonvesicular terminals of
      horizontal cells. Our study also suggests that combinatorial expression of
      different components of the presynaptic specialization may contribute to synaptic
      functional diversity.

PMID- 1453475
TI  - Receptor neuron losses result in decreased cytochrome P-450 immunoreactivity in
      associated non-neuronal cells of mouse olfactory mucosa.
AB  - Immunohistochemical and immunoblot analyses were used to investigate nasal
      cytochrome P-450 distribution in mice with either unilateral naris closure for 3,
      4, or 5 months, or olfactory bulbectomy. P-450 immunoreactivity was observed only
      in the supporting cells and Bowman's glands of the olfactory mucosa.
      Immunoreactivity was clearly reduced in rostral regions of the open-side
      olfactory mucosa where losses of receptor neurons resulted from 3 to 5 months of
      closure. Closed-side immunoreactivity was similar to controls. In 4 month closure
      animals that had regrown their receptor neurons, open-side immunoreactivity was
      comparable to controls. Olfactory bulbectomy also depressed P-450
      immunoreactivity. These data suggest that presence or absence of receptor neurons
      markedly affects P-450 expression in nonneuronal cells of the olfactory mucosa.

PMID- 1453476
TI  - Changes in chromatin proteins during optic nerve regeneration in the goldfish.
AB  - Regeneration of the goldfish optic nerve involves massive changes in the
      structure and pattern of macro-molecular synthesis in the retinal ganglion cells.
      To explore the mechanisms that underlie these events, we investigated the changes
      in chromatin proteins during the course of regeneration. Three major retinal
      chromatin proteins, two with apparent molecular weights of 58 kDa (C1 and C2) and
      one at 51 kDa (C3), all having isoelectric points around 5.5, showed a fourfold
      increase in their synthesis and/or accumulation by 14 days of regeneration.
      Synthesis of C1 and C3 decreased by day 32, the time at which the axons have
      grown back to the optic tectum and have formed many of their synapses; synthesis
      of C2 remained high through day 32. All three proteins bound to DNA-cellulose and
      required high salt concentrations (0.2-0.5 M KCl) to be eluted. C1 and C2 had
      similar proteolytic digestion patterns and reacted with monoclonal antibodies
      that recognize the goldfish intermediate filament proteins of the ON complex. The
      proteins identified here could be involved in structural alterations in the
      chromatin, or might serve as transcription factors to regulate gene expression
      during nerve regeneration.

PMID- 1453477
TI  - Taurine allosterically modulates flunitrazepam binding to synaptic membranes.
AB  - Taurine is hypothesized to exert its inhibitory neuromodulatory effects, in part,
      by interaction with the GABAA receptor. Although taurine displaces GABA agonist
      binding to synaptic membranes, its allosteric effects on the benzodiazepine
      recognition site of the GABAA receptor complex is unsettled. We determined the
      effects of taurine on [3H]flunitrazepam (Flu) binding to well-washed, frozen
      thawed synaptic membranes prepared from rat cortex. Comparative binding studies
      were conducted at 37 degrees C and on ice (0-4 degrees C). At 37 degrees C
      taurine increased Flu binding in a concentration dependent way by interaction
      with a bicuculline sensitive site, similar to GABA. Taurine increased Flu binding
      by causing a decrease in KD. The maximal effectiveness of taurine on Flu binding
      could not be increased further by addition of GABA. In contrast, the maximal
      stimulation of Flu binding by GABA was decreased by addition of taurine to the
      level attained by taurine alone. These mixed agonist/antagonist effects of
      taurine are pharmacologically specific and qualify taurine as a partial GABA
      agonist in this type of allosteric interaction. However, taurine causes opposite
      effects on Flu binding when measured at 0-4 degrees C: taurine interacts with a
      bicuculline insensitive site to inhibit Flu binding by increasing the KD. Taurine
      inhibition of Flu binding is not overcome by increasing concentrations of GABA.
      Although the mechanism of taurine inhibition of Flu binding at 0-4 degrees C is
      unclear, it may be an indirect effect of taurine interaction with membrane
      phospholipids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453478
TI  - Cloning of a novel TGF-beta related cytokine, the vgr, from rat brain: cloning of
      and comparison to homologous human cytokines.
AB  - Here we describe cloning of a TGF-beta related cytokine from a rat brain cDNA
      library. This novel cytokine, the vgr (vegetal related), is homologous to the
      vegetal (Vg1) gene of Xenopus (DL Weeks and DA Melton, Cell, 51:861-867, 1987).
      In rat brain mRNA a single 3.5 kb RNA could be detected by Northern blot
      analysis. Thus, this new cytokine is constitutively expressed in the central
      nervous system. A monoclonal antibody reactive with a synthetic peptide of vgr
      revealed a faint vgr-like immunoreactivity throughout the CNS, with more
      pronounced staining of hippocampal neurons, ependymal cells, cells of the choroid
      plexus, and hypophysis. Using the rat cDNA, two homologous human cytokine cDNAs
      encoding the human vgr and op-1 were cloned.

PMID- 1453479
TI  - Neurofilament and tubulin mRNA expression in Schwann cells.
AB  - Feeding of elemental tellurium to weanling rats blocks synthesis of cholesterol
      (a major component of myelin), and causes demyelination of the sciatic nerve.
      Expression of mRNA for myelin-specific genes in Schwann cells is downregulated.
      We now demonstrate specificity for Schwann cell injury in that expression of
      mRNAs for neurofilament subunits and for class II beta-tubulin (parameters
      sensitive to axonal injury) is unaltered in neurons of the dorsal root ganglia.
      An unexpected result was that in tellurium-treated rats there was marked
      upregulation of expression of mRNAs coding for the light and medium neurofilament
      subunits ("neuron-specific" proteins) as well as that for class II beta-tubulin
      (the major neuronal beta-tubulin isotype) in Schwann cells. Expression of these
      "neuronal" mRNA species was also detected in distal stumps of transected nerves
      at times when Schwann cells were undergoing dedifferentiation.

PMID- 1453480
TI  - Differential expression of carboxyl terminal derivatives of amyloid precursor
      protein among cell lines.
AB  - Understanding the pathway for amyloid percursor protein (APP) catabolism has
      become an important line of investigation. APP is a ubiquitous membrane bound
      protein that is rapidly cleaved at the membrane, yielding a secreted protein
      identical to protease nexin II and an internalized 11.5 kDa 100 residue C
      terminal derivative (CTD). The levels of CTDs in a variety of cell lines have
      been examined and were found to differ. Cell types associated with the pathology
      of Alzheimer's disease (AD), such as olfactory neuroblasts (ON) and cortical
      vascular endothelial cells, have higher levels of CTDs than lymphoblasts and
      melanoma cells. The mechanism of CTD catabolism appears to involve the lysosome
      because blockade of lysosomal but not endosomal or mitochondrial function results
      in increased levels of CTDs. Under these conditions, production of larger,
      amyloidogenic CTDs is also seen. In cells possessing higher levels of CTDs we
      find that the mechanism for production of amyloidogenic CTDs may involve the
      internalization of intact full-length APP. Thus, inhibition of the lysosomal
      system appears capable of generating amyloidogenic peptides. The amount of
      amyloidogenic peptides appears to vary among cell lines. Such variation may shed
      light on why amyloid accumulates around specific cell types such as vascular
      endothelial cells, neurons, and glia. Finally, disfunction of the lysosomal
      system may play a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 1453481
TI  - Neuronal migration in cerebellar microcultures is inhibited by antibodies against
      a neurite outgrowth domain of laminin.
AB  - The functional role of laminin in neuronal migration was investigated by using
      polyclonal antibodies or their divalent (Fab')2 fragments to a neurite outgrowth
      promoting domain of the B2 chain of laminin in a cerebellar microculture system
      widely recognized as a model for neuronal migration. We show here that these
      antibodies or their (Fab')2 fragments totally inhibit migration of the mouse
      cerebellar granule cells along the glial and other neuronal cell processes.
      Antibodies to native laminin or other control antibodies have no inhibitory
      effect. Immunocytochemical analysis of the cerebellar microcultures indicates
      that the functional role of these antibodies may relate to the fact that the
      punctate deposits of laminin and its neurite outgrowth promoting domain
      accumulate in between the migrating neurons and the glial cells. These data
      provide the first direct evidence for the functional role of laminin and its
      neurite outgrowth domain in neuronal migration in the mammals. They further
      suggest that a neuronal cell surface contact with the extracellular deposits of a
      neurite outgrowth domain of the B2 chain of laminin may mediate neuronal-glial
      interactions.

PMID- 1453482
TI  - Myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein is a unique member of the immunoglobulin
      superfamily.
AB  - Myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) is a primary target autoantigen in
      experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a widely used animal model for
      autoimmune demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. We have isolated
      several rat MOG cDNAs and confirmed their identity by comparison with MOG N
      terminal peptide sequence. As expected, MOG mRNA expression is CNS-specific and
      peaks during active myelination. Our studies show that full length MOG mRNA is
      approximately 1.6 kb and encodes a signal peptide of 27 amino acids, followed by
      218 residues for mature MOG (24,962 MW). A single site for N-glycosylation is
      found at Asn-31. Rather than the ubiquitous AAUAAA polyadenylation signal, a
      series of three overlapping, rare poly A signals were identified. The N-terminal
      half of mature MOG shares 52% identity with bovine butyrophilin, a possible lipid
      receptor. This same region has 39% identity with chicken B-G antigen, a major
      histocompatibility complex antigen involved in B cell selection and immune
      repertoire development. We show that both MOG and butyrophilin, each exhibiting a
      single Ig-like variable region domain, meet criteria for inclusion in the
      immunoglobulin superfamily. Moreover, MOG appears to represent a unique member of
      this superfamily in that it possesses two potential transmembrane domains, in
      contrast to a single membrane-spanning domain or glycophospholipid anchor found
      in all other members of Ig superfamily members.

PMID- 1453483
TI  - Intracellular calcium levels regulate the actions of nerve growth factor on
      calcium uptake in PC12 cells.
AB  - The uptake of divalent cations and the intracellular concentration of calcium in
      PC12 cells were studied by flow cytometric analysis using the calcium-sensitive
      dye, Fluo-3, under a variety of conditions. In particular the actions of nerve
      growth factor were analyzed. The data show that nerve growth factor stimulates
      the uptake of divalent cations and increases the intracellular calcium levels of
      cells attached to collagen-coated plates. The data further indicate that nerve
      growth factor-dependent increases in the uptake of divalent cations become less
      pronounced as the intracellular concentration of calcium increases. Intracellular
      calcium levels increase upon detachment of the cells from the plates and also
      with increasing cell density. Studies on the uptake of 45calcium confirmed the
      influence of intracellular calcium levels on nerve growth factor-stimulated
      calcium uptake. Thus, the effect of nerve growth factor on the uptake of divalent
      cations is dependent on the calcium levels in the cells, perhaps explaining why
      previous studies in this field have provided inconsistent results.

PMID- 1453484
TI  - Antibody to beta-amyloid precursor protein recognizes an intermediate filament
      associated protein in Alzheimer's and control fibroblasts.
AB  - The expression of beta-amyloid precursor protein (BAPP) and its mRNAs was studied
      in fibroblasts obtained from patients afflicted with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and
      age-matched controls. Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT
      PCR), transcripts corresponding to 770, 751, 714, and 695 amino acids were
      detected in both AD and control fibroblasts. Antibody 22C11 against BAPP
      (Boehringer Mannheim) labeled an intracellular protein, specifically localized to
      the intermediate filament network. In addition to bands of the predicted
      molecular weights for BAPP (120-135 kDa), Western blotting revealed a 57 kDa band
      which was not evident in samples of human brain. As cytoskeletal elements are
      vital in maintaining cellular architecture and various cell interactions,
      localization of BAPP or a related molecule to the cytoskeleton suggests a
      possible structural role for this protein within the cell.

PMID- 1453485
TI  - Cell cycle and proliferation dynamics of adult rat oligodendrocytes.
AB  - Adult oligodendrocytes (OLGs) have been shown to be mitotically responsive when
      co-cultured with dorsal root ganglion. We have investigated the population
      dynamics of the OLG proliferative response, including the maximum percent of
      cells which will proliferate and the cell cycle duration time of the adult rat
      OLG. Adult OLGs were stimulated with pituitary extract and either continuously
      labeled or pulse labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). The labeled cells were
      stained with a fluorescent anti-BrdU monoclonal antibody, and fluorescence
      measurements were made with a multiparameter flow cytometer. A maximum number of
      53% of the adult OLGs entered the cell division cycle after 9 days. The cell
      division cycle duration time (Tc) was determined to be approximately 35.4 hr, and
      the durations of G1, S, and G2M found to be 12.1, 8.5, and 5.8 hr, respectively.
      A scenario was generated for adult OLG proliferation in which 2.2% of the initial
      population is stimulated to enter the cell division cycle in the first 24 hr.
      This initial population divides and continues in the cell division cycle. Another
      2.2% of the initial population enters the cell division cycle during the second
      24 hr period, divides, and continues in the cell division cycle. This entry of
      2.2% of the cells into the proliferative phase continues until 53% of the initial
      population has left a quiescent state and entered the cell cycle.

PMID- 1453486
TI  - Nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors in a central nervous system glial cell line:
      upregulation by NGF and brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
AB  - The neurotrophic proteins nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived
      neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are related in their primary amino acid structures. In
      this study we investigated the extent to which the low-affinity NGF receptor
      (LNGFR) in C6 glioma cells can discriminate between the neurotrophins NGF and
      BDNF. LNGFR-immunoreactivity (IR) was studied in C6 cells treated for 16 hr with
      NGF (50 ng/ml) or BDNF (10 ng/ml), using immunogold labelling and electron
      microscopic morphometric analysis. The cells were exposed to the anti-NGFR
      antibody 192-IgG, followed by immunoglobulin conjugated with colloidal gold.
      Untreated C6 cells exhibited some surface gold label (positive LNGFR-IR). Cells
      treated with NGF or BDNF displayed significantly increased LNGFR-IR on all
      surfaces in terms of gold labeling, which was more pronounced in NGF-treated
      cells. LNGFR-IR was also localized in coated endocytotic vesicles, in smooth
      endoplasmic reticulum, and in secondary multivesicular lysosomes in neurotrophin
      treated and untreated cells. The increase in LNGFR protein was further
      substantiated by a correspondingly higher content of LNGFR mRNA detected after 15
      hr of either NGF or BDNF treatment. These results suggest that the LNGFR in glial
      cells can be upregulated by the structurally related neurotrophins NGF and BDNF.

PMID- 1453487
TI  - Beta/A4 domain of APP: antigenic differences between cell lines.
AB  - The expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in olfactory neuroblasts has
      been examined with a panel of antibodies directed against varied regions of the
      APP molecule. The pattern of reactivity was compared to that in the transformed
      human glial cell line SVG, human cortical brain tissue, and in kidney epithelial
      293 cells containing stably transfected and overexpressed human APP751.
      Antibodies directed against the C-terminus and extracellular domains of amyloid
      precursor protein (APP) react more strongly on immunoblot with transfected 293
      cells and brain tissue than with olfactory neuroblasts (ON) or SVG cells.
      Antibodies directed against the beta/A4 region of APP show a contrasting pattern
      of reactivity, yielding greater reactivity with ON and SVG cells than with
      transfected 293 cells or brain tissue. Analysis of the APP transcripts using
      polymerase chain reaction indicates that ON and SVG both make predominantly
      APP770 and 751, as does the transfected 293 cell line. In the absence of any
      differences in APP transcripts among the cell lines, the difference in
      availability of the beta/A4 region appears likely to be due to posttranslational
      modification. These data therefore indicate that processing of APP varies among
      cell lines and thus may vary from tissue to tissue.

PMID- 1453488
TI  - Effect of potassium and N-methyl-D-aspartate on the aspartate aminotransferase
      activity in cultured cerebellar granule cells.
AB  - The effect of potassium depolarization and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) on the
      activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AAT; EC 2.6.1.1), an enzyme suggested to
      be involved in neurotransmitter glutamate synthesis, was studied in cultured
      cerebellar granule neurons. Both KCl and NMDA increased AAT activity in a dose
      dependent manner. When cells were treated 48-72 hr with 40 mM KCl or 150 microM
      NMDA the AAT was enhanced about 65-75%. The EC50 for NMDA and KCl were 25 microM
      and 17 mM, respectively. The effect of NMDA and KCl was specific for AAT without
      affecting the activity of other enzymes like lactate dehydrogenase or protein
      content and it was observed only in granule cells but not in astrocytes or
      cortical neurons. The effect of KCl was not mediated by an activation of
      excitatory amino acid receptors and was Ca(++)-dependent. The effect of NMDA was
      completely blocked by Mg++ and NMDA antagonists. The increase of AAT induced by
      AAT and KCl was blocked by cycloheximide and actinomycin D, suggesting an
      involvement of de novo synthesis of proteins and RNA. Kainic acid and quinolinic
      acid were also effective in increasing the AAT activity. The action of kainate
      was less effective than that of NMDA and it was observed only at relatively low
      concentrations (10 microM). Quinolinic acid raised the activity of AAT about 45%
      at a concentration of 500 microM. Other non-NMDA agonists did not modify the AAT
      activity. From these findings we can conclude that NMDA and KCl exert a trophic
      action on cerebellar granular neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453489
TI  - Regional distribution and biochemical characteristics of high molecular weight
      tau in the nervous system.
AB  - The present study examined the distribution of the high molecular weight (HMW)
      tau protein isoform in the nervous system by immunoblotting and
      immunohistochemistry. Some of the biochemical properties of this 110 kDa tau
      protein were explored, including its heat stability, phosphorylation and
      partitioning with cold/Ca2+ stable vs. soluble microtubules. Qualitative western
      blot analysis revealed that HMW tau is preferentially expressed in neurons with
      peripherally projecting axons. For example, this isotype was present in sciatic
      nerve, ventral and dorsal roots, trigeminal nerve, vagus nerve, dorsal root
      ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord, but was present in only trace amounts in CNS
      regions. Another tau isoform of slightly smaller size (90-100 kDa), termed mid
      molecular weight (MMW) tau, was present in abundant quantity in optic nerve
      samples and detectable in several other CNS regions, including hippocampus and
      cerebellum. The 110 kDa HMW tau as well as MMW tau and the other tau isoforms
      were found to be heat stable proteins. The HMW and MMW tau isoforms
      preferentially partitioned with the cold and Ca+2 insoluble tubulin fraction, but
      the association of HMW tau with stable microtubules was very susceptible to
      proteolysis. Dephosphorylation of fresh tissue with alkaline phosphatase produced
      no apparent shift in the mobility of HMW tau on SDS-PAGE but did alter the
      mobility of other brain tau isoforms, including MMW tau. Immunocytochemical
      staining with tau-1 antibody in the DRG, which contains HMW tau but no other tau
      isotypes, showed localization to mainly small neurons and was not altered by
      dephosphorylation of the histological sections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453490
TI  - Time lapse study of neurite growth in hypothalamic dissociated neurons in
      culture: sex differences and estrogen effects.
AB  - Cultures of dissociated hypothalamic cells taken from rat fetuses of 19 days of
      gestation were studied using time-lapse recording and sequential microphotography
      from 1 to 5 days in vitro (DIV) and at 7 and 21 DIV. Cultures were seeded with
      cells taken from fetuses grouped by sex or sexually mixed; experimental cultures
      were raised in medium containing 17-beta-estradiol 100 nM (E2). Cells were plated
      on poly-D-lysine-coated coverslips at a culture density of approximately 4,000
      cells/cm2. Immunocytochemistry of cell cultures was performed using a Tau
      monoclonal antibody (clone Tau-1 PC1C6) and a monoclonal antibody against MAP-2
      (clone AP-20). Cells started to produce lamellipodia and neuritic processes
      approximately 4 hr after plating. Forty-eight hours later a few neurons had
      defined their morphological polarity by the differentiation of an axon-like
      process that grows faster than the others; at 5 DIV almost all neurons had
      defined their axons. At this time, monoclonal antibody against MAP-2 clearly
      stained soma and dendrites, but not axons. Tau immunoreactivity (lots CCA101 and
      CCA101N from Boeringher Mannheim) was differentially distributed, with a clear
      predominance in axon and soma. Results on the morphometric analysis of control
      and E2 treated neurons provide direct evidence for the existence of sex related
      differences in the neurite outgrowth response of hypothalamic neurons, since
      cultured neurons taken from female fetuses differentiated axons later and had
      fewer primary neurites and shorter dendrites than neurons taken from male fetuses
      or sexually mixed cultures. Also, it was demonstrated in living neurons that E2
      effectively enhances outgrowth and elongation in axons. The frequency
      distribution curves of axonal length for control and E2 treated cultures was
      unimodal, suggesting that the effect of E2 was a uniform increase in the axonal
      length of all neurons. The structural differences between neurons from both sexes
      and the changes induced by E2 may contribute to explain the differences in brain
      function found between the sexes.

PMID- 1453491
TI  - Uptake and metabolism of malate in neurons and astrocytes in primary cultures.
AB  - Uptake and oxidative metabolism of [14C]malate as well as its incorporation into
      aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, and GABA were studied in cultured cerebral
      cortical neurons (GABAergic), cerebellar granule neurons (glutamatergic), and
      cerebral cortical astrocytes. All cell types exhibited high affinity uptake of
      malate (Km 10-85 microM) with slightly higher Vmax values in neurons (0.1-0.2
      nmol x min-1 x mg-1) than in astrocytes (0.06 nmol x min-1 x mg-1). Malate was
      oxidatively metabolized in all three cell types with nominal rates of 14CO2
      production of 2-15 pmol x min-1 x mg-1. The oxidation of malate was only slightly
      inhibited by 5 mM aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA). In granule cell preparations
      [14C]malate was incorporated into aspartate and glutamate and, to a much less
      extent, into glutamine. This incorporation was blocked by 5 mM AOAA. Astrocytes
      exhibited slightly higher incorporation rates into aspartate and glutamate, but
      in these cells glutamine was labelled to a considerable extent. AOAA (5 mM)
      inhibited the incorporation by 60-70%. In cultures of cerebral cortical neurons,
      very low levels of radioactivity derived from [14C]malate were found in aspartate
      and glutamate, and GABA was not labelled at all. Glutamine had the same specific
      activity as glutamate, indicating that the low rates of incorporation of
      radioactivity into amino acids in this preparation is likely to exclusively
      represent metabolism of malate in the small population of astrocytes (5% of total
      cell number), contaminating the neuronal cultures. The findings suggest that
      exogenous malate to a quantitatively limited extent may serve as a precursor for
      transmitter glutamate in glutamatergic neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453492
TI  - Incorporation of 15N from L-leucine into isoleucine by rat brain cerebral cortex
      slices.
AB  - The fate of leucine nitrogen in the central nervous system was investigated by
      incubating rat cerebral cortex slices in the presence of 0.5 mM each of L-[15N]
      leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-valine. Analysis of the slices and incubation media
      for free amino acids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed that the
      15N from leucine is incorporated into isoleucine only. No 15N was detected in
      valine or any other amino acid. These results suggest that leucine, valine, and
      their corresponding aminotransferases may be compartmentalized in brain cerebral
      cortex.

PMID- 1453493
TI  - Metabolic relationships between proteins of myelin and paranodally shedded,
      partially degraded myelin fragments in the rabbit CNS.
AB  - The "close-to-node" regions of myelinated nerve fibres, i.e., the paranodal end
      segments, are generally thought to be sites of high metabolic activity and myelin
      sheath turnover. Data on turnover rates of individual myelin constituents are
      conflicting but there exists a common belief that myelin is metabolized as
      independent molecules rather than as a unit. The occurrence of paranodal Marchi
      positive bodies, with morphological and biochemical properties consistent with
      partially degraded myelin, prompted us to examine the temporal dynamics of the
      incorporation of radioactive precursor label in the major proteins of myelin and
      the Marchi-positive bodies. 3H-leucine was administered intrathecally in adult
      rabbits. After various survival times, the spinal cord was subfractionated by
      ultracentrifugation in a discontinuous two-step 0.32 M/0.85 M sucrose gradient.
      Myelin was collected from the interface and a floating fraction, heavily enriched
      in Marchi-positive bodies, was recovered on top of the 0.32 M sucrose. By
      scintillation counting and by gel fluorography combined with immunoblotting, a
      gradual appearance with time of partially degraded peptides of myelin-associated
      protein and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase was seen in the floating
      fraction but not in myelin. The temporal dynamics of the specific activities of
      these two proteins and myelin-basic protein and proteolipid protein were
      consistent with a typical source-product relationship between myelin and the
      material in the floating fraction. In conjunction with earlier morphological and
      biochemical findings, these data may suggest that Marchi-positive bodies appear
      as a consequence of myelin catabolism.

PMID- 1453494
TI  - Evidence for intracellular cleavage of the Alzheimer's amyloid precursor in PC12
      cells.
AB  - The Alzheimer's amyloid precursor (APP) is cleaved by an unidentified enzyme (APP
      secretase) to produce soluble APP. Fractionation of PC12 cell homogenates in a
      detergent-free buffer showed the presence of the Kunitz protease inhibitor (KPI)
      containing soluble APP (nexin II) in the particulate fraction. Digitonin or
      sodium carbonate treatment of this fraction solubilized nexin II suggesting that
      it is contained in the lumen of vesicles. Nexin II production was not affected by
      lysosomotropic agents, suggesting that APP secretase is not a lysosomal enzyme.
      Labelling of cell surface proteins by iodination failed to detect full-length APP
      on the surface of PC12 cells, suggesting that most of this protein is located
      intracellularly. Furthermore, pulse-chase experiments showed that nexin II is
      detected in cell extracts before it appears in the culture medium. Cellular nexin
      II was detected at zero time of chase after only 5 min of pulse labelling with
      35S-sulfate, indicated that APP secretase cleavage takes place immediately after
      APP is sulfated. Temperature block, pulse-chase, and 35S-sulfate-labelling
      experiments suggested that APP is cleaved by APP secretase intracellularly in the
      trans-Golgi network (TGN) or in a post-Golgi compartment.

PMID- 1453495
TI  - Proliferation and differentiation of O4+ oligodendrocytes in postnatal rat
      cerebellum: analysis in unfixed tissue slices using anti-glycolipid antibodies.
AB  - We report the study of the in vivo morphology, differentiation, and proliferation
      of oligodendrocytes (OLs) and their progenitors identified by the antiglycolipid
      antibodies O4, R-mAb, and O1 in postnatal rat cerebellum, using a novel
      immunocytochemical staining protocol which allows the analysis of the expression
      of OL-specific glycolipids in live, unfixed brain slices. An analysis of the
      individual cells identified in double label immunocytochemistry indicated that
      the order of antigen expression in OLs during in vivo development is, first,
      antigens recognized by O4, second, antigens recognized R-mAb, and third, antigens
      recognized by O1. This order of antigen expression is correlated with increasing
      morphological complexity and is a pattern mimicked in many culture systems. In
      vivo O4 identified 3 distinct stages of the OL lineage: (1) morphologically
      simple proligodendrocyte antigen+ (POA+) R-mAb- blast cells localized at the
      leading edge of myelinogenesis; (2) morphologically more complex R-mAb+O1- cells;
      and (3) actively myelinating O1+ [i.e., galactocerebroside+ (GalC)] OLs residing
      within the white matter. Only the POA+R-mAb- cells incorporated BrdU in animals
      that were prelabeled 3 hr before immunocytochemistry. We have demonstrated in
      vivo the subdivision of pre-GalC+ OL progenitors into shorter, biologically
      noteworthy, stages of maturation. A spatial comparison of the cell populations
      identified by O4, R-mAb, and O1 demonstrated a progressive wave of OL maturation
      from the base of the cerebellum toward the folia. The data are consistent with
      the hypothesis that multiprocessed O4+GalC- progenitors are the most mature stage
      of the OL lineage with significant proliferative capacity and the first
      postmigratory stage in normal development.

PMID- 1453496
TI  - Urinary albumin determination by gel-filtration high-performance liquid
      chromatography.
AB  - To determine urinary albumin in a minute amount, a gel-filtration high
      performance liquid chromatographic procedure was newly established. When urine of
      a normal rat was eluted isocratically at 0.6 ml/min by 100 mM Na sulfate in 20 mM
      Na, K-phosphate (pH 7.4), approximately 6 hrs for complete elution of urinary
      peak-forming substances was needed. Retention time of albumin was found to be
      22.9 min. To shorten the analytic time, 100 mM Na sulfate in 20 mM Na, K
      phosphate (pH 7.4) was first used during a 30 min period for separation of
      albumin. A mixture of acetonitrile/the above solvent = 3/7 (v/v) was then flushed
      to wash away the peak-forming substances. By this elution mode, the analytic time
      could be reduced to 3 hrs. When the validity of this procedure was tested, the
      detection limit of albumin was 0.04 microgram/injection, and a linearity was
      observed between 0.2 and 50 micrograms/injection. Rats then received single
      subcutaneous injections of puromycin aminonucleoside, which is a nephrotoxic
      agent. The plasma albumin concentrations fell at 5, 10 and 15 days after the
      administration, and the urinary excretions of albumin rose from the 1st day up to
      the 15th day. The results denoted that our procedure could be a good evaluative
      tool for nephrotoxicity studies where albuminuria was manifested.

PMID- 1453497
TI  - Toxicities of microencapsulated tribromomethane, dibromochloromethane and
      bromodichloromethane administered in the diet to Wistar rats for one month.
AB  - The gelatin-starch syrup microencapsulation method was applied to subacute
      toxicity studies of tribromomethane (TBM), dibromochloromethane (DBCM) and
      bromodichloromethane (BDCM). Groups of Wistar rats (7 males and 7 females) both
      sexes were given diet containing microcapsules of each of these trihalomethanes
      (THMs) at the following concentrations: TBM, 0.068, 0.204 and 0.612% in males,
      and 0.072, 0.217 and 0.651% in females; DBCM, 0.020, 0.062 and 0.185% in males,
      and 0.038, 0.113 and 0.338% in females; BDCM, 0.024, 0.072 and 0.215% in males,
      and 0.024, 0.076 and 0.227% in females. Suppression of body weight gain was seen
      in each high-dose males fed TBM or BDCM and females fed DBCM or BDCM.
      Histopathologically, hepatic lesions such as vacuolization and swelling of liver
      cells were significantly noted in both sexes of all groups fed TBM, in both sexes
      of the middle- and high-dose groups fed DBCM, and in males of the high-dose group
      and in females of the middle- and high-dose groups fed BDCM. In addition, single
      cell necroses were observed in males and females fed DBCM and in males fed BDCM.
      Hepatic cord abnormalities were also noted in males of the high-dose group fed
      BDCM. Although no increases in serum transaminase activities (ASAT, ALAT) were
      evident in either sex fed any of the THMs, decreases in triglyceride content,
      cholinesterase and lactate dehydrogenase activity were observed. Renal lesions
      reported to occur in gavage studies were not found in the present feeding study.
      Lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level (LOAEL) of TBM and no-observed-adverse
      effect-level (NOAEL) of DBCM and BDCM were determined to be 56.4 mg/kg, 18.3
      mg/kg and 20.6 mg/kg, respectively, under the present experimental conditions.

PMID- 1453498
TI  - Effects of diethofencarb on thyroid function and hepatic UDP
      glucuronyltransferase activity in rats.
AB  - To examine the mechanism and toxicological significance of thyroidal tumor
      observed slightly in a long-term rat study with diethofencarb (isopropyl 3,4
      diethoxycarbanilate), male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diethofencarb in diets at
      concentrations of 0, 5,000 or 20,000 ppm for 3 months. Examinations mainly for
      thyroid functions including thyroid uptake of 125I, serum thyroid hormone and
      thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level, hepatic UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UDP
      GT) activity and histopathological examination in thyroid were performed at week
      13. Decreases of body weights and food consumptions were observed at and above
      5,000 ppm. Under these conditions, decrease of serum free T4 and increase of
      serum TSH level were observed only at 20,000 ppm, concurrently with liver weight
      increase at and above 5,000 ppm and increase of hepatic UDP-GT activity at 20,000
      ppm. However, no compound related effects were noted in thyroid weight, thyroid
      uptake of 125I and gross or histopathological examination in thyroid. These
      results indicate that the administration of diethofencarb leads to an increase in
      UDP-GT activity and acceleration of thyroid hormone excretion from the liver. The
      acceleration causes a decrease in serum free T4 level, triggering the feedback
      mechanism of the pituitary gland, promotion of TSH release and consequently an
      increase in serum TSH level. Thus, the slightly higher incidence of thyroid
      follicular cell tumors observed in the chronic and oncogenicity study with non
      genotoxic diethofencarb is considered to be caused by these weak pituitary
      thyroid hormonal imbalances. The toxicological significance in humans is
      extremely low according to the well established facts that the chronic TSH
      stimulating would not induce thyroid tumors in humans and humans may be less
      sensitive than rats in regard to the response to goitrogenic stimuli.

PMID- 1453499
TI  - Effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on the female reproductive system in rats.
AB  - Parenteral application of the active metabolite of vitamin D3, 1,25
      dihydroxyvitamin D3, has been anticipated to have remarkable efficacy in
      secondary hyperparathyroidism. However, in a reproduction seg. I study in rats,
      poor reproductive performance was reflected in a decrease in the number of
      matings, implantations and live births. These changes were though reversible
      after treatment with the compound was discontinued. In order to clarify the
      mechanism of these reversible toxicities, the following were examined in female
      rats treated with the D3 metabolite: 1. effect on the estrous cycle (no treatment
      for 2 weeks, treatment for 3 weeks and recovery for 2 weeks), and 2. effect on
      the maintenance of pregnancy (treatment for 2 weeks before mating and during the
      gestation period). In both groups, the levels of calcium, calcitonin, PTH and
      progesterone in serum were measured, and histopathological examination of the
      thyroid, parathyroid, ovary and uterus was carried out. The following results
      were observed: 1) disturbance of the estrous cycle, 2) hypofunctional changes in
      the corpus luteum in the ovary, and the epithelium, endometrium and uterine gland
      in the uterus with a decrease in the serum progesterone level and 3)
      hypercalcemia with a decrease in calcitonin or PTH levels in serum with
      morphological changes including atrophy and cyst-formation in the parathyroid.
      However, the above changes were reversible, and recovery was observed after
      administration of the compound was discontinued. These results indicate that the
      hypercalcemia caused by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 disrupts endocrinological
      homeostasis which in turn temporarily disrupts the female reproductive system.
      Furthermore, it was suggested that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 itself directly
      influences on endocrinological organs (hypothalamus, pituitary, parathyroid and
      thyroid) and reproductive organs (ovary and uterus).

PMID- 1453500
TI  - [Role of mast cells in the development of liver fibrosis during experimental
      hepatocarcinogenesis in rats].
AB  - The role of mast cells (MC) in the development of liver fibrosis during
      experimental hepatocarcinogenesis in rats has been studied light microscopically,
      histochemically and electron microscopically. An increase in the number of MC in
      the proliferated connective tissue was found. The histochemical examination
      showed that the increased MC almost exclusively were connective tissue mast cells
      (CTMC), whilst mucosa mast cells (MMC) were only rarely seen. The electron
      microscopical observation revealed a close topographical relationship between MC
      and fibroblasts sending out pseudopodia, which encircled granula released from MC
      and phagocytized them. The fibroblasts with phagocytized MC granules were
      markedly activated showing enhanced formation of collagenous fibrils. Finally,
      the role of MC in the development of liver fibrosis is discussed.

PMID- 1453501
TI  - Alteration in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction during hypothermia in dogs.
AB  - This study was performed to investigate the pulmonary vascular reactivity during
      hypothermia. It was found that the pulmonary vessels were more sensitive to
      alveolar hypoxia in hypothermic dogs, and that hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction
      (HPV) was enhanced, which could be inhibited by alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocker
      prazosin. The concentration of arterial plasma norepinephrine (NE) increased in
      dogs with hypothermia or in those with hypothermia plus hypoxia, but there was no
      significant difference between these two groups. The plasma level of 5
      hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was reduced during hypoxia in hypothermic dogs. Increase
      in plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, which appeared in hypoxic dogs, was not observed
      during hypoxia in hypothermic dogs. These findings suggest that a potentiation in
      the sensitivity and reactivity of alpha-adrenoceptor in pulmonary vessels and a
      decrease in the modulation of PGI2 might be responsible for the enhancement of
      HPV. 5-HT seemed not to play a contributing role in the alteration of HPV.

PMID- 1453502
TI  - The preventive effect of radix Salciae miltiorrhizae on monocrotaline-induced
      pulmonary hypertension in rats.
AB  - The preventive effect of Radix Salciae Miltiorrhizae (RSM) on pulmonary
      hypertension (PHT) and right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) induced by
      monocrotaline (MCT) in rats was observed with the methods of measuring the right
      ventricular systolic pressure (PVSP), the ratio of the right ventricle to the
      left ventricle plus interventricular septum RV/(LV+S) and the pulmonary small
      artery morphological analysis. The results show that RSM can reduce the PHT, and
      prevent the RVH and the increase of the medial thickness of pulmonary small
      arteries. It can also prevent the endothelial cell injury produced by MCT. The
      pharmacological effects of RSM on pulmonary circulation were also discussed.

PMID- 1453503
TI  - Effects of sustained ligustrazine on hemorrheology in patients with chronic
      pulmonary heart disease.
AB  - Before and after oral administration of sustained Ligustrazine, changes of
      hemorrheology and TXA2/PGI2 were evaluated in 16 patients with advanced chronic
      pulmonary heart disease. A decrease in whole blood and plasma viscosity, and
      reductions in hematocrit and fibrinogen were found after one course of treatment
      with sustained Ligustrazine. The mechanism of these effects may be related to
      improved modulation of imbalance of TXA2/PGI2 in patients with advanced chronic
      pulmonary heart disease.

PMID- 1453504
TI  - Effect of "re du qing" on the activation, proliferation and membrane fluidity of
      lymphocytes.
AB  - Effects of Chinese Medicinal Preparation "Re Du Qing" (RDQ) on the activation,
      proliferation and membrane fluidity of T lymphocytes from human peripheral blood
      were studied by means of 3H-TdR incorporation and DPH fluorescence polarization.
      The results showed that "RDQ" can: 1) significantly inhibit the activation of T
      lymphocytes; 2) restrain the proliferation of activated T lymphoblasts in the
      presence of exogenous interleukin-2 (IL-2); and 3) increase the membrane fluidity
      of T lymphocytes and antagonize the decreased fluidity of lymphocyte membrane
      mediated by Con A or PHA. The functional abnormalities of T lymphocytes in some
      autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and the usefulness of RDQ in the treatment
      of these diseases were also discussed.

PMID- 1453505
TI  - Effects of surgical trauma on interleukin 2 production and interleukin 2 receptor
      expression.
AB  - To elucidate the mechanism of immunologic abnormalities induced by surgical
      trauma, we measured interleukin 2 (IL-2) production and IL-2 receptor expression
      in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 16 patients with cholelithiasis.
      Compared with preoperative levels, IL-2 production and IL-2 receptor expression
      were significantly reduced on postoperative day 4, and the reduction was
      consistent with the suppression of lymphocyte proliferative response to
      phytohemagglutinin.

PMID- 1453506
TI  - Interleukin 2 production and its relationship with T lymphocyte subsets in
      patients with obstructive jaundice.
AB  - Sepsis remains a major risk in the high mortality and morbidity after surgery for
      obstructive jaundice. The reasons for the increased susceptibility to infection
      are unknown. This study examined interleukin 2 (IL-2) production and the
      lymphocyte response to PHA mitogen in 31 patients with obstructive jaundice.
      Among them, 18 patients were simultaneously investigated by enumeration of T
      lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood with APAAP technique. The results showed
      that the patients had significantly decreased IL-2 production and lymphocyte
      response to PHA mitogen. The percentage of Leu 3a (helper/inducer T cell) in the
      patients was significantly lower than that in normal controls. Leu 3a/Leu 2a
      (suppressor/cytotoxic T cell) ratio was significantly lower in these patients.
      The reduction of IL-2 production correlated significantly with the suppression of
      lymphocyte proliferation but not with the percentage of Leu 3a cells. From these
      results, it may be suggested that the reduction of IL-2 production in the
      patients with obstructive jaundice is an important reason for the suppression of
      T lymphocyte proliferative response, not merely a reflection of the decrease of
      helper T cells.

PMID- 1453507
TI  - Gastromucosal lesions in rabbits with chronic schistosomiasis.
AB  - Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage is one of the most important complications in
      portal hypertension secondary to schistosomiasis. Esophageal varices and gastric
      mucosal lesions are additional sources of bleeding. We studied the histologic and
      ultrastructural features of gastric mucosa in rabbits with chronic
      schistosomiasis (n = 10), with normal animals (n = 10) as controls. Our results
      confirm that in schistosomiasis, the gastric mucosa has characteristic functional
      and morphological features that may predispose it to the various damaging
      factors. Mucosal specimens reveal dilated submucosal vein with submucosal edema,
      ectasia of mucosal capillaries and venules. The mucosal vessels have conspicuous
      endothelial cells with prominent cytoplasm and numerous tiny projections
      extending into the vessel lumen. The submucosal venules show morphologic feature
      of arterialization. There are increased submucosal arteriovenous communications
      with a reduction in the effective mucosal blood flow. In addition, there are a
      number of eggs seen in the gastric mucosa of the rabbits with schistosomiasis.
      The granuloma may cause structural damage to the gastric mucosa. This finding
      suggests that schistosomiasis may play an important role in gastric lesions.

PMID- 1453508
TI  - Artificial bone of porous tricalcium phosphate ceramics and its preliminary
      clinical application.
AB  - The authors have prepared the artificial bone of porous tricalcium phosphate
      ceramics according to an appropriate formula and manufacturing technology.
      Physical and chemical testing shows that it possesses several distinguishing
      features: the communicating pores and macro/micropores; mean pore size, 380
      microns (from 240 microns to 510 microns); porosity, 46.4%; and compressive
      strength, 97.4 kg/cm2. It consists of CaO (49.09%) and P2O5 (48.84%). The testing
      of its biocompatibility shows that it is devoid of systemic or local toxicity,
      and free of irritation or foreign body response in tissues, and it does not
      result in hemolysis or mutation. The new bone readily grows into its pores with
      direct contact to the implanted material. 11 cases of bone defects were treated
      with this artificial bone with satisfactory results.

PMID- 1453509
TI  - Detection of surface antigen expression of pre- and post-cultured normal adult's
      bone marrow cells by using ABC technique and its significance.
AB  - The expression of surface antigens on both normal adult's bone marrow and
      multipotential progenitor cells (CFU-Mix) was detected by use of ABC technique.
      The culture system of CFU-Mix was an ideal model for studying the differentiation
      direction of hematopoietic cells. The monoclonal antibodies (McAb) CD3, CD4, CD8
      specific for T-lymphocytic lineage, CD22 for B-lymphocytic lineage and CD11,
      CD13, CD14 for granulocytomonocytic lineage were all demonstrated in certain
      proportion in cultured CFU-Mix, which might be associated with the control of
      hematopoiesis. A decrease in the positive rate of OKT9 and CD34 in cultured cells
      might be related to the differentiation of hematopoietic cells. SZ-2 and SZ-21
      could contribute to the identification of the presence of megakaryocytes in CFU
      Mix.

PMID- 1453510
TI  - Clinical studies on high frequency two-way jet ventilation.
AB  - A new mode of jet ventilation, high frequency two-way jet ventilation (HFTJV) was
      devised and introduced to increase carbon dioxide elimination during jet
      ventilation. Its ventilatory efficiency and features were investigated and
      compared with those of high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) in 10 patients with
      normal cardiopulmonary function. Random sample selection and randomized cross
      over trial were used for comparison between HFTJV and HFJV at the same
      ventilatory settings of driving pressure 1 kg/cm2 (14.22 Psi), respiratory rate
      100/min and I/E ratio 1:2. Peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), end-expiratory
      pressure (EEP) and main variables of air blood gas analysis (PaO2, PaCO2, pH)
      were measured and recorded during the use of HFJV and HFTJV. PIP and EEP were
      significantly lower than with HFTJV than with HFJV. EEP of HFTJV showed a
      slightly negative pressure (-0.17 +/- 0.03 kPa). PaCO2 with HFTJV was
      significantly lower than that with HFJV, but PaO2 and pH with HFTJV were
      significantly higher than those with HFJV. HFTJV was shown to have a ventilatory
      feature of decreasing airway pressure and simultaneously increasing carbon
      dioxide elimination, as compared with HFJV. Whether this ventilatory feature of
      HFTJV can be utilized for various respiratory support in patients with abnormal
      cardiopulmonary function needs to be further studied.

PMID- 1453511
TI  - Echocardiographic estimate of left atrial pressure in children.
AB  - Echocardiographic estimates of left atrial pressure (LAP) using the Q-C/A2-E
      ratio were obtained from 40 patients and compared with directly recorded mean LAP
      and/or pulmonary wedge pressure (PWP). The best correlation was obtained between
      LAP and the Q-C/A2-E (gamma = 0.95, P < 0.01); a good one between PWP and the Q
      C/A2-E in normal and moderate pulmonary hypertension (gamma = 0.82, P < 0.01),
      but a poor one in severe pulmonary hypertension (gamma = 0.61, P > 0.05).
      Consequently, echocardiography provides a useful noninvasive method for the
      estimation of the LAP and PWP, particularly appropriate for children Intensive
      Care Unit.

PMID- 1453512
TI  - Tomorrow's gene therapy suggests plenteous, patent cardiac vessels.

PMID- 1453513
TI  - Additional dose urged for some receiving Haemophilus influenzae vaccine in early
      '90s.

PMID- 1453514
TI  - From the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment.

PMID- 1453515
TI  - From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Surveillance for
      occupationally acquired HIV infection--United States, 1981-1992.

PMID- 1453516
TI  - From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chaparral-induced toxic
      hepatitis--California and Texas, 1992.

PMID- 1453517
TI  - From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nutritional needs surveys
      among elderly--Russia and Armenia, 1992.

PMID- 1453518
TI  - RBRVS gets an eye test.

PMID- 1453519
TI  - Pediatricians participating in Medicaid.

PMID- 1453520
TI  - Integrity in the National Resident Matching Program.

PMID- 1453521
TI  - Orienting college students to careers in medicine.

PMID- 1453522
TI  - Alcohol-related deaths of American Indians.

PMID- 1453523
TI  - Alcohol-related deaths of American Indians.

PMID- 1453524
TI  - Epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal infections in children in Finland.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiologic characteristics of invasive infections in
      children caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae to provide background data for
      vaccination programs. DESIGN: A nationwide laboratory-based prospective
      surveillance of all invasive pneumococcal infections in children during 1985
      through 1989. SETTING: A network of all microbiologic laboratories and pediatric
      wards in Finland. PATIENTS: Children aged 0 to 15 years who were admitted to a
      hospital with S pneumoniae isolated from blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or deep
      aspirate sample. RESULTS: Four hundred fifty-two invasive pneumococcal infections
      were diagnosed in 1985 through 1989. The annual incidence rate was 8.9 per
      100,000 children less than 16 years of age (24.2 per 100,000 among children less
      than 5 years of age and 45.3 per 100,000 among those less than 2 years of age).
      The most common clinical entities were bacteremia without focus (310 cases),
      pneumonia (66 cases), and meningitis (51 cases), with other focal infections seen
      in 25 cases. The pneumococcal groups/types 14, 6, 19, 7, 18, and 23 comprised 78%
      of all invasive infections. CONCLUSIONS: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common
      cause of invasive infections in children in Finland. A pneumococcal conjugate
      vaccine containing the six most common groups/types could prevent up to 70% of
      invasive pneumococcal infections of children in Finland if fully protective in
      infancy.

PMID- 1453525
TI  - Sex differences in osteoporosis in older adults with non-insulin-dependent
      diabetes mellitus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the association of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
      (NIDDM) with bone mineral density (BMD). DESIGN: A survey of men and women from
      an established epidemiologic cohort who were separately screened for diabetes by
      oral glucose tolerance test between 1984 and 1987 and for osteopenia by BMD
      measured in 1988-1989. SETTING: A community-based population of older adults,
      Rancho Bernardo, Calif. PARTICIPANTS: The first 627 consecutively seen white men
      and women aged 55 to 88 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bone density measured by
      single photon absorptiometry at the ultradistal wrist and midradius and by dual x
      ray absorptiometry at the femoral neck and lumbar spine. MAIN RESULTS: Among the
      236 men and 391 women, whose average age was 72 years, 41 men and 39 women had
      NIDDM, 56 men and 110 women had impaired glucose tolerance, and 139 men and 242
      women had normal glucose tolerance. Men with diabetes had BMD levels similar to
      those men with normal glucose tolerance, whereas women with diabetes had
      significantly higher BMD levels at all sites than women with normal glucose
      tolerance. The increased bone density in diabetic women was unexplained by age,
      obesity, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, regular physical activity, and the
      use of diuretics and estrogen. The multiply adjusted mean BMD in women with NIDDM
      compared with normoglycemic women was 0.600 g/cm2 vs 0.548 g/cm2 at the
      midradius; 0.265 g/cm2 vs 0.230 g/cm2 at the ultradistal wrist; 0.654 g/cm2 vs
      0.610 g/cm2 at the femoral neck; and 0.962 g/cm2 vs 0.859 g/cm2 at the spine. The
      sex differences were unexplained by survivor bias, prior obesity, or duration of
      diabetes. Differences were seen in women (but not men) whose diabetes was first
      detected at the screening evaluation, ie, before drug or dietary treatment.
      Similarly, in women (but not men) without diabetes increasing BMD levels at all
      four sites were associated with increasing postchallenge glucose levels
      independent of age and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Older women with NIDDM or
      hyperglycemia had better BMD than women with normal glucose tolerance,
      independent of differences in obesity and many other risk factors. No differences
      in bone density by diabetic status were observed in men. We hypothesize that the
      sex differences may be explained by the greater androgenicity reported in women
      with hyperglycemic and hyperinsulinemic conditions.

PMID- 1453526
TI  - Confidential HIV testing and condom promotion in Africa. Impact on HIV and
      gonorrhea rates.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing
      and counseling on self-reported condom and spermicide use and on corresponding
      HIV seroconversion and gonorrhea rates in urban Rwandan women. DESIGN:
      Prospective cohort study with 2 years of follow-up, comparison of outcome
      variables before and after an intervention, and condom use measured in a control
      group that did not receive the intervention. SETTING: Outpatient research clinic
      in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand four hundred fifty
      eight childbearing women, 32% of whom were infected with HIV, were enrolled in a
      prospective study in 1988, and followed at 3- to 6-month intervals for 2 years.
      Follow-up was available for 95% of subjects at year 1 and 92% at year 2.
      INTERVENTIONS: An acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) educational
      videotape, HIV testing and counseling, and free condoms and spermicide were
      provided to all participants and interested sexual partners. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: Self-report of compliance with condom-spermicide use and observed
      incidence of HIV and gonorrhea. RESULTS: Only 7% of women reported ever trying
      condoms before the intervention, but 22% reported condom use with good compliance
      1 year later. Women who were HIV-positive were more likely to adopt condom use
      than HIV-negative women (36% vs 16%; P < .05). Independent predictors of condom
      use, both in HIV-positive and in HIV-negative women, included HIV testing and
      counseling of the male partner, having a nonmonogamous relationship, and
      believing condoms were not dangerous. Human immunodeficiency virus seroconversion
      rates decreased significantly (from 4.1 to 1.8 per 100 person-years; P < .04) in
      women whose partners were tested and counseled. The prevalence of gonorrhea
      decreased substantially (13% to 6%; P < .05) among HIV-positive women, with the
      greatest reduction among condom users (16% to 4%; P < .05). CONCLUSION: A
      confidential HIV testing and counseling program was associated with increased use
      of condoms and reduced rates of gonorrhea and HIV in urban Rwandan women. The
      lack of risk reduction in HIV-negative women whose partner's serostatus was
      unknown was of concern. Interventions that promote HIV testing and counseling for
      both members of a couple should be considered in other high-prevalence areas.

PMID- 1453527
TI  - Academic-industry relationships in the life sciences. Extent, consequences, and
      management.
AB  - Academic-industry relationships in the life sciences remain controversial. The
      available evidence suggests that such relationships have both benefits and risks
      for involved parties. Benefits include additional support of academic research,
      income for academic health centers, the potential for increased scientific and
      commercial productivity in both industries and universities, and enhancement of
      the educational experiences of students and fellows. Risks include an increase in
      secrecy in academic environments and damage to public support for the life
      science enterprise. The balance of known benefits and risks suggests that
      academic-industry relationships should be permitted and even selectively
      promoted. However, there is also a need for enhanced vigilance on the part of
      academic institutions and government to reduce risks posed by certain types of
      arrangements, especially those involving human subjects. Enhanced vigilance
      should include disclosure of all academic-industry relationships by life science
      faculty.

PMID- 1453528
TI  - Invasive Haemophilus influenzae infections in men with HIV infection.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease
      in men with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and the proportion of disease due to
      serotype b. DESIGN: Population-based, active surveillance. SETTING: San Francisco
      (Calif) Department of Health. PARTICIPANTS: All men 20 to 49 years of age with
      invasive H influenzae disease. RESULTS: The cumulative incidences of invasive H
      influenzae disease in men 20 to 49 years of age with AIDS and in HIV-infected men
      20 to 49 years of age without AIDS were 79.2 and 14.6 per 100,000, respectively,
      but only 33% of cases were due to serotype b. The corresponding rates for
      invasive H influenzae b disease were 11.3 and 7.6 per 100,000. CONCLUSIONS: Men
      with AIDS or HIV infection are at increased risk of invasive H influenzae
      infections, including H influenzae b, but such infections are still infrequent in
      this population.

PMID- 1453529
TI  - Newer tests for the diagnosis of renovascular disease.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate published reports of diagnostic methods for renovascular
      hypertension, including Doppler ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, the
      captopril test, and captopril scanning. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE and selected
      references from appropriate published articles. STUDY SELECTION: Studies included
      those that calculated sensitivities and specificities; studies that derived
      diagnostic criteria without application to another population of patients were
      excluded. Consensus of both authors was necessary for inclusion. DATA EXTRACTION:
      Articles were critically assessed independently by the authors and a consensus
      critique was developed. DATA SYNTHESIS: Major sources of variability exist in the
      investigations of recently developed tests for renovascular hypertension. These
      include variability in patient populations, performance of tests, and
      determination of outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: Among the newer diagnostic tests,
      both magnetic resonance imaging and Doppler ultrasonography hold promise for the
      anatomic detection of renal artery stenosis, but clear diagnostic criteria have
      not been universally accepted. There is more information concerning the captopril
      test, which has a sufficiently high sensitivity to be useful in the screening of
      high-risk patients for renovascular hypertension. Scans after captopril
      administration, which appear to be more specific, may enable the prediction of a
      blood pressure response to angioplasty or surgery.

PMID- 1453530
TI  - The resource-based relative value scale.

PMID- 1453531
TI  - New challenges in the development of a conjugate pneumococcal vaccine.

PMID- 1453533
TI  - The implications of the 1992 Presidential election for health care reform.

PMID- 1453532
TI  - AIDS in the global village. Why US physicians should care about HIV outside the
      United States.

PMID- 1453534
TI  - Clinical significance of reverse redistribution on thallium-201 single-photon
      emission computed tomography in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
AB  - To determine the clinical significance of reverse redistribution (RR), resting
      thallium-201 myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography was performed
      once or twice in 80 patients in subacute phase (1 week to 2 months) of myocardial
      infarction. Thirty eight patients demonstrated RR on at least one study (group
      RR) and 32 a fixed defect only (group FD). Group RR had significantly smaller
      defects than group FD. Standardizing the relation of the severity of wall motion
      abnormality of left ventricle on echocardiogram with that of perfusion defect, in
      group RR wall motion abnormality in the acute and subacute phase reflected the
      defect of delayed image, while that in chronic phase, which was thought to
      reflect the viability of myocardium in the infarct region, reflected the defect
      of initial image. In serial thallium-201 studies, only the defect of delayed
      image of group RR improved on the second study, while the defect of initial image
      of group RR and defect of group FD did not improve. Wall motion of group RR
      improved with the disappearance of RR, and when RR remained, wall motion did not
      improve so much. We concluded that RR was thought to be demonstrated in viable
      myocardium with severe wall motion abnormality.

PMID- 1453535
TI  - Right ventricular wall motion disturbance and determinants of the appearance of
      hemodynamic right ventricular infarction.
AB  - In order to elucidate the mechanisms of the appearance of hemodynamic right
      ventricular infarction (RVI), we studied right and left ventriculograms and
      hemodynamic findings in 52 patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction.
      Right ventricular wall motion disturbance (RVWMD) was detected in 69% of patient
      but hemodynamic RVI was observed only in 16%. Among patients with RVWMD, there
      was no significant difference in right ventricular ejection fraction between
      those with (group III) and without (group II) hemodynamic RVI, suggesting that
      right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction does not independently produce
      hemodynamic RVI. Right ventricular end-diastolic volume index was similar in
      groups II and III in spite of higher mRA in group III. The result suggested that
      the RV compliance of group III was decreased. Heart rate (HR) was significantly
      lower in group III than in group II. Not only physiologic pacing but also VVI
      pacing significantly improved hemodynamics in patients with hemodynamic RVI. A
      positive correlation between HR and cardiac index was observed (r = 0.56, p <
      0.001) in patients with RVWMD. Decreased RV compliance and bradycardia were
      considered to be determinants of the appearance of hemodynamic RVI. Volume
      loading did not improve hemodynamics significantly in patients with hemodynamic
      RVI.

PMID- 1453536
TI  - Plasma catecholamine responses to dynamic exercise in patients with coronary
      artery disease--the relationship between sympathetic activity and systolic blood
      pressure and exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias.
AB  - In order to investigate the relationship between sympathetic activity and
      postexercise systolic blood pressure (SBP) and exercise-induced ventricular
      arrhythmias in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), we studied 38
      patients and 9 normal subjects who underwent treadmill testing. Peak pressure
      rate product was similar in the 2 groups. The plasma concentrations of
      norepinephrine and epinephrine at rest and immediately after exercise were
      significantly higher in patients with CAD compared with normal subjects
      (norepinephrine at rest, p < 0.01; norepinephrine immediately after exercise, p <
      0.05; epinephrine at rest, p < 0.05; epinephrine immediately after exercise, p <
      0.05). The level of norepinephrine immediately after exercise was significantly
      higher in 15 patients with a postexercise SBP increase than in 23 patients
      without that SBP change (p < 0.05), whereas the level of epinephrine was similar
      in the 2 groups. The level of epinephrine immediately after exercise was
      significantly higher in 10 patients with exercise-induced premature ventricular
      contractions than in 28 patients without those arrhythmias (p < 0.05), whereas
      the level of norepinephrine was similar in the 2 groups. We conclude that a
      postexercise SBP increase is related to the augmentation of sympathoneural
      activity and that exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias are related to the
      augmentation of sympathoadrenal activity.

PMID- 1453537
TI  - Improvement in long-term prognosis by coronary bypass surgery in patients with 3
      vessel coronary disease--a matched case control study.
AB  - We compared survival patterns in 61 medically treated and 78 surgically treated
      patients at a Japanese community hospital. The 2 groups were matched for presence
      of significant 3 vessel disease, resting ejection fraction of more than 40%, a
      bypassable left anterior descending artery, sex, and age. All surgical patients
      received saphenous vein grafts. The patients treated surgically had better 5 and
      9 years survival rates than the medically treated patients (93% and 85% vs 74%
      and 55%, respectively; p < 0.01 by Cox-Mantel analysis). Five and 9 years rates
      of absence of ischemic events (non-fatal myocardial infarction and primary
      cardiac death) were also better in the surgical group than the medical group (92%
      and 87% vs 66% and 52%, respectively; p < 0.001). Of the surgically treated
      patients, 5 died perioperatively, 3 had late cardiac deaths and 2 had a nonfatal
      infarction. Among the medically treated patients, 16 had cardiac deaths, and 6
      had non-fatal infarctions. Although our study was non-randomized, we have shown
      an advantage for surgical treatment of patients with 3-vessel coronary disease.

PMID- 1453538
TI  - Effect of captopril on isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy and polyamine
      contents.
AB  - It is well known that isoproterenol (ISO) a nonselective beta adrenoceptor
      agonist induces cardiac hypertrophy. It can be assumed that, in addition to its
      direct cardiac effect, ISO has a cardiac trophic effect via stimulation of the
      renin angiotensin system. Synthesis of polyamines is facilitated in cardiac
      hypertrophy and polyamine levels are rapidly elevated prior to an increase in
      heart weight. In the present study, we investigated whether captopril (30 mg/kg
      body weight, daily) could attenuate cardiac hypertrophy and elevation of cardiac
      polyamine levels in rats, which effects were elicited by a chronic (1- or 2
      weeks) and repeated administration of a small dose (0.5 mg/kg body weight) of
      ISO. Cardiac hypertrophy was assessed by an increase in the wet weight and RNA
      content of the heart. Polyamines were analyzed by HPLC. Captopril alone did not
      affect either heart weight/body weight ratio or cardiac contents of polyamines
      and nucleic acids at the end of the second week. In isoproterenol-treated rats,
      the above parameters, except for putrescine content on day 14, were significantly
      increased on both day 7 and day 14. Captopril slightly attenuated ISO-induced
      cardiac hypertrophy and significantly prevented the ISO-evoked increase in the
      contents of RNA, spermidine, and spermine at the end of the second week. These
      results suggest that the ISO-evoked increase in cardiac polyamines was mediated,
      at least in part, by the renin angiotensin system, which was stimulated by ISO.

PMID- 1453539
TI  - Pathogenesis, treatment and prognosis of impending myocardial infarction and
      early post-infarction angina--relation between ST-segment shift during myocardial
      ischemia and the pathogenesis.
AB  - We studied 141 patients to evaluate the pathogenesis and clinical picture of high
      risk unstable angina (UA), designated as impending myocardial infarction (IMI) in
      this study, or severe early post-infarction angina (PIA). IMI and PIA were
      diagnosed when chest pain appeared at rest and lasted 15 min or more despite
      extensive pharmacological therapy during hospital stay among consecutive 510
      patients with UA. All patients underwent coronary angiography urgently within 72
      h after chest pain, and were divided into 2 subgroups according to ST segment
      shifts during chest pain. In IMI, 42 patients with ST depression had higher
      incidences of prior myocardial infarction (MI), worsening UA, multivessel disease
      and complex lesions such as eccentric irregular lesion or ulceration. On the
      contrary, in 44 with ST elevation, new onset UA, single vessel disease and
      coronary thrombus (CT) were dominant. In PIA, 32 patients with ST elevation
      revealed higher incidences in Q wave MI, ST elevation at the MI onset, single
      vessel disease and CT, compared to 23 with ST depression who showed a high
      proportion of complex lesions. Thus, it was evident that there was a common link
      between the pathogenesis of IMI and PIA. The therapeutic options were also
      different in the groups according to ST segment shift. We conclude that ST
      segment shifts during chest pain may be useful for determining the pathogenesis
      and clinical features of high-risk UA.

PMID- 1453540
TI  - The pathogenesis of an impending infarction and its treatment--an angioscopic
      analysis.
AB  - To clarify the pathogenesis of an impending infarction and to investigate the
      difference between the pathogenesis of an acute myocardial infarction and an
      impending infarction, we have performed percutaneous transluminal coronary
      angioscopy in 13 patients with an impending infarction and in 13 patients with an
      acute myocardial infarction. As a result, coronary thrombi were observed in 12 of
      the 13 patients with an impending infarction, and a similar frequency of thrombi
      was observed in the patients with an acute myocardial infarction. Further,
      grayish white thrombi were observed in 9 of 12 patients with an impending
      infarction, but no such thrombi were noted in those with an acute myocardial
      infarction. Reddish thrombi, however, were observed in all patients with acute
      myocardial infarction, whereas such thrombi were observed in only 3 of 12
      patients with an impending infarction. Informatively, occlusive thrombi occurred
      more frequently in patients with an acute myocardial infarction than in those
      with an impending infarction. As a thrombus plays an important role in an
      impending infarction, we also evaluated the effect of anticoagulant and
      thrombolytic therapy for an impending infarction in 79 patients. The incidence of
      recurrent angina and a subsequent acute myocardial infarction were significantly
      higher in non-heparin-treated patients and in thrombolytic-treated patients than
      in heparin-treated patients. In conclusion, a thrombus plays an important role in
      the pathogenesis of an impending infarction and in an acute myocardial
      infarction, though the characteristics of the thrombus differ in each instance.
      This difference may account for the differing results of thrombolytic therapy.
      Heparin was found an effective treatment for myocardial ischemia in an impending
      infarction.

PMID- 1453541
TI  - The response to drug therapy in unstable angina on the basis of coronary
      angiography findings.
AB  - Among 366 unstable angina pectoris patients at our hospital, myocardial
      infarction was common (15.7%) in those with attacks of chest pain lasting for at
      least 20 min. There was also a high incidence (30.3%) when chest pain continued
      after the start of inpatient treatment. To investigate the etiology of unstable
      angina, coronary arteriography was performed in both the unstable and stable
      stages in these patients and the results were compared. The role of coronary
      spasm and coronary thrombosis in unstable angina was investigated, and the
      efficacy of continuous infusion of either diltiazem or isosorbide dinitrate as
      treatment for these patients was compared. Coronary arteriography in the unstable
      stage showed, no clear differences in the morphology of the stenotic site and the
      degree of stenosis between the patients with and without infarcts when urokinase
      or isosorbide dinitrate were injected into the coronary arteries. When drug
      treatment was effective, the angina was stabilized without any improvement in the
      degree of stenosis or the morphology of the involved coronary vessel. Thus, it
      was difficult to predict the response to treatment from coronary arteriography
      performed in the unstable stage. Diltiazem was more effective than isosorbide
      dinitrate, and it appears that some action other than coronary dilatation was
      involved in achieving the remission of unstable angina.

PMID- 1453542
TI  - Coronary angiographic findings and in-hospital outcome of aggressive treatment in
      impending myocardial infarction.
AB  - The influence of coronary angiographic findings and treatment on clinical outcome
      was determined in 104 patients with impending myocardial infarction (unstable
      angina with prolonged chest pain and persistent electrocardiographic changes on
      admission). Coronary arteriography was performed on day one (aggressive strategy)
      in 50 patients and following medical treatment (conservative strategy) in 48
      patients, of whom 40 were unstable. Six elderly patients were treated medically
      without angiography. A complex eccentric morphology of the coronary vessels was
      the most common finding in both groups, but the incidence of intracoronary
      thrombus was significantly higher in the aggressive strategy group (78%) and in
      unstable patients (77%) compared with patients controlled medically (24%). Severe
      multivessel disease was also common in refractory patients without thrombus.
      Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was less successful and produced
      more distal emboli in patients with thrombus. Emergency intervention was applied
      to 90% of the aggressive strategy group-it failed to improve the in-hospital
      outcome, but shortened hospitalization significantly. Elderly patients treated
      medically without angiography had the highest mortality. We concluded that
      intracoronary thrombus plays a major role in the pathogenesis of impending
      infarction, and that the majority of such patients cannot be stabilized
      medically. An aggressive strategy can be applied safely to impending infarction
      and will shorten hospitalization.

PMID- 1453543
TI  - Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for patients with unstable angina
      pectoris.
AB  - Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was successful in 91% of 76
      patients with unstable angina pectoris refractory to pharmacological treatment.
      However, the rate of acute occlusion and reocclusion was rather high (95).
      Restenosis developed in 56.5% of successful cases after initial PTCA, and 29
      patients underwent 2nd, and nine 3rd PTCA. Most refractory unstable angina can be
      controlled by PTCA, which may require repeating in some patients.

PMID- 1453544
TI  - Experimental evaluation of coronary thrombodynamics and effects of
      pharmacological interventions in acute coronary syndromes.
AB  - Intracoronary thrombodynamics in acute coronary syndromes was studied with an
      experimental canine model. An intracoronary thrombus was precipitated at the mock
      ruptured atheromatous plaque consisting of cholesterol and collagen. In 8 of 10
      control models, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was induced by intracoronary
      occlusive thrombus 1 h after the start of the experiment. Coronary blood flow
      decreased continuously (Type A, n = 5) or cyclically (Type B, n = 3) to end in
      AMI. Effects of pharmacological interventions to prevent AMI were also studied
      with the model. An intravenous bolus injection of a thromboxane synthetase
      inhibitor (RS-5186), heparin, a thrombin inhibitor (argatroban), and a
      thrombolytic agent (urokinase) was performed in 10 models for each drug. The
      incidence of AMI was significantly decreased to 3 of the 10 models injected with
      the thromboxane synthetase inhibitor and heparin (p < .05, each drug group vs.
      control). The preventive effect of argatroban was more potent and AMI occurred in
      2 of 10 models (p < 0.01, argatroban vs control).

PMID- 1453545
TI  - Effect of the combination of anticoagulant and thromboxane synthetase inhibitor
      (Y-20811) or receptor blockade (S-1452) on preventing thrombotic cyclic coronary
      flow reduction in dogs with coronary stenosis.
AB  - We examined the hypothesis that combined actions of anticoagulant (heparin) and Y
      20811, thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor (TXSI), or S-1452, receptor blockade
      (TXRB), can provide better antithrombotic protection than TXSI or TXRB alone. In
      20 of 33 dogs instrumented, placement of a critical stenosis at a focus of
      coronary vascular injury initiated a reproducible cyclic coronary flow reduction
      (CCFR). TXSI (1 mg/kg, IV) perfectly inhibited CCFR in 6 of 10 dogs (60%), and
      was associated with a significant decrease in 11-dehydro-TXB2 (85 +/- 8% of
      control; p < 0.05) and an increase in 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (155 +/- 38%; p < 0.05)
      in coronary sinus blood samples. In the remaining 4 dogs, additional
      administration of heparin (2000 IU) completely abolished CCFR. On the other hand,
      TXRB (1 mg/kg, IV) perfectly inhibited CCFR in 7 of 10 dogs (70%), and was
      accompanied by a significant increase in 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (214 +/- 65%; p <
      0.05) and unchanged TXB2 level. In the remaining 3 dogs, additional
      administration of heparin (2000 IU) completely abolished CCFR. Thus, the
      combination of anticoagulant and TXSI or TXRB were more effective than TXSI or
      TXRB alone in abolishing thrombotic CCFR, suggesting that the combination might
      be effective for treating patients with impending myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1453546
TI  - Are the various thrombolytic agents equally effective in the treatment of acute
      transmural myocardial infarction?
AB  - While it is no longer possible to imagine the treatment of an acute transmural
      myocardial infarction without the use of thrombolytic agents, some discussion
      still exists as to the choice of the thrombolytic agent. Our study concerns a
      group of 160 patients with an acute transmural myocardial infarction, 60 of whom
      were treated with anistreplase, 52 with streptokinase and 48 with alteplase.
      Statistically, the administration of anistreplase was associated with a
      significantly higher frequency of ventricular arrhythmias in comparison to the
      other thrombolytic agents, whereas after subsequent coronary angiography, the
      anistreplase group revealed a significantly lower number of completely occluded
      coronary arteries. The data from this study demonstrate that anistreplase is a
      very valuable thrombolytic agent. It may even be more effective than
      streptokinase and alteplase in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction when
      the patency of the coronary arteries 1 month after the acute coronary event is
      considered the primary endpoint.

PMID- 1453547
TI  - Early diagnosis of the site of infarction and the infarct-related coronary artery
      in patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction.
AB  - We evaluated the relationship between the site of infarction and the infarct
      related coronary arteries from electrocardiograms (ECGs) recorded early after the
      onset of chest pain in patients with an initial acute inferior myocardial
      infarction (IMI). The subjects were 80 patients (mean age 57 +/- 12 years) with
      IMI admitted within 6 hours from the onset of chest pain. This was prior to the
      thrombolytic era. We analyzed the ECGs on admission, at 24 hours and at 4 weeks.
      All patients underwent left ventriculography and coronary angiography at 4-6
      weeks from the onset of the IMI. Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and
      regional area changes were measured. The infarct-related coronary artery was
      determined by the site of the asynergy. Patients were allocated into 2 groups
      according to the infarct-related artery, i.e. right (RCA, n = 52) and left
      circumflex (LCX, n = 28). Parameters measured were ST elevation, amplitude and
      width of R wave and R/S ratio in leads V1 and V2, and amplitude of U waves in
      leads V1 to V3. We defined the U wave as a prominent positive U wave (PPU) if it
      was > 0.5 mm (50 microV) in height. A significantly greater number of patients
      with PPU showed asynergy in posterolateral segments compared to those without
      PPU. The EF was significantly lower in patients with PPU than in those without
      (46 +/- 12% vs 54 +/- 13%, p < 0.05). Patients with PPUs eventually showed ECG
      evidence of posterior infarction (increased R wave duration and R/S ratio > or =
      1 in lead V1 or V2) by 4 weeks compared to those without PPUs. Also a
      significantly greater number of patients with PPUs developed posterior infarction
      shown by left ventriculograms than those without PPUs. As to the infarct-related
      coronary arteries, a significantly greater number of patients with LCX disease
      showed concomitant posterior infarction than those with RCA disease. Also, a
      significantly greater number of LCX patients showed PPUs and ST elevations in
      leads V5 and V6 than those with RCA disease. The sensitivity of PPUs and ST
      elevations in leads V5 and V6 suggesting LCX disease was 60% and the specificity
      was 98% with a predictive accuracy of 87%. Therefore, we conclude that PPUs in
      leads V1-3 and ST elevations in leads V5 and V6 are specific markers for the
      diagnosis of LCX-related infarction in the setting of evolving IMI.

PMID- 1453548
TI  - Interventional intra-arterial ultrasonography as an exclusive method of
      exploration to determine atherosclerotic lesions of the arterial wall at a
      preclinical stage.
AB  - Intravascular ultrasonography of the peripheral arterial system was applied
      following coronarography in 56 patients with one or several critical stenoses of
      the coronary arteries. Even though the clinical vascular examination and the
      subsequent noninvasive examination of the peripheral arterial system of all these
      patients turned out to be completely normal, intra-arterial ultrasonography was
      able to reveal important atherosclerotic alterations in the wall of the abdominal
      aorta and of the iliac-femoral arterial system in 51 of these patients. Intra
      arterial ultrasonography appears to be a very sensitive method of exploration,
      permitting atherosclerotic changes of the arterial wall to be detected at a very
      early preclinical stage, long before these deviations could have caused symptoms.

PMID- 1453549
TI  - Plasma lipid profile in obese children and in children with hereditary
      predisposition to coronary heart disease.
AB  - This study examined risk factors for coronary disease and plasma triglycerides,
      total cholesterol, HDL, LDL cholesterol (C), Apo A-1, and Apo B lipoprotein
      levels in obese children (n = 107) aged 9-12 years old and in children (n = 64)
      hereditarily predisposed to coronary heart disease (CHD). In the latter group,
      children's fathers had a history of MI before 50 years of age. A control group of
      30 children was also studied, and the plasma lipid profile was investigated in 35
      fathers with premature myocardial infarction. Seventy-five percent of the obese
      children and 60% of the children hereditarily predisposed to CHD had three or
      more coronary artery disease risk factors. Plasma HDL-C (p < 0.001), LDL-C (p <
      0.001-p < 0.05, respectively), Apo A-1 (p < 0.001), and Apo B (p < 0.001) levels
      were different in both groups compared with controls.

PMID- 1453550
TI  - Effects of pravastatin on cholesterol metabolism in Watanabe heritable
      hyperlipidemic rabbits.
AB  - Pravastatin, a competitive inhibitor of hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMG
      CoA reductase) is a potent hypocholesterolemic agent in humans as well as
      experimental animals, including the Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL)
      rabbit, lacking low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor activity. We studied the
      effect of pravastatin on several aspects of cholesterol metabolism in WHHL
      rabbits. Cholesterol synthesis was measured by intraperitoneal injection of
      radioacetate and determination of its incorporation into the nonsaponifiable
      lipid fraction of liver, plasma, adrenal glands and gonads. A single dose of
      pravastatin (25 mg/kg) caused statistically significant inhibition of hepatic
      cholesterol synthesis at 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours following oral administration. By
      48 hours, the inhibitory effect of the drug was no longer demonstrable. The
      pattern of radioactivity in the plasma was similar to that in the liver. The drug
      had no statistically significant effect on cholesterol synthesis in adrenal
      glands and gonads, suggesting a selective effect on the liver. Cholesterol
      absorption was studied after simultaneous oral administration of [3H] cholesterol
      and [14C] beta-sitosterol. Pravastatin, 50 mg/kg for 10 days had no effect on
      fecal excretion of the radiolabelled steroids over 4 days. At 24 hours the plasma
      level of [14C] cholesterol was 1/3 that of control in pravastatin treated animals
      (p < 0.05) but did not undergo an accelerated decline over 6 days. The activity
      of acyl CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) in intestinal mucosa and the
      concentration of hepatic cholesterol were similar in animals treated over one
      year with pravastatin 50 mg/kg/day or with placebo. Our data do not allow us to
      make definitive conclusions about the effect of pravastatin on cholesterol
      absorption but are compatible with the hypothesis that the drug inhibits the
      hepatic synthesis as well as the assembly of cholesterol into lipoproteins.

PMID- 1453551
TI  - Production of active and inactive renin by adrenal explant cultures and the
      existence of a prorenin activating enzyme in the adrenal gland.
AB  - We previously demonstrated high levels of inactive renin (IR) in nephrectomized
      rat plasma which provided evidence for extra-renal sources of IR. However, the
      sources of IR were unknown. This study examined whether the adrenal gland is
      capable of producing active renin (AR) and IR, using explants of adrenal capsules
      (glomerulosa portions) from control and nephrectomized (Nepex) rats. Explants
      from both control and Nepex rats produced large quantities of IR and small
      quantities of AR. The productions of both IR and AR in Nepex rats were
      significantly greater than in control rats. High potassium culture medium
      markedly increased IR and slightly, but significantly, enhanced AR in both
      control and Nepex rats. On the other hand, sodium had little effect on either IR
      or AR. A renin-angiotensin system has been reported in the adrenal gland.
      Recently, a prorenin activating enzyme was demonstrated in the kidney and the
      aortic wall. The next study was performed to demonstrate the existence of a
      prorenin activating enzyme in the adrenal gland, using inactive renin from
      culture medium from Nepex rat explants as the substrate. A 26 KD component in
      adrenal zona glomerulosa tissues isolated by Sephacryl S-200 column
      chromatography, converted IR to AR in IR rich medium. The pH optimum for prorenin
      activation by the enzyme was 6.5. Inhibitor studies indicate that this enzyme is
      a serine protease. These data suggest that (1) the adrenal gland is an extra
      renal source of inactive renin and (2) a prorenin activating enzyme exists in the
      adrenal gland.

PMID- 1453552
TI  - Intramolecular oscillation of the phosphorylation domain of rat cardiac
      sarcoplasmic reticulum titrated with arachidonoyl phosphatidylcholine.
AB  - Sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles were prepared from rat myocardium. The
      intramolecular oscillation of the phosphorylation domain of Ca(2+)-ATPase in
      control vesicles and in vesicles titrated with diarachidonoyl phosphatidylcholine
      was studied with a nanosecond time-resolved fluorometer. The membrane viscosity
      of the lipid domain was decreased by the lipid titration. The phosphorylation
      domain was labeled with a fluorophore, anilinonaphthylmaleimide (ANM). The time
      course of anisotropy decay of ANM fluorescence reflects the localized oscillation
      in the protein structure. The half-decay time of the anisotropy was decreased by
      diarachidonoyl titration from 77 nsec in control vesicles to 66 nsec, suggesting
      an increase in the intramolecular oscillation. Concomitantly observed decreases
      in membrane viscosity and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity suggest that the decreased
      membrane viscosity destabilized the Ca(2+)-ATPase protein structure causing a
      reduction in Ca(2+)-ATPase activity.

PMID- 1453553
TI  - Dilated cardiomyopathy with recurrent intraventricular thrombosis.
AB  - Dilated cardiomyopathy with intraventricular thrombosis is a rare disease, most
      frequently encountered in adults. It rarely occurs in infants. We report here the
      case of a 2-year-old boy with intraventricular thrombosis due to dilated
      cardiomyopathy and emphasize the importance of prophylactic anticoagulant therapy
      in this case.

PMID- 1453554
TI  - High output cardiac failure caused by multiple giant cutaneous hemangiomas.
AB  - A 59-year-old Chinese woman had multiple giant cutaneous cavernous hemangiomas on
      her right upper limb which resulted in high output heart failure because they
      presented as a large peripheral arteriovenous (A-V) fistula. Selective right
      subclavian arteriography showed extremely hypertrophic arteries of the patient's
      right arm with a tremendous blood supply to the soft tissues; neither
      superselective embolization nor surgery seemed applicable to this patient. The
      patient's heart failure was not satisfactorily controlled by conservative
      treatment.

PMID- 1453555
TI  - Recurrent atrial flutter in apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
AB  - Palpitations are a symptom often reported by patients with apical hypertrophic
      cardiomyopathy (HCM), yet the arrhythmias associated with this type of HCM have
      not been studied adequately. Herein, a case of persistently recurrent atrial
      flutter in a 63-year-old Greek man with apical HCM is presented. Synchronized
      direct-current shocks were used twice during his hospitalization in order to
      convert atrial flutter to sinus rhythm. No definite precipitating factor for the
      induction of atrial flutter was identified.

PMID- 1453556
TI  - Possible intramural site of reentrant circuit in ventricular tachycardia of
      nonischemic cause. Pre and intraoperative mapping studies.
AB  - A patient with a drug-refractory sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) of
      nonischemic cause was mapped for the site of VT origin. The intraoperative
      mapping showed the earliest site of activation of VT on the epicardial surface at
      which the initial deflection of the local electrogram preceded the onset of the
      QRS complex of VT by 45 msec. The endocardial mapping could not indicate the site
      at which the electrogram was found prior to the onset of the QRS complex of VT.
      However, at the earliest site of the endocardial mapping, VT was entrained
      without change in the configuration of the QRS complex. After cessation of the
      rapid pacing, VT resumed at the intrinsic rate and the first post-paced return
      cycle was identical to each paced cycle length. The interval from the stimulus to
      the orthodromically captured local electrogram at the pacing site was identical
      to the cycle length of VT. Catheter ablation from the endocardial side and a
      cryoablative procedure from the epicardial side failed to eradicate the VT. These
      findings suggest an intramural site of VT origin and reentrant circuit of which
      the exit and the entrance face the epicardial and the endocardial surfaces,
      respectively.

PMID- 1453557
TI  - Proceedings of the XXVII Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society of the
      Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat. Hokkaido, June 28-29, 1991. Abstracts.

PMID- 1453558
TI  - A quadricuspid aortic valve.

PMID- 1453559
TI  - [Thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging during adenosine-induced coronary
      vasodilation in patients with ischemic heart disease].
AB  - 201Tl myocardial perfusion imaging during adenosine infusion was performed in
      consecutive 55 patients with suspected coronary artery disease. Adenosine was
      infused intravenously at a rate of 0.14 mg/kg/min for 6 minutes and a dose of 111
      MBq of 201Tl was administered in a separate vein at the end of third minute of
      infusion. Myocardial SPECT imaging was begun 5 minutes and 3 hours after the end
      of adenosine infusion. For evaluating the presence of perfusion defects, 2 short
      axis images at the basal and apical levels and a vertical long axis image at the
      mid left ventricle were used. The regions with decreased 201Tl uptake were
      assessed semi-quantitatively. Adenosine infusion caused a slight reduction in
      systolic blood pressure and an increase in heart rate. The rate pressure products
      increased slightly (9314 +/- 2377 vs. 10360 +/- 2148, p < 0.001). Chest pain
      (24%) and headache (13%) were the frequent side effects. The second-degree
      atrioventricular block was developed in 11 of 55 (20%) patients. All symptoms and
      hemodynamic changes were well tolerated and disappeared within 1 or 2 minutes
      after discontinuing adenosine infusion. The sensitivity and specificity for the
      detection of patients with coronary artery disease were 100% (31/31) and 88%
      (7/8), respectively. 201Tl myocardial imaging during adenosine infusion was
      considered to be safe and useful for evaluating the patients with ischemic heart
      disease.

PMID- 1453560
TI  - [Assessment of cardiac function and left ventricular regional wall motion by
      99mTc multigated cardiac blood-pool emission computed tomography].
AB  - Forty-three patients underwent the analysis of left and right ventricular (LV and
      RV) volumes, and LV regional wall motion by multigated cardiac blood pool single
      photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 99mTc. To calculate the cardiac
      volume correctly, the optimal cutoff level in relation to background level was
      first obtained by a phantom study. Left ventricular end-diastolic, end-systolic
      volume (EDV and ESV) and ejection fraction (EF) calculated thus with SPECT were
      correlated well with the data obtained with left ventriculography (LVG) and
      magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), especially using horizontal long axial image.
      RV stroke volume (SV) without shunt or valvular diseases was also correlated well
      with that of LV when it was calculated using horizontal long axial image.
      However, SV ratio (LVSV/RVSV) was not necessarily ideal numerical 1. In addition
      LV wall motion was evaluated by multicontour systolic display and phase analysis
      in SPECT and gated planar images. The results obtained with SPECT were better
      correlated with those of LVG than gated planar images. It is concluded that
      multigated cardiac blood pool SPECT is a clinically useful method for an
      evaluation of cardiac function and left ventricular regional wall motion.

PMID- 1453561
TI  - [Pulmonary kinetics of 13N-ammonia in smoking subjects--a quantitative study
      using dynamic PET].
AB  - To evaluate the effect of smoking on nonrespiratory function in the lung, a
      dynamic PET with 13NH3 in the lung was performed in 18 normal volunteers without
      lung disease nor congestion (9 non-smokers, 4 exsmokers, 5 smokers). After
      intravenous bolus injection of 13NH3, twenty serial 5.5-second scans followed by
      six 30-second scans were performed. Regions of interests were assigned on the
      ventral, lateral and dorsal part of the right lung and time-activity curves were
      generated through 26 images. The activity curve demonstrated a biexponential
      clearance from the lung with fast and slow component. The retention fraction
      (RF), fractional size of the slow component, was calculated, and the half-times
      (t 1/2) of both components were also evaluated. A significant increase of RF and
      prolongation of t 1/2 of slow component were observed in smokers compared to non
      smokers and exsmokers. However, no significant difference of RF nor t 1/2 of both
      components was observed between non-smokers and exsmokers. These results suggest
      that long term smoking may modify the pulmonary kinetics of 13NH3, but the change
      is reversible after cessation of smoking for one year or longer.

PMID- 1453562
TI  - [Phase 2 clinical study of 99mTc-ECD--a multicenter study].
AB  - A phase 2 clinical study of a newly developed brain perfusion agent, 99mTc-ECD,
      was performed in 166 cases of cerebrovascular diseases and impairment of brain
      function to evaluate effectiveness, usefulness, optimum dose and optimum timing
      of imaging as a multi-center study involving 10 institutions in Japan. All cases
      were judged as no problems on safety and any side effects due to the
      administration of the compound were not observed. Out of 163 cases evaluated for
      the clinical usefulness, valuable information for clinical diagnosis was obtained
      in 160 cases (98.3%), and 154 cases (94.5%) were judged as "extremely useful" or
      "useful". Although SPECT imaging was possible from 5 min after injection, images
      obtained between 60 and 90 min after injection showed relatively better image
      quality in many cases. Regarding standard administration dose, 400 to 800 MBq
      were considered to be appropriate. 99mTc-ECD is considered to be a promising
      radiopharmaceutical as a brain perfusion agent.

PMID- 1453563
TI  - [A case of meningioma with non-accumulation of 99mTc-ECD and increased
      accumulation of 99mTc-HMPAO in the tumor].
AB  - 99mTc-ECD SPECT and 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT with or without Matas test were performed
      in a 62-year-old woman with meningioma in the left anterior cranial fossa. After
      injection of 740 MBq 99mTc-ECD or HMPAO, 64 projection images were collected with
      a rotating Gamma camera. Matas test was carried out by compressing the left
      common carotid artery for about one minute immediately after RI injection.
      Although 99mTc-ECD SPECT showed non-accumulation in the tumor, 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT
      demonstrated increased accumulation in it. This area of increased accumulation
      disappeared on 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT with Matas test which causes decrease in blood
      flow of the tumor. These findings suggest 99mTc-ECD and 99mTc-HMPAO have a
      different mechanisms of accumulation in the meningioma.

PMID- 1453564
TI  - [Clinical application of 18F-FDG-PET in patients with brain death].
AB  - In order to evaluate glucose metabolism in brain death, 18F-FDG-PET scans were
      performed in three patients with clinically highly suspected brain death. One
      case was caused by head trauma and other two cases were by subarachnoid
      hemorrhage. All of them were in deep coma without spontaneous breathing, whose
      intracranial pressure was remarkably elevated up to the level of mean arterial
      pressure. Nineteen frames of dynamic scan were started soon after intravenous
      injection of 18F-FDG for one minute per frame, followed by 10 minutes of static
      scan which started 40 minutes after the injection. Both in dynamic and static
      scan, no significant intracranial accumulation of 18F-FDG was seen in all of
      three cases. This finding can be interpreted as the evidence that there is no
      significant glucose utilization from blood in the brain. This is the first report
      of clinical application of 18F-FDG-PET to brain death. Our results support the
      clinical diagnosis of brain death and 18F-FDG-PET can be of value for the
      assessment of glucose metabolism in patients with suspected brain death.

PMID- 1453565
TI  - [Clinical assessment of 99mTc-HMPAO scintigraphy in thoracic tumors].
AB  - 99mTc-hexamethylpropylene amineoxime (99mTc-HMPAO) scintigraphy was performed in
      15 malignant tumors in 11 patients and a patient with bronchopneumonia. A high
      99mTc-HMPAO affinity for the tumors was observed on SPECT, however, the mean
      tumor/contralateral normal lung ratios of 99mTc-HMPAO activity (1.26) was lower
      than that of 201Tl-chloride (2.29). 99mTc-HMPAO uptake was seen not only in the
      tumors but also in the bronchopneumonia, atelectasis, and irradiated lung
      (containing radiation fibrosis). Moreover, a diffuse uptake in the lung was seen
      in a patient received repeated chemotherapy. Therefore, it is emphasized that
      there is a non-specific 99mTc-HMPAO uptake in those various pulmonary conditions.

PMID- 1453566
TI  - [Active tuberculosis in children who received INH chemoprophylaxis].
AB  - Twelve children who developed active tuberculosis even after receiving isoniazid
      (INH) chemoprophylaxis were seen at Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Hospital from
      1982 through 1991. All cases received INH more than 9 mg/kg/day, except for one
      case in which the amount of INH administered at the referring hospital was
      unknown and Streptomycin was administered together with INH. The age of starting
      INH prophylaxis ranged from 2 months to 13 years, and the age at which clinical
      symptoms and/or laboratory evidences of active tuberculosis were first manifested
      ranged from 4 months to 18 years. Five patients developed active tuberculosis
      after the completion of chemoprophylaxis and patients during chemoprophylaxis,
      with the first presentation ranging from primary complex (seven), chronic
      pulmonary tuberculosis (two), tuberculous meningitis (two), and tuberculous
      pleuritis (one). None of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to INH was
      isolated. Reviewing these patients, eleven cases had at least one of the
      following factors: (1) age less than two years old (2) infectious sources
      expectorated more Mycobacterium tuberculosis (3) delay in starting INH. Above
      factors should be considered in initiating INH chemoprophylaxis and subsequent
      follow-up of the patients.

PMID- 1453567
TI  - [Surgical treatment for tuberculous spondylitis; a case report].
AB  - A 64-year-old woman was admitted with the chief complaints of severe back pain.
      Chest X-ray film on admission showed an abnormal mass lesion in the right upper
      mediastinum. Chest tomography and chest CT films revealed destruction of thoracic
      vertebrae (Th 2 and 3) and paravertebral abscess. Chemotherapy containing RFP was
      started under diagnosis of active tuberculous spondylitis of thoracic vertebrae.
      Three months later, curative operation for spondylitis were performed. She
      underwent the resection of necrotic bone and the anterior spinal fusion using
      transplanted bone autograft. Her post-operative course was good and she
      discharged three months after curative operation. Tuberculous spondylitis is
      still important diseases at the differential diagnosis from metastatic vertebral
      tumors. This report describes a successful case of surgical treatment for
      tuberculous spondylitis of thoracic vertebrae.

PMID- 1453568
TI  - [Counting efficacies of the CFU-enumerating method and microscopic counting
      method for mycobacteria located in cultured macrophages].
AB  - I compared counting efficacies of CFU-enumerating method for the number of
      mycobacteria (Mycobacterium intracellulare and M. fortuitum) locating in cultured
      macrophages with that of microscopic counting method. Zymosan A-induced
      macrophages from ddY mice were infected with either M. intracellulare or M.
      fortuitum by incubation in 10% FBS-RPMI 1640 medium containing the organisms for
      1 hr, thereafter thoroughly washed to remove extracellular bacilli, and cultured
      for 3 to 5 days. At intervals, macrophages were thoroughly rinsed and subjected
      to either CFU-enumeration or microscopic counting, as follows. In the former
      method, macrophages were lysed with 0.2% Tween 80-distilled water by sonication
      using Handy Sonic and CFUs were counted on 7H11 agar plates. In the latter
      method, the number of acid-fast bacilli was counted by microscopy for macrophages
      after Ziehl-Toda's staining. The number of bacteria by the CFU-enumerating method
      was much greater than that by the microscopic counting method.

PMID- 1453569
TI  - [Initial treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis with refractory factors].

PMID- 1453570
TI  - [Re-treatment of refractory pulmonary tuberculosis].

PMID- 1453571
TI  - [Rush cases (rapidly progressing tuberculosis) and their management].

PMID- 1453572
TI  - [Evaluation of new antitubercular agents--new quinolones].

PMID- 1453573
TI  - [Evaluation of new antitubercular agents--new rifamycin derivatives].

PMID- 1453574
TI  - [Adoptive immunotherapy of refractory pulmonary tuberculosis using sensitized
      autologous lymphocytes].

PMID- 1453575
TI  - [Immunotherapy of refractory pulmonary tuberculosis--IL-2 therapy].

PMID- 1453576
TI  - [Surgical treatment of refractory pulmonary tuberculosis].

PMID- 1453577
TI  - Modified plasma clearance technique using nonradioactive iothalamate for
      measuring GFR.

PMID- 1453578
TI  - Bradykinin-mediated effects of ACE inhibition.

PMID- 1453579
TI  - Effects of dietary protein restriction and oil type on the early progression of
      murine polycystic kidney disease.
AB  - A paucity of research data exists on the potential for early dietary modification
      to directly retard cystic growth and proliferation in polycystic kidney disease
      (PKD). We have therefore examined the relative effects of dietary protein levels
      and oil type on the progression of disease in a murine model of PKD. In the first
      study, weanling DBA/2FG-pcy (pcy) mice were fed either a normal (NP), 25%, or low
      (LP), 6%, casein diet with 10% of either sunflower seed oil (SO) (containing n-6
      fatty acids), or fish oil (FO) (containing n-3 fatty acids), in a 2 x 2 design.
      At the end of the dietary treatment, kidney weight relative to body weight was
      higher in mice on the NP diets. In addition, kidney phospholipid to kidney weight
      (mumol/g) was lower in pcy mice on NP diets, indicating that the increased kidney
      size was largely due to increased cyst development. Replacement of dietary SO
      with FO resulted in alterations in renal phospholipid fatty acid compositions:
      18:2 n-6, 20:4 n-6, and 22:5 n-6 were lower, and 20:5 n-3, 22:5 n-3, and 22:6 n-3
      were higher in FO-fed animals. No effect of dietary lipid type on disease
      progression was noted, however. In a second study, morphometric analysis revealed
      an 11% lower percentage cyst area and a 46% lower total cyst area (mm2) in kidney
      sections derived from mice on LP diets compared to NP diets. These results
      indicate that early dietary protein restriction in PKD prior to clinical
      manifestation of symptoms of the disease may have a significant impact on the
      pathogenesis of PKD.

PMID- 1453580
TI  - Effect of loop diuretics on organic osmolytes and cell electrolytes in the renal
      outer medulla.
AB  - Electron microprobe analysis on freeze-dried cryosections was used to determine
      the effect of the loop diuretics torasemide and furosemide on intracellular
      electrolyte concentrations in individual cells of the outer and inner stripe of
      the outer medulla and on cell rubidium uptake, the latter a measure of
      basolateral Na-K-ATPase activity. In addition, the organic osmolytes
      glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC), betaine, inositol and sorbitol in cortex, outer
      medulla and inner medulla were measured using HPLC. Both loop diuretics
      significantly reduced sodium and chloride concentrations and rubidium uptake in
      thick ascending limb cells, but did not affect sodium concentration or rubidium
      uptake in the proximal straight tubule (PST) cells or in the light or dark cells
      of the outer medullary collecting duct (OMCD). Chloride concentrations in these
      cells (that is, PST cells, OMCD light and dark cells) were lowered by loop
      diuretics, albeit less than in thick ascending limb cells. Administration of both
      loop diuretics for only 20 minutes was sufficient to significantly depress tissue
      concentrations of GPC, betaine, and myo-inositol in the outer medulla and of GPC,
      betaine and sorbitol at the papillary tip. These results indicate that loop
      diuretics, presumably by blocking apical sodium entry, decrease thick ascending
      limb cellular sodium concentration and, as a consequence, reduce Na-K-ATPase
      activity as assessed by cell rubidium uptake. Although this has been shown
      previously in in vitro preparations, the present study confirms this for the
      first time in vivo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453581
TI  - Failure of atrial natriuretic peptide to induce natriuresis in aortocaval fistula
      dogs.
AB  - Creation of an aortocaval fistula (ACF) in dogs induces salt and water retention,
      activation of the renin-angiotensin and adrenergic nervous systems and renal
      papillary ischemia associated with high levels of circulating atrial natriuretic
      peptide (ANP). The effects of intrarenal ANP (1.2 micrograms/min) infusion on
      systemic and renal hemodynamics, renal excretory function, renal output of renin
      and norepinephrine (NE) and papillary plasma flow (PPF) were studied in both
      normal and ACF dogs. ANP did not alter systemic hemodynamics in either group, but
      led to a significant increase in renal blood flow (RBF), glomerular filtration
      rate (GFR), urine flow rate (V), sodium excretion (UNaV) and fractional excretion
      of sodium (FENa), and a significant decrease in renal vascular resistance (RVR)
      and urine osmolality (UOsm) in normal dogs. GFR, RBF, RVR, V, UNaV, FENa and UOsm
      remained unchanged, however, in ACF dogs. In ACF dogs, both renal renin and NE
      output were significantly greater during baseline and remained significantly
      greater following ANP infusion, associated with a significantly lower PPF
      compared with normal dogs. These data suggest that ACF dogs are resistant to the
      renal effects of ANP, which can neither mitigate the hormonal mediators of sodium
      retention nor reverse the papillary ischemia observed in this model.

PMID- 1453583
TI  - Microfilament disruption occurs very early in ischemic proximal tubule cell
      injury.
AB  - Experimental ischemic acute renal failure results in disruption of proximal
      tubule apical membranes. Previous work utilizing immunofluorescence with an anti
      actin antibody has demonstrated that the apical cytoskeleton of proximal tubule
      cells is disrupted during ischemic injury. In this study, using rhodamine
      phalloidin which stains only filamentous actin, we demonstrate that graded
      durations of ischemia resulted in progressive disruption of proximal tubule
      apical microfilaments. Quantification using spectrofluorometry showed that 5, 15
      and 50 minutes of ischemia resulted in 32.8 +/- 4%, 48.8 +/- 2.5%, and 58.4 +/-
      2.6% decreases in apical F-actin relative to controls. Ischemia did not
      qualitatively affect either glomerular or distal tubule F-actin structure, though
      there were nonprogressive increases in glomerular fluorescence. In summary,
      rhodamine-phalloidin staining can be used to qualitatively and quantitatively
      assess proximal tubule microfilaments in vivo. We conclude that ischemia results
      in very early loss of proximal tubule apical microfilaments, with the majority of
      F-actin loss occurring within five minutes.

PMID- 1453582
TI  - Early glycosylation products induce glomerular hyperfiltration in normal rats.
AB  - The effects of early glycosylation products (Amadori Products, AP) were
      investigated in male Munich-Wistar rats to establish whether AP play a role in
      the pathogenesis of glomerular hyperfiltration of early diabetic nephropathy. To
      mimic such a condition, normal rats were transfused with blood containing in
      vitro glycated serum (Group GLYC) to achieve plasma levels of Amadori products
      similar to those measured in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Rats
      transfused with normal blood were used as control (Group CON). Glomerular
      hemodynamics was evaluated in basal condition (B) and during acute hyperglycemia
      (HG). Blood transfusion did not alter basal hemodynamics. In Group CON, HG
      determined a rise of single nephron GFR (41.4 +/- 3.2 vs. 32.1 +/- 1.8 nl/min, P
      less than 0.005), secondary to the increase of afferent effective filtration
      pressure (EFPa, +19% vs. B, P less than 0.01). Rats of Group GLYC, in B, had
      values of SNGFR higher than those of Group CON B (46.8 +/- 3 nl/min, P less than
      0.05, ANOVA). This increase was mediated by a significant reduction of glomerular
      afferent arteriole (Ra, -38% vs. Group CON B, P less than 0.05), a rise in
      hydrostatic gradient pressure in glomerular capillaries (delta P, +17%, P less
      than 0.05) and of EFPa (+31%, P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453584
TI  - Thromboxane in the pathogenesis of glomerular injury in diabetes.
AB  - The present study examined the role of thromboxane (TX) in the initiation and
      progression of glomerular injury in diabetic rats, as reflected by albuminuria
      and glomerular histology. Urinary thromboxane and albumin excretion (UTX and
      UAlb) were elevated by four months after induction of diabetes in the moderately
      hyperglycemic (200 to 400 mg/dl glucose) streptozotocin diabetic rat (SDR)
      compared to age-matched control rats. UTX and UAlb both increased progressively
      in SDR over the seven month period of study. Glomerular TX production, glomerular
      volume, fractional and absolute mesangial volume and glomerular basement membrane
      (GBM) width were also increased after seven months in SDR compared to control.
      Treatment of SDR with a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor (TXI) 4' (imidazol-l-yl)
      acetophenone (100 mg/kg/day) for seven months beginning at the time of induction
      of diabetes prevented the increases in UTX, UAlb, glomerular TX production,
      glomerular volume and mesangial volume and attenuated, but did not prevent, GBM
      thickening. When the same dose of the TXI was begun five months after induction
      of diabetes and continued for two months, UTX and ex vivo glomerular TX
      production were reduced by only 60% compared to untreated SDR and remained higher
      than corresponding values in control rats. Delayed treatment with the TXI alone
      did not alter UAlb compared to untreated SDR. By contrast, treatment of five
      month albuminuric SDR for only two months with the TXI plus the TX receptor
      antagonist (TXRA) Bay U3405 (5 mg/kg/day) prevented a further increase in UAlb,
      and reduced fractional albumin clearance and mesangial volume compared to values
      in untreated SDR. Combined treatment with the TXI and TXRA had no effect on GBM
      width or glomerular volume compared to values in untreated SDR. The results
      support roles for TX in the initiation of, and for TX and/or endoperoxides in the
      progression of glomerular injury in SDR.

PMID- 1453585
TI  - Peritoneal defense in continuous ambulatory versus continuous cyclic peritoneal
      dialysis.
AB  - Several centers have reported a lower rate of peritonitis among adult patients on
      continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) as compared to those undergoing
      continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Preliminary results of our
      ongoing prospective randomized study comparing CAPD-Y with CCPD also suggest a
      lower peritonitis incidence among CCPD-treated patients. To investigate whether
      the two dialysis regimens could result in differences in local host defense, we
      studied peritoneal macrophage (PMO) function and effluent opsonic activity in
      eight patients established on CAPD-Y matched with eight chronic CCPD patients.
      Since short and long dwell times are inherent to both dialysis modalities, and we
      previously found that dwell time has an impact on PMO function and effluent
      opsonic activity, patients were studied after both a short (4 hr) and a long (15
      hr) dwell time. In both groups PMO phagocytic capacity increased significantly
      with dwell time (39 +/- 3.3% at 4 hr vs. 58 +/- 4.2% at 15 hr in CAPD patients,
      and 40 +/- 3.9 vs. 72 +/- 3.3% in CCPD patients; P less than 0.01), as did PMO
      peak chemiluminescence response (31 +/- 4.9 vs. 77 +/- 7.2 counts.min-1/10(4)
      cells in CAPD, and 22 +/- 3.9 vs. 109 +/- 21.2 counts.min-1/10(4) cells in CCPD;
      P less than 0.01) and effluent opsonic activity (41 +/- 7.6 vs. 73 +/- 5.8% in
      CAPD and 39 +/- 6.2 vs. 70 +/- 5.9% in CCPD; P less than 0.01). However, no
      significant difference was found in either variable between CAPD and CCPD
      patients when dwell times were equal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453586
TI  - Interleukin-8 and polymorphoneutrophil leucocyte activation in hemolytic uremic
      syndrome of childhood.
AB  - Polymorphoneutrophil leucocytes (PMNLs) are implicated in the pathogenesis of
      diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (D+ HUS). We investigated
      mechanisms of PMNL involvement by measuring tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF
      alpha) and the novel cytokine, interleukin-8 (IL-8), a potent activator of
      neutrophils, together with alpha 1- antitrypsin-complexed elastase (alpha 1-AT-E)
      as a marker of neutrophil degranulation, and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic
      antibodies (ANCA). IL-8 was not detected in the 17 normal children, but was
      significantly elevated in 20 of 25 D+ HUS children (P less than 0.005), and in
      three of nine children with non-diarrhea-associated (D-) HUS. Sequential data
      showed that IL-8 peaked transiently in the circulation, reaching a maximum just
      before a more protracted burst of alpha 1-AT-E. The IL-8 levels correlated
      significantly with circulating alpha 1-AT-E concentrations (r = 0.50, P less than
      0.05). In D+ HUS IL-8 levels also correlated with the PMNL count (r = 0.63, P
      less than 0.005), and the highest values were seen in those children who died in
      the acute phase of the disease. TNF alpha was raised in only 1 of 16 D+ HUS
      children and in no patients were ANCA detected. The data suggest that PMNLs in
      HUS are recruited by IL-8, that this cytokine plays a key role in the PMNL
      activation which occurs, and that agents which suppress this recruitment and
      activation might play a therapeutic role in this disorder.

PMID- 1453587
TI  - Renal handling of silicon in normals and patients with renal insufficiency.
AB  - We have compared the renal handling of silicon in 16 patients with renal
      insufficiency to 14 normal individuals. Silicon, phosphate and creatinine were
      measured in plasma and urine samples. The renal insufficiency group showed
      significant increases in plasma silicon (1.28 +/- 0.19 vs. 0.17 +/- 0.03
      mg/liter), creatinine (5.19 +/- 0.85 vs. 0.89 +/- 0.03 mg/dl) and phosphate (1.33
      +2- 0.11 vs. 1.07 +/- 0.4 mmol/liter). Fractional phosphate excretion was
      increased in the renal insufficiency group (0.55 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.14 +/- 0.01). In
      contrast, the fractional excretion of ultrafiltrable silicon was not
      significantly different between groups (0.78 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.87 +/- 0.06). It is
      concluded that renal insufficiency does not alter the tubular handling of silicon
      and that regulatory control of silicon excretion is unlikely.

PMID- 1453588
TI  - Predicting chronic renal insufficiency in idiopathic membranous
      glomerulonephritis.
AB  - We developed an approach in quantifying the risk of developing chronic renal
      insufficiency (CRI) based on a cohort of 184 patients with idiopathic membranous
      glomerulonephritis (IMGN), prospectively followed by the Toronto
      Glomerulonephritis Registry between 1974 and 1988. After a mean follow-up period
      of 5.8 years, 26% of patients developed CRI (defined as persistent reduction of
      creatinine clearance (CCr) less than or equal to 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 for greater
      than or equal to 12 months). We found that when compared to the baseline
      probability of the unselected patients, the severity of proteinuria at kidney
      biopsy added only marginally to the prediction of CRI. We introduced a special
      test condition: persistent proteinuria (PP) (that is, duration of proteinuria,
      g/day, above different cut-off levels). We examined the positive predictive value
      (PPV) and sensitivity (SEN) of 15 arbitrarily chosen levels of PP (that is,
      proteinuria greater than or equal to 4, 6 or 8 g/day persisting for greater than
      or equal to 6, 9, 12, 18 or 24 months) to select levels with optimal predictive
      characteristics. We found that PP greater than or equal to 8 g/day for greater
      than or equal to six months was a simple and useful predictor of CRI with a PPV
      and SEN of 66%. To further improve our prediction, we tested the following
      parameters: age, sex, initial SCr and CCr, proteinuria, serum albumin,
      hypertension, rate of change of CCr over time, and therapy (steroids +/-
      immunosuppressive drugs) in a multivariate analysis. Proteinuria, initial CCr,
      and rate of change of CCr were most important in predicting CRI.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453589
TI  - Risk of peritonitis and technique failure by CAPD connection technique: a
      national study.
AB  - Peritonitis has been a leading complication of long-term therapy with continuous
      ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). This study was designed to evaluate the
      risk of peritonitis and technique failure according to the initial CAPD
      connection technique. Patients from all U.S. facilities starting CAPD therapy at
      home between January 1 and June 30, 1989 were followed for up to 21 months on the
      initial CAPD connection technique to change in technique or dialytic modality, to
      transplantation, death or loss to follow-up. Patients were grouped into standard
      connection techniques (SCT) (N = 1,133), Y-set (N = 1,067), standard UV set (N =
      916) and O-set (N = 167). The time to first peritonitis episode was analyzed
      actuarially and by using the Cox proportional hazards model which adjusted for
      age, sex, race, cause of ESRD, CAPD program size and ESRD therapy prior to CAPD.
      Peritonitis occurred on average at 9.0 month intervals with SCT, 15.0 months with
      Y-set, 13.4 with standard UV and 9.4 with O-set. The relative risk (RR by Cox
      analysis) of first peritonitis compared to SCT was 0.60 (40% lower) for the Y-set
      (P less than 0.01), 0.75 for standard UV (P less than 0.01), and similar to SCT
      (RR = 0.96) for the O-set (NS), all else being equal. Analysis time to second (N
      = 1,271) peritonitis episode gave similar results as did analysis of time to CAPD
      technique failure. Significantly higher RR of peritonitis and technique failure
      was observed for younger and black patients. These findings suggest the
      utilization of connection techniques with superior results.

PMID- 1453590
TI  - Effects of oxygen breathing and erythropoietin on hypoxic vasodilation in uremic
      anemia.
AB  - Loss of hypoxic vasodilation has been proposed as a causative factor in the
      development of hypertension in dialysis patients treated with recombinant human
      erythropoietin (rHuEPO). Venous occlusion plethysmography was therefore performed
      on 22 dialysis patients (aged 23 to 71 years, dialysis duration 6 to 260 months,
      8 males) before and after correction of anemia with rHuEPO, 50 U/kg 3x/week (Hb:
      7.4 +/- 0.3 vs. 10.8 +2- 0.3 g/dl, P less than 0.0001). Hypertension (greater
      than 15 mm Hg rise in mean BP) occurred in 11 patients. The study was performed
      while breathing room air and repeated after breathing 60% O2 for 10 to 12
      minutes. Before rHuEPO therapy, total blood O2 content increased from 10.01 +/-
      0.39 to 10.32 +/- 0.29 ml O2/100 ml blood with breathing 60% O2 (P less than
      0.01). After correction of anemia it was 14.65 +/- 0.40 ml O2/100 ml blood on
      room air (P less than 0.001). There was a significant decrease in forearm blood
      flow (7.9 +/- 0.5 vs. 6.5 +/- 0.6 ml/min/100 ml tissue, P less than 0.05) and
      increase in forearm vascular resistance (12.8 +/- 0.1 vs. 16.8 +/- 0.2 mm
      Hg/ml/min/100 ml tissue, P less than 0.05) with O2 breathing prior to rHuEPO
      therapy in the blood pressure responders, but no change in these parameters in
      the group in which blood pressure remained unchanged. When all patients were
      studied on room air, forearm vascular resistance rose significantly after
      correction of anemia (13.0 +/- 0.8 vs. 16.3 +/- 0.8 mm Hg/ml/min/100 ml tissue, P
      less than 0.05), compared with that prior to rHuEPO therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453591
TI  - Methylprednisolone dosage effects on peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations and
      eicosanoid synthesis.
AB  - Glucocorticoids have a major role in the treatment of glomerular diseases.
      Despite recent advances in understanding of their mechanism of action, very few
      studies have addressed the relative advantage of the wide range of different dose
      regimens employed in clinical practice. We studied the effects of
      methylprednisolone given intravenously for three consecutive days at the doses of
      1 mg/kg (group 1, N = 7; group 2, N = 5), 5 mg/kg (group 3, N = 5) or 15 mg/kg
      (group 4, N = 6) on total blood peripheral leukocytes and on lymphocyte subsets
      in patients with glomerular diseases, and investigated whether such effects were
      a function of the drug concentration in the blood. Since glucocorticoids have an
      inhibitory effect on the formation of eicosanoids in different cells, we also
      investigated in the same patients the effect of 1 and 15 mg/kg methylprednisolone
      on systemic and renal eicosanoid synthesis. Results of pharmacokinetic study
      showed that the three different doses of methylprednisolone we used resulted in
      major differences in patient's exposure to the drug, and within the same dose
      there was a great individual variability. By contrast the three different doses
      of methylprednisolone induced a comparable drop in the absolute number of
      lymphocytes six hours after the first injection of methylprednisolone, while 24
      hours later blood lymphocyte counts returned to the pre-injection values in all
      patients. Analysis of lymphocyte subsets showed a selective decrease in the
      number of circulating CD4+ and CD8+ cells six hours after methylprednisolone
      which was comparable in the four groups of patients studied. As for the effect of
      methylprednisolone on systemic and renal eicosanoid synthesis in patients with
      glomerular diseases, 1 and 15 mg/kg were equally unable to reduce thromboxane A2
      (TxA2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release by circulating polimorphonuclear cells
      (PMNs). By contrast, methylprednisolone partially inhibited eicosanoid synthesis
      by PMNs in vitro. Consistent with the data on PMNs, urinary excretion of TxA2 and
      prostacyclin (PGI2) metabolites were unaltered by the different doses of
      methylprednisolone. By contrast urinary PGE2 was markedly and significantly
      reduced in patients given 15 but not 1 mg/kg. We conclude that 1 mg/kg
      methylprednisolone given to patients with glomerular diseases has the same effect
      on peripheral total blood leukocyte count and lymphocyte subsets than 5 and 15
      mg/kg. The same is true for eicosanoid synthesis by PMNs. Renal synthesis of PGE2
      is inhibited by 15 mg/kg but not by 1 mg/kg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1453592
TI  - Using USRDS generated mortality tables to compare local ESRD mortality rates to
      national rates.
AB  - Mortality tables of the U.S. Renal Data System allow description of national
      mortality rates among prevalent dialysis patients in five-year age groups and
      four major categories of causes of ESRD for Black and White patients. Based on
      these tables derived from over 50,000 deaths in dialysis patients during 1987 to
      1989 a methodology is described that allows comparison of local or regional
      mortality rates to national rates with determination of a standardized mortality
      ratio and statistical significance. Since this methodology adjusts for patient
      age, race and cause of ESRD, it can serve as a useful tool for dialysis research
      and local quality assurance.

PMID- 1453593
TI  - The nature of clinical trials in nephrology.

PMID- 1453594
TI  - Sodium-dependent phosphate transport in a rat kidney endosomal fraction.
AB  - An endosome-enriched fraction was prepared from rat kidney cortex by a standard
      procedure employing centrifugation on a Percoll gradient. This fraction showed
      time-dependent accumulation of inorganic phosphate (Pi) which was stimulated two-
      to threefold during the initial phase by an inwardly directed Na+ gradient. Na+
      gradient-dependent Pi accumulation decreased with increasing medium osmolality
      and Pi binding accounted for only 16% of the total accumulation at two minutes.
      Like the Pi transporter in the brush border membrane (BBM), the Na+ gradient
      dependent Pi uptake (but not the Na(+)-independent component) by the endosomal
      fraction was stimulated by intravesicular Pi and by an outwardly directed proton
      gradient, and was inhibited by extravesicular arsenate. Unlike the Pi transporter
      in BBM, the endosomal Pi transporter was not changed by acidic pH under non
      gradient conditions. Activation of the endosomal proton pump by extravesicular
      ATP, leading to acidification of the vesicle interior, was accompanied by
      stimulation of endosomal Na+ gradient-dependent Pi transport. Inhibition of the
      proton pump by deletion of chloride or addition of N-ethylmaleimide abolished the
      stimulation of Pi uptake by ATP. The data indicate that the Na(+)-dependent Pi
      transporter in renal endosomal fractions is an intrinsic endosomal component. It
      remains to be determined if the endosomal Pi transporter plays a role in
      regulation of renal Pi transport.

PMID- 1453595
TI  - Reduced capillary density in the myocardium of uremic rats--a stereological
      study.
AB  - Using stereological techniques capillaries, interstitium and myocardial fibers
      were analyzed in perfusion-fixed hearts of subtotally nephrectomized male Sprague
      Dawley rats with uremia of 14 months duration (or their sham-operated controls).
      Uremic rats had higher systolic blood pressure (140 +/- 20.3 mm Hg vs. 119 +/-
      6.61 mm Hg) and left ventricular weight/body weight ratio (3.37 +/- 0.09 mg/kg
      vs. 2.01 +/- 0.12 mg/kg) than controls, and had slight anemia (Hct 35.0 +/- 3.16%
      vs. 40.4 +/- 3.3%). Length density (Lv) of capillaries, that is, capillary length
      per unit myocardial volume, was significantly (P < 0.001) decreased in uremia
      (2485 +/- 264 mm/mm3 vs. 3329 +/- 194 mm/mm3) versus controls. In parallel,
      surface density and volume density of the capillary lumina were also reduced
      (7.95 +/- 1.69 cm3/cm3 vs. 11.4 +/- 1.8 cm3/cm3) in the uremic rats. We conclude
      that in experimental uremia, cardiac hypertrophy is not accompanied by a
      commensurate increase in capillaries.

PMID- 1453596
TI  - Insulin-responsive glucose transporter expression in renal microvessels and
      glomeruli.
AB  - The insulin-responsive glucose transporter (GLUT4) is expressed at high levels in
      fat and skeletal muscle, which account for the majority of insulin-stimulated
      glucose uptake. However, GLUT4 is also expressed at lower levels in kidney and
      several other tissues. We have used a variety of protein and mRNA detection
      techniques to determine the sites of renal GLUT4 expression. Indirect
      immunofluorescence experiments with two specific anti-peptide antisera detected
      GLUT4 in the smooth muscle cells of the rat renal microvasculature, in renal
      glomerulus, and in cultured glomerular mesangial and epithelial cells. PCR
      amplification of cDNA derived from microdissected renal glomeruli, microvessels
      and tubules corroborated this distribution of GLUT4, and Northern blotting
      demonstrated GLUT4 mRNA in cultured glomerular mesangial cells. Both the
      immunofluorescence and PCR data suggested that GLUT4 is most highly expressed in
      renal microvessels. Our results show that certain renal cells, such as renal
      microvascular smooth muscle cells, express the insulin-responsive glucose
      transporter and therefore may demonstrate altered glucose uptake and metabolism
      in diabetes mellitus.

PMID- 1453597
TI  - IGF-I binding and IGF-I mRNA expression in the post-ischemic regenerating rat
      kidney.
AB  - The localization of IGF-I peptide and IGF-I mRNA was investigated in the post
      ischemic regenerating rat kidney using immunohistochemistry and non-radioactive
      in situ hybridization techniques. In addition, the distribution and relative
      quantity of IGF-I binding sites were studied by autoradiographic ligand-binding
      techniques. Two and three days after the injury, morphological signs of an
      intense regenerative activity was evident. By this time a substantial number of
      the regenerating cells were stained with a monoclonal antibody against the M1
      subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, a proliferative marker used. Low
      proliferative tubular cells, replacing those that had been injured, were seen
      lining the tubular basement membrane. By seven days, the morphology in the cortex
      was quite normalized, while cells of the S3 segments in the outer medulla
      remained dedifferentiated. The regenerative cells expressed IGF-I peptide and IGF
      I mRNA in a transient manner and this was found to correlate better to cell
      differentiation than cell division. In addition, non-tubular cells, predominantly
      macrophages, expressed both the IGF-I peptide and the mRNA. The IGF-I binding was
      significantly increased in the regenerative zone at all times studied and began
      to decline at day seven. The binding characteristics were found to be compatible
      with binding to the IGF-I receptor. Altogether, these findings provide
      circumstantial evidence that IGF-I is of trophic importance in the regeneration
      of renal tubular cells. The data are compatible with a local production and
      action of IGF-I, suggesting an autocrine and/or paracrine mode of action during
      the regenerative process.

PMID- 1453598
TI  - Procoagulant effect of the OKT3 monoclonal antibody: involvement of tumor
      necrosis factor.
AB  - We recently observed that the prophylactic administration of high doses of OKT3
      monoclonal antibody (MoAb) in cadaveric renal transplantation favors the
      development of thromboses of the grafts' main vessels and of thrombotic
      microangiopathies. These clinical observations led us to perform sequential
      determinations of plasma levels of prothrombin fragment 1 and 2 (F 1 + 2) and
      fibrin degradation products (FDP) after the first injection of 5 or 10 mg OKT3
      given as prophylaxis in kidney transplant recipients. The values observed have
      been compared with those of kidney transplant recipients not treated with OKT3. F
      1 + 2 levels peaked four hours after the first injection of 5 mg OKT3 (mean +/-
      SEM: 4.82 +/- 0.73 vs. 1.75 +/- 0.37 nmol/liter in controls, P < 0.01),
      indicating activation of the common pathway of the coagulation cascade. FDP
      levels were already above baseline values at four hours and continued to increase
      until 24 hours (mean +/- SEM at 24 hr, 4729 +/- 879 vs. 1038 +/- 320 ng/ml in
      controls, P < 0.05), indicating a fibrinolytic process. The magnitude and the
      time course of the changes in F 1 + 2 and FDP plasma levels were similar whether
      the patients received 5 or 10 mg dose of OKT3. The levels of von Willebrand
      factor (VWF) antigen, a molecule released by activated or damaged endothelial
      cells, were also significantly increased after injection of OKT3 (mean +/- SEM at
      24 hr, 3.67 +/- 0.18 vs. 2.17 +/- 0.11 U/ml in controls, P < 0.05). The
      procoagulant effects of OKT3 were further investigated in vitro on human
      umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453599
TI  - Hypoxia-mediated impaired differentiation by LLC-PK1 cells: evidence based on the
      protein kinase C profile.
AB  - We recently reported that mild hypoxia in LLC-PK1 cells, grown in standard
      fashion under a still layer of overlying medium at 5% CO2/18% O2 environment,
      result in decreased oxidative metabolism and impaired differentiated functions in
      comparison to adequately oxygenated cultures maintained either under a higher
      oxygen (36% O2) environment or conditions of continuous rocking of the media
      fluid. In the present study, subcellular distribution of a regulatory enzyme
      protein kinase C (PKC) was examined between hypoxic still and normoxic rocked LLC
      PK1 cells. Subconfluent cultures of hypoxic LLC-PK1 cells exhibited significantly
      lower and predominantly membrane-bound PKC activity in comparison to mostly
      cytosolic localization of this enzyme in normoxic rocked cells. One hour of
      exposure of adequately oxygenated-rocked LLC-PK1 cells with the phorbol ester
      TPA, a dedifferentiating agent that did not effect the cell ATP content, resulted
      in significant inhibition of dome formation and sodium-dependent glucose
      transport activity, a partial loss of pH-responsive ammoniagenesis, and almost
      complete translocation of protein kinase C activity from cytosol to the membrane
      pool; all of which resembles the behavior of hypoxic still cultured cells. In
      addition, acute re-oxygenation of hypoxic still cultures by rocking the media
      fluid for one hour resulted in an increase in cell ATP content to the cellular
      levels of ATP observed in normoxic rocked cells. However, all the parameters of
      differentiation were unaffected by re-oxygenation. These studies support the
      notion that hypoxia can act in some primary fashion, independent of its effects
      on energy metabolism, to impair cellular differentiation in LLC-PK1 cells. They
      also raise the possibility that activation of protein kinase C may act as an
      important mediator in this process.

PMID- 1453600
TI  - Urodilatin, not nitroprusside, combined with dopamine reverses ischemic acute
      renal failure.
AB  - The present study was undertaken to: (a) clarify the comparative renal potency of
      bolus injection of the natriuretic peptides urodilatin and ANF99-126 in the rat;
      (b) establish whether or not intravenous (i.v.) infusion of urodilatin (200
      ng/min) combined with dopamine (UD) to maintain mean arterial pressure could
      improve GFR or renal histology in established experimental ischemic acute renal
      failure (ARF) induced by 30 minutes of bilateral renal artery clamping; (c)
      assess comparative efficacies of nitroprusside, an activator of soluble guanylate
      cyclase, combined with dopamine (ND) or control infusions of dopamine alone (DA),
      under equivalent conditions; and (d) determine effects of intra-renal arterial
      infusions of the stable cGMP analogue dibutyryl-cGMP immediately after renal
      artery clamping (RAC). After initial dose finding studies, i.v. infusion of UD 24
      hours after 30 minutes of RAC improved GFR over five hours from 0.24 +/- 0.04 to
      1.0 +/- 0.16 ml/min in association with a threefold rise in plasma cGMP and a 13
      fold increase in urinary cGMP excretion. Plasma creatinine dropped by 41% from
      230 +/- 16 to 135 +/- 18 microM/liter and was still reduced 24 hours later with
      values averaging 106 +/- 14 compared to 274 +/- 53 microM/liter in non-treated
      animals. During infusion, UV and FENa+ increased from 1.4 +/- 0.2 to 8.3 ml/min,
      and from 2.9 +/- 0.5 to maximum values of 15.8 +/- 2.4%. ND or DA alone were less
      effective, increasing GFR only to 14 and 20%, respectively, of normal values, but
      improvements were not sustained; in contrast to UD, ND did not alter plasma or
      urinary cGMP. In addition, DBcGMP was ineffective in improving GFR during early
      ARF. Histologically UD, but not ND, markedly reduced the incidence of granular
      casts, tubular desquamation and tubular necrosis in cortical areas and increased
      the incidence of medullary mitoses.

PMID- 1453602
TI  - Alport syndrome and diffuse leiomyomatosis: deletions in the 5' end of the COL4A5
      collagen gene.
AB  - Alport syndrome (AS) is an hereditary glomerulonephritis that is mainly inherited
      as a dominant X-linked trait. Structural abnormalities in the type IV collagen
      alpha 5 chain gene (COL4A5), which maps to Xq22, have recently been detected in
      several patients with AS. The association of AS with diffuse esophageal
      leiomyomatosis (DL) has been reported in 24 patients, most of them also suffering
      from congenital cataract. The mode of transmission and the location of the
      gene(s) involved in this association have not been elucidated. Southern blotting
      using cDNA probes spanning the whole COL4A5 and a 5' end COL4A5 genomic probe
      showed that three out of three patients with the DL-AS association had a deletion
      in the 5' part of the COL4A5 gene extending beyond its 5' end. This indicates
      that the same gene, COL4A5, is involved in classical AS and in DL-AS and that the
      transmission of DL-AS is X-linked dominant. These results also suggest that
      leiomyomatosis might be due to the alteration of a second gene involved in smooth
      muscle cell proliferation, which is located upstream of the COL4A5 gene, and that
      there might be a contiguous gene deletion syndrome, involving at least the genes
      coding for congenital cataract, DL and AS.

PMID- 1453601
TI  - Glomerular hemodynamic alterations during acute hyperinsulinemia in normal and
      diabetic rats.
AB  - Treatment of insulin dependent diabetes invariably requires exogenous insulin to
      control blood glucose. Insulin treatment, independent of other factors associated
      with insulin dependent diabetes, may induce changes that affect glomerular
      function. Due to exogenous delivery of insulin in insulin dependent diabetes
      entering systemic circulation prior to the portal vein, plasma levels of insulin
      are often in excess of that observed in non-diabetics. The specific effects of
      hyperinsulinemia on glomerular hemodynamics have not been previously examined.
      Micropuncture studies were performed in control (non-diabetic), untreated
      diabetic and insulin-treated diabetic rats 7 to 10 days after administration of
      65 mg/kg body weight streptozotocin. After the first period micropuncture
      measurements were obtained, 5 U of regular insulin (Humulin-R) was infused i.v.,
      and glucose clamped at euglycemic values (80 to 120 mg/dl). Blood glucose
      concentration in non-diabetic controls was 99 +/- 6 mg/dl. In control rats,
      insulin infusion and glucose clamp increased nephron filtration rate due to
      decreases in both afferent and efferent arteriolar resistance (afferent greater
      than efferent) resulting in increased plasma flow and increased glomerular
      hydrostatic pressure gradient. However, insulin infusion and glucose clamp
      produced the opposite effect in both untreated and insulin-treated diabetic rats
      with afferent arteriolar vasoconstriction resulting in decreases in plasma flow,
      glomerular hydrostatic pressure gradient and nephron filtration rate. Thromboxane
      A2 (TX) synthetase inhibition partially decreased the vasoconstrictive response
      due to acute insulin infusion in diabetic rats preventing the decrease in nephron
      filtration rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453604
TI  - On the probability that kidneys are different in autosomal dominant polycystic
      disease.
AB  - We hypothesized that highly variable cyst fluid sodium concentrations are a
      characteristic of every kidney in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
      (ADPKD). We added our data on sodium concentrations in 124 fluids from ten ADPKD
      kidneys to data published by others of concentrations in 32 fluids from five
      kidneys. The values ranged from 3 to 207 mEq/liter; none fell between 59 and 74
      mEq/liter. Fluids were designated as low (< 60 mEq/liter; 50 fluids) or high (>
      60 mEq/liter; 106 fluids) sodium fluids. Transmission electron microscopy
      identified differences in the depths of apical tight junctions between cells from
      cyst walls of 12 of the low and 10 of the high sodium fluids from two kidneys
      (mean +/- SE depths of 2039 +/- 74 A vs. 386 +/- 18 A respectively; P < 0.0001).
      When fluids were grouped by kidney of origin, six of the 15 kidneys had only high
      sodium fluids. The probability that chance had led to the sampling of only high
      sodium fluids in these organs, given that 32% of all fluids were low sodium
      fluids, was calculated at < 0.00015. The possibility must be considered that all
      kidneys are not alike in ADPKD.

PMID- 1453603
TI  - Low-dose intravenous calcitriol treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in
      hemodialysis patients. Italian Group for the Study of Intravenous Calcitriol.
AB  - Intravenous calcitriol is known to directly suppress PTH secretion and release.
      We evaluated the effect of four months of treatment with low-dose intravenous
      calcitriol on PTH levels in 83 hemodialysis patients. The criteria for including
      patients in the study were a serum PTH levels at least four times the normal
      limit, a serum total calcium less than 10 mg/dl and good control of the serum
      phosphorus level. All patients underwent standard bicarbonate or acetate
      dialysis; dialysate calcium level was maintained at the usual 3.5 mEq/liter
      concentration. Initial calcitriol dose was 0.87 +/- 0.02 (SEM) micrograms (0.015
      micrograms/kg body wt) thrice weekly at the end of dialysis, and it was reduced
      in case of hypercalcemia or elevated calcium-phosphate product. Seven out of 83
      patients dropped out during treatment. Among the 76 patients who completed the
      study, 58 (76%) showed a highly significant decrease of intact PTH levels
      (average reduction 48%) and of alkaline phosphatase levels after four months of
      therapy. Total serum calcium increased slightly but significantly in the
      responder group but remained unchanged in the non-responders. No significant
      changes in ionized calcium levels could be detected, even in responders.
      Treatment was well tolerated by patients, but 60% of them had transient episodes
      of hyperphosphatemia. Mean serum phosphate was 4.95 mg/dl at the beginning of the
      study. It increased significantly after four months of treatment in patients who
      showed a decrease of PTH levels, although it remained within acceptable limits,
      below 5.5 mg/dl. Twenty-eight of 76 patients (37%) reduced the dose of calcitriol
      because their calcium-phosphate products exceeded 60.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1453605
TI  - Influence of the level of hydration on the renal response to a protein meal.
AB  - Recent studies have suggested that the renal effects of high protein intake could
      be mediated, at least in part, by vasopressin and/or an increase in the urinary
      concentrating activity. The present study investigated the influence of the level
      of hydration, and hence of the activity of the concentrating process, on the
      renal response to an acute oral protein load. Clearance studies were performed
      before (Control) and during three hours after a protein meal (1.5 g/kg body wt
      protein as cooked meat) in ten healthy volunteers. This study was performed twice
      at a two to three week interval under either constant low (LowH) or high (HighH)
      hydration. In spite of the marked difference in initial diuresis (3.1 +/- 0.3 in
      LowH vs. 13.9 +/- 0.7 ml/min in HighH) and urine osmolality (501 +/- 42 in LowH
      vs. 99 +/- 3 mOsm/kg H2O in HighH), a similar relative decrease in urine flow
      rate was observed following the meal in both conditions. TcH2O increased
      progressively by 70% in LowH whereas CH2O decreased by 40% in HighH. Plasma
      vasopressin showed a progressive increase with time in LowH (from 1.10 +/- 0.26
      in control, to 1.98 +/- 0.35 pg/ml at the third hour after the PM, P < 0.05) but
      not in HighH (0.53 +/- 0.09 to 0.70 +/- 0.17 pg/ml). Glomerular filtration rate
      (inulin clearance) increased significantly on the second post-prandial hour under
      LowH but not under HighH. Excretions rates of Na, Cl, K, and urea increased after
      the meal, however, not to the same extent nor with the same time course in the
      two conditions. Significant positive correlations were observed between GFR and
      TcH2O, urine osmolality, or the ratio of urine-to-plasma urea concentrations in
      LowH. These results suggest that the protein-induced hyperfiltration is partially
      blunted by a high water intake, and hence is dependent, directly or indirectly,
      on the urine concentrating activity.

PMID- 1453606
TI  - Ketodiet, physiological calcium intake and native vitamin D improve renal
      osteodystrophy.
AB  - The effects of a very low-protein diet (VLPD) supplemented with amino acids and
      ketoanalogues (KA) and with 1 g of calcium carbonate and 1000 IU of vitamin D2,
      were studied in 17 patients with advanced renal failure (GFR < or = 20 ml/min)
      over a period of one year. The protein intake was 0.3 g protein/kg body wt/day.
      Daily phosphorus and calcium intake were respectively 1,500 mg and 300 mg.
      Sequential bone densitometry was performed and bone histomorphometry after double
      tetracycline labeling was evaluated, before and after one year of diet. Calcium
      and phosphate metabolism parameters were monitored every two months. In spite of
      a significant decrease of GFR, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (1-84) and
      osteocalcin plasma levels decreased significantly, while low plasma bicarbonate
      normalized, and calcitriol and calcium levels remained respectively low and
      normal. Before the diet, histological study disclosed four cases of mixed
      osteopathy: osteomalacia associated with osteitis fibrosa (OM/OF), nine pure
      osteitis fibrosa (OF) and four with normal bone remodeling (NB). After one year
      of diet, the OM component of OM/OF disappeared, as evidenced by a normalization
      of the mineral apposition rate and osteoid thickness. In the patients presenting
      pure OF, a significant decrease in osteoblastic and osteoclastic surfaces, in the
      number of osteoclasts, and in the bone formation rate (BFR) were found. Vertebral
      mineral density measured by quantitative computerized tomodensitometry did not
      change significantly. In conclusion, this study not only confirms the beneficial
      effects of VLPD + KA + calcium on uremic hyperparathyroid bone disease in
      advanced renal failure assessed using static bone histomorphometry, but also
      shows a correction of histodynamic bone parameters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1453607
TI  - Renal function 17 to 23 years after chelation therapy for childhood plumbism.
AB  - An elegant retrospective description of an epidemic of chronic renal failure
      occurring in patients with histories of untreated childhood lead poisoning in
      Queensland, Australia established beyond reasonable doubt the existence of lead
      nephropathy. However, a retrospective uncontrolled report from Boston in 1963
      refuted the claim that there are serious renal consequences of untreated
      childhood lead poisoning. We conducted a controlled prospective, longitudinal
      study to examine the effects of childhood lead poisoning on renal function 17 to
      23 years after chelation therapy. The present study reports the results of renal
      functional tests in a unique cohort of study subjects (N = 62) with significant
      lead poisoning (initial PbB > 100 micrograms/dl) diagnosed and treated between
      1966 and 1972 and their age-matched control siblings (N = 19; initial PbB < 40
      micrograms/dl). During the past nine years serial determinations of renal
      function on all study subjects and control siblings were obtained. Mean values of
      systolic and diastolic blood pressures, serum creatinine, serum beta 2
      microglobulin, fractional excretion beta 2-microglobulin, urinary
      protein:creatinine ratio, serum phosphate, tubular reabsorption of phosphate,
      serum uric acid, and urinary specific gravity were similar in study subjects
      compared with sibling controls. The frequency of abnormal values for these tests
      was similar in the two groups. Multiple linear regression analyses failed to
      demonstrate a significant influence of the presence of plumbism or initial PbB on
      serum creatinine or systolic or diastolic blood pressure. A modest increase in
      serum creatinine values was observed over a nine year period in four of 62 study
      subjects (1.4, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 mg/dl).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453608
TI  - Anaphylactoid reactions associated with reuse of hollow-fiber hemodialyzers and
      ACE inhibitors.
AB  - From July 18 through November 27, 1989, 12 anaphylactoid reactions (ARs) occurred
      in 10 patients at a hemodialysis center in Virginia. One patient required
      hospitalization; no patients died. ARs occurred within minutes of initiating
      dialysis and were characterized by peripheral numbness and tingling, laryngeal
      edema or angioedema, facial or generalized sensation of warmth, and/or nausea or
      vomiting. All 12 ARs occurred with dialyzers that had been reprocessed with an
      automated reprocessing system. A cohort study, including all patients undergoing
      dialysis sessions on the six days when an AR occurred, showed that the patients
      who experienced ARs were significantly more likely than patients who did not to
      be treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (7/10 vs. 3/33;
      relative risk = 7.9; 95% confidence interval = 2.5 to 25.2) and to have been
      exposed to reused dialyzers rather than to new dialyzers (12/70 sessions vs.
      0/31; P = 0.016). In those sessions using a reused dialyzer, the mean number of
      dialyzer uses in case-sessions was significantly higher than for noncase-sessions
      (10.3 vs. 6.2; P = 0.016). After reuse of dialyzers was discontinued at the
      center, no further ARs occurred, despite the continued administration of ACE
      inhibitors. This is the first report of an outbreak of ARs associated exclusively
      with reused dialyzers. We hypothesize that interactions between a dialyzer that
      has been repeatedly reprocessed and reused, blood, and additional factors, such
      as ACE inhibitors, increased the risk of developing ARs.

PMID- 1453609
TI  - Decreased low-density lipoprotein receptor function and mRNA levels in
      lymphocytes from uremic patients.
AB  - The mechanisms by which renal failure causes hyperlipoproteinemia remain unclear.
      To investigate the potential role of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor
      in lipoprotein metabolism in uremia we measured LDL receptor function in
      peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from uremic patients and control
      subjects using a functional assay in which proliferation of lectin-stimulated
      PBMC in the presence of lovastatin was dependent upon internalization of
      exogenous cholesterol via a functional LDL receptor. The amount of LDL required
      to reverse 50% of lovastatin-induced inhibition of proliferation in PBMC from
      uremic patients was significantly greater (3.6 +/- 1.8 micrograms/ml, N = 33, P <
      0.05) than controls, (1.99 +/- 0.6 micrograms/ml, N = 37). Abnormal LDL receptor
      function in four uremic patients normalized following renal transplantation. To
      investigate the molecular basis for LDL receptor dysfunction, we directly
      quantitated LDL receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) in PBMC from uremic patients and
      control subjects using a ribonuclease protection assay. LDL receptor mRNA
      expression in uremic patients was 0.42 +/- 0.08 (N = 10), significantly lower (P
      < 0.015) than in normal subjects, 0.71 +/- 0.08 (N = 14). These data suggest that
      an acquired defect in LDL receptor function in PBMC from uremic patients exists
      which may be due to decreased LDL receptor expression. These abnormalities, if
      present in other tissues, could contribute to the aberrant lipoprotein metabolism
      which is a consistent feature of uremia.

PMID- 1453610
TI  - Severe defect in clearing postprandial chylomicron remnants in dialysis patients.
AB  - Lipid abnormalities have been suggested as a major cause of the accelerated
      atherosclerosis and the high incidence of coronary heart disease in chronic renal
      failure patients. In the present work the postprandial lipoprotein metabolism was
      studied in chronic dialysis patients with or without fasting hypertriglyceridemia
      using the vitamin A loading test. This method investigates specifically
      postprandial lipoprotein metabolism. The determination of vitamin A ester level
      retinyl palmitate (RP) differentiates the circulating plasma chylomicron and
      chylomicron remnant fractions from the endogenous VLDL and IDL. Subjects with
      normal renal function with or without fasting hypertriglyceridemia served as
      control groups. Dialysis patients have significantly higher level of chylomicron
      remnants for a more prolonged period of time than controls, irrespective of their
      fasting triglyceride levels. The area below retinyl palmitate chylomicron
      remnants curve was 26308 +/- 12422 micrograms/liter.hr in the normolipidemic
      dialysis patients, significantly higher than (6393 +/- 2098 micrograms/liter.hr;
      P < 0.0001) in the normolipidemic controls. The retinyl palmitate chylomicron
      remnants curve of the hypertriglyceridemic dialysis patients was 21021 +/- 4560
      micrograms/liter.hr, which was higher than 12969 +/- 2215 micrograms/liter.hr (P
      < 0.0001) in the hypertriglyceridemic controls. Moreover, the
      hypertriglyceridemic dialysis patients had an additional defect in the lipolysis
      metabolic step, that is, accumulation of chylomicrons in circulation. These
      findings show a severe defect in postprandial lipoprotein metabolism in chronic
      renal failure patients. The prolonged exposure of the vascular wall to high
      chylomicron remnant concentrations might be an important pathogenetic factor in
      the accelerated atherosclerosis seen in chronic dialysis patients.

PMID- 1453611
TI  - IgA nephropathy in patients with congenital C9 deficiency.
AB  - The clinical, histologic, and immunopathological findings of three young Japanese
      males with congenital C9 deficiency and primary IgA nephropathy are reported. The
      C9 deficiency was discovered either through mass complement screening, or when
      low hemolytic activity for CH50 and normal C3 levels were detected in plasma.
      Hematuria and proteinuria were detected at the age of 8 or 9 years as a result of
      annual urinary screening tests for school children. Renal biopsy showed focal and
      segmental mesangial proliferation with small epithelial crescents in one patient,
      and mild, diffuse mesangial proliferation in two. IgA and C3 were deposited
      predominantly in the mesangial area, and staining for C9 was negative in these
      patients. Electron microscopy revealed electron dense deposits predominantly in
      mesangial and paramesangial zones. Immunohistochemical staining in renal biopsy
      tissues from two patients showed mesangial staining for C5, C8, and S-protein,
      but staining for C5b-9 neoantigen was completely negative. These results show
      that the formation of C5b-9 complex is not essential for the induction of human
      IgA nephropathy, and also for the proliferation of mesangial and even parietal
      epithelial cells.

PMID- 1453612
TI  - Renal histology in polycystic kidney disease with incipient and advanced renal
      failure.
AB  - Renal specimens were obtained at surgery or postmortem from patients with
      autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Patients had either serum
      creatinine (SCr) below 350 mumol/liter (N = 12) or terminal renal failure (N =
      50). Specimens were examined by two independent observers using a carefully
      validated score system. Mean glomerular diameters were similar in ADPKD patients
      with early renal failure (176 +/- 38 microns) and in victims of traffic accidents
      (177 +/- 23 microns), while they were significantly greater in diabetics with
      comparable renal function (205 +/- 16 microns). Glomerular diameters in ADPKD
      patients with terminal renal failure (191 +/- 45 microns) and with early renal
      failure were not significantly different. On average, 29% of glomeruli (17 to 62)
      were globally sclerosed in early renal failure, and 49% (19 to 93) in terminal
      renal failure. The proportion of glomeruli with segmental sclerosis was less than
      4% in both groups. Marked vascular sclerosis, interstitial fibrosis, and tubular
      atrophy were present in early renal failure, and even more so in terminal renal
      failure. Interstitial infiltrates were scarce and consisted mainly of CD4
      positive lymphocytes and CD68 positive macrophages. Immunestaining with
      monoclonal renin antibodies showed an increased juxtaglomerular index and
      expression of renin by arterioles adjacent to cysts, as well as by cyst wall
      epithelia. The data show more severe vascular and interstitial, but not
      glomerular, changes in ADPKD with advanced as compared to early renal failure.

PMID- 1453613
TI  - Glucose homeostasis and the kidney.

PMID- 1453614
TI  - [Surgical treatment of congenital aneurysm of the internal jugular vein in
      children].
AB  - In the pathogenesis of aneurysm of the internal jugular vein, the loss of its
      capacity function hampering blood outflow from the cranial cavity is of leading
      importance. Disorders in cerebral hemodynamics registered in rheoencephalography
      were revealed in all the patients examined. In 40% of them, the signs of venous
      encephalopathy were noted. Thus, presence of an aneurysm is an indication for
      operative intervention. The operation under the conditions of growing organism
      together with elimination of aneurysm is aimed at restoration of capacity
      function of the internal jugular vein and ensuring of its growth. Circular
      resection of aneurysm with end-to-end suturing of the vein and extravasal plasty
      with the use of polyurethane perforated tubular protector cut in a screw-shaped
      manner is an adequate operation.

PMID- 1453615
TI  - [Use of ultraviolet irradiation of the blood after surgery in patients with
      tumors].
AB  - The results of ultra-violet irradiation of the blood in 207 patients after
      performance of thoracoabdominal operation for cancer of the esophagus and stomach
      were analysed. The method permits to reduce the incidence of postoperative
      complications, manifestations of endogenous intoxication, contributes to
      improvement in metabolic processes, and normalization of the state of the
      patients.

PMID- 1453616
TI  - [Preclinical study of the general toxic effect of polyplatillen].
AB  - Toxic action of polyplatillen, a principally new platinum compound, was studied
      on laboratory animals and cell culture. When compared with cis
      dichlorodiamminplatinum, the preparation is 10-fold less toxic in animals and 100
      fold--in the cellular systems. Reversibility of damaging action of polyplatillen
      at "non-toxic" dosages conditions the perspectiveness of its further clinical
      trials.

PMID- 1453617
TI  - [Radiologic diagnosis of Payr disease in children].
AB  - The experience with diagnosis of Payr disease in 119 children with the use of a
      roentgenologic method, in particular, irrigoscopy was summarized. Falling of the
      right colic flexure with formation of abrupt kinks of the transverse colon, and
      retention of contrast substance in the right portion of the large intestine are
      the main roentgenologic signs of the Payr disease.

PMID- 1453618
TI  - [Ultrasound diagnosis of pyloric stenosis in young children].
AB  - The results of observation of 12 children ranging in age from 1 to 4 mos with
      tentative diagnosis of pyloric stenosis are presented. The study was performed by
      special method, using "Aloka" SSD-280 (Japan) ultrasound apparatus. The
      characteristic symptoms of the disease were revealed in 9 children, diagnosis of
      pyloric stenosis was confirmed by means of endoscopy, palpation, and
      intraoperatively. The use of US is practically harmless, and can completely
      substitute for a roentgenologic method in detecting the given congenital
      pathology.

PMID- 1453619
TI  - [Current functional methods for investigating the rectoanal region in children].
AB  - Continuous rectoanal profilometry and electromanometry with the use of original
      three-channel "Electronika A-1" apparatus were performed in 40 children. The
      technique for performance of investigations is described, the scheme for
      deciphering of the results is given.

PMID- 1453620
TI  - [Hemosorption with the use of porcine spleen in the treatment of purulent-septic
      diseases in children].
AB  - In 14 children with purulent septic diseases, the method of biohemosorption with
      the use of a porcine spleen was used. In 13 children, the treatment was
      effective. One child with bilateral uretherohydronephrosis, pyonephrosis,
      urosepsis, signs of aggravating polyorganic failure died. The data obtained are
      indicative of the expediency to use biohemosorption for treatment of children
      with purulent septic diseases.

PMID- 1453621
TI  - [Diagnosis and therapy of tumors and tumor-like formations of the stomach and
      intestine in children].
AB  - The experience with diagnosis and treatment of 45 children at the age of from 2
      mos to 15 yrs with tumours and tumour-like formations of the stomach and
      intestine was summarized. Most frequently (more than in 60% of cases),
      lymphosarcoma was revealed, cancer--in 4.4% of cases. The main causes of
      diagnostic errors--ignoring the data of history, wrong interpretation of the
      results of palpation of the abdomen, incomplete examination of a patient and
      absence of oncologic suspiciousness in a physician. Results of treatment of the
      patients with malignant masses depended on a stage of the disease.

PMID- 1453622
TI  - [Comprehensive evaluation of long-term results of surgical treatment and
      principles of postoperative rehabilitation of children with anorectal atresia].
AB  - The examination and treatment of 22 children at the age of from 2 to 14 years
      after surgical correction of fistulous forms of atresia of the anus and rectum
      was carried out. In all the patients, besides of general clinical investigations,
      the special studies of the large intestine with the use of roentgenologic and
      functional methods were performed. A scale-table for assessment of a degree of
      anal incompetence have been developed, criteria for choice of rational tactics
      for rehabilitation of the patients established.

PMID- 1453623
TI  - [Cysts and cyst-like formations of the abdominal cavity and retroperitoneal space
      in children].
AB  - The results of surgical treatment of 29 children with cysts, and 10--with cyst
      like formations of the abdominal cavity and retroperitoneal space are described.
      In majority of the patients, a cyst at the terminal stage was revealed. In
      presence of complications, they were operated on with tentative diagnosis of
      acute appendicitis, or ileus. The operation consisted of cyst enucleation, its
      elimination with resection, or removal of the organ, creation of cystodigestive
      anastomosis. Postoperative lethality was 12.8%.

PMID- 1453624
TI  - [Immunocorrective effect of hemosorption in the comprehensive therapy of
      malignant tumors in children].
AB  - In 25 children with malignant tumours of the retroperitoneal space and
      mediastinum, hemosorption was performed before and after operation in combination
      with chemotherapy with the aim of immunocorrection and detoxication of an
      organism. Under the influence of hemosorption, the general state of the patients
      improved, their immune status normalized permitting not to interrupt a course of
      chemotherapy.

PMID- 1453625
TI  - [The use of diagnostic and therapeutic colonofibroscopy in children].
AB  - The results of investigation of the large intestine in 187 children were
      analysed. Of them, in 28 the terminal ileum was as well examined. In 38 patients
      with polyps and intestinal invagination, colonoscopy was performed in combination
      with endoscopy. Colonofibroscopy was used as a primary method of study to
      establish the causes of intestinal hemorrhage, colitis syndrome. The method has a
      high informative value, permits to extend the diagnostic and therapeutic
      possibilities in pediatric proctology.

PMID- 1453626
TI  - [Stages of intestinal invagination in children].
AB  - The results of observation of 143 children with intestinal invagination are
      presented. In 105 patients, the disease was at the stage of compensation, in 27-
      subcompensation, in 10--decompensation. According to the data of clinical and
      laboratory investigations, the most pronounced changes in homeostasis were noted
      in children with intestinal invagination at the late stage. The measures aimed at
      stabilization of hemodynamics, improvement of microcirculation were carried out.
      In to the complex of treatment, the methods of extracorporeal detoxication of an
      organism and intestinal intubation going ahead of aggravation of toxemia were
      included.

PMID- 1453627
TI  - [Prognostic value of blood indices in children with acute appendicitis].
AB  - The results of comparative analysis of blood formula, volume and cellular content
      of peritoneal effusion in children operated on for acute appendicitis are
      presented. In unfavourable course of the postoperative period, a significant
      decrease in content of neutrophil granulocytes in the peripheric blood and its
      increase in the peritoneal effusion as compared with the indices in the control
      group was noted.

PMID- 1453629
TI  - [Cryosurgical method of therapy for congenital vascular lesions in children].
AB  - The experience with the use of a cryosurgical method in the out-patient treatment
      of 3112 children of different age with congenital vascular formations was
      summarized. In the total structure of neoplasms, capillary hemangioma was
      predominant. The original apparatus was used with exposure of from 10 to 45 sec.
      The results of follow-up of the patients for 2 to 5 years are presented. A good
      cosmetic and functional result was noted in 96.2% of patients.

PMID- 1453628
TI  - [Diagnosis and treatment of intestinal obstruction in children in the inter
      district pediatric surgery department].
AB  - Within 25 years, 302 children with different forms of acquired ileus were treated
      at the inter-district surgical department. Intestinal invagination was revealed
      in 221 patient. In the complex of diagnostic and therapeutic measures,
      intravenous administration of "chromosmon", through insufflation of the intestine
      were employed. Intestinal intubation was performed by means of a magnet-dependent
      tube of original construction. Lethality was 0.3%.

PMID- 1453630
TI  - [Laparoscopy in the diagnosis of abdominal diseases in children].
AB  - The results of laparoscopy performed in 1988-1990 in 112 children with tumours
      and cysts of the abdominal cavity, with diseases of the liver and bile ducts are
      presented. Of them in 60%, the puncture biopsy was performed. Use of laparoscopy
      in 64.28% of the sufferers with closed abdominal trauma permitted to avoid
      performance of needless laparotomy. For suspected acute appendicitis, laparoscopy
      was performed in 80 patients: in 36 of them, no signs of the disease were
      revealed, in 14--other diseases were detected, in 30--diagnosis was confirmed. A
      high informative value of the given method in the diagnosis of abdominal diseases
      in children was noted.

PMID- 1453631
TI  - [Methods for improving the surgical care of children].

PMID- 1453632
TI  - [Study of large intestinal microflora in newborns with Hirschsprung disease].
AB  - In 35 newborns and children at the age under 4 mos with Hirschsprung's disease,
      colonic microflora was studied. Disbacteriosis at phase 1 was revealed in 1
      (2.9%) child, at phase 2--in 7 (20%), at phase 3--in 27 (77.1%). In acute form of
      Hirschsprung's disease, in 68.5% of cases, disbacteriosis at phase 3 with the
      signs of enterocolitis causing acute ileus was revealed. Intestinal perforation
      against background of enterocolitis developed in 8 cases.

PMID- 1453633
TI  - [Five-year experience in the work of the one-day pediatric surgery department].

PMID- 1453634
TI  - [Antibiotic therapy of complications in surgical treatment of rectal cancer].

PMID- 1453635
TI  - [The role of hypoxia and non-enzyme cationic proteins of leukocytes in the
      pathogenesis of acute post-operative purulent-inflammatory processes].

PMID- 1453636
TI  - [A case of non-aspirated foreign bodies in the lung].

PMID- 1453637
TI  - [Relapsing intestinal invagination in a child with Schoenlein-Henoch disease].

PMID- 1453638
TI  - [Successful treatment of esophageal atresia combined with congenital duodenal
      stenosis].

PMID- 1453639
TI  - [Peace-time gunshot injury in a child].

PMID- 1453640
TI  - [Laser therapy of purulent-inflammatory diseases in children in ambulatory
      surgery].

PMID- 1453641
TI  - [Transverse rupture of the pancreas in a child].

PMID- 1453642
TI  - [Torsion of the appendix in a child].

PMID- 1453643
TI  - [Congenital lobar emphysema in children].

PMID- 1453644
TI  - [Effect of intravascular laser therapy on the rheologic properties of blood in
      children with bilateral destructive pneumonia].
AB  - The effect of intravascular blood irradiation with helium-neon laser in 20
      children with bilateral destructive pneumonia at a dose of 10-30 J/cm2 for a
      course of treatment on indices of hemostasis and rheologic blood properties was
      studied. Decrease in blood viscosity, hypocoagulative effect of intravascular
      laser therapy, normalization of clinico-roentgenologic data were revealed.

PMID- 1453645
TI  - [Laparostomy in a newborn].

PMID- 1453646
TI  - [Isolated ectopy of the spleen in the thoracic cavity simulating lung tumor in a
      child].

PMID- 1453647
TI  - [Trichobezoar of the ileum in a ten-year-old child].

PMID- 1453648
TI  - [A case of lipoma of the scrotum in a three-year-old child].

PMID- 1453649
TI  - [Lymphangioma of the retroperitoneal space in children].

PMID- 1453650
TI  - [Hygroma of rare location in children].

PMID- 1453651
TI  - [Torsion of the gallbladder in a six-year-old child].

PMID- 1453652
TI  - [Condensing osteitis in children].

PMID- 1453653
TI  - [The use of autohemolysate for hemostimulation in the combined and comprehensive
      treatment of patients with oncologic diseases].

PMID- 1453654
TI  - [Modified technique of the Ivanissevich operation for varicocele in children].
AB  - On the basis of the results of rheotesticulographic studies in 38 children with
      left-sided II-III degree varicocele, the impairment in hemodynamics in the
      testicle at the involved side was established. No suppression of androgen
      function of the organ was revealed. The expediency to perform in patients of
      pediatric and young age the Ivanissevich operation, the effectiveness of which is
      increased in use of intraoperative phlebotesticulography was noted. The effective
      method for varicocele treatment in children has been suggested. The testicular
      vein is ligated near the deep inguinal ring as well as at the level of the upper
      third, then it is excised between the ligatures together with the deviating
      branches. The method was used in treatment of 120 patients with II-III degree
      varicocele. No disease recurrence is noted during 1.5 years.

PMID- 1453655
TI  - [Value of dacryocystography in diagnosis of lacrimal duct diseases].
AB  - The paper compares the preoperative localization of stenosis in the lacrimal
      passage after digital dacryocystography with the operative findings in 23 eyes of
      22 patients in the years 1988 to 1991 at the Munich University Eye Hospital. In a
      very high percentage (95.6%) there is a positive correlation. The discussion
      shows the advantages of the method and includes a review of relevant literature.

PMID- 1453656
TI  - [Change in the etiology and sequelae of severe eye injuries. A comparison of 197
      personal patient admissions with other reports from the literature].
AB  - The spectrum of severe eye-injuries has clearly changed. We have analysed the
      documents of 197 patients treated in our clinic from 1988-1990. Of 119 (60.4%)
      contusions and 78 (39.6%) perforating injuries only 25.3% were occupational
      accidents. A more detailed analysis showed above all an increase of sport- and
      leisure-injuries and a considerable decrease of traffic-injuries (4.6%). Shocking
      is in contrast the percentage (10.7%) of severe injuries by brutality. More
      details concerning the consequences of injuries are presented and compared with
      older statistics. From this conclusions are drawn for better prophylaxis.

PMID- 1453657
TI  - [Aesthesiometry of the cornea after refractive corneal surgery].
AB  - The corneal sensibility was examined with the aesthesiometer of Draeger in 41
      patients after refractive corneal surgery, 31 patients after radial keratotomy, 5
      after epikeratophakia, 5 after excimer laser ablation. It could be shown that
      after radial corneal incisions the sensibility remains normal. After
      epikeratophakia the corneal sensibility is asensible even 3 years after
      operation. The lenticle periphery shows an increase of sensibility after 6
      months. Excimer patients with "haze" showed a significant hyposensibility in the
      centre. The central sensibility showed normal values after a normal corneal wound
      healing.

PMID- 1453658
TI  - [Results of the bimedial muscle belt].
AB  - The effectivity of a retroequatorial muscle belt operation, modification of
      Cuppers' Fadenoperation, is demonstrated by its results in 206 patients with
      excess esotropia at near and variable angle esotropia. It is shown that this
      procedure can reduce excess esotropia at near by a significant amount and lessen
      the extent of variable angle esotropia without causing incomitance in horizontal
      eye motility. A belt, placed bimedially on both recti muscles, showed to be twice
      as effective on the deviation at near as on the angle at distance. Proposing a
      similar mode of action, the atraumatic fixation with the muscle belt can
      facilitate reoperations in comparison with the Fadenoperation. Damage to the
      muscle is limited to a minimum.

PMID- 1453659
TI  - [Persistence and transient conjunctival pathogen colonization before planned
      intraocular interventions].
AB  - The risk of a postoperative endophthalmitis is influenced by the presence of a
      significant bacterial colonisation of the conjunctiva before intraocular surgery.
      Between February and August 1990 we performed conjunctival smears in 481 patients
      1) on the eve of the operation and 2) just before planned intraocular surgery, to
      evaluate a persistent or transient microbial colonisation of the conjunctiva. 352
      patients showed insignificant ("negative") and 129 patients a significant
      ("positive") bacterial growth in the first conjunctival smear. 96% of the
      patients (n = 336) had a negative result in both smears. 30% of the patients (n =
      37) with a positive conjunctival smear showed a persisting bacterial
      colonisation, whereas 70% of the patients (n = 92) had a transient colonisation
      of the conjunctiva with a negative second smear. As a persisting microbial
      colonisation of the conjunctiva may be an important factor for the development of
      postoperative endophthalmitis, we recommend prophylactic conjunctival smears
      before surgery to diminish the risk of intraocular infections after surgery.

PMID- 1453660
TI  - [Clinical and fluorescein angiography findings in patients with retinal vein
      occlusion. A unicenter study of 211 patients].
AB  - Between january 1986 and december 1989 we prospectively studied 211 patients with
      branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Documented by fundus photography and
      fluorescein angiography clinical and angiographic findings were analysed. The age
      ranged from 28 to 83 with a mean of 63 years. 104 (48.8%) patients were male, 107
      (51.2%) female. 51.1% right and 48.9% left eyes were affected. Mean visual acuity
      was 20/60. A non ischemic type of BRVO was found in 46.9% and an ischemic in
      53.1% of the patients. The mean visual acuity in the non ischemic type was 20/50
      and significantly better (p = 0.008) than in the ischemic type with a mean visual
      acuity of 20/60 (Mann-Whitney test). Preretinal neovascularisation was found in
      14.7% and iris neovascularisation in 0.9%. One main branch was occluded in 82.9%
      and two main branches in 17.1%. The temporal superior quadrant was affected in
      51.7%, the temporal inferior in 28%, the nasal inferior in 2.8% and the nasal
      superior in 0.5%. Hemisperical inferior BRVO were found in 8.1% and hemisperical
      superior in 5.7% of the patients. A BRVO in the fellow eye occurred in 8.5% and a
      CRVO in the other eye in 3.8%. Cystoid macular edema was present in 46.4%, a
      combination of cystoid and ischemic maculopathy in 23.7%, and ischemic
      maculopathy was found in 10%. Density of intraretinal hemorrhages was
      significantly (p = 0.046) and type of maculopathy highly significant (p < 0.0001)
      related to the ischemia type (Chi-square method).

PMID- 1453661
TI  - [Cosmetic lower eyelid blepharoplasties].
AB  - Between April 1988 and December 1991 42 patients underwent a bilateral lower
      eyelid blepharoplasty. Depending on the etiology either a skin-muscle-flap or a
      skin-flap technique was used. When the lid was lax, it was shortened by a wedge
      resection to prevent postoperative ectropion. The results were satisfactory with
      either technique.

PMID- 1453662
TI  - [Extracapsular cataract extraction with phacoemulsification and pars plana
      vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade in one session].
AB  - BACKGROUND: In phacic eyes the development of a cataract is induced by silicon
      oil. In this case the lens has to be removed in a second operation with or
      without intraocular lens implantation. In cataract surgery a new incision
      technique is used, which makes it easily possible to combine both operations in
      one session. METHODS: A feature of the new incision technique is that a scleral
      tunnel is dissected before the anterior chamber is opened. The opening closes
      itself, if the intraocular pressure rises. The danger, that a rise in intraocular
      pressure during the vitrectomy makes an irisprolaps, for example during the
      substitution of perfluorcarbon by silicon oil, no longer exists. RESULTS: The
      operation technique and the postoperative course of three patients with
      intraocular lens implantation and pars-plana-vitrectomy using silicon oil is
      reported. CONCLUSIONS: By using the new incision technique in cataract surgery
      intraoperative complications during vitrectomy like an irisprolaps or penetration
      of silicon oil into the anterior chamber no longer exist. In selected cases one
      operation is saved for the patient.

PMID- 1453663
TI  - [A new program for calculating intraocular lenses].
AB  - A principally new programme is described which overcomes the disadvantages of the
      usual calculation methods. It is based on the application of each surface of the
      optical system. The point for the anterior chamber lens is chosen in dependence
      on the anterior chamber depth; for the posterior chamber lens on the posterior
      surface of the eye lens. The programme is able to calculate 12 different cases.
      In each case calculations are made for intraocular lens power, aniseikonia and
      anisometropia. The calculations are made for possible emmetropia as well as for
      intended myopia or hypermetropia corresponding to the other eye. The programme
      can also be used to estimate the effect of mistakes made by measuring the single
      parameters, for instance: refraction, corneal curvature, eye length, anterior
      chamber depth. Compared to the SRK II-equation the results of the new programme
      are much more precise.

PMID- 1453664
TI  - [Alfred Th. Leber (1881-1954): a pioneer in tropical ophthalmology. Missing in
      the South Seas--rediscovered in India].
AB  - In spite of the brief duration of German colonial rule during that period
      tropical medicine enjoyed a remarkable growth and development. This is the first
      account of the career of the pioneer of tropical ophthalmology, Alfred Theodor
      Leber (1881-1954); medical history had previously reported him missing in Java
      after the 1st world war. His career was greatly influenced by his uncle, Theodor
      Leber (1840-1917), the founder of experimental ophthalmology. Alfred Leber was
      the one who combined teaching and research in the subjects of ophthalmology and
      tropical medicine. During his first expedition as a private lecturer together
      with von Prowazek in Samoa (1910-1911), he discovered the involvement of the eye
      in filarial infections with Wuchereria bancrofti (Lebers fundus). In
      consideration of his extraordinary work he was appointed professor at the young
      age of 33. After his training at the eye clinic at Berlin University under von
      Michel he worked as senior physician with von Hippel in Gottingen. Both Ludwig
      Kulz and the famous painter Emil Nolde joined him on his second expedition, to
      New Guinea, in 1913. During his expedition in summer 1914 World War I broke out.
      Leber could not return to Germany. He stayed in the neutral Dutch East Indies
      during these years. Favoured by the ravages of war, British and Australian
      authorities (Military Intelligence, War Office, Defence) succeeded in seizing
      some of Leber's research reports and kept them under lock and key. The "Leber
      Kulz medical demographic New Guinea expedition on behalf of the Reich's Colonial
      Office" was therefore known to the public only as "Emil Nolde's travels in the
      South Seas".(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1453665
TI  - [Clinical and histopathological observations of retinal sutures. Preliminary
      report].
AB  - One of the therapeutical methods in the great hole and ora serrata retinal
      detachment are the retino-scleral sutures. The study evaluates the tolerance of
      this type of stitches. Experimental investigations have been performed in rabbits
      with sutures of Ethilon 8-0 or chromic collagen 8-0 put through the sclera. Both
      segments--the anterior and posterior one have been taken under consideration. The
      eye have been enucleated on the 1st, 2d, 7th, 14th and 60th day after surgery and
      evaluated macroscopically. The specimen from the spot of stitching have been
      executed after fixation in formaline. Clinical observations, macroscopic
      evaluation of the enucleated eyes and results of the histopathological
      examination showed good tolerance of the retinal stitches through the tissue of
      the rabbits eye and indicate the possibility of a clinical utilization of this
      method.

PMID- 1453666
TI  - [Detection of early cataract changes in the crystalline lens by using in vivo
      spectrophotometry of the eye].
AB  - The aim of the paper was to study with the use of in vivo spectrophotometry of
      the eye the threshold values of the registered light above which one can observe
      clinically visible opacities of the lens. The performed experiments did not
      however show any major differences in the values of the registered light between
      persons with early cataract and control group because of considerable scattering
      of the results in both these groups. In order to explain the prognostic value of
      the in vivo spectrophotometry of the eye it is necessary to perform long-term
      observations of the further fate of persons with high values of the registered
      light.

PMID- 1453667
TI  - [Effect of cataract extraction on the results of in vivo spectrophotometry of the
      eye].
AB  - The authors compared the results of in vivo spectrophotometry of the eye in
      persons with a normal lens, in patients with aphakia and after an operation of
      intraocular lens implantation. The results received show that in the range of 400
      500 microns half of the light registered by the spectrophotometer is connected
      with the lens in the eye. This speaks for the assumption that in vivo
      spectrophotometry in this range of the wave length may be one more method
      enabling an objective evaluation of the transparency of the lens. In the case of
      patients after operation of implantation of an intraocular lens the quantity of
      of the light reaching the retina is only slightly larger than in persons with a
      normal lens.

PMID- 1453668
TI  - [The SRK formula for calculating the power of intraocular anterior-chamber
      lenses].
AB  - Presented is the evaluation of the usefulness of the SRK formula for the
      calculation of the power of the intraocular anterior chamber lens of Pannu type.
      This accuracy is characterised by the value of the postoperative deviation of
      refraction of the operated eye. It has been noticed that the value of this
      deviation is fluctuating in the early postoperative period. Its stabilization
      comes out not before the 6th-9th month after surgery. This points out to the
      necessity of calculating the correcting coefficient A for the SRK formula into
      the late postoperative period.

PMID- 1453669
TI  - [Organization and the results of surgical treatment of cataract with implantation
      of artificial lenses in ambulatory conditions].
AB  - Forty one patients aged 29 to 82 years were subjected to cataract extraction in
      ambulatory conditions. Fifty eyes were operated, among them 33 with implantation
      of a posterior chamber artificial lens. In cases of a lack of opacities in the
      cortex layers their structure was loosened before the operation by a YAG laser.
      The lens was extracted mainly by phacoemulsification. The ambulatory procedure
      did not result in any undesirable consequences. The profits of operation
      performed in such a way were stressed. Attention was called to the fact that by
      prudent qualification of patients and a careful selection of surgical methods the
      risk of this kind of treatment is not greater than in stationary conditions.

PMID- 1453670
TI  - [Cyclosporine in the treatment of uveitis].
AB  - The study presents several years of observations concerning the application of
      cyclosporin in 2 cases of a very severe recurrent uveitis. The treatment by
      cyclosporin enabled to control the situation. In 1 case a cataract extraction was
      performed without complications. Both patients remain in observation of the out
      patients department. The treatment with cyclosporin requires observation of some
      precautions (control of function of the liver, kidneys etc.). No complications
      after cyclosporin therapy were seen.

PMID- 1453671
TI  - [Oral acyclovir treatment of viral eye infections].
AB  - Forty four patients with virus conjunctivitis, keratitis, uveitis and retinitis
      were treated by acyclovir in tablets--5 times a day 400 mg.; the results were
      satisfactory. The drug was well tolerated and it could be used also in patients
      who showed hypersensitivity for acyclovir after ++intra-conjunctival application
      in the form of ointment.

PMID- 1453672
TI  - [Preliminary report on using therapeutic ozone in infectious conjunctivitis and
      keratitis and in corneal degeneration].
AB  - The preliminary report presents the results of application of ozone preparation
      in form of ophthalmic drops in 89 patients (134 eyes). This preparation has been
      used in virus conjunctival and corneal diseases as well as in corneal
      degenerations after inflammatory conditions and chemical burns. One observed as
      acceleration of the regeneration processes in active inflammatory conditions of
      the anterior eye segment; instead the cases of leucoma and corneal opacities did
      not show any clinical effect.

PMID- 1453673
TI  - [Preliminary report on using general ozone therapy in diseases of the posterior
      segment of the eye].
AB  - Autotransfusion of ozone venous blood was performed in 174 patients, in 32
      patients ozone was given intraarterially. General ++ozone therapy was used for
      the first time in Poland in the following ophthalmological conditions: retinal
      pigment dystrophy, glaucomatous optic atrophy, in optic neuritis, after injuries
      and in cases of unknown aetiology; in degenerative-atrophic changes of the
      choroid, in high myopia, in post-inflammatory cases, in other degenerative
      diseases and in bacterial corneal ulcerations. Ozone therapy in these conditions
      seems to be favourable especially when the pathological process is not extensive.
      One could observe an improvement of the visual acuity and of the visual field.

PMID- 1453674
TI  - [Personal experiences with transplantation of antigenically compatible cornea.
      Preliminary report].
AB  - Ten corneae from donors selected in respect of partial compatibility of the HLA
      antigens were transplanted in the period October 1988--October 1989. The grafting
      was performed in 10 patients with leukomas included in the group of maximal risk
      (5+). In 9 patients the leukomas were due to ocular burns (chemical in 8 patients
      and thermal in 1 patient). In 1 patient, a 74 years old man the grafting was
      performed in the single eye with Salzman's corneal dystrophy with a simultaneous
      cataract extraction. During observation, which lasted 2 to 12 months 6 grafts
      remained transparent, 1--partly opacified. Not any transplant did totally
      opacify.

PMID- 1453675
TI  - [Transplantation of the cornea from the donor selected on the basis of HLA
      compatibility in high risk leukoma].
AB  - Fifteen corneal grafts were performed in 15 men with high risk leukoma (5+) in
      the period October 1988--November 1990. The age of the patients oscillated
      between 11 and 76 years. In 5 patients the grafting was done in only eye. The
      period of observation after surgery amounted 4-29 months. The favourable results
      (transparent and ++semi-transparent grafts) were obtained in 9 eyes (60 p.c.) and
      partly opacified grafts in 6 (40 p.c.). Neither of the grafts opacified. In the
      preceding years--without taking into account the antigenic selection of the donor
      -favourable results in similar leukoma cases were achieved in ca. 42 p.c. of
      cases.

PMID- 1453676
TI  - [Preliminary results of laser coagulation of the retina in the treatment of
      diabetic retinopathy in pregnant women].
AB  - The authors observed a group of 16 pregnant women aged 22-38 years with insulin
      dependent diabetes of D, R, RF class (accor. to White). All the patients were
      treated by conventional insulin therapy. The fundus in 8 of them (16 eyes--group
      1) was normal, in following 8 the fundus showed changes of the type of simple
      retinopathy (13 eyes--group 2) and proliferative retinopathy (3 eyes--group 3).
      Laser photocoagulation of the fundus changes was executed in 9 eyes. In the final
      period of gravidity the group 1 and 2 did not exhibit any new changes or
      intensification of the already existing; this could be connected with application
      of an intensive conventional insulin therapy. All the eyes (group 1 and 2) except
      one showed stabilization of the retinal changes after laser treatment.

PMID- 1453677
TI  - [Laser photocoagulation as a completion of the surgical treatment of retinal
      detachment].
AB  - Among 600 operated retinal detachments in the last 5 years (1985-1989) there was
      no tight closure of the retinal hole after operation in 78. The causes were: the
      implant situated paracentrally to the hole, lack of contact between the implant
      and the hole, an insufficient scar, additional hole. Various types of the
      performed surgery were analyzed: the meridional or parallel implant, the balloon
      and endotamponade with the SF6 gas, executed with and without drainage of the
      subretinal fluid. In cases in which in the postoperative course was detected a
      lack of tightness of the hole the laser photocoagulation was performed in the
      area of the flat retinal detachment on the implant in a couple of stages. A
      favourable result of photocoagulation was attained in 75 patients (96.2 p.c.); in
      the remaining 3 patients (3.8 p.c.) a second surgical procedure was performed.

PMID- 1453678
TI  - [Hereditary macular degeneration in 3 generations].
AB  - The family was described, where the vitelliruptive macular degeneration with
      various morphological picture was diagnosed in four persons (two males and two
      females) on the basis of ophthalmoscopic examination as well as fluorescein
      angiography. Morphologic variability of this dystrophy may lead to diagnostic
      difficulties, what previously caused unnecessary treatment of two examined men as
      cases of "central choroiditis".

PMID- 1453679
TI  - [6 cases of bilateral melanoma of the uvea].
AB  - Six patients with bilateral ocular melanoma were treated in the period 1967-1989.
      In one case both eyes were enucleated, in 4 one eye only, the other eye was
      treated. In all enucleated eyes the clinical diagnosis of melanoma was confirmed
      histopathologically. Two patients died because of metastases to the lungs and
      liver, one is alive and remains in a periodical control; there are no
      informations on the remaining 3 patients.

PMID- 1453680
TI  - [Familial occurrence of congenital aniridia].
AB  - Aniridia and coloboma iridis are congenital defects which are inherited in common
      as an autosomal dominant trait. The study presents an analysis of 15 pedigrees of
      15 patients from 3 families; it confirms the hereditary character of aniridia and
      iris coloboma and indicates the variability of the genetic expression.

PMID- 1453681
TI  - [Evaluation of pupillary reaction to light flash in patients with retinitis
      pigmentosa].
AB  - Twenty four patients with retinal pigment dystrophy were subjected to examination
      of pupillary reaction. Evaluated was the amplitude of pupillary reaction on a
      standard light flash. The results received were compared with the field changes.
      It was noted that the amplitude is diminished depending on the changes in the
      visual field.

PMID- 1453683
TI  - [Temporal arteritis].
AB  - Presented is a case of a 74 years old patient whose ailment was diagnosed as
      Horton's disease (temporal arteritis) on the basis of general clinical symptoms
      (constant headache, sclerosis of the temporal artery, anorexia and sleeplessness)
      and ocular signs (poor visual acuity and pale papilloedema).

PMID- 1453682
TI  - [Internal ophthalmoplegia as a direct consequence of head injury. Report on 2
      cases].
AB  - The authors describe two cases admitted following head injury and presenting with
      a dilated, stiff pupil. CT scan of the head revealed no intracranial mass lesion.
      The symptoms persisted over a year in one case, whereas in the other one they
      faded away within a few weeks. The symptoms are believed to arise due to a
      downward shift of the brainstem which is known to occur at the moment of head
      injury. The oculomotor nerve is ++over-stretched and is supposed to be partially
      damaged at the posterior petroclinoid ligament. The roots of the pupillomotor
      fibers may also be supposedly torn at the site where they leave the brainstem.

PMID- 1453684
TI  - [Transplantation of the retina--the near or distant future?].
AB  - In the review the results of the recently published experimental papers
      concerning transplantations of embryonic retina, retinal pigment epithelium and
      photoreceptors are discussed. The results of these studies indicate that in
      humans transplantation of the whole retina is the matter of the distant future
      but in the near future one can expect transplantation of the isolated retinal
      layers namely pigment epithelium and photoreceptors.

PMID- 1453685
TI  - Regulation of neurite outgrowth through protein kinase C and protease nexin-1 in
      neuroblastoma cell.
AB  - Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that protein kinase C (PKC) and protease
      nexin-1 (PN-1) may be involved in neuronal differentiation including migration,
      neurite outgrowth, target recognition, and synaptogenesis. We investigated the
      potential roles of PKC and PN-1 in neurite outgrowth of human neuroblastoma cell
      line, GOTO. Upon withdrawal of serum GOTO cells extended neurite processes within
      3 h and formed fine network of neurites after 24 h. This morphological change was
      completely inhibited by thrombin and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA).
      Withdrawal of serum increased the neurofilament (NF)-L and -M mRNA levels and
      thrombin did not inhibit the effect of withdrawal of serum. A potent PKC
      inhibitor, H-7 induced neurite outgrowth in the presence of serum, however, it
      did not increase the NF mRNA levels. Actinomycin D and cycloheximide did not
      inhibit the initial neurite outgrowth induced by withdrawal of serum, while these
      inhibited the increase in the NF mRNA levels. Thrombin retracted the serum
      depletion-induced neurites but did not retract the neurites induced by H-7. The
      specific activity and subcellular localization of PKC did not differ between GOTO
      cells cultured in serum-containing and -free media for 12 h. The serine protease
      inhibitory activity was undetectable in the serum-free conditioned medium of GOTO
      cells but the PN-1 mRNA was clearly detected by Northern blot analysis to a less
      extent than glial cells. Withdrawal of serum or treatment with H-7 did not
      increase the PN-1 mRNA level in GOTO cells, but thrombin increased its level
      about 7 folds in serum-free condition. These results indicate that the initial
      neurite outgrowth requires neither new RNA nor protein synthesis, and that PKC
      negatively regulates neurite outgrowth and thrombin blocks neurite outgrowth
      through PKC-dependent pathways.

PMID- 1453686
TI  - Genetic changes in multi-step development of colorectal cancer.
AB  - We studied activated mutations of K-ras gene in three forms of colorectal tumors,
      i.e., 45 specimens of colorectal adenoma (CA), 10 of 'cancer in adenoma' (CIA),
      and 24 of colorectal cancer (CC), and in 15 of gastric cancer (GC) as controls.
      Chromosome aberrations were also examined in 7 specimens of CA, 3 of CIA, 8 of
      CC, and 7 of GC. Mutation of K-ras Codon 12 was observed in 12 (26.7%) of the 45
      specimens of CA, 6 (60.0%) of the 10 specimens of CIA, 6 (25.0%) of the 24
      specimens of CC, and 1 (6.7%) of the 15 specimens of GC. In CA, its frequency
      increased with the degree of histological atypism. In CA and CIA, its frequency
      increased with the increase in short diameter. The most frequent chromosome
      aberration was the numerical excess of chromosome 7. Numerical deficiencies of
      chromosomes 17 and 18 or structural abnormalities of 17p+ and 18q+ were noted in
      1 specimen each of CA and CIA, and 2 of CC. Thus, aberrations of these two
      chromosomes were concurrent. 5q--was observed in 1 specimen each of CA and CC.
      These findings were not contradictory to the multi-step carcinogenesis model of
      the colorectum based on the hypothesis that carcinogenesis requires activation of
      an oncogene by mutation accompanied by defects of several genes that might
      normally inhibit tumorigenesis.

PMID- 1453687
TI  - Phosphorylation of CRE-BP1, a cyclic AMP response element binding protein, by
      protein kinase C and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.
AB  - CRE-BP1 is a transcriptional activator binding to the cyclic AMP response
      element, which has a putative metal finger structure and the leucine zipper motif
      linked to a cluster of basic amino acids in the amino and carboxyl-terminal
      regions, respectively. The activities of a number of transcription factors are
      known to be controlled through phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. At the
      first step for understanding of the regulation of CRE-BP1, phosphorylation of CRE
      BP1 was studied in vitro. The human recombinant CRE-BP1 was phosphorylated by
      protein kinase C and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. These two protein
      kinases recognized distinct seryl residues of CRE-BP1. Amino acid sequence
      analysis after phosphopeptide map indicated that two seryl residues, Ser-340 and
      Ser-367, located in the basic region of CRE-BP1 were identified as the major
      protein kinase C phosphorylation sites, whereas Ser-62 downstream of the metal
      finger structure was determined as the phosphorylation site by cyclic AMP
      dependent protein kinase. The phosphorylation of CRE-BP1 by these two protein
      kinases may regulate the function of this transcriptional activator protein.

PMID- 1453688
TI  - Multiple hormone secretion and gene expression in clones isolated from rat
      insulinoma cell lines.
AB  - Current evidence suggests that a multipotential endodermal cell may give rise to
      all islet cell phenotypes. Five (N1-N5) and twenty-one (m1-m21) pluripotent rat
      islet cell clones were isolated from two hormone-producing cell line (RIN-r,
      RINm5F) derived from a radiation-induced islet tumor. To investigate the
      characteristics of these clones, we analyzed the hormone expression and secretion
      by Northern blot, immunocytochemistry, and radioimmunoassay. Increased expression
      and secretion of insulin and glucagon were observed in these clones. The present
      examination might also be proof of the secretion of both insulin and glucagon in
      the single cell of the m21 clone isolated from RINm5F. These cell lines also
      overexpress the Ha-ras proto-oncogene. In order to determine whether or not the
      overexpression was caused by gene translocation, the insulin and Ha-ras gene loci
      in N3 isolated from RIN-r were assigned by in situ hybridization. Both of the
      genes were located on the long arm of chromosome 1, but no gene translocation was
      observed. These findings suggest that the expression of insulin and Ha-ras is not
      affected by chromosomal translocation, but it may be functionally linked in these
      clones. Overexpression of these three genes may indicate that these clones have
      the same characteristics as the embryonic immature islet cell.

PMID- 1453689
TI  - Evaluation of the viability and energy metabolism of ischemically damaged canine
      pancreas during preservation by the two-layer (University of Wisconsin
      solution/perfluorochemical) cold storage method.
AB  - We evaluated the viability and energy metabolism of ischemically damaged pancreas
      during preservation by the two-layer (University of Wisconsin solution
      (UW)/perfluorochemical (PFC)) cold storage method. The pancreas grafts subjected
      to 60-120 min warm ischemia were preserved by the two-layer (UW/PFC) cold storage
      method for 24 hours (group 3), a simple cold storage in UW for 24 hours (group 2)
      or without preservation (control) (group 1). The tissue concentration of adenine
      nucleotides (ANs) were determined using high performance liquid chromatography
      (HPLC) and the viability of the pancreas graft was tested in the canine model of
      segmental pancreas autotransplantation. The functional success rates of pancreas
      grafts of groups 1, 2 and 3 after 60 min of warm ischemia were 5/5 (100%), 4/5
      (80%) and 5/5 (100%). After 90 min warm ischemia, the success rates of groups 1,
      2 and 3 were 0/5 (0%), 0/5 (0%) and 5/5 (100%) respectively. Only the two-layer
      method (group 3) was effective for functional recovery of the pancreas suffered
      90 min warm ischemia. However, after more than 105 min, the result was 0/5 (0%)
      in group 3. In groups 1 and 2, there was no correlation between the
      posttransplant viability and tissue concentration of ANs and energy charge
      potential (ECP) at the end of preservation. However, in group 3, there was an
      excellent correlation between the posttransplant viability and tissue
      concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and total adenine nucleotides (TAN)
      at the end of preservation. We conclude that tissue concentration of ATP and TAN
      at the end of 24 hour preservation by the two-layer (UW/PFC) method will predict
      the posttransplant outcome of pancreas graft subjected to significant warm
      ischemia.

PMID- 1453690
TI  - Attitudes, perceptions, and risk-taking behaviors of smokers, ex-smokers, and
      nonsmokers.
AB  - A sample of American adults completed questionnaires relevant to cigarette
      smoking. The questions were related to three areas: risk, perceptions of their or
      others' smoking, and satisfaction with life and health. The results revealed that
      smokers were greater risk-takers, that they perceived their smoking to be due to
      both physical and psychological addictions, and that they expressed less
      satisfaction and control. Results also indicated that smokers who saw their
      smoking as being addictive tended to be less satisfied with their health and felt
      less control over their lives. On the other hand, those smokers who were more
      likely to deny the health risks did not differ from either non- or ex-smokers on
      any of the satisfaction or control questions.

PMID- 1453691
TI  - Neuroticism and intensity of religious attitudes among clergy in England.
AB  - Ninety-two male and 20 female clergy completed the short-form Revised Eysenck
      Personality Questionnaire (Eysenck, Eysenck, & Barrett, 1985) and the Francis
      Scale of Attitude Towards Christianity (Francis & Stubbs, 1987). The findings
      support Eysenck's central theory regarding an inverse relationship between
      psychoticism scores and religious attitudes, and they confirm the view that
      neuroticism scores are also implicated in predicting the intensity of religious
      attitudes among the religiously committed.

PMID- 1453692
TI  - The effect of hypnotically elicited testimony on jurors' judgments of guilt and
      innocence.
AB  - Survey data from several countries indicate that many people believe that
      hypnosis may increase the accuracy of an eyewitness's memory; most experimental
      research, however, suggests that this belief is inaccurate. This study examined
      whether the belief could influence judgments of guilt and innocence in a
      simulated criminal trial. The results indicated that British undergraduates were
      more likely to find a male defendant guilty when told that the testimony against
      him had been elicited under hypnosis. Results concerning a nonhypnotic memory
      facilitation technique were found to be inconclusive, and the salience of
      hypnotically elicited testimony was ruled out as a contributory element.

PMID- 1453693
TI  - Love attitudes of white South African and British university students.
AB  - The Munro-Adams Love Attitude Scale was administered to 133 randomly chosen final
      year undergraduate White South African and British university students in this
      examination of their attitudes toward love, courtship, and marriage in relation
      to the observation that, although South African tertiary educational institutions
      exist within the authoritarian and restrictive culture of apartheid, they
      nevertheless are modeled on the British educational system, which has its roots
      deeply embedded within a politically democratic context. Results indicated that
      the South African sample's endorsement of the love attitude items was weaker,
      except for those pertaining to the power of love, than that of their British
      counterparts. In addition, the South African scores were lower than those
      previously reported in other similar cross-cultural research, and there was a
      differential ranking of the three love styles by the male and female subjects.

PMID- 1453694
TI  - Social perceptions of male and female extreme mesomorphs.
AB  - In this study, male and female university students in the United States were
      exposed to mesomorphic or nonmesomorphic stimuli as reflected by photographs of
      either male body builders and non-body builders or female body builders and non
      body builders. Then they were asked to attribute various personality traits and
      sex-role behaviors to them. Subjects, irrespective of their sex, perceived male
      and female body builders as possessing more traditionally masculine and less
      traditionally feminine personality characteristics than male and female non-body
      builders. Also, male and female body builders were seen as possessing less
      socially desirable traits than non-body builders. As predicted, female body
      builders were perceived generally as being more likely to engage in traditionally
      masculine sex-role behaviors in their dating and marriage relationships than
      female non-body builders. Contrary to expectation, however, male body builders
      were not perceived as more likely to engage in higher levels of masculine sex
      role behaviors than male non-body builders.

PMID- 1453695
TI  - Attribution of causes to suicide.

PMID- 1453696
TI  - Drug use and sexual behavior: users, experimenters, and abstainers.

PMID- 1453697
TI  - Optimal selection of metabolic fluxes for in vivo measurement. I. Development of
      mathematical methods.
AB  - The measurement of uptake and secretion rates is often not sufficient to allow
      the calculation of all internal metabolic fluxes. Measurements of internal fluxes
      are needed and these additional measurements are used in conjunction with mass
      balance equations to calculate the complete metabolic flux map. A method is
      presented that identifies the fluxes that should be selected for experimental
      measurement, and the fluxes that can be computed using the mass-balance
      equations. The criterion for selecting internal metabolic fluxes for measurement
      is that the values of the computed fluxes should have low sensitivity to
      experimental error in the measured fluxes. A condition number indicating the
      upper bound on this sensitivity, is calculated based on stoichiometry alone. The
      actual sensitivity is dependent on both the flux measurements and the error in
      flux measurements, as well as the stoichiometry. If approximate physiologic
      ranges of fluxes are known a realistic sensitivity can be computed. The exact
      sensitivity cannot be calculated since the experimental error is usually unknown.
      The most probable value of the actual sensitivity for a given selection of
      measured fluxes is estimated by selecting a large number of representative error
      vectors and calculating the actual sensitivity for each of these. A frequency
      distribution of actual sensitivities is thus obtained giving a representative
      range of actual sensitivities for a particular experimental situation.

PMID- 1453698
TI  - Optimal selection of metabolic fluxes for in vivo measurement. II. Application to
      Escherichia coli and hybridoma cell metabolism.
AB  - A method of analysis was presented in part I of this series for determining the
      fluxes in a biochemical network that are the optimal choices for experimental
      measurement. This algorithm is applied to two important biological models:
      Escherichia coli and a hybridoma cell line (167.4G5.3). Our results show that
      potentially poor choices for in vivo measurement of metabolic fluxes exist for
      both model systems. For the subset of reactions in E. coli that was studied, the
      condition number of the augmented stoichiometric matrix reveals that a 60-fold
      amplification of experimental error during computations is possible. The
      biochemical network of the hybridoma cell is more complex than the E. coli
      system, and thus results in much larger possible error amplification--up to
      100,000-fold. The physiological situations appear to have sensitivities that are
      less than 1/4 to 1/10 of those estimated by the condition number, and the maximum
      sensitivities are proportional to the condition number. These maximum
      sensitivities calculated using estimates of the fluxes and the worst possible
      error vector are upper bounds on the system's actual sensitivity. By examining
      the effect of measurement error on the sensitivity, the most probable sensitivity
      is calculated. These results indicate that an approximate two-fold increase in
      sensitivity of the E. coli system is likely when the worst set of fluxes are
      measured rather than the best set. The most likely sensitivity of the hybridoma
      system can range three orders of magnitude, depending on the set of fluxes that
      are measured. The propagation of experimental error during computations can be
      diminished for both systems by increasing the number of flux measurements over
      and above the minimum number of experimental measurements. The findings from
      these two model systems indicate that the calculation of the condition number can
      be a useful method for efficient experimental design, and that the usefulness of
      this method increases as the order of the system increases.

PMID- 1453699
TI  - The eukaryotic CCAAT and TATA boxes, DNA spacer flexibility and looping.
AB  - Regulation of RNA transcription in eukaryotic polymerase II promoters involves a
      complex assembly of protein factors. Some of the factors bind to their cognate
      DNA-sequence elements while others mediate between the DNA bound ones. In order
      to enable protein-protein interaction, their spatial positioning with respect to
      each other is critical. Here two DNA-sequence-elements are investigated, the
      CCAAT and the TATA boxes and their spacers. Whereas the position of the TATA is
      fixed at about -30, that of the CCAAT can vary substantially from -50 to -200.
      Despite the variable loop sizes, the CTF (CCAAT-binding) protein interacts-
      either directly or indirectly via a co-activator--with the general basal TATA
      binding transcription factors. Sequence analysis of the spacers, as a function of
      their sizes, reveals that in the upstream regions of the spacers RR and YY are
      abundant. In the downstream, 3' region of the spacers RY and YR are very
      frequent. The DNA sequence elements and their intervening spacers are analyzed in
      terms of their geometry, anisotropic flexibility and local superhelical density.
      Our results indicate that the CCAAT and its vicinity is rigid, whereas the TATA
      and its surroundings is flexible. It is the large flexibility of this region in
      twist and in roll which allows DNA looping. General mechanistic implications for
      pol II promoters are discussed.

PMID- 1453700
TI  - Evolutionary aspects of mammalian secondary sexual characteristics.

PMID- 1453701
TI  - The pharmacology of extinction.
AB  - It is impossible to predict what compounds of pharmacological interest may be
      present in an unexamined species. The extinction of such species may result,
      therefore, in the loss of therapeutically significant compounds. The fact that
      science will never know what has been lost does not lessen the significance of
      the loss. A number of species are discussed to exemplify the potential loss.
      Ginkgo biloba is an ancient plant, apparently saved from a natural extinction by
      human intervention. From this tree, the ginkgolides have been isolated. These are
      potent inhibitors of platelet activating factor and hold promise in the treatment
      of cerebral ischemia and brain edema. Two species, the tree Taxus brevifolia and
      the leech Hirudo medicinalis, are threatened as a result of human activity. Both
      have recently yielded complex compounds of therapeutic importance. The antitumor
      agent, taxol, is obtained from T. brevifolia and the thrombin inhibitor, hirudin,
      is found in H. medicinalis. Catharanthus roseus, source of the anticancer agents
      vincristine and vinblastine, although not threatened, derives from a largely
      unexamined but severely stressed ecosystem of some 5000 plant species. In other
      examples, ethnobotanical knowledge of certain plants may be lost while the
      species survive, as exemplified by the suppression of the Aztec ethnobotany of
      Mesoamerica by the invading Spanish. Finally, the fallacy of the 'snail darter
      syndrome', where species may be viewed as too insignificant to worry about, is
      exposed by consideration of the pharmacological activities of a sea hare (a shell
      less marine mollusc) and various leeches.

PMID- 1453702
TI  - Kava: an overview.
AB  - Since the first significant contact with Europeans in the 18th century, the
      Oceanic plant, Piper methysticum Forst. (Piperaceae) and the beverage prepared
      from it, both of which are called kava, have become familiar to much of the
      outside world through both the written and visual media. The ceremonial
      preparation and consumption of the beverage are probably its most conspicuous and
      spectacular features. Kava continues to occupy a central place in everyday life
      in the islands concerned, although its role has been somewhat diminished by time
      and outside influences. Despite the large body of literature on kava--about 800
      entries are listed in a recent bibliography by Singh (1986)--there has been no
      comprehensive review on the subject. Earlier contributions by Keller and Klohs
      (1963) and Shulgin (1973) were selective in treatment and dealt primarily with
      chemical and pharmacological aspects. The monograph by Steinmetz (1960) remains a
      standard reference but understandably some of the information in it has become
      dated. The attention of the reader is also drawn to two excellent additions to
      the recent kava literature, by Lebot and Cabalion (1988) and Brunton (1989),
      which are, although somewhat restricted in focus, are very significant
      contributions to the subject. The present review paper provides an updated and a
      multidisciplinary overview of the subject. It was prepared on the basis of the
      author's personal experience--he is a native of Fiji and lived in that country
      for about 30 years--as well as the relevant literature listed in the Singh (1986)
      bibliography and some more recent publications.

PMID- 1453703
TI  - Inventory of plants used in traditional medicine in Somalia. II. Plants of the
      families Combretaceae to Labiatae.
AB  - Fifty-nine plants are listed, which are used by traditional healers in the
      central and southern parts of Somalia. For each species are listed: the botanical
      name with synonyms, collection number, vernacular name, medicinal use,
      preparation of remedy and dosage. Results of a literature survey are also
      reported including medicinal use, substances isolated and pharmacological
      effects.

PMID- 1453704
TI  - Preliminary pharmacologic evaluation of crude whole plant extracts of
      Elephantopus scaber. Part I: In vivo studies.
AB  - Elephantopus scaber has been used in Brazil as a traditional remedy to cause
      diuresis, antipyresis and to eliminate bladder stones. In the current study,
      aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of whole plants were tested for acute
      toxicity, analgesic, antipyretic, antiinflammatory, cardiovascular, diuretic and
      constipating activities. Both extracts (0.3-6 g/kg i.p.) induced writhing, loss
      of muscle tone, ataxia, prostration and death in mice. No analgesic effects of
      these extracts were detected using mouse hot-plate and acetic acid-induced
      writhing tests. Both extracts failed to modify diuresis or carrageenan-induced
      rat paw edema. In contrast, given intraperitoneally, both reduced brewer's yeast
      induced hyperthermia in rats, but when given orally did not affect it. Moreover,
      the aqueous extract decreased the intestinal transit time in mice while the
      hydroalcoholic extract increased it. Finally, these extracts, given
      intravenously, reduced blood pressure and heart rate in rats; these effects could
      be blocked by atropine but not by co-administration of pyrilamine and cimetidine.

PMID- 1453705
TI  - Antimicrobial activity of Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del. var. nilotica
      (Mimosaceae).

PMID- 1453706
TI  - Activities of Chromolaena odorata (Compositae) leaf extract against Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa and Streptococcus faecalis.

PMID- 1453707
TI  - Maternity and medicinal plants in Vanuatu. I. The cycle of reproduction.
AB  - Ethnobotanical data collection to select pharmacologically active species was
      carried out within a clearly defined therapeutic context: those plants used
      during the course of a woman's reproductive life. Extensive bibliographical and
      field data collection and cross-examination of the information thus gathered have
      provided us with a clearer picture of the effectiveness of these plant species.
      Various concepts, behaviours and practices relating to menstruation, pregnancy,
      birth and birth control were examined in detail from an ethnopharmacological
      point of view. A list of selected species of particular interest is proposed for
      further study.

PMID- 1453708
TI  - The tradition of medicinal plants in Zagori, Epirus (northwestern Greece).
AB  - Traditional herbal medicine in the Zagori region of Greece was studied by
      obtaining information from users and collecting herbs. In addition, traditional
      remedies found in old manuscripts and books were compared with those currently
      used in modern literature. The 36 medicinal plants used today are listed,
      including their common and scientific names, indications (some new) and recipes
      for preparations.

PMID- 1453709
TI  - Ethnobotanical study in River Tenes valley (Catalonia, Iberian Peninsula).
AB  - An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in the River Tenes valley, in an area of
      260 km2 not far from the city of Barcelona. Although this setting might suggest
      that the area was unsuitable for research of this kind, the variety of
      microclimates--which implies a rich flora--and the existence of small villages
      and isolated houses made it possible to obtain valuable information. We obtained
      data on 209 species belonging to 60 families and here we present our findings on
      the properties, preparations and uses.

PMID- 1453710
TI  - Antibiotic screening of medicinal plants of the British Columbian native peoples.
AB  - One hundred methanolic plant extracts, 96 of which had documented medicinal uses
      by British Columbian native peoples, were screened for antibiotic activity
      against 11 bacterial strains. Eighty-five percent were found to have significant
      antibiotic activity against at least two of the bacteria tested. Ninety-five
      percent of the plants categorized as potential antibiotics based on their
      ethnobotanical usage were found to exhibit significant antibiotic activity.
      Seventy-five were found to be active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
      aureus, 46 were active against an antibiotic supersusceptible strain of
      Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 18 of these were also active against a wild type
      strain. The extracts with the broadest spectra of activity were prepared from:
      Alnus rubra bark and catkins, Fragaria chiloensis leaves, Moneses uniflora aerial
      parts, and Rhus glabra branches.

PMID- 1453711
TI  - Brine shrimp bioassay screening of two medicinal plants used by the Warao:
      Solanum straminifolium and Virola surinamensis.

PMID- 1453712
TI  - Folk uses of some lichens in Sikkim.

PMID- 1453713
TI  - Thrombolysis and postinfarction ventricular septal rupture.
AB  - We studied all patients with postinfarction ventricular septal rupture referred
      to the Oxford Heart Centre for operation over a 4 1/2-year period. Twenty one
      women and 8 men were admitted to the Centre, 13 of whom had received
      streptokinase and 16 of whom had not. The median interval between symptomatic
      onset of myocardial infarction and the development of septal rupture was 24 hours
      for those treated by early thrombolysis (all streptokinase) and six days for
      those who were not. Of the 26 patients who underwent surgical repair, three were
      operated on less than 36 hours after streptokinase infusion, in one case within
      12 hours of thrombolytic treatment. Macroscopic observation of the disintegrating
      myocardium showed muscle bundles dissected by blood rendered incoagulable by
      thrombolytic treatment, together with the histologic features of reperfusion
      injury. The overall surgical mortality rate for the streptokinase group was 33%
      and for the others 21%. The patient operated on within 12 hours of thrombolytic
      treatment recovered uneventfully. Six of seven surgical deaths were caused by
      left ventricular or biventricular failure and one by gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
      All survivors were in New York Heart Association classes II or III between 2
      weeks and 4 1/2 years after operation. We conclude that thrombolysis leads to
      early breakdown of the interventricular septum after acute myocardial infarction
      but does not preclude early repair.

PMID- 1453714
TI  - Differential effects of advanced age on neurologic and cardiac risks of coronary
      artery operations.
AB  - Two thousand patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with
      cardiopulmonary bypass were prospectively studied to compare the influence of age
      on the incidence of neurologic, cardiac, and other complications. Postoperative
      neurologic events were found in 56 (2.8%) patients, with an incidence in patients
      > or = 75 years (8.9%) more than twice that of patients 65 to 74 (3.6%) and nine
      times larger than in patients < 65 (0.9%). Cardiac complications did not differ
      between age groups except for low cardiac output state, which occurred 1.7 times
      more frequently in patients > or = 75 years compared with those < 65. Patients
      with postoperative neurologic events had a ninefold increase in mortality--35.7%
      versus 4.0%. Logistic regression analysis demonstrate the most important
      predictors of a postoperative neurologic event to be age, preoperative neurologic
      abnormality, recent myocardial infarction, and duration of cardiopulmonary
      bypass. The risk of neurologic complications increases disproportionately to the
      risk of cardiac complications in the elderly undergoing coronary artery bypass
      grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass. Despite neurologic improvement (32 of 56
      patients), a postoperative neurologic event was second only to low cardiac output
      state as the postoperative complication most highly associated with in-hospital
      death. These results are important for decisions regarding selection of
      candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting and for prediction of surgical
      outcome.

PMID- 1453715
TI  - Risk factors for stroke after coronary artery bypass.
AB  - To determine the prevalence of stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting and
      to evaluate risk factors, we reviewed the records of 1000 patients undergoing
      coronary bypass within a 1-year time period. Demographic and perioperative data
      were evaluated by chi 2 analysis. A history of diabetes, evidence of mural
      thrombus, positive oculopneumoplethysmography findings, increased age, aortic
      calcification, and postoperative arrhythmias all correlated with increased risk
      of permanent neurologic deficit for the patient undergoing coronary bypass. Risk
      factors were analyzed with stepwise logistic regression. A history of diabetes,
      presence of mural thrombi, and aortic calcification carried a higher probability
      that the patient would have a permanent neurologic deficit.

PMID- 1453716
TI  - On-line intraoperative quantitation of regional myocardial perfusion during
      coronary artery bypass graft operations with myocardial contrast two-dimensional
      echocardiography.
AB  - We hypothesized that the success of coronary artery bypass graft operations could
      be assessed by means of on-line quantitative myocardial contrast
      echocardiography. Accordingly, myocardial contrast echocardiography was performed
      at baseline and after each placement of venous graft in 21 patients undergoing
      coronary artery bypass graft operations. Time-intensity plots were generated on
      line with the use of a dedicated computer system, and areas under the curve were
      assessed for each injection. Successful on-line quantitation of myocardial
      contrast echocardiography data was performed in 17 patients; this allowed
      comparison before and after coronary artery bypass graft operations for 21
      grafts, with agreement between expert visual analysis and quantitative data in
      91% of these cases. Three distinct perfusion patterns were noted on myocardial
      contrast echocardiography: (1) reduced contrast effect before coronary artery
      bypass graft operations with improvement after coronary artery bypass graft
      operations (n = 11); (2) adequate contrast effect before coronary artery bypass
      graft operations with no change after coronary artery bypass graft operations (n
      = 9) (for patients in group 2, the mean percentage of coronary stenosis was less
      than the mean for patients in group 1-67% +/- 25% vs. 88% +/- 20%, p = 0.05); and
      (3) no contrast effect either before or after coronary artery bypass graft
      operations in one patient with previous infarction. One third of the time (34 of
      95 injections), on-line quantitation was unsuccessful. Failure was related three
      times more often to problems associated with myocardial contrast
      echocardiography, such as attenuation and inadequate quality of bubbles, than to
      computer failure. Despite its limitations, on-line quantitative myocardial
      contrast echocardiography is feasible in patients undergoing coronary artery
      bypass graft operations and provides important objective information regarding
      the success of revascularization.

PMID- 1453717
TI  - A quantitative study of postoperative luminal narrowing of the internal thoracic
      artery graft in coronary artery bypass surgery.
AB  - We used quantitative angiography to determine the postoperative diameter of the
      internal thoracic artery graft at the point close to the anastomosed site in 147
      patients who received the graft for the left anterior descending coronary artery.
      We performed generalized multiple linear regression analysis (Type I
      quantification method) to assess the effects of the following factors on the
      internal thoracic artery graft diameter: age, gender, time of angiography,
      laterality of the internal thoracic artery used, presence of an undivided major
      side branch of the internal thoracic artery, presence of a saphenous vein graft
      having blood flow competition with an internal thoracic artery graft, presence of
      distal stenosis of the recipient left anterior descending coronary artery,
      severity of postoperative left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis, and
      presence of coronary risk factors. The standardized category scores for 25% left
      anterior descending coronary artery stenosis, 50% left anterior descending
      coronary artery stenosis, and presence of a saphenous vein graft having blood
      flow competition with an internal thoracic artery graft were -1.418, -0.767 and 
      0.622, respectively. Thus, the internal thoracic artery diameter was smaller in
      patients with well-preserved flow of the recipient coronary artery. The internal
      thoracic artery diameter had a particularly strong correlation with the degree of
      left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis (partial correlation
      coefficient: 0.670). The other factors seemed to have little or no correlation
      with the postoperative internal thoracic artery diameter. With the criterion that
      the internal thoracic artery diameter below 1.0 mm represents the "string sign"
      of internal thoracic artery graft, this phenomenon was observed in nine patients
      (6.1%). In all of these patients, left anterior descending coronary artery flow
      was well-preserved, and no ischemia was disclosed in the left anterior descending
      coronary artery-perfused area. These results indicate that internal thoracic
      artery grafts have flow adaptability responding to the flow demand of the
      recipient coronary artery and that the string sign of internal thoracic artery
      grafts is mainly an outcome of its physiologic characteristics.

PMID- 1453718
TI  - Use of internal mammary artery in myocardial revascularization after mediastinal
      irradiation.
AB  - Ten patients with radiation-associated proximal coronary artery disease underwent
      myocardial revascularization. In seven patients (group A) the internal mammary
      artery was used and in the other three (group B) only venous conduits were used.
      Except for mild adhesions between the pericardium and the epicardium, no unusual
      technical problems were encountered. In all patients in group A the internal
      mammary artery exhibited excellent flow, and histologic examination in two
      patients revealed a normal intima and media with only slight fibrosis of the
      adventitia. In two patients in group B, fibrosis of the internal mammary artery
      precluded its use, whereas the third patient had contraindications prohibiting
      use of the internal mammary artery. Long-term follow-up (range 6 to 72 months)
      revealed that one patient in group A died late of metastatic disease, and of the
      remainder (nine patients), seven were in New York Heart Association class I and
      two were in class II. Preoperative assessment of the internal mammary artery by
      angiography or, alternatively, B-mode imaging with Doppler spectrum analysis is
      recommended in patients with radiation-induced coronary artery disease who are
      scheduled to undergo myocardial revascularization with intended use of the
      internal mammary artery. In our experience, despite previous exposure to
      irradiation, the internal mammary artery should still be considered as a viable
      conduit for myocardial revascularization when preoperative assessment shows
      patency.

PMID- 1453719
TI  - Direct imaging of the tricuspid valve annular motions by fiberoptic cardioscopy
      in dogs. I. Does De Vega's annuloplasty preserve the annular motions?
AB  - Applying the technology of direct imaging by fiberoptic cardioscopy, physiologic
      and pathophysiologic motions of the tricuspid valve anulus were studied in 10
      anesthetized normal dogs (control group) and in 9 dogs that had chronic tricuspid
      regurgitation (TR group). The heart was perfused with transparent modified
      Tyrode's solution by working heart method, and the anuli, outlined by sutured
      beads, were observed and recorded on a high-speed video system in real time.
      Tricuspid valve annular area was calculated at 14 points during the cardiac
      cycle. The control group was studied in the normal condition, and the tricuspid
      regurgitation group was studied during four interventions: nontricuspid
      annuloplasty group and three tricuspid annuloplasty groups with reducing
      tricuspid valve annular area to 80%, 65%, and 50% of that of the non-tricuspid
      annuloplasty group by De Vega's procedure. Tricuspid valve annular area in the
      control group increased by 7% during atrial systole and was reduced by 34% mainly
      during ventricular systole, in which the free wall annular area and the septal
      annular area narrowed by an equal 34%. Chronic tricuspid regurgitation lessened
      tricuspid valve annular area narrowing to 20% in percent reduction (p < 0.01). In
      the TR group the decrease in tricuspid valve annular area narrowing was
      attributed mainly to lessened narrowing of the free wall anulus (percent
      reduction of tricuspid valve annular area, 19%; p < 0.01). The amplitudes in
      tricuspid valve annular area narrowing were unchanged in the tricuspid
      annuloplasty groups even when tricuspid valve annular area, was reduced to 50% by
      De Vega's tricuspid annuloplasty (percent reduction of tricuspid valve annular
      area, 16%; not significant). These findings suggest that De Vega's tricuspid
      annuloplasty is a reasonable method that does preserve the physiologic annular
      motions in the opening and closing mechanism of the tricuspid valve.

PMID- 1453720
TI  - Direct imaging of the tricuspid valve annular motions by fiberoptic cardioscopy
      in dogs with tricuspid regurgitation. II. Does flexible ring annuloplasty
      preserve the annular motions?
AB  - Applying the technology of direct imaging by fiberoptic cardioscopy in a working
      heart condition, we studied the tricuspid valve annular motions with flexible
      rings in nine dogs with chronic tricuspid regurgitation. Three annuloplasty
      studies with a totally flexible polytetrafluoroethylene ring, an elastic silicone
      ring, and a rigid metal ring were compared with a nonannuloplasty study. The
      annuloplasty was performed by reducing tricuspid valve annular area to 65% of
      that of nonannuloplasty condition. The anuli were observed and recorded on a
      videotape in real time. The three rings effectively reduced and remodeled the
      dilated anuli and improved the valve coaptation. The patterns of annular motions
      with the polytetrafluoroethylene and silicone ring were similar to that of normal
      anulus; the free wall anulus contracted centripetally, and the septal anulus
      moved toward the free wall side during systole. Pliability of both the
      anteroseptal and posteroseptal commissures with the flexible rings made these
      motions possible. The polytetrafluoroethylene ring followed a natural undulation
      of the anulus, whereas the silicone and rigid metal rings forced the annular
      planes to horizontal ones. Percent reductions of tricuspid valve annular area
      were 25%, 21%, and 23% in the nonannuloplasty, polytetrafluoroethylene, and
      silicone ring studies, respectively, without significant differences in annular
      contraction. In contrast, rigid metal rings completely disturbed the annular
      motions. These findings indicated that the two flexible rings did preserve the
      physiologic annular motions to the degree that the anuli had in the chronic
      tricuspid regurgitation condition. Especially, the totally flexible
      polytetrafluoroethylene ring preserved not only the annular motions but also the
      natural undulation, which resulted in reinforcing the valve coaptation. We
      believe that the flexible ring, especially a totally flexible one, is superior to
      the rigid ring in the aspect of reinforcing the valve coaptation to prevent
      further regurgitation.

PMID- 1453721
TI  - Excellent durability of the Hancock porcine bioprosthesis in the tricuspid
      position. A sixteen-year follow-up study.
AB  - From February 1975 to August 1981, 23 consecutive patients underwent tricuspid
      valve replacement, which was either isolated (six patients) or combined with the
      replacement of other valves (17) by means of a standard, glutaraldehyde-preserved
      Hancock porcine bioprostheses. Patients' ages ranged from 9 to 53 (mean 36.2)
      years. The follow-up period ranged from 0.2 to 16.5 years (mean 9.1) and was
      complete in 100% of all cases. Structural valve failure of the tricuspid Hancock
      valve was noticed in two patients, a 9-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl 3.4
      and 16.5 years after implantation, respectively. The actuarial freedom rate from
      structural valve failure at 10 years was 94 +/- 6%. There were six tricuspid
      prosthesis-related events: structural valve failure in two and valve thrombosis,
      anticoagulant-related bleeding, prosthetic valve endocarditis, and periprosthetic
      leak in one each, respectively. The actuarial freedom from these events at 10
      years was 78 +/- 10%. Five pairs of aortic/mitral-tricuspid Hancock valves were
      explanted simultaneously from the same patients after 8.1 to 13.9 (mean 11.4)
      years postoperatively. A gross examination showed no valve dysfunction in the
      explants from the tricuspid position, but degenerative changes with valve
      dysfunction in those from the mitral and aortic position were observed (none of
      five versus five of seven; p < 0.03). We concluded that the selection of a
      Hancock bioprosthesis in the tricuspid position is acceptable because of the low
      incidence of prosthesis-related complications and the excellent durability of
      more than 10 years.

PMID- 1453722
TI  - Collins' solution for cold storage of the heart for transplantation must be
      reversed with cardioplegic solution before reperfusion. A functional and
      metabolic study in the rat heart.
AB  - The following hypotheses were tested using an isolated perfused working rat heart
      model: (1) Collins' solution for cold storage of the heart is harmful for the
      heart during reperfusion; (2) a "reverse" of the intracellular-type Collins'
      solution with an extracellular-type cardioplegic solution before reperfusion is
      able to prevent this disadvantage of Collins' solution. The following two major
      groups (I and II) and five subgroups (-a to -e) in each group were prepared. In
      group I (reversed group); the hearts were initially stored in Collins' solution
      but were reversed by a 1-minute flush with cardioplegic solution followed by
      storage in cardioplegic solution for the last 1 to 180 minutes of the total 3
      hour storage, that is, groups I-a (reversed for 1 minute), I-b (10 minutes), I-c
      (30 minutes), I-d (90 minutes), and I-e (180 minutes). In group II (nonreversed
      control group); the hearts were stored in Collins' solution throughout 3 hours
      and were also divided into five subgroups of groups II-a, II-b, II-c, II-d, and
      II-e in which only a 1-minute flush with Collins' solution was performed at the
      point corresponding to group I. The coronary flow in any of group II showed a
      marked decrease during the early reperfusion period. In group I, however, the
      coronary flow increased significantly in proportion to the duration of the
      reversing phase. The recovery of the aortic flow and the cardiac output in group
      I showed a bell-shaped pattern in relation to the duration of the reversing
      phase, reaching their peak values when reversed for 30 minutes (group I-c). The
      prolonged reverse (180 minutes) resulted in a deterioration of functional
      recovery associated with a poorer preservation of high-energy phosphates and a
      larger enzyme leakage. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of
      intracellular-type Collins' solution for cold storage of the heart were further
      improved by reversing Collins' solution with the extracellular-type cardioplegic
      solution for the last 30 minutes of the 3-hour cold storage because the
      disadvantageous vasoconstriction due to Collins' solution during reperfusion was
      successfully prevented by the replacement of intravascular and extravascular
      Collins' solution with cardioplegic solution before the reperfusion.

PMID- 1453723
TI  - Polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase attenuates reperfusion injury
      when administered twenty-four hours before ischemia.
AB  - Covalent linkage of polyethylene glycol to superoxide dismutase prolongs the
      serum half-life of the enzyme and may facilitate intracellular access. We tested
      the myocardial protective effect of polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase
      administered once, 24 hours before ischemia. Because hearts were studied ex vivo
      in a crystalloid perfused system, cardioprotection could be ascribed to
      intramyocardial or membrane-bound polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase
      accumulation. Thirty isolated rabbit hearts from the four following groups were
      studied: (1) control: untreated rabbits (n = 7); (2) PEG-control: 24-hour
      intravenous preinfusion of methoxypolyethylene glycol 5000 (5 mg/kg) to examine
      the effect of polyethylene glycol alone, without conjugation to superoxide
      dismutase (n = 8); (3) PEG-SOD 10,000: 24-hour preinfusion of polyethylene glycol
      superoxide dismutase (10,000 U/kg) (n = 8); (4) PEG-SOD 30,000: 24-hour
      preinfusion of polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase (30,000 U/kg) (n = 7).
      After measurement of baseline function with use of an intraventricular balloon,
      hearts were subjected to normothermic ischemia until a 4 mm Hg rise in
      intracavitary pressure was observed. Function was assessed at 15-minute intervals
      throughout reperfusion and expressed as percent return of developed pressure.
      After 60 minutes of reperfusion, recovery of function was greater for the PEG-SOD
      30,000 group (85.6% +/- 2.6%) when compared with either the untreated or PEG
      control group (68.9% +/- 2.3% and 71.4% +/- 2.0%, respectively). A similar
      difference was seen throughout reperfusion. Although an improved return of
      function was shown in the lower dose PEG-SOD 10,000 group, the margin of
      difference when compared with any of the control groups was determined to be
      insignificant at all times of reperfusion and at 60 minutes (75.9% +/- 3.2%).
      These data demonstrate that high, but not low, doses of polyethylene glycol
      superoxide dismutase significantly reduce reperfusion injury when administered 24
      hours before initiation of global ischemia. Moreover, since the perfusate was
      superoxide dismutase free, this effect was most likely intramyocardial or
      membrane bound and therefore might be added to protection afforded by circulating
      superoxide dismutase.

PMID- 1453724
TI  - Nucleoside transport inhibition mediates lidoflazine-induced cardioprotection
      during intermittent aortic crossclamping.
AB  - The effects of pretreatment with the nucleoside transport inhibitor lidoflazine
      on repeated ischemia-reperfusion injury induced by normothermic intermittent
      aortic crossclamping were studied in canine hearts. Eighteen mongrel dogs were
      allocated to three groups: placebo (n = 6), lidoflazine (1 mg/kg) (n = 6), and
      lidoflazine (1 mg/kg) plus the adenosine receptor blocker aminophylline (7 mg/kg)
      (n = 6). Pretreatment was performed intravenously during 15 minutes before
      extracorporeal circulation. All hearts were subjected to four intervals of 15
      minutes of global ischemia each followed by 10 minutes of reperfusion. After
      weaning from extracorporeal circulation, functional recovery was followed for 1
      hour. In the lidoflazine group, myocardial adenosine content (0.25 +/- 0.06
      mumol/gm dry weight) was 3.5 times higher than that in the control group (0.07 +/
      0.03 mumol/gm dry weight; p < 0.05) at the end of the last aortic crossclamping.
      The release of adenosine from the myocardium during each reperfusion period was
      significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05). Myocardial
      extraction of lactate was normalized at every reperfusion interval in the
      lidoflazine group but not in the control group (p < 0.05). In the lidoflazine
      group functional recovery was significantly better than that in the control
      group. Positive rate of rise of pressure, negative rate of rise of pressure, and
      cardiac output recovered to, respectively, 150% +/- 19%, 82% +/- 8%, and 131% +/-
      15% in the lidoflazine group versus, respectively, 37% +/- 9%, 23% +/- 7%, and
      29% +/- 8% in the control group (p < 0.001) at 1 hour after extracorporeal
      circulation. When the adenosine receptor blocker aminophylline was administered
      in association with lidoflazine, protection dropped significantly: positive and
      negative rate of rise of pressure and cardiac output were, respectively, 58% +/-
      8%, 46% +/- 9%, and 67% +/- 16% at 1 hour after extracorporeal circulation (p <
      0.05 versus lidoflazine alone). These results suggest that the cardioprotective
      effects of lidoflazine are at least in part mediated by adenosine receptor
      stimulation via nucleoside transport inhibition-induced accumulation of
      endogenous adenosine in the myocardium.

PMID- 1453725
TI  - Effects of nucleoside transport inhibition on long-term ex vivo preservation of
      canine hearts.
AB  - The effect of nucleoside transport inhibition on 24-hour preservation of canine
      hearts was studied in 36 hearts arrested either with a cold hyperkalemic
      cardioplegic solution without (group I) or with supplementation of a specific
      nucleoside transport inhibitor (R75231, 1 mg/L) (groups II and III). The hearts
      were excised and stored for 24 hours at 0.5 degrees C. Then they were reperfused
      for 3 hours with use of a closed perfusion system primed with normal blood
      (groups I and II) or with blood supplemented with the same nucleoside transport
      inhibitor (0.32 mg/L) (group III). Serial biopsy specimens for determination of
      myocardial purines were taken. Creatine kinase and heat-stable lactate
      dehydrogenase release from the myocardium were examined during reperfusion.
      Recovery of function was studied during reperfusion by measurement of isometric
      contraction in a fluid-filled intraventricular balloon. After 24 hours of
      preservation, without the use of the drug, myocardial inosine and hypoxanthine
      accumulated to, respectively, 4.05 +/- 1.18 and 0.28 +/- 0.08 mumol/gm dry
      weight. In the drug-treated groups (II and III pooled), significantly less
      inosine and hypoxanthine accumulated (1.68 +/- 0.33 and 0.05 +/- 0.02 mumol/gm
      dry weight, respectively) (p < 0.05 versus group I). Upon reperfusion,
      intramyocardial adenosine was lost in the control hearts and maintained in the
      drug-treated hearts. Hypoxanthine accumulated significantly (p < 0.05) during
      reperfusion in group I (1.08 +/- 0.43 versus 0.16 +/- 0.13 in group II and 0.03
      +/- 0.03 mumol/gm dry weight in group III). The rate of creatine kinase and heat
      stable lactate dehydrogenase release was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in group
      III (that is, pretreatment and posttreatment with the drug) than in the control
      group. Functional recovery of hearts in group III was superior to that in group
      II (p < 0.05), while hearts in group I showed no recovery at all. We conclude
      that nucleoside transport inhibition improves long-term preservation of the heart
      and that the mechanism of this protection may be related to an increase in
      endogenous adenosine and reduction of myocardial hypoxanthine content.

PMID- 1453726
TI  - Endothelial dysfunction caused by University of Wisconsin preservation solution
      in the rat heart. The importance of temperature.
AB  - The superiority of the University of Wisconsin solution over routinely used
      crystalloid cardioplegic solutions for myocardial preservation has been
      demonstrated in animal studies. We have investigated the effect of the University
      of Wisconsin solution at different temperatures on endothelial function by
      examining its influence on 5-hydroxytryptamine- and nitroglycerin-induced
      increase in coronary flow in the isolated rat heart. Thirty-eight rat hearts were
      perfused on a modified Langendorff preparation. In the control experiments, there
      was no significant difference in the percentage increase in coronary flow induced
      by 5-hydroxytryptamine and nitroglycerin after 30 minutes of perfusion with Krebs
      Henseleit buffer (n = 6). Continuous infusion of the University of Wisconsin
      solution for 30 minutes at 4 degrees C or at 10 degrees C did not alter the 5
      hydroxytryptamine or nitroglycerin response. However, infusion at 15 degrees C
      reduced the 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced vasodilation, while at 20 degrees C the 5
      hydroxytryptamine response was converted to vasoconstriction without a
      significant change in nitroglycerin effect (15 degrees C, 5-hydroxytryptamine,
      before: 30.2% +/- 1.5%, after: 6.0% +/- 1.0%, nitroglycerin, before: 28.8% +/-
      1.3%, after: 31.2% +/- 1.8%; 20 degrees C, 5-hydroxytryptamine, before: 32.2% +/-
      2.5%, after: -23.8% +/- 3.6%, nitroglycerin, before: 30.3% +/- 1.9%, after: 33.5%
      +/- 1.7%). Coronary vascular resistance in the control experiments rose from 55.0
      +/- 2.5 cm H2O/ml/gm/min to 58.4 +/- 2.3 cm H2O/ml/gm/min (p = not significant).
      The increase after University of Wisconsin solution infusion at 4 degrees C and
      at 10 degrees C was similarly not significant. Coronary vascular resistance
      increased significantly following infusion of University of Wisconsin solution at
      15 degrees C (p < 0.001) or at 20 degrees C (p < 0.01). We conclude that
      University of Wisconsin solution produces temperature-dependent endothelial
      dysfunction in the isolated rat heart.

PMID- 1453727
TI  - Renal function in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass operations.
AB  - We evaluate short- and long-term effects on renal functional reserve of
      cardiopulmonary bypass in 11 patients. A selected group (persistence of renal
      functional reserve before operation) of 11 adult patients undergoing
      cardiopulmonary bypass for aorta-coronary bypass were studied. Renal functional
      reserve tests were performed in all patients before the operation, at
      postoperative day 9, and at 6 months after operation. Basal glomerular filtration
      rate did not show significant changes at 9 days and at 6 months after operation.
      On the contrary, renal functional reserve was absent at 9 days, but it was
      restored to preoperative levels at 6 months after operation. In conclusion, our
      data indicate that cardiopulmonary bypass probably causes renal damage that is
      not sufficient to influence routine renal function parameters.

PMID- 1453728
TI  - Does flow character of cardiopulmonary bypass make a difference?
AB  - The influence of pulsatile bypass flow on the performance of the cardiovascular
      system, fluids and blood balance, acid-base equilibrium, and splanchnic function
      was investigated. One hundred patients scheduled for elective coronary artery
      bypass grafting were randomly divided into a group of standard perfusion (NP) and
      a group of pulsatile perfusion (PP). At the end of the operation, similar cardiac
      performance developed in both groups that was higher than before bypass: left
      ventricular stroke work index after bypass, 56.8 +/- 2.7 gm/beat per square meter
      in the NP group and 56.7 +/- 2.6 gm/beat per square meter in the PP group (not
      significant). Further determinations did not differ among the groups. After
      discontinuation of cardiopulmonary bypass, bypass grafts flow measured using an
      electromagnetic probe did not differ among the groups. During the postbypass
      period, mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance were similar
      (mean arterial pressure 86.8 +/- 1.6 mm Hg in the NP group and 88.5 +/- 1.7 in
      the PP group; systemic vascular resistance 817 +/- 33 dyne.sec/cm5 in the NP
      group and 881 +/- 34.5 in the PP group), as were further determinations. However,
      severe hypotension requiring the administration of vasoconstrictors was observed
      more frequently in PP group of patients (20 versus 6%; p < 0.05). Fluid balance
      determined at the second postoperative day was similar among the groups (+1307 +/
      239 ml in the NP group and +1535 +/- 266 ml in the PP group). Blood loss was
      1122 +/- 120 ml in the NP group and 1263 +/- 119 ml in the PP group during the
      first postoperative day (p = 0.407). Urine output during bypass was lower in the
      PP group (261 +/- 25 versus 341 +/- 26 ml/hr; p = 0.028). The creatinine
      clearance was 96.4 +/- 10.3 ml/min in the NP group and 92.6 +/- 7.0 ml/min in the
      PP group (not significant); amylase and lipase clearance did not differ among the
      groups. Finally, no significant difference was detected in arterial lactic acid
      determinations and acid-base balance assessment between the groups
      postoperatively. Thus equivalent cardiovascular hemodynamics, a good control of
      fluids and blood balance, acid-base equilibrium, and a satisfactory protection of
      the function of kidneys and pancreas were obtained with both types of perfusion.

PMID- 1453729
TI  - The acoustic filter: an ultrasonic blood filter for the heart-lung machine.
AB  - Cardiopulmonary bypass-associated encephalopathy is thought to be due in part to
      continuous microembolization of the brain with gas microbubbles more than 40
      microns in diameter during bypass. Current barrier filter technology cannot
      effectively remove such small microbubbles in fragile fluids such as blood. The
      design concepts for a new nonbarrier ultrasound-based fluid filtration system (an
      "acoustic filter") capable of filtering small microbubbles from blood are
      presented. The acoustic filter uses a field of high-intensity ultrasound to push
      microbubbles down an acoustic gradient, where they can be collected and removed.
      To test the filtration efficiency of the system, a Doppler ultrasound bubble
      detector was built. By monitoring the prefilter and postfilter Doppler signal an
      assessment of filtration efficiency was made. A suspension of stable albumin
      encapsulated microbubbles (4 to 32 microns) were used as a model of the
      microbubble contaminants that might be found in the arterial return line of the
      heart-lung machine. Inactivated, the acoustic filter neither removed nor added
      microbubbles to the fluid. Activated, the acoustic filter provided total or near
      total clearing of microbubbles. We conclude that the acoustic filter can remove
      microbubbles from a cardiopulmonary bypass-like apparatus.

PMID- 1453730
TI  - Intraaortic balloon pumping in patients requiring cardiac operations. Risk
      analysis and long-term follow-up.
AB  - The intraaortic balloon pump is usually the first mechanical device inserted for
      perioperative cardiac failure; however, little current information is available
      regarding short- and long-term effectiveness. From January 1983 through November
      1990, 6856 adult patients underwent cardiac surgical procedures, 580 of whom
      (8.5%) had an intraaortic balloon inserted preoperatively (107 patients),
      intraoperatively (419 patients), or postoperatively (54 patients). There were 374
      men and 206 women with a mean age of 63.9 years (range 19 to 88). Operations
      included 376 coronary artery bypass grafts, 100 mitral valve replacements (with
      or without bypass grafting), 70 aortic valve replacements (with or without bypass
      grafting), 15 double valve replacements (with or without bypass grafting), and 32
      other procedures. There were 72 (12.4%) complications related to the balloon
      pump, of which 42 necessitated surgical intervention including thrombectomy (21),
      vascular repair (13), fasciotomy (2), aortic repair (1), and amputation (4).
      Operative mortality for patients supported by the balloon pump was 44%.
      Multivariate stepwise analysis of 27 parameters revealed six independent
      predictors of mortality: preoperative New York Heart Association class,
      transthoracic intraaortic balloon insertion (both p < 0.0001), preoperative
      administration of intravenous nitroglycerin, age, female gender, and preoperative
      balloon insertion (p < 0.001). Balloon-related complications were not predictive
      of death. Of the 326 hospital survivors, only 34 were lost to follow-up. There
      were 75 late deaths, the cause of which was cardiac in 41 (55%), noncardiac in 20
      (27%), and unknown in 14 (19%). Actuarial survivals at 1, 5, and 9 years are 51%,
      42%, and 33%. Of the 217 hospital survivors still alive and contacted, 81% were
      in class I (114) or II (60). These data demonstrate (1) operative mortality for
      patients requiring an intraaortic balloon in the perioperative period remains
      high, (2) perioperative risk factors can be identified, (3) complications related
      to the balloon pump do not affect survival, (4) operative survivors can achieve
      prolonged survival with excellent functional results, and (5) consideration for
      alternative methods of circulatory support is justified.

PMID- 1453731
TI  - Dynamic cardiomyoplasty acutely impairs left ventricular diastolic function.
AB  - In patients with congestive heart failure, medical treatment has a high rate of
      mortality and morbidity, and transplantation is limited by the availability of
      donor hearts. Dynamic cardiomyoplasty is being investigated as surgical therapy
      to improve left ventricular function in these patients. To evaluate the early
      postoperative effects of this procedure on left ventricular diastolic function,
      we studied seven dogs through the use of sonomicrometry and micromanometry in a
      canine model of dynamic cardiomyoplasty. Left ventricular diastolic parameters
      were determined before wrapping the latissimus dorsi muscle (baseline), after
      latissimus dorsi muscle wrap but without stimulation, and with synchronous left
      ventricular contraction-latissimus dorsi muscle stimulation. End-diastolic
      pressure was increased in both conditions after latissimus dorsi muscle wrap
      (without stimulation, 5 +/- 1; with stimulation, 6 +/- 2 mm Hg; p < 0.05)
      compared with baseline (3 +/- 2 mm Hg). The peak rate of diastolic pressure decay
      was greater at baseline (1560 +/- 370 mm Hg/sec) than after latissimus dorsi
      muscle wrap, both without (1260 +/- 330 mm Hg/sec, p < 0.01) and with (1120 +/-
      420 mm Hg/sec, p < 0.01) stimulation. The constant of pressure decay was
      prolonged both without (53 +/- 10 seconds, p < 0.05) and with (62 +/- 11 seconds,
      p < 0.01) latissimus dorsi muscle stimulation compared with the baseline (38 +/-
      5 seconds). Compared with baseline (0.2 +/- 0.2 cm-2), the constant of passive
      chamber stiffness increased after the latissimus dorsi muscle was wrapped around
      the heart (1.6 +/- 0.7 cm-2, p < 0.05) and with stimulation (2.1 +/- 1.0 cm-2, p
      < 0.01). The maximal diastolic filling rate (baseline, 18.1 +/- 6.7; without
      stimulation, 16.6 +/- 8.9; with stimulation, 16.6 +/- 4.1 cm2/sec, not
      significant) and end-diastolic short-axis area (baseline, 7.3 +/- 2.3; without
      stimulation, 7.4 +/- 2.1; with stimulation, 7.5 +/- 2.3 cm2, not significant)
      were similar among the three conditions. The latissimus dorsi muscle wrap
      prolonged relaxation and increased left ventricular passive stiffness.
      Synchronous latissimus dorsi muscle stimulation with left ventricular contraction
      did not improve diastolic function in this model. The results suggest that in the
      early postoperative period, dynamic cardiomyoplasty impairs diastolic function.

PMID- 1453732
TI  - High-dose intravenous beta 1-blockade in patients early after cardiac operations.
      Negative inotropism versus myocardial oxygen economy.
AB  - A high adrenergic strain during reperfusion after ischemia impedes functional
      recovery. Conversely, adrenergic blockade may be beneficial during reperfusion.
      Negative inotropic effects may outweigh the expected benefit, however. Against
      this background hemodynamic and metabolic effects of early postoperative infusion
      with the beta 1-selective agent metoprolol were studied in 22 patients after
      coronary operations. During basal postoperative conditions, intravenous
      metoprolol reduced cardiac index and stroke volume index compared with control
      patients, while other variables were unaffected. During the higher adrenergic
      level of a dopamine infusion (7 micrograms/kg per minute), the heart rate, rate
      pressure product, and myocardial oxygen uptake were attenuated in proportion to
      the plasma level of metoprolol. Intravenous beta 1-blockade did not affect the
      cardiac output or stroke volume responses to dopamine (the cardiac output was
      still, however, 19% lower than in control patients). A release of myocardial
      creatinine kinase isoenzyme myocardial band was observed during dopamine
      infusion, suggesting that myocardial ischemia was induced. The release was not
      influenced by metoprolol, but it correlated with heart rate (r = 0.60; p < 0.01).
      It is concluded that infusion of metoprolol early after coronary operations
      depresses myocardial contractility with some 19%, which was without clinical
      significance in straightforward patients; the increased myocardial metabolic
      demand during a period of increased adrenergic stress was attenuated by
      metoprolol. This may be of importance for myocardial recovery.

PMID- 1453733
TI  - Video-assisted thoracic surgical resection of malignant lung tumors.
AB  - Forty patients with malignant pulmonary disease underwent evaluation, staging,
      and a biopsy or resection by means of video-assisted thoracic surgery. There were
      20 men and 20 women whose ages ranged from 27 to 82 years. Eight patients had a
      wedge resection for metastatic carcinoma, three a lobectomy for primary
      carcinoma, six exploration of the thorax, five biopsy of the aortopulmonary
      window, and eighteen a sublobar resection for primary carcinoma of the lung.
      There was no mortality. Three patients had air leaks that lasted an average of 8
      days. Video-assisted thoracic surgery seems to be useful for more precise staging
      of carcinoma of the lung, and, in some patients, resectional operations can be
      performed.

PMID- 1453734
TI  - The role of mediastinoscopic biopsy in preoperative assessment of lung cancer.
AB  - Between 1970 and 1989, mediastinoscopy and thoracotomy were performed on 619
      patients admitted to our clinic with lung cancer. When mediastinoscopy was
      analyzed by lymph node location, the highest sensitivity (95.7%) was for the left
      paratracheal nodes and the lowest (64.0%) was for nodes at the bifurcation (p <
      0.01). The 5-year survivals according to the results of mediastinoscopy were 47%
      for negative results, 14% for false-negative results, and 6% for positive
      results. The 5-year survival rate however, was significantly higher (28%) in
      patients (n = 13) with positive mediastinoscopic findings who underwent complete
      resection of the primary tumor and all involved nodes than in patients (n = 78)
      who underwent incomplete resection (p < 0.01). These data support our opinion
      that patients with positive mediastinoscopic results should not always be
      excluded from treatment by thoracotomy. The role of mediastinoscopy is not to
      select patients for thoracotomy but to evaluate lung cancer at the pretreatment
      stage.

PMID- 1453735
TI  - Endothelin-1 mediates regional blood flow during and after pulmonary operations.
AB  - To investigate the role of endothelin-1, a potent vasoconstrictor peptide
      produced by vascular endothelial cells, in the physiologic response to surgical
      stress, we measured plasma endothelin-1 concentrations by a sandwich-enzyme
      immunoassay in patients with lung cancer undergoing pulmonary operations (n =
      12). In the first group (n = 6), we measured plasma endothelin-1 concentrations
      at multiple sampling sites (median cubital vein, pulmonary artery, and left
      atrium). Plasma endothelin-1 levels were significantly increased at all sampling
      sites at the end of the operation. Although there was no difference between the
      increased plasma levels of endothelin-1 in the pulmonary artery and in the left
      atrium, the increased level in the median cubital vein (peripheral venous blood)
      was significantly higher than that in the pulmonary artery (mixed venous blood).
      This result suggests that the production of endothelin-1 might differ between
      various organs under surgical stress. In the second group (n = 6), we measured
      plasma endothelin-1 concentrations both in the median cubital vein and in the
      ipsilateral radial artery, and also measured cardiac output and forearm blood
      flow. The increase in endothelin-1 levels in the median cubital vein was
      significantly higher than that in the radial artery after the operation. The
      endothelin-1 output from the forearm, calculated by the forearm blood flow and
      the arteriovenous difference of endothelin-1 concentrations, significantly
      increased after the operation. Although the cardiac output significantly
      increased after the operation, the forearm blood flow significantly decreased.
      The present findings provide a novel hypothesis that the preferential release of
      endothelin-1 from the peripheral vasculature of the forearm may partly contribute
      to a compensatory response to surgical stress, for example, the reduction of
      local blood flow in nonvital organs so as to increase the blood flow in vital
      organs.

PMID- 1453736
TI  - Quantification of flow through an interatrial communication. Application to the
      partial Fontan procedure.
AB  - The partial Fontan procedure has become an accepted alternative for the high-risk
      candidate. Creation of a small right-to-left shunt will lower the systemic venous
      pressure and improve systemic cardiac output while maintaining an acceptable
      systemic arterial saturation. However, because of variations in patient size and
      postoperative transpulmonary gradient, proper sizing of the residual defect is
      difficult. We have therefore conducted a series of experiments on a model that
      simulates the blood flow across interatrial defects of varying sizes at several
      pressure gradients. We used porcine blood to develop guidelines for the sizing of
      the residual defect. Our results demonstrate a linear relationship between flow
      and pressure gradient across all hole sizes tested. In addition, there was a
      linear relationship between atrial septal defect size and flow at each pressure
      gradient. Our data show that the Gorlin formula predictions overestimated flow by
      10% to 40%. It is evident from these data that relatively small changes in the
      size of the atrial septal defect or in the pressure gradient result in
      significant changes in flow. Therefore we advocate the use of an adjustable
      interatrial communication such as the snare-controlled adjustable atrial septal
      defect for patients undergoing partial Fontan procedures.

PMID- 1453737
TI  - Balloon dilation of stenotic aortic valve in children. An intraoperative study.
AB  - Ten children in the age range of 3 to 17 years with moderate to severe aortic
      valve stenosis (gradients of 55 to 109 mm Hg) underwent cardiac operations. At
      the time of the operation, during bypass, balloon dilation of the stenotic valve
      was performed and the results were visually assessed by the surgeon. Of the 10
      consecutive cases, only three showed dilation results that were comparable to
      what seems optimal from a surgical point of view. The adverse effects in the
      remaining seven patients and the corrective measures taken were as follows: (1)
      too extensive a rupture requiring stabilizing sutures in one patient; (2) too
      short a rupture, requiring additional commissurotomy in three patients; (3)
      rupture into the valve leaflet, requiring valve suture and corrective
      comissurotomy in another three patients. This last, rather serious complication
      occurred in patients having functionally bicuspid valves with slightly thickened
      free valve edges, whereas valves with severely thickened edges ruptured in the
      commissure line but often to an insufficient degree. Because of the high
      incidence of suboptimal separation of the stenotic aortic valves with balloon
      dilation, we recommend that further evaluation of long-term results and
      identification of unsuitable cases should precede widespread use of the
      technique.

PMID- 1453738
TI  - Long-term results of survivors of surgical valvotomy for severe aortic stenosis
      in early infancy.
AB  - Long-term morbidity and mortality were evaluated in the 21 survivors of a cohort
      of 51 consecutive infants with severe aortic valve stenosis who underwent
      surgical treatment in the first 3 months of life during the period from 1958 to
      1988. The 21 early survivors have been followed up from 3 to 27 years (median 7.5
      years). There have been two late deaths: one at age 13 year from bacterial
      endocarditis and the other at age 14 years after dislodgment of a prosthetic
      valve. The calculated 10-year actuarial survival for this group is 100%, with a
      15-year actuarial survival of 75% (standard error 15%). Seven repeat operations
      have been performed in six patients: Three had persistent stenosis and a repeat
      valvotomy was performed in two of them, aged 2 years and 15 years. The other
      underwent placement of a conduit from the left ventricle to the descending aorta
      at 2 years of age. Replacement of the aortic valve has been performed in four
      patients because of severe valvular insufficiency 13 to 27 years after the
      initial operation. One of these had required a repeat valvotomy at the age of 15
      years. The calculated actuarial freedom from reoperation at 10 years is 90%
      (standard error 6%) and at 15 years, 67% (standard error 15%). Aortic
      insufficiency was progressive throughout the period of follow-up. No patient had
      more than moderate aortic insufficiency 3 to 5 years after the initial valvotomy,
      whereas aortic insufficiency was severe in five of the eight patients followed up
      for 11 or more years. Progression of aortic insufficiency and the need for
      reoperation were not related to the age at initial valvotomy. Survivors of
      surgical aortic valvotomy in early infancy have a relatively good long-term
      prognosis and a high freedom from reoperation in the period leading to
      adolescence. Aortic insufficiency in these patients is progressive, and valve
      replacement eventually may be required.

PMID- 1453739
TI  - The role of coronary artery abnormalities in the prognosis of truncus arteriosus.
AB  - A high incidence of coronary ostial and arterial abnormalities was found in a
      study of 30 pathologic specimens of classic truncus arteriosus at Children's
      Hospital of Pittsburgh. The following were of special note: (1) left coronary
      ostium in a posterior and high position; (2) close relation of the left coronary
      ostium to the pulmonary artery segment in three-leaflet truncal valves; (3)
      stenosis of the coronary ostium caused by small size, slitlike shape, or the
      location of the ostium above or in a commissure; (4) the acute angle takeoff of
      the coronary artery; (5) the position of the left anterior descending artery as
      it courses posteriorly and close to the truncal wall, and then to the left of the
      interventricular septum; (6) the size and course of the conal and diagonal
      arteries from the right coronary artery across the right ventricular outflow
      area; (7) other coronary abnormalities, including a single coronary artery or
      ostium with branches crossing the right ventricle below the truncus, the
      circumflex arising from the right coronary artery and coursing behind the
      truncus, and the right coronary artery originating from the left anterior
      descending artery and vice versa. Eight heart specimens with conduit repair were
      reviewed, and all had injury to coronary arteries, possibly responsible for or
      contributing to the deaths of six of the eight patients. Coronary abnormalities,
      often several occurring in combination, may contribute to high operative
      mortality rate and may be a cause of late sudden death in truncus arteriosus.
      Surgical procedures should be planned with a view to protecting coronary arteries
      in the region of the right ventricular outflow tract below the truncus. Coronary
      artery obstruction (ostial or luminal) can occur and may need to be addressed as
      a separate issue during surgical procedures.

PMID- 1453740
TI  - Assessment of myocardial ultrastructure after retrograde infusion of cardioplegic
      solution.

PMID- 1453741
TI  - Neutrophil activation during cardiopulmonary bypass.

PMID- 1453742
TI  - Autoperfusion of the heart and lungs for preservation with preserving the
      bronchial circulation.

PMID- 1453743
TI  - Acquired diffuse bronchomalacia in heart-lung transplant recipients.

PMID- 1453745
TI  - A third-degree burn associated with external cardiac pacing in a five-year-old
      boy.

PMID- 1453744
TI  - Invited letter concerning: rationale for wedge resection of peripheral lung
      cancers--evidence from vessel staining and rates of proliferation.

PMID- 1453746
TI  - Pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum associated with pulmonary artery
      sling.

PMID- 1453747
TI  - Transesophageal echocardiographic diagnosis of covert cardiac tamponade during
      extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in an adult.

PMID- 1453748
TI  - Establishing a pediatric cardiac surgical unit in the Commonwealth of Independent
      States (formerly the Soviet Union)

PMID- 1453749
TI  - Aorta-right ventricular tunnel with a rudimentary valve and an anomalous origin
      of the left coronary artery.

PMID- 1453751
TI  - Obstinate cases of stromal keratitis treated by combined traditional Chinese and
      Western medicine.
AB  - Twenty-two cases 23 eyes with obstinate stromal keratitis treated by combination
      of traditional Chinese and Western medicines are reported in this paper.
      According to clinical manifestations, they are consistent with the clinical
      diagnosis of stromal herpes simplex keratitis. Since no specific Western medicine
      is known to be effective in treating this disorder, it is proposed to apply
      systemic and topical TCM and, if necessary, add beta-ray irradiation to shorten
      the clinical course of disease, decrease or prevent recurrence and maintain
      useful visual acuity, avoiding frequent relapses leading to blindness.

PMID- 1453750
TI  - Clinical and experimental studies on tong yu ling in the treatment of diabetic
      hyperlipemia.
AB  - 72 diabetes mellitus patients (70 cases non-insulin-dependent) were treated
      routinely with D860. After one month, cases with persisting hyperglycemia and
      hyperlipemia were randomly divided into Group A to be treated with D860 plus Tong
      Yu Ling (TYL), and Group B to continue treatment with D860 alone, while Group C,
      comprising cases with persisting hyperlipemia only, were treated with TYL alone.
      Therapeutic results showed that of the total 50 cases of Group A and C, 26 were
      markedly improved, 14 improved, and 10 cases ineffective. The antihyperlipemic
      effect was pronounced in Group A, where the blood cholesterol, beta-lipoprotein
      and triglyceride showed remarkable decline, less pronounced in Group C, and
      insignificant in Group B. Experiments in rat models of non-insulin-dependent
      diabetes demonstrated that TYL was markedly effective in treating hyperlipemia.

PMID- 1453752
TI  - Treatment of tonic headache with acupuncture.
AB  - Headache is a common symptom of complicated etiology; treatment is often
      ineffective when the intrinsic cause of the manifestation is not identified. The
      author found that tonic headache was very common in Germany, where few patients
      were helped in spite of various modalities of treatment. Since acupuncture proved
      useful to many cases it is the author's wish to add this ancient practice to the
      armory of the medical profession.

PMID- 1453753
TI  - Treatment with acupuncture at zusanli (St 36) for epigastric pain in the elderly.

PMID- 1453754
TI  - 51 cases of occipital neuralgia treated with acupuncture.

PMID- 1453755
TI  - Analgesic effect of laser irradiation following surgical operation of the anus.

PMID- 1453756
TI  - The effect of radix Salviae miltiorrhizae on the changes of ultrastructure in rat
      brain after cerebral ischemia.
AB  - The effect of RSM on ultrastructural alterations of the cortical, hippocampal and
      caudate neucleus areas brought about by forebrain ischemia in rats were studied.
      In both RSM-treated and saline-treated groups the ischemic damage was detected in
      nearly all animals three hours after bilateral common carotid artery ligation,
      while it was much more mild in RSM-treated animals. The ultrastructural changes
      consisted of swollen mitochondria, partial loss of cristae, dilatation of rough
      endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi's complex. In addition, some dark neurons were
      present, capillary endothelial cells and processes of astrocytes were swollen and
      active pinocytosis appeared in the endothelial cells. Their presence was most
      severe in the hippocampus region and the least in the caudate nuclear area. No
      ultrastructural changes exhibited in the sham-operated animals. The findings of
      the present experiment demonstrate that RSM can reduce ultrastructural
      abnormalities of cerebral ischemia and are also direct evidence of the protective
      effect of RSM on cerebral ischemia.

PMID- 1453757
TI  - Mechanism of acupuncture in suppressing epileptic seizures.

PMID- 1453758
TI  - Experimental studies on the inhibition effects of 1000 Chinese medicinal herbs on
      the surface antigen of hepatitis B virus.
AB  - The reverse passive hemagglutination inhibition test was used in the screening of
      1000 Chinese materia medica for inhibitors of hepatitis B virus surface antigen.
      The herbal drugs were commercially available and the surface antigen was from
      sera of hepatitis B patients. 127 effective drugs were obtained from the survey
      of which 28 were highly inhibitory (8:1), 35 were moderately effective (4:1), and
      64 mildly effective (2:1). Further experiments with varying dosages of the drug,
      dosages of HBsAg and duration of contact showed 10 drugs to be of optimal effect.

PMID- 1453759
TI  - The feeling thought process during Qigong.

PMID- 1453760
TI  - Simplified massage therapy for acute uroschesis: a clinical report of 15 cases.

PMID- 1453761
TI  - Massage treatment of infantile congenital myogenic torticollis.

PMID- 1453762
TI  - Progress of research on ischemic stroke treated with Chinese medicine.

PMID- 1453764
TI  - Traditional Chinese methods of health preservation (2).

PMID- 1453763
TI  - Present status of research abroad concerning the effect of acupuncture and
      moxibustion on immunologic functions.
AB  - Japan is one of the countries that have done extensive research on the effect of
      acupuncture and moxibustion on the immunologic functions. With China first, Japan
      ranks second among the countries in this study. Concerning research in this field
      concerned the level abroad can scarcely reach that in China. Scholars abroad fail
      to base their research on TCM theory. In addition not only the type of diseases
      studied, and the indexes observed are far less than those in China, but also the
      scope of their research is far narrower. However, certain diseases under study
      (for instance, AIDS) and certain indexes under observation (for instance,
      analysis of changes in T subsets of lymphocytes with monoclonal antibodies), as
      well as certain aspects of their investigation are worthy of consideration by
      scholars in China.

PMID- 1453765
TI  - Acupuncture treatment of soft tissue injury.

PMID- 1453766
TI  - Auriculoacupuncture therapy--a traditional Chinese method of treatment.

PMID- 1453767
TI  - Combined therapy with all-trans-retinoic acid and high-dose chemotherapy in
      patients with hyperleukocytic acute promyelocytic leukemia and severe visceral
      hemorrhage.
AB  - Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is associated with a high incidence of
      disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and early hemorrhagic death. The
      risk of early fatal hemorrhage is increased when high peripheral-blood blast
      count and severe DIC accompanied by visceral hemorrhage are present at diagnosis.
      Progressive cytolysis induced by daily increased doses of chemotherapy, or
      differentiation all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) therapy have been proposed for
      initial control of DIC, but both are dangerous in hyperleukocytic APL patients.
      We report our results obtained in three high-risk APL patients treated with a
      combination of conventional chemotherapy and ATRA. All patients had documented
      hyperleukocytic APL [M3 or M3-variant subtype, (15, 17) translocation] with DIC,
      and all had critical clinical course before treatment. Patient 1 presented with
      cerebral hemorrhage, patients 2 and 3 had acute respiratory failure probably due
      to pulmonary leukemic infiltration and pulmonary hemorrhage. In order to minimize
      the severity of DIC during chemotherapy-induced acute cytolysis, ATRA (45 mg/m2
      per day) was started on the first or second day of chemotherapy and withdrawn
      when complete remission (CR) was achieved. Despite adverse clinical features, CR
      was obtained in these three high-risk patients. Patient 1 showed no increase of
      cerebral bleeding during therapy. Patients 2 and 3 required transient intensive
      care, with mechanical ventilation from day 4 to day 11 for one of them.
      Differentiating granular cells were present in peripheral blood of all patients
      from the day 5, 12 and 8 of cytotoxic therapy. For the three patients, the number
      of days with white blood cell count < 1 x 10(9)/l was only 2, 7 and 11 days
      respectively. These results suggest that differentiation therapy with ATRA may be
      useful even in hyperleukocytic APL patients, when ATRA is used in combination
      with chemotherapy. The mechanisms of this putative beneficial effect are
      discussed.

PMID- 1453768
TI  - Clinical significance of monoclonal proteins in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
AB  - Serum monoclonal proteins were found in 36 of 111 (32%) chronic lymphocytic
      leukemia (CLL) patients studied using high-resolution agarose gel electrophoresis
      combined with immunofixation. In contrast, using immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) and
      serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP), monoclonal proteins were found in 20 and 4%
      of CLL patients, respectively. The presence of a monoclonal protein was
      associated with a median survival of 63 months compared to 103 months for
      individuals without a monoclonal spike (p < 0.012). This was independent of
      clinical stage. The data also suggests that the presence of a monoclonal protein
      may define a group of patients at greater risk for disease progression in the low
      and intermediate risk groups. (Rai stages, 0, I, II). Further follow-up will be
      required to determine if this is statistically significant.

PMID- 1453769
TI  - The detection of Philadelphia chromosome negative metaphases in long-term bone
      marrow cultures of the peripheral blood from patients with chronic myeloid
      leukemia predicts response to interferon-alpha 2a.
AB  - The cytogenetic response of 10 patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) to
      human recombinant interferon-alpha 2a (rhIFN alpha 2a) was compared to the
      Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) status of the pre-treatment peripheral blood cells
      after in vitro culture under long-term bone marrow culture (LTBMC) conditions.
      Pre-treatment light density peripheral blood cells were cultured in LTBMC on sex
      mismatched irradiated allogeneic stromal layers with weekly cytogenic examination
      of metaphases in the non-adherent cell fraction. This was correlated with the
      patients' response to rhIFN alpha. Two groups of patients, five showing a
      cytogenetic response (responsive) and five who failed to achieve a cytogenetic
      response (nonresponsive) were studied. At the initiation of the LTBMCs the Ph'
      was found to be present in 100% of the cells analysed for nine patients and 97%
      for one patient. Pretreatment peripheral blood from four responsive patients
      demonstrated a decline in the proportion of Ph'-positive cells (Ph+) after 1 to 2
      weeks in LTBMC. In contrast, peripheral blood from all the non-responsive
      subjects showed persistence of the Ph+ clone in 100% of the cells analysed out to
      a maximum of 3 to 5 weeks in LTBMC. A significant difference was observed (Fisher
      exact test, p = 0.023) between the two patient groups in respect to the
      appearance of normal clones in the nonadherent population. The presence of Ph-
      metaphases in LTBMC of peripheral blood cells of CML patients may predict their
      cytogenetic response to rhIFN alpha 2a.

PMID- 1453770
TI  - Abnormalities of chromosome 16q in myeloid malignancy: 14 new cases and a review
      of the literature.
AB  - Fourteen patients with abnormalities of chromosome 16q, 13 with acute myelogenous
      leukaemia (AML), and one with refractory anaemia with excess of blasts (RAEB),
      are described. Seven patients had inv(16)(p13q22), two had del(16)(q22), and five
      had other abnormalities of 16q. Six of the seven patients with inv(16) had AML
      M4Eo and, following treatment with adriamycin, cytosine arabinoside, and 6
      thioguanine, all achieved complete remission (CR). Neither patient with
      del(16)(q22) had typical M4Eo morphology at diagnosis; CR was achieved in one and
      one had resistant leukaemia. Patients with other abnormalities of 16q had blasts
      of diverse morphology and, although morphologically abnormal eosinophils were
      seen in three patients, this was not as marked as in the patients with inv(16).
      CR was achieved in two of the four patients with other abnormalities of 16q but
      duration of remission was short in both cases. These results suggest that most
      patients with del(16)(q22) and other abnormalities of 16q22 do not have typical
      AML M4Eo. Such patients tend to have a worse prognosis, and are more likely to
      have complex karyotypes typical of secondary leukaemia.

PMID- 1453771
TI  - The CD4 molecule belongs to the phenotypic repertoire of most cases of acute
      myeloid leukemia.
AB  - In the present study fresh leukemic cells obtained from 23 patients with acute
      myeloid leukemia (AML; FAB subtypes: three M1, five M2, two M3, five M4, eight
      M5) were investigated for the membrane expression of the CD4 molecule by
      cytofluorimetric analysis with an anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (mAb). In 15 cases
      the presence of the CD4 mRNA was also investigated using Northern blot analysis.
      Membrane expression of the CD4 molecule was demonstrated in 19 out of 23 cases,
      and it was found to be weaker than in CD4+ lymphocytes and monocytes obtained
      from normal controls. Full-length CD4 mRNA was detected in 12 out of 15 (80%)
      cases, and AML cells positive for CD4 mRNA expression also expressed the CD4
      antigen. Since the CD4 molecule expressed by T cells is associated with p56lck, a
      member of the src family of intracellular tyrosine kinases, we investigated
      whether the CD4 molecule expressed by myeloid blasts is also associated with a
      tyrosine kinase activity. In vitro kinase assays performed on anti-CD4
      immunoprecipitates from lysates of myeloid leukemia cells from four CD4+ cases
      were negative for the presence of a tyrosine kinase activity. This finding was
      not due to the lack of expression of members of the src family since we were able
      to detect at least p60src and p59fyn in myeloid leukemia cells. According to our
      results, the CD4 molecule seems to belong to the phenotypic repertoire of most
      AML, irrespective of their FAB subtypes. However, in myeloid blasts this molecule
      is not associated with a tyrosine kinase activity as it occurs in T lymphocytes.

PMID- 1453772
TI  - Differences in the intracellular pharmacokinetics of cytosine arabinoside (AraC)
      between circulating leukemic blasts and normal mononuclear blood cells.
AB  - The increasing insights into the pharmacokinetics and the metabolism of cytosine
      arabinoside (AraC) have improved the rationale for its application in leukemia
      therapy and have led to a pharmacologically directed design of antileukemic
      treatment. The current study aims at adding to this approach by detecting
      differences in the intracellular metabolism of AraC 5'-triphosphate (AraCTP)
      between leukemic and normal mononuclear blood cells. Measurements of
      intracellular AraCTP levels were complemented by determinations of plasma AraC
      and AraU concentrations and were performed in 32 patients with acute myeloid
      leukemia undergoing combination therapy including either conventional (100 mg/m2
      daily) or high-dose (1.0 or 3.0 g/m2 twice daily) AraC. Plasma AraC concentration
      showed a linear relationship to the applied AraC dose but did not correlate with
      intracellular AraCTP levels. During conventional-dose AraC therapy little
      interpatient variation was observed in AraCTP retention times in leukemic blasts
      from 5 patients with t1/2 values ranging from 1.70 to 2.50 h (median 2.14 h). In
      all cases AraCTP levels declined rapidly after the end of the AraC infusion.
      Substantial differences in AraCTP retention times were revealed, however, during
      3 h infusions of either 1.0 or 3.0 g/m2 AraC in leukemic blasts from 10 patients
      with t1/2 values between 1.60 to 7.63 h (median 2.42 h). In addition, AraCTP
      levels declined in only one patient by > 10% within the first hour after the end
      of therapy and remained constant or even increased up to 1.5-fold in a post
      treatment period of 1 to 2.5 h in the other nine cases. In contrast, AraCTP
      retention times were relatively uniform in normal mononuclear blood cells from 11
      patients with t1/2 values of 3.34 to 5.29 h (median 3.85 h). More importantly,
      AraCTP levels dropped by > 10% within the first hour after the end of the high
      dose AraC infusion in eight of 11 cases. A post-therapeutic increase > 10% was
      not observed in any patient. Similar findings emerged after in vitro exposure of
      normal bone marrow cells from six healthy volunteers to 20 mumol/l AraC for 3 h
      revealing a > 10% decrease of intracellular AraCTP within the first post
      treatment hour in all cases with AraCTP retention times of 2.29 to 8.63 h (median
      3.20 h). These differences in AraCTP pharmacokinetics between leukemic and normal
      blood cells may provide the basis for a modified timing of AraC administration
      with the aim of selectively maintaining cytotoxic AraCTP levels in leukemic
      blasts while allowing an intermittent drop of AraCTP levels in normal
      cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1453773
TI  - A retinoid acid 'resistant' t(15;17) acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line:
      isolation, morphological, immunological, and molecular features.
AB  - We report the isolation of a maturation-resistant acute promyelocytic leukemia
      (APL) cell line. This permanent cell line, derived from the same patient as the
      maturation inducible NB4 cell line, is the first retinoid-resistant cell line
      with a t(15;17) chromosomal translocation. Morphological, immunocytochemical and
      molecular features of the maturation responsive (NB4) and unresponsive (NB4-RAr)
      cells are compared. The isolation of the NB4-RAr cell line occurred through a two
      step process requiring the continuous selective pressure of all-trans-retinoic
      acid. Cells are also resistant to 13-cis-retinoic acid. Karyotypic and Southern
      blot analyses show that the two cell lines are similar with respect to the
      translocation. Northern-blot analyses show that the chimeric fusion transcript
      PML-RAR alpha and the normal allelic PML and RAR alpha transcripts are similarly
      expressed in both cell lines. The molecular basis for unresponsiveness to
      retinoic acid is not known. This resistant cell line offers a cellular model for
      molecular biology studies on the mechanism of induction of APL cell maturation,
      as well as a means to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of resistance. It also
      furnishes a unique tool for designing and/or screening new therapeutic drugs to
      avoid or relieve retinoid maturation blockage.

PMID- 1453774
TI  - Absence of negative growth regulation in three new murine radiation-induced
      myeloid leukemia cell lines with deletion of chromosome 2.
AB  - Murine radiation-induced acute myeloid leukemia (RI-AML) may be considered as the
      experimental counterpart of human secondary leukemia. Three new myelomonocytic
      cell lines derived from RI-AML and carrying a partially deleted chromosome 2 are
      described. The RI-AML cells responded with increased proliferation after being
      incubated with the hemopoietic growth factors rG-CSF, rGM-CSF and IL-3. Increased
      proliferation of the same extent without any effect in differentiation, was also
      demonstrated in the RI-AML cells after incubation with IL-6 and with mouse lung
      conditioned medium (CM) and Krebs ascites tumor cells CM which induce
      differentiation in normal and most leukemic myeloid cells. Down-regulation of the
      c-myc gene and induction of (2'-5') oligo-adenylate synthetase (reflecting
      autocrine interferon secretion), two essential mechanisms operating during arrest
      of growth and concomitant differentiation, were demonstrated to be absent in RI
      AML cells. In contrast, the M1 cells responded to the above differentiating
      factors with growth arrest and differentiation and with appropriate c-myc down
      regulation and synthetase induction. The genetic basis for the distinct RI-AML
      cells' behavior may be connected with the loss or structural and/or functional
      abnormalities of DNA sequences located in the deleted part of chromosome 2 or in
      the respective allele. The presently described new RI-AML cell lines may be used
      for studies concerning myeloid leukemogenesis in general and secondary leukemia
      in particular.

PMID- 1453775
TI  - P53 mutations in myelodysplastic syndromes.
AB  - Point mutations in the p53 tumor-suppressor gene are the most frequently
      identified genetic alterations in human malignancies. In order to evaluate the
      role of p53 mutations in the multistep process of leukemogenesis we studied 61
      patients with myelodysplastic syndromes using single-strand conformation
      polymorphism analysis of polymerase chain reaction products as well as direct
      sequencing. Mutant alleles were observed in 1/14 refractory anemia with excess of
      blasts (RAEB) and 2/5 RAEB in transformation. The three mutations represented G:C
      to A:T transitions at codon 141 (exon 5) and codons 245 and 248 (exon 7),
      respectively. These data suggest that p53 mutations may contribute, albeit
      rarely, to the development of preleukemic disorders of the myeloid cell lineage.

PMID- 1453776
TI  - Leukaemia Research Fund (UK) international research symposium: new approaches to
      the study of leukaemogenesis.

PMID- 1453778
TI  - Impedance changes during the compound nerve action potential: implications for
      impedance imaging of neuronal depolarisation in the brain.
AB  - Impedance changes were measured during the compound action potential (CAP) in
      isolated crab nerves with 50 kHz or direct applied current (DC), to suggest an
      optimal frequency for the imaging of neuronal depolarisation by electrical
      impedance tomography (EIT). With DC, a predominant apparent impedance decrease of
      0.2-0.7 per cent of the resting baseline was observed, which had a time course
      similar to that of the action potential. Control recordings suggested that these
      changes could not be attributed to technical errors resulting from the
      measurement method. A component in some measurements was attributable to effects
      of the measuring current on the latency of the CAP, but the mechanism underlying
      the remainder of the changes was unclear. No changes greater than +/- 0.005 per
      cent were seen with measurement at 50 kHz. This suggests that research into
      noninvasive rapid imaging of nervous activity in the brain with EIT would be more
      profitably performed with measurements at frequencies lower than the 50 kHz
      currently used for safety reasons.

PMID- 1453777
TI  - The need for standards in recording and analysing respiratory sounds.
AB  - Respiratory sounds (RSs) recorded from the chest and trachea are nowadays being
      electronically analysed by many investigators with a view to (i) determining the
      mechanisms of their production, and (ii) to develop automated diagnostic systems
      based on RS analysis, that objectively categorise RS as being associated with
      health or respiratory diseases. However, one problem that hampers this type of
      research is that almost every RS investigation team uses different equipment,
      protocols and analysis methods which, to varying degrees, makes inter
      investigator results difficult to compare. The review first discusses the many
      variables involved in RS recording and analysis, and the different approaches
      used by different investigators, to highlight this problem and its consequences.
      Secondly, although the review cannot propose immediately acceptable guidelines
      and standards for RS analysis, it proposes a 'seed' set of guidelines that are
      'up for discussion' between investigators in the field, the final goal being to
      inject a degree of standardisation in equipment and methods that are acceptable
      to all involved.

PMID- 1453779
TI  - Noninvasive acoustical detection of coronary artery disease using the adaptive
      line enhancer method.
AB  - Previous studies have indicated that heart sounds may contain information which
      is useful in the detection of occluded coronary arteries. Specifically, previous
      work based on analysing heart sounds recorded during the diastolic portion of the
      cardiac cycle, when blood flow through the coronary arteries is maximum, has
      shown that additional frequency components are present in patients with coronary
      artery disease. To further explore the application of advanced signal processing
      techniques to the noninvasive detection of coronary artery disease, a new signal
      processing approach is presented using adaptive line enhancing (ALE) and spectral
      estimation of diastolic heart sounds taken from recordings made at the patient's
      bedside. This approach comprises two cascaded processes. In the first the ALE
      method is used to enhance the diastolic heart sounds and eliminate background
      noise. In the second process, either autoregressive (AR) or autoregressive moving
      average (ARMA) spectral methods are used to estimate the model parameters. Model
      parameters (the power spectral density (PSD) functions and the poles of the AR or
      ARMA method) were used to diagnose patients as diseased or normal. Results showed
      that normal and abnormal recordings were correctly identified in 39 of 43 cases
      using the new method. These results also confirm that high-frequency energy above
      400 Hz is associated with coronary stenosis.

PMID- 1453780
TI  - Heart rate and body temperature sensitive diaphragm pacing.
AB  - Two ways of rate control for diaphragm pacing are proposed. One is rate control
      using only the patients' body temperature (method I). The other is rate control
      by both the patients' heart rate and body temperature (method II). To test the
      effectiveness of these methods, a diaphragm pacemaker which can be controlled by
      both heart rate and body temperature has been developed. It was applied to nine
      mongrel dogs. The pacing rate is controlled by atrial blood temperature (method
      I) or by both heart rate and temperature (method II). The animal's metabolism was
      elevated by the administration of a pyrogenic drug. It was found that method I is
      not suited to rapid changes in metabolism; however, it is useful in extreme
      metabolic elevation. An animal's metabolism was supported by using method II in
      all ranges of metabolism. This method proved more effective than method I for
      rate-responsive diaphragm pacing.

PMID- 1453781
TI  - Closed-chest cardiac stimulation with a pulsed magnetic field.
AB  - Magnetic stimulators, used medically, generate intense rapidly changing magnetic
      fields, capable of stimulating nerves. Advanced magnetic resonance imaging
      systems employ stronger and more rapidly changing gradient fields than those used
      previously. The risk of provoking cardiac arrhythmias by these new devices is of
      concern. In the paper, the threshold for cardiac stimulation by an externally
      applied magnetic field is determined for 11 anaesthetised dogs. Two coplanar
      coils provide the pulsed magnetic field. An average energy of approximately 12 kJ
      is required to achieve closed-chest magnetically induced ectopic beats in the 17
      26 kg dogs. The mean peak induced electric field for threshold stimulation is 213
      V m-1 for a 571 microseconds damped sine wave pulse. Accounting for waveform
      efficacy and extrapolating to long-duration pulses, a threshold induced electric
      field strength of approximately 30 V m-1 for the rectangular pulse is predicted.
      It is now possible to establish the margin of safety for devices that use pulsed
      magnetic fields and to design therapeutic devices employing magnetic fields to
      stimulate the heart.

PMID- 1453782
TI  - Component wave delineation of ECG by filtering in the Fourier domain.
AB  - A complete solution to the fundamental problem of delineation of an ECG signal
      into its component waves by filtering the discrete Fourier transform of the
      signal is presented. The set of samples in a component wave is transformed into a
      complex sequence with a distinct frequency band. The filter characteristics are
      determined from the time signal itself. Multiplication of the transformed signal
      with a complex sinusoidal function allows the use of a bank of low-pass filters
      for the delineation of all component waves. Data from about 300 beats have been
      analysed and the results are highly satisfactory both qualitatively and
      quantitatively.

PMID- 1453783
TI  - The effect of averaging cardiac Doppler spectrograms on the reduction of their
      amplitude variability.
AB  - The effect of averaging cardiac Doppler spectrograms on the reduction of their
      amplitude variability was investigated in 30 patients. Beat-to-beat variations in
      the amplitude of Doppler spectrograms were also analysed. The quantification of
      amplitude variability was based on the computation of the area under the absolute
      value of the derivative function of each spectrum composing mean spectrograms.
      Fast Fourier transform using a Hanning window was used to compute Doppler
      spectra. Results obtained over systolic and diastolic periods showed that the
      reduction of amplitude variability followed an exponentially decreasing curve
      characterised by the equation f (r) = 100 e-beta(r-1), where r is the number of
      cardiac cycles, beta the exponentially decreasing rate, and 100 the normalised
      variability for r = 1. In systole, the decreasing rate beta was 0.165, whereas in
      diastole it was 0.225. Reductions of the variability in systole for a number of
      cardiac cycles of 5, 10, 15, and 20 were 48, 77, 90 and 96 per cent,
      respectively. In diastole, reductions of the variability for the same numbers of
      cardiac cycles were 59, 87, 96 and 99 per cent, respectively. Based on these
      results, it can be concluded that no significant improvement in the reduction of
      amplitude variability may be obtained by averaging more than 20 cardiac cycles.

PMID- 1453784
TI  - Six-band sub-band coder on ECG waveforms.
AB  - An ECG sampled at a rate of 500 samples s-1 or more produces a large amount of
      redundant data that are difficult to store and transmit. A process is therefore
      required to represent the signals with clinically acceptable fidelity and with
      the least code bits possible. In the paper, an efficient sub-band coding method
      for encoding ECG waveforms is presented. Although sub-band coding has been
      successfully applied to speech signals, it is the first time that this technique
      has been applied to the encoding of ECG waveforms. A frequency band decomposition
      of an ECG waveform is carried out by means of quadrature mirror filters (QMF),
      which split the ECG spectrum into six bands of unequal width. In the lower
      frequency bands, which contain most of the ECG spectrum energy, a larger number
      of bits per sample is used, whereas in upper frequency bands, which contain noise
      like signals, fewer bits per sample and the run length coding method are used.
      The simulation results are presented in terms of bit rates and the quality of the
      reconstructed waveforms. The results show that a reproduction with an average
      signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 29.97 dB can be achieved even at an average bit
      rate of 0.81 bits per sample.

PMID- 1453785
TI  - Comparison between the more recent techniques for smoothing and derivative
      assessment in biomechanics.
AB  - When analysing and evaluating human motion, two strictly interconnected problems
      arise: the data smoothing and the determination of velocities and accelerations
      from displacement data. Differentiating procedures magnify the noise superimposed
      on the useful kinematic data. A smoothing procedure is thus required to reduce
      the measurement noise before the differentiation can be carried out. In the paper
      two techniques for derivative assessment are presented, tested and compared. One
      of these is the procedure known as one of the best automatic smoothing and
      differentiating techniques: generalised cross validatory spline smoothing and
      differentiation (GCVC). The other, which has recently been presented, features an
      automatic model-based bandwidth-selection procedure (LAMBDA). The procedures have
      been tested with signals presented by other authors and available in the
      literature, by test signals acquired using the ELITE motion analyser and by
      synthetic data. The results show better or similar performance of LAMBDA compared
      with GCVC. In the cases in which the natural conditions at the signal boundaries
      are not met GCVC gives bad results (especially on the third derivative) whereas
      LAMBDA is not affected at all. Moreover, analysis time is dramatically lower for
      LAMBDA.

PMID- 1453786
TI  - On/off control in FES-induced standing up: a model study and experiments.
AB  - Control of paraplegic standing up was studied with respect to the limitation of
      the end-velocity of the knee joint when the patient reaches the upright position.
      Closed-loop on/off control of knee extensor muscle was compared with open-loop
      controlled standing up both in a model study and in paraplegic patients in a
      controlled model situation. Criteria were knee-end-velocity and knee extensor
      muscle activation time. Sensitivity of the system to additional arm support and
      (in the model study) to the dynamics of knee extensor muscle was studied. It is
      concluded that the control scheme may reduce knee-end velocity to about 40 per
      cent and knee extensor activation time to near 70 per cent of the respective open
      loop values.

PMID- 1453788
TI  - Vectorial measurement of blood velocity by means of ultrasound.
AB  - The complete determination of blood velocity as a vector can be achieved using
      ultrasound techniques, by correlating the echo signals provided by a sector
      transducer. Here the general problem is approached by suggesting the processing
      procedure which should be adopted, so that longitudinal and transverse velocity
      components can be separated. After this a specific transducer layout is
      considered, which is suitable for in-plane measurements, and possible
      performances are evaluated by means of simulation. Finally, an experimental
      facility, set up to demonstrate the validity of the theoretical lines developed
      in two-dimensional geometry, is described, together with the preliminary results
      obtained.

PMID- 1453787
TI  - FFT-based digital tactile vocoder system for real-time use.
AB  - A microprocessor-based real-time digital vibrotactile vocoder system has been
      developed to train the deaf and for artificial hearing research. The system is
      composed of a microcomputer module with a digital signal processor, interface
      units and an attenuator/driver circuit. Live or digitised (stored or synthetic)
      speech is presented to the skin spectrally through a belt housing eight or 16
      vibrators. Speech is processed in real time using a fast Fourier transform. The
      system is also capable of presenting any arbitrary spatiotemporal pattern on the
      skin for artificial hearing experiments. A preliminary experiment with a deaf
      subject indicates that the system is potentially an effective device for
      artificial hearing.

PMID- 1453789
TI  - Radio frequency probe and power amplifier for nuclear magnetic resonance
      microscopy and microvolume selected 1H spectroscopy at 500 MHz.

PMID- 1453790
TI  - Semi-automated system for photographing wing motion in free-flying insects.

PMID- 1453791
TI  - Theoretical and experimental study of wound healing: application to leg ulcers.

PMID- 1453792
TI  - Three-dimensional microprocessor-controlled electrode positioning system for
      microelectrode measurement.

PMID- 1453793
TI  - Micropower, strain-gauge sampling circuit for prosthetic limb applications.

PMID- 1453794
TI  - Miniature, remotely-controlled microelectrode driver for use in conscious,
      unrestrained animals.

PMID- 1453795
TI  - Top of R-wave trigger circuit.

PMID- 1453796
TI  - High-pass filtering of ECG signals using QRS elimination.

PMID- 1453797
TI  - Treatment of chronic wounds by means of electric and electromagnetic fields. Part
      1. Literature review.
AB  - The healing of a cutaneous wound is accompanied by endogeneous electrical
      phenomena. Not knowing whether they represent merely a side-effect of the
      physiological processes which take course during healing or whether they play a
      much more important role as mediators of healing, externally applied electricity
      was examined as a therapeutic tool for the enhancement of natural regenerative
      processes. In the present review a historical literature survey dealing with
      human applications of electric current for wound healing acceleration is given.
      It presents a complete palette of heterogeneous studies, differing in the
      parameters of applied electric current, in delivery modes as well as in the types
      of wounds being stimulated. Because of all these differences, comparing the
      efficacy of the described methods is difficult and could hardly be objective.
      Therefore greater stress was laid upon the discussion concerning the problems in
      designing clinical studies (size of the sample observed, control group, ethics of
      the procedures), rationales for the employment and possible underlying mechanisms
      of particular methods, and problems of evaluating their efficacy. In spite of the
      extensive work performed in the field of electrical wound healing we remain only
      part way towards explaining the mechanisms by which electricity reinforces the
      regenerative capabilities of injured tissue as well as only part way towards the
      selection of the optimal stimulation method from among the published reports.

PMID- 1453798
TI  - Effect of ensemble averaging on amplitude and feature variabilities of Doppler
      spectrograms recorded in the lower limb arteries.
AB  - The objective of the present study was to analyse the effect of averaging Doppler
      blood flow signals in lower limb arteries on amplitude and feature variabilities.
      Doppler signals recorded in 41 iliac and 35 superficial femoral arteries having
      different categories of stenosis were averaged over 1-15 cardiac cycles. Based on
      the relative decreasing rate of an index of variability, results indicated that
      amplitude variability of the spectrograms was exponentially reduced to 30, 6 and
      1 per cent when averaging five, ten and 15 cardiac cycles, respectively. Nine
      diagnostic features were extracted from Doppler spectrograms and their variations
      from one cardiac cycle to the next quantified. Based on the relative decreasing
      rate of these variations, results indicated that feature variability was
      exponentially reduced to 30, 4 and 1 per cent when averaging five, ten and 15
      cardiac cycles, respectively. The effect of averaging on the discriminant power
      of the features to separate the different categories of stenosis was also
      investigated by performing t-test analyses. Results showed that averaging between
      five and ten cardiac cycles provided the better discriminant power for most
      cases, whereas averaging over more than ten cardiac cycles was of little benefit.
      Based on the spectral analysis technique used in the present study, we conclude
      that averaging over ten cardiac cycles is sufficient for the analysis of Doppler
      spectrograms recorded in the lower limbs.

PMID- 1453799
TI  - Frequency domain analysis of highly amplified ECG on the basis of maximum entropy
      spectral estimation.
AB  - Recognition of patients with high risk for ventricular tachycardia (VT) or sudden
      cardiac death is of high clinical importance. We have investigated the efficiency
      of maximum entropy spectral estimation (MES) to detect such risk patients on the
      basis of highly amplified surface ECG. In comparison with the traditionally
      applied periodogram (fast Fourier transform), the MES produces sharper and more
      pronounced peaks in the power density spectrum (PS). The main problem is the
      influence of residual noise (after averaging), which often leads to additional
      components in the PS. To completely avoid this negative noise influence we
      developed a new algorithm, called the variance subtraction method. In a first
      clinical investigation 86 per cent of patients with myocardial infarction and
      ventricular tachycardia have shown frequency components above 80 Hz in the PS
      compared with healthy persons where no frequency components above this 80 Hz
      level could be detected.

PMID- 1453800
TI  - Duchenne muscular dystrophy quantification: a multivariate analysis of surface
      EMG.
AB  - The paper describes a method of quantifying Duchenne muscular dystrophy which is
      examiner independent and uses surface electromyographic signals (EMG). A
      standardised protocol is proposed. Spectral parameters are first computed from
      digitised EMG, then a polynomial model is deduced from the evolution of each
      parameter. A discriminant analysis between healthy and DMD subjects leads to the
      determination of a discriminant plane and a level of sickness index.

PMID- 1453801
TI  - Propagation model using the DiFrancesco-Noble equations. Comparison to reported
      experimental results.
AB  - Propagation, re-entry and the effects of stimuli within the conduction system can
      be studied effectively with computer models when the pertinent membrane
      properties can be represented accurately in mathematical form. To date, no
      membrane models have been shown to be accurate representations during
      repolarisation and recovery of excitability, although for the Purkinje membrane
      the DiFrancesco-Noble (DN) model has become a possibility. The paper examines the
      DN model, restates its equations and compares simulated waveforms in a number of
      propagation contexts to experimental measurements reported in the literature. The
      objective is to determine whether or not the DN model reproduced phenomena such
      as supernormality, shortening in action potential duration during pacing rate
      increases, alternation of duration with changes in rhythm, graded responses and
      'all-or-none' repolarisation in a quantitatively realistic way, as each of these
      come from time and space dependencies not directly a part of the ionic current
      measurements on which the DN model is based. The results show that the DN
      equations correctly simulate these situations and support the goal of having a
      model that is broadly applicable to Purkinje tissue, including refractory period
      properties and response to electrical stimulation.

PMID- 1453802
TI  - Potential distribution and single-fibre action potentials in a radially bounded
      muscle model.
AB  - In modelling the electrical behaviour of muscle tissue, we used to employ a
      frequency-dependent volume conductor network model, which was infinitely extended
      in all directions. Equations in this model could be solved using a finite
      difference approach. The most important restriction of this model was the fact
      that no boundary effects could be incorporated. Analytical models of muscle
      tissue normally do not have this disadvantage, but in those models the
      microscopic structure of muscle tissue cannot be taken into account. In the
      paper, we present a combined numerical/analytical approach, which enables the
      study of potential distributions and SFAPs in simulated microscopic muscle tissue
      in which the influence of the muscle boundary has been considered. We considered
      muscle models with radii of 1.5 mm and 10 mm. Both models were compared with an
      unbounded network model. In the model with a radius of 1.5 mm we varied the
      position of the active fibre relative to the muscle surface. It appeared that in
      most cases the presence of a boundary had a considerable effect on the potential
      distribution. An increase in the peak-to-peak value of the SFAP amplitude up to
      300 per cent was noticed when the active fibre was positioned 500 microns beneath
      the muscle surface in a model with a radius of 1.5 mm.

PMID- 1453803
TI  - Mathematical modelling of flow distribution in the human cardiovascular system.
AB  - The paper presents a detailed model of the entire human cardiovascular system
      which aims to study the changes in flow distribution caused by external stimuli,
      changes in internal parameters, or other factors. The arterial-venous network is
      represented by 325 interconnected elastic segments. The mathematical description
      of each segment is based on equations of hydrodynamics and those of stress/strain
      relationships in elastic materials. Appropriate input functions provide for the
      pumping of blood by the heart through the system. The analysis employs the finite
      element technique which can accommodate any prescribed boundary conditions.
      Values of model parameters are from available data on physical and rheological
      properties of blood and blood vessels. As a representative example, simulation
      results on changes in flow distribution with changes in the elastic properties of
      blood vessels are discussed. They indicate that the errors in the calculated
      overall flow rates are not significant even in the extreme case of arteries and
      veins behaving as rigid tubes.

PMID- 1453804
TI  - Cardiovascular responses to external counterpulsation: a computer simulation.
AB  - A mathematical model of the human cardiovascular system is presented which
      includes a simulation of cardiac assistance by external counterpulsation. The
      model was established to study the effects of external counterpulsation on
      cardiovascular haemodynamics. The closed simulation includes both the left and
      the right heart and the pulmonary circulation. The model is able to provide data
      for the behaviour of the system under varying modes of assistance. Our results
      suggest that control of external counterpulsation is more difficult than control
      of the intra-aortic balloon pump and requires regulation of a larger number of
      variables. The results also suggest that a tradeoff exists between improved
      oxygen delivery to the heart and reduction in the oxygen consumption of the
      myocardium, an observation similar to that reported for the intra-aortic balloon
      pump.

PMID- 1453805
TI  - Equivalent dipole estimation of spontaneous EEG alpha activity: two-moving dipole
      approach.
AB  - A method of estimating equivalent moving and fixed dipoles from the scalp
      recorded EEG alpha waves, with the realistic geometry of the head taken into
      account, is presented. Twenty-one silver electrodes were used to collect
      spontaneous EEG alpha waves on the scale. Four models, the single-moving dipole
      model, the single-fixed dipole model, the two-moving dipole model and the two
      fixed dipole model were applied to approximate the EEG alpha field on the scalp.
      The algorithm, based on a least-squares fit for estimating the moving and the
      fixed dipoles by using a realistically shaped head model, is described. The
      numerical accuracy of the algorithm is also evaluated by a computer simulation.
      It is found that the spontaneous EEG alpha activity observed on the scalp can be
      represented by two equivalent moving dipoles, simultaneously located separately
      in the occipital regions of the right and the left hemisphere, at a depth of 4-6
      cm beneath the scalp, with a goodness-of-fit of up to 97 per cent for all
      subjects examined. The excellent fit of the two-moving dipole model to the EEG
      human alpha activity is also compared with the single-dipole fit.

PMID- 1453806
TI  - Droop: a rapidly computable descriptor of local minimum tissue temperature during
      conductive interstitial hyperthermia.
AB  - Although the goal of local hyperthermia therapy for cancer is to elevate the
      temperature of a tumour to cytotoxic levels, without the presence of 'cold
      spots', varying blood flow has made the achievement of consistent, therapeutic
      temperature distributions extraordinarily difficult. The paper presents a novel
      approach to estimating local minimum tumour temperatures during conductive
      interstitial hyperthermia which facilitates identification and elimination of
      cold spots. Conductive interstitial hyperthermia is modelled mathematically for a
      parallel array of implanted, electrically heated catheters which warms the
      treated tissue by thermal conduction and blood perfusion. Computer simulations
      employing the bioheat transfer equation reveal a predictive relationship between
      implanted catheter temperature, catheter power, implantation geometry and local
      minimum tumour temperature. Formulation of this relationship in terms of a
      parameter named 'droop' allows estimation of local minimum intratumoural
      temperatures from individual catheter temperature and power. Computer simulations
      are also performed to determine the sensitivity of the droop-based estimator to
      variations in properties of the tissue and catheters. Generally, variations in
      geometry or thermal properties of about 10 per cent cause estimation errors of
      less than 1 degree C in magnitude. These results suggest that online estimates of
      thermal 'droop' may provide a practical route to more consistent control of
      intratumoural minimum temperature during conductive interstitial heat therapy.

PMID- 1453807
TI  - Semiautomatic three-dimensional knee motion assessment system.
AB  - A semiautomatic three-dimensional knee motion assessment system has been
      developed based on an optoelectric motion tracking system connected to an IBM
      compatible computer. Critical decisions made in implementing the software
      component of the system include the modelling of the thigh and lower leg
      segments, calculating the knee angles, reaction forces, and moments; the file
      structure used and the format of the programs used to process the data are
      outlined. Once the subject-specific data have been collected, the system of
      programs requires no other user-intervention during processing. Also, selected
      curve parameters are automatically extracted from the output and combined with
      the subject-specific data that include precision X-ray and anthropometric data,
      which are all added to a knee motion assessment database. The automated portion
      of the system frees the experimenter from data processing and allows
      concentration on data analysis.

PMID- 1453808
TI  - Approach to the estimation of alveolar pressure from noninvasive measurement of
      upper airway resistance.
AB  - An alternative to whole body plethysmography is proposed for estimating upper
      airway resistance. The feasibility study indicates that the method should be
      suitable for diagnostic and clinical purposes, following a proper survey and the
      testing of its reproducibility. 11 subjects are asked to breath normally through
      12 small resistances while flow and pressure are monitored at the mouth. Chest
      movements are recorded by sampling a chest cross-section, and relative variations
      of the cross-section are compared to the expired and inspired volumes. No
      viscoelastic effects are significantly documented so that in a first
      approximation a model consisting only of resistors is applied to the airways. In
      each subject the patterns of the flow and mouth-pressure are heuristically
      estimated as a polynomial function of the added resistance. From the fit of the
      resistor model, the internal resistance of the airways is estimated as that value
      able to link the flow-resistance function to the pressure-resistance function,
      according to the classic Kirchhoff laws. We obtain resistances of (mean
      resistance +/- SD) 2.9 +/- 1.1, range 1.1 to 5.2, hPasdm-3 during expiration and
      2.5 +/- 0.8, range 1.3 to 3.7, hPasdm-3 during inspiration.

PMID- 1453809
TI  - Radial changes of extracellular potential amplitude and integral characteristics
      and the inverse problem in electroneurography.
AB  - The possibility of solving the inverse problem in electroneurography, i.e. of
      estimating the main parameters specifying the activated fibre's functional state,
      using the amplitude and integral characteristics of the surface potentials
      generated by infinite homogeneous fibres, has been analysed. An analytical
      expression has been found for the amplitude of the negative phase Anph of the
      single fibre extracellular action potential (SFEAP) as a function of the
      wavelength b, the fibre-electrode distance y and a scale factor Ao proportional
      to the intracellular action potential amplitude Vm, to the square of the fibre
      radius a and to the ratio of the axoplasm conductivity sigma a and volume
      conductor conductivity sigma e. For a large fibre-electrode distance, typical of
      surface recordings, an analytical expression of the integral of the negative
      phase Inph of the SFEAP as a function of Ao, b, y and the propagation velocity v
      was also found. Simple methods are proposed for estimating v, the location of the
      electrical centre of the activated fibres' territory and the product of the
      number of activated fibres N, duration T(in) of the intracellular action
      potential and of the factor Ao. The estimation errors due to the temporal and
      spatial dispersion of the activated fibres were analysed as a function of the
      fibre-electrode distance and the territory shape.

PMID- 1453810
TI  - Three-wheel cycle ergometer for use by men and women with paralysis.

PMID- 1453811
TI  - Transcutaneous optical telemetry system for an implantable electrical ventricular
      heart assist device.

PMID- 1453812
TI  - Flexible PC-based workstation for auditory evoked potential and psychoacoustic
      experiments.

PMID- 1453813
TI  - Effect of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA '88) on
      the incidence of invasive cervical cancer.
AB  - The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1988 (CLIA '88) mandates strict, new
      quality-control measures for laboratories that interpret cervical cytology
      smears. Proposed regulations include proficiency testing of cytotechnologists and
      remediation for technologists and laboratories that fail to meet proposed
      proficiency standards. Proponents of the new regulations argue that these
      measures will reduce deaths from cervical cancer by reducing the false-negative
      rate of the Papanicolaou (Pap) test, but opponents argue that the regulations
      will increase the price of processing Pap tests and thereby reduce access to
      cervical cancer screening for high-risk, vulnerable populations. To examine these
      claims the authors used David Eddy's published simulation to model the natural
      history and detection of cervical neoplasia, and developed a new model to examine
      the health consequences of diminished access to Pap testing. The authors
      estimated the false-negative rate of the Pap test and the price elasticity of
      demand for preventive services on the basis of the published literature, and
      modeled the entire range of published or quoted predictions about the impact of
      CLIA '88 on accuracy and price. The results show that, if effects on access are
      ignored, reducing the false-negative rate from 15% to 5% would prevent 66
      invasive cancers per 100,000 average risk women screened. However, under moderate
      assumptions regarding the effect of price on access, the regulations would
      prevent only 11 (instead of 66) cancers per 100,000 eligible women. The
      regulatory effect is very sensitive to the degree of improvement in the false
      negative rate and increase in price that the regulations cause. Over the range of
      assumptions and predictions encountered in the literature and tested in our
      analysis, the proposed regulations could greatly reduce or greatly increase the
      incidence of invasive cancer, especially among high-risk and uninsured women. The
      implementation of the regulations should be delayed until new information
      regarding the actual false-negative rate of the Pap test allow a more precise
      estimate of the potential impact on the incidence of cervical cancer.

PMID- 1453814
TI  - Variation in a medical faculty's decisions to transfuse. Implications for
      modifying blood product utilization.
AB  - Previous studies have identified disconcerting differences in transfusion
      practices among physicians. This article investigates decisionmaking on
      transfusion by a medical school faculty. One hundred fourteen physicians
      indicated their propensity to transfuse 24 hypothetical patients who varied
      systematically in four clinical cues. Physicians agreed with transfusion for a
      widely divergent number of these patients (mean, 14.6; standard deviation, 5.5;
      range, 0 to 24). Although the physicians agreed on the order of importance of the
      clinical cues, they varied significantly in the importance they empirically
      attributed to the cues and in their thresholds for transfusion. Aside from a
      slightly higher propensity to transfuse by general internists, differences in
      decisionmaking were not attributable to physician-based variables. The wide
      variability in decisionmaking among physicians in the face of agreement on the
      order of importance of clinical cues suggests that quality assurance programs,
      and guidelines that only list the cues that ought to influence transfusion
      decisions, have low potential to achieve blood-product conservation.

PMID- 1453815
TI  - A discrete choice model of alcoholism treatment location.
AB  - In this study, a discrete choice model of alcoholism treatment location, with
      special emphasis on the roles of comorbidities is considered. Three specific
      questions are addressed: 1) what demographic and health factors have significant
      impacts on treatment location for both short- and long-term alcoholism and
      nonalcoholism treatments?; 2) how does the impact of alcohol dependence differ
      from the impact of alcohol abuse, on probabilities of short-term or long-term
      inpatient treatment?; and 3) what are the impacts of health comorbidities on
      probabilities of inpatient treatment in the short or long term? A binomial logit
      model is estimated for short- and long-term alcoholism treatment, as well as for
      short- and long-term nonalcoholism treatment (which occurs at the same time). The
      results indicate the importance of comorbidities in predicting treatment
      location. They also indicate a trend during the 1980s toward increased use of
      outpatient rather than inpatient treatment.

PMID- 1453817
TI  - Development and validation of the Nursing Severity Index. A new method for
      measuring severity of illness using nursing diagnoses. Nurses of University
      Hospitals of Cleveland.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Nursing Severity Index,
      a new method used to measure the admission severity of illness of hospital
      patients using nursing diagnoses, which categorize biologic, functional,
      cognitive, and psychosocial abnormalities. This retrospective cohort study with
      independent development and testing phases was conducted at a U.S. academic
      medical center. In the development phase, data regarding 14,183 adult medical
      surgical patients admitted to the medical center in 1985 and 1986 was used. In
      the testing phase, data regarding 7,302 patients admitted in 1987 and 1988 was
      used. Primary nurses prospectively recorded the presence or absence of 61 nursing
      diagnoses on admission. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from hospital
      data bases. In the development phase, the number of admission nursing diagnoses
      was highly related (P < 0.001) to in-hospital mortality. Using multiple logistic
      regression, 34 nursing diagnoses were identified as independent predictors of
      mortality; the Nursing Severity Index equals the number of these 34 diagnoses. In
      the testing phase of 7,302 patients, the Nursing Severity Index was related (P <
      0.001) to mortality rates, which were 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 6%, 13%, 22%, and 31% in
      seven hierarchical strata defined by the Index. The Index was as accurate in
      predicting mortality as MedisGroups (receiver-operating-characteristic curve
      areas, 0.814 +/- 0.016 vs. 0.845 +/- 0.015, respectively, P = 0.12). Furthermore,
      the Nursing Severity Index and MedisGroups together (receiver operating
      characteristic curve area 0.880 +/- 0.014), were more accurate (P < 0.01) than
      either measure alone. The Nursing Severity Index assesses multiple dimensions of
      illness, can be easily measured during routine patient care, accurately predicts
      the risk of in-hospital death, and has similar prognostic accuracy as
      MedisGroups. Its usefulness in outcomes assessment, quality assurance, and case
      management merits further study.

PMID- 1453816
TI  - Development of the 'Activities of Daily Vision Scale'. A measure of visual
      functional status.
AB  - To develop a method for the evaluation of visual function in subjects with
      cataracts, the authors identified 20 visual activities and categorized them into
      five subscales (distance vision, near vision, glare disability, night driving,
      and daytime driving) that comprised the Activities of Daily Vision Scale (ADVS).
      Each subscale in the ADVS was scored between 100 (no visual difficulty) and 0
      (inability to perform the activity because of visual difficulty). In 334 subjects
      scheduled for cataract extraction (mean age 75 +/- 9 years, 67% women), ADVS
      scores (mean +/- standard deviation) for each subscale ranged from 44 +/- 31 for
      night driving to 72 +/- 24 for near vision activities. When administered by
      telephone, inter-rater reliability coefficients (r) were 0.82 to 0.97 (P < 0.001)
      for each of the subscales, and test-retest reliability was 0.87 for the scale
      overall. Cronbach's coefficient alpha was very high for both the in-person (alpha
      = 0.94) and telephone (alpha = 0.91) formats. Criterion validity, the correlation
      between visual loss and ADVS score, was -0.37 (P < 0.001) when the ADVS was
      administered in person and -0.39 (P < 0.001) when it was administered by
      telephone. Content validity as assessed with factor analysis showed that 88% of
      the variance of the principal components weighted on one factor. The authors
      conclude that substantial visual disability is not captured by routine visual
      testing and that the ADVS is a reliable and valid measure of patient's perception
      of visual functional impairment.

PMID- 1453818
TI  - A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of a model of mental
      health services use by Puerto Rican poor.
AB  - In this study, the contribution of four distinct domains of the Help Seeking
      Decision Making model to predicting the use of mental health services is
      examined. Using a proposed methodology the authors assess the relevance of this
      model and its domains to mental services planning. The methodology combines
      logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.
      Logistic regression analysis allows us to examine the individual variables of the
      model and generate predictions about use. ROC curves allow us to compare and
      interpret the relative contribution of a predisposing domain, a physical and
      mental health domain, an enabling-restrictive domain, and an organizational
      domain in correctly classifying users and nonusers of mental health services. The
      physical and mental health domain yielded a Somer's D-statistic of 0.7, which
      corresponds to an 85% correct classification of randomly selected pairs of users
      and nonusers. The study findings suggest that comparing ROC curves helps to
      describe and interpret the domains of the model that are relevant for making
      predictions about who will or will not use mental health services during a 1-year
      period.

PMID- 1453819
TI  - The relationship between commuting patterns and health resources in
      nonmetropolitan counties of the United States.

PMID- 1453820
TI  - [Parotiditis in postvaccination period. Epidemiologic pattern and vaccine
      effectiveness in an epidemic outbreak].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Upon the detection of an excess number of cases of parotiditis in La
      Almolda (Zaragoza) a descriptive study of the epidemic was carried out with
      vaccination efficacy being quantified. METHODS: The definition and system of
      detection of the cases was established. To calculate the rate of infection the
      available demographic data were used as denominators. A study of retrospective
      groups was designed to calculate the vaccination efficacy including one group of
      vaccinated subjects and another of non vaccinated subjects. Age and viral contact
      were considered as inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Fifty-two cases of parotiditis
      were detected. The rate of infection in a population of under 30 years of age was
      18.9%. The most affected age group corresponded to the interval of between 10-14
      years of age with a specific rate of 46.5%. The risk of infection was greatest
      amongst public school students (RR = 5; p = 0.00015). Vaccination efficacy was
      74.68%. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the tendency that parotiditis affects
      older subjects during the prevaccination period. The vaccination efficacy found
      to be 74.68% was lower the efficacy determined from seroconversion studies.

PMID- 1453821
TI  - [Molecular analysis of chronic Philadelphia chromosome negative myeloid leukemia:
      study of 6 cases].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients with Philadelphia negative (Ph-) chronic myeloid leukemia
      (CML) constitute a small proportion of the total number of patients with CML.
      Molecular analysis of these cases has permitted recognition that some cases
      present a breakpoint in the bcr region of chromosome 22, that is, the alteration
      constituting the substrate of the Ph chromosome. To date, the number of patients
      analyzed to this regard is low. METHODS: Six patients with Ph negative CML who
      constituted part of a series of 96 patients diagnosed with CML over a period of 6
      years were studied. Analysis of the BCR gene in the DNA of the leuko-concentrate
      of peripheral blood was carried out with the Southern Blot technique, using the
      3' and 5' probes and Transprobe and the restriction enzymes Bgl II, Eco RI, Hind
      III and Bam HI. The principal clinical-hematological characteristics of the
      patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Breakpoints were observed in the bcr region of
      chromosome 22 in 3 of the 6 patients, all of whom presented typical CML clinical
      hematological features. CONCLUSIONS: Half of the patients with Philadelphia
      negative (Ph-) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) have a breakpoint in the bcr region
      of chromosome 22, a similar molecular pattern to the Ph positive CML and their
      clinical-hematological profile is indistinguishable from those with CML.

PMID- 1453822
TI  - [Drug consumption in diabetes mellitus (I). Estimate of the therapeutic profile
      and the prevalence in the regions of Tarragona (548,900 inhabitants). Grup per a
      l'Estudi de la Diabetis a Tarragona].
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to estimate the treatment characteristics
      and prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) diagnosed in the counties of Tarragona
      (548,900 inhabitants) from the consumption of hypoglycemic medication. METHODS: A
      stratified aleatory sample was made of the prescription of oral hypoglycemic
      agents (OHA) and insulin (INS) in 14 centers of primary health care. Calculation
      of pharmacy dispensing and prescriptions (computer network of the Institut Catala
      de la Salut) was carried out with a relation of the mean doses of the survey and
      the estimate of the consumer population being made. A contrast was made of the
      system with the daily doses defined (DDD/1,000 inhabitants/day) of the different
      OHA and INS preparations. RESULTS: Following aleatorization a representative
      sample of 550 diabetics, 64 (11.6%) type I and 486 (88.4%) type II was obtained.
      In total, 61 were treated with diet alone (IC 95%; 8-13%, p less than 0.05); 249
      (41-49%) with OHA (51% of type II) and 240 (39-47%) received insulin, all the
      type I and 176 (36%) type II. In 23 cases (2-5%) multiple therapy with different
      drugs was confirmed and 72 (10-15%) were treated with the maximal doses of OHA
      recommended. The rate of OHA/INS was 2.02-2.05. The prevalence of pharmaco
      treated DM was 1.9% (prescriptions of public health) and 2.1-2.3% (total
      consumption). The method for DDD was evaluated as between 1.8% (prescriptions)
      and 2.0% (total consumption). Globally, during 1990 the prevalence of DM
      diagnosed in Tarragona was estimated as between 2.1-2.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The
      estimation of the prevalence of diabetes mellitus indicated higher numbers than
      those obtained in other studies providing a first line indicator for the planning
      of care for diabetics in this demarcation. The study also identified the real
      therapeutic tendencies permitting the extraction of lines of action for the
      education of diabetics and the formation of professionals attending these
      patients.

PMID- 1453823
TI  - [Is parotiditis preventable in Spain].

PMID- 1453824
TI  - [Hepatitis A. An eradicable disease?].

PMID- 1453825
TI  - [Pharmaceutic promotion and publicity: quo vadis?].

PMID- 1453826
TI  - [Future techniques of prenatal diagnosis (II). Fetal cells in blood of pregnant
      women].

PMID- 1453827
TI  - [Lupus anticoagulant in patients infected by the human immunodeficiency syndrome
      in stages preceding the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].

PMID- 1453828
TI  - [Massive pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade as presentation form of
      hypothyroidism].

PMID- 1453829
TI  - [Hypoglycemic coma, infrequent cause of arrhythmia].

PMID- 1453830
TI  - [Clinical usefulness of serum determination of antigen associated with esophageal
      carcinoma].

PMID- 1453831
TI  - [Considerable hypoglycemia in anorexia nervosa].

PMID- 1453832
TI  - [Focal neurologic manifestations in a patient with mediterranean boutonneuse
      fever].

PMID- 1453833
TI  - [Leiomyoma of soft tissues and deep localization].

PMID- 1453834
TI  - [LE cells in peripheral blood and pleural fluid in a patient with rheumatoid
      arthritis].

PMID- 1453835
TI  - Laser stapedotomy: a comparative study of prostheses and seals.
AB  - During the past 13 years, a number of prostheses of differing design and tissue
      seals have been used in laser stapedotomy for otosclerosis. This study compares
      the results of three different configurations of prostheses and tissue seals in a
      series of 53 patients. In 19, a platinum wire Teflon piston was placed in the
      laser stapedotomy fenestra and crimped on the long process of the incus;
      autologous venous blood was infiltrated into the oval window niche as a sealing
      mechanism. In 8 patients, a stainless steel bucket-handle-type prosthesis was
      used with a blood tissue seal. In 26 patients, a segment of autogenous vein was
      clad onto the bucket-handle-type prosthesis and placed into the laser fenestra.
      Two tissue seals (blood and vein) were also compared. The results were compared
      with regard to several audiometric parameters. It would appear that the bucket
      handle/vein configuration improves air-bone gap closure in the low- and mid
      frequency speech range and also shows an advantage for air-bone gap closure to 10
      dB or less compared to the other configurations in this study. Mean postoperative
      gaps were significantly less for vein compared to the blood tissue seal.
      Physiologic and surgical implications are discussed, and the vein-clad technique
      is illustrated.

PMID- 1453836
TI  - Same-day-stay head and neck surgery.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine if selective head and neck surgical
      procedures on a same-day basis are justifiable. Two hundred consecutive head and
      neck same-day procedures were reviewed, including 84 parotidectomies and 116
      other procedures previously managed as inpatients. Of the 200 patients, 36 (18%)
      were admitted, 33 for overnight observation, and 164 (82%) were discharged the
      same day. There were no complications reported in the discharged patients and a
      later questionnaire showed that 97% of the patients were satisfied. The
      advantages of selective same-day procedures outweigh the disadvantages for
      otolaryngologist and patient. The study shows that same-day-stay head and neck
      surgery for selective procedures is safe, reasonable, and cost-effective, but the
      combined efforts of the otolaryngologists, nurses, and administrators are
      required. Because of rising healthcare costs, experts are predicting a
      significant increase in the next few years of outpatient surgery, including
      surgery of the head and neck.

PMID- 1453837
TI  - Classification of laryngotracheal stenosis.
AB  - Seventy-two cases of laryngotracheal stenosis treated from 1981 through 1991 were
      reviewed to develop a system of classification which would be useful in
      predicting the outcome of treatment. Decannulation and absence of dyspnea after
      exertion were the criteria of successful management. The probability of
      decannulation over time was computed using the Kaplan-Meier technique. Cox
      multiple regression analysis was used to determine the effects of independent
      variables (age, sex, etiology, site of stenosis, length of stenosis, diameter of
      stenosis, and surgical technique) on treatment success. The only factors with a
      significant effect on the outcome were site of stenosis and diameter of stenosis.
      A classification into four clinical stages of stenosis based on site of lesion
      was shown to effectively predict the likelihood of successful decannulation.

PMID- 1453838
TI  - The management of subglottic stenosis in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis.
AB  - Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a multisystem inflammatory disease characterized
      by vasculitis, granuloma formation, and necrosis. Among 158 patients treated at
      the National Institutes of Health during the past 24 years, 145 (92%) had an
      otolaryngologic manifestation of their disease and 25 (16%) had subglottic
      stenosis (SGS). SGS varied from asymptomatic to life-threatening. Sixteen (80%)
      of 20 patients with fixed SGS required surgical intervention, including manual
      dilations, carbon-dioxide laser resections, and laryngotracheoplasty (LTP). LTP
      was performed with and without microvascular reconstruction. Thirteen of the
      patients required tracheostomy and all 13 were ultimately decannulated. Five
      patients who repeatedly failed dilations and/or endoscopic laser surgery
      underwent LTP. Since 1987, two patients have undergone LTP with microvascular
      free flaps. Both patients were subsequently decannulated. The authors' experience
      demonstrates that management of SGS in WG is complex, requiring individualized
      frequent multimodality interventions to achieve satisfactory results.
      Microvascular laryngotracheal reconstruction should be considered in the surgical
      armamentarium for patients with persistent stenoses.

PMID- 1453839
TI  - Thermal effects on horseradish peroxidase uptake in laser nerve transections.
AB  - The authors previously reported that rat tibial nerves transected with CO2 or
      KTP/532 laser transmit less horseradish peroxidase (HRP) than those transected
      with a scalpel. This may be due to laser-specific effects or to thermal phenomena
      that are laser-independent. This study investigated potential thermal effects on
      the transmission of HRP through the tibial branch of the sciatic nerve in rats.
      Bilateral nerve transections were performed on 18 animals using a scalpel
      (control) or an electrocautery device, which simulated the thermal effects
      produced by lasers. HRP retrograde transport and deposition in the rat spinal
      cord were analyzed. Thirteen of 15 animals showed a higher number of HRP-labelled
      neurons on the scalpel side compared to the electrocautery side; a paired
      student's t test showed a significant difference (P = .028) in the numbers of HRP
      stained cell bodies between the control group (x = 687.13 +/- 119.3) and the
      electrocautery group (x = 388.1 +/- 111.2). In conclusion, reduced HRP uptake in
      tibial nerves transected with lasers may be in part due to thermal effects
      produced by the lasers.

PMID- 1453840
TI  - Cholesteatoma in the pediatric population: prognostic indicators for surgical
      decision making.
AB  - A review of surgical therapy for pediatric cholesteatoma at the Arkansas
      Children's Hospital was performed. Fifty-three children treated surgically for
      cholesteatoma were studied over a 10-year period. Primary acquired, or attic
      retraction cholesteatomas, were generally treated with a canal up
      tympanomastoidectomy; there were very few complications or secondary procedures
      in this group. Middle ear or secondary acquired cholesteatomas were initially
      treated by both canal up and canal down procedures; however, a large percentage
      of these patients eventually required an open cavity procedure. The presence of
      cholesteatoma in the sinus tympani strongly predicted failure to control disease
      with a canal up procedure (P < .05); conversely, the absence of matrix in the
      sinus tympani was predictive for success when a canal up procedure was used for
      attic cholesteatoma (P < .05). Finally, it was determined that follow-up was not
      adequate in our patient population. With this in mind, guidelines for the
      management of pediatric cholesteatoma will be presented.

PMID- 1453841
TI  - Surgical management of the thyroid nodule: patient selection based on the results
      of fine-needle aspiration cytology.
AB  - To determine whether the routine use of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology
      reduces the rate of unnecessary surgery, the surgical pathology of 54
      thyroidectomy patients who had preoperative FNA was compared to the results
      obtained with 24 thyroidectomy patients who did not have preoperative FNA. Twenty
      nine (85.3%) of the 34 patients who had a positive FNA were confirmed by
      histology to have a thyroid neoplasm; in 24 patients, the neoplasm was malignant.
      Two of the 17 patients who had a negative FNA but underwent thyroidectomy based
      on other factors were found to have thyroid cancer. Only 8 (33.3%) of the 24
      surgical specimens of patients who did not have an FNA were found to be
      malignant. FNA had a sensitivity of 93.5% and a specificity of 75.0%. The results
      indicate that the routine use of FNA for patients with thyroid nodules reduces
      the incidence of unnecessary surgery. Furthermore, FNA alone is sufficient to
      identify most patients at risk and is, therefore, cost-effective. However, the
      presence of other findings suspicious of malignancy should preclude clinical
      decision making based on FNA alone.

PMID- 1453842
TI  - Hearing preservation following surgical removal of meningiomas affecting the
      temporal bone.
AB  - It is a common clinical impression that preservation of hearing is more often
      achieved when removing a meningioma than a similarly sized acoustic tumor.
      However, relatively few reports have focused on postoperative hearing results
      after meningioma removal, and detailed audiometric data are not commonly
      provided, particularly in the neurosurgical literature. During the past 16 years,
      56 meningiomas affecting the temporal bone have been surgically removed at the
      House Ear Clinic. Hearing preservation was attempted in 16 (29%) of the 56 cases,
      and these were the focus of this study. The primary presenting symptom was
      otologic in 67% of these cases, including hearing loss as the primary symptom in
      27%. Measurable postoperative hearing was present in 11 (92%) of 12 patients with
      postoperative audiograms available, and 8 (67%) of 12 patients had good hearing
      postoperatively. Hearing was preserved near the preoperative level (within 10 dB
      speech reception threshold and 15% speech discrimination) in 75% of cases.

PMID- 1453843
TI  - Petrous apex cholesteatoma: diagnostic and treatment dilemmas.
AB  - The diagnosis and treatment of petrous apex cholesteatoma is a difficult surgical
      challenge. This study is a review of 14 cases of cholesteatoma involving the
      petrous apex. These cholesteatomas originated as a congenital primary lesion or
      secondary to an acquired lesion. The cases were evaluated according to the
      clinical features, the intraoperative findings, the radiological findings, and
      the surgical approaches. In this series, 83% of the patients presented with
      hearing loss and 50% presented with facial nerve weakness or paralysis (House
      grade II to VI). Intraoperative and radiological features revealed frequent
      direct labyrinthine and supralabyrinthine cell spread. The transpetrous surgical
      approach was used in all cases. The main factors affecting the surgical approach
      to be adopted are the inaccessible nature of the petrous apex, the extent of
      disease, the degree of facial nerve function, and the need for the prevention of
      cerebrospinal fluid leaks and the recurrence of the lesion.

PMID- 1453844
TI  - Advanced carcinoma of the tongue: total glossectomy without total laryngectomy.
      Review of 80 cases.
AB  - Opinions are divided over the validity of total glossectomy without associated
      total laryngectomy for advanced carcinoma of the tongue. This retrospective study
      evaluates the oncologic and functional results obtained in 80 patients who
      underwent total glossectomy as a primary procedure or as salvage surgery.
      Satisfactory swallowing ability was obtained in 41 patients, and speech was
      understandable in 49 patients. The survival rate at 1 year was 65%, with early
      recurrence of the disease, which was especially frequent in patients with prior
      radiotherapy, being the major cause of death. The study confirms the poor
      prognosis of cases with mandibular involvement, and the fact that partial
      laryngectomy, when required, impairs functional results. In the light of the
      authors' experience, total glossectomy without total laryngectomy should only be
      undertaken in motivated and well-supported patients able to accomplish the
      difficult rehabilitation process.

PMID- 1453845
TI  - Amyloid of the facial nerve.
AB  - Although facial nerve paralysis has been reported in association with
      amyloidosis, histologic confirmation of facial nerve involvement with amyloid has
      not been previously demonstrated. A case of localized primary amyloidosis of the
      facial nerve is presented, and a new magnetic resonance technique for imaging the
      facial nerve is described.

PMID- 1453846
TI  - Diverticular imbrication and myotomy for Zenker's.

PMID- 1453847
TI  - Endoscopic adenoidectomy for relief of serous otitis media.

PMID- 1453848
TI  - Orbitocerebral complications of pseudomonas sinusitis.

PMID- 1453849
TI  - Microscopic and endoscopic ligature of the sphenopalatine artery.

PMID- 1453850
TI  - Documentation is a snap.

PMID- 1453851
TI  - The flexible (conservative surgical) approach for chronic otitis media in young
      children.

PMID- 1453852
TI  - Directory of otolaryngological societies.

PMID- 1453853
TI  - Drill-generated SNHL.

PMID- 1453854
TI  - Results of endoscopic sinus surgery.

PMID- 1453855
TI  - Squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

PMID- 1453856
TI  - Prognostic factors, outcomes and staging in ethmoid sinus surgery.
AB  - Although the literature is replete with papers discussing the results of surgery
      for chronic inflammatory sinus disease, critical comparison of results is
      difficult due to limited knowledge of the prognostic factors and the variable
      criteria reported for success. Detailed prospective and retrospective data
      collection was therefore undertaken to evaluate the results of surgical
      intervention in 120 patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery. Results were
      evaluated both by symptom questionnaire and by endoscopic follow-up examination.
      Over 240 data fields were collected on each patient, including information
      regarding presenting symptoms, endoscopic and computed tomography (CT) findings
      and surgical procedures performed. In order to reduce potential bias, the results
      of the follow-up questionnaires were compared to questionnaires from other
      patients unable to return for follow-up endoscopy. Mean follow-up time was 18
      months. Potential prognostic variables were evaluated statistically. A strong
      correlation was identified between the extent of disease and the surgical
      outcome. Other identified potential factors appeared to have little or no
      significance. Therefore, a staging system for inflammatory sinus disease based on
      the extent of disease is suggested.

PMID- 1453857
TI  - Initial results of endothelial cell seeding following argon laser carotid
      endarterectomy.
AB  - This study evaluates the initial results of endothelial cell (EC) seeding
      following argon laser carotid endarterectomy. Venous endothelial cells were
      harvested from 12 dogs and cultured. A laser endarterectomy was performed on both
      carotids of each dog. One side was seeded with endothelial cells. Six dogs had
      both carotids harvested 1 hour after restoring blood flow. The others were
      harvested in 24 hours. The percentage of lumen covered with EC was evaluated by
      scanning electron microscopy. At 1 hour, the seeded arteries demonstrated 35 +/-
      3 percent EC coverage, whereas the unseeded arteries had no EC coverage (P =
      0.0002). At 24 hours, the seeded arteries had 58 +/- 15 percent EC coverage,
      whereas the unseeded arteries had no coverage (P = 0.01). Significant gross
      thrombus developed only in unseeded arteries (P = 0.047), two of which were
      occluded at 24 hours. EC seeding is beneficial following argon laser carotid
      endarterectomy resulting in improved patency and less surface thrombogenicity.

PMID- 1453858
TI  - Effect of force on ablation depth for a XeCl excimer laser beam delivered by an
      optical fiber in contact with arterial tissue under saline.
AB  - The effect of force applied to a 430 micron single fiber, delivering 60 pulses of
      308 nm XeCl laser radiation at 20 Hz, on the ablation depth in porcine aortic
      tissue under saline has been investigated. Energy densities of 8, 15, 25, 28, 31,
      37, and 45 mJ/mm2 were used. Force was applied by adding weights from 0 to 10
      grams to the fiber. The fiber penetration was monitored by means of a position
      transducer. At 0 grams, the ablation depth increased linearly with incident
      energy density, but the fiber did not penetrate the tissue; with any weight
      added, the fiber penetrated the tissue at energy densities above 15 mJ/mm2. The
      fiber did not penetrate during the first several pulses, possibly due to gas
      trapped under the fiber. After these first pulses, a smooth linear advancement of
      the fiber began, which lasted until the pulse train stopped. The ablation depth
      increased with increasing energy densities and weights. This effect was largest
      above 25 mJ/mm2 where the ablation efficiencies (unit mm3/J), with weights added
      to the fiber, were substantially larger than values found in 308 nm ablation
      experiments described in the literature, which were conducted with either a
      focused laser beam or a fiber without additional force. The results imply that in
      308 nm excimer laser angioplasty, force must be applied to the beam delivery
      catheter for efficient recanalization, and that experiments performed with a
      focused beam or without actual penetration of the fiber do not represent the
      situation encountered in excimer laser angioplasty.

PMID- 1453859
TI  - XeCl laser ablation of atherosclerotic aorta: optical properties and energy
      pathways.
AB  - The energetics of 308-nm excimer laser irradiation of human aorta were studied.
      The heat generation that occurred during laser irradiation of atherosclerotic
      aorta equaled the absorbed laser energy minus the fraction of energy for escaping
      fluorescence (0.8-1.6%) and photochemical decomposition (2%). The absorbed laser
      energy is equal to the total delivered light energy minus the energy lost as
      specular reflectance (2.4%, air/tissue) and diffuse reflectance (11.5-15.5%).
      Overall, about 79-83.5% of the delivered light energy was converted to heat. We
      conclude that the mechanism of XeCl laser ablation of soft tissue involves
      thermal overheating of the irradiated volume with subsequent explosive
      vaporization. The optical properties of normal wall of human aorta and fibrous
      plaque, both native and denatured were determined. The light scattering was
      significant and sufficient to cause a subsurface fluence (J/cm2) in native aorta
      that equaled 1.8 times the broad-beam radiant exposure, phi o (2.7 phi o for
      denatured aorta). An optical fiber must have a diameter of at least 800 microns
      to achieve a maximum light penetration (approximately 200 microns for phi o/e) in
      the aorta along the central axis of the beam.

PMID- 1453860
TI  - Cornea epithelial damage thresholds in rabbits exposed to Tm:YAG laser radiation
      at 2.02 microns.
AB  - We have determined exposure conditions for minimal damage to the corneal
      epithelium in rabbit using a continuous wave Tm: YAG laser operating in the TEM00
      mode at incident powers between 80 and 450 mW. The 1/e beam diameter was 0.94 mm
      and exposure durations for threshold damage ranged from 4.3 to 0.08 sec.
      Calculated temperature increases on the beam axis 10 microns beneath the surface
      at the measured thresholds were essentially constant and averaged 44 degrees C.
      This is basically the same temperature increase found for threshold CO2 laser
      damage and suggests that the critical temperature damage model, which correlates
      CO2 laser damage, can predict damage thresholds for mid-infrared laser radiation.
      We also showed that reliable thresholds can be determined in freshly enucleated
      eyes, thus opening up the possibility of using available laser sources in
      laboratories not equipped and approved for animal experiments to determine damage
      thresholds.

PMID- 1453861
TI  - Immediate retinal adhesion by CO2 laser irradiation using a fiberoptic
      intraocular probe.
AB  - Using an experimental fiberoptically guided CO2 laser system, we produced lesions
      on fresh bovine retinas. These lesions were shown to achieve immediate measurable
      chorioretinal adhesion. This model provides preliminary data on the use of a
      fiberoptic CO2 laser probe to produce chorioretinal lesions and possible future
      use in intraocular surgery for retinal detachment. The advantages of using CO2
      laser energy are minimal damage surrounding desired lesion and its versatility as
      a coagulator and cutter. With modifications, CO2 endolaser may have a role in
      intraocular surgery.

PMID- 1453862
TI  - Laser-induced experimental vascular occlusion using liposome-encapsulated ADP.
AB  - The therapeutic occlusion of retinal vessels is often helpful in treating various
      pathological conditions. We compared the combined effects of argon laser
      photocoagulation and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) released from temperature
      sensitive liposomes with argon laser photocoagulation alone on occlusion of
      retinal vessels in pigmented rats. In Group A, 8 eyes were treated with liposome
      encapsulated ADP and laser photocoagulation. In Group B, 8 eyes were treated with
      laser photocoagulation alone. The laser parameters (power, spot size, exposure
      time) were maintained at the same levels for both groups. The laser was focused
      on the retinal vessels at the optic nerve head. The treated retinal vessels were
      observed at time zero, day 1, day 4, and weekly for a period of 3 months. At time
      zero, 6 of 8 eyes were totally occluded in Group A, with best results obtained at
      80 mW. Only 1 of 8 eyes in Group B achieved total occlusion. After 3 months, 4 of
      8 eyes in Group A remained totally occluded; no eyes in Group B were occluded.
      Complete and permanent occlusion of retinal vessels can be achieved by using ADP
      and laser photocoagulation of lower power density than traditional laser
      photocoagulation alone.

PMID- 1453863
TI  - Effects of rapid pulsed CO2 laser beam on cortical bone in vivo.
AB  - Twenty rabbit femurs were used to study the effect of CO2 laser on cortical bone.
      Sixteen femurs were treated with 20 watts, 3 mm defocused beam, 2 KHZ spike pulse
      mode CO2 laser for 10 seconds through a circular window in the metaphysis. In
      four control femurs, the inner cortex was exposed without laser treatment. The
      animals were killed at 4 and 6 weeks and the specimens studied histologically.
      All laser-treated specimens showed thermal changes. Three histological zones were
      observed. A superficial zone of inner cortex close to the beam consisted mainly
      of carbonization or carbon ash during resorption. An intermediate zone consisted
      of bone necrosis and healing with associated areas of new bone formation. The
      deep zone of outer cortex had normal bone with no cellular damage. No such
      changes were observed in the control specimens. The CO2 laser can be used to
      generate a controlled zone of tissue ablation, which may make it a potentially
      useful tool for tumor margin cauterization.

PMID- 1453864
TI  - Percutaneous laser discectomy with the Ho:YAG laser.
AB  - A prototype Ho:YAG (2.15 microns) laser operating at 2-J/pulse, 3 Hz through a
      600-microns fiber was employed to perform laser discectomies at the L3-4 disc
      through an 18G needle in five juvenile pigs. No temperature elevations were
      recorded in the posterior longitudinal ligament at the disc level and all animals
      recovered fully with no adverse sequelae, even immediately upon awakening from
      anesthesia. Pathologic examination demonstrated a wide swath of coagulation
      necrosis confined to the disc space. The Ho:YAG laser, owing to its close
      approximation to the intense 2.0 microns absorption band of water, appears to be
      a viable candidate for clinical trials of laser discectomy.

PMID- 1453865
TI  - Er:YAG laser ablation of enamel and dentin of human teeth: determination of
      ablation rates at various fluences and pulse repetition rates.
AB  - A pulsed Er:YAG laser (2.94 microns) was used to determine ablation depths per
      pulse of laser energy at 2 Hz and 5 Hz in human teeth cross sections of enamel
      and dentin. Ablation depths per pulse at 2 Hz in enamel of intact human teeth
      were measured and compared to ablation depths per pulse determined in enamel
      cross sections at 2 Hz. Close correlation was observed for ablation depths per
      pulse of laser energy between teeth cross sections and intact teeth for enamel.
      Photographs of lased holes at 2 Hz and 5 Hz indicated minimal thermal effects in
      enamel at fluences below 80 J/cm2. Minimal thermal effects in dentin were noted
      below 74 J/cm2. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) pictures of lased dentin
      showed an irregular serrated surface. Results of this study suggest that the
      Er:YAG laser can effectively ablate enamel and dentin with minimal thermal
      effects at 2 Hz and 5 Hz.

PMID- 1453866
TI  - Centering balloon to improve esophageal photodynamic therapy.
AB  - A cylindrical balloon was developed to improve delivery of circumferential light
      for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of esophageal carcinoma. The balloon consisted of
      a 36-mm-long clear cylindrical membrane and a central tube to hold a cylindrical
      diffuser in the center of the lumen. Three isotropic probes were placed on the
      outside of the balloon to allow measurement of delivered light dose to the
      esophageal mucosa. The balloon was tested in the normal esophagus of 8 dogs that
      were injected with 4.0 mg/kg of PHOTOFRINR. Endoscopy was performed 48 hours
      following the injection, and under endoscopic observation the balloon assembly
      was passed, fixed in place, and inflated. A 1-cm cylindrical diffuser was passed
      into the central tube and 150, 300, and 600 Joules/cm of 630 nm laser light was
      delivered at 25 cm, 15 cm, and 5 cm proximal to the gastroesophageal junction.
      One control dog was illuminated using the cylindrical diffuser alone at doses of
      300 and 600 Joules/cm of diffuser. Complete circumferential tissue response was
      obtained when the balloon was used. Relatively uniform light intensities were
      measured around the lumen. In contrast, noncircumferential and unpredictable PDT
      responses were generated when the cylindrical diffuser was used without the
      balloon.

PMID- 1453867
TI  - CO2 laser urethroplasty in the rabbit: a preclinical model.
AB  - Our previous work has shown that the CO2 laser can be successfully used in
      urethral reconstruction in a rat model. This new experiment investigates the use
      of the CO2 laser to perform a patch graft urethroplasty in the rabbit, as a
      preclinical model to its use in the repair of hypospadias in humans. Using
      sterile technique, a patch graft of preputial skin was welded in the repair of a
      standardized urethral defect in 10 rabbits. In another cohort, the same urethral
      defect was repaired using standard microsuture technique. In a control group the
      patch graft was placed with microsuture in a nonwatertight fashion. All animals
      were followed for 3 weeks. Histologic and radiologic analyses were done in a
      blinded fashion. Our study showed that CO2 laser repair, when compared to
      microsuture in urethral reconstruction, required 40% less operative time and
      produced better graft healing and less intraluminal scarring.

PMID- 1453868
TI  - Interstitial Nd:YAG laser ablation in normal rabbit liver: trial to maximize the
      size of laser-induced lesions.
AB  - In order to apply interstitial laser ablation to relatively small liver tumors in
      humans, it will be necessary to optimize the irradiation schedule. Nd:YAG laser
      was applied to normal rabbit liver in vivo at various power and energy outputs,
      including a protocol in which irradiation was repeated twice, with and without
      fiber tip advancement during the intermission. Ex vivo and in vivo tissue were
      also irradiated to determine the effect of perfusion on the lesion size. We
      obtained the same monotonic relationship between laser settings and lesion size
      in rabbit liver as we previously reported in rat liver. MR-guided fiber
      advancement between heating periods increased the transverse diameter of the
      lesion, and MR monitoring demonstrated this process. Our results suggest that
      repeated irradiation with brief intermissions, when combined with fiber
      advancement, may increase the lesion size.

PMID- 1453869
TI  - Interstitial laser photocoagulation: Nd:YAG 1064 nm optical fiber source compared
      to point heat source.
AB  - Interstitial laser photocoagulation (ILP) was performed in vitro in lean bovine
      and chicken muscle by delivering 1.6 W of continuous-wave Nd:YAG laser energy
      (1064 nm) from a 400-microns core optical fiber for 300s. The resulting thermal
      coagulation lesion was consistently larger when the delivered energy was
      deposited into a small steel sphere than when it was delivered freely into the
      tissue. Mathematical modelling confirms this result. This preliminary study
      suggests that a point heat source produces a larger volume of thermal coagulation
      than a point optical source (1064 nm) delivering the same power.

PMID- 1453870
TI  - Locomotory characteristics of fibroblasts within a three-dimensional collagen
      lattice: modulation by a helium/neon soft laser.
AB  - It has been postulated that low energy (soft) lasers can enhance wound healing.
      Considering the importance of cell locomotion in the wound healing process, we
      have studied the effects of a helium/neon laser upon the locomotory behaviour of
      a population of fibroblasts migrating within a three-dimensional hydrated
      collagen lattice. Statistical methods were used to quantify cell three
      dimensional trajectories obtained using a computer-assisted tracking system. A
      two-minute exposure of embryonic fibroblasts to soft laser light decreased the
      speed and increased the frequency and duration of stops compared to controls. The
      locomotory phenotype induced in embryonic fibroblasts by the laser light
      resembled that of the developmentally older c20 fibroblasts, which are known to
      express a more mature locomotory phenotype. The relevance of these results to
      wound healing is discussed.

PMID- 1453871
TI  - Laser reflections from surgical instruments.
AB  - The potential hazards to the eye and skin from accidental exposures caused by
      reflected laser beams from surgical instruments has long been of concern to
      operating room staff members. Reflectance values for argon neodymium:YAG and CO2
      laser wave-lengths were measured from 29 reference surfaces used on surgical
      instruments. From these measurements, nominal hazard zones could be determined
      for typical reflection hazards.

PMID- 1453872
TI  - Local anesthetic-induced toxicity may be modified by low doses of flumazenil.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of flumazenil on local
      anesthetic-induced acute toxicity. For each of the three tested anesthetics
      (etidocaine, mepivacaine and lidocaine) 6 groups of mice were treated by a single
      dose of flumazenil (0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg), or an equal volume of
      saline, 15 minutes before the injection of the anesthetic (etidocaine: 50 mg/kg,
      mepivacaine: 110 mg/kg and lidocaine: 115 mg/kg). The convulsant activity, the
      time of latency to convulse and the mortality rate were assessed in each group.
      The local anesthetic-induced mortality was not significantly modified by
      flumazenil. The convulsant activity of lidocaine and mepivacaine was
      significantly increased by flumazenil but not for etidocaine. Also, increasing
      doses of flumazenil decreased the time of latency to obtain lidocaine-induced
      convulsions. This effect was not obtained with etidocaine or mepivacaine.

PMID- 1453873
TI  - The effect of lowered extracellular Na+ concentration on ultraviolet light
      induced relaxation of vasoconstricted rabbit isolated thoracic aorta.
AB  - The effect of lowering extracellular ion concentration on ultraviolet (UV) light
      induced photorelaxation of norepinephrine(NE)-constricted rabbit isolated
      thoracic aorta was investigated. The magnitude of the photorelaxation response
      (similar to acetylcholine-induced, but not nitroprusside-induced, relaxation)
      progressively declined, in the absence of an effect on NE-induced
      vasoconstriction, as the total extracellular ion concentration was progressively
      reduced. This diminution in the photorelaxation response was duplicated by
      isosmotic lowering of the extracellular concentration of Na+, but not other ions,
      from 145 to 25 mM and was not restored by the replenishment of the Na+ deficiency
      by equimolar amounts of mannitol or Li+. In contrast, choline fully substituted
      for Na+. These findings suggest a fundamental difference in the ion dependency
      (and, hence, the mechanisms) of UV-induced photorelaxation and the
      vasorelaxations induced by acetylcholine or sodium nitroprusside.

PMID- 1453874
TI  - The effect of FK664, a new cardiovascular drug, on systemic capacitance vessels
      in anesthetized dogs.
AB  - To characterize the cardiovascular effect of FK664, a compound developed for the
      treatment of heart failure, the mean circulatory pressure (MCP), cardiac output
      and other parameters were measured in open-chest anesthetized dogs. Milrinone, a
      cardiotonic agent, and nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker were used as
      reference substances. Nifedipine (10 micrograms/kg), FK664 (0.1 mg/kg) or
      milrinone (0.1 mg/kg) given intravenously reduced the total peripheral resistance
      in a similar extent (35-40%). Whereas nifedipine had no effect on MCP, FK664
      produced a significant decrease in MCP. Milrinone caused a minimal decrease in
      MCP, but not significantly. These results indicate that FK664 dilates the
      systemic capacitance vessels. This action to reduce the pre-load would be
      beneficial in the treatment of heart failure.

PMID- 1453875
TI  - Amylin.
AB  - Amylin is a 37 amino-acid peptide which is secreted from the pancreatic islets of
      Langerhans. It has major sequence homology with calcitonin gene related peptide.
      Amylin can precipitate out in these cells to form amyloid. Amylin is secreted by
      similar stimuli to those that secrete insulin. Amylin has a number of effects
      that may counteract the effect of secreted insulin, i.e., decreased second phase
      insulin secretion, increased hepatic glucose output, and inhibition of insulin
      effects on skeletal muscle. It must, however, be recognized that in many cases
      the doses necessary to produce these effects appear to be supraphysiological. The
      putative role of amylin in the hyperglycemia of aging and Type II diabetes
      mellitus therefore remains controversial. Amylin has a number of other effects
      including inhibition of osteoclastic activity, vasodilatation, anorectic effects
      and enhanced memory retention. This review postulates a role for amylin in the
      pathogenesis of a number of age-related changes.

PMID- 1453876
TI  - Long-term effects of aluminium on the fetal mouse brain.
AB  - Potentially noxious substances may act as fetal teratogens at levels far lower
      than those required to produce detectable effects in adults, and behavioural
      teratogenicity may occur at levels lower than those which produce morphological
      teratogenesis. Aluminium (Al) is a potential neurotoxin in adults. Since pregnant
      women may be exposed to untoward levels of Al compounds under certain conditions,
      we have examined the long-term effects of treating the pregnant mouse with
      intraperitoneal or oral aluminium sulphate on brain biochemistry and behaviour of
      the offspring. The cholinergic system, as evaluated by the activity of choline
      acetyltransferase (ChAT), was affected differentially in different regions of the
      brain, and still showed significant effects in the adult. Differences between the
      intraperitoneal and oral series in the magnitude of effect seen in the regions of
      the brain probably reflect differences in the effective level of exposure. Growth
      rate and psychomotor maturation in the pre-weaning mouse were affected in the
      intraperitoneal series only, showing a marked post-natal maternal effect.

PMID- 1453877
TI  - Combination therapy with an antioxidant and a corticosteroid prevents autoimmune
      diabetes in NOD mice.
AB  - Oxygen free radicals have been implicated as mediators of pancreatic islet beta
      cell damage in autoimmune, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). In this
      study, we show that the antioxidant, probucol, produced only a small decrease in
      diabetes incidence in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice, an animal model for human
      IDDM. However, combination of probucol with the antiinflammatory corticosteroid,
      deflazacort, produced an early synergistic effect, delaying diabetes onset by 3
      weeks, and a later additive effect, decreasing diabetes incidence from 68% (17 of
      25 mice) to 23% (6 of 26 mice, p < 0.005). Protection against diabetes by the
      combination of probucol and deflazacort was associated with a significant
      decrease in pancreatic islet infiltration by macrophages/lymphocytes (insulitis)
      and prevention of islet beta cell loss.

PMID- 1453878
TI  - Increase of plasma IL-6 concentration with age in healthy subjects.
AB  - The present study demonstrated that plasma IL-6 concentration was higher in older
      subjects than in younger ones and significantly in the male group (P = 0.02);
      Spearman rank correlation showed that plasma IL-6 concentration was positively
      correlated with age (r = 0.28, N = 55, P < 0.05); there was a highly significant
      correlation between the concentrations in plasma IL-6 and IL-1 alpha (r = 0.51, N
      = 52, P < 0.001). These findings suggest the possibility that age-related changes
      of plasma IL-6 and IL-1 alpha may provide a pathological basis for the
      susceptibility to such illness as commonly occurs in elderly people, especially
      Alzheimer's disease as the two interleukins can induce the production of alpha 1
      antichymotrypsin and beta-amyloid protein precursor.

PMID- 1453879
TI  - PMA-sensitive protein kinase C is not necessary in TRH-stimulated prolactin
      release from female rat primary pituitary cells.
AB  - In GH3 cells and other clonal rat pituitary tumor cells, TRH has been shown to
      mediate its effects on prolactin release via a rise of cytosolic Ca2+ and
      activation of protein kinase C. In this study, we examined the role of protein
      kinase C in TRH-stimulated prolactin release from female rat primary pituitary
      cell culture. Both TRH and PMA stimulated prolactin release in a dose-dependent
      manner. When present together at maximal concentrations, TRH and PMA produced an
      effect which was slightly less than additive. Pretreatment of rat pituitary cells
      with 10(-6) M PMA for 24 hrs completely down-regulated protein kinase C, since
      such PMA-pretreated cells did not release prolactin in response to a second dose
      of PMA. Interestingly, protein kinase C down-regulation had no effect on TRH
      induced prolactin release from rat pituitary cells. In contrast, PMA-pretreated
      GH3 cells did not respond to a subsequent stimulation by either PMA or TRH.
      Pretreatment of rat pituitary cells with TRH (10(-7) M, 24 hrs) inhibited the
      subsequent response to TRH, but not PMA. Forskolin, an adenylate cyclase
      activator, stimulated prolactin release by itself and in a synergistic manner
      when incubated together with TRH or PMA. The synergistic effects of forskolin on
      prolactin release was greater in the presence of PMA than TRH. Down-regulation of
      protein kinase C by PMA pretreatment abolished the synergistic effect produced by
      PMA and forskolin but had no effect on those generated by TRH and forskolin. sn
      1,2-Dioctanylglycerol (DOG) pretreatment attenuated the subsequent response to
      DOG and PMA but not TRH. The effect of TRH, but not PMA, on prolactin release
      required the presence of extracellular Ca2+. In conclusion, the mechanism by
      which TRH causes prolactin release from rat primary pituitary cells is different
      from that of GH3 cells; the former is a protein kinase C-independent process
      whereas the latter is at least partially dependent upon the activation of protein
      kinase C.

PMID- 1453880
TI  - 5c,11c,14c-eicosatrienoic acid and 5c,11c,14c,17c-eicosatetraenoic acid of Biota
      orientalis seed oil affect lipid metabolism in the rat.
AB  - The effects of 5c,11c,14c-eicosatrienoic acid (20:3BSO) and 5c,11c,14c,17c
      eicosatetraenoic acid (20:4BSO), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) contained in
      Biota orientalis seed oil (BSO), on lipid metabolism in rats were compared to the
      effects of fats rich in linoleic acid (LA) or alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) under
      similar conditions. The potential effect of ethyl 20:4BSO as an essential fatty
      acid also was examined in comparison with the ethyl esters of LA, ALA and gamma
      linolenic acid (GLA). BSO- and ALA-rich fat decreased the concentration of plasma
      total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride and
      phospholipid as compared to LA-rich fat. BSO was more effective in reducing
      plasma cholesterol concentrations than was the ALA-rich fat. Dietary BSO markedly
      decreased the hepatic triglyceride concentration as compared to the LA-rich or
      ALA-rich fats. Aortic production of prostaglandin I2 tended to decrease in rats
      fed BSO or ALA-rich fat compared to those fed the LA-rich fat. Adenosine
      diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation was similar in the three groups. The
      proportion of arachidonic acid (AA) in liver phosphatidylcholine (PC) of rats fed
      BSO was lowest compared to that of rats fed ALA-rich or LA-rich fats.
      Administration of 20:4BSO, ALA or GLA to essential fatty acid-deficient rats
      decreased the ratio of 20:3n-9 to AA in liver PC to the same extent;
      administration of LA was more effective. The results indicate that the effects of
      specific PUFA contained in BSO on lipid metabolism are different from those of LA
      and ALA. It is also suggested that 20:4BSO may exhibit some essential fatty acid
      effects.

PMID- 1453881
TI  - Inhibitory effect of curcumin on fatty acid desaturation in Mortierella alpina 1S
      4 and rat liver microsomes.
AB  - An extract of rhizomes of Curcuma longta L. (turmeric) inhibited the desaturation
      of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) in the arachidonic acid (AA) producing
      fungus Mortierella alpina 1S-4. The factor responsible for this phenomenon was
      isolated and identified as curcumin (diferuloyl methane). Mycelial DGLA levels
      increased about two-fold (22.3 mg/g dry weight) with a concomitant decrease in AA
      levels when the fungus was cultivated with curcumin. The 50% inhibitory
      concentration against delta 5 desaturase was 27.2 microM. Curcumin also inhibited
      rat liver microsomal delta 5 and delta 6 desaturases.

PMID- 1453882
TI  - Nonesterified fatty acids in normal and diabetic rat sciatic nerve.
AB  - Alloxan-induced diabetes in rats results in elevated levels of nonesterified
      fatty acids (NEFA) in whole sciatic nerve and its endoneurium. Increases in NEFA
      levels are more pronounced in whole diabetic nerve (40% over control) than in its
      endoneurial portion (20-30%). Alterations in the composition of phospholipid
      fatty acids are observed as well, including an increase in linoleate (18:2n-6) in
      endoneurial phosphatidylethanolamine and a decrease in arachidonate (20:4n-6) in
      both phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol of diabetic nerve.

PMID- 1453883
TI  - Dietary fat and fatty acids modulate cholesterol cholelithiasis in the hamster.
AB  - We tested two hypotheses, i) whether the type and the amount of fat in the diet
      will affect the formation of cholesterol gallstones in the hamsters, and ii)
      whether palmitic acid, a major fatty acid component of butterfat, can act as a
      potentiator of cholesterol cholelithiasis in the hamster. Young, male golden
      Syrian hamsters (Sasco) were fed a semipurified diet containing casein, corn
      starch, cellulose and cholesterol (0.3%) to which various types and amounts of
      fat (butterfat, olive oil, menhaden oil, corn oil) were added. All diets
      contained 2% corn oil to supply essential fatty acids to the growing hamsters. No
      deaths or illness occurred during the experiment. Animals fed the semipurified
      diet plus 4% butterfat (group 1) had a gallstone incidence of 63%. Replacement of
      butterfat with either olive oil, corn oil or menhaden oil prevented the formation
      of cholesterol gallstones entirely (groups 2-4). When total butterfat was
      increased from 4% to 8% (group 8), the incidence of cholesterol gallstones
      increased to 80%. Substitution of 4% olive oil (group 5), corn oil (group 6), or
      menhaden oil (group 7) for the additional 4% butterfat significantly reduced
      gallstones to 35%, 45% and 30%, respectively. The replacement of 4% butterfat
      with 1.2% palmitic acid gave the highest incidence of cholesterol gallstones
      (95%). These results suggest that butterfat (and one of its components, palmitic
      acid) intensifies gallstone formation in this model whereas mono- and
      polyunsaturated fats act as inhibitors of cholesterol cholelithiasis. A fatty
      acid, possibly palmitic acid, appears to act as lithogen in our model.

PMID- 1453884
TI  - Changes in blood lipids and fibrinogen with a note on safety in a long term study
      on the effects of n-3 fatty acids in subjects receiving fish oil supplements and
      followed for seven years.
AB  - The present study was designed to assess the effectiveness of the n-3 fatty acids
      in modifying serum total, low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein
      (HDL) cholesterol, as well as serum triglycerides, over a seven-year period.
      Changes in plasma fibrinogen were recorded and long term safety assessed. A total
      of 365 subjects with ischemic heart disease (IHD), hyperlipidemia or a strong
      family history of IHD had their diet supplemented with MaxEPA (Seven Seas Ltd.,
      Hull, England) fish oil containing 18-19% eicosapentaenoic acid. Venous blood
      samples were taken at regular intervals for lipid and fibrinogen assays and
      routine clinical chemistry and hematological profiling. Current medication was
      recorded and no further dietary modification was attempted. Triglyceride and
      fibrinogen were significantly reduced, whereas a significant reduction in total
      cholesterol occurred only in the subjects with a pre-oil level greater than 6.5
      mmol/L. HDL cholesterol significantly increased over the study period. Clinical
      chemistry and hematological profiles were not adversely affected, and platelet
      count did not change significantly. The type of lipid changes observed were those
      usually considered antiatherogenic. Reducing fibrinogen may result in beneficial
      changes in the pathological processes leading to thrombotic occlusion. The
      consumption of MaxEPA by our patients over a seven-year period did not indicate
      any adverse effects.

PMID- 1453885
TI  - Ascorbate and phenolic antioxidant interactions in prevention of liposomal
      oxidation.
AB  - Efficient prevention of membrane lipid peroxidation by vitamin E (alpha
      tocopherol) may involve its regeneration by vitamin C (ascorbate). Conceivably,
      the efficacy of antioxidants designed as therapeutic agents could be enhanced if
      a similar regeneration were favorable; thus, a model membrane system was
      developed which allowed assessment of interaction of phenolic antioxidants with
      ascorbate and ascorbyl-6-palmitate. Ascorbate alone (50-200 microM) potentiated
      oxidation of soybean phosphatidylcholine liposomes by Fe2+/histidine-Fe3+, an
      effect which was temporally related to reduction of Fe3+ generated during
      oxidation. Addition of 200 microM ascorbate to alpha-tocopherol-containing
      liposomes (0.1 mol%) resulted in marked, synergistic protection. Accordingly, in
      the presence but not absence of ascorbate, alpha-tocopherol levels were
      maintained relatively constant during Fe2+/histidine-Fe3+ exposure. Probucol
      (4,4'-[(1-methylethylidine)bis(thio)]bis[2,6-bis(1,1- dimethylethyl)]phenol), an
      antioxidant which prevents oxidation of low density lipoproteins, and its
      analogues MDL 27,968 (4,4'-[(1-methylethylidene)bis(thio)]bis[2,6-
      dimethyl]phenol) and MDL 28,881 (2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-[(3,7,11-
      trimethyldodecyl)thio]phenol) prevented oxidation but exhibited no synergy with
      ascorbate. Ascorbyl-6-palmitate itself was an effective antioxidant but did not
      interact synergistically with any of the phenolic antioxidants. Differential
      scanning calorimetry revealed significant differences among the antioxidants in
      their effect on the liquid-crystalline phase transition of dipalmitoyl
      phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes. Both alpha-tocopherol and MDL 27,968
      significantly reduced the phase transition temperature and the enthalpy of the
      transition. MDL 28,881 had no effect while probucol was intermediate. The
      potential for ascorbate or its analogues to interact with phenolic antioxidants
      to provide a more effective antioxidant system appears to be dictated by
      structural features and by the location of the antioxidants in the membrane.

PMID- 1453886
TI  - 31P NMR of tissue phospholipids: competition for Mg2+, Ca2+, Na+ and K+ cations.
AB  - Phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), ethanolamine plasmalogen
      (EPLAS), sphingomyelin (SPH), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS),
      cardiolipin (CL), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidic acid (PA) were
      dispersed together in Cs(ethylenedinitrilo)tetraacetic acid-scrubbed
      chloroform/methanol solution, and high resolution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance
      spectra were recorded. In separate titration experiments, Mg2+ and Ca2+ were
      added to the dispersed phospholipid mixture to determine the relative interaction
      potentials of each of the phospholipids for each of the added cations. The
      association of cations with individual phospholipids was indicated by 31P
      chemical-shift changes, signal broadening, signal quenching or a combination of
      these. The titrations revealed that CL had the highest, and PA the next highest,
      interaction potential for Mg2+ cations. In contrast, PS and PA had the highest,
      and CL the next highest, interaction potential for Ca2+. Considering only
      interactions with Ca2+ ions, the phospholipids can be divided into three distinct
      groups: PS and PA (high interaction potential); CL, PI and PG (intermediate
      interaction potential); and EPLAS, PE, SPH and PC (essentially no interaction
      potential). The two phospholipids with the least interaction potential for either
      of the alkaline-earth cations were PC and SPH. Na+ and K+ ion interactions with
      PA, CL, PI and PG were unique and resulted in positive chemical-shift changes
      relative to the chemical shifts in the presence of Cs+ ions. Relative to both Cs+
      and K+ ions, chemical shifts in the presence of Na+ ions were deshielded delta
      greater than 0.1 ppm in the order PA greater than CL greater than PI greater than
      PG.

PMID- 1453887
TI  - The determination of tissue ethanolamine levels by reverse-phase high-performance
      liquid chromatography.
AB  - A rapid and sensitive procedure for the determination of ethanolamine levels in
      mammalian tissues is reported. Ethanolamine was extracted from the tissue with a
      chloroform/methanol mixture, followed by phase separation. The aqueous phase was
      subjected to charcoal chromatography and the eluant was derivatized with
      phenylisothiocyanate. The amount of phenylthiocarbamyl (PTC) ethanolamine in the
      tissue extract was determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid
      chromatography. Quantitation of PTC ethanolamine was linear between 0.1-1.0 nmol.
      The pool sizes of ethanolamine in hamster heart, liver and kidney were found to
      be 1.07, 0.92 and 1.11 mumol/g wet weight, respectively. The sensitivity of the
      method would allow the determination of ethanolamine in very small tissue
      samples.

PMID- 1453888
TI  - Black teenage pregnancy: a sociomedical approach.
AB  - This article is based on a literature and descriptive empirical investigation
      into the incidence of, and other factors associated with black teenage pregnancy
      in Africa and South Africa. The research survey was conducted in Port Elizabeth,
      South Africa. A sample of 145 black teenagers, between the ages of 12 and 17
      years, who gave birth during four months in 1990 was interviewed. Socioeconomic,
      biographical and medical data were obtained. All of which point to an urgent need
      for a multidisciplinary and holistic approach to age-related sex education for
      adolescents of both sexes and their parents; socio-economic problems facing the
      family; ways of preventing school drop out and further unplanned and unwanted
      pregnancies among teenagers.

PMID- 1453889
TI  - Tattooing and high-risk behaviour among drug addicts.
AB  - One hundred and seventy-five patients treated at the drug dependence outpatient
      ward of the Psychiatric University Clinic of Vienna were investigated in February
      1990 using a standardized questionnaire which included questions concerning
      tattoo behaviour. The tattooing procedure, often carried out in prison and
      employing unsterile equipment, is a possible way of HIV-1 transmission. It is
      recommended that the fragmentary legislation in Austria be rewritten and made
      more effective. According to a ministerial order only medical doctors are allowed
      to procure a licence for tattooing as it is an invasive procedure. Therefore no
      licensed tattooing establishments controlled by public health offices exist.
      Their legal existence would guarantee a hygienic standard and reduce the danger
      of infection.

PMID- 1453890
TI  - Appeals from disciplinary rulings of patients' complaints regarding physicians'
      conduct.
AB  - In 1984 and 1985 the Danish National Board of Health received a total of 1,062
      complaints from patients regarding alleged physician negligence. The board has
      disciplinary powers over physicians in cases of negligence, and advises the
      Attorney General in cases of gross negligence which are referred to the court.
      The investigation found that 17% of the board's rulings were taken on appeal, of
      these 9% were either wholly or partly upheld. Physicians did not appeal
      frequently (2%), but their appeals were more often upheld (32%) than was the case
      in respect of patients' appeals (15% and 4.4% respectively). Evaluation of the
      cases taken on appeal did not provide support for extending the right to appeal.
      The consequences of such an extension are, however, discussed in the light of
      subsequent limitations imposed on the right to appeal and the more well
      established and comprehensive provisions for appealing that exist in some
      neighbouring countries.

PMID- 1453891
TI  - Medical and biological progress and the European Convention on Human Rights.
AB  - The advances made in life sciences are one of the most significant features of
      the 20th century scientific revolution and human rights obviously enjoy
      prominence among the legal issues affected by the development of medicine. The
      case law of the organs of the European Convention on Human Rights arising from
      developments in the biomedical sciences is reviewed. The approach of especially
      the European Commission on Human Rights to the consequences of advances in the
      life sciences on the protection of the individual's physical integrity and the
      protection of freedom of thought and private and family life is analysed.
      'Contrary to what we are led to believe, it is not from the starting-point of
      biology that a particular idea of man can be formed; on the contrary, it is from
      the starting-point of a particular idea of man that biology can be used to serve
      him': F Gros, F Jacob & P Royer Life Sciences and Society (1979) 288.

PMID- 1453892
TI  - New Zealand's medical manslaughter.
AB  - Doctors in New Zealand may be prosecuted for manslaughter if patients die as a
      consequence of the doctor's failure to exercise reasonable knowledge, skill and
      care. The requirement to use reasonable knowledge, skill and care has been held
      to be breached in New Zealand if a doctor is merely careless. No distinction is
      made between 'criminal negligence' and the negligence standard applicable in
      civil law. This article examines New Zealand's law relating to medical
      manslaughter with particular reference to the case of R v Yogasakaran [1990] 1
      NZLR 399 which was the subject of a petition to the Privy Council on 30 January
      1991.

PMID- 1453893
TI  - The neglected intermediate premise in the forensic expert's testimony.
AB  - The testimony of most expert witnesses is reducible to a syllogism: The expert
      derives a relevant opinion (the conclusion) by applying a general theory or
      technique (the major premise) to the specific facts of the case (the minor
      premise). Legal commentators have tended to focus on the expert's major premise
      to the neglect of the minor premise. Thus, legal analysts have devoted little
      attention to the question of the forensic expert's use of proper test protocol.
      This neglect can result in the admission of erroneous scientific testimony. The
      neglect also represents a missed opportunity--the legal system's opportunity to
      give the forensic community additional incentive scrupulously to follow correct
      test procedures.

PMID- 1453894
TI  - Legal aspects of forensic psychiatry in South Africa.
AB  - The current political changes in South Africa have focused attention on matters
      such as the availability of medical and psychiatric services for all. These
      services have been stretched to breaking point due to waves of crimes of violence
      which seem to go in tandem with the process of democratization. These questions
      are discussed and some possible inadequacies of the forensic sciences in the
      criminal justice system are considered.

PMID- 1453895
TI  - Preventive outpatient civil commitment and the right to refuse treatment: can
      pragmatic realities and constitutional requirements be reconciled?
AB  - This article examines the concept of preventive outpatient civil commitment as a
      mechanism for controlling the behaviour of the chronically mentally ill. The goal
      of preventive outpatient civil commitment is to intervene at an early stage to
      prevent further deterioration of a mentally ill person's state. In the
      jurisdictions in the United States which have enacted preventive outpatient civil
      commitment statutes, there is a lesser standard required for outpatient
      commitment than for inpatient commitment. For outpatient commitment, there
      generally only needs to be a finding of mental illness and a conclusion that
      without treatment a person's mental illness will further deteriorate. This
      standard often clashes with the civil liberties of those being committed,
      particularly with the right to refuse treatment. This article explores preventive
      outpatient civil commitment in relation to the historic right to refuse treatment
      by examining the antithetical positions of the state's authority to treat and the
      mental health client's interest in liberty. The article concludes that both of
      these positions ignore the possibility that, through the development of an
      adequate community care service system, the reality of the mentally ill in the
      community may be reconciled with a civil liberties perspective. '[The]
      [c]onstitutional right to privacy...is an expression of the sanctity of
      individual free choice and self-determination as fundamental constituents of
      life. The value of life as so perceived is lessened not by a decision to refuse
      treatment, but by the failure to allow a competent human being the right of
      choice.'

PMID- 1453896
TI  - Infanticide: new medical considerations.
AB  - A relationship between disturbed hormonal and metabolic equilibrium during
      puerperium and ensuing mental and emotional imbalance has been postulated for a
      long time. In England and Wales this consideration has resulted in the crime of
      infanticide being reduced from murder to manslaughter. Recent data indicate that
      the therapeutic and even routine administration by physicians of powerful
      vasoactive agents during puerperium, and particularly that of ergot derivatives,
      is probably the most frequent factor leading to 'pure puerperal psychosis'. It is
      proposed, therefore, that this psychosis is in fact, in most instances, a form of
      ergotism and its signs and symptoms and consequences, including coincidental
      infanticide, themselves are actually manifestations of acute ergot poisoning. It
      is suggested that based on this information a thorough re-evaluation of the
      relevant legal concepts is necessary.

PMID- 1453897
TI  - International migration and medical credentialling.
AB  - The Single European Act of July 1987, coupled with various other regional and
      national laws, the purposes of which open borders to the free movement of
      peoples, goods and services, is soon to be put into operation. Although awaited
      with much eagerness and expectation, there is also a need for strategic planning
      in order adequately to address new and possibly ominous legal and medical
      practice problems. In the United States, a National Practitioner Data Bank, which
      went into full operation in September 1990 was created to monitor physicians,
      nurses and other health care providers involved in negligence actions which
      result in the payment of moneys by settlement or by verdict, and to prevent those
      whose licences have been suspended, revoked or restricted in any fashion in one
      state from practising in another based upon reciprocity licensure or board
      certification criteria. In order to protect patients from abuse by
      uncredentialled individuals or dangerous clinicians, and further to protect
      institutions from liability incurred by inadequate credentials checks or through
      ostensible liability, the creation of a practitioner data bank utilizing modern
      data gathering, storage and retrieval methods is proposed for the European
      Community. It should be created under the auspices of the United Nations-
      possibly through the World Health Organization which already accredits medical
      education and training programmes--and should be charged with creating uniform
      standards of professional practice; certifying professionals; and serving as a
      credentials' clearing house for the health care industry.

PMID- 1453898
TI  - New Israeli psychiatric legislation.
AB  - For about 35 years, the 1955 Mental Act served as the main legal tool applied in
      the treatment of admitted patients in Israel. The law was wearing out, although
      'patched up' repeatedly, and could no longer express 'the spirit of the times'.
      After many vicissitudes, a new Mental Act was implemented in 1991. The various
      areas dealt with in the new law are described and discussed. Special attention is
      focused on two issues: patients' rights and the decisions pertaining to enforced
      examination, hospitalization and treatment.

PMID- 1453899
TI  - The insanity defense: a South African perspective.
AB  - The insanity defence has always been a contentious issue. This study was carried
      out on a sample of 95 consecutive forensic, psychiatric observation cases. The
      cost-effectiveness of ordering routine investigations during the observation
      period appeared to be questionable since the results of selective special
      investigations yielded more useful information. It was found that there was
      little calculated abuse of the insanity defence, but that the situation was
      rather one of barely literate persons naively attempting to use it, especially in
      cases of serious crime. The incidence of these naive users might have been
      greatly reduced had there been adequate screening before the accused were sent
      for observation. The court generally accepted the psychiatrist's opinion with
      regard to mental illness and criminal responsibility. It, however, differed on
      occasion when it came to the disposal of those accused who were found to be
      mentally ill.

PMID- 1453900
TI  - Some psychological reactions of rape victims.
AB  - This article delineates the psychological reactions of rape victims from a
      psychodynamic vantage point. Rape, an act of violence, results in psychic trauma.
      The authors attempt an understanding of the psychological sequelae of rape.

PMID- 1453901
TI  - Intramarital illegitimacy.
AB  - Discovering cases of children born to married women by men not their husbands is
      generally difficult. Legal involvements with regard to paternity, divorce and
      litigious paranoids also have applicability to cases of pregnancy by donor
      insemination. The child's right to information regarding paternity is the same in
      both types of cases, and is relevant with respect to matters of heredity as well
      as, in some cases, counselling and psychotherapy.

PMID- 1453902
TI  - Escherichia coli: rapid identification by chromogenic tests.
AB  - A system has been assessed for the identification of Esch. coli using a rapid
      triple chromogenic test which relies on the ability of the organism to produce a
      beta-galactosidase, a beta-glucuronidase, and indole. Coliforms which had been
      fully identified were tested by this system. Of 512 non-Esch. coli strains there
      were no false positives, whereas of 514 Esch. coli strains 486 (94.5%) were found
      to give positive results. Two hundred and twenty-one coliforms that had been
      isolated from blood cultures were also tested using the colistrip in advance of,
      or without knowledge of the API 20E result. The test was found to be 100%
      specific and 94% sensitive for the 105 Esch. coli strains. The test was rapid,
      simple to perform and economical.

PMID- 1453903
TI  - High level gentamicin resistance in enterococcal and streptococcal isolates from
      blood culture.
AB  - The combination of an aminoglycoside with a cell wall active agent is often
      necessary for the satisfactory management of serious enterococcal and
      streptococcal infections. High level gentamicin resistance (MIC > 1000
      micrograms/ml) eradicates the synergy between these two classes of antibiotics
      and treatment of these infections becomes difficult. Over a four year period we
      assessed the susceptibility of blood culture isolates of enterococci,
      Streptococcus agalactiae (group B), and clinically significant viridans-type
      streptococci. The susceptibility of the organisms to gentamicin could be
      determined utilizing high content aminoglycoside discs. We report an increasing
      prevalence of high level gentamicin resistance in enterococci in South London,
      with 44% of isolates being resistant in the first quarter of 1991. None of the
      streptococcal isolates demonstrated high level gentamicin resistance. We
      recommend screening for high level gentamicin resistance in all enterococcal and
      streptococcal cases where aminoglycoside-penicillin synergy is desired.

PMID- 1453904
TI  - Speech recognition and the clinical microbiology laboratory.
AB  - Keyboard entry of large amounts of diagnostic data is a laborious task. Any
      transcription errors that occur may pass undetected by 'non-technical staff'
      employed to input these data. The object of this project was to design a system,
      based on a Marconi 'Macrospeak' Speech Recogniser, for 'on line' laboratory entry
      of data generated from the microbiological examination of specimens of urine. Six
      parameters considered important to the success of the system were assessed:
      accuracy, speech recognition, reproducibility, speed, user friendliness, and cost
      effectiveness. The system performed well under the test conditions examined. 'On
      line' hands free entry of diagnostic data, using speech recognition, may be a
      practical alternative to more conventional means of data entry.

PMID- 1453905
TI  - Urinary amphetamines, benzodiazepines and methadone: cost-effective detection
      procedures.
AB  - Cost-effective immunoassays for the detection of amphetamines, benzodiazepines,
      and methadone in urine have been developed using Syva EMIT reagents and a Cobas
      Bio centrifugal analyser. With this method up to 2470 samples can be assayed with
      a single 100 test EMIT kit while maintaining acceptable precision. Mean CVs of
      3.8-6.6% were obtained for concentrations around the manufacturer's recommended
      threshold level (300 micrograms/l). Comparison of the methods with the Abbott TDx
      system showed good correlation for methadone. The methods compared less well for
      amphetamines, and it was not possible to obtain a useful correlation for
      benzodiazepines. Heat treatment prior to analysis did not affect the detection of
      benzodiazepines and methadone; there was a mean decrease of 14% for amphetamines.

PMID- 1453906
TI  - Carbamylation and glycosylation of haemoglobin in vitro: effects of cyanate and
      glucose.
AB  - An in vitro system that is independent of any haemodynamic influence and other
      physiological controls was designed to study the formation of carbamylated and
      glycosylated haemoglobin, by the use of cyanate and glucose respectively,
      incubated with whole-blood from normal healthy subjects. In this system the
      formation of glycosylated haemoglobin is more favourable than that of
      carbamylated haemoglobin. The effect of glucose in reducing the formation of
      carbamylated haemoglobin is greater than the effect of cyanate on the formation
      of glycoslyated haemoglobin. There is a strong correlation coefficient (r = 0.9,
      P < 0.005) for the relationship between the formation of carbamylated and
      glycosylated haemoglobin in this system.

PMID- 1453907
TI  - Immunohistochemical demonstration of B and T-lymphocyte cell surface markers: an
      assessment of tissue transport/storage media.
AB  - A number of solutions were tested on lymphoid tissue with a view to devising a
      tissue transport/long-term storage medium which would preserve the morphology and
      antigenicity of lymphocytes, for demonstration of B- and T-cell surface markers
      using monoclonal antibodies. Some of the solutions produced total loss of any
      recognisable tissue structure, but one newly-devised medium gave excellent
      preservation of morphology and nuclear detail, together with extremely good
      monoclonal antibody staining. This sterilised medium, Carmichael's medium*,
      contains a buffer and cryoprotectant: it forms a gel at 4 degrees C, but it is
      easily liquefied in warm water just prior to immersion of the biopsy. Sections
      from tissue preserved in Carmichael's Medium were found to be of equally good
      quality as, and in some cases better than, those which had been fresh frozen.
      *International patents are currently pending on the formulation of this medium,
      which will be available commercially through Raymond Lamb Ltd, London, England,
      UK.

PMID- 1453908
TI  - Anti-paternal lymphocyte antibodies: a modified cellular enzyme-linked
      immunospecific assay (CELISA).
AB  - A cellular enzyme-linked immunospecific assay is described which is ideally
      suited to measuring the IgG antibody response to donor-specific lymphocyte
      infusions. The procedure is simple, sensitive, specific and objective.

PMID- 1453909
TI  - Syphilis diagnosis: screening by enzyme immunoassay and variation in fluorescent
      treponemal antibody absorbed (FTA-ABS) confirmatory test performance.
AB  - Four fluorescent treponemal antibody absorbed (FTA-ABS) test kits were evaluated
      with 86 treponemal and 84 non-treponemal sera selected with enzyme immunoassay
      (EIA). Agreement between all four kits was 63% for treponemal, and 50% for non
      treponemal, sera. Discrepancies with treponemal sera were associated with low
      levels of antibody characterised by T. pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA)
      titres < or = 160 and a negative Venereal Diseases Research Laboratory (VDRL)
      test. Discrepancies with non-treponemal sera were significantly associated with
      false reactivity on screening with EIA. Possible reasons for the differences
      obtained between kits, the importance of screening policies for pre-selecting
      sera, and the significance of equivocal (borderline) reactions on positive and
      negative predictive values are discussed.

PMID- 1453910
TI  - Glutamate pyruvate transaminase as an indicator of infection with Plasmodium
      falciparum.
AB  - A correlation is shown between the presence of trophozoites and/or gametocytes of
      Plasmodium falciparum in thick and/or thin blood films, with the enzyme glutamate
      pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and a marked increase in serum GPT as a probable
      consequence of the presence of malaria parasite inferred. It is suggested that
      serum GPT levels may be used as a reliable marker for malaria infection, but only
      complementary to microscopic detection of falciparum malaria, rather than being
      specifically diagnostic.

PMID- 1453911
TI  - Anti-HBs detection: a modified passive haemagglutination assay.
AB  - Modification of a commercial haemagglutination assay for the detection of anti
      HBs has reduced the test time from over one hour to approximately 25 min.
      increased sensitivity ten-fold without any prozoning, maintained specificity and
      reduced costs by 90%. The modification consists of diluting the reagent cells ten
      fold; these are then added to dilutions of test serum in a V-well microplate.
      After incubation, plates are centrifuged and then inclined at 70 degrees.
      Positive and negative reactions can be clearly distinguished within approximately
      10 minutes.

PMID- 1453912
TI  - Colorectal cancer.
AB  - Two current areas of interest regarding colorectal cancer are identification of
      its genetic and environmental causes, and evaluation of the possibilities of
      implementing screening programmes for asymptomatic disease in the general
      population. These issues are addressed in the various studies outlined in this
      update.

PMID- 1453913
TI  - Diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis in a routine diagnostic laboratory.
AB  - Vaginal swabs from 299 hospital and general practitioners' patients were examined
      for Gardnerella vaginalis by Gram film and by culture, G. vaginalis was isolated
      in 12% of cultures. Comparison between the 'clue' cell and culture methods
      suggested that the former is a rapid, acceptable routine screening method for the
      detection of G. vaginalis. The value of the traditional method of identifying G.
      vaginalis by sensitivity testing is questioned. All specimens were also examined
      by Gram film and culture, for the presence of Mobiluncus spp, which was detected
      in 8.4% of specimens by Gram film but only 0.7% by culture. From a questionnaire
      returned by 84% of clinicians, metronidazole was found to be the most commonly
      used antimicrobial agent for the treatment of G. vaginalis, and in all but one
      case appeared to be clinically effective.

PMID- 1453915
TI  - The ethics of screening for malignant diseases.

PMID- 1453914
TI  - Serum low density lipoprotein separation: a simple procedure.
AB  - Reference methods for serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) separation are time
      consuming and the salts used in density-gradient ultracentrifugation may cause
      chemical and/or immunological changes in the lipoprotein structure. A method has
      been developed to provide native LDL suitable for chemical and immunochemical
      studies. The three step procedure involves firstly the separation of very low
      density lipoproteins by non-density adjusted ultracentrifugation, secondly the
      separation of low from high density lipoproteins by LDL precipitation with PEG
      6000, and finally the re-dissolution of the pellet in NaCl 150 mmol/l. The
      effectiveness of LDL separation, as well as the preservation of the
      electrophoretic mobility of the LDL molecules, was verified by electrophoresis in
      agarose gel, and the maintenance of the immunochemical reactivity of
      apolipoprotein B was verified by an immunochemical assay.

PMID- 1453916
TI  - Clinical and laboratory waste.

PMID- 1453917
TI  - Democracy and the computer in America.

PMID- 1453918
TI  - The family-oriented computerized medical record.

PMID- 1453919
TI  - Does malpractice make Medline mandatory?

PMID- 1453920
TI  - Delivering x-ray images on hospital computer networks.

PMID- 1453921
TI  - E-mail for Novell networks from down under.

PMID- 1453922
TI  - Uncertainty and critical incidents.

PMID- 1453923
TI  - The ninth annual medical hardware and software Buyers' Guide.

PMID- 1453924
TI  - Expression and characterization of the cloned Salmonella typhimurium enterotoxin.
AB  - Earlier, our laboratory reported the cloning of a chromosomally encoded cholera
      toxin (CT)-like enterotoxin gene from Salmonella typhimurium Q1 into pBR322. Cell
      lysates from the plasmid clone pC1, containing a 4.8 kb EcoR1 DNA fragment from
      Salmonella, caused elongation of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and this
      biologic activity was neutralized by anti-CT. However, this cloned gene product
      did not elicit fluid secretion in the rabbit intestinal loop (RIL) model, because
      of poor expression. We report here, subcloning of a 4.8 kb EcoRI and a 2.7 kb
      HindIII/Eco Rl fragment into a high expression T7 RNA polymerase/promoter system.
      Cell lysates from these clones elicited fluid secretion in the RIL model, caused
      firm induration in rabbit skin and elongated CHO cells. These biological
      activities were neutralized by anti-CT. SDS-PAGE and subsequent fluorographic
      analysis of Escherichia coli, harboring recombinant plasmids in a T7 expression
      system, revealed the presence of two prominent 35S-labeled polypeptides of 25 and
      12 kDa, which were immunoprecipitated with anti-CT. The enterotoxin appeared to
      be 125 kDa in size, based on chromatography on a P-300 column, had a pl of 6.6 to
      6.8, and was heat-labile (60 degrees C/5 min). Unlike cloned CT and heat-labile
      enterotoxin (LT-l), which were localized in the periplasm, the Salmonella
      enterotoxin was cytoplasmic in nature.

PMID- 1453925
TI  - Deposition of circulating streptococcal lipoteichoic acid in mouse tissues.
AB  - The tissue binding properties of streptococcal lipoteichoic acid (LTA) were
      studied using normal and passively immunized BALB/c mice. After intraperitoneal
      injection in non-immunized mice, 3H-LTA concentrations in blood, heart, kidney
      and liver were highest between 24 and 30 h post-injection. LTA deposits in heart
      remained high for the next 24 h, whereas other tissue levels decreased. Constant
      amounts of 3H-LTA were detected in urine throughout the 48 h period. In passively
      immunized mice, the amount of tissue deposition of 3H-LTA was inversely
      proportional to the ratio of antibodies to LTA. Autoradiography revealed focal
      deposits of 3H-LTA in heart, kidney and liver. These observations indicate that
      LTA, released by streptococci growing at remote body sites, can be carried by the
      blood to internal organs where it can accumulate and participate in pathogenesis.

PMID- 1453926
TI  - Growth phase and SpvR regulation of transcription of Salmonella typhimurium
      spvABC virulence genes.
AB  - The 90 kb virulence plasmid of Salmonella typhimurium is required for bacterial
      growth beyond the small intestine to deeper tissues such as the spleen and liver
      of orally inoculated mice. We constructed transcriptional lacZ fusions within the
      cloned plasmid-borne virulence genes spvA, spvB and spvC of S. typhimurium to
      demonstrate that spvR encodes a trans-acting positive regulator for the
      transcription of spvA, spvB and spvC. Data suggesting that the activation of
      spvABC transcription is dependent on the growth phase of both S. typhimurium and
      Escherichia coli grown in Luria Broth (LB) are also presented. Complementation
      experiments for virulence in mice confirmed that at least spvR and spvC are
      virulence genes and further suggested that the spvRABC gene cluster consists of
      at least three transcriptional units containing spvR, spvC and spvABC,
      respectively. Reinitiation of transcription at spvC was confirmed in vitro, using
      a lacZ fusion, and was shown to be independent of SpvR-mediated control in LB.

PMID- 1453928
TI  - Genetic control of resistance to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in infant mice.
AB  - DBA/2 and CBA infant mice orally challenged with bovine enterotoxigenic
      Escherichia coli (ETEC) strain B80 presented resistance and susceptibility
      respectively, as measured by mortality rates 6 days after inoculation. Serum
      antibodies agglutinating ETEC strain B80 had very low titers in both mouse
      strains. Mendelian analysis of resistance on F1 and on segregating back-crosses
      showed that resistance is genetic and dominant. Dominance may be explained either
      by a mixed control with an overdominant major gene or by a polygenic control with
      a large heterosis effect.

PMID- 1453927
TI  - Modulation of surface antigen expression by Klebsiella pneumoniae in response to
      growth environment.
AB  - Growth in pooled human body fluids [urine, serum and peritoneal dialysate (HPD)]
      modulated the expression of cell envelope antigens in virulent (serotype O1:K1)
      and avirulent (serotype O1:K66) Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. Marked variations
      in the outer membrane protein (OMP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) profiles were
      noted when broth-grown cells were compared with those of bacteria cultured in
      body fluids. In particular, for the O1:K1 serotype strain, growth in the latter
      resulted in: (a) the expression of at least five iron-regulated OMPs in the 74-87
      kDa range, the pattern of which was medium dependent; (b) alterations in the
      migration of the LPS core polysaccharide; and (c) the reversion of isogenic O-:K+
      and O-:K- mutants to the O+ phenotype after growth in fresh serum but not in heat
      inactivated serum, urine or HPD. Similar results were obtained for the O1:K66
      serotype, although no variation in the migration of the LPS core was noted. For
      both O1:K1 and O1:K66 serotypes, neither the surface exposure of O1 serotype LPS
      nor the production of K-antigen (capsular polysaccharide) was affected by growth
      in body fluids. No reversion of K- mutants to the K+ phenotype was observed.
      These data illustrate the phenotype flexibility of this opportunistic pathogen
      and emphasise the crucial role of the O- rather than the K-antigen in protecting
      K. pneumoniae from complement-mediated serum killing.

PMID- 1453929
TI  - Transcription analysis and nucleotide sequence of tox promoter/operator mutants
      of corynebacteriophage beta.
AB  - The production of diphtheria toxin (DT) by Corynebacterium diphtheriae C7 (beta)
      is transcriptionally regulated by the iron-dependent diphtheria toxin repressor,
      DtxR. Transcription of the tox gene was studied in wild-type C. diphtheriae C7
      (beta) and in lysogens carrying mutants of beta that determine insensitivity to
      inhibition of DT production by iron. Under low iron conditions in all strains,
      tox-specific mRNA appeared and DT production began during late-log phase, and
      they increased to maximal levels at stationary phase. Under high iron conditions,
      tox-specific mRNA and DT production were strongly repressed in C7 (beta) but only
      partially repressed in C7 (beta tox-202) and C7 (beta tox-201). Under high and
      low iron conditions, DT production and tox-specific mRNA levels were greater in
      C7 (beta tox-201) and C7 (beta tox-202) than in wild-type C7 (beta). Addition of
      iron or rifampicin to low iron cultures of C. diphtheriae C7 (beta) repressed tox
      mRNA production promptly and with a similar time course. In contrast, repression
      of tox-mRNA synthesis in C. diphtheriae C7 (beta tox-201) occurred promptly after
      addition of rifampicin but more slowly after addition of iron. Nucleotide
      sequence analysis revealed single G to A mutations at positions -47 and -48,
      within the preferred '-10' sequence of the tox promoter, in beta tox-201 and beta
      tox-202, respectively. The single nucleotide substitutions in the tox-201 and tox
      202 regulatory alleles, therefore, have pleiotropic effects, causing increased
      activity of the promoter and partial resistance of the operator to iron-dependent
      repression.

PMID- 1453930
TI  - Physiologic alteration of fibrinogen levels: influence upon patency of
      microvenous anastomoses.
AB  - High baseline levels of plasma fibrinogen have been correlated with increased
      risk for cardiovascular disease. Since fibrinogen plays a central role in both
      coagulation and platelet aggregation and is a primary component of thrombi, this
      study was designed to assess the relationship of circulating fibrinogen
      concentration and vein anastomotic patency. Subcutaneously injected turpentine
      was used to increase, and intravenous ancrod (snake venom) to decrease, plasma
      fibrinogen levels. Rat femoral vein anastomoses were performed, and patency was
      assessed after 120 min of flow. Rat tail bleeding times were obtained, and blood
      samples were drawn to determine fibrinogen and plasma protein concentrations, Lee
      White clotting times, and activated partial thromboplastin times (APTT).
      Increased patency was found in the ancrod group (88%) (P < 0.05 vs. controls);
      turpentine-treated and control groups were not significantly different (71% and
      63%, respectively). The ancrod group also showed significantly prolonged tail
      bleeding times and APTT. Fibrinogen levels were significantly decreased in the
      ancrod group (1.73 mg/ml) and elevated in the turpentine group (4.91 mg/ml) vs.
      controls (2.34 mg/ml; P < 0.005). These results indicate that elevated fibrinogen
      levels, in particular when triggered by an acute-phase response, do not appear to
      predispose small vessel repairs toward thrombosis. Furthermore, this study
      supports the use of ancrod as an anticoagulant for microvascular surgery.

PMID- 1453931
TI  - Modified anastomotic technique for 1 millimeter internal diameter
      polytetrafluoroethylene arterial grafts in the rat.
AB  - Reported patency rates after standard end-to-end anastomoses for microvascular
      prosthetic grafts have been inconsistent and usually disappointing. A modified
      anastomotic technique is described in which the prosthetic graft is invaginated
      inside the arterial lumen. In this study of 6 cm lengths of 1 mm internal
      diameter polytetrafluoroethylene femoro-femoral bypass grafts in the rat, 6 (40%)
      of 15 grafts with standard anastomoses were patent at 6 months compared to 28
      (90%) of 31 grafts using the modified anastomotic technique (P < 0.001). With
      invagination of the prosthetic graft inside the arterial lumen, reliable high
      patency rates can be achieved with microvascular prostheses long enough for
      potential clinical applications.

PMID- 1453932
TI  - Long-term results of 1 millimeter arterial anastomosis using the 3M precise
      microvascular anastomotic system.
AB  - The 3M Precise Microvascular Anastomotic System has been tested experimentally in
      long-term studies of arteries of 1 mm in diameter for the first time. The device
      was placed, using a newly described technique, in the infrarenal aorta of 25
      rats. At different intervals (2 weeks, 16 weeks, and 1 year), the section
      containing the 3M Precise Microvascular Anastomotic System was removed and
      processed for light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. All the
      anastomoses were found to be patent. Using a new device to process the material,
      both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy at 2 weeks showed a
      perfect reparative process at the junction site and the presence of a continuous
      endothelial layer. Media atrophy was responsible for wall thinning within the
      device. At 16 weeks, the atrophy of the media was even more marked, reducing the
      vessel wall thickness within the device to one-third of normal. At 1 year, this
      atrophy of the media was complete; smooth muscle cells disappeared and were
      replaced by fibrous tissue. Adventitia was not present over the long term within
      the device. The continuous endothelial layer, however, was still viable. These
      long-term results suggest that scar tissue forms within the device, while a
      continuous endothelial layer remains viable internal to this.

PMID- 1453933
TI  - Use of fibrin glue to minimize bleeding of microvascular repairs in hypertensive
      rats.
AB  - The purpose of this study is to describe our technique of applying fibrin glue at
      the microvascular anastomotic site and to evaluate the effect of fibrin glue on
      anastomotic hemostasis and patency under various high pressure states using
      dopamine-induced acute hypertension in rats. A total of 72 male Wistar Kyoto
      rats, 10 weeks old, were used in this study. Under urethane anesthesia, end-to
      end anastomosis of the left femoral artery was performed using 10-0 nylon suture
      by the standard interrupted suture technique. Pasteurized fibrin glue was then
      topically applied upon the suture line of the anastomosis. Thirty-six
      normotensive rats were divided into three groups based on the number of sutures
      (4, 6, or 8) used to complete the anastomosis. Groups were subdivided, half
      receiving fibrin glue application and half without. Thirty-six dopamine-induced
      acutely hypertensive rats were divided into three groups based on the blood
      pressure levels of 150, 200, and 250 mmHg, respectively. These groups were again
      subdivided, with half receiving glue applications. Microvascular anastomosis was
      performed using 6 nylon sutures. Patency rates and anastomotic bleeding were
      evaluated. The results revealed that successful anastomoses could be performed
      with fewer sutures when fibrin glue was used as a reinforcement at the
      anastomosis. Fibrin glue was also effective at the maximum blood pressure (250
      mmHg) with no anastomotic leakage and no decrease in postoperative patency rate.
      These results suggest that conventional microsurgical suturing technique combined
      with fibrin glue would be effective in the prevention of leakage in microsurgical
      repairs, even under conditions of high blood pressure.

PMID- 1453934
TI  - Development of a new rabbit ear model for the longitudinal study of digital
      pathophysiology.
AB  - A rabbit ear model has been developed in which arterial pressure, auricular blood
      flow conductance, and microvascular perfusion can be followed continuously in
      conscious animals. Conductance is measured with a transit-time flow probe placed
      around the auricular artery, arterial pressure is measured with an abdominal
      aortic catheter, and cutaneous microvascular perfusion is assessed using laser
      Doppler fluxmetry. Placement of a femoral vein catheter permits administration of
      vasoactive substances. To date, rabbits have been instrumented for 90 days or
      longer. Auricular and abdominal arterial pressures were equal, permitting the
      calculation of auricular artery conductance. Microvascular perfusion as measured
      by laser Doppler fluxmetry followed changes in overall blood flow. The presence
      of postsynaptic alpha 2-receptors was confirmed by determining auricular
      conductance before and after the administration of intravenous alpha-agonists.
      The development of this unique model will help to advance the understanding of
      the pathophysiology of human digital thermoregulatory vascular abnormalities.

PMID- 1453935
TI  - Microsurgical approach to the abdominal thoracic duct in the rat: considerations
      in the collection of lymphocytes.
AB  - In experiments involving the collection of thoracic duct lymphocytes the anatomy
      of the abdominal thoracic duct in the rat has been further defined. In general,
      the abdominal thoracic duct lies posterior and to the left of the aorta between
      the renal arteries and the diaphragm. There are variations in the microsurgical
      approach to the classically described location of this organ that should be noted
      by investigators attempting to identify and dissect this structure.

PMID- 1453936
TI  - Variability of venous anatomy of rat testis: application to experimental
      testicular surgery.
AB  - The venous drainage of the testis of the laboratory rat was observed in 31
      animals. The right testicular (internal spermatic) vein drained directly into the
      right common iliac vein in 77.4%, and into the inferior vena cava in 22.6% of the
      animals.  The left testicular vein drained into the left common iliac vein in all
      animals, but in 90.3% there was also an accessory branch of the testicular vein
      draining into the left renal vein. These observations suggest that in the rat the
      exact anatomy of the venous drainage of each testis should be identified prior to
      undertaking any surgical procedure on the testis where the venous vasculature
      plays a major role such as testicular transplantation or the creation of an
      experimental varicocele.

PMID- 1453937
TI  - Thigh adductor flap: an experimental model for free flap transfer in the rat.
AB  - A new model of rat muscle free flap transfer is presented. The flap is based on a
      long pedicle originating from the femoral vessels and continuing down to the
      distal saphenous margin at the ankle. The distal portion of the semitendinosus
      muscle is harvested along with the saphenous artery and great saphenous vein. A
      larger muscle flap may be harvested by including the distal portions of the
      posterior and anterior gracilis muscles. The flap can be transferred to remote
      sites on the animal, with a vascular pedicle of up to 3 cm in length. The
      diameters of the vessels repaired are of standard microsurgical size. This model
      has distinct advantages of simplicity, speed of dissection, high success rate
      after microvascular transfer, and versatility in placement of the muscle mass
      (due to the long pedicle).

PMID- 1453938
TI  - New rapid technique for renal transplantation in the rat.
AB  - Present techniques for renal transplantation in the rat include a period of 20-25
      minutes warm ischemia. Our method combines a recently described sleeve
      anastomotic technique for the renal artery, conventional end-to-end anastomosis
      of the renal vein, and implantation of the ureter into the bladder. This has
      resulted in a reproducible ischemic interval of 12-14 minutes. Plasma creatinine
      and histological features in animals sacrificed from 10 to 30 days after
      transplantation were within normal limits with no evidence of ischemic damage. A
      further advantage of the technique is that kidneys can be exchanged between the
      donor and recipient. It is recommended that this procedure, which reduces the
      ischemic interval by up to 50%, should be learned and employed in studies of
      renal transplantation in the rat, especially if such studies include the prior
      administration of cyclosporine, which may aggravate the effects of ischemia.

PMID- 1453939
TI  - Small bowel transplantation in the mouse: development of a model.
AB  - The rat has been used as a model to study the significance of graft and host
      interactions in small bowel transplantation (SBTX). A mouse model of SBTX would
      allow investigators to apply the knowledge of the well-defined genetics in the
      mouse to this field of study. Therefore, we have developed a mouse model of
      heterotopic SBTX using syngeneic C57BL6/J mice. Animals were anesthetized with a
      combination of ketamine and xylazine. Donor animals underwent midline laparotomy,
      with isolation of a segment of bowel as an isograft for transplantation to a
      recipient animal. The bowel was flushed in situ prior to removal of the graft
      with a Carrel patch of aorta and portal vein. The recipient animal underwent
      midline laparotomy and preparation of its infrarenal aorta and inferior vena cava
      for end-to-side anastomosis of the graft with 10-0 nylon. After vascular
      reperfusion of the graft the ends of the isografted bowel were brought out as
      stomata. Successful grafts were later assessed for viability by laparotomy or
      histological examination at the time of sacrifice. Areas of technical difficulty
      in this model and issues that might improve the experimental results are
      discussed. This model should allow investigators to apply the well-defined
      genetics of the mouse to probe the challenging field of intestinal
      transplantation.

PMID- 1453940
TI  - Free flap failure due to venous occlusion secondary to previous intravenous
      cannulation: a case report.
AB  - A case of failure of a free radial forearm flap is presented. It is surmised that
      this was due to venous thrombosis in the cephalic vein which showed evidence of
      recanalization of an old thrombus. The patient had received intravenous
      erythromycin some months previously.

PMID- 1453941
TI  - [Prof. Waclaw Henryk Markert (1898-1992)].

PMID- 1453942
TI  - [New approach to the system of training of medical professionals in the
      realization of current objectives with regard to workers' health care].
AB  - In view of the changes in the health care for workers, there is a need to modify
      the existing system of training for occupational health care professionals in
      order to secure successful implementation of the new principles. An activity was
      undertaken at the Postgraduate Training Unit, Institute of Occupational Medicine,
      Lodz, Poland, to determine new directions, objectives and training curricula in
      that area. First proposals, based on the review of the new objectives of the
      occupational health care system and of the presently available staff, concentrate
      on the indication of three major groups of professionals for which the new
      training contents should be designed. These three groups include: occupational
      health care organizers, public health experts and physicians specializing in
      specific health care for industrial workers.

PMID- 1453943
TI  - [A computerized system for the protection of the hearing of workers exposed to
      noise].
AB  - The periodical audiometric examinations carried out in order to identify persons
      with high susceptibility to acoustic trauma is very important in the hearing
      protection projects concerning workers occupationally exposed to noise. The
      authors present a computerized system which allows collection and analysis of the
      results of medical and audiometric examinations. Computer analysis of audiometric
      data helps to select and protect the workers with dynamic progression of hearing
      impairment. We believe that the hearing protection system we propose may improve
      medical care for the workers at risk.

PMID- 1453944
TI  - [Effects of selected factors on the degree of psychomotor efficiency of welders
      in a railroad car factory with automated work stations (robots)].
AB  - The study of 64 welders employed at automated work stands in the railway car
      factory conducted in 1989 and 1990 has shown that the psychomotor efficiency
      level in the examined workers (except for a few cases) was normal. The
      psychomotor efficiency of the welders studied depended on their age, work day
      phase and, to a small degree, on the detected biochemical and toxicological
      disorders.

PMID- 1453945
TI  - [Changes in the levels of tissue polypeptide antigen and carcinoembryonic antigen
      in the blood of workers exposed to aromatic amines].
AB  - The tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and carcinoembryonal antigen (CEA) are the
      markers used for screening and treatment monitoring of the bladder cancer. A
      study was carried out in a group of 38 workers chronically exposed to aromatic
      amines in a dye factory. The findings were compared with those of he study on CS2
      exposure and for the non-exposed workers. The results revealed a statistically
      significant differences between TPA values in the exposed and non-exposed
      workers. This finding does not apply to CEA. No significant differences between
      the markers' values were found in the group of workers exposed to CS2. The
      highest percentage of abnormal values, 29.2%, refers to the workers with a low
      acetylation phenotype; taking into account the smoking habit the TPA value would
      amount to 102 U/L in the smokers and to 64.8 U/L in the non-smokers. The studies
      indicate the higher usefulness of TPA as a marker of the effects of exposure to
      aromatic amines than that of CEA.

PMID- 1453946
TI  - [Immunological profile of workers occupationally exposed to chlorine].
AB  - Immunological profile of 42 men working under exposure to chlorine for a period
      from 2 to 38 years was analysed. Toxicological analyses of air samples which were
      carried out for 20 years showed similar chlorine concentration ranging from 0.21
      to 1.05 mg/m3. The number of B, T, and non-B, non-T lymphocytes was determined as
      well as the C3c, C4 complement components and proteins of acute phase reaction:
      alpha 1-acid-glycoprotein, haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin in the serum. Chronic
      exposure to chlorine produced a stimulating effect on the immune system, which
      was manifested by elevated IgA, IgD and IgM levels, the concentration of acute
      phase reaction proteins and increased number of B lymphocytes. The observed
      phenomenon had no influence on the antibacterial and anticancer immunity of the
      workers.

PMID- 1453947
TI  - [Chronic bronchitis and respiratory capacity of the lungs in miners from a
      specific coal mine].
AB  - In the group of 3317 miners of one coal mine, who were employed for over 8 years,
      the prevalence of chronic bronchitis (ch.b.) and lung ventilation disorders was
      analysed. The frequency of ch.b. in the subjects under study was almost twice as
      high as in the general male population in Poland and significantly more frequent
      in miners with pneumoconiosis than in those without pneumoconiosis. Simple
      pneumoconiosis and ch.b. contributed to decreased ventilatory capacity of the
      lung.

PMID- 1453948
TI  - [Evaluation of the immune system in workers engaged in the production of coal
      derivatives].
AB  - The study involved 361 people, 161 of whom were workers of coke plants and the
      remaining 200 constituted the control group. The coke plant workers were divided
      into the exposed and non-exposed groups. All of them were subject to the
      following tests: rosette test, determination of B lymphocytes, determination of
      the concentration of IgG, IgA, IgM immunoglobulins, and NBT granulocyte reduction
      test only were found in group I. Subgroups Ia, IIa, IIIa were established, in
      which subpopulations of T, TH-helper, TS-suppressor, TH and NK (Natural Killer)
      lymphocytes were discovered in group Ia. The above observations can probably be
      associated with exposure to tar substances which contain pyrenes.

PMID- 1453949
TI  - [Morbidity among workers exposed to lead--review of epidemiological studies].
AB  - The paper presents a review of morality studies for workers occupationally
      exposed to lead. The authors highlighted the limitations which most of the
      reviewed analyses suffer from and which are due mainly to incomplete
      characteristics of the exposure in question. As follows from the results of
      morality studies carried out so far, lead-exposed workers are subject to an
      increased risk of death from stomach and lung cancer, though the epidemiologic
      evidence for the latter is not quite explicit. The single reports on the risk of
      cerebrovascular diseases probably concerns only the high-level exposure.
      Relatively best documented is the death risk due to nephritis. The authors
      believe that further research is necessary in order to evaluate delayed health
      effects of chronic exposure to lead.

PMID- 1453950
TI  - [An atypical case of acute zinc poisoning].
AB  - The paper discussed a case of acute zinc intoxication in a 48-year old welder,
      after four days of cutting zinc-plated pipes with an oxy-acetylene torch, in
      poorly ventilated places. The zinc fever has been diagnosed on the basis of the
      symptoms and confirmed by laboratory findings: high zinc blood and erythrocyte
      concentration and increased urinary excretion of zinc. One year the intoxication
      the manifestations of the psycho-organic syndrome with predilection to
      pseudoneurotic reactions were still present. The non-standard factor in this case
      is the very short time of exposure to zinc oxide and the occurrence of chronic
      encephalopathy is also singular.

PMID- 1453952
TI  - Use of a cis-acting mutation to study the role of FLP-mediated recombination in
      the maintenance of native yeast 2 micrometer plasmids.
AB  - The 2 micrometer plasmid encodes a mechanism that ensures the partitioning of the
      plasmid at cell division. Little is known about the detailed mechanism of this
      partitioning system; for example, is there equal or unequal distribution of the
      plasmid molecules at mitosis? The plasmid also encodes a site-specific
      recombination system that is thought to be involved in plasmid copy-number
      amplification, although to date there has been no direct evidence that the
      recombination process itself is important for maintenance. We have identified a
      natural 2 micrometer variant that has a cis-acting mutation in the FLP-mediated
      recombination system. We show that this plasmid is unable to amplify in vivo. Our
      results demonstrate that the average copy number per cell is not affected for the
      mutant but there is a large clonal variation. This is a direct demonstration that
      plasmid partitioning results in an unequal distribution of plasmids and that FLP
      mediated amplification compensates for this and therefore has an important role
      in maintenance.

PMID- 1453951
TI  - Molecular characterization of the trypanothione reductase gene from Crithidia
      fasciculata and Trypanosoma brucei: comparison with other flavoprotein disulphide
      oxidoreductases with respect to substrate specificity and catalytic mechanism.
AB  - Trypanothione reductase belongs to the family of flavoprotein disulphide
      oxidoreductases that include glutathione reductases, dihydrolipoamide
      dehydrogenases and mercuric reductases. Trypanothione reductase and its
      substrate, trypanothione disulphide, are unique to parasitic trypanosomatids
      responsible for several tropical diseases. The crystal structure of the enzyme
      from Crithidia fasciculata is currently under investigation as an aid in the
      design of selective inhibitors with a view to producing new drugs. We report here
      the cloning and sequencing of the genes for trypanothione reductase from C.
      fasciculata and Trypanosoma brucei. Alignment of the deduced amino acid sequences
      with 21 other members of this family provides insight into the role of certain
      amino acid residues with respect to substrate specificity and catalytic mechanism
      as well as conservation of certain elements of secondary structure.

PMID- 1453953
TI  - DNA sequence determination and functional characterization of the OCT-plasmid
      encoded alkJKL genes of Pseudomonas oleovorans.
AB  - The alkBFGHJKL and alkST operons encode enzymes that allow Pseudomonas putida
      (oleovorans) to metabolize alkanes. In this paper we report the nucleotide
      sequence of a 4592 bp region of the alkBFGHJKL operon encoding the AlkJ, AlkK and
      AlkL polypeptides. The alkJ gene encodes a protein of 59 kilodaltons. The
      predicted amino acid sequence shows significant homology with four flavin
      proteins: choline dehydrogenase, a glucose dehydrogenase and two oxidases. AlkJ
      is membrane-bound and converts aliphatic medium-chain-length alcohols into
      aldehydes. The properties of AlkJ suggest that it is linked to the electron
      transfer chain. AlkJ is necessary for growth on alkanes only in P. putida alcohol
      dehydrogenase (AlcA) mutants. AlkK is homologous to a range of proteins which act
      by an ATP-dependent covalent binding of AMP to their substrate. This list
      includes the acetate, coumarate and long-chain fatty acid CoA ligases. The alkK
      gene complements a fadD mutation in Escherichia coli, which shows that it indeed
      encodes an acyl-CoA synthetase. AlkK is a 60 kilodalton protein located in the
      cytoplasm. AlkL is homologous to OmpW, a Vibrio cholerae outer membrane protein
      of unknown function, and a hypothetical polypeptide encoded by ytt4 in E. coli.
      AlkL, OmpW and Ytt4 all have a signal peptide and end with a sequence
      characteristic of outer membrane proteins. The alkL gene product was found in the
      outer membrane of E. coli W3110 containing the alk-genes. The alkL gene can be
      deleted without a clear effect on growth rate. Its function remains unknown. The
      G+C content of the alkJKL genes is 45%, identical to that of the alkBFGH genes,
      and significantly lower than the G+C content of the OCT-plasmid and the P. putida
      chromosome.

PMID- 1453954
TI  - Molecular and symbiotic characterization of exopolysaccharide-deficient mutants
      of Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT899.
AB  - We studied the symbiotic behaviour of 20 independent Tn5 mutants of Rhizobium
      tropici strain CIAT899 that were deficient in exopolysaccharide (EPS) production.
      The mutants produced non-mucoid colonies, were motile, grew in broth cultures at
      rates similar to those of the parent, and produced significantly less EPS than
      did CIAT899 in broth culture. A genomic library of strain CIAT899, constructed in
      pLA2917, was mobilized into all of the mutants, and cosmids that restored EPS
      production were identified. EcoRI restriction digests of the cosmids revealed
      nine unique inserts. Mutant complementation and hybridization analysis showed
      that the mutations affecting EPS production fell into six functional and physical
      linkage groups. On bean, the mutants were as efficient in nodulation and as
      effective in acetylene reduction as strain CIAT899, induced a severe interveinal
      chlorosis, and all but one were less competitive than CIAT899. On siratro,
      CIAT899 induced nodules that were ineffective in acetylene reduction, whereas the
      EPS-deficient mutants induced effective nodules. Microscopic examination of thin
      sections showed that nodules from both siratro and bean plants inoculated with
      either CIAT899 or an EPS-deficient mutant contained infected cells. These data
      indicate that EPS is not required for normal nodulation of bean by R. tropici,
      that it may contribute to competitiveness of R. tropici on bean, and that the
      loss of EPS production is accompanied by acquisition of the ability to reduce
      acetylene on siratro.

PMID- 1453955
TI  - A novel transcriptional regulation mechanism in the flagellar regulon of
      Salmonella typhimurium: an antisigma factor inhibits the activity of the
      flagellum-specific sigma factor, sigma F.
AB  - We have studied the molecular mechanism of the negative regulation by flgM of the
      late operons of the flagellar regulon of Salmonella typhimurium. A 7.8 kDa
      protein that was identified as the flgM gene product was purified to homogeneity;
      its amino-terminal sequence was identical to the deduced sequence except for the
      lack of the initiating methionine. The purified FlgM repressed transcription from
      the fliC promoter, one that is activated by the sigma factor, FliA (sigma F). No
      DNA-binding activity was detected in FlgM. Chemical cross-linking experiments
      showed that the purified FlgM bound to sigma F and disturbed its ability to form
      a complex with RNA polymerase core enzyme. These results indicate that FlgM is a
      novel type of negative regulator that probably inactivates the flagellum-specific
      sigma factor through direct interaction, i.e. it is an anti-sigma factor.

PMID- 1453956
TI  - A putative anaerobic coproporphyrinogen III oxidase in Rhodobacter sphaeroides.
      II. Analysis of a region of the genome encoding hemF and the puc operon.
AB  - The puc operon of Rhodobacter sphaeroides encoding polypeptides of the major
      light-harvesting complex, LH2, has been found to be linked to hemF, a gene
      encoding a putative anaerobic coproporphyrinogen III oxidase. The puc-hemF region
      of the R. sphaeroides genome has been investigated by insertional mutagenesis,
      complementation analysis of these insertional mutants and DNA sequencing. A third
      gene, designated pucC, has been found immediately downstream of pucA and has been
      shown to be essential for LH2 expression. pucC is cotranscribed with pucB and
      pucA; however, hemF and the pucBAC operon were found not to be transcriptionally
      linked. Ultrastructural studies indicated that the morphology of the
      intracytoplasmic membrane may depend upon expression of pucC as well as pucBA.

PMID- 1453957
TI  - Cloning, mapping and nucleotide sequencing of a gene encoding a universal stress
      protein in Escherichia coli.
AB  - The response of non-differentiating bacteria to nutrient starvation is complex
      and includes the sequential synthesis of starvation-inducible proteins. Although
      starvation for different individual nutrients generally provokes unique and
      individual patterns of protein expression, some starvation stimulons share member
      proteins. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that the
      synthesis of a small (13.5 kDa) cytoplasmic protein in Escherichia coli was
      greatly increased during growth inhibition caused by the exhaustion of any of a
      variety of nutrients (carbon, nitrogen, phosphate, sulphate, required amino acid)
      or by the presence of a variety of toxic agents including heavy metals, oxidants,
      acids and antibiotics. To determine further the mode of regulation of the protein
      designated UspA (universal stress protein A) we cloned the gene encoding the
      protein by the technique of reverse genetics. We isolated the protein from a
      preparative two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel, determined its N-terminal amino
      acid sequence, and used this sequence to construct a degenerate oligonucleotide
      probe. Two phages of the Kohara library were found to contain the gene which then
      was subcloned from the DNA in the overlapping region of these two clones. The
      amino acid sequence, deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the uspA gene, shows
      no significant homology with any other known protein. The uspA gene maps at 77
      min on the E. coli W3110 chromosome, and is transcribed in a clockwise direction.
      The increase in the level of UspA during growth arrest was found to be primarily
      a result of transcriptional activation of the corresponding gene. The induction
      was independent of the RelA/SpoT, RpoH, KatF, OmpR, AppY, Lrp, PhoB and H-NS
      proteins during stress conditions that are known to induce or activate these
      global regulators. The -10 and -35 regions upstream of the transcriptional start
      site of the uspA gene are characteristic of a sigma 70-dependent promoter.

PMID- 1453958
TI  - Some of the out genes involved in the secretion of pectate lyases in Erwinia
      chrysanthemi are regulated by kdgR.
AB  - The out genes of Erwinia chrysanthemi are required for the translocation across
      the outer membrane of pectate lyases and cellulases. We present the
      characterization and the nucleotide sequence of five genes of the out cluster.
      The products of outS, B, C, D and E have significant homology with the PulS, B,
      C, D and E proteins necessary to the secretion of pullulanase in Klebsiella
      pneumoniae. An open reading frame, outT, located between outB and outC has no
      homology with the pul cluster but is involved in secretion. outC, outD and outE
      form an operon while outS, outB and outT constitute independent transcription
      units. outT and the outCDE operon are regulated by kdgR, the negative regulatory
      gene controlling pectinase production. outB and outS seem to be expressed
      constitutively.

PMID- 1453959
TI  - Molecular rearrangement of lactose plasmid DNA associated with high-frequency
      transfer and cell aggregation in Lactococcus lactis 712.
AB  - High-frequency conjugation of the lactose plasmid pLP712 is associated with a
      constitutive cell aggregation phenotype and is facilitated by cointegration with
      a sex factor. Analysis of 23 independently derived enlarged lactose plasmids
      revealed that the sex factor DNA present in cointegrates varied in size. This
      suggested that more than simple cointegration with a sex factor plasmid was
      involved. Further analysis led to the discovery of a chromosomally located sex
      factor that could excise and be lost or exist as labile plasmid DNA.
      Cointegration with this sex factor was shown to be promoted by transposition of a
      copy of ISSI present on the lactose plasmid, and models are presented to account
      for the complex and variable structures of the resulting enlarged lactose
      plasmids.

PMID- 1453960
TI  - The bgl1 gene encoding extracellular beta-glucosidase from Trichoderma reesei is
      required for rapid induction of the cellulase complex.
AB  - We have used a targeted gene deletion event to remove the coding region for the
      bgl1 gene encoding an extracellular beta-glucosidase from the genome of the
      cellulolytic fungus Trichoderma reesei. The bgl1 null mutants were used to
      investigate the role of beta-glucosidase in the hydrolysis of cellulose and
      induction of the other cellulolytic enzyme components. In the absence of
      extracellular beta-glucosidase, growth of bgl1 null strains on several carbon
      sources was the same as that of the parent (as measured by mycelial dry weight).
      However, levels of extracellular protein and total endoglucanase production were
      seen to lag relative to those levels observed in the control strain. The mRNA
      levels of the CBHI, CBHII, EGI, and EGII cellulase genes (cbh1, cbh2, egl1 and
      egl3) showed a corresponding lag in induction, suggesting that the absence of
      extracellular beta-glucosidase has an effect on the co-ordinate regulation of the
      other cellulase genes at the level of transcription. The addition of a potent
      inducer of the cellulase complex (sophorose) resulted in normal rates of
      cellulase gene mRNA production and extracellular protein release. This indicates
      that the absence of beta-glucosidase is not affecting some intrinsic cellular
      ability to produce mRNA or secrete protein. These data suggest that a functional
      beta-glucosidase is at least partially responsible for the efficient induction of
      the depolymerase enzymes of the cellulase complex. The observation that the
      cellulase complex is induced, albeit after a lag, suggests that other enzymes are
      present that can substitute for the function of beta-glucosidase during
      induction.

PMID- 1453961
TI  - Targeted gene replacements in a Streptomyces polyketide synthase gene cluster:
      role for the acyl carrier protein.
AB  - A methodology was developed to construct any desired chromosomal mutation in the
      gene cluster that encodes the actinorhodin polyketide synthase (PKS) of
      Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). A positive selection marker (resistance gene) is
      first introduced by double crossing-over into the chromosomal site of interest by
      use of an unstable delivery plasmid. This marker is subsequently replaced by the
      desired mutant allele via a second high-frequency double recombination event. The
      technology has been used to: (i) explore the significance of translational
      coupling between two adjacent PKS genes; (ii) prove that the acyl carrier protein
      (ACP) encoded by a gene in the cluster is necessary for the function of the
      actinorhodin PKS; (iii) provide genetic evidence supporting the hypothesis that
      serine 42 is the site of phosphopantetheinylation in the ACP of the actinorhodin
      PKS; and (iv) demonstrate that this ACP can be replaced by a Saccharopolyspora
      fatty acid synthase ACP to generate an active hybrid PKS.

PMID- 1453962
TI  - The HsdS polypeptide of the type IC restriction enzyme EcoR124 is a sequence
      specific DNA-binding protein.
AB  - The HsdS and HsdM polypeptides of the type IC restriction enzyme EcoR124 have
      been purified independently and used in a set of gel retardation experiments to
      determine the minimum requirements for sequence-specific recognition of DNA by
      this enzyme. The HsdS polypeptide alone is able to bind to DNA in a sequence
      specific manner. In addition, whilst the presence of the HsdM polypeptide gives
      rise to a stimulation of DNA binding by the HsdS subunit it is not clear whether,
      under the conditions of the experiments reported here, the HsdS subunit maintains
      the same interactions with the HsdM subunits observed in the absence of DNA.

PMID- 1453963
TI  - Mental models, pictures, and text: integration of spatial and verbal information.
AB  - In the past several years, there has been an acceleration in the publication of
      cognitive research on the interplay between linguistic and pictorial/spatial
      information. To report on and encourage this sort of research, we organized a
      symposium at the 1991 meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association. The
      articles in this special section of Memory & Cognition are based on the work
      presented at the symposium. In this introduction, we offer a suggestion for why
      the integration of linguistic and spatial information is not only a possibility,
      but a requirement for effective communication. Our suggestion follows the
      linguistic analysis of the closed-class elements that convey spatial relations,
      the prepositions (Talmy, 1983). The structure of language provides but a small
      set of prepositions to encode the vast number of spatial relations that we can
      perceive. Thus, to understand a situation that a speaker or a writer is
      conveying, the listener or reader must combine linguistic information with
      (perhaps metric) spatial information derived from pictures, the environment, or
      memory.

PMID- 1453964
TI  - Pictures and anaphora: evidence for independent processes.
AB  - Pictures enhance our comprehension of written texts, but the perceptual and
      cognitive processes that underlie this effect have not been identified. Because
      integrating the information contained in a text places demands on working memory,
      the effect of a picture may be to expand the functional capacity of working
      memory and thereby to facilitate comprehension. Reasoning thus, we predicted that
      the availability of a diagram would interact with the difficulty of resolving
      anaphoric references in texts. The resolution of an anaphor distant from its
      antecedent (which should stress working memory) should benefit greatly from the
      presentation of a picture, whereas the resolution of an anaphor near to its
      antecedent should benefit less from the presentation of a picture. Picture
      availability and distance separating the anaphor from its antecedent were
      manipulated in experiments involving both cumulative and moving window
      presentations of texts. Although picture presence and ease of anaphor resolution
      significantly improved comprehension of the material, no evidence was found for
      an interaction of these factors. The results are interpreted as consistent both
      with dual code theory and with aspects of working memory management that do not
      involve anaphor resolution.

PMID- 1453965
TI  - Pictorial enhancement of text memory: limitations imposed by picture type and
      comprehension skill.
AB  - We examined the kinds of information in a prose passage that is better remembered
      when depictive illustrations are embedded in the passage than when the passage
      contains no illustrations. Experiment 1 showed that (1) pictures depicting
      details effectively increased recall of those details and (2) pictures depicting
      relationships effectively increased recall of that relational information
      (relative to a no-picture control condition). In Experiment 2, comprehension
      skill was found to modulate the general effects obtained in Experiment 1. Detail
      pictures enhanced the recall of targeted details for all skill levels. Relational
      pictures enhanced recall of pictured relational information for highly skilled
      and moderately skilled comprehenders, but not for less skilled comprehenders.
      Because there were no recall differences across the different skill levels in the
      no-picture control condition, it is suggested that pictures may serve to enable
      processing in which readers would not necessarily engage under ordinary
      circumstances. Pictures, however, did not appear to compensate for limitations
      reflected in lower scores on a standardized test of reading comprehension.

PMID- 1453966
TI  - Descriptions and depictions of environments.
AB  - Subjects studied maps with the expectation that they would draw or describe them
      from memory. In fact, subjects did both. Order of drawing or describing landmarks
      revealed the mental organization of environments. Organization was quite similar
      across maps and descriptions of the same environments, revealing hierarchical
      structures based on spatial and functional features of the environments and on
      conventions for sequencing the landmarks.

PMID- 1453967
TI  - Structural properties of visual images constructed from poorly or well-structured
      verbal descriptions.
AB  - Previous research has found a linear relation between distance and scanning times
      for spatial configurations when the spatial configurations were learned
      perceptually and when they were constructed from well-structured verbal
      descriptions. The current research replicated the time-distance relation when the
      images were constructed from repetitions of well-structured descriptions but not
      when the images were generated from three repetitions of a description that
      presented information in a random order. Six exposures to the randomly ordered
      information yielded the expected time-distance relation in image scanning. We
      posited that additional exposure to the poorly structured information allowed the
      image to develop the structural coherence and resolution needed to support
      consistent scanning. Thus, the structure of descriptions can affect the intrinsic
      structure of images of described objects and hence the mental operations
      performed subsequently on these images. Another experiment indicated that image
      coherence and resolution improves even after the verbal description is accurately
      recalled.

PMID- 1453968
TI  - Switching points of view in spatial mental models.
AB  - In six experiments, subjects read narratives describing varying spatial scenes
      with more than one point of view. They were probed with questions about objects
      located in six directions from each character's point of view. Subjects' response
      times were consistent with a one place-one perspective rule. They seemed to form
      separate mental models for separate places and to take a character's perspective
      when there was only one relevant character in a scene, but they seemed to take a
      neutral perspective when there was more than one probed point of view, rather
      than switch perspectives.

PMID- 1453969
TI  - The representation and integration in memory of spatial and nonspatial
      information.
AB  - A series of experiments investigated whether people could integrate nonspatial
      information about an object with their knowledge of the object's location in
      space. In Experiments 1 and 3, subjects learned the locations of cities on a
      fictitious road map; in Experiments 2, 4, and 5, subjects were already familiar
      with the locations of buildings on a campus. The subjects then learned facts
      about the cities on the maps or the buildings on the campus. The question of
      interest was whether or not these nonspatial facts would be integrated in memory
      with the spatial knowledge. After learning the facts, subjects were given a
      location-judgment test in which they had to decide whether an object was in one
      region of the space or another. Knowledge integration was assessed by comparing
      levels of performance in two conditions: (a) when a city or a building name was
      primed by a fact about a neighboring city or building, and (b) when a city or a
      building name was primed by a fact about a distant city or building. Results
      showed that responses in Condition a were faster or more accurate, or both faster
      and more accurate, than responses in Condition b. These results indicate that the
      spatial and nonspatial information were encoded in a common memory
      representation.

PMID- 1453970
TI  - Abstract versus modality-specific memory representations in processing auditory
      and visual speech.
AB  - Serial recall of lip-read, auditory, and audiovisual memory lists with and
      without a verbal suffix was examined. Recency effects were the same in the three
      presentation modalities. The disrupting effect of a suffix was largest when it
      was presented in the same modality as the list items. The results suggest that
      abstract linguistic as well as modality-specific codes play a role in memory for
      auditory and visual speech.

PMID- 1453971
TI  - Individual differences in bridging inference processes.
AB  - The role of individual differences in bridging-inference processing was studied.
      Students (n = 135) read passages of short to moderate length. After each one,
      they answered corresponding questions about inferences that bridged causally
      related ideas that were either near or far apart in the text. The main hypothesis
      was that local bridging-inference processing is facilitated by the reader's
      predisposition to access pertinent knowledge during comprehension. Regression
      analyses provided support for this proposal and indicated that greater working
      memory capacity and vocabulary knowledge promote inference processing. The
      following relationships between the predictors and inference processing were
      proposed: Knowledge access promotes the co-occurrence in working memory of the
      text ideas and knowledge needed to compute the bridge. Working-memory capacity
      enhances the likelihood that needed antecedent ideas will be available to the
      bridging processes. Vocabulary knowledge may promote inference processing because
      unfamiliar word meanings place more demands on working-memory resources than do
      familiar meanings.

PMID- 1453972
TI  - Dissociations among memory measures in memory-impaired subjects: evidence for a
      processing account of memory.
AB  - Deficits in conceptual transfer on both implicit and explicit memory tests were
      obtained for memory-impaired temporal lobe epileptic (TLE) subjects in three
      studies. In Experiment 1, in which a generate-read paradigm was employed, memory
      impaired TLEs failed to show normal generation effects on conceptually driven
      tests of semantic cued recall and general knowledge questions, although their
      data-driven memory as measured by word-fragment completion and graphemic cued
      recall tasks was normal. In Experiment 2, memory-impaired patients having left
      temporal lobe seizure foci were tested on these four tasks and compared with
      nonimpaired TLEs having right temporal foci. The left TLEs showed deficits on
      conceptually driven tasks and normal memory for data-driven tests. These findings
      were extended in Experiment 3, in which left TLE patients failed to show any
      benefit from blocked study, as compared with random study, on category production
      and semantic cued-recall tests, although right TLEs and normal controls showed
      blocking effects on both tasks. These findings may be accommodated by a
      processing framework of memory in which memory-impaired patients are
      characterized as having deficits in conceptual, but not in data-driven,
      processing capabilities.

PMID- 1453974
TI  - Effect of local context of responding on human judgment of causality.
AB  - Two experiments examined the effect of various relationships between a response
      (pressing the space bar of a computer) and an outcome (a triangle flashing on a
      screen) on judgments of the causal effectiveness of the response. In Experiment
      1, when responses were required to be temporarily isolated from each other prior
      to an outcome, ratings of the causal effectiveness of the responses were higher
      than in a condition in which the probability of an outcome following a response
      was the same but in which no temporal isolation was required. In Experiment 2,
      when a number of responses were required to be emitted temporally close to the
      outcome, ratings of the causal effectiveness of the responses were lower than in
      a condition in which the probability of an outcome following a response was the
      same but in which no temporal proximity was required. These results suggest that,
      in addition to the overall probability that an outcome will follow a response,
      the local context of responding at the time an outcome is presented is critical
      in influencing ratings of causal effectiveness.

PMID- 1453973
TI  - In search of a strong visual recency effect.
AB  - When a sequence of visual stimuli is presented in a fixed location, immediate
      serial recall of the sequence is characterized by only a small recency effect.
      According to Battacchi, Pelamatti, and Umilta (1990), the distribution of visual
      stimuli over space, as well as time, greatly enhances the recency effect. After
      an initial failure to find a strong visual recency effect with distributed
      presentation (Experiment 1), in the remaining experiments an attempt was made to
      more closely approximate Battacchi et al.'s methodology by eliminating
      articulatory suppression (Experiments 2-7), using their stimuli (Experiments 3
      7), blocking conditions (Experiments 4-7), requiring written rather than typed
      responses (Experiments 5-7), and using their list length (Experiments 6 and 7).
      Nevertheless, even when their method was followed as closely as possible
      (Experiment 7), distributed presentation did not produce a strong visual recency
      effect. The influence of distributed presentation on the visual recency effect
      would seem to be, at best, limited.

PMID- 1453975
TI  - Cuing effects and associative information in recognition memory.
AB  - Item recognition requires discrimination of studied words from nonstudied words.
      Associative recognition requires subjects to discriminate studied word groups
      from recombinations of words from different groups. Cued recognition requires the
      same old-new discrimination as item recognition, but list items are presented as
      cues along with the test item. The results from three experiments show (1) little
      or no effect of cuing for low-frequency words, but (2) positive cuing effects for
      high-frequency words; (3) increasing levels of overall performance with increases
      in study time, but (4) unchanging effects of cuing with study time; and (5)
      stronger positive cuing effects for two cues than for one cue. Five models
      (Independent Cue Model, Matrix model, MINERVA 2, SAM, and TODAM) were fit to the
      data of Experiment 1. Each model has trouble with at least one aspect of the
      results. Theoretical implications and modifications are discussed at length.

PMID- 1453976
TI  - Will we ever increase the incidence of breast feeding?

PMID- 1453977
TI  - Attitudes of Vietnamese women to baby feeding practices before and after
      immigration to Sydney, Australia.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to explore Vietnamese women's attitudes, behaviour
      and beliefs towards baby feeding practices before and after immigration to
      Sydney. Findings from 70 questionnaires and 20 in-depth face-to-face interviews
      with ethnic Vietnamese women indicated that Vietnamese women's preference towards
      baby feeding practices was shaped by their health beliefs, which in turn were
      influenced by the social, cultural and economic environment of the host country.
      Changing to bottle feeding was an adaptation process, a bridge between the old
      and the new environments. Recommendations have been made regarding ways of
      promoting breast feeding among immigrant women.

PMID- 1453978
TI  - Systems of midwifery care in use in Scotland.
AB  - A survey was undertaken to identify the different systems of midwifery care in
      use in hospital and community settings in Scotland. The 53 units which responded
      provided 90% of the maternity care in Scotland. Of the 53 units, the 28
      integrated units undertook 83% of Scottish births and were more likely than the
      non-integrated units to have implemented systems designed to reduce fragmentation
      of care. Nearly a fifth of units had five different systems of care in operation.
      More than half the units had at least one of the following systems of care in
      operation or under planning: individualised care plans; 'patient allocation';
      DOMINO schemes; nursing/midwifery process or model; and team midwifery. The most
      frequently used system was planning individualised care (88% of the units).
      'Patient allocation', nursing/midwifery process or model and the DOMINO scheme
      were in over 60% of the units. The least used system was team midwifery, which
      was in operation in 21% of the units and being planned for a further 30%. The use
      of the different systems in combination within a number of units demonstrates
      that approaches to the objective of continuity of care are complex. There is a
      need for further research into continuity of care as this is a commonly cited
      advantage of all five systems of care.

PMID- 1453979
TI  - The impact of research findings on current practice in relieving postpartum
      perineal pain in a large district general hospital.
AB  - In order to study the impact of research findings on current clinical practice
      100 members of midwifery and medical staff of a large district general hospital
      were surveyed regarding their treatment of postpartum perineal pain. Of the 76
      who responded only 20 (26%) referred to research findings to support their
      clinical practice and in only one case was the research appropriate to the
      population in question. Important research findings were not applied, while the
      majority of the reported practice was not research-based. Research-based practice
      is not only the responsibility of the individual clinician but also of those at
      educational and management levels. Local strategies should be developed and
      resources made available to facilitate research utilisation and implementation.

PMID- 1453980
TI  - Early postpartum discharge--an alternative to traditional hospital care.
AB  - In a predictive study of early postpartum discharge data were collected to
      justify a proposal that was being developed by a city hospital and the Local
      Board of Health to provide maternity care for women who wished to be discharged
      early from hospital following childbirth. In this paper the findings of the
      predictive study are presented and then compared with the findings from the
      evaluation of the project which was implemented by the hospital and the Local
      Board of Health. Overall, the findings from the predictive study were accurate
      when compared to the findings from the evaluation study. The similarity of
      findings in both studies demonstrates the value of undertaking a predictive study
      prior to planning changes in delivery of health care to a specific population.

PMID- 1453981
TI  - A preliminary evaluation of education material prepared for the Safe Motherhood
      Initiative Educational Project.
AB  - Maternal death is a tragedy which is all too familiar in much of the world. As
      part of the Safe Motherhood Initiative the World Health Organization is
      developing and producing a learning package designed specifically for midwives.
      Through a modular system of learning incorporating aspects of community,
      prevention, treatment and follow-up the package seeks to address the five main
      causes of maternal mortality. In this paper the first pre-testing of the
      educational material in an African country is described. The extent of the
      evaluation is limited at this early stage but the initial analysis of the results
      is encouraging and have led to modifications of the original package. The
      evaluation has confirmed that a tool such as this package can be a valuable
      resource for midwife teachers attempting to improve the relevance of education
      for their midwifery students. The midwifery students whilst being 'with woman' in
      childbirth are also grappling with the realities of death in their everyday
      practice. The educational package has also reinforced the sense of urgency
      fundamental to completing this extensive project so that it can be made available
      to midwives throughout the developing world at the earliest opportunity.

PMID- 1453982
TI  - Electrophoretic mobility and immunoblot analysis of the outer membrane proteins
      of Aeromonas hydrophila, A. sobria and A. caviae.
AB  - The outer membrane profiles of three species of the genus Aeromonas were examined
      by means of SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting to identify species-specific polypeptides
      and antigens which could presumably be applied to differentiate Aeromonas spp. at
      the species or subspecies level. Profiles on an 11% discontinuous SDS-PAGE showed
      common band sharing at the 52 kD position. Species-specific bands for the three
      strains could also be detected. Immunoblots using heterologous LPS-adsorbed
      polyclonal antisera revealed demarcated common and uncommon antigens within the
      three species. Outer membrane preparations were immunoblotted against whole cell
      polyclonal antisera. The previously documented host pathogenicity of A. sobria
      correlated well with the immunoblots which showed antigenicity, especially due to
      the LPS, when compared with the other two species.

PMID- 1453983
TI  - Susceptibility of sixty-five non-oral clinical isolates of the Streptococcus
      milleri group to seven antimicrobial agents.
AB  - Antimicrobial susceptibilities of sixty-five non-oral Streptococcus milleri group
      clinical isolates to penicillin, gentamicin, lincomycin, ampicillin,
      chloramphenicol, tetracycline and erythromycin were determined by an agar
      dilution method. All strains were penicillin-sensitive (MIC < or = 0.031
      microgram/ml) and the majority (64/65) were susceptible to erythromycin (MIC < or
      = 0.125 microgram/ml). Low-level resistance to gentamicin was observed, and the
      majority of strains possessed an MIC of 8 micrograms/ml. Lincomycin and
      ampicillin at 0.5 microgram/ml inhibited 52/65 and 61/65 strains, respectively.
      Of the isolates 92% were inhibited by chloramphenicol at < or = 2 micrograms/ml.
      Twenty-two S. milleri group strains (of which thirteen were vaginal isolates)
      were resistant to tetracycline (MIC > or = 8 micrograms/ml).

PMID- 1453984
TI  - beta-N-acetylhexosaminidases from Serratia marcescens.
AB  - Two forms of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase from Serratia marcescens with an optimum
      pH of 5.0 and 6.5, respectively, to 4-methylumbelliferyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta
      D-glucopyranoside were separated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and Sephacryl S
      200 chromatography. On the basis of their molecular weights, thermal stability,
      substrate specificity and isoelectric points, the form with an acidic pH optimum
      resembled hexosaminidase B, whereas the form with a neutral pH optimum resembled
      hexosaminidase C. Lectin binding studies showed that the acidic form does not
      bind to concanavalin-A-Sepharose, Tetragonolobus purpurea-agarose, wheat germ
      agglutinin-Sepharose or Ricinus communis-agglutinin-agarose, whereas the neutral
      form binds to the last two lectin columns.

PMID- 1453985
TI  - Inhibition of the electron transport system in Staphylococcus aureus by
      trimethylamine-N-oxide.
AB  - Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus but
      not of S. epidermidis, which is the main flora in ripening squid, the Japanese
      traditional sea food Ika-shiokara. This selective inhibition of S. aureus was
      based on the inhibition of the electron transport system. The cytochrome fraction
      isolated from S. aureus was converted from the reduced to the oxidized form by
      the addition of TMAO. It is suggested that the inhibition occurred between
      cytochrome B and cytochrome o.

PMID- 1453986
TI  - The significance of testing for Pseudomonas aeruginosa in recreational seawater
      beaches.
AB  - The occurrence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and faecal coliforms in Mediterranean
      sea water from beaches was investigated. Water samples (1,598 in toto) were
      tested and P. aeruginosa was found in 222 samples (14%). In 31% of samples where
      P. aeruginosa was detected, faecal coliforms of less than ten bacteria per 100 ml
      were found. In a group of 98 samples which had > 500 faecal coliforms per 100 ml,
      41% had no detectable P. aeruginosa. The inclusion of P. aeruginosa as an
      additional parameter for approving beaches for recreational activity is
      recommended.

PMID- 1453987
TI  - In vitro activity of fosfomycin against 'problem' gram-positive cocci.
AB  - Fosfomycin was active in vitro against 54 of 60 'problem' Gram-positive cocci (20
      methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 20 coagulase-negative staphylococci
      and 20 enterococci). Its activity was significantly greater under anaerobic
      conditions, especially against coagulase-negative staphylococci. Mutants
      resistant to fosfomycin were readily demonstrated, but their growth was prevented
      by rifampicin or ciprofloxacin. The combinations rifampicin+fosfomycin and
      ciprofloxacin+fosfomycin showed MIC synergy. It is concluded that fosfomycin in
      an appropriate combination would be a valuable addition to the small and
      dwindling range of antibiotics active against problem Gram-positive cocci.

PMID- 1453988
TI  - [The comparative characteristics of Vibrio cholerae hemolysins].
AB  - Biochemical and biological properties of in vivo and in vitro hemolysins of
      cholera germs isolated by different authors as well as hemolysins of Vibrio
      parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli have been comparatively characterized.
      According to the above data hemolysin of cholera germ El Tor is a thermolabile
      protein with molecular mass of 60-80 thou.; it is cytotoxic, enteropathogenic and
      lyses all the species of erythrocytes. Hemolysins of V. eltor and germs are
      immunologically related. Hemolysin of the cholera germ is thermostable and has
      molecular mass of 20-40 thou., that makes it similar to hemolysin of V.
      parahaemolyticus.

PMID- 1453989
TI  - [The cloning of fragments of the streptomycete plasmid pSG1912 as a part of the
      vector pUC19].
AB  - DNA fragments of plasmid pSG1912 isolated from Streptomyces globisporus 1912 have
      been cloned into vector pUC19 in the E. coli cells. Stability of inheritance of
      hybrid derivatives in enterobacteria has been studied. The clones where
      recombinant plasmids are stably inherited have been chosen. The detailed
      restriction maps of cloned DNA fragments of pSG1912 have been constructed.

PMID- 1453990
TI  - [The properties of cell wall hydrolysates of Streptococcus group A].
AB  - Products obtained from lysis in the cell wall of group A streptococcus have been
      studied in different growth phases: at the end of the exponential phase and in
      the stationary one. Endo-beta-N-acetylmuramidase extracted from the culture
      liquid of Streptomyces levoris 96 has been used for lysis of streptococcus. It is
      stated that streptococcus cell walls isolated at different growth stages differ
      in the protein and polysaccharide content. High content of protein in the cell
      wall of a young culture makes lower the initial rate of the walls' hydrolysis by
      endo-beta-N-acetylmuramidase. However, with the enzyme penetration into
      peptidoglycan the rate of hydrolysis of cell walls gets higher and after four
      hour incubation the lysis degree of walls of the 16- and 8-hour cultures reaches
      the equal value (63%). Studies in the protein composition of lysates of the
      streptococcus cell walls have shown that they contain at least 12 proteins most
      of which are acid and neutral ones.

PMID- 1453991
TI  - [The kinetics of glycol destruction by a Pseudomonas putida BS-2 strain].
AB  - Destruction of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol by Pseudomonas putida BS-2
      culture under conditions of its batch cultivation has been studied for its
      physiological regularities. The specific rate of the biomass growth in the region
      of limiting substrate concentrations depends on the diethylene glycol
      concentration in the medium and follows the Mono equation. A semisaturation
      constant for diethylene glycol is 209 +/- 17 mg/d. The specific rate of the
      culture growth is independent of the ethylene glycol concentration in the medium
      within a wide range from 0.08 to 10 g/l. Kinetics of the bacteria growth
      inhibition by excess of substrates is a complex character and obeys none of the
      known models of the substrate inhibition.

PMID- 1453992
TI  - Attitudes to people with disabilities.

PMID- 1453993
TI  - Women in medicine.

PMID- 1453994
TI  - Arthritis: the therapeutic challenge.

PMID- 1453995
TI  - The sale of the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories: wither antivenom research?

PMID- 1453996
TI  - Deaths from snake bite in Australia, 1981-1991.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To obtain and analyse data relating to snake bite fatalities in
      Australia. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of case reports and collation of
      studies carried out at the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL). RESULTS: 18
      deaths attributed to snake bite were reported to CSL over a 10-year period.
      Eleven of the victims were males and four of these were bitten after either
      picking up the snake or playing with it. In most cases, no pathological findings
      of significance were found at autopsy. Venom was detected in post-mortem samples
      from nine cases. Brown snakes (genus Pseudonaja) were responsible for 11 deaths;
      tiger snake (Notechus scutatus) for four, taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) two and
      death adder (Acanthophis australis) one. Death after a brown snake bite was often
      sudden and unexpected. In three patients bitten by tiger snakes and in one bitten
      by a brown snake, the presence of cerebral haemorrhage was confirmed at autopsy.
      CONCLUSIONS: Not all snake bite deaths in Australia are adequately investigated
      or reported. Under some circumstances death from snake bite is almost inevitable;
      two infants who received unwitnessed massive envenomations are tragic examples.
      Had venom absorption from the bitten area been delayed by correct first aid, some
      of the patients might have survived. The brown snakes (genus Pseudonaja) must now
      be considered Australia's most dangerous group of snakes because their venom may
      cause sudden unexpected collapse and death. The increased incidence of
      intracranial haemorrhage may in some cases be related to the intravenous use of
      adrenaline. In at least one case, the prompt administration of a clearly needed
      antivenom might have altered the outcome.

PMID- 1453997
TI  - Quokka bites. The first report of bites from an Australian marsupial.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence and natural history of bites from the
      quokka, a small wallaby. DESIGN: A prospective case series. SETTING: Rottnest
      Island Nursing Post, a small hospital staffed by registered nurses on call 24
      hours a day, located on Rottnest Island 18 km off the coast of Western Australia
      near Perth. PATIENTS: All patients presenting after a bite from a quokka.
      RESULTS: Seventy-two patients (30 males and 42 females) presented after a bite.
      All but two patients were patting or feeding a quokka at the time of being
      bitten, and all but two were bitten on a finger or the thumb. Sixty-one per cent
      of patients were followed up; all wounds healed without complications. No wound
      pathogens were cultured from either wound swabs or swabs of the mouths of
      quokkas. CONCLUSIONS: Bites from quokkas heal without complications, usually in
      two to three weeks. Simple first aid and tetanus prophylaxis where appropriate
      are all that is required. Antibiotics are not indicated.

PMID- 1453998
TI  - Scombroid poisoning. A report of seven cases involving the Western Australian
      salmon, Arripis truttaceus.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To present the clinical findings of scombroid poisoning due to
      ingestion of the Western Australian salmon, Arripis truttaceus, occurring in two
      separate outbreaks involving seven patients. Both outbreaks occurred in March and
      the fish had been caught in South Australian waters. CLINICAL FEATURES: Onset of
      symptoms in all patients occurred within half an hour of ingestion of the
      affected fish. The clinical syndrome included erythema and urticaria of the skin,
      facial flushing and sweating, palpitations, hot flushes of the body, headache,
      nausea, vomiting and dizziness. The fish implicated in one outbreak was noted to
      have a peppery taste. The diagnosis of scombroid poisoning was confirmed by the
      presence of the clinical syndrome, and by demonstration of high histamine levels
      in the cooked fish. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: Two patients had minor symptoms
      which had resolved before seeking medical advice. Another two patients had mild
      symptoms which disappeared after two hours of observation and required no
      specific treatment. Three patients had evidence of major toxicity which was
      successfully treated with parenterally administered promethazine. One of the
      three patients with major toxicity required overnight admission and repeated
      doses of promethazine to eradicate her symptoms. No patient had symptoms for
      longer than 12 hours. CONCLUSION: Scombroid poisoning is caused by ingestion of
      fish which has accumulated scombrotoxin during spoilage. The toxin is heat stable
      and has been identified as histamine. The clinical presentation closely resembles
      an acute allergic reaction. This similarity in symptoms may result in the
      diagnosis of scombroid poisoning being missed by clinicians. Patients with the
      symptom complex may be incorrectly informed that they are allergic to the fish
      species. Diagnosis is clinical and can be confirmed by analysis of the histamine
      content of the fish. Treatment is with antihistamines, however major toxicity may
      require the same aggressive management as acute anaphylaxis.

PMID- 1453999
TI  - Crocodile attacks in the Northern Territory of Australia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine crocodile attacks in the Northern Territory with particular
      reference to risk factors, range of injuries, microorganisms isolated from
      wounds, and surgical management; and to make recommendations for optimal
      treatment. DESIGN AND SETTING: The case notes of patients treated at the Royal
      Darwin Hospital within the last decade were reviewed retrospectively. Autopsy and
      newspaper reports for the same period were also reviewed. RESULTS: There were 16
      reported crocodile attacks in Northern Territory waters from June 1981 to June
      1991. Four of these were fatal. Most attacks resulted from swimming or wading in
      shallow water (13/16). Half the victims were known to be affected by alcohol. The
      majority of attacks occurred in failing light or at night (10/16). Injuries in
      survivors ranged from minor lacerations and puncture wounds to major abdominal,
      chest and limb trauma. Death in fatal attacks was caused by transection of the
      torso or decapitation. Microorganisms isolated from wound swabs included
      Pseudomonas, Enterococcus, Aeromonas and Clostridium species. CONCLUSIONS: Most
      attacks in this series could have been prevented by taking adequate precautions.
      The treatment of crocodile injuries must include (i) adequate wound cultures,
      (ii) antitetanus prophylaxis, (iii) meticulous wound debridement, (iv)
      appropriate broad spectrum prophylactic antibiotics and (v) allowing healing by
      secondary intention or delayed primary closure where appropriate.

PMID- 1454000
TI  - The role of foxes Vulpes vulpes in the epidemiology of Echinococcus granulosus in
      urban environments.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To survey the prevalence of intestinal worms, particularly
      Echinococcus granulosus, in foxes in Canberra. DESIGN: The locations of foxes
      seen in Canberra during this study were recorded. Foxes and macropod marsupials
      killed on the roads of Canberra were collected and examined for the presence of
      intestinal helminths and hydatid cysts respectively. METHOD: The intestinal
      contents of the foxes were washed through a fine sieve and examined
      microscopically. All helminths recovered were collected and identified. All the
      internal organs of the macropods were examined for any cystic lesions. RESULTS:
      Forty-five foxes and 44 macropods were examined. Echinococcus granulosus was
      found in three of the foxes (7%). Hydatid cysts were not found in the internal
      organs of any of the macropods examined. CONCLUSIONS: Echinococcus granulosus is
      present in the urban fox population of Canberra. This hitherto unreported aspect
      of the epidemiology of E. granulosus in Australia could be a potential public
      health risk to urban populations.

PMID- 1454001
TI  - Ocular injuries caused by magpies.
AB  - This paper presents a series of six patients with ocular injuries resulting from
      magpie attacks. Five cases involved children. In two cases the penetration was
      overlooked initially. In one case the keratitis was caused by Bacillus cereus.
      Full ophthalmic examination, including indirect ophthalmoscopy and
      microbiological studies, must be undertaken initially to identify unrecognised
      eye injuries and to prevent the possible sight-threatening complications of
      vitreal fibrosis with subsequent retinal detachment or endophthalmitis.

PMID- 1454002
TI  - An oral history of changes in the Australian diet.

PMID- 1454003
TI  - Electrocution in Western Australia, 1976-1990.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of electrical fatalities in Western
      Australia between 1976 and 1990. DATA SOURCES: Data for the study were gathered
      from hospital records, autopsy reports and findings from State Energy Commission
      and coronal investigations. DATA EXTRACTION: Information that was abstracted
      included age, sex, occupation, voltage, history of incident and autopsy findings.
      DATA SYNTHESIS: There were 104 victims. Death occurred most frequently in young
      men exposed to low voltage current during summer, and nearly half the fatalities
      occurred in the workplace. Water was present in up to 52% of fatalities. Without
      exception, all victims developed a lethal arrhythmia at the time of exposure to
      the electric shock, which usually resulted in death at the scene. CONCLUSION:
      When a victim is exposed to a fatal electric shock, the lethal arrhythmia occurs
      at the time of electrocution and is just as likely to occur at home as in the
      workplace. Electrical fatalities can be prevented largely by the use of residual
      current devices.

PMID- 1454004
TI  - What doctors need to know. A note on professional performance.

PMID- 1454005
TI  - Medical litigation. The aetiological role of psychological and interpersonal
      factors.
AB  - The present paper focuses upon psychological factors which may cause patients to
      make formal complaint or embark upon legal proceedings against a doctor despite
      competent medical management. Although the principles involved arose from
      experience of liaison psychiatry in neonatal and obstetric settings, they are
      more broadly applicable to other areas of medical practice. The corner stone of
      prevention is appropriate psychological management. One of the most common forms
      of psychological mismanagement is a failure to share information openly with
      patients when it becomes available. Sometimes, despite exemplary medical and
      psychological management, grievance proceedings are still initiated. Often in
      such cases the cause lies in the patient's psychopathology. Finally, formal
      complaint or litigation may arise as a result of the patient's unrealistic
      expectations of the doctor.

PMID- 1454007
TI  - Merry Christmas, Major Clarke! Changi Christmas 50 years ago.

PMID- 1454006
TI  - Dr John Thomson (1847-1909). Pioneer surgeon, military surgeon and a founder of
      St John Ambulance in Australia.
AB  - Surgeon John Thomson (1847-1909), a Scot who made his life's work in Queensland,
      was a pioneer surgeon, radiologist and bacteriologist, and one of the founders of
      the St John Ambulance movement in Australia and the Railway Ambulance Corps. He
      was variously President of the British Medical Association (Queensland Branch),
      the Medical Board of Queensland, the Medico-Ethical Association, and the
      Intercolonial Medical Congress, which was held in Brisbane in 1899. A pioneer
      military surgeon in this country, he was the foundation Principal Medical Officer
      (as Surgeon-Major) of the Queensland Ambulance Corps within the Queensland
      Defence Force. His advocacy for a university north of Sydney was one of the
      factors which led to the foundation of the University of Queensland, a body which
      honoured him by the establishment of the John Thomson Lectureship, which for half
      a century was its most prestigious public oration. The life and times of this
      singular doctor exemplify one small class of pre-Federation medical pioneers
      whose professional outreach established a number of voluntary organisations which
      have blossomed in Australian society to the present day.

PMID- 1454008
TI  - The first anaesthetics in Australia: an historical update.

PMID- 1454010
TI  - Doctors and plain English.

PMID- 1454009
TI  - Appendicitis: historical milestones and current challenges.

PMID- 1454011
TI  - Other people's practices. Saudi Arabia.

PMID- 1454012
TI  - Beyond the Barcoo--probable human tropical cyanobacterial poisoning in outback
      Australia.
AB  - AIM: To determine the cause of a disease known variously as "Barcoo fever, Barcoo
      spews, Barcoo sickness", or simply "the Barcoo", once prevalent in outback
      northern and central Australia. METHOD: Comparison of the recorded symptoms with
      those of known infectious diseases and gastrointestinal illness; consideration of
      the epidemiology, including times and places of occurrence and the population
      affected. RESULT: The disease had features of a toxic rather than an infectious
      illness and had the characteristics of poisoning by toxic cyanobacteria (blue
      green algae). In particular the symptoms were similar to those shown to be due to
      the hepatotoxin of the tropical cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii
      (Woloszynska). CONCLUSION: Poisoning by cyanobacterial toxins was once widespread
      in outback northern Australia and toxic cyanobacteria must still be present in
      many areas. Although not reported and probably not diagnosed as such, the disease
      still occurs in mild form. Widespread illness does not occur but individuals
      still experience symptoms similar to those described a century ago. Precautions
      are necessary to prevent algal contamination or proliferation in domestic or
      communal water supplies.

PMID- 1454013
TI  - Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

PMID- 1454014
TI  - Prophylaxis against NSAID-induced ulcers.

PMID- 1454015
TI  - The potential for teratogenicity of vitamin A and its congeners.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To review the evidence for teratogenic potential associated with the
      use of vitamin A and synthetic retinoids in Australia. DATA SOURCES: Relevant
      indexed journal articles and standard drug information reference texts were
      identified by Medicine and library search. Information was also obtained from the
      Australian National Perinatal Statistics Unit. DATA EXTRACTION: We summarised
      human and animal data relating to the teratogenicity of vitamin A derivatives and
      synthetic retinoids, including case reports documenting systemic effects from
      topically administered drugs, pertinent information relating to the clinical
      pharmacokinetics and adverse effects of these compounds, and the approved and
      potential indications for the use of these agents. DATA SYNTHESIS: Extensive
      experimental evidence points to the teratogenicity of natural and synthetic
      retinoids in animals. Data confirming an effect in humans are not as good.
      Nevertheless case series, case reports and some epidemiological data regarding
      isotretinoin suggest that synthetic retinoids are similarly teratogenic in
      humans. Although there are extensive guidelines and legislation dealing with the
      use of these compounds in the United States and Australia, the potential for
      teratogenicity induced by vitamin A still exists. This is because retinoids and
      vitamin A continue to be prescribed for women of child-bearing potential and
      documented evidence from the United States reveals that not all prescribers
      comply with recommendations that minimise the risk of malformations. Non
      prescription forms of vitamin A are available without a pregnancy hazard warning,
      and potentially teratogenic amounts are available from dietary sources.
      CONCLUSIONS: There exists a potential for teratogenicity in association with the
      use of both synthetic and natural retinoids in Australia. Monitoring systems
      currently in place in this country may not detect these malformations should they
      occur.

PMID- 1454017
TI  - Microbes: the small achievers.

PMID- 1454016
TI  - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug induced upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage
      and bleeding.

PMID- 1454018
TI  - Munchausen syndrome by proxy--a cause of preterm delivery.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To present the first case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy involving
      self-induced preterm delivery. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 27-year-old Caucasian woman
      induced antepartum haemorrhage and rupture of membranes with a knitting needle at
      26 weeks' gestation, leading to delivery of the infant. This "prenatal child
      abuse" led to a prolonged intensive care stay, extensive treatment and subsequent
      bronchopulmonary dysplasia. As the child recovered from the effects of extreme
      prematurity, he became a victim of fabricated illness and recurrent smothering
      episodes. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: After the diagnosis of Munchausen syndrome by
      proxy was made, the child was removed from the mother and he has since enjoyed
      good health. CONCLUSION: Self-induction of antepartum haemorrhage can lead to
      preterm delivery and may be recognisable by certain clinical parameters. The
      victim of self-induced preterm delivery, if survival ensues, may be subject to
      further abuse.

PMID- 1454019
TI  - Open air rock concert: an organised disaster.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the planning and implementation of health care provision
      at a mass gathering, and to describe the conditions treated at such an event.
      SETTING: When approximately 93,000 fans gathered outdoors in Sydney's Centennial
      Park, a natural reserve, for Australasia's largest ever outdoor rock concert,
      there was an obvious potential for medical disaster. PATIENTS: At most disasters
      or mass gatherings, accurate patient numbers and details are not available, but
      an organised patient data collection system allowed the case load at this event
      to be clearly defined. This showed that 450 patients were attended to by the
      first aid teams. Triage identified 36 of these as having conditions serious
      enough to require admission to the medical area. Seven of these patients were
      ultimately transferred to hospital. RESULTS: A brief practical outline is
      provided of the medical planning for the concert, detailing the staff and
      equipment, how to avoid potential problems, the use of voluntary organisations,
      and specific site organisation. Key points in the medical planning, organisation
      and practicalities, especially those which are vital to any disaster response,
      are highlighted. CONCLUSION: Solutions to recurrent problems experienced by
      medical personnel involved with mass gatherings or disasters are suggested. The
      lack of practice in implementing a multiple casualty or disaster plan may be
      remedied by organised responses to mass events.

PMID- 1454020
TI  - Telephone-related lightning injury.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To review reported telephone-related lightning injuries, outline the
      mechanisms of injury and suggest treatment strategies. DATA SOURCES: Cases
      notified to Telecom Australia and an extensive search of the literature. DATA
      SYNTHESIS: There is a dearth of literature on telephone-related lightning injury.
      Some reports note it in passing, others describe single incidents. Case reports
      from Australia provide detail sufficient for review, and the general principles
      which govern management of such injuries are presented. CONCLUSION: Telephone
      related lightning injury is not rare. Practitioners should be aware of the
      uniqueness of lightning injury and the complexity of its assessment. A research
      program aimed at further elucidation of the detail of this injury is proceeding.

PMID- 1454021
TI  - Forensic pathology in Papua New Guinea 1962-1989.

PMID- 1454023
TI  - Santa psychosis?

PMID- 1454022
TI  - Platypus envenomation--a painful learning experience.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe in detail for the first time, the clinical course and
      medical management of a significant human envenomation by the Australian platypus
      (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). CLINICAL FEATURES: A 57-year-old man was envenomated
      via two spur wounds to the right hand from each hind leg of a male platypus. Pain
      was immediate, sustained, and devastating; traditional first aid analgesic
      methods were ineffective. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: On admission to hospital,
      narcotics administered intravenously, both intermittently and by infusion,
      provided inadequate analgesia. A right wrist block was dramatically effective.
      After the blockade narcotic analgesic support was required for several days. The
      patient spent six days in hospital, and the envenomated area remained painful,
      swollen and with little movement for three weeks. Significant functional
      impairment of the hand persisted for three months, the cause of which is
      uncertain. CONCLUSIONS: Male platypus venom remains largely unstudied. It
      produces savage local pain and marked local swelling, but no apparent tissue
      ischaemia. No antivenom is available; in its absence the only effective analgesia
      appears to be regional nerve blockade, when the envenomation site and available
      skills permit. Immobilisation assists.

PMID- 1454024
TI  - There's a worm in my eye.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To report a case of an unusual worm infestation of the eye. CLINICAL
      FEATURES: A 28-year-old veterinary surgeon complained of the intermittent
      appearance of a worm in her eyes. Her previous camping travels in west and
      central Africa suggested the diagnosis of Loa loa, which was confirmed on
      surgical removal of the worm from beneath the conjunctiva. Laboratory
      investigations showed peripheral blood eosinophilia, negative thick blood film
      examinations for microfilariae and positive results of filarial serology.
      INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: The worm was removed intact after incision of the
      overlying conjunctiva. Diethylcarbamazine was prescribed and the patient remained
      asymptomatic in the subsequent 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The sighting of a worm in
      the eye is rare in Australia and usually occurs in immigrants or returned
      travellers. Loa loa is the most common offending species and is identifiable and
      treatable.

PMID- 1454025
TI  - Lead poisoning from Indian herbal medicine (Ayurveda)
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To present a case of lead poisoning following ingestion of Indian
      herbal medicine. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 37-year-old man presented with a history of
      abdominal pain, anorexia and malaise. He had recently returned from a trip to
      India where he had been taking two different herbal tonics. Investigation
      revealed low-grade hepatitis and normocytic anaemia with prominent basophilic
      stippling. The blood lead concentration was high, and analysis of the herbal
      tablets revealed a very high lead content. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: The patient
      required narcotic analgesia for abdominal pain and was treated with chelation
      therapy with calcium ethylenediaminetetra-acetate (calcium EDTA) for five days
      which resulted in a high urinary excretion of lead and resolution of his symptoms
      over a period of several days. CONCLUSION: Lead poisoning in Australia is usually
      the result of chronic industrial exposure, but practitioners should be aware of
      the possibility of poisoning from other domestic sources such as unglazed
      pottery, cosmetics and herbal remedies, especially those from Asia and India, in
      which lead may be present in high concentration. Patients from Asia who present
      with unexplained anaemia or abdominal symptoms should be asked about exposure to
      such sources.

PMID- 1454026
TI  - Oestrogen and breast cancer.

PMID- 1454027
TI  - Report on the effects of introducing primidone for essential tremor.

PMID- 1454028
TI  - Preventing obesity.

PMID- 1454029
TI  - Complication of cryotherapy.

PMID- 1454030
TI  - Gastrointestinal endoscopy.

PMID- 1454031
TI  - HIV antibody testing of pregnant women.

PMID- 1454032
TI  - Retropubic extraperitoneal endoscopy.

PMID- 1454033
TI  - The management of terminally ill patients.

PMID- 1454034
TI  - AIDS--beyond education.

PMID- 1454035
TI  - AIDS--beyond education.

PMID- 1454036
TI  - Indoor air quality and sick buildings.

PMID- 1454037
TI  - Peak flow errors.

PMID- 1454038
TI  - A follow-up study of attentional behavior in 6-year-old children exposed
      prenatally to marihuana, cigarettes, and alcohol.
AB  - Attentional behavior was examined in one hundred twenty-six 72-month-old children
      for whom prenatal exposure to marihuana, cigarettes, and alcohol has previously
      been ascertained. Discriminant Function Analysis revealed a dose-response
      association between prenatal cigarette exposure and impulsive behavior as
      manifest on poorer performance on a response inhibition task and increased errors
      of commission on a sustained vigilance task. Performance on a series of memory
      tasks particularly those requiring verbal recall was also negatively associated
      with maternal cigarette use. Prenatal marihuana habits were associated with
      increased omission errors in the vigilance task, possibly reflecting a deficit in
      sustained attention. In addition, Discriminant Function Analysis revealed a dose
      response relationship between prenatal marihuana use and a higher rating by the
      mothers on an impulsive/hyperactive scale. Relatively low levels of maternal
      alcohol consumption was related to decreased impulsive responding both in the
      response inhibition task and in terms of the mothers' perception of the child's
      behavior. The multifaceted approach of examining attentional behavior was
      essential to reveal the differential associations with the three prenatally used
      drugs. The implications of the observations and how the findings relate to and
      extend the existing literature is discussed.

PMID- 1454039
TI  - Prenatal cocaine exposure in the laboratory mouse: effects on maternal water
      consumption and offspring outcome.
AB  - Pregnant mice were given 50 mg/kg cocaine HCl (1% solution, sc) once daily from
      gestation days 7 through 18 (sperm positive = day 0; term = day 19). Pair-fed and
      untreated control groups were also used. The pregnant cocaine-treated females
      showed normal weight gain and food consumption but had significantly increased
      water consumption. The cocaine-treated group had a significant increase in
      embryonic resorptions but no significant effects on stillbirths or postnatal
      mortality. The offspring of cocaine-treated females had significantly reduced
      birth weights and postnatal weight gains up to the age of 28 days. There was also
      a delay in their ear opening but not in other maturational milestones. Increased
      water consumption following cocaine treatment has been reported by other studies.
      We speculate that cocaine has a diuretic effect. We discuss the implications of
      this effect during pregnancy.

PMID- 1454040
TI  - Sociodemographic factors modifying the effect of environmental lead on
      neuropsychological development in early childhood.
AB  - A long-term prospective cohort study was conducted to examine the association
      between prenatal and postnatal exposure to environmental lead and childhood
      neuropsychological development. The possible interactive effects of blood lead
      and some covariates on early development were explored in this study. Our data
      suggest that gender of the child modifies the effect of lead on the
      neuropsychological development during early childhood. At the ages of 2 and 4
      years, girls appear to be more sensitive than boys to the neuropsychological
      effects of lead. However, there is no significant modification of the effect of
      lead by some other covariates, such as parental smoking, socioeconomic status,
      home environment, birth weight, and the kind of infant feeding. Evidence of
      interactions between environmental lead exposure and other covariates in the
      causation of neuropsychological deficits in childhood underscores the
      desirability of considering both main effects and interactions in this area of
      research. Such effects, if confirmed, may have implications for public health
      intervention strategies.

PMID- 1454041
TI  - The effects of prenatal exposure to phenytoin and other anticonvulsants on
      intellectual function at 4 to 8 years of age.
AB  - Twenty phenytoin exposed children between 48 and 99 months of age had an
      evaluation of behavior and intelligence by a single examiner who was unaware of
      exposure status. The controls were 98 children identified at birth as having
      three or more minor anomalies. None of the children evaluated were mentally
      retarded. In both, a case-by-case comparison and a comparison of the two entire
      groups, the phenytoin-exposed children had significantly lower scores for both
      Performance IQ (PIQ), Full Scale IQ (FSIQ), and Visual Motor Integration Test
      (VMIT). Similar abnormalities have been found in studies of animals exposed to
      phenytoin in utero. These results suggest that the teratogenic effects of
      phenytoin may include an effect on cognitive function.

PMID- 1454042
TI  - Prenatal exposure to cocaine. I: Effects on gestation, development, and activity
      in Sprague-Dawley rats.
AB  - Sperm-positive Sprague-Dawley rats received one of four treatments for 20 days
      beginning within 24 hours of conception. One group received subcutaneous
      injections of 15 mg/kg cocaine twice daily (Cocaine-D); a second group received
      15 mg/kg cocaine twice daily for two consecutive days at 5-day intervals (Cocaine
      I); a third group received normal saline twice daily (Saline); and a fourth group
      received 1.5 mg/kg amfonelic acid (AFA), a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, once
      daily. Cocaine-D, Cocaine-I, and AFA dams were fed ad lib. An attempt was made to
      pair-feed the Saline dams with the Cocaine-D dams; however, the Saline dams did
      not eat as much as the Cocaine-D dams which resulted in dams in all groups
      essentially eating ad lib. The Cocaine-D pups showed a slightly delayed righting
      behavior and neophobia at 30 days of age, as evidenced by hypoactivity during the
      first 15 min of a 6-h activity test. The Cocaine-I pups were hypoactive during
      the 3-h dark phase of the 6-h activity test when tested at 30 days of age. These
      effects did not occur in the offspring exposed to AFA, a potent dopamine uptake
      inhibitor and CNS stimulant which indicate that one or more other sites for
      cocaine action may combine for its effects on the developing fetus.

PMID- 1454043
TI  - Prenatal exposure to cocaine. II: Effects on open-field activity and cognitive
      behavior in Sprague-Dawley rats.
AB  - Pregnant rats received subcutaneous injections of 15 mg/kg of cocaine twice daily
      (Cocaine-D), twice daily for two consecutive days at 5-day intervals (Cocaine-I),
      0.9% saline (Saline) twice daily, or 1.5 mg/kg amfonelic acid (AFA) daily from
      gestational days 1-20. Offspring were tested for: rates of spontaneous alteration
      at postnatal days (PND) 32, 35, 40, and 45; acquisition and retention performance
      on a water maze task beginning at PND 30 and 60; entrance into and activity in an
      open-field apparatus at PND 60 and 180. The Cocaine-D offspring were less likely
      than Control offspring to enter the open field when tested at PND 60. The Cocaine
      I offspring were hyperactive in the open-field apparatus when tested at PND 60.
      The drug treated offspring did not differ from the Saline control animals on all
      other measures. The failure of the Cocaine-D animals to enter the open field is
      consistent with neophobic behavior that we have observed before in rats exposed
      in utero to cocaine.

PMID- 1454044
TI  - Comparison of two weeks versus one week of prenatal ethanol exposure in the rat
      on gonadal organ weights, sperm count, and onset of puberty.
AB  - Sprague-Dawley dams from Harlan Ind. (Indianapolis, IN) were administered a
      fortified ethanol liquid diet containing 35% ethanol derived calories for two
      weeks (E-2) beginning on day 7 or one week (E-1) beginning on day 13 of gestation
      and continuing through parturition. Control dams were pair-fed an isocaloric
      liquid diet containing no ethanol during these periods or remained on lab chow
      and water. E-2 dams consumed an average of 13.52 g ethanol/kg bwt during the
      first week of exposure (days 8-14) and 12.50 g ethanol/kg bwt the second week
      (days 14-20). E-1 dams consumed significantly less than E-2 dams during the
      second week (9.75 g/kg; p < 0.0001). Although the lower consumption in E-1 dams
      led to a significant decrease in maternal weight gained during the few days of
      pregnancy compared to E-2 dams, birthweights of E-1 offspring were significantly
      heavier than those of E-2 offspring (p < 0.05). No effect of ethanol was detected
      on anogenital distance at birth in either sex. Puberty was delayed in female
      offspring of both E-1 and E-2 dams (p < 0.01) as measured by age of vaginal
      opening. These data suggest that the primary teratogenic actions of ethanol in
      the rat on fetal growth, as well as delayed puberty in females, occur in the last
      week of gestation. In adult E-2 males, testis weight was significantly heavier
      than all other groups when indexed to body weight. No effect of prenatal ethanol
      exposure was observed on the indexed weights of prostate, epididymis, or seminal
      vesicles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1454045
TI  - Prenatal cocaine and alcohol exposures affect rat behavior in a stress test (the
      Porsolt swim test).
AB  - Prenatal cocaine and alcohol exposures have been associated with a variety of
      adverse effects ranging from subtle neurobehavioral abnormalities to major
      malformations. In this study, we used the Porsolt swim test to assess the effects
      of prenatal cocaine and alcohol exposures on stress-related behavior. Pregnant
      Long-Evans rats were injected daily with 80 mg/kg cocaine HCl (SC) or 6.2-6.5
      g/kg ethyl alcohol (PO) from gestation days 7-20 with half the dose given in the
      morning and the other half in the afternoon. Pair-fed and ad lib control groups
      were also used. One male offspring from each litter was evaluated in the Porsolt
      swim test at the age of 120 days. The alcohol and cocaine groups were less
      immobile (i.e., struggled more to escape) than the controls. These results
      suggest that prenatal exposure to either alcohol or cocaine can adversely affect
      behavior in stressful or fearful situations.

PMID- 1454046
TI  - Prenatal ethanol effects on reward efficacy for adult mice are gestation stage
      specific.
AB  - We previously reported that adult mice exposed to ethanol throughout gestation
      (G5-17) responded slower than controls on reinforcement schedules which required
      large numbers of responses per unit of food, i.e., high fixed ratio (FR)
      schedules. The primary finding of the present study was that ethanol exposure
      during the last 5 days of gestation (G12-17) is sufficient to produce this effect
      whereas a similar exposure early in gestation (G5-10) is not. Both male and
      female mice exposed to ethanol late in gestation responded slower than either lab
      chow or pair-fed controls, and the effect was similar to that of mice exposed to
      ethanol throughout gestation (G5-17) in our earlier study. Thus, developmental
      events occurring late in gestation are important for the reduced reinforcing
      efficacy of food for prenatal-ethanol-exposed mice. In addition, the present
      experiment established the comparability of the sucrose and lab chow controls on
      this task. The results of the present study and our previous report are
      compatible with the hypothesis that the reduced responding on high FR schedules
      exhibited by prenatal-ethanol-exposed mice reflects a reduction in the efficacy
      of food reward. It is possible that the reduction in reward efficacy is due to
      altered development of neuronal systems functionally related to reward which
      develop late in gestation.

PMID- 1454047
TI  - Individual psychotherapy with psychotic patients: psychotherapeutic issues in
      prescribing medication.

PMID- 1454048
TI  - Combining individual and family treatment: guidelines for the therapist.
AB  - Successfully combining individual and family treatment for psychosis-prone
      outpatients who live with their families is a process of keeping the needs of the
      patient and the family in balance. The therapist has to respond to each in an
      even-handed way that preserves an alliance with both. Through guidelines and case
      reports, this chapter describes how to maintain that balance. The therapist
      patient relationship is the core of treatment and keeps the clinician's focus
      squarely on the individual needs of the patient. In keeping with that focus, the
      therapist encourages self-determination on the patient's part and sets up
      opportunities for the family to communicate directly with the therapist in front
      of the patient, rather than surreptitiously behind the patient's back. In keeping
      with a collateral emphasis on the family, the therapist involves the family
      regularly and early in the course of treatment, respects the family's knowledge
      of the patient, puts that knowledge to use, and works with the family to deal
      promptly and effectively with incipient emergencies. The therapist knows that it
      is not only the therapist but also the family who stimulate a patient to change.
      The therapist, building on whatever strengths the patient and family possess,
      enlists the family as an ally in promoting and bringing about therapeutic
      progress.

PMID- 1454049
TI  - Pre-alliance group: a new strategy for working with treatment-resistant
      schizophrenics.

PMID- 1454050
TI  - A current approach to the psychodynamic psychotherapy of substance-dependent
      individuals.

PMID- 1454051
TI  - Infertility: psychotherapeutic issues.
AB  - In supportive therapy with infertility patients, the clinician tries to relieve
      dysphoria and enhance self-esteem. Dynamically informed supportive interventions
      are designed to decrease guilt that may relate to past sexual activities,
      sexually related diseases, or abortions. These interventions should also be
      empathetic, promote optimism and reality testing, help with problem solving,
      allow catharsis and ventilation, decrease feelings of isolation and loneliness,
      educate and clarify, and praise and encourage where appropriate. Mental health
      clinicians have an important role to play in the treatment of these patients,
      provided they learn enough about the psychology of the experience of infertility
      and about the technology utilized in its treatment. As the number of people
      seeking treatment for infertility grows, the need for skilled therapists for this
      population will grow at a parallel rate.

PMID- 1454052
TI  - The meaning of ethnocultural difference: its impact on and use in the
      psychotherapeutic process.

PMID- 1454053
TI  - Anxiety disorders: structured psychotherapy.

PMID- 1454054
TI  - RNA editing in trypanosomes. The us(e) of guide RNAs.
AB  - Guide RNAs are encoded in maxicircle and minicircle DNA of trypanosome
      mitochondria. They play a pivotal role in RNA editing, a process during which the
      nucleotide sequence of mitochondrial RNAs is altered by U-insertion and deletion.
      Guide RNAs vary in length from 35 to 78 nucleotides, which correlates with the
      variation in length of the three functionally important regions of which they are
      composed: (i) a 4-14 nucleotide 'anchor' sequence embedded in the 5' region,
      which is complementary to a target sequence on the pre-edited RNA downstream of
      an editing domain, (ii) a middle part containing the editing information, which
      ranges from guiding the insertion of just one U into one site to that of the
      insertion of 32 Us into 10 sites, and (iii) a 5-24 nucleotide 3' terminal oligo
      [U] extension. Moreover, a variable uridylation site creates gRNAs containing a
      varying segment of editing information for the same domain. Comparison of
      different guide RNAs demonstrates that, besides the U-tail, they have no obvious
      common primary and secondary sequence motifs, each particular sequence being
      unique. The occurrence in vivo and the synthesis in vitro of chimeric molecules,
      in which a guide RNA is covalently linked through its 3' U-tail to an editing
      site of a pre-edited RNA, suggests that RNA editing occurs by consecutive
      transesterification reactions and is evidence that the guide RNAs not only
      provide the genetic information, but also the Us themselves.

PMID- 1454055
TI  - In vitro reconstitution of U1 and U2 snRNPs from isolated proteins and snRNA.
AB  - In this paper we describe a method for preparing native, RNA-free, proteins from
      anti-m3G purified snRNPs (U1, U2, U4/U6 and U5) and the subsequent quantitative
      reconstitution of U1 and U2 snRNPs from purified proteins and snRNA.
      Reconstituted U1 and U2 snRNPs contained the full complement of core proteins, B,
      B', D1, D2, D3, E, F and G. Both the U1 and U2 reconstituted particles were
      stable in CsCl gradients and had the expected buoyant density of 1.4 g/cm3.
      Reconstituted RNP particle formation was not competited by a 50 fold molar excess
      of tRNA, as determined by gel retardation assays. However, U1 and U2 particle
      formation was reduced in the presence of an excess of cold U1 or U2 snRNA
      demonstrating a specific RNA-protein interaction. U1 and U2 snRNPs were also
      efficiently reconstituted in vitro, utilizing proteins prepared from mono Q
      purified U1 and U2 snRNPs. This suggests that for the assembly of snRNPs in vitro
      no auxiliary proteins other than bona fide snRNP proteins appear to be required.
      The potential of this reconstitution technique for investigating snRNP assembly
      and snRNA-protein interactions is discussed.

PMID- 1454056
TI  - Identification and typing of members of the protein-tyrosine phosphatase gene
      family expressed in mouse brain.
AB  - Protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) form a novel and important class of cell
      regulatory proteins. We evaluated the expression of PTPases in mouse brain by
      polymerase chain amplification of cDNA segments that encode the catalytic domains
      of these enzymes. Degenerate primer pairs devised on the basis of conserved
      protein motifs were used to generate a series of distinct PCR-derived clones. In
      this way, murine homologues of the human PTPases LRP, PTP beta, PTP delta, PTP
      epsilon and LAR were obtained. Corresponding regions in their catalytic domains
      were used to reveal the evolutionary relationships between all currently known
      mammalian PTPase protein family members. Phylogenetic reconstruction displayed
      considerable differences in mutation rates for closely related PTPases.

PMID- 1454057
TI  - Effect of delta-lysin on the phase transitions of lipid assemblies.
AB  - X-ray small-angle diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and
      temperature scanning densitometry (TSD) were used to study the effect of delta
      lysin on the phase transitions of lipid assemblies from 1,2-0-dixehadecyl-sn
      glycero-3-phosphocholine (DHPC). The experiments were carried out in excess of
      water in a temperature range of 0-55 degrees C, and at low peptide concentrations
      between 10(-4) and 10(-2) moles peptide per mole phospholipid. The incorporation
      of delta-lysin into lipid assemblies alters the lipid structure without
      significant changes on the temperatures of phase transition from gel to liquid
      crystalline phase. The temperature of the main transition was nearly unaffected.
      A reduction in the transition volume of the lipids with increasing concentrations
      of delta-lysin was observed. The minor changes in these parameters were
      interpreted as long-range structural changes caused by the peptide incorporation.
      The results are discussed in terms of the concept of cooperative phase transition
      of entire clusters occurring within a membrane implying that relative stable
      domains of gel phase, and liquid crystalline phase co-exist.

PMID- 1454058
TI  - Nucleotide sequence of a pregnancy-specific beta 1 glycoprotein gene family
      member. Identification of a functional promoter region and several putative
      regulatory sequences.
AB  - The pregnancy-specific beta 1 glycoprotein (PSG) genes encode a group of
      heterogeneous proteins produced in large amounts by the human
      syncytiotrophoblast. Their expression seems to be regulated at the
      transcriptional level during normal pregnancy. In the present work, we isolated
      from a human placental library a 17 kb genomic fragment corresponding to a member
      of the PSG multigene family. DNA sequence analysis of 1190 nucleotides upstream
      of the translational start and of the first intron, revealed the presence of
      several putative regulatory sequences. In a transient chloramphenicol
      acetyltransferase expression assay, 5' flanking sequences within 123 nucleotides
      upstream to the first major transcription initiation site, functioned as a strong
      promoter in COS-7 cells. Meanwhile, sequences 5' further upstream had the ability
      to abolish this promoter activity. The sequence analyzed did not contain any
      obvious TATA-like boxes or G+C-rich regions, suggesting the existence of unique
      promoter elements implicated in transcription initiation and regulation of this
      PSG gene family member.

PMID- 1454059
TI  - Autoantibodies to nucleolin cross-react with histone H1 in systemic lupus
      erythematosus.
AB  - IgM autoantibodies to nucleolin and histone H1 are strongly associated in the
      serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. IgM eluted from immobilized
      nucleolin specifically stained histone H1 blotted to nitrocellulose; conversely,
      IgM eluates prepared from immobilized histone H1 stained nucleolin blots. We
      conclude that the linkage of anti-nucleolin and anti-histone H1 autoantibodies in
      SLE is due, at least in part, to immunologic cross-reactivity between these two
      autoantigens, which share certain similar structural features.

PMID- 1454060
TI  - Refined definition of the 56K and other autoantigens in the 50-60 kDa region.
AB  - Alteration of the acrylamide:bisacrylamide ratio in the SDS-polyacrylamide gel
      used for Western blotting strongly improved the unambiguous detection of
      antibodies against 50-60 kDa autoantigens present in autoimmune patient sera. The
      relative migration of Ro52, the 56K autoantigen and calreticulin increased with
      reduced acrylamide:bisacrylamide ratios in contrast to that of Ro60, La and Jo-1.
      These analyses indicated that these six autoantigens correspond to six distinct
      polypeptides. Further analyses using recombinant calreticulin showed that (i) the
      56K autoantigen is neither identical nor related to calreticulin and (ii)
      calreticulin is not a Ro autoantigen. A series of experiments designed to better
      characterize the 56K autoantigen showed that (i) the antigen is not detectable in
      fixed cells, presumably due to masking of the epitopes; (ii) about equal amounts
      of the antigen were recovered in nuclear and cytoplasmic cell fractions after
      enucleation of the cells; (iii) the 56K autoantigen is not stably associated with
      either RNA or other proteins.

PMID- 1454061
TI  - Effect of deletions 5' to the translation initiation sequence on the expression
      of an mRNA in animal cells.
AB  - To learn if an mRNA.18S rRNA interaction or a special secondary structure in the
      mRNA start region is essential for translation in eukaryotic cells, we
      constructed recombinant plasmids with the SV40 early promoter 5' to part of the
      Escherichia coli tufB-lacZ gene. Deletion of bases potentially complementary to
      the 18S rRNA highly increased the transient beta-galactosidase expressed in
      transfected CHO cells. Deletion of bases that fostered formation of potential
      hairpins with the mRNA 5'-terminus or altered the structure of the coding region
      reduced beta-galactosidase activity suggesting that these features of the mRNA
      secondary structure may be essential for initiation of translation. Computer
      aided analysis of the potential structure of 290 mRNAs suggests these are
      conserved features of the initiation region.

PMID- 1454062
TI  - Engagement of the TcR/CD3 complex stimulates p59fyn(T) activity: detection of
      associated proteins at 72 and 120-130 kD.
AB  - Engagement of the T cell antigen-receptor complex (TcR/CD3) induces the rapid
      tyrosine phosphorylation of a spectrum of substrates whose modification is
      crucial to the activation process. Although CD4-associated p56lck and TcR/CD3
      associated p59fyn(T) could account for this cascade, TcR/CD3 driven stimulation
      of p59fyn(T) activity has not been demonstrated. In this study, we confirm in
      Brij 96 based buffers that p59fyn(T) can be co-purified in association with the
      TcR/CD3 complex, and further demonstrate that antibody-induced cross-linking of
      TcR/CD3 on the cell surface results in a dramatic increase in the detection of
      receptor associated kinase activity. This results in an increased phosphorylation
      and detection of TcR/CD3-p59fyn(T) associated zeta (16-21 kD), p72 (72 kD) and
      p120/130 (120-130 kD) chains. A distinction between increased recruitment and/or
      activity of p59fyn(T) was not possible due to the fact that receptor associated
      p59fyn(T) could not be detected by immunoblotting. However, an alternative
      approach using membrane vesicles demonstrated an anti-CD3 mediated induced
      increase (2-5-fold) in the phosphorylation of the fyn kinase. Augmented catalytic
      activity was accompanied by p59fyn(T) labelling at the autophosphorylation site
      Tyr420, consistent with stimulated fyn catalytic activity, as well as the
      phosphorylation of polypeptides at 18-20 (TcR zeta), 31, 90 and 130 kD.
      Stimulation of fyn activity implicates this kinase as a mediator of the tyrosine
      phosphorylation events originating from the TcR/CD3 complex.

PMID- 1454063
TI  - Localization and characterization of the carbohydrate-binding site of the porcine
      lymphocyte mannan-binding protein.
AB  - Mannan-binding proteins found in the liver and serum of several vertebrate
      species are supposed to play an important role in the intracellular transport of
      glycoproteins, as well as in several protective reactions including complement
      activation and elimination of various pathogens. To study these protective
      functions at molecular level it is necessary to understand the fine
      oligosaccharide specificity and mutual relation among various forms of these
      soluble lectins. We have isolated mannan-binding protein as peripheral membrane
      proteins of porcine lymphocytes. This lectin was purified to homogeneity and
      shown to possess many properties in common with the well studied rat liver
      proteins (mol. mass, subunit composition and general organization of the
      molecule). Binding studies performed with three series of defined
      oligosaccharides (high mannose, hybrid type, and complex) on native lectin
      molecules as well as isolated carbohydrate-binding domains revealed distinctive
      features of this mannan-binding protein, including its impaired ability to bind
      the oligosaccharide ligand after reduction and decyclization at core N-acetyl-D
      glucosamine 1.

PMID- 1454064
TI  - Expression of the V(D)J recombinase gene RAG-1 is tightly regulated and involves
      both transcriptional and post-transcriptional controls.
AB  - The V(D)J recombinase activating genes, RAG-1 and RAG-2, are coexpressed only in
      immature lymphocytes, and are sufficient and necessary for V(D)J recombination to
      occur in non-lymphoid cells. In order to examine control mechanisms operative in
      the regulation of RAG-1 and RAG-2, we have studied the pattern of expression of
      these genes in human pre-T cells, pre-B cells, and thymocytes treated with the
      phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA); an agent which mimics
      some of the lymphocyte maturation changes seen in vivo. The expression of RAG-1
      and RAG-2 was tightly controlled in a rapid, yet very complex, manner with both
      positive and negative control elements operating. Treatment of immature
      lymphocytes with TPA caused the specific and rapid elimination of steady-state
      RAG-1 and RAG-2 RNA. Nuclear run-on assays showed that TPA completely repressed
      the transcription of RAG-1 within 30 min. In addition to repressing the
      transcription of RAG-1, TPA treatment caused the rapid and specific degradation
      of RAG-1 transcripts by decreasing the apparent half-life of RAG-1 mRNA more than
      two-fold. As judged by cycloheximide treatment of cells, the effects of TPA were
      not dependent on new protein synthesis. A labile transcriptional repressor,
      separate from the TPA-associated repression of transcription, was also active in
      cells transcribing RAG-1 and RAG-2 RNA. After depletion of this labile repressor
      by cycloheximide treatment, steady-state RAG-1 and RAG-2 RNA levels, and their
      transcription rates, were elevated four- to six-fold; but were still susceptible
      to elimination by TPA treatment. Treatment of pre-T CEM cells with interleukin-2,
      or theophylline (an agent that increases intracellular cAMP) resulted in a two
      fold increase in RAG-1 RNA suggesting that lymphokines, either independently or
      through second messengers, may modulate RAG-1 and RAG-2 expression. The complex,
      rapid and precise regulation of RAG-1 and RAG-2 expression is consistent with the
      view that it is necessary for the cell to tightly regulate V(D)J recombinase
      levels; lower expression may result in inefficient recombination of Ig/TCR genes,
      whereas increased expression may lead to recombination errors that are
      deleterious to the cell.

PMID- 1454065
TI  - Evidence for immunodominance between closely related epitopes in the selection of
      T cell repertoire: hierarchy of T cell epitopes in a repeating sequence.
AB  - In a protein antigen the number of epitopes that are presented by the MHC
      molecules to the T cells is generally limited. This phenomenon of immunodominance
      determines the T cell response to a given antigen. To understand the molecular
      basis of epitope selection we have analysed the hierarchy of T cell epitopes in a
      repeating synthetic polypeptide antigen Poly 18, Poly EYK(EYA)5 in the mice of H
      2d haplotype. Because of its repeating nature, all the potential epitopes of Poly
      EYK(EYA)5 generated as a result of antigen processing will have extensive
      sequence overlap, therefore, providing an excellent system to investigate the
      molecular basis of T cell peptide epitope selection in vivo. We have synthesized
      a series of 12 and 15 amino acid peptides to mimic these epitopes. In H-2d mice
      Poly EYK(EYA)5 elicits T cell clones that optimally react with 15 amino acid
      peptides EYK(EYA)4 and/or (EYA)5. Similar results were obtained when related 12
      amino acid peptides EYK(EYA)3 and/or (EYA)4 are used. (EYA)5 reactive T cell
      clones appear to be very heterogenous and much larger in number than EYK(EYA)4
      reactive clones. (EYA)5 reactive clones could be elicited by at least three short
      Poly-18 derived epitopes (EYA)4, EYK(EYA)3 and (EYA)3EYK while EYK(EYA)4 reactive
      clones elicited only by the EYK(EYA)3 epitope. However, we observed the dominance
      of (EYA)5 reactive clones even when EYK(EYA)3 was used as an immunogen and this
      could be related to the degeneracy of their antigen specificity. Our earlier
      antigen competition studies suggest that (EYA)5 does not compete with EYK(EYA)4
      epitope in binding to I-Ad. Therefore, there is no intramolecular competition
      between these epitopes to activate T cells. The epitope (EYA)3EYK appears to be
      subdominant since it can elicit Poly EYK(EYA)5 specific T cells upon immunization
      but does not appear to be part of Poly EYK(EYA)5 repertoire. Peptides such as
      (EYA)2EYKEYA or EYAEYK(EYA)2 with lysine substitution in the middle of the
      sequence were non immunogeneic. Similar results were obtained when the larger 15
      amino acid peptides were used as antigen. Another level of epitope
      immunodominance is seen when substituted peptides of the two immunodominant
      epitopes are used. Some of these epitopes have potential to be part of the Poly
      18 repertoire but they are greatly under represented when intact Poly 18 is used
      as antigen. The unusual hierarchy observed for immunodominance in these
      overlapping epitopes of EYK(EYA)5 sequence suggest a bias in the selection of T
      cell repertoire based upon the crossreactivity between potential epitopes
      generated as a result of antigen processing.

PMID- 1454066
TI  - Role of inter-heavy and light chain disulfide bonds in the effector functions of
      human immunoglobulin IgG1.
AB  - The role of inter-heavy and light chain disulfide bonds in the effector functions
      of human IgG1 was investigated. This was accomplished by mutating appropriate
      sites in IgG1 such that the disulfide bond pattern now resembled that of IgG4.
      The effector functions of the mutant antibody were then compared to native IgG1
      and IgG4. The antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity activity was completely
      abolished in the mutant and the complement-dependent cytotoxicity assay was
      reduced fifteen-fold. The results suggest that the inter-heavy and light chain
      disulfide bond pattern of an antibody molecule play a role in its effector
      functions.

PMID- 1454067
TI  - Molecular analysis of human immunoglobulin V lambda germline genes: subgroups V
      lambda III and V lambda IV.
AB  - Three human immunoglobulin V lambda germline genes have been isolated: two from
      the V lambda IV subgroup and one from the V lambda III subgroup. The V lambda III
      gene and one of the V lambda IV genes appear to be functional (each being
      utilized in at least two expressed V lambda genes), despite deviations from the
      reported consensus sequences in their promoter TATA-box and recombination signal
      sequence elements. The other V lambda IV gene is a pseudogene. Of the 20 human V
      lambda germline genes characterized to date, 45% are pseudogenes or vestigial
      genes.

PMID- 1454068
TI  - Highlights of controversial issues in anaesthetic reactions.
AB  - This chapter will first briefly deal with some of the controversial issues
      surrounding allergic reactions to anaesthetics. Other points which appear to be
      of fundamental importance and which need further investigation will also be
      mentioned. Readers are referred to other chapters for further information on some
      of the issues.

PMID- 1454069
TI  - Skin tests in diagnosis of allergy to muscle relaxants and other anesthetic
      drugs.

PMID- 1454070
TI  - Predictive checkup for risk of anaphylactoid shock in anesthesia.

PMID- 1454071
TI  - Anaesthetic allergy and prospective radioallergosorbent testing.

PMID- 1454072
TI  - Anaesthesia-related liver disease.

PMID- 1454073
TI  - Statistical aspects of preoperative screening for anaesthetic allergies.

PMID- 1454074
TI  - Allergic reactions to anaesthetics: economic aspects of pre-operative screening.

PMID- 1454075
TI  - Legal liability for anaphylactic shock.

PMID- 1454076
TI  - [Plasmids for biodegradation of 2,6-dimethylpyridine, 2,4-dimethylpyridine, and
      pyridine in strains of Arthrobacter].
AB  - Arthrobacter crysallopoietes strain KM-4 degrading 2,6-dimethylpyridine and
      strain KM-4a degrading both 2,6-dimethylpyridine and pyridine, Arthrobacter sp.
      KM-4b degrading 2,4-dimethylpyridine were isolated from soil. Arthrobacter
      crystallopoietes KM-4 and Arthrobacter sp. KM-4b contain 100 Md plasmids pBS320
      and pBS323. Arthrobacter crystallopietes KM-4a harbours a 100 Md and 80 Md
      plasmids. Plasmid curing and conjugation transfer results confirm that these
      plasmids are involved in degradation of 2,6-dimethylpyridine, 2,4
      dimethylpyridine and pyridine. A mutant with lost ability to degrade 2,6
      dimethylpyridine was isolated during the growth of strain KM-4 rifR at 42 degrees
      C. Electrophoretic analysis of the plasmid from temperature sensitive mutant
      revealed the deletion the size of 26 Md from pBS320 plasmid.

PMID- 1454077
TI  - [Induction of the SOS-like system in Rec-mutants of Bacillus subtilis].
AB  - Influence of the recE1, recB2, recB3, recB19, recF15, recF18, recL16, recM13 and
      recM27 mutations of the induction of the SOS-like system component, i. e. the
      RecE protein of Bacillus subtilis was studied by RIA-dot-blot method in UV
      irradiated or treated by nalidixic acid cells. These agents caused a significant
      increase in the wild type (rec+) cells but did not stimulate the RecE synthesis
      in the rec mutants tested. The two exceptions were recB2 and recF18 mutants
      treated by nalidixic acid. The tsi23 mutation caused thermoinduction of phi 105
      bacteriophage in the rec+ genetic background while no prophage particles were
      induced in the recE, recF, recL, recM mutants. The data suggest that the genetic
      damage of several rec genes including recB, recE, recF, recL and recM can block
      induction of the SOS-like system of Bacillus subtilis.

PMID- 1454078
TI  - [Structure of ends of linear plasmid N15].
AB  - The complete structure of the pins on the ends of the linear plasmid N15
      (telomers) has been defined for procaryotic organisms for the first time. The
      ends of the plasmid DNA contain the short nonideal inverted repeats (the size of
      28 nucleotide bps) differing in only two nucleotide pairs.

PMID- 1454079
TI  - [Structure of a region in the genome of bacteriophage N15, necessary for
      formation of hairpins at ends of the linear plasmid prophage].
AB  - A fragment containing telRL site of bacteriophage N15 has been cloned in the
      vector plasmid pUC19. The nucleotide sequence of a small region from EcoRV-PstI
      fragment has been defined by Maxam-Gilbert technique. The analysis of the
      obtained sequence has shown the telRL site to be a nonideal palindrome (the size
      of 56 nucleotide ops) in which two nucleotide pairs differ in the positions 12
      and 14 on both sides of the palindrome centre. The DNA region with alteration of
      purines and pyrimidines (GC) surrounded by AT-rich regions: 5'-ATTATACGCGCGTATAAT
      3'--in the symmetry centre of palindrome is characteristic of the telRL site
      structure. This characteristic of the region may play a key role in recognition
      of the site by the specific enzyme at formation of linear prophage-plasmid during
      lysogenization.

PMID- 1454080
TI  - [Cloning the asd and lysC genes from Cornyebacterium glutamicum].
AB  - Plasmids carrying an asd gene from a mutant. S-(2-aminoaethyl)-L-cysteine
      resistant strain of Corynebacterium glutamicum were selected from a clonoteque
      constructed on a plasmid cloning vector pSL5 by complementation of asd mutation
      in Escherichia coli. Evidence has been obtained that the cloned chromosomal DNA
      fragment contains also a complete sequence for feed-back-resistant aspartokinase
      lysC gene.

PMID- 1454081
TI  - [Analysis of deletions in the dystrophin gene by the multiplex amplification
      method in patients suffering from Duchenne's muscular dystrophy].
AB  - Multiplex polymerase chain reaction was carried out with the material from 68
      patients suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Moscow and Leningrad
      clinics. Six pairs of oligoprimers were used. Deletions were detected in the
      material from 22 patients. A new type of deletion was found. Data on deletion
      frequencies and spectrum were compared with the results published by other
      authors.

PMID- 1454082
TI  - [A new R-plasmid from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis].
AB  - Yersinia pseudotuberculosis strain 140-P isolated from soil in the Far East was
      found to harbour an R-plasmid different from the plasmids that had been isolated
      from the bacteria previously. A new R-plasmid pLD140 is conjugation proficient
      and codes for the cellular resistance to streptomycin, tetracycline and
      sulfonamides. The plasid belongs to incompatibility group IncP. Its restriction
      endonucleases BamHI and SalI profile is different from the ones of the plasmids
      belonging to the RP4 family.

PMID- 1454083
TI  - [Plasmids from bacilli related to BAcillus subtilis].
AB  - The basic structural and functional properties of natural bacilli plasmids are
      analyzed in this review. Bacilli plasmids are mostly cryptic, but some are found
      to have selective markers. Small plasmids replicate by rolling-circle mechanism,
      however, the replication of large plasmids is likely to occur by the theta
      mechanism. Plasmid structures involved in replication are analyzed. The bacilli
      plasmids are stable. They are promising material for vector construction.

PMID- 1454084
TI  - Discrepancy between self-reported and actual caloric intake and exercise in obese
      subjects.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Some obese subjects repeatedly fail to lose weight even
      though they report restricting their caloric intake to less than 1200 kcal per
      day. We studied two explanations for this apparent resistance to diet--low total
      energy expenditure and underreporting of caloric intake--in 224 consecutive obese
      subjects presenting for treatment. Group 1 consisted of nine women and one man
      with a history of diet resistance in whom we evaluated total energy expenditure
      and its main thermogenic components and actual energy intake for 14 days by
      indirect calorimetry and analysis of body composition. Group 2, subgroups of
      which served as controls in the various evaluations, consisted of 67 women and 13
      men with no history of diet resistance. RESULTS: Total energy expenditure and
      resting metabolic rate in the subjects with diet resistance (group 1) were within
      5 percent of the predicted values for body composition, and there was no
      significant difference between groups 1 and 2 in the thermic effects of food and
      exercise. Low energy expenditure was thus excluded as a mechanism of self
      reported diet resistance. In contrast, the subjects in group 1 underreported
      their actual food intake by an average (+/- SD) of 47 +/- 16 percent and
      overreported their physical activity by 51 +/- 75 percent. Although the subjects
      in group 1 had no distinct psychopathologic characteristics, they perceived a
      genetic cause for their obesity, used thyroid medication at a high frequency, and
      described their eating behavior as relatively normal (all P < 0.05 as compared
      with group 2). CONCLUSIONS: The failure of some obese subjects to lose weight
      while eating a diet they report as low in calories is due to an energy intake
      substantially higher than reported and an overestimation of physical activity,
      not to an abnormality in thermogenesis.

PMID- 1454085
TI  - Long-term mortality after transfusion-associated non-A, non-B hepatitis. The
      National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Study Group.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acute non-A, non-B hepatitis after blood transfusion often progresses
      to chronic hepatitis and sometimes culminates in cirrhosis or even hepatocellular
      carcinoma. However, the frequency of these sequelae and their effects on
      mortality are not known. METHODS: We traced patients with transfusion-related non
      A, non-B hepatitis who had been identified in five major prospective studies
      conducted in the United States between 1967 and 1980. We matched each patient
      with two control subjects (identified as the first and second controls) who
      received transfusions but who did not have hepatitis. The mortality rates in the
      three groups were determined with use of data from the National Death Index and
      Social Security Death Tapes. Cause-specific mortality was determined by reviewing
      death certificates. RESULTS: Vital status was established for over 94 percent of
      the 568 patients who had had non-A, non-B hepatitis and the two control groups
      (526 first controls and 458 second controls). After an average follow-up of 18
      years, the estimate by life-table analysis of mortality from all causes was 51
      percent for those with transfusion-associated non-A, non-B hepatitis, as compared
      with 52 percent for the first controls and 50 percent for the second controls.
      The survival curves for the three groups were virtually the same. Mortality
      related to liver disease was 3.3, 1.1, and 2.0 percent, respectively, among the
      three groups (P = 0.033 for the comparison of the group with non-A, non-B
      hepatitis with the combined control group). Seventy-one percent of the deaths
      related to liver disease occurred among patients with chronic alcoholism.
      CONCLUSIONS: In this long-term follow-up study, there was no increase in
      mortality from all causes after transfusion-associated non-A, non-B hepatitis,
      although there was a small but statistically significant increase in the number
      of deaths related to liver disease.

PMID- 1454086
TI  - Sympathetic overactivity in patients with chronic renal failure.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a frequent complication of chronic renal failure, but
      its causes are not fully understood. There is indirect evidence that increased
      activity of the sympathetic nervous system might contribute to hypertension in
      patients with end-stage renal disease, but sympathetic-nerve discharge has not
      been measured directly in patients or animals with chronic renal failure.
      METHODS: We recorded the rate of postganglionic sympathetic-nerve discharge to
      the blood vessels in skeletal muscle by means of microelectrodes inserted into
      the peroneal nerve in 18 patients with native kidneys who were undergoing long
      term treatment with hemodialysis (of whom 14 had hypertension), 5 patients
      receiving hemodialysis who had undergone bilateral nephrectomy (of whom 1 had
      hypertension), and 11 normal subjects. RESULTS. The mean (+/- SE) rate of
      sympathetic-nerve discharge was 2.5 times higher in the patients receiving
      hemodialysis who had not undergone nephrectomy than in the normal subjects (58 +/
      3 vs. 23 +/- 3 bursts per minute, P < 0.01). In contrast, the rate of
      sympathetic-nerve discharge was similar in the patients receiving hemodialysis
      who had undergone bilateral nephrectomy (21 +/- 6 bursts per minute) and the
      normal subjects. The rate of sympathetic-nerve discharge in the patients
      receiving hemodialysis who had not undergone nephrectomy was also significantly
      higher (P < 0.01) than that in the patients with bilateral nephrectomy, and it
      was accompanied in the former group by higher values for vascular resistance in
      the calf (45 +/- 4 vs. 22 +/- 4 units, P < 0.05) and mean arterial pressure (106
      +/- 4 vs. 76 +/- 14 mm Hg, P < 0.05). The rate of sympathetic-nerve discharge was
      not correlated with either plasma norepinephrine concentrations or plasma renin
      activity. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic renal failure may be accompanied by reversible
      sympathetic activation, which appears to be mediated by an afferent signal
      arising in the failing kidneys.

PMID- 1454087
TI  - Brief report: successive occurrence of T-cell and B-cell lymphomas after renal
      transplantation in a patient with multiple cutaneous squamous-cell carcinomas.

PMID- 1454088
TI  - Asthma.
AB  - There is an active inflammatory process in the airways of patients with asthma,
      even when the patients are asymptomatic. Some of the types of cells involved in
      this process possess the necessary biologic activities to produce many of the
      pathophysiologic features of asthma, but the underlying mechanisms have not yet
      been elucidated. Reducing the severity of the inflammatory process appears to be
      a reasonable goal of therapy, with potential long-range implications for the
      morbidity of asthma. Whether this theoretical benefit will be realized awaits
      further observation.

PMID- 1454089
TI  - Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Weekly clinicopathological
      exercises. Case 52-1992. Progressive pulmonary air-space disease in a 71-year-old
      man with emphysema.

PMID- 1454090
TI  - Obesity and efforts to lose weight.

PMID- 1454091
TI  - Chronic hepatitis C virus infection--a disease in waiting?

PMID- 1454092
TI  - Prenatal screening for Down's syndrome.

PMID- 1454093
TI  - Hepatitis B and C infection in an institution for the developmentally
      handicapped.

PMID- 1454094
TI  - Metastases and spinal cord compression.

PMID- 1454095
TI  - Metastases and spinal cord compression.

PMID- 1454096
TI  - Seizures and treatment for cerebral cysticercosis.

PMID- 1454097
TI  - Hormone-replacement therapy and pulmonary leiomyomatosis.

PMID- 1454098
TI  - The American health care system--managed care.

PMID- 1454099
TI  - AIDS update.

PMID- 1454100
TI  - Dressing effects on wound healing.

PMID- 1454101
TI  - Some ethical dilemmas for nurses in clinical practice.

PMID- 1454103
TI  - The value of a birth plan.

PMID- 1454102
TI  - Theatre environmental control.

PMID- 1454104
TI  - Where is the team-work in psychiatric hospitals?

PMID- 1454105
TI  - Managing change.

PMID- 1454106
TI  - Nursing education in the USA.

PMID- 1454107
TI  - Drugs and the gastrointestinal tract.

PMID- 1454108
TI  - The development of professional nursing education. Part I: Great Britain the
      Nightingale era (1860-1900).

PMID- 1454109
TI  - Oncology nursing education in Southern Africa.

PMID- 1454110
TI  - Diabetic dietary recommendations.

PMID- 1454112
TI  - CQI (QA 3--the revolution)

PMID- 1454111
TI  - Physicians--bane or boon for health care delivery?

PMID- 1454113
TI  - Transient ischemic attack (TIA) secondary to subdural hematoma.
AB  - Subdural hematomas many sometimes clinically resemble Transient Ischemic Attacks
      (TIA's). We present three cases which were initially evaluated for, diagnosed as
      having and were treated for TIA's, but later were found to have subdural
      hematomas. As in case one, patients with subdurals may have antecedent head
      trauma which they may or may not recall. Patients presenting with symptoms
      resembling TIA's need a complete neurologic evaluation. The differential
      diagnosis for TIA's includes arteriosclerotic extracranial vascular disease,
      cardiac emboli, migraine, seizure disorder, and mass lesions. Since the prognosis
      and treatment differs one needs to determine the etiology of the symptoms before
      treatment is initiated. Specifically, other diagnoses must be excluded prior to
      anticoagulation therapy, as evidenced by case 2.

PMID- 1454114
TI  - Resources for medical decision-making in situations of high uncertainty.
AB  - The high standards of medical practice rest on the assumption that a physician's
      competence equips him or her to act on a patient's behalf. The conundrum created
      by medical uncertainty regarding the patient's diagnosis or the appropriate
      course of treatment seldom receives attention in the medical literature. This
      article highlights how the age-old medical ideal of beneficence, the modern
      concept of probabilities, the added dimension of treatment modification based on
      patients' preferences, and a compassionate disposition operate as competence
      supporting tools in high uncertainty medical situations.

PMID- 1454115
TI  - Chickenpox during pregnancy.

PMID- 1454116
TI  - [Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in women during pregnancy].
AB  - Four women with SSPE during pregnancy were observed. The influence of pregnancy
      on the course of illness was in all patients unfavourable: the disease
      exacerbated, what could be explained by physiological immunosuppression connected
      with gestation. Delivery (in three cases by sectio caesarea) had no beneficial
      influence on the fatal course of SSPE. In two cases intrauterine necrosis of
      foetus took place in the 8th and 20th week from the beginning of SSPE. In other
      two cases healthy children were born. One of them does not exhibit any
      neurological abnormalities during the first 5 years of life.

PMID- 1454117
TI  - [IgG1-IgG4 subclasses in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood serum and their
      synthesis in the central nervous system in multiple sclerosis].
AB  - IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 subclasses were detected in cerebrospinal fluid and
      sera from 32 patients with MS. The CSF levels of IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses in MS
      patients were significantly higher than those of controls. There were no
      statistical differences between the values of IgG subclasses in MS and control
      sera. The IgG1 and IgG3 indices were significantly higher in MS patients than in
      controls showing that among four IgG subclasses IgG1 ang IgG3 were synthesized in
      the central nervous system of patients with MS. The elevation of IgG1 and IgG3
      indices in MS patients was found more frequently (in about 90% of patients) than
      the elevation of the general IgG index (in 72% of patients).

PMID- 1454118
TI  - [Results of prospective 24-hour EEG studies of patients after cranio-cerebral
      injuries].
AB  - In 26 patients 24-hour cassette EEG recording and routine EEG records were taken
      between 6 and 35 days and again between 6 and 12 months after craniocerebral
      trauma. Neurological examination and CT of the head demonstrated cerebral
      concussion in 11 cases and brain contusion in 15 cases. Early after trauma
      routine EEG was abnormal in 5 cases (19.2%) exclusively in those with brain
      contusion, and 24-hour EEG recording was abnormal in 16 cases (61.5%), including
      7 with cerebral concussion and 9 with brain contusion. In the second half year
      after trauma 24-hour EEG was normal in 5 cases (19.2%) which had previously
      abnormal records, and abnormal EEG changes appeared in 6 cases (23.1%) with
      previously normal findings. Seizure activity was found in the first weeks after
      trauma in 9 (34.6%) 24-hour recordings. In the second half year after trauma
      seizure activity was no longer present in 2 cases, but appeared in 6 other cases.
      Thus 24-hour recording between 6 and 12 months after trauma demonstrated seizure
      activity in 50% of all patients. In 2 of them epileptic fits developed. The study
      shows that repeated 24-hour EEG recording after craniocerebral trauma may be
      important in early detection of patients who are at risk of epilepsy development.

PMID- 1454119
TI  - [Ischemic stroke in patients under 50 years of age with special reference to its
      etiology and risk factors].
AB  - Eighty-four patients with ischaemic stroke aged 18-50 years were analysed. They
      had been treated in the years 1985-1989. Forty-five of them were followed up. In
      a high proportion of cases stroke was a result of thrombosis. Many risk factors
      were found in this group, mainly hypertension. In most cases stroke was serious,
      in several cases post-stroke epilepsy and poly-infarction dementia developed.

PMID- 1454120
TI  - [Neuropathological analysis of 8 cases of clinically diagnosed Reye syndrome].
AB  - Authors discuss the possible etiopathogenesis of Reye syndrome (RS) on the base
      of eight own cases presented in this paper and others previously described. The
      febrile infection was observed on the beginning of the disease in all actually
      analysed cases and was followed by symptoms of acute damage of liver and brain.
      The central nervous system lesions present the changes increasing with time from
      brain oedema to the necrosis of nerve tissue. The oedematous changes could be
      recognized as a principal cause of unconsciousness and even of coma in RS. When
      the etiology of RS remain unknown the clinico-pathological observations of such
      cases incline to formulate three questions: Is an genetically conditioned
      background necessary which facilitate toxic or infectious factors to induce the
      RS? Is the etiology of RS only genetically conditioned? Is an specific viral
      infection the cause of RS?

PMID- 1454121
TI  - [Risk factors of leukemic infiltration in patients with acute myeloblastic
      leukemia].
AB  - On the basis of clinical neuropathological evaluation of 48 patients with acute
      myeloblastic leukaemias the authors analyse the risk factors of leukemic
      infiltrations developing in the brain. The investigations revealed that the
      distinct dissemination of leukemic cells in blood is the most important risk
      factor of such infiltrations. The risk increases significantly in older patients.
      Survival time and maintenance of high leukocytosis do not intensify the risk of
      leukemic infiltrations in the brain.

PMID- 1454122
TI  - [Arteriovenous malformations of the dura mater].
AB  - The authors present two cases of dural arteriovenous malformations treated in
      Dept. of Neurosurgery, Warsaw Medical School. The main clinical problems of this
      type of AVM are discussed.

PMID- 1454123
TI  - [Clinical symptoms and the CT image of neoplasm metastases to the brain].
AB  - On the basis of 149 CT examinations of cases of brain metastases the neurological
      symptoms and signs were analysed in relation to the character of the metastasis
      and the extent of oedema. Stroke beginning of clinical manifestations, loss of
      consciousness, seizures and neurological syndromes were evaluated.

PMID- 1454124
TI  - [Neurological sciences and philosophy].

PMID- 1454125
TI  - [Use of transcranial Doppler ultrasonography for evaluation of intracranial
      pressure].
AB  - Transcranial Doppler (TCD) studies are very useful for the evaluation of
      intracranial pressure changes. The most informative for the TCD increase
      diagnosis are the diastolic pressure decrease and increase of two computed
      indices: pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI). Single measurements
      can be misleading and therefore, monitoring of neurosurgical intensive care
      patients is suggested. Additional information is provided by TCD studies in
      cerebral blood flow autoregulation tests. The usefulness of TCD in brain death
      diagnosis is discussed also.

PMID- 1454126
TI  - [A case of congenital muscular dystrophy with changes in the white matter of the
      brain].
AB  - A case of cerebro-muscular disease is reported in a 5-year-old girl with normal
      mental development. The changes resembled those in Fukuyama dystrophy, but the
      clinical picture differs from that dystrophy in normal mental development and
      absence of other pathological changes in the central nervous system.

PMID- 1454127
TI  - [Intramedullary metastatic tumor. Case report].
AB  - An extremely rare case of intramedullary spinal cord metastasis (Carcinoma
      solidum metastaticum) is presented. No primary tumour was found. The authors
      discuss diagnostic and therapeutic problems of treatment in such cases.

PMID- 1454128
TI  - [Spontaneous cerebrospinal rhinorrhea--report of 2 cases].
AB  - The authors present 2 cases of non-traumatic, so called "spontaneous" rhinorrhea.
      The pathological mechanism of CSF nasal fistula and operation methods are
      discussed.

PMID- 1454129
TI  - [A case of superior orbital fissure syndrome].

PMID- 1454130
TI  - [Report on the International Quincke Symposium "Barrier concepts and CSF
      Analysis"; Gottingen, September 18-22, 1991].

PMID- 1454131
TI  - [Report on the 7th day of the conference on pediatric neurosurgery Poznan,
      February 3, 1992].

PMID- 1454132
TI  - Astrocyte-endothelial interaction: physiology and pathology.
AB  - The blood-brain barrier of higher vertebrates is formed by the layer of
      endothelial cells lining the brain microvessels. The close anatomical association
      between endothelial cells and perivascular astrocytic end feet suggests
      cooperation between these cell types in forming and maintaining the blood-brain
      barrier. This review considers evidence from grafting experiments, developmental
      studies and culture models of the brain endothelium, concerning the inductive
      influences acting on the endothelium, and from endothelial cells acting on
      perivascular astrocytes. Examples from pathology and neurotoxicology which may
      involve breakdown of induction are also considered.

PMID- 1454133
TI  - Glioma heterogeneity in vitro: the significance of growth factors and
      gangliosides.
AB  - Despite renewed attempts by the WHO at updating the system of classification for
      brain tumours, most of the dynamic biological processes which underlie both the
      morphological appearances which form the basis for such systems and the malignant
      potential of gliomas remain an enigma to the neuropathologist. One feature
      recognized in human gliomas is their phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity. Such
      cellular heterogeneity seen in the histological section is retained in vitro, at
      least during early passage. It is proposed that this heterogeneity is important
      in the growth and maintenance of the tumour and may be related to the activity of
      growth factors and gangliosides. Such molecules may not only influence the
      histoarchitecture of glial neoplasms but may also determine malignant progression
      and invasive potential. Moreover, there may be an intimate relationship between
      growth factors and gangliosides constituting an intricate feedback mechanism upon
      which the biological progression of gliomas depends.

PMID- 1454134
TI  - The inflammatory response in the CNS.
AB  - In recent years it has been recognized that cells of the mononuclear phagocyte
      lineage, macrophages and microglia, are a major component of gliosis. We review
      here studies on the kinetics of the myelomonocytic response to acute excitotoxin
      induced neuronal degeneration and following the injection of endotoxin (LPS) into
      the parenchyma of the central nervous system. These studies have shown that the
      kinetics of myelomonocytic recruitment to the parenchyma of the central nervous
      system is quite unlike that of other tissues; the polymorphonuclear cells are
      largely excluded and monocytes are only recruited after a delay of several days.
      The unusual nature of the inflammatory response in the central nervous system
      needs to be considered when drawing parallels with the acute inflammatory
      response in other tissues.

PMID- 1454135
TI  - Transplanted cultured type-1 astrocytes can be used to reconstitute the glia
      limitans of the CNS: the structure which prevents Schwann cells from myelinating
      CNS axons.
AB  - Transplantation of different glial cells into areas of demyelination made in the
      adult rat spinal cord allows insights into the cell-cell interaction necessary to
      reconstruct a glial environment around demyelinated axons. Such studies have
      shown that type-1 astrocytes are central to the exclusion of Schwann cells from
      areas of glia-free demyelination. However, for these cells to be established in a
      manner which prevents Schwann cell remyelination of CNS axons, cells of the O-2A
      lineage are also required. If cultures of isogeneic rat type-1 astrocytes and
      mouse O-2A cells are transplanted into lesions made in non-immunosuppressed
      animals. Schwann cell remyelination is limited and extensive oligodendrocyte
      remyelination is achieved. This paradigm creates a model of immune mediated
      demyelination in which the immune response is not primarily directed at
      oligodendrocyte specific epitopes.

PMID- 1454136
TI  - Genes coding for proteins in central nervous system myelin.
AB  - There has been considerable interest recently in a genetic component as a
      causative factor in multiple sclerosis, but the identity of putative
      susceptibility genes is unknown. In the past decade, the primary amino acid
      sequences of the four proteins making up 90% of the protein content of central
      nervous system myelin (proteolipid protein, myelin basic protein, 2',3'-cyclic
      nucleotide-3'-phosphohydrolase, and myelin-associated glycoprotein) have been
      determined in several species. Additionally, the structural genes coding for
      these proteins have been analysed and their human chromosomal localization
      determined. We have been analysing these genes for possible variants conferring
      susceptibility to multiple sclerosis. Recent results have shown that cholera and
      pertussis toxin substrates and low molecular-weight GTP-binding proteins are also
      present in central nervous system myelin. This implies the presence of signal
      transducing systems whose purpose is currently obscure. The emerging picture of
      central nervous system myelin is of a complex dynamic structure composed of many
      more proteins than was previously thought.

PMID- 1454137
TI  - Commentary on AIDS and the nervous system.

PMID- 1454138
TI  - Pathology of the central nervous system in patients infected with the human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV): a report of 252 autopsy cases from Brazil.
AB  - The central nervous system (CNS) was studied in 252 HIV-infected patients from
      the States of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo in Brazil, the regions with the
      highest incidence of AIDS in the country. We compared the frequency and
      morphology of opportunistic infections and CNS changes caused by the HIV, with
      those described in other series and briefly analysed the risk factors involved in
      our cases. There were CNS lesions in 230 cases (91.3%), 30 (11.9%) with multiple
      infections and/or tumours. Most infections were opportunistic (65.4%), including
      15.4% viral and 50% bacterial, fungal or protozoal infections. The most frequent
      was toxoplasmosis (34.1%), followed by cryptococcosis (13.5%), cytomegalovirus
      (CMV) infection (7.9%) and nodular encephalitis (6.7%). Primary lymphomas were
      observed in 4% of the cases and HIV encephalitis or leukoencephalopathy in 10.7%.
      Other opportunistic and HIV associated lesions were present in a limited number
      of cases and there were also vascular and non-specific lesions. Our study
      confirms the high frequency of CNS lesions in HIV infected patients. They are
      morphologically similar to those previously described. However, the higher
      incidence of toxoplasmosis and cryptococcosis, a lower incidence of viral
      opportunistic and HIV-associated lesions, and the presence of rarer lesions such
      as histoplasmosis and chagasic encephalitis, differ from other series, and may
      reflect geographical and/or socio-economic factors.

PMID- 1454139
TI  - Morphological spectrum, distribution and clinical correlation of white matter
      lesions in AIDS brains.
AB  - This paper analyses the histopathological characteristics and the topographical
      distribution of 'pure' HIV-associated white matter lesions of the brain in 18
      AIDS patients at autopsy; it includes a time-controlled correlation of
      neuropathology to clinical staging of the AIDS dementia complex. Three distinct
      lesion types can be delineated: 1 Vacuolar myelin damage (n = 15) in the
      hemispheric and interhemispheric white matter, in projection fibre tracts, and in
      intracerebral segments of cranial nerves III, VII, and VIII; 2 Angiocentric foci
      (n = 14), disseminated randomly in the white matter; 3 HIV leukoencephalopathy (n
      = 14), as previously defined, seen predominantly in the hemispheric white matter.
      As a sole lesion type, HIV leukoencephalopathy is found in two cases, while
      vacuolar myelin damage and angiocentric foci always occur in combination with one
      or both other types of pathology. Patients with advanced AIDS-dementia complex
      consistently show severe and combined white matter pathologies at autopsy. We
      conclude that, in addition to the previously defined features of diffuse HIV
      leukoencephalopathy, vacuolar myelin damage and angiocentric foci are significant
      and frequent components of white matter pathology in AIDS autopsies. This
      reflects the multitude of pathogenetic factors which co-operate in damaging the
      brain in AIDS. The advanced AIDS dementia complex correlates with the combined
      and severe white matter lesions.

PMID- 1454140
TI  - Late effects following central nervous system radiation in a pediatric
      population.
AB  - Between 1970 and 1986, 120 children with central nervous system malignancy were
      treated with radiation therapy. These included 44 low-grade astrocytomas, 11 high
      grade astrocytomas, 32 medulloblastomas, 15 ependymomas/ependymoblastomas, 3
      primitive neuroectodermal tumors and 8 pineal tumors. Seven children were treated
      without biopsy. Fifty-one treated children were evaluated for the effects of
      therapy on growth, endocrine function, IQ and hair regrowth. Mean height was 1.5
      standard deviations below the mean height for the patient's age at study (range 0
      5.7). Height was significantly less in patients receiving radiation to the
      pituitary and those with somatomedin-C deficiency. Height was also decreased with
      whole CNS radiation and spine dose > 20 Gy but not to a significant degree.
      Pituitary radiation in any dose increased the chance of endocrine deficiency (p =
      0.004) and 21 of 51 patients had somatomedin-C deficiency. Mean IQ was 92.7 (+/-
      18.8), with a slight trend toward decreased IQ with increasing whole brain dose
      of radiation. Hair regrowth was complete in 20 of 46 evaluated patients,
      diminished regrowth occurring with increasing volume and dose of radiation. No
      difference in the measured late effects could be detected with respect to age at
      treatment, sex, histology or location of tumor.

PMID- 1454141
TI  - Cerebro-spinal fluid eosinophilia in shunt infections.
AB  - Hypereosinophilia has been detected in the CSF of 22 patients in a series of 81
      cases of shunt infection. It was related with the evolution of the sepsis. Its
      persistence at the end of treatment appeared to predict later complications,
      septic or obstructive, and it could be the sign of latent infection. HE might be
      the result of a specific reaction directed against the infected material, but a
      non-specific process cannot be eliminated.

PMID- 1454142
TI  - Cerebral blood flow velocity and failure of autoregulation in neonates: their
      relation to outcome of birth asphyxia.
AB  - Using the continuous wave Doppler technique, we examined the pulsatility index
      (PI) of the anterior cerebral artery in 14 asphyxiated infants. We also measured
      the blood pressure (BP) and fontanel pressure (FP) and calculated the cerebral
      perfusion pressure (CPP). According to the neurological prognosis, we divided the
      14 infants into two groups and studied correlation of each factor. In the good
      prognosis group (n = 11), PIs are within normal limits. There is a negative
      correlation between BP, CPP and PI, suggesting that the autoregulation of
      cerebral blood flow has been lost. On the other hand, there is no significant
      correlation between BP, CPP and PI in the poor-prognosis group (n = 3). These
      infants are thought to have lost the autoregulation, but their cerebral blood
      flow is not pressure-passive. Not only BP but also brain edema, vasodilation, and
      possibly other factors may contribute to determine the cerebral blood flow.
      Concerning FP, no remarkable correlations are found between two groups. It is
      therefore very important to monitor the PI, BP, FP in asphyxiated infants even if
      the degree of asphyxia is mild.

PMID- 1454143
TI  - Transventricular endoscopic investigation and treatment of suprasellar arachnoid
      cysts.
AB  - Three children with a suprasellar arachnoid cyst and characteristic
      neuropathological signs are presented. Through the use of CT scanning and NMR
      imaging the location, volume and attenuation factors of these cysts can be
      documented. Stereotactically guided endoscopic exploration of the third ventricle
      region with visualization and manipulation of the cyst have been performed. This
      technique should be considered a safe and accurate alternative to craniotomy.

PMID- 1454144
TI  - Severe type Hunter's syndrome. Polysomnographic and neuropathological study.
AB  - The clinico-pathological and polysomnographical findings of an adult male patient
      with severe type of Hunter's syndrome are presented. He died of respiratory
      failure aged 19, which was much older than the average in this disease.
      Mucopolysaccharidosis was suspected at the age of one year, and diagnosed by
      leucocyte enzyme assay at 4 years of age. Mental and physical activity gradually
      deteriorated until his death. He often showed central type sleep apnea during the
      sleep stage 2, in addition to common obstructive apnea in Hunter's syndrome. The
      autopsy showed marked fibrous thickening of the endocardium and valves,
      enlargement of the liver and spleen, dilatation of the lateral ventricles and
      diffuse atrophy of the brain. Histologically, diffuse cytoplasmic vacuolations
      were found in fibroblast-like cells in the thickened endocardium and vascular
      walls, in Kupffer cells, and in many neurons of the central and peripheral
      nervous systems. Most neuronal inclusions were considered to be a ganglioside,
      and in other cells to be a mucopolysaccharide, by their ultrastructure. Massive
      accumulation of ganglioside in the neurons in the respiratory center might be
      reflected on central type sleep apnea.

PMID- 1454145
TI  - Disturbance of GABA metabolism in pyridoxine-dependent seizures.
AB  - In an infant with typical pyridoxine-dependent seizures, CSF GABA level, was
      determined before treatment with pyridoxine. Before onset of treatment, level of
      GABA in CSF was highly lowered (16 pmol/ml), pyridoxine level in serum was within
      normal range. Immediately after application of 80 mg pyridoxine fits stopped and
      the EEG was without seizure activity. The data substantiate previous findings in
      brain tissue from a patient with pyridoxine-dependent seizures. They are proof of
      a disturbed GABA metabolism in pyridoxine dependent seizures.

PMID- 1454146
TI  - Congenital caudal spinal atrophy: a case report.
AB  - An infant presented at birth with symmetrical flaccid paraparesis limited to
      lower legs and feet, and involving the proximal and distal muscle group.
      Limitation of the ankle joints was noticed. There were no sensory deficits to
      painful stimuli and no evidence of loss of sphincter control. Muscle CT revealed
      severe muscle atrophy in the pelvis and lower limbs, and electromyographic study
      of the bilateral hamstrings showed polyphasic giant potentials. Motor and sensory
      nerve conduction velocities were within normal limits, and the spinal MRI showed
      no structural abnormalities in the cord and the lower spine. These features
      suggest a congenital segmental abnormality at the anterior horn cell level in the
      lumbosacral spinal cord, which we propose to call "congenital caudal spinal
      atrophy".

PMID- 1454147
TI  - Proton NMR spectroscopy of Canavan's disease.
AB  - Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to quantitatively
      determine cerebral N-Acetyl Aspartate (NAA) concentrations in four patients with
      Canavan's disease and in four age-matched control subjects. Macroscopic NAA
      concentrations (mumol/gm wet weight) were not found to be significantly different
      from controls. Reduced levels of choline and creatine were observed in all
      patients, and increased levels of lactate and inositol in the eldest three
      patients.

PMID- 1454148
TI  - Hereditary progressive dystonia with diurnal fluctuation (Segawa's syndrome)--an
      unusual case.
AB  - A young girl with hereditary progressive dystonia with diurnal fluctuation or
      Segawa's syndrome, completely handicapped and confined to a wheelchair between
      the age of 5 and 9, revealed an unusually slow response to levodopa. The ability
      to walk returned only after 12 to 14 months of treatment. Apart from
      peculiarities of behaviour due to longstanding immobility and ensuing parental
      overprotection, there were no psychological or mental abnormalities. Other
      organic diseases were ruled out. A series of regular follow-ups over the course
      of 7 years was performed. While residual and irregular day-to-day variation of
      functional capacities almost disappeared after conversion to a preparation with a
      decarboxylase inhibitor, some mild neurological abnormalities and a slight
      choreic hyperkinesia persisted with doses providing functional results. The
      patient today leads an almost normal teenage life and has performed well in
      school.

PMID- 1454149
TI  - Severe adverse reaction to carbamazepine: significance of humoral and cellular
      reactions to the drug.
AB  - Hypersensitivity to carbamazepine is a well-known phenomenon. The involvement of
      several organ systems including liver, kidney, bone marrow and other organs have
      been described. We have observed a 7-year-old boy who had been treated with
      carbamazepine for seizures. After 10 days of treatment he developed a severe
      illness with skin rash, high fever, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly and
      lymphopenia. Only slightly decreased complement components and increased
      complement split products but no circulating immune complexes were demonstrable
      on admission. Anti-carbamazepine antibodies, T-cell-activation and a significant
      T-cell reactivity against carbamazepine were found, indicating specific
      hypersensitivity. Complete recovery was observed after discontinuation of the
      drug and steroid treatment.

PMID- 1454150
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging of progressive hydrosyringomyelia in two patients with
      meningomyelocele.
AB  - Two patients who postoperatively developed extensive multiseptated
      hydrosyringomyelia following surgical repair of a lumbal meningomyelocele are
      reported. Since MRI has been available, an increasing number of reports showed
      that MRI is useful in the diagnosis of hydrosyringomyelia. Hydrosyringomyelia can
      be considered as a dysraphic lesion. Etiology and pathogenesis of
      hydrosyringomyelia are still not fully understood. Probably arachnoidal adhesions
      and cord tethering in both patients may be potential factors in producing cystic
      degeneration of the underlying structure secondary to ischemia.

PMID- 1454151
TI  - Current bibliographies of neuropeptides prepared by the University of Sheffield
      Biomedical Information Service.

PMID- 1454152
TI  - Behavioural effects of two dipeptides L-phenyl alanyl-L-arginine (Phe-L-Arg) and
      L-phenyl alanyl-D-arginine (Phe-D-Arg) after intracerebroventricular or
      intrathecal injections in mice.
AB  - L-phenylalanyl-L-arginine (Phe-L-Arg) and L-phenylalanyl-D-arginine (Phe-D-Arg),
      dissolved in a physiological saline were injected intrathecally into the lateral
      brain ventricle, and their behavioural as well as analgesic effects in mice were
      determined. It was found that a 100 nM dose of either peptide
      intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) injected induced an increase in the locomotor
      activity and a convulsive effect, whereas the same dose if injected produced a
      significant analgesic effect. It has been concluded that Phe-L-Arg and Phe-D-Arg
      have significant but different central effects in mice.

PMID- 1454153
TI  - Prenatal stress alters the hypothalamic levels of methionine-enkephalin in pup
      rats.
AB  - We examined hypothalamic Methionine-enkephalin levels in offspring (postnatal day
      10) from stressed female rats in different period of gestation: Group 1,
      restraint stress day 2 through 6; group 2, restraint stress day 7 through 11;
      group 3, restraint stress day 12 through day 16 and group 4, restraint stress day
      2 through day 16. The hypothalamic levels of Methionine-enkephalin (134.37 +/-
      6.19 pg/mg) in the offspring of stressed females from day 2 to day 6 of gestation
      were significantly (p < 0.001) higher than that obtained in the control group
      (100.66 +/- 10.13 pg/mg). Similar results were obtained in groups 2 and 3.
      However, in rat pups from females stressed during 15 days of gestation (group 4)
      the hypothalamic levels of Methionine-enkephalin (96.5 +/- 6.33 pg/mg) were
      similar to that obtained in the control group (101.5 +/- 5.15 pg/mg). These
      results suggest that acute prenatal stress alters the endogenous opioid activity
      in offspring with possible resultant effects on developmental processes.

PMID- 1454154
TI  - Structure-activity studies on the effects of atrial natriuretic peptide, brain
      natriuretic peptide and their analogs on fear-motivated learning behavior in
      rats.
AB  - Our previous studies have demonstrated that rat atrial natriuretic peptide (rANP
      1-28) and porcine brain natriuretic peptide (pBNP 1-32) administered into the
      lateral brain facilitate the consolidation of a passive avoidance response and
      delay the extinction of an active avoidance response in fear-motivated learning
      in rats. To study the structure-activity relationships in the same learning
      processes, the effects of several fragments related to ANP and BNP were
      investigated following their intracerebroventricular administration to rats. The
      following peptides were studied: rANP 1-28, rANP 5-28, rANP 5-27, rANP 7-23
      (ring), rANP 17-23, hANP 10-28, hANP 15-28, hANP 20-28, hANP 1-28, pBNP 1-32 and
      pBNP 7-32. The peptides were used in equimolar concentration. Two of the peptides
      studied, ANP 20-28 and ANP 17-23, were ineffective on the extinction of active
      avoidance behavior and on the consolidation of passive avoidance learning. They
      exhibited similar actions. The results showed that small fragments of ANP and BNP
      can carry the biological activity of ANP and BNP on the central nervous system
      (CNS). It is likely that the biological active center for ANP lies between amino
      acids 15 and 23 and it is suspected that the ring structure is not absolutely
      important for the CNS activity.

PMID- 1454155
TI  - The presence of neuropeptides in GABAergic and cholinergic rat cerebrocortical
      synaptosome sub-populations.
AB  - GABAergic and cholinergic synaptosomes from rat cerebral cortex were isolated by
      a magnetic immunoaffinity technique, i.e. immunomagnetophoresis. These
      subpopulations were extracted and subjected to radioimmunoassay for four
      neuropeptides: Neuropeptide Y (NPY); vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP);
      substance P (SP); and somatostatin (SRIF). In each of the sub-populations three
      of the four peptides were enriched in the sorted fraction compared with the
      mother fraction with respect to the cytosolic marker lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).
      In the GABAergic sub-population the order was SP > SRIF > NPY > or = VIP whilst
      in the cholinergic sub-population they were enriched in the order VIP > or = NPY
      > SP > SRIF. The presence of NPY has not previously been reported in cortical
      cholinergic neurons.

PMID- 1454156
TI  - The NMDA-receptor antagonist dizocilpine (MK-801) suppresses the memory
      facilitatory action of thyrotropin-releasing hormone.
AB  - Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) has been shown to improve memory both in
      animal amnesia models and in humans. In an earlier study we have found that
      respiratory stimulant action of TRH is mediated through the N-methyl-D-aspartate
      (NMDA) receptors. Since brain NMDA receptors are implicated in neuronal
      plasticity, we have investigated whether the non-competitive NMDA antagonist
      dizocilpine antagonizes the memory-facilitatory action of TRH. TRH (5 mg/kg i.p.)
      increased passive avoidance scores in the rats in both memory retention and
      retrieval tests. Dizocilpine (0.2 mg/kg i.p.) caused no significant performance
      changes. However, it completely blocked the improvement of retention caused by
      TRH and reversed its effect on retrieval. We conclude that the facilitatory
      effect of TRH on avoidance retention and retrieval may be mediated by NMDA
      receptors.

PMID- 1454157
TI  - Grade II and grade III hypothyroidism in rapid-cycling bipolar patients.
AB  - Thyroid function was evaluated in 10 rapid-cycling bipolar patients who had
      previously responded to lithium treatment. Five patients had grade II and 1
      patient had grade III hypothyroidism as determined by thyrotropin-releasing
      hormone tests. Treatment with thyroxine in addition to lithium significantly
      decreased the intensity and frequency of rapid cycling episodes.

PMID- 1454158
TI  - Acutely administered haloperidol-induced pattern changes of regional cerebral
      blood flow in schizophrenics. Observation from subtraction of brain imaging with
      single photon emission computed tomography using technetium-99m hexamethyl
      propyleneamine oxime.
AB  - Changes in regional cerebral blood flow in brain images with single photon
      emission computed tomography using technetium-99m hexamethyl-propyleneamine oxime
      before and after intramuscular injection of haloperidol (0.08 mg/kg) were studied
      in 5 medicated subjects in their twenties, consisting of 5 schizophrenics and 1
      patient with histrionic personality disorder, by a subtraction method of brain
      images. The haloperidol injection induced two types of perfusion pattern change;
      in 2 of the schizophrenics, a relative hypoperfusion in the frontal lobes in the
      images prior to injection was converted to a relative hyperperfusion. In the
      other 3 schizophrenics and in the patient with histrionic personality disorder,
      the slight left hemispheric dominance was changed to a marked right hemispheric
      dominance. The results indicate that haloperidol affects perfusion patterns in
      schizophrenics.

PMID- 1454159
TI  - Twenty-four-hour beta-endorphin secretory pattern in Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - A chronobiological study was carried out in 6 male patients (67-71 years),
      suffering from Alzheimer-type dementia (ATD) and 6 male patients (52-74 years)
      suffering from multi-infarct dementia (MID), to evaluate their 24-hour beta
      endorphin and cortisol secretory patterns. Six healthy male adults (28-37 years)
      and 6 healthy elderly male subjects (78-84 years) constituted the control groups.
      Blood samples were drawn every 4 h from 8.00 to 20.00 h and every 2 h from 24.00
      to 6.00 h. Mean 24-hour beta-endorphin levels were significantly (p < 0.05)
      higher in the ATD patients (39.2 +/- 1.5 ng/l) than in the other groups (33.8 +/-
      1.1, 30.1 +/- 1.6 and 33.2 +/- 1.1 ng/l in the elderly subjects, the adults and
      the MID patients, respectively). The circadian rhythm was absent in the ATP
      patients, in the elderly subjects and the MID patients. No differences in plasma
      cortisol circadian rhythm were observed among the four groups. Our data indicate
      that changes in circulating beta-endorphin concentrations and circadian pattern
      may be due to the aging process.

PMID- 1454160
TI  - Use of buspirone in patients with generalized anxiety disorder and coexisting
      depressive symptoms. A meta-analysis of eight randomized, controlled studies.
AB  - This report presents the results of a retrospective analysis of pooled efficacy
      data from eight studies in which buspirone was compared to placebo in 520
      patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). In addition to evaluating
      overall efficacy in the composite patient data base, four criteria were used to
      identify subsets of patients with GAD who had coexisting depressive symptoms of
      at least moderate intensity: (1) a score of > or = 2 on the Hamilton Anxiety (HAM
      A) Rating Scale item 6 (depressed mood), (2) a score of > or = 2 on the Hamilton
      Depression (HAM-D) Rating Scale item 1 (depressed mood), (3) a HAM-D total score
      of > or = 18, or (4) a HAM-D Retardation Factor value (items 1, 7, 8, and 14)
      greater than the median for the group. Overall, patients treated with buspirone
      demonstrated significant (p < or = 0.001) improvement over baseline in total HAM
      A scores compared to patients who received placebo. Buspirone also produced
      significant (p < or = 0.001) global improvement compared to placebo as assessed
      by the attending physician. Of the GAD patients stratified according to the four
      criteria for coexisting depressive symptoms, a substantial percentage (44-64%) of
      the total patient sample exhibited significant depressive symptoms as part of
      their anxiety disorder. Patients with GAD and coexisting depressive symptoms of
      at least moderate intensity exhibited significantly greater improvement with
      buspirone compared to placebo treatment regardless of the stratification
      criterion used. They also responded at least as well or better to buspirone
      therapy as did those with GAD who had less intense depressive symptoms.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1454161
TI  - Tricyclic antidepressant plasma levels after fluoxetine addition.
AB  - After a review of a pharmacokinetic interaction between tricyclic antidepressants
      (TCA) and fluoxetine the authors report their own data. They confirm the
      existence of an interaction of TCA with fluoxetine, in clinical practice, but the
      fluoxetine was not associated in all cases with a marked increase of TCA plasma
      levels. The increase appeared especially high with clomipramine (n = 4) and
      imipramine (n = 3), and lower or dose-dependent with amitriptyline (n = 4). The
      pharmacokinetic change did not induce side effects in the patients, even when the
      total TCA plasma level increased to 965 (clomipramine) or 785 (imipramine) ng/ml.
      The authors then discuss the clinical implication and the possible mechanism of
      action.

PMID- 1454162
TI  - Thyroid hormone correlates of sensation seeking and anxiety in healthy human
      females.
AB  - The present study explores the relationships among a number of personality
      measures (the Sensation-Seeking Scale, SSS; the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory,
      and the Susceptibility to Punishment Scale) and some parameters of the pituitary
      thyroid axis. The study was carried out on a group of 37 physically and mentally
      fit female volunteers, none of whom had a personal history of psychiatric or
      endocrinologic illness. The subjects were controlled for the menstrual cycle. The
      most relevant result was a significant negative relationship between the SSS
      score and plasma basal levels of thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone
      (TSH). Interaction between T4 and TSH levels with trait anxiety was also
      observed.

PMID- 1454163
TI  - Influence of quinidine on the pharmacokinetics of trimipramine and on its effect
      on the waking EEG of healthy volunteers. A pilot study on two subjects.
AB  - The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (waking EEG) of 75 mg trimipramine
      taken orally were determined in two healthy volunteers on two separate occasions,
      once without and once after comedication with 2 x 50 mg quinidine. Quinidine, a
      potent cytochrome P-450IID6 inhibitor, is used as a pharmacological tool to mimic
      a lack of this enzyme in man. In this study, it markedly altered the
      pharmacokinetics of trimipramine, almost doubling its plasma half-life and
      decreasing its apparent clearance and volume of distribution. These results
      strongly suggest that trimipramine is a substrate of cytochrome P-450IID6. These
      modifications of trimipramine metabolism were accompanied by measurable changes
      in some EEG variables, most notably with regard to the relative power in the
      alpha and theta bands, which showed higher and longer-lasting effects of
      trimipramine. Since cytochrome P-450IID6 is deficient in 5-10% of Caucasian
      subjects, this may have consequences in trimipramine-treated subjects, especially
      with regard to the effects of the drug on the EEG.

PMID- 1454165
TI  - Regenerating cartilage.

PMID- 1454164
TI  - Effect of carbamazepine treatment on EEG changes induced by different cortical
      activation patterns in newly referred epileptic patients.
AB  - Sixteen epileptic patients suffering from focal epilepsy who underwent
      antiepileptic drug treatment with carbamazepine (CBZ) for the first time were
      studied. The EEG was recorded at rest with eyes closed, during blocking reaction
      (BR), fixation (FIX) and mental arithmetic tasks. The computerized EEG study,
      performed before and after CBZ therapy, utilized spectral analysis. Data
      underwent statistical evaluation through Anova and correlation analysis. The
      parameters evaluated were the mean frequency and the mean absolute and relative
      power. The results have shown that after CBZ treatment there is a decrease in the
      alpha reactivity during BR and FIX, while a significant increase in beta activity
      was observed during all tasks. The effect of CBZ therapy on EEG activity during
      cortical activation patterns are discussed.

PMID- 1454166
TI  - Antiperspirants and feet.

PMID- 1454167
TI  - Cosleeping.

PMID- 1454168
TI  - Medical planning--Desert Shield/Storm.

PMID- 1454169
TI  - Where have all the captains gone? A comparison of active and reserve MC ranks and
      ages, Vietnam to Desert Storm.
AB  - An analysis of ages and ranks of hospital-based physicians in one area of the
      Persian Gulf War was used for a comparison with similar data from the Vietnam
      War. Mean age in the latter was 33.4 years; rank was Captain (0-3.24). In Desert
      Storm, mean age and rank significantly increased to 46.0 years and close to
      Lieutenant Colonel (0-4.73), respectively. The large proportion of Reserve
      Component Physicians (75%) in the Persian Gulf War is the probable explanation
      for these findings. Medical Corps recruitment and retention problems may result
      from this most recent war and pose potential threats to success in future U.S.
      conflicts.

PMID- 1454170
TI  - Ten leadership steps to a smooth facility upgrade.
AB  - Leading a medical treatment facility (MTF) through the construction phases of a
      major upgrade, repair, or any sizable facility project is a challenging and
      complex endeavor. The Executive Staff can make the process easier on everyone and
      ensure the final product is in tune with the MTFs needs by taking positive
      leadership actions. This article describes the effective actions discovered
      during a 2.5-year-long total MTF upgrade of the 52 Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW)
      Clinic. These actions involved promulgating a broad systems view of the process,
      establishing philosophies and criteria, promoting team work, involving customers,
      and building consensus among the staff.

PMID- 1454171
TI  - A descriptive analysis of urine cultures: pure versus mixed isolates.
AB  - Out of 5,670 urine cultures performed in 1989, 1,448 positive cultures with
      unique results were analyzed. Of these 1,448, 67% were pure cultures, and 50% had
      at least one isolate with a colony count greater than 100,000 colony forming
      units/ml. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus mirabilis,
      Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and diphtheroids were more likely
      (p < 0.01) to occur in mixed than pure culture, while Escherichia coli was more
      likely to occur in pure than mixed culture. The most common organism combinations
      were diphtheroids-coagulase negative Staphylococcus (30 cultures), E. faecalis
      coagulase negative Staphylococcus (28), E. faecalis-P. aeruginosa (13), K.
      pneumoniae-P. aeruginosa (9), and E. coli-P. aeruginosa (9).

PMID- 1454172
TI  - A descriptive study of mentoring relationships experienced by Army nurses in head
      nurse or nursing supervisor roles.
AB  - Mentoring relationships experienced by Army Nurse Corps officers in head nurse or
      nursing supervisor roles were examined via a survey questionnaire. Findings
      indicate that career development relationships are occurring among these nurses,
      but less than half of the relationships consist of mentoring. Nursing supervisors
      comprised the largest group of career developers, while head nurses were the
      second most likely group to assist with the development of a novice nurse.
      Approximately half of the nurses indicated that the career development
      relationship had a "substantial" influence on their personal lives, and a "very
      great" influence on their professional lives.

PMID- 1454173
TI  - The effect of intermediate altitude on the Army Physical Fitness Test.
AB  - Official physical training records of personnel stationed at intermediate
      altitude (elevation 5,280 feet) for at least 1 year were reviewed to gauge the
      effect of altitude on 2-mile running performance. An average of 48 additional
      seconds (a 5% increase in time) was required to complete the run compared to sea
      level values in the same subjects. Run times gradually diminished during the
      first 9 months of assignment to altitude before stability was established. These
      data indicate that acclimatization occurs over several months. Even with
      acclimatization, substantial loss of performance is associated with habitation at
      intermediate altitude.

PMID- 1454174
TI  - Serum gentamicin concentrations in postpartum endomyometritis.
AB  - Gentamicin in combination with other antibiotics is frequently used in the
      treatment of postpartum endomyometritis. The need to monitor and maintain
      therapeutic concentrations, however, is controversial. To assess the role of
      monitoring, serum gentamicin concentrations were prospectively studied in an
      obstetric population treated for postpartum endomyometritis. Clinical course was
      correlated to serum gentamicin levels obtained using a 1 mg/kg/dose regimen. No
      patient demonstrated therapeutic concentrations. Sixteen of 18 obstetric patients
      (88%) exhibited a clinical response despite subtherapeutic serum gentamicin
      concentrations. The two failures included one case of septicemia and one wound
      seroma. Serum gentamicin levels of this obstetric population when compared to
      those from a gynecologic population treated for benign disease demonstrated no
      statistical difference. These data suggest that clinical response provides an
      accurate indication of the efficacy of therapy and that gentamicin doses of 1
      mg/kg/dose provide sufficient antibiotic coverage in most cases. These results do
      not support the use of increased gentamicin dosages and the need to attain
      therapeutic levels in the obstetric patient, as previously suggested.

PMID- 1454175
TI  - Thirty years of experience with infectious hepatitis prevention in the Israel
      Defence Forces.
AB  - Infectious hepatitis is endemic to Israel. Large outbreaks of infectious
      hepatitis were common in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) before 1970, at which
      time post-exposure prophylaxis with immune serum globulin was introduced. It
      caused a decrease in the incidence of infectious hepatitis from 10-14/1,000 to
      3/1,000. A further reduction in incidence was achieved after 1978 when a policy
      of pre-exposure prophylaxis was established. The number of yearly outbreaks and
      cases per outbreak also declined as a result of this policy. Worldwide studies
      have shown that a policy of pre-exposure prophylaxis and/or post-exposure
      prophylaxis with immune serum globulin is effective in reducing the incidence of
      infectious hepatitis. The experience of the IDF is that a combination of both pre
      exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis is more efficacious. This policy should be
      worthwhile in other areas where infectious hepatitis is endemic.

PMID- 1454176
TI  - Emotional distress in chronic medical illness: treatment with time-limited group
      psychotherapy.
AB  - Time-limited (12 sessions) group psychotherapy was provided for 14 patients with
      a variety of serious medical illnesses. All patients were referred for
      psychiatric assistance and most had minimal or no psychiatric disorder. Patients
      not terminally ill, in continuous pain, or cognitively impaired, but otherwise
      unselected, were offered treatment. Emphasis was placed on validation of
      feelings, interpersonal understanding, and problem solving. Increased sense of
      well being was noted in all patients by self-report; this was contrasted by
      findings on the Millon Behavioral Health Inventory indicating generally sustained
      somatic concern. A moderate reduction in the number of visits to other clinics
      was noted during the treatment period. Although outcome data are incomplete, this
      appears to be a useful and cost-effective treatment for mixed groups of
      emotionally distressed medical patients.

PMID- 1454177
TI  - Anthropometric, psychomotor, and hemodynamic changes during twenty-one continuous
      days of eating only meals, ready-to-eat (MREs).
AB  - This study investigated anthropometric, psychomotor, and hemodynamic changes in
      young adult men during 21 continuous days of eating only meals, ready-to-eat
      (MREs). The MRE diet group lost more weight and bodyfat (significant at abdominal
      site, total skinfolds, and total bodyfat percent), and had significantly greater
      gains in hand grip strength than did controls. Results support the contention
      that, when eaten as designed, MREs are nutritionally adequate for maintaining
      body weight and muscle strength without adverse effects.

PMID- 1454178
TI  - The value of dental radiographic equipment in a Navy field hospital.
AB  - The portable dental X-ray machine has been used to augment standard field x-ray
      equipment. This allows for more rapid assessment of combat casualties. The data
      presented describe the use of the portable dental X-ray machine during the 100
      hour ground war against Iraq.

PMID- 1454179
TI  - Soldiers' dental complaints compared with clinical findings in the Military
      Hospital in Bologna, Italy.
AB  - There is no previous data published on the frequency and reasons for dental
      emergencies in the Italian Army. In this study, all the 329 soldiers who sought
      dental help during a 5-month period in the Military Hospital in Bologna were
      investigated. Prior to clinical examination, the soldiers filled out a
      questionnaire concerning their subjective perception about their dental treatment
      needs. Data from the questionnaire were then compared with the actual status
      findings. The results showed that endodontic problems comprised the majority of
      the cases (37.1%), followed by surgical problems as the second most frequent
      emergency (33.1%). The subjects' own perceptions showed good agreement with the
      clinical record in cases with endodontal or surgical problems, excluding problems
      related to wisdom teeth, while those related to caries and periodontal disease
      were less frequently correctly assessed by the soldiers.

PMID- 1454180
TI  - Establishing a neurology service in support of Operation Desert Storm.
AB  - As a result of Operation Desert Storm, a neurology service was established in the
      Fort Leonard Wood MEDDAC. Between January 1 and April 30, 1991, a total of 315
      new neurology patients were seen in consultation. This number plus all the follow
      up visits add up to a total of 750 clinical encounters during that period. The
      characteristics of this service (population served, reasons for referral, and
      diagnoses) were not significantly different than has been previously reported.
      The level of activity, by MS3 standards, qualifies this MEDDAC to have two
      neurologists.

PMID- 1454181
TI  - Behavioral differences of irradiated persons associated with the Kyshtym,
      Chelyabinsk, and Chernobyl nuclear accidents.
AB  - Three nuclear accidents besides Chernobyl have occurred in the former Soviet
      Union. The accidents occurred around Kyshtym and Chelyabinsk in the Ural
      Mountains between 1949 and 1967 and contaminated over one-half million people.
      The health ministries are now interested in the data previously collected on
      these irradiated populations in order to examine the health (e.g., psychological,
      hereditary, genome damage, etc.) implications of long-term radiation exposure.

PMID- 1454182
TI  - A retrospective analysis of open fractures sustained by U.S. military personnel
      during Operation Just Cause.
AB  - A retrospective analysis was conducted of 37 open fracture cases sustained by
      U.S. military personnel during the recent low-intensity conflict in Panama
      (Operation Just Cause). The etiology, location, classification, and management of
      open fractures sustained in combat is presented. A significant difference was
      noted in the infection rate for type III open fractures that were debrided in
      Panama (22%) as compared to those that were debrided only after transport to
      CONUS (66%). This study supports the critical importance of adequate battlefield
      surgical support in low-intensity conflicts, and reemphasizes the crucial role of
      early surgical debridement for the prevention of wound infection.

PMID- 1454183
TI  - Carpal tunnel syndrome associated with histoplasmosis: a case report and
      literature review.
AB  - A case of localized Histoplasma capsulatum flexor tenosynovitis causing a carpal
      tunnel syndrome is presented. Carpal tunnel release, with tenosynovectomy, was
      performed followed by antifungal therapy. The symptoms did not recur.
      Tenosynovectomy followed by antifungal treatment is recommended.

PMID- 1454184
TI  - Kaposi's sarcoma of the gallbladder.
AB  - A 30-year-old man with symptomatic acquired immunodeficiency syndrome presented
      with abdominal pain and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Radiographic
      studies revealed thickening of the gallbladder wall. Following stabilization of
      the coagulation disorder, the patient underwent a cholecystectomy, and the
      gallbladder was found to contain Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). There have been no
      previously published reports of KS found in the gallbladder of a living patient
      in the absence of cutaneous manifestations of KS. The current case illustrates
      that KS is a multi-focal systemic disease which may have extracutaneous primary
      manifestations.

PMID- 1454185
TI  - Idiopathic renal hematuria in a military working dog.
AB  - A 1.5-year-old male Belgian Malinosis Military Working Dog presented with a 1
      month history of intermittent hematuria. Diagnostic ultrasound and contrast
      radiography demonstrated large blood clots in the urinary bladder and a filling
      defect in the right renal pelvis. At surgery, clotted blood was present in the
      right ureter and bladder. Following right nephrectomy, the dog returned to
      training. One month later, elevations in urea nitrogen and creatinine were noted.
      Hematuria recurred at 3 months and the dog was found dead in its kennel. Necropsy
      showed a blood-filled left renal pelvis and ureter.

PMID- 1454186
TI  - Knee protection during Ranger school.

PMID- 1454187
TI  - Chronic fatigue syndrome and military service.

PMID- 1454188
TI  - Antidepressant use for idiopathic hypersomnolence.

PMID- 1454189
TI  - Arthroscopic surgery of the knee on the U.S. Naval Hospital Ships during
      Operation Desert Shield.
AB  - Between September 1990 and January 1991, while deployed to the Persian Gulf for
      Operation Desert Shield, 118 patients underwent arthroscopic surgery of the knee
      on the U.S. Naval Hospital Ships USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort. There were 113 men
      and 5 women, with an average age of 28 years (range, 19-59 years). The most
      common findings at the time of arthroscopy were meniscus tears (53%), anterior
      cruciate ligament tears (29%), and normal arthroscopic examinations (9%). There
      were three complications, two hemarthroses and one superficial portal site
      infection. Seventy patients (59%) were able to be returned to duty at an average
      of 6 days post-operatively, obviating the need to evacuate these patients out of
      the Middle East theater to Europe or the United States, thus avoiding additional
      delay, expense, and loss of the service member to his military unit.

PMID- 1454190
TI  - Medical limitations of gas masks for civilian populations: the 1991 experience.
AB  - Using a gas mask (GM) may involve considerable inconvenience, impairment of
      respiration and communication, and serious psychological reactions. The medical
      literature is primarily focused on the occupational aspects of using the GM by
      young and healthy workers. In contrast, there is hardly any information
      concerning the use of GMs by large, unselected populations, including children,
      the elderly, and the sick. Issuing GMs to all residents of Israel prior to
      Operation Desert Storm created an urgent need to define the populations whose
      health might be jeopardized by using the standard GM. Adding an active air supply
      system (AASS) to a standard GM may ease the burden on this high-risk group. We
      evaluated the physiological aspects of breathing with a GM, with and without
      AASS, in respect to pathophysiology of diseases, and reached a set of criteria
      for identifying those who may be endangered by a GM and are expected to benefit
      from the AASS. The method used to sort and identify those entitled to the AASS is
      described.

PMID- 1454191
TI  - Physical and psychosocial impact of activation and deactivation on Army Reserve
      nurses.
AB  - Reserve mobilization training focuses on specialty skills and soldiers' common
      tasks, but does not prepare individuals for the physical and psychological
      realities of activation. The purpose of this descriptive, multiphasic research
      was to systematically examine, as it was experienced, the impact of activation
      and subsequent de-activation on 81 Army Reserve nurses. The variables measured
      included somatic symptoms, psychosocial effects, stressors, coping strategies,
      and positive aspects of the experience. Some nurses experienced physical and
      psychosocial symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder. Lessons
      learned from this study will help Army Reserve units to be more proactive in
      mobilization preparation and training.

PMID- 1454192
TI  - Research priorities of VA nurses: a Delphi study.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to conduct a Delphi survey of a sample of
      Gainesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center staff and head nurses. The study
      consisted of three rounds of questionnaires completed by the nurses as they
      identified and narrowed the most pressing nursing research questions. Results
      indicated that in five of the six clinical settings, despite investigators'
      instructions to identify clinical nursing research questions, administrative
      research questions were identified and ranked consistently higher in priority
      than clinical research questions. The single exception was in home care, where
      clinical questions received the highest priority. This phenomena may suggest that
      institutional constraints interfere with nurses' full expression of their
      clinical practice.

PMID- 1454193
TI  - Efficiency in the pediatric orthopedic clinic and the effect on the parents: a
      comparison of military and civilian medical centers.
AB  - In a short-term comparison of similar pediatric orthopedic practices at a
      military and a civilian institution in the same geographical location, it was
      found that total appointment time, waiting time, and travel time were longer in
      the military setting. It appeared, however, that there was more leniency toward
      time off from work to accompany children to appointments in the military
      population. These factors may have considerable impact on time lost from the job
      for service member sponsors.

PMID- 1454194
TI  - The efficacy of medicine during the campaigns of Alexander the Great.
AB  - This paper examines the various factors that may have determined the efficacy of
      physicians during the campaigns of Alexander the Great. Such general variables as
      the adequacy of preparation, the nature of the medical profession, and the extent
      of preventative measures are all discussed at the outset of the paper, followed
      by a more detailed examination of the specific wounds, illnesses, and treatments
      of Alexander as described in the accounts of the Alexander historians Plutarch,
      Curtius, and Arrian. Where no remedy is given by these writers (as is usually the
      case), this paper speculates on the efficacy of possible treatments as advocated
      in the contemporary Hippocratic corpus. Casualty statistics of the campaigns are
      compared to a similar review of Homer's Iliad. From these examinations, this
      paper concludes that wound treatment efficacy was significantly greater than that
      of illness treatment, and that Alexander lost many more men to disease than to
      the wounds of war.

PMID- 1454195
TI  - Utilization review in the military health care delivery system.

PMID- 1454196
TI  - Noise-induced low- and high-frequency hearing losses in Finnish conscripts.
AB  - Thirty-nine otologically healthy military conscripts were examined at the
      beginning and at the end of their 1-year service. On entry, they all showed
      normal findings during clinical otolaryngological examinations. The test battery
      included both conventional (0.25-8 kHz) and high-frequency "electric bone
      conduction" (0.5-20 kHz) audiometry (EBC). The median pure-tone right ear
      thresholds at the end of service were 5 dB worse over the frequency range of 2-8
      kHz compared with the thresholds at the beginning of the service. The difference
      was statistically highly significant (p = 0.00035). The median left ear pure-tone
      thresholds at frequencies of 0.25, 2, and 8 kHz were 5 dB worse at the end of the
      service compared to the thresholds at the beginning of the service. However, the
      difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.23). The median curves for
      the high-frequency (EBC) thresholds measured after the service showed worse
      thresholds over the whole frequency range compared to the median curves measured
      before the service. The greatest difference was seen in the highest frequencies
      (15-17 kHz) in both ears. The differences were statistically significant in both
      ears (p = 0.03 in the right ears; p = 0.01 in the left ears) when threshold
      values over the whole frequency range were analyzed. Since the otolaryngological
      history of these conscripts was uneventful during their service, the hearing
      deteriorations were considered to be caused by shooting practice.

PMID- 1454198
TI  - The medical challenge of military operations in the Mississippi Valley during the
      American Civil War.
AB  - The prevention and treatment of disease was as important as combat operations in
      the campaigns along the Mississippi River during the American Civil War.
      Throughout the Vicksburg campaign, many more soldiers were disabled by sickness
      than by combat injury. While this held true for both sides, a greater proportion
      of the Union army was healthy than of the opposing Confederate force. In the last
      2 years of the war, the North tried to occupy the Confederate states in the
      Mississippi Valley. The failure to accomplish this goal was partly due to the
      deteriorating health of the Union army. Medical knowledge and action taken to
      prevent disease were of major importance in the success and the failure of
      military campaigns in the Mississippi Valley during the American Civil War.

PMID- 1454197
TI  - Epidemiology of soft-tissue/musculoskeletal injury among U.S. Marine recruits
      undergoing basic training.
AB  - We determined the incidence of soft-tissue/musculoskeletal injury occurring
      during 8,076 recruit-months at risk among recruits undergoing basic training at
      Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, between January and April
      1990. We analyzed International Classification of Disease codes relating to
      initial visit for injuries, and calculated recruit-months from weekly strength
      figures. Training-related injuries occurred at a rate of 19.9 injuries per 100
      recruit-months. Within the sports medicine clinic, iliotibial band syndrome
      (22.4%), patellar tendinitis (15.1%), and mechanical low back pain (11.4%)
      occurred most frequently, with rates per 100 recruit-months of 2.1, 1.4, and 1.1,
      respectively.

PMID- 1454199
TI  - USAR Nurse Referral and Retention Program.
AB  - In 1987, the 804th Hospital Center made alleviating the shortfall of registered
      nurses in the Command a priority. The Command had only 79% of its registered
      nurse positions filled at the time. Using the recruitment strategies of an
      employee referral program and a mailing list, the Command reached 100% fill in 2
      years and maintained those gains for an additional year. Retention strategies
      were also implemented which lowered the attrition rate. This paper describes the
      Army Nurse Referral and Retention Program developed and implemented at the 804th
      Hospital Center that relieved the shortfall of registered nurses in the United
      States Army Reserve in New England.

PMID- 1454200
TI  - High-grade immature teratoma of the testis in infancy.
AB  - Teratomas of the testis in infants are rare tumors which often display immature
      elements, disturbing in their histologic appearance. Although the presence of
      similar histologic features worsens prognosis in testicular teratomas in adults
      and in teratomas of infants and children presenting at other anatomic sites, the
      presence of immature elements in testicular teratomas of infancy does not appear
      to affect prognosis. Therefore, orchiectomy alone is adequate therapy for these
      neoplasms. The case of an 8-month-old infant with a teratoma of testis is
      presented.

PMID- 1454201
TI  - Acute trauma and hypnosis.
AB  - Hypnosis is a valuable adjunct to the management of acute trauma. This is a case
      presentation of the management of severe burn injuries after fire and explosion
      on a United States Navy vessel. Hypnosis was used to calm one patient and
      facilitate intubation. Further suggestions of rapid healing and anxiety control
      were given. Hypnosis is not only helpful for management, but can be used to
      decrease the perceived severity of the incident. Patient well-being may also
      prevent sequelae of stress.

PMID- 1454202
TI  - Distribution of 5-HT1 binding sites in cat spinal cord.
AB  - Quantitative analysis of high affinity [3H]5-HT binding to 5-HT1 receptors in the
      cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spinal cord of the cat revealed specific
      binding throughout the grey matter, with the highest levels of binding in laminae
      II and III, and the lowest levels in laminae I and VII. Relatively high levels
      were also observed in the thoracic intermediolateral cell column. There were no
      significant differences in the degree of binding between various segmental
      levels. Comparison of these data with published maps of 5-HT immunoreactivity
      reveals--with the exception of lamina I--a close correspondence between the
      degree of immunoreactivity and the degree of 5-HT binding. These results suggest
      that 5-HT plays an important role in a variety of spinal cord sensory, motor and
      autonomic functions.

PMID- 1454203
TI  - L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine enhanced ocular dominance plasticity in adult
      cats.
AB  - We studied whether ocular dominance plasticity can be restored to the aplastic
      visual cortex of the adult cat by peripheral administration of L-threo-3,4
      dihydroxyphenylserine (L-threo-DOPS), an exogenous precursor of L-noradrenaline
      (NA). We found that NA output in the visuocortical dialysate was significantly
      increased by a single administration of L-threo-DOPS (200 mg or 1 g, i.p.).
      Single unit recordings revealed a significant reduction of binocular cells
      (binocularity = 0.30) in juvenile cats (7-8 months of age) that had been
      monocularly deprived for one month in combination with L-threo-DOPS (200 mg/day,
      per os). These results suggest that peripheral administration of L-threo-DOPS
      enhances ocular dominance plasticity, presumably through activation of the
      central noradrenergic system.

PMID- 1454204
TI  - Pyruvate dehydrogenase dephosphorylation in rat brain synaptosomes and
      mitochondria: evidence for a calcium-mediated effect in response to
      depolarization, and variations due to ageing.
AB  - The phosphorylation state of P42, the phosphorylated, catalytically inactive,
      alpha-subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), decreased markedly (42.4%) in
      response to K(+)-depolarization of synaptosomes. The dephosphorylation was rapid
      (5-15 s), calcium-dependent and could also be observed in isolated mitochondria
      exposed to a rise in extramitochondrial calcium, suggesting that P42
      dephosphorylation may act as a calcium sensor in the mitochondrial matrix. The
      depolarization-dependent dephosphorylation rate of P42 was decreased in
      synaptosomes derived from 24-month-old animals with respect to 3-month-old
      adults. The relevance of these results in terms of PDH activation during ageing
      is discussed.

PMID- 1454205
TI  - Reduced and oxidized glutathione in the substantia nigra of patients with
      Parkinson's disease.
AB  - Reduced and oxidized glutathione concentrations in post-mortem brain tissue from
      the substantia nigra of control subjects and patients with neuropathologically
      confirmed Parkinson's disease were measured by a coulometric method using high
      pressure liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection. Reduced glutathione
      concentrations were decreased in the substantia nigra of parkinsonian patients
      compared with controls. Differences in the concentration of oxidized glutathione
      and in the percentage of oxidized glutathione of the total glutathione were not
      observed between parkinsonian and control subjects. The finding that oxidized
      glutathione is not decreased in Parkinson's disease suggests that the decrease in
      reduced glutathione is not exclusively the consequence of neuronal loss in the
      substantia nigra but may indicate a state of oxidative stress.

PMID- 1454206
TI  - Soybean agglutinin binds commonly to a subpopulation of small-diameter neurons in
      dorsal root ganglion, vascular endothelium and microglia in human spinal cord.
AB  - Soybean agglutinin (SBA) was used to identify the location of N
      acetylgalactosaminyl glycoconjugates in human dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and
      spinal cord. SBA bound to a subpopulation of small-diameter neurons in DRG and
      their central projections. It also bound to microglia and vascular endothelium.
      Vascular endothelium, DRG neurons and microglia do not originate from the neural
      tube, but penetrate into the neural tube in the embryonic stage and thereafter
      are located in the spinal cord. SBA binding glycoconjugates may be responsible
      for cell-cell interaction between these three cell types and tissues in human
      spinal cord.

PMID- 1454207
TI  - Nuclear localization of estrogen receptor-immunoreactivity in the preoptic area
      of female rats and its reduction by intraventricular colchicine treatment.
AB  - The subcellular localization of estrogen receptor (ER) was investigated in the
      preoptic area of ovariectomized female rats by electron microscopic
      immunohistochemistry, using a monoclonal antibody to ER. ER-immunoreactivity was
      localized in the nuclei of neurons of the periventricular preoptic nucleus (Pe)
      and the medial preoptic area (MPA). ER-immunoreactivity had a speckled pattern in
      the nucleus, but was not observed in the nucleolus or cytoplasm. After
      intraventricular colchicine treatment, ER-immunoreactivity within the nucleus was
      reduced drastically in neurons of the Pe and the MPA. The possible mechanism by
      which colchicine alters ER-immunoreactivity is mentioned.

PMID- 1454208
TI  - Late appearance of parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons in the rodent cerebral
      cortex does not follow an 'inside-out' sequence.
AB  - Parvalbumin (PARV), a Ca(2+)-binding protein believed to play a role in neuronal
      excitability, is contained in certain GABAergic inhibitory neurons of the
      cerebral cortex. Here we report that expression of PARV in the developing
      neocortex of rats and mice occurs with a sequence which does not follow the usual
      'inside-out' gradient of cortical development. Thus, PARV-immunoreactive neurons
      appear first in layer V and only thereafter in the remaining cortical layers. An
      adult-like pattern of immunoreactivity is reached simultaneously in layers II-III
      and VIb. These observations indicate that the mechanisms regulating the
      functional maturation of PARV-containing inhibitory neurons are different from
      those that generally govern developmental processes in the cortex.

PMID- 1454209
TI  - Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis does not reduce infarct volume in a rat
      model of focal cerebral ischaemia.
AB  - The effect of the nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibitor Ng-nitro-L-arginine
      methylester (L-NAME) on ischaemic brain damage was determined in a rat model of
      focal cerebral ischaemia. Ischaemia was induced by permanent occlusion of the
      left middle cerebral artery (MCA) and infarction assessed 4 h post-occlusion by
      quantitative histopathology. L-NAME (30 mg/kg s.c.), administered 30 min pre- and
      30 min post-MCA occlusion, did not significantly alter the volume of ischaemic
      damage in the cerebral hemisphere, neocortex or caudate nucleus compared with
      saline controls. This result provides no support for the view that NO generation
      is a key component in the post-ischaemic cascade leading to acute neuronal death.

PMID- 1454210
TI  - Central 6-hydroxydopamine lesions decrease mineralocorticoid, but not
      glucocorticoid receptor gene expression in the rat hippocampus.
AB  - The role of hippocampal noradrenergic inputs in the modulation of corticosteroid
      receptor expression has been investigated. Adult male rats were given central 6
      hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and the expression of hippocampal mineralocorticoid (MR)
      and glucocorticoid (GR) receptor mRNA was examined after two weeks by in situ
      hybridization histochemistry. Expression of MR mRNA was significantly decreased
      in all subregions of the hippocampus except CA2, but 6-OHDA lesions had no effect
      on GR mRNA expression. These data reveal differential regulation of the two
      receptor types by noradrenergic inputs.

PMID- 1454211
TI  - Evidence for sex steroid receptors in feline brainstem.
AB  - Specific binding sites for estrogens, androgens, and progestins were found in
      cytosol from perfused cat brainstem with the use of a steroid binding assay.
      These sites resemble 'classical' steroid receptors in ligand specificity as well
      as in sedimentation properties (sedimentation constant 8-10S on sucrose density
      gradient). The presence of estrogen receptor in brainstem extracts was also
      confirmed by an enzyme immunoassay employing monoclonal antibodies directed
      against human estrogen receptor. This finding may be relevant to known influences
      of sex steroids on respiration.

PMID- 1454212
TI  - Absence of a daily neuronal rhythm in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of acircadian
      Djungarian hamsters.
AB  - The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) in mammals generate and maintain a variety of
      daily rhythms. In nocturnally active rodents, SCN electrical activity is high
      during the subjective day (that time of locomotor inactivity) and low during the
      subjective night. The present experiment examines the relationship between SCN
      neuronal activity and the expression of overt circadian behavior in the
      Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus). Wheel-running locomotor activity was
      measured in 2 groups of hamsters housed in constant dark (DD). Twelve hamsters,
      selected from ongoing experiments in our laboratory, showed no overt circadian
      rhythm in locomotor activity. A second group of 9 control animals exhibited
      rhythmic wheel-running activity in DD. In contrast to control animals, in vitro
      SCN electrical activity in brain slices prepared from acircadian hamsters showed
      no circadian variation. These data indicate that in acircadian animals SCN
      electrical activity properly reflects behavioral patterns.

PMID- 1454213
TI  - The stability of human eye orientation during visual fixation.
AB  - Using the magnetic search coil technique, gaze stability in the horizontal,
      vertical and torsional planes was measured binocularly in human subjects during
      visual fixation. Horizontal and vertical eye rotations exhibited a mixture of
      slow drifts and resetting microsaccades yielding an average standard deviation of
      0.11 and 0.10 deg, respectively. In contrast, torsional rotations showed
      unsystematic smooth drifts with fewer saccades yielding an average standard
      deviation of 0.18 deg. The lower precision of gaze control in the torsional plane
      may reflect (i) a discrepancy between the encoding of retinal images in two
      dimensions but of ocular motor control signals in three dimensions, and (ii) the
      visual consequences of ocular drifts in the torsional plane, which differ from
      those in the horizontal and vertical planes.

PMID- 1454214
TI  - Thermal sensitivity and effect of temperature acclimation on ocular serotonin N
      acetyltransferase activity in Rana perezi.
AB  - The thermal sensitivity and the response to thermal acclimation of the serotonin
      N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity in frog ocular tissue were studied. The ocular
      NAT shows a positive thermal modulation for both cosubstrates (tryptamine and
      acetyl-CoA). The higher NAT activity in the cold-acclimated group (4 degrees C)
      with respect to the warm-acclimated one (24 degrees C) implies a partial thermal
      compensation of the enzyme. The present results suggest that frog ocular NAT
      response to temperature entails a modulation of thermal sensitivity of the enzyme
      rather than changes in enzyme concentration.

PMID- 1454215
TI  - Modifications of ependymal cells membranes by galactocerebrosides in cell
      culture.
AB  - In this paper we have demonstrated that treatment of ependymal cells in culture
      by galactocerebrosides induced a decrease in plasma membrane fluidity and an
      increase of EGF binding sites. We have shown in a previous work that
      galactocerebroside in vitro and in vivo caused an important morphological change
      in ependymal cells that grew into an astrocytic shape after a five day treatment.
      We discuss the hypothesis that the first event in morphological effect could be a
      modification of plasma membrane followed by important changes in molecules
      distribution.

PMID- 1454216
TI  - Effects of thiorphan, bestatin and a novel metallopeptidase inhibitor JMV 390-1
      on the recovery of neurotensin and neuromedin N released from mouse hypothalamus.
AB  - The effects of the endopeptidase 24.11 ('enkephalinase') inhibitor thiorphan, the
      aminopeptidase inhibitor bestatin and a novel metallopeptidase inhibitor JMV 390
      1 on the K(+)-evoked release of immunoreactive neurotensin and neuromedin N (iNT
      and iNN) from mouse hypothalamic slices were examined. (JMV 390-1 inhibits
      several metallopeptidases including endopeptidases 24.11, 24.15 and 24.16, and
      aminopeptidase N equipotently with Ki values around 50 nM.) Thiorphan increased
      the recovery of released iNT nearly 2-fold and had no effect on iNN. Bestatin
      produced a 4-fold increase in iNN recovery and was inactive on iNT. Finally, iNT
      and iNN recoveries were increased up to 4- and 5-fold, respectively, by JMV 390
      1. These results show that in the mouse hypothalamus endopeptidase 24.11
      participates with other metalloendopeptidases to the degradation of endogenously
      released NT while endogenously released NN is principally degraded by
      aminopeptidase(s).

PMID- 1454217
TI  - Potentiation of spontaneous synaptic activity in rat mossy cells.
AB  - Recent studies have demonstrated the vulnerability of dentate mossy cells to
      seizure-induced damage. One source of potentially damaging synaptic input are
      spontaneously active granule cell terminals ('mossy terminals'.) We sought to
      test whether there were activity-dependent changes in the spontaneous excitatory
      input to mossy cells. Using the in vitro slice preparation, we examined the
      frequency and amplitude of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs)
      after intracellular current injection designed to mimic the extreme
      depolarization these neurons receive during repetitive afferent stimulation. In 4
      of 7 neurons, depolarization with trains of current pulses resulted in a
      significant and persistent increase in frequency of spontaneous synaptic
      depolarizations (to an average of 178% of the initial baseline rate). In 3 of
      these affected neurons, an increased frequency of large amplitude, fast-rising
      EPSPs accounted for the majority of this change. Injection of hyperpolarizing
      current pulses failed to alter spontaneous activity in 3 other mossy cells. These
      results suggest spontaneous synaptic input to mossy cells in plastic and can be
      potentiated by depolarization of a single postsynaptic mossy cell. The ability of
      mossy cells to potentiate their excitatory input may be relevant to their
      vulnerability to excitotoxic injury during repetitive afferent stimulation.

PMID- 1454218
TI  - Delayed increase of extracellular arginine, the nitric oxide precursor, following
      electrical white matter stimulation in rat cerebellar slices.
AB  - Amino acid levels were measured in perfusates from biplanar slices of rat
      cerebellum installed in a Krebs-filled three-compartment chamber. The two lateral
      compartments housed the white matter and a section containing parallel fibres
      respectively. The central compartment housed cortical structures, including the
      Purkinje cell and granule cell bodies. This arrangement allows selective
      electrical stimulation of the parallel fibre or mossy fibre pathways, recording
      of the evoked responses to such stimulation and collection of the perfusion
      medium passing through the central chamber for amino acid analysis using high
      pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Both, 2-Hz and 5-Hz stimulation of white
      matter caused a delayed increase in arginine levels in the perfusate. Since L
      arginine is the physiological precursor of nitric oxide, a neuronal messenger in
      the brain, the data suggest that physiological stimuli can result in the release
      of this precursor, possibly to supply the nitric oxide synthase.

PMID- 1454219
TI  - Polyamine-sensitive binding of [125I]ifenprodil in washed, frozen-thawed synaptic
      membranes: evidence for high affinity binding requiring an open NMDA channel.
AB  - Binding of [125I]-labelled ifenprodil, a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate
      (NMDA) antagonist acting at the polyamine domain, was studied in washed, frozen
      thawed synaptic membranes. Under these conditions where the NMDA channel is
      essentially in a closed channel state and in the presence of GBR 12909,
      [125I]ifenprodil binding was rapid, reversible, stereospecific, saturable and to
      a single population of sites (Kd 76 microM, Bmax 140 nmol/mg protein). Binding
      was inhibited by spermine, spermidine and ifenprodil congeners. These
      characteristics differed from those found in fresh membranes (open channel
      state), with ifenprodil congeners being less potent and potencies of polyamines
      being unchanged. These data suggest independent, but interacting sites for
      polyamines and ifenprodil congeners, the latter sensitive to endogenous
      modulators, labelled by [125I]ifenprodil and probably not NMDA-linked. High
      affinity binding of ifenprodil congeners seems likely to require an open
      ('activated') NMDA channel.

PMID- 1454220
TI  - Localization of dopamine D2 receptor mRNA with non-radioactive in situ
      hybridization histochemistry.
AB  - A digoxigenin-labeled antisense 42-mer oligonucleotide was used for the
      localization of the dopamine D2 receptor mRNA in the rat brain. The digoxigenin
      label was identified with alkaline phosphatase conjugated sheep-anti-digoxigenin.
      In good analogy with the known terminal fields of the dopaminergic system,
      various nuclei throughout the brain were labeled. Positive in situ hybridization
      signals were also found in dopamine cell groups of the substantia nigra and
      ventral tegmental area and in regions where a dopaminergic innervation is
      controversial, like the cerebellar cortex and the hippocampus. The non
      radioactive in situ hybridization procedure described, shows the localization of
      the dopamine D2 receptor mRNA with a very high contrast and an optimal
      histological resolution.

PMID- 1454221
TI  - Bilateral destruction of neocortical and perirhinal projection targets of the
      acoustic thalamus does not disrupt auditory fear conditioning.
AB  - The present study examined whether complete bilateral destruction of auditory
      cortex would interfere with auditory fear conditioning in rats. Complete
      destruction of auditory cortex required lesions of temporal neocortical and
      perirhinal periallocortical areas. Fear conditioning was assessed by measuring
      freezing and arterial pressure responses elicited by an acoustic stimulus after
      pairing with footshock. Animals with complete bilateral lesions of auditory
      cortex showed conditioned arterial pressure and freezing responses comparable to
      those of unoperated controls. In contrast, bilateral destruction of the acoustic
      thalamus interfered with the conditioning of both responses. These results
      demonstrate that the auditory cortex is not required for the conditioning of fear
      responses to simple acoustic stimuli and add to the growing body of evidence that
      fear conditioning can be mediated by subcortical (amygdaloid) projections of the
      acoustic thalamus.

PMID- 1454222
TI  - Origin of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons in the chick
      embryo: effect of the olfactory placode ablation.
AB  - A unilateral olfactory placodectomy resulted in the absence of luteinizing
      hormone-releasing hormone-immunoreactive (LHRH-ir) cells in the olfactory
      forebrain axis of the operated side, whereas the development of the LHRH neuronal
      system was not disturbed on the unoperated side. In the embryos in which a
      fragment of the medial olfactory epithelium was spared the damage, a small number
      of LHRH-ir cells were detected in the nasal region of the operated side, where
      the lack of the central projection of the olfactory nerve caused stagnation of
      LHRH-ir cells, no ir-cells being found in the brain area. These results suggest
      that LHRH neurons originate in the olfactory placode and then migrate into the
      forebrain along the olfactory nerve.

PMID- 1454223
TI  - Cholinergic fiber loss occurs in the absence of synaptophysin depletion in
      Alzheimer's disease primary visual cortex.
AB  - The significance of cholinergic degeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) depends,
      in part, on whether it is an early event, possibly integral to the progression of
      the disease, or a late event, occurring only as a secondary effect of cortical
      degeneration. We have been studying the primary visual cortex in AD cases, on the
      assumption that the disease process may be retarded in this relatively-spared
      area, thus providing a 'window' on early AD. In this work, we have quantified
      acetylcholinesterase fiber density and the density of an immunohistochemical
      reaction for synaptophysin as measures of cholinergic and total synaptic loss,
      respectively, in the primary visual cortex of AD and control cases. Cholinergic
      fibers were depleted to 15% of control values, while synaptophysin density was
      not significantly altered. Cholinergic degeneration thus appears to occur in the
      absence of generalized synaptic loss in this area.

PMID- 1454224
TI  - Evidence for increased calcium influx across the choroid plexus following brief
      ischemia of gerbil brain.
AB  - Following 5 min ischemia of gerbil brain, unidirectional transfer of calcium from
      plasma to cerebrospinal fluid was measured quantitatively with 45CaCl2 at 4 days
      postischemic recirculation. 45Ca influx across the choroid plexus increased
      significantly from 0.0101 +/- 0.001 min-1 measured in sham-operated animals (n =
      15) to 0.0294 +/- 0.002 min-1 determined in ischemic animals (n = 21; P less than
      0.05). Histological examination of choroid plexus was carried out in Cresyl
      violet-stained sections from gerbils subjected to 5 min ischemia followed by 4
      days (n = 6) and 7 days (n = 7) postischemic recirculation. Increased calcium
      transfer to cerebrospinal fluid was associated with cell damage of choroid plexus
      observed at 4 days postischemia. Endothelial choroid plexus injury was still
      detectable at 7 days after the ischemic insult suggesting a long-lasting
      pathomorphological process. Postischemic alterations in choroid plexus functions
      apparently expose brain tissue to much higher calcium influx into cerebrospinal
      fluid which, in turn, may contribute to calcium-related cell damage of the
      central nervous system.

PMID- 1454225
TI  - The old system of academia is toppling.

PMID- 1454226
TI  - Neonatal NP graduate education.

PMID- 1454227
TI  - Letter to Dr. Louis Sullivan: "my husband Ed retired from the N.Y. telephone
      company. I am a retired public health nurse".

PMID- 1454228
TI  - Red ribbons: verity or vogue?

PMID- 1454229
TI  - From anxiety to action: facilitating faculty development during curriculum
      change.
AB  - Nurse educators, both as individuals and as faculty collectively, have recognized
      the need for change. But as anyone with a basic knowledge of change theory knows,
      change is usually accompanied by varying degrees of resistance.

PMID- 1454230
TI  - A new age ISM: beyond a toxic apple.
AB  - Munhall argues for a synthesis and respect for various educational pedagogues,
      acknowledging the core values and beliefs about education that reflect our
      infinite variety. The article abandons the myth of the handsome prince and is the
      second of a trilogy on apples.

PMID- 1454231
TI  - Using qualitative methods in teaching undergraduate students research.

PMID- 1454232
TI  - Voting the RN ticket.

PMID- 1454233
TI  - AIDS agenda advanced.

PMID- 1454235
TI  - Medical book collecting: a retrospect and a forecast.
AB  - Medical book collecting and historical research are complementary pursuits. The
      author summarizes the contributions of bibliophiles who used their collections as
      a source of inspiration for historical studies and addresses the challenges
      confronting medical book collectors.

PMID- 1454236
TI  - Heirs of Osler: medical bibliophiles in America.
AB  - An heir is one who appears to acquire a trait from a predecessor or carries on
      his tradition. The author presents details about the great bibliophiles who
      received their stimulus from William Osler, his associates, or his writings.
      William Osler influenced the formation of private libraries in the United States.

PMID- 1454234
TI  - The legacy of New Jersey physician book collectors.
AB  - This article offers a brief history of the development of New Jersey's major
      history of medicine collection, and an overview of selected resources currently
      available to researchers. Old and rare medical books now are available to a new
      generation of physicians and scholars.

PMID- 1454237
TI  - CLIA-88 final rule: Part 3.
AB  - Physicians performing laboratory tests must have a registration certificate as of
      September 1, 1992. To continue testing without this certificate could lead to
      large fines and possible prosecution. This article covers quality assurance,
      quality control, and maintenance of instruments.

PMID- 1454238
TI  - Case report: malignant mesenchymoma of the mediastinum.
AB  - Malignant mesenchymoma is a malignant tumor arising in the soft tissues of the
      body. It is a rapidly growing tumor prone to recurrences and occasional
      metastasis. It occurs at all ages and locations but has a preference for the
      extremities and the retroperitoneum.

PMID- 1454239
TI  - Profiles in medicine: tribute to Oscar Auerbach, MD.
AB  - He is prepared to lecture on lung pathology. Instead, Dr. Oscar Auerbach
      discusses the role of the physician in society and what tremendous contributions
      each student has the potential to make. This speech re-energizes second-year
      medical students every year.

PMID- 1454240
TI  - Challenges for teachers of women's health.
AB  - Until recently, nursing literature had not addressed feminist issues and nurse
      educators have had little experience in programs of women's studies. The author
      discusses some implications for nurse educators as they relate to the new
      scholarship of women and a new consciousness of women's health. Factors
      contributing to the need for particular ways of teaching when dealing with women
      as students and with women's health experiences as subject matter are addressed.
      Using specific examples from her experience in teaching an open enrollment course
      in women's health, the author describes the use of some feminist pedagogical
      approaches and the students' response to them.

PMID- 1454241
TI  - Clinical case studies: a strategy for teaching leadership and management.
AB  - In the realities of clinical practice, BSN students are expected to demonstrate
      both clinical and managerial skills. Presenting leadership and management content
      through the use of complex patient situations in a clinical case study approach
      can assist in preparing them. This approach demonstrates to students that
      leadership and management is an integral part of professional practice.

PMID- 1454242
TI  - Public schools as a clinical setting for RN students.
AB  - The challenge to select meaningful clinical sites for RN students is a problem
      for educators. The significance of the public schools as an initial clinical
      site, the contribution of RNs to school health programs, student responses, and
      adaptations to the school setting are presented. Outcomes of the experience will
      interest nurse educators attempting to provide a professional education for RN to
      BSN students and provide a service to the community.

PMID- 1454243
TI  - Faculty support for gay and lesbian nursing students.
AB  - Gay and lesbian nursing students seem to be invisible. Because the color of their
      skin does not reveal their minority status, the decision whether to "come out of
      the closet" is a choice that must be remade-renegotiated-every day of the
      students' lives. Nursing faculty can play a pivotal role in supporting these
      students by their attitudes and activism.

PMID- 1454244
TI  - Students attend nurses association convention for college credit.
AB  - The author describes a college course that facilitates student attendance at the
      Iowa Nurses' Association (INA) convention and promotes observation of nurse
      leaders as they consider nursing and political issues. Using the guidelines in
      this article, nursing faculty can develop a similar course in their institutions
      and generate student interest in the activities of the state professional
      associations.

PMID- 1454245
TI  - Reciprocal learning among students in the clinical area.
AB  - Reciprocal learning is a cooperative, collegial method in which there is
      mutuality of student to student or student to faculty interaction, assistance,
      and benefits. This teaching method is congruent with curriculum revolution
      concepts. The authors describe reciprocal learning and provide an example of its
      application in the clinical area. Guidelines for implementation of the strategy
      are presented.

PMID- 1454246
TI  - A domino pharmacology review game.

PMID- 1454247
TI  - The teacher crisis in nursing education--revisited.
AB  - The nationwide shortage of teachers is severely and negatively impacting nursing.
      Many qualified applicants are being rejected by nursing schools, yet the quality
      of programs is jeopardized when faculty are hired with limited teaching
      experience and little, if any, formal education as teachers. The author reviews
      the development and status of graduate nursing education for teachers, documents
      strong arguments for increasing the number of graduate programs to prepare more
      teachers of nursing, and raises important questions about teacher education.

PMID- 1454248
TI  - Discomfort after peer administered injections in an on-campus laboratory.

PMID- 1454249
TI  - Leadership: a shifting paradigm.

PMID- 1454250
TI  - Three games for classroom instruction.
AB  - This article outlines three games appropriate for the education of student
      nurses. "Categories" is a question-answer type of bowl game. Team players earn
      points by correctly answering questions in selected areas of nursing content. "A
      Piece of the Pie" is a variation of a popular board game. Players fill in game
      "pies" which represent selected areas of nursing content by correctly answering
      questions. "Outburst" is a game consisting of two teams who accumulate a score by
      shouting out, in turn, items that they believe would be included under a topic
      heading.

PMID- 1454251
TI  - The doctor was Jekyll one minute, Hyde the next.

PMID- 1454252
TI  - When Mom goes back to school.

PMID- 1454253
TI  - A day of Thanksgiving.

PMID- 1454254
TI  - Evaluating A.S.T. and A.L.T.

PMID- 1454255
TI  - Examining the new O.S.H.A. regulation.

PMID- 1454256
TI  - A hand to hold.

PMID- 1454257
TI  - Watch your language.

PMID- 1454258
TI  - Recognizing neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

PMID- 1454259
TI  - Oral hypoglycemics: what you and your patient need to know.

PMID- 1454260
TI  - What you need to know about insulin injections.

PMID- 1454261
TI  - Billy wouldn't budge ... until the hard truth hit him.

PMID- 1454262
TI  - Caught in the cross fire.

PMID- 1454263
TI  - Heading off sudden cardiac death.

PMID- 1454264
TI  - Close-up on calcaneal fracture.

PMID- 1454265
TI  - Identifying the skin manifestations of H.I.V.

PMID- 1454267
TI  - Around the clock blood pressure monitoring: how to get good results.

PMID- 1454266
TI  - What to do when a patient becomes too special.

PMID- 1454268
TI  - A lethal injection: who's responsible?

PMID- 1454269
TI  - Epoetin alfa for renal and H.I.V.-positive patients.

PMID- 1454270
TI  - The performing art of nursing.

PMID- 1454271
TI  - The distinctiveness of nursing knowledge.

PMID- 1454272
TI  - Research methodology and nursing science.

PMID- 1454273
TI  - Is nursing pot-bound?

PMID- 1454274
TI  - Disciplinary perspective: unified or diverse?

PMID- 1454275
TI  - The nature of scientific truth.
AB  - The purpose of this article is to share with the readers the authors' views on
      the need for a philosophical foundation in nursing scholarship. The philosophical
      premises of realism, idealism, and empiricism are discussed. In addition, the
      research methods most appropriately used with each philosophical stance are
      identified and discussed. The authors strongly suggest that nursing epistemology
      will not advance along the lines of good science until all nursing theorists,
      thinkers, and philosophers identify their underpinning philosophical positions
      prior to the discovery of theory, through research and other scientific
      endeavors. A nursing science fiction account of discovery and theory is used to
      illustrate the points made within the article.

PMID- 1454276
TI  - Concepts from eastern philosophy and Rogers' Science of Unitary Human Beings.
AB  - A brief outline of Buddhist thought is presented. Four concepts from early Indian
      philosophy which contributed to the development of the middle way consequence
      (Madhyamika Prasangika) school of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy are discussed.
      These are: action (karma), direct perception, emptiness, and dependent arising.
      An overview of Martha Rogers' science of unitary human beings is given, followed
      by a discussion of the concepts of energy field and integrality within her
      worldview. Buddhist concepts of action, direct valid perception, and emptiness
      are considered in relation to Rogers' notion of energy field; the concept of
      dependent arising is compared to Rogers' principle of integrality. It is proposed
      that Rogers' worldview includes areas of similarity with concepts used in Tibetan
      Buddhist philosophy.

PMID- 1454277
TI  - The meaning of being an elder in Nepal.
AB  - The purpose of this qualitative descriptive research study was to explore the
      meaning of being an elder in Nepal. The nurse researcher, accompanied by an
      interpreter, travelled to six villages east and west of Kathmandu Valley to speak
      with 25 individuals about their experiences in later life. Questions structured
      within Parse's theoretical perspective guided discussions to uncover older
      persons' views of aging, their relationships with others, and the changes and
      hopes of daily life. Findings revealed that the meaning of being an elder in
      Nepal is "cherishing necessities for survival intermingles with the rapture of
      celebration with important others, as diminishing familiar patterns expand
      moments of respite, while regard from others affirms self, and changing customs
      create comfort-discomfort as what-was unfolds into new possibles." Findings were
      congruent with Parse's theoretical concepts of valuing, enabling-limiting, and
      transforming. This study supported Parse's theory as a valuable guide for human
      inquiry and expanded the body of nursing knowledge on aging. Specific guidelines
      for practice and research are proposed.

PMID- 1454278
TI  - Nursing theory: the 21st century.
AB  - On September 21, 1990, at the University of California, Los Angeles,
      Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital, six nurse theorists participated in a
      panel discussion on theory development for the 21st century. The theorists
      included Dorothy Johnson, Betty Neuman, Dorothea E. Orem, Rosemarie Rizzo Parse,
      Martha E. Rogers and Callista Roy. The panel provided the participants the
      opportunity to speculate on the course for future development of nursing
      knowledge. Three questions were posed to the panel relating to the development of
      their models, the direction nursing theory will take in the 21st century, and
      current research emerging from the extant theories. The panel also addressed
      questions from the audience.

PMID- 1454279
TI  - Elements of transcultural and translinguistic research: a personal experience.
AB  - Prior to undertaking the exploration of phenomena in a research study with people
      from different cultures, certain elements must be addressed in order to bridge
      cultural and linguistic differences. In this article, the authors explore some of
      these elements, with specific reference to personal experiences in a research
      study done in Italy, the results of which will not be presented here. Elements
      discussed include: transcultural/translinguistic literature review, protection of
      human subjects, translinguistics, maintaining necessary and appropriate contact
      with persons at the research site, presentation of research to participants,
      structuring interviews, and post-session amenities.

PMID- 1454280
TI  - DSSNY prepares to celebrate children's dental health month.

PMID- 1454281
TI  - DSSNY makes case against utilization letters.

PMID- 1454282
TI  - The TMPDS personality: fact or fiction? An overview.
AB  - It is widely accepted that abnormal personality traits and psychological stress
      are important factors in the etiology and maintenance of the temporomandibular
      pain and dysfunction syndrome (TMPDS). However, this assumption is based largely
      on clinical lore rather than research evidence. Continued belief in the stress
      theory has onerous implications. Such conclusions will lead not only to problems
      of patient care, but may also forge an unstable foundation for future research.
      Three theories have been advanced that support a relationship between personality
      and TMPDS. They are the psychosomatic, coping and psychophysiological theories.
      But evidence in support of all three theories is currently lacking. It has not
      been shown that TMPDS cases are characterized by a specific premorbid personality
      or an exaggerated vulnerability to psychological stress.

PMID- 1454283
TI  - Geographic tongue. A case report.

PMID- 1454284
TI  - Minor salivary gland sialolithiasis. Review and case report.

PMID- 1454285
TI  - Conservative partial maxillectomy for large odontogenic keratocyst.

PMID- 1454286
TI  - Columbia School of Dental and Oral Surgery. A 75-year influence on dental
      education.

PMID- 1454287
TI  - Iconodontalgia.

PMID- 1454288
TI  - No more discounts.

PMID- 1454289
TI  - Relapse! Predictable, preventable and salvageable.

PMID- 1454291
TI  - [The development of diploid parthenogenetic mouse embryos of the inbred C57BL and
      CBA strains].
AB  - We studied preimplantation development in vitro and postimplantation development
      in vivo of diploid parthenogenetic mouse embryos of C57BL/6 and CBA strains, as
      well as of (CBA x C57BL/6)F1 hybrids. Development to blastocyst stage of diploid
      eggs obtained from C57BL/6, CBA, and hybrid mice was observed in 90, 15, and 73%
      cases, respectively. After implantation, C57BL/6 embryos did not develop to
      somite stages, while CBA and hybrid embryos reached various stages of somite
      formation in 45 and 30% cases, respectively. Cultivation of embryos beginning
      from one-cell stage in the medium containing 2% newborn calf serum increased the
      yield of blastocysts from 15 to 59% in CBA embryos and from 73 to 90% in hybrids;
      However, such effect was not observed with C57BL/6 embryos. The latest stages of
      development observed in CBA and hybrid diploid parthenogenetic embryos were 33-35
      somites and 25-30 somites, respectively. Imprinting patterns in chromosomes of
      CBA and C57BL/6 gametes are discussed.

PMID- 1454290
TI  - [The "major" proteins of the human myocardium in ontogeny].
AB  - Two-dimensional electrophoresis according to O'Farrell was used for studying
      changes in the content of major proteins of human myocardium at various stages of
      pre- and postnatal development. On the basis of the protein pattern specific of
      certain stages of myocardium differentiation the degree of development of the
      human cardiac muscle can be determined. The most pronounced changes in myocardium
      protein spectra are characteristic of the first half of pregnancy.

PMID- 1454293
TI  - [The testosterone level in the testes of silver foxes during prenatal
      development].
AB  - The level of testosterone in serum and testes of the silver fox fetuses on days
      31, 35, 40, 45, and 50 of gestation was determined using radioimmunoassay. In
      testes, testosterone was first detected at day 31; then its level gradually
      increased. Serum testosterone was detected only at day 40. Subsequent increase in
      its concentration was insignificant. Human chorionic gonadotropin stimulated
      testicular testosterone production in vitro beginning from day 40. We suggest
      that in the silver fox, testes are capable of responding to gonadotropins already
      by the day 40 of prenatal development but the formation of pituitary-gonadal axis
      proceeds until the end of embryogenesis.

PMID- 1454292
TI  - [The assessment of the level of genetic damages accumulated with age and induced
      in liver cells by the micronucleus production].
AB  - Latent genetic disturbances in aging liver cells can be registered during
      interphase by the appearance of micronuclei resulting from certain chromosomal
      aberrations. Micronuclei were also detected in postmitotic hepatocytes of mouse
      liver regenerating after partial resection of CCl4 poisoning. In 1.5- and 2-month
      old mice, the proportion of micronuclei-containing cells was on average 0.59 and
      0.89%, respectively. At the age of 4 and 7 months, the proportion of aberrant
      cells in hepatocyte population, including cells containing multiple micronuclei,
      increased to 5.93 and 11.7%, respectively. In order to evaluate parameters used
      to characterize "spontaneous" aging, experiments were performed in which genetic
      disturbances were induced by x-irradiation or treatment with dipin, an alkylating
      agent (individually or in combination); the effect was determined one and two
      months after the treatment. The yield of micronuclei under the conditions of a
      mild treatment (irradiation at a dose of 0.7 and 1.4 Gr or dipin at a dose of 30
      mg/kg body weight) was similar to that observed during aging. The possible
      reasons for the increased (as compared to the published data) rate of genetic
      disturbances in arbitrary intact animals are discussed.

PMID- 1454294
TI  - [The distribution and relation to the cytoskeleton of specific prosomal proteins
      in the oogenesis of the clawed toad].
AB  - Using immunoblotting and immunofluorescent microscopy, we showed the presence in
      Xenopus laevis oocytes of two prosomal proteins (27 and 31-33 kDa) and studied
      their distribution during oogenesis. In the ooplasm, both proteins are detected
      in prosomal clusters of various size. During previtellogenesis, prosomal proteins
      are diffusely distributed in the nucleoplasm and form evenly distributed clusters
      in the cytoplasm. During oocyte growth, prosomal proteins disappear from the
      nucleus and form animal-vegetal and cortical gradients in the cytoplasm. In the
      course of oocyte maturation prosomal clusters become smaller. After artificial
      activation of the egg, the dorso-ventral gradient of distribution of prosomal
      proteins is observed. Double immunohistochemical labeling revealed morphological
      association between prosomal clusters and fibril-like structures of the oocyte
      containing actin and myosin. The latter are then replaced by diffusely
      distributed actin and myosin. Thus, correlation is observed between localization
      of the acto-myosin complex of the oocyte and that of prosomal proteins.

PMID- 1454295
TI  - [The gametotoxic effect of antenatal exposure to thiotepa in mice].
AB  - ThioTEPA was injected intraperitoneally into female 101/H and CBA mice on day 12
      of pregnancy at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg body weight. As a result, the number of
      prospermatogonia in 19-day-old male fetuses decreased to 78.8% in 101/H mice and
      to 63.7% in CBA mice. The gametotoxic effect on the male offspring (F1) in 101/H
      mice treated with thioTEPH included the significant decrease in the number of
      spermatogonia A, spermatocytes I at preleptotene and pachytene, as well as of
      spermatids at the stage 7 of development. Interstrain differences are described
      in the intensity of spermatogenesis in the mature intact animals and in
      regeneration capacity of gonads after prenatal thioTEPA administration.

PMID- 1454297
TI  - [The centriolar cycle in polykaryons formed in the fusion of heterophasic cells].
AB  - In this work we studied the centriolar cycle in fused cells containing
      heterophasic nuclei. Embryonic pig kidney cells were double-labeled with 3H- and
      14C-thymidine and fused using a PEG-DMSO-serum method (Manandkhar et al., 1991).
      Fused cells containing nuclei at various cell cycle periods were selected after
      embedding in epon on the basis of isotope marking. Ultrastructure of centrioles
      was studied in serial ultrathin sections of selected cells. Centrioles of cells
      fused at different interphase periods showed a tendency to become synchronized in
      a manner similar to that of the nuclei. The G1-cell partners suppressed
      replication of S-centrioles or induced disorientation of centrioles of G2
      diplosomes. In G1-S fused dikaryons, procentriole formation in G1-centrioles was
      not observed. This indicates the absence in the S-cell partner of an excess of a
      factor which could induce replication of the G1-centriole. However, G2-cell
      partner stimulated procentriole formation in G1- or unreplicated early S
      centrioles. Asynchronous replication of G1-, S- and G2- centrioles was observed
      in some G1-S, G1-G2 and S-G2 fused cells. Heterophasic cellular environment
      containing mixed cell cycle factors appears to be responsible for the opposite
      effects on the structure of centrioles. In oocytes or early embryonic cells, due
      to the presence of a large amount of centriolar precursor material, centriolar
      replication cycle can proceed independently of the synthetic activity controlled
      by the nucleus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1454296
TI  - [The formation of oval-cell ducts during hepatic carcinogenesis in mice. Its
      relationship to the pre-existing canals of Hering].
AB  - It has been shown that a population of the oval cells is formed in mouse liver
      during the dipin-induced carcinogenesis (Radaeva, Factor, 1990b). This paper
      deals with the origin of the oval cells and their proliferation potential
      depending on localization in the liver lobule. Series of semithin liver sections
      were studied under the light microscope and detected labeled cells analyzed under
      electron microscope on serial ultrathin sections. We found that proliferation of
      cells of terminal bile ductules (Hering [correction of Gering] canals) takes
      place at the early stages of liver carcinogenesis. These cells and first labeled
      oval cells had similar size and morphology and jointly formed the ducts. Oval
      cell population was heterogeneous in terms of proliferative potential. Proportion
      of proliferating cells (38-45%) in the oval cells of Hering [correction of
      Gering] canals and small ducts surrounding portal tracts remained similar
      throughout the period of formation of the oval cell population. In the oval cells
      infiltrating the parenchyma, the proportion of proliferating cells appeared to
      depend on the intensity of the oval cell response: it attained the maximum (62%)
      on intermediate stage and decreased to the minimum (22%) at the peak of the
      reaction. These data suggest that Hering [correction of Gering] canals probably
      give origin to the ducts formed by oval cells.

PMID- 1454298
TI  - [A phenogenetic analysis of independent and dependent differentiation].

PMID- 1454299
TI  - A corneal topography algorithm that produces continuous curvature.
AB  - A new method is developed for calculating corneal curvature based on the
      reflected image of a series of concentric rings (keratoscopy). Previous methods
      had the drawback that the calculated corneal power was discontinuous in that it
      changed abruptly at each ring. The present method fits the corneal curvature with
      a cubic polynomial and produces a continuous estimate of the local power of the
      cornea. The cubic function also provides a better fit to the corneal curvature
      than previous methods that used a circle to provide the local fit. The full
      computer program for the algorithm is presented. Four different definitions of
      the local dioptric power are discussed.

PMID- 1454300
TI  - Testing hypotheses on dioptric power.
AB  - Transformation of dioptric power from the conventional clinical representation as
      sphere, cylinder, and axis to the vectorial representation known as the vector h
      makes it possible to apply formal multivariate statistical methods to dioptric
      power. Methods are described for testing hypotheses on mean dioptric power and on
      variance-covariance of dioptric power for one and more than one population. A
      number of numerical examples are presented. Attention is drawn to the underlying
      assumption of multivariate normality, to other limitations of the methods, and to
      pitfalls in the use of the methods. Three-dimensional scatter plots, shown by
      means of stereo-pair drawings, are useful for detecting departures from
      normality.

PMID- 1454301
TI  - Quantitative evaluation of the effects of a bicarbonate and glucose-free balanced
      salt solution on rabbit corneal endothelium in vitro.
AB  - Whole corneas from 2- to 2.5-kg albino rabbits were perfused in vitro at 35 to 36
      degrees C with a commercial balanced salt solution (BSS) that lacks bicarbonate
      and glucose. The corneas swelled at an average rate of 45 +/- 11 microns/h.
      Evaluation of the corneal endothelium by scanning electron microscopy revealed no
      obvious cytotoxic effect beyond the occasional small area affected by air bubble
      damage. Morphometric analysis of the central corneal endothelium revealed no
      significant differences between the endothelial mosaic of perfused corneas, when
      compared to freshly fixed corneas, in terms of percentage 6-sided cells
      (pleomorphism) and variance in cell areas (polymegethism). In this example,
      therefore, a corneal swelling induced by a bicarbonate and glucose-free BSS does
      not appear to be due to either obvious endothelial cytotoxic effects or
      significant morphological alteration of the endothelial mosaic.

PMID- 1454302
TI  - Interest of presbyopes in contact lens correction and their success with
      monovision.
AB  - The presbyopic population is seen as a large potential source of contact lens
      wearers. The aims of this study were: (1) to estimate the percentage of
      presbyopes interested in contact lenses, (2) to ascertain the success of
      interested presbyopes with monovision correction, and (3) to determine the
      percentage willing to continue wearing monovision lenses after 1 month's trial.
      Seven practitioners in Sydney surveyed consecutive presbyopes attending their
      practices about their interest in contact lenses. Of the 1133 presbyopes
      surveyed, 314 (28%) were interested in trying monovision lenses. A total of 72
      patients were subsequently fitted with monovision in high water content hydrogel
      form. After 1 month, 46 of these patients (64%) were still wearing the lenses,
      and 39 (54%) expressed willingness to continue with monovision correction. The
      major reasons for discontinuation from lens wear during the 1-month trial were
      inadequate vision and difficulty in lens handling.

PMID- 1454303
TI  - Crystalline lens power in myopia.
AB  - Growth of the eye shows a coordinated pattern whereby the reduction in refractive
      power of the cornea and crystalline lens tends to reduce the myopia that would
      otherwise result from the normal increase in axial length. There is some
      controversy as to whether the reduction in crystalline lens power is influenced
      by the refractive state of the eye, i.e., an active role in the emmetropization
      process, or is simply related to the changing lens dimension occurring with
      growth. We measured ocular dimensions and determined the crystalline lens powers
      in 19 myopes and 19 emmetropic subjects matched for age, gender, and ethnic
      origin. No significant difference was found in corneal radius of curvature for
      the two groups, but there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in crystalline
      lens power of 2.30 D. These results suggest that greater compensation for axial
      elongation of the eye was afforded by the decrease in crystalline lens power than
      by corneal flattening.

PMID- 1454304
TI  - Anisometropic amblyopia: is the patient ever too old to treat?
AB  - Amblyopia is an example of abnormal visual development that is clinically defined
      as a reduction of best corrected Snellen acuity to less than 6/9 (20/30) in one
      eye or a two-line difference between the two eyes, with no visible signs of eye
      disease. We describe a sequential management program for anisometropic amblyopia
      that consists of four steps: (1) the full refractive correction, (2) added lenses
      or prism when needed to improve alignment of the visual axes, (3) 2 to 5 h/day of
      direct occlusion, and (4) active vision therapy to develop monocular acuity and
      improve binocular visual function. We examined records of 19 patients over 6
      years of age who had been treated using this sequential management philosophy.
      After 15.2 (+/- 7.7) weeks of treatment the Amblyopia Success Index (ASI)
      documented an average improvement in visual acuity of 92.1% +/- 8.1 with a range
      from a low of 75% by a 49-year-old patient to a maximum of 100% achieved by 42.1%
      of the patients (8 of 19). Patients who had completed therapy 1 or more years ago
      (N = 4) maintained their acuity improvement. From these results we conclude that
      following a sequential management plan for treatment of anisometropic amblyopia
      can yield substantial long-lasting improvement in visual acuity and binocular
      function for patients of any age.

PMID- 1454305
TI  - Reliability of the tear break-up time technique of assessing tear stability and
      the locations of the tear break-up in Hong Kong Chinese.
AB  - The measurement of tear break-up time (TBUT) in assessing stability of the tear
      film is somewhat controversial, even though the technique is widely used. We
      examined reliability of the technique within and among examiners and conclude
      that measurements of TBUT can be made reliably; full-beam observation of the
      cornea is preferable to scanning the cornea with a narrow slit in making the
      measurements. There may be differences in TBUT measurements made in the same
      subjects among examiners, but these differences are smaller with more experienced
      practitioners. In the Hong Kong Chinese (HK-Chinese), tear break-up appears to be
      more likely to first occur in the inferior periphery of the cornea. In this
      population mean TBUT is about 7.20 s; assuming a Gaussian distribution of TBUT
      values, 2.1 s should be adopted as the lower limit for normal TBUT in HK-Chinese.

PMID- 1454306
TI  - Epidemiological evidence that access to routine optometric care benefits nursing
      home residents.
AB  - Public perception is that nursing home residents receive less than adequate
      health care. To confirm or refute this view we provided routine optometric
      services to 47 residents in a nursing home who had ready access to primary
      medical care. Average refractive error, intraocular pressure, visual acuity, and
      the prevalence of ocular disease were analyzed. Despite the fact that routine
      primary medical care was provided in-house and ophthalmologic care was provided
      on a consultation basis, our study revealed a need for further medical
      intervention. Seven percent of the patients received a legend prescription for
      drugs for ocular conditions, whereas 11% received an over-the-counter
      preparation. Although 11% were already under ophthalmological care, we requested
      consults from ophthalmology for another 11%. An additional patient was referred
      to an internist. This study shows that even in nursing homes where residents have
      access to in-house medical management, routine vision care provided by
      optometrists can disclose undetected medical problems and improve the quality of
      life.

PMID- 1454307
TI  - Light-induced amaurosis associated with carotid occlusive disease.
AB  - A 74-year-old man with the isolated complaint of uniocular transient visual loss
      after exposure to bright light was found to have severe ipsilateral,
      atherosclerotic carotid occlusive disease. Signs of ocular ischemia that were
      present included slightly reduced visual acuity, mild afferent pupillary defect,
      lowered intraocular pressure, increased photostress recovery time, and reduced
      opthalmodynamometry values on the affected side. After a subclavian to internal
      carotid artery bypass procedure, the patient's symptoms resolved completely and
      his ocular signs returned to normal. This patient's initial symptom, referred to
      as light-induced amaurosis (LIA), is an unfamiliar manifestation of the ocular
      ischemic syndrome. We discuss the condition and summarize the literature.

PMID- 1454308
TI  - Literature review of hepatitis B: should eye care practitioners receive a
      hepatitis B vaccine?
AB  - The incidence of Hepatitis B infection has been steadily increasing over the last
      5 years. The current literature has established that eye care practitioners are
      in the high risk category for contracting and transmitting this serious viral
      infection. Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is present in all bodily fluids including
      tears and is considered to be more easily transmitted with a higher degree of
      infectiousness than Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Fortunately, unlike
      Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis can be prevented with a
      vaccine. Recent improvements in the hepatitis vaccine have made it safer and more
      effective. As optometrists expand their scope of practice, it becomes essential
      to increase the knowledge base and awareness of this clinical entity so informed
      decisions can be made regarding vaccination by eye care practitioners, teaching
      faculty, and students.

PMID- 1454309
TI  - Estimation of dioptric power from measurements that may include measurements of
      dioptric power.
AB  - A general routine exists for estimating dioptric power from any number of
      measurements of sagitta, lens thickness, meridional curvature or power, and
      prismatic effect. This paper shows how the routine is modified when among the
      measurements there are measurements of dioptric power itself.

PMID- 1454310
TI  - More on the future of optometric education.

PMID- 1454311
TI  - IV steroids for central retinal artery occlusion in giant-cell arteritis.

PMID- 1454312
TI  - A new image for residency education.

PMID- 1454313
TI  - National outcomes of cataract extraction. Increased risk of retinal complications
      associated with Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. The Cataract Patient Outcomes Research
      Team.
AB  - PURPOSE: The authors studied 57,103 randomly selected Medicare beneficiaries who
      underwent extracapsular cataract extraction in 1986 or 1987 to determine the
      possible association between performance of neodymium (Nd):YAG laser capsulotomy
      and the risk of subsequent retinal break or detachment. METHODS: Cases of
      cataract surgery were identified from Medicare claims submitted in 1986 and 1987
      and were followed through the end of 1988. Episodes of cataract surgery,
      posterior capsulotomy, and retinal complications were ascertained based on
      procedure and diagnosis codes listed in physician bills and hospital discharge
      records. Lifetable and Cox's proportional hazards models were used to analyze the
      risk of retinal detachment or break in patients undergoing and not undergoing
      capsulotomy during the period of observation. RESULTS: Of the 57,103 persons
      identified as having undergone extracapsular cataract extraction in 1986 or 1987,
      13,709 subsequently underwent Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy between 1986 and 1988. A
      total of 337 persons had aphakic or pseudophakic retinal detachments between 1986
      and 1988 and an additional 194 underwent repair of a retinal break. Proportional
      hazards modeling shows a 3.9-fold increase in the risk of retinal break or
      detachment among those who underwent capsulotomy (95% confidence interval: 2.89
      to 5.25). Younger patient age, male sex, and white race also were associated with
      increased risk of retinal complications after extracapsular cataract extraction.
      CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that there is a statistically significant
      increase in the risk of retinal detachment or break in those patients who undergo
      capsulotomy after cataract extraction. Therefore, capsulotomy should be deferred
      until the patient's impairment caused by capsular opacification warrants the
      increased risk of retinal complications associated with performance of
      capsulotomy.

PMID- 1454314
TI  - Prevalence of glaucoma. The Beaver Dam Eye Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of glaucoma in
      the population participating in the Beaver Dam Eye Study (n = 4926). METHODS: All
      subjects were examined according to standard protocols, which included
      applanation tonometry, examination of the anterior chamber, perimetry, grading of
      fundus photographs of the optic disc, and a medical history interview. Visual
      field, cup-to-disc ratio, and intraocular pressure (IOP) criteria were used to
      define the presence of open-angle glaucoma. Definite open-angle glaucoma was
      defined by the presence of any two or all three of the following: abnormal visual
      field, large or asymmetric cup-to-disc ratio, high IOP. RESULTS: The overall
      prevalence of definite open-angle glaucoma was 2.1%. The prevalence increased
      with age from 0.9% in people 43 to 54 years of age to 4.7% in people 75 years of
      age or older. There was no significant effect of sex after adjusting for age. Of
      the 104 cases of definite open-angle glaucoma, 33 had IOPs less than 22 mmHg in
      the involved eye. Hemorrhage on the optic disc was found in 46 people; 2 of these
      had glaucoma. Narrow-angle glaucoma was rare, with two definite cases in the
      population. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of open-angle glaucoma in Beaver Dam is
      similar to that in other white populations. Findings from this study re-emphasize
      the notion that estimates of glaucoma prevalence should be based on assessing
      multiple risk indicators.

PMID- 1454315
TI  - Effect of timolol versus pilocarpine on visual field progression in patients with
      primary open-angle glaucoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Relatively few studies have been conducted linking decreasing
      intraocular pressure (IOP) to preservation of visual field. This investigation
      was conducted to determine if this link could be made and to compare the long
      term effect of two ocular hypotensive agents on preservation of visual field.
      METHODS: In an observer-masked study, 189 patients with primary open-angle
      glaucoma received either timolol or pilocarpine by random allocation. The dose of
      antiglaucoma agent was increased from 0.25% to 0.5% twice daily for timolol or
      from 2% to 4% four times daily for pilocarpine if the initial IOP response was
      inadequate. After an on-treatment baseline, visual fields were followed every 4
      months for 2 years using the Octopus program 32. RESULTS: Compared with timolol,
      significantly more patients receiving pilocarpine discontinued use because of
      inadequate IOP control (P < or = 0.01). By comparing the mean visual field
      scores, it can be seen that the pilocarpine group had a significantly worse score
      at all timepoints from month 4 to month 24. The pilocarpine group also had a
      greater mean number of test loci with decreased sensitivity of 5 or more decibels
      (dB) at all timepoints. The mean within-patient regression slope for timolol was
      0.01 dB/month and for pilocarpine was -0.06 dB/month (P < 0.01). The study has
      shown that over a 2-year period, patients treated with pilocarpine 2% or 4% four
      times daily experienced a significantly greater visual field deterioration than
      that seen in patients receiving either 0.25% or 0.5% timolol twice daily.
      CONCLUSION: Although these data do not support a link between lowering of IOP and
      visual field preservation, treatment with timolol was associated with
      significantly less visual field loss than treatment with pilocarpine.

PMID- 1454316
TI  - Which is better? One or two? A randomized clinical trial of single-plate versus
      double-plate Molteno implantation for glaucomas in aphakia and pseudophakia.
AB  - PURPOSE: Previous studies have suggested that primary double-plate Molteno
      implantation may be beneficial. Therefore, the authors performed a randomized
      clinical trial to evaluate the relative effectiveness and safety of single-
      versus double-plate Molteno implantation. METHODS: From March 1988 to February
      1990, 132 patients who underwent Molteno implantation for medically
      uncontrollable non-neovascular glaucomas in aphakia or pseudophakia were randomly
      assigned to receive either single- or double-plate implants. RESULTS: The 1- and
      2-year life-table success rates (success [survival] defined as 6 mmHg < or =
      final intraocular pressure [IOP] < or = 21 mmHg without additional glaucoma
      surgery or devastating complication) were 55% and 46% with single-plate
      implantation and 86% and 71% with double-plate implantation, respectively. The
      final postoperative visual acuities were within one line of the preoperative
      visual acuities or had improved in 73% and 80% of patients, respectively.
      Choroidal hemorrhages and/or effusions, corneal decompensation, flat anterior
      chambers, and phthisis bulbi were more common in the patients who had undergone
      double-plate Molteno implantation; however, transient elevations of IOP during
      the first few postoperative months were more common in the patients who had
      undergone single-plate Molteno implantation. CONCLUSIONS: Double-plate Molteno
      implantation more frequently affords IOP control than single-plate Molteno
      implantation; however, double plates are associated with greater risks of
      choroidal hemorrhages and/or effusions, corneal decompensation, flat anterior
      chambers, and phthisis bulbi.

PMID- 1454317
TI  - Incidence and management of glaucoma after intravitreal silicone oil injection
      for complicated retinal detachments.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intravitreal silicone oil injection used for managing complicated
      retinal detachments can be associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP).
      This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of glaucoma in patients who
      underwent silicone oil injection, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of
      medical and surgical therapy in patients in whom glaucoma developed. METHODS: The
      postoperative courses of 50 eyes of 47 consecutive patients who underwent pars
      plana vitrectomy and silicone oil injection for the management of complicated
      retinal detachments were reviewed retrospectively. The outcomes of patients who
      underwent silicone oil removal and/or glaucoma surgery also were evaluated.
      RESULTS: The mean overall postoperative IOP before any glaucoma surgery was 16.7
      +/- 9.3 mmHg (range, 0 to 45 mmHg), with a mean follow-up of 16.6 +/- 12.1 months
      (range, 2 to 51 months). Twenty-four (48%) eyes had postoperative IOPs of at
      least 25 mmHg and IOP elevations of at least 10 mmHg above the preoperative
      levels. Twenty-one (42%) eyes underwent complete removal of silicone oil and/or
      glaucoma surgery to effect IOP control. The IOPs were controlled to 21 mmHg or
      less (but > 5 mmHg) in 8 of 14 eyes that underwent removal of silicone oil alone,
      in 3 of 5 eyes that underwent Molteno implantation, and in 1 eye that underwent
      Nd:YAG transscleral cyclophotocoagulation, but not in 1 eye that underwent a
      modified Schocket procedure (mean follow-up, 13.5 +/- 11.0 months; range, 0.2 to
      33 months). CONCLUSION: Intraocular pressure elevation is a common occurrence
      after intravitreal silicone oil injection. The underlying mechanism may often be
      multifactorial in nature. Patients in whom uncontrolled IOP develops may benefit
      from aggressive medical and/or surgical treatment with silicone oil removal,
      glaucoma implants, or cyclodestructive procedures.

PMID- 1454318
TI  - Diabetes, hyperglycemia, and age-related maculopathy. The Beaver Dam Eye Study.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the association among
      hyperglycemia, diabetes status, and age-related maculopathy in a population-based
      study of people between the ages of 43 and 86 years who lived in Beaver Dam,
      Wisconsin between 1988 and 1990. METHODS: Age-related maculopathy was determined
      from stereoscopic fundus photographs. RESULTS: In the nondiabetic group (n =
      4291), no relationship was found between glycosylated hemoglobin and any signs of
      age-related maculopathy. Diabetes status was not associated with early age
      related maculopathy. People 75 years of age or older with diabetes (n = 85) had a
      higher frequency of exudative macular degeneration (9.4%) than those without
      (4.7%) but had similar frequencies of pure geographic atrophy (3.8% for those
      with diabetes and 3.4% for those without diabetes). The relative risk of
      exudative macular degeneration in men with diabetes who were 75 years of age or
      older compared with those who did not have diabetes was 10.2 (95% confidence
      interval [CI]: 2.4, 43.7); for females it was 1.1 (95% CI: 0.4, 3.0). CONCLUSION:
      These data suggest that diabetes is not related to early age-related maculopathy
      or geographic atrophy. The relationship of exudative macular degeneration to
      diabetes in older men, but not women, may be a result of chance. Further
      longitudinal study of this observation is needed.

PMID- 1454319
TI  - Pars plana vitrectomy for intraocular inflammation-related cystoid macular edema
      unresponsive to corticosteroids. A preliminary study.
AB  - PURPOSE: To determine the role of pars plana vitrectomy in patients with
      intraocular inflammation-related cystoid macular edema that is unresponsive to
      corticosteroids. METHODS: Eleven eyes of nine patients underwent a standard three
      port pars plana vitrectomy. The primary indication was intraocular inflammation
      related cystoid macular edema that was unresponsive to oral, sub-Tenon's, and
      topical corticosteroids. Preoperative follow-up ranged from 20 months to 144
      months (average, 70 months). Postoperative follow-up ranged from 3 months to 108
      months (average, 21 months). RESULTS: Seven eyes (64%) improved 4 or more lines
      of Snellen visual acuity within 4 weeks. Two eyes (18%) remained unchanged and 2
      eyes (18%) worsened. Cystoid macular edema improved by clinical examination and
      fluorescein angiography in 9 eyes (82%) and by clinical examination alone in 2
      eyes (18%). No intraoperative complications were noted. Postoperative
      complications consisted of cataract formation in 1 eye (9%), glaucoma in 2 eyes
      (18%), and epiretinal membrane formation in 1 eye (9%). CONCLUSION: Pars plana
      vitrectomy may have a role in the treatment of intraocular inflammation-related
      cystoid macular edema that fails to respond to corticosteroids. The subgroup of
      patients who benefit most remains to be identified.

PMID- 1454320
TI  - Use of perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene in the management of suprachoroidal
      hemorrhages.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Suprachoroidal hemorrhage may cause the expulsion of intraocular
      contents. Generally, cases of nonexpulsive suprachoroidal hemorrhage have a
      better outcome than their expulsive counterparts. Those cases with massive
      nonexpulsive suprachoroidal hemorrhage do better with treatment than without.
      Treatment modalities have included suprachoroidal hemorrhage drainage with or
      without intraocular volume reformation, and vitrectomy. METHODS: The authors used
      the liquid perfluorocarbon perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene in the treatment of
      three patients with nonexpulsive suprachoroidal hemorrhage. The perfluorocarbon
      was injected into the vitreous cavity while the suprachoroidal blood was drained
      through anterior sclerotomies. RESULTS: With 5 months of follow-up, complete
      resolution of the suprachoroidal blood was noted in all patients. All three
      patients had attached retinas, and postoperative visual acuities were improved
      over preoperative visual acuities. CONCLUSION: Perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene and
      other perfluorocarbon liquids may be beneficial in the treatment of certain cases
      of nonexpulsive suprachoroidal hemorrhages.

PMID- 1454321
TI  - Correlation between biochemical composition and fluorescein binding of deposits
      in Bruch's membrane.
AB  - PURPOSE: The fluorescence of drusen during fluorescein angiography is believed to
      have important prognostic and pathogenetic implications in age-related
      maculopathy. It is believed that deposits containing predominantly neutral lipids
      would be hydrophobic, resulting in hypofluorescence on fluorescein angiography,
      while the presence of polar phospholipids would be indicated clinically by
      hyperfluorescence because of its hydrophilic properties. To identify the
      potential determinants of fluorescence of drusen and Bruch's membrane, a series
      of macular specimens from human donors older than 60 years of age was examined.
      No clinical information was available concerning any previous eye disease.
      METHODS: In vitro fluorescein binding was recorded microscopically, and the
      presence of fibronectin was sought by immunohistochemistry. The results were
      correlated with the proportions of phospholipids to neutral lipids identified by
      histochemical and biochemical studies. RESULTS: It was found that high content of
      neutral fats was associated with lack of both fluorescein binding and
      fibronectin, and, conversely, in those specimens with high proportions of
      phospholipids, fluorescein binding was strong and fibronectin was present.
      CONCLUSIONS: These observations support the central hypothesis concerning
      biophysical changes in Bruch's membrane with age and the potential importance of
      fluorescein angiography in the characterization of Bruch's membrane deposits.

PMID- 1454322
TI  - Comparison of photocoagulation with the argon, krypton, and diode laser indirect
      ophthalmoscopes in rabbit eyes.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare photocoagulation with the argon
      green, krypton red, and diode infrared laser indirect ophthalmoscopes in an
      experimental setting. METHODS: Photocoagulation was performed with each of the
      laser indirect ophthalmoscopes in a grid pattern within one sector of the same
      eye of 14 Dutch-belted rabbits. Treatment was performed either with or without
      scleral depression. Measurements of the retinal burn diameters were performed
      after hemisecting the globes, and the burns were examined with light microscopy.
      RESULTS: Variation in burn intensity and diameter (10% to 28%) was common with
      all 3 laser indirect ophthalmoscopes. Five times more output energy was required
      to make equivalent burns with the diode laser indirect ophthalmoscope than with
      the argon or krypton laser indirect ophthalmoscopes. Choriovitreal hemorrhages
      only occurred during scleral depression. Histopathologically, the argon green
      laser indirect ophthalmoscope burns spared the choroid and inner sclera, while
      the intense krypton and diode burns had full-thickness choroidal involvement and
      even thermal injury to the inner sclera. Scleral depression reduced the mean
      energy required to create equivalent burns with all three laser indirect
      ophthalmoscopes. There was a 10% to 40% reduction in the mean retinal burn
      diameter with scleral depression (argon green, P < 0.0005; krypton red, P <
      0.0005; and diode, P < 0.025). CONCLUSION: Photocoagulation with the argon green,
      krypton red, or diode infrared laser indirect ophthalmoscopes is a safe and
      effective method of retinal ablation. Decreasing the posterior nodal distance of
      the eye with scleral depression will produce a smaller spot on the retina with
      the laser indirect ophthalmoscope.

PMID- 1454323
TI  - Avellino corneal dystrophy. Clinical manifestations and natural history.
AB  - PURPOSE: The pathologic features of a variant of granular corneal dystrophy has
      been described in which the presence of lattice changes in addition to
      characteristic granular lesions has been documented. The authors investigated the
      mode of inheritance, natural history, and clinical manifestations of this
      dystrophy. METHODS: A family with this condition was investigated, and a pedigree
      was established. Family members underwent ophthalmic examination, and ophthalmic
      history was obtained. In addition, pathologic examination of corneal tissue from
      affected patients was performed. RESULTS: Similar to the four previously
      described cases, this family also traced its origins to Avellino, Italy. This
      autosomal dominant condition affected 27 of 92 family members, ranging in age
      from 5 to 77 years. Granular deposits were the earliest and most common
      manifestations. Lattice lesions were present in some patients with granular
      lesions. Older patients had anterior stromal haze between deposits, which
      impaired visual acuity. Recurrent granular deposits were noted in donor corneal
      tissue after penetrating keratoplasty for this condition. Pathologic examination
      of corneal tissue from affected patients confirmed the presence of hyaline
      material seen in granular dystrophy as well as fusiform deposits of amyloid,
      similar to those seen in lattice dystrophy type I. CONCLUSION: This study
      establishes the natural history and clinical manifestations of this condition.

PMID- 1454324
TI  - Effects of povidone-iodine chemical preparation and saline irrigation on the
      perilimbal flora.
AB  - PURPOSE: To analyze the effects of 5% povidone-iodine preparation and saline
      irrigation on the species composition of perilimbal flora. METHODS: Cultures were
      taken from the perilimbal conjunctiva in 100 eyes before preparation for
      ophthalmic surgery, after instillation of povidone-iodine solution, and after
      saline irrigation. RESULTS: Bacteria were isolated in 75% of eyes before
      preparation, in 28% after povidone-iodine instillation, and in 24% after saline
      irrigation. Fifty-one culture-positive eyes became negative with povidone-iodine,
      while only four culture-negative eyes became culture-positive (P < 0.001). The
      number of eyes yielding coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus,
      and Propionibacterium were significantly decreased after povidone-iodine
      instillation. Twenty-three culture-positive eyes became negative after saline
      irrigation, while 19 culture-negative eyes became culture-positive (P > 0.25).
      CONCLUSION: Povidone-iodine solution is effective in reducing bacterial recovery
      from the perilimbal conjunctiva, where most incisions for intraocular surgery
      occur. Saline irrigation after povidone-iodine preparation has no significant
      effect.

PMID- 1454325
TI  - Wolfring dacryops.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A unique series of 13 cases of ductal cysts of the accessory lacrimal
      glands of Wolfring is presented. Once appreciated, they are an easily recognized
      clinical entity. METHODS: The 13 cases were verified histologically as arising
      from ductal epithelium. Biochemical analyses for serum and cyst fluid
      concentrations of IgA, IgG, and IgM were performed on three of the cases.
      Histologic staining of the cyst wall using monoclonal antibodies to
      immunoglobulins was performed on one case. FINDINGS: All patients had evidence of
      extensive trachomatous scarring. High levels of IgA were found in the cyst fluid,
      consistent with an active secretory mechanism. Monoclonal antibody staining
      suggested a significant role for paraductal IgA-secreting plasma cells.
      CONCLUSION: The formation of a ductal cyst appears to require two successive,
      inter-related events. The first is an ongoing active secretory process, and the
      second is an occlusion of the duct. The sequential occurrence of these two events
      is forwarded as the explanation of dacryops formation. Excision using a
      conjunctival approach is recommended. A small strip of tarsal border should be
      removed with the cyst to prevent cyst rupture. The excretory ducts of the
      Wolfring glands exit through this area.

PMID- 1454326
TI  - Malignant lymphoma of the ocular adnexa associated with the benign
      lymphoepithelial lesion of the parotid glands. Report of two cases.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The benign lymphoepithelial lesion of the salivary/lacrimal glands is
      generally regarded as a lymphoproliferative disorder that may be associated with
      Sjogren syndrome. Although lymphomatous transformation in patients with Sjogren
      syndrome is well documented, few reports have appeared describing similar
      findings in patients with a benign lymphoepithelial lesion. METHODS: The authors
      report the unusual occurrence of malignant lymphoma involving the ocular adnexa
      in two patients with a histopathologically documented benign lymphoepithelial
      lesion of the parotid glands. RESULTS: Both patients developed B-cell lymphomas.
      The eyelid tumor in case 1 expressed IgM/kappa cell surface markers by flow
      cytometry, and the orbital/conjunctival masses in case 2 showed neoplastic
      nodules of B cells that were only immunoreactive to lambda light chains (avidin
      biotin complex method). CONCLUSION: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first
      report of ocular adnexal lymphoma arising in patients with a benign
      lymphoepithelial lesion of the parotid glands. This report establishes that
      ocular adnexal lymphoma may arise in a patient with a preexisting benign
      lymphoepithelial lesion.

PMID- 1454327
TI  - Orbital lymphangioma. Correlation of magnetic resonance images and intraoperative
      findings.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Orbital lymphangiomas generally are invasive, slow-growing lesions
      that can produce proptosis, motility impairment, and compressive optic
      neuropathy. Successful surgical management requires detailed preoperative
      radiologic imaging with the capacity to determine the location and size of the
      tumors, the presence of cystic or solid components, and extent of infiltration of
      the tumor into normal orbital structures. METHODS: The records of 12 patients
      with orbital lymphangioma were reviewed with attention to the clinical,
      radiologic, operative, and histologic findings. RESULTS: Preoperative magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) produced highly detailed renderings of the orbital mass
      that were both diagnostic and predictive of the intraoperative findings. Magnetic
      resonance imaging was particularly sensitive to the presence of cysts within the
      tumor and was able to predict the contents of the cysts. CONCLUSION: Using
      preoperative MRI, a more detailed and accurate surgical plan can be formulated
      than with any other noninvasive technique.

PMID- 1454328
TI  - Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the orbit in a 15-month-old child.
      Nine-year survival after local excision.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors are extremely rare orbital
      tumors that carry a poor prognosis despite wide excision with disfiguring
      surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. The authors present the youngest reported
      case, a 15-month-old boy who underwent an orbitotomy to excise a bilobed tumor
      from the right orbit. FINDINGS: Histologic examination revealed a malignant
      peripheral nerve sheath tumor; standard treatment options, including orbital
      exenteration, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, were denied and instead the patient
      was followed with serial computed tomography scans and magnetic resonance
      imaging. RESULTS: Nine years later, the patient remains without evidence of
      recurrent tumor and visual acuity is 20/20. CONCLUSION: This patient's course
      suggests that orbital malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, if believed to be
      completely excised at the time of surgery, might be followed with careful
      neuroimaging studies for signs of recurrence.

PMID- 1454329
TI  - Complications associated with alloplastic implants used in orbital fracture
      repair.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The treatment of orbital wall fractures involves observation and/or
      surgical reduction with repositioning of herniated orbital tissues. To prevent
      reherniation of tissue and development of enophthalmos, the orbital floor or wall
      defect is commonly covered with an alloplastic implant. Complications associated
      with these implants are infrequent and generally appear as isolated case reports.
      METHODS: The authors reviewed the files of four consultative oculoplastic
      surgeons and searched for individuals with complications secondary to their
      alloplastic implants used during orbital fracture repair. FINDINGS: Seventeen
      patients were identified with a variety of complications related to their
      alloplastic implant. CONCLUSION: Although these implants are relatively inert and
      develop a fibrous capsule walling them off from the surrounding orbit, they
      remain foreign bodies and are thus subject to possible complications at any time.
      The authors review the spectrum of complications occurring with various
      alloplastic implants.

PMID- 1454330
TI  - A new classification of superior oblique palsy based on congenital variations in
      the tendon.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Superior oblique palsy is the most frequent isolated cranial nerve
      palsy seen in strabismus practice. It is traditionally diagnosed according to
      etiology as acquired, congenital, or idiopathic, but surgical treatment is based
      on deviation not etiology. Observations at surgery led to speculation that the
      superior oblique tendon is different in congenital compared with acquired
      superior oblique palsy and that this difference should be considered in surgical
      treatment. METHODS: The authors reviewed the charts of 82 patients (89 eyes)
      undergoing surgery on the superior oblique tendon for superior oblique palsy. In
      each case, the palsy had been diagnosed preoperatively as acquired, congenital,
      or idiopathic, and, at surgery, characteristics of the tendon anatomy were
      described. RESULTS: Thirty-eight superior oblique tendons (36 patients),
      diagnosed as congenital superior oblique palsy, included 33 abnormal tendons and
      5 normal tendons. Twenty-four tendons (21 patients), diagnosed as traumatic
      superior oblique palsy, included 22 normal and 2 abnormal tendons. Twenty-seven
      tendons (25 patients), diagnosed as idiopathic, included 19 normal and 8 abnormal
      tendons. Abnormal tendons were divided into 4 categories: (1) redundant, (2)
      misdirected, (3) inserted in posterior Tenon's capsule, and (4) absent.
      CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that congenital superior oblique palsy is
      usually associated with a structural abnormality of the superior oblique tendon
      (87%). Whereas acquired superior oblique palsy usually has a normal tendon (92%).
      Superior oblique underaction in acquired superior oblique palsy results from a
      neural deficit. Potential variance in anatomy of the superior oblique tendon
      should be considered when undertaking surgery for superior oblique palsy.

PMID- 1454331
TI  - Results of amblyopia therapy in eyes with unilateral structural abnormalities.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the visual results of full-time
      occlusion therapy in pediatric patients with monocular structural abnormalities
      and amblyopia. METHODS: The authors reviewed the charts of visually immature
      patients with unilateral structural abnormalities and decreased visual acuity,
      who presented to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics over a 20-year
      period, and underwent amblyopia therapy. The results were categorized according
      to the type of structural abnormality (i.e., partial media opacity, macula
      lesion, or optic nerve abnormality). Associated factors, including anisometropia,
      strabismus, age of presentation, and pupillary responses, were analyzed. RESULTS:
      Fifty-one percent of the 51 patients in the study achieved a visual acuity of at
      least 20/80, including 72% of the patients with media opacities, 42% with macular
      lesions, and 21% with optic nerve anomalies. Strabismus and anisometropia
      occurred frequently and were not prognostically significant. Relative afferent
      pupillary defects did not contraindicate good results. Amblyopia recurred in 31%
      of patients and was successfully treated with resumption of full-time occlusion.
      Occlusion amblyopia occurred in only one patient and was easily reversed.
      CONCLUSION: The authors recommend a trial of full-time occlusion for patients
      with all three types of unilateral structural abnormalities. The patients with
      partial media opacities have a high success rate. Despite lower success rates for
      the other two groups, good results are possible; no better treatment option
      exists.

PMID- 1454332
TI  - Visual rehabilitation. The challenge, responsibility, and reward.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A multispecialty ophthalmology clinic created a not-for-profit
      foundation to establish a center for visual rehabilitation. METHODS: The Center's
      objective of equipping and enabling visually impaired people to lead more
      productive, independent, and satisfying lives by improving their remaining
      functional sight is performed through a four-phase program comprised of an intake
      interview, low vision examination, rehabilitation training, and counseling.
      RESULTS: Since its inception in 1986, the Center has cared for 947 females and
      511 males. Although the majority of the patients examined are 61 to 90 years of
      age, all age groups have received care, including 41 patients younger than 10
      years of age and 42 patients 91 years of age or older. CONCLUSION: The role of
      the ophthalmologist in the visual rehabilitation process is pivotal. The author
      acknowledges that most practices are unable to develop such a center. A number of
      suggestions are made, however, that may enable many practices to participate in
      the rehabilitation of their patients.

PMID- 1454333
TI  - Laser treatment of corneal vessels.

PMID- 1454334
TI  - Malignant glaucoma after laser iridotomy.

PMID- 1454335
TI  - Scleral buckling versus pneumatic retinopexy.

PMID- 1454336
TI  - Exfoliation material on IOLs.

PMID- 1454337
TI  - Who should receive mitomycin-C after pterygium surgery?

PMID- 1454338
TI  - Serious complications of topical mitomycin-C after pterygium surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The use of topical mitomycin (mitomycin-C) as a medical adjunct to
      pterygium and glaucoma surgery is increasing. METHODS: The authors report on a
      series of 10 patients who experienced serious, vision-threatening complications
      associated with the use of this drug after pterygium surgery. RESULTS:
      Complications included severe secondary glaucoma (4 patients), corneal edema (3
      patients), corneal perforation (1 patient), corectopia (2 patients), iritis (8
      patients), sudden onset mature cataract (2 patients), scleral calcification (1
      patient) and incapacitating photophobia and pain (8 patients). Two patients
      required penetrating keratoplasties and a third required three lamellar
      keratoplasties. Another patient underwent four additional surgeries including a
      conjunctival Z-plasty, scleral patch grafting, and conjunctival autografting
      before his intractable pain and photophobia resolved 15 months after the original
      surgery. Because of these complications, 6 patients required a total of 20 return
      visits to the operating room after their original pterygium surgery. In 5 eyes,
      visual acuity remained at 20/200 or less. Three of the six patients with the most
      severe complications had concomitant chronic external diseases (rosacea [3
      patients], ichthyosis [1 patient], keratitis sicca [1 patient]). CONCLUSION: The
      authors urge extreme caution in the use of mitomycin. If mitomycin is used, the
      lowest possible concentration should be applied for the shortest time period in
      an effort to avoid these complications. A prospective multicenter study of the
      ophthalmic use of this medication is needed.

PMID- 1454339
TI  - Sterile endophthalmitis after sutureless cataract surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sutureless cataract surgery has recently increased in popularity
      because of the rapid visual rehabilitation and the inherent reduction of
      surgically induced astigmatism. METHODS: This procedure is dependent on a
      lamellar, multiplaned incision. As with new surgical techniques, associated
      complications become evident with time. Recently, there have been several cases
      of infectious endophthalmitis after this procedure. The authors report on nine
      cases of sterile endophthalmitis. In all nine cases, surgery was performed with
      refrigerated balanced salt solution (BSS) and 100 mg of cefazolin and/or 20 mg of
      methylprednisolone sodium succinate, given subconjunctivally, at its completion.
      RESULTS: All nine cases occurred in a period of time during which 68 cases were
      performed using refrigerated BSS for irrigation. These nine cases came from two
      different surgeons using basically the same surgical technique. After the
      investigation of these complications, the refrigerated BSS was discontinued, and
      there have been no episodes of sterile endophthalmitis in the last 650 cases.
      CONCLUSION: It appears that refrigerated BSS should be avoided if periocular
      injections are going to be used. It may be that the cold BSS fails to allow
      sufficient tissue swelling to seal the surgical incision, allowing for
      subconjunctival injections to seep into the wound, and leading to a sterile
      endophthalmitis.

PMID- 1454340
TI  - Comparison of depth of focus and low-contrast acuities for monofocal versus
      multifocal intraocular lens patients at 1 year.
AB  - PURPOSE: Multifocal lenses have been shown to produce enhanced near and
      intermediate vision. The division of incoming light into more than one focal
      point must physically produce retinal images of reduced contrast. The purpose of
      this report is to provide quantitative data on the increased depth of focus and
      decreased contrast sensitivity demonstrated in patients receiving the 3M
      diffractive multifocal lens versus the parent monofocal control lens. METHODS:
      Uncorrected and best-corrected distance and near acuities, Regan and Pelli-Robson
      contrast sensitivity measurements, and defocus curves were obtained on 22 eyes
      with monofocal and 16 eyes with multifocal age-matched, pathology-free implants
      at 1 year after surgery. FINDINGS: Visual acuity data demonstrated significantly
      improved (P < 0.001) near acuities in multifocal patients with manifest
      refraction in place. No difference was noted between implants for other acuity
      measures. A statistically significant reduction (P < 0.05) in contrast
      sensitivity was measured for multifocal implants at the limits of contrast and
      resolution (Regan 4%); however, careful patient questioning revealed no clinical
      impact. Defocus curves demonstrated significantly increased (P < 0.0001) depth of
      focus at the 20/40 acuity level of 3.8 diopters (D) in multifocal patients versus
      1.8 D in monofocal patients. CONCLUSION: The quantifiable and expected loss of
      contrast sensitivity in the examining lane, not manifest in patient awareness,
      appears to be an acceptable tradeoff for enhanced near/intermediate vision and
      depth of focus.

PMID- 1454341
TI  - Macular pseudoholes. Clinical features and accuracy of diagnosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Epimacular membrane with pseudohole is an important vitreomacular
      disorder that belongs in the differential diagnosis of impending and established
      macular hole. To better characterize this lesion, the authors attempted to
      identify various features of eyes with epimacular membrane and pseudohole.
      METHODS: Demographic, clinical, photographic, and fluorescein angiographic data
      for 14 eyes with epimacular membrane and pseudohole were reviewed. Horizontal and
      vertical diameters of the pseudoholes were measured, and the original diagnosis
      was recorded for each eye. Fluorescein angiography was performed in 11 eyes.
      RESULTS: The mean age of patients with macular pseudoholes was 61.6 years, and
      median visual acuity for pseudohole eyes was 20/30. Mean horizontal and vertical
      diameters of the pseudoholes were 384 and 410 microns, respectively. None of the
      eyes with pseudoholes had the characteristic ophthalmoscopic features associated
      with full-thickness macular holes or impending macular holes. Results of
      fluorescein angiography showed three eyes with increased tortuosity or abnormal
      straightening of the perifoveal vessels; three eyes with a foveal window defect;
      and three eyes with late leakage from the perifoveal vessels. The original
      diagnosis of the initial examining physician was correct in only 43% of eyes with
      epimacular membrane and pseudohole. CONCLUSION: Epimacular membrane with
      pseudohole may be an underdiagnosed lesion and commonly mistaken for impending
      macular hole, full-thickness hole, or lamellar hole. These data may be of use as
      more patients are being considered for recently advocated surgical treatments for
      impending and established macular hole.

PMID- 1454342
TI  - Retinal pigment epitheliopathy after macular hole surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Full-thickness idiopathic macular holes were previously considered
      untreatable, but surgical intervention has been proposed to collapse the hole and
      improve vision. This study evaluates the fluorescein angiographic changes that
      occur after macular hole surgery. METHODS: Sixteen patients with stage III
      idiopathic macular holes underwent pars plana vitrectomy, removal of the
      posterior hyaloid, peeling of fine epiretinal sheets along the edges of the
      holes, and fluid-gas exchange. Preoperative fluorescein angiograms were
      performed, and best-corrected preoperative visual acuity was 20/200 or less in
      all eyes. RESULTS: Postoperatively, the macular hole disappeared in 12 eyes
      (75%). In all 12 eyes, retinal pigment epithelial swelling was present, with a
      unique fluorescein angiographic appearance. This pattern slowly resolved over
      months, with gradual visual improvement but residual retinal pigment epithelial
      mottling. Systemic and periocular steroids had no significant impact on the
      process. CONCLUSION: The combination of prolonged intraocular gas contact and
      light exposure exceeding threshold for an already compromised macula appears to
      be responsible for this pigmentary pattern. Depending on the severity of the
      pigment epithelial alteration, this unique pattern may portend a guarded visual
      prognosis in affected patients undergoing successful macular hole repair.

PMID- 1454343
TI  - Detection of drusen and early signs of age-related maculopathy using a
      nonmydriatic camera and a standard fundus camera.
AB  - PURPOSE: The study was designed to compare the severity of age-related
      maculopathy as graded from photographs taken using three different techniques.
      METHODS: Two methods of nonstereoscopic 45 degrees retinal photography of the
      macula (through a nonpharmacologically dilated pupil and through a
      pharmacologically dilated pupil) were compared with results from standard 30
      degrees stereoscopic photographs in 112 subjects. Corresponding photographic
      fields were graded by a masked grader for the presence of any drusen, soft
      drusen, retinal pigment epithelial degeneration, increased retinal pigmentation,
      and early and late age-related maculopathy. RESULTS: Exact agreement between
      gradings of the 45 degrees photographs taken through nonpharmacologically dilated
      pupils and 30 degrees photographs taken through dilated pupils was 75% for any
      drusen, 72% for soft drusen, 72% for retinal pigment epithelial degeneration, 74%
      for increased retinal pigment, 85% for pure geographic atrophy, and 89% for
      exudative macular degeneration. The kappa scores varied from 0.33 for geographic
      atrophy to 0.60 for exudative macular degeneration. Slightly higher rates of
      agreement between gradings were found after dilation. CONCLUSION: These data
      suggest that 45 degrees nonstereoscopic fundus photographs, when graded according
      to a standard classification scheme, should be considered for detection of age
      related maculopathy in situations where the pupils cannot be pharmacologically
      dilated and retinal specialists are not available to examine the fundus.

PMID- 1454344
TI  - Scleritis as an initial manifestation of choroidal malignant melanoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to present the unusual circumstances in
      which malignant melanoma of the choroid can masquerade as scleritis, thus
      confounding its diagnosis. METHODS: Three cases of plaque-like malignant
      melanomas of the choroid are reported that, on initial examination, had features
      of scleritis. The events leading to their eventual correct diagnosis also are
      presented. RESULTS: In each case, there was ocular pain, blurred vision, anterior
      chamber and/or vitreous cavity cellular reaction, and an exudative retinal
      detachment associated with an ill-defined, relatively flat variably pigmented
      choroidal mass. In all three cases, the inflammatory component responded promptly
      to corticosteroid treatment and was accompanied by visual improvement. In two
      eyes, shrinkage of the choroidal mass accompanied the corticosteroid treatment,
      lending support to a working diagnosis of scleritis. By demonstrating expansion
      of the choroidal masses, examination of sequential fundus photographs influenced
      the decision to enucleate the eyes for presumed malignant choroidal melanoma.
      CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be alert to the circumstances in which malignant
      melanomas of the choroid can masquerade as scleritis. Careful evaluation by
      ophthalmoscopy, ultrasonography, fundus photography, and subsequent sequential
      examination is necessary to arrive at the correct diagnosis.

PMID- 1454345
TI  - Natural history of diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation. Case report.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation is a rare paraneoplastic
      syndrome resulting in rapid bilateral visual loss due to proliferation of benign
      melanocytes within the choroid and ciliary body. Most of the previously reported
      cases have been seen with bilateral involvement and typical ocular features.
      PATIENT: The authors report the case of a 61-year-old man who presented with
      uniocular posterior pole lesions at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium
      and subsequently developed the typical bilateral lesions of diffuse uveal
      melanocytic proliferation. His clinical course was typical, with visual
      disturbance preceding signs and symptoms of malignancy by 5 months. Rapid decline
      ensued, and he eventually died 10 months after the onset of visual symptoms.
      RESULTS: Results of ocular pathologic examination showed the typical choroidal
      thickening due to the proliferation of melanocytes and the primary tumor was
      found to be an undifferentiated adenocarcinoma originating in either the pancreas
      or the esophagus. CONCLUSIONS: The very early funduscopic and fluorescein
      angiographic findings of diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation are presented as
      well as the evolution, ocular pathology, and possible mechanisms for its
      development.

PMID- 1454347
TI  - Cellular blue nevus of the conjunctiva.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cellular blue nevi of the conjunctiva are extremely rare, and their
      natural history and malignant potential have not been fully ascertained. METHODS:
      A report of an unusually well-documented case of growth of a cellular blue nevus
      is presented, along with a review of current knowledge of this lesion. RESULTS: A
      71-year-old woman presented with a darkly pigmented raised lesion of the
      conjunctiva, which had slowly enlarged over 47 years. There were nonconfluent
      areas of involvement of the upper and lower lids. Results of biopsy showed the
      lesion to be a cellular blue nevus, with no evidence of malignancy. CONCLUSION:
      This well-documented case of slow growth and spread without malignant
      transformation adds to the knowledge of this rare lesion.

PMID- 1454346
TI  - Pigmented adenoma of the optic nerve head simulating a melanocytoma.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this report is to describe a clinicopathologic
      correlation of an unusual pigmented tumor of the optic nerve head, to point out
      that such a lesion can simulate clinically a melanocytoma of the optic disc, and
      to discuss the differential diagnosis of pigmented epipapillary lesions.
      FINDINGS: Histopathologic studies of the affected eye showed a peculiar pigmented
      tumor of the optic disc that was compatible with an adenoma arising from the
      juxtapapillary retinal pigment epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: Adenoma of the retinal
      pigment epithelium can closely simulate a melanocytoma of the optic disc. There
      are some clinical features that may serve to differentiate the two lesions.

PMID- 1454348
TI  - Retinal findings after head trauma in infants and young children.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many authorities believe that the finding of retinal hemorrhages in a
      child younger than 3 years of age with a history of head trauma, in the absence
      of an obvious cause for the injury, is pathognomonic of child abuse. To date, no
      studies have examined the prospective retinal examination of children who have
      had head trauma. The authors undertook such a study because the presence of
      retinal hemorrhage from any head trauma in children may have medicolegal
      diagnostic significance in differentiating accidental from nonaccidental trauma.
      METHODS: Seventy-nine children younger than 3 years of age, each of whom
      experienced head injury, underwent an ophthalmologic assessment, which included a
      dilated funduscopic examination. RESULTS: Seventy-five children sustained
      accidental head injuries and had normal funduscopic examinations. Three children
      had nonaccidental head injuries and all were found to have varying degrees of
      retinal hemorrhages. One child, with a normal fundus examination, had injuries
      that were of indeterminate cause. CONCLUSION: The finding of retinal hemorrhages
      in a child with a head injury suggests a nonaccidental cause.

PMID- 1454349
TI  - Effect of mydriasis on visual field area in retinitis pigmentosa.
AB  - PURPOSE: The effect of mydriasis on Goldmann visual field area in patients with
      retinitis pigmentosa has not been suitably defined. The aim of this study is to
      determine whether visual field area in these patients varies with pharmacologic
      mydriasis. METHODS: Fifteen adult patients with retinitis pigmentosa were studied
      prospectively. Goldmann visual fields with II4e and V4e isopters were obtained in
      both eyes before and after full pharmacologic mydriasis of the right eye. The
      isopter areas were quantified and analyzed to determine the effect of mydriasis
      on visual field area. RESULTS: The difference in the right eye isopter areas was
      compared with the difference in the left eye isopter areas using paired t tests,
      where the differences were computed from areas obtained before and after dilation
      of the right eye. Mydriasis had no significant effect on the visual field in
      terms of isopter area difference (II4e, P = 0.87; V4e, P = 0.45) and percent
      change in isopter area (II4e, P = 0.81; V4e, P = 0.24). CONCLUSION: Pharmacologic
      mydriasis had no appreciable effect on the Goldmann visual field area in a
      selected group of patients with retinitis pigmentosa. These findings suggest that
      visual fields of such patients obtained in the dilated or undilated state can be
      meaningfully compared.

PMID- 1454350
TI  - Augmentation laser for proliferative diabetic retinopathy that fails to respond
      to initial panretinal photocoagulation.
AB  - PURPOSE: A study was performed to determine if diabetic subjects who fail to
      respond to initial panretinal photocoagulation with regression of retinopathy
      risk factors do better with supplemental panretinal photocoagulation. METHODS:
      Thirty-five patients with 3 or more retinopathy risk factors who failed to
      respond to panretinal photocoagulation with regression to less than 3 retinopathy
      risk factors by 3 weeks after initial panretinal photocoagulation were
      prospectively randomized to augmentation laser panretinal photocoagulation (MORE)
      or to no additional treatment (NOMORE). RESULTS: Six months after initial
      treatment, the MORE group (n = 16) had regressed a mean of -0.94 retinopathy risk
      factors (with 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.60 to -0.26), compared with -0.21
      retinopathy risk factors (95% CI -0.69 to 0.27) in the NOMORE (n = 19) group (P =
      0.055). However, by 1 year, there was no statistically significant difference in
      the amount of regression of retinopathy risk factors with a mean decrease of 
      1.12 (95% CI -2.0 to -0.24) versus -1.05 retinopathy risk factors (95% CI -1.80
      to -0.28) in the 2 groups, respectively. Similarly, for visual acuity, there was
      no difference in outcome. For all study patients, the persistence of three or
      more retinopathy risk factors was associated with a poorer visual result than if
      there was regression to less than three retinopathy risk factors. CONCLUSION:
      This study shows that although augmentation panretinal photocoagulation achieved
      faster regression of retinopathy risk factors, by 1 year, there was no difference
      in either mean regression of retinopathy risk factors or visual acuity between
      eyes treated or not treated with augmentation panretinal photocoagulation. In
      addition, the study shows that the persistence of 3 or more retinopathy risk
      factors 1 year after treatment was associated with a poorer visual result.
      Because sample size limited the power of the study to find small differences
      between groups, and because in proliferative diabetic retinopathy small
      differences could be important clinically, the authors do not recommend changes
      in current clinical practice.

PMID- 1454351
TI  - Gonioscopic ab interno laser sclerostomy. A pilot study in glaucoma patients.
AB  - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of
      gonioscopic ab interno laser sclerostomy (GLS) in patients with glaucoma.
      METHODS: The technique of GLS involves iontophoresis of methylene blue dye (1%)
      at the limbus to focally dye the sclera and to provide subsequent delivery of 10
      microsecond pulsed laser energy to the dyed area through a goniolens. The laser
      emits at 660 nm, a wavelength that is maximally absorbed by the methylene blue
      dye. Patients were evaluated for fistula formation, intraocular pressure (IOP)
      reduction, and adverse sequelae. Thirty-eight treatments were performed in 35
      eyes. RESULTS: Successful complete sclerostomies were achieved in 21 eyes (55%),
      which was associated with an acute mean reduction in IOP of 23 mmHg. Mean
      preoperative IOP for all patients was 35 mmHg, and 1 hour after treatment it was
      reduced to 18.5 mmHg. In 4 of the 38 treatments, there was no acute IOP
      reduction, and these eyes were judged as failures. The mean follow-up time was
      8.2 months with a maximum follow-up of 15 months. By 9 months, 50% of patients
      had an IOP of 22 mmHg or lower. The number of antiglaucoma medications decreased
      from 3.1 to 1.7 for all eyes over the 15-month follow-up period. Hyphemas (13%)
      were the only major complication, and these resolved spontaneously. In only one
      case did the IOP increase after the procedure. CONCLUSION: The results of this
      trial indicate that GLS is technically feasible, and preliminary results of IOP
      control are promising.

PMID- 1454352
TI  - Molluscum contagiosum of the eyelids in patients with acquired immune deficiency
      syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Infection with molluscum contagiosum has been reported in patients
      with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Involvement of the eyelids by
      molluscum in patients with AIDS has rarely been mentioned. METHODS: Two patients
      with AIDS presented with eyelid molluscum contagiosum. Detailed examination and
      follow-up was performed. RESULTS: One patient had noted ocular irritation with
      epiphora for several weeks and showed a typical viral keratoconjunctivitis in
      both eyes. The other patient progressed to confluent masses involving the entire
      lower eyelid on one side. Removal of the lesions by surgery and cryotherapy was
      followed by recurrences in both patients within 6 to 7 weeks, the incubation
      period for this viral infection. CONCLUSION: Molluscum contagiosum can form
      confluent lesions on the eyelids in patients with AIDS, which may cause a
      keratoconjunctivitis. Local removal of molluscum eyelid nodules appears to be of
      limited long-term value in patients with T-cell immunodeficiency.

PMID- 1454354
TI  - The evolution of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, the biosynthetic pathways of amino
      acids and the genetic code.
AB  - In this paper the partition metric is used to compare binary trees deriving from
      (i) the study of the evolutionary relationships between aminoacyl-tRNA
      synthetases, (ii) the physicochemical properties of amino acids and (iii) the
      biosynthetic relationships between amino acids. If the tree defining the
      evolutionary relationships between aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases is assumed to be a
      manifestation of the mechanism that originated the organization of the genetic
      code, then the results appear to indicate the following: the hypothesis that
      regards the genetic code as a map of the biosynthetic relationships between amino
      acids seems to explain the organization of the genetic code, at least as
      plausibly as the hypotheses that consider the physicochemical properties of amino
      acids as the main adaptive theme that lead to the structuring of the code.

PMID- 1454355
TI  - [Three decades of roentgen-diagnosis of the upper digestive tract in the light of
      modern endoscopy].
AB  - The author commemorating professor Geza Hetenyi, discusses the relation of
      endoscopy and x-ray diagnostic. He observes that the spreading of recent fibre
      optical endoscopes did not solve the problem of the early gastric cancer
      diagnosis. The experiences of the author based on his practice for several
      decades, data from the literature and, especially, the Japanese results show that
      x-ray did not lose its position but rather strengthened it in the diagnostics of
      the upper gastrointestinal tract. For examinations at identical levels, both
      diagnostic methods have equal opportunities to reveal gastric cancer at an early
      stage. In accordance with the type variety of early gastric cancer, the author
      discusses the relationship between early gastric cancer and gastric ulcer, and he
      proposes a rational algorithm for its diagnosis and follow-up. He shows that the
      most effective method for the diagnosis of the upper gastrointestinal tract is a
      reasonable combination of all available methods, and "primus inter pares" of them
      is x-ray examination, in addition to endoscopy.

PMID- 1454356
TI  - [Varicella pneumonia in adults].
AB  - The authors treated 93 adult patients (83 male, 10 female) with varicella from
      1st June 1987 to 30th April 1991. 13 patients had varicella pneumonia, two
      patients died. Special attention has been focused upon the diagnostic and
      prognostic problems, including bacterial superinfection. Authors stress the
      importance of the early diagnosis and treatment and discuss in detail the recent
      therapeutical and prophylactic opportunities.

PMID- 1454357
TI  - [Spontaneous and cytostatic therapy induced chromosome aberrations in testicular
      cancer patients].
AB  - Chromosomal aberrations were studied in peripheral blood lymphocytes from only
      surgery treated testicular cancer patients and treated with chemo- and/or
      radiotherapy. A distinct increase in spontaneous aberration frequency over the
      level of 27 healthy controls in 27 patients treated with surgery alone was found.
      Our data suggest the existence of a certain degree of chromosome instability,
      which may be a factor to the development of testicular tumour. The frequency of
      aberrant cells was much higher in 102 treated patients than in the controls. The
      decrease in aberrant cells was only time-dependently gradual in VPB and X-ray
      treated patients, while the second line combined treatment modalities caused the
      highest frequency of aberrant cells in the first two years after the end of
      courses. The possible relationship between the persistence of chromosomal
      aberrations and the development of malignancies are discussed in this paper.

PMID- 1454353
TI  - Experimental studies on the origin of the genetic code and the process of protein
      synthesis: a review update.
AB  - This article is an update of our earlier review (Lacey and Mullins, 1983) in this
      journal on the origin of the genetic code and the process of protein synthesis.
      It is our intent to discuss only experimental evidence published since then
      although there is the necessity to mention the old enough to place the new in
      context. We do not include theoretical nor hypothetical treatments of the code or
      protein synthesis. Relevant data regarding the evolution of tRNAs and the
      recognition of tRNAs by aminoacyl-tRNA-synthetases are discussed. Our present
      belief is that the code arose based on a core of early assignments which were
      made on a physico-chemical and anticodonic basis and this was expanded with new
      assignments later. These late assignments do not necessarily show an amino acid
      anticodon relatedness. In spite of the fact that most data suggest a code origin
      based on amino acid-anticodon relationships, some new data suggesting
      preferential binding of Arg to its codons are discussed. While information
      regarding coding is not increasing very rapidly, information regarding the basic
      chemistry of the process of protein synthesis has increased significantly,
      principally relating to aminoacylation of mono- and polyribonucleotides. Included
      in those studies are several which show stereoselective reactions of L-amino
      acids with nucleotides having D-sugars. Hydrophobic interactions definitely play
      a role in the preferences which have been observed.

PMID- 1454358
TI  - [Initial experience with ESWL therapy of pancreatic duct calculi].
AB  - Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of pancreatic stones was performed in four
      patients with chronic pancreatitis and a dilated duct system harbouring stones 5
      12 mm in diameter. The stones were disintegrated by shock waves using a Dornier
      lithotripter in one or more sessions. Disintegration of stones was achieved in
      4/4 patients, initial (6-11 months) relief of pain in 3/4 patients, and total
      clearance of pancreatic duct in 3/4 patients. No complications were observed. In
      the first patient in whom ESWL was not completely successful, underwent an
      operation: a longitudinal pancreato-gastrostomy and the stones were found
      completely disintegrated. From these early data they conclude that ESWL of
      pancreatic duct stones is a provisional new alternative for surgery in the
      treatment of chronic pancreatitis.

PMID- 1454359
TI  - [A successfully treated case of congenital hydrops by Kell-alloimmunization].
AB  - The authors report a successfully treated case of congenital hydrops caused by
      Kell alloimmunization. It is very important the early proper therapy and to make
      difference between the non immune hydrops fetus and the hydrops caused by
      alloimmunization. It seems to be indicated--also in Hungary, as the other
      European countries--the introduction of the screening of irregular antibodies
      during the pregnancy.

PMID- 1454360
TI  - [Hereditary aspects of Scheuermann disease, or what guarantees the reliability of
      the clinician's genetic knowledge?].

PMID- 1454361
TI  - [Nuchal edema as an ultrasonic sign of trisomy 21 during the first trimester of
      pregnancy].

PMID- 1454362
TI  - Clinical contrast sensitivity chart evaluation.
AB  - Three different types of contrast sensitivity chart were used on normal patients
      by six optometrists in clinical practice. The charts were the Vistech, the Pelli
      Robson and the Cambridge low-contrast gratings test. We examine the data in terms
      of the differences between optometrists and the variation of contrast sensitivity
      with the age of the patient. There was a highly significant difference between
      the scores from different optometrists for all three charts. We attribute this to
      variability in measurement technique. There was also a highly significant effect
      of age for all three charts, with older observers tending to exhibit lower
      contrast sensitivity. On the Vistech chart, this sensitivity deficit was most
      pronounced at higher spatial frequencies. The level of redundant information in
      the tests is discussed.

PMID- 1454363
TI  - Use of scrolled text in a scanning laser ophthalmoscope to assess reading
      performance at different retinal locations.
AB  - A new technique is described for assessing reading performance using a scanning
      laser ophthalmoscope. Letters of different sizes and contrasts were projected
      onto specific retinal locations of normal and low vision observers. Successive
      letters were scrolled in a horizontal direction at different speeds through a
      'window'. Throughout the experiments the subjects' fundus and the retinal
      location of the stimuli could be visualized. With this scanning laser
      ophthalmoscope text-scrolling computer program the subject does not search for
      adjacent letters, and because the eye is held relatively stationary the tedious
      eye movement analysis incurred in other studies is reduced. Five retinal areas
      were investigated in two normal observers. The percentage of letters correctly
      identified decreased with eccentricity, increased velocity of the text and
      reduced text contrast. The reading performance of two patients, one with age
      related macular degeneration and the other with juvenile macular disease, was
      investigated. Decrements in performance were related to morphology of the
      lesions.

PMID- 1454364
TI  - Intraocular pressure measurement in children using the Keeler Pulsair tonometer.
AB  - A study to determine whether Keeler Pulsair tonometry is a feasible alternative
      to tonometry under general anaesthesia in children was undertaken. We recruited
      53 children aged from 6 months to 9 years old. Readings were obtainable from 78%
      and a complete set of four readings from each eye was obtained from 45% of the
      group in an out-patient setting. Averaged Pulsair measurements agreed well with
      Perkins applanation tonometry values under general anaesthesia. Techniques to
      improve compliance are discussed. In conclusion, the Pulsair tonometer is a
      viable method for obtaining estimates of intraocular pressure in children in this
      age-group.

PMID- 1454365
TI  - Effect of restriction of the binocular visual field on driving performance.
AB  - The importance of the visual field on driving performance was investigated. This
      was undertaken by simulating binocular visual field defects for a group of young
      normal subjects and assessing the impact of these defects on performance on a
      driving course. Constriction of the binocular visual field to 40 or less,
      significantly increased time taken to complete the course, reduced the ability to
      detect and correctly identify road signs, avoid obstacles and to manoeuvre
      through limited spaces. Accuracy of road positioning and reversing were also
      impaired. Constriction of the binocular visual field did not significantly affect
      speed estimation, stopping distance, or the time taken for the reversing and
      manoeuvring tasks. The monocular condition did not significantly affect
      performance for any of the driving tasks assessed.

PMID- 1454366
TI  - Effect of induced fixation disparity on binocular visual acuity.
AB  - Fixation disparities were artificially created for distance vision by prisms, and
      the monocular and binocular visual acuities were measured. The normal approximate
      10% improvement in binocular visual acuity compared to monocular visual acuity,
      deteriorated in proportion to the amount of fixation disparity created by the
      prisms. This was true in both eso- and exo-disparity, although not to the same
      extent.

PMID- 1454367
TI  - Spatial adaptation to text on a video display terminal.
AB  - We employed vertical sinusoidal test gratings to search for spatial adaptation to
      lower-case text presented on a standard video display terminal. The parameters of
      the contrast sensitivity test were selected on the basis of waveform analysis of
      horizontal spatial luminance profiles of the text. We found that subjects
      exhibited a small (4-5 dB), but significant, frequency-specific spatial
      adaptation consistent with the frequency spectrum of the stimulus. The
      theoretical and practical significance of this finding is discussed.

PMID- 1454368
TI  - Negative feedback control model of proximal convergence and accommodation.
AB  - A comprehensive model has been developed to illustrate the interactions between
      the observer and the surrounding environment in the control of oculomotor
      responses to distance or 3-D space. Accommodation and vergence respond to both
      spatiotopic (body reference) proximal percepts and retinotopic (eye referenced)
      physical stimuli of blur and disparity. Both spatiotopic and retinotopic stimuli
      are derived respectively from perceptual and physical correlates of negative
      feedback for eye position. The spatiotopic and retinotopic stimulus errors are
      combined in the feedforward path and drive a common oculomotor controller which
      has a phasic-tonic organization. Spatiotopic and retinotopic stimuli are shown to
      be effective over complementary operating ranges. Perceptual spatiotopic errors
      of gaze provide optimal stimuli for near responses to large depth intervals
      whereas physical-retinotopic cues of blur and disparity provide quantitative
      information about small binocular fixation errors. Small dynamic variations of
      target distance are sensed both spatiotopically and retinotopically. Coarse and
      fine spatiotopic errors of gaze are processed differently. Large spatiotopic
      errors are sampled intermittently at the beginning of the near response, whereas
      small retinotopic position errors and spatiotopic velocity errors are sampled
      continuously throughout the near response. Former reports of empirically observed
      higher velocity of vergence responses to very large depth intervals is explained
      in terms of stimulus sampling modes rather than in terms of separate oculomotor
      control mechanisms. The model demonstrates a complementary function of top-down
      spatiotopic cues, which are used to initiate the near response, and bottom-up
      retinotopic cues, which are used to refine and complete the near response. Cross
      couplings by vergence-accommodation and accommodative-vergence serve to
      coordinate the components of the near response when feedback from sensed response
      of one motor system (i.e. vergence) is more accurate than that of the other motor
      system (i.e. accommodation). The model presented here is concerned primarily with
      the near response mediated by accommodation and disjunctive eye movements and not
      by the independent vergence mediated by non-conjugate or yoked saccades of
      unequal amplitude.

PMID- 1454369
TI  - Adaptation model of accommodation and vergence.
AB  - Both accommodation and vergence have been shown to exhibit adaptation after
      extended near viewing. Normally, when the stimulus to accommodation is removed,
      the accommodation system returns rapidly towards its tonic position. However, if
      the stimulus is removed after an extended focusing effort, the decay is much
      slower. A similar effect can be observed in the vergence system. After prolonged
      wearing of horizontal prisms, blockage of one eye results in a much slower decay
      of the vergence output towards its tonic value. No previous models have been
      shown to simulate quantitatively these effects. An interactive dual-feedback
      model of accommodation and vergence was developed to simulate the adaptive
      behaviour found experimentally. The unique feature of the model is that the
      output of each controller drives a dynamic adaptive component whose output
      governs the time constant of the controller. The model was able to simulate the
      rapid and slow decays following short and long viewing intervals in each of the
      accommodative and vergence systems. It also simulated adaptation during alternate
      binocular and monocular viewing under the accommodation closed-loop condition.
      Thus, this model can serve as the basis for detailed quantitative evaluation of
      adaptive behaviour in the accommodation and vergence systems.

PMID- 1454370
TI  - Time-averaged accommodation response to flickering stimuli.
AB  - Experiments are described in which the steady-state accommodation response versus
      stimulus curve was measured with an infrared autorefractor for high-contrast
      stimuli having a 100% square-wave temporal modulation of luminance in the
      frequency band 1-200 Hz. Slightly more accurate responses were found at
      frequencies approximately 50-100 Hz, i.e. above flicker fusion. The relevance of
      the results to practical situations in which flicker may be experienced is
      discussed.

PMID- 1454371
TI  - Compensatory eye movements during near fixation after fast adaptation to lenses.
AB  - When the eyes are converged on a near target, the gain of the vestibulo-ocular
      reflex (VOR) during a subsequent head rotation is dependent upon both the amount
      of vergence and the degree to which it is asymmetrical. In conditions without
      visual feedback, we measured the gain of the VOR in the right eye of observers as
      they rotated their heads to the right or left while viewing a target placed 22,
      32.5 or 200 cm from the centre of head rotation. We then adapted the VOR to the
      magnifying effects of +5 D lenses, and retested the VOR under the former
      convergence conditions. We found an inverse relationship such that the greater
      the VOR gain due to convergence, the less the effect of the rapid adaptation to
      lenses.

PMID- 1454372
TI  - Effects of monochromatic and chromatic oblique aberrations on visual performance
      during spectacle lens wear.
AB  - An optical system is described which allows overall visual performance to be
      studied when the wearer of a spectacle lens views objects through the lens
      periphery. Performance with lenses of any refractive power can be explored
      without any need for subjects to have the appropriate complementary refractive
      errors. In comparison with the effects of dioptric defocus, transverse chromatic
      aberration (TCA) is found to cause a relatively greater degradation in contrast
      sensitivity at high spatial frequencies when tangentially-oriented gratings are
      observed. The relative importance of TCA appears to have been underestimated in
      some previous studies. As vision is found to be affected by both TCA and defocus,
      a careful compromise between chromatic and monochromatic aberrations is required.

PMID- 1454373
TI  - QROC curves and kappa functions: new methods for evaluating the quality of
      clinical decisions.
AB  - The application of statistical methods for measuring the ability of clinical
      judgements and tests to discriminate between normal and diseased patients is
      increasing in optometry and ophthalmology. This paper presents two new methods
      for assessing the quality of such diagnostic decisions. Both are based on
      measurement of the kappa coefficient of association and offer theoretical and
      practical advantages over traditional methods. The paper first introduces the
      family of kappa coefficients with examples of their calculation and application.
      The use of weighted kappa values for measuring test sensitivity and specificity
      is explained, and it is shown how the results may be plotted in the form of the
      QROC curve which enables different aspects of test discriminability to be
      represented graphically. Kappa functions are then proposed as an alternative
      method for representing and predicting test performance, having the advantage of
      identifying optimal test criteria in addition to providing measures of
      discriminability. The clinical application of the new methods is illustrated
      using data for the detection of glaucoma from measurements of intraocular
      pressure.

PMID- 1454374
TI  - Accommodative responses to eccentric and laterally-oscillating targets.
AB  - There is little information on the accommodative response to stimuli having
      naturalistic motion on the retina. In the present experiment, the steady-state
      accommodative response at various dioptric levels was assessed with a Hartinger
      coincidence optometer as sinusoidal frequency of a small target was
      systematically altered across the horizontal foveal region (+/- 2 degrees). The
      steady-state accommodative response became less accurate as target oscillation
      frequency increased, approaching the tonic accommodation level when the frequency
      was between 0.5 and 1 Hz (corresponding to peak velocities of 6.3 and 12.6 deg s
      1, respectively). These results suggest that the accommodation system is
      reasonably robust to naturally-occurring retinal-image motion.

PMID- 1454375
TI  - Variation in ocular modulation and phase transfer functions with grating
      orientation.
AB  - For circular pupils of diameters < or = 2 mm the optical performance of the eye
      in monochromatic light is effectively diffraction-limited, so that its modulation
      transfer function (MTF) is essentially independent of grating orientation and its
      phase transfer function (PTF) is close to zero. For larger pupils, however, the
      wave aberration of the eye usually exceeds the Rayleigh quarter-wavelength limit.
      It is shown that the monochromatic MTF may then display marked variation with
      orientation and the associated PTFs can be non-zero. The exact effects vary
      markedly with the individual subject. In white light additional asymmetries may
      occur due to transverse chromatic aberration.

PMID- 1454376
TI  - Scheme for the calculation of ocular components in a four-surfaced eye without
      need for measurement of the anterior crystalline lens surface Purkinje images.
AB  - The computing scheme described in this paper allows calculation of the internal
      radii of the human eye on the assumption that it possesses four (two corneal and
      two lenticular) axially aligned spherical surfaces separated by homogeneous
      optical media. It involves measurement of Purkinje images I, II and IV. This
      approach is novel in that it accounts for the contribution of the posterior
      corneal surface and does not require measurement of the Purkinje images arising
      from the anterior crystalline lens surface which are notoriously poor in quality.

PMID- 1454377
TI  - Keratoreformation by contact lenses after radial keratotomy: a re-analysis.
AB  - A recent paper analysed change in refraction and corneal curvature associated
      with contact lens wear in patients who had had radial keratotomy at least a year
      beforehand. Conventional methods of analysis were used. This paper applies
      methods that have only recently become available. The results are clearer and
      less ambiguous. Formally, the analysis shows that there are significant mean
      changes in refraction (estimated to be +1.69/-0.50 x 105) and corneal power (
      0.66/-0.25 x 155). In spite of the difference between these two mean changes, the
      analysis shows that the change in refraction may be associated with change in the
      corneal power alone. There is no reason to believe that any other change is
      occurring in the eye. Care needs to be executed in assigning a causative role to
      contact lenses in changing refraction and corneal curvature. Almost certainly the
      lenses do have such a role but the analysis does not formally allow an
      unequivocal conclusion concerning that role.

PMID- 1454378
TI  - Colorimeter for the intuitive manipulation of hue and saturation and its role in
      the study of perceptual distortion.
AB  - A simple optical method for mixing coloured light is described. The observer has
      intuitive and approximately independent control over hue and saturation at
      constant brightness. The method facilitates colour matching by unpracticed
      observers. It allows children with reading difficulties to select a colour that
      reduces perceptual distortion of text. The chromaticity coordinates of this
      colour vary from one observer to another but can be very specific. Complementary
      colours can exacerbate the distortions and induce pain. For the majority of
      children reporting beneficial perceptual effects, the u' coordinate is less than
      0.25.

PMID- 1454379
TI  - Progressive addition lens channel dimension as a function of addition power.

PMID- 1454380
TI  - Mean visual acuity.

PMID- 1454381
TI  - What should medical students learn about pain?

PMID- 1454382
TI  - Postoperative analgesia: pain by choice? The influence of patient attitudes and
      patient education.
AB  - Postoperative pain control can be unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons,
      including patients' attitudes towards pain treatment itself. To assess patients'
      expectations and their influence on postoperative analgesia, as well as the
      prevalence of pain following common gynaecological surgery, a prospective study
      was performed in 166 patients with either abdominal hysterectomy, mastectomy,
      laparoscopy or uterine curettage. After a first postoperative period with routine
      on-demand analgesia, a nurse specialised in pain treatment discussed the purposes
      and risks of pain treatment with the patients and cared for these patients in the
      second, subsequent study period. Following this discussion, 30 of 40 patients
      refusing analgesics in the first study period agreed to be given pain medication.
      In the groups with hysterectomy or mastectomy, pain control improved in the
      second postoperative period, even though the doses of analgesics administered
      were generally lower. Education of patients regarding the aims and risks of pain
      therapy is an essential part of pain control and can lead to an improvement of
      postoperative analgesia.

PMID- 1454383
TI  - Chronic pain, relationships and illness self-construct.
AB  - A standardised illness self-construct repertory grid was used to evaluate
      relationships between people with chronic pain and the person to whom they felt
      closest. The 'Closest Other' was used to evaluate a wider range of relationships
      than generally included in research on 'spouse' reactions to chronic pain. The
      illness self-construct repertory grid indicated that closest others tended to
      place illness more centrally in the life of the individual with pain than did the
      person who had pain. The repertory grid provided information about the
      relationship which was not available from responses to open-ended questions. The
      statistical and theoretical assumptions of repertory grid technique make it ideal
      for intensive study of small groups or individuals best suited to clinical
      settings and not for screening large numbers of subjects.

PMID- 1454384
TI  - The Toddler-Preschooler Postoperative Pain Scale: an observational scale for
      measuring postoperative pain in children aged 1-5. Preliminary report.
AB  - This study evaluates the reliability and validity of the Toddler-Preschooler
      Postoperative Pain Scale (TPPPS), an observational scale developed to be a
      clinically useful measure of postoperative pain in children aged 1-5 years. The
      TPPPS consists of 7 items divided among 3 pain behavior categories: (1) Vocal
      pain expression; (2) Facial pain expression; and (3) Bodily pain expression.
      These items were derived from preliminary studies by the authors and from other
      observational studies of children's pain behavior. Seventy-four children between
      the ages of 12 and 64 months seen for inguinal hernia or hydrocele repair were
      the subjects of the study. Subjects were observed postoperatively for six 5-min
      intervals, commencing with their awakening from anesthesia, using the TPPPS. Two
      raters independently observed 28 of the children to assess inter-rater
      reliability. Validity was assessed by relating TPPPS scores to the timing and
      type of analgesics used, visual analog and numerical scale pain ratings made by
      parents and nurses, and perioperative vital signs. The TPPPS was found to possess
      satisfactory internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.88). Inter-rater
      reliability was good, with kappas for the pain behavior items ranging from 0.53
      to 0.78. Preliminary evidence of the scale's validity is provided by the
      sensitivity of the scale to analgesic regimen, the convergence between TPPPS
      scores and nurse and parent ratings of postoperative pain, and the associations
      found between TPPPS scores and perioperative vital signs.

PMID- 1454385
TI  - Evaluation of constricted affect in chronic pain: an attempt using the Toronto
      Alexythymia Scale.
AB  - The Toronto Alexythymia Scale (TAS) was applied as a potential measure of
      constricted affect among a sample of patients with chronic, non-malignant pain (n
      = 195). As previously demonstrated with non-clinical samples, the scale was found
      to possess moderate reliability with two principal internal factors. These
      factors seemed to reflect social introversion and a lack of proneness to fantasy.
      There was a moderate, negative association between them. The domain sampled by
      the TAS was apparently heterogeneous, with total scores showing no relationship
      to reported disability or pain intensity and a low relationship to reported
      distress. These results suggest potential limitations of the TAS and the
      alexythymia construct as means for evaluating constricted affect that accompanies
      chronic pain.

PMID- 1454386
TI  - Transdermal fentanyl and initial dose-finding with patient-controlled analgesia
      in cancer pain. A pilot study with 20 terminally ill cancer patients.
AB  - This pilot study evaluated the efficacy and side effects of a combination of
      initial patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for dose-finding with transdermal
      fentanyl administration. Twenty inpatients, requiring strong opioids for severe
      cancer pain, received intravenous fentanyl on an on-demand basis over a 24-h
      period. The amount of fentanyl administered was then used as a guideline for
      selecting a suitable transdermal therapeutic system (TTS) on the 2nd day, which
      remained in place for 3 days. The size of a 2nd TTS, being used from day 5 to 7,
      was adjusted according to the amount of supplementary intravenous fentanyl doses
      on day 3. From day 4 to 7 intravenous fentanyl was stopped, and subcutaneous
      morphine was made available as a rescue medication. A standardized adjuvant
      medication was allowed. Pain intensity, pain relief, quality of sleep, mood,
      general state of health, activity, mobility, rescue morphine consumption and side
      effects were assessed using a diary after baseline pain and symptoms were
      recorded. Vital functions were monitored and fentanyl plasma levels were measured
      daily in 15 patients. The use of TTS fentanyl in combination with initial dose
      titration using PCA gave rapid and statistically significant pain relief. Patient
      compliance and acceptance were excellent. In the absence of severe side effects
      the main complaints were dryness of the mouth and constipation. Increasing pain
      intensity and increasing supplementary morphine requirements as well as
      decreasing plasma fentanyl levels on day 7 may indicate that conversion ratios
      from intravenous to transdermal administration should be increased or that TTS
      should be changed earlier.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1454387
TI  - Influence of alprazolam on opioid analgesia and side effects during steady-state
      morphine infusions.
AB  - The primary purpose of this study was to examine whether alprazolam pretreatment
      can increase the analgesic potency of morphine without increasing opioid side
      effect intensities. We employed computer-controlled, variable-rate morphine
      infusions based on each subject's pharmacokinetic profile for morphine derived
      from a tailoring bolus dose of the drug administered 1 or 2 weeks before the
      infusion test sessions. On each of 2 test days, we used dental electrical
      stimulation to determine stimulus intensity that produced consistent reports of
      strong (but tolerable) pain; this intensity was used for the rest of that
      session. Then, we measured baseline (no drug) pain intensity reports, pain
      related evoked potentials recorded from vertex, and other parameters typically
      affected by opioids (subjective side effects). We administered alprazolam (1 mg)
      or placebo (lactose) orally to the subject and then repeated the test battery 30
      min later. One hour after the alprazolam or placebo dose, we initiated the
      tailored morphine infusion to reach target plasma morphine concentration plateaus
      of 16, 32 and 64 ng/ml (45-min duration each) on both test days. The test battery
      used during baseline was then repeated at each target concentration plateau. The
      order of alprazolam versus placebo pretreatments was counterbalanced across
      subjects and known only to the investigator operating the infusion system.
      Results suggest that alprazolam at the dose studied did not alter analgesic
      potency of morphine. However, alprazolam did clearly decrease the intensity of
      nausea reported by subjects during and after termination of the morphine
      infusions. Of special interest, alprazolam alone (30 min after oral dosing)
      decreased evoked potential amplitude consistently without affecting pain
      intensity reports.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1454388
TI  - Intracerebroventricular micro-injections of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
      abolish reperfusion hyperalgesia in the rat's tail.
AB  - Prostaglandins are mediators of reperfusion hyperalgesia; their site of action
      may be in the periphery, in the central nervous system, or both. We have
      investigated whether prostaglandins play a role in the central nervous system
      during reperfusion hyperalgesia, by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) micro
      injection of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), to inhibit local
      prostanoid synthesis. We induced tail ischaemia in conscious rats by applying an
      inflatable cuff at the base of the tail. The cuff was released at the first signs
      of co-ordinated escape behaviour. Responses to a noxious thermal stimulus were
      assessed, by measuring tail flick latency following immersion of the tail in
      water at 49 degrees C, prior to and immediately after release of the tourniquet.
      Tail flick latency decreased significantly following ischaemia, that is there was
      post-ischaemic reperfusion hyperalgesia. Intracerebroventricular micro-injection
      of NSAID prior to applying the tourniquet had no effect on the co-ordinated
      escape behaviour during ischaemia or on the tail flick latency after application
      of a sham tourniquet (uninflated cuff). However all the drugs abolished the
      hyperalgesia evident during reperfusion. Doses required to abolish hyperalgesia
      were 0.001 mg/kg indomethacin, 0.08 mg/kg dipyrone, 0.09 mg/kg ibuprofen, 0.2
      mg/kg diclofenac sodium and 0.2 mg/kg paracetamol. These doses are 2-3 orders of
      magnitude less than those necessary to abolish reperfusion hyperalgesia when the
      same drugs are administered systemically. Our results indicate that the
      development of reperfusion hyperalgesia of the rat's tail depends on the
      synthesis of prostanoids within the central nervous system.

PMID- 1454389
TI  - The effects of a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801, on behavioral
      hyperalgesia and dorsal horn neuronal activity in rats with unilateral
      inflammation.
AB  - The involvement of NMDA receptors in rats with peripheral inflammation and
      hyperalgesia was evaluated by administration of the non-competitive NMDA receptor
      antagonist, MK-801. Inflammation and hyperalgesia was induced by intradermal
      injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) or carrageenan into the left hind
      paw. The latency of paw withdrawal from a thermal stimulus was used as a measure
      of hyperalgesia in awake rats. MK-801 (1.6 mg/kg, i.p., or 31.5 micrograms,
      intrathecal) significantly attenuated thermal hyperalgesia and reduced its
      duration in comparison to saline-injected rats (P less than 0.05). The receptive
      field size of nociceptive-specific and wide-dynamic-range neurons in the
      superficial and deep spinal dorsal horn recorded 24 h after injection of CFA was
      significantly reduced to 73 +/- 6% (P less than 0.05, n = 8) and 74 +/- 4% (P
      less than 0.05, n = 8) of control values, respectively, by a cumulative dose of 3
      mg/kg of MK-801 (i.v.). MK-801 (2 mg/kg) prevented the expansion of the receptive
      fields of dorsal horn neurons recorded 5 +/- 0.4 h (n = 5) after intradermal
      injection of CFA as compared to saline-injected rats (P less than 0.05). MK-801
      had no significant effect on receptive field size of dorsal horn neurons in rats
      without CFA-induced inflammation but blocked a transient expansion of the
      receptive fields induced by 1 Hz, C-fiber intensity electrical stimulation of the
      sciatic nerve. The background activity and noxious heat-evoked response of dorsal
      horn neurons in rats with CFA-induced inflammation were primarily inhibited and
      noxious pinch-evoked activity was both facilitated and inhibited by the
      administration of MK-801. These results support the hypothesis that NMDA
      receptors are involved in the dorsal horn neuronal plasticity and behavioral
      hyperalgesia that follows peripheral tissue inflammation.

PMID- 1454390
TI  - Putative mechanisms of buspirone-induced antinociception in the rat.
AB  - Intraperitoneal administration of the serotonin 5-HT1A agonist, buspirone (1-5
      mg/kg), produced dose- and time-related core hypothermia that was coincident with
      analgesia against a thermally noxious stimulus. Surface body temperature was not
      altered by buspirone. The 5-HT1A antagonist, NAN-190 (2 mg/kg, s.c.), blocked
      both hypothermic and analgesic effects, while systemic administration of the
      opioid antagonist, naloxone (1 mg/kg, s.c.), did not change the pattern of
      buspirone-induced hypothermia or analgesia. The apparent lack of opioid
      involvement and the documented role of the 5-HT1A receptor system in
      neuroendocrine substrates of thermoregulation and pain modulation prompted study
      of adrenal function in these buspirone-induced effects. Buspirone (5 mg/kg, i.p.)
      produced significant elevations in plasma epinephrine (EPI) and corticosterone
      (CST). Bilateral adrenalectomy reduced both control and buspirone-elevated EPI
      and CST levels and attenuated the antinociceptive, but not hypothermic, effects
      of buspirone (1-5 mg/kg, i.p.). Administration of the phenylethanolamine-N
      methyltransferase (PNMT) inhibitor, dichloromethylbenzylamine (DCMB: 25 mg/kg,
      i.p.) reduced basal and buspirone-elevated plasma EPI, but not CST levels. This
      treatment did not affect buspirone-induced hypothermia, while significantly
      reducing buspirone antinociception. Pretreatment with the CST synthesis
      inhibitor, aminoglutethemide (AG: 2 x 25 mg/kg, i.p.), reduced plasma CST levels
      while not significantly affecting EPI. AG pretreatment did not alter the
      hypothermic effects of buspirone, but attenuated antinociception produced by the
      highest buspirone dose. The AG-induced reductions of buspirone antinociception
      were less than those effects produced by DCMB treatment. These data suggest that
      buspirone-induced antinociception may be a non-opioid, adrenally mediated co-
      and/or epi-phenomenon to core hypothermia evoked by 5-HT1A receptor agonism.

PMID- 1454391
TI  - The placebo effect: an unpopular topic.

PMID- 1454392
TI  - Effects of selective neurotoxic lesion of lumbosacral serotonergic and
      noradrenergic systems on autotomy behaviour in rats.
AB  - Male rats underwent unilateral ligation and transection of the sciatic and
      saphenous nerves 2, 7 or 14 days after being injected intrathecally (at the
      thoracolumbar junction) with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine
      (5,6-DHT) or vehicle, and the development of autotomy was monitored. The effects
      of both neurotoxins on cervicothoracic (C5-T1) and lumbosacral (L1-S1)
      norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) spinal cord
      levels were analysed by HPLC in separate groups of rats. 6-OHDA treatment (20
      micrograms/10 microliters) produced a rapid (from day 2) and significant (90-95%)
      fall in NE content only at L1-S1. 5,6-DHT administration (20 micrograms/10
      microliters) produced a gradual (68%, 90% and 94%, at 2, 7 and 14 days,
      respectively) and selective depletion of 5-HT only at L1-S1. DA levels remained
      essentially unchanged after both neurotoxins. No differences in monoamine levels
      were detected among groups injected with vehicle. The main effects of neurotoxins
      on autotomy were: (1) a significant delay in the onset of autotomy in the rats
      injected with 6-OHDA 2 days before neurectomy; (2) a trend to autotomize earlier
      and more severely in the rats injected with 5,6-DHT 7 days before neurectomy and
      (3) an almost complete suppression of autotomy in the rats injected with 5,6-DHT
      14 days before neurectomy. These results revealed that the expression of autotomy
      in rats can be modulated by interfering with spinal cord serotonergic activity
      and suggest new possible avenues for the treatment of certain specific pain
      diseases, such a phantom limb pain, by using selective agents capable of
      activating or blocking spinal cord serotonergic receptor subtypes.

PMID- 1454393
TI  - T-lymphocyte subsets in otherwise healthy patients with herpes zoster and
      relationships to the duration of acute herpetic pain.
AB  - T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3, CD4, and CD8 lymphocytes) in peripheral blood,
      parameters of cell-mediated immunity, were serially measured in 62 otherwise
      healthy Japanese patients with herpes zoster (HZ), and the findings were compared
      with those of 20 age-matched healthy controls who had had varicella but not HZ.
      Our objective was to elucidate whether there were changes in cell-mediated
      immunity, even in immunocompetent patients with HZ, and to investigate
      relationships between these variables and the duration of acute herpetic pain
      (AHP). All the patients underwent repeated sympathetic nerve blocks until pain
      was relieved. As compared with controls, there were slight increases in the
      percentages of CD4 lymphocytes (helper/inducer) and highly significant increases
      in the percentages of CD8 lymphocytes (suppressor/cytotoxic), resulting in marked
      decreases in CD4/CD8 ratios in the acute phase of HZ. The percentages of CD3
      lymphocytes (pan-T lymphocytes) did not differ significantly. The duration of AHP
      was analyzed in 49 patients in whom T-lymphocyte subsets were measured more than
      twice. There was a weak but statistically significant positive linear correlation
      between age and the duration of AHP (r = 0.43, P < 0.01). There were
      statistically highly significant positive linear correlations between the number
      of days on which percentages of CD3 (r = 0.72, P < 10(-8)) and CD4 lymphocytes (r
      = 0.60, P < 10(-5)), and CD4/CD8 ratios (r = 0.62, P < 10(-5)) reached the
      maximum values after the onset of HZ and the duration of AHP. These correlation
      coefficients were higher than that between age and the duration of AHP.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1454394
TI  - The simultaneous interview technique (SIT) and the codisciplinary model of
      chronic pain treatment.

PMID- 1454395
TI  - On the controversy of autotomy: a response to L. Kruger.

PMID- 1454396
TI  - Comments on Ward et al., PAIN, 44 (1991) 151-155.

PMID- 1454397
TI  - Does pre-operative fentanyl administration influence postoperative analgesia?

PMID- 1454398
TI  - Comments on Gong et al., PAIN, 48 (1992) 249-255.

PMID- 1454399
TI  - Comments on Swerdlow and Dieter, PAIN, 48 (1992) 205-213.

PMID- 1454400
TI  - The antinociceptive effects of intrathecally administered cannabinoids are
      influenced by lipophilicity.
AB  - Previous research has demonstrated that intravenously administered cannabinoids
      produce potent antinociception in rodents. The present study examined the ability
      of 16 cannabinoid analogs to produce antinociception and hypothermia after
      intrathecal administration. Fifteen of the compounds tested produced significant
      increases in the tail-flick response to radiant heat. This effect was
      stereoselective because N-methyl-dextronantradol, the inactive stereo-isomer of
      the potent cannabinoid analog N-methyl-levonantradol, failed to elevate tail
      flick latencies above baseline values. In general, the drugs tended to be more
      effective in producing hypothermia than antinociception. A positive correlation
      found between the ED50 values in producing antinociception and lipophilicity
      indicated that the most lipid-soluble drugs were the least active. In contrast,
      no apparent relationship between cannabinoid-induced hypothermia and
      lipophilicity was found. The finding that the antinociceptive effects of spinally
      administered cannabinoids is inversely related to lipophilicity is similar to
      that reported for the opiates.

PMID- 1454401
TI  - Quantitative sensory examination in human epidural anaesthesia and analgesia:
      effects of lidocaine.
AB  - To characterize the sensory effects of epidural lidocaine, 2 groups each of 10
      human subjects received 25 ml of 2% lidocaine at the L1-L2/L2-L3 interspace (high
      lumbar group) or at the L3-L4/L4-L5 interspace (low lumbar group). Twelve
      quantitative sensory tests in the L5 and S1 dermatomes and leg extension strength
      were determined every 30 min for 3 h. Sensory and motor blockade were more
      pronounced in the low than in the high lumbar group. Sensory functions were
      blocked in the following order by epidural lidocaine: warm > cold > electrical
      stimuli. Perception of brief localized noxious stimuli was attenuated more than
      perception of noxious stimuli of longer duration and involving larger stimulus
      areas. It is suggested that both peripheral mechanisms (differential conduction
      blockade of afferent fibres) and central mechanisms (temporal and spatial
      summation) play a role in the sensory effects of epidural lidocaine.

PMID- 1454402
TI  - The role of stressful life events in the persistence of primary headache: major
      events vs. daily hassles.
AB  - This study investigated the role of major stressful life events vs. minor life
      events (i.e., daily hassles) in the persistence of primary headache. It was
      hypothesized that chronic headache patients (n = 83) would be characterized not
      so much by exposure to a continued surfeit of inherently major life events as by
      a tendency to appraise cognitively and emotionally any ongoing microstressor or
      daily hassle as being more arousing or impactful than headache-free controls (n =
      51). As predicted, chronic headache patients reported a significantly higher
      frequency (P < 0.01) and density (P < 0.01) of daily hassles, but not of major
      life events, than controls. Furthermore, minor life events were significantly
      correlated with headache frequency (P < 0.001) and density (P < 0.001) but not
      with gender, age and headache history. In terms of item content, health-related
      hassles (e.g., trouble relaxing) were perceived as being the most stressful.
      Significant differences between headache subgroups (chronic tension-type
      headache, migraine, mixed headache) were found, with tension-type and mixed
      headache sufferers reporting a higher incidence and density of daily hassles than
      migrainous patients. It was concluded that daily hassles were significantly
      associated with the persistence of headache and might be a better life event
      approach to chronic headache than major stressful events.

PMID- 1454403
TI  - Cervicogenic headache, migraine without aura and tension-type headache.
      Diagnostic blockade of greater occipital and supra-orbital nerves.
AB  - The diagnostic value of greater occipital and supra-orbital nerve blockades in
      patients with cervicogenic headache, migraine without aura, and tension-type
      headache was investigated. The pain reduction after greater occipital nerve
      blockade was significantly more marked in the cervicogenic headache group than in
      the other categories. Moreover, pain reduction in the forehead was generally only
      found in the cervicogenic headache patients (77%). Pain reduction (in %) was
      significantly more marked following the greater occipital than the supra-orbital
      nerve blockade. The volume effect per se was evaluated by saline injection. This
      procedure did not result in distinct pain reduction. The effect obtained in
      cervicogenic headache is, accordingly, probably due to the local anaesthesia. The
      present results support the postulate that different pathogenetic factors
      probably are responsible for cervicogenic headache, tension-type headache, and
      migraine without aura.

PMID- 1454404
TI  - Long-term efficacy of combined relaxation: biofeedback treatments for chronic
      headache.
AB  - Thirty-four patients having chronic idiopathic headaches participated in a long
      term study comparing autogenic relaxation training alone (REL) with combinations
      of relaxation and electromyographic biofeedback (REL + EMG) or relaxation and
      temperature biofeedback (REL + TEMP). Assignment to treatment conditions was
      balanced on demographics and clinical characteristics, as well as headache
      classification according to muscle contraction or vascular headache
      symptomatology. The results indicate that REL + TEMP produced no additional
      improvements over REL following the 8-week treatment program, or at 6-month, or
      12-month follow-up. However, REL + EMG produced significantly greater reductions
      in headache activity measures than the REL and REL + TEMP conditions at all post
      treatment time points. Headache activity continued to improve over the follow-up
      period independent of treatment condition. These data indicate that EMG
      biofeedback augments long-term clinical improvements in headache patients who
      undergo autogenic relaxation training.

PMID- 1454405
TI  - The formalin test: an evaluation of the method.
AB  - The formalin test for nociception, which is predominantly used with rats and
      mice, involves moderate, continuous pain generated by injured tissue. In this way
      it differs from most traditional tests of nociception which rely upon brief
      stimuli of threshold intensity. In this article we describe the main features of
      the formalin test, including the characteristics of the stimulus and how changes
      in nociceptive behaviour may be measured and interpreted. The response to
      formalin shows an early and a late phase. The early phase seems to be caused
      predominantly by C-fibre activation due to the peripheral stimulus, while the
      late phase appears to be dependent on the combination of an inflammatory reaction
      in the peripheral tissue and functional changes in the dorsal horn of the spinal
      cord. These functional changes seem to be initiated by the C-fibre barrage during
      the early phase. In mice, the behavioural response in the late phase depends on
      the ambient temperature. We argue that the peripheral tissue temperature as well
      as other factors influencing the peripheral inflammation may affect the response,
      possibly confounding the results obtained with the test. Furthermore, we discuss
      the methods of recording the response and the value of observing more than one
      aspect of behaviour. Scoring of several behavioural variables provides a means of
      assessing motor or sensorimotor function as possible causes for changes in
      behaviour. In conclusion, the formalin test is a valuable addition to the battery
      of methods available to study nociception.

PMID- 1454406
TI  - Dissociating spontaneous and deliberate expressions of pain: signal detection
      analyses.
AB  - Neuro-anatomical and behavioral findings suggest that spontaneous and deliberate
      facial expressions are regulated by separate systems. The present study examined
      whether spontaneous and deliberate expressions of pain could be distinguished
      and, if so, the dimensions on which they differ. Forty subjects were exposed to
      electric shocks that varied from painless to strong pain. They also simulated
      facial reactions to the same levels. Observers rated the apparent pain in
      subjects' expressions and whether they were feigned or genuine. Signal detection
      analyses indicated that the intensity of deliberate expressions was greater than
      spontaneous expressions at levels below strong pain. Observers were able to
      distinguish between deliberate and spontaneous expressions to a modest degree.
      The intensity of deliberate expressions was related to role-playing ability. The
      results suggest that deliberate and spontaneous expressions of pain probably
      differ in intensity, topography and temporal features. They suggest that facial
      expressions of pain have different determinants than other forms of pain
      behavior.

PMID- 1454407
TI  - A canonical correlation analysis of the influence of neuroticism and extraversion
      on chronic pain, suffering, and pain behavior.
AB  - The relationship between neuroticism and extraversion on the 4 major stages of
      pain processing, that of pain sensation intensity, pain unpleasantness,
      suffering, and pain behavior, were studied in 205 chronic pain patients (88 male
      and 117 female). Patients underwent psychological evaluation which included the
      Pain Experience visual analogue scales (VAS) (Price et al. 1983), NEO Personality
      Inventory (NEO-PI) (Costa and McCrae 1985), and the Psychosocial Pain Inventory
      (PPI) (Getto and Heaton 1980). Canonical correlation was used to control for pain
      sensation intensity in evaluating affective dimensions of pain and to control for
      neuroticism in assessing effects of extraversion on different stages and
      dimensions of pain. Neither neuroticism nor extraversion were related to pain
      sensation intensity. Only neuroticism was associated with pain unpleasantness.
      Personality factors had their greatest impact on stages 3 (suffering) and 4
      (illness behavior) of pain processing. The results of multiple regression
      analyses indicated that life-long vulnerability to anxiety and depression is
      paramount in understanding the relationship between personality and suffering in
      chronic pain. These findings provide support for the idea that personality traits
      influence the ways in which people cognitively process the meanings that chronic
      pain holds for their life, and hence the extent to which they suffer.

PMID- 1454408
TI  - The relationship between spouse solicitousness and pain behavior: searching for
      more experimental evidence.
AB  - In this study 42 chronic back pain patients participated twice in a treadmill
      test. During 1 of these 2 sessions, the partner was present. Walking time, pain
      intensity ratings, and heart rate were measured before and after the tests. From
      the results of previous studies it was expected that, in the presence of a
      relatively solicitous spouse, patients would report more pain, would have a
      shorter walking time, and would exert themselves less physically. Spouse
      solicitousness was measured in 2 ways: from the patient's perspective as well as
      from that of the spouse. Results based on the patient's interpretation of his/her
      partner's responses are not in accordance with previous findings. Results based
      on the spouse's view demonstrate, however, that patients with solicitous spouses
      do, in fact, report more pain and walk for a shorter duration in the presence of
      the spouse than patients with relatively non-solicitous spouses. Theoretical and
      practical implications are discussed.

PMID- 1454409
TI  - The behavioral response to formalin in preweanling rats.
AB  - The behavioural response of rat pups, 1-20 days of age, to subcutaneous injection
      of formalin in a rear paw is described. Formalin-injected pups were compared to
      handled controls and to pups that received an injection of normal saline. Ongoing
      behaviour was recorded every 2 min for 60 min after injection. Injection of
      normal saline produced little disorganization of behaviour, although day-1, -3
      and -6 pups did frequently flex the limb on the injected side early in the
      session. Injection of 10 microliters of 1% formalin depressed active and quiet
      sleep in pups 10 days old and younger. Much less disruption of sleep was observed
      in day-15 pups, and in day-20 pups it was necessary to increase the concentration
      of formalin to 2.5% to produce a consistent behavioural response. The specific
      responses of pups to formalin injection were flexion of the limb, shaking the
      limb, and licking the injected paw. Pups of all ages displayed all of these
      responses, but in pups younger than 10 days, only limb flexion was consistent.
      Shaking became a consistent response in day-10 pups and licking in day-15 and -20
      pups. Non-specific behaviours (squirming, vigorous rear kicks with both hind
      limbs and convulsive whole body jerks) were markedly increased by formalin in
      younger pups with a developmental pattern: squirming and kicking in day-1 pups,
      kicking and jerking in day-3 to -15 pups. Non-specific behaviours decreased and
      specific behaviours increased with age. In addition, the overall intensity and
      duration of the response decreased with age. The biphasic time course of the
      response of adult rats to formalin injection did not appear until 15 days of age.

PMID- 1454410
TI  - Vagal afferent fibers excite upper cervical neurons and inhibit activity of
      lumbar spinal cord neurons in the rat.
AB  - Effects of electrical stimulation of the cervical vagus nerve were determined in
      cervical or lumbar spinal neurons in 27 rats anesthetized with pentobarbital.
      Ipsilateral cervical vagus stimulation (ICVS) increased activity of 44 neurons in
      the C1 segment. At the same stimulation parameters, contralateral cervical vagus
      stimulation (CCVS) either increased, decreased or did not affect activity of C1
      neurons that were excited by ICVS. For C1 cells excited by both ICVS and CCVS,
      the mean latency for activation was significantly longer for CCVS than for ICVS,
      and ICVS produced a greater degree of excitation than CCVS. In segments C2-C6, 16
      of 18 neurons were excited by ICVS and 2 were inhibited. However, CCVS did not
      excite the C2-C6 neurons but either inhibited or did not affect activity. In 6
      cervical cells, a CCVS conditioning stimulus reduced the level of excitation by
      ICVS (test stimulus). Transection of the C2 or C3 dorsal roots did not
      significantly affect the excitatory vagal input to C1 cells. Excitatory somatic
      receptive fields were classified for 60 cervical spinal cells that responded to
      vagal stimulation. Most (87%) cells were excited by noxious pinch; 29 were wide
      dynamic range (WDR) cells and 21 were high threshold cells. In contrast to upper
      cervical neurons, spinothalamic tract (STT) and spinal cells in lumbar segments
      were not excited by ICVS or CCVS at the stimulation parameters used in this
      study, but were primarily inhibited by vagal stimulation. Results of this study
      showed that a group of cells in upper cervical segments were excited by vagal
      afferents. This excitatory vagal input reaches the C1 segment primarily via an
      ipsilateral, supraspinal route.

PMID- 1454411
TI  - [The parasitism of the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei (Acariformes: Sarcoptidae)].
AB  - The life cycle of the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei (L.), an intracutaneous
      parasite of man and animals, has been studied. The paper concerns morphological
      adaptations, embryonal and postembryonal development, life cycle pattern,
      scabious passage as a reproductive formation, invasive stages, feeding,
      reproduction and topical relationships with the host, distribution and survival
      in the environment.

PMID- 1454412
TI  - [The organization of purine and pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis in Sporozoa
      (Protozoa)].
AB  - Analysis of peculiarities in organization and functioning of metabolic ways of
      biosynthesis of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides in representatives of Sporozoa
      type has shown that molecular aftereffects of adaptation to intracellular
      parasitism in unicellular eukaryotes consists in the increase in the level of
      molecular organization, loss of some metabolic path ways and some enzymes, origin
      of a new metabolic system, a host-parasite one. Functioning of this system is
      achieved due to developing by the parasite mechanisms that are similar to the
      host's ones.

PMID- 1454413
TI  - [Nematodirus nemorhaedi sp. n. (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae) from the Amur goral
      Nemorhaedus caudatus raddeanus].
AB  - Nematodirus nemorhaedi sp. n. is described. The new species was found in the
      small intestine in three long-tailed gorals from the Maritime Territory. The
      species differs from other species of the genus, parasites of ungulates, by very
      large (over 1.5 mm) spicules and characteristic structure of their distal end in
      males; by long (about 1 mm) ovijector in females and by a specific combination of
      characters of synloph, genital bursa in males, sizes of body, structure of vulva,
      sizes and shape of eggs and tail in females.

PMID- 1454414
TI  - [The dependence of the quantitative indices of the infection of Yamal rodents
      with ectoparasites on the method of trapping].
AB  - Comparative data on the effect of the method of catching rodents in tundra on the
      composition and quantitative indices of parasite fauna are analyzed. The catching
      of rodents by means of traps in the isolated areas results in 30 to 60% decrease
      in the indices of abundance of gamasid mites as compared to the catching of
      animals with dogs. The infection of dead animals with fleas is 4 times lower than
      that of living ones.

PMID- 1454415
TI  - Opposite influences of host anaemia on blood feeding rate and fecundity of
      mosquitoes.
AB  - We tested a theoretical model based on the physics of capillary flow and
      confirmed that anaemia accelerates blood intake in the yellow-fever mosquito,
      Aedes aegypti (L.). We also investigated the influence of anaemic blood on egg
      production of mosquitoes and found that it has a negative influence on fecundity.
      Based strictly on egg production and the physics of fluid intake, we propose that
      although anaemia associated with blood-borne parasites may be detrimental to
      mosquitoes that can engorge to repletion in one session, it may be beneficial to
      those interrupted before repletion because the greater quantity of the bloodmeal
      may compensate for its lower quality. Epidemiological consequences are discussed
      but require further inquiry.

PMID- 1454416
TI  - Endogenous superoxide dismutase activity in two Babesia species.
AB  - Babesia hylomysci and B. divergens were studied for superoxide dismutase (SOD)
      activity by enzyme assay and isoelectric focusing (IEF). In the two Babesia
      species, parasite-associated SOD is cyanide-insensitive and inhibited by H2O2,
      indicating that iron is the cofactor metal. Measurements of SOD activity from
      purified parasites show that the SOD activity detected in Babesia is, for the
      main part, due to an endogenous enzyme.

PMID- 1454417
TI  - Axenic cultivation and characterization of Leishmania mexicana amastigote-like
      forms.
AB  - A new method is described which has made possible the long-term axenic
      cultivation of Leishmania mexicana amastigote-like forms in Schneider's
      Drosophila medium supplemented with 20% (v/v) foetal calf serum. Unlike previous
      methods, it utilizes direct culture of parasites obtained from the lesions of
      infected animals rather than adaptation of promastigotes in vitro.
      Ultrastructural (possession of megasomes), biochemical (cysteine proteinase
      activity and gelatin SDS-PAGE banding pattern) and infectivity (in vivo) data are
      presented which show the close similarity of the cultured forms to lesion
      amastigotes. The axenically cultured forms grew optimally at a temperature of 32
      33 degrees C, providing further evidence for their amastigote nature. It was
      found that adjustment of the pH of the growth medium to 5.4 was required in order
      to retain the amastigote morphology of the cultured parasites. This supports the
      notion that leishmanial amastigotes are acidophiles.

PMID- 1454418
TI  - The ENZYMEBA test: detection of intestinal Entamoeba histolytica infection by
      immuno-enzymatic detection of histolysain.
AB  - We describe a new, improved test for the detection of intestinal infection by
      Entamoeba histolytica. The test depends upon immunoadsorption of the E.
      histolytica cysteine proteinase, histolysain, from faecal samples, and subsequent
      visual detection of the enzyme by a colour reaction. With samples from 200
      volunteers, results agreed closely with those obtained by the conventional
      microscopic technique, and there were no false positive reactions with samples
      containing other parasites. The test is suitable for use either in the laboratory
      or in the field.

PMID- 1454419
TI  - Circulating antibodies to histolysain, the major cysteine proteinase of Entamoeba
      histolytica, in amoebic liver abscess patients.
AB  - A solid-phase enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used to detect circulating antibodies
      to histolysain, the major cysteine proteinase of Entamoeba histolytica. Serum
      samples from 40 healthy controls, 33 asymptomatic E. histolytica cyst passers and
      22 patients with amoebic liver abscess were tested. Antibodies to histolysain
      were found in 72.7% of cases of amoebic liver abscess, 18.1% of the cyst passers
      and 2.5% of healthy controls, which suggests that a humoral immune response is
      induced by histolysain during amoebic liver abscess.

PMID- 1454420
TI  - Purification and characterization of a 47 kDa protease from Schistosoma mansoni
      cercarial secretion.
AB  - Fractionation of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae gland secretion on a Sephadex G
      150 column followed by a Superose-12 column in an FPLC system, isolated a 47 kDa
      protease which migrated as a single band on SDS-PAGE gels. A monoclonal antibody
      (MAb) was produced which recognizes only the 47 kDa protease, and an immuno
      affinity column with the MAb was used to isolate the protease. The 47 kDa
      protease showed activity on several macromolecules such as elastin and collagen
      type VI besides gelatin and casein. This suggests that this enzyme can be one of
      the enzymes that might facilitate invasion of the cercariae through host skin.
      The optimal pH of the protease against the synthetic substrate, Ac-Phe-Arg-Nan,
      in Tris-HCl buffer was 10. Experiments with protease inhibitors indicate that the
      purified enzyme is a serine protease.

PMID- 1454422
TI  - The effects of computer-controlled shadow stimuli on the success of cercarial
      transmission by Cryptocotyle lingua (Digenea: Heterophyidae).
AB  - Pectoral fins from juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were used in a
      bioassay, the object of which was to quantify the effect of simulated shadow
      stimuli on the transmission success of the cercariae. For a period of 60 min,
      parasites and fins were exposed to a sequence of computer-controlled shadow
      stimuli, continuous light or total darkness, and subsequently the number of
      infections was counted. Trials were conducted with cercariae 1, 12 and 24 h old.
      Within the constraints of the experimental procedure, shadows were found to
      increase significantly the number of infections achieved by the 12-h-old
      parasites. As the cercariae aged, their ability to infect host tissue declined.
      The relevance of these results to transmission in the natural environment is
      discussed.

PMID- 1454421
TI  - On the use of age-intensity data to detect immunity to parasitic infections, with
      special reference to Schistosoma mansoni in Kenya.
AB  - We consider two phenomena, related to the host age-intensity profiles of
      parasitic infections, which have been suggested to be indicative of acquired
      immunity: (i) a lower age of peak intensity among more intensely infected hosts;
      and (ii) a decline with age in the dispersion of the distribution of parasites
      between hosts. We demonstrate that these phenomena occur among Kenyan
      schoolchildren infected with Schistosoma mansoni, although the magnitude of both
      is small. We also examine the mathematical models underlying these predictions
      and conclude that both phenomena are possible in the absence of acquired immunity
      or, indeed, in the absence of any density-dependent effect. In our opinion,
      insufficient attention has been focused upon mathematical models, describing the
      null hypothesis, i.e. density-independent models. In particular, we regard the
      usual assumptions made for the two stochastic components of these models,
      describing the heterogeneity between hosts and the probabilistic nature of
      infection and death of parasites, as too rigid and unrealistic. We demonstrate
      that deviation from these assumptions undermines the qualitative distinctions
      between models which describe acquired immunity or density dependence and those
      which are density-independent.

PMID- 1454423
TI  - The dynamics of trickle infections with Ancylostoma ceylanicum in inbred
      hamsters.
AB  - Trickle infections with a hamster-adapted strain of the hookworm Ancylostoma
      ceylanicum were studied by administering doses of 5-30 larvae twice weekly to
      inbred DSN hamsters. The worm burdens were regulated at very low levels, and this
      was found to be independent of the size of the infective dose. It is likely that
      there is some turnover of adult worms during trickle infection, as larvae of all
      stages were recovered from most time-points. This regulation is immunologically
      mediated and both the worm burdens and fecundity were increased in hamsters that
      were immunosuppressed by cortisone treatment. A trickle infection regime also
      induced a 67% protective immunity to a single subsequent challenge. The
      resistance that occurred during trickle infections was, however, incomplete, and
      some worms were found to survive in hamsters that had been repeatedly infected
      for over 10 weeks. Thus, although hamsters are capable of regulating the
      infection, some worms are capable of surviving the host immune effectors.

PMID- 1454424
TI  - The use of suckling mice to isolate and grow Giardia from mammalian faecal
      specimens for genetic analysis.
AB  - A simple technique is described for preparation of Giardia cysts from faecal
      samples, the growth of trophozoites in suckling mice and the isolation of
      trophozoites for genetic analysis by allozyme electrophoresis. In total, 125 new
      isolates of Giardia have been collected from human and animal sources over a wide
      geographical area of South Australia and the Northern Territory of Australia. A
      number of long-established axenized isolates of G. intestinalis belonging to
      Groups I and II also adapted to grow in suckling mice. These findings indicate
      that suckling mice are permissive hosts for a variety of genetically dissimilar
      but morphologically similar organisms of the G. duodenalis type and that this in
      vivo technique may be less selective than isolation by in vitro culture. The use
      of suckling mice has revealed that infections can be composed of mixed genotypes
      and that isolation and purification techniques can be selective. Allozymic
      interpretation is essential to reveal the genetic complexity of such mixtures.

PMID- 1454426
TI  - Lectin binding to secretory structures, the cuticle and the surface coat of
      Toxocara canis infective larvae.
AB  - Toxocara canis infective larvae are known to produce abundant glycosylated
      molecules which may be found associated with the surface or secreted into their
      environment. Using a range of fluorescein-conjugated and gold-conjugated lectins,
      the localization of particular carbohydrates was defined on the surface of live
      parasites, and internally at the ultrastructural level. Surface exposure of N
      acetyl galactosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine was deduced by binding of FITC
      conjugated Helix pomatia (HPA) and wheat-germ agglutinins (WGA). These sugars
      appear to be associated with a densely staining surface coat as conventional
      immuno-electron microscopy procedures dissipate this coat and reveal no surface
      binding site for these lectins. However, by using cryo-immuno-electron
      microscopical (C-IEM) techniques, the surface coat is retained and can be shown
      to bind WGA. The fluorescent lectins also revealed strong WGA binding to the
      secretory and amphidial pores, while the buccal opening and the cuticular alae
      bound HPA. Corresponding results were obtained at the ultra-structural level.
      Thus, HPA bound to the electron-dense area of the cuticle, areas of local
      cuticular thickening such as the alae and buccal labia, as well as to the
      oesophageal lumen. WGA also bound to the thickened cuticle of the alae and the
      buccal opening, but showed no reaction to either the electron-dense layer of the
      cuticle or the oesophageal lumen. Unlike HPA, WGA did bind specifically to the
      secretory column contents and the electron-dense regions of the lips associated
      with the chemosensory amphids. The compartmentalization of the sugars N-acetyl
      galactosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine, their sources and routes of surface
      expression and the possible association with the TES glycoprotein antigens are
      discussed.

PMID- 1454425
TI  - The relationship between Trichuris trichiura transmission intensity and the age
      profiles of parasite-specific antibody isotypes in two endemic communities.
AB  - The present study compares parasite-specific antibody responses in two Caribbean
      communities with high and low levels of Trichuris trichiura transmission. The age
      dependency of antibody levels suggest that IgG1 and IgG2 levels relate to the
      current intensity of infection (as assessed by density of eggs in stool (e.p.g.)
      and reflect the age-intensity profile at the population level. IgG4, IgE and IgA
      levels persist into early adulthood and the subsequent decline is gradual. In the
      low transmission area, lower infection levels are reflected in lower parasite
      specific antibody levels (of all isotypes) in the community as a whole. Despite a
      significantly greater past experience of infection in the high transmission area,
      antibody levels are not maintained at significantly higher levels throughout
      adulthood. The production of IgA appears to require a threshold for triggering,
      and a vigorous IgA response is maintained into early adulthood only in the high
      transmission village where peak intensity is greatest and the age-convexity of
      intensity is most marked. Experimental and theoretical studies focusing on the
      dynamic nature of host-helminth interactions in hosts exposed to high and low
      infection levels, and the putative role of acquired immunity, are discussed in
      relation to the data presented.

PMID- 1454427
TI  - Biosynthesis and glycosylation of serine/threonine-rich secreted proteins from
      Toxocara canis larvae.
AB  - Toxocara canis infective stage larvae continually produce excretory-secretory
      (TES) glycoproteins in long-term in vitro culture. The kinetics of synthesis and
      secretion were studied by metabolic labelling with radioactive [35S]methionine,
      [14C]serine and [14C]threonine. Maximal incorporation rates required overnight
      pre-incubation of parasites in medium depleted of the appropriate amino acid.
      Larvae rapidly incorporated isotope into their somatic tissues, but there was a
      minimum delay of 10 h before secretion of labelled antigens. Labelling with
      [14C]serine and [14C]threonine demonstrated a relative abundance of these amino
      acids in the major surface/secreted glycoproteins of this nematode (TES-32 and
      120). Pulse-chase experiments suggested that TES-120 may be derived from a 58 kDa
      precursor, reflecting extensive posttranslational glycosylation. Inhibition of N
      glycosylation with tunicamycin and digestion with N-glycanase provided evidence
      of N-glycosylation in the lower molecular weight ES components (TES-32, 55 and
      70). These agents had no effect on the higher molecular weight components (TES
      120 and 400) implying that for these molecules glycosylation is predominantly O
      linked. The largest ES component (TES-400) was unusual, in incorporating serine
      and threonine but not methionine, and by exhibiting increased apparent molecular
      weight following pronase digestion; it is suggested that this molecule is a
      proteoglycan.

PMID- 1454428
TI  - The secreted and somatic proteinases of the bovine lungworm Dictyocaulus
      viviparus and their inhibition by antibody from infected and vaccinated animals.
AB  - Proteinase activities were examined in extracts and excretory-secretory (ES)
      products of the infective and adult stages of the cattle lungworm, Dictyocaulus
      viviparus. Multiple enzyme activities were identified from each source, as
      defined by pH optima, substrate specificities, inhibitor effects and substrate
      gel electrophoresis. Serine-, cysteine- and metalloproteinases were identified,
      secreted materials being more active against protein substrates per unit protein
      than were extracts, and the particular proteinases produced varied with the
      developmental stage of the parasite. The antigenicity of these parasite
      proteinases was demonstrated by the inhibition of enzymic activity with Protein G
      purified serum IgG antibody from both infected and vaccinated hosts and in the
      retardation of enzyme migration on electrophoresis of enzyme-antibody complexes.
      For the adult products, this confirmed that the enzymes concerned were of
      parasite origin, and not host-derived. These results argue for investigation of
      D. viviparus proteinases as targets for the antibody response in the limitation
      of parasite-mediated tissue damage and as the active principle behind the anti-D.
      viviparus vaccine.

PMID- 1454429
TI  - Effects of testosterone on Heterakis spumosa infections in mice.
AB  - This study describes the effects of testosterone (Te) on the intestinal nematode
      Heterakis spumosa in mice. The course of Heterakis infections is apparently under
      Te-control. At high circulating Te-levels as occurring in intact males, Te
      treated females, and Te-treated castrated males, the period of release of
      Heterakis eggs in mouse faeces is greatly extended and the number of eggs
      released per unit time is markedly elevated in comparison to low Te-levels, as
      found in untreated females and castrated male mice. Also, the onset of the patent
      period occurs earlier in Te-treated mice. Testosterone also accelerates
      development and growth of both female and male worms of Heterakis in mice. Thus,
      young adult male worms can be observed in the upper colon of Te-treated castrated
      male mice on day 21 post-infection (p.i.), whereas, at that time, only L4 larvae
      are present in Te-untreated male castrates. Testosterone also favours the
      survival of nematodes in hosts. In untreated male castrates, the number of worms
      present on day 7 p.i. (L2 larvae) is approximately two thirds higher than that
      found on day 21 p.i. However, such a reduction in the number of worms does not
      occur in Te-treated castrated mice during the same period of time. The early
      phases of the life-cycle of Heterakis, i.e. hatching in the small intestine and
      final settling of L2 larvae in the upper colon are independent of Te. Also, Te
      does not affect motility and even slightly reduces the fecundity of adult female
      worms in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1454430
TI  - Infective endocarditis in children.
AB  - IE in children is associated primarily with underlying congenital structural
      heart lesions, predominantly septal defects or complex lesions involving septal
      defects. During the past 20 years IE associated with rheumatic heart disease has
      declined to a negligible number. Recently nosocomial catheter-associated
      bacteremia has been associated with the development of IE, especially in infants.
      Streptococci are most frequently associated with IE involving natural valves.
      Although streptococci have also been implicated in cases of IE associated with
      previous surgery or catheter-related infection, staphylococci, Gram-negative rod
      species and multiple infecting species are also encountered in this setting.
      Because infection can often be managed medically, removal of grafts or prosthetic
      valves is not necessary unless clinical or microbiologic failure occurs.
      Penicillin with or without an aminoglycoside is the regimen for most community
      acquired streptococcal IE. A penicillinase-resistant beta-lactam generally is
      substituted for penicillin in IE caused by an unknown agent and is used in cases
      of staphylococcal IE. For IE caused by resistant staphylococci, vancomycin is the
      alternative agent. Currently there is limited information on the efficacy of
      alternative agents for treating IE caused by enterococci or staphylococci with
      multiple antibiotic resistance.

PMID- 1454431
TI  - Outbreak of group A streptococcal infection in a day-care center.
AB  - During an outbreak of streptococcal infections in a day-care center it is often
      difficult to determine the source and extent of the outbreak and the optimal
      means of management. An intervention strategy based on repeated throat cultures
      and initial antibiotic treatment of culture-positive individuals was used during
      an outbreak of respiratory tract infections with Group A streptococci at a day
      care center. The spread of streptococci carriers was studied. Two weeks after the
      diagnosis of the index case, 61% of the 30 children were colonized with Group A
      streptococci. From 20 to 30% of the children remained streptococcal carriers, but
      they did not give rise to secondary cases. Initially the environment was heavily
      contaminated with Group A streptococci. Damp material might constitute a
      potential source of streptococcal spread. All Group A streptococcal strains
      belonged to the same serotype, T12M12. Prompt recognition and intervention are
      important to prevent spread of streptococcal infection to many day-care
      attenders.

PMID- 1454432
TI  - Comparative study of the effectiveness of cefixime and penicillin V for the
      treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis in children and adolescents.
AB  - An open label randomized trial conducted in rural Kentucky compared the efficacy
      and safety of cefixime (CFX), 8 mg/kg once daily, with those of penicillin V
      (PEN), 250 mg 3 times daily, in 110 pediatric patients with Group A beta
      hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis. Forty-eight CFX and 47 PEN patients were
      evaluable for efficacy. At the end of therapy bacteriologic eradication was 45 of
      48 (94%) and 36 of 47 (77%) in the CFX and PEN V groups, respectively (P < 0.05).
      Up to 6 weeks posttherapy 10 (21%) CFX patients and 21 (45%) PEN patients had
      positive Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus cultures (P < 0.05). Concordant
      serotypes were identified from 4 of 7 CFX and 15 of 17 PEN patients with positive
      repeat cultures. All discordant serotypes (5 of 31) were identified at greater
      than 19 days posttherapy. Symptomatic treatment failures (concordant serotypes)
      occurred in 1 (2%) CFX and 8 (17%) PEN patients (P < 0.05). Drug-related adverse
      experiences consisted of 2 cases of mild diarrhea and loose stools in the CFX
      group and none in the PEN group. No clinically significant laboratory test
      abnormalities occurred in either group. CFX, once daily, was as safe as and
      significantly more effective than PEN given 3 times daily for the treatment of
      Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis.

PMID- 1454433
TI  - Oral ciprofloxacin in the management of chronic suppurative otitis media without
      cholesteatoma in children: preliminary experience in 21 children.
AB  - The current medical management of children with chronic suppurative otitis media
      without cholesteatoma unresponsive to local treatment and oral antibiotics is
      intravenous antibiotic therapy in the hospital setting. We studied the efficacy
      and toxicity of oral ciprofloxacin in chronic suppurative otitis media. Twenty
      one children received oral ciprofloxacin, 30 mg/kg/day. Ear discharge was
      positive for bacteria resistant to other oral medications and susceptible to the
      quinolones. The mean duration of treatment was 16.7 days. In 18 children
      suppuration ceased and 3 failed their first course. During a mean follow-up of
      15.4 months, 6 children remained free of ear, nose and throat problems. Otorrhea
      recurred in 12 children. Ear cultures were positive for organisms susceptible to
      amoxicillin in 5 of them. In 7 cases Pseudomonas aeruginosa was again isolated
      from otorrhea. Repeated antibiotic therapy was advocated only in 3 (2 responded
      to ciprofloxacin; 1 failed ciprofloxacin and was cured by ceftazidime). Adverse
      clinical effects were not observed. Transient neutropenia was observed in 1
      child. There was no change in the height percentile. The results of this study
      show that children with chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma
      can be effectively treated with oral ciprofloxacin. This novel approach may
      prevent hospitalization.

PMID- 1454434
TI  - Safety and immunogenicity of acellular pertussis vaccine, combined with
      diphtheria and tetanus as the Japanese commercial Takeda vaccine, compared with
      the Takeda acellular pertussis component combined with Lederle's diphtheria and
      tetanus toxoids in two-, four- and six-month-old infants.
AB  - A double blind, randomized, controlled trial compared the safety and
      immunogenicity of an acellular pertussis vaccine formulated at Lederle using the
      Takeda acellular pertussis component combined with Lederle diphtheria and tetanus
      toxoids vaccines (APDT), with the commercially available Japanese Takeda vaccine
      (APDT-T/J) as a three-dose series to 2-, 4-, and 6-month-old children. Sera were
      analyzed for antibody to pertussis antigens: lymphocytosis-promoting factor;
      filamentous hemagglutinin; 69-kDa outer membrane protein; pertussis
      agglutinogens; neutralizing antibodies to LPF; and to diphtheria and tetanus
      toxoids. Information concerning local reactions and systemic events were
      collected daily for 10 days postimmunization. The overall reaction rate was low
      for both groups. There were no reactions that contraindicated subsequent vaccine
      and no serious adverse events. For local reactions statistically significant
      differences between the groups were seen only for a greater incidence of
      induration in the APDT group at 2 months (12% vs. 0%, P < 0.01), and at 4 months
      (8% vs. 0%, P = 0.4) compared to the APDT-T/J group. Of the few systemic
      reactions the only statistically significant difference between the vaccine
      groups was a greater incidence of fretfulness in the APDT group after the initial
      immunization (12% vs. 2%, P = 0.05). There were no statistically significant
      differences in the immune response between the two vaccines at the 7-month visit.
      We conclude that APDT is equivalent to the commercially available Takeda vaccine
      (APDT-T/J).

PMID- 1454435
TI  - Relatedness of strains of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus
      colonizing hospital personnel and producing bacteremias in a neonatal intensive
      care unit.
AB  - The emergence of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus as a
      major bacterial pathogen in neonatal intensive care units has stimulated interest
      in the epidemiology of spread of the organism. During a 12-month "epidemic" of
      bacteremias with methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus we
      compared the characteristics of bacteremic and personnel nasally-carried strains
      by traditional and biomolecular methods. Sixty-two percent of neonatal intensive
      care unit nurses were colonized with methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative
      Staphylococcus with similar speciation to bacteremic strains. Inspection of
      plasmid profiles revealed a moderate degree of similarity between bacteremic and
      colonizing strains although genomic DNA restriction patterns showed diversity.
      Ribotype patterns were highly conserved (90%) in personnel strains. A 2.6
      kilobase plasmid DNA probe hybridized to similarly sized plasmids and larger
      plasmids in one-half of the strains. We hypothesize that related methicillin
      resistant strains may be transferred among personnel and neonates in the neonatal
      intensive care unit. Epidemiologic studies of coagulase-negative staphylococci
      should consider multiple molecular techniques to relate strains.

PMID- 1454437
TI  - Epidemiology of adult sexually transmitted disease agents in children being
      evaluated for sexual abuse.
AB  - This prospective study describes the epidemiology of adult sexually transmitted
      disease agents in 1538 children ages 1 to 12 years being evaluated for possible
      sexual abuse. Infections with these agents were related to the presence or
      absence of a history of sexual contact. Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) was found in
      2.8% (41 of 1469); human papillomavirus presenting as condyloma acuminata, 1.8%;
      Chlamydia trachomatis, 1.2% (17 of 1473); Treponema pallidum (syphilis), 0.1% (1
      of 1263); and herpes simplex virus, 0.1%. Overall a history of sexual contact was
      present in 83% of children with N. gonorrhoeae; condyloma acuminata, 43%;
      Chlamydia trachomatis, 94%; syphilis, 0%; and herpes simplex virus, 50%. Selected
      vaginal discharges were examined for Trichomonas vaginalis and bacterial
      vaginosis. In children comprehending questions regarding sexual contact (i.e.
      were "verbal"), 89% with N. gonorrhoeae, 100% with Chlamydia trachomatis and 63%
      with condyloma acuminata had a history of sexual contact, indicating that in
      "verbal" children any infection with N. gonorrhoeae or C. trachomatis was highly
      associated with sexual contact.

PMID- 1454436
TI  - Perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus infection: extent of clinical
      recognition in a population-based cohort. Massachusetts Pediatric HIV
      Surveillance Working Group.
AB  - To evaluate factors that may affect the timely diagnosis of children with human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, we compared data derived from two
      population-based pediatric HIV studies. Data from anonymous newborn HIV
      serosurveys were used to estimate the number of children born to HIV-seropositive
      mothers. A statewide active surveillance project determined the number of HIV
      exposed children who had been clinically recognized. Of 88,732 Massachusetts
      newborn specimens tested anonymously for HIV antibodies during a 12-month period
      (November, 1987, to October, 1988), 223 were positive. As of October, 1991, 78 of
      these children (35%) had been identified by a statewide network of infectious
      disease physicians. HIV-exposed children born in inner city hospitals were more
      likely to have come to medical attention than those born in suburban hospitals
      (47% vs. 17%). Among the 29 children with confirmed HIV infection (13% of 223),
      the initial evaluation for HIV occurred at an earlier age among children born in
      inner city hospitals than among children born in other areas. HIV testing
      practices that rely heavily on risk assessment may result in delayed diagnosis of
      HIV infection in children whose mothers are not perceived to be at risk.

PMID- 1454438
TI  - Mycobacterium tuberculosis in children with human immunodeficiency virus type 1
      infection.
AB  - A retrospective study was conducted at the Childrens Hospital Center at Jackson
      Memorial Hospital in Miami, FL, to evaluate the natural history of Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis infection in nine children with vertically acquired human
      immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. The patients' ages ranged from 6 months
      to 7 years (median age, 42 months). Common presenting symptoms included prolonged
      fever, cough and anorexia. Only one patient had a positive tuberculin test. Five
      patients evidenced only pulmonary disease, three patients had pulmonary and
      extrapulmonary disease and one patient developed extrapulmonary tuberculosis
      (mastoiditis) and pulmonary interstitial disease that could not be attributed to
      mycobacterial infection because of lack of information. Organisms isolated before
      January, 1989, were susceptible to isoniazid and rifampin whereas isolates from
      three patients cultured after that time were resistant to multiple
      antituberculosis drugs. The median survival time after M. tuberculosis diagnosis
      for all children was 20 months. Our study suggests that children with human
      immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection who have tuberculosis have an increased
      risk for extrapulmonary disease. A high index of suspicion for the diagnosis of
      M. tuberculosis should be maintained in human immunodeficiency virus type 1
      infected children with prolonged fever and respiratory symptoms. In areas of high
      endemicity of multidrug-resistant organisms, therapy with a broader panel of
      drugs may need to be instituted until susceptibility testing becomes available.

PMID- 1454439
TI  - Rubella among the Amish: resurgent disease in a highly susceptible community.
AB  - Although the Amish make up less than 0.05% of the United States population,
      nearly all rubella reported in the United States in 1991 occurred in this
      population. In early 1991 a large rubella outbreak in a Tennessee Amish community
      that had experienced no rubella for 17 years afforded an opportunity to describe
      the epidemiology of rubella in this unique population. Structured interviews were
      conducted with 54 Amish families. Of 383 persons in the sample 85 (22%) had
      rubella. Illnesses were mild; 16% of cases lacked fever and 20% of cases reported
      no symptoms except rash. Children < 17 years of age were 7 times more likely than
      older individuals to be affected (77 of 214 vs. 8 of 165). All pregnant women in
      the community were > 20 years of age; none developed rubella. No congenital
      rubella syndrome was recognized. Although rubella is increasingly a disease of
      adolescents and young adults, in this outbreak, rubella was again a childhood
      disease. Illness in this community-based investigation was mild; rubella may be
      difficult to diagnose and report. Immunity after remote natural infection was
      durable since the community's last outbreak. Pregnant women probably were
      protected by the age distribution of immunity; this age distribution may not
      occur in other Amish populations. If preventable morbidity from rubella and other
      vaccine preventable diseases is to be avoided in this group, increased attention
      should be directed to encouraging vaccinations among Amish persons.

PMID- 1454440
TI  - Disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex in non-human immunodeficiency virus
      infected pediatric patients.

PMID- 1454441
TI  - Disseminated fusariosis involving bone in an adolescent with leukemia.

PMID- 1454442
TI  - Anaerobic meningitis in children: case report and review of the literature.

PMID- 1454443
TI  - High prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in children and young adults in
      Spain.

PMID- 1454444
TI  - Gonorrhea in children: epidemiologic unit analysis.

PMID- 1454445
TI  - Resumption of breast-feeding in later childhood: a risk factor for mother to
      child human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmission.

PMID- 1454446
TI  - Comparative study of cefprozil and cefaclor in children with bacterial infections
      of skin and skin structures.

PMID- 1454447
TI  - Effect of tip size on acoustic reflectometry.

PMID- 1454448
TI  - Comparative efficacy of mecillinam, mecillinam/amoxicillin and trimethoprim
      sulfamethoxazole for treatment of typhoid fever in children.

PMID- 1454449
TI  - Newborn with hydrops and a rash.

PMID- 1454450
TI  - Enteroviral meningitis in infants.

PMID- 1454451
TI  - Characteristics of group A streptococci isolated from children with
      nonsuppurative complications or severe infection in Japan.

PMID- 1454452
TI  - Randomized controlled trial of steroids in pertussis.

PMID- 1454453
TI  - Syringe problems with hepatitis B vaccine.

PMID- 1454454
TI  - Newborn sepsis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

PMID- 1454455
TI  - Recommendations for intravenous immunoglobulin therapy of Kawasaki disease.

PMID- 1454456
TI  - Neuropsychological correlates for realism-abstraction, a dimension of aesthetics.
AB  - 240 undergraduates were shown 50 color slides of paintings representing ten areas
      of subject matter and five levels of realism. The subjects rated from 1 to 9
      their liking of each painting and then took the Cognitive Laterality Battery.
      Individuals with clear preference for realism formed one group and those showing
      clear preference for abstraction formed a second. A multivariate analysis of
      variance for subjects' Cognitive Laterality Battery scores showed a significant
      interaction, which may be interpreted as supporting the idea that there is a
      possible neuropsychological basis for the realism-abstraction preference
      dimension in aesthetics.

PMID- 1454457
TI  - Parsing attentional components during a simple reaction time task using sleep
      deprivation and amphetamine intervention.
AB  - To examine the independent contributions of the attentional components of arousal
      and activation in performance, sleep deprivation was used as the attentional
      manipulation in a reaction time (RT) task. The subjects were 18 men who underwent
      63 hr. of sleep deprivation during which time they periodically performed a
      simple auditory RT task with manipulations of temporal uncertainty and intensity.
      After 48 hr. sleep deprivation, subjects ingested either 20 mg d-amphetamine or
      placebo, then continued testing throughout Day 3. During sleep deprivation,
      performance was more impaired on trials associated with low temporal uncertainty
      (arousal) and high preparation (activation) than on trials associated with high
      temporal uncertainty and low preparation. Analysis indicated that sleep
      deprivation perturbed activation, leaving arousal relatively unimpaired and that
      amphetamine had a restorative effect on the sleep deprivation-impaired activation
      system. The stimulus of high intensity was disruptive on Day 1 but facilitative
      on Day 3, a result which was interpreted as an initial inhibition, then
      disinhibition of arousal. Results were interpreted to indicate that, in some
      instances, alterations in the less specific arousal and activation systems may
      underlie impairment or changes in the more specific information processing and
      motor output stages.

PMID- 1454458
TI  - Human figure drawings as estimates of intelligence for adolescents in an
      inpatient psychiatric unit.

PMID- 1454459
TI  - Stimulus-dependent ear asymmetry in a dichotic monitoring task.
AB  - Auditory lateralization was investigated in 26 right-handed and 26 left-handed,
      normal subjects using two dichotic monitoring tasks in each proband [dichotic
      consonant-vowel (CV) syllable monitoring once with the syllable /ta/ and once
      with the syllable /da/ as target]. Subjects were instructed to monitor for the
      presence of a target CV which could occur in either ear. They responded by
      depressing a response button; reaction time (RT) and hit rates were recorded. In
      right-handers the syllable /ta/ presented to the right ear was detected more
      frequently, on the average, than presented to the left ear. Also, RT was shorter
      for detection of /ta/ in the right ear than for detection in the left ear for
      both right- and left-handers. The detection of /da/ showed no ear advantage in
      hit rate and RT either for right-handers or for left-handers. These results
      demonstrate the existence of a right-ear advantage in dichotic monitoring of the
      target syllable /ta/ but not for the target syllable /da/. This difference in
      evoking a right-ear advantage is attributed to a difference in the difficulty of
      detection of both targets. It is argued that the detection of /da/ is too
      difficult to evoke phonetic processing, leading to a right-ear advantage.

PMID- 1454460
TI  - Changes in body consciousness relate to regularity of exercise training.
AB  - Previous work has indicated improvement for scores on self-reported measures of
      body consciousness as aerobic fitness increased. To test whether exercise
      sufficient to improve aerobic fitness must be sustained on a regular basis to
      achieve positive changes in body consciousness, two separate periods of exercise
      training of 2 or 3 weeks duration were completed by nine female volunteers. The
      two exercise sessions were separated by 10 days of no exercise. Five women, as
      controls, did not exercise. Despite significant physiological improvement in the
      exercisers, no changes in self-perceived body self-consciousness were observed.
      Such changes may depend on the maintenance of a regular exercise regimen or the
      magnitude of physiological improvement.

PMID- 1454461
TI  - Visuomotor organization in the left-handed child: a neuropsychological approach.
AB  - In this study we used the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure to examine the visuomotor
      organization of 514 boys and girls, aged 5.5 to 20.5 yr. All were left-handed as
      judged by the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. Statistical evaluation showed
      significant differences in teh visuomotor organization for boys and girls across
      the various age groups. Statistically significant differences also appeared
      between the two sexes at the age groups 7.5 to 8.5 and 8.5 to 9.5, with girls
      showing better organization than boys.

PMID- 1454462
TI  - Factors contributing to perception of health in young black women.
AB  - An exploratory descriptive design using interviews and open-ended questions
      examined factors which were associated with perceptions of health held by 22
      young black women, ages 18 to 40 years. Interview findings indicated that, among
      these women, obesity was considered to contribute positively to perceptions of
      health as did eating good foods and engaging in stress-reducing activities.

PMID- 1454463
TI  - Where does an anorthoscopic image appear?
AB  - Two experiments were performed to examine where anorthoscopic images appear. In
      Exp. 1, in which a narrow slit was used, the images were seen as spatially
      compressed, but also as spatially displaced along each direction of movement even
      when two patterns were moved simultaneously and in different directions. These
      results are incompatible with the retinal painting hypothesis. In Exp. 2, in
      which a wider slit was used, anorthoscopic images appeared immediately after a
      pattern entered and left the slit. The two images were considered to depend on
      temporal changes of parts of a pattern passing across left and right edges of the
      slit, respectively.

PMID- 1454464
TI  - Differentiation of Alzheimer and cerebrovascular patients with the Minnesota
      Percepto-Diagnostic Test--Revised.
AB  - 60 adult patients with focal cerebrovascular accidents (30 with left cerebral
      hemisphere lesions, 30 with right cerebral lesions) and 30 adults with Alzheimer
      disease were compared to 30 normal adults on the Minnesota Percepto-Diagnostic
      Test--Revised (MPD--R). The regular scoring variables plus the two-step method of
      diagnosis for brain damage with the MPD--R were used. One-way analyses of
      variance with age and mental status as covariates yielded a significant
      difference between control subjects and brain-damaged patients on most of the MPD
      -R variables. The controls scored the best, followed by the Alzheimer and
      cerebrovascular groups. Planned comparisons for cerebrovascular vs Alzheimer
      subjects were significant across all MPD--R scores except distortion of dots; the
      Alzheimer subjects scored better than the cerebrovascular subjects. The two
      cerebrovascular groups were not differentiated by the MPD--R scoring variables.
      The MPD--R correctly identified 96% of each of the two brain-damaged groups and
      70% of the control group. Findings are described in terms of the utility of the
      MPD--R in differential diagnosis with elderly populations.

PMID- 1454465
TI  - Relationship between psychomotor functioning and health status among elderly
      persons?
AB  - 45 older adults were tested twice per year for three years in a 9 (psychomotor)
      by 30 (health status, well-being) matrix of variables. That only 84 significant
      correlations were found suggests no relationship between psychomotor performance
      and health status.

PMID- 1454466
TI  - Perceived clothing deprivation: further evidence.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to extend the conceptualization of perceived
      clothing deprivation among three groups of adolescents: 161 skateboarders, 61
      baseball players, and 336 general high school students. Perceived clothing
      deprivation, the dependent variable, was measured by two previously developed
      scales, Inability to Buy and Clothing Deprivation Relative to Peers. Regression
      analysis of self-reported economic stress indicated that the combination of lower
      income and increased demand was positively related to both clothing deprivation
      factors. Group membership was not significantly associated with Inability to Buy
      but was with Clothing Deprivation Relative to Peers. Both male sports groups
      reported greater perceived dissatisfaction than the general population of high
      school students. These results support the idea that perceived clothing
      deprivation is self-defined and peer-dependent among adolescents and support the
      proposition that clothing deprivation reflects primarily influence of dynamic
      rather than stable variables.

PMID- 1454467
TI  - Comparison of empirically derived and predicted standard scores for Form II of
      the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery.
AB  - Until Wong, Schefft, and Moses published norms for Form II of the Luria-Nebraska
      Neuropsychological Battery in 1990, Golden, Purisch, and Hammeke's 1985
      regression equations were the only procedure available to interpret scores on
      Form II of the battery. In the present study comparison of the empirically based
      norms with standard scores obtained via the regression equations showed that (1)
      the scale means and standard deviations used in the development of the regression
      equations indicated substantially more impairment than those obtained by Wong, et
      al. and (2) the standard (T) scores predicted by the regression equations
      consistently underestimated impairment relative to the T scores obtained directly
      from Wong, et al.'s empirically derived norms. Reasons for, and implications of,
      these findings were discussed.

PMID- 1454468
TI  - Responses of conduct-disordered versus psychotic adolescents to PPVT-R items of
      human versus nonhuman content.
AB  - 24 conduct-disordered youth were compared with 22 psychotic youth on differential
      responsivity to human versus nonhuman content plates on the PPVT-R. Conduct
      disordered youth performed worse on items featuring human stimuli, implying
      antisocial patterns which might correlate with more active avoidance of social
      relating.

PMID- 1454469
TI  - Strategies for object identification and confidence: influence of appearance,
      amount of context, and familiarity.
AB  - In an experimental study of the everyday, what-is-this? perceptual encounter, the
      strategies subjects used to identify a focal object were influenced by the
      object's physical appearance, the amount of context in which it was displayed,
      and subjects' familiarity with the object. These factors also affected subjects'
      confidence in the accuracy of their identifications. The results appear to
      support the contention that visual processing is a middle-out rather than either
      a top-down or bottom-up sequence.

PMID- 1454470
TI  - The incidence of sleep problems among type A and type B college students: changes
      over a ten-year period (1982-1992).
AB  - Ten years ago we reported that Type A scoring students were twice as likely as
      their Type B peers to report sleep problems. In an exact 1992 replication of that
      study, no Type A-B differences in the frequency of self-reported sleep problems
      were observed; however, the over-all incidence of sleep problems among the 753
      college students had increased substantially.

PMID- 1454471
TI  - Abnormalities of psychomotor development in schizophrenia: a rehabilitation
      perspective.
AB  - This study was an evaluation of the psychomotor profiles of 22 schizophrenic
      patients, investigated by means of a test battery developed for the assessment of
      psychomotor profiles of 10- to 12-year-old children. Analysis indicates that
      abnormal psychomotor development is an inherent feature of the disease and
      probably is antecedent to a full psychopathological picture.

PMID- 1454472
TI  - Arousability and eating problems of college women.

PMID- 1454473
TI  - Conditioning reaction time: evidence for a process of conditioned automatization.
AB  - The classical conditioning of the standard, simple reaction time (RT) in 140
      college men and women is described. Consequent to an anticipatory instructed
      conditioning procedure, two experimental and two control groups acquired
      voluntary, controlled US(light)-URTR (unconditioned reaction-time response)
      associations which then served as the foundation for subsequent classical
      conditioning when a novel CS (auditory click) was simultaneously paired with the
      US. Conditioned reaction-time responses (CRTRs) occurred significantly more often
      during test trials in the two experimental groups than in the two control groups.
      Statistical and introspective findings support the notion that observed CRTRs may
      be products of cognitively unconscious conditioned automatization whereby the
      conditioning of relatively slow, voluntary, and controlled US-URTR associations
      leads to the acquisition of relatively fast, involuntary, and automatic CS-CRTR
      associations.

PMID- 1454474
TI  - Computer measurement of the autokinetic effect.
AB  - Previous methods for measurement of the autokinetic effect have several
      drawbacks, including limited accuracy and limited information. A new computer
      technique for measurement of the autokinetic effect is presented. A computer and
      computer mouse record tracing movements every tenth of a second, yielding a
      permanent record that can be analyzed further. The method is flexible, sensitive,
      and stable, as shown by test-retest correlations using 26 subjects. Correlations
      and medians for latency, total distance traveled, number of stops, straight line
      distance from origin to end-point, maximum speed, maximum acceleration, percent
      of time in motion, and speed and percent of motion in each of eight compass
      directions were computed. The results are similar to previously reported values.

PMID- 1454475
TI  - Effect of using age-adjusted suicide rates on time-series studies of the American
      suicide rate.

PMID- 1454476
TI  - Personal determinants of leisure-time exercise activities.
AB  - This study investigated the importance of personal determinants such as self
      efficacy, beliefs about the contribution of exercise, health locus of control,
      and dispositional optimism for leisure-time exercise in a working population. The
      main predictors of such exercise were beliefs and self-efficacy with the
      generalization of the latter to eat correctly. Beliefs and efficacy expectations
      were highly correlated. Neither health locus of control nor dispositional
      optimism was related to leisure-time exercise; however, optimism was related to
      the positive belief that exercise contributes to health. Ramifications of the
      findings were carefully described.

PMID- 1454477
TI  - Self-monitoring and identification of olfactory dimensions.
AB  - The basic categories of odors are not agreed on. Many classifications of odors
      have been proposed, but none has met widespread acceptance. The variability among
      qualitative judgments of odors which makes it difficult to construct reliable
      classifications may depend on cultural or personal idiosyncrasies. To check
      personality factors in odor evaluation, we asked 40 subjects, who had previously
      completed a personality questionnaire, to make qualitative judgments about 10
      odors on 10 semantic differential scales. From comparison of two different self
      monitoring groups, on the semantic differential, reliable differences did not
      emerge. While high self-monitoring subjects tended to maintain intermediate
      positions, for some odors, low self-monitors hazarded more polarized evaluations.

PMID- 1454478
TI  - Arousability and bruxism in male and female college students.
AB  - The relationship between arousability, as measured by the Arousal Predisposition
      Scale, and bruxism was computed for groups of 41 male and 75 female university
      undergraduates as a further test of the hypothesis that bruxism is a stress
      linked disorder. Contrary to our prediction, arousability was not related to
      bruxism in men and the relationship between these variables for women was
      significant but relatively weak. When considered with other studies, these data
      provide a clearer focus for further study of the stress-bruxism hypothesis.

PMID- 1454479
TI  - Reporting what you have seen: effects associated with age and mode of questioning
      on eyewitness reports.
AB  - This study examined age-related differences in the reporting of a filmed domestic
      scene, in which a mother was either ambiguously caring or ambiguously abusive
      toward her daughter. Three age groups were used (3- to 4-yr.-old, 6- to 7-yr.
      old, and adult), and three modes of questioning were used (free recall, short
      answer cued-recall, and leading questions either consistent or inconsistent with
      what was observed). There were 119 subjects in all: 39 3- to 4-yr.-olds, 39 6- to
      7-yr.-olds, and 41 adults. Developmental trends were found in the subjects'
      ability to answer free-recall questions and cued-recall questions. Although 6- to
      7-yr.-olds were significantly lower than adults in their accuracy scores on the
      cued-recall questions, they were still highly accurate. There were also
      significant age-related differences in the subjects' suggestibility, with the 3-
      to 4-yr.-olds being relatively suggestible, the 6- to 7-yr.-olds less so, and the
      adults virtually unsuggestible. When the leading questions that concerned the
      central theme of the film (i.e., Was the mother abusive or not?) were isolated,
      however, no significant age-related differences in suggestibility were found.

PMID- 1454480
TI  - Health-related physical fitness levels of elementary school children ages 5-9.
AB  - National health goals include an increase in the physical activity and physical
      fitness of school-age children by the year 2000. To assess current fitness levels
      in the state of Maine, more than 8,000 public school students, ages five through
      nine, were assessed using a nationally known (American Alliance for Health,
      Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) health-related physical fitness test.
      Maine students were then compared with a national norm group on (1) the one-mile
      walk/run (minutes:seconds), (2) skinfold thickness (centimeters), (3) one-minute
      timed sit-ups (number performed correctly), and (4) the sit and reach test for
      flexibility (centimeters). Generally, Maine boys and girls scored higher than the
      norms on the sit-up, sit and reach, and one-mile walk/run; however, they had
      significantly larger skinfold thicknesses. Implications for assessment of health
      related fitness in this age group were discussed.

PMID- 1454481
TI  - The moon illusion: a different view through the legs.
AB  - The fact that the overestimation of the horizon moon is reduced when individuals
      bend over and view it through their legs has been used as support for theories of
      the moon illusion based upon angle of regard and vestibular inputs. Inversion of
      the visual scene, however, can also reduce the salience of depth cue, so illusion
      reduction might be consistent with size constancy explanations. A sample of 70
      subjects viewed normal and inverted pictorial arrays. The moon illusion was
      reduced in the inverted arrays, suggesting that the "through the legs" reduction
      of the moon illusion may reflect the alteration in perceived depth associated
      with scene inversion rather than angle of regard or vestibular effects.

PMID- 1454482
TI  - An appraisal of body image among Nigerian university students.
AB  - This study was designed to provide baseline data on the attitudes of Nigerian
      university students toward their own bodies. 286 students completed the 25-item
      version of the Body Cathexis Scale of Berscheid, et al. These students were more
      satisfied than they were dissatisfied with their body parts. The body weight and
      general muscle development were aspects with which they were most dissatisfied.
      Compared to men, women were significantly more satisfied with their ears, body
      weight, general muscle development, chest/breast, size of sex organs, and
      appearance of sex organs. These baseline data may help screen Nigerian university
      students with negative body ideation.

PMID- 1454483
TI  - Cognitive and somatic state anxiety and self-confidence in cheerleading
      competition.
AB  - 77 cheerleaders participating in a national collegiate championship competition
      were administered the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 immediately prior to
      performance. Significant correlations were found between cognitive and somatic
      state anxiety, a finding consistent with previous research. Negative correlations
      were found between both cognitive and somatic anxiety and self-confidence, also
      as previously reported. Canonical discriminant analysis indicated that
      significant discrimination between the teams could be accomplished by a
      combination of the state-anxiety variables. Both groups, 36 men and 41 women,
      differed significantly from normative scores on the somatic subscale.

PMID- 1454484
TI  - Responses of first-grade children to concepts about printed material before and
      after shared reading experiences.
AB  - A study was conducted to investigate the effects of shared reading experiences
      using books with predictable content to assess 24 inner-city African-American
      first-graders' concepts about printed material. The 8-week treatment using a two
      group pre- and posttest experimental design with random assignment showed no
      significant differences between groups. A larger sample and longer treatment time
      are recommended for replicating this study.

PMID- 1454485
TI  - The correlation between reaction time and the ponderal index.

PMID- 1454486
TI  - Maximized split-half reliabilities and distributional characteristics for Harris
      Lingoes subscales with few items: a reevaluation for the MMPI-2.
AB  - 100 MMPI-2 protocols were obtained from the files of an outpatient clinic.
      Distributions of all possible split-half combinations were computed for selected
      Harris-Lingoes subscales with few items. As expected, max r reliability estimates
      were significantly greater than alpha estimates and distributions of correlations
      were negatively skewed. Inspection of the distributions suggested that the
      Amorality scale contains an ambiguous item which does not appear to belong in
      this grouping. Serious problems were noted with the Hy5 subscale. Alpha
      reliabilities were comparable to previously reported estimates, and max r
      reliability estimates closely resembled reported test-retest estimates.

PMID- 1454487
TI  - Which handedness: preference or performance?
AB  - Two ways of measuring handedness, questionnaires and hand-efficiency tests, are
      compared. A method for combining performance scores of 128 children from
      different hand-efficiency tests to obtain a single handedness score based on
      efficiency is presented. Handedness classifications according to different
      thresholds of preference as well as of performance are shown. To select pure
      right- or left-handers, it is argued that handedness should be established
      simultaneously through preference questionnaires and performance tests and that
      only subjects falling simultaneously into the same category on both measures be
      kept. Advantages and disadvantages of each classification are discussed as well
      as the relations between efficiency and motor control of upper limb and hand.

PMID- 1454488
TI  - Relationship between dietary components and aspects of sleep.
AB  - To test the hypothesis that major dietary constituents are related to quantity or
      quality of sleep, 27 adult volunteers participated in a five-day study. Subjects
      completed detailed dietary logs each day, and each morning completed the St.
      Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire. Dietary data were converted to seven major
      nutritional constituents and these were averaged over the 5-day period. None of
      the 98 correlations between diet and sleep were significant. These findings
      provide no support for a link between sleep and diet in adults.

PMID- 1454489
TI  - An exploratory examination of the Parent-initiated Motivational Climate
      Questionnaire.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to examine the factor structure and internal
      reliability of the Parent-initiated Motivational Climate Questionnaire among 112
      boys and 98 girls, young adolescents, and older adolescents. The questionnaire
      had a meaningful 3-factor structure and showed acceptable internal reliability.
      There was a significant difference between how boys and girls perceived their
      parents' reactions to their learning new physical skills. In contrast to boys,
      girls thought that both their mothers and fathers focused on improvement and self
      satisfaction during the learning process and deemphasized learning without effort
      and worrying about making mistakes. Age did not significantly affect the
      perceptions the individuals had of their parents' convictions about their
      learning in the physical domain.

PMID- 1454490
TI  - Comparison of frame size and body mass index methods of assessment in the study
      of blood lipids.
AB  - This study compared frame size and body mass index methods of assessment in
      relation to blood lipid levels. The data were obtained from the records of 84 men
      and 193 women who voluntarily participated in health fairs held at two suburban
      hospitals. Significant relationships and differences were found between the
      anthropometric and lipid variables studied. The two methods of classification
      denoted moderate association and reflected some divergence in classification
      between them.

PMID- 1454491
TI  - Distance perception in the spiny mouse Acomys cahirinus: vertical jumping.
AB  - Acomys cahirinus, a precocial muroid, that has shown precise jumping in the
      natural habitat, did not jump from 25 cm in a laboratory situation. To
      investigate this further, A. cahirinus were observed jumping from platforms at
      two different heights, onto different sized checkered substrates and from a
      visual cliff. Adult animals discriminated between platforms that were 6.4 cm and
      25.4 cm above the substrate and between small and large checkered patterns on the
      floor. Most adult animals and neonates jumped down on the shallow side of the
      visual cliff. Animals developed individual patterns of jumping over a series of
      trials, with some jumping often, some rarely, and others jumping only from the
      low platform. Good distance perception was indicated when they did not jump from
      heights, and by their making appropriate postural adjustment when they did jump
      from heights and landed without mishap. Different spacing of trials indicated
      that height was a more effective stimulus for animals which had all four
      conditions on the same day, while floor pattern was more effective for animals
      with each of the four conditions on a separate day.

PMID- 1454492
TI  - Is the Benussi effect a kinetic depth effect?
AB  - Rapid, successive presentations of an eccentric circle pattern and its mirror
      image elicited apparent depth and, as has been previously demonstrated for the
      Benussi effect, there was an increase in apparent depth with an increase in
      circle eccentricity. Taken together, these data were interpreted as contravening
      Wallach, Adams, and Weisz's account of the Benussi effect as an instance of the
      kinetic depth effect.

PMID- 1454493
TI  - Relative right temporal-lobe theta activity correlates with Vingiano's
      hemispheric quotient and the "sensed presence".
AB  - Measures of monopolar alpha and theta rhythm activity over the left and right
      temporal lobes were correlated with the subjects' hemisphericity (Vingiano)
      scores, temporal lobe signs, and concurrent subjective experiences during partial
      sensory deprivation. There was a positive association (rho = .49) between the
      scores for right hemisphericity and the relative amount of right/left theta
      rhythm but not right/left alpha rhythm activity. Significant intercorrelations
      between right hemisphericity, an history of ego-alien intrusions and experiences
      of a sensed presence, "detachment from the body," and fear during the recordings
      were noted. These results support the hypothesis that this class of mystical
      experiences is encouraged by hemispheric mismatch in temporal-lobe theta
      activity.

PMID- 1454494
TI  - Arousing patriotic feelings in men and women.

PMID- 1454495
TI  - Mathematical performance before, during, and following cycling at workloads of
      low and moderate intensity.
AB  - Mental arithmetic performance before, during, and following low (40% maximal
      heart-rate reserve; approximately 90 watts exercise for 15 min.) and moderate
      (60% maximal heart-rate reserve; approximately 150 watts exercise for 10 min.)
      intensity cycling by 20 male students (M age = 28.1 yr.) was studied. Subjects
      were grouped, by using a median-split on their total mathematical performance
      scores, into a group of 10 low in arithmetic skill and a group of 10 high in
      arithmetic skill. The numbers and percentages of right answers to 1-min.
      mathematical problem-sets of either group were not different in the various
      conditions, suggesting that 25 min. of progressive cycling exercise did not
      influence mathematical problem-solving efficacy.

PMID- 1454496
TI  - Spatial localization and auditory lateralization: binaural cues and their
      absence.
AB  - In 1990 Cheatham suggested there might be a right-ear advantage for the
      perception of speech and music for right-handed individuals, which confirms
      Kinsbourne's observation of a general right-ear advantage. These findings,
      however, contrast with Segalowitz and Plantery's work that supports attentional
      bias in lateralized processing of these stimuli. The attentional bias model has
      also been criticized by Bryden on the basis of its circularity. At present there
      has not been sufficient evidence to settle this debate empirically. The author
      suggests that the controversy may best be resolved by disentangling the folklore
      surrounding spatial localization and auditory lateralization to reexamine this
      field in light of recent empirical findings by Bryden and by Porac, Coren, and
      Duncan, who inferred an inherent rightward bias to many kinds of stimulation,
      including auditory, in right-handed individuals. The present focus is that
      Cheatham's 1990 data lend themselves more readily to the rightward bias that
      occurs in right-handed subjects and not to previous structural or attentional
      models.

PMID- 1454497
TI  - Mirror training in three dimensions for dental students.
AB  - Dental students have significantly improved skills of indirect vision following
      mirror exercises in two dimensions. The objective of this study was to assess
      whether freshmen improved these skills after mirror training in three dimensions.
      A pretest was given to 60 subjects, maneuvering a handpiece-shaped probe through
      a brass block maze. Total time, error time, and total errors were recorded for
      each of three perceptually different mirror positions. Subjects were then
      randomly divided into two groups. Group A participated in 2 training sessions;
      Group B (a control) received no training. Both groups then performed a posttest.
      Transformed time scores examined by analysis of variance indicated a significant
      difference for total time between Groups A and B at posttest at each mirror
      position. For error time, Groups A and B were significantly different at posttest
      at Positions 2 and 3. For total errors, groups were significantly different at
      posttest at Mirror Position 3 only. Indirect vision skills improved significantly
      with training in three dimensions.

PMID- 1454498
TI  - Effects of disability labels on teachers' perceptions of students' self
      determination.

PMID- 1454499
TI  - The relationship between turning behavior and motoric dominance in humans.
AB  - This study attempted to correlate turning direction on the stepping test with
      three measures of motoric dominance--handedness, footedness, and eyedness. 111
      high school students performed the stepping test while deprived of visual and
      auditory cues during a 1-min. interval. Although only slightly more than half of
      the subjects rotated rightward, the direction and magnitude of turning correlated
      significantly with footedness and eyedness but not with handedness. Thus, axial
      turning biases and motoric dominance may partially share a common mechanism,
      possibly involving vestibular asymmetry.

PMID- 1454500
TI  - Self-esteem and narcissism among the most and least empathetic Finnish baseball
      players.
AB  - 560 girls and 819 boys, ages 8 to 16 years and actively interested in Finnish
      baseball, were tested in small groups in three training-camp championship games
      with the modified Mehrabian and Epstein's Empathy Scale, and the Battle Self
      esteem Inventory, Form B. Narcissism was estimated on the 1984 Emmons scale. The
      hypothesis that the most empathetic players compared with the least empathetic
      players have better self-esteem and less narcissism was confirmed.

PMID- 1454501
TI  - Some concluding thoughts on the debate about the Vividness of Visual Imagery
      Questionnaire.
AB  - The case for the validity of the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire is
      examined. It is argued that the validity of the questionnaire is not established
      in the literature and that paradigmatic and conceptual ambiguity militate against
      a clear understanding of that literature. Phenomenological problems with
      questionnaire reports such as the use of untrained introspectors and the
      preponderance of exaggerated self-reports of prowess at imagery are discussed.
      The conditions needed for inter-and intrapsychic validity are delineated, and a
      scheme for evaluating validity of the inventory is presented.

PMID- 1454502
TI  - Effect of adding cognitively demanding tasks on soccer skill performance.
AB  - The effect of adding cognitively demanding elements to the performance of a real
      world motor task in which functional interference among the elements in
      performance existed was investigated across level of expertise. The primary task
      involved running as quickly as possible through a 15.25-m slalom course. Two
      secondary tasks were used, dribbling of a soccer ball and identification of
      geometric shapes projected on a screen located at the end of the slalom course. 4
      novice, 5 intermediate, and 5 expert female soccer players served as subjects and
      performed three trials each of three experimental conditions: running through the
      slalom course, running through the slalom course while dribbling a soccer ball,
      and running through the slalom course while dribbling a soccer ball and
      identifying geometric shapes. Analysis of variance using a 3 (experimental
      condition) x 3 (level of expertise) design gave significant main effects and a
      significant interaction. The latter indicated that, although the addition of
      cognitively demanding elements caused a decrement in performance, the amount of
      decrement decreased as level of expertise increased. It was concluded that
      structural interference between elements of performance decreased the positive
      effect of automation of one element on dual task performance.

PMID- 1454503
TI  - Is perception of exertion a unique characteristic?
AB  - This study assessed the extent to which perception of exertion (RPE), as measured
      by Borg's 1971 scale using bicycle ergometry, is a unique perceptual trait.
      Correlations run for 35 subjects between RPE and a battery of seven perceptually
      oriented tasks were not significant, implying that RPE may be a unique perceptual
      ability.

PMID- 1454504
TI  - An unusual variant of Capgras syndrome.
AB  - In a 40-yr.-old man a variant of Capgras syndrome called reverse subjective
      doubles is described. The unusual feature of the case was the presence of a
      delusion that the patient had been transformed into someone else.

PMID- 1454505
TI  - Use of reinforcement to increase independence in physical fitness performance of
      profoundly mentally retarded youth.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of verbal praise and
      verbal praise plus music or vibratory reinforcement on the level of independent
      performance on abdominal strength and endurance, lower back and hip flexibility,
      and upper body strength/endurance exercises of 12 profoundly mentally retarded,
      ambulatory youth, ages 10 to 18 years. A single-subject AB design with a control
      group was used to assess the difference in performance of physical fitness under
      the baseline condition of no reinforcement and under the two experimental
      conditions of verbal praise and verbal praise plus music or vibratory
      reinforcement. In contrast to previous results reported in the literature, verbal
      praise and verbal praise plus music or vibratory reinforcement were not effective
      in increasing the level of independence in performing selected physical fitness
      tasks.

PMID- 1454506
TI  - Influence of diazepam on prospective time estimation.
AB  - 24 students, after intake of diazepam or placebo, performed a psychomotor test of
      finger tapping as a prospective time-estimation task. The task was less
      overestimated by those who were under the influence of the drug than by the 12
      subjects to whom the placebo was given.

PMID- 1454507
TI  - The dermo-optical perception of color as an information source for blind
      travelers.
AB  - Dermo-optical color perception refers to a person's ability to distinguish color
      surfaces through "skin perception" without the use of sight. The aims of this
      study were (1) to assess prior research findings which apparently demonstrated
      the existence of dermo-optical color perception and (2) to explore the
      possibilities of using color to indicate reference points for blind travellers.
      Three experiments were conducted with 20 congenitally blind subjects and a
      sighted blindfolded control group matched on age, sex, and education. In Exp. 1
      on a discrimination task subjects were asked if two boards were of the same color
      and on a pairing task were asked to match a colored board with one among a set of
      three boards having the same color. In Exp. 2 the discrimination task was
      identical to that in Exp. 1, but instead of using boards perceived through haptic
      exploration, we used colored cubicles in which the whole body would be exposed to
      the color. In Exp. 3 subjects were asked to walk along the corridor of a
      labyrinthine set-up and to identify any changes of color they could perceive. The
      experiments were designed to provide measures of reliability of subjects'
      responses. Analysis showed little or no support for the ability to perceive color
      by dermo-optical means. The comparisons of the blind and the sighted control
      groups were nonsignificant. On the basis of our findings, the use of color to
      help blind travellers has to be rejected. The paper concludes with a discussion
      suggesting reasons for the contradictory results emerging from studies on dermo
      optical color perception.

PMID- 1454508
TI  - [Orthodontic treatment of adults--luxury or necessity?].

PMID- 1454509
TI  - [Human factor. Possibilities and limits of motivation of duration of behavior
      changes].

PMID- 1454510
TI  - [Adhesive dentistry in concept of periodontologists].

PMID- 1454511
TI  - [Suction complete denture].

PMID- 1454512
TI  - [Crowns fractures--diagnosis and therapy].

PMID- 1454513
TI  - Nursing DataSource 1992. Volume II. Focus on practical/vocational nursing.

PMID- 1454514
TI  - Human rights remains basic tenet for nursing.

PMID- 1454515
TI  - Cloning by recognition site screening of two novel GT box binding proteins: a
      family of Sp1 related genes.
AB  - Previous analyses of the uteroglobin gene promoter revealed a GT1 box which is
      also found in the SV40 enhancer. The GT1 element in the context of the
      uteroglobin promoter is active in Ishikawa cells, a human endometrial cell line,
      but not in HeLa cells. Here we report the cloning by recognition site screening
      of two factors (SPR-1 and SPR-2) which bind to this GT1 motif. SPR-1 and SPR-2
      are homologues of the transcription factor Sp1. All three proteins are closely
      related members of a gene family encoding proteins with very similar structural
      features. Like Sp1, SPR-1 and SPR-2 contain glutamine and serine/threonine rich
      amino acid stretches. Most significantly, the DNA binding domains of all three
      proteins are highly conserved and they recognize GT as well as GC boxes
      identically. SPR-2 mRNA is expressed ubiquitously, whereas SPR-1 transcripts are
      abundant in the brain but barely detectable in other organs. The possible
      function of these factors for the activity of the uteroglobin promoter is
      discussed.

PMID- 1454516
TI  - DNA damage response of cloned DNA beta-polymerase promoter is blocked in mutant
      cell lines deficient in protein kinase A.
AB  - DNA beta-polymerase (beta-pol), one of the recognized DNA polymerizing enzymes in
      vertebrates, has a role in 'very short patch' gap-filling synthesis during
      nucleotide excision DNA repair. In human and mouse, the enzyme is encoded by a
      single-copy gene located on the short arm of chromosome 8 near the centromere. In
      a series of studies, we have found that the cloned human beta-pol promoter is
      regulated by signals acting through the single ATF/CRE palindrome in the core
      promoter. These signals include transactivation by: adenovirus E1a/E1b proteins;
      activated p21ras; and in CHO cells, treatment with the DNA damaging agent MNNG.
      Hence, several types of stimulatory signals are mediated through the single
      ATF/CRE site, including DNA damage induction. To understand the mechanism of beta
      pol promoter activation by MNNG in CHO cells, we asked whether induction of the
      cAMP/protein kinase A pathway can increase transcription of the cloned promoter
      in this system. Agents that increase cellular cAMP levels (8-BrcAMP; forskolin
      and IBMx) activated the beta-pol promoter fusion gene in transient expression
      experiments, and a mutation in the ATF/CRE palindrome blocked this response.
      Thus, the ATF/CRE site appears to be cAMP responsive in the CHO cell system. We
      found that the activation of the cloned beta-pol promoter by MNNG does not occur
      with two mutant CHO cell lines that are deficient in protein kinase A activity.
      Further, simultaneous treatment of wild-type CHO cells, with MNNG and to elevate
      cAMP, failed to result in an additive effect for activation of the beta-pol
      promoter. Thus, these effectors may act through a common pathway. These results
      suggest that the activation of the cloned beta-pol promoter in CHO cells
      following MNNG treatment is mediated through the cAMP/protein kinase A signal
      transduction pathway.

PMID- 1454517
TI  - Control of Drosophila Sex-lethal pre-mRNA splicing by its own female-specific
      product.
AB  - Drosophila melanogaster somatic sexual differentiation is accomplished by serial
      function of the products of sex-determination genes. Sex-lethal (Sxl), is one
      such gene. It is functionally expressed only in female flies. The sex-specific
      expression of this gene is regulated by alternative mRNA splicing which results
      in either the inclusion or exclusion of the translation stop codon containing
      third exon. Although previous genetic and molecular analyses suggest that
      functional Sxl expression is maintained by a positive feedback loop, where the
      female-specific Sxl product promotes the synthesis of its own female-specific
      mRNA, the mechanistic details of such regulation have remained unclear. We have
      developed a cotransfection system using Drosophila cultured (Kc) cells in which
      Sxl primary transcripts are expressed with or without the female specific Sxl
      product. Here we show that the female-specific Sxl product induces the synthesis
      of its own female-specific mRNA by negative control of male-specific splicing.
      Deletion, substitution, and binding experiments have demonstrated that multiple
      uridine-rich sequences in the introns around the male-specific third exon are
      involved in the splicing regulation of Sxl pre-mRNA.

PMID- 1454518
TI  - Cloning and characterization of the Drosophila homolog of the xeroderma
      pigmentosum complementation-group B correcting gene, ERCC3.
AB  - Previously the human nucleotide excision repair gene ERCC3 was shown to be
      responsible for a rare combination of the autosomal recessive DNA repair
      disorders xeroderma pigmentosum (complementation group B) and Cockayne's syndrome
      (complementation group C). The human and mouse ERCC3 proteins contain several
      sequence motifs suggesting that it is a nucleic acid or chromatin binding
      helicase. To study the significance of these domains and the overall evolutionary
      conservation of the gene, the homolog from Drosophila melanogaster was isolated
      by low stringency hybridizations using two flanking probes of the human ERCC3
      cDNA. The flanking probe strategy selects for long stretches of nucleotide
      sequence homology, and avoids isolation of small regions with fortuitous
      homology. In situ hybridization localized the gene onto chromosome III 67E3/4, a
      region devoid of known D.melanogaster mutagen sensitive mutants. Northern blot
      analysis showed that the gene is continuously expressed in all stages of fly
      development. A slight increase (2-3 times) of ERCC3Dm transcript was observed in
      the later stages. Two almost full length cDNAs were isolated, which have
      different 5' untranslated regions (UTR). The SD4 cDNA harbours only one long open
      reading frame (ORF) coding for ERCC3Dm. Another clone (SD2), however, has the
      potential to encode two proteins: a 170 amino acids polypeptide starting at the
      optimal first ATG has no detectable homology with any other proteins currently in
      the data bases, and another ORF beginning at the suboptimal second startcodon
      which is identical to that of SD4. Comparison of the encoded ERCC3Dm protein with
      the homologous proteins of mouse and man shows a strong amino acid conservation
      (71% identity), especially in the postulated DNA binding region and seven
      'helicase' domains. The ERCC3Dm sequence is fully consistent with the presumed
      functions and the high conservation of these regions strengthens their functional
      significance. Microinjection and DNA transfection of ERCC3Dm into human xeroderma
      pigmentosum (c.g. B) fibroblasts and group 3 rodent mutants did not yield
      detectable correction. One of the possibilities to explain these negative
      findings is that the D.melanogaster protein may be unable to function in a
      mammalian repair context.

PMID- 1454519
TI  - DNA conformational change induced by the bacteriophage phi 29 connector.
AB  - Translocation of viral DNA inwards and outwards of the capsid of double-stranded
      DNA bacteriophages occurs through the connector, a key viral structure that is
      known to interact with DNA. It is shown here that phage phi 29 connector binds
      both linear and circular double-stranded DNA. However, DNA-mediated protection of
      phi 29 connectors against Staphylococcus aureus endoprotease V8 digestion
      suggests that binding to linear DNA is more stable than to circular DNA.
      Endoprotease V8-protection assays also suggest that the length of the linear DNA
      required to produce a stable phi 29 connector-DNA interaction is, at least, twice
      longer than the phi 29 connector channel. This result is confirmed by experiments
      of phi 29 connector-protection of DNA against DNase I digestion. Furthermore, DNA
      circularization assays indicate that phi 29 connectors restrain negative
      supercoiling when bound to linear DNA. This DNA conformational change is not
      observed upon binding to circular DNA and it could reflect the existence of some
      left-handed DNA coiling or DNA untwisting inside of the phi 29 connector channel.

PMID- 1454520
TI  - Bacteriophage and spliceosomal proteins function as position-dependent cis/trans
      repressors of mRNA translation in vitro.
AB  - The translational regulation of ferritin expression currently represents the only
      well characterized example for eukaryotic translational control by high affinity
      interactions between a specific cytoplasmic protein, iron regulatory factor
      [IRF], and an mRNA-binding site, the iron-responsive element [IRE], located in
      the 5' untranslated region [UTR] of ferritin mRNAs. To elucidate whether IRE/IRF
      may represent the first physiological example of a more general mechanism for
      mRNA-specific translational control, high affinity RNA-binding sites for the
      bacteriophage MS2 coat protein or the spliceosomal protein U1A were introduced
      into the 5' UTR of capped chloramphenicol acetyltransferase [CAT] transcripts. In
      the absence of these RNA-binding proteins, CAT mRNA was efficiently translated.
      Addition of purified MS2 coat protein or U1A caused a specific, dose-dependent
      repression of CAT biosynthesis in rabbit reticulocyte and wheat germ in vitro
      translation systems. The translational blockage imposed by the RNA/protein
      complex was reversible and did not alter the stability of the repressed mRNAs.
      Translational repression caused by binding of U1A or MS2 proteins to their target
      mRNAs is shown to be position-dependent in vitro. Thus, mRNA/protein complexes
      without an a priori role in eukaryotic mRNA translation function as translational
      effectors with characteristics resembling those of IRE/IRF.

PMID- 1454521
TI  - Mutation of the casein kinase II phosphorylation site abolishes the anti
      proliferative activity of p53.
AB  - The p53 tumour suppressor protein is phosphorylated by several protein kinases,
      including casein kinase II. In order to understand the functional significance of
      phosphorylation by casein kinase II, we have introduced mutations at serine 386
      in mouse p53, the residue phosphorylated by this kinase, and investigated their
      effects on the ability of p53 to arrest cell growth. Replacement of serine 386 by
      alanine led to loss of growth suppressor activity, while aspartic acid at this
      position partially retained suppressor function. These data suggest that the anti
      proliferative activity of p53 is activated by phosphorylation at serine 386, and
      establish a direct link between the covalent modification of a growth suppressor
      protein and regulation of its activity in mammalian cells.

PMID- 1454523
TI  - Differential splicing creates a diversity of transcripts from a neurospecific
      developmentally regulated gene encoding a protein with new zinc-finger motifs.
AB  - We have cloned a novel neurospecific gene, named neuro-d4, by differential
      screening a rat cerebral cortex cDNA library. Northern blot hybridization showed
      that neuro-d4 expression is restricted to neuronal tissues both in newborn and
      adult animals. The level of neuro-d4 mRNA in the rat central nervous system is
      high during the later stages of embryonic development and gradually decreases
      during the postnatal period. In situ hybridization suggests that the gene
      transcripts are localized in neuronal cell bodies. Nucleotide sequences of
      overlapped cDNA clones and all 12 exons in genomic clone were determined. The
      deduced protein has consensus sequences for a nuclear localization signal, a
      Kruppel-type zinc-finger and a new type of cysteine/histidine-rich motif
      resembling zinc-fingers. Several differential splicing variants were found, each
      of which influences the structure of the encoded protein.

PMID- 1454522
TI  - Fission yeast cdc21+ belongs to a family of proteins involved in an early step of
      chromosome replication.
AB  - The cdc21+ gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe was originally identified in a
      screen for cdc mutants affecting S phase and nuclear division. Here we show that
      the cdc21+ gene product belongs to a family of proteins implicated in DNA
      replication. These include the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MCM2 and MCM3 proteins,
      which are needed for the efficient function of certain replication origins, and
      S.cerevisiae CDC46, which is required for the initiation of chromosome
      replication. The cdc21 mutant is defective in the mitotic maintenance of some
      plasmids, like mcm2 and mcm3. The mutant arrests with a single nucleus containing
      two genome equivalents of DNA, and maintains a cytoplasmic microtubular
      configuration. Activation of most, but not all, replication origins in the mutant
      may result in failure to replicate a small proportion of the genome, and this
      could explain the arrest phenotypes. Using the polymerase chain reaction
      technique, we have identified new cdc21(+)-related genes in S.cerevisiae, S.pombe
      and Xenopus laevis. Our results suggest that individual members of the cdc21(+)
      related family are highly conserved in evolution.

PMID- 1454524
TI  - Binding of Xenopus oocyte masking proteins to mRNA sequences.
AB  - It has been shown previously that maternal mRNA, synthesized and stored in
      growing oocytes, is stabilized and blocked from translation through various
      mechanisms including restricted polyadenylation and the binding of proteins to 3'
      regulatory elements. In addition to binding sequence-specific proteins, the bulk
      of stored mRNA is packaged with a set of 'masking' proteins, the most abundant of
      which are the phosphoproteins pp56 and pp60. In this report these proteins are
      shown to be bound to heterogeneous mRNA sequences and not to the 3' poly(A)
      tract. Crosslinking studies demonstrate that all of the pp56/60 present makes
      direct contact with the RNA. In vitro binding studies confirm that pp56/60
      interact with single-stranded RNA of heterogeneous sequence, such as occurring in
      the maternal mRNA encoding cyclin B1. However, binding is equally effective to
      capped and polyadenylated cyclin mRNA, to truncated mRNA lacking 5' and 3' non
      coding regions and even to the antisense sequence. Lengths of 70-80 nucleotides
      are protected from ribonuclease digestion after protein binding. Although no
      extended binding motif could be detected, binding does appear to have some
      specificity in that it is not competed out by 100-fold excess of double-stranded
      RNA, transfer RNA, poly(A) and various other homopolymers and heteropolymers. The
      sequence which competes most efficiently is the mixed polypyrimidine, poly(C,U).
      Crosslinking of RNA-protein complexes, followed by ribonuclease digestion,
      suggests that the arrangement of proteins on RNA is as dimers. Dimerization
      appears to be stabilized by phosphorylation of pp56/60. These results are
      discussed in terms of the known structures of pp56/60.

PMID- 1454525
TI  - The 2-amino group of guanine is absolutely required for specific binding of the
      anti-cancer antibiotic echinomycin to DNA.
AB  - The 2-amino group of guanine is believed to be a critical determinant of
      potential DNA binding sites for echinomycin and related quinoxaline antibiotics.
      In order to probe its importance directly we have studied the interaction between
      echinomycin and DNA species in which guanine N(2) is deleted by virtue of
      substitution of inosine for guanosine residues. The polymerase chain reaction was
      used to prepare inosine-substituted DNA. Binding of echinomycin, assessed by
      DNAse I footprinting, was practically abolished by incorporation of inosine into
      one or both strands of DNA. We conclude that both the purines in the preferred
      CpG binding site need to bear a 2-amino group to interact with echinomycin.

PMID- 1454526
TI  - The mitochondrial gene encoding ribosomal protein S12 has been translocated to
      the nuclear genome in Oenothera.
AB  - The Oenothera mitochondrial genome contains only a gene fragment for ribosomal
      protein S12 (rps12), while other plants encode a functional gene in the
      mitochondrion. The complete Oenothera rps12 gene is located in the nucleus. The
      transit sequence necessary to target this protein to the mitochondrion is encoded
      by a 5'-extension of the open reading frame. Comparison of the amino acid
      sequence encoded by the nuclear gene with the polypeptides encoded by edited
      mitochondrial cDNA and genomic sequences of other plants suggests that gene
      transfer between mitochondrion and nucleus started from edited mitochondrial RNA
      molecules. Mechanisms and requirements of gene transfer and activation are
      discussed.

PMID- 1454527
TI  - Alteration by site-directed mutagenesis of the conserved lysine residue in the
      consensus ATP-binding sequence of the RecB protein of Escherichia coli.
AB  - The RecB and RecD subunits of the RecBCD enzyme of Escherichia coli contain amino
      acid sequences similar to a consensus mononucleotide binding motif found in a
      large number of other enzymes. We have constructed by site-directed mutagenesis a
      lysine-to-glutamine mutation in this sequence in the RecB protein. The mutant
      enzyme (RecB-K29Q-CD) has essentially no nuclease or ATP hydrolysis activity on
      double-stranded DNA, showing the importance of RecB for unwinding double-stranded
      DNA. However, ATP hydrolysis stimulated by single-stranded DNA is reduced by only
      about 5-8-fold compared to the wild-type, nuclease activity on single-stranded
      DNA is reduced by less than 2-fold, and the nuclease activity of the RecB-K29Q-CD
      enzyme requires ATP. The effects of the RecB mutation suggest that the RecD
      protein hydrolyzes ATP and can stimulate the RecBCD enzyme nuclease activity on
      single-stranded DNA.

PMID- 1454528
TI  - The developmental regulation of the human zeta-globin gene in transgenic mice
      employing beta-galactosidase as a reporter gene.
AB  - We have investigated the developmental and tissue specific expression of the
      human embryonic zeta-globin gene in transgenic mice. A construct containing 550
      bp of zeta-globin 5' flanking region, fused to a beta-galactosidase (lacZ)
      reporter gene and linked to the locus control region (LCR)-like alpha positive
      regulatory element (alpha PRE) was employed for the production of transgenic
      mice. Firstly, we compared the number of live born transgenic mice containing
      this construct to the number of live born transgenic mice containing the entire
      zeta-globin gene linked to the alpha PRE or the beta LCR. Data showed that 12% of
      mice generated from eggs injected with zeta-promoter/lacZ/alpha PRE DNA were
      transgenic compared to only 2% of mice generated from eggs injected with the
      entire zeta-globin gene linked to the alpha PRE or the beta LCR. The reduced
      number of live born transgenic mice containing the latter constructs suggests
      that death of transgenic embryos, possibly due to thalassaemia, may be occurring.
      X-gal staining of whole embryos containing the lacZ gene revealed that zeta
      globin promoter activity was most pronounced at 8.5-9.5 days of development and
      was restricted to erythroid cells. By 15 days of development, no zeta-globin
      promoter activity was detected. These results suggest that the alpha PRE can
      direct high level expression from the zeta-globin promoter and that sequences
      required for the correct tissue and developmental specific expression of the
      human zeta-globin gene are present within 550 bp's of 5' flanking region.
      Sequences within the body of the zeta-globin gene or 3' of the cap site do not
      appear to be necessary for correct zeta-globin developmental regulation.

PMID- 1454530
TI  - Differentially regulated malate synthase genes participate in carbon and nitrogen
      metabolism of S. cerevisiae.
AB  - We have isolated a second gene (MLS1), which in addition to DAL7, encodes malate
      synthase from S. cerevisiae. Expression of the two genes is specific for their
      physiological roles in carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Expression of MLS1, which
      participates in the utilization of non-fermentable carbon sources, is sensitive
      to carbon catabolite repression, but nearly insensitive to nitrogen catabolite
      repression. DAL7, which participates in catabolism of the nitrogenous compound
      allantoin, is insensitive to carbon catabolite repression, but highly sensitive
      to nitrogen catabolite repression. Results obtained with null mutations in these
      genes suggest that S. cerevisiae contains at least one and perhaps two additional
      malate synthase genes.

PMID- 1454529
TI  - In vitro and in vivo protein--DNA interactions on the rat erythroid-specific L'
      pyruvate kinase gene promoter.
AB  - The rat L-type pyruvate kinase gene possesses two alternative tissue-specific
      promoters, located 472 bp apart; the upstream L' promoter is erythroid-specific
      and the downstream L promoter is hepatocyte-specific. The erythroid-specific L'
      promoter is strongly active in fetal liver at day 17 of gestation, while its
      activity rapidly decreases thereafter. A L' promoter fragment spanning from
      nucleotide -320 to +10 with respect to the cap site is able to direct a weak but
      erythroid-specific transcription in a cell-free system. We have used DNAse I
      footprinting and gel mobility shift assays to characterize and identify the
      binding of nuclear factors from both 17-day-old fetal liver and adult liver
      nuclear extracts to a 320 bp fragment of the 5' flanking region of the gene in
      vitro. Two clusters of erythroid-specific interactions were found. The proximal
      cluster consists of two GATA-1 binding sites at -50 bp and -65 bp from the
      transcription initiation site, immediately downstream of a CACC motif and two G/C
      rich elements. The distal cluster of cis-elements, located 130 bp upstream,
      corresponds to two GATA-1 sequences. These two sequences overlap NF1 motifs
      interacting with ubiquitous NF1 transcriptional factors in presence of adult
      hepatic extracts. Furthermore, we have examined in vivo protein-DNA interactions
      by DMS footprinting in livers of 17-day-old rat fetuses and adult rats. We found
      that the sites characterized in vitro are occupied in vivo. Therefore, in adult
      liver the L' promoter, although inactive, nevertheless interacts with ubiquitous
      factors.

PMID- 1454531
TI  - Oligonucleotide probes detect splicing variants in situ in Drosophila embryos.
AB  - We describe a method for the in situ detection of specific splicing variants. The
      method is based on the use of antisense oligonucleotides designed to span splice
      junctions labelled with digoxigenin by terminal transferase tailing. We find that
      the spatial patterns of Ubx splicing variants Ia and IIa are similar in early
      embryos, but differ in late embryos. Variant IVa is only detected in the CNS
      (ps6) at stages 16 and 17. We also present evidence indicating that the first
      splicing event is cotranscriptional.

PMID- 1454532
TI  - Intracellular availability of unmodified, phosphorothioated and liposomally
      encapsulated oligodeoxynucleotides for antisense activity.
AB  - We have studied factors which may effect the intracellular availability of
      oligonucleotides to achieve antisense activity. 15-20 mer unmodified,
      phosphorothioate modified and liposomally encapsulated oligodeoxynucleotides have
      been tested in leukemia MOLT-3 cells. Phosphorothioate analogs penetrated and
      accumulated intact in cells in contrast to unmodified oligomers, which showed a
      high instability in cell culture medium. A slow decrease of intracellular
      concentration of undegraded phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides was observed
      after cell treatment and could be predominantly explained by a significant efflux
      transport. Using laser-assisted confocal microscopy we have observed that
      fluorescein 5-end-labeled phosphorothioate derivatives predominantly distributed
      in intracytoplasmic endocytic vesicles following cell treatment. The end-capped
      version of phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides exhibited greater cellular
      uptake than fully modified analogues while exhibiting similar biological
      stability. Liposome encapsulation made possible oligomer protection in serum
      containing medium and substantially improved cellular accumulation. Furthermore,
      the efflux rate of oligomer initially introduced within liposomes is 2-fold lower
      than that observed in cells which have been incubated with free oligonucleotides.
      Liposomal preparations of oligodeoxynucleotides facilitate release from endocytic
      vesicles, and thus, cytoplasmic and nuclear localization are observed following
      cell treatment. Furthermore, intracellular distribution studies demonstrate that
      intracellular transport of unmodified oligomers is effectively achieved using the
      liposomal carrier.

PMID- 1454533
TI  - A single nuclear gene specifies the abundance and extent of RNA editing of a
      plant mitochondrial transcript.
AB  - A number of cytosines are altered to be recognized as uridines in transcripts of
      the NADH-dehydrogenase subunit 3 (nad3) gene in the mitochondria of the higher
      plant Petunia hybrida. Here we show that the extent of editing for three of the
      edit sites, all of which change the encoded amino acid, varies between different
      Petunia lines. Genetic analysis indicates that a single nuclear gene is
      responsible for this variation. Interestingly, according to RNA blot
      hybridization analysis, RNA editing extent and transcript abundance are
      correlated. This observation is consistent with the hypothesis that RNA editing
      is a post-transcriptional event.

PMID- 1454534
TI  - Specific transcription from the adenovirus E2E promoter by RNA polymerase III
      requires a subpopulation of TFIID.
AB  - The early E2 (E2E) promoter of adenovirus type 2 possesses a TATA-like element
      and binding sites for the factors E2F and ATF. This promoter is transcribed by
      RNA polymerase II in high salt nuclear extracts, but by RNA polymerase III in
      standard nuclear extracts, as judged by sensitivity to low and high,
      respectively, concentrations of alpha-amanitin. Transcription by the two RNA
      polymerases initiated at the same site and depended, in both cases, on the TATA
      like sequence and upstream elements. However, RNA polymerase III transcripts,
      unlike those synthesized by RNA polymerase II, terminated at two runs of Ts
      downstream of the initiation site. Although they are not essential, sequences
      downstream of the initiation site increased the efficiency of E2E transcription
      by RNA polymerase III. Such RNA polymerase III dependent transcription required a
      subpopulation of the general transcription factor, TFIID: TFIID that binds weakly
      to phosphocellulose (0.3 M eluate) complemented a TFIID-depleted extract to
      restore RNAp III transcription, whereas TFIID tightly associated with
      phosphocellulose (1 M eluate) was unable to do so.

PMID- 1454536
TI  - Cloning and characterization of genes for the PvuI restriction and modification
      system.
AB  - The genes encoding the endonuclease and the methylase of the PvuI restriction and
      modification system were cloned in E.coli and characterized. The genes were
      adjacent in tandem orientation spanning a distance of 2200 bases. The PvuI
      endonuclease was a single polypeptide with a calculated molecular weight of
      27,950 daltons. The endonuclease was easily detectable when the gene was
      expressed from its endogenous promotor and present on a low copy plasmid, but
      expression was considerably enhanced when the endonuclease gene was placed under
      the control of a strong promoter on a high copy plasmid. The methylase did not
      completely protect plasmid DNA from R.PvuI digestion until the methylase gene was
      placed under lac promotor control in a multicopy plasmid. In the absence of the
      M.PvuI methylase, expression of the R.PvuI endonuclease from the lac promotor on
      a multicopy plasmid was not lethal to wild type E.coli, but was lethal in a
      temperature-sensitive ligase mutant at the non-permissive temperature. Moreover,
      induction of the R.PvuI endonuclease under lambda pL promotor control resulted in
      complete digestion of the E.coli chromosome by R.PvuI.

PMID- 1454535
TI  - Intramolecular triplex potential sequence within a gene down regulates its
      expression in vivo.
AB  - Polypurine/polypyrimidine sequences have been shown to adopt intramolecular
      triple helix structures under torsional stress and/or at low pH. Such sequences
      have been observed within the the regulatory as well as the coding regions of
      several genes and the involvement of triple helical structure adopted by these
      sequences in transcriptional control has been speculated. Taking advantage of
      codon degeneracy we have engineered a 38 bp long intramolecular triple helix
      potential polypurine/polypyrimidine sequence motif between the 37th and 50th
      codons of beta-galactosidase gene in the plasmid pBluescriptIISK+ to investigate
      whether in vivo E.coli RNA polymerase would transcribe sequence motifs adopting
      triple helix structure, when present within the coding region of the gene. E.coli
      JM109 cells transformed with this construct pSBT1, exhibited 80% inhibition of
      beta-galactosidase expression compared to another construct pSBmT12 made using
      less preferred codons for identical amino acid sequence, but lacking the
      polypurine/polypyrimidine sequence motif. Truncated beta-galactosidase
      transcripts were observed for pSBT1 but not for pSBmT12. Here we report that a
      putative triple helix potential sequence within a gene can down regulate its
      expression by partially blocking the transcription elongation in vivo.

PMID- 1454537
TI  - 5' untranslated sequences modulate rapid mRNA degradation mediated by 3' AU-rich
      element in v-/c-fos recombinants.
AB  - One major determinant of rapid mRNA decay is the presence of AU-rich sequences
      located in 3' untranslated regions (UTR). To assess for the contribution of
      upstream sequences on the activity of the 3' AU-rich destabilizing element, we
      have determined the decay-rates of v-/c-fos hybrid transcripts by quantitative
      RNA protection analysis. In a transient expression assay, v-/c-fos recombinants
      generated two mRNA populations via alternative splicing and removal of an
      optional intron entirely located in the 5' UTR. Both mRNA species were found to
      be relatively stable in constructs lacking the c-fos AU-rich destabilizing
      element. Unexpectedly, in recombinants where intrinsic AU sequences were kept
      intact, only the full-length mRNA population showed high instability whereas the
      spliced mRNA species remained relatively stable. A v-/c-fos 5' UTR fragment
      encoding the optional intron was inserted into alpha-globin genes harboring
      either the c-fos or GM-CSF destabilizing element. The splicing and degradation
      patterns of these heterologous transcripts paralleled that of v-/c-fos
      recombinants. These observations unmasked a 5' cis-acting element in v-/c-fos
      mRNA whose presence is required for the activity of the AU-rich destabilizing
      element. They demonstrate the important role of interactions between distinct
      sequences on the regulation of mRNA stability.

PMID- 1454538
TI  - Structure and function of the murine beta-globin locus control region 5' HS-3.
AB  - We previously identified the murine homologue of the human beta-globin Locus
      Control Region (LCR) 5' HS-2. The lambda clone containing murine 5' HS-2 extends
      approximately 12 kb upstream from this site; here, we report the sequence of this
      entire upstream region. The murine homologue of 5' HS-3 is located approximately
      16.0 kb upstream from the mouse epsilon y-globin gene, but no region homologous
      to human 5' HS-4 was present in our clone. Using a reporter system consisting of
      a human gamma-globin promoter driving the neomycin phosphotransferase gene (gamma
      neo), we tested murine LCR fragments extending from -21 to -9 kb (with respect to
      the epsilon y-globin gene cap site) for activity in classical enhancer and
      integration site assays in K562 and MEL cells. 5' HS-2 behaved as a powerful
      enhancer and increased the number of productive integration events (as measured
      by a colony assay) in both K562 and MEL cells. 5' HS-3 had no activity in K562
      cells or in transiently transfected MEL cells, but was nearly as active as 5' HS
      2 in the MEL cell colony assay. Two additional tests confirmed the identification
      of murine 5' HS-3: first, a DNA fragment containing 5' HS-3 confers copy number
      dependent, integration-site independent inducibility on a linked beta-globin gene
      in the MEL cell environment. Secondly, a strong DNAseI hypersensitive site maps
      to the location of the 5' HS-3 functional core in chromatin derived from MEL
      cells. Collectively, these data suggest that we have identified the murine
      homologue of human 5' HS-3, and that this site is functional when integrated into
      the chromatin of MEL cells but not K562 cells. 5' HS-3 may therefore contain
      information that contributes to the development-specific expression of the beta
      like globin genes.

PMID- 1454539
TI  - Identifying constraints on the higher-order structure of RNA: continued
      development and application of comparative sequence analysis methods.
AB  - Comparative sequence analysis addresses the problem of RNA folding and RNA
      structural diversity, and is responsible for determining the folding of many RNA
      molecules, including 5S, 16S, and 23S rRNAs, tRNA, RNAse P RNA, and Group I and
      II introns. Initially this method was utilized to fold these sequences into their
      secondary structures. More recently, this method has revealed numerous tertiary
      correlations, elucidating novel RNA structural motifs, several of which have been
      experimentally tested and verified, substantiating the general application of
      this approach. As successful as the comparative methods have been in elucidating
      higher-order structure, it is clear that additional structure constraints remain
      to be found. Deciphering such constraints requires more sensitive and rigorous
      protocols, in addition to RNA sequence datasets that contain additional
      phylogenetic diversity and an overall increase in the number of sequences.
      Various RNA databases, including the tRNA and rRNA sequence datasets, continue to
      grow in number as well as diversity. Described herein is the development of more
      rigorous comparative analysis protocols. Our initial development and applications
      on different RNA datasets have been very encouraging. Such analyses on tRNA, 16S
      and 23S rRNA are substantiating previously proposed associations and are now
      beginning to reveal additional constraints on these molecules. A subset of these
      involve several positions that correlate simultaneously with one another,
      implying units larger than a basepair can be under a phylogenetic constraint.

PMID- 1454540
TI  - The mouse beta-globin locus control region: hypersensitive sites 3 and 4.
AB  - The human beta-globin LCR plays a key role in the transcriptional regulation of
      the beta-globin locus and comprises four erythroid specific DNase I
      hypersensitive sites, designated 5'HS1-4. We have now isolated genomic clones
      containing 5'HS3 and 5'HS4 of the mouse beta-globin LCR. 5'HS3 and 5'HS4 are
      located 15 kb and 22 kb upstream of the mouse epsilon y-globin gene,
      respectively. Sequence analysis of murine 5'HS3 and 5'HS4 reveals a significant
      degree of sequence conservation with their human homologues, including the
      presence of recognition sites for functionally relevant transcription factors.
      5'HS3 and 5'HS4 regions were found to form hypersensitive sites in nuclei from
      murine erythroid cells, but not in nuclei from a variety of nonerythroid
      haematopoietic cell lines. Analysis of different mouse strains revealed the
      existence of a polymorphism that alters the spacing between 5'HS3 and 5'HS4.
      Taken together, our results emphasize the extent of evolutionary conservation and
      complexity of mammalian beta-globin LCRs. Finally, the cloning of mouse 5'HS3 and
      5'HS4 will facilitate the molecular analysis of LCR function in the mouse model.

PMID- 1454541
TI  - An ultraviolet light-damaged DNA recognition protein absent in xeroderma
      pigmentosum group E cells binds selectively to pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone
      photoproducts.
AB  - The binding specificity was defined of a human ultraviolet light-damaged DNA
      recognition protein (UV-DRP), the activity of which is absent in some xeroderma
      pigmentosum complementation group E cells. Our results suggest that cyclobutane
      pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) are not high affinity UV-DRP binding sites--a finding
      consistent with other reports on this protein (Hirschfeld et al., (1990) Mol.
      Cell Biol., 10, 2041-2048). A major role for 6-4 photoproducts in UV-DRP binding
      was suggested in studies showing that irradiated oligonucleotides containing a
      T4C UV box sequence, which efficiently forms a TC 6-4 photoproduct, was a
      superior substrate for the UV-DRP when compared to a similar irradiated
      oligonucleotide having a T5 sequence. The latter sequence forms CPDs at a much
      higher frequency than 6-4 photoproducts. In a more direct approach, T4C
      containing oligonucleotides complexed with the UV-DRP were separated from the
      unbound oligonucleotide fraction and the frequencies of 6-4 photoproducts in the
      two DNA populations were compared. The UV-DRP-bound fraction was highly enriched
      for the 6-4 lesion over the unbound fraction supporting the conclusion that 6-4
      photoproducts are the principal binding cues for the UV-DRP.

PMID- 1454543
TI  - Identification of two large subdomains in TFIIE-alpha on the basis of homology
      between Xenopus and human sequences.

PMID- 1454542
TI  - RecA-AC: single-site cleavage of plasmids and chromosomes at any predetermined
      restriction site.
AB  - We have developed a novel version of the Achilles' Cleavage (AC) reaction in
      which virtually any restriction site on DNA of any size can be converted to a
      unique cleavage site. We first polymerized RecA protein on a synthetic
      oligodeoxyribonucleotide (oligo) in the presence of a nonhydrolyzable ATP
      analogue to generate oligo:RecA nucleoprotein filaments. These filament were then
      incubated with plasmid or intact chromosomal DNA from Saccharomyces cerevisiae to
      form stable complexes in the yeast LEU2 gene at the target sequence identical (or
      complementary) to that of the oligo. When HhaII (HinfI) methyltransferase
      (M.HhaII) was added, all of the recognition sites for HhaII with the exception of
      the one protected by the RecA filament were methylated and thus no longer cleaved
      by the cognate restriction endonuclease (HinfI). After inactivation of the RecA
      and the M.HhaII, HinfI was used to efficiently cleave the plasmid or chromosome
      specifically at the targeted restriction site. Since oligos specific for any
      sequence can be easily synthesized and the other reagents necessary to perform
      RecA-mediated AC (RecA-AC) reactions on both plasmids and intact chromosomes are
      readily available, this procedure can be applied immediately to the precise
      dissection and analysis of genomic DNA from any source and to any other research
      problem requiring efficient, highly specific cleavage of DNA at predetermined
      sites.

PMID- 1454544
TI  - Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of the DNA polymerase gene from Thermus
      flavus.

PMID- 1454545
TI  - Nucleotide sequence of a fission yeast gene encoding the DEAH-box RNA helicase.

PMID- 1454546
TI  - The phosphoprotein (P) gene of the rhabdovirus Piry: its cloning, sequencing, and
      expression in Escherichia coli.

PMID- 1454547
TI  - Nucleotide sequence of a maize chloroplast DNA fragment containing an inversion
      breakpoint, trnG (GCC), trnG (UCC), trnfM, and a trnG pseudogene.

PMID- 1454548
TI  - Sequence of cDNA for Xenopus XZFY-1.

PMID- 1454549
TI  - Human ribosomal RNA intergenic spacer sequence.

PMID- 1454550
TI  - Nucleotide sequence of the phoP gene encoding PhoP, the response regulator of the
      phosphate regulon of Bacillus subtilis.

PMID- 1454551
TI  - Nucleotide sequence of a rabbit cDNA encoding elongation factor 1 gamma.

PMID- 1454552
TI  - A restriction enzyme, BpuI is an isoschizomer of BanII.

PMID- 1454553
TI  - A rapid and inexpensive method for isolation of shuttle vector DNA from yeast for
      the transformation of E.coli.

PMID- 1454554
TI  - The use of purine-rich oligonucleotides in triplex-mediated DNA isolation and
      generation of unidirectional deletions.

PMID- 1454555
TI  - In vitro transcription complementation assay with miniextracts of transiently
      transfected COS-1 cells.

PMID- 1454556
TI  - The stability of different forms of double-stranded decoy DNA in serum and
      nuclear extracts.

PMID- 1454557
TI  - New nucleotide sequence data on the EMBL File Server.

PMID- 1454559
TI  - Life savers.

PMID- 1454558
TI  - Nursing Times open learning programme. R4: the real world of research. Part (ii):
      Research ethics. (continuing education credit).

PMID- 1454560
TI  - Changing problems.

PMID- 1454561
TI  - High anxiety.

PMID- 1454562
TI  - Menu changes.

PMID- 1454564
TI  - Capital punishment.

PMID- 1454563
TI  - Safer children.

PMID- 1454565
TI  - Hospital at home. Self-service.

PMID- 1454566
TI  - Hospital at home. Hip home.

PMID- 1454567
TI  - Hospital at home. Advanced states.

PMID- 1454568
TI  - Sterile condition.

PMID- 1454569
TI  - Lifting developments.

PMID- 1454570
TI  - Positive support.

PMID- 1454571
TI  - The write way.

PMID- 1454572
TI  - The key to innovation.

PMID- 1454574
TI  - Continence. Equal rites for men.

PMID- 1454573
TI  - Continence. The reuser's guide.

PMID- 1454577
TI  - Nursing Times open learning programme. P10. Delivery of care. Part (ii): Delivery
      systems (continuing nursing education).

PMID- 1454576
TI  - Continence. Continent's provision.

PMID- 1454575
TI  - Continence. Undercover trials unfair.

PMID- 1454578
TI  - Men's hidden illness.

PMID- 1454579
TI  - Management fads? Job evaluation; performance-related pay.

PMID- 1454580
TI  - The Tomlinson report. London's fate.

PMID- 1454581
TI  - The Tomlinson report. The nurse's voice. Interview by Bernadette Friend.

PMID- 1454582
TI  - Letter from Barts.

PMID- 1454583
TI  - Breaking the sound barrier. Interview by Ruth Devlin.

PMID- 1454584
TI  - Eating disorders. Beating bulimia.

PMID- 1454585
TI  - Eating disorders. Thin excuses.

PMID- 1454586
TI  - Nurse practitioners. A wider frame of reference.

PMID- 1454587
TI  - Working together.

PMID- 1454588
TI  - The intensive care experience.

PMID- 1454589
TI  - Systems of life. The nervous system. 2.

PMID- 1454590
TI  - Oh baby.

PMID- 1454591
TI  - Wound care. Community clinics.

PMID- 1454593
TI  - Wound care. An A&E approach.

PMID- 1454592
TI  - Wound care. Home help.

PMID- 1454594
TI  - Nursing Times open learning programme. P11. Models for care. Part (i): Medical,
      social and nursing models (continuing education credit).

PMID- 1454595
TI  - Public inconvenience.

PMID- 1454596
TI  - Upsetting the mix.

PMID- 1454597
TI  - Emergency pressures.

PMID- 1454598
TI  - New friends.

PMID- 1454599
TI  - The poverty trap.

PMID- 1454600
TI  - Aid for the vulnerable. Interview by Bernadette Friend.

PMID- 1454601
TI  - The big chill.

PMID- 1454602
TI  - Sexual harassment. Improper conduct.

PMID- 1454603
TI  - Sexual harassment. Tip of the iceberg?

PMID- 1454604
TI  - Debating on death.

PMID- 1454605
TI  - Hot pursuit.

PMID- 1454606
TI  - Keeping body and soul together.

PMID- 1454607
TI  - Midwifery. Just another miscarriage?

PMID- 1454608
TI  - Pain-free states.

PMID- 1454609
TI  - A good career move. Interview by Daloni Carlisle.

PMID- 1454610
TI  - Pre-operative fasting.
AB  - This descriptive research study replicates that of Hamilton-Smith and
      investigates the current practice of pre-operative fasting. It was found that, 20
      years on, the management of pre-operative fasting was still largely unchanged.
      Despite the recognition of vast potential complications of prolonged fasting,
      most patients were deprived of food and fluid for considerable lengths of time
      before general anaesthesia--far beyond the acceptable maximum fasting time of 12
      hours. However, a small number of experienced nurses challenged the tradition and
      successfully reduced pre-operative fasting near to the accepted minimum and
      thereby provided adequate nutrition for patients.

PMID- 1454611
TI  - Primary nursing. A new look.

PMID- 1454612
TI  - Primary nursing. Tried and tested.

PMID- 1454613
TI  - Danger on tap.

PMID- 1454614
TI  - Invisible women.

PMID- 1454615
TI  - An endangered body?

PMID- 1454616
TI  - Meeting unmet needs.

PMID- 1454617
TI  - The Tomlinson report: community strategy.

PMID- 1454618
TI  - Prescribed delay.

PMID- 1454619
TI  - Breaking the rules.

PMID- 1454620
TI  - Preparing for loss.

PMID- 1454621
TI  - Keeping in touch.

PMID- 1454622
TI  - Second-class citizens?

PMID- 1454623
TI  - Diabetes. Switching to insulin.

PMID- 1454624
TI  - Making sense out of hypothermia.

PMID- 1454625
TI  - When words fail.

PMID- 1454626
TI  - A lesson in grief.

PMID- 1454627
TI  - Memories of Molly.

PMID- 1454628
TI  - Building bridges.

PMID- 1454629
TI  - Mental health. Relax for health.

PMID- 1454630
TI  - Home away from home.

PMID- 1454631
TI  - Security screening.

PMID- 1454632
TI  - Mental health. Involuntary cohabitees.

PMID- 1454633
TI  - Mental health. Talk--don't inject.

PMID- 1454634
TI  - Mental health. Just lip-service?

PMID- 1454635
TI  - Emergency care of children in shelters.
AB  - Children living in homeless shelters often lack the health care resources usually
      available to other children. They are often more acutely and chronically ill than
      domiciled children and frequently use the emergency department (ED) as their
      point of entry into the health care system. To identify differences in health
      status, we surveyed sheltered children and domiciled controls during a nine-month
      period in our ED. One hundred sixty-two families completed a self-administered
      questionnaire during the study period: 54 homeless and 108 age-matched controls.
      Mean patient age was 3.4 years, mean maternal age was 27 years in both groups,
      and average time spent in shelters was 7.8 months. Shelter families had more
      children, more single mothers, and higher rates of unemployment and uninsurance
      than did control families. Shelter children showed greater frequencies of
      immunization delay, lack of TB testing, and lack of a regular health care site
      and higher rates of medical admissions from the ED. These data show that children
      in shelters have limited personal, financial, and medical resources and suggest
      that there are significant disparities in health status. These patients need to
      be identified when they present to the ED in order to meet subtle, as well as
      obvious, health needs.

PMID- 1454636
TI  - Aeromedical transport services accepting pediatric patients and their abidance by
      published guidelines.
AB  - The number of aeromedical transport services accepting pediatric patients (ATSP)
      in the United States has increased greatly over the past decade. Most aeromedical
      transport services are primarily designed for adults but will also transport
      children. Suggested guidelines for ATSP were published by the American Academy of
      Pediatrics (AAP) in 1986. This survey of 65 ATSP and their abidance by the major
      AAP guidelines showed that two thirds of the ATSP were based at facilities with
      pediatric tertiary care capabilities; most ATSP were not directed by pediatric
      critical care (PCC) or pediatric emergency care (PEC) specialists; most transport
      team personnel were not trained in PCC or PEC; most ATSP had specific protocols
      for different clinical situations; most ATSP had separate equipment appropriate
      for pediatric patients; and there was little variation in transport team
      composition based on different clinical situations. In summary, all ATS surveyed
      transported children, but few were aware of the AAP guidelines, and only one in
      65 was in complete abidance with the recommendations.

PMID- 1454637
TI  - Iron absorption from chewable vitamins with iron versus iron tablets:
      implications for toxicity.
AB  - The medical literature contains few, if any, reports of severe iron (Fe)
      poisonings from ingestion of chewable multivitamins with iron. One possible
      explanation for this observation is that iron from multivitamins is more poorly
      absorbed than iron from iron tablets. To compare iron absorption from
      multivitamins with iron absorption from ferrous fumarate tablets, male adult
      volunteers were given 6 mg of elemental Fe/kg body weight as chewable
      multivitamins with iron or as crushed ferrous fumarate tablets in a crossover
      study. Serum Fe and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were determined prior to
      administration of the tablets and one, two, four, and six hours after ingestion.
      Statistical analyses demonstrated increased and more rapid absorption of Fe from
      the multivitamin preparation. These results suggest that iron is well absorbed
      from chewable multivitamins with iron and should theoretically have the potential
      for producing serious toxicity when taken in overdose. The reasons that such
      toxicity is not commonly seen clinically are discussed, and a plan for further
      investigation of this issue is proposed.

PMID- 1454638
TI  - The role of abdominal x-rays in the diagnosis and management of intussusception.
AB  - The management of intussusception requires early diagnosis and reduction with
      either barium enema or surgical intervention. Supine and erect abdominal
      radiographs are often obtained prior to ordering a barium enema. In many
      pediatric centers, the critical, initial interpretation of these radiographs is
      made by nonradiologists and, in most instances, by pediatric emergency
      physicians. We determined the sensitivity and specificity of abdominal
      radiographs in diagnosing intussusception when interpreted by these physicians.
      Six full-time pediatric emergency physicians evaluated 126 radiographs from 42
      patients with intussusception, 42 in whom the disease was clinically suspected
      but ruled out, and 42 in whom the final radiology report was "normal." These were
      presented to pediatric emergency physicians in a blinded, randomized sequence
      without any additional clinical information. These physicians then identified
      patients for whom they would proceed to barium enema. The mean sensitivity was
      80.5% (range, 71-93%), and the mean specificity was 58% (range, 48-69%). This
      compares favorably to the sensitivity of signs and symptoms, and we conclude that
      plain and upright abdominal films are a useful adjunct for the clinician
      evaluating patients for suspected intussusception.

PMID- 1454639
TI  - Are skull radiographs useful in the evaluation of asymptomatic infants following
      minor head injury?
AB  - Head injuries constitute a common problem in the pediatric population. Recent
      studies indicate that infants are at increased risk for skull fractures following
      head trauma. The purpose of our study is to examine the utility of skull
      radiographs in asymptomatic infants presenting after a minor head injury. We
      retrospectively reviewed the records of all head-injured infants who presented to
      our emergency department between March 1990 and July 1991. All symptomatic
      patients and all infants who did not undergo radiologic evaluation were excluded
      from the analysis. During the study period, 35 asymptomatic infants were
      evaluated in our emergency department following head trauma. The mean age of the
      study patients was 5.5 +/- 3.8 months; 54% were male; and falls accounted for the
      injury in 88% of cases. The skull radiograms were normal in 30 patients,
      equivocal in two, and positive for a parietal skull fracture in three. The three
      infants who sustained skull fractures were male, were younger than three months,
      and had fallen from heights not exceeding three feet. Computed head tomograms
      revealed no intracranial pathology in these patients. We conclude that all
      infants who present following minor skull trauma should undergo radiologic
      evaluation.

PMID- 1454640
TI  - Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship survey: 1991-1992.
AB  - This study was designed to determine the general characteristics, training
      expectations, and career goals of those individuals entering Pediatric Emergency
      Medicine Fellowships in 1992 through the NRMP Pediatric Emergency Medicine Match.
      A 20-item questionnaire was developed and sent to those individuals who
      successfully obtained fellowship positions through the 1991-1992 Match. All of
      the respondents will have completed a formal pediatric residency program, and 90%
      will have completed their residency since 1990. Eighty-eight percent of the
      respondents have not completed formal postgraduate training other than a
      pediatric residency, and none of the respondents were from training programs in
      emergency medicine. Ninety percent of the respondents are planning on two years
      of training, while 10% are either entering a three-year program or planning an
      optional third year. Ninety-four percent of the individuals who responded had not
      applied for Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowships in the past, but, while many
      of the individuals were concerned about obtaining a position, only 6% applied for
      a fellowship in an alternative field. If the respondents had not obtained
      positions this year, 79% felt that they would have reapplied next year. When
      asked why they are pursuing a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship, 85% listed
      opportunities in clinical medicine as their primary reason, while 10% claimed
      that research opportunity was the most important factor. When their fellowships
      are completed, 77% hope to practice at a university-based children's hospital,
      and 10% hope to practice at a private children's hospital.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1454641
TI  - Plastic bronchitis: an unusual cause of respiratory distress in children.
AB  - This case illustrates an unusual cause of respiratory distress in the pediatric
      population. A high degree of suspicion is necessary to make the diagnosis of
      plastic bronchitis. Wheezing and cough will lead to the diagnosis of reactive
      airway disease and/or foreign body aspiration. Chest radiographs may yield
      additional information, but the diagnosis is made by bronchoscopy and removal of
      the casts. Any child with severe respiratory distress refractory to aggressive
      conventional medical therapy and with a history or radiograph suggestive of
      plastic bronchitis should be considered a candidate for bronchoscopy. As
      clinicians, we must always remember the dictum, "All that wheezes is not asthma."

PMID- 1454642
TI  - Anomalous left coronary artery masquerading as infantile bronchiolitis.
AB  - Four infants less than six months of age with anomalous left coronary artery from
      the pulmonary artery who present with symptoms of wheezing are described. All had
      cardiomegaly on chest radiographs and because of wheezing received beta-agonist
      agents (albuterol alone or with epinephrine). One developed cardiopulmonary
      collapse secondary to supraventricular tachycardia after administration of these
      agents. The literature is reviewed for utility of chest radiographs in infants
      presenting with wheezing and for the efficacy of beta-adrenergic agents in
      infants less than six months of age. The authors suggest that physicians have a
      low threshold for obtaining a chest radiograph prior to treating a first-time
      wheezing infant less than six months of age with a beta-agonist agent.

PMID- 1454643
TI  - Thermal epiglottitis after swallowing hot tea.
AB  - Acute infectious epiglottitis in children is a well-recognized clinical entity.
      We report the development of acute thermal epiglottitis after ingestion of hot
      tea by a three-year-old patient. Clinical and radiographic findings in our
      patient and others reported in the literature resemble acute infectious
      epiglottitis. In all cases of burns around the mouth, the possibility of
      intraoral and respiratory damage must be considered. Because of the high risk of
      upper airway obstruction, children in whom thermal epiglottitis is suspected
      should be observed in the intensive care unit and have appropriate airway
      management.

PMID- 1454644
TI  - Testicular torsion versus epididymitis: a diagnostic challenge.
AB  - Unlike the patient who presents with a potentially acute abdomen, the child or
      adolescent with a potentially acute scrotum cannot simply be observed. If
      testicular torsion is present, the testicle must be detorted and orchiopexy
      performed as soon as possible for fertility to be maintained. Torsion of the
      appendix testis, however, can usually be managed without surgery. Since the
      presentations of epididymitis and testicular torsion overlap, it is sometimes
      difficult to rapidly make the correct diagnosis. Early genitourinary consultation
      is appropriate in this setting. Any patient in whom testicular torsion is
      strongly considered should undergo immediate exploratory surgery without
      diagnostic studies. If the findings overlap, immediate testicular radionuclide
      scanning should be arranged; alternatively, with experience, Doppler sonography
      can be carried out. If these radiographic studies cannot be arranged and
      interpreted within one to two hours, scrotal exploration should be performed. Any
      patient with an acute scrotal complaint and a negative scan should receive daily
      follow-up until the symptoms subside. Although our adolescent patient did well,
      his acute presentation and findings should have warranted immediate exploration.
      It is only through this aggressive approach that we can continue to increase
      testicular salvage rates.

PMID- 1454645
TI  - Injuries associated with child safety seat misuse.
AB  - The charts of 370 children under the age of two years who presented to a
      pediatric emergency department between September 1988 and August 1989 were
      reviewed. Twenty-seven patients (7% of the total) had injuries associated with
      child safety seat (CSS) misuse. Thirteen were infants and toddlers injured as
      motor vehicle occupants when improperly restrained--CSS harness not properly
      connected (8), use of an improper device (3), and CSS not anchored to the car
      seat (2). Fourteen were infants under one year of age who were injured falling in
      their CSS. Injuries included minor head trauma (17), linear skull fracture (5),
      concussion (1), femoral fracture (1), depressed skull fracture with epidural
      hematoma (1), cervical vertebral fracture (1), and intraventricular hemorrhage
      (1). Nine patients were hospitalized. Injuries associated with CSS misuse may be
      more common than previously recognized and can result in significant injury.
      Educational efforts should focus on correct usage.

PMID- 1454646
TI  - Grunting respirations: chest or abdominal pathology?
AB  - A large percentage of misdiagnosed appendicitis cases occur during childhood.
      Misdiagnosed patients have increased morbidity and mortality from the diagnostic
      delay. The patients excused from an emergency facility who are ultimately shown
      to suffer from appendicitis have higher rates of perforation with attendant
      abscess formation, peritonitis, sepsis, and potential death. The patients with
      misdiagnosed appendicitis are young and likely to have atypical signs and
      symptoms. Grunting respirations incorrectly attributed to respiratory infection
      may serve as a pathway for a misdiagnosed case of appendicitis.

PMID- 1454647
TI  - Acute-onset vomiting in a 15-day-old infant.

PMID- 1454648
TI  - A four year old with a slow heart rate.

PMID- 1454649
TI  - Aseptic meningitis.

PMID- 1454650
TI  - Case 01-1992: an 11-year-old boy with fever and a painful hip.

PMID- 1454651
TI  - Aeromedical transport services and AAP guidelines: a commentary.

PMID- 1454652
TI  - Seizures associated with meningitis.

PMID- 1454653
TI  - Management of asthma.

PMID- 1454654
TI  - [Lysozyme activity in undiluted and diluted blood of patients treated with
      cyclosporin A with prednisone or azathioprine with prednisone after kidney
      transplantation].
AB  - It is a general opinion that the renal transplant patients may show the decrease
      of immunity which manifests by their increased susceptibility to bacterial, viral
      and fungal infections. One of the important non-specific defensive factors of the
      organism participating in the protection against infections is lysozyme. It is
      the purpose of the present paper to estimate the lysozyme activity in the un- and
      diluted serum in the renal transplant patients and to determine the possible
      mechanism of the observed deviations. 32 renal transplant patients (24 men and 8
      women) aged of 16 up to 50 were investigated, being in the period of 1 until 4
      years after transplantation. In the investigation the kind of immunosuppressive
      treatment used was considered which served the purpose of dividing the total
      group of patients into two subgroups: one treated with cyclosporine (12 patients)
      and the other treated with azathioprine (20 patients). The control group
      consisted of 20 healthy persons, matching by age, sex and living place the group
      investigated. In both groups investigated and control, were determined: lysozyme
      activity in the serum of the undiluted and diluted blood, total leukocyte number,
      the absolute number of peripheral blood neutrophils as well as their adherence to
      fibres was evaluated. In the renal transplant patients compared with the control
      group and in the separated subgroups, no statistically significant differences
      were found concerning leukocyte count, absolute neutrophil count and adherence of
      those cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1454655
TI  - [Erythropoietin level in the blood of patients with diabetes mellitus type 2].
AB  - 52 patients with diabetes mellitus type II (23 of them were treated by diabetic
      diet, 12 were on oral antidiabetic drugs and 17 were treated by insulin), and in
      31 healthy subjects the serum concentrations of erythropoietin (EPO), ferritin,
      iron, TIBC and hematocrit value, haemoglobin concentration and erythrocytes were
      measured. In diabetic patients higher but in insulin treated patients
      significantly higher plasma erythropoietin concentrations were found than in
      healthy subjects. In diabetic patients the physiological negative correlation
      between plasma erythropoietin concentration, haematocrit value, haemoglobin
      concentration and erythrocytes respectively was absent. In diabetic patients
      plasma ferritin concentrations were significantly higher than in normals.
      CONCLUSION: patients with diabetes mellitus type II are characterized by elevated
      plasma erythropoietin and ferritin concentrations and dissociation of the
      physiological feedback between plasma erythropoietin and intensity of
      erythropoiesis.

PMID- 1454656
TI  - [Inhibition of growth hormone (GH) response to GHRH in diabetes mellitus type 1
      after blockade of the cholinergic system with pirenzepine].
AB  - The effect of pirenzepine, a peripheric cholinergic antagonist, on GHRH-induced
      GH secretion was studied in 10 type I diabetic subjects and 8 healthy controls.
      GH response was significantly greater in diabetics than in the healthy controls
      (p < 0.02) with peak values of 59.6 and 15.9 ng/ml, respectively. Pirenzepine 20
      mg in given 15 min before GHRH inhibited GH response in both groups. In diabetics
      GH response calculated as area under curve (AUC) was inhibited from 3666 to 260
      ng/ml. min (p < 0.001) and in the controls from 831 to 255 ng/ml. min (p < 0.05).
      The great efficacy of pirenzepine in inhibiting GH hypersecretion in type I
      diabetes may find a clinical application in future.

PMID- 1454657
TI  - [Comparison of the effectiveness of budesonide and prednisone in the maintenance
      treatment of pulmonary sarcoidosis].
AB  - The aim of this investigation was to compare inhaled budesonide vs oral
      prednisone in the maintenance phase treatment of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Double
      blind controlled study was performed in 40 patients with stage II or III
      pulmonary sarcoidosis. After initial systemic 6 weeks treatment with prednisone
      (40 reduced to 20 mg daily) patients were allocated either to systematically (P)
      or topically (B) treated group. P patients continued with 10 mg prednisone daily,
      B patients were given inhaled budesonide 1.6 mg daily. The progress of treatment
      was assessed by serial radiography, spirometry, serum ACE activity and plasma
      cortisol levels. All patients completed the 12 months treatment. Using a
      numerical score to assess changes on the chest radiograms P patients improved by
      1.7 +/- 0.66 points; B patients improved by 1.15 +/- 0.81 points. Spirometric
      changes were insignificant. Serum ACE fell from 107 +/- 51 U/L in the P group and
      92 +/- 40 U/L in the B group to 46 +/- 11 U/L and 38 +/- 21 U/L respectively
      during the initial phase of treatment. In the maintenance phase ACE levels
      remained lower than initial ones in both groups. Morning cortisol plasma levels
      studied in 10 patients (5 in each group) decreased significantly during the
      initial phase. Thereafter cortisol levels remained low in the P patients
      returning to the lower limit of normal values in the B patients. We conclude that
      inhaled budesonide may be a safe and effective alternative to oral steroids in
      the maintenance treatment of pulmonary sarcoidosis especially in the early, stage
      II, disease.

PMID- 1454658
TI  - [Vitamins and arteriosclerosis].

PMID- 1454659
TI  - [Disorders of tubular transport of uric acid leading to hyperuricemia].

PMID- 1454660
TI  - [Proliferation and differentiation of cells and differentiation- inducing
      treatment in leukemia].

PMID- 1454661
TI  - [Diabetic nephropathy. I. Pathomorphology and pathogenesis].

PMID- 1454662
TI  - [Diabetic nephropathy. II. Clinical course and treatment].

PMID- 1454663
TI  - Long-term prognosis after myocardial infarction. Who is at risk for sudden death?
AB  - Patients who have survived myocardial infarction may be at risk for recurrent
      infarction or sudden death within the first year. Clinical factors that identify
      high-risk patients include the following: Poor left ventricular function Presence
      of spontaneous ventricular ectopy Abnormal signal-averaged electrocardiogram
      Decreased heart rate variability Exercise-induced depression of the ST segment
      Inducible ventricular tachyarrhythmia When these high-risk patients are
      identified, appropriate strategies (eg, use of antiarrhythmic agents or an
      implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) may improve outcome.

PMID- 1454664
TI  - Acute confusional state. Don't mistake it for dementia.
AB  - Acute confusional state is a condition that is commonly encountered in many types
      of medical practice. Certain patients, especially the elderly, are vulnerable to
      the disorder, and recognition of this fact can help prevent the development or
      minimize the severity of the condition. Thorough history taking and evaluation
      often point to the underlying cause, and attention to general principles of
      environmental and pharmacologic management can minimize morbidity.

PMID- 1454665
TI  - Management of ascites in patients with cirrhosis. What to do when diuretics fail.
AB  - Resistant or refractory ascites is unusual in cirrhotic patients who comply with
      dietary sodium restriction and optimal diuretic therapy. Patients unresponsive to
      medical therapy often have end-stage liver disease and renal insufficiency,
      although reversible complicating factors must be excluded. For patients with
      truly refractory ascites, liver transplantation is the only option that improves
      chances of survival. When this is not feasible, therapeutic paracentesis is the
      procedure of choice for intractable ascites. Several surgical shunts have been
      used, but none have been found to be safer and more effective than large-volume
      paracentesis.

PMID- 1454666
TI  - Listerial meningitis. Which patients are vulnerable?
AB  - The physician's index of suspicion for infection with Listeria monocytogenes
      should be elevated if a patient presents with symptoms of meningitis and has
      impaired cell-mediated immunity. Although diagnosis is aided by detection of an
      elevated white blood cell count and protein level in the cerebrospinal fluid, it
      requires isolation of the organism from the cerebrospinal fluid. Appropriate
      antibiotic treatment leads to recovery in most cases.

PMID- 1454668
TI  - Dear President Clinton.

PMID- 1454667
TI  - Community-acquired pneumonia. The changing picture.
AB  - Important changes in the initial management of community-acquired pneumonia have
      been prompted by the discovery of new respiratory pathogens, the changing
      susceptibility of traditional pathogens to antimicrobial agents, and the
      introduction of new antimicrobial agents. Although the clinical presentation may
      suggest a specific pathogen, findings overlap too much to reliably distinguish
      the specific cause of the pneumonia on a clinical basis. Useful laboratory
      studies include Gram's stain and culture of sputum, blood culture, serologic
      studies, and new tests such as the urinary antigen test for Legionella
      pneumophila. Empirical antimicrobial treatment must take into consideration that
      20% to 30% of cases of community-acquired pneumonia are due to atypical pathogens
      that are not susceptible to beta-lactam agents.

PMID- 1454669
TI  - Radiocontrast-induced nephropathy. Prevention is better than cure.
AB  - The principal predisposing factor in radiocontrast-induced nephropathy appears to
      be underlying renal insufficiency. Identifying patients at risk is of paramount
      importance when a diagnostic study is being chosen. Contrast-reliant studies
      should be avoided, if possible, in high-risk patients. If challenge with a
      contrast medium is essential, appropriate risk stratification and adequate
      patient preparation should be done beforehand. Ultimately, prevention is a better
      approach than cure.

PMID- 1454670
TI  - The impact of CLIA.

PMID- 1454671
TI  - The impact of CLIA.

PMID- 1454672
TI  - Hypothermia. Saving patients from the big chill.
AB  - Although hypothermia is a serious and sometimes fatal condition, prompt
      recognition and institution of appropriate rewarming techniques may save even
      profoundly affected persons. The diagnosis of hypothermia should be considered
      when patients present with alterations of cerebral function without apparent
      explanation, especially in the presence of underlying predisposing illnesses and
      conditions. When hypothermia is suspected, an accurate core temperature must be
      obtained. Application of rewarming techniques appropriate to the degree of
      hypothermia may be lifesaving. Conservative use of pharmacotherapy is warranted.

PMID- 1454673
TI  - Ovarian cancer screening. The search for cost-effective methods.
AB  - The search goes on for an effective screening test for ovarian cancer. This
      deadly disease has eluded attempts at early detection with the currently
      available methods. Dr Williams examines the research regarding various screening
      methods and suggests areas of promise for future study.

PMID- 1454674
TI  - Cardiac imaging after acute myocardial infarction. Identification of patients at
      continued risk.
AB  - Diagnostic imaging performed early in the course of acute myocardial infarction
      provides anatomic and functional information that is useful in assessing patients
      at risk for future cardiac events and premature death. Early identification of
      left ventricular dysfunction or complications of myocardial infarction allows
      appropriate and timely management of high-risk patients and early transfer of
      stable patients from the intensive care environment. Noninvasive predischarge
      functional imaging to unmask patients with jeopardized myocardium identifies high
      risk patients who may need invasive studies and surgical or interventional
      treatment. Postdischarge risk stratification with diagnostic imaging provides
      vital prognostic information in high- and low-risk patients, allowing for
      appropriate allocation of medical resources.

PMID- 1454675
TI  - Selection for body weight at eight weeks of age. 20. Production traits and the B
      and C alloantigen systems.
AB  - The current study evaluated influence of genotypes of the B and C alloantigen
      systems on production traits in lines of White Plymouth Rock chickens. Lines had
      been selected previously for high (HWS) or low (LWS) 8-wk BW and after 27
      generations of selection, a random sample of each selected line was used to
      initiate subpopulations in which selection was relaxed. For the present study,
      blood typing was used to identify allelic frequencies for the B and C systems for
      five consecutive generations of selection (Generations 30 through 34) and three
      consecutive generations of relaxation (Generations 5 through 7). Haplotypes for
      the B complex were assigned designations B32, B33, B34, and B35 and alleles of
      the C system were assigned C8, C9, C10, and C11. Production traits for males were
      BW at 4 and 8 wk of age, and for females were BW at 4, 8, and 38 wk of age, age
      and BW at production of first egg, percentage of normal eggs, and percentage of
      normal hen-day egg production. There were no differences in production traits
      among B genotypes or among C genotypes, although some time trends in gene
      frequencies suggested that more subtle effects may be present.

PMID- 1454676
TI  - Effects of genetic strain and light management on the reproductive performance of
      turkeys.
AB  - The laying performance of six genetic strains of turkeys, which have been bred
      and maintained at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster,
      OH, was compared under three laying house lighting regimens over a period of 3
      yr. Light Treatment 1 (L1) consisted of 14 h of continuous light (L) and 10 h of
      dark (D; 14L:10D) throughout the laying period. Treatment 2 (L2) consisted of 14
      h of intermittent light (IL, 15 min L and 45 min D/h) followed by 10 h of
      continuous dark. The IL treatment was started following a period (6 wk) in which
      the hens were trained to use the trapnests. Thus, during the first 6 wk of their
      laying period, L2 hens were also provided 14L:10D. Treatment 3 (L3) hens were
      provided the same program as L1 for the first 14 wk of the laying period. They
      were then moved to a continuous period of 19L:5D for the remainder of the laying
      period. All eggs produced were recorded through 180 days after the first egg was
      laid. Traits studied included: the number of days to first egg after light
      stimulation; the number of eggs produced through 84, 120, and 180 days after the
      first egg was laid; the average clutch length; the maximum clutch length; the
      total days lost to broodiness; the rate of lay; and the effective length of the
      laying period. Highly significant differences (P less than or equal to .01) were
      observed among the strains used for all traits measured. Light treatments showed
      no significant effects on any trait measured. Thus, from the present studies, the
      delayed IL program provides an economically attractive management program for
      environmentally controlled turkey breeder houses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1454677
TI  - Growth, body composition, and plasma androgen concentration of male broiler
      chickens subjected to different regimens of photoperiod and light intensity.
AB  - Day-old male Hubbard broilers (960) were assigned to one of four treatments (two
      pens of 120 birds per treatment) to evaluate the effects of high (150 lx) versus
      low (5 lx) light intensity and constant 23 h light (L):1 h dark (D) versus
      increasing (6L:18D increasing 4 h/wk to 23L:1D) photoperiod in a 2 x 2 factorial
      arrangement of treatments. Birds were raised to 8 wk on a typical commercial four
      diet program. Low-intensity birds were heavier than high-intensity birds from 2
      to 8 wk (3.25% heavier at 8 wk). Birds raised under constant photoperiod were
      heavier than birds raised under increasing photoperiod from 2 to 5 wk and at 7 wk
      of age (1.71% heavier at 7 wk). High-intensity bird carcasses had lower
      percentage body fat, weight of fat, and higher percentage body protein at 8 wk
      compared with low-intensity bird carcasses (7.77, 10.76, and 1.77%,
      respectively). High-intensity birds had smaller abdominal fat pads (weight and
      percentage of body weight) at 8 wk compared with low-intensity birds (15.46 and
      12.17%, respectively). Photoperiod did not affect body composition. Birds treated
      with increasing photoperiod had larger testes (weight and percentage of body
      weight) at 8 wk compared with birds under the constant photoperiod (29.36 and
      30.51%, respectively). Birds treated under increasing photoperiod had higher
      plasma androgen concentrations at 7 wk compared with birds under constant
      photoperiod (testosterone, .270 versus .188 ng/mL; androstenedione, .632 versus
      .494 ng/mL).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1454678
TI  - Beak trimming and sex effects on behavior and performance traits of large white
      turkeys.
AB  - The effects of beak trimming at day old on performance and behavioral activities
      of male and female Large White turkeys were evaluated. One hundred and twenty
      poults of each sex were evenly assigned to 20 treatment pens and evaluated for
      body weight, feed usage, and livability characteristics to 18 wk of age.
      Behavioral observations were conducted for feeding, drinking, sleeping, huddling,
      resting, and agonistic activities. Beak trimming affected body weight and feed
      usage levels for the sexes differently. From 6 wk, trimmed males were
      significantly heavier than untrimmed males, whereas untrimmed females were
      heavier than trimmed females from 12 wk. Similar to body weights, feed usage
      levels from 13 to 18 wk were higher for trimmed males compared with untrimmed
      males and lower for trimmed females compared with untrimmed females. Feed
      conversion ratios after 12 wk and survival to 18 wk were not affected by trimming
      treatment. Livability rates, however, were lowest for untrimmed males and highest
      for untrimmed females. Effects on behavioral activities were confined primarily
      to the brooding and early rearing phases. Beak trimming reduced feeding activity
      of females and drinking activity of both males and females during the first 2 wk.
      Sleeping, huddling, and resting activities were increased by beak trimming for
      both sexes during brooding. Agonistic acts were reduced by beak trimming main
      effect at 3 and 6 wk. Trimmed males committed fewer agonistic acts at 6 wk than
      untrimmed males.

PMID- 1454679
TI  - Long segmented filamentous organisms in broiler chicks: possible relationship to
      reduced serum carotenoids.
AB  - Over the past several years, broiler-flocks at the author's laboratory have
      exhibited low serum carotenoid levels. This phenomenon has not been related to
      exceptionally low carotenoids in the feed or to known protozoan or viral
      infections. However, long segmented filamentous organisms (LSFO) have been
      identified in the pale chicks. An inverse correlation between LSFO counts and
      serum carotenoid levels was not observed, but prevention of LSFO infection
      consistently resulted in higher carotenoid values. Young chicks were very
      susceptible to naturally acquired LSFO infection, but the organisms decreased in
      number with time and became very difficult to find by the time the chicks were 7
      wk old. Segments of LSFO containing endospores were detected in mucosal smears.
      This observation, along with the extreme ease of natural infection, suggests that
      LSFO are transmitted by dust-borne spores. Transmission can be prevented by
      fumigation of housing with formaldehyde vapors.

PMID- 1454680
TI  - Anticoccidial efficacy and chicken toleration of potent new polyether ionophores.
      1. The septamycin relative CP-82,009.
AB  - The anticoccidial activity of the ionophore CP-82,009 against laboratory isolates
      of four major species of poultry Eimeria was investigated. Parameters of
      anticoccidial efficacy that were evaluated were control of lesions and weight
      suppression. At 4 and 5 ppm, CP-82,009 demonstrated broad-spectrum anticoccidial
      efficacy in battery trials that was equivalent to reference commercial
      ionophores. When CP-82,009 was fed to uninfected broiler chickens at efficacious
      dose levels, growth rate and feed efficiency were found to be equivalent to
      commercial agents over a 21-day period in batteries and over a 49-day period in
      floor pens. From the present studies, it appears that CP-82,009 is an efficacious
      anticoccidial that is well tolerated by chickens, and that it ranks among the
      most potent anticoccidial ionophores described to date.

PMID- 1454681
TI  - Anticoccidial efficacy and chicken toleration of potent new polyether ionophores.
      2. The portmicin relative CP-84,657.
AB  - The current study investigated the anticoccidial activity of the ionophore CP
      84,657 against laboratory strains of the five major pathogenic species of Eimeria
      that infect poultry. Based on lesion scores and weight gain, the ionophore CP
      84,657 achieved broad-spectrum anticoccidial efficacy in battery trials at doses
      of 4 and 5 ppm that was equivalent to reference commercial ionophores. In
      uninfected chickens, 4 ppm of CP-84,657 was the highest dose that gave growth
      rate and feed efficiency equivalent to commercial agents over 21 days in
      batteries and 49 days in floor pens. Ionophore CP-84,657 is an efficacious, well
      tolerated anticoccidial in chickens, with potency comparable to that of the most
      potent known ionophores.

PMID- 1454682
TI  - Colostrum from cows immunized with Eimeria acervulina antigens reduces parasite
      development in vivo and in vitro.
AB  - Experiments were undertaken to determine whether passive immunization utilizing
      hyperimmune bovine colostrum (HBC) specific for Eimeria acervulina (EA) antigens
      conferred protection against coccidiosis in chickens. The HBC was produced by
      immunizing three pregnant, nonmilking Jersey cows with EA antigens administered
      via one intramuscular injection followed by three intramammary infusions at
      approximately 10, 8, 6, and 4 wk before parturition. One cow was immunized with
      sporozoites (SZ), the second with merozoites (MZ), and the third with recombinant
      merozoite antigen (rMZ). A fourth cow, unimmunized, provided normal colostrum
      (NC) for control purposes. Colostral whey from each cow was tested by ELISA for
      antibody against SZ, MZ, and rMZ antigens. In all immunized cows, antiparasite
      titers were elevated above those of the control. Antibodies from MZ- and rMZ
      immunized cows recognized both MZ and rMZ antigen. Separate groups of 2-wk-old
      chickens received two oral doses of anti-SZ, -MZ, or -rMZ HBC or NC or PBS daily
      from 1 day before through 6 days after oral inoculation (DAI) with EA oocysts.
      Feces from each group were examined for oocysts. Intestines were examined for
      lesions 6 DAI. Histologic sections of duodenum were examined for asexual stages
      and gametocytes utilizing monoclonal antibody and fluorescence microscopy. In
      Experiments 1 and 2, oocyst production was reduced in all HBC-treated groups,
      except one treated with rMZ HBC, compared with PBS- or NC-treated groups. In
      Experiment 2, the severity of lesions was significantly reduced in all HBC
      treated groups compared with those that received NC or PBS. Significantly fewer
      developmental stages were found in histological sections from all chickens
      treated with anti-SZ and anti-rMZ HBC than from controls. Anti-SZ HBC
      significantly reduced the number of intracellular SZ found 24 h after their
      inoculation into cultures of primary chicken kidney cells. These results suggest
      that HBC specific for certain EA antigens can inhibit parasite development and
      reduce severity of parasite-related gut lesions.

PMID- 1454683
TI  - Preferential accumulation of n-3 fatty acids in the brain of chicks from eggs
      enriched with n-3 fatty acids.
AB  - Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the major polyunsaturated fatty acid in the
      phospholipids of brain tissue. The extent to which maternal dietary n-3 fatty
      acid may influence the n-3 fatty acid composition of phosphatidylethanolamine
      (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) fractions of brain and liver tissue of progeny
      was investigated. Hens were fed diets containing n-9, n-3, or n-6 fatty acids.
      The brain tissue of the chicks from eggs enriched with n-3 fatty acids contained
      higher DHA, resulting in an increased C22:6 n-3:C20:4 n-6 ratio compared with
      chicks from eggs enriched with n-9 or n-6 fatty acids. Incorporation of C22:5 n
      3, and C22:6 n-3 was mainly in the PE fraction as compared with the PC fraction
      of the chick brain. For chicks hatched from eggs enriched with n-9, n-3, and n-6
      fatty acids, the total n-3 fatty acids in the brain PE fraction were 29.3, 41.3,
      and 21.9% compared with 6.7, 8.8, and 4.0% in the brain PC fraction. In contrast,
      the n-3 fatty acids increased evenly in phospholipid PC and PE fractions. Total
      amounts of PE in the brain lipids of chicks from eggs enriched with n-3 and n-6
      fatty acids were 40.8 and 41.9% compared with 33.1% for chicks from eggs enriched
      with n-9 fatty acids. Analyses of the remaining yolk sac revealed a preferential
      absorption of DHA from the egg PE fraction by the developing chick.

PMID- 1454684
TI  - Growth, thyroid function, and serum macromineral levels in magnesium-deficient
      chicks.
AB  - Growth and thyroid function were studied in Mg-deficient chicks. Dietary levels
      of 80 to 315 ppm Mg were compared with control levels of 578 to 787 ppm Mg. Signs
      of Mg deficiency appeared rapidly and acutely within 2 to 5 days at dietary
      levels of 250 to 260 ppm or lower. Growth and feed intake decreased progressively
      as the deficiency became more severe. Control chicks pair-fed with the deficient
      chicks gained significantly more weight. Serum Mg decreased at all levels of Mg
      below control, but at 260 and 315 ppm it returned to control values after 21 days
      on treatment. Serum Ca diminished only when dietary Mg was 250 ppm or less. Serum
      K increased in severely deficient chicks but decreased over time in milder
      deficiencies. Thyroid gland weights were unchanged. However, very young chicks
      fed a Mg-deficient diet had lower serum 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) whereas
      serum thyroxine (T4) was generally unaffected. Beyond 1 wk of age chicks that had
      prior access to a Mg-sufficient diet had low serum T4 levels whereas serum T3 was
      unchanged. Therefore, peripheral thyroid hormone metabolism is altered in a Mg
      deficiency, but this effect is dependent on the age at which the deficiency
      occurs.

PMID- 1454685
TI  - The effect of early protein restriction (zero to eight weeks) on skeletal
      development in turkey toms from two to eighteen weeks.
AB  - Turkey toms were fed protein- and lysine-deficient diets or protein- and lysine
      adequate diets from 0 to 4 and 5 to 8 wk and similar diets from 9 to 18 wk.
      Beginning at 2 wk of age and at approximate 2-wk intervals thereafter, the length
      and width of the right tibia were measured in nine toms per treatment. The length
      and width of the femur were measured beginning at 8 wk. Three tibiae that were
      close to the average length for each age and treatment were selected for ashing.
      The top 25% (epiphyseal) and middle 10% (diaphyseal) segments from each of these
      bones were fat-extracted prior to ashing. Mean length of the tibia continued to
      increase throughout the experiment whereas tibia width reached a plateau at 16
      wk. Femur length also continued to increase throughout the study whereas there
      were no significant changes in femur width after 16 wk. Compared with the control
      diet, the diet deficient in protein and lysine resulted in a significant decrease
      in tibia and femur width at all ages. There were no dietary effects on tibia
      length at 16 and 18 wk, however. There were no significant dietary effects on
      femur length after 14 wk. There were significant age effects but no significant
      dietary effects on epiphyseal or diaphyseal bone ash. Epiphyseal bone ash
      increased from 41 to 54% over the course of the study whereas diaphyseal bone ash
      increased only from 59 to 64%.

PMID- 1454686
TI  - 2-Hydroxy-4 (methylthio) butanoic acid as a drinking water supplement for broiler
      chicks.
AB  - Two experiments were conducted to study the effects on chick performance of a
      commercially available liquid methionine analog [2-hydroxy-4 (methylthio)
      butanoic acid; HMB] supplied through drinking water. Methionine activities of
      .025 and .05% were added to drinking water and compared with levels of .03, .06,
      or .09% included in a low-methionine basal diet from 0 to 21 days of age.
      Mortality was not significantly altered by any dietary treatment. Neither feed
      nor water intake was affected adversely by HMB inclusion in drinking water. Only
      male body weight in Experiment 1 did not respond to HMB feed supplementation.
      Equivalent levels of total sulfur amino acid intake among water treatments were
      associated with significantly heavier body weights than the control. In both
      experiments, body weight and feed efficiency of birds receiving .05% methionine
      activity as HMB in water were equal or superior to those of groups that received
      supplemented feed. The results indicate that, under the study conditions, HMB
      provided in drinking water can be effectively assimilated by broiler chicks, at
      least through 21 days of age.

PMID- 1454687
TI  - Effect of heating on nutritional quality of conventional and Kunitz trypsin
      inhibitor-free soybeans.
AB  - Five 10-day chick growth experiments and an amino acid digestibility assay were
      conducted to assess the effect of steam heating on in vivo protein quality of
      raw, full-fat Kunitz trypsin inhibitor-free soybeans (KFSB) compared with raw,
      conventional full-fat soybeans (CSB). Protein solubility in .2% KOH was also
      evaluated as an in vitro test of in vivo protein quality for underprocessed CSB.
      The CSB and KFSB were autoclaved for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, or 21 min at 121 C
      and 124 kPa. The soybeans were then fed to 8- or 9-day-old chicks as the sole
      source of protein in dextrose and soybean diets containing 23% protein. Growth
      performance of chicks fed raw KFSB was superior to that of chicks fed raw CSB.
      Growth performance of chicks fed autoclaved KFSB or CSB increased and pancreas
      weight (percentage of body weight) decreased as autoclaving time increased.
      Slightly less autoclaving time was consistently required to achieve maximum chick
      performance for KFSB compared with CSB. Less autoclaving time was also required
      to obtain maximum digestibility of amino acids in KFSB compared with CSB. Urease
      activity of the soybeans decreased as autoclaving time increased, whereas protein
      solubility in .2% KOH for CSB did not change consistently in response to heating
      time. The results of the present study indicate that raw KFSB must be heated to
      obtain maximum protein quality for chicks and that protein solubility in KOH is
      not a sensitive indicator of underprocessing of CSB soybeans.

PMID- 1454688
TI  - The effect of enzyme supplementation on the apparent metabolizable energy and
      nutrient digestibilities of wheat, barley, oats, and rye for the young broiler
      chick.
AB  - The influence of enzyme supplementation on the bioavailable energy (AME(n)) and
      apparent digestibilities of lipid (ALD) and protein (APD) in young broiler chicks
      was examined for diets containing either wheat, hulled or hulless barley, naked
      oats, or spring rye. Dietary AME(n), APD, and ALD values were depressed (P less
      than or equal to .01) for all test grains (except hulled Bedford barley) as the
      inclusion rate of the grain replacing wheat increased. The antinutritives, beta
      glucans (barley and oats) and pentosans (rye), had the most pronounced effect on
      ALD. The decreases in ALD were 43, 77, and 67% for chicks fed diets containing
      70% Scout barley (hulless), Terra oats, and Gazelle rye, respectively, compared
      with those fed the control wheat diet. Enzyme supplementation increased (P less
      than or equal to .01) AME(n), APD, and ALD for all test cereals. The
      corresponding increases in the AME(n), of the enzyme-supplemented diets
      containing 70% HY320 wheat, Bedford barley, Scout barley, Terra oats, and Gazelle
      rye diets were 4, 7, 42, 33, and 14%, respectively, compared with their
      unsupplemented counterparts. Enzyme treatment also improved (P less than or equal
      to .01) weight gains and feed conversion efficiencies of chicks fed diets
      containing each of the cereals. Overall, the results demonstrate that the
      nutritive value of cereal grains such as wheat, barley, oats, and rye can be
      improved by the addition of crude fungal extracts to the diet of young chicks.

PMID- 1454689
TI  - Ionic and endocrine characteristics of reproductive failure in calcium-deficient
      and vitamin D-deficient laying hens.
AB  - Whole blood ionized calcium and plasma total calcium, inorganic phosphorus,
      estradiol-17 beta, progesterone, and 1,25-di-hydroxycholecalciferol
      concentrations were measured in calcium- or vitamin D-deficient Single Comb White
      Leghorn hens. Control birds were serially sampled every 2 h for 26 h immediately
      following oviposition until the next oviposition. Deficient birds, which had
      ceased laying 10 to 14 days prior to sampling, were sampled at the same times.
      The control birds had significantly higher mean total and bound plasma calcium
      and inorganic phosphorus concentrations than the deficient hens. Control and
      vitamin D-deficient hens had similar mean ionized calcium concentrations. Control
      hens exhibited a cyclic pattern in ionized calcium and inorganic phosphorus
      concentrations over the sampling period that was related to shell calcification.
      Deficient hens showed no changes in ionized calcium concentration during this
      time. Plasma 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol concentrations were significantly
      higher in the calcium-deficient birds than the control or vitamin D-deficient
      hens. Mean plasma estradiol-17 beta and progesterone concentrations were
      consistently higher in the control hens than the deficient hens. Consistent with
      this observation were decreases in ovary and oviduct weights, which occurred in
      the nonlaying deficient hens.

PMID- 1454690
TI  - Effect of dietary supplemental pyridoxine levels on the hatchability of turkey
      eggs.
AB  - Two identical experiments were conducted each with 120 Large White turkey hens in
      individual cages to determine the value of dietary pyridoxine supplementation for
      increasing hatchability. The hens were fed a basal corn and soybean meal diet.
      Weekly data responses were averaged across 5- to 6-wk timespans and recorded in
      three grouped time periods over the reproduction cycles. The hens were
      photostimulated at 31 wk of age and at 33 wk of age were assigned to dietary
      treatments containing 0, 6, 12, and 18 mg of supplemented pyridoxine/kg of diet.
      Thirty hens were fed each dietary treatment. In Experiment 1, eggs were collected
      for 4 days in the middle of each time period and egg yolk and albumen were
      assayed separately for vitamin B6. Although the vitamin B6 concentration in egg
      yolk was stable (1.9 micrograms/g dried basis), concentrations of vitamin B6 in
      egg albumen increased with incremental dietary pyridoxine levels; however, the
      average level of vitamin B6 in egg albumen was only 4% of the average level in
      egg yolk. About 37 micrograms of vitamin B6 per egg (82 g) was assayed in eggs
      from all treatments in the production periods. Incremental dietary levels of
      supplemented pyridoxine above the basal (unsupplemented pyridoxine) diet level
      did not result in increasing hatchability or egg vitamin B6 levels. Differences
      were not observed for 7-day or 28-day embryo deaths among treatments within the
      three 5- or 6-wk production periods of both experiments.

PMID- 1454691
TI  - Effect of feed allowance during rearing and breeding on female broiler breeders.
      1. Growth and carcass characteristics.
AB  - The influence of feed allowance on growth and carcass characteristics was
      investigated with female Indian River broiler breeders. Four feeding programs
      were imposed: FF, provided ad libitum access to feed throughout; FR, provided ad
      libitum access to feed from 0 to 18 wk of age and restricted thereafter; RF,
      provided ad libitum access to feed from 0 to 4 wk, restricted from 4 to 18 wk,
      and consumed feed ad libitum thereafter; RR, provided ad libitum access to feed
      from 0 to 4 wk of age and restricted thereafter. All birds received a starter
      diet (2,739 kcal ME/kg, 19.1% CP) from 0 to 3 wk of age, a grower diet (2,729
      kcal ME/kg, 15.5% CP) from 3 to 22 wk of age, and a layer diet (2,889 kcal ME/kg,
      14.6% CP) from 22 to 62 wk of age. Restricted feeding (limited amount, fed daily)
      was based on commercial BW guidelines. Feed restriction (37.2% of ad libitum
      intake) during rearing (4 to 18 wk) slowed growth. At 18 wk of age, restricted
      birds (RF, RR) had an average BW of 1.9 kg and a shank length of 9.2 cm compared
      with ad libitum-fed birds (FF, FR), which had an average BW of 4.2 kg and a shank
      length of 10.8 cm. Despite the large difference in BW, percentage carcass protein
      did not differ significantly between the two rearing treatments; however,
      percentage carcass fat was almost four times greater in ad libitum-fed than in
      feed-restricted birds. The growth deficit remained significant to 62 wk of age in
      RF birds compared with FF birds. During the prebreeding period (18 to 23 wk),
      feed intake of RF birds was 209% that of RR birds and 133% that of FF birds. At
      sexual maturity, the BW of RF birds was 3.6 kg, compared with 4.6, 4.5, and 2.6
      kg for FF, FR, and RR birds, respectively. Stepwise regression indicated that BW
      was the most important (R2 = .363, P = .0001) among 11 variables in determining
      the number of large (greater than 10 mm) follicles in the ovaries of breeders at
      sexual maturity.

PMID- 1454692
TI  - Effect of feed allowance during rearing and breeding on female broiler breeders.
      2. Ovarian morphology and production.
AB  - The influence of feed allowance during rearing (4 to 18 wk) and breeding (18 to
      62 wk) on ovarian morphology and egg production was examined. During rearing,
      beginning at 4 wk of age, 400 Indian River pullets that had been full-fed from 1
      day of age either continued to be full-fed (F, n = 200) or were feed restricted
      (R, n = 200), following commercial practice. At 18 wk of age, 100 birds (within
      +15% of the mean BW) in each of F and R rearing groups were further assigned to
      be full-fed (n = 50) or feed restricted (n = 50) during breeding. Thus, based on
      feed allowance during rearing and breeding, four treatment groups were formed
      (FF, FR, RF, and RR). Feed restriction during rearing significantly delayed
      oviduct development and age at sexual maturity (age at first egg). Compared with
      feed restriction during both rearing and breeding (RR), ad libitum feeding
      beginning at 18 wk of age (RF) significantly increased the weight of the ovary
      and the number of large follicles at sexual maturity but did not significantly
      affect the age at sexual maturity. Feed restriction during rearing, breeding, or
      both significantly reduced the incidence of erratic ovipositions, defective eggs,
      and multiple ovulations. The incidence of erratic ovipositions was positively
      correlated (r = .692, P less than or equal to .001) with the laying of soft
      shelled and shell-less eggs and negatively correlated (r = -.508, P less than or
      equal to .001) with the production of settable eggs to 62 wk of age. Compared
      with ad libitum feeding, controlled feeding during breeding significantly
      improved both settable and total egg production. Among the four feeding regimens,
      Treatment RR resulted in the highest fertility and hatchability.

PMID- 1454693
TI  - Effect of feed allowance during rearing and breeding on female broiler breeders.
      3. Ovarian steroidogenesis.
AB  - The influence of feed allowance during rearing (4 to 18 wk) and breeding (18 to
      62 wk) on in vitro follicular steroidogenesis was examined. Four feeding programs
      were imposed: FF, consumed feed ad libitum throughout; FR, provided ad libitum
      access from 0 to 18 wk of age and restricted thereafter; RF, provided ad libitum
      access to feed from 0 to 4 wk, restricted from 4 to 18 wk, and consumed feed ad
      libitum thereafter; RR, consumed feed ad libitum from 0 to 4 wk of age and
      restricted thereafter. All birds received a starter diet (2,739 kcal ME/kg, 19.1%
      CP) from 0 to 3 wk of age, a grower diet (2,729 kcal ME/kg, 15.5% CP) from 3 to
      22 wk of age, and a layer diet (2,889 kcal ME/kg, 14.6% CP) from 22 to 62 wk of
      age. Restricted feeding was based on commercial guidelines. At 33 wk of age, 10
      to 12 (FF = 10, FR = 12, RF = 10, and RR = 11) birds from each feeding regimen
      were killed by cervical dislocation and the follicles removed for in vitro
      steroidogenesis. Feed allowance during breeding (18 to 62 wk) had a significant
      effect on in vitro follicular steroidogenesis at 33 wk of age. In broiler
      breeders fed ad libitum, some of the F2 (second largest) follicles had an
      endocrine profile characteristic of the F1 (largest) preovulatory follicles,
      secreting very little androstenedione and large amounts of progesterone. In feed
      restricted birds, only the F1 follicles, which were destined to ovulate next,
      secreted any significant amount of progesterone into the culture media. Compared
      with restricted feeding, ad libitum feeding significantly increased the
      production of androstenedione in small white follicles (less than 1 mm).(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1454694
TI  - Post-mortem biochemistry of Pekin duckling and broiler chicken Pectoralis muscle.
AB  - Biochemical post-mortem changes between red and white avian muscle were
      determined using duckling and chicken Pectoralis muscles, respectively. Six live
      Pekin ducklings and six live broiler chickens, in each of two trials, were
      obtained from commercial plants and processed at a pilot facility. After
      evisceration, carcasses were held at 4 C, then Pectoralis muscles were removed at
      .25, 1, 4, and 24 h post-mortem, and sampled for pH, lactate, adenosine
      triphosphate (ATP) content, and R-value (inosine to adenine ratio). Duckling
      Pectoralis pH significantly (P less than .05) decreased from 6.25 to 5.66 from
      .25 to 24 h post-mortem, respectively, as compared with that of the chicken,
      which decreased from 6.41 to 5.62 for the same times. Duckling lactate values,
      from .25 to 24 h, increased from 15.86 to 28.86 mumol/g, respectively, and
      chicken lactate values increased from 27.62 to 53.51 mumol/g. The ATP content of
      the duckling Pectoralis muscle decreased from 1.59 to .14 mumol/g and chicken
      Pectoralis decreased from 3.42 to .21 mumol/g from .25 to 24h, respectively. The
      R-values of duckling and chicken Pectoralis significantly increased from .25 to
      24 h (.98 to 1.37 and .80 to 1.51, respectively). Duckling and chicken
      biochemical measurements were significantly different at all post-mortem sampling
      times, except for 24-h values of pH (5.66 versus 5.62, respectively) and 24-h
      contents of ATP (.14 versus .21 mumol/g, respectively). The different post-mortem
      biochemical measurements between duckling and chicken Pectoralis muscle is
      evidence that different rates of post-mortem metabolism and rigor development
      exist between these red and white avian breast muscles.

PMID- 1454695
TI  - Research note: in ovo administration of a competitive exclusion culture treatment
      to broiler embryos.
AB  - Exposure of chicks to salmonellae in the hatchery and hatchery environment limits
      the effectiveness of a competitive exclusion (CE) culture treatment. Therefore,
      in an attempt to apply treatment before chicks are exposed to salmonellae, the CE
      culture was introduced in ovo to unhatched embryos. An undefined, anaerobically
      grown CE culture, derived from cecal contents of healthy adult chickens, was
      diluted 1:1,000 or 1:1,000,000 and inoculated either into the air cell or beneath
      the inner air cell membrane of 17-day-old incubating hatching eggs. The treated
      chicks were more resistant than untreated chicks to varying challenge levels of
      Salmonella typhimurium, indicating that it may be possible to initiate protection
      of chicks to salmonellae challenge prior to hatching into a contaminated
      environment.

PMID- 1454696
TI  - A lonely widow with glycosuria.

PMID- 1454697
TI  - Travellers' health.

PMID- 1454698
TI  - Arthritis and infections.

PMID- 1454699
TI  - Managing miscarriage.

PMID- 1454700
TI  - Recurrent miscarriage.

PMID- 1454701
TI  - Occupational lung diseases.

PMID- 1454702
TI  - Treating paediatric malignancies.

PMID- 1454703
TI  - Examples from the orals.

PMID- 1454704
TI  - Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea.

PMID- 1454705
TI  - Sore throats and URTIs.

PMID- 1454706
TI  - The chronically discharging ear.

PMID- 1454707
TI  - Otitis media--antibiotics or not?

PMID- 1454708
TI  - Extended-wear contact lenses.

PMID- 1454709
TI  - A question of payment.

PMID- 1454710
TI  - A request for slimming tablets.

PMID- 1454711
TI  - Planning an immunisation schedule.

PMID- 1454712
TI  - Hepatitis A vaccination.

PMID- 1454713
TI  - Diagnosis of mouth lesions.

PMID- 1454714
TI  - Diagnosis of depression.

PMID- 1454715
TI  - Stress and mental health.

PMID- 1454716
TI  - Imaging in three dimensions.

PMID- 1454717
TI  - The MRCGP examination.

PMID- 1454718
TI  - Medical records.

PMID- 1454719
TI  - Selecting staff.

PMID- 1454720
TI  - Developing staff skills.

PMID- 1454721
TI  - Staff training and appraisal.

PMID- 1454722
TI  - Prescribing policies.

PMID- 1454723
TI  - ACE inhibitors in heart failure.

PMID- 1454724
TI  - HRT and audit circles.

PMID- 1454725
TI  - Coronary disease is grossly under investigated.

PMID- 1454726
TI  - Not every patient with angina requires coronary angiography.

PMID- 1454727
TI  - Preventing pregnancy in Down's syndrome.

PMID- 1454728
TI  - Illnesses from abroad.

PMID- 1454729
TI  - Prostate cancer.

PMID- 1454730
TI  - Psychosomatic illness in children.

PMID- 1454731
TI  - The Employment Medical Advisory Service.

PMID- 1454732
TI  - Fertility and infertility.

PMID- 1454733
TI  - Gynaecological cancer.

PMID- 1454734
TI  - Management of menorrhagia.

PMID- 1454735
TI  - Surgical treatment of menstrual disorders.

PMID- 1454736
TI  - Sexual problems.

PMID- 1454737
TI  - Effective treatment of depression.

PMID- 1454738
TI  - Prescribing in heart disease.

PMID- 1454739
TI  - Home or hospital birth?

PMID- 1454740
TI  - Shoplifting by a menopausal woman.

PMID- 1454741
TI  - Imported malaria.

PMID- 1454742
TI  - Health and safety in the surgery.

PMID- 1454743
TI  - Psychopathic and violent patients.

PMID- 1454744
TI  - GPs, social workers and the Mental Health Act.

PMID- 1454745
TI  - Manic-depressive disorder.

PMID- 1454746
TI  - Schizophrenia in general practice.

PMID- 1454747
TI  - Why bother with a practice formulary?

PMID- 1454749
TI  - Effects of endosulfan and aldrin on muscle coordination and conditioned avoidance
      response in rats.
AB  - The deteriorative effects after chronic endosulfan exposure on muscle
      coordination, learning and memory of rats were compared with that produced by
      aldrin which has been reported to have similar effects in experimental animals. A
      rota-rod apparatus was used to study the muscle coordination and learning and
      memory were tested by recording the response to unconditioned and conditioned
      stimuli using a pole-climbing apparatus. Aldrin but not endosulfan inhibited
      motor coordination in both sexes. A greater motor deterioration occurred in male
      group. This finding, together with the previous data which shows inhibition by
      its metabolite of motor activity, suggests that its metabolic product is
      responsible for this action. Like aldrin, endosulfan inhibited both learning
      ability and conditioned avoidance response. A change in the activities of brain
      monoamines or inhibition of perception and reflexes or both were proposed for
      these behavioural effects, since the former was reported to be produced by both
      compounds and the latter was found to occur in aldrin treated rats.

PMID- 1454748
TI  - Could the pharmacological differences observed between angiotensin II antagonists
      and inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme be clinically beneficial?
AB  - Over the past several years, angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors,
      compounds that block the formation of angiotensin II (ANG II), have become widely
      used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Recently, a new class of orally
      active, non-peptide inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system, the ANG II
      receptor antagonists have also become available. Since both classes of compounds
      block the renin-angiotensin system, although at different sites, it remains to be
      determined whether blockade of ANG II receptors will have any specific advantage
      over inhibition of ACE. The following review assesses the actions of ANG II
      antagonists and suggests ways in which blockade of ANG II receptors may differ
      both pharmacologically and clinically from inhibition of ACE.

PMID- 1454750
TI  - Absence of CYP3A genetic polymorphism assessed by urinary excretion of 6 beta
      hydroxycortisol in 102 healthy subjects on rifampicin.
AB  - A previous study has demonstrated that the urinary level of 6 beta
      hydroxycortisol is a marker of liver CYP3A content after induction by rifampicin.
      To put in evidence an eventual genetic polymorphism for this cytochrome, the
      frequency distribution of 6 beta-hydroxycortisol excretion was investigated in
      102 healthy Caucasians before and after 6 days of oral rifampicin administration
      (600 mg daily). After rifampicin treatment, a wide interindividual distribution
      was observed but no clear bimodality. Moreover the mean 6 beta-hydroxycortisol
      level was higher in women (n = 38) than in men (n = 64). These observations do
      not favour the existence of a CYP3A genetic polymorphism based on 6 beta
      hydroxycortisol excretion but evoke a sexual dimorphism. However, CYP3A is
      composed of at least four enzymes and as the enzyme(s) responsible for cortisol 6
      beta-hydroxylation is (are) not perfectly known, it can not be excluded that a
      genetic polymorphism does exist for one enzyme of this family.

PMID- 1454751
TI  - Extrahepatic disposition of 3H-aflatoxin B1 in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus
      mykiss).
AB  - Whole-body autoradiography in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) after oral and
      intravenous administration of 3H-labelled aflatoxin B1 showed labelling of
      several extrahepatic tissues, such as the uveal melanin and the vitreous humour
      of the eyes, the trunk and head kidney, the olfactory rosettes and the pyloric
      caecae. Liquid chromatography of extracts of the vitreous humour showed that
      unmetabolized 3H-AFB1 was the main labelled material present at this site. Liquid
      chromatography of extracts of the uveal melanin showed presence of aflatoxicol
      and aflatoxin B1 in proportions of about 3:1. The binding to the pigment is
      probably due to a hydrophobic type of interaction with the melanin.
      Microautoradiography showed that melanin-containing cells in the trunk and head
      kidney and in the olfactory rosettes also accumulated high amounts of
      radioactivity. In the trunk kidney there was, in addition, a labelling of the
      second segment of the proximal tubules and of the distal tubules and the
      collecting ducts. Studies in vitro with microsomal and 12,000 x g supernatant
      preparations of the trunk kidney showed formation of DNA- and protein-bound
      metabolites from the aflatoxin B1. It is probable that the bioactivation of the
      aflatoxin B1 is confined to the cytoplasm of the cells, may be related to
      excretion and/or absorption processes. Microautoradiography of the olfactory
      rosettes, showed labelling of the sensory epithelium, but not the indifferent
      epithelium. A low formation of protein-bound aflatoxin B1-metabolites was found
      in incubations with microsomal preparations of this tissue. The same observation
      was made in incubations with microsomal preparations of the head kidney. In the
      pyloric caeca bound metabolites were observed in vivo at a level comparable to
      that found in the trunk kidney. Our results suggest that retention and metabolism
      in some extrahepatic tissues might be of importance as concerns the toxicologic
      potential of aflatoxin B1 in the rainbow trout.

PMID- 1454752
TI  - Effect of antioxidants on hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced injury in isolated
      perfused rat liver.
AB  - Isolated perfused livers from rats fasted overnight were subjected to 30 min. of
      hypoxia followed by reoxygenation for 60 min., resulting in marked cytotoxicity
      as evidenced by an enhanced release of cytosolic enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase:
      14-fold over controls, glutamate-pyruvate-transaminase: 12-fold over controls)
      and glutathione (twofold over controls) into the perfusate, by calcium
      accumulation (by a factor of 1.4) in the tissue and by an 80% inhibition of bile
      secretion. Virtually no mitochondrial injury became apparent and no evidence for
      lipid peroxidation could be found. In the presence of ascorbate, an augmentation
      of hepatic injury was observed. This might be due to the pro-oxidant activity of
      ascorbate in the presence of ionized iron, which is easily released from high
      molecular weight stores under reductive (e.g. hypoxic) conditions. The water
      soluble vitamin E analogue trolox C as well as propyl gallate clearly protected
      the liver against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, yielding further evidence for a
      causative role of oxidative stress in this model. Due to their water solubility
      and their high efficacy as free radical scavengers, these antioxidants might be
      of therapeutic value.

PMID- 1454753
TI  - Acute neurobehavioural effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in
      Han/Wistar rats.
AB  - The neurobehavioural effects of a single non-lethal dose (1000 micrograms/kg
      intraperitoneally) of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) were assessed in
      young male Han/Wistar rats, highly resistant to acute lethality of TCDD. TCDD
      decreased body weight significantly compared with ad libitum fed controls. TCDD
      did not change the behaviour or the motility of rats in the open field test 8
      days after the treatment nor did it affect the spontaneous motor activity up to
      27 days after the exposure. In the elevated plus-maze test for anxiety, TCDD
      treated rats did not differ from either ad libitum fed controls or pair-fed
      controls. In the 24-hr passive avoidance test, the learning of TCDD-treated rats
      did not differ significantly from that of ad libitum fed controls or pair-fed
      controls from 8 hr to 16 days after the treatment. TCDD did not affect the motor
      coordination or the maintenance of balance on the rotating rod but it impaired
      them slightly in the elevated horizontal bridge test 16 hr after exposure. It did
      not affect nociception in the hot plate test 16 hr or 8 days after the injection.
      The results suggest that a single sublethal dose of TCDD does not alter markedly
      the general behaviour of Han/Wistar rats, in contrast to its striking effect on
      feeding behaviour which results in a marked decrease in body weight gain.

PMID- 1454754
TI  - Lipid peroxidation of erythrocyte membrane induced by lipoamide dehydrogenase in
      the presence of ADP-Fe3+.
AB  - Lipid peroxidation of rat erythrocyte membranes was induced by lipoamide
      dehydrogenase (LADH) (EC 1.8.1.4) in the presence of ADP-Fe3+. Superoxide
      dismutase (SOD) (EC 1.15.1.1) strongly inhibited the peroxidation reaction but
      catalase did not. Hydroxyl radical scavengers, mannitol and dimethylsulfoxide did
      not inhibit the lipid peroxidation. These results indicated that the lipid
      peroxidation was a superoxide (O2-)-dependent reaction, but the hydroxyl radical
      was not involved. ADP-Fe3+, in the presence of LADH, was reduced more rapidly
      under aerobic than anaerobic conditions and SOD under aerobic conditions strongly
      inhibited the iron reduction, indicating that O2- plays a predominant role in
      iron reduction. Hydrogen peroxide enhanced O2- generation by LADH, but the
      peroxidation reaction was not affected. In the presence of lipoamide, lipid
      peroxidation was also induced but the reactions were not inhibited by SOD.
      Evidently, the lipid peroxidation induced in the presence of lipoamide was O2(-)
      independent. Dihydrolipoamide may be involved in the peroxidation reaction.

PMID- 1454755
TI  - Single-dose and steady-state pharmacokinetics of diltiazem administered in two
      different tablet formulations.
AB  - Single-dose and steady state pharmacokinetics of diltiazem administered in two
      different oral formulations were assessed with particular reference to rate and
      extent of absorption. Following single dose administration a significant
      difference in tmax was observed (2.9 +/- 1.9 and 6.8 +/- 2.6 hr respectively)
      whereas differences in AUC, t1/2 and Cmax were not significant. The AUC (mean +/-
      S.D.) values following single dose administration of Cardil and Cardizem were
      678.4 +/- 321.5 and 948.6 +/- 580.6 ng.ml-1.hr respectively. The mean and the 95%
      confidence limits for the observed ratio AUCCardil/AUCCardizem are 0.89 and 0.44
      1.34 respectively. At steady-state a significant difference between Cmax/Cmin and
      tmax was seen Cmax/Cmin being 4.9 and 3.2 respectively and Tmax being 2.7 +/- 2.0
      and 6.0 +/- 2.8 hr respectively, whereas Cmax and AUC did not differ
      significantly. The AUC (mean +/- S.D.) values in steady state of Cardil and
      Cardizem were 880.1 +/- 399.8 and 1056.8 +/- 509.8 ng.ml-1.hr respectively. The
      mean and the 95% confidence limits for the observed ratio AUCCardil/AUCCardizem
      are 0.96 and 0.66-1.26 respectively. Although the observed ratios
      AUCCardil/AUCCardizem in both the single-dose and the steady-state study do not
      differ significantly from 1.0, the confidence limits exceed the acceptable values
      given by Poulsen & Juul (personal communication 1990) (a 20% decrease or increase
      of the ratio to 0.8 or 1.2).

PMID- 1454756
TI  - ["...what tumors actually are..." On the history of microscopic cancer
      diagnosis].

PMID- 1454757
TI  - [Pigmented villonodular synovitis--a review with reference to 166 cases].

PMID- 1454758
TI  - [New pathohistologic WHO classification of salivary gland adenomas].

PMID- 1454759
TI  - [An institution-specific autopsy register].

PMID- 1454760
TI  - [Risk of cancer following cholecystectomy, hysterectomy or appendectomy].
AB  - Patients with previous cholecystectomy, hysterectomy or appendectomy have an
      increased risk of developing cancer of other organs such as the bowel, breast
      kidney or ovary, particularly if they have undergone more than one operation.
      Previous nephrectomy, strumectomy, prostatectomy or gastric resection for
      gastroduodenal ulcer do not increase the risk of bowel cancer.

PMID- 1454761
TI  - [Normal values of myocardial thickness of both heart ventricles in infants and
      young children].

PMID- 1454762
TI  - [Achille Chereau's dictum of the ovary and Rudolf Virchow's postulate of
      virilismus ovarioprivus].

PMID- 1454763
TI  - [Presentation of the heart in the works of Niels Stensen and Andreas Vesal].

PMID- 1454764
TI  - [Determining the significance of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies].

PMID- 1454765
TI  - [A program for medical use of information systems. Validity of calculation of
      direct costs for the initial treatment of acute myeloblastic leukemia].
AB  - In order to validate the information systems medicalization program used since
      1984 at the Hotel-Dieu hospital, Paris, the direct costs given by this program
      were compared with those calculated from the medical records of 10 adult patients
      hospitalized for diagnosis and treatment of acute myeloblastic leukaemia. The
      mean direct cost of an 8 to 81 days hospital stay was estimated at 75.393 +/-
      41.260 French francs by the program and 84.969 +/- 52.288 FF by calculations from
      the records. A fairly good correlation (r2 = 0.72; P = 0.002) was found between
      the 2 evaluations. There was no statistically significant difference between the
      figures obtained by the 2 methods, except for pharmaceutical expenditures (P =
      0.005) which were grossly underevaluated by the program. A better correlation
      could be obtained if an attribution of drugs and transfusions per patient was
      entered in the program.

PMID- 1454766
TI  - [Gastroesophageal reflux treated by posterior hemifundoplication. 251 cases].
AB  - Between September 1983 and March 1991, 251 consecutive patients with gastro
      oesophageal reflux resistant to medical treatment underwent posterior
      hemifundoplication (modified Toupet procedure). One hundred and seventy-seven
      patients (71 percent) had peptic oesophagitis. pH monitoring showed a mean Kaye's
      score of 278 +/- 245 with a 29 percent part of total recording time at pH < 4.
      The mean low oesophageal sphincter pressure was 8.5 +/- 6.5 cm H2O. No patient
      died in the postoperative period. Morbidity consisted of 8 splenic injuries, as
      well as 8 pulmonary and 23 thromboembolic complications. Assessment of 199
      patients (79 percent) with a mean follow-up of 32 +/- 21 months showed complete
      symptomatic relief in 96.5 percent, and complete endoscopic healing of
      oesophagitis was noted in 96 percent. Restoration of the pH profile to normal
      levels was obtained in 86 percent of the cases. The mean low oesophageal
      sphincter pressure had risen to 17 +/- 6 cm H2O. Early postoperative dysphagia
      was noted in 46 patients (18 percent); one of them required reoperation. Reflux
      symptoms persisted in 9 patients (4.5 percent). pH monitoring revealed abnormal
      levels in 3 patients. The results of this study demonstrate that effective gastro
      oesophageal reflux control can be achieved with the modified Toupet procedure.

PMID- 1454767
TI  - [Inflammatory pseudotumor of the urachus. A case].
AB  - The occurrence in a 9-year old boy of a painful, prominent and solid mid
      hypogastric tumour is reported. This clinically isolated muscular tumour was
      suggestive of sarcoma. En bloc resection of the tumour including the attached
      vesical cupula was performed. Histology showed that this large tumour was purely
      inflammatory and had developed from remnants of the urachus. This diagnosis must
      be considered whenever a suprapubic tumour is discovered. Since malignant
      transformation of urachus cysts is possible, surgical resection is advised.

PMID- 1454769
TI  - [Nephrotic syndrome caused by Plasmodium malariae infection. A case with
      favourable outcome].

PMID- 1454768
TI  - [Atrial natriuretic factor in heart insufficiency].
AB  - The atrial natriuretic factor is a peptide with vasodilator and natriuretic
      properties which is synthesized and released by atrial myocytes. In patients with
      chronic heart failure the ventricles contribute to the synthesis of this peptide,
      so that its plasma concentration rises in proportion to the heart filling
      pressure. The atrial natriuretic factor, therefore, seems to be a good biological
      marker of functional and haemodynamic severity of heart failure. However, the
      weight of this factor in the neuro-hormonal balance has not yet been fully
      evaluated, owing to the usual attenuation of its biological effects. This, and
      the necessity of continuous parenteral administration limits, for the moment, its
      therapeutic applications. Inhibitors of the enzyme involved in its metabolism are
      being tested, but only preliminary results are available in humans.

PMID- 1454770
TI  - [Thyroid pseudo-nodule revealing cervicofacial actinomycosis].

PMID- 1454771
TI  - [Celiosurgical gonadectomy for Morris' syndrome. A case].

PMID- 1454772
TI  - [Idiopathic infarction of a sigmoid fatty fringe. Two cases diagnosed and treated
      by celiosurgery].

PMID- 1454773
TI  - [Acquired subglottic stenosis after heart-lung transplantation. Efficacy of
      treatment by inhalation of budesonide].

PMID- 1454774
TI  - [Hepatitis C virus antibodies. Seroprevalence in HIV infected patients].

PMID- 1454775
TI  - [Prolonged isolated fever revealing angiosarcoma].

PMID- 1454776
TI  - [Atherosclerosis of the aortic arch. A source of cerebral embolism?].

PMID- 1454777
TI  - [Brucella vaccination in professionally exposed subjects. Prospective study].
AB  - This prospective phase IV study on cohort concerns a vaccine made of the phenol
      insoluble fraction of Brucella abortus biotype 1 (B19 strain). Three hundred and
      three professionally exposed subjects entered the study; 161 out of 182 subjects
      (88.5 percent) with negative response to an intradermal test for detection of
      previous contamination accepted to be vaccinated. Booster injections were given
      18 and 36 months after vaccination. Local pain was observed after 45.2 percent of
      injections and moderate systemic reactions after 5 percent of injections.
      Seropositivity after primary vaccination reached 80 percent. The booster
      injection, justified by a major decrease of this rate after 18 months, gave
      exactly the same response of the thymo-independent type. This vaccinal schedule
      did not result in detectable hypersensitivity. The clinical effectiveness of the
      vaccine could not be evaluated accurately because of the insufficient number of
      subjects. The possibility of subclinical infection in vaccinated subjects calls
      for wider comparative studies of vaccinated versus non-vaccinated subjects.

PMID- 1454778
TI  - [Plasma beta chorionic gonadotropin between 14 and 20 weeks of amenorrhea: a sign
      of pregnancy-related hypertension].
AB  - A defect of placenta maturation has been described in hypertension of pregnancy.
      Plasma beta chorionic gonadotropins (beta HCG) of placental origin rise at the
      onset of pregnancy and reach a peak between 9 and 10 weeks of amenorrhoea. As we
      were making systematic assays between 14 and 20 weeks in a trisomy detection
      programme, we looked for differences in plasma beta HCG levels between women with
      pregnancy-induced arterial hypertension and pregnant women with normal blood
      pressure. We also studied the predictive value of such assays. Pregnancy-induced
      hypertension was found in 6 women in a population of 89 nulliparas and in 12
      women in a population of 163 multiparas. beta HCG levels were significantly
      higher in women who later developed hypertension among both nulliparas (52,833 +/
      19,538 IU vs 24,499 +/- 16,485 IU) and multiparas (50,558 +/- 23,597 IU vs
      20,911 +/- 11,677 IU). In nulliparas, taking 43,000 IU as threshold of pathology
      we found that the predictive value of beta HCG was higher than that of other
      tests which had gone through controlled studies (sensitivity 67 percent,
      specificity 91.6 percent, positive predictive value 36 percent, negative
      predictive value 97.4 percent, relative risk 5.4). In multiparas, taking 38,000
      as threshold and combining this marker with obstetrical history it was possible
      to predict the occurrence of hypertension more precisely than with other markers
      which had gone through controlled studies (sensitivity 66.7 percent, specificity
      98 percent, positive predictive value 61.4 percent, negative predictive value
      97.3 percent, relative risk 8.4).

PMID- 1454779
TI  - [Deforming arthropathy associated with the presence of anti Jo-1 antibody in
      polymyositis. A new case].
AB  - A deforming arthropathy confined to the hands developed in a woman with
      polymyositis of three year's duration. Roentgenograms showed distal subluxations
      of several fingers, especially the thumb, asymmetrical marginal erosions of the
      phalanges and periarticular calcifications. These roentgenographic findings are
      considered to be specific of polymyositis associated with anti-Jo-1 antibody.

PMID- 1454780
TI  - [Hemolytic and uremic syndrome revealing myelodysplasia in a child].

PMID- 1454781
TI  - [Celiosurgery: beware of antimist sprays! A new septic risk].

PMID- 1454782
TI  - [Late onset Plasmodium falciparum malaria revealed by corticoid therapy].

PMID- 1454783
TI  - [Neisseria mucosa meningitis after intradural infiltration].

PMID- 1454784
TI  - [Are zinc and selenium markers of progression in HIV infected patients?].

PMID- 1454786
TI  - Gene therapy.

PMID- 1454785
TI  - Sp1 and the subfamily of zinc finger proteins with guanine-rich binding sites.

PMID- 1454787
TI  - Implicit knowledge: new perspectives on unconscious processes.
AB  - Recent evidence from cognitive science and neuroscience indicates that brain
      damaged patients and normal subjects can exhibit nonconscious or implicit
      knowledge of stimuli that they fail to recollect consciously or perceive
      explicitly. Dissociations between implicit and explicit knowledge, which have
      been observed across a variety of domains, tasks, and materials, raise
      fundamental questions about the nature of perception, memory, and consciousness.
      This article provides a selective review of relevant evidence and considers such
      phenomena as priming and implicit memory in amnesic patients and normal subjects,
      perception without awareness and "blindsight" in patients with damage to visual
      cortex, and nonconscious recognition of familiar faces in patients with facial
      recognition deficits (prosopagnosia). A variety of theoretical approaches to
      implicit/explicit dissociations are considered. One view is that all of the
      various dissociations can be attributed to disruption or disconnection of a
      common mechanism underlying conscious experience; an alternative possibility is
      that each dissociation requires a separate explanation in terms of domain
      specific processes and systems. More generally, it is concluded that rather than
      reflecting the operation of affectively charged unconscious processes of the kind
      invoked by psychodynamic or Freudian theorists, dissociations between implicit
      and explicit knowledge are a natural consequence of the ordinary computations of
      the brain.

PMID- 1454788
TI  - Application of DNA fingerprinting to the recovery program of the endangered
      Puerto Rican parrot.
AB  - The Puerto Rican parrot was reduced to approximately 13 animals in 1975 and as a
      conservation measure, a captive population was established from a few founders
      taken from the wild between 1973 and 1983. The number of successful breeding
      pairs in captivity has been low, and the captive breeding program has not been as
      productive as that of the closely related Hispaniolan parrot. Therefore, a
      genetic study was initiated to examine the relative levels of relatedness of the
      captive founders using levels of bandsharing in DNA fingerprints. Unrelated
      captive founder Puerto Rican parrots had the same average level of bandsharing
      (0.41) as second-degree relatives of the Hispaniolan parrot (0.38, P > 0.05),
      with an inbreeding coefficient of 0.04. High levels of bandsharing (> 40%)
      between pairs of males and females correlated with reproductive failure,
      suggesting that inbreeding depression is partly responsible for the low number of
      breeding pairs. Consequently, DNA profiling can be used to guide the captive
      breeding program for the Puerto Rican parrot, and other endangered species, by
      identifying pairs of males and females with low levels of bandsharing.

PMID- 1454789
TI  - Requirement for coenzyme Q in plasma membrane electron transport.
AB  - Coenzyme Q is required in the electron transport system of rat hepatocyte and
      human erythrocyte plasma membranes. Extraction of coenzyme Q from the membrane
      decreases NADH dehydrogenase and NADH:oxygen oxidoreductase activity. Addition of
      coenzyme Q to the extracted membrane restores the activity. Partial restoration
      of activity is also found with alpha-tocopherylquinone, but not with vitamin K1.
      Analogs of coenzyme Q inhibit NADH dehydrogenase and oxidase activity and the
      inhibition is reversed by added coenzyme Q. Ferricyanide reduction by
      transmembrane electron transport from HeLa cells is inhibited by coenzyme Q
      analogs and restored with added coenzyme Q10. Reduction of external ferricyanide
      and diferric transferrin by HeLa cells is accompanied by proton release from the
      cells. Inhibition of the reduction by coenzyme Q analogs also inhibits the proton
      release, and coenzyme Q10 restores the proton release activity. Trans-plasma
      membrane electron transport stimulates growth of serum-deficient cells, and added
      coenzyme Q10 increases growth of HeLa (human adenocarcinoma) and BALB/3T3 (mouse
      fibroblast) cells. The evidence is consistent with a function for coenzyme Q in a
      trans-plasma membrane electron transport system which influences cell growth.

PMID- 1454791
TI  - Active complete in vitro replication of nodavirus RNA requires
      glycerophospholipid.
AB  - Flockhouse virus (FHV) is a member of the nodavirus group of positive-strand RNA
      viruses. In the absence of additional compounds, a template-dependent RNA
      dependent RNA polymerase extracted from FHV-infected cells synthesizes
      complementary (-)-strand copies of added FHV RNA to yield a double-stranded RNA
      product. Upon addition of glycerophospholipid (GPL), this system reproducibly
      carries out complete highly active replication of added FHV RNA, producing newly
      synthesized (+)-strand RNA in predominantly single-stranded RNA form. This
      accounts for previously observed effects of Lipofectin (a mixture of GPL and
      cationic lipid) in the system. All tested neutral and negatively charged GPLs
      except phosphatidic acid support complete FHV RNA replication in this in vitro
      system, as do phospholipid extracts from uninfected and FHV-infected cells.
      Neither sphingomyelin, a membrane phospholipid that is not derived from glycerol,
      nor cholesterol supported FHV RNA replication. Testing of compounds derived from
      GPL shows that the ability of active GPL to support FHV (+)-strand RNA synthesis
      is dependent on the structures of both the head group and the acyl chains.
      Neither the phosphorylated head group nor the diacylglycerol lipid moiety alone
      supports RNA replication. The length and saturation of acyl chains strongly
      influence the ability of GPL to support RNA replication. Other characteristics of
      this in vitro RNA replication system and the possible role played by membranes
      and their components in FHV RNA replication are discussed.

PMID- 1454790
TI  - A putative ATP-dependent RNA helicase involved in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
      ribosome assembly.
AB  - We have isolated a cold-sensitive mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in which
      there is a deficit of 60S ribosomal subunits. Cold sensitivity and the assembly
      defect are recessive and cosegregate, defining a single essential gene that we
      designated DRS1 (deficiency of ribosomal subunits). The wild-type DRS1 gene was
      cloned by complementation of the cold-sensitive phenotype of drs1. Sequence
      analysis reveals a high degree of similarity to a family of proteins that are
      thought to function as ATP-dependent RNA helicases. Pulse-chase analysis of
      ribosomal RNA synthesis and processing indicates that the drs1 mutant accumulates
      the 27S precursor of the mature 25S rRNA. These results suggest that, as in pre
      mRNA splicing, RNA helicase activities are involved in ribosomal RNA processing.

PMID- 1454792
TI  - Evidence that the packaging signal for nodaviral RNA2 is a bulged stem-loop.
AB  - Flock house virus is an insect virus belonging to the family Nodaviridae; members
      of this family are characterized by a small bipartite positive-stranded RNA
      genome. The larger genomic segment, RNA1, encodes viral replication proteins,
      whereas the smaller one, RNA2, encodes coat protein. Both RNAs are packaged in a
      single particle. A defective-interfering RNA (DI-634), isolated from a line of
      Drosophila cells persistently infected with Flock house virus, was used to show
      that a 32-base region of RNA2 (bases 186-217) is required for packaging into
      virions. RNA folding analysis predicted that this region forms a stem-loop
      structure with a 5-base loop and a 13-base-pair bulged stem.

PMID- 1454793
TI  - At least three distinct proteins are necessary for the reconstitution of a
      specific multiprotein complex at a eukaryotic chromosomal origin of replication.
AB  - We have reconstituted in vitro a multistage assembly of a protein complex that
      specifically recognizes a yeast genomic origin of replication, the autonomously
      replicating sequence ARS121. The first step in the assembly was the interaction
      of the known origin-binding factor OBF1 and another factor, OBF2, with the ARS121
      origin of replication to form the OBF1-OBF2-origin complex. This complex was the
      substrate for the ATP-dependent binding of a third DNA-binding activity, the core
      binding factor, CBF. Binding of CBF to the origin, identified by the retarded
      mobility of the origin DNA fragment in agarose gels, required, in addition to ATP
      and the OBF1-OBF2-origin complex, a functional essential core nucleotide
      sequence. ARS121 DNA containing mutations in the core, which inactivate the
      origin in vivo, did not sustain stable CBF binding, whereas ARS121 DNA mutated
      outside the boundaries of the essential core, which has normal origin function,
      bound CBF as wild type. This tight, direct correlation between the ability of the
      origin to bind CBF and its function as an origin of replication in vivo strongly
      suggest that the multiprotein complex reconstituted in vitro has a key role in
      the initiation of DNA replication.

PMID- 1454794
TI  - Marked replicative advantage of human mtDNA carrying a point mutation that causes
      the MELAS encephalomyopathy.
AB  - The segregation of mutant and wild-type mtDNA was investigated in transformants
      constructed by transferring human mitochondria from individuals belonging to four
      pedigrees with the MELAS encephalomyopathy-associated mtDNA mutation (MELAS is
      mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like
      episodes) into human mtDNA-less (rho 0) cells. Five of 13 clonal cell lines
      containing mixtures of wild-type and mutant mtDNAs were found to undergo a rapid
      shift of their genotype toward the pure mutant type. The other 8 cell lines,
      which included 6 exhibiting nearly homoplasmic mutant mtDNA, on the contrary,
      maintained a stable genotype. Subcloning experiments and growth rate measurements
      clearly indicated that an intracellular replicative advantage of mutant mtDNA was
      mainly responsible for the dramatic shift toward the mutant genotype observed in
      the unstable cell lines.

PMID- 1454795
TI  - A yeast cyclophilin gene essential for lactate metabolism at high temperature.
AB  - The cyclophilins are a family of ubiquitous eukaryotic proteins first identified
      by high affinity for cyclosporin A (CsA). The immunosuppressant and cytotoxic
      effects of CsA are thought to result from formation of a toxic complex between
      cyclophilin and CsA rather than from inhibition of cyclophilin function. The
      physiological role(s) of the cyclophilins is unknown. Cyclophilins have in vitro
      peptidylprolyl cistrans isomerase (PPIase) activity, and thus may be involved in
      protein folding in vivo. We have isolated a yeast cyclophilin gene, CPR3, which
      encodes a presumptive mitochondrial isoform. While CPR3 disruption mutants lack
      any phenotype at 30 degrees C, they are unable to grow on L-lactate at 37 degrees
      C. Disruptions of two other cyclophilin genes (CPR1, CPR2) and of FPR1, the gene
      encoding an FK506 binding protein with PPIase activity, do not affect growth on L
      lactate at 37 degrees C. L-Lactate metabolism requires transcriptional induction
      of CYB2, the gene encoding flavocytochrome b2; cpr3 mutants induce transcription
      of this gene normally. This result demonstrates a conditional lethal phenotype
      for a cyclophilin mutation and presents a system for genetic and biochemical
      analysis of cyclophilin function.

PMID- 1454796
TI  - Isolation, characterization, and transcription of the gene encoding mouse mast
      cell protease 7.
AB  - A gene that encodes mouse mast cell protease (mMCP) 7 (also known as mouse mast
      cell tryptase 2) was isolated by genomic cloning with a cDNA that encodes mMCP-6,
      a tryptase in serosal mast cells. cDNAs encoding mMCP-7 were isolated from a bone
      marrow-derived mast cell cDNA library. The mMCP-7 gene spans 2.3 kilobases and
      contains five exons rather than six, as found in the mMCP-6 and human mast cell
      tryptase I genes. Comparison of the 5' end of the transcript with the genomic
      sequence indicated that the region corresponding to the first intron in the mMCP
      6 and human tryptase I genes is not spliced during transcription of mMCP-7 mRNA
      because of a point mutation at the intron 1 acceptor splice site; this results in
      a 5' untranslated region of 195 nucleotides, which is longer than that of any
      other known mast cell-specific transcript. mMCP-7 is 71-76% homologous with mMCP
      6 and with dog and human mast cell tryptases, and it is the most acidic mast cell
      protease, with an overall net charge of -10. RNA blot analyses revealed that the
      mMCP-7 gene is transcribed in bone-marrow-derived mast cells but is not
      transcribed in mature serosal mast cells or in mucosal mast cell-enriched
      intestinal tissue of Trichinella spiralis-infected mice. Transcription of the
      mMCP-7 gene by differentiating bone-marrow-derived mast cells occurred within 1
      week of bone-marrow culture but decreased dramatically after 3 weeks. Thus, the
      mMCP-7 gene displays a number of unusual structural characteristics and is
      distinctive in its transient and selective expression in immature mast cells
      maintained in interleukin 3-enriched medium.

PMID- 1454797
TI  - Expression of a coriander desaturase results in petroselinic acid production in
      transgenic tobacco.
AB  - Little is known about the metabolic origin of petroselinic acid (18:1 delta
      6cis), the principal fatty acid of the seed oil of most Umbelliferae, Araliaceae,
      and Garryaceae species. To examine the possibility that petroselinic acid is the
      product of an acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) desaturase, Western blots of
      coriander and other Umbelliferae seed extracts were probed with antibodies
      against the delta 9-stearoyl-ACP desaturase of avocado. In these extracts,
      proteins of 39 and 36 kDa were detected. Of these, only the 36-kDa peptide was
      specific to tissues which synthesize petroselinic acid. A cDNA encoding the 36
      kDa peptide was isolated from a coriander endosperm cDNA library, placed under
      control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter, and introduced into tobacco
      by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Expression of this cDNA in
      transgenic tobacco callus was accompanied by the accumulation of petroselinic
      acid and delta 4-hexadecenoic acid, both of which were absent from control
      callus. These results demonstrate the involvement of a 36-kDa putative acyl-ACP
      desaturase in the biosynthetic pathway of petroselinic acid and the ability to
      produce fatty acids of unusual structure in transgenic plants by the expression
      of the gene for this desaturase.

PMID- 1454798
TI  - Fibrinogen blocks the autoactivation and thrombin-mediated activation of factor
      XI on dextran sulfate.
AB  - The intrinsic pathway of blood coagulation is activated when factor XIa, one of
      the three contact-system enzymes, is generated and then activates factor IX.
      Factor XI has been shown to be efficiently activated in vitro by surface-bound
      factor XIIa after factor XI is transported to the surface by its cofactor, high
      molecular weight kininogen (HK). However, individuals lacking any of the three
      contact-system proteins--namely, factor XII, prekallikrein, and HK--do not suffer
      from bleeding abnormalities. This mystery has led several investigators to search
      for an "alternate" activation pathway for factor XI. Recently, factor XI has been
      reported to be autoactivated on the soluble "surface" dextran sulfate, and
      thrombin was shown to accelerate the autoactivation. However, it was also
      reported that HK, the cofactor for factor XIIa-mediated activation of factor XI,
      actually diminishes the thrombin-catalyzed activation rate of factor XI.
      Nonetheless, it was suggested that thrombin was a more efficient activator than
      factor XIIa. In this report we investigated the effect of fibrinogen, the major
      coagulation protein in plasma, on the activation rate of factor XI. Fibrinogen,
      the preferred substrate for thrombin in plasma, virtually prevented
      autoactivation of factor XI as well as the thrombin-mediated activation of factor
      XI, while having no effect on factor XIIa-catalyzed activation. HK dramatically
      curtailed the autoactivation of factor XI in addition to the thrombin-mediated
      activation. These data indicate that factor XI would not be autoactivated in a
      plasma environment, and thrombin would, therefore, be unlikely to potentiate the
      activation. We believe that the "missing pathway" for factor XI activation
      remains an enigma that warrants further investigation.

PMID- 1454799
TI  - Relationship between O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase activity and N-methyl
      N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced mutation, transformation, and cytotoxicity in
      C3H/10T1/2 cells expressing exogenous alkyltransferase genes.
AB  - While a great deal of evidence has directly implicated the importance of O6
      alkylation of guanine in the mutagenicity of alkylating agents, evidence
      demonstrating the oncogenic potential of this lesion has been largely indirect.
      We have combined a well-studied in vitro neoplastic transformation system (using
      C3H/10T1/2 mouse cells) with a proven method of gene transfection for expressing
      the bacterial O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AT; EC 2.1.1.63) repair genes
      ada and ogt to generate subclones which possess augmented repair capability
      toward specific DNA lesions. The products of these genes specifically and
      differentially repair O6-methylguanine (O6-MeGua), O4-methylthymine (O4-MeThy),
      and methylphosphotriesters. We show that the level of expression of either the
      ada or the ogt AT gene in C3H/10T1/2 cells directly correlates with protection
      against mutation to ouabain resistance by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine
      (MNNG). Subclones expressing 70 fmol of AT per 10(6) cells exhibited a mutation
      frequency approximately 1/40th of that of clones expressing 15 fmol of AT per
      10(6) cells when treated with MNNG at 0.4 micrograms/ml. Protection against
      mutagenesis by MNNG at 0.8 micrograms/ml, however, did not exceed 12-fold even in
      subclones expressing greater than 100 fmol of AT per 10(6) cells. As an MNNG dose
      of 0.6 micrograms/ml was sufficient to saturate more than 95% of the AT activity
      in any of the clones, the residual mutation frequency may have been caused by
      unrepaired O6MeGua lesions. In contrast to mutagenesis, protection against
      neoplastic transformation in vitro, in cells expressing high levels of AT, was
      most pronounced in cells treated with the highest dose of MNNG used (1.2
      micrograms/ml). Low levels of transformation caused by MNNG at 0.4 and 0.8
      micrograms/ml were not consistently inhibited in those clones. These data suggest
      that O6-MeGua formation is of major but not unique significance in the neoplastic
      transformation of C3H/10T1/2 cells by MNNG.

PMID- 1454800
TI  - Specific inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication by
      antisense oligonucleotides: an in vitro model for treatment.
AB  - We have developed a culture system, simulating in vivo conditions of human
      immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, to evaluate the long-term
      efficacy of antisense oligonucleotide treatment. Five oligonucleotide
      phosphorothioates (28-mers), complementary to different regions of HIV-1 RNA,
      blocked replication of the virus in a sequence-specific manner at 1 microM
      concentration. Variations in antiviral activity were seen among the different
      oligonucleotides, revealing an effect of target selection. Mismatched or random
      oligonucleotide phosphorothioates delayed, but did not completely inhibit, HIV-1
      replication. In the case of inhibition by a splice-acceptor-site antisense
      oligodeoxynucleotide, a break-through phenomenon occurred after 25 days of
      treatment, suggesting the development of an "escape mutant." This result did not
      occur when the inhibitory oligodeoxynucleotides were complementary to the primary
      sequence areas of the rev-responsive element and rev-1 genes. Sequential
      treatment of HIV-1-infected cells with a combination of different antisense
      oligonucleotides, each administered once, also prevented the development of
      escape mutants. Our results suggest that chemotherapy based on specifically
      targeted antisense-oligonucleotide phosphorothioates may be an effective method
      for reducing the viral burden in HIV-1-infected individuals at clinically
      achievable oligonucleotide concentrations.

PMID- 1454801
TI  - Transcription of the hypersensitive site HS2 enhancer in erythroid cells.
AB  - In the human genome, the erythroid-specific hypersensitive site HS2 enhancer
      regulates the transcription of the downstream beta-like globin genes 10-50
      kilobases away. The mechanism of HS2 enhancer function is not known. The present
      study employs RNA protection assays to analyze the transcriptional status of the
      HS2 enhancer in transfected recombinant chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT)
      plasmids. In erythroid K562 cells in which the HS2 enhancer is active, the HS2
      sequence directs the synthesis of long enhancer transcripts that are initiated
      apparently from within the enhancer and elongated through the intervening DNA
      into the cis-linked CAT gene. In nonerythroid HL-60 cells in which the HS2
      enhancer is inactive, long enhancer transcripts are not detectable. Splitting the
      HS2 enhancer between two tandem Ap1 sites abolishes the synthesis of a group of
      long enhancer transcripts and results in loss of enhancer function and
      transcriptional silencing of the cis-linked CAT gene. In directing the synthesis
      of RNA through the intervening DNA and the gene by a tracking and transcription
      mechanism, the HS2 enhancer may (i) open up the chromatin structure of a gene
      domain and (ii) deliver enhancer binding proteins to the promoter sequence where
      they may stimulate the transcription of the gene at the cap site.

PMID- 1454802
TI  - General splicing factors SF2 and SC35 have equivalent activities in vitro, and
      both affect alternative 5' and 3' splice site selection.
AB  - The human pre-mRNA splicing factors SF2 and SC35 have similar electrophoretic
      mobilities, and both of them contain an N-terminal ribonucleoprotein (RNP)-type
      RNA-recognition motif and a C-terminal arginine/serine-rich domain. However, the
      two proteins are encoded by different genes and display only 31% amino acid
      sequence identity. Here we report a systematic comparison of the splicing
      activities of recombinant SF2 and SC35. We find that either protein can
      reconstitute the splicing activity of S100 extracts and of SC35-immunodepleted
      nuclear extracts. Previous studies revealed that SF2 influences alternative 5'
      splice site selection in vitro, by favoring proximal over distal 5' splice sites,
      and that the A1 protein of heterogeneous nuclear RNP counteracts this effect. We
      now show that SC35 has a similar effect on competing 5' splice sites and is also
      antagonized by A1 protein. In addition, we report that both SF2 and SC35 also
      favor the proximal site in a pre-mRNA containing duplicated 3' splice sites, but
      this effect is not modulated by A1. We conclude that SF2 and SC35 are distinct
      splicing factors, but they display indistinguishable splicing activities in
      vitro.

PMID- 1454803
TI  - Multiple growth factors, cytokines, and neurotrophins rescue photoreceptors from
      the damaging effects of constant light.
AB  - Recent demonstrations of survival-promoting activity by neurotrophic agents in
      diverse neuronal systems have raised the possibility of pharmacological therapy
      for inherited and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system. We have
      shown previously that, in the retina, basic fibroblast growth factor delays
      photoreceptor degeneration in Royal College of Surgeons rats with inherited
      retinal dystrophy and that the growth factor reduces or prevents the rapid
      photoreceptor degeneration produced by constant light in the rat. This light
      damage model now provides an efficient way to assess quantitatively the survival
      promoting activity in vivo of a number of growth factors and other molecules. We
      report here that photoreceptors can be significantly protected from the damaging
      effects of light by intravitreal injection of eight different growth factors,
      cytokines, and neurotrophins that typically act through several distinct receptor
      families. In addition to basic fibroblast growth factor, those factors providing
      a high degree of photoreceptor rescue include brain-derived neurotrophic factor,
      ciliary neurotrophic factor, interleukin 1 beta, and acidic fibroblast growth
      factor; those with less activity include neurotrophin 3, insulin-like growth
      factor II, and tumor necrosis factor alpha; those showing little or no protective
      effect are nerve growth factor, epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth
      factor, insulin, insulin-like growth factor I, heparin, and laminin. Although we
      used at least one relatively high concentration of each agent (the highest
      available), it is still possible that other concentrations or factor combinations
      might be more protective. Injecting heparin along with acidic fibroblast growth
      factor or basic fibroblast growth factor further enhanced the degree of
      photoreceptor survival and also suppressed the increased incidence of macrophages
      produced by either factor, especially basic fibroblast growth factor. These
      results now provide the impetus for determining the normal function in the
      retina, mechanism(s) of rescue, and therapeutic potential in human eye diseases
      for each agent.

PMID- 1454804
TI  - Binding and transport of gangliosides by prosaposin.
AB  - Prosaposin, the precursor of saposins A, B, C, and D, which activate lysosomal
      hydrolysis of sphingolipids, exists in various tissues and body fluids and is
      especially abundant in the nervous system. Prosaposin and saposins A,B, C, and D
      formed stable complexes with 13 different gangliosides as measured by an assay
      using column chromatography. Gangliosides of the gangliotetraose type (a series)
      were bound with high affinity, whereas b series gangliosides, O-acetylated
      gangliosides, and gangliosides with shorter carbohydrate chains, were bound with
      lower affinity. Prosaposin and saposins transferred gangliosides from donor
      liposomes to erythrocyte ghost membranes. Prosaposin also stimulated ganglioside
      GM1 beta-galactosidase more than mature saposins. Prosaposin exists as a
      secretory protein and as an integral membrane protein, and we propose that
      prosaposin is active as a ganglioside binding and transport protein in vivo.

PMID- 1454805
TI  - Basal release of nitric oxide from aortic rings is greater in female rabbits than
      in male rabbits: implications for atherosclerosis.
AB  - Estradiol is known to exert a protective effect against the development of
      atherosclerosis, but the mechanism of this hormonal action is unknown. One of the
      early events in the development of atherosclerosis is the adhesion of macrophages
      to endothelial cells, and nitric oxide (NO) inhibits this process. We show that
      basal release of NO is greater with endothelium-intact aortic rings from female
      rabbits than those from males. Oophorectomy diminishes both circulating estradiol
      concentration and basal release of NO to levels seen in male rabbits. These data
      establish that basal NO release from endothelium-intact aortic rings depends on
      circulating estradiol concentration and offer an explanation for the protective
      effect of estradiol against the development of atherosclerosis.

PMID- 1454806
TI  - Control of gal transcription through DNA looping: inhibition of the initial
      transcribing complex.
AB  - Involvement of DNA looping between two spatially separated gal operators, OE and
      OI, in repression of the gal operon has been demonstrated in vivo. An in vitro
      transcription assay using a minicircle DNA containing the gal promoter region
      with lac operators was employed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of
      repression. Wild-type lac repressors (LacI+ protein molecules), which are capable
      of associating into a tetramer and forming a DNA loop, repressed transcription
      from promoter sites P1 and P2, whereas a non-looping lac repressor mutant
      (LacI(adi)) failed to show normal repression of both of the gal promoters. Thus a
      DNA loop is also required for repression of transcription in vitro. Repression
      mediated by DNA looping resulted in the inhibition of the synthesis of complete
      as well as aborted transcripts, demonstrating that the repressive action was on
      the formation or activity of the initial transcribing complex. Under similar
      conditions, the gal repressor (GalR protein) did not repress the gal promoters
      effectively, apparently because it failed to loop DNA containing gal operators in
      the purified system. The component(s) or conditions that aid GalR in DNA looping
      remain to be identified.

PMID- 1454807
TI  - NAD+ and NADH regulate an ATP-dependent kinase that phosphorylates enzyme I of
      the Escherichia coli phosphotransferase system.
AB  - Crude extracts of Escherichia coli contain a protein kinase, EI-K, that
      phosphorylates enzyme I (EI) of the phosphoenolpyruvate:glycose
      phosphotransferase system (PTS). Phosphorylation occurs at the active site
      histidine residue. The activity of EI-K was lost during purification. However,
      kinase activity was restored by adding NAD+ or NADP+.NADH reversed NAD+
      activation of the kinase, and the level of EI-K activity was dependent on the
      NAD+/NADH ratio. Although crude preparations of EI-K showed no NAD+ requirement,
      they were completely inhibited by NADH, either in the assay mixture or when the
      enzyme was pretreated and the NADH was removed prior to the assay. NAD+ restored
      full activity to the NADH-pretreated inactive fractions. The results suggest that
      EI-K contains a bound cofactor that is lost during purification and that may be
      analogous to NAD+. EI-K activity may serve to link some of the diverse functions
      of the PTS, such as sugar transport, to the metabolic state of the cell.

PMID- 1454808
TI  - Aerosol gene delivery in vivo.
AB  - The ability to express transgenes selectively within the lung will greatly
      facilitate the development of gene therapy for a variety of human diseases. We
      have demonstrated that aerosol administration of a chloramphenicol
      acetyltransferase (CAT) expression plasmid complexed to cationic liposomes
      produces high-level, lung-specific CAT gene expression in mice in vivo.
      Significant levels of CAT activity are seen in the lungs for at least 21 days
      following aerosolization. In situ immunostaining for intracellular CAT protein
      reveals that the majority of airway epithelial and alveolar lining cells are
      transfected in vivo. Histological analyses show no apparent treatment-related
      damage. These results have important implications for the development of human
      gene therapy.

PMID- 1454809
TI  - Molecular cloning of the gene for the yeast homolog (ACB) of diazepam binding
      inhibitor/endozepine/acyl-CoA-binding protein.
AB  - Diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI)/endozepine (EP)/acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP)
      is a small, highly conserved protein which has been independently isolated and
      characterized from different species using several different biological systems.
      To further investigate the structural and functional properties of this protein,
      we have cloned the homologous gene for DBI/EP/ACBP from the budding yeast
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The yeast gene contains no introns and encodes a
      polypeptide of 87 amino acids (including the initiating methionine), identical in
      length to the human gene product with 48% conservation of amino acid residues.
      The most highly conserved domain consists of 7 contiguous residues which are
      identical in all known protein species from yeast, birds, and mammals. This
      domain has previously been shown to constitute the hydrophobic binding site on
      DBI/EP/ACBP for acyl-CoA esters and is located within the second helical region
      of the molecule. Major and minor mRNA species of approximately 520 and 740
      nucleotides, respectively, were detected in exponentially growing yeast.
      Sequences similar to those implicated in the regulation of fatty acid synthesis
      and beta-oxidation in yeast were detected in the promoter region of the gene. The
      presence of a highly conserved DBI/EP/ACBP gene in a primitive organism such as
      yeast provides support for the basic biological role of DBI/EP/ACBP as an acyl
      CoA-binding protein and suggests that many of the biological functions attributed
      to it in higher organisms may result from its ability to interact with acyl-CoA.
      Hence, we have designated the yeast gene as ACB, for acyl-CoA-binding protein.

PMID- 1454810
TI  - Yeast RNA polymerase II initiation factor e: isolation and identification as the
      functional counterpart of human transcription factor IIB.
AB  - Yeast RNA polymerase II initiation factor e was purified to homogeneity and
      identified by biochemical criteria as the counterpart of human transcription
      factor IIB. Factor e was essential for initiation of transcription from yeast and
      mammalian promoters in a reconstituted yeast transcription system. Activity
      resided in a single polypeptide of approximately 41 kDa, identified by peptide
      sequence analysis as the product of the SUA7 gene. Factor e interacted
      specifically with RNA polymerase II, consistent with a proposed role in
      determining the start site of transcription.

PMID- 1454811
TI  - Drosophila homolog of the human S6 ribosomal protein is required for tumor
      suppression in the hematopoietic system.
AB  - The tumor suppressor gene lethal(1)aberrant immune response 8 (air8) of
      Drosophila melanogaster encodes a homolog of the human S6 ribosomal protein. P
      element insertions that prevent expression of this gene cause overgrowth of the
      lymph glands (the hematopoietic organs), abnormal blood cell differentiation, and
      melanotic tumor formation. They also cause delayed development, inhibit growth of
      most of the larval organs, and lead to larval lethality. Mitotic recombination
      experiments indicate that the normal S6 gene is required for clone survival in
      the germ line and imaginal discs. The S6 gene produces a 1.1-kilobase transcript
      that is abundant throughout development in wild-type animals and in revertants
      derived from the insertional mutants but is barely detectable in the mutant
      larvae. cDNAs corresponding to this transcript show a 248-amino acid open reading
      frame with 75.4% identity and 94.8% similarity to both human and rat S6 ribosomal
      protein sequences. The results reveal a regulatory function of this ribosomal
      protein in the hematopoietic system of Drosophila that may be related to its
      developmentally regulated phosphorylation.

PMID- 1454812
TI  - Probucol inhibits neointimal thickening and macrophage accumulation after balloon
      injury in the cholesterol-fed rabbit.
AB  - Restenosis is a frequent long-term complication after balloon angioplasty.
      Although smooth muscle cells form the major constituent of the occluding lesion,
      macrophage-derived foam cells are usually also present in high abundance. The
      latter have the potential to accelerate the rate of reocclusion because they
      elaborate many potent cytokines and growth factors, which may act to either
      recruit cells into the neointima or cause neointimal cell proliferation.
      Macrophage-derived foam-cell formation depends upon the uptake of modified low
      density lipoprotein via a scavenger receptor-mediated pathway. Foam-cell
      formation is accompanied by the release of smooth muscle cell mitogens and
      chemoattractants. We have examined the effects of probucol, a lipid-soluble
      antioxidant, in the balloon-catheterized carotid artery of the cholesterol-fed
      rabbit to evaluate the importance of oxidative processes in restenosis. After 5
      weeks, serum cholesterol levels were 32% lower (P < 0.05) in rabbits fed 1%
      probucol with 2% cholesterol, compared with those receiving cholesterol alone.
      Probucol inhibited neointimal macrophage accumulation by 68% (P < 0.001), reduced
      absolute intimal size by 51% (P < 0.05), and reduced the intima/media thickness
      ratio by 51%. These inhibitory effects were directly related to serum probucol
      concentrations and appeared to be unrelated to probucol's hypocholesterolemic
      activity. These data suggest that reactive oxygen species may be involved in the
      intimal response to injury and that antioxidants, such as probucol, may be
      therapeutically useful as inhibitors of restenosis.

PMID- 1454813
TI  - Structural analysis of the human interferon gamma receptor: a small segment of
      the intracellular domain is specifically required for class I major
      histocompatibility complex antigen induction and antiviral activity.
AB  - Mutations of the human interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) receptor intracellular domain
      have permitted us to define a restricted region of that domain as necessary for
      both induction of class I major histocompatibility complex antigen by IFN-gamma
      and protection against encephalomyocarditis virus. This region consists of five
      amino acids (YDKPH), all of which are conserved in the human and murine
      receptors. Tyr-457 and His-461 are essential for activity. Approximately 80% of
      the amino acids of the intracellular domain of the receptor is not required for
      major histocompatibility complex class I antigen induction or for antiviral
      protection against encephalomyocarditis virus. The observation that there was no
      protection by IFN-gamma against vesiculostomatitis virus indicates that other
      factors, in addition to chromosome 21 accessory factor(s), are required to
      generate the full complement of transduction signals from the human IFN-gamma
      receptor.

PMID- 1454814
TI  - Drug design by machine learning: the use of inductive logic programming to model
      the structure-activity relationships of trimethoprim analogues binding to
      dihydrofolate reductase.
AB  - The machine learning program GOLEM from the field of inductive logic programming
      was applied to the drug design problem of modeling structure-activity
      relationships. The training data for the program were 44 trimethoprim analogues
      and their observed inhibition of Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase. A
      further 11 compounds were used as unseen test data. GOLEM obtained rules that
      were statistically more accurate on the training data and also better on the test
      data than a Hansch linear regression model. Importantly machine learning yields
      understandable rules that characterized the chemistry of favored inhibitors in
      terms of polarity, flexibility, and hydrogen-bonding character. These rules agree
      with the stereochemistry of the interaction observed crystallographically.

PMID- 1454815
TI  - Stable heparin-producing cell lines derived from the Furth murine mastocytoma.
AB  - Stable cell lines that synthesize heparin have been established from the Furth
      murine mastocytoma. The parental line (MST) divides in suspension every 14-18 h
      in growth medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum or defined growth factors.
      Adherent subclones were selected by adhesion to plastic culture vessels. Both
      adherent and nonadherent cells contain about 0.4 micrograms of glycosaminoglycan
      hexuronic acid per 10(6) cells, composed of 80% heparin and 20% chondroitin
      sulfate E. Deaminative cleavage of MST heparin by HNO2 at pH 1.5 released
      disaccharides that were similar in composition to those obtained from commercial
      heparin, except that disaccharides containing 3,6-O-desulfated GlcN units were
      not found. Greater than 90% of the glycosaminoglycans were stored in cytoplasmic
      granules, and challenge of the cells with dinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin
      and anti-dinitrophenyl IgE released a portion of the stored material. Growth
      studies of subclones showed that MST cells tolerate a 10-fold variation in
      glycosaminoglycan content. Incubation of cells with sodium chlorate reduced
      glycosaminoglycan sulfation by > 95% without affecting cell growth. Thus, granule
      glycosaminoglycans appear to be nonessential for growth of MST cells.

PMID- 1454816
TI  - Efficient transfer and sustained high expression of the human glucocerebrosidase
      gene in mice and their functional macrophages following transplantation of bone
      marrow transduced by a retroviral vector.
AB  - A recombinant retroviral vector (MFG-GC) was used to study the efficiency of
      transduction of the human gene encoding glucocerebrosidase (GC; D-glucosyl-N
      acylsphingosine glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.45), in mouse hematopoietic stem cells
      and expression in their progeny. Transfer of the GC gene to CFU-S (spleen cell
      colony-forming units) in primary and secondary recipients was virtually 100%. In
      mice 4-7 months after transplantation, highly efficient transfer of the human
      gene to bone marrow cells capable of long-term reconstitution was confirmed by
      detection of one or two copies per mouse genome in hematopoietic tissues and in
      cultures of pure macrophages. Expression of the human gene exceeded endogenous
      activity by several fold in primary and secondary CFU-S, tissues from long-term
      reconstituted mice, and explanted macrophages cultures. These studies are
      evidence of the feasibility of efficient transfer of the GC gene to hematopoietic
      stem cells and expression in their progeny for many months after reconstitution.
      The results of this study strengthen the rationale for gene therapy as a
      treatment for Gaucher disease.

PMID- 1454817
TI  - Human fusion proteins between interleukin 2 and IgM heavy chain are cytotoxic for
      cells expressing the interleukin 2 receptor.
AB  - We have constructed a hybrid cDNA coding for a fusion protein between human
      interleukin 2 and a truncated heavy chain from human immunoglobulin M. The
      protein encoded by this cDNA contains the entire interleukin 2 sequence including
      its signal peptide, fused at its C terminus to domains 2 to 4 of the
      immunoglobulin heavy-chain constant region. Cells transfected with the hybrid
      cDNA secrete multimeric forms of the fusion protein, which bind specifically to
      cells bearing high-affinity interleukin 2 receptors. This binding leads either to
      T-cell proliferation or, if complement is added, to T-cell death. Multimeric
      forms of the fusion protein with a molecular mass above 500 kDa mediate
      complement-dependent lysis but trigger proliferation inefficiently when compared
      with forms with a low molecular mass (< 500 kDa). In contrast, the latter
      efficiently mediate T-cell proliferation without inducing complement-dependent
      lysis. The high molecular mass fusion proteins could thus constitute valuable
      tools for specific immunosuppression in humans.

PMID- 1454818
TI  - Brain-derived neurotrophic factor augments rotational behavior and nigrostriatal
      dopamine turnover in vivo.
AB  - Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the nerve growth factor
      (NGF)-related family of neutrophins, promotes the survival and differentiation of
      cultured nigral dopamine neurons. Two-week infusions of BDNF were made above the
      right pars compacta of the substantia nigra in adult rats. Systemic injection of
      these animals with (+)-amphetamine, a dopamine-releasing drug, induced 3 or 4
      body rotations per minute directed away from the nigral infusion site. Neither
      supranigral NGF nor neocortical BDNF infusions induced rotational behavior.
      Systemic injections of the postsynaptic dopamine receptor agonist apomorphine did
      not induce rotations in these animals, demonstrating a presynaptic dopamine
      neuron locus for BDNF action. In support of this, neostriatal levels of the
      dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA) were elevated by 28%, and the
      HVA/dopamine and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC)/dopamine ratios were elevated
      by 56% and 34%, respectively, in the BDNF-infused brain hemisphere. BDNF
      augmented striatal concentrations of HVA and DOPAC and the metabolite/dopamine
      ratios to even greater extents after (+)-amphetamine injection, when peak
      rotational effects occurred. Intrastriatal infusions of BDNF produced fewer
      rotations per minute (1-2.5) after (+)-amphetamine and smaller elevations in HVA
      and the HVA/dopamine ratio (15% and 30%, respectively) than after supranigral
      delivery. Neither striatal dopamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, nor acetylcholine
      high-affinity uptake or the synthetic enzymes for these neurotransmitters was
      altered by BDNF. These behavioral and neurochemical effects demonstrate an action
      of BDNF on dopamine neurons in vivo and are consistent with a potential role for
      BDNF in the treatment of Parkinson disease.

PMID- 1454819
TI  - Molecular characterization of NAD:arginine ADP-ribosyltransferase from rabbit
      skeletal muscle.
AB  - Mono-ADP-ribosylation is a reversible modification of proteins, with NAD:arginine
      ADP-ribosyltransferases (EC 2.4.2.31) and ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolases (EC
      3.2.2.19) catalyzing the opposing reactions in an ADP-ribosylation cycle. A
      membrane-associated arginine-specific (mono)-ADP-ribosyltransferase was purified
      215,000-fold from rabbit skeletal muscle. On the basis of the amino acid
      sequences of HPLC-purified tryptic peptides, degenerate oligonucleotide primers
      were synthesized and used in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based procedure to
      generate cDNA. A specific probe, based on PCR-generated sequence, was used to
      screen a rabbit skeletal muscle cDNA library. A composite cDNA sequence, obtained
      from library screening and rapid amplification of the 5' end of the cDNA,
      contained a 981-base-pair open reading frame, encoding a 36,134-Da protein. The
      deduced amino acid sequence contained the sequences of the tryptic peptides,
      hydrophobic amino and carboxyl termini, and two potential sites for N-linked
      glycosylation. Escherichia coli cells transformed with an expression vector
      containing transferase-specific sequence expressed ADP-ribosyltransferase
      activity. A transferase-specific oligonucleotide probe recognized a 4-kilobase
      mRNA expressed primarily in rabbit skeletal and cardiac muscle. There was no
      extended similarity in deduced amino acid sequences of the muscle transferase and
      several bacterial ADP-ribosylating toxins. The hydrophobic amino and carboxyl
      termini may represent a signal peptide and a site for a glycosyl
      phosphatidylinositol anchor, respectively.

PMID- 1454820
TI  - Effect of Ca2+ on weak cross-bridge interaction with actin in the presence of
      adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate).
AB  - In the presence of the nucleotide analog adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate
      (ATP[gamma S]), effects of Ca2+ on stiffness and equatorial x-ray diffraction
      patterns of single skinned fibers of the rabbit psoas muscle were studied. It is
      shown that cross-bridges in the presence of ATP[gamma S] have properties of the
      weak-binding states of the ATP hydrolysis cycle. Raising the Ca2+ concentration
      up to pCa 4.5 has little effect on actin affinity of cross-bridges in the
      presence of ATP[gamma S]. However, the rate constants for cross-bridge
      dissociation and reassociation from and to actin are reduced by about 2 orders of
      magnitude. In addition, nucleotide affinity of the cross-bridge is much smaller
      at high Ca2+ concentrations. Implications for interpretation of fiber stiffness
      recorded during isotonic shortening and the rising phase of a tetanus are
      discussed.

PMID- 1454821
TI  - pH gradients across phospholipid membranes caused by fast flip-flop of un-ionized
      fatty acids.
AB  - A central, unresolved question in cell physiology is how fatty acids move across
      cell membranes and whether protein(s) are required to facilitate transbilayer
      movement. We have developed a method for monitoring movement of fatty acids
      across protein-free model membranes (phospholipid bilayers). Pyranin, a water
      soluble, pH-sensitive fluorescent molecule, was trapped inside well-sealed
      phosphatidylcholine vesicles (with or without cholesterol) in Hepes buffer (pH
      7.4). Upon addition of a long-chain fatty acid (e.g., oleic acid) to the external
      buffer (also Hepes, pH 7.4), a decrease in fluorescence of pyranin was observed
      immediately (within 10 sec). This acidification of the internal volume was the
      result of the "flip" of un-ionized fatty acids to the inner leaflet, followed by
      a release of protons from approximately 50% of these fatty acid molecules
      (apparent pKa in the bilayer = 7.6). The proton gradient thus generated
      dissipated slowly because of slow cyclic proton transfer by fatty acids. Addition
      of bovine serum albumin to vesicles with fatty acids instantly removed the pH
      gradient, indicating complete removal of fatty acids, which requires rapid "flop"
      of fatty acids from the inner to the outer monolayer layer. Using a four-state
      kinetic diagram of fatty acids in membranes, we conclude that un-ionized fatty
      acid flip-flops rapidly (t1/2 < or = 2 sec) whereas ionized fatty acid flip-flops
      slowly (t1/2 of minutes). Since fatty acids move across phosphatidylcholine
      bilayers spontaneously and rapidly, complex mechanisms (e.g., transport proteins)
      may not be required for translocation of fatty acids in biological membranes. The
      proton movement accompanying fatty acid flip-flop is an important consideration
      for fatty acid metabolism in normal physiology and in disease states such as
      cardiac ischemia.

PMID- 1454822
TI  - Vibronic energy map and excited state vibrational characteristics of magnesium
      myoglobin determined by energy-selective fluorescence.
AB  - The vibrational frequencies of the singlet excited state of Mg-substituted
      myoglobin and relative absorption probabilities were determined by fluorescence
      line-narrowing spectroscopy. These spectra contain information on the structure
      of the excited state species, and the availability of vibrationally resolved
      spectra from excited state biomolecules should aid in elucidating their structure
      and reactivity.

PMID- 1454823
TI  - Differential effects of Bcl-2 on T and B cells in transgenic mice.
AB  - We have produced bcl-2 transgenic mice by using a construct which mimics the
      t(14;18) translocation in human follicular lymphomas. Although lymphoid tissues
      from all transgenic mice contained high levels of human Bcl-2 protein, transgene
      expression was differentially regulated within the B- and T-cell compartments of
      lines derived from various founder mice. We have characterized the phenotypes of
      two lines of bcl-2 transgenic mice (line 2 and line 6) in which bcl-2 transgene
      expression was restricted primarily to the T- or B-cell lineages, respectively.
      Analysis of line 6 lymphocytes revealed a polyclonal expansion of B cells, and
      these B cells exhibited prolonged survival in vitro. In line 2 mice, numbers of T
      cells in the peripheral lymphoid tissues were more moderately elevated despite
      enhanced T-cell survival in vitro. Line 2 transgenic mice also showed
      significantly increased proportions of thymocytes with a mature phenotype. Taken
      together, these findings suggest different roles for bcl-2 in the in vivo
      regulation of B- and T-cell development and homeostasis.

PMID- 1454824
TI  - Major histocompatibility complex class I-specific and -restricted killing of beta
      2-microglobulin-deficient cells by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
AB  - Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) recognize major histocompatibility complex (MHC)
      class I molecules, normally composed of a heavy chain, a beta 2-microglobulin
      (beta 2m), and peptide antigens. beta 2m is considered essential for the assembly
      and intracellular transport of MHC class I molecules as well as their peptide
      presentation to CTLs. Contrary to this dogma, we now report the generation of
      allospecific and restricted CD8+ and TCR alpha beta+ CTLs (where TCR is T-cell
      receptor) capable of killing beta 2m-deficient cells. Such CTLs were obtained by
      priming mice with live allogeneic beta 2m- spleen cells or mutant lymphoma cells
      producing MHC class I protein but no detectable beta 2m. Although both beta 2m-
      and beta 2m-expressing lymphoma cells were rejected in allogeneic mice, only the
      former were efficient inducers of CTLs recognizing beta 2m- cells. These CTLs
      were MHC class I (H-2Kb or Db)-specific and CD8-dependent and did not require
      serum as a source of external beta 2m in the culture. They could be induced
      across major and minor histocompatibility barriers. The H-2-restricted CTLs
      generated in the latter case failed to kill the antigen-processing-deficient
      target RMA-S cells. The results show that MHC class I heavy chains in beta 2m-
      cells can be transported to the cell surface and act as antigens or antigen
      presenting molecules to allospecific and MHC-restricted CTLs.

PMID- 1454825
TI  - Introduction of a retinoid reporter gene into the urodele limb blastema.
AB  - After amputation of the limb of an adult urodele amphibian at any point along the
      proximodistal axis, blastemal cells (the progenitor cells of the regenerate) give
      rise only to the missing structures. Retinoic acid (RA) is able to respecify the
      positional identity of the blastema to a more proximal value, thus raising the
      possibility that the RA response system is activated during limb regeneration.
      Cultured newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) limb cells were transfected by nuclear
      microinjection of plasmids which provided RA-sensitive reporter activity that
      could be normalized for differences in cell recovery and transfection efficiency.
      Such cells showed a dose-dependent response to RA in culture, and this required a
      functional RA response element. The cells were implanted under the wound
      epidermis of newt hindlimb blastemas. After injection of a proximalizing dose of
      RA there was a significant difference in the level of reporter activity dependent
      on a functional response element. When cells were implanted into contralateral
      proximal and distal hindlimb blastemas the proximal-to-distal ratio for
      activation of the reporter through the response element was approximately 3.5
      fold, suggesting that a gene whose expression is regulated by RA could be
      differentially activated along the proximodistal axis during limb regeneration.

PMID- 1454826
TI  - Epidermal growth factor stimulates mouse placental lactogen I but inhibits mouse
      placental lactogen II secretion in vitro.
AB  - This study was undertaken to determine whether epidermal growth factor (EGF)
      regulates the secretion of mouse placental lactogen (mPL)-I and mPL-II. Primary
      cell cultures were prepared from placentas from days 7, 9, and 11 of pregnancy
      and cultured for up to 5 days. Addition of EGF (20 ng/ml) to the medium resulted
      in significant stimulation of mPL-I secretion by the second day of culture in
      cells from days 7 and 9 of pregnancy and significant inhibition of mPL-II
      secretion by the third or fourth day of culture in cells from days 7, 9, and 11.
      Dose-response studies carried out with cells from day 7 of pregnancy demonstrated
      that the minimum concentration of EGF that stimulated mPL-I secretion and
      inhibited mPL-II secretion was 1.0 ng/ml. EGF did not affect the DNA content of
      the cells or cell viability, assessed by trypan blue exclusion, nor did it have a
      general effect on protein synthesis. There are three types of PL-containing giant
      cells in mouse placental cell cultures: cells that contain either mPL-I or mPL-II
      and cells that contain both hormones. Immunocytochemical analysis and the reverse
      hemolytic plaque assay indicated that EGF treatment was accompanied by a
      significant increase in the number of cells that produce mPL-I, but among the PL
      cells that contained mPL-I, there was no change in the fraction of cells that
      contained only mPL-I or the fraction that contained both mPL-I and mPL-II. In
      contrast, EGF treatment did affect the distribution of mPL-II among PL cells. In
      control cultures, about 75% of the cells that contained mPL-II also contained mPL
      I, but in EGF-treated cultures, all of the cells that contained mPL-II also
      contained mPL-I. These data suggest that EGF regulates mPL-I and mPL-II secretion
      at least partly by regulating PL cell differentiation.

PMID- 1454827
TI  - Phage phi 29 regulatory protein p4 stabilizes the binding of the RNA polymerase
      to the late promoter in a process involving direct protein-protein contacts.
AB  - Transcription from the late promoter, PA3, of Bacillus subtilis phage phi 29 is
      activated by the viral regulatory protein p4. A kinetic analysis of the
      activation process has revealed that the role of protein p4 is to stabilize the
      binding of RNA polymerase to the promoter as a closed complex without
      significantly affecting further steps of the initiation process. Electrophoretic
      band-shift assays performed with a DNA fragment spanning only the protein p4
      binding site showed that RNA polymerase could efficiently retard the complex
      formed by protein p4 bound to the DNA. Similarly, when a DNA fragment containing
      only the RNA polymerase-binding region of PA3 was used, p4 greatly stimulated the
      binding of RNA polymerase to the DNA. These results strongly suggest that p4 and
      RNA polymerase contact each other at the PA3 promoter. In the light of current
      knowledge of the p4 activation mechanism, we propose that direct contacts between
      the two proteins participate in the activation process.

PMID- 1454828
TI  - Intramolecular DNA triplexes: unusual sequence requirements and influence on DNA
      polymerization.
AB  - Homopurine-homopyrimidine mirror repeats are known to form intramolecular DNA
      triplexes in vitro. By probing with chemical agents specific for unusual DNA
      conformations, we have now demonstrated the formation of intramolecular triplexes
      consisting of G.G.C and T.A.T base triplets by DNA sequences that are neither
      homopurine-homopyrimidine nor mirror repeats. This finding significantly enlarges
      the number of sequences that could form DNA triplexes. The observed triplexes are
      stable under the conditions that are optimal for DNA polymerases in vitro. We
      found that triplex formation causes specific termination of DNA polymerization in
      vitro. This effect is detected for different DNA polymerases and may have
      implications for the regulation of DNA replication in vivo.

PMID- 1454829
TI  - Malignancy of eye melanomas originating in the retinal pigment epithelium of
      transgenic mice after genetic ablation of choroidal melanocytes.
AB  - Eye tumors of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) have been thought generally to
      be benign, whereas choroidal ones are malignant. To test this assumption in mice,
      the W/Wv (Kit) mutant genotype was introduced into melanoma-prone transgenic mice
      whose recombinant simian virus 40 transforming sequences are specifically
      expressed in pigment cells. W/Wv causes programmed death of neural crest-derived
      pigment cells, including choroidal ones, but leaves intact the brain-derived
      pigment cells, such as those in the RPE. Dysplastic cells arose in the RPE,
      contiguous with frank melanotic neoplasms. Invasion of the optic nerve, and tumor
      growth outside the orbit, attested to the malignancy of these RPE-derived
      melanomas. The widespread melanosis previously seen in mice with this transgene
      was absent when W/Wv was added, thus validating its chief origin from neural
      crest cells.

PMID- 1454830
TI  - A proposed function for spermine and spermidine: protection of replicating DNA
      against damage by singlet oxygen.
AB  - Like all aliphatic amines, the polyamines spermine and spermidine are physical
      quenchers of singlet molecular oxygen (1O2*). The rate constants of these
      processes were determined in vitro with photochemically generated 1O2* and the
      hydrocarbon rubrene as substrate, in pyridine. At millimolar concentration,
      spermine and spermidine should quench 1O2* in vivo and prevent it from damaging
      DNA. It is proposed that a biological function of polyamines is the protection of
      replicating DNA against oxidative damage.

PMID- 1454831
TI  - Spermine and spermidine protection of plasmid DNA against single-strand breaks
      induced by singlet oxygen.
AB  - Oxidative damage to DNA induced by singlet molecular oxygen (1O2*) includes
      single-strand breaks, which the biologically occurring 1O2* quenchers spermine
      and spermidine are shown to prevent. These polyamines at a physiological
      concentration (10 mM) reduce the percentage of the open circular form of pBR322
      plasmid DNA, which is generated at the expense of the native supercoiled form
      when the plasmids are incubated with a chemical source of 1O2*, the water-soluble
      endoperoxide of 3,3'-(1,4-naphthylidene)dipropionate. Spermine and spermidine can
      be expected to protect DNA against other damaging effects of 1O2*.

PMID- 1454832
TI  - Reading-frame restoration with an apolipoprotein B gene frameshift mutation.
AB  - We examined a mutant human apolipoprotein B (apoB) allele that causes
      hypobetalipoproteinemia and has a single cytosine deletion in exon 26. This
      frameshift mutation was associated with the synthesis of a truncated apoB protein
      of the predicted size; however, studies in human subjects and minigene expression
      studies in cultured cells indicated that the mutant allele also yielded a full
      length apoB protein. The 1-base-pair deletion in the mutant apoB allele created a
      stretch of eight consecutive adenines. To understand the mechanism whereby the
      mutant apoB allele yielded a full-length apoB protein, the cDNA from cells
      transfected with the mutant apoB minigene expression vector was examined.
      Splicing of the mRNA was normal; however, 11% of the cDNA clones had an
      additional adenine within the stretch of eight adenines, yielding nine
      consecutive adenines. The insertion of the extra adenine, presumably during apoB
      gene transcription, is predicted to restore the correct apoB reading frame,
      thereby permitting the synthesis of a full-length apoB protein.

PMID- 1454833
TI  - Activin inhibits binding of transcription factor Pit-1 to the growth hormone
      promoter.
AB  - Activin A is a potent growth and differentiation factor related to transforming
      growth factor beta. In somatotrophs, activin suppresses the biosynthesis and
      secretion of growth hormone (GH) and cellular proliferation. We report here that,
      in MtTW15 somatotrophic tumor cells, activin decreased GH mRNA levels and
      inhibited expression of transfected GH promoter--chloramphenicol
      acetyltransferase fusion genes. Deletion mapping of nucleotide sequences
      mediating this inhibition led to the identification of a region that has
      previously been characterized as binding the pituitary-specific transcription
      factor Pit-1/GHF-1. Characterization of nuclear factor binding to this region
      demonstrated that binding of Pit-1 to the GH promoter is lost on activin
      treatment. These results indicate that activin-induced repression of GH
      biosynthesis is mediated by the loss of tissue-specific transcription factor
      binding to the GH promoter and suggest a possible general mechanism for other
      activin responses, whereby activin regulates the function of other POU- or
      homeodomain-containing transcription factors.

PMID- 1454834
TI  - Additional antitumor ecteinascidins from a Caribbean tunicate: crystal structures
      and activities in vivo.
AB  - Ecteinascidins (Ets), isolated from the Caribbean tunicate Ecteinascidia
      turbinata, protect mice in vivo against P388 lymphoma, B16 melanoma, M5076
      ovarian sarcoma, Lewis lung carcinoma, and the LX-1 human lung and MX-1 human
      mammary carcinoma xenografts. Crystal structures of two
      tris(tetrahydroisoquinoline) Ets were investigated with single crystals of the 21
      O-methyl-N12-formyl derivative of Et 729 and the natural N12-oxide of Et 743.
      Representatives of an additional class of Ets, Et 722 and Et 736, isolated from
      the same organism, were assigned tetrahydro-beta-carboline-substituted
      bis(tetrahydroisoquinoline) structures by NMR and fast atom bombardment MS
      spectra.

PMID- 1454835
TI  - Methodologic aspects of a population pharmacodynamic model for cognitive effects
      in Alzheimer patients treated with tacrine.
AB  - Tacrine is a cholinesterase inhibitor with activity in the central nervous system
      originally marketed for the reversal of competitive neuromuscular blockade.
      Because a marked reduction in cholinergic neurons is a hallmark of brain changes
      in Alzheimer disease, tacrine has been studied in two placebo-controlled clinical
      trials of patients with probable Alzheimer disease. Standard analysis of variance
      (ANOVA) and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) have shown a difference between the
      tacrine group and the placebo group in terms of the cognitive component of the
      Alzheimer disease assessment scale at the end of the placebo-controlled phase.
      Due to limitations of ANOVA and ANCOVA, only a selected group of patients could
      be analyzed by those methods. A population pharmacodynamic model has been
      developed that allows the use of all observations from one or more trials to be
      combined. It can incorporate any sequence of active or placebo treatments and
      account for carryover effects of both placebo and active drug. The time courses
      of active or placebo treatment response and the development of tolerance to
      active drug or placebo can be defined. The model describes disease progression
      without treatment, the placebo effect, and the effect of tacrine as a function of
      daily dose. Placebo effect and active drug effects are modeled by effect site
      concentration components.

PMID- 1454836
TI  - Results and validation of a population pharmacodynamic model for cognitive
      effects in Alzheimer patients treated with tacrine.
AB  - Tacrine has been studied in two clinical trials of identical design in patients
      with probable Alzheimer disease. One trial enrolled patients in the United
      States, while the other enrolled patients in France. A population pharmacodynamic
      model has been used to describe the cognitive component of the Alzheimer disease
      assessment scale (ADASC) using mixed effects nonlinear regression. The model
      parameters and their population variability and covariance were estimated by
      using NONMEM. During an observation period of up to 5 months, the rate of disease
      progression was 6.17 ADASC units/year. The effect of tacrine was described best
      by a shift in the disease progress curve (-2.99 ADASC units or 177.6 days at a
      dose of 80 mg/day). The placebo effects associated with tacrine and placebo
      treatment were similar in magnitude and time course. There was no evidence of
      tolerance to tacrine but tolerance to the placebo treatment developed during the
      study. The size of the placebo effect in the French population was 76% larger
      than in the United States population, and the response to placebo diminished more
      slowly in the French population.

PMID- 1454837
TI  - Borna disease virus, a negative-strand RNA virus, transcribes in the nucleus of
      infected cells.
AB  - Borna disease virus, an unclassified infectious agent, causes immune-mediated
      neurologic disease in a wide variety of animal hosts and may be involved in
      pathogenesis of selected neuropsychiatric diseases in man. Initial reports
      suggested that Borna disease virus is a single-stranded RNA virus. We describe
      here a method for isolation of viral particles that has allowed definitive
      identification of the genome as containing a negative-polarity RNA. Further, we
      show that the viral mRNAs are transcribed in the nucleus.

PMID- 1454838
TI  - Brain proteins in plants: an Arabidopsis homolog to neurotransmitter pathway
      activators is part of a DNA binding complex.
AB  - The G box is a well-characterized cis-acting DNA regulatory element found in the
      promoters of several seemingly unrelated plant genes, including the alcohol
      dehydrogenase (Adh) gene of Arabidopsis thaliana. Using a monoclonal antibody
      screening approach coupled with electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we have
      isolated a cDNA clone encoding a protein that is part of the in vitro protein/G
      box complex. The derived amino acid sequence is homologous to a class of proteins
      in mammalian brains described as protein kinase C inhibitors and as activators of
      tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylases, the rate-limiting enzymes in the pathways
      leading to the catecholamines and serotonin. The fact that a homologous member of
      this regulatory protein family is found in plants and is associated with binding
      to transcriptional regulatory elements suggests a much wider role for these
      proteins.

PMID- 1454840
TI  - Poly(L-alanine) as a universal reference material for understanding protein
      energies and structures.
AB  - We present a proposition, the "poly(L-alanine) hypothesis," which asserts that
      the native backbone geometry for any polypeptide or protein of M residues has a
      closely mimicking, mechanically stable, image in poly(L-alanine) of the same
      number of residues. Using a molecular mechanics force field to represent the
      relevant potential energy hypersurfaces, we have carried out calculations over a
      wide range of M values to show that poly(L-alanine) possesses the structural
      versatility necessary to satisfy the proposition. These include poly(L-alanine)
      representatives of minima corresponding to secondary and supersecondary
      structures, as well as poly(L-alanine) images for tertiary structures of the
      naturally occurring proteins bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, crambin,
      ribonuclease A, and superoxide dismutase. The successful validation of the
      hypothesis presented in this paper indicates that poly(L-alanine) will serve as a
      good reference material in thermodynamic perturbation theory and calculations
      aimed at evaluating relative free energies for competing candidate tertiary
      structures in real polypeptides and proteins.

PMID- 1454839
TI  - Pur-1, a zinc-finger protein that binds to purine-rich sequences, transactivates
      an insulin promoter in heterologous cells.
AB  - Purine-rich stretches of nucleotides (GAGA boxes) are often found just upstream
      of transcription start sites in many genes, including insulin. Mutational
      analysis suggests that the GAGA box plays an important role in transcription of
      the rat insulin I gene. We identify here at least four different proteins that
      bind specifically to the insulin GAGA box. Using a GAGA oligonucleotide, we have
      isolated a cDNA encoding a sequence-specific protein from a HIT (hamster
      insulinoma cell line) lambda gt11 library. This protein, which we designate Pur-1
      (for purine binding), binds to the GAGA boxes of the rat insulin I and II genes
      and the human islet amyloid polypeptide gene. Pur-1 is a potent transactivator in
      both pancreatic and nonpancreatic cells. Furthermore, Pur-1 is able to activate
      an intact insulin promoter in HeLa cells, where it is normally inactive.

PMID- 1454841
TI  - Tumor necrosis factor alpha response elements in the HLA-DRA promoter:
      identification of a tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced DNA-protein complex in
      astrocytes.
AB  - The cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) alone does not induce class
      II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expression in most primary cells but
      can regulate ongoing class II expression in either a positive or negative
      fashion. The mechanism(s) by which TNF-alpha enhances interferon gamma (IFN
      gamma)-induced class II expression was examined in a primary cell type, the
      astrocyte, by transient transfection of the HLA-DRA promoter linked to a
      chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene (DRA-CAT). We show that TNF
      alpha, while having no effect on its own, can synergize with IFN-gamma to
      increase the level of promoter activity of a DRA-CAT construct. Three known
      sequences--W, X, and Y--are required for TNF-alpha enhancement of IFN-gamma
      induced promoter activity. The corollary effect of TNF-alpha on DNA-binding
      proteins specific for these elements was examined. A previous report described a
      DNA-binding protein, IFN-gamma-enhanced factor X (IFNEX), which is upregulated by
      IFN-gamma in astrocytes and is specific for the X box of the DRA promoter. In
      this study, we found that TNF-alpha alone did not induce any nuclear proteins;
      however, combined treatment of astrocytes with both IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha
      induced a DNA-protein complex of slower electrophoretic mobility than IFNEX. The
      TNF-alpha-induced complex (TIC-X) has specificity for the X element of the DRA
      promoter. These results suggest a mechanism by which TNF-alpha enhances IFN-gamma
      induced class II MHC expression via the formation of TIC-X.

PMID- 1454842
TI  - DNA rearrangement causes hepatocarcinogenesis in albumin-plasminogen activator
      transgenic mice.
AB  - Hepatocyte-directed production of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in
      transgenic mice is hepatotoxic. Infrequently, hepatocytes arise that do not
      express uPA, due to physical loss of transgene DNA, and these cells clonally
      repopulate the entire liver within 3 months of birth. Surprisingly, hepatic
      tumors appear in these mice beginning at 8 months of age despite the fact that
      uPA is not oncogenic or genotoxic. Analysis of the transgene locus reveals that
      tumors arise only from a particular subclass of transgene-deficient cells in
      which the entire transgene array, and possibly a significant amount of flanking
      DNA, is deleted. Considering that all transgene-deficient regenerative nodules
      undergo extensive replication but only a subset gives rise to tumors, we propose
      that loss of genomic DNA, not mitogenesis per se, is a primary carcinogenic
      determinant in this model of hepatocarcinogenesis.

PMID- 1454843
TI  - Stable heteroplasmy for a large-scale deletion in the coding region of Drosophila
      subobscura mitochondrial DNA.
AB  - Due to the extremely economic organization of the animal mitochondrial genome,
      large-scale deletions are rarely found in animal mtDNA. We report the occurrence
      of a massive deletion in the coding region of mtDNA in Drosophila subobscura.
      Restriction mapping and nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the deletion
      encompasses six protein genes and four tRNAs. All individuals of an isofemale
      strain proved to be heteroplasmic for normal and deficient mtDNA molecules. This
      type of heteroplasmy resembles one observed in patients with mitochondrial
      myopathies but differs in that the fitness of heteroplasmic flies is not
      significantly reduced even though the mutant mtDNA constitutes 50-80% of total
      mtDNA in most of the individuals studied. The heteroplasmic strain is genetically
      stable: despite extensive screening not a single homoplasmic fly was observed
      since the foundation of the line.

PMID- 1454844
TI  - The calorically restricted low-fat nutrient-dense diet in Biosphere 2
      significantly lowers blood glucose, total leukocyte count, cholesterol, and blood
      pressure in humans.
AB  - Biosphere 2 is a 3.15-acre space containing an ecosystem that is energetically
      open (sunlight, electric power, and heat) but materially closed, with air, water,
      and organic material being recycled. Since September 1991, eight subjects (four
      women and four men) have been sealed inside, living on food crops grown within.
      Their diet, low in calories (average, 1780 kcal/day; 1 kcal = 4.184 kJ), low in
      fat (10% of calories), and nutrient-dense, conforms to that which in numerous
      animal experiments has promoted health, retarded aging, and extended maximum life
      span. We report here medical data on the eight subjects, comparing preclosure
      data with data through 6 months of closure. Significant changes included: (i)
      weight, 74 to 62 kg (men) and 61 to 54 kg (women); (ii) mean systolic/diastolic
      blood pressure (eight subjects), 109/74 to 89/58 mmHg (1 mmHg = 133 Pa); (iii)
      total serum cholesterol, from 191 +/- 11 to 123 +/- 9 mg/dl (mean +/- SD; 36%
      mean reduction), and high density lipoprotein, from 62 +/- 8 to 38 +/- 5 (risk
      ratio unchanged); (iv) triglyceride, 139 to 96 mg/dl (men) and 78 to 114 mg/dl
      (women); (v) fasting glucose, 92 to 74 mg/dl; (vi) leukocyte count, 6.7 to 4.7 x
      10(9) cells per liter. We conclude that drastic reductions in cholesterol and
      blood pressure may be instituted in normal individuals in Western countries by
      application of a carefully chosen diet and that a low-calorie nutrient-dense
      regime shows physiologic features in humans similar to those in other animal
      species.

PMID- 1454845
TI  - Activation of estrogen receptor transfected into a receptor-negative breast
      cancer cell line decreases the metastatic and invasive potential of the cells.
AB  - Breast cancers containing estrogen receptors are responsive to antiestrogen
      treatment and have a better prognosis than estrogen receptor-negative tumors. The
      loss of estrogen and progesterone receptors appears to be associated with a
      progression to less-differentiated tumors. We transfected the human estrogen
      receptor into the estrogen receptor-negative metastatic breast cancer cell line
      MDA-MB-231 in an attempt to restore their sensitivity to antiestrogens. Two
      stable sublines of MDA-MB-231 cells (HC1 and HE5) expressing functional estrogen
      receptors were studied for their ability to grow and invade in vitro and to
      metastasize in athymic nude mice. The number and size of lung metastases
      developed by these two sublines in ovariectomized nude mice was not markedly
      altered by tamoxifen but was inhibited 3-fold by estradiol. Estradiol also
      significantly inhibited in vitro cell proliferation of these sublines and their
      invasiveness in Matrigel, a reconstituted basement membrane, whereas the
      antiestrogens 4-hydroxytamoxifen and ICI 164,384 reversed these effects. These
      results show that estradiol inhibits the metastatic ability of estrogen receptor
      negative breast cancer cells following transfection with the estrogen receptor,
      whereas estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers are stimulated by estrogen,
      indicating that factors other than the estrogen receptor are involved in
      progression toward hormone independence. Reactivation or transfer of the estrogen
      receptor gene can therefore be considered as therapeutic approaches to hormone
      independent cancers.

PMID- 1454846
TI  - Morphological changes in liposomes caused by polymerization of encapsulated actin
      and spontaneous formation of actin bundles.
AB  - Spherical giant liposomes that had encapsulated skeletal-muscle G-actin were made
      by swelling a dried lipid mixture of dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine/cardiolipin,
      1:1 (wt/wt), in a solution of G-actin/CaCl2 at 0 degree C. Polymerization of the
      encapsulated G-actin into actin filaments was achieved by raising the temperature
      to 30 degrees C. We observed the subsequent shape changes of the liposomes by
      dark-field and differential interference-contrast light microscopy. After
      approximately 40 min, which was required for completion of actin polymerization,
      two shapes of liposome were evident: dumbbell and disk. Elongation of the
      dumbbell-shaped liposomes was concomitant with actin polymerization. Polarization
      microscopy showed that actin filaments formed thick bundles in the liposomes and
      that these filaments lay contiguous to the periphery of the liposome.
      Localization of actin filaments in the liposomes was confirmed by observation of
      rhodamine phalloidin-conjugated actin filaments by fluorescence microscopy. Both
      dumbbell- and disk-shaped liposomes were rigid and kept their shapes as far as
      actin filaments were stabilized. In contrast, liposomes containing bovine serum
      albumin were fragile, and their shapes continually fluctuated from Brownian
      motion, indicating that the actin bundles served as mechanical support for the
      liposome shapes.

PMID- 1454847
TI  - Similarity between fluorescein-specific T-cell receptor and antibody in chemical
      details of antigen recognition.
AB  - A computer-generated model of the single-chain variable V alpha V beta fragment
      of the RFL3.8 T-cell receptor (TCR) specific for fluorescein served as a starting
      point for mutagenesis aimed at identification of its antigen-contacting residues.
      Selected backbone segments of the model representing regions of prominent
      sequence similarity between antibodies and TCRs were least-squares superimposed
      onto the corresponding segments of the crystallographically resolved 4-4-20
      antibody complexed with its antigen, fluorescein. The superimposition placed the
      antibody-bound fluorescein molecule close to a cavity on the surface of the TCR
      model formed by the complementarity-determining region (CDR) loops. Some of the
      TCR cavity forming loops displayed sequence motifs related to canonical CDR loops
      previously found in antibodies. Six putative amino acid contacts were identified
      and single-chain TCRs with mutations at each of these positions were expressed in
      Escherichia coli, purified, refolded, and assayed for fluorescein binding. Five
      of the six mutations resulted in a loss of detectable binding. These RFL3.8
      antigen combining site residues are distributed among the beta 3, alpha 1, and
      alpha 2 CDR loops and show striking chemical similarity to the known fluorescein
      contact residues on 4-4-20. Thus, antibodies and TCRs are similar both in their
      overall architecture and in the chemical details of specific antigen recognition.

PMID- 1454848
TI  - Phosphorylation state and DNA-binding activity of c-Jun depend on the
      intracellular concentration of binding sites.
AB  - The DNA-binding activity of c-Jun expressed in eukaryotic cells was found to be
      markedly enhanced if the intracellular concentration of binding sites for this
      transcription factor was increased by cotransfection of specific plasmid DNA.
      Dephosphorylation experiments, phosphate mapping studies, and mutational analysis
      indicate that phosphorylation of a cluster of serine and threonine residues
      situated in close proximity to the DNA-binding domain is responsible for the
      observed adaptation of c-Jun activity to the intracellular concentration of
      accessible target sites.

PMID- 1454849
TI  - Glutathione deficiency increases hepatic ascorbic acid synthesis in adult mice.
AB  - Glutathione deficiency, induced in adult mice by administering buthionine
      sulfoximine (an inhibitor of glutathione synthesis), led to a rapid and
      substantial increase in ascorbate in the liver. This effect was apparent 2-4 hr
      after giving the inhibitor; subsequently, the level of ascorbate decreased and
      that of dehydroascorbate increased markedly, supporting the conclusion that
      glutathione functions physiologically to keep ascorbate in its reduced form. In
      kidney and lung also, ascorbate levels decreased, and dehydroascorbate increased.
      Increased synthesis of ascorbate in glutathione-deficient adult mice seems to
      protect against tissue damage. In contrast, newborn rats, which (like guinea pigs
      and humans) apparently do not synthesize ascorbate, suffer severe damage to liver
      and other organs; previous studies showed that administration of ascorbate
      prevents such tissue damage. The findings support the view that the antioxidant
      actions of glutathione and ascorbate are closely linked and involve a mechanism
      in which decrease of the glutathione level, perhaps associated with an oxidative
      event, stimulates ascorbate synthesis.

PMID- 1454850
TI  - Calcium-myristoyl protein switch.
AB  - Recoverin, a recently discovered member of the EF-hand superfamily of Ca(2+)
      binding proteins, serves as a Ca2+ sensor in vision. The amino terminus of the
      protein from retinal rod cells contains a covalently attached myristoyl or
      related N-acyl group. We report here studies of unmyristoylated and myristoylated
      recombinant recoverin designed to delineate the biological role of this
      hydrophobic unit. Ca2+ induces the binding of both the unmyristoylated and
      myristoylated proteins to phenyl-agarose, a hydrophobic support. Binding was half
      maximal at 1.1 and 1.0 microM Ca2+, respectively. The Hill coefficients of 1.8
      and 1.7, respectively, indicate that binding was cooperative. In contrast, Ca2+
      induced the binding of myristoylated but not of unmyristoylated recoverin to rod
      outer segment membranes. Binding to these membranes was half-maximal at 2.1
      microM Ca2+, and the Hill coefficient was 2.4. Likewise, myristoylated but not
      unmyristoylated recoverin exhibited Ca(2+)-induced binding to phosphatidylcholine
      vesicles. These findings suggest that the binding of Ca2+ to recoverin has two
      effects: (i) hydrophobic surfaces are exposed, allowing the protein to interact
      with complementary nonpolar sites, such as the aromatic rings of phenyl-agarose;
      and (ii) the myristoyl group is extruded, enabling recoverin to insert into a
      lipid bilayer membrane. The myristoyl group is likely to be an active participant
      in Ca2+ signaling by recoverin and related EF-hand proteins such as visinin and
      neurocalcin.

PMID- 1454851
TI  - Characterization by yeast artificial chromosome cloning of the linked
      apolipoprotein(a) and plasminogen genes and identification of the
      apolipoprotein(a) 5' flanking region.
AB  - The apoprotein(a) [apo(a)] gene encodes a protein component of the circulating
      lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]. The apo(a) gene is highly homologous to the plasminogen
      gene. It encodes one of the most polymorphic human proteins, due to variability
      in the number of repetitions of structures called kringles. In addition, Lp(a)
      levels vary among individuals by more than two orders of magnitude, the high
      levels being highly correlated with predisposition to early atherosclerotic
      disease. To better understand the genetics and function of the apo(a) gene, we
      have cloned in yeast artificial chromosome vectors DNA fragments comprising the
      linked apo(a) and plasminogen genes and other members of the plasminogen family.
      By a combination of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and genome walking
      experiments, we have identified the 5' portion and flanking regions of the apo(a)
      gene.

PMID- 1454852
TI  - Dominant genetics using a yeast genomic library under the control of a strong
      inducible promoter.
AB  - In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, numerous genes have been identified by selection
      from high-copy-number libraries based on "multicopy suppression" or other
      phenotypic consequences of overexpression. Although fruitful, this approach
      suffers from two major drawbacks. First, high copy number alone may not permit
      high-level expression of tightly regulated genes. Conversely, other genes
      expressed in proportion to dosage cannot be identified if their products are
      toxic at elevated levels. This work reports construction of a genomic DNA
      expression library for S. cerevisiae that circumvents both limitations by fusing
      randomly sheared genomic DNA to the strong, inducible yeast GAL1 promoter, which
      can be regulated by carbon source. The library obtained contains 5 x 10(7)
      independent recombinants, representing a breakpoint at every base in the yeast
      genome. This library was used to examine aberrant gene expression in S.
      cerevisiae. A screen for dominant activators of yeast mating response identified
      eight genes that activate the pathway in the absence of exogenous mating
      pheromone, including one previously unidentified gene. One activator was a
      truncated STE11 gene lacking approximately 1000 base pairs of amino-terminal
      coding sequence. In two different clones, the same GAL1 promoter-proximal ATG is
      in-frame with the coding sequence of STE11, suggesting that internal initiation
      of translation there results in production of a biologically active, truncated
      STE11 protein. Thus this library allows isolation based on dominant phenotypes of
      genes that might have been difficult or impossible to isolate from high-copy
      number libraries.

PMID- 1454853
TI  - Purification of human leukotriene C4 synthase.
AB  - Leukotriene (LT) C4 synthase, the enzyme that catalyzes the conjugation of LTA4
      with reduced glutathione to form LTC4, was purified to homogeneity from the KG-1
      myeloid cell line after solubilization of the microsomes utilizing a combination
      of 0.4% sodium deoxycholate and 0.4% Triton X-102. The solubilized enzyme was
      then applied to an S-hexyl-glutathione-agarose column that was eluted by the use
      of 7.5 mM probenecid. After removal of the probenecid by sequential concentration
      and dilution in an Amicon concentrator, the enzyme was additionally purified and
      concentrated by binding to and elution from approximately 75 mg of S-hexyl
      glutathione-agarose. The enzyme was further resolved by electrophoresis with a
      nondenaturing Tris-glycine gel, and the LTC4 synthase activity was localized to
      slices 3 and 4. When the remainder of the eluate from the nondenaturing gel was
      precipitated by acetone and analyzed by 14% SDS/PAGE with silver staining, a
      single protein band of 18 kDa was associated with LTC4 synthase activity and was
      not present in the eluates of slices lacking activity. The overall recovery was
      12.5%. In a separate preliminary purification, in which the yield was only
      approximately 1%, the eluates of the nondenaturing gel had also revealed a single
      protein of 18 kDa by SDS/PAGE, which was present only in the eluates with LTC4
      synthase activity. These data identify LTC4 synthase as a protein of 18 kDa, a
      size consistent with its membership in the microsomal glutathione S-transferase
      family.

PMID- 1454854
TI  - Transcription-dependent and transcription-independent nucleosome disruption
      induced by dioxin.
AB  - In mouse hepatoma cells, both the regulatory and the transcribed regions of the
      cyp1a1 gene assume a nucleosomal configuration when the gene is silent; two
      nucleosomes occupy specific sites at the transcriptional promoter. Activation of
      transcription by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin is accompanied by changes in
      chromatin structure, which depend upon a functional aromatic hydrocarbon (Ah)
      receptor. In the transcribed region of the gene, nucleosome disruption occurs as
      a consequence of RNA elongation. In contrast, at the promoter, loss of positioned
      nucleosome sis independent of transcription and represents an event in the
      mechanism by which the liganded Ah receptor enhances transcriptional initiation.

PMID- 1454855
TI  - Characterization of the tumor suppressor protein p53 as a protein kinase C
      substrate and a S100b-binding protein.
AB  - We report here that the negative cell cycle regulator protein p53 is an in vivo
      and in vitro substrate for protein kinase C, a cellular receptor for the tumor
      promoter phorbol esters. We also demonstrate that p53 interacts in a calcium
      dependent manner with S100b, a member of the S100 protein family involved in cell
      cycle progression and cell differentiation, and that such an interaction inhibits
      in vitro p53 phosphorylation by protein kinase C. The interaction between p53 and
      S100b was utilized for the purification of cellular and recombinant murine p53 by
      affinity chromatography with S100b-Sepharose. Furthermore, and of particular
      interest, we have shown that purified p53 undergoes temperature-dependent
      oligomerization and that the interaction between S100b and p53 not only induces
      total inhibition of p53 oligomerization but also promotes disassembly of the p53
      oligomers. We suggest that these effects result from the binding of S100b to the
      multifunctional basic C-terminal domain of p53 and propose that p53 may be a
      cellular target for the S100 protein family members involved in the control of
      the cell cycle at the G0-G1/S boundary.

PMID- 1454856
TI  - Subpicosecond equilibration of excitation energy in isolated photosystem II
      reaction centers.
AB  - Photosystem II reaction centers have been studied by femtosecond transient
      absorption spectroscopy. We demonstrate that it is possible to achieve good
      photoselectivity between the primary electron donor P680 and the majority of the
      accessory chlorins. Energy transfer can be observed in both directions between
      P680 and these accessory chlorins depending on which is initially excited. After
      excitation of either P680 or the other chlorins, the excitation energy is
      observed to equilibrate between the majority of these pigments at a rate of 100
      +/- 50 fs-1. This energy-transfer equilibration takes place before any electron
      transfer reactions and must therefore be taken into account in studies of primary
      electron-transfer reactions in photosystem II. We also show further evidence that
      the initially excited P680 excited singlet state is delocalized over at least two
      chlorins and that this delocalization lasts for at least 200 fs.

PMID- 1454857
TI  - Detection of dystrophin in the postsynaptic density of rat brain and deficiency
      in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
AB  - Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a common, lethal, chromosome X-linked
      inherited disease. Moderate cognitive impairment is a feature of DMD, but the
      underlying mechanisms are unknown. DMD is characterized by a defect in a protein,
      dystrophin, that is located predominantly in muscle but has been detected in
      brain. We sought to directly localize dystrophin within the complex synaptic
      structure of the cerebral cortex by focusing on the postsynaptic density (PSD),
      which appears to be central to synaptic function. We report that a specific anti
      dystrophin antibody (anti 6-10) recognizes three distinct proteins in the
      purified PSD: the 400-kDa dystrophin and two previously unidentified dystrophin
      related proteins of 120 and 110 kDa. These proteins exhibited differential
      regional expression in PSDs from cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and olfactory bulb.
      In the cortical PSD, the 400-kDa dystrophin was predominant, whereas the 120-kDa
      protein was the major species in cerebellum and olfactory bulb PSDs. The three
      proteins were differentially expressed in the PSD during cortical development:
      the 400-kDa protein exhibited a selective 9-fold increase during postnatal days 7
      to 10, suggesting a normal physiological role in synaptic maturation. The PSD
      from the mdx mouse, a model of human DMD, contained no detectable 400-kDa
      dystrophin but expressed the two dystrophin-related proteins. Our results
      indicate that brain dystrophins are localized to the PSD, potentially as three
      isoforms, and raise the possibility that cognitive abnormalities in DMD are
      attributable to synaptic dysfunction associated with deficits in brain dystrophin
      molecules.

PMID- 1454858
TI  - Manual therapy: a special issue and a special topic.

PMID- 1454859
TI  - Special issue: Manual therapy.

PMID- 1454860
TI  - Manual therapy: a critical assessment of role in the profession of physical
      therapy.
AB  - Interest in manual therapy appears to continue to grow among physical therapy
      clinicians and educators throughout the world even though the underlying concepts
      and techniques have not been justified by a knowledge base. The purposes of this
      article are to critically assess the role of manual therapy within the physical
      therapy profession and to provide an introduction to the other articles in this
      special issue. Eisner's model of explicit, implicit, and null curricula is used
      as a framework for our analysis and our discussion of manual therapy. The
      explicit area of manual therapy includes discussions of the definition and the
      role of manual therapy, the scientific rationale for manual therapy, and manual
      therapy in education and a comparison of manual therapy evaluative frameworks.
      The implicit area deals with the role of clinical decision making and critical
      thinking in manual therapy in education and rehabilitation. In the null
      (unaddressed) area of manual therapy, we suggest directions for future
      development and research.

PMID- 1454861
TI  - Efficacy of manual therapy.
AB  - The use of manual therapy to treat somatic pain syndromes and associated
      disabilities is widespread. Yet, the efficacy of manual therapy has not been
      previously established because equivocal findings in the literature prevent
      definitive conclusions. The purposes of this article are (1) to establish
      objective criteria for judging the validity of manual therapy research, (2) to
      identify and discuss the results of those trials that were determined to be valid
      demonstrations of treatment efficacy or valid demonstrations of nonuseful
      therapy, and (3) to determine whether patients who benefit from manual therapy
      have common characteristics. The abstracts or full reports of 146 titles with
      appropriate key words were reviewed. Of these, 105 studies were not primary
      studies of manual therapy and were thus eliminated from review. In the 41
      remaining studies, 18 did not utilize statistical comparisons or report blinded
      assessment of outcome measures. Nine controlled studies yielded negative results,
      but the statistical power or minimum sample size required to detect potential
      differences between manual therapy and control groups was not described. The 14
      studies that met the efficacy criteria were categorized by the following factors:
      (1) the anatomical region of intervention, (2) pragmatic versus explanatory
      goals, and (3) primary intervention (manipulation, mobilization, combination).
      There was a paucity of valid explanatory research in all areas and a particular
      absence of controlled trials involving manual therapy applied to the peripheral
      joints. Manual therapy for low back pain, however, was studied extensively. The
      analysis of valid trials provided clear evidence that manual therapy,
      particularly manipulation, can be an effective modality when used to treat
      patients who have low back pain. A preliminary "profile" of the patient with low
      back pain who would likely benefit from manual therapy included acute symptom
      onset with less than a 1-month duration of symptoms, central or paravertebral
      pain distribution, no previous exposure to spinal manipulation, and no pending
      litigation or workers' compensation. Suggestions for future manual therapy
      research are discussed.

PMID- 1454862
TI  - Measurement of accessory motion: critical issues and related concepts.
AB  - The term "manual therapy" has traditionally been associated with physical
      therapists who examine and treat patients who have disorders related to the
      musculoskeletal system. In addition to using instruments to collect patient data,
      these therapists use a large variety of manually applied examination procedures.
      Range-of-motion tests, manual muscle tests, neurological tests, and palpation
      tests are just a few of the categories of tests these therapists use as part of
      the clinical decision-making process. The major sources of error that can affect
      the usefulness of manually obtained measurements are discussed. The literature
      that provides the theoretical and clinical bases for the assessment of joint
      surface movement is thoroughly reviewed. Conclusions are made about what is
      currently known about the usefulness of accessory motion tests. Suggestions are
      made for future research needs in order to clarify and enhance the usefulness of
      accessory motion tests and other examination procedures used by manual
      therapists.

PMID- 1454863
TI  - Clinical reasoning in manual therapy.
AB  - Clinical reasoning refers to the cognitive process or thinking used in the
      evaluation and management of a patient. In this article, clinical reasoning
      research and expert-novice studies are examined to provide insight into the
      growing understanding of clinical reasoning and the nature of expertise. Although
      hypothetico-deductive methods of reasoning are used by clinicians at all levels
      of experience, experts appear to possess a superior organization of knowledge.
      Experts often reach a diagnosis based on pure pattern recognition of clinical
      patterns. With an atypical problem, however, the expert, like the novice, appears
      to rely more on hypothetico-deductive clinical reasoning. Five categories of
      hypotheses are proposed for physical therapists using a hypothetico-deductive
      method of clinical reasoning. A model of the clinical reasoning process for
      physical therapists is presented to bring attention to the hypothesis generation,
      testing, and modification that I feel should take place through all aspects of
      the patient encounter. Examples of common errors in clinical reasoning are
      highlighted, and suggestions for facilitating clinical reasoning in our students
      are made.

PMID- 1454864
TI  - A rationale for the treatment of back pain and joint pain by manual therapy.
AB  - Manual therapy, with its emphasis on joint movement and exercise, has become
      increasingly important for the treatment of pain and dysfunction of the
      musculoskeletal system. The rationale used to explain the success of manual
      therapy has changed radically in recent years. Early explanations, which included
      concepts such as adjusting joint subluxations, restoring bony alignment, and
      reducing nuclear protrusion, have been shown to have no basis in fact. Current
      biological research shows the value of movement in maintaining the health and
      strength of collagenous, muscular, and bony tissues and emphasizes the need for
      joint movement and for relatively high levels of activity throughout the life
      cycle. The musculoskeletal system thrives on stress and movement and reacts
      adversely to prolonged rest or immobilization. The problems associated with
      working or recreational postures involving prolonged loading at or near the limit
      of joint range of motion are considered together with a rationale for appropriate
      therapeutic management. Explanations are provided to enable an understanding of
      the success of intensive physical therapy for chronic back pain and for
      manipulation in the treatment of the acute painful locked back.

PMID- 1454865
TI  - The effects of manual therapy on connective tissue.
AB  - The purpose of this manuscript is to examine the known and theoretical mechanical
      effects of therapeutic manual techniques on the connective tissue (CT) of joints
      and fasciae. Typical CT structures that could be influenced by manual techniques
      will be discussed. The behavior of CT under loading and the influence of
      immobilization on CT will be examined. The forces developed during manual
      techniques will be described, and their potential effects on the physical
      properties of CT will be discussed. Research priorities regarding the effects of
      manual therapy on CT will be outlined.

PMID- 1454866
TI  - The sacroiliac joint: a critical review.
AB  - Clinicians continue to focus attention on the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) as one cause
      of low back pain. Considerable literature now exists to support the contention
      that symptoms arise from the sacroiliac region. In the last couple of decades,
      studies with quantitative data, often using sophisticated methods, have added to
      our knowledge from earlier descriptive reports of SIJ morphology and motion. The
      unique morphology of the SIJ, together with its location, makes study of the SIJ
      complex. All reported studies have limitations such as small sample size or lack
      of randomization or methodology. The purpose of this article is to review the
      literature to determine the support for current beliefs, opinions, and theories
      on joint morphology, life-span changes, and motion. Clinicians should provide
      well-documented clinical case-study series if we are to understand what occurs
      with treatments designed to affect the SIJ.

PMID- 1454867
TI  - The treatment of the sacroiliac joint component to low back pain: a case report.
AB  - This case report describes the treatment of a patient who had symptoms and signs
      suggestive of a sacroiliac joint component of low back pain. The patient
      developed right-sided low back pain without provocation. He appeared to have
      sacroiliac joint dysfunction, excessive right hip lateral rotation, and limited
      right hip medial rotation. The patient's habit of crossing his right leg over his
      left leg while sitting was believed to have contributed to the excessive lateral
      hip rotation. After treating the sacroiliac joint and restoring symmetrical hip
      rotation, the patient no longer complained of low back pain. This case report
      suggests that asymmetrical hip rotation may contribute to what is often called a
      sacroiliac joint component of low back pain.

PMID- 1454868
TI  - The use of an eclectic approach for the treatment of low back pain: a case study.
AB  - The purposes of this case report are (1) to describe an examination approach that
      relates identification of an impairment to a disability and (2) to describe an
      eclectic treatment approach for an individual with low back pain (LBP). The
      individual described in this case report is an intercollegiate athlete who,
      because of chronic LBP, was unable to perform his sport of pole vaulting. The
      findings of the physical therapy examination suggested that an impairment of
      lumbar motion prevented the patient from assuming the spinal position necessary
      for pole vaulting. The goals of the treatment consisted of increasing the
      patient's lumbar motion to that required for pole vaulting and to have the
      patient pole vault without pain or stiffness. The treatment approach that was
      used combined procedures described by Maitland, McKenzie, and others. The
      rationale for the use of these procedures and their limitations are discussed.

PMID- 1454869
TI  - Treatment of limited shoulder motion: a case study based on biomechanical
      considerations.
AB  - This article describes the management of a 57-year-old female patient following a
      fracture and dislocation of the right humeral head. The treatment of the patient
      involved the use of thermal agents, manual therapy, continuous passive motion,
      and splinting of the arm in an elevated position. We describe an approach to
      treatment of limited shoulder motion that is focused on identifying and applying
      tension to restricting structures rather than restoration of translatory gliding
      movements of the humeral head. Our treatment approach is based on recent data
      from biomechanical studies that challenge the concave-convex theory of
      arthrokinematic motion first described by MacConaill. We believe that tension in
      capsular tissues, rather than joint surface geometry, may control the translatory
      movements of the humeral head. The rationale for treatment involving low-load
      prolonged stress to tissues in the form of continuous passive motion and
      splinting is discussed as well as potential limitations of more brief forms of
      stress such as joint mobilization and manual stretching.

PMID- 1454870
TI  - Diversity needed.

PMID- 1454871
TI  - Application of time-resolved diffuse reflectance techniques in studies of
      reaction intermediates in suspensions of Bacillus subtilis.
AB  - Short lived reaction intermediates such as triplet states and free radicals can
      be detected in vivo using laser photolysis techniques with time-resolved diffuse
      reflectance detection. This novel approach is illustrated for bacterial
      suspensions of Bacillus subtilis.

PMID- 1454872
TI  - Inactivation of lambda phage with 658 nm light using a DNA binding porphyrin
      sensitizer.
AB  - Exposure of lambda phage to 658 nm light in the presence of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis
      (1-methyl-4-pyridyl)-21H,23H-porphine, tetra-p-tosylate leads to complete
      (greater than 7 logs) inactivation as measured by the plaque assay. The
      sensitizer without light and 658 nm photolysis of lambda phage in the absence of
      sensitizer do not lead to a measurable decrease in viral inactivity. Viral
      inactivation is not dependent upon the presence of oxygen.

PMID- 1454873
TI  - Reversible photocycloaddition of a 4',5'-dihydropsoralen derivative with thymine.
AB  - The photocycloaddition reaction between a 4',5'-dihydropsoralen derivative and
      thymine was studied in solution using a synthetic bichromophoric model 8 in which
      the two rings are associated by a tetramethylene chain. In water this model
      molecule exhibits intramolecular ring-ring stacking interactions as evidenced by
      UV and NMR spectroscopies. Irradiation at 365 nm at usual concentrations (greater
      than or equal to 5.10(-4) M) leads exclusively to a regio- and stereo-selective
      dimerization reaction involving the 3,4 double bonds of the psoralen moities.
      Extreme dilutions (ca less than or equal to 2.10(-5) M) were necessary to observe
      the intramolecular reaction which results in the exclusive formation of a 3,4 cis
      anti adduct. This reaction is completely reversed by irradiation at 254 nm. These
      results are discussed with regard to the behavior of the homologous models in
      which the furan part of the psoralen ring is not hydrogenated. These latter
      compounds also lead exclusively to a 3,4 cis-anti adduct. It appears that
      saturation of the furan ring increases strongly the quantum yield of the
      photoaddition at 365 nm (0.01----0.18) and that the triplet excited state of the
      4',5'-dihydropsoralen is involved in the photoaddition.

PMID- 1454874
TI  - Oxidation of phosphatidylcholine membranes by singlet oxygen generated in the gas
      phase.
AB  - Singlet-oxygen (1O2) was generated in the gas phase by heterogeneous
      photosensitization and bubbled into suspensions of phosphatidylcholine (PC)
      liposomes. Lipid peroxidation and membrane lysis were observed, and were
      dependent on the 1O2 concentration and the degree of unsaturation of the
      liposome. An analysis based on large target diffusion theory indicates that
      approximately 5000, 2800, and 1600 interactions were required for the lysis of
      large dioleoylPC, dilinoleoylPC and dilinolenoylPC liposomes, respectively.

PMID- 1454875
TI  - Properties of cremophor EL micelles probed by fluorescence.
AB  - Using 1-anilino,8-naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS) as a probe, we examined
      properties of micelles of Cremophor EL, an amphipathic agent which can solubilize
      hydrophobic photosensitizing agents and promote their distribution to plasma
      lipoprotein. In aqueous solution, Cremophor micelles persisted for several hours
      after dilution below the critical micellar concentration (CMC). After equilibrium
      was reached, we found a CMC of 0.009% (wt/vol). Fluorescence data suggest that
      the micellar environment of ANS binding has a dielectric constant of
      approximately 27. Cremophor also reverses examples of multi-drug resistance
      associated with impaired accumulation of anti-tumor agents, e.g. daunorubicin.
      Although the latter drug is relatively hydrophilic, fluorescence spectroscopy and
      anisotropy studies indicate an association with Cremophor. Moreover, resistance
      reversal occurred only at Cremophor concentrations above the CMC.

PMID- 1454876
TI  - Generation of free radicals during photosensitization of hypocrellin A and their
      effects on cardiac membranes.
AB  - Hypocrellin A (HA), a peryloquinone derivative, has recently been isolated from a
      fungus Hypocrella bambusae. This lipid soluble pigment, in combination with
      phototherapy, has been used to treat many skin diseases including the keloids
      caused by scalding and burns. We have studied the effects of photosensitized HA
      on biomembranes using pig heart microsomes. Photosensitization of HA was found to
      peroxidize the membrane lipids in the cardiac microsomes. The photodamage imposed
      by HA depended not only on the concentration of HA but also on the time of
      irradiation and pH of the system. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbic acid, beta
      carotene and 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) inhibited the lipid
      peroxidation approximately 50, approximately 50, approximately 30 and
      approximately 97%, respectively. Spin trapping in combination with EPR
      spectroscopic techniques was used to identify the reactive free radicals during
      the photoreaction. Formation of superoxide anion radical, (O2-.), was identified
      by the SOD-inhibitable DMPO-O2- EPR spectrum. Both SOD and ascorbic acid
      inhibited the EPR signal intensity in a dose-dependent manner with rate constants
      of 6.78 x 10(8) M-1 s-1 and 1.82 x 10(4) M-1 s-1, respectively. The lifetime of
      O2-., under these conditions, was found to be 1.1 s. Photoirradiation of HA
      yielded a HA free radical with a g = 2.002 which was not suppressed by SOD but in
      the presence of reductants such as ascorbic acid and catechol the septum was
      completely suppressed. The increase of the EPR signal intensity and
      malondialdehyde formation with increasing pH may be due, in part, to the
      production of predominant *HA- species at high pH which would be more reactive
      with oxygen to yield O2-.. These results indicate that the lipid peroxidation of
      the cardiac membranes observed during photooxidation of HA may arise, in part,
      from the interaction of membrane lipids with reactive species of oxygen and HA
      free radical produced during the photo-irradiation.

PMID- 1454877
TI  - Effects of rhodamine 123 in the dark and after irradiation on mitochondrial
      energy metabolism.
AB  - Isolated rat liver mitochondria have been used to study the mechanism of toxicity
      of Rhodamine 123 (Rho 123) in the dark and after irradiation with visible light.
      We report an inhibition of adenosine 5'-diphosphate phosphorylation which is
      increased after illumination. In the dark, the first steps of the phosphorylation
      process (i.e. the entry of substrates into the matrix, the electron transport to
      oxygen and the creation of the proton gradient) as well as ATPase activity are
      not significantly perturbed at Rho 123 concentration below 10 micrograms/mL. In
      contrast, the movements of the phosphate compounds are drastically impaired.
      Irradiation strengthens the detrimental effects in an oxygen dependent process.
      The nature of the noxious transient species is not clearly established, but it is
      suggested that singlet oxygen could be responsible for the observed damage.

PMID- 1454878
TI  - Merocyanine 540-sensitized photoinactivation of leukemia cells: effects of dose
      fractionation.
AB  - The differential sensitivity to merocyanine 540 (MC540)-sensitized
      photoirradiation of leukemia cells, selected solid tumor cells, and normal
      pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells has been successfully exploited for the
      extracorporeal purging of simulated autologous remission bone marrow grafts. In
      this communication, we compare the effects of fractionated vs continuous
      irradiation upon the MC540-sensitized photoinactivation of L1210 and K562
      leukemia cells. Exposure to MC540 (15 micrograms/mL) and fractionated doses of
      white light inactivated fewer in vitro clonogenic cells than exposure to an
      equivalent dose of continuous irradiation, provided the irradiation doses were
      small (8.1-16.2 kJ/m2) and spaced 1-2 h apart. The dye-sensitized
      photoinactivation of leukemia cells was enhanced when cells were stored at 4
      degrees C instead of 37 degrees C between irradiation periods, most likely in
      part because the cells were unable to repair sublethal photodynamic damages at
      the lower temperature. These data suggest that cells can recover from sublethal
      damage inflicted by the plasma membrane-active photosensitizer, MC540.

PMID- 1454879
TI  - The effect of systemic cyclosporin A on a hairless mouse model of photoaging.
AB  - The mechanisms that cause skin wrinkling in response to chronic exposure to
      sunlight are unknown. We investigated the possibility that wrinkling of Skh-1
      hairless mice is associated with an ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced
      immunologic alteration. Exposing Skh-1 hairless mice to a regimen of nonerythemal
      UV-B (290-320 nm) radiation induced skin wrinkles after 6-7 weeks. Concomitant
      treatment with cyclosporin A decreased the time to the onset of wrinkles to
      approximately 4 weeks. Exposing HRS/J hairless mice or athymic nude mice to a
      similar nonerythemal UV-B radiation regimen for 10 weeks failed to induce skin
      wrinkles. Concomitant administration of cyclosporin A and UV-B radiation for 7
      weeks to HRS/J hairless mice induced no skin wrinkles. Ultraviolet-B or UV-B plus
      cyclosporin A exposure caused increased immunohistochemical staining for Ia and
      F4/80 antigens in the upper dermis of tissue from Skh-1 mice, as compared to
      controls. Treating Skh-1 mice with UV-B radiation plus cyclosporin A was also
      associated with a large increase in the number of CD3+ cells in the dermis. These
      staining patterns were absent in similarly treated HRS/J hairless mice. Dermal
      mast cell numbers in Skh-1 mice were 2-3-fold higher than in HRS/J, athymic nude
      or NSA mice. Treatment with cyclosporin A increased Skh-1 dermal mast cell
      numbers approximately 2-fold but had no effect on the dermal mast cell numbers in
      HRS/J or NSA mice. Based on these findings we postulate that UV-B light and
      cyclosporin A exacerbate an immunological condition in Skh-1 mice, one
      consequence of which is manifested as skin wrinkles. Thus, the induction of skin
      wrinkles in this mouse strain may have no relevance to the wrinkles observed in
      human skin after chronic exposure to sunlight.

PMID- 1454880
TI  - The hairless mouse model of photoaging: evaluation of the relationship between
      dermal elastin, collagen, skin thickness and wrinkles.
AB  - Quantitative and qualitative changes in dermal collagen and elastin occur in
      response to chronic ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. These changes have been
      implicated in the genesis of the wrinkling seen in chronically irradiated, or
      photoaged skin. We examined the relationship between wrinkle formation and
      changes in dermal structural protein content and type. Skh-1 hairless mice were
      irradiated with suberythemal doses of UV-B three times a week for up to 20 wk.
      Visible wrinkling was present after 6-7 wk of irradiation. Dermal elastic fiber
      content was quantified by color image analysis of paraffin-embedded tissue. There
      was no significant difference in dermal elastic fiber content between irradiated
      and age-matched control mice after either 10 or 20 wk of irradiation. The effect
      of UV-B irradiation on total dermal collagen content, ratio of collagen type III
      type I, and extent of glycosylation and crosslinking of collagen was no different
      in irradiated and age-matched control mice after 10 wk of irradiation. Increased
      epidermal thickness was evident in frozen sections after 6 wk of irradiation, and
      the thickness increased with continued irradiation. Dermal thickening was evident
      after 10 wk of irradiation. Sufficient UV-B irradiation will eventually cause
      changes in dermal elastin and collagen content; however, wrinkle formation
      precedes such changes. A causal relationship between wrinkle formation and dermal
      structural protein content changes in Skh-1 hairless mice could not be
      established in this study.

PMID- 1454881
TI  - Effects of photodynamic treatment of platelets or endothelial cells in vitro on
      platelet aggregation.
AB  - The purpose of this work was to gain insight into the role played by platelets
      and endothelial cells in the development of thrombogenic vascular events,
      observed after in vivo photodynamic therapy (PDT), by studying the in vitro
      effects of PDT on isolated human platelets and cultured human and bovine
      endothelial cells. Exposure to Photofrin II (PII) and light caused platelets to
      rapidly lose their ability to aggregate. Photofrin II alone at high
      concentrations also exerted inhibitory effects on aggregation. Endothelial cells
      exposed to PII- and phthalocyanine (GaCl-PcS2,3 or Zn-PCS1,2)-mediated PDT
      released potent platelet anti- and disaggregating activity which could be
      identified as prostacyclin by the following criteria: a close correlation between
      the time and dose dependent anti-aggregating effects and released 6-keto-PGF1
      alpha (the spontaneous hydrolysis product of PGI2, determined by
      radioimmunoassay), the inhibition of these effects by indomethacin, accumulation
      of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha metabolite in the media of cells treated with PDT (as
      determined by HPLC analysis), and the absence of evidence for significant nitric
      oxide production. This prostacyclin release occurred following plasma membrane
      damage. Although no pro-aggregating activity was observed, endothelial cells were
      found to release considerable amounts of arachidonic acid and prostaglandin F2
      alpha in response to PDT. These data, which indicate powerful anti-thrombogenic
      effects in vitro, are in sharp contrast to the vascular effects of PDT in vivo
      which are characterized by severe platelet aggregation, and imply that the in
      vivo effects involve additional components of the vascular system.

PMID- 1454882
TI  - Levels of reduced pyridine nucleotides and lens photodamage.
AB  - Since most of the known factors that are associated with cataract formation are
      oxidative in nature, one would expect that a highly reductive environment might
      arrest or retard the progress of cataract formation. Reduced nucleotides, both
      NADH and NADPH, are potent reductants with a large negative redox potential of 
      320 mV. Lenses of certain species contain high levels of these nucleotides,
      presumably due to the presence of taxon specific crystallins. We have utilized
      this situation to investigate whether the levels of reduced pyridine nucleotides
      modulate photo-oxidative damage to the lens. We have monitored the time dependent
      loss of tryptophan fluorescence upon photodamage for lenses from guinea pig,
      rabbit and frog (Rana) that contain high levels of pyridine nucleotides and
      compared with the lenses from rat, Xenopus and a mutant strain of guinea pig that
      contain significantly lower amounts of these nucleotides. About 75% and 90% of
      the initial fluorescence intensity is lost in the case of rat and Xenopus lenses,
      respectively, after a total of 35 min exposure. Rabbit, guinea pig and frog
      lenses, under identical conditions, show only about 35-40% loss of the initial
      fluorescence. It appears that the lenses that contain high levels of reduced
      nucleotides are less susceptible to photodamage. The observed anti-oxidative role
      of reduced nucleotides in the lenses indicates the possibility of testing
      reductants (NADPH, NADH and their functional analogues) as potential candidates
      to therapeutically intervene in the process of cataractogenesis.

PMID- 1454883
TI  - Photon emission during cleavage of frog eggs.
AB  - Emission of light was detected from the surface of embryos of the frog, Rana
      japonica, during early cleavage by a photon counting and an "analog separation
      (integrated photons) method". The light-emission from an egg was more than 5.6 x
      10(-19) W at the beginning of the first cleavage.

PMID- 1454884
TI  - Women scientists of the American Physiological Society.

PMID- 1454885
TI  - The origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe.

PMID- 1454886
TI  - Observations on the utility of couples therapy conducted by a psychoanalyst-
      transference and countertransference in resistance to analysis.
AB  - This paper explores the premise that conviction concerning the therapeutic
      efficacy of psychoanalysis combined with a flexible attitude toward the structure
      of the analytic situation and the parameters of its techniques facilitates the
      acceptance of psychoanalysis in suitable cases as the treatment of choice.
      Clinical data from therapy with couples are presented in support of this premise.

PMID- 1454887
TI  - Use of the analyst as a fetish.
AB  - In some cases a gratifying transference fantasy is the subject of progressive
      analytic work, while in other cases the same type of fantasy eludes
      investigation, and its enactment causes treatment to become an unproductive
      endless task. One cause for the latter difficulty can be that the patient uses
      his or her analyst as a fetish, permitting the distinction between reality and
      fantasy to remain inconclusive, so that relinquishment of magical expectations
      does not take place. The particular form of thinking involved in use of the
      analyst as a fetish is described. The role of illusion, its various clinical
      manifestations, the countertransference reactions they can evoke, and the
      technical problems posed are discussed. Special attention is given to the crucial
      issue of termination. By considering extreme instances in which use of the
      analyst as a fetish predominates, the author hopes to call attention to a
      phenomenon that appears to some degree in many, if not all, analyses.

PMID- 1454888
TI  - Slips of the analyst.
AB  - Understanding the analyst's work and its vicissitudes has been a major focus of
      recent psychoanalytic writing. This study on slips of the analyst represents an
      attempt to advance our understanding of analytic work. The slips described
      support the view that slips reflect not simply contributions from instinctual
      life, but active work-related goals of the analyst in carrying out the analytic
      tasks. Countertransference is discussed as reflected in the disturbance of
      intentionality betrayed by the occurrence of a slip. The essential role of the
      analyst's understanding his or her own reactions is emphasized.

PMID- 1454889
TI  - An example of "character perversion" in a woman.

PMID- 1454890
TI  - The moral journey of the first Viennese psychoanalysts.
AB  - By exploring the cultural concerns of Freud's first Viennese disciples, this
      article explains how these concerns helped inspire both intellectual conviction
      in Freudianism and inner commitment to the psychoanalytic movement. In this way,
      it illuminates an important underlying identity between medical practitioners and
      laypersons within Freud's circle. At the same time, it brings to light the
      tension between values and science in Viennese psychoanalysis.

PMID- 1454891
TI  - Cultural variations in emotions: a review.
AB  - The psychological and anthropological literature on cultural variations in
      emotions is reviewed. The literature has been interpreted within the framework of
      a cognitive-process model of emotions. Both cross-cultural differences and
      similarities were identified in each phase of the emotion process; similarities
      in 1 phase do not necessarily imply similarities in other phases. Whether cross
      cultural differences or similarities are found depends to an important degree on
      the level of description of the emotional phenomena. Cultural differences in
      emotions appear to be due to differences in event types or schemas, in culture
      specific appraisal propensities, in behavior repertoires, or in regulation
      processes. Differences in taxonomies of emotion words sometimes reflect true
      emotion differences like those just mentioned, but they may also just result from
      differences in which emotion-process phase serves as the basis for
      categorization.

PMID- 1454892
TI  - Sensory and affective components of pain: separation and synthesis.
AB  - It has become increasingly accepted that pain is not simply a sensation generated
      by nociceptors, but a perceptual phenomenon with particular emotional qualities.
      The purpose of this article is to bring together vastly different streams of
      research on the divisibility of pain into sensory and affective components.
      Empirical evidence for this divisibility is drawn from recent studies using
      multivariate statistics, signal detection theory, and unidimensional scaling. An
      important conclusion is that separable though pain components may be, they are
      not necessarily independent. In critiquing previous research, new criteria are
      derived for partitioning pain into sensory and affective components. Finally,
      speculations are offered as to how these same components might be synthesized on
      the basis of theories of perceptual organization.

PMID- 1454893
TI  - Uncontrollability and unpredictability in post-traumatic stress disorder: an
      animal model.
AB  - The disturbances observed in animals subjected to unpredictable and
      uncontrollable aversive events resemble post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
      symptoms and thus may constitute an animal model of this disorder. It is argued
      that the similarity between animals' symptoms and those of trauma victims may
      reflect common etiological factors. Relevant experiments in which animals exhibit
      generalized fear and arousal, discrete fear of a conditioned stimulus (CS),
      analgesia, and avoidance are reviewed with the view that these manifestations may
      be analogous to the PTSD symptom clusters of persistent arousal, reexperiencing,
      numbing, and avoidance, respectively. Finally, animal paradigms are suggested to
      test the validity of the model and specific hypotheses are derived from the
      animal literature regarding trauma variables that are predictive of particular
      PTSD symptom clusters.

PMID- 1454894
TI  - Extraversion and vigilance performance: 30 years of inconsistencies.
AB  - Deteriorating efficiency in detecting critical events is a pervasive phenomenon.
      It has been asserted that the personality dimension of extraversion-introversion
      (E-I) could serve as a selection device: Introverts would be superior in
      sustained attention. A meta-analysis revealed better performance of introverts,
      but the effect size was small because of a high incidence of inconsistencies. In
      a subset of the studies, the effect size was much larger: Introverts were
      superior in overall level of correct detections but not in maintaining efficiency
      over time. Inconsistent findings may partly have been caused by inappropriate use
      of univariate analysis of variance in repeated measures designs. The validity of
      some "classic" findings in the vigilance literature was questioned. The
      relationship of E-I to electrodermal speed of habituation was discussed. Finally,
      here also a trend was noted to move to new problems before solving old ones.

PMID- 1454895
TI  - Psychological compensation: a theoretical framework.
AB  - The 2 main objectives of this article are to review a variety of literatures in
      which the concept of compensation is used and to integrate the results of this
      review into a general framework of compensation. The review focuses on 4 domains
      of psychological inquiry: compensation for sensory handicaps, cognitive deficits,
      interpersonal losses, and brain injury. In the proposed framework, underlying
      dimensions and 4 basic steps in the progression of compensatory behavior are
      distinguished. The latter include origins, mechanisms, forms, and consequences.
      Finally, we describe ways in which researchers in particular domains can benefit
      from the global, process-oriented framework we propose. For most of the areas of
      compensation research reviewed, investigators can profit from a consideration of
      a broader selection of dimensions, additional steps in the process, alternative
      outcomes, and both objective and subjective assessment procedures.

PMID- 1454896
TI  - Emotional stress and eyewitness memory: a critical review.
AB  - The eyewitness literature often claims that emotional stress leads to an
      impairment in memory and, hence, that details of unpleasant emotional events are
      remembered less accurately than details of neutral or everyday events. A common
      assumption behind this view is that a decrease in available processing capacity
      occurs at states of high emotional arousal, which, therefore, leads to less
      efficient memory processing. The research reviewed here shows that this belief is
      overly simplistic. Current studies demonstrate striking interactions between type
      of event, type of detail information, time of test, and type of retrieval
      information. This article also reviews the literature on memory for stressful
      events with respect to two major theories: the Yerkes-Dodson law and Easter
      brook's cue-utilization hypothesis. To account for the findings from real-life
      studies and laboratory studies, this article discusses the possibility that
      emotional events receive some preferential processing mediated by factors related
      to early perceptual processing and late conceptual processing.

PMID- 1454897
TI  - Feeling good-doing good: a conceptual analysis of the mood at work-organizational
      spontaneity relationship.
AB  - Five forms of organizational spontaneity are described (helping co-workers,
      protecting the organization, making constructive suggestions, developing oneself,
      and spreading goodwill). Organizational spontaneity is compared with the
      seemingly analogous constructs of organizational citizenship behavior and
      prosocial organizational behavior. Based on a selective review of the literature,
      a multilevel model of spontaneity is presented. Positive mood at work is a
      pivotal construct in the model and posited as the direct precursor of
      organizational spontaneity. Primary work-group characteristics, the affective
      tone of the primary work group, affective disposition, life event history, and
      contextual characteristics are proposed to have direct or indirect effects, or
      both, on positive mood at work. Motivational bases of organizational spontaneity
      also are described. The model and its implications are discussed.

PMID- 1454898
TI  - Modulatory role of serotonin in neural information processing: implications for
      human psychopathology.
AB  - Investigation of the role of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HT), which functions as a
      modulator in the central nervous system, across behavioral contexts suggests that
      a general principle of transmitter function may be derived that is independent of
      specific behaviors and specific neural loci. A functional principle of 5-HT
      action in neural information processing in the central nervous system is
      proposed. Extremes deviations in 5-HT activity result in biases in information
      processing that may have direct effects on behavior. Such biases may predispose
      to pathological conditions such as violent suicide and aggression.

PMID- 1454899
TI  - Can test statistics in covariance structure analysis be trusted?
AB  - Covariance structure analysis uses chi 2 goodness-of-fit test statistics whose
      adequacy is not known. Scientific conclusions based on models may be distorted
      when researchers violate sample size, variate independence, and distributional
      assumptions. The behavior of 6 test statistics is evaluated with a Monte Carlo
      confirmatory factor analysis study. The tests performed dramatically differently
      under 7 distributional conditions at 6 sample sizes. Two normal-theory tests
      worked well under some conditions but completely broke down under other
      conditions. A test that permits homogeneous nonzero kurtoses performed variably.
      A test that permits heterogeneous marginal kurtoses performed better. A
      distribution-free test performed spectacularly badly in all conditions at all but
      the largest sample sizes. The Satorra-Bentler scaled test statistic performed
      best overall.

PMID- 1454900
TI  - How to build a baby: II. Conceptual primitives.
AB  - A mechanism of perceptual analysis by which infants derive meaning from
      perceptual activity is described. Infants use this mechanism to redescribe
      perceptual information into image-schematic format. Image-schemas create
      conceptual structure from the spatial structure of objects and their movements,
      resulting in notions such as animacy, inanimacy, agency, and containment. These
      earliest meanings are nonpropositional, analogical representations grounded in
      the perceptual world of the infant. In contrast with most perceptual processing,
      which is not analyzed in this fashion, redescription into image-schematic format
      simplifies perceptual information and makes it potentially accessible for
      purposes of concept formation and thought. In addition to enabling preverbal
      thought, image-schemas provide a foundation for language acquisition by creating
      an interface between the continuous processes of perception and the discrete
      nature of language.

PMID- 1454901
TI  - Origins of knowledge.
AB  - Experiments with young infants provide evidence for early-developing capacities
      to represent physical objects and to reason about object motion. Early physical
      reasoning accords with 2 constraints at the center of mature physical
      conceptions: continuity and solidity. It fails to accord with 2 constraints that
      may be peripheral to mature conceptions: gravity and inertia. These experiments
      suggest that cognition develops concurrently with perception and action and that
      development leads to the enrichment of conceptions around an unchanging core. The
      experiments challenge claims that cognition develops on a foundation of
      perceptual or motor experience, that initial conceptions are inappropriate to the
      world, and that initial conceptions are abandoned or radically changed with the
      growth of knowledge.

PMID- 1454902
TI  - How visual imagery interferes with vision.
AB  - Mental visual imagery interferes with vision: the Perky (1910) effect. Is the
      effect optical, sensory, perceptual, attentional, or just a response bias? Acuity
      was measured (in undergraduates and graduates) using target lines, with and
      without images (of lines). Optics (fixation, pupil size, accommodation), response
      bias, global attention (effort; diversion of attention to imagery), perceptual
      assimilation (target incorporation by imagery) and perceptual masking (of target
      by imagery) all fail to explain the effect. Foveally, local attention plays a
      limited role, as the Perky effect in divided attention is half that in focused
      attention, but this interaction vanishes with extrafoveal targets. Images produce
      primarily sensory interference, mimicking a reduction in target energy.

PMID- 1454904
TI  - The four elementary forms of sociality: framework for a unified theory of social
      relations.
AB  - The motivation, planning, production, comprehension, coordination, and evaluation
      of human social life may be based largely on combinations of 4 psychological
      models. In communal sharing, people treat all members of a category as
      equivalent. In authority ranking, people attend to their positions in a linear
      ordering. In equality matching, people keep track of the imbalances among them.
      In market pricing, people orient to ratio values. Cultures use different rules to
      implement the 4 models. In addition to an array of inductive evidence from many
      cultures and approaches, the theory has been supported by ethnographic field work
      and 19 experimental studies using 7 different methods testing 6 different
      cognitive predictions on a wide range of subjects from 5 cultures.

PMID- 1454903
TI  - A theory of humor elicitation.
AB  - This article presents a general theory of humor elicitation that specifies the
      conditions in which humor is experienced in both social and nonsocial situations.
      The theory takes into account the interpretation of a stimulus event that is
      necessary to elicit humor, the difficulty of identifying the humor-eliciting
      features of this interpretation, and the cognitive elaboration of implications of
      the event. The influence of these factors is postulated to depend on subjects'
      information-processing objectives at the time a stimulus event occurs. The theory
      is used to conceptualize the humor elicited by jokes, witticisms, and social
      events that are neither intended nor expected to be humorous. Particular
      attention is given to the cognitive underpinnings of responses to ethnic humor
      and to the humor that is elicited by one's own behavior in social situations.

PMID- 1454905
TI  - Development of an instrument to assess learning strategies.
AB  - Items to measure learning strategies were extracted from students' written
      narratives about their study and learning habits. A resulting 79-item instrument
      was administered to 321 graduate and undergraduate students. From factor analysis
      of the correlation matrix four factors were identified: (I) reflective
      metacognition, (II) procedural metacognition, (III) rote memorization, and (IV)
      procrastination. There were significant positive correlations between GPA and
      Factors I and II and a significant negative correlation between Factor IV and
      GPA.

PMID- 1454906
TI  - Value of the Mini-Mental State Examination and informants' data for the detection
      of dementia in geriatric outpatients.
AB  - The Dutch version of the Mini-Mental State Examination was administered to 138
      elderly patients who were referred to a geriatric outpatient clinic for a variety
      of reasons. An optimal cut-off point of 24/25 was found for the detection of
      dementia. At this cut-off point, the Mini-Mental State Examination was 87.6%
      sensitive and 81.6% specific in detecting dementia. The discriminative validity
      was influenced by education and by the presence of psychiatric disorders other
      than dementia. Informants' data showed better sensitivity and specificity than
      the Mini-Mental State Examination for the detection of dementia. The findings
      suggest that informants' data are a primary source of information for the
      detection of dementia in geriatric outpatients.

PMID- 1454907
TI  - Fantasizers and dissociaters: data on two distinct subgroups of deep trance
      subjects.
AB  - This study delineated two subgroups of highly hypnotizable subjects. The first (n
      = 19) entered trance rapidly, scored high on absorption, and described hypnosis
      as much like their rich and vivid waking fantasy life. The second subgroup of 15
      took time to achieve a deep trance, saw hypnosis as very different from any prior
      experiences, and were more likely to exhibit amnesia for both hypnotic experience
      and waking fantasies.

PMID- 1454908
TI  - Correlations of memory and learning with vision in aged patients before and after
      a cataract operation.
AB  - The connection between memory and learning with vision was investigated by
      studying 100 cataract operation patients, aged 71 to 76 years, 25 of them being
      men and 75 women. The cataract operation restored sufficient acuity of vision for
      reading (minimum E-test value 0.40) to 79% of the subjects. Short-term memory was
      studied with series of numbers, homogenic and heterogenic inhibition, and long
      sentences. Learning was tested with paired-associate learning and word learning.
      Psychological symptoms were measured on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and
      personality on the Mini-Mult MMPI. Memory and learning improved significantly
      when vision was normalized after the cataract operation. Poor memory and learning
      scores correlated with monocular vision before the operation and with defects in
      the field of vision, due to glaucoma and exceeding 20%, postsurgery. Monocular
      vision and defects in the visual field caused a continuous sense of abnormalness,
      which impaired old people's ability to concentrate on tasks of memory and
      learning. Cerebrovascular disturbances, beginning dementia, and moderate
      psychological symptoms obstructed memory and learning on both test rounds.
      Depression was the most important psychological symptom contributing to poor
      memory and learning scores after the cataract operation. The memory and learning
      defects mainly reflected disturbances in memorizing.

PMID- 1454909
TI  - Role of personality characteristics in coping behaviors.
AB  - The relations between coping behaviors and personality characteristics
      (introversion/extroversion) were examined in 176 Japanese female college
      students. Multiple regression analysis indicated that extrovertive individuals
      more often used not only seeking social support but also avoidance than did
      introvertive subjects. An implication for further research would be to analyze
      the interactions between personality influences and situational factors in coping
      behaviors.

PMID- 1454910
TI  - Imaginal, sensory, and cognitive experience in spontaneous recovery from
      alcoholism.
AB  - Although alcoholism is often regarded as an intractable disorder that requires
      intensive treatment, studies of the natural history of alcoholism indicate that
      unaided, spontaneous recovery may be the most common pathway to remission from
      alcoholism. Negative environmental consequences of alcoholic drinking have been
      invoked to explain spontaneous recovery, but a more compelling reason for sudden
      changes in drinking behavior concerns shifts in the personal meanings surrounding
      alcohol use. Extensive interviews in a multimodal format were conducted with two
      groups of alcoholics: one group comprised of 7 subjects who spontaneously
      recovered without treatment and the other group comprised of 9 people who
      believed formal treatment was necessary to abstain from drinking. Spontaneously
      recovered alcoholics reported experiencing vivid sensations and images at the
      time they decided to quit drinking, and they reported subsequent transformations
      of their personal identities. Active alcoholics reported no comparable
      experiences in imaginal, sensory, and cognitive modalities. Implications of the
      results for current alcoholism treatments are discussed.

PMID- 1454911
TI  - Relationship between MCMI-II scales and normal personality traits.
AB  - We correlated MCMI-II and 16 PF profiles of 145 couples in outpatient marital
      therapy and noted significant associations between these tests that were
      consistently and logically related to constructs which underlie the meaning of
      the MCMI-II scales. This provided good concurrent validity for both the
      Personality and Clinical Scales of the MCMI-II. These results add credence to
      research designed to study Millon's basic styles in normal populations.

PMID- 1454912
TI  - Bipolar depression as the prelude to schizoaffective disorder.
AB  - Contending that the mind of a creative person is often characterized by thin
      boundaries between the ego and the unconscious, this paper proposes how, on the
      manic side of bipolar depression, a creative ego may temporarily make great
      strides in intellectuality and creativity. However, as this process proceeds, a
      creative ego may lose its boundaries with the unconscious, and a schizoaffective
      disorder may emerge.

PMID- 1454913
TI  - Collectivism-individualism and rates of personal violence (suicide and homicide).

PMID- 1454914
TI  - International comparisons: selected mental health data.
AB  - The data set from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
      (OECD) was explored to investigate the relationship of gross domestic product
      (which provides an indication of the wealth of a country) and the provision of
      psychiatric services (specifically inpatient psychiatric services) in selected
      OECD countries. Gross domestic product per capita correlated .84 with expenditure
      per capita on psychiatric hospitals but r was zero between number of beds per
      1000 population and length of stay.

PMID- 1454915
TI  - Gender and sex-role differences in young adult reactions towards "newborns" in a
      pretend situation.
AB  - 104 college students were asked to fill out a questionnaire on sex-role
      orientation, act out a scene as a parent with a newborn baby (doll), rate their
      attitudes toward the baby using a semantic differential scale of 19 adjective
      pairs, and write an open-ended statement about the baby's future. Analysis
      indicated few differences in how men and women reacted to or described boy and
      girl babies and most of the variability in scores could be accounted for by
      interactions involving sex-role orientation. Sex-stereotyped women typically gave
      ratings similar to those given by androgynous women while sex-stereotyped men,
      when they differed from androgynous men, generally gave less positive ratings.

PMID- 1454916
TI  - Decriminalization of suicide in Canada and suicide rates.

PMID- 1454917
TI  - Extended normative data for the Logical Memory subtests of the Wechsler Memory
      Scale--Revised: responses from a sample of cognitively intact elderly medical
      patients.
AB  - 66 cognitively intact geriatric medical patients (ages 70 to 99; M = 77 yr.) were
      given the Logical Memory subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale--Revised to extend
      normative data. 43 women and 23 men, 35 white and 31 black persons made up this
      urban geriatric sample. A review of patients' medical histories and Mattis'
      Dementia Rating scores of 129 or greater were used to ensure a sample of
      cognitively intact patients. Analyses showed that Logical Memory scores were
      uncorrelated with education, race, sex, or age.

PMID- 1454918
TI  - Grouping of children's helping behaviour.
AB  - 215 school children aged 9 to 12 yr. were grouped according to their helping
      behaviour. The following variables were measured: helping, empathy, altruism,
      morality, attribution of responsibility, cognitive readiness to help, willingness
      to help, social desirability, and abstract thinking. In a factor analysis age and
      sex were included. Five factors were extracted and interpreted: empathetic
      helping, socially desirable helping, cognitive helping, intentionality, and
      rational helping. According to grouping analysis these five factors were weighted
      differently, and three groups were identified, (1) real helpers with high
      empathy, altruism, morality, and cognitive readiness to help, (2) normative
      helpers, motivated by social desirability or cognitive factors with poor empathy
      level, and (3) cognitively premature, rational helpers with poor empathy and with
      weak social desirability.

PMID- 1454919
TI  - Capital punishment in Texas: comparison of some factors shared by 50 convicted
      murderers and their victims.
AB  - The mean age of 50 convicted murderers at time of execution was compared to the
      mean age of their victims at time of death. The mean ages compared were not
      significantly different.

PMID- 1454920
TI  - Depression, self-esteem, suicide ideation, death anxiety, and GPA in high school
      students of divorced and nondivorced parents.
AB  - 131 subjects from a small north central Kansas high school participated and
      completed the Beck Depression Scale, Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory short form
      with the Lie scale included, the Death Anxiety Scale, and the first 11 questions
      of the Beck Scale of Suicide Ideation. Background information collected from each
      subject included age, grade, marital status of parents, and sex. Grade point
      averages (on a 4-point scale) were taken from the students' files. On death
      anxiety girls had a significantly higher mean than boys while freshmen's and
      sophomores' scores were significantly higher than those of juniors and seniors
      but there was no difference between means of students of divorced and nondivorced
      parents. On self-esteem and GPA children of divorced parents scored significantly
      lower than children of nondivorced parents, but there was no difference between
      the sexes on self-esteem. On GPA girls scored significantly higher than boys. On
      depression the children of divorced parents scored higher than children of
      nondivorced parents but there was no sex difference.

PMID- 1454921
TI  - University students' perceptions of deaf parents.
AB  - A methodology for assessing attitudes toward nontraditional parents was
      developed. 54 university students with a mean age of 26.5 yr. (SD = 10.2 yr.)
      participated in a study which assessed attitudes toward deaf parents by asking
      subjects to rate the adoptive suitability of an unmarried applicant based on a
      scenario describing the individual as a deaf woman, deaf man, hearing woman, or
      hearing man. Women were perceived as more suitable to adopt daughters, and men
      were perceived as more suitable to adopt sons. Applicants' hearing status and
      gender influenced perceived suitability to adopt a son but not a daughter.

PMID- 1454922
TI  - Development and testing of the AIDS Psychosocial Scale.
AB  - The dramatic spread of AIDS globally has placed it high on the world health
      agenda. Since no medical or technological solution to the problem is near at hand
      and given the fact that the HIV virus is heavily reliant on human sexual
      behaviours for transmission, tackling the problem of AIDS rests on addressing
      change of sexual behaviour. Various psychosocial factors have been implicated as
      mediating between adequate knowledge and behaviour change, given the poor
      correlation between the two variables. The present study was aimed at developing
      and testing a scale to measure various psychosocial factors, including self
      concept, defenses of denial, repression and rationalisation, peer pressure, and
      perceived empowerment expressed in locus of control and self-efficacy. Two
      studies are reported in which students at the University of the Western Cape,
      South Africa participated. Various statistical analyses in the two phases
      indicated that the AIDS Psychosocial Scale was sufficiently reliable and valid
      for use in examining psychosocial mediation in the AIDS area.

PMID- 1454923
TI  - Crisis calls and lunar cycles: a twenty-year review.
AB  - 12 studies are reviewed that have examined the relationships among crisis calls
      to police stations, poison centers, and crisis intervention centers and the
      synodic lunar cycle. On the basis of the studies considered it is concluded that
      no good foundation exists for the belief that lunar phase is related to the
      frequency of crisis calls. In addition, there is no evidence whatsoever for the
      contention that calls of a more emotional or "out-of-control" nature occur more
      often at the full moon.

PMID- 1454924
TI  - Human sympathy-groups: cross-cultural data.

PMID- 1454925
TI  - Suicide and lunar cycles: a critical review over 28 years.
AB  - 20 studies which have examined the relations between completed suicide or
      attempted suicide and suicide threats with the synodic lunar cycle are reviewed.
      Most studies indicated no relation between lunar phase and the measures of
      suicide. The positive findings conflicted, have not been replicated, or were
      confounded with variables such as season, weekday, weather, or holidays. It is
      concluded that there is insufficient evidence for assuming a relationship between
      the synodic lunar cycle and completed or attempted suicide.

PMID- 1454926
TI  - The Bem Sex-role Inventory as an index of response tendencies to scales in Likert
      format.
AB  - 7 women, classified as Masculine on the basis of their scores on the Bem Sex-role
      Inventory, tended to use the extreme values of agree strongly and disagree
      strongly on the Likert format associated with the East-West Questionnaire more
      frequently than did women classified as Feminine, Androgynous, or
      Undifferentiated (ns = 39, 31, and 21, respectively). The Undifferentiated women
      were inclined to use the moderate response alternatives. The 73 men used the no
      opinion response option significantly more than did the 98 women. These findings
      suggest that strength of beliefs as measured on scales in Likert format may be an
      index of sex-role preference.

PMID- 1454927
TI  - Narcissism and object relations.
AB  - Questionnaire measures of the narcissistic personality disorder can predict
      healthy and unhealthy self-functioning. That this outcome might support Heinz
      Kohut's psychoanalytic psychology of the self was tested in a sample of 354
      undergraduates. In canonical correlations, factors from the Narcissistic
      Personality Inventory were associated more strongly with grandiose than with
      idealizing immaturities in Kohut's bipolar self, while difficulties in
      interpersonal relationships (i.e., poor object relations) were associated more
      strongly with idealizing deficits. Zero-order and partial correlational data were
      congruent with Kohut's hypothesis that self-grandiosity can include elements of
      both "pathology" and relative mental health, but canonical correlations did not
      support Kohut's claim that narcissism can be described in a bidimensional self
      structure.

PMID- 1454928
TI  - College vs junior high school students' knowledge of alcohol as a teratogen.
AB  - This study assessed knowledge possessed by male and female junior high school and
      college students (N = 422) about the teratogenic effects of alcohol. Although
      most students were aware that alcohol is a teratogenic substance, they
      demonstrated little knowledge of the nature and timing of possible specific
      negative effects.

PMID- 1454929
TI  - Contributions to the history of psychology: XC. Evolutionary biology and
      heritable traits (with reference to oriental-white-black differences): the 1989
      AAAS paper.
AB  - Genetic distance estimates calculated from DNA sequencing indicate that in years
      since emergence from the ancestral hominid line, Mongoloids = 41,000, Caucasoids
      = 110,000, and Negroids = 200,000. Data also show that this succession is matched
      by numerous other differences such that Mongoloids > Caucasoids > Negroids in
      brain size and intelligence (cranial capacity = 1448, 1408, 1334 cm3; brain
      weight = 1351, 1336, 1286 gm.; millions of excess neurons = 8900, 8650, 8550; IQ
      = 107, 100, 85); maturational delay (age to walk alone, age of first intercourse,
      age of death); sexual restraint (ovulation rate, intercourse frequencies,
      sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS); quiescent temperament
      (aggressiveness, anxiety, sociability); and social organization (law abidingness,
      marital stability, mental health). This pattern is ordered by a theory of r/K
      reproductive strategies in which Mongoloids are posited to be more K-selected
      than Caucasoids and especially more than Negroids. (K-selected reproductive
      strategies emphasize parental care and are to be contrasted with r-selected
      strategies which emphasize fecundity, the bioenergetic trade-off between which is
      postulated to underlie cross-species differences in brain size, speed of
      maturation, reproductive effort, and longevity.) It is suggested that this
      pattern came about because the ice ages exerted greater selection pressures on
      the later emerging populations to produce larger brains, longer lives, and more K
      like behavior. One theoretical possibility is that evolution is progressive and
      that some populations are more "advanced" than others. Predictions are made
      concerning economic projections and the spread of AIDS.

PMID- 1454930
TI  - Meaning of craving in research on addiction.
AB  - The meaning of the word craving varies as illustrated by Kozlowski and
      Wilkinson's reports of ambiguities in use amongst cigarette smokers. We extended
      this line of investigation to problem drinkers who sought a goal of controlled
      drinking versus abstinence, to professionals involved in the addictions area, and
      to university students. Significant differences in meaning were noted
      particularly among the problem drinkers (N = 256 between 17 and 60 years of age).
      Reasons for this are offered.

PMID- 1454931
TI  - Chaos, an omen of transcendence in the psychotherapeutic process.
AB  - Here some of the basic ideas assembled under the recently coined term chaos
      theory are applied to the process of psychotherapy. Utilizing some ideas from
      chaos theory, "chaos" is defined in psychological terms as a state of
      overwhelming anxiety and is interpreted as the first indication of potential
      psychological growth. The concepts of Analytical Psychology and the modality of
      sandtray therapy are used to illustrate the type of therapeutic approach this
      theoretical work proposes in the transcendent cycle. Psychotherapy simply
      facilitates a transformation, wherein clients are guided through the chaos they
      are experiencing so that they may grow beyond their current psychological
      limitations.

PMID- 1454932
TI  - Suicide, homicide and unemployment: a methodological note.
AB  - In multiple regression analyses, the monthly time-series suicide and homicide
      rates for the USA from 1957-1986 were associated with unemployment and marriage
      rates. In contrast, annual time-series suicide and homicide rates were not as
      strongly associated with the social variables.

PMID- 1454933
TI  - Ability and personality correlates of children's attitudes and aspirations.
AB  - This study examined to what extent personality types are related to children's
      attitudes and aspirations after taking into account relationships between ability
      and the attitude and aspiration measures. Data were collected from 500 12-yr.-old
      Australian children. In the analysis the children were classified into four
      personality groups who were labeled as extravert-adjusted, extravert-anxious,
      introvert-adjusted, and introvert-anxious. The findings suggest the general
      proposition that children's personality types have strong associations with
      school-related attitudes after taking into account associations between
      children's intellectual ability and their attitudes. In contrast, children's
      personalities tended not to be related to measures of educational and
      occupational aspirations.

PMID- 1454934
TI  - Role reward and role stress in managerial and professional women.
AB  - The importance of balancing personal and work demands has become increasingly
      relevant in recent years as large numbers of women move into the labour market
      full time. The present study was designed to examine differences in role rewards
      and stress amongst a group of 163 managerial and professional women. Subjects
      completed a questionnaire about the stress and rewards associated with their work
      and family roles. Although no significant differences were found between
      managerial and professional women, the mean scores indicated the role of employee
      is both the most rewarding and the most stressful. Findings are discussed in
      terms of sample occupation and changing home-work patterns.

PMID- 1454935
TI  - Problem-solving appraisal in the association of life stress and depression: a
      South African study.
AB  - This study focuses on the role that appraisal of problem-solving skills plays in
      the relationship of stress to distress. 450 black South African university
      students completed the Life Experiences Survey, the Problem Solving Inventory,
      and the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Multiple regression
      analysis indicated a direct effect for problem-solving appraisal on depression,
      but no support could be found for the stress-buffering effects of problem-solving
      appraisal.

PMID- 1454936
TI  - A short form of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence for use
      in Iran.
AB  - Data from the standardization of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of
      Intelligence in Shiraz, Iran (193 girls, 203 boys 4 to 6.5 yr. old) were used to
      develop a short form. Four subtests (Vocabulary, Arithmetic, Picture Completion,
      and Block Design) were selected on the basis of their high correlations with Full
      Scale IQs. The validity coefficients were high and significant. The standard
      errors for the short form were 4.0 to 6.0 points. The short form classified
      correctly about 73% of the subjects by category of intelligence but tended to
      underestimate the IQs of subjects of high intelligence and to overestimate the
      IQs of subjects with low intelligence. Further work is required.

PMID- 1454937
TI  - Relationship between the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory and the Millon-II:
      value of scales for Aggressive and Self-defeating personalities in Posttraumatic
      Stress Disorder.
AB  - This study addressed two issues, the interrelationship between the Millon
      Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) and the Millon II (MCMI-II) and the value of
      the new personality scales, Aggressive and Self-defeating, in a sample with
      diagnoses of combat-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. 100 confirmed cases of
      combat-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder were given a battery of measures
      including both Millon inventories and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality
      Inventory (basic scales and selected subscales). They were rated on discharge
      status during a structured treatment program. Basic treatment and background
      information were also obtained. Analysis showed scores on the MCMI-II scales were
      higher but generally reflective of MCMI scales and that the Self-defeating
      personality style tends to be reflective of greater psychopathology, suicidal
      problems, treatment/disposition difficulties, overreporting of symptoms, and
      intensity of problems. Discussion encouraged the use of the MCMI-II with special
      emphasis given to the Self-defeating style in this group with Posttraumatic
      Stress Disorder.

PMID- 1454938
TI  - Superiority of the keyword method for backward recall in vocabulary acquisition.

PMID- 1454939
TI  - Self-esteem, anxiety, and drug use.
AB  - This pilot study evaluated the relationship between self-esteem, anxiety, and
      drug use in a nonclinical sample of 30 men, ages 16 to 43 years, who completed
      and returned inventories on self-esteem, trait anxiety, and drug use which they
      had received by mail. Analysis showed a significant negative correlation between
      self-esteem and drug use and a significant positive correlation between trait
      anxiety and drug use. Also, a significant negative correlation was found between
      self-esteem and trait anxiety. Implications are discussed.

PMID- 1454940
TI  - Depression, self-esteem, suicide ideation, and GPAs of high school students at
      risk.
AB  - 131 subjects completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Coopersmith's Self-esteem
      Inventory--Short Form, the first 11 questions of the Beck Scale of Suicide
      Ideation, and gave some background information. The students receiving free or
      reduced-cost lunches scored lower on self-esteem, while students who had been
      absent more than 15 times scored higher on depression and suicide ideation and
      had lower GPAs than students who were not absent as often but had similar scores
      on self-esteem. Students who were below the 25th percentile on the SRA Composite
      score had lower GPAs. 9 students in special education in Learning Disabilities
      and Behavioral Disordered categories had scores similar to those of 121 regular
      education students on depression, self-esteem, suicide ideation, and GPA.
      Indicators for children at-risk provide clues about how children think about
      themselves, others, and the world in which they live.

PMID- 1454941
TI  - Self-perception of asthmatic children and modification through self-management
      programmes.
AB  - To examine the influence of asthma on patients' self-perceptions, 48 children
      with light to moderate asthma and 41 healthy children were selected to complete
      Harter's Self-perception Profile for children. No differences between the groups
      were observed. Then, to assess the effects of a psychological asthma treatment
      programme on self-perception, 27 of the asthmatic children were selected and
      allocated to three groups of 9 patients. The first of these groups received an
      asthma self-management programme, the second received that programme plus
      training in progressive relaxation, and the third (as control) only standard
      pharmacological treatment. Immediately after intervention and at 6- and 12-mo.
      follow-ups subjects again completed Harter's profile on which no significant
      changes were observed.

PMID- 1454942
TI  - Does spousal participation in Gamblers Anonymous benefit compulsive gamblers?
AB  - Extent of gambling-free periods was compared for 90 compulsive gamblers, 44 with
      spouses who participated in Gamblers Anonymous and 46 with spouses who did not.
      Although the results were in the direction of a beneficial effect of spousal
      participation, the relationship was statistically nonsignificant.

PMID- 1454943
TI  - Use of formal assessments among providers of residential services for the
      seriously mentally ill.
AB  - A survey of use of formal scales in assessment was sent to 1381 agencies that
      provide residential services to the seriously mentally ill. 271 residential
      agencies responded. A majority of respondents who used formal assessments used in
      house measures. Scales were used most often in client care decisions. A
      substantial minority of respondents reported being somewhat or very dissatisfied
      with existing scales. Lack of predictive ability and staff time required were the
      most frequently cited difficulties. The study indicates a need for better
      assessments to aid client-care planning, and promote interagency communication.

PMID- 1454945
TI  - Psychological development in men: generativity and involvement with young
      children.
AB  - The personality development of 50 white men was investigated in terms of
      Eriksonian generativity and involvement with young children. Generativity was not
      related to caregiving; however, it was associated with social involvement.
      Generativity was also associated with several aspects of male personality
      including self-esteem, locus of control, and instrumentality.

PMID- 1454944
TI  - Birth order, neuroticism, and psychoticism among Iranian children.
AB  - To investigate the effects of birth order, parents' education, and parents'
      occupation on four dimensions of the Junior Eysenck Personality Questionnaire,
      262 elementary school students (100 boys and 162 girls) were selected randomly
      from four elementary schools in Shiraz. Analyses showed the main effects of birth
      order were significant on Neuroticism and Lie scales. Further, the effects of
      mothers' occupation on the Lie scale and fathers' education on the Neuroticism
      scale were significant.

PMID- 1454946
TI  - Sex differences in depression of Iranian adolescents.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to investigate sex differences on a depression
      scale for Iranian adolescents. High school students (100 girls and 100 boys),
      selected randomly from four high schools in Shiraz, completed the Zung Self
      rating Depression Scale. Analysis showed no significant differences on the five
      subscales of Zung's depression scale for boys and for girls. Also, there were no
      sex differences on the total score for depression. However, comparisons with
      Byrne's groups of British boys and girls indicated differences for Iranian boys
      and girls on 2 individual items reached significance, whereas for the British
      groups differences were significant for 11 of the 20 items.

PMID- 1454947
TI  - Psychiatric and alcoholic admissions do not occur disproportionately close to
      patients' birthdays.
AB  - The relationship between admission dates and patients' birthdays was examined for
      200 psychiatric and 200 alcoholic patients from a Veterans Affairs Medical
      Center. Chi-squared analyses indicated that admission dates for subjects of both
      populations did not occur disproportionately close to their birthdays.

PMID- 1454948
TI  - Relation of parental education and life status to academic achievement by Xhosa
      children.
AB  - This study investigated the relationship between parental education and academic
      achievement of 1021 Xhosa pupils (369 boys and 652 girls) whose ages ranged from
      13 to 17 years (M age, 15.6 yr.). The sample included 712 children for whom both
      parents were alive and 308 children for whom either or both parents were
      deceased. Children were chosen at random from the Standard 7/Year 9 population of
      Transkei, South Africa. A simple questionnaire was administered students to
      identify whether one or both parents were dead or both parents were living. A
      second questionnaire was administered parents or parent surrogates to obtain
      their formal education. The marks obtained by the pupils in the Standard 7
      external examination conducted by the Department of Education of the Government
      of Transkei in seven subject areas were aggregated as the criterion measure.
      Analysis of variance showed significant effects of parental education on academic
      achievement of children regardless of whether the children's parents were
      deceased or alive.

PMID- 1454949
TI  - Feminism and anorectic tendencies in college women.
AB  - Anorexia is a debilitating disorder which affects significant numbers of young
      women. Brumberg has suggested a causal relationship in young women between
      feminism and anorexia. In this study, traditional-aged female college students
      completed the Attitudes Toward Women Scale and the Eating Attitudes Test. The
      hypothesized relationship between feminism and anorexia was not found.

PMID- 1454950
TI  - Artistic orientation as a clinical indicator of chronic career indecision in
      adult children and grandchildren of alcoholics.
AB  - This study has empirically assessed whether artistic orientation and avoidance
      are good predictors of chronic career indecision for college-attending adult
      children and grandchildren of alcoholics. The sample consisted of 143 freshman
      and sophomore introductory psychology students attending a county college in the
      northeast. Osipow's Career Decision Scale total scores of artistically oriented
      children and grandchildren of alcoholics were not significantly higher than
      scores of those who were not artistic. As predicted, the Career Decision Scale
      total scores of avoidant subjects were significantly higher than those of
      nonavoidant subjects. As expected in both instances, no differences were found
      between artistic subjects and nonartistic subjects or between the avoidant and
      nonavoidant subjects. The findings suggest (1) that the artistic career-undecided
      children of alcoholics observed by Schumrum and Hartman in 1988 were, in fact,
      members of a broader avoidant group and (2) that the relationship between career
      indecision and avoidant personality style does vary according to family status of
      whether subjects are adult children and grandchildren of alcoholics.

PMID- 1454951
TI  - Positive and negative social support in a chronic illness.
AB  - A measure of social support was developed and administered to 207 patients with
      chronic fatigue syndrome. Positive social support was related to anxiety, and
      negative social support was related to both anxiety and depression.

PMID- 1454952
TI  - Gender differences in the personality features of British managers.
AB  - In this study were examined the personality profiles of 132 British managers from
      the civil services, using the 16 PF. The data were compared to norms for the
      British adult population. The results suggested that managers scored higher on
      traits associated with intelligence, dominance, confidence, and extroversion.
      This pattern did not differ as a function of gender. Gender differences apparent
      in the general population were hardly evident among managers. Finally, the
      strength of traits associated with management increased as a function of the
      managerial grade. Yet this pattern was more distinct among men than women.

PMID- 1454953
TI  - Interaction of instructions with the recall strategy actually used in a paired
      associates learning task.
AB  - Previous research suggests that interactive imagery produces memory performance
      superior to separation imagery, although the effects of instructions are less
      clear. Paired-associate learning was used to examine the effects of instructions
      (general memory, separation imagery, and interactive imagery) on recall, the
      frequency of using memory strategies (nonimaginal, separate image, and
      interactive image), and strategies' effectiveness. The numbers of correctly
      recalled items were fewer for subjects given general memory instructions than for
      subjects given separation or interactive imagery instructions which were not
      different from each other. Subjects reported using a variety of strategies.
      However, subjects given separation imagery instructions were more likely to
      report an interactive image than a separate image, and equally as likely to use
      interactive imagery as subjects given interactive imagery instructions. The
      present data suggest that subjects can effectively use a variety of memory
      strategies.

PMID- 1454954
TI  - Using humor in psychotherapy with a sex offender.
AB  - Humor was used during psychotherapy with a 22-year-old child molester. The humor
      appeared to help establish rapport and led to his admission of desires to rape
      and torture adult women. Here exchange of humor seemed to be a helpful adjunct to
      psychotherapy.

PMID- 1454955
TI  - Hemisphericity style and belief in ESP.
AB  - 108 students were classified as preferring either a style of left or right
      hemisphericity using Zenhausern's Preference Questionnaire. The students then
      completed two scales designed to measure belief in extrasensory perception (ESP).
      Students who scored as preferring a right style scored higher on belief in ESP
      than those who preferred a left style. The results are consistent with previous
      findings which suggest a connection between right hemisphere functions (e.g.,
      imagery) and belief in ESP.

PMID- 1454956
TI  - An experimental analysis of classically conditioned nausea during cancer
      chemotherapy.
AB  - This study investigated classical conditioning in women undergoing outpatient
      adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Breast cancer chemotherapy outpatients
      were randomly assigned either to an Experimental Group (exposed to a distinctive
      stimulus before each infusion of chemotherapy) or to a Control Group. After
      repeated infusions of chemotherapy, patients' responses to the experimental
      stimulus were assessed in a location not associated with chemotherapy.
      Experimental Group patients had increased nausea (self-reported on a visual
      analog scale) following the presentation of the experimental stimulus at this
      test trial, whereas Control Group patients did not. Two other measures of nausea
      corroborated these results. Post hoc statistical analyses confirmed predictions
      based on conditioning theory. This conditioning model of anticipatory nausea
      bears witness to the relevance of classical conditioning in clinical medicine.

PMID- 1454957
TI  - The concept of latent inhibition and its application to psychosomatic medicine.

PMID- 1454958
TI  - Consistent sex differences in cortisol responses to psychological stress.
AB  - In four independent studies, sex differences in cortisol responses to
      psychological stress were investigated in healthy adolescents and adults (total n
      = 153). Public speaking and mental arithmetic in front of an audience (Studies 1
      3) reliably induced increases in free cortisol levels in both sexes with 2- to 4
      fold increases above baseline levels. Mean cortisol responses were 1.5- to 2-fold
      higher in men compared with women. In Study 3, cortisol profiles were
      additionally investigated after human corticotropin-releasing hormone (h-CRH) and
      bicycle ergometry until exhaustion. Here, both sexes showed very similar
      adrenocortical responses. Furthermore, men showed elevated cortisol levels in
      anticipation of the psychological stress situation without actually having to
      perform the tasks (Study 4). Under this condition cortisol concentration was
      unchanged or decreased in women. From these data we conclude that the observed
      sex difference does not reflect an overall lower responsiveness of the female
      adrenal cortex. Although these studies do not provide conclusive data, we suggest
      sex differences in cognitive and/or emotional responses to distressing
      psychosocial situations which in turn may influence cortisol secretion.

PMID- 1454959
TI  - Medical and psychiatric symptoms in women with childhood sexual abuse.
AB  - Although there is increasing awareness of the short-term psychological and social
      adaptations to childhood sexual abuse, little is known about the long-term
      effects of such abuse, particularly its effect on subsequent medical utilization
      and the experience and reporting of physical symptoms. We re-analyzed data from a
      previous study of 100 women scheduled for diagnostic laparoscopy (50 for chronic
      pain, 50 for tubal ligation or infertility evaluation) who received structured,
      physician-administered psychiatric and sexual abuse interviews. Women were
      regrouped by severity of childhood sexual abuse, and we compared the groups with
      respect to lifetime psychiatric diagnoses and medically unexplained symptom
      patterns. Unadjusted odds ratios showed that risk for lifetime diagnoses of major
      depression, panic disorder, phobia, somatization disorder and drug abuse, and
      current diagnoses of major depression and somatoform pain disorder were
      significantly higher in the severely abused group compared with women with no
      abuse or less severe abuse. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that number
      of somatization symptoms, lifetime panic disorder and drug dependence were
      predictive of a prior history of severe childhood sexual abuse. Psychiatric
      disorders and medical symptoms, particularly chronic pelvic pain, are common in
      women with histories of severe childhood sexual abuse. Clinicians should inquire
      about childhood sexual and physical abuse experiences in patients with multiple
      medical and psychiatric symptoms, particularly patients with chronic pelvic pain.

PMID- 1454960
TI  - Eating habits and eating disorders during pregnancy.
AB  - A general population sample of 100 primigravid women was studied prospectively to
      describe the changes in eating that occur in pregnancy with particular reference
      to cravings and aversions and the behavior and attitudes characteristic of
      clinical eating disorders. Assessment was by standardized interview. Dietary
      cravings and aversions were found to be common and largely confined to early
      pregnancy. Eating disorder features decreased in severity early in pregnancy but
      increased later on. Dietary cravings rarely resulted in episodes of overeating
      like those seen in patients with eating disorders. In this study of a general
      population sample, no evidence was found of a relationship between pregnancy
      outcome and the severity of eating disorder features prior to pregnancy.

PMID- 1454961
TI  - Lymphocyte subset and cellular immune responses to a brief experimental stressor.
AB  - To evaluate effects of acute mental stress on aspects of cellular immunity,
      lymphocyte populations and phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated T-cell mitogenesis
      were measured in 33 healthy young men, both before and immediately following
      subjects' performance of a frustrating, 21-minute laboratory task (Stroop test).
      Relative to baseline evaluations, post-task measurements showed a significant
      reduction in mitogenesis and alterations in various circulating lymphocyte
      populations; the latter included a diminished T-helper/T-suppressor cell ratio
      and an elevation in the number of natural killer cells. Eleven subjects assigned
      to a control (unstressed) condition exhibited no changes in lymphocyte
      populations, but did show an increase in T-cell proliferation, compared with
      pretask measurements.

PMID- 1454962
TI  - Acute psychological stressors and short-term immune changes: what, why, for whom,
      and to what extent?

PMID- 1454963
TI  - Do cardiovascular responses to laboratory stress relate to ambulatory blood
      pressure levels?: Yes, in some of the people, some of the time.
AB  - Because the correspondence between laboratory measures of blood pressure and
      heart rate responses to stress and ambulatory measures is less than optimal, this
      study tested two hypotheses: Are ambulatory measures of blood pressure elevated
      during periods of perceived stress, relative to no stress? Are ambulatory blood
      pressures elevated during perceived stress among those individuals who exhibit
      elevated blood pressure and heart rate responses to laboratory stress? These
      questions were addressed in a sample of employed, middle-aged men and
      premenopausal and postmenopausal women, who vary in reproductive hormone status,
      and in risk for coronary heart disease. All participants performed a series of
      laboratory studies while their physiological parameters were monitored and then
      wore an ambulatory blood pressure monitor for a day and a half. This monitor
      recorded blood pressure every half hour during the waking hours and at the same
      time the participants assessed their mood states. After excluding participants
      who reported no variability in stress levels, those who were cardiovascular
      reactors to a laboratory speech task exhibited elevated ambulatory blood pressure
      levels during periods of perceived stress. Furthermore, in general, periods of
      perceived stress were associated on a within subject basis with elevated
      ambulatory blood pressure. These results suggest that the correspondence between
      laboratory and field measures of blood pressure would be improved by taking into
      account the environmental circumstances during the ambulatory assessments and the
      person characteristics of reactor-nonreactor to laboratory stress.

PMID- 1454964
TI  - Repressive coping and blood lipids in men and women.
AB  - Studies have suggested that a repressive coping style, characterized by
      defensiveness against negative emotions, may be related to several adverse health
      outcomes. This study examined whether repressive coping is associated with blood
      lipids, and whether this association is influenced by age or sex. One hundred
      fourteen healthy adults completed the Marlowe-Crowne scale (MC) and the Bendig
      version of the Taylor Manifest Anxiety scale (TMAS) prior to having their blood
      drawn after an overnight fast. Hierarchical regression analyses showed a
      significant interaction of sex, MC, and TMAS on total cholesterol (F(1, 104) =
      4.41, p < 0.05), after controlling for the influence of age, body mass index, and
      other main effects and interactions. Results showed that male repressors (high
      MC; low TMAS) had the highest cholesterol levels, while truly low anxious males
      (low MC; low TMAS) had the lowest levels. The opposite pattern was noted for
      women. There were no interactive effects of age and coping style on lipids. The
      results suggest that males who repress negative emotions may be at greater risk
      for atherosclerotic diseases.

PMID- 1454965
TI  - The multi-dimensional nature of active coping: differential effects of effort and
      enhanced control on cardiovascular reactivity.
AB  - Some studies show that enhanced control increases cardiovascular reactivity;
      other studies show decreases. This disparity may be due to a confound: enhanced
      control may reduce reactivity, but effort accompanying active coping may increase
      it. The present study was designed to vary level of control and availability of
      active coping responses, while maintaining effort constant. Sixty female
      undergraduates performed word-search puzzles while blood pressure and heart rate
      were monitored. They were divided into three groups: In condition 1,
      reinforcement was contingent on the subjects' performance only; in conditions 2
      and 3, reinforcement was contingent on the joint performance of the subject and a
      poorly performing confederate. In condition 2, subjects could help their partners
      (active coping); in condition 3, they could not (passive coping). Effort was
      constant across groups. Cardiovascular responses were significantly greater in
      the passive coping condition than in the other two, indicating that with effort
      held constant, enhanced control diminishes reactivity.

PMID- 1454967
TI  - The concept of psychosomatic disorder.
AB  - The clinical concepts related to the assessment of psychosocial factors in the
      medically ill are reviewed, with particular reference to the DSM-III-R categories
      of adjustment disorders, psychological factors affecting physical conditions, and
      somatoform disorders. The clinical and heuristic value of the concepts of
      psychosomatic disorder and abnormal illness behavior is underscored.

PMID- 1454966
TI  - Late luteal phase dysphoric disorder.

PMID- 1454968
TI  - Psychopharmacological agents in physical disorders.
AB  - Psychotropic drugs act on multiple organ systems, but their intended action is
      related to their effect on neurohormones and receptors in the limbic area of the
      brain. These drugs are also employed with benefit in a number of diverse physical
      disorders including immunological (arthritis), gastrointestinal (peptic ulcer,
      ulcerative colitis), neurological (epilepsy), and hematological (leukopenia)
      conditions. While their clinical efficacy enhances our armamentarium to treat
      these disorders, understanding their mode of action in treating the physically
      ill patients may yield the missing link between the psyche and the soma.

PMID- 1454969
TI  - Role of early developmental factors in susceptibility to disease.
AB  - Early developmental factors implicated in subsequent infant and child development
      are presented. The orientation adopted emphasizes both the interplay between
      constitutional and environmental factors and the mutual interaction between the
      child and its environment. The present paper concentrates on pre- and perinatal
      factors and maternal psychopathology affecting mainly the early mother-child
      interaction and, in turn, child developmental outcome.

PMID- 1454970
TI  - Factor analysis of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale: elucidation of a polythetic
      construct.
AB  - The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) offers a reliable method to measure
      alexithymia, a personality construct describing individuals endorsing the
      inability to identify and report emotions, processing a minimal fantasy life,
      utilizing an analytic cognitive style, and tending to somatize. Utilizing four
      cohorts of both patients and controls, a three-factor solution emerged from a
      principal-components analysis utilizing a varimax rotation. The factors of
      inability to identify and report feelings, an analytic cognitive style, and
      paucity of fantasy life were independent and internally reliable. These data are
      reviewed in the context of previous research and offer three subscales for future
      investigations utilizing the Toronto Alexithymia Scale.

PMID- 1454971
TI  - Chronic idiopathic pain, mianserin and 'masked' depression.
AB  - In this study an attempt was made to provide controlled empirical evidence for
      the hypothesis that chronic idiopathic pain might be a specific form of 'masked
      depression'. For this purpose, chronic pain patients supposed to be suffering
      from a 'masked depression' were compared to patients with organic pain and
      coexistent depression, patients with only organic pain, and patients with only
      depression, in a double-blind placebo-controlled therapeutic trial with
      mianserin. Although mianserin appeared to have effective antidepressant
      properties in this study, no pain improvement was found in any of the three
      chronic pain groups. These results challenge the validity and clinical relevance
      of the 'masked depression' concept for chronic idiopathic pain.

PMID- 1454972
TI  - Strengthening the public health system.
AB  - Although the American public health system has made major contributions to life
      expectancy for residents of this country over the past century, the system now
      faces more complex health problems that require comprehensive approaches and
      increased capacity, particularly in local and State public health agencies. To
      strengthen the public health system, concerted action is needed to meet these
      five critical needs: First, the knowledge base of public health workers needs to
      be supplemented through on-the-job training and continuing education programs. To
      this end, self-study courses will be expanded, and a network of regional training
      centers will be established throughout the country. Second, communities need
      dynamic leadership from public health officials and their agencies. To enhance
      leadership skills and expand the leadership role of public health agencies,
      focused personal leadership development activities, including a Public Health
      Leadership Institute, and national conferences will provide a vision of the
      future role of public health agencies. Third, local and State public health
      agencies need access to data on the current health status of the people in their
      communities and guidance from the nation's public health experts. To improve
      access to information resources, state-of-the-art technologies will be deployed
      to create integrated information and communication systems linking all components
      of the public health system. Fourth, local and State agencies need disease
      prevention and health promotion plans that target problems and develop strategies
      and the capacity to address them. To provide communities with structured
      approaches to this process, planning tools have been developed and distributed,
      and technical assistance will be provided to local and State health agencies to
      involve each community in planning,priority setting, and constituency
      building.Finally, public health agencies need adequate resources to fund
      prevention programs. To improve the use of existing Federal support and enhance
      the availability of new community resources, grant programs will be modified, and
      innovative approaches to local resource enhancement will be developed and
      shared.Activities in these five key areas are designed to improve the
      infrastructure of the public health system and its capacity to carry out
      effectively the core functions of public health assessment, policy development,
      and assurance of the availability of the benefits of public health. If the nation
      is to achieve the health objectives for the year 2000, the public health system
      the individuals and institutions that, when working effectively together, promote
      and protect the health of the people-must be strengthened.

PMID- 1454973
TI  - The multidrug-resistant tuberculosis challenge to public health efforts to
      control tuberculosis.
AB  - After years of steady decline, there has been an unprecedented resurgence of
      tuberculosis (TB) in the United States and outbreaks of multidrug-resistant
      tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The authors assess the nature, epidemiology, and
      implications of MDR-TB; provide suggestions for preventing drug resistance among
      patients with drug-susceptible TB; and offer recommendations for managing
      patients with MDR-TB. They outline the National Action Plan to Combat MDR-TB.
      Close collaboration among medical practitioners and staff members of TB control
      programs is needed to ensure the most effective management of patients with TB
      and their contacts. This collaboration is one of the most important steps for
      successful control of MDR-TB.

PMID- 1454975
TI  - Czechoslovakia's changing health care system.
AB  - Before World War II, Czechoslovakia was among the most developed European
      countries with an excellent health care system. After the Communist coup d'etat
      in 1948, the country was forced to adapt its existing health care system to the
      Soviet model. It was planned and managed by the government, financed by general
      tax money, operated in a highly centralized, bureaucratic fashion, and provided
      service at no direct charge at the time of service. In recent years, the health
      care system had been deteriorating as the health of the people had also been
      declining. Life expectancy, infant mortality rates, and diseases of the
      circulatory system are higher than in Western European countries. In 1989,
      political changes occurred in Czechoslovakia that made health care reform
      possible. Now health services are being decentralized, and the ownership of
      hospitals is expected to be transferred to communities, municipalities, churches,
      charitable groups, or private entities. Almost all health leaders, including
      hospital directors and hospital department heads, have been replaced. Physicians
      will be paid according to the type and amount of work performed. Perhaps the most
      important reform is the establishment of an independent General Health Care
      Insurance Office financed directly by compulsory contributions from workers,
      employers, and government that will be able to negotiate with hospitals and
      physicians to determine payment for services.

PMID- 1454974
TI  - Social and cultural factors in the successful control of tuberculosis.
AB  - The burden of tuberculosis on the public health is staggering. Worldwide, annual
      incidence of new cases is estimated to be about 8 million. Almost 3 million
      deaths occur yearly. Early case identification and adherence to treatment
      regimens are the remaining barriers to successful control. In many nations,
      however, fewer than half those with active disease receive a diagnosis, and fewer
      than half those beginning treatment complete it. The twin problems of delay in
      seeking treatment and abandonment of a prescribed regimen derive from complex
      factors. People's confusion as to the implications of the tuberculosis symptoms,
      costs of transportation to clinic services, the social stigma that attaches to
      tuberculosis, the high cost of medication, organizational problems in providing
      adequate followup services, and patients' perception of clinic facilities as
      inhospitable all contribute to the complexity. Sociocultural factors are
      emphasized in this report because hitherto they have not been adequately
      explored. Salient among those sociocultural factors is the health culture of the
      patients. That is, the understanding and information people have from family,
      friends, and neighbors as to the nature of a health problem, its cause, and its
      implications. A knowledge of the health culture of their patients has become a
      critical tool if tuberculosis control programs are to be successful. Several
      anthropological procedures are recommended to help uncover the health culture of
      people served by tuberculosis clinics.

PMID- 1454976
TI  - Weighing costs and benefits of adequate prenatal care for 12,023 births in
      Missouri's Medicaid program, 1988.
AB  - Numerous studies have shown that the receipt of adequate prenatal care is
      associated with improvements in pregnancy outcome, particularly a reduction in
      the risk of low birth weight. Since medical costs for these low birth weight
      infants are several times higher than for normal birth weight infants, one would
      expect that medical costs for newborns would be lower for babies whose mothers
      have had adequate prenatal care than for those with inadequate prenatal care.
      Explored in this paper is whether the reduction in Medicaid costs for newborn and
      post-partum maternal care is greater than the increase in prenatal costs for a
      Medicaid population. The analysis used a file of 12,023 Missouri Medicaid records
      linked with the corresponding 1988 birth certificates. A modified version of the
      Kessner index was used to define the adequacy of prenatal care. Prenatal care
      costs were $233 higher for pregnancies with adequate prenatal care than for those
      in which prenatal care was inadequate. Newborn and post-partum costs starting
      within 60 days after the birth were $347 lower for the adequate prenatal care
      pregnancies, resulting in a savings of $1.49 for each extra $1 spent on prenatal
      care. Among the other factors studied in determining this benefit to cost ratio
      were global billing, Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children
      (WIC), and participation in Medicaid under the expanded eligibility provisions
      that were effective in Missouri in 1988.

PMID- 1454977
TI  - Area-level predictors of use of prenatal care in diverse populations.
AB  - Patterns and predictors of the use of prenatal care in Hawaii were examined by
      census tract, taking into account summary measures of socioeconomic status,
      environmental conditions, and aggregated indicators of pregnancy-related risk
      characteristics of mothers. The objectives of the study were to identify those
      census tracts with high levels of inadequate use of prenatal care services; to
      develop a model, based on census tract characteristics, to explain observed
      geographic variations in the use of prenatal care services; and to identify for
      further investigation specific localities with unanticipated patterns of use.
      Data were drawn from 1980 census reports and vital statistics live birth files
      for the period 1979-87. Regression analysis was used to develop a model that was
      able to predict 61 percent of the census tract variation in the percentages of
      inadequate use of prenatal care services. Increased proportions of mothers of
      Japanese and other Asian-descent and of adults with more than high school
      education were associated with low levels of inadequate use of prenatal care
      services. Increased proportions of high parity-for-age risk and Samoan mothers
      were associated with higher levels of inadequate use. Census tract maps of actual
      and predicted percentages and studentized residual values were used to identify
      areas with high and low rates of inadequate use of prenatal care services. The
      area-level methods used are believed applicable to health care planning in other
      areas with ethnically or socioculturally diverse populations.

PMID- 1454978
TI  - Estimating the prevalence of mental disorders in U.S. adults from the
      Epidemiologic Catchment Area Survey.
AB  - The National Institute of Mental Health Epidemiologic Catchment Area Survey is a
      comprehensive, community-based survey of mental disorders and use of services by
      adults, ages 18 and older. Diagnoses are based on the criteria in the "Diagnostic
      and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," third edition, and were obtained in
      five communities in the United States through lay-interviewer administration of
      the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Results
      from the survey provide the public health field with data on the prevalence and
      incidence of specific mental disorders in the community, unbiased by the
      treatment status of the sample. The population with disorders is estimated, and
      the survey findings that respond to some of the most common requests for
      information about the epidemiology of mental disorders in the United States are
      highlighted briefly. Based on the survey, it is estimated that one of every five
      persons in the United States suffers from a mental disorder in any 6-month
      period, and that one of every three persons suffers a disorder in his or her
      lifetime. Fewer than 20 percent of those with a recent mental disorder seek help
      for their problem, according to the survey. High rates of comorbid substance
      abuse and mental disorders were found, particularly among those who had sought
      treatment for their disorders.

PMID- 1454979
TI  - AIDS education for health care professionals in an organizational or systems
      context.
AB  - Traditionally, health education for practicing health professionals, as well as
      members of the public, focuses on the individual and relies on changing personal
      behavior. However, health care for persons with acquired immunodeficiency
      syndrome (AIDS), and members of their families, mainly is delivered within health
      and human services organizations. Providing AIDS education for health care
      professionals in an organizational or systems context shifts the focus from the
      individual to the group and from changing a person's behavior to offering health
      care professionals opportunities for interaction. In an organizational or systems
      approach, they can address patient care issues collectively, share
      interdisciplinary knowledge, identify problems of common concern, plan
      coordinated and integrated responses, and provide mutual support. A strategy for
      planning AIDS education is proposed for key administrators, supervisors, and care
      providers, who are the gatekeepers, opinion makers, and role models of
      organizations. Addressing organizational, community, and health care delivery
      system issues as part of an education program provides a forum for defining
      problems and a basis for uniting professionals and developing solutions.

PMID- 1454980
TI  - Needle sharing and participation in the Amsterdam Syringe Exchange program among
      HIV-seronegative injecting drug users.
AB  - To enhance the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus infection, factors
      related to regular participation in the Amsterdam Syringe Exchange and the
      borrowing of syringes were studied in 131 HIV-seronegative injecting drug users
      in a 1989-90 survey. A total of 29 percent of the users reported borrowing
      syringes, that is injecting drugs at least once in the past 4-6 months with a
      needle or syringe previously used by someone else. Users at increased risk of
      borrowing are previous borrowers, long term moderate-to-heavy alcohol users,
      current cocaine injectors, and drug users without permanent housing. Regular
      clients of the syringe exchange, when compared with other injecting drug users,
      were found more often to be frequent, long term injectors. They borrowed slightly
      less often than other users, but this was not statistically significant, even
      after controlling for frequency of injecting or other potential confounders. The
      results suggest that, 5 years after the start of the Amsterdam Syringe Exchange,
      drug use characteristics govern an individual injecting drug user's choice of
      exchanging or not exchanging syringes. The conclusion is that it seems more
      important to direct additional preventive measures at injecting drug users with
      an increased risk of borrowing rather than at users who do not participate in the
      syringe exchange or who do so irregularly.

PMID- 1454981
TI  - Breast cancer beliefs of women participating in a television-promoted mammography
      screening project.
AB  - A survey of breast cancer and breast cancer screening beliefs was mailed to a
      random sample of 1,000 women who contacted a telephone bank in response to a
      television-promoted, reduced-cost mammography project. Beliefs and demographics
      of women in the sample who subsequently completed a mammogram were compared with
      those who did not. No statistically significant differences were found between
      participants (persons who completed a mammogram) and nonparticipants with respect
      to age, race, marital status, income, or educational preparation. Groups also did
      not differ significantly in the series of beliefs examined. Factor analysis
      revealed respondents' most salient beliefs about breast cancer and early
      detection of breast cancer. Evidence is presented to suggest a need for enhanced
      efforts to recruit minority group women to participate in mammography screening.

PMID- 1454982
TI  - Seasonal variation in adolescent conceptions, induced abortions, and late
      initiation of prenatal care.
AB  - The monthly distribution of conceptions among adolescents and the proportion of
      adolescent pregnancies that are voluntarily terminated by induced abortion by
      month of conception are the objects of this study. Additionally, seasonal
      variations in the timing of initiation of prenatal care services by adolescents
      are investigated. Vital records files of single live births, fetal deaths, and
      induced terminations of pregnancy to residents in the State of South Carolina,
      1979-86, were aggregated to estimate conceptions. There was a significant
      difference between adolescents and adults in the monthly distribution of
      conceptions. The peak month of adolescent conceptions coincided with the end of
      the school year. Pregnancies of adolescents occurring at this time further
      demonstrated later access of prenatal care services than conceptions occurring at
      other times of the year, most notably during the school term. These findings
      suggest that there is considerable opportunity for improving the availability of
      reproductive health care services for adolescents. The results specifically
      suggest the potential benefit of increasing adolescent pregnancy prevention
      efforts prior to high-risk events and increasing the availability of and access
      to health care and counseling services to adolescents during the school recess
      months of the summer.

PMID- 1454983
TI  - Sampler of findings from the 1986 national mortality followback survey on risk
      factors, disability, and health care.
AB  - The National Center for Health Statistics conducted a mortality followback survey
      of a national probability sample drawn from all deaths of U.S. adults in 1986 and
      an oversampling of deaths of persons with selected characteristics. Responses
      were received from the next of kin or other close relatives of 16,598 adult
      decedents (88.6 percent). Data were collected through a mail questionnaire,
      followed by telephone or personal interviews with nonrespondents. Data were also
      collected from the hospitals and other health care facilities used by the
      decedent in the last year of life. Illustrative results are presented on the four
      major subject areas studied: risk factors for premature death, disability and
      care in the last year of life, socioeconomic differentials, and the reliability
      of selected items reported on the death certificate. Researchers are encouraged
      to explore the data tape to pursue indepth epidemiologic studies.

PMID- 1454985
TI  - Survey of graduates of the Epidemic Intelligence Service as an approach to
      enhancing ethnic diversity among the nation's epidemiologists.
AB  - A survey was conducted to improve the recruitment, training, and retention of
      epidemiologists in the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Program of the Centers
      for Disease Control. The authors compared minority graduates of the program and
      nonminority graduates in several areas: reasons for application, degree of
      satisfaction, appropriateness of preparation for epidemiologic practice, and
      current professional activities. A closed-ended questionnaire was mailed to all
      87 minority graduates from the program during the period 1970-88, and to 172
      randomly selected nonminority graduates. Of 259 graduates surveyed, 234 or 90.3
      percent returned the questionnaire--89.6 percent of minority graduates and 90.7
      percent of nonminority graduates. Virtually all graduates were satisfied with
      their EIS experience (95.2 percent), have encouraged others to apply (96.1
      percent), and are the most frequent sources of initial contact of prospective
      officers (38.2 percent). Most EIS graduates (71.2 percent) were still working in
      epidemiology. Compared with the nonminority graduates, the minority graduates
      were more likely to be women and to be single. Minority graduates were less
      likely than non minorities to hold academic appointments (44.2 percent versus
      60.0 percent) and less likely to work in academic settings as their primary job
      (11.5 percent versus 18.7 percent). At the same time, minority graduates were
      more likely to have learned of the EIS Program from academic advisors (32.1
      percent versus 19.4 percent). Graduates express high levels of satisfaction with
      the EIS Program and continue to practice epidemiology following graduation. Few
      differences between the minority and nonminority graduates were found. Because
      fewer minority graduates are in academic settings to serve as mentors or role
      models, alternative recruitment methods must be developed to sustain a high level
      of interest among minority groups in the EIS Program.

PMID- 1454984
TI  - Vitamin supplement use and its correlates among elderly Japanese men residing on
      Oahu, HI.
AB  - Use of vitamin supplements and the association with personal characteristics were
      investigated among 4,654 American men of Japanese ancestry in Hawaii. A total of
      58 percent of the subjects who were ages 68 to 90 took vitamin supplements. Among
      supplement users, multivitamins were most commonly used (77 percent), followed by
      vitamin C (53 percent), E (43 percent), and A (10 percent). Ninety-two percent of
      users took at least seven pills per week when all types of pills were combined.
      Vitamin supplement users were more educated, more physically active, more likely
      to be married, and less obese than nonusers. They also slept less, smoked less,
      and drank less alcohol and caffeine. They took more analgesics and stomach
      medication and had fewer days of hospitalization in the previous 10 years
      compared with nonusers. Except for physical activity, use of stomach medicines,
      and hospitalization, the other characteristics were also positively correlated
      with the amount of vitamin pill intake. These findings indicate that vitamin
      supplement users have different health patterns compared with nonusers.

PMID- 1454986
TI  - An evaluation of the Vermont worksite smoking law.
AB  - In view of the fact that the impact of statewide smoking laws on private worksite
      policies and the smoking behavior of employees has not been evaluated, two cross
      sectional surveys were performed in Vermont to measure compliance with such a
      law: a random-digit telephone survey of employees and a subsequent mail survey of
      their employers. Employers were not aware that one of their employees had been
      surveyed. Roughly half (56 percent) of the employees and 66.5 percent of their
      employers described policies that are in compliance. Among all employers who
      described policies in compliance with the law, 68.1 percent of their employees
      also described compliant policies. Among all employees who described non
      compliant policies, 48.8 percent had employers who described compliant policies.
      Overall, employees and employers agreed on how their policies stood with respect
      to compliance in 67.6 percent of cases. The prevalence and amount of smoking at
      work declined after the institution of the law but so did the prevalence and
      amount of smoking at home. Changes toward more restrictive policies were
      associated with reductions in cigarette consumption at work, but not with
      quitting. The study suggests that a large fraction of worksite smoking policies
      may not comply with a statewide worksite smoking law. The proportion of companies
      complying with such a law may be overestimated if information on compliance is
      obtained only from employers.

PMID- 1454987
TI  - Group counseling at STD clinics to promote use of condoms.
AB  - An intervention was developed to promote safer sex and condom use among patients
      seeking treatment for sexually transmitted disease (STD) at a public health STD
      clinic in Los Angeles, CA. The intervention consisted of a short group discussion
      on condom use, a presentation of a videotape portraying condom use as socially
      acceptable behavior, and a role-playing session concerning negotiating the use of
      a condom with one's sex partner. The study group was 551 persons who visited the
      clinic in 1988. Medical records of 426 (77 percent) were located and reviewed 7
      to 9 months later. Among those, 220 had participated in the intervention and 206
      were control subjects who had not participated in the intervention. The rates at
      which patients reacquired STD after treatment and after the intervention were
      compared between the intervention group and the control group. Men who
      participated in the intervention subsequently showed a lower rate of STD
      reinfection than those who did not. There was no evidence that the intervention
      reduced reinfection among women. The strongest predictor of reinfection was found
      to be a history of STD infection prior to the infection that was being treated at
      the time of the intervention. The results show that group interventions directed
      to STD patients can be effective in reducing STD reinfection among men.

PMID- 1454988
TI  - Mothers' motivations to participate in a pregnancy health survey.
AB  - An important question in interpreting epidemiologic data is why some persons
      agree to participate in a health survey while others do not. Information about
      why people agree to interview or answer a questionnaire could help researchers to
      devise procedures for a health survey and to chose information to be communicated
      in the interview or questionnaire so as to increase subjects' participation. The
      authors interviewed 180 mothers who gave birth to a child with a birth defect and
      198 mothers whose children were born without a birth defect. The interviews were
      part of two case-control studies to determine risk factors for selected birth
      defects. In the course of the interviews, each mother was asked why she agreed to
      be interviewed, and whether anything about the survey procedures that were
      followed could be improved. Among both the case mothers and the control mothers
      the most common reason for agreeing to be interviewed was humanitarian, expressed
      as "to help others" or "to prevent what happened to my baby from happening to
      babies in the future." Case mothers, more frequently than control mothers, gave
      as their reason for participating either to help themselves, their child, their
      family, or to further scientific understanding. Emphasizing these as benefits of
      participation to those who are survey subjects at the time of the initial contact
      could increase the proportion who agree to respond.

PMID- 1454989
TI  - NIDA campaign spotlights drugs-alcohol-HIV link.

PMID- 1454990
TI  - U.S. leads in funding AIDS prevention projects in Third World countries.

PMID- 1454991
TI  - Environment, behavior, and injuries.

PMID- 1454992
TI  - Are physicians "primed" by nurses?

PMID- 1454993
TI  - Hospital records missing: "spoilation of evidence". Case in point: DeLaughter v.
      Lawrence Cty. Hosp. (601 So. 2d 818--MS [1992]).

PMID- 1454994
TI  - Legal case briefs for nurses. NM: nurse sues surgeon for assault & battery with
      bone chisel; IL: simultaneous removal of catheter and tape: stands of care issue.

PMID- 1454995
TI  - Is your patient complaining of "pain" or "burning"? Case in point: McLain v.
      Glenwood Reg. Medical Center (601 S.E. 2d 240--LA [1992]).

PMID- 1454996
TI  - Effect of disease on glomerular proteinases.
AB  - Up to now, little is known about the self-perpetuating mechanism leading to
      terminal renal failure in chronic renal disease. The common pathological feature
      of progressive renal insufficiency is focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis. The
      experimental counterpart of this process is represented for instance by the
      models of streptozotocin diabetes, Adriamycin nephropathy and Goldblatt
      hypertension. In fact, the main initiating hallmark of glomerulosclerosis is an
      accumulation of glomerular proteins, whose balance is apparently influenced by
      the activity of glomerular proteinases. In isolated glomeruli of kidneys from the
      experimental animals, the total proteinase activity was assayed with the
      unspecific but sensitive azocasein assay. In fact, the activity was significantly
      reduced in all experimental models at acid and neutral pH when relating enzyme
      activity to the glomerular protein and DNA content. We believe, that our data of
      reduced glomerular proteinase activity in the animal models of glomerulosclerosis
      represent perhaps a new additional common pathogenetic mechanism. The glomerular
      protein accumulation could be a result of a synergistical interaction between
      hemodynamic factors and biochemical ones; the latter, we suggest to be a decrease
      of glomerular proteinase activity.

PMID- 1454997
TI  - [Immunopathogenesis of glomerulonephritis--new data on the clinical and
      experimental studies].

PMID- 1454998
TI  - [Immunopathogenesis of IgA nephropathy--new data based on the clinical and
      experimental studies].

PMID- 1454999
TI  - [Pathophysiology of nephrotic proteinuria and the principles of the symptomatic
      treatment].

PMID- 1455000
TI  - [Late results and prognosis in glomerulonephritis. I. General remarks].

PMID- 1455001
TI  - [Late results and prognosis in glomerulonephritis. II. Prognosis in specific
      forms of glomerulopathies].

PMID- 1455002
TI  - [Erythropoietin in 1991--pathophysiological and therapeutic aspects].

PMID- 1455003
TI  - Response to EPO therapy.

PMID- 1455004
TI  - Subcutaneous erythropoietin in the treatment of renal anaemia.
AB  - Erythropoietin was applied subcutaneously to 49 patients, 41 have been treated by
      hemodialysis, 3 by continuous ambulatory peritoneal-dialysis, 5 had chronic
      progressive renal failure. Mean initial dose of erythropoietin was 139.4
      U/kg/week and maintenance dose 115.9 U/kg/week. In 43% of patients serum ferritin
      was decreasing during treatment, and in 20% it was low before the commencing of
      the treatment. During erythropoietin therapy vitamin B12 was decreasing in 22% of
      the patients, and the substitution was necessary in 18%. Only in 1 patient it was
      necessary to substitute also folic acid. There were no nonresponders among
      erythropoietin treated patients. Elevation of blood pressure was observed in half
      of the patients, hypertensive encephalopathy in 1, and thrombosis of arterio
      venous fistula in 3.

PMID- 1455005
TI  - Recombinant human erythropoietin for anaemia associated with chronic renal
      failure in predialysis patients.

PMID- 1455006
TI  - Influence of long-term erythropoietin therapy on endocrine abnormalities in
      haemodialyzed patients.
AB  - Endocrine abnormalities in patients with chronic renal failure are well
      documented. The present study aimed to assess the influence of long-term
      erythropoietin (EPO) therapy on endocrine abnormalities in haemodialyzed
      patients. Two groups of haemodialyzed patients, each of which comprised 17
      subjects, were examined. The first one treated by EPO (EPO group) while the
      second one did not receive this hormone (NO-EPO group). A complete biochemical
      and hormonal check-up was performed before and at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of
      the study period. Normal values for the estimated parameters were obtained in
      appropriately selected sex and age-matched healthy subjects. After EPO therapy an
      increase of the haematocrit value from 21.8 +/- 0.9% to 32.6 +/- 0.9% was
      observed which was accompanied by a significant decline of plasma ferritin and
      saturation of transferrin. In patients of the NO-EPO group a significant although
      less marked rise of the haematocrit value (21.4 +/- 0.4% to 24.2 +/- 0.6%) was
      also noticed. EPO therapy did not change electrolytes (Na, K, Ca, inorganic
      phosphate), osteocalcin, creatinine, glucose and alkaline phosphatase plasma
      levels as well as plasma concentrations of calcium related hormones (PTH,
      calcitonin, 1.25(OH)2D3) and vasopressin (AVP). EPO treatment induced a
      significant decline of somatotropin (HGH), prolactin (PRO), follitropin (FSH),
      lutropin (LH), ACTH, cortisol, plasma renin activity, aldosterone, insulin (IRI),
      glucagon (IR-G), pancreatic polypeptide (PP) and gastrin plasma levels and an
      increase of plasma estradiol, testosterone and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP).
      These EPO induced endocrine alterations were restricted mostly to the first 6
      months of EPO administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455007
TI  - [Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO) on anemia and selected
      biochemical parameters in patients in the pre-dialysis period].
AB  - The effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO) on anaemia and some
      biochemical parameters was investigated in 7 predialysis patients. A
      statistically significant increase in erythrocyte, haematocrit and haemoglobin
      levels was observed after 3 weeks of treatment and such changes were constant
      during the 6 month maintenance therapy. The mean urea and creatinine levels were
      comparable during the tested period in 4 of the studied patients. The other 3
      patients did not completed the planed period and started the dialytic therapy
      because of progression of renal insufficiency. The latter group had more advanced
      renal failure and higher blood pressure prior to rHu-EPO treatment as compared
      with the patients who completed the study.

PMID- 1455008
TI  - [Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin--rHu-EPO on the metabolism of
      children treated by long-term hemodialysis].
AB  - Recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) was administered to 12 children with
      terminal renal failure aged 8-17 years subjected to hemodialysis for a mean
      period of 16 (S.D. = 19.7) month prior to EPO utilisation. The hormone was
      administered thrice weekly at an intravenous dose of 25-75 u/kg until Hb value of
      100 g/l was obtained, and subsequently at maintenance doses for mean period of 7
      (S.D. = 4.0) month. The urea kinetic modeling (UKM) algorithms allowed to compute
      protein catabolic rate (pcr) for each patient in modeling sessions performed once
      a month. The analysis included the effect of EPO upon: 1. peripheral whole blood
      count; 2. individual UKM parameters; 3. selected lab data describing the
      metabolic status of the patient (predialysis potassium, phosphorus, creatinine,
      total blood protein and albumin--and iron levels), in three randomized groups
      according to the value of pcr. Group I presented pcr less than 1.0 g
      protein/kg/day typical for malnutrition; group II--pcr = 1.0-1.4 g protein/kg/day
      -with appropriate protein catabolism; group III--pcr greater than 1.4 g
      protein/kg/day--hypercatabolic. The results from 188 pre-EPO modeling sessions
      and 78 sessions in the course of EPO treatment were compared. All the three
      groups revealed statistically significant increased Hb, Ht and erythrocyte count
      after EPO administration, which also resulted an increase of protein catabolism
      what is manifested in a decrease in the number of sessions by 26.1% in Group I
      and a corresponding increase by 13.5% and 12.6% in Groups II and III,
      respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455009
TI  - Interactions among emergent relations during equivalence class formation.
AB  - The interactions among symmetry, transitivity, and equivalence tests during the
      formation of 3-member equivalence classes were studied with 14 college students.
      After training AB and BC, a test with BA, CB, AC, and CA was conducted
      concurrently. Failure led to serial testing with probes for CA equivalence, BA
      symmetry, CA equivalence, CB symmetry, CA equivalence, AC transitivity, and CA
      equivalence. For five subjects, equivalence tests were passed immediately once BA
      and CB symmetry as well as AC transitivity had been induced. Thus, symmetry and
      transitivity were precursors for successful performance on equivalence tests. The
      conjoint function of symmetry and transitivity was assessed with the equivalence
      probes. As the equivalence probes were passed immediately, the presence of
      symmetry alone and transitivity alone were sufficient for their conjoint function
      without additional intervention. For different subjects, transitivity alone and
      symmetry were induced either directly with BA, CB, or AC probes or indirectly
      with equivalence probes. Equivalence probes can also induce various combinations
      of symmetry and transitivity. Thus, different subjects formed classes in various
      patterns at different rates.

PMID- 1455010
TI  - Increased responding to female stimuli as a result of sexual experience: tests of
      mechanisms of learning.
AB  - Sexual experience increases the response of males to stimuli provided by female
      conspecifics in a variety of species. The mechanisms of learning involved in this
      type of phenomenon were explored in two experiments with Japanese quail. The
      results indicated that instrumental conditioning with copulatory opportunity is
      not necessary for the acquisition of responding to female cues, and responding is
      not facilitated by learning about the location of the female. However, the
      response of males to female stimuli (as well as to arbitrary stimuli associated
      with access to a female) was enhanced by the presence of sexually conditioned
      contextual cues. Substantial levels of responding also occurred to female stimuli
      in a context where the subjects never encountered a female quail before. This
      latter outcome is consistent with the possibility that stimuli from a female
      become directly associated with sexual reinforcement during the course of sexual
      experience. Similar forms of learning may be involved in the effects of sexual
      experience on the response of mammalian species to female odours.

PMID- 1455011
TI  - Effects of an infusion of morphine into the accumbens nucleus upon acquisition of
      hypoalgesic and fear responses in rats exposed to a heart stressor.
AB  - Four experiments examined the effects of an infusion of morphine into the
      accumbens nucleus upon the aversive conditioning that can occur in rats exposed
      to the heated floor of a hot-plate apparatus. An infusion of morphine into the
      accumbens nucleus but not into the caudoputamen or into the prefrontal cortex
      impaired the acquisition of a conditioned hypoalgesic (Experiment 1) and fear
      (Experiment 4) response. This impairment was dose-dependent (Experiment 2) and
      mediated by opioid receptors in the accumbens nucleus, because it was removed by
      a systemic (Experiment 3a) or by an accumbal (Experiment 3b) infusion of
      naloxone. The results were attributed to an antagonism between the reinforcement
      process for aversive conditioning and the appetitive properties of an accumbal
      infusion of morphine.

PMID- 1455012
TI  - Conditioned tolerance to morphine hypoalgesia: compensatory hyperalgesia in the
      experimental group or conditioned hypoalgesia in the control group?
AB  - Five experiments used rats to examine the role of noxious stimulation in the
      development of contextually controlled morphine hypoalgesic tolerance and in the
      mediation of this tolerance by an associated hyperalgesic response. There was
      evidence for contextually controlled tolerance to morphine's hypoalgesic effects
      and an associated hyperalgesic response in rats injected with morphine and
      trained with noxious stimulation, but not in rats repeatedly exposed to morphine
      in the absence of that stimulation (Experiments 1 and 5). Latent inhibition
      (Experiment 2) and extinction (Experiment 3) of tolerance also depended upon
      pairing drug-related cues with noxious stimulation. The level of sensitivity
      reactivity to noxious stimulation in morphine-tolerant rats tested with the drug
      was related to the intensity of the noxious stimulation that had been paired with
      the test context (Experiment 4). The results were interpreted to mean that some
      of the evidence for a Pavlovian involvement in tolerance development can be
      explained in terms of morphine's interference with the acquisition, but not with
      the expression of the hypoalgesic response otherwise acquired by cues paired with
      noxious stimulation.

PMID- 1455013
TI  - The purification and sequence analysis of an avian neuromedin U.
AB  - In this study we have purified an avian homologue of neuromedin U from the
      chicken. Each step of the purification process was followed by a specific
      radioimmunoassay developed using porcine neuromedin U. Microsequence analysis
      characterised the peptide to be 25 amino acid residues long with the following
      sequence: Y-K-V-D-E-D-L-Q-G-A-G-G-I-Q-S-R-G-Y-F-F-F-R-P-R-N. Chicken neuromedin U
      has marked sequence similarity with the porcine peptide at its bioactive C
      terminal region. Our findings demonstrate that the amino acid sequence of
      neuromedin U is markedly conserved in species which have diverged millions of
      years ago in evolutionary terms.

PMID- 1455014
TI  - The vasoinhibitory activity of bovine chromogranin A fragment (vasostatin) and
      its independence of extracellular calcium in isolated segments of human blood
      vessels.
AB  - Endothelium-independent vasoconstrictor responses in isolated segments of human
      internal thoracic artery (ITA) and saphenous vein (SV) were used as a bioassay
      system for the vasoinhibitory activity of bovine chromogranin A (CGA).
      Preincubation with vasostatin (0.8 micrograms/ml), containing the N-terminal
      domain of CGA, (CGA1-76, CGA1-113 and CGA1-143ff), inhibited the contractile
      responses evoked by 80 mM K+, 2.6 microM noradrenaline (NA), or 65 nM endothelin
      1 (ET-1) in Ca(2+)-free solution in SV but not in ITA. The results demonstrate a
      vasoinhibitory activity in vasostatin and show that there is a marked difference
      between the arterial and venous segments in the Ca2+ independent component of the
      inhibitory response. A vascular role for the N-terminal domain of CGA is
      indicated, presumably by inhibiting Ca2+ release from intracellular stores in the
      human vein but not the artery.

PMID- 1455015
TI  - [Clinico-radiologic correlations in the adult respiratory distress syndrome].

PMID- 1455016
TI  - [Pneumothorax in multiple trauma. Radiologic and CT study].
AB  - This study was aimed at evaluating the necessity to perform chest Computerized
      Tomography (CT) in multiple traumatized patients to diagnose pleuropulmonary
      lesions and, particularly, pneumothorax: the correct identification of this
      condition, although minimal, is important especially in prevision of long
      anesthesias and/or positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) therapy. This assisted
      respiratory technique improves arterial oxygenation but causes a barotrauma which
      may cause some complications; particularly, a small undetected pneumothorax can
      suddenly increase so as to cause pulmonary collapse with sometimes dramatic
      symptoms. Chest X-ray films and CT scans, performed in rapid succession on
      patient's admission in Emergency Ward, were compared in 21 subjects. CT is
      indispensable in case of severe chest parietal lesions which can mask the
      radiological evidence of pulmonary or pleural conditions, as it occurred in 3 of
      our cases. Moreover, CT resulted more reliable than chest X-rays (18 versus 10
      correct diagnoses) especially in the detection of small antero-inferior
      pneumothorax flaps, in which direct radiological signs cannot be identified, in
      default of radio-geometrical assumptions. Indirect radiological signs of
      pneumothorax must be recognized but critically considered in order to avoid over
      staging.

PMID- 1455017
TI  - [Radiologic characteristics of the thorax during therapy with interleukin-2].
AB  - Interleukin-2 is a glycoprotein physiologically produced by human lymphocytes
      which is capable of mediating some still unknown immunologic reactions. In vitro,
      interleukin-2 was seen to induce a lytic reaction against tumor cells through the
      activation of a cytolytic system of natural killer cells. If administered to man
      in heavy doses, it causes a clinical response in the treatment of metastases from
      melanoma and renal cell carcinoma in 20-40% of cases. However, the clinical use
      of the drug, in therapeutic doses, is prevented by the occurrence of several side
      effects, the major one being increased permeability of alveolar vessels with
      capillary leak and interstitial pulmonary edema (Vascular Leak Syndrome in the
      English literature). Thus, this work was aimed at evaluating chest radiographs
      during interleukin-2 treatment to detect, in the pulmonary district, the early
      stages of the vascular leak syndrome--i.e., pulmonary edema, pleural and
      pericardial effusions. Forty-three patients had been treated for metastases from
      renal cell carcinoma and melanoma November 1989 through September 1991: standard
      chest radiographs demonstrated 26 cases (60%) of pulmonary edema, 14 cases (32%)
      of bilateral pleural effusions and 12 cases (27%) of pericardial effusions. Daily
      chest films of the patients undergoing interleukin-2 therapy allowed the early
      stage of the vascular leak syndrome to be depicted, thus enabling the physician
      to use the highest tolerated doses and eventually to stop infusion before marked
      respiratory distress develops.

PMID- 1455018
TI  - [Bronchogenic carcinoma staging: comparison of magnetic resonance/computerized
      tomography].
AB  - The staging of bronchogenic carcinoma is an important factor to select the
      appropriate treatment. Indeed, the definition of locoregional spread and of hilar
      and mediastinal node involvement is essential for both correct preoperative
      assessment and prognostic evaluation of bronchogenic carcinoma. CT and MR imaging
      are the methods of choice in the evaluation of T and N, even though other
      techniques--e.g., US and nuclear medicine--can also provide valuable diagnostic
      information. The authors examined 50 patients with primary bronchogenic carcinoma
      by means of plain radiographs, CT and MR of the chest. MR and CT findings were
      compared with surgical results on the basis of TNM classification. In the
      evaluation of T, sensitivity and specificity were 66% and 88.6%, respectively,
      for CT and 76% and 92% for MR imaging. No statistically significant differences
      were found between the two imaging methods (p = 0.19). In the evaluation of N,
      sensitivity and specificity were 56% and 78%, respectively, for CT and 76% and
      88% for MR imaging. A statistically significant difference was found between MR
      and CT accuracy rates (p = 0.934). CT and MR results were in disagreement
      especially in the evaluation of hilar lymph nodes. To date, MR imaging cannot be
      considered a substitute for or a routine adjunct to CT in the staging of
      bronchogenic carcinoma due to its poor spatial resolution, to the presence of
      artifacts (especially with high-intensity fields), its cost and limited
      availability. However, in the evaluation of specific anatomical regions--e.g.,
      the pulmonary apex and the peridiaphragmatic region--MR can provide more
      diagnostic information than CT thanks to its multiplanarity and better contrast
      resolution.

PMID- 1455019
TI  - [Echography in the diagnosis of patellar instability].
AB  - The authors examined with US the femoropatellar relationship on the lateral
      aspect of the knee in 20 patients (40 knees) with clinical symptoms of patellar
      instability; 20 healthy subjects (40 knees) were also studied as a control group.
      US examinations were performed with a 7.5 MHz probe, positioned perpendicular to
      the lateral aspect of the knee on a plane passing through femoral epicondyle and
      the middle third of patella. The results were compared with those obtained by
      means of conventional radiologic techniques and CT. US was useful to show lateral
      shift of patella, also in fully extended or in 30 degrees flexed knees-i.e., in
      the cases where conventional radiology meets with the greatest difficulties. CT
      is much more accurate but certainly more expensive and often not available. With
      progressive flexion of the knee, the gradual medialization of patella can be
      followed, which will be complete at a variable degree of flexion according to the
      initial lateral shift.

PMID- 1455020
TI  - [Role of computerized tomography in the densitometric assessment of lithiasis of
      the gallbladder].
AB  - Radiolucent gallstones frequently contain significant calcium deposits. Their
      detection is important to select the patients to submit to medical gallstone
      dissolution. Since CT facilitates the identification of calcifications undetected
      at conventional radiologic procedures, 60 patients were studied with CT. All of
      them had US confirmation of cholelithiasis and in the whole of cases an X-ray
      examination of the right upper abdominal quadrant was performed (for the
      identification of radiopaque stones), together with oral cholecystography (to
      evaluate gallbladder function). CT attenuation values of the stones were measured
      and the patients subsequently divided into 2 groups; the threshold value was 50
      HU: below it, the stones were considered hypo- or isodense (group I); above it,
      they were considered hyperdense (group II). Later on, 28 patients (14 from group
      I and 14 from group II) were selected for chemical dissolution with
      ursodeoxycholic acid over a 1-year period. US examinations were performed at 6
      and 12 months. Seventy per cent of the patients in group I responded to treatment
      (50% with complete stone dissolution and 20% with partial dissolution), whereas
      no patient in group II had complete dissolution and only 30% had partial
      response.

PMID- 1455021
TI  - [Liver transplantation: diagnostic imaging in the preoperative assessment].
AB  - The correct selection of patients for liver transplantation, which is essential
      for surgical success, requires thorough radiological evaluation. The authors
      present their experience on 94 pretransplant adult patients that underwent a
      total of 251 diagnostic exams (Doppler US, CT, angiography and cholangiography)
      and interventional radiology maneuvers (biopsy, chemoembolization, biliary
      drainage). Three sclerosing cholangitis, 3 Budd-Chiari syndromes and 20
      hepatocellular carcinomas in cirrhotic patients were identified; venous
      collaterals were present in 62.7% of the cases, 12.8%, of which had important
      spontaneous porto-systemic shunts; 6 patients had portal thrombosis; 20 arterial
      variations were found. Interventional maneuvers were useful and free of
      complications. US, CT and angiographic findings of each patient were compared.
      Integrating informations from different exams allowed a significant increase in
      the accuracy of diagnostic conclusions. Thanks to interventional maneuvers 5
      patients could be selected for transplantation (hepatic arterial lipiodolization
      stopped the growth of 4 hepatic neoplasms; 2 infected fluid collections were
      sterilized by percutaneous US-guided drainage and topic therapy.

PMID- 1455023
TI  - [Ultrasound-guided biopsy of small abdominal lesions. Methodology implications].
AB  - In the present study the diagnostic accuracy of US-guided fine-needle biopsy was
      evaluated in a series of 219 abdominal lesions < or = 3 cm in diameter (21
      between 0.6 and 1 cm; 83 between 1.1 and 2 cm; 115 between 2.1 and 3 cm). One
      hundred-eighty-three of them were located in the liver and 36 in other abdominal
      organs (pancreas, 10, adrenals 9, lymphnodes 9, kidney 5, spleen 3). Biopsies
      were performed with "free-hand" technique using up-to-date ultrasound equipment.
      The demonstration of the correct location of the needle tip at the time of
      sampling was looked for with great care. The sensitivity rate was 93%, with a
      progressive improvement with the increase of the lesion size (83.3% between 0.6
      and 1 cm; 91.1% between 1.1 and 2 cm; 95.4% between 2.1 and 3 cm). The
      specificity rate was 100%. In 207 cases in which the location of the needle tip
      was clearly demonstrated, the sensitivity reached 97.3% and the negative
      predictive value 93%. No noteworthy complications were observed. Ultrasonography
      is a highly reliable guidance modality also in biopsies performed on small
      abdominal lesions; if the correct location of the needle tip is clearly shown,
      even a diagnosis of benignity can be confidently made.

PMID- 1455022
TI  - [Liver transplantation: role of the radiologic methods in the postoperative
      period].
AB  - Some complications of liver transplantation appear as aspecific clinical and
      blood test abnormalities; others--e.g., hepatic artery thrombosis in the
      immediate postoperative period and stenosis of the biliary anastomosis before T
      tube removal--require early diagnosis. These considerations justify the need of
      frequent radiologic examination in both the complicated course and the follow-up.
      The authors report their experience in 59 adult patients submitted to liver
      transplantation for irreversible liver disease in advanced stage (49 with
      cirrhosis, 10 with HCC; 5 with cholestatic hepatopathy; 3 with fulminant
      hepatitis; 1 with Budd-Chiari syndrome; 1 with metastatic APUDoma). Two hundred
      and sixty-three radiological examinations were performed (Doppler US, CT,
      angiography and cholangiography) which showed numerous early and delayed
      complications: 13 of them were treated with interventional radiology maneuvers
      (US-or CT-guided percutaneous drainage of fluid collections, biliary drainage,
      bilioplasty, arterial transcatheter embolization). Our results demonstrate that
      diagnostic and operative radiology are essential for the success of liver
      transplantation; integrated imaging is particularly important in the diagnosis of
      complications, while interventional radiology techniques can be usefully employed
      in their treatment.

PMID- 1455024
TI  - [Role of endovesical echography in the assessment of bladder neoplasms].
AB  - The correct assessment of T (depth of infiltration of bladder wall by cancer) is
      relevant to plan therapy. In fact, besides staging the local lesion, this can
      predict pelvic and lumboaortic lymphnode involvement (N parameter) statistically.
      At the INRCA Hospital in Florence, from January 1987 to December 1989,
      transurethral US was performed on 66 patients affected with bladder carcinomas,
      in order to assess the value of this diagnostic method; in all patients
      pathologic staging on surgical specimens from TUR (63 cases) and cystectomy (3
      cases) was performed. Follow-up lasted 24 months at least. When comparing US
      staging (according to Holm classification) to postoperative histopathologic
      findings, our results showed that US tends to overstage the lesions, while no
      understaged tumors were seen in our series. Diagnostic accuracy was 70%. It must
      be pointed out that TRUS demonstrated hidden submucosal tumors in two patients
      previously treated with intravesical chemotherapy. Retrospectively, we were able
      to detect causes of error in cancer staging in some cases--i.e., large
      carcinomas, calcifications on tumors, radiotherapy scars, bladder wall
      inflammation due to intravesical BCG therapy. Moreover, some lesions which
      appeared to have been overstaged with TRUS and which had been treated according
      to histopathologic findings from TUR exhibited recurrence or disease progression.
      This was probably due to incomplete TUR and to the presence of residual tumor in
      the bladder wall.

PMID- 1455025
TI  - [Radiodiagnosis of ureteral and bladder hernia. A further case contribution].
AB  - The radiologic features of ureteral and bladder hernias are poorly known. These
      hernias can be located in 5 compartments, being extremely rare in 2 of them--the
      chest and lumbar sectors, where only 2 cases are reported in literature. In the
      other 3 compartments--i.e., ischiatic, crural and inguinal sectors--bladder and
      ureteral hernias are less uncommon findings. Over a relatively short period of
      time, 5 bladder hernias were observed--3 ischiatic, 1 inguino-scrotal and 1
      crural cases--and 1 double ureteral hernia, which was inguinal on the right-hand
      side and ischiatic on the left-hand side. Thus, we reviewed the main urographic
      and cystographic signs on the basis of a previous report by one of us. In
      discussing the new cases, we emphasize the importance of a few typical diagnostic
      signs, which follow: asymmetry and anomalous location of herniated organs, ureter
      protrusion beyond the pelvic bones outline, the presence of ureteral spiral
      ("curlicue sign"), and bladder walls indentation.

PMID- 1455026
TI  - [Seminal vesicles: echographic findings in 244 subjects. Evaluation of anatomic
      data and correlations with pathologic prostatic-vesicular parameters].
AB  - Over a 2-year period (1989-90), about 400 cases were examined (out of nearly
      2,500 US examinations of the prostate), 244 of which had subsequent bioptic,
      surgical or autoptic confirmation. This paper reports the anatomic, clinical and
      pathologic data relative to the seminal vesicles of 244 subjects who underwent
      transrectal US of the prostate for different clinical indications. Our biometric
      values were slightly different from those reported in literature, the latter
      being based on autoptic findings. Agenesis and monolateral ectopia were confirmed
      to be extremely rare: 4 cases only (1.6%) in our series. A typical finding was
      the nearly perfect symmetry; in size and structure, of the two seminal vesicles
      in the same subject; as a matter of fact, a loco-regional pathologic condition
      was detected in all the patients (14) with asymmetry. A hundred per cent
      agreement was observed between the US patterns of the seminal vesicles and the
      prostatic patterns in case of acute/subacute prostatic inflammation involving
      also the 2 glands: this parameter can be used to follow the clinical course of
      the inflammatory process.

PMID- 1455027
TI  - [Computerized tomography follow-up after percutaneous renal lithotripsy].
AB  - Even though extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is nowadays considered
      the treatment of choice for the majority of upper urinary tract calculi,
      percutaneous stone removal will continue to be an alternative treatment method in
      selected cases. Therefore, percutaneous techniques must not be forgotten by the
      interventional radiologist. In order to assess the effects and the potential
      damage caused by this interventional procedure to kidney and perirenal tissues,
      CT was performed on 20 patients before and after percutaneous nephrolithotripsy.
      In the cases where no complications occurred during the maneuver, post
      nephrolithotripsy scans demonstrated low incidence of significant renal
      abnormalities. Thickening of pararenal fascia (8 patients) and irregular renal
      outline (10 patients) were our most frequent findings. In 5 patients we found
      edema of the pyelo-ureteral junction, in 3 thickening of the bridging perinephric
      septa and retained stone fragments, in 2 perirenal hematomas, in one a
      subcapsular fluid collection. Urinoma with pelvic laceration was demonstrated in
      the only patient in whom the maneuver presented marked technical problems. On the
      basis of this series of pre- and post-nephrolithotripsy CT scans of treated
      kidneys, the authors conclude that this percutaneous technique is quite
      atraumatic.

PMID- 1455028
TI  - [Results of conservative treatment of stage I-II carcinoma of the breast.
      Analysis of 311 patients].
AB  - From January 1984 through December 1990, 311 patients affected with breast cancer
      were treated with quadrantectomy plus lymphadenectomy and radiation therapy
      (QUART) at the Umberto I Hospital in Mestre, Italy. The patients with positive
      nodes (N+) were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (CMF) or hormonotherapy
      (Tamoxifen) according to pausal status. Most patients were in the 5th, 6th and
      7th decades of life; 60.5% of them were over 50. Staging was always performed
      according to TNM classification (UICC criteria) and demonstrated mostly stage-I
      lesions (66.9%). Overall and disease-free (NED) survival rates were 95%; mean
      survival rates were 7.47 (+/- 0.138) and 7.22 (+/- 0.164) years, respectively.
      Ten patients died (5 from breast cancer); 6 local relapses were observed and 8
      metastases. Metastases were seen mostly in patients with breast cancer in the
      internal quadrants (QI) N0, with no statistically significant differences
      relative to the other groups. This is probably due to the existence of an
      axillary pN0 and parasternal N+ group of patients, who receive insufficient
      treatment.

PMID- 1455029
TI  - [Radon levels in interiors in Valtellina, on the Angera hills and in the high
      valley of the Cervo river].
AB  - The results are reported of an investigation carried out from 1988 to 1990 in
      many houses in various sites in Lombardy and Piedmont. Measurements were actually
      carried out in Valtellina, in Angera--on the Lombard side of lake Maggiore--and
      in the high valley of the river Cervo, north of Biella. The patterns of radon
      immission in houses due to buildings materials and also to soil emissions are
      described. Average values of radon levels were obtained using track-etch
      detectors, whereas fluctuations were recorded daily with a unit capable of
      detecting alpha particles in real time. Some of the values obtained in 28
      Valtellina towns were quite high--e.g., about 1,000 Bq/m3 in towns along the
      Insubrica fault. The area around Bormio and the Masino valley did not exhibit
      high radioactivity levels. A total number of nearly 100 houses were investigated
      in Angera; the highest radon concentrations were observed in cellars and
      especially in the areas where fractures are bigger and more diffuse. One
      particular house was accurately examined with real-time analysis of radon
      fluctuations. Four small towns in the pluton area were investigated in the valley
      of the river Cervo. In this instance, values were generally high (mean
      concentration: 842 Bq/m3); the highest concentrations were found in cellars and
      in ground-floor rooms.

PMID- 1455030
TI  - [Teleradiography for diagnosis in emergency care. A clinical experience].
AB  - This work was aimed at evaluating the role of teleradiology in a diagnostic
      emergency room. Over a 6-month period (September 1991-February 1992), 2,000 films
      made in the emergency room were transmitted to a resident radiologist 1 kilometer
      away: each examination included patient's data (sex, age, site of trauma, etc.)
      which were sent by the admitting physician. A teleradiology system (Lumiscan 100
      AT&T and Philips) was used. Films were digitized on a 1024 x 1024 x 8-bit image
      matrix and then transmitted over a dedicated standard phone line to the
      Department of Radiology. The autograph report was sent by fax to the emergency
      room. Four radiologists, of varying experience, independently reviewed a sample
      of 179 digitized radiographs and, 30 days later, the original films on a
      conventional light-box. The results appear to be encouraging because no
      significant differences were observed in the performance of any of the
      radiologists. Good video/films agreement was obtained, together with high
      sensitivity and specificity. A good result was the relatively small number (0.4%
      of all examined cases) of false negatives diagnosed on faxed films relative to
      the actual clinical diagnosis.

PMID- 1455031
TI  - [Conventional radiology, digital radiology with photostimulable phosphor, laser
      digitalization of thoracic radiographic films at the bedside. A comparative
      study].
AB  - The bedside chest images obtained with conventional radiology and with "on line"
      and "off line" digital modalities were compared to evaluate the respective
      capabilities in visualizing chest anatomical structures. Seventy patients were
      submitted to bedside chest examinations with a portable unit; both a conventional
      film and a digital system (PCR Graphics 1, Philips) with photostimulable phosphor
      imaging plate were fitted in the radiographic cassette. The former was digitized
      using an "off line" laser beam unit (FD 2000, Dupont); the latter was
      subsequently postprocessed by modifying contrast, optical density and spatial
      frequencies. Thus, 4 different viewing modalities were obtained for each
      examination: a) conventional radiography; b) standard digital radiography; c)
      postprocessed digital radiography; d) digitized conventional radiography.
      Detectability rates of chest anatomical structures were analyzed by 4 independent
      radiologists on the different images and expressed by a score 1-4. The values
      were always higher with digital modalities than with the conventional one and the
      differences were statistically significant (Student's t-test modified by
      Bonferroni). In particular, the greatest difference was found between c) and a)
      in retrocardiac lung parenchyma and in skeletal structures, in favour of c).
      Concerning the comparative adequacy of the various digital modalities, higher
      detectability rates of chest anatomical structures were obtained with c), but
      also with b), than with d).

PMID- 1455032
TI  - [The use of digital techniques with storage phosphors for orthopantomography.
      Preliminary note].
AB  - Digital panoramic tomographies with light-emitting phosphors were obtained in 39
      patients, during a study on the clinical applications of digital imaging.
      Performing digital panoramic radiographies required the preliminary adaptation of
      the imaging plates to the cassette holder of the radiographic equipment. The
      digital images were post-processed according to two different protocols, both of
      which were recorded for each patient. The former image was quite similar to
      standard X-ray films and was called "analogic-like". The latter, called
      "xeroradiographic-like", featured a flattening of the overall contrast together
      with detail contrast enhancement due to the presence of an edge effect, as it
      occurs in xeroradiography. Digital panoramic tomography allows a marked reduction
      in patient's exposure to X-rays. In addition, this technique offers constant high
      quality results, due to the possibility of recovering over- or under-exposed
      images during post-processing. Xeroradiographic-like digital films may reduce the
      sharp contrast that is often present between the anterior and the lateral
      portions of the maxillary and mandibular arches, thus improving the diagnostic
      reliability of the examination. Other modalities of digital post-processing may
      be helpful to depict gingival soft tissues, with obvious advantages for the study
      of periodontal diseases.

PMID- 1455033
TI  - [Preoperative needle localization in intraductal breast lesions with
      galactography].

PMID- 1455034
TI  - [Bizarre paraosteal osteochondromatous proliferation. Description of a case].

PMID- 1455035
TI  - ["Erdheim-Chester" disease. Description of a case].

PMID- 1455036
TI  - [Anomalous left pulmonary artery. Description++ of 2 cases].

PMID- 1455037
TI  - [A peculiar case of aneurysm of the portal system].

PMID- 1455038
TI  - [A case of adrenal vein leiomyosarcoma. Role of percutaneous biopsy].

PMID- 1455039
TI  - [Retractile mesenteritis. Description of a case].

PMID- 1455040
TI  - [MR imaging of an intra-abdominal desmoid].

PMID- 1455041
TI  - [Echographic nonvisualization of the gallbladder in a case of cholecysto-colic
      fistula].

PMID- 1455042
TI  - [Final scintigraphic diagnosis with [99mTc] HIDA in a case of focal nodular
      hyperplasia with essential thrombocythemia and portal thrombosis].

PMID- 1455043
TI  - [Digestive system radiology: let's not downgrade it].

PMID- 1455044
TI  - Disease markers and new therapeutics. Dual objectives of genetics in
      rheumatology.
AB  - Genetic studies in rheumatology have led us down a path with two practical
      endpoints. On the one hand, sophisticated molecular genetics provides specific
      markers with which to predict disease risk. On the other hand, these same studies
      have identified likely genetic and molecular intermediates in the pathway of
      disease, offering new possibilities for targeted intervention and immunotherapy.

PMID- 1455045
TI  - Prediction of susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis by human leukocyte antigen
      genotyping.
AB  - Recent methodologic advances now allow the precise identification of HLA genes in
      individuals. Population studies using these methods have pinpointed the HLA
      alleles strongly associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This article
      summarizes the current status of these RA-associated HLA genes in disease
      susceptibility and uses that information to derive estimates of risk ratios for
      prediction of disease in an individual.

PMID- 1455046
TI  - Immunoglobulin V genes in rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - Recent studies have revealed that a broad spectrum of Ig V genes (VH, V kappa, V
      lambda) contribute to the rheumatoid factor (RF) and non-RF produced by B cells
      in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This result contrasts with the
      restricted V gene use of paraprotein IgM RF. Certain VH and VL genes, however,
      appear more often in RA than expected from random expression, including some of
      the paraprotein-associated V genes. Many V genes expressed in RA are the same as
      those found in the fetal/CD5+ repertoire, suggesting an important role for CD5+ B
      cells in RA. Somatic mutations suggest that the B-cell response in RA is at least
      in part antigen-driven, although many Ig in RA have little or no mutation.
      Improved detection of V-gene polymorphisms now enable study of Ig V gene RFLP in
      RA.

PMID- 1455047
TI  - Immunogenetics of spondyloarthropathies.
AB  - The association of HLA-B27 with ankylosing spondylitis and related
      spondyloarthropathies has been known for two decades and has provided a great
      impetus to the epidemiologic studies and also helped broaden the clinical
      spectrum of these diseases. The etiology of these diseases is likely to be
      multifactorial and include genetic, immunologic, and environmental mechanisms.
      The detailed three-dimensional x-ray crystallographic structure of B27 has now
      been reported. It has revealed electron density compatible with oligopeptides
      that are nine amino acid-long (nonamers) bound in the antigen-binding cleft of
      the molecule. Microsequence analysis of 11 peptides eluted from the antigen
      binding cleft has confirmed that all are nonamers. The most restricted position
      in the bound peptide is the second position, where all the 11 peptides contain
      arginine. The side chain of arginine extends into the B pocket ("45 pocket"),
      which seems to act as a specificity side pocket in the antigen-binding cleft of
      the B27 molecule. It is very likely that an understanding of the detailed
      structure of B27, including the peptide-binding motif and the structural domains
      recognized by cytotoxic T cells, along with the recent development of the B27
      transgenic rat model for spondyloarthropathies, will further enhance our
      understanding of the immunogenetics of these diseases. It is hoped that this will
      lead to the source of the arthritogenic triggers and possibly disease prevention
      by antigen-specific immunomodulation. Because T-cell activation is initiated by
      the formation of antigen-MHC complexes that are the ligands that are recognized
      by the antigen-specific T-cell receptor (TCR), it might be possible to inhibit
      this activation by blocking the antigen-binding cleft of MHC molecules by using
      high-affinity MHC-binding peptides (MHC blockade) or by a novel, new, and more
      efficient method of TCR antagonism.

PMID- 1455048
TI  - Genetics of systemic lupus erythematosus.
AB  - Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease in which
      multiple genes appear to play important roles in pathogenesis. Hereditary
      deficiencies, both complete and partial, of several components of the complement
      system clearly predispose to lupus. HLA class II alleles appear to mediate
      specific autoantibodies, many of which are pathogenic. Modern molecular
      techniques are now providing insight into the specific major histocompatibility
      complex class II polymorphisms that are associated with different autoantibodies
      in SLE. Other genetic systems also may be important.

PMID- 1455049
TI  - Genetics of the complement system and rheumatic diseases.
AB  - The complement system, especially the early components of the classic pathway,
      are critically involved in immune complex processing. The deposition of clusters
      of complement component C3b on a target marks it for elimination, primarily
      through an interaction with complement receptors. Not surprisingly, total and
      partial deficiencies of certain complement components and C3b receptors are
      associated with rheumatic diseases, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus.
      This predisposition is explicable, based on the critical role complement plays in
      immune complex handling.

PMID- 1455050
TI  - Nerve lesions induced by macrophage activation.
AB  - The neuropathies associated with infectious processes, including leprosy,
      retroviral infections and Chagas' disease, represent the largest group of
      neuropathies in the world. Segmental demyelination and axonal degeneration of
      nerve fibres are associated with inflammatory infiltrates which contain a large
      number of mononuclear phagocytes. In order to learn more about the role played by
      macrophage activation in the nerve lesions observed in inflammatory neuropathies,
      we have performed a morphological study of nerves injected with products of
      activation of macrophages including proteolytic enzymes and cytokines (tumour
      necrosis factor and alpha beta-interferon). We have also studied the effects on
      nerve fibres of macrophages activated by ingestion of proteose-peptone, a foreign
      protein, and in the course of a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction. We
      have found that proteases and urokinase were potent demyelinating agents and that
      activated macrophages were also able to induce significant demyelination of
      neighbouring fibres. In contrast, injection of TNF alpha induced more severe
      nerve lesions consisting of axonal degeneration of the majority of nerve fibres.
      We thus conclude that infected macrophages which penetrate the endoneurium and
      macrophages activated in a DTH reaction can both cause neuropathy.

PMID- 1455051
TI  - Complements, microglial cells and amyloid fibril formation.

PMID- 1455052
TI  - Distribution pattern and functional state of complement proteins and alpha 1
      antichymotrypsin in cerebral beta/A4 deposits in Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 1455053
TI  - Complement proteins and complement inhibitors in Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 1455054
TI  - Complement activation and beta-amyloid-mediated neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's
      disease.

PMID- 1455055
TI  - The role of the acute-phase protein alpha 1-antichymotrypsin in brain dysfunction
      and injury.
AB  - The crystal structure of proteolytically modified human ACT has been solved at
      2.7-A resolution (Baumann et al., 1991). The final model consists of 374 amino
      acids, 126 solvent molecules and 5 sugar residues. Asn70 is glycosylated and
      Asn104 is probably glycosylated. The role of carbohydrates in serpin function may
      be 3-fold: secretion, removal from circulation and recognition by receptors for
      complex uptake (Travis et al., 1990). Experiments with recombinant, non
      glycosylated ACT have shown that glycosylation has no effect on the association
      rates of ACT with its target proteases (Rubin et al., 1990). The X-ray
      diffraction studies also revealed that a certain ACT region is involved in DNA
      binding, although the physiologic relevance of this binding is still unknown.
      Using a plethora of techniques, scientists are starting to understand the role of
      ACT in health and disease. It is 14 years since ACT was first purified (Travis et
      al., 1978) and 9 years since its gene was cloned (Chandra et al., 1983). We have
      learned considerably about this protease inhibitor in humans and rodents; in
      inflammation, cancer and AD; as binding to proteases (irreversibly), to the A
      beta (irreversibly) and to DNA. However, there are still open avenues for
      research. These include: finding the proteases that ACT inhibits in brain,
      identifying the cellular receptors which bind ACT-protease complexes and
      elucidating the DNA-binding phenomenon. Recently, 4 mutations have been found in
      APP. The first mutation at position 22 of A beta was detected in HCHWA-D by Levy
      et al. (1991).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455056
TI  - The role of perivascular and microglial cells in fibrillogenesis of beta-amyloid
      and PrP protein in Alzheimer's disease and scrapie.

PMID- 1455057
TI  - Activated microglia and cerebral amyloid deposits in Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 1455058
TI  - Cerebrospinal fluid antibodies: an indicator for immune responses in Alzheimer's
      disease.

PMID- 1455059
TI  - Antineurofibrillary tangle, antineural and anti-beta-amyloid-protein in
      Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

PMID- 1455060
TI  - Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome antibodies bind to the heavy
      neurofilament protein of cholinergic neurons.

PMID- 1455061
TI  - Mycobacteria and AIDS: epidemiological and genetic markers, virulence factors and
      interactions with the immune system.

PMID- 1455062
TI  - Mycobacteria as cofactors in AIDS.

PMID- 1455063
TI  - Epidemiology of mycobacterial diseases in AIDS.

PMID- 1455064
TI  - Clinical aspects of mycobacterial infections in HIV infection.

PMID- 1455065
TI  - Antibody levels to the type-specific glycopeptidolipid antigens of Mycobacterium
      avium in homosexual men: possible implications.

PMID- 1455066
TI  - Control of disease progress in Mycobacterium avium-infected AIDS patients.

PMID- 1455067
TI  - Macrophages, mycobacteria and HIV: the role of cytokines in determining
      mycobacterial virulence and regulating viral replication.
AB  - The marriage of two scourges, one old (mycobacterial disease) and one new (HIV),
      has presented an enormous challenge to the medical and public health communities,
      and has stirred renewed interest in mechanisms for immune control of
      mycobacterial infection. Virulence of both M. avium and M. tuberculosis appears
      to be inversely related to the capacity of the microorganisms to induce
      production of protective cytokines in infected hosts. TNF alpha and IFN gamma are
      central to this process, and mycobacterial polysaccharides may be their main
      determinant. Despite these similarities, M. tuberculosis and M. avium cause
      illnesses at the polar extremes of HIV disease. Tuberculosis, occurring early in
      the course of HIV disease, may promote HIV replication in otherwise latently
      infected cells via induction of cytokines. As such, the potential exists for
      accelerated progression to AIDS due to the mutual synergy of these pathogens.

PMID- 1455068
TI  - Cytokines, lymphokines, mycobacteria and AIDS.

PMID- 1455069
TI  - In vitro activity of antimicrobial agents against the Mycobacterium avium complex
      inside macrophages from HIV1-infected individuals: the link to clinical response
      to treatment?

PMID- 1455070
TI  - Mycobacteria and AIDS: treatment, prevention and future prospects.

PMID- 1455071
TI  - Diminished mephobarbital anticonvulsant action following diphenhydramine
      pretreatment.
AB  - Diphenhydramine and other antihistamines produce biphasic effects on drug
      disposition and lower seizure threshold, thereby potentially diminishing the
      efficacy of anticonvulsants such as mephobarbital. Accordingly, the influence of
      diphenhydramine (50 mg/kg, IP) pretreatment on the anticonvulsant activity of
      mephobarbital (50 mg/kg, IP) was determined in adult female Swiss-Webster mice
      given pentylenetetrazol (SC). Diphenhydramine lowered the pentylenetetrazol
      convulsive dose (CD50) by 60%. Administration of diphenhydramine in combination
      with mephobarbital produced a 65% decrease in the CD50 of pentylenetetrazol in
      comparison with that of animals given mephobarbital plus pentylenetetrazol.
      Pharmacokinetic evaluation of mephobarbital blood level data indicates that the
      mechanism responsible for the observed interaction between diphenhydramine and
      mephobarbital involves a decrease in mephobarbital uptake from the administration
      site.

PMID- 1455072
TI  - Therapeutic parameters of methylprednisolone treatment for retinal photic injury
      in a rat model.
AB  - Methylprednisolone (MP) has been prescribed for the treatment of solar
      retinopathy presumably because of its anti-inflammatory effect. Recently, high
      doses of MP have been shown to ameliorate light-induced photoreceptor
      degeneration, and the mechanism of action was suggested to be the inhibition of
      lipid peroxidation. In this study we examined the dose-response effect and the
      effect of delayed treatment with MP in an established rat model of retinal photic
      injury. Animals received intraperitoneal injections of either MP (8, 160, or 320
      mg/kg/day) or saline solution (as a control) for 2 days. Injections were started
      simultaneously with the commencement of light exposure or delayed for 6 or 24 h.
      The animals were sacrificed 6 days after light exposure, and the retinal damage
      was assessed by light microscopy and morphometric measurement of the outer
      nuclear layer (ONL) thickness. Morphologically and morphometrically, treatment
      with 8 mg/kg/day of MP was not effective, while treatment with 160 mg/kg/day
      caused better preserved photoreceptors and a thicker ONL compared with the
      controls (P less than 0.001). Animals administered with a dose of 320 mg/kg/day
      showed more severe damage to photoreceptors, resulting in a thinner ONL (P less
      than 0.05). When treatment with 160 mg/kg/day was delayed for 6 h, a similar
      efficacy as in the no-delay group was noted, but when treatment was delayed for
      24 h, no beneficial effect was observed (P = 0.19). Our results demonstrated that
      early treatment with high doses of MP ameliorated retinal photic injury in rats.

PMID- 1455073
TI  - The effect of maternal administration of enalapril on fetal development in the
      rat.
AB  - Enalapril (MK, 421), an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, was tested for
      teratogenicity using Wistar rats. The drug was given by oral intubation, from 6
      15 days of gestation, at the doses of 0, 3, 10 and 30 mg/kg/day. Reduction in
      body weight and food consumption were observed in the treated dams. However, food
      efficiency index, assessed at different periods of gestation was found to be
      unaffected. On day 20 of gestation, all the dams were sacrificed by cervical
      dislocation and sign of maternal toxicity, reproduction indices and fetal
      measures were recorded. The dams treated with enalapril at only the doses of 10
      and 30 mg/kg, produced significant decrease in numbers of implants, litter size
      and incidence of reabsorbed fetuses, and also reduced neonatal growth. No such
      effects were observed at the lowest dose level (3 mg/kg) used. External, visceral
      and skeletal examinations of the fetuses of enalapril-treated dams showed several
      types of variations in all groups, but no consistent pattern were observed.
      However, a slight increase in skeletal variations was seen with the highest dose
      (30 mg/kg) group. The data of the present study under the conditions described
      herein and at the doses employed, revealed no evidence of teratogenesis, but
      numerous deleterious effects on the fetus were evident.

PMID- 1455074
TI  - Suppression of intestinal smooth muscle contraction by phenolic compounds.
AB  - Wood creosote, a mixture of guaiacol, creosol, and other related phenolic
      compounds, suppresses the spontaneous longitudinal phasic contractions of an
      isolated rat ileal segment. Thirty-two phenolic compounds were screened for this
      activity to identify the active substances in wood creosote. Of the 32 compounds
      tested, 2,3,6-trimethylphenol, 2,4,6-trimethylphenol, and 4-ethylguaiacol were
      most effective and their respective IC50 values were 0.035, 0.037, and 0.043 mM.
      Guaiacol and creosol, the chief constituents of wood creosote, were moderately
      effective and their respective IC50 values were 0.18 and 0.13 mM. Other phenolic
      compounds in wood creosote also suppressed the ileal contraction although their
      IC50 values differed markedly from each other. These results suggest that
      practically all of its constituent phenolic compounds contribute to wood
      creosote's capacity to suppress ileal contraction.

PMID- 1455075
TI  - The effect of calcium on disodium monofluorophosphate absorption from the
      gastrointestinal tract of rats.
AB  - The absorption of fluoride from disodium monofluorophosphate with or without
      added calcium has been studied in ligated stomachs and duodena of rats, in vivo.
      Measurements of fluoride absorption from sodium fluoride were also carried out
      for comparative purposes. The formation constant of the soluble, neutral calcium
      monofluorophosphate complex has been determined at 20 degrees, 25 degrees and 37
      degrees C. Its value at 37 degrees C being 315 +/- 10 (molar units). The
      influence of increasing concentrations of calcium on alkaline phosphatase
      (E.C.3.1.3.1) activity with disodium monofluorophosphate as substrate has been
      also studied. Gastric absorption of 2 mM disodium monofluorophosphate in the
      presence of 50 mM calcium was much slower than that of 2 mM disodium
      monofluorophosphate alone. The latter was slower than that of 2 mM sodium
      fluoride. The opposite situation has been found for the duodenal fluoride
      absorption. Results obtained are interpreted in terms of the occurrence of an
      intestinal monofluorophosphate hydrolysis prior to its absorption as fluoride. In
      addition, data presented suggest an independent and parallel pathway of fluoride
      absorption in the form of the liposoluble calcium monofluorophosphate complex.

PMID- 1455076
TI  - Problems and timing in the removal of silicone oil.
AB  - The risk associated with silicone oil removal after complex vitreoretinal surgery
      is unclear. Therefore, a cohort of 87 consecutive cases of silicone oil removal
      were analyzed. Eyes with attached retina before silicone oil removal with a
      follow-up of at least 5 months were included into the study. Forty-eight eyes had
      severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy; 39 eyes had complex proliferative
      vitreoretinopathy or giant retinal tears after trauma. Additional clinical
      features included the presence of a secondary cataract or secondary glaucoma in
      some eyes. The rate of postoperative complications was different in the two
      groups: 75% of proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients remained attached; of
      proliferative vitreoretinopathy patients, only 48.5% remained stable. Whereas
      success was independent of the duration of intraocular silicone oil tamponade in
      proliferative diabetic retinopathy, removal of silicone oil was more successful
      in cases of proliferative vitreoretinopathy in which there was a longer period of
      silicone oil tamponade. Complications occurring usually were severe and led to a
      loss of visual acuity. The removal of silicone oil from eyes with secondary
      glaucoma resulted in an improvement in 68% of patients. The rate of vitreoretinal
      complications after silicone oil removal, even in cases with a clinically stable
      appearing retina, is rather high. Silicone oil removal therefore has to be
      considered a procedure posing new and ill-defined risks, especially if the
      indications for the use of silicone oil as an internal tamponade are rather
      strict. Exact criteria for the timing and safe removal of silicone oil in these
      complex vitreoretinal disorders still need to be defined.

PMID- 1455077
TI  - Identification of silicone oil in the retina after intravitreal injection.
AB  - Retinal tissue obtained from 2 eyes that had been injected with silicone oil for
      2 years was stained with monoclonal antibodies against macrophages and studied by
      light and electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis. Both
      specimens showed areas with a relatively intact architecture as well as parts
      with loss of normal structure. In both areas, immunostaining showed single
      intraretinal macrophages. Energy-dispersive x-ray results clearly demonstrated
      that some of the intracellular and extracellular vacuoles within the retina
      represented the storage sites of silicone.

PMID- 1455078
TI  - A quantitative in vitro model for silicone oil emulsification. Role of blood
      constituents.
AB  - To understand why some patients seem to be protected from emulsification and
      others are not, the authors developed an in vitro model for quantitative analysis
      of silicone oil emulsification. The pro-emulsifying potential of substances and
      blood components that may have access to the vitreous cavity in a patient's eye
      was analyzed. In this model, red blood cell ghosts had the highest emulsifying
      effect; plasma and lymphocytes also had a significant emulsifying effect.
      Phospholipids in membranes and other soluble blood components may play important
      roles in this process. These results suggest the importance of avoiding and
      removing hemorrhage and avoiding inflammation when silicone oil is used in
      vitreoretinal surgery.

PMID- 1455079
TI  - Experimental evaluation of in vitro stability of purified polydimethylsiloxanes
      (silicone oil) in viscosity ranges from 1000 to 5000 centistokes.
AB  - One of the main problems in the clinical use of silicone oil in vitreoretinal
      surgery is the instability of the material in terms of emulsification. Fine
      silicone oil droplets can cause a secondary glaucoma by blocking aqueous outflow.
      Intravitreally applicable silicone oils comprise an inhomogeneous group of
      materials, and the rate of emulsification depends on the physicochemical
      properties of the silicone oils. Clinically most frequently used silicone oils
      are highly purified polydimethylsiloxanes with a viscosity of 1000 centistokes
      (cs) to 5000 cs. Low-viscosity silicone oils are preferred by some surgeons
      because of easier surgical handling and easier removal out of the vitreous. The
      authors investigated highly purified polydimethylsiloxanes in viscosity ranges of
      1000 cs, 2000 cs, 3000 cs, 4000 cs, and 5000 cs with regard to their in vitro
      stability to evaluate the optimal range of viscosity with acceptable material
      stability. The comparative stability tests were performed with 0.1% salt
      solutions of albumin, acidic alpha-1-glycoprotein, fibrin, fibrinogen, gamma
      globulins, and very-low-density lipoprotein as emulsifiers. Silicone oil at 5000
      cs was in all cases distinctly more stable than the silicone oils with a
      viscosity up to 4000 cs. A positive correlation between the degree of viscosity
      and an increase of material stability was not found with all emulsifiers. When
      very-low-density lipoprotein, albumin, and fibrin served as detergents, a
      remarkable stability gain was achieved only at 5000 cs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1455080
TI  - Systemic antibiotic prophylaxis in penetrating ocular injuries. An experimental
      study.
AB  - Intraocular concentrations of systemically administered gentamicin and cefazolin
      in eyes after a standard penetrating ocular injury were measured to determine the
      effect of eye injury on ocular pharmacokinetics. Twenty pigmented rabbits were
      divided into two groups. A standard, 8-mm wound was made at the pars plana of one
      eye in each animal. Group 1 consisted of 10 rabbits that were treated with
      cefazolin (75 mg/kg), and Group 2 consisted of 10 rabbits that were given
      gentamicin (2 mg/kg). Fellow eyes, which sustained no trauma, served as control
      eyes. All groups received intravenous injections every 8 hours for 72 hours,
      beginning immediately after repair of the wound. After 72 hours, samples were
      obtained from the anterior chamber, vitreous cavity, and serum. Standardized
      bioassays for detection of gentamicin or cefazolin were performed. Significant
      concentrations of intravitreal cefazolin (9.6 micrograms/ml) and gentamicin (0.60
      micrograms/ml) were found in the traumatized eyes in comparison to control eyes
      (P = 0.0001; P = 0.006). Cefazolin exhibited excellent penetration, achieving
      concentrations well above minimum inhibitory concentration values for most
      organisms. Gentamicin levels, however, were well below acceptable therapeutic
      levels. This study suggests that systemically administered cefazolin can achieve
      significant intravitreal penetration at minimum inhibitory concentrations after
      penetrating injury.

PMID- 1455081
TI  - Subretinal perfluorocarbon liquids. An experimental study.
AB  - Perfluorocarbon liquids (PFCL) are fully fluorinated, synthetic, transparent
      compounds with a high specific gravity. These compounds are being increasingly
      used as an intraoperative tool for repair of complicated retinal detachments. A
      known complication of their use, however, is liquid entering the subretinal space
      via a retinal break. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of two
      of these liquids when placed subretinally in the rabbit eye. Vitrectomy,
      retinotomy, and subretinal injection of 0.03 cc of either perfluoroctane,
      perfluorotributylamine, or balanced salt solution (control eyes) were performed
      on 36 rabbit eyes. Animals were monitored clinically by indirect ophthalmoscopy
      and fundus photography for up to 21 days. After the 21-day observation period,
      electroretinograms (ERG) were taken before the rabbits were killed.
      Histopathologic studies were done at 3 hours, 24 hours, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days,
      and 21 days after injection. Three eyes demonstrated tearing of the retinotomy
      site due to downward migration of the PFCL droplet. Results of the ERGs were
      normal in all animals tested. Phagocytosis of PFCL droplets by the retinal
      pigment epithelium (RPE) was observed in 1 eye 3 hours after injection. Three of
      the eyes that received PFCL injections and all of the control eyes demonstrated
      moderate intracellular edema of both inner and outer nuclear layers as early as
      24 hours after injection. In one eye injected with PFCL, these changes progressed
      to swelling and cystic formation of the inner nuclear layer and mild degeneration
      of the outer photoreceptor segments 3 days after injection. It was assumed that
      these effects occurred on a mechanical basis and were not related to PFCL
      toxicity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455082
TI  - The effect of simultaneous internal tamponade on fluid compartmentalization and
      its relationship to cell proliferation.
AB  - To determine whether the residual free spaces within the vitreous chamber that
      result after vitreoretinal surgery and internal tamponade may be avoided, and to
      verify whether such compartmentalization is of real importance in the recurrence
      of postoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), the use of simultaneous
      double filling with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and fluorosilicone (FSiO) in the
      repair of complicated retinal detachment is evaluated in 12 selected cases.
      Initial retinal reattachment was achieved in all cases. PVR recurred in 10
      patients (83%), 6 of whom showed partial retinal detachment. Inferior and
      superior postoperative residual free spaces were abolished by this procedure, but
      a new residual fluid space was created, lying horizontally between the bubbles
      and expanding in a triangular shape nasal to the optic disc and temporal to the
      macula. Overall, 9 of 10 eyes with PVR after surgery had proliferation involving
      these areas. These findings support the concept that compartmentalization is of
      major importance in determining postoperative cell proliferation.

PMID- 1455083
TI  - Retinal detachment after refractive surgery for myopia.
AB  - Refractive surgery has been used widely in some countries for the last 20 years
      for the correction of myopia. Radial keratotomy and keratomileusis, the most
      common procedures, may concur with retinal detachment. A total of 14 eyes in 12
      patients, 7 after keratomileusis and 7 after radial keratotomy, which had either
      asymptomatic or symptomatic retinal breaks, subclinical and clinical
      rhegmatogenous retinal detachments, or both, are discussed here. Five eyes were
      treated with either laser photocoagulation or cryopexy alone, seven eyes with a
      scleral buckling procedure, one eye with vitrectomy, and one eye was not operated
      on. At the final follow-up examination, anatomic reattachment had been achieved
      in 12 of 14 eyes (85.7%). Visual acuity improved in 3 eyes (21.4%), remained
      stable in 9 eyes (64.3%), and was worse in 2 eyes (14.3%). The scleral buckling
      procedures used in the repair of retinal detachment induced refractive changes by
      modifying axial length and corneal curvature, with recurrence of myopia and
      astigmatism. Myopia increased a mean of -3.00 diopters in 6 of 7 eyes (86%).
      Myopic astigmatism power changed a mean of -1.00 diopter in 5 eyes (71%), and the
      astigmatic axes shifted in 3 eyes (43%). This situation could be prevented with
      an early peripheral search for and treatment of peripheral retinal degenerative
      pathologic changes, by avoiding encircling bucklings, or by using alternative
      methods of treatment.

PMID- 1455084
TI  - Retinal detachment in eyes with congenital glaucoma.
AB  - Five patients with congenital glaucoma were treated for complicated retinal
      detachment. All patients underwent a pars plana vitrectomy and fluid/gas or
      fluid/silicone exchange. The technical difficulties of operating on buphthalmic
      eyes are described. Due to subretinal reproliferation, corneal decompensation,
      and pressure elevation, the functional prognosis is still poor.

PMID- 1455085
TI  - Management of threshold retinopathy of prematurity.
AB  - The Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity Study demonstrated the benefit of
      intervention for threshold disease. The authors reviewed their experience with
      cryotherapy, investigating the questions of treatment for bilateral disease.
      Between 1985 and 1990, 71 eyes from 41 infants with threshold retinopathy of
      prematurity were treated. Of the 65 eyes with a minimum of 3 months follow-up,
      only 7 eyes (11%) progressed to stage 4, although an additional 8 eyes (13%)
      developed a posterior retinal fold. Although the overall results are comparable
      to those repeated by the Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity Study, the
      authors recommend treating both eyes if they reach threshold, and treating the
      two eyes at the same sitting.

PMID- 1455086
TI  - Applications and limitations of vitreoretinal biopsy techniques in intraocular
      large cell lymphoma.
AB  - The cases of 4 patients with clinical signs of intraocular large cell lymphoma
      are described. Initial cytopathologic examination of vitrectomy specimens failed
      to establish the malignant character of the vitreous infiltrates. Three of the
      four patients eventually developed solid central nervous system tumors,
      intracranial biopsy samples of which revealed large cell lymphoma, 13 months to
      42 months after initial examination. In one patient, transscleral retinochoroidal
      biopsy confirmed the diagnosis at the same time as negative vitreous cytologic
      examination. Results of cytopathologic examination alone of vitreous biopsy
      specimens may not be sufficient to make a diagnosis in certain cases of large
      cell lymphoma that are subsequently documented by CNS biopsy. Careful attention
      should be paid to the handling, processing, and interpretation of vitrectomy
      specimens from patients suspected of having intraocular large cell lymphoma.
      Consideration should be given to immunocytologic staining and interpretation by
      centers that are highly experienced in vitreous cytopathology.

PMID- 1455087
TI  - Giant retinal tears. Surgical techniques and results using perfluorodecalin and
      silicone oil tamponade.
AB  - Intraoperative use of perfluorocarbon liquids in the management of giant retinal
      tears was introduced about 4 years ago. Twenty-four patients were operated on for
      giant retinal tears using perfluorodecalin and silicone oil tamponade. All
      patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy, unfolding of the giant retinal tears by
      perfluorodecalin, perfluorodecalin-silicone oil exchange, and
      endophotocoagulation. The lens was removed in 10 of 14 phakic patients, and
      encircling scleral buckle was placed in 18 cases. Twenty-three of 24 retinas
      remained successfully attached with a minimum of 6 months of follow-up. Short
      term results of intraoperative use of perfluorodecalin and silicone oil tamponade
      in the management of giant retinal tears are encouraging. Perfluorodecalin offers
      the advantage of low cost compared with other perfluoro-carbon liquids like
      perfluoro-n-octane. The exchange with silicone oil offers the advantages of easy
      removal of perfluorodecalin and absence of posterior slippage of the retinal
      tear.

PMID- 1455088
TI  - An overview of potential applications of heparin in vitreoretinal surgery.
AB  - Heparin is a naturally occurring complex polysaccharide with properties that lend
      themselves to the potential treatment of proliferative ocular disorders. The
      biochemistry of heparin and its effects on the eye and cultured ocular cells
      under varied experimental conditions are discussed.

PMID- 1455089
TI  - The lowest effective dose of tissue plasminogen activator for fibrinolysis of
      postvitrectomy fibrin.
AB  - Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) has been shown to be effective at a dose of 25
      micrograms in the treatment of severe postvitrectomy fibrin. However, a recent
      report based on an animal model indicates that retinal toxicity may occur at
      doses as low as 25 micrograms. This study uses a low dose (1.5 micrograms to 3
      micrograms) of tPA for 34 injections in 26 eyes, and determines the lowest
      effective dose to be between 1.5 and 3 micrograms. Complete fibrinolysis was
      achieved in all 28 eyes in which 3 micrograms of tPA was administered within 10
      days of vitrectomy, whereas partial fibrinolysis was achieved in eyes treated
      with 3 micrograms of tPA 27 days and 82 days after vitrectomy. Complete
      fibrinolysis occurred in only 1 of 4 eyes that receive 1.5 micrograms of tPA. A
      dose of 3 micrograms of tPA is recommended for treatment of severe fibrin after
      vitrectomy, as it has a wider margin of safety than do higher doses.

PMID- 1455090
TI  - Can the diode laser (810 nm) effectively produce chorioretinal adhesion?
AB  - In this study, argon green (514 nm), krypton red (647 nm), and diode (810 nm)
      lasers were used to produce transpupillary photocoagulations on rabbit
      chorioretina to simulate a retinal buckle treatment. To evaluate the efficacy of
      the diode laser in creating a retinopexy effect, the morphologic aspects of the
      acute lesions and scar development were compared. The study of the acute lesions
      revealed that the chorioretinal thermal damage produced by the argon green laser
      involved all the retinal layers and the retinal pigment epithelium. The use of
      the krypton red and the diode lasers resulted in deeper chorioretinal thermal
      damage. Two months after the treatments, all the lesions resulted in adhesive
      chorioretinal pigmented scars. However, the diode lesions produced a deeper scar,
      characterized by marked chorioretinal atrophy.

PMID- 1455091
TI  - A new device for pupillary dilatation in vitreous surgery.
AB  - A completely new surgical technique to obtain pupillary dilatation is presented.
      It permits achievement of a mydriasis sufficient to observe the vitreous cavity
      in both phakic and aphakic eyes during vitreous surgery. Miotic immobile pupils
      not dilatable pharmacologically are enlarged by means of a silastic ring with a C
      shaped groove on its outer part. This is introduced into the eye through a limbic
      opening. When in place, the external sulcus of the ring hosts the pupillary rim.
      Twelve patients (three phakic and nine aphakic) were treated. In two patients
      operated upon previously with silicone oil tamponade, some difficulties were
      encountered during the insertion of the device owing to the lubricating effect of
      the oil. After the removal of the ring, all the pupils returned to a round shape,
      with no apparent damage to the iris structure.

PMID- 1455092
TI  - Artificial iris diaphragm and silicone oil surgery.
AB  - In order to avoid contact between silicone oil and the cornea and subsequent
      painful corneal dystrophy in aniridial eyes, an artificial iris diaphragm was
      constructed. It consists of polymethylacrylat (PMMA) and simulates the situation
      of the iris with a central pupillary opening and inferior iridectomy. To date,
      these diaphragms have been implanted in 11 cases of the severest ocular trauma
      with accompanying aniridia and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. In the presence
      of sufficient residual secretion of the ciliary body (9 cases), the diaphragm
      assumes the function of normal iris and prevents the silicone oil from coming
      into contact with the corneal endothelium. The transparent diaphragm ensures a
      view through to the fundus. In the early postoperative period, there was, as
      anticipated, a fibrinous reaction in the area of the anterior segment.

PMID- 1455093
TI  - Discharge of pulmonary rapidly adapting stretch receptors during HFO ventilation.
AB  - High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) has been shown to stimulate slowly
      adapting pulmonary stretch receptors (PSR) and thereby to inhibit spontaneous
      breathing, i.e. HFOV prolongs expiration or even elicits normocapnic apnea.
      However, during HFOV respiratory effects possibly mediated by pulmonary rapidly
      adapting receptors (RAR) have also been observed, e.g., diaphragmatic activation
      or augmented breaths. Therefore, we analyzed HFOV-induced changes in RAR activity
      in anaesthetized rabbits by mean of single fibre preparations of vagal RAR
      afferents. HFOV was applied in several combinations of airway pressure (Paw) and
      oscillation frequency (fOsc). In the sample of 60 RAR fibres prepared in 20
      rabbits we found a wide spectrum of discharge patterns during HFOV. The
      inspiratory discharge rate during HFOV was increased in 38, decreased in 10, and
      unchanged in 12 RAR. The expiratory discharge rate was increased in 34, decreased
      in 17, and unchanged in 9 RAR. The effects of gradually changing Paw or of fOsc
      during HFOV were different in different fibres. In 17 fibres both inspiratory and
      expiratory discharge rates rose with increasing Paw during HFOV, whereas 19
      fibres were not affected by increasing Paw. In some fibres either the inspiratory
      (12) or the expiratory (9) activity was inhibited in proportion to increasing
      Paw. From these results we conclude, that (a) the changes of RAR activity during
      HFOV are heterogeneous and the reflex effects of RAR stimulation may be balanced
      by RAR with decreased activity; (b) this heterogeneity of RAR discharge patterns
      explains the dominancy in the control of breathing during HFOV of the
      homogeneously stimulated PSR; and (c) depending on HFOV ventilatory parameters
      used the overall RAR stimulation may be strong enough to overrule the inspiration
      inhibiting effects of PSR.

PMID- 1455094
TI  - Ontogenetic modification of the hypercapnic ventilatory response in the zebra
      finch.
AB  - We investigated the effect of exposure to CO2 during development on the adult
      ventilatory response to CO2 of zebra finches. Developing zebra finches were
      exposed to chronic hypercapnic respiratory environments as embryos, as nestlings
      or during both developmental periods. Their responsiveness to CO2 was then
      measured following a 125-135 day post-fledging deacclimation period. At a FICO2
      of 0.06, mean ventilation of adult finches in the three groups was 74.8, 61.3 and
      65.8%, respectively, of that of finches reared under normocapnic conditions.
      These data indicate that adult acute ventilatory responsiveness to CO2 in birds
      may be in part determined by CO2 exposure during early development and may help
      explain the observation that fossorial and semifossorial species of birds and
      mammals, that naturally encounter high CO2 conditions in their burrows, have a
      blunted hypercapnic ventilatory response.

PMID- 1455095
TI  - Reduced tidal volume increases 'air hunger' at fixed PCO2 in ventilated
      quadriplegics.
AB  - The act of breathing diminishes the discomfort associated with hypercapnia and
      breath-holding. To investigate the mechanisms involved in this effect, we studied
      the effect of tidal volume (VT) on CO2-evoked air hunger in 5 high-level
      quadriplegic subjects whose ventilatory capacity was negligible, and who lacked
      sensory information from the chest wall. Subjects were ventilated at constant
      frequency with a hyperoxic gas mixture, and end-tidal PCO2 was maintained at a
      constant but elevated level. VT was varied between the subjects' normal VT and a
      smaller VT. Subjects used a category scale to rate their respiratory discomfort
      or 'air hunger' at 30-40 sec intervals. In 4 of 5 subjects there was a strong
      inverse relationship between breath size and air hunger ratings. The quality of
      the sensation associated with reduced VT was nearly identical to that previously
      experienced with CO2 alone. We conclude that afferent information from the lungs
      and upper airways is sufficient to modify the sensation of air hunger.

PMID- 1455096
TI  - Molecular adaptation of hemoglobin function in mammals.
AB  - Vertebrate hemoglobins are tetramers made of two pairs of alpha and beta subunits
      each containing a hydrophobic pocket where a heme molecule binds tightly and
      allows for the reversible binding of oxygen. Both tertiary and quaternary
      structures are ideally suited for the loading and unloading of oxygen necessary
      for the metabolic requirements of the organisms. Starting from a single ancestor
      hemoglobin subunit, evolutionary processes have led to heterologous tetramers
      exhibiting a moderate oxygen affinity due to heme-heme interaction (allosteric
      mechanism) which may be further modulated through electrostatic interactions with
      chloride and/or organophosphate anions present in the red cells. These effectors,
      which bind preferentially to the deoxy-Hb tetramers at a distance from the heme
      groups, play a major role in the adaptation of the respiratory properties of
      hemoglobin to either allometric-dependent oxygen needs or to various hypoxic
      environments such as altitude, burrowing, or foetal life. In most cases the
      existence or the strength of the effector-Hb complexes, hence the changes in the
      allosteric equilibrium, may be ascribed to one or a few mutations of residues at
      the effector binding sites. Typical examples of these mechanisms are described.

PMID- 1455097
TI  - Respiratory-associated rhythmic firing of midbrain neurons is modulated by vagal
      input.
AB  - We recorded phrenic nerve activities and single unit firings of mesencephalic
      neurons in 19 decerebrate, paralyzed and ventilated cats, in which the spinal
      cord had been transected at C7-T1 and carotid sinus nerves cut but vagus nerves
      left intact. After we had found neurons with respiratory-associated rhythmic
      activity, we tested the effect of changing pulmonary vagal input by (1) stopping
      and restarting the ventilator; (2) changing the ventilator's tidal volume; (3)
      progressively cooling the vagus nerves to 6-7 degrees C; and (4) vagal section.
      All methods of testing yielded results that showed that vagal input, probably
      from pulmonary stretch receptors, tonically inhibits the respiratory-associated
      firing of the mesencephalic neurons by a direct mechanism that is independent of
      a vagal effect on medullary respiratory drive. We have suggested that these
      neurons are involved in the mechanism that conveys information about respiration
      to the cortex where it may be interpreted as the sensation of dyspnea. If so,
      movement and increased expansion of the lungs can be expected to lessen the
      sensation.

PMID- 1455098
TI  - Phrenicotomy in the rat: acute changes in blood gases, pH and body temperature.
AB  - Adult male rats were used to compare blood gases, pH and body temperature (Tb)
      before and after acute bilateral phrenicotomy. Under anaesthesia a femoral artery
      was catheterised and ties were placed round the phrenic nerves of seven rats (PNX
      group), while in five rats the ties were placed in the vicinity of the phrenic
      nerves (SHAM group). Twenty-four hours after surgery arterial blood samples were
      collected during quiet wakefulness (QW) and grooming (G), before and 1 h after
      the ties were pulled, and analysed for PO2, PCO2 and pH. No changes were detected
      in the SHAM samples taken before and after the ties were pulled. In the PNX group
      a significant decrease in Tb occurred (QW, 0.6 degrees C; G, 1.5 degrees C).
      Following PNX PaO2 decreased by 11.2 mmHg (QW) and 10.0 mmHg (G); PaCO2 increased
      by 2.6 mmHg (QW) and 2.4 mmHg (G) and pH fell by 0.04 (QW) and 0.03 (G). All
      changes except in PaCO2 (QW) were significant. It is concluded that the changes
      in Tb, blood gases and pH which follow phrenicotomy in the rat are due to an
      increase in dead space ventilation (VD) and a small reduction in alveolar
      ventilation (VA) associated with a faster, shallower pattern of breathing.

PMID- 1455099
TI  - Afferent innervation and receptors of the canine extrathoracic trachea.
AB  - The aim of this study was to establish the cranio-caudal distribution of slowly
      (SAR) and rapidly (RAR) adapting receptors of the extrathoracic trachea (ETT) as
      well as their innervation and response to water solutions of different
      compositions. Experiments were carried out on anesthetized dogs breathing
      spontaneously through a low cervical tracheostomy. Eighty percent of SARs and 76%
      of RARs with fibers in the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) were found in the
      cranial third of the ETT. Fifty-seven percent of SARs and 45% of RARs with fibers
      in the cervical vagus and/or recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) were localized in
      the caudal third of the ETT. Instillation of water into the tracheal lumen had no
      effect on the activity of any SAR tested, but stimulated 41% of the RARs with
      fibers in the SLN and 23% of the RARs with fibers in the cervical vagus. Some of
      the RARs with fibers in the SLN (24%), but none of those with fibers in the
      cervical vagus/RLN, responded also to iso-osmotic dextrose solutions. Trachealis
      muscle contraction failed to stimulate the RARs tested. The blocking temperature
      for SAR and RAR fibers was similar and well within the range of myelinated
      fibers. We conclude that the SLN provides the innervation of the cranial ETT
      while the RLN has fibers for the caudal ETT with some overlap in the middle. The
      responses to water solutions indicate that tracheal RARs constitute a more
      heterogeneous group than laryngeal RARs.

PMID- 1455100
TI  - Phase differences between chest and mouth flows in patients suffering from
      pulmonary disease.
AB  - The phase difference (PD) between mouth flow and chest flow during rest breathing
      was measured in pulmonary diseased patients using a body box and the results were
      compared with normal subjects. Whereas the PD increased in patients with chronic
      pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD) compared to normal subjects, PD was found to
      be normal in patients with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (Normal: 2.94 +/
      1.25, COPD: 11.32 +/- 4.17*, IPF: 2.62 +/- 1.67 degrees; *P < 0.01). PD
      correlated well with FEV1.0/VC%, PFR, RV/TLC, VTG and Ra (r: -0.759, -0.672, 
      0.788, 0.666, 0.606). From an in-depth analysis of the results, we suggest that
      the factors which increase PD in COPD patients include hyperinflation of the
      lung, increases in airway resistance and increases in the parallel inhomogeneity
      of airway resistance accompanied by an unevenness of alveolar pressures. PD was
      thought to be clinically useful for the evaluation of the pathological stages of
      COPD because it reflects the overall clinical manifestations in COPD patients.

PMID- 1455101
TI  - Mechanical characteristics and functional length of canine expiratory muscles.
AB  - The expiratory muscles of the abdominal region actively contribute to breathing.
      In dogs, the transversus abdominis appears to be the main abdominal muscle of
      expiration. The in vitro mechanical properties of the transversus abdominis have
      not been reported to date, and formed the basis of the present investigation.
      Moreover, in order to understand better the nature of the mechanical interplay
      between the various abdominal muscle groups, we also evaluated the effects of
      posture on the operational length of canine transversus abdominis and external
      oblique muscles and related their in situ length to optimal length. The
      experiments were performed on twelve mongrel dogs, anesthetized with
      pentobarbital sodium. Contractile properties of excised transversus abdominis
      muscle strips were evaluated at 37 degrees C and revealed similar twitch, force
      frequency and length-tension properties as previously reported in canine external
      oblique (Farkas and Rochester, J. Appl. Physiol. 65: 2427-2433, 1988). In the
      supine posture, we noted that external oblique was operating at 88% Lo, while the
      transversus abdominis was operating at a significantly shorter length of 74% Lo.
      Thus, in the supine posture, the external oblique is better situated than the
      transversus abdominis to generate tension. In the prone posture, however, we
      noted that both abdominal muscles were located at similar positions along their
      length-tension curve, operating at a length of roughly 77% Lo. Since both muscles
      share common length-tension characteristics, the present results indicate that
      the tension generating potential of both muscles in prone dogs is equal for a
      given neural input. However, we conclude that the preferential recruitment of the
      transversus abdominis in prone animals must be related to factors other than
      simple tension generation.

PMID- 1455102
TI  - Respiratory-associated thalamic activity is related to level of respiratory
      drive.
AB  - We recorded phrenic nerve activity and thalamic single unit firing in
      unanesthetized, suprathalamically decerebrated, paralyzed and ventilated cats, in
      which vagi and carotid sinus nerves (CSN) had been ablated. Seventy-six (14%) of
      545 neurons in regions of the thalamus related to the ascending reticular system,
      which had been tonically firing at low respiratory drives, developed rhythmic
      increases of firing associated with each respiration when drive had been
      increased by CSN stimulation or hypercapnia. The increases of neuronal firing
      occurred in late inspiration/post-inspiration but sometimes lasted into
      expiration; the magnitude of change was graded according to the magnitude of
      respiratory activity. Thalamic neurons also fired with a rhythm related to
      ventilator-induced chest expansion, some units showing both the respiratory
      associated and the ventilator-related rhythms. Simultaneously recorded
      mesencephalic and thalamic neurons developed similar rhythms when drive was
      increased. We suggest that these neuronal activities reflect the conveyance of
      information about respiration to the cortex, where it may lead to the sensation
      of dyspnea and perhaps to arousal.

PMID- 1455103
TI  - Management of bacterial meningitis in children and adults.

PMID- 1455104
TI  - Viral meningitis and encephalitis.

PMID- 1455105
TI  - Human transmissible neurodegenerative diseases (prion diseases).

PMID- 1455106
TI  - Poliomyelitis and the postpolio syndrome.

PMID- 1455107
TI  - Neurologic Lyme disease.

PMID- 1455108
TI  - Neurosyphilis.

PMID- 1455109
TI  - Rickettsial infections of the central nervous system.

PMID- 1455110
TI  - Neurologic complications of infective endocarditis.

PMID- 1455111
TI  - Chronic meningitis.

PMID- 1455112
TI  - Neuroradiology of intracranial infection.

PMID- 1455113
TI  - Brain abscess.

PMID- 1455114
TI  - Star: Karl Stern (1906-1975).

PMID- 1455115
TI  - [What is your diagnosis? Janeway lesions as manifestation of a septic-embolic
      disorder in streptococcal endocarditis].

PMID- 1455116
TI  - [Cancer research in clinical practice. The attentive physician and the family
      anamnesis].
AB  - Astute physicians play an important role in the detection of cancer causes. Their
      most powerful tool is the family history. It permits the identification of
      families with unusual cancer clusters. The members of such families can be
      recruited for research in prevention and molecular genetics. The potential of
      research in medical practice should be exploited more extensively in the future.

PMID- 1455117
TI  - [Indications for, technique and interpretation of arterial Doppler sonography
      from the vascular surgeon's viewpoint].
AB  - Doppler sonography is one of the most important diagnostic tools for angiologists
      and vascular surgeons and also for general practitioners with an interest in
      vascular disease. It can be carried out easily and at low cost and, at the same
      time, provides reproducible, quantitative data on which further diagnostic and
      therapeutic decisions can be based. First, systolic arterial pressures in the
      anterior and posterior tibial and in the peroneal arteries are measured, with the
      Doppler probe placed at ankle level. A cuff is wrapped around the lower leg and
      inflated until the Doppler signal disappears. The highest value measured in each
      leg is termed ankle pressure. Division of the latter by systolic brachial
      pressure results in the so-called ankle-brachial index or "ABI". Ankle pressure
      and ABI correlate well with clinical findings. In normal individuals it is
      greater than 1. In claudication it ranges between 0.3 and 0.9, in patients with
      resting pain between 0.1 and 0.5 and with ischemic tissue loss between 0.0 and
      0.2. After angioplastic or surgical revascularization procedures, a fall of the
      ABI by 0.15 or more is an indication of relevant hemodynamic deterioration and,
      therefore, calls for further investigation by arteriography or color duplex
      sonography.

PMID- 1455118
TI  - [Precordial pain, dyspnea and rapidly fatal development in a 34-year-old HIV
      positive patient].

PMID- 1455119
TI  - [Manual medicine of the spine--indication, diagnostic and therapeutic
      possibilities].
AB  - Manual medicine developed rapidly during the last 40 years and became an integral
      part of standard medicine. The basic idea behind the methods used is that several
      acute and chronic disorders the spine and peripheral articulations are caused by
      functional disturbances in one or more spinal motion segments, and also in
      peripheral joints, always accompanied by reflectory muscular reactions. These
      changes must be detected and treated specifically. The diagnosis for manual
      therapy is always complementary to general medical examination. Knowledge of
      absolute and relative contraindications is the basis for every manual therapy.
      Therapeutically, apart from the actual mobilization with or without impulse, the
      so-called neuromuscular techniques are used; these are acting together with the
      muscle force of the patient and with the thereby triggered reflex-mechanisms.
      Whereas the latter techniques are also used in physiotherapy, mobilization with
      impulse should be practised nowadays only by trained physicians and
      chiropractitioners, since the risks involved are considerable. It is of great
      importance that the therapy is not limited just to the manipulation of the
      functionally disturbed motion segment but that in addition muscular disbalance is
      treated.

PMID- 1455120
TI  - [Liquid hand soap which kills HIV viruses].

PMID- 1455121
TI  - Multiple sleep latency tests during the constant routine.
AB  - The "post-lunch dip" is a common behavioral phenomenon, though perhaps a
      misnomer. Biphasic models of the human sleep tendency rhythm suggest an
      alternative explanation for the afternoon decline in alertness. Sleep tendency
      was measured with the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) at 2-hour intervals in
      16 volunteers from three age groups (ages 10-12, ages 16-17, ages 62-74 years)
      during a constant routine in which small meals were given each hour. Baseline
      scores showed no significant Time of Day effect, although a trend for an
      afternoon dip was present in the eldest group. During the constant routine, a
      significant Time of Day effect was found for the two older groups and not for the
      prepubertal group. The results indicate a midday increase in sleep tendency that
      is unrelated to food intake but that may be related to developmental or
      maturational processes.

PMID- 1455122
TI  - Precise conservation of NREM period 1 (NREMP1) delta across naps and nocturnal
      sleep: implications for REM latency and NREM/REM alternation.
AB  - The delta integrated amplitude (DIA) in nonrapid eye movement period 1 (NREMP1)
      of daytime naps was precisely subtracted from the NREMP1s of ensuing nocturnal
      sleep, indicating that the brain can retain a record of DIA expressed in sleep
      episodes initiated 12.5 and 8.5 hours before nocturnal sleep onset. The DIA
      subtraction was primarily accomplished by reduced NREMP1 duration [earlier rapid
      eye movement (REM) onset], suggesting that the timing of REM period 1 (REMP1)
      onset is controlled by delta need. This result is consistent with the hypothesis
      that REM sleep occurs when a stimulus for NREM has been partially depleted.

PMID- 1455123
TI  - Spontaneous ventilation and respiratory motor output during carbachol-induced
      atonia of REM sleep in the decerebrate cat.
AB  - Microinjections of carbachol into the pons induce a state that resembles rapid
      eye movement (REM) sleep in intact cats and, in decerebrate, artificially
      ventilated cats, produce postural atonia accompanied by a powerful depression of
      the respiratory motor output. In this study, pontine carbachol was used in
      decerebrate, spontaneously breathing cats to assess the effects of mechanical and
      chemical respiratory reflexes on the magnitude and pattern of the carbachol
      induced depression of breathing, and to determine whether the depression is
      altered in those animals in which rapid eye movements are present. Phrenic nerve
      activity and tidal volume were only transiently depressed at the onset of the
      carbachol-induced postural atonia, whereas the decrease in respiratory rate and
      the depressions of hypoglossal and intercostal activities persisted until the
      response was reversed by a pontine microinjection of atropine 15-101 minutes
      after the onset of carbachol response. Ventilation was reduced to 70% of control
      during the steady-state conditions. The irregularity of breathing, characterized
      by the inter-quartile ranges of the distributions of the peak phrenic nerve
      activity and respiratory timing, did not increase following pontine carbachol.
      Neither vagotomy nor vigorous eye movements were associated with increased
      breathing irregularity. This contrasts with the irregular breathing (with minor
      average changes in ventilation) typical of natural REM sleep. We propose that the
      carbachol-injected decerebrate cat provides a useful model of the depressant
      effects that neural events associated with REM sleep may have on breathing.

PMID- 1455124
TI  - DQB1-0602 (DQw1) is not present in most nonDR2 Caucasian narcoleptics.
AB  - Human narcolepsy is a genetically determined disorder of sleep strongly
      associated with the human leucocyte antigens (HLA) DR2 and DQw1. In black
      narcoleptic patients, susceptibility for narcolepsy is more closely related to a
      specific gene subtype of DQw1, DQB1-0602, than to DR2. About 30% of black
      narcoleptic patients are nonDR2, but all carry the HLA DQB1-0602 gene. In the
      present study, we have tested caucasian nonDR2 cataplectic patients (6 sporadic
      cases and 7 familial cases from 3 multiplex families) for the presence of the HLA
      DQB1-0602 and DQA1-0102 (DQw1) using a specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
      oligotyping technique. None of the patients was DQB1-0602 or DQA1-0102 positive,
      thus proving that, in caucasians, DQB1-0602 and DQA1-0102 (DQw1) are not
      prerequisites for the diagnosis of narcolepsy. Further studies with more patients
      are warranted to exclude the possibility that a few caucasian patients carry rare
      haplotypes with DQB1-0602 independently of DR2.

PMID- 1455125
TI  - Plasma renin activity and sleep-wake structure of narcoleptic patients and
      control subjects under continuous bedrest.
AB  - In order to determine if renin release would be affected by a dysfunction of the
      circadian and ultradian organization of sleep, 24-hour profiles of plasma renin
      activity (PRA) concomitant with sleep stages were established in 10 normal
      subjects and nine narcoleptic patients, with 10-minute blood sampling intervals.
      Mean PRA levels were similar in control subjects and narcoleptic patients.
      Individual 24-hour profiles revealed that the previously described association
      between renin oscillations and sleep stage alternations was preserved. Increased
      PRA release was observed during the transition from rapid eye movement (REM)
      sleep or waking periods to nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and REM sleep
      occurred as PRA levels were decreasing. Thus, PRA curves exactly reflected the
      irregularities and disturbances in the sleep structure of the narcoleptic
      patients. The 24-hour PRA profiles of the patients did not show the general
      upward trend during nighttime sleep, which is probably induced in the control
      subjects by the repetitive recurrence of longer episodes of undisturbed NREM
      sleep. Because of marked sleep fragmentation in the patients, the duration of
      NREM sleep was often insufficient to allow for the occurrence of a significant
      PRA increase. Because sleep onset REM (SOREM) episodes, characteristic of
      narcolepsy, are not preceded by NREM sleep and its associated increase in PRA, no
      relative PRA decline occurred during this type of REM sleep. In conclusion, the
      24-hour PRA profiles of the narcoleptic patients reflected exactly their sleep
      stage distribution, confirming previous findings that PRA oscillations appear to
      be inseparable from the NREM-REM sleep cycle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455126
TI  - Sleepiness/alertness on a simulated night shift schedule and morningness
      eveningness tendency.
AB  - This study examined the influence of morningness-eveningness on night shift
      sleepiness in 15 subjects. Sleepiness was assessed during a five-night protocol
      involving the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), repeated test of sustained
      wakefulness (RTSW) and the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS). Daytime sleep was
      estimated by sleep diaries and wrist actigraphy. The sample was divided by median
      score on the Horne and Ostberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire.
      Physiological sleep tendency was significantly worse between 0030 and 0430 hours
      for the Morning Tendency group than for the Non-Morning Tendency group. The
      Morning Tendency group reported obtaining less daytime sleep than the Non-Morning
      Tendency group; however, there was no difference between groups in total daytime
      sleep estimated by actigraphy. This preliminary study suggests that morning types
      are sleepier during night shift hours than non-morning types.

PMID- 1455127
TI  - Melatonin rhythms in night shift workers.
AB  - For some time, it has remained uncertain whether the circadian rhythms of
      permanent night shift workers are adapted to their night-active schedule.
      Previous studies of this question have often been limited by "masking" (evoked)
      effects of sleep and activity on body temperature and cortisol, used as marker
      rhythms. In this study, the problem of masking was minimized by measuring the
      timing of melatonin production under dim light conditions. Nine permanent night
      shift workers were admitted to the Clinical Research Center (CRC) directly from
      their last work shift of the week and remained in dim light while blood samples
      were obtained hourly for 24 hours. Melatonin concentrations were measured in
      these samples using a gas-chromatographic mass-spectrometric method. Sleep
      diaries were completed for two weeks prior to the admission to the CRC. Overall,
      the onset of the melatonin rhythm was about 7.2 hours earlier (or 16.8 hours
      later) in the night workers compared to day-active controls. It was not possible
      to know whether the phase of the melatonin rhythm was the result of advances or
      delays. In night shift workers, sleep was initiated (on average) about three
      hours prior to the onset of melatonin production. In contrast, day-active
      subjects initiated sleep (on average) about three hours after their melatonin
      onset. Thus, the sleep times selected by night shift workers may not be well
      synchronized to their melatonin rhythm, assumed to mark the phase of their
      underlying circadian pacemaker.

PMID- 1455128
TI  - Comparison of EEG sleep measures in healthy full-term and preterm infants at
      matched conceptional ages.
AB  - Continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) sleep studies were obtained on healthy full
      term and preterm infants at matched conceptional ages. Studies were recorded
      under environmentally controlled conditions. Eighteen healthy preterm infants
      were matched to 18 full-term infants based on conceptional age, sex, race and
      socioeconomic class. The initial 3 hours of a 12-hour recording were
      simultaneously recorded on paper and computer. The visually scored data based on
      the paper recordings for sleep architecture and continuity measures were studied.
      Differences in each sleep organization for the preterm infants included the
      following: a longer ultradian sleep cycle (70 minutes vs. 53 minutes, p = 0.02)
      was noted. More abundant trace alternant (34% vs. 28%, p = 0.02) and less
      abundant low-voltage irregular active sleep (13% vs. 17%, p = 0.05) were noted.
      Although no differences were observed for sleep latency and efficiency, the
      preterm infants had fewer numbers and shorter durations of arousals, fewer body
      movements and rapid eye movement (REM) (p < 0.01), particularly during quiet
      sleep. The extrauterine experience or the earlier birth of the preterm infant may
      influence specific sleep architecture and continuity measures when compared with
      the sleep of full-term infants who experienced a complete intrauterine gestation.

PMID- 1455129
TI  - A longitudinal study of sleep stages in young women during pregnancy and
      postpartum.
AB  - We conducted a longitudinal polysomnographic study in five healthy primiparous
      subjects, whose sleep was first recorded between 8 and 16 weeks of gestation,
      then every 2 months until parturition and at 1 month postpartum. The first 6
      hours of sleep were used for statistical analysis. In contrast to previous
      studies, we found no reduction in stage 4 sleep with pregnancy. Slow-wave sleep
      (comprising stages 3 and 4), was significantly higher at 27-39 weeks of gestation
      than at 8-16 weeks, as predicted by the restorative theory of sleep. There was no
      significant difference in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep time. When compared to a
      group of normal ovulating women, however, REM sleep time decreased during the
      last two months of pregnancy and, although there was no change in sleep onset
      latency, the time spent awake during the first six hours of sleep was increased.
      Future research into the effects of cortisol and progesterone is indicated.

PMID- 1455130
TI  - Automatic sleep/wake identification from wrist activity.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to develop and validate automatic scoring methods
      to distinguish sleep from wakefulness based on wrist activity. Forty-one subjects
      (18 normals and 23 with sleep or psychiatric disorders) wore a wrist actigraph
      during overnight polysomnography. In a randomly selected subsample of 20
      subjects, candidate sleep/wake prediction algorithms were iteratively optimized
      against standard sleep/wake scores. The optimal algorithms obtained for various
      data collection epoch lengths were then prospectively tested on the remaining 21
      subjects. The final algorithms correctly distinguished sleep from wakefulness
      approximately 88% of the time. Actigraphic sleep percentage and sleep latency
      estimates correlated 0.82 and 0.90, respectively, with corresponding parameters
      scored from the polysomnogram (p < 0.0001). Automatic scoring of wrist activity
      provides valuable information about sleep and wakefulness that could be useful in
      both clinical and research applications.

PMID- 1455131
TI  - Serum prolactin response to a D2 antagonist in narcoleptic and control canines.

PMID- 1455132
TI  - Bibliography of recent literature in sleep research. Citations retrieved by brain
      information service.

PMID- 1455133
TI  - [Different varieties and anatomopathological description of primary tumors of the
      liver].
AB  - The different types of primary hepatic tumors are examined, focusing on their
      macroscopic and histologic features. A large variety of neoplasms can be
      observed, derived from the different components of the liver. Benign (adenoma,
      focal nodular hyperplasia) or malignant (hepatocellular carcinoma) epithelial
      tumors of hepatocellular origin are very common. Hemangioma is the most common
      mesenchymatous-derived tumor. However, the frequency of each type of tumor varies
      considerably in the different age and sex groups. Some special entities recently
      reported, such as epithelioid hemangioendothelioma or fibrolamellar carcinoma are
      detailed.

PMID- 1455134
TI  - [Clinical symptomatology and radiological aspects of primary cancers of the
      liver].
AB  - Hepatocellular carcinoma is a malignant tumor derived from hepatocytes. It is the
      most frequent of primary liver cancers. In 90% of the cases, it occurs in a
      cirrhotic liver and is now more and more detected by ultrasonographic screening
      of cirrhotic patients. Hepatocellular carcinoma can also be diagnosed at a more
      advanced stage, when complications, such as ascites, jaundice or digestive
      hemorrhage, occur. CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging are useful to confirm
      ultrasonographic findings, but angiography with infusion of Lipiodol in hepatic
      artery followed by CT scan remains the most sensitive method for diagnosis.
      Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is derived from intrahepatic bile duct cells and
      does not occur in a preexisting cirrhotic liver. Diagnosis is usually late.
      Clinical features are those of hepatic malignancy with jaundice and abdominal
      pain. Morphological examination of the liver shows an intrahepatic tumor,
      sometimes associated with a dilatation of the surrounding bile ducts. Other
      primary malignancies are very rare. Fibrolamellar carcinoma presents as an
      abdominal mass occurring in a young adult with a non cirrhotic liver. Prognosis
      is better than that of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cystadenocarcinoma is a cystic
      tumor of bile ducts that can develop in a preexisting cystadenoma. Angiosarcoma
      is a highly malignant tumor derived from sinusoidal endothelial cells. Exposure
      to various carcinogens is found in 30% of the cases. Epithelioid hemangio
      endothelioma differs from angiosarcoma by its occurrence in young adults and a
      more favorable prognosis.

PMID- 1455135
TI  - [Cine-MRI. Non-invasive new imaging of the heart].

PMID- 1455136
TI  - [Hemophilus vaccines. At last effective protection].

PMID- 1455137
TI  - [Advantages and difficulties of aerosol therapy].
AB  - Aerosolization of drugs may be designed to treat lower respiratory tract and
      bronchial diseases and more recently infectious diseases of the lungs. The use of
      drug aerosol has been limited by the relative lack of knowledge about the fate of
      inhaled drugs. It depends on the specifications of the aerosol, the drug itself,
      the conditions of aerosolization, and the presence of lung disease. The advantage
      of the airways route is that treatment effects are obtained without systemic
      effects.

PMID- 1455138
TI  - [Vasomotricity of normal and atheromatous coronary arteries].
AB  - In order to fulfil, at any time, the myocardium requirements for oxygen and
      energy, the coronary circulation must be able of extremely intense and rapid
      vasodilation. This circulation undoubtedly is the body's regional circulation
      that "works" in the most difficult anatomical and physiological conditions.
      Coronary vasomotricity is regulated by three different systems operating
      synchronously. Metabolism-mediated vasodilatation, with adenosine as principal
      mediator, essentially concerns the small-caliber intramyocardial arterioles and
      is the predominant regulatory system in normal subjects. Nervous regulation
      (sympathetic and parasympathetic systems) exclusively concerns the wide,
      epicardial coronary arteries; it plays a modest, but non-negligible, role in
      normal subjects but becomes very important in patients with stenosis of the
      epicardial coronary arteries. Endothelium-mediated regulation, discovered about
      10 years ago, seems to play a crucial role. Under the influence of haemodynamic
      and humoral stimuli, the endothelium synthesizes and releases substances which
      stimulate the underlying vascular smooth muscle. Nitric oxide (NO), or EDFR1, is
      the best known, but not the only messenger of vasodilatation; beside its relaxant
      effect on the smooth muscle, it exerts a potent platelet antiaggregating action.
      The functioning of these regulatory systems is deeply perturbed by atheroma of
      the coronary arteries: in addition to the fixed haemodynamic obstacle due to
      atheromatous stenosis, there is a diffuse decrease of endothelial functions and a
      rise in sensitivity to nervous vasoconstrictor stimuli.

PMID- 1455139
TI  - [Development of gynecologic surgery. Consequences of the hospital use of
      endoscopic methods].

PMID- 1455140
TI  - [A new form of arbitrary commitment].

PMID- 1455141
TI  - [Silicosis and asbestosis. Epidemiology, screening, prevention].

PMID- 1455142
TI  - [Chronic otitis. Diagnosis, development, prognosis, principles of treatment].

PMID- 1455143
TI  - [Intertrigo. Diagnostic orientation].

PMID- 1455144
TI  - [Boutonneuse mediterranean fever. Epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, treatment].

PMID- 1455145
TI  - [Lymphocytosis. Diagnostic orientation].

PMID- 1455146
TI  - [Septic, hemorrhagic and cardiogenic shock. Etiology, physiopathology, diagnosis,
      treatment].

PMID- 1455147
TI  - [Hemorrhagic syndrome due to hemostasis disorder].

PMID- 1455148
TI  - Atrial natriuretic factor in cats subjected to acute myocardial ischaemia.
AB  - Eighteen anaesthetized open chest cats were subjected to 10, 30, or 50 min
      occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Heart rate, left
      ventricular end-diastolic (LVEDP) and systolic pressure (LVSP), and dp/dt were
      continuously recorded during the experiments. Prior to LAD-occlusion, and just
      before termination of the experiments, blood samples were collected from the left
      femoral artery for measurements of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF),
      catecholamines, electrolytes, urea, and creatinine. Simultaneously, biopsies were
      collected from the right auricular wall. The tissue was embedded in Lowicryl K4M,
      and ultrathin sections were incubated with anti-ANF antibodies and secondary
      antibodies conjugated to gold particles. The density of ANF-containing atrial
      specific granules labelled with gold particles was morphometrically calculated.
      LVEDP increased significantly in all three time groups, and when pooling the pre-
      and postocclusion values, there was an increase from 5.1 +/- 0.4 to 10.3 +/- 1.2
      mmHg (p < 0.05). The noradrenaline level increased from 0.93 +/- 0.18 to 2.34 +/-
      0.75 nmol l-1 (p < 0.05) after LAD-occlusion. Similarly, the mean plasma level of
      ANF in the 18 cats increased from 57.6 +/- 11.9 to 98.9 +/- 22.6 pmol l-1 (p <
      0.05). Atrial granular density appeared to decline after 10 min of occlusion
      (from 0.141 +/- 0.017 to 0.127 +/- 0.022 granules-1 microns 2 sarcoplasm), and
      after 30 min there was a significant decrease (0.080 +/- 0.012 granules/microns
      2, p < 0.05). However, after 50 min occlusion the granular density was almost
      restored (0.133 +/- 0.017 granules/microns 2). Plasma ANF showed a positive
      linear correlation to LVEDP and to the noradrenaline level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455149
TI  - Rapid C-reactive protein (CRP) measurements in the diagnosis of acute
      appendicitis.
AB  - C-reactive protein (CRP) has been measured in plasma of patients with acute
      appendicitis and in controls without appendicitis to test the accuracy and
      diagnostic performance of a new rapid test kit for CRP (NycoCard CRP). The values
      obtained for CRP by the rapid test correlated well (Rs = 0.92) with the reference
      method for measuring CRP. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were
      calculated at different cut-off values. At values > 10 mg l-1 a sensitivity of
      58% and a negative predictive value of 72% were found. Higher values of
      sensitivity were observed for men than for women, 69% and 44% respectively.
      Patients with acute appendicitis who had had symptoms for more than 24 h, had
      elevated CRP values (cut-off > 10 mg l-1) in more than 80% of cases. Our study
      shows that the rapid CRP test and the reference CRP test gave an almost identical
      result.

PMID- 1455150
TI  - Transcapillary filtration of plasma protein in long-term type 1 (insulin
      dependent) diabetic patients.
AB  - To study the pathophysiologic mechanism leading to increased transcapillar
      sieving of albumin in patients with diabetic nephropathy, subcutaneous
      interstitial concentrations of albumin, transferrin, total IgG and IgG-4 was
      measured in 30 long-term type 1 diabetic patients using the skin suction blister
      method. Eight normal subjects served as controls. The patients were divided in
      groups according to their urinary albumin excretion: normal (n = 11), micro
      albuminuria (n = 9), and clinical nephropathy (n = 10). Results were expressed as
      the blister to serum concentration ratio (Cb:Cs) of each macromolecule.
      Normoalbuminuric patients had lower Cb:CsIgG ratio than healthy controls (0.28 +/
      0.04 vs. 0.35 +/- 0.09, p = 0.03). The lowest Cb:CsIgG ratio (0.23 +/- 0.07) was
      found in patients with clinical nephropathy. The same trend could be demonstrated
      in the other Cb:Cs ratios, but differences there were not significant. No
      differences related to capillary charge- or size-selectivity could be
      demonstrated between the groups. The results might reflect an increase of
      intracapillary hydrostatic pressure or increased capillary hydraulic permeability
      in the diabetic state per se, augmented during the development of microvascular
      complications.

PMID- 1455151
TI  - Serum concentrations and excretion of bile acids in cirrhosis.
AB  - Bile acid concentrations in serum, and urinary and faecal excretion of bile acids
      have been studied in ten patients with liver cirrhosis as a consequence of
      alcohol abuse. Eight of the patients were categorized as Child group A, whereas
      the remaining two patients comprised Child group C. Individual bile acids were
      isolated and identified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Total
      fasting serum bile acid concentrations were elevated in all patients, but not
      correlated to conventional tests of liver function. Eight of the patients had
      increased urinary excretion of bile acids. Faecal bile acid-excretion was highly
      variable between patients, and also between Child's group A and C patients. Total
      fasting serum bile acid concentrations were not correlated to either urinary,
      faecal, or total bile acid excretion (= synthesis of bile acids) or to the ratio
      between urinary and faecal excretion of bile acids. The daily synthesis of bile
      acids showed a large overlap between Child's group A and C patients. The
      percentage of chenodeoxycholic acid and its metabolites relative to total daily
      excretion of bile acids did not correlate, indicating that the synthesis pathways
      for the primary bile acids does not systematically change in relation to the rate
      of synthesis. We conclude that even in mild cirrhosis, serum bile acid
      concentrations are elevated. However, no consistent changes in synthesis of bile
      acids or synthesis pathways was observed in such patients.

PMID- 1455152
TI  - Biological variation of the leukocyte differential count quantities.
AB  - The biological variation of the blood concentration and number fraction of the
      different kinds of leukocytes have been estimated, over a one-year period in a
      group of 19 women and 20 men, apparently healthy volunteers. All measurements
      have been performed with a Toa E-5000 haematological analyser. The medians of the
      within-subject biological coefficients of variation, separated by sex when
      significant differences exist, are the following for concentrations: 9.4% in men
      and 15.4% in women for the leukocytes, 16.9% in men and 26.9% in women for the
      neutrophils, 12.3% for the lymphocytes, 14.9 for the
      basophils+eosinophils+monocytes (as measured by Toa E-5000); and for number
      fraction are the following: 8.6% for neutrophils, 0% in men and 7.2% in women for
      lymphocytes, and 16.7 for basophils+eosinophils+monocytes (as measured by Toa E
      5000). With these data the index of individuality, the critical difference for
      significant change detection and the desirable imprecision have been calculated.

PMID- 1455153
TI  - Serum hyaluronan and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen: variation
      with age.
AB  - The serum levels of hyaluronan and the aminoterminal propeptide of Type III
      procollagen (PIIINP) were compared in 585 healthy individuals as a function of
      age. Newborn children displayed high hyaluronan (695 +/- 634 micrograms l-1, mean
      +/- SD) and PIIINP (295 +/- 152 micrograms l-1) values. The values were not
      correlated to the gestational week in which the children were born or to the
      birth weight but there was a significant correlation (p < 0.05) between the
      hyaluronan and PIIINP levels. During the first year the levels dropped and in
      childhood (1-16 years of age) both hyaluronan and PIIINP levels were fairly
      constant at 27 +/- 16 and 22 +/- 8.4 micrograms l-1, respectively. The PIIINP
      level showed a marked drop in adults compared to children. The drop continued to
      about 50 years of age (6.5 +/- 2.2 micrograms l-1) and then there was a slight
      increase in elderly people. The hyaluronan showed a continued increase with age
      from the level at 16 years of 29 +/- 17 micrograms l-1 to a mean value of 177 +/-
      133 micrograms l-1 in people over 75 years. There was no increase in serum
      hyaluronan in women during pregnancy but the PIINP level increased in the later
      part of the gestational period. There was no correlation between the serum values
      of hyaluronan and PIIINP when compared throughout the life span which indicates
      that the blood levels of the two markers are regulated by independent factors.

PMID- 1455154
TI  - Myocardial adenine nucleotide depletion within 1 h of acute coronary artery
      occlusion.
AB  - In anaesthetized open-chest casts with occlusion of the left anterior descending
      coronary artery (LAD), adenine nucleotides and degradation products were studied
      in small myocardial tissue samples (10-20 mg) with high-pressure liquid
      chromatography, and tissue blood flow was measured with radioactive microspheres
      5, 10, 20, 40, and 60 min after LAD occlusion. There was a rapid and parallel
      decrease of myocardial ATP and accumulation of adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine,
      and xanthine both in epicardial and endocardial half-layers of the ischaemic
      myocardium within the first 20 min of coronary occlusion. After 40 and 60 min,
      myocardial ATP content decreased and degradation products accumulated further in
      the endocardium but stabilized epicardially. Analysis of covariance showed that
      the slightly higher blood flow in ischaemic epicardial layers, did not explain
      the transmural difference in ATP content after 40 and 60 min. Adenosine decreased
      after 40 min of ischaemia in both wall layers reaching negligible amounts after
      60 min. It is concluded that breakdown of energy stores is less severe in
      epicardial than in endocardial wall layers during the first hour after acute
      coronary occlusion in the cat heart. This transmural difference cannot be
      explained entirely by less severe epicardial ischaemia. Therefore, transmural
      heterogeneity in metabolic function during severe ischaemia may also be
      important.

PMID- 1455155
TI  - Pancreatic beta-cell function evaluated by intravenous glucose and glucagon
      stimulation. A comparison between insulin and C-peptide to measure insulin
      secretion.
AB  - Insulin and C-peptide responses to 0.5 g kg-1 intravenous glucose and 1.0 mg
      glucagon were studied in 34 healthy subjects (age 19-78 years, mean 45). Fasting
      blood glucose (r = 0.59; p < 0.001) and glycosylated haemoglobin (r = 0.61; p <
      0.001) increased with age, but not the initial C-peptide and insulin responses to
      the glucose infusion. However, the C-peptide response at 70 min (r = 0.36; p <
      0.05), 80 min (r = 0.41; p < 0.05), and 90 min (r = 0.46; p < 0.01) after the
      glucose infusion correlated with age as well as both insulin (r = 0.42; p < 0.05)
      and C-peptide (r = 0.45; p < 0.05) responses to the glucagon injection.
      Reproducibility of insulin and C-peptide responses was evaluated by duplicate
      tests, separated 2-143 days in time, in 10 healthy subjects (age 19-48 years,
      mean 32 years) showing no significant differences in median within-subject
      variation between the initial (1 + 3 min) or overall (0-90 min area under curve)
      insulin (24% and 17%, respectively) and C-peptide (15% and 14%, respectively)
      responses to glucose, while the within-subject variation for the fasting values
      and the response to glucagon was higher (p < 0.05) for insulin (47% and 32%,
      respectively) than C-peptide (13% and 14%, respectively). Between-subject
      variation was also lower (p < 0.001) for C-peptide than for insulin. Thus, C
      peptide measurements in healthy subjects are more reproducible than insulin
      measurements in determination of beta-cell function.

PMID- 1455156
TI  - Participation of serum albumin and LDL-cholesterol in impaired blood cell
      filterability affected by white blood cells in patients with cerebral thrombosis.
AB  - We examined the effect of white blood cells (WBCs) on the red blood cell (RBC)
      filterability, and the influence of plasma components on their interaction of
      their microcirculatory behaviour in cerebral thrombosis patients. Subjects
      studied were 20 patients with a history of cerebral thrombosis (60 +/- 4.7 years
      old) (mean +/- SD) and 28 healthy controls (59 +/- 5.4 years old). Filterability
      indices of RBC suspension (RFI) and suspension with RBCs plus WBCs (RWFI) were
      measured by the method of Nuclepore filtration. The values of RFI in patients and
      controls were 0.44 +/- 0.12 and 0.56 +/- 0.16 ml min-1 (mean +/- SD), and RWFIs
      were 0.33 +/- 0.092 and 0.40 +/- 0.11 ml min-1, respectively. The differences in
      both of these values between patients and controls were significant (p < or =
      0.01 for RFI and p < or = 0.05 for RWFI, based on Student's t test,
      respectively). Both RFI and RWFI in bed-ridden patients were lower than those in
      the more active counterparts (p < or = 0.05, based on Student's t test). In
      patients, RFI and RWFI correlated positively with serum albumin (r = +0.515, p <
      0.05; r = +0.533, p < 0.05, based on Student's t test, respectively). The net
      lowering effect of WBCs on RFI (RFI-RWFI) correlated positively with serum LDL
      cholesterol in patients (r = +0.574, p < 0.01, based on Student's t test). WBCs
      play a significant role in reducing RFI, and its effect is related to the
      pathemas of patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455157
TI  - Cobalamin binding proteins in human seminal plasma.
AB  - Transcobalamin (TC) and haptocorrin (HC) are present in normal seminal plasma in
      substance concentrations ten- to twenty-fold that in blood. The results are given
      in range and (median). The substance concentration of seminal plasma TC is 3.6
      21.9 (8.4) nmol l-1 and of seminal plasma HC 1.4-8.6 (3.0) nmol l-1. Compared to
      normals the substance concentration of TC is significantly lowered in post
      vasectomy seminal plasma 2.2-2.9 (5.3) nmol l-1. The Stokes radius and the
      isoelectric points of seminal plasma TC are identical to TC in blood.

PMID- 1455158
TI  - Long-term smoking increases transcapillary escape rate of albumin.
AB  - Transcapillary escape rate of albumin was measured in 11 young and 10 healthy,
      elderly male subjects. Approximately half of the subjects were chronic cigarette
      smokers. Transcapillary escape rate of albumin expressed as percentage of
      decrease in specific activity of plasma albumin per hour averaged 12.3% in long
      term smokers. This value was significantly elevated and twice as high as values
      measured in young smokers and in young and elderly non-smokers. It is concluded
      that capillary permeability to albumin is increased in long-term smokers. Further
      studies are warranted to examine the pathophysiological mechanism and to what
      extent this abnormality is reversible.

PMID- 1455159
TI  - Quantitation of urinary hydroxypyridinium cross-links from collagen by high
      performance liquid chromatography.
AB  - Pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline are intermolecular cross-links in mature
      collagen in bone and cartilage. The urinary excretion of the two compounds
      correlates well to bone turnover. A fast, sensitive, and accurate isocratic ion
      pairing reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method for
      measurement of pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline in urine has been established.
      Intra- and inter-assay precision were 5-7% and 12-14%, respectively. Recovery for
      pyridinoline was 97.4% and for deoxypyridinoline 94.3%. The detection limit was
      0.4 pmol. Pyridinoline:creatinine and deoxypyridinoline: creatinine ratios in
      healthy subjects, were 38.8 nmol:mmol and 13.0 nmol:mmol, respectively. Increased
      values of both cross-links were observed in children, in the age group 20-29 in
      both sexes, and in post-menopausal women.

PMID- 1455160
TI  - Sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measurement of autoantibodies to
      human thyroid peroxidase.
AB  - The development of a sensitive assay for detection of autoantibodies against one
      of the major thyroid antigens, thyroid peroxidase (TPO), is described. TPO was
      purified from human thyroid tissue by: (1) isolation of thyroid microsomes using
      homogenization and differential centrifugation, (2) solubilization of membrane
      proteins by Zwittergent 3-14, and (3) anion exchange liquid chromatography on a
      FPLC Mono Q column. Autoantibodies against TPO (TPO-Ab) were measured using an
      enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with serum samples diluted 1:100.
      Standards containing 70, 7, 0.7, 0.02 and 0 U ml-1 TPO-Ab were employed
      (reference standard code 66/387 NIBSC, London, UK). The detection limit was 0.02
      U ml-1 corresponding to 2 U ml-1 in undiluted serum. The inter- and intra-assay
      coefficients of variation were 8.6% and 5.3%. In 109 healthy control subjects TPO
      Ab was found in 9 (8.3%), while 43 (97.7%) out of 44 patients with newly
      diagnosed untreated Graves' disease had detectable TPO-Ab in serum. All of 16
      patients with newly diagnosed spontaneously developing primary hypothyroidism had
      circulating TPO-Ab (range 16-7000 U ml-1). The new assay is a valuable tool for
      evaluation of thyroid autoimmunity in individual patients and for studying the
      epidemiology of thyroid autoimmunity.

PMID- 1455161
TI  - Effect of lovastatin on lipoprotein fluidity in patients with
      hypercholesterolaemia.
AB  - Lovastatin was administered to six hypercholesterolaemic patients (mean plasma
      cholesterol 450 mg dl-1). Plasma lipoproteins (VLDL, LDL, and HDL) were separated
      before and following 7 and 12 weeks treatment with lovastatin. Fluidity was
      quantified by fluorescence polarization measurements using 1,6-diphenyl 1,3,5
      hexatriene (DPH) as the fluorescent probe. Lovastatin treatment resulted in a
      significant reduction of total plasma cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and VLDL
      cholesterol (-41%, -44%, -68%, respectively). Fluidity measurements showed
      significant (p < 0.01) increase in LDL fluidity by 11% and 21% after 7 and 12
      weeks of lovastatin treatment, whereas, VLDL fluidity was increased by 27% after
      12 weeks of therapy. HDL fluidity was not altered. These alterations in the
      fluidity of the atherogenic lipoproteins (LDL and VLDL) in hypercholesterolaemic
      patients may prove to be of significance in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis.

PMID- 1455162
TI  - Transferability of clinical laboratory data within a health care region.
AB  - Analytical data for S-Creatinine and S-Urate are presented from seventeen
      laboratories in the Swedish Uppsala-Orebro regional quality assessment program.
      The bias and imprecision as well as the instability of the measurement procedures
      in the participating laboratories were estimated over three 14-week periods. Bias
      was estimated by a linear least squares fit of the difference between measured
      and assigned values vs. assigned values, and expressed in absolute and relative
      terms. Instability of the measurement procedures was estimated by comparing slope
      and intercept of regression lines of measured vs. assigned values from three
      fourteen week periods. According to our experiences we recommend regression
      analysis to describe the performance of the analytical methods of a laboratory
      over time. The results show that most laboratories fell within the limits of +/-
      15% bias for S-Creatinine above 100 mumol l-1 and +/- 17% for S-Urate at
      concentrations above 250 mumol l-1. Various steps to reduce the inter-laboratory
      variability are suggested, including numerical correction of individual
      laboratory results using correction functions. In a few laboratories, instability
      was too high to allow for numerical corrections of analytical results.

PMID- 1455163
TI  - Renal function in patients with untreated acute myocardial infarction.
AB  - This study provides data on plasma volume (PV), extracellular volume (ECV) and
      renal function in 8 untreated patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). At
      day 2 and day 10 after AMI, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urinary excretion
      rate of water (Vu), sodium clearance (CNa) and lithium clearance (CLi) were used
      for assessing reabsorption rates of sodium and water in proximal and distal
      nephron segments. PV and blood pressure at day 2 were not significantly different
      from values at day 10. Heart rate (HR), weight and ECV at day 2 were
      significantly increased when compared with values at day 10 (78 vs. 62 pr. min
      and 17.0 vs. 16.2 1, respectively). Plasma norepinephrine values were slightly
      elevated at day 2 and day 10. GFR was initially high and decreased from day 2 to
      day 10 (118 vs. 104 ml min-1) together with CLi and Ck. However, Vu, CNa and
      fractional excretion rate of sodium increased markedly from day 2 to day 10. The
      results suggest that sodium and water retention in the initial phase of AMI
      without left ventricular failure is due to an increase in tubular reabsorption in
      distal nephron segments mediated by mechanisms other than the sympathetic nervous
      system.

PMID- 1455164
TI  - DNA synthesis and related enzymes altered in compensatory lung growth in rats.
AB  - Left pneumonectomy was performed on 4 week-old male Fischer-344 rats. Changes in
      DNA biosynthesis and the activities of related enzymes were studied in the
      contralateral lungs of the pneumonectomized animals (n = 55) and compared with
      sham-operated (n = 55) and untreated control animals (n = 40) The wet weight of
      the contralateral lung of the pneumonectomized rats reached that of both lungs of
      the untreated and sham-operated rats 14 days after the operation. The activities
      of thymidine kinase and DNA polymerase from the regenerating lungs were elevated
      on Days 1 and 7. To determine the molecular forms of DNA polymerase in the crude
      extract, phosphocellulose column chromatography was performed. The type of DNA
      polymerase with the highest activity was alpha in regenerating lung on Days 1, 3,
      and 7. These results suggest that DNA replication for cellular proliferation was
      elevated in the remaining lung after pneumonectomy. In addition, an interlobar
      difference in DNA biosynthesis was observed in the remaining lung. The increase
      was especially marked in the cardiac lobe, followed by increases in the DNA
      content of the remaining lobes on Day 7. From these observations we conclude (1)
      that increased activity of DNA polymerase alpha is likely to be an initial change
      in compensatory lung growth, and may be caused by some unknown stimulator in lung
      tissue, and (2) that DNA biosynthesis may differ among the lobes of the lung, at
      least until 3 days post-pneumonectomy.

PMID- 1455165
TI  - Enzymatic microdetermination of plasma and serum free fatty acids.
AB  - A simple and sensitive enzymatic method for determination of plasma and serum
      fatty acids (FAs) is described. The method is based on acylation of long chain
      FAs by a bacterial acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) producing equivalent amounts of acyl
      CoA and AMP. AMP production was measured using the coupled reaction of myokinase
      (MK), pyruvate kinase (PK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) allowing fluorinate
      detection of NADH. Two moles of NAD were produced per mole of FA acylated.
      Concentrations of substrates and enzymes were kept as low as possible maintaining
      the ACS reaction as rate limiting. Addition of fat-free human serum albumin (HSA)
      to standards reduced initial reaction rates but did not affect end-point
      fluorescence levels. Triton X-100 partly counteracted the inhibition by HSA. To
      keep albumin concentration low, plasma or serum samples were diluted by 1:400.
      Duplicate measurements of plasma or serum FA concentrations between 0 and 2 mmol
      l-1 can then be performed on 5 microliters samples with intra- and inter-assay
      variation coefficients of 1.7 and 4% respectively.

PMID- 1455166
TI  - Taurine content and distribution in equine skeletal muscle.
AB  - Taurine (TAU) is found in large but variable amounts in the skeletal muscles of
      many species. It has been reported that slow twitch muscles in the rat exhibit
      higher TAU levels than fast twitch muscles. Variation in muscle taurine content
      may be attributable to differences in the fibre type composition of different
      muscles. TAU content (mmol kg-1 dry muscle) and percentage type-1, type-2A, and
      type-2B fibre section area (f.s.a.) were measured in muscle samples taken from up
      to six sites in the middle gluteal muscle of four horses and one pony at post
      mortem and in biopsy samples taken from twenty Thoroughbred horses in race
      training. TAU was positively correlated to type-1 f.s.a. (r = 0.94, p < 0.001) in
      both post mortem samples and biopsies from horses in race-training. Multiple
      linear regression analysis was used to estimate the TAU content of individual
      fibre types when present at 100%. TAU is almost exclusively localized in type-1
      fibres. The TAU content of type-1 and type-2A fibres was estimated to be 45.4
      mmol kg-1 d.m. and 4.5 mmol kg-1 d.m. respectively in the post mortem horses, and
      32.4 mmol kg-1 d.m. and 7.9 mmol kg-1 d.m. respectively in the horses in
      training. TAU was estimated to be absent from type-2B fibres in both horse
      groups.

PMID- 1455167
TI  - Influence of acid-secretion blockers on gastric and hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase
      in rat.
AB  - The effects of Cimetidine, Ranitidine, and Omeprazole on gastric and hepatic
      alcohol-dehydrogenase (ADH) activity was studied in rat. Two apparent values for
      Km were found for gastric ADH (220 mmol l-1 and 1043 mmol l-1 respectively) and
      one for hepatic ADH (0.54 mmol l-1). Cimetidine was shown to exert an
      uncompetitive inhibition of low Km gastric ADH with a Ki of 0.167 mmol l-1 and a
      competitive inhibition of high Km gastric ADH with a Ki 2.3 mmol l-1. Ranitidine
      was found to present non-competitive inhibition only on low Km gastric ADH with a
      Ki of 12 mmol l-1. Omeprazole affects only low Km gastric ADH with a Ki of 5.6
      mmol l-1 and presents a linear-mixed type of inhibition. Hepatic ADH was shown to
      be competitively inhibited only by Cimetidine with a Ki of 6.0 mmol l-1 whereas
      no inhibition for either Ranitidine and Omeprazole was observed. These results
      confirm the inhibitory action of Cimetidine on both gastric and hepatic ADH;
      Ranitidine and Omeprazole show minor effects on ADHS activity and probably on
      first-pass metabolism.

PMID- 1455168
TI  - Phorbol myristate acetate-induced lung injury: involvement of reactive oxygen
      species.
AB  - Using lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence, isolated rat lungs perfused with
      physiological salt-Ficoll solution were studied to test whether phorbol myristate
      acetate (PMA)-induced lung injury was mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS).
      PMA (0.03 micrograms ml-1) caused small but significant increases in lung ROS
      levels and pulmonary arterial perfusion pressure (Ppa) but did not induce lung
      oedema. PMA (0.15 micrograms ml-1) induced lung oedema with large increases in
      ROS production and Ppa. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibited the increases in
      ROS, Ppa, and lung oedema. Catalase and dimethylthiourea inhibited lung oedema
      but did not attenuate the increases in ROS and Ppa entirely. Indomethacin
      attenuated lung oedema partially but did not inhibit the increases in ROS and
      Ppa. These data indicate that PMA-induced lung injury is dependent on PMA
      concentration and ROS are responsible for such lung injury. Thromboxane plays a
      minor role for PMA-induced lung injury. The different effects of oxygen radical
      scavengers suggest that different radical species contribute to the increased
      pulmonary vascular response and lung injury.

PMID- 1455169
TI  - Mononuclear cell magnesium and retention of magnesium after intravenous loading
      in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
AB  - A magnesium (Mg++) retention test was performed in 19 patients with acute
      myocardial infarction (AMI) 4-11 days after admission to the coronary care unit.
      The retention of Mg++ was 45 +/- 23% of the 30 mmol given intravenously. It has
      been proposed that a retention of more than 20% represents Mg++ deficiency. The
      mononuclear cell Mg++ concentration before the retention test was on an average
      slightly higher in the AMI patients than in 25 healthy volunteers (72.5 +/- 24.2
      vs. 62.9 +/- 9.2 mumol g-1 protein) indicating no Mg++ depletion in the first
      group. The reason why patients during the phase of AMI show an increased
      retention of Mg++ is unknown, but changes in concentrations of several hormones
      and a reduction in blood glucose could be of importance. Serum concentrations of
      Mg++ were lower on admission than after 4-11 days. These initial reductions are
      probably due to increased concentrations of circulating catecholamines during the
      early hours of AMI.

PMID- 1455170
TI  - Interferences by cryoglobulins and cold agglutinins with blood cell measurement
      on coulter counter.

PMID- 1455171
TI  - Comparative study of alkaline phosphatase in human and animal samples using
      methods based on AMP and DEA buffers: effects on quality control.

PMID- 1455172
TI  - The aspartic proteases. In honour of the retirement of Professor Bent Foltmann.
      Danish Biochemical Society meeting. Copenhagen, 27 May 1992.

PMID- 1455173
TI  - Genetic variation of human aspartic proteinases.
AB  - The human aspartic proteinases include pepsinogen A, pepsinogen C, cathepsin D,
      cathepsin E and renin. Comparative analysis of the proteinase genes reveals a
      high degree of similarity with regard to their respective coding sequences and
      the location of exon-intron junctions. Despite strong conservation of the regions
      containing the active site aspartyl groups, genetic polymorphisms have been
      identified for each of the proteinase genes with the exception of cathepsin D.
      These genetic polymorphisms are useful for localization of genes on linkage maps
      as well as determination of gene copy number. The chromosomal location of each
      aspartyl proteinase has been determined by a variety of gene mapping methods
      employing recombinant DNA probes including; analysis of somatic cell hybrid
      mapping panels, in situ hybridization to metaphase chromosome preparations and
      family linkage analysis with polymorphic markers. Pepsinogen A exhibits the most
      extensive polymorphism among aspartic proteinases which can be detected by either
      by protein electrophoresis or by DNA analysis. Southern blot hybridization with
      respective DNA probes and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification have
      revealed nucleotide differences located within the coding and noncoding portions
      of the aspartic proteinase genes. These polymorphisms can be used to investigate
      potential roles of each proteinase in genetically influenced clinical conditions.
      The development of additional highly polymorphic markers detected by PCR
      amplification of divergent nucleotide sequence repeats will greatly assist with
      documentation of the effect of genetic variation of the aspartic proteinases may
      have in specific clinical diseases such as ulcer and hypertension.

PMID- 1455174
TI  - Chicken pepsin and the other avian aspartic proteinases.
AB  - The results of studies on chicken pepsinogen and pepsin from the adult animals
      and from chicken embryos are presented and some of the problems are discussed. A
      brief summary of other investigations on aspartic and acid proteinases of birds
      is given and the possible future trends of research in this field are outlined.

PMID- 1455175
TI  - Understanding HIV protease: can it be translated into effective therapy against
      AIDS?
AB  - The protease of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been extensively studied.
      The structure and function relationships of this protease and its role in HIV
      life cycle is well known. We have use recombinant HIV protease and mutagenesis
      technology to study HIV protease and compare it to the eukaryotic aspartic
      proteases. When putative active-site hydrogen bonds are placed in the HIV
      protease, the pKa values of two active-site groups are only slightly downshifted.
      Corresponding removal of these H-bonds from the active sites of pepsin and
      rhizopuspepsin do not appreciably alter the active-site pKa values. The Kcat
      values are strongly decreased by these mutations. These observations suggest that
      the active-site H-bonds in HIV protease and other aspartic proteases control the
      rigidity of the catalytic apparatus but not the ionization of the active-site
      groups. A mechanism of catalysis by the HIV protease has been suggested based on
      kinetic and mutagenesis studies. The strategies involved in the development of
      HIV protease inhibitors are discussed. In spite of the pitfalls in each approach,
      it appears probable that a battery of inhibitors can be developed for the
      treatment of AIDS.

PMID- 1455176
TI  - Substrate specificity and inhibitors of aspartic proteinases.
AB  - Aspartic proteinases of vertebrate, fungal and retroviral origin have been
      characterised by utilisation of chromogenic peptide substrates and synthetic
      inhibitors as probes. By this means, the molecular topography of sub-sites within
      the active site cleft of individual enzymes has been elucidated. With suitable
      selection of residues to occupy each sub-site, the design of effective inhibitors
      specifically targetted against individual aspartic proteinases has become
      feasible.

PMID- 1455177
TI  - Some aspects of structural studies on aspartic proteinases.
AB  - This paper gives a brief overview over the differences and similarities in the
      structure of aspartic proteinases presently available. Comparison of the three
      dimentional structure of different aspartic proteinases by a common
      intramolecular coordinate system have been performed. The intramolecular movable
      subdomains have been localized and the role of motion in substrate binding and
      zymogen activation is discussed.

PMID- 1455178
TI  - Multidisciplinary cycles for protein engineering: site-directed mutagenesis and X
      ray structural studies of aspartic proteinases.
AB  - The specificity and pH profile of aspartic proteinases have evolved to include
      not only pepsin with a broad specificity and an optimal activity in acid media,
      but also renin, with high specificity for angiotensinogen and activity close to
      neutral pH. Comparisons of the structures and catalytic activities of aspartic
      proteinases provide helpful clues for engineering new activity profiles. We
      illustrate an approach that involves recombinant DNA techniques, biochemistry,
      structure determination and biocomputing. We use the 3-D structures of inhibitor
      complexes of several aspartic proteinases to define likely intermediates and
      specificity sub-sites. The multidisciplinary research is organised as cycles, in
      which each cycle tests a design hypothesis proposed in the previous cycle. We use
      one member of the aspartic proteinase family, chymosin, to illustrate these ideas
      in engineering enzymes with altered pH optima and specificities.

PMID- 1455179
TI  - The aspartic proteases.
AB  - The Aspartic proteases (EC 3.4.23) are a group of proteolytic enzymes that share
      the same catalytic apparatus. Members of the aspartic protease family can be
      found in different organisms, ranging from humans to plants and retroviruses. The
      best known sources of aspartic proteases are the stomach of mammals, yeast and
      fungi, with porcine pepsin as the proto type. The aim of this review is to
      summarize some of the characteristics of the aspartic protease family.

PMID- 1455180
TI  - Protein engineering of the milk-clotting aspartic proteinases.
AB  - Calf Chymosin and a fungal protease from Mucor pusillus (Mucor rennin) are
      members of the aspartic proteinases used as milk-coagulants in cheese industry. A
      system for production of recombinant chymosin as inclusion bodies in Escherichia
      coli cells and its refolding into the active form was established. Another
      expression system for production of Mucor rennin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was
      also established. Mucor rennin was efficiently excreted from the yeast host as a
      heavily glycosylated form. Glycosylation affected both the secretion and the
      enzyme properties. Site-directed mutagenesis of the Tyr residue at position 75 in
      chymosin and Mucor rennin revealed its crucial role in catalytic function of the
      aspartic proteinases. The results also suggested possibility to improve practical
      properties of the milk-clotting enzymes by site-directed mutagenesis.

PMID- 1455181
TI  - Production of prochymosin, pepsinogen and progastricsin, and their cellular and
      intracellular localization in bovine abomasal mucosa.
AB  - A brief overview of research is presented on the production, cellular and
      intracellular localization of prochymosin, pepsinogen and progastricsin in bovine
      abomasal mucosa from fetus to adult. Prochymosin is produced early during
      gestation (10th week) and is significantly related to milk-feeding. Pepsinogen
      and progastricsin start to be produced later during gestation (20th week) and are
      produced in low amounts as long as the calf is fed milk. With age, pepsinogen
      becomes the dominating zymogen in the abomasal mucosa. Most of the cell types in
      the fundic gland have the ability to produce all three zymogens and are also
      found in the same individual secretory granules of these cells.

PMID- 1455182
TI  - Chymosin: a short review on foetal and neonatal gastric proteases.
AB  - All vertebrates in which the age dependent expression of gastric proteases has
      been investigated show a characteristic developmental pattern. Neonatal proteases
      which show partial immunochemical identity with calf chymosin have been observed
      in several species. The amino acid sequence of lamb chymosin shows 94% of
      identity with that of calf chymosin. Chymosins from pig and cat show about 85%
      and 75% of identity with calf chymosin. Chicken embryonic pepsinogen appears to
      be more related to calf chymosin than to other gastric proteases. A pseudo-gene
      for a chymosin-like protease from man has been identified. But a functional,
      human chymosin-like neonatal protease has not been identified. The possible
      physiological significance of chymosin and the clotting of milk are discussed.

PMID- 1455183
TI  - Clinical implications of serum pepsinogen and progastricsin in man.
AB  - The serum pepsinogens in man have been reviewed with respect to clinical and
      physiological significance. The many places of synthesis of pepsinogen (PG A) and
      progastricsin (PG C) are described. The major part of serum pepsinogen and
      progastricsin is synthezized in the stomach, and the findings after antrectomy
      indicate that the majority of the pepsinogens in serum originates from the corpus
      of the stomach. The concentrations of pepsinogen and progastricsin in serum in
      relation to stomach diseases, e.g. ulcer disease, gastritis, and cancer of the
      stomach, are described. Despite typical findings, i.e. hyperpepsinogenemia in
      duodenal ulcer disease, or hypopepsinogenemia in atrophic gastritis or stomach
      cancer, there is a big overlap in serum concentrations between the groups
      reducing the clinical value of routine measurements of pepsinogens. Most
      promising are the findings in stomach cancer disease, where the combined
      measurement of pepsinogen levels and the isozymogen Pg5 is found to be highly
      indicative for the presence of a gastric carcinoma. Reports state that
      pepsinogens are excellent markers of recurrence of gastric cancer somewhere in
      the body after total gastrectomy. Genetical studies have--concerning pepsinogen-
      proved the multiple gene/multiple loci model. There is only a single
      progastricsin gene in humans and no genetic heterogenity has been found. Finally,
      the relationship between gastric infection with the bacterium Helicobacter
      pylori, and elevated pepsinogen and progastricsin levels in the blood, and the
      search for serologic markers of gastric diseases is discussed.

PMID- 1455184
TI  - Gene structures of pepsinogens A and C.
AB  - Pepsinogen is an inactive precursor of pepsin, a typical aspartic proteinases,
      synthesized in the chief cells of gastric glands. There are two major groups of
      pepsinogen, namely pepsinogen A (PGA) and pepsinogen C (PGC) (or progastricsin),
      and each frequently has isozymogens. The relative extents of expression of the
      two pepsinogens vary among animal species and, moreover, their biosynthesis is
      known to be affected by such bioactive peptides as gastrin and secretin; however,
      the regulation mechanism of pepsinogen biosynthesis, hence pepsinogen gene
      expression is not yet clear. Therefore, it is thought to be of fundamental
      importance to elucidate the primary structures of the pepsinogen gene for such
      studies. This report describes the primary structures of human PGA and PGC genes
      and rat PGC gene. The organization of the genes is essentially the same; each
      gene was found to be separated into nine exons by eight introns of various
      lengths, encoding the amino acid sequence of the corresponding prepepsinogen.
      These results show that these genes are all derived from a common ancestral gene.
      The 5'-flanking region of human PGA gene, however, was different from those of
      human and rat PGC genes, whereas those of human and rat PGC genes were similar to
      each other. Thus, it is suggested that the expression of the PGA and PGC genes
      are somewhat differently regulated.

PMID- 1455185
TI  - Cytokines in inflammatory bowel disease.

PMID- 1455186
TI  - Effects of interferon-gamma and tumour necrosis factor-alpha on epithelial HLA
      class-II expression on jejunal mucosal biopsy specimens cultured in vitro.
AB  - HLA class-II molecules present antigen to the immune system and are expressed by
      normal villous enterocytes. Increased expression occurs in inflammatory bowel and
      coeliac disease, and it is suggested that cytokines may mediate such increased
      expression. The effects of the cytokines IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha on epithelial
      HLA class-II expressions have been studied in adult human jejunal mucosal biopsy
      specimens cultured in vitro. Specimens from nine patients with normal jejunal
      histology were cultured for 24 h with IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, or both. Six of nine
      patients showed increased HLA-DR and HLA-DP expression after culture with the
      cytokines. We have demonstrated that these cytokines induce increased epithelial
      HLA class-II expression in adult jejunal mucosal specimens cultured in vitro, a
      model that most closely resembles the in vivo state. This provides further
      evidence that such increased expression occurs secondarily to the products of
      immunologic activation.

PMID- 1455187
TI  - Gastric changes in coronary-operated patients with low-dose aspirin.
AB  - Low-dose aspirin is widely used in patients operated on for coronary disease as
      secondary prevention of coronary artery occlusion. The changes caused by aspirin
      in therapeutic doses to gastric mucosa are well documented, but the effect of
      long-term low-dose aspirin is not so well known. Forty-six volunteer coronary
      operated patients with daily low-dose aspirin were interviewed postoperatively,
      and an upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy was performed and biopsy specimens
      taken 3 months after the operation. The findings were compared with a normal
      population sample of 358 persons from a study previously published. There were
      significantly more erosions and ulcers or fresh scars in the study group than in
      the control population--11 of 46 patients and 24 of 358 patients, respectively.
      The presence of superficial gastritis was similar. Mostly, the lesions were
      asymptomatic. History of peptic ulcer disease, use of other ulcerogenic drugs,
      smoking, and alcohol consumption had no predictive value for acute lesions. In
      contrast, the lesions were associated with chronic superficial gastritis and
      Helicobacter pylori infection.

PMID- 1455188
TI  - Influence of stress on the healing and relapse of duodenal ulcers. A prospective,
      multicenter trial of 2109 patients with recurrent duodenal ulceration treated
      with ranitidine. RUDER Study Group.
AB  - The influence of psychologic factors on the healing and relapse of duodenal
      ulcers under treatment with ranitidine was studied in a prospective, multicenter
      trial in 2109 patients with an endoscopically proven duodenal ulcer (DU) and a
      history of recurrent duodenal ulceration. All patient received ranitidine (300 mg
      daily), and, after healing, 1899 patients continued maintenance treatment
      (ranitidine, 150 mg daily) for 2 years. A physician's assessment of stress
      (stress or no stress) was made at every consultation. In the healing phase an
      overall classification of stress as absent, intermittent, or continuous was made,
      and in the maintenance phase patients were classified dichotomously as having
      stress (stress on at least half of the follow-up consultations) or no stress. In
      addition, at the start of the healing phase stress was measured by means of a
      standardized questionnaire. Continuous stress, as assessed by the physicians, was
      associated with a lower 14-day healing rate (35.7%) than intermittent or absent
      stress (42.4%; relative risk (RR) for delayed healing in patients with continuous
      stress, 1.19; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-1.33; P < 0.02). Differences in
      the 14-day healing rate for patients with low and moderate stress scores (43.1%)
      compared with those with high and very high stress scores (37.9%) just failed to
      reach statistical significance (RR for patients with stress, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.998
      1.29; P = 0.051). During the 1st year of maintenance treatment 18.3% of patients
      with stress, but 10.9% of patients without stress, had a DU relapse (RR of stress
      for DU relapse during the first year, 1.73; 95 CI, 1.44-2.09; P <
      0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455189
TI  - Can pH recordings suggest defective esophageal peristalsis in patients with
      gastroesophageal reflux?
AB  - The data provided by 24-h pH monitoring in 40 patients with gastroesophageal
      reflux, divided in three groups in accordance with esophageal motor pattern, were
      compared. Patients with hypomotility had significantly greater reflux rates than
      those with normal motility or hypermotility, if we consider both total time with
      pH < 4 and time with pH < 4 corresponding to episodes of > 5 min duration. We
      conclude that when 24-h pH monitoring shows very high reflux rates, basically
      corresponding to episodes lasting > 5 min, we should suspect the presence of
      defective esophageal peristalsis, which must be confirmed with a manometric
      study.

PMID- 1455190
TI  - Observer homogeneity in the histologic diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori. Latent
      class analysis, kappa coefficient, and repeat frequency.
AB  - Four pathologists independently examined 82 antral mucosal biopsy specimens for
      the presence of Helicobacter pylori and indicated whether their assessments were
      certain. The pathologists made a positive diagnosis in from 56% to 84% of the
      specimens (significant heterogeneity, p < 0.01). The frequency of uncertain
      diagnoses was from 4% to 20% (p < 0.01). Uncertain statements occurred more
      frequently among negative than among positive diagnoses. For the six pairs of
      observers the kappa coefficients were between 0.39 and 0.82. By a latent class
      analysis measures of diagnostic accuracy were calculated comparing the observers'
      assessments with an estimated consensus diagnosis. The predictive values of a
      positive diagnosis ranged from 0.70 to 1.00. By calculation of repeat frequencies
      -that is, the probability that an observer's statement was confirmed by another
      observer--it became evident that uncertain statements were less frequently (61%)
      confirmed than were certain ones (85%). It is concluded that observer homogeneity
      is only moderate with regard to the histologic diagnosis of H. pylori, which
      should be considered both in daily clinical routine and in scientific studies.
      Disagreement between observers was associated with negative diagnoses, presumably
      because the pathologists felt more uncertain in these cases.

PMID- 1455191
TI  - Symptom provocation in irritable bowel syndrome. Effects of differing doses of
      fructose-sorbitol.
AB  - The role of fructose and sorbitol, when ingested together, in the aetiology of
      irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is controversial. The aims of this study in IBS
      patients, therefore, were to compare differences in symptom provocation with
      various doses of fructose-sorbitol and to relate differences in the extent of
      colonic hydrogen production after each dose to such symptom provocation. Two
      different mixtures of fructose and sorbitol--20 g fructose plus 3.5 g sorbitol
      ('lower' dose) and 25 g fructose plus 5 g sorbitol ('higher' dose)--were
      administered to 15 patients with IBS and to 24 healthy controls. Breath hydrogen
      concentrations were determined at 10-min intervals for 3 h after ingestion of
      each mixture, and the presence and severity of a range of gastrointestinal
      symptoms were recorded on a standard form before, during, and after the study.
      Total symptom score in IBS patients, but not controls, was greater (p < 0.05)
      after the higher than after the lower dose of fructose-sorbitol mixture, and, for
      the higher dose, symptoms were significantly greater in IBS patients than in
      controls (p < 0.05). Moreover, the increase in total symptom score between the
      higher and lower dose mixtures was of a greater magnitude (p = 0.01) in IBS
      patients than in controls. No significant correlation was observed between the
      increase in symptom score and the increase in peak hydrogen concentration or the
      increase in integrated hydrogen response between lower and higher dose mixtures,
      although these latter increases were at times substantial.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455192
TI  - Ulcerative proctocolitis in Orebro, Sweden. A retrospective epidemiologic study,
      1963-1987.
AB  - In a retrospective epidemiologic study of the period 1963 to 1987 the annual
      incidence of definite ulcerative proctocolitis increased from 3.3 to 14.9/10(5),
      and during the last 10 years the mean incidence was 13.1/10(5) population. The
      incidence of extensive and total colitis was fairly stable, whereas an increase
      of ulcerative proctitis and distal colitis was seen. The increase in incidence is
      probably an artefact caused by better retrieval of cases in the latter part of
      the study. The prevalence on 31 December 1987 was 234/10(5) inhabitants. The male
      to female ratio was 1.59:1, compared with 0.96:1 in the general population. The
      median age at diagnosis was 33 years and increased almost 7 years by the end of
      the study, probably caused by an increased proportion of ex-smokers, who at
      diagnosis were, on average, 9 years older than lifetime non-smokers. The highest
      age- and sex-specific incidence was found in middle-aged men, who were ex-smokers
      to a significantly higher extent than women. No specific birth cohort was at an
      increased risk, and no second incidence peak in older age groups was seen.

PMID- 1455193
TI  - No significant correlation between histologic changes of the papilla of Vater and
      juxtapapillary diverticulum. Special reference to the pathogenesis of gallstones.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of histologic changes
      of the papilla of Vater in cases with a juxtapapillary diverticulum, with special
      reference to the pathogenesis of gallstones. Three hundred and sixty-two autopsy
      cases, mainly of aged people, were analyzed. The incidence of both diverticulum
      and gallstone increased with age. The presence of diverticulum was associated
      with a significant increase of gallstones (49% versus 20%; P < 0.01). Analysis by
      the type of gallstones showed a significantly higher incidence of bilirubinate in
      cases with juxtapapillary diverticula. Stones both in the gallbladder and in the
      extrahepatic bile ducts were more prevalent in cases with diverticula as compared
      with the cases without diverticula. No significant relationship was found between
      juxtapapillary diverticula and the degree of histologic changes in the papilla of
      Vater, such as inflammatory cellular infiltration, fibrous proliferation,
      glandular proliferation, or muscular hypertrophy and proliferation of the
      sphincter of Oddi. These facts imply that juxtapapillary diverticula are not
      involved in the formation of gallstones via histologic changes of the papilla of
      Vater, whereas diverticula may play an important role in the pathogenesis of
      gallstones, especially of bilirubin stones.

PMID- 1455194
TI  - Free protein S deficiency in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
AB  - Free protein S, protein C, and C4b-binding protein (C4b-BP) were measured in
      randomly selected outpatients: 22 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 16 with
      ulcerative colitis (UC). Active disease was recorded in 10 patients with CD and 4
      with UC. Fourteen patients (63.6%) with CD and 4 (25%) with UC had free protein S
      values below the normal range, with mean values of 62% and 78% of that found in
      healthy control subjects (p < 0.01). The C4b-BP level was 127% in patients with
      CD as compared with 89% in both healthy subjects and UC patients (p < 0.01). The
      protein C levels were similar in the three groups. The present results add to the
      factors already known favouring thromboembolic complications in inflammatory
      bowel disease and which might play a major role both for the pathogenesis and for
      the increased tendency to venous thromboembolism in these diseases.

PMID- 1455195
TI  - Cyclosporin pharmacokinetics after intravenous and oral administration in
      patients with Crohn's disease.
AB  - Cyclosporin kinetics were estimated after single-dose intravenous and oral
      administration in 12 patients with Crohn's disease in accordance with a three
      compartment model with zero-order inputs. Cyclosporin was measured in whole blood
      with a specific monoclonal radioimmunoassay. The median bioavailability (f) was
      23.7% (range, 0-49.1%); the distribution volume at steady state, 2.3 l/kg (range,
      1.0-3.5 l/kg); clearance (CL), 7.6 ml/min/kg (range, 4.8-10.8 ml/min/kg); and
      t1/2(z) 7.9 h (range, 3.2-13.9 h). Both the extent and rate of bioavailability
      were significantly lower in six of the patients, who had low or undetectable
      cyclosporin levels during a preceding therapeutic trial. After repeated oral
      administration significant correlations were found between the single-dose f/CL
      ratios and the steady-state blood concentrations, indicating that the kinetics
      did not change markedly with time. We conclude that the disposition kinetics of
      cyclosporin in patients with Crohn's disease are comparable to those of other
      groups, whereas the bioavailability may be decreased. It is suggested that
      cyclosporin levels should be monitored closely, and intravenous treatment should
      be considered in patients with a rapid gut transit time, because cyclosporin
      absorption seems to follow zero-order kinetics.

PMID- 1455196
TI  - Effect of drugs on colonic eicosanoid accumulation in active ulcerative colitis.
AB  - The effect of immunosuppressive drugs, 4-aminosalicylic acid (4-ASA), acetyl 5
      aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), and ketotifen on human colonic eicosanoid
      accumulation was evaluated in view of enhanced accumulation in patients with
      active ulcerative colitis. Azathioprine (100 micrograms/ml), cyclosporin (100
      micrograms/ml), and methotrexate (100 micrograms/ml) significantly inhibited, by
      25-35%, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) accumulation by organ-cultured colonic mucosa of
      ulcerative colitis patients. Methotrexate was the only immunosuppressive drug
      that inhibited leukotriene B4 (LTB4) accumulation (50%), whereas azathioprine
      inhibited the accumulation of leukotriene C4 (LTC4) (25%). 5-ASA and its
      metabolite, acetyl 5-ASA, inhibited by 20-70% PGE2, LTB4, and LTC4 accumulation
      in the culture, supporting the contention that acetyl 5-ASA is as active as 5-ASA
      in these respects. 4-ASA had no effect on any of the eicosanoids. Ketotifen, a
      mast cell stabilizer, significantly inhibited the accumulation of PGE2, LTB4, and
      LTC4 by 33-60%. These results suggest a potential, new, unrecognized mode by
      which the immunomodulators induce part of their therapeutic effects in
      inflammatory bowel disease and support the contention that acetyl 5-ASA is as
      active as 5-ASA. The results obtained also indicate that ketotifen, used
      effectively in the prevention of bronchial asthma, inhibits the accumulation of
      colonic eicosanoids and, thus, may be of value in the treatment of inflammatory
      bowel disease.

PMID- 1455197
TI  - Triple therapy of Helicobacter pylori infection in peptic ulcer. A 12-month
      follow-up study of 93 patients.
AB  - This study was undertaken to evaluate the success of triple therapy in peptic
      ulcer patients and ulcer relapses. One hundred and one consecutive Helicobacter
      pylori-positive peptic ulcer patients were assigned to an open trial with 2 weeks
      of treatment with colloidal bismuth subcitrate, amoxicillin, and metronidazole.
      At the 6-week follow-up only 1 duodenal ulcer was unhealed of 57 active ulcers,
      and H. pylori was found to be eradicated in 84% of the 100 subjects. The
      sensitivity to metronidazole was determined from 71 pretreatment strains of H.
      pylori. Eradication of H. pylori succeeded in 89% of the patients with
      metronidazole-susceptible strains and in 61% of patients with metronidazole
      resistant strains (p < 0.03). All 16 patients in whom the treatment failed to
      eradicate the organism had metronidazole-resistant strains after treatment. The
      ulcer relapse rate was low. At the 12-month follow-up of 93 patients only 1 of
      the 84 H. pylori-negative patients (including 4 patients after new successful
      therapy) had relapsing ulcers (2 asymptomatic episodes), and 1 had H. pylori
      reinfection, whereas 3 of the 9 bacteria-positive patients relapsed (p = 0.002);
      at the 2-year control 2 more patients had ulcer relapses. The eradication of H.
      pylori infection clearly prevents relapses of peptide ulcer, but the success of
      triple therapy depends on the frequency of pretreatment metronidazole-resistant
      H. pylori strains.

PMID- 1455198
TI  - Biometric evaluation of gastric urease activity in man.
AB  - The 14C-urea breath test is claimed to be the best test for detection of
      Helicobacter pylori infection. We present a procedure for estimating its cutoff
      value on the basis of biometric evaluation only, without involving other
      diagnostic methods. Cumulative gastric urease activity (CA) was determined during
      the first 30 min after oral administration of 14C-urea (92.5 kBq) in 56 random
      volunteers and 49 consecutive patients with peptic ulcer disease. The
      distribution of CA in random volunteers was positively skewed. Logarithmic
      transformation yielded two separate populations, each normally distributed. Their
      normal probability density functions intercepted at log cutoff value. A bimodal
      distribution of log CA was confirmed in patients with peptic ulcer disease before
      and after treatment aimed at H. pylori eradication. Cutoff values were determined
      for both random volunteers and patients with peptic ulcer disease. By application
      of the present procedure for determination of cutoff value, the 14C-urea breath
      test distinguishes between individuals who have an increased gastric urease
      activity and individuals who do not, with the smallest possible arbitrariness.

PMID- 1455199
TI  - Prediction of major pathologic conditions in dyspeptic patients referred for
      endoscopy. A prospective validation study of a scoring system.
AB  - This study aimed to validate the use of a decision support system previously
      developed on answers to a structured interview of dyspeptic outpatients and
      designed to identify patients at low risk of organic dyspepsia. We evaluated the
      performance of the scoring system in two cohorts of dyspeptic outpatients: 878
      consecutive Danish patients (study group) referred for upper endoscopy and 1279
      British patients whose results had previously been reported (validation group).
      Performance of the scoring system was analysed by receiver-operating
      characteristic (ROC) curves and comparison of loss in detection rate of organic
      dyspepsia, defined as cancer, ulcer, and complicated oesophagitis. The
      performance of the scoring system in the study group was less favourable over the
      entire span of cut-off points evaluated. This was reflected by a significant
      decrease in area under the ROC curve (65.1% versus 75.0%). The only cut-off point
      with an acceptable loss in detection rate (3.1%) led to a reduction in endoscopic
      activity of only 7.5%. Despite optimal working conditions the scoring system
      could not be used as a safe method of extracting dyspeptic patients with a low
      probability of organic dyspepsia. Before adopting a predictive scoring system,
      clinicians must evaluate its applicability in their own setting.

PMID- 1455200
TI  - [Europe and the Swiss dental profession].

PMID- 1455201
TI  - [The basic ideas for evaluating diagnostic tests in medicine and periodontics].
AB  - In the medical literature, and in particular in the field of periodontology, one
      could observe since several years an increasing interest in diagnostic tests.
      However, these are often difficult to comprehend. Indeed, understanding the value
      of these tests implies mastering the meaning of certain basic notions such as
      sensitivity, specificity and predictive value. The aim of this paper is to
      present these essential theoretical notions in a simple way and to illustrate
      them using clinical examples. Finally, several applications of these tests in the
      field of periodontology will be discussed.

PMID- 1455202
TI  - [The late results with a fixed denture in less well-off adults. A retrospective
      study].
AB  - In this retrospective study 141 patients were re-examined after having been
      treated with at least two crowns or one fixed bridge each at the Cantonal Public
      Dental Clinic of Zurich (Volkszahnklinik) between 1974 and 1984. After an average
      "wearing time" of more than 9 years, 88% of the crowns and 92% of the bridges
      were still in function. 4 patients had already lost all their reconstructions
      incorporated in the "Volkszahnklinik" and were not examined clinically. 115 (84%)
      of the remaining 137 patients were satisfied with their reconstructions. The mean
      papillary bleeding index (PBI) was significantly higher on crowned teeth compared
      to the untreated teeth. The mean probing depth of the crowned premolars and
      incisors was also significantly higher compared to that of the natural teeth. The
      results of the study show that the success rate of fixed reconstructions fitted
      at the Cantonal Public Dental Clinic of Zurich are within the ranges reported by
      other similar institutions.

PMID- 1455203
TI  - Treatment of Class II, div. 1 malocclusion with the activator and with the Begg
      technique.
AB  - The effect of treatment of Angle Class II, division 1 malocclusion with an
      Andresen activator or with the Begg technique with or without premolar extraction
      was studied retrospectively with X-ray cephalometry. The treatment with the Begg
      technique was followed by a phase of retention with an activator. Three groups of
      25 children who had been treated with one of the methods were compared regarding
      facial morphology and soft tissue profile before and after the treatment and
      changes during the period of treatment. The treatment effect (correction of the
      distal occlusion and normalisation of the overjet and overbite) was similar with
      the three methods. The overjet was mainly corrected through skeletal changes,
      which accounted for 70%, 77% and 62% of the overjet correction produced by the
      activator, Begg extraction and Begg non-extraction treatment, respectively. Thus,
      all three methods of treatment had a skeletal (orthopedic) effect. The dental
      component of the overjet correction was with all three methods of treatment a
      retroclination of the upper incisors. This was to some extent offset by a
      retrusion of the lower incisors, which also occurred in all groups. The facial
      morphology and the soft tissue profile after the treatment were similar in the
      three groups. There were no differences in the soft tissue profile and only
      marginal differences in facial morphology as a result of the three methods of
      treatment.

PMID- 1455205
TI  - [Gingival recession. Esthetic viewpoints in the therapy of gingival recession].

PMID- 1455204
TI  - [The microstructure of leucite-reinforced glass ceramics].
AB  - The dentine materials of the metal ceramic systems VMK 68 and Biodent as well as
      the ceramics of all ceramic systems Duceram, Cosmotech, Optec, IPS-Empress and
      Corum were tested for their leucite content. The structure analysed in the
      scanning electron microscope showed leucite in the dendritic and idiomorphic
      form. X-ray diffraction analyses verified the leucite content in metal ceramic
      systems and ceramics of the nonbonded systems. Comparing the metal ceramic
      systems with the nonbonded systems, an increase in leucite content was observed
      in the nonbonded systems.

PMID- 1455206
TI  - [Preprosthetic surgery and implantology. The effect of oral implantology on
      preprosthetic surgery in edentulous patients].

PMID- 1455207
TI  - [Foreign dentists will not have to have passed a Swiss state exam. Interview by
      Kurt Venner].

PMID- 1455208
TI  - [AIDS prevention measures are valid despite the HIV criticism].

PMID- 1455209
TI  - [Fluoride mouth-rinse tablets registered].

PMID- 1455210
TI  - [Expanded epidemiological data census in HIV].

PMID- 1455211
TI  - [The dental hygienist and the prophylaxis assistant: the purposes and future of
      these two professions. Interview by Catherine Strahm and Kurt Venner].

PMID- 1455212
TI  - [Causes of prenatal foal loss in Switzerland].
AB  - In Switzerland during the foaling season 1988 and 1989 the cause of abortion in
      60 foals was investigated. Special attention was paid to infections with equine
      herpesvirus 1 (EHV 1). Diagnosis were based on post-mortem, histopathological,
      bacteriological and immunofluorescence investigation. The results confirm data
      from other countries, that EHV 1 is the most prevalent viral (20%) cause of
      abortion, followed by various bacterial agents (12%). Other causes were umbilical
      torsion, twin pregnancy and malformations. In 18% of the cases the investigation
      of fetuses did not give any results as to the cause of abortion, suggesting
      maternal factors as only cause of abortion.

PMID- 1455213
TI  - [Kinetic study of the lumbar vertebrae and the lumbosacral passage in German
      shepherd dogs. 1. Functional anatomy and kinetic foundation].
AB  - In the dog congenital or acquired stenosis of the lumbosacral region is commonly
      encountered. In humans the lumbosacral junction is the most often affected part
      of the vertebral column. Lumbosacral instability, one possible etiology for
      stenosis of the vertebral canal plays an important role in man. This study
      summarizes the functional anatomy and some important geometric and kinematic
      considerations necessary for the understanding of the motion (flexion-extension)
      between two adjacent vertebra.

PMID- 1455214
TI  - [Serious reactions after the TSH-stimulation test in the dog].
AB  - The thyrotropin response test is the most common test for the diagnosis of
      hypothyroidism. Here we report serious adverse effects in two dogs after
      intravenous administration of bovine TSH. The clinical signs were consistent with
      an anaphylactoid or anaphylactic reaction. In both cases a previous
      sensibilization with bovine TSH can be excluded. We discuss the etiology and
      emphasize the most probable cause to be an anaphylactoid reaction. Preventive
      measures are discussed.

PMID- 1455215
TI  - [Oscillating potentials on the B-wave of the ERG in the dog].
AB  - The oscillatory potentials (OP) on the b-wave of the canine ERG are
      characterized. Normal values for an OP-index, implicit times and periodicity are
      given. The OP-index increases during dark adaptation as well as with increasing
      stimulus intensities for white light flashes. Scotopic blue and red stimuli,
      although balanced for the maximum b-wave amplitude, surprisingly result in higher
      OP-indices for red flashes. Implicit times decrease for all OP with increasing
      stimulus intensities. Scotopic balanced red light results in OP with markedly
      reduced implicit times compared to blue light stimulation. The intervals between
      two OPs remain constant during dark adaptation, however, intervals between OPs
      with longer implicit times tend to be shorter. In contrast, the b-waves for
      scotopic balanced stimuli show rhythmic oscillations with constant intervals
      between them, the intervals being shorter for blue light than for red light. The
      intervals between OPs tend to become shorter with increasing stimulus
      intensities. This investigation indicates that OPs are influenced but not
      generated by photoreceptors. The examination of a dog with optic nerve hypoplasia
      indicates that the ganglion cells do not contribute to the biogenesis of OPs. The
      prognostic value of OPs in the early diagnosis for hereditary retinal
      degenerations in the dog is discussed.

PMID- 1455216
TI  - Left-handed comments.

PMID- 1455217
TI  - Left-handed comments.

PMID- 1455218
TI  - Left-handed comments.

PMID- 1455219
TI  - Amber trees.

PMID- 1455220
TI  - AIDS clinical trial to go ahead.

PMID- 1455221
TI  - Violence Research. NRC panel provides a blueprint.

PMID- 1455222
TI  - Genome Diversity Project. Anthropologists climb (gingerly) on board.

PMID- 1455223
TI  - A few of the chosen.

PMID- 1455224
TI  - French public goes for blood.

PMID- 1455225
TI  - From 'hunter magic,' a pharmacopeia?

PMID- 1455226
TI  - Antibodies without immunization.

PMID- 1455227
TI  - Evidence from 12S ribosomal RNA sequences that onychophorans are modified
      arthropods.
AB  - The evolutionary relationships of the onychophorans (velvet worms) and the
      monophyly of the arthropods have generated considerable debate. Cladistic
      analyses of 12S ribosomal RNA sequences indicate that arthropods are monophyletic
      and include the onychophorans. Maximum parsimony analyses and monophyly testing
      within arthropods indicate that myriapods (millipedes and centipedes) form a
      sister group to all other assemblages, whereas crustaceans (shrimps and lobsters)
      plus hexapods (insects and allied groups) form a well-supported monophyletic
      group. Parsimony analysis further suggests that onychophorans form a sister group
      to chelicerates (spiders and scorpions) and crustaceans plus hexapods, but this
      relationship is not well supported by monophyly testing. These relationships
      conflict with current hypotheses of evolutionary pathways within arthropods.

PMID- 1455228
TI  - Activation of a plant gene by T-DNA tagging: auxin-independent growth in vitro.
AB  - A transferred DNA (T-DNA) tagging vector with the potential to produce dominant
      mutations was used with cocultured Agrobacterium tumefaciens and protoplasts to
      tag genes involved in the action of the plant growth substance auxin. Transgenic
      calli were selected for their ability to grow in the absence of auxin in the
      culture media. From one experiment, 12 calli that displayed this phenotype were
      recovered, of which 11 were able to regenerate into plants. In one plant studied
      in detail, protoplast division in the absence of auxin genetically cosegregated
      with a single T-DNA insert. A messenger RNA encoded by a 6.4-kilobase sequence of
      plant genomic DNA rescued from the mutant is overexpressed relative to
      untransformed plants. The genomic DNA, as well as a cognate complementary DNA,
      once transfected into protoplasts promote growth and cell division in vitro in
      the absence of exogenously added auxin.

PMID- 1455229
TI  - Map-based cloning of a gene controlling omega-3 fatty acid desaturation in
      Arabidopsis.
AB  - A gene from the flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana that encodes an omega-3
      desaturase was cloned on the basis of the genetic map position of a mutation
      affecting membrane and storage lipid fatty acid composition. Yeast artificial
      chromosomes covering the genetic locus were identified and used to probe a seed
      complementary DNA library. A complementary DNA clone for the desaturase was
      identified and introduced into roots of both wild-type and mutant plants by Ti
      plasmid-mediated transformation. Transgenic tissues of both mutant and wild-type
      plants had significantly increased amounts of the fatty acid produced by this
      desaturase.

PMID- 1455230
TI  - Dynamics of ribozyme binding of substrate revealed by fluorescence-detected
      stopped-flow methods.
AB  - Fluorescence-detected stopped-flow and equilibrium methods have been used to
      study the mechanism for binding of pyrene (pyr)-labeled RNA oligomer substrates
      to the ribozyme (catalytic RNA) from Tetrahymena thermophila. The fluorescence of
      these substrates increases up to 25-fold on binding to the ribozyme. Stopped-flow
      experiments provide evidence that pyr experiences at least three different
      microenvironments during the binding process. A minimal mechanism is presented in
      which substrate initially base pairs to ribozyme and subsequently forms tertiary
      contacts in an RNA folding step. All four microscopic rate constants are measured
      for ribozyme binding of pyrCCUCU.

PMID- 1455231
TI  - Three-dimensional structure of dimeric human recombinant macrophage colony
      stimulating factor.
AB  - Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) triggers the development of cells of
      the monocyte-macrophage lineage and has a variety of stimulatory effects on
      mature cells of this class. The biologically active form of M-CSF is a disulfide
      linked dimer that activates an intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity on the M-CSF
      receptor by inducing dimerization of the receptor molecules. The structure of a
      recombinant human M-CSF dimer, determined at 2.5 angstroms by x-ray
      crystallography, contains two bundles of four alpha helices laid end-to-end, with
      an interchain disulfide bond. Individual monomers of M-CSF show a close
      structural similarity to the cytokines granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating
      factor and human growth hormone. Both of these cytokines are monomeric in their
      active form, and their specific receptors lack intrinsic tyrosine kinase
      activity. The similarity of these structures suggests that the receptor binding
      determinants for all three cytokines may be similar.

PMID- 1455232
TI  - Consequences of replication fork movement through transcription units in vivo.
AB  - To examine the basis for the evolutionary selection for codirectionality of
      replication and transcription in Escherichia coli, electron microscopy was used
      to visualize replication from an inducible ColE1 replication origin inserted into
      the Escherichia coli chromosome upstream (5') or downstream (3') of rrnB, a
      ribosomal RNA operon. Active rrnB operons were replicated either in the same
      direction in which they were transcribed or in the opposite direction. In either
      direction, RNA polymerases were dislodged during replication. When replication
      and transcription were codirectional, the rate of replication fork movement was
      similar to that observed in nontranscribed regions. When replication and
      transcription occurred in opposite directions, replication fork movement was
      reduced.

PMID- 1455233
TI  - Encoding of a homolog of the IFN-gamma receptor by myxoma virus.
AB  - Many poxvirus-encoded virulence factors have been identified as proteins that are
      secreted from infected cells. The major secreted protein (37 kilodaltons) from
      cells infected with myxoma virus is encoded by the M-T7 open reading frame. This
      protein has significant sequence similarity to the human and mouse receptors for
      interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Furthermore, the myxoma M-T7 protein specifically
      binds rabbit IFN-gamma and inhibits the biological activity of extracellular IFN
      gamma, one of the key regulatory cytokines in the host immune response against
      viral infections.

PMID- 1455234
TI  - Regulation of the differentiation of teratocarcinoma cells into primitive
      endoderm by G alpha i2.
AB  - The amount of the heterotrimeric G protein subunit G alpha i2 decreases after the
      induction of F9 teratocarcinoma cells to become primitive endoderm in the
      presence of retinoic acid (RA). The reduction of the G alpha i2 protein in F9
      cells by antisense RNA expression was associated with (i) loss of receptor
      mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase; (ii) decreased cell doubling time; (iii)
      induction of a primitive, endoderm-like phenotype in the absence of RA; and (iv)
      production of the differentiation marker tissue-type plasminogen activator.
      Expression of a constitutively active, mutant G alpha i2 blocked RA-induced
      differentiation. These data suggest the involvement of G alpha i2 in the control
      of stem cell differentiation and provide insight into the involvement of G
      proteins in growth regulation.

PMID- 1455235
TI  - Nitric oxide and arginine-evoked insulin secretion.

PMID- 1455236
TI  - Polyamine depletion and drug-induced chromosomal damage: new results.

PMID- 1455237
TI  - NIH expenditures: extramural versus intramural.

PMID- 1455238
TI  - Regulations for genetically engineered foods.

PMID- 1455239
TI  - IL-1 beta and Escherichia coli.

PMID- 1455240
TI  - AIDS story prompts libel suit.

PMID- 1455241
TI  - Pediatric AIDS vaccine trials set.

PMID- 1455242
TI  - French officials panic over rare brain disease outbreak.

PMID- 1455243
TI  - Roche gets tough on illicit sales of PCR reagent.

PMID- 1455244
TI  - NIH takes new tack on gene mapping.

PMID- 1455245
TI  - Production and initial characterization of bionites: materials formed on a
      bacterial backbone.
AB  - The addition of soluble metal salts of calcium, iron, or copper to cultures of
      Bacillus subtilis grown in web form nucleated precipitation at the surface of the
      bacterial cell walls. The mineralized cell filaments can be drawn into a fiber
      that when dried consists of a bacterial thread backbone carrying an inorganic
      solid. The ratios of organic to inorganic components (by weight) in the stiff
      brittle materials, called bionites, were: 1.08 for fe(2)bactonite, 1.8 for
      calbactonite, 2.3 for fe(3)bactonite, and 5 for cu(2)bactonite. X-ray
      photoelectron spectra suggest that the fe(3)bactonite contains Fe2O3, that
      calbactonite contains calcium carbonate, and that cu(2)bactonite contains CuCl
      (Cu I). Acid-base reactions of the bionites are compatible with these
      identifications. Burning out the organic phase of the febactonites yields a black
      magnetic material, presumably magnetite. The burnt cubactonite appears to yield
      elemental Cu(s). Calbactonite upon hydration was able to retain a genetically
      engineered enzymatic activity.

PMID- 1455246
TI  - Behavioral lifetime of human auditory sensory memory predicted by physiological
      measures.
AB  - Noninvasive magnetoencephalography makes it possible to identify the cortical
      area in the human brain whose activity reflects the decay of passive sensory
      storage of information about auditory stimuli (echoic memory). The lifetime for
      decay of the neuronal activation trace in primary auditory cortex was found to
      predict the psychophysically determined duration of memory for the loudness of a
      tone. Although memory for the loudness of a specific tone is lost, the remembered
      loudness decays toward the global mean of all of the loudnesses to which a
      subject is exposed in a series of trials.

PMID- 1455247
TI  - Modulation of vascular endothelial permeability by thrombin.

PMID- 1455248
TI  - Vascular effects of thrombin.

PMID- 1455249
TI  - Components and assembly of the factor X activating complex.

PMID- 1455250
TI  - Ligand binding to GPIIb-IIIa: a status report.

PMID- 1455251
TI  - A role for alpha-thrombin in polymorphonuclear leukocyte recruitment during
      inflammation.

PMID- 1455252
TI  - Molecular interactions between heparin cofactor II and thrombin.

PMID- 1455253
TI  - [Role of the hypophysis in the renal responses upon stimulation of the brain
      osmoreceptor].
AB  - The experiments were performed in rats anaesthetized with alpha-chloralose and
      urethane. Intracerebroventricular administration of hypertonic saline (icv. HS)
      resulted in an increase in renal plasma flow rate, glomerular filtration rate,
      urine flow rate, urinary sodium excretion, urinary potassium excretion, and
      osmolar clearance, and a decrease in free water clearance. These responses were
      abolished in hypophysectomized rats, but were not significantly affected by
      intravenous injection of vasopressin (VP) receptor (V1 and V2) antagonist. The
      urinary dopamine (DA) excretion did not change significantly after icv. HS.
      Moreover, administration of benserazide, an inhibitor of the enzyme L-aromatic
      amino acid decarboxylase that converts L-dopa to DA, did not attenuate the
      diuresis and natriuresis induced by icv. HS. These results suggest that the renal
      responses upon stimulation of the brain osmoreceptor are dependent on the
      integrity of the hypophysis, while the VP and DA are not essential to these renal
      responses. The hypophysial factors responsible for the icv. HS-induced renal
      responses remain to be explored.

PMID- 1455254
TI  - [The effects of stimulation of the brain osmoreceptor on the tubular reabsorption
      of sodium, chloride and potassium in rats].
AB  - The tubular reabsorption of sodium, chloride and potassium was studied with
      micropuncture technique and electron probe X-ray microanalysis before and
      following intracerebroventricular administration of hypertonic saline (icv. HS)
      in rats. At the late proximal convoluted tubules, the fractional delivery of
      sodium increased from 53.0 +/- 2.1% to 66.0 +/- 2.9% (P < 0.01), the fractional
      delivery of chloride increased from 65.4 +/- 3.4% to 78.2 +/- 3.9% (P < 0.05),
      but the fractional delivery of potassium and tubular fluid osmolarity were
      unaltered. At the early distal convoluted tubules, the fractional delivery of
      sodium increased from 8.2 +/- 0.9% to 13.6 +/- 1.8% (P < 0.05), the fractional
      delivery of chloride increased from 5.4 +/- 0.8% to 9.5 +/- 1.4% (P < 0.05), the
      tubular fluid osmolality increased from 139.8 +/- 6.9 mOsm/kg H2O to 181.3 +/-
      15.6 mOsm/kg H2O2 whereas fractional delivery of potassium did not show
      significant change. Under the condition of diuresis provoked by the intravenous
      administration of furosemide the kaliuresis induced by icv. HS was abolished,
      while the icv. HS-elicited diuresis and natriuresis remained unaffected. These
      results indicate that stimulation of the brain osmoreceptor inhibits the proximal
      tubular reabsorption of sodium chloride which in turn enhances sodium-potassium
      exchange in the distal tubules and collecting ducts.

PMID- 1455255
TI  - [Effects of calcium blockers on the performance of left and right ventricles
      during acute hypoxia].
AB  - In anesthetized and thoracotomized 20 adult dogs under artificial respiration,
      the effects of calcium blockers (nifedipine, diltiazem and verapamil) on the
      mechanics of the left and right cardiac pumps under acute hypoxia were observed.
      The left and right ventricular pressure (LVP and RVP) and their dp/dt (+/-
      dp/dtmax), aortic flow (Fa), pulmonary pressure (Ppa) and heart rate (HR) were
      recorded. After treatment with calcium blockers, LVP and L +/- dp/dtmax
      decreased, and Fa increased, while RVP, R +/- dp/dtmax and Ppa all tended to
      increase. These results showed that the effects of calcium blockers on the
      performance of the left and right ventricles were different, suggesting that the
      dependence of left and right myocardium on calcium was different in degree. The
      mechanics of the left and right ventricles responded differently to calcium
      blockers under acute hypoxia. After treatment with calcium blockers, pressor
      responses on LVP by acute hypoxia disappeared. There was a great increase in Fa.
      Decrease in pressor response of RVP and Ppa was also observed in acute hypoxic
      dogs receiving verapamil and diltiazem. Comparing the effects of nifedipine,
      diltiazem and verapamil on the mechanics of the left and right cardiac pumps
      under acute hypoxia, it appears that diltiazem exerts beneficial effect on the
      performance of cardiac pump under acute hypoxia.

PMID- 1455256
TI  - [Microinjection of 5-HT into the rostral ventrolateral medulla reduced the
      hyperviscosity and elevation of blood pressure induced by stress].
AB  - Experiments were carried out on 62 wistar rats. The hyperviscosity and elevation
      of blood pressure were induced by hanging and restraining the rats with their
      four limbs tied on a frame. It was found that microinjection of 5-HT (25
      micrograms/10 microliters) into the 4th ventricle of the brain or bilateral
      microinjection of 5-HT (4 micrograms/0.5 microliters/site) into rostral
      ventrolateral medulla (rVLM) reduced stress-induced hyperviscosity (p < 0.01) and
      elevation of blood pressure (p < 0.01). The effect of 5-HT injected into the 4th
      ventricle or rVLM was blocked by bilateral microinjection of cinanserine (4
      micrograms/0.5 microliter/site) into rVLM. These results suggest that
      microinjection of 5-HT into 4th ventricle and rVLM could reduce stress-induced
      hyperviscosity and elevation of blood pressure and these effects were probably
      mediated via 5-HT receptors in the rVLM.

PMID- 1455257
TI  - [Role of endothelium-derived relaxing factor in the contractions of
      intrapulmonary artery induced by oxygen-derived free radicals in chronic hypoxic
      rat].
AB  - The role of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) on the effect of oxygen
      derived free radicals (generated by xanthine-xanthine oxidase system) on
      intrapulmonary arterial in chronic hypoxic rats was studied by a microbioassay
      method. Intrapulmonary artery rings with intact or denuded endothelium of hypoxic
      (5,000 m, 10 days) and normoxic rats were prepared for observation of oxygen
      derived free radicals induced contraction. It was shown that oxygen-derived free
      radicals induced contractions of intrapulmonary arterial rings with intact
      endothelium were obviously augmented in hypoxic rats than in normoxic controls.
      The augmented responses could be further potentiated by the addition of EDRF
      inactivator reduced hemoglobin (RHb), but diminished or even abolished by
      applying superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD). However, no effect on denuded rings
      was observed when RHb or SOD was added. It is concluded that chronic hypoxia may
      attenuate the action of EDRF in the enhancement of the reactivity of
      intrapulmonary artery to oxygen-derived free radicals.

PMID- 1455258
TI  - [Effect of intraventricular administration of histamine and its receptor agonists
      on pentagastrin-induced gastric acid secretion in rats].
AB  - The present study shows the dual effects of intraventricularly injected histamine
      (0.25-2.0 micrograms/5 microliters) on pentagastrin-induced gastric acid
      secretion. Male Wistar rats weighing 200-300 g were anesthetized with
      intraperitoneal sodium pentobarbital. Gastric acid was continuously washed out
      with 37 degrees C saline solution by means of a perfusion pump. On the background
      of continuous intravenous infusion of pentagastrin [7.5 micrograms/(kg.h),]
      histamine (0.25 microgram/5 microliters) or 2-pyridylethylamine (PEA, 10
      micrograms/5 microliters), a H1-receptor agonist, was injected into the third
      ventricle through a chronically implanted canula. The acid output decreased 10
      min after injection and did not recover at 90 min. When the dose of histamine was
      increased to 1.0 micrograms or 2.0 micrograms, dual effects appeared. The acid
      output decreased respectively in 73% or 50% of the animals, while in the rest 27%
      and 50% of the animals, the acid output increased. H2-receptor agonist dimaprit
      (10 micrograms/5 microliters, i.c.v.) or impromidine (0.1 micrograms/5
      microliters, i.c.v.) had no pronounced effect on pentagastrin-induced acid
      secretion. Pretreatment with diphenhydramine (16 micrograms/0.2 ml or 32
      micrograms/0.2 ml, i.m.) abolished the inhibitory effect of histamine and PEA on
      acid secretion. These results suggest that histamine may be involved in the
      central regulation of gastric acid secretion, and the inhibitory effect may be
      mediated by H1-receptors in the brain. The mechanism underlying the production of
      the dual effects of histamine is unknown.

PMID- 1455259
TI  - [Effects of castration and testosterone-replacement on hypothalamic and plasma
      luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone levels in the aged male rat].
AB  - Hypothalamic and plasma luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) levels
      following orchidectomy (ORDX) and testosterone (T)-replacement were compared
      between young (2-3 months old) and aged (24-26 months old) male rats by
      radioimmunoassay. Plasma T level and hypothalamic LHRH content are markedly
      decreased in the aged rat as compared to those of the young rat, whereas plasma
      LHRH levels are similar in the two groups. Following ORDX and ORDX plus T
      replacement, plasma T levels in both groups are about the same, whereas the rates
      of variation of hypothalamic and plasma LHRH levels in the aged rat are
      significantly lower than those in the young rat. These results suggest that the
      negative feedback mechanism of the hypothalamic LHRHergic system is impaired in
      the aged rat, which may be one of the important reasons causing age-dependent
      deterioration of the functional control of hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular
      axis.

PMID- 1455260
TI  - [Hormonal regulation of PAI-1 secretion by cultured rat ovarian cells].
AB  - Rat ovarian cells produce not only plasminogen activator (tPA) but also
      plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), and their coordinated
      geneexpression induced by gonadotropins are thought to be responsible for
      follicular rupture. In this study, it was demonstrated that (1) theca
      interstitial compartment synthesizes the majority of PAI-1 activity in the ovary
      before ovulation, the follicular wall may therefore serve as a specific barrier
      to prevent the secretion of PA into the extrafollicular compartment; (2)
      Granulosa cells contribute only small amount of ovarian PAI-1 activity, but
      synthesize most of tissue-type plasminogen activator activity involved in the
      process leading to ovulation: (3) Since only matured cumulus-oocyte complexes
      secrete high level of tPA and PAI-1, both tPA and PAI-1 activity in the
      conditioned medium may be used as reliable markers for evaluating oocyte quality
      for in vitro fertilization.

PMID- 1455261
TI  - [Role of endothelin in the pathogenesis of rat experimental hypertension produced
      by aorta narrowing and saline uptake].
AB  - Endothelin is a bioactive polypeptide released from vascular endothelium, which
      has a strong action promoting vascular contraction, proliferation and hypertrophy
      of vascular smooth muscle cells. The present investigation was performed on the
      hypertensive rat produced by narrowing abdominal aorta and drinking saline. It
      was observed that the level of plasma endothelin in the hypertensive rats was
      doubled (9.70 +/- 0.68 vs. sham group 4.11 +/- 0.33 pg/ml, P < 0.01), and
      administration of specific endothelin-antiserum into hypertensive rats
      significantly attenuated the increase in the blood pressure (18.97 + 1.32 vs.
      27.33 + 0.09 kPa in untreated hypertensive rats, P < 0.01), and dramatically
      ameliorated malfunction resulting from myocardial hypertrophy. The results
      suggest that endothelin is an important factor in the pathogenesis of
      hypertension, and that inhibition of endothelin action may be a new effective way
      in prevention and therapy of hypertension.

PMID- 1455262
TI  - [Alterations of pulmonary arterial pressure following intraventricular injection
      of histamine in rabbits].
AB  - The changes of the pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) following microinjection of
      histamine (HA) into the lateral ventricle in the rabbit were investigated. It was
      found that (1) Intraventricular injection of HA (50 micrograms) induced either an
      increase (in the majority) or a decrease in PAP and cardiac output (CO), or a
      biphasic response characterized by a decrease followed by an increase. Slowing
      down of heart rate (HR) and elevation of carotid arterial pressure (CAP) were
      observed accordingly. (2) After bilateral cervical vagotomy or fixing the heart
      rate by cardiac pacing, drop in CO and PAP in response to HA was no longer
      observed. Instead, they even showed some constant increase. The pressor response
      of PAP and CAP to HA could be partially blocked by phentolamine applied
      intravenously without affecting the increment of CO. On the other hand,
      intravenous injection of propranolol could totally block the HA-induced increment
      of CO, but not affect the pressor responses of PAP and CAP. Intravenous injection
      of hexamethonium or combined application of phentolamine and propranolol could
      completely abolish all the increment responses in CO, PAP and CAP to HA. (3) The
      cardiovascular responses to HA could be blocked by the H1 receptor blocker
      chlorpheniramine, but not by H2 receptor blocker-cimetidine. It is thus assumed
      that HA applied intraventricularly can activate the central H1 receptor, thus
      inducing an increase in the cardiac output and vasoconstriction of pulmonary and
      peripheral vessels giving rise to an elevation of both PAP and CAP by way of
      sympathetic nerve. Central application of HA also induces bradycardia by
      activating vagus nerve.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455263
TI  - [The respiratory facilitating effects by electrical and chemical stimulation of
      central nucleus amygdala].
AB  - Experiments were performed on fifty urethan anesthetized (1 g/kg) rabbits of both
      sexes, vagotomized and spontaneously breathing. The respiratory responses to
      electrical and chemical stimulation of ACE were observed. The results were as
      follows: 1. Long train electrical stimulation of ACE caused significant
      respiratory facilitating effects: inspiratory prolongation and increase of
      respiratory rate and depth. 2. Short brust of electrical stimulation administered
      in ACE during the mid inspiratory and expiratory phases elicited the prolongation
      of inspiratory phase and the expiratory off-switch (EO-S) effect, respectively.
      3. Microinjection of monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) (1 mol/L, 1 microliter) into
      ACE produced the similar respiratory effects as that of electrical stimulation.
      4. Control experiments had no significant effect on respiration. The results
      showed that the activation of neurons in ACE caused facilitation of respiration.
      It is suggested that ACE region may take an important part in facilitating the
      basic respiratory rhythm.

PMID- 1455264
TI  - Triglycerides and coronary artery disease.

PMID- 1455265
TI  - Malaria: smears or buffy coats?

PMID- 1455266
TI  - Comparison of the quantitative buffy coat technique with the conventional thick
      blood film technique for malaria case detection in the field.
AB  - The quantitative buffy coat (QBC) technique was compared with the conventional
      thick blood film technique in a malaria survey carried out in a mesoendemic area
      of malaria in Betau, Pahang, Malaysia. The QBC technique was found to be a rapid
      technique but had a sensitivity of about 56% and a specificity of 95%, using the
      thick blood film method as the "gold standard". Malaria species identification
      was unsatisfactory with the QBC technique as it could identify parasites
      correctly in only about 60% of specimens. It was unable to detect as positive
      about 58% of specimens which had parasite counts < or = 500 per ul but could
      detect about 94% of those with counts > 500 per ul. This difference in positive
      detection rate was significantly different (p < 0.05). It cannot quantify
      parasitemia easily and the specimens cannot be stored for future reference and
      for quality control purposes. It is therefore concluded that the QBC technique
      cannot replace the classical thick blood film technique for use in malaria
      control programmes. Its use may be appropriate in situations like busy blood
      banks and outpatient clinics where rapid screening of malaria infection is needed
      but where experienced malaria microscopists may not be available.

PMID- 1455267
TI  - A review of patients with a 'normal' coronary angiogram over a 3-year period.
AB  - Over a period of 36 months, we detected 54 patients with normal coronary arteries
      or non-critical coronary artery stenosis within our study series of coronary
      angiography. We studied these patients to determine their clinical,
      electrocardiographic, stress testing and angiocardiographic characteristics. We
      detected among them a preponderance of female sex and a higher incidence of
      ethnic Indians. The majority of the patients studied had one or more coronary
      risk factors. 52% had a normal resting ECG. In those with a positive stress test
      and reports available for review, there is a near equal distribution of
      horizontal and J-type ST depression. Those patients with a positive treadmill
      tend to have a higher left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) at cardiac
      catheterization. We also noted in this group of patients a higher proportion with
      a small distal left anterior descending artery. These patients also tend to have
      higher LVEDP even in the presence of normal left ventriculogram. Our current
      series suggests the possibility of raised left ventricular end-diastolic pressure
      and the presence of a "small distal left anterior descending artery" syndrome in
      association with patients with a 'false positive' treadmill test.

PMID- 1455268
TI  - The profile of ICU admissions for acute severe asthma in a general hospital.
AB  - The clinical profile of 22 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of
      Alexandra Hospital over a 2-year period was studied. The mean age was 48.8 years
      with a majority in the older age group. The attacks leading to admission were
      generally rapid in evolution with 59% having symptoms for less than 12 hours and
      84% for less than 24 hours. Most had a history of severe asthma, and of long
      duration. The pre-admission therapy had been suboptimal in the majority. Severe
      respiratory acidosis was a predominant feature. 68% were transferred to the ICU
      within one hour of arrival at hospital. Mechanical ventilation was required in
      86.4% of cases, but the duration of ventilation was usually short. There was no
      serious complication due to barotrauma. Overall mortality was 23% (5/22).
      Problems in patient education remain a major hurdle in our attempt to reduce
      asthma mortality.

PMID- 1455269
TI  - Nontuberculous mycobacterial disease of the lungs in Singapore.
AB  - Information on lung disease due to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is lacking
      in Singapore. A review of the records at the Central Tuberculosis Laboratory up
      to the end of 1988 showed that 23 patients seen between 1976 to 1988 inclusive
      had cultures which were repeatedly positive for NTM. Of the 23 cases analyzed, 15
      were found to have lung disease which could be attributed to NTM. There were 9
      males and 6 females with a male to female ratio of 1.5:1. The patients were
      either middle aged or elderly. The 2 main infective agents were M avium
      intracellulare and M kansasii. Ten (67%) patients had moderately advanced and 5
      (33%) had far advanced disease. Concurrent disease of the lung was present in 10
      patients (67%). Seven (47%) patients had bronchiectasis, 1 (7%) had both
      bronchiectasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 2 (13%) had
      COPD. A past history of pulmonary tuberculosis was present in 10 patients (67%).
      Lung disease due to NTM is uncommon in Singapore. Treatment failure was
      attributed to poor compliance, a possibility which could not be excluded in those
      patients who had adverse reactions.

PMID- 1455270
TI  - Some observations on the epidemiology of peptic ulcer disease in Singapore.
AB  - Several lines of evidence suggest that, of the three main races of Singapore,
      peptic ulcers are more common among the Chinese and Indians when compared to the
      Malays. These include studies on hospital series of patients with or without
      appropriate control groups, studies on the incidence of surgery for perforated
      ulcer as well as mortality statistics. A reduction in the Chinese:Malay
      difference in the incidence of perforated ulcer over three decades suggests that
      environmental factors are involved in producing these racial differences.
      However, we have to date been unable to determine the factor(s) responsible. The
      incidence of perforated ulcer in Singapore is increasing while ulcer mortality is
      declining. This is similar to the situation in Hong Kong but different from that
      in the western countries.

PMID- 1455271
TI  - Blood pressure tracking as an indicator of hypertension risk.
AB  - The significance of high blood pressure to cardio- and cerebrovascular disease is
      well recognized. The associated mortality and morbidity risks call for multiple
      approaches to control the development of high blood pressure. Recent studies have
      shown that precursors of cardiovascular disorders may be apparent from a young
      age, and that these can persist and contribute to disease in later life. With
      regard to blood pressure, the phenomenon of persisting at the same rank has been
      referred to as tracking. This allows for the possible identification of high-risk
      groups, for whom early intervention can be initiated. In this paper, some of the
      findings of studies on blood pressure tracking are reviewed.

PMID- 1455272
TI  - Intravenous sedation for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: Midazolam versus
      propofol.
AB  - Propofol was compared with Midazolam for sedation during upper gastrointestinal
      endoscopy in a randomised, double blind study. Both drugs were equally acceptable
      to endoscopists and patients. There was significant oxygen desaturation after
      sedation and during endoscopy (p < 10(-6)). Significantly more patients in the
      propofol group could remember the diagnosis which was revealed to them
      immediately after the gastroscopy (p < 0.001).

PMID- 1455273
TI  - Effects of radiation on hearing in patients with malignancies of head and neck.
AB  - Patients with normal hearing at the start of radiation were tested for hearing
      during (30 GY) and at the end of radiation therapy (45-60 GY) in order to
      determine if there was any alteration in their pure tone hearing thresholds. A
      significant increase in the hearing threshold was found at high frequencies at
      the end of therapy. At the end of the course of radiation, clinical findings
      suggestive of middle ear changes due to radiation were seen in 33% of the ears.
      Patients whose ears are included in the field of radiation may have to be
      forewarned to expect a loss in their acuity of hearing, especially those whose
      professional life may depend on it.

PMID- 1455274
TI  - AIDS and us: are we failing to prevent a highly preventable disease?

PMID- 1455275
TI  - Myopia produced in young chicks by intermittent minimal form visual deprivation-
      can spectacles cause myopia?
AB  - Spectacle use has been postulated to aggravate or cause human myopia. Form visual
      deprivation, by complete full-time occlusion or refractive lenses, has been
      demonstrated to cause axial myopia in animals. We raised young chicks in
      conditions which closely approximate plano spectacle wear in humans. In addition,
      we sought to achieve more physiological conditions of form deprivation. Nine
      newborn chicks were raised with intermittent monocular visual deprivation and
      their eye growth and refraction monitored by retinoscopy, ultrasonic A-scan
      biometry and with a travelling microscope. After hatching, the nictitating
      membranes were sutured for 3-4 days. This was followed by a transparent plano
      plastic cover over the same eye for 3-4 days per week. After 3 weeks, the
      manipulated eyes were more myopic (mean refraction -0.72 D, axial length 13.11
      mm) than fellow eyes (+0.83 D, 11.99 mm) (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 respectively).
      These results suggest that the chick eye is exquisitely sensitive to disturbances
      in the visual environment; intermittent minimal manipulation by conditions
      simulating spectacle wear in man was myopiagenic. It is postulated that
      spectacles can cause form visual deprivation of foveal and nonfoveal neurons (and
      hence myopia) by reducing luminance and contrast, chromatic and spherical
      aberration (in nonfoveal neurons) and restriction and distortion from the frame.

PMID- 1455276
TI  - The rotary influence of articular contours during passive glenohumeral abduction.
AB  - Automatic external rotation at the glenohumeral joint is an essential component
      of active as well as passive elevation of the arm through abduction. Recent
      studies have demonstrated this automatic rotation to be present during passive
      abduction using cadaveric glenohumeral joints even in the absence of extra
      articular influences like the coraco-acromial arch and glenohumeral muscles. In
      the present study, simulated abduction in disarticulated cadaveric joints was
      shown to be associated with automatic external rotation suggesting a role in this
      mechanism for the articular contours.

PMID- 1455277
TI  - The role of computed tomography in the evaluation of retinoblastoma.
AB  - To assess the importance of Computed Tomography(CT) in the evaluation of
      retinoblastoma, we reviewed thirteen cases of retinoblastoma which presented at
      Hospital University Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia, from August 1986 to June
      1991. High resolution computed tomography of the orbits was performed in all
      patients prior to therapy. Nine patients (69%) had unilateral and four (31%) had
      bilateral retinoblastoma. The interesting features were the remarkably high
      incidence in the right eye (89%) as compared to the left eye (11%) in unilateral
      retinoblastoma, and overall predominance of the male population (male to female
      ratio was 2:1). Computed tomography detected intraocular calcification in 82% of
      the tumourous eyes. All patients presented at late stages when tumours were of
      large size. The presence of calcification was not related to the size of the
      tumour. CT detected calcification in a suspected retinoblastoma with a high
      degree of accuracy. Computed tomographic evidence of intraocular calcification in
      children under 3 years of age is highly suggestive of retinoblastoma.

PMID- 1455278
TI  - The mental diseases hospital, Singapore (1st 100 years)--a short history (Part
      II).
AB  - This article (in four parts) traces the history of the first four Mental
      Hospitals built in Singapore, which were occupied in 1840, 1861, 1887 and 1928.
      The management of the patients is described; also their lives and deaths. Mention
      is also made of the doctors and others who looked after them.

PMID- 1455279
TI  - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs--uses and complications.
AB  - Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are important in the management of
      any inflammatory arthritis. However, all NSAIDs have side effects--NSAID related
      gastropathy (the most common serious side-effect), reversible NSAID nephropathy,
      dermal complications, hematologic complications, hepatic complications, central
      nervous system complications, pulmonary complications etc. Patients who have more
      severe forms of rheumatic disease, take higher doses of NSAIDs with steroids and
      suffer concomitant medical illness are at higher risk for these toxicities. In
      all cases, the benefits from the use of NSAIDs must outweigh the risk. When
      managing a high risk patient, consider alternate therapy and if an NSAID must be
      used, always monitor the patient carefully.

PMID- 1455280
TI  - The antiphospholipid syndrome.
AB  - The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) describes an entity characterised by
      recurrent thrombosis, recurrent spontaneous abortions, thrombocytopenia, and
      elevated levels of antiphospholipid antibodies (IgG or IgM). The clinical
      features of APS include manifestations of thrombosis and/or cell damage. There is
      usually an associated underlying connective tissue disorder. The primary
      antiphospholipid syndrome refers to the presence of these clinical features
      without evidence of an associated autoimmune disorder. Detection of these
      antibodies include the lupus anticoagulant test, VDRL test and assays for
      anticardiolipin antibodies. Overlapping populations of these antibodies are
      detected by various immunologic tests. Management is based on the use of
      immunosuppressives, platelet inhibitors and anticoagulants.

PMID- 1455281
TI  - Approach to psychiatry--an overview.

PMID- 1455282
TI  - Wide complex tachycardia.

PMID- 1455283
TI  - A case report on gangrene following simultaneous traumatic open
      metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal dislocations of the left big toe.
AB  - Simultaneous metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal dislocations of the big toe
      are rare injuries. Gangrene of the big toe following open dislocations was
      reported in a 20-year-old man.

PMID- 1455284
TI  - Medical treatment of Cushing's syndrome with aminoglutethimide and ketoconazole.
AB  - We report a 54-year-old Chinese man with Cushing's syndrome from bilateral
      adrenal adenomata in whom surgery was contraindicated because of his intercurrent
      medical conditions. Instead, he was successfully treated with aminoglutethimide
      0.75 gm/day (which reduced his 24-hour urinary free cortisol from 628 nmol/day to
      177 nmol/day in 4 weeks), followed by ketoconazole 0.6 gm/day which continued to
      suppress the urinary free cortisol level. We conclude that aminoglutethimide or
      ketoconazole offers a viable non-surgical alternative to the treatment of
      Cushing's syndrome.

PMID- 1455285
TI  - Mumps encephalomyelitis.
AB  - A 7-year-old Indian girl developed complete paralysis of her lower limbs and
      acute urinary retention 10 days after suffering from mumps. Encephalomyelitis due
      to mumps was not suspected initially since it is a rare complication of mumps,
      although relatively well-documented. However, the preceding history of parotitis
      and the presence of mumps-specific IgM in both blood and cerebrospinal fluid led
      to the diagnosis. The initially severe acute neurological deficits resolved
      completely three months after onset of her illness. Serological investigations
      were helpful in diagnosing neurological complications of mumps in this case, and
      especially where there is no preceding parotitis.

PMID- 1455286
TI  - Nasal positive pressure ventilation in the treatment of chronic hypercapnic
      respiratory failure: a case report.
AB  - This paper describes the use of a nasal mask to deliver intermittent positive
      pressure ventilation to treat chronic respiratory failure in one patient with
      severe kyphoscoliosis. After two months of overnight nasal ventilation at home
      the patient achieved normal blood gases, showed improved inspiratory muscle
      strength, effort tolerance and was able to return to work. Intermittent nasal
      ventilation is a safe and effective ventilatory support modality for some
      patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure.

PMID- 1455287
TI  - Overestimation of severity of mitral stenosis during cardiac catheterization due
      to a large left atrial thrombus.
AB  - We report a case of mitral stenosis with a large left atrial thrombus which was
      obstructing pulmonary venous inflow where the conventional use of the pulmonary
      capillary wedge pressure as an approximation of the left atrial pressure during
      diagnostic cardiac catheterisation led to the over-estimation of the severity of
      mitral stenosis.

PMID- 1455288
TI  - Current diagnosis and treatment of rhinosinusitis--functional endoscopic sinus
      surgery.

PMID- 1455289
TI  - Phase I/II study of high-dose rate interstitial radiotherapy for head and neck
      cancer.
AB  - From July 1991 through December 1991, a phase I/II study of high-dose rate
      interstitial radiotherapy for head and neck cancer was performed to determine any
      acute adverse effects and mucosal reaction as well as the feasibility of this
      therapy. A total of seven patients with head and neck cancer (tongue: four cases;
      mouth floor: one case; buccal mucosa: one case; oral mucosa of lower lip: one
      case) were entered into this study. The dose schedule of high-dose rate
      interstitial radiotherapy ranged from 35 Gy/ten fractions (bid)/week to 60 Gy/ten
      fractions/week. No major or minor early complication was observed. Spotted
      mucositis appeared starting three days after the end of high-dose rate
      interstitial radiotherapy while confluent mucositis developed and approached a
      peak at ten days but disappeared by the fourth to eighth week. Early tumor
      responses of all patients were complete.

PMID- 1455290
TI  - [Cancer rehabilitation in the Federal Republic of Germany--a critical review from
      the perspective of rehabilitation psychology].
AB  - Against the background of a common criticism of the rehabilitation system, the
      situation of rehabilitation research and practice in oncology is reviewed. A lack
      of efforts aimed at vocational rehabilitation as well as the main emphasis in
      inpatient services is criticized. Till now, outpatient services as well as
      psychosocial rehabilitation care are not as well established, as they should be
      with regard to provide assistance in coping with the disease and in adapting to
      the various disabilities may be followed by cancer. As rehabilitation research in
      oncology is still at its very beginning, we know little about the acceptance of
      rehabilitation measures as well as the rehabilitation process in its correlation
      between outcome criteria. Our own pilot study provides first results concerning
      vocational rehabilitation and acceptance of medical rehabilitation services. As
      conclusion, we need more elaborated research in oncological rehabilitation for
      optimizing and further developing rehabilitation care system especially with
      respect to outpatient and psychosocial services.

PMID- 1455292
TI  - [How tolerant are partial dose values? Some additional remarks on the concept of
      a tolerance dose].
AB  - By means of the NSD formula and its modifications (CRE, TDF) evaluated from
      radiotherapy experience by Ellis, it is possible to estimate the acceptance of
      applied radiotherapy and fractionation scheme. Because the parameters of the
      Ellis formula are calculated from patients data, they show a dispersion as
      usually in biological systems. These dispersions are considered as entrance
      error. In mathematical transformations errors are multiplied according to the
      principle of superposition of errors. Especially when judging tolerance values of
      organs of risk the dispersion is quite important. The problem of dispersion of
      resulting partial tolerance values is demonstrated by some examples of clinical
      cases.

PMID- 1455291
TI  - Water-filtered infrared-A radiation: a novel technique to heat superficial
      tumors.
AB  - A novel device consisting of an infrared-A (= ultrared-A) radiation source
      equipped with a water filter in the radiation path is described which allows for
      the therapeutic heating of superficial experimental and human tumors. Preliminary
      studies with agar phantoms showed that heating in the presence of the water
      cuvette avoids intolerable overheating in the very superficial layers. This
      effect can be further enhanced by surface cooling with room air such that a
      stratification of the temperature distribution can be achieved. In subsequent
      experiments, temperature distributions were recorded in the x-, y- and z-axis of
      superficial rodent tumors. The results obtained confirm those from the phantom
      experiments, showing that therapeutically relevant temperatures (T > or = 42
      degrees C) could be achieved through the tumor mass to a depth of approximately
      1.2 cm. Temperature homogeneity is comparable to that seen in superficial tumors
      undergoing water-bath hyperthermia. This novel technique has proved to be
      reliable, is well-tolerated, is easy to apply, and is easily accessible to a
      larger number of potential users for the local heating of superficial
      malignancies.

PMID- 1455293
TI  - Hyperthermia in Clinical Oncology. 6th European BSD Users' Conference. Berlin,
      October 2-3, 1992. Abstracts.

PMID- 1455294
TI  - Elevated intraocular pressure, pigment dispersion and dark hypopyon in endogenous
      endophthalmitis from Listeria monocytogenes.
AB  - Listeria monocytogenes endophthalmitis occurred in an immunologically competent
      patient with no identifiable extraocular septic focus. The patient presented with
      a dark hypopyon and markedly elevated intraocular pressure, and the diagnosis was
      established by culture and histopathologic examination of ocular fluid. Four of
      the fourteen reported cases of Listeria monocytogenes endophthalmitis also
      presented with a dark hypopyon, and all cases had markedly elevated intraocular
      pressure. The presence of a dark hypopyon and elevated intraocular pressure may
      indicate endogenous intraocular infection with Listeria monocytogenes, even in an
      apparently healthy host.

PMID- 1455295
TI  - Multiple cranial neuropathies: presenting signs of systemic lymphoma.
AB  - A 58-year-old man four years after orthototic liver transplantation presented
      with a mental neuropathy, multiple ocular motor nerve palsies, and an upper
      extremity motor neuropathy. Serial neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid analysis,
      total body computerized tomography and paraesophageal needle biopsy failed to
      reveal the underlying etiology. Sural nerve biopsy showed endoneurial
      perivascular infiltration with lymphoid cells, and bone marrow biopsy confirmed
      the diagnosis of a Burkitt's-type lymphoma. Systemic lymphoma with neural
      infiltration should be suspected in the immunosuppressed patient who presents
      with cranial or peripheral neuropathies.

PMID- 1455296
TI  - Disc swelling: a tall tail?
AB  - A 30-year-old man presented with monocular visual loss secondary to chronic
      papilledema, due to an ependymoma involving the spinal cord. No other
      neurological symptoms were present at the time. Initial neuroradiologic tests as
      well as laboratory investigations were negative, except for elevated pressure and
      protein concentration of his cerebrospinal fluid. In spite of intensive
      investigation, the diagnosis of a spinal cord tumor was delayed for approximately
      12 months until he presented with neurologic symptoms attributable to a spinal
      cord lesion. This is only the fourth case reported of a spinal cord tumor
      associated with papilledema presenting with visual loss, without any other
      manifestations of either elevated intracranial pressure, or spinal disease.
      Possible mechanisms for elevated intracranial pressure in cases of spinal cord
      tumors are reviewed.

PMID- 1455297
TI  - Remembrance of Hans Goldmann, 1899-1991.
AB  - Professor Hans Goldmann died in Bern on November 19th, 1991 at the age of 92
      years. His outstanding intellectual capacity was discovered at an early age and
      demonstrated throughout his life. He was appointed as teaching assistant of the
      famous A. Cermak von Seysenegg, Chairman of the Institute of Physiology of the
      German Charles University in Prague. During his stay at the University of Prague,
      he was influenced by the famous people of his time, such as Einstein (physicist),
      Mach (physicist and psychophysicist), Lorenz (behavioral scientist), Popper
      (philosopher), Schlick (physicist and philosopher), Hering (physiologist), and
      others. Goldmann absorbed the essence of these disciplines to a very large
      extent. This, together with his remarkable intellect, enabled him to produce
      outstanding research work within a large spectrum of sciences more or less
      directly related to ophthalmology. Goldmann became known in particular for his
      exceptional and fundamental work on perimetry and glaucoma and he managed to cast
      his basic insight into practical, easy-to-operate, high-precision diagnostic
      instruments which, several decades after their invention, are still used by every
      ophthalmologist. He will enter history as one of the very great pioneers in
      ophthalmology.

PMID- 1455298
TI  - Complications of NSAID therapy in patients with macular disease.

PMID- 1455299
TI  - Readers comment on "Herpes zoster ophthalmicus".

PMID- 1455300
TI  - Readers comment on "Herpes zoster ophthalmicus".

PMID- 1455301
TI  - Readers comment on "Herpes zoster ophthalmicus".

PMID- 1455302
TI  - Posterior capsule opacification.
AB  - A complication of extracapsular cataract extraction with or without posterior
      chamber intraocular lens (PC-IOL) implantation is posterior capsule
      opacification. This condition is usually secondary to a proliferation and
      migration of residual lens epithelial cells. Opacification may be reduced by
      atraumatic surgery and thorough cortical clean-up. Clinical, pathological and
      experimental studies have shown that use of hydrodissection, the continuous
      curvilinear capsulorhexis and specific IOL designs may help reduce the incidence
      of this complication. Capsular-fixated, one-piece all-polymethylmethacrylate PC
      IOLs with a C-shaped loop configuration and a posterior convexity of the optic
      are effective. Polymethylmethacrylate loops that retain "memory" create a
      symmetric, radial stretch on the posterior capsule after in-the-bag placement,
      leading to a more complete contact between the posterior surface of the IOL optic
      and the taut capsule. This may help form a barrier against central migration of
      epithelial cells into the visual axis. Various pharmacological and immunological
      methods are being investigated but conclusive data on these modalities are not
      yet available.

PMID- 1455303
TI  - Prospective study of the use of intraarterial secretin injection and portal
      venous sampling to localize duodenal gastrinomas.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Duodenal gastrinomas producing Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) are
      rarely imaged on preoperative studies. Measurement of serum gastrin levels by
      transhepatic portal venous sampling (PVS) or by sampling from hepatic veins after
      intraarterial secretin injection have been advocated as useful tests to identify
      these tumors before operation. METHODS: As part of a prospective study, selective
      intraarterial secretin injection has been performed in 36 consecutive patients
      with ZES, PVS has been performed in 30 of these patients, and the results have
      been compared. RESULTS: Gastrinomas were found at laparotomy in 33 of 36 patients
      (92%). Duodenal tumors were found in 18 patients (50%). The remaining patients
      had liver, pancreatic, or nodal disease (n = 15). Thirty-two of 36 patients (89%)
      had positive results with intraarterial secretin injection study, whereas 18 of
      30 (60%) had a positive PVS gradient (p = 0.02, Fisher's exact test). The most
      common positive gradient with intraarterial secretin injection was found with
      injections of the gastroduodenal artery, and the most common positive gradient
      with PVS was found in the inferior pancreaticoduodenal (IPDV) or superior
      pancreaticoduodenal vein (SPDV). Fourteen of 18 (78%) patients with duodenal
      gastrinomas had a positive GDA injection, whereas five of 18 (28%) without
      duodenal tumors had a positive GDA injection (p = 0.006). Five of 16 patients
      with duodenal gastrinomas had a positive gradient in the IPDV or SPDV, whereas
      four of 14 without duodenal tumors had a positive gradient in the IPDV or SPDV
      (not significant). CONCLUSIONS: Intraarterial secretin injection is more
      sensitive than PVS at localizing duodenal gastrinomas and should replace PVS in
      patients with ZES and occult tumors.

PMID- 1455304
TI  - Occult functioning insulinomas: which localizing studies are indicated?
AB  - BACKGROUND: An occult insulinoma refers to a biochemically proven tumor with an
      anatomic site that remains indeterminate before operation. The amount of
      radiologic localization for such patients is debatable. METHODS: Sixty-five
      patients with sporadic insulinomas were surgically treated at the Mayo Clinic
      between January 1980 and December 1990. True occult tumors were present in 31% of
      these patients (n = 20). Thirty-eight negative preoperative localization studies
      were performed, with 10 patients undergoing more than one study. A benign adenoma
      was found in 19 patients when they underwent exploratory operation, whereas one
      patient had malignant disease with hepatic metastases. Thirteen patients
      underwent intraoperative ultrasonography with a 7.5 MHz real-time high-resolution
      transducer. RESULTS: Solitary lesions were successfully removed either by
      enucleation or by distal pancreatectomy in all 19 patients with benign disease.
      CONCLUSIONS: This high success rate in the management of occult insulinomas
      suggests that extensive preoperative radiologic investigation is neither
      indicated nor cost-effective.

PMID- 1455305
TI  - Prospective study of aggressive resection of metastatic pancreatic endocrine
      tumors.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Because metastatic pancreatic endocrine tumors (MPET) have a poor
      prognosis, 17 patients with potentially resectable MPET were prospectively
      studied to define the efficacy of aggressive resection. METHODS: Patients
      underwent resection when the full extent of MPET was deemed operable after
      imaging studies were obtained. Two patients underwent three reoperations for
      recurrent tumor. RESULTS: MPET were completely excised in 16 of 20 cases by major
      resections of liver, viscera, and nodes, with no operative mortality. Survival
      was 87% at 2 years and 79% at 5 years with mean follow-up of 3.2 years. Median
      imaging disease-free interval was 1.8 years, and four of 17 patients remain
      biochemically cured. After aggressive resection patients with MPET limited in
      extent had higher survival than patients with extensive MPET (p < 0.019). In a
      nonrandomized cohort of 25 patients with inoperable tumor, survival was 60% at 2
      years and 28% at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: In select patients MPET can be resected
      safely with a favorable outcome; most patients will experience recurrence, but
      some may be cured. Resection of extensive MPET does not appear to improve
      survival. Resection of limited MPET should be considered as life-extending and
      potentially curative therapy.

PMID- 1455306
TI  - A randomized, prospective trial of postoperative somatostatin analogue in
      patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Pancreatic surgery is not uncommonly complicated by prolonged
      pancreatic drainage and fistula. Octreotide decreases pancreatic exocrine
      function and has been reported to improve closure of pancreatic and intestinal
      fistulae. This randomized, prospective trial was designed to evaluate the
      efficacy of postoperative octreotide in reducing pancreatic drainage and
      complications after resection of neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas. METHODS:
      Patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas were entered into the study
      and randomized after operation to receive octreotide 150 micrograms
      subcutaneously every 8 hours or saline solution subcutaneously every 8 hours in a
      double-blinded fashion. Daily pancreatic drainage, total drainage, number of days
      to drain removal, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: Ten patients were
      given octreotide; eleven patients were given saline solution. The number of days
      to drain removal, daily drainage, and total drainage were not significantly
      different. Complications related to pancreatic drainage were not significantly
      different. CONCLUSIONS: Octreotide is not indicated for the routine postoperative
      management of patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas.

PMID- 1455307
TI  - Neuroendocrine carcinomas of the stomach: a clinicopathologic evaluation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine by immunocytochemistry the
      relative incidence and clinicopathologic characteristics of neuroendocrine
      carcinomas of the stomach. METHODS: Sections from paraffin blocks from 81
      patients who had undergone resection of carcinomas of the stomach were
      immunostained with a battery of neuroendocrine differentiation markers and with A
      80, a marker of exocrine differentiation. The clinical and pathologic data of the
      12 patients diagnosed with neuroendocrine carcinomas of the stomach were
      analyzed. RESULTS: The 10 men and two women ranged from 53 to 81 years of age
      (median, 69 years). Procedures performed included distal subtotal gastrectomy in
      eight patients and total gastrectomy in four patients. Pathologic stages were
      stage I, one patient; stage III, four patients; and stage IV, seven patients.
      Metastatic sites included regional nodes, 11 patients; liver, four patients; and
      bone, one patient. Adjunct treatment included multiagent chemotherapy plus
      radiotherapy, four patients; and only radiotherapy, one patient. Eleven patients
      died of disease 1 to 27 months after diagnosis with an overall median survival of
      15 months. Three groups of neuroendocrine carcinomas were identified based on
      immunostaining patterns. These included pure neuroendocrine carcinomas, two
      patients; neuroendocrine carcinomas with occasional exocrine cells, three
      patients; and mixed neuroendocrine-exocrine carcinomas, seven patients.
      CONCLUSIONS: (1) The relative incidence of neuroendocrine differentiation in
      carcinomas of the stomach is higher than is generally recognized. (2)
      Neuroendocrine gastric carcinomas behave aggressively and display numerous
      structural and functional similarities with their colonic, extrahepatic biliary
      tract, and pulmonary counterparts.

PMID- 1455308
TI  - Bombesin stimulates growth of human gastrinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: We have previously reported the first establishment and
      characterization of a functioning human gastrinoma (PT) xenograft. Bombesin, the
      equivalent of the mammalian gastrin-releasing peptide, has trophic effects on
      normal and neoplastic tissues of the gastrointestinal tract; the effects of gut
      hormones on the growth of gastrinoma are not known. The purpose of this study was
      twofold: (1) to determine the presence of various gut peptides in PT and (2) to
      determine the effect of bombesin on the growth of PT xenografts. METHODS: PT
      tumors were examined for expression (mRNA and protein) of various gut peptides by
      Northern hybridization and immunohistochemistry. In addition, PT xenografts were
      implanted as 3 mm2 pieces bilaterally subcutaneously in athymic nude mice. Mice
      were divided into two groups to receive either bombesin (5 micrograms/kg) or
      saline administered as intraperitoneal injections every 8 hours. Tumor area was
      measured twice weekly until mice were sacrificed (day 28), when tumor and normal
      pancreas were removed, weighed, and assayed for DNA and protein content. RESULTS:
      Both mRNAs and peptides of gastrin and chromogranin A were present in PT tumors.
      Bombesin significantly stimulated growth of PT tumors from day 18 until mice were
      sacrificed (day 28). As expected, bombesin stimulated pancreatic growth.
      CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated for the first time that bombesin is a trophic
      hormone for gastrinoma. The unique cell line PT contains gastrin and chromogranin
      A and will be a useful model to define the biologic mechanisms controlling the
      growth of human gastrinomas.

PMID- 1455309
TI  - Family members of patients with sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma must be
      screened for hereditary disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), a tumor arising from calcitonin
      secreting C cells, appears in either a sporadic nonfamilial or a hereditary form
      as a component of a multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome or familial non
      multiple endocrine neoplasia MTC. Screening kindred of a patient with familial
      MTC to detect MTC in the early curable state is standard practice. Opinions
      conflict about whether it is necessary to screen relatives of patients with
      apparently nonfamilial MTC to exclude hereditary disease or whether the
      clinicopathologic features can differentiate between the two forms. METHODS:
      Clinically well kindred of a patient with MTC that was histopathologically
      characteristic of the sporadic type were screened for hereditary disease by
      measurement of plasma levels of basal and stimulated calcitonin. RESULTS: Three
      of four immediate relatives tested positive for excessive calcitonin secretion
      and underwent thyroidectomy. All had C-cell hyperplasia, the premalignant phase
      of MTC. CONCLUSIONS: The patient with apparently sporadic (nonfamilial) MTC was
      clearly an index case of familial disease. We conclude that clinical presentation
      and histopathologic examination are not adequate to reliably exclude hereditary
      MTC. Until genetic markers are readily available to distinguish between sporadic
      and familial forms, biochemical screening should be done in primary relatives of
      all patients with newly detected MTC.

PMID- 1455310
TI  - Relationships of parathyroid hormone, parathyroid secretory protein, parathyroid
      hormone messenger RNA, parathyroid secretory protein mRNA, and replication in
      human parathyroid adenoma and secondary hyperplasia tissues and cultures.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationships of
      extractable and secreted parathyroid hormone (PTH) and parathyroid secretory
      protein (PSP) in human parathyroid tumors to PTH messenger RNA (mRNA), PSP mRNA,
      and cell replication. METHODS AND RESULTS: In tissue cultures of seven adenomas
      and five secondary hyperplasias, we found a direct correlation for secreted PTH
      versus PSP for both adenomas and secondary hyperplasias. Secreted PTH:PSP was
      elevated for adenomas (11:1) compared to that of secondary hyperplasias (2:1),
      and adenomas secreted significantly more PTH and PSP than did secondary
      hyperplasias. In extracts of eight adenomas and six secondary hyperplasias, the
      ratio of PTH:PSP was unexpectedly low (2:1) and similar for both adenomas and
      secondary hyperplasias. The ratio of extractable PTH mRNA:PSP mRNA was extremely
      low for both adenomas (1:7) and for secondary hyperplasias (1:5). Flow cytometry
      indicated that percent replication was inversely correlated with PTH mRNA and PSP
      mRNA. CONCLUSIONS: Increased PTH secretion by adenomas cannot be attributed to
      increased biosynthetic capacity because it is less than expected. Hypersecretion
      of PTH by adenomas and coincident marked reductions in PTH mRNA suggest either a
      defect in cytoplasmic storage of PTH or impairment of normal posttranslational
      degradation of PTH. As parathyroid tumor cells increase replication, PTH mRNA is
      reduced. Possible explanations for this include decreased PTH gene transcription
      or decreased mRNA half-life.

PMID- 1455311
TI  - The effect of cryopreservation on cell viability and hormone secretion in human
      parathyroid tissue.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To explain the decreased success of cryopreserved versus fresh
      parathyroid autotransplants, we investigated the effect of cryopreservation on
      parathyroid function. METHODS: Parathyroid cryopreserved tissue from surgical
      specimens of 18 patients was analyzed in a comparative fashion with 10 fresh
      abnormal glands. Cell viability was evaluated by a double-fluorescence technique,
      and parathyroid hormone secretion was detected from individually dispersed
      parathyroid cells with the reverse hemolytic plaque assay. The plaque area
      reflected the amount of parathyroid hormone secreted by each cell, and the
      percentage of plaque-forming cells represented the number of secreting cells.
      Feedback regulatory mechanisms remained intact for both fresh and cryopreserved
      tissue as shown over a wide range of calcium concentrations. RESULTS: The
      percentage of viable cells from fresh and cryopreserved tissue was always in
      excess of 88%. No significant difference was noted in the percentage of plaque
      forming cells nor the amount of hormone released per individual cell comparing
      fresh and cryopreserved glands (6 months to 2 years). Specifically, at
      physiologic calcium concentrations no significant differences existed in the
      secretory behavior between fresh and cryopreserved tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Without
      showing decreased viability or parathyroid hormone secretion after
      cryopreservation, the cause of graft failure in cryopreserved tissue still
      remains unknown.

PMID- 1455312
TI  - Role of the oral calcium-loading test with measurement of intact parathyroid
      hormone in the diagnosis of symptomatic subtle primary hyperparathyroidism.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study was designed to assess the diagnostic value of the oral
      calcium tolerance test with measurement of intact parathyroid hormone by the
      immunoradiometric assay (IRMA PTH) in the diagnosis of primary
      hyperparathyroidism in patients with symptoms who have minimal, intermittent, or
      no elevation of the levels of total calcium and/or intact PTH. METHODS: After
      baseline levels of IRMA PTH and total calcium were measured, an oral calcium load
      of 1000 mg elemental calcium was administered to 10 patients with
      hyperparathyroidism and 18 normal control subjects. Total calcium and IRMA PTH
      levels were measured at 30, 60, and 120 minutes after the oral calcium load was
      administered. RESULTS: The mean suppression of the baseline level of IRMA PTH in
      the patients with hyperparathyroidism was 83.7% +/- 6.5% (mean +/- 1 SEM), but
      the levels of the normal control subjects fell significantly (p < 0.05) lower to
      58.8% +/- 3.7% (mean +/- 1 SEM). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the oral
      calcium tolerance test may be a valuable adjunct in confirming the diagnosis of
      primary hyperparathyroidism in patients with symptoms who have minimal,
      intermittent, or no elevation of the levels of total calcium and/or IRMA PTH:

PMID- 1455313
TI  - Prospective evaluation of the efficacy of technetium 99m sestamibi and iodine 123
      radionuclide imaging of abnormal parathyroid glands.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Technetium 99m sestamibi is an isonitrile radionuclide imaging agent
      that, when used with subtraction iodine 123 thyroid scans, has the potential for
      imaging abnormal parathyroid glands. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 20
      patients with hyperparathyroidism to study the efficacy of Tc 99m sestamibi and
      123I subtraction radionuclide scanning for the imaging of abnormal parathyroid
      glands. All patients underwent neck exploration and histologic confirmation of
      all parathyroid glands identified. RESULTS: The solitary adenomas in 11 of 16
      patients with primary hyperparathyroidism were localized with sestamibi scans.
      The scans in four of five patients with diffuse parathyroid hyperplasia showed
      bilateral localization consistent with enlarged glands. The fifth patient
      previously underwent a subtotal parathyroidectomy, and a fifth supernumerary
      gland was localized with the sestamibi scan. Four patients had
      hyperparathyroidism related to kidney disease. Three of these had bilateral
      localization of enlarged glands. The fourth patient had undergone two previous
      operations, and a fifth supernumerary gland was localized with the sestamibi
      scan. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary data indicate that Tc 99m sestamibi in
      combination with 123I radionuclide scanning may be useful in the preoperative
      localization of abnormal parathyroid glands. This technique localized all of the
      solitary adenomas that were subsequently resected, and in two reoperative cases
      it identified the remaining solitary gland causing persistent hypercalcemia.

PMID- 1455314
TI  - Long-term effects of parathyroid operation on serum calcium and parathyroid
      hormone values in sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism.
AB  - BACKGROUND: This study investigates 410 persons (median age, 67 years) who
      underwent parathyroid operation for sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism 6 to 32
      years (mean, 14.2 years) before 1991. METHODS: Patient records and operative
      specimens were scrutinized, the patients answered a questionnaire, and fasting
      serum samples were analyzed for calcium, albumin, creatinine, and intact
      parathyroid hormone (PTH) values. RESULTS: After primary parathyroid operations
      were performed with a conservative surgical approach, persistent and recurrent
      hypercalcemia were noticed in 3.7% and 1.7% of patients, respectively, whereas
      4.7% of patients required vitamin D substitution or had essentially mild
      hypocalcemia. The PTH values were generally increased in patients with
      postoperative hyperparathyroidism, low in those with vitamin D substitution, and
      normal to elevated in the patients with hypocalcemia and in those with
      postoperative normocalcemia. The mean serum creatinine concentration was just
      below the upper reference range and correlated strongly with serum PTH value. No
      significant differences in serum PTH values were present between the
      normocalcemic patients and matched control patients after operation (n = 107),
      but the patients who underwent operation exhibited greater variation in the PTH
      concentration. CONCLUSIONS: The results substantiate the efficacy of parathyroid
      operation in sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism. Biochemical derangements
      compatible with secondary hyperparathyroidism may evolve during long-term follow
      up and contribute to decreases in serum calcium values and increases in serum PTH
      values of these patients.

PMID- 1455315
TI  - Follicular thyroid carcinoma with capsular invasion alone: a nonthreatening
      malignancy.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The study was designed to determine whether invasion of the tumor
      capsule, in the absence of vascular invasion (VI), was significant in predicting
      cause-specific mortality in follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC). METHODS: Seventy
      two patients with FTC were treated by us during 1971 through 1985. In 65 cases
      the tumors could be classified as either showing capsular invasion (CI) alone
      (20) or VI, with or without CI, (45). Median follow-up of 45 survivors was 11
      years; 12 patients died of FTC. RESULTS: The 10-year occurrence rates for cause
      specific mortality and distant metastases were 28% and 19%, respectively, for
      patients with VI. Comparable rates for the patients with CI were 0% (p = 0.019)
      and 0% (p = 0.052), respectively. By univariate analysis, higher rates of cause
      specific mortality were significantly associated with distant metastases at
      diagnosis (p < 0.0001), the presence of VI (p = 0.019), and moderate or marked
      microinvasion (p = 0.019). In stepwise multivariate analyses, only distant
      metastases at diagnosis had independent prognostic significance (p < 0.0001) in
      the prediction of cause-specific mortality. In a Cox model, adjusting for distant
      metastases at diagnosis, the presence of VI was of borderline significance (p =
      0.06) in predicting cause-specific mortality. CONCLUSIONS: FTC, diagnosed on the
      basis of CI alone, did not result in either distant metastases or cancer-related
      death. The dominant determinant of cause-specific mortality was the presence of
      distant metastases at diagnosis.

PMID- 1455316
TI  - Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: a study of 535 cases observed in a 50-year
      period.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The study aims were to characterize patients with papillary thyroid
      microcarcinoma and to provide data on outcome after surgical therapy. METHODS:
      Five hundred thirty-five patients with papillary microcarcinoma had initial
      treatment at Mayo Clinic from 1940 to 1989. Follow-up extended to 48 years.
      Median follow-up time for 400 survivors was 16 years. Recurrence and mortality
      details were derived from a computerized cancer database. RESULTS: Median tumor
      size was 8 mm. Ninety-nine percent of tumors were histologic grade 1; 98% were
      not locally invasive. Thirty-two percent of patients had nodal metastases at
      examination. TNM stages were I in 485 patients (91%), III in 49 patients (9%),
      and IV in one patient (0.2%). Ninety-one percent of patients underwent bilateral
      lobar resection. Tumor resection was incomplete in three cases (0.6%).
      Radioiodine remnant ablation was performed in 55 patients (10%). All-causes
      survival did not differ from expected; two patients (0.4%) died of papillary
      microcarcinoma. Twenty-year tumor recurrence rate was 6%. Higher recurrence rates
      were seen either with node-positive patients (p < 0.0001) or after unilateral
      lobectomy (p < 0.0001). Recurrence rates did not appear to be significantly
      altered by total thyroidectomy (p = 0.44) or radioiodine remnant ablation in node
      positive patients (p = 0.99). CONCLUSIONS: These results reaffirm that papillary
      microcarcinoma has an excellent prognosis if managed initially by bilateral lobar
      resection. Routine radioiodine remnant ablation is not indicated.

PMID- 1455317
TI  - Completion thyroidectomy: a critical appraisal.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Completion thyroidectomy can most accurately be described as
      reexploration of the neck to remove the contralateral thyroid lobe. This
      procedure has commonly been performed when the histopathologic condition of the
      ipsilateral thyroid lobe reveals papillary or follicular carcinoma of the
      thyroid. Because of a definitely increased risk of complications with completion
      thyroidectomy, avoiding its routine use is important. The purpose of this paper
      is to define the specific indications for completion thyroidectomy. METHODS: Over
      the past 9 years, we have performed 400 thyroidectomies; the patients ranged in
      age from 18 to 88 years. Although we have routinely used preoperative needle
      biopsy and intraoperative frozen section, decisions regarding the extent of
      thyroidectomy have been based on the gross findings at operation, taking into
      consideration such prognostic factors as patient age, tumor grade and size, the
      presence of extracapsular spread or distant metastasis, and associated risk
      factors. The minimal procedure for solitary thyroid nodule has been lobectomy
      with isthmusectomy. If the contralateral lobe is grossly normal, lobectomy with
      isthmusectomy has also been the maximal operation in most of patients. Very few
      specific indications exist for removal of the opposite lobe. RESULTS: Only three
      patients underwent completion thyroidectomy. All three patients had aggressive
      follicular carcinoma requiring radioactive iodine ablation, and all were referred
      after the initial surgery. We have not performed completion thyroidectomy on any
      of the patients on whom we initially operated. CONCLUSIONS: The most common
      indication considered for completion thyroidectomy is a frozen section diagnosis
      of a benign follicular adenoma that is subsequently changed on permanent
      pathologic condition to follicular carcinoma based on the presence of capsular
      and/or vascular invasion. However, if minimal invasion has occurred, no
      difference exists in survival related to the extent of the thyroidectomy. Local
      recurrence in the contralateral lobe occurs in less than 10% of the time. Because
      completion thyroidectomy carries more risks, it should be avoided in most
      patients when possible. The definitive decision should be made during the initial
      operation based on gross findings, prognostic factors, and frozen section, and
      this plan should only be changed to mandate completion thyroidectomy in select
      circumstances.

PMID- 1455318
TI  - Addition of nuclear DNA content to the AMES risk-group classification for
      papillary thyroid cancer.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to prospectively assess whether nuclear
      DNA content added prognostic value to existing risk factors in patients with
      papillary thyroid cancer. METHODS: Nuclear DNA content was measured both on the
      fine needle aspiration material and the surgical specimen in 73 patients with
      primary or recurrent papillary thyroid cancer. We modified the existing age of
      patient, presence of distant metastases, extent and size of the tumor (AMES) risk
      group classification to include DNA ploidy with AMES (DAMES). Patients with
      euploid tumors that were AMES low risk were considered to be DAMES low risk;
      patients with euploid tumors that were AMES high risk became intermediate risk,
      and patients with aneuploid tumors that were AMES high risk became DAMES high
      risk. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were in the DAMES low-risk group. Recurrences
      and/or distant metastases developed in only four (8%) of these patients. Twenty
      two patients were in the DAMES intermediate-risk group. Twelve (55%) of the
      intermediate-risk group had residual, recurrent, or distant metastatic disease,
      with one death from cancer at 120 months. Three patients were in the DAMES high
      risk group. Distant metastases developed in all three patients, who died within
      24 months from thyroid cancer. A statistically significant difference existed in
      the development of recurrence/metastases or death from cancer in the DAMES high
      risk group compared with the other risk groups combined. CONCLUSIONS: Nuclear DNA
      content adds prognostic value to the existing AMES risk-group classification.
      Because DNA analysis on fine needle aspiration correlated well with the surgical
      specimen DNA analysis, this modified classification can be used perioperatively
      to further individualize the treatment of patients with papillary thyroid cancer.

PMID- 1455319
TI  - Percutaneous intranodular ethanol injection for treatment of autonomously
      functioning thyroid nodules.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is the assessment of percutaneous intranodular
      ethanol injection (PNEI) as an alternative therapeutic procedure to classic
      surgery and radioiodine administration in autonomously functioning thyroid nodule
      treatment. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with hot nodules (18 pretoxic and 19
      toxic) have been treated by means of PNEI under ultrasonographic guide. Ninety
      five percent ethanol in a mean dose of 25 ml has been used. RESULTS: Nearly 80%
      of the patients showed normalization of thyroid-stimulating hormone levels and a
      complete recovery of extranodular tissue at scintiscan. All nodules decreased
      strikingly in size, many becoming undetectable. Mild and transient side effects
      were seen in 9% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: PNEI seems to be a feasible
      procedure on outpatients. It is safe when performed by a well-trained staff using
      ultrasonographic control. It may be carried out at any age and in patients at
      risk for surgery. PNEI can be considered a useful alternative to surgery and
      radioiodine administration in all autonomously functioning thyroid nodules and
      particularly in pretoxic nodules.

PMID- 1455320
TI  - Treatment of toxic solitary thyroid nodules: surgery versus radioactive iodine.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Because of controversy about the correct treatment of toxic solitary
      thyroid nodules, we reviewed our experience. METHODS: We retrospectively studied
      32 patients (24 women and 8 men) with solitary toxic thyroid nodules who were
      treated at our institution (1970 to 1985). RESULTS: Median values were as
      follows: age of patients at initial treatment, 67.6 years (range, 18.9 to 86.2
      years); follow-up, 3.8 years; largest diameter of nodules, 3.3 cm (range, 1.5 to
      6 cm); and 131I uptake at 24 hours, 31% (range, 7% to 54%). Nine patients had
      surgical treatment: subtotal thyroid lobectomy in six patients and subtotal
      thyroidectomy in three patients. Hypothyroidism developed in two of these nine
      patients (22%) 9 months after operation. No surgical complications occurred. No
      surgically treated patient had nodule recurrence or required re-treatment. Twenty
      three patients were treated with radioactive iodine (median dose, 29.1 mCi;
      range, 19.7 to 100 mCi). Two of them were re-treated: one patient underwent
      thyroid lobectomy because of concern about the nodule, and one patient was re
      treated with radioactive iodine because of persistent toxicity. Hypothyroidism
      was detected in eight of the 23 patients (35%) treated with radioactive iodine
      after treatment. Of the 16 patients treated with radioactive iodine with at least
      1 year follow-up and no re-treatment, nine (56.3%) have had complete regression
      of the nodule. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical excision of solitary toxic thyroid nodules
      would appear to be the treatment of choice.

PMID- 1455321
TI  - An eleven-year experience with adrenocortical carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Key issues in the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma are the value
      of adjuvant therapy, the value of reoperation, and the search for effective
      chemotherapeutic agents. The present series was reviewed to evaluate these
      issues. METHODS: We present a retrospective series of 73 patients with
      adrenocortical carcinoma treated at a single institution. RESULTS: Twenty
      patients had carcinomas that were unresectable, and 53 patients underwent
      complete resections. Ten patients received adjuvant therapy (mitotane, seven
      patients; radiation, three patients). Forty-five (85%) patients had recurrence,
      including all who received adjuvant therapy. Mean disease-free intervals for
      those who did and did not receive adjuvant therapy were equivalent at 2.4 years.
      Nineteen patients with recurrent disease received chemotherapy, and 26 patients
      underwent 51 reoperations to resect recurrent and metastatic disease. The overall
      5-year survival rate, which was 35%, was 47% for patients with complete
      resection. Stage and resectability were prognostic factors. Mean survival time
      for patients with recurrent disease treated medically was 19 months compared with
      56 months for patients who underwent reoperation. Mitotane had a 24% partial
      response rate. Other chemotherapeutic agents were ineffective. CONCLUSIONS: We
      conclude that an aggressive surgical approach to recurrent and metastatic disease
      should be adopted and that patients should be resected free of disease whenever
      possible. Currently no effective chemotherapy exists, and the value of adjuvant
      therapy remains unproved.

PMID- 1455322
TI  - Adrenocortical carcinoma in surgically treated patients: a retrospective study on
      156 cases by the French Association of Endocrine Surgery.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Because of the rarity of adrenocortical carcinoma, survival rates and
      prognosis for patients who have undergone operation are not well known. The
      purpose of the French Association of Endocrine Surgery was to evaluate these
      factors in all patients treated during a 12-year period by its members. METHODS:
      One hundred fifty-six patients (95 women, 61 men) with a mean age of 47 years
      were included. Functional symptoms were found in 52% of patients, and hormonal
      studies revealed secreting tumors in 62% of cases. Ninety-four percent of the
      patients underwent resection of the adrenal tumor, and 20% of them had extensive
      resection because of invasive cancers. Complete resection was achieved in 127
      patients (81%) and incomplete resection in 29 patients. Mean tumor weight was 714
      gm (range, 12 to 4750 gm), and the mean diameter was 12 cm (range, 3 to 30 cm).
      The results of the tumor staging were stage I, eight patients (5%); stage II
      (local disease), 75 patients (48%); stage III (locoregional disease), 39 patients
      (25%); and stage IV (metastases), 34 patients (22%). RESULTS: The 5-year
      actuarial survival rates were 34% overall, 42% in curative group, 53% in local
      cancer group, 24% in regional disease group, and 27% in the reoperated group. One
      year actuarial survival rate of the palliative group was 9% (median survival, 6
      months). Multivariate analysis showed that better prognosis occurred in patients
      younger than 35 years of age (p = 0.01) and in patients with androgen-secreting
      tumors, precursor-secreting tumors, or nonsecreting tumors (p = 0.003). Mitotane
      improved the survival rate only in patients with metastases who received it after
      operation (vs non-mitotane-treated patients [p < 0.05]). CONCLUSIONS: In this
      study age, extent of disease, aspect of the surgical resection, and type of
      hormonal secretion influenced survival.

PMID- 1455323
TI  - Risk factors associated with postoperative persistent hypertension in patients
      with primary aldosteronism.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Unilateral adrenalectomy was performed in 63 patients with primary
      aldosteronism. During a mean follow-up time of 4.1 years, none of the patients
      showed recurrence of hyperaldosteronism. However, 24 patients (38%) had
      persistent hypertension. The purpose of this study was to determine factors
      responsible for postoperative persistent hypertension. METHODS: A stepwise
      multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the combined
      predictive effects of the clinicopathologic variables. RESULTS: Age, sex, and
      pathologic findings were the best predictive factors of postoperative persistent
      hypertension. For a patient aged 50 years or more, the odds of persisting
      hypertension are 10.6:1, compared with those of a patient under 40 years of age.
      A male patient appears to have a greater chance of hypertension than a female
      patient; the odds ratio is 5.9:1. Persistent hypertension develops in patients
      with multiple adenomas or with an adenoma associated with macronodules more
      frequently than in those patients with a solitary adenoma; the odds ratio is 8.1.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that early surgical intervention at a younger
      age results in a more favorable outcome for patients with primary aldosteronism.
      The presence of macronodules in association with an adenoma is a cautious
      predictor of persistent hypertension after adrenalectomy.

PMID- 1455324
TI  - Acupuncture and occlusal splint therapy in the treatment of craniomandibular
      disorders. Part I. A comparative study.
AB  - One hundred and ten patients, 23 males and 87 females, participated in a
      comparative study of the effect of acupuncture and occlusal splint therapy. All
      the patients exhibited signs and symptoms of craniomandibular disorders (CMD) and
      had had pain for more than six months. The participants were randomly assigned to
      three groups; acupuncture treatment, occlusal splint therapy or control. The
      patients were evaluated before and immediately after treatment/control time. Ten
      different subjective and/or clinical assessment variables were used in the
      evaluation of the treatment effects. Both acupuncture and occlusal splint therapy
      reduced the symptoms as compared with the control group in which the symptoms
      remained essentially unchanged. In this short-term study, acupuncture gave better
      subjective results (p < 0.001) than the occlusal splint therapy.

PMID- 1455325
TI  - Dental caries in a group of 15 to 16-year-olds from Goteborg. Part I.
AB  - 301 adolescents aged 15 to 16 years (158 girls and 143 boys) were examined for
      caries under standardized conditions during the fall and spring terms of 1987/88.
      Clinical examinations, performed by two calibrated examiners were supplemented
      with posterior bite-wing radiographs which were assessed by one of the examiners.
      The mean DFT and DFS scores (incipient lesions included) were 9.8 and 19.4,
      respectively. The mean DFS score (dentin lesions+restorations) was 6.4. On
      average 1.9 surfaces had frank cavities or recurrent lesions and 13 surfaces had
      incipient lesions. Occlusal surfaces contributed 75%, approximal 21% and bucco
      linqual 4% to the manifest component of the DFS score (4.8, 1.4 and 0.2 surfaces,
      respectively). 3% of the incipient lesions were found occlusally, 51%
      approximally and 46% bucco-linqually (0.4, 6.6 and 5.9 surfaces, respectively).
      Only 3% of the participants were completely free from caries, whereas 9% had no
      dentin lesions or restorations. 15% of the subjects with the highest caries
      prevalence averaged 15.8 dentin lesions or restorations. A tendency towards
      polarization of low and high caries prevalence groups was observed. Totally 91%
      of the individuals had occlusal caries, 82% approximal and 76% bucco-lingual,
      whereas dentin lesions or restorations had 88%, 42% and 14%, respectively.

PMID- 1455327
TI  - Root development of the lower third molar and its relation to chronological age.
AB  - Methods based on radiological, distinguishable stages of tooth formation can be
      used to estimate chronological age in young persons. The best precision and
      accuracy of these methods of age estimation is obtained when many teeth are under
      development and when the individual growth rate is rapid. That is during early
      years-in childhood. After an age of about 14 years it becomes more difficult
      since all permanent teeth but the wisdom teeth have completed their development
      and only these remain to be used for age estimation. The aim of this study was to
      examine the radiological development of the root of the mandibular third molar
      and to explore its usefulness in age estimation. Also the differences between two
      independent observers were studied. The observers classified the development of
      the mandibular third molars, as seen in a panoramic radiograph, into seven
      defined stages. The two observers agreed in about 84% of the cases in their
      registration of the different stages, but a significant difference was found
      between the observers. The mineralisation of the third molar's root was found to
      start at the age of 15 years and the root was fully formed at about 20 years.
      Some minor differences were found between sexes in the time sequence of the
      mineralisation. The study also shows that there is a rather low precision in the
      age estimation with the method used. In general, a standard deviation of about 1
      to 2 years was found around the mean age of the different developmental stages.

PMID- 1455326
TI  - Pain control after third molar surgery--a comparative study of ibuprofen
      (Ibumetin) and a paracetamol/codeine combination (Citodon).
AB  - Two analgesics commonly used in oral surgery, ibuprofen (Ibumetin) and a
      paracetamol/codeine combination (Citodon) have been compared in a single-blind
      multi-centre trial after third molar surgery. The study comprised 120 patients,
      60 in each treatment group. The profiles of postoperative pain in the two groups
      were similar from the first postoperative day, but Ibumetin was better pain
      reliever on the day of surgery. The profiles of postoperative swelling and
      trismus had the same general course, but patients taking Ibumetin reported lower
      scores for these variables during the whole postoperative period. Citodon induced
      significantly more side-effects than Ibumetin.

PMID- 1455329
TI  - [Difficult and important to document. Interview by Kirsten Bjornsson].

PMID- 1455328
TI  - A clinical evaluation of adhesively luted ceramic inlays. A two year follow-up
      study.
AB  - Fired porcelain inlays were cemented in class II cavities with either a dual
      cured composite or a glass ionomer luting cement. Clinically evaluation according
      to modified USPHS criteria was done at baseline and after 6, 12 and 24 months.
      Inlays bonded with the composite resin showed a 2% failure rate, while 15% of the
      inlays cemented with the glass ionomer were lost or fractured during the
      evaluation period. The failures were in most cases due to an adhesive bond
      failure at the cement-porcelain interface.

PMID- 1455330
TI  - [Health--a common concern].

PMID- 1455331
TI  - [Being together is better than medicine].

PMID- 1455332
TI  - [Professional togetherness. Interview by Grethe Kjaergaard].

PMID- 1455333
TI  - [Citizens' health. Interview by Grethe Kjaergaard].

PMID- 1455336
TI  - [Congress 1992. Occupational lesions tell some of it].

PMID- 1455334
TI  - [Across the Atlantic. Interview by Grethe Kjaergaard].

PMID- 1455335
TI  - [Visions and reality. Interview by Grethe Kjaergaard].

PMID- 1455337
TI  - [Ombudsman representatives. Powerlessness is the most dangerous. Interview by
      Soren Palsbo].

PMID- 1455338
TI  - [First aid. Casualty ward as scrap-heap].

PMID- 1455339
TI  - [Illness--nurse with diabetes. Interview by Stig Thomasen].

PMID- 1455340
TI  - [Colleagues for sale].

PMID- 1455341
TI  - [Education--the students must learn how to study].

PMID- 1455342
TI  - [Nursing care--cancer patients miss contact].

PMID- 1455343
TI  - [Congress 1992. The weakest pay the price].

PMID- 1455344
TI  - [Congress 1992. We are in a strong position].

PMID- 1455345
TI  - [We ought to applaud here. Congress 1992].

PMID- 1455346
TI  - [Negotiations '93. Invitation to a discussion about wage claims].

PMID- 1455347
TI  - [Nursing narratives--the silent knowledge].

PMID- 1455348
TI  - [Health project. Health books].

PMID- 1455349
TI  - [How do we handle our democracy. Congress 1992].

PMID- 1455350
TI  - [Competition in working conditions. Congress 1992].

PMID- 1455351
TI  - [Incomprehensible attitude to local wages. Congress 1992].

PMID- 1455352
TI  - [Parapulpal pins for plastic constructions].

PMID- 1455353
TI  - [Soft tissue models. 1. Gingiva imitation in soft permanent acrylic].

PMID- 1455354
TI  - [Thermodisinfection and sterilization of various rotating instruments].

PMID- 1455355
TI  - [Plastic cement strength and color stability].

PMID- 1455356
TI  - [Ceramic brackets].
AB  - Because of the many drawbacks of the hard and brittle material, ceramic brackets
      should not be used uncritically for orthodontic treatments. If ceramic brackets
      are used, the following guidelines should be observed: 1. If large and
      complicated tooth movements are involved, conventional bracket systems should be
      considered. 2. Occlusion on ceramic brackets is to be avoided. 3. Sharp
      instruments should be used with extreme care to avoid scratching the ceramic
      surface. Metal ligatures must not be used. 4. The length of the treatment is
      extended, probably because of the increased friction. 5. The problems connected
      with removing the brackets have not yet been solved. Be particularly careful of
      weakened teeth. 6. Esthetically, ceramic brackets function satisfactorily, but
      transparent elastic ligatures do not. They rapidly become discoloured and need
      frequent replacement. Nor are there as yet any "invisible arch wires", apart from
      some few, extremely flexible "white" arch wires. The ceramic bracket has no doubt
      come to stay, but there have been many difficulties in the "running-in" period,
      and the problems are far from solved yet. New ceramic brackets are coming onto
      the market all the time, and only future clinical studies can show whether they
      will become a genuine alternative to the conventional bracket.

PMID- 1455358
TI  - [Soft tissue models. 2. Gingiva imitation with polyether--or silicone bases].

PMID- 1455359
TI  - [Bilateral eminectomy in the surgical management of recurrent jaw luxation].
AB  - The different types of luxations in the temporomandibular joint and their
      management are discussed. The bilateral eminectomia a.m. Myrhaug is described,
      and the results from our Department are presented. Seven patients have been
      operated, and all are relieved of their disease and free from pain. The patients
      are happy with the operations and there have been no postoperative complications.
      All the patients would recommend this type of operation to others in a similar
      situation.

PMID- 1455357
TI  - [Dislocation of mandibular condyle into middle cranial fossa].
AB  - A case of dislocation of the mandibular condyle into the middle cranial fossa is
      presented. The patient was a 8-year-old girl. Immediate conservative reposition
      was performed successfully with an intermaxillary fixation for two weeks. Two
      years after the accident her dental occlusion had remained stable, although there
      was a slight limitation in opening. Based on the present case and previous case
      reports it is concluded that early diagnosis and treatment is important. Manual
      reduction and fixation should be the first choice of treatment. The risk of
      intracranial complications necessitates a close cooperation with a neurosurgeon.
      Follow-up studies have revealed that most of the patients develop laterognatism
      and/or limited movements of the mandible.

PMID- 1455360
TI  - [The clinico-immunological characteristics of central nervous system involvement
      in systemic lupus erythematosus: the relationship with antibodies to
      cardiolipin].
AB  - As many as 30 patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with the
      clinical signs of central nervous system derangement were examined. The mean age
      of the patients was 31.1 years. Using EIA, antibodies against cardiolipin (a-CL)
      were detected in 21 patients (70%). A-CL were revealed in all the patients with
      cerebral circulation impairment (CCI), choreic hyperkinesis, and convulsive
      syndrome. A-CL were discovered in 12 out of 18 SLE patients suffering from
      migraine-like headaches and in 4 out of 5 patients with mental disorders.
      Antibodies reacting with cardiolipin were mostly represented by the IgM isotype
      (80%) whereas a-CL-IgG were only identified in 13% of the patients, being
      associated in all the cases with a-CL-IgM. The high level of a-CL-IgG in blood
      serum was recorded in patients with the gravest patterns of nervous system
      derangement: CCI, occlusion of the retinal artery, psycho-organic and convulsive
      syndromes. All these patients demonstrated generalized reticular livedo. The high
      levels of a-CL-IgM were observed in SLE patients with choreic hyperkinesis and
      migraine-like headaches. Thus, the studies made it possible to trace the
      relationship between the development of certain neurological disorders (CCI,
      chorea, convulsive syndrome) in SLE patients and a-CL.

PMID- 1455361
TI  - [The use of Capoten in systemic scleroderma].
AB  - Experience gained with the use of captopril has been summarized in 5 patients
      with sclerodermic renal crisis (true sclerodermic kidney) as well as the results
      of the double blind clinical trial of captopril in 16 patients with Raynaud's
      syndrome. Captopril given for a long time in the dose 75-150 mg to the patients
      with true sclerodermic kidney turned out effective which showed up by a decline
      and stabilization of arterial pressure, decrease of the intensity of azotemia and
      headaches, and stabilization of renal function. No convincing data have been
      obtained, that may confirm a beneficial effect of captopril on Raynaud's
      syndrome. The drug was applied in a dose of 37.5 mg for 2 weeks.

PMID- 1455362
TI  - [Joint hypermobility--100 years after Chernogubov].

PMID- 1455363
TI  - [Spondylarthritis ankylopoietica and HLA-B27].
AB  - There is a strict association between HLA-B27 and a group of
      spondylarthropathies, especially with ankylosing spondylarthritis (AS). The
      causes of the association remain obscure, different hypotheses are regarded.
      There is an interaction between B27 and bacteria. However, the etiological and
      pathogenetic roles played by any of them in AS cannot be regarded as proved. B27
      is an important genetic factor in the disease expression. It is implicated in the
      pathogenesis, being undoubtedly a risk factor. At the same time it cannot be
      excluded that B27 is only one of the genes, predisposed to the disease. From the
      practical standpoint, it is important that the I degree kinship relatives of AS
      patients, males in particular, having HLA-B27 may be subjected to prophylactic
      medical examinations.

PMID- 1455364
TI  - [The action of low-intensity laser radiation on the immune system].

PMID- 1455365
TI  - [Hemodynamic changes in disorders of the heart rhythm and conduction].

PMID- 1455366
TI  - [Immunological disorders in different clinical variants of rheumatoid arthritis].
AB  - The authors present the current data on the disorders of immune functions in
      patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Provide evidence for the
      pathogenetic heterogeneity of the known clinical patterns of RA, mainly
      seronegative and seropositive varieties, with special reference to the
      differences in the lowering of the activity of nonspecific T suppressors, to the
      influence of the factor of necrosis of alpha-tumor and alpha- and beta
      interferons on B lymphocyte proliferation, and to the effects of synovial exudate
      from seropositive and seronegative patients. Demonstrate the results of integral
      estimation of the disorders of several characteristics of the immune system in RA
      patients with the use of the image recognition program. It is concluded that the
      clinical polymorphism of RA is specified by the pathogenetic heterogeneity of the
      disease based on varieties of combined normal and altered functions of different
      components of the immune system.

PMID- 1455367
TI  - [The biochemical heterogeneity of rheumatoid arthritis].
AB  - The content of cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP) in plasma (or blood), synovial
      fluid and neutrophils was measured in 151 patients suffering from rheumatoid
      arthritis (RA) as was the content of prostaglandins (E2 and F2 alpha), ACTH,
      hydrocortisone, antioxidant system enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase).
      Part of the patients were examined over time. Relative stability of certain
      characteristics (the content of hydrocortisone, neuropeptides, superoxide
      dismutase, and so forth) was established throughout a long time, irrespective of
      the process activity or treatment provided. It is concluded that every RA patient
      has a "weak" biochemical component of his own, reflecting the activity or power
      of one or another regulatory system.

PMID- 1455368
TI  - [Changes in the production of monokines and prostaglandin E2 by the peripheral
      blood monocytes in patients with different clinico-immunological variants of
      rheumatoid arthritis].
AB  - As many as 39 patients aged 16-70 years with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) lasting 3
      months to 20 years were examined. The diagnostic titers of rheumatoid factor were
      discovered in 23 patients. The control group was made up of 26 healthy subjects
      (donors). The activity of IL-1 in supernatants of peripheral blood monocytes
      (PBM) was measured by bioassay resting on co-stimulation of mouse thymocytes;
      quantitative determination of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was made by
      ELISA, PGE2 was determined by RIA. As compared to the controls, the RA patients
      manifested an increase of the production of IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha and PGE2 of PBM,
      which rose with the disease activity. The RA patients demonstrated direct
      correlations between the level of IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha and PGE2 in supernatants
      of PBM, whereas the donors showed up a negative correlation between IL-1 beta
      activity and PGE2.

PMID- 1455369
TI  - [The prediction of thrombosis development in patients with systemic lupus
      erythematosus: the role of antibodies to cardiolipin].
AB  - In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the synthesis of antibodies
      to cardiolipin (A-CL) is associated with the development of venous and arterial
      thromboses localized in minor and middle-sized vessels, in the venous system and
      capillaries. The determination of various A-CL isotypes may be used to predict
      thromboses in SLE patients. Overall 210 patients (185 women and 25 men) with a
      verified diagnosis of SLE were examined. The patients were not screened in
      accordance with some or other clinical signs of the antiphospholipid syndrome.
      The control group comprised 100 healthy subjects (donors). The IgG, IgA and IgM
      isotypes of A-CL were determined by ELISA. Sera of SLE patients showed an
      increase of the concentration of A-CL of both certain isotypes and their
      potential combinations. Among A-CL-positive patients, the IgG isotype of A-CL was
      detected in 75% of cases, the IgM isotype of A-CL in 61%, and the IgA isotype of
      A-CL in 36% of cases. Thrombotic complications were recorded in 19% of patients.
      They were induced by hyperproduction of the three combinations of the A-CL
      isotypes: A-CL IgM, IgM+IgA, and IgG+IgA+IgM. Patients whose sera contained A-CL
      of all three types at a time were most prone to thrombotic complications. It has
      turned out that the percentage of SLE patients with thromboses was higher than
      that of SLE patients without thromboses, starting from the definite A-CL
      concentration (21 GPL).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455370
TI  - [The dynamics of the basic statistical indices of rheumatic diseases in the
      Russian Federation].

PMID- 1455371
TI  - [A comparative evaluation of combined immunocorrective therapy in rheumatoid
      arthritis with systemic manifestations (joint Soviet-Polish research)].
AB  - Thirty-two patients with rheumatoid arthritis were included in the trial. Each of
      them was assigned to one of the 4 groups comparable by the main features. Each
      group entered 8 patients. Group 1 patients underwent hemosorption weekly for 3
      weeks. After the second procedure cyclophosphamide was added at a single IV dose
      1000 mg. After the third procedure the treatment was continued with methotrexate
      (7.5 mg, weekly). Group 2 began the treatment with methotrexate (7.5 mg, weekly).
      Group 3 received cyclophosphamide 200 mg IV twice a week 6 times and then 200 mg
      weekly orally till a total dose of 2 g. Group 4 received azathioprine in a daily
      dose 100 mg. The treatment with nonsteroidal antirheumatic drugs and
      corticosteroids was continued unchanged. After 6 months we did not see
      significant differences between the 4 groups.

PMID- 1455372
TI  - [The efficacy of basic therapy in rheumatoid arthritis with methotrexate].
AB  - Overall 25 patients with rheumatoid arthritis received methotrexate as basic
      therapy in a weekly dose of 7.5 mg. The patients were followed up for a year. The
      control examinations were carried out every three months. The therapeutic effect
      was evaluated from the dynamics of 10 clinical and laboratory parameters. The
      efficacy of methotrexate treatment provided for a year turned out as follows:
      significant improvement was attained in 11 patients, improvement was recorded in
      9; no changes were demonstrated by 5 patients. Thus, the positive effect was
      attained in 20 patients (80%). A clinical remission was recorded in 4 patients.
      Small doses of methotrexate were tolerated well. During one year, the drug was
      discontinued in none of the patients. Mild side effects were noticed in 11
      patients. The temporary drug withdrawal made it possible to continue treating
      those patients. The majority of the humoral immunity tests showed positive
      dynamics. As for the titers of rheumatoid factors, such regularity could not be
      traced.

PMID- 1455373
TI  - [The possibilities for a modifying influence of basic therapy on the long-term
      course of rheumatoid arthritis].
AB  - Analysis was made of the results of basic therapy carried out for 10-15 years in
      71 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) bearing in mind the
      systematic nature of the treatment. The study included patients with the
      progressive disease variety and the onset of observation instituted within the
      first 5 years of RA. It is shown that only basic therapy carried out for many
      years and practically continuously during the observation period made it possible
      to control the disease. As a result of such treatment policy, 50% of the patients
      manifested for a long time (6-10 years) a pronounced decrease or complete
      suppression of RA activity followed by remission, which was accompanied by
      retardation and the ceasing of the progression of x-ray alterations and
      functional insufficiency of the joints. Nonsystematic basic treatment did not
      exert any material effect on RA. The results of such therapy in patients with the
      RA standing 10-20 years did not differ from those without the use of the basic
      drugs.

PMID- 1455374
TI  - [Pulse therapy with methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide in systemic juvenile
      rheumatoid arthritis: the results of an open, parallel, controlled, randomized,
      12-month study].
AB  - The treatment for systemic JRA is among actual problems of pediatric
      rheumatology. To evaluate the effectiveness of pulse therapy (PT) with
      methylprednisolone 25-30 mg/kg/day for 3 consecutive days combined with
      cyclophosphamide 0.4-0.5 g/sq. m body surface area (BSA) on the 3rd day, repeated
      quarterly for 12 months, 30 patients with systemic JRA were randomized into 3
      groups: 1--those with disease duration (DD) less than 2 years receiving PT (n =
      13), 2--with DD 2 years and more (n = 8) receiving PT, and 3--with DD less than 2
      years receiving no PT. Children in all 3 groups received concomitant medication
      (one of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, methotrexate 10 mg/sq. m BSA/week
      and oral steroids). A rapid and significant improvement, according to systemic
      and articular manifestations as well as laboratory indices occurred in the 1st
      group, in most of the measured parameters exceeded effects in the other two
      groups and gave the opportunity to avoid the administration of oral steroids or
      to give the lesser initial dose. Side effects were minor and completely
      reversible.

PMID- 1455375
TI  - [The immunomodulating action of extracorporeal treatment methods and the late
      effect from their use in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].
AB  - Unlike hemocarboperfusion (HCP), plasmapheresis (PA) produces a long-term effect
      in the treatment of serious cases of rheumatoid arthritis. This explains why the
      rebound syndrome occurs in PA two times less frequently. The analysis of the
      immunomodifying action of both the treatments and comparison of their efficacy
      suggest the conclusion that long-term and complete remissions are associated with
      the immunosuppressive effects, while the development of exacerbations accompanies
      the immunomodifying effect. HCP stimulates the immune system, while PA can induce
      both stimulation and suppression. Therefore, HCP can be used as an adjuvant
      treatment of highly active rheumatoid arthritis before the basic therapy. In PA
      immunosuppressive effect, it may be used as an original treatment method.

PMID- 1455376
TI  - [The preliminary results of using tramal in rheumatoid arthritis patients].
AB  - Patients suffering from active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were examined for the
      analgesic effect of tramal. All the patients were administered basic therapy and
      nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Tramal produced a beneficial effect in 79%
      of the patients. The stable analgesic effect ensued on days 3-5 since the onset
      of continuous treatment. Provided the drug was administered for a short period of
      time (not more than 14 days), addiction to tramal was not recorded. Only 11% of
      the patients demonstrated tramal-induced side effects (drowsiness, dizziness,
      skin itch), seen in cases where the daily dose exceeded 300 mg.

PMID- 1455377
TI  - [Cartilage-protective preparations in the therapy of osteoarthrosis].
AB  - Based on an analysis of the current data on the pathogenesis of osteoarthrosis,
      the authors provide evidence for the importance of chondroprotective therapy.
      Present comparative experimental and clinical (tentative) data on the efficacy of
      chondroprotective drugs.

PMID- 1455378
TI  - [The clinico-immunological subtypes of systemic lupus erythematosus].
AB  - Based on clinico-immunologic studies subtypes of systemic lupus erythematosus
      (SLE) were distinguished. The ANF-R++H-DNA-CH50 variant determines acute onset of
      SLE with renal injury in the form of diffuse glomerulonephritis. The ANF-Sp-RNP
      RF mirrors the development of Raynaud's syndrome, Sjogren's syndrome,
      polymyositis, pneumosclerosis and myocarditis. The ANF-Sp-Ro-RF variant is
      associated with skin derangement in the form of discoid foci, anular,
      papulosquamous eruption, vitiligo, hyperpigmentation, and cerebrovasculitis. The
      Ro-anti-Po, La-anti-La system is related to the idea of SLE, seronegative in
      accordance with ANF, when rat liver sections are used as a substrate in
      immunofluorescence.

PMID- 1455379
TI  - [Factors that determine the high blood viscosity syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis
      patients].
AB  - High blood viscosity is a syndrome that may be attributed to a group of the most
      important disorders of microcirculation under different pathological conditions
      of the body. The given syndrome manifests itself by disorders of red blood cell
      deformability (RBCD), high plasma and whole blood viscosity. 32 patients with a
      verified diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were examined, showing varying
      activity and systemic manifestations. There was a significant decrease of RBCD
      from 82.0 + 4.5% in patients with grade I activity to 33.0 + 15.0% in patients
      with grade III activity (p < 0.01). At the same time plasma viscosity remained
      practically unchanged. Whole blood viscosity rose with RA activity enhancement:
      in grade I, it was 1.87 + 0.60 relative units, in grade II, it was 2.80 + 0.80
      relative units, in grade III, it constituted 5.30 + 3.70 relative units (p <
      0.02). It is assumed that RBCD disturbance is one of the most leading signs in
      the development of high blood viscosity in RA patients.

PMID- 1455380
TI  - [The bioenergetic x-ray absorptiometry of the spine in rheumatoid arthritis
      patients with aseptic femur head necrosis].

PMID- 1455381
TI  - [The use of taktivin for modulating the functional activity of the neutrophilic
      granulocytes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].
AB  - The dynamics of the synthesis of active oxygen forms by neutrophilic granulocytes
      was studied and compared in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
      given conventional therapy (n = 14) and combined therapy with the use of tactivin
      (n = 17). Evaluation of spontaneous fluorescence of neutrophils (FN) and of that
      induced by suspension of the killed Staphylococcus culture revealed an increase
      of the latter one after tactivin treatment, which was accompanied by the
      regression of articular and cutaneous syndromes and trophic disorders. It has
      been discovered that the dynamics of FN in the treatment with the use of tactivin
      was dependent on the initial characteristics of the synthesis of active oxygen
      forms.

PMID- 1455382
TI  - [The serum neopterin level in acute rheumatic fever].
AB  - Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is a systemic inflammatory disease etiologically
      related to infection with group A streptococcus characterized by a broad spectrum
      of disorders of cellular and humoral immunity. To estimate the activity of the
      immunopathological process and to forecast myocardial derangement in ARF
      patients, measurements were made of neopterin in the serum of ARF patients. Nine
      men with ARF serving in the armed forces were examined. The control group
      comprised 24 donors. The reference group included 13 patients with dilated
      cardiomyopathy and 14 with chronic myocarditis. The mean level of neopterin in
      ARF patients was equal to 14.5 +/- 12.2 nM/l and was significantly higher than in
      the donors (5.0 +/- 2.0 nM/l). In patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and
      chronic myocarditis, it was 9 +/- 6 and 16 +/- 11 nM/l, respectively. On more
      careful clinical analysis the highest level of neopterin was recorded in 3
      patients with impairment of the valvular apparatus of the heart. That level was
      observable during the whole period of the follow-up of the patients. In other
      patients, no impairment of the valves was detected, whereas the concentration of
      neopterin fell to normal. Therefore, the rise of the level of neopterin was
      described for the first time in patients with ARF. Besides, a relationship was
      found between the high level of neopterin and impairment of the valvular
      apparatus of the heart.

PMID- 1455383
TI  - [The heterogeneity of systemic lupus erythematosus due to the antiphospholipid
      syndrome].

PMID- 1455384
TI  - [Amyloidosis and antibodies to heat-shock proteins].

PMID- 1455385
TI  - [The importance of an early stress test in patients with myocardial infarct and
      heart failure in the acute period of the disease].
AB  - The mechanisms of acute myocardial infarction depend on the site of myocardial
      infarction (MI). In anterior MI, the main factor is a large area of injury; in
      inferior MI, of importance is dysfunction of the papillary muscles and multiple
      lesions of the coronary artery in addition to the above factor. The site, the
      area of injury and the status of the coronary bed influence the rate, character
      and prognostic value of early load test criteria and contractile function of the
      left ventricle. In anterior MI, elevation of the ST segment is the most frequent
      criterion; in inferior MI, its depression. Their combination with other criteria
      for test discontinuation point to multiple lesions of the coronary artery. In
      patients with anterior MI, the ejection fraction of the left ventricle amounting
      to 40%, inadequate growth of AP, anginous pain and the T dominant elevation of
      the ST segment are unfavourable predictors, allowing the patients to be
      differentiated in accordance with the risk of postinfarction complications.

PMID- 1455386
TI  - [Experience with the practical training of students in a department of internal
      diseases].

PMID- 1455387
TI  - [The results of a retrospective examination of patients with acute rheumatic
      fever].
AB  - The authors describe the results obtained during retrospective examinations of 45
      subjects who suffered from acute rheumatic fever 10-14 years before. Of these, 19
      subjects were treated with prednisolone in the acute disease period, 16 with
      indomethacin, and 8 subjects with voltaren. The examinations were mostly
      randomized (30 subjects); no differences in the anti-inflammatory effect were
      discovered. Heart disease was found in 9 persons (20%). Of these, 6 were treated
      with prednisolone, 2 with indomethacin, and 1 with voltaren. The disease relapses
      were recorded in 4 of them, the signs of valvulitis in the past were shown only
      by 2 persons (echocardiographically). 12 persons (27%) had mitral valve prolapse
      which had not been diagnosed on the first admission to the hospital, with any
      clinical signs of hypermotility lacking. In 18 persons (40%) having no valve
      lesions (disease, prolapse), an x-ray examination revealed a slight increase of
      the heart size, estimated as a manifestation of postmyocardial cardiosclerosis.
      Thus, it has been shown that modern anti-inflammatory therapy does not prevent
      the development of heart disease. Apparently, its onset is related to specific
      proneness in some of the patients.

PMID- 1455388
TI  - [The results of a clinico-serological examination of 60 patients with Lyme
      disease].
AB  - Clinical and serological examinations were carried out in 60 patients with Lyme
      disease. The diagnosis was established on the basis of the disease marker--tick
      borne migrating erythema and serological data obtained with the use of indirect
      immunofluorescence and Western blot. The spectrum of clinical manifestations and
      the rate of different clinical syndromes are described and compared with the data
      by this country and foreign authors. It is shown that Borrelia infection is
      capable of imitating rheumatic diseases.

PMID- 1455389
TI  - [2 cases of trichinelliasis].

PMID- 1455390
TI  - OSHA without tears. Part two: Developing an exposure control plan.

PMID- 1455391
TI  - Baby bottle tooth decay prevention--a new program for the Texas Department of
      Health.

PMID- 1455392
TI  - A specific immunologic assay for functional plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 in
      plasma--standardized measurements of the inhibitor and related parameters in
      patients with venous thromboembolic disease.
AB  - A new assay for functional plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) in plasma
      was developed. The assay is based on the quantitative conversion of PAI-1 to
      urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA)-PAI-1 complex the concentration of
      which is then determined by an ELISA employing monoclonal anti-PAI-1 as catching
      antibody and monoclonal anti-u-PA as detecting antibody. The assay exhibits high
      sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and precision. The level of functional PAI-1,
      tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity and t-PA-PAI-1 complex was
      measured in normal subjects and in patients with venous thromboembolism in a
      silent phase. Blood collection procedures and calibration of the respective
      assays were rigorously standardized. It was found that the patients had a
      decreased fibrinolytic capacity. This could be ascribed to high plasma levels of
      PAI-1. The release of t-PA during venous occlusion of an arm for 10 min expressed
      as the increase in t-PA + t-PA-PAI-1 complex exhibited great variation and no
      significant difference could be demonstrated between the patients with a
      thrombotic tendency and the normal subjects.

PMID- 1455393
TI  - Prolonged bleeding time in patients with lupus anticoagulant.
AB  - Platelet adhesion to collagen under flow conditions was studied in 18 patients
      with lupus anticoagulant, seven of which showed a prolonged bleeding time in the
      presence of a normal platelet count. The effect of patient plasma, IgG and
      purified anticardiolipin antibodies on platelet adhesion was also examined. We
      found a significant reduction of platelet adhesion in patients with lupus
      anticoagulant, which was more evident in patients with prolonged bleeding time.
      This platelet adhesion defect could be attributed to a plasma factor. In fact,
      patients' platelets regained normal adhesion when mixed with normal plasma,
      whereas controls' platelets showed abnormal adhesion in the presence of patient
      plasma. A causative role of antiphospholipid antibodies was demonstrated in
      experiments using purified immunoglobulins and anticardiolipin antibodies.

PMID- 1455394
TI  - Comparative arterial antithrombotic activity of clopidogrel and acetyl salicylic
      acid in the pig.
AB  - We investigated the comparative antithrombotic properties of clopidogrel, an
      analogue of ticlopidine, and aspirin, using the Folts' model on femoral arteries
      in 22 pigs. On each animal, clopidogrel or aspirin were used to treat the
      thrombotic process on the left femoral artery and to prevent this process on the
      right femoral artery. Sequentially: an injury and stenosis were carried out on
      the left femoral artery; the thrombotic process was monitored with a Doppler
      during a 30-min observation period for cyclic flow reductions or permanent
      cessation of flow; after the first cyclic flow reduction occurred, clopidogrel (5
      mg kg-1) or aspirin (2.5, 5, 100 mg kg-1) were injected intravenously; if cyclic
      flow reductions were abolished, epinephrine (0.4 micrograms kg-1 min-1) was
      injected to try to restore cyclic flow reductions and/or permanent cessation of
      flow; then injury and stenosis were applied on the right femoral artery. Before
      and after injection of clopidogrel or aspirin, ear immersion bleeding times and
      ex-vivo platelet aggregation were performed. Clopidogrel (n = 7) abolished cyclic
      flow reductions were efficiently prevented, even for two injuries. Basal bleeding
      time (5 min 28) was lengthened (> 15 min, 30 min after clopidogrel and remained
      prolonged even after 24 h). ADP-induced platelet aggregation was inhibited (more
      than 78%). Comparatively, aspirin had a moderate and no dose-dependent effect.
      Aspirin 2.5 mg kg-1 (n = 6) abolished cyclic flow reductions in 2 animals, CFR
      reoccurred spontaneously in one animal and epinephrine restored it in a second
      animal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455395
TI  - Plasminogen levels in healthy volunteers--influence of age, sex, smoking and oral
      contraceptives.
AB  - There is considerable doubt as to the importance of reduced plasminogen (PLG)
      activity as a risk factor for venous thrombosis. In the present study we have
      identified a wide range of PLG activities (25-200%) in a cohort of 9,611 blood
      donors. Males and females not taking hormonal contraceptives show a similar
      distribution of PLG, however, variation related to age appears to follow a
      different pattern in males and females. These differences are of doubtful
      clinical importance as are differences related to smoking. In contrast, females
      taking hormonal contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have up to
      25% higher mean PLG levels in younger females but a less marked elevation (10%)
      is seen in 40-50 year olds. A PLG activity < 65% was recorded in 61 donors, none
      of whom appeared to have a history of thrombosis. These findings do not support
      the notion that reduced PLG is an important thrombophilic risk factor, however,
      further investigation of the donors with low PLG is required.

PMID- 1455396
TI  - A novel rat model of thrombogenicity: its use in evaluation of prothrombin
      complex concentrates and high purity factor IX concentrates.
AB  - A non-stasis rodent model of thrombogenicity has been used for dose-ranging
      studies with a conventional prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) and to evaluate
      high purity factor IX concentrates from different manufacturers. Fibrin monomer
      (soluble fibrin) and fibrinopeptide A (FPA) were monitored before and after
      infusion of test solution. FPA was found to be the more sensitive and
      reproducible indicator of thrombogenicity and exhibited a dose-related elevation
      after infusion of the PCC at doses of between 100-300 IU/kg. In contrast the
      amounts of FPA generated after 300 IU/kg of the high purity factor IX products
      were similar to control infusions of albumin.

PMID- 1455399
TI  - Structure, kinetics, and function of human and rhesus plasma prekallikreins are
      similar.
AB  - To determine if rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) could serve as a model for
      studying the role of the contact system in the pathophysiology of human
      infections, we compared structural, kinetic, and functional characteristics of
      plasma prekallikrein and its activation products in rhesus and humans. Three
      prekallikrein variants (85-, 89- and 93-kDa) were revealed in rhesus plasma as
      compared with the two variants (85- and 88-kDa) in human plasma by immunoblotting
      with the monoclonal antibody MAb 13G11. The prekallikrein concentration in rhesus
      plasma was 1.5-fold that in human plasma as determined by computerized immunoblot
      analyses (CIBA) and amidolytic activity. The electrophoretic mobility of
      prekallikrein from plasma of both species increased after deglycosylation.
      Inhibition of prekallikrein activation by MAb 13G11 was 55% (rhesus plasma) and
      76% (human plasma), with similar inhibition curves. Immunoblots of activated
      rhesus plasma showed prekallikrein, complexes of kallikrein with C1 inhibitor,
      alpha 2-macroglobulin and approximately 60-kDa inhibitor(s) (viz. antithrombin
      III), and 45-kDa fragments, like those in activated human plasma. Concentrations
      and molecular masses of factor XII and high molecular weight kininogen were
      similar in rhesus and human plasma. The activated partial thromboplastin time
      (APTT) and prothrombin time were 20.1 +/- 1.6 and 9.7 +/- 0.3 s for rhesus and
      32.0 +/- 5.6 and 12 +/- 0.5 s for human plasma. Human and rhesus APTTs were
      similar when prekallikrein concentrations in human and rhesus plasma became alike
      by adding human purified prekallikrein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455397
TI  - Fibrinolytic potential and antiphospholipid antibodies in systemic lupus
      erythematosus and other connective tissue disorders.
AB  - We studied the fibrinolytic response before and after venous occlusion (VO) in 30
      patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 25 with rheumatoid arthritis
      (RA) and 25 with different connective tissue disorders. Results were compared in
      patients with and without antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) and a history of
      either thrombosis or abortions. Before occlusion plasma levels of tissue-type
      plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen and its inhibitor (PAI-1) were significantly
      higher in the patient group (p < 0.001). After occlusion, a low fibrinolytic
      activity on fibrin plates (p < 0.005) was observed in the same group. t-PA
      capacity and t-PA release were similar in relation to controls. The plasma PAI-1
      activity was significantly elevated in each group of patients (p < 0.005) as
      compared to the control group. No significant differences with respect to t-PA
      and PAI-1 were observed in patients as to the presence or absence of thrombosis.
      There was also no correlation between the fibrinolytic changes and the presence
      of APA. It is concluded that an impairment of the fibrinolytic system, mainly
      related to increased PAI-1 levels, is present in most patients with connective
      tissue disorders, although these changes did not correlate with the presence of
      APA or the incidence of thrombosis.

PMID- 1455398
TI  - Congenital deficiency of all vitamin K-dependent blood coagulation factors due to
      a defective vitamin K-dependent carboxylase in Devon Rex cats.
AB  - Two Devon Rex cats from the same litter, which had no evidence of liver disease,
      malabsorption of vitamin K or chronic ingestion of coumarin derivatives, were
      found to have plasma deficiencies of factors II, VII, IX and X. Oral treatment
      with vitamin K1 resulted in the normalization of these coagulation factors. After
      taking liver biopsies it was demonstrated that the coagulation abnormality was
      accompanied by a defective gamma-glutamyl-carboxylase, which had a decreased
      affinity for both vitamin K hydroquinone and propeptide. This observation
      prompted us to study in a well-defined in vitro system the possible allosteric
      interaction between the propeptide binding site and the vitamin K hydroquinone
      binding site on carboxylase. It was shown that by the binding of a propeptide
      containing substrate to gamma-glutamylcarboxylase the apparent KM for vitamin K
      hydroquinone is decreased about 20-fold. On the basis of these in vitro data the
      observed defect in the Devon Rex cats can be fully explained.

PMID- 1455400
TI  - Heterozygous abnormal fibrinogen Osaka III with the replacement of gamma arginine
      275 by histidine has an apparently higher molecular weight gamma-chain variant.
AB  - Congenitally abnormal fibrinogen Osaka III with the replacement of gamma Arg-275
      by His was found in a 38-year-old female with no bleeding or thrombotic tendency.
      Release of fibrinopeptide(s) by thrombin or reptilase was normal, but her
      thrombin or reptilase time in the absence of calcium was markedly prolonged and
      the polymerization of preformed fibrin monomer which was prepared by the
      treatment of fibrinogen with thrombin or reptilase was also markedly defective.
      Propositus' fibrinogen had normal crosslinking abilities of alpha- and gamma
      chains. Analysis of fibrinogen chains on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide
      gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in the system of Laemmli only revealed the
      presence of abnormal gamma-chain with an apparently higher molecular weight, the
      presence of which was more clearly detected with SDS-PAGE of fibrin monomer
      obtained by thrombin treatment. Purified fragment D1 of fibrinogen Osaka III also
      seemed to contain an apparently higher molecular weight fragment D1 gamma remnant
      on Laemmli gels, which was digested faster than the normal control by plasmin in
      the presence of [ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)]tetraacetic acid (EGTA).

PMID- 1455401
TI  - The influence of glycosylation on the catalytic and fibrinolytic properties of
      pro-urokinase.
AB  - We previously found that human pro-UK expressed in Escherichia coli is more
      active in fibrinolysis than recombinant human pro-UK obtained from mammalian cell
      culture media. To determine whether this difference is related to the lack of
      glycosylation of the E. coli product, we compared the activity of E. coli-derived
      pro-UK [(-)pro-UK] with that of a glycosylated pro-UK [(+)pro-UK] and of a mutant
      of pro-UK missing the glycosylation site at Asn-302 [(-)(302)pro-UK]. The latter
      two pro-UKs were obtained by expression of the human gene in a mammalian cell.
      The nonglycosylated pro-UKs were activated by plasmin more efficiently
      (approximately 2-fold) and were more active in clot lysis (1.5-fold) than the
      (+)pro-UK. Similarly, the nonglycosylated two-chain derivatives (UKs) were more
      active against plasminogen and were more rapidly inactivated by plasma inhibitors
      than the (+)UK. These findings indicate that glycosylation at Asn-302 influences
      the activity of pro-UK/UK and could be the major factor responsible for the
      enhanced activity of E. coli-derived pro-UK.

PMID- 1455402
TI  - Adrenergic stimulation of regional plasminogen activator release in rabbits.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine whether different regions of the
      rabbit vascular system show variations in the rate of plasminogen activator (PA)
      secretion. To start, we evaluated the time course, dose response and adrenergic
      specificity of PA release. Infusion of 1 microgram/kg of epinephrine stimulated a
      116 +/- 60% (SD) increase in PA activity that peaked 30 to 60 s after epinephrine
      administration. Infusion of 1 microgram/kg of norepinephrine, isoproterenol and
      phenylephrine had no effect on PA activity. Pretreatment with phentolamine, an
      alpha adrenergic antagonist, blocked the release of PA by epinephrine while
      pretreatment with the beta blocker propranolol had no effect. This suggests that
      PA release in the rabbit was mediated by some form of alpha receptor. Significant
      arterio-venous differences in basal PA activity were found across the pulmonary
      and splanchnic vascular beds but not the lower extremity/pelvic bed. After
      stimulation with epinephrine, PA activity increased 46% across the splanchnic bed
      while no change was seen across the lower extremity/pelvic bed. We conclude that
      several vascular beds contribute to circulating PA activity in the rabbit, and
      that these beds secrete PA at different rates under both basal and stimulated
      conditions.

PMID- 1455403
TI  - Antithrombotic properties of dermatan sulphate (MF 701) in haemodialysis for
      chronic renal failure.
AB  - The therapeutic potential of the glycosaminoglycan (GAG), dermatan sulphate (DS),
      as an antithrombotic agent in humans has yet to be established. We have performed
      dose ranging studies of DS to determine its effectiveness as an antithrombotic
      agent in patients (n = 6-8) undergoing haemodialysis for chronic renal failure.
      In an initial study, Study 1, i.v. bolus doses of 2-4 mg/kg and 5-6 mg/kg DS were
      given to patients dialysing with polyacrylonitrile hollow fibre (PAN HF)
      membranes. In a second crossover study, Study 2, performed using cuprophane
      hollow fibre (CHF) membranes, i.v. bolus doses of 3 mg/kg and 6 mg/kg DS were
      compared to a standard unfractionated heparin (UFH) regime that has been shown
      previously to inhibit fibrin formation. Further infusion studies, Study 3 and
      Study 4 evaluated the antithrombotic efficacy of an i.v. DS bolus of 3 mg/kg plus
      an i.v. infusion of DS 0.6 mg kg-1 h-1 and a DS bolus of 5 mg/kg plus an infusion
      of 1 mg kg-1 h-1 over 5 h, respectively. These studies were compared to standard
      UFH regimes in a randomised crossover design. Plasma levels of fibrinopeptide A
      (FPA) and thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) were used as markers of fibrin formation
      and thrombin generation during dialysis using both membranes. The changes in DS
      concentration following administration of the different doses were similar in
      Studies 1 and 2. However, the effectiveness of DS as an anticoagulant appeared to
      depend markedly on the different dialyser types used in the two studies.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455404
TI  - Decreased platelet membrane fluidity due to glycation or acetylation of membrane
      proteins.
AB  - Platelets from diabetic subjects and animals are hypersensitive to agonists in
      vitro. Membrane fluidity modulates cell function and previously we observed
      reduced membrane fluidity in platelets from diabetic patients associated with
      hypersensitivity to thrombin. We previously reported that decreased fluidity of
      isolated platelet membranes from diabetic patients is associated with increased
      glycation of platelet membrane proteins, but not with any change in the
      cholesterol to phospholipid molar ratio. We have now examined in vitro whether
      incubation of platelet membranes in a high glucose medium causes sufficient
      glycation to reduce membrane fluidity. Incubation of platelet membranes from
      control subjects in a high glucose (16.1 mM) medium for 10 days at 37 degrees C
      led to an increase in the extent of glycation of membrane proteins and a decrease
      in membrane fluidity (indicated by an increase in steady state fluorescence
      polarization); most of the changes occurred within the first 3 days of
      incubation. Incubation of platelet membranes with 5.4 mM glucose had less effect.
      In contrast, incubation of platelet membranes with the same concentrations of 1-0
      methylglucose did not cause a change in either the extent of glycation of
      proteins or membrane fluidity. We also determined if acetylation by aspirin or
      acetyl chloride of the sites available for glycation on platelet membrane
      proteins leads to a similar reduction in membrane fluidity. Pretreatment of
      platelet membranes with aspirin or acetyl chloride diminished the extent of
      glycation that occurred when platelet membranes were subsequently incubated with
      glucose, but membrane fluidity was reduced even in the absence of glucose;
      subsequent incubation with glucose caused no further reduction in membrane
      fluidity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455405
TI  - Cigarette smoking increases thromboxane A2 formation without affecting platelet
      survival in young healthy females.
AB  - Smoking is a risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular
      disease, in men as well as in women. An increased urinary excretion of the
      thromboxane metabolite 2,3-dinorthromboxane B2 (Tx-M) has been observed in
      smokers of both genders, suggesting that cigarette smoking may facilitate
      cardiovascular disease via an action on the platelets. The present study
      addressed the hypothesis that the increased Tx-M excretion in female smokers
      reflects a true facilitation of platelet reactivity in vivo, rather than an
      increased destruction of the platelets. In healthy female volunteers (aged 20-46
      years, 18 smokers and 17 non-smokers) platelet life-span and indices of platelet
      activity were determined, together with plasma levels of plasminogen activator
      inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), fibrinogen, peripheral blood cell counts and hematocrit. The
      urinary excretion of Tx-M was higher in smokers than in non-smokers (361 vs. 204
      pg/mg creatinine, respectively, p < 0.05), while plasma and urinary beta
      thromboglobulin, plasma platelet factor 4, platelet mean life-span and platelet
      production rate did not differ between the groups. PAI-1 activity, white blood
      cell count and hematocrit were higher in smokers than in non-smokers (p < 0.05).
      These data indicate that smoking facilitates platelet formation of thromboxane A2
      without affecting platelet survival; i.e. it increases the activity of platelets
      without affecting their viability to a measurable extent. Such an increase in
      platelet activity, operating in parallel to a reduced fibrinolytic activity and a
      higher hematocrit and white blood cell count, may play an etiological role in
      smoking-induced cardiovascular disease in women.

PMID- 1455406
TI  - Human platelets exposed to mechanical stresses express a potent lipoxygenase
      product.
AB  - Human platelets exposed to hypotonicity undergo regulatory volume decrease (RVD),
      controlled by a potent, yet labile, lipoxygenase product (LP). LP is synthesized
      and excreted during RVD affecting selectively K+ permeability. LP is assayed by
      its capacity to reconstitute RVD when lipoxygenase is blocked. Centrifugation for
      preparing washed platelets (1,550 x g, 10 min) is sufficient to express LP
      activity, with declining potency in repeated centrifugations, indicating that it
      is not readily replenishable. When platelet suspension flows in a vinyl tubing (1
      mm i.d.), at physiological velocity, controlled at 90-254 cm/s, LP formation
      increases as a function of velocity but declines as result of increasing the
      tubing length. Stirring the platelets in an aggregometer cuvette for 30 s, yields
      no LP unless the stirring is intermittent. No associated platelet lysis or
      aggregation are observed following the mechanical stress applications. These
      results demonstrate that although mechanical stresses result in LP production,
      the mode of its application plays a major role. These results may indicate that
      LP is synthesized under pathological conditions and could be of relevance to
      platelets behavior related to arterial stenosis.

PMID- 1455407
TI  - Stored platelets release nucleotides as inhibitors of platelet function.
AB  - It is well known that the function of platelets decreases progressively during
      storage of platelet concentrates at room temperature. To investigate this
      phenomenon in more detail, we have resuspended platelets that had been stored for
      24 h or 72 h in fresh plasma, and we have measured the aggregation response and
      the ATP secretion. Conversely, the effect of plasma in which platelet
      concentrates (PC) had been stored for 24 h or 72 h, was tested on fresh
      platelets. Both the aggregation response to collagen and ADP and the collagen
      induced ATP secretion of stored platelets partially recovered after incubation
      with fresh plasma (p < 0.05). The same parameters measured with fresh platelets
      incubated in stored PC-plasma were found to be significantly reduced in
      comparison with the response of fresh platelets in fresh plasma (p < 0.05).
      Finally, platelets were stored in a plasma-free medium, suitable for platelet
      storage and the supernatant was tested. This supernatant inhibited the function
      of fresh platelets in a storage time-dependent fashion. Boiling of these
      supernatants did not change the inhibiting capacities, whereas filtration over
      active charcoal did. Analysis of this supernatant revealed AMP and diadenosine
      tetraphosphate, which both inhibit platelet function. These data show that stored
      platelets release nucleotides that inhibit platelet function in a reversible
      manner. This phenomenon may contribute to the decrease of platelet function
      during storage and the recovery of platelet function after transfusion.

PMID- 1455408
TI  - Classification of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia based on the intracellular transport
      pathway of GPIIb-IIIa.

PMID- 1455409
TI  - A new case of combined deficiency of vitamin K dependent coagulation factors.

PMID- 1455410
TI  - Inherited defect of blood clotting factor VIII (haemophilia A) in sheep.

PMID- 1455411
TI  - DDAVP infusion does not affect plasma levels of endothelin-1 in four normal
      subjects.

PMID- 1455412
TI  - Usefulness of determination of factor VIII intron 7 polymorphism by a non
      radioactive technique for carrier detection of hemophilia A.

PMID- 1455413
TI  - No increase of beta 2-glycoprotein I levels in patients with antiphospholipid
      antibodies.

PMID- 1455414
TI  - A partial role of serotonin in normalization of the bleeding time by DDAVP in
      uraemic rats.

PMID- 1455415
TI  - Computer-assisted three-dimensional volumetry of the human pulmonary acini.
AB  - Computer-aided three-dimensional (3-D) volumetry of human pulmonary acini was
      undertaken using the left upper lobe of a 51-year-old female operated for small
      lung cancer. A normal part of this lobe, fixed by intrabronchial infusion with a
      mixture of polyethylene glycol and formalin, was subjected to serial sectioning,
      using a special slicer, into 48 serial slices of 0.5 mm in thickness. A soft x
      ray radiograph was prepared from each slice at x 12, and the contours of airways
      and acinar boundaries contained in it were input by digitization into a
      microcomputer for 3-D reconstruction and volumetry. The estimated volumes of 130
      acini were unexpectedly uniform, showing a normal type distribution with a mean
      of 172.7 +/- 37.9 mm3. No significant correlation proved to exist between the
      volume of acini and the number of branching generation of the terminal
      bronchioles (TBs) they received. Furthermore, there was no significant difference
      in volume among the acini facing the costal surface, those facing the mediastinal
      surface and those not facing any pleural surface. However, the generation number
      of TBs was shown to differ significantly with the location of acini. These
      results suggest that the tree of conductive airways is designed so as to meet the
      requirement of constant acinar volume.

PMID- 1455416
TI  - Prevalence of HTLV-I antibody in pulmonary cryptococcosis.
AB  - A retrospective study was done to determine the prevalence of anti-HTLV-I
      antibodies in patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis. None of the 19 patients
      with pulmonary cryptococcosis had underlying immunodeficiency. Anti-HTLV-I
      antibody was present in 6 (32%) of 19 patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis, a
      significantly higher prevalence than found in patients with bronchial asthma (4
      (7%) of 58) (p less than 0.01, chi-square test). No statistical difference was
      noted when anti-HTLV-I antibody seropositivity was compared to that of patients
      with pulmonary tuberculosis (16% (17/105)), lung cancer (17% (22/129)) and
      pneumonia (9% (6/64)). A reduced cellular immunity as shown by lymphopenia, the
      CD4/CD8 ratio, and purified protein derivative skin test was found in only 1 (5%)
      of 19, 2 (12%) of 17, and 6 (33%) of 18 patients, respectively. These results do
      not explain the susceptibility to pulmonary cryptococcosis in HTLV-I carriers.
      This is the first report of high prevalence of pulmonary cryptococcosis in HTLV-I
      carriers and it raises the question whether HTLV-I carriers are more susceptible
      to opportunistic infections and other malignancies probably due to subtle
      immunological abnormalities.

PMID- 1455417
TI  - The effects of intrarenal infusion of recombinant human erythropoietin on mean
      arterial pressure and renal hemodynamics in anesthetized rabbits.
AB  - The effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) on mean arterial
      pressure (MAP) and renal hemodynamics were studied in anesthetized rabbits
      without renal failure. Intrarenal infusion of rHuEPO at a rate of 100 U/min for
      30 min resulted in no change in MAP, renal blood flow, or renal vascular
      resistance. rHuEPO also produced no significant change in glomerular filtration
      rate filtration fraction, or arterial hematocrit. These results demonstrate that
      rHuEPO has no direct effects on MAP or renal hemodynamics in anesthetized rabbits
      without renal failure.

PMID- 1455418
TI  - Histopathological evaluation on the effect of induced hypertension chemotherapy
      presurgically performed in patients with advanced carcinoma of the stomach.
AB  - Stomachs resected from 13 patients with an advanced gastric carcinoma were
      examined histopathologically to evaluate the effect of induced hypertension
      chemotherapy (IHC) using angiotensin II. Eight of the 13 patients, randomly
      chosen, were treated presurgically by IHC with a regimen of 5-fluorouracil,
      adriamycin and mitomycin C; the same regimen was used in the remaining five
      patients but without inducing hypertension. Clinical evaluation of the effect
      gave rise to the confirmation, presurgically, of complete response in three and
      partial response (PR) in two patients in the IHC group, whereas in the non-IHC
      group, the highest rating was PR, which was attained in only one patient. Also in
      the histopathological assessment based on a five-step grading, the IHC group
      earned in average a higher score than the non-IHC group, with a difference proved
      significant by Wilcoxon's test. A histological rating of Grade 3, the highest
      effectiveness, was given to three patients in the IHC group, in one of whom the
      resected stomach disclosed no viable carcinoma cells but only fibrotic areas
      replacing carcinoma. There was also a correlation between the clinical and
      histological ratings as proved to be significant by Spearman's test. We conclude
      that in gastric carcinoma, the effect of chemotherapy is enhanced by angiotensin
      II-IHC.

PMID- 1455419
TI  - Tetralogy of Fallot with anomalous origin of left pulmonary artery.
AB  - Between 1971 and 1990, 7 patients of tetralogy of Fallot with anomalous origin of
      left pulmonary artery underwent intracardiac repairs at Tohoku University
      Hospital. They were 2 males and 5 females with ages ranging from 4 to 26 years
      old. The right pulmonary artery connected to right ventricle in all cases,
      whereas no communications between right ventricle and the left pulmonary artery
      were found. The left pulmonary artery directly originated from the ascending
      aorta in 2 patients (group I) and connected to the ductus arteriosus in 5
      patients (group II and III). In 2 patients (group II), the left pulmonary artery
      was separated from the pulmonary arterial trunk by the intraluminal membrane,
      receiving blood supply through the ductus. In the remaining 3 patients (group
      III), there were no continuations between both pulmonary arteries. At the
      correction, communication between the left pulmonary artery and the pulmonary
      arterial trunk could be reconstructed in groups I and II. However, it was not
      possible in group III, because the ductus arteriosus and the left pulmonary
      artery had already been occluded before the intracardiac repair. In group III,
      ventricular septal defect was closed using a one-way valved patch or a perforated
      patch to decrease supersystemic right ventricular pressure. Postoperative right
      ventricular aortic pressure ratio was between 0.5 and 0.8 in groups I and II, and
      between 0.8 and 1.0 in group III. Three patients (one in each group) died after
      the operation. Severe pulmonary vascular obstructive disease was found in the
      left lung of group I.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455420
TI  - Radioresponse and prognosis of malignant glioma.
AB  - Radioresponse and prognosis of 91 malignant gliomas were studied to examine the
      efficacy of radiotherapy. There was no case of complete response. No
      statistically significant difference was observed among the prognoses of patients
      with various radiation methods. General survival rate was significantly higher
      than relapse-free survival rate both in astrocytoma grade III and in
      glioblastoma. This means that the retreatment after relapse is exceedingly
      important in any malignant glioma. In comparison with reported resection alone
      data, the efficiency of radiotherapy was evident in astrocytoma grade III and a
      part of glioblastoma; cases with minimal or no contrast enhanced area (CEA) in CT
      scans prior to irradiation. Poor radioresponders of glioblastoma with CEA should
      be reoperated.

PMID- 1455421
TI  - Effect of chronic consumption of methylparathion on rat brain regional
      acetylcholinesterase activity and on levels of biogenic amines.
AB  - Wistar rat pups (female) were exposed to methylparathion (MPTH) by gastric
      intubation in single doses, or in a chronic regimen of different durations. A
      single dose of 1 mg MPTH/kg body weight in 15-day-old pups caused a significant
      decrease of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in cerebellum (CE), motor cortex
      (MC) and brain stem (BS). The effect began to appear in about 20 min after
      administration, the peak effect was attained in 120 min and later on this waned
      off completely by 24 h. The effect was similar in young (15 days) and in adult
      (70 days) rats. A single dose of 0.2 mg MPTH/kg in 15 day old pups caused a
      reduction of AChE activity only in the BS, while a 0.1 mg MPTH/kg single dose
      given to 15-day-old pups caused no effect even in seven regions of the brain
      examined. Effect of low dose chronic administration of MPTH on AChE activity was
      also studied in CE, MC, BS, hippocampus (HI), striatum-accumbens (SA), spinal
      cord (SC) and also in the hypothalamus (HY). Administration of 0.1 mg MPTH/kg
      from second day to 15 days of age caused significant reduction of AChE activity
      in only 2 of the 7 brain regions studied. Administration of double the dose (0.2
      mg MPTH/kg) and for a longer duration (2nd day to 150 days of age), caused a
      depression in all the brain regions studied. In all these regions, the levels of
      NA, DA and 5HT did practically not change. The results suggest that chronic
      consumption of MPTH leads to a moderate decrease of AChE activity in several
      brain regions.

PMID- 1455422
TI  - Absence of interactions on hepatic retention and 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylation
      activity after co-administration of 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and
      2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl.
AB  - Interactions between 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (PnCDD) and
      2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (HxCB) on hepatic retention of PnCDD and on
      cytochrome P450 related enzyme activities were studied in male C57BL/6J mice.
      Animals received 8 nmol PnCDD/kg orally, alone or in combination with 1-416 mumol
      HxCB/kg. Co-administration of HxCB did not alter the hepatic retention of PnCDD
      or the 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylation (EROD) activity induced by PnCDD as
      observed after 1 week. A small antagonistic effect on total cytochrome P450
      content and 7-pentoxyresorufin-O-depentylation (PROD) activity was observed at a
      dose of 8 nmol PnCDD/kg and 1 mumol HxCB/kg. Furthermore, a significant induction
      of PROD activity by PnCDD was found. This was not expected, since PROD activity
      is considered to be a specific marker for CYP2b related enzyme activity and this
      type of cytochrome P450 is not induced by polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins such
      as PnCDD. It is concluded that, under these short-term experimental conditions,
      no toxicokinetic basis was found to explain the antagonistic effects on hepatic
      cytochrome P450 related activities observed in the present study or in other
      studies.

PMID- 1455423
TI  - Effects of 2,5-hexanedione on the ovary and fertility. An experimental study in
      mice.
AB  - Sixty-day-old virgin female Swiss CD1 mice were treated with 1.5% 2,5-hexanedione
      in their drinking water; control mice received tap water; duration of treatment
      was either 4 or 6 weeks. Under these conditions the treated mice did not show any
      clinical symptoms although electromyography revealed some signs of
      polyneuropathy. Protein and DNA content per mg of ovarian tissue in treated mice
      were not significantly different from controls. Histological examination of
      ovarian sections at the light microscope level showed no significant alterations
      after exposure. A morphometric study revealed a statistically significant
      reduction in the number of growing oocytes after 6 weeks of treatment. For
      fertility studies three groups of 15 female mice each were treated for 0, 4 or 6
      weeks as above and then permanently housed with untreated proven breeder male
      mice (one male per female); cages were checked daily for newly born mice. All
      litters appeared normal by gross examination. During the first 14 weeks of
      continuous mating the mean litter size (number of newborns per litter) remained
      about 11.4 in all groups; this number subsequently began to decrease. Control and
      4-week treatment regression curves did not differ statistically, while the slope
      of the 6-week line was significantly steeper, indicating a faster decrease in
      litter size over time and a shortening of fertile life in the latter group of
      treated females.

PMID- 1455425
TI  - Liver delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase activity in amitriptyline- or
      chlorpromazine-treated rats.
AB  - Amitriptyline (AMT) and chlorpromazine (CPZ) (0.5 mg per animal, i.p.) were
      injected into rats separately for 30 days and their effects on heme metabolism in
      liver were examined. Significant decreases in the delta-aminolevulinate
      dehydratase activity were observed following the administration of both drugs
      (mean value of AMT-group: 6.58 U/g tissue; and CPZ-group: 7.04 U/g tissue) in
      comparison to that of controls (11.71 U/g tissue); however total liver heme
      content was not altered. When 24-h urinary excretions of delta-aminolevulinate
      (ALA) and porphobilinogen (PBG) were measured on the last day of the experiment,
      a slight (AMT-group: 38.40 micrograms/day) to distinct (CPZ-group: 59.11
      micrograms/day) increase of urinary ALA was observed, while PBG excretion tended
      to decline only moderately under CPZ (3.52 micrograms/day), but significantly in
      presence of AMT (2.16 micrograms/day). Mean values obtained from control group
      were 32.12 micrograms/day for ALA and 4.25 micrograms/day for PBG.

PMID- 1455424
TI  - Cadmium-induced hepatic endothelial cell injury in inbred strains of mice.
AB  - Susceptibility to cadmium (Cd) hepatotoxicity differs among inbred strains of
      mice. For example, C3H/HeJ mice are sensitive to Cd-induced hepatotoxicity,
      whereas DBA/2J mice are resistant. The mechanism of genetic predisposition to Cd
      hepatotoxicity is unknown. A contemporary theory for acute target organ
      intoxication maintains that Cd initially damages vascular endothelium and
      parenchymal cell injury is a secondary event that results from localized
      ischemia. In the present study, the hypothesis that hepatic endothelial cells
      (EC) of C3H mice are more susceptible to Cd toxicity than those of DBA mice was
      tested. Hepatic parenchymal and endothelial cells were grown separately on
      monolayer cultures for 22 h and subsequently treated with various concentrations
      of Cd. Hepatocellular toxicity was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase leakage and
      intracellular K+ loss, whereas endothelial cell injury was assessed by trypan
      blue exclusion and the inhibition of protein synthesis. The susceptibility of
      hepatocytes to the cytotoxic effects of Cd was identical between strains. In
      contrast, the vulnerability of EC to Cd intoxication was strain-dependent. When
      exposed to 2.5-10.0 microM Cd, EC of Cd-sensitive mice were more susceptible to
      the cytotoxic effects of Cd than those of Cd-resistant mice. Basal
      metallothionein (MT) levels as well as Cd uptake into EC were similar in the two
      strains. Following Cd exposure, EC of Cd-sensitive mice accumulated similar
      amounts of MT as EC of Cd-resistant mice. These observations suggest that the
      microvasculature in livers of inbred mice is the target tissue responsible for
      strain-dependent susceptibility to Cd-induced liver injury. The mechanisms that
      account for this genetic variation in endothelial cell response to Cd are
      unknown, but do not appear to be related to the cellular disposition of Cd nor to
      a defect in the metabolism of MT.

PMID- 1455426
TI  - The relative effects of hypoxic hypoxia and carbon monoxide on brain function in
      rabbits.
AB  - New Zealand white rabbits were exposed to control conditions (n = 11), or to
      either a progressive hypoxic hypoxia produced by dilution of oxygen (O2) with
      nitrogen (n = 10) or a 1% carbon monoxide (CO) admixture for 15 min (n = 11).
      Both exposures caused a significant increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) of up
      to 300% such that O2 delivery to the brain was unchanged. In the hypoxia group, a
      cortical somatosensory evoked response (CSER) was unaffected until the arterial
      O2 tension was below 20 mmHg. At this time, the rabbits became hypotensive, O2
      delivery to the brain decreased dramatically and the CSER could not be elicited.
      In contrast, despite the maintenance of O2 delivery to the brain during and after
      the CO exposure, the CSER voltages were halved during the exposure and only
      recovered to about 80% of baseline subsequently. We conclude that the primary
      toxicity of CO to the brain in rabbits is not due to a reduction in O2 delivery.

PMID- 1455428
TI  - Effect of endosulfan (thiodan) on vitellogenesis and its modulation by different
      hormones in the vitellogenic catfish Clarias batrachus.
AB  - This programme was planned in order to study the reproductive dysfunction caused
      by endosulfan in the fish Clarias batrachus with special reference to
      vitellogenesis. Vitellogenin was measured by radioimmunoassay. Endosulfan caused
      a drastic reduction in the plasma vitellogenin which was partially reversed by
      estradiol-17 beta (E2) in intact and ovariectomized fish. Hormones in combination
      were more effective than any single hormone in overcoming the impact of
      endosulfan. Triiodothyronine (T3), ovine luteinizing hormone releasing hormone
      (oLHRH) were effective in minimizing the effect of endosulfan whereas cortisol
      (F) and ovine somatotropic hormone (oStH) did not reduce the effect of
      endosulfan. Amongst the combined hormone treatments, E2 + oLHRH and E2 + T3 were
      the most potent in overcoming the effect of endosulfan on vitellogenesis.

PMID- 1455427
TI  - Endrin-induced urinary excretion of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, malondialdehyde
      and acetone in rats.
AB  - Previous studies have shown that endrin induces an oxidative stress in rats as
      demonstrated by an increase in hepatic lipid peroxidation, a decrease in
      glutathione content and a decrease in the activity in selenium-dependent
      glutathione peroxidase. We have therefore examined the effects of orally
      administering 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 mg endrin/kg on the urinary excretion of the
      lipid metabolites formaldehyde, malondialdehyde, acetaldehyde and acetone. The
      simultaneous determination of these four lipid metabolites may be a useful
      biomarker for assessing exposure to xenobiotics which induce an oxidative stress
      and enhanced lipid peroxidation. Urine samples were collected up to 72 h post
      treatment. The identities of the lipid metabolites were confirmed by gas
      chromatography-mass spectroscopy, while the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine
      derivatives of these metabolic products were quantitated by high pressure liquid
      chromatography. Maximum increases in the excretion of the four lipid metabolites
      occurred at approx. 24 h post-treatment at all doses with no significant
      increases in excretion occurring thereafter. The maximum increases in excretion
      of malondialdehyde, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acetone were approx. 160%,
      93%, 121% and 162%, respectively, relative to control values. Seventy-two hours
      after endrin administration, the liver weight/body weight and spleen weight/body
      weight ratios significantly increased while the thymus weight/body weight ratio
      markedly decreased. The results demonstrate that endrin induces dose- and time
      dependent alterations in lipid metabolism with the enhanced excretion of specific
      metabolic products in the urine.

PMID- 1455429
TI  - A subpopulation of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced papillomas is not
      inhibited by retinoic acid.
AB  - The inhibitory effect of retinoic acid (RA) on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13
      acetate- (TPA) induced mouse skin tumors was studied. Two subpopulations of
      tumors, small (< 2 mm) and large (> or = 2 mm) appeared after 12 weeks of
      cutaneous promotion by TPA (10 nmol), following initiation by application of 2 x
      100 nmol of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) to the skin. RA in the doses of
      17 and 34 nmol, prior to each TPA treatment inhibited (P < 0.05) the formation of
      small tumors at 12 weeks of promotion. However, RA in either dose did not inhibit
      the formation of large (> or = 2 mm) tumors. Ten weeks following withdrawal of
      all treatments, the number of large tumors persisted in a significantly (P <
      0.05) higher number as compared to small tumors in all groups. Our results
      provide evidence for the existence of tumor subpopulations with a differential
      response to RA. In addition, elevated levels of metallothionein (MT) expression
      were demonstrated in papillomas induced by TPA, 72 h after the last TPA
      treatment. Comparing papillomas treated with RA prior to each TPA treatment and
      papillomas treated with TPA only, demonstrated that the elevated MT expression in
      papillomas was unaffected by RA. This indicated that RA did not affect the
      expression of a protein that showed elevated level in TPA-induced papillomas.

PMID- 1455430
TI  - Characterization of the toxicity of distamycin derivatives on cancer cell lines
      and rat heart.
AB  - The cytotoxicity and cardiotoxicity of benzoyl mustard (FCE 24517) and epoxamido
      (FCE 24561) synthetic derivatives of distamycin A were reported in the present
      study. The 50% inhibiting concentration (IC50) of colony formation of FCE 24517
      on human SNB-19 glioblastoma, A2780 ovarian cancer and DU 145 prostate cancer was
      at least three times lower than that of FCE 24561; on the same cell lines the
      IC50 of DXR was up to 14 and 240 times higher than that of FCE 24561 and FCE
      24517, respectively. Isolated rat hearts perfused with concentrations of both
      derivatives equivalent to their respective IC50 values did not show any
      significant change in ECG parameters, contractility and coronary flow. Compared
      to control hearts, FCE 24517 10(-6) M induced a significant increase in PR
      interval, reduction in + dF/dtmax, heart rate and coronary flow, while FCE 24561
      10(-6) M produced a modest but significant increase in S alpha T segment and
      decrease in + dF/dtmax. Rats treated with FCE 24561 3, 6 or 12 mg/kg,
      intravenously (i.v.), once weekly for 3 weeks had a modest increase in S alpha T
      segment and QRS complex duration, while a slight alteration of S alpha T segment
      and QRS complex duration were observed in rats given FCE 24517 1 or 2 mg/kg i.v.
      once weekly for 3 weeks. No cardiac histologic alterations were found in hearts
      from rats receiving FCE 24517 or FCE 24561. For comparison, the cardiotoxicity of
      doxorubicin (DXR) was evaluated in the same experimental models; perfusion of
      hearts with DXR 10(-6) M induced severe alterations in all parameters of the
      isolated hearts; the administration of DXR 3 mg/kg i.v. once a week for 3 weeks
      was associated with a widening of the S alpha T segment and QRS complex and
      cardiac histologic picture was markedly altered. In conclusion, distamycin A
      derivatives display elevated cytotoxicity while no substantial cardiotoxicity was
      observed.

PMID- 1455431
TI  - Individual serum bile acids as early indicators of carbon tetrachloride- and
      chloroform-induced liver injury.
AB  - Individual serum bile acids (SBA) are emerging as potentially useful early
      indicators of liver injury. This study was undertaken to compare the usefulness
      of individual SBA with the routinely used assays for detecting the effects of the
      hepatotoxicants carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and chloroform (CHCl3). Serum samples
      were assayed for liver injury by determination of alanine aminotransferase (ALT),
      aspartate amino-transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin and
      total bile acid (by enzymatic kit). These results were compared with levels of
      individual SBA measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Liver
      samples from CCl4-treated rats were taken for light and electron microscopic
      examination. The highest dose for each chemical caused increases in serum ALT and
      AST but not ALP. Chloroform at the highest dose increased bilirubin. Total SBA
      levels as assayed by the kit were elevated in response to CCl4 and CHCl3 at doses
      below which serum enzymes and bilirubin were increased. Some individual SBA were
      increased at a still lower dose for each of these two chlorinated solvents. At
      the lowest dose of CCl4 tested no consistent light microscopic or ultrastructural
      changes were found. At all the higher doses periacinar cells displayed typical
      accumulation of lipid droplets and degranulation and dilation of rough
      endoplasmic reticulum. The extent of the ultrastructural changes were dose
      dependent. Thus individual SBA assayed by HPLC may be considered as a very
      sensitive indicator of liver injury induced by the classical hepatotoxicants
      carbon tetrachloride and chloroform.

PMID- 1455432
TI  - Assessment of the immunotoxic potential of the fungicide dinocap in mice.
AB  - The immunotoxic potential of dinocap was evaluated in female C57BL/6J mice
      following in vivo and in vitro exposure to this fungicide. In in vivo studies,
      groups of mice were dosed by gavage with technical grade dinocap at dosages
      ranging from 12.5 to 50 mg/kg per day for 7 or 12 days and selected immune
      functions examined. Mice dosed at 50 mg/kg per day dinocap died after 4 days of
      dosing. Twelve days of dosing with dinocap at 25 mg/kg per day resulted in
      decreased thymus weights and cellularity, and increased spleen weights. No
      changes were observed in body weight, absolute differential peripheral leukocyte
      counts, the lymphoproliferative responses to B- or T-cell mitogens, the mixed
      lymphocyte reaction, or natural killer (NK) cell activity of spleen cells from
      mice exposed to dinocap. Lymphoproliferative responses to concanavalin A (Con A)
      and phytohemagglutinin (PHA), however, were reduced in thymocytes from mice dosed
      at 25 mg/kg per day dinocap. The cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response to P815
      mastocytoma cells was enhanced in mice exposed for 7 days to 25 mg/kg per day
      dinocap. Exposure of mice for 7 days to 25 mg/kg per day dinocap also caused a
      significant reduction in the IgM and IgG plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to
      sheep red blood cells (SRBC). A time-course study indicated that dinocap-induced
      suppression of the IgM PFC response was due to a delay in the peak PFC response
      to SRBC. In vitro studies using murine thymocytes cultured with dinocap (10
      micrograms/ml for 72 h) resulted in suppression of the proliferative response to
      Con A and PHA. Exposure of thymocytes to dinocap in vitro for as little as 30 min
      resulted in suppression of the mitogen-stimulated response in the absence of any
      apparent direct cytotoxic effect. These results suggest that dinocap alters the
      immune system of the mouse, however, these effects are relatively modest in terms
      of adverse immune function and are only seen at relatively high exposure levels.

PMID- 1455433
TI  - Murine strain differences in metabolism and bladder toxicity of cyclophosphamide.
AB  - Cyclophosphamide (CP) undergoes metabolic activation, generating phosphoramide
      mustard and acrolein which are believed to be responsible for the cytostatic and
      toxic effects, respectively. In this study, CP-induced bladder toxicity
      (hemorrhagic cystitis) was found to be significantly greater in the ICR than the
      C57BL/6N (C-57) strain of mice. Strain differences exist in the distribution of
      CP metabolites to the bladder, as evidenced by consistently higher levels of
      acrolein equivalents measured in the urine of the sensitive ICR strain. These
      differences may arise from strain variation in the oxidative metabolism of CP by
      the mixed-function oxidase system. However, intrinsic factors within the bladder
      may also be involved in the resistance exhibited by C-57 mice. Support for this
      hypothesis is provided by the significant increase in hemorrhagic response and
      permeability of ICR compared to C-57 bladders exposed to equivalent levels of
      acrolein by intravesicle instillation. Basal protein thiol levels were higher in
      C-57 than in the ICR strain. However, the effects of acrolein on protein thiol
      content did not correlate with toxicity suggesting that these groups are not the
      critical targets for CP-induced bladder injury.

PMID- 1455434
TI  - Silicone implants and systemic immunological disease: review of the literature
      and preliminary results.
AB  - Silicone has been utilized as an implant in reconstructive surgery. For years,
      silicone has been considered to be biologically inert and essentially harmless.
      Several studies and case reports show that female patients treated with silicone
      implants developed a systemic disease associated with immunological
      abnormalities. Removal of the silicone implants was associated with recovery and
      resolution of the immune abnormalities. Recently, specific antibodies to silicone
      have been isolated in children with silicone implants. Additionally,
      immunological abnormalities and high incidence of systemic progressive sclerosis
      in patients with silicone implants or injections further support the notion that
      silicone is not biologically inert, and can cause a syndrome of a systemic
      disease and immunological abnormalities. The specific mechanisms and duration of
      the latency period is not yet fully understood.

PMID- 1455435
TI  - Immune alteration associated with exposure to toxic chemicals.
AB  - Immunological abnormalities including lymphocyte subset, lymphocyte immune
      functional assays, chemical antibodies, and different markers for autoimmune
      response were examined in individuals exposed to a variety of chemicals in
      computer manufacturing plants. A comparison of 289 individuals exposed to
      chemicals to 120 controls revealed that exposed individuals had a significantly
      higher percentage with either increased or decreased T helper/T suppressor
      ratios. In addition, the individuals with abnormal T4/T8 ratios demonstrated
      significant elevation in chemical-hapten antibodies. Therefore, 87 exposed
      subjects with abnormal T4/T8 ratios were selected for further evaluation by
      lymphocyte phenotypic expression and T cell, B cell, NK activity, and autoimmune
      markers, and were compared to 60 controls. The comparison of exposed individuals
      with controls indicated elevation of T cell (CD3), B cell (CD19), and activated T
      cell (CD10, CD15, CD26, CD38), suppressed T cell and B cell function decreased or
      increased NK cell cytotoxic activity. Autoimmunity due to chemical exposure was
      evidenced by elevation of TA1 phenotype frequencies and presence of rheumatoid
      factor, immune complexes, ANA, and anti myelin basic protein antibodies. We
      conclude that chemical exposure may induce immune abnormalities including immune
      suppression and autoimmunity.

PMID- 1455436
TI  - Effects of tetrachloroethylene on hepatic and splenic lymphocytotoxic activities
      in rodents.
AB  - The industrial solvent tetrachloroethylene (TCE) is a liver carcinogen in
      experimental animals but is without significant genotoxicity. Presumably some
      nongenotoxic mechanism accounts for its cancer-causing effects. We have therefore
      investigated the effects of TCE on splenic and hepatic lymphocytotoxic activities
      in Sprague-Dawley rats and B6C3F1 mice, following in vivo and in vitro exposure
      to TCE. Natural killer (NK), natural cytotoxic, and "natural P815 killer"
      activities were measured in liver- and spleen-derived immune cells. Humoral and T
      cell mitogenesis were assayed in lipopolysaccharide and Con-A-stimulated splenic
      cells, respectively. TCE administration in vivo did not significantly alter the
      various immunological parameters assessed, while in vitro exposure to TCE
      inhibited natural cytotoxic activity from liver and spleen in mice and rats. NK
      and "natural P815 killer" activity in rat cells exposed in vitro to TCE were also
      inhibited. Thus, TCE is capable of directly inhibiting natural lymphocytotoxic
      activity, which is indicated by these in vitro effects. While an inhibitory
      effect was not observed when immune cells were isolated from in vivo treated
      animals, the in vitro data do support the possibility that a direct inhibition of
      natural immune function may play some role in the carcinogenic effects of TCE in
      experimental mice.

PMID- 1455437
TI  - A study of the carcinogenicity of glycidol in Syrian hamsters.
AB  - The industrial chemical glycidol is a directly acting mutagen and a broadly
      acting carcinogen in rats. It was administered to Syrian golden hamsters (20 male
      and 20 female) by gavage of 12 mg twice a week for 60 weeks. The total dose per
      animal was 1.45 g or 20 mmol. Survival was not different from control hamsters
      treated with corn oil/ethyl acetate. Of the treated males, 9 had tumors and 13 of
      the treated females had tumors, some of which were adrenal cortex tumors seen in
      controls. More tumors were seen in the glycidol-treated hamsters than in
      controls, but the spleen was the only notable target organ and the number of
      animals with spleen hemangiosarcomas was small. Glycidol appeared to be less
      carcinogenic in hamsters than in rats or mice.

PMID- 1455438
TI  - Does nitrogen dioxide exposure increase airways responsiveness?
AB  - A number of reports have suggested that exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) may
      cause increased airways responsiveness (AR). Twenty studies of asthmatics and
      five studies of healthy subjects exposed to NO2 were used to test this hypothesis
      using a simple method of meta-analysis. Individual data were obtained for the
      above studies and the direction of change in AR was determined for each subject.
      Only studies with available individual data were used. Subjects from these
      studies whose directional change in AR could not be determined were excluded. The
      fraction of positive responses (i.e. increased AR) was determined for all
      subjects within a group and tested for significance using a sign test. Data were
      also grouped according to NO2 concentration and by whether the exposure included
      exercise. There was an overall trend among asthmatics for AR to increase (60%)
      but this was primarily due to increased AR seen in resting exposures (70%). Among
      healthy subjects AR also increased with NO2 exposure but only at concentrations
      above 1.0 ppm. This analysis suggests that NO2 exposure causes increased airway
      responsiveness in healthy and asthmatic subjects but that exercise during
      exposure may modify this response in asthmatics.

PMID- 1455439
TI  - The effect of duration of exposure on sulfuric acid-induced pulmonary function
      changes in asthmatic adolescent subjects: a dose-response study.
AB  - To evaluate the pulmonary effects of varying doses of sulfuric acid, adolescent
      subjects with asthma were exposed to 35 or 70 micrograms/m3 sulfuric acid for 45
      or 90 min. Exposure was carried out during intermittent moderate exercise. The
      pulmonary functions measured before and after exposure were FEV1, FVC, and total
      respiratory resistance. The 45 min exposures were associated with larger
      decreases in FEV1 (-6% or -3%) than the 90 min exposures (-1% or +2%). Analysis
      of variance of the change in FEV1 among the exposures revealed that the 45 min
      exposure to 35 micrograms/m3 was significant (p = 0.03). The p value for 45 min
      exposure to 70 micrograms/m3 was not significant (p = 0.08). Using analysis of
      variance, neither of the 90 min exposures was associated with a significant
      decrease in FEV1 compared to air exposure. Also, none of the changes in FVC or RT
      was significant. When baseline to post-exposure changes were compared for each of
      the five test atmospheres using paired t tests, both of the 45 min exposures were
      associated with statistical significance (p < 0.001 for 35 micrograms/m3 and p <
      0.005 for 70 micrograms/m3). This baseline to post exposure change was not
      statistically significant for the 90 min exposures. The reason for the lesser
      effect on pulmonary function at increased exposure duration is not known; it may
      be due to changes in either varying deposition patterns or changes in buffering
      capacity of the cells lining the airways. With respect to individual
      sensitivities to H2SO4, the data showed a significant consistency across test
      atmospheres.

PMID- 1455440
TI  - Human exposure assessment. I: Understanding the uncertainties.
AB  - Exposure estimates produced using predictive exposure assessment methods are
      associated with a number of uncertainties that relate to the inherent variability
      of the values for a given input parameter (e.g., body weight, ingestion rate,
      inhalation rate) and to unknowns concerning the representativeness of the
      assumptions and methods used. Despite recent or ongoing consensus-building
      efforts that have made significant strides forward in promoting consistency in
      methodologies and parameter default values, the potential variability in the
      output exposure estimates has not been adequately addressed from a quantitative
      aspect. This is exemplified by remaining tendencies within federal and state
      agencies to use worst-case approaches for exposure assessment. In this study,
      range-sensitivity and Monte Carlo analyses were performed on several different
      exposure scenarios in order to illustrate the impact of the variability in input
      parameters on the total variability of the exposure output. The results of this
      study indicate that the variability associated with the example scenarios range
      up to more than four orders of magnitude when just some of the parameters are
      allowed to vary. Comparison of exposure estimates obtained using Monte Carlo
      simulations (in which selected parameters were allowed to vary over their
      observed ranges) to exposure estimates obtained using standard parameter default
      assumptions demonstrate that a default value approach can produce an exposure
      estimate that exceeds the 95th percentile exposure in an exposed population.

PMID- 1455441
TI  - Human exposure assessment. II: Quantifying and reducing the uncertainties.
AB  - Alternative methods of human exposure assessment that reduce and/or allow
      quantification of the uncertainties associated with exposure estimates are
      surveyed and illustrated. These alternative approaches include (1) use of more
      appropriate exposure parameter default values rather than values that result in
      extreme exposure estimates; (2) incorporation of time-activity data to better
      define appropriate exposure duration values; (3) the use of reasonable exposure
      scenarios rather than the traditional Maximally Exposed Individual (MEI)
      approach; (4) the use of stochastic approaches such as Monte Carlo-based and
      information analysis-based methods; (5) use of bivariate analysis to identify the
      extent to which interdependencies between different exposure parameters affect
      the distribution of exposure estimates; (6) use of less-than-lifetime exposure
      and risk assessment; and (7) incorporation of physiological considerations
      relevant to absorbed dose estimation, including route-specific impacts, use of
      improved absorption factors, and application of pharmacokinetic models. Other
      ways to improve the exposure assessment process, including assuring statistical
      equivalency in comparing different exposure estimates and incorporation of
      sensitive subpopulation considerations are also discussed, as are key research
      needs.

PMID- 1455442
TI  - Commentary on 'Isolated cells in the study of the molecular mechanisms of
      reperfusion injury' by H. de Groot.

PMID- 1455443
TI  - Isolated cells in the study of the molecular mechanisms of reperfusion injury.
AB  - Isolated cells make it possible to study mechanisms of cell and tissue injury
      under well-defined conditions, including the interaction of different cells in
      coculture experiments. Isolated cells, either in suspension or in monolayer
      cultures, have also been used to study the mechanism of reperfusion injury--in
      this case better termed as reoxygenation injury in view of the experimental
      approach taken. In hepatocytes, Kupffer, and endothelial cells, reoxygenation
      injury resulted in necrosis primarily mediated by reactive oxygen species
      released by various sources such as mitochondria (hepatocytes) and NADPH oxidase
      (Kupffer cells). In contrast, contracture was a characteristic feature of
      reoxygenation injury occurring in cardiomyocytes without loss of cytosolic
      enzymes. Beside reactive oxygen species, Kupffer cells were activated to release
      prostanoids and a decrease in endothelial cell-mediated fibrinolysis occurred
      upon reoxygenation. Reoxygenation injury in endothelial cells was significantly
      increased when neutrophils were added at the time of reoxygenation, presumably
      due to additional generation of reactive oxygen species and the release of
      proteases. As exemplified for the liver, these experiments suggest a mechanism of
      reperfusion injury in which the various cell types of a given tissue differ
      significantly in their response to hypoxia-reoxygenation but in which they
      interact with each other in a complex pathobiochemical network via various
      mediators such as cytokines, and tissue damaging effector molecules such as
      reactive oxygen species. Future experiments with isolated cells will allow
      detailed analysis of the underlying molecular mechanisms.

PMID- 1455444
TI  - Comparison of open and blind histopathologic evaluation of hepatic lesions.
AB  - This paper explores the controversy among scientists on whether microscopic
      evaluation of tissue slides should be done in an open or blind fashion.
      Definitions are given and discussed that provide a better focus to the problem.
      An experiment was conducted in which hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis in
      rats were assessed both openly and blindly. The results indicate that 'simple
      bias' is present when the slides are read openly. Valid comparisons among
      treatment groups are possible in the presence of simple bias, provided
      appropriate control groups have been incorporated into the experimental design.

PMID- 1455446
TI  - Teratological assessment of glutaraldehyde in rats by gastric intubation.
AB  - Pregnant rats were given glutaraldehyde (GA) by gastric intubation at a dose of
      0, 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg on days 6-15 of pregnancy. Maternal toxicity occurred in
      the 100 mg/kg group as evidenced by a significant increase in maternal death and
      a significant decrease in maternal body weight gain and food consumption. A
      significantly lowered fetal weight was also found in the 100 mg/kg group. No
      significant change induced by GA was detected in the incidence of
      postimplantation loss. Morphologic examinations of fetuses revealed no evidence
      of teratogenicity of GA. It could be concluded that GA has no teratogenic effects
      on rat offspring even at a dose which induced severe maternal toxicity.

PMID- 1455445
TI  - Zinc and copper in tissues of rats with blood hypertension induced by long-term
      lead exposure.
AB  - Male Sprague-Dawley rats received for 14 months 0, 15, 30 and 60 micrograms/ml of
      lead in drinking water. Both blood pressure and tissue lead were augmented with a
      dose-response effect, while cardiac inotropism was increased only in the rats
      treated with 60 ppm of lead. In the exposed animals, zinc and copper were
      unchanged in kidneys and testicles and augmented in the brain, while copper, but
      not zinc, was reduced in the heart. These data suggest a possible relation
      between the modifications of copper and zinc metabolism and the effects of lead
      on cardiovascular homeostasis.

PMID- 1455447
TI  - Protection of B cells against the effect of alloxan.
AB  - Alloxan induces diabetes in laboratory animals through the destruction of the
      endocrine pancreatic B cells. The mechanism of alloxan toxicity is still obscure.
      This study was conducted to investigate the effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD)
      or reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADPH) treatment on the B cells in
      isolated rat islets prior to alloxan treatment. Islets were treated with SOD
      (1000 U) or 0.1 mM NADPH for 10 min followed by alloxan treatment (0.18 mg) for 5
      min. Insulin secretion was studied in samples incubated for 60 min in media
      supplemented with glucose (1.8 mg/ml). Morphological examinations were conducted
      on fixed samples after the alloxan treatment. SOD significantly protected the
      islets from the cytotoxic effect of alloxan. Although alloxan decreased insulin
      secretion to 35% of the control, SOD increased this level to 73% of the control
      values. NADPH did not provide any protection to the islets. Insulin secretion
      from islets treated with NADPH and alloxan was not different from that after
      alloxan treatment alone. Morphological changes were observed in the islets
      treated with alloxan alone or alloxan in the presence of NADPH. Islets exhibited
      multiple cellular necrosis, marked degranulation and extensive vesiculation of
      the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex. Mitochondrial enlargement with
      disrupted cristae and mitochondrial ruptures were prominent. However, islets
      treated with SOD and alloxan were similar to the control except for the enlarged
      mitochondria. The increased insulin secretion from islets treated with SOD and
      alloxan reinforces the free radical hypothesis of alloxan toxicity. The markedly
      enlarged mitochondria was one of the targets through which alloxan destroyed the
      B cells.

PMID- 1455448
TI  - Ganglioside GM1 counteracts the enhancing effects of subacute toluene exposure on
      apomorphine-induced locomotor activity.
AB  - Previous studies indicate that subacute toluene exposure enhances the effects of
      postsynaptic doses of apomorphine on locomotor activity in the rat. We have now
      studied the effects of the ganglioside GM1 on toluene-affected apomorphine
      induced (1 mg/kg, s.c.) locomotion, motility, and rearing. Treatment with GM1 (10
      mg/kg, i.p., 1 h before exposure) was found to counteract or even reverse the
      enhancing effect of toluene on apomorphine-induced locomotion and rearing, but
      had similarly to toluene no significant effects on apomorphine-induced motility
      or on spontaneous locomotor activity. The antagonistic effects of GM1 may be due
      to its ability to block toluene-induced changes in D2 receptor binding.

PMID- 1455449
TI  - In vitro cytotoxicity of methylated phenylenediamines.
AB  - The acute cytotoxicities of methylated phenylenediamines (PDs) were evaluated
      with the neutral red assay, using BALB/c 3T3 mouse fibroblasts as the
      bioindicators. When the test agents were grouped according to their degree of
      methylation, good correlations were noted between their in vitro cytotoxicity and
      their in vivo myotoxicity to experimental animals, as well as to their in vitro
      autoxidation rates. For test agents of comparable methylation, the sequence of
      potency was ring-methylated p-PD > N-methylated p-PD >> N-methylated o-PD > N
      methylated m-PD.

PMID- 1455450
TI  - Liver thymidine kinase activity after cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
AB  - Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of a cadmium (Cd) salt at concentrations of
      1.0, 2.5 and 4.0 mg CdCl2/kg body wt. caused severe liver injury in rats 24 h
      after administration. The toxic effects were most evident in the intermediate
      dose of 2.5 mg. Thymidine kinase (TK), the key enzyme of the salvage pathway of
      DNA biosynthesis, was affected in all Cd-treated groups. TK activity presented
      lower values at the highest Cd-induced hepatotoxicity.

PMID- 1455451
TI  - In vivo-in vitro replicative DNA synthesis (RDS) test using perfused rat livers
      as an early prediction assay for nongenotoxic hepatocarcinogens: I. Establishment
      of a standard protocol.
AB  - To establish a standard protocol for an in vivo-in vitro hepatocyte replicative
      DNA synthesis (RDS) test using male F344 rats for screening nongenotoxic (the
      Ames-negative) hepatocarcinogens, experimental conditions were examined. After
      treatment with three model hepatocarcinogens, isolated hepatocytes showed highest
      RDS incidences when plated at a density of 5 x 10(4) cells/ml. Spontaneous RDS
      incidences in hepatocytes from rats aged 9 weeks or older showed a constant
      value. The use of hepatocytes from 9-week-old rats at the 5 x 10(4) cells/ml
      plating density was therefore determined as the standard. Based on the
      distribution of mean spontaneous RDS incidences over 105 additional experiments
      (0.4 +/- 0.18%, with SEM), an RDS incidence of over 1% was adopted as the
      criterion for a positive response in our rat liver RDS test.

PMID- 1455452
TI  - In vivo-in vitro replicative DNA synthesis (RDS) test using perfused rat livers
      as an early prediction assay for nongenotoxic hepatocarcinogens: II. Assessment
      of judgement criteria.
AB  - To better establish in vivo-in vitro hepatocyte replicative DNA synthesis (RDS)
      test using male F344 rats as a screening assay for nongenotoxic (the Ames
      negative) hepatocarcinogens, judgement criteria were assessed after single-gavage
      treatment with seven model compounds. The profiles of RDS induction by the
      compounds were analysed in terms of both time-course and dose-dependence. Our
      data reveal that a value of 2% or more for RDS incidence should be judged as
      positive and that of less than 1% RDS incidence as negative using maximum
      tolerance dose (MTD) concentrations in time-course experiments at 15, 24, 39, 48
      and 63 h. In the case of an incidence value between 1 and 2%, the finding of a
      clear dose-dependence was considered to justify the conclusion of a positive
      effect for 1/4 MTD, 1/2 MTD, MTD and 2 x MTD at a fixed time. The established
      judgement criteria are planned for introduction in detection of nongenotoxic
      hepatocarcinogens (the Ames-negative carcinogens) using the RDS test.

PMID- 1455453
TI  - DNA damaging activity of cadmium in Leydig cells, a target cell population for
      cadmium carcinogenesis in the rat testis.
AB  - To clarify the mechanism by which Cd initiates rat testicular cancer, the ability
      of Cd or H2O2 to induce DNA single strand breakage was evaluated in testicular
      Leydig cells using a simple and rapid DNA precipitation method. Effects of Cd,
      Fe, Zn and Ca on the oxidant-induced DNA damage and effects of reduced
      glutathione (GSH) on the genotoxicity caused by the peroxide and/or Fe were also
      assessed. H2O2 induced strong DNA single strand breakage. Cd alone did not
      exhibit such a genotoxicity nor did it enhance the peroxide-induced DNA damage.
      Ca and Fe(II) potentiated the oxidant-induced DNA single strand breakage, while
      Zn partially protected cells from the oxidative damage of DNA caused by the
      peroxide. GSH attenuated single strand breaks of DNA brought about by H2O2 and/or
      Fe. These results suggest that the initiation of carcinogenesis in the rat testis
      by Cd is triggered by active oxygen species such as H2O2, which is generated by
      the metal exposure, rather than by a direct genotoxicity of Cd. The oxidant
      mediated initiation is clearly a complicated event accomplished by multiple
      factors.

PMID- 1455454
TI  - Aromatase and testosterone fatty acid esters: the search for a cryptic
      biosynthetic pathway to estradiol esters.
AB  - The estradiol fatty acid esters (lipoidal derivatives, LE2) are extremely potent
      estrogens that accumulate in fat, including fat of menopausal women. These
      steroidal esters are protected from metabolism and are converted to the free,
      biologically active steroid through the action of esterases. Previous studies
      have shown that biosynthetic pathways in the adrenal gland exist in which steroid
      fatty acid esters are substrates. This led us to determine whether a cryptic
      aromatase pathway exists in which testosterone esters could be converted directly
      into LE2. We tested a representative fatty acid ester, testosterone stearate,
      both as an inhibitor and as a substrate for the aromatase enzyme from human
      placental microsomes. This ester had neither activity. In addition, we tested [1
      beta-3H]testosterone acetate as a substrate for this enzyme complex, measuring
      the production of 3H2O as evidence of aromatization. Although the rate of
      reaction was considerably slower than that of testosterone, 3H2O was produced.
      However, when [2, 4, 6, 7-3H]testosterone acetate was incubated and the steroidal
      products isolated, we found that hydrolysis of the substrate had occurred. Both
      [3H]-labeled testosterone and estradiol were found, and very little if any
      [3H]estradiol acetate was formed. Thus, we conclude that an aromatase pathway
      involving testosterone esters does not exist and that the sole source of LE2 is
      through direct esterification of estradiol.

PMID- 1455455
TI  - Chromatographic and mass spectrometric characteristics of 20-dihydroaldosterone.
AB  - The 20 alpha-reduced derivative of aldosterone, 20 alpha-dihydroaldosterone, was
      needed as reference compound in order to continue the studies on 18-hydroxylation
      in the Y-1 adrenal cell line. It was obtained by reduction of aldosterone with
      sodium borohydride. Analysis of the products of the reaction as methoxime
      trimethylsilyl (MO-TMS) derivatives by gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass
      spectrometry (GC-MS) showed three possible forms of the compound. Their
      identification was confirmed by comparison with the products obtained by
      stereospecific reduction of aldosterone using 3 alpha,20 beta-hydroxysteroid
      dehydrogenase. Chromatographic behavior and mass spectra are given for the three
      forms of 20 alpha-dihydroaldosterone as the MO-TMS derivatives; that is, the 18
      aldehyde, the 18,11 beta-hemiacetal, and the 11 beta:18,18:20 alpha-acetal. The
      possible origin of these different forms is discussed as a function of these
      results and of the results obtained by complementary analysis on high-performance
      liquid chromatography.

PMID- 1455456
TI  - Production and specificity of antisera raised against 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-[C-3]
      bovine serum albumin conjugates.
AB  - In order to obtain specific antisera for use in the enzyme immunoassay of 25
      hydroxyvitamin D3, three hapten-carrier conjugates having different lengths of
      bridges at the C-3 position were prepared from 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 by coupling
      with bovine serum albumin using the active ester method. The specificity of anti
      25-hydroxyvitamin D3 antisera elicited in rabbits was tested by a cross-reaction
      study with closely related secosterols and by measuring the plasma levels of 25
      hydroxyvitamin D3 by means of radioimmunoassay using tritium-labeled antigen. The
      results indicated that the specificity of the antisera obtained is higher than
      that of vitamin D-binding protein, and that some of these antisera are suitable
      for enzyme immunoassay.

PMID- 1455458
TI  - X-ray structure analysis of 3,11,17-trioxoandrostane-5 alpha-carbonitrile and of
      17 alpha-ethoxycarbonyloxy-3-oxoandrost-4-ene-17-carbonitrile.
AB  - The crystal and molecular structures of the title compounds were determined by x
      ray diffractometric analysis. Torsion angles and puckering parameters are
      reported for both compounds. In 1 the 5 alpha-cyano group influences the A-ring
      conformation. The carbonate ester 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic P2(1) space
      group with two molecules (I and II) in the asymmetric unit. The D-ring
      conformation is to some extent different between I and II.

PMID- 1455457
TI  - Effects of carbenoxolone administered acutely to adrenalectomized rats (in vivo)
      on renal and hepatic handling of corticosterone by 11 beta-hydroxysteroid
      dehydrogenase.
AB  - The in vivo effect(s) of carbenoxolone (CS) on renal 11 beta-hydroxysteroid
      dehydrogenase (11 beta-OHSD), hepatic 11 beta-OHSD, and 5 beta-reductase
      enzymatic activity was investigated, under conditions previously shown to confer
      mineralocorticoid (MC)-like activity on the glucocorticoids cortisol and
      corticosterone; it has been suggested that this Na+ retention is linked to
      inhibition of renal 11 beta-OHSD. The results show that acute administration of
      CS [2.5 mg/rat for 0.5 or 2 hours; and 10 or 25 mg/rat for 2 hours subcutaneously
      (sc)] to rats caused no inhibition of 11 beta-OHSD activity in kidney
      homogenates, minces, and microsomes when compared with controls. However,
      addition of 50 nM CS to the incubation medium completely inhibited the 11 beta
      OHSD activity in kidney homogenates and microsomes (from controls or CS-injected
      rats). In contrast, hepatic microsomal 11 beta-OHSD was significantly inhibited
      after in vivo treatment with CS (P < 0.05) using 2 microM and 50 microM
      corticosterone, as was 5 beta-reductase (P < 0.05) using 4 microM corticosterone
      as substrate. However, chronic glycyrrhizin administration (15 mg/rat/day sc for
      14 days) significantly inhibited renal 11 beta-OHSD activity when assayed in
      minces or homogenates. Thus, it appears that when CS is administered acutely, its
      effects are primarily on hepatic 11 beta-OHSD and 5 beta-reductase with no
      inhibition of renal 11 beta-OHSD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455459
TI  - Estrogen metabolism, not biosynthesis, in rabbit articular cartilage and isolated
      chondrocytes: a preliminary study.
AB  - Because serum estrogen levels are associated with the presence of osteoarthritis,
      and cartilage tissue is known to contain estrogen receptors, it is of interest to
      determine the extent to which estrogen is biosynthesized and/or metabolized in
      cartilage tissue or isolated chondrocytes. In this preliminary study, using a
      sensitive assay method, estrogen synthetase (aromatase) was undetectable in
      articular cartilage or isolated chondrocytes in culture from immature female
      rabbits. However, estrogen metabolism, specifically estrogen 17 beta
      hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity, was detected in homogenized cartilage
      tissue, and at substantially higher specific activities in freshly isolated
      chondrocytes. These fresh chondrocytes, assayed in culture without any exogenous
      cofactor, demonstrated a significantly higher activity for converting the weak
      estrogen, estrone, to the more potent estrogen, estradiol. Chondrocytes grown to
      confluence in culture had very low estrogen 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
      specific activity. Homogenized cartilage tissue, tested only with added NADPH as
      cofactor, also showed a preference for estradiol as the principal product, but
      this may have been primarily due to the use of reduced cofactor. If subsequent
      experiments confirm the presence of estrogen 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
      activity, and its preference for converting estrone into estradiol, in human
      cartilage tissue and chondrocytes, this could have substantial implications in
      the estrogen dependency of osteoarthritis.

PMID- 1455460
TI  - Convenient synthesis of 18-hydroxylated cortisol and prednisolone.
AB  - 18,20-Epoxy-11 beta,17 alpha,20 beta,21-tetrahydroxypregn-4-en-3-one was
      synthesized by the application of hypoiodite reaction to the cortisol acetonide.
      The intermediary 18-iodo derivative was converted to the 11-oxo steroid by
      chromic acid prior to silver ion-assisted solvolysis. Removal of the protective
      group with hydrochloric acid was finally carried out to give the desired 11
      beta,17 alpha,18,21-tetrahydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione as the hemiacetal form.
      18,20-Epoxy-11 beta-17 alpha,20 beta,21- tetrahydroxypregna-1,4-dien-3-one was
      also prepared from prednisolone through a similar reaction sequence.

PMID- 1455462
TI  - Novel procedure for the preparation of 1 alpha,3 beta-dihydroxy-2 beta-tritiated
      steroidal compounds.

PMID- 1455461
TI  - Administration of pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone to guinea pigs and rats
      causes the accumulation of fatty acid esters of pregnenolone and
      dehydroepiandrosterone in plasma lipoproteins.
AB  - Steroids were administered continuously to guinea pigs and rats using
      subcutaneously applied silastic tubing implants, and the effects on circulating
      steroid and steroid conjugate levels were monitored. Using implants filled with
      pregnenolone, we observed that pregnenolone had a marked effect on increasing the
      levels of its fatty acid-esterified derivative, while dehydroepiandrosterone
      releasing implants produced a rise in circulating nonconjugated
      dehydroepiandrosterone, androst-5-ene-3 beta,17 beta-diol, androstenedione,
      testosterone, and lipoidal derivatives of both dehydroepiandrosterone and androst
      5-ene-3 beta,17 beta-diol. Implants filled with androstenedione produced a 20
      fold increase in plasma androstenedione levels relative to untreated controls and
      a corresponding five-fold increase over control testosterone levels. No fatty
      acid-esterified derivative of testosterone could be detected within the plasma.
      Lipoproteins were isolated from both rats and guinea pigs treated with implants
      filled with pregnenolone or dehydroepiandrosterone. The steroid and steroid fatty
      acid esters present in each fraction were analyzed, revealing that approximately
      75% of all the fatty acid esters of pregnenolone recovered in the lipoproteins
      was localized within the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction of both guinea
      pig and rat plasma. Similarly, lipoidal dehydroepiandrosterone was found
      associated predominantly with the low-density lipoprotein and HDL fractions in
      the guinea pig, while in the rat this steroid conjugate was exclusively within
      the HDL fraction. High-density lipoprotein-incorporated tritiated pregnenolone
      fatty acid esters and dehydroepiandrosterone fatty acid esters were injected into
      castrated male guinea pigs to study the fate of these complexes.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455463
TI  - Studies on anabolic steroids. 10. Synthesis and identification of acidic urinary
      metabolites of oxymetholone in a human.
AB  - Two major unconjugated acidic metabolites of oxymetholone (17 beta-hydroxy-2
      hydroxymethylene-17 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-androstan-3-one, 1), namely, 17 beta
      hydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-2,3-seco-5 alpha-androstane-2,3-dioic acid (2) and 3
      alpha,17 beta-dihydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-androstane-2 beta-carboxylic acid
      (6a), were detected by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in urine samples
      collected after oral administration of 1 to a human volunteer. Reference steroid
      2 was synthesized and identified. The identification of urinary metabolite 6a was
      based on the synthesis of its stereoisomers and the isomerization of the methyl
      ester 6b to its 2-epimer, 3 alpha,17 beta-dihydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-5 alpha
      androstane-2 alpha-carboxylic acid methyl ester (9b). The mechanisms accounting
      for the formation of these acidic metabolites are discussed.

PMID- 1455464
TI  - Antihormonal properties of some new A-homo-B, 19-dinor steroids of the androstane
      series.
AB  - On solvolysis of Westphalen-type steroids with a leaving group in the position 6
      beta (e.g., 2), products of elimination (followed by rearrangement and
      fragmentation of the steroid skeleton) were prepared (e.g., 4 and 5). These
      products were subsequently converted to suitable analogs of the compound, which
      has been reported to promote hair growth (1). Compounds 11 to 13 exhibited strong
      antiandrogenic activity in vivo; however, this activity could not be interpreted
      either in terms of inhibition of 5 alpha-reductase or by strong binding to an
      androgen receptor.

PMID- 1455465
TI  - [The significance of developmental anomalies of the thyroid cartilage for the
      practice of forensic medical expertise].
AB  - The authors discuss developmental abnormalities of the thyroid cartilage and its
      injuries in blunt injuries of the neck. Basing on two cases, they describe
      developmental abnormalities (no joining between the superior horn and the lamina
      or complete absence of one of the superior horns) that during autopsies were
      considered, to be resultant from injuries.

PMID- 1455466
TI  - [The diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in the forensic medical study of
      cadavers].
AB  - Presents analysis of cases when pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed during
      autopsy by forensic medical experts. Before death the patients were not
      registered at tuberculosis control centres and were administered no treatment for
      tuberculosis.

PMID- 1455467
TI  - [A schematic representation of the thoracic skeleton for the analysis of multiple
      fractures].
AB  - A scheme of the thoracic skeleton (a superior projection) is suggested for
      practical forensic medical evaluation. The scheme presents concentrically
      arranged costal arches connected to the image of the breast bone and the thoracic
      portion of the spine, with the ordinal numbers of the ribs, vertebrae, and
      anatomic lines. Special marks indicate rib fractures and other associated signs
      (repeated injuries, bleedings, whether the injury was inflicted in life or was
      postmortem, etc.). After the scheme is filled in, one may analyze a three
      dimensional image of the injuries to determine the site and direction of an
      external exposure and its order.

PMID- 1455469
TI  - [The forensic medical determination of the time of occurrence of subdural
      hemorrhages in the acute period of fatal craniocerebral trauma].
AB  - Presents the results of spectrophotometric and histologic examinations of
      subdural bleedings, meninges and brain matter in the acute period of a lethal
      craniocerebral injury. Discusses the possible use of a complex of histologic and
      biochemical studies in determination of the period elapsed since the injury.

PMID- 1455468
TI  - [The forensic medical expertise of fatal mechanical trauma in cases of methane
      and coal dust explosion in a mine].

PMID- 1455470
TI  - [A clinico-morphological analysis of the traumatic substrates to cerebral
      injuries in different inertial loads on the brain].
AB  - The relationships between the inert tension of the head and the morphologic
      substrates of brain injuries were under study. A comparative clinical and
      morphologic analysis of lethal contusion and axonal injuries underlie this
      investigation. Differences in the neurologic semeiotics and CT data in such
      injuries are presented. The authors discuss the mechanisms of the physical
      processes in the skull, resulting in focal and diffuse injuries of the brain.
      Quantitative assessment of the traumatic cerebral substrates is given and
      relations of these parameters to the conditions of the head trauma (the direction
      of the external injurious factor action) and the clinical picture are shown. The
      results of this study may be useful in establishing some circumstances of
      craniocerebral injuries.

PMID- 1455471
TI  - [The chemical action of gun powder gases on biological tissues in a point-blank
      shot].
AB  - Chemical effect of gun powder gas on the biologic tissues manifests by red-brown
      staining of the tissues, mainly at the expense of methemoglobin and
      sulfhemoglobin. Scarlet staining of the tissues at the edges of gun-shot wounds
      is not a specific marker of a shot made from a short distance; it may emerge
      several hours after wounding at the expense of hydroxy-hemoglobin and is not at
      all related to the chemical effect of gun powder gas. The conditions conducive to
      scarlet staining are an open wound permitting free oxygenation by air oxygen and
      hemoglobin transfer from the injured red cells into blood plasma and adjacent
      tissues.

PMID- 1455472
TI  - [The supplementary signs of strangulation asphyxia].
AB  - Analyzes the results of forensic medical examinations of the corpses after
      hanging. The findings were as follows: two strangulation grooves are seen on the
      corpse's neck after hanging, that are similar to the grooves seen after
      strangulation with a loop and subsequent hanging of a corpse; the presence of
      bruises on the neck, along with the strangulation grooves, is indicative of a
      strangulation made by the hands, whereas half-moon shaped bruises may be self
      inflicted during hanging.

PMID- 1455473
TI  - [The use of high-pressure liquid chromatography for identifying barbiturates in
      cadaveric material].
AB  - A method for chemical toxic analysis of barbiturates has been developed, making
      use of acetone as an extracting agent and high-pressure liquid chromatography for
      the identification of the isolated substances. Analysis with the use of this
      method is preceded by extraction and chromatographic purification. The co
      extractive substances do not interfere with the identification of barbiturates.

PMID- 1455474
TI  - [The removal and preparation of organs and tissues for transplantation].

PMID- 1455475
TI  - [The determination of methylergometrin in forensic chemical research].

PMID- 1455476
TI  - [The extraction of deoxypeganin from aqueous solutions with organic solvents].
AB  - Studies of deoxypeganin extraction with various organic solvents have shown that
      up to 88% of the agent can be easily extracted by chloroform if the medium pH
      values are 11-12. The presence of electrolytes in deoxypeganin aqueous solutions
      does not influence the degree of the agent extraction with organic solvents.

PMID- 1455477
TI  - [The determination of acetaldehyde in biological media].

PMID- 1455478
TI  - [Theophylline poisoning].

PMID- 1455480
TI  - [The qualification of the degree of severity of the body injuries in closed neck
      trauma].

PMID- 1455481
TI  - [A penetrating wound of the heart].

PMID- 1455479
TI  - [Fatal outcomes in the crush syndrome].

PMID- 1455482
TI  - [The forensic medical expertise of an anatomical preparation].

PMID- 1455483
TI  - [The history of Claudius Galen's hydrostatic test for infant live birth].

PMID- 1455484
TI  - [Phase-contrast and polarization microscopic studies of the myocardium in
      forensic medical practice].
AB  - Describes the major acute pathologic changes in the myocardiocytes detectable by
      phase-contrast and polarization microscopy. Demonstrates the significance of
      these changes for a correct diagnosis of sudden coronary death, death from
      ethanol poisoning or closed injuries of the heart after blunt trauma of the
      chest.

PMID- 1455485
TI  - [Mandibular sandwich technique build up with lyophilized cartilage].
AB  - High resorption rates of onlay bone grafts for augmentation of the atrophic
      mandible led to the invention of the sandwich technique. In Zurich the first
      sandwich augmentation procedure with homologous lyophilized cartilage was
      performed in 1982. 50% of our examined patients were operated on 5 to 8 years
      ago. We describe the longterm results concerning resorption (23.8% after 4.65
      years) and the even integration of the lyophilized cartilage with radiologic
      evidence of calcification and bony incorporation, even in patients with
      preoperative severely compromised tissues, as in cases after osteomyelitis or
      radiotherapy.

PMID- 1455486
TI  - [Pathological changes in face and skull in acromegaly].
AB  - 31 patients (mean age 52.7 years) suffering from persistent symptoms of a growth
      hormone producing pituitary adenoma underwent both clinical and roentgenological
      examinations. The results of standardized x-ray analysis of the viscero- and
      neurocranium were compared with those of a group of 25 healthy subjects (mean age
      42.1 years): Although several remarkable changes were observed, statistically
      significant changes of the facial skeleton could be found only in the lower jaw.
      The main contribution to its elongation was given by the chin prominence and the
      condyle. The findings in the neurocranium could be divided in symptoms of first
      and symptoms of second choice. With the help of these parameters, a score was
      established to facilitate interpretation of early signs of acromegaly in lateral
      skull radiographs. Two clinical symptoms found in our patient sample have not
      been mentioned before in literature about acromegaly: the so-called "hanging
      columella" and marked changes in diameter of the canalis mandibularis.

PMID- 1455488
TI  - [Medicine--technology--anxiety for the future].

PMID- 1455487
TI  - [Unfounded fear of amalgam].

PMID- 1455489
TI  - [Vestibuloplasty with Kirschner wire fixation].
AB  - We present a new method of fixation for creation of the vestibular sulcus in
      cases of open or closed submucous vestibuloplasty. Kirschner-wires (diameter 0.5
      mm) are drilled through the mucous membrane into the bone. The wires keep the
      hand cut oval elastic sheets in place to adapt the mucous membrane to the
      periosteum at the deepest point of the vestibule respectively. Advantages of the
      method in comparison to other fixation techniques are discussed.

PMID- 1455490
TI  - [Psychology and recurrence tendency in relation to age at operation for
      prognathism].
AB  - Within this study patients with mandibular prognathism were studied as to their
      psychological situation pre- and postoperatively with the help of the Freiburg
      Personality Evaluation Sheet. Since it was our special interest, whether
      psychologically it makes a big difference whether the patients were operated
      during the time of adolescence or after the age of twenty, the postoperative
      investigation was carried out with special reference to this point. Without any
      doubt, the correction of prognathism improved the psychological situation of the
      patients. It was obvious that for those patients in between fourteen and
      seventeen the improvement was more helpful than for those patients after the age
      of twenty. On the other hand the rate of recurrence was much higher within the
      group of those patients operated in between fourteen and seventeen (29.8%) than
      for those patients which were operated later than at age twenty (8%). The ideal
      age for the correction of mandibular prognathism must be found individually.
      While the operation at an early time is more helpful for the psychological
      situation of the patients, it must on the other hand be seen that for this age
      group the danger of recurrence is higher.

PMID- 1455491
TI  - [Comparative investigation of electrochemical corrosion in gold and palladium
      based alloys].

PMID- 1455492
TI  - [20 years of poison law. Chemical legislation--quo vadis?].

PMID- 1455493
TI  - [Late effects of different high mid-face osteotomies].

PMID- 1455494
TI  - Barriers to perioperative patient teaching in Kuwait.
AB  - 1. Although nurses agree that perioperative instruction is an integral aspect of
      surgical nursing, in many hospitals, there is little evidence to show that active
      and planned patient teaching is being conducted. 2. Arab and non-Arab nurses
      differed in their perceptions about obstacles to patient teaching. Lack of time
      and language barriers emerged as the two outstanding barriers; lack of
      encouragement and support from co-nurses and patients' anxiety were considered
      weak barriers. 3. Failing to address these barriers and disregarding the short-
      and long-term benefits of structured patient teaching could lead to a new health
      worker, the health educator. This would further fragment patient care and weaken
      nurses' credibility.

PMID- 1455495
TI  - Death with dignity: significance of religious beliefs and practices in Hinduism,
      Buddhism, and Islam.
AB  - 1. Nurses can help individuals more readily deal with death and dying by
      examining cultural variations in death reactions and rituals. This helps to
      humanize care. 2. Caring for a dying client is a complex and challenging
      responsibility and requires physical, emotional, and spiritual support to ensure
      a peaceful and dignified death. 3. Clients turn to religion for peace and comfort
      during times of crisis, such as serious illness and impending death. It is
      necessary to understand the impact of religious beliefs and practices to provide
      quality holistic care.

PMID- 1455496
TI  - The element of care in the operating room.
AB  - 1. Perioperative nurses are experts in attending to imminent physiological needs
      of patients. However, when these needs seem paramount, focus on a patient's
      feelings often become a lower priority. 2. Being cared for is a basic human need.
      Just as perceptions of needs vary among individuals, so do caring needs. It is
      essential that nurses value the components of caring and demonstrate caring from
      a holistic perspective. 3. OR nurses can communicate caring by identifying staff
      to patients, providing reassuring information, monitoring self-talk, touching the
      patient, and responding to the patient as an individual.

PMID- 1455497
TI  - Laser disc decompression.
AB  - 1. The incidence of low back pain is a growing force in today's economy. 2. Laser
      disc decompression (LDD) is an effective alternative for lumbar laminectomy in
      those patients meeting the approved criteria. 3. LDD can be done on a same day
      surgery basis without the ill effects of a general anesthetic.

PMID- 1455498
TI  - HIV-1 symptoms similar in i.v. drug users, gays/bisexuals.

PMID- 1455499
TI  - Union presses for safer device.

PMID- 1455500
TI  - How risky is orthopedics?

PMID- 1455501
TI  - Device increases protection during surgery.

PMID- 1455503
TI  - Signal transduction: crosstalk.

PMID- 1455502
TI  - Write now: a guide to publishing.
AB  - 1. With the elimination of time constraints, fear of rejection, and lack of
      understanding of the publication process, effective communication and sharing of
      experiences and expertise among nurses can be enhanced through writing for
      publication. 2. Important author responsibilities, such as being aware of the
      number of manuscript copies to be sent with the original, typing and reference
      format of the journal, letters of transmittal, and acknowledgements, can be found
      in the journal's guidelines. 3. Understanding the publication process and
      learning how to use the components can lead to positive results for prospective
      authors.

PMID- 1455504
TI  - Triggering signaling cascades by receptor tyrosine kinases.
AB  - Growth factor receptors that are tyrosine kinases (RTKs) regulate growth and
      differentiation of cells in many organisms, including flies, worms, frogs, mice
      and humans. There has been recent progress in understanding the mechanism by
      which these receptors transduce signals. Worm and insect studies on RTKs have
      relied primarily on genetics, while the mammalian studies have employed a
      combination of molecular genetics and biochemistry. While many RTKs seem to have
      unique features, there are also many general signal transduction principles that
      emerge from these studies. In this review, we will focus on common signaling
      molecules, using RTKs from both vertebrates and invertebrates as examples.

PMID- 1455505
TI  - Common subunits of cytokine receptors and the functional redundancy of cytokines.
AB  - Several distinct cytokines often exhibit similar biological activities. The
      findings that high-affinity receptors for a group of cytokines with similar
      function share a common subunit with a critical role in signal transduction have
      provided a molecular basis for the functional redundancy of cytokines. Since the
      common subunit, together with distinct cytokine-specific receptor subunits, form
      high-affinity receptors, binding of one cytokine to its high-affinity receptor
      can be competed for by other cytokines in the same group.

PMID- 1455506
TI  - G proteins.
AB  - The family of heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G
      proteins) serves an essential role in transducing receptor-generated signals
      across the plasma membrane. Recent findings reveal unexpected functional roles
      for individual G protein subunits. Thus, GTP-binding alpha-subunits and the beta
      gamma-subunit complex can influence the activity of effector molecules
      independently or simultaneously, either synergistically or in opposition, to
      elicit a complex constellation of cellular events.

PMID- 1455508
TI  - Crosstalk among multiple signal-activated phospholipases.
AB  - Transduction of extracellular signals across the plasma membrane often involves
      activation of several phospholipases that generate multiple, sometimes
      interconvertible, lipid-derived messengers. Coordination and integration of these
      signal-activated phospholipases may require crosstalk between both the messengers
      and target protein constituents of these pathways.

PMID- 1455507
TI  - Signal transduction crosstalk in the endocrine system: pancreatic beta-cells and
      the glucose competence concept.
AB  - Crosstalk between intracellular signalling systems is recognized as the principal
      means by which a cell orchestrates coordinate responses to stimulation by
      neurotransmitters, hormones or growth factors. The functional consequences of
      crosstalk are evident at multiple levels within a given signalling cascade,
      including the regulation of receptor-ligand interactions, guanine nucleotide
      binding proteins, enzyme activities, ion channel function and gene expression.
      Here we focus on the pancreatic beta-cells of the islets of Langerhans to
      illustrate the important role crosstalk plays in the regulation of glucose
      induced insulin secretion. Recent studies indicating a synergistic interaction in
      beta-cells between the glucose-regulated ATP-dependent signalling system and the
      hormonally regulated cAMP-dependent signalling system are emphasized. This
      interaction gives beta-cells the ability to match the ambient concentration of
      glucose to an appropriate insulin secretory response, a process we refer to as
      the induction of glucose competence. The glucose competence concept may provide
      new insights into the etiology and treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes
      mellitus (Type II diabetes).

PMID- 1455509
TI  - Protein kinase C, calcium and phospholipid degradation.
AB  - In most cells, calcium signals are transient, while the resulting physiological
      responses often persist longer. The sustained activation of protein kinase C has
      been postulated to be essential for maintaining such cellular responses. It is
      becoming clear that an elaborate network involving protein kinase C, calcium and
      degradation of membrane phospholipids may generate several molecules that are
      necessary for sustaining the activation of protein kinase C itself. Multiple
      members of the protein kinase C family show distinct responses to calcium and the
      phospholipid degradation products, suggesting their unique functions in cell
      signalling.

PMID- 1455510
TI  - Control of transcription factors by signal transduction pathways: the beginning
      of the end.
AB  - Signal transduction pathways regulate gene expression by modulating the activity
      of nuclear transcription factors. The mechanisms that control the activity of two
      groups of sequence-specific transcription factors, the AP-1 and CREB/ATF
      proteins, are described. These factors serve as a paradigm explaining the
      transfer of regulatory information from the cell surface to the nucleus.

PMID- 1455511
TI  - The serum response element.
AB  - The promoters of many genes whose transcription is rapidly and transiently
      induced following growth factor or mitogen stimulation of susceptible cells
      contain a common regulatory element, the serum response element (SRE). As the
      transcription factors that bind the SRE and the signalling molecules that affect
      its activity are characterized in more detail, the major challenge is to
      elucidate the signalling pathways that link cell-surface receptors to the SRE,
      and to determine the mechanism by which signalling events modulate transcription
      factor activity.

PMID- 1455512
TI  - Signal transduction through the T-cell antigen receptor.
AB  - The mechanism by which ligand binding to the T-cell antigen receptor triggers the
      T-cell activation program has long been one of the most fascinating questions in
      lymphocyte biology. Here, we review recent insights into the transmembrane
      signaling functions of this multisubunit receptor complex.

PMID- 1455513
TI  - Signal transduction and the actin cytoskeleton: the roles of MARCKS and profilin.
AB  - MARCKS and profilin, two actin-binding proteins, are discussed to illustrate the
      mechanism by which extracellular signals are coupled to changes in the structure
      of the actin cytoskeleton. MARCKS is a filamentous actin-crosslinking protein
      that appears to function as an integrator of protein kinase C and calcium
      (Ca2+)/calmodulin signals in the regulation of actin-membrane interactions. New
      data suggest that profilin is activated by the coordinated action of receptor
      tyrosine kinases and phospholipase C-gamma 1 to stimulate the stabilization of
      actin filaments.

PMID- 1455514
TI  - Channel your energies.

PMID- 1455515
TI  - Protein sorting in mitochondria.
AB  - Most polypeptides that are imported into the mitochondrial matrix use a common
      translocation machinery. By contrast, proteins of the other mitochondrial
      compartments are imported by a variety of different mechanisms. Some of these
      proteins completely bypass the common translocation machinery, others use only
      the outer membrane components of this machinery, and still others use components
      of this machinery from both the outer and inner membranes. Import to the
      intermembrane space compartment provides examples of all three possibilities.

PMID- 1455516
TI  - Does hydrophobic hydration destabilize protein native structures?
AB  - Water in the immediate vicinity of a non-polar solute has characteristically low
      entropy and high heat capacity at 25 degrees C. Common opinion has been that the
      insolubility of such species is caused by thermodynamic changes associated with
      the formation of these layers of abnormal water, 'hydrophobic hydration'.
      Recently, however, it has been proposed instead that hydrophobic hydration favors
      solution of hydrocarbons, or hydrocarbon sidechains, in water and therefore
      promotes protein unfolding. It is argued here that available data do not
      convincingly support this hypothesis.

PMID- 1455517
TI  - The ATP-dependent glutathione S-conjugate export pump.
AB  - The ATP-dependent glutathione S-conjugate export pump (GS-X pump) plays a
      physiologically important role as a member of the 'phase III' system in
      xenobiotic metabolism as well as in the release of biologically active endogenous
      substances from cells. In addition, this export pump is potentially involved in
      the modulation of the antiproliferative action of certain antitumor agents.

PMID- 1455518
TI  - The human protooncogene ret: a communicative cadherin?

PMID- 1455519
TI  - How to make a glycoinositol phospholipid anchor.
AB  - Essentially all eukaryotic cells express proteins on their surface that are
      anchored by a glycoinositol phospholipid. This anchor moiety may endow such
      proteins with unusual properties. The definition of the biosynthetic path that
      constructs these anchors is now in its final stages. Mutations that interrupt
      this path are, remarkably, compatible with survival of cells in culture, but are
      associated with at least one human disease.

PMID- 1455520
TI  - Signal peptidases in prokaryotes and eukaryotes--a new protease family.
AB  - Signal peptidases remove targeting peptides from pre-proteins and play central
      roles in the secretory pathway, as well as in the delivery of proteins to the
      mitochondrial intermembrane space and to the lumen of thylakoids. The catalytic
      mechanism of pre-protein cleavage has long been an enigma, but recent data from
      site-directed mutagenesis and sequence alignment studies suggest that signal
      peptidases may constitute a new type of serine protease, mechanistically related
      to the beta-lactamases.

PMID- 1455521
TI  - Morbidity due to infection with Schistosoma mansoni: an update.

PMID- 1455522
TI  - Interaction of malarial infection and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
      deficiency in Muria gonds of district Bastar, central India.
AB  - Muria gond tribals (n = 473) from district Bastar, central India, an area known
      to be hyperendemic for malaria, were investigated for malarial infection and
      glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. The frequency of G-6-PD deficiency
      was 21.3% among male subjects and 3.7% among females. Assay of malarial
      antibodies showed that seropositivity as well as the level of antibodies was
      significantly higher in male subjects with normal enzyme levels as compared with
      males G-6-PD deficiency. Females with normal G-6-PD enzyme levels too had higher
      seropositivity as well as level of antibodies against malaria as compared with
      females having G-6-PD deficiency. This suggests that G-6-PD deficiency correlates
      with a higher degree of resistance.

PMID- 1455523
TI  - Antimalarial drug sensitivity patterns in the western province of Zambia.
      Implications for the management of primary health care (PHC).
AB  - The management of acute malaria consists of chemotherapy aimed at restoring the
      normal function of all organs. Appropriate treatment is dependent upon extensive
      knowledge of the drug sensitivity patterns of the malaria parasites in the area.
      This is also important for chemoprophylaxis. Drug sensitivity patterns and
      recrudescence rates for Mongu (Western Province in Zambia) are suggestive of a
      likely increase in resistance to both chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine
      (Fansidar). We found RI (19.4%), RII (1.5%) and RIII (4.4%) resistance to
      chloroquine and RII (4.3%) resistance to Fansidar. This calls for careful
      consideration of treatment schedules, legislation pertaining to the distribution
      of drugs in the general public and alternative antimalarial control strategies.

PMID- 1455524
TI  - A comparative study of four serological methods for diagnosis of acute and
      chronic Chagas' disease in Brazilian patients.
AB  - Complement fixation (CF), indirect immunofluorescence (IFAT), latex agglutination
      (LA) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were applied to assess the
      diagnostic value of antibody determination in Brazilian patients with acute or
      chronic Chagas' disease. Patients with various forms of leishmaniasis and healthy
      individuals from the endemic region were used as specificity controls. Whereas
      LA, IFAT and ELISA identified 81% of acutely ill patients, CF had no diagnostic
      potential in this phase of the disease. In later stages CF showed a sensitivity
      of 69% as compared to 100% for LA, IFAT and ELISA, irrespective whether patients
      presented clinically as chronic asymptomatic or chronic symptomatic cases. Cross
      reactivity with anti-leishmania antibodies was observed in 23%, 38% and 77% of
      serum samples in LA, ELISA and IFAT, respectively, but not in CF.

PMID- 1455525
TI  - Bacteriological and serological study of pertussis in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
AB  - Charcoal horse blood agar is the medium of choice for isolation of Bordetella
      pertussis from patients with early whooping cough. Since sterile animal blood
      often is not available in developing countries, a field study in Nigeria was
      undertaken to evaluate donated human blood as supplement to charcoal agar. Out of
      209 children with suspected early pertussis, 33 were culture-positive (isolation
      rate 16%). Out of 188 children studied serologically by enzyme immunoassay, 36
      (19%) were seropositive. The satisfactory isolation rate of 16% shows that
      culturing for B. pertussis on charcoal human blood agar can be tried in
      countries, where there is no regular supply of bacteriological media with animal
      blood.

PMID- 1455526
TI  - Congenital syphilis. Diagnosis in places with limited facilities.
AB  - The cases of 4 newborns with congenital syphilis (CS) seen in a rural hospital in
      Tanzania are reported. Clinical signs may be caused by other diseases than CS and
      are not conclusive. Therefore, uniformity in diagnostic criteria based on
      clinical symptoms and serology is essential for comparative clinical and
      epidemiological studies in places with limited facilities. The surveillance case
      definition for congenital syphilis introduced by the Centers for Disease Control
      (CDC) in 1988 and revised in 1989 [1] offers the opportunity to report congenital
      syphilis not only in places with sophisticated equipment but also in places with
      limited facilities.

PMID- 1455527
TI  - Prevalence of bacterial agents of diarrhoeal disease at the National University
      Hospital, Singapore and their resistance to antimicrobial agents.
AB  - Over a 50-month period, 4,508 stool specimens from patients with diarrhoea were
      bacteriologically examined at the National University Hospital, Singapore.
      Salmonella serotypes other than the typhoid and paratyphoid bacilli were the most
      common finding, being isolated in 10.8% of cases. Campylobacter jejuni was
      unexpectedly infrequent (1.9%); Aeromonas hydrophila was found in 1.8%. No other
      aerobic pathogen occurred in more than 1% of cases. Clostridium difficile was
      sought only when requested, and was isolated from 9.6% of cases tested. Testing
      for enteropathogenic Escherichia coli was limited to children under 1 year old.
      Gentamicin was active against the greatest number of aerobic isolates, followed
      by chloramphenicol and cotrimoxazole. The C. difficile isolates were all
      sensitive to metronidazole.

PMID- 1455528
TI  - Febrile convulsions: factors and recurrence rate.
AB  - One hundred and forty-seven children admitted consecutively with their first
      febrile convulsion were studied to assess the influence of certain factors on the
      recurrence rate of seizures. The younger the age at first occurrence the more
      likely the recurrence rate. Those with moderate degree of pyrexia (39-39.9
      degrees C) were found to be ten times more likely to have subsequent recurring
      convulsions compared to those with high degree of pyrexia (40 degrees C and
      above) or those with mild degree of pyrexia (38-38.9 degrees C). Furthermore, the
      recurrence rate was five times higher in first-born compared to siblings second
      borne or more. The overall recurrence rate was 29.3% with the frequency varying
      between 1 to 2 times. A male preponderance was observed. These factors might be
      of prognostic value in terms of risk for recurrence.

PMID- 1455529
TI  - Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus-infection among pregnant women
      attending ante-natal clinic in Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria.
AB  - A seroepidemiological survey conducted among 1,059 pregnant women in Maiduguri,
      North-eastern Nigeria from September, 1988 to April, 1990 showed that 5 women or
      0.47% were positive for HIV antibodies. Three of the women (0.28%) were positive
      for HIV-1 while 2 others (0.19%) were positive for HIV-2; this is consistent with
      the known fact that both viruses are active in West Africa, a sub-region of which
      Nigeria is part. Detailed information available on 4 of the 5 seropositive women
      and their husbands did not reveal any known risk factor favouring HIV-infection.
      In addition to the 5 confirmed seropositive women, 10 others (0.94%) gave Western
      blot patterns that were neither HIV-1 nor HIV-2. The significance of this
      observation, if any, needs to be clarified.

PMID- 1455530
TI  - Mouth-to-anus transit-time predicts the severity of fecal water loss in acute
      dehydrating diarrhea.
AB  - The mouth-to-anus transit time was estimated in 24 young children admitted to an
      outpatient rehydration unit with acute dehydrating diarrheal disease by adding an
      oral fecal marker (brilliant blue) to the first draught of oral rehydration
      solution. Transit times ranged from 30 to 242 min. There was a highly significant
      (logarithmic) relationship between rate of fecal output and transit time (r =
      0.74; p < 0.001). Three of 24 subjects could not be rehydrated orally, were
      declared treatment failures, and were hospitalized for intravenous therapy. All
      of them had had an initial transit time of less than 50 min, and constituted
      three of the four subjects with this rapid rate of transit. Thus, a rapid mouth
      to-anus transit time had a 100% sensitivity to predict treatment failures and a
      75% predictive accuracy for a "positive" test. Although our series is small, the
      findings suggest that fecal markers may be useful in remote areas to assist in
      the early detection of diarrheal episodes that cannot be managed by oral
      rehydration therapy.

PMID- 1455532
TI  - Milk macronutrient levels during the first month of term and preterm Nigerian
      mothers.
AB  - The lactose levels of the transition milk of term mothers were significantly
      higher compared with preterm mothers (5.87 versus 5.32 g/100 ml). The same trends
      were found in colostrum and mature milk. These differences were not significant.
      The protein contents of the colostrum in term mothers were significantly lower
      than in their preterm counterparts (1.80 versus 2.20 g/100 ml). Again the same
      trend (not significant) was showed in transition and mature milk. A significantly
      lower level of fat in milk of term mothers than of preterm mothers was found in
      all 3 types of milk (1.84 versus 2.26; 2.16 versus 2.95; 2.72 versus 3.32 in
      colostrum, transition milk and mature milk respectively). This study showed
      differences in the macronutrients measured in the different types of milk, hence
      term babies in Baby care units should be fed term milk and preterm babies with
      preterm milk.

PMID- 1455531
TI  - Reproduction and maternal nutrition in Madura, Indonesia.
AB  - The prevalence and severity of chronic energy deficiency (CED) among women of
      reproductive age as well as its consequences on the newborn and the mother were
      assessed in a longitudinal study. More than 40% of the mothers had a Body Mass
      Index (BMI) less than 18.5 before pregnancy, a level below which CED is
      considered to exist. Weight gain during pregnancy was low, on average 6.6 kg.
      Taking the difference between 4 week postpartum weight and pre-pregnant weight as
      net weight gain during pregnancy, mothers with a BMI less than 18.5 before
      pregnancy gained weight while those with a higher BMI lost weight. This
      observation suggests that the partitioning of energy to the fetus and the mother
      depends on the energy reserves of the mother before pregnancy. The functional
      significance of BMI as an indicator of CED is illustrated by its relation with
      birth weight. Similarly, 4 week postpartum, weight and BMI were predictive for
      the weight changes in the mother in the first 12 months after delivery. The
      groups with the lowest values gained weight, while the heaviest mothers lost
      weight. In view of the negative effects of CED among women of reproductive age on
      the infant and the mother, maternal undernutrition should receive the same
      attention as malnutrition among preschool children.

PMID- 1455533
TI  - Antinutrients content of some locally available legumes and cereals in Nigeria.
AB  - Plant protein is the cheapest source of protein available to mankind but
      unfortunately the protein is accompanied by antinutrients. The quantity of
      oxalate and tannin in acha, bambara groundnut, guinea corn, millet, sesame seed,
      soybean and tiger nut were chemically analyzed. The white variety of sesame seed
      and soybean have the highest oxalate and tannin contents of 8.25 mg/g and 0.15
      mg/g respectively. Among the cereals the black and brown varieties of millet have
      the highest oxalate and tannin contents of 4.65 mg/g and 0.07 mg/g respectively.
      The presence of these antinutrients makes plant (especially legumes) protein
      partially available and of poor quality.

PMID- 1455534
TI  - Angioid streaks in Uganda.
AB  - A study on the ophthalmoscopic appearance of angioid streaks and their suspected
      association with local and systemic diseases among ugandan Africans is presented.
      In all 40 eyes of 20 patients were studied and the results indicate an
      interesting association with certain diseases.

PMID- 1455535
TI  - Painless peripheral lymphadenopathy in Nigerian children.
AB  - We conducted a diagnostic biopsy during a period of 8 years (January 1981 -
      December 1988) on 74 consecutive children (aged under 16 years) who attended the
      University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, for chronic enlarged painless
      lymphadenopathy, with a view to determining the diseases that commonly present
      with this symptom in our environment. Histological diagnoses returned were
      predominantly tuberculosis, neoplasms and nonspecific reactive changes. Each of
      these conditions was evenly distributed among the entire age group. Neoplasms
      were mainly Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins lymphoma, with Burkitt's tumour the
      commonest childhood tumour in Nigeria not contributing significantly to the
      neoplastic lymphadenopathy. Regional enlargement rather than generalised
      lymphadenopathy seems to be dominant, the commonest sites of involvement being
      the cervical followed by the inguinal regions. Chronic lymph node enlargement
      appears to be rare in our environment and only a few disease conditions manifest
      with peripheral nodes despite the large number of infections and other
      inflammatory diseases in Nigerian children.

PMID- 1455536
TI  - A hydatid cyst at an unusual site.

PMID- 1455537
TI  - Trichinosis from wild boar meat in Gojjam, north-west Ethiopia.
AB  - An outbreak of trichinosis associated with ingestion of meat from a wild boar in
      Gojjam administrative region, Ethiopia, is reported. Of the 30 soldiers, 20 who
      ate the meat raw, became ill and 5 of them were admitted to the Armed Forces
      General Hospital (AFGH). Even though they presented with a typical history and
      clinical features the disease was not even suspected at the peripheral hospital.
      The diagnosis was confirmed, at the AFGH, by deltoid muscle biopsy in all the 5
      cases. Trichinosis being increasingly recognized as a public health problem in
      Ethiopia, warrants public education and more awareness by health workers.

PMID- 1455538
TI  - Hernia in northern Jordan. Some epidemiological considerations.
AB  - This retrospective study covers the authors' experience over five years of 1,722
      primary hernia repairs in 1,722 patients of all ages. An analysis of some
      epidemiological features is presented and discussed. Inguinal hernia was by far
      the commonest variety accounting for more than 84% of the total series.
      Regardless of sex and type of hernia, 60% of all hernias were right-sided while
      not more than 5% were bilateral. The male to female ratio for the entire series
      was 4.3:1 and 8.2:1 for the inguinal hernia group. The main findings of this
      retrospective study are in direct accord with other series reported in the
      literature. Furthermore, we suspect our results are typical of those to be found
      in large and comparable general community hospitals in Jordan.

PMID- 1455539
TI  - AIDS and women's health care in developing countries.

PMID- 1455540
TI  - Prevention of HIV transmission through blood transfusion in Tanzania.

PMID- 1455541
TI  - AIDS in children.

PMID- 1455542
TI  - Seroprevalence of HIV and STD in Mwanza region, Tanzania.

PMID- 1455543
TI  - Surgery and AIDS; safety aspects and clinical experience.

PMID- 1455544
TI  - Clinical and microbiological aspects of microsporidiosis.

PMID- 1455545
TI  - Lilalu, psychosis in Kenya the contribution of traditional and prayer healers and
      Western psychiatry to the social reintegration of psychotic patients.

PMID- 1455546
TI  - The treatment of kala-azar: old and new options.

PMID- 1455547
TI  - [The effect of cadmium on the survivability of colony-forming hematopoietic cells
      in mice exposed to x-ray irradiation].
AB  - It has been reported elsewhere that in addition to enhancing the expression of
      metallothionein genes, the previous injection of cadmium salts into sublethally X
      irradiated mice increases by 10 times the number of endogenous spleen colonies.
      To understand the mechanism of the strong radioprotective cadmium effect donors
      and recipients were treated separately. It is shown that the survival of
      exogenous bone marrow colony-forming cells in lethally irradiated recipient
      remains at the control level independently of the donor cadmium treatment,
      whereas the injection of cadmium nitrate to recipient mice leads to the
      stimulation of colony formation by 1.7-1.8 times. The data allow to conclude that
      the cadmium effect on the survival of colony-forming hemopoietic murine cells
      after X-irradiation is not mediated by the enhanced expression of metallothionein
      genes.

PMID- 1455548
TI  - [A rapid method for the combined staining of chromosomal nucleolus organizer
      regions with silver and the differential staining of chromosomes in the
      laboratory mouse].

PMID- 1455549
TI  - [Eukaryotes devoid of the most important cellular organelles (flagella, Golgi
      apparatus, mitochondria) and the main task of organellology].
AB  - Comparative evidence on the lack of three important organelles (flagella, Golgi
      complex, mitochondria) in cells and organisms at the cellular level of
      organization has been summarized for all the four eukaryotic kingdoms--Protista,
      Fungi, Plantae and Animalia (Metazoa). It is established that in the course of
      evolution these organelles may undergo the total reduction. There is no cellular
      organelle to be regarded as universal, indispensable. There are only three main
      obligatory cell components--the plasmalemma, nucleus and cytoplasm (with applied
      cytoskeleton, cytomembranes and ribosomes). The reduction of flagella (cilia) is
      occurring in different taxa independent of the transition of protists from the
      flagellate type of locomotion to the amoeboid, gliding of metabolizing ones, and
      in the number of metazoan cells. The members of Protista and Fungi, which line in
      microaerobic or anaerobic conditions, nearly inevitably lose their mitochondria.
      The tendency to lose Golgi-complex is demonstrated in protists with parasitic
      mode of life, especially in combination with anaerobiosis. There is so far no
      satisfied morphological criterium that could say with certainty whether the
      lacking of flagella, Golgi complex or mitochondria in the low eukaryotes may be
      primary or secondary (as the result of reduction). Data on the composition,
      structure and RNA nucleotide sequences cannot be either the straight evidence. A
      comparative analysis of these data shows that the ribosomes of the primary
      eukaryotes were, presumably, of a prokaryotic type. Their eukaryotization was
      carried out for a long time during the evolution of the low eukaryotes (Protista
      and Fungi), probably, independently in different phylogenetic lines. It is
      unknown at what steps and in what main phylogenetic lines the three above
      mentioned organelles may have appeared. It is proposed to single out a special
      division of cytology--organellology (organoidology)--as an individual science
      whose main purpose may be investigation of the origination, evolution and
      disappearance of organelles.

PMID- 1455550
TI  - [The capacity for reactive DNA synthesis of the myocytes in the heart conduction
      system in experimental and clinical myocardial pathology].
AB  - The DNA synthesis has been studied in the conductive system (CS) myocytes,
      compared to that in atrial and ventricular myocytes: 1) in the left ventricular
      myocardial infarction induced in two- and three-week-old and adult rats, 2) after
      isoproterenol injections to adult rats and mice, and 3) in the hypertrophied
      human heart. The extent of DNA synthesis reactivation was evaluated by the
      cumulative labeling indices in experiments with multiple 3HTdR injections to rats
      and mice. In the human cardiac myocyte nuclei, the DNA content was determined by
      the Feulgen-cytophotometry. The difference between the control and experimental
      mean values of the labeling indices for CS myocyte nuclei was statistically
      significant only for atrioventricular part of the CS in the infarcted hearts of
      adult rats. In the human heart CS the ability of myocytes to polyploidization
      varies from one cell type to another, the lowest being in nodal cells.

PMID- 1455551
TI  - [The structure of the reticulum of Mauthner's neurons in tadpoles of the clawed
      toad grown under increased gravitational force].
AB  - The ultrastructure of the Mauthner cells (M-cells) and the behaviour of Xenopus
      laevis tadpoles, reared from eggs under increased gravity (2.9 g) which changes
      the activity of an afferent vestibular input, were investigated. Besides, a study
      was made of tadpoles after the hindbrain ablation at earlier embryonal stages
      which significantly altered the microenvironment of M-cells. It is shown that
      experimental treatments enhance the proliferation of endoplasmic reticulum and
      its derivatives, so called subsurface cisterns, in the subsynaptic areas. Some
      structural changes of the synaptic active zones and the cytoskeleton of M-cells
      were also noticed. It is assumed that the development of the endoplasmic
      reticulum promotes an intense removal of calcium ions from subsynaptic areas. The
      plasticity of the endoplasmic reticulum together with other ultrastructural
      changes apparently stipulate the adaptation of neurons to changed conditions of
      functioning.

PMID- 1455552
TI  - [A stereoscopic analysis of centrosome structure in the cells of a tissue culture
      under the action of energy metabolism inhibitors. I. 2,4-Dinitrophenol,
      deoxyglucose, sodium azide and the calcium ionophore A23187].
AB  - A 30-min action of energy transfer inhibitors (2,4-dinitrophenol, deoxyglucose,
      azide and calcium ionophore A23187) on tissue culture cells results in a
      significant increase in the quantity of microtubules around the centrosome. After
      the action of all the inhibitors, mostly increases the number of long
      microtubules with free proximal end oriented towards the centrosome. It is
      suggested that energy transfer inhibitors may stimulate foundation of
      microtubules on the centrosome and stabilize free microtubules, while they exert
      no effect on the frequency of detachment of microtubules from the centrosome.

PMID- 1455553
TI  - [The production of "pure" cultures of neurons from the brain of human embryos].
AB  - A method has been developed for preparing essentially pure primary cultures of
      neurons from 10-12 week old fetal human brain. This method is based on the 1)
      capacity of neurons to form multicellular aggregates, 2) cultivation in
      chemically defined medium, and 3) treatment with cytosine arabinoside as
      antimitotic agent. This procedure allowed the preparation of highly purified (95
      per cent and more) neuronal aggregate cultures. Ultrastructural analysis of these
      cultures following one and 8 days has revealed their partial differentiation
      during cultivation.

PMID- 1455554
TI  - [The autocrine regulation of the proliferation of cell line A-549 under
      conditions facilitating the acidification of the culture medium].
AB  - The influence of serum-free media, previously conditioned by A-549 line cells of
      the human lung adenocarcinoma (c-medium), on the intensity of 3H-thymidine
      incorporation into DNA of the same cells was studied. It was found that,
      depending on the duration of conditioning (2, 4 and 6 days), the c-media were
      obtained with corresponding values of pH--7.2, 6.9 and 6.3, in the latter case
      the contact inhibition of cell growth being seen. On culturing the A-549 line
      cells in the c-medium at pH 7.2 and 6.9, the intensity of DNA biosynthesis was
      shown to be 2.4 and 1.8 times higher, respectively, compared to that under
      condition of the fresh serum-free medium. The cell culturing in the c-medium at
      pH 6.3 (here and in the case of pH 6.9 c-medium the media pH were made up to 7.2
      before utilization) leads to the inhibition of DNA biosynthesis intensity in the
      cells. It was also detected that a temporary acidification of the pH 7.2 c-medium
      to pH 4.0 or 2.0, using, respectively CO2 bubbling or HCl titration, caused the
      growth inhibiting manifestation in this medium. The results obtained testify that
      the carcinoma cells of A-549 line are able to secrete into the cultured medium
      both stimulators and inhibitors of DNA biosynthesis, with a transforming growth
      factor beta being of primary importance among the latter.

PMID- 1455555
TI  - [The regulation of DNA repair processes in mammalian cells. III. The effect of
      epidermal growth factor on the postradiation recovery of the cell cycle in human
      A 431 cells and embryonic fibroblasts].
AB  - Recovery of the cell cycle in cells A 431 and in human embryo fibroblasts (EFH)
      differs much. Unlike EFH, A 431 cells have: 1) synchronized exit of cells from G1
      into S phase after 5 Gr irradiation; 2) G2-block; 3) much less manifestation of
      these two phenomena in the presence of EGF; 4) a lesser effectiveness of the
      repair of DNA single-strand breaks. EGF stimulation of the repair of radiation
      induced DNA lesions, SSB in particular, may be of great importance for the
      postirradiation cell cycle recovery.

PMID- 1455556
TI  - [The effect of the conditions for connective tissue formation during
      posttraumatic skin regeneration in rats on the adhesive properties of the
      epidermal cells].
AB  - A cicatrix formed in the process of posttraumatic skin regeneration is
      characterized by a higher cell adhesion power in the upper, and, especially, in
      the middle epidermis stratum. The cell adhesion power indices in these strata,
      and cell mitotic activity of basal epidermis stratum near the cicatrix depend on
      conditions of connective tissue formation in the wound defect. The effect of
      physiological solution and trypsin on the wound process results in a moderate
      rising of intercellular contact strength and in decreasing in the number of
      dividing basal stratum cells, while addition of ronidase solution results in a
      sharp rising of the corneous scale adhesion strength, and in establishing the
      straight correlation between this index and the speed of epidermocyte production.

PMID- 1455557
TI  - [Molecular biological differences between strains of Mycoplasma gallisepticum].
AB  - Differences in virulence of two Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains, S6 and A5969,
      are confirmed in experiments with chickens. Macromolecular discrepancies detected
      between these two strains are concerning the genomic size, electrophoretic
      spectra of DNA and proteins. Cross immunoblotting data with polyclonal and
      monoclonal antibodies reveal major immunogens of protein nature in both the
      strains. Homologous proteins with different electrophoretic mobility are detected
      in other four M. gallisepticum strains. A possible participation of these
      proteins of M. gallisepticum in adhesion to the host cells is discussed.

PMID- 1455558
TI  - [The reorganization of the extracellular matrix in mixed monolayer cultures].
AB  - Heterotypic cells in combined monolayer sheets can push each other from the
      substratum due to a competition in attachment of pseudopodia of contacting
      heterotypic cells: different types of epithelium can push each other and
      fibroblasts from the substratum in mixed cultures. The formation of extracellular
      matrix in mixed cultures was studied with antisera to fibronectin and laminin by
      immunofluorescent microscopy. It was shown that one group of cells in the sheet
      pushed another group together with their extracellular matrices. It is supposed
      that the interaction of contacting heterotypic cells and associated extracellular
      matrices may play an important role in distribution of different cell types in
      embryogenesis and carcinogenesis.

PMID- 1455559
TI  - [The differential staining of murine metaphase chromosomes in early embryogenesis
      after treatment with restrictase AluI in situ].
AB  - The picture of differential staining of early mouse embryogenesis metaphasic
      chromosomes, from the first cleavage up to 10 days of gestation, after digestion
      by restriction endonuclease AluI was studied. It was shown that depending on the
      degree of digestion by endonuclease differential bandings of G+C- or C-type were
      observed. After the least digestion only the first cleavage chromosomes were
      differently stained. A slight difference in intensity of staining between
      paternal and maternal chromosomes of the zygote was observed. All the mouse
      chromosomes were identified after AluI digestion and staining after Giemsa.

PMID- 1455560
TI  - [DNA synthesis and content in human decidual cells at different stages of
      differentiation based on flow cytometry data].
AB  - Flow cytometry analysis of the DNA content of human decidual cells at the
      physiologically normal pregnancy and in the case of toxicosis was carried out.
      During the normal pregnancy DNA-histogram parameters were seen to vary: the
      number of S-phase cells decreased, the coefficient of variation of the G1/0 peak
      increased. These alterations correlated positively with the increase in the share
      of decidual cells with properties of terminally differentiated cells. The most
      pronounced quantitative alterations in variability of DNA content in G1/0 cells
      were observed in cases of toxicosis of pregnancy. Phenomena of variability of the
      nuclear DNA in the terminally differentiated decidual cells is considered to be a
      sign of cell death through apoptosis.

PMID- 1455561
TI  - [The use of several types of metal cations--a new approach to the study of the
      metallophilia of Ranvier's nodes of nerve fibers].
AB  - Mechanisms of metal affinity of Ranvier's nodes of myelinated nerve fibers in the
      peripheral nerve system have been investigated. It is indicated that Fe(3+)-ions
      are able to reduce to Fe(2+)-ions. Ag(+)-ions compete with Fe(3+)-ions for places
      of adsorption in a gap [correction of chick] between myelinated segments of
      Ranvier's node. It is demonstrated that Fe(3+)- and Fe(2+)-ions are adsorbed in
      the gap [correction of chink], while Ag(+)-ions are adsorbed in the gap
      [correction of chink] and axon in the bulbs of the node. One can increase
      ferrocyanide of ferrous sediment by several times by ferricyanide of ferrous
      sediment as well as by ferrocyanide of silver and of metal silver ones. A
      possibility to use several kinds of metal ions for demonstration of cytochemical
      heterogeneity of nerve fibre membrane is discussed.

PMID- 1455562
TI  - [The interrelation between changes in the structural organization of replicon
      clusters, a retarded fork displacement rate and the high level of spontaneous
      SCEs in form II of xeroderma pigmentosum].
AB  - A cytogenetic observation, that the sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) occur 3
      times more frequently in a special form of xeroderma pigmentosum--XPII than in
      the norm, prompted a study of DNA replication in this rare disease. Using DNA
      fiber autoradiography, the rate of fork movement and the frequency of initiation
      in the adjacent clusters of replicons were estimated. The rate of fork movement
      was significantly slower than that in classical XP and in normal cells. Here
      evidence was provided on another defect in DNA replication in XPII that involves
      a significantly decreased number of simultaneously operating adjacent clusters of
      replicons, which results in a decreased rate of DNA chain-growth. According to
      the Painter replication model for SCE, the exchanges arise due to double-strand
      DNA breaks occurring on the border between two adjacent clusters, respectively,
      completely and partially replicated. A retarded fork-displacement rate together
      with a decreased rate of DNA-chain growth may cause this situation to persist
      longer than in the norm. Thus, our data provide a further support of the
      replication model for SCE. A similar combination of cytogenetic and molecular
      defects has been obtained earlier in the Bloom syndrome cells.

PMID- 1455563
TI  - [The effect of opioid peptides on the size of the cellular aggregates in a cell
      culture of rat embryonic spinal cord].
AB  - Effect of opioid peptide Leu-enkephalin (Leu-enk) and synthetic analogue of Leu
      enk on fetal rat spinal cord cells in culture was studied. Activity of peptides
      was measured in dissociated culture on aggregation assay. The aggregated place
      was calculated on days 3 and 6 of culturing, because this parameter indicates the
      cell adhesion and neuronal and glial survival. The aggregation place was shown to
      increase due to peptide action: with Leu-enk and dalargin by 1.6 and 1.7, resp.,
      compared to the control; both calculations being made on days 3 and 6 of
      culturing. The results of the analysis of opioid peptide activity during
      culturing of dissociated cells of fetal rat spinal cord demonstrate that the
      peptides changed the adhesion of cells and increased their survival. The results
      of the present and our earlier experiments suggest that the opioid peptides may
      be growth factors for CNS cells and may play a role in development and
      regeneration of the nervous tissue.

PMID- 1455564
TI  - The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist-induced initial rise of
      bioactive LH and testosterone can be blunted in a dose-dependent manner by GnRH
      antagonist in the non-human primate.
AB  - Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists induce a clinically undesirable,
      transitory but very pronounced initial rise of gonadotropin and gonadal steroid
      secretion. We investigated, in a non-human primate model, whether the initial
      stimulatory effects of GnRH agonists can be avoided by a short period of
      pretreatment and simultaneous treatment with a GnRH antagonist. Three groups of
      five adult male cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) received a single s.c.
      biodegradable implant loaded with the GnRH agonist, buserelin ([D-Ser(TBu)6
      desGly-NH2]-GnRH), releasing approximately 50 micrograms buserelin daily. From 1
      week before to 1 week after inception of administration of GnRH agonist, group 1
      received the GnRH antagonist vehicle, and groups 2 and 3 were given s.c.
      injections of the GnRH antagonist Nal-Glu ([Ac-D-Nal(2)1,D-4-Cl-Phe2,D-Pal3,D
      Arg5,D-Glu6(AA),D- Ala10]-GnRH) at a dose of 450 or 2250 micrograms/kg daily. In
      the absence of GnRH antagonist, the GnRH agonist induced a marked elevation of
      serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone lasting for 2 and 5 days,
      respectively. In group 2, Nal-Glu reduced basal hormone secretion and delayed the
      peak of GnRH-agonist-induced hormone secretion by 1 day. In group 3, the GnRH
      agonist-induced rise of LH and testosterone was prevented in three animals and
      did not exceed baseline hormone levels in the other two animals. Areas under the
      LH and testosterone curves were significantly reduced in group 3 compared to
      group 1. After withdrawal of the GnRH antagonist, a second transient rise of
      hormone secretion was observed. Except for testosterone in group 2, this rise did
      not exceed the baseline range of hormone concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455565
TI  - Effect of active immunization to luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone on the
      fertility and histoarchitecture of the reproductive organs of male rat.
AB  - The feasibility of using a vaccine against luteinizing-hormone-releasing factor
      for suppression of pituitary and gonadal functions has been indicated for some
      time. Antibody production against this low-molecular-weight, naturally occurring
      decapeptide, however, requires to be coupled to a carrier protein to enhance its
      immunogenicity. LHRH was coupled to diphtheria toxoid (DT). Adult male Sprague
      Dawley rats with a mean basal body weight of 200 g were immunized with anti-LHRH
      DT (20 micrograms/injection/rat) at four-week intervals. An equal number of
      unexposed animals served as controls. Six animals were killed every two weeks up
      the end of the week 43. The vaccination schedule did not have any effect on the
      gain in body weight, nor was any adverse effect of vaccination observed in the
      course of the investigations. The pituitary, prostate, epididymis, testes,
      seminal vesicles, adrenal and thyroid were excised for determination of organ
      weight and histological examination. The adrenal, pituitary and thyroid showed no
      remarkable weight changes during the observation period, whereas the weights of
      the reproductive organs demonstrated significant reductions compared to those of
      the control group. The histopathology revealed marked to significant changes in
      the gonads and the accessory sex organs including the prostate. A progressive
      phase of regeneration of spermatogenesis was evident 98 days after vaccination.
      Total recovery of spermatogenesis was observed 300 days after vaccination. The
      mating studies showed the return of fertility 300 days after vaccination. The
      litters borne were normal. Prostate showed recovery after 154 days of
      vaccination. Our observations lend strong support to the hypothesis that anti
      LHRH vaccine can be effectively used on the management of prostate carcinoma. If
      the vaccination is given together with a suitable dose of long-acting androgen,
      contained in an adequate delivery system, the regimen may be used for the
      regulation of male fertility.

PMID- 1455566
TI  - Oxalate transport in cultured porcine renal epithelial cells.
AB  - Oxalate-containing kidney stones are the most common type (75%) of renal stones.
      In order to control oxalate excretion in the urine, a basic understanding of the
      cellular transport of oxalate is imperative. We have utilized the technique of
      continuous cell culture to establish and characterize a model system to study
      renal epithelial cell (LLCPK1) oxalate transport. Our data demonstrate that
      oxalate uptake in these cells is dependent on time, concentration and energy. The
      Km for oxalate uptake was 200 microM. Oxalate uptake was decreased at lower
      temperatures and elevated in an acidic extracellular environment. Both anion
      exchange inhibitors DIDS and SITS inhibited oxalate uptake. Sulfate, chloride,
      and bicarbonate decreased oxalate uptake, as did the diuretics bumetanide and
      furosemide. There was no evidence for the co-transport of oxalate with sodium.
      Our data show that monolayers of cultured kidney epithelial cells are a valuable
      model system for study of the basic cellular mechanisms of oxalate transport.

PMID- 1455567
TI  - Citrate and recurrent idiopathic calcium urolithiasis. A longitudinal pilot study
      on the metabolic effects of oral potassium sodium citrate administered as short-,
      medium- and long-term to male stone patients.
AB  - In male patients with idiopathic recurrent calcium urolithiasis (RCU) the effects
      of oral potassium sodium citrate (PSC) on acid-base, citrate and mineral
      metabolism were investigated. There were 17 normocitraturic and 15 hypocitraturic
      patients. The examination time points in our clinical laboratory were prior to
      medication and after 3, 6 and over 12 months of medication. Urine collection
      periods were over 24 h, 2 h--after an overnight fast--3 h postprandially.
      Acceptance by the patients was poor, a large number refusing to take PSC for 12
      months. Compliance of the patients continuing with the study was adequate as
      assessed by the urinary excretion of potassium and sodium. No unwanted side
      effects were observed. After 3 months of PSC medication a compensated metabolic
      alkalosis developed; in the urine calcium was decreased, while citrate, pH and
      oxalate were increased, as were hydroxyapatite supersaturation and calcium
      phosphate particles. After more than 12 months of PSC medication, citrate and pH
      tended toward the pretreatment baseline values, while hydroxyapatite
      supersaturation and calcium had already returned to pretreatment values. Despite
      ongoing PSC intake, patients with pre-existing hypocitraturia had lower urinary
      citrate than patients with previous normocitraturia, while the concomitant pH and
      hydroxyapatite supersaturation in the urine of the former remained at levels
      close to those of the latter. Under the influence of PSC, parathyroid gland
      function remained unchanged, but serum levels of bone alkaline phosphatase and
      osteocalcin were low, and urinary hydroxyproline was high.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455568
TI  - Impact of voltage and capacity on the electrical and acoustic output of
      intracorporeal electrohydraulic lithotripsy.
AB  - The electrical and acoustic output created by the spark discharge for
      electrohydraulic lithotripsy at the tip of a 3.3-F probe was evaluated. Spark
      generation was achieved by variable combinations of voltage and capacity. The
      effective electrical output was determined by means of a high-voltage probe, a
      current coil and a digital oscilloscope. Peak pressures, rise times and pulse
      width of the shock waves were recorded using a polyvinylidene difluoride needle
      hydrophone in 0.9% NaCl solution at a distance of 10 mm. The effective electrical
      output is lower than the calculated output, due to inductivities, capacities and
      resistances of the cables and plugs. The life of the probes is markedly shorter
      when a combination of high voltage and low capacity is used than with low voltage
      and high capacity corresponding to the same energy. The peak pressure and the
      slope of the shock front depend solely on the voltage, while the pulse width is
      correlated with the capacity. The pulse intensity integral of the shock wave is
      likely to be the best equivalent to the applied energy.

PMID- 1455569
TI  - Periurethral colonization and urinary leukocytes as markers for bacteriuria in
      children with neurogenic bladder.
AB  - Bacteriuria and associated renal damage is common in children with a neurogenic
      bladder, but the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection (UTI) is undefined. We
      examined the association between periurethral bacterial colonization and the
      presence of urinary leukocytes in 76 catheter urine specimens from children with
      neurogenic bladders. Although all the children were asymptomatic, 38/76 (50%) of
      the urine cultures were positive. Periurethral colonization was significantly
      more common with positive than with negative urine cultures, suggesting a
      pathogenetic role for periurethral bacteria in infection of the neurogenic
      bladder. Urinary leukocytes were present in 24/38 (63%) with positive cultures,
      as against none (0/38) of those with negative urine cultures, and their presence
      represents a host response to bladder bacteriuria.

PMID- 1455570
TI  - New device for penile vibrotactile stimulation: description and preliminary
      results.
AB  - A small, lightweight mini-vibrator for measuring penile sensitivity is described.
      Data on subjective thresholds to vibrotactile stimulation were collected from
      sexually functional and dysfunctional men during both flaccid and tumescent
      penile states. Two sites, the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the glans penis,
      were stimulated. Results indicated a significant correlation between thresholds
      obtained with the mini-vibrator and those obtained with another stimulating
      device. In addition, the patterns of sensitivity in the flaccid and in the
      tumescent penis were similar to those found in previously studied samples of
      sexually functional and dysfunctional men. This device has advantages over other
      vibrators in that it can be attached directly to the penis and does not lose
      contact with the penile surface during tumescence.

PMID- 1455571
TI  - Karyometry in recurrent superficial transitional cell tumors of the bladder.
AB  - Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder has a high recurrence rate after local
      treatment. Progression to a higher stage occurs in 10-30% of the recurrent
      tumors, and early detection of potentially progressive tumors is important. In
      the current study morphometric, densitometric, and chromatin textural features of
      nuclei of superficial bladder tumors (pTa-T1) were studied to determine the value
      of karyometric features in the prediction of tumor progression. Seventy-two
      histological samples from 36 patients, consisting of both the primary and the
      first recurrent superficial tumor, were analyzed. Patients were divided into two
      groups: those with tumor progression, defined as an increase in tumor stage or
      occurrence of metastatic disease, and those without. Discriminant analysis on
      four karyometric features resulted in correct prediction of prognosis of 78% and
      97% in the primary and recurrent tumors, respectively (P < 0.001). Tumor grade
      and stage did not offer additional information concerning prognosis. Karyometric
      analysis of recurrent superficial transitional cell tumors can be useful in
      selecting patients who need a more aggressive therapy. However, tumor
      characteristics of recurrent tumors varied and continuous evaluation of the
      karyometric features is necessary for early detection of an increase in the
      malignant potential of the tumor.

PMID- 1455572
TI  - Anatomy of the mouth and teeth of the cat.
AB  - Anatomy of the feline mouth is described. Dental occlusion and tooth and
      periodontal structure are reviewed. Also included is a thorough discussion of
      dental terminology.

PMID- 1455573
TI  - Feline oral-dental radiographic examination and interpretation.
AB  - This article describes the technique of taking intraoral radiographs and
      developing film. Interpretation of oral radiographs is described. Radiation
      safety is reviewed. A troubleshooting section is included.

PMID- 1455574
TI  - Oral-dental disease in cats. A feline practitioner's perspective.
AB  - The impact and relevance of dentistry in a general feline practice is detailed.
      Hospital policy and protocol are described for client education, preanesthetic
      evaluation, dental procedures, and recall programs. A discussion of commonly
      observed feline dental problems is included.

PMID- 1455575
TI  - Feline experimental models for control of periodontal disease.
AB  - Feline periodontal disease has many elements in common with human and canine
      disease. Anatomic, physiologic, microbiologic, and immunologic differences
      between the three species make it impossible to predict with certainty whether
      successful approaches to controlling and treating canine oral disease will also
      prove successful in cats. We have developed methods for reproducible,
      quantitative evaluation of feline dental plaque and calculus. Our studies
      demonstrated that feline plaque accumulation peaks at 1 week after prophylaxis
      and that calculus peaks at 4 weeks after prophylaxis. These methods should be
      adequately sensitive to document control of plaque and calculus accumulation by
      efficacious chemical or antimicrobial agents.

PMID- 1455576
TI  - Inflammatory oral cavity diseases of the cat.
AB  - There is a great deal of frustration among veterinarians about the diagnosis and
      treatment of inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity of the cat. This
      frustration is due to both the high frequency of feline oral inflammatory lesions
      and our poor understanding of their causes. This poor understanding can be blamed
      on several things: (1) a rapidly emerging, but still relatively poor,
      understanding of feline diseases in general and nutrition in particular; (2) a
      tendency to lump rather than separate specific oral inflammations; (3) a tendency
      not to use a thorough and systematic approach to diagnosing oral cavity disease;
      and (4) the reluctance of veterinarians to apply what is already known about
      human oral cavity diseases to cats. When problems 2 through 4 are adequately
      addressed, it becomes apparent that we really know more about oral cavity disease
      in the cat than we thought we knew and that great progress has been made. The
      task ahead is to define, in precise medical terms, those remaining disease
      entities of the oral cavity that pose the greatest health risk to cats, to apply
      what has been already been discovered from human disease counterparts, and to
      study them systematically.

PMID- 1455577
TI  - Gingivitis/stomatitis in cats.
AB  - Any alteration in the balance of bacterial challenge versus the host's ability to
      resist and repair will result in oral lesions that are similar in appearance. The
      bacterial cause of gingivitis and periodontitis in humans and in all other
      animals in which it has been studied is firmly established, and specific species
      of predominantly gram-negative anaerobes have been implicated. Naturally
      occurring or acquired immunopathologies are likely to result in premature dental
      disease. When oral disease is associated with the accumulation of plaque, a
      positive response can be achieved by reducing the bacterial challenge to the host
      through the maintenance of oral hygiene by timely professional dental prophylaxis
      and home care. Disease that is the result of atypical immune responses, however,
      can be much more difficult to manage. Such oral disease can occur with either
      immune deficiencies or exaggerated immune responses, and it is likely that
      multiple mechanisms are active concurrently. In any case, gram-negative anaerobes
      present in plaque are likely to be a major contributing factor. Therefore
      patients with chronic refractory gingivitis-stomatitis must be considered to be
      plaque intolerant. Only with a frequent regimen of aggressive and thorough
      professional dental treatment plus meticulous oral home care on a daily basis can
      one expect to keep these cases in remission. Because this is often unrealistic,
      the only other way to keep these patients free of disease is by total dental
      extraction. The tissues that are colonized by the causative organisms must be
      eliminated. All root tips and bony sequestra must be removed and healing with
      intact epithelium accomplished before these cases will go into remission.
      Edentulous feline patients that continue to have signs of gingivostomatitis have
      been found to have an area of nonhealed bony sequestrum and chronic
      osteomyelitis. Once effective debridement has been accomplished and epithelial
      healing completed, nonresponsive cases can be expected to go into remission
      (Color Plate 2, Figure 7). It is hoped that as more is learned about this
      frustrating problem, the many factors influencing feline oral disease will be
      scientifically documented. In the future, actual diagnoses can be systematically
      made early on in disease, and treatment will be more than just symptomatic.

PMID- 1455578
TI  - Etiopathogenesis of feline dental resorptive lesions.
AB  - There are several factors in the etiopathology of feline resorptive lesions. They
      may be considered as local immune-response mediating cell and humoral factors;
      release of biochemical components in dental and paradental tissues to attract
      odontoclasts; mechanical stress, including occlusal mechanism; and local and
      systemic calcium regulation, including remodeling of mineralized tissue and
      dietary intake of calcium.

PMID- 1455579
TI  - Feline dental resorptive lesions. Prevalence patterns.
AB  - Surveys were carried out in cats presented for dental examination in the
      Netherlands (432 cats) and in the United States (78 cats). In 62% of the Dutch
      cats and 67% of the US cats, resorptive lesions were present. In the Dutch study,
      Asian Short-hair (principally Siamese) cats were most commonly involved, and male
      cats were more commonly affected than females. The most commonly affected teeth
      were the fourth maxillary premolar and the mandibular premolar and molar teeth.

PMID- 1455580
TI  - Subgingival odontoclastic resorptive lesions. Classification, treatment, and
      results in 58 cats.
AB  - A commonly recognized dental problem in cats is the resorption of tooth structure
      and subsequent loss of the tooth. These tooth defects are often very painful,
      because the sensitive dentin layer is exposed. The destruction of the tooth
      through odontoclastic resorption is considered a consequence of inflammatory
      resorption, probably secondary to periodontal inflammation. Because these
      resorptive lesions are progressive in nature, it is best to stage this
      progression of resorption in order to address treatment planning. The purpose of
      this study was to evaluate a group of 58 cats with resorptive lesions to
      determine the outcome of treatment 6 months or longer after restoration. In 81%
      of the cats, there was loss of the tooth, evidence of further resorption, or loss
      of the restoration at one or more resorption sites. Of the 154 teeth restored,
      only 33% showed no further evidence of loss of tooth structure.

PMID- 1455581
TI  - Feline endodontics.
AB  - One misconception in veterinary medicine is that fractured teeth do not need to
      be treated, or treatment should consist of extraction only. Two common causes of
      endodontic disease in the cat are fractures and secondary to cervical line
      lesions. Endodontic technique can be useful in returning a diseased tooth to
      normal, pain-free function. Conventional endodontics can be used to treat
      fractured canine teeth or partially destroyed molars. Surgical endodontics is
      useful in cases in which an apical seal cannot be established by conventional
      methods. Pulp capping can preserve a vital tooth as an alternative to extraction.

PMID- 1455582
TI  - Feline malocclusion.
AB  - Modern feline malocclusion is the result of altered dento-facial proportions from
      the normal occlusion. The development of the brachycephalic and dolichocephalic
      head types has resulted in displaced dentition with accompanying soft-tissue
      trauma.

PMID- 1455583
TI  - Treatment of jaw fractures in small animals with parapulpar pin composite
      bridges.
AB  - This article describes a 5-year study of 73 cats that were surgically treated for
      mandibular fractures or combinations of fractures with luxation of the
      temporomandibular joint. Surgical technique and results are described in detail.

PMID- 1455584
TI  - Infection of laying hens with Salmonella enteritidis PT4 by conjunctival
      challenge.
AB  - The direct administration of either 103 or 108 cells of Salmonella enteritidis
      phage type 4 on to the conjunctiva of laying hens resulted in systemic infection.
      The bacterium was isolated from a variety of tissues, including the ovary and
      oviduct, and it was excreted in faeces for at least 27 days after infection.

PMID- 1455585
TI  - Generalised tuberculosis with orchitis in the bull.

PMID- 1455586
TI  - Evaluation of the complex trapping blocking-ELISA in a serological survey during
      the Belgian classical swine fever epizootic in 1990.

PMID- 1455587
TI  - Docking of dogs.

PMID- 1455588
TI  - Effect of professional status on career path.

PMID- 1455589
TI  - Swine vesicular disease in the European Community.

PMID- 1455590
TI  - Use of ivermectin as a treatment for sheep scab.

PMID- 1455591
TI  - Biological hazards in the workplace.

PMID- 1455592
TI  - Spongiform encephalopathy in a captive puma (Felis concolor).
AB  - A captive adult puma developed ataxia, a hypermetric gait and whole body tremor.
      The signs progressed over a period of six weeks. Histopathological examination
      following euthanasia demonstrated spongiform encephalopathy, gliosis and mild non
      suppurative meningoencephalitis. Immunostaining with a polyclonal antiserum
      revealed prion protein (PrP) associated with these changes in sections of
      cervical spinal cord and medulla. This is the first confirmed case of a scrapie
      like spongiform encephalopathy described in a non-domestic cat in the United
      Kingdom.

PMID- 1455593
TI  - Duration of urinary excretion of leptospires by cattle naturally or
      experimentally infected with Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo.
AB  - The excretion of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo in the urine of cattle was
      studied in naturally and experimentally infected animals. Five of 15 naturally
      infected animals with microscopic agglutination test titres of > or = 1:300 shed
      leptospires for between 28 and 40 weeks. Twenty yearling heifers, experimentally
      infected by either the supraconjunctival or intrauterine routes, shed leptospires
      for from eight to 60 weeks; the 10 infected via the uterus shed L interrogans
      serovar hardjo for a mean of 26 weeks (range eight to 54 weeks) and the 10
      infected by the supraconjunctival route shed the organism for a mean of 32 weeks
      (range 12 to 60 weeks). The results suggest that natural infection results in
      more prolonged excretion than experimental infection. No intermittent or seasonal
      excretion of the organism was observed. After the initial experimental infection,
      large numbers of leptospires were shed in the urine for several weeks, and
      thereafter there was a progressive decline in the number of organisms shed.

PMID- 1455594
TI  - Mortalities and wasting in Indonesian sheep associated with the trematode
      Eurytrema pancreaticum.

PMID- 1455595
TI  - Demonstration of Isospora suis oocysts in faecal samples.

PMID- 1455596
TI  - Welfare of animals at markets.

PMID- 1455597
TI  - Docking of dogs.

PMID- 1455598
TI  - Disease risks in the European community.

PMID- 1455599
TI  - Sitting of transponders.

PMID- 1455601
TI  - Influence of atropine on the acute toxicity of isometamidium.
AB  - The effectiveness of atropine in blocking the acute toxic effects of the
      antitrypanosomal drug isometamidium (ISMM) was evaluated in mice and goats using
      lethality as the primary index. The median lethal dose (LD50) of ISMM in
      nonatropinized mice was 45.3 mg/kg bodyweight (SE +/- 5.3 mg/kg bodyweight),
      whereas the LD50 of ISMM in mice pre-treated with atropine was 71.7 mg/kg
      bodyweight (SE +/- 13.2 mg/kg bodyweight). The increase in LD50 was about 60%.
      The ratio of the slope of the dose-response curve for ISMM in non-atropinized
      mice to that in atropinized mice was about 4:1. The results showed that atropine
      was effective in considerably reducing the lethal effect of ISMM in mice. In
      contrast, experiments in goats showed markedly different results; atropine was
      not effective in reducing the lethality of ISMM. It was concluded that in mice
      atropine has some beneficial action in cases of overdosage or poisoning by ISMM.
      Treatment with atropine should be attempted as an antidotal measure in humans
      accidentally poisoned with ISMM.

PMID- 1455600
TI  - An analytical study of antibacterial residues in meat: the simultaneous
      determination of 23 antibiotics and 13 drugs using gas chromatography.
AB  - Simultaneous determination of 7 penicillins, 3 tetracyclines, 5 aminoglycoside
      antibiotics, 5 macrolide antibiotics, 2 polyether antibiotics, chloramphenicol
      and 13 drugs was evaluated. The 36 agents in meat were extracted with 10%
      trichloroacetic acid. The extracted solutions were adsorbed on an Amberlite XAD-2
      resin column and an activated carbon resin column and then eluted with methanol
      and 0.01N HCl-methanol, respectively. The eluted solutions were concentrated to
      dryness and trimethylsilylated with pyridine, N, 0-bis (trimethylsilyl)
      acetamide, N-trimethylsilylimidazole and trimethylchlorosilane. They were then
      measured by gas chromatography with a flame-ionization detector. The recovery for
      almost all of the 36 compounds from the original meat specimens was more than
      82%. The limits of detection for most of the 36 agents using this method were
      equivalent to the original individual methods of analysis.

PMID- 1455602
TI  - The relationships between neuronal activity and behavioral seizures induced by
      Palicourea marcgravii in rats.
AB  - To characterize the convulsions induced by an aqueous extract of Palicourea
      marcgravii (Pm), male Wistar rats were injected sc with 3.75 g/kg of the extract,
      and electroencephalogram and behavior were observed for periods up to 180 min
      after the Pm injections. Sleep spindles and generalized convulsive seizures were
      observed following Pm administration. Spiking activity was detected in both
      cortical and hippocampus recordings. They lasted approximately 2 min and were
      followed by a period of postical depression and/or death. These results agreed
      with previous behavioral experiments which suggested the toxic effect of Pm
      aqueous extract was mainly at the central nervous system level.

PMID- 1455603
TI  - Epidemiology of children poisoning: comparison between telephone inquiries and
      emergency room visits.
AB  - We studied 674 telephone inquiries to the Poison Information Centre and 532
      Emergency Room (ER) visits due to suspected poisonings in 1018 children below the
      age of 16 y and living at Trieste. The cases were prospectively recorded during
      1985-1989. Age distribution, toxic substances and consequences were different in
      the 2 groups. Telephone inquiries concerned children below the age of 5 y more
      frequently, and most of the exposures were assessed as non-toxic. Among children
      admitted to the hospital ER, 22.2% were more than 10-y old, and of these 79.7%
      were confirmed poisonings. This study demonstrated the need to take account of
      both Poison Control Centre and ER data to get reliable information on the
      occurrence of poisonings in children.

PMID- 1455604
TI  - Dermal exposure to detergents.
AB  - Epidermal erosion and a 40-60% increase in histamine content of skin were
      observed in guinea pigs treated with different concentrations of detergents. The
      primary irritation indices of these animals ranged between 0.3 and 1.5. Eight
      human subjects with skin lesions attributable to detergent exposure were patch
      tested with 500 mg of detergents. A positive reaction was observed in 7 of 8
      cases. In 4 cases reaction was observed within 24-48 h, while 3 cases had a
      severe reaction after 72 h. IgA and IgM levels were raised in 2 subjects. This
      study highlights the irritancy potential and toxic effects of detergent products
      available in Indian markets.

PMID- 1455605
TI  - Teratogenic effects of methyl parathion in developing chick embryos.
AB  - The effect of methyl parathion (MP) on developing chick embryos was investigated.
      The embryos were exposed at different stages of development to various doses of
      MP via the yolk sac route. This resulted in retarded growth which included
      reduced body weight and reduced body length and length of leg bones. Other
      teratogenic signs observed were short neck, muscular hypoplasia of legs,
      abdominal hernias and haemorrhagic spots in brain and upper body. These findings
      suggest that MP was a teratogen when injected into the yolk sacs of developing
      embryos.

PMID- 1455606
TI  - Subchronic toxicity studies of fenbendazole in rats.
AB  - The effects of prolonged exposure of rats to fenbendazole were investigated.
      Fenbendazole was given daily by gavage for 14 consecutive days. These dosages
      (3000, 500 or 50 mg/kg/d) produced reductions in body weight gains. Renal tubular
      hyperemia or hemorrhage and glomerular capsule dilation, increased serum
      creatinine and hepatocellular granular degeneration occurred at dosages of 500
      and 3000 mg/kg/d. Renal tubular epithelial cell granular degeneration and tubular
      dilation, increased serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, cardiac hemorrhage and
      granular degeneration also occurred at 3000 mg/kg/d.

PMID- 1455607
TI  - In vitro/in vivo effects of 7,8-benzoflavone on aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase
      activity of mice.
AB  - The activity of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) in mouse liver microsomes was
      assayed in vitro in the presence of 7,8-benzoflavone (7,8-BF). The mice had been
      previously treated with the AHH inducer 3-methylcholanthrene (MC), 2,3,7,8
      tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) or vehicle (olive oil) alone. The effects of
      7,8-BF on the AHH activity were markedly different according to the genetic
      responsiveness of the mice towards aromatic hydrocarbons (Ah). 7,8-BF had either
      an inhibitory or an enhancing effect on AHH, depending on the Ah responsiveness
      and previous treatment with MC or TCDD. In contrast, a single administration of
      7,8-BF induced microsomal AHH, but the effect was much lower than MC or TCDD in
      both strains of mice. Simultaneous treatment or pre-treatment with 7,8-BF
      produced an inhibitory effect on AHH induction by MC or TCDD. Post-treatment with
      7,8-BF inclined to promote the induction of AHH by MC or TCDD. These results
      suggest that the inhibitory effect of 7,8-BF is more exaggerated in vitro than in
      vivo. Inhibitory effects would be limited to AHH induction from MC or TCDD in in
      vitro studies, while they would depend on the time of application or Ah
      responsiveness in studies in vitro.

PMID- 1455609
TI  - Sudden death in ten psittacine birds associated with the operation of a self
      cleaning oven.
AB  - Psittacine birds can develop severe and often fatal pneumonitis when exposed to
      various noxious inhalants. Toxicosis in these birds caused by inhalation of
      pyrolysis products produced from overheated polytetrafluoroethylene-coated
      cooking pans on stove tops is well known, but compounds emitted from burned foods
      and other materials can also be toxic. We present a case of fatal pneumonitis in
      10 psittacine birds associated with the operation of an oven in the self-cleaning
      mode.

PMID- 1455608
TI  - Reversal of ethanol-induced respiratory depression by flumazenil.
AB  - Flumazenil is effective in reversing sedation resulting from benzodiazepine (BZD)
      toxicity. Its use for other causes of sedation have not been well described. A 23
      y-old male was found unconscious. Upon being aroused, the patient stated he had
      recently ingested 1 1/2 bottles of vodka/beer and 250 mg of diazepam. Physical
      examination revealed shallow breathing and respiratory depression. Arterial blood
      gases were consistent with the clinical diagnosis of respiratory depression (pH
      7.34, pCO2 47, pO2 99). However, after receiving 3 mg of flumazenil, the
      respiratory depression improved so that the patient no longer required
      intubation. The drug screen returned negative for BZDs and the patient had a
      blood alcohol level of 332 mg/dl. He later denied BZD use. The patient's clinical
      course improved throughout the study period, and mechanical ventilation was
      avoided. This report reflects a possible role for flumazenil in reversing the
      respiratory depression produced by ethanol ingestion.

PMID- 1455611
TI  - Chemical hepatitis associated with occupational exposure to halothane in a
      research laboratory.
AB  - We report a case of clinical hepatitis associated with occupational exposure to
      halothane in a research laboratory. A biochemist who for 3 y repeatedly used
      halothane for sedation and euthanization of rats suffered recurrent episodes of
      epigastric discomfort, culminating in an episode of malaise, anorexia, jaundice
      and elevated liver associated enzymes that promptly resolved after removal from
      exposure to halothane. Serologic testing for viral sources and risk factors for
      non-infectious hepatitis were negative. Halothane-induced hepatitis has been
      documented as an idiosyncratic reaction among anesthetized patients and has been
      reported once in operating room personnel. The mechanism for halothane-induced
      hepatitis is proposed to be a hypersensitivity reaction to liver neo-antigens
      produced by the halothane metabolite 2-chloro-1, 1, 1-trifluoroethane.

PMID- 1455610
TI  - Simazine toxicosis in sheep.
AB  - A case of simazine toxicosis in sheep was investigated. Affected animals
      exhibited generalized muscle tremors which progressed to mild tetany followed by
      collapse of the hind legs. Other signs included a short prancing gait with head
      tucked in a similar manner to that of a show pony. Death occurred within 2 to 3 d
      of the appearance of clinical signs. Mild to acute myocardial degeneration was
      evident; the livers had mild to acute hepatic fatty change. The levels of
      simazine found in livers varied from less than 0.2 mg/kg to almost 2 mg/kg in the
      worst affected animals.

PMID- 1455612
TI  - Orthotopic liver transplants necessitated by acetaminophen-induced
      hepatotoxicity.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity has been recognized since 1966.
      Patients experiencing a massive hepatic insult due to acetaminophen (APAP) may
      recover with minimal residual complications or develop fulminant hepatic
      necrosis. We report 3 patients with hepatic failure due to an APAP overdose who
      received orthotopic liver transplants and survived. CASE REPORTS: An 18-y-o
      female ingested 60 500 mg APAP tablets (30 g). She presented with tachycardia and
      lethargy stating that she had taken amoxipine, carbamazepine, and lorazepam. She
      began to recover but on day 2 experienced an upper gastrointestinal bleed and
      became hypotensive and hyperpyrexic. She developed hepatic encephalopathy and it
      was then determined she had ingested APAP. Her APAP level was 13 micrograms/ml 96
      h post-ingestion. She was successfully transplanted 19 d post-ingestion with
      recovery. A 40-y-o female was admitted for flu-like symptoms persisting for 7 d.
      She was jaundiced, hyperventilating and hypotensive. She admitted ingesting
      approximately 17 g APAP over 36 h. Her APAP level was 12.2 micrograms/ml. Her
      condition worsened and on day 3 she was in grade IV coma. She was successfully
      transplanted 4 d post-arrival with recovery. A 16-y-o female ingested an unknown
      amount of APAP. She presented approximately 24 h post-ingestion with a serum APAP
      level of 130 micrograms/ml. Her condition deteriorated and she became
      encephalopathic with grade IV coma. She was successfully transplanted on day 7
      post-arrival. DISCUSSION: Hepatotoxicity can occur as a result of either acute or
      chronic APAP overdose. Although n-acetylcysteine (NAC) is effective antidotal
      therapy, it must be used within 8-12 h post-ingestion to be optimally effective.
      Inaccurate patient histories may prevent NAC administration resulting in
      hepatotoxicity. CONCLUSION: Liver transplantation is a viable option to be
      considered in those APAP overdose patients who experience rapidly progressing
      encephalopathy, hemolysis, and hepato-renal failure.

PMID- 1455613
TI  - A literature review of dermatotoxicity.
AB  - Dermatotoxicity is the skin's response to chemical substances that produce
      damage. Penetration of the chemical to the various skin layers is important and
      may result in irritation, allergic contact dermatitis, contact urticaria, one of
      various forms of photosensitization, or other cutaneous reactions. The testing of
      new products or industrial chemicals for potential dermatotoxicity is an
      important process in protecting the public's health.

PMID- 1455615
TI  - Evaluation of a computerized program (ARSENIC) as an aid for telephone
      consultations in a poison center.
AB  - ARSENIC is a computerized system providing assistance for telephone consultation
      in poison centers. Its main characteristic is to blend the document consultation
      process with the case-recording procedure. It has been used in the daily routine
      of our poison center since 1987. To evaluate this system, 2 weeks were randomly
      chosen. During one, ARSENIC was used by the telephone responders; during the
      other week, traditional paper documents and files were used. Document search
      times, coding times and quality of responders were recorded by a blinded observer
      and analysed in total and on the basis of the training of the telephone officer
      (medical student, resident or toxicologist). ARSENIC decreased the document
      search times (3.1 +/- 2.7 min vs 3.8 +/- 2.9 min; p less than 0.05) and did not
      increase coding time (2.1 +/- 1.2 min vs 2.2 +/- 1.4 min; NS). For each group of
      telephone responders, answer quality increased with ARSENIC. More important, the
      answer quality of less-trained officers using ARSENIC was similar to that of
      trained toxicologists without ARSENIC. The quality assurance given by ARSENIC
      was, for us, the most important argument for computer use at telephone desks.

PMID- 1455614
TI  - Immunotoxicity in the bovine animal: a review.
AB  - The immune system is a complex biological system involving cellular defenses as
      well as endogenous and exogenous factors. The potential for immune system
      exposure to immunotoxins in the environment is well documented. However, caution
      should be exercised when extrapolating meaningful conclusions from experimental
      data to assess risk factors to the bovine. Mycotoxins alter immune-mediated
      activities in cattle and are major immunotoxic risks. Another risk to the bovine
      is lead. Poor disposal of pollutants in the environment enhances this risk
      factor. One of the most controllable risk factors is the administration of
      immunotoxic drugs and biologics. Most of these compounds have minimal immunotoxic
      activity at recommended dosages. The extra-label use of drugs resulting in super
      therapeutic concentrations has increased the probability that certain drugs may
      act immunotoxicologically.

PMID- 1455616
TI  - A ten-step quality assurance program for regional poison information centers.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Our regional poison information center (RPIC) has developed and
      implemented an ongoing quality assurance (QA) initiative, using performance
      indicators and evaluation thresholds to permit a planned and systematic process
      for monitoring the quality, appropriateness and effectiveness of service.
      METHODS: A 10-step QA plan was designed that included delineating the scope of
      care, identifying the most important aspects of care, identifying indicators and
      thresholds to monitor performance and outcomes, and establishing a formal medical
      audit review process to resolve questions and/or problems. RESULTS: This QA
      program has resulted in verification of the validity of the RPIC's data and
      services. Threshold indicators (the incidence of accidental poisoning in children
      less than 6 y, incidence of intentional poisoning among children less than 18 y,
      appropriateness of home versus hospital management, and reduction in major/mortal
      outcomes in children less than 6 y) have all been successfully met during the
      past 12 mo. A medical audit committee objectively reviews and meets to discuss
      all unique poison exposures or those suffering major/mortal outcomes. Examples of
      identified problems include the lack of utilizing standard abbreviations during
      documentation and the need to standardize indications for consulting medical back
      up. DISCUSSION: RPICs are innovative health services with unique and increasing
      responsibilities and liabilities. A QA program, designed to objectively and
      systematically monitor and evaluate the quality and appropriateness of care
      rendered the poisoned patient, can improve care and resolve identified problems
      in a timely manner. CONCLUSIONS: A formalized QA program is essential for all
      RPICs.

PMID- 1455617
TI  - The OPQ: a proposed instrument for predicting poisoning accident recurrence in
      young children.
AB  - A 26-item self-report questionnaire for parents/guardians was constructed for
      potential use with first-exposure childhood poisoning victims to predict high
      risk for subsequent poisoning episodes. Data were obtained from 185 subjects
      served by 1 of 5 US regional poison control centers. The resulting device was
      labeled the OPQ. Its retrospective validity (R = 0.71) and test-retest
      reliability (0.81) are viewed as sufficient. The test itself, with accompanying
      scoring key and norms, are provided here in the hope that other clinicians and
      researchers will join in subjecting the OPQ to prospective validity studies and
      other forms of Scale refinement.

PMID- 1455618
TI  - Clinical signs and mechanism of supermethrin intoxication in sheep.
AB  - Three Slovak Merino sheep, weighing 38, 40 and 41 kg, were given single doses of
      1500, 2700 or 3000 mg supermethrin/kg body weight. Clinical signs of intoxication
      were observed, and after death or sacrifice free cyanide levels were determined
      in the rumen contents and liver. The sheep that received 3000 mg supermethrin/kg
      had 7.2 and 0.58 mg cyanide/kg in the rumen contents and liver, respectively; the
      sheep that received 2700 mg supermethrin/kg had 5.8 and 0.52 mg cyanide/kg in the
      rumen contents and liver, respectively; whereas the sheep given 1500 mg
      supermethrin/kg had no free cyanide detected in the rumen contents or liver.

PMID- 1455619
TI  - Suspected cases of bromocyclen poisoning.
AB  - This report summarizes the case histories and tabulates the analytical results
      from investigations of 8 incidents of suspected bromocyclen poisoning.
      Interpretation of the results and withdrawal of ALUGAN from the UK market are
      discussed.

PMID- 1455620
TI  - Possible larkspur intoxications responsible for acute deaths in cattle.

PMID- 1455621
TI  - How fast to ticks crawl?

PMID- 1455622
TI  - Ultrasonic and subsonic pest control devices.

PMID- 1455623
TI  - Isolation of Fukuoka virus, a member of the Kern Canyon serogroup viruses of the
      family Rhabdoviridae, from cattle.
AB  - Four virus strains with identical antigenic properties were isolated from blood
      samples of 4 sentinel calves having a fever and leukopenea in cultures of HmLu-1
      cells derived from baby hamster lung. The virus was identified as Fukuoka virus,
      classified as a member of the Kern Canyon serogroup viruses of the family
      Rhabdoviridae, on the basis of its antigenic properties.

PMID- 1455624
TI  - Detection of mammalian and avian hepadnaviruses by the polymerase chain reaction.
AB  - The hepadnavirus family contains a number of related viruses able to infect a
      variety of animal species. In the present study, we have used the polymerase
      chain reaction and oligonucleotide primers to a conserved region of the viral
      replicase gene of hepadnaviruses to identify viral sequences in de novo tissues
      in three well-characterized hepadnavirus systems: the woodchuck, ground squirrel
      and Pekin duck. We did not detect related hepadnavirus sequences in liver
      specimens from tree squirrels putatively infected with the tree squirrel
      hepatitis virus, or in liver specimens from horses with hepatitis (serum
      sickness), or from dogs with chronic active hepatitis or hepatocellular
      carcinoma.

PMID- 1455625
TI  - Immunoblotting study of the antigenic relationships among eight serogroups of
      Leptospira.
AB  - Seven strains of Leptospira interrogans belonging to seven different serogroups,
      and one strain of Leptospira biflexa were analysed by sodium dodecyl sulfate
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with gradient gels and
      immunoblotting with hyperimmune rabbit sera raised against each strain. The
      molecular masses of the proteins were calculated with a polynomial regression
      model. The SDS-PAGE patterns of the L. interrogans strains were similar and
      characterized by 24 common bands. This profile was not found for L. biflexa. The
      immunoblots obtained either with the seven anti-L. interrogans sera or the anti
      L. biflexa serum allowed a clear distinction between the two species. Taken as a
      whole, the L. interrogans strain patterns revealed by the seven anti-L.
      interrogans sera were similar, sharing eight common major bands. A serovar- or
      serogroup-specific antigenic zone, ranging from 21 to 26 kDa, was also
      identified.

PMID- 1455626
TI  - Immunodominant antigens of zoospores from ovine isolates of Dermatophilus
      congolensis.
AB  - Zoospores of Dermatophilus congolensis were analysed by SDS-PAGE and western
      blotting. The electrophoretic profiles of zoospores from 13 isolates of D.
      congolensis were similar but not identical when stained with Coomassie blue or
      silver. Immunodominant polypeptides with apparent molecular masses of 76 and 31
      kDa were identified in western blots of 13 of 13 and 12 of 13 isolates
      respectively of D. congolensis reacted with hyperimmune, ovine, antizoospore
      sera. Identical immunodominant polypeptides were observed in western blots
      reacted with sera obtained from naturally infected sheep. Initial
      characterisation of the 76 and 31 kDa polypeptides indicated that they were
      probably surface exposed because (i) antibodies eluted from the surface of live
      zoospores after adsorption of hyperimmune antizoospore serum, reacted principally
      against the 76 and 31 kDa subunit polypeptides in western blots, (ii) adsorption
      of hyperimmune antizoospore serum with live zoospores resulted in significant
      diminution of reactivity against both the 76 and 31 kDa polypeptides in western
      blots, (iii) indirect fluorescent immunostaining of zoospores with antiserum
      prepared against gel-purified 76 kDa polypeptide, resulted in intense staining of
      the zoospore outer coat. Immuno-gold electron microscopy of negatively stained
      zoospores with antiserum prepared against gel-purified 31 kDa polypeptide
      identified this antigen as a flagella subunit.

PMID- 1455627
TI  - Sequence analysis of the ROB-1 beta-lactamase gene from Actinobacillus
      pleuropneumoniae.
AB  - The ROB-1 beta-lactamase gene from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae was cloned and
      sequenced. The structural gene encodes a 305 amino acid polypeptide. The ROB-1
      beta-lactamase gene sequence is identical to that derived from Pasteurella
      haemolytica and only one amino acid different from that of Haemophilus
      influenzae, suggesting that they are derived from the same ancestor, and
      transformed from one to another.

PMID- 1455628
TI  - Aggregation of bovine platelets by Fusobacterium necrophorum.
AB  - Washed cell suspensions of biovar A strains of Fusobacterium necrophorum
      aggregated cattle platelets, but similar suspensions of biovar B strains did not.
      Platelets were also aggregated by heat-treated bacterial cells or the
      lipopolysaccharide of biovar A. No platelet aggregation occurred in the presence
      of the cell-free culture supernatant of biovar A and of all samples prepared from
      biovar B. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that aggregated platelets were
      not damaged. Platelet aggregation was inhibited by EDTA, aspirin and quinacrine,
      and lag time was retarded by these inhibitors, indicating the reaction was a
      Ca(2+)-dependent, cyclo-oxygenase sensitive event. Platelet aggregation may be a
      virulence marker, probably mediated by the lipopolysaccharide of F. necrophorum
      biovar A strains.

PMID- 1455629
TI  - Molecular cloning and characterization of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis
      promoters in Escherichia coli.
AB  - DNA fragments from Mycobacterium paratuberculosis were cloned in the promoter
      probe plasmid pKO1. Of 957 recombinant DNA clones, 24 induced synthesis of
      galactokinase (the reporter gene) when these plasmids were transformed into an
      Escherichia coli strain deficient for the enzyme. A DNA insert from one putative
      promoter-containing plasmid, designated pAG5, was sequenced and shown to contain,
      a characteristic RNA polymerase binding site, a probable ribosomal binding site
      and a putative open reading frame.

PMID- 1455630
TI  - In vitro stimulation of antibody production to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae by
      porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
AB  - A method to stimulate and detect the in vitro production of antibodies to
      Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae by porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was
      established. PBMC were cultured in microtiter plates coated with a sonicated M.
      hyopneumoniae whole cell antigen and the amount of antibody bound to the coating
      antigen was determined by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In
      addition, the amount of non-bound antibody was determined by testing the culture
      supernatants in the ELISA which detects porcine antibodies to M. hyopneumoniae.
      The production of antibodies, in terms of total absorbance values, was enhanced
      by including 2.5 ng pokeweed mitogen (PWM) per ml growth medium without altering
      the specificity of the assay. In a pilot experiment, the applicability of the
      method to follow the development of antigen-reactive cells during primary and
      secondary immunizations with M. hyopneumoniae was evaluated. Antigen-reactive
      cells, identified by their ability to produce antibodies to M. hyopneumoniae in
      vitro, were detected seven days after the primary immunization and reached their
      highest antigen reactivity one week later. In comparison, antigen-reactive cells
      could be detected three days after the booster immunization and remained in the
      circulation for 2 weeks.

PMID- 1455631
TI  - Application of dot immunobinding on membrane filtration (MF dot) to the study of
      relationships within "M. mycoides cluster" and within "glucose and arginine
      negative cluster" of ruminant mycoplasmas.
AB  - A total of 189 isolates from cattle, sheep and goats, allocated to two groups on
      biochemical grounds, have been examined by a dot immunobinding membrane
      filtration (MF dot) method. Seventy glucose fermenting isolates, showing
      relationships with the "Mycoplasma mycoides cluster", have been compared by MF
      dot against polyclonal hyperimmunesera prepared against the following reference
      strains: M. mycoides subsp. mycoides, small colony type (SC), strain PG1 and
      large colony type (LC) strain Y Goat; M. capricolum strain California Kid (CK);
      M. species bovine serogroup 7 strain PG50, and, ovine/caprine serogroup 11 strain
      2-D. The isolates fell into 5 main groups: (a) 14 serologically homogeneous
      isolates similar to subsp. mycoides SC PG1 (b) 4 homogeneous isolates similar to
      PG50 (c) 14 isolates all serologically similar to Y Goat, but heterogeneously
      reactive with subsp. capri PG3 and M. capricolum CK antisera (d) 7 isolates
      serologically similar to subsp. capri PG3, but heterogeneously reactive with
      subsp. mycoides SC PG1, M. capricolum CK and 2-D antisera (e) 28 isolates
      strongly reactive with both M. capricolum CK and serogroup 7 PG50 antisera. 119
      isolates that were all glucose and arginine negative were also compared by the MF
      dot method with the reference strains. Most of these could be classified
      definitely as M. bovis (78 isolates), M. agalactiae (21 isolates) and serogroup
      11 (5 isolates). 13 isolates gave a strong reaction with both M. bovigenitalium
      and serogroup p11 antisera. 2 isolates showed an unclassifiable pattern. The
      results confirm that the glucose and arginine-negative cluster strains that
      reacted with 2-D antiserum, also share serological relationships with the "M.
      mycoides cluster", albeit with a very heterogeneous pattern.

PMID- 1455632
TI  - Arthroscopic approach and intra-articular anatomy of the palmaroproximal or
      plantaroproximal aspect of distal interphalangeal joints.
AB  - An arthroscopic approach to the palmaroproximal or plantaroproximal pouch of the
      distal interphalangeal joint was developed in six cadaver limbs and seven limbs
      of three clinically normal horses. The dorsal aspect of the proximal border and
      the proximal articular margin of the distal sesamoid (navicular) bone, the palmar
      aspect of the distal articular margin of the middle phalanx, the collateral
      sesamoidean ligaments of the distal sesamoid bone, and the joint capsule
      attachments were readily accessible. Distending the joints with fluid gave access
      to portions of the articular surface between the distal sesamoid bone and the
      middle phalanx in all joints, and to a small portion of the distal phalanx in two
      hind distal interphalangeal joints. Two horses allowed to recover from anesthesia
      were not lame on days 30 and 37, respectively. Problems encountered initially
      were difficulty entering the joint, hemarthrosis, and minimal iatrogenic
      cartilage damage.

PMID- 1455633
TI  - Septic arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint in 12 horses.
AB  - The medical records of 12 horses with septic arthritis of a distal
      interphalangeal joint were reviewed to determine clinical features and response
      to treatment. Sepsis was caused by trauma or an injection that resulted in an
      open or contaminated distal interphalangeal joint. All horses were severely lame.
      Treatment included broad-spectrum parenterally administered antimicrobial drugs
      (ten horses), percutaneous through-and-through joint lavage (eight horses),
      indwelling drains (three horses), immobilization of the limb in a cast (three
      horses), intraarticular injection of sodium hyaluronate (one horse),
      intraarticular injection of antimicrobial drugs (five horses), curettage of the
      distal phalanx (one horse), and cancellous bone grafting to promote fusion (one
      horse). Five horses were euthanatized. Ankylosis of the affected joint developed
      in five horses, four of which are pasture sound. Two horses treated medically are
      sound although one underwent subsequent palmar digital neurectomy for treatment
      of navicular syndrome.

PMID- 1455634
TI  - Arthroscopic removal of an osteochondral fragment from the middle phalanx of a
      horse.
AB  - An intraarticular osteochondral chip fracture of the distal dorsolateral aspect
      of the right hind middle phalanx in a 4-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding was
      removed arthroscopically. Accessibility and visibility of the fragment were
      excellent, and there was minimal soft tissue trauma.

PMID- 1455635
TI  - Complete excision of a fractured fourth metatarsal bone in eight horses.
AB  - Proximal open comminuted fractures of the fourth metatarsal bone (Mt IV) in eight
      horses were treated by complete removal of the affected bone and antimicrobial
      therapy. Two horses had concurrent septic arthritis of the tarsocrural or distal
      tarsal articulations, and five horses had radiographic evidence of osteomyelitis
      and sequestration of the affected bone. Five horses became athletically sound for
      their intended use, two horses with septic arthritis had residual lameness but
      were pasture sound, and one horse was lost to follow-up. Excision of the entire
      bone appears to be an acceptable treatment of open comminuted fractures of the
      proximal one-third of Mt IV that do not respond to more conservative modes of
      therapy.

PMID- 1455636
TI  - Regional perfusion of the equine carpus for antibiotic delivery.
AB  - Regional perfusion of carpal tissues by forced intramedullary administration of
      fluids was evaluated in 10 horses. Results of subtraction radiography after
      perfusion with a contrast medium demonstrated that perfusate was delivered to the
      carpal tissues by the venous system. Perfused India ink was distributed uniformly
      in the antebrachiocarpal and middle carpal synovial membranes. Histologically,
      the ink was within the venules of the synovial villi. Immediately after perfusion
      with gentamicin sulfate (1 g), the gentamicin concentrations in the synovial
      fluid and synovial membrane of the antebrachiocarpal joint were 349 +/- 240
      micrograms/mL and 358 +/- 264 micrograms/g, respectively. When gentamicin
      concentrations in the synovial fluid of the antebrachiocarpal joint and serum
      were measured 0, 0.5, 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours after carpal perfusion, the mean
      peak gentamicin concentration in the synovial fluid was 589 +/- 429
      micrograms/mL. At hour 24, the mean gentamicin concentration in the synovial
      fluid was 4.8 +/- 2.0 micrograms/mL. The resulting peak gentamicin concentration
      in the serum was 23.7 +/- 14.5 micrograms/mL immediately after the perfusion; it
      decreased below the desired trough level of 1 micrograms/mL between hours 4 and
      8.

PMID- 1455637
TI  - Regional limb perfusion with antibiotics in three horses.
AB  - Antibiotics were delivered to chronically infected tissues by regional limb
      perfusion in three horses with osteomyelitis associated with orthopedic implants.
      Two infections were resolved with implants in place; in one, a sequestrum was
      resorbed. In one horse, regional antibiotic perfusion was applied to treat
      progressively worsening bone infection after initial implants loosened and were
      removed.

PMID- 1455638
TI  - Evaluation of canine cortical bone graft remodeling.
AB  - A stable cortical bone fracture model was developed to evaluate the remodeling
      rate of cortical bone grafts. Samples of cortical bone were harvested with a
      trephine and press fit into predrilled holes in the femoral diaphyses of four
      live dogs. The percentages of new bone, unremodeled graft bone, porosity, forming
      bone surface area, and resorbing bone surface area were determined
      morphometrically and compared in cortical autografts, cortical allografts
      sterilized with 84% ethylene oxide (EO), and allografts sterilized with 12% EO.
      The host-graft interfaces healed without formation of fibrous tissue or
      cartilage, indicating a stable fracture surface. The amount of new bone formed in
      cortical autografts and allografts sterilized with 84% EO was significantly
      greater than the amount of new bone in allografts sterilized with 12% EO. There
      was no significant difference between the amounts of new bone formed in the
      allografts sterilized with 84% EO and the cortical autografts. No significant
      differences were detected in percentages of porosity or bone surface areas.

PMID- 1455639
TI  - Unilateral and bilateral stifle arthrodesis in eight dogs.
AB  - Nine stifle arthrodeses in eight dogs were reviewed retrospectively to evaluate
      use of the limb, each dog's comfort, complications, and factors that may have
      influenced the final outcome. Ability to use the limb after unilateral fusion was
      good (limb used at all times) in three dogs, fair (limb used at all gaits except
      a gallop) in three dogs, and poor (limb used only when running) in one dog.
      Factors that appeared to affect the outcome included angle at which the stifle
      was fused and lesions in the ipsilateral coxofemoral joint. One dog with
      bilateral arthrodesis had a good outcome with minor limitations. The only
      potentially devastating complications occurred in one dog in which infection and
      premature implant loosening jeopardized the fusion. None of the dogs exhibited
      signs of pain and all owners were satisfied with the results.

PMID- 1455640
TI  - Canine axial skeletal osteosarcoma. A retrospective study of 116 cases (1986 to
      1989).
AB  - Axial skeletal osteosarcomas were evaluated retrospectively in 116 dogs. Thirty
      one tumors occurred in the mandible, 26 in the maxilla, 17 in the spine, 14 in
      the cranium, 12 in the ribs, 10 in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, and 6
      in the pelvis. Medium-sized and large dogs were most commonly affected. Females
      outnumbered males 2.1:1, but this varied with tumor location. The mean age was
      8.7 years. Osteosarcomas of the rib occurred in significantly younger dogs (mean
      age, 5.4 years) than osteosarcomas at any other axial skeletal site. Pulmonary
      metastasis was diagnosed radiographically in 11.1% of the dogs. The median
      survival for dogs treated surgically was 22 weeks, the 1-year survival was 26.3%,
      and the 2-year survival was 18.4%. The tumor recurrence rate was 66.7%. Most dogs
      (79.6%) died or were euthanatized for problems associated with the primary tumor.

PMID- 1455642
TI  - Minimal anesthetic concentration and cardiopulmonary dose-response of halothane
      in ducks.
AB  - The minimal anesthetic concentration (MAC) for halothane and cardiopulmonary dose
      responses at several concentrations of halothane were determined during
      spontaneous ventilation in nine young adult Pekin ducks. The MAC for halothane
      was 1.04 +/- 0.11 (mean +/- SD). There were dose-dependent decreases in
      ventilation, significant reductions in inspiratory and expiratory times, and
      prolongation of expiratory pause times. The end-tidal halothane concentration at
      apnea in five ducks was less than 1.53% and anesthetic index was less than 1.51.
      Heart rate increased significantly as the concentration of halothane was
      increased, but arterial blood pressure did not change. Cardiac arrhythmias
      developed in five ducks at end-tidal halothane concentrations as low as 1.15%,
      and one duck died of cardiac arrest.

PMID- 1455641
TI  - Xylazine-ketamine and detomidine-tiletamine-zolazepam anesthesia in horses.
AB  - Eight horses were anesthetized three times, by intravenous administration of
      xylazine (1.1 mg/kg) and ketamine (2.2 mg/kg), detomidine (0.02 mg/kg) and
      tiletamine-zolazepam (1.1 mg/kg), or detomidine (0.04 mg/kg) and tiletamine
      zolazepam (1.4 mg/kg). The sequences were randomized. The duration of analgesia
      and the times to sternal and standing positions were recorded. Heart rate,
      arterial pressure, pHa, PaCO2, and PaO2 were measured before and during
      anesthesia. The duration of analgesia with the two doses of detomidine-tiletamine
      zolazepam, 26 +/- 4 minutes and 39 +/- 11 minutes, respectively, was
      significantly longer than the 13 +/- 6 minutes obtained with xylazine-ketamine.
      Bradycardia occurred after administration of detomidine, but heart rates returned
      to baseline values 5 minutes after administration of tiletamine and zolazepam.
      Arterial pressure was significantly higher and PaO2 significantly lower during
      anesthesia with detomidine-tiletamine-zolazepam than with xylazine-ketamine. Some
      respiratory acidosis developed with all anesthetic combinations. The authors
      conclude that detomidine-tiletamine-zolazepam can provide comparable anesthesia
      of a longer duration than xylazine and ketamine, but hypoxemia will develop in
      some horses.

PMID- 1455643
TI  - Measurement of tracheal static pressure in exercising horses.
AB  - A nasotracheal catheter for measuring tracheal static pressure in exercising
      horses was designed according to aerodynamic engineering principles. Small ports
      near the end of the catheter transmitted pressure fluctuations to the recording
      apparatus. Accuracy was determined by the size, number, and location of pressure
      sensing holes on the catheter, and by the position of the catheter in the
      trachea. The catheter had adequate frequency response to 33 Hz, was insensitive
      to movement artifacts, was easily introduced, was tolerated well by horses, and
      resulted in small ventilatory impairment at maximal exertion.

PMID- 1455644
TI  - The anatomic basis for a trapezius muscle flap in dogs.
AB  - The anatomy of the cervical part of the trapezius muscle and its dominant
      vascular supply, the prescapular branch of the superficial cervical artery, was
      studied by dissection and selective angiography of 16 canine cadavers. The
      prescapular branch of the superficial cervical artery supplies blood to the skin
      of the caudal half of the neck and the cervical part of the trapezius muscle and
      is a minor contributor to other muscles of the neck. In these dogs, the mean
      length of the vascular pedicles was 4.4 cm and the mean diameter was 1.0 mm. With
      this information, it is possible to design a broad musculocutaneous flap suitable
      for reconstructive microsurgery in dogs. The potential for successful
      incorporation of the scapular spine in such a flap remains uncertain.

PMID- 1455645
TI  - Free microvascular transplantation of the trapezius musculocutaneous flap in
      dogs.
AB  - A musculocutaneous flap based on the prescapular branch of the superficial
      cervical artery and including the cervical part of the trapezius muscle and
      overlying skin was transplanted over a defect created on the medial side of the
      contralateral tibia in four dogs by using microvascular technique. The donor and
      recipient sites in three dogs were examined clinically for 21 days, after which
      they were examined angiographically and histologically. All dogs were free of
      lameness by hour 48. Seromas formed at the donor site between days 7 and 15. One
      vascular pedicle was traumatized at hour 40, and the dog was euthanatized. Three
      flaps survived with minimal necrosis. Edema of the flaps was severe from days 5
      to 11. Angiograms showed complete perfusion of the flaps, and survival was
      confirmed histologically. Esthetic appearance and function were good in one dog
      at month 7.

PMID- 1455646
TI  - Closed transventricular dilation of discrete subvalvular aortic stenosis in dogs.
AB  - Discrete subvalvular aortic stenosis with peak systolic pressure gradients of
      more than 60 mm Hg was treated by closed transventricular dilation in six young
      dogs. Peak systolic pressure gradients were measured by direct catheterization
      before surgery, immediately after dilation, and 3 months after surgery. Maximum
      instantaneous pressure gradients were measured by continuous wave Doppler
      echocardiography before surgery and 6 weeks to 9 months after surgery. All dogs
      survived the procedure, and two dogs were clinically normal after 9 and 14
      months. Two dogs died at week 6 and month 7. One dog was receiving medication for
      pulmonary edema 15 months after surgery. One dog underwent open resection of the
      subvalvular ring at month 3, and was clinically normal 6 months after the second
      procedure. Complications included intraoperative ventricular fibrillation in one
      dog, and mild postoperative aortic insufficiency in one dog. Closed
      transventricular dilation resulted in an immediate 83% decrease in the peak
      systolic pressure gradient from a preoperative mean of 97 +/- 22 mm Hg to a mean
      of 14 +/- 15 mm Hg. However, systolic pressure gradients measured by direct
      catheterization at month 3 (77 +/- 26 mm Hg), and by Doppler echocardiography at
      week 6 to month 9 (85 +/- 32 mm Hg) were not significantly different from
      preoperative values, which suggested recurrence of the aortic stenosis. Closed
      transventricular dilation should not be considered a definitive treatment for
      discrete subvalvular aortic stenosis in dogs, but may be useful in young dogs
      with critical aortic stenosis as a bridge to more definitive surgery.

PMID- 1455647
TI  - Temporary bile diversion in cats with experimental extrahepatic bile duct
      obstruction.
AB  - The use of a cholecystostomy catheter for temporary bile diversion was
      investigated in four cats with experimentally induced extrahepatic bile duct
      obstruction. Eighteen days after ligation of the common bile duct, a 6.5 F
      accordion catheter was placed in the gallbladder with a 22 g Hawkins needle-guide
      system through a paracostal incision. Biochemical parameters and fasting serum
      bile acids were monitored for 16 days. There were significant decreases in mean
      total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, and fasting serum bile acids within
      72 hours of bile diversion, and in mean alanine aminotransferase within 96 hours.
      Attitude and appetite improved, and the catheter was tolerated well. Positive
      bile cultures developed in three cats. Histologic changes in the gallbladder
      included mucosal ulcerations, a mixed inflammatory cellular infiltration, and
      fibrosis of the submucosa.

PMID- 1455648
TI  - Exploratory celiotomy in 200 nontraumatized dogs and cats.
AB  - Two hundred dogs and cats undergoing exploratory celiotomy for reasons other than
      trauma were grouped by disease classification and by body system affected. There
      were 61 animals in which infection or inflammation predominated, 63 animals with
      neoplasia, and 76 animals with noninflammatory and non-neoplastic conditions.
      Body systems affected were digestive, lymphatic, urinary, reproductive, other,
      and undetermined. Seventy-three percent of the animals survived the
      hospitalization period; survival rates for animals with infection or
      inflammation, neoplasia, and other disorders were 69%, 60%, and 86%,
      respectively. Within the same groups, the exploratory celiotomy provided strictly
      diagnostic information in 72%, 79%, and 24% of the animals, and surgical
      treatment was provided to 28%, 21%, and 58% of the animals, respectively.
      Intraoperative cytologic and histologic diagnoses were consistent in 78% of the
      animals; the consistency rates for animals with infection or inflammation,
      neoplasia, and other disorders were 81%, 88%, and 59%, respectively.
      Complications after surgery were observed in 30% of the animals, with 60% of the
      complications disease related. Complications were observed in six animals with
      reproductive disorders (67%), six animals with urinary disease (46%), 35 animals
      with digestive disease (29%), and three animals with lymphatic disease (13%).

PMID- 1455649
TI  - Comparison of an antimicrobial adhesive drape and povidone-iodine preoperative
      skin preparation in dogs.
AB  - The antimicrobial efficacy of an adhesive drape applied after a 1-minute alcohol
      scrub was compared to a povidone-iodine (PI) skin preparation technique in dogs.
      Each technique was applied to both sides of 15 adult anesthetized dogs on
      premeasured, clipped areas of skin. Skin bacteria were quantified before,
      immediately after, and 1 hour after skin preparation. Predominant skin bacteria
      were isolated by swabbing the skin. The percentages of bacterial reduction
      immediately after and 1 hour after skin preparation, percentages of negative
      culture results, cultures with more than five colony-forming units, and the
      frequency of skin reactions were calculated and analyzed statistically. Drape
      adhesion was assessed subjectively. The percentage reduction in skin bacteria was
      significant for both techniques and comparable to that reported in humans. The
      adhesive drape was significantly less effective in both the immediate and 1-hour
      periods. Lift occurred in 66% of drape applications but was not associated with
      high bacterial counts. Acute contact dermatitis was more frequent after skin
      preparation with PI. There was no difference between the techniques in recovery
      of potential skin pathogens. The authors conclude that application of this
      antimicrobial adhesive drape after a 1-minute alcohol scrub is not as effective
      in the reduction of skin bacteria in dogs as is PI preparation of the skin.

PMID- 1455650
TI  - Anaerobic bacteria isolated from osteomyelitis in dogs and cats.
AB  - Anaerobic bacteria were isolated from 18 of 28 animals (64%) with osteomyelitis.
      The bones most commonly infected with anaerobic bacteria were radius and ulna,
      mandible, and tympanic bulla. Fights or abscesses commonly preceded the
      osteomyelitis. Seven anaerobic genera were isolated. Mixed infections of
      anaerobic and aerobic organisms occurred in 16 animals. Staphylococci were
      isolated in only one such mixed infection, but they were isolated commonly when
      there were aerobic bacteria only. Staphylococcal infections were often single.

PMID- 1455651
TI  - Replacement of the medial collateral ligament with polypropylene mesh or a
      polyester suture in dogs.
AB  - The medial collateral ligament of one stifle in 20 adult dogs was excised and
      replaced with polypropylene mesh or a polyester suture. After 26 weeks, the
      fibrous tissue-prosthesis composites were evaluated clinically, morphologically,
      and biomechanically. Clinical lameness was not significantly different after 10
      days. The polypropylene mesh reconstructions consistently had more fibrous tissue
      and greater collagenous ingrowth than the polyester suture reconstructions. There
      were four complications related to fixation of the polypropylene mesh prosthesis
      and one to the polyester suture. The polypropylene mesh reconstructions had
      greater stability and were biomechanically more similar to the natural ligaments
      than the polyester suture reconstructions. Although the results with
      polypropylene mesh were favorable, more challenging biomechanical testing and
      alternative anchoring techniques are required before polypropylene mesh can be
      recommended as a collateral ligament replacement in dogs.

PMID- 1455652
TI  - A retrospective evaluation of stifle osteoarthritis in dogs with bilateral medial
      patellar luxation and unilateral surgical repair.
AB  - The effects of surgical and nonsurgical therapy on the development of
      osteoarthritis were compared in 12 dogs with bilateral medial patellar luxation
      and unilateral surgical repair. Evaluations included severity of lameness and
      patellar luxation, ligamentous stability, range of motion, and radiographic
      evidence of osteoarthritis before surgery and at a mean of 33 months after
      surgery. Stifles without surgical treatment served as controls for the
      contralateral stifles with surgery. All stifles treated surgically had reduced
      patellofemoral joints, normal range of motion, and improved limb use.
      Osteoarthritis progressed significantly and comparably in both groups of stifles.
      Progression of osteoarthritis was not correlated with luxation grade, body
      weight, or interval from surgery to follow-up. Age at surgery was correlated
      positively with severity of osteoarthritis in the stifles treated surgically.

PMID- 1455653
TI  - Distraction osteogenesis using modified external fixation devices in five dogs.
AB  - Distraction osteogenesis was used to treat five dogs with limb deformities or
      limb shortening. The affected bones underwent osteotomy, and modified external
      fixators were attached. Complications included pin loosening, implant breakage,
      and soft-tissue contracture. Adequate limb length was attained in all cases, but
      clinical results varied from poor to excellent. Two dogs were not lame after the
      procedure, two dogs had improved function but were still lame, and one dog had
      complications necessitating amputation.

PMID- 1455654
TI  - Measurement of muscle surface capillary blood flow by laser Doppler flowmetry.
AB  - Muscle surface capillary blood flow was measured in the biceps femoris and
      lateral head of the triceps brachii muscles in six horses before and during
      halothane anesthesia by using laser Doppler flowmetry. During 90 minutes of
      anesthesia, muscle surface capillary blood flow was reduced to 20% to 40% of
      preanesthetic values. Muscle surface capillary blood flow tended to be lower in
      dependent muscles than in nondependent muscles, and this disparity was greater in
      the forelimbs than in the hind limbs.

PMID- 1455655
TI  - Effects of 5% and 10% guaifenesin infusion on equine vascular endothelium.
AB  - Twelve horses of various breeds and either sex were anesthetized with xylazine
      and ketamine injected into a median or lateral thoracic vein. During anesthesia,
      with the horse in sternal recumbency, a 14-gauge, 8.9 cm catheter was inserted
      into each jugular vein by using aseptic technique. Guaifenesin in water (100
      mg/kg or a maximum dose of 50 grams) was infused into one jugular vein and an
      equal volume of 0.9% saline solution was infused into the other jugular vein.
      Seven horses received 10% guaifenesin, and five horses received 5% guaifenesin.
      The catheters were removed before the horses recovered from anesthesia. The
      horses were euthanatized approximately 48 hours later, and the jugular veins were
      removed for histologic examination. Adherent thrombus material was observed in
      all veins exposed to 10% guaifenesin and in one vein exposed to 5% guaifenesin.
      No evidence of thrombus was observed in four veins infused with 5% guaifenesin or
      in those infused with saline solution. These findings are of particular
      significance with horses at increased risk for thrombosis or thrombophlebitis.

PMID- 1455656
TI  - [Potentialities of ultrasound and computed tomography in the diagnosis of
      metastases of lung cancer in the mediastinal lymph nodes].
AB  - The results of routine roentgenotomography, CT and USI in the diagnosis of
      intrathoracic metastases of lung cancer were compared in 69 patients (central
      type--52, peripheral--17). These results were compared with operative findings in
      45 patients. The sensitivity of USI in the diagnosis of enlarged paravasal lymph
      nodes exceeded that of roentgenotomography and was slightly inferior to CT. CT
      was informative for all mediastinal lymph nodes whereas tomography and USI were
      informative in certain areas only. The authors recommend to combine the use of
      routine and ultrasound tomography to assess the spreading of lung cancer to the
      mediastinum. The information obtained increases the accuracy of staging and
      specifying a process, slightly yielding CT results.

PMID- 1455657
TI  - [Ultrasonography and computed tomography in the detection of overlooked gauze
      surgical dressings].
AB  - USI and CT were performed in 14 patients with textile foreign bodies left in the
      abdominal cavity and retroperitoneal space during operation on the biliary tracts
      (6 cases), kidneys (4 cases), pancreas (2), stomach (1), and during appendectomy
      (1). A decisive sign in USI that enabled one to detect gauze foreign bodies, was
      a stable echogenic zone corresponding to a proximal body contour with a solid
      acoustic shadow behind. Extra-organic localization of these changes contributed
      to making diagnosis. A certain amount of fluid could be seen around a foreign
      body during an exudative reaction. In CT, diagnosis was based on the detection of
      a formation with a capsule containing calcinates and air masses.

PMID- 1455658
TI  - [Potentialities of lymphography using chromethiotrast, a new x-ray contrast
      medium].
AB  - A study was made of the potentialities of lymphography using a new radiopaque
      medium chromethiotrast (a solution of harmless fat-soluble anthraquinone dyes
      fixed with ethiotrast). The agent is intended for combined x-ray and visual
      investigation of the lymphatic system. Lymphograms of 76 patients (with Hodgkin's
      disease, prostatic cancer, cancer of the female organs, breast, bladder, rectal
      cancer, and secondary limb lymphedema) were analyzed. Chromethiotrast is easily
      administered in the lymphatic bed ensuring a good contrast density of the
      lymphatic vessels permitting the detection of their structure. Chromethiotrast is
      quickly discharged from the lymphatic system, causing no marked side-effects
      provided all precautions necessary for the administration of iodobutyric
      radiopaque media, are taken.

PMID- 1455659
TI  - [Early x-ray diagnosis of hip dysplasia in children].
AB  - The author proposes a method of differential diagnosis of hip dislocations and
      hip joint dysplasia in infants aged 3 months. The alpha-angle of hip dislocation
      with relation to trochanteric space is determined on an anteroposterior radiogram
      of the hip joints; 64 degrees means hip dysplasia, 65-69 degrees and more mean
      dislocation. This method was tested in 75 children (150 joints) aged 3 months. A
      mean diagnostic accuracy was 90.1%.

PMID- 1455660
TI  - [Arthrography in congenital hip dislocation].
AB  - The paper is concerned with the results of contrast arthrography in 73 children
      with hip joint dysplasia, among which true dislocations prevailed (70 patients).
      In addition to bone alterations, arthrography revealed various soft tissue
      changes like hypertrophy and deformity of limbus, soft tissue interposition,
      separation of the articular sac with the presence of an isthmus, disintegration
      of articular cartilages. These findings are used to define indications for
      surgical intervention as well as for planning the area of operation.

PMID- 1455661
TI  - [X-ray diagnosis of ruptures of the distal radioulnar joint].
AB  - The paper describes 42 intact, 14 damaged and 52 ruptured radioulnar joints. The
      joints width was measured, the radioulnar index calculated, x-ray pictures
      filtered. Variants of isolated injuries of the joints in different bone
      dislocation, changes in combined ruptures and injuries are described. The
      radioulnar index proved the best in quantitation of the joint damage.

PMID- 1455662
TI  - [Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament].
AB  - The authors described 21 patients aged 37 to 83 with ossification of the
      posterior longitudinal ligament (10 with ischemic myelopathy, 6 with aftermaths
      of a trauma of the cervical spine, and 5 with the radicular syndrome on the basis
      of vertebral osteochondrosis. X-ray signs of three types of ossification of the
      posterior longitudinal ligament were defined and specified: linear, curved and
      mixed. The linear type was more frequently observed in the cervical spine whereas
      the curved type was more frequent in the lumbar spine.

PMID- 1455663
TI  - [An x-ray study in the diagnosis of rotator cuff injuries].
AB  - The author has studied 142 x-ray films and 132 arthrograms of patients with
      various lesions of the rotator cuff and has found that in none of the cases has a
      correct roentgenological diagnosis been made outside his own department. The main
      routine x-ray and arthrographic signs of such lesions are described. The
      conclusion is made that in spite of inability of each particular x-ray method to
      reveal precise dimensions of the gap of the rotator cuff a combined
      roentgenological examination permits one to determine indications to surgery and
      elaborate an adequate operative strategy.

PMID- 1455664
TI  - [X-ray diagnosis of hemophiliac pseudotumors].
AB  - Of 259 hemophiliacs bone pseudotumors were diagnosed in 11 (4.3%); they were
      localised in the femur (6 cases), calcaneus (4) and in the iliac bone (3). Two
      cases of combined femoral and calcaneal lesions and 4 cases of bone fracture were
      observed. As a rule, pseudotumors developed in hemophiliacs with severe disease.
      An x-ray picture of a pseudotumor depended on its site and was characterized by a
      large soft tissue tumor shadow, often with calcinosis, and serious destructive
      changes in bones in the form of round foci of 7 cm in diameter with clear-cut
      contours. An edge defect of the cortical layer was defined in the diaphysis of
      the femoral bone (15 cm long). Destructive changes were often accompanied by
      osteosclerosis and periostitis.

PMID- 1455665
TI  - [Water-soluble contrast media with increased viscosity for the diagnosis of
      diseases of the paranasal sinuses, bronchi and esophagus].
AB  - Water-soluble contrast agents with one of the polymers, cellulose derivatives or
      polyvinyl alcohol, were used in contrast examinations of paranasal sinuses,
      bronchi, and esophagus. Experiments have demonstrated the advantages of contrast
      agents basing on polymers as against the traditional oil-containing agents.
      Method for double-contrast examination of maxillary and frontal sinuses has been
      developed. Lowered concentrations of water-soluble contrast agents (i. e. diluted
      with distilled water) are recommended to be used, this permitting to save the
      reagents. A table of recommended dilutions of contrast media is presented. A
      total of 245 patients were examined, making use of contrast media of high
      viscosity.

PMID- 1455666
TI  - [An x-ray study of the subcutaneous tissue using an artificial method of
      providing contrast].
AB  - The paper is concerned with the main methodological principles and potentialities
      of a radiocontrast study of subcutaneous fat to detect pathological changes in
      it. The proposed method consists in slow administration in the middle fat layers
      of 20-25% solution of verografin from not less than two points, and subsequent
      roentgenography in a necessary projection. The method was used in 15 patients
      with various orthopedic diseases for diagnosis of inflammatory, tumorous and
      degenerative-dystrophic diseases.

PMID- 1455667
TI  - [The toxic autoimmune syndrome with pulmonary edema].

PMID- 1455668
TI  - [Ultrasonic tomography of para-appendicular and post-appendectomy abscesses].

PMID- 1455669
TI  - [Iatrogenic embolization of the upper mesenteric artery--a complication of
      interventional embolotherapy].

PMID- 1455671
TI  - [A removable compression tube].

PMID- 1455670
TI  - [A disintegrating lung tumor].

PMID- 1455672
TI  - [The diagnosis of epithelioid leiomyoma].

PMID- 1455673
TI  - [The differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis].

PMID- 1455674
TI  - [Osteoplastic tracheobronchopathy. Diagnosis using CT].

PMID- 1455675
TI  - [A case of rhabdomyosarcoma of the lung].

PMID- 1455676
TI  - [A case of the diagnosis of a teratoma of the thymus gland using magnetic
      resonance tomography].

PMID- 1455677
TI  - [The present status and future of the development of the material and technologic
      basis of radiography and radiology].

PMID- 1455678
TI  - [An atypically located hypoplasia of a lung lobule in a child, wrongly diagnosed
      as a tumor of the posterior mediastinum].

PMID- 1455679
TI  - [Videodensitometric analysis of x-ray contrast images].

PMID- 1455680
TI  - Depressed potential for interleukin-2 production following early weaning of
      piglets.
AB  - Spleen cells, but not mesenteric lymph node cells, from 3-week-old piglets
      abruptly weaned onto a soya-based diet, produced less interleukin-2 (IL-2)
      following non-specific activation with concanavalin A (Con A) than did cells from
      age- and litter-matched, unweaned controls. In contrast, the ability to express
      receptors for IL-2 was only marginally reduced. The effect on IL-2 production was
      most marked in animals weaned for as little as 24-48 h. Variation within groups
      increased with time after weaning, indicating differences between individuals in
      the longer-term effects of weaning. This finding may be due to endogenous
      production of steroids resulting in generalised impaired immune function or to
      retention of cells within intestinal sites owing to an active local immune
      response.

PMID- 1455681
TI  - Characterization of porcine xenoreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
AB  - Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against mouse P815 cells were detected after
      stimulation of porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with irradiated
      Balb/c splenocytes. In vivo priming prior to in vitro stimulation slightly
      enhanced CTL activity, but lysis of targets was undetectable from lymphocytes
      from non-immune or immune animals that were not cultured with mouse splenocytes.
      After primary culture with Balb/c (H-2d) splenocytes, specific killing of P815 (H
      2d) targets and not L929 (H-2k) targets indicated that recognition was specific
      for the H-2 locus. Similarly, CTL primed by mouse cells from either of two
      congenic strains recognized targets with alleles homologous to the stimulating
      cells. The anti-murine CTL was confirmed to be a CD8+ T cell based on studies
      using specific monoclonal antibodies to the porcine CD4 or CD8 cells. The cells
      responsible for the cytotoxicity of P815 targets lacked the characteristics of
      non-specific NK cells because (1) naive PBMC were unable to lyse NK targets (K562
      cells) during the 4 h cytotoxic assay and (2) CTL killing of P815 targets
      increased with time after primary stimulation, whereas killing of K562 cells
      remained low at all times. These results suggest that porcine CTL can be readily
      generated against the xenogeneic mouse major histocompatibility complex.

PMID- 1455682
TI  - Cross-reactivity of monoclonal antibodies to bovine immunoglobulins with
      immunoglobulins of other species.
AB  - Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) to bovine immunoglobulin heavy chain of the four
      major isotypes gamma 1, gamma 2, alpha, mu and the light chains (combined kappa
      and lambda) were produced and found to cross-react in enzyme-linked immunoassay
      (ELISA) with immunoglobulins of some other animal species despite the discrete
      specificity associated with an antibody derived from a single clone. This cross
      reactivity, particularly amongst ruminants, could be utilized in serological
      testing for the diagnosis of disease in these species. For example, Mabs produced
      against bovine immunoglobulin light chain cross-react with bison immunoglobulin
      light chain and were used successfully in serological testing as the secondary
      detection antibody in an indirect ELISA for the diagnosis of Brucella abortus in
      bison herds in north-western Canada.

PMID- 1455683
TI  - A comparative study on the use of bovine and murine monoclonal antibodies for
      passive immunization in cattle.
AB  - In the present experiments the efficacy of murine and bovine monoclonal
      antibodies for passive immunization in cattle was compared. The in vivo
      immunoneutralization of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) by murine and
      bovine antibodies after repeated administration was chosen as a model for this
      study. Results indicate that repeated injections of murine monoclonal antibodies
      against PMSG (mMCA) alone did not, or only to a small extent, elicit an anti
      mouse immune response. The simultaneous administration of mMCA and PMSG resulted
      in relatively high levels of anti-mouse antibodies after the second injection,
      leading to a decrease in neutralizing activity of mMCA. The results suggest that
      the neutralizing activity of mMCA is inhibited more by anti-idiotypic than by
      anti-isotypic antibodies against mMCA. In vivo, the bovine monoclonal antibody
      against PMSG (bMCA) only partially neutralizes PMSG. After repeated
      administration of bMCA, either alone or in combination with PMSG, no anti-bMCA
      antibodies could be detected in our assay system. In addition, no change in
      plasma levels of bMCA and PMSG compared with levels after the first injection was
      observed. Although it has to be confirmed by further experiments whether our
      findings can be generalized, the present results suggest that for repeated
      passive immunization in cattle homologous antibodies are to be preferred above
      heterologous antibodies.

PMID- 1455684
TI  - Engraftment of severe combined immune deficient/beige mice with bovine foetal
      lymphoid tissues.
AB  - To develop a model of bovine thymus and lymph node growth in vivo, we have
      implanted bovine foetal tissues (16-23 weeks gestation) under the renal capsule
      of severe combined immune deficient (SCID)/beige (BG) mice and assayed for graft
      growth and characteristics 2-18 weeks after engraftment. Bovine foetal thymus and
      lymph node grew considerably following engraftment of SCID/BG mice. Growth was
      optimal if bovine foetal tissues were used before gestation Week 17. Bovine-mouse
      chimerism was confirmed using glucose phosphate isomerase analysis. Bovine thymus
      grew during the entire 18 weeks of study. Growth of bovine lymph node was
      initially rapid, reaching a maximum at 2 weeks after transplantation followed by
      a progressive decrease in size. Transplanted bovine lymph node and thymus were
      morphologically similar to age-matched bovine foetal tissue for a limited time
      period. Fibrosis, degeneration and depletion of lymphocytes were evident 6 weeks
      after engraftment; changes were more severe in lymph node than in thymus whereas
      increases in lymphocytes, lymphopoiesis and follicle formation were evident in
      age-matched bovine foetal tissue. Despite growth and morphological similarities
      of the transplanted tissue, blood counts suggested there was no peripheralization
      of bovine leucocytes. Bovine immunoglobulins (IgG1 and IgG2) were detected in
      serum of some SCID/BG chimeric mice for a limited time. The appearance of bovine
      immunoglobulins at 2 weeks in SCID/BG chimeric mice depended on the age of the
      foetal donor (> 18 weeks) and coincided with the appearance of morphologically
      mature lymphocytes in the donor foetus lymph nodes. The ability to produce bovine
      immunoglobulins decreased 8 weeks after engraftment, coinciding with the
      depletion of lymphocytes in the engrafted lymph node. Lymphocyte depletion and
      loss of function of engrafted tissues appear the result of a lack of lymphoid
      progenitors normally derived from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow.

PMID- 1455685
TI  - The long-term culture of bovine monocyte-derived macrophages and their use in the
      study of intracellular proliferation of Brucella abortus.
AB  - Although the immune response to Brucella abortus is multifaceted, the key event
      in contending with this pathogen appears to be the interaction of the organism
      with cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system. A cell culture system was
      developed which allowed the long-term maintenance of blood monocyte-derived
      macrophages in Teflon culture vessels in a relatively unstimulated state. The
      assay system was optimized for timing of bacteria-macrophage interaction and
      numbers of bacteria and macrophages used in each assay. Interaction of B. abortus
      strain 2308 with bovine mononuclear phagocytes from animals phenotypically
      resistant and susceptible to infection with B. abortus was investigated. This
      cell culture and assay system should provide a useful model for the investigation
      of intracellular parasitism in cattle.

PMID- 1455686
TI  - Protective efficacy of conjugate vaccines against experimental challenge with
      porcine Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.
AB  - In an attempt to protect pigs against swine pleuropneumonia induced by
      Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (SPAP) by neutralizing the effects of three
      virulence factors of A. pleuropneumoniae--the capsular polysaccharide (CP), the
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the hemolysin protein (HP)--two subunit conjugate
      vaccines were prepared by covalently coupling the CP to the HP and the LPS to the
      HP. The CP, LPS, and HP were isolated from A. pleuropneumoniae, strain 4074,
      serotype 1, and the protective efficacy of the conjugate vaccines in swine
      experimentally infected with A. pleuropneumoniae was evaluated. Following a
      booster vaccination, a significant (P < 0.05) IgG antibody response to the CP,
      LPS, and HP was detected in the vaccinated pigs. The pigs vaccinated with the CP
      HP and LPS-HP conjugates exhibited significantly less mortality (P < 0.05) and
      significantly greater weight gain (P < 0.001) than unvaccinated pigs. Vaccinated
      pigs exhibited significantly fewer and less extensive gross pulmonary lesions (P
      < 0.001) when compared with unvaccinated pigs. Thus, on the basis of mortality,
      weight gains, and pulmonary lesion formation, the two conjugate vaccines used in
      conjunction with one another provide noticeable protective efficacy against SPAP.

PMID- 1455688
TI  - Duck lymphocytes. VI. Requirement for phagocytic and adherent cells in lymphocyte
      transformation.
AB  - Preparations of duck (Anas platyrhynchos) spleen and blood lymphocytes depleted
      of cells capable of phagocytosing carbonyl iron gave lower transformation
      responses to the mitogens phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A),
      Bandeiraea simplicifolia seed lectin (BSS), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), lentil
      lectin (LL) and phorbol ester (PMA) than intact cell preparations. When cell
      populations were fractionated on the basis of their adherence to plastic, it was
      found that the adherent cells were responsive to PHA, Con A, BSS, WGA and PMA,
      while the non-adherent cells responded to LL. These observations confirm the
      expected requirement for phagocytic accessory cells in the induction of in vitro
      mitogen-driven duck lymphocyte responses. The responses of plastic-adherent
      populations of cells to most mitogens are believed to reflect the generally close
      physical relationship between the adherent accessory cells and the lymphocytes,
      although it remains possible that duck monocytes respond to some of the mitogens
      employed. The data also suggest that LL stimulates a population of cells
      different to those responding to other mitogens.

PMID- 1455687
TI  - Ivermectin: its effect on the immune system of rabbits and rats infested with
      ectoparasites.
AB  - The influence of subcutaneously administered ivermectin on the specific immune
      response was studied in rabbits infested with mites (Psoroptes cuniculi) and in
      rats infested with lice (Polyplax spinulosa). A pronounced specific antibody
      activity and a change in immunoblotting pattern was observed in rabbits after the
      ivermectin treatment. However, in rats the antibody activity decreased and the
      profile of specific antibodies, tested by immunoblotting, remained the same as
      before the treatment. The specific immune response in rabbits artificially
      immunized with whole-body Psoroptes cuniculi extract was not affected by
      ivermectin. It was concluded that ivermectin has no direct effect on the immune
      response of rabbits and rats and that the enhanced immune response in the mite
      infested rabbits was caused by the massive release of antigens associated with
      the synchronous death of the mites.

PMID- 1455689
TI  - Prognostic implications of bone marrow features in chronic myelogenous leukaemia.

PMID- 1455690
TI  - Changes of silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions in mouse endometrial
      carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and 17 beta-oestradiol.
AB  - A high incidence of endometrial adenocarcinoma and pre-neoplastic lesions was
      induced in ICR mice treated with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and 17 beta-oestradiol
      within 23 weeks. The endometrial lesions were histopathologically similar to
      those of human subjects. To assess the cell proliferative activity of these
      lesions, a one-step silver colloid staining for nucleolar organizer regions was
      applied and the numbers of silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs)
      were counted. The mean numbers +/- SD of AgNORs in each lesion were as follows:
      simple hyperplasia, 2.07 +/- 0.36; complex hyperplasia without cytological
      atypia, 2.79 +/- 0.39; complex hyperplasia with cytological atypia, 3.43 +/-
      0.38; and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, 4.17 +/- 0.40. Significant
      differences were observed in each lesion (P < 0.001). These findings suggest that
      the mean numbers of Ag-NORs are increased in the progression of neoplastic
      changes in the mouse endometrium, as in human endometrial lesions. This rapid
      induction model of endometrial carcinoma in mice is useful in the understanding
      of the histogenesis of endometrial carcinoma in human subjects.

PMID- 1455691
TI  - Immunohistological analysis of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes in seminoma using
      monoclonal antibodies.
AB  - Immunological characterization of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) by
      immunohistological techniques was carried out in 20 cases of stage I seminoma.
      Routine pathological examination of these surgical specimens showed typical
      seminoma in 20 cases. Eighteen cases showed obvious TIL and immunohistological
      staining on frozen specimens was performed in 12. TIL in seminomas were
      predominantly T-cells but B-cells were also identified. T-cells were distributed
      diffusely with predominance of the CD8+ phenotype judged semiquantitatively. In
      contrast to the distribution of T-cells, B-cells tended to accumulate and
      occasionally formed lymphoid follicles. In such follicles the phenotypic pattern
      of B-cell antigens was comparable with secondary lymphoid follicles in lymphoid
      organs. There is an immunologically complex response to seminoma by the host with
      a predominant infiltration of cytotoxic/suppressor T-cells and functional
      maturation of B-cells.

PMID- 1455693
TI  - Interneuronal interaction between members of quadrature phase and anti-phase
      pairs in the cat's visual cortex.
AB  - Interactions between adjacent simple cells recorded simultaneously from the same
      microelectrode placement were studied by correlational analysis. The receptive
      fields of pairs of such cells exhibit either 90 degrees (quadrature phase) or 180
      degrees (anti-phase) phase relationships. We now show that the majority of
      quadrature phase pair members do not receive common input from the immediately
      precedent stage along the visual pathway, nor do these cells interact with each
      other. The anti-phase pairs show relatively strong mutual inhibition. These
      results suggest that each of the physically adjacent phase-related simple cells
      receives excitatory input from a distinct group of pre-cortical cells, and that
      mutual inhibitions between members of anti-phase pairs are used to construct the
      inhibitory subzones of these cells. We propose a model which incorporates these
      new results and provides a parsimonious explanation for the construction of both
      quadrature phase and anti-phase pairs.

PMID- 1455692
TI  - Paramyxovirus-like nuclear inclusions identical to those of Paget's disease of
      bone detected in giant cells of primary oxalosis.
AB  - Nuclear inclusions, identical to those characteristic of Paget's disease of bone,
      were observed in giant cells in four of eight cases of primary oxalosis. The
      giant cells containing nuclear inclusions were directly involved in phagocytosis
      of large oxalate crystals in the context of typical foreign body granulomas in
      the bone marrow. Cytochemically, all of them exhibited strong tartrate-resistant
      acid phosphatase activity, and a proportion of them also tartrate-resistant acid
      ATPase. The inclusions consisted of typical arrays of filamentous material as
      described in Paget's disease, admixed with variable proportions of electron-dense
      material closely reminiscent of nucleolar pars fibrillaris and fibrillary
      centres. These data indicate: (a) the occurrence of Paget-like inclusions in a
      bone disease unrelated to Paget's disease, not causally related to viral
      infection, and resulting from an inborn metabolic derangement; and (b) the
      occurrence of Paget-like inclusions in foreign body giant cells as opposed to
      osteoclasts. We suggest that the occurrence of paramyxovirus-like nuclear
      inclusions in either osteoclasts or giant cells may represent an epiphenomenon of
      cell fusion and giant cell formation whenever appropriate stimuli act on latently
      infected precursor cells. Furthermore, our data suggest that nucleoli may
      represent the specific site of virus-like inclusion formation.

PMID- 1455694
TI  - The effects of aging on the pattern electroretinogram and visual evoked potential
      in humans.
AB  - We have recorded patterns electroretinograms (PERGs) and visual evoked potentials
      (VEPs) from 14 elderly subjects (mean age 72 yr) and 12 young subjects (mean age
      21 yr) in response to stimulation by high contrast sinusoidal grating patterns of
      variable spatial frequency (at 9 Hz) and temporal frequency (at 1.7 c/deg). The
      major effect of aging on the PERG was an aspecific reduction in amplitude (of
      about 40%) at most spatial and temporal frequencies, together with a small but
      systematic phase lag. Control measurements suggest that senile miosis may be
      responsible for the phase lag, but not for the reduction in amplitude. The
      effects of aging on the VEP were more dramatic and depended on the spatial and
      temporal properties of the stimulus. VEP amplitudes (at 1.7 c/deg) were
      significantly lower for the aged at low temporal frequencies (below about 6 Hz),
      but were similar at high temporal frequencies. At 9 Hz, there was no effect of
      spatial frequency on VEP amplitude. At high temporal frequencies (above 10 Hz),
      the latencies of VEPs (estimated from the rate at which phase varied with
      temporal frequency) were similar for old and young (94 and 99 msec respectively).
      Below 10 Hz, however, the latencies of the old observers was much greater (153
      compared with 108 msec). The second-harmonic phase of VEPs of the old but not the
      young decreased considerably with spatial frequency, by about 1.9 pi radians (52
      msec) over the range from 0.5 to 11 c/deg. The selective reduction in amplitude
      at low temporal frequencies, the longer latencies at low temporal frequencies and
      the phase lag at high spatial frequencies are consistent with the hypothesis that
      mechanisms sensitive to high spatial and low temporal frequencies are selectively
      degraded by aging.

PMID- 1455695
TI  - Effect of light scatter on the pattern reversal visual evoked response:
      comparison with psychophysical results.
AB  - The effect of light scatter on the pattern reversal visual evoked response (PVER)
      was studied in 6 normal subjects. The results were compared with contrast visual
      acuity, contrast sensitivity function, and glare disability. Light scatter was
      induced by translucent acrylic sheets. Visual acuity measured with the low
      contrast charts decreased significantly (P < 0.0001) even with a small degree of
      light scatter. Contrast sensitivity decreased with a small degree of light
      scatter especially for high spatial frequencies. PVER amplitudes decreased
      especially at the smaller checks with its peak shifted to larger checks. PVER was
      equally sensitive to light scatter compared to psychophysical tests.

PMID- 1455696
TI  - Retinal and cortical activity in human subjects during color flicker fusion.
AB  - Pattern electroretinograms (PERG) and cortical visually evoked potentials (VEP)
      were simultaneously recorded from 7 visually normal and 1 protanopic subjects.
      Stimuli were color checkerboards (0.5 degrees check size), phase-reversing at 17
      Hz (i.e. 34 reversals/sec). Using a stepwise sweep procedure, the luminance of
      the red (lambda peak = 550 nm) and green (lambda peak = 630 nm) checks varied in
      11 steps in opposite directions from 0 to 30 cd/m2, embracing the subjective
      equiluminance point. For normal subjects at subjective equiluminance, the VEP
      amplitude dropped sharply down to 13 +/- 2% of the value at pure luminance
      contrast. The PERG, however, was only reduced to 56 +/- 10% at this point, an
      attenuation 4 times less than that of the VEP. In contrast to normal subjects, in
      the protanopic subject the PERG was sharply reduced at equiluminance, parallel to
      the VEP. This would be expected when L-cones are missing. Assuming that the PERG
      reflects the activity of the retinal ganglion cells, our findings suggest that
      human retinal ganglion cells respond well under the condition of equiluminant
      flicker fusion, which is in agreement with recent single-cell studies in the
      monkey. Consequently, the temporal low-pass filter, which mediates color-flicker
      fusion, would seem to lie central to the retinal ganglion cells.

PMID- 1455697
TI  - Three-dimensional properties of human pursuit eye movements.
AB  - For any given location and velocity of a point target, there are infinitely many
      different eye velocities that the pursuit system could use to track the target
      perfectly. Three-dimensional recordings of eye position and velocity in 8 normal
      human subjects showed that the system chooses the unique tracking velocity that
      keeps eye position vectors (a particular mathematical representation of three
      dimensional eye orientation) confined to a single plane, i.e. pursuit obeys
      Listing's law. One advantage of this strategy over other possible ones, such as
      choosing the smallest eye velocity compatible with perfect tracking, is that it
      permits continuous pursuit without accumulation of ocular torsion. For nonpoint
      targets, there is at most one eye velocity compatible with perfect retinal image
      stabilisation, and the optimal velocity may not fit Listing's law; we observed
      small but consistent deviations from the law during pursuit of rotating line
      targets.

PMID- 1455698
TI  - Sawtooth contrast sensitivity: effects of mean illuminance and low temporal
      frequencies.
AB  - Temporal contrast sensitivity was measured for mirror-image sawtooth (rapid-on
      and rapid-off) and sine waveforms for a 1.8 deg foveal target. In one experiment,
      contrast sensitivity was measured for 2-26 Hz stimuli at target mean illuminance
      levels of 5-1260 td. At 5 td, contrast sensitivity functions for sawtooth and
      sine waveforms, expressed in terms of the Fourier fundamental amplitude, are
      equivalent. At higher light levels, sawtooth sensitivity increasingly exceeds
      sine sensitivity and rapid-off (decremental) sawtooths show progressively greater
      sensitivity than rapid-on (incremental) sawtooths. This pattern of results was
      obtained for two color-normal observers and for a deuteranopic observer. In a
      second experiment, sawtooth and sine sensitivity was tested at 500 td with an
      extended low-frequency range, to 0.5 Hz. Rapid-off and rapid-on sensitivities
      declined only slightly at low temporal frequencies in contrast with sine
      sensitivity. To interpret our data, we evaluate two single-pathway models (last
      stage asymmetric detector and compressive response-intensity non-linearity) and a
      dual-pathway model in which incremental and decremental waveforms are detected by
      separate ON and OFF visual mechanisms.

PMID- 1455699
TI  - Age-dependent intensity-difference thresholds in pigeons.
AB  - Recent studies have reported age-related deficits in visual acuity and changes in
      retinal morphology in pigeons. The experiment reported here was designed to
      determine the effects of age on intensity difference thresholds in pigeons. Six
      subjects, age 2-17 yr, were trained to discriminate between two stimuli that
      differed in luminance. When this training was complete, the subjects were
      presented with a series of stimulus comparisons ranging from 0.08 to 0.43 log
      unit. Threshold was calculated by determining the luminance difference that
      corresponded to 75% correct. These data were pooled with 56 intensity-difference
      thresholds that had been collected from pigeons of various ages over a 20 yr
      period using the same procedure. A regression analysis that was performed on the
      pooled data set gave the result b = 0.0038, d.f. = 61 P < 0.05, r2 = 0.066 which
      indicates that age accounted for approx. 7% of the variance in intensity
      difference threshold. This finding, although statistically significant, indicates
      that as pigeons age their ability to perform this type of non-spatial
      discrimination task is not greatly impaired. This finding suggests that deficits
      associated with a spatial visual task in pigeons, such as visual acuity, are task
      specific and are not due to a global performance deficit.

PMID- 1455700
TI  - Isoluminant stimuli may not expose the full contribution of color to visual
      functioning: spatial contrast sensitivity measurements indicate interaction
      between color and luminance processing.
AB  - Visual performance is greatly impaired when tested with heterochromatic
      isoluminant stimuli. It is thus concluded that the chromatic system contribution
      to many visual tasks is limited. We suggest that unless color and luminance are
      shown to be processed independently, such experiments do not demonstrate
      shortcomings of the chromatic system but rather the inadequacy of using
      isoluminant stimuli for isolating that system. We hypothesize that color vision
      has evolved not only to encode color per se but also to enhance luminance-based
      visual processing, so that for color information to be fully effective, luminance
      as well as chromatic variations should be present in the stimulus. The hypothesis
      was tested by studying the contribution of color to spatial vision. The human
      contrast sensitivity function (CSF) was studied using luminance, isoluminance
      (color) and combined luminance/color sinusoidal gratings. It is found that
      luminance contrast sensitivity is enhanced when luminance contrast is accompanied
      by color contrast and vice versa. The nature of the interaction is best described
      by an additive single analyzer model. Color opponent cells which respond to both
      chromatic and achromatic stimuli may be identified as the analyzer.

PMID- 1455701
TI  - Moving two-dimensional patterns can capture the perceived directions of lower or
      higher spatial frequency gratings.
AB  - Coherent plaid motion is produced by superimposing two one-dimensional gratings
      of the same spatial frequency moving +/- 60 degrees from the intersection-of
      constraints (IOC) resultant direction. These moving plaids were found to change
      the perceived direction of a third one-dimensional grating, either 6-fold lower
      or higher in spatial frequency, from traveling in one of the plaid's component
      direction to the IOC resultant direction. We describe this phenomenon as
      coherence capture. Coherence capture was found to be effective between plaids
      with 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 c/deg components and gratings of 3.0, 6.0 and 9.0 c/deg
      respectively. It was also found to be effective between plaids with 3.0 c/deg
      components and gratings of 0.5 c/deg. However, coherence capture between higher
      spatial frequency plaids and lower spatial frequency gratings became less
      effective when the component spatial frequencies of the plaid increased.

PMID- 1455702
TI  - The optics of the spherical fish lens.
AB  - The optical design of the fish eye is particularly simple because immersion
      renders the cornea optically ineffective and the lens is nearly spherical in
      shape. Measurements have shown that an approximately parabolic gradient of
      refractive index exists within the lens. If full internal and external spherical
      symmetry of the lens applies, the geometrical-optical behaviour of the lens is
      then a function only of the refractive index of the surrounding medium, that of
      the lens core and cortex, and of the form of the index gradient. The theoretical
      optical performance of models of the spherical fish lens is calculated by means
      of the ray-tracing program Drishti as a basis for understanding the optical
      design of real fish and aquatic eyes. Models based on the gradients proposed by
      earlier workers are shown to be unable to predict reported spherical aberration
      and image quality. A model of the fish lens with a polynomial gradient is
      proposed that yields spherical aberration, image quality and chromatic aberration
      similar to that reported for the fish.

PMID- 1455703
TI  - Robustness of perception of heading from optic flow.
AB  - Heading discrimination in optic flow stimuli was investigated in 5 humans. Flow
      patterns consisted of a computer generated motion sequence which showed a mixture
      of randomly moving and coherently-moving points. The motion of the coherently
      moving fiducial points was completely determined by the changing position of the
      observer's simulated vantage point. Ego-rotation as well as ego-translation was
      simulated. Noise and fiducial points were confined to the ground plane in most
      experiments. In one experiment the points formed a cloud with no visible horizon.
      The results indicate that heading perception is robust against degradation of the
      flow-field by the presence of noise or by the reduction of the lifetime of the
      fiducial points. The results suggest that points, which move independently from
      the reference frame as formed by the fiducial points, are to a large extent
      removed from the analysis of optic flow by the visual process which derives the
      heading. The motion of recognizable points at infinity (like the horizon) appears
      to be essential for robust heading perception in the presence of ego-rotations.

PMID- 1455704
TI  - The effect of adaptation on the differential sensitivity of the S-cone color
      system.
AB  - This paper presents a psychophysical dissection of the S-cone color system.
      Experiments were guided by a skeletal model that assumed a first stage consisting
      of S-, M- and L-cones, and a second stage of the opponent combination of the S
      and L+M signals. The response of the S-cone system was isolated by measuring
      difference thresholds between lights that were equiluminant tritanopic confusion
      pairs and thus differed only in S-cone excitation. Two types of mechanisms that
      control sensitivity in the S-cone system were identified: (i) static mechanisms
      that have a restricted range and thus limit discrimination to a small range of
      inputs; and (ii) adaptive mechanisms that change the state of the system in
      response to changes in steady illumination, so that the system is sensitive to
      small changes from the adapting light. These mechanisms were localized by lights
      that stimulated the S-cone system while keeping the signal constant at either the
      S, the L+M, or the post-opponent stage. The response function of the static
      mechanism was estimated by measuring difference thresholds at judgment points
      other than the steady adapting light. This procedure was repeated at a number of
      adaptation lights to examine the properties of adaptive mechanisms. The data were
      consistent with an elaborated model that included identical multiplicative gain
      control mechanisms in the S and L+M pre-opponent branches, and a post-opponent
      static sigmoidal nonlinearity with different amounts of compression for positive
      and negative opponent inputs.

PMID- 1455705
TI  - The spatial localization deficit in amblyopia.
AB  - There have now been numerous reports of a spatial localization deficit in
      amblyopia but none so far have tackled (1) the relationship between the contrast
      sensitivity and spatial localization deficits and (2) whether the spatial
      localization deficit is best described in units of visual angle or in terms of
      the underlying filter size. These issues are germane because they lie at the very
      heart of our understanding of the underlying deficit in amblyopia. To answer
      these questions we use spatially bandpass stimuli so that we can readily compare
      detection and localization for the same stimuli at each of a number of spatial
      scales. For some amblyopes (all strabismics and a minority of anisometropes) the
      contrast sensitivity defect neither underlies nor covaries with the spatial
      localization deficit. In the majority of anisometropic amblyopes, the contrast
      sensitivity loss is a complete description. The spatial localization deficit in
      amblyopia is of two independent kinds; positional inaccuracy and positional
      distortion. The positional inaccuracy deficit which can occur in varying degrees
      in both strabismic and anisometropic amblyopia, affects all spatial scales
      equally and therefore is best thought of in terms of a constant fraction of the
      underlying filter size in the space-frequency plane. The positional distortion
      deficit which can also occur to varying degrees in both strabismic and
      anisometropic forms can not be easily understood within this metric at least for
      strabismics.

PMID- 1455706
TI  - Static roll and pitch in the monkey: shift and rotation of Listing's plane.
AB  - In three rhesus monkeys three-dimensional eye positions were measured with the
      dual search coil technique. Recordings of spontaneous eye movements were made in
      the light and in the dark, with the monkeys in different static roll or pitch
      positions. Eye positions were expressed as rotation vectors. In all static
      positions eye rotation vectors were confined to a plane, i.e. Listing's plane was
      conserved. Tilt about the roll axis shifted the plane along this axis, i.e. a
      constant torsional component was added to all eye positions. Tilt about the pitch
      axis changed the pitch angle of Listing's plane.

PMID- 1455707
TI  - The two-dimensional shape of spatial interaction zones in the parafovea.
AB  - The spatial analysis of a target may be strongly degraded by the simultaneous
      presentation of nearby pattern elements. The present study investigated the shape
      and extent of the region of interaction as a function of retinal location. The
      stimuli consisted of 3 collinear [symbol: see text] s which were randomly
      oriented up ([symbol: see text]) or down ([symbol: see text]). The task was to
      discriminate the orientation of the middle [symbol: see text]. The retinal
      locations studied were at 0, 2.5, 5 and 10 degrees, on the lower vertical
      meridian and on the nasal halves of both the horizontal and the 45 degrees
      diagonal visual field meridians. The extent of the interaction region was defined
      as the separation between the midpoint of two adjacent [symbol: see text] s that
      resulted in 75% correct discrimination. The shape of the interaction region was
      determined by using several orientations (horizontal, vertical, left diagonal and
      right diagonal) for the virtual line joining the 3. [symbol: see text] s. Our
      results show that the size of the interaction regions varies linearly with
      eccentricity as does the size of a just resolved individual [symbol: see text].
      However, the size of the interaction region varies much more rapidly than does
      the resolution threshold for an individual [symbol: see text]. The spatial
      interaction zones appear to be elongated radially, so that they have an
      elliptical shape. The size of the major axis is about 2-3 times the size of the
      minor axis. The major axis is along the meridian through the central visual field
      (i.e. it is oriented radially) while the minor axis is oriented tangentially
      (i.e. isoeccentrically).

PMID- 1455708
TI  - An operational approach to colour constancy.
AB  - Colour constancy is traditionally defined as the invariance of perceived surface
      colours under changes in the spectral composition of the illuminant. Existing
      quantitative studies show that, by this definition, human subjects show poor
      colour constancy. A different and complementary aspect of colour constancy is
      considered which is concerned with the ability of a subject to attribute
      correctly changes in the colour appearance of a scene either to changes in
      reflecting properties of the surfaces that make up the scene, or to changes in
      the spectral composition of the illuminant. Data are presented showing that, if
      the changes in the appearance of a scene were sufficiently great, subjects were
      capable of making the required discriminations highly reliably, and without
      scrutiny.

PMID- 1455709
TI  - Mobility performance with a pixelized vision system.
AB  - A visual prosthesis, based on electrical stimulation of the visual cortex, has
      been suggested as a means for partially restoring functional vision in the blind.
      The prosthesis would create a pixelized visual sense consisting of punctate spots
      of light (phosphenes). The present study investigated the feasibility of
      achieving visually-guided mobility with such a visual sense. Psychophysical
      experiments were conducted on normally sighted human subjects, who were required
      to walk through a maze which included a series of obstacles, while their visual
      input was restricted to information from a pixelized vision simulator. Walking
      speed and number of body contacts with obstacles and walls were measured as a
      function of pixel number, pixel spacing, object minification, and field of view.
      The results indicate that a 25 x 25 array of pixels distributed within the foveal
      visual area could provide useful visually guided mobility in environments not
      requiring a high degree of pattern recognition.

PMID- 1455710
TI  - Modeling the dynamics of light adaptation: the merging of two traditions.
AB  - Light adaptation has been studied using both aperiodic and periodic stimuli. Two
      well-documented phenomena are described: the background-onset effect (from an
      aperiodic-stimulus tradition) and high-temporal-frequency linearity (from the
      periodic-stimulus tradition). These phenomena have been explained within two
      different theoretical frameworks. Here we briefly review those frameworks. We
      then show that the models developed to predict the phenomenon from one tradition
      cannot predict the phenomenon from the other tradition, but that the models from
      the two traditions can be merged into a class of models that predicts both
      phenomena.

PMID- 1455711
TI  - An analysis of the VEP to luminance modulation and of its nonlinearity.
AB  - Identification of the VEP luminance modulation system was carried out using a
      relatively long pseudorandom binary m-sequence stimulus. The complete first order
      cross-correlation function provides a "fingerprint" of the nonlinearity in the
      time domain. Volterra kernel slices up to third order are recognized in the
      complete first order cross-correlation function. They all lie close to the major
      diagonal. Higher order kernel slices are not measurable. A cascade block model
      (sandwich model) analysis shows the nonlinearity to be an asymmetric
      rectification. Luminance increase causes a stronger response than does luminance
      decrease. The pre-filter gain function is low-pass. The post-filter gain function
      is band-pass tuned near 10 Hz. Coherency spectra are used to examine the channel
      structure of the system. Two channels operating near 8 and 15 Hz are easily
      identified. Another broad channel (or possibly multiple channels) is present
      above 30 Hz. In many subjects, the pseudorandom stimuli allow a complete system
      identification to be carried out in less than 82 sec.

PMID- 1455712
TI  - An intensity-dependent biphasic neuron in mudpuppy retina.
AB  - Intracellular recordings in dark-adapted mudpuppy retinas have revealed a type of
      infrequently encountered cell with unusual response properties. These cells may
      be a subclass of horizontal cell since they are encountered at the same depth as
      horizontal cells and have large receptive fields and response amplitudes.
      However, they differ from typical horizontal cells in that they are depolarized
      by low intensity illumination and hyperpolarized by higher intensity illumination
      at all wavelengths. Both types of responses appear to be driven mainly by 572 nm
      cones. Both the depolarizing and hyperpolarizing responses were unaffected by
      APB, indicating that they are not mediated by on-center bipolar cells.

PMID- 1455713
TI  - Cortical neurons: isolation of contrast gain control.
AB  - The selectivity of cortical neurons remains invariant with contrast, even though
      the contrast-response function saturates. Both the invariance and the saturation
      might be due to a contrast-gain control mechanism. To test this hypothesis, a
      drifting grafting was used to measure the contrast-response function, while a
      counterphase grating was simultaneously presented at the null position of the
      receptive field (where it evokes no response at any contrast). When the contrast
      of the counterphase grating increased, the contrast-response function shifted
      primarily to the right. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that there
      is a fast-acting gain-control mechanism which effectively scales the input
      contrast by the average local contrast.

PMID- 1455714
TI  - On the relation between ERG waves and retinal function: inverted rod
      photoresponses from the frog retina.
AB  - In rod mass receptor photoresponses recorded across the isolated frog retina, a
      paradoxical cornea-positive wave may precede the response of normal polarity. We
      present a model which shows that the light-induced decrease in rod current can
      give rise to inverted or biphasic ERG signals if the distal part (tip) of the rod
      outer segment responds more slowly and/or less sensitively than the proximal part
      (base). The condition is that current entering at the tip is represented with
      greater weight in the ERG. The model reproduces recorded ERG waveforms well. It
      further predicts that if there is a light-insensitive conductance in the tip
      membrane, ERG photoresponses may be non-recordable although current
      photoresponses are only slightly reduced. The model reveals a type of complexity
      in the relation between mass potentials and underlying physiological processes
      which has not previously received attention.

PMID- 1455715
TI  - Color fusion and flicker fusion frequencies using tritanopic pairs.
AB  - We determined color fusion and flicker fusion frequencies for tritanopic color
      pairs, so that only short wavelength sensitive cones were modulated. The
      minimally distinct border (MDB) technique was used to determine tritanopic pairs
      for each observer. If S-cones do not contribute to the luminance channel, color
      fusion and flicker fusion frequencies should be equal, because the achromatic
      flicker perceived beyond color fusion frequency is supposed to be elicited just
      by the luminance channel. The results show a significant difference between color
      fusion and flicker fusion frequencies for all pairs and for all subjects, which
      suggests a contribution of S-cones to the luminance channel. However, the results
      also showed that the residual achromatic flicker can not be eliminated by
      adjusting relative luminance of two colors flickering in counter-phase. The
      relative luminance stayed the same as the MDB setting when residual flicker was
      minimized. This means that minimum flicker was obtained when L- and M-cones are
      temporally silenced, and suggests little or no contribution of S-cones to
      luminance channel. These conflicting results might be explained by phase shift
      between responses of S-cones and other longer-wavelength-sensitive cones.

PMID- 1455716
TI  - The Bezold-Brucke effect in the color vision system of the honeybee.
AB  - Evidence is presented that intensity dependent color shifts (Bezold-Brucke
      effect) occur in the color vision system of the honeybee. The evidence comes from
      a fit between the choices of monochromatic lights in training experiments
      (Menzel, R., 1981; Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 141, 389-393) and the
      choice percentages derived now from recently presented quantitative predictions
      from the color opponent coding (COC) model for the bee (Backhaus, W., 1991;
      Vision Research, 31, 1381-1397) for the Bezold-Brucke effect. The only open
      parameter in the simulations of the training experiments is an experiment type
      dependent factor describing the weighting of color differences (judgement values)
      in the choice behavior. The results show (1) that the Bezold-Brucke effect exists
      in the bee. The results (2) confirm the color opponent coding (COC) model which
      was developed to describe the physiological components of the color vision system
      in the bee, (3) the general psychophysical assumptions about the structure of the
      color space, (4) the color difference formula, and (5) the general psychophysical
      assumptions about the (triadic) structure of judgements as tested in color
      similarity experiments.

PMID- 1455717
TI  - On the scaling of size judgements by orientational cues.
AB  - Observers carried out multiple, concurrent size discriminations with a range of
      size standards. The task was to classify each stimulus as larger or smaller than
      the appropriate standard size for the set to which it belonged. The set to which
      each stimulus belonged was indicated by its orientation, or in different
      experiments, by its spatial location. Observers were able to maintain appropriate
      discrimination, both when there were four concurrent standards and when there
      were eight. Both angle and position functioned as effective cues. The size of the
      orientational cue appeared to make little difference to the efficiency of
      discrimination. However, when the relationship between standard size and
      orientation was random, rather than regular, performance got worse. The analogy
      between such discrimination and size constancy is pointed out, and the results
      are discussed in relation to Andrews, D. P.'s [(1964) Quarterly Journal of
      Experimental Psychology, 16, 104-115)] account of perceptual calibration.

PMID- 1455718
TI  - The precision of size constancy.
AB  - The precision of objective size judgments, made when target disparity changed at
      random from trial-to-trial, was compared to the precision of angular size
      judgments made under the same condition. Subjects judged incremental changes in
      the vertical distance separating a pair of horizontal lines. For the objective
      judgments (in cm), the angle subtended by the target separation decreased with
      increasing depth consistent with the natural geometry of physical objects. For
      the angular judgments (in arc min), the angular separation did not change with
      disparity. For separations subtending an angle < 10 arc min, objective thresholds
      were considerably higher than angular thresholds, indicating that size constancy
      does not function well at small scales. At larger scales (> 20 arc min), the
      Weber fractions for angular and objective thresholds were nearly equal
      (approximately 6%) for two of the three subjects. These same two subjects also
      learned to judge "objective size" when angular subtense systematically increased
      with increasing depth in an exact inversion of the natural relationship. Although
      their "anti-constancy" judgments were less precise (approximately 9%) than their
      constancy judgments, the fact that subjects could learn this task with little
      practice suggests that constancy itself may be a learned response. Angular
      thresholds for targets presented only in the fixation plane were significantly
      lower than the angular thresholds measured with random changes in disparity,
      showing that observers with normal stereopsis do not have direct access to
      information about the angle subtended at the retina.

PMID- 1455719
TI  - Fourier analysis of the stimuli for pattern-induced flicker colors.
AB  - Pattern-induced flicker colors (PIFCs) were observed and color matched in
      rotating discs from which higher-harmonic Fourier components in the square-wave
      temporal luminance functions of a conventional black-and-white Benham disc had
      been removed. Since both reddish-brown and blue PIFCs were visible with purely
      sinusoidal stimuli they cannot result from differences in temporal stimulus shape
      or pattern and do not provide evidence for a temporal coding theory of color.
      Green PIFCs differed in that they did require the presence of additional
      harmonics. In a second experiment the luminance means upon which the sinusoidal
      PIFC stimuli were imposed were varied. The results show that color is determined
      by the phase of the time-varying contrast between the two parts of the stimulus
      pattern. This points to a site proximal to the outer plexiform layer for the
      phase-sensitive interaction causing PIFCs.

PMID- 1455720
TI  - Failure of rivalry at low contrast: evidence of a suprathreshold binocular
      summation process.
AB  - Presentation of different images to the two eyes normally results in a time
      varying alternation between the two images (binocular rivalry). However, we find
      that when orthogonal gratings are viewed dichoptically at low contrast, a stable
      summation between the two images is perceived in the form of a dichoptic plaid.
      The range of perception of the dichoptic plaid depends on spatial frequency,
      contrast and luminance of the gratings. This phenomenon differs from the "false
      fusion", a fleeting summation of different images perceived only under very brief
      presentation of the stimuli. The observations suggest that there exists a neural
      process that performs a summation of dissimilar images, and that is distinct from
      the competitive process of suppression and binocular rivalry.

PMID- 1455721
TI  - Spatial scaling of vernier acuity tasks.
AB  - Vernier acuity thresholds for two abutting lines and for a two-dot stimulus were
      measured as a function of stimulus magnification at eccentricities of 0, 5, 10
      and 15 deg using a spatial scaling technique in which all stimuli are simply
      magnified versions of each other. The advantage of such a technique is that no
      prior knowledge of a suitable magnification factor with which to increase the
      size of peripheral stimuli is required. Thresholds for the line stimulus could be
      successfully scaled by the application of a magnification factor with an E2 value
      of 1.23-1.78 deg. Further, provided that the effects of dot separation and
      eccentricity were dissociated, spatial scaling with an E2 value of 1.06-1.96 deg
      was also successful in removing eccentricity dependence for two-dot vernier
      thresholds.

PMID- 1455722
TI  - Brightness, discriminability and the "crispening effect".
AB  - Subjects adjusted the luminances, L, of 16 or 25 circles, all visible at the same
      time on a computer monitor, to make equal-interval brightness series. The
      background was black, white or grey. The luminance steps between adjacent circles
      behaved like the luminance discrimination thresholds of Whittle, P. [(1986)
      Vision Research, 26, 1677-1691)]. They showed a sharp minimum at the background
      luminance, Lb: the "Crispening Effect". They followed Weber's Law with respect to
      L when L was small, but with respect to delta L (= magnitude of L-Lb) near Lb.
      The Crispening Effect was abolished by a thin outline or a hue difference between
      circles and background.

PMID- 1455723
TI  - Spectral transmittance of the rat lens.
AB  - The spectral transmittance of the isolated rat lens for radiation of wavelengths
      from 300 to 700 nm was measured using a spectrophotometer. Transmittance
      decreased from 93-95% at 700 nm, to 70-80% at 400 nm, 50-60% at 360 nm, 4-18% at
      320 nm, and to < 2% at 310-300 nm. These results indicate that the rat lens is
      remarkably transparent for UVA radiation, which has consequences for rat vision,
      and for interpretation of earlier studies on retinal light damage.

PMID- 1455724
TI  - The role of binocular vision in prehension: a kinematic analysis.
AB  - This study examined the contribution of binocular vision to the control of human
      prehension. Subjects reached out and grasped oblong blocks under conditions of
      either monocular or binocular vision. Kinematic analyses revealed that prehensile
      movements made under monocular viewing differed substantially from those
      performed under binocular conditions. In particular, grasping movements made
      under monocular viewing conditions showed longer movement times, lower peak
      velocities, proportionately longer deceleration phases, and smaller grip
      apertures than movements made under binocular viewing. In short, subjects
      appeared to be underestimating the distance of objects (and as a consequence,
      their size) under monocular viewing. It is argued that the differences in
      performance between the two viewing conditions were largely a reflection of
      differences in estimates of the target's size and distance obtained prior to
      movement onset. This study provides the first clear kinematic evidence that
      binocular vision (stereopsis and possibly vergence) makes a significant
      contribution to the accurate programming of prehensile movements in humans.

PMID- 1455725
TI  - Inhibitory interaction in a split/fusion apparent motion: lack of spatial
      frequency selectivity.
AB  - Spatial-frequency selectivity of apparent motion (AM) between isolated Gabor
      patches was examined under two- and three-patch conditions. In the two-patch
      condition, the likelihood of seeing AM between two Gabor patches was measured
      with varying frequency difference between the patches. In the three-patch
      (split/fusion) condition, the likelihood of AM between target patches of the same
      frequency was measured as a function of the frequency of the inhibiting patch. AM
      perception in the two-patch condition deteriorated with increasing frequency
      difference, showing symmetrical spatial-frequency selectivity. On the other hand,
      the inhibition of AM in the three-patch condition was frequency asymmetric; when
      the frequency of the inhibiting patch was higher than that of the target patches,
      the magnitude of inhibition decreased with increasing the frequency of the
      inhibiting patch. When the frequency of the inhibiting patch was lower, the
      magnitude of inhibition remained almost constant regardless of the frequency
      difference between the inhibiting and target patches.

PMID- 1455726
TI  - Human speed perception is contrast dependent.
AB  - When two parallel gratings moving at the same speed are presented simultaneously,
      the lower-contrast grating appears slower. This misperception is evident across a
      wide range of contrasts (2.5-50%) and does not appear to saturate (e.g. a 50%
      contrast grating appears slower than a 70% contrast grating moving at the same
      speed). On average, a 70% contrast grating must be slowed by 35% to match a 10%
      contrast grating moving at 2 degrees/sec (N = 6). Furthermore, the effect is
      largely independent of the absolute contrast level and is a quasi-linear function
      of log contrast ratio. A preliminary parametric study shows that, although
      spatial frequency has little effect, relative orientation is important. Finally,
      the misperception of relative speed appears lessened when the stimuli to be
      matched are presented sequentially.

PMID- 1455727
TI  - Redness from short-wavelength-sensitive cones does not induce greenness.
AB  - According to opponent-colors theory, a reddish surround induces greenness in a
      central test field. Color-appearance measurements verify this with a long
      wavelength reddish surround (660 nm) but not with a short-wavelength reddish
      surround (440 nm). Surprisingly, a short-wavelength reddish surround shifts the
      appearance of a test toward redness. Four possible explanations are: (1) stray
      light from the short-wavelength reddish surround falls in the test area; (2)
      receptoral sensitivity changes overwhelm induced greenness from the surround; (3)
      a neural process of assimilation, rather than contrast, to the surrounding light;
      and (4) short-wavelength-sensitive (S) cones do not contribute to induced
      redness/greenness. Chromatic cancellation experiments confirm the fourth
      explanation. There was no change in induced redness/greenness when quantal
      absorption by only S cones in the surround was varied by 30-fold (using
      tritanopic metamers), even though varying stimulation of S cones strongly
      affected the color appearance of the surround. The redness induced by a short
      wavelength surround is accounted for by opponent chromatic induction mediated by
      only middle- and long-wavelength-sensitive cones.

PMID- 1455728
TI  - The development of vernier acuity in human infants.
AB  - Vernier acuity, i.e. the detection of a small misalignment between lines, is
      about one order of magnitude finer than the resolution of periodic gratings in
      adult humans. This hyperacuity is generally attributed to cortical mechanisms,
      and the time-course of its development seems to differ from the development of
      grating resolution that probably is limited by retinal factors. We investigated
      271 human infants and children between 2 months and 8 yr of age with essentially
      identical stimuli and experimental procedures. Vernier thresholds for Vernier
      targets were compared to grating resolution. The preferential looking experiments
      led to the following results: (i) Vernier acuity starts below grating resolution.
      (ii) Like grating resolution, Vernier acuity develops gradually, but more rapidly
      and longer; at the age of 5 yr performance becomes comparable to that of adults.
      (iii) Flanking borders without offset, added to the Vernier targets at various
      distances, did not affect thresholds consistently across distances and age
      groups.

PMID- 1455729
TI  - A multi-channel approach to brightness coding.
AB  - A model of brightness coding is presented which is shown to predict the
      appearance of a number of classical brightness phenomena. The model is known as
      MIDAAS which stands for Multiple Independent Descriptions Averaged Across Scale.
      In common with many other approaches to brightness perception MIDAAS imputes to
      local feature detectors a central role in the computation of brightness. It also
      explicitly recognises the crucial importance to brightness perception of feature
      detectors operating at different spatial scales. The unique and definitive
      feature of the model however is the supposition that each scale of spatial
      filtering operates as if to generate its own description of the pattern of
      brightness relationships in the image. The final percept is then provided by the
      composite of those individual brightness descriptions. It is shown that MIDAAS
      provides a good account of a variety of Mach band phenomena, the conditions under
      which the Missing Fundamental illusion is observed, the effect of occluding bars
      on the apparent contrast of step edges, the Chevreul illusion, simultaneous
      brightness contrast and the non-linear appearance of high contrast sinusoidal
      gratings. The advantages of MIDAAS over other approaches to brightness perception
      is discussed, as well as its current limitations.

PMID- 1455730
TI  - The eyespot of Euglena gracilis: a microspectrophotometric study.
AB  - The eyespots in cells of streptomycin-bleached strains and of dark-grown cultures
      of Euglena gracilis, were examined by means of fluorescence microscopy and
      microspectrophotometry. When viewed with light in the region of 380-500 nm, the
      stigma appeared as a dark spot. Adjacent to this was a second spot, not seen with
      white light, but which was seen to fluoresce when excited with radiation at 370
      +/- 20 nm. This fluorescence proved to be polarized in contrast to other
      fluorescing bodies in the cell. The absorption curves, obtained by
      microspectrophotometry of individual eyespots, were found to consist of two
      spectral maxima, an A-band in the blue and a B-band in the green. Unlike the A
      band, the B-band provided evidence of originating from an anisotropic structure.
      Relating these data to literature findings, we conclude that the B-band is the
      absorbance of a pigment in the quasi-crystalline paraflagellar body and the A
      band perhaps a pigment in the orange-red stigma. The spectrum of the B-band does
      not appear to be that of a flavoprotein or of a free carotenoid but its
      resemblance to the spectrum of rhodopsin is significant in relation to published
      data for the Chlamydomonas eyespot that suggests the presence of a rhodopsin-like
      pigment as the photosensitive system responsible for phototaxis in this alga.

PMID- 1455731
TI  - The eyespot of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: a comparative microspectrophotometric
      study.
AB  - The eyespot of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is believed to utilize a rhodopsin-like
      pigment in its responses to light. This paper examines its eyespot by means of
      microspectrophotometry with the finding of an absorption spectrum with two bands,
      an A-band in the blue, and a B-band in the green. This spectrum is identical to
      that previously recorded from the eyespot of Euglena gracilis. As with Euglena
      the B-band was found to have dichroic character and its spectrum was similar to
      the absorption curve of rhodopsin. This A-B-spectrum was always recorded from a
      single granule in each cell. It is concluded that both E. gracilis and C.
      reinhardtii may utilize a rhodopsin-like pigment as the photopigment associated
      with the eyespot response to light. In both these algae a few particles in each
      cell were found whose spectra consisted of two other bands, C and D, blue- and
      red-shifted, respectively, relative to the eyespot A-B-bands. There is some
      reason to believe that the C-D-granules may also be involved in certain light
      controlled activities of the cells.

PMID- 1455732
TI  - Retinal perivascular astroglia: an immunoperoxidase study.
AB  - Different morphological types of retinal perivascular astrocytes have been
      studied in wholemount preparations of rabbit retina. Astrocytes were
      immunohistochemically demonstrated using glial fibrillary acidic protein
      monoclonal antibodies (GFAP clone GA-5). Three types of perivascular astrocytes
      were found. Type I has an ovoid perikaryon which gives rise to numerous hair-like
      processes, and it shows strong GFAP reactivity; these cells are associated with
      medium-size vessels and capillaries. Type II is star-shaped and its spherical
      perikaryon has a basal cone with four to ten small, protruding, radial processes;
      these astrocytes show high GFAP reactivity and are located on larger and medium
      size vessels. Type III astrocytes show the classic, star-shaped morphology in
      which processes emerge directly from the perikaryon which lacks a basal cone.
      However, different from Types I and II, Types III astrocytes show low GFAP
      reactivity and are positioned between capillaries. These cells are the only ones
      that can contact other astrocytes of the same type to form a network.

PMID- 1455733
TI  - Development of temporal properties of pattern electroretinogram and visual evoked
      potentials in infants.
AB  - The postnatal development of the temporal properties of the responses to pattern
      contrast reversal has been studied by recording simultaneously the pattern
      electroretinogram (PERG) and visual evoked potentials (PVEP) in infants 3-22
      weeks old. The stimulus grating (0.5 c/deg) was either reversed in contrast
      sinusoidally at frequencies 4-10.5 Hz to study the temporal frequency function of
      steady-state responses, or square-wave reversed at 1 Hz to evaluate the peak
      latency of transient responses. Developmental changes of the shape and bandwidth
      of the temporal frequency function of both PERG and PVEP occur post-natally and
      are particularly pronounced between 13 and 20 weeks from birth, possibly
      indicating deferred maturation of classes of retinal and central neurons with
      higher temporal resolution. The peak latency of the PERG decreases during the age
      period tested to approach adult values towards the end of the fifth month. The
      rate of decrease of the peak latency of the PERG differs from that of the PVEP,
      indicating that post-retinal factors contribute largely to the maturation of the
      latter, especially in the earliest life period.

PMID- 1455734
TI  - Color perception within a chromatic context: changes in red/green equilibria
      caused by noncontiguous light.
AB  - We measured changes in the color appearance of one light caused by another light
      presented in a well-separated region. Observers viewed a 1 degrees test field
      superimposed on a 3 degrees, 540 or 660 nm adapting field (32 or 320 td). The
      change in appearance due to noncontiguous light was determined by surrounding the
      3 degrees adapting field with a continguous 3 degrees i.d., 5 degrees o.d. ring
      of either 32 or 320 td. The ring was 540, 660 nm or achromatic (tungsten-halogen
      "white"). The test was an admixture of 549 and 660 nm light, and varied from 6 to
      1000 td. The observer adjusted the ratio of 549 to 660 nm test light so the test
      appeared neither reddish nor greenish. A 540 or 660 nm ring had a chromatic
      inducing effect on the small test that mimicked a simple surround contiguous with
      the test. Results with an achromatic ring were more complex: an isolated
      achromatic ring (no adapting field present) had virtually no effect on the color
      appearance of the test, but the same achromatic ring surrounding a chromatic
      adapting field shifted the test toward the color appearance of the adapting light
      (e.g. introducing a "white" ring surrounding a "green" adapting field shifted the
      test toward greenness). A thin pencil-width band of "white" light superimposed on
      a larger 5 degrees adapting field had an effect similar to a "white" 3-5 degrees
      ring. These results demonstrate (1) strong effects of the remote noncontiguous
      lights and (2) that the change in color appearance they cause is not a simple
      function of only the light in the noncontinguous region. The change depends on
      other lights in view. The visual processes revealed in these experiments are
      considered in terms of inferred illumination and surface reflectances of objects
      in natural scenes.

PMID- 1455735
TI  - Positive motion after-effect induced by bandpass-filtered random-dot
      kinematograms.
AB  - Using spatially filtered random-dot kinematograms (RDK) with a 1 octave
      bandwidth, the duration and direction of motion aftereffect (MAE) were measured
      while varying step displacement, and the results were compared to those for
      motion direction discrimination. We found that MAE and motion discrimination show
      quite different dependencies on displacement. At displacements around 0.5 cycles
      of the lowest frequency, while motion discrimination was still almost perfect,
      normal MAE vanished and MAE in the same direction as that of the adapting
      stimuli, which we name "positive MAE", was observed. Similar results were
      obtained for both 1- and 2-dimensional filtered patterns. A theoretical
      examination based on the Fourier components of the stimuli showed that the
      displacement dependency of MAE is predictable in terms of adaptation of first
      order detectors, but that of motion discrimination is not. The present results
      indicate that direction perception and MAE for bandpass RDKs are mediated at
      least partially by separate mechanisms, and that direction perception at larger
      displacements is mediated by the second-order mechanism which detects movement of
      contrast modulation in the image.

PMID- 1455736
TI  - Calibration of three-dimensional eye position using search coil signals in the
      rhesus monkey.
AB  - A procedure is described to calibrate three-dimensional eye position with a dual
      search coil implant in rhesus monkeys using a two-field magnetic system. The
      method allows one to determine the sensitivity of the search coils taking into
      account the presence of d.c. offset voltages. The orientation of the implant on
      the eye relative to a space-fixed reference frame is computed using fixations of
      targets arranged vertically. The critical steps of the procedure are discussed
      and documented by experimental data.

PMID- 1455737
TI  - Dissociation of orientation discrimination from form detection for motion-defined
      bars and luminance-defined bars: effects of dot lifetime and presentation
      duration.
AB  - A stationary bar-shaped area that was perfectly camouflaged within a dot pattern
      was rendered visible by moving the dots inside and outside the bar at equal and
      opposite speeds. Orientation discrimination for this motion-defined (MD) bar was
      compared with orientation discrimination for a luminance-defined (LD) bar created
      by switching off all dots outside the bar. The best values of orientation
      discrimination threshold were similar for MD and LD bars at long presentation
      durations and long dot lifetimes. But, as presentation duration or dot lifetime
      was reduced below 1.0 sec, orientation discrimination threshold for MD bars
      increased at an accelerating rate, while discrimination for LD bars was
      comparatively unaffected. However, these effects of presentation duration and dot
      lifetime were largely due to changes in bar visibility. When bar visibility was
      normalised relative to the relevant bar detection threshold, the effect of
      presentation duration upon orientation discrimination was abolished for both MD
      and LD bars, and the effect of dot lifetime was abolished or even reversed. These
      observations dissociate detection and discrimination for MD and LD form. We
      suggest that orientation discrimination for MD and LD bars is determined by
      opponent-orientation mechanisms whose performance is not directly affected by
      presentation duration, nor degraded by reducing dot lifetime.

PMID- 1455738
TI  - Depth discrimination of a line is improved by adding other nearby lines.
AB  - Depth discrimination thresholds are shown to be lowered by up to a factor of 10
      when a few reference lines are added to a stimulus containing a single isolated
      test line. Four reference lines are better than two, which are better than one,
      and the improvement in performance is greater when the test line lies between the
      two reference lines in depth. Stereoacuity for the relative depth of a target
      line, relative to other nearby reference lines, is shown to be insensitive to
      changes of disparity of the whole pattern of up to about +/- 5 arc min and is
      only weakly sensitive to larger displacements of up to +/- 10 arc min.

PMID- 1455739
TI  - The conjugacy of human saccadic eye movements.
AB  - Binocular measurements of instantaneous velocity vectors in normal human subjects
      during saccades showed: (1) considerable trial to trial variation in peak
      velocity, saccade duration, and saccade curvature despite saccade accuracy; (2)
      variations in one eye were mirrored by similar variations in the other eye, with
      a high positive correlation. The high correlation between the peak velocities
      suggest that saccades in the two eyes are driven by a common saccade generator.
      Assuming that a local feedback loop guides saccades, the high correlation between
      saccade durations and between saccade curvatures suggests that both eyes are
      guided by common feedback. If so, monocular adaptation must occur downstream from
      the saccade generator.

PMID- 1455740
TI  - Disparity tuning in mechanisms of human stereopsis.
AB  - The change in sensitivity across some stimulus dimension which follows adaptation
      to a particular stimulus can reveal a great deal about the tuning characteristics
      of underlying sensory/perceptual mechanisms. In this study, a psychophysical
      adaptation paradigm was employed to characterize the disparity tuning of
      perceptual mechanisms involved in stereopsis. The stimulus was a dynamic random
      dot stereogram (DRDS) portraying a surface which varied in interocular
      correlation (IOC) and retinal disparity. Adaptation to a fully correlated DRDS
      surface produced an elevation in IOC threshold over a relatively narrow range of
      disparities, with maximum effect at the disparity of the adapting stimulus. The
      width of these disparity tuning functions varied from 5 arc min for adaptation at
      the horopter to 20 arc min for adaptation at 20 arc min disparity. Frequently,
      IOC sensitivity was enhanced for disparities on either side of the adapted
      disparity, suggesting that an opponent center-surround organization operates at
      an early level of disparity processing. A model of underlying channel structure
      consistent with these data is presented.

PMID- 1455741
TI  - Lateral interactions within color mechanisms in simultaneous induced contrast.
AB  - The perceived color of a region of visual space is a function not only of the
      spectral composition of the light incident from it, but also depends on the light
      incident from surrounding regions. The color contrast induced into a region is a
      result of lateral interactions between neural mechanisms. These interactions were
      studied by measuring the induced effect of circularly symmetric spatial sine
      waves on a circular central test region. The phase of the surrounding sine-waves
      was changed uniformly in time, inducing a modulation in the appearance of the
      test. Observers adjusted the amplitude of real sinusoidal modulation in the test
      in order to null the induced modulation, and the nulling modulation was used as a
      measure of the induced effect. Spatial additivity was tested by using pairs of
      sine-waves of distinct spatial frequencies. The results showed that brightness
      induction can be characterized as a linear spatial process, i.e. the effects of
      parts of the surround at different distances from the test are summed, after the
      effect of each part is weighted by a negative exponential as a function of
      distance from the test. The magnitude of pure chromatic induction, however, is a
      result of nonlinear spatial interactions. Thus, these results have implications
      for the connections between visual mechanisms that process brightness and
      chromatic contrast.

PMID- 1455742
TI  - Spectral sensitivities for illusory contour perception: a manifold linkage of
      chromatic and achromatic cues with the generation of contours.
AB  - Using colored inducing patterns presented as increments upon a white uniform
      background, the increment thresholds needed for illusory contour perception were
      measured as a function of the wavelength of inducing pattern. The spectral
      sensitivity functions were obtained with varying adaptation level and stimulus
      configuration, high and low background illumination, and line-based and figure
      based inducing patterns. The results showed a distinctive feature between the
      line-based and the figure-based illusory contours. The sensitivity functions for
      the line-based illusory contours showed the characteristics of non-opponent
      mechanisms and they were shape invariant with background intensity and spatial
      variables. On the other hand, the sensitivity functions for the figure-based
      illusory contours showed non-opponent nature for low background illumination but
      opponent nature for high background illumination. It is suggested that the
      generation of illusory contours involves concurrent processing of different cues
      of luminance and color, and that photopic adaptation level and stimulus
      configuration control the degree of the contributions of chromatic and achromatic
      mechanisms to contour formation.

PMID- 1455743
TI  - The discrimination of blur in peripheral coloured borders.
AB  - Our interest is in measuring the threshold for blur, for long borders at well
      defined retinal eccentricities between large fields of colour. Our method is to
      precisely match a centrally fixated sharp-edged disk of one colour against a
      surround of another, using the minimum distinct border criterion. We then measure
      the amount of added Gaussian blur that makes the sharp step-edged border just
      noticeably different. The selected colours are small fixed chromatic deviations
      of 500 msec duration from an adaptive low photopic or mesopic white. The effects
      of retinal eccentricity are striking. Blur thresholds are large for yellow-blue
      borders centrally (at 1.25 degrees eccentricity) and extremely large for red
      green borders peripherally (at 20 degrees). Blur thresholds are generally larger
      for isoluminous chromatic borders than for a low contrast achromatic border.
      Accurate Rovamo-Virsu M-scaling is limited to photopic achromatic borders.

PMID- 1455744
TI  - Psychophysical and saccadic information about direction for briefly presented
      visual targets.
AB  - For saccades, the difference between desired and actual eye movement (constant
      error), as well as the variability in amplitude on repeated trials (variable
      error), presumably represent a combination of errors in processing target
      position (sensory error) and errors in execution (motor error). To examine
      whether the saccadic system uses the same information about target position as
      visual perception, subjects made saccades to and psychophysical judgments about
      the location of targets presented for 17-200 msec. Mean saccadic amplitude
      markedly decreased and inter-trial variability increased when saccadic targets
      were presented briefly and followed by a spatial mask. Judged target position
      (from psychophysical vernier and bisection tasks) also shifted to lesser
      eccentricities and was more variable. Although qualitatively alike, changes with
      duration in saccadic constant errors were larger than could be accounted for by
      the psychophysical results, suggesting similar but separate processing of
      position information for the saccadic and perceptual systems. Differences in the
      sizes of collicular receptive fields that preferentially respond to targets at
      short and long durations can account qualitatively for the observed changes in
      saccadic amplitude as well as the common occurrence of saccadic undershoots.

PMID- 1455745
TI  - Scotopic spectral sensitivity of phakic and aphakic observers extending into the
      near ultraviolet.
AB  - Despite interest in ultraviolet (UV) damage and UV vision in lower vertebrates,
      there are few recent publications on human UV sensitivity. We obtained dark
      adapted spectra from 4 aphakic and 5 normal eyes at 8.8 degrees off-fovea using
      the staircase method. Our measurements extended from 314.5 nm, near the limit
      imposed by corneal UV absorbance, to 650 nm. Phakic and aphakic sensitivities
      resembled the traditional rod spectrum at long wavelengths with a peak around 500
      nm. However, aphakic subjects were much more sensitive than phakic observers
      below 420 nm. From phakic volunteers ranging in age from 22 to 43 we deduced lens
      absorbance which depressed sensitivity at 350 nm by approx. 4 log units (n = 7
      phakic runs on 5 eyes, average age = 30) as expected. We show a maximum lens
      absorbance at 355-360 nm and a UV window in the lens absorbance at 315 nm
      consistent with data on optical density of human lenses.

PMID- 1455746
TI  - Heterochromatic Fusion Nystagmus: its use in estimating chromatic equiluminance
      in humans and monkeys.
AB  - The use of chromatic patterns that are equated for luminance has become
      increasingly popular in psychophysical and neurophysiological studies of visual
      processing. The currently available techniques for equating different colors for
      brightness rely upon human reports of perceptual events that are reduced at some
      luminance ratio. We report here the results of a study using a technique we have
      recently developed that produces a vivid and compelling motion percept only at
      isoluminance. That is, unlike previous methods, this technique relies upon a
      perceptual event (motion) that actually becomes more salient at isoluminance. We
      also observed that the optokinesis generated by the moving pattern mirrors the
      perceptual reports at all luminance ratios. If used in this manner, the technique
      can provide an estimate of chromatic isoluminance in a variety of species and can
      be used to corroborate a human subject's perceptual experience.

PMID- 1455747
TI  - Spatiotemporal factors in infant position sensitivity: single bar stimuli.
AB  - The ability of 3-month-old human infants to detect the presence of spatial
      misalignments in single-bar stimuli was investigated in a series of
      spatiotemporal stimulus manipulations. Both discrete and sinusoidal positional
      offsets, either stationary or temporally modulated, were presented using the
      forced-choice preferential looking technique. When discrete offsets were
      presented in alteration with the absence of offsets, thresholds were a factor of
      two worse than previous estimates of infant vernier acuity using grating stimuli.
      However, when offsets (discrete or sinusoidal) were presented in continuous
      motion, mean threshold was 22-24 arcmin, comparable to previous estimates using
      gratings with moving discrete offsets. For stimuli containing continuous motion,
      lowering velocity reduced infants' positional sensitivity. However, when either
      velocity or temporal frequency was held constant, the most important determinant
      of positional sensitivity was the sharpness of the offsets. The results from the
      temporally-modulated stimuli suggest that a simple local flicker mechanism cannot
      account for sensitivity when continuous motion is used in the stimulus; rather, a
      local motion mechanism may govern sensitivity in these conditions. We
      characterize this mechanism as one of "local motion" because it does have a
      position-sensitive component. The two stationary stimulus conditions in the
      present study indicate that infants can use a position-sensitive mechanism when
      no temporal modulation is present.

PMID- 1455748
TI  - Lightness induction in the S-cone pathway.
AB  - Lightness induction is classically regarded as a contrast phenomenon limited to
      pathways which process luminance information. To determine if lightness induction
      can also occur in the chromatic domain, this phenomenon was studied with stimuli
      visible only to the short wavelength sensitive (S)-cones which have post
      receptoral connections limited to chromatic pathways. The lightness of an object
      visible only to S-cones was found to be dependent on the relative intensity of
      its background in a manner similar to achromatic, luminance stimuli. Less intense
      (dark) backgrounds made the object appear lighter, while more intense (light)
      backgrounds made the same object appear darker. These results indicate a
      commonality among lightness induction effect in the processing of chromatic and
      luminance information.

PMID- 1455749
TI  - Absence of pupil response to blur-driven accommodation.
AB  - The drive to the pupil constriction associated with near fixation has generally
      been attributed to accommodation with convergence and fusional convergence having
      secondary roles. However, our previous investigations have shown that significant
      changes in accommodation can take place without concomitant pupil response. To
      investigate further, the present study recorded pupil and accommodation responses
      to a blur-only accommodative stimulus using a target moved sinusoidally at a
      range of temporal frequencies. Care was taken to minimise target size change and
      apparent lateral or vertical target displacement. Results show that pupil
      response could be very much reduced or absent irrespective of stimulus temporal
      frequency and despite maintained accommodation response. The results suggest that
      blur-driven accommodation alone is not sufficient to drive pupil near response
      and that the presence of cues such as size change and lateral or vertical
      displacement of an approaching object may be necessary to elicit a response.

PMID- 1455750
TI  - A square root law for adaptation to contrast?
AB  - Several characteristic of aftereffects (especially the motion aftereffect) depend
      upon the square root of the time spent adapting. The same parameters are here
      examined for the contrast threshold elevation aftereffect. The time taken to
      recover is shown to be well predicted by root adaptation time (beyond a minimum
      duration), but the amount of threshold elevation, the rate of recovery and the
      integrated recovery phase cannot be so predicted.

PMID- 1455751
TI  - The relation between the velocity of visual motion and the reaction time to
      motion onset and offset.

PMID- 1455752
TI  - The contributions of figure and ground textures to segmentation.
AB  - Several models of texture segmentation use spatial gradients in the activity of
      early filters to locate texture boundaries. The models assume that these filters
      are identical to those involved in the detection and discrimination of near
      threshold patterns. The models differ in how activity gradients from different
      types of filters are combined. We examined this question by measuring the
      respective contributions of a figure and a ground texture to segmentation.
      Vertical and horizontal line segments were used to construct two perfectly
      discriminable textures and these textures were used to construct four types of
      displays. Each display contained an obliquely oriented figure, but the displays
      differed in the way this figure was defined. Displays consisted of either (1) a
      horizontally textured figure on a blank background, (2) a blank figure on a
      vertically textured background, (3) a horizontally textured figure on a
      vertically textured background or (4) a figure with a mixed texture (50% vertical
      lines, 50% horizontal lines) on a blank background. In a two-alternative forced
      choice experiment, observers were asked to judge the figure's orientation (right
      or left oblique), and the contrast of the textures was varied across trials. The
      resulting psychometric functions for segmentation were very similar for the four
      types of displays, suggesting ways in which a simple model of segmentation should
      be modified.

PMID- 1455753
TI  - [How should we implement the basic principles of treatment of type 2 diabetes
      mellitus from the aspect of the hormono-metabolic syndrome X (5H)?].
AB  - The authors summarize the principles of the therapeutic approach to the 5H
      syndrome [1. hyperinsulinism, 2. hyperglycaemia (NIDDM), 3. hyperlipoproteinaemia
      (obesity), 4. hypertension, 5. hirsutism], in particular its two components, i.e.
      NIDDM and arterial hypertension. The authors found that early treatment of
      hyperinsulinism, e.g. already in the stage of impaired glucose tolerance or NIDDM
      with oral antidiabetics, their disproportionate increase with regard to the blood
      sugar level and glycosylated haemoglobin without making "hygienic" provisions
      (radical weight reduction; increased physical activity to the maximum possible
      individual level; energy restricted diet in particular as regards carbohydrates
      and fat) does not prevent progression of the components of the 5H syndrome to the
      clinical stage. In treatment of arterial hypertension associated with 5H syndrome
      non-selective beta-blockers and thiazide diuretics are unsuitable because they
      worsen the HPLP and enhance insulin resistance. Suitable preparations are
      combinations of ACE-inhibitors, calcium antagonists, selective beta-blockers in
      particular with ISA and beta-blockers with a partial selective sympathomimetic
      activity (devalol and celiprolol). Hygienic provisions must be started in
      childhood, or when hyperinsulinism is detected.

PMID- 1455754
TI  - [Abdominal ultrasonography].
AB  - The author characterizes ultrasonography as a modern diagnostic imaging method.
      The main attention is drawn to abdominal ultrasonography, especially to its
      indications and differential diagnostics. The author evaluates critically the
      present state and further foreseen development of this method. Finally he makes a
      statement on the question of safety.

PMID- 1455755
TI  - [Emergency states in internal medicine--diagnostic contribution of emergency
      abdominal ultrasonography].
AB  - The authors analyzed the activities of the sonographic laboratory during four
      consecutive months. During this period 896 patients were examined by
      ultrasonography and 119 of them (13.3%) for urgently indicated ultrasonography.
      The authors present a detailed evaluation of results in these 119 examined
      patients, in particular from the aspect of yield and asset of the method,
      affection of different organs, agreement of clinical and sonographic diagnoses
      and comparison with some other examination methods. Urgent ultrasonography is
      recommended as a very useful method, in particular as regards diagnostic yield
      which makes it possible to establish the diagnosis quickly and thus to start
      appropriate treatment early and to reduce thus the period spent by the patient in
      hospital. The method is useful also in serious cases and in some conditions which
      threaten the patient's life, as it can help early indication of surgery.

PMID- 1455756
TI  - [Monitoring immunosuppression after kidney transplantation. I. Study of cellular
      reactions to antigenic stimulus in a skin abrasion].
AB  - In 20 patients the authors performed in the course of 6-8 weeks following renal
      transplantation a total of 74 examinations of the cellular reaction to an
      antigenic stimulus. In 68 instances (91.9%) agreement with the clinical picture
      was recorded, while in 6 patients (8.1%) the interpretation of the cytological
      impression did not correspond to the clinical course. In four instances
      activation of lymphocytes was found, i.e. possible risk of rejection which
      however was not confirmed. In two instances however incipient rejection was not
      detected.

PMID- 1455758
TI  - [Disorders of lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetics].
AB  - The authors investigated the incidence of different disorders of the lipid
      metabolism and their age dependence in a group of 67 patients with type 2
      diabetes hospitalized at the First Medical Clinic in Kosice. Some disorder of the
      lipid metabolism was recorded in 67% of the patients. The most frequently
      encountered disorder was hypertriglyceridaemia (21%). Hypercholesterolaemia was
      recorded in 16%, combined hyperlipidaemia in 18% and hypoalphalipoproteinaemia in
      12% of the patients. Patients with diabetic nephropathy had significantly
      elevated mean triglyceride levels and reduced HDL-cholesterol levels, as compared
      with patients without nephropathy. In diabetic women a significantly higher
      incidence of combined hyperlipidaemias was recorded, as compared with men and the
      mean total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were also significantly higher in
      women with type 2 diabetes.

PMID- 1455757
TI  - [Monitoring immunosuppression after kidney transplantation. II. Evaluation of
      simultaneous monitoring of CD4+ lymphocytes and the cytological reaction to
      standard antigenic stimulation].
AB  - Monitoring of patients after renal transplantations by the concurrent follow up
      of absolute values of CD4+ lymphocytes and the cytological reaction to an
      antigenic stimulation in a skin abrasion reflects the actual immune state of
      patients and is an asset in the comprehensive diagnosis of rejection activity
      against the transplant in the early period (6-8 weeks) after transplantation. It
      can contribute also to the signalling of developing rejection activity against
      the graft, before the onset of the fully developed clinical picture of rejection,
      when it is possible by early anti-rejection therapy to prevent the functional
      impairment of the renal graft.

PMID- 1455759
TI  - The effect of Hylak drops on symptomatology in persons with irritable bowel
      syndrome.
AB  - The authors present an account on the therapeutic effect of Hylak drops of
      Merckle Co. in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. They assume that in the
      pathophysiological mechanism of the disease an important part is played by
      intestinal dysmicrobia. After two weeks' administration Hylak, 3 x 40 drops, they
      recorded in 20 patients with the exception of one female patient (where ex post
      lactose intolerance was revealed which is a contraindication of this treatment),
      partial or complete regression of subjective complaints in particular as regards
      intestinal discomfort and the number of imperative bowel movements. As to
      objective indicators, they proved changes in the pH of faeces and qualitative as
      well as quantitative changes of the microbial spectrum in faeces.

PMID- 1455760
TI  - [Immunologic indicators in ascites].
AB  - The authors investigated specific and non-specific immunological parameters in
      malignant, cirrhotic, cardial and nephrogenic ascites. At the same time
      bacteriological and cytological examinations of ascites were made. In the
      submitted paper the authors compare, using statistical methods, immunological
      parameters of ascites in different patient groups and pay attention to their
      relationship with positive bacteriological and cytological findings in ascites.
      The authors recorded the largest number of positive bacteriological cultivation
      in cirrhotic and malignant ascites which correlates with lower values of some non
      specific immunological parameters in ascites.

PMID- 1455761
TI  - [Secondary osteopenia. Iatrogenic causes of osteopenia].
AB  - The author investigated during the past 17 years 595 patients with iatrogenic
      damage of bone mineralization, incl. 302 patients where the disorder developed
      after drugs and 293 where osteopenia developed after surgery. In
      demineralizations after the use of drugs in the first place corticoids
      participate, to a smaller extent non-thiazide diuretics and antiepileptic drugs.
      The largest ratio of operations causing demineralization is formed by
      ovariectomies, in particular if performed before the menopause, followed by
      gastric surgery, operations of the gallbladder, small intestine and strumectomy.
      Finally the author emphasizes the necessity to know iatrogenic bone damage, its
      early diagnosis and prevention.

PMID- 1455762
TI  - [Bronchial asthma. Pathogenesis and clinical aspects].
AB  - Asthma bronchiale (a.b.) is defined as paroxysmal or permanent, partly or
      completely reversible dyspnoea due to a bronchospasm resulting from pathological
      hyperreactivity of the bronchial system. In the pathogenesis participate
      allergic, immuno-infiltrative and genetic factors, irritating substances
      (environment) and infectious. The allergic constituent acts via sensitization and
      allergization of the mast cell, to its degranulation with release of mediators
      (histamine, serotonin, leukotrienes, thromboxane, PAF) with subsequent
      bronchoconstriction and production of viscous mucus. As to adrenergic factors, a
      block of beta-adrenergic receptors and reduced adrenal function is involved. As
      to non-adrenergic factors an increased sensitivity of the parasympathetic--vagus
      is involved which conditions bronchoconstriction and hyperkrinia. From the
      clinical aspect extrinsic (atopic) and intrinsic (cryptogenic) asthma bronchiale
      can be differentiated. The former is encountered more frequently in childhood and
      adolescence, in subjects with a positive family-history, high IgE and positive
      skin tests and a known allergen. The latter type of a.b. is found in adolescence,
      in subjects with a negative family-history, with eosinophilia; it is conditioned
      by infection (e.g. chronic bronchitis), strain, cold and takes a dangerous course
      (aspirin). As to the course, attacks of a.b. are involved with a symptom-free
      interval (extrinsic a.) easily controlled by treatment. Then there is the chronic
      form with a variable course and the necessity of permanent treatment. Status
      asthmaticus is in recent years with increasing frequency the cause of death and
      thus calls for maximal treatment. It is the third most serious form of a.b.
      Assessment of arterial blood gases is very important as a check of treatment as
      well as from the prognostic aspect (cross-over intubation). From the differential
      diagnostic aspect we must consider the asthmoid component in chronic bronchitis,
      pulmonary embolism, left-sided cardiac failure, tracheal or bronchial compression
      by an aortal aneurysm, tumour. The differential diagnosis is not always easy.

PMID- 1455763
TI  - [Self-treatment and self-monitoring in patients with bronchial asthma].
AB  - Regular assessment of the peak expiratory flow (PEF), which after proper
      instruction, the patient can do himself is important for evaluation of the
      activity of bronchial asthma. It is, however, essential to assess the optimal PEF
      values of every individual. For control of self-treatment it is important to know
      the daily variations of PEF and the degree of reversibility of bronchospasm after
      inhalation of a beta 2-adrenergic substance. Inadequate reversibility of
      bronchial obstruction despite repeated inhalation of a beta 2-adrenergic
      substance is usually caused by inflammation. Depending on the clinical status and
      changes of PEF the patient can, if properly instructed, start corticosteroid
      treatment in case of acute deterioration or increase the corticosteroid doses in
      case of subacute deterioration of the condition. Follow-up of PEF is important
      also for self-management in case of clinically latent deterioration and during
      maintenance treatment.

PMID- 1455764
TI  - [Climate therapy, rehabilitation and psychotherapy in bronchial asthma].
AB  - The authors explain the principle of effectiveness as regards treatment of
      bronchial asthma (AB) in the climate of the Tatra mountains. The most important
      place is held by elimination of noxious substances from the patient's environment
      which is comparable with the eliminations test. The second place is held by
      factors of a medium stimulating climate which calls for adaptation of the
      organism. This happens during the three-week acclimatization stage which acts as
      non-specific therapy. The result of climatotherapy is an increased immunological
      resistance, hardening, reduced bronchial hyperreactivity and improved life of
      asthmatic patients. Supplementary treatment comprises respiratory rehabilitation
      and psychotherapy. The aim of rehabilitation is active participation of the
      patient in treatment, adequate type of respiration and better tolerance of
      physical strain. The purpose of psychotherapy is to help the patient to overcome
      fear of AB, induce a change of lifestyle and regime. After comprehensive
      institutional treatment the patients are prepared for self-supporting ambulatory
      treatment. Under institutional conditions antiasthmatic treatment can be
      discontinued in as many as 24% of asthmatic patients and reduce substantially the
      administration of inhalatory beta-adrenergic substances, as demonstrated by the
      authors on 1725 asthmatic patients.

PMID- 1455765
TI  - [Correct inhalation technique--an integral part of rational treatment of
      bronchial asthma].
AB  - In the rational treatment of asthma bronchiale in recent years a marked increase
      can be observed as regards prescription of beta-2-agonists and glucocorticoids.
      They are administered almost exclusively from metered dose inhalers (MDI) with an
      adjustable valve. Almost half the users do not know the correct inhalation
      technique. Unless that is used, the effect of drugs is markedly reduced. The
      author deals therefore in his review in detail with all aspects of a correct
      inhalation technique; above all he emphasizes slow inhalation with subsequent
      breath retention which is the only way how to achieve maximum penetration of
      particles to the final branches of the bronchial tree. The author mentions also
      spacers which improve in some patients the effectiveness of aerosol treatment.

PMID- 1455766
TI  - [Fructose metabolism disorders and infusions].
AB  - The authors give an account of views regarding the use of non-glucose energy
      sources in parenteral nutrition during the immediate post-load period/serious
      operations, severe injuries). Attention is devoted to the metabolic pathway of
      fructose and its disorders. In hereditary fructose intolerance an infusion of D
      fructose or D-glucitol (= sorbitol) can induce life threatening hypoglycaemia
      (unless glucose is administered concurrently). According to some views, in
      subjects with this intolerance the organism is threatened also by hepatic and
      renal failure; their development may be independent on hypoglycaemia. Fructose
      and D-glucitol (sorbitol) therefore should not be administered by the parenteral
      route. This view is supported by cases where hereditary fructose intolerance
      could not be revealed from the case-history and clinical manifestations. Some
      countries have already eliminated fructose and D-glucitol (sorbitol) from their
      pharmacopoeias.

PMID- 1455767
TI  - [Synergic joint diagnostics].
AB  - The author emphasizes the necessity to use all clinical and paraclinical
      examination methods in rheumatology to assess an early and correct diagnosis of
      rheumatic diseases. She emphasizes the importance of examination of the articular
      punctate and importance of the synoviogram in differential diagnostic
      considerations. The author reflects also on the importance of the frequently
      omitted unpretentious examination method--needle biopsy of the joints.

PMID- 1455768
TI  - [The methodological bases for shaping the academic and scientific discipline of
      automation in medical service management].

PMID- 1455769
TI  - [Vagotomy in the treatment of duodenal ulcers].

PMID- 1455770
TI  - [Diagnostic and treatment problems in malignant neoplasms].
AB  - The article gives the comparative estimation between the state of oncological aid
      in the system of the civilian health care and military medicine. The authors
      analyse the most frequent defects in diagnosis and treatment of malignant new
      growths. The article focuses the attention of physicians on an early diagnosis of
      malignant new-growths, necessity to improve their oncology-oriented skill, and
      render an adequate oncological aid to the servicemen.

PMID- 1455771
TI  - [The choice of the surgical treatment method in splenic injuries].

PMID- 1455772
TI  - [The transpubic surgical approach and experience with using it to treat
      posttraumatic strictures of the posterior urethra].
AB  - Anatomic researches on 15 cadavers of male adults were conducted to study the
      transpubic access to the urethra and substantiate its possible application for
      the treatment of the urethral strictures. The authors make a comparative
      evaluation of transpubic and perineal methods of the access. As for basic indices
      (the depth of operative wound, direction and the angle of the operative axis
      inclination), the transpubic method of access has a number of advantages over the
      perineal access, and is an optimal one for surgical interference on the urethra.
      The transpubic access was applied on 21 patients who were operated for strictures
      or obliterations of the urethra. In all the patients the transitivity of the
      urethra was restored. No complications were marked.

PMID- 1455773
TI  - [Anesthesia of the cervical plexus in surgical interventions on the neck and its
      organs].
AB  - The author proposes a new method for anesthesia of neck plexus, which is seen to
      be more safe, has reliable points of reference, and is administered by "one
      touch" injection. The article gives a description of this method, results of its
      clinical application, indications and counter-indications. The anesthesia of neck
      plexus was applied on 71 patients. No complications were marked. This method
      makes it possible to produce an adequate anesthesia in vast operations on neck
      and its organs.

PMID- 1455774
TI  - [The experience of using Ditec in bronchial asthma].

PMID- 1455775
TI  - [The clinico-diagnostic aspects of the restorative-reconstructive treatment of
      patients with defects and deformities of the perioral area].

PMID- 1455776
TI  - [The clinico-angiographic aspects of ischemic heart disease].

PMID- 1455777
TI  - [The current problems in the development of Russian medical science. Interview by
      A. P. Lomakin].

PMID- 1455778
TI  - [Delta infection in patients with chronic liver diseases].

PMID- 1455779
TI  - [Experience with the use of magnetic resonance tomography].

PMID- 1455780
TI  - [Cerebrovascular disorders in the innominate artery syndrome].

PMID- 1455781
TI  - [The diagnostic significance of the sociomedical indices of the nonregulation
      interrelationships of servicemen on active service].

PMID- 1455782
TI  - [The life expectancy of regular military personnel].

PMID- 1455783
TI  - [The performance quality of a flight trainer operator under conditions of heat
      discomfort].
AB  - The studies were conducted on 5 sound operators, age 26-44. The flight simulator
      was placed into a heat chamber with temperature range from 25 degrees C to 60
      degrees C. In these conditions the operators had to withstand pitching and
      rolling in "horizontal flight" within 6 min. The piloting performance on
      simulator was conducted by the operators every 10 min. per one hour. 48 tests
      were carried out. The studies have shown the phase character in roll error at the
      temperatures of 60 degrees C. The authors make a conclusion that the moderate
      hypothermia could optimize the operator's performance, and the deep one could
      worsen it.

PMID- 1455784
TI  - [The prevention of acute oxygen starvation during underwater swimming].

PMID- 1455785
TI  - [A method for analyzing the work of a medical supplies installation].

PMID- 1455786
TI  - [The stability and quality control of ditilin preparations (a review of the
      literature)].
AB  - In aqueous solutions dithylinum decomposes with formation iodine, choline,
      succinic acid and its monoether. The rate of decomposition depends on the
      conditions of storage, and also upon the concentration and ion force of solution,
      existence of ion metals and some other factors. The article proposes methods for
      identification and quantitative analysis of dithylinum and the products of its
      hydrolysis. The requirements imposed for storage or transportation of dithylinum
      solutions: not frost and temperature level not higher than 5 degrees C.

PMID- 1455787
TI  - [An isolation compartment for performing air-radon baths].

PMID- 1455788
TI  - [Measures to improve the medical service of the U. S. Army].

PMID- 1455789
TI  - [The management of military medical research in the USA].

PMID- 1455790
TI  - [The basic directions in improving the work of military polyclinics].

PMID- 1455791
TI  - [A low-frequency alternating magnetic field and its combination with radon baths
      in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis].
AB  - Children suffering from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) (n-132) were exposed
      to low-frequency variable magnetic field. Therapeutic response registered
      consisted of analgetic and anti-inflammatory effects most pronounced in 14-19 mT
      regimen. The addition of radon baths to the above exposure resulted in higher
      effectiveness of the treatment due to involvement of pathogenetic JRA mechanisms.

PMID- 1455792
TI  - [A new method for treating rheumatoid arthritis patients by electrophoresis using
      mefenamic acid].
AB  - The paper provides clinical and experimental reasoning for application of a new
      treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) implying electrophoresis of an anti
      inflammatory drug mefenamic acid from dimexide solution. Complete and partial
      responses registered in 125 patients, reached 75%. With the new method it is
      possible to relieve pain, correct immunity and stop inflammation. The best effect
      was shown in an inactive disease and in activity phases I and II in adjuvant use
      of the method.

PMID- 1455793
TI  - [The correction of functional disorders of the bile-secreting system by using
      laser radiation].
AB  - He-Ne laser irradiation of biologically active points and infrared laser
      irradiation of the liver were employed to improve gallbladder and sphincter
      functions, bile production and biochemistry, respectively, in a total of 57
      patients with biliary dyskinesia presenting as hypokinetic dyskinesia of the
      gallbladder, hyperkinetic dyskinesia of the sphincter of Oddi or the combination
      of the two affections. Simultaneous use of the two kinds of laser irradiation
      appreciably shortens treatment duration, abolishes biliferous dysfunction,
      reestablishes physiological balance of bile components in case of its initial
      lithogenic potential.

PMID- 1455794
TI  - [The effect of the bitemporal use of an ultrahigh-frequency electrical field on
      the central hemodynamic indices and the phase structure of the heart cycle].

PMID- 1455795
TI  - [The phonophoresis of solutions of a "dry" mud extract in the therapy of patients
      with chronic gastritis].
AB  - The study of stomach morphology and function in chronic gastritis treated with
      phonophoresis of dry mud extract solutions demonstrates a stimulating effect of
      the treatment on acid production. A positive response was also registered on the
      part of the structure of gastric mucous lining and functional activity of this
      epithelium.

PMID- 1455796
TI  - [Electromagnetic waves in the combined therapy of children with birth injuries to
      the brachial plexus].

PMID- 1455797
TI  - [3H-thymidine incorporation into the nuclear DNA of cells of the cerebral cortex
      under microwave action].

PMID- 1455798
TI  - [The modelling of the cavitation processes during the focusing of the shock wave
      in an electrodynamic lithotriptor].
AB  - The paper reports an experimental technique and the results obtained in the study
      of cavitation arising in focusing the shock wave of electrodynamic lithotriptor.
      The aim of the above study was to specify mechanisms of soft tissue lesions
      during destruction of nephroliths with lithotriptor impulses. Cavitation regions
      were found along the axis of the generator focusing system and at its outgoing
      sites as a result of the boundary expansion wave. This phenomenon by the body
      margin is attributed to transformation of a positive pressure impulse into the
      tension impulse. As the shock wave pressure impulse is much more significant than
      the pressure impulse of the boundary expansion wave it is most probable that
      cavitation-induced lesions appear at the site of the wave exit from the body.

PMID- 1455799
TI  - [The action of a pulsed magnetic field on the electrical resistance of the skin].
AB  - The skin of 32 rabbits and 10 patients (7 males and 3 females aged 32-48) was
      exposed to impulse magnetic field (IMF) with intensity of 1.0-1.5 T and frequency
      of 45 paired impulses a minute. The 5-minute exposure resulted in a 50% decrease
      in the skin electrical resistance both in patients and animals. On aftertreatment
      minute 2 the resistance started recovering and returned to the baseline on minute
      6 in animals and 4 in patients. Changes in electrical resistance of the skin are
      attributed to emergence of IMF-related electrical induction.

PMID- 1455800
TI  - [The regeneration of therapeutic muds from Varzi-Iatchi health resort].

PMID- 1455801
TI  - [A new deposit of naftusia in Truskavets].

PMID- 1455802
TI  - [The microcirculatory dynamics of patients with ischemic heart disease undergoing
      balneotherapy with Shmakovka narzan].

PMID- 1455803
TI  - [Dopplerographic follow-up of the cerebral hemodynamics during the pelotherapy of
      spinal osteochondrosis in patients suffering from ischemic heart disease].

PMID- 1455804
TI  - [The evaluation of the results of the bicycle ergometry training of students with
      an inactive phase of rheumatism].
AB  - 157 students with compensated mitral insufficiency in inactive rheumatism
      exercised on bicycle ergometer. Matched controls did not exercise. The analysis
      of cardiorespiratory parameters showed advantages of the training. Being
      statistically significant, these advantages support introduction of the method
      into wide practice.

PMID- 1455805
TI  - [The effect of radon baths on the rheological properties of the erythrocytes in
      osteochondrosis patients].

PMID- 1455806
TI  - [The use of the means of therapeutic physical exercise for the combined
      correction of the hemodynamics in miners with venous insufficiency of the legs].

PMID- 1455807
TI  - [Medical gymnastics in the subclinical birth injury syndrome syndrome of shoulder
      girdle amyotrophy in adolescents].

PMID- 1455808
TI  - [Mechanotherapy in the combined sanatorium-health resort treatment of patients
      with radicular ischemia].

PMID- 1455809
TI  - [The efficacy of the treatment at Bayram-Ali sanatorium of patients with
      glomerulonephritis].

PMID- 1455810
TI  - [A new treatment method for constipation].

PMID- 1455811
TI  - [The combined action of an ultrahigh-frequency electrical field bitemporally and
      decimeter waves on the thymus area in the combined therapy of rheumatoid
      arthritis patients].
AB  - The thymus of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients was exposed to combined action
      of bitemporal UHF electric field and decimeter waves to study immunomodulating
      effect of the combination. Biochemical, immunological and endocrinological
      findings during the patients follow-up gave evidence for conclusion on activation
      of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal-thymic axis. A response was achieved in RA
      seronegative variant with concomitant synovitis. This may be due to genetic
      factors.

PMID- 1455812
TI  - [The effect of korinfar and anaprilin on lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant
      system in hypertension patients].
AB  - Changes of lipid peroxidation products and activity of the antioxidant system
      during corinfar and anaprilin treatment were studied in 36 patients with
      hypertensive disease (stage II). A decrease of the content of malondialdehyde and
      dien conjugates was revealed in the blood of these patients after a course of
      treatment with these agents. Simultaneously, the antioxidant protection of the
      blood increased: the concentration of reduced glutathione increased, the activity
      of glutathione peroxidase rose. The changes of oxidated glutathione were not
      clear. It is suggested that such character of the effect of corinfar and
      anaprilin on the processes of lipid peroxidation is the result of a direct effect
      on lipid peroxidation products and also compensatory activation of enzymatic
      reactions of restoration of natural cellular antioxidants as well as enzymatic
      system directly utilizing lipoperoxides.

PMID- 1455814
TI  - [The importance of crystallography for the diagnosis of biliary dyskinesia].

PMID- 1455813
TI  - [The evaluation of gallbladder contractile function and the ultrasonic signs of
      chronic noncalculous cholecystitis].
AB  - A correlation of the clinical picture of the disease, results of ultrasonic
      examination (USE) of the gallbladder and laboratory findings in 120 patients with
      chronic noncalculous cholecystitis has been evaluated. The contractile function
      of the gallbladder by USE was carried out 25 minutes after intake of 30 ml of
      olive oil. A correlation has been established between the severity of the
      clinical picture and echoscopic signs in chronic cholecystitis. The most frequent
      symptoms of chronic cholecystitis as evaluated by USE were association of
      thickening and hardening of one of the gallbladder walls and non-homogeneity of
      the gallbladder. The olive oil test is important in the ultrasonic examination.

PMID- 1455815
TI  - [The results of treating pulmonary tuberculosis patients with different
      concomitant diseases by using millimeter-wave resonance therapy].
AB  - The authors investigated the clinical and biochemical efficacy of millimeter-wave
      resonance therapy in patients with destructive pulmonary tuberculosis associated
      with different concomitant diseases. It was established that inclusion of
      millimeter-wave resonance therapy in the complex treatment of this patient
      category favoured the efficacy of tuberculosis treatment. The treatment produced
      also a favourable effect on concomitant diseases.

PMID- 1455816
TI  - [The use of a sodium lactate solution in the combined conservative treatment of
      patients with kidney stones].
AB  - A method is presented of complex medical treatment of patients with
      nephrolithiasis including intravenous systemic alkalinization of the urine with
      1/6 M solution of sodium lactate, litholysis by citrates, use of urostatics and
      mineral waters of local origin. It is shown that complex medical treatment of
      nephrolithiasis including systemic alkalinization of the urine with a 1/6 M
      sodium lactate solution may be considered as a method of choice in obstructing
      calculi as non-operative treatment.

PMID- 1455817
TI  - [Immunological disorders in pregnant women with inflammatory kidney diseases and
      nephropathy].
AB  - The humoral and cellular immunity was investigated in 168 pregnant with different
      diseases of the kidneys. A detailed study of the blood lymphocyte population,
      immunoglobulins, immune complexes, hemolytic activity revealed changes of
      immunologic homeostasis which may be used as diagnostic criteria of activity of
      the pathological process and for treatment tactics.

PMID- 1455819
TI  - [The clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment of chronic subdural hematomas].
AB  - A study is presented of 37 cases of chronic subdural hematomas. Initial
      manifestations: headache, epileptic seizures, mental disorders. Involvement of
      the III, V, VII cranial nerves, anisocoria almost in 50% on the contralateral
      side were noted. CSF xanthochromia is of certain diagnostic significance. Carotid
      angiography is the most informative method. Osteoplastic trephination with
      evacuation of the hematoma is the method of choice.

PMID- 1455818
TI  - [The korinfar and actovegin treatment of patients with a chronic ischemic
      disorder of the cerebral circulation].
AB  - A study is presented of 42 patients with different stages of dyscirculatory
      encephalopathy of atherosclerotic genesis who showed disorders of the cerebral
      hemodynamics, microcirculation, increase of the aggregational capacity of
      thrombocytes and activation of lipid peroxidation. The patients were treated with
      corinfar and actovegin and this resulted in normalization of the microcirculation
      and rheological properties of the blood. Corinfar also reduced activation of
      lipid peroxidation processes.

PMID- 1455820
TI  - [The antioxidant treatment of patients with acute intestinal infections due to
      gram-negative microorganisms].
AB  - It was established that administration of S. typhimurium lysate causes activation
      of the processes of free-radical oxidation. Introduction of unithiol in
      combination with magnesium sulfate returns the intensity of these processes to
      the initial level. Unithiol and alpha-tocopherol acetate protect the animals form
      lethal effects of S. sonnei lysate. Use of a combination of pharmacological
      agents consisting of unithiol, magnesium sulfate and alpha-tocopherol acetate in
      the treatment of patients with acute intestinal infections due to gram-negative
      pathogens (shigellae, salmonellae, proteus, klebsiellae, pseudomonas) resulted in
      decrease of the length of the intoxication and diarrhea syndrome, decrease of the
      frequency of repeat bacteria elimination and protracted forms of these
      infections, more rapid normalization of immune system functions.

PMID- 1455821
TI  - [The immunocorrective therapy of patients with acute dysentery].

PMID- 1455822
TI  - [The modern concept of the diagnosis and treatment of bronchial asthma (a
      lecture)].

PMID- 1455823
TI  - [The biological role and clinical significance of protein C].

PMID- 1455824
TI  - [Genetic research in tubercular pulmonology (a review of the literature)].

PMID- 1455825
TI  - [The autopsy: its importance for modern clinical medicine].
AB  - Autopsies are absolutely necessary for the progress of modern clinical medicine
      and for solving many problems: diagnostic, control of treatment quality,
      detection of infectious, hereditary and systemic diseases, establishing causes
      and mechanisms of sudden death, qualification of unclear diseases and syndromes,
      classification and nomenclature of nosological entities, detection and study of
      spontaneous and induced pathomorphosis. The pathologist performing autopsies
      should except necropsy also make macrochemical examination and send the material
      for microbiological and biochemical examination. Special attention should be paid
      to establishing the diagnosis and clinicoanatomical epicrisis. Undoubtful is the
      role of autopsy in teaching and training, postgraduate education, accumulation of
      archives and their retrospective analysis, creation of macro- and micromuseums of
      human diseases. Physician's errors, general requirements and cadaveric tissue
      observation are also discussed.

PMID- 1455826
TI  - [Gangrene of the foot as a manifestation of distal polyneuropathy in diabetic
      patients (a review of the literature)].

PMID- 1455827
TI  - [Ionizing radiation and neoplasms of the thyroid (a review of the literature)].

PMID- 1455828
TI  - [Borderline neuropsychic disorders in persons subjected to ionizing radiation
      exposure].
AB  - Results were compared of a study of mental disorders in 365 participants of
      liquidation of sequelae of the Chernobyl atomic station disaster subjected to the
      effect of ionizing radiation showing psychic disorders, in 475 somatic patients
      and in 42 Afghan soldiers suffering of traumatic cebrebrasthenia. Clinical
      aspects of manifestation of nervous and mental disorders and their effect on the
      dynamic structure of mental and somatic premorbid state, presence of somatic
      diseases, specific psychotrauma situation and organic effects of the ionizing
      radiation. Stages of development of these disorders were singled out and signs of
      their endogeneity and progression were established. The possibilities of psycho
      social adaptation are discussed.

PMID- 1455829
TI  - [The hormonal functions regulating carbohydrate metabolism in participants in the
      cleanup of the sequelae of the accident at the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power
      Station with a neurocirculatory dystonia syndrome].
AB  - Radioimmunoassay revealed in participants of Chernobyl disaster sequelae
      preclinical changes of some hormonal functions: moderate increase of the basal
      concentration of blood insulin, somatotropin, C-peptide against the background of
      persistent hypercortisolemia. Increase of the level of "hyperglycemic" hormones
      (cortisol, somatotropin, C-peptide) is explained by adaptative and compensatory
      reactions of the body in response to lesioning effects of ionizing radiation and
      other negative factors of the Chernobyl accident. Relative hyperinsulinemia is,
      apparently, compensating the total hyperglycemic effect of these hormones leading
      to stabilization of the blood sugar level.

PMID- 1455830
TI  - [A case of a radiation lesion in the city of Kirovograd].

PMID- 1455831
TI  - [The effect of laser irradiation of the blood on the adenosine triphosphatase
      activity of the erythrocyte membranes and on the cardiac activity indices in
      patients with ischemic heart disease].
AB  - The activity of potassium, sodium, magnesium and Ca-ATP-ase of the erythrocytic
      membrane, index of erythrocyte deformability, changes of the hemodynamics and
      some cardiac function during bicycle ergometry [correction of veloergometry]
      tests before and after a course of laser irradiation of the blood were studied in
      36 patients with exertion stenocardia. It was established that laser therapy is
      accompanied by increase of the activity of ATP-ase, index of erythrocyte
      deformability and positive changes of the cardial function. The possibility is
      discussed of improving the cardiac function under the effect of laser irradiation
      as a result of optimization of the structural-functional organization of the
      cellular membrane.

PMID- 1455832
TI  - [Radionuclide ventriculography as a method for assessing the functional status of
      the heart ventricles in patients with supraventricular tachycardia].
AB  - Left and right ventricular function was evaluated by means of radionuclide
      ventriculography in 44 patients with paroxysms of supraventricular tachycardia
      without sings of circulatory insufficiency of coronaro- and noncoronarogenic
      origin. Depending on the efficacy of antiarrhythmic treatment the patients were
      subdivided in two groups: patients amenable to treatment and patients with
      refractory arrhythmia. It was established that radionuclide ventriculography
      allows to objectively evaluate the functional state of both ventricles and to
      reveal early signs of deterioration of the hemodynamic productivity of the heart
      in patients with paroxysms of supraventricular tachycardia. Reduction of the
      pumping function of the right ventricle in patients with refractory tachycardia
      along with hyperkinesia of its separate segments, changes of left ventricular
      rate and an increase of the terminal diastolic and systolic volumes of both
      ventricles without changes of the stroke volume may be a criterion of
      refractoriness of arrhythmia in this category of patients.

PMID- 1455833
TI  - [The circadian rhythm dynamics of myocardial ischemia in patients with unstable
      stenocardia during one year of observation].
AB  - Dynamics of circadian rhythms of myocardial ischemia in patients with nonstable
      stenocardia within one year of observation was studied in 50 patients by means of
      Holter monitoring. By the second admission depending on the clinical course of
      the disease 4 groups of patients were singled out and their painful and
      nonpainful heart ischemia was assessed with 6-hour intervals. Comparison of
      results of painful arrhythmia during the first and repeat admission indicated
      that the diurnal dynamic and peaks of myocardial ischemia duration coincide as to
      time and direction. Nonpainful ischemia appears mainly during the night hours.

PMID- 1455834
TI  - [Changes in the parameters of the central and regional hemodynamics in patients
      with unstable stenocardia treated by the methods of quantum hemotherapy].
AB  - A study of 116 patients with nonstable stenocardia (age of the patients: 29-68
      years). In 54 of them laser irradiation of the blood (LIB) was used, in 62-
      autorheography revealed a selective character of influence of LIB and ATIB on the
      hemo-hemotransfusion of irradiated blood (ACIB) and 32 received only drugs.
      Tetrapolar dynamics: tendency to averaging of the cardiac ejection. In patients
      with initially low values--an increase and with initially high values--a
      reduction. Possibly, this reaction has a nonspecific character and reflects the
      reaction of circulation to stabilization of the patients' condition. The
      hemodynamic parameters did not deteriorate below critical levels. Hence, these
      methods may be used in patients with nonstable stenocardia associated with
      initial disorders of the central and peripheral hemodynamics.

PMID- 1455835
TI  - [The significance of the association of erythrocytic antigens in rheumatism].
AB  - A study is presented of ABO system, rhesus, MN, P, Lewis factor in 78 patients
      with rheumatism. Taken separately their information value was low. At the same
      time in patients with O (I), A (II), B (III) blood groups association of antigens
      were often met that allows to isolate among healthy persons groups of high risk
      as related to rheumatism with the purpose of realizing primary prophylaxis.

PMID- 1455836
TI  - [The effect of microwave resonance therapy and hypnotherapy on the links in the
      pathogenesis of peptic ulcer].
AB  - Results of a study are reported of a study of the concentration of biologically
      active substances such as histamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, adrenalin,
      corticotropin and indices of gastric secretion in ulcer disease patients at the
      stage of exacerbation receiving microwave resonance therapy and hypnotherapy. The
      obtained results evidence that hypnotherapy and microwave resonance therapy are
      pathogenetic methods of treatment of patients with ulcer disease. Combined
      treatment proved more effective.

PMID- 1455837
TI  - [Fibronectin and the phagocytic activity of the neutrophilic granulocytes in
      patients with different clinical variants of bronchial asthma].
AB  - A study of 125 cases of bronchial asthma revealed low contents of fibronectin.
      The degree of the decrease depended on the severity of the clinical course of the
      disease and treatment with glucocorticoid hormones. Patients with bronchial
      asthma showed an essential reduction of the number of neutrophilic granulocytes
      capable of phagocytosis. In the process of incubation of polynuclears with
      fibronectin occurs restoration of their phagocytic activity which was less
      pronounced in patients receiving glucocorticoids.

PMID- 1455838
TI  - [The role of pharmacological tests in detecting disorders in the bronchial
      patency and bronchial reactivity of patients with chronic glomerulonephritis].
AB  - Data are reported of a study of the effect of atrovent, salbutamol and
      acetylcholine on bronchial patency and reactivity of the bronchi in 89 patients
      with glomerulonephritis (age: 17-49 years) with normal renal function and at the
      stage of chronic renal failure. The tests proved highly informative. Latent
      bronchospasm was found in 12.1% of patients with chronic glomerulonephritis. In
      76.3% of patients at the stage of chronic renal failure hyperreactivity of the
      bronchi was found. The revealed changes require early diagnosis and treatment.

PMID- 1455839
TI  - [The intestinal mechanisms of the protein metabolic disorder in kidney failure].
AB  - Data are reported on intestinal mechanisms of protein metabolism in renal failure
      in patients and experimental animals. These disorders are characterized by
      inhibition of the intestinal absorption capacities, disturbances of intestinal
      mechanisms of the amino acid kinetics and they develop along with a reduction of
      the total excretory renal function.

PMID- 1455840
TI  - [Acute gastrointestinal hemorrhages].
AB  - It was thought formerly that gastrointestinal hemorrhage is an integral part of
      gastric ulcer. At present this is not a regularity, occurs only in some patients
      with ulcer disease and in other kinds of pathology (liver cirrhosis, dilated
      esophageal veins and oth.). Surgical treatment during hemorrhage is connected
      with risk for the patients. We recommend temporary tamponade of the bleeding
      blood vessels, improvement of the general condition of the patient and then
      transferring the patient to a surgical department for determination of further
      tactics.

PMID- 1455841
TI  - [Lipidemia in the nephrotic syndrome and the atherogenicity of the plasma].
AB  - The nephrotic syndrome is characterized by proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia and
      hypercholesterolemia. Hypercholesterolemia is in some cases a risk factor for
      atherosclerosis in this group of patients. The lipid plasma spectrum was studied
      in 45 patients with the nephrotic syndrome. Most pronounced changes of the lipid
      composition of the plasma were revealed in patients with systemic lupus
      erythematosus and a special form of mesangio-proliferative glomerulonephritis
      which is characterized by a torpid course and rapid development of chronic renal
      failure. Plasma atherogenicity was calculated according to the index of plasma
      atherogenicity. A high atherogenicity index was revealed in patients with an
      association of the nephrotic syndrome and arterial hypertension. Plasma
      atherogenicity is determined mainly by the level of high-density-lipoprotein
      cholesterol.

PMID- 1455842
TI  - [The characteristics of lipid peroxidation in patients with an acute disorder of
      the cerebral circulation].
AB  - A study is presented of 89 inpatients with cerebral stroke. Lipid peroxidation
      was determined during the first days of the diseases (1-7 days). The state of the
      patients was evaluated by the clinical picture, manifestation of neurological
      symptoms, biochemical indices of the blood, coagulogram, ECG, REG, state of lipid
      peroxidation. The obtained data suggest a major role played by lipid peroxidation
      of the cell membranes, its elevation in of the activity in stroke. The
      concentration of lipid peroxidation depends on the severity of the condition and,
      thus, it may be used for evaluation of treatment efficacy and prognosis of the
      disease.

PMID- 1455843
TI  - [The effect of death cup poison on the morphology of human erythrocytes].
AB  - Incubation of heparinized blood of donor (37 degrees C) resulted in an
      insignificant amount of changed erythrocyte, forms mainly at the expense of
      stomatocytes and echinocytes, reduction of medium diameter and sphericity index.
      In incubation of blood with Amanita phalloides [correction of Agaricus bulbosus]
      poison (0.5LD100) changed forms made up 66.2% with prevalence of poikylocytes,
      schizocytes and hemolyzed forms.

PMID- 1455844
TI  - [The setting of hygienic standards for the insecticide sonet in potatoes].
AB  - A study of the toxic properties of sonet in chronic experiment on white rats
      established the threshold and non-acting dose of the insecticide. The
      accumulation of the insecticide in the potato tubers during the entire vegetation
      period as well as its effect on the potato quality were investigated. The author
      recommends 0.05 mg/g of sonet per 1 g of potato as a maximum permissible level.

PMID- 1455845
TI  - Is asthma an inflammatory disease?
AB  - In the 1950s, asthma was defined in terms of reversible airflow obstruction; and
      then during the 1980s, the emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment of asthma
      centered on airway hyperreactivity. Recent advances in molecular biology and
      immunopathology have focused diagnosis and treatment of asthma on inflammatory
      mechanisms. This article briefly reviews some of the inflammatory components of
      asthma and the rationale for using inhaled (topical) anti-inflammatory agents in
      treatment. It also calls attention to some potential and actual adverse effects
      of inhaled corticosteroids. It mentions some agents used as alternate therapy for
      "steroid resistant" patients. The alteration of airway immunopathology of
      asthmatics before and after use of inhaled corticosteroids is described. There is
      evidence that treatment directed solely towards airway inflammation without use
      of inhaled B-agonist agents does not eliminate airway hyperresponsiveness.

PMID- 1455846
TI  - Nursing research with refugees. A review and guide.

PMID- 1455847
TI  - Challenges of nursing research with the frail elderly.

PMID- 1455848
TI  - The homeless population.

PMID- 1455849
TI  - Nursing in Nazi Germany.
AB  - German nursing did indeed change during the Nazi period. There were external
      changes, in terms of the improved social status of nursing, the tightening and
      unification of professional nursing organizations, the laws affecting nursing,
      and the politicization of the profession. Articles written by nurses at the time
      and more recent interviews suggest that there were internal changes as well. It
      appears that at least a portion of German nurses accepted the National Socialism
      reinterpretation of professional nursing ethics and humanitarian principles in
      the assumption that through their obedience they were doing good. This historical
      research points to clear lessons for contemporary nurses. Nurses in Nazi Germany
      were under the illusion that they were remaining true to their professional
      ethics, unaffected by the social change around them. This apolitical professional
      consciousness made it possible for the profession to be subsumed as a part of the
      larger political system. I believe that we must be clear that nursing never takes
      place in a value-free, neutral context; it is always a socially significant
      force. This means that we cannot simply observe what is taking place around us
      but must take a stand and get involved, helping to shape sociopolitical
      developments. I also believe that we must deal with the history of our
      profession, especially its darkest hours, so that we may remain sensitive to any
      signs of inhumanity. We must call into question traditional principles, such as
      obedience, and replace them with professional competence, professionalism, and
      creative self-consciousness. And not least, we have a moral obligation to the
      millions of victims of National Socialism, even if it only means that, through
      historical research, we assure that they are not forgotten. By taking
      responsibility for this part of our history, we can become more sensitive for the
      future, with eyes and ears open for all social injustices.

PMID- 1455851
TI  - Health behaviors and health risks among homeless males in Utah.

PMID- 1455850
TI  - Examining vulnerability of women clerical workers from five ethnic/racial groups.

PMID- 1455852
TI  - The dying art of bandaging.

PMID- 1455853
TI  - [Evaluation of clinical effectiveness and adverse effects of Polnitrin].
AB  - In a double-blind, randomized, placebo cross-controlled trial the effectiveness
      and the adverse effects of two types of buccal tablets containing 5 mg
      nitroglycerin: Polnitrin produced by Warsaw Pharmaceutical Works POLFA and its
      analogue of foreign origin, were assessed. The third compared preparation was
      sublingual nitroglycerin in 0.5 mg tablets. The longest dissolution in the buccal
      cavity showed Polnitrin (mean 6.6 hours). Polnitrin significantly increased the
      resting heart rate during 3 hours, and during 6 hours at maximal effort. The
      foreign analogue decreased significantly the systolic pressure during 3 hours
      after application. No significant differences were noted in the effects on the
      basic haemodynamic parameters between the compared buccal tablets. Exercise
      tolerance and coronary reserve were assessed with repeated exercise tests on
      moving track (Marquette Case-12). Immediately after being stuck to the gum
      Polnitrin, its analogue and sublingual nitroglycerin significantly prolonged the
      marching time: total, till pain, and till ischaemia. After 6 hours the marching
      time till pain appearance was significantly longer after Polnitrin than after
      placebo or its analogue. Local adverse effects connected with the presence of the
      tablet in the oral vestibule may hamper the treatment with Polnitrin in some
      cases. The most frequent side effect were headaches which are known to occur
      usually after all nitrates.

PMID- 1455854
TI  - [Effect of resuming occupational work after myocardial infarction on recurrence
      and mortality].
AB  - The effect of resuming occupational work on the mortality and the frequency of
      infarction recurrence was studied in a group of 771 patients with a history of at
      least one myocardial infarction. The group of 216 patients who resumed
      occupational work in industry or administration were compared with 280 patients
      remaining without occupation, and another comparison was done between 170
      patients working and living in towns and 131 working on farms. The material was
      divided also according to prognostic groups: good, moderately good and poor. All
      patients were aged over 60 years. The follow-up was 2 to 10 years. A beneficial
      effect was found of continuation of occupational work, with the exception of
      heavy physical work, after infarction in the first 3 years.

PMID- 1455855
TI  - [Structure of psychological needs of patients over 60 years of age, hospitalized
      for ischemic heart disease complicated by asthenic- depressive syndrome, and in
      healthy persons].
AB  - Using psychotherapy methods such as MMPI-Wiskad, ACL-37 and 16PF the patterns of
      psychological needs were studied in postproductive-age subjects with ischaemic
      heart disease complicated or not with asthenia-depression syndrome and in healthy
      subjects. Statistical analysis showed that in relation to old people with
      ischaemic heart disease or without it patients with ischaemic heart disease and
      depression with asthenia showed a higher psychological sensitivity and their
      needs were concentrated around the need for self-manifestation, aid-seeking and
      taking care of oneself. In old people a tendency was maintained for persistence
      of psychological needs in the previously formulated forms.

PMID- 1455856
TI  - [Effect of smoking on the indicators of immunity and the acute-phase reaction in
      persons professionally exposed to solvents].
AB  - In 156 men, 46 non-smokers, 47 smokers, 19 non-smokers exposed to organic
      solvents and 41 smokers exposed also to solvents the levels of immunoglobulins,
      lysozyme, C3c, C4, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, coeruloplasmin and haptoglobins
      were determined in serum, besides that the counts of circulating T, B and non-T
      non-B lymphocytes were calculated. A synergistic depressing effect of cigarette
      smoke and organic solvents was found on certain immunity parameters. This
      depression was manifested also as changes in the concentrations of IgA, IgD, IgG,
      lysozyme and T-lymphocyte subpopulations.

PMID- 1455857
TI  - [Socioeconomic factors and the incidence of premature labor in a polluted
      environment].
AB  - The effects of socioeconomic factors on the incidence of premature births were
      studied in Chorzow. For a better evaluation of the socioeconomic conditions a
      scoring system was used based on such parameters as marital status of the
      mothers, educational level, living conditions, flat equipment, property owned by
      the family and economic status. The incidence of prematurity was 14.1%. In over
      40% of cases premature births were associated with poor conditions of life.
      Occupational work under stressful conditions significantly increased the rate of
      prematurity. After a review of similar studies of other authors it is accepted
      that environmental pollution is an additional risk factor for the fetus.

PMID- 1455858
TI  - [Pseudotumor cerebri in children].
AB  - The authors observed 6 cases of brain pseudotumours in children aged from 3 to 15
      years. All patients had been referred with the diagnosis of brain tumour, with
      headaches, eye fundus changes fundus changes. Some children had nystagmus,
      squint, vomiting and dizziness. One child had pharyngitis, two had sinusitis.
      Contrast brain examinations gave normal results. Diet with salt and fluid
      restriction and oedema-reducing drugs (glycerol, mannitol, decadron) were used.
      In all patients the neurological and ophthalmological signs regressed within 3 to
      12 weeks.

PMID- 1455859
TI  - [Basic indicators of physical development of schoolchildren living in the area of
      an industrial plant processing non-ferrous metals].
AB  - The purpose of the study was an analysis of the basic indices of somatic
      development of school children in the Olkusz area with mines of zinc, lead and
      cadmium, and metallurgic plants processing the ores of these metals. The studied
      group comprised 747 children aged 5 to 14 years attending randomly selected
      schools in Olkusz, Bukowna and Boleslaw. The height and body mass were measured
      on medical scales with height scale. The obtained results were compared with
      those of similar measurements of children in other parts of the country with
      different degrees of environmental pollution with non-iron metals. In the Olkusz
      area the height of the children was slightly smaller than in other parts.

PMID- 1455860
TI  - [Effectiveness of Cefobid in pediatric practice].
AB  - The sensitivity to Cefobid was evaluated in vitro in 37 bacterial strains
      obtained from 37 patients. Good effectiveness of the drug against the strains was
      found in 78.3%, moderate in 13.5%, none in 8.2%. The clinical examinations were
      carried out in 16 children and again a high clinical effectiveness of Cefobid was
      found, with cure in 14 cases (87.5%). Cefobid was ineffective in 2 children with
      infection of Tenckhoff catheter, which required finally exchange of the catheter.
      No side effects of Cefobid were noted. Cefobid is a safe and effective antibiotic
      which may be given to small children and patients with renal failure. The broad
      spectrum and the possibility of drug use without dosage modification facilitate
      the treatment of patients with various grades of renal failure.

PMID- 1455861
TI  - [Prevention of primary arterial hypertension--effects of various dietary
      components].

PMID- 1455862
TI  - [Creation of intestinal fistulas and the reconstructive procedures in patients
      after proctocolectomy].

PMID- 1455863
TI  - [On the treatment of orbital fractures].
AB  - The author discusses the management of fractures of the orbit reviewing the
      present state of the pertinent knowledge. The diagnostic problems and therapeutic
      possibilities are mentioned.

PMID- 1455864
TI  - [Evolution of post-traumatic hematoma of the liver monitored by ultrasonography].
AB  - The results of 20 months of follow-up of posttraumatic hepatic haematoma are
      presented. The haematoma developed as a result of blunt abdominal trauma and was
      diagnosed intraoperatively. Monitoring was based on ultrasonography. A
      significant change in the echographic pattern and size of the haematoma indicated
      its organization. The purpose of the study was calling attention to the
      ultrasonographic findings in hepatic haematoma in relation to the time after
      trauma. It is worth stressing that hepatic haematoma healed well although it had
      not been managed during the operation (even not drained).

PMID- 1455865
TI  - [Neurofibromatosis of the head and neck].
AB  - The source of development of neurofibromas, their incidence, tendency for
      recurrences and malignant transformation are reviewed. The main signs of von
      Recklinghausen disease and the difficulties in its diagnosis are discussed. A
      case of faciocervical neurofibromatosis with recurrences is presented stressing
      the importance of adequate therapeutic-prophylactic management is stressed, in
      view of increased predisposition to recurrences and malignant transformation.

PMID- 1455866
TI  - [Cure of acute myeloblastic leukemia in a child with Down syndrome and tetralogy
      of Fallot].

PMID- 1455867
TI  - [Use of streptokinase in the treatment of thrombosis around the atrial drain of
      the Pudenz valve in a child with post-inflammatory hydrocephalus].

PMID- 1455868
TI  - [A case of early diagnosis of chloride diarrhea].

PMID- 1455869
TI  - [Current views on the pathogenesis and treatment of pulmonary emphysema and
      chronic bronchitis].
AB  - In recent years a rising interest has developed among the authors studying the
      problems of pathogenesis and treatment of chronic bronchitis and pulmonary
      emphysema in the factors responsible for the immune equilibrium of the
      respiratory system. In particular, the correlation has been stressed between the
      levels of inflammation mediators and the activity of proteolytic enzymes and
      their inhibitors in lung tissue. Most studies seem to confirm the validity of the
      elastase-antielastase concept. Among the environmental factors directly
      responsible for the development of these diseases tobacco smoke and other
      irritant fumes (SO2NO2) are mentioned. This concept had been the foundation for
      trials of therapeutic use of inhibitors of elastolytic enzymes.

PMID- 1455870
TI  - Endoscopic management of nonvariceal gastrointestinal bleeding.
AB  - Endoscopic management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding has been expanded from a
      purely diagnostic role to a therapeutic role in many patients. In addition to
      controlling active bleeding, it is an option in a patient who is clinically at a
      high risk of rebleeding, or in patients who have peptic ulcers with visible
      vessels or stigmata indicating high risk. Several methods have been studied, and
      currently the most useful include thermal cautery with the heater probe or
      bipolar electrocoagulation, and injection using epinephrine and/or sclerosants.
      Endoscopic hemostasis can effect permanent control of bleeding in many patients,
      but should be considered complementary to conventional surgical control in other
      patients, where temporary control to stabilize the patient is a desired end.

PMID- 1455871
TI  - Approaches to the endoscopic treatment of esophageal varices.
AB  - Endoscopic therapy is commonly employed for both initial and subsequent
      definitive treatment of variceal bleeding. Sclerotherapy performed with a
      flexible endoscope is currently the most widespread technique. Available data
      suggests that such treatment does not improve outcome in the acute treatment of
      variceal bleeding (first 30 days) but appears superior to conventional medical
      management in the long term. Sclerotherapy does not appear better or worse than
      pharmacological therapy or surgical therapy when these treatments are compared in
      the elective setting. Although effective, endoscopic sclerotherapy is recognized
      to be associated with many major and minor treatment-related complications and a
      significant incidence of recurrent hemorrhage. In response to these shortcomings
      newer forms of endoscopic therapy such as polymer injection and endoscopic
      ligation have been developed. Polymer injection appears well suited for patients
      with active bleeding and for those with gastric varices but does not have
      advantages for chronic treatment aimed at variceal eradication. Endoscopic
      ligation appears at least as effective as conventional sclerotherapy for control
      of acute bleeding and prevention of rebleeding and is associated with few
      treatment induced complications. While endoscopic therapy will likely continue as
      the most commonly employed treatment for patients with hemorrhage from esophageal
      varices, newer methods with wider margins of safety and efficacy seem destined to
      supplement or replace conventional endoscopic sclerotherapy.

PMID- 1455872
TI  - Endoscopic intervention for enteral access.
AB  - Contrary to total parenteral nutrition with its relatively recent introduction
      into modern clinical medicine, enteral nutrition has a long and colorful history.
      Prior to development of fiberoptic endoscopy, physicians attempting to feed
      patients who could not or would not eat were limited to the blind placement of
      intestinal tubes or radiologically assisted placement of these devices. Previous
      to these modern attempts, the use of nutrient enemas was attempted for which
      there was evidence of occasional success. With the introduction of fiberoptic
      flexible endoscopy, guidance of tubes into the upper intestinal tract under
      direct vision became feasible. The manner in which tubes were positioned,
      advanced, or manipulated are myriad and attest to the ingenuity of clinicians. A
      revolution in endoscopic intervention occurred with the introduction of the
      percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in 1980. This provided secure access to the
      stomach without a laparotomy. This technique was also modified to allow
      decompression of the stomach with feeding distally into the small intestine and
      also direct puncture and placement of tubes into the small intestine. The most
      recent advance in enteral nutrition is taking place at the present time with the
      introduction of laparoscopic techniques in the creation of gastrostomies and
      jejunostomies.

PMID- 1455874
TI  - Endoscopic management of common bile duct stones.
AB  - Endoscopic sphincterotomy has become the undisputed method of choice for removing
      common bile duct calculi following previous cholecystectomy. This approach has
      also been applied to selected patients with intact gallbladders deemed unfit for
      surgery. More recently, endoscopic clearance of the bile duct has been used in
      concert with laparoscopic cholecystectomy to avoid laparotomy. Modalities
      available for stone therapy via the endoscope include baskets and balloons,
      mechanical lithotripters, electrohydraulic lithotripsy probes, and laser energy.
      In difficult cases stents may be placed to provide drainage in lieu of stone
      extraction.

PMID- 1455873
TI  - Therapeutic colonoscopy.
AB  - Therapeutic colonoscopy has replaced or lessened to a significant degree the need
      or extent of traditional open surgical procedures. The common uses of therapeutic
      colonoscopy are hemostasis, resection and ablation of benign and malignant
      disease, decompression and recanalization of obstructed or dilated bowel, as well
      as foreign body extraction. Bleeding from arteriovenous and other vascular
      abnormalities can be controlled with 40% to 80% success rates using
      endoscopically delivered, monopolar, bipolar, or laser coagulation. The
      palliation of bleeding recurrent or inoperable colorectal cancer is achieved in
      up to 90% of patients. Virtually all pedunculated adenomas and most sessile
      adenomas are regularly removed colonoscopically, while large and recurrent
      villous adenomas in high risk individuals can be successfully managed by
      endoscopically delivered laser ablation techniques. Emergency colonoscopic
      reduction of sigmoid volvulus is performed pre-operatively and decompression of
      the dilated colon of non-obstructive colonic ileus is now regularly achieved.
      Colonic strictures have been dilated with a variety of techniques ranging from
      divulsion with through-the-scope balloon dilators to laser recanalization. Pre
      operative endoscopic laser relief of tumor obstruction is employed to avoid
      preliminary or decompressing colostomy. Endoscopic laser debulking and
      recanalization of recurrent or inoperable cancer has been achieved with up to 80%
      success and various foreign bodies may be extracted from the colon with a number
      of endoscopic techniques. The morbidity of therapeutic colonoscopy has ranged
      from 1% to 2% for polypectomy to 11% for laser palliation of bleeding from
      advanced cancer, often with obstruction.

PMID- 1455875
TI  - Endoscopic therapy for biliary obstruction.
AB  - Endoscopic management of biliary obstruction is feasible in most patients and has
      emerged as standard treatment. Aside from the removal of bile duct stones,
      placement of a biliary stent is the most commonly employed modality of
      management. In experienced hands, this is successful in over 90% of patients.
      Lower procedure-related complications and the relative non-invasive nature of
      endoscopic treatment has relegated surgical management to a subsidiary role.
      Hospitalization time rarely exceeds 1-2 days. In most patients with advanced
      malignant disease and short life expectancy, stenting affords effective
      palliation. For the majority of patients endoscopic management is preferable to
      the percutaneous transhepatic approach due to lower overall mortality and
      morbidity. Stent occlusion necessitating replacement remains a problem, but
      improvements in this area can be expected. New plastic stent designs are
      undergoing investigation. Expandable metallic stents are promising but controlled
      comparative trials with conventional plastic prostheses are needed. Use of
      expandable stents should be judicious since these cannot be removed. In the
      future we can look forward to advances in peroral cholangioscopic technology
      which may permit targeted treatment of intraductal biliary malignancies.

PMID- 1455876
TI  - Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: the state of the art. A report on 700 consecutive
      cases.
AB  - Born in secret in 1987, developed in an atmosphere of skepticism and even
      hostility throughout 1988, the laparoscopic cholecystectomy triumphed in 1989-90
      and caused a veritable revolution in the world of general surgery. The 700
      consecutive cases that we report here reflect the spirit of these various
      periods. From prudently restrictive, our indications widened to include 90% of
      all patients with gallbladder lithiasis. Sclero-atrophic gallbladders constitute
      the greatest challenge for endoscopic maneuvers. This group of patients should be
      treated by the most experienced operators only. The figures for mortality (0.1%)
      and complications (3%) are very comparable and even better than those for
      traditional cholecystectomy. The quality of recovery is infinitely better; there
      is absence of pain, a short period of hospitalization, return to normal physical
      activity within 10 days, rapid return to work, and total preservation of the
      abdominal muscles for participation in sports activities. All these advantages
      are assets of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy which are not available to the 6%
      of patients for whom an intra-operative conversion to open surgery is necessary.
      These patients recover within the conditions of a traditional cholecystectomy
      which are far from being poor. The large multicenter studies, such as those
      carried out in France and Belgium recently involving 3,708 patients, arrive at
      identical conclusions. The laparoscopic cholecystectomy is on its way to becoming
      the gold standard of treatment for gallbladder lithiasis. It is the first
      successful step towards surgical techniques of the 21st century which will be
      carried out inside the musculo-cutaneous envelope of the unopened human body.

PMID- 1455877
TI  - Laparoscopy in the emergency setting.
AB  - Laparoscopy has been available for 90 years and was actively undertaken by the
      gynecologists. Today the vast majority of gynecological procedures are performed
      by this route. Despite the efforts of a few enthusiastic surgeons, the general
      surgical community did not incorporate laparoscopy into their armamentarium until
      the advent of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, this endoscopic technique
      has much to contribute, especially in the setting of emergency care. It is of
      value in formulating a treatment algorithm and in avoiding unnecessary laparotomy
      in both blunt and penetrating trauma. Laparoscopy helps to define the nature of
      obscure abdominal diagnoses, avoids unnecessary appendectomy, and provides the
      window of opportunity for surgery in mesenteric ischemia due to either arterial
      or venous thrombosis or embolus. It is also of value in patients with pain or
      fever of unknown origin, displaced gastrostomy or dialysis tubes, and in the rare
      patient with gastrointestinal bleeding where other diagnostic modalities have
      been unable to yield the diagnosis. In this article the instrumentation and
      techniques will be outlined and the role of laparoscopy in each of the above
      situations will be detailed. As with all surgical procedures, it is vital that
      the surgeon be well-trained and knowledgeable about the correct use of the
      technique, its possible pitfalls and how to avoid them, as well as knowing the
      contraindications.

PMID- 1455879
TI  - Endosonography in patient selection for surgical treatment of esophageal
      carcinoma.
AB  - A prospective study was carried out to examine the usefulness of endosonography
      (ES) in the pre-operative staging of patients with carcinoma of the esophagus,
      and its relevance in predicting resectability and the type of resection. The
      results of ES were compared with staging by conventional pre-operative methods
      and with operative staging according to the new American Joint Commission of
      Cancer staging classification. Of the 89 patients studied, 62 had a resection, 22
      a bypass operation, and 5 had no operation. ES examination was unsuccessful in 19
      patients because of complete or near complete tumor obliteration of the
      esophageal lumen and was incomplete in 13 patients because of distal tumor
      obstruction. These 32 patients accounted for 36% of all ES examinations, 27% of
      resection group, 55% of bypass group, and 60% of no operation group. The 45
      patients who had a satisfactory ES examination and who had underwent a
      transthoracic resection were analyzed. The sensitivity and specificity of ES in
      detecting the depth of esophageal involvement were 89% and 96%, respectively, and
      for lymph node metastasis were 85% and 86%, respectively. However, ES was neither
      sensitive in detecting extra-esophageal infiltration to mediastinal organs nor
      was it able to determine the extent of intra-abdominal spread. The accuracy of
      pre-operative staging was 82% by ES compared with 51% by conventional staging (p
      < 0.001). ES correctly identified more advanced stage of disease in 14 (31%)
      patients as compared with conventional staging. On the evaluation of
      resectability, which was based on conventional investigations without ES, the
      result was unaffected even if the additional findings of ES were
      available.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455878
TI  - The spectrum of laparoscopic surgery.
AB  - Laparoscopic procedures have begun to replace many conventional operations
      because of the avoidance of major surgery and the rapid recovery of the patient.
      The majority of these traditional operations will be performed laparoscopically
      in the future. For example, patients who suffer from achalasia will be able to
      undergo laparoscopic cardiomyotomy and patients with non-cardiac chest pain of
      esophageal origin will be able to undergo thoracoscopic myotomy. Likewise, a
      viable alternative to long-term medication with H2 blockers or omeprazole will be
      laparoscopic posterior vagotomy and anterior lesser curve seromyotomy. As methods
      are developed to deal with the extraction of large specimens, many ablative
      procedures will be undertaken by the laparoscopic route. Extraction techniques
      must not compromise the need for histopathological examination of the resected
      specimen in cancer resections. The ultimate spectrum of laparoscopic surgery will
      be determined by the progress in remote handling technology, overcoming the
      manipulative restrictions inherent in the current instrumentation. Research
      evaluating the efficacy of new methods will be essential.

PMID- 1455880
TI  - Pre-operative radiotherapy prolongs survival in operable esophageal carcinoma: a
      randomized, multicenter study of pre-operative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The
      second Scandinavian trial in esophageal cancer.
AB  - In a prospective multicenter study, 186 patients with squamous cell esophageal
      carcinoma, who after evaluation were considered suitable for surgery, were
      randomized to 4 treatment groups: Group 1, surgery alone; Group 2, pre-operative
      chemotherapy (cisplatin and bleomycin) and surgery; Group 3, pre-operative
      irradiation (35 Gy) and surgery; Group 4, pre-operative chemotherapy,
      radiotherapy, and surgery. Three-year survival was significantly higher in the
      pooled groups receiving radiotherapy as compared with the pooled groups not
      receiving radiotherapy. Comparison of the groups having pre-operative
      chemotherapy with those not having chemotherapy showed no significant difference
      in survival. Female patients had a significantly better survival than males. The
      results indicate that pre-operative irradiation had a beneficial effect on
      intermediate term survival, whereas the chemotherapy regime used did not
      influence survival.

PMID- 1455881
TI  - Gastrointestinal motility of patients with Roux-en-Y reconstruction.
AB  - The electromyographic activity of the gastrointestinal tract was studied in 28
      patients undergoing gastric, biliary, and pancreatic operations with
      reconstruction of the gastrointestinal tract with a Roux-en-Y limb. The Roux-en-Y
      limb was constructed 1 to 5 years before the study in 8 patients (chronic Roux-en
      Y) and at the operation in which the electrodes were implanted in 20 patients
      (recent Roux-en-Y). All four phases of the migrating motor complex (MMC) were
      identified in the gastrointestinal tract, including in the Roux-en-Y limb. The
      duration of the MMC was 82.4 +/- 22.3 min in the patients with chronic Roux-en-Y
      and 89.0 +/- 25.1 min in the patients with recent Roux-en-Y. Food ingestion
      converted the MMC to the fed pattern in the entire gastrointestinal tract,
      including the Roux-en-Y limb in 16 (76.2%) of 21 recordings of the patients with
      chronic Roux-en-Y and in 27 (84.4%) of 32 recordings of the patients with recent
      Roux-en-Y. The duration of the fed pattern was 170 +/- 34 min in the patients
      with chronic Roux-en-Y and 154 +/- 26 min in the patients with recent Roux-en-Y.
      The findings of this study indicate that the electromyographic activity of the
      Roux-en-Y limb is normal during both fasting and fed states, even many years
      after the construction of the Roux-en-Y.

PMID- 1455882
TI  - Optimization of isolated hyperthermic limb perfusion.
AB  - During isolated limb perfusion, we studied the impact of limb temperature on the
      concentration of cytostatic drugs in the tissue to identify a possible selective
      absorption of cytostatic agents by the various tissues. Ten consecutive patients
      with malignant melanoma were randomly divided into two different groups and
      perfused with 1 mg cisplatin per kg body weight. In one group the cytostatic
      agents were injected under hyperthermic conditions (39.5 degrees C) and in the
      other group under normothermic conditions (37 degrees C). The platinum
      concentration in the melanoma was twice as high in the hyperthermic group as in
      the group under normothermic conditions. In the tumor-free tissue the platinum
      concentration decreased with temperature while it remained constant in the
      musculature. This selective concentration of cisplatin in the tumor under
      hyperthermic conditions is accompanied by fewer side effects. Follow-up will show
      whether the oncological results will be improved in the hyperthermic conditions
      as one might expect.

PMID- 1455883
TI  - The effects of positive airway pressure and intra-abdominal pressure in
      diaphragmatic rupture.
AB  - Arterial blood gases (80% oxygen), intraperitoneal pressure (IP), stomach
      position relative to the diaphragm (S/D by fluoroscopy), blood pressure, and
      cardiac output were monitored in 16 anaesthetized New Hampshire piglets with a 12
      cm laceration of the left hemidiaphragm. Group I (8 animals) were spontaneously
      breathing. Group II (8 animals) had a pneumatic antishock garment (PASG) inflated
      to an IP of 40 torr for 15 mins followed by positive pressure ventilation (PPV)
      of 20 cm H2O for 15 min and PPV of 40 cm H2O (PPV-40) for 30 more minutes. All
      Group I animals survived. Three Group II animals died by 15 min after PASG
      inflation. Seven Group I animals showed no displacement of the stomach above the
      diaphragm. Blood pressure, cardiac output, and blood gases remained unchanged in
      Group I compared to baseline with pO2 varying from 436 +/- 44 torr to 417 +/- 31
      torr, pCO2 from 38 +/- 1 torr to 39 +/- 1 torr, and pH 7.4 +/- 0.02. Blood
      pressure in Group I was 109 +/- 3 torr at baseline to 110 +/- 2 torr at 60 mins,
      and baseline cardiac output was 3.9 +/- 0.2 L/min and 3.8 +/- 0.2 L/min at 60
      min. Group II animals had a baseline arterial pO2 of 423 +/- 15 torr and 100 +/-
      15 torr at 15 min after PASG. With PPV-20 arterial pO2 increased to 178 +/- 13
      torr and further increased to 230 +/- 9 torr at PPV-40.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1455884
TI  - Long-term functional results and quality of life after ileal pouch-anal
      anastomosis and cholecystectomy.
AB  - Among 971 patients with chronic ulcerative colitis who underwent ileal-pouch anal
      anastomosis during an 8-year period from January, 1982 to December 1989, 30
      patients were randomly selected from each year (total = 240 patients) for an
      assessment of their long-term functional results and quality of life as of 1990.
      Patients undergoing cholecystectomy during each of the same years served as
      "controls" (20 patients/year, total = 160 patients). All 400 patients completed a
      written questionnaire that measured bowel habits, overall quality of life,
      general health, and performance in sports/recreation, travel, sex life, family
      relationship, occupational work, social activities, and household activities.
      Ileo-anal patients had more frequent stools (median, 6 stools/day) and more fecal
      spotting (68% of patients had episodes) than cholecystectomy patients (median, 1
      stool/day, 13% had episodes, p < 0.05). In spite of the altered bowel habits, 90%
      of ileo-anal patients had an excellent overall quality of life, 76% enjoyed good
      health, and 91% had good performance scores in the areas examined. In fact,
      quality of life and performance were similar among ileo-anal patients and
      cholecystectomy patients. Moreover, quality of life and bowel habits remained
      steady in both groups of patients during the 8-year follow-up. In conclusion,
      functional results were satisfactory and quality of life was excellent after
      ileal pouch-anal anastomosis; neither deteriorated as patients aged over an 8
      year period after operation.

PMID- 1455885
TI  - Routine versus selective intra-operative cholangiography during laparoscopic
      cholecystectomy.
AB  - Opinion is divided whether intra-operative cholangiography should be performed
      routinely or on a selective basis during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We
      therefore performed the first prospective randomized trial of static
      cholangiography in patients who did not have indications for cholangiograms.
      Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was attempted on 164 consecutive patients, of whom
      49 (30%) patients were excluded from the trial due to indications for or against
      cholangiography. In the remaining 115 (70%) patients, 56 were randomized to the
      cholangiography group while 59 patients did not receive cholangiograms. Duration
      of postoperative hospitalization and interval to return to full activity were
      identical in the two groups. Static cholangiograms added 16 +/- 1 min (mean +/-
      SEM) to the procedures (p < 0.01). Cholangiography increased the total charges
      for the operation by almost $700 (p < 0.01). Cholangiograms were performed
      successfully in 94.6% of the patients and changed the operative management in 4
      (7.5%) patients. There was 1 (1.9%) false negative study. Intra-operative
      cholangiography did not reveal aberrant bile ducts at risk of injury from the
      operative dissection. There was no mortality or cholangiogram-related morbidity
      in either group. In follow-up ranging from 2-12 months, there has been no
      clinical evidence of bile duct injury or retained common bile duct stones. In
      summary, in patients without indications for cholangiography, the performance of
      static cholangiograms markedly increased the operative time and cost of
      laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The operative management of a minority of patients
      was changed by the information obtained, but laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be
      performed safely in the absence of cholangiograms with little risk of injury to
      the major ductal system or retained calculi.

PMID- 1455886
TI  - Prostacyclin release from the human saphenous vein in diabetics in lower than in
      nondiabetics.
AB  - The balance between prostacyclin and thromboxane has been suggested to be of
      great importance for the maintenance of patency in veins. In order to investigate
      prostacyclin and thromboxane release, segments from the human saphenous veins
      were investigated in 53 patients. Twenty-seven patients (10 males, 17 females)
      underwent surgery for varicose veins. Twenty-six patients (14 nondiabetics, 12
      diabetics) underwent surgery for lower limb ischemia (rest pain or gangrene) with
      use of the saphenous vein as arterial conduit. Vein segments were gently excised
      and perfused ex vivo for five 15 minute periods, with a balanced salt solution
      and determination of the stable degradation products 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TxB2.
      Saphenous veins from patients with varicose veins had an initial prostacyclin
      release of 61 +/- 13 pg/mm2/15 min declining to 4 +/- 1 pg/mm2/15 min after 60
      min (p < 0.001) and increasing after addition to arachidonic acid to 37 +/- 7
      pg/mm2/15 min (p < 0.001). Segments from nondiabetic patients with lower limb
      ischemia did not differ from those of varicectomy patients, but diabetic segments
      had a significantly lower prostacyclin release than both these groups, 34 +/- 11
      pg/mm2/15 min, 1 +/- 1 pg/mm2/15 min, and 7 +/- 5 pg/mm2/15 min, respectively (p
      < 0.05). The addition of arachidonic acid failed to increase the prostacyclin
      release in diabetics. Three patients from each group were studied regarding
      thromboxane release and there was almost no detectable thromboxane in any group.
      These findings suggest that diabetics have a lowered prostacyclin release from
      the saphenous vein and that the deficiency is at the cyclo-oxygenase
      level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455887
TI  - Bleeding varices of the small bowel as a complication of pancreatitis: case
      report and review of the literature.
AB  - A case of a 48 year old male with a history of alcohol abuse, chronic relapsing
      pancreatitis, and massive hemorrhage into the small intestine is reported. The
      patient had previously undergone a cholecystojejunostomy. Imaging studies
      demonstrated occlusion of the splenic, superior mesenteric, and distal portal
      veins with large varices in the jejunum. He recovered following jejunal resection
      and Roux-en-Y cholecystojejunostomy. The mechanism for formation of varices in
      the small bowel in this clinical setting is discussed.

PMID- 1455888
TI  - Thromboembolic complications in thermally injured patients.
AB  - The frequency of thromboembolic complications in burn patients has been estimated
      to range from 0.4% to 7%. The clinical significance of these events is often
      debated and has prompted some centers to adopt the routine prophylactic use of
      low dose heparin prophylaxis. A 10 year review of 2,103 burn patients treated at
      this institution was undertaken. Twenty-five (1.2%) patients, with a mean age of
      40.0 years and an average burn size of 49.3% total body surface area (TBSA), were
      identified as having significant pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). In only 3
      (0.14%) patients was the thromboembolism considered to be a cause of death.
      Nineteen (0.9%) patients, with an average age of 36.7 years and a mean burn size
      of 48.3% TBSA, developed clinically evident deep venous thrombosis (DVT);
      however, in only 1 (0.05%) patient did the disease progress to fatal PTE. A
      review of the literature reveals a 0.6% to 5% incidence of complications related
      to low dose heparin therapy which includes bleeding, thrombocytopenia, and
      arterial thrombosis. We feel that the infrequency of clinically significant PTE
      and DVT in burn patients and the comparable or greater rate of complications
      associated with heparin prophylaxis mitigate against the routine use of low dose
      heparin therapy except in patients at high risk for these events.

PMID- 1455889
TI  - Injury to the popliteal vessels: the Lebanese war experience.
AB  - Our experience with 118 patients who underwent surgery for a total of 178
      popliteal vessels injuries is reported. Forty-nine per cent had injury to both
      artery and vein and 44% had associated bony fractures. Fourteen patients
      subsequently needed amputation for a rate of 11.9%. There were no deaths. Delay
      in repair (> 6 hours from injury), associated fractures, and a shocked condition
      resulted in increased limb loss. Arterial as well as venous repair, external
      skeletal fixation, and fasciotomy when necessary lead to improved limb salvage.

PMID- 1455890
TI  - Acute acalculous cholecystitis complicating trauma: a prospective sonographic
      study.
AB  - Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) is a well known complication in severely
      traumatized patients. Existing data of AAC originate from retrospective analyses
      and episodic case reports. In a prospective study 45 polytraumatized patients
      admitted to our intensive care unit from January 1989 to June 1990 were
      clinically and sonographically screened for this condition at defined time
      intervals. Trauma scoring was performed according to the injury severity score
      and polytrauma score. AAC was defined as a combination of hydrops of the
      gallbladder, an increased wall thickness (> 3.5 mm), and the demonstration of
      sludge. We were able to document this diagnostic triad in 8 (18%) of 45 patients.
      As a consequence early elective cholecystectomy was performed in 1 of the 8
      patients. The remaining patients were treated conservatively. The incidence of
      AAC in severely traumatized patients is higher than figures so far published
      suggest. Ultrasound is a reliable method of early detection and follow-up of this
      complication.

PMID- 1455891
TI  - One liver for two: partition of the portal elements.
AB  - A cadaver liver is divisible into two transplants by section between right and
      left lobes, or section between left medial segment and left lateral segment
      medial to the umbilical cleft. To establish the ideal basis of partition of the
      portal elements, an anatomic study of 33 livers was performed. It is preferable
      to section the left portal vein, longer and more constant than the right, the
      right branch of the hepatic artery, larger and more constant than the left, and
      the left hepatic duct because of the vascularization of the common hepatic duct.
      To use the length of the left portal vein, it is necessary to section all its
      branches to segment I and then to resect this segment. After a section between
      the left medial segment and the left lateral segment medial to the umbilical
      cleft, the left medial segment always loses its total portal venous
      vascularization and should be resected. Before a split-liver, cholangiography and
      arteriography should be performed to detect anatomical variations without
      performing an extensive dissection which may endanger the vascularity of the bile
      ducts.

PMID- 1455892
TI  - Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy with subcutaneous access and the use of Gianturco
      stents for the management of biliary tract strictures.
AB  - The need to control recurrent biliary strictures implies the practice of repeated
      major surgical procedures. The hepaticojejunostomy with subcutaneous jejunal
      access (Chen's procedure) allows the permanent option of a non-operative
      management of recurrent biliary tract anastomosis complications. Through the
      subcutaneous jejunal access, the application of a Gianturco metallic prosthesis
      is permitted and the correction of biliary-intestinal anastomosis strictures with
      non-operative methods is possible. This report is a review of a series of 20
      patients treated with the Chen procedure, of whom 3 patients also had
      implantation of Gianturco stents via hepaticojejunostomy with subcutaneous
      access.

PMID- 1455893
TI  - Living unrelated donor kidney transplantation between spouses.
AB  - From November 3, 1975 to November 3, 1990, 874 kidney transplants were performed
      at out centers. Of these, 675 (77.2%) were from living donors and 199 (22.8%)
      were from cadaver donors. Five hundred eighty (66.4%) of the living donors were
      first degree related while 99 (11.3%) were unrelated or second degree related
      donors, 29 of which were spouses. All donor recipient pairs were ABO-compatible,
      with the exception of one pair. Donor recipient relations were wife to husband in
      25 cases and husband to wife in 4 cases. All were first grafts and started
      functioning during surgery. In this series, the follow-up for the recipients was
      4 to 64 months (mean 33.5 +/- 4.5 months). One-year patient survival and graft
      survival rates were 92.4% and 81.9%, respectively. Two-year patient survival and
      graft survival rates were 92.4% and 78.2%, respectively. The single ABO
      incompatible case is also doing well, 21 months postoperatively. This study
      demonstrates that the interspouse kidney transplantation may be used when cadaver
      organ shortage is a problem. While providing the couple with a better quality of
      life, interspouse kidney transplantation also enables the couple to share the joy
      of giving and receiving the "gift of life" from one another.

PMID- 1455895
TI  - The Drug Metabolism Discussion Group 1991.

PMID- 1455894
TI  - Present status of sclerotherapy and surgical treatment for esophageal varices in
      Japan. Japanese Research Society for Portal Hypertension and Japanese Research
      Society for Sclerotherapy of Esophageal Varices.
AB  - A nationwide survey on the treatment for esophageal varices was performed in 1990
      jointly by the Japanese Research Society for Portal Hypertension and the Japanese
      Research Society for Sclerotherapy of Esophageal Varices to clarify the present
      status and strategy of this treatment in Japan. A total of 12,675 cases,
      including 4,159 cases of nonshunting procedures and 7,612 cases of sclerotherapy,
      were collected from 101 institutions. The number of patients had greatly
      increased in the first half of the 1980s. With regard to the therapeutic
      strategy, surgical procedures were not recommended in either emergency or
      prophylactic cases in terms of the timing of the operation, or in Child C cases
      in terms of the degree of hepatic insufficiency. Endoscopic injection
      sclerotherapy became the leading method of treatment and in 1988 only 16% of
      1,528 cases were treated by surgical procedures. The strategy for the same group
      of patients differed between medical and surgical institutions. With regard to
      sclerotherapy, repeated intravariceal injection and combined intra- and
      paravariceal injection were the two main techniques and 10-year cumulative
      survival rates were 62.8% in Child A cases, 47.7% in Child B cases, and 13.2% in
      Child C cases. With regard to surgical procedures, 10-year survival rates were
      50.6% in esophageal transection, 42.5% in gastric transection, 53.1% in
      cardiectomy, and 43.0% in selective shunt procedures. We are quite convinced that
      this report will prove useful in determining the future strategy for treating
      esophageal varices.

PMID- 1455896
TI  - Special issue: Drug Metabolism Discussion Group 1991.

PMID- 1455897
TI  - Comment. Twenty years on: a review of the current practice of drug metabolism and
      pharmacokinetic studies in the pharmaceutical industry.

PMID- 1455898
TI  - Role of metabolism and pharmacokinetic studies in the discovery of new drugs-
      present and future perspectives.
AB  - 1. The impact which pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism studies have made to
      drug discovery programmes is reviewed with examples from the anti-infective,
      cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory and CNS therapeutic areas. 2. Contributions
      that advances in analytical technology have made to the early application of
      pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism are discussed. 3. Some future perspectives
      are given on the advances being made in basic science and technology and how this
      will provide the basis for further growth in the contribution to the drug
      discovery process.

PMID- 1455899
TI  - Drug analysis of biological samples. A survey of validation approaches in
      chromatography in the UK pharmaceutical industry.
AB  - 1. The results of a survey on validation of analytical chromatographic methods
      are reported. The survey was carried out in 1990 within most of the principal
      British Pharmaceutical Companies. 2. A general method of validation is
      established from the collated results. 3. A comparison is made with existing
      reports from international meetings.

PMID- 1455900
TI  - Application of 19F-n.m.r. spectroscopy to the identification of dog urinary
      metabolites of imirestat, a spirohydantoin aldose reductase inhibitor.
AB  - 1. Urine from a dog dosed orally at 20 mg/kg with 14C-imirestat, a spirohydantoin
      aldose reductase inhibitor, contained 17.7 and 12.5% of the administered
      radioactivity at 0-48 and 48-72 h respectively. 2. Radio-h.p.l.c. of the 0-48 h
      urine revealed a complex mixture of metabolites and a small proportion of parent
      drug (1.6% of dose). Direct 19F-n.m.r. spectroscopy of this urine showed the
      fluoride ion, numerous metabolites which were predominantly glucuronide
      conjugates and, as a minor component, the parent drug. 3. After incubation with
      beta-glucuronidase the 0-48 h urine gave a 19F-n.m.r. spectrum showing fewer
      signals. This finding is consistent with aromatic ring hydroxylation followed by
      glucuronidation being the major metabolite pathways. 4. Deconjugated urine was
      analysed by proton-coupled 19F-n.m.r. and two-dimensional 19F-19F correlated
      spectroscopy. Results indicate that major components included three monohydroxy
      metabolites, a diphenol with both phenolic functions in the same ring, and a
      phenolic metabolite containing only one fluorine atom. 5. Semi-preparative
      h.p.l.c. of 0-48 h dog urine gave individual glucuronides isolated as mixtures of
      C-9 epimers. These fractions were hydrolysed and purified a second time by
      h.p.l.c. to give aglycones which were analysed by multi-nuclear n.m.r. and g.l.c.
      mass spectrometry. The 3- and 4-hydroxy derivatives of imirestat were identified,
      as was the 2-hydroxy product obtained during or following defluorination. The
      other major aglycone was postulated to be the 3-fluoro-2-hydroxy metabolite. This
      represents a novel 'NIH-shift' type pathway for the metabolism of fluorobenzenes.

PMID- 1455901
TI  - Disposition of the enantiomers of cromakalim in rat and cynomolgus monkey.
AB  - 1. Disposition of the 3R,4S(+) and 3S,4R(-) enantiomers of the racemic
      antihypertensive drug cromakalim has been studied in rats and cynomolgus monkeys
      using the 14C-drug labelled in either the 3R,4S(+) or the 3S,4R(-) enantiomer. 2.
      After oral administration to rat, blood concentrations of the 3R,4S(+) enantiomer
      were up to fourfold higher than those of the 3S,4R(-) enantiomer. Metabolism of
      the former was not as extensive as that of the latter and consequently plasma and
      urinary radiometabolite patterns were quantitatively different. 3. In contrast to
      rat, there were much greater differences in the disposition of the two
      enantiomers following oral administration of cromakalim to the cynomolgus monkey.
      Plasma concentrations of the 3R,4S(+) enantiomer were approximately 100 x those
      of the 3S,4R(-) enantiomer and the rate of urinary 14C elimination for the
      3R,4S(+) enantiomer was much faster than that for the 3S,4R(-) enantiomer. Plasma
      and urinary radiometabolite patterns were very different for the two isomers.
      Metabolic end products of the 3R,4S(+) enantiomer were predominantly phase I
      metabolites whereas the 3S,4R(-) enantiomer was almost entirely metabolized by
      glucuronidation. 4. A study of the racemic drug alone would have led to a
      misunderstanding of the fate of the compound in these species.

PMID- 1455902
TI  - Comparative metabolism of flunarizine in rats, dogs and man: an in vitro study
      with subcellular liver fractions and isolated hepatocytes.
AB  - 1. The biotransformation of 3H-flunarizine ((E)-1-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-4
      (3-phenyl-2-propenyl)piperazine dihydrochloride, FLUN) was studied in subcellular
      liver fractions (microsomes and 12,000 g fraction) and in suspensions or primary
      cell cultures of isolated hepatocytes of rats, dogs and man. The major in vitro
      metabolites were characterized by h.p.l.c. co-chromatography and/or by mass
      spectrometric analysis. 2. The kinetics of FLUN metabolism was studied in
      microsomes of dog and man. The metabolism followed linear Michaelis-Menten
      kinetics over the concentration range 0.1-20 microM FLUN. 3. A striking sex
      difference was observed for the in vitro metabolism of FLUN in rat. In male rats,
      oxidative N-dealkylation at one of the piperazine nitrogens, resulting in bis(4
      fluorophenyl) methanol, was a major metabolic pathway, whereas aromatic
      hydroxylation at the phenyl of the cinnamyl moiety, resulting in hydroxy-FLUN,
      was a major metabolic pathway in female rats. In incubates with hepatocytes,
      these two metabolites were converted to the corresponding glucuronides. 4. In
      human subcellular fractions, aromatic hydroxylation to hydroxy-FLUN was the major
      metabolic pathway. In primary cell cultures of human hepatocytes, oxidative N
      dealkylation at the 1- and 4-piperazine nitrogen and glucuronidation of bis(4
      fluorophenyl)methanol were observed. The in vitro metabolism of FLUN in humans,
      resembled more than in female rats and in dogs than that in male rats. 5. The
      present in vitro results are compared with data of previous in vivo studies in
      rats and dogs. The use of subcellular fractions and/or isolated hepatocytes for
      the study of species differences in the biotransformation of xenobiotics is
      discussed.

PMID- 1455903
TI  - Metabolism of calcium antagonist Ro 40-5967: a case history of the use of diode
      array u.v. spectroscopy and thermospray-mass spectrometry in the elucidation of a
      complex metabolic pathway.
AB  - 1. The calcium antagonist, Ro 40-5967, is metabolized to a multitude of products
      by the rat and drug-related material is excreted predominantly via the bile. 2.
      Diode-array u.v. spectroscopy, following reverse phase h.p.l.c. separation of the
      partially purified metabolites, has been used to classify these compounds into
      six spectral classes which have been correlated with different metabolic
      reactions. 3. Connection of a mass spectrometer directly to the h.p.l.c.
      equipment by a thermospray interface, produced useful mass spectra. These,
      together with the u.v. spectra, enabled the structures of many metabolites to be
      elucidated. 4. Confirmation of structural assignments was provided by n.m.r.
      spectra of the major metabolites. 5. Major metabolic pathways included N
      demethylation (16% of the biliary metabolites), hydrolysis of the ester side
      chain (32%), hydroxylation at 4- (19%) and 5- (29%) positions of the
      benzimidazole ring, aromatization of the tetrahydronaphthyl system (26%), loss of
      the benzimidazole (15%) and glucuronidation of hydroxyl groups (81%).

PMID- 1455904
TI  - Measurement of oxybutynin and its N-desethyl metabolite in plasma, and its
      application to pharmacokinetic studies in young, elderly and frail elderly
      volunteers.
AB  - 1. A quantitative h.p.l.c. plasma assay for oxybutynin (OB) and its active
      metabolite, N-desethyl oxybutynin (DEOB) is described. The method is linear with
      coefficients of variation ranging between 4 and 11.8% for OB and 4.6-9.1% for
      DEOB over the typical concentration range measured. Minimum detectable levels
      were 0.5 and 5 ng/ml for OB and DEOB respectively from a 2 ml sample. 2.
      Pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained after a single oral dose of OB and after
      administration two or three times daily to frail elderly and elderly volunteer
      groups respectively. Single dose results were also compared with data from young
      healthy volunteers. 3. There was a wide range in peak blood levels and high
      levels of parent drug were matched by high DEOB metabolite levels. Plasma levels
      on repeated administration were as would be predicted from the single dose
      kinetics. 4. Area under the plasma time course curve for DEOB metabolite was less
      than or equal to 5 than that of the parent drug. 5. A trend of increasing peak
      plasma levels and bioavailability was observed with increasing age and frailty,
      with the differences more apparent between the active elderly and frail elderly
      groups than between the active elderly and young volunteers. 6. Results indicate
      that for frail elderly patients a lower initial starting dose of 2.5 mg OB given
      two or three times a day may provide adequate therapeutic blood levels of the
      drug.

PMID- 1455905
TI  - Value of early pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic investigations with anticancer
      drugs: data from phase I tolerance studies on a new vinca alkaloid derivative.
AB  - 1. A novel anticancer vinca alkaloid derivative (I) has been given as an i.v.
      bolus to cancer patients, using four different dosage regimens with dose levels
      ranging from 0.04 to 0.84 mg/m2 (equivalent to between 0.12 and 1.35 mg per
      dose), and the pharmacokinetics determined up to 72 h after dosing. In addition,
      secondary effects of leukopenia and neutropenia, were related to drug exposure
      using a sigmoid Emax model. 2. Plasma levels of I declined in a triphasic manner
      with a terminal half-life of approximately 50 h; most drug elimination (55%)
      being associated with the terminal phase. 3. Clearance of I was relatively low
      (245 +/- 160 ml/min) and remained constant with increasing doses. Initial
      distribution volume was low (approximately 71) but once distribution was
      complete, it was comparatively high (327 +/- 2121). 4. Both leukopenia and
      neutropenia were fitted successfully to a sigmoid Emax model showing that these
      effects were related to the total exposure to the drug. The Hill constant was
      less than 1, indicating a relatively shallow exposure/response curve and a
      predictable, graded increase in response with increasing I exposure, rather than
      a sudden quantal response. 5. Pharmacokinetically, I shows some similarities to
      other vinca alkaloids in its plasma level decline profile, although there are
      some notable differences which can be exploited clinically. In addition, the
      ability to model both leukopenia and neutropenia to the exposure to I, provides a
      valuable tool in the design of the most appropriate dosage regimen for the drug,
      as well as for dose adjustment taking into account inter-individual variations.

PMID- 1455906
TI  - Statistical aspects of bioequivalence--a review.
AB  - 1. Over the past 20 years a number of statistical methods have been proposed for
      use in bioequivalence testing. This review examines these methods and reflects
      current thinking of regulatory authorities. 2. The standard bioequivalence study
      is conducted as a controlled, single-dose crossover design in a small number of
      healthy male adults. Blood and/or urine samples are taken at predetermined times
      for drug/metabolite assay from which pharmacokinetic parameters are derived and
      compared statistically. Sample size calculations should be determined by the
      error variance associated with the primary characteristic to be studied, the
      significance level, the power of the test and the deviation from the reference
      product compatible with safety and efficacy. 3. In general, bioequivalence is
      assessed using three parameters namely, Cmax, tmax and AUC. Urinary excretion
      data may also be used if the amount excreted unchanged is significant. These
      parameters are best obtained using a simple model-independent approach. 4. The
      parameters of Cmax and AUC should be logarithmically transformed prior to
      analysis. For tmax, parametric statistical procedures are not appropriate. 5.
      Classical hypothesis testing using the power approach is not applicable to the
      practical problem under consideration in bioequivalence trials. 6. Classical 90%
      confidence limits and the 2 one-sided t-test approach are operationally identical
      and are the methods of choice for assessing bioequivalence (Cmax and AUC). When
      tmax is an important parameter from the clinical point of view then the use of
      non-parametric confidence intervals is recommended.

PMID- 1455907
TI  - Immunomodulatory action of propolis: IV. Prophylactic activity against gram
      negative infections and adjuvant effect of the water-soluble derivative.
AB  - The efficacy of the water-soluble derivative (WSD) of natural propolis (bee glue)
      was examined for augmentation of host resistance against experimental infections
      caused by Gram-negative pathogens (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris,
      Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The substance was found to induce
      significant non-specific protection, but did not inhibit the in vitro growth of
      the same strains. Pretreatment with WSD prior to the standard scheme for tumour
      necrosis factor (TNF) induction (BCG and two weeks later lipopolysaccharide
      (LPS)) provoked an interval-dependent reduction in the lytic capacity of serum
      against L 929 target cells. The replacement of the triggering or priming signal
      with WSD markedly increased TNF production. In vivo administration of WSD led to
      a rapid and route-dependent change in the alternative complement pathway
      haemolysis. The alteration in C1q complement component and total protein
      synthesis, and also in nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, suggests that macrophage
      activation makes a major contribution to the capacity of WSD to prevent
      infections.

PMID- 1455909
TI  - Immunogenicity of a Streptococcus pneumoniae type 4 polysaccharide--protein
      conjugate vaccine is decreased by admixture of high doses of free saccharide.
AB  - In this study we report that the priming capacity of a Streptococcus pneumoniae
      type 4 polysaccharide-protein conjugate to booster immunizations with the native
      capsular polysaccharide is dose dependent. Furthermore, it is shown by admixture
      experiments that simultaneous administration of high doses of free saccharide
      (0.5-25 micrograms) of different chain lengths (varying from M(r) 1.6-120 kDa)
      decreases the anti-polysaccharide antibody response. Presence of low doses of
      saccharide (up to 10%), which are usually present in conjugates prepared by the
      carbodiimide coupling procedure, did not influence the anti-polysaccharide
      antibody response in adult and neonatal mice.

PMID- 1455908
TI  - Nasal antibody response to mumps virus after vaccination and natural infection.
AB  - Nasopharyngeal secretions and sera were collected during an epidemic of mumps in
      a semi-closed institution. None of the children who received live attenuated
      mumps vaccine 5 months previously developed any symptoms of mumps. Neutralizing
      and IgA antibodies against mumps virus were measured by the peroxidase
      antiperoxidase method and the fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen method,
      respectively. The immune responses in nasopharyngeal secretions and serum were
      studied in four groups (apparently infected, non-apparently infected, non
      infected and vaccinated). We found that IgA, which has neutralizing activity, was
      produced after vaccination as well as after natural infection. It is suggested
      that local antibody induced by vaccination may contribute to protection against
      the mumps virus.

PMID- 1455910
TI  - Safety and immunogenicity in volunteers of a recombinant Plasmodium falciparum
      circumsporozoite protein malaria vaccine produced in Lepidopteran cells.
AB  - A recombinant Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite (CS) antigen (rPfCSA) was
      produced in insect cells using a baculovirus expression vector containing the
      entire CS gene. This near full-length CS antigen was adsorbed onto aluminium
      phosphate for use as a malaria vaccine. In a study of safety and immunogenicity,
      20 volunteers were divided into four groups of five each and inoculated
      intramuscularly with 10, 100, 500 or 1000 micrograms of vaccine. Primary
      vaccinations were followed by two booster immunizations at 2 and 6 months. Three
      volunteers developed prominent local reactions manifested as tenderness, redness
      and swelling at the injection site following the second or third vaccination. All
      symptoms resolved spontaneously within 72 h. Postimmunization sera from six of 20
      volunteers showed seroconversions as measured by Western blot, using rPfCSA as
      antigen. However, specific anti-CS protein antibody could not be detected by
      indirect immunoflourescence against intact sporozoites or by ELISA using rPfCSA
      or peptide to the repeat region. In addition, 18 of 20 volunteers developed
      antibody to baculovirus proteins as determined by ELISA and/or Western blot.
      Antigen-driven replication studies using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from
      vaccinees failed to detect proliferative responses specific to CS protein. This
      recombinant CS protein vaccine, as formulated, was minimally immunogenic in
      humans.

PMID- 1455911
TI  - Impaired response to hepatitis B vaccine in HIV infected children.
AB  - Eighteen human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vertically infected children (HIV
      group) and 33 seroreverted children (SR group), who had completed hepatitis B
      vaccination (Engerix B, 20 micrograms dose) were studied. Four out of 18 (22%)
      HIV children failed to develop protective antibody levels (anti-HBs titres less
      than 10 mIU ml-1) compared with 1 out of 33 (3%) SR children (p less than 0.05).
      Magnitude of response among HIV children was significantly lower than among SR
      children. In HIV children the probability that anti-HBs titres persist above the
      protective levels was significantly lower than in the SR group at any time during
      the 24 month follow-up. These results show that HIV children have a suboptimal
      response to hepatitis B immunization and the protection is less durable. Further
      studies are needed to determine the optimal protocol for hepatitis B immunization
      in HIV children.

PMID- 1455912
TI  - Antigenic characterization of the live attenuated Japanese encephalitis vaccine
      virus SA14-14-2: a comparison with isolates of the virus covering a wide
      geographic area.
AB  - In China, a live attenuated Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine, based on strain
      SA14-14-2, has been derived from the wild-type strain SA14 as an alternative to
      the current inactivated vaccines such as Nakayama-NIH and P-3. SA14-14-2 has been
      characterized using monoclonal antibodies derived in mice, using HAI and
      neutralization tests, and compared with other Chinese live vaccine clones and 14
      wild-type strains of JE virus. Wild-type strain SA14 was found to be a poor
      immunogen and antigenically distant from all other viruses examined. The vaccine
      derivatives SA14-5-3 was more immunogenic than its wild-type parent, while SA14
      14-2 (derived from SA14-5-3) was more immunogenic than SA14-5-3 and elicited a
      cross neutralizing antibody response. Our studies indicated that JE virus strain
      Nakayama elicited as good a neutralizing antibody response in hyperimmunized mice
      as the SA14-14-2 vaccine clones grown in either primary hamster kidney (PHK) or
      primary dog kidney (PDK) cells. A single dose of live SA14-14-2 (PHK) also
      elicited a good antibody response. Antigenic variation between wild-type and
      vaccine clones of JE virus were detected but were not considered significant in
      terms of controlling JE virus infections by vaccination.

PMID- 1455913
TI  - Specific and non-specific immunity and protection of macaques against SIV
      infection.
AB  - The simian immunodeficiency virus is a retrovirus closely related to the human
      immunodeficiency viruses; it induces an AIDS-like disease in macaques, and
      provides therefore an obvious animal model for anti-lentiviral drug and vaccine
      strategy assessments. In our experiment, we immunized rhesus macaques with a
      purified and formalin-inactivated whole SIVmac251 antigen preparation. Most of
      these monkeys were still protected for more than 4 months following a
      heterologous SIVsm intravenous challenge. Both virus stocks, for vaccine
      preparation and challenge, were provided by culture supernatants of infected T
      cells of human origin. Four of the protected macaques were then reimmunized with
      the same antigen preparation and rechallenged intravenously with a homologous
      rhesus cell grown SIVmac251. Unexpectedly, all animals developed clinical and
      biological evidence of infection by day 15 after the second challenge.

PMID- 1455914
TI  - Endothelins.
AB  - The endothelins (ET) represent a novel family of at least three isopeptides (ET
      1, ET-2, ET-3), each consisting of 21 amino acids and two disulfide bridges. ET
      has originally been isolated from the supernatant of porcine aortic endothelial
      cells and has been found to be the most potent and long lasting vasoconstrictor
      agent yet discovered. ET is synthesized as a preprohormone and cleaved by unusual
      proteolytic processing. The different isoforms of ET seem to differ in their
      biological activity which may be due to interaction with different ET-receptor
      subtypes (ETA, ETB, ETC) and their tissue distribution. Besides its vasoactive
      properties, ET evokes a variety of other effects, such as positive inotropic and
      chronotropic actions on the heart, the release of other regulatory substances
      (EDRF, prostanoids, ANP), as well as cellular mitogenesis. Therefore, the
      endothelins have been implicated in the pathophysiology of a variety of
      cardiovascular disorders, however their precise role remains to be elucidated.
      Such research might have potential application on veterinary medicine learning
      about factors responsible for vascular damage and consecutively being able to
      treat or prevent various vascular diseases more specifically.

PMID- 1455915
TI  - Demonstration of immunoglobulins and complement in canine and feline autoimmune
      and non-autoimmune skin diseases with the direct immunofluorescence and indirect
      immunoperoxidase method.
AB  - Skin sections from 71 dogs and 10 cats with bullous autoimmune skin diseases and
      various non-autoimmune dermatopathies were studied for the presence of
      immunoglobulins (canine IgG, IgM, IgA; feline IgG) and complement (canine C3)
      using the direct immunofluorescence method (DIF) and the indirect
      immunoperoxidase method (IIP). In cases of autoimmune skin diseases (9 dogs, 3
      cats) both methods were of comparable sensitivity for the detection of epidermal
      deposits. In canine cases with non-autoimmune dermatopathies, epidermal
      immunoreactivity was found in 16.1% of cases with the DIF method, and in 29.0% of
      cases with the IIP method. With both methods, epidermal deposits were most
      frequently seen in skin sections of dogs with bacterial diseases. Furthermore,
      positive reactions were found in canine cases with hypersensitivity disorders,
      endocrine dermatosis, dermatomycosis, parasitic disease, cutaneous Leishmaniasis
      and in cases with non-specific dermatopathies of uncertain aetiology. In the
      majority of canine cases intercellular deposits of IgG were found.
      Immunohistological results should always be interpreted in conjunction with
      clinical and histomorphological findings in order to establish a diagnosis of
      autoimmune skin disease and to prevent misdiagnoses.

PMID- 1455916
TI  - Studies on abnormal moulting in the farm-raised blue fox (Alopex lagopus).
AB  - In a farm-raised, adult female blue fox (Alopex lagopus) it was observed that
      apparently the winter coat was shed abnormally. Furthermore, the individual was
      never recorded as being on heat. Comparative histological and clinical-chemical
      examinations showed that the winter coat cycle was postponed approximately 6
      months, and that the hair growth therefore took place in the spring. At first a
      kind of biological summer coat was produced, and then a biological mature winter
      coat. This was compared with and partly documented by changes in plasma estradiol
      and cortisol profiles. It could be concluded that the hair growth cycle and the
      plasma estradiol profile showed an abnormal seasonal variation in the abnormal
      fox. The two variables seemed, however, to be correlated as in a normal animal.

PMID- 1455917
TI  - Blood levels of prostaglandin metabolites (PGFM, PGEM) after parturition in cows
      with and without retained placenta considering spontaneous calving and dystocia.
AB  - Blood samples were taken from 71 Holstein Friesian cows at 0, 3, 24 and 48 hours
      after parturition. Peripheral plasma concentrations of prostaglandin F2 alpha and
      E2 metabolites (PGFM, PGEM) were determined by radioimmunoassay. The cows were
      divided into 4 groups, according to type of calving (spontaneous, dystocia) and
      discharge of placenta. Group 1: spontaneous calving, shedding of placenta within
      12 hours (SC, NRP, n = 19); group 2: spontaneous calving, retained placenta (SC,
      RP, n = 7); group 3: Dystocia, shedding of placenta within 12 hours (Dys, NRP, n
      = 32); group 4: Dystocia, retained placenta (Dys, RP, n = 13). The PGFM
      concentrations decreased within 3 hours after parturition only in NRP cows
      (groups 1 and 3, p < 0.05). Three hours after calving the animals of group 3 had
      considerably higher PGFM levels than those in group 4 (0.46 +/- 0.26 vs 0.26 +/-
      0.11 ng/ml). Significant decreases (p < 0.05) in PGEM concentrations occurred in
      cows that shed the placenta within 24 hours after parturition. Cows that retained
      the placenta showed a significant slower decrease of the PGEM levels. It is
      concluded that postpartum prostaglandin levels are influenced by stress during
      parturition (dystocia, transportation) as well as by retained placenta.

PMID- 1455918
TI  - [The effect of the energy intake of cows on the rumen metabolism studied using
      the excretion of allantoin in milk].
AB  - With two groups of dairy cows (A: 12 German Black and White- and 6 German
      Simmental Cows; B: 16 German Black and White- and 11 German Simmental Cows)
      allantoin concentrations of blood plasma (A) and milk (A and B) were analysed by
      HPLC. There exists a close correlation (r = 0.758) between allantoin
      concentration in blood plasma (370.6 +/- 79.1 mumol/l) and milk (474.1 +/- 78.9
      mumol/l). The relation between milk yield and allantoin excretion with milk seems
      to be non-linear (r = 0.936). On the other hand there is a close correlation
      between energy intake with feed and allantoin excretion via milk (r = 0.885). In
      a further experiment the allantoin concentrations in blood plasma of 5 Angler
      steers were monitored for 24 h every second hour with feeding twice daily. There
      were remarkable fluctuations in the allantoin concentration from nearly 156 to
      129 mumol/l. After that the rumen of the steers was emptied, while plasma
      concentrations were still monitored the same way as before. Concentrations of
      allantoin declined for about 55% to 65 mumol/l.

PMID- 1455919
TI  - [The use of rapid progesterone tests (Serozyme-Progesterone, Ovucheck) for the
      diagnosis of pregnancy in Austrian mountain sheep].
AB  - To determine the oestrous cycle length of mountain sheep 10 ewes were stimulated
      with intravaginal sponges (Chronogest) and ten with prostaglandins (Iliren) and a
      PMSG injection (500 IU), respectively. Independent of the synchronisation mode
      the Serozyme-progesterone levels indicated a cycle length of 17 days.
      Progesterone was not detectable by the test system during oestrous, it reached
      its maximum on the 10th day (mean = 3.9/3.7 ng/ml) and decreased to non
      detectable levels again on day 17. For early pregnancy diagnosis the Serozyme
      progesterone as well as the Ovucheck gave useful results. On day 17 and 19 after
      mating the progesterone concentration of pregnant ewes remained on the same level
      as on day 10, whereas barren ewes had non-detectable progesterone levels on day
      17 and 19, using the Serozyme-progesterone and below 1 ng/ml on day 19 using the
      Ovucheck. The accuracy of the Serozyme-progesterone referring to the declaration
      "non pregnant" was 100%, that of the Ovucheck 37.5% on day 17 and 100% on day 19.
      The use of both test systems for determining pregnancy of unknown length was
      examined by collecting blood-samples three times with a five and a seven day
      interval. Precise results were obtained only with the Serozyme-progesterone test.
      At least one of three blood samples of all the barren ewes (n = 8) contained
      amounts of progesterone beneath the sensitivity of this method. The Ovucheck
      results could not help at all to distinguish barren or pregnant ewes with unknown
      mating data.

PMID- 1455920
TI  - [The acid-base equilibrium in the blood of calves suckled by their mothers and in
      milk-fattened calves].
AB  - The influence of different housing systems on the acid/base balance in the blood
      of 39 calves in a suckler cow herd of the breeds Deutsche Schwarzbunte and
      Deutsche Rotbunte, and 25 veal calves of the breeds Deutsche Schwarzbunte and
      Holstein-Friesian was examined in a period from the first to the sixth month of
      life. 1. No differences between the test groups were present in the pH of blood.
      2. The body temperature was significant higher in calves of the suckler cow herd.
      3. Hemoglobin content of the veal calves was significant higher till the third
      month of life. With increasing age the relations are changed, and at the end of
      the experimental period significant higher values were found in calves of the
      suckler cow herd. 4. Marked differences were also present in the carbon dioxide
      pressure with significant higher values in veal calves. 5. With regard to the
      metabolic factors of the blood acid/base balance--buffer base, bicarbonate and
      base deviation--significant higher values were also seen in veal calves. The
      results are discussed in connection with problems of intensive fattening of
      calves in comparison to the conditions of calves in suckler cow herds.

PMID- 1455921
TI  - A comparative study of arterial and venous blood acetate concentration in cows
      fed different diets close to parturition.
AB  - Blood samples were collected from the coccygeal artery and a jugular vein two
      weeks before expected calving, one to five days after calving and three weeks
      after calving of cows which were fed either a high roughage or a low roughage
      diet from four weeks before to 14 weeks after calving. The mean venous acetate
      concentration ranged from about half to three-quarters of the arterial
      concentration. No differences were observed at any time between concentrations of
      acetate in either the arterial or venous blood of the cows on the different
      diets.

PMID- 1455922
TI  - Hepatic encephalopathy associated with acquired portosystemic shunts in a dog.
AB  - An 8-month-old dog with a history of gastrointestinal disturbances and
      neurological signs was presented with hyperammonemia. Necropsy revealed ascites,
      portosystemic collaterals, and an irregularly surfaced small liver.
      Histologically, there were diffuse neuronal necrosis and focal spongiform changes
      in the brain, and marked fibrosis in the liver. Hepatic encephalopathy was
      diagnosed.

PMID- 1455923
TI  - Effect of endothelin 1 on plasma glucose and lipid levels in pygmy goats.
AB  - The effect of endothelin 1, a recently discovered vasoconstrictor hormone, on
      levels of plasma glucose and lipids was investigated in pygmy goats. Endothelin 1
      was injected intraperitoneally (1.72 micrograms/kg BW) and blood samples were
      taken by puncturing the jugular vein immediately before and 60, 150 and 240 min
      post injection. Endothelin 1 in comparison to vehicle significantly increased
      plasma glucose and FFA levels, whereas plasma triglycerides were significantly
      reduced. Thus, beside its vasoconstrictive action, endothelin 1 also has
      metabolic effects. Whether these effects are directly caused by endothelin 1 or
      whether they are due to a release of a metabolic hormone, e.g. epinephrine,
      remains to be investigated.

PMID- 1455924
TI  - [The effect of a different energy supply on the growth intensity and skeletal
      development of growing Great Danes. 2. Effect on insulin-like growth factor I and
      on thyroid hormones].
AB  - In an experiment with 13 growing Great Danes (littermates) fed ad libitum (4
      dogs) or restrictively (70% of ad libitum energy intake; 9 dogs), concentrations
      of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) and
      thyroxine (T4) were measured in blood samples until the age of 6 months. In the
      ad libitum fed group, levels of T3 and T4 were partially and of IGF-I were
      significantly (p < 0.01) elevated as compared with the control dogs. Postprandial
      changes of IGF-I were absent in growing Great Danes as well as in a reference
      group of 3 adult beagles. Increased concentrations of IGF-I, T3 and T4 could be
      causally related to osteochondrosis, which frequently occurs in intensively fed
      dogs.

PMID- 1455925
TI  - Monofrequency oscillation technique in healthy and pneumonic calves younger than
      2 months--physiological values and methodological aspects.
AB  - Using the monofrequency oscillation technique, the oscillatory measured
      resistance of the respiratory system (Ros) was determined in healthy and
      pneumonic calves younger than 2 months. Using a face mask, measurements were done
      in unsedated animals directly in the calfhouse. 106 clinically healthy calves
      were examined to determine the physiological range of Ros. Calves suffering from
      pneumonia showed significantly higher values of Ros which were positively
      correlated with the severity of pneumonic lesions as established by pathological
      investigations. In healthy calves, the variability of Ros due to biological
      aspects was found to be much higher than methodologically caused variability. It
      is concluded that the monofrequency oscillation technique is useful especially in
      individual investigations, e.g. control of therapy.

PMID- 1455926
TI  - Renal lesions in Norwegian slaughter pigs. Macroscopic and light microscopic
      studies.
AB  - Six hundred and sixty-eight consecutive carcasses of slaughtered swine were
      examined for renal lesions at meat inspection. The macroscopic lesions were
      divided into 7 categories: D1 = depressions of the external surface and partial
      persistence of fetal lobation; D2 = focal leukolymphocytic nephritis (acute focal
      tubulo-interstitial nephritis); D3 = cysts; D4 = interstitial fibrosis; D5 =
      infarct-like lesions; D6 = fatty degeneration, and D7 = hydronephrosis. 396
      (59.3%) of the examined carcasses were diagnosed as having one or more of these
      renal lesions. Two hundred and seventy-two (40.7%) of the carcasses were
      macroscopically judged as having normal kidneys. A selected material of 250
      kidneys representative for each group of lesions based on macroscopic examination
      and 50 normal kidneys were prepared for histological examination. In the group of
      kidneys with the macroscopic diagnosis interstitial fibrosis (D4), an
      accompanying histological finding was proliferative glomerular changes with fatty
      degeneration of the proximal tubules. Cortical infarct-like lesions (D5) were
      observed in the absence of thrombo-embolic disease and were considered to have
      developed in association with local arterial alterations similar to polyarteritis
      nodosa.

PMID- 1455927
TI  - Influence of medicinal herbs on phagocytosis by bovine neutrophils.
AB  - Twenty-six herbal preparations made from 24 medicinal herbs, categorized as
      antipyretics in Chinese materia medica, were tested in vitro to determine their
      effects upon phagocytosis of 32P-labelled Staphylococcus aureus by neutrophils
      isolated from bovine blood and milk. The percentage of phagocytosis was
      determined after incubating (1 hour at 37 degrees C) 1.25 x 10(7) neutrophils, 1
      x 10(8) 32P-labelled S. aureus and 10% skimmed milk with herbal solutions.
      Concentrations of herbal preparations tested were 100%, 10% and 1% (v/v). When
      compared with PBSS (0.01 M phosphate buffered saline solution) controls, most of
      the herbs at high concentrations inhibited phagocytosis while at lower
      concentrations phagocytosis was increased. All 26 herbal preparations
      significantly increased blood neutrophil activity at their proper concentrations.
      The most active herbs in promoting blood neutrophil phagocytosis were observed
      for Herba verbenae, Flos chrysanthemi, Flos lonicerae, Radix sophorae
      flavescentis, Herba houttuyniae, Radix isatidis, Herba patriniae, Berberini
      sulfatis at the lowest concentration and for Folium hibisci at the high
      concentration with the increased percentage of more than 40.0% in comparison with
      PBSS control. Of the 19 herbal preparations tested with milk neutrophils, 18
      herbs greatly increased phagocytosis at suitable concentrations. The most active
      preparations in stimulating milk neutrophil functions included Folium hibisci,
      Flos chrysanthemi, Radix bupleuri, Radix stellariae, Herba houttuyniae, Herba
      senecionis scandentis, Caulis lonicerae and Flos lonicerae which increased
      phagocytosis by over 35.0%.

PMID- 1455928
TI  - Electron microscopic studies of bovine progressive degenerative
      myeloencephalopathy in brown Swiss cattle.
AB  - Selected peripheral nerves from animals affected with Bovine Progressive
      Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy (BPDME) were examined by transmission electron
      microscopy. Changes in axons were both degenerative and reactive in nature and
      included axonal swelling in conjunction with accumulation of altered organelles
      and various forms of vesicles. Affected axoplasm was often vacuolated and
      shrunken, with loss of microtubules and microfilaments and separation of the
      axoplasmic membrane from the myelin sheath. Segmental disorganization of the
      normal lamellar pattern of myelin sheaths was observed. Affected myelin sheaths
      exhibited intramyelinic vacuoles or myelin bubbles often in association with
      concurrent axonal changes. Schwann cells occasionally contained swellen and
      vacuolated mitochondria and membrane-bound vesicles. Axonal and myelin changes
      were considered similar, if not identical, to those described in the central
      nervous system of affected animals reported in the literature. Collectively, the
      changes described in the axons and myelin sheaths of the peripheral nerves
      studied were considered to be compatible with the "dying back" process described
      in various distal axonopathies. A metabolic defect in the enzyme systems
      associated with axonal transport was postulated to explain these peripheral nerve
      lesions.

PMID- 1455929
TI  - Adenocarcinoma of the ethmoid olfactory mucosa: a histopathological and
      ultrastructural study with evidence of virus-like particles.
AB  - A histopathological, morphometric and ultrastructural study was made of enzootic
      nasal neoplasia in a group of 25 Verata goats. A nasal adenocarcinoma was
      diagnosed. The neoplasm contained two clearly defined zones, one cystic and the
      other compact. The tumour stroma was composed of abundant loose connective
      tissue, in which mononuclear infiltrate was clearly identifiable. The observed
      viral particles were morphologically similar to Visna-Maedi. These particles had
      an eccentrically located electrodense core. The diameter of the virus was about
      90 nm and it showed envelope numerous spikes on the surface. The virus is assumed
      to be the causative primary agent of the tumour.

PMID- 1455930
TI  - Urinary Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein concentrations in normal and urolithiasis
      affected male cats determined by an ELISA.
AB  - A precise and reproducible enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) which
      measures urinary cat Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (cTHP) was developed in order to
      investigate the possible role of cTHP in the pathogenesis of feline urolithiasis.
      Reproducible quantification required that the cTHP be disaggregated with 2M urea
      and 0.05% Tween 20. It was necessary to standardize rigidly the handling of the
      samples prior to analysis, since the apparent cTHP concentration varied depending
      on the preanalysis protocols. Using the sample handling protocol of freezing
      urine at -70 degrees C before dialysis, urinary cTHP was quantified in male cats
      with no history of urolithiasis ("normal" cats) and in male cats with a history
      of urolith formation ("urolithiasis" cats). The mean cTHP concentration in adult,
      male "normal" cats of 49.2 +/- 35.5 micrograms/ml (N = 23) was significantly
      lower than the mean cTHP concentration of 95.4 +/- 34.1 micrograms/ml (N = 9) in
      "urolithiasis" cats (p < 0.01, Students' T-test). These findings indicate a
      correlation between urolithiasis and high urine cTHP concentrations in male cats
      which warrants further investigation.

PMID- 1455931
TI  - C-reactive protein--a characteristic feature of health control in swine.
AB  - In this study 120 weaned female piglets were clinically examined and porcine C
      reactive protein (CRP) concentration determined in blood serum by means of a
      competitive enzyme ligand assay. CRP values were put into relation to clinical
      (catarrh, diarrhoea, inflammation and fever) and pathomorphological findings. It
      was found, that CRP values are clearly elevated during infections with fever and
      inflammatory processes, but not in the case of catarrh and diarrhoea. The
      pathomorphological investigations of some animals with clinical findings revealed
      changes in lungs, bowels and liver. Special attention has to be paid to the fact
      that, as in man, CRP is an acute phase reactant, and therefore a sensitive, but
      non-specific indicator for infections and inflammation processes. Serum CRP
      screening seems to be a good means for the supervision of the general state of
      health in pigs.

PMID- 1455932
TI  - Diurnal changes in cortisol level, neutrophil number and lyzozyme activity in
      foals during the first 13 weeks of life and in their lactating mothers.
AB  - In the blood of 11 foals and their lactating mothers (Standardbred) diurnal
      changes in the cortisol level, neutrophil number and lysozyme activity were
      studied during the first 13 weeks of life. The investigations began when a foal
      reached 7 days of age and were repeated every two weeks till 13 weeks of age.
      Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein every 4 hours for one day.
      Experiments were repeated in two following years. In the first year 6 mares and 6
      foals born by these mares were examined, and in the second year--5 of the mares
      from the first year and the 5 new foals borne by them. All horses were kept and
      fed under the same conditions. Diurnal rhythm in neutrophil number and lysozyme
      activity was found neither in foals nor in mares. In the cortisol level a diurnal
      rhythm was found as early as in the first week of life of a foal as well as in
      the first week of lactation in mares. The mean diurnal values of cortisol level
      and lysozyme activity in foal blood were lower by 58% and 22%, respectively, in
      comparison with mares.

PMID- 1455933
TI  - The ultrastructure of cells and cell fragments in mammary secretions of Camelus
      bactrianus.
AB  - The fine structure of leucocytes from the udders of 7 lactating and 3 non
      lactating bactrian camels and from peripheral blood were studied. The most
      important finding was the presence of large numbers of cell fragments in milk.
      The cell fragments were bounded by a plasma membrane, had no nuclei and contained
      mitochondria and abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER). Macrophages were the
      dominant cells recovered from milk and udder washings during the dry period.
      Neutrophils and lymphocytes were also present. The dominating leucocytes in blood
      were neutrophils, followed by lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes and basophils.

PMID- 1455934
TI  - Evaluation of diagnostic tests using relative operating characteristic (ROC)
      curves and the differential positive rate. An example using the total serum bile
      acid concentration and the alanine aminotransferase activity in the diagnosis of
      canine hepatobiliary diseases.
AB  - The value of a diagnostic test depends on most cases on its ability to
      discriminate between patients with and without a certain disease. One way of
      evaluating a diagnostic test is to use the relative operating characteristic
      curve (ROC curve) and the differential positive rate (DPR). The ROC curve
      displays the relationship between the true positive ratio and the false positive
      ratio for a range of cutoff values and it can be used to compare various
      diagnostic tests under equivalent conditions (equal true positive ratios or false
      positive ratios) and over the entire range of cutoff values. The DPR is the
      difference between the true positive ratio and the false positive ratio at
      various cutoff values and it can be used to obtain the cutoff value associated
      with the highest sensitivity and specificity. The purpose of this study was to
      describe the evaluation and comparison of diagnostic tests using ROC curves and
      DPR. Eventually, the positive and negative predictive values were used to assess
      the differences between the sensitivity and specificity obtained when the upper
      limit of the reference interval, or the optimal cutoff value indicated by the
      DPR, was used as cutoff value. To illustrate the methods, the 2 h post-prandial
      total serum bile acid concentration (PSBA) and the alanine aminotransferase
      activity (ALAT) in the diagnosis of primary or secondary hepatobiliary diseases
      in dogs were used. The ROC curves showed, as expected from previous studies, that
      PSBA was superior to ALAT in diagnosing dogs with hepatobiliary diseases. Using
      DPR, the optimal cutoff value for PSBA was suggested to be 15.48 mumol/l.
      Compared to the traditionally used cutoff value of 22.24 mumol/l, no decisive
      difference in the positive predictive values were observed. However, the cutoff
      value of 15.48 mumol/l appeared to produce higher negative predictive values
      compared to a cutoff value of 22.24 mumol/l. Seemingly, ROC curves and DPR are
      simple methods useful to the evaluation of diagnostic tests and due to the
      simplicity, there seems to be a great potential for these methods in the
      evaluation of diagnostic tests in veterinary medicine.

PMID- 1455935
TI  - [Comparative studies of diagnostically significant enzymes in plasma, udder lymph
      and milk of healthy cows and cows with udder diseases].
AB  - Different secretions (colostrum, milk, dry udder secretion) of every quarter,
      peripheral lymph from superficial lymph vessels of the mammary gland and blood
      from the V. epigastrica superficialis were obtained in 43 cows at different
      stages of lactation. In these samples the activity of 5 enzymes (LDH, NAG, AP,
      LAP, GGT) was determined. Levels of LDH and NAG were highest in blood plasma and
      udder lymph. Levels of LAP, AP and GGT were highest in milk increasing in this
      order. LDH, NAG, AP and LAP were correlated in both compartments. Changes of the
      functional state (dry or colostral period) and tissue disturbances of the mammary
      gland were accompanied by marked changes of enzyme activity in the secretions,
      but were without obvious influence on enzyme levels in blood plasma and udder
      lymph.

PMID- 1455936
TI  - Inhibition of D-galactose transport across the small intestine of rabbit by zinc.
AB  - Zinc is an essential trace element necessary to life. Many metallo-enzymes
      involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
      require zinc for their functions. The aim of this study was to characterize how
      zinc acts on the intestinal sugar absorption in rabbit. Results obtained show
      that zinc decreases both D-galactose accumulation in the jejunum tissue, and
      mucosal to serosal transepithelial flux of this sugar, in a dose-dependent way.
      Furthermore, zinc seems not to modify sugar diffusion across the intestinal
      epithelium. The inhibition of intestinal sugar transport by zinc seems to be of a
      competitive type and it is reversed in high proportion with dithioerythritol
      (thiol groups protector). The results suggest that zinc decreases carrier
      mediated intestinal sugar absorption.

PMID- 1455937
TI  - Effect of niacin supplementation on the concentration of niacin in rumen and
      duodenal digesta and in whole blood of sheep.
AB  - 1. Niacin concentrations in rumen liquor, duodenal digesta and blood, and daily
      duodenal flow of niacin were measured in four wethers which were fed an oatstraw
      grain concentrate diet (with normal niacin content) or an oatstraw maize diet
      (with low niacin content). The effect of an intraruminal supplementation of 2
      mmoles nicotinic acid (NIA) or nicotinamide (NAM) on concentrations of NIA and
      NAM in gastrointestinal contents and blood and on daily duodenal flow of NIA and
      NAM was studied. The animals were equipped with rumen fistula and duodenal re
      entrant cannulae. 2. NIA concentration in strained rumen liquor was 384 and 264
      nmol/ml and daily duodenal flow of niacin was 616 and 528 mumoles/d in animals
      fed normal or low niacin diet, respectively. Intraruminal administrations of 2
      mmoles of NIA or NAM raised NIA concentration in strained rumen liquor for
      approximately 6 h. About 20% of the administered dose of NIA or NAM passed out of
      the rumen and resulted in a 41% increase in daily duodenal flow of niacin. The
      remaining 80% of the administered dose of NIA or NAM disappeared from rumen
      liquor without being washed out. 3. Supplemented NAM was rapidly hydrolyzed to
      NIA and ammonia when administered into the rumen. 4. NAM concentration in blood
      appeared to be unaffected by the dietary content of NIA or by niacin
      supplementation. 5. The NIA concentration in strained rumen liquor was positively
      related with niacin content of the diet. Increases in duodenal flow of niacin had
      no marked effect on concentration of NAM in blood. It appeared that feeding diets
      with different NIA content affected apparent niacin synthesis in the rumen.

PMID- 1455938
TI  - [B-mode, M-mode and Doppler sonographic findings in mitral valve insufficiency of
      horses].
AB  - B- and M-mode echocardiography was performed on 38 horses. 34 patients had
      systolic heart murmur with the point of maximal intensity over mitral valve.
      Additionally, 17 of these patients were examined with the pulsed wave doppler
      echocardiography (Vingmed 200). In 26 patients with cardiac murmur and in 4
      patients without cardiac murmur a mitral valve insufficiency was diagnosed by
      echocardiography. In 8 horses with a systolic murmur over mitral valve M- and B
      mode evaluation could not reveal a haemodynamic importance of the murmur. The
      diagnosis of MVI was based on a dilation of left atrium with or without
      additional dilation of left ventricle on one hand and with a regurgitation of
      blood into left atrium found by pulsed wave doppler on the other hand. In 6
      extremely dilated hearts a "real" ostium of regurgitation was detected as a
      direct echocardiographic finding in B-mode. Good correlations existed between
      echocardiographically evaluated changes of heart dimensions and autopsy
      measurements in 10 cases. The prognosis seems to be poor if systolic murmurs
      coincide with dilatation of left atrium and left ventricle, regurgitation of
      blood into left atrium or with a high degree dilation of left atrium without
      changes of left ventricle chamber size. In hearts with little to medium dilated
      left atrium without changes of left ventricle dimension and additionally a
      regurgitation into left atrium the prognosis seems at least to be cautious.
      Echocardiography is an available diagnostic help in evaluation of the importance
      of systolic murmur with the point of maximal intensity over the mitral valve
      especially in completion by pulsed wave doppler.

PMID- 1455939
TI  - [The diagnosis of listeria encephalitis in ruminants using cultural and
      immunohistologic methods. II. Immunohistologic studies in formalin-fixed paraffin
      sections].
AB  - The unlabelled peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP)-technique was compared with the
      avidin-biotin-peroxidase-complex (ABC)-technique in the identification of
      Listeria antigen in formalin-fixed paraffin sections of 58 ruminant brains, 44 of
      which showed histopathological lesions typical for listeric encephalitis. Rabbit
      hyperimmune serum, obtained by immunization with a Listeria monocytogenes strain
      of serotype 1/2 a, served as primary serum in the immunohistochemical
      investigations. The antiserum was tested for specificity using formalin-fixed
      smears of various bacterial species. Listeria antigen was demonstrated in 40 of
      the 44 brains with histopathological CNS alterations, as seen in listeriosis,
      using the ABC method, whereas their identification with the PAP method only
      succeeded in 34 of the brains. Despite the higher dilution of the primary
      antibody, the ABC method distinguished itself further, in comparison with the PAP
      method, through more intense immunohistochemical staining of Listeria antigen.
      Listeria spp, could be isolated from 46 of 52 brains, which were also examined
      bacteriologically. They could be isolated from 14 brains, which showed no
      histopathological lesions indicative of listeriosis. In contrast to this,
      Listeria antigen was only detected immunohistologically in brains with typical
      histological listeric CNS alterations. In three cases the presumptive
      histological diagnosis could not be confirmed immunohistologically.

PMID- 1455940
TI  - Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural investigation of granular cell tumours in
      dog, cat, and horse.
AB  - Six canine, one feline and one equine granular cell tumours (GCTs) were
      investigated electron microscopically and immunohistochemically. The tumours were
      tested for reactivity with monoclonal antibodies against vimentin and desmin and
      with polyclonal antibodies against cytokeratin, S-100 protein, glial fibrillary
      acidic protein (GFAP) and neuron specific enolase (NSE). All GCTs were
      characterized by their PAS positive cytoplasmic granules in light microscopy,
      which in electron microscopy appeared as lysosome-like granules. In each case two
      canine GCTs were stained by the antibody against cytokeratin, vimentin and S-100
      protein. Cells of the equine GCT showed reactivity with the antiserum against S
      100 protein. In the feline GCT no reactivity with any of the antibodies tested
      was observed. These differences of the immunohistochemical reactions of GCTs
      suggest a nonuniform histogenesis of GCTs in domestic animals. The reactivity of
      the tumour cells with the antiserum against NSE is discussed.

PMID- 1455941
TI  - Experimental dermatophilosis.
AB  - The histopathologic features of an experimental dermatophilosis of rabbit skin
      were described. The strain of Dermatophilus congolensis used for the experimental
      infection was obtained from the unique isolation and cultivation of this
      actinomycete from the ulcerous leg lesion of one male patient. Further strains in
      experiment came from the collections of type cultures. The experimental infection
      was characterized as an exudative and crustal dermatitis with acanthosis and
      subcorneal abscesses. Branching hyphae and clusters of coccoid bodies were found
      mostly in the parakeratotic layer and infrequently in the abscesses. Both the
      coccoid bodies and the hyphae were Gram-positive. The hyphae were acid-fast but
      the coccoid bodies were non-acid-fast. The fine structure of hyphae and coccoid
      bodies, namely of those with flagella, was also described by means of a
      transmission and scanning electron microscope.

PMID- 1455942
TI  - Acidification of the colonic mucins following polyvalent colonization of the germ
      free rat.
AB  - Colonic mucins of germ-free (GF) and conventional rats (CV) were compared. After
      isolation by gel filtration on Sepharose CL-4B and purification by density
      gradient centrifugation, the content of isolated colonic mucins was estimated by
      determination of PAS positive carbohydrates. Purified mucins were subjected to
      carbohydrate and amino acid analysis and separated into mucin subclasses by ion
      exchange chromatography. While the total amount of colonic mucins was not
      statistically different in GF and CV animals, analysis of carbohydrate
      composition demonstrated an increased amount of sialic acid in CV rat mucin. This
      was in accordance with results of ion exchange chromatography, revealing a
      significant higher amount of negative charged mucin subclasses in CV mucin,
      compared to the germ-free counterpart. The results of amino acid analysis were
      similar in both groups. The compositional differences in carbohydrate moieties
      are attributed to modulations by the intestinal flora. A selective bacterial
      degradation of the neutral mucin subclasses and modifications in the mucin
      composition due to a stimulated synthesis are discussed.

PMID- 1455943
TI  - A direct plating method for monitoring the contamination of Listeria
      monocytogenes in silage.
AB  - Twenty-two silage samples were analyzed for the presence of L. monocytogenes
      using five Listeria selective plating media, with and without previous selective
      enrichment step. L. monocytogenes was recovered from 3 samples by both
      procedures, but direct plating allowed the quantification of Listeria population.
      Two of these positive samples were implicated in outbreaks of listeriosis in
      sheep; the L. monocytogenes population in these samples was about 10(6) cells/g.
      The L. monocytogenes population in the other positive sample was 10(3) cells/g.
      Direct isolation of L. monocytogenes was only possible from LPM, PALCAM and LSAMm
      media. MOX and LSM media were not selective enough to allow direct Listeria
      isolation. In our hands, LSAMm was the most suitable plating medium for the
      direct isolation and specific quantification of L. monocytogenes from silage
      employing a red blood cells overlay technique.

PMID- 1455944
TI  - Isolation and characterization of immunoglobulin binding proteins from
      Staphylococcus intermedius and Staphylococcus hyicus.
AB  - 125-I-IgG binding activities were observed with 15 (17%) of 90 S. intermedius
      isolates from dogs and 39 (95%) of 41 S. hyicus isolates from pigs. Binding
      activities were not detected with S. hyicus isolates from cows. The IgG binding
      proteins of 2 S. intermedius, 2 S. hyicus, and protein A from S. aureus Cowan I
      were isolated from their cell surfaces. The proteins precipitated with IgG
      preparations from human, rabbit, pig, dog and horse, but not with IgG from cow,
      mouse and chicken. This indicated that these IgG binding proteins could be
      classified as type I receptors. In addition, the isolated proteins from all 3
      staphylococcal species precipitated with polyclonal chicken anti-protein A
      antiserum. SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and gel isoelectric focussing of the
      proteins revealed numerous bands in the 42,000 D range and acid isoelectric
      points. The isoelectric point of the isolated proteins from both S. intermedius
      cultures was slightly more acidic than those from S. hyicus and S. aureus. The
      present results indicate a close functional and antigenic similarity, if not
      identity, between IgG binding proteins of S. intermedius and S. hyicus, and
      protein A of S. aureus.

PMID- 1455945
TI  - In vitro antibacterial activity of the lactoperoxidase system towards
      enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli.
AB  - The lactoperoxidase-thiocyanate-hydrogen peroxide (LP) system inhibited the
      growth of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains responsible for scouring in
      neonatal and post-weaning piglets. An enzymatic system for hydrogen peroxide
      generation (glucose oxidase, GO; 0.1 U/ml) and a chemical source (sodium
      carbonate peroxyhydrate, SCP; 90 mg/l) were used in the LP system to test 19
      strains in a 6-h growth assay at 37 degrees C. Only three strains were highly
      sensitive to the LP/GO system, while all exhibited significant growth inhibition
      with the LP/SCP system. Hydrogen peroxide alone had less effect than the complete
      system. The bactericidal activity of the LP/GO system towards a previously
      resistant strain was greatly increased by increasing the level of glucose oxidase
      in the system by three- or five-fold.

PMID- 1455946
TI  - [The tenacity of Bordetella bronchiseptica in the air].
AB  - The survival time of Bordetella bronchiseptica (phase I and III) has been
      determined at a temperature of 21 degrees C and 27 degrees C and at a relative
      humidity of 32%, 58% and 76% in a rotating aerosol chamber. The highest survival
      time (118.8 min half-life time) has been found at 21 degrees C and 76% relative
      humidity in B. bronchiseptica (phase I). An increasing temperature (from 21
      degrees C to 27 degrees C) causes a lower survival time. The phase I strains
      react more sensitive to this changing of environment than phase III strains. An
      increase of relative humidity leads to a higher survival time concerning phase I
      strains. In contrast phase III strains of B. bronchiseptica react with an
      increasing survival time. On the basis of the detected half-life time one must
      suppose an aerogenous distribution of the germ in all stages of animals,
      especially in intensive husbandry.

PMID- 1455947
TI  - [The role of calcium in the mechanisms of the cholinergic and glutamatergic
      signal transduction in the central nervous system (a topical article)].

PMID- 1455948
TI  - [The neuronal electrical responses of the superior cervical ganglion in the
      rabbit to nociceptive skin stimulation].
AB  - The patterns of tonic activity in the neurons of rabbit superior cervical
      ganglion at rest and during noxious stimulation of the skin were studied using
      intracellular recording. According to reflex changes in the activity patterns,
      all neurons studied were classified into three groups. Cardiac rhythmicity is
      more pronounced in the neurons of the second type than in those of the first
      type. The magnitude of the cardiac rhythmicity in both types of neurons was
      reduced after noxious stimulation of the skin. In the third type of neurons the
      cardiac rhythmicity was absent. In some neurons slow excitatory and inhibitory
      postsynaptic potentials appeared resulting from skin stimulation.

PMID- 1455949
TI  - [The visual cortex "on command": 2 modes of operation of neuronal mechanisms (a
      topical article)].
AB  - Orientation tuning (TO) of 152 single units in the 17th area of cat cerebral
      cortex was studied under different contrasts of the light bar flashed in RF (2.3,
      10 and 100) and also under local and general anaesthesia (Sombrevin, 4 mg/kg or
      Nembutal, 35 mg/kg). An invariance of preferred orientation to contrast or
      anaesthesia was revealed in 40-50% of cells. Noninvariant cells shifted
      significantly their preferred orientation on 22-90 degrees. Invariant units more
      often have a simple RF, more sharp OT and preferred horizontal and vertical
      orientations. Under the low-contrast conditions or under general anaesthesia,
      noninvariant neurons shifted their preferred diagonal orientations. Different
      role of the two neuronal groups in detection of the reper (horizontal and
      vertical) and other orientations in a normal conditions (high-contrast, alert
      state) in comparison with their behavior under worse conditions (low-contrast,
      narcosis or sleep) is discussed.

PMID- 1455950
TI  - [The evolutionary problems of the family of human and animal macroglobulins].
AB  - Studies have been made on physicochemical and immunochemical properties of
      macroglobulins, as well as of associated with pregnancy glycoproteins, from human
      subjects, mammals, birds, fishes and invertebrates. It was shown that these
      proteins exhibit similar composition, structure and capacity to bind proteinases
      inhibiting the latter. Using immunochemical methods, reactions of antigenic
      identity of these proteins were investigated. A hypothesis of evolutionary
      formation of macroglobulin family is discussed.

PMID- 1455951
TI  - [The distribution and properties of the Mg2(+)-ATPase in the membranes of
      functionally different muscles in the hen].
AB  - From striated (m. pectoralis and myocardium) and smooth (myometrium) muscle
      tissues of hen, by means of differential centrifugation with Ca-oxalate loading,
      membrane preparations were obtained with high activity of Mg(2+)-ATPase, i.e. a
      marker enzyme of tubular membranes of T-system of skeletal muscles. Some
      properties (pH and temperature optima) of this enzyme were investigated and
      compared to those of Ca(2+)-ATPase from membranes of the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
      It was shown that in all the investigated muscles, Mg(2+)-ATPase is associated
      with membrane fraction which in its density corresponds to tubular membranes of T
      system. Activation of this enzyme is characterized by similar optimal levels of
      pH (7.2) and temperature (25 degrees C). The activity of Ca(2+)-ATPase in the
      membranes of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, in contrast to that of Mg(2+)-ATPase, is
      observed in more narrow bands of pH and temperature, exhibiting tissue
      specificity. The data obtained, indicating a possibility of chromatographic
      separation of these enzymes, confirm their biochemical individuality.

PMID- 1455952
TI  - [The effect of the domestication of Norway rats and silver foxes on the serotonin
      S1A- and S2-receptors of the brain].
AB  - The specific radioligand binding of serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptors was
      determined in the frontal cortex and in the hypothalamus of Norway rats and
      silver foxes. Aggressive wild rats and silver foxes and animals selected for many
      generations for nonaggressive behavior towards man (domestication) were compared.
      The binding of the 5-HT1A receptors was found to be significantly higher in
      domesticated Norway rats and lower in domesticated foxes than in aggressive
      animals. The specific binding of the 5-HT2 receptors was found to be similar in
      aggressive and domesticated animals, both in rats and foxes. The data obtained
      indicate the involvement of 5-HT1A receptors in the hypothalamus into the process
      of domestication.

PMID- 1455953
TI  - [The hypometabolic effect of the blood plasma from a hibernating suslik Citellus
      undulatus. Neokyotorphin activates cardiac and respiratory activities in the
      suslik during arousal from hibernation].
AB  - The effect of intraabdominal injection of the blood serum from ground squirrels
      Citellus undulatus obtained at various stages of the baut has been studied on the
      level of oxygen consumption in albino mice. The strongest hypometabolic effect
      exhibited the blood plasma from animals at the beginning of the baut. The onset
      of baut was used in further experiments on C. undulatus for investigation of
      activating effects of neokiotorphin (Thr-Ser-Lys-Tyr-Arg) which was earlier found
      in the brain of the ground squirrel. It was shown that intraabdominal injection
      of this peptide to hibernating animals facilitates their arousal stimulating both
      the cardiac activity and respiration. The strongest effect was noted with
      neokiotorphin of [D-Ser] 2-modification which is more stable to proteolysis.

PMID- 1455954
TI  - [The hypnogenic effects of delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) analogs: a
      comparative study in rabbits and rats].
AB  - Hypnogenic effects of 3 DSIP analogs with a higher stability against
      aminopeptidase activity have been studied in rabbits and rats using
      intraventricular administration (injections and infusions). An analog (D-Ala-2)
      DSIP augmented slow wave and paradoxical sleep within the 5th, 8th and 11th hours
      of the recording period. An analog (D-Val-2) DSIP made the same within the 8th
      and 10th hours, and hexapeptide (D-Ala-2) DSIP (1-6) increased sleep during the
      1st, 3rd, and 5th hours. Both nonapeptides augmented sleep in rabbits as well as
      in rats, though hexapeptide produced this effect in rabbits only, that might be
      related to some difference in distribution and colocalization of endogenous DSIP
      like peptide in the pituitary of two rodent species. It may be suggested that
      hypnogenic activity of DSIP analogs is determined by the structure of
      administrated molecule, being mediated by such hormones as GRF and CLIP.

PMID- 1455955
TI  - [The structural-functional characteristics of the rostral sections of the
      neocortex in Chiroptera].
AB  - Studies have been made on the connections of rostral neocortex in bats in order
      to reveal connections with the structures of the auditory sensory system the
      existence of which is indicated by evident specific responses to ultrasound in
      the form of synchronization reaction. It was shown that dorsolateral parts of the
      rostral neocortex receive topically organized projections from the thalamic
      nuclei VPL and VL. Connections with the auditory cortex and suprageniculate
      nucleus are not evident. Afferents of the medial wall of the rostral cortex
      originate from the thalamic nuclei MD and AM. Possible pathways of auditory
      afferentation to the dorso-lateral part of rostral neocortex are discussed.

PMID- 1455956
TI  - [The organization of pulse trains in the dorsal hyperstriatum of hens in relation
      to the afferent input in ontogeny].
AB  - Analysis of background multicellular activity of neuronal populations in the
      dorsal hyperstriatum of chick embryos and baby-chicks, incubated either in
      darkness or under periodic illumination, revealed an impulse volley structure
      which is characterized by onset of discharges which follow each other in a form
      of small series at close intervals. These series originally may be observed in
      the background activity of the left dorsal hyperstriatum in "illuminated" chick
      embryos at the 19th day of incubation, and only at the 1st day after hatching--in
      the right dorsal hyperstriatum of embryos, "illuminated" although they are
      present in both left and right dorsal hyperstriatum in embryos incubated in
      darkness, the difference being presumably due to asymmetric input of visual
      afferentation to this structure. Series of impulse volleys with repeating
      intervals are considered as a reflection of the activity of local microsystems of
      neurons which exhibit cyclic structure and which are capable to maintain stable
      impulse activity in its intrinsic system of connections, which is one of the
      elements of a mechanism of synaptic stabilization and formation of organized
      neuronal complexes.

PMID- 1455957
TI  - [A neuromorphological analysis of the motor area of the cerebral cortex in rat
      pups subjected to prenatal exposure to normal and pathological blood serum].
AB  - Morphological quantitative and qualitative analysis of the pyramidal neurones in
      the motor cortex of rat puppies after administration of the blood serum from
      human donors with central motor disorders reveals the dependence of the quality
      and quantity of neurones from the effect of corresponding blood sera. Pathologic
      blood serum decreases the number and induces degradation of dendritic
      organization of the pyramidal neurones. The effect of the blood sera on
      quantitative and qualitative properties of the pyramidal neurones in rat puppies
      depends on the age of donor infants with central motor disorders. Blood serum
      from newborn babies with motor dysfunctions significantly decreases the number of
      labeled pyramidal neurones and results in degradation of dendritic organization,
      whereas sera from 11-13-year infants only insignificantly affect these
      characteristics.

PMID- 1455958
TI  - [Species and strain differences in brain structure in rats and mice].

PMID- 1455959
TI  - [The prevention of the translocation of intestinal microflora after the rescue of
      an organism from a terminal state].
AB  - In experiments on guinea pigs, the animals were resuscitated from clinical death
      caused by the acute loss of blood and subsequently treated intragastrically with
      enterosorbents: activated carbon fibrous material, alone and in combination with
      polymyxin B, polyphepan (a lignin derivative), polymethyloxan hydrogel and the
      sorbent Enterocat. In the animals, not treated during the postresuscitation
      period, a high population level of enterobacteria and Gram-positive aerobic cocci
      was registered in the contents of the small and large intestines and their
      translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen and blood was observed.
      The amount of lactobacilli in the small intestine was decreased. Enterosorbents
      were found to decrease a high population level of intestinal microflora, to
      prevent the translocation of Gram-positive aerobic cocci and to inhibit the
      penetration of enterobacteria through the enteric barrier in the
      postresuscitation period. Combined use of activated carbon fibrous material with
      polymyxin B proved to be most effective for the elimination of enterobacteria.

PMID- 1455960
TI  - [The structural-functional changes in the cells of Francisella tularensis strain
      15 Gaiskii during cultivation and sublimational drying].
AB  - Instrumental methods of investigation were used for the demonstration of changes
      in the fatty acid composition of F. tularensis, strain 15 Gaiskii, during
      cultivation in solid culture medium, storage after lyophilization, as well as
      changes in the functioning of the system of membrane-dependent enzymes of the
      respiratory chain and in the permeability of cell wall membranes by water
      molecules and NADH after lyophilization. A relationship between the survival rate
      of F. tularensis cells after lyophilization and stimulation of their endogenic
      respiration with NADH and succinate was revealed. An increase in residual
      moisture from 6 to 10-12% was found to intensify the process of lipid
      peroxidation during the storage of lyophilized F. tularensis cells of strain 15
      Gaiskii.

PMID- 1455961
TI  - [The phenomenon of tachyphylaxis in the pathogenesis of an experimental
      infectious process].
AB  - Experiments on mice have revealed that the development of experimental purulent
      infection is accompanied by a considerable increase in the nonspecific resistance
      of the animals to additional infection with unrelated bacteria (the effect of
      tachyphylaxis). Morphologically, this is manifested by the rapid limitation of
      the focus of inflammation at the site of inoculation of the superinfecting agent.
      The state of the phagocytic apparatus is of great importance for this phenomenon
      as disturbances in the macrophage activity caused by the injection of carrageenan
      abolish the protective effect of primary infection. The phenomenon of
      tachyphylaxis has been shown to play a certain role in the prevention of the
      septic generalization of the process and in resistance to superinfection.

PMID- 1455962
TI  - [The excretion of Shigella antigens in persons recovering from dysentery].
AB  - Shigella antigens can be detected in the excreta of convalescents after dysentery
      for a long time. Most frequently these antigens occur in feces, less frequently
      in urine and rarely in saliva. According to indirect data, S. flexneri 1-6
      antigens can be detected in excreta for a longer period after convalescence than
      S. sonnei antigens. When antigen indication is used for the diagnosis of
      dysentery and epidemiological analysis is carried out, one should bear in mind
      the length of the agent persistence in the body, related to Shigella type.

PMID- 1455963
TI  - [The interrelation of the immunity status and intestinal microbiocenosis in young
      children with acute respiratory organ diseases].
AB  - The immune status and the state of intestinal microbiocenosis have been studied
      in 70 young children with acute respiratory diseases. As revealed in this study,
      in 85.7% of cases bronchopulmonary diseases are accompanied by disturbances in
      phasic fluctuations of the immune status and intestinal microbiocenosis. The
      possibility of repeated acute respiratory infections is predetermined by the
      intensity of manifestations of immune disturbances and intestinal dysbiocenosis,
      these two phenomena being directly interrelated. The use of eubiotics jointly
      with immunostimulants is proposed for the treatment of children with acute
      bronchopulmonary pathology combined with the unbalance of the immune status and
      intestinal dysbacteriosis.

PMID- 1455964
TI  - [The etiological structure of shigellosis in the former USSR--an indicator of the
      activity of the main routes of infection transmission].
AB  - The data on the etiological structure of Shigella infections in the USSR in 1988
      1989 are presented. The study showed the dominating role of S. flexneri with S.
      sonnei also retaining great importance in Shigella infections. The process of the
      liquidation of S. dysenteriae and S. boydii infections began in some large
      cities. The domination of dysentery caused by S. flexneri and a high typhoid
      rate, particularly in Central Asia, were due to poor water supply of the
      population. The spread of dysentery caused by S. sonnei was completely
      independent of the water factor. The decisive role in the transmission of S.
      sonnei in infective doses was explained by decentralized milk supply.

PMID- 1455965
TI  - [A system for the operative management of hospital infections in maternity
      hospitals].
AB  - A system for controlling the epidemic process of hospital infections in maternity
      hospitals and departments of infant pathology has been created. The specific
      feature of the proposed method is the prospective character of epidemiological
      surveillance: from the cause to the effect, and not vice versa. This is achieved
      by using the results of follow-up of the preconditions of the epidemic process
      activation (preterm delivery, gestosis, dry labor, birth injuries in mothers and
      infants) and the precursors of the beginning aggravation of the epidemic
      situation (the level of the contamination of infants with hospital microflora).
      Early information in this respect will help foresee the possible activation of
      the epidemic process of hospital infections and take necessary measures when
      infant infection rate is just elevated.

PMID- 1455966
TI  - [The type subtyping of meningococci by means of whole-cell immunoenzyme
      analysis].
AB  - In this work the method of the whole-cell enzyme immunoassay, used for the
      serotype-subtyping of meningococci by means of specific monoclonal antibodies, is
      described. High specificity of the method, the simplicity of the assay procedure
      and evaluation of its results, as well as the availability of this method for
      practical use, have been demonstrated. The results of this investigation confirm
      the importance of the evaluation of type-subtype appurtenance of reference and
      laboratory strains used in experiments. Study of 72 meningococcal strains
      obtained from patients has revealed their polyclonal character in respect of
      their type-subtype signs.

PMID- 1455967
TI  - [The effect of phospholipids on the adhesive properties of bacteria].
AB  - The present work shows that choline-containing phospholipids
      (lysophosphatidylcholine and lyso-1-alkyl-sn-glycerophosphocholine) inhibit the
      adhesion of some strains: Bacterium bifidum 1, B. adolescentis MC-42, B. longum
      B. 379M, Staphylococcus aureus P 209 and Klebsiella pneumoniae 52.
      Phosphatidylcholine produces no effect on the adhesiveness of these strains,
      while platelet activation factor stimulates adhesiveness only in strain S. aureus
      209. The stimulating or inhibiting action of phospholipids on the adhesive
      process of microorganisms depends on the species of bacteria and on the
      concentration of reagents.

PMID- 1455968
TI  - [The use of immunoenzyme analysis in the diagnosis of candidiasis in patients
      with different variants of hemoblastosis].
AB  - A total of 84 blood sera taken from patients with tumors of the hematopoietic
      system, among them 63 blood sera from patients with candidiasis and 21 blood sera
      from patients without symptoms of Candida infection have been tested in the
      enzyme immunoassay (EIA). This assay has been found suitable for the diagnosis of
      the visceral forms of candidiasis in patients with acute leukemia and
      hematosarcoma. EIA has proved to be an inadequate method for the detection of
      Candida infection in chronic lympholeukemia patients, as well as in patients with
      acute leukemia and hematosarcoma, suffering from such local forms of candidiasis
      as candidiasis of the oral cavity.

PMID- 1455969
TI  - [An increase in the immunogenicity of bacterial antigens under the influence of
      one of the derivatives of muramyl dipeptide].
AB  - As revealed in animal experiments, glucosaminylmuramyl dipeptide (GMDP), the
      synthetic analog of muramyl dipeptide, when introduced intraperitoneally in a
      single injection or orally, exhibits adjuvant activity with respect to
      Citrobacter 0-antigens, Shigella flexneri and enhances the protective properties
      of dysentery and pertussis vaccines. The stimulating properties of GMDP depend on
      its dose, the route of its administration, the time elapsed after its
      administration, its ratio to the concomitant doses of bacterial antigens and to
      the dose of the virulent culture used for challenge.

PMID- 1455970
TI  - [The role of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1 in forming resistance in
      experimental Q fever].
AB  - Preliminary injections of human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and
      interleukin 1 (IL-1 beta) increases the resistance of guinea pigs to Coxiella
      burnetii. The increase of this resistance depends on the dose of cytokines and
      the time of their inoculation.

PMID- 1455971
TI  - [The macrophagal-lymphocytic interaction of heterochronic cells in the induction
      of delayed hypersensitivity].
AB  - The influence of senescence on the functional activity of lymphocytes and
      macrophages in the induction of sensitivity to tuberculosis has been studied in
      experiments on 226 CBA mice. The study has revealed that after the injection of
      BCG old animals exhibit decreased capacity for the formation of delayed
      hypersensitivity, and their lymphocytes, transplanted to recipients, induce a
      lower level of hypersensitivity. Joint incubation of lymphocytes and macrophages
      from animals of different ages has shown that immunological defect appearing with
      age is localized in lymphocytes, while the antigen-presenting function of
      macrophages remains basically unchanged.

PMID- 1455972
TI  - [The clinical assessment of the immune status of patients with acute Flexner
      shigellosis].
AB  - A total of 192 patients with Flexner's dysentery 1 have been examined. As a
      result, sharply pronounced unbalance of cell-mediated and humoral immunity
      factors has developed in the acute period of dysentery, reaching its maximal
      manifestations in severe course of the disease. In case of a tendency to a
      prolonged course of dysentery at the period of convalescence, essential shifts in
      immunological characteristics persist and the infective agent is repeatedly
      isolated.

PMID- 1455973
TI  - [The pathogenesis of intestinal infections and the morphological evaluation of
      vaccines].

PMID- 1455974
TI  - [The role of the intestinal microflora in oxalate metabolism].

PMID- 1455975
TI  - [Endemic cholera foci in Asia].

PMID- 1455976
TI  - [Superoxide dismutase activity in representatives of the genus Francisella].
AB  - Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity has been registered in representatives of the
      genus Francisella. The electrophoretic mobility of the enzyme and a number of its
      isoforms in F. tularensis are linked with the subdivision of this species into
      several subspecies. Avirulent and noncapsular variants of F. tularensis are
      characterized by a higher SOD activity than the initial virulent strains.
      Attempts to detect catalase activity in F. tularensis have failed.

PMID- 1455977
TI  - [The use of totally decontaminated mice under conditions of complete
      gnotobiological isolation for obtaining highly adhesive strains of Streptococcus
      faecium].

PMID- 1455978
TI  - Daytime sleepiness: a risk factor in community life.
AB  - The prevalence of daytime sleepiness and background factors associated with it
      were investigated in a study carried out at the UKK Institute. The inquiry took
      the form of a questionnaire mailed to 1600 people of middle age. Daytime
      sleepiness was found to be associated with disturbed night sleep. Women were more
      tired than men, but men slept more frequently during the day. Those suffering
      from tiredness complained of poor health more than other respondents. Traffic
      accidents and other mishaps attributable to tiredness had occurred in 1.3% of
      cases, and almost 5% of male respondents had dozed off while driving at least
      five times in their lives. The findings indicate a need for increased attention
      to disturbance of sleep and daytime sleepiness in routine health screening.

PMID- 1455979
TI  - Immunological and gadolinium-DTPA MRI evaluation of relapsing remitting multiple
      sclerosis.
AB  - The levels of lymphocytes, blood lymphocytes subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, DR+,
      CD25+, CD4+, CD45RA+, CD4+, CD29+ cells) and sIL-2r of 10 patients affected by
      relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis were serially studied. The identification
      of the activity of the disease was made by gadolinium-DTPA (Gd-DTPA) MRI. The
      immunological determinations and the MRI of the brain and spinal cord were
      performed every 14th day for a period of three months. No significant difference
      of the immunological values were found between the presence and the absence of Gd
      DTPA enhancing areas, except lymphocytes (p < 0.05). These immunological
      parameters, evaluated in the peripheral blood, are not a marker of disease
      activity in relapsing-remitting MS patients.

PMID- 1455980
TI  - Depression in the early phase of MS: influence of functional disability,
      cognitive impairment and brain abnormalities.
AB  - This study investigated the relationship between depression, physical disability,
      cognitive deficit and brain abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in
      patients with early MS. Eighteen relapsing-remitting MS patients were evaluated:
      depression was diagnosed according to DSM-III R and measured by the MMPI
      depression subscale, physical disability was assessed by using the Kurtzke
      Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and cognitive functions by means of an
      extensive neuropsychological test battery. A neuroradiologist blinded to clinical
      findings quantified cerebral lesion on MRI. Weighted brain area lesion score were
      developed according to number and size of cerebral lesions. On the basis of DSM
      III criteria, six patients were classified as having major depression, seven
      patients had minor depression and five patients were without depressive symptoms.
      No significant differences were found among the three groups on both
      neuropsychological performances and weighted MRI lesion scores. However patients
      with major depression exhibit greater physical disability than the other MS
      subgroups. A significant correlation was found between MMPI depression subscale
      and physical disability. This study suggests that at least in the early phase of
      MS, depression appears more related to the physical disability than to the
      severity of pathological brain involvement.

PMID- 1455981
TI  - Sensory and movement-related cortical potentials in nociceptive and auditory
      reaction time tasks.
AB  - The processing of a sensory stimulus leading to a simple motor command was
      studied with scalp-recorded long latency cortical potentials in humans. Two
      sensory modalities were tested in their ability to activate descending motor
      pathways: auditory stimuli and painful cutaneous stimuli produced by a CO2 laser.
      Subjects were asked to react to stimuli with voluntary index finger movements.
      The stimulus-related and movement-related cortical potentials were recorded
      simultaneously with five midline electrodes on the scalp. The auditory reaction
      time, measured from the stimulus to the onset of electromyogram (EMG), was faster
      (150 ms) than the laser reaction time (350 ms). The onset of EMG of finger
      movements occurred only after the first negative components following auditory or
      laser stimuli but before the positive components. The latency from the auditory
      negativity to the onset of EMG was about 50 ms and the latency from the laser
      negativity to the onset of EMG was about 110 ms. This finding indicates that not
      only the peripheral afferent conduction but also central processing takes longer
      in a pain-related somatosensory task than in an auditory task. The frontal peak
      of Motor Potential (fpMP), a cortical potential related to the sensory feedback
      from movement, occurred with a constant latency after the onset of EMG (100 ms)
      and was unaffected by the task.

PMID- 1455982
TI  - Abduction nystagmus in internuclear ophthalmoplegia.
AB  - Direct current electro-oculography revealed abduction nystagmus with hypermetric
      abduction saccades in 35 of 64 patients with unilateral and 55 of 66 patients
      with bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia. Slowing of abduction saccades
      occurred in 27 unilateral cases, mainly ipsilateral to the paretic eye, and in 36
      bilateral cases. Abduction nystagmus with hypermetric abduction saccades of
      normal velocity is explained by an increased phasic innervation adjusted to
      adduction paresis. Slowed abduction saccades are attributed to impaired
      inhibition of the medial rectus muscle. Superposition of impaired medial rectus
      inhibition and increased phasic innervation best explains abduction nystagmus
      with slowed hypermetric (6 unilateral and 23 bilateral cases) or normometric
      abduction saccades (9 unilateral and 5 bilateral cases).

PMID- 1455983
TI  - Treatment of myotonia with antiarrhythmic drugs.
AB  - The effects of disopyramide, phenytoin, mexiletine, and tocainide were compared
      in 30 patients with myotonic disorders. The severity of myotonia was assessed by
      clinical and electromyographic criteria at the end of each treatment phase
      lasting four weeks. Mexiletine (MXT) and tocainide (TCD) were found to be the
      most potent antimyotonic agents. The antimyotonic efficacy of MXT and TCD is
      explained by their fast-blocking effect on voltage-dependent sodium channels in
      the muscle membrane. The benefits of myotonia control with pharmacological agents
      must be weight against the risk of therapy in the individual patient. Because of
      the risks of hematologic problems, TCD is not recommended by us for the treatment
      of myotonia.

PMID- 1455984
TI  - Brain energy metabolism studied by 31P-MR spectroscopy in a case of migraine with
      prolonged aura.
AB  - The brain and skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism of a patient with prolonged
      aura was studied by phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We found that the
      phosphocreatine to ATP ratio in brain was reduced, while the inorganic phosphate
      to phosphocreatine ratio and the calculated ADP concentration were increased. The
      phosphorylation potential and percentage of maximal rate of ATP synthesis were
      also altered. Intracellular pH and inorganic phosphate concentration were normal.
      In muscle we found a low post-exercise recovery of phosphocreatine. These data
      indicate an impairment of energy oxidative metabolism both in brain and muscle.

PMID- 1455985
TI  - Screening for unruptured familial intracranial aneurysms. A decision analysis.
AB  - Decision analysis is used to assess the decision to screen for unruptured
      intracranial aneurysms (IAs) in two affected families, and to formulate guide
      lines for similar decisions. Four strategies are compared: "no screening",
      "screening directly", "screening twice", and "screening later". Intravenous and
      intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography techniques (iv-DSA, ia-DSA) are
      considered. Life years lived with and without disability are computed for each
      strategy. Loss of life expectancy with and without discounting and quality
      correction is used as an outcome measure. "No screening" is the preferred
      strategy when population based estimates of the prevalence of IAs are used. Thus,
      the results of this analysis provide no justification for screening patients
      without a familial history. But a physician who thinks that the risk of an IA is
      increased may rightly decide for screening, especially when the patient is aged
      40 to 60. Ia-DSA is preferable over iv-DSA. A scenario analysis suggests that
      screening with magnetic resonance angiography is only slightly better than with
      ia-DSA, because the complication rate of screening plays a minor role in the
      analysis.

PMID- 1455986
TI  - Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: a syndrome
      rediscovered.
AB  - Pulmonary emboli as a fatal complication of superior sagittal sinus thrombosis
      was once well recognized in the literature but appears to have been forgotten.
      The sagittal sinus appeared to be the source of pulmonary emboli in previously
      reported cases. Even in patients with no evidence of systemic thrombosis, but who
      have sagittal sinus thrombosis, the possibility of dislodging pulmonary emboli
      should be strongly considered. We report a case of nontraumatic sagittal sinus
      thrombosis complicated by multiple pulmonary emboli and a fatal saddle embolism,
      likely originating from the thrombosed sinus. Our review of the literature
      between 1942 and 1990 yielded 203 cases of intracranial venous thrombosis. The
      overall mortality rate was 49.3%. In 23 cases (11.3%), the venous sinus
      thrombosis was associated with pulmonary emboli and in these the overall
      mortality rate was 95.6%. In the 203 cases in our review, those patients who
      received anticoagulation therapy also had a statistically significant better
      outcome. Therefore, the presence of pulmonary emboli in association with sagittal
      sinus thrombosis mandates a sober assessment of the need of anticoagulation
      therapy in the absence of obvious contraindication.

PMID- 1455987
TI  - Western blotting analysis in patients with MS using human brain vessels as
      antigen.
AB  - Serum samples from patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, other neurological
      diseases and normal controls were screened by "western blotting" for antibody
      directed against proteins of human brain vessels purified from a post mortem
      brain. A small number of sera contained autoantibodies against some of the
      proteins of the brain vessels, particularly in patients suffering from MS,
      epilepsy and migraine. The significance of these results is discussed.

PMID- 1455988
TI  - Evidence for an altered dopamine beta-hydroxylase activity in migraine and
      tension-type headache.
AB  - Sympathetic dysfunction is often present in migraine. It has been suggested that
      serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (D beta H) can be taken as an index of peripheral
      sympathetic activity. We studied the serum D beta H activity in migraine with and
      without aura and in tension-type headache patients compared with healthy control
      subjects. The serum D beta H activity was significantly lower in migraine and
      tension-type headache patients than in the control group. No significant
      difference was observed among the three groups of patients studied. These
      findings suggest that patients with migraine and tension-type headache have a
      sympathetic hypofunction that may play an important role in the pathogenesis.

PMID- 1455989
TI  - Intermediate syndrome due to prolonged parathion poisoning.
AB  - A parathion-poisoned patient with prolonged cholinesterase inhibition due to
      impaired hepatic metabolism and urinary excretion is reported. An intermediate
      syndrome characterized by respiratory paresis, weakness in the territory of
      several motor cranial nerves and of proximal limb and neck flexor muscles,
      persisted for 3 weeks. During this whole period, cholinesterase remained markedly
      reduced. Serial EMGs with repetitive nerve stimulation pointed to a combined pre-
      and postsynaptic disorder of neuromuscular transmission. Electron microscopy of
      an intercostal muscle biopsy showed focal degeneration at the poorly branched
      postsynaptic folds, and was considered to be nonspecific.

PMID- 1455990
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging findings in lupus ataxia.
AB  - We present a 47-year-old white woman who had a definitive diagnosis of systemic
      lupus erythematosus (SLE), and developed cerebellar ataxia of sudden onset. MR
      imaging showed changes characteristics of cerebellar infarct. Due to the absence
      of vascular risk factors and to the previous diagnosis of SLE, we postulate that
      the cerebellar infarct is related to SLE. We are not aware of previous
      descriptions of the MRI findings in lupus ataxia.

PMID- 1455991
TI  - Anticonvulsant drug teratogenicity.

PMID- 1455992
TI  - The scientific basis of treatment of idiopathic thoracic scoliosis.
AB  - The three-dimensional shape of the scoliotic spine must be understood and in
      particular the lordotic lateral profile addressed before successful derotation
      can be achieved. It is important that the thoracic kyphosis be recreated, firstly
      so that the spine can be untwisted, and secondly to bring the thoracic spine once
      again behind its axis of rotation thus preventing postoperative buckling with the
      remainder of growth. Stiffer curves require preliminary anterior multiple
      discectomy with growth plate excision and reshaping of the apical vertebral
      bodies. The deformity rapidly collapses into himself and 75% of the total
      correction occurs spontaneously before the second instrumentation stage. The most
      rigid curves require that the spinal column be shortened at bone level and
      Leatherman's two-stage wedge resection is ideal for this purpose. For very young
      spines posterior fusion is both illogical and harmful and it is essential that
      the growth of the front of the spine be arrested by multiple discectomy and end
      plate excision. Posterior instrumental recreation of the thoracic kyphosis
      without fusion in a "trolley-like" procedure allows continued posterior spinal
      growth.

PMID- 1455993
TI  - [What new Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation is used in the treatment of idiopathic
      scoliosis].

PMID- 1455994
TI  - The Alici spinal system in the surgical treatment of scoliosis.
AB  - The Alici spinal system is an instrumentation used for correction and fixation of
      various deformities of the spine. Idiopathic scoliosis is the most important
      indication. Scoliosis is a complex deformity in the frontal, sagittal and axial
      planes, and this system provides perfect correction in all three planes.
      Furthermore, it permits stable fixation and can be used for both anterior and
      posterior spinal fusions. The indications for the anterior Alici spinal system
      are: mature thoracolumbar or lumbar curves of more than 40 degrees, progressive
      immature thoracolumbar or lumbar curves of more than 35 degrees, painful mature
      lumbar curves, paralytic or congenital lumbar or thoracolumbar curves, and mature
      lumbar curves of more than 40 degrees in thoracolumbar double curves. The
      indications for the posterior Alici spinal system are: immature thoracic curves
      of more than 40 degrees, progressive thoracic or thoracolumbar curves of more
      than 35 degrees, and paralytic and congenital curves. During the last two years,
      92 scoliosis patients underwent spinal fusion with Alici spinal instrumentation.
      Scoliosis was idiopathic in 58, congenital in 20, paralytic in 12, and 2 cases
      were caused by neurofibromatosis. Twenty-four of the patients underwent 2-stage
      anterior and posterior fusions. In the remaining 68 patients only posterior
      fusion was performed. The mean follow-up was 14 months (range, 6-24 months).
      Preoperatively, the mean curves of the idiopathic, congenital, and paralytic
      groups were 54.7 degrees, 57.8 degrees, and 83 degrees, respectively. In the
      idiopathic group the mean correction was 93% with anterior instrumentation, and
      74.4% with posterior instrumentation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455995
TI  - Results of CD operation in idiopathic scoliosis.
AB  - In order to evaluate the use of the CD system in scoliosis and kyphosis surgery
      we performed a partly retrospective, partly prospective study of our patient
      group. A total of 38 CD operations was performed in the period November 1986
      until February 1991. In this group were 24 patients with idiopathic scoliosis, 4
      male and 20 female, average age at operation 18 yrs 10 mo (12 yrs 10 mos-42 yrs 2
      mos). In 22 patients follow-up was 6 months or more. In the right thoracic curves
      (n = 22) the preoperative Cobb angle was 59.5 degrees (48 degrees-90 degrees).
      The average angle after operation was 25.2 degrees (6 degrees-50 degrees), at 6
      months 30.7 degrees and final curve 33.8 degrees (12 degrees-55 degrees) 20.1
      months postoperatively (9 mos-48 mos). This is 43.2% correction with a loss of
      correction in the postoperative period of 14.4%. Left high thoracic curves were
      stiffer with a correction of only 12.8% in 3 patients at 18.3 months. In 4
      patients with double curves a first stage Zielke operation was done before the CD
      operation. The mean curve of 67.8 degrees (45 degrees-108 degrees) was corrected
      to 20.5 degrees postoperatively with a final correction of 66.1% in 3 patients at
      27 months. Without the preceding Zielke operation the mean curve of 44.5 degrees
      was corrected to 24 degrees at 6 months in 2 patients (46.1% correction).
      Derotation was evaluated clinically with the Bunnell method and measurement of
      gibbus height (14 patients had the derotation maneuver, 2 partial and 6
      not).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1455996
TI  - Segmental evaluation of the surface and radiological deformity after Cotrel
      Dubousset (CD) instrumentation for King type II and III. adolescent idiopathic
      scoliosis (AIS): surgical and etiological implications.
AB  - In this paper we report the segmental effects of CD in each of the three planes
      of deformity (frontal, transverse and sagittal) in 35 children with AIS (King
      types II and III) treated by Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation. Patients were
      examined preoperatively and in follow-up at 8 weeks and one year, and 15 patients
      were also examined at two years. Back shape was appraised segmentally as angle of
      trunk inclination (ATI) at each of ten levels by ISIS and the Scoliometer. The
      radiographs were measured nonsegmentally for Cobb angle, apical vertebral
      rotation and spinal balance, and segmentally for both vertebral rotation and tilt
      (frontal and sagittal plane), and in the rib cage for rib-vertebra angles (RVAs).

PMID- 1455997
TI  - [Etiology of pseudarthrosis of the leg with loss of bony substance].

PMID- 1455998
TI  - [Pseudarthrosis of the tibia following osteomyelitis in children].

PMID- 1455999
TI  - [Medical imaging in tibial pseudarthrosis].

PMID- 1456000
TI  - Technetium-99m-diphosphonate, gallium-67 and labeled leukocyte scanning
      techniques in tibial nonunion.
AB  - On the technetium-99m bone scan the vast majority of nonunion cases show an
      intense tracer uptake at the fracture site, as do fractures undergoing normal
      healing. Therefore static bone scintigraphy usually does not contribute to the
      diagnosis of nonunion. One of the main causes of delayed fracture healing is
      infection. Increased blood flow and blood pool as demonstrated during the first
      and second phases of a 3-phase bone scan are consistent with an inflammatory
      reaction but are not pathognomonic for infection. A gallium-67 scan is indicative
      of infection if Ga-67 uptake exceeds Tc-99m uptake on the bone scan. The most
      specific tracers for infection however are leukocytes labeled with indium-111 or
      technetium-99m.

PMID- 1456001
TI  - [Angiography in septic pseudarthrosis].

PMID- 1456002
TI  - Deep decortication in nonunion of shaft fractures.
AB  - For many years we have used the "petal" technique of Jarry and Uhthoff in all
      cases of delayed union or nonunion of long bones. With a chisel or a gouge, cuts
      are made in the cortical surface of the bone on both sides of the fracture line,
      and numerous scales are lifted but remain attached at the base, like the petals
      of a flower. Depending on the cortical thickness, the petals are 2 to 4 mm thick.
      The surface area of the bone is increased and the haversian canals under the
      cortical surface (and the blood vessels) are cut open, exposing numerous areas of
      well-vascularized and highly osteogenetic tissue on all of the exposed surface of
      the bone. We were able to retrace 26 cases treated in this way between 1968 and
      1988. Different types of fixation were used, depending on type and location of
      the fracture, but sometimes also because we preferred not to change the fixation
      that had been applied before the patient was referred to us. All fractures united
      after one operation, in 3 to 18 months. In one case of nonunion of the ulna, with
      bone loss by gunshot wound, the fracture united, but a stress fracture through a
      screw hole occurred distally to the fracture site. It did not unite and
      reoperation was refused. In most cases we have added autogenous spongiosa only
      grafts, but we think now that their use is questionable in many instances. This
      technique is quite similar to the subperiosteal decortication of Judet or the
      shingling technique as described by Forbes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456003
TI  - [Treatment of tibial pseudarthrosis using Robert Judet's method of
      osteoperiosteal decortication].

PMID- 1456004
TI  - The fibula pro tibia procedure in the treatment of nonunion of the tibia.
AB  - We reserve the fibula pro tibia procedure for infected nonunions or for cases
      that already have been subjected to one or more other methods of treatment. The
      fibula pro tibia procedure is a technically simple one-stage procedure. The site
      of the pseudarthrosis is not exposed; hence there is less risk of recurrent
      infection. Consolidation was achieved in 75% of our cases. The objective findings
      are positive: consolidation after an average of one year. Knee mobility is normal
      in most cases, and ankle mobility is only slightly decreased. In most cases the
      angular deformities are clinically acceptable. All infections have cleared.

PMID- 1456005
TI  - Locking graft in the treatment of tibial pseudarthrosis.
AB  - Despite modern treatments of tibial fractures, we still have nonunions. In case
      of failure we used a method of treatment which has become less popular over the
      last decades. A rectangular inlay graft is harvested from the anteromedial tibial
      surface. The graft, measuring about 12 to 15 cm long, is placed over the nonunion
      with 2/3 of its length on one side and the remaining third on the other side. The
      graft is turned 180 degrees and fixed with four lag screws in the original donor
      site. Postoperatively, we place a nonweight-bearing cast for 3 months. The
      results are quite satisfactory for both nonunions and difficult multi-operated
      nonunions.

PMID- 1456006
TI  - Corrective osteotomy for mal- and nonunion of the tibia using the posterolateral
      approach.
AB  - An analysis of the results of 9 patients with a post-traumatic malalignment of
      the tibia, treated by an osteotomy and immediate bone grafting through a
      posterolateral approach is presented. Fixation was obtained with an external
      fixator in 8 cases and with a fibular plate in one case. Union was obtained in
      all cases after an average of 4.8 months. A significant improvement in the
      malalignment was obtained, especially in the frontal plane and somewhat less in
      the sagittal plane. Permanent sequellae due to the procedure were not noted.

PMID- 1456007
TI  - Vascularized bone transfer for tibial pseudarthrosis. Part I: Vascularized fibula
      transplantation. A report of 4 cases in the treatment of traumatic bone defects
      of the tibia.
AB  - The limited experience of reconstruction of four cases of large tibial defects
      with free vascularized fibular grafts is presented. Healing occurred in three of
      the four patients, and one developed a distal pseudarthrosis. One graft fractured
      twice but healed with a hypertrophic callus.

PMID- 1456008
TI  - Vascularized bone transfer for tibial pseudarthrosis. Part II: Vascularized bone
      and muscle transfers. Exclusive free fibular bone graft.
AB  - The techniques of vascularized transfer of a bone segment, or of
      revascularization of a conventional bone autograft by a pedicle or a
      microsurgical muscular flap represent one of the most significant advances made
      during the last years for the treatment of large bone defects of the tibia with
      associated skin injury. The authors present their experience with 16 cases,
      including 5 microsurgical transfers.

PMID- 1456009
TI  - The etiology and pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis.
AB  - Idiopathic scoliosis is a complex three-dimensional deformity and in the thoracic
      region the essential lesion lies in the sagittal plane in the form of an area of
      inappropriate lordosis. The thoracic kyphosis is normally protected from buckling
      by being behind the axis of spinal column rotation but when the thoracic lordosis
      develops it brings the apical region anterior to this axis and thus under
      compression with resultant buckling failure of the spinal column. The condition
      of idiopathic thoracic scoliosis is the opposite to idiopathic hyperkyphosis
      (Scheuermann's disease), the latter being rotationally stable and not moving out
      of the sagittal plane. The two frequently co-exist in the same spine with
      thoracic hyperkyphosis above an area of lumbar lordo-scoliosis. There is a
      spectrum of normal lateral profile and flat backs at the one end are in danger of
      buckling (lordo-scoliosis) while round backs at the other end of the spectrum are
      in danger of being defined as Scheuermann's disease. There is no requirement for
      a specific pathological process. Engineers describe only two ways in which a
      flexible column can fall into mechanically-angular collapse (kyphosis) and column
      buckling (lordo-scoliosis). A number of factors favour column buckling (Euler's
      law) and thus the bigger a deformity the more likely it will be to continue
      progressing and the taller and more slender the column the more likely it will be
      to fail and this we see in our patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Not only is
      lordosis the essential lesion but it is also the primary abnormality which can be
      demonstrated in children before lateral curvature and rotation develop.

PMID- 1456010
TI  - [The Ilizarov method in the treatment of infected pseudarthrosis of the leg].

PMID- 1456011
TI  - Antibiotic penetration into bone in relation to the immediate management of open
      fractures: a review.
AB  - Bone is a vascular structure, which is capable of responding to changes in the
      systemic circulation. Antibiotics carried within the systemic circulation reach
      the capillaries in bone, and depending on molecular size, pass through the
      capillary walls to enter the fluid space. Following an open fracture,
      contamination with pathogenic organisms can occur both at the moment of injury,
      but also in the hospital, which is a particular problem in grade III fractures in
      which extensive soft tissue damage can occur in combination with an exposed
      wound. Antibiotics administered intravenously can be measured in bone by both
      bioassay and radioactive isotope techniques and are shown to reach bone in
      effective concentrations. It is apparent that short-course high-dose antibiotic
      therapy is appropriate for open fractures, and need not be continued as long as
      the normal fracture-healing process continues. However if infection in bone
      develops, further surgery is important to remove new dead tissue to allow
      adequate antibiotic penetration into bone. Thus antibiotics are useful when
      combined with effective surgical management, but do not on their own offer the
      only answer to management of the patient.

PMID- 1456012
TI  - The use of gentamicin-PMMA chains in the treatment of infected tibial nonunion.
AB  - Local antibiotic therapy with gentamicin-PMMA chains and external fixation permit
      effective simultaneous therapy of both components of infected tibial
      pseudarthroses: sequestering osteomyelitis and pseudarthrosis. The local
      concentrations of gentamicin which can be achieved by implantation of gentamicin
      PMMA chains are far above the MIC of most common pathogens. This form of local
      antibiotic therapy is superior to any form of systemic antibiotic therapy. The
      gentamicin-PMMA chains serve as well as space holders for the bone graft to
      promote bone consolidation in the absence of infection. The results can be
      improved by successful management of the soft tissue damage often associated with
      tibial pseudarthrosis. Pedicled or free muscle graft with microvascular
      anastomosis is the method of choice.

PMID- 1456013
TI  - Treatment of bone and soft tissue defects in infected nonunion.
AB  - In the treatment of infected pseudarthroses the general principles of osteitis
      treatment are applied. This includes radical excision of pseudarthrotic and
      infected bone tissue, and of diseased surrounding soft tissue. External fixation
      devices are the preferred method of stabilization of the bone. Based on the data
      of a retrospective study of 31 Papineau procedures, 65 local flap transfers, and
      46 free flap transfers we found that the Papineau procedure works in minor bone
      and soft tissue defects. Unstable scar formation is a major disadvantage of this
      method. Local muscular flaps are indicated in the treatment of soft tissue
      defects in the proximal and medial portions of the lower leg. A prerequisite for
      free flap transfers is the availability of trained personnel and suitable
      technical equipment. The option is limited by the patient's vascular situation.
      This kind of tissue transfer seems to be superior to other methods. For the
      substitution of bone defects corticocancellous bone transplantation may be used.
      A promising alternative method to deal with extensive bone defects is
      osteogenesis produced by callus distraction.

PMID- 1456014
TI  - [Infection of leg fractures. Technique and importance of the open spongiosa graft
      supported by the fibula].

PMID- 1456015
TI  - The treatment of reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome: current concepts.
AB  - Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome is the currently accepted term for a
      disorder that has previously appeared in the literature under a confusing array
      of designations: causalgia, Sudeck's atrophy, algoneurodystrophy, shoulder-hand
      syndrome, etc. The disorder, which was first described in 1864, is characterized
      by pain, swelling, limited range of motion with associated signs of vasomotor
      instability, trophic skin changes and patchy bone demineralization. It appears as
      an exaggerated response of an extremity to injury: trauma, infection, phlebitis
      or numerous other lesions. In 35 per cent of the RSDS patients, no precipitating
      event can be identified. The rational treatment of these patients should be based
      on a thorough understanding of its pathogenesis. While the optimal management is
      still controversial, there is a consensus that the best results will be achieved
      if treatment is started early and adapted to the clinical stage of the disease.
      The role of physical therapy is still debatable. Sympathetic interruption,
      corticosteroids, calcitonin, beta-blocking agents and more recently bi
      phosphonates have been advocated. Proper management may result in the prevention
      of crippling sequelae.

PMID- 1456016
TI  - [Measurement of gibbosity and and recumbent angle as a prognostic factor in
      juvenile scoliosis].

PMID- 1456017
TI  - Advances in osteogenin and related bone morphogenetic proteins in bone induction
      and repair.
AB  - Bone matrix is a repository of growth and differentiation factors as demonstrated
      by the induction of local cartilage and bone formation in rats. The bone
      inductive activity, termed osteogenin, can be dissociatively extracted, and it
      was isolated by heparin affinity, hydroxyapatite and molecular sieve
      chromatography. Osteogenin has been purified to homogeneity from bovine bone
      matrix and the sequences of several tryptic peptides have been determined. The
      sequences were similar to portions of the amino acid sequence deduced from the
      cDNA clone of bone morphogenetic protein-3 (BMP-3). The carboxyl-terminal quarter
      of osteogenin has sequence identity to the corresponding regions of two related
      proteins BMP-2A and BMP-2B. The bone inductive proteins are members of the TGF
      beta superfamily, by virtue of the location of the highly conserved cysteines in
      their carboxyl-terminal region. Osteogenin and related BMPs initiate cartilage
      and bone formation in vivo. The study of the mechanism of action of these
      proteins will add considerable new information on the molecular signals
      controlling endochondral bone formation. In vitro data indicate that osteogenin
      stimulates the expression of the osteogenic and chondrogenic phenotypes. Our
      results demonstrate their profound influence on proteoglycan synthesis and
      degradation in bovine cartilage explant cultures. High affinity specific binding
      sites have been identified in both MC3T3 cells and articular chondrocytes. In
      vivo experiments demonstrate the efficacy of primate osteogenin in restoring
      large calvarial defects in adult baboons, establishing a primary role for
      osteogenin in therapeutic initiation and promotion of osteogenesis.

PMID- 1456018
TI  - Pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis. The Nottingham concept.
AB  - There is no generally accepted scientific theory for the etiology of idiopathic
      scoliosis. Hence, current treatment is pragmatic and not based on knowledge of
      causation of the deformity. In Nottingham, we have evaluated data from studies of
      the hips, pelvis, spine, rib cage and trunk muscles in scoliotic (pre- and post
      operative) and control patients, cadavers and a mechanical model to formulate a
      new theory of etiology for idiopathic scoliosis (figs. 18 & 19 of ref. 15).
      Evidence is summarized for the view that idiopathic scoliosis results, in part,
      from a developmental abnormality in the central nervous system creating rib
      vertebra angle asymmetry which leads to a cyclical failure of mechanisms of
      rotation control in the trunk; these involve rotation-inducing (pelvic) and
      rotation-defending (discal, ligamentous and costal) mechanisms acting mainly in
      gait. The mechanical breakdown of rotation occurs in association with a lateral
      spinal curvature and a lordotic segment to create the initial deformity of
      idiopathic scoliosis. Then, growth, both abnormal (secondary to vertebral hyper
      pressures) and normal (linear spinal growth) with gravity adds to the initiating
      and continuing neuromuscular mechanisms to augment curve progression. This theory
      views the spine in the wider perspective of function in the trunk, evolution and
      development, all in relation to bipedalism. The goal of etiological research is
      ultimately to base a treatment on some knowledge of causation of the deformity.

PMID- 1456020
TI  - Calculation of 3-D deformity in scoliosis by standard roentgenograms.
AB  - The standard radiological diagnosis of advanced scoliosis consists of
      roentgenograms of the total spine in anterior-posterior and lateral views. The
      deformity of the spine is measured by using the Cobb angle, thus only giving the
      projected angle of deformity, without showing the true 3-dimensional aspect. The
      3-D calculation of the deformity is relevant to diagnosis and therapy of
      scoliosis. In this paper we define angles according to the Cobb definition,
      evaluate them trigonometrically and show them in two tables. These angles allow
      the 3-dimensional deformity in scoliosis to be calculated using the standard
      roentgenograms in two perpendicular views. This procedure enables us to avoid
      techniques costly in time and effort in hospital routine, such as stereo
      radiography, computer-analysis or 3-dimensional reconstruction of CT- and MRI
      investigations.

PMID- 1456019
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the ankle and hindfoot.
AB  - While Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has become a routine diagnostic method to
      deal with pathology of the knee, little has been published about foot and ankle
      lesions. This is probably due to the anatomic complexity of bone and ligamentous
      structures of these small joints, necessitating the use of very thin slices from
      various orientation planes (orthogonal and oblique planes). A special technique
      is needed allowing a 3-dimensional (3D) analysis, using inframillimetric slices
      and more sophisticated equipment than for 2-dimensional (2D) MRI (high fields
      with good homogeneity, specialized image processors...). An initial potential
      indication of the method is the precise diagnosis of lateral ligamentous
      components in severe sprains. MRI may determine if surgical therapy is needed.
      The ligamentous components are reconstructed along their specific planes thanks
      to the 3D method. Furthermore, assessment of the ligamentous damage is also
      possible in chronic ankle instability (elongation, fibrotic appearance...).
      Thanks to the multiplanar approach, associated lesions of articular cartilage can
      be revealed in ankle sprains. The high sensitivity of MRI in slight modifications
      of medullary bone allows the early diagnosis of "occult" fractures (not seen on
      conventional radiographs), osteonecrosis, osteochondrosis and reflex sympathetic
      dystrophy syndrome. Finally, MRI easily displays all ankle and foot tendons and
      fascia and is particularly helpful in depicting partial tears and postoperative
      complications.

PMID- 1456021
TI  - [The ISIS optic scanner: its use in the evaluation and control of spinal
      deviations].

PMID- 1456022
TI  - Measurement of body surface topography using an automated imaging system.
AB  - An automatic computer imaging system for recording body surface topography has
      been developed on a microcomputer-based image processing system. The computer
      processes fringe patterns generated on the surface of the trunk and reconstructs
      the complete 3-dimensional form of the surface. From the topographic
      reconstruction, clinical parameters of scoliotic deformity such as Angle of Trunk
      Inclination are calculated at a number of levels from the upper thoracic to the
      sacral region. These multiple level measurements illustrate the change in
      deformity over the trunk and correspond to measurements obtained using
      conventional tactile devices on patients.

PMID- 1456023
TI  - Plaster casts for the correction of idiopathic scoliosis.
AB  - The authors report their experience in conservative management of idiopathic
      scoliosis treated in the last 10 years with the Risser localizer cast method. The
      conclusion is that this method, alone or in combination with braces, is still a
      particularly effective therapeutic means in the correction of both angular
      deviation and rotation, provided that a rigid protocol is followed.

PMID- 1456024
TI  - Brace treatment in idiopathic scoliosis.
AB  - A German multicenter study with consequent long-term follow-up of patients with
      idiopathic scoliosis after Milwaukee brace treatment in one out of seven
      Orthopaedic Clinics showed that brace weaning at the bone age of Risser 4 is
      followed by early loss of curve correction. According to Oberthaler et al.
      patients, who were furnished with a brace as outpatients, are inclined to
      practice a part-time wearing with different brace free intervals. In a longterm
      follow-up study of 328 patients with idiopathic scoliosis treated at the North
      German Scoliosis Center in Cuxhaven 123 compliant patients were examined 4 1/2
      years after brace weaning. All were asked to wear their braces 23 hours a day and
      were weaned only at Risser 4-5 or Risser 5. The control rate was 93%. A gain of
      correction between 9 and 22% was the result. We analysed the composition of the
      group of 81 noncompliant patients. As far as we could find out the percentage of
      really non-compliant patients was only 19% compared with a total of 212 patients,
      who had finished their brace treatment at least 5 years ago. Eight patients (4%)
      with prebrace values of over 40 degrees Cobb had to be operated, though they were
      compliant. Based on these results, strict brace treatment in progressive
      idiopathic scoliosis is recommended, unless no more physiologic way of treatment
      is available.

PMID- 1456025
TI  - The conservative management of Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis.
AB  - Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis is not a single diagnostic entity but comprises a
      number of different types of scoliosis. Although detected in the juvenile years,
      the study of 56 cases shows that in the majority the onset of the scoliosis can
      be traced back to infancy. It is proposed that the aim of conservative treatment
      should be to eradicate the deformity and not be content with preventing
      progression. The principle of using the child's growth as a corrective force to
      eradicate the deformity is described. An outline of early treatment by corrective
      plaster jackets is given.

PMID- 1456026
TI  - Spinal cord monitoring. State of the art. Results in Harrington and C.D.
      instrumentation for scoliosis.
AB  - In scoliosis surgery, it is of paramount importance to obtain extensive
      correction of the curve without compromising the integrity of the spinal cord. Up
      to now, the wake-up test has been used for the intra-operative assessment of
      spinal cord function. Besides the fact that the test only provides a single
      evaluation, it is also encumbered with some potential hazards related to the
      anesthetic procedure. An additional problem arises when the technique is applied
      in psychiatric patients. An alternative approach is the continuous recording of
      evoked potentials obtained from sensory stimulation. The method permits
      uninterrupted intra-operative monitoring of the neurological status of the cord.

PMID- 1456027
TI  - Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions in neonates: normative data.
AB  - Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOEs) are otoacoustic emissions evoked
      by two pure tones and used in order to provide a frequency specific assessment of
      the mechanical properties of the cochlea. This paper first reports complete input
      output DPOE functions for audiometric frequencies between 867 Hertz and 8 kHz in
      a normal neonate population (normative data). DPOE results were analyzed as a
      function of evoked otoacoustic emission (EOE) properties. Neonates having normal
      EOEs have large DPOEs. DPOE amplitudes in neonates are larger than in adults.
      Neonates with atypical EOE frequency spectrum without low frequency components
      had normal DPOE input-output functions only for high frequencies (above 2 kHz).
      DPOEs could be useful, in association with EOEs, to precisely evaluate the
      auditory peripheral function in neonates.

PMID- 1456028
TI  - Steady-state evoked potentials to amplitude modulated tones in the monkey.
AB  - A frequency-specific, objective assessment of hearing thresholds is required for
      use in subjects unable to perform behavioural audiometry. One such method using
      steady-state evoked potentials (SSEPs) in response to amplitude-modulated tones
      was evaluated in an experimental animal, the macaque monkey. An amplitude
      modulation frequency of 165 Hz was found to produce optimum response detection in
      the anaesthetised animal. Auditory thresholds determined by a computerised
      automatic response detection system accurately reflected behavioural thresholds
      previously described in this species.

PMID- 1456029
TI  - A comparison of speech perception of cochlear implantees using the Spectral
      Maxima Sound Processor (SMSP) and the MSP (MULTIPEAK) processor.
AB  - The Spectral Maxima Sound Processor (SMSP) is a portable speech processor which
      has recently been developed at the University of Melbourne for use with multiple
      electrode cochlear implants. In this processor, the six largest outputs (maxima)
      of 16 bandpass filters are used to stimulate the cochlea on a place basis at a
      constant rate. This speech processing strategy has been compared with the
      MSP(MULTIPEAK) strategy, in which four electrodes are selected for stimulation in
      every glottal pulse period. The study was undertaken on four postlinguistically
      deaf adults. The results show that, for this group of subjects, the performance
      of the SMSP processor was significantly better than that of the MSP(MULTIPEAK)
      processor for the recognition of closed-set vowels and consonants, open-set
      monosyllabic words, and open-set sentences in noise, when using electrical
      stimulation alone. The SMSP mean scores were: vowels 91.3%, consonants 74.9%,
      words 57.4%, and sentences in noise 78.7%. The MSP(MULTIPEAK) mean scores were:
      vowels 76.3%, consonants 59.4%, words 39.9%, and sentences in noise 50.0%.

PMID- 1456030
TI  - Ultrastructure of cultured marginal cells of the guinea pig cochlea.
AB  - Explants of stria vascularis and spiral ligament of guinea pig cochlea were kept
      in primary culture. On the explant, proliferating marginal cells advanced by 15
      microns/day, suggesting that in vivo defects of the strial epithelium can be
      covered by new marginal cells. The marginal cells growing in the cell culture
      dish had a diameter of 12.8 +/- 0.7 microns and formed an epithelial monolayer.
      Adjacent cells were connected by desmosomes and tight junctions. The cells were
      uniformly polarized. The apical membrane had small invaginations and numerous
      microvillus-like extensions, and the convoluted lateral membrane interdigitated
      with adjacent cells. The basal infoldings were smaller in cultured cells than in
      vivo; mitochondria were dispersed in the entire cytoplasm rather than
      concentrated in basolateral infoldings. The basal membrane infoldings of cultured
      marginal cells did not interdigitate with underlying fibroblast-like cells.
      Marginal cells were separated from underlying fibroblast-like cells by a fluid
      filled space which was sometimes enlarged, leading to the formation of "domes" in
      the otherwise planar epithelium.

PMID- 1456031
TI  - Prostaglandin synthesis by the lateral cochlear wall under streptomycin
      influence.
AB  - The synthesis of 4 prostaglandins (PGs), PGD2, PGE2, PGF2 alpha and PGI2,
      detected as 6keto PGF1 alpha in the guinea pig lateral cochlear wall (LW) was
      investigated under streptomycin treatment. Animals underwent daily injections of
      the antibiotic at dosages of 20, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight. Prostaglandins
      were detected 1, 5 and 10 days after drug administration using radioimmunoassay.
      Under aminoglycoside administration a general reduction of PG-synthesis was
      evident, which was highest for PGI2. Already after 5 days of treatment the PGI2
      synthesis was decreased down to 50% under the lowest drug dosage. The highest
      antibiotic dosage induced an abrupt decline of PGI2 synthesis, down to 26%, in
      animals with the longest duration of treatment. The significant synthesis
      reduction of PGI2 was followed by PGE2. The reduction of PG-synthesis seems to be
      influenced rather by duration than dosage of drug administration. The decreased
      synthesis of PGs under streptomycin treatment is interpreted as an inhibition of
      cell membrane phospholipids, the phosphoinositides. This assumption becomes
      plausible since the phospholipids represent endogenous precursors of the PG
      synthesis.

PMID- 1456032
TI  - Characteristic ionic composition of endolymph is maintained in cultured inner
      ear.
AB  - Inner ear anlagen from mouse were explanted on the 16th gestational day (gd) and
      cultured for 5 days, i.e. corresponding to the time of birth. By using energy
      dispersive X-ray technique an elemental composition characteristic for endolymph
      was found within the membranous labyrinth of the explants. The sodium to
      potassium ratio in the endolymphatic space of the cultured inner ears
      corresponded to endolymph of the 16th gd fetus in vivo. There was no difference
      in the endolymph compartment between the cochlear and vestibular halves of the in
      vitro specimens. Differences in Na to K ratio between endolymph of the inner ears
      and the surrounding medium were statistically significant. Thus, endolymph
      regulating mechanisms are active also under organ culture conditions, although
      not fully optimal.

PMID- 1456033
TI  - Experimental interruption of the endolymphatic duct and its effect on the DC
      potential in the endolymphatic sac.
AB  - The endolymphatic sac (ES) of the guinea pig was isolated from the remainder of
      the inner ear by means of surgical interruption of the endolymphatic duct (ED).
      The DC potential in the ES lumen and the morphology of the ES were studied using
      glass micro-electrodes and a light microscope at various time intervals after the
      interruption of ED. The DC potential did not significantly change 1 h
      postoperatively, compared to findings in the non-operated ear, but a significant
      decrease of the DC potential was observed after 1, 3 and 7 days postoperatively.
      A histologically-stainable substance in the ES lumen was enhanced on the operated
      side. The isolated ES shows a disturbance of mechanism(s) maintaining the DC
      potential and there is a secretion of a stainable substance into its lumen.

PMID- 1456034
TI  - Absorption of horseradish peroxidase in the endolymphatic sac: ultrastructural
      cytochemistry using a new electrophoretic technique.
AB  - Using a newly developed injection technique, the absorption of horseradish
      peroxidase (HRP) in the endolymphatic sac (ES) of the guinea pig was examined by
      light and electron microscopy. HRP (molecular weight: 40,000; molecular diameter:
      about 5-nm) was directly injected into the lumen of the ES by electrophoresis
      after the recording of a direct current potential in the ES lumen. Both the
      macrophages floating in the ES lumen and the epithelial cells in the intermediate
      portion of the ES absorbed intraluminal HRP. The macrophages internalized the
      intraluminal HRP at a higher rate than the epithelial cells, suggesting that
      macrophages play a major role in macromolecular absorption in the ES. It was
      considered that the macrophages took up intraluminal HRP by phagocytosis, while
      the epithelial cells of the intermediate portion took it up by pinocytosis. In
      contrast, the epithelial cells in the proximal portion of the ES absorbed little
      HRP. No penetration through the junctional complexes between epithelial cells was
      observed in either the intermediate or the proximal portion at any interval after
      the injection of HRP. This finding indicates that these junctional complexes are
      impermeable to intraluminal HRP.

PMID- 1456035
TI  - Experimental basis for lidocaine therapy in cochlear disorders.
AB  - In order to further our basic understanding of the effects of lidocaine
      hydrochloride in the inner ear, cochlear potentials and blood flow (CBF) were
      assessed after intravenous (i.v.), anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA),
      and local round window (RW) lidocaine administrations in guinea pigs and rats.
      Lidocaine RW applications produced a dose dependent decrease in compound action
      potentials (CAP) and cochlear microphonics (CM). The sensitivity changes were
      more pronounced at high frequencies. These findings suggest that lidocaine has
      specific pharmacological action in the inner ear other than simple anesthesia of
      the auditory nerve. The basal turn endocochlear potentials (EP) were not altered
      by topical lidocaine, implicating altered organ of Corti function following local
      application of lidocaine. RW applications of lidocaine had no effect on CBF or
      systemic blood pressure (BP). I.v. infusions caused substantial reductions in BP.
      In the case of systemic infusions the percent changes in CBF were equal to and
      accountable by the BP changes. The microinfusions (50 mg/ml, 100 nl/min) through
      AICA produced a 30%, long lasting increase in CBF. However, neither systemic
      lidocaine nor AICA infusions had an effect on CAP or CM. These findings indicate
      that systemically given lidocaine may not cross the blood-cochlear barrier and
      that the cochlear electrophysiological effects due to lidocaine when given
      locally are partly mediated by direct influence on cochlear hair cell function;
      they also suggest that lidocaine-induced interference with active ion transport
      in the lateral wall or an influence on CBF are not contributing factors.

PMID- 1456036
TI  - Suboccipital acoustic neuroma surgery: results of decentralized neurosurgical
      tumor removal in Denmark.
AB  - From 1979 to 1990, a series of 59 patients with 59 acoustic neuromas were
      operated on in five departments of neurosurgery by at least five different
      neurosurgical teams, employing the suboccipital approach. Perioperative mortality
      rate was 8.5%. Complications including hematoma, ventricular hemorrhage,
      meningitis, hemiparalysis, abducens nerve paralysis, recurrent nerve paralysis,
      postoperative wound infection and CSF leak were observed in 21 patients (35.6%).
      Total tumor removal was not possible in 17 patients (28.8%). Converting the
      postoperative facial nerve function to House-Brackmann (HB) classification, 34
      patients (57.6%) were regarded as HB 6. Reconstruction of the facial nerve was
      attempted in 19 patients (32.2%). Attempts at hearing preservation were
      unsuccessful in all patients. Failure to attain better results and the importance
      of centralized treatment of acoustic neuroma are emphasized.

PMID- 1456037
TI  - The middle ear as a baroreceptor.
AB  - Under pressure in the middle ear is thought to be important in the pathogenesis
      of chronic otitis media with effusion and its sequelae, but the cause of the
      under pressure and the mechanisms responsible for regulation of the normal middle
      ear pressure are a matter of debate. Numerous studies have examined the effect of
      large pressure changes on the ear; however, the ear's sensitivity to smaller
      pressure changes has received little attention. This study examines the
      sensitivity of the ear to atmospheric air pressure changes induced in the
      external ear canal. It is concluded that the normal ear is a very sensitive
      pressure receptor, and that the sensation is probably registered by stretch
      receptors in the tympanic membrane. Pathological changes in the tympanic membrane
      are associated with impaired baroreceptor function. The implications of these
      findings in the physiology of the ear and the regulation of middle ear pressure
      are discussed.

PMID- 1456038
TI  - Expression of sialic acids in the developing murine tubotympanum.
AB  - Sialoglycoconjugates in the developing murine tubotympanum were characterized
      using lectin histochemistry with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), Limax flavus
      agglutinin (LFA), Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA), Maackia amurensis agglutinin
      (MAA), peanut agglutinin (PNA), and neuraminidase treatment. WGA, LFA, MAA, and
      neuraminidase-PNA labeled epithelial goblet cells, glandular mucous cells, and
      cell surfaces of adult and newborn murine tubotympanum. SNA did not label any
      secretory components. PNA labeled secretory cells and cell surfaces of the fetal
      tubotympanum without neuraminidase treatment. After birth, these secretory cells
      and cell surfaces were labeled with PNA only after neuraminidase treatment. These
      results revealed that: Sialoglycoconjugates are produced from glandular mucous
      cells and epithelial goblet cells and are present on cell surfaces and within the
      mucous blanket; their terminal tri-saccharide linkage appears to be the sequence
      Neu5Ac(alpha 2-3)Gal(beta 1-3)GalNAc; sialic acids appear before birth and
      gradually increase; terminal galactose residues are masked by sialic acids after
      birth.

PMID- 1456039
TI  - A study of the photoelectrical signal from human nasal cilia under several
      conditions.
AB  - The movement of normal human nasal cilia was analyzed. Ciliary beat was recorded
      by means of a phase-contrast microscope equipped with a photodetector. The
      electrical signal was analyzed as follows: i) a power spectrum was calculated in
      order to measure ciliary beat frequency (CBF), ii) the beat cycles were averaged
      and the standard deviation of the waveform was computed to determine signal
      consistency (SC), and iii) the ratio of the duration of the smooth to that of the
      steep part of the cycles was measured. This was done under three different
      conditions: 1) normal or "initial", 2) after induction of "function loss", and 3)
      after "salbutamol stimulation". At "function loss," the cilia beat slower and
      with less harmony. CBF decreased from an average of 9.0 Hz in the "initial"
      condition to 5.8 Hz. SC decreased from an average of 5.7 to 1.9. After
      "salbutamol stimulation", average CBF was partially restored to 7.7 Hz, while
      average SC increased to 4.4. These findings indicate that in ciliary function
      studies, SC, as a measure for ciliary beat harmony, may be introduced alongside
      CBF as a second valuable parameter. In this study we were not able to identify
      different phases in the signal that might be used as a third parameter to
      indicate the effective and the recovery stroke.

PMID- 1456040
TI  - Nasal peak flow rate records in work related nasal blockage.
AB  - Eleven patients, who had symptoms of blocking nose in relation to exposure to
      airway irritants in their work environment, and 11 control subjects recorded
      nasal and bronchial peak expiratory flow rates (PEFRN and PEFRB) during a working
      week. In contrast to the control subjects the patients demonstrated a pattern of
      gradual decrease in PEFRN during the working week with restitution during the
      subsequent weekend and a different day rhythm in PEFRN during working days from
      days off. The changes in PEFRB were similar but less pronounced. The results
      indicate that the symptoms of nasal blockage can be visualized by following the
      PEFRN during a working week and that the changes in PEFRN may have a relationship
      to different environmental exposures.

PMID- 1456041
TI  - Ciliary beat of cultured human respiratory cells studied with differential
      interference microscope and high speed video system.
AB  - The ciliary beating of upper respiratory tract cells cultured on cover glasses
      was studied by using differential interference microscope equipped with high
      speed video. By culturing the cells on collagen coated cover glasses, objectives
      with higher magnifications could be used. With this system we could evaluate not
      only ciliary beat frequency, but also amplitude, wave form, orientation and
      synchrony of ciliary beating. Also some structural anomalies such as compound
      cilia and tide cilia bundles could be recognized. Ciliary beat frequency measured
      from 1,026 ciliated cells was 20.6 +/- 4.7 Hz (mean +/- SD). The orientation of
      ciliary beat directions was random and the mean standard deviation for measured
      angles was 73.0 degrees +/- 28.9 degrees (mean SD +/- SD). When the ciliary beat
      frequency was 20 Hz, the time used for effective phase was 0.022 +/- 0.002 s
      (mean +/- SD), and 0.028 +/- 0.004 s (mean +/- SD) for the recovery phase of
      beat. This system is advantageous for studying ciliary function because all parts
      can be studied simultaneously with higher magnification, and the effects of
      chemical physical mediators can be studied without disturbing effects of the
      autonomic nervous system or secretory cells. Also, the same cells could be
      observed before and after challenge with test medication and thus evaluated more
      accurately.

PMID- 1456042
TI  - Danger areas of the posterior rhinobasis. An endoscopic and anatomical-surgical
      study.
AB  - In 52 cadaveric half-heads, an endoscopic sphenoethmoidectomy was performed.
      Then, an anatomical preparation with registration of specific data like bulging
      of the optic canal, thickness of the bony wall covering the optic nerve and the
      internal carotid artery was achieved, followed by histological sections in
      specially selected cases. Thus the two key areas of major surgical hazard in the
      posterior rhinobasis could be clearly demonstrated: the immediate topographic
      relation of the optic canal and the internal carotid artery to the lateral wall
      of the sphenoid sinus and the cells of the posterior ethmoid respectively. Onodi
      cells of varying degrees were found in 42% of all cases. The thickness of bony
      wall over the maximum bulging of the optic canal averaged 0.28 mm. Bony
      dehiscences could be demonstrated in 12% of the cases. The technique of data
      acquisition, the anatomical and histological findings as well as their clinical
      and surgical relevance are discussed.

PMID- 1456043
TI  - Developmental changes in expression of a calcium-binding protein (spot 35
      calbindin) in the Nervus terminalis and the vomeronasal and olfactory receptor
      cells.
AB  - The detailed localization of spot 35-calbindin and its ontogenic change were
      studied in Nervus terminalis, the vomeronasal organ and the olfactory epithelium
      of the rat by immunohistochemistry. At the embryonic days 12 and 13 (E 12-13),
      calbindin-immunoreactive cells were found in the outermost layer of the
      presumptive olfactory bulb and within the olfactory placode. At E 14 to the
      postnatal day 1 (P 1), intense calbindin-immunoreactivity was localized in
      ganglionated fiber bundles of Nervus terminalis coursing through the mesenchymal
      spaces on both sides of the nasal septum. Nervus terminalis decreased the
      immunoreactivity abruptly after P 1 and it showed no distinct immunoreactivity
      for calbindin at P 7 and thereafter. On the other hand, numerous receptor cells
      in the olfactory epithelium and the thicker vomeronasal epithelium exhibited weak
      to moderate immunoreactivity for calbindin at E 18-P 1. Their immunoreactivity
      decreased in intensity progressively after P 7 and no distinct immunoreactivity
      for calbindin was detected in most of the receptor cells, whereas moderate
      immunoreactivity was detected in most of the vomeronasal and olfactory nerves at
      P 28 and P 63.

PMID- 1456044
TI  - Neuropeptide Y in the rabbit maxillary sinus modulates cholinergic acceleration
      of mucociliary activity.
AB  - The distribution of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-immunoreactivity was investigated in the
      rabbit maxillary sinus and adjacent ganglia. A moderate supply of NPY-containing
      nerve fibers occurred around seromucous glands and a denser supply around small
      blood vessels. Only a few immunoreactive nerve fibers were seen beneath the
      epithelium. Double immunostaining showed that vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)
      coexisted with NPY in the nerve fibers surrounding blood vessels and seromucous
      glands. NPY-containing nerve cell bodies were numerous in the superior cervical
      ganglion, and moderately numerous in the sphenopalatine ganglion. The finding of
      NPY-containing neurons in the latter parasympathetic ganglion suggests that NPY
      may influence the cholinergic regulation of mucociliary activity. The effect of
      NPY on the mucociliary activity of the maxillary sinus in connection with
      cholinergic stimulation has therefore been investigated in vivo using a
      photoelectric technique. At dosages of 2.5 and 5.0 micrograms/kg, the ganglionic
      stimulant nicotine bitartrate, which increases mucociliary activity by a
      cholinergic pathway, accelerated mucociliary activity by 28.0 +/- 7.5% and 36.8
      +/- 6.2%, respectively. In the same experiment repeated during infusion of NPY
      (0.1 microgram/kg/min), the increase in mucociliary activity was reduced to 10.8
      +/- 2.3% and 28.9 +/- 7.1%, respectively. Infusion of NPY did not affect the
      stimulating effect on mucociliary activity by bolus injections (0.1 and 0.5
      microgram/kg) of the cholinergic agonist, methacholine. It is concluded that NPY
      like immunoreactivity is present in nerve fibers in the rabbit maxillary sinus
      and in neurons in the sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia that supply the
      nose and paranasal sinuses. NPY attenuates the effect of nicotine on mucociliary
      activity, probably via a prejunctional mechanism, and may act as a modulator of
      cholinergic regulation of the mucociliary system.

PMID- 1456045
TI  - Retention fluids of chronic sinusitis induce neutrophil adherence to
      microvascular endothelial cells.
AB  - The adherence of circulating leukocytes to the vascular endothelium is a critical
      step in the emigration of leukocytes through blood vessel walls to inflammatory
      lesions. The influence of nasal secretions on the adherence of neutrophils to the
      vascular endothelium was investigated using monolayers of human mucosal
      microvascular endothelial cells derived from the inferior turbinate.
      Preincubation of vascular endothelial cells with retention fluids from the
      maxillary sinus of the patients with chronic sinusitis showed increased
      neutrophil adherence. Recombinant IL-1 beta was also tested and found to induce
      adherence of neutrophils to human mucosal microvascular endothelial cells.
      However, no adhesive effect was observed with the nasal secretions of nasal
      allergy. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detected considerable amounts of IL
      1 beta in the chronic sinusitis retention fluids, while the amounts of IL-1 alpha
      and TNF-alpha were very low. The increased adhesion of the neutrophils by the
      retention fluids of chronic sinusitis was also neutralized by the incubation with
      anti-IL-1 beta antibody in a dose dependent manner. These findings suggest that
      IL-1 beta in the paranasal secretion of chronic sinusitis induces the adherence
      of neutrophils to vascular endothelium and subsequent infiltration of neutrophils
      in the paranasal sinuses, thus contributing to the persistence of chronic
      sinusitis.

PMID- 1456046
TI  - Expression of epithelial membrane antigen and secretory component in carcinomas
      of the laryngeal ventricle, epiglottis and vocal cord.
AB  - Expression of epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and secretory component (SC) in
      11 laryngeal carcinomas from the laryngeal ventricle was studied
      immunohistochemically and the results were compared with findings in carcinomas
      originating from the epiglottis and vocal cord. EMA was almost constantly present
      in laryngeal carcinomas of each type, while the expression of SC was observed in
      7 of 11 (64%) ventricle carcinomas, 9 of 34 (26%) carcinomas from the epiglottis
      and 2 of 11 (18%) carcinomas from the vocal cord. In 4 ventricle carcinomas,
      immunostaining for SC was intense. It would appear that some carcinomas in the
      laryngeal ventricle originate from cells of the secretory glandular acini or the
      epithelium.

PMID- 1456047
TI  - Serum concentration fluctuation and bioavailability comparison between
      indomethacin sustained-release and conventional capsules during steady state.
AB  - The comparison between indomethacin conventional capsule (CC) po 25 mg q 8 h or
      25 mg tid and indomethacin sustained-release capsule (SRC) po 25 mg bid in human
      by crossover design showed that both maximal serum concentration (Cmax) and
      fluctuation index (FI%) of SRC were significantly lower than those of CC during
      steady state (P < 0.01). No practical differences were observed between the 2
      preparations in the trough serum concentration (Cmin) and area under serum
      concentration-time profiles (AUC0-tau) (P > 0.05). The time period reaching
      maximal serum concentration (Tmax) of SRC was much more delayed than that of CC
      (P < 0.01). It suggested that SRC possesses a better controlled release property
      and could avoid a higher serum peak concentration of CC.

PMID- 1456048
TI  - Effects of ohmefentanyl on CA1 field potentials in rat hippocampus slices.
AB  - The effects of ohmefentanyl (OMF), a new opiate agonist with high affinity and
      high specificity for mu receptors, was examined on CA1 field potentials in the
      transverse hippocampal slices. OMF showed two effects upon the evoked population
      spikes (PS) recorded in stratum pyramidale: 1) a concentration-dependent increase
      in the amplitude of PS, which was largely reversed by naloxone, and 2) production
      of a naloxone-reversible additional PS at high stimulus intensities. No
      significant change was seen in field excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)
      recorded simultaneously in stratum radiatum. The EC50 for OMF and morphine were
      6.6 and 3700 nmol.L-1, respectively. Thus OMF was 560 times more potent than
      morphine. The mechanism of augmentation by OMF of PS could be attributed to
      disinhibition as judged from the paired-pulse paradigm.

PMID- 1456049
TI  - Effects of l-stepholidine on synaptosomal Ca(2+)-ATPase and subcellular
      calmodulin in rat striatum.
AB  - Our results showed that l-stepholidine (l-SPD) inhibited basal Ca(2+)-ATPase
      activity in rat striatal synaptosomes with an IC50 of 31.5 mumol.L-1, suggesting
      its interaction with Ca2+ transport. l-SPD inhibited also calmodulin (CaM)
      activated basal Ca(2+)-ATPase in a concentration-dependent manner. A complete
      reversal of CaM activation of Ca(2+)-ATPase was observed with l-SPD 10 mumol.L-1.
      The activity of synaptosomal Ca(2+)-ATPase and membrane-bound CaM level were
      decreased in haloperidol (1 mg.kg-1.d-1, ip) and l-SPD (5, 10, and 30 mg.kg-1.d
      1, ip) treated rats for 7 and 14 d, respectively. But the activity of Ca(2+)
      ATPase and membrane CaM level were increased after treatment with the same of
      doses haloperidol and l-SPD for 21 d. During the treatments with haloperidol and
      l-SPD cytosolic and nuclear CaM levels were not altered. These results suggest
      that l-SPD may modulate the release and synthesis of dopamine (DA) and the
      negative feedback regulation of presynaptic DA receptors by altering Ca2+ and CaM
      regulating processes in the central dopaminergic nervous system.

PMID- 1456050
TI  - Vascular permeability increased by histamine aerosol, capsaicin, and electric
      stimulation of vagus nerves in guinea pigs.
AB  - The present study was to clarify the tissue differences in vascular permeability
      enhanced by 0.1% histamine aerosol, capsaicin (50 micrograms.kg-1, iv), and
      electric stimulation of vagus nerves (ESV, 12 V, 5 ms, 16 Hz, for 90 s) in
      different parts of airways, heart, esophagus, ileum, kidney, and liver of guinea
      pigs using Evans blue (30 mg.kg-1, iv) as a tracer. All the treatments
      significantly increased the dye extravasation in trachea, main bronchi, proximal
      and distal intrapulmonary airways (by 64-722%), as well as in the heart (by 89
      126%), most remarkable for capsaicin on trachea and main bronchi. Capsaicin also
      markedly increased the dye content in esophagus. These results demonstrate that
      neurogenic inflammation induced by capsaicin and ESV primarily increases vascular
      permeability in the respiratory tract and heart.

PMID- 1456051
TI  - Effect of dizocilpine maleate on cerebral anoxia and ischemic damage in rodents.
AB  - The Protective effects of dizocilpine maleate (DM) against anoxia in mice and
      ischemic damage in rats of 4-vessel occlusion (4-VO) were studied. DM 0.5 or 1.0
      mg.kg-1 ip significantly prolonged the survival time of mice in closed
      containers. DM 0.5 and 1.0 mg.kg-1 ip 30 min prior to 4-VO obviously accelerated
      the electroencephalographic recovery, reduced the neuronal loss in the
      hippocampus, and increased the survival rate after 72-h reperfusion. These
      effects followed a dose-dependent manner. Our results indicate that selective non
      competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor blocker DM protects against anoxic and
      ischemic cerebral damage.

PMID- 1456052
TI  - Effect of intracerebral injection of pirenzepine on electroencephalography and
      convulsions in conscious rabbits.
AB  - Intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of pirenzepine (Pir) 2 mg.kg-1 caused EEG
      spike discharges, which first appeared in amygdala or hippocampus and then in
      midbrain reticular formation and cortex. After that rabbits developed clonic
      convulsions. Injection (300 micrograms) into amygdala or hippocampus also
      produced EEG spike discharges Hemicholinium 3 (HC-3) 50-150 micrograms.kg-1 icv
      inhibited the EEG spike and seizure discharges in varying degrees produced by
      Pir. It is suggested that Pir has a central stimulatory action which is related
      to cholinergic mechanism.

PMID- 1456053
TI  - Circadian effects of scopolamine on memory, exploratory behavior, and muscarinic
      receptors in mouse brain.
AB  - Mice were maintained at light-dark cycle with lights on from 05:00-19:00 for 10 d
      in laboratory. The study was performed at 07:00-09:00, 15:00-17:00, and 21:00
      23:00 in June and July. Scopolamine (Scop, 0.1 and 0.4 mg.kg-1, ip) was injected
      15 min prior to training or the first exploratory test. The amnesic effects of
      Scop showed hyperresponses at 07:00-09:00 and 15:00-17:00, and hyporesponses at
      21:00-23:00 using step-through and step-down tasks. The circadian effects of Scop
      on exploratory behavior were consistent with the findings above mentioned. The
      numbers of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) binding sites in the temporal
      cortex and hippocampus were more at 08:00 and 16:00 than those at 22:00. However,
      muscarinic receptor levels in the striatum were lower at 08:00 than those at
      22:00. These results indicated that the effects of Scop on memory, behavior in a
      novel environment, and muscarinic receptors in brain regions showed circadian
      changes in mice.

PMID- 1456054
TI  - Global depletion of myocardial norepinephrine and ATP after left coronary artery
      occlusion in rats.
AB  - After ligation of the left coronary artery in rats, myocardial norepinephrine
      (NE) and ATP depletions in both infarcted (IZ) and non-infarcted zone (NIZ) were
      studied. In IZ, the depletions of NE and ATP were biphasic and the depleting rate
      constants were found to be K1 = 0.71 h-1 and K2 = 0.015 h-1 for NE, and K1' =
      0.52 h-1 and K2' = 0.016 h-1 for ATP. In NIZ, the depletion of NE was monophasic,
      slowly progressive, and quite durable with rate constant K3 = 0.018 h-1. The
      depletion of ATP was transient. Propranolol (Pro) and verapamil (Ver) were
      beneficial but only partly effective against NE and ATP depletions.

PMID- 1456055
TI  - Electrophysiological effects of cimetidine on rabbit myocardium.
AB  - Effects of cimetidine (Cim) were studied electrophysiologically on fast action
      potential (AP) in rabbit papillary muscle and slow AP in pacemaker cell of rabbit
      sinoatrial node (SAN) as well as on atrioventricular (A-V) conduction in
      anesthetized rabbit. Cim (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 2 mmol.L-1) induced prolongations of
      AP duration (APD) and effective refractory period (ERP), slowing down of the
      maximal rate of rise of phase 0 (Vmax) and of the slope of phase 4 depolarization
      (SP4), and a decrease of AP amplitude (APA) in concentration-dependent manners.
      Cim (100 mg.kg-1 iv) prolonged the A-V conduction. The results suggest that Cim,
      like quinidine, shows a membrane stabilizing effect, which may be the
      electrophysiological basis of the anti-arrhythmic effect of Cim.

PMID- 1456056
TI  - Effects of m-nisoldipine on transmembrane currents of guinea pig papillary
      muscles.
AB  - Effects of m-Nis on the transmembrane currents were studied using single sucrose
      gap voltage clamp technique. The amplitude of slow inward current (I(si)) was
      10.6 +/- 4.1 microA. Maximal inward current was induced at a membrane potential
      range between -20 to -25 mV. The amplitude of I(si) were significantly decreased
      by m-Nis (0.2 mumol.L-1) with a reduction of 47.3%. The transient inward current
      (I(ti)) induced by ouabain was also greatly depressed or prevented by m-Nis,
      resulting in the inhibition of DAD.

PMID- 1456057
TI  - [Evaluation of the tissue-to-blood partition coefficient R for physiological
      pharmacokinetic models].
AB  - The tissue-to-blood partition coefficient R, fraction of drug unbound in blood fB
      and intrinsic clearance of elimination organ/tissue Cl'L are important parameters
      used in physiological pharmacokinetic models. Simple equations to evaluate R by
      AUC were derived in this paper for single bolus iv, the tissue-to-blood partition
      coefficient of nonelimination organ/tissue was exactly the ratio of AUC between
      tissue and blood, those equations were examined by the experimental data of rats
      following iv ethoxybenzamide 20 mg.kg-1, and compared with other methods.
      Equations to evaluate fBCl'L and other parameters were also given for linear
      elimination model.

PMID- 1456058
TI  - [Muscarinic receptor subtypes in respiratory center and their functions].
AB  - Radioreceptor binding assays using [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate and
      [3H]pirenzepine were performed on the pons and medulla oblongata (MeOb) of rat
      brain. The M1 cholinergic receptor (M1-R) was found to account for approximately
      30-40% of the total muscarinic receptors (M-R) in the pons and MeOb, and the M2
      accounted for about 60-70%. The receptor binding capacities of scopolamine and
      atropine were compared with those of pirenzepine (Pir) and AF-DX 116 on the 2
      parts of the brain. The affinity values (pKi) suggest that the selectivity of
      scopolamine for M1-R is greater than for M2-R, and that of atropine for M2 is
      greater than for M1. In conscious rabbits, the respiratory frequency (FR), tidal
      volume (TV), and minute ventilation volume (MVV) were determined. Arterial blood
      samples were taken intermittently and analyzed for pO2, pCO2, and pH. When
      pilocarpine (a M1-R subtype selective agonist) was given, excitatory effects on
      respiration were seen through FR, TV, MVV, and the pO2, pCO2, and pH. When 6 beta
      acetoxy nortropane (6 beta-AN, a novel M2-R subtype selective agonist) was given,
      the effects were inhibitory. These results were reversed after administration of
      Pir, scopolamine, AF-DX 116, and atropine. Thus, it shows that Pir and
      scopolamine inhibit respiration by blocking the M1-R subtype of the respiratory
      center, while the excitatory effects of AF-DX 116 and atropine are brought about
      by blocking the M2-R subtype of the respiratory center.

PMID- 1456059
TI  - [Effect of mexiletine on energy metabolism of ischemic brain in mice].
AB  - After 30 s ischemia induced by decapitation, the contents of ATP and
      phosphocreatine (PC) in mouse brain reduced, while that of lactic acid (LA)
      increased. When mexiletine (3.1-50 mg.kg-1) was injected ip 30 min before
      decapitation, the brain ATP and PC reduction, and LA accumulation were both
      alleviated in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggested that mexiletine
      was effective in ameliorating the energy exhaustion in the ischemic brain.

PMID- 1456060
TI  - [Effects of 3 henbane drugs on acute forebrain ischemia and reperfusion injury in
      rats].
AB  - After 30-min ischemia and 60-min reperfusions in rats by ligating bilateral
      vertebral and common carotid arteries, the brain calcium contents were increased
      from 171 +/- 6 micrograms in control group to 192 +/- 10 micrograms with abnormal
      EEG activities and ischemic injury in the brain tissues. Anisodamine 6.67 mg.kg
      1, scopolamine 0.67 mg.kg-1 or atropine 0.67 mg.kg-1 injected ip decreased the
      elevated calcium contents of the rat brain to the level of control, reduced the
      ischemic injury of brain tissue, and promoted the recovery of EEG activities. The
      findings showed that the 3 henbane drugs might prevent the brain tissues from
      ischemic damage through reducing intracellular Ca2+ accumulation resulted from
      ischemia and reperfusion event.

PMID- 1456061
TI  - [Inhibitory effects of neferine and tetrandrine on portal vein and papillary
      muscle in rats].
AB  - To determine the vascular selectivity, the inhibitory effects of verapamil (Ver),
      neferine (Nef), and tetrandrine (Tet) on the spontaneous contractile force of
      portal vein and contractile force of the paced papillary muscle of left ventricle
      were studied in Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats
      (SHR). The vascular selectivity was expressed by the IC50 ratio (IC50 for
      papillary muscle/IC50 for portal vein). The results showed that the vascular
      selectivity values of Ver, Nef, and Tet were 1.15, 0.32, and 0.20, respectively
      in WKY and 0.80, 0.24, and 0.10, respectively in SHR. It is concluded that Nef
      and Tet, in contrast with Ver which is devoid of selectivity for either tissue,
      are more liable to inhibit the myocardium than the vascular smooth muscle. In
      addition, the IC50 value of Tet for inhibition of the portal vein in SHR was
      nearly 10-fold higher than that in WKY (237 and 27 mumol.L-1, respectively). This
      indicates that the response of portal vein to Tet is decreased in SHR.

PMID- 1456062
TI  - [Role of catecholamines in action of nicotine on slow action potentials in guinea
      pig papillary muscles].
AB  - The action potential duration (APD) of histamine-induced slow action potentials
      (SAP) and force of contraction (FC) were potentiated by nicotine (0.6-1.0 mmol.L
      1) on guinea pig papillary muscles in a concentration-dependent manner. In the
      presence of atropine, nicotine concentration dependently suppressed the action
      potential amplitude (APA), APD, the maximal upstroke velocity (Vmax), and FC in
      catecholamine-depleted (reserpine 2.5 mg.kg-1 ip, 15 h prior to the experiment)
      muscles. Nicotine (0.6 mmol.L-1) itself induced SAP and enhanced FC. These 2
      effects were antagonized by verapamil. A linear relationship existed between APA
      of nicotine-induced SAP and 1g [Ca2+]0 with a slope of 23.2 mV for a 10-fold
      change in [Ca2+]0. These results suggested that the effects of nicotine on
      enhancing Isi were mediated by the release of catecholamines in myocardium.

PMID- 1456063
TI  - [Effects of propafenone, quinidine, and their combination on ventricular
      fibrillation threshold in dogs].
AB  - The effects of propafenone (Pro), a new Ic anti-arrhythmic agent (AAA), quinidine
      (Qui), and their combination on ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) and
      other electrophysiological properties were evaluated in 20 dogs. VFT was
      determined by a train of pulses, 4 ms in duration, delivered at 10 ms intervals.
      The results showed that in normal anesthetized, open-chest dogs: (1) Pro
      decreased VFT by 21.4%; (2) Qui increased VFT by 75.5%; (3) the Pro-induced
      decreased VFT was abolished by simultaneous administration of Qui; and (4) the
      above effects of the two drugs used separately or in combination on VFT were not
      related to their effects on ventricular effective refractory period and
      atrioventricular conduction time.

PMID- 1456064
TI  - [Effects of ketotifen on human neutrophil respiratory burst and intracellular
      free calcium].
AB  - The stimulatory effect of FMLP 5 nmol.L-1, OAG 25 nmol.L-1 and calcimycin 10
      nmol.L-1 on luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (CL) was observed in human
      neutrophils (Neu). The rest level of Neu intracellular free calcium ([Ca]i)
      measured by Ca(2+)-sensitive probe Quin 2/AM was calculated to be 200 +/- s 19
      nmol.L-1. By the addition of FMLP 0.1 nmol.L-1 or calcimycin 0.5 nmol.L-1, the
      peak [Ca]i increased to 769 +/- 104 nmol.L-1 and 953 +/- 53 nmol.L-1,
      respectively. Ketotifen (50-300 mumol.L-1) inhibited Neu CL in a dose-dependent
      manner with activator FMLP. Inhibition was also seen when Neu CL was activated by
      calcimycin and OAG, respectively. However, ketotifen did not inhibit Neu [Ca]i
      increment activated by FMLP and calcimycin.

PMID- 1456065
TI  - [Therapeutic effects of epimeric glycyrrhizic acids on hepatic injury in rats].
AB  - The effects of the epimeric glycyrrhizic acids (GA), 18 alpha-form and 18 beta
      form, on D-galactosamine (Gal)-induced acute liver injury and fulminating hepatic
      failure (FHF) in rats were studied. In rats of acute liver injury, extensive
      liver parenchymal cell damage was observed by the elevation of alanine
      aminotransferase (ALT) activity and confirmed by significant histopathological
      changes 24 and 48 h after ip Gal 450 mg.kg-1. Moreover, marked elevation in the
      liver putrescine levels occurred along with that of serum ALT. The spermidine and
      spermine levels did not alter significantly. GA 18 alpha-form 300 mg.kg-1 ip
      suppressed the elevation of serum ALT and liver putrescine levels, and improved
      all the histopathologic features. On the other hand, GA 18 beta-form 300 mg.kg-1,
      which exhibited inhibitory effects 24 h after ip Gal, showed no action 48 h after
      ip Gal. The ALT levels in the serum from GA 18 alpha-form, 18 beta-form, vs
      control groups after 24 h were 70 +/- 24 (P < 0.01) and 78 +/- 42 (P < 0.01) vs
      155 +/- 57, and after 48 h were 74 +/- 25 (P < 0.01) and 258 +/- 99 (P > 0.05) vs
      293 +/- 110. The putrescine contents (nmol.g-1) in the liver from GA 18 alpha
      form, 18 beta-form, vs control after 24 h were 34 +/- 9 (P < 0.01) and 51 +/- 12
      (P < 0.01) vs 139 +/- 29, and after 48 h were 16 +/- 3 (P < 0.01) and 150 +/- 11
      (P > 0.05) vs 156 +/- 23.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456066
TI  - [Pharmacokinetics of gentamicin after intratracheal administration in tracheotomy
      patients].
AB  - Seventeen tracheotomy patients were given gentamicin (Gen) into trachea at the
      dosage of 2 and 4 mg.kg-1. Gen concentration in serum was determined by
      fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated
      by micro-computer pharmacokinetic program (MCPKP). T1/2Ka, Tp, and Cmax were 0.6
      +/- 0.3 h, 1.7 +/- 0.7 h, and 4.6 +/- 1.8 micrograms.ml-1, respectively in 4
      mg.kg-1 group and 0.3 +/- 0.3 h, 0.9 +/- 0.5 h, and 0.4 +/- 0.2 microgram.ml-1,
      respectively in 2 mg.kg-1 group (P < 0.05). T1/2Kel was 30 +/- 11 h in patients
      of serum creatine (Cr) > 2 mg% and 6 +/- 5 h in patients of Cr < 2 mg% (P <
      0.01). No significant difference could be found between Cmax of different renal
      function patients (P > 0.05).

PMID- 1456067
TI  - [Absorption of ceftizoxime from peritoneal dialysate and its pharmacokinetics in
      chronic kidney failure patients].
AB  - The pharmacokinetics of ceftizoxime (Cef) and its diffusivity across the
      peritoneal membrane were studied in 10 chronic kidney failure patients undergoing
      continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Cef was determined by HPLC. The
      results showed that the disposition of Cef could be described with a 2
      compartment open model after 1 g intravenous infusion. VD = 20 +/- 5 L, AUC =
      1237 +/- 327 micrograms.ml-1.h. T1/2 beta = 16.9 +/- 4.5 h, which was much longer
      than that of patients with normal renal function. Therefore, the regulation of
      dose regimen was necessary when treating patients with renal failure. Cef was
      partly eliminated by peritoneal dialysis with the ClD of 2.9 +/- 1.0 ml.min-1.
      The bidirectional exchange of Cef was seen between blood and dialysate. It is
      more suitable to describe the diffusive characteristics of Cef from dialysate (or
      blood) into blood (or dialysate) with a zero order constant rate model. The
      absorption percentage of Cef after 0.5 g instilled with peritoneal dialysate was
      90.4 +/- 7.0%.

PMID- 1456068
TI  - [Influence of dexamethasone and epinephrine on glycogen content and cytosol
      glucocorticoid receptors in hyperthyroid rat liver].
AB  - The influence of hyperthyroidism on the action of drugs affecting rat liver
      glycogen content and its mechanism were investigated. The thyroid-induced
      hyperthyroidism of rat served as the model. In normal rats, dexamethasone (5
      mg.kg-1, ip) increased the content of liver glycogen and decreased the Bmax of
      glucocorticoid receptors (GCR) in liver cytosol. These effects were minimized or
      even disappeared in hyperthyroid rat models. On the other hand, in normal rats,
      epinephrine (0.20 mg.kg-1, ip) decreased the content of liver glycogen. This
      effect was potentiated in hyperthyroid rat models. Epinephrine did not affect the
      Bmax of GCR in liver cytosol of normal and hyperthyroid rats. These results
      suggested that hyperthyroidism may be one of the causes effecting the individual
      differences of drug action, and that the influence of hyperthyroidism on the
      glycogen-increasing action of dexamethasone correlated well with the changes in
      glucocorticoid receptor. The mechanism of the influence of hyperthyroidism on the
      glycogen-decreasing action of epinephrine is to be further explored.

PMID- 1456069
TI  - Utilization and patterns of care in comprehensive psychiatric care organizations.
      A review of studies and some methodological considerations.
AB  - This article reviews and analyzes studies on the utilization of care and patterns
      of care in psychiatric care organizations with a defined catchment area
      responsibility. Eight studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The main results
      of the studies were reviewed with regard to distribution of utilization, typical
      patterns of care, sociodemographic characteristics, clinical characteristics and,
      when appropriate, organizational characteristics related to utilization. The
      results show that a small proportion of patients use a large proportion of
      resources. Sociodemographic factors such as living alone or having no occupation
      in some of the studies predicted a higher utilization. Only one study reported
      sex differences, men being more common among heavy users. In most of the studies
      a psychosis diagnosis predicted a higher utilization. A history of prior contacts
      with psychiatric care predicted a higher utilization in 2 studies. It is
      concluded that future studies should make efforts to develop standardized models
      of classification of patterns of care to enhance possibilities of comparisons.
      Cost, as a common unit for summarizing and comparing resource utilization, has
      not been used, but is viewed as a highly relevant measure. Furthermore, measures
      of utilization should be separated from evaluations of outcome or quality of
      care. However, the latter is a neglected area that should also be promoted in
      studies of utilization of psychiatric care to create knowledge of the
      relationship of utilization to outcome.

PMID- 1456070
TI  - Predicting symptoms of depression from reports of early parenting: a one-year
      prospective study in a community sample.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine whether (reported) parental over
      involvement and lack of affection identify initially healthy subjects at risk for
      depression. One thousand subjects from the province of Utrecht, the Netherlands
      were randomly selected by using telephone addresses and asked to participate in a
      one-year prospective study on psychological risk factors of depression. From the
      108 subjects that finally participated on both occasions, the reports of parental
      upbringing (Parental Bonding Instrument) of initially non-depressed subjects with
      a Zung Self-rating Depression Scale score below 49 points were used to predict
      new cases of depression one year later. Initially non-depressed subjects who
      reported maternal over involvement in the upper quartile of the distribution had
      an 8.5-fold increased risk (95% confidence interval 0.9 to 80.6) of becoming
      depressed one year later. Although initial reports of low paternal affection were
      positively associated with initial symptoms of depression, this characteristic
      failed to show predictive value. Parental upbringing deficiencies have frequently
      been shown in cross-sectional inpatient studies in which retrospective retrieval
      from memory because of depressive state characteristics may have caused negative
      colouring. Our results would suggest that maternal over involvement reported in
      the absence of a depressed mood still proves to be an important psychological
      risk factor in the aetiology of depression.

PMID- 1456071
TI  - Factor study of the Geriatric Depression Scale.
AB  - A sample of 234 people between the ages of 60 and 95 was studied using the Brink
      Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). The GDS has good concurrent validity
      with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression with the Melancholia Scale (r =
      0.77), which confirms the clinical utility of this scale. A factor analysis of
      principal components with an oblimin rotation was performed. The results obtained
      imply that structural validation cannot be made in relation to Beck's cognitive
      model of depression. It can be concluded that the elimination of the somatic
      items does not add any theoretical correspondence with the model, as the factors
      tend to group the various items into one dimension.

PMID- 1456072
TI  - Clusters in a cohort of untreated schizophrenia: prognostic importance, atypical
      cases and the familial versus sporadic distinction.
AB  - In search of features of prognostic importance, a cohort of patients admitted to
      a mental hospital in 1925 was investigated by means of multivariate clustering
      techniques. Using K-means cluster analysis or Q-factor analysis, a group
      containing cases with unfavourable prognosis was isolated. Other groups derived
      were prognostically heterogeneous. One group of patients, in early phases similar
      to good prognosis schizoaffective psychoses, could be distinguished and
      characterized by non-symptom items. There was initial periodicity and onset was
      acute. They were, on average, younger than the other subjects and there was no
      personality deviation or emotional disturbance before onset of disease. A family
      history of mental illness was rare. Two of the factors were positively and
      negatively characterized by items covering familial history of mental illness,
      thus seemingly confirming the familial vs sporadic distinction in the
      subclassification of schizophrenia. Though the clinical pictures were
      distinctively different at the time when the ratings underlying the analysis were
      made, approximately the same proportion of cases in the two groups had
      independently been diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia--also taking the course of
      illness into account. It could furthermore be shown that the population at risk-
      siblings and children of subjects--as well as the observed number of years at
      risk in these groups were significantly smaller in the sporadic group than in the
      familial group. This was a combined effect of a lower fertility in subjects and
      parents in the sporadic group and a higher rate of drop out due to mortality and
      other reasons among siblings of these subjects. The same tendency was indicated
      when subjects with and without family history irrespective of factor
      belongingness were compared. It cannot be concluded that the familial vs sporadic
      distinction is without relevance in the research on schizophrenia, but its
      essence may easily be obscured, if the population at risk is not taken into
      account.

PMID- 1456073
TI  - Folate, vitamin B12 and cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer's
      disease.
AB  - This study examines the relationship between folate, vitamin B12 and severity of
      cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) as compared with
      other disorders associated with cognitive impairment. The patients were 97
      consecutive referrals to an AD clinic. Forty patients had either possible or
      probable AD, 31 had other dementias (OD) and 26 had mild cognitive impairment
      (cognitively impaired, not demented; CIND). Patients had blood drawn for serum,
      red cell folate and B12, as well as other biochemical indicators of nutrition,
      within 24 h of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). In the AD group, only
      B12 was significantly correlated with MMSE. Using regression analysis, B12
      contributed significantly to variance in MMSE. There was no correlation between
      MMSE and serum, red cell folate or B12 in the OD or CIND group and no significant
      correlation between MMSE and other nutritional indices in any group. These
      findings suggest the possibility of a specific relationship between B12 levels
      and severity of cognitive impairment in patients with AD.

PMID- 1456074
TI  - Multidimensional ordering of psychopathology. A factor-analytic study using the
      Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale.
AB  - The aim of the study was to search for a multidimensional order in the
      psychopathology of the functional mental disorders in general. A heterogeneous
      group of 192 patients was investigated by means of a semistructured interview
      based on the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale. Principal component
      factor analysis revealed 5 clinically meaningful dimensions interpretable as
      representing dysregulation of emotion and motivation, perceptual and behavioural
      disintegration and dysregulation of autonomic functions.

PMID- 1456075
TI  - Psychiatric service use: a cohort study of first attenders.
AB  - A retrospective cohort study was undertaken of all 1047 first-ever psychiatric
      service attenders to Christchurch general psychiatric services in 1981. All
      episodes of care were examined to the end of 1989. Only 24% of contacts were as
      an inpatient. Long-term contacts and frequent presenters formed only 15% of the
      sample. Nearly all cases not immediately discharged remained within the adult
      general service. Demographic and clinical variables and patterns of resource use
      are discussed.

PMID- 1456076
TI  - Depressive symptoms and depression among elderly people in Athens.
AB  - A total of 251 elderly residents of 2 boroughs of greater Athens were examined by
      a psychiatrist. For the assessment of depressive symptoms, the Center for
      Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale was used. Cognitive functioning
      was also evaluated. The prevalence of affective disorders of any type was
      estimated by a clinical examination with a semistructured psychiatric interview
      (PEF) supplemented by DSM-III criteria. A total of 27.1% of the elderly
      respondents reported a significant number of dysphoric or depressive symptoms and
      were identified as depressed cases. Respondents who had lower socioeconomic
      status, were widowed, were experiencing stressful life events or were living
      alone exhibited a significant degree of depressive psychopathology. An
      association between depressed mood and cognitive impairment was also found. A
      total of 9.5% of the sample was diagnosed as suffering from any type of affective
      disorder (1.6% major depression, 0.6% bipolar, 5.5% dysthymic disorder and 2.0%
      adjustment disorder with depressed mood). Affective disorders constitute nearly
      half of the total number of psychiatric diagnoses (20.3% at the sample). It is
      interesting that, of the 27.1% of the sample with depressed mood (> or = 16 score
      on CES-D Scale), only 9.5% of the sample were diagnosed as suffering from
      clinical types of depression.

PMID- 1456077
TI  - Saccade programming during short duration fixations: an examination of copy
      typing, letter detection, and reading.
AB  - Three experiments examined saccade programming during short duration fixations
      between 50 ms and 150 ms. In experiment 1, subjects copy typed text, in
      experiment 2, subjects read and executed a letter detection task, and in
      experiment 3, subjects read for comprehension only. Fixation duration had no
      effect on the size of the departing saccade in the copy typing task; however,
      saccades leaving short duration fixations were larger than saccades leaving all
      other fixation durations in the letter detection task and smaller than saccades
      leaving long fixation durations in the standard reading task. Within Morrison's
      (1984) model, these results imply, first, that consecutive shifts of attention
      during a fixation can take different directions and, second, that successive
      shifts of attention during a fixation support different purposes. Within
      Fischer's (1986, in press) model, the results imply that the
      engagement/disengagement of attention and saccade programming do not constitute
      independent events.

PMID- 1456078
TI  - Diagnostic classification by experts and novices.
AB  - The present study examines differences between experts and novices in classifying
      symptoms and the effect of the nature of the task on classifying. The study
      involved three groups of subjects, two expert groups (n = 12, n = 10) and one
      novice group (n = 12). Thinking-aloud protocols were collected for two
      classification tasks: sorting of behavioural symptoms into predefined categories
      and intuitive clustering of behavioural symptoms. In a third task, experts and
      novices were asked to make typicality ratings of behavioural symptoms. The
      protocols were analyzed with respect to seven cognitive operations: (a) asking or
      giving information, (b) associating, (c) abstracting or labelling, (d)
      explaining, (e) neutral matching, (f) identifying, and (g) differentiating.
      Results showed an effect of experience and an effect of the task on the relative
      frequencies of these operations. No differences were found in typicality rating
      of experts versus novices. These contradictory findings are discussed in relation
      to Kolodner's model about the evolution of expertise.

PMID- 1456079
TI  - Spatial attention and expectancy for colour, category and location: further
      evidence against the spotlight model.
AB  - A study of spatial attention is reported in which different colours and
      categories of object tended to appear at different locations. Subjects made
      speeded orientation judgements to alphanumeric characters that could appear
      either above or below the centre of a display. In the Colour Condition subjects
      were informed that red characters tended to appear at one location (p = 0.8),
      while green characters tended to appear at the other. In the Category Condition
      letters tended to appear at one location, and digits at the other. Before each
      trial subjects were cued to expect either a red or a green character (Colour
      Condition); or a letter or a digit (Category Condition). It was found that
      spatial selectivity varied according to the colour, or category of object
      presented. The latter finding replicated an earlier report (Lambert 1987).
      Spatial selectivity was appropriate for the character presented, even when it was
      in the uncued colour (or category). It is concluded that subjects are able to
      form and make use of complex attentional expectancies concerning combinations of
      colour with location, and category with location. Theoretical implications of
      these results are discussed.

PMID- 1456080
TI  - Enhancement of the Simon effect by response precuing.
AB  - When stimuli are presented to the left or right of fixation, and stimulus
      location is irrelevant, responses are faster if the stimulus location coincides
      with the location of the assigned response. This phenomenon is called the Simon
      effect. The present study examined the influence on the Simon effect of
      attentional precues that signaled the likely stimulus location and intentional
      precues that signaled the likely response. Experiment 1 was a close procedural
      replication of an experiment by Verfaellie, Bowers, and Heilman (1988);
      consistent with their findings, the Simon effect was enhanced by the intentional
      precue and unaffected by the attentional precue. Experiments 2 and 3 demonstrated
      the importance of the intentional precue with simpler procedures that involved
      only intentional and attentional precues, respectively. Finally, the intentional
      precuing enhancement of the Simon effect was obtained when two stimuli were
      assigned to each response, regardless of whether the hands were uncrossed
      (experiment 4) or crossed (experiment 5). Overall, the results indicate that
      response precuing enhances the Simon effect and favor response-selection accounts
      over those that attribute the effect to stimulus identification.

PMID- 1456081
TI  - Lost sampling units and investigational power.

PMID- 1456082
TI  - Biochemical parameters associated with low bone density in healthy men and women.
AB  - A causal role in age-related bone loss has been attributed to alterations in
      vitamin D status, the bone mineral regulating hormones, and/or renal function. We
      assessed biochemical parameters of bone metabolism and renal function in healthy
      subsets of young and old men (n = 191) and women (n = 120) and evaluated the
      relationships between these parameters and bone mineral density (BMD) in the
      radius, spine, and femur. There were no significant associations between BMD at
      any site and serum 25-OHD, 1,25-(OH)2D, PTH, or creatinine clearance in either
      young men or in young or old women, after controlling for age. In old men,
      however, lower radius BMD was significantly related to higher PTH and higher 1,25
      (OH)2D and marginally related to lower 25-OHD values. In young men, there were
      unexpected but significant associations between lower femoral neck BMD and higher
      serum osteocalcin and urinary calcium/creatinine excretion after age adjustment.
      In old women, lower spine and radius BMD was also significantly correlated with
      higher serum osteocalcin. In this healthy, vitamin D-replete population, there
      were significant cross-sectional declines in BMD in the femur in young and old
      men and at all sites in old women. Elevated remodeling may be an important
      feature that contributes to reduced femoral BMD in young men and reduced spine
      and radius BMD in old women. However, compromised renal function or levels of
      1,25-(OH)2D or elevated PTH appear to be neither necessary nor relevant as
      determinants of osteopenia in the spine or femur in these normal, healthy men and
      women.

PMID- 1456084
TI  - Mechanical properties of trabecular bone within and adjacent to osseous
      metastases.
AB  - Despite radiographic and histologic evidence of trabecular bone density changes
      within and adjacent to osseous metastases, there currently exist no data to
      demonstrate whether these changes are important in predicting the risk of
      fracture. To determine if these density changes result in significant reductions
      in mechanical properties, trabecular bone specimens were prepared from lower
      thoracic and lumbar vertebrae from two cadavers with radiographic, gross, and
      histologic evidence of lytic and/or blastic osseous metastases. Each specimen was
      classified as normal, lytic, or blastic based on appearance in fine-grain
      radiographs of 8-9 mm thick coronal plane sections. Specimens were tested to
      failure in uniaxial compression, and tissue and apparent densities were measured.
      Mean tissue densities were within normal ranges. The mean apparent density for
      all specimens combined was within the normal range for human vertebrae, and the
      mean apparent density for radiographically normal (0.131 g/ml) and lytic (0.111
      g/ml) specimens was less than the mean apparent density of blastic (0.182 g/ml)
      specimens (p < 0.02). The moduli of lytic and blastic specimens were less than
      for normal specimens (p < 0.025). The strength of lytic specimens was less than
      normal (p = 0.057), but the strength of blastic specimens was not (p > 0.1).
      Apparent density explained significant fractions of the variations in both
      modulus (p < 0.001) and strength (p < 0.001). The data suggest that blastic
      changes associated with osseous metastases to trabecular bone disrupt the normal
      dependence of trabecular mechanical properties on apparent density, but lytic
      changes do not.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456083
TI  - Transcriptional activation of c-fos and c-jun protooncogenes by serum growth
      factors in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells.
AB  - The present study was undertaken to clarify the relationship between c-fos and c
      jun protooncogene expression and the differentiation and/or proliferation of
      osteoblasts, using osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 (E1) cells. c-fos mRNA was barely
      detectable, whereas c-jun mRNA was constitutively expressed in E1 cells after
      serum deprivation for 24-72 h. When serum was added, a rapid and transient
      induction of c-fos and c-jun mRNAs was observed. The c-fos and c-jun mRNAs
      reached peak levels at 30 minutes, with a rapid disappearance of c-fos mRNA
      within 3 h and a much slower decrease in c-jun mRNA. The addition of serum
      together with cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, resulted in the
      superinduction of both c-fos and c-jun mRNAs. Among various growth factors, PDGF,
      EGF, and bFGF mimicked the serum effect, whereas IGF-I and TGF-beta failed to
      induce c-fos and c-jun mRNA. The effects of PDGF, EGF, and bFGF were completely
      abolished by pretreatment with actinomycin D, an inhibitor of RNA synthesis,
      suggesting a transcriptional mechanism. Nuclear runoff experiments showed that
      the transcription rate of c-fos and c-jun protooncogenes was increased by serum
      and growth factors. The effects of PDGF, EGF, and bFGF were inhibited by H-7 or
      staurosporine, inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), but not by HA1004 with a
      much weaker inhibitory activity, suggesting the involvement of PKC for the
      activation of the protooncogenes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456085
TI  - Osteogenesis associated with bone gla protein gene expression in diffusion
      chambers by bone marrow cells with demineralized bone matrix.
AB  - Diffusion chambers with rat bone marrow cells and demineralized bone matrix (DBM)
      were implanted subcutaneously to syngeneic 8-week-old rats and were harvested
      every week 3-7 weeks after implantation, and histochemical examination,
      determination of alkaline phosphatase activity, total calcium and phosphorus, the
      bone-specific vitamin K-dependent gla-containing protein (BGP) content, and
      detection of BGP mRNA relative to mineralization were performed. Alkaline
      phosphatase in diffusion chamber implants reached the highest activity at 4 weeks
      and then decreased. Calcium and phosphorus deposits occurred at 4 weeks after
      implantation and were followed by marked increases until 7 weeks, which was
      comparable to the accumulation of BGP. The BGP gene within the diffusion chambers
      began to be expressed at 5 weeks, and its expression increased markedly at 7
      weeks after implantation. At 4-5 weeks after implantation, new bone adjacent to
      the membrane filters and cartilage toward the center of the diffusion chamber
      were observed histochemically. Light microscopic and immunohistologic
      examinations of chambers with marrow cells and DBM revealed production of
      mineralized matrices, typical of bone characterized by the appearance of BGP and
      mineralized nodules. In contrast, bone marrow cells alone did not show extensive
      bone formation and yielded very low values for these biochemical parameters. The
      present experiments demonstrate the potential of bone marrow cells and DBM to
      produce not only cartilage formation but also membranous bone formation
      associated with increasing expression of BGP mRNA during the later stages of bone
      formation, as well as a marked accumulation of BGP.

PMID- 1456086
TI  - Racial differences in pre- and postmenopausal bone homeostasis: association with
      bone density.
AB  - The disparity in fracture incidence and bone mass in women of European (white)
      and African (black) ancestry is of unknown etiology. To determine if racial
      differences in bone mass reflected racial differences in the mechanisms of bone
      turnover underlying bone mineral loss, we measured serum osteocalcin, serum
      alkaline phosphatase, fasting urinary calcium and hydroxyproline excretion, 24 h
      urinary excretion of calcium and sodium, and dietary intakes of calcium and
      vitamin D in 263 healthy pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal white and black women.
      In addition, radial and spinal bone density were measured cross-sectionally for
      comparison with biochemical measures of bone turnover. The biochemical parameters
      thought to reflect bone resorption (fasting urinary calcium and hydroxyproline
      excretions) were lower in black than in white women throughout the age and
      menopausal stages studied. The parameters thought to reflect bone formation
      (alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin), were similar in the two racial groups
      among the premenopausal women, but osteocalcin was significantly lower among the
      peri- and postmenopausal blacks. Cross sectionally measured radial bone density
      increased with age in premenopausal black women, but it did not change with age
      in the white premenopausal subjects, a statistically significant difference. In
      peri- and postmenopausal women radial density declined significantly with years
      after menopause in both racial groups, but the rate of decline was significantly
      slower in the black women. Lumbar bone density in premenopausal white and black
      women did not change with age. After menopause lumbar bone density declined
      significantly and similarly in both racial groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1456087
TI  - Prostaglandin E2 alleviates cyclosporin A-induced bone loss in the rat.
AB  - Cyclosporine A (CsA) administered to the male and female rat produces high
      turnover osteopenia. Prostaglandins have both bone-resorbing and bone-forming
      properties, but administration of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) to the rat in vivo
      produces a net increase in cancellous bone. To investigate the effects of PGE2 on
      CsA-induced alteration in bone mass, 43 male Sprague-Dawley rats (9 weeks old)
      were administered 15 mg/kg of CsA by oral gavage and/or 6 mg/kg of PGE2 by
      subcutaneous injection daily for 21 days according to the following protocol:
      group A was an age-matched control; group B received CsA only; group C received
      PGE2 only; and group D received CsA and PGE2. Serum was assayed on days 0, 7, 14,
      and 21 for bone gla protein (BGP), PTH, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25
      (OH)2D]. A computerized image analysis system was used for bone histomorphometry
      of the proximal tibial metaphysis after double tetracycline labeling. Compared to
      control animals (group A), treatment with CsA alone (group B) and PGE2 alone
      (group C) significantly elevated BGP levels. Combination therapy (group D)
      resulted in BGP levels that were significantly higher on days 7 and 14 than with
      either agent alone. 1,25-(OH)2D was significantly elevated in the CsA group only
      (group B). Therapy with CsA alone (group B) resulted in a significant osteopenia.
      The concurrent administration of PGE2 with CsA (group D) alleviated the altered
      bone mass induced by CsA alone by adding a significant amount of additional bone.
      This report confirms and extends the current knowledge of the different effects
      of CsA and PGE2 on bone mineral metabolism and demonstrates that PGE2 can
      alleviate the deleterious effects of CsA on bone.

PMID- 1456089
TI  - Lateral spine densitometry is a more sensitive indicator of glucocorticoid
      induced bone loss.
AB  - Osteoporosis is a common complication of glucocorticoid therapy. Bone density
      measurement is now commonly used in assessing which steroid-treated patients
      require specific interventions to reduce fracture risk. The recently developed
      techniques for the measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) of the vertebral
      body alone, by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in the lateral projection,
      may be particularly useful in this context since steroid-induced bone loss is
      most marked in trabecular-rich regions like the vertebral body. This possibility
      has been assessed in the present study by the measurement of BMD in the lateral
      and anterioposterior (AP) projections in 28 women receiving chronic
      glucocorticoid treatment. The two BMD measurements were significantly related (r
      = 0.62, p < 0.001). When expressed in relation to age-appropriate normal values,
      lateral BMDs were lower than AP BMDs both in percentage terms (70.8 +/- 4.4
      versus 90.3 +/- 2.6%, p < 0.001) and in terms of Z scores (-1.42 +/- 0.22 versus 
      0.91 +/- 0.24, p = 0.027). AP BMD Z scores classified 12 patients as osteopenic,
      whereas a further 7 were so categorized by lateral BMD Z score. It is concluded
      that lateral DXA scanning is a more sensitive indicator of glucocorticoid-induced
      osteopenia than conventional BMD measurement in the AP projection.

PMID- 1456088
TI  - beta-Glycerophosphate-induced mineralization of osteoid does not alter expression
      of extracellular matrix components in fetal rat calvarial cell cultures.
AB  - When fetal rat calvarial cells are cultured in medium containing vitamin C,
      osteoid nodules develop after approximately 15 days of culture. Upon addition of
      an organic phosphate (beta-glycerophosphate, beta GP), these nodules mineralize.
      We have now used this system to explore the suggestion made by others that a
      negative feedback may exist between matrix mineralization on the one hand and the
      synthesis of alkaline phosphatase and bone matrix collagen on the other by
      analyzing the synthesis of these proteins and the levels of their mRNAs in
      mineralizing and nonmineralizing cultures. Our results indicate that in the
      osteoid nodule-bone nodule system, matrix mineralization did not affect the mRNA
      levels for osteopontin, type I collagen, bone sialoprotein, or osteocalcin.
      Synthesis of total protein and collagen and the osteocalcin content of culture
      media were also not different in the mineralizing and nonmineralizing cultures.
      However, alkaline phosphatase mRNA was increased in early mineralizing cultures
      and alkaline phosphatase activity in the cell layer was also increased in
      mineralizing cultures. Thus, the hypothesis that a direct negative feedback
      exists between mineralization and matrix protein synthesis is not supported by
      our experiments.

PMID- 1456090
TI  - Excessive L-thyroxine therapy decreases femoral bone mineral densities in the
      male rat: effect of hypogonadism and calcitonin.
AB  - Excess thyroid hormone decreases bone mineral density (BMD), a potential problem
      in managing patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma and nontoxic goiter
      who require lifelong TSH-suppressive doses of thyroid hormone. We studied the
      effect of thyroid hormone excess on vertebral and femoral BMD and the role of
      hypogonadism in modulating this effect in a rat model. The potential role of
      calcitonin (CT) in preventing thyroid hormone-associated bone loss was also
      investigated. A total of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four
      groups. Groups 1 and 2 were orchidectomized (ORX); groups 3 and 4 were sham
      operated (SO). Groups 1 and 3 received 20 micrograms intraperitoneal L-thyroxine
      (L-T4) per 100 g body weight daily for 3 weeks; groups 2 and 4 received vehicle
      IP. Another 40 rats were divided into four groups. Groups 1 and 2 received L-T4,
      and groups 1 and 3 received CT, 2.5 U per 100 g body weight, subcutaneously (SC)
      daily for 3 weeks. BMD of the L4 and 5 and the right femur were measured by dual
      energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline and at the end of the study. Orchidectomy
      decreased femoral (P < 0.05) but not lumbar BMD. The administration of excess L
      T4 decreased femoral (cortical) BMD in both SO (P < 0.05) and ORX rats (P < 0.05)
      without affecting lumbar (trabecular) BMD. CT increased lumbar BMD in both
      vehicle (P < 0.001) and L-T4-treated rats (P < 0.001). However, CT did not affect
      femoral BMD in vehicle-treated rats and did not prevent the L-T4-induced femoral
      bone loss.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456091
TI  - Acronyms in bone densitometry.

PMID- 1456092
TI  - Long-term effects of gallium nitrate in patients with Paget's disease of bone.

PMID- 1456093
TI  - Subdural effusions: determination of contrast medium influx from CSF to the fluid
      accumulation by computed tomography as an aid to the indications for management.
AB  - In 46 patients with subdural effusions CSF dynamics and especially the influx of
      contrast medium from CSF to the subdural fluid accumulation was investigated by
      serial computed tomography (CT). In 16 cases the subdural effusion was of
      traumatic and in 30 cases of non-traumatic origin. The results allowed a
      subdivision of the patients into three groups. Group 1: patients without contrast
      medium influx into the subdural fluid accumulation; group 2: patients with
      delayed influx; group 3: patients with immediate influx. In group 1 patients the
      subdural effusion acted as a space-occupying process with absolute indication for
      surgical treatment. Also in group 2 patients the further course showed that a
      surgical indication was given, because the fluid accumulation did not resolve
      under conservative management but increased in size, and/or the neurological
      deficit worsened. In all group 3 patients the subdural effusions decreased and
      finally disappeared conservatively. Group 1 patients with effusions on traumatic
      origin generally had more severe injuries than the patients of the other groups.
      The investigations caused no serious complications. This diagnostic method proved
      to be a reliable means for early differentiation between the possibility of
      conservative management or the indication for operative treatment in cases with
      subdural effusions of different origin.

PMID- 1456094
TI  - Craniocervical junction malformation treated by transoral approach. A survey of
      25 cases with emphasis on postoperative instability and outcome.
AB  - An experience with 25 consecutive cases of craniocervical junction (CCJ)
      malformations operated upon via the transoral route is reported. Twenty-two
      patients also underwent posterior occipito-cervical stabilization with
      alloplastic material and in only one patient was transoral odontoidectomy and
      fusion with bone autograph performed. Indication for the transoral route
      consisted of an irreducible ventral compression of the cervicobulbar junction by
      the abnormal bone complex. Two patients died during the early postoperative
      period and the remaining 23 survivors were followed for an average of 3.5 years:
      17 of these showed marked improvement and 5 a stabilization of the neurological
      disturbances. A further patient, who refused posterior stabilization, eventually
      died because of progressive cranial settling. Long-term results have shown this
      approach to be decisive in the surgical management of well-selected CCJ
      anomalies.

PMID- 1456095
TI  - Microsurgical anatomy and operative technique for extreme lateral lumbar disc
      herniations.
AB  - The anatomy of the lateral aspect of the lumbar spine and our lateral
      microsurgical technique for extreme lateral lumbar disc herniations (ELLDH) is
      described. This study was based on the microdissection of 4 cadavers, on the
      morphometric evaluation of these as well as 6 dried cadaver spines and 8 lumbar
      CT scans, and on the use of this technique on over 200 cases. Level dependent
      changes in the posterior arch cause a shift of the disc space distally relative
      to the facet joint, an increasing amount of bone to overlie the intervertebral
      foramen, and a decreasing amount of working space within the exposure in the
      caudal direction. Therefore, more bone removal from the lateral aspect of the
      pars interarticularis and supero-lateral aspect of the facet joint is required in
      the lower lumbar spine. When the exposed ligamentum flavum is resected, the
      dorsal root ganglion is seen and access to the herniation and disc space is
      achieved. Level dependent changes in the pedicles and transverse processes lead
      to an alteration in the course and relationships of the nerves, thereby
      influencing the pathophysiology of and surgical technique for the ELLDH. The
      operative target is the lateral aspect of the pars interarticularis and not the
      intertransverse space as has been previously described. Our techniques allows for
      the early identification of the nerve with minimal risks of injury to it, to the
      adjacent vessels and to the structural integrity of the facet joint and pars
      interarticularis.

PMID- 1456096
TI  - A primate model for acute and late cerebral vasospasm: angiographic findings.
AB  - A subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) in the squirrel monkey was produced by injection
      of blood via a permanently implanted catheter connected to the cisterna magna and
      a cannula stereotactically inserted into the interpeduncular cistern. Repeated
      angiographic examinations of the vertebro-basilar and right internal carotid
      arteries revealed a biphasic vasospasm with a maximal acute spasm at ten minutes
      and maximal late spasm at six days after blood injection. The present study has
      shown that a reproducible biphasic vasospasm can be produced in the squirrel
      monkey and evaluated by repeated angiographic examinations. The model is suitable
      in the study of basic mechanisms underlying vasospasm in a primate and, due to
      the size of the animal, autoradiographic evaluation of the cerebral blood flow
      and metabolism can be performed at an acceptable cost.

PMID- 1456097
TI  - Effect of lesioning of medullary catecholamine neurons or the median eminence on
      the development of cerebral vasospasm in the squirrel monkey.
AB  - Injections of blood into the interpeduncular fossa and cisterna magna in the
      squirrel monkey produce an angiographically demonstrable, biphasic cerebral
      vasospasm with a maximal acute spasm at ten minutes and a maximal late spasm at
      six days after the subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Selective lesioning of the A2
      nucleus in the medulla oblongata or the median eminence in the hypothalamus prior
      to the SAH prevents the development of both the acute and late cerebral
      vasospasm. The present data indicate that the A2 nucleus and the median eminence
      participate in the development of vasospasm in the squirrel monkey.

PMID- 1456099
TI  - A new model for non-invasive, reproducible fixation of a stereotaxic frame using
      an orthodontic resin plate. Technical note.
AB  - The authors describe a new method for reproducible, non-invasive fixation of a
      stereotaxic localizing frame. A localizing system similar to that of Brown
      Roberts-Wells for MR can be fixed at the base of the facial skeleton to the upper
      dental arch by an orthodontic resin plate. Results of trials with CT scan,
      advantages and disadvantages are discussed. The new fixture could be employed in
      open surgery and in fractionated radiotherapy.

PMID- 1456098
TI  - Changes in CSF pressures during experimental acute arterial subdural bleeding in
      pig.
AB  - The effects of acute arterial subdural bleeding on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
      pressure and 12 other vital parameters were studied in spontaneously breathing
      pigs (group 1, n = 9) and in mechanically ventilated pigs (group 2, n = 18) to
      analyze quantitatively the bleeding course and the lethal mechanism.
      Spontaneously breathing animals all succumbed after a mean bleeding volume of
      45.6 +/- 8.9 ml, corresponding to about 50 per cent of the intracranial volume,
      and a mean bleeding duration of 11.0 +/- 2.6 min. Rapid rise in CSF pressures,
      marked transtentorial pressure gradients, and progressive reductions of cerebral
      perfusion pressure leading to a permanently iso-electric EEG, apnoea and to a
      terminal rise in arterial pressure (Cushing response), was the rule in these
      animals. The mechanically ventilated animals had smaller bleeding volumes (34.3
      +/- 8.1 ml), but longer bleeding durations (13.8 +/- 5.8 min). In this group 7
      animals survived. They had no pressure gradients, and only moderate changes in
      arterial pressure and EEG. The 11 animals that succumbed had marked
      transtentorial pressure gradients, but smaller increments in arterial pressure
      than the spontaneously breathing animals. At autopsy, subdurally located blood
      was found throughout the intracranial and spinal subdural compartments and along
      the spinal nerve roots in both groups. The results of this study suggest that
      survival after acute subdural haematoma is influenced by the presence of
      transtentorial pressure gradients and by the spinal sac acting as a space for
      expansion. The beneficial effect of artificial ventilation is discussed.

PMID- 1456100
TI  - Telescopic suction tube for microsurgery.
AB  - An adjustable telescopic suction tube has been developed for microsurgery. Owing
      to this innovation, the surgeon can easily set the suction tube to a suitable
      length by gently pulling the end of the telescopic tube out or in.

PMID- 1456101
TI  - Subcortical topography and proportions of the pyramidal tract.
AB  - The pyramidal tract (PT) was dissected in 30 normal human hemispheres according
      to the method of Klingler. The various dimensions as well as the cerebral
      landmarks were studied. The pyramidal tract is built up like a fan in the white
      matter by a thin layer of fibers of 2.8-3.5 mm in thickness. The fibers converge
      toward the internal capsule to a solid fiber tract with a lateral and apdiameter
      of 7.8 +/- 1.6 mm and 17.5 +/- 2.1 mm, respectively. This configuration of the PT
      presents different possibilities of damage during surgery. The evaluation of the
      three-dimensional course of the PT is possible by using three cerebral landmarks,
      the precentral gyrus, the entrance into the internal capsule and the posterior
      limb of the internal capsule. Their topography is described. Additionally the
      pyramidal tract can be defined medially by the sulcus cinguli and the roof of the
      lateral ventricle and laterally by the superior sulcus circularis Insulae. The
      possible displacement of the PT by space occupying lesions and the intra
      operative orientation is discussed.

PMID- 1456102
TI  - The termination of the vein of "Labbe" and its microsurgical significance.
AB  - Information about the termination of the inferior anastomotic vein of Labbe is of
      crucial importance in the subtemporal neurosurgical approach and its
      modifications. An intradural course has been observed in all cases. The vein of
      Labbe reaches in 3/4th the anterior third of the transverse sinus, in 73% of all
      cases tracing a so-called tentorial sinus. By dissecting the vein of Labbe out of
      its dural bed and shifting its fixation point, microsurgical access is
      facilitated considerably.

PMID- 1456103
TI  - Anterior lateral ventricular subependymal giant cell astrocytomas. Microsurgical
      aspects of two cases.
AB  - The surgical management of two cases of lateral ventricular subependymal giant
      cell astrocytoma, arising in the head of the Caudate nucleus, and causing
      hydrocephalus due to obstruction of the foramen of Monro is described. One
      lesion, in a patient with tuberous sclerosis, was resected using a transcallosal
      approach and the other, in a patient with no stigmata of tuberous sclerosis,
      using a frontal, trans-cortical transcystoventricular approach. The microsurgical
      aspects of excision and pathological anatomy of both tumours were very similar.
      Following tumour excision and pellucidotomy both patients had partial resolution
      of their hydrocephalus with complete resolution of their preoperative symptoms.
      The merits of transcallosal and transcortical approaches to these lesions are
      discussed.

PMID- 1456104
TI  - Endo-suprasellar teratoma with teeth formation. Case report.
AB  - A highly ossified teratoma was diagnosed and surgically treated in a 2-year old
      girl. More than 150 teeth were macroscopically identified during the operation.
      Pathological study established the diagnosis of mature teratoma with teeth
      formation. Only six analogous cases have been reported previously and only two
      patients survived the operation.

PMID- 1456105
TI  - Intracranial dermoid cysts with nasal dermal sinuses.
AB  - Dermal sinuses penetrating the dura are important in that they may be complicated
      by C.N.S. infection, and this complication can be prevented by early surgery.
      Although well recognised over the occiput and lumbar spine, nasal dermal sinuses
      extending intracranially are much rarer and have received little attention in the
      neurosurgical literature. Two unique cases are presented, together with a
      literature review, discussing the anatomy, radiology, and management of the
      condition.

PMID- 1456106
TI  - Neurosurgical publications in European journals.

PMID- 1456107
TI  - Lesions of the sensorimotor region: somatosensory evoked potentials and
      ultrasound guided surgery.
AB  - In 10 patients with lesions of the sensorimotor cortex cortical SEP were
      registered to identify the postcentral gyrus, and intra-operative ultrasound
      sonography served to locate the lesion. The combination of both techniques helped
      to find the optimal approach to the lesion. Postoperative results were considered
      favourable, as only one patient suffered transient postoperative deterioration,
      six were unchanged and in three patients the pre-operative motor deficits were
      improved. The combination of intra-operative ultrasound and neurophysiological
      identification of the sensorimotor cortex is concluded as being useful in surgery
      within this region.

PMID- 1456108
TI  - The basal interhemispheric approach for acute anterior communicating aneurysms.
AB  - We reviewed the surgical outcome in 85 patients with ruptured anterior
      communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms, who were operated on within 72 hours of
      onset via a basal interhemispheric (BIH) approach (Group 1, N = 48), or an
      anterior interhemispheric (AIH) approach (Group 2, N = 37). The age, sex ratio
      and pre-operative grade (Gr) were similar for both groups. The outcome at the
      time of discharge was as follows for group 1: excellent or good 88%; fair, 6%;
      vegetative state, 2% and death 4%. For group 2, it was: excellent or good 78%;
      fair, 16%; vegetative state, 3%; and death, 3%. A significant correlation between
      admission grade and outcome was found in both groups. The outcome in group 1 was
      better than in group 2 for patients with a Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) better
      than fair (p < 0.07). No patient in group 1 had postoperative anosmia, but nine
      patients in group 2 became anosmic. The total number of complications was also
      significantly less in group 1. Our overall mortality rate was 4%. In conclusion,
      the BIH approach was more beneficial for treating acute ACoA aneurysm.

PMID- 1456109
TI  - Acute head injuries in the elderly. An analysis of 136 consecutive patients.
AB  - 136 patients older than 70 years, admitted to our neurosurgical ward directly
      after head trauma, were analysed. 40% of them were admitted with low GCS, below 9
      points, and showed a mortality of 85%. 45 patients had intracranial mass lesions-
      the commonest was subdural haematoma, with a low incidence of epidural
      haematomas. In patients admitted with GCS above 12, mortality was 20%, mainly due
      to pneumonia. Satisfactory results were achieved in 30% of trauma victims. From
      patients with intracranial space occupying lesions and GCS below 9 points on
      admission practically all died, despite aggressive surgical treatment and
      intensive care. Thus, especially in departments with limited resources, therapy
      can be limited, or even no therapy may be introduced in this group. Surgical
      treatment can be limited only to patients who are conscious on admission. In
      patients with non-surgical lesions, low GCS--below 9 points--leads to mortality
      of 80%, and in this group we propose aggressive intensive care for 24 hours and
      the limitation of further "maximal" therapy only to those, who significantly
      improve within this period of time. If the patient has a non-surgical lesion and
      is conscious after trauma, aggressive treatment of extracranial complication is
      the most important, because brain injury can usually be well tolerated by these
      patients. If pneumonia or heart complications do not occur this group of old
      patients often have a good prognosis.

PMID- 1456110
TI  - Aqueous two-phase systems for biomolecule separation.
AB  - Over the past thirty years, aqueous polymer two-phase technology has evolved,
      both experimentally and theoretically, into a separation science with many useful
      applications in biomolecule purification and bioconversion. This paper summarizes
      the developments in the applications of aqueous two-phase systems to
      biotechnology. The main topics to be considered are the phase diagram and its
      characteristics, fundamentals of biomolecule partition, large-scale and multi
      stage aqueous two-phase biomolecule purification, and extractive bioconversions.
      The first topic involves a discussion of the thermodynamics of aqueous polymer
      two-phase formation and how it is influenced by such factors as polymer molecular
      weight and concentration, temperature, and salt type and concentration. Next, the
      theoretical and experimental aspects of biomolecule partition in aqueous two
      phase systems will be discussed in light of the factors which influence
      biomolecule partition: polymer concentration and molecular weight; temperature;
      salt type and concentration; the addition of charged, hydrophobic and affinity
      derivatives. Having reviewed the fundamentals of phase diagram formation and
      biomolecule partition, the next two topics are applications of aqueous two-phase
      technology. The first set of applications involve the large-scale extraction of
      proteins using one to three equilibrium stages and multi-stage purifications
      using countercurrent distribution, liquid-liquid partition chromatography and
      continuous countercurrent chromatography. The second application, and very
      promising area for future aqueous two-phase technology, is the extractive
      bioconversion which permits the simultaneous production and purification of a
      biomolecule.

PMID- 1456111
TI  - Genetics and molecular biology of telomeres.

PMID- 1456112
TI  - Molecular genetics of superoxide dismutases in yeasts and related fungi.

PMID- 1456113
TI  - Genetics of the mammalian carbonic anhydrases.

PMID- 1456114
TI  - The development and involution of tonsils.

PMID- 1456115
TI  - T-lymphocyte role in the immunological reactivity of palatine tonsil.

PMID- 1456116
TI  - Function and morphology of macrophages in palatine tonsils.

PMID- 1456117
TI  - The microvasculature of the human palatine tonsil and its role in the homing of
      lymphocytes.

PMID- 1456118
TI  - The role of integrins in tonsil.

PMID- 1456119
TI  - Immunological and bacteriological studies on mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue
      in children with SOM.

PMID- 1456120
TI  - Intraepithelial gamma-delta T cells in normal and hypertrophic rhinopharyngeal
      tonsils.

PMID- 1456121
TI  - A role of tonsillar lymphocyte for focal infection. With special reference to
      lymphocyte adhesion to vessels in dermis.

PMID- 1456122
TI  - Evolution of the bacterial flora in recurrent adenotonsillitis. Therapeutic
      implications.

PMID- 1456123
TI  - Interfering alpha-streptococci as a protection against recurrent streptococcal
      pharyngotonsillitis.

PMID- 1456124
TI  - Bacteriology of tonsils in children: comparison between recurrent acute
      tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy.

PMID- 1456125
TI  - Functional morphology of tonsillar germinal center.

PMID- 1456126
TI  - Experimental study of the pathological changes of rabbit tonsils exposed to
      anthracite coal briquette gas.

PMID- 1456127
TI  - Alpha-streptococci-inhibiting beta-streptococci group A in treatment of recurrent
      streptococcal tonsillitis.

PMID- 1456128
TI  - Clinical differentiation of peritonsillar cellulitis from abscess.

PMID- 1456129
TI  - Influence of methods of haemostasis on the microbiology of the post-tonsillectomy
      fossa.

PMID- 1456130
TI  - Recurrent pharingotonsillitis: epidemiological observations at the Center of
      Preventive Medicine ORL USL BA/2. Clinical and anatomopathological situations.

PMID- 1456131
TI  - Role of Haemophilus influenzae and group A streptococci in recurrent tonsillar
      infection or hypertrophy.

PMID- 1456132
TI  - Microbial flora and lymphocytes in nasopharyngeal lymphatic tissue in children.

PMID- 1456133
TI  - The concept of focal infection of tonsil.

PMID- 1456134
TI  - The effect of tonsillectomy and its postoperative clinical course in IgA
      nephropathy with chronic tonsillitis.

PMID- 1456135
TI  - On arthropathy with special reference to sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis.

PMID- 1456136
TI  - Phylogenic and ultrastructural properties of the primitive tonsils of laboratory
      suncuses.

PMID- 1456137
TI  - Immunohistochemical comparison between multinucleated giant cells which appear
      frequently in the tonsils of patients with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris and
      in other granulomatous inflammatory lesions.

PMID- 1456138
TI  - IgA1 localization in tonsillar follicular dendritic cells is characteristic of
      IgA nephropathy.

PMID- 1456139
TI  - Effect of adenoidectomy on eustachian tube function. Preliminary results of a
      randomized clinical trial.

PMID- 1456140
TI  - Hypertrophy of adenoids and tubal functionality.

PMID- 1456141
TI  - Tonsillar hypertrophy and middle ear diseases.

PMID- 1456142
TI  - Significance of adenoidectomy in the treatment of secretory otitis media.

PMID- 1456143
TI  - Tonsil surgery in heavy snoring young children.

PMID- 1456144
TI  - Measurement of mesopharyngeal pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

PMID- 1456145
TI  - Obstructive sleep apnea in children.

PMID- 1456146
TI  - Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and A&T surgery.

PMID- 1456147
TI  - Alveolar hypoventilation due to adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy.

PMID- 1456148
TI  - Natural history of otitis media with effusion in children under six years of age.

PMID- 1456149
TI  - Aspects of prevention of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in developing children.

PMID- 1456150
TI  - Adenoids and otitis media with effusion in children.

PMID- 1456151
TI  - Effects of tonsillectomy.

PMID- 1456152
TI  - The family physician and pathologies of the tonsils: therapeutic practices.

PMID- 1456153
TI  - A modern medical therapy approach to streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis.

PMID- 1456154
TI  - Surgery for otitis media: results of randomized clinical trials as related to
      clinical practice.

PMID- 1456155
TI  - Relationship between lymphatic and glandular tissue in the larynx.

PMID- 1456156
TI  - Adenotonsillectomy as correction of dentofacial growth and dysfunctions.

PMID- 1456157
TI  - Pidotimod in the prophylaxis of recurrent acute tonsillitis in childhood.

PMID- 1456158
TI  - Evaluation of immune response of Waldeyer's tissues after local stimulation with
      bacterial ribosomal extracts. B, T and NK lymphocyte phenotype and function.

PMID- 1456159
TI  - Antibiotic diffusion in tonsillar tissue.

PMID- 1456160
TI  - Contacts between nerves and lymphocytes in human tonsils.

PMID- 1456161
TI  - Allergic tonsillitis. A histopathological study.

PMID- 1456162
TI  - Electron microscope observations on the nasopharyngeal tonsil in children with
      allergic rhinosinusitis.

PMID- 1456163
TI  - Three-dimensional ultrastructure of the secondary nodule of the human palatine
      tonsil.

PMID- 1456164
TI  - High endothelial venules in the developing human palatine tonsil.

PMID- 1456165
TI  - Structure of the palatine tonsil in European insectivores.

PMID- 1456166
TI  - Immunology and immunopathology of tonsils.

PMID- 1456167
TI  - Antigen-presenting cells in the nasopharyngeal tonsil. A quantitative
      immunohistochemical study.

PMID- 1456168
TI  - HLA-DR antigen expression in tonsillar epithelium.

PMID- 1456169
TI  - Immunohistological studies on immunocompetent cells in palatine tonsil.

PMID- 1456170
TI  - Diamine oxidase activity and related substrates in rat liver after chronic
      ethanol feeding.
AB  - Chronic ethanol feeding as 12% or 36% of total calories caused a dose-dependent
      diminution of diamine oxidase activity in rat liver. Hepatic cadaverine and
      histamine levels were unmodified by ethanol, whereas putrescine increased,
      partially in relation to the decrease in diamine oxidase activity. Such results
      may be of interest in view of an aggravation of ethanol-induced hepatic damage
      when exogenous diamines and polyamines reach the liver in potentially toxic
      amounts.

PMID- 1456171
TI  - The clearance rate of plasma kallikrein by the liver increases during the acute
      phase response to inflammation.
AB  - The effect of the acute-phase response on the clearance rate of plasma kallikrein
      by the exsanguinated liver was studied in three groups of rats: a control group
      and two other groups that received either turpentine or an endogenous pyrogen
      preparation. The plasma kallikrein clearance rates were significantly higher in
      both inflamed groups.

PMID- 1456172
TI  - Hepatoprotective effects of lobenzarit disodium on acetaminophen-induced liver
      damage in mice.
AB  - We have studied the effects of the immunomodulator drug lobenzarit in the model
      of acute hepatotoxicity induced by a high oral dose (600 mg/kg) of acetaminophen
      in mice. Lobenzarit at doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg i.p. decreased significantly
      the activity of alanine aminotransferase in serum, which was increased by
      acetaminophen alone, and increased the concentration of reduced glutathione in
      mice liver, which is depleted by acetaminophen. Lobenzarit also reduced liver
      damage induced by acetaminophen in mice, which was observed by electron
      microscopy. The hepatoprotective effects of lobenzarit were dose-dependent and
      they were produced when lobenzarit was administered 30 min before acetaminophen
      or 2 and 4 h after it. It is concluded that lobenzarit exerts some effects which
      resemble those of an antidote of acetaminophen such as N-acetylcysteine.

PMID- 1456173
TI  - The role of 5-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid in neutrophil activation.
AB  - 5-Hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5HPETE) has been recently reported to play an
      important role in regulating and modulating neutrophil function. In order to
      clarify the mechanism of neutrophil activation by 5HPETE, we have measured the
      cytosolic free calcium, which is thought to be necessary for neutrophil
      activation using fura-2-loaded human neutrophils. Low concentration of 5HPETE,
      which is thought to be produced during cell activation, had minimal effect on
      cytosolic free calcium by itself but dose-dependently augmented FMLP-stimulated
      increase in cytosolic free calcium in the presence or absence of extracellular
      calcium without converting to LTB4. 5HPETE had no effect on 3H-FMLP binding to
      human neutrophils. The present data suggested that 5HPETE would augment FMLP
      stimulated increase in cytosolic free calcium by enhancing the influx of
      extracellular calcium and/or the release of calcium from intracellular pool,
      which resulted in augmentation of neutrophil activation by primary agonist such
      as FMLP.

PMID- 1456174
TI  - Hypoxia/reoxygenation stimulates endothelial cells to promote interleukin-1 and
      interleukin-6 production. Effects of free radical scavengers.
AB  - Vascular endothelium produces and/or interferes with various cytokines. Previous
      studies have demonstrated interactions of these inflammatory and immunological
      mediators with oxygen-derived free radicals. The present work examines the
      relationship between hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) and cytokine production by
      cultured endothelial cells. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC)
      monolayers were incubated for 24 h in normoxia or submitted to 5 h hypoxia/19 h
      reoxygenation. Then, interleukin-1 (IL-1) alpha and beta, and interleukin-6 (IL
      6), were measured in culture supernatants by specific enzyme immunoassays and
      bioassays, respectively. Under these conditions, the spontaneous production of IL
      1 and IL-6, detected in normoxic HUVEC, greatly increased after H/R treatment.
      The observed enhancement was cycloheximide-sensitive and, consequently, reflected
      a de novo protein synthesis. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase
      prevented H/R-induced IL-1 and IL-6 increase. These results constitute the first
      demonstration that H/R stimulates HUVEC to promote IL-1 and IL-6 production and
      strongly suggest a role for oxygen-derived free radicals in the cytokine
      synthesis.

PMID- 1456175
TI  - Macrophage tumoricidal mechanisms are selectively altered by prenatal chlordane
      exposure.
AB  - Macrophages (m phi) derived from mice treated in utero with chlordane show a
      significant delay of tumoricidal induction activity. In this study, m phi from
      chlordane-treated animals required a 48 h in vitro period of induction with
      interferon-gamma and lipopolysaccharide (IFN/LPS) before they could kill P815
      targets. Similarly, m phi from chlordane-treated animals also failed to produce
      an immediate H2O2 burst upon perturbation. Conversely, their stimulated control m
      phi counterparts were tumoricidal by 2 h and exhibited a respiratory burst
      without any delay. Moreover, levels of the second messenger, inositol
      triphosphate (IP3), were significantly delayed in chlordane-treated animals
      following interaction with IFN/LPS. When nitrate/nitrite production was analyzed
      as an alternate mechanism for killing tumors, stimulated m phi from both normal
      and chlordane-treated animals responded equally. The data show that chlordane
      differentially introduces defects in m phi biochemical mechanisms associated with
      tumor killing.

PMID- 1456176
TI  - A synthetic peptide metalloproteinase inhibitor, but not TIMP, prevents the
      breakdown of proteoglycan within articular cartilage in vitro.
AB  - IL1-stimulated pig articular cartilage fragments were cultured in the and absence
      of various metalloproteinase inhibitors. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases
      (TIMP) was unable to stop the release of proteoglycan from the cartilage.
      Incubation of cartilage with a potent synthetic metalloproteinase inhibitor
      inhibited the release of proteoglycan in a dose-dependent fashion. The results
      suggest that low-M(r) metalloproteinase inhibitors may have therapeutic potential
      in limiting connective tissue breakdown in conditions such as rheumatoid
      arthritis.

PMID- 1456177
TI  - The effect of hyaluronan on interleukin-1 alpha-induced prostaglandin E2
      production in human osteoarthritic synovial cells.
AB  - An in vitro study on the effects of hyaluronan (HA) on interleukin-1 alpha
      induced prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in human osteoarthritic synovial cells
      indicated that PGE2 induction was suppressed by HA in a dose- and molecular
      weight-dependent manner.

PMID- 1456178
TI  - Protein kinase C inhibits stimulation of adenylate cyclase by the histamine H2
      receptor in rat parietal cells.
AB  - The action of protein kinase C on the stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity
      by the histamine H2 receptor was investigated in rat parietal cells. Protein
      kinase C was activated by preincubating cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13
      acetate (TPA), and adenylate cyclase activity was measured in sonicated extracts.
      TPA (100 nM) inhibited adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by histamine (100 nM
      500 microM). This effect was related to the concentration of TPA. TPA (100 nM)
      enhanced the stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity by forskolin (100 microM)
      but had no effect on the stimulation by NaF (10 mM). In conclusion, protein
      kinase C inhibits stimulation of adenylate cyclase by the histamine H2 receptor.
      This action could be mediated by changes in the number of affinity of histamine
      H2 receptors or in the coupling of the receptor to the stimulatory guanine
      nucleotide regulatory subunit Gs.

PMID- 1456179
TI  - The effect of WEB 2086 on PAF-induced eosinophil chemotaxis and LTC4 production
      from eosinophils.
AB  - We investigated the effect of WEB 2086, a selective platelet-activating factor
      (PAF) receptor antagonist, on PAF-induced eosinophil chemotaxis and LTC4
      production. WEB 2086 inhibited PAF-induced eosinophil chemotaxis in normals and
      asthmatics. To further determine if WEB 2086 is a selective PAF receptor
      antagonist, we examined the effect of WEB 2086 against formyl-methionyl-leucyl
      phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced or eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis (ECF
      A)-induced eosinophil chemotaxis. WEB 2086 did not have a significant inhibition
      against fMLP or ECF-A-induced eosinophil chemotaxis. These results suggest that
      WEB 2086 is a selective and potent inhibitor of PAF-induced eosinophil chemotaxis
      and LTC4 production from eosinophils, due to its antagonism of PAF-receptors.

PMID- 1456180
TI  - Effects of capsaicin on cutaneous vasodilator responses in humans.
AB  - The neurovascular responses to noxious electrically evoked axon reflex (EAR)
      stimulation and iontophoretic application of endothelium-dependent [acetylcholine
      (ACh)] and independent [sodium nitrite (NaNO2)] vasodilator substances were
      examined in human forearm skin using laser Doppler flowmetry, before and after
      repeated topical applications of the neurotoxin capsaicin (chronic capsaicin pre
      treatment). Following 3 or 4 days of capsaicin pre-treatment the normal
      vasodilator response to acute application of capsaicin was significantly reduced
      as was the EAR response. There were, however, no significant changes in the
      vasodilator responses to either ACh or NaNO2, suggesting that the neurogenic axon
      reflex is in series with the endothelial and microvascular smooth muscle
      mechanisms of vasodilatation. Recovery of normal EAR occurred within 2-4 weeks of
      cessation of capsaicin pre-treatment.

PMID- 1456181
TI  - Characterization and pharmacological modulation of soluble phospholipase A2
      generated during glycogen-induced rat peritonitis.
AB  - Soluble phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity was assessed in rat peritoneal lavage
      fluid after an intraperitoneal injection of 6% glycogen. Enzyme activity
      immediately increased 5-fold above basal by 4 h. Activity decreased by only 30%
      at 18 h and remained at this elevated level through 72 h. The initial rise in
      PLA2 activity was coincident with protein extravasation but not with
      polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration, suggesting that the early PLA2 activity
      could be, in part, blood-derived. Mononuclear cell influx occurred later (4 h),
      peaked by 6-8 h but remained elevated through 72 h possibly contributing to the
      persistence of PLA2 activity through 20-72 h. The exudate PLA2 measured at 4-6 h
      (early) and 20-24 h (late), after glycogen administration, were biochemically
      compared. They were found to be neutral pH active, Ca(2+)-dependent and were
      similarly inhibited by the inhibitors, p-bromophenacylbromide, ellagic acid,
      gossypol and luffariellolide. Oral administration of dexamethasone to rats
      inhibited the appearance of PLA2 activity in the peritoneal lavage fluid as well
      as cellular influx and protein extravasation. Indomethacin had no effect on these
      parameters. These studies demonstrate that PLA2 is an integral component of
      glycogen-induced peritonitis and can be pharmacologically manipulated.

PMID- 1456182
TI  - A low molecular weight component derived from the milk of hyperimmunised cows
      suppresses inflammation by inhibiting neutrophil emigration.
AB  - An earlier study demonstrated that hyperimmunisation of dairy cows with a
      polyvalent bacterial vaccine stimulated the secretion of a small molecular weight
      anti-inflammatory moiety in the milk. This hyperimmune milk factor (HIMF) has
      been further investigated in the present experiments. HIMF was found to suppress
      the cellular phase of the response to carrageenin and also the neutrophil
      dependent reverse passive Arthus reaction. These results, together with the
      observation that the administration of HIMF led to an increase in the number of
      circulating neutrophils, suggested that the agent might inhibit inflammation by
      interfering with the ability of neutrophils to emigrate from the vasculature. In
      vivo studies carried out to evaluate this possibility demonstrated that HIMF
      suppressed neutrophil emigration by up to 75%. In vitro experiments established
      that the ability of neutrophils to respond to chemotactic stimuli or adhere to
      endothelial cells was not affected by HIMF. It is possible, therefore, that the
      agent modulates inflammation by down-regulating the synthesis of inducible pro
      inflammatory cytokines or adhesion molecules. Attempts are presently being made
      to isolate the active moiety to allow the activity of the agent at the molecular
      level to be studied in more detail.

PMID- 1456183
TI  - Oral, anti-inflammatory activity of a potent, selective, protein kinase C
      inhibitor.
AB  - The protein kinase C family of enzymes is thought to be important in mediating
      signal transduction. Ro 31-8830 is a novel, potent inhibitor of protein kinase C,
      derived from the non-selective protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine. In this
      paper we demonstrate the selectivity of Ro 31-8830 for protein kinase C over
      other protein kinases and its ability to inhibit protein kinase-C-mediated events
      in platelets and lymphocytes. In addition, we describe a novel system for the in
      vivo evaluation of inhibitors of protein kinase C, and we demonstrate the oral
      anti-inflammatory activity of Ro 31-8830. This finding has implications for the
      treatment of inflammatory disorders in the clinic.

PMID- 1456184
TI  - Antiarthritic profile of BF-389--a novel anti-inflammatory agent with low
      ulcerogenic liability.
AB  - BF-389, dihydro-4-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-methyl-2H-1,2-
      oxazin-3(4H)-one, is a potent, orally active, antiarthritic and analgesic agent
      with low ulcerogenic potential. A comparison of the activity profiles of BF-389
      and naproxen showed similarities in: (1) suppression of developing and chronic
      adjuvant arthritis (AA); (2) maximal inhibitory response, as shown by the E(max)
      values in the developing and established AA models; (3) inhibition of bone
      degenerative changes associated with chronic adjuvant arthritis; and (4)
      analgesic activity in the acetic acid and phenylquinone writhing assays. Though
      BF-389 has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, IC50 = 0.84 +/-
      0.25 microM against the production of PGE2 in vitro, there is a great difference
      from most cyclooxygenase inhibitors; it also inhibits the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme.
      For BF-389, the IC50 for in vitro LTB4 formation was found to be 3.65 +/- 1.19
      microM. The ulcerogenic potential of BF-389 was compared to that of naproxen
      using a five-day in vivo ulcerogenic rat assay. The UD50 for naproxen was found
      to be approximately 30 mg/kg/day, p.o. Based upon efficacy in the DEV AA and EST
      AA models, UD50/ED50 values for naproxen were estimated to be 0.7 and 1.9,
      respectively. For BF-389 the UD50 was shown to be 520 (389-695) mg/kg/day, p.o.,
      and the corresponding UD50/ED50 values were calculated to be 84 and 28,
      respectively, thus demonstrating the wide margin of safety between efficacy and
      ulcerogenicity in rats.

PMID- 1456185
TI  - Suppression of pulmonary granulomatous inflammation by immunomodulating agents.
AB  - We demonstrated previously that macrophages and macrophage-derived cytokines
      including lymphocyte-activating factors (LAFs) play a critical role in lung
      granuloma formation in mice and that granulomas sizes correlated with LAF
      activity in the lesions. In the present study, we examined the effects of D
      penicillamine (D-Pc), 2-acetylthiomethyl-3-(4-methyl-benzoyl)propionic acid (KE
      298) and dexamethasone (Dex) on dextran bead-induced lung granulomas in mice. KE
      298 is a newly synthesized compound containing sulfur (S) similar to D-Pc. Large
      granulomas developed, which reached peak intensity within 3 days and declined in
      size thereafter. Aqueous lung extracts of the mice contained high levels of LAF
      that were correlated with granuloma sizes. The lesions and local LAF activity
      were inhibited by administration of these agents. The most potent inhibitor was
      Dex. The suppressive effect of KE-298 was similar to that of D-Pc. These results
      suggest that suppression of granulomas may be attributed to inhibition of LAF
      activity/synthesis by these agents.

PMID- 1456186
TI  - Structural and functional changes of blood-brain barrier and indication of prion
      amyloid filaments in experimental amyotrophic leucospongiosis.
AB  - The reproduction of amyotrophic leukospongiosis (AL) agent in the central nervous
      system (CNS) of guinea pigs was accompanied by local disturbance of blood-brain
      barrier (BBB), which manifested in passing of horseradish peroxidase through the
      endothelium of some of capillaries (10-14%). The disturbance of BBB function
      coincided with dystrophic changes in a number of pericapillary astrocyte foot
      processes and in pericytes. In the walls of altered vessels we observed
      congophilic (amyloid) deposits, which formed immunocomplexes with monoclonal
      antibodies to the AL agent protein PrP 27-30 kD. By electron microscopic the
      deposits consisted of masses of filaments with diameter of 5-10 nm located
      between the basement membrane and endothelium of the vessels.

PMID- 1456187
TI  - Alcohol: yesterday and today have we changed?

PMID- 1456188
TI  - Addiction--a family affliction.

PMID- 1456189
TI  - Fluidotherapy. Clinical applications and techniques.

PMID- 1456190
TI  - The crisis of rising health care cost: a physician's perspective.

PMID- 1456191
TI  - Breast feeding after cosmetic breast surgery.

PMID- 1456192
TI  - Culture and antigen detection tests for streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis.

PMID- 1456193
TI  - Culture and antigen detection tests for streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis.

PMID- 1456194
TI  - Diary of a week in practice.

PMID- 1456195
TI  - Combining insulin and oral agents in diabetes: indications and controversies.
AB  - Patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes demonstrate peripheral insulin
      resistance that is aggravated by increased hepatic glucose production and results
      in elevated serum insulin and serum glucose levels. These levels can be affected
      by intensive diabetic management, including diet, exercise, lifestyle
      modifications and insulin or sulfonylurea therapy. Sulfonylureas stimulate
      endogenous insulin production, increase peripheral sensitivity to insulin and
      suppress hepatic glucose production. In spite of its added expense, increased
      potential for side effects and questionable efficacy, combination therapy with
      insulin and a sulfonylurea is often considered in noninsulin-dependent diabetics
      with difficult-to-control disease.

PMID- 1456196
TI  - Mercury toxicity. Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry.
AB  - Because mercury has several forms and because it produces subtle effects at
      chronic low-level exposures, mercury toxicity can be a difficult diagnosis to
      establish. Elemental mercury vapor accounts for most occupational and many
      accidental exposures. The main source of organic methyl mercury exposure in the
      general population is fish consumption. Children are at increased risk of
      exposure to elemental mercury vapor in the home because it tends to settle to the
      floor. The chemical and physical forms of mercury determine its absorption,
      metabolism, distribution and excretion pathways. The central nervous system and
      kidneys are key targets of mercury toxicity. Chelation therapy has been used
      successfully in treating patients who have ingested mercury salts or inhaled
      elemental mercury. There is no antidote for patients poisoned with organic
      mercury.

PMID- 1456197
TI  - Evaluation of fetal arrhythmias.
AB  - Fetal arrhythmias occur in approximately 1 to 3 percent of all pregnancies.
      Successful management depends on early identification and evaluation. Arrhythmias
      are classified as irregular, bradycardiac or tachycardiac. With proper
      monitoring, fetuses with irregular arrhythmias can usually be delivered by family
      physicians. For fetuses with bradyarrhythmias or tachyarrhythmias, referral to a
      high-risk specialists for ongoing fetal surveillance and delivery is necessary.

PMID- 1456198
TI  - Clinical and imaging evaluation of the solitary pulmonary nodule.
AB  - Management of a solitary pulmonary nodule remains a common clinical problem. The
      main goal of management is to choose a diagnostic and therapeutic scheme that is
      appropriately matched to the patient's clinical risk of malignancy. Clinical risk
      can be estimated from consideration of data on the overall prevalence of
      malignancy in solitary pulmonary nodules in various populations, the size of the
      pulmonary nodule, the patient's age and the patient's history of smoking. Nodules
      that have not grown for at least two years and those that are calcified are
      usually benign and require no further work-up. Suspicious nodules require further
      evaluation. The approach for patients at low clinical risk for malignancy may be
      clinical and radiographic observation, while that for patients at moderate to
      high risk for malignancy may be needle biopsy or thoracotomy. Whenever possible,
      the patient should be encouraged to participate in the decision-making process
      concerning the management of this clinical problem.

PMID- 1456199
TI  - Clarithromycin is effective against M. avium complex in AIDS.

PMID- 1456200
TI  - Healthy people 2000 initiative.

PMID- 1456201
TI  - AAP updates cholesterol guidelines for children.

PMID- 1456202
TI  - Approval for broader use of DDI.

PMID- 1456203
TI  - Occupational and environmental hygiene; more than just a name game.

PMID- 1456204
TI  - Comparative testing of an FTIR remote optical sensor with area samplers in a
      controlled ventilation chamber.
AB  - A portable Fourier transform infrared remote optical sensing spectrometer was
      deployed and tested in a constant ventilation test chamber by using a tracer gas
      source. Continuous beam path measurements were collected and compared to air
      samples obtained from a computer-controlled, multiple-point sampling array
      connected to a flame ionization detector. Measurements were gathered at two
      different room ventilation rates and at two different dispersion conditions. A
      homogeneous dispersion condition had a uniform tracer concentration over the beam
      path and an inhomogeneous dispersion condition had a nonuniform tracer
      concentration distribution over the length of the beam path. Overall, the beam
      measurements and the point sample readings showed good agreement regardless of
      the room ventilation rate. Comparative data obtained from the inhomogeneous
      dispersion conditions did have higher variability, probably as a result of the
      different spatial and temporal resolution of the two sampling techniques. The
      tests demonstrate that a remote sensing system can be applied to an indoor room
      scale setting, but the dispersion of contaminant in the beam path is an important
      factor to consider when interpreting the beam data.

PMID- 1456205
TI  - An investigation of dust generation by free falling powders.
AB  - To identify the dust generation processes, aluminum oxide powder was dropped as a
      free falling slug in a test chamber. The effect of the slug's mass, diameter, and
      drop height upon the aerosol concentration and size distribution was measured
      with an aerodynamic particle sizer. To differentiate between aerosol generated
      during the free fall and at the end of the fall, the slug was dropped either onto
      a flat surface or into a container of water that suppressed dust generation
      associated with the impact at the end of the fall. Aerosol generation occurred
      during the slug's free fall as well as at the end of the fall. The falling solid
      induced an airflow that followed the falling solid to the end of the fall. This
      induced airflow contained the aerosol generated during the free fall. At the end
      of the free fall, the induced airflow, combined with air jets created on impact,
      dispersed the aerosol throughout the test chamber. Additional measurements were
      made by using "neutral buoyancy" helium-filled bubbles to visualize the airflow
      in the test chamber. The airflow and ensuing turbulence were sufficient to keep
      large, inspirable particles suspended throughout the test chamber for periods
      greater than 10 min. During experimental work, the effect of drop height, mass,
      and slug diameter upon aerosol generation by a single slug of powder was studied.
      The results indicated that the manner in which a powder is handled may be as
      important as material dustiness as measured by a dustiness tester. Aerosol
      generation can be reduced by minimizing the contact between the falling powder
      and the air.

PMID- 1456206
TI  - An assessment of critical anthropometric dimensions for predicting the fit of a
      half-mask respirator.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine if facial dimensions for a group of
      subjects were predictive of the fit factors measured while one brand of half-mask
      respirator was worn. Fit factors and 12 facial dimensions measured on 30 female
      and 38 male subjects were analyzed by correlation coefficients; weighted,
      multiple linear regression; and discriminant analysis. Data were analyzed for all
      subjects, gender subgroups, a race subgroup (whites only), and race/gender
      subgroups. Significant correlation coefficients with the log-transformed fit
      factors were found for four dimensions; four dimensions had significant
      coefficients in four or more multiple linear regression models. Only two
      dimensions had significant coefficients in four or more discriminant analysis
      models. Menton-subnasale (lower face) length was the only dimension included in
      all three of these groups. Gender-specific regression models had very high
      coefficient of determination values (R2 > 0.85). Discriminant analysis of the
      data for all subjects and race/gender subgroups found very good predictive scores
      for statistical software-generated models and menton-subnasale length alone;
      these scores were significantly better than those for the model with the
      respirator test panel dimensions (face length and lip width). These analyses
      found that facial dimensions were good predictors of respirator fit for those
      subjects wearing one brand of half-mask respirator. Lower face length was
      consistently indicated as being correlated or associated with fit. These results
      would indicate that dimensions other than those currently used may be more
      appropriate to define a half-mask respirator test panel.

PMID- 1456207
TI  - Hydrocarbon exposures at petroleum bulk terminals and agencies.
AB  - Occupational exposures to the 55 hydrocarbon components of gasoline and petroleum
      products were measured at the bulk terminals and agencies of six Ontario
      petroleum companies during the summer of 1986. A total of 82 long-term (full
      shift) and 111 short-term personal samples were taken over 3 months. The data,
      expressed as concentrations in milligrams per cubic meter, were highly variable
      and appeared to fit the lognormal distribution well. Full-shift exposures of bulk
      terminal drivers, agency drivers, and plantmen to total hydrocarbons (THC),
      computed as an n-hexane equivalent, and other hydrocarbon components for which
      exposure limits exist can be expected to exceed their respective 1986-1987
      threshold limit value-time-weighted average (TLV-TWA) no greater than 1% of the
      time on the basis of the lognormal model. The short-term THC exposures of agency
      truck drivers can be expected to exceed the 1986-1987 TLV-short-term exposure
      limits about 7% of the time while top-loading and more than 17% while off
      loading. For benzene, the short-term exceedance percentages are 1% and 4% for top
      and off-loading operations, respectively. For long-term benzene exposures, up to
      69% of the assessments can be expected to exceed the 1990-1991 proposed TLV-TWA
      of 0.3 mg/m3 (0.1 ppm). The full-shift hydrocarbon exposures of agency drivers
      were significantly higher than those for bulk terminal drivers. At the bulk
      terminals, the short-term hydrocarbon exposures during top-loading were
      significantly higher than during bottom-loading.

PMID- 1456208
TI  - Evaluation of eight bioaerosol samplers challenged with aerosols of free
      bacteria.
AB  - The need to quantify airborne microorganisms in the commercial microbiology
      industry (biotechnology) and during evaluations of indoor air quality, infectious
      disease outbreaks, and agriculture health investigations has shown there is a
      major technological void in bioaerosol sampling techniques to measure and
      identify viable and nonviable aerosols. As commercialization of microbiology
      increases and diversifies, it is increasingly necessary to assess occupational
      exposure to bioaerosols. Meaningful exposure estimates, by using area or
      environmental samplers, can only be ensured by the generation of data that are
      both precise and accurate. The Andersen six-stage viable (microbial) particle
      sizing sampler (6-STG) and the Ace Glass all-glass impinger-30 (AGI-30) have been
      suggested as the samplers of choice for the collection of viable microorganisms
      by the International Aerobiology Symposium and the American Conference of
      Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Some researchers consider these samplers
      inconvenient for evaluating industrial bioprocesses and indoor or outdoor
      environments. Alternative samplers for the collection of bioaerosols are
      available; however, limited information has been reported on their collection
      efficiencies. A study of the relative sampling efficiencies of eight bioaerosol
      samplers has been completed. Eight samplers were individually challenged with a
      bioaerosol, created with a Collison nebulizer, of either Bacillus subtilis or
      Escherichia coli. The samplers were evaluated under controlled conditions in a
      horizontal bioaerosol chamber. During each experimental run, simultaneous samples
      were collected with a reference AGI-30 to verify the concentration of
      microorganisms in the chamber from run to run and day to day.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456209
TI  - American Association of Orthodontists Foundation Endowment Fund Campaign.

PMID- 1456210
TI  - Comment on TMJ case report.

PMID- 1456211
TI  - Further comment on TMJ case report.

PMID- 1456212
TI  - Comment on differential tooth movement.

PMID- 1456213
TI  - Growth changes and orthodontic treatment in a patient with condylolysis.
AB  - A patient with acquired bilateral degeneration of the mandibular condyles was
      treated orthodontically. The flattening of condyles and the shortening of the
      ramus began at adolescence. The facial profile changed to a convex type, with a
      marked mandibular retrognathia and severe Class II malocclusion. The cause seems
      to be due to a condylolysis of the mandible.

PMID- 1456214
TI  - The effects of infraocclusion: Part 2. The type of movement of the adjacent teeth
      and their vertical development.
AB  - This second article discusses how the inclusion of a vertical component (the
      infraocclusion of the deciduous molar) into the otherwise horizontal band of
      transseptal fibers affects the vertical development of the two adjacent teeth.
      From the hypothesis proposed in the first article of this series, it seemed
      logical to assume that the occlusal heights of the teeth adjacent to the affected
      tooth would themselves be lowered, when measured to the inferior border of the
      mandible and compared with the height of the occlusal table of the control side.
      Secondly, since the vertical component affects only one side of each adjacent
      tooth, these teeth would be tilted about a center of rotation which is much
      higher (coronal) than is seen in a tooth that merely tips forward as the result
      of available space in the immediate vicinity in the arch. In this study, both
      these assumptions were confirmed, with a very high degree of statistical
      significance.

PMID- 1456215
TI  - The effect of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis on orthodontic tooth movement.
AB  - The purpose of this research was to study the effect of corticosteroid-induced
      osteoporosis on orthodontic tooth movement and relapse. Sixteen 3-month-old New
      Zealand white rabbits were divided into four equal groups, two treatment and two
      control. All treatment rabbits were administered daily injections of 15 mg/kg
      cortisone acetate for 4 days before and during the experimental period. An
      orthodontic appliance delivering a mesial force of 4 ounces was placed on the
      maxillary left first molar of all animals. For all groups, measurements of active
      tooth movement were made after 4, 7, 11, and 14 days. For two of the groups,
      appliances were removed on day 14, and additional measurements of relapse were
      made through day 21. With the use of radiodensitometric readings of the humerus
      bone and histology of the maxilla, osteoporosis was demonstrated in the treatment
      animals. Mean incremental and cumulative active tooth movement was three to four
      times greater (p < 0.0001) in the treatment rabbits than in the controls. The
      treatment group in which relapse was measured demonstrated 100% relapse on day
      18, whereas the control group relapsed at a much lesser rate through day 21 and
      never achieved 100% relapse. Histologic findings appeared to support tooth
      movement results. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that rabbits
      subjected to corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis undergo significantly more rapid
      orthodontic tooth movement and subsequent relapse than control animals.

PMID- 1456216
TI  - Changes in lower third molar position in the young adult.
AB  - Changes in position of unerupted lower third molars between 18 and 21 years were
      examined in a group of 17 men and 24 women with intact lower arches. Mesiodistal
      third molar angulation, molar space, molar space condition, and buccolingual
      third molar angulation and the changes in these dimensions were measured on 60
      degree cephalograms taken at 18 and 21 years. At 18 years molar space was
      inadequate by an average of 5.0 mm. Average changes in dimensions were
      statistically nonsignificant except for an increase in molar space of 0.7 mm.
      Changes in third molar position ranged from 39 degrees to -46 degrees in the
      mesiodistal and from 24 degrees to -24 degrees in the buccolingual dimension.
      Only 10 third molars did not change their mesiodistal angulation. Four third
      molars erupted fully during the observation period.

PMID- 1456217
TI  - An evaluation of the nasolabial angle and the relative inclinations of the nose
      and upper lip.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to develop a consistent and reproducible method of
      constructing a nasolabial angle that would also permit an evaluation of the
      relative inclination of the lower border of the nose and the upper lip, as well
      as their relationship to each other. Comparison of repeated individual
      measurements of soft tissue profile landmarks on 15 subjects, as completed by
      four orthodontists, revealed that the proposed method of constructing the
      nasolabial angle was consistent and reproducible by the same orthodontist and
      among different orthodontists. Normative data for the three nasolabial parameters
      were produced from a sample of 104 young white adults determined by the authors
      to have well-balanced faces. Mean and standard deviation values from this pooled
      sample demonstrated a lower border of the nose to Frankfort horizontal plane
      angle at 18 degrees +/- 7 degrees, upper lip to Frankfort horizontal plane angle
      98 degrees +/- 5 degrees, and nasolabial angle 114 degrees +/- 10 degrees. No
      statistically significant difference was demonstrated between the values for men
      and women in this study, but the women did have a slightly larger nasolabial
      angle. A linear comparison of the three nasolabial parameters with six skeletal
      measurements revealed no significant relationship between the soft tissue profile
      of the nasolabial region and the underlying skeletal relationships.

PMID- 1456218
TI  - Comparisons of postsurgical stability of the LeFort I maxillary impaction and
      maxillary advancement.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine retrospectively the stability of the
      LeFort I osteotomy after a one-piece maxillary impaction or advancement.
      Cephalograms of 31 patients were evaluated before surgery, immediately after
      surgery, in fixation, and after fixation. Descriptive statistics for the absolute
      and the relative changes of the various linear and angular parameters were
      calculated for the different stages. The analysis of variance general linear
      models procedure was used to compare the impaction group (n = 23) with the
      advancement group (n = 8). The findings indicated that the two groups could be
      studied independent of age, sex, surgeon, the presence of pretreatment open bite,
      and the length of the postsurgical fixation. The findings further indicated the
      presence of significant differences in the postsurgical changes between the
      maxillary impaction and the maxillary advancement groups. As an example, during
      fixation, the maxilla moved superiorly more at point A in the advancement group
      (mean = 1.89 mm) than in the impaction group (mean = 0.67 mm). The upper incisor
      movements showed a similar pattern, moving more superiorly for the advancement
      group (mean = 2.30 mm) than for the impaction group (mean = 0.96 mm). Therefore
      care should be taken to avoid "burying" the incisors beneath the lip in patients
      undergoing maxillary advancement, who have minimal exposure of the maxillary
      incisors before surgery.

PMID- 1456220
TI  - The effect of acetylsalicylic acid on orthodontic tooth movement in the guinea
      pig.
AB  - This study examined the influence of acetylsalicylic acid an inhibitor of
      prostaglandin synthesis, on orthodontic tooth movement induced with light spring
      forces in the guinea pig. The animal model was shown to permit reliable and
      accurate recording of tooth movement up to 28 days. Tooth movement was found to
      be highly correlated with spring forces, indicating that the model provided a
      sensitive test of the effect of aspirin on tooth movement. Aspirin was
      administered orally at the rate of 65 mg/kg per day in three divided doses and
      was found to effectively inhibit prostaglandin synthesis at the level of the
      bronchioles. However, aspirin did not appear to significantly affect tooth
      movement. Thus prostaglandins may not be the only mediators of the bone
      resorption associated with tooth movement induced by light orthodontic forces
      under these experimental conditions.

PMID- 1456219
TI  - Superior repositioning of the maxilla combined with mandibular advancement:
      mandibular RIF improves stability.
AB  - Postsurgical changes in 24 patients who had rigid internal fixation (RIF) of the
      mandible with screws after combined superior repositioning of the maxilla and
      mandibular advancement were compared with 53 patients who underwent the same
      surgery but who had intraosseous wire fixation, skeletal suspension wires, and 8
      weeks of maxillomandibular fixation (MMF). During the first 8 weeks after
      surgery, the mean posterior relapse of the mandible was greater in the MMF group
      than in the RIF group (for example, -1.1 mm versus 0.15 mm at B point), and the
      percentage of patients with clinically significant vertical and horizontal
      changes was greater in the MMF group. By 1 year, there had been slight additional
      mean relapse in the MMF group (-1.5 mm net relapse at B point, with 42% of the
      patients showing 2 mm or more relapse). In the RIF group, the mandible was more
      likely to be repositioned forward than posteriorly (net mean change at B point,
      0.7 mm forward; 33% had 2 mm or more forward movement). In the RIF group, all but
      one of the patients (96%) were judged to have an excellent clinical result; in
      the MMF group, the corresponding figure was 60%.

PMID- 1456221
TI  - An introduction to computerization of the orthodontic practice: practice and
      communications systems.
AB  - This article is the result of an extensive investigation into currently available
      computer software and hardware systems. It is designed to present an overview of
      the options that are available, what to reasonably expect computer systems to do
      and not to do, and to introduce the reader to the terminology of the computer
      world to assist in evaluating and selecting appropriate software and hardware for
      office use.

PMID- 1456222
TI  - The pain and discomfort experienced during orthodontic treatment: a randomized
      controlled clinical trial of two initial aligning arch wires.
AB  - A randomized controlled clinical trial was performed to compare the nature,
      prevalence, intensity, and duration of pain related to the use of a relatively
      recently developed superelastic arch wire and a more traditional multistranded
      steel arch wire. Other factors likely to influence the pain experience were also
      investigated. Forty-three subjects participated in the study, the pain response
      being assessed by each of the visual analogue scales, the questionnaires, and an
      analgesic consumption record. In 18 of the 43 subjects a standardized preliminary
      dental extraction procedure was used as a control. Subsequent to the random
      allocation of an initial arch wire in 43 patients, 22 of them underwent a second
      arch wire in the opposing arch, the wire again being determined by random
      allocation. It was found that the prevalence, intensity, and duration of pain
      after the insertion of the two types of wire was similar but much greater than in
      the postextraction control phase. The pain score peaked on the morning after the
      placement of the arch wire, lasting typically for 5 to 6 days. The pain and
      discomfort experienced after the insertion of the second arch wire was similar to
      that of the first, no conditioning response being evident. Overall a diurnal
      variation was found with a tendency to an increase in pain in the evenings and
      nights, although this did not greatly affect sleep. The pain response was found
      to be highly and consistently subjective, not related to the dental arch,
      crowding, sex, or social class; however, a statistically significant association
      was found between the age and the pain experienced.

PMID- 1456223
TI  - Insurance essentials for the orthodontic practice.

PMID- 1456224
TI  - Directory: AAO officers and organizations.

PMID- 1456225
TI  - Joseph A. Gryson receives PCSO award of merit.

PMID- 1456226
TI  - Ronald Gross receives Devlin award.

PMID- 1456227
TI  - AAOF Endowment fund.

PMID- 1456228
TI  - (Up)righting misconceptions concerning the SPEED bracket system.

PMID- 1456229
TI  - Rigid internal fixation and the effects on the temporomandibular joint and
      masticatory system: a prospective study.
AB  - A prospective study of 22 patients who underwent a bilateral sagittal osteotomy
      to advance the mandible and subsequent rigid internal fixation, were examined for
      signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and masticatory
      dysfunction. A modified Helkimo index was used to analyze the anamnestic,
      clinical, and occlusal data. In addition, 12 of the cases chosen at random were
      mounted on a semiadjustable (SAM2) articulator and analyzed with the mandibular
      position indicator (MPI) to determine the amount and the direction of condylar
      displacement postoperatively. Anamnestic dysfunction decreased because of a
      reported decrease in muscular pain, joint noise, headache frequency, and
      parafunctional habits postoperatively. Clinical dysfunction remained unchanged,
      with a decrease in muscular soreness but with an increased incidence of joint
      clicking of 7%. The increased incidence of temporomandibular joint pain
      postoperatively was 4%. Increase in clinical dysfunction was most often seen in
      women and older patients. Occlusal dysfunction decreased, with the majority of
      interferences remaining after surgery as a result of insufficient lingual crown
      torque of the maxillary buccal segments. Occlusion is thought to have played only
      a minor role in temporomandibular joint and masticatory dysfunction. Reduction in
      range of motion was 10%, indicating the added benefit of early mobilization with
      rigid internal fixation procedures. The MPI study found the condyles inferiorly
      or inferoposteriorly displaced less than 1 mm from their preoperative position.
      These findings suggest that rigid internal fixation had no adverse effects on the
      temporomandibular and masticatory system. The variable responses and results can
      be attributed, at least in part, to the heterogenous population of patients
      studied and the variations in surgical techniques employed.

PMID- 1456230
TI  - Vertical changes in high-angle Class II, division 1 patients treated with
      cervical or occipital pull headgear.
AB  - Before, after, and 2 years after treatment serial radiographs of two samples of
      patients with high mandibular plane angle Class II, Division 1 nonextraction who
      were treated were evaluated retrospectively. One sample comprised patients
      treated with cervical headgear (CHG), and the other was treated with occipital
      headgear (OPHG). No significant differences were found when mandibular plane
      angle or facial height changes, anterior or posterior, were compared. Regarding
      vertical changes, only maxillary molar height, relative to both sella-nasion and
      palatal plane, and occlusal plane angle changes were significantly different when
      cervical and occipital-pull headgear were compared. In both groups of patients,
      responses to treatment were highly variable and only subtle vertical differences
      were apparent between mean changes in the cervical and occipital-pull samples.

PMID- 1456231
TI  - Mandibular displacement in Angle Class II, division 2 malocclusion.
AB  - The effect of the treatment of Angle Class II, Division 2 malocclusion was
      studied in 22 children by x-ray cephalometry and by recording the relation
      between the retruded and the intercuspal mandibular positions. The treatment was
      performed in three phases. In the first phase the upper incisors were proclined,
      and the deep bite was corrected with an upper removable plate. In the second
      phase the distal occlusion was corrected with an activator. The result was
      retained in the third phase with a second activator designed for retention. The
      relation between the retruded (RCP) and the intercuspal (ICP) mandibular
      positions was recorded with wax bites and dental casts mounted in a modified
      gnathothesiometer. The anteroposterior distance between RCP and ICP was large
      before the start of the treatment. The distance was unchanged after proclination
      of the upper incisors and correction of the deep bite but decreased after
      correction of the distal occlusion and increased again somewhat during the
      retention phase. The proclination of the upper incisors and the correction of the
      deep bite (phase one of the treatment) did not result in mandibular anterior
      positioning. This fact and the results of the recordings of the relation between
      RCP and ICP were interpreted as evidence that the mandible is not posteriorly
      displaced in Class II, Division 2 malocclusion.

PMID- 1456232
TI  - A study of reference lines for mandibular plane angles.
AB  - Four mandibular plane angles, MP-sella nasion, MP-Frankfort horizontal, MP
      articulare nasion, and MP-gnathion occiput, were compared. Highly significant
      correlations were found among all four. The relation of an extension of the
      mandibular plane to the posterior inferior outline of the cranium was found to
      provide a valid indication of mandibular plane angle. Articulare nasion was found
      to be the reference line most likely to provide a true indication of the
      mandibular inclination rather than a reflection of a variation in the reference
      line itself.

PMID- 1456233
TI  - Salivary clearance of sugar before and after insertion of fixed orthodontic
      appliances.
AB  - This study was conducted for the purpose of establishing the possible influence
      of orthodontic therapy with fixed appliances on salivary clearance of sugar.
      Fifteen consecutive patients between the ages 12 and 17 years took part in the
      investigation. Unstimulated salivary flow rate, residual volume of saliva in the
      mouth after swallowing (RESID), and salivary clearance of sugar was determined on
      two occasions, before treatment commenced and after a minimum of 3 weeks of
      appliance wear. Analysis of the data showed that both RESID and salivary flow
      rate exhibited significantly increased levels during orthodontic therapy. The
      insertion of fixed appliances did not seem to have any effect on the rate of
      salivary clearance of sugar. It was assumed that this finding could be a
      consequence of the combined effects of the changes in salivary flow rate and
      RESID.

PMID- 1456234
TI  - Apparatus criticus: methods used to evaluate growth modification in Class II
      malocclusion.

PMID- 1456235
TI  - The orthodontic management of congenitally absent maxillary lateral incisors and
      second premolars: a case report.
AB  - The orthodontic management of congenitally missing maxillary lateral incisors and
      second premolars is the subject of this case report. The primary orthodontic
      consideration was the maintenance of facial esthetics in a 12-year-old boy while
      consolidating, aligning, and coordinating the dental arches. The maxillary
      canines were orthodontically positioned in the lateral incisor spaces. The
      maxillary posterior teeth, including the deciduous second molars, were protracted
      to esthetic positions where they could function without interferences. The
      stability of the occlusion depends on the longevity of the maxillary deciduous
      second molar roots, which did not resorb during active tooth movement.

PMID- 1456236
TI  - Edward H. Angle versus Calvin S. Case: extraction versus nonextraction.
      Historical revisionism. Part II.

PMID- 1456237
TI  - Direct bonding metallic brackets: where are they heading?

PMID- 1456238
TI  - Practice and communications systems: a word processor based communications
      system.
AB  - The majority of computerized systems currently available for the orthodontic
      office have been designed for and aimed at those offices that have a volume
      practice and frequently have multiple practitioners. The stand-alone practitioner
      and the small office have been grossly ignored. Systems designed for large
      practices are frequently too complex, too involved in business administration,
      and too costly for the small office to use effectively. This article describes
      how an office communications system can be assembled by using commercially
      available programs. For background information and definition of terms used in
      this article, I suggest referring to "An Introduction to the Computerization of
      the Orthodontic Practice," in the Oct. issue of this Journal.

PMID- 1456239
TI  - The patient's records and the defense of dental malpractice claims.

PMID- 1456240
TI  - Directory: AAO officers and organizations.

PMID- 1456242
TI  - Retained umbilical stump: clinical approaches and separation anxiety.

PMID- 1456241
TI  - Toxic effects of methylene blue on the fetus.

PMID- 1456243
TI  - A life-threatening complication of percutaneous central venous catheters in
      neonates.

PMID- 1456244
TI  - Fatalities associated with misinterpretation of bloody cerebrospinal fluid in the
      'shaken baby syndrome'.

PMID- 1456245
TI  - Pseudotumor cerebri in a boy with systemic lupus erythematosus.

PMID- 1456246
TI  - Acute scrotal involvement in children with familial Mediterranean fever.

PMID- 1456247
TI  - Safe and effective discipline.

PMID- 1456248
TI  - Laboratory evaluation of jaundice in newborns: corrections.

PMID- 1456249
TI  - Parenteral nutrition complications.

PMID- 1456250
TI  - Lacerations involving glass revisited.

PMID- 1456251
TI  - Rumination on the history of recognition of dehydration.

PMID- 1456252
TI  - Passive euthanasia for hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

PMID- 1456253
TI  - Medical decisions concerning the end of life in children in The Netherlands.

PMID- 1456254
TI  - How good a food for humans is cow's milk? From hyperbole up to hyperbole down.

PMID- 1456255
TI  - Pediatric euthanasia.
AB  - Pediatric euthanasia is currently practiced in the Netherlands on newborns,
      infants, children, and adolescents, although exact numbers are not known.
      Euthanasia in the Netherlands is generally assumed to be active and voluntary,
      but some cases of pediatric euthanasia would have to be characterized as
      nonvoluntary. Much of the motivation behind the euthanasia movement and the
      performance of pediatric euthanasia in the Netherlands is a genuine,
      compassionate desire to alleviate pain and suffering. In this study, we review
      the Dutch experience, with particular attention to the current practice of
      euthanasia on newborns, infants, children, and adolescents. We discuss pediatric
      euthanasia from an ethical point of view. We assert that more effective pain
      control, better symptom management, and psychosocial support of the dying and
      their families would alleviate the perception of suffering, and reduce the
      perceived need to resort to euthanasia.

PMID- 1456256
TI  - Surgical management of congenital heart disease in the 1990s.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To provide a broad overview of recent trends in surgical management of
      congenital heart disease. DESIGN: Review of recent literature. SETTING: Major
      centers for surgical management of congenital heart disease. SELECTION
      PROCEDURES: Analysis of important recent clinical publications. INTERVENTIONS:
      None. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Definitive, corrective surgery was previously
      reserved for children beyond infancy. Recognition of the complications associated
      with palliative operations as well as the realization that neonates and infants
      did not fare worse than older children during open heart surgery provided the
      impetus for primary corrective surgery at an earlier age. Advances in our
      understanding of perioperative care, improved diagnostic capability, and
      increasing experience with corrective surgery in association with several
      different congenital heart lesions has resulted in an established therapeutic
      approach to surgical management of congenital heart disease in neonates and
      infants.

PMID- 1456257
TI  - Spontaneous chylothorax in Noonan syndrome. Treatment with prednisone.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of spontaneous chylothorax in a child with Noonan
      syndrome successfully treated with prednisone. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: A
      pediatric cardiology referral center for the Rocky Mountain region. PATIENT: An
      18-month-old girl with Noonan's syndrome, pulmonary stenosis, and hypertrophic
      cardiomyopathy who presented with spontaneous chylothorax. INTERVENTIONS: The
      child's chylothorax did not respond to thoracic duct ligation, tetracycline
      pleurodesis, and pleurectomy during a 2-month period. A low-fat diet was helpful
      but did not eliminate the problem. Prednisone was started orally at 1 mg/kg per
      dose twice daily and slowly tapered during 3 months. The chylothorax did not
      recur during 8 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Prednisone may be useful in the
      treatment of chylothorax in Noonan syndrome. A controlled clinical trial would be
      helpful but would be difficult in such a rare complication of an uncommon
      syndrome.

PMID- 1456258
TI  - Diabetic ketoacidosis in cystic fibrosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To differentiate the insulin-dependent glucose intolerance associated
      with cystic fibrosis from type I diabetes mellitus in patients with cystic
      fibrosis. DESIGN: Patient report. SETTING: Tertiary care referral center.
      PARTICIPANT: An 11-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis who developed diabetic
      ketoacidosis. MEASUREMENT/MAIN RESULT: Biochemical, immunologic, and molecular
      techniques were used to support the sporadic association of type I diabetes
      mellitus in a patient with cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis was confirmed by
      sweat test and further supported by the demonstration of a heterozygous deletion
      of the F508 locus. Evidence for the diagnosis of type I diabetes mellitus was
      developed from the clinical presentation of diabetic ketoacidosis with
      hyperglycemia, ketonemia, and ketonuria. Immunologic evidence included the
      demonstration of anti-insulin antibodies. The demonstration of homozygous absence
      of aspartic acid at position 57 of the HLA DQ-beta chain placed this child at
      high risk of type I diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: The clinical presentation and
      the presence of immunologic and genetic markers characteristic of type I diabetes
      mellitus supports the concordance of cystic fibrosis and type I diabetes mellitus
      in this patient.

PMID- 1456260
TI  - Helmets! All the pros wear them.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcome of a multidisciplinary community campaign to
      increase helmet use and determine the success of a school education and helmet
      distribution program. DESIGN: Survey research. SETTING: Large metropolitan area
      and two elementary schools. PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred representative families in
      a metropolitan area and students enrolled in two elementary schools.
      INTERVENTIONS: A 1-year-long regional media campaign and a helmet distribution
      program in one elementary school after 4 weeks of safety instruction. RESULTS:
      Evaluation of the community component 1 year after initiation of the campaign
      revealed a 23% awareness of the promotion. Factors associated with wearing a
      helmet in the community included higher income levels, higher level of education,
      and male sex. The school component survey revealed that 73% of the children in
      school A reported helmet use vs 23% in school B. This multifaceted approach to
      affect helmet use demonstrated variable success in our community. CONCLUSION:
      This campaign effort achieved its greatest success in promoting community
      awareness of the importance of helmet use. However, further studies need to be
      performed to determine the success of the school education and helmet
      distribution program.

PMID- 1456259
TI  - An unusual presentation of medium-chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To report an atypical presentation of medium-chain acyl Coenzyme A
      dehydrogenase deficiency in a 13-year-old girl with hyperammonemic encephalopathy
      and orotic aciduria meeting the accepted criteria for diagnosis of a female
      heterozygous for ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency. DESIGN: Case report and
      definitive biochemical testing. SETTING: Children's hospital and university
      laboratory. PARTICIPANT: One teenager. INTERVENTIONS: Diagnosis and treatment
      with carnitine. MEASUREMENTS/MAIN RESULTS: Assay ornithine transcarbamylase
      deficiency had normal results. The diagnosis was confirmed by DNA analysis, which
      revealed homozygosity for prevalent mutation (the adenine to guanine transition
      at position 985). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a clinical diagnosis of Reye's
      syndrome have, in general, an inborn error of metabolism. Medium-chain acyl
      Coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency and other disorders of fatty acid oxidation
      may present long after infancy. They may mimic the presentation of defects in the
      urea cycle.

PMID- 1456261
TI  - Radiological case of the month. Subperiosteal orbital abscess and ethmoid
      sinusitis.

PMID- 1456262
TI  - Picture of the month. Mastocytosis.

PMID- 1456263
TI  - Pathological case of the month. Spinal chordoma.

PMID- 1456265
TI  - Cranial computed tomographic scans have little impact on management of bacterial
      meningitis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess which clinical features predict an increased likelihood of
      an abnormal computed tomographic (CT) scan and how frequently CT influences
      management of bacterial meningitis. DESIGN: Retrospective patient series.
      SETTING: University-affiliated hospitals in Dallas, Tex. PATIENTS: Three hundred
      thirty-seven children with bacterial meningitis, of whom 107 (32%) had undergone
      CT scans. RESULTS: One or more abnormalities were found in 52% of the initial
      scans. The most frequent indication for CT at our institution was persistent or
      secondary fever, and in 56% of these children, subdural effusion or empyema was
      noted. However, findings on CT rarely predicted a need for intervention. In
      contrast, children with focal seizures or focal neurologic signs were more likely
      to have brain parenchymal changes. Scans in 19 patients (12%) prompted surgical
      intervention, most commonly drainage of a subdural collection. The conditions of
      only nine children (8.4% of those who had undergone CT scans) improved following
      intervention that was initiated because of findings on CT. CONCLUSIONS: Although
      CT scans are frequently abnormal in children with meningitis, CT seldom reveals
      findings that require specific intervention.

PMID- 1456264
TI  - Cognitive assessment of human immunodeficiency virus-exposed children.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine (1) the level of impairment in cognitive and motor
      functioning in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-exposed and HIV-infected
      preschool and school-age children; (2) cognitive strengths and weaknesses that
      characterize HIV-infected children; and (3) potential contributions of
      serostatus, neurologic impairment, and prenatal drug-exposure to cognitive
      functioning. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, single-blind study. SETTING: Pediatric
      neurology clinic at a large metropolitan hospital in New York, NY. PARTICIPANTS:
      Forty-one HIV-infected and eight seroreverter school-age children. INTERVENTIONS:
      The McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities were administered to all children, as
      was the Neurologic Examination for Children. MEASUREMENTS/MAIN RESULTS: The
      obtained mean of the sample on the McCarthy Scales' General Cognitive Index was
      in the Borderline range, with 44% of the subjects scoring in the Mentally
      Retarded range. The most severe cognitive deficits were found on the
      Quantitative, Verbal, and Memory scales (Borderline range). Children infected
      with HIV with neurologic impairment performed significantly worse than did
      seroverters and neurologically normal HIV-infected children. There were no
      significant differences in cognitive functioning due to gender, ethnicity, and
      prenatal drug exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive deficits were detected in HIV
      infected and seroreverted children. The presence of neurologic dysfunction in HIV
      infected children markedly intensified these deficits.

PMID- 1456266
TI  - Fluoride supplementation. A survey of pediatricians and pediatric dentists.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the protocol and use of prescriptions of fluoride
      supplementation by primary care pediatricians and pediatric dentists in the
      Houston (Tex) area. DESIGN: Survey mailed to all primary care pediatricians and
      pediatric dentists listed in the Yellow Pages of the Greater Houston telephone
      directory. PARTICIPANTS: 153 pediatricians and 47 pediatric dentists. MAIN
      RESULTS: Ninety-six percent of the participants prescribed fluoride supplements.
      Fifty-one percent of the pediatricians and 61% of the dentists considered that
      the fluoride content of the water was important. Seventy percent of the
      pediatricians and 30% of the dentists discontinued the use of supplements by age
      7 to 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatricians and pediatric dentists should consider
      the need for water analysis prior to supplementation and should continue the use
      of fluoride supplements until 16 years of age.

PMID- 1456267
TI  - The Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) and the future of epidemiology.

PMID- 1456268
TI  - Is acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children virus-related?
AB  - The sharp peak in incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia at ages 2 and 3 years
      strongly suggests the effect of an agent, whether viral or not, to which either
      exposure occurs only in the earliest months of life or to which immunity develops
      very rapidly. Suspected clusters of childhood leukemia in the neighborhoods of
      two British nuclear reprocessing facilities led Leo Kinlen to postulate that
      large-scale immigration into areas that had previously been remote and isolated
      offers opportunities for spread of viral infections to which most urban
      populations become immune at a very early age: leukemia may be a rare
      manifestation of infection by one or more of such viruses. He and his group have
      presented evidence in support of this hypothesis. Lack of increase in childhood
      leukemia in the contexts of the massive evacuation of mothers and children from
      British cities during the Second World War, and of the considerable immigration
      into previously isolated islands of Greece during the last several decades,
      indicates that some large movements of children have occurred without providing
      the circumstances postulated by Kinlen. The marked inverse association of
      leukemia risk with birth order, noted almost 30 years ago, remains unexplained
      and deserves to be recalled when considering the possibility of viral involvement
      in the etiology of acute lymphoblastic leukemia of children.

PMID- 1456269
TI  - Risk factors predicting the incidence of second primary breast cancer among women
      diagnosed with a first primary breast cancer.
AB  - This study examined risk factors for development of a contralateral breast cancer
      among 4,660 US women diagnosed with a first primary breast cancer between 1980
      and 1982. The authors believe it to be the first prospective cohort study on this
      topic that has employed direct patient interviews. All subjects were interviewed
      within 6 months of the diagnosis of their initial tumor as part of the multi
      center, population-based, case-control Cancer and Steroid Hormone Study, and they
      were followed until the end of 1986 through the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and
      End Results program. Exclusive of those diagnosed during the initial 6 months
      after diagnosis of a first primary, 136 second primary breast cancers were
      identified. Proportional hazards models were used to assess the independent
      effects of multiple predictors. Specific risk factors evaluated included: age at
      diagnosis of first primary, exposure to exogenous hormones, menstrual and
      reproductive histories, tumor characteristics, demographic variables, and
      treatment modalities. The age-specific incidence rates of second primary breast
      cancer were higher in all age categories than are the incidence rates of breast
      cancer in the general population, yet the age at diagnosis of first primary
      breast cancer was not an important predictor of contralateral breast cancer. The
      risk of contralateral breast cancer was increased among cohort members who
      reported a personal history of benign breast biopsy (multivariable-adjusted rate
      ratio (RR) = 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-2.53) and in those with an
      initial tumor that was classified as lobular carcinoma (multivariable-adjusted RR
      = 1.96, 95% CI 1.17-3.27). Treatment with chemotherapy for the first primary was
      associated with a lower risk of development of a second breast cancer
      (multivariable-adjusted RR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.33-0.96), while radiation therapy had
      little effect on the risk (multivariable-adjusted RR = 1.19, 95% CI 0.78-1.80).

PMID- 1456270
TI  - The genetic epidemiology of second primary breast cancer.
AB  - It is well established that women with a family history of breast cancer run a
      higher risk of breast cancer than do women without a family history. The
      evidence, however, is less clear regarding a possible association between a
      family history of breast cancer and risk of second primaries. The purpose of this
      prospective study was to estimate the risk for second primary breast cancer
      associated with having a family history of breast, endometrial, and ovarian
      cancers. A cohort of 4,660 women with a first primary breast cancer diagnosed
      between 1980 and 1982 were interviewed as part of the Cancer and Steroid Hormone
      Study, a multi-center population-based case-control study, and followed through
      eight Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program registries for 4
      to 6 years. Of these women, 136 developed a second primary breast cancer in the
      contralateral breast at least 6 months after diagnosis of the first primary. Cox
      proportional hazards modeling techniques were used to model the time to onset of
      second primary breast cancer while adjusting for multiple predictors. The risk of
      contralateral breast cancer was elevated among cohort members who reported a
      history of breast cancer in a first-degree relative (multivariable-adjusted rate
      ratio (RR) = 1.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.22-2.99). Early age at onset
      (< 46 years) in the relative further increased the risk of developing
      contralateral breast cancer (sister: multivariable-adjusted RR = 3.36, 95% CI
      1.62-6.98; mother: multivariable-adjusted RR = 2.35, 95% CI 1.02-5.43). Bilateral
      breast cancer in mothers was also associated with more than a two and a half-fold
      increase in risk (multivariable-adjusted RR = 2.55, 95% CI 1.02-6.35). The
      association between family history of breast cancer and risk of contralateral
      breast cancer did not vary substantially according to age at onset of the first
      primary breast cancer. The age-adjusted rate ratio for development of a second
      primary breast cancer among women with a first-degree relative with endometrial
      cancer was 2.13 (95% CI 1.04-4.35), while the corresponding rate ratio among
      women with a family history of ovarian cancer was 1.69 (95% CI 0.42-6.83). There
      was little evidence that age at onset among the relatives with endometrial or
      ovarian cancer affected the risk. Some of these findings have not been previously
      reported and need replication in future studies.

PMID- 1456271
TI  - Localization and characterization of calcitonin gene-related peptide mRNA in rat
      heart.
AB  - Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a product of the calcitonin/CGRP gene, is
      a potent vasodilating neuropeptide widely distributed throughout the
      cardiovascular system, particularly in the heart. Immunocytochemical studies have
      demonstrated CGRP-containing neurofibrils in the myocardium and in the
      periadventitia of coronary blood vessels. Based on these studies, it has been
      assumed that all of the CGRP peptide in the heart is synthesized in neurons whose
      cell bodies are located outside of the heart. Using Northern blot analysis and a
      ribonuclease protection assay, we observed in the rat heart low levels of a CGRP
      like mRNA species that appeared to be identical to authentic CGRP mRNA produced
      in the brain and dorsal root ganglia. The ventricles contained somewhat more CGRP
      mRNA than did the atria. Also, whereas the dorsal root ganglia synthesized both
      alpha- and beta-CGRP mRNA, only the alpha-CGRP mRNA was detected in the heart.
      The presence of CGRP mRNA in the heart suggests that the CGRP gene is
      transcriptionally active in a subpopulation of heart cells, possibly neuronal,
      which have the potential to synthesize and secrete this neuropeptide. Given the
      potent coronary vasodilatory and positive chronotropic and inotropic effects of
      CGRP, the localized synthesis of CGRP in the heart may play a role in modulating
      cardiovascular function.

PMID- 1456272
TI  - Small caliber catheter drainage for spontaneous pneumothorax.
AB  - Excellent results have been reported after small caliber catheters were used for
      iatrogenic pneumothoraces. However, the value of using such catheters for
      spontaneous pneumothoraces is not clear. The purpose of this study, therefore, is
      to examine the efficacy of small caliber catheters in managing spontaneous
      pneumothoraces. Seventy six episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax were treated
      using a small caliber catheter (No. 5.5 or 7.0 French) connected to a Heimlich
      valve. All catheters were inserted by physicians. The treatment was considered
      successful when there was no air leakage and little or no residual pneumothorax.
      Before the lungs were fully expanded, four patients had died and one had refused
      to comply with further treatment. The remaining 71 episodes of pneumothoraces
      were evaluated for efficacy. The treatment was successful in 60 patients (84.5%)
      and ineffective in the remaining 11. The conventional large caliber tube was
      inserted in 10 of the 11 failures, but they were successful in only six. No major
      complications resulting from catheter insertion occurred, and no catheters became
      occluded. The catheter was easy to insert, and the scar that remained after
      removal of the catheter was very small. Not only are small caliber catheters
      effective for managing spontaneous pneumothoraces, they are the initial treatment
      of choice.

PMID- 1456273
TI  - Institutional Review Board (IRB) review lacks impact on the readability of
      consent forms for research.
AB  - Consent forms in research are a source of current and retrospective information
      for the subject, a "prompt" for the person who is obtaining consent, and a
      documentation of the "informed" consent process and its adequacy. Occasionally,
      these forms may be administered by inexperienced trainees or ancillary personnel,
      and thus stand virtually alone. Therefore, the forms must be inherently
      comprehensible to the subjects. To test whether this is the case, 65 new
      applications were randomly selected from 13 consecutive IRB agendas, and their
      consent documents were computer-analyzed (Flesch/Fry scoring) after correction
      for expected confounding features, such as lists, tables, and polysyllabic proper
      names and jargon. Mean U.S. school grade for 70% comprehension (Fry score) was
      15.03 +/- 0.19 (standard error of the mean), implying readability by 37.4 +/- 1%
      of the U.S. adult population. In contrast, a consecutive sampling of 21 Ann
      Landers columns yielded a mean Fry score of 7.67 +/- 0.5 (p < 0.01; readable by
      75 +/- 3%). Fifteen Reader's Digest articles yielded a mean Fry score of 9.95 +/-
      0.65 (p < 0.01; readable by 59.1 +/- 3%), and 15 "Talk of the Town" columns from
      The New Yorker averaged a grade level of 13.3 +/- 0.83; p < 0.01; readable by
      42.7% +/- 4.8%). No document was improved by more than one grade level by the IRB
      review process, and most were unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456274
TI  - Case report: sustained-release verapamil overdose causing stroke: an unusual
      complication.
AB  - A 47-year-old woman ingested 7.2 gm of sustained-release verapamil. She developed
      hypotension, idioventricular rhythm, mild acidosis, mild hyperglycemia, and
      aspiration pneumonia that required antibiotics and mechanical ventilatory
      support. In addition, she had a stroke, which resulted from left cerebral
      hemispheric damage, an unusual complication. Stroke is reported only once in the
      literature. Special problems related to slow release medication and the need to
      be aware of them are discussed.

PMID- 1456275
TI  - Case report: diagnosis of thyroid cancer by bone marrow biopsy in a patient with
      lymphoma and goiter.
AB  - Metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma was diagnosed by bone marrow biopsy
      performed during the staging evaluation in a patient with large-cell lymphoma and
      diffuse goiter who showed lung and bone lesions upon radiologic examination.
      After thyroidectomy, both sites concentrated radioactive iodine, confirming their
      thyroid origin and allowing for the appropriate treatment.

PMID- 1456277
TI  - Ondansetron: pharmacology of a specific 5HT3-receptor antagonist.

PMID- 1456276
TI  - Structure and applications of intermolecular DNA triplexes.
AB  - Current DNA binding drugs are not sequence specific. Triplex-forming
      oligonucleotides will bind targeted duplex DNA sites in a sequence-specific
      manner. A new class of DNA binding molecules based on triple-helical DNA
      formation promises a sequence-specific method of targeting discrete regions of
      DNA. DNA modifying molecules linked to third strands have been shown to modify
      only regions of DNA to which they were targeted. Current research will increase
      the understanding of triplex DNA structure and will lead to improved DNA binding
      drugs.

PMID- 1456278
TI  - Infections of the central nervous system.
AB  - Infections of the central nervous system are common, serious medical conditions.
      One hundred consecutive adult cases with purulent meningitis of known etiology
      encountered by the Medical Service at Parkland Memorial Hospital were reviewed.
      Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common pathogen (56 cases), followed by
      Neisseria meningitidis (16 cases) and Listeria monocytogenes (seven cases).
      Hemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and streptococci each accounted for
      five cases. An additional 15 patients had purulent meningitis with a pathogen
      being isolated. Twenty five purulent meningitis cases of known etiology after
      trauma or neurosurgery were reviewed. Staphylococcus aureus (five cases),
      Staphylococcus epidermidis (four cases), and gram negative bacilli (14 cases)
      were the most common pathogens. Review of intracranial suppurative infections
      demonstrated advances in microbiology, antibiotic therapy, and imaging, leading
      to improvements in therapy. Subdural empyema continues to be a difficult
      diagnosis to make and apparently is related to the anatomic pathology of the
      infectious process. To illustrate salient features about granulomatous meningitis
      and encephalitis, cases of tuberculous meningitis, herpes simplex encephalitis,
      St. Louis encephalitis, and encephalitis of undetermined etiology are presented
      and discussed.

PMID- 1456279
TI  - Report of another family with Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome and a review of the
      literature.
AB  - Simpson-Golabi-Behmel Syndrome (SGBS), an X-linked encephalo-tropho-schisis
      syndrome described in fewer than a dozen families, is characterized by pre- and
      postnatal overgrowth, "coarse" face, minor facial anomalies and, in more severe
      cases, multiple congenital anomalies and mental retardation. We report on 2
      brothers with overgrowth, macrocephaly, polydactyly, supernumerary nipples, and
      characteristic facial appearance. In addition, the propositus also had pulmonic
      stenosis and a cleft palate. The findings present in our patients are compared to
      those in the original patients and to those in patients described more recently.
      Despite the fact that our patients have most of the minor and several of the more
      severe malformations, they are not mentally retarded.

PMID- 1456280
TI  - Further delineation of the Simpson-Golabi-Behmel (SGB) syndrome.
AB  - The Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome is an X-linked condition characterized by pre-
      and postnatal overgrowth, "coarse" face, postaxial polydactyly, midline defects,
      and psychomotor development ranging from normal to mildly retarded. We report on
      an additional sporadic patient with novel manifestations, contributing to a more
      thorough delineation of this syndrome.

PMID- 1456281
TI  - Proximal 7q interstitial deletion in a severely mentally retarded and mildly
      abnormal infant.
AB  - We describe a boy with an interstitial deletion of 7q [46,XY,del(7)(pter-
      >q11.21::q11.23-->qter)] and severe mental retardation, bilateral inguinal
      hernias, plagiocephaly, and mildly abnormal facial appearance. This is the 21st
      case report involving a proximal 7q deletion, but the first report of this
      specific deletion in the absence of Zellweger syndrome. Specific genotype
      phenotype correlations are still not possible for this region of chromosome 7.

PMID- 1456282
TI  - Mucopolysaccharidosis VII as cause of fetal hydrops in early pregnancy.
AB  - We report on fetal hydrops presenting at 18 weeks of gestation and diagnosed as
      beta-glucuronidase deficiency. The parents were first cousins and there were 2
      previous similar fetal deaths. beta-Glucuronidase was absent in cultured fetal
      fibroblasts and lymphoblasts but was normal in the tested relatives. The
      activities of other lysosomal enzymes were normal.

PMID- 1456283
TI  - Mucopolysaccharidosis type VII (beta-glucuronidase deficiency): a chronic variant
      with an oligosymptomatic severe skeletal dysplasia.
AB  - We report on a 20-year-old male with a beta-glucuronidase (GUSB) deficiency
      mucopolysaccharidosis. He had pectus carinatum, gross thoracic kyphoscoliosis,
      and hip dysplasia, a picture which became conspicuous after age 4 years.
      Hepatosplenomegaly, herniae, corneal clouding, and neurological abnormalities
      were absent. Although he had Alder-type granulations in his polymorphonuclear
      leukocytes, the urine did not contain a significant excess of
      mucopolysaccharides. Electron microscopic examination of skin and gingival
      biopsies, leukocytes, and cultured skin fibroblasts showed numerous single
      membrane-limited vacuoles either empty or filled with fibrillogranular material;
      this last tissue did not contain metachromatic granules. Radiographs demonstrated
      a distinct spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia in which the most striking changes were
      confined to the thoracic spine (flattening and collapse in T7, T8 and T10
      vertebral bodies) and to the femoral capital epiphyses (irregularities and
      fragmentation). The activity of GUSB in the patient's serum, leukocytes, and
      fibroblasts was severely decreased; the GUSB activity in the serum and leukocytes
      from the parents and 2 asymptomatic sibs was subnormal. Immunoblot analysis
      showed very low levels of cross-reactive material towards anti-GUSB antiserum in
      the patient's leukocyte and fibroblast extracts. This patient was more severely
      affected in his skeleton than other described patients with an oligosymptomatic
      chronic form. This case broadens the clinical and biochemical picture associated
      with GUSB deficiency and may represent a new variant of the disease.

PMID- 1456284
TI  - Autosomal recessive cleft lip/palate, ectodermal dysplasia, and minor acral
      anomalies: report of a Brazilian family.
AB  - We report on a Brazilian woman, born to consanguineous (first cousin) parents (F
      = 1/16) and presenting cleft lip/palate, ectodermal dysplasia, interdigital
      webbing, and other malformations. Parental consanguinity and possible recurrence
      in sibs suggest autosomal recessive inheritance. The nosologic aspects with the
      Martinez syndrome and with the Zlotogora-Ogur syndrome are discussed.

PMID- 1456285
TI  - Constitutional translocation t(4;22) (q12;q12.2) associated with
      neurofibromatosis type 2.
AB  - We report on a female patient with bilateral acoustic neurinomas and other tumors
      in the central nervous system (neurofibromatosis type 2: NF2) and the
      constitutional translocation, t(4;22) (q12;q12.2). The precise identification of
      the translocation breakpoint (q12.2) on chromosome 22 implies the refined
      localization of a gene responsible for NF2, and would provide a clue to its
      molecular characterization and to the isolation of the gene. Chromosomes of a
      paraspinal neurinoma from the patient were also analyzed, and the same karyotype
      as seen in cultured peripheral lymphocytes was found. The patient's father was
      also a carrier of the translocation, but he had no clinical symptoms of NF2, nor
      did other relatives. Several explanations are offered for the different
      expression of the translocation between the patient and her father.

PMID- 1456286
TI  - Experimental fetal alcohol syndrome: proposed pathogenic basis for a variety of
      associated facial and brain anomalies.
AB  - Acute teratogenic exposure of C57Bl/6J mouse embryos to ethanol in vivo results,
      within 12 hours of initial insult, in excessive cell death in selected cell
      populations. The patterns of excessive cell death observed following exposure of
      gestational day 8 embryos (late presomite--approximately 5 somite pair stages)
      vary somewhat temporospatially, but primarily involve the cell populations at the
      rim of the anterior neural plate. The cell death patterns appear to be
      pathogenically correlated with subsequently observed malformations including
      exencephaly (anencephaly), arhinencephaly, pituitary dysplasia, bilateral or
      unilateral cleft lip, maxillary hypoplasia, and median facial deficiencies and
      clefts. The association of these brain and facial malformations in this model,
      and perhaps in humans, may be accounted for by early insult to the selected cell
      populations identified in the current investigation.

PMID- 1456287
TI  - Long-term evaluation of a child with the branchio-oculo-facial syndrome.
AB  - We report on the 12-year development of a child with branchio-oculo-facial
      syndrome who was initially referred at age 5 months. Of note is his normal
      intelligence, regular class placement, hypernasal speech, and continued growth
      along the third centile. The importance of serial observations of patients with
      rare genetic disorders is emphasized.

PMID- 1456288
TI  - Twin studies in familial Mediterranean fever.
AB  - Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a genetic disease characterized by
      recurrent short episodes of fever, accompanied by peritonitis, pleuritis, or
      arthritis. The disease is almost completely ethnically restricted to patients of
      Mediterranean descent--Sephardic Jews, Armenians, Anatolian Turks, and Arabs.
      Although many family studies have been performed, no twin study has been reported
      as yet. We studied 21 di- and monozygotic twin sets, identified among the 1,943
      FMF patients in our registry. Full concordance was observed in all the 10
      monozygotic twin sets. In the 11 dizygotic twins, concordance for FMF disease was
      found in only 3 pairs. Variability in the clinical manifestations and degree of
      severity have been noted within twins. These findings provide definitive evidence
      for the genetic cause of FMF. They also support the single gene autosomal
      recessive model, and provide support for the contention that the lower observed
      than expected incidence found in FMF is due to genetically affected but
      clinically undiagnosed patients.

PMID- 1456289
TI  - Familial Mediterranean fever: analysis of inheritance and current linkage data.
AB  - Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a genetic disorder characterized by
      recurrent attacks of fever and inflammation of serosal surfaces. Unlike many
      mendelian disorders, the mode of transmission has been subject to some
      controversy as segregation analysis studies have always demonstrated fewer
      "observed" than "expected" affected individuals. Despite efforts to map the gene
      causing FMF, no definite linkage has been yet identified. This review analyses
      the epidemiologic and genetic characteristics in order to evaluate critically the
      inheritance of the disease and provide a perspective on the current biochemical
      and molecular genetic studies whose aim is to locate the gene for this disease.

PMID- 1456290
TI  - Natural history of mosaic trisomy 14 syndrome.
AB  - Trisomy 14 mosaicism produces a distinct phenotype. Among the 13 reported and 2
      additional patients, the following findings were present in more than 90%: growth
      retardation (15/15), psychomotor retardation (10/10), broad nose (13/14),
      "dysplastic" and/or apparently low-set ears (15/15), micrognathia (15/15), short
      neck (11/12), congenital heart disease (14/15), and micropenis and cryptorchidism
      (6/6). Other frequent findings were prominent forehead (12/14), hypertelorism
      (8/13), narrow palpebral fissure (7/9), large mouth (10/14), cleft or highly
      arched palate (10/14), body asymmetry (8/12), and abnormal skin pigmentation
      (6/10). Sex ratio was 6M:9F. Four patients died before age 4 months, while at
      least 2 patients survived through teens. One boy died at age 3 years following
      cardiac surgery. One girl with tetralogy of Fallot showed a remarkable
      improvement in health after Blalock-Taussig procedure. Although the surviving
      patients showed moderate growth and mental retardation, the oldest surviving
      woman at 29 years demonstrates functional language and appropriate self help
      skills.

PMID- 1456291
TI  - Cutaneous scar at anterior hair line in mother and child with associated frontal
      bone defect in child.
AB  - A large frontal bone defect underlying a "V" shaped scar was noted in a newborn
      male whose mother had an identical "V" shaped scar at the same location in the
      anterior hairline. Both had hypertelorism and short palpebral fissures. The
      mother had no radiographic evidence of skull defect and neither mother nor child
      had other cutaneous or skeletal anomalies. Cranioplasty was performed on the
      child using the remaining frontal bones with an excellent cosmetic result. Biopsy
      performed at operation documented scar tissue extending through the dermis and
      underlain by thickened dura. Mother and child appear to have a variant form of
      aplasia cutis congenita, an autosomal dominant trait with wide variation in
      expression.

PMID- 1456292
TI  - Esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula in two infants born to
      hyperthyroid women receiving methimazole (Tapazol) during pregnancy.
AB  - We report on 2 newborn infants with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal
      fistula (EA + TEF) born to hyperthyroid mothers receiving methimazole (Tapazol)
      before and during their entire pregnancies. Both mothers were euthyroid during
      gestation and developed hydramnios diagnosed during weeks 34 and 33 of gestation.
      Premature delivery (36.2 weeks of gestation) occurred in one case, and both
      newborn infants were small for date with palpable goiter; one of them had other
      associated malformations. Hypothyroidism was diagnosed by laboratory tests in
      both cases. Corrective surgery was undertaken, but both newborn infants developed
      septicemia and renal insufficiency and died in the first week of life. The EA +
      TEF and a normally placed enlarged thyroid gland were confirmed at necropsy.
      These cases represent a previously unreported example of the association of
      maternal ingestion of methimazole during pregnancy and EA + TEF.

PMID- 1456293
TI  - Caroline Crachami and the delineation of osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type
      III, and autosomal recessive syndrome.

PMID- 1456294
TI  - Caroline Crachami, the Sicilian Fairy: a case of bird-headed dwarfism.
AB  - One of the most remarkable cases of extreme dwarfism on record is Caroline
      Crachami, the Sicilian Fairy. She was born in 1815, and was taken to London to be
      exhibited for money in 1824. Due to her proportional dwarfism, severe
      intrauterine growth retardation, and typical "bird-headed" profile, Caroline
      Crachami has by some been diagnosed as a case of the autosomal recessive Seckel
      syndrome. In this historical vignette, the Sicilian Fairy's life and death are
      presented in some detail using new material, and the problem of her correct
      diagnosis is discussed.

PMID- 1456295
TI  - 6p23 deletion mosaicism in a woman with recurrent abortions and idiopathic
      hypoprolactinemia.
AB  - A woman with a history of recurrent abortions, idiopathic hypoprolactinemia, and
      an apparent 6p partial deletion mosaicism is described. The breakpoint in the
      short arm of chromosome 6 was in the p23 region. This deletion could have been
      caused by a fragile site in 6p23.

PMID- 1456296
TI  - Hypoplasia of the corpus callosum and growth hormone deficiency in the XXXXY
      syndrome.
AB  - A 3-year-old Libyan boy with the XXXXY syndrome is described. MRI examination of
      the brain showed hypoplasia of the corpus callosum. He had growth retardation and
      endocrine studies demonstrated growth hormone (GH) deficiency. Dermatoglyphic
      pattern was different from previous reports. At histological examination of the
      undescended testes, Leydig cells were seen although they are usually not found in
      this variant of the Klinefelter syndrome.

PMID- 1456297
TI  - Child with manifestations of dermotrichic syndrome and ichthyosis follicularis
      alopecia-photophobia (IFAP) syndrome.
AB  - We report on a boy with short stature, mental retardation, seizures, follicular
      ichthyosis, generalized alopecia, hypohydrosis, enamel dysplasia, photophobia,
      congenital aganglionic megacolon, inguinal hernia, vertebral, renal and other
      anomalies, and a normal chromosome constitution. The clinical findings include
      all the features that dermotrichic and ichthyosis follicularis-alopecia
      photophobia (IFAP) syndrome have in common and in addition those that
      characterize IFAP syndrome (photophobia, recurrent respiratory infections, etc.),
      those that are present only in dermotrichic syndrome (nail anomalies,
      hypohydrosis, megacolon, vertebral defects, etc.) and additional ones (enamel
      dysplasia, renal anomalies, inguinal hernia, etc.). Two maternal uncles were
      referred as being affected by alopecia and ichthyosis suggesting X-linked
      recessive transmission. Various hypotheses concerning the relationship between
      the 2 syndromes and the present case are discussed.

PMID- 1456298
TI  - Tentative assignment of a locus for Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome to 16p13.3 by a de
      novo reciprocal translocation, t(7;16)(q34;p13.3).
AB  - During a systematic chromosomal survey of 7 unrelated patients with Rubinstein
      Taybi syndrome, an apparently balanced de novo reciprocal translocation,
      t(7;16)(q34;p13.3), was detected in an affected boy. The involvement of the
      region 16p13.3 coincides with the position of one of the breakpoints in another
      de novo reciprocal translocation associated with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome,
      suggesting that a locus for this syndrome maps to 16p13.3.

PMID- 1456299
TI  - Omodysplasia.

PMID- 1456300
TI  - Deletion 9p syndrome and malignancy: acquired vs. constitutional aberrations?

PMID- 1456301
TI  - Human situs determination is probably controlled by several different genes.

PMID- 1456302
TI  - Alpha-thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome often confused with other
      disorders.

PMID- 1456303
TI  - Report of another child with sex reversal and cardiac, pulmonary, and diaphragm
      defects.

PMID- 1456304
TI  - Ectrodactyly with multiple congenital abnormalities.

PMID- 1456306
TI  - A $5 day.

PMID- 1456305
TI  - Deletion in one allele and a rare neutral DNA alteration in the other allele of
      the RB1 gene in a patient with bilateral retinoblastoma.

PMID- 1456307
TI  - Gifts we keep.

PMID- 1456308
TI  - Death anxiety: finding support in families.

PMID- 1456309
TI  - Antiarrhythmic drug risks.

PMID- 1456310
TI  - Euthanasia's dangers.

PMID- 1456311
TI  - The right to fire v. the public interest.

PMID- 1456312
TI  - Heart smart: a guide to cardiac tests.

PMID- 1456313
TI  - Dialogues with excellence. Seeing Joan through.

PMID- 1456314
TI  - What keeps oxygenation on track?

PMID- 1456315
TI  - Seasonal affective disorder: light makes right.

PMID- 1456316
TI  - Drug response: all bodies are not created equal.

PMID- 1456317
TI  - $100,000 AIDS payout is Boston's new norm.

PMID- 1456318
TI  - The path of least (staff) resistance.

PMID- 1456319
TI  - Exploring electronic support groups.

PMID- 1456320
TI  - An HIV-infected nurse must be reinstated.

PMID- 1456321
TI  - Occupation as vision.

PMID- 1456322
TI  - Ten milestone issues in AOTA history.
AB  - This paper identifies 10 professional questions that the author has labeled
      milestone issues in the history of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
      Subjects encompassed by these issues are medical control, certified occupational
      therapy assistants, licensure, proficiency testing, entry-level degrees,
      treatment media, maintenance of competency, whether occupational therapists serve
      patients or clients, professional autonomy, and the status of occupational
      therapy as a profession. Although this paper is primarily a factual record of
      events and discussions referenced in official publications, the reader will
      recognize the insertion of author commentary and opinion in several of the issues
      discussed.

PMID- 1456323
TI  - Use of adjunctive modalities in occupational therapy.
AB  - This article reminds us that as practice evolves, we must revisit and reaffirm
      the fundamental philosophy and precepts in which our profession is grounded. The
      face of practice is fluid. Its superficial appearance is molded by external
      forces and stresses. These include the changes in the needs of the persons we
      serve, the emergence of new and different treatment modalities, and the realities
      of the socioeconomic environment in which we work. Beneath the surface, however,
      are the basic structures that all of us hold in common. These are our
      philosophical beliefs that are articulated both in the professional literature
      and in the ethical principles that we espouse.

PMID- 1456324
TI  - Standards of practice for occupational therapy.

PMID- 1456325
TI  - Statement: occupational therapy services in work practice.
AB  - Occupational therapy practitioners focus on the individual's ability to
      participate in productive occupations throughout their life span. Through
      prevention, assessment, and intervention strategies, occupational therapy
      practitioners often collaborate with other members of the health care team and
      assist persons to optimize their ability to engage in purposeful occupation while
      facilitating a safe and successful entry into or return to work.

PMID- 1456327
TI  - Listing of educational programs in occupational therapy.

PMID- 1456326
TI  - Position paper: physical agent modalities.

PMID- 1456328
TI  - Final report: Intercommission Council completes advanced practice review.

PMID- 1456329
TI  - Graduate programs for occupational therapists.

PMID- 1456330
TI  - What makes a group heterogeneous?

PMID- 1456331
TI  - Inferences from secular trend analysis of hypertension control.

PMID- 1456332
TI  - The US decline in stroke mortality: what does ecological analysis tell us?
AB  - We review a study in this issue that concludes, from analyses of ecological
      associations, that the use of medication to lower high blood pressure has caused
      at most a small decline in US stroke mortality rates. Our analysis suggests that
      other possible sources of the decline may be population-wide falls in levels of
      blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and coronary heart disease mortality, as well
      as improved treatment of cardiac and respiratory sequelae of stroke. Although the
      ecological method is powerful for answering questions about medical
      interventions' population-wide effects on disease, it must be used with care. Of
      particular concern are variables with meanings that differ between the ecological
      and the individual levels, the number of ecological units available for analysis,
      the sample size within the ecological units, and the range of independent
      variables used in ecological regression.

PMID- 1456333
TI  - Antihypertensive treatment and US trends in stroke mortality, 1962 to 1980.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: This study examines the association between increases in
      antihypertensive pharmacotherapy and declines in stroke mortality among 96 US
      groups stratified by race, sex, age, metropolitan status, and region from 1962 to
      1980. METHODS: Data on the prevalence of controlled hypertension and
      socioeconomic profiles were obtained from three successive national health
      surveys. Stroke mortality rates were calculated using data from the National
      Center for Health Statistics and the Bureau of the Census. The association
      between controlled hypertension trends and stroke mortality declines was assessed
      with weighted regression. RESULTS: Prior to 1972, there was no association
      between trends in controlled hypertension and stroke mortality declines (beta =
      0.04, P = .69). After 1972, groups with larger increases in controlled
      hypertension experienced slower rates of decline in stroke mortality (beta =
      0.16, P = .003). Faster rates of decline were modestly but consistently related
      to improvements in socioeconomic indicators only for the post-1972 period.
      CONCLUSIONS: These results do not support the hypothesis that increased
      antihypertensive pharmacotherapy has been the primary determinant of recent
      declines in stroke mortality. Additional studies should address the association
      between declining stroke mortality and trends in socioeconomic resources, dietary
      patterns, and cigarette smoking.

PMID- 1456334
TI  - Correlates of nonadherence to hypertension treatment in an inner-city minority
      population.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Adherence to treatment is a key factor in achieving blood pressure
      control among hypertensives. We examined correlates of nonadherence to
      hypertension treatment in an inner-city minority population. METHODS: Subjects (n
      = 202) were interviewed as part of a case-control study of severe, uncontrolled
      hypertension conducted in two New York City hospitals in 1989-91. All subjects
      were African American or Hispanic. Self-reported nonadherence to drug treatment
      for hypertension was measured using a five-item scale, and the sample was
      dichotomized as more (n = 87) or less (n = 115) adherent. Multiple logistic
      regression analysis was used to adjust for demographic and other covariates.
      RESULTS: Nonadherence was associated with having blood pressure checked in an
      emergency room (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 7.9; 95% confidence interval [CI] =
      1.75, 35.77; P < .01), lack of a primary care physician (adjusted OR = 2.9; 95%
      CI = 1.37, 6.02; P < .01), current smoking (adjusted OR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.10,
      5.22; P = .03), and younger age (adjusted OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.00, 1.06; P =
      .03). CONCLUSIONS: Changing the locus of care for hypertension from emergency
      rooms to primary care physicians may improve adherence to hypertension treatment
      in minority populations.

PMID- 1456335
TI  - Obesity and cardiovascular disease risk factors in black and white girls: the
      NHLBI Growth and Health Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Obesity may be a possible explanation for the higher cardiovascular
      disease mortality in Black women compared with White women. The National Heart,
      Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study (NGHS) is designed to assess
      factors associated with the development of obesity in Black and White
      preadolescent girls and its effects on major cardiovascular-disease risk factors.
      METHODS: NGHS is a 5-year cohort study of 2379 girls, aged 9 through 10 years at
      entry. Anthropometry, blood pressure, and maturation staging are measured
      annually, and blood lipids biannually. Information on education, income, and
      family composition is also obtained from parents. RESULTS: At baseline, compared
      with White girls, Black girls were slightly older, biologically more mature,
      taller, heavier, and had higher Quetelet Indices, skinfolds, and blood pressures.
      Black girls had lower triglycerides and higher HDL cholesterol than White girls.
      Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were similar in the two groups.
      CONCLUSIONS: Baseline descriptive characteristics of the NGHS cohort showed that,
      in subjects aged 9 and 10 years, racial differences in obesity and blood pressure
      were already present.

PMID- 1456336
TI  - Correlates of obesity in young black and white women: the CARDIA Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Although differences in obesity between Blacks and Whites are well
      documented in adult women, less information is available on potential correlates
      of these differences, especially in young adults. METHODS: The association
      between behavioral and demographic factors and body size was assessed in 2801
      Black and White women aged 18 to 30 years. RESULTS: Black women had significantly
      higher age-adjusted mean body mass index and subscapular skinfold thickness than
      did White women. Obesity had different associations with age and education across
      racial groups. A positive relationship between age and obesity was seen in Black
      women but not in White women, whereas a negative association between education
      and body size was noted only in White women. Potential contributing factors to
      the increased prevalence of obesity in Black women include a more sedentary
      lifestyle, higher energy intake, earlier menarche, and earlier age at first
      childbirth. CONCLUSIONS: The difference in obesity across race could not be
      explained completely by these factors, since within virtually all strata, Black
      women had higher body mass indexes. Further investigation is needed to develop
      interventional strategies to prevent or reduce excess levels of obesity in Black
      women.

PMID- 1456337
TI  - HMO vs fee-for-service care of older persons with acute myocardial infarction.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) continue to grow in number
      and in their enrollment of Medicare recipients. They are also increasingly viewed
      as organizational structures that might contribute to control of health care
      costs. Yet little is known about the quality of care that elderly HMO enrollees
      receive. METHODS: We compared patients from three HMOs to a fee-for-service (FFS)
      sample that was national in scope. Sickness at admission, the quality of process
      of care, and mortality were assessed for patients aged 65 years and older who had
      been hospitalized with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. RESULTS: After
      adjustment for sickness at admission, there were no significant mortality
      differences between the HMO and FFS groups at either 30 (23.2% vs 23.5%) or 180
      days (34.4% vs 34.5%) after admission. Compliance with process criteria was
      higher for the HMO group as a whole (P < .05). The HMOs had greater compliance
      with three of five scales measuring different aspects of care for patients with
      acute myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that older patients from
      our participating HMOs who were hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction
      received hospital care that was generally better in terms of process than that
      received by patients in a national FFS sample.

PMID- 1456339
TI  - The mortality of lead smelter workers: an update.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Mortality studies of lead workers have shown excesses of nonmalignant
      renal disease and cerebrovascular disease. Animal studies and one human study
      have shown excess kidney cancer. We have updated a mortality study of male lead
      smelter workers (n = 1990). METHODS: An analysis was conducted using standard
      life table techniques. The updated analysis added 11 years of follow-up and 363
      new deaths. RESULTS: The original study had found elevated but nonsignificant
      risks for kidney cancer, stroke, and nonmalignant renal disease, probably
      attributable to lead exposure. Deaths from accidents and nonmalignant respiratory
      disease were significantly elevated, but probably not as a result of lead
      exposure. In the updated study, no new deaths from nonmalignant renal disease
      occurred (9 observed, standardized mortality ratio = 1.21). Three more deaths
      from kidney cancer were observed, yielding a standardized mortality ratio of 1.93
      (9 observed, 95% CI = 0.88, 3.67), which increased for those who had worked in
      areas with the highest lead exposure (8 observed, standardized mortality ratio =
      2.39, 95% CI = 1.03, 4.71). Cerebrovascular disease remained elevated for those
      with more than 20 years of exposure (26 observed, standardized mortality ratio =
      1.41, 95% CI = 0.92, 2.07). CONCLUSIONS: This cohort with high lead exposure
      showed a diminishing excess of death from nonmalignant renal disease, a continued
      excess from kidney cancer, and an excess of cerebrovascular disease only in those
      with longest exposure to lead.

PMID- 1456338
TI  - Assessing providers of coronary revascularization: a method for peer review
      organizations.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Current methods to evaluate quality of care are usually limited to
      reviews of individual cases or comparisons of hospital mortality rates. We
      present an alternative method that compares complication rates adjusted for
      patient characteristics. METHODS: Detailed clinical data that were specifically
      designed for quality comparisons of providers of revascularization procedures
      were abstracted from the medical records of 1998 Medicare patients, in 16
      hospitals, who had coronary artery bypass surgery and 2091 patients, in 16
      hospitals, who had angioplasty. Providers were ranked on the basis of an
      unadjusted risk, a risk adjusted for detailed clinical information, and a risk
      adjusted only for patient comorbidities. RESULTS: Complication rates differed
      significantly and substantially among the hospitals. Clinical adjustment changed
      the hospital rankings for the bypass surgery hospitals, but not for the
      angioplasty hospitals. Adjustment for comorbidities did not affect hospital
      rankings for either procedure. CONCLUSIONS: When sample sizes are limited,
      adverse outcome rates may be a more sensitive measure of quality of care than
      mortality rates. Rates that are unadjusted or adjusted only for comorbidities may
      be inadequate for evaluating some providers of bypass surgery.

PMID- 1456340
TI  - US National Health Data on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: a research
      agenda for the 1990s.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: In spite of over 30 years of periodic nationwide surveys, we have
      thus far only the most rudimentary estimates of the determinants of the health of
      Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. This paper explores ways to improve the
      capability of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) to collect
      national health data on these populations. METHODS: The NCHS "race" coding
      practices are reviewed, their limitations stated, ways to improve the numerator
      and denominator data discussed, and a research agenda presented. RESULTS:
      Resources can be intensified to produce better denominator data, and to improve
      the collection of detailed ethnicity information for the numerators, in at least
      the three states (California, New York, and Hawaii) where the majority of
      Asian/Pacific Islanders lived in 1990. Subsequently, these efforts should be
      extended to the 10 states where 79% of these individuals reside or to the top 15
      metropolitan areas where they are concentrated. CONCLUSIONS: If the
      recommendations are implemented, several coordinated multisite, multiwave
      epidemiologic surveys can be conducted using standardized interview instruments
      and data collection procedures that will capitalize on the geographic
      distribution of Asian/Pacific Islanders.

PMID- 1456341
TI  - Planning professional education at schools of public health.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Professional education in public health should equip graduates with
      adequate knowledge and skills to manage diverse and complex problems. How best to
      address this challenge is widely debated. We describe the Harvard School of
      Public Health's self-evaluation and development of a practice-oriented program.
      METHODS: As part of Harvard's schoolwide review of the master of public health
      (MPH), self-administered questionnaires were distributed to all MPH students,
      1987 to 1989, and international and US alumni, 1979 to 1986. Extensive
      discussions were conducted with relevant student and faculty groups. RESULTS:
      Survey results provided a basis for educational policy and curricular changes
      that culminated in a revised MPH that targets key areas of public health
      practice. Examples from the Harvard experience are provided. CONCLUSIONS:
      Information derived from student and alumni surveys can be highly effective in
      the process of guiding curricular change at schools of public health. This should
      be coupled with a strategic approach to gain faculty support for proposed
      innovations. Ongoing monitoring and modification of the new curriculum is
      essential.

PMID- 1456343
TI  - The social impact of dental problems and visits.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this analysis was to assess selected social
      consequences of maintaining oral health and treating oral diseases. The
      associations among socioeconomic and demographic factors with time lost from work
      or school and reductions in normal activities are explored. METHODS: Data were
      gathered as part of the 1989 National Health Interview Survey from 50,000 US
      households (117,000 individuals), representing 240 million persons. The oral
      health care supplement was analyzed using the software SUDAAN to produce standard
      errors for estimates based on complex multistage sample designs. RESULTS: Because
      of dental visits or problems, 148,000 hours of work were lost per 100,000
      workers, 117,000 hours of school were lost per 100,000 school-age children, and
      17,000 activity days beyond work and school time were restricted per 100,000
      individuals in 1989. Exploratory analyses suggest that sociodemographic groups
      have different patterns of such time loss and of reduced normal activities.
      CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there is low social impact individually from dental visits
      and oral conditions. At the societal level, however, such problems and treatments
      among disadvantaged groups appear to have a greater impact.

PMID- 1456342
TI  - Ultraviolet light exposure and lens opacities: the Beaver Dam Eye Study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Exposure to sunlight may be a risk factor for the development of
      cataract. The relationships between exposure to sunlight and to the ultraviolet-B
      (UVB) component of light and the prevalence of lens opacities were examined in
      the Beaver Dam Eye Study. METHODS: Persons 43 to 84 years of age residing in
      Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, were examined using standardized photographic assessments
      of lens opacities. A questionnaire about medical history and exposure to light
      was administered. RESULTS: After adjusting for other risk factors, men who had
      higher levels of average annual ambient UVB light were 1.36 times more likely to
      have more severe cortical opacities than men with lower levels. However, UVB
      exposure was not found to be associated with nuclear sclerosis or posterior
      subcapsular opacities in men. Moreover, no associations with UVB exposure were
      found for women, who were less likely to be exposed to UVB. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure
      to UVB light may be associated with the severity of cortical opacities in men.
      However, the lack of an association in women, the group more likely to have
      cortical opacities, suggests that other factors may be more important in the
      pathogenesis of lens opacities.

PMID- 1456344
TI  - Lead exposure in the construction industry: results from the California
      Occupational Lead Registry, 1987 through 1989.
AB  - The construction industry is exempt from the medical monitoring portions of the
      US Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration General Industry Lead
      Standard. Of 28 construction workers reported to the California Occupational Lead
      Registry through March 1989, 11 (39%) had blood lead levels of 2.90 mumol/L (60
      micrograms/dL) or greater, the level at which immediate removal from lead
      exposure is mandated in nonconstruction industries. Many workers had not been
      warned of possible lead exposure. The exemption of the construction industry from
      the General Industry Lead Standard should be reconsidered.

PMID- 1456345
TI  - Potential lead exposures from lead crystal decanters.
AB  - We measured the concentrations of lead leached into 4% acetic acid, white port,
      and a synthetic alcoholic beverage that were stored in lead crystal decanters for
      1-, 2-, and 10-day periods at room temperature. In decanters from 14 different
      manufacturers, measured lead concentrations ranged from 100 to 1800 micrograms/L.
      The pH of the leaching medium is probably the dominant factor determining the
      extent of lead leached, with greater leaching occurring at lower pH values. The
      consumption of alcoholic beverages stored in lead crystal decanters is judged to
      pose a hazard.

PMID- 1456346
TI  - Hair dye use and multiple myeloma in white men.
AB  - In recent reports, multiple myeloma has been linked to use of hair coloring
      products containing mutagenic and carcinogenic chemicals. A population-based case
      control study in Iowa of 173 White men with multiple myeloma and 650 controls
      obtained information on hair dye use. Risk of multiple myeloma was significantly
      elevated (OR = 1.9) among hair dye users and was greatest among those using hair
      dyes at least once a month for a year or more (OR = 4.3). These data, along with
      results from other studies, suggest that use of hair dyes contributes to the
      development of multiple myeloma.

PMID- 1456347
TI  - Men's disclosure of HIV test results to male primary sex partners.
AB  - We evaluated disclosure of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody status to
      a main sex partner and the impact on the relationship in men who have sex with
      men and who are enrolled in the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
      Community Demonstration Projects cohorts. Eighty-nine percent of both
      seronegative and seropositive men disclosed the results to their main sex
      partner. Seventy percent of the seronegative men and 82% of the seropositive men
      who did so reported that the relationship remained "as strong as ever" after 6
      months. Most men who did not disclose their test results to their main partner
      reported being "single" after 6 months.

PMID- 1456348
TI  - Trends in tans and skin protection in Australian fashion magazines, 1982 through
      1991.
AB  - We rated 3971 photographs of models from midsummer editions of six Australian
      fashion magazines from 1982-1983 to 1990-1991 for tan on a 9-point scale, for the
      presence of hats, for sun-protective clothing, and for shade setting. With the
      exception of the 1990-1991 sample, there was an increasing proportion of light
      tans over the years. Men were more likely to be deeply tanned than were women.
      The proportion of models wearing hats followed an increasing linear trend across
      the five periods. Three quarters of the outdoor photographs were taken in
      unshaded settings. In unshaded settings, 17% of the women and 5% of the men wore
      hats.

PMID- 1456349
TI  - The slavery hypothesis for hypertension among African Americans: the historical
      evidence.
AB  - The slavery hypothesis for hypertension has stated that the high blood pressures
      sometimes measured in African Americans are caused by one or more of these
      conditions: first, salt deficiency in the parts of Africa that supplied slaves
      for the Americas; second, the trauma of the slave trade itself; third, conditions
      of slavery in the United States. A review of the historical evidence shows that
      there was no salt deficiency in those parts of Africa, nor do present-day West
      Africans have a high incidence of hypertension. Historical evidence does not
      support the hypothesis that deaths aboard slave ships were caused mainly by
      conditions that might be conductive to hypertension, such as salt-depleting
      diseases. Finally, the hypothesis has depended heavily on evidence from the West
      Indies, which is not relevant for the United States. There is no evidence that
      diet or the resulting patterns of disease and demography among slaves in the
      American South were significantly different from those of other poor southerners.

PMID- 1456350
TI  - Measuring up: quality assurance for cholesterol screening programs in Ohio.

PMID- 1456351
TI  - Hispanic subgroups and intraracial comparisons.

PMID- 1456352
TI  - Handedness, accidents, and mental state.

PMID- 1456353
TI  - Denver's increase in HIV counseling after Magic Johnson's HIV disclosure.

PMID- 1456354
TI  - Magic Johnson's credibility among African-American men.

PMID- 1456355
TI  - Presidential address of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.
      Where do we go from here?

PMID- 1456356
TI  - Ultrasonography of chronic tendon injuries in the groin.
AB  - Ultrasonography was used in the diagnosis of 36 patients with chronic groin pain
      localized to the tendons of the rectus abdominis, rectus femoris, adductor
      muscles, hamstring muscles, and the gluteal muscles. Abnormal findings, such as
      focal sonolucent areas and discontinuity of tendon fibers, that are indicative of
      nonhealed partial ruptures were found in 28 patients. These findings differed
      clearly from the asymptomatic contralateral side, which was used for comparison.
      The abnormalities were located in three different sites: at the tendon insertion,
      within the tendon, and at the tendomuscular junction. Ten patients were treated
      surgically and the findings at surgery correlated well with the ultrasonographic
      findings of partial tendon tears: 9 were true-positive and 1 was a true-negative.
      Ultrasonography appears to be a valuable method in the diagnosis of chronic groin
      pain.

PMID- 1456357
TI  - Tenotomy of the adductor longus tendon in the treatment of chronic groin pain in
      athletes.
AB  - Eighteen tenotomies of the adductor longus tendon were performed in 16
      consecutive male athletes (aged 20 to 42) as treatment for chronic groin pain.
      The criteria for surgery was a history of long-standing (range, 2.5 to 48 months)
      and distinct pain at the origin of the adductor longus muscle, refractory to
      conservative treatment. At followup 35 months (range, 4 to 84) after surgery, all
      patients were improved or free of symptoms. All but 1 of the athletes returned to
      the same sport within a mean of 6.6 weeks, and 12 of 16 returned to competitive
      sports within a mean of 14 weeks after surgery. A majority of the patients (10 of
      16) returned to full athletic activity, whereas 5 of 16 performed at a reduced
      level. One patient discontinued his sports activity due to other causes. In
      conclusion, when conservative treatment fails, tenotomy of the adductor longus
      tendon gives good long-term functional results in the treatment of chronic groin
      pain that is localized at the origin of the adductor longus muscle. A decreased
      muscle strength was observed in this study and did not seem to influence
      participation in sports.

PMID- 1456358
TI  - Meniscal transplantation using fresh and cryopreserved allografts. An
      experimental study in goats.
AB  - A comparative study of three subgroups of meniscal transplants was undertaken in
      the goat model: Group 1 (autograft) involved removal and immediate reimplantation
      of the meniscus; Group 2, fresh meniscal allografts; and Group 3, cryopreserved
      (30 days) meniscal allografts. Six months after surgery, tissues were evaluated
      for gross degenerative changes, proteoglycan concentration (as assessed by uronic
      acid), water content, vascularity, histology, and cell viability. The
      contralateral knee served as control for all comparisons. There was no
      statistical difference in the amount of arthritis present and all transplants
      demonstrated an essentially normal peripheral vascularity compared to controls.
      Sections revealed reduced numbers of cells in the central portions of the
      transplanted menisci and these viable cells demonstrated different behavior in
      multiplication in tissue culture compared to contralateral controls. Grossly and
      microscopically, the implanted menisci differed little from the controls. The
      measurement of proteoglycan concentration and water content of the transplanted
      meniscal cartilage suggest alterations that may affect the long-term mechanical
      properties. The autograft specimens showed the water content was very slightly
      increased (3% to 6%), while the proteoglycan concentration was increased (42% in
      terms of uronic acid). In contrast, the water content of the fresh allograft
      group and the cryopreserved group was increased 12% to 24%. Proteoglycan
      concentration in these groups was decreased up to 56% in portions of some menisci
      compared to controls. Fresh and cryopreserved meniscal allografts showed
      peripheral healing, revascularization, cellularity, and incorporation, and
      grossly appeared good at 6 months in the goat model. The biochemical changes in
      the extracellular matrix at 6 months raises questions on the long-term function
      of these transplanted menisci.

PMID- 1456359
TI  - Outcome of conservative and surgical management of navicular stress fracture in
      athletes. Eighty-six cases proven with computerized tomography.
AB  - Eighty-two athletes with 86 clinical navicular stress fractures, all imaged with
      computerized tomography, were followed for an average of 33 months (range, 6 to
      108) after diagnosis. Initial treatment consisted of at least 6 weeks of
      nonweightbearing cast immobilization for 22 fractures, at least 6 weeks of
      limitation of activity with continued weightbearing for 34 fractures, and a
      period of less than 6 weeks of conservative treatment for another 19 fractures.
      Five patients attempted to continue playing sports. Six patients had immediate
      surgery. Nineteen of 22 patients (86%) who had initial non-weightbearing cast
      immobilization treatment returned to sports, compared with only 9 of 34 patients
      (26%) who initially continued weightbearing with limited activity (P < 0.001).
      After failure of the latter treatment, successful outcomes were seen for 6 of 7
      patients (86%) treated with nonweightbearing cast immobilization, while 11 of 15
      patients (73%) who had one surgical procedure were able to return to sports.
      These results indicate that nonweightbearing cast immobilization is the treatment
      of choice for navicular stress fractures. Also, this treatment compares favorably
      with surgical treatment for patients who present after failed weightbearing
      treatments. Computerized tomographic appearances of healing fractures do not
      necessarily mirror clinical union, and postimmobilization management should be
      monitored clinically.

PMID- 1456360
TI  - Augmented repair and early mobilization of acute anterior cruciate ligament
      injuries.
AB  - This paper describes a technique for repair of the anterior cruciate ligament
      with protection of that repair by a synthetic augmentation device. Of 61 patients
      who underwent surgery 24 to 57 months (mean, 38.3) before data accumulation, 57
      returned for followup. Subjectively, 53 (93%) patients reported a good or
      excellent functional result; however, only 29 (51%) of the patients returned to
      their preinjury sports level. Objectively, a radiographic Lachman test was
      performed on both the injured and the noninjured knee of all 57 patients. The
      preoperative mean difference between the knees was 8.6 mm (range, 4.6 to 17.2)
      and at followup it was 2.4 mm (range, -0.9 to 11.8). Radiographic abduction and
      adduction stress tests demonstrated stable healing of the (unrepaired) collateral
      ligament lesions (varus stress = 0.1 mm and valgus stress = 0.4 mm mean side-to
      side difference), indicating that suturing of ruptured collateral ligaments is
      not necessary when the knee is centrally stabilized with the augmentation device.
      These results indicate that successful repair of the anterior cruciate ligament
      is frequently possible when enhanced with an augmentation device.

PMID- 1456361
TI  - Static capsuloligamentous restraints to superior-inferior translation of the
      glenohumeral joint.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine the contributions of specific
      capsuloligamentous structures to restraining superior-inferior translation of the
      glenohumeral joint. Eleven cadaveric shoulders were tested using a four degrees
      of-freedom test apparatus. The humerus was free to translate in three planes and
      free to flex and extend when a superior and inferior force of 50 N was applied.
      Testing was performed in three positions of abduction (0 degree, 45 degrees, and
      90 degrees) and three positions of rotation (neutral, maximum internal, and
      external). Shoulders were tested intact, vented, and after division of specific
      capsuloligamentous structures. The primary restraint to inferior translation of
      the adducted shoulder was the superior glenohumeral ligament. The coracohumeral
      ligament appeared to have no significant suspensory role. With progressive
      abduction, the anterior and posterior portions of the glenohumeral ligament
      become the main static stabilizers resisting inferior translation: the anterior
      portion was the primary capsular restraint at 45 degrees of abduction, while the
      posterior portion was the primary restraint at 90 degrees of abduction, neutral
      rotation. Our results indicate that clinical assessment of glenohumeral
      translation in the superior-inferior plane should be performed in multiple
      positions of abduction and rotation.

PMID- 1456362
TI  - A multivariate risk analysis of selected playing surfaces in the National
      Football League: 1980 to 1989. An epidemiologic study of knee injuries.
AB  - This study focuses on the injury rates for natural grass and AstroTurf surfaces
      and the risk factors of game position and type of play. We examined the game
      related knee sprains, medial collateral ligament sprains, and anterior cruciate
      ligament sprains that occurred in the National Football League during the 1980 to
      1989 seasons. The findings are controlled for categories of severity (number of
      games missed due to injury), position, and situation (rushing or passing) at the
      time of injury. The analysis of the data incorporates epidemiologic techniques
      associated with incidence density ratios. The data show that there is a
      statistically significant difference between the higher AstroTurf injury rates
      for knee sprains. When knee sprains are separated into medial collateral ligament
      sprains and anterior cruciate ligament sprains, only the anterior cruciate
      ligament sprains show a statistically significant higher injury rate for
      AstroTurf. When simultaneous control variables are considered, significantly more
      knee sprains occurred to backs on rushing plays and linemen on passing plays.
      When controlling the data for severity, only the Category II injuries (three or
      more games missed) sustained by linemen on passing plays had statistically
      significant higher injury rates for the AstroTurf. For medial collateral ligament
      sprains, only the Category II injuries for linemen on passing plays remain
      statistically significant. The data for the ACL sprains show statistically
      significant differences between the injury rate on natural grass and the injury
      rate on Astro Turf under conditions of special teams play.

PMID- 1456363
TI  - A prospective comparison of computerized arthrotomography and magnetic resonance
      imaging of the glenohumeral joint.
AB  - Twenty-five patients with shoulder instability or shoulder pain of undetermined
      etiology were prospectively evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging and
      computerized arthrotomography. Actual lesions were determined by arthroscopy or
      at the time of open surgical repair. The images obtained were interpreted
      independently by three radiologists blinded to both surgical results and the
      results of previous diagnostic tests. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were
      determined for each imaging technique for a variety of pathologic entities,
      including anterior and posterior labral abnormalities, capsular redundancy,
      biceps-labral complex abnormalities, humeral head (Hill-Sachs) impression
      lesions, and glenohumeral loose bodies. Analysis of imaging techniques also
      included construction of receiver operator curves for labral abnormalities.
      Magnetic resonance imaging showed better diagnostic results in the evaluation of
      glenoid labral and humeral head impression lesions (P < 0.05). Both imaging
      techniques were equally successful in identifying biceps-labral lesions and
      intraarticular loose bodies within the glenohumeral joint. Neither imaging
      technique was consistent in the evaluation of capsular redundancy. Receiver
      operator curve analysis confirmed that magnetic resonance imaging was the more
      accurate imaging study in evaluating anterior and posterior glenoid labral
      abnormalities.

PMID- 1456364
TI  - Arthroscopic labral debridement. A three-year follow-up study.
AB  - This is a retrospective review of 40 patients who underwent arthroscopic labral
      debridement of the shoulder. All patients were active participants in sports
      involving use of the shoulder. All patients presented with shoulder pain. Only
      40% were found to have distinct glenohumeral instability on examination. At
      surgery, all patients had labral injury. Ten patients had anterosuperior labral
      tears, 20 had anteroinferior labral tears or detachments, and 10 had
      posteroinferior labral tears or detachments. Outcome was assessed at a minimum of
      2 years (average, 43 months) postoperatively. Overall, only 7% of the patients
      had significant symptomatic relief at followup. However, 72% noted relief of
      symptoms during the 1st year after surgery, but there was deterioration over
      time. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic labral debridement is not an effective long-term
      solution for symptomatic relief in the overhead athlete.

PMID- 1456365
TI  - The anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee with varus alignment. An analysis
      of gait adaptations and dynamic joint loadings.
AB  - Thirty-two patients with an ACL-deficient knee and lower limb varus alignment and
      16 healthy controls were analyzed during level walking using a force-plate and
      optoelectronic system. The forces and moments of the lower limb and knee joint
      were measured and knee joint loads and ligament tensile forces were calculated
      using a mathematical model. The majority of patients (20 of 32) had an abnormally
      high adduction moment at the affected knee. The adduction moment showed a
      statistically significant correlation to high medial tibiofemoral compartment
      loads and high lateral soft tissue forces, but not to the degree of varus
      alignment on standing roentgenograms. Fifteen of 32 knees had abnormally high
      lateral soft tissue forces. We interpreted these gait findings as indicative of a
      medial shift in the center of maximal joint pressure and an increase in lateral
      soft tissue forces to achieve coronal plane stability. Further, there is the
      likelihood of separation of the lateral tibiofemoral joint and "condylar lift
      off" during periods of the stance phase. If this occurs, all of the load-bearing
      forces would shift to the medial tibiofemoral joint and relatively large tensile
      forces would occur in the lateral soft tissue restraints. The flexion moment, as
      related to the quadriceps muscle force, was significantly lower than the control
      knees in 40% of the involved knees, and the extension moment, as related to the
      hamstring muscle force, was significantly higher in 50% of the involved knees. We
      interpret this finding as a gait adaptation tending to diminish quadriceps muscle
      activity and enhance hamstring muscle activity to provide dynamic anteroposterior
      stability of the knee joint. The fundamental assumption of this paper is that any
      combination of conditions leading to higher medial joint forces is associated
      with factors leading to more rapid degeneration of the medial compartment in
      patients with ACL deficiency, varus deformity, and lax lateral ligaments.

PMID- 1456366
TI  - Psychological moods and subjectively perceived behavioral and somatic changes
      accompanying anabolic-androgenic steroid use.
AB  - To assess physiological and psychological states accompanying anabolic-androgenic
      steroid use, male weight lifters 1) were interviewed regarding their physical
      training and the patterns and effects of any drug use; 2) completed a written
      physical and medical history questionnaire, a Profile of Mood States
      questionnaire, and the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory; and 3) were physically
      examined, including a blood sample and urinalysis. Subjects were divided into
      current anabolic-androgenic steroid users (N = 12), previous users (N = 14), and
      nonusers (N = 24). Current and previous users reported the following changes
      associated with anabolic-androgenic steroid use: increases in enthusiasm,
      aggression, and irritability; changes in insomnia, muscle size, muscle strength
      and density; faster recovery from workouts and injuries; and changes in libido.
      We were unable to confirm these interview and physical and medical history
      questionnaire responses using standardized and well-accepted psychological
      inventories. There were no significant differences among groups for any Profile
      of Moods factor, total mood disturbance, total Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory
      score, or any subscale. For current users, there were no significant correlations
      between either total weekly drug dose or length of time on the current cycle of
      anabolic-androgenic steroids and any individual scale of the Profile of Mood
      States, Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, Profile of Mood States total mood
      disturbance, or composite Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory score. Furthermore,
      anabolic-androgenic steroid users did not differ in their responses on these
      inventories from nonusers or from general population norms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456367
TI  - The repair of osteochondral defects using an exogenous fibrin clot. An
      experimental study in dogs.
AB  - To evaluate the ability of an exogenous fibrin clot to hasten or optimize the
      repair of full-thickness articular cartilage defects, 4-mm diameter, full
      thickness articular cartilage defects in 20 adult mongrel dogs were packed with
      an exogenous fibrin clot that had been prepared from each animal. The defects
      were created in a loaded and unloaded portion of the femoral trochlea. The
      healing response was then examined using routine histology at various intervals
      from 2 weeks to 6 months. Both the experimental (clot-filled) and control (empty)
      defects healed through a proliferation of fibrous connective tissue that
      eventually modulated into fibrocartilage. However, in the 2-, 4-, and 8-week
      animals, the experimental defects (both loaded and unloaded) demonstrated a more
      organized and advanced healing response than did the control defects. This
      difference was less pronounced in the 12- and 24-week animals. In all specimens,
      the clot-filled defects healed more uniformly than controls with less surface
      depression. In general, the unloaded sites were more uniform in healing than the
      corresponding loaded sites.

PMID- 1456368
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging of the posterior cruciate ligament. Clinical use to
      improve diagnostic accuracy.
AB  - This study was undertaken to determine the accuracy of magnetic resonance image
      scanning in detecting posterior cruciate ligament injury, and to determine those
      clinical situations where it can add the most useful information. A retrospective
      study was conducted on 201 patients who underwent surgery after magnetic
      resonance scanning of their knees. Two additional patients who did not have
      surgery but had clinical findings grossly positive for posterior cruciate
      ligament injury were included in the analysis of magnetic resonance imaging
      accuracy. In all, there were 190 intact and 13 torn posterior cruciate ligaments.
      In a review of the clinical findings in the 11 patients with surgically
      documented tears, we found that all 11 had positive magnetic resonance scans. In
      4 of the 11, magnetic resonance imaging provided especially useful information
      regarding the status of the ligament. For the 190 normal ligaments, there were no
      false-positive scans; for the 13 torn ligaments, there were no false-negative
      scans. Therefore, specificity and sensitivity estimates for this group were both
      100%. Magnetic resonance imaging proved to be an accurate modality for evaluating
      the integrity of the posterior cruciate ligament. If used in the proper setting,
      it can provide useful information for diagnosing posterior cruciate ligament
      injuries.

PMID- 1456369
TI  - The effect of harvesting the central one-third of the patellar tendon on
      patellofemoral contact pressure.
AB  - This study assessed whether removing the central one-third of the patellar
      tendon, with or without side-to-side repair of the patellar tendon defect, would
      alter patellofemoral pressure. Patellofemoral pressure was assessed by testing
      five stable knees from five different cadaveric donors on a specially designed
      hydraulic knee machine. Patellofemoral joint pressures were measured by placing
      pressure-sensitive film into the patellofemoral articulation. The joint was
      loaded in a static fashion, with quadriceps forces consistent with walking (647
      N) and stair climbing (1923 N), at 30 degrees, 60 degrees, and 90 degrees of knee
      flexion. Using the same knees, the central one-third of the patellar tendon was
      then sectioned, and patellofemoral joint pressure measurements were repeated at
      identical knee flexion angles and quadriceps-forces. Side-to-side repair of the
      patellar tendon defect was performed and patellofemoral joint pressure
      measurements were repeated. There were no statistically significant differences
      between the control and sectioned values or between the control and repaired
      defect values. These results suggest that harvesting the central one-third of the
      patellar tendon--with or without side-to-side repair of the patellar tendon
      defect--does not alter patellofemoral pressures.

PMID- 1456370
TI  - A biomechanical evaluation of the iliotibial tract screw tenodesis.
AB  - Biomechanical testing of the iliotibial tract screw tenodesis was performed in 10
      cadaveric knees under forces approximating in vivo conditions. Force versus
      displacement curves at various flexion angles were generated with the anterior
      cruciate ligament intact, with the anterior cruciate ligament sectioned, and
      after the iliotibial tract screw tenodesis had been performed. Displacement force
      was measured to 5, 10, and 15 mm. The iliotibial tract screw tenodesis was
      ineffective in reducing anterior translation of the tibia in the anterior
      cruciate ligament-deficient knee at forces approximating in vivo conditions.

PMID- 1456371
TI  - Anterior compartment pressures in cross-country skiers. A comparison of classic
      and skating skis.
AB  - This paper compares the pressure changes in the anterior compartment of the leg
      when cross-country skiing using the skating method on either skating skis or
      classic skis. Intracompartmental pressures of the right leg were recorded from
      the tibialis anterior muscle of 10 subjects at rest and 15 seconds after 10 to 12
      minutes of cross-country skiing on a designated course. All subjects completed
      two trials on different days. In one trial, subjects used skating skis and for
      the other trial, classic skis were used for the skating technique. Although the
      average pressure increase was higher for the classic ski trials than for the
      skating ski trials, the difference was not significant. This finding indicates
      that cross-country skiers who skate on a classic ski as opposed to a shorter
      skating ski do not experience a significantly greater increase in their anterior
      compartment pressure. Thus, it appears that the type of ski used is not the most
      significant factor contributing to chronic compartment syndrome.

PMID- 1456372
TI  - Characteristics of the isokinetic performance of patients with injured cruciate
      ligaments.
AB  - The torques of the quadriceps muscle in patients with cruciate ligament injuries
      were evaluated under isokinetic contraction. There were 30 patients with anterior
      cruciate ligament injuries, 19 with posterior cruciate ligament injuries, and 30
      controls. The torques of concentric and eccentric contractions in anterior
      cruciate ligament-injured knees showed a significant difference from those in the
      uninjured sides at extension angles of less than 45 degrees, yet the values of
      the peak torques for concentric and eccentric contractions were the same as those
      for the uninjured sides. The torques of concentric and eccentric contractions in
      posterior cruciate ligament-injured knees showed a significant difference from
      the uninjured sides at flexion angles of more than 36 degrees. The peak torques
      for concentric and eccentric contraction also showed a significant difference
      from the uninjured sides. The concentric and eccentric peak torque angles of the
      injured knees were similar to those of the uninjured sides in all subjects. The
      ratios of eccentric to concentric peak torque of the contralateral knees in the
      anterior cruciate ligament-injured groups did not show a significant difference
      from those of the controls. The evaluation of the biomechanical change in these
      categories is of great advantage in determining proper methods of treatment and
      rehabilitation.

PMID- 1456373
TI  - Patellar stress fracture.

PMID- 1456374
TI  - Stress fractures of the tarsal navicular. A case report.
AB  - In summary, the diagnosis of a tarsal navicular stress fracture should be
      entertained in the athlete with ill-defined midfoot pain. Technetium bone scans
      will often point the clinician in the right direction; biplanar CT scans will pin
      point the diagnosis and can be invaluable in perioperative planning. Subsequent
      treatment, however, must be determined on a clinical rather than a radiographic
      basis.

PMID- 1456375
TI  - Stress fracture of the sacrum.

PMID- 1456376
TI  - Stress fracture of the right distal femur following bilateral fractures of the
      proximal fibulas. A case report.

PMID- 1456377
TI  - Dislocation of the tibialis posterior tendon.

PMID- 1456378
TI  - Volunteer physicians working with the United States Olympic Committee.

PMID- 1456379
TI  - Anterior-posterior and rational displacements of the tibia elicited by quadriceps
      contraction.

PMID- 1456380
TI  - Alternating hemiplegia in childhood: 23 cases in Japan.
AB  - Alternating hemiplegia in childhood (AHC) has clinically characteristic features
      which are easily defined and recognizable. Laboratory investigations were
      basically normal although they were extensively examined during and between
      attacks. There is still much debate about its etiology, particularly its relation
      to migraine or epilepsy. Clinical characteristics of identified 23 AHC in
      Japanese were presented, which were obtained from a large Japanese cooperative
      study in 1988. AHC may prove not to be as rare as has been thought.

PMID- 1456381
TI  - Inter- and intra-observer agreement in the assessment of the quality of
      spontaneous movements in the newborn.
AB  - The inter- and intra-observer agreement for the assessment of several aspects of
      the quality of spontaneous movements in newborn infants was analysed by 4
      observers. The agreement rates were corrected for chance by the use of kappa
      statistics, which revealed kappa values ranging from 0.36 to 0.84. The degree of
      agreement on various items differed. A moderate-to-good agreement was found for
      the items "onset of movement," "speed," "speed of arms compared to legs,"
      "amplitude of arms compared to legs," "fluency," "variability in arm patterns"
      and "global judgement of the movement" (kappa values ranging from 0.51 to 0.84).
      Less agreement occurred in the items "amplitude," "variability in movement
      pattern" and "variability in leg patterns" (kappa values ranging from 0.36 to
      0.40). Even though it is believed that the qualitative assessment of spontaneous
      motor behaviour is very subjective, our results suggest that several qualitative
      aspects of infant motor behaviour can be reliably judged. We concluded that the
      global judgement of the quality of general movements in full-term infants is a
      reproducible, and therefore reliable, clinical tool for evaluating the function
      of the central nervous system in the neonatal period.

PMID- 1456382
TI  - Primitive reflex profiles in infants: differences based on categories of
      neurological abnormality.
AB  - In order to clarify reflex profiles in the first year of life in connection with
      categories of neurological abnormality, six primitive reflexes, i.e., the crossed
      extensor reflex, suprapubic extensor reflex, heel reflex, Galant response,
      asymmetric tonic neck reflex and plantar grasp response, were examined in 458
      normal infants, 78 infants with cerebral palsy (CP) and 81 infants with mental
      retardation (MR), whose diagnoses were confirmed at a later follow-up
      examination. The change in the mean score for each of these reflexes with age was
      characteristic for each category or type of neurological abnormality. This
      implies that a presumptive diagnosis can be made in neurologically high-risk
      infants by examination of the primitive reflexes. Such reflexes are therefore of
      specific significance, among other neurological criteria, in infants within the
      first year of life.

PMID- 1456383
TI  - Early diagnosis of severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy.
AB  - Of 329 epileptic patients referred in a six year period with the first seizure
      occurring in the first year of life, 20 met the following criteria: generalized
      seizures excluding infantile spasms, myoclonic, tonic or absence seizures, at
      least one afebrile seizure, normal development prior to the first seizure, normal
      CT scan, and no etiology. Seventeen of these 20 patients developed the full
      pattern of severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy (SMEI). This syndrome was
      recognizable from the second or third seizure in the first year of life, although
      epileptiform EEG abnormalities were lacking until the age of 11 to over 30
      months. Therefore, based on the clinical pattern, the diagnosis of SMEI can be
      made with quite good reliability by the end of the first year of life.

PMID- 1456384
TI  - A comparative clinical and pharmacokinetic study of a new slow-release versus
      conventional preparations of valproic acid in children with intractable epilepsy.
AB  - Thirteen children with intractable epilepsy were treated by means of three-times
      daily administration of a conventional preparation of valproic acid (C-VPA) and
      twice-daily administration of a new slow-release preparation of VPA (SR-VPA) with
      the cross-over technique. The frequency of seizures, side effect and steady-state
      pharmacokinetics of VPA were evaluated. With the change from C-VPA tid to SR-VPA
      bid, four patients exhibited a significant reduction in seizure frequency. The
      steady-state minimum concentration (Cmin) was higher, the maximum concentration
      (Cmax) lower and there were less diurnal fluctuations with SR-VPA, than with the
      respective values obtained in the C-VPA group, all the differences being
      statistically significant. Furthermore, a significant difference was unexpectedly
      found in the area under the curve (AUC) from 0 to 24 hours, the mean AUC in the
      period of SR-VPA being 9% higher than that with C-VPA. Five of the nine patients
      under 6 years of age showed more than 10% increase, and all four patients over 6
      years of age less than 10% increase or a decrease in AUC. It was concluded that
      with SR-VPA bid, the pharmacokinetic features were more stable, the age-related
      AUC value was larger and the clinical effect was better than in comparison to C
      VPA tid in children with intractable epilepsy.

PMID- 1456385
TI  - Nitrazepam-induced cricopharyngeal dysphagia, abnormal esophageal peristalsis and
      associated bronchospasm: probable cause of nitrazepam-related sudden death.
AB  - Nitrazepam was used in the treatment of resistant myoclonic epilepsy in 38
      children. After the occurrence of nitrazepam-associated swallowing
      incoordination, high-peaked esophageal peristalsis and related bronchospasm in
      one patient, we initiated a prospective study of esophageal manometry using a
      station pull-through technique with a pediatric 4-channel continuous perfusing
      system. Three more patients were found to have delayed cricopharyngeal relaxation
      and high-peaked esophageal peristaltic waves. The initial patient developed
      severe respiratory distress and bronchospasm necessitating ventilatory support
      while on nitrazepam and improved dramatically with subsequent normal manometric
      study following nitrazepam discontinuation. Nitrazepam was reintroduced for its
      anticonvulsant and cognitive benefits and was tolerated at a reduced dosage. We
      postulate a central nervous system effect of nitrazepam promoting parasympathetic
      overactivity or vagotonia which can cause potentially fatal respiratory distress.
      Care must be exercised in nitrazepam use and esophageal manometry may be helpful
      in defining patients at greater risk for sudden death.

PMID- 1456386
TI  - Somatosensory evoked potentials and nerve conduction studies in patients with
      Guillain-Barre syndrome.
AB  - Somatosensory evoked potentials, F-waves, and nerve conduction studies (NCS) were
      performed to determine their usefulness in detecting electrophysiologic
      abnormalities in 23 children in the acute stage of Guillain-Barre syndrome. The
      studies were performed on average 8.3 days after the onset of neurological
      symptoms, before the period of maximal weakness. All patients had at least one
      abnormal test. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) showed most abnormalities:
      91% abnormal recordings with posterior tibial nerve (PTN) stimulation and 68%
      with median nerve (MN) stimulation. The nerve conduction velocities were abnormal
      in 76% and 67% with PTN and MN stimulation, respectively. The F-waves were
      abnormal in 66% (PTN) and 56% (MN). The SEP studies were helpful in detecting
      proximal and central conduction abnormalities in 26% of patients, and they were
      more sensitive in detecting an abnormality when compared with F-wave recordings.
      Furthermore, in one patient with normal NCS and F-waves the prolonged lumbar
      potential-P35 conduction time of the PTN-SEP was the only abnormality found. SEP
      can detect an abnormality and thus support the clinical diagnosis of Guillain
      Barre syndrome in the acute stage when the results of more conventional tests are
      inconclusive.

PMID- 1456387
TI  - Prevention of myonecrosis in mdx mice: effect of immobilization by the local
      tetanus method.
AB  - Sixteen mdx mice of three-week-old were injected with tetanus toxin into the
      right gastrocnemius muscle and then subjected to sustained dorsiflexion of the
      right ankle joint (local tetanus) for 2 to 56 days. Another 16 mdx mice of the
      same age were not injected with tetanus toxin, serving as controls. The incidence
      of centronucleated muscle fibers, which indicate preceding myodegeneration, was
      significantly reduced in the tetanus toxin injected soleus muscle (SOL) and
      extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL), compared with that in the untreated
      control mdx mice. It seems that myonecrosis in the mdx mouse is facilitated by
      muscle movement itself and that immobilization of muscle prevents myonecrosis.
      This concept is helpful for understanding the mechanism underlying myonecrosis in
      patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and for instruction concerning
      rehabilitation programs and activities in daily life.

PMID- 1456388
TI  - Epilepsia partialis continua and neuronal migration anomalies.
AB  - Neuronal migration anomalies commonly cause seizures that are partial in type and
      generally refractory to medical treatment. Epilepsia partialis continua (EPC), an
      unusual form of epilepsy commonly related to acute damage of the cerebral cortex
      or to a chronic lesion, has never been described in a patient with neuronal
      migration anomalies. In 50 children with epilepsy due to neuronal migration
      anomalies, we observed two cases of EPC. These two children had unilateral
      neuronal migration abnormalities with partial seizures other than EPC and
      contralateral hemiparesis. Epilepsia partialis continua appeared two to three
      years after the onset of partial attacks and was accompanied by a worsening of
      the children's previous hemiparesis. Although a rare seizure manifestation in
      children with neuronal migration anomalies, when it does appear, EPC can
      aggravate the clinical neurological condition and should always be investigated
      for in these cases. Because its clinical appearance is often subtle, as in these
      two children, EPC may easily remain undiagnosed.

PMID- 1456389
TI  - Relative hypoxia of the extremities in Fabry disease.
AB  - A purine degradation study, thermography and near infrared spectroscopy of the
      extremities were performed on 2 young males with Fabry disease and 2 healthy
      controls. Two-minute semi-ischemic forearm exercise caused a distinct increase in
      lactate in all subjects, but venous hypoxanthine and ammonia were greatly
      increased only in the Fabry patients, suggesting a relatively hypoxic state of
      the extremities. Limb thermograms of the patients revealed glove and stocking
      type disturbance at rest. Poor recovery of the skin temperature of the hands and
      forearms after exercise was observed in the patients, but the sharp increase in
      oxygenated hemoglobin after total ischemia was found to be normal or near
      infrared spectroscopy. Neurotropin showed an analgesic effect, i.e. a strong and
      selective heat-productive action on the painful lesions, and suppressed the
      hypoxanthine level after exercise in 1 patient. Although the pathophysiology of
      the pain in Fabry disease has not been clearly elucidated, a relatively hypoxic
      state with peripheral hypothermia might play an important role in triggering of a
      painful attack or chronic burning paresthesia.

PMID- 1456390
TI  - Clinical variation within sibships in Fukuyama-type congenital muscular
      dystrophy.
AB  - A family in which three siblings were affected with severe cerebral malformations
      in association with ocular anomalies and muscle disease is reported. One sibling
      was diagnosed as having Fukuyama type congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD)
      because he showed severe hypotonia with dystrophic findings on a muscle biopsy in
      addition to pachygyria on CT. At the age of 3 years, retinal detachment developed
      in both eyes. Another sibling exhibited at birth such characteristic features as
      pachygyria, cephalocele, hydrocephalus, retinal detachment in both eyes, elevated
      serum creatine kinase activity and arthrogryposis multiplex congenita. We
      consider these findings to be more consistent with Walker-Warburg syndrome (WWS)
      than with FCMD. Anencephaly found in the third sibling was regarded as WWS with
      extreme brain abnormality. The appearance of two syndromes (FCMD and WWS) in the
      three members of the same family suggests that these syndromes could be allelic
      with variable phenotypes.

PMID- 1456391
TI  - Epilepsia partialis continua and other seizures arising from the precentral
      gyrus: high incidence in patients with Rasmussen syndrome and neuronal migration
      disorders.

PMID- 1456392
TI  - Commentary: epilepsia partialis continua and neuroblast migrational disorders.

PMID- 1456393
TI  - A comparison of neuropsychological and psychosocial functioning after
      prophylactic treatment for childhood leukemia in monozygotic twins.
AB  - Outcome findings based on a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological and
      psychosocial measurements were compared for a set of monozygotic twins. One twin
      had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and given prophylactic
      treatment involving intrathecal methotrexate. Her twin sibling, who developed no
      signs of the disease, served as a unique control. Remarkably similar profiles
      were noted for the twins on tests of nonverbal intelligence, visual memory,
      visual attention, psychomotor speed, and mental flexibility. All performances
      were in the average to high average range. Significant differences were found on
      tasks measuring verbal abstract reasoning skills. These differences were
      postulated to result from prophylactic treatment, leukemia itself, or disruption
      in normal psychosocial development. As in previous studies, problems with
      auditory attention were found. However, both children displayed attentional
      difficulties regardless of treatment status. Emotional assessment indicated that
      both twins were experiencing a clinically significant level of anxiety that was
      postulated to play a role in reduced attention skills. Findings argue for the
      continued need for monitoring the neuropsychological functioning of children
      given prophylactic treatment and demonstrate the importance of measuring
      emotional factors in assessment with these children.

PMID- 1456394
TI  - Dyskeratosis congenita: clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Report of a new case
      and review of the literature.
AB  - Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a rare form of ectodermal dysplasia consisting of
      dystrophic nails, hyperpigmentation, and leukoplakia often associated with
      aplastic anemia. DC is considered to be an X-linked recessive trait, but affected
      females suggest genetic heterogeneity. We report an additional female with DC and
      review the world literature, indicating transmission in X-linked recessive,
      autosomal recessive, and autosomal dominant manners. The clinical and genetic
      aspects of DC are heterogeneous, and different patterns of inheritance are
      associated with distinct clinical manifestations. DC should be considered in the
      diagnosis of a patient with any features of the syndrome regardless of gender.
      Conversely, DC should be considered in patients with aplastic anemia at any age.

PMID- 1456395
TI  - A phase I study of interleukin-2 in children with cancer.
AB  - Recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2) produces clinical responses in approximately 20%
      of adult patients with renal cell carcinoma and melanoma, with both high-dose
      bolus and continuous infusion regimens. Because of the lower toxicity of
      continuous infusion, we elected to investigate in a Phase I trial a 5-day
      continuous infusion repeated for three weeks in children with malignancies
      refractory to standard therapy. Nineteen children with solid tumors and eight
      children with hematologic malignancies were entered into the study. The maximum
      tolerated dose was 3 x 10(6) U/m2/day, with dose-limiting toxicities occurring in
      five of seven patients treated at the 5 x 10(6) U/m2/day dose level. Dose
      limiting toxicities included hypotension, hyperbilirubinemia, thrombocytopenia,
      pulmonary/pleural effusion, and nephrotoxicity. Serum IL-2 levels were detectable
      at the higher dose levels and were comparable to those observed in adult
      patients. Hematologic changes at the higher dose levels included rebound
      lymphocytosis occurring within 48 h of discontinuation of IL-2, eosinophilia, and
      decreased platelet counts. No objective responses to therapy were seen. We have
      identified a dose and schedule of administration for IL-2 in pediatric patients
      that can be given without intensive care unit support. Pediatric Phase II trials
      examining the anti-tumor activity of IL-2 given by this schedule are in progress.

PMID- 1456396
TI  - Screening for neuroblastoma in North America. 2-year results from the Quebec
      Project.
AB  - The Quebec Neuroblastoma Screening Project was initiated to assess the clinical
      and biological aspects of screening infants for the presence of neuroblastoma in
      North America. All children born in the province of Quebec from May 1, 1989 to
      April 30, 1994 are eligible for participation. This report provides results from
      22 months' accrual of infants who were screened using urine-saturated filter
      paper for determination of the catecholamine metabolites vanillylmandelic acid
      (VMA) and homovanillic acid (HVA). More than 157,000 infants have been screened
      to date at 3 weeks of age, representing 92% of the entire birth population of
      Quebec. Over 98,000 infants have been screened a second time at 6 months of age,
      which made up 76% of the Quebec birth cohort. After a two-stage initial
      screening, 340 (0.13%) infants (182 at 3 weeks and 158 at 6 months) required
      second laboratory examinations because of elevated levels of urinary VMA, HVA, or
      both. Twenty infants from the 3-week screening (0.01%) and nine from the 6-month
      screening (0.01%) were subsequently referred to one of four Quebec pediatric
      oncology centers for neuroblastoma evaluation. Seven of 20 children from the 3
      week screening and two of nine children from the 6-month screening have been
      identified as having neuroblastoma. During the same period, 14 additional
      children in the birth cohort were diagnosed clinically with neuroblastoma; eight
      were diagnosed prior to screening at 3 weeks of age, three children had negative
      results at 3 weeks of age, two had negative results at 3 weeks and at 6 months of
      age, and one had never been screened.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456397
TI  - Past and future of neuroblastoma screening in Japan.
AB  - In Japan, neuroblastoma is a common malignant tumor for children and its
      prognosis is unfavorable. Since this tumor excretes excessive amounts of
      vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and homovanillic acid (HVA), catecholamine
      metabolites, into urine, both are sensitive diagnostic markers for neuroblastoma.
      In 1974, to improve the prognosis for neuroblastoma, a mass screening program by
      a qualitative VMA spot test for early detection of this tumor for 6-month-old
      infants was started in Kyoto, Japan. Subsequently, mass screening was also
      conducted in other areas in Japan. In 1985, mass screening commenced as a
      nationwide program throughout Japan, and in 1988, screening by quantitative
      measurement of VMA, HVA, and creatinine was recommended by the Ministry of Health
      and Welfare. During the 6 years from 1984 to 1989, 468 cases of neuroblastoma
      were detected from among 5,052,165 infants screened by this program. Analysis of
      findings in the 357 cases detected by mass screening from its inception in Kyoto
      until December of 1988 have been presented. The survival rate for these cases was
      97% (348 of 357 cases). The prognosis of tumors detected by mass screening has
      clearly been favorable. In addition, survival rates were improved for all cases
      of neuroblastoma in Kyoto after the introduction of mass screening. The increased
      incidence of neuroblastoma in infants and the change in age distribution of all
      cases of neuroblastoma following the inception of urinary screening as well as
      the occurrence of spontaneous regression of neuroblastoma in relation to the
      screening program are discussed. Future problems facing mass screening for
      neuroblastoma are also presented.

PMID- 1456398
TI  - Mass screening of neuroblastoma in Sapporo City, Japan.
AB  - In Sapporo City a mass screening program for neuroblastoma aiming at 6-month-old
      infants has been performed since April 1981. By March 1990, 136,001 infants were
      screened; 26 true-positive cases of neuroblastoma and six false-negative cases
      were detected. The sensitivity of the mass screening method was about 80%
      throughout the 9 years. During the 9-year period, a total of nine children with
      neuroblastoma who were not screened were also identified. Clinical stage, age at
      diagnosis, and survival rate for the 32 patients who were screened (26 true
      positives and six false negatives) were much more favorable than those for the
      nine patients who were not screened. A remarkable decrease in the incidence of
      cases of neuroblastoma with advanced clinical stages over 1 year of age,
      especially among children 1-4 years of age, was noted after the start of the mass
      screening. The mortality from this tumor in children up to 4 years of age
      significantly decreased after the start of the urinary screening program.
      Rescreening at 14 months of age was begun in April, 1991 in Sapporo City.
      Performing two screening examinations decreases the probability of overlooking a
      patient. Thus, it is expected that tumors missed on the first screening would be
      detected by the second screening.

PMID- 1456399
TI  - Screening for neuroblastoma in the northern region of England. Laboratory
      aspects.
AB  - Our pilot study for neuroblastoma screening started in 1986. The study has
      progressed through several phases, with use of several analytical methods to a
      procedure based primarily on the use of automated gas chromatography mass
      spectrometry. The northern region of England has a relatively static population
      of approximately 3.5 million, with an annual birth rate of 41,000. The region
      consists of 16 administrative health districts. In 4 years, we have screened
      20,829 infants from four health districts. In this program, we screen all
      children at 6 months of age. A urine sample is collected on filter paper by a
      health visitor, either at the time of the infant's routine clinic visit or during
      the health visitor's follow-up visit at home. In the laboratory, the sample is
      dried and processed for analysis of homovanillic acid (HVA) and vanillylmandelic
      acid (VMA), using a benchtop Hewlett Packard gas chromatograph mass spectrometer.
      The results are related to the creatinine content of the urine. Using cut-off
      limits of 39 micrograms/mg of creatinine for HVA and 25 micrograms/mg of
      creatinine for VMA, 2,537 infants (12.2%) required a second paper sample and 527
      infants (2.5%) were observed with a liquid urine collection. Of these, the
      conditions of nine infants with elevated levels of HVA or VMA were investigated
      clinically for the possible presence of neuroblastoma. Two infants were found to
      have neuroblastoma; the other seven showed no evidence of tumor. In addition,
      there were three children who, when screened at 6 months of age, had normal
      levels of HVA and VMA but in whom neuroblastoma subsequently developed.

PMID- 1456400
TI  - A pilot study of screening for neuroblastoma in the north of England.
AB  - A pilot study has been carried out to assess the feasibility of screening for
      neuroblastoma in 6-month-old infants in the north of England. A total of 20,829
      infants were screened. Two true-positive cases were found, along with eight false
      positive and three false-negative cases. It was shown that the concentrations of
      catecholamine metabolites in the urine are dependent on the creatinine content;
      centiles have been established to allow this relationship to be taken into
      account. Five of the eight false-positive cases would have been correctly
      assessed as normal if the new centiles had been used. Preliminary results lend
      support to the need for a well-designed study of neuroblastoma screening to be
      carried out, with death from this disease as the only end point.

PMID- 1456401
TI  - Biology of neuroblastomas in Japan found by screening.
AB  - Between June 1983 and December 1990, cytogenetic analysis was performed on 82
      neuroblastoma patients, including 41 patients found by mass screening. The N-myc
      copy number was determined in 77 of the 82 patients. Patients were classified
      into three groups: patients found by mass screening (group A) (n = 41), patients
      found clinically who were under 12 months of age (group B) (n = 12), and patients
      found clinically who were over 12 months of age (group C) (n = 29). All patients
      in group A had hyperdiploid (H-2n) or near-triploid (3n) karyotypes; they were
      all completely free of tumor for 4-84 months after diagnosis, although one
      patient relapsed and attained complete remission again. Among those in group B,
      one patient with a stage 4 tumor had a near-diploid Karyotype (2n) and N-myc
      amplification, and died 18 months after diagnosis. Another patient aged 2 days
      with a stage 4S tumor had near-diploid karyotype and N-myc amplification, and
      died 9 months after diagnosis. Tumors in the remaining 18 patients in group B had
      hyperdiploid or near-triploid karyotypes, they lacked N-myc amplification, and
      the patients were free of tumor for 12-89 months after diagnosis. All patients in
      group C except two have near-diploid or hypotetraploid karyotypes, and 21 of 29
      patients died within 18 months. One 13-month-old patient (classified in stage 2)
      and another 7-year-old patient (stage 2) had near-triploid karyotypes and were
      alive at 74 and 72 months, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456402
TI  - Prolonged clinical response to vincristine treatment in two patients with
      idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome.
AB  - Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a rapidly progressive disease that
      can result in death within weeks to months of diagnosis in untreated patients. We
      report two pediatric cases of HES. One patient has remained clinically and
      hematologically stable for 9 years with vincristine and 6-thioguanine (6TG), and
      the other has received vincristine alone for 6 months with a good response. The
      use of long-term vincristine and 6TG or vincristine alone has not been previously
      reported in the management of HES in children. Vincristine administered every 3-4
      weeks with or without 6TG can produce a reduction in the overall white cell count
      and improvement of symptoms of hypereosinophilia. Although the mortality of
      patients with HES is high, aggressive treatment can result in significant
      clinical benefit and improved prognosis in children with this syndrome.

PMID- 1456403
TI  - Multiple relapses of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in a cancer
      patient. Successful control with long-term cholestyramine therapy.
AB  - Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) is caused by a toxin elaborated
      by the anaerobic organism Clostridium difficile. Although the vast majority of
      CDAD cases are now associated with antibiotic use, the administration of
      antineoplastic agents alone can result in clinical manifestations. While therapy
      with oral vancomycin is usually successful, one quarter of patients will relapse.
      We describe a 16-year-old girl with osteogenic sarcoma whose therapy was
      significantly complicated by multiple relapses of CDAD. All resulted in hospital
      admission. She failed several standard therapies for relapsed CDAD and was cured
      only after prolonged cholestyramine therapy. A subset of multiply relapsed CDAD
      patients may require prolonged therapy with cholestyramine to control the
      disease.

PMID- 1456404
TI  - Prevalence of anemia and malnutrition in a hospital-based population of children
      in India.

PMID- 1456405
TI  - A sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for determination of bovine beta
      lactoglobulin in infant feeding formulas and in human milk.
AB  - We developed a sensitive sandwich-type ELISA for measuring low levels of cow's
      milk (CM) beta-lactoglobulin. Purified anti-beta-lactoglobulin was used as
      coating antibody and also as second antibody conjugated with alkaline
      phosphatase. Polyethylene glycol 6000 was added to the incubation buffers to
      improve sensitivity. The detection limit of the assay was 0.002 microgram/l,
      which is much better than sensitivities reported for other beta-lactoglobulin
      assays. The sensitivity was not impaired by the presence of other CM proteins.
      The recovery from breast milk was 93% and from the diluting buffer 127%. The
      coefficient of variation within day was 5-15% and between days 10%. One hour
      after oral intake of milk, beta-lactoglobulin could be detected in the breast
      milk of three mothers at concentrations of about 1-2 micrograms/l. Widely
      different concentrations of beta-lactoglobulin were measured in two protein
      hydrolysates based on CM whey and casein proteins; the observed concentrations
      were 200 and 0.0056 micrograms beta-lactoglobulin/g dry weight, respectively.

PMID- 1456406
TI  - Reduction of indoor airborne mould spores.
AB  - In 23 dwellings in Copenhagen high concentrations of airborne mould spores were
      shown by the "open Petri dish" method. The families were instructed how to reduce
      this contamination. One year later the number of mould spores was estimated
      again. At that time their number was 1/10 of that shown at the first sampling in
      11 dwellings, and in 7 dwellings the reduction of mould spores decreased to 1/5.
      Only one dwelling showed no reduction.

PMID- 1456407
TI  - Allergenic pollens and pollinosis in Italy: recent advances.
AB  - The authors have mapped the occurrence of allergenic pollens throughout Italy and
      defined their most common clinical symptoms. To obtain an accurate aerobiological
      and clinical picture of such a geographically complex country as Italy, a
      detailed investigation was carried out involving 80 data-gathering stations and
      40 clinical centers nationwide. Three main pollination periods can be
      distinguished: winter-pre-spring (January to March) for Betulaceae, Corylaceae,
      Cupressaceae, Salicaceae and Ulmaceae: spring-summer (April to June) for
      Gramineae, Urticaceae, Oleaceae, Plantago, Fagaceae, Pinaceae and Polygonaceae,
      and summer-autumn (August to September) for Urticaceae, Compositae and
      Chenopodiaceae. Examination of 49,660 patients affected by pollinosis
      (conjunctivitis, rhinitis, asthma, with positive skin tests or IgE-specific serum
      determination: RAST, ELISA) throughout Italy revealed sensitivity to Gramineae in
      64.6%, to Parietaria in 36.7% to Olea in 15.8%, to Compositae in 13.2%, to
      Betulaceae-Corylaceae in 7% and to Fagaceae-Cupressaceae-Plantago in 4%-10%;
      marked regional variations were observed. The patients suffered from rhino
      conjunctivitis (55.7%), rhino-conjunctivitis plus asthma (31.6%) and asthma
      (12.7%). In monosensitised individuals, Parietaria was seen to be the main cause
      of the asthmatic syndrome (though our preliminary data also implicate Olea)
      followed by Gramineae.

PMID- 1456408
TI  - Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) pollen: a frequent cause of allergic
      sensitization in urban children.
AB  - We investigated the incidence of allergic sensitization and the risk factors
      underlying sensitization in 214 urban children exposed to horse chestnut pollen.
      By means of the Phadezym RAST, we found IgE specific to horse chestnut pollen in
      12.6% of the urban children, whereas it occurred in only 1.9% of control subjects
      recruited from a rural area. Reports of allergic symptoms in spring during the
      horse chestnut pollen load coincided with the presence of specific IgE in 5.1% of
      the urban group as against 1.4% of the recruited from the rural area.
      Environmental factors other than those related to urban living and higher horse
      chestnut pollen counts had no significant impact on allergic sensitization.
      Increased total IgE levels (greater than 100 kU/l), however, and the
      sensitization to pollen of other species significantly raised the odds for
      sensitization to chestnut pollen. They were highest in highly atopic children
      with sensitization to pollen, especially to that of plane trees (OR = 73.9).
      These results suggest the relevance of horse chestnut pollen because of the high
      allergic sensitization rate among urban children, and they should also be borne
      in mind when it comes to the planting of trees in urban areas.

PMID- 1456409
TI  - Does cutting of mugwort stands affect airborne pollen concentrations?
AB  - Pollen of mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) is the most important allergenic pollen
      in urban areas of south and central Finland in late summer. The purpose of this
      study was to investigate, experimentally, whether the cutting of mugwort stands
      affects its airborne pollen concentrations. Experimental plots were either cut (4
      plots) or uncut (4 plots) in 2 previous seasons: 4 of them were small (less than
      0.5 hectare) and 4 large (greater than 5 hectares). Finally, the plots were
      divided randomly into 2 groups according to a third variable, cutting in the
      study season, 1989. Samples were taken on 2 rainless mornings at the peak mugwort
      flowering time. Two rotorod type samplers were used at heights of 1 and 2 m from
      ground level, simulating the inhalation heights of children and adults,
      respectively. The results indicate that cutting mugwort stands significantly
      reduces airborne pollen concentrations, but the treated areas have to be large,
      since in the town area there are plenty of mugwort pollen sources. The pollen
      concentrations at the 2 heights tested did not differ significantly.

PMID- 1456410
TI  - Cord blood IgE. I. IgE screening in 2814 newborn children.
AB  - Screening of total IgE in 2814 cord blood samples was analysed by Phadebas IgE
      PRIST in 2 1-year birth cohorts (1983-1984 and 1985-1986) in Denmark (n = 1189 +
      1625). 48.6% of the sera contained less IgE than the detection limit 0.1 kU/l.
      Cord blood IgE values greater than or equal to 0.5 kU/l were regarded as
      elevated. 13.2% of the sera contained at least 0.5 kU/l of IgE, with a
      significant preponderance in boys. Geometric mean cord blood IgE was 0.13 kU/l
      and 0.12 kU/l, respectively. Geometric mean cord blood IgE was significantly
      higher in boys. A significant seasonal variation with lowest IgE values in the
      autumn was found. No correlation between cord blood IgE and birth weight or
      gestational age was demonstrated. Only few newborns had cord blood IgA values
      greater than 0.014 g/l, calculated as geometric mean cord blood IgA + 2 SD among
      children with no detectable cord blood IgE, indicating infrequent contamination
      with maternal blood.

PMID- 1456411
TI  - Cord blood IgE. II. Prediction of atopic disease. A follow-up at the age of 18
      months.
AB  - Screening of total IgE in 2814 cord blood samples was analysed by Phadebas IgE
      PRIST in 2 1-year birth cohorts (1983-1984 and 1985-1986) in Denmark (n = 1189 +
      1625). For follow-up we chose all infants with cord blood IgE greater than or
      equal to 0.5 kU/l and a randomly chosen group of the same size with cord blood
      IgE less than 0.5 kU/l. A total of 762 infants were clinically evaluated at 18
      months of age. A diagnosis of definite atopy, probable atopy or no atopy,
      including both IgE and non-IgE mediated disease was established. Applying
      different cord blood IgE cut-off values (0.3, 0.5, 0.8, 1.1) we did not find an
      excess of atopic infants among those with elevated cord blood IgE irrespective of
      the chosen cut-off value. Atopic predisposition or family history of atopic
      disease was defined as at least one parent or older sibling with atopic disease.
      Significantly more infants with a family history developed atopy at 18 months. In
      the 2 series the positive predictive values of cord blood IgE greater than or
      equal to 0.5 were 43% and 46% and the sensitivities were 17% and 15%. The
      predictive values of having a family history were 48% and 44% and the
      sensitivities were 55% and 58%.

PMID- 1456412
TI  - Cord blood IgE. III. Prediction of IgE high-response and allergy. A follow-up at
      the age of 18 months.
AB  - Screening of total IgE in 2814 cord blood samples was analysed by Phadebas IgE
      PRIST in 2 1-year birth cohorts (1983-1984 and 1985-1986) in Denmark (n = 1189 +
      1625). For follow-up we chose all infants with cord blood IgE greater than or
      equal to 0.5 kU/l and a randomly chosen group of the same size with cord blood
      IgE less than 0.5 kU/l. A total group of 762 infants were clinically evaluated at
      18 months of age, and in 688 of these we evaluated total and specific IgE. A
      diagnosis of definite atopy, probable atopy or no atopy was established. In the
      present study we defined allergic disease as atopic disease combined with
      elevated total IgE. We found a statistically significant correlation between cord
      blood IgE and IgE at 18 months of age. Significantly more infants with elevated
      cord blood IgE had developed allergic disease at 18 months. A cut-off value of
      0.3 kU/l for cord blood IgE was superior to the originally suggested 0.5 kU/l.
      Significantly more infants with elevated cord blood IgE had developed specific
      IgE antibodies at 18 months. The most frequent specific IgE antibody was towards
      cow's milk. Specific IgE antibodies were very rarely found when total IgE was not
      elevated. A total IgE at the age of 18 months greater than 26 kU/l could be
      regarded as elevated. With regard to allergic disease the positive predictive
      values of cord blood IgE greater than or equal to 0.3 kU/l in the 2 series were
      21% and the corresponding sensitivities 67% and 46%, respectively.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456413
TI  - Quantification of pollen solute release using pollen grain column chromatography.
AB  - The impact of pollen on the respiratory mucosa was modeled by studying the
      process by which solutes are eluted from pollen grains. Rye grass (Lolium
      perenne), short ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), and white oak (Quercus alba)
      pollens were packed between glass wool plugs in small columns. Water was pumped
      through the columns and the eluate solute yield was determined by measurement of
      the dry solute weight. Solute separation was rapid, and concentrations and
      osmolalities of the eluate decreased exponentially. Theoretical initial solute
      concentrations were 179 g/l for rye grass, 55 g/l for short ragweed and 349 g/l
      for oak pollen eluates. Theoretical initial osmolarities of the same eluates were
      321 mOsm/kg for rye grass, 196 mOsm/kg for ragweed and 424 mOsm/kg for oak
      pollen. Sequential separation of allergens (Lol p I, Amb a I, Amb a V), enzymes
      and proteins was demonstrated by specific assays. These observations suggest that
      the complex stimulus produced immediately after pollen grain hydration at the
      respiratory mucosal fluid interface is much more intense than previously
      envisioned. Sequential separation of pollen components has important implications
      for the production of improved allergenic extracts.

PMID- 1456414
TI  - The major allergen content of allergenic preparations reflect their biological
      activity.
AB  - The content of major allergens in biologically standardized allergenic
      preparations of birch, mite (Der p), cat, Alternaria (Alt a) and ragweed (Amb e)
      was determined. It was found fairly constant between species, i.e. varied within
      a factor of 2, with the exception of Alt a 1 in Alternaria alternata extract.
      This variation is allowed by authorities between different batches prepared from
      the same species of allergen. The method for biological standardization (BS)
      prescribed in the Nordic Guidelines has, for common inhalant allergens, been
      shown to give reproducible results between regions of Europe. However, it is
      difficult to define patients suitable for BS of most food allergens as well as
      less common inhalant allergens. Therefore we propose that, in the future, BS is
      replaced by determination of well-established major allergens and that 1 ng of
      major allergen is given the value of 1 Biological Unit.

PMID- 1456415
TI  - Age-dependency of sensitization to aero-allergens in asthmatics.
AB  - Skin reactivity (intracutaneous test) to histamine and allergens was studied
      cross-sectionally in a Dutch asthmatic patient population from childhood to old
      age (4-75 years). It was found that the histamine skin reactivity rose
      significantly (p less than 0.05) during childhood, was significantly higher in
      the 10-15-year age group, and was constant between 20 and 75 years of age. The
      mean wheal index (histamine ratio) of all allergens was constant during
      childhood, and decreased after the age of 25 for grass pollen and house-dust mite
      and after the age of 15 for the other allergens. The prevalence of a positive
      skin test decreased with age, except for grass pollen. During childhood the
      indoor allergens, cat dander and house-dust mite, were the most important, while
      after the age of 15 sensitivity to an outdoor allergen, grass pollen, increased
      markedly. At all ages house-dust mite was the most important allergen. After the
      age of 25 the prevalence of every allergen declines. The prevalence of a positive
      skin test to Cladosporium was unexpectedly high in childhood (10-40%). It can be
      concluded that the prevalence of a positive skin test declines with age, except
      for grass pollen. The degree of sensitization in asthmatics peaked in the age
      groups between 20 and 40 and sensitivity to indoor allergens developed earlier
      than sensitivity to outdoor allergens.

PMID- 1456416
TI  - Delayed hypersensitivity to 6-methyl-prednisolone in Henoch Schoenlein syndrome.
AB  - We report a case of allergic reaction to oral 6-methyl-prednisolone in a patient
      with Henoch Schoenlein syndrome. When this syndrome was first diagnosed the
      patient was started on 6-methyl-prednisolone orally and after 4 days he developed
      a pruriginous generalized maculo-papular eruption. The rash disappeared 1 week
      after withdrawal of 6-methyl-prednisolone. The skin tests performed 1 month after
      with main food allergens were negative. Patch test with 0.10 ml of solution
      containing 6-methyl-prednisolone 40 mg/ml was positive after 48 and 72 h. The
      cutaneous biopsy on the patch tested skin revealed a perivascular infiltrate of
      lymphocytes, histiocytes and eosinophils.

PMID- 1456417
TI  - Serum sickness-like syndrome associated with cefaclor therapy.
AB  - We describe 2 cases of paediatric patients who developed the main clinical
      features of a serum sickness reaction, while on treatment with cefaclor. A
      decrease in complement values was observed in both cases. Physicians should be
      aware of the possibility of such drug adverse reaction.

PMID- 1456418
TI  - Itchy dermatitis from Gynaikothrips ficorum March in a family group.
AB  - This study reports on the occurrence of an itchy dermatitis in all 4 adult
      members of a family, 2 men and 2 women, following infestation in the family
      environment with Gynaikothrips ficorum. The skin manifestations and the
      environmental study are described.

PMID- 1456419
TI  - Quantitation of proteins separated in N, N'-1,2-dihydroxyethylenebisacrylamide
      crosslinked polyacrylamide gels.
AB  - A simple and rapid method for the quantitation of proteins separated either by
      sodium dodecyl sulfate-electrophoresis or by isoelectric focusing in slab gels is
      presented. The method is based on the solubility of polyacrylamide gels
      crosslinked with N, N'-1, 2-dihydroxyethylenebisacrylamide (DHEBA) in periodic
      acid. After electrophoretic separation proteins are stained with Coomassie
      brilliant blue G-250. DHEBA gels show considerable swelling during the staining
      and destaining process but can be shrunk to their normal size in a 10% (w/v)
      solution of ammonium sulfate. Stained bands are cut from the gel and solubilized
      in periodic acid. During dissolution the dye decolorizes. Protein concentration
      in the solution is determined by a modified Coomassie dye-binding assay.
      Quantitation is linear in the range of 100 ng to 5 micrograms and not disturbed
      by dissolved gel. Separations in N, N'-1, 2-dihydroxyethylenebisacrylamide
      crosslinked gels show qualities similar to those in normal crosslinked gels.

PMID- 1456420
TI  - The direct hydrolysis of proteins containing tryptophan on polyvinylidene
      difluoride membranes by mercaptoethanesulfonic acid in the vapor phase.
AB  - A procedure for the amino acid analysis of polypeptides that contain tryptophan
      on polyvinylidene difluoride membranes is described. Lysozyme, carbonic
      anhydrase, phytochrome, and ovalbumin were tested. The protein, which was
      separated from others by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of
      sodium dodecyl sulfate, was blotted from the gel onto a polyvinylidene difluoride
      membrane and directly hydrolyzed by 3 N mercaptoethanesulfonic acid vapor in a
      vacuum at 176 degrees C for 25 min. The hydrolysate was extracted with 0.1 N HCl
      and 30% methanol and used for amino acid analysis. The tested proteins were
      adequately hydrolyzed, and the recovery of tryptophan was very efficient.

PMID- 1456421
TI  - Direct purification of multiple ATF/E4TF3 polypeptides from HeLa cell crude
      nuclear extracts using DNA affinity latex particles.
AB  - We developed a method using affinity latex particles to rapidly and efficiently
      purify DNA-binding proteins directly from crude cell extracts. The particles are
      composed of a styrene core and a polyglycidyl methacrylate surface, to which DNA
      oligomers were immobilized by means of epoxy groups. Multiple polypeptides were
      copurified, which bound to the ATF/E4TF3-binding site from crude nuclear extracts
      of HeLa cells, within a few hours. Affinity-purified polypeptides stimulated
      transcription in vitro from a promoter in which ATF/E4TF3-binding sites were
      present. At least eight polypeptides with molecular masses of 116, 80, 65, 60,
      55, 47, 45, and 43 kDa were copurified. About 2 micrograms of the 43-kDa protein
      was purified directly from 8 mg of crude nuclear extracts. All the polypeptides
      directly bound to the same DNA sequence and were thought to form a family. The
      results indicated that the particles are useful for quickly purifying various DNA
      binding proteins directly from crude cell extracts.

PMID- 1456422
TI  - Fluorimetric assay of D-lactate.
AB  - A fluorimetric assay for D-lactate in human blood samples was developed using an
      endpoint enzymatic assay with D-lactate dehydrogenase from Staphylococcus
      epidermidis. The intrabatch and interbatch coefficients of variance were 8.7% (n
      = 4) and 16.6% (n = 4), respectively. The limit of detection in blood was 3.73
      nmol/ml. The assay suffers minor interference from S-D-lactoylglutathione, which
      was also present in the blood samples. The concentration of D-lactate in blood
      was (mean +/- SE, nmol/ml) normal healthy individuals, 11.0 +/- 1.2 (n = 7); and
      diabetic patients, 20.0 +/- 1.3 (n = 55) (a significant increase in diabetes
      mellitus; P < 0.01, Mann-Whitney U test).

PMID- 1456423
TI  - Spectrofluorometric estimation of intermediates of chlorophyll biosynthesis:
      protoporphyrin IX, Mg-protoporphyrin, and protochlorophyllide.
AB  - A highly sensitive spectrofluorometric method for quantitative estimation of
      certain precursors of chlorophyll biosynthesis from the mixtures of plant
      tetrapyrroles having overlapping fluorescence emission spectra is developed. At
      room temperature (293 degrees K) protoporphyrin IX is monitored from its emission
      maximum, 633 nm, when excited at 400 nm (E400/F633). Protochlorophyllide is
      estimated at 638 nm, while being excited at 440 nm (E440/F638). Mg
      protoporphyrin+Mg-protoporphyrin monoester pool has emission around 589-592 nm.
      Therefore the integration value of the emission band that extends from 580 to 610
      nm is taken to calibrate its concentration. This spectrofluorometric method
      designed for the determination of protoporphyrin IX, esterified and nonesterified
      Mg-protoporphyrin pool, and protochlorophyllide is far superior to available
      spectrophotometric methods and estimates as low as 1 nM concentration of plant
      pigments. As minute quantities of individual pigments can be quantitatively
      analyzed from their mixtures, this method eliminates analytical uncertainties due
      to recovery losses caused by chromatography. However, only dilute samples can be
      estimated by this spectrofluorometric method as the quantitative relation between
      fluorescence and concentration deviates from linearity at high, i.e., above 150
      nM, concentrations of pigment to be quantified.

PMID- 1456424
TI  - Changes in the redox distribution of rat liver by ischemia.
AB  - The changes in the redox distribution of the ischemic rat liver were studied
      using the redox scanner, which is a time-sharing, tissue fluorescence and
      reflectance spectroscopy with fine spatial resolution, with the results presented
      as a histogram and a gray-scaled picture. Hepatic inflow was clamped for 10 min
      (group 1), 20 min (group 2), and 30 min (group 3). The ratio of oxidized
      flavoprotein to reduced pyridine nucleotide fluorescence (FP/PN), representing
      the intracellular redox state, and hemoglobin reflectance were measured prior to
      clamping and at subsequent times following declamping in each group. The mean and
      the range width of FP/PN histogram decreased with the prolongation of ischemic
      time. In group 1, FP/PN histogram showed a remarkably wide range at 2 min after
      declamping but was almost completely recovered to preischemic levels at 10 min
      after declamping. In contrast, in groups 2 and 3, the mean of FP/PN histogram was
      only partially recovered at 10 min after declamping and the range width continued
      to increase. The correlation between FP/PN fluorescence and hemoglobin
      reflectance pictures suggested that the local stagnation of blood flow caused
      tissue hypoxia, preventing the recovery of the redox state probably in the
      centrilobular area.

PMID- 1456425
TI  - A turbidimetric assay of lipid transfer activity.
AB  - A novel method to assay insect plasma lipid transfer particle (LTP) activity has
      been developed that employs insect high density lipophorin (HDLp) and human low
      density lipoprotein (LDL) as donor/acceptor substrate particles. At a 3:1 or
      greater HDLp:LDL protein ratio, LTP-mediated net vectorial transfer of
      diacylglycerol from lipophorin to LDL produces destabilized LDL particles that
      aggregate, causing sample turbidity. Turbidity was measured
      spectrophotometrically as a function of absorbance at 340 nm. After an initial
      lag phase, lipoprotein sample turbidity increased as a function of reaction time
      and LTP concentration. Saturation was observed at longer times or higher LTP
      concentrations, indicating that a reaction end point had been reached. As the
      substrate HDLp concentration was increased relative to LDL, a saturable increase
      in LTP-induced lipoprotein sample turbidity was observed. When the LDL
      concentration was increased relative to HDLp, however, there was an initial
      production of turbidity but at higher concentrations the sample did not develop
      turbidity. Reaction progress was also dependent on temperature over the range 0
      37 degrees C. Taken together the results are consistent with the concept that LTP
      mediated diacylglycerol transfer from HDLp to LDL creates unstable product LDL
      particles that aggregate. The assay method is advantageous because it employs
      relatively abundant, natural lipoprotein substrates, does not require prelabeling
      of donor lipid particles with radioactive or fluorescent lipids, and does not
      require separation of donor and acceptor after incubation. This is the first
      description of a lipid transfer assay that can be measured
      spectrophotometrically.

PMID- 1456426
TI  - Purification of mucin glycoproteins by density gradient centrifugation in cesium
      trifluoroacetate.
AB  - A procedure for the rapid isolation of mucin glycoprotein by density gradient
      centrifugation in cesium trifluoroacetate (CsTFA) is described. The separation of
      mixtures of rat tracheobronchial mucin, DNA, hyaluronic acid, and bovine serum
      albumin in CsTFA gradients was superior to that in cesium bromide gradients.
      Inclusion of guanidinium chloride or urea in the gradient had no influence on the
      separation obtained. The mucins isolated from sputum samples of cystic fibrosis
      patients by this procedure are largely free of nucleic acid, nonglycosylated
      proteins, and glycosaminoglycans. The results of the use of CsTFA gradient
      centrifugation for the isolation of mucin from extracts of bovine submaxillary
      gland are also presented. The CsTFA method is particularly suitable for the high
      yield isolation of mucin from individual samples which are available in limited
      quantities.

PMID- 1456427
TI  - Isolation of peroxisomes from frozen human liver samples.
AB  - This paper shows the successful isolation of peroxisomes from human liver samples
      that were kept frozen at -70 degrees C. Purification of these peroxisomes was
      obtained by a combination of two subcellular fractionation techniques:
      differential centrifugation and isopycnic fractionation in Nycodenz density
      gradients. Peroxisome integrity was evaluated by latency measurements and by
      ultrastructural observation. The procedure described here may be useful for the
      isolation of other subcellular organelles from frozen human samples.

PMID- 1456428
TI  - High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of N-epsilon-(2
      propenal)lysine in biological samples after derivatization with
      diethylethoxymethylenemalonate.
AB  - A recently reported methodology for amino acid analysis by HPLC has been adapted
      for quantification of N-epsilon-(2-propenal)lysine (a modified lysine by reaction
      with malondialdehyde that has been found in enzymatic digests of foods and in
      urine) in biological samples. We describe its use for investigating the in vitro
      degradation of N-epsilon-(2-propenal)lysine using rat tissue homogenates. Lysine
      dipeptide, used as a control in the incubation mixtures, and the lysine released
      by the hydrolytic action of the homogenates in the in vitro incubations are
      quantified in the same way. The samples are subjected to a cleanup
      prederivatization step using PD-10 disposable columns (Pharmacia). This allows
      precolumn derivatization with diethylethoxymethylenemalonate (50 min, 50 degrees
      C) and resolution of the derivatives of the compounds of interest by reversed
      phase HPLC (binary gradient, 45 min) with quantification based on the uv
      absorption of the derivatives at 280 nm (detection limits below 1 pmol). The
      entire analysis takes 110 min. This method can be of general use for the
      determination of N-epsilon-(2-propenal)lysine in the context of research dealing
      with protein deterioration by reaction with malondialdehyde in biological systems
      and in foods. A method for the synthesis of N-epsilon-(2-propenal)lysine, used as
      external standard for the HPLC analysis, is described.

PMID- 1456429
TI  - Latex-based thin-layer immunoaffinity chromatography for quantitation of protein
      analytes.
AB  - A rapid immunochromatographic method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of
      protein antigens is described. The method is based on the "sandwich" assay format
      using monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) of two distinct specificities. Mabs of one
      specificity are covalently immobilized to a defined detection zone on a porous
      membrane while Mabs of the other specificity are covalently coupled to blue latex
      particles which serve as a label. The sample is mixed with the Mab-coated
      particles and allowed to react. The mixture is then passed along a porous
      membrane by capillary action past the Mabs in the detection zone, which will bind
      the particles which have antigen bound to their surface, giving a blue color
      within this detection zone with an intensity logarithmetrically proportional to
      the antigen concentration in the sample. Analysis is complete in less than 10
      min, requires a minimum amount of sample (4 microliters), and has a detection
      limit below the nanomolar range for the antigen we studied, human chorionic
      gonadotropin.

PMID- 1456430
TI  - The assay of methylglyoxal in biological systems by derivatization with 1,2
      diamino-4,5-dimethoxybenzene.
AB  - A procedure for the assay of methylglyoxal in biological systems is described,
      together with sample storage, sample processing procedures, and statistical
      evaluation. Specimen data are presented. Methylglyoxal was assayed by
      derivatization with 1,2-diamino-4,5-dimethoxybenzene and high-performance liquid
      chromatography (HPLC) of the resulting quinoxaline, 6,7-dimethoxy-2
      methylquinoxaline, with spectrophotometric or fluorescence detection.
      Derivatization, solid-phase extraction, and HPLC were performed under acid
      conditions to prevent the spontaneous formation of methylglyoxal from
      glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate during the assay. The
      limits of detection in the biological matrix were 45 pmol (absorbance detection)
      and 10 pmol (fluorimetric detection), the recovery was 58%, and the intra- and
      interbatch coefficients of variance were 7.7 and 30.0%, respectively. The
      concentration of methylglyoxal in whole blood from normal healthy human
      individuals was (mean +/- SE, nM) 256 +/- 92 (n = 12) and that from diabetic
      patients was 479 +/- 49 (n = 55), showing a significant increase in diabetes
      mellitus (P < 0.01; Mann-Whitney U test). Sample processing under acidic
      conditions was essential to avoid interferences. Previous estimates of the
      concentration of methylglyoxal in biological samples require re-evaluation.

PMID- 1456431
TI  - Quantitation of deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphates by a sequential boronate and
      anion-exchange high-pressure liquid chromatographic procedure.
AB  - A rapid method for the quantitative determination of cellular deoxyribonucleoside
      5'-triphosphates is described. Cell extracts are first separated by boronate
      chromatography at pH 8.9, which removes 99% of the ribonucleoside triphosphate
      (rNTPs) from the deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs). The resulting dNTP
      fraction is analyzed by gradient high-pressure liquid chromatography utilizing a
      strong anion-exchange column, which can separate minor rNTP peaks from the
      corresponding dNTPs. This sequential procedure, which requires less than 1 h per
      sample for both chromatographic steps, results in the quantitative recovery of
      greater than 98% of the dNTPs from cell extracts. Nucleotide analogs, such as 1
      beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine-5'-triphosphate and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-5'
      triphosphate, can also be quantitated efficiently by this method.

PMID- 1456432
TI  - Localization of in vivo ribosome pause sites.
AB  - A protocol for the localization of the 5' boundaries of in vivo ribosomal pausing
      sites has been developed. These mapping experiments combine two basic techniques.
      The first is the isolation of polysomal transcripts via centrifugation of tissue
      extracts through a sucrose cushion in the presence of translational elongation
      inhibitors. The second technique involves a micrococcal nuclease protection assay
      first developed by Wolin and Walter for in vitro-bound ribosomes (EMBO J. 7, 3559
      3569, 1988). Using this method, the 5' boundaries of in vivo ribosomal pause
      sites were localized on spinach chloroplast mRNAs derived from the atpA gene.
      This method is easily adaptable to the identification of in vivo ribosomal pause
      sites from any organism. It could also be adapted to the localization of in vivo
      binding sites for other nucleic acid binding proteins.

PMID- 1456434
TI  - Analysis of variance of parameter estimates: F tests and t tests.
AB  - The problem of comparing and pooling experimentally independent estimates of a
      parameter such as a Michaelis constant (K) has been treated as a simple analysis
      of variance of "within" and "between" set deviations from the fitted variable
      (v). As applied to assessing the reproducibility of multiple estimates of the
      same K, this is identical to the procedure of Duggleby (Anal. Biochem. 189, 84
      87, 1990). However, the theory developed here shows that applying Duggleby's
      procedure to the comparison of two experiments (each consisting of multiple data
      sets) depends critically on the assumption of equal errors within and between the
      individual sets, i.e., Fvb vw = s2wv/s2bv is close to 1. Application of the
      method when this is not the case will underestimate the common error (s2rv),
      overestimate its associated degrees of freedom (vr = vb+vw), and may suggest
      apparently significant differences where there are none. The theory also shows
      that this situation is an instance of the Fisher-Behrens problem and shows how
      Welch's solution can be applied. This gives the between set error s2bv as the
      corrected estimate of the common error and the corrected degrees of freedom as a
      simple function of vb, vw, and Fvb vw. When the nine prephenate dehydratase data
      sets which originally showed three apparently significant differences were
      reanalyzed in this way, all the variations in K were found to be within the range
      of the experimental error.

PMID- 1456433
TI  - Determination of transcription factor isoelectric point by two-dimensional native
      isoelectric focusing and electrophoretic mobility shift analysis.
AB  - A rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive assay is described for the determination of
      isoelectric points of native transcription factors derived from cell nuclei. This
      assay depends on a transcription factors' ability to bind DNA with high
      specificity and obviates the need for specific antisera or additional detection
      methods in identifying a particular protein following isoelectric focusing. This
      method has been applied to two ubiquitous proteins, the octamer transcription
      factor, Oct-1, and the multisubunit CCAAT box factor, NF-Y. Isoelectric points
      have been determined under native conditions using conventional isoelectric
      focusing in the first dimension, followed by binding to a specific
      oligonucleotide DNA probe, and separation of specific DNA/protein complexes from
      unbound DNA in the second dimension using native polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis. Oct-1 from HeLa cell nuclei was shown to have a pI of 9.6, while
      NF-Y was shown to have a pI of 4.5. This method is applicable to any
      transcription factor which binds DNA specifically and may be used to identify
      changes in surface charge characteristics which occur as a result of alternative
      splicing events and/or following transcription factor post-translational
      modification(s).

PMID- 1456435
TI  - Reusable cDNA libraries coupled to magnetic beads.

PMID- 1456436
TI  - Purification of A14-tyrosyl [125I]iodoinsulin using C18 reverse-phase cartridges.

PMID- 1456437
TI  - An easy microtiter plate-based chromogenic assay for ethylenediaminetetraacetic
      acid and similar chelating agents in biochemical samples.

PMID- 1456438
TI  - Rapid filtration assays for protein kinase C activity and phorbol ester binding
      using multiwell plates with fitted filtration discs.
AB  - In the conventional approach protein kinase activity and phorbol ester binding
      associated with protein kinase C (PKC) are measured by initially incubating
      samples in either test tubes or multiwell plates, followed by filtration of the
      terminated reaction mixture using either a manifold filtration device or a cell
      harvester. Here we report a method in which both the incubations and filtrations
      necessary for the determination of either protein kinase activity or phorbol
      ester binding are carried out in the same multiwell plate with fitted filtration
      discs made of polyvinylidene difluoride (Durapore membrane). Due to the very low
      binding of protein to these filters, there is no interference caused by these
      filters during the incubation period of the assays. The drawback with these
      filters compared to commonly used cellulose acetate membrane filters is that they
      retain less of the phosphate acceptor substrate histone H1 (only 15%) if filtered
      and washed with standard 5% trichloroacetic acid. However, this can be overcome
      by increasing the trichloroacetic acid concentration to 25% during filtration.
      For phorbol ester binding determinations, the samples are incubated with
      [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate in the microwells, the ligand bound PKC is adsorbed
      onto DEAE-Sephadex beads, and the beads then are filtered and washed in the same
      microwells. Furthermore, this multiwell filtration approach can also be adopted
      to previously described cytosolic phorbol ester receptor assays, which have the
      broader conditions for optimal binding to receptors. Durapore membrane filters
      are found to work well for punching into scintillation vials and there is
      complete recovery of the radioactivity retained with the filters. In the protein
      kinase assay the background radioactivity is very low (< 200 cpm) and in the
      phorbol ester binding assay the nonspecific binding is less than 1%. Thus, these
      low background values result in at least a fourfold increase in sensitivity for
      these assays. Since the incubations and filtrations are carried out in the same
      well without any transfer of the sample, the coefficient of variation in multiple
      determinations is found to be low. Furthermore, this method is rapid and more
      convenient for analyzing a larger number of samples than conventional methods
      which use test tubes, and it is less expensive to set up compared to the
      automated methods that use a cell harvester.

PMID- 1456439
TI  - Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in human serum samples: use of digoxigenin
      labeled oligonucleotides as modified primers for the polymerase chain reaction.
AB  - Nonradioactive techniques have been used for the direct detection of hepatitis B
      virus DNA in human serum samples. A comparison of two different systems using
      digoxigenin-labeled DNA probes is presented. Furthermore, oligonucleotides
      containing one molecule of the hapten digoxigenin at the 5'-end were prepared and
      used as primers for the polymerase chain reaction. Amplified DNA can be directly
      analyzed with anti-digoxigenin Fab fragments labeled with alkaline phosphatase
      and chemiluminescent substrates.

PMID- 1456440
TI  - Trans-diamminedichlorplatinum (II)-modified probes for detection of picogram
      quantities of DNA.
AB  - A novel simple nonradioactive method for detection of specific nucleotide
      sequences has been developed. This method consists of the hybridization of a
      target DNA with a DNA probe modified with trans-diamminedichlorplatinum(II)
      (trans-DDP) followed by detection of DNA/DNA hybrids with affinity-isolated anti
      DNA-trans-DDP antibodies and poly-horseradish peroxidase-protein A conjugate.
      Major advantages of this approach are the low cost and the extreme simplicity of
      the labeling procedure, which involves only mixing of the reagents. The
      sensitivity of the proposed technique is sufficient to detect 0.8 pg of DNA in
      Southern blot hybridization and 25 fg in dot hybridization and permits colony
      screening.

PMID- 1456441
TI  - N-glycosylation site mapping of human serotransferrin by serial lectin affinity
      chromatography, fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry, and 1H nuclear magnetic
      resonance spectroscopy.
AB  - This report describes the N-glycosylation site mapping of human serotransferrin
      (h-STF). Reduced and S-carboxymethylated h-STF was digested with trypsin or
      chymotrypsin. Glycopeptides in the proteolytic digests were isolated by serial
      concanavalin A (Con A), Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA), and Phaseolus vulgaris
      leukoagglutinin (LPHA) affinity chromatography and subjected to preliminary
      analysis by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The glycopeptide fractions were then
      individually digested with N-glycanase. One part of the digest of each fraction
      was analyzed by fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) to identify the
      peptide sequences of the glycosylation sites. The other part was used to isolate
      the oligosaccharide by the corresponding lectin affinity chromatography and to
      characterize the structures of the isolated oligosaccharides by 1H NMR
      spectroscopy and FAB-MS. The oligosaccharides in the Con A-bound fraction were
      shown to have bi-alpha(2-->6)-sialyl, diantennary structures. The SNA-bound
      fraction was shown to contain trisialyl, triantennary structures. Di- and
      triantennary oligosaccharides were found to occur on each of the two N
      glycosylation sites of h-STF (Asn413 and Asn611) in the ratio of approximately
      85:15. The SNA-bound glycopeptides were further fractionated by LPHA affinity
      chromatography. Two different oligosaccharides were characterized, namely, a
      trisialyl 2,4-triantennary and a trisialyl 2,6-triantennary glycan. The ratio of
      2,4-triantennary vs 2,6-triantennary oligosaccharides attached to glycosylation
      site Asn413 was found to be approximately 5:1, whereas the two isomeric
      triantennary oligosaccharides were found to be attached to glycosylation site
      Asn611 in the ratio approximately 1:1.

PMID- 1456442
TI  - An aluminum silicate binding assay for quantitation of degradation of
      cholecystokinin octapeptide and other short peptides.
AB  - Most available techniques for the quantitation of enzymatic degradation of
      peptide hormones are time-consuming and require expensive equipment and/or novel
      reagents. Our aim here was to develop a rapid and sensitive assay for the
      measurement of degradation of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) as well as
      other short, hydrophobic peptides. The proposed technique is based on our novel
      observation that intact CCK-8, but not its degradation product(s), binds to Lloyd
      reagent, a form of aluminum silicate. When radiolabeled CCK-8 was exposed to rat
      liver cytosol containing endogenous CCK-degrading activity, there was a time
      dependent decrease in the binding of radiolabel to aluminum silicate [from 86 to
      8% over 60 min at 37 degrees C]. The decrease in binding closely paralleled the
      extent of CCK-8 degradation over time as assessed by high-performance liquid
      chromatography and immunoprecipitation with specific polyclonal antibodies to CCK
      8. While aluminum silicate did not efficiently bind to C-terminal and N-terminal
      CCK tetrapeptides, magnesium silicate bound to both tetrapeptides (> 82%), but
      not to their radiolabeled degradation products. Both aluminum and magnesium
      silicate also extensively bound (> 82%) to other peptide hormones including Met
      enkephalin, somatostatin, and secretin, but did not bind their degradation
      products. These binding assays will be useful in studies of peptidases which
      degrade cholecystokinin or other small, hydrophobic peptides.

PMID- 1456443
TI  - Platelet dense granule release reaction monitored by high-performance liquid
      chromatography-fluorometric determination of endogenous serotonin.
AB  - The platelet dense granule release reaction was monitored by measuring the
      serotonin content of platelets collected by filtration following release.
      Sensitive HPLC-fluorometric analysis permitted release to be assessed using small
      (25-50 microliters) volumes of plasma and whole blood. Release could be examined
      for periods as short as 1 s due to the rapid stoppage effected by filtration. The
      half-life of thrombin-stimulated (1 U/ml) release was 2-3 s, the EC50 values
      observed for thrombin-stimulated release over a 60-s release period were 0.01
      0.03 U/ml for diluted whole blood and plasma samples.

PMID- 1456444
TI  - A perifusion system for cultured hepatocytes.
AB  - A perifusion system for primary cultures of hepatocytes is described. The system
      accommodates 20 rotated petri dishes (60 mm) and allows individual medium
      composition and sampling for each dish. Cell number and insulin (15 pM to 7.7 nM)
      were stable in the system for at least 24 h. The dose-response relationship for
      induction by insulin of glucokinase and pyruvate kinase was shifted to the left
      by a factor of 9 and 5, respectively, as compared to conventional, stationary
      cultures. The system is useful for studies at low and/or constant concentrations
      of substrates, hormones, growth factors, etc., with monolayers of cells having a
      high metabolic capacity.

PMID- 1456445
TI  - Radioiodination of the active site of tissue plasminogen activator: a method for
      radiolabeling serine proteases with tyrosylprolylarginyl chloromethyl ketone.
AB  - Tyrosylprolylarginyl chloromethyl ketone (YPRck) is a radioiodinatable inhibitor
      that irreversibly binds the active site of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). A
      two-step reaction is employed where (1) the YPRck reagent is iodinated and (2)
      the 125I-YPRck is reacted with the tPA sample; therefore the oxidative effects of
      conventional protein iodination are avoided. Using fibrin binding as a probe of
      native tPA binding function, YPRck labeling was shown to be superior to other
      types of surface iodination. 125I-YPRck was prepared at a high specific
      radioactivity; i.e., one 125I per 3.5 molecules of peptidyl chloromethyl ketone.
      Labeled YPRck formed a one to one covalent, sodium dodecyl sulfate stable,
      complex with tPA resulting in a preparation of 10 mCi per milligram protein,
      which corresponded to an incorporation ratio of 1:3.5 (125I-YPRck:tPA). Both one
      chain and two-chain forms of tPA reacted with YPRck. Radiolabeling tPA with 125I
      YPRck occurred in a time-dependent manner with half-maximal incorporation at
      approximately 30 min under the conditions employed in these studies. The pH
      optimum for the reaction of tPA with 125I-YPRck was 7.4. Solutions of tPA at less
      than 1 microgram/ml were efficiently labeled with 125I-YPRck, thus allowing the
      quantitation of functional protease by incorporation of radiolabel.
      Significantly, 125I-YPRck specifically labeled tPA in cell culture supernatants
      after transient transfection of cells with plasmid DNA containing the gene for
      tPA. Other serine proteases were tested for their relative reactivity with 125I
      YPRck. Thrombin and Factor Xa incorporated 125I-YPRck to higher levels than two
      chain tPA; whereas plasmin, urokinase, and other plasma proteases were not as
      efficiently radiolabeled. The use of 125I-YPRck allows rapid and specific
      radiolabeling of a large number of tPA samples in a nondenaturing environment
      with a known localization of the radiolabeling reagent.

PMID- 1456446
TI  - Isoelectric focusing by free solution capillary electrophoresis.
AB  - A reproducible, quantitative isoelectric focusing method using capillary
      electrophoresis that exhibits high resolution and linearity over a wide pH
      gradient was developed. RNase T1 and RNase ba are two proteins that have
      isoelectric points (pI's) at the two extremes of a pH 3-10 gradient. Site
      directed mutants of the former were separated from the wild-type form and pI's
      determined in the same experiment. The pI's of RNase T1 wild-type, its three
      mutants, and RNase ba were determined for the first time as 2.9, 3.1, 3.1, 3.3,
      and 9.0, respectively. The paper describes the protocol for isoelectric focusing
      by capillary electrophoresis, as well as presenting data describing the
      linearity, resolution, limits of mass loading, and reproducibility of the method.

PMID- 1456447
TI  - Uracil DNA glycosylase-mediated cloning of polymerase chain reaction-amplified
      DNA: application to genomic and cDNA cloning.
AB  - A simple and rapid method for cloning of amplification products directly from the
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been developed. The method is based on the
      addition of a 12-base dUMP-containing sequence (CUACUACUACUA) to the 5' end of
      PCR primers. Incorporation of these primers during PCR results in the selective
      placement of dUMP residues into the 5' end of amplification products. Selective
      degradation of the dUMP residues in the PCR products with uracil DNA glycosylase
      (UDG) disrupts base pairing at the termini and generates 3' overhangs. Annealing
      of 3' protruding termini to vector DNA containing complementary 3' ends results
      in chimeric molecules which can be transformed, with high efficiency, without in
      vitro ligation. Directional cloning of PCR products has also been accomplished by
      incorporating different dU-containing sequences at the end of each PCR primer.
      Substitution of all dT residues in PCR primers with dU eliminates cloning of
      aberrant "primer dimer" products and enriches cloning of genuine PCR products.
      The method has been applied to cloning of inter-Alu DNA sequences from human
      placental DNA. Using a single primer, DNA sequences between appropriately
      oriented Alu sequences were amplified and cloned. Cloning of cDNA for the
      glyceraldehyde-3'-phosphate dehydrogenase gene from rat brain RNA was also
      demonstrated. The 3' end region of this gene was amplified by the 3' RACE method
      and the amplified DNA was cloned after UDG digestion. Characterization of cloned
      DNAs by sequence analysis showed accurate repair of the cloning junctions. The
      ligase-free cloning method with UDG should prove to be a widely applicable
      procedure for rapid cloning of PCR-amplified DNA.

PMID- 1456448
TI  - Determination of monosaccharides and sugar alcohols in tissues from diabetic rats
      by high-performance liquid chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection.
AB  - A sensitive and simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been
      developed to determine the concentration of monosaccharides and sugar alcohols in
      animal tissues. Five neutral monosaccharides (D-glucose, D-galactose, D-mannose,
      D-fructose, and D-ribose) and three neutral sugar alcohols (myo-inositol,
      glycerol, and D-sorbitol) predominate in the renal cortices and sciatic nerves of
      rats. These monosaccharides and sugar alcohols were extracted with distilled
      water, purified by deproteinization with ethanol, a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge, and
      columns of Dowex 50W-X8 and Amberlite CG-400, then separated on Ca2+ and Pb2+
      cation-exchange columns, eluted with deionized distilled water at 80 degrees C,
      and detected using integrated pulsed amperometry. About 10 pmol of each sugar was
      detectable with a signal-to-noise ratio of 10:1. D-Glucose, D-fructose, D
      sorbitol, and D-mannose were higher in both the renal and sciatic tissues of
      diabetic rats than in those of normal animals. D-Ribose and glycerol were higher
      in the renal cortex of diabetic animals.

PMID- 1456449
TI  - Evidence for the glyoxylate cycle in human liver.
AB  - The enzymatic activities unique to the glyoxylate cycle of higher plants and
      certain lower invertebrates, isocitrate lyase and malate synthase, have been
      demonstrated in homogenates prepared from human liver. Human liver can also carry
      out cyanide-insensitive fatty acid oxidation from palmitate. Utilizing light
      microscopic immunocytochemistry with an antibody produced against Euglena malate
      synthase, this enzyme localizes in numerous ovoid granules in human hepatocytes.
      Also, immunocytochemistry using antibodies produced against rat fatty acyl-CoA
      oxidase showed that this enzyme was localized in similar structures. With routine
      cytochemistry, catalase was seen in identical granular bodies. Both catalase and
      fatty acyl-CoA oxidase are peroxisomal enzymes. The presence of malate synthase
      in liver homogenates was further confirmed by Western blot analysis. These data
      suggest that the human liver may be capable of utilizing the carbon backbone of
      fatty acids for carbohydrate synthesis since the glyoxylate cycle in lower
      organisms subserves this anabolic function.

PMID- 1456450
TI  - Changes of cytochemical properties in the Golgi apparatus during in vivo
      differentiation of the ameloblast in developing rat molar tooth germs.
AB  - The cytochemical changes of the Golgi stacks occurring concomitantly with cell
      differentiation were examined in ameloblasts of developing rat molar tooth germs
      using osmium impregnation and cytochemistry with nicotinamide adenine
      dinucleotide phosphatase (NADPase), thiamine pyrophosphatase (TPPase), and acid
      phosphatase (Acpase). NADPase, TPPase, and Acpase activities were already present
      in the Golgi stacks of the inner enamel epithelial cells, the undifferentiated
      form of the ameloblast: NADPase activity existed in the medial Golgi cisternae,
      TPPase activity in the trans Golgi cisternae, and Acpase activity in almost all
      cisternae and strongly in the trans-most cisterna of the Golgi stack. At this
      stage, however, osmium deposits after impregnation were not observed in the
      cisterna of Golgi stacks but were present in some small vesicles. These vesicles
      were located throughout the cytoplasm. Osmiophilic cisternae in the Golgi stacks
      were apparent for the first time at the stage when the Golgi apparatus developed
      and migrated to the region distal to the nucleus with the progression of cell
      differentiation. These findings indicate that the cis subcompartment of the Golgi
      apparatus was incomplete in the inner enamel epithelial cells with regard to
      appearance of its cytochemical property, as compared with the medial and trans
      subcompartments. It is suggested that the cis compartment of the Golgi stack may
      be completed only in the last stage of the compartmentalized Golgi organization
      during differentiation of the ameloblast.

PMID- 1456451
TI  - High-resolution immunolocalization of osteopontin and osteocalcin in bone and
      cartilage during endochondral ossification in the chicken tibia.
AB  - The ultrastructural distribution of two noncollagenous proteins, osteopontin
      (OPN) and osteocalcin (OC), originally extracted from bone matrix and proposed to
      play an important role in bone formation, was examined in the matrices of bone
      and cartilage from embryonic and postnatal chicken tibial growth plates by high
      resolution immunocytochemistry using the colloidal gold technique. In bone,
      immunolabeling patterns using polyclonal antibodies against chicken OPN and OC
      were generally similar in that both showed an intense, but regionally variable,
      labeling of mineralized bone matrix and small mineralization loci dispersed
      throughout the osteoid and containing prominent condensed organic material.
      Unmineralized osteoid showed weak-to-moderate labeling. In the mineralized bone
      matrix proper, labeling was predominantly associated with amorphous, electron
      dense patches of organic material among the collagen fibrils. In growth plate
      cartilage, both proteins first appeared related to calcified cartilage in the
      hypertrophic zone, although the labeling patterns were somewhat different. For
      OPN, gold particles were mostly associated with an organic lamina limitans-like
      density containing condensed, filamentous organic matrix at the periphery of
      small nodules and large masses of calcified cartilage, with additional moderate
      labeling throughout the interior of the calcified cartilage. For OC, labeling was
      observed over filamentous structures throughout the calcified cartilage matrix,
      with some, but less, labeling at the periphery. In the lowermost zones of the
      growth plate, the major reaction using both antibodies was found over a layer of
      dense, amorphous organic material at the periphery of the calcified cartilage at
      the future bone/calcified cartilage interface, a labeling pattern that persisted
      following bone deposition at these sites. OPN and to a lesser extent OC were also
      concentrated in cement (resting, reversal) lines. Throughout the bone and
      cartilage of the tibia, cells of both the osteoblastic and the osteoclastic
      lineages were found directly apposed to labeled surfaces and lamina limitans of
      organic matrix containing OPN and OC. In summary, it is concluded from the
      immunocytochemical data presented here that the association of OPN and OC with
      mineralized regions of the extracellular matrices of bone and cartilage and the
      accumulation of these proteins at tissue surfaces and interfaces are consistent
      with the hypotheses that they play a role in the extracellular mineralization
      process per se and/or that they may mediate cell adhesion and dynamics.

PMID- 1456452
TI  - Ultrastructural alteration of cartilaginous fibril arrangement in the rat
      mandibular condyle as revealed by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy.
AB  - Three-dimensional alteration of fibrillar matrix in the rat mandibular condylar
      cartilage was investigated with a high-resolution scanning electron microscope
      (SEM) and it was determined whether alterations correlate with developing
      occlusion and advancing age. Two important SEM techniques of DMSO freeze-cracking
      and treatment with trypsin and hyaluronidase were employed to remove
      interfibrillar proteoglycans and disclose fibril arrangement. Our SEM
      investigation demonstrated that collagen fibrils in the fibrous zone covering
      hyaline-cartilaginous area in the condyle are thicker (50 to 80 nm in diameter)
      than the fibrils (30 to 50 nm in diameter) that predominantly constituted an
      interterritorial fibrillar matrix (IFM) in the area. While the thick fibrils had
      a distinct striation of about 55 nm periodicity, the thin fibrils had no
      distinguishable striation. The thick fibrils having a periodic striation of about
      60 nm was found along with the thin fibrils, also in the IFM in the aged rats and
      in the deep IFM, but were considerably less than the thin fibrils. The fibrils in
      the fibrous zone and IFM were disorderly arranged at 19-day-insemination age. In
      1-week-old rats whose incisors erupted, the fibrils constituting the fibrous zone
      altered from disordered to ordered arrangement. The IFM in these rats took the
      form of a network. Incorporation of small fibrillar bundles into the fibrillar
      network was seen in 2-week-old rats whose upper and lower first molars erupted.
      In 8-week-old rats whose molars had erupted completely, the IFM completely
      occupied by regularly oriented fibrils appeared additionally.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456453
TI  - Architectural design, fiber-type composition, and innervation of the rat rectus
      abdominis muscle.
AB  - The rectus abdominis muscle is architecturally compartmentalized by tendinous
      intersections and is supplied by multiple thoracic nerves. In this study, the
      rectus abdominis of the rat has been qualitatively and quantitatively examined
      with regard to muscle dimensions, fiber organization, fiber-type composition, and
      innervation. The muscle exhibits architectural heterogeneity and different
      patterns of innervation among its thoracic, epigastric, and hypogastric parts.
      The epigastric part, adherent to the rectus sheath via tendinous intersections,
      represents relatively simple design. It is formed by serially arranged
      compartments with shorter fibers, compared with the other parts. These
      compartments are segmentally supplied by thoracic nerves. The hypogastric part is
      more complex, forms an interdigitation of muscular slips, and has segmental
      distribution of thoracic nerves in mediolateral direction. The thoracic part much
      differs from the other parts. It has smaller cross-sectional areas, compartments
      composed of abundant nonspanning fibers with intrafascicular termination, and non
      segmental distribution of thoracic nerves. In addition to these craniocaudal
      specializations among the three parts, the muscle exhibits mediolateral
      differences in fiber-type composition. Slow-twitch oxidative fibers are more
      densely distributed in the medial half region than the lateral, whereas fast
      twitch glycolytic fibers follow an inverse pattern. The mediolateral differences
      in fiber-type composition as well as the craniocaudal specializations in
      architectural design and innervation imply regionally differentiated recruitments
      of the muscle in various behaviors.

PMID- 1456454
TI  - Structural response of the hamster Sertoli cell to hypophysectomy: a correlative
      morphometric and endocrine study.
AB  - Reproductively active hamsters were hypophysectomized and examined 6 or 20 days
      later in a combined morphometric and endocrine study of the Sertoli cell to
      determine 1) the morphological and endocrine effects of hypophysectomy of both
      short- and long-term duration, 2) if regression of Sertoli cells after
      hypophysectomy in a seasonal breeder resembles regression due to seasonal
      changes, and 3) if effects of hypophysectomy in a seasonal breeder are equivalent
      to the effects of hypophysectomy in a nonseasonal breeder. Six days after
      hypophysectomy, at a period when germ cell degeneration is first noted, there was
      a significant decrease in testis weight, interstitial space, tubule diameter and
      length, volume of seminiferous tubule, and tubular lumen. There were no
      significant changes in Sertoli cell nuclear and cytoplasmic volume although cell
      surface area was decreased significantly. Most organelles exhibited no
      significant change in volume or surface area except for secondary lysosomes which
      expectedly increased in volume as the result of phagocytosis of germinal cells.
      Thus at an early time period when functional changes in germ cells and Leydig
      cells are clearly evident (Russell et al. [1992] Endocrinology), the Sertoli cell
      shows minimal changes. Twenty days after hypophysectomy, the cell, nuclear and
      cytoplasmic volumes and surface area of the Sertoli cells, and volumes and
      surface areas of nearly all organelles were significantly decreased from values
      measured in normal and in short-term hypophysectomized hamsters. The exceptions
      were the total volumes of lipid which increased significantly and lysosomes which
      were similar to normal but significantly lower than short-term hypophysectomized
      animals. The long-term hypophysectomized hamster Sertoli cell, like that of the
      short-day hamster (Sinha Hikim et al. [1989b] Endocrinology, 125:1829-1843) is
      structurally regressed as a whole rather than exhibiting selective decreases in
      cellular and subcellular components. The size of the Sertoli cell in pituitary
      intact, long- and short-term hypophysectomized animals showed positive and
      significant correlations with the volumes and surface areas of all its
      cytoplasmic organelles except the volume of lipid which showed a negative,
      significant correlation. Comparisons of long-term hypophysectomized hamsters (in
      long-day light exposure) and short-day exposed animals (Sinha Hikim et al.
      [1989b] (Endocrinology, 125:1829-1843) suggested that hypophysectomy, in general,
      resulted in similar, but slightly more severe regressive changes in the testis
      and germ cell population than those seen during seasonal regression.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1456455
TI  - Presence of pulmonary intravascular macrophages in the equine lung: some
      structuro-functional properties.
AB  - The pulmonary intravascular macrophages (PIMs) have been described in several
      species of animals. This study demonstrates for the first time that the equine
      lung has PIMs as resident phagocytes in its microvasculature. Their salient
      features such as globular surface coat, structures of the endocytic pathway, and
      related cell organelles closely resemble those of the calf, goat, and sheep. The
      exquisite organization of the coat globules in the form of a linear chain was
      structurally similar to the lipolytic lipase and the heparin-sensitive globular
      coat from PIMs of calf, goat, and sheep. Monastral blue (MB) when employed as a
      tracer to assess the phagocytic properties of equine PIMs induced similar
      modification of the globules of the coat into lipid droplets, reminiscent of
      neutral lipids. Lipids droplets (modified coat globules) were delivered into acid
      phosphatase-positive endosomes and lysosomes. Concurrently, the unaltered
      globules of the coat, probably internalized via fluid-phase constitutive
      pinocytoses, followed a different endocytic pathway. Large-scale platelet uptake
      by the PIMs was observed with thrombocytopenia in MB-treated ponies. The possible
      significance of hypothetical LDL-coat and the endocytic organelles as equivalents
      of synthetic apparatus of vasoactive lipids in the PIMs of horse needs to be
      assessed in future studies.

PMID- 1456456
TI  - Effects of sex steroids on the development of sexual dimorphism in mouse
      innominate bone.
AB  - The sexual dimorphism of the innominate bone was examined in 14 strains of mice.
      In female mice of all strains, the pubis was significantly longer and thinner
      than that in the strain-matched males. In 13 of 14 strains, the ischium in the
      male was longer and thicker than in the female. In the testicular-feminized male
      (Tfm) mouse, the ischium was longer and thinner than that in the wild-type male,
      resembling that of the wild-type female. The pubis of the Tfm mouse was longer
      than in the wild-type males. The pubis width in the Tfm mouse was between those
      of the wild-type male and female. Gonadectomy at ages of 5, 10, 20, 30, and 60
      days in both sexes showed that the ischium develops as the female type when sex
      hormones are absent. In contrast, postnatal testicular androgen induces the male
      type ischium. Gonadectomy at 60 days had a slight effect on the pubis, indicating
      that sexual dimorphism of the pubis was determined before 60 days of age.
      Estrogen receptors (ER) were immunohistochemically demonstrated in bone cells of
      0- to 60-day-old mice. ER was found exclusively in the periosteum of the pubis at
      the day of birth; however, it appeared in bone cells of all parts of pelvis at 10
      60 days. These results indicate that sexual dimorphism of the pubis is consistent
      for the 14 mouse strains examined, and that the shape of the pubis is determined
      by sex steroids before 60 days of age. Since ER exist in the bone cells,
      morphogenesis of the pelvis may be regulated by these sex steroids.

PMID- 1456457
TI  - Immunohistochemical demonstration of melatonin in the female mink harderian
      gland.
AB  - In the Harderian gland of the female mink, either intact or killed after a
      bilateral ablation of the cervical superior ganglion, almost all of the cells of
      the alveoli were immunolabeled with anti-melatonin antiserum. Animals were killed
      during the day or during the night. The immunolabelling was observed only in the
      cytoplasm, while the nucleus remained unstained. Using successive dilutions of
      the antiserum on serial sections of the Harderian gland to qualitate the
      melatonin content, a circadian rhythm of melatonin immunoreactivity was observed.
      The intensity of immunofluorescence labelling was higher in intact animals killed
      during the day than in those killed during the night. These results could be
      explained by the inhibitory or stimulatory influence of pineal melatonin released
      during the night on melatonin synthesis or release in the Harderian gland,
      respectively. In the Harderian gland of ganglionectomized animals, the intensity
      of melatonin immunofluorescence was lower than in intact animals killed during
      the day. It is concluded that the Harderian gland might be involved in the
      perception of the day/night cycle and that melatonin synthesis/secretion was
      likely controlled by the cervical superior ganglion in this organ.

PMID- 1456458
TI  - Development of the liver in the chicken embryo. I. Hepatic cords and sinusoids.
AB  - Hemopoiesis in the liver of the chicken embryo begins on day 7 of incubation
      (Hamburger and Hamilton Stage 30) and peaks on day 14 (Stage 40). During this
      time frame, the differentiation of hepatic cells was examined by light
      microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and morphometry. The
      avian liver is a closely packed mass of dendriform cords and discontinuous
      sinusoids. Hepatocytes are pyramidal in shape, and they ring the bile canaliculi
      which run through the centers of the cords. Semithin sections, made possible by
      infiltration and embedding in glycol methacrylate, were stained with hematoxylin
      and eosin to assess the general architecture of the organ and the lipid content
      of the hepatocytes and by the periodic acid-Schiff reaction and hematoxylin to
      visualize the cytoplasmic stores of glycogen. The number of hepatocytes with
      demonstrable glycogen fluctuates erratically in early hemopoiesis, and the
      proportion of glycogen-containing cells progressively increases as hemopoiesis
      climbs to a peak. Most differentiating hepatocytes are devoid of lipid droplets
      until Stages 39 and 40. From Stage 30 to 35, hepatocyte volume falls to its
      lowest value. Subsequently (Stages 36 to 40), cell volume increases and
      hepatocytes achieve a relatively uniform size. Ultrastructural changes in the
      differentiating hepatocytes, including alterations to the mitochondria,
      endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus, are documented. These morphological
      and morphometric findings on the prehepatocyte population and hepatic vasculature
      cover 2 of the 3 elements deemed critical to hepatic hemopoiesis in many
      vertebrates.

PMID- 1456459
TI  - Growth of the normal human lower urinary tract from 12 to 21 weeks gestation.
AB  - Normal development of the human lower urinary tract was studied between the 14th
      and 20th week of gestation using 3 modes of fixation. Fixation by direct
      distension provides a high degree of reproducibility of parameters used to study
      the growth of the fetal bladder. Using this method, fetuses ranging from 12 to 21
      weeks gestation were studied. Results obtained demonstrate that the length of the
      bladder, the inter-ureteric distance, and the distance between the apex of the
      trigone and the distal tip of the urethra occur in a linear mode. Furthermore,
      the rate of growth of the male urethra was evidently higher when compared to that
      of the female from the 12th week of gestation. Data from this work can be used
      for a more accurate assessment of cases with abnormal lower urinary tract
      development.

PMID- 1456460
TI  - Organization of the optic chiasm in the hatched chick.
AB  - In the hatched chick the fibers of the two optic nerves segregate into clearly
      defined bundles when they cross to the other side. These bundles run in
      horizontally oriented tiers. The tiers are demarcated by blood vessels and pial
      tissue. The organization of these tiers was investigated qualitatively and
      quantitatively using light and electron microscopy as well as tracer techniques.
      The fibers within the tiers cross to the contralateral optic tract without
      leaving their respective tier. The mean total number of tiers is 34 with a great
      individual variation. A preference in the superposition of one side over the
      other could not be observed. Comparing these data with our earlier study (Rager
      et al.: Anat. Embryol., 179:135-148, 1988) it can be concluded that neither the
      segregation of fibers into discrete bundles nor the variability in the number of
      alternating tiers seem to disturb the topography of fibers as it is achieved in
      the optic nerve. The pattern of vascularization correlates with the order of
      crossing axon bundles and contributes to the demarcation of the tiers. The chiasm
      is vascularized by the Aa. preopticae and the A. infundibularis.

PMID- 1456461
TI  - Accuracy and precision of computerized models of the anterior cranial base in
      young mice.
AB  - The quantitative analysis of craniofacial growth in experimental animals relies
      on computerized reconstructions in order to measure changes in form. The purpose
      of this study was to determine the validity of computerized three-dimensional
      models of the anterior cranial base in mice. Ten 1-day-old non-littermates were
      collected and the anterior cranial base was dissected free from surrounding
      connective tissues. Eleven measurements were recorded from these cartilages.
      Twenty developmentally equivalent mice were collected and fixed with either
      glutaraldehyde or formalin and the anterior cranial base from each specimen was
      subjected to computerized reconstruction. The corresponding 11 measurements were
      recorded from these models. Results showed that the measurements recorded from
      the computerized models were not significantly different from those recorded
      directly from the actual anterior cranial bases. Therefore, the reconstructions
      were considered accurate. An analysis of the coefficients of error revealed that
      measurements derived from the computerized models were significantly more precise
      than those recorded directly from the actual tissue. The computerized three
      dimensional reconstruction method provides accurate and precise models of the
      anterior cranial base in young mice.

PMID- 1456462
TI  - [The use of cryopreserved swine blood for in vitro feeding of the soft tick
      Ornithodoros moubata].
AB  - Porcine stored blood has been used in the in vitro feeding of the soft tick
      Ornithodoros moubata through a Parafilm membrane. The efficiency of the feeding
      decreased after storage of 5 weeks by -20 degrees C. Through addition of 10(-3) M
      ATP/l the feeding results with frozen blood for duration of storage up to 200
      days well agreed with the results of feeding tests with fresh porcine blood: The
      nymphs (N)1-3 fed the 4-5fold, the N4-6 the 2.7fold and the adults (A) the
      1.9fold of their body weight. The feeding rate was 98.6% (N1-3); 92.7% (N4-5) and
      81.9% (A). The mortality rate was under 10%. Females laid 130 eggs after blood
      meal.

PMID- 1456463
TI  - [The occurrence of Echinococcus granulosis and E. multilocularis in Thuringia].
AB  - The occurrence of E. granulosus and E. multilocularis in the region of Thuringia
      is reported. Parasitological investigations showed 1421 E. granulosus
      metacestodes, 91.7% of them in lungs and 1.3% in livers of cattle, 6% in lungs
      and 1% in livers of pigs; that means an infestation rate at slaughter of 0.1%
      0.3% in cattle and 0.001-0.004% or less in pigs resp. 90.1% of the hydatid cysts
      proved to be fertile even in a size of 1.5 cm diameter. Adult E. granulosus was
      found post mortem in 2 of 324 dogs. In the period from 1985 to 1988, only 11 dogs
      were infested with E. granulosus as found at autopsy all over the GDR. Out of
      23,325 faecal samples 270 samples (1.2%) were positive for eggs of Taenia spp.
      The animals with egg-shedding were treated as infected with Echinococcus. In
      experimental infections of 12 Beagles the prepatent period ranged from the
      minimum of 34 days up to the maximum of 40 days. The detected E. granulosus
      strain could be identified as a dog-cattle strain. The microscopical examination
      of the intestine of 805 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) revealed the presence of E.
      multilocularis in 12.7% of the animals. Thuringia is one of the endemic
      distribution area of E. multilocularis in Central Europe. In the west of
      Thuringia 25% of the foxes were found with E. multilocularis, in the remaining
      area (lowlands) only 3.3%. In some of mountainous areas, 40% of the foxes were
      infected with E. multilocularis. 2 cats of 58 from this region were infected with
      E. multilocularis.

PMID- 1456465
TI  - Human helminthosis in a rural community of Plateau State, Nigeria.
AB  - Urine and faecal samples were obtained from 1,517 people in Fier, a typical rural
      village in Plateau State, Nigeria, for a parasitological survey among the
      population. 643 (42.39%) persons were found to be infected with altogether 9
      helminths, namely: Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, Taenia sp., Trichuris
      trichiura, Enterobius vermicularis, Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium,
      Hymenolepis nana and Strongyloides stercoralis. Age and religion as opposed to
      sex, type of sewage system, and type of housing had a significant effect (P <
      0.05) on the prevalence rates of the helminths in the population. Snail vector
      survey for schistosomatosis revealed the presence of Bulinus (Bulinus) truncatus,
      Bulinus (Physopsis) globosus and Biomphalaria pfeifferi with the latter being the
      most common with brevifurcate cercariae, and xiphidiocercariae being the most
      common cercariae harboured by the snails.

PMID- 1456464
TI  - Behavioural aspects and their possible uses in the control of dracontiasis
      (guinea-worm) in Igwun river basin area of Imo State, Nigeria.
AB  - Individuals suffering from dracontiasis from Igwun river basin area of Imo State
      Nigeria were randomly chosen, examined and interviewed between December 1988 and
      March 1989 with a view to ascertain some of the behavioural aspects that could be
      of help in the control/eradication of this disease as well as to ascertain
      whether local medication was of any chemotherapeutic significance. Of 100 guinea
      worm patients males were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in number (63.0%). In
      the age-related distribution, children less than 10 years old and the members of
      the villages more than 60 years old accounted for only 5.0% of the patients
      whilst those in their productive years (10-60 year old) accounted for 95.0%. Only
      10.5% of the respondents associated guinea-worm infection with the drinking of
      "polluted" water while most believed it was a familial trait (36.8%) or
      implicated their enemies (35.1%). As a result medications against the disease
      were mainly directed towards consulting the oracle and herbalists, and appeasing
      the gods. Most (98.0%) of them kept their dressing dry by refraining from
      immersing them in water. The concomitant behavioural aspects of these results are
      discussed in relation to their uses in the control/eradication of guinea-worm.

PMID- 1456466
TI  - Trials to infect Anopheles stephensi with Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis by the
      membrane feeding technique.
AB  - The aim of this study was to find optimal conditions for the membrane feeding
      technique to obtain maximum infection rates of mosquitoes with Plasmodium yoelii
      nigeriensis. The results show that the malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii
      nigeriensis is most infective to Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes on day 3 of the
      infection in the mice, 1 day before the peak of parasitaemia. The mortality rate
      of the mosquitoes fed on mice on day 3 after infection was the highest as
      compared to mosquitoes fed on other days after infection. Gametocytes from mice 3
      days after infection were fed to mosquitoes by three different membrane feeding
      methods. The results indicate that feeding during the first 10 min after blood
      collection gave the highest infection rates. Keeping the blood meal at a pH of
      7.2 yields higher infection rates than keeping it at pH of 8.5. Stirring of the
      blood and supplying it with CO2 is not necessary when feeding of the mosquitoes
      is completed within the first 10 min after collection of the blood.

PMID- 1456467
TI  - On the developmental velocity of Wucheria bancrofti larvae in vector mosquitoes
      of different susceptibility to filarial infections.
AB  - The developmental velocity of Wucheria bancrofti larvae was investigated in
      mosquito strains with different susceptibility to this filarial species. High
      susceptibility of the vector strains favoured fast filarial development, e.g.
      between 17.1 and 25.9% of all discovered larvae on day 13 p.i. had already
      migrated to the head and mouth parts of the more and partly even highly
      susceptible Anopheles gambiae, Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti,
      respectively, whereas between 0 and 3.4% infective larvae had reached the head in
      the less susceptible Culex strains. On day 15 p.i. in all mosquito strains the
      majority of the larvae had reached infectivity.

PMID- 1456468
TI  - [Morphological and biological characterization of a pure strain of Eimeria
      mitis].
AB  - A pure strain of Eimeria mitis was obtained from a crude field isolate by single
      oocyst inoculation of chicken. The strain was identified as Eimeria mitis by the
      morphology of the oocysts. Sporulated oocysts measured 16.1 +/- 2.1 microns in
      length and 13.6 +/- 1.0 microns in width. The shape index was 1.18. The prepatent
      period was 4 days and patency lasted 12 to 13 days. The highest number of oocysts
      was shed at day 6 after infection of chicken with 1 x 10(4), 5 x 10(4), or 1 x
      10(5) oocysts and at day 8 after infection with 5 x 10(5) oocysts. A single
      infection of chicken with 1 x 10(4), 5 x 10(4), 1 x 10(5), or 5 x 10(5) oocysts
      resulted in reproduction values of 1:118,662, 1:15,720, 1:9,977 and 1:731,
      respectively.

PMID- 1456469
TI  - Observations on mansonellosis among the Ibos of Abia and Imo States, Nigeria.
AB  - Between November, 1988 and April, 1991, parasitological and symptomatological
      methods of diagnosis were used to survey the prevalence of mansonellosis among
      the Ibo population in Abia and Imo States of Nigeria. 1,197 or 28.6% of the 4,183
      persons examined were positive for microfilariae of Mansonella perstans. The
      prevalence of mansonellosis was significantly higher (P < 0.05) among rural
      dwellers (34.6%) than among urban dwellers (22.5%), in males (30.8%) than in
      females (26.3%), in farmers (59.8%) and palm wine tappers (46.1%) than in civil
      servants (7.6%), and in persons 21 years of age and above (36.2%) than in those
      in the first two decades of life (9.4%). Clinical signs observed in most infected
      persons include body itching, joint and back pains, occasional giddiness and
      elephantoid scrotum. Body itching was the most commonly observed clinical sign
      (14.7%), followed by joint pains (12.41%) with elephantoid scrotum (3.5%) as the
      least. The public health implication of the findings is discussed.

PMID- 1456470
TI  - Annual performance reviews: are they worth it?

PMID- 1456471
TI  - Facial growth during adolescence in early, average and late maturers.

PMID- 1456472
TI  - An orthodontic study of temporomandibular joint disorders. Part 1:
      Epidemiological research in Japanese 6-18 year olds.
AB  - Malocclusion is considered one of the etiological factors of temporomandibular
      joint disorder (TMD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence
      of TMD and the relationship between TMD and the type of occlusion. The sample
      consisted of 7337 Japanese children, 6-18 years old, 3219 boys and 4118 girls.
      TMD symptoms were recorded as well as the type of occlusion in children with TMD.
      The prevalence of TMD overall was 12.2%. The prevalence increased with age and
      was slightly higher in girls (13%) than in boys 11.1%. This difference was not
      statistically significant. Joint sound as the only symptom was more common in
      younger subjects. TMD symptoms seemed more complicated with age when pain and
      abnormal jaw movement combined with sound. Joint sound was the most common
      symptom (89.3%), followed by the combination of sound and pain (2.2%). The
      incidence of other symptoms was under 1%. In subjects with TMD, 24.9% exhibited
      crowding, 20.1% had excessive overjet, 6.8% deep bite, 6.3% edge-to-edge bite,
      5.6% anterior crossbite, 5.4% open bite, and 3.8% posterior crossbite.
      Morphologically normal occlusion was observed in 27.1%. In this study, many
      subjects with TMD had malocclusions. Early treatment may be important in the
      prevention of severe TMD. Although those with morphologically normal occlusions
      were included, a more detailed study concerning other causes of TMD is needed
      also.

PMID- 1456473
TI  - Blood flow changes in gingival tissues due to the displacement of teeth.
AB  - Changes in human gingival blood flow were measured using a Laser doppler
      flowmeter. The change of blood flow was correlated to the degree of force applied
      and there were variations in measurement of decreased blood flow among the
      subjects. The variation was attributed to the degree of tooth displacement and
      the size of the interdental space. This study examined the effect of tooth
      displacement on the gingival blood flow, as well as age and sex differences.
      Blood flow in gingival tissue was measured using a laser doppler flowmeter, and
      displacement of the maxillary incisors was measured using an eddy current sensor.
      The correlation coefficient of the decreased blood flow to the tooth displacement
      was 0.809, and it was higher than that to the degree of applied force (r = 
      0.625). The regression coefficient of decreased blood flow to the displacement of
      teeth was significantly correlated to the interdental space. The regression
      coefficient of decreased blood flow to the percentage of tooth displacement was
      independent of the interdental space. However, the regression coefficient of
      decreased blood flow to the percentage of tooth displacement was significantly
      higher in young subjects than in adults.

PMID- 1456474
TI  - The effects of artificial saliva and topical fluoride treatments on the
      degradation of the elastic properties of orthodontic chains.
AB  - The effect of artificial saliva and topical fluoride treatments on the force
      relaxation and change in force delivery by three brands of elastomeric chains
      over a 4 week period was studied. The effect of storage in air and in the
      different test media on the distraction to achieve forces of 150g and 300g was
      determined for the chains. The effect of the test media on load relaxation of the
      chains was also examined. Elastomeric chains exhibit good elastic behavior when
      distracted to an initial force of less than 300g. When forces exceeded 300g,
      permanent deformation occurred and the force delivery was less predictable.
      Exposure to artificial saliva and topical fluoride affected the elastic
      properties of the elastomeric chains and increased the distraction required to
      deliver both the 150g and 300g force. The increase in distraction for a force of
      150g, however, was relatively small and probably insignificant in the clinical
      setting. The distraction required to produce 300g was significantly larger and
      appeared to be clinically significant. Pre-stretching the elastomeric chains by
      100% of their initial length was not found to be advantageous in terms of the
      load relaxation behavior. There was less load relaxation found in chains that
      were immersed in distilled water and Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride than in chains
      exposed only to air.

PMID- 1456475
TI  - The influence of unilateral cleft lip and palate on maxillary dental arch
      morphology.
AB  - A sample of 97 untreated cleft lip and palate adult patients, with and without
      Simonart's band, was analyzed. The dimensions and form of the maxillary dental
      arches were analyzed. Comparison of this sample with a "normal" group indicated
      maxillary dental arch size and shape are distorted by the presence of a cleft
      which is characterized by a constriction that becomes more severe in the medial
      and anterior regions. The presence of Simonart's band affects the cleft arch
      form, redirecting the anterior extremity of the major segment towards the minor
      segment.

PMID- 1456477
TI  - TMJ biocompatible orthodontic treatment.
AB  - The papers summarized here indicate that TMJ dysfunction remains a complicated
      problem, requiring a multidisciplinary team approach. Psychological stress is an
      important factor in diagnosis. New concepts of joint function must be considered.
      The functional anatomy of the TMJ from an arthroscopic perspective should be
      studied. New treatment methods, such as the polycentric hinge joint articulator,
      should be considered. And finally, orthodontic diagnosis and treatment
      conventions need to be modified, from obtaining a complete history, clinical
      examination, arriving at a diagnosis and obtaining informed consent for treatment
      that may include psychological counseling, splint therapy, simultaneous fixed
      orthodontics and splint therapy and possible TMJ arthroscopic surgery for nearly
      all orthodontic patients.

PMID- 1456476
TI  - The asymmetric extraction decision.
AB  - Orthodontic study models, intraoral photographs, radiographs and diagnostic set
      up casts of four completed adult cases are presented to show the possibilities of
      atypical treatment planning to correct specific and unusual malocclusions. The
      cases presented required asymmetric dental extractions in order to achieve the
      desired treatment results. Three diagnostic procedures were used to assist in
      making the final treatment decisions; a Bolton tooth size analysis, a space
      available/space needed assessment, and a pretreatment diagnostic set-up. The
      completed treatment results closely approximate the original diagnostic
      predictions, and completely satisfied each patient's chief concern. Most
      orthodontic practices now treat increasing numbers of non-growing (adult)
      patients. Traditional extraction considerations must be modified to satisfy the
      treatment needs of this demanding patient population.

PMID- 1456478
TI  - Case report JB. Treatment of severe temporomandibular dysfunction with a combined
      orthodontic/surgical approach.

PMID- 1456479
TI  - Orthodontics with a tender touch. Part II.

PMID- 1456480
TI  - Systemic sclerosis. The role of the mast cell and cytokines.
AB  - This review of SSc has addressed the clinical features, pathophysiology involving
      the mast cell, T cell cytokines, and their interaction with other inflammatory
      cells (Figs 4 and 5). Therapeutic dilemmas and the future use of immunomodulatory
      therapy is also discussed. The allergist-immunologist may be the first physician
      to identify this insidious condition, since patients may present with cutaneous
      changes, swelling, pruritus, dyspnea, and with obstructive and restrictive
      findings on pulmonary function testing, or gastrointestinal symptoms, mimicking
      gastrointestinal hypersensitivity.

PMID- 1456481
TI  - Extremely elevated IgE.

PMID- 1456482
TI  - Treatment of atopic dermatitis with alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor.
AB  - Alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-PI), a serine protease inhibitor, was
      tested for its efficacy for the treatment of recalcitrant atopic dermatitis.
      Atopic dermatitis affects both children and adults and has no established
      etiology. We hypothesized that during inflammation there is an excess of serine
      proteases and a deficiency of their naturally occurring inhibitors at the local
      site of tissue injury, even though there is a normal serum level of serine
      protease inhibitors. This pilot study consisted of a nonblinded trial using alpha
      1-PI at a concentration of 20 mg/mL in an aqueous solution in an alternate day
      schedule in conjunction with a 1% cream of alpha 1-PI (Stage I) and a 5% cream of
      alpha 1-PI for maintenance therapy (Stage II). Before enrollment in this trial
      all six patients failed to respond to high potency topical steroids. Safety was
      gauged by careful clinical monitoring of subjective complaints, objective
      findings of erythema, edema, and serial measurements of blood chemistries and
      complete blood counts. Wound healing was documented by serial photography.
      Written informed consent was obtained from each patient. All six patients showed
      significant clinical improvement within 6 to 21 days of initiation of alternate
      day therapy. Alpha 1-PI stopped pain, pruritus, and promoted tissue healing
      without scarring in all six patients. No adverse side effects of therapy were
      documented by clinical history, physical examination, or by blood studies after
      120 days of therapy. Atopic dermatitis may be one example where inflammation is
      due to an imbalance of serine proteases and their naturally occurring
      inhibitors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456483
TI  - Aerobiology of the Colorado Rockies: pollen count comparisons between Vail and
      Denver, Colorado.
AB  - Pollen patterns were compared between Vail, CO (8,200 feet elevation), Aspen, CO
      (7,900 feet) and Denver, CO (5,280 feet) from 1984 through 1988. Counts were
      obtained at all sites with a volumetric intermittent cycling rotating impaction
      sampler. Aspen and Denver were compared in 1984, and Vail and Denver from 1985
      through 1988. While counts were generally lower in the mountain sites than
      Denver, certain pollens, especially trees, were quite high. Ragweed was
      essentially absent from Aspen and Vail, and chenopod-amaranth counts were very
      low. Cedar, pine, and aspen frequently pollinated despite active snowfall.

PMID- 1456484
TI  - Measurement of IgG subclass antibodies to the group II antigen of
      Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p II) in sera from children with bronchial
      asthma.
AB  - Seven IgG-binding components in crude mite allergen extracted from
      Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) were identified by immunoblotting
      analysis. Of these components, the 15-kDa protein was strongly recognized by IgG
      from patients with bronchial asthma, whereas it was less recognized by IgG from
      healthy individuals. Then, the 15-kDa protein was purified by reverse-phase high
      performance liquid chromatography and the protein was demonstrated to induce
      immediate positive skin reactions in patients with bronchial asthma. The N
      terminal amino acid sequence of the 15-kDa protein was also determined and was in
      agreement with that of Der p II. In an attempt to understand the role of IgG
      subclass antibody of patients with bronchial asthma, we quantitated the
      antibodies of IgG subclass to Der p II. The levels of antibodies of total IgG and
      of all IgG subclasses in patients with bronchial asthma who had never received
      immunotherapy were higher than those of nonatopic healthy individuals. The levels
      of Der p II-specific IgG1 and IgG4 in asthmatic patients were 1.97 times and 2.20
      times higher, respectively, than those in the control group. The present study
      demonstrates that patients with bronchial asthma are able to produce antibodies
      of all IgG subclasses specific to Der p II in response to natural exposure to
      mite antigen.

PMID- 1456485
TI  - Clinical evaluation of the "Siriraj Spacer" in asthmatic Thai children.
AB  - We designed a new, washable, and collapsible bag spacer (the Siriraj Spacer) for
      use with metered-dose inhalers (MDI) by Thai asthmatic patients. The Siriraj
      Spacer consists of a mouthpiece, a front panel to which any type of MDI could be
      attached and a collapsible 800 mL ringed-plastic bag. Fifteen asthmatic children
      (6-13 years of age) were enrolled into a randomized, double-blind, triple
      crossover study (spanning a period of three days) to compare the clinical
      effectiveness of the Siriraj Spacer with that of the Volumatic Spacer (Glaxo,
      Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC, U.S.A.) and with the use of MDI alone.
      Medication used with the active method of administration was 2 puffs of albuterol
      (100 micrograms/puff) while 2 puffs from placebo MDI were used with the other two
      methods in succession. All children were stable asthmatic patients, and had been
      instructed how to use MDI properly by an open mouth technique just before the
      initiation of the study. Spirometry (FEV1, FVC, PEFR, and FEF25-75%) was followed
      for six hours after the administration of albuterol. The baseline FEV1s of the
      three study days were within 50% to 70% of the predicted values (with baseline
      variability of less than 20%). Data were expressed as percentage of improvement
      from baseline. By an analysis of variance with repeated measures, no significant
      differences were observed between pulmonary function data obtained with any of
      the three methods of bronchodilator administration (P > .05) at any time point
      throughout the 6-hour period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456486
TI  - Buckwheat-induced anaphylaxis: a case report.
AB  - Buckwheat (Fagopyrum schulentum) is not taxonomically related to wheat and other
      cereal grains. Buckwheat flour is used as a wheat substitute in breads, biscuits,
      pancakes, and crepes. Occupational exposure to buckwheat flour has been
      associated with rhinitis, conjunctivitis, contact urticaria, and occupational
      asthma. We present a patient who developed urticaria and hypotension after
      ingestion of buckwheat crepes. Skin testing by the prick technique revealed 3+
      positive reaction to buckwheat with negative reactions to other foods including
      wheat, egg white, and milk. RAST for anti-buckwheat IgE was strongly positive.
      Buckwheat ingestion is a potential cause of food-related anaphylaxis. There does
      not appear to be cross-reactivity between buckwheat and wheat allergy.

PMID- 1456487
TI  - Evaluation of immune complexes after immunotherapy with wheat flour in bakers'
      asthma.
AB  - Inhalant food allergy has been described many times in literature, but double
      blind clinical trials to support successful hyposensitization to these allergens
      has seldom been reported. Some authors have suspected that certain adverse
      reactions after immunotherapy may be mediated by immune complexes. Furthermore,
      the FDA does not recommend injection therapy with food extracts. We present a
      study on the detection of adverse effects after immunotherapy with an inhalant
      food (wheat flour) in a double-blind clinical trial in 26 patients with bakers'
      asthma. We investigated the presence of circulating immune complexes (CICs) after
      2 years of treatment with hyposensitization to wheat flour.

PMID- 1456488
TI  - Increased incidence of stings in venom-sensitive patients.
AB  - We compared the histories of 29 venom-sensitive and 28 control subjects who were
      selected from our venom referral and general allergy clinics respectively. The
      variables in the study included insect avoidance knowledge, the number of stings
      during the previous 2 years, insects involved, and time spent out of doors per
      week. There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to
      age. All venom-sensitive patients were well versed in avoidance techniques while
      only 3 of 28 controls (11%) claimed such knowledge. Venom-sensitive subjects were
      stung almost ten times more frequently than control subjects. Wasp stings were
      the most common, followed by yellow jacket, honey bee, and hornet. The venom
      sensitive patients also reported spending a greater amount of time outdoors (x
      17.4 hours versus x 11.8, P < .05). An analysis of covariance showed that this
      difference in outdoor exposure was insufficient to account for the disparity in
      the number of stings. We conclude that other factors such as intrinsic
      attractants must be responsible for this phenomenon.

PMID- 1456489
TI  - Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and allergic aspergillus sinusitis: case
      report.

PMID- 1456490
TI  - Benzyl benzoate: acaricide or anti-asthmatic drug?

PMID- 1456491
TI  - Wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis.

PMID- 1456492
TI  - [Human pancreatic lipase activity: review of methods and general
      recommendations].
AB  - The properties of human pancreatic lipase are described, especially as regards
      the influence of the kind and the presentation of the substrate, as well as the
      effects of bile pigments and colipase. The authors have made a classification of
      the described methods for the determination of lipase activity in serum or plasma
      and have proposed recommendations for this assay.

PMID- 1456493
TI  - [Serum myoglobin: evaluation of two immunolatex methods. Comparison with a
      radioimmunoassay method].
AB  - Latex immunoturbidimetric (ITA) and immunonephelemetric (INA) assays, were
      evaluated and compared to a radioimmunological assay (RIA) for the determination
      of serum myoglobin. Within-run and between-run assays and accuracy and linearity
      studies gave satisfactory results, very similar to those of RIA. Results were
      closely correlated with those of RIA for 100 samples of up to 2,000 micrograms/l
      (correlation coefficients respectively 0.96 and 0.97 for ITA and INA). Reference
      values (150 men and 150 women; range 20-65 years) were determined and expressed
      in percentiles. It is concluded that the two latex immunologic assays facilitate
      laboratory myoglobin evaluation (no radioactive material, short performance
      time). ITA is more suitable for emergency analysis and INA is more convenient for
      serial analysis and particular samples (presence of hemoglobin or chylomicrons).

PMID- 1456494
TI  - [Comparative study of LpAI lipoparticles, HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein AI
      in a control population, in a group of subjects with coronary diseases, and in a
      group of subjects with angiographically normal coronary vessels].
AB  - A new method for directly measuring LpAI lipoparticles containing apolipoprotein
      AI, but not apolipoprotein AII, is now disponible for laboratories.
      Concentrations of LpAI were measured in serum from 158 presumably healthy
      normolipidemic subjects (72 male, 86 female), for the age group 30-60 years.
      Concentrations of LpAI were also measured in subjects with angiographically
      defined coronary artery disease (coro+) and without angiographically defined
      coronary artery disease (coro-). After comparison of the groups, lipoprotein
      particle LpAI did not appear to be a better discriminative marker than HDL
      cholesterol or apolipoprotein AI for atherogen risk.

PMID- 1456495
TI  - Spectrophotometric determination of lipase activity in the presence of increased
      triolein concentration.
AB  - A novel approach for the determination of pancreatic lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) activity
      by a spectrophotometric method is described. Enzyme activity is measured in the
      presence of 1 mmol/l triolein, a concentration much higher than usually employed
      in turbidimetry. The primary reaction medium is optimized as regards bile salt
      and colipase concentrations. The released fatty acids are enzymatically
      determined via a secondary reaction scheme using the constituents of a
      commercially available kit. The proposed method is easy to perform and may prove
      useful in determining lipase activity of standard lipase preparations, which is
      required for indirect assays. In addition to satisfactory precision and linearity
      as well as close correlation with other lipase assays, the procedure described in
      the present paper by-passes a number of short-comings (eg uncontrolled increase
      in absorbance) inherent to the turbidimetric methods.

PMID- 1456496
TI  - Signal enhancement in fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry using
      fluorescent liposome-antibody conjugates as second layer reagents.
AB  - We have developed small unilamellar liposomes (SUV) containing carboxyfluorescein
      for indirect immunophenotyping of cells by fluorescent microscopy and flow
      cytometry. Covalently coupled to anti-mouse Ig and anti-human Ig with mouse
      monoclonal antibodies and human typing antisera respectively, these conjugates
      can increase sensitivity by a factor of 10 compared to fluorescein isothiocyanate
      (FITC) conjugates. No increase in background fluorescence was observed. The
      reagents have been used to detect a low density antigen, the interleukin-2
      receptor, on resting T-cells and to overcome the quenching effect of haemoglobin
      in fluorescent phenotyping of red cells. This has allowed to accurately estimate
      blood grouping in mixed fields and with small numbers of cells. We have
      determined the blood group of fetal red cells obtained from a chorionic villous
      sample at 10 weeks gestation and predicted severe hemolytic disease. This was
      confirmed by fetal sampling at 19 weeks and several intra-uterine transfusions
      were undertaken before a successful delivery at 36 weeks. Applications of the
      method in leucocyte phenotyping and transfusion medicine are discussed.

PMID- 1456497
TI  - Biosensors: a new realism.
AB  - For many years biosensors have been hailed as the solution to many analytical
      problems. There is general agreement that biosensors offer the potential for easy
      to-use, low-cost, rapid analysis. With such versatile, economic, reliable and
      cheap analytical devices at their disposal, manufacturers in industries as
      diverse as pharmaceuticals, food and drink, medical diagnostics and defence must
      surely be reaping vast profits from their biosensor-based products? In fact,
      biosensors have made only a very modest impact and this article attempts to
      present a realistic review of their current commercial potential. Consideration
      is given to the features and benefits of biosensors, the potential application
      markets, the impact of legislation, the needs of the user and the real commercial
      potential in the light of these factors and the existing competition.

PMID- 1456498
TI  - Modification of the selected method for the determination of serum iron.
      Substitution of bathophenanthroline by ferene S.
AB  - The previously selected method (1977) for the measurement of iron in human serum
      has been modified by the working group on Iron and Iron-Transport Proteins
      (Societe Francaise de Biologie Clinique). Ferene S is used as the chromogen, it
      is more sensitive and cheaper than bathophenanthroline. The sample size has been
      reduced from 2 to 0.5 ml. No interference could be shown with high concentrations
      of bilirubin, copper or hemoglobin.

PMID- 1456499
TI  - [Modified LDL and atherosclerosis. Nature of modifications. Physicochemical and
      biological properties].
AB  - The role of plasma LDL in atherogenesis is now well established. Cholesteryl
      ester accumulation within macrophages leads to foam cell formation, an early
      atherosclerotic process. In vitro, foam cell formation scarcely ever occurs in
      the presence of native LDL. Modification of these lipoproteins is necessary for
      their binding to macrophage scavenger receptors. In vitro modifications reported
      have involved chemical reactions, physical mechanisms, enzymatic reactions,
      cellular interactions and association with macromolecules. In vivo, they can
      occur by glycation or desialylation, smoking or by hemodynamic interactions.
      Alterations of the physicochemical properties of LDL are induced by oxidation and
      include an increase in their density and their net electronegative charge,
      changes in lecithin composition, polyunsaturated fatty acid peroxidation of
      lipids and apolipoprotein B100 degradation. Apolipoprotein B100 fragmentation
      leads to an impairment of uptake through LDL receptors, while uptake through
      macrophage scavenger receptors is enhanced. Modified LDL have also other
      particularities such as cytotoxicity, chemotactism for circulating monocytes,
      inhibition of resident macrophage mobility, vasoconstriction, perturbation of the
      arachidonic acid cascade, involvement in haemostasis and immune mechanisms.
      Hypotheses concerning the role of modified LDL, in particular oxidized LDL, in
      atherogenesis open new therapeutic prospects.

PMID- 1456500
TI  - [LH and TSH receptors. A new family of G protein-coupled receptors].
AB  - Monoclonal antibodies have been raised against porcine LH receptor and allowed to
      clone the corresponding messenger RNA from testicular cells. Cross hybridisation
      with the LH receptor clone allowed to isolate a clone corresponding to the human
      TSH receptor from thyroids. The structure of both receptors have been determined.
      They show similarities but also differences to other G protein coupled receptors.
      In particular a large extracellular domain is specific of that new family of
      receptors. Variant forms of the LH receptor lacking transmembrane domains have
      been isolated. The obtention of monoclonal antibodies against both receptors
      allowed immunochemical and immunocytochemical studies to be performed. The human
      LH receptor gene have been localized to chromosome 2p21 and TSH receptor gene to
      chromosome 14q31. The complete organisation of the human TSH receptor gene has
      been determined.

PMID- 1456501
TI  - Application of ECCLS guidelines to the analysis of Toxoplasma IgG and Rubella IgG
      using laboratory kits based on the Meia method.
AB  - The Meia method is an enzymo-immunoassay involving fluorometric detection, which
      is used in the Abbott IMx automatic analyzer. The purpose of this report was to
      analyse the Meia Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody and Rubella IgG antibody assays,
      following ECCLS guidelines for the analysis of laboratory kits. The results
      showed that between-run imprecision for Rubella IgG was close to 15%; for
      Toxoplasma IgG the percentage was 13%. The mean recovery for Rubella IgG was 104%
      and 94% for Toxoplasma IgG. The carry-over for Rubella IgG was 0.64% and 0.26%
      for Toxoplasma IgG which, in both cases, was less than the analytical
      variability. Both Meia and Elisa showed a linear relationship in the analytical
      range of the method. Comparing Meia with the Elisa method, constant and
      proportional differences were found for IgG Rubella and proportional differences
      for IgG Toxoplasma. The Meia method has many positive analytical features to
      recommend and it can easily be used in a multidisciplinary laboratory, needing
      only a small number of serum samples.

PMID- 1456502
TI  - [An automatic gas scanning device, technical improvement for obtaining a
      favourable atmosphere for in vitro culture of anaerobic bacteria].
AB  - All methods for growth of anaerobic bacteria on solid media depend on the
      elimination of atmospheric O2 through use of a palladium catalyst (Deoxo
      Catalyst), active in presence of at least 5% H2 with resultant formation of
      water. Anaerobic chambers and jars are the two conventional methods employed.
      Both are based on the elimination of air by means of a pump and its replacement
      with gas from a cylinder (evacuation-replacement technique). An alternative
      chemical technique for use in anaerobic jars consists of adding internal gas
      generating sachets. The former techniques are more efficient but the trend,
      particularly in the clinical laboratories, is to use the simpler chemical system
      that has two inconveniences: a slow establishment of anaerobiosis, and a high
      cost. We propose a new system that does not require a vacuum pump and consists in
      flushing anaerobic jars with a convenient gas mixture (H2, CO2, N2: 4.5; 5; 90.5
      v/v) by means of an automaton regulating both time and gas flow. Gas-liquid
      chromatography analysis of the gas inside the jar shows a rapid elimination of
      gaseous O2, whose residual concentration is low enough to permit growth of all
      anaerobes of clinical interest, including those which are more O2-sensitive.
      Comparative qualitative and quantitative data obtained with all available
      techniques demonstrate the advantages of the new system.

PMID- 1456503
TI  - [Pertinence of simultaneous measurements of pO2 and sO2 on ABL 510].
AB  - Blood tonometry is the only method to assess the accuracy of the pO2
      determination on blood gas analyzers. ABL instruments by Radiometer were tested
      by two types of tonometry (film and bubble tonometry) and the validity of the
      algorithm for pO2 correction was analysed with these results. The role of the
      presentation of the specimen is also discussed. For the precision study on the
      ABL 510 analyzer, coefficients of variation for pO2 were < 0.37% and < 1.7% for
      within-run and day-to-day series respectively. pO2 accuracy was excellent.
      Linearity was verified between 0-620 mmHg (82.5 kPa), and interinstrument
      comparisons demonstrated a strict correlation with the Ciba-Corning 178
      instrument. ABL 510 measures simultaneously oxygen saturation by
      spectrophotometry. Analytical results showed an acceptable level of imprecision,
      but the definition and the clinical significance of this parameter are ambiguous.

PMID- 1456504
TI  - [Hemodialysis and ferritinemia].
AB  - Iron-deficiency is a common phenomenon in chronic renal diseases and
      haemodialysis patients, a treatment with iron or transfusions is always provided
      in an early preventive way; yet, an overload may appear. Serum ferritin, in spite
      of analytic variability, remains at the present time a good witness to appreciate
      patients' iron stores. Authors report the results obtained with four commercial
      reagents in healthy population and in haemodialysed children or adults. The
      comparison of results for this parameter shows that haemodialysed sera, with or
      without treatment, have the same behaviour with reagents as those of healthy
      subjects.

PMID- 1456505
TI  - [Quality assurance or quality control. Lessons from an intercomparison circuit].
AB  - This article deals with the evaluation of the three year results of the French
      interlaboratory control for serum copper and zinc analysis. We pointed out some
      results interpreted on the basis of the existence of differences between the
      notions of quality control and total quality assurance. The main finding was a
      surprising change in the annual range in the final results of the laboratories.
      All 'good' laboratories in the first year showed a significant fall in their
      individual performance the second year. We can interpret that as a falling off of
      vigilance in relation with the self satisfaction after the publication of the
      first results. We concluded that good laboratory practices must be accompanied by
      a quality program not limited to an analytical control.

PMID- 1456506
TI  - [Use of nutritional supplements that increase the saturation degree of body fatty
      acids in bovines. An increase of atherogenic risk in man?].

PMID- 1456507
TI  - Diagnostic applications of repetitive DNA sequences.

PMID- 1456508
TI  - Genes in the diagnosis of malignant disease.

PMID- 1456509
TI  - Epidermal growth factor-like activity in mares' milk.
AB  - Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like activity was measured in mares' colostrum and
      milk by radioreceptor assay. Milk samples were collected from 22 mares 1 or more
      times during early lactation. Samples of colostrum were taken after parturition
      and before the foal first suckled (presuckle), within 6 hours after the foal
      first suckled (postsuckle), and on days 1, 2, 4, and 8 of lactation. In the 5
      mares from which milk samples were obtained at each sampling time, presuckle
      colostral mean EGF-like activity (17.8 ng/ml) was greatest (P less than 0.05).
      The mean values for EGF-like activity at all other sampling times were not
      significantly different from each other (postsuckle colostrum, 9.7 ng/ml; day 1,
      9.6 ng/ml; day 2, 8.5 ng/ml; day 4, 8.0 ng/ml; day 8, 7.8 ng/ml).

PMID- 1456510
TI  - Ultrasonography of the urinary tract of female sheep.
AB  - We determined the position, dimensions, and structure of the kidneys, ureters,
      bladder, and urethra of 62 female sheep by use of ultrasonography. A 5.0-MHz
      convex transducer was placed over the right flank to examine the kidneys, and a
      5.0 MHz-linear transducer was used to examine the bladder and urethra
      transrectally. All examinations were performed on sheep in standing position. The
      left kidney was 7.1 to 8.9 cm long, 3.4 to 5.5 cm wide, and 3.3 to 4.7 cm deep.
      Diameter of the parenchyma and renal sinus of the left kidney ranged between 1.1
      and 1.9 cm and 1.1 and 2.0 cm, respectively. Circumference of the medullary
      pyramids varied between 2.1 and 3.3 cm. Similar ultrasonographic measurements
      were obtained for the right kidney. The diameter of the bladder varied between
      0.3 and 6.9 cm in 96.8% of the sheep. The diameter of the bladder could not be
      determined in 32% of the sheep because it was > 10 cm, and, therefore, was beyond
      the penetration depth of the scanner. The only part of the urethra that could be
      ultrasonographically visualized was the internal urethral orifice. It had
      diameter between 0.1 and 0.2 cm. The ureters could not be ultrasonographically
      visualized in any of the sheep examined. The urinary tract of 8 sheep was
      examined 10 times within 2 weeks to examine whether measurements were
      reproducible. The interassay variation coefficient determined ranged from 3.1 to
      31.8%, although for most variables, it ranged between 5 and 11%.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456511
TI  - Radiographically determined growth dynamics of primary lung tumors induced in
      dogs by inhalation of plutonium.
AB  - Beagles were exposed to aerosols of 239PuO2, 238PuO2, or 239Pu(NO3)4. Exponential
      growth constants for 50 primary lung tumors (23 bronchioloalveolar carcinomas, 22
      papillary adenocarcinomas, 5 adenosquamous carcinomas) were calculated in 37
      dogs, using sequential thoracic radiography. A wide range in doubling time (6 to
      287 days) was observed. Mean +/- SEM doubling time was 93 +/- 10 days for
      bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, 107 +/- 13 days for papillary adenocarcinoma, and
      101 +/- 36 days for adenosquamous carcinoma. Lung tumor growth rate in dogs was
      comparable to that in human patients with similar histologic tumor types. Linear
      regression analysis revealed significant (P < or = 0.0001) correlation between
      doubling time and survival of individual dogs. Doubling time was not
      significantly dependent on tumor type, sex, age at time of diagnosis, initial
      lung deposition, or isotope. Extrapolating time to tumor onset from tumor
      doubling time cannot be used to reliably predict the onset of malignancy.

PMID- 1456512
TI  - Arterial blood gas tensions in healthy aged dogs.
AB  - Twenty-four healthy dogs > 8 years old were recruited. In each instance, arterial
      blood gas tensions were analyzed. The alveolar-to-arterial oxygen gradient (P[A
      a]O2) was calculated to assess adequacy of pulmonary gas exchange. Thoracic
      radiographs were evaluated to ensure lack of visible signs of pulmonary disease
      and that lung features were similar to those in aged dogs of previous reports.
      Unlike findings in aged human beings, arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)
      was not decreased in this group of aged dogs (mean +/- SD, 102.9 +/- 7.8 mm of
      Hg). Similarly, P(A-a)O2 also was not increased. The thoracic radiographic
      findings were consistent with those of previous reports of pulmonary changes in
      aged dogs. The extent of radiographic abnormalities and the PaO2 were not
      correlated.

PMID- 1456513
TI  - Effect of diet on results obtained by use of two commercial test kits for
      detection of occult blood in feces of dogs.
AB  - To evaluate the effect of diet on results obtained by use of 2 commercial test
      kits for detection of occult blood in feces, 5 dogs were fed 7 diets in
      randomized sequence. Dry and canned diets with various principal ingredients were
      evaluated. Each diet was offered twice over a 24-hour period, followed by a 36
      hour nonfeeding period. Fecal specimens were collected twice daily, and tests for
      occult blood were performed within 12 hours. The dietary origin of fecal
      specimens was confirmed by use of colored markers fed with each diet, and was
      correlated with estimates of gastrointestinal tract transit time. A modified
      guaiac paper test and an o-tolidine tablet test were performed on each specimen.
      Of 59 specimens, 4 were positive for occult blood, using the o-tolidine tablet
      test. Three positive results were associated with a mutton-based canned diet, and
      1 positive result was associated with a canned beef-based diet. Of 59 specimens,
      11 were positive for occult blood, using the modified guaiac paper test. Four
      positive results were associated with the mutton diet, and 3 positive results
      were associated with the beef diet. Of the remaining 5 diets, 4 caused 1 positive
      reaction. Results were inconsistent with the null hypothesis that the
      distribution of positive occult blood test results is not affected by diet (P <
      0.025), and indicate that diet can affect the specificity of peroxidase-based
      tests for detection of occult blood in canine feces. Diet modification prior to
      testing is recommended.

PMID- 1456514
TI  - Determination of protein concentrations and their molecular weight in tears from
      cats with normal corneas and cats with corneal sequestrum.
AB  - Protein concentration was determined, using the Bradford technique, in tears from
      cats with normal corneas and from cats with corneal sequestrum. Tears from the
      former group contained 5.81 +/- 2.29 mg of protein/ml; those from corneal
      sequestrum-affected cats contained 6.21 +/- 2.21 mg/ml. Difference between the 2
      values was not significant. Molecular weight determination was made, using 4 to
      20% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Molecular mass of proteins ranged
      from 263 to 14 kDa. There was no detectable difference in the band patterns for
      the 2 groups.

PMID- 1456516
TI  - Reference serum biochemical values for emus and ostriches.
AB  - Reference serum biochemical values were determined in blood samples from 15 male,
      18 female, and 4 unsexed emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) 1 to 48 months old.
      Serum biochemical values also were obtained for 19 male, 26 female, and 4 unsexed
      ostriches (Struthio camelus) 1 to 60 months old. Parametric (mean +/- 2 SD) and
      non-parametric (fifth to 95th percentile) reference ranges and linear trends as
      influenced by age were determined for enzyme activities and concentrations of
      glucose, inorganic phosphate, BUN, uric acid, creatinine, triglyceride,
      cholesterol, total protein, and albumin. Species differences for all analytes,
      except cholesterol and inorganic phosphate concentrations, were detected.
      Creatine kinase values in ostriches were higher than those in emus. There were no
      linear relationships between age and analyte values in emus, and sex did not
      significantly (P < 0.05) affect the values in emus. Analyte values in ostriches
      tended to increase with age, but cholesterol, creatine kinase, inorganic
      phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase concentrations decreased with age. Glucose,
      triglyceride, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and cholinesterase concentrations in
      ostriches were not linearly associated with age. Age had a greater effect on the
      analyte values of female ostriches than it did on male ostriches. Concentrations
      generally increased with age in female ostriches, except for cholesterol,
      cholinesterase, inorganic phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase concentrations,
      which decreased with age.

PMID- 1456515
TI  - Evaluation of an automated system for hemoglobin measurement in animals.
AB  - In veterinary medicine, PCV determined by centrifugation of blood in a
      microhematocrit tube is the most common clinical test used to initially assess
      and monitor anemic and polycythemic animals. In contrast, blood hemoglobin (Hb)
      concentration, rather than PCV, is generally determined in human patients. One
      automated system photometrically measures blood Hb concentration after conversion
      of Hb to azide methemoglobin without dilution and was found to be a simple and
      accurate instrument for use in human medicine. We evaluated the system for its
      accuracy in measuring blood Hb concentration in animals by comparing it with
      standard techniques and for its suitability in veterinary practice. Blood
      samples, anticoagulated with potassium EDTA, from 78 healthy animals (33 dogs, 17
      cats, 13 horses, and 15 cows) and 58 dogs and 4 cats with various blood
      abnormalities (10 anemia, 11 polycythemia, 21 lipemia, 16 leukocytosis, and 6
      icterus) were analyzed. In all species, blood Hb concentration of healthy animals
      determined by the system was comparable to that measured by standard
      cyanmethemoglobin methods (ie, an automated counter; rI = 0.987 to 0.998 and a
      hemoglobin kit, rI = 0.946 to 0.993). The aforementioned system also yielded
      similar values to those obtained by use of standard methods in anemic,
      polycythemic, and icteric dogs and cats. Moreover, the system reads the
      absorbance at 2 wavelengths to correct for turbidity, and therefore, accurately
      measured Hb concentration in blood samples with severe lipemia (triglycerides
      concentration > 500 mg/dl) and marked leukocytosis (> 50,000 WBC/microliter),
      whereas other standard Hb techniques are known to give falsely high
      results.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456517
TI  - Furosemide-induced electrolyte depletion associated with echinocytosis in horses.
AB  - Echinocytes have been incriminated in the pathogenesis of exertional diseases in
      horses. To evaluate the hypothesis that echinocytes are dehydrated erythrocytes,
      we decreased blood sodium and potassium concentrations in 4 horses by
      administering furosemide (1.0 mg/kg of body weight, q 12 h) for 2 days and we
      monitored CBC, serum and erythrocyte sodium and potassium concentrations, and
      echinocyte numbers. Serum sodium concentration decreased progressively over the
      48 hours of furosemide administration, then returned to near baseline
      concentration at 168 hours. A statistically significant decrease (P < 0.05) in
      serum potassium concentration was observed at 24, 48, and 72 hours after initial
      furosemide administration, and remained less than the baseline value at the end
      of the study. Mean erythrocyte potassium concentration decreased rapidly and
      remained low at the end of the study. Minimal changes were observed in
      erythrocyte sodium concentration during the first 72 hours after furosemide
      administration, but the value was significantly (P < 0.05) increased at 168
      hours. Type-I and type-II echinocyte numbers increased by 4 hours after
      furosemide administration and persisted throughout the study. Type-III
      echinocytes were not seen in baseline samples, but numbers increased only
      modestly after furosemide administration. Administration of epinephrine to well
      hydrated horses increased echinocyte numbers only minimally, indicating that
      splenic contraction was not the likely cause for the furosemide-associated
      increase. To determine whether the decrease in erythrocyte potassium
      concentration and increase in sodium concentration was caused by furosemide
      acting directly on the erythrocyte membrane, we quantified erythrocyte potassium
      and sodium concentrations before and after incubation with furosemide in
      vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456518
TI  - Reference hematologic values and morphologic features of blood cells in healthy
      adult llamas.
AB  - Hematologic values and cellular morphologic features were evaluated for 38
      healthy adult llamas. Reference ranges were determined for PCV, reticulocyte
      concentration, leukocyte concentration, and leukocyte differential counts. The
      approach used in this study was to focus on hematologic values that may be
      determined by use of techniques readily available to the practicing veterinarian
      and nonveterinary laboratory. Unique cellular morphologic features commonly
      observed and interpreted as normal included large granular lymphocytes,
      hyposegmented eosinophil nuclei, folded erythrocytes, and hemoglobin crystals.

PMID- 1456519
TI  - Characterization of erythrocytic indices and serum iron values in healthy llamas.
AB  - An electronic particle counter with attached particle-size analyzer was
      configured to directly determine concentration, mean cell volume, and volume
      distribution of erythrocytes in llama blood. Blood from 38 healthy llamas was
      used to characterize erythrocytic measurements and serum iron values for this
      species. Volume distribution curves for llama erythrocytes were similar in shape
      to those of other species. These curves had a unimodal, symmetric shape with a
      tail skewed to the right. Reference ranges for directly measured mean cell
      volume, erythrocyte concentration, hemoglobin concentration, and mean cell
      hemoglobin concentration were 21 to 28 fl, 11.3 x to 17.5 x 10(6)
      cells/microliters, 12.8 to 17.6 g/dl, and 43.2 to 46.6 g/dl, respectively.
      Reference ranges for serum iron concentration, total iron-binding capacity, and
      transferrin saturation were determined to be 70 to 148 micrograms/dl, 230 to 370
      micrograms/dl, and 22 to 50%, respectively.

PMID- 1456520
TI  - Variability of serum bile acid concentrations over time in dairy cattle, and
      effect of feed deprivation on the variability.
AB  - Twelve nonlactating dairy cows, free of signs of liver disease and with normal
      serum activities of liver-derived enzymes and normal liver biopsy tissue, were
      examined over a 72-hour period for serum total bile acid concentrations. The
      cattle were fed hay twice daily, and blood samples were obtained every hour for
      24 hours, every other hour for 24 hours, then every hour for 24 hours. After 3
      weeks, the study was repeated on 6 of the cattle, thus providing data for
      eighteen 72-hour periods. Serum bile acid concentration varied greatly over the
      72 hours, with the range being from one third to 3 times the median. There were
      variations by as much as 60 mumol/L from 1 hour to the next. After another 3
      weeks, 8 of the cattle were deprived of hay for 48 hours and then fed hay morning
      and afternoon of the third (last) day of the study. There was no significant
      reduction in bile acid concentration after withholding the hay, but the
      variability was reduced (P = 0.02) during the last 20 hours of the hay
      deprivation period. In 3 ancillary studies, serum bile acid concentrations were
      examined over a 48-hour period in 2 cows in early lactation, 3 cows in
      midlactation, and two 6-month-old heifers. The cows were fed hay and grain twice
      daily, and the heifers were fed only hay twice daily. In comparison with values
      for the 12 nonlactating cows fed hay twice daily, mean serum bile acid
      concentration in the recently freshened cows was significantly (P < 0.002) higher
      (62.9 vs 22.0 mumol/L).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456521
TI  - Serum bile acid concentrations in clinically normal cattle: comparison by type,
      age, and stage of lactation.
AB  - Serum total bile acid concentrations were determined for various types and ages
      of cattle. There was extreme variability among all the cattle, but the variance
      was twice as large (0.50 vs 0.22 in logarithmic scale) for beef cattle than for
      dairy cattle. There was no significant difference in serum total bile acid
      concentrations between beef cattle and dairy cattle in midlactation. Values for
      calves < 6 weeks old and for 6-month-old heifers were significantly (P = < 0.05)
      lower than values for lactating dairy cows. The 5th to 95th percentile range of
      values (mumol/L) for beef cattle was 9 to 126; for lactating dairy cattle, 15 to
      88; and for 6-month-old dairy heifers, 11 to 64.

PMID- 1456522
TI  - Evaluation of hemostatic analytes after use of hypertonic saline solution
      combined with colloids for resuscitation of dogs with hypovolemia.
AB  - The effects of hypertonic saline solution (HTSS) combined with colloids on
      hemostatic analytes were studied in 15 dogs. The analytes evaluated included
      platelet counts, one-stage prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin
      time, von Willebrand's factor antigen (vWf:Ag), and buccal mucosa bleeding times.
      The dogs were anesthetized, and jugular phlebotomy was used to induced
      hypovolemia (mean arterial blood pressure = 50 mm of Hg). Treatment dogs (n = 12)
      were resuscitated by infusion (6 ml/kg of body weight) of 1 of 3 solutions: HTSS
      combined with 6% dextran 70, 6% hetastarch, or 10% pentastarch. The control dogs
      (n = 3) were autotransfused. Hemostatic analytes were evaluated prior to
      induction of hypovolemia (baseline) and then after resuscitation (after 30
      minutes of sustained hypovolemia) at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 6 and 24 hours. All treatment
      dogs responded rapidly and dramatically to resuscitation with hypertonic
      solutions. Clinically apparent hemostatic defects (epistaxis, petechiae,
      hematoma) were not observed in any dog. All coagulation variables evaluated, with
      the exception of vWf:Ag, remained within reference ranges over the 24-hour
      period. The vWf:Ag values were not statistically different than values from
      control dogs, and actual values were only slightly lower than reference ranges.
      Significant (P < or = 0.04) differences were detected for one-stage prothrombin
      time, but did not exceed reference ranges. The results of this study suggested
      that small volume HTSS/colloid solutions do not cause significant alterations in
      hemostatic analytes and should be considered for initial treatment of hypovolemic
      or hemorrhagic shock.

PMID- 1456523
TI  - Evaluation of serum fructosamine concentration as an index of blood glucose
      control in cats with diabetes mellitus.
AB  - Fructosamine, a glycated serum protein, was evaluated as an index of glycemic
      control in normal and diabetic cats. Fructosamine was determined manually by use
      of a modification of an automated method. The within-run precision was 2.4 to
      3.2%, and the day-to-day precision was 2.7 to 3.1%. Fructosamine was found to be
      stable in serum samples stored for 1 week at 4 C and for 2 weeks at -20 C. The
      reference range for serum fructosamine concentration in 31 clinically normal
      colony cats was 2.19 to 3.47 mmol/L (mean, 2.83 +/- 0.32 mmol/L). In 27 samples
      from 16 cats with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, the range for fructosamine
      concentration was 3.04 to 8.83 mmol/L (mean, 5.93 +/- 1.35 mmol/L). Fructosamine
      concentration was directly and highly correlated to blood glucose concentration.
      Fructosamine concentration also remained high in consort with increased blood
      glucose concentration in cats with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus over
      extended periods. It is concluded that measurement of serum fructosamine
      concentration can be a valuable adjunct to blood glucose monitoring to evaluate
      glycemic control in diabetic cats. The question of whether fructosamine can
      replace glucose for monitoring control of diabetes mellitus requires further
      study.

PMID- 1456524
TI  - Effects of ketamine infusion on halothane minimal alveolar concentration in
      horses.
AB  - Eight adult horses were used in a study to determine ketamine's ability to reduce
      halothane requirement. To obtain steady-state plasma concentrations of 0.5, 1.0,
      2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 micrograms/ml, loading doses and constant infusions for
      ketamine were calculated for each horse on the basis of data from other studies
      in which the pharmacokinetic properties of ketamine were investigated. Blood
      samples for determination of plasma ketamine concentrations were collected
      periodically during each experiment. Plasma ketamine concentrations were
      determined by capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry under electron
      impact ionization conditions, using lidocaine as the internal standard. Halothane
      minimal alveolar concentration (MAC; concentration at which half the horses moved
      in response to an electrical stimulus) and plasma ketamine concentration were
      determined after steady-state concentrations of each ketamine infusion had been
      reached. Plasma ketamine concentrations > 1.0 microgram/ml decreased halothane
      MAC. The degree of MAC reduction was correlated directly with the square root of
      the plasma ketamine concentration, reaching a maximum of 37% reduction at a
      plasma ketamine concentration of 10.8 +/- 2.7 micrograms/ml. Heart rate, mean
      arterial blood pressure, and the rate of increase of right ventricular pressure
      did not change with increasing plasma ketamine concentration and halothane MAC
      reduction. Cardiac output increased significantly during ketamine infusions and
      halothane MAC reduction. Our findings suggest that plasma ketamine concentrations
      > 1.0 micron/ml reduce halothane MAC and produce beneficial hemodynamic effects.

PMID- 1456525
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of metronidazole and its concentration in body fluids and
      endometrial tissues of mares.
AB  - Serum concentrations of metronidazole were determined in 6 healthy adult mares
      after a single IV injection of metronidazole (15 mg/kg of body weight). The mean
      elimination rate (K) was 0.23 h-1, and the mean elimination half-life (t1/2) was
      3.1 hours. The apparent volume of distribution at steady state was 0.69 L/kg, and
      the clearance was 168 ml/h/kg. Each mare was then given a loading dose (15 mg/kg)
      of metronidazole at time 0, followed by 4 maintenance doses (7.5 mg/kg, q 6 h) by
      nasogastric tube. Metronidazole concentrations were measured in serial samples of
      serum, synovia, peritoneal fluid, and urine. Metronidazole concentrations in CSF
      and endometrial tissues were measured after the fourth maintenance dose. The
      highest mean concentration in serum was 13.9 +/- 2.18 micrograms/ml at 40 minutes
      after the loading dose (time 0). The highest mean synovial and peritoneal fluid
      concentrations were 8.9 +/- 1.31 micrograms/ml and 12.8 +/- 3.21 micrograms/ml,
      respectively, 2 hours after the loading dose. The lowest mean trough
      concentration in urine was 32 micrograms/ml. Mean concentration of metronidazole
      in CSF was 4.3 +/- 2.51 micrograms/ml and the mean concentration in endometrial
      tissues was 0.9 +/- 0.48 micrograms/g at 3 hours after the fourth maintenance
      dose. Two mares hospitalized for treatment of bacterial pleuropneumonia were
      given metronidazole (15.0 mg/kg, PO, initially then 7.5 mg/kg, PO, q 6 h), while
      concurrently receiving gentamicin, potassium penicillin, and flunixin meglumine
      IV. Metronidazole pharmacokinetics and serum concentrations in the sick mares
      were similar to those obtained in the healthy mares.

PMID- 1456526
TI  - Effects of xylazine on airway function in ponies with recurrent airway
      obstruction.
AB  - The effect of IV administration of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist xylazine
      hydrochloride (0.5 mg/kg of body weight) was examined in ponies with recurrent
      obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly called heaves. Six ponies with the
      disease (principals) were studied during clinical remission and during an acute
      attack of airway obstruction precipitated by stabling and feeding of dusty hay.
      Six control ponies were also studied. In principal ponies with airway
      obstruction, xylazine administration significantly (P < 0.05) decreased pulmonary
      resistance and increased dynamic compliance, but did not affect PaO2 or PaCO2.
      The alpha 2-antagonist yohimbine blocked the pulmonary effects of xylazine.
      Administration of saline solution was without effect in both groups of ponies at
      all periods and xylazine did not have effect in controls or in principals in
      clinical remission.

PMID- 1456527
TI  - Effect of the somatostatin analogue octreotide on gastric fluid pH in ponies.
AB  - The effect of the somatostatin analogue, octreotide, on gastric fluid pH was
      investigated in 4 ponies. Gastric fluid pH was determined after SC administration
      of octreotide or physiologic saline solution (control). A baseline sample of
      fluid was obtained, the agent was given, and 8 additional samples were collected
      hourly. Administration of octreotide at all dosages tested (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and
      5.0 micrograms/kg of body weight) increased gastric pH to > 5.0. Baseline values
      were consistently < 2.7. Administration of octreotide at these same dosages
      induced gastric pH values > 4.0 for 2.4 +/- 1.2, 4.8 +/- 0.8, 5.7 +/- 1.3, and
      5.4 +/- 2.6 (mean +/- SD) continuous hours, respectively. Treatment at all
      dosages increased the pH of gastric fluid, compared with control values. The
      duration of the increase in pH was significantly (P < 0.05) different than that
      of the control treatment, even for the lowest dosage, 0.1 microgram/kg.

PMID- 1456528
TI  - Potential use of simple manganese salts as antioxidant drugs in horses.
AB  - The scavenging of superoxide radicals by endogenous and therapeutically
      administered superoxide dismutases may prevent superoxide-mediated oxidative
      stress leading to lipid peroxidation, membrane lysis, and cell death in a wide
      variety of normal and pathologic states. Simple inorganic manganous salts such as
      MnCl2 also have superoxide dismutase-like activity and are extremely inexpensive,
      compared with enzymatic superoxide dismutase preparations. In this study, we
      explored the use of Mn salts as antioxidant drugs. We used the percentage of
      inhibition of nitroblue tetrazolium reduction by superoxide as a measure of the
      amount of superoxide dismutase-like activity. We found concentration-related
      increases in superoxide scavenging activity in simple buffer solutions upon
      addition of 1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 microM MnSO4. To determine whether Mn salts can
      inhibit oxidative damage in tissues, we used an in vitro model of lipid
      peroxidation in ischemic and reoxygenated rat liver slices. Concentrations of 10,
      100, and 1000 mumoles MnCl2/L of buffer significantly decreased indicators of
      lipid peroxidation believed to be initiated by intracellular superoxide. We then
      determined the effectiveness of MnCl2 as a superoxide scavenger in conscious
      horses by measuring the superoxide scavenging ability of equine plasma before and
      during intravenous infusions of 1.0 L volumes of 0.9% saline solution containing
      0, 12.5, or 25 mM MnCl2. Plasma Mn concentrations, which were determined by
      atomic absorption spectrophotometry, increased as a function of time and dose.
      Intravenously administered MnCl2 concomitantly produced dose-related increases in
      superoxide scavenging ability of equine plasma at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes
      after the onset of infusion, compared with preinfusion control values.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456529
TI  - Comparative aspects and sex differentiation of plasma sulfamethazine elimination
      and metabolite formation in rats, rabbits, dwarf goats, and cattle.
AB  - Plasma disposition and urinary recovery of sulfamethazine (SMZ), its N4
      acetylated metabolite (N4AcSMZ), and 2 of its hydroxylated metabolites--5
      hydroxysulfamethazine (5OHSMZ) and 6-hydroxymethylsulfamethazine (6CH2OHSMZ)-
      were determined in either sex of 4 animal species: rats, dwarf goats, rabbits,
      and cattle. Rats, rabbits, and dwarf goats had significant (P < 0.01) sex
      difference in SMZ plasma clearance. Male rats had higher plasma clearance than
      did female rats, and excreted higher amounts of the hydroxy metabolites and lower
      amounts of N4AcSMZ. The N4AcSMZ metabolite was predominant in plasma and urine of
      rabbits. Male rabbits had higher plasma clearance than did female rabbits, but
      differences in metabolite profile were not apparent. With regard to plasma SMZ
      elimination, the situation in goats was opposite to that in rats. Male goats had
      considerably lower clearance than did female goats. This was associated with a
      lower hydroxylation rat in males. Plasma half-life of SMZ in cows was lower than
      that in bulls, probably because of a smaller distribution volume in cows.
      Compared with elimination via urine, elimination via milk was negligible in cows.
      Significant differences in metabolite profiles were not found between bulls and
      cows. Similar to those in rats and mice, hormone-dependent xenobiotic metabolic
      pathways may exist in other species. Depending on species and xenobiotic compound
      residue concentrations of xenobiotics, their metabolites, or both may differ with
      sex of the animal, or may be altered after treatment with anabolic hormones.

PMID- 1456530
TI  - Effects of intramuscular administration of glycosaminoglycan polysulfates on
      signs of incipient hip dysplasia in growing pups.
AB  - We tested the hypothesis that treatment of growing, susceptible (to hip
      dysplasia) pups by IM administration of glycosaminoglycan polysulfates would
      mitigate the signs of incipient hip dysplasia. In 1 experiment, 7 pups, selected
      at random from 2 litters, were administered glycosaminoglycan polysulfates (2.5
      mg/kg of body weight, IM) twice weekly, and 7 control pups from the same litters
      were given sterile buffered 0.9% saline solution from the age of 6 weeks to 8
      months. Hip joints were examined by radiography, with pups in the standard, limbs
      extended position. At 8 months of age, all pups in this experiment did not
      manifest femoral head subluxation radiographically. The Norberg angle, a measure
      of coxofemoral congruity, improved from a mean +/- SEM value of 102 degrees +/- 1
      degrees in controls to 106 degrees +/- 1 degrees in treated pups (P = 0.008).
      Pups were not subjected to necropsy. In the second experiment, 8 pups were
      selected at random from 2 litters and were administered 5 mg of glycosaminoglycan
      polysulfates/kg, IM, twice weekly from 6 weeks to 8 months of age. Similarly, 8
      control pups were administered saline solution. At 8 months of age, hip joints
      were examined by radiography with pups in the standard position; at necropsy,
      intra-articular tissues were evaluated macroscopically and biochemically. Of 8
      treated pups, none had subluxation radiographically, whereas 4 of 8 control dogs
      had femoral head subluxation. Mean Norberg angle on the radiographs was 109.7
      degrees +/- 1.6 degrees for the treated group and was 101.5 degrees +/- 1.6
      degrees for controls, representing a mean improvement in coxofemoral congruity of
      8.2 degrees in the treated pups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456531
TI  - Effect of hypertonic and isotonic saline solutions on plasma constituents of
      conscious horses.
AB  - Blood constituents and vascular volume indices were determined in 5 standing
      horses by use of 2-period crossover experimental design. Horses were either
      administered hypertonic (2,400 mosm/kg of body weight, i.v.) or isotonic (300
      mosm/kg, i.v.) saline solution. Each solution was administered at a dosage of 5
      ml/kg (infusion rate, 80 ml/min). Samples for determination of PCV, plasma
      volume, blood volume, plasma osmolality, total amount of plasma protein and
      plasma concentrations of protein, Na, K, and Cl were collected at 0 hour
      (baseline, before fluid infusion) and 0.5 hour (at the end of fluid infusion),
      and subsequently, at 0.25- or 0.5-hour intervals for 4.5 hours. All horses were
      given the predetermined dose of fluids by 0.5 hour after beginning the saline
      infusion. Values of P < or = 0.05 were considered significant. Administration of
      hypertonic saline solution was associated with decreased mean body weight by 4.5
      hours, but weight change after isotonic saline administration was not
      significant. Other than body weight and plasma protein concentration, between
      trial difference (treatment effect) was not observed for any measured variable or
      index. The F values indicated that increasing the number of horses would have not
      changed these results. A time effect was evident across both trials, so that mean
      (+/- SD) plasma volume increased (12.3 +/- 1.07%) and mean plasma protein
      concentration (-12.1 +/- 1.03%) and PCV (-11.9 + 0.67%) decreased proportionately
      and transiently in association with administration of either fluid at that
      volume. Other time effects included increased plasma osmolality and Na and Cl
      concentrations. Blood volume estimates and total amount of plasma protein
      remained unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456532
TI  - Hemodynamic and respiratory responses to variable arterial partial pressure of
      oxygen in halothane-anesthetized horses during spontaneous and controlled
      ventilation.
AB  - Cardiovascular and respiratory responses to variable PaO2 were measured in 6
      horses anesthetized only with halothane during spontaneous (SV) and controlled
      (CV) ventilation. The minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) for halothane in
      oxygen was determined in each spontaneously breathing horse prior to establishing
      PaO2 study conditions--mean +/- SEM, 0.95 +/- 0.03 vol%. The PaO2 conditions of >
      250, 120, 80, and 50 mm of Hg were studied in each horse anesthetized at 1.2 MAC
      of halothane and positioned in left lateral recumbency. In response to a decrease
      in PaO2, total peripheral resistance and systolic and diastolic arterial blood
      pressure decreased (P < 0.05) during SV. Cardiac output tended to increase
      because heart rate increased (P < 0.05) during these same conditions. During CV,
      cardiovascular function was usually less than it was at comparable PaO2 during SV
      (P < 0.05). Heart rate, cardiac output, and left ventricular work increased (P <
      0.05) in response to a decrease in PaO2, whereas total peripheral resistance
      decreased (P < 0.05). During SV, cardiac output and stroke volume increased and
      arterial blood pressure and total peripheral resistance decreased with duration
      of anesthesia at PaO2 > 250 mm of Hg. During SV, minute expired volume increased
      (P < 0.05) because respiratory frequency tended to increase as PaO2 decreased.
      Decrease in PaCO2 (P < 0.05) also accompanied these respiratory changes. Although
      oxygen utilization was nearly constant over all treatment periods, oxygen
      delivery decreased (P < 0.05) with decrease in PaO2, and was less (P < 0.05)
      during CV, compared with SV, for comparable PaO2 values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456533
TI  - Arteriovenous differences for glutamine in the equine gastrointestinal tract.
AB  - Glutamine has been shown to be an important metabolic substrate of enterocytes in
      many animals, including cats, dogs, hamsters, human beings, monkeys, rabbits,
      rats, and sheep. To determine whether glutamine is important in the metabolism of
      cells of the equine gastrointestinal tract, we examined transintestinal
      differences in glutamine concentrations in the arterial and venous circulation,
      and measured activity of the major glutamine catabolizing enzyme, glutaminase.
      Arteriovenous differences provide an index of the amount of a given substrate
      removed by the tissue across which the measurements are made, and commonly are
      expressed as a percentage of substrate removed, or percent extraction.
      Arteriovenous differences for glutamine were determined in 7 anesthetized adult
      horses (weight, 450 to 500 kg) before and after an i.v. glutamine infusion. The
      mean baseline arterial glutamine concentration (+/- SEM) was 572 +/- 24 microM;
      this concentration quadrupled (to 2,167 +/- 135 microM, P less than 0.01) 1
      minute after i.v. bolus infusion of a 17.5-g glutamine load. Baseline extraction
      by the portal-drained viscera was 7.5 +/- 1.5%; this value increased to 18 +/- 2%
      at 1 minute (P less than 0.01) and had returned to baseline values 60 minutes
      later. Arteriovenous differences were greatest across the jejunum (11.8 +/- 1.8%
      in the baseline period vs 33.1 +/- 3.1% at 1 minute, P less than 0.001), with
      smaller differences across the colon, suggesting that the jejunum was the more
      avid utilizer of glutamine. Glutaminase activity was 4.38 +/- 0.16 and 4.00 +/-
      0.60 mumol/mg of protein/h under standard conditions in jejunal and ileal mucosa,
      respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456534
TI  - Regional brain blood flow during prolonged submaximal exercise in ponies.
AB  - Experiments were carried out on 8 healthy ponies to examine the effects of
      prolonged submaximal exercise on regional distribution of brain blood flow. Brain
      blood flow was ascertained by use of 15-microns-diameter radionuclide-labeled
      microspheres injected into the left ventricle. The reference blood was withdrawn
      from the thoracic aorta at a constant rate of 21.0 ml/min. Hemodynamic data were
      obtained with the ponies at rest (control), and at 5, 15, and 26 minutes of
      exercise performed at a speed setting of 13 mph on a treadmill with a fixed
      incline of 7%. Exercise lasted for 30 minutes and was carried out at an ambient
      temperature of 20 C. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and core temperature
      increased significantly with exercise. With the ponies at rest, a marked
      heterogeneity of perfusion was observed within the brain; the cerebral, as well
      as cerebellar gray matter, had greater blood flow than in the respective white
      matter, and a gradually decreasing gradient of blood flow existed from thalamus
      hypothalamus to medulla. This pattern of perfusion heterogeneity was preserved
      during exercise. Regional brain blood flow at 5 and 15 minutes of exercise
      remained similar to resting values. However, at 26 minutes of exercise,
      vasoconstriction resulted in a significant reduction in blood flow to all
      cerebral and brain-stem regions. In the cerebellum, the gray matter blood flow
      and vascular resistance remained near control values even at 26 minutes of
      exercise. Vasoconstriction in various regions of the cerebrum and brainstem at 26
      minutes of exertion may have occurred in response to exercise-induced hypocapnia,
      arterial hypertension, and/or sympathetic neural activation.

PMID- 1456535
TI  - Temporal lectin histochemical characterization of porcine small intestine.
AB  - A variety of biotinylated lectins was applied to formalin-fixed intestinal
      sections from isolator-reared pigs ranging in age from newborn through 12 weeks.
      Lectin binding to brush borders of villus enterocytes, crypt enterocytes, and
      dome epithelium, and lectin reactivity within goblet cells and Brunner's glands
      was semiquantified by microscopy and was used to estimate temporal changes in
      complex carbohydrates of enteric epithelium. Although variability in binding
      scores often was observed among pigs of the same age, several general patterns of
      lectin binding were detected. Dolichos biflorus and Ulex europaeus lectins had
      increasing binding to brush border membranes as pigs aged. The Dolichos biflorus,
      however, had decreased binding at the 12-week time point. Neuraminidase-treated
      Arachis hypogaea and Triticum vulgaris were associated with high mean binding
      scores at all time points. Canavalia ensiformis bound, with high mean score at
      all time points, to villus but not to crypt enterocytes. Arachis hypogaea was
      associated with variable but often high binding scores, regardless of pig age.
      Succinylated wheat germ agglutinin bound more to crypt than to villus
      enterocytes. Goblet cells were generally less reactive than were corresponding
      villi and crypts. Dome epithelium reactivity varied with the lectin used, whereas
      Brunner's glands reacted with all lectins tested. We conclude that age and
      regional variations in lectin binding may reflect differences in intestinal
      function and differentiation. Because complex carbohydrates may act as cell
      surface receptors for a variety of enteric pathogens, our results indicate that
      these differences may be partially responsible for age and anatomic differences
      in susceptibility or resistance to enteric disease.

PMID- 1456536
TI  - Bacterial survival, lymph node changes, and immunologic responses of cattle
      vaccinated with standard and mutant strains of Brucella abortus.
AB  - Forty-eight cattle were used in 4 experiments; 6-week-old calves in experiments 1
      3 (n = 24) and 10-month-old heifers in experiment 4 (n = 24). In experiments 1-3,
      7 groups of 3 calves each were inoculated SC with 5 strains of Brucella abortus:
      virulent strain 2308 (2 groups), vaccine strain 19 (2 groups), and mutant strains
      RB51. 19 delta 31K, and 19 delta SOD. Sera and lymph node tissues were examined
      at 2-week intervals for evidence of infection. At postinoculation (PI) week 12, 2
      calves in each group were given dexamethasone for 5 days. Calves were then
      euthanatized and lymphoid tissue, spleen, liver, and bone marrow were examined
      for evidence of B abortus. Calves given strain 2308 had large numbers of bacteria
      in their lymph nodes, marked granulomatous lymphadenitis in the deep cortex, and
      loss of lymphoid cells in superficial cortical areas. In addition, they had high
      serum antibody titers at PI week 16. Calves given strain 19, or genetic mutants
      derived from strain 19, cleared bacteria from lymph nodes more rapidly, had less
      lymphoid destruction, and developed antibody titers that did not persist for 16
      weeks. The RB51 strain (rough) was cleared most rapidly from lymphoid tissues and
      induced serum antibody responses only to the core of the lipopolysaccharide
      molecule. Treatment of calves with dexamethasone did not cause B abortus to
      reappear in tissues of any calves, nor did serum antibody titers
      increase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456537
TI  - Systemic and pulmonary antibody responses of calves to Pasteurella haemolytica
      after intrapulmonary inoculation.
AB  - Systemic and pulmonary antibody responses of calves to Pasteurella haemolytica
      were evaluated by measuring immunoglobulin production in blood for 9 days and in
      pulmonary lavage fluid for 7 days after intrapulmonary inoculation. Clinical
      signs, pulmonary lesions, pulmonary and systemic inflammatory response, and
      amount of antigen in lavage fluid were used to evaluate the response of calves to
      challenge with P haemolytica. The pulmonary response consisted of production of
      IgG, IgE, and IgM antibodies to P haemolytica antigens and a 17- to 68-fold
      increase of cells in lavage fluid 8 hours after inoculation, with a gradual
      decrease toward normal. Antibodies of the IgM isotype to P haemolytica were
      demonstrated as early as 8 hours through 7 days after inoculation in 3 of 3
      calves. Of the anti-P haemolytica isotypes, IgM was found in the highest
      concentration. In all of the inoculated calves, IgE was found 1 to 2 days after
      inoculation, and IgG was found in 2 of 3 inoculated calves from day 1 through 7
      after inoculation. Detection of IgG correlated with smaller pulmonary lesions.
      Immunoglobulin A was not detected in lavage fluid. Serum was evaluated for IgG
      and IgM antibody response to P haemolytica. Specific IgM was detectable 5 days
      after inoculation, and IgG was detectable 7 days after inoculation. Pasteurella
      haemolytica antigens were not detected in serum or plasma. A transient increase
      in neutrophil count was found 8 hours after inoculation, with return to baseline
      values by 24 hours after inoculation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456538
TI  - Effect of calf age and Salmonella bacterin type on ability to produce
      immunoglobulins directed against Salmonella whole cells or lipopolysaccharide.
AB  - A commercially available Salmonella bacterin was administered to Holstein calves
      starting at 1 to 19 weeks of age. Serum samples were obtained before
      administering bacterin and at 2-week intervals thereafter. An ELISA with
      Salmonella dublin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or S dublin whole cells as antigen,
      was used to measure specific IgG and IgM responses. Antibody responses to LPS
      were not detected from calves < 12 weeks old inoculated with killed bacterin.
      Immunoglobulin responses to whole-cell antigen were detected from all age groups
      of calves inoculated with the same killed Salmonella bacterin. Calves < 11 weeks
      old are able to produce immunoglobulins to some whole-cell antigens, but are
      unable to produce anti-LPS immunoglobulins when inoculated with killed Salmonella
      bacterin. This age-related response to killed Salmonella antigens may account, in
      part, for increased susceptibility to salmonellosis in calves < 12 weeks old. In
      comparison to the response for killed antigen, 8 calves given modified-live
      aromatic-dependent S dublin bacterin at 1 to 3 weeks of age had detectable anti
      LPS immunoglobulins after immunization, although the response was not as rapid
      and was of a lesser magnitude than that of older calves given killed Salmonella
      bacterin.

PMID- 1456539
TI  - Monophosphoryl lipid A-induced immune enhancement of Brucella abortus salt
      extractable protein and lipopolysaccharide vaccines in BALB/c mice.
AB  - A study was conducted to determine the effect of monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and
      trehalose dimycolate (TDM) as adjuvants on the protective responses in BALB/c
      mice vaccinated with Brucella abortus salt-extractable protein (BCSP) or
      proteinase-K-treated B abortus lipopolysaccharide (PKLPS). Mice were vaccinated
      with different doses of BCSP or PKLPS given alone or in combination with MPL or
      TDM. Mice were challenge-exposed 4 weeks later with virulent B abortus strain
      2308. Two weeks after challenge exposure, the number of B abortus colony-forming
      units (CFU) per spleen, spleen weights, and spleen cell interleukin 1 production
      were measured. Serum IgG and IgM concentrations specific for vaccinal immunogens
      were measured before and after challenge exposure with B abortus. Spleen weights
      and mean B abortus CFU per vaccine group were significantly lower in BCSP- and
      PKLPS-vaccinated mice, compared with those of nonvaccinated control mice.
      Monophosphoryl lipid A enhanced the suppression of splenic infection when given
      with the BCSP vaccine, but not when given with the PKLPS vaccine. Trehalose
      dimycolate had no effect on mean CFU when given with BCSP, but incorporation of
      TDM resulted in a significant increase in mean CFU when given with PKLPS. Spleen
      weights in BCSP- or PKLPS-vaccinated mice were not different when these vaccines
      were combined with MPL or TDM. Because of the wide variation in the results, we
      could not conclude that vaccination with BCSP or PKLPS alone, or in combination
      with MPL altered spleen cell interleukin-1 production in B abortus-infected
      mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456541
TI  - Ultrastructural mucosal injury after experimental ischemia of the ascending colon
      in horses.
AB  - The ultrastructural injury that develops sequentially in the ascending colon
      during experimentally induced ischemia was examined in 6 halothane-anesthetized
      horses. Colonic ischemia was created by 2 types of vascular occlusion 24 cm
      proximal and distal to the pelvic flexure. In all horses, transmural vascular
      compression was created. The colonic venous circulation was obstructed in 3
      horses, whereas in the other 3 horses, arterial and venous circulation was
      obstructed. Two additional horses were anesthetized as controls for determination
      of any morphologic alterations associated with the experimental protocol. Full
      thickness colonic biopsy specimens were obtained from the antimesenteric border
      of the pelvic flexure at 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4,
      4.5, and 5 hours during occlusion, and were studied by light and transmission
      electron microscopy. Morphologic alterations did not develop in the colon of
      control horses. Mucosal congestion was observed by light microscopy in the colon
      of horses with experimentally induced ischemia, but congestion developed early in
      those with obstructed colonic venous circulation, compared with those having
      arterial and venous obstruction. Inter- and intracellular vacuolation and loss of
      staining initially resulted in groups of 3 to 5 superficial luminal epithelial
      cells. Alterations in the glandular epithelium lagged behind those in the
      superficial epithelium, but were observed in both groups by 2 hours of
      obstruction. These changes progressed to 100% sloughing of all epithelium by 4.5
      to 5 hours. The initial cellular alterations, which were observed by transmission
      electron microscopy, developed at 0.25 hour in horses with colonic venous
      obstruction and was characterized by inter- and intracellular edema.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456540
TI  - Evaluation of clinical signs of disease, bronchoalveolar and tracheal wash
      analysis, and arterial blood gas tensions in 13 horses with chronic obstructive
      pulmonary disease treated with prednisone, methyl sulfonmethane, and clenbuterol
      hydrochloride.
AB  - We evaluated the efficacy of 3 treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary
      disease in horses: prednisone (400 mg/horse, PO, daily; n = 7), methyl
      sulfonmethane (10 g/horse, PO, q 12 h; n = 6), and clenbuterol hydrochloride (0.4
      mg/horse, PO, q 12 h; n = 7). A fourth group acted as controls (n = 6) and was
      not treated. The treatment period lasted 10 days. Each horse was a member of 2
      different groups for 10 days, separated by an 18-day interval of no treatment.
      All horses were housed together in an outdoor pen without bedding. Horses were
      fed alfalfa/grass hay mix ad libitum from a large feeder. The same batch of hay
      was fed throughout the study. Multiple physical and laboratory variables were
      monitored prior to, during, and at the end of each 10-day trial period. Changes
      in lung sounds, respiratory effort, degree of anal movement, nasal discharge,
      temperature, respiratory rate, or heart rate were not significant. Changes in
      arterial blood gas tensions, tracheal wash or bronchoalveolar lavage cytologic
      findings, or phagocyte function were not significant. All horses were tachypneic
      and most were tachycardic. The median value for PaO2 was below normal for all
      horses. All tracheal wash and most bronchoalveolar lavage cytologic findings
      represented a suppurative response. Negative linear correlation was observed
      between PaO2 and degree of respiratory effort in these horses (eg, as PaO2
      decreased, the degree of respiratory effort increased).

PMID- 1456542
TI  - Bromodeoxyuridine labeling and DNA content of pulmonary arterial medial cells
      from hypoxia-exposed and nonexposed healthy calves.
AB  - Vascular medial thickening is a prominent finding in people and animals with
      refractory neonatal pulmonary hypertension. Smooth muscle cells are capable of 2
      distinct growth responses in vivo: hypertrophy or hyperplasia. Hypertrophic
      smooth muscle cells may undergo DNA synthesis without cell division, leading to a
      polyploid state. To better understand the nature of smooth muscle cell growth in
      healthy and pulmonary hypertensive neonatal calves, we measured incorporation of
      the thymidine analog bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) and total DNA content in medial
      cells from control (pulmonary arterial pressure = 32 +/- 2 mm of Hg) and
      hypobaric hypoxia-exposed (pulmonary arterial pressure = 120 +/- 7 mm of Hg)
      calves. Labeling of medial cells with BrdUrd measured by flow cytometry was
      increased (P < 0.02) in pulmonary arteries of hypoxia-exposed calves (n = 5),
      compared with control calves (n = 5). Immunohistochemical localization of BrdUrd
      indicated that BrdUrd labeling of large elastic pulmonary arteries from hypoxia
      exposed calves was increased almost exclusively in the outer half of the medial
      wall. Increased BrdUrd labeling of muscular pulmonary arteries from hypoxia
      exposed calves was observed in the arterial media and adventitia, and tended to
      exit in clusters. Analysis of DNA content by flow cytometry indicated a decrease
      (P < 0.05) in percentage of tetraploid medial cells in pulmonary arteries from
      hypoxia-exposed calves, compared with control calves. Bivariate analysis for
      BrdUrd labeling and DNA content of cells from the pulmonary arteries of hypoxia
      exposed calves indicated a subpopulation of diploid cells with positive BrdUrd
      labeling, suggestive of DNA synthesis and subsequent cell division.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456543
TI  - Retrospective evaluation of factors associated with the risk of seropositivity to
      Ehrlichia risticii in horses in New York State.
AB  - A retrospective study was designed to determine the distribution of equine
      monocytic ehrlichiosis among the equine population in New York state, and to
      identify factors associated with risk of disease. Serum samples submitted to the
      diagnostic laboratory of the university during the period from January 1985
      through December 1986 were examined for antibodies to Ehrlichia risticii, using
      the indirect fluorescent antibody technique. Factors evaluated included
      geographic origin and date of submission of the sample, and age, breed, and sex
      of the horse. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify which factors
      were significantly associated with the risk of seropositivity to E risticii,
      while simultaneously controlling for other factors. Of the 2,579 tested samples,
      1,950 (76%) had positive results. Factors significantly associated with risk of
      seropositivity to E risticii were: breed of the horse (Thoroughbreds were 3 times
      more likely to have been exposed to E risticii, compared with non-Standardbred,
      non-Thoroughbred breeds); sex (female horses were 2.7 times more likely to have
      been exposed, compared with male horses); age of the horse (the risk of being
      exposed to E risticii increased with age, peaked at around 12 years, and
      decreased thereafter); and month of submission (horses tested during November and
      December had the highest odds of being seropositive [odds ratio = 2.1], and
      horses tested during March through April were least likely to be seropositive
      [odds ratio = 0.5], compared with horses tested during January and February).

PMID- 1456544
TI  - Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and enhanced intestinal permeability in
      healthy beagles.
AB  - The small intestine of healthy adult Beagles was examined to determine whether
      subclinical abnormalities might exist that would be relevant to the use of
      Beagles in pharmacologic studies. Duodenal juice was obtained for qualitative and
      quantitative bacteriologic examinations; jejunal mucosa was taken for morphologic
      and biochemical investigation, and intestinal permeability was assessed by
      quantification of 24-hour urinary excretion of 51Cr-labeled EDTA after its oral
      administration. Comparisons were made with findings in healthy adult dogs of
      other breeds that served as controls. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth was
      found in 14 of the 21 Beagles examined, and represented a mixed flora that
      included obligate anaerobic bacteria in 8 dogs and exclusively aerobic bacteria
      in 6 dogs. Intestinal permeability (percentage urinary recovery of 51Cr-labeled
      EDTA; mean +/- SEM) was considerably higher (P < 0.01) in Beagles with anaerobic
      overgrowth (37.6 +/- 3.2%) or aerobic overgrowth (30.5 +/- 4.8%), compared with
      Beagles with no overgrowth (17.3 +/- 1.6%) and with controls (11.1 +/- 1.0%). In
      Beagles, significant (r = 0.54, P = 0.03) correlation was observed between 24
      hour urinary recovery of 51Cr-labeled EDTA and bacterial numbers in duodenal
      juice. Morphologic changes in jejunal mucosa were minimal, and specific
      activities of brush border enzymes were not significantly decreased, apart from
      aminopeptidase N, but activities of lysosomal and endoplasmic reticular marker
      enzymes were higher in the 3 groups of Beagles with anaerobic, aerobic, or no
      overgrowth, compared with controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456545
TI  - Effect of protein source in liquid formula diets on food intake, physiologic
      values, and growth of equine neonates.
AB  - The effects of 2 liquid formula diets differing in protein source were evaluated
      in orphan foals. The response of 7 foals fed a diet containing casein as the
      protein source, and 6 foals fed a diet containing a combination of whey and
      casein, was compared with the response in a reference group of 8 mare-raised
      foals. Orphaned foals were fed 150 kcal/kg of body weight/d, divided into 6 equal
      feedings of 25 kcal/kg. Formula intake was comparable among the experimental
      groups, and foals fed the liquid formula diet grew as well as mare-raised foals.
      There was no difference among groups in mean daily body weight gain, wither
      height, heart girth, body temperature, pulse, respiration rate, capillary refill
      time, or skin tenting. Insulin and blood glucose concentrations increased in both
      groups of foals fed formula diets, returning to prefeeding values within 4 hours.
      Differences among groups were found for serum alkaline phosphatase, alanine
      transaminase, cholesterol, creatinine, and glucose values; all other serum
      chemical values were comparable among groups. Plasma amino acid determinations
      revealed that arginine and ornithine were significantly lower in foals in both
      experimental groups than in reference foals, suggesting that arginine may have
      been the limiting amino acid in these diets. Diarrhea developed in foals in all
      treatment groups, but in most cases was self-limiting. These results suggest that
      the protein source of liquid formula diets may be less important in foals than in
      infants.

PMID- 1456546
TI  - Malabsorption of vitamin A in preruminating calves infected with Cryptosporidium
      parvum.
AB  - Serum retinol, retinyl palmitate, and total vitamin A concentrations, and
      jejunoileal morphology were examined in neonatal calves infected with
      Cryptosporidium parvum. Group-1 calves served as noninfected controls and, after
      an adjustment period, were given 50 ml of saline solution i.v. every 12 hours for
      6 days. Group-2 calves were inoculated with 10(7) C parvum oocysts and, after the
      onset of diarrhea, were given 50 ml of saline solution i.v. every 12 hours for 6
      days. Group-3 calves were inoculated with 10(7) C parvum oocysts and, after the
      onset of diarrhea, were treated with difluoromethylornithine (DFMO, 200 mg/kg of
      body weight i.v., q 12 h) for 6 days. Group-4 calves were naturally infected with
      C parvum. Jejunoileal biopsy specimens were excised from calves of groups 1-3 at
      3 and again at 15 to 16 days of age. During the course of diarrhea and 3 days
      after saline or DFMO administration, water-miscible retinyl palmitate was
      administered orally (2,750 micrograms/kg) to each calf in each group.
      Cryptosporidium parvum infection was associated with significant (P < or = 0.05)
      reduction in postadministration serum retinol, retinyl palmitate, and total
      vitamin A concentrations in calves of groups 2, 3, and 4. Cryptosporidium parvum
      infection caused significant (P < or = 0.05) reduction in villus height.
      Decreased villus height, villus blunting and fusion, and attenuation of the
      intestinal mucosa were associated with reduced absorption of vitamin A, as
      indicated by lower peak postadministration retinyl palmitate concentration in C
      parvum-infected calves. Intravenous administration of DFMO to group-3 calves did
      not improve retinol absorption.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456547
TI  - Bronchoscopy of the horse.
AB  - The endobronchial anatomy of 12 lung specimens from horses and 12 healthy,
      standing, sedated horses was evaluated, using a 200-cm-long, 9.5-mm-diameter
      videoendoscope. On the basis of these findings, the nomenclature system of Amis
      and McKiernan was modified for identification of airways of horses during
      bronchoscopy. Lobar bronchi are identified on the basis of the side of the
      bronchial tree on which they were found and the order in which they originated
      from the primary bronchus. Thus, RB1, RB2, and RB3 referred to right cranial
      lobar bronchus, respectively. On the left side, the designation of LB1 and LB2
      refer to the left cranial lobar bronchus and the left caudal lobar bronchus,
      respectively. Segmental bronchi are identified by consecutive numbers in the
      order of origination from the lobar bronchus. The direction of the segmental
      bronchus was denoted by the capital letter D (dorsal), V (ventral), L (lateral),
      M (medial), R (rostral), and C (caudal). Subsegmental bronchi were identified in
      the order of origination from the segmental bronchi, using lower case letters
      (eg, RB2, 1V, a or RB2, 1V, aV). For subsequent branching of the subsegmental
      bronchi, the branches were numbered consecutively by their order of origination
      (eg, RB2, 1V, aV, 1D).

PMID- 1456548
TI  - Gastric emptying of nondigestible radiopaque markers after circumcostal
      gastropexy in clinically normal dogs and dogs with gastric dilatation-volvulus.
AB  - Using radiopaque particles mixed with food, gastric emptying was assessed in
      healthy dogs not subjected to surgery, in healthy dogs 9 to 35 days after
      circumcostal gastropexy, and, in dogs 1 to 54 months after surgical treatment and
      recovery from gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). Circumcostal gastropexy surgery
      did not alter the 90% gastric emptying time for radiopaque particles in healthy
      dogs. However, 90% gastric emptying time was significantly (P less than 0.05)
      increased after circumcostal gastropexy in dogs with GDV, compared with healthy
      dogs after the same surgical procedure and recovery period. These results imply
      that dogs with GDV have delayed gastric emptying of solid particles. Whether
      delayed gastric emptying of markers detected in affected dogs after surgical
      treatment and recovery was the result or the cause of GDV was not determined.
      Results indicate that circumcostal gastropexy could be recommended as a
      prophylactic procedure for GDV in large breeds with deep thorax, because delayed
      gastric emptying of markers secondary to the surgical procedure is unlikely.

PMID- 1456549
TI  - Immunotoxicity of ochratoxin A to growing gilts.
AB  - Ochratoxin A (OA) was incorporated in the diets of growing gilts (mean body
      weight, 20.1 kg) at a concentration of 2.5 mg of OA/kg of feed and was fed
      continuously for 35 days. Humoral and cell-mediated immunologic measurements were
      evaluated to determine the effects of OA on immune function in swine. Cutaneous
      basophil hypersensitivity to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), delayed hypersensitivity
      to tuberculin, PHA-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis, interleukin-2 production,
      total and isotype immunoglobulin concentrations, antibody response to chicken
      RBC, and macrophage activation were used to evaluate immune function. Gilts
      treated with OA had reduced cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity response to PHA,
      reduced delayed hypersensitivity to tuberculin, decreased stimulation index for
      lymphoblastogenesis, decreased interleukin-2 production when lymphocytes were
      stimulated with concanavalin A, and decreased number and phagocytic activity of
      macrophages. Differences were not observed for total and isotype immunoglobulin
      concentrations, or humoral hemagglutination (chicken RBC) titer. These data
      indicate that OA may suppress cell-mediated immune response in growing swine.

PMID- 1456550
TI  - Patient compliance. Are we wasting our time and don't know it?

PMID- 1456551
TI  - The effect of hyperinflation on rib cage-abdominal motion.
AB  - Abnormalities of rib cage-abdominal motion are common in patients with chronic
      obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the basis of the abnormal motion has
      not been completely determined. Although airway obstruction has been shown to be
      a major factor in causing abnormal chest wall motion, the effect of
      hyperinflation (which has numerous adverse effects on respiratory muscle
      function) has not been systematically examined. We induced graded levels of
      hyperinflation in six healthy volunteers using continuous positive airway
      pressure (CPAP) levels of 10, 20, and 30 cm H2O. Chest wall motion was measured
      by a calibrated inductive plethysmograph. Rib cage-abdominal asynchrony and
      paradox were quantitated by the Konno-Mead method of analysis. CPAP levels of 10,
      20, and 20 cm H2O produced increases in end-expiratory lung volume of 0.98 +/-
      0.14 (SE), 1.90 +/- 0.31, and 2.42 +/- 0.37 L, respectively (p < 0.0001). This
      corresponded to an increase in the ratio of functional residual capacity to
      predicted total lung capacity from 0.38 +/- 0.08 at baseline to 0.74 +/- 0.14 at
      30 cm H2O CPAP-comparable to that seen in patients with COPD. Hyperinflation
      induced an increase in inspiratory abdominal paradox, 1.0 +/- 0.7% at baseline
      versus 3.6 +/- 1.7% at 30 cm H2O (p < 0.05), but this is unlikely to be
      clinically significant. A significant increase in asynchrony or rib cage paradox
      did not develop with hyperinflation. In conclusion, the primary factor
      contributing to abnormal chest wall motion in patients with COPD is likely to be
      increased airway resistance, and hyperinflation makes only a minor contribution.

PMID- 1456552
TI  - Effect of chronic renal failure on skeletal and diaphragmatic muscle contraction.
AB  - The changes in muscle mechanical properties caused by the myopathy of chronic
      uremia was examined in the soleus and the diaphragm muscles of rats in which
      chronic uremia was produced by subtotal nephrectomy. Using an in vitro muscle
      preparation in two groups of rats (moderately and severely uremic), we determined
      that uremia had a significant detrimental effect on both muscles with respect to
      the force-frequency relationships. In the diaphragm it decreased by 15% in the
      moderate group and by 43% in the severe group. In the soleus it decreased by 20%
      in both groups. Twitch characteristics behaved differently in the soleus and the
      diaphragm muscles in that 1/2 RT and TPT increased significantly (p < 0.05) in
      the soleus (severely uremic group) but not in the diaphragm. Fatigability was
      increased in both muscles in the moderately uremic rats and in the diaphragm in
      the severely uremic rats; however, the fatigability of the soleus in the severely
      uremic group was not different from that in the control group. Our findings
      suggest that the myopathic changes occurring in chronic uremia affects the
      function of the soleus and the diaphragm in different ways. Other findings in the
      severely uremic group indicate that additional factors such as marked electrolyte
      imbalances may also affect the excitation-contraction coupling in different ways.

PMID- 1456553
TI  - Androgen blockade does not affect sleep-disordered breathing or chemosensitivity
      in men with obstructive sleep apnea.
AB  - As sleep apnea is more prevalent in men and testosterone has known effects on
      sleep apnea and chemosensitivity, reduction of androgen activity may influence
      sleep-disordered breathing and respiratory control. We studied the effect of 1 wk
      of treatment with flutamide, a nonsteroidal antiandrogen, on sleep, respiration,
      and ventilatory control in eight men with sleep apnea. Results on flutamide were
      compared with two baseline studies performed before and after the drug treatment
      period. Although effective androgen blockade was achieved as evidenced by
      increased hormone levels, flutamide had no effect on sleep architecture or
      chemoresponsiveness to hypoxia and hypercapnia. There was a trend towards a
      reduction in respiratory disturbance index in both NREM and REM sleep (41 +/- 4
      baseline versus 34 +/- 3 flutamide, p = 0.09 NREM; 53 +/- 4 baseline versus 48 +/
      3 flutamide, p = 0.16 REM), but this was not significant. Our results indicate
      that androgen blockade had no clinically significant effect on sleep, sleep
      disordered breathing, or chemosensitivity in patients with moderate to severe
      sleep apnea. More specific blockers such as gonadotrophin-releasing hormone
      analogs may have more clinical effect or, alternatively, androgen blockade may be
      more beneficial in patients with milder sleep apnea.

PMID- 1456554
TI  - Size and mechanical properties of the pharynx in healthy men and women.
AB  - Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has a marked male predominance. To determine
      whether there are differences in the mechanical properties of the pharynx of men
      and women that may contribute to the gender difference in disease incidence, we
      measured pharyngeal cross-sectional area during quiet breathing in 77 normal men
      and 98 normal women using the acoustic pulse technique. Standard pulmonary
      function tests were also performed. Pharyngeal mechanics were studied in 23 men
      and 34 women by measuring the change in pharyngeal area during a slow vital
      capacity maneuver. Gender was found to be the most important independent factor
      contributing to pharyngeal size. The men had a significantly larger pharynx than
      the women (3.63 +/- 0.10 versus 3.20 +/- 0.09 cm2, mean +/- SEM; p < 0.01).
      Pharyngeal mechanics were also different between men and women. The men had a
      larger change in pharyngeal area with changing lung volume than the women (0.60
      +/- 0.14 versus 0.12 +/- 0.12 cm2, mean +/- SEM; p < 0.02). This difference
      persisted even after normalizing the data for pharyngeal size. We found that
      there are gender-related differences in the size and mechanical properties of the
      pharynx and speculate that the larger pharynx of men may be more than offset by
      greater changes in pharyngeal size with changing lung volume, contributing to the
      greater incidence of OSA in men.

PMID- 1456555
TI  - Theophylline does not increase ventilatory responses to hypercapnia or hypoxia.
AB  - Theophylline is commonly believed to stimulate central respiratory centers. We
      studied the effect of oral theophylline therapy on ventilatory responses to
      hypercapnia and hypoxia during a double-blind placebo-controlled trial with a
      slow release oral theophylline preparation. We measured hypercapnic and hypoxic
      ventilatory responses using rebreathing techniques in 15 subjects (21 to 41 yr of
      age, with normal lung function) on three occasions: baseline, after 4 days of
      Drug 1, and after 4 days of Drug 2. For subjects receiving theophylline, the mean
      serum theophylline level was 11.3 + 1.3 (SE) micrograms/ml (range, 5.3 to 22.1).
      Unpleasant side effects were reported by 11 of the 15 subjects (nausea,
      jitteriness, and agitation) while receiving theophylline but not while receiving
      placebo. The mean hypercapnic ventilatory response with placebo was 4.3 +/- 0.9
      L/min/mm Hg PACO2 and with theophylline it was 4.5 +/- 0.7 L/min/%SaO2 and with
      theophylline it was -2.7 +/- 0.4 L/min/%SaO2. Hypoxic responses for each subject
      were measured at similar PvCO2. There were no significant changes in ventilatory
      responses with theophylline. We conclude that theophylline use, at a dose
      sufficient to cause side effects, does not affect chemoreceptor responsiveness.

PMID- 1456556
TI  - Effects of repetitive airway obstruction on O2 saturation and systemic and
      pulmonary arterial pressure in anesthetized dogs.
AB  - We examined the effects of multiple repetitive airway obstruction (RAO) on
      arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and pulmonary and systemic arterial pressure in
      eight anesthetized spontaneously breathing dogs. SaO2 was monitored at the tongue
      with a pulse oximeter. RAO created by an electrical valve that was attached to a
      tracheal cannula was alternated with seven consecutive spontaneous breaths until
      the nadir SaO2 (nSaO2) became constant or decreased to less than 35%. Tracheal
      occlusion durations of 15, 30, 45 and 60 s were chosen arbitrarily. In each
      animal nSaO2 decreased with every trial number in an exponential fashion, and the
      rate of nSaO2 fall was greater for the longer occlusion duration. In each animal
      the increases in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and systemic arterial pressure
      (SAP) were inversely related to the nSaO2 values, and the relationship between
      nSaO2 and PAP or SAP was identical for all occlusion durations. Moreover, when
      the animals breathed pure oxygen and SaO2 did not decrease, there were no
      significant increases in the PAP and SAP at similar levels of pleural pressure
      (Ppl). In another six dogs, the effects of RAO on PAP and SAP were compared with
      those of intermittent hypoxic exposure without apnea, which was achieved by the
      inhalation of hypoxic gas (4 to 6% O2, 5% CO2 in N2) instead of RAO, to examine
      the effects of interruption of ventilation. The relationships between nSaO2 and
      both pressures did not differ significantly from those during RAO.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456557
TI  - Tracheal gas insufflation during pressure-control ventilation. Effect of catheter
      position, diameter, and flow rate.
AB  - In the setting of acute lung injury, ventilatory strategies that adjust minute
      ventilation (VE) to achieve eucapnia often lead to alveolar rupture or damage.
      Tracheal gas insufflation (TGI) reduces the VE requirements of conventional
      mechanical ventilation by decreasing the effective dead-space fraction (VD/VT) of
      each breath. We studied the effect of catheter flow rate (Vcath) and position as
      well as catheter tip diameter and configuration on CO2 elimination during TGI
      augmented pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) in normal dogs. We studied three
      catheter positions (1, 5, and 10 cm above the carina) at Vcath of 2, 5, and 10
      L/min (n = 6). When the catheter tip was positioned 1 cm above the carina, PaCO2
      decreased significantly from a baseline (PCV alone) of 67 +/- 10 mm Hg to 52 +/-
      11, 43 +/- 9, and 32 +/- 7 mm Hg (p < 0.05) at Vcath of 2, 5, and 10 L/min,
      respectively. For the same Vcath values, positioning the catheter tip 10 cm above
      the carina increased PaCO2 to 54 +/- 15, 46 +/- 12, and 40 +/- 11 mm Hg.
      Advancing the catheter tip 2 cm below the carina did not improve PaCO2
      significantly (n = 3). At a catheter position of 1 cm above the carina and a
      Vcath of 10 L/min, changing the luminal inner diameter (1.5 versus 3.0 mm) or tip
      configuration (open tip versus occluded tip with two side holes) of the catheter
      did not change PaCO2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456558
TI  - HIV-1 envelope protein (gp120) inhibits the activity of human bronchoalveolar
      macrophages against Cryptococcus neoformans.
AB  - Cryptococcus neoformans infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality
      for HIV-infected persons. Containment of the initial respiratory inoculation to
      the lung appears defective in patients with AIDS despite the low burden of HIV in
      bronchoalveolar macrophages. We have studied the fungistatic activity of human
      bronchoalveolar macrophages (BAM) cultured with an encapsulated strain of C.
      neoformans in the presence of pooled human serum. We observed 51.6% fungistasis
      after 24 h of culture. Fungistasis was diminished if the pooled human serum was
      heat-inactivated but was not affected by anticryptococcal capsular IgG. HIV
      envelope protein (gp120) has been shown to interfere with lymphocyte activation
      in vitro. We studied the effects of gp120 on BAM function and found that
      fungistatic activity was inhibited 25% (p < 0.001). Although binding of yeasts
      was not affected, gp120 inhibited the internalization of bound yeasts by 46% (p =
      0.025). These experiments indicate that gp120 decreases the internalization and
      fungistasis of C. neoformans by human BAM, and they suggest a mechanism to
      explain how a small number of HIV-1-infected cells in the lung could impair the
      containment of C. neoformans.

PMID- 1456559
TI  - Two-year incidence of tuberculosis in cohorts of HIV-infected and uninfected
      urban Rwandan women.
AB  - To determine the prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and the
      incidence of tuberculosis in HIV-infected and uninfected urban Rwandan women, 460
      HIV-positive and 998 HIV-negative childbearing women were recruited from
      pediatric and prenatal care clinics and were enrolled in a prospective study in
      1988 and followed for 2 yr. Tuberculin testing was administered 12 to 18 months
      after enrollment. Fifty-three percent of HIV-negative women had positive
      tuberculin tests (induration > or = 10 mm), with higher rates among older women
      and among women who had received BCG vaccine. Only 21% of HIV-positive women had
      positive tuberculin tests, with no relationship to BCG vaccine. Follow-up was
      available for 93% of subjects. Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 20 HIV-positive
      women and in two HIV-negative women. Features associated with an increased risk
      of tuberculosis among HIV-positive women included: age > or = 30, body mass index
      in the lowest quartile, low income, erythrocyte sedimentation rate > 75, positive
      tuberculin test, and chronic cough, chronic fever, and weight loss. Among Rwandan
      women who are infected with HIV, approximately half of those who are infected
      with M. tuberculosis do not have positive tuberculin tests. The rate ratio for
      development of tuberculosis among HIV-positive women was 22 (95% CI, 5 to 92).
      New algorithms are needed to improve the early detection of tuberculosis among
      HIV-positive patients in Africa.

PMID- 1456560
TI  - The combined effect of rifampin and pyrazinamide within the human macrophage.
AB  - A recent study in the murine model suggested that a combination of rifampin and
      pyrazinamide used as preventive therapy might shorten the duration of treatment
      time. Clinical trials using this combination have been initiated, but significant
      results will not be available for many years. The ex vivo human macrophage model
      has been instructive in expanding our knowledge of the activity of
      chemotherapeutic agents against intracellular virulent tubercle bacilli. Prior
      studies have shown rifampin to have a bactericidal effect in this model while
      even at clinically unachievable levels, pyrazinamide had only a bacteriostatic
      impact. This study finds an enhanced bacteriostatic effect when low,
      nonbactericidal levels of rifampin are combined with clinically achievable levels
      of pyrazinamide but not with higher bactericidal levels of rifampin. Adding
      pyrazinamide 2 days after the introduction of rifampin clearly enhanced the
      combined killing effect. However, reversing the order and adding rifampin 2 days
      after the introduction of pyrazinamide produced a result weaker than introducing
      the agents simultaneously. Our findings do not support the use of these agents as
      a potentially effective preventive therapy combination, but they suggest that the
      timing of the administration of these chemotherapeutic agents could be an
      important factor in their effectiveness.

PMID- 1456561
TI  - Oxygen-induced lung damage. Relationship to lung mitochondrial glutathione
      levels.
AB  - Several reports suggest there is a relationship between lung glutathione (GSH)
      levels and susceptibility to oxygen-induced lung damage. However, studies of
      other organs and cells indicate that a better relationship may exist between
      mitochondrial GSH levels and oxidant damage. We determined whether there is a
      similar relationship in the lung using a well-characterized mouse model and a
      series of interventions that alter lung GSH levels and susceptibility to oxygen
      induced lung damage. Mice were fasted or given buthionine sulfoximine (BSO, 20
      mM), which reduce total lung GSH levels and increase susceptibility to oxygen
      induced lung damage. Mice were also given glutathione monoethyl ester (GSH-ME)
      intraperitoneally (5 or 10 mM/kg/day for 2 days) or intratracheally (0.2 mM once)
      in an attempt to increase lung GSH levels. Fasting for up to 3 days and the
      administration of BSO for 7 to 10 days decreased total lung GSH levels (p < 0.001
      for both) but not lung mitochondrial GSH levels. Intraperitoneal administration
      of GSH-ME increased mitochondrial GSH levels (p < 0.001 in both fed and fasted
      mice), but it had little effect on total lung GSH levels and no effect on
      susceptibility to oxygen-induced lung damage. Exposure to 100% oxygen increased
      mitochondrial GSH levels in both the fed and fasted mice to nearly the same
      extent (p < 0.001 for both). However, the fasted mice had lower total lung GSH
      levels compared with the fed mice (p < 0.05) and increased susceptibility to 100%
      oxygen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456562
TI  - The effect of smoke inhalation on lung function and airway responsiveness in
      wildland fire fighters.
AB  - The current study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of smoke on forced
      expiratory volumes and airway responsiveness in wildland fire fighters during a
      season of active fire fighting. Sixty-three seasonal and full-time wildland fire
      fighters from five U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDAFS) Hotshot
      crews in Northern California and Montana completed questionnaires, spirometry,
      and methacholine challenge testing before and after an active season of fire
      fighting in 1989. There were significant mean individual declines of 0.09, 0.15,
      and 0.44 L/s in postseason values of FVC, FEV1, and FEF25-75, respectively,
      compared with preseason values. There were no consistent significant
      relationships between mean individual declines of the spirometric parameters and
      the covariates: sex, smoking history, history of asthma or allergies, years as a
      fire fighter, upper/lower respiratory symptoms, or membership in a particular
      Hotshot crew. There was a statistically significant increase in airway
      responsiveness when comparing preseason methacholine dose-response slopes (DRS)
      with postseason dose-response slopes (p = 0.02). The increase in airway
      responsiveness appeared to be greatest in fire fighters with a history of lower
      respiratory symptoms or asthma, but it was not related to smoking history. These
      data suggest that wildland fire fighting is associated with decreases in lung
      function and increases in airway responsiveness independent of a history of
      cigarette smoking. Our findings are consistent with the results of previous
      studies of municipal fire fighters.

PMID- 1456563
TI  - Dust- and endotoxin-related respiratory effects in the animal feed industry.
AB  - A cross-sectional study of 315 animal feed workers was undertaken in 14 animal
      feed mills in the Netherlands. Primary aims were to explore relationships between
      exposure to organic dust and respiratory symptoms and chronic lung function
      changes. The study comprised monitoring dust and endotoxin exposure, spirometric
      lung function measurements (FVC, FEV1, mean midexpiratory flow, and flow-volume
      parameters) and a questionnaire for respiratory symptoms. The exposure was
      measured in two periods, during spring and autumn. The average 8-h personal
      inspirable dust exposure was 9 mg/m3 grain dust (range, 0.2 to 150 mg/m3) and 25
      ng/m3 endotoxin (range, 0.2 to 470 ng/m3) based on 530 personal dust
      measurements. On the basis of these measurements and the occupational history of
      the workers, the number of years "worked in dust" and an estimate of the
      cumulative dust and endotoxin exposure were calculated. The prevalence of most
      chronic respiratory symptoms tended to decrease with increasing years of
      exposure. The "healthy worker effect" is probably responsible for this finding.
      In general, a strong negative association between most of the exposure variables
      and lung function was found. The endotoxin exposure was more strongly related to
      decreases in lung function than the dust exposure. The estimated effects of an
      average (cumulative) endotoxin exposure on lung function were greater, with a
      higher statistical significance, than for an exposure to dust. These results
      suggest that endotoxin exposure is an important factor in the development of
      respiratory impairment. The lung function changes occur at endotoxin levels
      ranging from 0.2 to 470 ng/m3.

PMID- 1456564
TI  - Exposures of older adults with chronic respiratory illness to nitrogen dioxide. A
      combined laboratory and field study.
AB  - We combined field and laboratory experimentation to evaluate the effects of
      nitrogen dioxide in a panel of Los Angeles area residents with chronic
      respiratory illness, 15 men and 11 women aged 47 to 69. All had heavy smoking
      history, chronic symptoms, and low FEV1; some also had low FVC. During the fall
      winter high-NO2 season, they monitored themselves for 2-wk periods using
      spirometers in the home, passive NO2 sampling badges, and diaries to record time
      and activity patterns and clinical status. In the middle of each self-monitoring
      week they were exposed in a chamber, once to clean air and once to 0.3 ppm NO2.
      Chamber exposures were double blind, lasted 4 h, and included four 7-min exercise
      sessions with average ventilation rates near 25 L/min. Symptom reports and hourly
      forced expiratory function tests showed no statistically significant differences
      between clean air and NO2 chamber exposures, although peak flow showed a
      approximately 3% loss with NO2 relative to clean air during the first 2 h of
      exposure only (p = 0.056). No significant overall differences were found between
      field self-measurements and measurements of lung function in the chamber or
      between field measurements in clean air and NO2 exposure weeks. Field data showed
      that group average lung function and symptom levels were worse in the morning
      than later in the day (p < 0.005) but otherwise were stable over 2 wk. Even
      though most subjects smoked and stayed indoors 80 to 90% of the time, personal
      NO2 exposures correlated significantly with outdoor NO2 concentrations as
      reported by local monitoring stations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456565
TI  - Effects of steady-state and variable ozone concentration profiles on pulmonary
      function.
AB  - Measurements of ambient ozone (O2) concentration during daylight hours have shown
      a spectrum of concentration profiles, from a relatively stable to a variable
      pattern usually reaching a peak level in the early afternoon. Several recent
      studies have suggested that in estimating exposure dose (O3 concentration [C] x
      exposure time [T] x ventilation [V]), O3 concentration needs to be weighted more
      heavily than either ventilation or duration of exposure in the estimates. In this
      study we tested the hypothesis that regardless of concentration pattern and
      exposure rate the same exposure dose of O3 will induce the same spirometric
      response. We exposed 23 healthy male volunteers (20 to 35 yr of age) for 8 h to
      air, 0.12 ppm O3 (steady-state), and a triangular exposure pattern (concentration
      increased steadily from zero to 0.24 ppm over the first 4 h and decreased back to
      zero by 8 h). During the first 30 min of each hour, subjects exercised for 30 min
      at minute ventilation (VE) approximately 40 L/min. The order of the exposures was
      randomized, and the exposures were separated by at least 7 days. The response
      patterns over the 8-h periods for spirometric variables in both O3 exposures were
      statistically different from air exposure changes and from each other. For FEV1
      the p values were 0.017 between air and steady-state profile, 0.002 between air
      and triangular profile, and 0.037 between steady-state and triangular profiles.
      Although in the triangular pattern of exposure the maximal O3 concentration was
      reached at 4 h, the maximum FEV1 decrement (10.2%) was observed at 6 h of
      exposure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456566
TI  - Risk factors for increased airway responsiveness to methacholine challenge among
      laboratory animal workers.
AB  - As a first step in a prospective study of the incidence of asthma to laboratory
      animals, a group of 364 adults 18 to 48 yr of age who were beginning employment
      with laboratory animals were evaluated in terms of their past history, health
      status, allergy, and airway responsiveness to methacholine. At entry to the
      study, 269 had previous occupational contact with animals, 109 had chest symptoms
      in the previous year, 168 had a history of allergic symptoms to laboratory
      animals (any with asthmatic responses were systematically excluded), and 118 had
      positive immediate skin tests (29 had positive skin tests to laboratory animals).
      When defined as a PD20FEV1 of 80 breath units or less, 18.4% of these young
      adults had methacholine hyperresponsiveness (HRA). Significant risk factors for
      HRA were found to be younger age, female sex, lower educational level, a history
      of allergic symptoms to laboratory animals, and a history of chest symptoms.
      Positive skin tests to laboratory animals were present in 8% of workers; this was
      not a significant risk factor for HRA although positive skin tests to pollen and
      household allergens were. Previous work experience was a risk factor, especially
      among those with allergic symptoms, and a trend toward self-selection was
      suggested in that the rate of HRA was lowest in workers with more than 2 yr of
      experience or with two or more previous jobs with laboratory animals.

PMID- 1456567
TI  - Partitioning of pulmonary responses to inhaled methacholine in subjects with
      asymptomatic asthma.
AB  - To partition the central and peripheral airway resistance, a catheter-tip
      micromanometer sensing lateral pressure of the airway was wedged into the right
      lower lobe of a bronchus with a 3 mm inner diameter in 10 patients with
      asymptomatic asthma. We simultaneously measured mouth flow, transpulmonary
      pressure (PL) and intra-airway lateral pressure during tidal breathing. Total
      pulmonary resistance (RL) was calculated from PL and mouth flow, and central
      airway resistance (RC) was calculated from intra-airway lateral pressure and
      mouth flow. Peripheral airway resistance (Rp) was obtained by subtraction of RC
      from RL. Therefore, our measurement of Rp included lung tissue resistance. The
      technique permitted identification of the site of changes in airway resistance.
      The baseline values of resistances were 2.3 +/- 0.2 cm H2O/L/s in RL, 1.5 +/- 0.1
      cm H2O/L/s in RC, and 0.8 +/- 0.1 cm H2O/L/s in Rp, respectively. To determine
      the site of airway hyperresponsiveness, dose-response curves of central,
      peripheral, and total airways to inhaled methacholine were separately
      constructed. Bronchial responsiveness was evaluated by a log methacholine unit
      requiring a 35% decrease (PC35) and a 50% decrease (PC50) in pulmonary
      conductance (a reciprocal of RL). We calculated the increase of resistances in
      total (delta RL), central (delta RC), and peripheral (delta Rp) airways from the
      baseline values at either PC35 or PC50.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456568
TI  - Physiologic effects of oral supplemental feeding in malnourished patients with
      chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A randomized control study.
AB  - The association between severe nutritional depletion and chronic obstructive
      pulmonary disease (COPD) has long been recognized. A potential therapeutic
      benefit to nutritional support was previously suggested by us in a pilot
      investigation. Subsequent studies have reported conflicting results regarding the
      role of nutritional therapy in this clinical population. We report a randomized
      controlled study of nutritional therapy in underweight patients with COPD that
      combines an initial inpatient investigation (controlled nutritional support) with
      a prolonged outpatient follow-up interval. Provision of adequate calorie and
      protein support, adjusted to metabolic requirements, resulted in weight gain
      (intervention = +2.4 kg versus control -0.5 kg), improved handgrip strength
      (intervention = +5.5 kg-force versus control -6.0 kg-force), expiratory muscle
      strength (intervention = +14.9 cm H2O versus control -9.2 cm H2O), and walking
      distance (intervention = +429 feet versus control -1.0 foot). Inspiratory muscle
      strength was also improved (intervention = +11.4 cm H2O versus control +4.8 cm
      H2O) although this did not quite reach statistical significance. We conclude that
      provision of adequate nutrient supply under controlled conditions results in
      significant clinical improvements in the COPD patient population. However, the
      intervention is costly, time-intensive, and of limited therapeutic magnitude.
      More detailed work of alternative outpatient strategies combined with additional
      rehabilitative measures is indicated to delineate the full therapeutic potential
      of nutritional support for this clinical population.

PMID- 1456569
TI  - Acetazolamide and furosemide attenuate asthma induced by hyperventilation of
      cold, dry air.
AB  - We investigated the assumption that the efficacy of inhaled diuretics in asthma
      is dependent upon inhibition of the Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransporter. We compared the
      protective effect of acetazolamide, a diuretic without significant effect on the
      loop cotransporter, with the protection provided by inhaled furosemide in a cold,
      dry air hyperventilation model of asthma. Seven asthmatic subjects underwent a
      baseline bronchial challenge and then received a nebulized dose of 80 mg of
      furosemide or 500 mg of acetazolamide or saline placebo in a randomized, double
      blind, placebo-controlled crossover design. Repeat challenges were performed
      immediately and at 2 and 4 h postnebulization. Acetazolamide caused a 47.2%
      increase in the amount of cold, dry air required to reduce the FEV1, by 20%
      (expressed in terms of respiratory heat loss as PD20RHL), from 0.79 multiplied or
      divided by (x/divided by) 1.13 kcal/min (geometric mean x/divided by geometric
      SEM) at baseline to 1.17 x/divided by 1.09 kcal/min postnebulization (p < 0.025).
      Furosemide increased the geometric mean PD20RHL by 53.9%, from 0.86 x/divided by
      1.12 kcal/min to 1.33 x/divided by 1.12 kcal/min (p < 0.001). There was no
      significant change after placebo inhalation (0.81 x/divided by 1.15 kcal/min
      versus 0.87 x/divided by 1.10 kcal/min, NS). Airway responsiveness had returned
      to baseline by 2 h postnebulization on all 3 days. Furosemide also caused
      bronchodilatation, producing a 14.1% rise in the mean FEV1 (p < 0.005 versus
      prenebulization), whereas neither acetazolamide nor placebo altered airway tone
      significantly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456570
TI  - Timing of prednisone and alterations of airways inflammation in nocturnal asthma.
AB  - Asthmatic subjects prone to nocturnal worsening demonstrate overnight recruitment
      of inflammatory cells into the airways. The influence of dose timing on the
      ability of corticosteroids to block circadian recruitment of inflammatory cells
      into asthmatic airways and attenuate the nocturnal worsening of asthma is
      unclear. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, we evaluated
      the response of seven asthmatic subjects with respect to overnight spirometry,
      blood eosinophil counts, and bronchoalveolar lavage cytology to a single variably
      timed 50 mg oral dose of prednisone given at 0800, 1500, or 2000 h. Compared to
      placebo, a single prednisone dose at 1500 h resulted in a reduction in the
      overnight percentage fall in FEV1 (-28.2 +/- 7.3 versus -10.4 +/- 4.5%, p = 0.04)
      and improvement in the 0400 h FEV1 (2.53 +/- 0.38 versus 3.43 +/- 0.38 L, p =
      0.03). In contrast, neither a 0800 nor 2000 h prednisone dose compared to placebo
      resulted in overnight spirometric improvement. Also following the 1500 h
      prednisone dose, blood eosinophil counts were significantly reduced at both 2000
      and 0400 h. Lastly, the 1500 h dosing resulted in a pan-cellular reduction in
      bronchoalveolar lavage cytology (p < or = to 0.05 for all cell lines compared to
      placebo), but neither alternative dose schedule significantly reduced any cell
      line. Our data support the relevance of timing of prednisone dose in altering the
      inflammatory milieu and spirometric decline associated with nocturnal worsening
      of asthma.

PMID- 1456571
TI  - Bronchial exudation of bulk plasma at allergen challenge in allergic asthma.
AB  - This study examined plasma exudation into the bronchial lumen after allergen
      challenge. A novel low-trauma technique was developed to challenge and lavage a
      medium-sized lingular or middle lobe bronchus. Eleven subjects with challenge
      assessed pollen-sensitive asthma were allocated to fiberbronchoscopy in the
      supine position. In the control bronchus 0.5 ml diluent was instilled. The
      bronchus was occluded proximally 3 min later by inflation of a balloon, and
      lavage was carried out twice with 25 ml saline. Incremental doses of allergen
      solution (0.5 ml) were then instilled in the contralateral lung. The challenge
      continued until a clearly visible bronchial reaction occurred and was immediately
      followed by the same lavage as on the control side. The lavage liquids were
      analyzed for the presence of plasma exudation and mast cell activation indices.
      On the allergen-challenged side, tryptase, reflecting mast cell activation, was
      increased by 150% (p < 0.01) compared with the control side. Fibrinogen (mol wt
      340,000), reflecting large protein exudation, was increased by 840% (p < 0.05),
      and N-alpha-tosyl-L-arginine-methyl esterase activity, reflecting both large
      protein exudation and mast cell activation, increased by 480% (p < 0.01). The
      level of albumin (mol wt 69,000), the major luminal protein under baseline
      conditions, increased but not significantly. We conclude that activation of mast
      cells and luminal entry of little sieved plasma exudates occur early after
      endobronchial allergen provocation in human subjects with allergic asthma.

PMID- 1456572
TI  - Inhibition by L-NG-nitro-L-arginine of nonadrenergic-noncholinergic-mediated
      relaxations of human isolated central and peripheral airway.
AB  - Human isolated central (5 to 12 mm) and peripheral (< 2 mm) bronchi were
      contracted with 3 microM histamine. Relaxations were then evoked by electrical
      field stimulation (EFS) (1 to 32 Hz, 1 ms, 12 V for 15 s in the presence of
      indomethacin, atropine, and propranolol). The magnitude, time-course, and
      frequency-response relationship of these nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC)
      relaxations were similar in the central and the peripheral airways. NG-Nitro-L
      arginine (L-NOARG) (10 microM) inhibited the tetrodotoxin-sensitive NANC
      relaxations in both central and peripheral bronchi, whereas the stereoisomer D
      NOARG was without effect. This inhibition was reversed by L-arginine (1 mM) but
      not be D-arginine (1 mM). The nitric oxide donor compound, 3
      morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), was equipotent at relaxing the central and
      peripheral airways. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), although it relaxed
      central airways, was virtually ineffective in relaxing the peripheral airways. In
      addition, the peptidase, alpha-chymotrypsin, at a concentration that blocked
      relaxations to VIP, was without effect on NANC relaxations in the central
      bronchi. The results support the following hypotheses: (1) both central and
      peripheral airways receive nonadrenergic relaxant innervation; (2) the relaxant
      response to electrical stimulation of this system is dependent on a pathway
      involving L-arginine; and (3) the relaxant response does not appear to involve
      VIP, but it may involve the production of nitric oxide.

PMID- 1456573
TI  - Excitatory role of axon reflex in bradykinin-induced contraction of guinea pig
      tracheal smooth muscle.
AB  - To elucidate the role of the axon reflex in the airways, we studied the effects
      of atropine (10(-6) M) and tetrodotoxin (10(-7) M) on the bradykinin-induced
      contraction of guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle, with or without pretreatment of
      the animals with capsaicin. The concentration-response curves to bradykinin (10(
      9) to 10(-5) M) were measured in the presence of both indomethacin and
      propranolol. In the guinea pigs not given capsaicin pretreatment, baseline
      tension values did not differ before versus after the application of atropine or
      tetrodotoxin. Tetrodotoxin reduced the bradykinin-induced contraction
      significantly, but atropine did not change the contraction induced by bradykinin.
      These observations indicate that bradykinin-induced contraction is potentiated by
      a neurally mediated action, but that is not mediated by acetylcholine released
      from the efferent vagal nerve terminals. The contractile response to bradykinin
      was significantly reduced in the animals treated with capsaicin as compared with
      those administered vehicle only. Furthermore, in the animals treated with
      capsaicin, tetrodotoxin did not affect the response to bradykinin. These
      observations indicate that bradykinin-induced airway smooth muscle contraction is
      mediated in part by tachykinins released from C-fiber endings, presumably via an
      axon reflex.

PMID- 1456574
TI  - Guinea pig model of immunologic asthma induced by inhalation of trimellitic
      anhydride.
AB  - We established a model of asthma induced by trimellitic anhydride (TMA) in guinea
      pigs and assessed the role of sensitization in the development of their bronchial
      hyperresponsiveness, and relationship between bronchial responsiveness and
      bronchial inflammation. Fourteen guinea pigs (sensitized group) were administered
      1 mg/0.5 ml of trimellity 36-bovine serum albumin intramuscularly and 0.5 ml of
      complete Freund adjuvant on Day 1 as the priming dose. Booster doses were
      repeated on Day 15. By Day 28, all of the sensitized animals showed a high
      passive hemagglutination titer against trimellityl 14-ovalbumin. On Day 29, they
      were challenged by an inhalation of TMA (150 mg/m3) for 30 min, and respiratory
      resistance (Rrs) was monitored by the oscillation method. In all sensitized
      animals, Rrs increased immediately upon challenge and returned to baseline within
      6 h. The bronchial reactivity to acetylcholine (Ach), measured 6 h after TMA
      challenge in the sensitized animals, increased significantly (p < 0.01) compared
      with that measured 24 h before challenge; that measured 24 h later was not
      different from that before challenge. There was also a significant difference (p
      < 0.01) in the number of eosinophils in the lamina propria and the epithelium 6
      and 24 h after the challenge inhalation in the sensitized group. The increased
      airway responsiveness to Ach in the sensitized animals was correlated with an
      increase in the number of eosinophils in the lamina propria and the epithelium.
      These observations suggest that humoral antibody and eosinophils are involved in
      the pathogenesis of TMA-induced asthma.

PMID- 1456575
TI  - Metered-dose inhaler adherence in a clinical trial.
AB  - We studied patterns of inhaler usage in a sample of participants from two centers
      in the Lung Health Study clinical trial. The inhaler, containing either
      ipratropium bromide or a placebo, was prescribed to be taken as two inhalations
      three times daily. For 4 months we recorded adherence by both self-report (n =
      95) and canister weight change (n = 70). We compared these results with data
      obtained from a microprocessor monitoring device, the Nebulizer Chronolog (NC),
      which records the date and time of each inhaler actuation. Seventy-three percent
      of the participants reported using the inhaler an average of three times daily;
      however, NC data showed that only 15% of the participants actually used the
      inhaler an average of 2.5 or more times per day. Canister weight overestimated
      adherence because only 62% of the NC sets contained the prescribed two
      actuations. Fourteen percent showed a pattern of actuation of their inhalers more
      than 100 times in a 3-h interval. We interpret this usage pattern to reflect
      deliberate emptying of inhalers to appear to be in good compliance with the
      prescribed program. We conclude that self-report and weighing of inhaler
      canisters overestimate adherence to the prescribed regimens. Furthermore, a
      substantial number of monitored inhaler users appear to deliberately dump their
      medication prior to follow-up visits.

PMID- 1456576
TI  - Lymphocytic alveolitis and pleural calcifications in nonoccupational asbestos
      exposure. Protection against neoplasia?
AB  - Inhabitants of the Metsovo area in Northwest Greece (population, 4,000) have been
      exposed to asbestos through the use of whitewash containing tremolite. This has
      resulted in endemic pleural calcifications (PCs) and increased incidence of
      malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). In order to evaluate the lung response to
      the fiber, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in 25 Metsovites; 14 with
      PCs, three with PCs and neoplasia, five without PCs, and three without PCs but
      with established neoplasia. There were no differences between the four groups
      with regard to age or exposure. Twelve Metsovites had lymphocytic alveolitis (BAL
      lymphocytes > 15%). Eleven belonged to the group with PCs and one belonged to the
      group without PCs. None of those with neoplasia had alveolitis. The lymphocytes
      were mainly helper T-cells, and activation markers were more frequent among those
      with PCs. We have previously reported on the relative absence of PCs in
      Metsovites with malignant pleural mesothelioma. This observation and the results
      of the present study suggest that lymphocytic alveolitis correlates with pleural
      calcifications, whereas both are rarely present in patients with neoplasia.

PMID- 1456577
TI  - Immunocytochemistry and ELISA quantitation of mucin for diagnosis of malignant
      pleural effusions.
AB  - One hundred and thirty-five pleural effusions with definite etiology were
      analyzed by mucin-specific monoclonal antibody (17Q2)-derived enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Twenty-four effusions were transudate, 45 were
      nonmalignant exudate, and 66 were malignant. Among the 66 malignant effusions, 52
      were adenocarcinoma, and 14 were malignancies other than adenocarcinoma. Purified
      mucous glycoproteins from sputa of normal subjects were used as ELISA standard.
      Our results showed that the mean mucin concentration in malignant pleural
      effusions were significantly higher than that of benign exudates (8.41 +/- 13.48
      ng/ml versus 1.09 +/- 0.82 ng/ml, p < 0.01). Mucin concentration in malignant
      pleural effusions caused by adenocarcinoma was also significantly higher than in
      non-adenocarcinoma effusions (9.96 +/- 14.81 ng/ml versus 2.66 +/- 1.74 ng/ml, p
      < 0.01). With the use of mean +/- 2 SD of mucin concentration in benign exudates
      as a cut-off value (2.73 ng/ml), the sensitivity of this assay for diagnosis of
      malignant effusions was 66.7%, specificity was 97.1%, and accuracy was 82.2%.
      High levels of mucin concentration were more specifically associated with
      adenocarcinoma. When the mucin concentration in pleural effusions was greater
      than 5 ng/ml, 93.1% (27/29) of patients were adenocarcinoma. If the mucin
      concentration was greater than 10 ng/ml, 100% (14/14) of patients were
      adenocarcinoma. Immunofluorescent staining by mucin-specific monoclonal antibody
      17Q2 were also carried out in diastase-treated cell preparations obtained from 22
      patients with malignant pleural effusions and 16 benign exudates. Nine of 14
      adenocarcinomas (64.2%) were reactive with monoclonal antibody 17Q2, while none
      of the benign exudates, squamous cell carcinomas, and mesotheliomas were
      stained.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456578
TI  - Evaluation of cor pulmonale on a modified short-axis section of the heart by
      magnetic resonance imaging.
AB  - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a modified short-axis section of the heart,
      in 36 patients with chronic pulmonary diseases, consisting of 19 patients with
      pulmonary hypertension (PH group; mean pulmonary arterial pressure > or = 20 mm
      Hg) and 17 patients without pulmonary hypertension (non-PH group) was evaluated
      to study the configuration of the right ventricle. Parameters of right
      ventricular hypertrophy, including right ventricular wall thickness (RVWT) and
      the ratio of RVWT to left ventricular posterior wall thickness (RVWT/LVPWT), with
      this method were significantly larger in the PH group than in the non-PH group (p
      < 0.01). RVWT and RVWT/LVPWT correlated well with mean pulmonary arterial
      pressure (r = 0.90, p < 0.001 and r = 0.89, p < 0.001), total pulmonary
      resistance (TPR; r = 0.88, p < 0.001 and r = 0.85, p < 0.001), and pulmonary
      arteriolar resistance (PAR; r = 0.83, p < 0.001 and r = 0.81, p < 0.001). This
      method of setting a patient in a supine position and slicing with single-oblique
      sections may seem overly simple compared with Dinsmore's double-oblique short
      axis section of the heart, but it is more convenient in practice. These results
      suggest that a modified short-axis section of the heart by MRI provides valid
      clinical configurational information concerning the right ventricle on which to
      base a noninvasive diagnosis of cor pulmonale.

PMID- 1456579
TI  - CD3+ and CD4+ cells adoptively transfer experimental hypersensitivity
      pneumonitis.
AB  - To characterize the cells responsible for transfer of adoptive murine
      experimental hypersensitivity pneumonitis (EHP), we depleted Micropolyspora faeni
      (M. faeni)-sensitized C3H/HeJ spleen cell (SC) cultures of CD3+, CD4+, or CD8+
      cells before administration to recipients. We determined the length of time
      sensitization persists, the ability of cultured lung-associated lymph node (LALN)
      cells to transfer EHP, and the ability of cultured SC from animals subjected to
      two, four, or eight weekly intratracheal challenges of M. faeni to transfer EHP.
      The extent of pulmonary inflammatory response after challenge with intratracheal
      M. faeni was used to determine adoptive transfer. Depletion reduced the
      proportion of CD3+ cells from 21 to 1%, CD4+ cells from 15 to 3%, and CD8+ cells
      from 7 to 1% in the cultured SC population. The proportion of B cells exhibited
      reciprocal changes. Cultured SC could transfer EHP. Depletion of CD3+ and CD4+,
      but not CD8+ cells, ablated or diminished the capacity to transfer EHP.
      Sensitized cells persisted in recipients for at least 8 wk. Cultured LALN cells
      could transfer EHP. Recipients of cultured SC from 4- and 8-wk donors exhibited
      less extensive pulmonary abnormalities than recipients of cultured SC from 2-wk
      donors. The proportion of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, B cells, and macrophages was the same
      in cultured cells from 2-, 4-, and 8-wk donors. We conclude that the active cells
      in SC cultures are CD3+, CD4+, and CD8- T cells, and there are differences in the
      ability of cultured cells to adoptively transfer EHP that are dependent on the
      nature of the donor but not on the phenotype of the cell population.

PMID- 1456580
TI  - In vivo detection of a novel macrophage-derived protein involved in the
      regulation of mucus-like glycoconjugate secretion.
AB  - We previously described a novel 68,000 D macrophage-derived protein (MMS-68) that
      can stimulate mucus-like glycoconjugate (MLGC) secretion from cultured human
      airways, respiratory epithelial cells, and the ishikawa adenocarcinoma cell line.
      To better characterize this mucus secretagogue, we generated monoclonal
      antibodies against MMS-68 by injecting crushed SDS-PAGE gel slices containing
      this protein into Balb-C mice followed by fusion with SP2/0, a nonsecreting mouse
      myeloma cell line. A panel of monoclonal antibodies was produced that identified
      the 68,000 D MMS by immunoblot analysis and immunoprecipitation. The monoclonal
      antibodies detected MMS-68 in normal peripheral blood monocytes and pulmonary
      macrophages by cytofluorographic analysis and in human airways as determined by
      immunohistochemistry. Utilizing the monoclonal antibodies, an antigen-capture
      ELISA assay was developed. Statistically significant elevations in levels of MMS
      68 were detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of chronic bronchitic
      subjects and cigarette smokers and in monocyte culture supernatants from steroid
      dependent asthmatic patients compared to normal control subjects. The 68,000 D
      MMS is a potent secretagogue and may play an important role in the regulation of
      mucus secretion, especially in chronic bronchitis and steroid-dependent asthma.

PMID- 1456581
TI  - Bacterial tracheitis with upper airway obstruction in a patient with the acquired
      immunodeficiency syndrome.
AB  - Bacterial tracheitis after an upper viral respiratory infection is a well
      recognized entity in the pediatric literature. Bacterial tracheitis has only
      recently been reported in adults, and it is a potentially life-threatening
      illness. We report a case of bacterial tracheitis in a patient with AIDS.

PMID- 1456582
TI  - Hard metal pneumoconiosis and the association of tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
AB  - Hard metal pneumoconiosis is a recently recognized occupational lung disease
      associated with the exposure to cobalt fumes in the workplace. Chronic exposure
      in susceptible individuals results in interstitial lung disease
      histopathologically manifested as interstitial fibrosis with an associated
      mononuclear cell infiltrate and the presence of "cannibalistic" multinucleated
      giant cells in the alveolar airspaces. The majority of patients present with
      symptoms of chronic cough and dyspnea. Interestingly, in addition, patients
      uniformly report significant weight loss out of proportion to their degree of
      respiratory impairment. In this case report we demonstrate the association of
      tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and hard metal (cobalt) pneumoconiosis and
      suggest that TNF may have a potential role in the etiology of the constitutional
      symptoms and the pathogenesis of interstitial lung disease.

PMID- 1456583
TI  - Pulmonary and intestinal microsporidiosis in a patient with the acquired
      immunodeficiency syndrome.
AB  - The microsporidian protozoan organism Enterocytozoon bieneusi has been found in
      enterocytes of the small intestine in patients infected with human
      immunodeficiency virus, and it has been recognized as an important cause of
      chronic diarrhea in this patient group. We report the first case of a 41-yr-old
      man with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in whom microsporidia were detected
      in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, transbronchial lung biopsies, stool specimens,
      and ileal biopsies. He experienced chronic diarrhea, wasting syndrome, chronic
      cough, and dyspnea. His chest roentgenogram showed a small left posterobasal
      infiltrate and a small left pleural effusion. The histologic pattern of
      microsporidia in his bronchial and ileal tissue and the cellular inflammatory
      reaction with intraepithelial infiltration by lymphocytes were identical to
      findings described in duodenal and jejunal Enterocytozoon bieneusi
      microsporidiosis. An association between the presence of microsporidia in the
      lung and the pulmonary symptoms has yet to be determined. It is not known whether
      pulmonary microsporidiosis was acquired by the aerosol route, by aspiration, or
      by hematogenous dissemination from the intestine.

PMID- 1456584
TI  - Bronchial hyperresponsiveness and level of exposure in occupational asthma due to
      western red cedar (Thuja plicata). Serial observations before and after
      development of symptoms.
AB  - Four workers from a cedar sawmill who developed red cedar asthma are described.
      They had serial measurements of lung function and nonspecific bronchial
      hyperresponsiveness (NSBH) several years before and after the development of
      chest symptoms. Measurements of dust concentration and specific IgE antibodies to
      plicatic acid-human serum albumin (PA-HSA) conjugate were also carried out before
      the onset of disease. NSBH developed in parallel with the development of asthma
      and was not present in any of the workers beforehand, indicating that it is not a
      predisposing host factor. Nasal symptoms preceded chest symptoms in three
      workers, suggesting that this may be an early marker of the disease. Although
      dust concentrations for jobs located both inside and outside the sawmill were
      low, jobs associated with somewhat higher exposures were associated with the
      initiation of asthma symptoms.

PMID- 1456585
TI  - Hypercapnic ventilatory response in recipients of double-lung transplants.
AB  - Ten survivors of double lung transplantation using a tracheal anastomosis
      underwent assessment of their ventilatory responses to hypercapnia (HCVR) at
      least 3 months postsurgery. At the time of HCVR testing, pulmonary functions were
      normal in four and abnormal in six patients who demonstrated degrees of
      obstruction, restriction, or mixed defects. Arterial blood gas measurements were
      normal. Postoperatively, hypercapnic responses were low or low normal. Mean
      changes in tidal volume and mean change in respiratory frequency in response to
      hypercapnia postoperatively were not different in patients with normocapnic
      versus hypercapnic preoperative blood gases. Neither postoperative resting PCO2
      nor muscle strength (as measured by MIP) were predictive of the degree or
      character of the patients' ventilatory responses to hypercapnia. The factors
      resulting in the observed blunting of the hypercapnic response in this denervated
      population require further clarification; however, comparison of data between
      this patient population and recipients of heart-lung transplantation reported
      elsewhere suggests that alterations in pulmonary function correlate with the
      observed depression in HCVR.

PMID- 1456586
TI  - Bicarbonate concentration in rhesus monkey and guinea pig fetal lung liquid.
AB  - Fetal lung liquid secretion is essential for the normal growth of the lung in
      utero. Previous studies of fetal lung liquid secretion, mostly performed in
      lambs, have demonstrated that it has high Cl and very low HCO3- concentrations
      relative to plasma values. Because it is unknown whether primates have a similar
      electrolyte profile in their lung liquid, we sampled the lung liquid from rhesus
      monkeys (Macaca mulatta) at 127 to 128 days gestation (0.8 gestation). Although
      we found that lung liquid Cl concentration was higher than plasma values (p <
      0.05), the HCO3- concentration was the same as in the plasma. This indicates that
      nonhuman primates, relative to lambs, have different cellular mechanisms for
      regulating fetal lung liquid HCO3- concentrations.

PMID- 1456587
TI  - Emphysema: the first two centuries--and beyond. A historical overview, with
      suggestions for future research: Part 2.

PMID- 1456588
TI  - Control of tuberculosis in the United States. American Thoracic Society.
AB  - TB continues to be a major public health problem in many areas of the United
      States. Elimination of this disease will require coordinated efforts of public
      health agencies, voluntary health associations, health-care providers, and
      community groups. TB controls is comprised of a variety of activities.
      Identification and treatment of patients with clinically active disease should be
      the highest priority for all TB control programs. Identification and preventive
      treatment of infected contacts and persons with tuberculous infection at greatest
      risk for developing disease (eg, HIV-infected, young children) should also
      receive high priority. Attention should then be given to identifying other high
      risk groups and administering preventive therapy to those infected. While TB
      control occurs in many different settings, the health department TB control
      program plays a pivotal role in providing clinical services, and performing
      contact investigations, tuberculin-testing and prevention activities,
      surveillance, and evaluation of the community's overall progress in TB
      elimination. Health departments should receive strong and continuing support from
      medical care providers, voluntary health organizations, and community groups if
      TB elimination is to be achieved.

PMID- 1456589
TI  - Proportional assist and negative-impedance ventilation.

PMID- 1456590
TI  - Isoniazid-associated hepatitis deaths: a review of available information.

PMID- 1456591
TI  - Isoniazid-associated hepatitis deaths: a review of available information.

PMID- 1456592
TI  - Effectors of hypercarbia during experimental pneumoperitoneum.
AB  - Hypercarbia occurs during laparoscopy with carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation.
      This may be due to increased ventilatory dead space after expansion of the
      peritoneal cavity with impairment of diaphragmatic excursion, or to increased
      absorption of CO2 from the peritoneum. To separate these effects, the authors
      examined the consequences of different insufflating gases and of diminished
      tissue perfusion on hypercarbia and dead space during pneumoperitoneum. Helium
      was chosen as an alternate insufflating gas because it is both inert and
      minimally absorbed. Eight swine (18 to 20 kg) were anesthetized, paralyzed, and
      mechanically ventilated at constant minute volume. Pneumoperitoneum with helium
      was maintained at 15 mm Hg for 45 minutes. After desufflation and stabilization
      for 1 hour, pneumoperitoneum was repeated with CO2. The sequence was again
      repeated after hemorrhagic shock to constant mean arterial pressure of 50 mm Hg.
      Data was analyzed by analysis of variance; significance levels are P < 0.01
      unless otherwise listed. Arterial PCO2 increased significantly with CO2
      insufflation within 15 minutes in normotensive animals and within 30 minutes
      during hypotension. Arterial pH decrease with CO2 pneumoperitoneum was
      significant in both groups at 30 minutes. Mixed venous PCO2 also increased with
      CO2 pneumoperitoneum within 30 minutes. Hypotension did not alter these changes.
      No significant changes were seen with helium pneumoperitoneum. Neither helium nor
      CO2 pneumoperitoneum significantly altered dead space. The authors make the
      following conclusions: 1) Absorption of CO2 from the abdomen during CO2
      pneumoperitoneum produces respiratory acidosis, which is not seen with helium
      insufflation; 2) Pneumoperitoneum does not significantly increase dead space with
      either gas; 3) Transperitoneal absorption of CO2 is only partly related to
      perfusion because significant hypercarbia occurs during hemorrhagic shock.

PMID- 1456593
TI  - A new method for microvascular anastomosis: report of experimental and clinical
      research.
AB  - Principles of microvascular anastomotic surgery are uncertain in contrast to the
      standardized suture methods for the repair of large arteries. Complications of
      early thromboses or late stricture at the microvascular anastomotic line can be
      related to the inherent biologic response of these delicate tissues to
      penetrating needle and suture. A new method for microvascular reconstruction
      based on the principle of flanged, nonpenetrated, intimal approximation by an
      arcuate-legged clip has proven biologically and technically superior to the
      penetrating microsuture. These conclusions are based on extensive testing in
      multiple surgical laboratories of the following parameters: long- and short-term
      patency, morphology of wound repair, and burst and tensile strength. Details of
      the new surgical system and experimental studies are described.

PMID- 1456594
TI  - Glucose intolerance in critically ill surgical patients: relationship to total
      parenteral nutrition and severity of illness.
AB  - The authors evaluated the relative influence of severity of illness and total
      parenteral nutrition (TPN) on glucose intolerance in critically ill surgical
      patients. Records of TPN administration, serum glucose measurements, and the
      simplified acute physiology score (SAPS) were extracted from the surgical
      intensive care unit (SICU) and hospital clinical information systems (CIS) for
      all patients admitted to the SICU from October 1, 1989 through March 31, 1990.
      Critical hyperglycemia was defined as glucose > 400 mg/dL and critical
      hypoglycemia as < 40 mg/dL. During the study period, 1,129 patients received
      3,054 days of care, including 88 patients who received 705 days of TPN. Of 4,985
      glucose determinations performed during the study period, 48 (0.96%) were
      critically abnormal. Critical hyperglycemia occurred in 1.7 per cent of blood
      samples from TPN patients, compared to 0.7 per cent in non-TPN patients (P <
      0.005). However, the mean admission and daily and maximum severity of illness
      scores were significantly higher in TPN patients compared to non-TPN patients
      (all P < 0.0005). Mean glucose levels rose with increasing SAPS in both TPN and
      non-TPN patients. When stratified by severity of illness, TPN patients did not
      have significantly higher glucose levels than non-TPN patients except for the
      SAPS = 15 category. The authors conclude that the glucose intolerance noted in
      critically ill TPN patients reflects their underlying severity of illness rather
      than TPN administration per se.

PMID- 1456595
TI  - Subcapsular hematoma as a predictor of delayed splenic rupture.
AB  - Over the past 46 months at a level I trauma center, 966 computed tomography (CT)
      scans were performed for blunt abdominal trauma. Eighty-three (8.6%) demonstrated
      splenic injury, and 31 (3.2%) of these showed a subcapsular hematoma with or
      without associated parenchymal damage. Of the 31 patients, 23 were managed
      conservatively, based initially upon surgeons' preference (14 patients) and after
      March 1990 to conform to the authors' splenic trauma protocol (nine patients).
      The eight patients operated upon were hemodynamically stable and all underwent
      splenectomy. Subcapsular hematoma, as diagnosed by preoperative CT scan, was
      confirmed in each of the eight celiotomies. Parenchymal involvement, which had
      also been identified in these eight patients by CT, was evident at operation in
      all, and hilar involvement occurred in three. None of the 23 observed patients
      developed delayed splenic rupture. All were discharged home with outpatient
      follow-up in surgical clinic to at least 1 month without further complication.
      The authors came to the following conclusions: 1) Subcapsular hematoma is neither
      a predictor for delayed splenic rupture, nor by itself an indication for
      operative management of the injured spleen in the hemodynamically stable patient;
      2) Degree of parenchymal injury based on CT morphology, specifically hilar
      involvement, signifies the need for laparotomy with splenectomy; 3) Splenorrhaphy
      has a reduced role in splenic trauma because most injuries now operated upon are
      severe.

PMID- 1456596
TI  - A critical analysis of blood transfusion requirements in children with blunt
      abdominal trauma.
AB  - Over the past 2 years, 178 children with blunt abdominal trauma were admitted for
      observation. Fifty-five patients (31.5%) had intra-abdominal injury confirmed by
      computerized tomography (CT) scan, laparotomy, or postmortem examination. Forty
      four children (80%) were managed with observation only; nine had other
      operations. Eleven patients (20%) required an operation for their intra-abdominal
      injuries. Thirteen patients died, ten from head or spinal injuries and three from
      intra-abdominal injuries (5.5%). Of 35 children with intra-abdominal injuries
      observed without any type of operation, 27 (77%) were not transfused (mean
      Pediatric Trauma Score [PTS] 8, Injury Severity Score [ISS] 19.3, average low
      hemoglobin [ALH] 10.1). The other eight were transfused an average of 49 cc/kg
      (mean PTS 4.5, ISS 26.5 ALH 6.1). Twenty children had operations. Eleven 11 (20%)
      of these were laparotomies; nine were transfused an average of 200.6 cc/kg (mean
      PTS 6, ISS 33, ALH 9). Nine had neurosurgical/orthopedic procedures (mean PTS
      6.2, ISS 27.7), with six transfusions averaging 84.9 cc/kg (ALH 8.9). There were
      no significant complications. Blood transfusion was necessary only for 33 per
      cent of the observed cases, usually with multiple injuries. Blood should be
      transfused only to maintain hemodynamic stability (normal vital signs and tissue
      perfusion). Hemoglobin levels as low as 7 gm% do not mandate transfusion in
      children who are hemodynamically stable.

PMID- 1456597
TI  - Continuous intra-arterial oxygen monitoring: accuracy and reliability in the
      surgical intensive care unit.
AB  - The accuracy and reliability of an invasive intra-arterial oxygen sensor catheter
      was evaluated in 20 critically ill surgical intensive care unit (SICU) patients.
      All patients required continuous arterial blood pressure monitoring, at least 72
      hours of ventilator support, and intermittent arterial blood gas sampling for
      clinical management. The intra-arterial sensor provided continuous PO2 (PsO2)
      values on a bedside electronic monitor. PsO2 values were sampled every 60 seconds
      and automatically stored on a bedside personal computer. Arterial blood gas (ABG)
      PaO2 values were collected and matched by collection time with corresponding PsO2
      values. During 1,238 hours of continuous intra-arterial monitoring, 74,280 PsO2
      values and 246 ABG PaO2 values were collected. Of the 246 PaO2 results, 175
      (71.3%) had a matching PsO2. Regression of matched PsO2 and PaO2 values yielded a
      correlation coefficient of 0.58 and standard error of the estimate (SEE) of 33.1
      (P < 0.0005). Even though matched PsO2 and PaO2 measurements demonstrated a
      linear relationship, only 34 per cent of the variation in PsO2 could be
      attributed to changes in PaO2. Technical sensor or instrument problems affected
      PsO2 monitoring in 17 of 20 patients and 28 of the 33 sensors tested. The authors
      conclude that continuous intra-arterial monitoring of PsO2 is a novel idea, but
      technical issues limit its use in acutely ill, conscious SICU patients.

PMID- 1456598
TI  - Occult traumatic pneumothorax: immediate tube thoracostomy versus expectant
      management.
AB  - Occult pneumothorax is pneumothorax identified by computed tomography but not
      seen on conventional chest radiographs. Twenty-seven occult traumatic
      pneumothoraces in 26 patients were identified retrospectively at the authors'
      level I trauma center. Of these, 24 patients survived to discharge or transfer; 2
      died of brain injury. Eleven patients were treated immediately with tube
      thoracostomy (TT) and 13 were observed with interval chest radiography. The
      authors' data support the conclusion that it is safe to withhold immediate TT in
      patients who are hemodynamically stable. Close clinical observation and interval
      chest radiography can identify those patients who require subsequent TT.
      Prospective study of larger numbers of patients is needed to confirm the safety
      and cost efficacy of this approach.

PMID- 1456599
TI  - Incidental preclinical hyperparathyroidism identified during thyroid operations.
AB  - The entity of preclinical hyperparathyroidism has never been clearly
      investigated. The authors believe that the incidence of pathologic abnormalities
      of the parathyroid glands before the development of any symptoms or hypercalcemia
      (serum calcium > 12.0 mg/dl) is more frequent than has been reported. Over a 14
      year period, parathyroid glands were examined during thyroid operations in over
      800 patients. Serum calcium and phosphorous levels were measured in all patients
      preoperatively. Thirty-six patients had additional parathyroid operations for a
      preclinical form of hyperparathyroidism, defined by abnormal appearing
      parathyroid glands at the time of thyroid surgery. None of the 36 patients had
      symptoms of hyperparathyroidism preoperatively. Nine patients had borderline
      hypercalcemia (serum calcium 10.6 to 12.0 mg/dl), and the remainder were
      considered normocalcemic. The average age was 53 (range 21 to 75) with a male to
      female ratio of 1:3. Nine of the 36 patients had thyroid cancer. There were eight
      patients with parathyroid adenoma and 28 patients with parathyroid hyperplasia.
      Of 13 patients who had a history of neck irradiation, five had parathyroid
      adenoma and eight had parathyroid hyperplasia. Only two patients with parathyroid
      hyperplasia remain on calcium medication. Since preoperative normocalcemia does
      not preclude the presence of parathyroid pathology, the authors urge careful
      identification and examination of the parathyroid glands during thyroid
      operations. It adds little time to the procedure. Excision of parathyroid disease
      along with the thyroid gland can be performed safely and prevents the need for
      further operation with its associated morbidity.

PMID- 1456600
TI  - Seroma prevention after modified radical mastectomy.
AB  - The most common mastectomy-associated complication is seroma formation. Seromas
      can be associated with other more serious complications such as skin flap
      necrosis, delayed wound healing, infection, and lymphedema. The flap tacking
      procedure that closes the axillary fossa dead space and tacks the mastectomy
      flaps to the chest wall has been suggested as one potential technique to reduce
      the incidence of postmastectomy seromas. This institution-wide study of modified
      radical mastectomies demonstrated a significant decrease (P < 0.0381) in the
      incidence of seroma when flap tacking was performed. Women who developed a
      seroma, compared to those who did not, averaged nearly twice as any office visits
      in the first 2 months after the operation. Distribution of office visits between
      the seroma patients and nonseroma patients was significant (P < 0.0001). When
      practiced by several surgeons, the flap tacking procedure 1) reduces
      postmastectomy seromas and 2) reduces the amount of postoperative patient office
      visits and care.

PMID- 1456601
TI  - Simple surgical treatment of nonparasitic hepatic cysts.
AB  - Benign nonparasitic liver cysts are uncommon lesions. Incidental diagnosis is
      increasing with the advent of routine abdominal computed tomography and
      ultrasound scanning. Cysts that attain massive proportions often become
      symptomatic and require therapeutic intervention. Surgical resection and Roux-en
      Y cystojejunostomy drainage have been the treatments of choice, but simpler
      unroofing techniques without drainage have recently been employed with success.
      Three patients with symptomatic, large, nonparasitic cysts were surgically
      treated in such a fashion without complication and form the basis of this report.
      The technique of wide unroofing involves excision of the nonhepatic cyst wall
      with oversewing of communicating biliary radicals. No recurrences have been
      detected in follow-up screening. Wide unroofing is a simple and yet reliable
      surgical option for the treatment of symptomatic hepatic cysts.

PMID- 1456602
TI  - Immunohistochemical determination of the estrogen receptor content of
      gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas.
AB  - Recently there have been several reports documenting the presence of estrogen
      receptors (ERs) in human gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies, raising the
      possibility that these cancers may be hormonally manipulated. To test this
      hypothesis, 68 frozen GI tissue specimens were examined for the presence of ERs
      within the cell nuclei by immunohistochemical staining. There were 51 cancers (25
      gastric, 26 colon) and 17 normal tissue specimens (six gastric, 11 colon). Tissue
      sections 4 to 6 microns thick were incubated with monoclonal antibody H222SP psi,
      then stained by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique for visualization of the
      ER. The staining was semiquantitatively graded from 0 to 3+ depending on both the
      intensity of staining and the percentage of cell nuclei stained. A breast cancer
      specimen known to be strongly positive for the ER was used as a positive control.
      The 30 male and 21 female cancer patients had a median age of 59 years. All
      tumors were adenocarcinomas. Eight per cent of the gastric cancers were poorly
      differentiated, while 94 per cent of the colon cancers were moderately well to
      well differentiated. Using weak staining of at least 20 per cent of the cell
      nuclei as the minimum requirement for an ER positive tumor (1+, 0/51 tumors and
      0/17) normal specimens were positive for ER. Only three out of 25 (12%) gastric
      tumors, and two out of 26 (8%) colon tumors demonstrated any staining; each
      exhibited weak staining of only five to ten per cent of the tumor
      nuclei.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456603
TI  - Detection of acute appendicitis by technetium 99 HMPAO scanning.
AB  - The diagnosis of acute appendicitis can be difficult. Barium enemas, computed
      tomography (CT) scans, ultrasound examinations and Indium scans are used to aid
      in making the diagnosis with varying degrees of success. This blinded,
      prospective study reports the use of a Technetium 99-m
      Hexamethylpropyleneamineoxide (HMPAO) labelled white blood cell scan in 30
      patients with suspected appendicitis. Autologous white blood counts from 25 cc of
      whole blood labelled with Tc-99 HMPAO were reinjected into patients. Abdominal
      imaging was performed at a half hour postinjection and repeated at 2 to 4 hours
      postinjection. A positive study showed an increased isotope uptake in the right
      lower quadrant. Nineteen patients had histologically proven appendicitis. Three
      of these patients were excluded because they were operated on before scan
      completion. Thirteen of the remaining 16 patients with appendicitis had positive
      studies (false negative rate = 19%). All patients without appendicitis had either
      negative scans or scans that detected other intra-abdominal diseases, such as
      diverticulitis, tubo-ovarian abscess, or small bowel infarction (false positive
      rate = 0%). Overall, this Tc-99 HMPAO study had a sensitivity of 81 per cent, a
      specificity of 100 per cent and an overall accuracy of 89 per cent. The 4-hour Tc
      99 HMPAO WBC scan is a useful, noninvasive test for confirming the clinical
      diagnosis of acute appendicitis, but it may prove more valuable as a diagnostic
      study to rule out appendicitis in patients that have abdominal pain of unclear
      etiology.

PMID- 1456604
TI  - Iatrogenic bile duct injuries. The real incidence and contributing factors-
      implications for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
AB  - Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has achieved wide acceptance as the preferred
      treatment for symptomatic gallbladder disease. Yet there are alarming reports of
      iatrogenic bile duct injuries. To establish a comparison standard, the incidence
      of iatrogenic bile duct injury during conventional cholecystectomy has to be
      known. A single institutional retrospective review of 1,617 consecutive open
      cholecystectomies between 1980 and 1989 was performed. Eight patients (0.49%)
      sustained iatrogenic bile duct injury in this study. Inflammation, anatomic
      variation, or both were contributing factors in all injuries. Operative
      cholangiography identified the injury at the initial operation in three patients.
      Treatment consisted of either primary ductal repair, ductal repair over a stent,
      or ductal-enteric anastomosis. There were no late complications after surgery
      (follow-up 26 to 97 months; mean 50.9 months). The implications for laparoscopic
      cholecystectomy are apparent. Iatrogenic bile duct injuries are associated with
      acute inflammation and/or variant ductal anatomy; routine operative
      cholangiography assumes increased importance; and immediate repair of the injury
      minimizes long-term complications.

PMID- 1456605
TI  - Gastroduodenal intussusception secondary to a gastric lipoma: a case report and
      review of the literature.
AB  - Gastroduodenal intussusception is an extremely uncommon condition usually caused
      by the prolapse of a benign gastric tumor into the duodenum with subsequent
      invagination of a portion of the stomach wall. A rare case of this condition
      associated with a gastric lipoma is presented. Clinical manifestations may mimic
      many other disease entities and are nonspecific. Diagnosis, however, can often be
      made preoperatively with noninvasive tests, which are usually associated with
      more specific signs. Treatment involves reduction of the intussusception and
      surgical excision of the lead point, either endoscopically or through a formal
      laparotomy.

PMID- 1456606
TI  - Herpes simplex virus: a possible etiologic agent in some gastroduodenal ulcer
      disease.
AB  - There is increasing evidence that the herpes simplex virus may account for some
      gastric ulcer disease. To examine this possibility, 62 tissue biopsies from 21
      patients were obtained during esophagogastroduodenoscopy for gastroduodenal ulcer
      disease and from one operative specimen during the procedure for perforation of a
      gastric ulcer. The samples were collected from the base and rim of the ulcer, as
      well as from apparently healthy tissue adjacent to the lesion. When the DNA was
      extracted from these tissues and hybridized to a herpes simplex virus-specific
      DNA probe, positive results were obtained with 9.5 per cent (2 out of 21) of the
      patients with benign ulcers. Positive signals were obtained only with ulcer
      associated tissues and never with healthy tissue. Hybridization also occurred
      with DNA from one ulcerative carcinoma in the study. These data suggest that a
      subset of ulcer disease may be caused by herpes simplex virus or that this virus
      may be secondarily associating with these lesions.

PMID- 1456607
TI  - Cyst of the falciform ligament of the liver: a rare cause of right upper quadrant
      pain.
AB  - Cysts of the falciform ligament are rare. Only a dozen cases have been reported
      in the English literature, with the first reported case in 1909. The etiology of
      these cysts is diverse but can be classified into primary and secondary causes.
      No specific complex exists and their presentations vary among persons. Physical
      examination may demonstrate a mass in the right upper abdomen. Although rare,
      they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of right upper quadrant
      abdominal pain. They are treated through excision.

PMID- 1456608
TI  - Carcinoma arising in a duplicated colon.
AB  - One case of adenocarcinoma arising in a duplicated transverse colon is presented.
      Its unusual feature was the site of the carcinoma origin, which was the true
      colonic segment and not the duplication.

PMID- 1456609
TI  - Vesico-diverticular fistula: a rare complication of Meckel's diverticulum.
AB  - Enterovesical fistulas usually result from diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, or
      colorectal cancer. A perforated Meckel's diverticulum can also result in an
      vesico-diverticulum fistula, as noted in three previously reported cases. In all
      three cases, bladder or bowel disease was associated with the fistula. Herein,
      the authors describe a previously healthy, 23-year-old man who presented with an
      enterovesical fistula. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a vesico-diverticular
      fistula resulting from a perforated Meckel's diverticulum. Pathologic examination
      revealed that the diverticulum did not contain ectopic gastric or pancreatic
      tissue and that the perforation was secondary to an enterolith. The patient
      underwent a diverticulectomy and had an uneventful postoperative course. Unlike
      any of the three previously reported cases, the authors' patient had no
      coexisting bowel or bladder disease occurring with his vesico-diverticular
      fistula. To the authors' knowledge, this is only the third reported case of a
      vesico-diverticular fistula resulting from a perforated Meckel's diverticulum
      that did not contain ectopic tissue. It represents the first case where the
      perforation was secondary to an enterolith.

PMID- 1456610
TI  - Surgical treatment of the enterogastric reflux syndrome: preoperative and
      postoperative estimation by 99mTc-HIDA scintigraphy.
AB  - Twenty-nine patients with enterogastric reflux syndrome after anti-ulcer gastric
      surgery underwent a revisional Roux-en-Y gastrectomy. The diagnosis of
      enterogastric reflux syndrome was based on symptomatology and endoscopy in the
      first eight patients. The latter 21 patients had, in addition, a 99mTc-HIDA
      scintigraphy for the documentation and measurement of reflux. An enterogastric
      reflux index > 20 per cent is considered to justify symptoms due to reflux. Three
      of the first eight patients continued postoperatively to experience the same
      symptoms as before. These symptoms were eventually attributed to other than
      enterogastric reflux syndromes. The latter 21 patients were relieved from their
      preoperative symptoms and classified as Visick I and II (18 patients) and Visick
      III (3 patients). The authors conclude that enterogastric reflux syndrome must be
      documented on scintigraphy before the patient is subjected to revisional anti
      reflux surgery in order for failures due to misdiagnosis to be avoided.

PMID- 1456611
TI  - Malignant lymphoma of the breast: a review of 13 cases.
AB  - Thirteen cases of primary malignant lymphoma of the breast are reported from a 15
      year retrospective review of records. The ages ranged from 19 to 75 years. One
      patient had nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease and 12 had non-Hodgkin's
      lymphoma. Eleven patients were treated with local excision, followed by
      radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or both. One patient had mastectomy and chemotherapy,
      and one had local excision only. Four patients died 6 months to 7 years after
      initial diagnosis. One patient was alive and with disease 5 years later. The
      remainder were alive and free of disease 24 months to 9 years after presentation.
      Prognosis depended on the clinical stage and histologic grade of the lesion. Five
      year survival was 72 per cent, which was slightly better than that observed in
      mammary carcinoma.

PMID- 1456612
TI  - [Chronic renal insufficiency in childhood].

PMID- 1456613
TI  - [Fever and petechial exanthema in children].
AB  - In an attempt to determine clinical and analytical predictive parameters of a
      possible grave disease, we have carried out a retrospective study of 172 children
      admitted to our hospital with fever and petechiae as initial symptoms. The ages
      ranged between 1 month and 10 years. Even though we have not found a clinical
      symptom or analysis sufficiently sensitive as to predict all grave diseases, the
      general clinical state of the child associated with either a high or low white
      cell count and an abnormal coagulation study should be alert signals for a
      serious infectious disease. On the contrary, if the clinical and analytical
      parameters are within normal limits the risk of a grave disease is low. We
      emphasize the high incidence of meningococcal disease (26%).

PMID- 1456614
TI  - [Nutritional status in HIV infection in infancy].
AB  - The physiopathology of malnutrition among AIDS, ARC and HIV infected children was
      reviewed. One-hundred eight-three newborns were studied, 152 of which were born
      at "La Fe" Maternity Hospital. Of these patients, 29% were LBW and 28% preterm.
      Transfused and hemophiliac patients were excluded from the study. Anorexia,
      vomiting, fever, infections of the respiratory and GI tracts and drug therapy
      were the most frequent factors affecting the nutritional status. Fifty-three
      newborns were infected with the HIV (29%). The children were classified into
      three groups (G). Group-I was formed by HIV+children > 18 months of age, G-II, P
      2 class by children < 18 months of age and G-III was formed by those children
      that died of AIDS. The most common symptoms were chronic diarrhea and infections
      of the respiratory tract. Of the HIV+children > 18 months of age, 65% had a
      weight < the 10th percentile and 61% were < the 10th percentile for height. Of
      the children that died of AIDS, 80% were in the lower 10th percentile for both
      weight and height. Hemoglobin, T4/T8, total proteins, seroalbumin and calcium
      were also negatively affected. Those most severely affected were the dead
      patients, followed by P-2 < 18 months and finally the HIV+ > 18 months of age.
      The differences between G-I and G-II-G-III were statistically significant, p <
      0.01. The biochemical quantification of the nutritional status was difficult due
      to the limited amount of blood available. HIV infected children require nutrition
      supplementation to maintain an adequate nutritional status. Among these patients,
      malnutrition is a multifactorial phenomenon.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456615
TI  - [Patterns of breast feeding and study of interfering factors in a primary health
      care facility].
AB  - The present study aims to evaluate the patterns of breast-feeding in a population
      of children depending on a Primary Attention Team. Its duration and any factors
      which may interfere with it were also studied. The breast-feeding period of 114
      boys and 119 girls is reviewed. We found the following data: 85.2% of the mothers
      started to breast-feed their children. By the third month, 42.1% of them
      persisted with exclusive breast-feeding, whereas only 5.6% reached the sixth
      month. Commercial formulas were introduced as a result of health reasons in only
      43.3% of the cases. The time of exclusive breast-feeding was significantly
      shorter (p < 0.05) in the children who required hospitalization during the breast
      feeding, in the cases of mothers that smoke, when commercial formula was
      introduced at the mother's will and in those children who had a smaller weight at
      their birth and a smaller gestational age. After introduction of commercial
      formulas we observed a statistically significant increase in weight (p < 0.05).
      Nevertheless, the standard score of weight at six months of age, compared with
      that previous to the introduction of lacteal supplements, did not differ
      significantly.

PMID- 1456616
TI  - [High frequency ventilation in the newborn. Study of 27 cases].
AB  - The clinical histories of 27 neonates ventilated with high frequency respirators
      (Volumetric Diffusive Respirator VDR-2) have been analyzed in order to evaluate
      the efficiency of this type of ventilation in neonatal pathology. The average
      gestational age of these patients was 32 +/- 4 weeks. Most of them (70%)
      presented respiratory distress due to hyaline membrane disease. Of the remaining
      cases, three (11%) presented with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, two with
      pulmonary hypertension, two with meconium aspiration syndrome, one with Group B
      Streptococal sepsis/shock and one with case diaphragmatic agenesia. Between two
      and six hours after initiation of high frequency ventilation (HFV), pH, paCO2 and
      pO2 improved significantly in relationship to former values (p < 0.05- p <
      0.001), reaching values in the normal range at 6.5 +/- 14 hours regarding pH, 30
      +/- 50 hours regarding paCO2 and 6.5 +/- 10 hours regarding paO2. No hemodynamic
      modification could be attributed to this procedure. The principal complications
      were ectopic air (62%) and necrotizing tracheobronchitis (TBN) (25%).
      Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BDP) was diagnosed in 20% of the cases, ductus (DAP)
      in 33% of the cases and intracraneal hemorrhage in 25% of the cases. Mortality
      was 70%. High frequency ventilation is an alternative procedure to conventional
      ventilation in this group of neonates. It produces an important number of
      favorable responses, but has complications that can not be overlooked.

PMID- 1456617
TI  - [Vertical transmission of HIV infection: descriptive epidemiology, risk factors
      and survival].
AB  - The basic epidemiological characteristics of HIV infection and AIDS among
      children are described with a particular reference to HIV vertical transmission.
      The HIV transmission pattern identified in our community is described according
      to the WHO classification scheme. To describe the epidemic, as well as its
      temporal evolution, 1.933 cases reported to the population based registry of
      Catalonia and 287 seropositive children and their mothers are used. We have
      quantified the importance of intravenous drug usage by the parents in
      relationship to HIV transmission; 54.7% of the mothers of HIV positive children
      were intravenous drug users. We predict that during the coming years there will
      be a continuous increase in AIDS cases as a result of vertical transmission.

PMID- 1456618
TI  - [Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in childhood: 19-year experience in a pediatric oncology
      unit].
AB  - Ninety-one patients with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) were treated in our
      Pediatric Oncology Unit during a 19 year period. The median age at diagnosis was
      5.8 years and there was a higher incidence in males. All patients were classified
      according to Murphy's stages and Rappaport's modified classification. Advanced
      disease and non-lymphoblastic histology were prevailing. Chemotherapy was the
      preferred treatment. Forty-seven patients (54%) are alive with a median follow-up
      period of 6.2 years. Actuarial survival rate at 5 years is 0.6. Advances in
      chemotherapy led to an increase in NHL patient's survival. Twenty patients died
      because of the disease and 21 because of fatal complications.

PMID- 1456619
TI  - [Biologic rhythm of respiratory rate in the first trimester of life].
AB  - This study was designed to address the following objectives: 1) To record the
      respiratory rate in a population of newborns and infants. 2) To verify the
      existence of a rhythm in each population group, as well as the organization and
      maturing process of these rhythms. 3) To determine the possible influence of
      environmental factors on these rhythms. The study population consisted of the
      following groups and ages: A) 1 day (21 cases); B) 7 (15 cases); C) 15 (10
      cases); D) 30 (17 cases); E) 60 (17 cases); F) 90 (18 cases). Respiratory rate
      was continuously monitored and recorded, as well as environmental light, noise
      and temperature. Rhythmometric analysis of the data was done by simple Cosinor
      test and analysis of variance. The zero amplitude test showed statistically
      significant differences in the circadian rhythm of groups E and F (p < 0.005). An
      ultradian rhythm of 3 hours was detected in groups D and F. Environmental factors
      also showed a circadian rhythm. The appearance of an ultradian rhythm suggest the
      maturation in a rhythm. To evaluate physiological parameters, reference to time
      series must be considered.

PMID- 1456620
TI  - [Clinical profile, course and outcome of gastroesophageal reflux in 10 infants
      under active medical treatment].
AB  - We have studied the clinical profile, cause and outcome of 105 infants with the
      diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux. In most cases, pharmacological treatment
      managed to control the symptoms in 9 out of 10 infants followed in our series.
      Complications were described in 26.2%, of which esophagitis and chronic
      respiratory disease were the most common. Corrective surgery of the reflux was
      indicated in those cases in which pharmacological treatment was not successful.
      This managed to control the reflux in 90% of all cases. Morbidity was scarce. In
      all, 75% of the infants were considered to be medically cured within 15.5 months
      from the time that they were diagnosed and within 18.5 months after the
      appearance of the first symptoms.

PMID- 1456621
TI  - [Acute meningococcal disease. Study of auditive sequelae].
AB  - We have examined the auditory function in 49 children that have survived an acute
      meningococcal disease (AMD). Functional auditory exploration consisted of: ABR;
      tonal liminal audiometry or behavioral audiometry (Peep-show method, Suzuki-Ogiba
      ROC) depending on the age and collaboration of the patient; and
      impedanciometrical techniques (tympanometry, ipsi and contra-lateral stapedial
      reflex). Three months later, altered tests were repeated in patients that had
      been evaluated at a time greater than 90 days after their first day of
      hospitalization (n = 18). All tests were repeated in those patients that had been
      evaluated before 90 days from the first day of hospitalization (n = 31). No
      transmission or neurosensory hearing impairments were detected as a result of
      AMD. We consider the absence of neurosensory hearing impairment, despite the
      presence of significant risk factors, an important finding. These results suggest
      that the risk of hearing impairment could be reduced to a minimum by the early
      establishment of antibiotic treatment.

PMID- 1456622
TI  - [Evaluation of plasma zinc levels in patients with Down syndrome].
AB  - Using the atomic absorption spectroscopy technique, the plasma concentrations of
      zinc were measured in 32 patients with Down's syndrome (DS) and in 44 healthy
      controls (C). An obvious and significant decrease in the levels of this element
      was observed in the trisomic subjects (DS:124.5 +/- 21.7 micrograms/dl; C:150.3
      +/- 28 micrograms/dl). Additionally, there seemed to be no relationship or
      dependence between this observation and the age or the institutionalization of
      these patients. From a detailed analysis of the population studied, it is
      inferred that together with personal antecedents of repeated infections, there is
      always a deficit in this element. It is possible that this deficiency might be
      due to an activation of the zinc dependent enzymatic systems involved in the
      immune response.

PMID- 1456623
TI  - [Anthropometric data on newborn infants: comparative study of two ethnic groups].
AB  - We have studied the birth weights, obstetrics data and anthropometrical data from
      1.157 full-term newborns who were delivered in the Hospital del Insalud-Cruz Roja
      in Ceuta (Spain). Of these newborns, 489 were of arabic origin and 668 of
      hispanic origin. Arabic newborns were heavier (3.248 +/- 473 g versus 3.280 +/-
      431 g, p < 0.001) and longer (50.2 +/- 1.8 cm versus 49.6 +/- 1.8 cm, p < 0.001)
      than their hispanic counterparts. These differences were not due to a
      disproportion in sex or gestational age between the groups. Furthermore, the
      differences were still present after adjustments were made for maternal age,
      parity and the mother's smoking habit. Thus, this difference in size at birth
      between arabic and hispanic newborns could be, at least in part, ethnically
      related.

PMID- 1456624
TI  - [Cat scratch disease. An overview based on a case].

PMID- 1456625
TI  - [Multiple sclerosis in preschool age. Diagnostic contribution of magnetic
      resonance imaging].

PMID- 1456626
TI  - [VACTERL association: report of two cases, one of them with situs inversus].

PMID- 1456627
TI  - [Prevention of chickenpox with acyclovir].

PMID- 1456628
TI  - [Gitelman's tubulopathy: deficit of K/Mg transfer].

PMID- 1456629
TI  - [Injury to the cervical spinal cord in newborn infants].

PMID- 1456630
TI  - [An epidemic of echovirus 4 meningitis: report of nine cases].

PMID- 1456631
TI  - [Hypothyroidism and hypercholesterolemia].

PMID- 1456632
TI  - [Lafora disease in childhood].

PMID- 1456633
TI  - [Congenital familial hemiparesis and familial porencephaly].

PMID- 1456634
TI  - Developmental strategies in the analysis of ingestive behavior.

PMID- 1456635
TI  - Fetal audition.

PMID- 1456636
TI  - Sexual differentiation of the female spotted hyena. One of nature's experiments.

PMID- 1456637
TI  - The role of maternal stimulation in the development of sexual behavior and its
      neural basis.
AB  - Both sexual differentiation, which is a matter of individual development, and
      sexual dissimilation, which is a matter of individual differences, result from
      developmental processes that are open to input from the early maternal
      environment. There are reliable features in both the dam and the young that
      ensure that males receive more perineal stimulation from maternal licking than is
      necessary for survival and normal growth. This stimulation contributes toward the
      development of masculine sexual behavior and mechanisms in the central nervous
      system that control copulatory reflexes. Because of differences in signals that
      they produce, males receive more stimulation than females. This bias in early
      stimulation accounts for some of the dissimilarity between the sexes in nervous
      system morphology and behavior. The same processes that produce sex differences
      can also produce individual differences among males. These differences are likely
      to have significant functional consequences in rats, a species in which males
      have a high level of intrasexual reproductive competition. Future research will
      be directed toward testing this functional hypothesis and toward exploring the
      extent of stimulative effects on the development of the sexually dimorphic brain
      regions that function in sexual behavior.

PMID- 1456638
TI  - Weaning from mother's milk to solid foods. The developmental psychobiology of
      self-selection of foods by rats.

PMID- 1456639
TI  - The emergence of behavioral regulation during fetal development.

PMID- 1456640
TI  - Behavioral and cardiovascular traits. Broken links and new associations.

PMID- 1456641
TI  - Cellular communication networks. Implications for our understanding of
      gastrointestinal physiology.

PMID- 1456642
TI  - Epithelial barrier function to antigens. An overview.

PMID- 1456643
TI  - Neutrophils, nitrogen oxides, and inflammatory bowel disease.
AB  - The etiologic factors responsible for IBD remain only speculative. It does appear
      that the inappropriate activation of the immune system, whether by immune complex
      deposition, infectious agents or vascular impairment, is important in the
      pathogenesis of these diseases. Interaction of certain cytokines known to be
      produced in human IBD with specific immune cells such as neutrophils and
      macrophages results in the induction of the enzyme NO. synthase with the
      concomitant release of large amounts of NO.. Nitric oxide is known to mediate
      many of the pathophysiological alterations associated with IBD including cell
      injury, intestinal hyperemia and intestinal smooth muscle dysfunction. In
      addition, NO. is known to decompose in solution to yield potent N-nitrosating
      agents which will N-nitrosate certain amines to yield potent carcinogenic
      nitrosamines. Because antioxidants (including 5-ASA) are potent inhibitors of
      nitrosamine formation, they may prove useful in attenuating the formation of
      potentially carcinogenic agents in vivo.

PMID- 1456644
TI  - Intercellular interactions in the recruitment and functions of human eosinophils.

PMID- 1456645
TI  - Fibroblast modulation of intestinal secretory responses.

PMID- 1456646
TI  - Peptide growth factors: role in epithelial-lamina propria cell interactions.

PMID- 1456647
TI  - Epithelial expression of HLA, secretory component (poly-Ig receptor), and
      adhesion molecules in the human alimentary tract.
AB  - Epithelial HLA class II is differentially expressed (DR >> DP) only after birth
      in salivary glands and small intestinal mucosa, in contrast to class I
      determinants and secretory component (SC) which appear early in gestation.
      However, there is a brisk postnatal increase in SC expression along with the
      class II induction, suggesting stimulation by cytokines from activated immune
      cells. T lymphocytes remain quite scanty in postnatal salivary glands, and the
      striking SC and class II expression might reflect a synergistic effect of IFN
      gamma and TFN-alpha on immature epithelial cells. Enhanced epithelial expression
      of both SC and class II in salivary glands from sudden infant death victims could
      be the effect of immunostimulation caused by an infectious agent. Strikingly
      upregulated SC and epithelial class II expression (DR > DP > DQ) is seen in
      various inflammatory lesions such as obstructive sialadenitis, Sjogren's
      syndrome, chronic gastritis, and celiac disease. IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha are most
      likely involved as the expression patterns can be reproduced with these cytokines
      in vitro on colonic epithelial cell lines. However, these molecules of the Ig
      supergene family do not show a selective response in epithelia of inflammatory
      lesions because increased expression is also seen for lysozyme, lactoferrin and
      some other proteins. ICAM-1 can be upregulated on epithelial cells by various
      cytokines in vitro although the situation remains uncertain in mucosal
      inflammation. The expression pattern in IBD is complicated by dysplastic
      epithelial changes leading to reduced SC levels which may thus, in turn,
      jeopardize the poly-Ig transport mechanism. Epithelial class II molecules appear
      to have antigen-presenting properties, but the immunopathologic role of their
      increased expression in inflammatory disease in terms of induction of
      autoimmunity and/or abrogation of oral tolerance is a matter of continuing
      dispute.

PMID- 1456648
TI  - M cell-mediated antigen transport and monoclonal IgA antibodies for mucosal
      immune protection.

PMID- 1456649
TI  - Effector role of the epithelial compartment in inflammation.

PMID- 1456650
TI  - Mucus: the front line of intestinal mucosal defense.

PMID- 1456651
TI  - Epithelial proliferation in response to gastrointestinal inflammation.
AB  - Intestinal inflammation seems invariably to be associated with increased
      epithelial proliferation. In the small bowel the pathological consequences of
      this area an increase in the crypt proliferative compartment and a decrease in
      the absorptive villus compartment, which can lead to malabsorption. In the colon,
      it is more difficult to examine changes in cell proliferation, but using Ki67,
      epithelial proliferation has been shown to be increased in ulcerative colitis and
      parasitic infection. The teleological advantage of increasing epithelial
      proliferation during intestinal inflammation is presumably in an effort to get
      rid of parasitized or infected epithelial cells, or to rapidly replace cells
      which have been lost. Rejection of helminth parasites from rodent small bowel is
      associated with partial villous atrophy and crypt hypertrophy, which is probably
      part of the host response making the mucosa inhospitable to the parasites. The
      short-term nutritional disadvantage of malabsorption is outweighed by the long
      term advantage of being parasite-free. However, when the intestinal inflammation
      is elicited by a dietary constituent, the consequences are only pathological. At
      the moment there is no information as to the mechanisms by which inflammatory
      cells alter mucosal morphology and epithelial renewal. The restructuring of
      mucosal morphology in the flat-mucosa involves considerable adaptation of the
      connective tissue elements of the lamina propria. Whether this occurs in response
      to changes in epithelial renewal is not known. Finally, it is clear that
      activated T cells in the lamina propria can produce a flat-mucosa. In diseases
      such as Trichuris dysentery and ulcerative colitis there is no or very little T
      cell activation, even though epithelial proliferation is increased. Increased
      epithelial proliferation therefore may occur in response to different
      inflammatory stimuli.

PMID- 1456652
TI  - Epithelial secretory response to inflammation.
AB  - As suggested by this and previous reviews, the neuroimmunoregulation of
      intestinal secretion is a complex series of endocrine, neurocrine, paracrine and
      autocrine interactions between the underlying cells in the mucosa and submucosa
      and the intestinal enterocyte. Under normal conditions, the balance of each of
      these systems is delicately controlled, thus allowing for normal, consistent
      intestinal function. However, when this finely-tuned system is altered, such as
      in a diseased state, the resultant effect is an amplification of the host defense
      response. Initially thought to be protective against further insult, this local
      immune response, if allowed to continue uncontrollably, can exacerbate the
      disease process.

PMID- 1456653
TI  - Effect of histamine and other mast cell mediators on T84 epithelial cells.

PMID- 1456654
TI  - Epithelial secretory responses to inflammation. Platelet activating factor and
      reactive oxygen metabolites.

PMID- 1456655
TI  - Concerning prostaglandin D2: forgotten, promiscuous, capricious.

PMID- 1456656
TI  - Effects of the neuroimmune mediators, peptidoleukotrienes, endothelin, and
      interleukin-1 on intestinal ion transport.

PMID- 1456657
TI  - Transepithelial transport of polymeric immunoglobulins.

PMID- 1456658
TI  - Histamine signals in enteric neuroimmune interactions.

PMID- 1456660
TI  - Antigen-mediated effects on epithelial function.
AB  - In summary, immediate hypersensitivity reactions to luminal antigens occur in the
      intestine and result in pathophysiology including increased permeability and ion
      secretion. The mechanism involves activation of mast cells with neural
      amplification (FIG. 5). Released mediators/neurotransmitters may act
      independently or synergistically on the epithelium to elicit Cl ion secretion. In
      addition, a cyclooxygenase product of arachidonic acid metabolism, possibly of
      mesenchymal cell origin, may be a common mediator. However, additional effector
      cell(s) besides mast cells are undoubtedly involved. This system demonstrates
      undeniably the concept of neuro-immuno-physiology of gut mucosa.

PMID- 1456659
TI  - Excitatory and neurotoxic actions of platelet-activating factor on rat myenteric
      neurons in cell culture.
AB  - At micromolar concentrations, PAF causes intense excitation and elevation of
      intracellular Ca in a subset of myenteric neurons. When applied for more than
      about 10 seconds, these concentrations of PAF kill a subset of myenteric neurons.
      The excitation and elevation of Ca levels are accompanied by increased membrane
      conductance and enhanced synaptic activity. The effects of brief applications are
      reversible, but responses to subsequent applications of PAF are substantially
      reduced. If such responses can be elicited in enteric neurons by the
      concentrations of PAF that are generated in vivo, they would account for the
      potent ability of PAF to evoke neurally-mediated secretory responses in GI
      tissues.

PMID- 1456661
TI  - Immediate hypersensitivity reactions in epithelia. Insights from reconstructed
      tissues.

PMID- 1456662
TI  - Neuro-modulation of ion secretion by inflammatory mediators.

PMID- 1456663
TI  - Potent inhibition of gastric acid secretion and ulcer formation by centrally and
      peripherally administered interleukin-1.
AB  - IL-1 beta is one of the most potent centrally acting inhibitors of gastric acid
      secretion in rats. Sites of action have been located in the anterior/preoptic
      area and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus where other biological
      activities of IL-1 have also been described. IL-1 beta action is, so far, quite
      unique to this cytokine and its action is not reproduced by IL-2 or TNF alpha.
      The IL-1 effect involves prostaglandin pathways and is unrelated to CRF.
      Similarly, systemic injection of IL-1 induces a long lasting inhibition of acid
      secretion through prostaglandin-dependent mechanisms. Several findings support
      the possibility that the effect of systemic IL-1 can be CNS-mediated and/or
      exerted at the periphery through local release of PG in the stomach. Exogenous IL
      1 given into either the circulation or the cerebrospinal fluid also inhibits
      gastric injury induced by a variety of experimental models (stress, aspirin,
      ethanol). Such a protective effect is mediated through the inhibition of acid
      secretion and prostaglandin release, although other mechanisms may also
      contribute. Whether endogenously released IL-1 beta exerts a protective role in
      the gastric mucosa is still to be investigated.

PMID- 1456664
TI  - Intestinal physiology in the parasitized host: integration, disintegration, and
      reconstruction of systems.
AB  - As noted in the introduction, the major objective in discussing gut inflammation
      in the parasitized host is to underscore the difficulty in establishing whether
      an inflammation-induced change represents a physiological adaptation or
      maladaptation (Fig. 3). Deciding whether a specific physiological adjustment,
      even one that contributes to disease, serves a useful function depends on the
      perspective of the observer who is in possession of information to make a
      critical judgment. This is like considering adaptations from an evolutionary
      sense where the significance of a change that evolved as a consequence of natural
      selection must be interpreted relative to the long-term "goal directedness" of
      that change, e.g., relative to its contribution to reproductive fitness. Because
      of the contributions of inflammation to both symptoms of disease and to the
      development of functional immunity, the parasitized host provides a means whereby
      both negative and positive effects of mucosal responses can be studied
      simultaneously. A careful analysis of the consequences of inflammation is
      important in contemplating the meaning of "neuroimmunophysiology of
      gastrointestinal mucosa."

PMID- 1456665
TI  - The regulation of brush border surface area.

PMID- 1456666
TI  - Immunopathology of NSAID-gastropathy: inhibitory effects of interleukin-I and
      cyclosporin A.
AB  - The present study demonstrates that CSA is capable of inhibiting indomethacin
      induced leukocyte adherence to the vascular endothelium, and can reduce the
      severity of indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal injury. These results are
      therefore consistent with the hypothesis that leukocyte (particularly neutrophil)
      adherence is a critical event in the pathogenesis of NSAID-induced gastropathy.
      The mechanism through which CSA inhibits leukocyte adherence is not clear, and
      warrants further investigation. This study also confirmed the protective effects
      of IL-1 in experimental NSAID-gastropathy, and demonstrates that one of the ways
      the IL-1 may protect the mucosa is through its ability to inhibit the release of
      proinflammatory mediators (e.g., PAF) and promote the release of antiinflammatory
      mediators (e.g., nitric oxide). IL-1 modulated the release of these mediators
      from peritoneal mast cells at doses in the pg/ml to ng/ml range. IL-1 can inhibit
      the ability of neutrophils to respond to chemotactic stimuli and can prevent LTB4
      induced neutropenia. Inhibition of neutrophil function by IL-1 may therefore
      account for its ability to reduce NSAID-induced gastric mucosal injury. Whether
      or not effects of IL-1 on the production of mediators such as nitric oxide and
      PAF is an underlying mechanism for the inhibitory effects on neutrophil function
      remains to be determined.

PMID- 1456667
TI  - Nerve remodelling during intestinal inflammation.
AB  - The intestinal mucosa contains a dense nerve network and many inflammatory cells,
      and these may interact through the exchange of regulatory molecules. Evidence
      suggests that intestinal mucosal mast cells are innervated, and it is known that
      the density of this cell type changes significantly in nematode-infected rats.
      Recent data indicates that rat jejunal mucosal nerves remodel after
      Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection, with degenerative and regenerative phases
      during the acute and recovery stages of inflammation. Seven weeks postinfection
      there is a net increase in the density and number per villus of mucosal nerves.
      These changes suggest that mucosal nerves exhibit structural plasticity in
      inflamed tissues, which must impact on interactions between the enteric nervous
      system and other mucosal elements in disease.

PMID- 1456668
TI  - The movement of solutes and cells across tight junctions.
AB  - The TJ is a highly dynamic rate-limiting barrier for passive transepithelial
      solute flow. It is not only physiologically regulated but is modulated in various
      disease states as well. Such modulations occur as a result of epithelial cell
      interactions with immune cells or immune cell products and thus epithelial
      barrier function appears to be regulated in disease states.

PMID- 1456669
TI  - The lamina propria: a dynamic, complex mucosal compartment. An overview.

PMID- 1456670
TI  - T lymphocyte subsets, cytokines, and effector functions.

PMID- 1456671
TI  - Regulation of macrophage infiltration and activation in sites of chronic
      inflammation.

PMID- 1456672
TI  - [Cochlear implants in children].
AB  - The development of surgically implantable hearing aids that are placed directly
      in the cochlea where they send electrical impulses to the cochlear nerve is a
      major break-through for patients whose hearing loss is so severe as to make
      conventional electroacoustic hearing aids ineffectual. Initially used only in
      adults, this method has gradually been extended to pediatric patients. To benefit
      from a cochlear implant, the patient must fulfill a number of criteria which are
      specified in this article. Following preoperative investigations, the decision is
      taken during a meeting of all the care providers involved, i.e., the surgeon, ENT
      phoniatrist or audiophonologist, hearing aid specialist, special education
      provider, speech therapist, psychologist, and other members of the health care
      staff. Team work is thus essential both before and after the procedure. The
      implant selected can be intracochlear or extracochlear and single-channel (one
      electrode) or multi-channel (several electrodes). Each team selects the
      implantation technique and type of implant they use according to their
      preferences and specific criteria. The authors use a multi-channel intracochlear
      system except in the rare instances where complete ossification of the cochlea
      requires use of an intracochlear mono-channel system. They have inserted implants
      in 29 patients to date. The cochlear implant has unquestionably had a significant
      impact of the life of these patients.

PMID- 1456673
TI  - [Nasal polyposis in children. Diagnostic and therapeutic problems].
AB  - Nasal polyposis in an infrequent condition in children and may occur as part of a
      variety of diseases. Treatment is difficult and often yields disappointing
      results. The purpose of this paper is to review the diagnostic problems raised by
      nasal polyposis and to analyze current surgical approaches. Twenty-seven patients
      with a mean age of 12 years, including 12 with nasal polyposis as part of another
      disease state (cystic fibrosis in 10 and Woakes disease in 2) and 15 with
      idiopathic nasal polyposis, underwent endonasal ethmoidectomy. The decision to
      perform this procedure was based on severity of initial clinical symptoms, lack
      of improvement under medical treatment, and availability for close postoperative
      follow-up. Twenty-six patients were followed-up for a mean period of three years
      ad a half. Complete recurrence occurred in 15% of patients and partial recurrence
      in 8%. In all the other cases, the ethmoidal cavity was satisfactory and nasal
      symptoms resolved completely. Etiopathogenic aspects of nasal polyposis are
      reviewed, as well as the therapeutic approach according to whether or not the
      disease occurs as part of another syndrome.

PMID- 1456674
TI  - [Choanal atresia: management and surgical treatment. Study of 50 cases].
AB  - Diagnosis of choanal atresia should lead to multidisciplinary investigations to
      look for other malformations which may or may not be part of the CHARGE syndrome.
      These concomitant defects have an adverse effect on prognosis in patients with
      choanal atresia. They seem to be more common in patients with bilateral choanal
      atresia due to a bony septum. Local investigations include nasal fiberoptic
      endoscopy to obtain a direct view of the atresia and a CT scan study to determine
      the type of obstruction. In neonates, treatment rests on transnasal perforation
      of the septum followed by stenting for four to six weeks. However recurrence is
      common and requires subsequent use of another therapeutic procedure. In patients
      with failed transnasal perforation or unilateral choanal atresia discovered at a
      later age, surgery through the palatal route seems to be virtually radical and
      can be carried out from eight months of age. Recently developed CO2 laser therapy
      is, in the opinion in of the authors, an elegant and simple means for transnasal
      treatment of fibrotic restenosis which, in many cases, obviates the need for
      transpalatal surgery.

PMID- 1456675
TI  - [Bacterial epidemiology of acute otitis media].
AB  - Since the middle of the 1980's, Haemophilus influenzae is the most common
      bacterial species responsible for acute otitis media in France, followed by
      Streptococcus pneumoniae. Haemophilus influenzae has maintained its leading
      position since 1985, but the rate of pneumococcal acute otitis media is
      increasing fairly steadily. The other recent change with regard to the
      distribution of bacterial agents is the emergence, four years later than in North
      America, of Branhamella catarrhalis which currently accounts for 10% of cases of
      acute otitis media. Modifications in the behavior of microorganisms in relation
      to antimicrobials usually given to treat upper respiratory tract infections have
      occurred. Staphylococcus aureus and Branhamella catarrhalis have always exhibited
      marked resistance to ampicillin due to the production of beta-lactamases.
      Resistance of Haemophilus influenzae to ampicillin has been increasing gradually
      since 1985, again with a lag of a few years as compared with the United States;
      at present, this form of resistance is seen in approximately 35% of strains. More
      recently in France, 20% of pneumococcal strains recovered from middle ear pus
      have been shown to have abnormal susceptibility to penicillin. These changes in
      the behavior of the two main pathogens, i.e., Haemophilus influenzae and
      Streptococcus pneumoniae, require implementation of rigorous multiregional
      epidemiologic surveillance programs and may justify reappraisal of current
      therapeutic approaches.

PMID- 1456676
TI  - [Current therapeutic approach to cervicofacial lymphangiomas in children].
AB  - Twenty-four cases of cervicofacial lymphangioma treated between 1984 and 1991 are
      reported. The therapeutic approach is discussed. Because the therapeutic problem
      depends on whether or not the airways are involved, an endoscopic evaluation and
      a CT scan study should be included in the workup. In the five patients with
      limited lymphangiomas, complete surgical exeresis was feasible and yielded good
      results. Sclerosing injections are an alternative to surgery in this situation.
      In patients with pharyngeal or laryngeal infiltration or involvement of the
      mediastinum, the prognosis is extremely grim and surgery is still the mainstay of
      therapy despite the potential for recurrence due to the fact that only incomplete
      exeresis can be performed. Tracheostomy was required in two patients.

PMID- 1456677
TI  - [Management of caustic burns of the esophagus in children].
AB  - The authors describe their therapeutic approach to caustic burns of the esophagus
      in pediatric patients. Initially, early endoscopic evaluation is carried out
      under general anesthesia using a stiff tube then a fiberoptic endoscope. During
      this procedure, severity of esophageal damage is determined: stage I: mild burn
      requiring no treatment; stages II and III: severe burn with a risk of subsequent
      esophageal stricture requiring insertion of a nasogastric stent. A repeat
      endoscopy is performed after approximately 25 days to evaluate healing. If
      healing has occurred, the nasogastric tube is removed and dynamic esophagography
      is performed 2 to 7 days later. Patients with strictures should be treated with
      repeated endoscopic dilatation at gradually increasing intervals. Surgery is
      indicated only in patients with complications or multiple strictures after
      failure of dilatation; trans-mediastinal colon esophagoplasty with removal of the
      burned esophagus is the method of choice.

PMID- 1456678
TI  - [Deafness screening in children by otoacoustic emissions. Current data].
AB  - Hearing impairment should be detected in early childhood. Among available
      screening techniques, acoustic oto-emission testing is a rapid, reliable,
      noninvasive method which specifically investigates peripheral hearing but does
      not provide data on auditory nerve centers. This functional test should be
      carried out within a few days of birth in infants with risk factors for hearing
      impairment.

PMID- 1456679
TI  - [Severe aplasia of the ear: management and surgical indications].
AB  - Severe aplasia of the ear raises both a cosmetic and a functional problem.
      Surgery is often performed starting at four or five years of age but early
      management is essential. The need for a hearing aid should be evaluated at the
      age of six months. At birth, the infant should have investigations for
      concomitant malformations, which are common, and for etiologic factors.
      Functional surgery to create a canal, tympanic membrane, and chain of ossicles
      should be performed only in bilateral forms. Satisfactory cosmetic results can be
      achieved by cartilage autografting according to Brent's technique.

PMID- 1456680
TI  - [Current therapeutic indications in laryngeal stenoses in children].
AB  - Among pediatric patients with laryngeal stenosis, acquired forms are now more
      common than congenital forms. External surgery is not always warranted except in
      complete or tight obstructions. After establishing the diagnosis by endoscopy,
      consequences on respiration and phonation should be assessed before deciding on
      the most appropriate treatment: abstention, medical therapy, endoscopic
      treatment, or surgical treatment by the cervical route. Surgical laryngoplasty
      techniques have changed radically over the last twenty years. The Cotton
      procedure is the most widely used. Another available method is the cricoid-split
      technique. These laryngoplasty procedures can be performed from birth and
      tracheostomy is now warranted only after failure of initial surgery.

PMID- 1456681
TI  - [Syndrome of obstructive sleep apnea in children].
AB  - Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) in children has been identified only recently. Its
      incidence is unknown but seems to be rising. The cause is usually an obstruction
      (enlarged tonsils) that alters the fragile physiologic mechanisms responsible for
      maintaining the upper airways open when the child is sleeping. Diagnosis of SAS
      rests on clinical findings. The parents should be questioned as to the frequency
      over time of the various symptoms, of which most occur during the night: snoring,
      difficult breathing, respiratory pauses. Sleep polygraphy studies are indicated
      only in specific situations. The main cause is enlargement of the adenoids and
      tonsils. Cardiovascular complications may develop; weight gain and statural
      growth, psychomotor development and development of the face may be altered.
      Chronic snoring without apneas should be considered as a form of SAS. Treatment
      rests mainly on surgery (removal of the adenoids and tonsils).

PMID- 1456682
TI  - [Vertigo in children].
AB  - The main difference between childhood and adulthood vertigo is that the
      evaluation of symptoms and examination pose special challenges in pediatric
      patients, depending on age. Vertigo in pre-teenage children is similar to vertigo
      in adults. In contrast, although benign paroxysmal vertigo, vestibular
      neuronitis, and Meniere's vertigo occur in children, the distribution of these
      conditions is different from that seen in adults. After vestibular and cochlear
      investigations as well as a CT scan or MRI study to outrule a tumor of the
      posterior cerebral fossa, the diagnosis of vestibular vertigo is established.
      Often, the diagnosis proposed cannot be considered as final and requires
      reappraisal according to the long-term course. Collation of case-reports with
      highly accurate documents is essential in order to strive to develop more
      satisfactory approaches.

PMID- 1456683
TI  - [Why and how should serous otitis media be treated?].
AB  - Serous otitis media is an extremely commonplace condition in pediatric patients
      and tends to resolve spontaneously. Only some forms warrant treatment.
      Indications for treatment include frequent superinfections, lasting hearing
      impairment with adverse consequences on socialization, or debilitation of the
      tympanic membrane carrying a risk for the ear. Tympanostomy tubes are a
      palliative treatment for serous otitis which restores hearing within a few hours
      and eliminates unfixated retractions of the tympanic membrane within a few weeks.
      Tympanostomy tubes may lead to complications including otorrhea and perforation
      of the tympanic membrane and should therefore be used only in patients with
      severe otitis media. Etiologic treatment of serous otitis rests on restoration of
      satisfactory nasal ventilation (education to improve nose-blowing,
      adenoidectomy), improvement of eustachian tube patency (corticosteroids), and
      modification of the characteristics of middle ear secretions (mucolytic agents
      and mucomodifying agents).

PMID- 1456684
TI  - [Cancer of the stomach: the Japanese example].

PMID- 1456685
TI  - [Cancer of the stomach: for a revised strategy].
AB  - The "revisionist" approach to therapy of gastric cancer needs a previous
      demonstration of the qualitative comparability of Japanese and western treatments
      of gastric adenocarcinoma. Early gastric cancer is far more common in Japanese
      than in Occidentals, but its character is the same, and for identical stages and
      treatments, the prognosis is the same. But many western studies show serious
      methodological deficiencies (staging, anatomopathological examination...), as
      well as a serious lack of interest in adjuvant therapy, a potential source of
      progress. We propose a 4-point therapeutic approach inspired by the Japanese
      example: a greater methodological rigor, standardization of lymphadenectomies,
      the definition of therapeutic subgroups to receive optimal treatments, the
      development of new adjuvant treatments.

PMID- 1456686
TI  - [Value of a "floppy" Nissen in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux. Apropos
      of 117 cases].
AB  - The Nissen fundoplication is the most widely used antireflux procedure. However
      this operation is associated with several specific complications. To prevent
      these complications, an alternative antireflux procedure ("floppy" Nissen) has
      been designed. This investigation was conducted to investigate the effects of the
      floppy Nissen performed on 117 patients, between 1978 and 1990. Indication for
      surgery was the endoscopic discovery of stage I and II oesophagitis (59 cases),
      III and IV oesophagitis (25 cases) or an associated disease (gallstones: 25
      cases, duodenal ulcer: 8 cases), pH monitoring used preoperatively in 47 cases
      showed an important reflux in 33 cases (70%). Preoperative manometry exploration
      (71 cases) showed a low pressure of the low oesophageal sphincter (LOS) in 63
      cases (89%). The "floppy" Nissen procedure was performed over a length 4 to 6 cm.
      The folds of the diaphragm were closed back behind the oesophagus in 40 cases.
      During the postoperative period the pH-data were restored to normal range in 73%
      (18/26 cases), and the value of the LOS was restored in 74% (19/26 cases). The
      mean duration of clinical follow-up study of 99 patients was 3.22 years.
      Improvement in clinical symptoms was noted for 86%; 13% had specific Nissen
      complications (9 gall-bloat syndrome, 4 intermittent dysphagia). Six patients had
      to be reoperated. This technique allowed good control of the reflux symptoms,
      with a low incidence of mechanical complications.

PMID- 1456687
TI  - [Prognostic incidence of blood transfusion in 753 patients operated for
      colorectal adenocarcinoma].
AB  - Do transfusions have a deleterious effect on the survival after surgery for
      colorectal carcinoma (CRC)? Among 1,221 patients operated on for a CRC between
      1969 and 1988, 753 patients having undergone a curative surgical procedure with a
      follow-up of at least six months were evaluated retrospectively. 134 patients
      (17.2%) did not receive any transfusion; the others 619 (82.80%) received
      transfusions including 150 with packed red blood cells only. Transfused and non
      transfused patients were compared. Among the classical indicators for disease
      free survival, the only valuable parameter was the pathological classification,
      but it was not discriminant between transfused and non transfused patients.
      Prognostic value of transfusions were evaluated with regard of the components and
      the quantity of transfused items, the time of transfusions (either per- or
      perioperative), the surgical procedures and the tumor location on colon and
      rectum. The 5 years survival of transfused patients was less than for non
      transfused patients (56.3% versus 61.7%, p > 0.05 NS), but only the transfusions
      of more than 5 packed red blood cells worsened significantly the prognostic. (5
      years chi 2 = 5.7; p < 0.02). Adjustments with pathologic analysis and time
      evolutive indications for transfusions did not alter those results. These results
      point the fact that transfusions could influence survival after surgery for CRC
      and stress us to limit reasonably transfusions.

PMID- 1456688
TI  - [Minimal intestinal preparation before colectomy for cancer. Experience of 189
      cases].
AB  - 189 cases of colectomy for cancer have undergone limited bowel preparation by one
      or two enemas the day before surgery. The anastomosis has been performed manually
      with a continuous suture of resorbable material. Hospital mortality is 1.6% for
      the whole series and limited to 0.5% for elective resections despite the old age
      of the patients included (70.6 +/- 11 years, with 40.7% more than 75 years).
      Morbidity rate is 13.9% and of 2.6% for local septic complications. No clinical
      anastomotic dehiscence was demonstrated. From these results, poor local bowel
      preparation does not appear to be a risk factor of colectomy for cancer.

PMID- 1456689
TI  - [Postoperative morbidity and mortality of infectious complications of colonic
      diverticulosis: multifactorial study].
AB  - The objective of this study was to determine parameters influencing the mortality
      due to postoperative adverse events, by taking into account surgical techniques
      and many other perioperative parameters. From 1967 to 1989, 83 patients were
      operated for pericolic abscess (level 1, n = 22), pelvic abscess (level 2, n =
      38) purulent peritonitis (level 3, n = 16) and fecal peritonitis (level 4, n =
      7). Surgical techniques were: first colostomy with drainage (n = 21), first
      resection without immediate anastomosis (n = 34), and first resection with
      immediate anastomosis (n = 28). The overall complications were 51% (n = 42) with
      a mortality of 28% (n = 23). During univariate analysis, variables linked to
      postoperative complications were neurologic events (p < 0.0001), cirrhosis (p =
      0.01), current treatment by steroids (p = 0.007), infectious level (p = 0.002),
      first colostomy (p = 0.005) and first resection with anastomosis (p = 0.007).
      Postoperative mortality was linked with neurologic events (p < 0.0001), age (p =
      0.005), infectious level (p = 0.04), first colostomy (p = 0.005), and first
      resection with anastomosis (p = 0.0012). Logistic regression determined 3
      independent variables influencing complications: neurologic events (p < 0.0001),
      first colostomy (p = 0.01), and infectious level (p = 0.002). The mortality
      determined by multivariate analysis was dependent on 3 variables: neurologic
      events (p < 0.0001) first colostomy (p = 0.007) and age (p = 0.01). The adjusted
      relative risk was 17 for neurologic events and 6 for first colostomy.

PMID- 1456690
TI  - [Validation of the measurement of hepatic volume by three-dimensional computed
      tomography].
AB  - The aim of this work was to verify experimentally the reliability of 3D CT scan
      in measuring hepatic volumes. Eight livers were dissected from corpses. The
      referring liver volume was determined by measure of its hydric shift. The
      correlation coefficient R was 0.93 (p < 0.001) on 5 mm/5 mm 3D sections, 0.92 (p
      < 0.001) on 10 mm/10 mm 3D sections and 0.94 (p < 0.0006) on 5 mm/10 mm 3D
      sections. The paired t-test also showed a 5% risk correlation between the two
      measurements. Although in vivo imaging is slightly different from in vitro, 3D CT
      scan seems to be a reliable method to determine an hepatic volume without
      increased X-ray irradiation.

PMID- 1456691
TI  - [Acute hepatic artery thrombosis in pediatric liver transplantation: surgical
      thrombectomy and in situ fibrinolysis].
AB  - In pediatric liver transplantation, hepatic artery thrombosis usually leads to
      graft loss, early due to hepatic necrosis when it occurs during the first week
      following the transplant procedure, or later due to biliary complications. Liver
      retransplantation is the usual attitude. However, urgent surgical hepatic
      arterial thrombectomy to restore the blood flow can be successful when early
      diagnosis is made with Doppler ultrasound examination and angiography. Four
      hepatic arterial thrombectomies were performed as an emergency with additional
      intra-hepatic arterial fibrinolytic treatment, in three children, 1.5, 3 and 5.5
      years of age. Mean duration between the first signs of hepatic artery thrombosis
      and thrombectomy was 16 hours. None of the children had an urgent liver
      retransplantation. A complete success was obtained in one case, with normal liver
      function tests and patent hepatic artery on the Doppler ultrasound examination at
      the present time. In the two other cases, hepatic artery thrombosis recurred, in
      spite of repeated thrombectomy in one case; following this attempt complications
      of hepatic artery thrombosis occurred in the two patients: ischemic necrosis of
      the left lobe (1 case), biliary leak (1 case) and stenosis of the common bile
      duct (2 cases). A complete success in one case and a partial success in the two
      others lead us to advocate urgent thrombectomy and in situ fibrinolytic treatment
      when early diagnosis of hepatic artery thrombosis is made.

PMID- 1456692
TI  - [Cholecystectomy by celioscopy: indications and safety of the method. Apropos of
      a consecutive series of 300 patients].
AB  - We performed a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 300 patients with gallstone
      disease complicated or not. The rate success was 97%, however involved the
      pathology might be. Indeed, 15% of the patients had an acute cholecystitis (10%
      catarrhalis, 5% empyema). Twenty-four patients with common bile duct stones had a
      complete endoscopic management of the biliary disease: endoscopic sphincterotomy
      and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Operative mortality was absent and overall
      morbidity was 3.7%, exclusively minor.

PMID- 1456693
TI  - [Role of resection of the celiac plexus in the analgesic treatment of pancreatic
      cancers].
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the pain relief related to resection of the
      celiac plexus in pancreatic carcinoma. This technique was attempted in 26
      consecutive patients and performed in 23 (feasibility: 88%), whose mean age was
      64 years. Before surgery, patients were divided into two groups: patients not
      treated by narcotic analgesics (group 1, n = 10) and patients treated by narcotic
      analgesics (group II, n = 13). Surgery was indicated in 22 patients for
      pancreatic resection or by-pass, and in 1 patient for pain relief after an
      unsuccessful per-cutaneous celiac plexus block. Resection of the celiac plexus
      was always performed via a trans-peritoneal approach, after mobilization of the
      head of the pancreas and the duodenum. Only the right half of the celiac plexus
      was resected in 4 patients (17%) due to technical difficulties. Pathologic
      examination was performed in 16 patients (8 patients from each group) and
      neoplastic involvement was observed only in 3 patients of group II. There was no
      operative death. Two complications related to this method occurred (9%). One
      patient developed a chylous ascites and was treated conservatively. In a second
      patient, an occlusion of the celiac trunk was complicated by infarction of the
      spleen and of the left lobe of the liver; this patient was reoperated and his
      subsequent post-operative course was uneventful. In group I, eight patients (80%)
      did not require narcotic analgesics after resection of the celiac plexus. Two
      failures occurred, one immediately after surgery and one delayed. In group II,
      seven patients (53%) did not require narcotic analgesics; 6 of these 7 patients
      died. Six failures occurred, 4 early after surgery and 2 delayed. Three of the 4
      early failures occurred in patients who underwent resection of the right half of
      the celiac plexus. The authors concluded that resection of the celiac plexus
      seems to be an effective pain treatment in pancreatic carcinoma. However,
      resection must be bilateral to provide analgesia. Specific morbidity of this
      technique may lead to the use of non-surgical methods if surgery is not indicated
      for pancreatic resection or by-pass.

PMID- 1456694
TI  - [Left pancreatectomy with preservation of the spleen without its pedicle. Apropos
      of 13 cases].
AB  - Overwhelming post splenectomy infections in childhood were first described by
      King and Shumaker in 1952. This septic risk, although a matter of controversy,
      also exists in adults. Thus, splenic conservation must become a surgical concern
      in left pancreas resections for benign or traumatic diseases. The authors report
      their experience with a simplified procedure in which the splenic pedicle is
      resected "en bloc" with the left pancreas. This technique has been employed in
      thirteen patients, in whom spleen could be preserved in twelve, without operative
      mortality and a low morbidity rate.

PMID- 1456695
TI  - [Pancreas divisum, chronic pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus. Improvement by
      pancreaticojejunostomy].
AB  - The relationship between pancreas divisum and chronic pancreatitis is
      controversial. We report the cases of two patients aged 40 and 53 years suffering
      from recurrent pancreatitis and known to have histologically proven idiopathic
      chronic pancreatitis. One patient had insulin dependent diabetes. Pancreatography
      demonstrated in these two cases a pancreas divisum with a dilated dorsal
      pancreatic duct. A pancreatico-jejunostomy was performed, associated in one case
      with splenopancreatectomy for pseudo-cyst. With a follow-up of 32 and 78 months,
      both patients were free of symptoms and the diabetic patient had normal blood
      glucose levels with diet alone. The clinical history of the patients suggests a
      relationship between pancreas divisum and chronic pancreatitis and that
      pancreatico-jejunostomy may improve pancreatic pain and pancreatic function.

PMID- 1456696
TI  - [A direct approach and a crease-resistant prosthesis: two simplifications of
      subperitoneal hernioplasty].
AB  - With experience of six already known techniques, the authors have developed a
      personal procedure combining three main principles: 1) large and direct exposure
      of the preperitoneal space, 2) the mesh, supple but not soft, needing no
      fixation, 3) outline of this mesh adapted to the concave shape of the pelvic
      wall, and avoiding the risk of a ventral hernia. The original points of this
      technique are the following: approach along the lateral border of the rectus
      muscle through its sheath, the initial exposure of the iliopsoas muscle and
      retropubic space, and the cutting of the mesh extending far beyond the borders of
      the inguinal and femoral orifices, with a flap reinforcing the posterior aspect
      of the rectus muscle. One hundred and two consecutive patients (173 hernias, 48
      recurrences) were operated upon, and all but two were followed for a mean period
      of 36.8 months. Morbidity was low, with no prosthesis infection, and there was no
      recurrence or incisional hernia. The authors emphasize the simplicity and the
      rapidity of this technique, without advocating it as a routine operation, since
      it carries, like all prosthetic techniques, the potential for sepsis and
      preperitoneal fibrosis.

PMID- 1456697
TI  - [Cystadenocarcinoma with peritoneal involvement (pseudomyxoma peritonei). Is
      surgical resection alone sufficient?].
AB  - We present our experience of 10 cases of pseudomyxoma peritonei treated in our
      regional hospital between 1978 and 1992. We note the rarity of this disease; the
      catastrophic macroscopic appearance may mislead the in experienced surgeon.
      Preoperative diagnosis is usually easy when confronted with a mass in an ascitic
      abdomen, with the help of ultrasonography and CT-scan, and above all after
      abdominal puncture which produces pathognomonic gelatinous fluid. Most cases are
      derived from the ovary and appendix. Treatment is surgical and aggressive; we
      adopt the protocol proposed by Sugarbaker which combines repeated surgery and
      local and systemic chemotherapy. The relatively good survival, even in the
      malignant cases, seems to be improved by this treatment.

PMID- 1456698
TI  - [Late revascularization of the renal artery: what are the prognostic criteria?].
AB  - Two patients with non functioning silent kidney on excretory urography and renal
      artery occlusion on angiography, underwent renal artery revascularization without
      severe hypertension or renal failure. Angiographic appearance of collateral
      circulation, histologic evidence of intact viable glomeruli and a normal sized
      kidney are necessary for successful results. Renal blood flow was restored in the
      two patients but one had slight return of function and the other patient showed
      no evidence of improvement. Both patients presented criteria for
      revascularization. The first case was a minor success on the renal scintigraphy.
      The return of renal function did not occur in the second case because of
      preexisting renal pathology. We therefore recommend histologic examination before
      every renal artery revascularization for chronic occlusion.

PMID- 1456699
TI  - [Primary hyperparathyroidism: etiology, physiopathology and natural history].

PMID- 1456700
TI  - [Primary hyperparathyroidism in children].
AB  - Primary hyperparathyroidism in children is an extremely rare condition. Slightly
      more than a hundred cases have been published in children or adolescents aged
      under 16. Forms with a neonatal presentation, the most rare, should be viewed
      apart since they rapidly become life-threatening. They involve hyperplasia of the
      chief cells of the parathyroid glands. Treatment is always surgical and should be
      rapid, consisting of total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation. Primary
      hyperparathyroidism in older children more closely resembles that seen in adults.
      Sporadic forms are most often due to an adenoma and familial forms, which may
      occur alone or within the context of a polyendocrine syndrome, are most often due
      to hyperplasia. Treatment consists of parathyroidectomy, the extent of which
      depends upon the familial context, visual investigative findings and results of
      frozen section histology at the time of exploratory cervicotomy. Regardless of
      the age of the child, family investigation is always required to detect primary
      hyperparathyroidism occurring in the context of a hereditary disorder.

PMID- 1456701
TI  - [Early weight-bearing after osteosynthesis by THS hip screw in cervico
      trochanteric fractures].
AB  - A second generation hip screw was designed in the laboratory to allow unlimited
      immediate weight-bearing in elderly patients with cervico-trochanteric fractures.
      The use of this device in 300 operated patients demonstrated that it provided the
      same capacity for weight-bearing as total hip prostheses, but with a lower
      morbidity and better and longer lasting functional results. Thus, in patients
      with a mean age of 77 years, one half of whom suffered from an unstable fracture:
      the operation was minimally traumatic (reduction on an orthopaedic table, no
      surgical access to the fracture site, operating time less than one hour);
      complications were consequently rare (no deep sepsis, no dislocation) in contrast
      with 5 to 10% of deep sepsis or dislocation with prostheses; early unlimited
      weight-bearing was permitted by the 5th day in every case and was achieved by the
      10th day in more than 80% of cases (30% of whom were able to walk unassisted with
      crutches); an essential point, the design of the material prevented dismantling
      on weight-bearing and preserved the morphology of the hip (telescoping of the
      fracture site never exceeded 20 mm, mean:11 mm). Consolidation was obtained in
      every case by 6 to 8 weeks. The mortality at 3 months was identical to that
      observed with prostheses (18%, related to physiological age). The length of
      hospital stay and the duration of rehabilitation were considerably shortened, as
      37% of patients returned to their previous residence by the 45th postoperative
      day. This resulted in a marked saving in medical costs for each patient (as
      patients previously returned home after an average of 145 days).(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456702
TI  - Faltin Lecture 1991. Faltin, the urologist.

PMID- 1456703
TI  - Results of surgical treatment of patients with Crohn's disease.
AB  - A follow-up study of 98 patients suffering from Crohn's disease was performed to
      evaluate the recurrence rate of the disease and the patients' ability to cope
      socially with this chronic disease. Eight patients were decreased and one had
      emigrated, thus 89 of the patients were contacted. Two of the patients had died
      of Crohn's disease and another two had died of adenocarcinoma of the large bowel
      involved in Crohn's disease. 83% of the patients had been operated on. The
      cumulative rate for recurrences resulting in reoperation using the life table
      method was 34% at 10 years and 55% at 20 years. Even after an enterostomy, the
      patients who had only large bowel involvement had the best quality of life and
      were most able to work. On the other hand, due to the higher recurrence rate,
      operated patients with both small and large bowel involvement found it most
      difficult to cope with the disease.

PMID- 1456704
TI  - Characteristics of jaundice and cholestasis in a Finnish population.
AB  - A prospective study of a Finnish population of about 250,000 patients with
      jaundice or unjaundiced cholestasis was carried out. During a two-and-a-half year
      period altogether 343 patients entered the study. The male/female ratio was
      46%/54%. The mean age was 64.9 years (range 19-92). Extrahepatic obstructive
      diseases constituted two-thirds of the cases both in the jaundiced and
      unjaundiced cholestatic patient groups. The leading extrahepatic diseases causing
      jaundice were gallstone disease (61%) and pancreatic carcinoma (19%). Among the
      nonobstructive intrahepatic diseases causing jaundice, the most frequent diseases
      were alcoholic liver disease (32%) and viral hepatitis (21%). In patients with
      unjaundiced cholestasis, the spectrum of diseases resembled that of the jaundiced
      patients, gallstone disease and pancreatic carcinoma being the largest disease
      groups. In conclusion, extrahepatic obstructive processes seem to be the major
      aetiology of jaundice and unjaundiced cholestasis in our study population.

PMID- 1456705
TI  - When is routine operative cholangiography necessary? An evaluation of 200
      consecutive patients operated on for gallbladder stones.
AB  - Operative cholangiography (OC) was performed during open standard cholecystectomy
      in 195 of 200 consecutive patients. The cholangiography was considered suspicious
      for choledochal stones in 28 patients (14%). Both choledochotomy and
      choledochoscopy were carried out. Stones in the biliary tree were found in 17
      patients and in 11 cases choledochotomy was negative. Cholecystectomy was
      performed on an emergency basis in 46 patients, 15 of them underwent
      choledochotomy and in 11 (24%) bile duct stones were found. In 154 electively
      operated patients six (4%) had choledochal stones. Based on preoperative history
      choledochal stones were suspected in 30 electively operated patients but only
      eight had stones in the biliary tree at the time of operation. The percentage of
      false positive cholangiograms was 6% in the whole material, and unsuspected
      choledochal stones were diagnosed in 5% respectively. It is recommended that
      operative cholangiography should be performed routinely in patients subjected to
      emergency cholecystectomy. In elective operations selective use is acceptable.

PMID- 1456706
TI  - Results of 500 general surgery patients operated on in the ambulatory surgery
      unit.
AB  - This study examined the outcome of 597 general surgery operations performed on
      500 patients in the ambulatory surgery unit of the University Hospital of Kuopio
      between November 1989 and May 1990. Endoscopies were excluded from the study.
      Spinal (41.0%) and local infiltration (31.2%) were the most often used forms of
      anaesthesia. During anaesthesia 15.8% of patients required treatment for
      hypotension, and 13.6% for bradycardia. Of the 351 (70.2%) patients, who returned
      the one month follow-up questionnaire, 41 (11.7%) had visited a doctor
      postoperatively. The main reasons for this visit were pain in 41 (100%), minor
      bleeding in 24 (58.5%) and inflammation in 16 (39.0%) patients. No deaths or
      other major complications were observed. 92% of the patients were satisfied with
      the treatment and anaesthesia.

PMID- 1456707
TI  - Recurrences after inguinal herniotomy in children. Long time follow-up.
AB  - Three hundred consecutive children all under 18 years of age were treated for
      inguinal hernia by herniotomy by the same surgeon from 1970-1985. Hernioplasty
      was not performed. Seven patients had a recurrent hernia, i.e., a cumulative
      recurrence rate of three per cent after a median follow-up of 12 years (range 5
      19). Five of seven (71%) recurred within five years after the operation, while
      only two recurred from the 5th to the 15th year. Long term follow-up is necessary
      to assess incidence of recurrence after inguinal herniotomy in children.

PMID- 1456708
TI  - Bronchoscopic laser photodestruction of benign tumours in the trachea and large
      bronchi.
AB  - Potentialities and results of laser bronchoscopic surgery of exophytic benign
      tumours of the trachea and bronchi are described. The material includes 37
      patients (33 men and 4 women) aged 28-69 (mean age 51 years). Tumours were
      removed by the Nd-YAG laser. In six patients laser photodestruction was combined
      with electrosurgery. In 31 patients manipulations were done via bronchofiberscope
      under local anaesthesia and in six patients via a rigid bronchoscope under
      general anaesthesia. Complete removal of pathologic tissues was achieved in all
      patients. During 1-5 years of follow-up none of the patients developed recurrent
      tumours.

PMID- 1456709
TI  - Hip fractures in urban population in Finland.
AB  - We studied prospectively the occurrence of hip fractures among the over 49-year
      old urban populations (n = 88,206) in the cities Tampere, Jyvaskyla and Kotka in
      1989 and compared the results with a parallel Scandinavian multicentre study.
      During 1989, there were 266 inhabitants who were treated for a hip fracture, 213
      of them were women. Women had in 132 cases a femoral neck fracture and in 81
      cases a trochanteric fracture, and the corresponding numbers for men were 22 and
      31. Among women, the total hip fracture incidence in Jyvaskyla (n = 22) was the
      lowest when compared with the ones in Tampere (n = 47) and Kotka (n = 36). These
      incidences were on average lower than in the other Scandinavian cities studied in
      parallel. The all over ratio of femoral neck/trochanteric fractures was 1.1 in
      Tampere, 3.0 in Jyvaskyla and 2.2 in Kotka and in Tampere, women had 9.3 times
      more femoral neck fractures than men. Our study showed that in Finland in three
      major cities the hip fracture incidence was lower than what has been similarly
      registered in corresponding urban populations in other Scandinavian countries. We
      also point out that the relative part of trochanteric fractures appears to be
      increasing.

PMID- 1456710
TI  - Platelet activation during acute phase after multiple trauma.
AB  - The acute phase after multiple trauma is associated with both thrombotic
      phenomena and a bleeding diathesis. To evaluate the activation of platelets, beta
      thromboglobulin (BTG) in plasma and serum and thromboxane B2 (TxB2) in serum were
      measured in 14 patients with multiple trauma. BTG in plasma was significantly
      increased on days 1, 2 and 10 to 14 after the trauma. The highest median value 90
      micrograms/l was measured on day 1. BTG in serum was significantly reduced 1 to 7
      days after the trauma (median levels 4450-9100 micrograms/l). TxB2 was
      significantly reduced (median levels 18-97 ng/l) on days 1 to 14. The increased
      plasma levels of BTG is due to the posttraumatic activation of platelets in vivo.
      The reduced levels of serum BTG and TxB2 reflect the deficient functional
      capacity of circulating platelets to respond to extreme stress. Therefore,
      platelet count alone may correlate poorly with the haemostatic potential and may
      underestimate the need of platelet transfusions.

PMID- 1456712
TI  - [Stop to medicine as a spectacle!].

PMID- 1456711
TI  - Primary malignant schwannoma of the small bowel.
AB  - Primary malignant schwannoma of the small intestine is an extremely rare disease.
      We report a primary malignant intestinal schwannoma of the small bowel in a 66
      year-old woman, who was admitted to the hospital because of fatigue and anaemia.
      On clinical examination there was a solid mass at the abdomen. Ultrasound
      scanning showed an abdominal tumour. Computed tomography showed a mass in the
      area of the pancreatic tail involving the small intestine. At laparotomy a 10 x
      10 cm tumour was found in the proximal jejunum, and 50 cm of the small intestine
      was resected. The histology of the lesion corresponded to a malignant intestinal
      schwannoma. The results of previous studies and of our report suggest that the
      diagnosis of malignant intestinal schwannoma may be difficult, and to exclude
      malignant conditions laparotomy and surgical excision of the tumour are adequate
      in the management of this type of lesion.

PMID- 1456713
TI  - [Periprosthetic membrane island flap with axial pedicle. Experimental study on
      the effect of time and expanded volume].
AB  - This experimental study, conducted in the rat, assessed the influence the volume
      of expansion and time after expansion on the vascularised area of a
      periprosthetic membrane axial pedicle (epigastric) expanded island flap. 15
      Wistar rats were operated on and divided into 3 series according to the expanded
      volume (20 cc, 40 cc) and the time (1, 2 months). The membrane vascularisation
      derived from the pedicle was study by microradiography based on geometric
      parameters. At equal times, the volume essentially increased the length of the
      pedicle and had little effect on the vascularised area. For equal expanded
      volumes, increasing latency time increased the length and especially the width of
      opacification derived from the pedicle. The periprosthetic membrane axial pedicle
      island flap is an experimental entity whose vascularised area, obtained after a
      certain amount of expansion, is influenced more by time than by the volume of
      expansion.

PMID- 1456714
TI  - [Refinement of partial and total reconstruction of the nose].
AB  - In this surgical field, sophisticated refinements of the complex structures of
      the tip, the alae and the columella are required to achieve a corrected rather
      than a reconstructed appearance of the nose. The conventional corrective
      rhinoplasty should complete the reconstructive work. Apart from skin grafts and
      composite grafts for small repairs, the author currently uses only the fronto
      parieto-occipital flap (Galvao) for total reconstruction, and the fronto-temporal
      flap (Schmid-Meyer), as well as the complex frontal island flap with the
      supratrochlear artery as pedicle for partial repairs. The author has abandoned
      several other techniques. The principle of the two last techniques consists in
      the preformation of the apico-columello-alar structure with the appropriate skin
      and cartilage grafts already in the donor area. For the correction of secondary
      stenoses, the author occassionally uses composite grafts from the interior aspect
      of the auricular crus helicis.

PMID- 1456715
TI  - [Repair techniques in perforations of the nasal septum].
AB  - According to my experience extending over more than 20 years (more than 100
      cases) in the treatment of septal perforations, I have the deep conviction that
      all techniques using local flaps should actually be considered to be obsolete, as
      the blood supply is insufficient. Perforations with diameter up to 4 cm can be
      closed in a one stage procedure with extensive dissection of the muco
      perichondrium and mucoperiosteum of the septum, the vault and the vestibular and
      cavity floor. The hole in the quadrangular plate can be reduced by a push back or
      push down manoeuver of part of the cartilage. For closure of perforations larger
      than 4 cm in diameter, I use a 2-3 stage procedure using a composite buccal flap
      with three layers (mucosa-cartilage and mucosa) and a gingivo-labial pedicle.
      Thus all kinds and sizes of perforations can be closed surgically avoiding the
      use of silicone obturators which only enlarge the hole.

PMID- 1456716
TI  - [Value of interrupted resection of the lateral crus in surgery of the nasal tip].
AB  - Three goals have to be achieved in the surgery of the tip of the nose. Separately
      or joined together, they contribute to modify the height, rotation or width of
      the tip. Interrupting resection of the upper legs gives the ability to modify
      both the projection and the rotation of the tip. The authors present this
      technique, emphasizing the precise location of the knee of the upper legs and the
      interest to perform interrupting resections laterally to this region.

PMID- 1456717
TI  - [Esthetic pinching of the globular nasal tip. Technical note].
AB  - A conservative technique designed to simple reduce the width of nasal tip is
      presented. It consists of approximation of the anterosuperior segments of alar
      lateral crus after their elevation on median pedicles. A marginal inferior band
      of alar cartilage is left adherent to the nasal mucosa. The procedure is
      completed without cartilaginous excision. We tried this technique in ten
      rhinoplasties and the results were satisfactory. The nasal tip narrowing obtained
      has no significant effect on either tip projection and position or nostril shape.

PMID- 1456718
TI  - [Treatment of cleft lip and palate: long-term results].
AB  - Since 1958, 900 children with cleft lip and palate were operated on at the
      University Hospital Brugmann in Brussels. Until 1981, the children were operated
      at 6 months for the lip and at 18 months for the palate with two flap
      palatoplasties. Since 1982, R. Malek's technique and sequence were adopted. The
      results after 5 years follow-up are analyzed between two groups of 50 and 49
      children operated with the two techniques. Growth of the maxillary arch and
      phonation are well improved in the second group, but no improvement was observed
      in terms of hearing.

PMID- 1456719
TI  - [Partial anterior chondrotomy in the correction of prominent ears. Apropos of 140
      re-examined cases].
AB  - 336 patients have been operated for protruding ears. 140 of them have a long term
      postoperative follow-up. The anterior partial chondrotomies are opposed to the
      other surgical procedures and give the opportunity for a comparative and
      retrospective study. Surgical indications and procedures, use of antibiotics,
      postoperative follow-up, and complications are studied. 95% of results are good
      or very good whatever the surgical procedure. The authors remain the posterior
      and anterior access for partial chondrotomy.

PMID- 1456720
TI  - [Evaluation of the Mustarde technique in the treatment of prominent ears. Apropos
      of 1100 patients].
AB  - The analysis of a homogenous series of 1,100 patients with prominent ears
      confirmed the reliability of the Mustarde technique and the reversibility of the
      iatrogenic deformities related to this procedure.

PMID- 1456721
TI  - [Cutaneous retraction. Data from liposuction and other clinical procedures].
AB  - The remarkable capacity of the skin to stretch is used in the skin expander
      technique. In parallel, the skin is also able to retract, which is very useful
      for the plastic surgeon. This ability to retract may open the road for new
      techniques. Suction lipectomy, which allows removal of large volumes of fat
      without skin resection, is a privileged technique for the study of retractability
      characteristics. This study compares the pre and postoperative conditions in 392
      cases of body liposuction and 108 cases of cervicofacial liposuctions, to
      determine the factors which influence skin retraction. It appears that age and
      the total amount of fat removed have an incidence on the time needed to obtain
      the final result. However the treatment site emerges as a determinant factor on
      the potential of the skin to retract postoperatively. In practice, the skin
      elasticity appears to be very different in different treatment sites, and
      considerable variations can even be observed between two neighbouring regions. In
      the neck and cheeks the skin seems considerably more retractable than in other
      sites, and we can trace the boundaries of the optimal retractability for the
      liposuction: "the golden triangle at the neck". The considerable plasticity of
      the skin overlying the neck contrasts with the poor ability of facial skin to
      retract. On the body, the skin resumes its previous form in the vast majority of
      patients (90%). These data, derived from a liposuction study, may be compared
      with other clinical observations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456722
TI  - [Keloid cicatrix of the face and neck. Apropos of 81 cases treated in Dakar].
AB  - The authors report their experience of the treatment of 81 cases of keloid scars
      in Africa. Many methods have been proposed and used but they do not consistently
      lead to good results. The fact that many operations have been indicates their
      back of efficacy. The natural tendency towards recurrence dictates the correct
      choice of operation. The best result is obtained by combining surgery with
      radiotherapy.

PMID- 1456723
TI  - ["Pseudo-kite" flap of the index finger with LLL-plasty in the reconstruction of
      the first commissure].
AB  - The authors describe a peninsular diamond-shaped flap raised from the
      dorsolateral surface of the index finger to cover a defect of the first web
      space. The donor site is covered by an "LLL" Dufourmentel flap tailored on the
      dorsum of the hand avoiding a skin graft on the exposed surface of the hand.

PMID- 1456724
TI  - [Radial forearm free flap with double skin island. Apropos of a clinical case].
AB  - The authors report a case of double island forearm flap for a double defect on
      the inferior part of the leg. The chinese flap is the only flap which has a
      segmental and staged vascularisation allowing multiple island skin flaps to be
      performed separated only by the vascular pedicle.

PMID- 1456725
TI  - [Microsurgical repair after excision of large cancers. Apropos of 14 cases].
AB  - The specialty which has benefited the most from the rapid development of
      reconstructive microsurgery over the last decade, has been plastic surgery. In
      particular, the authors refer to reconstructive microsurgery after malignant
      tumor resection. Resections which used to cause serious psychological problems or
      which required multiple reconstructive procedures, can now be performed as a
      single stage procedure with good oncological, functional and aesthetic results.
      This experience concerns the treatment of 14 primary or recurrent malignant
      tumors of the skin and soft tissues using microsurgical techniques. The free
      latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap was the flap most commonly used. The
      authors also used the groin flap, the scapular flap, the tensor fasciae latae
      flap, the dorsalis pedis flap and finally the jejunum combined with the second
      metatarsus to reconstruct the mandible and the floor of the mouth. Complications
      consisted of complete necrosis of a dorsalis pedis flap and two revisions were
      performed for venous thrombosis. With a minimum follow-up of 5 years, one patient
      has developed a local recurrence and another has developed regional lymph node
      metastases. The functional and aesthetic results were quite satisfactory. The
      authors believe that microsurgery is a very valuable technique to treat difficult
      reconstructive problems.

PMID- 1456726
TI  - [Breast ptosis. Classification and summary of surgical indications].
AB  - A general classification of ptotic breasts is proposed by the author in four main
      groups. 1) Precocious ptotic breasts including ptosis because of anomalies of
      skin elasticity and primary morphological ptotic aspects of the breast. 2) Ptotic
      breast as a result of excess of volume due to early hyperplasia, because of
      excess weight (around puberty, around pregnancy, around menopause). 3) Acquired
      ptotic small or long breast by fibrous retraction, or after weight loss. 4)
      Asymmetric ptotic breast, either primary, presenting at puberty or secondary
      presenting around pregnancy or after weight variations, or iatrogenic. An
      approach to the morphological analysis of each type of ptosis includes evaluation
      of skin quality, glandular density, relation between both. The role of weight
      stability is also discussed before a brief summary of the author's choice of
      techniques.

PMID- 1456727
TI  - [Controversy about prostheses: a false problem?].

PMID- 1456728
TI  - Thrombocytopenia in a retrovirally-induced murine erythroleukemia.
AB  - A variant strain of Rauscher leukemia virus (RLV-A) obtained from a
      transplantable murine monomyelocytic leukemia causes a disease characterized by
      frank anemia, wasting, hepatosplenomegaly and erythroblastosis. The involvement
      of platelets in this disease are reported here. The RLV-A induced a severe
      thrombocytopenia (25 percent of control level) at the terminal stage of disease.
      This thrombocytopenia was not associated with disseminated intravascular
      coagulopathy since the prothrombin times were always within normal limits. The
      partial thromboplastin time was elevated in the terminal stages of disease and
      was found to be associated with factor deficiencies, possibly owing to the
      presence of anti-factor antibodies, in the intrinsic coagulation pathway,
      especially factor VIII. Further, splenectomy did not abolish the
      thrombocytopenia, since splenectomized, virally infected animals also developed
      severe thrombocytopenia (29 percent of control levels). The ensuing splenomegaly
      during progression of disease was not the cause of the thrombocytopenia. A
      physiological response to the severe thrombocytopenia was the production of
      larger size platelets. At terminal stages of the disease, platelet volume
      increased to 4.2 mu 3 (normal is 3.0 mu 3). An increase in platelet volume was
      also observed in splenectomized, virally infected animals. Electron microscopy
      indicated that these circulating platelets contained c-type viral particles.
      Viral infection was associated with decreased life span of circulating platelets,
      as measured by 75Se-methionine at mid and terminal stages of the disease. Our
      results suggest that direct viral infection of platelets and/or megakaryocytes
      with subsequent cell lysis is a possible cause of the observed thrombocytopenia
      observed in RLVA-induced disease and may also occur in other retrovirally-induced
      diseases.

PMID- 1456729
TI  - Clinical applications of capillary electrophoresis.
AB  - Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a new powerful separation technique that often
      exhibits higher resolution and shorter analysis times than high performance
      liquid chromatography (HPLC) or agarose electrophoresis (AE). The separation can
      be accomplished based on charge as well as on size, hydrophobicity, and
      stereospecificity. In addition to high resolution, the most significant features
      of CE are ease of use, low cost of operation, and the speed of the analysis thus
      suitable for stat work. Examples of the application of CE in the field of
      clinical diagnosis which are discussed include: therapeutic drug monitoring,
      proteins (serum, urinary and cerebrospinal fluid), and hemoglobins. This
      technique can reveal compounds which are not routinely analyzed in the lab thus
      opening a new area for the clinical investigator.

PMID- 1456730
TI  - Assessment of mitochondrial function in cells grown in tissue culture.
AB  - To assess mitochondrial function (pyruvate dehydrogenase [PDH] activity), cells
      were grown in the appropriate media to confluence, rinsed and incubated in
      glucose free media containing 25 microM L-lactate and [1-14C]-D,L-lactate.
      Lactate oxidation was measured as the amount of lactate oxidized in nmol of 14CO2
      generated per mg of protein per minute. Basal activity varied with cell number
      and the cell type studied: fibroblast 2.26 +/- 0.01; Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)
      42 +/- 0.4; BC3H-1 52 +/- 2.1 nmol per mg per minute. The CHO cells screened for
      PDH activity decreased their dependence on lactate as a substrate in the presence
      of 5mM glucose by 60 percent. Increasing the cold lactate concentration diluted
      the labelled lactate available for pyruvate oxidation in a dose dependent manner.
      The mitochondrial inhibitor rotenone (25 microM) decreased assay activity by > 75
      percent in CHO and BC3H-1 cells. The lactate oxidation assay was shown to be
      sensitive enough to measure insulin stimulation of PDH in a dose dependent manner
      with maximum activity occurring at concentrations between 1 microU per ml and 100
      microU per ml.

PMID- 1456731
TI  - Hemoglobin C--G-Georgia double heterozygosity: a case report.
AB  - A 12-month-old black female with an unremarkable past medical history was
      admitted to the hospital with respiratory distress and fever without identified
      sepsis. Despite mechanical ventilation, the patient died as a result of
      respiratory insufficiency secondary to severe necrotizing bronchitis and
      bronchiolitis with pneumonia. Electrophoretic and biochemical analyses of the
      patient's hemoglobin showed the patient to be a double heterozygote for
      hemoglobin C (a beta chain variant) and hemoglobin G-Georgia (an alpha chain
      variant). This is the first report of this combination of hemoglobin variants.

PMID- 1456732
TI  - The effect of metal chelators on lipid peroxidation in irradiated erythrocytes.
AB  - Prophylactic irradiation of blood and blood components is accepted practice in
      order to prevent graft-versus-host disease from infused lymphocytes. Irradiation,
      however, results in increased red cell potassium (K+) loss, along with other
      possible effects that may affect red cell function and viability. Lipid
      peroxidation (LP), a process initiated by the production of oxygen free radicals,
      is increased in red cells in the presence of reactive iron species and various
      heme moieties. In this report, it is noted that not only is plasma K+
      significantly increased following blood irradiation, but LP is also increased
      compared with paired non-irradiated blood samples. Furthermore, various metal
      chelators significantly reduce LP in the irradiated samples. These chelators also
      significantly reduced the rate of cellular K+ loss during the four day 37 degrees
      C incubation period. This study further suggests that the addition of selected
      metal chelators may be effective in both irradiated and non-irradiated stored
      blood by improving the function and viability of transfused erythrocytes.

PMID- 1456733
TI  - Patterns of reactivity of human anti-GM1 antibodies with spinal cord and motor
      neurons.
AB  - Human anti-GM1 antibodies from patients with lower motor neuron disease or
      predominantly motor neuropathy recognize carbohydrate determinants shared by GM1
      and related glycolipids and glycoproteins, but the identity of the antigens to
      which they bind in tissue is unknown. We examined the binding of anti-GM1
      antibodies with differing fine specificities to spinal cord, isolated motor
      neurons, and dorsal root ganglia neurons in order to characterize the tissue
      antigens. All anti-GM1 antibodies tested bound to the surface of bovine spinal
      motor neurons and immunostained the gray matter of unfixed sections of spinal
      cord. The staining was blocked by cholera toxin, which is specific for GM1,
      indicating that GM1 itself was the target antigen. Binding to white matter was
      more variable and depended on fixation and the fine specificities of the
      antibodies. The anti-GM1 antibodies did not bind to dorsal root ganglia neurons
      in tissue sections or in culture. These studies suggest that the autoantibodies
      might exert their effect, in part, by binding to GM1 on the surface of motor
      neurons, and that the absence of binding to dorsal root ganglia neurons might
      explain the lack of sensory abnormalities in affected patients.

PMID- 1456734
TI  - Hemifacial spasm: evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance
      tomographic angiography.
AB  - We evaluated 37 patients with hemifacial spasm and 16 age-matched control
      patients with other neurological disorders using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging,
      MR angiography, and MR tomographic angiography. MR tomographic angiography is a
      new technique using computer reconstruction of MR angiographic images to create
      coronal angiotomes that display tissue and arterial structures on the same image.
      Twenty-four of 37 (64.9%) patients with hemifacial spasm had ipsilateral vascular
      compression of cranial nerve VII or the pons noted by this technique, whereas
      only 1 of 16 (6.3%) control patients had compression. MR imaging and MR
      angiography were less sensitive and less specific in evaluating for vascular
      compression. This study supports vascular compression of cranial nerve VII or the
      pons as a cause of hemifacial spasm, and demonstrates MR tomographic
      angiography's value as an excellent, noninvasive technique to demonstrate the
      compression.

PMID- 1456735
TI  - Magnetic resonance: a noninvasive approach to metabolism, circulation, and
      morphology in human brain death.
AB  - Phosphorus (31P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging
      were used to study the intracellular metabolism, circulation, and morphology in
      the brains of 3 patients with clinical brain death syndrome due to traumatic
      brain damage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and acute occlusive hydrocephalus caused
      by a colloid cyst. Magnetic resonance spectra were characterized by a complete
      absence of ATP and were dominated by an intense inorganic phosphate signal.
      Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a uniform pattern of diffuse brain swelling
      and tentorial and foraminal herniation. Intracranial blood flow was absent on the
      magnetic resonance angiography projections. These preliminary findings suggest an
      important impact of magnetic resonance in the determination of human brain death.

PMID- 1456736
TI  - Ipsilateral fast corticospinal pathways do not account for recovery in stroke.
AB  - We tested the hypothesis that in adult humans, recovery from stroke results from
      the emergence of ipsilateral, fast-conducting corticospinal pathways. In 10
      patients recovering from stroke, the unaffected hemisphere was stimulated with an
      electromagnet and changes in the firing probability of single biceps motor units
      were used to derive postsynaptic potentials in single biceps motoneurons. Stimuli
      sufficient to excite the neurons of the fast-conducting corticospinal pathway (as
      shown by short-latency facilitation of contralateral biceps motoneurons) did not
      produce short-latency depolarization of ipsilateral biceps motoneurons. The
      hypothesis is therefore not supported.

PMID- 1456737
TI  - Skeletal muscle toxoplasmosis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency
      syndrome: a clinical and pathological study.
AB  - The present article describes the clinical and pathological findings in 5 human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with muscle toxoplasmosis. The
      patients had marked lymphopenia (5/5), with less than five CD4+ cells/mm3 (3/3),
      when they developed fever (5/5), and multiorgan failure (5/5), including diffuse
      encephalitis, pneumonia, pancytopenia, and myopathy. Muscle involvement included
      weakness and wasting (4/5), myalgias (3/5), and high serum creatine kinase levels
      (3/3). Serology for toxoplasmosis showed high IgG titers in 3 patients (3/4).
      Anti-Toxoplasma therapy resulted in complete recovery in 2 patients. Muscle
      toxoplasmosis was detected by biopsy (3/5) or postmortem evaluation (2/5), and
      was identified using immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy. Toxoplasma
      cysts were detected in 0.5 to 4% of muscle fibers close to or remote from
      necrotic fibers and inflammatory infiltrates. Muscle fibers strongly expressed
      the major histocompatibility complex class I antigen (2/2) as in polymyositis. We
      suggest that Toxoplasma gondii should be sought by muscle biopsy in patients who
      have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with fever, encephalitis, multiorgan
      dysfunction, and elevated serum creatine kinase levels of obscure origin.

PMID- 1456738
TI  - Calbindin-D28k in the basal ganglia of patients with parkinsonism.
AB  - An immunohistochemical study was carried out to investigate the topographic
      distribution of calbindin-D28k in the human basal ganglia and substantia nigra
      and its alterations in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD),
      parkinsonism-dementia complex on Guam, progressive supranuclear palsy, and
      striatonigral degeneration. In normal control subjects, calbindin-D28k
      immunoreactivity was identified in the medium-sized neurons and neuropil of the
      matrix compartment of the striatum, the woolly fiber arrangements of the globus
      pallidus, and the fiber structures of the pars reticulata of the substantia
      nigra. Calbindin-D28k expression in the basal ganglia of patients with PD and
      parkinsonism-dementia on Guam was not different from that of control subjects,
      suggesting that the matrical output pathway is spared in these disorders. In
      contrast, its disruption is inferred from the observed disorganization of woolly
      fibers in the globus pallidus of patients with progressive supranuclear palsy and
      the reduced calbindin-D28k reactivity in the putaminal matrix and the pars
      reticulata of the substantia nigra of subjects with striatal degeneration. Thus,
      our results indicate that calbindin-D28k is a useful marker for the projection
      system from the matrix compartment and that its expression is modified in
      patients with progressive supranuclear palsy and striatal degeneration.

PMID- 1456739
TI  - Three- and four-year cognitive outcome in children with noncortical brain tumors
      treated with whole-brain radiotherapy.
AB  - Cognitive function and school achievement were studied prospectively over 3 to 4
      years in 19 children treated for brain tumors with whole-brain radiotherapy; 14
      of 19 also received adjuvant chemotherapy. For the group as a whole, mean IQ fell
      from a baseline of 104 to 92 at follow-up (p < 0.01). Age was inversely
      correlated with change in IQ over time (r = 0.71; p < 0.001). Children younger
      than 7 years at diagnosis had a mean IQ loss of 27 points, while children over 7
      years at diagnosis showed no significant decrease in IQ. Decline in IQ occurred
      between baseline and year 2 of follow-up; none could be documented between years
      2 and 4. All children younger than 7 years at diagnosis were receiving special
      education at follow-up; 50% of the children over 7 years at diagnosis were
      receiving supplemental educational services.

PMID- 1456740
TI  - Amygdala cell loss and atrophy in Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - The amygdala and its subnuclei undergo severe volumetric atrophy in Alzheimer's
      disease (AD). To determine whether this atrophy is due to loss of neuropil,
      specific neuronal populations, or both, we evaluated the number, size, and
      packing density of neurons and glia in the cortical and magnocellular basal
      amygdaloid subregions. The neuropil fraction did not change with AD in either
      region. Despite a mean 35% increase in cell packing density in the AD amygdala,
      total numbers of neurons and glia within tissue sections were reduced
      significantly; medium and large neurons were preferentially affected. The total
      number of small neurons was stable in the AD sample despite sharp reductions in
      nuclear size, suggesting that AD also results in pronounced amygdaloid neuronal
      shrinkage. Differences in the degree of cell loss between the two nuclei as well
      as changes in glial cell numbers are discussed in relation to characteristic AD
      neuropathology and relevant anatomical connectivity.

PMID- 1456741
TI  - Neurological intensive care.
AB  - Neurological intensive care has evolved from the principles of respiratory care
      established during the poliomyelitis epidemics into a broad field encompassing
      all of the acute and serious aspects of neurological disease. The economic and
      political complexities of modern intensive care play a major role in organizing a
      unit and building a program. Central themes of practice in modern neurological
      intensive care units include the clinical physiology of intracranial pressure,
      cerebral blood flow, and brain electrical activity; the systemic abnormalities
      and medical complications of nervous system diseases; postoperative care; and
      management of neuromuscular respiratory failure. Treatment of severe stroke and
      cerebral hemorrhage, brain death, ethical dilemmas of severe neurological
      illnesses, and the neurological features of critically ill medical patients are
      also becoming neurological intensive care pursuits. The "neuro-intensivist" is
      trained to defragment medical care by combining knowledge of neurological
      diseases with the techniques of intensive care. Future directions include the
      clinical implementation of brain resuscitation and brain-sparing therapies,
      sophisticated monitoring of electrophysiological and intracranial physiological
      indices, and further understanding of the dysfunction of other organs that
      follows brain and nerve failure.

PMID- 1456743
TI  - Familial adult-onset muscular dystrophy with leukoencephalopathy.
AB  - We report on 3 siblings with an adult-onset, predominantly distal muscle
      weakness. In the female index patient this was associated with epilepsy and a
      progressive spastic ataxic gait, while the 2 other siblings had no appreciable
      clinical nervous system involvement. Additional investigations revealed muscular
      dystrophy and leukoencephalopathy in all 3 siblings. We conclude that this
      familial adult-onset muscular dystrophy associated with leukoencephalopathy
      represents a newly recognized autosomal recessive syndrome.

PMID- 1456742
TI  - The persistent vegetative state in children: report of the Child Neurology
      Society Ethics Committee.
AB  - Increasing concern about children in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) prompted
      a survey of members of the Child Neurology Society regarding aspects of the
      diagnosis and management of this disorder. Major findings of those responding to
      this survey (26% response rate) were as follows: (1) 93% believed that a
      diagnosis of PVS can be made in children, but only 16% believed that this applied
      to infants younger than 2 months and 70% in the 2-month to 2-year group; (2) a
      period of 3 to 6 months was believed to be the minimum observation period
      required before a diagnosis of PVS could be made; (3) 86% believed that the age
      of the patient would affect the duration of time needed to make the diagnosis of
      PVS; (4) 78% thought a diagnosis of PVS could be made in children with severe
      congenital brain malformations; (5) 75% believed that neurodiagnostic studies
      would be of value and supportive of the clinical diagnosis of PVS; (6) members'
      opinions as to the average life expectancy (in years) for the following age
      groups after the patients were considered vegetative were: newborn to 2 months,
      4.1; 2 months to 2 years, 5.5; 2 to 7 years, 7.3; and more than 7 years, 7.4; (7)
      20% believed that infants and children in a PVS experience pain and suffering;
      and (8) 75% "never" withhold fluid and nutrition from infants and children in a
      PVS and 28% "always" give medication for pain and suffering.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456744
TI  - Isolated granulomatous angiitis of the spinal cord.
AB  - We describe a 31-year-old diabetic man, with granulomatous angiitis confined to
      the spinal cord, who developed rapidly progressive spastic paraplegia, clinically
      interpreted as being secondary to a spinal cord infarct. At the time of autopsy,
      vasculitis was limited to the spinal cord, without involvement of cerebral
      vessels. The inflammatory cells were predominantly CD4+ T lymphocytes, with few
      CD8+ T and B lymphocytes. The phenotypical composition of the inflammatory
      infiltrate is similar to that described in other granulomatous disorders such as
      sarcoidosis and tuberculin reaction.

PMID- 1456745
TI  - Carnitine acetyltransferase activity in the human brain and its microvessels is
      decreased in Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - L-Carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine facilitate mitochondrial beta-oxidation of
      fatty acids. In the brain, they may also have a role in acetylcholine synthesis.
      Carnitine acetyltransferase catalyzes the interchange between L-carnitine and
      acetyl-L-carnitine. Recently, acetyl-L-carnitine was reported to have a
      beneficial effect in patients with Alzheimer's disease. We therefore assessed
      carnitine acetyl-transferase activity in selected brain regions and in isolated
      cerebral microvessels obtained at autopsy from patients with Alzheimer's disease
      and from age-matched control subjects. We found a 25 to 40% decrease in carnitine
      acetyltransferase activity in patients with Alzheimer's disease, which attained
      statistical significance in most brain regions and in cerebral microvessels.
      These findings document another neurochemical abnormality in patients with
      Alzheimer's disease and provide a rationale for the use of acetyl-L-carnitine in
      the treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 1456746
TI  - Extraocular muscles are spared in advanced Duchenne dystrophy.
AB  - Fast-twitch extremity muscle fibers are preferentially affected in Duchenne's and
      Becker's muscular dystrophy. Since saccades are thought to be mediated by fast
      twitch fibers, saccadic velocities would be expected to be decreased in these
      patients. Using infrared oculography, we found that the peak velocities of
      saccades in 3 patients with advanced Duchenne's or Becker's muscular dystrophy
      were normal. Clinical findings in 7 other patients with these forms of dystrophy
      were normal. This investigation is the first study of ocular motility in
      Duchenne's and Becker's muscular dystrophy. It demonstrates that extraocular
      muscle function is preserved and suggests that fast-twitch fibers in extraocular
      muscles possess properties that protect against degeneration.

PMID- 1456747
TI  - Alpha-tocopherol levels in brain are not altered in Parkinson's disease.
AB  - alpha-Tocopherol (vitamin E) levels in normal brain were lower in the cerebellum
      than in the cerebral cortex or basal ganglia. There was no difference in alpha
      tocopherol levels in the cerebellum, basal ganglia, or cerebral cortex between
      control subjects and patients with Parkinson's disease.

PMID- 1456748
TI  - Francis X. Dercum.

PMID- 1456749
TI  - Inheritance of tomaculous neuropathy.

PMID- 1456750
TI  - Causes of stroke.

PMID- 1456751
TI  - Mitochondrial DNA mutation and Leigh's syndrome.

PMID- 1456752
TI  - Photodynamic therapy for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy is an investigational method for the treatment
      of a variety of solid tumors. The purpose of this study was to determine the
      optimum factors and illustrate the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy in the
      treatment of basal cell carcinomas. This was a prospective study in which
      patients presenting with primary or recurrent basal cell tumors, particularly but
      not exclusively widespread tumors or large single tumors, were offered the option
      of photodynamic therapy in their treatment regimen. RESULTS: Patients were
      administered 1 mg/kg of a photosensitizer (Photofrin II). Light doses (630 nm)
      ranged from 72 to 288 J/cm2. A total of 37 patients with 151 sites were treated
      in this study. A complete response rate of 88% was achieved with one application.
      Morbidity was low; the most significant side effects were moderate pain and
      edema. CONCLUSIONS: Photodynamic therapy is a modality that offers localized
      treatment of primary or recurrent nonmelanoma skin cancer. By applying reciprocal
      doses of photosensitizer and light, the efficacy of photodynamic therapy in the
      treatment of skin lesions is demonstrated achieving significant light penetration
      into tissue with a high complete response rate of the lesions and acceptable
      normal tissue response.

PMID- 1456753
TI  - Frequency and prognostic significance of clonal T-cell receptor beta-gene
      rearrangements in the peripheral blood of patients with mycosis fungoides.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that peripheral blood involvement is a
      poor prognostic sign in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. However,
      evaluation of the results of these studies is difficult. In this study peripheral
      blood mononuclear cells from 45 patients with various stages of mycosis fungoides
      (MF) were investigated for the presence of clonal T-cell populations by T-cell
      receptor beta (TCR beta)-gene rearrangement analysis. RESULTS: Clonal TCR beta
      gene rearrangements were found in five (11%) of 45 patients with MF, including
      one (3%) of 31 patients without MF and four (27%) of 15 patients with
      histologically confirmed lymph node involvement. With respect to skin stage,
      clonal T-cell populations were detected in one (4%) of 23 patients with plaque
      stage disease, two (10%) of 19 patients with tumor stage disease, and two (50%)
      of four patients with erythrodermic MF. In the group of patients with lymph node
      involvement the median survival of patients with detectable clonal T-cell
      rearrangements in the peripheral blood was much shorter (3 months) than that of
      patients without clonal rearrangements (16 months). CONCLUSIONS: The results of
      this study indicate that clonal TCR beta-gene rearrangements, as detected by
      Southern blot analysis, are uncommon in the peripheral blood of patients with MF,
      in particular in patients without histologically documented lymph node
      involvement. The presence of clonal T-cell populations in the peripheral blood of
      MF patients with lymph node involvement is usually associated with rapidly fatal
      disease.

PMID- 1456754
TI  - The incidence and prevalence of dermatitis herpetiformis in Utah.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: The incidence and prevalence of dermatitis herpetiformis
      has never been formally evaluated in any area of the United States. Several
      northern European studies have shown prevalence rates ranging from 1.2 per
      100,000 to 39.2 per 100,000. The present study was performed to evaluate the
      incidence and prevalence of dermatitis herpetiformis in Utah. Information from
      240 patients diagnosed with dermatitis herpetiformis was compiled from hospital
      records throughout Utah, as well as the sole private dermatopathologist in the
      state, and from the university referral center of the state. Criteria for
      inclusion in the study were a clinical diagnosis of dermatitis herpetiformis plus
      granular deposition of IgA in dermal papillae by direct immunofluorescence of
      uninvolved skin, or histopathologic findings consistent with the disease.
      Clinical diagnosis and response to dapsone alone was considered insufficient for
      inclusion in the study. On the basis of these criteria, as well as exclusion of
      non-Utah residents, 188 of the original 240 patients qualified for the study.
      RESULTS: The prevalence of dermatitis herpetiformis in Utah in 1987 was 11.2 per
      100,000. The mean incidence for the years 1978 through 1987 was 0.98 per 100,000
      per year. The mean age at onset of symptoms for male patients was 40.1 years, and
      that for female patients was 36.2 years. The male-female ratio was 1.44:1.
      CONCLUSIONS: This represents the first evaluation of the incidence and prevalence
      of dermatitis herpetiformis in the United States. These results are similar to
      those of the previous studies, probably because of Utah's largely northern
      European ancestry. This population base, plus a much smaller than average black
      and Oriental population, is likely to have produced a higher incidence and
      prevalence in Utah than would be seen in other areas of the United States.

PMID- 1456755
TI  - Pyoderma faciale. A review and report of 20 additional cases: is it rosacea?
AB  - BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: Pyoderma faciale was originally described by O'Leary and
      Kierland in 1940. It is characterized by the sudden onset of monstrous coalescent
      nodules and confluent draining sinuses confined to the face of young women in
      their early 20s. This report summarizes our results in 20 cases. The women were
      15 to 46 years old (mean, 25 years). RESULTS: All women were flushers and
      blushers. Histopathologic examination revealed a dense perivascular and
      periadnexial infiltrate, including granulocytes, eosinophils with epithelioid
      granulomas, and septal and lobular panniculitis. No consistent laboratory
      abnormalities were found. After much therapeutic experimentation, we developed an
      effective treatment plan, based on a combination of oral isotretinoin and
      corticosteroids. CONCLUSION: We regard it as an extreme form of rosacea and
      suggest it be renamed rosacea fulminans in analogy with its counterpart, acne
      fulminans.

PMID- 1456756
TI  - Q-switched ruby laser therapy of nevus of Ota.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The Q-switched ruby laser has been demonstrated to provide selective
      photothermolysis of pigmented tissue at a wavelength of 694 nm and a pulse width
      of 40 ns with dermal penetration. It was used to treat 15 patients with nevus of
      Ota involving the face with an age range of 6 to 52 years. Other methods of
      treatment for the nevus of Ota have either left scarring or were ineffective. The
      clinical efficacy of this laser treatment was evaluated in a comparative
      photographic analysis. OBSERVATIONS: Complete clearing was noted in four of the
      15 patients and a minimum of 50% lightening of the original color in the
      remaining 11. Ten of the 15 patients were Asian, two were white, two were
      Hispanic, and one was Indian. The energy fluence used varied between 6 and 10
      J/cm2, and the number of treatments ranged from 1 to 7. Significant lightening or
      clearing was found at the higher energy ranges of 9 to 10 J/cm2 with
      significantly less lightening noted at the lower energy range of 6 to 8.5 J/cm2.
      No scarring was noted in any of the 15 patients, and some isolated
      hypopigmentation was noted in one of the subjects. Transient postinflammatory
      hyperpigmentation of 2 months' duration was noted in only one patient.
      CONCLUSION: Q-switched ruby selective photothermolysis appears to be an effective
      and safe method of lightening or removing nevus of Ota.

PMID- 1456757
TI  - Pharmacologic treatment of severe skin-picking behaviors in Prader-Willi
      syndrome. Two case reports.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is characterized by hypotonia at birth,
      hypogonadism, early childhood obesity, and mental deficiency. Other behavioral
      symptoms that become prominent during adolescence and adulthood include temper
      outbursts, stealing and hoarding food, and skin picking. The self-excoriating
      skin picking behavior observed in individuals with PWS is quite common and can
      lead to persistent sores and infections, even requiring hospitalization.
      OBSERVATION: Two patients with PWS who displayed repetitive, self-mutilatory
      behavior of skin picking are described. They were both treated successfully with
      different doses of fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
      CONCLUSIONS: The skin-picking behavior in patients with PWS may be a variant of
      the spectrum of obsessive-compulsive disorders. Obsessive-compulsive disorders
      have been successfully treated with serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as
      fluoxetine. Thus, fluoxetine may be considered an option in the management of
      skin-picking behavior in patients with PWS.

PMID- 1456758
TI  - Treatment of pemphigus vulgaris with pulse intravenous cyclophosphamide.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although corticosteroids have dramatically altered the prognosis in
      pemphigus vulgaris, morbidity and mortality from systemic corticosteroid side
      effects remains high. While immunosuppressive agents have been successfully used
      in pemphigus vulgaris, there is a high incidence of side effects with these
      agents as well. Particularly bothersome are reports of increased risk of
      malignancy with long-term use of immunosuppressive agents. For these reasons, we
      used a protocol that includes low-dose oral cyclophosphamide coupled with pulse
      intravenous cyclophosphamide in two patients with recalcitrant pemphigus
      vulgaris. OBSERVATIONS: Both patients responded well to monthly doses of
      intravenous cyclophosphamide with rapid decrease in the frequency and severity of
      blistering, resulting in resolution of their disease after 7 and 10 months,
      respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pulse doses of immunosuppressive agents appear to be
      successful in the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris. High-dose steroid therapy can
      be tapered with the use of this treatment. Because monthly intravenous doses of
      cyclophosphamide lead to a substantially reduced cumulative dose, when compared
      with standard oral regimens, the risk of developing malignancy may also be
      reduced. Further studies using larger groups of patients are needed to evaluate
      the efficacy of pulse intravenous cyclophosphamide in pemphigus vulgaris. Long
      term follow up will be necessary to compare the incidence of malignancy in
      patients receiving pulse doses of immunosuppressive agents with that in patients
      receiving continuous oral treatment.

PMID- 1456759
TI  - Photodynamic therapy in dermatology. Shedding a different light on skin disease.

PMID- 1456760
TI  - Multiple ulcers in an elderly man. Necrotizing erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL)
      (necrotizing ENL).

PMID- 1456761
TI  - Erythematous plaque on the leg. Vilanova's disease (subacute nodular migratory
      panniculitis).

PMID- 1456762
TI  - Scars on the legs. Cutaneous fibrosis resulting from intracutaneous injection of
      cocaine.

PMID- 1456763
TI  - Cyclic fever and rash in a 66-year-old woman. Chronic meningococcemia.

PMID- 1456764
TI  - Photopheresis and systemic sclerosis.

PMID- 1456765
TI  - The significance of linear IgM deposits in the basement membrane zone.

PMID- 1456766
TI  - Erythromelalgia as a form of neuropathy.

PMID- 1456767
TI  - Multiple exostoses syndrome presenting as nail malalignment and longitudinal
      dystrophy of fingers.

PMID- 1456768
TI  - Extracorporeal photochemotherapy as adjunctive treatment in juvenile
      dermatomyositis: a case report.

PMID- 1456769
TI  - Photodistributed hereditary ochronosis.

PMID- 1456770
TI  - Treatment of oral hairy leukoplakia with podophyllin.

PMID- 1456771
TI  - Allergic contact dermatitis to white pine sawdust.

PMID- 1456772
TI  - Field evaluation of coverall fabrics: heat stress and pesticide penetration.
AB  - The effect of wearing coveralls on the heat stress of ten professional airblast
      applicators of ethion to Florida citrus were studied. During the period June 21,
      1988 to August 9, 1988, applicators wore protective clothing of the same design,
      but made of seven different fabrics. Heat stress was evaluated by measuring the
      mean skin temperature, oral temperature, and heart rate of pesticide applicators.
      Subjects also provided subjective evaluations. Seven environmental variables were
      also monitored. Although each fabric was replicated an average of 17 times for
      thermal comfort and an average of 23 times for penetration, statistical tests for
      differences among fabrics were usually not significant at the p less than 0.05
      level. Observed differences among suits were statistically significant at p =
      0.27 for the heat stress experiment, and extended over the range p = 0.003-0.500
      for the penetration experiment. Lighter weight, untreated fabrics marginally
      ameliorated heat stress under severe environmental conditions, but they allowed
      more pesticide penetration.

PMID- 1456773
TI  - Small area pesticides data: multiplicity and variability of pesticide usage on
      southern row crops.
AB  - Epidemiologic studies of possible effects of agricultural environments upon human
      health suffer from lack of reliable pesticides usage data. The Arkansas
      Reproductive Health Monitoring System has developed a method for estimating
      specific pesticides usage annually for sub-county regions, including amounts,
      application method, and months. This method is applied to 39 regions of 8 central
      Arkansas counties for 1980-82. The hugh variability of pesticides usage on
      individual crops demonstrates the inaccuracy likely if general survey estimates
      are employed. Annual usage of pesticides in a single sub-county region of 53,000
      hectares (130,880 land acres) was greater than 1/2 million pounds (248,670 kg) of
      60 pesticides, 40 of which were applied during a four month period. The
      multiplicity and variability of pesticides usage indicate the need for locally
      developed pesticides data for epidemiologic studies and for combined studies
      across regions with widely differing agricultural practices.

PMID- 1456774
TI  - Reproductive output of a meiobenthic copepod exposed to sediment-associated
      fenvalerate.
AB  - The benthic harpacticoid copepod, Amphiascus tenuiremis, was cultured through one
      generation at four concentrations (600, 300, 150, and 0 micrograms/kg) of
      sediment-associated fenvalerate, a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, to assess
      effects on reproductive output and age structure. Two static renewal experiments
      with four replicates of each treatment were conducted. At the end of 21 days,
      surviving copepods were sorted and counted into adult males, adult females,
      copepodites, and nauplii. Fenvalerate was extracted from the sediment and
      measured by GC-MS. The number of individuals in each life-history stage in
      fenvalerate treatments was not significantly different from controls, except for
      increased adult females in fenvalerate in the second experiment. The overall lack
      of a fenvalerate toxic effect on A. tenuiremis was most likely because
      fenvalerate tightly binds to sediments and was probably not bioavailable to the
      copepods. Sediment-associated pesticides with large octanol:water partitioning
      coefficients (K(ow)'s) such as fenvalerate appear to be less toxic to infaunal
      copepods than those exhibiting smaller K(ow)'s.

PMID- 1456775
TI  - Effects of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on Rhizobium sp. membrane fluidity.
AB  - The effects of 1 mM 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on Rhizobium sp. in pure
      culture was studied. In a previous work it was demonstrated that this herbicide
      produces an alteration on the saturated to unsaturated phospholipid acyl chains
      ratio. In the present paper, it was found that this alteration produces a
      modification on the membrane fluidity in bacteria that had achieved the
      stationary phase. The same results were obtained when determinations were done in
      liposomes from sonicated lipids of treated bacteria, indicating that changes in
      phospholipid acyl chains may be the main cause of membrane fluidity alteration.
      In addition, it was determined that leucine transport as well as Ca(++)-ATPase
      activity (a membrane enzyme) was affected under the experimental conditions.

PMID- 1456777
TI  - Benzo(a)pyrene-blood protein adducts in wild woodchucks used as biological
      sentinels of environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contamination.
AB  - Levels of benzo(a)pyrene-diolepoxide (BaPDE)-albumin and BaPDE-hemoglobin adducts
      in wild woodchucks (Marmota monax) have been measured to evaluate the potential
      usefulness of these parameters in the assessment of environmental contamination
      by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Blood was obtained from nine
      woodchucks living near an aluminum electrolysis plant, contaminated area
      (Saguenay region, Quebec, Canada), and from eight living in a control area (Saint
      Roch-des-Aulnaies, Quebec, Canada). Blood samples were collected and plasma
      separated from red blood cells by centrifugation on site. Isolation of albumin
      (Alb) and hemoglobin (Hb) was performed in our laboratory and each protein
      fraction was subjected to mild acid hydrolysis yielding free benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)
      tetrol from the adducts. The analysis was performed by high performance liquid
      chromatography (HPLC) using fluorescence detection. For the control and
      contaminated areas geometric mean (interval) Alb adduct levels were 7.6 (0.8
      29.3) and 69.6 (10.0-1,103) pmol tetrol/g protein (p less than 0.01) while the
      corresponding figures for Hb adduct levels were 0.40 (0.01-2.72) and 1.18 (0.02
      12.8) pmol/g protein (p greater than 0.01). Alb but not Hb adduct levels were
      associated with the measured concentration of BaP in the vegetation samples
      collected on the site where each animal was found. This is compatible with the
      short half-life of Alb adducts and with the instantaneous image provided by BaP
      measurements in the collected vegetation samples. BaPDE-blood protein adducts
      measured in wild animals appear to be good biomarkers of environmental
      contamination by PAHs.

PMID- 1456776
TI  - Oxidative changes in brain of aniline-exposed rats.
AB  - Oxidative stress in rat cerebellum, cortex and brain stem after a short-term high
      dose exposure to aniline vapors under conditions akin to those after major
      chemical accidents, was studied. Significant increases in superoxide dismutase
      isozyme activities and formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive material along
      with depletion of ascorbic acid and non-protein sulfhydryl content suggest
      impairment of antioxidant defenses 24 h after single exposure to 15,302 ppm
      aniline vapors for 10 min.

PMID- 1456778
TI  - Early life stage survival of striped bass in the Delaware River, USA.
AB  - Four 96-h in situ bioassays were conducted on or near the striped bass spawning
      grounds in the Delaware River within the States of Delaware, New Jersey and
      Pennsylvania, USA during 1989 to determine if water quality was sufficient to
      support larval survival. Tests were accomplished by holding 500 striped bass yolk
      sac larvae in each of two 75 L chambers at four locations in the river ranging
      from north of Philadelphia, PA to Salem, NJ and at one location in the Chesapeake
      and Delaware Canal. Survival varied significantly among stations; highest
      survival was in the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, where it averaged more than
      50%. Lowest survival occurred at the station near Salem, NJ, approximately 30 km
      downriver of the primary spawning grounds, where less than 1% of the larvae
      survived in any of the tests. Survival at stations closest to the primary
      spawning grounds was weather-dependent; survival was over 47% during periods of
      little rainfall, but only 11% following periods of higher than average rainfall.

PMID- 1456779
TI  - Effects of acute and chronic acidification on three larval amphibians that breed
      in temporary ponds.
AB  - This study explored the effects of acute (7 days) and chronic (4 months) exposure
      to pH 4.2 on three species of larval amphibians, Ambystoma jeffersonianum,
      Ambystoma maculatum, and Rana sylvatica. Acute tests were conducted in 24
      impermeable enclosures in three temporary ponds. Total dissolved aluminum was
      higher in acidified enclosures in comparison with controls (pH 4.2, [Al]
      approximately 10-30 microM and pH greater than 4.7, [Al] approximately 5-15
      microM, respectively). Greater mortality of A. jeffersonianum occurred at pH 4.2
      than at pH greater than 4.7, whereas survival of A. maculatum and R. sylvatica
      were unaffected by pH. Mean wet masses of R. sylvatica were significantly lower
      at pH 4.2 than at pH greater than 4.7, but mean wet masses of surviving A.
      jeffersonianum and A. maculatum were not influenced by pH. There were no pH
      related differences in body sodium concentration in larval R. sylvatica. Chronic
      acidification of mesocosms to pH 4.2 ([Al] approximately 16 microM) (controls =
      pH greater than 6, [Al] approximately 0.1 microM) resulted in total mortality of
      A. jeffersonianum. Survival of A. maculatum and R. sylvatica were not associated
      with pH, but survival of A. maculatum was low at both pH levels. Time to
      metamorphosis was longer for R. sylvatica maintained at pH 4.2, but not for A.
      maculatum. No differences in wet masses at metamorphosis were observed for R.
      sylvatica or A. maculatum. These results indicate that short and long term
      acidification of temporary wetlands could dramatically affect amphibians which
      rely upon them as breeding sites, either by causing mortality or by decreasing
      growth rates.

PMID- 1456781
TI  - Shell disease and metal content of blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, from the
      Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System, North Carolina.
AB  - Concentrations of 13 elements were determined for three tissues (gill,
      hepatopancreas, muscle) in diseased crabs from a contaminated estuary (Pamlico
      River, NC), and in non-diseased crabs from both the contaminated estuary and a
      relatively uncontaminated area (Albemarle Sound, NC) during the fall 1989 and
      summer 1990. The diseased crabs had lesions which completely penetrated their
      dorsal integument, while the non-diseased crabs lacked lesions. Sediments within
      the contaminated area showed enrichment of arsenic, cadmium, manganese, titanium
      and vanadium relative to the uncontaminated area. Levels of aluminum, arsenic,
      cobalt, manganese, nickel, titanium, vanadium and zinc were significantly higher
      in both gill and hepatopancreas in crabs from the contaminated area. Manganese
      was always highest in the diseased crabs in all tissues measured. The
      concentrations of the remaining elements were greater in the gills of diseased
      crabs, while highest values of these elements in the hepatopancreas varied among
      the diseased and non-diseased crabs from the polluted area. Conversely, copper
      levels were always highest in all tissues in crabs from the uncontaminated area,
      and typically lowest in the diseased crabs. Concentrations of aluminum and
      arsenic were also significantly greater in the muscle tissue of crabs from the
      contaminated area, but no distinct trend was evident with regard to diseased
      versus non-diseased crabs. Arsenic was the only element accumulated by crabs in
      the contaminated area which has a known toxic affect on the tissue responsible
      for cuticle synthesis and repair (hypodermis) in crustaceans. Metals also
      accumulated could possibly act synergetically to compromise normal
      metabolism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456780
TI  - Anodontites trapesialis: a biological monitor of organochlorine pesticides.
AB  - The mussel Anodontites trapesialis (Lam, 1819) was used as an indicator of
      organochlorine pollutants in the Pardo River, located in the municipality of
      Ribeirao Preto (21 degrees 07'S and 47 degrees 45'W), State of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
      Biological monitoring was performed for one year at the site of a sugar cane
      grove on the left bank of the river. Forty-three animals were placed in two
      aluminum enclosures on the river bottom at this site and 4 animals of each
      enclosure were sacrificed for pesticide analysis at 3-month intervals, each
      collection corresponding to one season of the year. The animals were found to
      have been exposed to DDT, lindane, heptachlor, aldrin and dieldrin. Endrin was
      not detected in any of the analyses.

PMID- 1456782
TI  - Chronic ecotoxicity of copper and cadmium to the zebra mussel Dreissena
      polymorpha.
AB  - In order to evaluate ecological consequences of the long-term presence of metals
      in aquatic ecosystems, we investigated the filtration rate and survival of zebra
      mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) during chronic exposure to Cu and Cd. The
      filtration rate was measured once a week in laboratory experiments lasting 9-11
      weeks. The lowest Cu concentration tested (13 micrograms/L) did not affect the
      filtration rate and survival of D. polymorpha, but the lowest Cd concentration (9
      micrograms/L) did affect the filtration rate, but had no effect on survival. The
      EC50 for Cd decreased markedly from 388 micrograms/L to 27 micrograms/L when the
      exposure time was lengthened from 48 hours to 10 weeks. The largest decrease in
      EC50 for Cd was observed during the first week of exposure. In contrast, the EC50
      for Cu did not decrease with increasing exposure time (chronic EC50: 43
      micrograms/L). Since the chronic LC50 for Cd was 130 micrograms/L, the filtration
      rate appeared to be a far more sensitive endpoint for ecotoxicological laboratory
      experiments than mortality. D. polymorpha was capable of regulating the body
      concentration of the essential metal Cu at low concentrations in the water (13
      micrograms/L). Cd was accumulated at every Cd concentration in the water,
      suggesting that Cd could not be regulated by D. polymorpha. It is concluded that
      the relation between short-term and long-term ecotoxicity was different for each
      metal and could not be predicted from the results of the short-term experiments.

PMID- 1456783
TI  - Temporal and spatial variation in the amount of cadmium in the phantom midge
      larvae (Chaoborus spp.).
AB  - Several factors, including body size, age, and temporal and spatial variation,
      which may influence the amount of cadmium (Cd) in the phantom midge larvae,
      Chaoborus spp., were examined in eight lakes, four from south-central Ontario
      (Dorset Region) and four from northwestern Ontario (Experimental Lakes Area). All
      three species of Chaoborus (C. punctipennis, C. trivittatus, C. flavicans) found
      in Chub Lake (south-central Ontario), were analyzed seasonally. One species, C.
      punctipennis, was collected and analyzed from all lakes. Smaller Chaoborus tended
      to have higher Cd concentrations (micrograms Cd/g dry weight), and lower Cd
      burdens (ng Cd/Animal) than larger Chaoborus. The Cd concentrations of Chaoborus
      in Chub Lake were lowest during the summer, which coincided with the fastest
      growth of the organisms. The Cd burdens differed between species, which was
      attributed to differences in their asynchronous life histories. Cadmium burdens
      and concentrations were significantly lower in the organisms from northwestern
      Ontario than those from south-central Ontario. Lower atmospheric deposition
      rates, lower Cd concentrations in the lake water, as well as life history
      differences, may explain these results.

PMID- 1456784
TI  - Long-term effects of heavy metals in food on developmental stages of Aiolopus
      thalassinus (Saltatoria: Acrididae).
AB  - Newly hatched F1 nymphs of Aiolopus thalassinus (Fabr.) were fed on food treated
      with various concentrations of HgCl2, CdCl2, and PbCl2 until the end of adult
      life. Toxicological observations were followed in the F1 generation and in the F2
      generation derived from the heavy metal-loaded F1 parents. The highest
      concentration of the heavy metal caused 100% mortality of the F1 adults within
      four weeks. The nymphal duration of the F1 and F2 generations was significantly
      prolonged after Hg and Cd exposure, but the F1 of the group treated with lead was
      not affected. The fresh body weight of adults was significantly reduced in the F1
      generation of most treatments and in the resulting untreated F2. The lifespan of
      the F1 adults was shortened. In the F2 generation, although the lifespan was
      somewhat longer, generally it was still shorter than that of the control adults.
      The mean egg number laid by F1 adults fed on food contaminated with Hg or Cd was
      decreased. This decrease was more pronounced in the case of Cd than Hg. In the
      females fed on food treated with Pb the reduction of the number of egg pods was
      not remarkable. The hatchability of the eggs laid by F1 females was significantly
      reduced as compared to the control. The viability of the eggs laid by F2 adults
      was somewhat decreased due to either a reduced number of egg pods or to a lower
      rate of hatchability, especially in the case of Cd. The treated adults frequently
      displayed weakness in their legs, difficulties in walking, tremors, and nervous
      movements.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456786
TI  - Nurses' challenges are great in caring for patients with diabetes.

PMID- 1456785
TI  - Mercury concentrations in seabirds from colonies in the northeast Atlantic.
AB  - Total mercury concentrations were determined in samples of body feathers from a
      range of common seabird species breeding at Latrabjarg, northwest Iceland, St.
      Kilda, Foula and the Firth of Forth, Scotland and Bleiksoy, Syltefjord, and
      Hornoy, Norway. Seabirds from Latrabjarg generally exhibited the highest mercury
      concentrations, with a trend of decreasing mercury concentrations in a southwest
      to northeast direction in seabirds at the other colonies; seabirds at Hornoy were
      generally found to have the lowest mercury concentrations. Some species at the
      Firth of Forth exhibited relatively elevated mercury concentrations compared to
      those at Foula and Norwegian sites. Inter-colony differences in diet were thought
      to be relatively small for most species and unlikely to account for the range of
      mercury concentrations measured in the seabirds (Latrabjarg: lowest arithmetic
      mean mercury concentration in common guillemots Uria aalge, 1.6 micrograms/g,
      s.d. = 0.6, n = 45; highest arithmetic mean mercury concentration in kittiwakes
      Rissa tridactyla, 5.5 micrograms/g, s.d. = 1.7, n = 36). The oceanic transport of
      mercury, together with the effects of anthropogenic inputs of mercury to the
      northeast Atlantic, and the removal of mercury from the water column via
      biological activity are discussed as influential factors determining the observed
      patterns of mercury concentration in seabirds.

PMID- 1456787
TI  - Licensure of advanced nursing practice.

PMID- 1456788
TI  - Psychosocial correlates of diabetes and renal dysfunction.
AB  - Psychosocial issues related to diabetes and renal dysfunction are complicated and
      many times misunderstood. Building relationships and acquiring relevant
      information from patients will help patients adjust to disease complications and
      enhance compliance.

PMID- 1456789
TI  - Chronic complications of diabetes mellitus: peritoneal dialysis.
AB  - As the number of patients with diabetes treated by peritoneal dialysis continues
      to grow, nurses will increasingly be challenged to assist these patients to
      prevent, manage and adapt to the chronic complications of diabetes, including
      microangiopathy, macroangiopathies and neuropathies. This article presents
      nursing assessments and interventions related to these chronic complications to
      hopefully enhance the quality of life for these patients.

PMID- 1456790
TI  - Dietary modifications: impact on diabetic nephropathy.
AB  - This article encompasses the topic of dietary impact upon the diabetic individual
      with the condition of diabetic nephropathy. The influence of diet will be
      addressed in: renal insufficiency, chronic renal failure, and the modalities of
      hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and renal transplantation. The two-fold
      purpose of this review is to provide documentation in support of dietary therapy
      and to underscore the sharp contrast in nutritional needs dependent upon the
      individual's clinical status.

PMID- 1456791
TI  - Long-term effects of hemodialysis in diabetic patients with end stage renal
      disease.
AB  - The long-term effects of hemodialysis in diabetic patients with end stage renal
      disease (ESRD) may seem minor, yet with further examination are seen to touch
      every aspect of the patients' lives. The long-term effects range from vascular
      access issues, complications such as limb amputation, to feelings of loss of
      control as well as hopelessness and powerlessness. This article will highlight
      how the long-term outcomes and effects of hemodialysis with diabetes cause
      multisystem problems and multiple complications in patients.

PMID- 1456792
TI  - Early transplantation for patients with diabetic nephropathy.
AB  - Renal transplantation is often the preferred renal replacement modality for
      individuals with the complex problem of diabetic nephropathy. Referral to a
      transplant program before renal replacement therapy is needed allows patients an
      opportunity to make treatment decisions as well as offer the advantages of early
      transplantation. In addition to routine post-transplantation surveillance, health
      care after transplantation is directed towards prevention and management of
      diabetic sequelae.

PMID- 1456793
TI  - Kidney-pancreas transplantation: a treatment option for ESRD and type I diabetes.
AB  - Combined kidney-pancreas transplantation is a safe and effective treatment option
      for patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) resulting from type I diabetes.
      Current 1 year graft survival rates are nearing 80% and evidence is accumulating
      that improvement occurs in microvascular and neuropathic complications of
      diabetes after transplantation. This article is a detailed overview based on the
      current literature and our experience at The University Hospitals of Cleveland of
      the challenges and benefits of kidney-pancreas transplantation and the nursing
      care required to prepare the patient for home.

PMID- 1456794
TI  - Pancreas transplantation: detecting rejection and patient care.
AB  - Pancreas transplantation in the type I diabetic patient offers hope for a
      normoglycemic state and arrest, or in some cases, reversal, of secondary
      complications of diabetes. Rejection in the pancreas graft can be difficult to
      detect, but much work is being done on different methods to recognize rejection.
      Patients report increase in psychological well-being after pancreas
      transplantation. Because of the benefits, it is a viable option for treatment of
      the patient with type I diabetes.

PMID- 1456795
TI  - Vascular changes in renal transplant allograft in the type I diabetic.

PMID- 1456796
TI  - Diabetic ESRD patient supported with intradialytic parenteral nutrition.
AB  - The patient did meet the expected outcomes. She was able to achieve a desired
      weight and continues to gain weight. Currently, consideration is being given to
      discontinuing IDPN therapy. The main concern is an exacerbation of her symptoms,
      which is often a problem with diabetic gastraparesis. BC's outlook on life is
      more positive. Hopefully, she will continue to be compliant with her diet,
      experience no increase in symptoms, and maintain this weight. As with all ESRD
      patients, her fluid status requires monitoring. Fluid gains are removed and she
      remains free of complications. BC is now able to participate in usual daily
      activities. She goes out to the hairdresser once a week and attends Sunday
      morning church service. Her sense of well-being is greatly improved. BC has
      expressed gratitude on numerous occasions for the treatment that she feels has
      saved her life. Her deteriorating physical state was severely affecting her
      emotional well-being. Her quality of life has been favorably altered by the
      intervention with IDPN therapy.

PMID- 1456797
TI  - Nursing guidelines for muromonab-CD3 (OKT3).
AB  - Muromonab-CD3 is currently being used in transplant patients to prevent or
      reverse graft rejection. It is important that nursing guidelines for its proper
      usage are understood before the administration of the drug. This article
      overviewed dosage considerations, side effect profile, and other nursing
      implications regarding the use of muromonab-CD3.

PMID- 1456798
TI  - Case management of the anemic patient. Epoetin alfa: focus on pediatric dialysis
      patients.
AB  - Although pediatric and adult dialysis patients experience similar symptoms, young
      patients can present special problems for clinicians. This article explores the
      management of pediatric patients receiving Epoetin alfa.

PMID- 1456799
TI  - Patient education: a commitment.

PMID- 1456800
TI  - [Destabilization of emulsions during extraction of antibiotics from natural
      solutions].
AB  - Various means for changing the aggregative stability of emulsions in the system
      of benzylpenicillin fermentation broth filtrate and butyl acetate were tested. It
      was shown that the use of desemulgators was more efficient than the use of some
      means for removing the desemulgating admixtures. Moreover, addition of surface
      active substances after the preliminary thermocoagulation resulted in maximum
      decreasing of the emulsion aggregative stability.

PMID- 1456801
TI  - [Phage-mediated conjugative transfer of plasmids in Staphylococcus aureus].
AB  - It was shown possible to transfer nonconjugative plasmids during joint
      cultivation of the donor and recipient cells by transduction and phage-mediated
      conjugation. In the latter case it was necessary that the phage in the medium was
      free and the prophage was present in the recipient cells. Differences in the
      regularities of the transfer of the nonconjugative plasmids mobilized by the
      conjugative plasmid or phage were observed.

PMID- 1456802
TI  - [Effects of rifampicin and doxycycline on the production of hydrogen peroxide by
      macrophages].
AB  - The influence of rifampicin and doxycycline on oxidative metabolism of
      macrophages was estimated in vitro by production of hydrogen peroxide. It was
      shown that low concentrations of rifampicin and doxycycline stimulated production
      of hydrogen peroxide by macrophages of guinea pigs. In concentrations of 1 to 10
      micrograms/ml corresponding to the mean therapeutic ones doxycycline increased
      both the spontaneous and zymosan-induced production of hydrogen peroxide by the
      macrophages. The potentiating activity of doxycycline on the cells activated by
      opsonized zymosan was higher. The maximum increase in the induced production of
      hydrogen peroxide (by 40 per cent) was observed when the antibiotic concentration
      was 1 microgram/ml. Rifampicin in concentrations of 0.1 to 1 microgram/ml
      corresponding to the mean therapeutic ones stimulated the zymosan-induced
      production of hydrogen peroxide by the macrophages. The maximum increase in the
      production of hydrogen peroxide (by 22 per cent) was noted at the rifampicin
      concentration of 1 microgram/ml.

PMID- 1456803
TI  - [Experimental study of human recombinant insulin].
AB  - The experimental study of recombinant human insulin revealed its high specific
      activity. The kinetics of the hypoglycemic effect of various dosage forms of the
      insulin developed at the National Research Centre of Antibiotics and the dosage
      forms manufactured by Eli Lilly was similar. The pharmacological investigation of
      the dosage forms showed that they had no side effects on the vitally important
      organs and systems. It was concluded that the dosage forms of the gene engineered
      human insulin developed at the National Research Centre of Antibiotics did not
      differ by their characteristics from the analogous dosage forms manufactured in
      other countries.

PMID- 1456804
TI  - [Characteristics of pharmacokinetics of liposome-incorporated rifampicin in rats
      after intratracheal administration].
AB  - Pharmacokinetics of rifampicin after its single intratracheal administration in
      the form of the liposome-encapsulated drug and its aqueous solution was studied
      on rats. It was shown that after the exposure to the liposome-incorporated
      rifampicin (10 mg/kg) the concentration-time curve in the blood and lungs was
      sigmoid with the retarded decrease in the blood drug concentration within 9
      hours. The plateau segment of the curve provided at least a 4-fold longer
      maintenance of the rifampicin concentration in the blood and lungs at 3 to 4
      micrograms/ml. The use of the liposome-incorporated antibiotic induced 2- and 1.5
      fold increases in the AUC in regard to the lungs and blood, respectively.

PMID- 1456805
TI  - [Obtaining liposomal preparations of various biologically active substances by
      the method of detergent flow analysis].
AB  - It was shown that detergent dialysis could be successfully used for liposomal
      encapsulation of substances belonging to different chemical groups with diverse
      therapeutic activity such as rifampicin, aclarubicin, amphotericin B, pefloxacin
      and insulin. Liposome encapsulation of substances poorly soluble or insoluble in
      aqueous media was likely the most promising. The optimal incorporation depended
      on both the composition of the lipids forming the liposomes and the properties of
      the compounds being encapsulated.

PMID- 1456806
TI  - [Antibacterial effects of gamma-interferon in experimental Klebsiella infection].
AB  - The results of the experimental study on the effect of the natural and
      recombinant gamma-interferons (gamma-IFs) of mice on the process of the infection
      caused by Klebsiella sp. are presented. The infection was reproduced by
      intraperitoneal contamination of mice with a virulent culture of Klebsiella
      pneumoniae 5055, line SHK. The gamma-IFs were administered to the animals in a
      dose of 250 units per mouse on days 1 and 3 after the contamination. Survival of
      the animals, clearance of the pathogen from the blood and liver and functional
      activity of the phagocytes in the contaminated mice were investigated. It was
      shown that both the natural and recombinant gamma-IF stimulated the phagocytic
      activity and oxidative metabolism of the phagocytes in the contaminated mice.
      Activation of these functions after the use of the natural gamma-IF correlated
      with its marked protective effect and accelerated elimination of the pathogen
      from the host which was not observed after the use of the recombinant gamma-IF.

PMID- 1456807
TI  - [Ceftriaxone: world-wide experience with its clinical use].

PMID- 1456808
TI  - [Prevention of surgical infection by using delayed- and non-delayed action
      antibiotics].

PMID- 1456809
TI  - [Gentacycol--a delayed-action form of gentamicin in the treatment of suppurative
      infection].
AB  - Efficacy of gentacycol was studied in the treatment of various purulent
      infections. It was used in therapy of hematogenic and traumatic osteomyelitis,
      wound infections, soft tissue abscesses, purulent diffuse peritonitis as a
      complication of comissural ileus or appendectomy, pyothorax, destructive
      pneumonia and mediastinitis. Gentacycol ++ was also used for the prophylaxis in
      cholecystectomy, herniotomy and other conditions. The favourable results were
      stated in 93 per cent of the cases.

PMID- 1456810
TI  - [Antibiotic therapy of children in a gnotobiological unit].
AB  - The clinical effect of antibiotics in treatment of children at the age of 2
      months to 5 years with acute pneumonia during a gnotobiological department in the
      wards of the 1st class purity and under the conditions of a routine pediatric
      hospital was estimated. The course of the antibiotic therapy amounted to 4.7 +/-
      0.42 days in the gnotobiological department and 12.0 +/- 0.3 days in the routine
      hospital. After recovery the patients were discharged in 7.61 +/- 0.76 days from
      the gnotobiological department and in 15.2 +/- 1.11 days from the routine
      hospital.

PMID- 1456811
TI  - [Antibiotic therapy of Salmonella infection in infants during the first year of
      life and methods if its correction].
AB  - The efficacy of antibiotic therapy of salmonellosis was studied and functional
      activity of peripheral blood leukocytes from electron microscopic data was
      estimated in 200 infants. It was shown that the use of antibiotics in combination
      with immunostimulants such as leukocyte mass, lysozyme and prodigiozan in complex
      therapy of salmonellosis in infants had a favourable effect on both the time
      course of the clinical signs and the functional state of the neutrophil
      leukocytes. The duration of the treatment decreased by 6.14 +/- 0.34 days and
      repeated isolation of the pathogen from the host appeared to be less frequent.

PMID- 1456812
TI  - [Experience with using aclarubicin in the treatment of acute leukemia and blast
      crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia].
AB  - The clinical efficacy of aclarubicin, an anthracycline antibiotic, was studied in
      48 patients with leukemia. The antibiotic was used in the following combinations
      with cytarabine: "7 + 7", "5 + 5" and "7 & 3". A complete remission was stated in
      14 (42.4 per cent) out of 33 patients with acute nonlymphoid leukemia, 6 (43 per
      cent) out of the 14 patients having relapses. The combined therapy was effective
      in 4 out of 5 pre-resistant patients. The "7 + 3" scheme was the most beneficial.
      The most common adverse reactions were nausea and vomiting.

PMID- 1456813
TI  - [Comparative evaluation of stability of benzylpenicillin in acid media of natural
      solutions and in culture fluid].
AB  - Inactivation of benzylpenicillin in real media i.e. fermentation broths and their
      filtrates was studied in comparison with the published data on inactivation of
      commercial benzylpenicillin in aqueous solutions as dependent on the medium pH
      and temperature. The lowest constant of benzylpenicillin inactivation was shown
      to be in the fermentation broths.

PMID- 1456814
TI  - [Cefoperazone in combination with metronidazole in the prevention of
      postoperative infectious complications in patients with genital neoplasms].
AB  - Cefoperazone and metronidazole were used for the prevention of postoperative
      infectious complications in 33 patients (Group 1) with cervical cancer who had
      undergone the Wertheim operation. 29 patients (Group 2) were treated
      prophylactically with carbenicillin in the routine doses. Postoperative urinary
      infections developed in 12.1 and 37.9 per cent of the patients in Groups 1 and 2,
      respectively. Since the incidence of infectious complications in the patients of
      Group 1 was lower, the radiation therapy was initiated on an average on day 12.4
      +/- 0.4, which was much earlier than in Group 2 (day 15.4 +/- 0.8, p < 0.001).
      Bacteriological examination of the operation materials from the patients of Group
      1 revealed the presence of anaerobes in 64.3 per cent of the patients. The
      incidence of fever (over 37.8 degrees C) developed irrespective of other signs of
      an infection significantly correlated with the detection rate of anaerobes in the
      operation materials (p < 0.05).

PMID- 1456815
TI  - [Experience with using cefoperazone in cancer patients after bone marrow
      transplantation].
AB  - Cefoperazone is a semisynthetic cephalosporin of the 3rd generation (cefobid,
      Pfizer, USA). It was used in monotherapy of 12 oncological patients during ++post
      cytostatic aplasia of the bone marrow and peripheral pancytopenia after bone
      marrow transplantation. The results were favourable in 67 per cent of the
      patients: the body temperature normalized and no signs of any infection were
      evident. In 25 per cent of the patients the monotherapy failed and it was
      necessary to combine cefoperazone with aminoglycosides. Therefore, cefoperazone
      proved to be an efficient antibacterial drug, whose use was possible in the
      monotherapy of oncological patients after transplantation of the bone marrow.

PMID- 1456816
TI  - [The place of cefoperazone in antibacterial therapy].

PMID- 1456817
TI  - [Use of cefoperazone in clinical practice].
AB  - The bacteriological and clinical efficacy and side effects of cefoperazone were
      studied in 45 patients with severe and moderate purulent inflammatory diseases.
      The study showed that its bacteriological and clinical efficacy was high in cases
      with peritonitis, cholecystitis, respiratory and urinary infections, as well as
      those of the eye and soft tissues. The general clinical efficacy amounted to 95.6
      per cent. The number of the side effects was insignificant. This made it possible
      to recommend the use of cefoperazone in the therapy of many purulent inflammatory
      diseases, as well as in empirical therapy.

PMID- 1456818
TI  - [Preparation and characteristics of protoplasts from various strains of
      Streptomyces roseoflavus var. roseofungini].
AB  - It was shown that the variants of the roseofungin-producing organism, which
      differ in their differentiation, antibiotic activity, structure and cell wall
      composition had different sensitivity to the protoplasting factors. The
      protoplasting increased the population heterogeneity: in strain 1128 it was
      evident from an increased frequency of the secondary colonies, in variant 1-68,
      folding of the colonies increased and their consistency become milder, sectorial
      colonies and colonies with coremia formed. It was in principle possible to
      transform the protoplasts of S. roseoflavus var. roseofungini by plasmid DNA,
      which suggests that the roseofungin-producing culture may be useful in genetic
      engineering.

PMID- 1456819
TI  - [Isolation and evaluation of the structure of the new anthracycline antibiotics
      rubomycins F and H].
AB  - The rubomycin complex produced by Streptomyces coeruleorubidus 4-157 was studied
      and the two novel anthracyclines i.e. rubomycins F and H were isolated. The study
      of the physicochemical properties of the novel antibiotics in comparison with
      rubomycin C (daunomycin) and the specially prepared 3'-N-carbmethoxyrubomycin C
      showed that rubomycin F was 3'-N-carbethoxydaunomycin and rubomycin H was 3'-N
      carbmethoxydaunomycin. Therefore, rubomycins F and H are novel representatives of
      natural anthracyclines undescribed previously.

PMID- 1456820
TI  - [Search for inhibitors of West Nile virus among antibiotics].
AB  - The activity of 24 antibiotics was studied in treatment of albino mice with
      experimental encephalitis caused by West Nile virus. The antiviral activity of
      gentamicin and kanamycin was stated. The survival rate of the animals 19.
      contaminated with 10-100 LD50 of the West Nile virus and treated parenterally
      with gentamicin in a dose of 80 to 400 micrograms/mouse was higher than that in
      the controls by 29.5 to 100 per cent and depended on the drug regimen. The
      efficacy of kanamycin was lower. The chemotherapeutic indices of gentamicin and
      kanamycin amounted to 100 and 10, respectively. Since there are no schemes for
      chemotherapy of the infection caused by the West Nile virus and the respective
      vaccines are not available the use of the antibiotics and gentamicin in
      particular appears to be promising in the disease prevention and treatment.

PMID- 1456821
TI  - [Clinical aspects of cefoperazone pharmacokinetics].

PMID- 1456822
TI  - [Effect of doxorubicin on the functional state of the mononuclear phagocyte
      system].
AB  - The response of the system of mononuclear phagocytes (SMP) to doxorubicin, an
      antitumor antibiotic, most widely used in oncological care, was studied. It was
      shown that a single intraperitoneal administration of doxorubicin to CBA mice in
      the maximum tolerance doses induced suppression of absorptive SMP capacity and
      increased IL-I secretion by the bone marrow and peritoneal macrophages both in
      the stimulated and spontaneous tests in early periods after cytostatic
      administration. There was a significant rise in the ability of SMP bone marrow
      elements to respond to the macrophage activating factor, as well as an increase
      in the cytotoxic activity of bone marrow and peritoneal macrophages.

PMID- 1456823
TI  - [Sensitivity of the pathogen of Campylobacter infection to various antibiotics].
AB  - Antibiotic sensitivity of 21 Campylobacter strains isolated from humans, monkeys
      and birds with diarrhea was assayed and the findings are presented. It was shown
      that all the isolates were highly sensitive to ofloxacin, pefloxacin,
      ciprofloxacin, josamycin, pipemidinic acid and amoxyclav (a combination of
      amoxycillin and clavulanic acid). The predominating majority of the strains were
      resistant to rifampicin, amoxycillin and phosphomycin. The majority of the
      cultures were sensitive to erythromycin and roxithromycin while some of the
      isolates were resistant to them which could be used as an additional biological
      characteristic of Campylobacter cultures and considered in choosing agents for
      antibiotic therapy.

PMID- 1456824
TI  - [Use of a physiological model of gentamicin pharmacokinetics for individual
      dosage of the antibiotic].
AB  - A new approach to fixing the initial doses of gentamicin (GM) for its
      intramuscular administration (the most commonly used anyway) is discussed. The
      approach is based on the physiological model reproducing the individual patterns
      of GM concentration change in patient's blood. Such parameters of the model as
      blood flow velocity and actual average volume of specific tissues as well as the
      tissue to the blood partition coefficient (Kp) are constant. They were used to
      calculate the volume of distribution in the body specific organs (Vs). The
      apparent distribution volume (Vd) and total clearance (Cl) are individual
      parameters. The Vd value was calculated individually for every particular patient
      depending on the body weight by the known equations. The difference between Vd
      and Vs was used to calculate the individual Kp for the organs and tissues which
      were not specially examined. When calculating Cl of GM, the patient's sex, age,
      weight and creatinine concentrations were taken into account. To evaluate the
      local velocity of blood flow after antibiotic intramuscular administration, it
      was important to consider the patient's sex and age. The approach was used to
      reproduce the individual patterns of GM concentration change after the initial
      administration of the antibiotic, 80 mg, to 19 male patients (age range, 21 to 73
      years; weight range, 50 to 94 kg; blood creatinine concentration, 0.4 to 1.6
      mg/dl). The GM concentrations attained with the use of the model were afterwards
      compared to the data on FPIA. (TDx, Abbott) by measuring the GM concentrations in
      the blood of the patients 0.5, 1, 5 and 7 hours after the
      administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456825
TI  - [Effect of combined preventive use of quadevit with antibiotics on the survival
      and humoral immune response in experimental studies].
AB  - An attempt to correct with quadevit immunodepression due to prophylactic
      administration of benzylpenicillin and gentamicin for 6 days provided positive
      results. There was a significant increase in the quantities of Ig 19S and Ig 7S
      after the animal immunization with the bacterial antigen, an increase in the
      number of the AFCs in the spleen of the albino mice in response to administration
      of sheep erythrocytes and an increase in the survival rate of the animals with
      salmonellosis. The simultaneous use of quadevit with cefamezine and erythromycin
      did not lower the unfavourable influence of the antibiotics on the immune status
      of the animals.

PMID- 1456826
TI  - [Microbial ecology of laboratory animals as a model in evaluation of the
      immunomodulating and antimicrobial agents].
AB  - Rats with altered microbial ecology and decreased colonization resistance due to
      neutropenia induced by cyclophosphamide were used as a model for estimating the
      effect of bacterial polysaccharides (lactulose and exopolysaccharide from
      Bacillus polymyxa) and fluoroquinolones (pefloxacin). Monotherapy with pefloxacin
      had a favourable effect both on normalization on the intestinal microflora in the
      rats and their hemopoiesis (decreased neutropenia). The highest correcting effect
      with respect to the lowered colonization resistance was observed when pefloxacin
      was used in combination with exopolysaccharide.

PMID- 1456827
TI  - [Therapeutic form of doxycycline hydrochloride for intravenous administration in
      the treatment of suppurative-septic diseases].
AB  - Efficacy of doxycycline hydrochloride administered intravenously was studied in
      treatment of severe purulent inflammatory diseases such as pneumonia, lung
      abscesses, pyothorax, skin and soft tissue infections, peritonitis, purulent
      cholangitis, etc.. Doxycycline showed significant advantages over tetracyclines:
      prolonged action, higher efficacy and good tolerance. Favourable results were
      observed in 85 per cent of the cases.

PMID- 1456828
TI  - [Characteristics of the effect of myelosan on the immune status of patients with
      chronic myeloid leukemia].

PMID- 1456829
TI  - [Aztreonam].

PMID- 1456830
TI  - [Cefoperazone in a multi-profile surgical clinic].
AB  - The results of the clinical trials of cefoperazone (cefobid, Pfizer, USA), a 3rd
      generation cephalosporin, carried out at the Research Centre of Surgery are
      presented. The antibiotic was used to treat and prevent postoperative infections
      in 44 patients. Good and satisfactory results were observed in 43 out of the 44
      patients (99.9 per cent). Antimicrobial activity of cefoperazone against 182
      bacterial strains isolated from the patients was assayed and compared with that
      of other cephalosporins i.e. cefotaxime, ceftriaxone and ceftazidime. The
      cefoperazone pharmacokinetics was studied in the patients with normal renal
      functions after surgical operations on the organs of the chest and abdominal
      cavity. The antibiotic was shown useful in the monotherapy of mixed infections
      involving anaerobic pathogens.

PMID- 1456831
TI  - [Prevention and treatment with cefoperazone of postoperative suppurative
      complications in heart surgery].
AB  - Clinical trials of cefoperazone (cefobid, Pfizer, USA) were carried out in 49
      patients with cardiovascular diseases who had undergone surgical operations. The
      pathogens of infectious complications were investigated bacteriologically. Good
      results of the treatment were observed in 43 patients. Allergic reaction
      developed in 1 patient. Cefoperazone was shown advantageous in treatment of
      pulmonary complications in the operated patients. It was found possible to use
      cefoperazone in combination with aminoglycosides. Cefoperazone was found to be
      one of the drugs of choice in the treatment of aerobic and anaerobic bacteriemia,
      as well as sepsis after surgical operations on the heart and great vessels. The
      results on the use of cefoperazone for short-term "perioperative" prophylaxis in
      cardiosurgery (in accordance with the WHO instructions) are also presented.

PMID- 1456832
TI  - The hypoosmotic swelling test: an update.
AB  - The hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test is a relatively new assay used to evaluate
      the functional integrity of the sperm's plasma membrane. In fact, more studies
      have been published on the applicability of the HOS test than any other new sperm
      indicator. The assay is based on the fact that fluid transport occurs across an
      intact cell membrane under hypoosmotic conditions until equilibrium is reached.
      Due to the influx of fluid, the cell will expand and bulge, especially in the
      tail, and this change can be readily observed with a phase contrast microscope.
      Earlier studies have yielded some confusion regarding the interpretation of the
      data. This review is an attempt to clarify and update the usefulness of the HOS
      test as a tool to evaluate the sperm function.

PMID- 1456833
TI  - Antigenic differences in human sperm samples related to various morphological
      abnormalities.
AB  - Sperm samples were collected from male partners of fertile and infertile couples
      having unexplained and male factor infertility and analyzed for morphological
      abnormalities. After a staining procedure, sperm samples of these infertile men
      showed a variety of abnormalities. The sperm samples were also studied for their
      binding with the Abs directed against protamine (the nuclear protein),
      fertilization antigen (FA-1, sperm surface antigen), and the lithium
      diiodosalicylate- (LIS-) solubilized sperm preparation, and the binding was
      correlated with the percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm in the sample.
      Abs used in the present study were raised in female rabbits and had high titers
      (ELISA titers, 1:4096 to 1:8196), and recognized no band (anti-protamine), one
      49,000- +/- 2000-dalton band (anti-FA-1), and at least 8 bands of various
      molecular identities in the 14,000- to 92,000-dalton range (anti-LIS sperm) on
      the Western blot of LIS-solubilized human sperm. The affinity-purified Fab'
      antibodies were iodinated and used in a radioimmunobindingassay for testing their
      binding with the sperm cells. Anti-protamine Fab's showed minimal binding and the
      binding activity (cpm bound/10 x 10(6) sperm cells) did not correlate (head
      defect, r = .12; midpiece defect, r = .07; tail defect, r = .11) significantly
      with percentage of abnormal cells in the sample. The binding of the anti-FA-1
      Fab's also did not show a significant correlation (head defect, r = .29; midpiece
      defect, r = .48; tail defect, r = .23), though a positive trend (p = .05) was
      observed with the midpiece defect. In contrast, the binding of anti-LIS sperm
      Fab's demonstrated a significant correlation with the percentage of abnormal
      sperm cells in the sample (head defect, r = .51, p = .04; midpiece defect, r =
      .80, p less than .0001; tail defect, r = .23, p = .039). With an increased
      percentage of abnormal sperm cells, especially those with midpiece defect, there
      was an increased binding of anti-LIS sperm Fab's. These results suggest that with
      an increase in percentage of abnormal sperm, there is a change in antigenicity of
      the sperm cells. An increase in structural abnormality may enhance antibody
      binding to an abnormal sperm cell, thus causing a further decrease in its
      fertilizing capacity.

PMID- 1456834
TI  - The direct effect of Hochuekki-To on human sperm fertilizability using the
      hypoosmotic swelling test.
AB  - The concentration and motility of human sperm increase is examined following the
      oral administration of a traditional herbal medicine, Hochuekki-To using the
      hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test. After 1 h incubation in Hochuekki-To, the
      motility of sperm and the results of the HOS test improved, particularly for
      severely abnormal sperm. For both the original and incubated sperm, the results
      of the HOS test improved when Hochuekki-To was used in the swim-up medium for the
      swim-up washing method rather than when Whittingham's T6 solution was used.
      Hochuekki-To had a favorable, direct effect on human sperm functions, suggesting
      an effect on the physiological integrity of sperm membrane.

PMID- 1456835
TI  - Effect of different types of textile fabric on spermatogenesis: electrostatic
      potentials generated on the surface of the human scrotum by wearing different
      types of fabric.
AB  - This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the electrostatic potentials
      generated on the surface of the scrotal area when different types of textile
      fabric were worn. Twenty-one healthy volunteers were divided into three equal
      groups. The first group was dressed in underpants made of 100% polyester, the
      second wore underpants of 100% cotton, and the third wore a 50/50%
      polyester/cotton mixture. With an electrostatic kilovoltmeter, the electrostatic
      potentials were measured 1 h after wearing the pants once during the day and a
      second time at night. The test was repeated 4 times, each on a separate day. No
      electrostatic potentials were detected on the cotton underpants. The polyester
      pants showed the highest potentials (mean 338.9 +/- 25 SD V/cm2), while the mixed
      polyester/cotton pants produced less than half that level (mean 148.3 +/- 16 SD
      V/cm2). The readings during the day were higher than those at night, probably due
      to the higher temperature during the day. This study could explain the cause of
      diminished spermatogenesis in dogs dressed in polyester pants. A new theory is
      put forward holding that the polyester underpants create an "electrostatic field"
      across the scrotal sac that disturbs the testicular and/or epididymal function.

PMID- 1456836
TI  - Ultrastructural parameters of fertile cryopreserved human sperm.
AB  - Two hundred and forty-four cryopreserved semen samples were used for artificial
      insemination by donor (AID). All samples were examined for motility and
      concentration. Thirty of the samples resulted in pregnancies. These samples were
      further examined ultrastructurally. There was no difference in sperm motility or
      concentration between the samples that did or did not result in a pregnancy. The
      ultrastructural characteristics of the samples that resulted in pregnancies
      revealed that only 15% of sperm (SD = 7.67) possessed normal morphology and had
      undamaged acrosomes after cryopreservation.

PMID- 1456837
TI  - Effects of surgical repair of experimental left varicocele on testicular
      temperature, spermatogenesis, sperm maturation, endocrine function, and fertility
      in rabbits.
AB  - To evaluate the effectiveness of surgical correction of varicocele in restoring
      the function of the varicocelized testicle, experimental varicoceles were created
      in 16 male rabbits by partly ligating the left lumbotesticular trunk. Five
      control rabbits received a sham operation (group A). Two months later, eight of
      the varicocelized rabbits underwent surgical repair by ligation and cutting of
      the dilated left testicular vein (group B). The remaining eight varicocelized
      animals did not receive any additional treatment (group C). Five months after the
      initial operation, group C animals had a significantly lower sperm concentration,
      sperm motility, bilateral testicular androgen-binding protein activity, bilateral
      testicular vein testosterone concentration, bilateral testicular versus
      intraabdominal temperature difference, and fertility when compared with groups A
      and B. These findings suggested that the surgical repair of an experimental
      varicocele in the rabbit can significantly improve the parameters indicating the
      harmful effects of the varicocele on the testicles.

PMID- 1456838
TI  - Blood concentrations of lead, cadmium, mercury, zinc, and copper and human semen
      parameters.
AB  - The study consisted of 35 male subjects attending an andrology clinic. The
      subjects all had poor sperm parameters that could not be attributed to any known
      medical cause. The objective was to evaluate the relation between various seminal
      characteristics (volume, total sperm count, sperm viability, proportion of
      progressively motile sperm, and different sperm morphology) and the blood
      concentrations of lead, cadmium, mercury, copper, and zinc. The mean blood
      concentrations of lead, mercury, copper, and zinc were within the normal values;
      cadmium concentration (1.35 micrograms/L) was much higher than the norms.
      Asthenozoospermic subjects had significantly (p less than .025) higher blood
      cadmium levels than normozoospermic subjects. No significant differences were
      noted between the two groups for mean concentration of mercury, zinc, and copper
      in blood. Significant correlations were observed between blood cadmium levels and
      volume of semen, midpiece defects, and immature forms of spermatozoa. High blood
      cadmium levels may have an effect on spermatogenesis. Possible reasons for the
      high blood cadmium levels among the subjects are discussed.

PMID- 1456839
TI  - HPLC determination of an oxytocin-like peptide produced by isolated guinea pig
      Leydig cells: stimulation by ascorbate.
AB  - Highly purified populations of guinea pig Leydig cells were incubated with a
      maximally stimulating dose of 100 ng/mL LH for 24 h in the presence of increasing
      concentrations of sodium ascorbate. Sample supernatants were extracted,
      concentrated under vacuum, and reconstituted with acidified absolute ethanol.
      Samples were analyzed for oxytocin using high-performance liquid chromatography
      with electrochemical detection and known concentrations of an authentic oxytocin
      standard. Leydig cells stimulated with 0, 25, and 50 microM ascorbate produced
      and secreted 40.1 +/- 1.23, 77.4 +/- 13.8, 74.2 +/- 26.3 pg of an oxytocin-like
      peptide, respectively, per 1 x 10(6) cells. These results indicate that guinea
      pig Leydig cells are capable of producing an oxytocin-like peptide de novo and
      that low concentrations of ascorbate stimulate the production of this peptide in
      Leydig cells cultured in vitro.

PMID- 1456840
TI  - Developmental changes in testosterone production by the rat testis in vitro
      during late fetal life.
AB  - The age-related evolution of the in vitro capacity of the rat testis to produce
      testosterone and to respond to luteinizing hormone (LH) during 3 and 24 h
      incubation was studied from day 18.5 to day 21.5 of fetal life. Basal
      testosterone production by testes from 18.5-day-old fetuses was significantly
      higher than production by testes from 20.5- and 21.5-day-old fetuses when
      secretion was expressed as either per testis or per microgram of testicular
      protein. When maximal LH-stimulated testosterone secretion was expressed on a per
      testis basis, it was significantly lower for day 18.5 testes than for day 20.5
      and 21.5 testes. However, when it was expressed on the basis of testicular
      protein content, it decreased significantly between days 18.5 and 20.5. Basal and
      LH-stimulated secretions displayed the same time-related decrease throughout 24 h
      of incubation for the three ages studied. The dose-response curves for LH showed
      that the sensitivity was similar for day 18.5 and 20.5 testes (ED50 = 10 vs. 14
      ng/mL, respectively). These results showed an age-related decrease in testicular
      steroidogenic capacity without a change in the coupling efficiency of LH receptor
      to testosterone production during late fetal life in rats.

PMID- 1456841
TI  - The fate of foreign DNA associated with pig sperm following the in vitro
      fertilization of zona-free hamster ova and zona-intact pig ova.
AB  - The aim of this study was to determine the fate of foreign DNA molecules bound to
      porcine sperm that had been capacitated and acrosome reacted in vitro using
      calcium ionophore and then used in the in vitro fertilization of zona-free
      hamster ova and zona-intact pig ova. Fluoresceinated Pisum sativum agglutinin
      (PSA) labeling was used to differentiate between acrosome-intact and acrosome
      reacted sperm. This revealed that up to 80% of the sperm treated with calcium
      ionophore were acrosome reacted. Up to 70% of these acrosome-reacted sperm were
      labeled with the foreign DNA at the post-acrosomal region. Following association
      of DNA with the acrosome-reacted sperm, insemination droplets were prepared and
      zona-free hamster oocytes or zona-intact pig oocytes were added. The gametes were
      allowed to interact and then fixed and stained to visualize decondensed sperm
      heads that had penetrated into the oocytes. The sperm were stained with
      streptavidin peroxidases to detect the biotinylated foreign DNA bound to the
      decondensed heads. These studies revealed that 54% of fertilized hamster and pig
      oocytes contained decondensed sperm that had retained the post-acrosomal pattern
      of bound foreign DNA. After incubation with DNA-associated sperm, the oocytes
      were washed and cultured for 15-17 h. After fixation, up to 30% of hamster
      oocytes and 10% of porcine oocytes were found to contain sperm pronuclei.
      However, using the streptavidin peroxidase detection system, it was not possible
      to determine if any of these pronuclei contained the foreign DNA.

PMID- 1456842
TI  - Classification of compounds for prevention of NMDLA-induced seizures/mortality,
      or maximal electroshock and pentylenetetrazol seizures in mice and antagonism of
      MK801 binding in vitro.
AB  - Intravenous injection of N-methyl-D,L-aspartic acid (NMDLA) into mice produces
      characteristic convulsions followed by death. The present study was designed to
      determine the degree of blockade of these seizures/mortality by compounds acting
      at various subsites on the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor complex
      (competitive and noncompetitive antagonists, as well as inhibitors of the
      strychnine-insensitive glycine subsite, and Zn++ subsite agonists), and also
      calcium channel blockers, clinically used anticonvulsants, plus selected
      compounds with activities or structures similar to specific agents chosen.
      Activity among compounds was correlated to in vitro potency regarding inhibition
      of binding of MK801 to the ionic channel subsite associated with the NMDA
      receptor. Furthermore, all compounds were examined for antiseizure properties
      with respect to tonic hindlimb extension elicited by maximal electroshock (MES)
      and clonus induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). Drugs were subsequently classified
      according to their spectra of efficacy in these tests. The following
      characteristics emerged: 1) agents active at all 3 NMDA mechanisms
      (convulsions/mortality/MK801 binding) plus MES and PTZ, were MK801 and CPP [3-(2
      carboxypiperazin-4-yl) propyl-1-phosphonic acid]; 2) active at all the NMDA
      mechanisms and MES were ketamine and dextromethorphan; 3) active against NMDLA
      induced convulsions/mortality, MES and PTZ, but not MK801 binding, were doxepin,
      desipramine and diazepam; 4) active against NMDLA-induced convulsions/mortality
      and MES were des-Me-doxepin, flunarizine and remacemide; 5) active against NMDLA
      induced convulsions/mortality and PTZ was nisoldipine; 6) active against only
      NMDLA-induced convulsions/mortality were chlorpheniramine and iproniazid; 7)
      active in the MES and PTZ tests were phenobarbital, pentobarbital and valproate;
      8) active in the MES test alone were phenytoin and carbamazepine; 9) active
      against PTZ only was ethosuximide; 10) active only in the in vitro MK801 binding
      assay were HA966, 7-Cl-kynurenate and AP7 (2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid);
      and 11) no demonstrable actions had AP4 (2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid) and
      mianserin. In conclusion, inhibition of NMDLA-induced convulsions/mortality in
      vivo is not necessarily correlated to a noncompetitive displacement of MK801
      binding to NMDA receptor sites in vitro, nor is inhibition of NMDA-elicited
      convulsions/mortality correlated with a specific ability of a compound to inhibit
      either MES or PTZ seizures.

PMID- 1456843
TI  - Effects of clonazepam on paired-pulse and frequency potentiation of evoked
      potentials in rats.
AB  - Three different monosynaptic evoked potentials (thalamocortical,
      interhemispheric, i.e. transcallosal, and entorhino-dentate) were used to study
      the paired-pulse and frequency potentiation in adult rats. A marked potentiation
      was seen in both neocortical responses under control conditions (up to 200%),
      whereas potentiation in the dentate gyrus was only moderate. Clonazepam (0.1
      and/or 1 mg/kg, i.p.) antagonized the potentiation of the thalamocortical
      responses only, the frequency potentiation was suppressed in a dose-dependent
      manner, and the paired-pulse potentiation was significantly attenuated only by
      the higher dose of clonazepam. The potentiation of the cortical interhemispheric
      as well as of the entorhino-dentate evoked potentials was not changed by either
      dose of clonazepam. The present results do not form the hypothesis of frequency
      potentiation as a mechanism of epileptogenesis.

PMID- 1456844
TI  - Pumiliotoxin B-like alkaloid in extracts of the skin of the Australian
      myobatrachid frog Pseudophryne coriacea: effects on blood pressure and heart of
      the rabbit.
AB  - Extracts of the skin of the Australian myobatrachid frog Pseudophryne coriacea
      (PS) displayed striking, reversible and, in part, dose-dependent effects on the
      systemic blood pressure and the heart of the rabbit. Similarly to the results
      obtained in the rat, the blood pressure response in the rabbit consisted in an
      initial short-lasting fall, followed by a significant and persistent rise. The
      initial hypotensive effect was inhibited by atropine, indicating a cholinergic
      mechanism. The inhibition of the pressure rise by prazosin or guanethidine, but
      not by surrenalectomy or hexamethonium, suggests a catecholamine release from
      adrenergic nerve terminals of the vasculature. PS produced on the heart a variety
      of rhythm disorders, caused both by a release of acetylcholine and a direct
      effect on the myocardium. It is worth mentioning that tetrodotoxin, a typical
      sodium channel blocker, reduced or abolished the effects of PS both on the heart
      and the blood pressure, suggesting that sodium channels may directly or
      indirectly participate in the mechanism of action of PS.

PMID- 1456845
TI  - Inhibition of neutrophil chemotaxis by purinoceptor agonists.
AB  - Adenine nucleotides inhibited fMet-Leu-Phe-activated chemotaxis by rabbit
      neutrophils in the micromolar concentration range. The sequence of inhibitory
      effectiveness was ATP[S] greater than ATP greater than ADP greater than AMP
      greater than adenosine. In the presence of EDTA, inhibition of chemotaxis by ATP
      occurred to the same degree as in the presence of Ca2+ (and Mg2+), indicating
      that neither ectonucleotidases nor Ca2+ fluxes across the plasma membrane are of
      importance for the inhibitory effect. The inhibitory effect of ATP persisted when
      the nucleotide was removed after preincubation, before the cells were submitted
      to chemotaxis. Exposure of neutrophils to ApCpp results in desensitization
      towards inhibition by ATP. Other nucleoside triphosphates, such as XTP, GTP, ITP,
      CTP and UTP, also inhibited neutrophil migration. The relative potency of the
      nucleotides, which are used to discriminate between the subtypes of the P2
      purinoceptor, was (at a concentration of 50 microM) ATP greater than ApCpp
      greater than AppNp greater than MeSATP greater than AppCp. The results suggest
      that inhibition of neutrophil chemotaxis by purinoceptor agonists is mediated by
      P2 purinoceptors and that the subtype is different from the P2x or P2y
      purinoceptor.

PMID- 1456846
TI  - Barriers to following National Cholesterol Educational Program guidelines. An
      appraisal of poor physician compliance.

PMID- 1456847
TI  - Ceasing futile resuscitation in the field: ethical considerations.

PMID- 1456848
TI  - Screening for cancers of the lung and colon.

PMID- 1456849
TI  - Screening for cancers of the cervix and breast.

PMID- 1456850
TI  - Distribution of lipid phenotypes in community-living men with coronary heart
      disease. High prevalence of isolated low levels of high-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Risk factor modification, including treatment of dyslipidemias, has
      been recommended for the prevention of future coronary events in patients with
      coronary heart disease (CHD). Since the prevalence of various dyslipidemias among
      outpatients with CHD has not been well documented, the purpose of this study was
      to determine the frequency of specific lipid phenotypes among ambulatory men with
      CHD. METHODS: Lipid profiles were obtained in 255 men (mean age, 65.5 +/- 9.1
      years) with CHD in three Veterans Affairs medical centers. Desirable levels of
      lipids were defined according to National Cholesterol Education Program
      guidelines as follows: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels less
      than 3.36 mmol/L (130 mg/dL); high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels
      equal to or greater than 0.90 mmol/L (35 mg/dL); and triglyceride levels less
      than 2.83 mmol/L. RESULTS: Seventy-six percent of the group had one or more
      abnormalities on lipid profile: 51% had high LDL-C levels with or without
      abnormalities of HDL-C and/or triglyceride levels; 22% had low HDL-C levels with
      desirable levels of LDL-C; and 3% had hypertriglyceridemia without any
      cholesterol abnormalities. Normal lipid profiles were significantly more
      prevalent in subjects over the age of 65 years than in younger patients (40% vs
      14%). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that (1) a high proportion of men with CHD
      have dyslipidemia, including 50% with LDL-C level elevations. For these men, the
      potential benefits of therapeutic intervention have been documented in clinical
      trials, although the cost-efficiency of wide-scale treatment has not been
      determined; (2) isolated hypertriglyceridemia is rare in this population; and (3)
      low HDL-C levels in association with desirable LDL-C levels are present in more
      than one fifth of male patients with CHD. Clinical trials focusing on this large
      group are urgently needed to determine whether efforts to raise HDL-C levels
      result in reduced cardiac morbidity and/or mortality.

PMID- 1456851
TI  - How useful is the rheumatoid factor? An analysis of sensitivity, specificity, and
      predictive value.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The rheumatoid factor (RF) is frequently ordered in an effort to
      detect disease, yet its diagnostic utility has not been thoroughly examined. To
      determine the test's sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and
      negative predictive value, we analyzed tests ordered in our institution. METHODS:
      We performed a retrospective analysis of all 86 patients with a positive RF over
      a 6-month period identified consecutively soon after the test was ordered. A
      similar analysis was applied to 86 seronegative patients selected at random from
      a total seronegative population of 477 during the same period. The patients
      represented the primary care and subspecialty practices and inpatient wards of a
      504-bed university teaching hospital. RESULTS: A positive RF result was strongly
      associated with rheumatoid arthritis or another rheumatic disease. For rheumatoid
      arthritis, sensitivity = 0.28 and specificity = 0.87, while for any rheumatic
      disease, sensitivity = 0.29 and specificity = 0.88. The positive predictive
      values for rheumatoid arthritis and any rheumatic disease were 0.24 and 0.34,
      respectively, and the negative predictive values were 0.89 and 0.85,
      respectively. Seropositive patients were slightly older (55 vs 49 years old), but
      the incidence of false-positive RFs among the elderly (69%) was not significantly
      higher than among younger patients (65%). The cost per true-positive RF result
      was $563. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, most positive RF results were not helpful
      since the majority represented false-positive results. The low positive
      predictive value of the RF casts doubt on the utility of the RF in the diagnostic
      evaluation of patients. Contrary to traditional clinical expectations, the
      diagnostic utility of the RF may be greatest when it is negative. However, the
      subset of patients with seronegative rheumatic disease reduces the test's power
      to exclude such disorders even when the RF is negative. Given the test's
      limitations, clinicians should reconsider their expectations when ordering an RF.
      The utility of the RF may improve if it is ordered more selectively.

PMID- 1456852
TI  - Mandated choice. The preferred solution to the organ shortage?
AB  - BACKGROUND: A critical shortage of organs is perhaps the major barrier facing
      transplantation today. Adopting a system of presumed consent or mandated choice
      are among the solutions proposed. Under presumed consent, organs may be removed
      after death without explicit consent, unless the deceased had previously objected
      or the family objects at the time of death. Under mandated choice, all adults
      would be required to decide for themselves whether they wish to donate on their
      deaths and their decisions would be controlling. METHODS: To see if educated
      young people would support these proposals, I carried out two surveys at the
      University of Maryland, College Park, Md, of a total of 418 students who were at
      least 18 years of age. RESULTS: An overwhelming 90% would support mandated choice
      while a smaller percentage, just over 60%, would support presumed consent. The
      vast majority believe that the family should not be able to override the
      previously expressed wishes of their recently deceased loved one. Unfortunately,
      only a minority of respondents had discussed organ donation with their families
      and even fewer had signed donor cards. CONCLUSIONS: Even young, educated people
      frequently fail to consider organ donation prospectively and this is a major
      barrier to organ retrieval. While presumed consent and mandated choice are
      designed to deal with this serious problem, mandated choice seems preferable and
      would likely receive widespread support. Therefore, I suggest that a small scale
      trial of mandated choice be undertaken as soon as possible in the hope of finding
      an acceptable system that will quickly and efficiently increase the supply of
      desperately needed organs.

PMID- 1456853
TI  - The complications of infective endocarditis. A reappraisal in the 1980s.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The frequency of complications of infective endocarditis and their
      influence on the outcome of the patients changed in the antibiotic era.
      Therefore, we evaluated the complications in a recent large series of patients
      with infective endocarditis. METHODS: We studied 300 episodes of endocarditis in
      287 patients in a tertiary cardiology referral center. Predisposing cardiac
      conditions were valvular heart disease in 147 episodes, congenital heart disease
      in 37, other heart diseases in five, and prosthetic heart valves in 69. In 69
      episodes, there was no previous heart disease. The infecting microorganisms were
      streptococci in 147 episodes, Staphylococcus aureus in 59, Staphylococcus
      epidermidis in 14, gram-negative bacteria in 16, other gram-positive bacteria in
      eight, and fungi in four. In 52 episodes, blood cultures were negative. Seventy
      eight patients (26%) died. Complications were defined as any clinically
      unfavorable event occurring during treatment. RESULTS: A total of 386
      complications occurred in 223 episodes (74%); one complication occurred in 128
      episodes (57%), two in 57 (26%), three in 18 (8%), four in 13 (6%), five in three
      (1%), and six or more in three (1%). The complications were as follows: cardiac,
      100 occurrences; neurological, 72; septic, 46; associated with medical treatment,
      41; renal, 27; extracranial systemic arterial embolism, 16; septic pulmonary
      embolism, 26; complications related to surgical treatment, 11; acute prosthetic
      heart valve insufficiency, six; splenic infarction or abscess, three; cardiac
      rhythm disturbances, three; and other, 19. The distribution of the complications
      relative to outcome of the patients revealed that fatality exceeded survival
      rates for neurologic and septic complications. CONCLUSIONS: Complications may be
      common in patients with infective endocarditis. Cardiac complications were the
      most common ones, but fatality rates were higher for neurologic and septic
      complications. Hence, heart failure was replaced by neurologic and septic
      complications as the leading causes of death in patients with infective
      endocarditis.

PMID- 1456854
TI  - Prognosis in ischemic heart disease. Can you tell as much at the bedside as in
      the nuclear laboratory?
AB  - BACKGROUND--While the resting left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) predicts
      prognosis in ischemic heart disease, clinical evaluation is also useful. METHODS-
      To compare the prognostic value of LVEF by resting radionuclide ventriculography
      with that of clinical signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF), 170
      patients with suspected ischemic heart disease were followed up in this
      prospective study. Patients had a standardized history and physical examination
      performed by a study cardiologist immediately before the nuclear scan. Chest
      roentgenography and radionuclide ventriculography were performed in a standard
      manner. The diagnosis of CHF was made by validated clinicoradiographic criteria
      based on the Framingham study. Mortality was determined by means of the National
      Death Index; median follow-up time was 3 years. RESULTS--There was CHF at
      baseline in 70 patients, and baseline LVEF was low (< or = 0.4) in 63 patients.
      Low LVEF was significantly associated with CHF. During follow-up, 55 of the
      subjects died (overall mortality, 32%). Subjects with CHF had a significantly
      higher risk of death than those without CHF, and subjects with low LVEF had a
      higher mortality than those with preserved LVEF. Both CHF and LVEF were
      independent predictors of mortality. In a Cox model, each percentage increase in
      LVEF was associated with a 2% decreased mortality, while subjects with CHF had a
      mortality 2.5 times higher than that of those without CHF. Also, CHF with
      preserved LVEF had a better prognosis than CHF with depressed LVEF, but this
      prognosis was worse than that in subjects without CHF. CONCLUSIONS--The clinical
      diagnosis of CHF, based on clinical evaluation and chest roentgenogram, is a
      valid predictor of mortality and provides information independent of the
      radionuclide LVEF in determining prognosis in patients with ischemic heart
      disease.

PMID- 1456855
TI  - Cholesterol-lowering effects of calcium carbonate in patients with mild to
      moderate hypercholesterolemia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In recent years, several authors have noted that oral calcium
      treatment was associated with a reduction in serum cholesterol level. METHODS:
      Calcium carbonate was examined for its ability to lower serum cholesterol levels
      in hypercholesterolemic patients. Fifty-six patients with mild to moderate
      hypercholesterolemia were examined in this randomized, double-blind, placebo
      controlled crossover study. Patients were treated with a low-fat, low-cholesterol
      diet targeted at the American Heart Association Step-1 diet for 8 weeks before
      and while receiving placebo or calcium carbonate (9.98 mmol [400 mg] of elemental
      calcium) three times daily with meals for 6 weeks. Patients were then crossed
      over to the alternate treatment for an additional 6-week period. RESULTS:
      Compared with placebo, calcium carbonate achieved a 4.4% reduction in the low
      density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and a 4.1% increase in the high-density
      lipoprotein cholesterol level. The ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
      to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly decreased by 6.5% with
      calcium carbonate treatment. Calcium carbonate treatment did not significantly
      affect blood pressure or serum levels of triglycerides, lipoprotein Apo B, or
      calcium. Relative urinary saturation ratios of calcium oxalate levels were
      unchanged during calcium carbonate therapy. Compliance with diet and treatment
      was excellent and no significant adverse effects were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Thus,
      calcium carbonate was a modestly effective and well-tolerated adjunct to diet in
      the management of mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia in this clinical study.

PMID- 1456856
TI  - Prevalence of, and risk factors for, angiographically determined coronary artery
      disease in type I-diabetic patients with nephropathy.
AB  - BACKGROUND--Thirty-five percent of type I-diabetic patients are dead of coronary
      artery disease by age 55 years, and the risk of death is increased eightfold to
      15-fold in patients with nephropathy. However, the prevalence of coronary artery
      disease with respect to age is unknown and few risk factors have been identified.
      METHODS--One hundred ten insulin-dependent diabetic patients underwent routine
      pretransplant coronary angiography and cardiac risk factor assessment. Angiograms
      were evaluated by two angiographers for presence or absence of coronary artery
      disease (CAD, defined as one or more coronary artery stenoses of 50% or greater
      in diameter, and no CAD, defined as no stenosis of 25% or greater in diameter,
      respectively). Prevalence of CAD by age was determined, and associated risk
      factors were defined. RESULTS--Fifty-two of 110 patients had CAD. Coronary artery
      disease prevalence increased significantly with age; 13 of 16 patients older than
      45 years of age had CAD. For patients 35 years of age or younger, associated risk
      factors included a family history of premature myocardial infarction, higher
      hemoglobin A1c level, hypertension for more than 5 years, lower high-density
      lipoprotein level, and smoking for more than 5 pack-years. For patients between
      35 and 45 years of age, associated risk factors included number of years of
      diabetes, higher hemoglobin A1c levels, and smoking more than 5 pack-years.
      CONCLUSIONS--In type I-diabetic patients with nephropathy, CAD prevalence
      increased significantly with age and was found in the majority of patients older
      than 45 years of age. Coronary artery disease risk factors operative in the
      general population were significantly associated with CAD in this high-risk
      group. In addition, a role for hyperglycemia in accelerated atherogenesis was
      supported by the association of both higher hemoglobin A1c levels and number of
      years of diabetes with CAD.

PMID- 1456857
TI  - The effectiveness of cerebral imaging in the diagnosis of chronic headache.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The increasing availability of high-resolution cerebral imaging
      scanners has fueled enthusiasm for their use to "rule out" brain tumor and other
      serious neurologic conditions in patients with headache. The effectiveness of
      this practice, however, has not been tested since the advent of newer scanning
      equipment. Our objective was to measure the usefulness of cerebral imaging in
      patients with chronic isolated headache. DESIGN: A retrospective study with a 15-
      to 27-month follow-up period. SETTING: A group-model health maintenance
      organization. PATIENTS: Adult patients, 100,800, in a health maintenance
      organization and an enriched sample of 63 patients with neurosurgical conditions
      from other health maintenance organization hospitals. RESULTS: During 1990, 1083
      cerebral computed tomographic scans were performed on 863 adults (0.9% of health
      maintenance organization adults). Eighty-nine patients were scanned for chronic
      isolated headache; none of the scans provided important new information (95%
      confidence interval, 0%, 3%). Long-term patient follow-up confirmed that this low
      yield could not be attributed to diagnostic work-up bias. Further attempts to
      support a policy of imaging patients with isolated headache were also
      unsuccessful. Review of an enriched sample of patients with malignant brain tumor
      and patients requiring craniotomy for other reasons (n = 40) demonstrated that no
      patient had headache alone at the time of diagnosis (95% confidence interval, 0%,
      8%) and that only 5% (95% confidence interval, 0%, 12%) of these patients sought
      medical attention for headache alone. Sampling a second enriched sample of
      patients who were referred from other hospitals (n = 63) because of conditions
      requiring neurosurgical procedures demonstrated that only 6% of patients
      presented with chronic isolated headache alone (95% confidence interval, 0%,
      12%). Uncertainty regarding the appropriateness of imaging patients with headache
      was illustrated by the extreme interphysician variability of this practice.
      CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates the large potential cost and low (although not
      zero) yield associated with nonselectively imaging patients with chronic isolated
      headache.

PMID- 1456858
TI  - Equal survival rates for first, second, and third episodes of Pneumocystis
      carinii pneumonia in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Second and subsequent episodes of acute Pneumocystis carinii
      pneumonia (PCP) are reported to have a worse prognosis than initial episodes in
      patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We tested the hypothesis
      that survival rates of first, second, and subsequent episodes of acute PCP in
      patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome are equal. METHODS: Analysis
      of the outcomes in prospective series of patients with the acquired
      immunodeficiency syndrome treated for acute PCP over 5 years. RESULTS: Survival
      rates of 222 PCP occurrences by episode number were: first, 86%; second, 84%;
      third, 88%; and fourth, 67%. Survival rates for the first, second, and third
      episodes were not significantly different. Second and third episodes had a larger
      proportion of patients with mild disease than initial episodes. CONCLUSIONS:
      Survival rates for first, second, and third episodes of PCP in patients with the
      acquired immunodeficiency syndrome are not different. In contrast to earlier
      articles, treatment for second and third episodes of acute PCP may be as
      successful as in initial episodes.

PMID- 1456859
TI  - Frequent hypoglycemic episodes in the treatment of patients with diabetic
      ketoacidosis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Previous studies of the management of diabetic ketoacidosis have
      noted a wide range of incidence of hypoglycemia but have not studied the risk
      factors associated with it. METHODS: To describe the incidence of hypoglycemia in
      patients hospitalized with diabetic ketoacidosis, we retrospectively reviewed the
      charts of all adult patients with the diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis at three
      private, community hospitals in Milwaukee, Wis, between January 1, 1987, and May
      31, 1990. Two hundred twenty admissions in 150 patients met our inclusion
      criteria. RESULTS: In 30% (66/220) of cases of diabetic ketoacidosis, a serum
      glucose level or Accu-Chek (Boehringer-Mannheim, Indianapolis, Ind) finding was
      2.7 mmol/L or less during the first 14 days of hospitalization. No factors could
      be identified that were associated with a significantly increased risk of early
      hypoglycemia (within the first 48 hours of admission). The risk of a "late"
      occurrence of hypoglycemia (after 48 hours of hospitalization) was increased by
      fever (relative risk, 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16 to 3.63), "nothing
      orally" status (relative risk, 3.01; 95% CI, 1.88 to 4.83), hepatic disease
      (relative risk, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.39 to 4.70), and renal disease (relative risk,
      2.07; 95% CI, 1.26 to 3.39). A logistic regression analysis showed "nothing
      orally" status to be associated with an increased risk of any hypoglycemia
      occurring during the hospitalization (relative risk, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.63 to 3.51).
      Physicians and nurses documented the first episode of hypoglycemia in their notes
      45.5% and 80.3% of the time, respectively. CONCLUSION: Hypoglycemia is still a
      common complication of diabetic ketoacidosis, is associated with hepatic and
      renal disease as well as fever and "nothing orally" status, and is not documented
      well in physician notes.

PMID- 1456860
TI  - Toward improved empiric management of moderate to severe urinary tract
      infections.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Guidelines to show whether a patient hospitalized because of a
      urinary tract infection (UTI) has a severe infection, and whether he or she is at
      high risk for harboring a multiresistant pathogen, are scant. The aims of the
      present study were to find (1) clinical and laboratory variables known within 24
      hours of admission that, combined in a logistic model, will point to a high or
      low probability of bacteremia and (2) variables that can be used to define
      patients at high risk for the subsequent isolation of a multiresistant
      uropathogen. METHODS: In a set of patients consecutively admitted to a department
      of medicine because of UTI, we compared bacteremic vs nonbacteremic patients, and
      patients with a multiresistant uropathogen vs others, on logistic regression
      analysis. The logistic models derived were validated in a second set of patients
      with UTI. RESULTS: Among 247 patients with UTI (median age, 75 years), 80 of them
      with bacteremia, five factors were significantly and independently associated
      with bacteremia: serum creatinine level, leukocyte count, temperature, diabetes
      mellitus, and low serum albumin level. A logistic model incorporating those
      factors was used to divide the patients into three groups with increasing
      prevalence of bacteremia (6%, 39%, and 69%) and of death (3%, 6%, and 20%). Three
      factors were predictive of the subsequent isolation of a resistant uropathogen:
      use of antibiotics before admission, advanced age, and male gender. The
      combination of those factors was used to divide patients into two groups, with
      resistance to cefuroxime of 9% vs 28%, to gentamicin of 7% vs 20%, and to
      sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim of 30% vs 50%. In a second set of 144 patients with
      UTI, the percentages of bacteremia in the three groups were 5%, 16%, and 55%, and
      those of death, 2%, 6%, and 17%. When divided by the second model, the resistance
      to cefuroxime in the two groups was 16% vs 30%; to gentamicin, 16% vs 28%; and to
      sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, 28% vs 59%. CONCLUSIONS: If prospectively
      validated in other settings, the models can be used to define groups of patients
      with UTI at low and high risk for bacteremia, and to help in the choice of
      empiric antibiotic treatment.

PMID- 1456861
TI  - Efforts to improve compliance with the National Cholesterol Education Program
      guidelines. Results of a randomized controlled trial.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: We compared three approaches for improving compliance with the
      practice guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). DESIGN:
      A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Academic group practices of a major urban
      teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Study physicians were three equivalent groups of
      PG-2 and PG-3 residents (N = 33) seeing patients in equivalent outpatient
      clinics. Continuity patients of these residents were included (N = 240) if they
      were younger than 66 years, saw their primary physician during the intervention
      period, were not pregnant, and had no serious life-shortening noncardiac
      illnesses. INTERVENTIONS: Three interventions were implemented over a 5-week
      period. Control group physicians (group 1) were offered only a standard lecture
      provided through the Physician Cholesterol Education Program (PCEP). Group 2
      physicians were offered the PCEP lecture and also received generic chart
      reminders of the NCEP guidelines on each eligible patient's chart. Group 3
      physicians were offered the PCEP lecture and also received timely patient
      specific feedback, including acknowledgement of recent lipid values and
      management, and explicit recommendations for further action. Knowledge of lipid
      disorders was tested before and after the PCEP lecture, and physicians' attitudes
      were surveyed following the intervention period. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:
      The three groups were similar in baseline (preintervention) compliance with NCEP
      recommendations (average, 39%) and physicians' knowledge. Patients were similar
      across groups in number of coronary artery disease risk factors and cholesterol
      values. Significant within-group improvements in compliance were noted for groups
      2 and 3 (7.6% and 10.6%, respectively), but not for group 1 (4.5%). Importantly,
      there were no differences observed in improvements across groups. In exploratory
      analyses, however, there was a significant correlation between improved
      compliance and the number of patients seen by each provider in group 3 that was
      not observed in groups 1 or 2. Notably, changes in compliance were unrelated to
      PCEP lecture attendance (8.6% vs 8.1% for attenders vs nonattenders,
      respectively), level of postgraduate training, baseline or later tests of
      knowledge, or patient factors. The postintervention survey revealed marked
      overestimation by physicians of their personal compliance with NCEP guidelines,
      although there was strong support for clinic efforts that would screen patients
      for lipid disorders independent of physician initiative. CONCLUSIONS: This study
      raises questions about the effectiveness of education alone for improving
      compliance with NCEP guidelines. The effectiveness and efficiency of timely,
      individualized feedback should be explored in studies over a longer period.
      Innovative alternative approaches are suggested by the responses to our survey
      and other research in preventive practices.

PMID- 1456862
TI  - Treatment of cryptosporidiosis with paromomycin. A report of five cases.
AB  - Cryptosporidiosis continues to be one of the most devastating complications of
      the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, causing severe, chronic diarrhea that is
      largely refractory to treatment. More than 60 drugs have been tried in the
      treatment of cryptosporidiosis, none of which have been consistently successful.
      We describe the successful treatment of cryptosporidiosis in five patients with
      acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with oral paromomycin at a dose of 1500 to
      2000 mg/d. All five patients had resolution of symptoms and normalization of
      bowel movements, although one patient later relapsed while receiving paromomycin.
      Three of five patients cleared Cryptosporidium from the stool. Paromomycin is a
      promising therapy for cryptosporidiosis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and
      further prospective clinical trials are warranted.

PMID- 1456863
TI  - Carbamazepine neurotoxic reaction after administration of diltiazem.
AB  - A patient with epilepsy controlled by carbamazepine developed a carbamazepine
      neurotoxic reaction after being given an increased dosage of diltiazem
      hydrochloride as adjunctive therapy. Abrupt withdrawal of diltiazem reduced the
      circulating carbamazepine concentration and resulted in an epileptic attack.
      Awareness of the interaction between diltiazem and carbamazepine and careful
      monitoring of carbamazepine blood levels is recommended to prevent the dangerous
      neurotoxic effect associated with this combination.

PMID- 1456864
TI  - The role of skin testing for penicillin allergy.

PMID- 1456865
TI  - Medical futility: where's the attending?

PMID- 1456866
TI  - Limited form of systemic sclerosis improved with enalapril.

PMID- 1456867
TI  - Medical residents and the pharmaceutical industry.

PMID- 1456868
TI  - SOAP is good for medical record.

PMID- 1456869
TI  - Why SOAP is good for the medical record?: another view.

PMID- 1456870
TI  - Keep SOAP, not HOAP, alive.

PMID- 1456871
TI  - Atherosclerotic lesions. Natural history, risk factors, and topography.
AB  - This article describes the development of human atherosclerosis as a framework on
      which to integrate and incorporate the research on thrombosis and hemostasis of
      participants in the 1992 College of American Pathologists Conference XXII on
      Hemostasis and Atherosclerotic Disease. Included are the early classic studies of
      the morphological features of atherosclerosis, atherosclerosis in different
      populations, the distribution of atherosclerotic lesions among arterial segments,
      the topography of atherosclerotic lesions within arterial segments, and the
      relationship of risk factors for coronary heart disease to the arterial lesions
      of atherosclerosis. Special attention is given to the development of
      atherosclerosis in young people, including findings from the Pathobiological
      Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth study. The data in this review provide
      confirmation of the development of atherosclerosis at an early age and relate
      atherosclerotic lesions to certain coronary heart disease risk factors. Any role
      of thrombosis or hemostasis in atherosclerosis must be integrated into this
      framework.

PMID- 1456872
TI  - Factors controlling smooth-muscle cell proliferation.
AB  - Injury to the arterial wall normally elicits a rapid and significant increase in
      smooth-muscle cell (SMC) replication with the subsequent development of intimal
      lesions. A variety of factors have been proposed to control SMC replication, but
      recent work has highlighted the role of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and
      platelet-derived growth factor in this process. In the carotid artery of the
      uninjured rat, we have shown that the SMCs express mRNA for bFGF and that bFGF
      can be readily extracted from these arteries. Following mechanical injury to the
      artery, ie, after balloon injury, we suggested that bFGF is released from damaged
      cells and then stimulates adjacent SMCs. In support of this concept, the infusion
      of a blocking antibody to bFGF was found to significantly inhibit the early SMC
      replication induced by use of a balloon catheter. The addition of the antibody at
      the time of injury, however, did not inhibit the development of intimal lesions.
      In contrast, studies by us and other investigators have shown that platelet
      derived growth factor is not directly important for SMC replication after balloon
      injury, but that it plays a key role in stimulating the migration of SMCs into
      the intima. Intimal SMC replication was not inhibited with antibodies to either
      bFGF or platelet-derived growth factor. Therefore, while significant inroads have
      been made in understanding the initial events, we still do not fully understand
      all the processes involved in the proliferation of arterial intimal lesions.

PMID- 1456873
TI  - Theories and new horizons in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and the
      mechanisms of clinical effects.
AB  - In this report, I relate some of the major new concepts of the cellular and
      humoral pathological changes of atherosclerosis to the many observations that
      have been made recently in the clinicopathological study of the Pathobiological
      Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth, in some of the more human lesion
      related animal models, and in epidemiological studies. An effort is made to
      explain the transition from the many important gross findings to the
      microscopical, immunohistochemical, and micromorphometric observations that have
      been made in a number of recent large-scale autopsy studies that are still under
      way in a number of countries.

PMID- 1456874
TI  - Cytokines and growth factors in atherogenesis.
AB  - The development of laboratory techniques for the culturing of vascular
      endothelial and smooth-muscle cells during the 1970s, followed by the rapid
      advances in molecular and cell biology during the 1980s, provided the foundation
      for the identification of growth factor and cytokine networks involved in
      maintenance of the normal vasculature as well as participating in diverse
      pathologic processes involving blood vessels. Vascular cells can produce and
      respond to a vast array of biochemical messengers that control cell replication,
      differentiation, and many specific cell functions. Investigators are beginning to
      explore the changes in the patterns of messengers exchanged between the vascular
      cells and infiltrating leukocytes during the initiation and progression of
      atherosclerosis. A variety of in vitro and in vivo studies have indicated that
      growth factors and cytokines that mediate the critical processes of inflammation
      and wound healing also play a central role in vascular disease. Indeed, many view
      atherosclerosis as the result of excessive or prolonged chronic inflammation and
      wound healing in response to diverse injurious stimuli to cells of the vessel
      wall. Vascular injury may result from many varied and interacting forces,
      including nutritional and metabolic abnormalities such as hyperlipidemias or
      elevated homocysteine, mechanical forces associated with hypertension, exogenous
      toxins including those found in cigarette smoke, abnormally glycated proteins
      associated with diabetes mellitus, oxidatively modified lipids or proteins, and,
      possibly, viral infections. Ultimately, a greater understanding of the activated
      cytokine and growth factor networks within the vascular wall following injury and
      during atherogenesis will allow clinical scientists to identify steps susceptible
      to therapeutic intervention using recombinant cytokines, antibodies, soluble
      receptors, or receptor antagonists. Other therapeutic strategies may involve the
      transfection of specific genes, which may inhibit atherosclerosis, into vascular
      cells at sites prone to lesion formation.

PMID- 1456875
TI  - Hemodynamic forces and vascular cell communication in arteries.
AB  - As the interface between the blood and the rest of the vessel wall, the
      endothelium is directly affected by hemodynamic shear stress (frictional) forces
      that locally regulate vascular tone and are implicated in the localization of
      atherosclerosis. There are many diverse responses of endothelial cells to
      hemodynamically related mechanical stresses ranging from ion channel activation
      to gene regulatory events. The processes of force transmission from the blood to
      the cell, and force transduction within the endothelium to electrophysiologic,
      biochemical, and transcriptional responses are poorly understood. This article
      reviews the principal mechanisms currently thought to be involved and outlines
      the signal pathways from the endothelium to underlying smooth-muscle cells.

PMID- 1456876
TI  - Thrombosis and cardiovascular risk in the elderly.
AB  - Current concepts of cardiovascular disease pathophysiology include a prominent
      role for thrombosis as a key factor. Thrombosis is not only the usual precipitant
      to a clinical event, but it may also be involved in atherosclerotic plaque
      development throughout most of the adult years. However, our understanding of
      thrombotic risk factors, especially in the elderly, is poor and research has just
      begun in this area. Fibrinogen has been clearly established as an independent
      risk factor in the middle aged, but there are conflicting data concerning older
      persons. Factor VII and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 look promising as risk
      factors in the middle aged, but there are no data currently available concerning
      the status of these factors in the elderly. Many associations exist between the
      thrombotic risk factors and other cardiovascular risk factors such as plasma
      lipids and glucose intolerance, making the establishment of independence
      difficult, and little is known about how these different factors may interact in
      older individuals. Ongoing studies should provide many answers in the near
      future.

PMID- 1456877
TI  - Hemostatic factors and risk of cardiovascular disease in women. An overview.
AB  - This report presents an overview of epidemiologic and clinical studies on the
      relationship between plasma levels of hemostatic factors and risk of
      cardiovascular disease in women. In addition, research on an association between
      hemostatic factor levels and gender, as well as estrogen status, is briefly
      reviewed. Only the Framingham Heart Study has published prospective results
      showing elevated fibrinogen levels to be associated with excess risk of coronary
      heart disease among women. However, taken together, the evidence to date from
      epidemiologic and clinical studies suggests potentially important hemostatic
      effects of aging, gender, and sex hormone levels on risk of cardiovascular
      disease in women.

PMID- 1456878
TI  - Hemostasis and cardiovascular risk. The British and European experience.
AB  - There is evidence that increased reactivity of blood plasma to thrombogenic
      surfaces (hypercoagulability) may contribute to the risk of thrombotic occlusion
      of a coronary artery in coronary heart disease. The Northwick Park Heart Study
      found raised levels of factor VII coagulant (VIIc) activity and fibrinogen in men
      at high risk of a coronary event. Several other European studies have confirmed
      the latter finding, but the Northwick Park Heart Study is the only study to
      report formally on VIIc to date. Plasma VIIc is increased in the presence of
      hyperlipidemia and on a high fat diet, and falls with lipid-lowering therapy and
      a reduction in fat intake. Fibrinogen concentration is raised in smokers and
      decreases when the habit is given up. Thus, these markers of thrombogenic risk
      are readily controlled by standard preventive measures against coronary heart
      disease. Unresolved issues include: (1) whether the distinctive features of the
      Northwick Park VII bioassay improve the value of VIIc as a predictor of coronary
      heart disease; (2) the separate extent to which activation of factor VII and
      increases in factor VII concentration account for the raised VIIc in
      hyperlipidemia; (3) the basis of the raised fibrinogen in men at high coronary
      heart disease risk, even among nonsmokers; and (4) the usefulness of plasma
      levels of activation peptides of factors IX, X, and prothrombin as markers of
      thrombogenic risk.

PMID- 1456879
TI  - The study of gene-environment interactions that influence thrombosis and
      fibrinolysis. Genetic variation at the loci for factor VII and plasminogen
      activator inhibitor-1.
AB  - We describe studies on variation in the genes coding for factor VII (FVII) and
      plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) that influence levels of these proteins
      in the blood. For FVII, we have identified a genetic polymorphism that results in
      the substitution of arginine at residue 353 to glutamine. The frequency of the
      glutamine allele is approximately 0.1 in samples of individuals from the United
      Kingdom (n = 777) and the United States (n = 140) and in Afro-Caribbeans (n =
      49), and is significantly higher in a sample of individuals from the Indian
      subcontinent (n = 53). In all samples, carriers of the glutamine allele had
      levels of FVII coagulant activity 20% to 25% lower than those with only the
      arginine allele. These differences were highly statistically significant in the
      United Kingdom sample. This effect was consistent in healthy men and women and in
      those with coronary artery disease. In individuals homozygous for the glutamine
      allele, both FVII coagulant activity and antigen are low, and the mechanism of
      the association appears likely to be due to an effect on secretion from the liver
      or stability in the plasma. In individuals in the general population FVII
      coagulant activity is positively correlated with levels of plasma triglycerides,
      due to the effect of such lipoproteins on activation of FVII. This relationship
      appears weaker in individuals carrying the glutamine allele, and since elevated
      FVII coagulant antibody is associated with risk of thrombosis, this is an example
      of how environmental factors may interact with an individual's genotype to
      determine his or her thrombotic risk. Roughly 20% of the general population are
      carriers of the glutamine allele and are likely to be genetically protected from
      such risk. For PAI-1, we have recently shown that variation at the PAI gene
      locus, detected as DNA polymorphisms, is associated with between-individual
      differences in levels of PAI-1. We have now detected a common sequence change in
      the promoter region of the gene that explains part of this effect. The sequence
      change is at position 675, where a fifth guanine (5G allele) has been inserted
      into a run of four guanines (4G allele) when compared with published sequences.
      In a sample of both 83 healthy individuals and 105 young patients with coronary
      artery disease from Sweden, the frequency of the 4G allele is roughly 0.5, and
      those individuals homozygous for the 4G allele have higher levels of PAI-1 than
      those with other genotypes (29% higher). Preliminary data show that the 5G allele
      binds a hepatic nuclear protein that the 4G allele does not, suggesting that the
      mechanism of the effect may be due to a direct effect of the sequence change on
      transcription of the PAI-1 gene.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1456880
TI  - The role of the membrane in the expression of the vitamin K-dependent enzymes.
AB  - The hemostatic response to vascular damage results in the focal generation of
      thrombin to produce a fibrin/platelet clot at the site of vascular injury. This
      regulated hemostatic response derives from the assembly and activity of enzyme
      complexes that are localized to surfaces presented by the vascular damage. The
      product of each enzymatic complex provides the serine protease component required
      for the assembly and activity of each successive enzyme complex, ultimately
      leading to the formation of thrombin. When one limits attention to those
      complexes clearly associated with hemostatic or thrombotic risk, the significance
      of the vitamin K-dependent enzyme complexes becomes apparent. Each of these
      complexes involves a serine protease and a cofactor protein that assemble on a
      membrane surface in the presence of Ca++. The expression of an active complex
      involves, in addition to the activation of a zymogen to an enzyme, the
      presentation or activation of a cofactor protein and the provision of the
      appropriate membrane to support the reaction. The membrane plays an essential
      part in the formation and expression of vitamin K-dependent complexes; thus, its
      regulation is vital in the expression of procoagulant activity.

PMID- 1456881
TI  - Vascular immunopathology and atheroma development in human allografted organs.
AB  - Human atherosclerosis requires decades to develop spontaneously, and its
      development customarily is not monitored by serial biopsies. Atherosclerosis in
      allografts develops within months, and biopsy specimens are usually obtained from
      the grafts. We have used immunocytochemical techniques to study biopsy specimens
      of cardiac and renal allografts for parameters of vascular changes. The
      antibodies used in this investigation were specific for T lymphocytes,
      macrophages, IgM, and complement, and detailed studies were done with the use of
      antibodies specific for components of the hemostatic, fibrinolytic, and natural
      anticoagulant pathways. The results indicated a lack of association between the
      appearance of cellular infiltrates and measurable alterations in vascular
      endothelium and smooth-muscle cells. Although infiltrating macrophages and
      lymphocytes were identified in biopsy specimens with vascular change, such
      changes were also observed in biopsy specimens that were devoid of cellular
      infiltrates. The most prominent vascular changes in endothelium and smooth-muscle
      cells were accelerated hemostasis, depressed fibrinolysis, and deranged
      anticoagulant pathways. A negative association between the presence of IgM and
      fibrin on endothelial cells was also identified. Whether vascular changes are due
      to immunologically mediated reactions or to as yet undefined metabolic stresses
      of the graft-host relationship remains to be determined. This study provides a
      model for the study of vascular changes in atheroma development as viewed through
      the window of transplant-induced atherosclerosis.

PMID- 1456882
TI  - Lipid-related clotting reactions of clinical significance.
AB  - Several lipid-related reactions involving coagulation and fibrinolytic mechanisms
      have been described. Many of these reactions have been related to the development
      of atherosclerosis and thromboembolism. In this article, I review the
      antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, the tissue factor pathway inhibitor, the
      involvement of fatty acids in fibrinolysis, and the Lp(a) lipoprotein.

PMID- 1456883
TI  - Measurement of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins for routine clinical
      laboratory use in cardiovascular disease.
AB  - Although research studies, using complex methods, have shown apolipoprotein B
      level to be a better marker for coronary artery disease than cholesterol level,
      it is unclear whether apolipoprotein B level can perform as well when measured by
      automated clinical laboratory kit methods. The purpose of this study was to
      determine whether apolipoprotein B level assayed by a kit method is a better
      marker for coronary artery disease than low-density lipoprotein and total
      cholesterol levels in patients presenting for angiography. The subjects were two
      groups of male patients, 44 to 70 years old: 139 with disease and 41 without.
      Apolipoprotein B level differentiated more than 20-fold better than total or low
      density lipoprotein cholesterol levels between the medians of the two groups and
      showed better diagnostic sensitivity and better diagnostic specificity than total
      and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Triglyceride levels were highly
      significant but showed poorer diagnostic sensitivity than apolipoprotein B level.
      We conclude that apolipoprotein B level is a more effective marker for coronary
      artery disease than low-density lipoprotein or total cholesterol levels.

PMID- 1456884
TI  - Bilateral mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the testis and epididymis.
AB  - We describe an intratesticular mucinous cystadenocarcinoma in a 59-year-old man.
      The tumor was bilateral and appeared in the right testis and the left epididymis.
      The testicular tumor was a well-demarcated nodule, 3.5 cm in diameter, that
      extended from the lower testicular pole (close to the albuginea) to the
      epididymis compressing the corpus and infiltrating the cauda. The contralateral
      tumor, a 2.5-cm nodule located in the corpus epididymidis, compressed the ductus
      epididymidis. Both tumors consisted of multiple cavities varying in size,
      separated from one another by connective tissue septa that were incompletely
      lined by a columnar pseudostratified epithelium. The epithelial cells
      immunostained positively for carcinoembryonal antigen and comprised two cell
      types: cells showing a hyperchromatic nucleus, located in the basal portion of
      the cell, abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, apical vacuoles, and numerous
      microvilli; and mucous cells. The cystic lumen showed a mucous content and
      sloughed epithelial cells. The differential diagnosis and histogenesis of these
      tumors is discussed.

PMID- 1456885
TI  - Acanthamoeba meningoencephalitis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency
      syndrome.
AB  - Several cases of Acanthamoeba encephalitis (ie, granulomatous amebic
      encephalitis) have been reported in patients with acquired immunodeficiency
      syndrome from the United States. To our knowledge, none so far has been reported
      from Europe, and this is the first case of amebic meningoencephalitis due to
      Acanthamoeba in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome from Italy. The
      patient was a 24-year-old, human immunodeficiency virus-positive heterosexual man
      with a 6-year history of intravenous drug use. He was admitted to the hospital
      because of severe headache, confusion, nuchal rigidity, jaundice, and ascites. He
      died 5 days later. At autopsy, the brain showed extensive hemorrhagic necrosis
      with numerous trophic and cyst forms of Acanthamoeba. The amebas were identified
      as Acanthamoeba divionensis by the indirect immunofluorescence test.

PMID- 1456886
TI  - Unusual bilateral renal histiocytosis. Extranodal variant of Rosai-Dorfman
      disease.
AB  - A 37-year-old Bangladeshi presented with large bilateral masses involving the
      hilus of the kidneys. No lymphadenopathy was noted. Nephrectomy was performed.
      Histopathologically, it revealed a lymphohistiocytic and plasma cell inflammatory
      tumoral proliferation with characteristic lymphophagocytosis by the S100-positive
      CD1-negative histiocytes. Extranodal presentation of sinus histiocytosis with
      massive lymphadenopathy (Rosai-Dorfman disease) should be entertained in the
      differential diagnosis of bilateral masses involving the kidneys.

PMID- 1456887
TI  - Androstenediol regulates systemic resistance against lethal infections in mice.
AB  - We previously reported that subcutaneous injection of DHEA (5-androsten-3 beta-ol
      17-one, dehydroepiandrosterone) protected mice from lethal infection. This
      included both a lethal herpes virus type 2 encephalitis and a lethal systemic
      coxsackievirus B4 (CB4) infection. Androstenediol (5-androsten-3 beta-17 beta
      diol, AED), a metabolic product of DHEA is up to 100 x more effective in
      regulating systemic resistance against lethal infection with CB 4 than its
      precursor DHEA. Compared to DHEA, treatment with AED was markedly superior in
      protecting mice against virus induced myocardiopathy, pancreopathy, and
      mortality. In addition to its protective effect, AED but not DHEA, induced a 3-4
      fold proliferation of the spleen and thymus in virus infected animals; this
      effect of AED was only seen above a certain threshold dose. Neither steroid,
      however, has shown any significant direct antiviral effect in vitro; similarly,
      virus tissues titers in vivo are not affected by the hormones. Additionally, both
      DHEA and AED protected against a lethal infection with Enterococcus faecalis.
      These observations demonstrate that the steroid hormones DHEA and AED provide a
      novel approach for prevention and protection of the host from a variety of
      infectious diseases.

PMID- 1456889
TI  - Immunological reactivity of a human immunodeficiency virus type I derived peptide
      representing a consensus sequence of the GP120 major neutralizing region V3.
AB  - To reduce the opportunities for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) to
      evade vaccine induced immunity, the development of subunit vaccines must focus on
      the characterization of immunogenic epitopes, which are major targets for the
      immune system. The most dominant site for elicitation of neutralising immune
      response is located on the external envelope glycoprotein gp120 within the third
      variable domain (V3). To overcome virus type specificity of antibodies directed
      to the V3-domain we designed a 36 amino acids long gp120/V3-consensus peptide (V3
      C36) based on published biological data and sequence comparisons of various HIV-1
      virus isolates. This peptide contains a conserved core sequence which is
      suggested to form a surface-exposed beta-turn. This peptide also includes T-cell
      epitopes defined in mice and humans, an ADCC-epitope and two highly conserved
      cysteine residues which were oxidized to form a cystine derivate, thus allowing
      correct peptide folding. In ELISA-tests, this peptide reacts with at least 90% of
      randomly selected sera of European and African patients infected with HIV-1 and
      is recognized by three different HIV-1/V3 "type-specific" antisera (MN, RF, IIIB
      strain). Using this peptide as immunogen in rabbits, antisera could be raised
      with highly cross-reactive and HIV-1/IIIB strain neutralizing properties.
      Moreover, HTLV/HIV-1/IIIB specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) of BALB/c mice
      infected with a gp120 recombinant vaccinia virus recognized the central 16- and
      12-mer peptides of the V3-C36 consensus peptide in cytolytic assays, indicating
      perfect compatibility of the consensus peptide with the IIIB-primed CTLs. The DNA
      sequence encoding the V3-consensus loop region might be an important component in
      newly designed recombinant subunit vaccines. In addition, due to its broad
      serological reactivity, the V3-consensus peptide might play an important role in
      special diagnostic purposes.

PMID- 1456888
TI  - Studies on processing, particle formation, and immunogenicity of the HIV-1 gag
      gene product: a possible component of a HIV vaccine.
AB  - Antigens in a particulate conformation were shown to be highly immunogenic in
      mammals. For this reason, the particle forming capacity of derivatives of the HIV
      1 group specific core antigen p55 gag was assayed and compared dependent on
      various expression systems: recombinant bacteria, vaccinia- and baculoviruses
      were established encoding the entire core protein p55 either in its authentic
      sequence or lacking the myristylation consensus signal. Moreover, p55 gag was
      expressed in combination with the protease (p55-PR) or with the entire polymerase
      (p55-pol), respectively. Budding of 100-160 nm p55 core particles, resembling
      immature HIV-virions, was observed in the eucaryotic expression systems only. In
      comparison to the vaccinia virus driven expression of p55 in mammalian cells,
      considerably higher yields of particulate core antigen were obtained by infection
      of Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells with the recombinant Autographa
      californica nuclear polyhedrosis (AcMNPV) baculovirus. Mutation of the NH2
      terminal myristylation signal sequence prevented budding of the immature core
      particles. Expression of the HIV p55-PR gene construct by recombinant baculovirus
      resulted in complete processing of the p55 gag precursor molecule in this system.
      The introduction of an artificial frameshift near the natural frameshift site
      resulted in constitutive expression of the viral protease and complete processing
      of p55, both in Escherichia coli and in vaccinia virus infected cells.
      Interestingly, significant processing of p55 resembling that of HIV infected H9
      cells could also be achieved in the vaccinia system by fusing the entire pol gene
      to the gag gene. Moreover, processing was not found to be dependent on amino
      terminal myristylation of the gag procursor molecule, which is in contrast to
      observations with type C and type D retrovirus. However, complete processing of
      p55 into p24, p17, p9 and p6 abolished particle formation. Purified immature HIV
      virus like particles were highly immunogenic in rabbits, leading to a strong
      humoral immune response after immunization. Empty immature p55 gag particles
      represent a noninfectious and attractive candidate for a basic vaccine component.

PMID- 1456890
TI  - Accumulation of the 126 kDa protein of tobacco mosaic virus during systemic
      infection analysed by immunocytochemistry and ELISA.
AB  - Systemic infection of tobacco with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) strain WU1, is
      accompanied by massive accumulation of the virus-coded non-structural 126 kDa
      protein in X-bodies. The development of X-bodies and the time course of the
      increase in 126 kDa protein in systemically infected leaves were analyzed by
      immunocytochemistry and ELISA, respectively, using an antiserum raised against a
      fusion protein of beta-galactosidase and part of the 126 kDa protein. The ELISA
      assay developed enabled routine detection of viral 126 kDa (as well as 183 kDa)
      protein in samples of less than 5 mg of systemically infected leaves. Plants were
      inoculated by differential temperature treatment, whereafter the accumulation of
      126 kDa protein was related to viral multiplication, the development of X-bodies
      and the formation of symptoms. Both 126 kDa protein and coat protein became
      detectable between 40 and 66 h after transfer of the plants and increased in
      parallel up to 200 h. Vein clearing was visible at 66 h, followed by mosaic in
      the newly developed leaves at 112 h. By electron microscopical analysis small X
      bodies, weakly labelled with antibodies against the 126 kDa protein, were
      detected as early as 24 h after transfer. At this stage they were not associated
      with nuclei. Thereafter, however, X-bodies increased in size and 126 kDa
      labelling density, and were increasingly often observed attached to nuclei. In
      emerging leaves that developed mosaic symptoms, X-bodies were associated with
      nuclei already at an early stage. These observations are consistent with the
      hypothesis that association of X-bodies with nuclei may lead to symptom
      induction, when the leaf is invaded by the virus early in its development.

PMID- 1456891
TI  - Detection of chicken anaemia agent DNA sequences by the polymerase chain
      reaction.
AB  - A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for detection of chicken
      anaemia agent (CAA) DNA. The assay used a single set of 20-base primers
      complementary to sequences located in the coding regions of the CAA replicative
      form (RF) DNA genome at positions 485 to 504 and 1048 to 1067. The observed
      amplification product had the expected size of 583 bp and was confirmed to derive
      from CAA RF DNA by a unique Hind III restriction enzyme cleavage pattern. The
      amplified fragment was shown to be specific for CAA RF DNA after
      chemiluminescence dot blot hybridisation with a digoxigenin-labelled 25-base
      internal probe. The optimised PCR assay was specific for CAA and highly
      sensitive, being able to detect a single CAA-infected MDCC-MSB1 cell and at least
      100 fg of CAA RF DNA. Preliminary results also showed that the PCR assay can
      detect CAA DNA in clinical specimens from chicks experimentally infected with
      CAA.

PMID- 1456892
TI  - Turnip yellow mosaic virus variants produced from DNA clones encoding their
      genomes.
AB  - Full-length dsDNA clones that encode the genomes of two Australian turnip yellow
      mosaic isolates, TYMV-BL and TYMV-CL have been constructed. These clones were
      transcribed to give 6.3 kb capped ssRNA which infects Chinese cabbages to give
      symptoms indistinguishable from those produced by the parental viruses.
      Extensions of up to 26 nucleotides at the 3' end of the TYMV-BL clone delay
      infections, but virus particles isolated from these plants 4 weeks after
      inoculation contain RNA with the original TYMV-BL 3' terminus. A 90 nucleotide
      long portion of the virion protein gene of TYMV-BL was replaced by a synthetic 90
      mer primer with 16 nucleotide changes to decrease the large cytosine content (34
      42%) characteristic of tymovirus genomic RNA. No reversion of any of the mutated
      nucleotides to cytosine occurred during 7 passages in Chinese cabbage. Hybrids
      between the TYMV-BL and TYMV-CL clones were also constructed, by exchanging
      various portions of the genome. However, it was not possible to determine
      definitively which part of the viral genome is responsible for the more severe
      symptoms caused by TYMV-BL as the hybrids gave intermediate symptoms.

PMID- 1456894
TI  - Tick-borne encephalitis virus interaction with the target cells.
AB  - The binding of tick-borne encephalitis virus to porcine kidney embryo cells was
      studied. Anti-idiotypic antibodies against TBE virus E protein precipitated gp110
      kDa which is predicted to be a cellular receptor for TBE virus.

PMID- 1456893
TI  - Partial DNA cloning and sequencing of a canine parvovirus vaccine strain:
      application of nucleic acid hybridization to the diagnosis of canine parvovirus
      disease.
AB  - The cloning and sequencing of an Eco RI-PstI fragment derived from the
      replicative form of a canine parvovirus (CPV) vaccine strain are reported. The
      variability of the 5' end of NS 1 protein gene in the genome is confirmed by
      comparison with previously determined DNA sequences. A 15 nucleotide deletion was
      also observed in this vaccine strain. In order to improve CPV diagnosis,
      radioactively labelled RNA or DNA and biotin labelled DNA obtained by random
      priming of the recombinant plasmid were used as probes mainly on gut or stool
      samples from naturally infected dogs. Results of filter hybridization correlated
      well with histopathological diagnosis of parvovirus infection and with
      hemagglutination tests performed on dog faeces. We propose that nucleic acid
      hybridization may be an alternative diagnostic method to ascertain the presence
      of CPV, especially in frozen samples.

PMID- 1456895
TI  - Some biological properties of a rhabdovirus isolated from penaeid shrimps.
AB  - Some of the relevant biological properties of a rhabdovirus isolated from penaeid
      shrimps (RPS) were examined. The virus replicated in an established fish cell
      line, epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) which allowed for the development of a
      quantitative plaque assay protocol. Virus replication was not inhibited by the
      DNA antagonist, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (20 micrograms/ml). Virus infectivity was
      sensitive to 20% ethyl ether, low pH, and to 37 degrees C. The virus showed
      marked lability to repeated freezing and thawing and storage at -10 degrees C,
      but was stable at -70 degrees C for several weeks. The virus particle to
      infectious unit ratio in EPC was found to be 30.

PMID- 1456896
TI  - Nucleotide sequence comparison of the 3'-terminal regions of severe, mild, and
      non-papaya infecting strains of papaya ringspot virus.
AB  - The 3'-terminal 2,561 nucleotide residues of the severe HA strain of papaya
      ringspot virus (PRSV) was determined. Comparison with the published sequence of
      the mild strain PRSV HA 5-1 showed that they shared a 99.4% identity in their 3'
      terminal 2,235 residues. There were ten residues different at the NIb gene,
      resulting in five amino acid changes, and two residues different in the coat
      protein gene, resulting in two amino acid changes. The 3'-untranslated regions
      were identical, but HA contained two more nucleotides (AG) at the 3' extreme.
      Comparison with the published non-papaya infecting type W strain PRSV-W revealed
      that they shared a 97.9% identity in their 3'-terminal 2,235 residues. There were
      40 nucleotides different in the coding region, which resulted in four amino acid
      changes in the NIb gene and six in the CP gene, and seven nucleotides different
      in the 3'-untranslated region.

PMID- 1456897
TI  - Eosinophils as host cells for HIV-1.
AB  - Transient expression of HIV-1 p24 antigen was observed in eosinophils acutely
      infected with the HTLV-IIIB strain of HIV-1. PCR analysis of eosinophils isolated
      from 18 seropositive individuals showed HIV-1 sequences to be present in 2
      subjects. These data suggest that eosinophils may act as host cells for HIV-1.

PMID- 1456898
TI  - Hepatitis E virus in cultivated cells.

PMID- 1456899
TI  - Cloning of the thymidylate synthetase gene (thyPIG 3) from the Bacillus subtilis
      temperate phage IG 3.
AB  - The thyPIG 3 gene from Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage IG 3 was cloned in the
      plasmid pHV 33. Two recombinant plasmids, pISL 61 and pISL 62 carrying that gene
      are effective in transforming to thymine prototrophy both Escherichia coli (by
      complementation) and B. subtilis (by complementation and recombination). The
      comparison of cloned fragment containing the thyPIG 3 gene and the thyP 3 gene
      from phage phi 3 T, by restriction analysis and DNA hybridization, suggests a
      strong homology between the two. The thyPIG 3 gene was mapped in this study in
      the central region of the IG 3 genome.

PMID- 1456900
TI  - Molecular cloning and physical mapping of bovine herpesvirus 4 strain DN 599 and
      comparison with two American field-isolates.
AB  - Ninety four percent of the genome of bovine herpesvirus 4 (BHV-4) strain DN 599
      was cloned and a physical map was constructed by Southern blot analysis using a
      library of cloned fragments cleaved with the 3 restriction enzymes (Eco RI, Bam
      HI, and Hin dIII). The genome length was estimated to be 156.5 kbp +/- 0.7. The
      genome comprises a region of unique segment (114 kbp) and two flanking segments
      containing tandem repeats. The size of each repeat was approximately 2.35 kbp and
      each repeat contained one Eco RI site and two Bam HI sites. We also examined two
      recent American field-isolates of BHV-4 and compared the Eco RI maps of the two
      isolates with that of DN 599. We observed the following: (1) insertions or
      deletions of restriction sites at the periphery of the unique segment; (2)
      variation in the lengths of junction fragments; (3) variations in the lengths of
      hypermolar Eco RI fragments containing the repeats; and (4) the Eco RI map of one
      of the American field-isolates resembles the BHV-4 "Movar type" of Europe.

PMID- 1456901
TI  - New therapies for shock associated with gram-negative sepsis?

PMID- 1456902
TI  - The prune belly syndrome.

PMID- 1456903
TI  - Symptomatic colitis in the anal canal after restorative proctocolectomy.

PMID- 1456904
TI  - Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis.
AB  - Sixty-eight cases of acute cholecystitis managed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy
      (LC) are reviewed. Thirty-two patients were admitted up to 10 days after onset of
      symptoms and 31 were completed by LC. One patient was referred from intensive
      care with gangrenous acalculus cholecystitis and was completed by LC but required
      subsequent laparotomy to control a bleeding omental vessel. Five patients were
      admitted with recurrent attacks of pain and histology confirmed resolving acute
      cholecystitis. Thirty patients had LC on routine operating lists, having recently
      had pain within 10 days of admission. Histology confirmed acute cholecystitis or
      resolving acute cholecystitis in these patients. All were completed by LC.
      Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a very effective treatment for acute
      cholecystitis if complete dissection of anatomy can be performed.

PMID- 1456905
TI  - Laparoscopy-guided percutaneous cholecystolithotomy: an evolving technique.
AB  - Gall-bladder conservation therapy has been evolving during the past decade.
      Popular techniques of conservative therapy are extracorporeal shock wave
      lithotripsy (ESWL) and medical dissolution therapy. The limitations of these
      procedures have prompted a search for alternative techniques, particularly in
      relation to percutaneous stone extraction. The cases of four patients with
      symptomatic gallstones who underwent percutaneous cholecystolithotomy under
      laparoscopic guidance are reported. The gall-bladder was punctured with a long
      needle and the tract dilated so that a nephroscope could be introduced. Three
      cases required stone fragmentation by an ultrasonic lithotripter before removal.
      Postoperative recovery was uneventful in all cases.

PMID- 1456906
TI  - The role of manometry, electromyography and radiology in the assessment of faecal
      incontinence.
AB  - The results of laboratory investigations in 156 patients presenting with faecal
      incontinence are reviewed to see if and how these investigations supplement a
      careful clinical evaluation, and in particular to see if they help in the
      practical management of the problem. All patients underwent anal manometry, and
      in addition 52 underwent anal sphincter electromyography and 27 defaecatory
      proctography. Anal manometry quantified sphincteric weakness, and proved superior
      to digital assessment in this regard. Resting and squeeze pressures were less in
      those with complete than those with partial incontinence but the differences were
      not statistically significant. The measurements of rectal sensation and
      compliance were not additionally helpful. Single fibre electromyography provided
      the best measure of denervation with re-innervation and was abnormal in about 85%
      of the group studied. Jitter studies were unhelpful. Most patients had some
      abnormality on defaecatory proctography but clinical significance could not be
      established. The choice of treatment was made on clinical grounds and was not
      influenced by these investigations.

PMID- 1456907
TI  - The role of manometry, electromyography and radiology in the assessment of
      intractable constipation.
AB  - An analysis is made of functional studies performed in 96 constipated patients to
      see how these studies influenced the choice of surgical treatment. All patients
      underwent anal manometry, and other investigations included colonic transit
      studies (56), anal sphincter electromyography (42) and defaecatory proctography
      (34). Additionally nine patients underwent full thickness rectal biopsy. The
      resting anal canal pressures of the patients studied were lower than controls,
      and fibre density studies on electromyography were abnormal in half the patients
      studied suggesting a degree of denervation of the sphincter muscles, which
      possibly related to chronic straining on the toilet. There was evidence of
      reduced rectal sensation as shown by an increase in the least perceived volume on
      balloon distension of the rectum, and in those with megarectum and/or megacolon
      an increase in maximum tolerated volume. The recto-anal inhibitory reflex was
      used to screen for adult Hirschsprung's disease, but in one patient the reflex
      was present despite absence of ganglia on full thickness rectal biopsy indicating
      the need for biopsy as the definitive diagnostic procedure. Delayed colonic
      transit using radio opaque markers was a necessary requirement before
      recommending colectomy, and delayed transit was demonstrated in 34% of the
      patients studied. Anismus on electromyography was found in 20% of the patients
      but there was poor correlation with failure of the anorectal angle to widen when
      bearing down on proctography. The investigations helped in the choice of
      treatment, but were difficult to interpret. They should be used in severe
      constipation when surgery is being contemplated.

PMID- 1456908
TI  - A new technique of ankle arthrodesis.
AB  - A new technique of ankle arthrodesis is described and the results of 12
      consecutive procedures are assessed. The method described employs three
      cannulated transfixion screws and an anterior approach to the ankle. Eleven of
      the 12 ankles proceeded to solid fusion. One patient developed a painless fibrous
      non-union. There were no other significant complications. This simple technique
      provides good compression and adequate resistance to rotatory and angulatory
      stresses about the ankle fusion site.

PMID- 1456909
TI  - Laparoscopic fundoplication: a preliminary report of the technique and
      postoperative care.
AB  - The technique of laparoscopic fundoplication and its hospital management are
      described. Thirty day results in seven patients demonstrate the decreased insult
      to the patient, early discharge and early return to usual function, similar to
      that seen in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

PMID- 1456910
TI  - Oesophageal atresia: the first survival in the Southern hemisphere.
AB  - The first known survival in the Southern hemisphere following a corrective
      operation for oesophageal atresia, is reported. Contrary to previous reports,
      this survival was in 1948 not in 1949 and the survival occurred in New Zealand
      not in Australia.

PMID- 1456911
TI  - Venous occlusion: a rare complication of transvenous cardiac pacing.
AB  - Venous occlusion is an uncommon complication of transvenous cardiac pacing.
      Fibrotic occlusion of the right subclavian and innominate veins and stenosis of
      the left innominate vein, after the insertion of transvenous pacing wire, was
      corrected surgically with an external iliac vein graft.

PMID- 1456912
TI  - Torsion of the vermiform appendix: a case report and review of literature.
AB  - A case of torsion of the vermiform appendix is described. It is a rare cause of
      an acute abdomen with a clinical presentation that is indistinguishable from
      acute appendicitis.

PMID- 1456913
TI  - Duplication of the proximal colon mimicking volvulus: a case report.
AB  - The case of a 56 year old female with intermittent pain, weight loss, anaemia,
      and a palpable tympanic abdominal mass is reported. Barium enema showed a very
      redundant loop of proximal colon, which was thought to have undergone recurrent
      volvulus. At colonoscopy, the findings seemed normal, but a much shorter length
      of colon was intubated to the caecum than expected from the barium findings. The
      duplicated colon was discovered only intra-operatively. This unusual diagnosis
      should be considered when a barium enema shows a long redundant colon which is
      not confirmed on colonoscopy.

PMID- 1456914
TI  - The pigmentary dispersion disorder in USAF aviators.
AB  - The pigmentary dispersion syndrome (PDS) can have serious ocular consequences.
      Visual changes due to glaucoma and the treatment required can threaten the high
      level of visual function necessary in military aviation. We reviewed the records
      of 50 aviators with PDS who were evaluated at the Aeromedical Consultation
      Service (formerly the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine) over the past 10 years.
      At last evaluation, 48 were still qualified to fly. Only two aviators were
      permanently removed from flying duties due to glaucoma. Initial intraocular
      pressures, cup-to-disc ratios, and refractions were not statistically correlated
      with progression to glaucoma, but sample sizes were small. At final evaluation,
      20 of the 34 aviators with follow-up had glaucoma and required medication.
      Thirteen eyes underwent laser trabeculoplasty. With appropriate management, the
      majority of aviators with PDS were able to safely continue their flying careers.

PMID- 1456915
TI  - The effects of pyridostigmine bromide on visual performance.
AB  - The effects of pyridostigmine bromide (PB) on selected visual functions were
      measured on four healthy aviator candidates. Following a pretreatment day during
      which baseline measurements were completed, subjects were administered currently
      recommended doses (30 mg, t.i.d.) of PB for 3 d during which their visual
      functions were assessed using a repeated measures design. Spatial resolution
      ability was evaluated with high and low contrast visual acuity charts and
      contrast sensitivity charts at three luminance levels. Dark adaptation was
      evaluated by measuring visual thresholds for 40 min after a standardized retinal
      photopigment bleach. Also, refractive error and several oculomotor functions
      (lateral phoria, fusional vergence, accommodative amplitude, and pupil size) were
      measured. On days that the subjects ingested PB, only refractive error and pupil
      diameter were significantly different, and these only minimally. We conclude that
      the use of PB at doctrinal doses will not significantly compromise an aviator's
      visual ability.

PMID- 1456916
TI  - Visual scene effects on the somatogravic illusion.
AB  - This study attempted to determine which visual scene cues are most effective in
      overcoming the somatogravic illusion (SGI), a form of spatial disorientation that
      occurs when a shift in the resultant gravitoinertial force vector created by a
      sustained linear acceleration is misinterpreted as a change in pitch or bank
      attitude. Nine subjects were exposed to a gravitoinertial force shift of -30
      degrees in the pitch plane, both with their eyes closed and while viewing
      computer-generated visual scenes through a wide field-of-view head-mounted
      display. The scenes depicted acceleration over a shoreline by means of horizon,
      texture, perspective, and color cues that were presented both in isolation and in
      various combinations. None of the scenes significantly reduced the magnitude of
      the SGI relative to the eyes-closed (baseline) pitch illusion, even though the
      textured scenes produced some linear vection. It remains to be established
      whether low-cost head-mounted visual displays can reliably reduce the magnitude
      of the SGI and other spatially disorienting illusions.

PMID- 1456918
TI  - Comparison of four noninvasive rewarming methods for mild hypothermia.
AB  - Four noninvasive rewarming techniques for mildly hypothermic subjects were
      compared. Seven subjects were cooled in a water bath of 15 degrees C for 2 h to
      an average esophageal temperature (Tes) of 36 degrees C. Thereafter, the subjects
      were rewarmed by immersion of the body in a water bath of 42 degrees C (Method
      1), the body but not the extremities in water of 42 degrees C (Method 2), only
      the extremities in water of 42 degrees C (Method 3), or spontaneous rewarming in
      blankets (Method 4). Method 1 showed the highest rewarming rate in Tes (10.1
      degrees C/h) and an afterdrop in Tes of 0.18 degrees C. Method 2 showed the same
      afterdrop, but a lower rewarming rate (7.5 degrees C/h). In Method 3, the heat
      uptake of the extremities was too low to rewarm the subjects effectively. The
      afterdrop and rewarming rate were 0.38 degrees C and 0.8 degrees C/h,
      respectively. Method 4 had the lowest rewarming rate (0.2 degrees C/h), and an
      afterdrop (0.14 degrees C) which was not significantly lower than that of Method
      1 or 2. Therefore, Method 1 is recommended for rewarming mild hypothermic
      subjects because of its high rewarming rate and small afterdrop.

PMID- 1456917
TI  - Limited heat transfer between thermal compartments during rewarming in
      vasoconstricted patients.
AB  - Thermoregulatory vasoconstriction may serve to separate and limit heat transfer
      between peripheral and central thermal compartments, in effect providing a
      thermal buffer for central temperature. We hypothesized that thermoregulatory
      vasoconstriction would limit heat transfer to the central compartment in patients
      warmed cutaneously. Hypothermic patients (central temperatures < 35 degrees C)
      recovering from surgery were randomly assigned to receive forced-air warming (n =
      6) or warmed cotton blankets (n = 6). The forced-air warmer delivers
      approximately 50 W of heat, compared to a heat loss of approximately 50 W with
      warmed cotton blankets. Despite a significantly greater increase in mean skin
      surface temperature with forced-air warming, central temperature in the two
      groups did not significantly differ. All patients vasoconstricted and there was
      no difference in oxygen consumption between groups. These data confirm that
      thermoregulatory vasoconstriction limits heat transfer from peripheral to central
      thermal compartments and impedes skin surface warming of the body core.

PMID- 1456919
TI  - Decrement in manual arm performance during whole body cooling.
AB  - Six subjects performed three manual arm tasks: 1) prior to immersion in 8 degrees
      C water; 2) soon after immersion to the neck, but prior to any decrease in core
      temperature; and 3) every 15 min until core temperatures decreased 2-4.5 degrees
      C. The tasks were speed of flexion and extension of the fingers, handgrip
      strength and manual dexterity. There was no immediate effect of cold immersion;
      however, all scores decreased significantly after core temperature decreased 0.5
      degrees C. Further decrease in core temperature was associated with a progressive
      impairment of performance, although at a slower rate than during the first 0.5
      degrees C decrease. Flexion and extension of the fingers was affected relatively
      more than handgrip strength or manual dexterity. Decrement in performance is a
      result of peripheral cooling on sensorimotor function with a probable additional
      effect of central cooling on cerebral function.

PMID- 1456920
TI  - Thermogenesis induced by inhibition of shivering during cold exposure in exercise
      trained rats.
AB  - The present investigation was conducted to examine the role of nonshivering and
      shivering thermogenesis caused by cold exposure in exercise-trained rats. Wistar
      rats were divided into warm-acclimated (WA), exercise-trained (ET) and cold
      acclimated (CA) groups. The trachea was cannulated and a ventilator was connected
      under light anesthesia and in the supine position. Shivering, oxygen consumption,
      colonic temperature, blood glucose, and free-fatty acids were measured at 25
      degrees C and then at 0 degrees C room temperatures. D-tubocurarine chloride
      (curare, 0.04 mg/100 g body weight, ip) was given to inhibit muscular activity.
      Cold-induced oxygen consumption in the ET and WA groups did not decrease when
      shivering was inhibited, whereas it increased in the CA. The magnitude just after
      shivering onset for the ET and CA groups as significantly greater than for the WA
      group. Colonic temperature at the onset of shivering was significantly higher in
      the WA group than in the ET and the CA groups. The blood glucose concentration
      during cold exposure and curarization was elevated in the ET group, and did not
      change in the CA or WA groups. The present results suggest that endurance
      training at a thermoneutral environment increases cold-induced thermogenic
      capacity in rats, which may be attributed to preferential carbohydrate
      utilization.

PMID- 1456921
TI  - Heat stress in protective clothing: validation of a computer model and the heat
      humidity index (HHI).
AB  - Ability to work while wearing protective clothing is often limited by rising body
      temperature. Peterson analyzed the combined effects of heat, humidity and
      workload using the Texas Model of Thermoregulation and suggested that
      environmental heat load imposed on a person wearing heavy, semipermeable clothing
      could be predicted using the Heat-Humidity Index (HHI = 0.5 Tdb + 0.5 Twb), where
      Tdb = dry bulb temperature and Twb = wet bulb temperature. Our study was designed
      to: 1) test the validity of this computer model; and 2) evaluate the
      applicability of the HHI to heavily clothed subjects working in a variety of
      thermal environments. Nine men wearing chemical defense clothing were each
      studied under eight conditions over the range Tdb = 20 - 40 degrees C, Tbg = Tdb
      + 5 degrees C, relative humidity = 9-75%, and oxygen uptake = 14-27 ml.kg-1 x min
      1. Variables analyzed included tolerance time (TT), rectal temperature (Tre),
      skin temperature, heart rate (HR), weight loss, sweat rate, evaporation rate, and
      evaporative efficiency. Experiments were designed to last 30-180 min, and
      continued until Tre = 39 degrees C except when subjective tolerance limits
      occurred first (12 of 72 experiments). The observed time to reach Tre = 39
      degrees C bracketed the predicted time in the more severe conditions, but the
      model seriously underestimated heat storage in the milder conditions.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456922
TI  - The effects of chronic hypoxia on human auditory system sensitivity.
AB  - We have examined the effects of prolonged periods of hypoxia produced at high
      altitudes on the latency of the auditory brain-stem evoked response (ABER) in 9
      subjects at around sea level, 3,500 m, and 4,370 m. Following an ascent from
      1,300 m to 3,500 m over 24 h, the mean blood O2 saturation fell to 86.5 +/- 1.2%
      (+/- S.E.M.) and was associated with a mean prolongation of latency of wave V of
      the ABER of 0.34 +/- 0.10 ms (p = 0.011 two-tailed paired t-test). Using the
      stimulus-level/response latency relation determined at around sea-level for each
      subject, this prolongation of wave V corresponded to a mean reduction in
      sensitivity of 9.1 dB +/- 1.6 dB. Over a period of 72 h, blood O2 saturation
      improved slightly (mean 88.1% +/- 1.8%) and mean wave V latency returned to
      control values. A second rapid ascent to 4,370 m reduced blood O2 to below
      prerecovery levels (82.5% +/- 1.7%), but in this case there were no significant
      changes in auditory sensitivity (p = 0.79 two-tailed paired t-test). These data
      show that mild hypoxia results in an initial decrease in auditory sensitivity.
      However, the recovery of sensitivity with more prolonged exposure suggests that
      the auditory system can compensate for chronic mild hypoxia.

PMID- 1456923
TI  - The role of ground level oxygen in the treatment of altitude chamber
      decompression sickness.
AB  - Most published reports on the treatment of altitude-induced decompression
      sickness (DCS) deal exclusively with patients treated with hyperbaric
      oxygenation. Little information exists on the role of normobaric (ground level)
      oxygenation as a primary treatment modality for altitude-induced DCS. This study
      reports the U.S. Air Force experience in the treatment of Type 1 altitude chamber
      DCS with ground level oxygenation (GLO2) during the period 1 January 1989 to 31
      December 1991. Data collected included age, sex, time of symptom development,
      type of initial treatment, and response to GLO2 administration. There were 221
      cases of Type 1 DCS, of which 46 were treated with compression therapy without
      initial use of GLO2. Of the 175 cases treated with GLO2, 40 failed to resolve and
      were treated with compression therapy. The remaining 135 cases all resolved with
      GLO2, obviating the need for HBO therapy. Only 8 patients had a recurrence of
      symptoms after resolution with GLO2, all of which subsequently resolved with
      compression therapy. Factors associated with a favorable response to GLO2 are
      discussed.

PMID- 1456924
TI  - Myocardial infarction occurring at the conclusion of centrifuge training in a 37
      year-old aviator.
AB  - In September 1988, the U.S. Air Force instituted routine centrifuge training for
      aircrew involved in high performance, high G aircraft. As of June 1991, 6,078
      aircrew members have been trained. This report documents an anterolateral
      myocardial infarction that occurred in a 37-year-old pilot immediately after his
      centrifuge training profile. The individual had a history of elevated lipids and
      smoking, and was on a waiver from the USAF for Flying Class II duties for
      hyperlipidemia treated with cholestyramine.

PMID- 1456925
TI  - Ethical concerns in the practice of military aviation medicine.
AB  - Military aviation physicians are frequently placed in conflicting ethical
      situations regarding the areas of patient loyalty, confidentiality, and reporting
      of findings or hazards. The American College of Occupational and Environmental
      Medicine has developed a set of guidelines for ethical conduct to assist
      physicians providing occupational health services. This paper attempts to show
      that these guidelines can be applied similarly by physicians providing
      aeromedical services. These guidelines can be helpful in resolving ethical
      dilemmas that can occur in the daily practice of aviation medicine.

PMID- 1456926
TI  - Recent developments in U.S. Air Force pilot candidate selection and
      classification.
AB  - Recent U.S. Air Force policy decisions regarding Specialized Undergraduate Pilot
      Training (SUPT) have eliminated the need to classify pilot candidates into
      training specialties prior to entering primary jet training. Under the new
      system, specialized training assignments will occur at the completion of primary
      jet training and will be based on flying and academic performance, student
      preferences, and aircraft availability. Another significant change to the SUPT
      program was the development of a refined pilot candidate selection model that
      reduced potential threats to test compromise and gaming strategies.

PMID- 1456927
TI  - Kelly's hospital ship.
AB  - The JN-4 "Jennie" and DH-4 air ambulance conversions used by the U.S. Army during
      the period 1918-1924 are well-known to those interested in the history of air
      evacuation. However, another "unknown" craft was also used during this period.
      The author unravels the mystery of this craft converted for use as an air
      ambulance at Kelly Field, TX.

PMID- 1456928
TI  - Cases from the aerospace medicine residents' teaching file. Case #52. A flyer
      with syncope.
AB  - The clinical presentation, evaluation, and diagnosis of various types of syncope
      were discussed. The case also demonstrates the aeromedical management and
      disposition. This case was unique in that the aviator was initially denied a
      waiver and permanently grounded, but later returned to flying status.

PMID- 1456929
TI  - Yellow lens effects upon visual acquisition performance.

PMID- 1456930
TI  - Time course of aggressive arousal in female hamsters and male rats.
AB  - This study replicates previous reports which show that allowing a female hamster
      to carry out an attack on a conspecific increases its aggressive arousal, i.e.,
      transiently decreases the latency and increases the probability of an attack on a
      second trial. We now report that attack priming also occurs in male rats.
      Interpolating delays of 0, 10, 30, and 90 min between the first and second trials
      resulted in similar patterns of temporal changes in hamsters and rats. The
      differences in gender, housing condition, and other factors make the parallel in
      the time course of aggressive arousal in these two rodent species quite striking.
      The results rule out a simple model of exponential decay with a short time
      constant. Carrying out an attack sets in motion a complex set of internal events
      that affect subsequent aggressive behavior similarly in hamsters and rats.

PMID- 1456931
TI  - Anterograde and retrograde enhancement of 24-h memory by glucose in elderly
      humans.
AB  - The present experiment examined anterograde and retrograde enhancement of memory
      storage by glucose in elderly humans. Glucose (50 g) or saccharin was
      administered shortly before or immediately after acquisition of a narrative prose
      passage. Recall was tested 24 h later. Glucose administration before or after
      presentation of the material to be learned significantly improved recall 24 h
      later compared to performance in the saccharin condition. These findings suggest
      that glucose retroactively enhances memory storage processing in elderly humans
      and that the enhancement of memory outlasts the transient elevations in blood
      glucose levels after glucose ingestion.

PMID- 1456932
TI  - Regulation of rat maternal behavior by broadband pup vocalizations.
AB  - Pups emit a broadband vocalization ranging from 2 to 40 kHz that generally occurs
      when the mother sits or steps on her pups. In an earlier study (Ihnat, White, and
      Barfield, under review), we noted that the mother was more likely to move on the
      pups and step on them when she was temporarily deafened with ear plugs. This
      research was extended in the present study by using two different methods to
      prevent 2-day-old pups from emitting broadband vocalizations. In the first
      experiment, the female was presented with six of her pups for a 10-min test. In
      half the tests, the pups had been anesthetized with pentobarbital; in the other
      half, the pups received saline. In the second experiment, females were presented
      with pups whose mouths had been sealed with an adhesive substance. In a final
      study, pups received the adhesive substance on their ventral surface as a
      control. When the pups were unable to vocalize, there was an increase in the
      amount of time per bout that the mother spent in incidental contact with her
      pups; in the sham condition, however, there was no change in her behavior. In
      addition, the female was less likely to group all her pups within the 10-min
      duration of the test when the pups could not call. Since pups emit primarily
      broadband vocalizations in response to handling prior to 4 days of age, broadband
      calls appear to reduce incidental contact and facilitate retrieval into a group.

PMID- 1456933
TI  - An ephemeral sex pheromone in the urine of female house mice (Mus domesticus).
AB  - From previous research, the ultrasonic vocalizations of male mice (Mus
      domesticus) to female mouse urine were hypothesized to be learned as a result of
      classical conditioning during adult heterosexual encounters. According to this
      interpretation, a previously neutral conditioned stimulus in female urine comes
      to elicit vocalizations as a result of its association with some other unknown
      unconditioned stimulus associated with adult females. However, the research from
      which this hypothesis was derived utilized urine collected from females housed in
      metabolic cages. Three experiments further examined the classical conditioning
      hypothesis using two types of female urine: (i) metabolic-cage-collected urine
      and (ii) freshly voided urine. Experiment 1 demonstrated that, in contrast to
      vocalizations to metabolic-cage-collected urine, adult heterosexual experience
      was not necessary for males to vocalize to freshly voided female urine. In
      addition, unlike metabolic-cage-collected urine (Experiment 3), freshly voided
      urine remained a potent stimulus for eliciting vocalizations during repeated
      testing (Experiments 2 and 3). Finally, freshly voided urine appeared to cause a
      previously neutral stimulus (cotton swab) to acquire ultrasound eliciting
      properties (Experiment 2). We suggest from these findings that two chemosignals
      that elicit vocalizations from males may exist in female mouse urine: (i) a
      potent, but volatile or easily degraded, unconditioned stimulus to which males
      vocalize without sexual experience and (ii) a nonvolatile, chemically stable
      conditioned stimulus.

PMID- 1456934
TI  - Those cheating rats: male and female rats use odor trails in a water-escape
      "working memory" task.
AB  - Three-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were trained on a working memory win-stay
      (spatial delayed matching-to-sample) water-escape task with the escape platform
      location the same for all subjects on a given trial, a procedure that maximizes
      the buildup of an odor trail to the escape platform. In subsequent tests during
      which the location of the escape platform varied randomly between subjects, the
      rats, especially the females, while continuing to perform above chance level,
      made increased errors. Varying the platform location between subjects eliminated
      odor trail as a nonambiguous cue for locating the escape platform. In a second
      experiment females performed better than males on a reference memory odor trail
      discrimination task which involved following the path of like-gender "pathmaker"
      rats to the escape platform. The relatively poor use of odor trails by the males
      was associated with a high frequency of choosing a preferred choice section or
      returning to the choice section selected first on the immediately preceding trial
      (perseveration). Collectively, the two experiments demonstrate that rats can use
      either working memory or odor trails to locate an escape platform in a water
      maze, and that they, especially females, will use odor trails in a working memory
      task if odor trails are available. Clearly, the location of the escape platform
      should be varied randomly between subjects in tests of working memory.

PMID- 1456935
TI  - Persistence of chronic nicotine-induced cognitive facilitation.
AB  - Nicotine has been found in a variety of species and behavioral paradigms to
      improve memory performance. The beneficial effect of nicotine has been seen after
      both acute and chronic administration. Interestingly, improved performance has
      been seen 24 h after acute injection and for at least 2 weeks after chronic
      administration. However, it is not clear from previous studies whether the
      persistence of the improved performance represents a true carryover of the drug
      effect or is due to the behavioral experience while under nicotine's effect. The
      current study was conducted to determine whether the facilitating effect of
      nicotine on learning and memory performance could be seen after withdrawal even
      if there was no behavioral training during the period of chronic nicotine
      administration. Rats were administered nicotine chronically for 3 weeks but were
      not tested during that time. Starting 1 week after withdrawal they were trained
      on a working memory paradigm in an eight-arm radial maze. The nicotine-treated
      rats started out at control-like levels of performance, but showed significantly
      faster learning as detected by three different measures of choice accuracy. By
      the final phase of testing the control subjects had caught up with the nicotine
      treated rats. After the acquisition phase, acute challenges with the nicotinic
      and muscarinic antagonists, mecamylamine and scopolamine, did not elicit any
      differential effects in the nicotine-treated and control groups. The current
      study demonstrated that nicotine-induced cognitive facilitation persists for at
      least 4 weeks after withdrawal and does not depend upon behavioral test
      experience under the influence of the drug. The mechanism for this persisting
      effect is not currently understood.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1456936
TI  - Short forms of the "reference-" and "working-memory" Morris water maze for
      assessing age-related deficits.
AB  - Short forms of the reference- and working-memory versions of the Morris water
      maze, each limited to 10 trials, were examined for their reliability and
      sensitivity to age-related deficits in 16- and 24-month F-344 rats, relative to 2
      to 2.5-month young controls. The reference-memory task used long intertrial
      intervals of 23 h, but required learning only one target location, while the
      working-memory task used shorter intertrial intervals of 60 min but required
      learning many different target locations. The reference-memory task was very
      reliable, revealed large age-related deficits, and correctly identified almost
      all aged rats as impaired relative to young controls. The working-memory task was
      less reliable, revealed smaller deficits than the reference memory task at 24
      months, and did not discriminate as well between 2.5- and 24-month rats.
      Furthermore, in the working-memory task 16- and 24-month rats had longer swim
      paths than 2- to 2.5-month rats on the first trial of each trial pair, which is
      suggestive of a deficit in processing spatial information and raises questions
      about the validity of this test as a specific test of working memory. Although
      the working-memory procedures may be preferable under certain conditions, perhaps
      as a measure specific to hippocampal dysfunction, the reference-memory task seems
      more sensitive to age-related deficits and more accurately identifies older rats
      as impaired. These results are consistent with previous reports that age-related
      deficits in acquiring spatial learning tasks are common and that the magnitude of
      the deficit increases as the length of the retention interval increases.

PMID- 1456937
TI  - Effects of protein malnutrition and the administration of cortisol on the
      reflexologic development in rats.
AB  - The use of neurological tests in various states of undernutrition has confirmed
      the presence of delays in reflex ontogeny. Glucocorticoid administration in
      conditions of normal nutrition produces diminished growth and alterations in
      brain development similar to those observed in malnutrition, but there is not
      enough evidence about its effect on reflex development. In addition, some facts
      lead us to think that the use of permissive doses of these hormones during
      gestation could alleviate some of the effects of protein malnutrition on the
      development of pups. In the present study the ages at which certain reflexes
      appeared in the offspring of Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) fed a 20% (N) or 10%
      (M) protein diet from a week before conception to the end of lactation were
      observed. Each dietary group was subdivided into two: mothers receiving a daily
      injection during gestation either of a 0.9% NaCl (S) solution or of a 0.5 mg/100
      g weight hydrocortisone acetate (C) solution. Results showed that the NS group of
      pups generally presented earlier ages of appearance of the variables under study
      than the remaining groups. Pups of the NC group presented delays in the age of
      appearance of reflexes. Finally, protein malnutrition delayed the appearance of
      reflexes and this effect seemed to be attenuated by treatment with
      hydrocortisone. Thus, hydrocortisone administration in protein malnutrition
      conditions seems to be beneficial although the results are harmful when
      administered under normal nutritional conditions.

PMID- 1456938
TI  - Strategy selection in a task with spatial and nonspatial components: effects of
      fimbria-fornix lesions in rats.
AB  - The main purpose of the present research was to investigate the ability of rats
      to learn a 12-arm radial maze task that requires the concurrent utilization of
      both spatial and intramaze cue information. The task involves in a single trial
      both place and cue learning as well as reference memory (RM) and working memory
      (WM). Since the animal can choose place and cue arms in any order, the strategies
      employed to learn the task can be studied as well as the kinds of memory errors
      that are made. The results of Experiment 1 showed that the number of errors made
      on the place and cue components of the task did not differ, and that more RM than
      WM errors were made early during learning. As the task was learned, the animals
      tended to choose the place arms before choosing the intramaze cue arms, thus
      suggesting that a spatial strategy was employed first followed by a cue strategy.
      In Experiment 2 lesions of the fimbria-fornix resulted in temporary impairments
      in both RM and WM that were especially apparent on the spatial component of the
      task. The lesioned rats also switched from choosing mostly place arms early
      during the trial to choosing more cue arms. While fimbria-fornix lesioned rats
      recovered from the memory impairments with training, the change in response
      strategy persisted throughout postoperative testing. The procedure of combining
      both spatial and non-spatial components concurrently in the same task should
      prove of value in studying response strategies in animals.

PMID- 1456939
TI  - Role of the cerebellum in spatial orientation in the rat.
AB  - Adult DA/HAN strain rats were submitted to a spatial orientation task consisting
      of finding a reward in an open field. They were first submitted to an initial
      learning session and 10 days later to a retrieval test. The animals were divided
      into four groups of five rats each: animals that were cerebellectomized before
      the initial learning session or after the initial learning session, sham-operated
      rats, and control (intact) animals. Different parameters that characterize the
      spatiotemporal organization of the rat's exploratory behavior were quantified.
      From the results, it can be concluded that the cerebellum is not absolutely
      necessary in the processes that sustain spatial learning but that it is involved
      in the mechanisms sustaining focused spatial memory and in the cognitive
      processes of the motor program elaboration and not only in the regulation of the
      movement being done.

PMID- 1456940
TI  - The involvement of the hypothalamic preoptic area on the regulation of thirst in
      the rat.
AB  - Acute reversible lesion in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) by unilateral
      injection of the local anesthetic lidocaine chlorhydrate (1 microliter, 20
      ng/microliters) causes a transient increase in water intake induced by water
      deprivation in rats. Since lidocaine suppresses the nervous activity, leaving
      intact fibers of passage and blood vessels, the results suggest an intrinsic
      inhibitory action of the MPOA on the regulation of water intake. Drinking
      elicited a return to volumes similar to those of control rats, 3-4 h after
      lidocaine administration. Lidocaine released into the lateral preoptic area (LPO)
      slightly decreased or did not change water intake, as compared with controls. The
      urinary excretion in the MPO group was higher than that of the controls and the
      LPO, while this last group excreted significantly less urine. The ablation of the
      POA with lidocaine suggests that the medial aspect of the POA has an intrinsic
      inhibitory factor influencing drinking, while the lateral aspect did not show a
      relevant effect.

PMID- 1456941
TI  - Effects of aging on the diurnal pattern of water intake in rats.
AB  - This study was undertaken to confirm previous findings that Long-Evans rats
      exhibit age-related changes in the diurnal/nocturnal distribution of water intake
      and to examine the circadian pattern of these age-related changes. Twenty-one
      aged and 10 young pathogen-free rats were continuously monitored for water
      consumption over 12:12 h light/dark cycles. ANOVA, profile analysis, and cosinor
      analysis each demonstrated that aged rats differed from young rats. The age
      related changes in circadian pattern can be described as a blunted rhythm
      (decreased amplitude) and an altered timing of peak activity (advanced
      acrophase). These differences, however, were only apparent in a subset of aged
      rats with the remaining aged rats exhibiting a circadian pattern
      indistinguishable from that of the young group.

PMID- 1456942
TI  - Reversible inactivation of the nucleus of the solitary tract impairs retention
      performance in an inhibitory avoidance task.
AB  - Several peripherally acting hormones and drugs are known to modulate memory
      storage processes, yet the mechanisms which permit these agents to influence
      memory is not well understood since they do not freely enter the brain. The
      nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) is one brainstem structure which receives
      important neural input from the periphery. Therefore, the objective of this
      experiment was to determine whether the NTS is involved in modulating processes
      contributing to memory formation. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained in a one
      trial inhibitory avoidance task (0.35 mA, 0.5 s footshock). Immediately or 2 h
      after training microinjections of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride (20 mg/kg) or a
      phosphate buffer solution were administered bilaterally into the NTS. Two other
      groups received microinjections of lidocaine into the fourth ventricle or
      cerebellum. On retention tests given 48 h after training the latency to reenter
      the dark compartment of the apparatus was recorded. The retention latencies of
      rats receiving bilateral microinjections of 0.5 microliter of lidocaine
      hydrochloride into the NTS were significantly shorter than those of animals given
      injections of a buffer solution (0.5 microliter), delayed injections of buffer or
      lidocaine, or control injections of lidocaine into the cerebellum or fourth
      ventricle. These findings suggest that memory storage processes are impaired by
      reversible inactivation of the NTS after training. The implications of these
      findings in terms of a possible role of the NTS in modulating brain processes
      involved in memory storage are discussed.

PMID- 1456943
TI  - An analysis of behavioral plasticity in male Caenorhabditis elegans.
AB  - Caenorhabditis elegans is a simple soil-dwelling nematode which has two sexes,
      hermaphrodite and male. The male C. elegans is differentiated from the
      hermaphrodite by the presence of 14 sensory structures in the tail. In this
      study, we compared the behavioral responses of males and hermaphrodites to head
      touch and to tap. We hypothesized that the anatomical difference in sensory
      structures might result in behavioral differences in the reversal response to
      vibratory stimulation (a tap to the side of the holding dish). In the response to
      increasing intensities of tap, both sexes showed an increase in response
      magnitude, with the males showing larger responses than hermaphrodites. In
      addition, the male was shown to be capable of simple nonassociative learning: it
      demonstrated habituation and recovery from habituation in a similar manner as the
      hermaphrodite. Tail-touch-induced inhibition of the reversal response appeared to
      be similar in males and hermaphrodites. The evidence suggests that the touch
      withdrawal circuit in hermaphrodites is also present in the male C. elegans, and
      that the subtle differences in response to tap seen in males may result from the
      additional sensory receptors of the copulatory bursa of the tail. It seems clear
      from these studies that these structures do not play a key role in the male
      worm's response to tap.

PMID- 1456944
TI  - Reinstatement of latent inhibition following a reminder treatment in a
      conditioned taste aversion paradigm.
AB  - Reminder treatments have been shown to facilitate the retrieval of a variety of
      conditioned responses. Whether or not similar results would occur with an
      experimental paradigm which involves primarily memory for a stimulus, i.e., where
      no particular response is specified, is unclear. Accordingly, using Sprague
      Dawley rats, we employed a latent inhibition paradigm with a long (10 days)
      retention interval between sucrose (CS) preexposure and sucrose-illness pairing
      (training). The results demonstrated a loss of latent inhibition following the 10
      day retention interval suggesting "forgetting" of the CS preexposure. However,
      placing a single reminder exposure to the CS within the preexposure-to-training
      interval reinstated the preexposure effect. Controls indicated that in the
      absence of the initial preexposure the reminder per se did not produce latent
      inhibition. Thus, a reminder can reinstate a stimulus attribute (flavor
      representation) and explicit conditioned responses.

PMID- 1456945
TI  - Conditioned taste aversions support drug discrimination learning at low dosages
      of morphine.
AB  - The present experiment shows that a conditioned taste aversion procedure can
      support discrimination learning at dosages of morphine comparable to those
      required to produce motivational effects. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with
      4.0 mg/kg morphine sulfate prior to a saccharin-lithium chloride pairing, and
      physiological saline prior to a saccharin-saline pairing. The rats avoided the
      saccharin solution following the administration of morphine and consumed
      significantly more saccharin following saline administration after four
      discrimination cycles. After this initial discrimination the subjects were
      trained with progressively lower doses of morphine. Discrimination learning was
      apparent at doses of 2.0, 1.5, 1.0, 0.75 and 0.5 mg/kg. Animals initially trained
      with 1.0 mg/kg morphine also learned the discrimination but required 10 training
      cycles. After this initial discrimination the subjects were trained with
      progressively lower dosages of morphine and showed a discrimination at a dosage
      of 0.5 mg/kg.

PMID- 1456946
TI  - Hepatic accumulation of alpha-aminoisobutyrate in the pregnant rat at term.
AB  - In vivo measurements of the tissue accumulation of alpha-amino[1-14C] isobutyrate
      ([1-14C] AIB) clearly indicate that the hepatic accumulation of the amino acid is
      not increased in the fed late pregnant rat. Starvation induced an increases in
      the hepatic AIB accumulation both in virgin and late pregnant animals, thus
      suggesting that AIB accumulation by the liver is dependent on food intake. The
      results suggest that amino acids are similarly directed to the conceptus and the
      liver during late gestation in the rat.

PMID- 1456947
TI  - Glycogen metabolism during human liver development.
AB  - Development of enzymes of glycogen metabolism in human fetal and neonatal liver
      was investigated. Glycogen was present in quantitatable amount from early
      gestational age onwards; however, ultrastructurally it could not be detected
      earlier than 20 weeks. Increase in glycogen synthetase a activity during 21-36
      weeks of gestation subsequently resulted in glycogen accumulation. A rapid
      degradation of this glycogen storage, at birth, was accompanied by an elevation
      in glycogen phosphorylase a activity. The present investigation to be the first
      to provide a complete profile of glycogen storage and differentiation of glycogen
      metabolising enzymes in preparing the prenatal fetus for its independent
      nutritional life.

PMID- 1456948
TI  - Post-transcriptional control of H3 histone variants synthesis.
AB  - In cultured HeLa cells the rates of H3.1 and H3.2 synthesis measured by pulse
      labeling experiments reflect the steady state content of the two histone
      variants. This pattern, however, is largely modified when histone translation is
      carried out in vitro on RNA isolated from the same cell line. In vivo, H3.1 and
      H3.2 are synthesized approximately at the same rates while the product of H3 mRNA
      translation in vitro is mostly represented by H3.1 histones. Factors which have
      so far been invoked for the control of histone messenger RNA stability and
      translation efficiency are not sufficient to explain our data which in addition
      indicate that histone H3.1 and H3.2 have different roles in the organization of
      the genetic material.

PMID- 1456949
TI  - Improved production and purification of interferon-alpha-4a using a T7 RNA
      polymerase expression system.
AB  - An improved method for the synthesis and purification of human interferon-alpha
      4a is presented. Interferon-alpha-4a was prepared using a T7 RNA polymerase
      expression system, where it was expressed from the vector pET-3a. Biologically
      active interferon-alpha-4a was isolated from the E. coli cells and purified using
      protamine sulphate precipitation, anion-exchange chromatography and affinity
      chromatography utilising a monoclonal antibody specific for human interferons
      alpha.

PMID- 1456950
TI  - Enhancing potency of liposomal monensin on ricin cytotoxicity in mouse macrophage
      tumor cells.
AB  - Monensin, a carboxylic ionophore, which is known to disrupt intracellular
      trafficking of proteins was intercalated in liposomes and its effect on the
      stability of liposomes and cytotoxicities of ricin and Pseudomonas exotoxin A in
      mouse macrophage tumor cells J774A.1 was studied. Stability of liposomes
      containing monensin was comparable to liposomes without monensin. The
      cytotoxicity of ricin and Pseudomonas exotoxin A was significantly enhanced by
      1nM liposomal monensin (15.7 and 3.6 fold respectively). The enhancing potency of
      monensin in neutral and negative vesicles was found to be similar, while it was
      drastically reduced in positive vesicles. The specific uptake of 125I-gelonin
      from neutral and negative vesicles was not significantly different, whereas from
      positive vesicles no uptake was observed. Serum strongly influenced the binding
      at 4 degrees C of positive vesicles as well as the enhancing potency of monensin
      in these vesicles. Monensin in neutral and negative vesicles significantly
      reduced the lag period of ricin action, while in positive vesicles, it had no
      effect. These studies clearly indicate that liposomes could be used as a delivery
      vehicle for monensin.

PMID- 1456951
TI  - Studies on the entrapment and stability of liposomes containing sulfatide from
      human brain.
AB  - Reverse-phase evaporation vesicles containing cerebroside sulfate (sulfatide)
      from human brain were prepared and their stability and efficiency for entrapment
      of bovine serum albumin were studied. It has been found that increasing the
      content of sulfatide from 0 to 15 mol% in the vesicles increases the
      encapsulation for bovine serum albumin by 0.7- to 3.1-fold, depending on the
      ratio of solvent:buffer used during liposome preparation. The presence of
      sulfatide also enhances the stability of the liposomes. Our results suggest that
      the ability of sulfatide to increase the captured volume and to bring charges to
      membrane surface may be responsible for the increased protein encapsulation and
      stability of the sulfatide-containing reverse-phase evaporation vesicles.

PMID- 1456952
TI  - Structure-activity relationship for ETB agonism in truncated endothelin-1
      analogs.
AB  - The essential part of the ETB-selective agonist N-acetyl
      GluAlaValTyrPheAlaHisLeuAspIleIleTrp (N-Ac-4AlaET-1(10-21)) for ETB agonism was
      studied by single amino acid replacement. Single L-alanine substitutions at
      positions 14, 17, 20 and 21 and the corresponding D-amino acid substitutions at
      positions 14 and 16-21 resulted in remarkable decreases in ETB binding activity.
      Furthermore, these analogs elicited endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in
      parallel with ETB binding activity. These data indicate that the amino acid
      residues of Phe14, Leu17, Ile20 and Trp21 and the backbone structure at Phe14 and
      His16-Trp21 in ET-1 are important for ETB agonism.

PMID- 1456953
TI  - EDTA induces differentiation and suppresses proliferation of promyelocytic
      leukemia cell line HL-60--possible participation of zinc.
AB  - Effects of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), a chelator of divalent
      cations, on the proliferation and differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia
      cell line HL-60 were examined. Incubation of HL-60 cells with 200 microM of EDTA
      suppressed cell proliferation, and induced differentiation assessed by
      reductivity of nitro blue tetrazolium and activity of alpha-naphthyl butyrate
      esterase. These effects were inhibited by zinc (Zn) dose-dependently at
      concentrations of up to 20 microM, but not by other divalent cations including
      Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Ni, or Cd. Although addition of 200 microM EDTA for 24 hr
      decreased the c-myc mRNA level of HL-60 cells, coaddition of 20 microM of Zn also
      reversed this effect on c-myc mRNA level. Treatment with EDTA did not change the
      half-life time of degradation of c-myc mRNA after addition of actinomycin D (5
      micrograms/ml). These findings suggest that Zn deficiency suppresses c-myc gene
      transcription which is followed by suppression of proliferation and induction of
      differentiation of HL-60 cells.

PMID- 1456954
TI  - Reduction of nitrofuran compounds by heart lipoamide dehydrogenase: role of
      flavin and the reactive disulfide groups.
AB  - In order to elucidate the mechanism of the biological activation of nitrofurans,
      the interaction of these compounds with lipoamide dehydrogenase (LipDH)** was
      investigated. LipDH catalysed one-electron reduction of several nitrofuran
      derivatives. The reaction could be demonstrated spectroscopically and was
      enhanced by cadmium, arsenite and anaerobiosis. The role of flavin in the
      nitroreductase activity was supported by (a) the nitrofuran effect on the
      spectral properties of anaerobic, arsenite-inhibited, NADH-reduced LipDH; (b) FAD
      catalytic activity in a NADH-nitrofuran model system; and (c) the nitroreductase
      activity of LipDH monomer. Two-electron nitrofuran reduction to less oxidized
      products was inhibited by cadmium, arsenite and NAD+. The possible role of
      reactive nitrosofuran derivatives as intermediates of the nitrofuran reduction
      sequence was supported by the LipDH capability for catalysing 2-nitroso-1
      naphthol redox-cycling. The nitroso naphthol reduction was inhibited by cadmium
      and arsenite, like the two-electron nitrofuran reduction.

PMID- 1456955
TI  - Heparin stimulates the collagen synthesis in mineralized cultures of the
      osteoblast-like cell line, MC3T3-E1.
AB  - We found that heparin induced an increase in collagen synthesis in MC3T3-E1 cells
      cultured for 15 and 30 days. Northern blots showed that the effect of heparin on
      the collagen synthesis was mediated through the mRNA expression of type I
      collagen (day 15). Although heparin stimulated collagen synthesis over and above
      that stimulated by the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, heparin did not
      stimulate TGF-beta binding. This study indicates that heparin has special tasks
      both in bone formation and resorption, since it has the ability to form and
      degrade collagen. We suggest that heparin assists the regulation of collagen
      metabolism at bone resorption sites.

PMID- 1456956
TI  - One-step purification of E. coli elongation factor Tu.
AB  - The tuf A gene, encoding the E. coli elongation factor Tu, was cloned in the pGEX
      gene fusion system. Upon expression EF-Tu is fused to glutathione-S-transferase
      serving as a purification handle with affinity for glutathione immobilised on
      agarose. This allows purification of EF-Tu in a one-step procedure. The construct
      was designed in order to make possible the release of authentic EF-Tu by cleaving
      the fusion protein with the protease factor Xa.

PMID- 1456957
TI  - Hoarseness can signal throat cancer.

PMID- 1456958
TI  - Professional practices perspective on ... caseloads in schools.

PMID- 1456959
TI  - Drug abuse in pregnancy.

PMID- 1456960
TI  - ASHA standards upheld by Medicaid services in WV.

PMID- 1456961
TI  - 1992 Medicare payments.

PMID- 1456962
TI  - Why now? Changing school speech-language service delivery.

PMID- 1456963
TI  - Challenges of education reform.

PMID- 1456964
TI  - Curriculum-based collaboration. What is changing?

PMID- 1456965
TI  - The place for assistive technology.

PMID- 1456966
TI  - A model program: meet it in St. Louis.

PMID- 1456967
TI  - Support personnel.

PMID- 1456968
TI  - Empower and collaborate!

PMID- 1456969
TI  - Relay centers.

PMID- 1456970
TI  - A possible silent majority?

PMID- 1456971
TI  - Augmentative communication coursework needed.

PMID- 1456972
TI  - Bloom, Menyuk, Philips, Williams receive ASHA honors.

PMID- 1456973
TI  - Educational outcomes of babies compared.

PMID- 1456974
TI  - Speech-language pathologists: key players.

PMID- 1456976
TI  - The dream ... an accessible America. The hopes ... the fears.

PMID- 1456975
TI  - What's the message? John Hancock called to task.

PMID- 1456977
TI  - The dream ... an accessible America. Let's do it right.

PMID- 1456978
TI  - The dream ... an accessible America. McMilestone--McMenus.

PMID- 1456979
TI  - The dream ... an accessible America. Challenge for the clinician.

PMID- 1456980
TI  - The dream ... an accessible America. A bright and shining moment.

PMID- 1456981
TI  - Assistive listening systems: how ASHA members fit in.

PMID- 1456982
TI  - Making an international airport communication accessible.

PMID- 1456983
TI  - Nationwide relay services.

PMID- 1456984
TI  - Americans with Disabilities Act and you.

PMID- 1456985
TI  - Picture this--TriAlliance video.

PMID- 1456986
TI  - The dream ... an accessible America. Interpreting services.

PMID- 1456987
TI  - What do you know? What do you need to know?
AB  - This article is meant to serve as a general overview of the ADA and the
      regulatory areas that have the greatest implications for audiologists and speech
      language pathologists. If you would like more detailed information, copies of the
      regulations and technical assistance are available from federal agencies (See
      Table 1) and through federally funded ADA technical assistance grants (See
      Professional Practices Perspective). Now it's time for a retest on the quiz.

PMID- 1456988
TI  - Speech-language pathologists in the schools.
AB  - This data page profiles speech-language pathologists working in school
      facilities. Of particular interest is an examination of differences between those
      employed in preschools versus other school facilities. Andrea K. Blake is
      coordinator of ASHA's research division.

PMID- 1456989
TI  - Medicare home health program target of national investigation.

PMID- 1456990
TI  - (Not) for women audiologists only.

PMID- 1456991
TI  - Semantics and PCP marketing in audiological practice.

PMID- 1456992
TI  - Audiometrists. To be or not to be.

PMID- 1456993
TI  - Clinical education in audiology. Style and status.

PMID- 1456995
TI  - Kudos to consumer corner.

PMID- 1456994
TI  - Ear infections and the Marlboro Man.

PMID- 1456996
TI  - Need for mentoring.

PMID- 1456997
TI  - Professional education in audiology. Survey of California audiologists.

PMID- 1456998
TI  - Caseloads of audiologists.

PMID- 1456999
TI  - How to rid yourself of stuttering in under 60 seconds.

PMID- 1457000
TI  - Employment rights of people with communication disabilities.

PMID- 1457001
TI  - Standards for professional service programs in audiology and speech-language
      pathology.
AB  - In the June/July 1991 issue of Asha, the Council on Professional Standards
      published for comment proposed revisions of the standards for American Speech
      Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Professional Services Board (PSB)
      accreditation. The council considered all of the comments received, made
      appropriate revisions, and took final action on the revised standards, which will
      become effective on January 1, 1994. The new standards and implementation
      statements related to each standard are provided in the following sections. The
      Standards represent requirements that must be met by all applicants.
      Implementation Statements are designed to interpret and supplement the standards
      by providing examples, referencing relevant policy or guideline statements, or
      specifying types of data or other documentation relevant to a specific standard.
      The implementation statements were developed by the PSB and have been reviewed by
      the Council on Professional Standards.

PMID- 1457002
TI  - Women and audiology.

PMID- 1457003
TI  - Coexistence of communication disorders in schoolchildren.

PMID- 1457004
TI  - [Changes in auriculoventricular conduction due to the effect of ethanol].
AB  - Transcoronary ablation of atrioventricular conduction by dehydrated alcohol was
      attempted in one patient with refractory ectopic atrial tachycardia. Ethanol (1.5
      ml) was delivered after selective catheterization of the atrioventricular nodal
      artery in a patient in whom the artery could be identified by cineangiography.
      The mean creatine kinase (MB fraction) at four hour to six hour after ablation
      was 40 U. No electrocardiographic QRS changes was seen. The procedure was
      successful. The patient is asymptomatic 3 months after procedure. Transcoronary
      alcohol ablation of atrioventricular conduction should be considered in patients
      in whom electrical techniques have been unsuccessful.

PMID- 1457006
TI  - [Observation on malaria transmission intensity at a stone-pit of the mountain
      area in Baoan County, Guangdong Province].
AB  - Zhangshubu stone-pit in Baoan County is located in the mountain area. The
      workers' camps are 2-3 km away from the village. In a recent survey, in malaria
      peak season (June, July, August) An. anthropophagus accounted for 87.7%
      (1059/1207) of the total anopheline population and the average man-biting rate
      was 10.90, 24.88 and 8.71 respectively. The sporozoite positive rate, the human
      blood index and the daily survival rate were 0.54% (3/554), 1.0 and 0.803
      respectively. The parasitaemia rate, the rate of gametocyte carriers, and the
      rate of persons with malaria history within 1-2 months were 45.5% (10/22), 13.6%
      (3/22) and 50.0% (11/22), respectively. On average, the entomological inoculation
      rate A, B and C calculated by three methods were 0.084, 0.665 and 0.215,
      respectively, indicating that the workers might get malaria infection if they
      stayed at the camp for 1.5-11.9 days. An analysis of the malaria onset time of
      the patients suggested that the time calculated from the inoculation rate A was
      closer to the real situation than those calculated from the inoculation rate B or
      C. The prevalence trend of malaria could be predicted through the monitoring of
      the entomological inoculation rate.

PMID- 1457005
TI  - The adenovirus E1A proteins induce apoptosis, which is inhibited by the E1B 19
      kDa and Bcl-2 proteins.
AB  - Cooperation between the adenovirus E1A and E1B oncogenes is required for
      transformation of primary quiescent rodent cells. Although expression of E1A
      alone will stimulate cell proliferation sufficient to initiate transformed focus
      formation, proliferation fails to be sustained and foci degenerate. Coexpression
      of either the 19-kDa or 55-kDa E1B oncoproteins with E1A permits high-frequency
      transformation by overcoming this cytotoxic response. Without E1B 19-kDa protein
      expression, however, transformants remain susceptible to induction of cell death.
      Rapid loss of viability is coincident with nucleolytic cleavage of DNA in
      intranucleosomal regions and chromatin condensation, hallmarks of programmed cell
      death (apoptosis). Furthermore, overexpression of a known suppressor of
      apoptosis, the Bcl-2 protooncogene, can rescue E1A-induced focus degeneration.
      Thus E1A-dependent stimulation of cell proliferation is accompanied by apoptosis
      and thereby insufficient to singly induce transformation. High-frequency
      transformation requires a second function encoded by the E1B 19-kDa protein to
      block apoptosis.

PMID- 1457007
TI  - [Characteristics of tobacco smoking in schools in Andorra].
AB  - 1600 schoolchildren aged 13 to 18 answered an anonimus, self administered
      questionnaire, in a cross sectional study to estimate the prevalence of cigarette
      smoking in the high grades schools in Andorra. 46.6% answered they did smoke
      cigarettes, either daily (11.2%) or occasionally (35.4%). Ten per cent of actual
      smokers did already smoke at age 10, and 50% at age 13. More girls (48.8%) than
      boys (44.4%) smoked (p less than 0.05) but boys smoked a greater number of
      cigarettes (p less than 0.001). Ninety five percent smoked Virginia tobacco, and
      little more than 50% used filter tipped cigarettes. Two thirds of smokers inhaled
      the smoke of cigarettes; this was more common among daily smokers. Again two
      thirds of smokers answered they would be prepared to quit smoking. 31% of those
      who had tried smoking said they believed they would smoke in the future, while
      only 5.6% of those that never smoked previously said so (p less than 0.001).
      Actual smokers answered they believed that they would not smoke in the future
      much less often than non smokers. Parents let boys smoke more than girls when the
      children started doing so, particularly before age thirteen and after age
      fifteen. These are the first available data about the community studied
      describing some features of its cigarette smoking habit. Their knowledge may well
      help to plan disease protection and health promotion developments addressed to
      youngsters in Andorra.

PMID- 1457009
TI  - Stressful events not linked to onset of AIDS symptoms in HIV-positive men, U-M
      reports.

PMID- 1457008
TI  - Intracranial arterial aneurysm due to birth trauma. Case report.
AB  - The authors present what is believed to be the first description of an
      intracranial arterial aneurysm attributable to birth trauma. A male neonate, the
      product of a precipitious, instrumented, footling breech delivery, exhibited
      seizures at the age of 18 hours. A computerized tomography scan of the head
      showed hemorrhage along the tentorium with a globular component at the incisura.
      Transfontanel Doppler ultrasound examination detected pulsatile arterial flow
      within the globular mass. Cerebral angiography demonstrated a 1.5-cm saccular
      aneurysm arising from a small distal branch of the superior cerebellar artery.
      The pathogenesis of aneurysms in children is obscure and controversial. Birth
      trauma may be responsible for some pediatric aneurysms that are currently
      classified as idiopathic or congenital, particularly aneurysms in the region of
      the tentorial incisura.

PMID- 1457010
TI  - Survival response of a human glioma cell line to hyperthermia associated with
      rhein.
AB  - The effect of association of hyperthermia with the anti-inflammatory drug rhein
      (RH), 4,5-dihydroxyanthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid, on the clonogenic activity of
      human glioma cells has been examined. RH inhibits neoplastic growth mainly
      through an ATP depletion, but thermal cell killing is not mediated by the drug
      induced changes in the energy status of the cell. The analysis of the interaction
      between RH and hyperthermia, performed with the isobolar method, demonstrates an
      additivity of the response so that the effectiveness of the combined treatment is
      the result of two independent effects. Although the effect of this combination is
      purely additive, RH allows us to achieve a pre-established cell killing with
      exposure times at 42 degrees C, which is generally accepted to be clinically
      achievable. RH might, therefore, be employed to reduce the side effects of
      hyperthermia without impairing its therapeutic effectiveness.

PMID- 1457011
TI  - Early-retirement incentive programs for medical school faculty.
AB  - The Association of American Medical Colleges surveyed the principal business
      officers of all 126 accredited U.S. medical schools in late 1991 in order to
      learn about their retirement benefit programs for faculty and whether early
      retirement incentive programs were being used. A total of 115 of the schools
      provided usable responses, which the author reports for all schools, public
      schools, and private schools. For all schools, defined-contribution plans (based
      on employer's and employee's contributions plus investment earnings) were the
      preferred type of retirement benefit program (77%, or 89, of the responding
      schools). Defined-benefit plans (based on a formula that uses variables of age at
      retirement, years of service, and salary) were available at 37% (43) of the
      schools. Early-retirement incentive programs had been used by 70% of the
      responding schools in the five-year period 1987-1991. Sixteen schools provided
      descriptions of their formal early-retirement programs, which are summarized. The
      author observes that, although nearly three-fourths of the responding schools are
      familiar with the use of the incentive programs, these programs have resulted in
      few actual early retirements. He discusses why this may be true and compares the
      pros and cons of formal and ad hoc programs. He concludes that no single program
      can be considered best; each institution must work with its faculty to design
      programs to meet institutional goals and faculty interests.

PMID- 1457012
TI  - The crisis in osteopathic medicine.
AB  - During the last 30 years the osteopathic profession has undergone a remarkable
      transformation from osteopathy, characterized by manipulative therapy, to
      osteopathic medicine, characterized by full-service health care, and in the
      process it has won acceptance from the government, the military, and physicians.
      These changes in status have resulted in new problems for the profession, because
      D.O. graduates are turning increasingly toward M.D. programs for residency
      training, and osteopathic medicine's primary care orientation is being replaced
      by an emphasis on specialty training. The authors advocate that osteopathic
      medicine return to its original mission of primary care, abandon specialty
      training or restrict it to those who have completed primary care residencies,
      abolish its separate-but-equal posture, and establish lines of communication with
      allopathic medicine and the American Medical Association to facilitate the
      development of a rational national policy for primary care that considers the
      potential osteopathy has to offer in meeting the nation's primary care needs.

PMID- 1457014
TI  - Dangers in the evaluation of instructional media.

PMID- 1457013
TI  - South Dakota's third-year program of integrated clerkships in ambulatory-care
      settings.

PMID- 1457015
TI  - PlanAlyzer, an interactive computer-assisted program to teach clinical problem
      solving in diagnosing anemia and coronary artery disease.

PMID- 1457016
TI  - The future of research at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

PMID- 1457017
TI  - Journal supplements, libraries, and the FDA.

PMID- 1457018
TI  - Developing a curriculum on bedside diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

PMID- 1457019
TI  - A different perception of teaching ethics in residencies.

PMID- 1457020
TI  - Relationship of medical students' admission interview scores to their dean's
      letter ratings.
AB  - The authors examined the relationship between the admission interview scores for
      62 students in the 1986 entering class at Dartmouth Medical School and the
      students' dean's letter ratings given four years later; they found the
      relationship to be significant (V = .372, p = .014) and the interview scores to
      be better independent predictors of the ratings than were total Medical College
      Admission Test scores or science grade-point averages. Among the 17 students
      receiving "strong" admission interview scores, 53% received dean's letter ratings
      in the top one-third and 47% received ratings in the lower two-thirds. Of those
      34 who received "medium" interview scores, 68% received ratings in the lower two
      thirds; all 11 students who received "weak" interview scores received ratings in
      the lower two-thirds. The authors suggest (1) that admission interview scores
      help schools to identify more clearly those applicants most likely to become
      strong, competitive performers in residency and (2) that the significant
      relationship between interview scores and dean's letter ratings indicates a need
      to discover what qualities the interview actually measures and to consider the
      methods by which interviewers are trained, rather than to forsake the interview.

PMID- 1457021
TI  - The role of grades in gaining admission to highly selective medical schools.
AB  - The authors examine the role of grades in the admission decisions at a group of
      19 highly selective medical schools by analyzing over 8,000 applications from
      Cornell University students for the entering medical school classes of 1982
      through 1989. The results illustrate the great influence of the grade-point
      average (GPA) on the admission decision. Between the GPA levels of 3.0 and 3.8,
      the chance of acceptance increased by a factor of about two for each increment of
      .2 in the GPA. For a subset of the nine most selective of the 19 institutions,
      the chance of acceptance increased by a factor of five for each increment of .2.
      At these nine schools, of 1,157 applications with a GPA of less than 3.4, only
      four were approved. The authors suggest the evidence indicates that students
      often receive encouragement to continue the application process even though the
      chances of eventual acceptance are negligible.

PMID- 1457022
TI  - Multiple authorship in two English-language journals in radiation oncology.
AB  - Multiple authorship is the listing of more than one person as author of an
      article in the scholarly literature. Editors, researchers, and others in science
      publishing have raised concerns about the increasing number of authors being
      listed per article, the practice of "honorary authorship" (listing as an author
      someone who made little or no contribution to the work being reported), and the
      danger of the dilution of responsibility when many authors are involved. The
      authors studied multiauthorship in the two most popular English-language journals
      on radiation oncology, examining 1,908 papers and letters published in the
      International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics (IJROBP) and
      Radiotherapy and Oncology (RO) from 1983 through 1987. There was no increase in
      the number of authors per article during this period, when the median number for
      IJROBP was four and that for RO was three. The number of authors varied by type
      of article, by country (France had the largest median number, six for IJROBP and
      five for RO), and by the authors' institution. The first author's gender was
      unrelated to the number of subsequent authors for an article. The proportion of
      men first authors varied widely between countries and institutions. Possible
      explanations for these variations include the multidisciplinary nature and
      complexity of some forms of research, institutional policies concerning the use
      of authorship as a commodity of exchange, and social-cultural factors.

PMID- 1457023
TI  - Consistency between peer reviewers for a clinical specialty journal.
AB  - To analyze the consistency between independent peer reviewers in evaluating and
      ranking unsolicited articles, the authors used paired reviews of 422 unsolicited
      submissions to the Journal of Clinical Anesthesia from the end of 1988 through
      1991. (The editors of this journal base their publication decisions, to a
      substantial degree, on congruence of their reviewers' recommendations). The
      reviewers were chosen for their interest in reviewing and areas of expertise.
      Their recommendations were ranged along a continuum of four categories: (1)
      accept outright, (2) accept with revision, (3) reject in present form (article
      could be revised and submitted again as a new submission), and (4) reject
      outright. The pairs of peer reviewers were consonant for 169 papers (40%),
      differed by one category for 168 papers (40%), differed by two categories for 73
      papers (17%), and differed by three categories for 12 papers (3%). Thus, most
      articles' reviews were in consonance or close to it; articles reviewed by two
      members of the editorial board, however, were significantly less likely to be
      consonant (32%) than were those reviewed by two nonmembers (44%, chi-square, p =
      .027).

PMID- 1457024
TI  - Comparing the accuracies of entire-group and subgroup models to predict NBME-I
      scores for medical school applicants.
AB  - To address the question of whether prediction models for subgroups of medical
      school applicants lead to more accurate predictions of performance than does one
      model for an entire group of applicants, the authors used data from two groups of
      students at Jefferson Medical College: 415 students who entered Jefferson in 1985
      and 1986, and 396 who entered in 1987 and 1988. Both groups were divided into two
      subgroups by gender and two subgroups by age. Data from the first group were used
      to develop prediction models based on the entire group and on its four subgroups.
      The predictors were undergraduate grade-point averages and Medical College
      Admission Test scores; the criterion measures were scores on the National Board
      of Medical Examiners Part I examinations. The prediction models were then applied
      to data from the second group and its four subgroups: differences in the validity
      coefficients (.40 to .56) and residual scores (7.2 to 17.9) were not considered
      to be of practical importance. Hence, the authors suggest that gender and age do
      not contribute to a prediction bias and that an entire-group prediction model can
      be used without serious concern for over-or underestimating the predicted scores.

PMID- 1457025
TI  - Attitudes of part-time community internal medicine faculty about their teaching.
AB  - The authors sent a six-item questionnaire regarding attitudes about teaching to
      130 part-time community internal medicine faculty at the University of Illinois
      College of Medicine at Rockford in August 1991; of the 90 (69%) who responded, 53
      were salaried and 37 nonsalaried. Substantial numbers of the salaried faculty
      responded (1) that teaching is important for their career development (25, 48%),
      compared with nine (22%) of the nonsalaried faculty, and (2) that they expected
      to increase their commitments to the medical school (50, 75%), compared with 24
      (65%) of the nonsalaried faculty. Of all the faculty, fewer than the authors
      expected--22 (24%)--felt that their teaching interfered with their clinical
      practices. As expected, most (76, 84%) responded that salary was necessary. The
      authors suggest that their results may be helpful to other medical schools,
      because with the setting of medical education changing from the hospital to the
      community, the importance of part-time faculty is increasing.

PMID- 1457026
TI  - Effect of clerkship timing on third-year medical students' grades and NBME scores
      in an obstetrics-gynecology clerkship.

PMID- 1457027
TI  - Relationship of interviewer and applicant variables to admission interview
      ratings of medical school matriculants and nonmatriculants.

PMID- 1457028
TI  - Retention of surgical knowledge by senior medical students.

PMID- 1457029
TI  - Medical students' decisions to report classmates impaired by alcohol or other
      drug abuse.

PMID- 1457030
TI  - Effectiveness of an inpatient-based rheumatology elective.

PMID- 1457031
TI  - Occurrence, removal and seasonal variation of "thermophilic" campylobacters in a
      sewage treatment plant in Italy.
AB  - Monitoring of "thermophilic" campylobacters in a sewage treatment plant in
      Bologna (Italy) has shown that incoming sewage contained a most probable number
      of 1630 campylobacters/100 ml. The secondary treatment in activated sludge tanks
      reduced 98.61% of campylobacters, 95.32% of fecal coliforms, 96.46% of fecal
      streptococci, 93.36% of salmonellas and 93.01% and 88.29% of BOD5 and COD
      respectively. Subsequent tertiary treatment with 3 ppm of chlorine dioxide for 15
      min reduced 100% of campylobacters and salmonellas. Significant correlation
      coefficients were found in incoming sewage between campylobacters and salmonellas
      (p < 0.01) and between campylobacters and fecal coliforms (p < 0.02).
      Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli constituted 51.3% and 48.7%
      respectively of the 80 strains isolated. In incoming sewage 66% of the strains
      isolated were found to be Campylobacter jejuni whereas Campylobacter coli strains
      were prevalent in activated sludge effluent (69.7%). The greatest frequency of
      isolation and the higher counts were obtained during the Spring to Summer period
      with distinct peaks in May, June and July. This seasonability is probably due to
      the seasonal variation of campylobacter infections in man and animals.

PMID- 1457032
TI  - [Development and monitoring of the hygienic water quality at bathing facilities
      in northwest Germany from 1989 to 1991].
AB  - Since the introduction and strict application of EC guidelines on the monitoring
      of bathing waters began in Lower Saxony in 1989, it has been possible for the
      first time to reach a comprehensive evaluation of the water quality on the North
      Sea coast and in the rivers and lakes of this state. The 7648 samples which were
      analysed in this period produced the most favourable results on the East Friesian
      Islands, followed by the vast majority of the mainland bathing resorts and some
      lakes. On the lower stretches of the River Weser and in a few lakes levels were
      registered at times which exceeded the limits to such an extent that bathing was
      impossible. In 1991 extreme germination of total coliform bacteria was observed
      for the first time, presumably due to eutrophic conditions in combination with
      high water temperatures.

PMID- 1457033
TI  - [Comparative study of the detection of E. coli after time in seawater with
      partially modified standard media].
AB  - Fecal coliform bacteria (E. coli) are the most important parameter when
      monitoring the hygienic quality of bathing water according to EC guidelines.
      Among other things the number of E. coli is clearly dependent on the length of
      exposure of the bacteria to marine water as well as the media used to establish
      the number. In a seven-day salt water stress experiment the best rate of
      recultivation was achieved on average with DEV lactose peptone broth. The Brila
      MUG medium produced a slightly lower rate of recultivation and the fluorocult
      lauryl-sulfate-broth the lowest rate of recultivation. After a shorter exposure
      of bacteria to marine water conditions (up to 24 h) the DEV-lactose-broth
      produced slightly lower rates of recultivation. An alteration of the standard
      components of the media did not lead to an improvement in the rate of
      recultivation.

PMID- 1457034
TI  - Faecal micro-organisms on the hands of carriers: Escherichia coli as model for
      Salmonella.
AB  - To evaluate the public health hazard caused by Salmonella carriers as food
      handlers, a study was carried out to gather more quantitative data about faecal
      contamination of hands after stools. Faecal E. coli was used as a model bacterium
      for Salmonella. In total 92 subjects cooperated in this study. The hand was
      sampled before toilet use, and also after stools, with or without washing of the
      hands. Besides E. coli the number of Enterobacteriaceae was also determined. It
      appeared that hands may be contaminated with Enterobacteriaceae, regardless of
      toilet use, for a well before as after stools about 60% of the sampled hands
      carried a detectable number of Enterobacteriaceae. That is why the presence of
      Enterobacteriaceae on hands is not a good indicator for toilet hygiene. In 4% of
      the samples before stools and in 25% of the samples taken after stools E. coli
      could be detected (> 20 CFU/sample). The average 10log CFU of E. coli in the
      positive samples taken before and after stools were about the same: 2.30 per
      sample. Hand washing after stools reduced the numbers of Enterobacteriaceae and
      E. coli on the hands. It was concluded that symptomless Salmonella excretors in
      the period starting two weeks after infection form only a low risk in carrying
      over Salmonella by their hands to food. Especially if normal hygiene is practiced
      like washing hands after stools, the number of contaminated hands will be very
      low and furthermore the number of faecal micro-organisms will be very
      small.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457035
TI  - [The determination of the discrepancy between the mathematically ascertained and
      experimentally provable efficiency of UV facilities for water disinfection].
AB  - Using three UV-plants of different technical designs for water disinfection, we
      studied the conformity between experimental germ reduction using standard test
      organisms and calculated UV-doses under various water flow conditions. Taking
      into consideration the style of construction of the UV-plants, the irradiation
      area and the layer thickness were used as constant parameters for dose
      calculations. This was also employed for the irradiation intensity, since the
      experiments were performed for a relatively short period compared of the life
      span of the UV-irradiators. Both exposure time and water transmission were
      employed as variable parameters in the dose calculations and experimental
      procedures respectively. The calculated UV-dose and experimentally obtained germ
      reduction values were comparatively the same for two of the three UV-plants
      studied. However, no correlation was observed between the reduction of E. coli
      and the corresponding calculated UV-dose values. Therefore, the calculated UV
      dose values for any given UV-plant should be considered to be relative and by no
      means absolute values. We are of the opinion that within a certain range of water
      flow rate and transmission, antimicrobial effectiveness of different UV-plants
      should be demonstrated independent of dose values, technical and other
      construction characteristics. The applicability of the UV-plants studied is
      discussed.

PMID- 1457036
TI  - [RoTrac capillary pore membranes for laboratory filtration. II. Bacteria-free
      filtration].
AB  - Because of their special characteristics Capillary pore membranes (CPM) are now
      applied in several branches of separation techniques and analytics. Besides
      applications in particle analytics and microfiltration of different media
      capillary pore membranes can be used in microorganism separation. It was shown
      that RoTrac CPM can be used for bacteria free (or so called sterile) filtration.
      Acceptable fluxes were reached in separation of Pseudomonas diminuta (test
      species ATCC 19146). Membranes with pore diameters of 0.2 micron and smaller
      always assure a bacteria free filtrate even for a very high bacteria count of
      about 10(7)-10(8) bacteria/ml. In filtration of Mycoplasma arginini no sterile
      filtrate was obtained for a pore diameter of 0.08 micron and a high bacteria
      count of 3 * 10(7) bacteria/ml. The bacteria rejection by a factor of 10(5) was
      however remarkable. Only for 0.05 and 0.08 micron with reduced bacteria load the
      filtrate was bacteria free.

PMID- 1457037
TI  - [Case study of a Legionella epidemic in a rehabilitation clinic].
AB  - A series of nosocomial Legionella infections in a rehabilitation center is
      reported. In a three months period a total of 10 pneumonias with 3 deaths
      occurred (8 patients, 1 companion, 1 staff member). Serologic analysis proved
      additional Legionella infections within the nursing staff. The warm-water system
      was proved to be the source of infection by isolating Legionella pneumophila
      serogroup 1 subtype Pontiac both in warm-water and patients samples. The air
      conditioning system could not be ruled out as another (secondary) route of
      exposure because of shortcomings in construction. Conclusions about prevention
      and the course of the disease are discussed and standards for warm-water and air
      conditioning systems are proposed.

PMID- 1457038
TI  - [The development of an enzyme immunoassay for the detection of the herbicide
      metolachlor in water samples].
AB  - Since December 1990, strict limits for pesticide content in drinking water have
      been in effect in the FRG. These limits have to be enforced and controlled
      regularly. Because the classical analytical methods, like GC/MS and HPLC are
      relatively expensive and complicated, concentration and clean up of the samples
      are necessary. Therefore, the significance of Enzyme Immunosorbent Assays has
      increased in environmental analysis. The topics of our research are synthesis of
      suitable Metolachlor conjugates for immunization and as coating antigen, as well
      as development of an Enzyme Immunosorbent Assay. The chloroacetanilide
      Metolachlor was coupled with an AMSA-Spacer on Sheep IgG and with AHT-Spacer on
      BSA. The epitope density was measured photometrically with TNB-derivate.
      Polyclonal antibodies were produced in white New Zealand rabbits. Metolachlor
      AMSA-Sheep IgG conjugate was served as immunogen. The test is indirect and
      competitive. Microtiter plates are coated with the coating antigen (Metolachlor
      AHT-BSA conjugate). In the next step the Metolachlor sample competes with the
      coating antigen for the antibodies. Detection of bounded antibodies is indirect
      with a peroxidase-labelled secondary antibody. The chromogenic substrates ABTS,
      TMB and OPD were tested. TMB showed the best qualities, fast turnover, as well as
      good and steady colour. Titer of serum and crossreactivity of other
      chloroacetanilide pesticides and their metabolites were tested. With the
      exception of Alachlor and Dimethachlor, no pesticide showed a high interaction
      with serum. Quantitative interpretation was done with the logit/log
      transformation, which allows comparison of different sera and test series. The
      antibodies are specific but the affinity is not good enough to detect the limits
      assigned by the "deutsche Trinkwasserverordnung". Raising the concentration, as
      is done in classical analytical methods, would solve the problems so that the
      test can be used as a screening test.

PMID- 1457039
TI  - [Emission measurements of fibrous dust in the Federal Republic of Germany.
      Fibrous emissions from brake linings of motor vehicles].
AB  - The brake and clutch linings of automobiles contain 10 to 70% of asbestos, mainly
      chrysotile. They are therefore considered to be a significant source of
      carcinogenic asbestos fibers in ambient air. This could be confirmed by
      measurements done in urban ambient air in different parts of West Germany.
      Asbestos fiber concentrations till 1000 fibers/m3 (for fibers longer than 5
      microns) were found. It could be also shown, that materials used in the brake
      lining production as well as dust emitted during car braking contained asbestos
      fibers with high carcinogenic potency.

PMID- 1457040
TI  - The effect of progestins on prolactin receptor gene transcription in human breast
      cancer cells.
AB  - The sex steroid hormone progesterone modulates the developmental and lactogenic
      activity of prolactin in the mammary gland. Regulation of the level of prolactin
      receptor (PRLR) provides one possible mechanism by which this may occur,
      prompting this investigation of the molecular mechanisms involved in progestin
      regulation of prolactin receptor levels. Treatment of T-47D and MCF-7 human
      breast cancer cells with 10 nM of the synthetic progestin ORG 2058 for 24 hr
      resulted in an increase in all four PRLR mRNA transcripts detected. The effect of
      ORG 2058 was shown in T-47D cells to be time- and concentration-dependent and
      resulted in an approximate two-fold increase in PRLR mRNA after 24 hr of
      treatment with 10 nM or 100 nM ORG 2058. Nuclear run-on assays indicated that ORG
      2058 increased the rate of T-47D PRLR gene transcription at all times between 1
      hr and 28 hr of treatment. The protein synthesis inhibitors cycloheximide and
      puromycin abrogated the induction of PRLR gene transcription at 1 hr and 2 hr,
      which demonstrated that on-going protein synthesis was required for the ORG 2058
      effect and suggested that progestins may exert some transcriptional effects via
      the induction of an intermediary protein. These experiments demonstrated that
      progestin induced a transcriptionally based increase in PRLR gene expression and
      provided a mechanism by which progesterone may modulate the mitogenic activity of
      prolactin during mammary gland development.

PMID- 1457041
TI  - Complete human NF1 cDNA sequence: two alternatively spliced mRNAs and absence of
      expression in a neuroblastoma line.
AB  - Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is caused by mutations in a large gene on
      chromosome 17q11.2. Previously described partial cDNAs for this gene predicted a
      protein related to yeast IRA1/IRA2 and the mammalian RAS GTPase activator protein
      GAP. To initiate a detailed study of the role of this gene in NF1, we have
      characterized a set of overlapping cDNAs that represent its complete coding
      sequence. Our results show that two differentially expressed human NF1 mRNAs
      differ by a 63-bp insertion in the GAP-related domain. These mRNAs predict two
      2,818- and 2,839-amino acid proteins with calculated molecular masses of
      approximately 317 and 319 kD. Extensive similarity to IRA proteins is evident in
      a 1,450-amino-acid central segment, roughly between amino acids 900 and 2,350.
      However, the remainder of the NF1 protein is not significantly similar to other
      proteins. Interestingly, the SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma line expresses no
      detectable NF1 mRNA, indicating that expression of NF1 is not essential for
      viability of this neural crest-derived tumor cell line.

PMID- 1457042
TI  - Genomic organization of the mouse OSF-1 gene.
AB  - The mouse OSF-1 protein (also known as pleiotrophin, HB-GAM, HBGF-8, or HBNF)
      gene was isolated from a mouse genomic library and sequenced. OSF-1 is a 15-kD
      secreted protein specifically expressed in bone and brain, and is believed to
      play a role in brain development and osteogenesis. The mouse OSF-1 gene consists
      of at least 5 exons and 4 introns and spans > 32 kb. Computer analysis of
      approximately 4 kb of 5'-flanking sequence of the OSF-1 gene revealed two
      candidate promoter regions. One candidate promoter contains a thyroid
      hormone/retinoic acid-responsive element and the other contains two
      glucocorticoid-responsive elements. DNA sequence analysis of novel OSF-1 cDNA
      clones indicates that two promoters can be utilized in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic
      cells. The overall organization of the mouse OSF-1 gene is similar and the
      locations of the three exon-intron junctions within the coding region are
      identical to the mouse gene encoding the differentiation-related factor midkine
      (MK). Based on this similarity and on the high degree of nucleotide sequence
      homology (approximately 55%) of mouse OSF-1 and mouse MK, we conclude that OSF-1
      and MK are generated from a common ancestral gene and are members of a family of
      structurally and probably functionally related proteins.

PMID- 1457043
TI  - The HXY box regulatory element modulates expression of the murine IA antigen
      associated invariant chain in L fibroblasts.
AB  - The murine invariant chain (Ii) gene has been shown to be interferon-gamma (IFN
      gamma)-inducible in a number of nonlymphoid cell types. In mouse L cells, steady
      state levels of Ii mRNA are barely detectable in untreated cells but increase
      sharply upon IFN-gamma treatment. In IFN-gamma treated L cells, transcription
      starts 23, 28, 38, and 40 bases downstream of the TATA box. To identify cis
      acting elements regulating expression of the Ii gene, reporter plasmids
      containing deletions of the Ii promoter have been constructed and transfected
      into mouse L cells. Deletion of the H box results in a 50-100% increase in basal
      expression. Deletion of both the H and X boxes increases basal expression by 200
      300% above that seen in constructs containing all three elements. A 25% decrease
      in basal level expression is seen for constructs that lack the Y-box element when
      compared to constructs containing the Y-box element but not the H- and X-box
      elements. DNase I footprinting analysis demonstrates protection of the H, X, and
      Y boxes as well as a nonconserved region between the H and X boxes. Mobility
      shift experiments detect a factor specifically interacting with the Y box.
      Although the H-, X-, and Y-box elements interact with nuclear protein and are
      regulatory elements in L cells, these elements do not appear to play a role in
      IFN-gamma induction suggesting that other regulatory mechanisms must account for
      IFN-gamma's induction of the Ii in L cells.

PMID- 1457044
TI  - Characterization of liver-enriched proteins binding to a developmentally
      demethylated site flanking the avian apoVLDLII gene.
AB  - Although the avian apoVLDLII gene is normally expressed exclusively in the liver
      of the laying hen, the gene can be activated by estrogen in birds of either sex
      beginning between days 7-9 of embryogenesis. Developmentally programmed
      demethylation of sites in the 5'- and 3'-flanking regions of the gene have been
      shown to occur during this period of embryogenesis, suggesting that they may
      reflect changes in protein-DNA interactions that are involved in the acquisition
      of competence to activate the apoVLDLII gene. We have detected specific protein
      interactions at one location approximately 2.6 kb upstream from the apoVLDLII
      gene, that includes an Msp I site whose methylation status changes between days 7
      and 9 of embryogenesis. The sequence of this region bears significant similarity
      to binding sites of members of the bZIP family of liver-enriched or -specific
      factors such as C/EBP, DBP, and LAP, that are characteristically produced
      relatively late during liver development. In the studies described here, we
      demonstrate that proteins binding to the upstream apoVLDLII site do not
      correspond to previously identified liver-enriched or -specific factors. They
      also display a pattern of activity during development and in human and avian
      hepatoma cell lines indicating that their expression is increased in
      proliferating cells. Southwestern blotting and UV cross-linking studies indicate
      that two proteins of approximately 60 kD are capable of binding to the site and
      we describe the purification of these factors from crude nuclear protein extracts
      obtained from rooster liver.

PMID- 1457045
TI  - Identification and characterization of additional members of the cytochrome P450
      multigene family CYP52 of Candida tropicalis.
AB  - Using different DNA probes from the first two previously described alkane
      inducible cytochrome P450 genes of the Candida tropicalis CYP52 gene family, we
      isolated five independent additional members by screening a genomic library under
      low-stringency conditions. These genes are not allelic variants and, when taken
      gogether, constitute the largest gene family known in this organism. The seven
      members of this gene family are located on four different chromosomes and four of
      them are tandemly arranged on the C. tropicalis genome. The products of the seven
      genes, alk1 to alk7, were compared to each other and revealed a high degree of
      divergence: the two most diverged proteins exhibit a sequence identity of only
      32%. Six of the seven genes were shown to be induced by a variety of different
      aliphatic carbon sources but repressed when the organism was grown on glucose.
      Three of the five additional CYP52 genes could be successfully expressed in
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae and display different substrate specificities in in
      vitro assays with model substrates: alk2 and alk3 exhibit a strong preference for
      hexadecane, while alk4 and alk5 preferentially hydroxylate lauric acid.

PMID- 1457046
TI  - The first human genes for tRNA(ArgICG), tRNA(GlyUCC), and tRNA(ThrIGU) and more
      tRNA(Val) pseudogenes: expression and pre-tRNA maturation in HeLa cell-free
      extracts.
AB  - A functional tRNA(Val) gene, which codes for the major tRNA(ValIAC) isoacceptor
      species, and three new tRNA(Val) pseudogenes have been isolated from human
      genomic DNA. Two tRNA(Val) pseudogenes and a tRNA(Val) variant gene were found to
      be associated with tRNA genes encoding tRNA(ArgICG), tRNA(GlyUCC), and
      tRNA(ThrIGU), respectively, on distinct DNA fragments. All tRNA genes, including
      the pseudogenes, are actively transcribed in HeLa nuclear extract. Pre-tRNAs of
      tRNA(Val), tRNA(Arg), tRNA(Thr), and tRNA(Gly) genes are correctly processed to
      mature-sized tRNAs, whereas the three tRNA(Val) pseudogenes yield stable pre
      tRNAs in vitro. These findings reveal that, together with the three known
      pseudogenes, half of the members of the human tRNA(Val) gene family are
      pseudogenes, all of which are active in homologous nuclear extracts in vitro and
      presumably also in vivo.

PMID- 1457047
TI  - Rapid isolation of flanking genomic DNA using biotin-RAGE, a variation of single
      sided polymerase chain reaction.
AB  - A method is described for quickly and reproducibly isolating genomic DNA
      contiguous with known DNA sequence by means of the polymerase chain reaction
      (PCR). Flanking genomic DNA is isolated using a biotinylated sequence-specific
      primer in combination with a generic hybrid primer that binds to a
      deoxyoligonucleotide sequence artificially added to the ends of the genomic DNA.
      Amplified sequences that include the biotinylated primer are purified from
      nonbiotinylated amplification products by binding to a solid-phase streptavidin
      matrix. The biotinylated amplification product(s) are subjected to a further
      round of amplification, after which they can be subcloned and analyzed. This
      technique was applied to the isolation of three intron-exon junctions.
      Verification of the identify of these junction sequences was accomplished by
      designing primers based on the intron sequences isolated by Biotin-RAGE,
      amplifying across the exon using these intron primers, and sequencing the PCR
      generated product.

PMID- 1457048
TI  - Immobilization of aminoacylase from Aspergillus oryzae on synthetic modified
      polyacrylamides.
AB  - A series of acrylamide-bisacrylamide copolymers modified by the Mannich Reaction
      was prepared. The immobilization of aminoacylase from Aspergillus oryzae on the
      copolymers was studied. All the polymers adsorbed the enzyme and the activity of
      the immobilized enzyme dependent on the amine used, viz. secondary amine,
      diamine, or aniline derivative. However, the activity was also influenced by the
      degree of crosslinking of the polymer. The surface morphology of the
      dimethylamine-modified polymer, with varying degrees of crosslinking, was
      analyzed by scanning electron microscope; the polymers having the largest pore
      diameter possessed the highest enzyme activity. One of the best polymers (DMA
      A9B8) was used for immobilization of aminoacylase and its properties were
      studied. It had high enzymatic activity and good operational stability, i.e.,
      retaining 90% of its original activity after being used for 42 days. The use of
      these copolymers for the preparation of immobilized enzymes is discussed.

PMID- 1457049
TI  - Preparative in vitro synthesis of bioactive human interleukin-2 in a continuous
      flow translation system.
AB  - Recombinant human interleukin-2 has been synthesized in vitro in a continuous
      flow translation system based on the wheat germ extract. In the course of
      translation of mRNA the interleukin-2 becomes aggregated due to the adsorption of
      this protein onto the ribonucleoprotein complex. This process correlates with the
      cessation of translation that is usually observed in 25-30 min. This can be
      prevented by the use of a flow system that allows continuous removal of the
      synthesized protein and maintains a steady concentration of all the necessary
      components. This approach permitted a yield of 1,500 protein molecules per mRNA
      molecule. The interleukin obtained promotes the proliferation of the interleukin
      2-dependent CTLL-2 cell line. The biological activity of interleukin-2 not
      subjected to oxidative refolding was 10(5) units per milligram of protein.

PMID- 1457050
TI  - Interactions of bioactive lipopeptides, iturin A and surfactin from Bacillus
      subtilis.
AB  - The antifungal activity of iturin A and its interaction with erythrocyte
      membranes were enhanced in the presence of surfactin. The modification of the
      properties of iturin A was explained by the formation of mixed iturin A-surfactin
      micelles. Such mixed micelles were easily generated when both lipopeptides were
      in aqueous solutions in the absence of mineral salts but the formation of these
      micelles did not occur when the solutions contained a high molarity of mineral
      cations.

PMID- 1457051
TI  - Use of helper-free retroviral vector to direct a high expression of porcine
      growth hormone in mouse fibroblast cells.
AB  - A retroviral vector has been employed to express the cDNA coding for porcine
      growth hormone (pGH) in the mouse fibroblast cell NIH 3T3 in large quantity. In
      this study, a single gene vector which contained no selectable marker was used.
      We have coinfected NIH 3T3 cells with pGH retrovirus and Neo(r) retrovirus to
      obtain a stable, high-expression clone. Using a superinfection strategy, we
      further increased the copy number of proviral DNA in the host chromosome, thus
      increasing the pGH secretion from 22 to 55 micrograms/10(6) cells/24 h. The
      recombinant pGH produced from mouse fibroblast cells was heterogeneous at the N
      terminus, which mimicked the situation with bovine growth hormone either from
      natural sources or from recombinant products derived from mouse fibroblasts. This
      technology is useful for many biologically important genes to be stably
      transduced by retroviral vector into mammalian cells and highly expressed.

PMID- 1457052
TI  - Red blood cells as an antigen-delivery system.
AB  - The use of adjuvants is usually required to induce strong immunological responses
      to protein antigens. However, in many cases these adjuvants cannot be extensively
      applied in human and veterinary vaccinations because of associated inflammatory
      reactions or granuloma formation. We show here that protein antigens (bovine
      serum albumin, hog liver uricase, and yeast hexokinase), coupled to autologous
      red blood cells by way of a biotin-avidin-biotin bridge, elicit an immunological
      response in mice similar to or higher than that obtained by the use of Freund's
      adjuvant. Quantities as low as 0.5 micrograms/mouse are high enough to generate
      these immunological responses. Furthermore, splenocytes of mice immunized by red
      blood cell-coupled antigens can be used to generate hybridomas secreting
      monoclonal antibodies. Thus, the delivery of antigens by autologous red blood
      cells is an effective way to avoid the use of adjuvants for producing anti
      peptide antibodies and possibly to generate peptide vaccines.

PMID- 1457053
TI  - Biochemical and rheodynamic properties of red blood cells crosslinked with
      glutaraldehyde.
AB  - New data on the properties of red blood cells (RBC) cross-linked with
      glutaraldehyde are presented (see also Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 1988, 156,
      970-977). Equilibrium and kinetic data show that by carrying out the fixation
      procedure in the absence of oxygen but in the presence of allosteric effectors
      (e.g., stabilizing the low-affinity (T) quaternary state of hemoglobin), it is
      possible to maintain, at least in part, the biochemical functions of the
      crosslinked hemoglobin inside the cell. Moreover, we show that the oxygen
      affinity of fixed red blood cells (RBC) is still modulated, even though to a
      smaller degree, by the allosteric effector bezafibrate (BZF), which is able to
      cross the fixed RBC membrane. Membrane filtration experiments indicate that the
      higher rigidity of fixed RBC alters significantly their rheodynamic properties
      and show that in order to exploit "engineered" RBC as "blood substitutes," more
      flexible cross-linking reagents may offer significant advantages.

PMID- 1457054
TI  - The effect of early enucleation on the orbit in animals and humans.
AB  - Facial asymmetry and cosmetic deformity can occur following enucleation. The
      effect of enucleation on the growth of the orbit can be demonstrated in the
      rabbit and cat by early enucleation, X-ray study and dry skull measurements. In
      42 human patients the anophthalmic orbital changes are determined by
      roentgenograms. The influencing factors of age and the use of implants are
      discussed as to changes in the rim, orbital walls and volume, and optic foramina
      measurements. Growth retardation due to roentgen ray therapy and other clinical
      aspects are considered which would influence the appropriate clinical management.

PMID- 1457055
TI  - Temporalis muscle transfer in the treatment of the severely contracted socket.
AB  - The treatment of severely contracted sockets represents one of the most difficult
      situations in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery. In particular, the
      treatment of the postirradiated socket has been considered "hopeless surgery." In
      recent years a modified approach to this problem has been tried, in which the use
      of the temporalis muscle provided a well-vascularized bed for delayed
      reconstructions.

PMID- 1457056
TI  - Dermis-fat orbital implantation and complex socket deformities.
AB  - Autogenous dermis-fat grafts implanted within the orbit survive best, with little
      loss of volume, when they are placed within Tenon's capsule immediately following
      the removal of the globe; when the rectus muscles (and anterior ciliary arteries)
      are anastomosed to the dermal edge of the graft; when no cautery has been applied
      to the recipient bed; and when the anterior diameter of the graft is no larger
      than 22 mm. Primary grafting in patients without systemic vascular disease is
      more effective than secondary procedures, performed on patients with fibrotic,
      compromised recipient beds and without direct apposition of the rectus muscles to
      the graft.

PMID- 1457058
TI  - An operation for the removal of the eye-ball, together with the entire
      conjunctival sac and lid margins.

PMID- 1457057
TI  - The role of flaps in the management of contracted eye sockets.
AB  - Based on the pathology of the eye socket and periorbital deficiencies, three
      distinct classes of patients can be recognized: I. Those who solely have eye
      socket deficiency with normal orbital and periorbital tissue. The suggested
      surgical treatment for this class of patient would be a skin or mucosa graft. II.
      Patients who have inadequate lining, as well as orbital volume deficiency. The
      preferred reconstructive approach includes cartilage (rib or ear) with or without
      fat graft, and skin or mucosa grafts for eye socket expansion. III. For failed
      reconstructions of classes I and II or for patients with severe orbital and
      periorbital deficiencies, the choice is one of three flaps: If the superficial
      temporal vessels and the postauricular skin is intact, the ideal flap is
      postauricular fasciocutaneous. If the postauricular skin has previously been used
      yet the superficial vasculature is intact, a secondary flap is the better choice.
      In cases where both postauricular skin and superficial temporal vessels have been
      sacrificed the recommended flap is a free flap with microvascular anastomosis.

PMID- 1457059
TI  - Indications and surgical techniques for orbital exenteration.
AB  - Indications for the mutilating operation of exenteration are enumerated. They
      usually involve a malignant neoplasm of the orbital contents, primary, direct
      extension, or adnexal tissue that cannot be controlled by simple excision or
      irradiation. Surgically, subtotal exenteration with partial preservation of lids
      and even conjunctiva may be achieved occasionally. However, total exenteration
      may be lifesaving. Techniques and precautions are discussed. Advantages and
      disadvantages of skin grafting that influence the post-operative care are noted.

PMID- 1457060
TI  - Radical orbital resections.
AB  - The authors describe the techniques for subtotal, total and radical orbital
      exenteration. The aspects of primary and late reconstructive surgery are also
      discussed, with special reference to Frezzotti's personal technique for
      temporalis muscle transplantation after subtotal exenteration.

PMID- 1457061
TI  - Frontalis muscle transfer in the reconstruction of the exenterated orbit.
AB  - A technique using the frontalis muscle to reconstruct the exenterated orbit is
      described. The technique is simple and does not leave a depression in the
      temporalis fossa.

PMID- 1457062
TI  - The history and development of facial prostheses.
AB  - This paper includes the historical development of the modern-day facial
      prosthesis, the various materials used from the early days to the present, and
      the historical input of various people and their contributions towards the
      development of the qualities in fabricating a lifelike facial prosthesis.

PMID- 1457063
TI  - Three dimensional imaging and computer-designed prostheses in the evaluation and
      management of orbitocranial deformities.
AB  - Three dimensional images reconstructed from two dimensional CT scans allow
      improved analysis of complex orbitocranial bony deformities. This evaluation may
      be useful in patients with defects resulting from trauma, tumor, congenital
      abnormalities, or developmental disorders. Diagnosis, surgical management, and
      long-term follow-up evaluation may be aided by improved understanding of bony
      contour and volume analysis. Computer designed prostheses can be fabricated to
      precisely match bony defects and may be used as an alloplastic implant or as a
      model to aid intraoperative contouring of an autogenous bone graft. The
      limitations of three dimensional imaging include artifacts in the reconstructed
      images, increased radiation exposure, and increased cost. The technology is still
      evolving and the indications and benefits remain undefined at the present time.

PMID- 1457064
TI  - Impressions for oculofacial prosthetics.
AB  - Primary to the development of an acceptable and functional facial prosthesis is
      the impression procedure. The fabrication of a facial prosthesis combines the art
      and science of anatomy, cosmesis, and function, to develop a nonliving substitute
      to replace altered, missing, or defective regions of the head and neck area.
      Success depends on patient's cooperation, motivation, and commitment to treatment
      as well as the technical and artistic scope of the facial prosthetic service.

PMID- 1457065
TI  - Comment: calculation of the conjunctival area in an anophthalmic socket.

PMID- 1457066
TI  - Impression making, sculpting, and coloring of orbital prostheses.
AB  - The replacement of any anatomic structure by artificial means remains a
      challenge. This is particularly true in the facial area. The replacement must be
      one which blends with the adjacent tissues as well as replaces the missing
      structures. Careful planning and meticulous attention to detail in fabrication of
      a prosthesis can enable the maxillofacial prosthodontist to make a major
      contribution in the rehabilitation of the patient with an orbital defect.

PMID- 1457067
TI  - Prosthetic rehabilitation of the anophthalmic socket using osseointegrated
      fixtures.

PMID- 1457068
TI  - The ocularists' management of congenital microphthalmos and anophthalmos.
AB  - Early socket stimulation is crucial for management of congenital anophthalmos and
      microphthalmos among infants. Progressive sized hard conformers and lid expansion
      devices can expand the small socket in these patients. The ocularists' management
      of these two conditions is discussed and techniques are introduced.

PMID- 1457069
TI  - Hydrophilic expanders for the congenital anophthalmic socket.
AB  - The congenitally contracted socket often poses a challenging management problem;
      early surgery may be necessary in spite of the attendant difficulties. A series
      of patients is presented, with particular emphasis upon the use of a new
      hydrophilic expander in the severely contracted socket, to illustrate our current
      management protocol. Factors pertinent to orbital development and growth are
      discussed. Two types of contracted sockets are identified that appear to
      correlate with the presence or absence of an eye or ocular remnant. Use of a
      hydrophilic expander in the severely contracted anophthalmic socket with marked
      lid phimosis has enabled subsequent fitting and retention of a hard conformer in
      many of these cases, thus obviating early interventional surgery.

PMID- 1457070
TI  - An expansion prosthesis for the microphthalmic socket.
AB  - An expansion prosthesis has been developed for the anophthalmic or microphthalmic
      socket. Orthodontic wire covered with silicone tubing is fused onto a
      conventional methyl-methacrylate ocular prosthesis. The use of this device is
      illustrated in a case report.

PMID- 1457071
TI  - Orbito-palpebral reconstruction in anophthalmos and severe congenital
      microphthalmos.
AB  - In patients with congenital anophthalmos and severe microphthalmos, a tiny orbit
      and socket exist with little eyelids, frequently preventing retention of a
      standard conformer or prosthesis. Socket expansion is sometimes impossible with
      microorbitism; the retention of a prosthesis is also difficult when malformations
      of the eyelids exist. The treatment of these difficult cases includes three
      stages. The first stage is orbital expansion that depends on the cephalometric
      studies of the patient: transverse osteotomy on the maxilla and the zygomatic
      bone with lateral bar by extracranial route, vertical osteotomy on the roof of
      the orbit by intracranial route. In some cases, the osteotomy includes expansion
      in the transverse and vertical diameter with bone grafts in the defects and on
      the lateral and superior rims. Simultaneously, socket expansion is performed by
      incision of the conjunctival sac circumferentially, with mucosal or split skin
      grafts on a conformer. The second stage includes eyelid reconstruction by
      different flaps. A third stage is frequently needed for correction of eyelid
      malposition on the prosthesis: ptosis, entropion surgery. Two cases of congenital
      anophthalmos are reported. Methods and indications of treatment are discussed.

PMID- 1457072
TI  - Orbito-palpebral reconstruction in two cases of incomplete cryptophthalmos.
AB  - Two cases of congenital symblepharon (variant of cryptophthalmos) are reported.
      Cryptophthalmos is a very rare congenital defect, with incomplete or complete
      failure in the development of one or both eyelids with skin recovering the
      anterior segment. Surgical treatment is described including expansion of the
      conjunctival fornix with eyeball conservation if possible. At the same time or
      later, the upper eyelid is reconstructed by inferior eyelid flap. The ophthalmic
      features of cryptophthalmos and its systemic associations are reviewed.

PMID- 1457073
TI  - The myofibroblast and the anophthalmic socket.
AB  - One of the greatest advances in the understanding of wound healing was the
      identification and characterization of the myofibroblast by Gabbiani in 1971.
      Since that time this contractile cell has been found in the early stages of wound
      healing and in many pathologic states. In a recent study, the myofibroblast was
      found in healing and contracting anophthalmic sockets.

PMID- 1457074
TI  - Structure of 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid.
AB  - C12H8O4, M(r) = 216.20, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 5.087 (2), b = 19.222 (3), c =
      9.552 (2) A, beta = 93.81 (3) degrees, V = 932.0 (5) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.54 g cm-3,
      lambda = 0.71073 A, mu = 1.09 cm-1, F(000) = 488, T = 295 K, R = 0.037 for 687
      unique reflections having I > 3 sigma (I). In the structure reported here, a
      twofold axis lies in the plane of the molecule and bisects the three central ring
      bonds. The average C--C bond distance in the naphthalene core is 1.401 (27) A and
      the average interior angle 120.0 (14) degrees. The average deviation of the C
      atoms comprising the naphthalene rings from the best least-squares plane
      describing the rings is 0.021 (8) A. The plane of the single unique carboxylic
      acid group makes a dihedral angle of 33.1 (1) degrees with the least-squares
      plane of the naphthalene core. The carboxylic acid group, in which the observed O
      -H distance is 1.00 (3) A, forms a cyclic-dimer hydrogen bond across a center of
      inversion with the H...O(acceptor) distance 1.68 (3) A, the O...O-(acceptor)
      distance 2.676 (2) A and the O--H...O-(acceptor) angle 174 (3) degrees. The C--O
      bond lengths indicate no disorder in the carboxylic acid dimers. The molecules
      are arranged in stacks with the naphthalene cores parallel to the (102) plane and
      with the hydrogen bonds of the acid groups linking adjacent stacks. This
      structure of 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid is essentially the same as that of
      o-phthalic acid, but with the b cell edge correspondingly larger to accommodate
      the additional aromatic ring.

PMID- 1457075
TI  - Structure of 9-epiquinine hydrochloride dihydrate versus antimalarial activity.
AB  - 9-Epiquinine hydrochloride dihydrate [(9S)-6'-methoxycinchonan-9-ol hydrochloride
      dihydrate], C20H25N2O2+.Cl-.2H2O, M(r) = 396.9, orthorhombic, P212121, a = 8.059
      (2), b = 11.537 (3), c = 22.311 (6) A, V = 2074.1 (9) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.271 g cm
      3, Cu K alpha, lambda = 1.54178 A, mu = 18.58 cm-1, F(000) = 848, room
      temperature, final R = 6.56% for 1344 reflections with magnitude of Fo > 3 sigma
      (F). 9-Epiquinine crystallized as a hydrated tertiary amine hydrochloride salt.
      The intramolecular N(1)+ ...O distance is 2.816 A. All H atoms attached to O or N
      atoms form intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The Cl ion is involved in four hydrogen
      bonds including one with the hydroxyl group of 9-epiquinine. The N(1)+-H moiety
      hydrogen bonds to a water molecule. The O(12)-C(9)...N(1)+-H(1) torsion angle was
      equal to -0.2 (3.8) degrees in comparison to 97.0 degrees for quinidine sulfate
      [Karle & Karle (1981). Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 78, 5938-5941]. Two theories
      have been proposed in the literature to explain the low antimalarial activity of
      9-epiquinine. The crystal structure of 9-epiquinine hydrochloride is not
      consistent with the hypothesis that 9-epiquinine prefers to form intramolecular
      rather than intermolecular hydrogen bonds, but is consistent with the hypothesis
      that N(1) and the hydroxyl group of 9-epiquinine are in an orientation which is
      unfavorable towards exerting antimalarial activity.

PMID- 1457076
TI  - Ethyl (2R,3R,SR)-3-(ethoxycarbonyloxy)-2-[1-(p-tolylsulfinyl) cyclopropyl]-1
      pyrrolidinecarboxylate.
AB  - The title compound, derived in four steps beginning with the cyclopropanation
      reaction of the anion of the alpha-sulfinyl ketimine (4R,SS)-4-(tert
      butyldimethylsilyloxy)-3,4-dihydro-5-(p-tolysul  finyl)methyl)-2H-pyrrole with 2
      chloroethyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, contains a shorter than expected bond
      (C(7)--C(8) 1.48(l) A) and a larger than expected angle (S(1)--C(6)--C(2)
      123.2(6) in the cyclopropane framework.

PMID- 1457077
TI  - Racial differences in maximal vasodilatory capacity of forearm resistance vessels
      in normotensive young adults.
AB  - This study was performed to determine whether alterations in vascular structure
      exist in a biracial population of young (age 22.3 +/- 0.6 yrs [mean + SE])
      normotensive men. We examined maximal vasodilatory capacity in 21 blacks and 20
      whites (average blood pressure = 122/75 and 118/72 mm Hg, respectively). Forearm
      blood flow was determined at rest and after 10 min of ischemic handgrip exercise
      using venous occlusion plethysmography. Forearm vascular resistance was computed
      from blood flow and mean arterial blood pressure determined by auscultation.
      Minimum forearm vascular resistance was 23% higher in blacks (2.60 +/- 0.60) than
      in whites (2.11 +/- 0.41) (P = .005), and was unrelated to parental history of
      hypertension. The regression equation for minimum forearm vascular resistance (Y)
      and casual blood pressure (X) for blacks was Y = -1.782 + 0.0487X (r = 0.522);
      for whites it was Y = -1.165 + 0.0367X (r = 0.418). When the data were covaried
      on resting mean arterial blood pressure, blacks still had a higher minimum
      forearm vascular resistance (P = .014). The results suggest a racial difference
      in the vascular structure of the forearm resistance vessels.

PMID- 1457078
TI  - The relation of culturally influenced lay models of hypertension to compliance
      with treatment.
AB  - Problems in compliance with treatment and illness management have frequently been
      traced to differences between patients' explanatory models of illness and the
      biomedical model. We investigated the relationship of cultural beliefs about
      hypertension to compliance with treatment. Using semistructured interviews, we
      elicited the explanatory models of hypertension held by 60 black hypertensive
      women being treated at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. The patient sample was
      followed for 2 months to obtain data on compliance with antihypertensive
      treatment and blood pressure control. As described, 53% of the patient sample
      recognized two basic folk illness models: "high blood" and "high-pertension."
      Patients' illness models were significantly related to compliance with treatment
      at the P = .01 and .001 levels. Compliance was related to blood pressure control
      at the P = .05 level. These results indicate that culturally influenced health
      beliefs are an important influence on compliance and, in turn, blood pressure
      control. Improved understanding of these problems by physicians may improve the
      management of their patients' illness.

PMID- 1457079
TI  - Relationship of the renin-angiotensin system and systemic arterial pressure to
      sodium excretion during atrial natriuretic peptide infusion in men.
AB  - The goal of this study was to evaluate the relative contribution of the renin
      angiotensin system and mean arterial pressure to sodium excretion and urine flow
      rate during an infusion of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) at physiologically
      relevant doses in humans. Eight normal volunteers were studied during five
      periods: (1) baseline in the supine position; (2) during an infusion of ANP at
      physiologic doses (0.01 micrograms/kg/min) in the supine position; (3) during ANP
      infusion and 60 degrees head-up tilt; (4) during ANP infusion, head-up tilt, and
      interruption of the renin-angiotensin axis with the angiotensin converting enzyme
      inhibitor (ACEI) enalaprilat; and (5) in the supine position during ANP infusion
      and ACEI. Infusion of ANP in the supine posture significantly increased urine
      flow rate and sodium excretion compared to baseline while mean arterial pressure
      and plasma renin activity were unchanged. During head-up tilt and ANP infusion,
      urine flow rate and sodium excretion were no longer significantly elevated over
      baseline while mean arterial pressure decreased and plasma angiotensin II levels
      increased. Addition of ACEI caused a marked diminution of urine flow rate and
      sodium excretion compared to baseline levels despite continued ANP infusion.
      Although mean arterial pressure after ACEI administration was lower than
      baseline, it was not significantly different from the non-ACEI head-up tilt
      state. Placing subjects in the supine position during ANP infusion and ACEI
      administration increased mean arterial pressure to levels that were no longer
      different from baseline, but urine flow rate and sodium excretion remained
      significantly depressed to the same degree as during head-up tilt with
      ACEI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457081
TI  - Ganglion atrial natriuretic peptide in NaCl sensitive spontaneously hypertensive
      rats.
AB  - Reports from other laboratories have shown that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
      stores in sympathetic ganglia are increased during dietary NaCl supplementation
      in normotensive rats. We have previously demonstrated that dietary NaCl
      supplementation in NaCl sensitive spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-S)
      exacerbates hypertension and enhances peripheral sympathetic nervous system
      activity, while NaCl resistant Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats show neither response.
      Since endogenous ANP may inhibit ganglion transmission, an inability of SHR-S to
      increase ganglion ANP appropriately in response to high NaCl feeding could
      contribute to the NaCl induced increase in sympathetic nervous system activity
      and blood pressure in this model, while an increase in ganglion ANP in NaCl
      supplemented WKY would tend to prevent sympathetic activity and blood pressure
      from rising. The current study tested the hypothesis that ganglion ANP levels
      increase in WKY but not in SHR-S during dietary NaCl supplementation. Male SHR-S
      and WKY rats were placed on 1% or 8% NaCl diets at 7 weeks of age. The rats were
      decapitated without prior anesthesia 3 weeks later, and the superior cervical and
      celiac ganglia were removed for the measurement of ANP by radioimmunoassay.
      Dietary NaCl supplementation produced significant increases in blood pressure in
      SHR-S, but not in WKY rats; the high NaCl diet was associated with significant
      increases in the ANP content of superior cervical and celiac ganglia in WKY rats,
      but not in SHR-S.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457080
TI  - Angiotensin II regulates cytochrome P-450 steroid hydroxylase enzyme expression
      in human adrenal glomerulosa cells.
AB  - We have examined the regulation of cytochrome P-450 side chain cleavage enzyme (P
      450SCC) and P-45011 beta (18) hydroxylase (P-450(11) beta) enzyme expression by
      angiotensin II (AII), the major regulator of aldosterone biosynthesis, in
      cultured human adrenal glomerulosa cells. We also examined the effect of
      lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid on the expression of these enzymes
      since it has been previously shown that the 12-lipoxygenase pathway plays a key
      role in AII-induced aldosterone synthesis in rat and human adrenal glomerulosa
      cells. AII (10(-7) mol/L) induced a 3-fold stimulation of P-450SCC and over a 2
      fold increase in P-450(11) beta protein expression. The 12-lipoxygenase product,
      12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) caused a 2-fold increase in P-450(11)
      beta levels without altering P-450SCC levels. These results show for the first
      time that AII can directly increase the levels of P-450SCC and P-450(11) beta
      enzymes in glomerulosa cells. The results also suggest that 12-HETE may mediate
      long term effects of AII action by stimulating P-450(11) beta levels.

PMID- 1457082
TI  - Usefulness of atrial natriuretic peptide assay in primary aldosteronism.
AB  - Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) can be elevated in conditions which are
      characterized by increased atrial pressure and or expanded plasma volume. We and
      others have previously shown a significant increase of ANP plasma levels in a
      small number of patients with primary aldosteronism. In this study we have
      extended the assay of plasma ANP to a larger number of patients. We studied ANP
      plasma levels before and after upright posture and acute sodium load in 16
      patients with aldosteronoma (APA) and 13 with idiopathic aldosteronism (IHA). The
      study was repeated also after the removal of aldosteronoma. In patients with
      primary aldosteronism, the mean supine ANP plasma level was significantly higher
      than in the age matched normal subject group; supine ANP was significantly higher
      in the APA than in the IHA group. The decrease of ANP levels after upright
      posture was significant in both groups. The ANP increase after acute saline load
      was similar in APA and in IHA. After the removal of aldosteronoma ANP values
      returned to normal. In conclusion, it is confirmed that plasma ANP levels are
      elevated in primary aldosteronism and could reflect a greater volume expansion in
      patients with APA. Despite this difference, ANP still responds to physiological
      stimuli in both groups. Finally, ANP measurement can provide an additional tool
      in the differential diagnosis between APA and IHA.

PMID- 1457083
TI  - Effects of endothelin-1 and vasopressin on resistance arteries of spontaneously
      hypertensive rats.
AB  - Previous studies have shown an impairment of responsiveness of resistance
      arteries to endothelin-1 in experimental hypertensive rats. This study was
      undertaken to demonstrate whether responses were also blunted in adult 20-week
      old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Resistance arteries from the
      mesenteric vascular bed exhibited normal active tension responses to endothelin-1
      and arginine vasopressin, and exaggerated responses to norepinephrine. Since the
      media was thicker in SHR, media stress responses to endothelin-1 and arginine
      vasopressin were significantly impaired, while norepinephrine media stress
      responses were similar in SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Active pressure
      responses to endothelin-1, arginine vasopressin, and norepinephrine were
      significantly amplified by the narrowed lumen of blood vessels in SHR.
      Additionally, media cross-sectional area was similar in SHR and WKY, but was
      greater in SHR when normalized for the smaller body weight of the hypertensive
      rats. These results demonstrate the presence of remodeling in resistance arteries
      of 20-week-old SHR, and show that the altered morphology of these blood vessels
      may significantly amplify impaired wall stress responses to endothelin-1 and
      arginine vasopressin, which may contribute to elevation of blood pressure.

PMID- 1457084
TI  - Lack of effect of parathyroid hormone on calcium homeostasis in rat platelets.
AB  - The in vitro effects of parathyroid hormone on Ca2+ handling by fura-2 loaded rat
      platelets were studied. The incubation of these platelets with rat parathyroid
      hormone (1-34) for 10 min had no effect on intracellular fura-2 metabolism or
      [Ca2+]i in the resting state. The [Ca2+]i response to 0.1 U/mL thrombin was
      unaffected by preincubation with parathyroid hormone in the presence or absence
      of extracellular Ca2+. Furthermore, the recovery rate of [Ca2+]i after the
      thrombin-induced peak in Ca(2+)-depleted media was not altered with parathyroid
      hormone. These data indicate that parathyroid hormone may not have a significant
      effect on Ca2+ homeostasis in rat platelets in unstimulated and stimulated
      conditions.

PMID- 1457085
TI  - Glucose, insulin, and lipid metabolism in doxazosin-treated patients with
      hypertension.
AB  - The metabolic changes associated with doxazosin treatment of hypertension were
      evaluated in ten patients with mild hypertension (mean +/- SEM = 150 +/- 3/100 +/
      1 mm Hg) and a plasma triglyceride (TG) concentration > 1.50 mmol/L. The blood
      pressure was lower after 4 to 6 months of doxazosin treatment (mean +/- SEM = 134
      +/- 4/87 +/- 1 mm Hg), which was also associated with a significantly lower
      plasma insulin response to a 75 g oral glucose load, and lower plasma TG and
      cholesterol concentrations. In addition, insulin-mediated glucose uptake was
      significantly greater after doxazosin treatment. These data suggest that
      doxazosin treatment of patients with mild hypertension is associated with changes
      in insulin and lipid metabolism that should decrease the risk of coronary heart
      disease.

PMID- 1457086
TI  - In vivo measurement of atrial natriuretic peptide receptors using nuclear
      imaging.
AB  - We have successfully visualized atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) receptors in
      vivo using nuclear imaging. 123I-Labelled ANP, injected in green vervet monkeys,
      was rapidly bound to ANP receptors in the kidneys and lungs. That the observed
      uptake was receptor mediated was demonstrated with competition studies using
      simultaneous injection of unlabelled ANP 99-126. It was possible to distinguish
      between the ANP receptor subtypes by the use of selective antagonists. Thus
      coinjection of ANP 102-121-des[Gln, Ser, Gly, Leu, Gly] (C-ANP), an ANP analog
      that selectively binds to the ANP C-receptor, decreased uptake in the kidneys by
      50% but increased relative uptake in the lungs and soft tissues. This method
      permits for the first time, the dynamic in vivo analysis of ANP receptors and
      their interaction with endogenous ligand. Differences and changes in local ANP
      receptor concentrations and occupancy could be detected. Since ANP receptor
      density and affinity are influenced by various physiological and pathological
      conditions, clinical and diagnostic applications seem possible.

PMID- 1457088
TI  - Continuous noninvasive recording of arterial pressure.

PMID- 1457087
TI  - Effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium antagonists on
      atrial natriuretic peptide release and action and on albumin excretion rate in
      hypertensive insulin-dependent diabetic patients.
AB  - Abnormalities in sodium homeostasis and in atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
      behavior could play a role in determining and accelerating the development of
      glomerular hypertension, hypertension, and microalbuminuria in insulin-dependent
      diabetes. The aim of the present study was to investigate in 32 hypertensive
      insulin-dependent diabetic patients (HD) with an altered albumin excretion rate
      the natriuretic response and ANP release to saline load (2 mmol/kg 90 min, and
      the effects angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor therapy 2.5 to 5.0 mg
      cilazapril, once daily), and calcium antagonists (sustained release verapamil:
      120 to 240 mg Isoptin Press, once daily, and long acting nifedipine: 20 to 40 mg
      Adalat AR, twice daily) on sodium homeostasis and albumin excretion rate. Eight
      normal subjects matched for sex, age, and weight served as controls. The 32 HD
      patients showed a blunted response in ANP release and sodium excretion during
      saline infusion in comparison with controls. The cilazapril and verapamil
      treatments were tested in 16 of the 32 HD patients and were both effective in
      ameliorating natriuretic and ANP response to saline load and in decreasing
      albumin excretion rate. The combined cilazapril and verapamil treatment further
      improved both these parameters in these patients, although blood pressure levels
      were comparable. The other 16 HD patients underwent sequential verapamil and
      nifedipine treatment. Verapamil was more effective than nifedipine in improving
      natriuresis and ANP release to saline load and in lowering the albumin excretion
      rate. The results of the present study demonstrate that sodium homeostasis and
      ANP release are altered in hypertensive nephropathic patients, and both
      cilazapril and verapamil are more effective than nifedipine in ameliorating
      natriuresis, ANP release, and albumin excretion rate.

PMID- 1457089
TI  - Pitfalls in the measurement of blood pressure.

PMID- 1457090
TI  - Atrial natriuretic factor and hypertension: a response to Hollister and Inagami.

PMID- 1457091
TI  - Utilization of biosensors and chemical sensors for space applications.
AB  - There will be a need for a wide array of chemical sensors for biomedical
      experimentation and for the monitoring of water and air recycling processes on
      Space Station Freedom. The infrequent logistics flights of the Space Shuttle will
      necessitate onboard analysis. The advantages of biosensors and chemical sensors
      over conventional analysis onboard spacecraft are manifold. They require less
      crew time, space, and power. Sample treatment is not needed. Real time or near
      real time monitoring is possible, in some cases on a continuous basis. Sensor
      signals in digitized form can be transmitted to the ground. Types and
      requirements for chemical sensors to be used in biomedical experimentation and
      monitoring of water recycling during long-term space missions are discussed.

PMID- 1457092
TI  - Binding kinetics of antigen by immobilized antibody: influence of reaction order
      and external diffusional limitations.
AB  - The influence of reaction order and external mass transfer limitations on the
      binding kinetics of antigen in solution to antibody covalently or non-covalently
      attached to a cylindrical fiber-optic biosensor is presented. Both single-step
      and dual-step binding of antigen to antibody is considered. The rate of
      attachment of antigen to antibody is linear for all reaction orders in the time
      frame (100 min) considered. The rate of attainment of saturation levels of
      antigen in solution close to the surface is very rapid (within 20 min). An
      increase in the presence of mass transfer (denoted by a Damkohler number
      increase) decreases the saturation level of the antigen close to the surface, and
      the rate of antigen attachment to the antibody covalently or non-covalently bound
      on the surface for one-half, one, one and a half, and second-order reaction. As
      intuitively expected, an increase in the initial antigen concentration in
      solution increases the saturation level of the antigen close to the surface, and
      the rate of antigen attachment to the antibody covalently bound on the surface
      for all the reaction orders considered. Non-dimensional plots presented in the
      analysis help extend the analysis to different antigen-antibody systems. A
      decrease in the external diffusional limitations has an effect of decreasing the
      effect of reaction order on the saturation levels of antigen close to the surface
      and the rate of attachment of the antigen in solution to the antibody on the
      surface.

PMID- 1457093
TI  - Calibration in dogs of a subcutaneous miniaturized glucose sensor using a glucose
      meter for blood glucose determination.
AB  - The feasibility of calibrating a glucose sensor by using a wearable glucose meter
      for blood glucose determination and moderate variations of blood glucose
      concentration was assessed. Six miniaturized glucose sensors were implanted in
      the subcutaneous tissue of conscious dogs, and the parameters used for the in
      vivo calibration of the sensor (sensitivity coefficient and extrapolated current
      in the absence of glucose) were determined from values of blood glucose and
      sensor response obtained during glucose infusion. (1) Venous plasma glucose level
      and venous total blood glucose level were measured simultaneously on the same
      sample, using a Beckman analyser and a Glucometer II, respectively. The
      regression between plasma glucose (x) and whole blood glucose (y) was y = 1.12x
      0.08 mM (n = 114 values, r = 0.96, p = 0.0001). The error grid analysis indicated
      that the use of a Glucometer II for blood glucose determination was appropriate
      in dogs. (2) The in vivo sensitivity coefficients were 0.57 +/- 0.11 nA mM-1 when
      determined from plasma glucose, and 0.51 +/- 0.07 nA mM-1 when determined from
      whole blood glucose (t = 1.53, p = 0.18, n.s.). The background currents were 0.88
      +/- 0.57 nA when determined from plasma glucose, and 0.63 +/- 0.77 nA when
      determined from whole blood glucose (t = 0.82, p = 0.45, n.s.). (3) The
      regression equation of the estimation of the subcutaneous glucose level obtained
      from the two methods was y = 1.04x + 0.56 mM (n = 171 values, r = 0.98, p =
      0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457094
TI  - Amperometric glucose biosensor with extended concentration range utilizing
      complexation effect of borate.
AB  - Borate buffer strongly decreases amperometric response of a glucose oxidase
      linked pO2 or H2O2 sensing electrode, extending substantially its linear
      calibration range. With increasing pH and concentration of the buffer the upper
      limit for glucose can be varied between 1 and 30 mmol l-1 glucose. The effect of
      borate ion is explained by the rapid complexation of glucose decreasing the
      equilibrium concentration of free beta-anomer, the specific substrate of glucose
      oxidase. The high loading of cross-linked enzyme inside the sensor membrane is
      necessary for the measurement to ensure an almost constant response factor (delta
      i per 1 mmol l-1) between pH 5 and 10. Analysis in stirred solution and in a flow
      through system has been employed for the measurement of elevated glucose levels
      in heparinized human blood or plasma samples.

PMID- 1457095
TI  - Structural and ultrastructural pattern of the embryonic and early foetal human
      liver.
AB  - With the aim of stressing the main steps which characterize the early development
      of the human foetal liver, fragments of hepatic buds of 7-12 weeks of pregnancy
      have been processed for light and scanning electron microscopy; Vial and Porter
      technique for isolated cells has been utilized too. The obtained results can be
      summarized as follows. At the 7th-8th weeks the hepatocytes show a globose shape,
      their surface is furnished with scattered and irregular evaginations and they are
      arranged in loose and narrow ribbons, separated by vascular spaces; the
      hepatocytes are tightly connected with haemopoietic cells, usually furnished with
      hyperchromatic nuclei. On the other hand, the hepatic parenchyma shows a compact
      pattern at the 11th-12th weeks. The hepatocytes have acquired a polyhydric shape
      and their faces are usually interlocked with the plasmatic membrane of the
      adjoining elements than in three fields: (a) the face projecting to the vascular
      walls with which they are going to form the Disse spaces; (b) the opposite side
      in which the membranes of neighbouring cells often appear spaced to line the
      primitive biliary canaliculi; and (c) the areas in which hemispheric and deep
      hollows of the hepatocyte surface hold haemopoietic elements. The obtained
      results demonstrate that the developing hepatic buds undergo deep structural
      changes, at level of the parenchyma and vascular system, in the studied period.

PMID- 1457096
TI  - Borderline hypertension: relationship between job and psychophysiological
      profile.
AB  - To identify relationships among hypertension, job and cardiovascular reactivity
      we studied 81 borderline hypertensives divided into labourers (L), white collars
      (W) and managers (M). After behavioral analysis, they underwent 4 tests:
      arithmetic, Sacks, acoustic, electric. Along the entire sitting, muscular
      contraction, skin conductance (SCL), peripheric temperature (THP), SBP, DBP and
      HR were taken, every 30". Depression, obsessive-compulsive, anxiety and neurotic
      traits were found in W. SBP, DBP and HR were not significantly different. Failed
      recovery curves of SCL were identified in M and W, but the presence of abnormal
      response profile, of both, SCL and THP, only in W. This autonomic dysreactivity,
      previously recognized as a possible characteristic of the prehypertensive
      condition, could uncover the role of certain work stressful condition to increase
      the sympathetic drive underlying hypertension.

PMID- 1457097
TI  - Cells from human bone giant cell tumors show a [Ca2+]o-sensing.
AB  - Giant cells from a human giant cell tumor of bone, showing several osteoclast
      features were tested for their capability of detecting the [Ca2+]o by a receptor
      like [Ca2+]o sensing. We found that cultured cells responded to elevation of
      [Ca2+]o, obtained adding 4 mM Ca2+ to the 2 mM Ca2+ containing buffer, by a
      transient increase of [Ca2+]i. Proliferative cells induced to differentiate by
      treatment with 10(-8) M 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3, were upregulated in their
      capability of responding to elevated [Ca2+]o. In fact, in this circumstance, the
      peak of [Ca2+]o-induced [Ca2+]i rise was increased compared to untreated cells.
      This suggests that 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 induces a more efficient regulation
      of osteoclast activity.

PMID- 1457098
TI  - [Use of a protein-free medium for the in vitro development of sheep embryos].
AB  - The employment of protein-free medium for the culture of ovine embryos collected
      at the 1-2 cell stage from superovulated ewes was investigated. For this purpose
      sheep zygotes were randomly allocated in four treatment groups: T1) CZB medium +
      bovine serum albumin (BSA) on sheep oviductal monolayer (SOM), T2) CZB +
      polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) + SOM, T3) CZB + PVA + SOM supplemented with inositol (I)
      and serine (S), T4) TCM 199 + 10% fetal calf serum + SOM. Standard culture
      conditions were 2 ml of medium in 35 mm Petri dishes, under 5% CO2 in air at 39
      degrees C. The percentages of morulae and blastocysts were recorded after 4 and 7
      days of culture. After 4 days of culture there was no significant difference (P >
      0.05) in the percentage of morulae between embryos cultured in T1 (86%), T2
      (85%), T3 (88.8%), and T4 (87.5%). After 7 days the percentages of blastocysts
      were T1 (70%), T2 (50%), T3 (55.5%) and T4 (46.8%). These data suggest that a
      protein-free medium, CZB + PVA and CZB + PVA + I + S, can support ovine
      preimplantation embryo development in vitro; however CZB medium supplemented with
      BSA enhances development to blastocyst.

PMID- 1457099
TI  - [Microencapsulation in Na-alginate and in vitro development of sheep
      blastomeres].
AB  - Embryos at 4 cell stage obtained from Sarda ewes superovulated with FSHp (Sigma)
      were micromanipulated in order to obtain single blastomeres (1/4 E). The 1/4 E
      have been located randomly in two groups. In the first (Group A n. 30) the 1/4 E
      have been put back in empty zonae pellucidae; in the second (Group B n. 21) they
      have been microencapsulated in sodium alginate (1.1%) by dropping cell-alginate
      solution in a 1.5% CaCl2. Each capsule (1 mm diameter) contained four 1/4 E. The
      blastomeres have been co-cultured for 5 days in CZB medium on oviductal cell
      monolayer in a humidified incubator (5% CO2, 95% air, 38.5 degrees C). No
      differences were found between the groups reaching blastocyst stage after the end
      of the culture period (A 50%-B 47%).

PMID- 1457100
TI  - [Muscle reinnervation in rats treated with vitamin E].
AB  - During muscle reinnervation, a transitory phase of polyinnervation occurs. In
      reinnervated muscles of vitamin E deficient rats, sprouting and polyinnervation
      are increased with respect to reinnervated controls. In this work,
      polyinnervation was observed in reinnervated extensor digitorum longus (edl)
      muscle of rats treated with pharmacological doses of vitamin E. Sciatic nerve was
      crushed and edl muscle was examined electrophysiologically at 30, 40 and 60 days
      after denervation. The percentage of polyinnervated cells in controls peaked at
      30 days and thus it decreased. In muscles of vitamin E treated rats, the time
      course of percentage of polyinnervated muscle cells was qualitatively the same,
      but it was decreased at all times.

PMID- 1457101
TI  - [Different behavior of phagocytes in young and old subjects].
AB  - Ageing is a dynamic phenomenon in which there is a physiological decay in all the
      functions of the individual. The consequence is an increased susceptibility to
      infections, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Phagocytic cells as polymorphonuclear
      leukocytes (PMNL) and monocytes (Mo) are of prime importance in the defence
      against invasive agents, PMNL and Mo seek out and destroy invading micro
      organisms. Chemotaxis and phagocytosis are two mechanisms that are activated by
      these cells for this purpose. In this study, using "in vitro" techniques, we have
      verified if, at the level of such functions of cell defense, there could be
      variations in elderly subjects with respect to younger subjects. Our results show
      a chemotactic activity of PMNL in the elderly that is higher and a phagocytic
      activity that is lower. As regards Mo, there is a lower chemotactic activity in
      the elderly and only a slight difference in phagocytic activity with respect to
      the younger subjects. These results are in agreement with those found at the
      clinical level showing the elderly less protected from infection with respect to
      younger subjects.

PMID- 1457102
TI  - [Modifications of the Portoscuso ecosystem. Distribution, accumulation,and
      dynamics of pollutants. I. Observations on animal tissues].
AB  - In order to assess the extent of environmental pollution by Pb, Cd and Zn in the
      industrial area of Portoscuso (Southwestern Sardinia-Italy),
      anatomohistopathological, histochemical and chemical tests were carried out on
      the heart, liver, kidneys and bones of sheep slaughtered in the local abattoir.
      On microscopic examination, degenerative lesions were severe in liver and kidneys
      and slight in the heart; histochemical stainings clearly showed a notable
      presence of Zn, while spectrophotometric examination confirmed, besides Zn
      pollution, very high tissue concentrations of Pb and Cd. The Authors conclude
      that other trial observations over larger areas are necessary.

PMID- 1457103
TI  - Effect of one booster dose in antirabies vaccination.
AB  - The antibody response obtained after one booster dose of rabies vaccine prepared
      in suckling mice brains at Servico de Saude Publica da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro
      is described. Four prime vaccinal groups were used: group I, persons who had
      received 16 doses 10 years before this investigation; group II, persons who had
      received 5 doses of the vaccine 10 years before; group III, persons who had
      received 9 doses 5 years before; and group IV, persons who had received 16 doses
      5 years before. One booster dose of the vaccine was administered to all persons
      involved in the study. Blood samples were collected before vaccination (day 0),
      then 7 and 30 days after vaccination. Antibody titres were determined by
      seroneutralization test in mice (SWM). The results demonstrated that all persons
      who had been treated with 5, 9 or 16 doses of the vaccine 5 to 10 years before
      had their antibody titres increased on the 7th and 30th days after one booster
      dose.

PMID- 1457104
TI  - Purification process monitoring in monoclonal antibody preparation: contamination
      with viruses, DNA and peptide growth factors.
AB  - Administration in vivo of monoclonal antibodies to humans is challenged by
      considerations regarding their safety. Contamination with viruses, potentially
      oncogenic nucleic acids and biologically active components like growth factors
      and hormones forms a serious point of concern in this respect. We have
      investigated the potential risk of viral contamination by measuring the reduction
      of 12 different viruses (after spiking) in the standard downstream purification
      process of ascitic fluid. Depending on the type of virus added and the
      purification step employed, the reduction of infectious virus particles varies
      considerably. The overall reduction ranges from about 10(3), observed for a
      member of the family of Papovaviridae, to more than 10(12) for members of the
      families of Herpesviridae and Orthomyxoviridae. Using hybridization analysis with
      a mouse (genomic) DNA probe, we show that the amount of residual DNA in ascitic
      fluids may also vary considerably, ranging from 75 ng/ml to 1 microgram/ml. In
      crude preparations produced in cell culture, much lower DNA concentrations are
      found (0.3 ng/ml). When standard downstream purification procedures are applied
      to ascitic fluid, a significant reduction of residual DNA levels is observed in
      the purified monoclonal antibody preparations and in intermediate fractions. The
      overall reduction factors vary from about 10(3) to 10(4), which is also confirmed
      by spiking experiments with either purified DNA or crude chromatin-like DNA.
      Using in-vitro cellular assays, we further show that peptide growth factors like
      PDGF and TGF beta are present in considerable amounts in ascitic fluids. The
      observed biological activities, however, are completely eliminated during the
      purification steps applied.

PMID- 1457105
TI  - The use of bovine fibrin-streptokinase films for the determination of recombinant
      human plasminogen.
AB  - Plasminogen is a key component of the haemostatic system in man and the plasma
      derived protein molecule has been actively investigated. Within the last few
      years cDNA and the gene encoding plasminogen have been cloned and the protein has
      been expressed in a number of eukaryotic or prokaryotic systems. Yields of
      expressed plasminogen are frequently low. Currently available assays for
      plasminogen generally rely on the determination of antigen or utilize tripeptide
      substrates for measuring functional activity, and they have certain limitations.
      Assays employing relevant protein substrates offer an alternative way to measure
      function and overcome the drawbacks associated with the other tests. The use of
      fibrin films for the assay of low levels of recombinant plasminogen has not been
      described fully before. The two fibrin film-based assays described in this paper
      are significant additions to the array of assays available for plasminogen
      molecules.

PMID- 1457106
TI  - High growth reassortant influenza vaccine viruses: new approaches to their
      control.
AB  - When a new strain of an influenza virus is required to be incorporated into
      influenza vaccine, attempts are made to recombine such strains with laboratory
      adapted viruses, which will grow to high titre in order to improve the yield of
      the vaccine strain. It is important that such high growth reassortant vaccine
      strains are not contaminated with genes coding for the antigenic determinants of
      the high growth laboratory strain. We describe the characterization of two recent
      high growth reassortants and the application of the polymerase chain reaction to
      ensure their genetic identity and purity.

PMID- 1457107
TI  - Analysis of therapeutic growth hormone preparations: report of an interlaboratory
      collaborative study on growth hormone assay methodologies.
AB  - Recombinant DNA-derived human growth hormone (somatotropin) is widely used to
      treat growth hormone-deficient children. The potency of this product is
      determined by in-vivo bioassay in hypophysectomized rats, which is imprecise,
      costly and invasive, and there have been suggestions that it could safely be
      replaced with in-vitro or physico-chemical alternatives. In this report we
      present the results of a collaborative study designed to test this proposal.
      Somatotropin was modified by mild or severe proteolysis, mild or severe oxidation
      or treatment at high pH, and compared in a multi-centre collaborative study with
      unmodified somatotropin or with dimerized somatotropin. Participating
      laboratories included manufacturers and national control laboratories, and
      pharmacopoeial bioassays were compared with in-house in-vitro and physico
      chemical bioassays. Although performing adequately with untreated somatotropin,
      for degraded samples the in-vivo bioassays were relatively unresponsive to
      changes in the growth hormone molecule. In contrast, the physico-chemical assays,
      in particular the reverse-phase HPLC, performed with a high degree of
      selectivity. We conclude that in the case of somatotropin, the in-vivo bioassay
      can be removed from the routine product specification with an acceptable degree
      of security. This however does not obviate the requirement rigorously to
      demonstrate biological activity in-vivo during product development, nor may the
      conclusions of this study be applied to other therapeutic recombinant proteins
      without similar collaborative investigations.

PMID- 1457108
TI  - A collaborative study to assess the proficiency of laboratory estimates of
      potency of live measles vaccines.
AB  - A collaborative study was undertaken to assess the variability in estimates of
      the potency of measles vaccines. Overall a median variation of 2.0 log10 between
      estimates was observed. This was reduced to a median of 1.0 log10 when the
      potencies were expressed relative to a reference vaccine. A difference in the
      sensitivity between plaque assays and TCID50 assays was also reduced when
      relative potencies were used. The benefit of including a common reference
      preparation in vaccine assays was therefore demonstrated. For the vaccines
      assayed in this study, it was not necessary to use a measles reference of the
      same strain as the vaccines tested. We therefore recommend that measles vaccines
      be assayed against a single international reference preparation.

PMID- 1457109
TI  - Verifying the (we hope) verified: reference checking in the Journal of Clinical
      Anesthesia.

PMID- 1457110
TI  - Effect of low fresh gas flow rates on inspired gas composition in a circle
      absorber system.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of fresh gas flow on inspired gas
      composition during low-flow anesthesia. DESIGN: Randomized trial with 2-hour
      observation periods in patients assigned to one of three groups. SETTING:
      Inpatient surgery clinic at a medical center. PATIENTS: Thirty-six patients
      undergoing abdominal surgery with low-flow anesthesia. INTERVENTIONS: Fresh gas
      flow was given at a starting rate of 5 L/min for 6 minutes. Thereafter, the fresh
      gas flow setting was nitrous oxide (N2O) 1 L/min and oxygen (O2) 0.6 L/min (Group
      1), N2O 0.5 L/min and O2 0.5 L/min (Group 2), and with a moderate surplus of N2O
      and O2 with respect to the patient's O2 consumption (Group 3). MEASUREMENTS AND
      MAIN RESULTS: The inspired O2 concentration (FIO2) was measured using a
      paramagnetic technique, and N2O levels were measured with infrared sensors; the
      inspired nitrogen concentration (FIN2) was calculated by the following formula:
      FIN2 = 1-FIO2-FIN2O, where FIN2O is the inspired N2O concentration. After 1 hour
      of anesthesia, FIO2 was significantly lower in Group 1 than in Groups 2 and 3 (p
      < 0.01), and FIN2 was significantly higher in Groups 2 and 3 than in Group 1 (p <
      0.01). After 2 hours of anesthesia, FIN2 returned to normal in Group 2 but
      continued to increase in Group 3. FIN2O was close to 0.7% only in Group 1.
      CONCLUSIONS: The same initial period of denitrogenation is not adequate to
      denitrogenate the circle system in all cases. The lower the fresh gas flow, the
      longer the initial period of denitrogenation should be. Various levels of fresh
      gas flow for low-flow anesthesia have been suggested, but none guarantees
      adequate control of inspired gas composition unless flowmeters are continuously
      adjusted.

PMID- 1457111
TI  - Desflurane potentiates atracurium in humans: a comparative study with isoflurane.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: (1) To evaluate the neuromuscular effects of desflurane and its
      interactions with atracurium and (2) to compare desflurane and isoflurane in
      these effects. DESIGN: Sequential entry of informed and consenting patients
      randomly assigned to receive desflurane (n = 25) or isoflurane (n = 25). SETTING:
      Operating suite of a county-university medical center. PATIENTS: Fifty adults,
      ASA physical status I, undergoing elective orthopedic surgery. INTERVENTIONS:
      Following establishment of steady desflurane or isoflurane anesthesia, at 1.25
      minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) exhaled for 15 minutes, a randomly
      predetermined dose of atracurium (0.05, 0.1, or 0.15 mg/kg) was injected
      intravenously (IV). At the end of surgery, neostigmine 0.04 mg/kg IV was given to
      reverse the residual block. The neuromuscular effects of desflurane or isoflurane
      alone, and the dose-response relationship, time course, and reversibility of the
      neuromuscular effects of atracurium with either anesthetic, were examined in
      detail and compared using electromyographic quantification of the response of the
      first dorsal interosseous muscle to train-of-four (TOF) stimulation of the ulnar
      nerve. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: TOF fade and depression of the first
      response (T1) of the TOF were measured in response to desflurane or isoflurane,
      atracurium, and neostigmine. Desflurane caused more TOF fade than isoflurane
      prior to atracurium administration. The TOF ratios were 0.91 +/- 0.02 and 0.98 +/
      0.01, respectively (p < 0.05). For other measured neuromuscular parameters,
      atracurium-induced depression tended to be greater in the presence of desflurane
      than in the presence of isoflurane, but none of the measured differences reached
      the statistical significance level of p < 0.05. The ED50, ED95, and 25-75%
      recovery index of atracurium were 0.038 mg/kg (95% confidence level; range 0.030
      to 0.047 mg/kg), 0.11 mg/kg (0.095 to 0.14 mg/kg), and 31 +/- 4 minutes (means +/
      SEM) with desflurane anesthesia, versus 0.043 mg/kg (0.035 to 0.052 mg/kg), 0.13
      mg/kg (0.11 to 0.16 mg/kg), and 23 +/- 4 minutes with isoflurane anesthesia (p =
      0.1-0.2). Continuation of either anesthetic at 1.25 MAC prevented complete
      recovery of neuromuscular functions spontaneously or following neostigmine 0.04
      mg/kg. CONCLUSION: In ASA physical status I adults, 9% desflurane has
      neuromuscular effects equal to or slightly in excess of those of 1.6% isoflurane.

PMID- 1457112
TI  - Inguinal herniorrhaphy in young infants: perianesthetic complications and
      associated preanesthetic risk factors.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVES: (1) To prospectively observe and tabulate all perianesthetic
      complications in young infants undergoing herniorrhaphy with general anesthesia
      and (2) to identify all major postnatal complications and determine which, if
      any, might be significant risk factors for perianesthetic complications. DESIGN:
      Prospective case control study. SETTING: Columbus, Ohio, Children's Hospital, a
      teaching and tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: One hundred two consecutive
      infants 60 weeks postconceptual age (PCA) or younger undergoing herniorrhaphy
      with general anesthesia. INTERVENTIONS: None MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All
      perianesthetic complications occurring during anesthesia, in the postanesthesia
      care unit (PACU), during the remaining hospital stay, and within 30 days of
      anesthesia were recorded, and a detailed postnatal history was compiled. Fifty
      five percent of 60 preterm infants [37 weeks gestational age (GA) or younger] and
      50% of 42 term infants (older than 37 weeks GA) experienced at least one
      perianesthetic complication. Following discharge from the PACU, in-house
      complications were confined to the preterm group. Significant risk factors
      included a history of apnea, bradycardia, and ventilatory support for at least 24
      hours after birth, mainly for respiratory distress syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: In a
      teaching hospital, prospectively observed perianesthetic complications can occur
      in more than 50% of infants 60 weeks PCA or younger undergoing herniorrhaphy with
      inhalation anesthesia. Infants younger than 49 weeks PCA with a significant
      preanesthetic risk factor should be monitored overnight for apnea and
      bradycardia.

PMID- 1457113
TI  - The effect of respiratory alkalosis on oxygen consumption in anesthetized
      patients.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether hyperventilation significantly altered
      oxygen consumption in anesthetized and paralyzed patients undergoing surgery.
      DESIGN: Open crossover trial with 1 hour of hyperventilation preceded and
      followed by 1 hour of normoventilation. SETTING: University medical center.
      PATIENTS: Eight patients (five men and three women) undergoing lengthy orthopedic
      surgery with general anesthesia and muscle paralysis. INTERVENTIONS: After
      baseline normoventilation for 1 hour (Period 1), the anesthetized patients were
      hyperventilated to an arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) of 20 to 25 mmHg
      for 1 hour (Period 2). Patients then experienced another hour of normoventilation
      (Period 3). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Hemodynamic variables,
      electrocardiography, temperature, end-tidal partial pressure of CO2 (PETCO2),
      oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production, and minute ventilation were
      continuously followed throughout the study, and arterial blood gases were drawn
      at the beginning and end of each study period. During the period of
      hyperventilation, pH was significantly higher and P.ETCO2 and PaCO2 significantly
      lower compared with the periods of normoventilation. VO2 was significantly
      increased during hyperventilation compared with the periods of normoventilation.
      Hemodynamic variables and temperature were similar in the three study periods.
      CONCLUSIONS: In anesthetized paralyzed patients, there is an increase in whole
      body VO2 with hypocapnic alkalosis.

PMID- 1457114
TI  - Performance evaluation of a draw-over vaporizer with a nonbreathing circuit
      during simulated adverse conditions.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: Performance evaluation of a draw-over vaporizer with a
      nonrebreathing circuit during simulated adverse conditions. DESIGN: Open
      laboratory study. SETTING: University hospital laboratory. MATERIALS AND
      INTERVENTIONS: The output (%) of a temperature-compensated Ohmeda Cyprane PAC
      (portable anesthesia complete) draw-over vaporizer (Ohmeda, Madison, WI) using
      isoflurane attached to a nonrebreathing circuit was tested in the laboratory
      during manual ventilation under normal and simulated adverse conditions. The
      adverse conditions tested were high ambient temperature and static and dynamic
      positional variation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The results show that the
      output bias of the PAC vaporizer has a generally consistent profile as tested,
      except when placed in the 180 degrees full-inversion or 90 degrees anterior-tilt
      position. We also conducted trials with the Penlon ventilator (Ohmeda, Abingdon,
      Oxford, U.K.) attached to the circuit at each of its input ports. Ventilation at
      one input port produced dangerously high airway pressures (within the circuit),
      thus supporting the manufacturer's recommendation against the use of this port
      for positive-pressure ventilation. Using the recommended port, the test lung was
      seen to inflate and deflate appropriately, but, surprisingly, no vapor output was
      detected by the agent monitor at any vaporizer setting when using the ventilator
      at the recommended port. CONCLUSION: Anesthetists should be aware of the pitfalls
      and possible problems that may be associated with this type of anesthetic
      delivery system.

PMID- 1457115
TI  - Pharmacodynamic effects of three doses of ORG 9426 used for endotracheal
      intubation in humans.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the pharmacodynamic characteristics of three
      incremental doses of ORG 9426 used for endotracheal intubation in patients.
      DESIGN: Double-blind, randomized administration of one of three doses of
      intravenous ORG 9426. SETTING: Inpatients requiring surgery at Georgetown
      University Medical Center. PATIENTS: Thirty-six patients, ages 18 to 65, ASA
      physical status I, II, and III, scheduled for general surgery. INTERVENTIONS:
      After Georgetown University Institutional Review Board approval and patient
      consent, patients were premedicated with midazolam or droperidol. Anesthesia was
      induced with thiopental sodium and fentanyl. Anesthesia was maintained with 60%
      nitrous oxide in oxygen. The ulnar nerve was stimulated supramaximally with a 2
      Hz train-of-four (TOF) every 20 seconds. Thumb contractions were measured with a
      force transducer. When TOF and anesthesia were stable, 2, 2.5, or 3 times the
      ED95 of ORG 9426 (570 micrograms/kg, 710 micrograms/kg, or 850 micrograms/kg) was
      administered randomly. Tracheal intubation was attempted at maximal depression of
      the first TOF response (T1). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The following
      parameters were measured: time interval from the injection of ORG 9426 to 90%
      depression of T1 (T1 90% block), maximal T1 depression (onset time), intubating
      conditions, clinical duration (time for return of T1 to 25% of control), heart
      rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and any adverse clinical experience. ORG 9426
      provided adequate intubating conditions in all patients but two, independent of
      the dose used. Its onset time was rapid, but increasing the dose did not shorten
      the onset. T1 90% block was achieved rapidly (75 +/- 25 seconds to 78 +/- 18
      seconds, means +/- SD). The clinical duration of ORG 9426 was relatively short
      and lengthened with increasing doses (from 36 +/- 18 minutes at 570 micrograms/kg
      to 42 +/- 10 minutes at 850 micrograms/kg. Spontaneous twitch recovery from 10%
      to 25% was similar in all dosage groups (5 +/- 1 minutes to 6 +/- 4 minutes). No
      clinically significant changes in HR and BP and no adverse clinical experiences
      were noted in any group. CONCLUSION: These findings warrant further clinical
      evaluation of ORG 9426 for induction and maintenance of muscle relaxation in
      humans.

PMID- 1457116
TI  - Patient-controlled drug administration during local anesthesia: a comparison of
      midazolam, propofol, and alfentanil.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the perioperative effects of alfentanil, midazolam,
      and propofol when administered using a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device
      during local anesthesia. DESIGN: Randomized, single-blind comparative study.
      SETTING: Outpatient surgery center at a university teaching hospital. PATIENTS:
      Ninety outpatients undergoing minor elective surgical procedures with local
      anesthetic infiltration were assigned to one of three treatment groups.
      INTERVENTIONS: After premedication with midazolam 1 mg intravenously (IV) and
      fentanyl 50 micrograms IV, patients were allowed to self-administer 2 ml bolus
      doses of either alfentanil 250 micrograms/ml, midazolam 0.4 mg/ml, or propofol 10
      mg/ml at minimal intervals of 3 minutes to supplement a basal infusion rate of 5
      ml/hr. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The total intraoperative dosages of
      alfentanil, midazolam, and propofol were 2.7 +/- 1.1 mg, 4.7 +/- 2.7 mg, and 114
      +/- 42 mg, respectively, for procedures lasting 48 +/- 28 minutes to 51 +/- 19
      minutes (means +/- SD). Propofol produced more pain on injection (39% vs. 4% and
      6% in the alfentanil and midazolam groups, respectively). Episodes of arterial
      oxygen saturation less than 90% were more frequent with alfentanil (28%) than
      with midazolam (3%) or propofol (13%). Using the visual analog scale, patients
      reported comparable levels of discomfort, anxiety, and sedation during the
      operation in all three treatment groups. Postoperative picture recall was
      significantly decreased with midazolam versus alfentanil and propofol. Finally,
      postoperative nausea was reported more frequently in the alfentanil group (29%)
      than in the midazolam (10%) or propofol (18%) groups, contributing to a
      significant prolongation of the discharge time in the alfentanil-treated
      patients. CONCLUSIONS: When self-administered as adjuvants during local
      anesthesia using a PCA delivery system, alfentanil, midazolam, and propofol were
      equally acceptable to patients. However, propofol and midazolam were associated
      with fewer perioperative complications than was alfentanil.

PMID- 1457117
TI  - Ketorolac or fentanyl to supplement local anesthesia?
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of ketorolac in the treatment of
      intraoperative pain refractory to the administration of local anesthetic alone.
      DESIGN: Intraoperative acute-pain treatment model consisting of awake, nonsedated
      patients who randomly received either an opioid or a study drug in a double-blind
      fashion. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENTS: Eighty patients who
      underwent breast biopsy, lumpectomy, or central venous catheter placement.
      INTERVENTIONS: Patients received either ketorolac 1 mg/kg intravenously (IV) up
      to a total dose of 60 mg or fentanyl 3 micrograms/kg IV up to a total dose of 250
      micrograms to supplement the local anesthetic. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:
      Verbal pain evaluation and the visual analog scale (VAS) were used for
      perioperative measurement of pain. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure, and
      respiratory rate (RR) were recorded before and after analgesic drug injections at
      10-minute intervals, both intraoperatively and while the patient was in the
      postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Speed of recovery was quantified by p-deletion
      and digit substitution tests on admission to the PACU and at 30-minute intervals
      until discharge. The frequency of nausea, vomiting, and pruritus were recorded.
      There were no differences between the groups in perioperative verbal pain
      evaluation, VAS scores, HR, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, or
      RR. Patients who received ketorolac exhibited a significantly lower frequency of
      intraoperative and postoperative medication administration intraoperatively, than
      those who received fentanyl. No additional pain medication was required by
      patients in the PACU in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Ketorolac is a useful
      alternative to fentanyl for the treatment of intraoperative pain refractory to
      the administration of local anesthetic alone during monitored anesthesia care. A
      decided advantage of ketorolac over fentanyl is the absence of nausea and
      vomiting in the intraoperative and postoperative periods.

PMID- 1457118
TI  - Anesthetic considerations of an infant with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.
AB  - The case of a 3-day-old infant with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome who required
      anesthetic care during closure of an abdominal wall defect is presented. Beckwith
      Wiedemann syndrome comprises a constellation of clinical features, including
      macroglossia, macrosomia, omphalocele, visceromegaly, mild microcephaly, facial
      nevus flammeus, horizontal earlobe creases, and renal medullary dysplasia. Due to
      the high rate of omphalocele in this syndrome, anesthetic care is frequently
      required during the neonatal period. Many of these infants (greater than 50%) are
      born prematurely. Therefore, their anesthetic care may be further complicated by
      associated diseases of prematurity, such as hyaline membrane disease. Additional
      anesthetic implications of this syndrome relate to the occurrence and management
      of hypoglycemia and polycythemia. Careful intraoperative management of glucose
      homeostasis is particularly important, since eventual neurologic outcome and
      intelligence will be normal provided prolonged neonatal hypoglycemia is avoided.
      Preoperative evaluation of the cardiac and genitourinary system, including
      echocardiography and renal ultrasound, are recommended because of the frequent
      occurrence of associated anomalies with omphalocele.

PMID- 1457119
TI  - Intravenous nitroglycerin for uterine inversion.
AB  - Uterine inversion following vaginal delivery or during Cesarean section is rare.
      Cardiovascular instability resulting from blood loss is possible. This article
      describes the use of intravenous nitroglycerin as an alternative to the induction
      of general anesthesia and administration of volatile anesthetics to provide
      uterine relaxation.

PMID- 1457120
TI  - To define a specialty: a brief history of the American Board of Anesthesiology's
      first written examination.
AB  - The initial written examination of the American Board of Anesthesiology, a
      division of the American Board of Surgery, was given on March 28, 1939. For all
      anesthesiologists, this date has double significance. First, what was meant by
      anesthesiology as a medical specialty was defined through the questions posed on
      the first examination. Second, the physicians being tested that day were among
      the first physician-anesthetists to exploit the newly created path to recognition
      as specialists in the science and art of anesthesia by the American medical
      hierarchy. Gaining the support of organized medicine was an involved and arduous
      struggle that consumed most of the 1930s. A triumvirate of visionaries, Paul
      Wood, John Lundy, and Ralph Waters, was necessary to crystalize the goal of
      specialty recognition of physician-anesthetists. The first written examination
      was the consummation of this dream of equal status for anesthesia. The
      examination would not become repetitious, and within the first decade of testing,
      the style would change from an essay format to multiple-choice questions similar
      to the current form.

PMID- 1457121
TI  - Intraoral vascular malformation and airway management: a case report and review
      of the literature.
AB  - A patient with a large airway venous malformation underwent anesthesia for a
      tooth extraction. The procedure was uneventful until extubation, immediately
      after which complete airway obstruction resulted. After unsuccessful attempts to
      relieve the problem, the patient's trachea was reintubated. Laryngoscopy showed
      that the venous malformation in the airway had enlarged and was responsible for
      the airway obstruction. Another attempt at extubation after corrective maneuvers
      was again unsuccessful. A tracheostomy was required, which was eventually removed
      after a complete recovery. Anesthesiologists must be concerned with any airway
      vascular abnormality. Most abnormalities involving the airway are either
      hemangiomas or venous malformations. The anesthesiologist must diagnose the
      problem correctly because even minor manipulation of a venous malformation may
      result in exsanguination, or the malformation may become engorged and compromise
      the airway.

PMID- 1457122
TI  - Application of a laryngeal mask to a fiberoptic bronchoscope-aided tracheal
      intubation.

PMID- 1457123
TI  - Understanding and management of amniotic fluid embolism.

PMID- 1457124
TI  - Leukemia inhibitory factor--a puzzling polyfunctional regulator.
AB  - LIF seems likely to have important functions in the early developing embryo and
      in adult life can influence platelet formation, osteoblast and neuronal function,
      calcium and lipid metabolism and the production of acute-phase proteins. LIF
      appears usually to be produced and to function locally in various tissues, an
      arrangement that would minimize unwanted actions of this polyfunctional
      regulator. Nevertheless it remains puzzling what purpose is achieved by use of a
      regulator with potent actions on such a wide range of apparently unrelated
      tissues.

PMID- 1457125
TI  - Molecular genetics of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and its receptor.

PMID- 1457126
TI  - Regulation of amphiregulin mRNA by TGF-beta in the human lung adenocarcinoma cell
      line A549.
AB  - Transforming growth factor beta is a strong growth inhibitor for many types of
      normal and transformed cells, although little is known on the mechanism of this
      anti-proliferative effect. The human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 is growth
      arrested by TGF-beta 1 and serves as a model for studying this effect. We
      describe that, concurrent with the inhibition of A549 cell growth, TGF-beta 1
      treatment causes a dramatic reduction in the level of expression of the
      amphiregulin (AR) gene, a recently identified member of the EGF/TGF alpha family.
      Similar results were also observed with TGF-beta 2. Peak inhibition occurred at
      24 hr of treatment and was reversible upon removal of TGF-beta 1. The level of AR
      protein secreted by A549 cells was also decreased by TGF-beta 1. In contrast, TGF
      alpha mRNA was not detected in these cells regardless of TGF-beta 1 treatment.
      Another TGF-beta inhibited cell line, PC-3 (human prostatic adenocarcinoma) also
      exhibited a decrease in AR message levels following exposure to TGF-beta 1. The
      growth inhibitory effects of TGF-beta may in part be mediated by modulation of AR
      expression.

PMID- 1457127
TI  - Cell cycle-dependent localization of immunoreactive basic fibroblast growth
      factor to cytoplasm and nucleus of isolated ovine fetal growth plate
      chondrocytes.
AB  - Basic fibroblast growth factor (basic FGF) is a potent mitogen for chondrocytes
      in vitro and is present in developing cartilage in vivo. Studies of intracellular
      basic FGF localization in other cell types have revealed a transient nuclear
      presence. We have examined ovine fetal growth plate chondrocytes for the presence
      of intracellular basic FGF by immunocytochemistry. Chondrocytes were isolated
      from the proximal tibial growth plate of lamb fetuses between 75 and 80 days'
      gestation using collagenase, and were cultured in monolayer before use between
      passages 3 and 6. In non-synchronized cell cultures 58 +/- 6% of cells (mean +/-
      s.d., n = 3) demonstrated cytoplasmic staining for immunoreactive basic FGF. Of
      these cells, 18 +/- 3% also exhibited strong nuclear staining. Chondrocytes were
      growth-restricted and restarted into the cell cycle with 2% (vol/vol) fetal calf
      serum. The timing of S phase was followed by nuclear labelling of nuclei with
      [3H] thymidine followed by autoradiography, or by the incorporation of [3H]
      thymidine into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable DNA in parallel cultures. A
      cytoplasmic presence of immunoreactive basic FGF did not appear, following
      immunocytochemistry, until the second half of G1 with 97% of cells immunopositive
      2 hr prior to S phase. Nuclear staining for basic FGF appeared 2 hr before peak
      nuclear labelling index, and 56% of cell nuclei were immunopositive. Following
      entry into S phase cytoplasmic and nuclear basic FGF immunostaining rapidly
      disappeared. When these experiments were repeated with or without the presence of
      anti-basic FGF antibody or heparin, the presence of the antibody significantly
      reduced peak [3H] thymidine incorporation into DNA during S phase while exposure
      to heparin increased this. However, the proportion of cells demonstrating
      cytoplasmic or nuclear staining for immunoreactive basic FGF, and the time of
      onset of staining, were unaltered. Incubation of cells with suramin blocked
      subsequent DNA synthesis and no intracellular basic FGF was visualized. Cell
      conditioned culture medium, extracellular matrix and cytoplasm from synchronized
      cultures of chondrocytes were taken at time points throughout the cell cycle and
      assessed for basic FGF content by radioimmunoassay. Basic FGF was detectable in
      each compartment and steadily rose throughout the second half of G1 to reach
      maximum values around the S phase. The accumulation of basic FGF in medium,
      matrix and cytoplasm was blocked by the presence of cycloheximide.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1457129
TI  - [Fibrinolytic therapy in thrombosis of the main arteries].
AB  - Fibrinolytic therapy (FLT) was applied in 79 patients, aged from 37 to 76 years,
      suffering from thromboses of the main arteries of the pelvis and lower
      extremities. The duration of the disease ranged from one day to 8 months. FLT was
      conducted with streptokinase preparations: streptodekase, avelysin, and celiase.
      FLT lasted 24 hours on average (from 7 hours to 3 days depending on the duration
      of the disease). The main blood flow in the affected arterial segment was
      completely restored in 49 (62%) patients. In 30 (38%) cases attempts to restore
      the blood flow failed. The affected extremity was amputated in 4 patients. Severe
      hemorrhagic complications occurred in 4%., small subcutaneous hematomas in 14.4%,
      fragmentation of thrombi with the development of distal embolism in 7.6% of
      cases, anaphylactic shock developed in one patient. Four patients died.

PMID- 1457130
TI  - [Adjuvant laser angioplasty: is it beneficial?].

PMID- 1457128
TI  - Identification of bone morphogenetic protein-2 in early Xenopus laevis embryos.
AB  - Polyclonal antibodies capable of reacting with amphibian bone morphogenetic
      protein (BMP-2 and -4) were raised in rabbits by immunization with a synthetic 21
      amino acid peptide which corresponds to a sequence residing in the mature protein
      of Xenopus BMP-2 (xBMP-2). The antibodies recognized an embryonic BMP as well as
      mammalian and bacteria expressed recombinant xBMPs. The antibodies detected,
      under reducing conditions, a 30 kDa protein in the extract of oocytes and embryos
      during early development. Interestingly, acidification of the extract from each
      developmental stage yielded a protein band of smaller molecular weight of 18 kDa,
      which is similar in size to reduced form of mature BMPs purified from mammalian
      species. Two-dimensional electrophoresis employed to examine the molecular weight
      of unreduced forms using the antibody, revealed that both molecular forms are
      monomeric in the embryos. The result suggests that at least BMP-2 mRNA previously
      detected in early embryos, is translated into peptide but the dimerization may be
      incomplete or strictly limited in these embryos.

PMID- 1457131
TI  - [Surgical treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias using laser].
AB  - Much importance is attached lately to the use of lasers in surgical treatment of
      tachyarrhythmias. The advantages of the laser radiation are as follows: the
      possibility of using it on a contracting heart, its exact and selective effect,
      infliction of even damages in preservation of the structure, reduction of damage
      to the myocardium as a whole. At the Bakulev Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery,
      USSR AMS, 52 operations were carried out in the management of supraventricular
      tachyarrhythmias by laser radiation: 27 operations for laser isolation of the
      atrioventricular node, 15 operations for laser isolation of the atria and bases
      of the pulmonary veins (11 in combination with laser isolation of the
      atrioventricular node), 3 operations for ablation of ectopic foci in the atria
      and ventricles, 4 operations for ablation of the bundle of His, and 3 operations
      for removal of Maheim's nodoventricular tract. Among the patients who were
      operated on, 12 had atrial flutter, 21--atrial fibrillation, 11--paroxysmal
      atrioventricular nodal tachycardia, 5--ectopic supraventricular tachycardia, and
      3 patients had paroxysmal tachycardia due to the presence of Maheim's
      nodoventricular tract. The method of laser isolation of the atrioventricular node
      was developed. It is performed on a working heart under conditions of
      normothermal extracorporeal circulation by Nd-YAG laser radiation under
      electrophysiological control. Antegrade conductivity was reduced to 420-510 msec.
      Among 56 patients who underwent operation 39 had sinus rhythm, 10 had Degree II
      III block, and 7 patients had a recurrence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457132
TI  - [Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in diagnosing left atrial
      thrombosis in patients with mitral valve disease].
AB  - Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was conducted in 63 patients with
      various cardiosurgical pathology (mitral stenosis--43, combined mitral valvular
      disease--3, mitral incompetence--10, combined mitral-aortal valvular disease--8).
      Thrombosis of the left atrium was diagnosed in 13 patients. Transesophageal
      echocardiography in 38 patients revealed spontaneous echo-contrasting of blood
      currents in the cavity of the left atrium. Statistical analysis showed this sign
      to be characteristic of mitral stenosis complicated by thrombosis of the left
      atrium (p < 0.001). Transesophageal echocardiography allows visualization of
      thrombi of small diameter (1.0-1.5 cm). Specificity of the method is 100%,
      sensitivity 87%.

PMID- 1457133
TI  - [Correction of dyslipidemia in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans as a
      method for improving the results of endovascular angioplasty].
AB  - The authors analyse the results of endovascular angioplasty of the pelvic and
      lower limb arteries in 147 patients of various age suffering from
      arteriosclerosis obliterans. It was found that the results of endovascular
      angioplasty depended on the state of the lipid balance. The necessity for
      correcting the shifts in the lipid metabolism is shown. The article evaluates the
      results of dyslipidemia correction by dietotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and
      operation for partial ilio-shunting in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans
      of the pelvic and lower limb arteries. The efficacy of the listed methods of
      treatment are analysed according to the severity of dyslipidemia.

PMID- 1457134
TI  - [Radionuclide evaluation of myocardial perfusion in patients who had undergone
      cardiomyoplasty].

PMID- 1457135
TI  - [Current view of sclerotherapy for varicose veins of the legs].

PMID- 1457136
TI  - [The use of isosorbide dinitrate during open heart surgery].

PMID- 1457137
TI  - [Changes in the functional state of patients after radical correction of
      tetralogy of Fallot].
AB  - The authors studied the changes in the functional condition of patients in the
      immediate and long-term periods after radical correction of Fallot's tetralogy.
      The values of the heart pumping and contractile functions at rest and during
      bicycle ergometer exercise were studied by tetrapolar chest rheography; oxygen
      consumption was studied by spirometry. Thirty patients were examined in the early
      postoperative period and then 6 and 12 months after the operation. The values
      were compared with those in healthy children. It is shown that 12 months after
      the operation the clinical condition improves, the physical capacity for work
      increases, and the exercise response is more adequate. Adequacy of the correction
      of the anomaly is the main determinant of the patients' functional condition by
      this time.

PMID- 1457138
TI  - [Possibilities of using plasma flow in lung surgery].
AB  - Experiments on 10 mongrel dogs demonstrated the efficacy and reliability of argon
      plasma flux in achieving hemo- and aerostasis in surgical debridement of gunshot
      wounds of the chest "Fakel" plasma surgical complexes were used as a source of
      plasma. A total of 43 operations were performed on patients whose ages ranged
      from 16 to 68 years: pulmonectomy 3, lobectomy 24, bilobectomy 4, atypical
      resection of the lung 4, pleurectomy with lung decortication 5, diagnostic
      thoracotomy 2, rib resection 1. Argon plasma flux was used in thoracotomy,
      treatment of wound surfaces of the lungs and pleura, separation of the interlobar
      fissures, and division of the main and lobar bronchi. The plasma flux produced an
      analgesic effect; as a result much less narcotics and analgesics were needed and
      physical activity was permitted earlier. The amount of discharge from the pleural
      cavity along the drain was 1.5-2 times less (200 +/- 40 ml) as compared to that
      in the traditional methods for conducting similar operations. No complications
      associated with application of plasma flux were noted. Incompetence of the
      bronchial stump, rethoracotomy for bleeding or suppuration were not encountered.

PMID- 1457139
TI  - [Effect of subtotal resection of costal cartilage on the basic chest dimensions
      in children with funnel chest deformity].
AB  - The paper summarizes the results of anthropometric and computed tomographic
      studies of the external and internal chest dimensions in 86 patients with Degree
      II-III infundibuliform chest deformity. Full resection of deformed cartilages of
      the third to seventh ribs has been examined for its impact. The children with
      infundibuliform chest deformity have been found to have an impressed
      anteroposterior dimension of the bilateral chest. The transversal and
      anteroposterior dimensions of the chest remain unchanged after removal of
      cartilages. The chest enlarges only sagittaly. One- and three-year follow-ups
      have indicated that full removal of the deformed cartilage has no impact on the
      growth of the chest.

PMID- 1457140
TI  - [External respiratory function in children with bilateral, chronic, nonspecific
      inflammatory disease of the lungs after surgical treatment].
AB  - The results of operative treatment of children with bilateral chronic unspecific
      inflammatory diseases of the lungs were studied in follow-up periods of up to 17
      years. Among the 73 patients studied, 19 had a history of bilateral and the
      remaining a history of unilateral resections. According to the findings of
      respiratory function examination, a combined type of ventilation disorders with
      mild hypoxemia and hypercapnia was characteristic of this group of patients
      before the operation. In the postoperative period the restrictive syndrome
      intensifies because the volume loss is not compensated for. There is a
      discrepancy between the clinical and functional data in evaluation of the results
      of the operation. However, in cases of good clinical results after extensive
      resections of the lungs a positive dynamics of the ventilation capacity of the
      lungs with increased oxygen tension in the arterial blood is recorded.

PMID- 1457141
TI  - [Correction of valvular insufficiency in chronic venous diseases of the lower
      extremities].

PMID- 1457142
TI  - [Successful prosthetic replacement of the pulmonary trunk during correction of
      tetralogy of Fallot in a child one year and 11 months old].

PMID- 1457143
TI  - [Intra-coronary thrombolytic therapy and direct myocardial revascularization in
      the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (experience at the A.N. Bakulev
      Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery)].

PMID- 1457144
TI  - [Multiple injury of the interventricular septum in closed chest trauma].

PMID- 1457145
TI  - [A case of surgical treatment in giant aneurysm of the right internal carotid
      artery].

PMID- 1457146
TI  - [Successful treatment of infected post-traumatic arteriovenous aneurysms of the
      neck].

PMID- 1457147
TI  - [Aorto-coronary and mammary-coronary bypass of the working heart without
      extracorporeal circulation in patients with ischemic heart disease and a history
      of two or more myocardial infarctions].
AB  - The paper shows how successfully surgical myocardial revascularization can be
      performed on the working heart without applying extracorporeal circulation in 17
      patients with a history of two or more myocardial infarctions. Deaths were not
      observed among the patients operated on. The follow-ups of the patients were 1-2
      months.

PMID- 1457148
TI  - Management of patients with schizophrenia in general practice.

PMID- 1457149
TI  - Desktop laboratory technology for general practice.

PMID- 1457150
TI  - Why do patients consult the general practitioner? Determinants of their decision.
AB  - In order to obtain more information about the reasons why patients consult their
      general practitioner 1000 patients completed a questionnaire in the waiting rooms
      of eight general practices. After the consultation the patients received a second
      questionnaire. The aim of the study was to determine why people decide to consult
      their general practitioner about one complaint but not about a second complaint.
      Both questionnaires were based on the health belief model, augmented by three
      other factors: the perceptions patients have of their own abilities to cope with
      their condition (efficacy of self care), their knowledge about the complaint and
      their need for information. The results showed that two of the additional factors
      (efficacy of self care and need for information) as well as most of the factors
      of the health belief model (efficacy of general practitioner care, perceived
      severity of complaint and cues to consult) were important determinants of
      consulting the general practitioner. The results suggest that patients sometimes
      expect information from their general practitioner rather than medical treatment.
      Furthermore, as the perceived efficacy of general practitioner care is also an
      important determinant, unnecessary consultation or unnecessary delay in treatment
      could be prevented by offering patients information about the potential
      effectiveness of medical care or self care for specific conditions. Implications
      for general practitioners' daily practice and future research are discussed.

PMID- 1457151
TI  - Comparison of the use of four desktop analysers in six urban general practices.
AB  - There is little data on the advantages and disadvantages of using desktop
      analysers in general practice. This prospective trial compared four of the
      analysers available in the United Kingdom, in six urban general practices, over a
      six month period. Of the 2619 tests where the time was noted, 55.8% were
      performed outside the hours when routine transport to a hospital laboratory was
      possible (after 12.00 hours). Of the 3530 tests performed the commonest were
      measurements of cholesterol (14.4 tests per 5000 patients per 30 days), glucose
      (6.0 tests) and haemoglobin (5.6 tests). Less than 5% of the tests were performed
      as an emergency despite the speed at which results are available. The main
      reasons for requesting the tests were screening or case finding (56.9%), with the
      remainder for monitoring chronic disease, especially diabetes and
      hypercholesterolaemia. There was evidence that the use of the machines in the
      four practices reduced requests for hospital laboratory blood tests by 24-40% of
      pre-study levels. However, there was a considerable increase in testing for
      cholesterol (three fold) and haemoglobin (eight fold) on the desktop analysers,
      compared with the number of laboratory tests requested before the study. The cost
      per test of using such machines is closely related to the level of activity and
      probably does not compete favourably with hospital testing unless several tests
      are performed each day. Quality control tests were within the specified limits on
      at least 98% of occasions, however these tests also identified the need for
      laboratory back up where a problem was found.

PMID- 1457152
TI  - Attitudes to community psychiatry among urban and rural general practitioners.
AB  - General practitioners' requirements for community psychiatric services may differ
      according to the area in which they practise. A questionnaire survey of general
      practitioners' attitudes to community psychiatric services is reported from three
      contrasting areas: an inner city urban area, a new town and a rural area. General
      practitioners in all areas wanted more consultation with psychiatrists, and 53
      68% wanted regular psychiatric outpatient clinics in their surgeries. There was
      enthusiasm for community psychiatric nurses and for help with psychotherapy. In
      the rural area general practitioners favoured surgery based psychiatric
      outpatient clinics and arranging emergency hospital admissions themselves; in
      urban areas domiciliary visits from psychiatrists to help with emergencies were
      favoured. These results appear to reflect the greater geographical distance
      between primary and hospital based secondary care in rural as opposed to urban
      areas. Overall, general practitioners wanted more support from community
      psychiatric services in carrying out their primary therapeutic role especially in
      rural areas far from hospital-based psychiatric services.

PMID- 1457153
TI  - Study of patients who chose private health care for treatment.
AB  - A questionnaire survey was carried out in 1991 in Wessex regional health
      authority of a sample of private patients having inpatient treatment in eight
      independent hospitals, and in pay beds in three National Health Service
      hospitals. A total of 649 patients replied (response rate 60.7%). Sixty
      respondents to the questionnaire were also interviewed. The aim of the study was
      to discover which groups of people chose private care rather than using the NHS,
      and why. In view of the current emphasis on consumerism in health care, the study
      also aimed to examine how patients exercised choice in a market situation and how
      well informed they were when they did so. The questionnaire asked about the role
      and influence of the general practitioner in patients' decisions to use private
      health care for treatment. The largest group of respondents were in the 36-50
      years age group (34.2%). Of the respondents 59.9% were women, 54.1% were in
      social class 2 and 77.3% were married or cohabiting. The most common reason for
      using private health care for treatment was to avoid NHS waiting lists (61.5% of
      respondents) although they did not necessarily know how long that wait would have
      been. Patients sought their general practitioner's opinion about whether to use
      private health care in 187 cases (28.8%). The majority of the 649 patients
      (71.2%) had decided to use private health care before consulting the general
      practitioner. However, patients were influenced by their general practitioner's
      advice on the choice of consultant and choice of hospital.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457154
TI  - Diagnostic yield from barium enemas: a study among patients referred by general
      practitioners and hospital outpatient departments.
AB  - Although the double contrast barium enema is the standard radiological
      examination of the colon, it is not universally available to patients referred by
      their general practitioners. A retrospective survey of all double contrast barium
      enemas carried out over a two year period in one health district was undertaken
      to determine the diagnostic yield of pathological findings for patients referred
      by general practitioners and hospital outpatient departments and for patients who
      had rigid sigmoidoscopy prior to the enema and those who did not. A total of 530
      patients were studied. The diagnostic yield for the hospital outpatients was
      41.6% and in the general practitioner group 35.6%. In the patients who had rigid
      sigmoidoscopy the yield was 42.7% compared with 32.6% in those who had no prior
      sigmoidoscopy. It is concluded that the withdrawal of direct access for barium
      enemas to general practitioner patients in this district because of a low
      diagnostic yield cannot be justified. The lower diagnostic yield in the patients
      who did not have sigmoidoscopy supports the policy of requiring this examination
      prior to all barium enemas.

PMID- 1457155
TI  - Audit and academic departments of general practice: a survey in the United
      Kingdom and Eire.
AB  - A questionnaire and telephone survey was carried out in April 1991 of all 31
      academic departments of general practice in the United Kingdom and Eire; 30
      departments responded. The aim of the study was to assess the departments' level
      of involvement in teaching about audit in the undergraduate curriculum, their
      role in the development of audit in primary care including involvement with
      medical audit advisory groups, whether they undertook teaching about audit to
      other health professionals and whether they were involved in audit related
      research. Eleven of 27 responding undergraduate departments provided formal
      teaching about audit and five intended to introduce it in the near future.
      Respondents expressed concerns about teaching audit to undergraduates, including
      lack of time in the curriculum, difficulties making the teaching relevant and
      interesting, and a lack of expertise and knowledge of the subject among the
      staff. All 29 departments in the UK were represented on medical audit advisory
      groups, and audit related research was being carried out in 24 undergraduate
      departments. The role of academic departments of general practice in the
      development of audit in primary care is discussed.

PMID- 1457156
TI  - Abnormal cervical smear test results: old dilemmas and new directions.
AB  - Primary care professionals play a major role in the cervical screening programme
      in the United Kingdom, especially since the new contract for general
      practitioners. Many aspects of the programme are still the subject of broad
      debate and detailed research. New policies regarding the programme are generated
      at various levels; feedback is not always made directly available to primary care
      teams. This review article attempts to summarize the current available literature
      on cervical screening, focusing on the meaning of minor degrees of dysplasia,
      cervical cancer in younger women, the role of the wart virus, frequency of smear
      tests, diagnosis and treatment, counselling, and concludes with practical advice
      to help the practice team.

PMID- 1457157
TI  - Paternalism and the doctor-patient relationship in general practice.
AB  - This paper is a brief introduction to the subject of paternalism as it occurs in
      general practice. A definition of paternalism is provided and the four main types
      of doctor-patient relationship within the paternalistic spectrum are described.
      These relationships are illustrated with examples from general practice. Some of
      the extensive literature on paternalism is reviewed. It is concluded that
      paternalism is rarely justified when treating patients of sound mind and then
      only where restoration of the patients' autonomy is the main aim.

PMID- 1457158
TI  - The College in my faculty.

PMID- 1457159
TI  - Cancer scare in general practice.

PMID- 1457160
TI  - Nitrite test for bacteriuria detection.

PMID- 1457161
TI  - Computer generated discharge summaries.

PMID- 1457162
TI  - General practice research.

PMID- 1457164
TI  - Telephone consultations.

PMID- 1457163
TI  - GP referrals for x-ray examination.

PMID- 1457165
TI  - Admission times for patients with myocardial infarct.

PMID- 1457166
TI  - GP working style and patient health status.

PMID- 1457167
TI  - Long term follow up of women who have had gestational diabetes.

PMID- 1457168
TI  - The case for a primary health care authority.

PMID- 1457169
TI  - A survey of links between mental health professionals and general practice in six
      district health authorities.
AB  - The aim of this study was to obtain an estimate of the extent to which
      collaborative schemes exist between general practice and mental health
      professionals and to assess the influence of practice size and district on these
      schemes. A questionnaire asking about such links was sent to each general
      practice in six randomly selected health districts in England. The response rate
      was 75%. Half of the 261 responding practices had a link with a community
      psychiatric nurse, 21% with a social worker, 17% with a counsellor, 15% with a
      clinical psychologist and 16% with a psychiatrist. Practices with more general
      practitioners were significantly more likely to have a link with a counsellor,
      after allowing for marked differences between the sizes of practices in the
      different districts. There was a tendency for some practices to have many links,
      while others had few. This poses questions about the efficiency and equity of
      collaborative schemes in primary care. Further research is required to
      investigate the quality of these links and the extent to which they serve the
      interests of the patient.

PMID- 1457170
TI  - Drug consumption during the first 18 months of life of infants from smoking and
      non-smoking families.
AB  - In a geographically well defined population in southern Sweden, a study was made
      of the overall consumption of drugs by infants during their first 18 months of
      life. The study population comprised 240 infants, of whom 90 were from families
      where tobacco was smoked by one or both parents and 150 were from non-smoking
      families. The investigation was carried out retrospectively by interviewing the
      mothers at the routine 18-month check up at the child health clinic, combined
      with study of the medical records at the district health centre, and at the
      paediatric and ear, nose and throat departments of the nearby hospital. In
      addition, the reliability of the interview method compared with review of medical
      records was investigated. Particular attention was paid to the consumption of
      antibiotics and the relationship between 'passive smoking' and consumption of
      antibiotics necessitated by respiratory tract infections. There was widespread
      use of both prescribed and non-prescription remedies. At the age of 18 months,
      about two thirds of all infants in the area had been prescribed an antibiotic (or
      other antibacterial agent) on at least one occasion. Infants from smoking
      families had been prescribed significantly more antibiotics than had infants from
      non-smoking families. The same pattern was also apparent for nose drops and
      dimethicone/dicyclomine hydrochloride. The incidence of respiratory tract
      infections requiring antibiotic treatment was higher in infants from smoking
      families than from non-smoking families in all the three-month age groups up to
      15 months. The responses to the retrospective interview accorded closely with the
      details recorded in the medical records.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457171
TI  - Morbidity in early childhood: differences between girls and boys under 10 years
      old.
AB  - The aim of the study was to investigate the differences in presented morbidity
      and use of health services among boys and girls in early childhood. The study was
      performed using data collected by the continuous morbidity registration project
      of the department of general practice at Nijmegen University. All recorded
      morbidity, referrals to specialists and admissions to hospitals were recorded by
      the registration project. The study population included children born in four
      practices from 1971 to 1984. The children were followed up until the age of five
      years and if possible until the age of 10 years. The morbidity of the children
      had been categorized into three levels of seriousness of diagnosis and 15
      diagnostic groups as part of the registration project. Boys presented more
      morbidity than girls in the first years of their lives. For the age group 0-4
      years this was true for all levels of seriousness of diagnosis except the most
      serious. In this younger age group significantly more boys than girls suffered
      respiratory diseases, behaviour disorders, gastroenteritis and accidents. Girls
      suffered from more episodes of urinary infection than boys in both age groups.
      More boys were referred to specialists and admitted to hospital than girls. The
      findings of this study suggest that not only inborn factors can explain the sex
      differences in presented morbidity and use of health services in early childhood.
      In particular, differences between girls and boys in terms of non-serious
      morbidity and referral and admission rates suggest a different way of handling
      health problems in boys and girls in early childhood both by parents and
      doctors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457172
TI  - Systematic care of diabetic patients in one general practice: how much does it
      cost?
AB  - This study examines the costs of running a method of systematic care for diabetic
      patients in one general practice--the monthly 'diabetic day'. Doctor, nurse,
      chiropodist, dietitian, clerical officer, building and stationery costs were
      included in the evaluation. The study took place in an inner city practice of
      seven partners based in a health centre. The cost per year of running the
      diabetic days was 1854.53 pounds to the practice and 4465.69 pounds to the
      National Health Service (1989 prices). The cost to the practice included family
      health services authority reimbursements and excluded the cost of the chiropodist
      and dietitian. The cost per attendance was 38.17 pounds to the NHS and 15.85
      pounds to the practice while the cost per patient per year was 58.00 pounds to
      the NHS and 24.08 pounds to the practice. The practice suffered a net loss after
      taking into account health promotion clinic payments received from the family
      health services authority. The cost to the NHS of each attendance at the practice
      was considerably greater than estimates of the cost of attendance at the
      outpatients department of a local trust hospital. However, it is argued that
      general practice has an essential role in the improvement of diabetic
      surveillance, and that an adequate remuneration package could transform the care
      of many patients with diabetes.

PMID- 1457173
TI  - Pre-recorded answerphone messages: influence on patients' feelings and behaviour
      in out of hours requests for visits.
AB  - The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate the feelings and behaviour
      of patients requesting out of hours visits on hearing pre-recorded answerphone
      messages. Actual messages which had been recorded were classified by a group of
      four people. Examples of each type of message were then played to a second group,
      of six people, who expressed their feelings about the varying messages. A third
      group, of 10 people, was asked to invent hypothetical emergency situations of
      increasing severity. For each of the emergency situations their proposed actions
      on hearing the different types of answerphone message were recorded. The results
      showed that people preferred short messages telling them what to do in an
      emergency and the time of the next surgery. They also felt that the message
      should be recorded by a doctor and not a receptionist and be delivered in a
      'neutral' tone. Proposed actions were not influenced by the content of the
      message or the person recording the message. The most important factor in
      deciding which action to take was the tone of the message. A 'strict' rather than
      a 'neutral' tone tended to discourage patients from calling out their doctor and
      was more likely to lead to inappropriate responses. It is suggested that
      answerphone messages recorded by the doctor, stating what to do in an emergency
      and the time of the next surgery, delivered in a neutral rather than a strict
      tone, will lead to the most appropriate responses from patients.

PMID- 1457174
TI  - Risk factors for coronary heart disease: a study in inner London.
AB  - A survey was carried out among 281 men and women aged between 30 and 64 years
      randomly selected from five general practices located in the inner London borough
      of Tower Hamlets, to determine the prevalence of risk factors for coronary heart
      disease. Smoking and obesity were both more pronounced in Tower Hamlets than in
      comparable national studies: 51% of men and 44% of women were smokers and 57% of
      these were smoking 20 or more cigarettes per day. A body mass index of 30 or more
      was present in 18% of men and 10% of women and a body mass index of 25 or more in
      71% of men and 49% of women. Two or more risk factors for coronary heart disease
      (smoking and/or hypertension and/or raised cholesterol levels) were present in
      25% of men and 22% of women. For every person known by their general practitioner
      to have established cardiovascular disease, there were an additional two people
      also at risk on the basis of multiple risk factors. In this inner city population
      the prevalence of cardiovascular risk, for women as well as men, has major
      resource and organizational implications for primary care. A strategy for change
      requires action based on graded multiple risks for both men and women.

PMID- 1457176
TI  - Involvement of lay visitors in general practice assessment visits.
AB  - Six practice assessment visits which jointly involved lay and medical visitors
      were arranged by the patient liaison group of the Royal College of General
      Practitioners. These visits were inspired by the 'What sort of doctor' report
      published by the RCGP in 1985. A subgroup of the patient liaison group adapted
      the assessment grid from the report to take account of involving lay visitors
      with doctors on practice visits. The visits were educationally valuable to the
      lay visitors, and also prompted some practical changes in the practices. This
      experiment might have further application in the development of fellowship by
      assessment or even in the process of reaccreditation of general practitioners.

PMID- 1457175
TI  - Improving mental health through primary care.
AB  - The government white paper Health of the nation has highlighted mental health as
      a key issue for the next decade. Primary care is being encouraged to take a
      leading role in developing effective services for people with mental health
      problems. This paper reviews current research on key aspects of mental health in
      adults: the prevalence of mental health problems, improving detection and
      management of mental health problems, the role of counselling, and communication
      between primary and secondary care. Recommendations are made for initiatives in
      both research and service development.

PMID- 1457177
TI  - All that is solid melts into air--the implications of community based
      undergraduate medical education.

PMID- 1457178
TI  - Postcoital contraception.

PMID- 1457179
TI  - Mood variability in asthmatic patients: a case report.

PMID- 1457180
TI  - Rare case of autoinoculation of orf.

PMID- 1457181
TI  - Primary ciliary dyskinesia.

PMID- 1457182
TI  - Acute herpes zoster, postherpetic neuralgia, acyclovir and amitriptyline.

PMID- 1457183
TI  - Curettage and cautery of skin conditions.

PMID- 1457184
TI  - Video recorded consultations and fellowship by assessment.

PMID- 1457185
TI  - On the historical origins of HIV-1 (MN) and (RF).

PMID- 1457186
TI  - The dilemma of AIDS vaccine and therapy. Possible clues from comparative
      pathogenesis with measles.
AB  - AIDS viruses, because of their unique properties, are extraordinary. Past
      successes achieved with vaccines against ordinary viruses do not provide the
      guidelines needed to develop successful vaccines against HIV. Neither vaccines
      nor drugs can be relied upon to provide an answer to AIDS. AIDS is a disease of
      immune dysfunction and destruction, and an alternative to prevention of infection
      or cure might lie with elimination of the clinical consequences of infection.
      This might find a basis in precise definition of its pathogenesis. The enormity
      of possible pathogenetic changes in HIV infection invites simplification, and
      might be aided by a search for clues among ordinary viruses in which there is a
      less complicated biology and spontaneous recovery from infection. Measles virus
      infection presents analogies to AIDS, especially in the induction of anergy and
      increased mortality, in the long term, from diseases other than measles as
      observed in children infected during early life. This was demonstrated recently
      in increased deaths, all causes, during a three-year period among infants who
      were given live measles virus vaccine of high infectivity titer during early
      infancy, sometimes in the presence of maternal antibody. AIDS and measles may be
      diseases of similar pathogenesis, but with the difference that AIDS
      immunopathology is progressive while that for measles is regressive.

PMID- 1457187
TI  - HIV-1 tropism: truth or consequences?

PMID- 1457188
TI  - Value of HIV transmembrane glycoprotein oligomers as target antigens in early
      detection of anti-env antibodies: a retraction.

PMID- 1457189
TI  - Kaposi's sarcoma: a review of gene expression and ultrastructure of KS spindle
      cells in vivo.
AB  - The ultrastructural features and the gene expression pattern of Kaposi's sarcoma
      (KS) spindle cells in vivo suggest that KS is a tumor of the mixed cell type. The
      expression pattern of cytokines and cytokine receptors in the tumor lesion,
      together with the results obtained from in vitro characterization of KS-derived
      cells, provide evidence that paracrine mechanisms of growth factor action are
      important for the maintenance of KS. The reports on virus infection of KS cells
      suggest an indirect role of virus infection in the induction of KS, most likely
      mediated by immunostimulation and subsequent production of cytokines.

PMID- 1457190
TI  - The control of the antibody isotype response to recombinant human
      immunodeficiency virus gp120 antigen by adjuvants.
AB  - Both saponin and muramyl dipeptide (MDP) formulated with a squalane-in-water
      emulsion of large particle size prepared with a vortex mixer were superior to
      Al(OH)3 as adjuvants for HIV gp120 in mice. All the adjuvants induced IgG1
      antibody, but saponin elicited the highest titers of IgG2a. The secretion of
      interleukin-5 (IL-5) and interferon gamma (IFN gamma) by lymph node cells
      cultured in vitro with gp120 was studied. All the cultures secreted IL-5, but
      only those from saponin-immunized mice produced IFN gamma, suggesting that
      saponin is capable of activating both the Th1 and TH2 T-cell subsets. The titers
      of neutralizing antibodies were low with both MDP and saponin, and they occurred
      in mice which were also positive for antibodies against a V3 loop peptide.
      Glucosaminylmuramyl dipeptide (GMDP) which is less pyrogenic than MDP and a
      nonpyrogenic analog GMDPA, displayed equivalent adjuvant activity to MDP. The
      level and isotype composition of antibodies induced by GMDP in combination with
      squalane emulsions depended on the dimension of the emulsion particles. With a
      large (2500 nm) particle size the response was confined to IgG1 in Balb/c mice,
      but when this was reduced to 150 nm by sonication the antibody response was
      increased and relatively high levels of IgG2a appeared in some mice.

PMID- 1457191
TI  - Serum IgA subclasses and molecular forms in HIV infection: selective increases in
      monomer and apparent restriction of the antibody response to IgA1 antibodies
      mainly directed at env glycoproteins.
AB  - In a study population representing different CDC stages of HIV infection, 58%
      exhibited IgA hypergammaglobulinemia resulting from proportional increases in
      both the IgA1 and the IgA2 subclasses. These increases were detected early in
      infection, did not correlate with CD4 count, and remained elevated throughout
      disease progression. Absolute concentrations of polymeric IgA present within each
      subclass were unchanged, indicating that increased production of monomeric IgA1
      and IgA2 were responsible for elevations of total IgA. These elevations were not
      completely attributable to a specific antibody response to viral infection, since
      Western blot analysis of purified IgA samples indicated that HIV-reactive IgA
      antibodies could be demonstrated only within the IgA1 subclass. Dominating IgA1
      anti-HIV responses were also observed in two secretory IgA samples isolated from
      colostrum of healthy HIV seropositive mothers, suggesting that a similar isotype
      restriction exists in the mucosal IgA compartment. The binding of IgA1 to HIV
      proteins contrasted markedly to that observed with identical concentrations of
      IgG purified from the sera of the same patients. While IgG reacted more intensely
      and broadly with all HIV proteins, IgA1 antibodies were directed predominantly
      against envelope glycoproteins. In many patients, a total lack of IgA1 reactivity
      to gag and pol proteins was accompanied by intact IgG responses to these same
      antigens. Though all IgA samples examined reacted with HIV, fewer responses to
      gp160, gp120, and p24 were observed in samples from AIDS and AIDS-related complex
      (ARC) patients, suggesting a declining titer of IgA antibodies against these
      antigens may be associated with disease progression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1457192
TI  - HIV-1 matrix protein p17 resides in cell nuclei in association with genomic RNA.
AB  - We have shown previously that HIV-1 matrix protein p17 is transported to the
      nucleus of Jurkat-tat and H9 cells soon after infection. As shown in this
      combination, gag polyprotein p55 synthesized 48 h after cell infection is cleaved
      in cytosol rapidly after its synthesis, and nascent p17 enters the nuclei and
      gradually accumulates there. Uncleaved p55 molecules and intermediate precursors
      are rapidly transported to the membranes and are also found in nuclei. Mature gag
      proteins are seen in membranes only after prolonged period of labelling or chase
      (4 or more hours later). To determine whether the nascent p17 is associated with
      viral genomic RNA in the nuclei, the cells were fractionated, the viral complexes
      were immunoprecipitated by monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against gag proteins, and
      RNA was extracted and analyzed by slot and blot hybridization. MAb against p17
      precipitated all the viral RNA from the nuclei including full-size genomic RNA
      and essential parts from membranes while MAb against p24 did not precipitate any
      viral RNA from the nuclei. These data suggest that matrix protein is linked to
      genomic RNA in the nuclei and raise the possibility that p17 may transfer viral
      nucleocapsids from the nuclei to plasma membranes, the site of virus assembly.

PMID- 1457193
TI  - Genetic and functional analysis of a set of HIV-1 envelope genes obtained from
      biological clones with varying syncytium-inducing capacities.
AB  - To study HIV-1 envelope-mediated syncytium formation we have amplified, cloned,
      expressed, and sequenced individual envelope genes from a set of eight biological
      HIV-1 clones. These clones were obtained from two patients and display either a
      syncytium-inducing (SI) or nonsyncytium-inducing (NSI) phenotype. Upon expression
      through recombinant vaccinia virus, individual envelope gene products display
      heterogeneous syncytium-inducing capacities which reflect the phenotype of the
      parental biological HIV-1 clones in all cases. For the eight biological HIV-1
      clones presented here, variation of the envelope gene alone is sufficient to
      explain the observed variable syncytium-inducing capacity of the respective
      parental viruses. In addition we determined the complete nucleotide sequence of
      these envelope genes. The predicted amino acid sequence revealed a considerable
      amount of variation located mainly in the previously denominated variable
      regions. In various regions of envelope genes obtained from the same patient,
      phenotype associated amino acid variation was found. This phenotype associated
      amino acid variation however, is not conserved between the two sets of envelope
      genes derived from different patients. Four envelope sequences derived from
      clones obtained from one patient showed phenotype-associated amino acid variation
      in the fusion domain. Sequencing of 12 additional fusion domains revealed that
      this same variation is found in four additional clones. However, a functional
      test performed on recombinant vaccinia expressing mutant envelope genes showed
      that this observed fusion domain variation does not contribute to the variation
      in syncytium-inducing capacity of the envelope gene product.

PMID- 1457194
TI  - HIV-1-induced cytopathogenicity in cell culture despite very decreased amounts of
      fusion-competent viral glycoprotein.
AB  - In order to examine the potential role of env-induced membrane fusion in the
      cytopathogenic properties of HIV-1 in cell culture, the effects of mutations
      within the proteolytic cleavage site of gp160, which result in a reduction but
      not a complete absence of proteolytic processing have been further studied. Cells
      expressing the mutant glycoproteins were shown to be severely reduced in their
      capacity to form syncytia. However, viruses encoding these glycoproteins could
      infect cell culture cells, albeit with delayed kinetics, and, at late infection
      time points, resulted in complete cytolysis of the infected culture. Since
      amplification by polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing of the DNA in
      the infected cultures confirmed the presence of the mutant and the absence of
      revertant DNA, this shows that the amount of fusion competent viral glycoprotein
      does not influence HIV-1 cytopathogenicity, but rather that other parameters must
      be involved in inducing cell death.

PMID- 1457195
TI  - Properties of HIV membrane reconstituted from its recombinant gp160 envelope
      glycoprotein.
AB  - Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) membrane has been reconstituted from the
      recombinant envelope glycoprotein precursor (gp160) by a detergent dialysis
      technique. Electron microscopy shows that gp160-virosomes are spherical vesicles
      with a mean diameter identical to that of viral particles. Enzyme-linked
      immunosorbent assay and immunogold labeling demonstrate efficient association of
      gp160 with lipid vesicles and proteolysis treatment reveals an asymmetric
      insertion with about 90% of glycoproteins having their gp120-moiety pointing
      outside. Glycoproteins are organized as dimers and tetramers and gp160 retains
      its ability to specifically bind CD4 receptor after reconstitution into virosome.

PMID- 1457196
TI  - Relevance of the quantitative detection of HIV proviral sequences in PBMC of
      infected individuals.
AB  - Changes in HIV replication during progression of HIV infection were assessed by
      estimation of the number of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) harboring
      HIV proviral sequences. Samples from 23 patients at different stages of HIV
      infection were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using GAG
      primers. HIV titers in PBMC were also determined by serial dilutions of cells in
      coculture with phytohemagglutinin-activated normal PBMC. A positive correlation
      was observed between the number of HIV DNA copies and the HIV titer in PBMC. The
      PCR test was more sensitive than the coculture technique. The number of HIV
      copies detected by PCR ranged from 50 to 10,500 per 10(6) PBMC: assuming one copy
      per cell this implies a frequency of proviral HIV-containing cells of one per 100
      to one per 20,000 mononuclear cells. The mean number of HIV DNA sequences in PBMC
      was significantly lower in asymptomatic patients than in AIDS patients and
      patients with AIDS-related complex (ARC). In patients who progressed from
      asymptomatic infection to AIDS, the number of HIV DNA copies in PBMC rose,
      indicating an increase of HIV replication. These results show that the number of
      infected PBMC increases during clinical progression. However, some asymptomatic
      patients had a higher number of HIV DNA copies in their PBMCs suggesting that
      increased HIV replication precedes the appearance of clinical symptoms.

PMID- 1457198
TI  - Areas of sequence homology between several staphylococcal exotoxin
      "superantigens" and the HIV-1 pol protein.

PMID- 1457197
TI  - On the historical origins of HIV-1 (MN) and (RF).

PMID- 1457199
TI  - Weight of HIV.

PMID- 1457200
TI  - Signature pattern analysis: a method for assessing viral sequence relatedness.
AB  - Signature pattern analysis identifies particular sites in amino acid or nucleic
      acid alignments of variable sequences that are distinctly representative of a
      query set of sequences relative to a background set. We explore the merits of
      using signature patterns for analysis of HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus type
      1) sequences in cases of epidemiological linkage and potential superinfection.
      For these purposes, query sets are viral sequences that are all derived from one
      HIV-1 infected individual, hence the signature pattern is the array of sites that
      are characteristic of the range of viral variants obtained from that person. Once
      a signature pattern has been objectively defined, it can be used to examine other
      viral sequences from other individuals for evidence of genetic relatedness. A
      computer program to facilitate this analysis, VESPA, is described and applied to
      sequence data gathered during the investigation of HIV-1 transmission in a dental
      practice. The implications of signature polymorphisms seen within an infected
      individual, and shared polymorphisms between linked individuals, are also
      considered. VESPA may also be applied to the molecular analysis of biological
      phenotypes.

PMID- 1457201
TI  - Convergent evolution in the homology between HIV gp160 and HLA class II
      molecules.

PMID- 1457202
TI  - Interaction of human immunodeficiency virus with human macrovascular endothelial
      cells in vitro.

PMID- 1457203
TI  - Conserved structural features in the interaction between retroviral surface and
      transmembrane glycoproteins?
AB  - Among the retroviruses, the surface (SU) and transmembrane (TM) glycoproteins of
      lentiviruses are linked exclusively by noncovalent bonds. For some C-type
      retroviruses, however, a small proportion of the SU proteins has been shown to be
      linked to their TM proteins by a disulfide bond, with the remainder being
      noncovalently associated. A region near the carboxyl terminus of the HIV-1 SU
      glycoprotein has been implicated in contacting the TM glycoprotein. Computer
      modelling indicates that this region of divergent lentivirus and oncovirus SU
      glycoproteins forms a structurally conserved "pocket" which could accommodate a
      "knob"-like protrusion formed by an immunodominant region in the TM protein
      containing the CxxxxxC (lentiviruses) or CxxxxxxCC (C- and D-type viruses) motif.
      An anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody, raised against a monoclonal antibody
      reacting with a sequence in the "pocket" of HIV-1 gp120, was found to bind to
      synthetic peptides close to the CxxxxxC motif. It is suggested that part of the
      SU-TM linkage mechanism for the lentiviruses and oncoviruses is a 'knob and
      socket' structure and that the interaction between SU and TM proteins is similar
      in one region for lentiviruses and C-type as well as D-type viruses. The
      conserved knob and socket linkage may be relevant to a mechanism for viral-cell
      membrane fusion that is broadly common to all of these retroviruses.

PMID- 1457204
TI  - Unusual amino acid sequence of the second Ig-like domain of the feline CD4
      protein.
AB  - We have cloned and sequenced the cDNA for cat CD4. The overall amino-acid
      sequence of cat CD4 is similar to that from the primate and rodent CD4 molecules,
      with a 58% identity between the cat and human sequences. Comparison to the
      crystal structure of human CD4 does, however, reveal unusual features in the
      second Ig-like domain, D2, of cat CD4. First, a reciprocal substitution between a
      tryptophan and a cysteine, this latter involved in an intrasheet disulfide bond
      of human D2, is predicted to generate an intrastrand disulfide bond, a feature
      rarely observed in an Ig-fold. Second, a large serine-threonine-rich insertion is
      found between the A and B beta strands of D2. This sequence is a potential O
      linked glycosylation site, and should protrude in a region that appears flexible
      in human CD4. This unusual insertion could affect the interaction of cat CD4 with
      class II molecules, or with FIV, a feline homolog of HIV. The expression of cat
      CD4 in different environment, or of a mutated human CD4 carrying the cat
      insertion, should help in understanding the role of cat CD4 as a putative
      receptor for FIV, and the CD4/MHC class II interaction.

PMID- 1457205
TI  - LFA-1 adhesion molecules are not involved in the early stages of HIV-1 env
      mediated cell membrane fusion.
AB  - A recently developed sensitive assay to examine the early stages of HIV-1 env
      mediated cell fusion is based on the redistribution of fluorescent dyes between
      membranes and cytoplasm of adjacent cells, monitored by fluorescence video
      microscopy. This assay demonstrated that membrane fusion can occur under
      conditions where no syncytia are formed. Fusion started earlier than syncytia
      formation and was not very sensitive to HIV-1 env+/CD4+ cell ratios. In the
      current study, this assay was used to determine the role of LFA-1 in HIV-1 env
      mediated membrane fusion and syncytia formation. CD4- LFA-1- Epstein-Barr virus
      transformed lines from two leukocyte adhesion deficiency patients were infected
      with recombinant vaccinia expressing gp120/41 (HIV-IIIB), and cocultured with
      CD4+ subclones of the human T cell line CEM, which were generated by chemical
      mutagenesis and express either normal (LFA-1+), or low levels of LFA-1 (LFA-1lo).
      It was found that the LFA-1lo T-cell clone formed much smaller and fewer syncytia
      compared to the LFA-1+ subclones, but both clones fused equally well with the
      gp120/41 expressing LFA-1- B cells as monitored by redistribution of fluorescent
      dyes. Furthermore, monoclonal antibodies against the LFA-1 molecules reduced the
      number of syncytia formed but had no effect on membrane fusion. These findings
      demonstrate that the adhesion molecule LFA-1 does not play a crucial role in the
      early events of HIV-1 env-mediated cell membrane fusion, but may contribute to
      the later events leading to giant cell formation.

PMID- 1457206
TI  - Sulfated polyester interactions with the CD4 molecule and with the third variable
      loop domain (v3) of gp120 are chemically distinct.
AB  - Sulfated polyesters (SP) that inhibit HIV infection interact with both the gp120
      binding region of CD4 molecules and with the v3 domain loop of gp120 molecules
      (gp120/v3) but the contributions of these interactions to the inhibition of HIV
      env-mediated fusion are presently unclear. In order to characterize the molecular
      mechanisms by which SP inhibit HIV env-mediated fusion, we studied the effect of
      SP treatment on env-mediated fusion of CD4+ cells driven by recombinant vaccinia
      virus (vPE-16) and on the binding of anti-HIV MAbs to cellular gp120 or purified,
      rgp120. SP were more effective than neutralizing anti-gp120/v3 MAbs in inhibiting
      env-mediated fusion. In addition, SP interacted with the v3 loop of gp120 to
      inhibit the binding of the neutralizing MAb 9284 but not the binding of 9305, a
      neutralizing anti-gp120/v3 MAb that binds to an adjacent epitope. Because SP are
      polyanions, we compared the chemical properties of the SP-gp120/v3 and SP-CD4
      interactions. Whereas the ability of SP to inhibit the binding of MAb 9284 and
      rgp120 was relatively independent of NaCl concentrations, the ability of SP to
      interfere with rCD4-rgp120 binding depended on the NaCl concentration and was
      maximal at low NaCl concentrations. In addition, the SP-gp120 interaction was
      found to be reversible, in contrast to the SP-rCD4 interaction which was
      previously shown to be relatively irreversible at low salt. These data are
      consistent with the notions that the interaction of SP with CD4 is primarily
      electrostatic, but that the interaction of SP with gp120 has complex
      characteristics that implicate a role for protein conformation.

PMID- 1457207
TI  - Studies on the role of the V3 loop in human immunodeficiency virus type 1
      envelope glycoprotein function.
AB  - Mutations within the principal neutralizing determinant (the V3 loop) of the HIV
      1 surface envelope glycoprotein gp120 block or greatly reduce the ability of the
      HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein to induce cell fusion in CD4+ HeLa T4 cells while
      keeping its CD4 binding ability. However, when either cysteine or both cysteines
      forming the V3 disulfide bridge were mutated, the resultant glycoprotein could
      not mediate cell fusion, undergo proteolytic processing, or bind CD4. To
      investigate the role that the V3 loop plays in gp160 processing and CD4 binding,
      we deleted the entire V3 loop region of the HIV-1 env gene. The resultant
      glycoprotein could not mediate cell fusion in the HeLa T4 cell line and no
      proteolytic processing of gp160 or CD4 binding could be detected. To test whether
      any domain of the V3 loop is involved in attaining the proper envelope
      glycoprotein conformation required for proteolytic processing and CD4 binding, we
      introduced a series of deletions into the coding region of the V3 loop. Most of
      the residues within the V3 loop could be removed while retaining gp160 processing
      and CD4 binding. Our results indicate that the cysteines that form the V3 loop or
      the disulfide bond itself are important for proper envelope glycoprotein folding
      and processing. Because many of the mutants constructed in this study do not
      contain the type-specific neutralizing determinant of HIV-1, they may be
      potential reagents to bind group-specific neutralizing antibodies or to elicit a
      group-specific neutralizing response against HIV-1.

PMID- 1457208
TI  - Analysis of the envelope region of the highly divergent HIV-2ALT isolate extends
      the known range of variability within the primate immunodeficiency viruses.
AB  - HIV-2ALT is a highly divergent HIV-2-related isolate that is genetically
      equidistant to the prototypic HIV-2 strains, defined by HIV-2ROD, and to the
      simian immunodeficiency viruses SIVmac and SIVsm. We have now cloned and
      sequenced the envelope region of HIV-2ALT, thus completing the analysis of the
      whole viral genome. The sequences of env and nef and of the second exons of tat
      and rev were compared with those of the other viruses of the HIV-2/SIVsm/SIVmac
      group. Despite of the high degree of variation of HIV-2ALT, functional domains of
      the genes are conserved. Although in env, the overall pattern of constant and
      variable domains is maintained, many single amino acid exchanges exist at
      positions previously thought to be constant in HIV-2 strains. In addition, when
      compared with a broader spectrum of immunodeficiency viruses, which includes
      SIVMND from mandrill and SIVAGM from African green monkey, HIV-2ALT Env has a
      high percentage of amino acid exchanges, which are unique to this strain. This
      underlines the separate branch of HIV-2ALT within the phylogenetic tree and makes
      obvious the inclusion of such divergent strains in preventive and therapeutic
      programs.

PMID- 1457209
TI  - Infection of rhesus and cynomolgus macaques with a rapidly fatal SIV (SIVSMM/PBj)
      isolate from sooty mangabeys.
AB  - A variant of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVSMM/PBj), isolated from a
      chronically infected pig-tailed macaque has been shown in previous studies to
      produce acutely fatal disease uniformly in pig-tailed macaques and in some rhesus
      macaques. The present study extends investigation of SIVSMM/PBj pathogenesis in
      rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys. Cynomolgus and rhesus macaques were found to be
      uniformly susceptible to infection, but as previously reported, the rhesus were
      found to not be uniform in their response during the acute disease. Homogenized
      tissues from a rhesus that died acutely from SIVSMM/PBj were passaged to 6 rhesus
      monkeys in an attempt to increase lethality. Five of 6 rhesus monkeys receiving
      intravenous inoculation of either spleen (10(3) TCID50) or lymph node (10(5)
      TCID50) homogenate developed acute disease; 4 died (days 8-10), 1 recovered, and
      one rhesus remained asymptomatic. Three of 3 cynomolgus macaques and 4 of 4 pig
      tailed macaques receiving the same inoculum died acutely within 9 days. Clinical
      disease in macaques that died was characterized by diffuse lymphadenopathy within
      5 days of inoculation and severe diarrhea beginning 1 to 3 days before death.
      Anorexia, lymphopenia (< 1000 cells/mm3), and mild hypoalbuminemia preceded onset
      of diarrhea by 24 h. Viral p27 was detected in circulation by day 6
      postinfection, with all animals dying acutely having detectable serum p27 and no
      detectable humoral response. Acute lethality was attributed to severe metabolic
      acidosis (pH < 7.20) which was observed 24-48 h prior to death in the pig-tailed
      and cynomolgus macaques. Immunohistochemistry revealed numerous SIV antigen
      positive lymphocytes and macrophages in the lymph nodes, spleen, gut-associated
      lymphoid tissues and gastrointestinal lamina propria. Histopathologic lesions
      included marked to severe hyperplasia of the T-cell-dependent areas in lymphoid
      tissues and diffuse nonulcerative lymphohistiocytic gastroenteritis. Surviving
      rhesus developed strong humoral immune responses to the major SIV proteins.

PMID- 1457210
TI  - Detection of anti-human cell antibodies in sera from macaques immunized with
      whole inactivated virus.
AB  - More than 200 sera from macaques immunized with several different vaccine
      preparations were tested in various assays with cells of human and macaque
      origin. Only in instances where whole inactivated SIV preparations were used for
      immunization, were reactivities found with normal human cells, and this was the
      case in every instance. Such sera produced a marked clumping of several normal
      human cell lines and exhibited strong staining of the cell surface in FACS
      analysis. In the presence of SIVDeltaB670, these sera also enhanced infectivity
      and fusion formation. When similar tests were performed with macaque cells as
      targets, such phenomena were not easily discernible. Likewise, there was no trace
      of such activities in sera from normal animals, animals chronically infected with
      SIV, or in those from animals which received recombinant viral subunits as
      vaccines. Finally, we show that in several instances where whole inactivated
      virus was used as a vaccine, there is a strong correlation between the titer of
      anticellular activity with protection.

PMID- 1457211
TI  - Analysis of HIV-1 envelope mutants and pseudotyping of replication-defective HIV
      1 vectors by genetic complementation.
AB  - Infectious HIV-1 particles containing replication-defective vectors that express
      the hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene were generated by transient
      complementation in COS-1 cells. A defective vector dependent only on trans
      complementation with an env gene and a small vector containing a deletion of
      almost all of the trans region were used to examine pseudotyping of HIV-1 by an
      amphotropic murine retrovirus. Although pseudotyping by the heterologous envelope
      glycoprotein occurred with efficiency, no pseudotyping at the RNA level was
      observed. Genetic complementation was used to rapidly analyze the effect of env
      mutations in the V3, proteolytic processing site, fusion domain, and cytoplasmic
      tail on viral infectivity. Mutations decreasing syncytium formation usually also
      lowered infectivity. However, a mutation in the cytoplasmic tail and a separate
      mutation adjacent to the fusion domain dramatically decreased viral particle
      infectivity but did not appreciably decrease envelope glycoprotein-mediated cell
      to-cell fusion. These results may indicate that these regions of the
      transmembrane peptide are necessary for acquisition of envelope glycoprotein by
      budding virus particles or for virus entry.

PMID- 1457212
TI  - Differential tropism of clinical HIV-1 isolates for primary monocytes and
      promonocytic cell lines.
AB  - Previously we demonstrated a correlation between a nonsyncytium-inducing (NSI),
      non-T-cell line tropic phenotype of HIV-1 isolates and the capacity to replicate
      in primary monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM). Here we demonstrate that these
      NSI, monocytotropic HIV-1 isolates lack the capacity to replicate in two
      promonocytic cell-lines, HL60 and U937. In contrast, most syncytium-inducing (SI)
      HIV-1 isolates with tropism for T-cell lines and generally non-monocytotropic
      were able to establish a productive infection in promonocytic cell lines. Similar
      differences in tropism for monocytes and promonocytic cell lines were observed
      with infectious molecular clones. Our results indicate that virological studies
      on promonocytic cell lines do not necessarily pertain to the HIV-1 infection of
      monocytes in vivo.

PMID- 1457213
TI  - HIV-1 infection of the trophoblast cell line BeWo: a study of virus uptake.
AB  - An in vitro model has made it possible to demonstrate HIV transmission from
      infected lymphocytes to placental trophoblast cells via endocytosis. Upon
      addition to cultured trophoblast cells (BeWo), chronically HIV-infected
      lymphocytic cells (MOLT-4) adhered to the epithelial cells via a complex of newly
      induced microvilli. Though viruses were infrequently seen in the infected
      lymphocytic cell line, mature virions appeared promptly and profusely in the
      interstices between the interdigitating microvilli of the two cell types. Virions
      appeared to bud from the lymphocyte donor cells at the point of cell-to-cell
      contact and were rapidly taken up by the trophoblast cells via an endocytic
      mechanism involving coated pits, endosomes, and lysosomes. Electron microscopic
      observations suggest that HIV may later escape into the trophoblast cytoplasm by
      fusing with the endosome membrane or by lysing the lysosome membrane.
      Coincubation for 1 h was sufficient to establish HIV infection in the trophoblast
      cell line. Four weeks after thoroughly washing out the donor lymphocytic cells,
      HIV RNA was demonstrated in clusters of BeWo cells by in situ hybridization, and
      p24 antigen was localized with immunocytochemistry. Soluble CD4 did not block
      infection as measured by p24 ELISA. The HIV infection was productive and chronic
      as demonstrated by cocultivating the BeWo cells with indicator lymphocytes 4
      weeks after the initial infection. This study, demonstrating a mechanism of HIV
      transmission, expands upon previous observations that trophoblast cell lines
      lacking the CD4 viral receptor can nevertheless be infected by HIV and can
      support productive infection.

PMID- 1457214
TI  - Modulation of glucocorticoid binding to rat liver cytosol receptor by lipid
      soluble extracts from the serum of AIDS patients.
AB  - The total liposoluble extract of sera from AIDS patients, IVC1 and IVD stages,
      containing cortisol and free fatty acids (FFA) inhibited [3H]dexamethasone
      binding to a lesser extent than did the same quantity of total liposoluble
      extract of sera from healthy men. FFA isolated from extracts of AIDS sera by
      Sephadex LH20 chromatography had less effect on [3H]dexamethasone binding to rat
      liver glucocorticoid receptor than those extracted from sera of healthy men.
      These results suggest the presence in sera of AIDS patients of a liposoluble
      substance which could be limiting the inhibitory effect of FFA on
      [3H]dexamethasone binding to glucocorticoid receptor by inducing a conformational
      change in glucocorticoid receptor that could alter the biological action of
      glucocorticoids. The pathological consequence could be the apparent contradiction
      of high cortisolemia and clinical symptoms of adrenal insufficiency that have
      been observed in AIDS patients.

PMID- 1457215
TI  - Dendritic cells from patients with tropical spastic paraparesis are infected with
      HTLV-1 and stimulate autologous lymphocyte proliferation.
AB  - Dendritic cells (DC), important antigen-presenting cells for recruiting T cells
      into immune responses, are susceptible to infection with HIV-1 and this can cause
      either stimulatory or suppressive effects on T cells. We examined another human
      retrovirus, HTLV-1, to determine whether DC were infected and caused any changes
      in T-cell function. Patients infected with HTLV-1 who have tropical spastic
      paraparesis (TSP) show high 'spontaneous' lymphocyte proliferation. We studied
      the basis for this by analyzing the interactions in vitro between lymphocytes and
      antigen-presenting cells and compared cells taken from HTLV-1-positive TSP
      patients with those taken from HTLV-1-positive healthy carriers and HTLV-1
      negative family members. In HTLV-1-positive individuals, 0.4-5.1% of the DC were
      infected with HTLV-1 as determined by in situ hybridisation. In TSP patients,
      depletion of DC and purification of T cells abolished 'spontaneous' lymphocyte
      proliferation. Reinstating the DC, but not B cells or macrophages, restored
      proliferation, an effect that was blocked by antibodies either to class II major
      histocompatibility antigens or to HTLV-1 itself. Thus, presentation of HTLV-1
      antigens by infected DC to autologous T cells could result in the abnormal T-cell
      proliferation and cause the inflammatory reaction leading to tissue damage in
      TSP. We also speculate that persistent infection of DC with HTLV-1 and consequent
      continuous stimulation of T cells might be instrumental in the development of
      HTLV-1-mediated T-cell leukemia.

PMID- 1457216
TI  - Dysregulation of adult T-cell leukemia-derived factor (ADF)/thioredoxin in HIV
      infection: loss of ADF high-producer cells in lymphoid tissues of AIDS patients.
AB  - Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL)-derived factor (ADF) is a multifunctional protein
      homologous to thioredoxin (TRX) with co-cytokine and thiol-dependent reducing
      activities. ADF/thioredoxin production is enhanced in T cells transformed by HTLV
      I. We have examined the effect of HIV-1 infection on ADF/TRX expression using
      specific antibody against ADF/TRX. Lymph nodes from 5 AIDS and 1 AIDS-related
      complex (ARC) patients were examined. As a control, 8 HIV noninfected lymph
      nodes, including 3 cases with hyperplasia, were also examined.
      Immunohistopathological studies using normal HIV noninfected lymph nodes showed
      that ADF/TRX high-producer (ADFh) cells were macrophages and cells with dendritic
      morphology in the paracortical area. Abundant ADFh cells were observed in HIV
      noninfected hyperplastic lymph nodes. The number of ADFh cells was low in
      hyperplastic lymph nodes from an ARC patient. All of the lymph nodes of 5 AIDS
      cases were atrophic and the number of ADFh cells were extremely low. To verify
      these histochemical studies, we examined the effect of in vitro HIV infection on
      ADF/TRX expression in HTLV-I (+) T-cell lines. Western blot analysis showed that
      a reduction of ADF/TRX in HIV-1-infected SKT-1B and MT-2 cells, and the reduction
      inversely correlated with p24 antigen level. On the basis of the above in vivo
      and in vitro findings, we imply that the levels of ADF/TRX were down-regulated by
      HIV-1 infection and that the down-regulation may play a role for pathophysiology
      of HIV-infected individuals.

PMID- 1457217
TI  - Characterization of oxyphenarsine as a potential antiviral agent for AIDS.
AB  - The historical antisyphilis drug oxyphenarsine has been tested for antiviral
      activity and for cytotoxicity to characterize it as a potential therapy for
      treatment of HIV infections. These data show that the compound demonstrates
      marginal antiviral activity against the HTLV-IIIB strain of HIV-1, two clinical
      isolates of HIV-1 (one sensitive to AZT and one resistant), and the MS strain of
      HIV-2. However, treatment with concentrations of oxyphenarsine showing optimal
      anti-HIV activity resulted in significant cytotoxicity. The drug's selectivity
      index was not significantly improved when tested against H9 cells chronically
      infected with the HTLV-IIIB strain of HIV-1. Thus, despite a previous report
      suggesting significant antiviral activity and low cytotoxicity for oxyphenarsine,
      the data presented here do not provide support for further development of this
      drug as an anti-HIV agent.

PMID- 1457218
TI  - Rapid complementation assay for anti-HIV-1 drug screening and analysis of
      envelope protein function.
AB  - A complementation assay is described that can be used with relative safety to
      quantitate rapidly inhibitory effects of potential anti-HIV-1 drugs on virtually
      any stage of the HIV-1 life cycle by measurements of chloramphenicol
      acetyltransferase (CAT) activity. Of particular interest is that this system is
      also capable of detecting inhibition of the viral trans-activator Rev, an
      important potential target for drug intervention. Other applications of the
      system may include studies to identify domains of the envelope glycoprotein that
      determine infectivity and tropism or that define epitopes recognized by
      neutralization antibodies.

PMID- 1457219
TI  - Rapid and simple characterization of in vivo HIV-1 sequences using solid-phase
      direct sequencing.
AB  - Solid-phase direct sequencing was used to obtain in vivo sequence data of
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified HIV-1 p25/p7 gene segments. The solid
      phase sequencing method was compared to double-strand sequencing of preparative
      gel electrophoresis-purified amplification products and found to give more
      consistent results. Lysates of cells were compared to purified DNA as PCR
      template. HIV-1 sequences were as well amplified from lysates as from purified
      DNA and 7,780 bp of sequence from 41 samples were produced by direct sequencing.
      Sequence analysis revealed common sequence motifs relating the sequence to the
      Euroamerican and African groups of sequences previously described. The results
      indicate that many viruses of diverse origin circulate in Finland, although the
      majority seems to be of Euroamerican type. Solid-phase direct sequencing may
      provide a valuable tool for both epidemiological and pathogenic studies of in
      vivo HIV-1 infections.

PMID- 1457220
TI  - Hospice and hope: an incompatible duo.

PMID- 1457221
TI  - Regulations vs. ideals: a case history of a hospice closure.
AB  - The cost of health care and health insurance and the increasing number of
      Americans without access to basic health services has become a primary issue in
      today's society. Leading politicians, economists, planners, and private
      individuals recognize the essential need to re-design the system and provide
      coverage to all Americans. However, the history of programs strangling in the red
      tape created by inflexible regulatory efforts to set standards, monitor
      performance, and control costs, thereby denying access to individuals they were
      specifically designed to serve, points to the need for an equally new approach to
      planning such a system. The authors have attempted to illustrate, through the
      case history of the closure of a hospice serving a poor socioeconomic area of New
      York City, the need for government regulators, program planners, and caregivers
      to recognize and define common goals and develop flexible and cooperative working
      relationships.

PMID- 1457222
TI  - Two nursing study tours.

PMID- 1457223
TI  - Terminal care in primary care postgraduate medical education programs: a national
      survey.

PMID- 1457224
TI  - What is a non-profit hospice?

PMID- 1457225
TI  - Cancer pain management. How are we doing?

PMID- 1457226
TI  - Imagination: the lost art.

PMID- 1457227
TI  - The last few days.
AB  - In the dying patient, coma is preceded by either progressive sedation or the
      development of the organic brain syndrome of delirium. More than one-third of
      dying patients experience some difficulties during the last 48 hours of life with
      noisy and moist breathing, pain, and agitation and restlessness the most common.
      The great majority of these terminal symptoms can be managed by reassurance or
      drug intervention. Sublingual lorazepam and continuous subcutaneous infusion of
      midazolam can be effective in controlling terminal restlessness.

PMID- 1457228
TI  - Preparing for the death of a loved one.

PMID- 1457229
TI  - Music dying.

PMID- 1457230
TI  - Knowing what death and the process of dying is all about.

PMID- 1457231
TI  - Her 68-year old face was wrinkled, emaciated and jaundiced.

PMID- 1457232
TI  - Hospice research: the importance of program participation.
AB  - Hospice research is needed in order to understand the complex phenomena of
      holistic care for terminally ill persons and their families. Hospice program
      participation is key to future hospice research efforts. The purpose of this
      article is to encourage hospice programs to participate in hospice research. The
      discussion includes why research is done, who undertakes a research project, the
      role of institutional review boards in assuring rights of human subjects and
      potential strategies for recruitment of research subjects. The authors use their
      experiences with conducting hospice research to illustrate potential recruitment
      strategies.

PMID- 1457233
TI  - Acupressure wrist bands to relieve nausea and vomiting in hospice patients: do
      they work?
AB  - This study assessed the effects of acupressure wrist bands on the nausea and
      vomiting of terminally ill patients. Using a single subject experimental design,
      six hospice patients were exposed to three conditions: An acupressure wrist band;
      A placebo wrist band; A no wrist band condition. Patients and their caregivers
      rated nausea and vomiting during the treatment. Despite some difficulty obtaining
      complete data, the results of this preliminary test indicate that acupressure
      wrist bands were not effective in reducing nausea and vomiting in this small
      sample of hospice patients.

PMID- 1457234
TI  - Family assessment and its relation to hospice care.
AB  - It is proposed that a family system evaluation be added to the initial medical
      and social history used during a hospice assessment. The family evaluation should
      assess the family through a functional/dysfunctional framework in addition to
      assessing the role structure of each of its members. This additional data can
      offer insight into the internal workings of the family while adding important
      information as to the compliance level of the family in accepting hospice and the
      services that hospice has to offer. This may assist in not only the quality of
      service implementation but in assisting hospice personnel in lessening their
      potential for stress and burnout as well.

PMID- 1457235
TI  - The trials and tribulations of software customization for a small volunteer
      hospice.

PMID- 1457236
TI  - New routes of opiate administration.

PMID- 1457237
TI  - Board wars.

PMID- 1457238
TI  - The hospice volunteer: a person of hospitality.
AB  - Volunteers are integral members of the hospice interdisciplinary team. They are
      distinguished from other members of the team only by role, not by expectation.
      The distinction is not between "volunteer" and "professional," because every team
      member is to be professional in the best sense of that word. If a distinction is
      to be made, it is that some hospice staff members are salaried while others
      donate their services. Volunteer staff members are expected to be as responsible
      and accountable as every other member of the team. ALL staff members must realize
      the importance of taking care of personal needs in order to be able to care for
      others. Even though the following article deals primarily with the volunteer
      hospice staff member, the points outlined can just as easily be applied to the
      salaried staff member.

PMID- 1457239
TI  - Hospice and mainstream medicine.

PMID- 1457240
TI  - Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 1457241
TI  - Hospice care coast to coast.

PMID- 1457242
TI  - Camp Jamie.

PMID- 1457243
TI  - Perceptions of the most helpful nursing behaviors in a home-care hospice setting:
      caregivers and nurses.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine those nursing behaviors perceived as
      most helpful and least helpful by primary caregivers and by hospice nurses in a
      home-care hospice setting. A Q-sort of 60 nursing behaviors ranked from most to
      least helpful was completed by 20 caregivers, during the bereavement period and
      by five hospice nurses, who were currently employed by the hospice. These nursing
      behaviors were categorized as: Nursing behaviors related to the patient's
      physical needs; nursing behaviors related to the patient's psychosocial needs;
      and nursing behaviors related to the psychosocial needs of the caregivers.

PMID- 1457244
TI  - Keeping the mission.

PMID- 1457245
TI  - International Hospice Institute; Academy of Hospice Physicians--a vision for
      hospice.

PMID- 1457246
TI  - A consensus statement by radiation oncologists regarding radiotherapy for bone
      metastases.

PMID- 1457247
TI  - Functional morphology of the enteric nervous system with special reference to
      large mammals.
AB  - This short review reports the latest insights into the structural organization of
      the enteric nervous system, with special emphasis on the intrinsic innervation of
      the intestinal tract of large omnivorous mammals such as the pig. Using various
      techniques, including lesion experiments, morphological and neurochemical
      features of distinct neuronal populations as well as the direction of the axonal
      processes within the different nerve networks could be revealed. Special
      attention was paid to the considerable species differences in this respect
      between large omnivorous animals and humans on the one hand and small laboratory
      animals on the other hand.

PMID- 1457248
TI  - Histogenesis, structure and relationships of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC):
      from morphology to functional interpretation.
AB  - Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) have been found exclusively in gut muscle coat,
      occupying an interstitial position between nerve endings (NE) and smooth muscle
      cells (SMC). Light microscope stainings of ICC are aspecific and useful only for
      evidentiating cell body and ramifications strictly intermingled with SMC and
      nerve fibers. Transmission electron microscope investigation, on the contrary,
      permits unequivocable identification and detailed description of ICC cytology.
      The ultrastructural findings have led to consider ICC as a new cell type, with a
      specific cytology, highly smooth muscle-like. Specialized ICC relationships with
      surrounding cells have been found, suggesting the existence of an anatomical unit
      made up of three closely interconnected elements: the NE-ICC-SMC units. The time
      of this unit appearance and the steps of its cell types cytodifferentiation from
      foetal to adult life differ according each gut level. A region-specific ICC
      distribution inside the gut muscle coat and peculiar organizations of ICC
      surrounding connective tissue have been observed. On these morphological bases an
      ICC pacemaking role has been suggested. Recordings of spontaneously generated
      slow waves from some ICC seemed to confirm this role. According to this
      hypothesis, smooth muscle contraction should be dependent on ICC function and
      smooth muscle relaxation on inhibitory nerves release. Further morpho-functional
      investigations and correlations of obtained data are still necessary in order to
      better clarify the ICC role and its influence or dependence on both nerve and
      muscle tissues inside each gut level. The identification of the neurotransmitters
      contained in the NE contacting ICC and/or SMC needs to be pursued.

PMID- 1457249
TI  - The European Microwave Club.

PMID- 1457250
TI  - Microwave-stimulated decalcification of compact bones.

PMID- 1457251
TI  - Demonstration of a rapid immunoalkaline phosphatase-complex labeling technique
      (APAAP) using microwave irradiation on hematological blood smears.

PMID- 1457252
TI  - Incidence and clinical study of ectopic erythropoiesis in adult patients with
      thalassemia intermedia.
AB  - We carried out total body computerized tomography (CT) studies and examined the
      retrospective clinical data of 29 adult patients with thalassemia intermedia (TI)
      to evaluate the incidence, features and pathogenesis of ectopic erythropoiesis
      (EE), located chiefly at the paravertebral gutters in the thorax, was present in
      65.5% of the patients; 15% of them had severe clinical complications. We found a
      clear relationship between EE development and early presentation age of
      thalassemia, splenectomy and the presence of 100% fetal hemoglobin. The frequent
      occurrence of EE suggests that CT screening of patients with thalassemia
      intermedia should be mandatory. We also recommend radiotherapy as a preventive
      measure for the clinical complications of thalassemic patients with EE.

PMID- 1457253
TI  - [Acromegalic cardiopathy: a morphofunctional study with color-Doppler
      echocardiography].
AB  - We used color-Doppler echocardiography in an investigation of cardiac morphology
      and function to verify the cardiac anatomic and functional changes in acromegalic
      patients with or without hypertension and hyperlipemic states. Fifteen patients
      with growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma (mean age: 47.9 years) and 15
      healthy control subjects were studied. We measured serum growth hormone (GH),
      somatomedin-C, cholesterol, triglyceride levels and carried out echocardiographic
      studies of the following cardiac morpho-functional parameters: left ventricular
      diameter, volume, mass and wall systolic stress. Serum GH and somatomedin-C
      levels were significantly higher in acromegalic patients than in controls (p <
      0.001 and p < 0.001 respectively). Echocardiography evidenced increased left
      ventricular mass (60% of the acromegalic patients; p < 0.05) and increased wall
      systolic stress (53.3%; p < 0.05). Color-Doppler analysis evidenced abnormal
      diastolic function in 8 acromegalic patients (p < 0.001). We thus conclude that
      the most characteristic feature of acromegalic heart disease is left ventricular
      involvement, diastolic dysfunction, increased left ventricular mass or wall
      systolic stress. The pathogenesis is most probably multifactorial: essential
      hypertension, associated with slow and progressive evolution of heart disease,
      appears to be a determining factor.

PMID- 1457254
TI  - [The immunopathogenesis of hepatitis B].
AB  - Knowledge of hepatitis B immunopathogenesis has greatly improved in the last few
      years thanks to the development of new methods of lymphocyte culture and the
      introduction of molecular techniques in the study of the cell-mediated antiviral
      immune responses. Some of the immune mechanisms likely responsible for liver cell
      injury and viral clearance during hepatitis B have recently been characterized.
      By using synthetic peptides and high efficiency recombinant expression vectors.
      HLA class I restricted cytotoxic T cells specifically able to recognize the
      nucleocapsid antigen of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) have been isolated from the
      blood of patients with acute self-limited hepatitis B. The observation that this
      cytotoxic response is lacking or very weak in chronic patients who do not succeed
      in clearing the virus suggests a major role for cytotoxic T cells in terminating
      virus infection. Similar behaviour is shown by HLA class II restricted CD4+ T
      cells which express much stronger levels of response to HBV nucleocapsid antigens
      in acute than in chronic HBV infection. Whether these defective responses in
      chronic patients are due to an actual lesion of the host's immune system or to
      viral mutations affecting immune surveillance and thereby allowing virus escape,
      still remain open issues. A definitive answer to these questions will, we hope,
      provide the appropriate tools to devise effective immune therapies against
      chronic HBV infection.

PMID- 1457255
TI  - [Diabetic nephropathy and arterial hypertension: the physiopathological aspects
      and antihypertensive treatment].
AB  - The purpose of our review is to delineate the pathogenic steps linking arterial
      hypertension in diabetes to diabetic nephropathy. The results of recent studies
      suggest that arterial hypertension in diabetes might lay a decisive pathogenetic
      role in the evolution of diabetic nephropathy: the existence of a higher ratio of
      erythrocytic Na/Li counter-transport in nephropathic diabetics as well as higher
      pressure values in the parents of diabetics who develop nephropathy indicates
      that hypertension may be casually related to renal complications. Diabetes
      associated hypertension involves the modification of two important pressure-
      regulation factors: 1. an alteration in extracellular volume and increased renal
      absorption of sodium which leads to an expanded pool; 2. increased cardiovascular
      reactivity to norepinephrine and angiotensin II, an effect which might be related
      to increased intracellular calcium. Hyperfiltration seems to be present at the
      onset of diabetes, and arterial hypertension increases the transglomerular
      pressure gradient which is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis
      of kidney damage. Antihypertensive drugs such as ACE-inhibitors and calcium
      channel blockers tend to protect the regulation of renal function. This could be
      explained by the fact that ACE-inhibitors suppress the trophic effects of
      angiotensin II on the nephron, while calcium channel blockers might interfere
      with intracellular processes involved in cell hypertrophy that require the
      interaction of calcium ions. In the management of diabetes prevention of diabetic
      nephropathy requires early and careful correction of diabetes-associated
      hypertension. We discuss the major groups of antihypertensive drugs, their
      metabolic side-effects and intrarenal induced hemodynamic changes.

PMID- 1457256
TI  - [Ascites, oligoanuria and macrohematuria].

PMID- 1457257
TI  - [Chronic eosinophilic pulmonitis with eosinophilic pleurisy. A report on 2
      clinical cases seen by the authors].
AB  - We discuss the cases of two patients affected with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia
      (CEP) pleurisy and eosinophilia in pleural effusion, not previously mentioned in
      the literature, to point out their peculiarity, to consider differential
      diagnosis and the effect of steroid therapy. Both patients, a 57-year-old man and
      a 55-year-old woman, were atopic: they had been suffering from allergic rhinitis
      and asthma for several years when they suffered sudden onset of cough, dyspnea
      and thoracic pain. This symptomatology persisted for more than 6 weeks. Chest
      radiography highlighted pulmonary infiltrates, not fixed in the first case, fixed
      in the second. The laboratory features revealed eosinophilia in peripheral blood
      and in pleural effusion. These data conformed to the criteria suggested by
      Jederlinic et al. for the diagnosis of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia.
      Tuberculosis had been present in the remote history of the second case; the
      repeated research for mycobacteria was negative, and no improvement was seen
      after antitubercular chemotherapy for one month. We excluded the diagnosis of
      allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis because of the absence of both
      precipitating antibodies against Aspergillus fumigatus and bronchiectasis.
      Neither vasculitis nor autoantibodies were found; possible drug-related
      correlations were excluded; culture data and serological researches for
      infections were negative in both cases; no involvement of other districts
      correlated to hypereosinophilia was evidenced. Clinical and radiological
      remission was obtained in both cases after steroid therapy for a month at the
      dosage of 1-2 mg/kg daily. No clinical recurrence was seen during a follow-up
      period of 6 months. Pleural effusion has already been reported in patients with
      CEP, while we have not found any references to pleural fluid eosinophilia in this
      disease; this finding has instead been already reported in patients affected with
      acute eosinophilic pneumonia or hypereosinophilic syndrome.

PMID- 1457258
TI  - [Thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus and ulcerative colitis. A case
      report].
AB  - We describe a rare case of superior sagittal sinus thrombosis in a young man (26
      years) with undiagnosed ulcerative colitis. The patient was hospitalized with
      headache and paresis of the right arm and leg. he had had rectal bleeding and
      diarrhea for the previous 4 weeks. Despite the fact that heparin therapy is still
      considered controversial, we successfully treated our patient with low doses of
      sub-cutaneous heparin. He did not suffer any side-effect.

PMID- 1457259
TI  - Intracholecystic hemorrhage: an atypical complication after liver needle biopsy.
AB  - The authors report an unusual case of intracholecystic hemorrhage related to
      liver biopsy in a 23-year-old man. Echography and computed tomography evidenced
      changes in density within the gallbladder which were probably caused by
      hemorrhagic discharge. Although the mechanism by which liver biopsy induced
      intracholecystic hemorrhage is unclear, the authors believe that this iatrogenic
      complication was probably the result of microlesions of the gallbladder wall
      caused by needle puncture: the lesions extended into the submucosa and provoked
      slow hematic leakage. The pain syndrome began 48 hours after biopsy. The
      peculiarity of this case report was confirmed by the fact that no bile was
      aspirated, no choleperitoneum was found, and no gallbladder tissue was detected
      in the sample. The authors conclude by recommending clinical and echographic
      control following liver biopsy.

PMID- 1457260
TI  - Diethylcarbamazine in the treatment of patients with onchocerciasis.

PMID- 1457261
TI  - The use of microcomputer-based psychomotor tests for the evaluation of
      benzodiazepine effects on human performance: a review with emphasis on temazepam.
AB  - 1. The literature relating to the effects of benzodiazepines in general, and
      temazepam in particular, on human psychomotor performance as assessed using
      microcomputer-based testing batteries is surveyed. 2. The adverse effects of
      central nervous system depressants on performance is an important mediocolegal
      issue and frequently comes into question in on-the-road and on-the-job accidents.
      The use of microcomputer-based testing batteries allows for performance
      evaluation both in the laboratory and at-the-scene, as well as providing the
      opportunity to model a large number of different behaviours required in routine
      yet complex psychomotor tasks. 3. The conclusions in general are: (1) The
      benzodiazepines as a class of drugs impair both cognitive and motor performance.
      These effects are often subtle when low doses are involved or when testing occurs
      the morning following evening administration of the medication. (2) No single
      psychomotor task adequately simulates complex daily tasks such as automobile
      driving. A battery of tests that evaluates a number of the components of such
      tasks is necessary to determine adequately the full range of effects of these
      medications.

PMID- 1457262
TI  - New models of focal cerebral ischaemia.
AB  - 1. Studies in animal models of stroke have provided an invaluable contribution to
      our current understanding of the pathogenesis of cerebral ischaemia. The
      strengths of stroke research in animals are: 1) the ability to control the
      severity, duration, location and cause of the ischaemia, variables which confound
      interpretation of human stroke data; 2) co-existent disease states and variations
      in cerebrovascular anatomy are avoided; and 3) physiological parameters such as
      blood pressure, blood gases, temperature and plasma glucose (all of which
      influence the magnitude of the ischaemic lesion) can be closely monitored and
      controlled. Taking all these things on board, it is possible to induce a
      consistent focal ischaemic lesion in animal models of stroke (e.g. the permanent
      occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in the rat). This has resulted in
      the wide use of animal models for assessment of anti-ischaemic drug efficacy as
      well as for research into the pathophysiological sequelae of stroke. 2.
      Traditionally focal ischaemia models involved permanent occlusion of a major
      cerebral artery such as the MCA. However, since vessel occlusion is seldom
      permanent in human stroke more recent developments have incorporated reperfusion
      (following ischaemia) into the design of the animal model. This has been achieved
      by reversible occlusion of cerebral vessels using 1) intraluminal filaments; 2)
      microclips; 3) the abluminal application of potent and prolonged
      vasoconstrictors; or 4) the introduction of emboli into the cerebral
      circulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457263
TI  - Bioequivalence of inhaled medications.

PMID- 1457264
TI  - Determination of the relative bioavailability of salbutamol to the lung following
      inhalation.
AB  - 1. The urinary excretion of salbutamol and its sulphate metabolite was measured
      following oral (4 mg) and inhaled (4 x 100 micrograms) administration of
      salbutamol. 2. Total urinary recovery of salbutamol and its sulphate conjugate
      indicated a mean (s.d.) relative bioavailability of 92.2 (24.8) % following
      inhalation compared with oral administration. 3. The mean (s.d.) elimination half
      lives of salbutamol and its sulphate conjugate were 5.7 (1.4) and 4.1 (2.1) h,
      respectively, after oral administration and following inhalation they were 6.1
      (2.1) and 5.1 (1.0) h, respectively. 4. Following oral and inhaled administration
      it was found that in the first 30 min the mean (s.d.) percentage of the dose
      excreted in the urine as unchanged salbutamol was 0.18 (0.14) and 2.06 (0.80) %,
      respectively (P < 0.01). The drug content of a urine sample taken 30 min after
      inhalation is, therefore, considered to be representative of the amount of drug
      delivered to the lungs. It is proposed that this method can be used to evaluate
      the relative bioavailability of salbutamol to the lung following inhalation by
      different techniques and devices.

PMID- 1457265
TI  - Ethanol kinetics: extent of error in back extrapolation procedures.
AB  - 1. Plasma ethanol concentrations were measured in 24 male volunteers for 9 h
      after a single oral dose of 710 mg kg-1. 2. The rate of decline of the plasma
      ethanol concentration (k0; mean +/- s.d.), was 186 +/- 26 mg l-1 h-1. 3. In each
      individual, three elimination rates were used to back-extrapolate plasma ethanol
      concentrations over 3 and 5 h periods from observed values at 4 h and 6 h post
      dosing assuming zero-order kinetics. The extrapolated values were then compared
      with the observed concentrations. 4. Using the mean k0 values for the subjects
      the mean error in back extrapolation was small but highly variable. The
      variability in the error increased with the length of the extrapolation period.
      5. When a k0 value of 150 mg l-1 h-1 (a value often cited as a population mean)
      was used for back extrapolation this resulted in significant under-estimation of
      actual values whereas the use of a k0 value of 238 mg l-1 h-1 (the highest value
      observed in the present study) resulted in significant over-estimation of actual
      values. 6. These results indicate that because the kinetics of ethanol are
      associated with substantial inter-subject variability the use of a single slope
      value to back calculate blood concentrations can give rise to considerable error.

PMID- 1457266
TI  - Histamine N-methyl transferase: inhibition by drugs.
AB  - 1. Histamine N-methyl transferase activity was measured in samples of human
      liver, brain, kidney, lung and intestinal mucosa. The mean (+/- s.d.) rate (nmol
      min-1 mg-1 protein) of histamine N-methylation was 1.78 +/- 0.59 (liver, n = 60),
      1.15 +/- 0.38 (renal cortex, n = 8), 0.79 +/- 0.14 (renal medulla, n = 8), 0.35
      +/- 0.08 (lung, n = 20), 0.47 +/- 0.18 (human intestine, n = 30) and 0.29 +/-
      0.14 (brain, n = 13). 2. Inhibition of histamine N-methyl transferase by 15 drugs
      was investigated in human liver. The IC50 for the various drugs ranged over three
      orders of magnitude; chloroquine was the most potent inhibitor. 3. The average
      IC50 values for chloroquine were 12.6, 22.0, 19.0, 21.6 microM in liver, renal
      cortex, brain and colon, respectively. These values are lower than the Michaelis
      Menten constant for histamine N-methyltransferase in liver (43.8 microM) and
      kidney (45.5 microM). Chloroquine carried a mixed non-competitive inhibition of
      hepatic histamine N-methyl transferase. Some side-effects of chloroquine may be
      explained by inhibition of histamine N-methyl transferase.

PMID- 1457267
TI  - The influence of posture on the pharmacokinetics of orally administered
      nifedipine.
AB  - 1. Nifedipine (20 mg as capsules) and soluble paracetamol (1 g) were co
      administered to eight healthy young volunteers on three separate occasions,
      following which in random order they stood, lay on their left side or lay on
      their right side for 4 h. 2. The time to maximum plasma concentration of
      paracetamol was significantly lower when standing or lying on the right side
      compared with recumbent left, indicating more rapid gastric emptying. 3. The
      times to maximum plasma concentrations of nifedipine and its metabolite produced
      at first pass were reduced when standing or lying on the right side. These
      postures were associated with significantly higher peak plasma concentrations and
      AUC values of nifedipine but not of its nitropyridine metabolite. 4. The increase
      in heart rate following nifedipine administration was significantly greater when
      lying on the right side compared with the left. 5. The data are consistent with
      transient saturation of first pass metabolism of nifedipine with postures which
      favour rapid gastric emptying. The results demonstrate the importance of defining
      the precise posture in studies in which pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic
      measurements are made on drugs which are absorbed rapidly and are subject to
      presystemic elimination.

PMID- 1457268
TI  - The effect of a prostaglandin DP-receptor partial agonist (192C86) on platelet
      aggregation and the cardiovascular system in healthy volunteers.
AB  - 1. PGD2 (DP)-receptors mediate inhibition of platelet aggregation and
      vasodilatation. If receptor reserve were greater on platelets it might be
      possible to separate these effects. To determine whether such a difference in
      receptor reserve exists, we have examined the effects of a highly selective DP
      receptor partial agonist 192C86 on platelet aggregation and the cardiovascular
      system in healthy volunteers. 2. Using an open, dose-escalating study design,
      four male volunteers received constant rate intravenous infusions of 192C86 for
      up to 60 min. Ex vivo platelet aggregation to ADP and collagen in platelet-rich
      plasma (PRP) and whole blood (WB) was studied at baseline, after 15, 30 and 60
      min of each infusion and at 180 min post-infusion. Heart rate (HR), systolic and
      diastolic (DBP) blood pressure were measured at frequent intervals. Adverse
      experiences were monitored by checklist. Facial flushing was assessed by the
      volunteer using a visual analogue scale, by an observer using a numerical scale
      and by full-face colour photographs. Blood was taken for assay of plasma 192C86
      concentrations by radio-immunoassay (r.i.a.). 3. 192C86 (0.007-0.058 micrograms
      kg-1 min-1) inhibited platelet aggregation to ADP and collagen both in PRP and WB
      in a dose-dependent manner. However, this was always accompanied by a decrease in
      DBP, increase in HR and facial flushing. Plasma concentrations of 192C86 were at
      or below the limits of sensitivity of the r.i.a. (0.5 ng ml-1). 4. The highest
      infusion rate was stopped after 20 min due to symptomatic hypotension on
      standing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457269
TI  - Ginkgo biloba for cerebral insufficiency.
AB  - 1. By means of a critical review we tried to establish whether there is evidence
      from controlled trials in humans on the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba extracts in
      cerebral insufficiency. 2. The methodological quality of 40 trials on Ginkgo and
      cerebral insufficiency was assessed using a list of predefined criteria of good
      methodology, and the outcome of the trials was interpreted in relation to their
      quality. A comparison of the quality was made with trials of co-dergocrine, which
      is registered for the same indication. 3. There were eight well performed trials
      out of a total of 40. Shortcomings were limited numbers of patients included, and
      incomplete description of randomization procedures, patient characteristics,
      effect measurement and data presentation. In no trial was double-blindness
      checked. Virtually all trials reported positive results, in most trials the
      dosage was 120 mg Ginkgo extract a day, given for at least 4-6 weeks. For the
      best trials, there were no marked differences in the quality of the evidence of
      the efficacy of Ginkgo in cerebral insufficiency compared with co-dergocrine. The
      results of the review may be complicated by a combination of publication bias and
      other biases, because there were no negative results reported in many trials of
      low methodological quality. 4. Positive results have been reported for Ginkgo
      biloba extracts in the treatment of cerebral insufficiency. The clinical evidence
      is similar to that of a registered product which is prescribed for the same
      indication. However, further studies should be conducted for a more detailed
      assessment of the efficacy.

PMID- 1457270
TI  - Perturbation of paracetamol urinary metabolic ratios by urine flow rate.
AB  - The effects of high and low urine flow rates on the urinary metabolic ratios for
      paracetamol glucuronidation, sulphation and oxidation were determined at steady
      state in seven healthy young adult volunteers. Metabolic partial clearances were
      unaffected by urine flow rate, but individual paracetamol metabolic ratios varied
      2.5- to 3.2-fold over a 7.4-fold range of urine flow rates (0.81-6.00 ml min-1).
      The change in metabolic ratios was due entirely to a 2.5-fold change in renal
      clearance of unchanged paracetamol. These data emphasise the limitations of the
      metabolic ratio as a measure of intrinsic clearance for compounds which undergo
      some degree of tubular reabsorption.

PMID- 1457271
TI  - Effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors on erythropoietin
      concentrations in healthy volunteers.
AB  - The possibility that the ACE inhibitors, enalapril and captopril, may decrease
      plasma EPO concentrations was studied in a single-blind, cross-over study in 10
      healthy volunteers. Plasma EPO concentrations, haemoglobin concentration, red
      blood cell count, plasma creatinine concentration and mean arterial pressure were
      measured at baseline and after 28 days treatment with both ACE inhibitors. A
      significant fall in mean plasma EPO concentration occurred with both ACE
      inhibitors and returned to baseline after stopping the drugs. It is likely that
      ACE inhibitors decrease EPO formation, by inhibition of angiotensin-II
      production. This effect could be important in patients with renal failure, renal
      transplantation or other chronic conditions with an associated anaemia.
      Haematological parameters should be monitored in such patients when they are
      treated with an ACE inhibitor.

PMID- 1457272
TI  - Effect of alacepril on blood pressure and neurohumoral factors at rest and during
      dynamic exercise in patients with essential hypertension.
AB  - We assessed blood pressure and neurohumoral factors at rest and during exercise
      in 10 patients with essential hypertension before and after treatment with the
      new angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, alacepril (25-50 mg day-1).
      Alacepril significantly lowered mean blood pressure at rest and at the same
      exercise load as before treatment without affecting heart rate response. The
      response of plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone, and plasma adrenaline were
      not changed by alacepril, but increase of plasma angiotensin II and plasma
      noradrenaline during exercise were significantly attenuated after alacepril
      treatment (ANOVA, P = 0.04, both). The change in mean blood pressure during
      exercise was positively correlated with the decrease in plasma angiotensin II (r
      = 0.65, P < 0.05). These results demonstrated that alacepril was effective in
      essential hypertension both at rest and during exercise, suggesting that the
      antihypertensive effect during exercise might be related to the decrease in
      pressor hormones, especially in plasma angiotensin II.

PMID- 1457273
TI  - Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
AB  - Advances in the understanding of the genetic basis for Duchenne muscular
      dystrophy over the past 4 years has led to the quick application of molecular
      diagnostics. More recently, attention has turned towards acquiring a better
      understanding of dystrophin biochemistry and the pathophysiologic consequences of
      dystrophin deficiency.

PMID- 1457274
TI  - Muscle fiber types and function.
AB  - A major recent advance in the field of muscle fiber types has been the discovery
      that myogenic factors regulate fiber phenotypic properties. Myogenic influences
      occur in limb and trunk (somitic) muscle, but are particularly strong in jaw
      closing muscles and extraocular muscles that express some unique myofibrillar
      proteins. In somitic muscles, a variant of fast fiber has been discovered, making
      four types of fibers: I, IIA, IIX, and IIB. These fibers express different
      isoforms of myofibrillar and other proteins. The speed and power of the four
      types of fibers are distinct and are controlled principally by their myosin heavy
      chains, which modulate the two regulatory steps in the crossbridge cycle, one
      controlling the rate of development of force, the other controlling the maximal
      velocity of shortening. Fast fibers have a higher threshold for Ca(2+)-activated
      force and a steeper force-pCa relation than do slow fibers. This difference is
      largely attributable to the cooperativity in the attachment of crossbridges and
      to the difference in Ca2+ binding capacity of their troponin C. Ca2+ initiates
      force development in muscle by increasing the rate of attachment of crossbridges.
      The phosphorylation of myosin light chain enhances this action. This effect of
      phosphorylation underlies the phenomenon of posttetanic potentiation of the
      isometric twitch in fast fibers.

PMID- 1457275
TI  - Clinical applications of muscle enzymes and proteins.
AB  - Total creatine kinase measurement in serum has remained the best overall marker
      for detection and monitoring of skeletal muscle diseases, despite that different
      human tissues exhibit varying distributions of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial
      isoenzymes of creatine kinase. Acute myocardial infarction aside, increases in
      total serum creatine kinase, as reflected by the MM isoenzyme, are most commonly
      caused by injury or diseases to striated muscle. Enzyme markers of skeletal
      muscle injury that have been previously used (eg, aldolase, enolase, aspartate
      aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 5) are not as specific as
      creatine kinase and have limited clinical utility. However, new enzyme and
      protein markers are currently being investigated, eg, troponin and carbonic
      anhydrase III, which are more specific than creatine kinase toward particular
      tissues. Moreover, measurement of creatine kinase isoforms may provide
      information about whether muscle turnover is acute or chronic.

PMID- 1457276
TI  - Raynaud's phenomenon, scleroderma, overlap syndromes, and other fibrosing
      syndromes.

PMID- 1457277
TI  - Raynaud's phenomenon.
AB  - Raynaud's phenomenon occurs in about 5% of the adult population, and most
      individuals do not seek medical attention for the condition. In symptomatic
      patients with Raynaud's phenomenon, it is useful to categorize the condition as
      primary or secondary. In addition to providing a framework for epidemiologic and
      therapeutic protocols, such classification may reflect basic pathophysiologic
      differences. Occupation-related Raynaud's phenomenon has been recognized recently
      as a major cause of lost wages and productivity. Neurogenic and "local fault"
      hypotheses to explain primary Raynaud's phenomenon are still being studied. In
      secondary Raynaud's phenomenon, obliterative arteriopathy and the role of
      endothelial-derived products have been the focus of intense research interest.
      Under some circumstances, the combination of nailfold capillary microscopy and
      autoantibody analysis can identify patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon
      that is likely to evolve into a secondary form of Raynaud's phenomenon. Although
      information from this type of analysis may be overinterpreted, the prognostic
      yield is highest for patients destined to develop systemic sclerosis-related
      disorders. Newer vasodilating agents and antithrombotic drugs may offer benefit
      for patients with both primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon.

PMID- 1457278
TI  - Overlapping syndromes, undifferentiated connective tissue disease, and other
      fibrosing conditions.
AB  - Many patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of a connective tissue disease
      do not fulfill criteria for a specific connective tissue disease at initial
      presentation. Some of these patients with undifferentiated connective tissue
      disease eventually develop a specific connective tissue disease. Recently, a
      large cohort of 213 patients from different centers with undifferentiated
      connective tissue disease of early onset were enrolled in a prospective
      protocoled study. Baseline characteristics, including antinuclear antibody
      profiles, were reported. The aim of this study was to define predictors for the
      development of specific organ-system involvement and connective tissue diseases
      in early undifferentiated connective tissue disease. Many patients show
      overlapping features of two or more connective tissue diseases. The presence of
      autoantibodies to U1-ribonucleoproteins has been associated with a particular
      overlap syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease. Most anti-U1-ribonucleoprotein
      positive patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease at presentation
      appear to develop mixed connective tissue disease over the course of disease.
      Although levels of anti-U1-ribonucleoprotein do not seem to be related to disease
      activity, this association suggests a pathogenetic relationship between anti-U1
      ribonucleoprotein and mixed connective tissue disease. Genetic studies have shown
      that patients with antibodies against the 70-kD component of U1-ribonucleoprotein
      share a common epitope within the groove of their DR molecules at antigen-binding
      region, pointing to a particular antigen involved in the induction of these
      antibodies that may be relevant in the etiopathogenesis of associated disease.

PMID- 1457279
TI  - Clinical aspects of localized and systemic sclerosis.
AB  - Now that renal disease is no longer the leading cause of death in patients with
      systemic sclerosis, attention has shifted to cardiopulmonary involvement. Several
      reports addressed the issue of whether the pulmonary vasculature in patients with
      systemic sclerosis is vasoactive or fixed, and one report addressed the use of
      high-resolution computed tomographic lung scan to diagnose active alveolitis. The
      issue of whether the clinical syndrome of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in
      systemic sclerosis is part of, or is distinct from, scleroderma renal crisis has
      again been raised. Worsening of cutaneous and visceral systemic sclerosis
      following radiotherapy was noted in several reports.

PMID- 1457280
TI  - Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, toxic-oil syndrome, and diffuse fasciitis with
      eosinophilia.
AB  - The eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, which is associated with the ingestion of L
      tryptophan that contained products, occurred as an epidemic in the United States
      in 1989. Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome is similar in many ways to the toxic-oil
      syndrome, which occurred in Spain in 1981, and to diffuse fasciitis with
      eosinophilia, which has been noted since 1974 to occur sporadically. Recent
      studies have clarified the epidemiology, histopathology, and clinical features of
      eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. These studies are reviewed, and comparisons to the
      related syndromes, toxic-oil syndrome and diffuse fasciitis with eosinophilia,
      are made.

PMID- 1457281
TI  - Genetic and environmental factors in systemic sclerosis.
AB  - The occurrence of autoantibodies in patients with systemic sclerosis has
      suggested a role for immune dysregulation in this disease. Recent genetic studies
      have concentrated on the major histocompatibility complex-encoded antigens and
      found an association of particular HLA-DQ alleles with anticentromere antibodies.
      Although the role of major histocompatibility complex antigens and autoantibodies
      in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis remains unclear, determination of major
      histocompatibility complex alleles may have clinical value in identifying
      patients who are at increased risk for development of pulmonary fibrosis or
      rapidly advancing skin disease. A variety of environmental factors have been
      associated with systemic sclerosis-like skin diseases, including silica, vinyl
      chloride, paraffin, adulterated L-tryptophan, and "toxic" rapeseed oil. It has
      been suggested that silicone used during breast augmentation may be a risk factor
      for development of systemic sclerosis, but ascertainment bias in case reporting
      makes interpretation of these studies difficult. The heterogeneity of clinical
      features, major histocompatibility complex status, and autoantibody profiles in
      systemic sclerosis suggest that this disorder may actually be a group of distinct
      disorders, each of which has its own characteristic genetic and environmental
      predisposing risk factors.

PMID- 1457282
TI  - Immunologic aspects of scleroderma.
AB  - Recent investigations of immunologic events in systemic sclerosis focus on the
      identification of which immune system cells are participating in the disease
      process, what antigens are stimulating the T and B cells, which cytokines are
      involved, and which cell adhesion molecules promote cell-cell and cell
      extracellular matrix interactions. Increased numbers of gamma/delta and activated
      CD4+ T cells are present in involved skin of line-200 chickens, an animal model
      of systemic sclerosis. CD4+ T cells from patients with systemic sclerosis are
      stimulated by human type I collagen, and immunoglobulins from some patients with
      systemic sclerosis bind retroviral proteins, the terminal galactosyl (alpha 1-3)
      galactose disaccharide of laminin, or a 138 amino acid region of the PM-Scl
      antigen. The development of an anticentromere antibody response in patients with
      systemic sclerosis appears to require the presence of a polar amino acid at
      position 26 in the antigen-binding cleft of the HLA-DQB1 molecule. Interleukin-2,
      interleukin-4, interleukin-6, and transforming growth factor-beta have been
      implicated as cytokines that may be involved in the pathogenesis of systemic
      sclerosis. Increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) on
      systemic sclerosis fibroblasts is responsible for increased binding of T cells to
      those fibroblasts through ICAM-1/lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1
      interactions. beta 1 and beta 2 integrins, ICAM-1, and endothelial leukocyte
      adhesion molecule 1 all may be involved in the homing of lymphocytes to involved
      skin in patients with systemic sclerosis.

PMID- 1457283
TI  - Connective tissue metabolism including cytokines in scleroderma.
AB  - Scleroderma fibrotic lesions demonstrate vascular disease, mononuclear cell
      infiltrates, and increased collagen. Fibroblasts in these lesions are activated
      to synthesize increased extracellular matrix substances, a phenotype that
      continues when these cells are removed and grown in tissue culture. Levels of
      messenger RNA for connective-tissue substances, measured directly in biopsies of
      scleroderma skin, show increased message for type I collagen, but not type III
      collagen or fibronectin. Increased procollagen type I in scleroderma skin occurs
      in the papillary dermis, perivascular areas, and deep interstitium, even in skin
      areas that are not yet fibrotic. Scleroderma fibroblasts express more
      intercellular adhesion molecule 1 on their surfaces than do normal cells, and
      this molecule is increased in endothelial cells, mononuclear cells, and
      fibroblasts. In vitro scleroderma fibroblasts adhere more frequently to
      extracellular matrix substances and retract collagen lattices to a greater
      extent. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from scleroderma patients produce excessive
      amounts of interleukin-2 when incubated with type I collagen, and circulating
      basophils release more histamine than do normal cells. There is evidence for
      activated eosinophils both in the dermis and pulmonary lesions in scleroderma,
      which may play a role in fibrosis. Transforming growth factor-beta is
      overexpressed by alveolar macrophages from patients with fibrotic pulmonary
      disease. Scleroderma fibroblasts, when exposed to transforming growth factor
      beta, overexpress the alpha-type receptor for platelet-derived growth factor.
      Scleroderma sera more frequently contain measurable quantities of interleukin-4,
      interleukin-6, and interleukin-2. Interleukin-4 causes adult dermal fibroblasts
      to proliferate and to make interleukin-6. Interleukin-6 has been shown to
      stimulate fibroblast synthesis of collagen and glycosaminoglycans.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457285
TI  - Myositis and myopathies.

PMID- 1457284
TI  - Treatment of systemic sclerosis.
AB  - A new awareness of the challenges and pitfalls of clinical research in patients
      with systemic sclerosis has recently arisen. Several editorials discussed concern
      about the design of therapeutic trials and the need to use established scientific
      standards to find better markers of disease activity and better ways to measure
      improvement or deterioration of organ involvement, including the heart, lung, and
      gastrointestinal tract. This year, an uncontrolled experience in the use of D
      penicillamine in the treatment of patients with rapidly progressive skin
      involvement was reported. In addition, a multicenter study of photopheresis
      demonstrated benefit compared with D-penicillamine. Several new prokinetic drugs
      demonstrated promise for the treatment of gastrointestinal disease in patients
      with systemic sclerosis. Although studies continue to demonstrate the benefit of
      intravenous prostaglandins in the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon and digital
      ulcers in scleroderma, an initial report of oral prostaglandins was
      disappointing. Clinical researchers are now working together to design
      multicenter studies and to define new uniform standards of disease activity so
      that the appropriate treatment for systemic sclerosis can be determined.

PMID- 1457286
TI  - Raynaud's phenomenon, scleroderma, overlap syndromes, and other fibrosing
      syndromes.

PMID- 1457287
TI  - The effect of pH on the thermal resistance of Clostridium sporogenes (PA 3679) in
      asparagus puree acidified with citric acid and glucono-delta-lactone.
AB  - The influence of type of acid, pH and temperature on heat resistance of
      Clostridium sporogenes (PA 3679) spores were investigated in white asparagus
      puree acidified with citric acid and glucono-delta-lactone (GDL). The pH values
      studied were: 4.5, 4.8, 5.1 and 5.4 at temperatures of 110, 115, 118 and 121
      degrees C. The addition of citric acid and GDL to reduce pH significantly
      diminished heat resistance of the spores. The two acids investigated differed in
      their effect on heat resistance at the various pH-levels. The most pronounced
      effect was observed at the lower heat treatment temperatures investigated. The z
      values ranged from 10.24 to 13.09 degrees C in the asparagus puree with acids
      added and with significant differences between the two acids and the various pH
      levels.

PMID- 1457288
TI  - Bacteriocin (monocin) interactions among Listeria monocytogenes strains.
AB  - Monocin interactions of 97 strains of Listeria monocytogenes were assessed using
      an improved production method and standardisation of the monocins against the
      type strain of L. ivanovii. Monocins were resistant to trypsin, sensitive to
      heating at 56 degrees C for 30 min and stable at 4 degrees C. Only serovar 4
      strains acted as indicators. A typing system using 8 producer and 11 indicator
      strains showed poor discrimination.

PMID- 1457289
TI  - Salmonella and Vibrio cholerae in brackishwater cultured tropical prawns.
AB  - The occurrence of Salmonella and Vibrio cholerae in brackishwater ponds was
      monitored over a 2-year period in one of the major prawn exporting countries in
      Southeast Asia. The principal production areas were identified and regular
      samples taken for Salmonella and V. cholerae analysis. Results demonstrated that
      brackishwater ponds and cultured prawns were inherently contaminated with both
      bacterial pathogens. Salmonella spp. were present in 16.0% of prawns and 22.1% of
      mud/water samples from ponds; and V. cholerae present in 1.5% of prawns and 3.1%
      of mud/water samples. Culturing by intensive methods tended to favour
      contamination by these pathogens, which is most likely due to the accumulation of
      waste and increase in the volume of sediments in ponds. Typical environmental
      factors such as water temperature, pH, and salinity were all favourable for
      growth of microorganisms. The incidence of the pathogens increased during the wet
      season and was marginally higher when ponds were located close to urban areas. S.
      weltevreden was identified as the principal serotype found in ponds, and to a
      lesser extent S. anatum (11%) S. wandsworth (8%) and S. potsdam (8%). The V.
      cholerae belonged to the non-O1 serogroup.

PMID- 1457290
TI  - Accelerated natural lactic fermentation of cereal-based formulas at reduced water
      activity.
AB  - Energy required to dehydrate fermented cereal-based food formulas plays a
      significant part in the production cost. Therefore the effect of reduced moisture
      content on the fermentation was investigated. Generally, lactic fermentation at
      reduced moisture content resulted in increased final pH. Significant
      acidification still occurred at 0.33 kg water/kg dry matter corresponding to
      either aW = 0.925 in a sorghum-maize-soya (SMS) mixture, or aW = 0.950 in a
      sorghum-maize-milk powder (SMM) mixture. Acidification adequate for
      microbiological safety (pH < or = 4.5) was achieved at 0.54 kg water/kg dm in SMS
      (aW = 0.950) and 0.43 kg/kg dm in SMM (aW = 0.965). In stable accelerated natural
      lactic fermentations obtained by inoculum recycling ('back-slopping') at 30
      degrees C, dominant lactic acid bacteria included Lactobacillus plantarum, L.
      brevis, L. acidophilus and Lactococcus lactis. Dominating yeasts were
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida krusei. L. plantarum isolated from high
      moisture (1.5 kg/kg dry matter) SMS fermentations had higher specific growth
      rates than L. plantarum isolated from reduced moisture (0.54 kg/kg dm) SMS
      fermentations, when tested under similar aW conditions. This effect was not
      caused by previous culturing conditions; probably different strains of L.
      plantarum having different aW-optima dominate at high or reduced moisture
      conditions.

PMID- 1457291
TI  - Minimal water activity levels for growth and survival of Listeria monocytogenes
      and Listeria innocua.
AB  - Following initial range-finding experiments, total count determinations were used
      to determine minimal water activity (aW) levels for the growth and survival of
      Listeria monocytogenes (L.m.) and L. innocua (L.i.). Media containing three
      different humectants; NaCl, sucrose or glycerol were used to determine minimal aW
      levels for growth in the above media which were 0.92, 0.92 and 0.90 respectively.
      The growth minima for L.i. were similar, or slightly higher than for L.m. in
      these media. Survival rates were generally lower in NaCl-adjusted media than in
      systems adjusted with sucrose or glycerol. Survival of L.m. and L.i. in these
      experiments was similar.

PMID- 1457292
TI  - Antibacterial activity of essential oil components.
AB  - Antibacterial activity of fifteen essential oil components towards food borne
      Staphylococcus sp., Micrococcus sp., Bacillus sp. and Enterobacter sp. was
      studied by an agar plate technique. Cinnamic aldehyde was the most active
      compound followed by citral, geraniol, eugenol and menthol. At 500 micrograms/ml,
      cinnamic aldehyde completely inhibited the bacterial growth for more than 30 days
      at 30 degrees C that was comparable to 200 micrograms/ml of butylated hydroxy
      anisole (BHA). At lower temperatures, 25 and 20 degrees C, antibacterial activity
      of the five essential oil components increased. Addition of sodium chloride at 4%
      level (w/v) in the medium had no effect on the inhibitory activity of cinnamic
      aldehyde. In mixtures of cinnamic aldehyde and eugenol or BHA an additive effect
      was observed.

PMID- 1457293
TI  - Preliminary examinations on the enterotoxigenicity of isolates of Klebsiella
      pneumoniae from seafoods.
AB  - One hundred and eighty-five seafood samples, consisting of 96 freshwater fish, 37
      marine fish, 13 freshwater prawn, 13 marine prawn and 26 molluscs were screened
      for presence of Klebsiella. Out of these, 12 isolates of Klebsiella were
      identified, Four K. pneumoniae var. ozaenae were isolated from marine fish
      samples and eight K. pneumoniae var. pneumoniae, six from freshwater fish and two
      from freshwater prawns. All 12 isolates were tested for enterotoxigenicity by the
      vasopermeability factor test in rabbits, the mouse foot pad test, the latex
      agglutination test and the coagglutination test. One isolate of K. pneumoniae var
      pneumoniae, isolated from fresh water prawn was found enterotoxigenic.

PMID- 1457294
TI  - Rectal administration of perforated nifedipine capsules in acute severe
      hypertension in children.
AB  - Nine hypertensive children (mean age: 5.0 years (SD: 4.5), range: 10 months to 15
      years) were administered nifedipine (capsule) rectally (0.2 to 0.5 mg/kg) when
      their blood pressures were over 170 mmHg systolic and/or over 110 mmhg diastolic,
      independent of their ages. The causes of hypertension were acute
      glomerulonephritis (n = 2), chronic glomerulonephritis (n = 2), renovascular
      hypertension (n = 4), and polycystic kidney (n = 1). Both systolic and diastolic
      blood pressures fell in all children after rectal administration of nifedipine,
      although the response of blood pressure was weak in one child with renovascular
      hypertension. Blood pressures were lowest at 30 to 60 minutes, and remained under
      140 mmHg systolic and 80 mmHg diastolic at least for three hours. Side-effects
      were headache in one child, palpitations in two children, and facial flushing in
      three. All of these symptoms were mild, and no special treatment was required.
      These findings suggest that rectal administration of nifedipine may be effective
      and the most reliable way to treat young children with severe or urgent
      hypertension.

PMID- 1457295
TI  - Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression in asthmatic adults taking high
      dose beclomethasone dipropionate.
AB  - Inhaled corticosteroids control symptoms of chronic asthma in most patients. Use
      of drugs such as beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) and budesonide is being
      encouraged as the importance of airways inflammation in asthma is increasingly
      appreciated. Beclomethasone dipropionate is used in doses of up to 2000
      micrograms daily (equivalent to eight puffs of Beclorforte inhaler) and the Data
      Sheet warns that systemic absorption sufficient to cause suppression of the
      hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may occur in some patients taking 2000
      micrograms. HPA suppression to an extent which is clinically relevant has not
      been reported in asthmatic adults taking lower doses of BDP. We report six cases
      of HPA hypofunction occurring in patients on long-term treatment with BDP, in a
      dose of 1500 micrograms daily. Patients taking BDP in a dose of 1500 micrograms
      daily might be at risk of adrenal crisis and should carry steroid cards unless
      HPA function has been assessed and found normal.

PMID- 1457296
TI  - Home sweet HEN--a guide to home enteral nutrition.
AB  - Initial experience of home enteral nutrition (HEN) was gained from malnourished
      patients with Crohn's disease. The rationale for HEN was to improve the patients'
      lifestyle by reducing the need for repeated admissions for nutritional support:
      this method is extremely useful in correcting nutritional problems. Over the past
      ten years the use of HEN has expanded to cover other clinical areas including
      correction of growth retardation secondary to gastrointestinal disease, cystic
      fibrosis, inborn errors of metabolism, congenital heart disease, and chronic
      renal failure, in addition to many types of neoplasia and chronic neurological
      diseases. At the present time, approximately 150 patients receive HEN within the
      catchment area of the Greater Glasgow Health Board (population 940,000). Despite
      the increasing availability of HEN many clinicians and dietitians are still
      reluctant to consider HEN as a 'routine adjunct' to clinical management, claiming
      that it is too dangerous or complicated. The aims of this article are to explain
      our method of running a HEN service, offer advice on practical problems and
      discuss further developments and potential difficulties.

PMID- 1457297
TI  - The role of echocardiography in the diagnosis and management of infective
      endocarditis.
AB  - The echocardiographic appearance in suspected endocarditis must always be
      interpreted in the context of the clinical findings. Thus although
      echocardiography may contribute to the early diagnosis of infective endocarditis,
      it should rarely be used as a screening test. It is highly sensitive for the
      detection of complications such as abscesses or valvular regurgitation and can
      estimate their severity. Although transthoracic imaging will allow a complete
      study in many cases, the transoesophageal approach is superior for the detection
      of abscesses and the assessment of prosthetic mitral valves. Patients with large
      vegetations, particularly on the mitral valve, are at increased risk of embolism
      but there is no convincing evidence to support prophylactic surgery in these
      cases.

PMID- 1457298
TI  - Exercise in post infarct rehabilitation.
AB  - In 1957, Hellerstein and Ford defined rehabilitation as 'the process by which a
      patient is returned realistically to his greatest physical, mental, social,
      vocational and economic usefulness and, if employable, is provided an opportunity
      for gainful employment in a competitive industrial world'. They stressed the
      importance of starting the rehabilitation process 'at the moment the patient is
      first stricken with his disease', of mobilising the patient as soon as is
      practical and of paying close attention to the emotional as well as physical
      consequences of the attack. They believed that 80% of the aftercare of cardiac
      patients could be managed by the 'private physician' and only a minority required
      the attention of a specialist team. The time scale used in 1957 (three to four
      weeks in hospital) was rather different to the one we use today, but otherwise
      most of what he suggested then has scarcely been improved upon since. In 1968
      Hellerstein went on to describe the physical training programme he had devised to
      improve the fitness of 'habitually lazy, hypokinetic, sloppy, endomesomorphic
      over-weight males' who were the usual victims of myocardial infarction. He wished
      to 'add life to years and perhaps add years to life'. The conclusions from his
      original study were that 'an active intervention programme of conditioning
      including exercise, weight reduction, diet therapy, and cessation of smoking is
      feasible, reasonably acceptable and appears to be of benefit in the treatment of
      coronary heart disease'.

PMID- 1457299
TI  - Can selection of medical staff be improved?
AB  - Selection procedures for medical staff have been reviewed. Much can be learnt
      from industrial practices, including the adoption of 'person specifications',
      improved references, structured interviews and training for interviewers.
      Possible supplementation with personality assessments is discussed. The clinical
      (and financial) importance of appointing the best candidate increased with the
      seniority of the post.

PMID- 1457300
TI  - Aortic dissection.
AB  - Aortic dissection, once thought to be rare, is the most common catastrophe of the
      aorta, being twice as common as ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. In one Inner
      London borough, aortic dissection accounted for 4.2% of sudden deaths in men over
      a three-year period. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial to
      achieving a successful outcome, because the events that influence survival occur
      early in the course of the disease. Surgical repair of aortic dissection is an
      uncommon operation in the United Kingdom. The Cardiac Surgical Register for 1988
      (the most recent year available for analysis) reveals that 208 operations were
      performed to replace the ascending aorta, 12 operations to replace the aortic
      arch and 15 operations on the descending aorta during that year.

PMID- 1457302
TI  - Primary hyperparathyroidism and renal cell carcinoma in an elderly patient: a
      rare association.
AB  - A case of an elderly female patient, presented with a rare association of primary
      hyperparathyroidism and renal cell carcinoma, is reported. As a common finding in
      the elderly, the patient had mild hypercalcaemia for many years but she developed
      several complications from untreated hyperparathyroidism. The mechanisms of
      malignant hypercalcaemia are discussed and the importance of properly
      investigating and managing symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism in the elderly
      is emphasised.

PMID- 1457301
TI  - Assessment of reversibility in patients with chronic airflow obstruction.
AB  - Reversibility of airflow obstruction was considered for many years to be a
      hallmark of asthma. It is now clear that many patients with chronic airflow
      obstruction, often labelled as chronic obstructive airways disease or chronic
      bronchitis and emphysema, show some bronchodilation following various drugs. At
      present there is no clinical or physiological factor which reliably predicts the
      bronchodilator response of such patients to a given medication, and individual
      testing of these drugs is necessary. However, the literature on bronchodilator
      responses in chronic airflow obstruction is confused. There are differences in
      the selection of patients, the tests used and the interpretation of the results.
      The aim of this review is to highlight the main problems found when measuring
      reversibility in such patients, the different factors that influence the
      reversibility testing and the biases which may confound the interpretation of the
      results.

PMID- 1457303
TI  - Quinine-induced cutaneous vasculitis.
AB  - We report a 60-year-old woman who developed severe cutaneous vasculitis three
      weeks after commencing quinine sulphate (300 mg at night) for nocturnal cramps.
      The patient died despite immunosuppressive treatment with prednisolone and
      cyclophosphamide. We review three previous cases and conclude that cutaneous
      vasculitis is a rare but life-threatening complication of treatment with this
      widely-prescribed drug. Quinine sulphate is prescribed frequently for nocturnal
      cramps, although its efficacy is unsupported by stringently controlled clinical
      trials. Adverse reactions to the drug are unusual. We describe a 60-year-old
      woman with fatal cutaneous vasculitis related to quinine treatment.

PMID- 1457304
TI  - Hallucinations as a presenting feature in malignant hypertension.
AB  - A 68-year-old man with malignant hypertension of renovascular origin presented
      with visual impairment and complex visual hallucinations. Four weeks after the
      hypertension had been controlled by drugs, the hallucinations ceased and
      electroencephalographic evidence of encephalopathy resolved.

PMID- 1457305
TI  - Perforation of an abdominal viscus associated with a pneumothorax.
AB  - Pneumothorax is a very unusual presenting complication of a perforated abdominal
      viscus. We present two such cases. The importance of close scrutiny of chest
      radiographs taken for abdominal disease is stressed.

PMID- 1457306
TI  - A presentation of anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid with symptomatic intra
      abdominal metastases.
AB  - Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma usually presents with symptoms related to local
      invasion and compression of structures in the neck. We report a patient with
      intra-abdominal metastases presenting with symptoms suggestive of local
      gastrointestinal disease. Abdominal CT scan and initial laparotomy findings were
      suggestive of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

PMID- 1457307
TI  - Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma: a case presentation.
AB  - We present a case report of an unusual tumour, presenting as a mass on the
      forearm. We have used this case to review the current literature and histological
      classification of rhabdomyosarcoma.

PMID- 1457308
TI  - Idiopathic retroperitoneal haematoma.
AB  - A case of asymptomatic idiopathic retroperitoneal haematoma presenting as an
      abdominal tumour, is described. A review of English literature has not revealed
      any description of this condition.

PMID- 1457309
TI  - Apparent elevation of serum CK-MB not due to acute myocardial infarction.
AB  - An increased serum level of the MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB) is a
      useful marker for acute myocardial infarction. Although described extensively in
      clinical chemistry literature, there is little information in standard medical
      references about false positives for this test. We report two cases where high
      levels of measured CK-MB activity were in fact due to another form of CK,
      associated with internal malignancy.

PMID- 1457310
TI  - Long-term survival of a patient with malignant lymphoma of bone.
AB  - Malignant lymphoma of bone is an uncommon tumour. A number of studies have
      outlined the clinicopathological findings and overall favourable prognosis in
      adults. We report on a woman whose tumour was originally diagnosed as a secondary
      carcinoma of the upper femur. Twenty-three years later following proximal femoral
      replacement, the original histology was reviewed using immunohistochemical
      techniques and revised to B-cell malignant lymphoma of bone.

PMID- 1457311
TI  - '3-in-1' nerve block complicated by haemospermia.

PMID- 1457312
TI  - Tamoxifen and hypercalcaemia.

PMID- 1457313
TI  - Cardiac rehabilitation: an essential service.

PMID- 1457314
TI  - Sleep disorders in clinical practice.

PMID- 1457315
TI  - Blood is thicker than water: haemorheology in clinical practice.

PMID- 1457316
TI  - Quality of sleep in the medical department.
AB  - The quality of sleep in 134 patients admitted to two medical departments and an
      intensive coronary care unit was studied by comparing pre- and post-admission
      sleeping scores. Four aspects of sleep have been evaluated: duration of sleep;
      number of awakenings; personal assessment of quality of sleep; and the need for
      using sleeping pills. Results were expressed in scores ranging from 1 (worst) to
      4 (best). A significant reduction in the mean quality of sleep for the entire
      group was found for all scores employed (P < 0.01-P < 0.001). Of the 134
      patients, 51% had a reduction in post-admission total sleep score (23 +/- 3%,
      mean +/- SE); 31% had no change or mixed trends in the various scores, with a
      change in total sleep score not exceeding 3 +/- 3%; and 18% had an improved total
      sleep score (16 +/- 2%). Of the individual scores, a deterioration was found in
      the following order of frequency: number of awakenings (37%); personal assessment
      of quality of sleep (32%); duration of sleep (31%); and the need for using
      sleeping pills (26%). Of the reasons specified for impaired quality of sleep, the
      most important were noise made by other patients or by the medical staff (47%),
      and the patient's own disease (30%). Significant differences in the quality of
      sleep between the two medical departments located in different hospitals have
      been encountered (P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457317
TI  - Are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs always necessary? A general practice
      survey.
AB  - The number of patients receiving long-term 'repeat prescriptions' for non
      steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was examined in a General Practice; a
      group of them with osteoarthritis or musculoskeletal pain attempted to withdraw
      their NSAID treatment and substitute alternative analgesics. Thirty-eight
      randomly selected patients, with conditions other than rheumatoid arthritis, were
      interviewed and alternative analgesics prescribed to replace their NSAID therapy.
      After one month, 22 had very satisfactory pain relief without their NSAID but 16
      had resumed therapy, with four of them on a reduced dosage; three others wished
      to try an alternative analgesic again. Five initially with gastro-intestinal
      symptoms were asymptomatic within a month of discontinuing their NSAID. After
      four months, 24 of the 38 had discontinued NSAIDs, including one who had an upper
      gastrointestinal haemorrhage during the study; two others were taking a reduced
      dosage.

PMID- 1457318
TI  - Dyspepsia in the community: a follow-up study.
AB  - We have repeated a population-based survey of the pattern and prevalence of
      dyspeptic symptoms in 2460 subjects two years after the original survey, in order
      to document the changes in dyspeptic symptoms and consultation behaviour. A
      validated postal questionnaire was sent to 2460 subjects randomly selected in ten
      year age bands from the lists of eight general practitioners working in the south
      of England. A total of 1417 individuals (58%) responded to both questionnaires.
      The overall six month prevalence of dyspepsia was unchanged (38%), but while 74%
      of dyspeptic patients were still getting symptoms, 13% became symptom-free each
      year. Over half of those who had reported dyspepsia before, but not at the time
      of, the first survey had experienced recurrence of their symptoms. In the two
      year study period 113 individuals experienced dyspepsia for the first time,
      giving an annual incidence of 11.5%. One in four patients consulted their general
      practitioner, and 75% of those who had not consulted in the first survey still
      had not done so two years later. Resolution of symptoms appeared independent of
      consulting behaviour. Peptic ulcers were identified in 14 patients, mostly those
      with new dyspepsia, during the study period.

PMID- 1457319
TI  - Humeral fractures in 'arm wrestlers'.
AB  - We report three cases of fractures of the shaft of the humerus occurring during
      arm wrestling contests, which have now become a common pub--and even professional
      -sport. We then review all the literature on the subject. This is an unusual
      injury occurring in arm wrestling, but does occur and it should be remembered
      that radiological assessment is vital if this injury is not to be missed and the
      injury mismanaged.

PMID- 1457320
TI  - Glomerular abnormalities in children undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation.
AB  - A prospective study of renal function was undertaken on an unselected group of 8
      children with chronic progressive liver disease on whom a renal biopsy was
      performed subsequently at the time of orthotopic liver transplantation. Two
      patients had abnormal urinalyses and 2 elevated urinary albumin/creatinine
      ratios. The remainder had no clinical evidence of renal dysfunction. All had
      normal serum creatinine concentrations. Glomerular abnormalities were present in
      all renal biopsies and were of two types: hepatic glomerulosclerosis (n = 5) and
      minor glomerular abnormalities (n = 3). IgM immunofluorescence was present in all
      biopsies and IgA in 6. Elevated serum immunoglobulin levels were observed in all
      patients, with IgM elevation in 6, IgA in 4 and IgG in 6. C3 and/or C4 were
      reduced in 5 patients and increased circulating immune complexes containing IgM
      were noted in 4. The clinical significance of these cirrhosis-associated
      glomerular abnormalities can only be established by long-term follow-up studies
      after orthotopic liver transplantation.

PMID- 1457321
TI  - Prognosis of patients with unilateral renal agenesis.
AB  - The clinical course was reviewed in 157 patients with unilateral renal agenesis
      and a normal contralateral kidney for the purpose of establishing a prognosis.
      There were 85 males (54%) and 72 females (46%). The mean age at diagnosis of
      unilateral renal agenesis was 37 years. The mean years at risk was 56.
      Proteinuria (> 150 mg/24 h) was found in 19% of the 37 patients tested (P <
      0.001), hypertension developed in 47% of the 47 patients tested (P = 0.010), and
      renal function (adjusted for age and sex) was decreased in 13% of the 32 patients
      tested (P = 0.001). An increased filtration fraction was found in 7 (54%) of 13
      patients evaluated. At the completion of this study, 114 patients (73%) were
      alive, and the survival rate was similar to that of age-, sex-matched United
      States life tables. Forty-three patients (27%) died; 6 deaths (4%) were caused by
      renal failure. Our review indicates that patients with unilateral renal agenesis
      and a normal solitary kidney are at increased risk of proteinuria, hypertension,
      and renal insufficiency. Therefore, it is essential to have prolonged and careful
      follow-up and to employ strategies that maximize renal preservation.

PMID- 1457323
TI  - What makes red cells dysmorphic in glomerular haematuria?
AB  - Although red cell morphology has been used to localise the site of haematuria in
      the urinary tract, the cause of red cell deformity is still speculative. We have
      conducted experiments in vitro using venous red cells which indicate that
      hypochromia depends mainly upon sodium concentration and occurs when this falls
      below 75 mmol/l. We simulated the passage of red cells through the renal tubule
      by sequentially treating them with fluids of composition similar to those in
      different tubular segments, and produced anisocytosis and hypochromia but not the
      typical "bizarre deformity"--the hallmark of glomerular haematuria. We conclude
      that dual injury is required to produce the "typical" dysmorphic red cells in
      glomerular haematuria. First, mechanical damage caused by passage of red blood
      cells through the glomerular basement membrane followed by a second, osmotic,
      injury sustained by red cells during passage through the hypotonic tubular
      segment.

PMID- 1457322
TI  - Association of Kawasaki disease and interstitial nephritis.
AB  - Renal insufficiency is a rare manifestation of Kawasaki disease. We report a 2.5
      year-old boy with Kawasaki disease who developed acute renal failure during the
      acute phase of his illness. A percutaneous renal biopsy revealed acute
      interstitial nephritis. No etiological agent could be identified and renal
      recovery occurred with supportive care alone.

PMID- 1457324
TI  - Renal hypoplasia and postnatally acquired cortical loss in children with
      vesicoureteral reflux.
AB  - We reviewed histologically 86 nephrectomy specimens from patients with
      vesicoureteral reflux (with or without ureterovesical obstruction) to investigate
      the relationship between coexisting hypoplasia and postnatally acquired cortical
      damage. Hypoplasia was assessed independently of the acquired cortical loss using
      medullary ray glomerular counting. Severe hypoplasia (glomerular number < 25% of
      normal) was detected in 47 of 86 patients. These patients underwent nephrectomy
      at a significantly younger age than those with minimal or no hypoplasia (P <
      0.01). There was no significant relationship between the severity of hypoplasia
      and the presence or absence of obstruction. Severe acquired cortical loss was
      found in 68 of 86 patients. There was no significant association between the
      severity of cortical loss and the presence or absence of obstruction, age at
      nephrectomy or degree of coexisting hypoplasia. The findings suggest a strong
      association of hypoplasia and vesicoureteral reflux. Therefore, early postnatal
      presentation with minimal renal function need not necessarily reflect a failure
      of management but rather a pre-existing limitation of renal capacity.
      Furthermore, in a significant proportion of fetuses with ultrasonographic
      evidence of urinary tract abnormality, renal pathology may be present prior to
      the time at which in utero surgical intervention may be considered.

PMID- 1457325
TI  - Effects of enalapril on adriamycin-induced nephrosis.
AB  - Adriamycin induces proteinuria and glomerular changes in rats similar to those
      found in human focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Progression of this
      lesion may be slowed by use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition. To
      evaluate this we injected two groups of Sprague-Dawley rats with Adriamycin (2
      intravenous doses of 2 mg/kg given at an interval of 3 weeks). One group of rats
      received enalapril (50 mg/l) in their drinking water. Control rats were injected
      with saline. After 28 weeks, the mean whole kidney glomerular filtration rate was
      significantly less and proteinuria and sclerotic index were significantly greater
      in rats receiving adriamycin compared with controls (P < 0.05). Administration of
      enalapril did not decrease proteinuria (545 +/- 398 mg/day vs 494 +/- 325 mg/day,
      P >0.05) or improve the glomerular filtration rate (0.31 +/- 0.18 ml/min per g
      kidney weight vs 0.41 +/- 0.21 ml/min per g, P = 0.27). However, treatment with
      enalapril significantly reduced the mean glomerular sclerotic index compared with
      untreated rats (1.62 +/- 0.88 vs 0.82 +/- 0.49, P = 0.05). Enalapril may be
      beneficial in preserving glomerular structure in this experimental model of FSGS.

PMID- 1457327
TI  - If the stimulus to pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secretion is the
      lack of circulating free thyroxine (free-T4) why may a baby with congenital
      nephrotic syndrome present with a raised TSH on neonatal screening?

PMID- 1457326
TI  - Accelerated growth in short children with chronic renal failure treated with both
      strict dietary therapy and recombinant growth hormone.
AB  - In a 12-month study, nine boys, aged 4.8-15.6 years, with bone ages 4.6-13 years,
      with moderate to severe chronic renal failure and resultant growth failure were
      treated with daily recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), in conjunction with a
      strict low-protein/low-phosphate diet supplemented with keto and amino forms of
      the essential amino acids, histidine and additional energy. Improved growth had
      previously been observed with this dietary management over that obtained with
      conventional treatment for chronic renal failure. Each child had been on this
      diet for at least 2 years before rhGH was commenced. Mean height velocity
      increased from 4.6 +/- 1.3 to 9.0 +/- 1.3 cm/year (P < 0.001) in the pre-pubertal
      group, and in the pubertal group from 5.4 +/- 1.4 to 10.4 +/- 1.8 cm/year (P <
      0.01). The mean height velocity standard deviation scores (SDSs) increased from 
      1.2 +/- 0.6 to +2.3 +/- 0.9 (P < 0.001) in the pre-pubertal group and from -0.4
      +/- 0.6 to +1.9 +/- 1.1 (P < 0.01) in the pubertal group. Mean height SDS for
      chronological age increased from -2.2 +/- 0.7 to -1.5 +/- 0.5 (P < 0.01) in the
      pre-pubertal group and from -1.9 +/- 0.7 to -1.3 +/- 0.9 in the pubertal group (P
      < 0.02). There was no significant deterioration in renal function or renal bone
      disease, and bone age did not advance more than chronological age over the 12
      month period.

PMID- 1457328
TI  - Psychosocial adaptation of children and adolescents with chronic renal failure.
AB  - In a multicentre study comprising five paediatric nephrology centres in Western
      Germany, psychosocial and educational parameters were assessed (during 1987) in
      479 children and adolescents with chronic renal failure (CRF) in order to gain
      insight into their psychosocial adaptation to the disease. At the time of
      assessment, 31% of patients were on conservative treatment, 14% on haemodialysis,
      9% on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and 46% had a functioning
      transplant. The mean age at assessment was 13.6 years. Additional disabilities
      were noted in 29% of patients. School attendance of the 233 children of school
      age was in general satisfactory; 22% of patients attended schools for disabled or
      handicapped children. Vocational training was frequently inadequate, especially
      for dialysed patients, and only 14 of 53 adolescents over 16 years had graduated.
      Of 49 adult patients, only 21 were in some form of employment. A lack of age
      appropriate independence was observed in a large proportion (86%) of patients
      over 17 years, who continued to live with their parents or other persons taking
      care of them, whilst only 14% were living alone or with a partner. We conclude
      that, despite improved survival, psychosocial adaptation continues to be impaired
      in paediatric patients with CRF, especially in adolescents and those on dialysis.

PMID- 1457329
TI  - Altered in vitro lymphocyte response in childhood nephrotic syndrome.
AB  - The immune system, and disturbed T lymphocyte function in particular, has
      previously been implicated in the pathogenesis of childhood idiopathic nephrotic
      syndrome. As this disorder is commonly responsive to steroid therapy, we set out
      to determine whether in vitro suppression of lymphocyte blastogenic response to
      the mitogen phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) could predict the clinical situation.
      Comparing nine nephrotic children with nine healthy controls we were able to show
      the inhibitory prednisolone dose that suppressed lymphocyte blastogenesis by 50%
      (ID50) at a known concentration of PHA was significantly greater (P < 0.005) for
      nephrotic individuals. However, the in vitro assay did not reliably predict the
      clinical response to prednisolone. This study further implicates altered
      lymphocyte function in the mechanisms underlying idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

PMID- 1457330
TI  - Lupus nephritis in a pediatric renal transplant recipient.
AB  - A case of aggressive lupus nephritis in a pediatric renal transplant patient is
      described. She initially presented with end-stage glomerulonephritis for which an
      underlying etiology could not be determined. Ten months after cadaveric renal
      transplantation, systemic lupus erythematosus was diagnosed, when she developed
      diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis in association with antinuclear
      antibody, anti-double-stranded DNA antibody and extrarenal manifestations of
      lupus. It is plausible that she developed recurrent rather than de novo lupus
      nephritis following transplantation. Reactivation of lupus nephritis in a renal
      transplant is unusual in adults, and is previously unreported in children.

PMID- 1457331
TI  - If the stimulus to pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secretion is the
      lack of circulating free thyroxin (free-T4), why may a baby with congenital
      nephrotic syndrome present with a raised TSH on neonatal screening?

PMID- 1457332
TI  - Practical peritoneal dialysis--the Tenckhoff catheter in acute renal failure.
AB  - The problem of acquiring secure peritoneal access encompasses most of the history
      of peritoneal dialysis. We review the catheters available for children and
      describe a simple method of insertion of Tenckhoff catheters for acute dialysis.
      Two series of Tenckhoff catheters inserted in this way are presented and compared
      with results obtained with trocar- and guidewire-inserted catheters. Tenckhoff
      catheters inserted as described allow significantly longer periods of dialysis (P
      < 0.02) with significantly fewer problem episodes (P < 0.001). We conclude that
      the use of the Tenckhoff catheter for acute dialysis, when inserted in the way
      described, confers significant advantages over other catheters and permits secure
      peritoneal access.

PMID- 1457333
TI  - Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus: clinical symptoms, pathogenesis, genetics and
      treatment.
AB  - This review summarizes various aspects of the inherited kidney disorder
      nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI). The clinical manifestations of the disease
      are presented. The important role of the genetic localization of the NDI gene to
      the X-chromosome long arm, in region Xq28, for carrier detection and early
      (prenatal) diagnosis of the disorder is emphasized. Following an overview of the
      cellular physiology involved in the antidiuretic action of vasopressin, possible
      mechanisms in the pathogenesis of NDI are discussed. We hypothesize that NDI is
      most probably due to the absence or abnormality of the renal V2 receptor. This
      assumption is strengthened by recent findings in receptor studies, which indicate
      a general V2 receptor defect in NDI, and in experiments with somatic cell hybrid
      cell lines, which are consistent with a co-localization of the genes for NDI and
      for the V2 receptor in the Xq28 region. Finally, the efficacy of the combination
      amiloride-hydrochlorothiazide, compared with the indomethacin-hydrochlorothiazide
      regimen, in the treatment of NDI is presented and the advantages of the former
      combination are discussed.

PMID- 1457334
TI  - Renal effects of growth hormone. II. Electrolyte homeostasis and body
      composition.
AB  - Growth hormone (GH), either directly or through insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF
      1), has a wide spectrum of physiological and renal effects. This review
      concentrates on the effects of GH (derived from either pituitary or recombinant
      technology) and IGF-1 in three main areas: (1) sodium and water homeostasis; (2)
      calcium and phosphate balance, bone density and interactions with mineral
      regulating hormones; (3) fat and lean body mass. Observations of physiological
      changes in states of GH deficiency and excess in humans and animal models are
      presented. The lack of long-term toxicological data indicates that GH treatment
      for short stature in non-GH deficient children, with or without renal disease,
      should proceed with caution.

PMID- 1457336
TI  - An 18-year-old girl returns to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis after a
      failed kidney transplant.

PMID- 1457335
TI  - The renal cytochrome P-450 arachidonic acid system.
AB  - In addition to cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase, arachidonic acid (AA) is
      metabolized by the cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase system. The kidney is one of
      the major extrahepatic tissues that display cytochrome P-450 enzyme activities,
      in particular the cortex, specifically the proximal tubule demonstrate the
      highest concentration. AA is metabolized by the renal cytochrome P-450
      epoxygenase and omega/omega 1 hydroxylases to epoxyeicosatrienoic acids and
      omega/omega-1 alcohols (20- and 19-mono-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids),
      respectively. These metabolites possess a broad spectrum of biological and renal
      effects which include: vasodilation, vasoconstriction, inhibition and stimulation
      of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, inhibition of ion transport mechanisms, natriuresis,
      inhibition of renin release and stimulation of cell growth. These metabolites are
      endogenous constituents of the kidney and are present in urine with increasing
      concentration under pathological conditions such as pregnancy-induced
      hypertension. The cytochrome P-450-dependent metabolism of AA is specifically
      localized to the proximal tubule and exhibits developmental changes, i.e., renal
      production of metabolites is very low in the fetus, newborn and up to 3 weeks of
      age, after which a remarkable increase in enzyme activities is observed. These
      characteristics call attention to the importance of this enzyme system in
      producing cellular mediators for regulating renal function in normal and diseased
      states.

PMID- 1457337
TI  - Clinical quiz. Addison's disease.

PMID- 1457338
TI  - Influenza in the world. 1 October 1991-30 September 1992.

PMID- 1457339
TI  - Interstitial photodynamic therapy in a rat liver metastasis model.
AB  - Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of hepatic tumours has been restricted owing to the
      preferential retention of photosensitizers in liver tissue. We therefore
      investigated interstitial tumour illumination as a means of selective PDT. A
      piece of colon carcinoma CC531 was implanted in the liver of Wag/Rij rats.
      Photofrin was administered (5 mg kg-1 i.v.) 2 days before laser illumination.
      Tumours with a mean (+/- s.e.) diameter of 5.7 +/- 0.1 mm (n = 106, 20 days after
      implantation) were illuminated with 625 nm light, at 200 mW cm-1 from a 0.5 cm
      cylindrical diffuser and either 100, 200, 400, 800 or 1600 J cm-1. Control groups
      received either laser illumination only, Photofrin only or diffuser insertion
      only. Short-term effects were studied on the second day after illumination by
      light microscopy and computer-assisted integration of the circumference of
      damaged areas. Long-term effects were studied on day 36. To determine the
      biochemistry of liver damage and function, serum ASAT and ALAT levels were
      measured on day 1 and 2, and antipyrine clearance on day 1. Tumour and
      surrounding liver necrosis increased with light dose delivered (P < 0.001). Best
      long-term results were obtained at 800 J cm-1 with complete tumour remission in 4
      out of 6 animals. No deterioration in liver function was found. The results of
      this study show the ability of interstitial PDT to cause major destruction of
      tumour tissue in the liver combined with minimal liver damage.

PMID- 1457340
TI  - Epidermal growth factor receptor in ovarian tumours: correlation of
      immunohistochemistry with ligand binding assay.
AB  - Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was studied in ovarian tumours with
      immunohistochemical (IH) and ligand-binding assay (LBA). Two different monoclonal
      antibodies (MoAbs: 2E9, EGFR1) with respect to detecting EGFR with different
      ligand-binding affinities (low, high and low) were used. When comparing the IH
      data of MoAbs, 2E9 and EGFR1 a significant correlation was found (2P < 0.0001).
      Both antibodies stained 77% of the adenocarcinoma samples. The incidence of
      positivity as well as the mean percentage of stained cells was increased in
      metastases when compared with primary lesions. In 12.5% overexpression of EGFR
      (score 3) was noticed in some of the tumour cells. This was not due to
      amplification of the EGFR gene in any of the 25 ovarian tumours studied
      (including 6 which showed high expression of EGFR in IH). EGFR was detected in
      66% of the adenocarcinomas analysed with LBA. A statistically significant
      correlation was found between the maximum binding capacities of EGFR obtained
      from Scatchard plots and the percentage of positive tumour cells determined by
      MoAb EGFR1 (2P < 0.0001). A weaker correlation was found between the reactivity
      of MoAb 2E9 and LBA (2P < 0.1). Clinical studies are necessary to determine the
      possible prognostic impact of EGFR determined with either method, or whether a
      combination of both will give a better discrimination between high- and low-risk
      patients.

PMID- 1457342
TI  - Vascular function and tissue injury in murine skin following hyperthermia and
      photodynamic therapy, alone and in combination.
AB  - The murine tail has been used as a model for injury to skin when hyperthermia
      (HT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) using haematoporphyrin derivative, are used
      in combination. Skin injury by either agent alone was quantitated by the
      probability of tail necrosis as a function of dose of agent. 'Tolerance' doses of
      each modality were given and changes in skin vascular function were measured by
      the rate of clearance of 133Xenon. This was promptly inhibited but restored to
      normal by 7 days. The absolute numbers of hypodermal vessels of different sizes
      were measured in tail cross-sections and capillary numbers were found to be
      greatly reduced between 1 and 7 days, and restored to normal by 21-28 days. When
      a tolerance dose of PDT was followed at 1, 7, 21 and 28 days by test doses of HT,
      or vice versa, marked enhancements in probability of necrosis were observed when
      the interval was 1 or 7 days (Enhancement ratio (ER)PDT-HT = 1.5 and ERHT-PDT =
      1.8). Prolonging the interval between modalities to 21-28 days spared the tissue
      (ERHT-PDT/21 DAYS = 1.1; ERPDT-HT/28 DAYS = 1.0). Close temporal apposition of
      PDT and HT, such as has been advocated to improve tumour control, may also
      increase injury to normal tissue through vascular effects common to both.

PMID- 1457341
TI  - Differential expression of cAMP-kinase subunits is correlated with growth in rat
      mammary carcinomas and uterus.
AB  - The expression of the regulatory (RI and RII) and catalytic (C) subunits of cAMP
      dependent protein kinase was found to depend on the growth-state in oestrogen
      dependent DMBA-induced mammary adenocarcinomas as well as in uteri of the rat.
      Castration-induced atrophy of the oestrogen-dependent tissues was accompanied by
      a decrease of the concentration of regulatory subunits (RI and RII) relative to
      both the catalytic subunit (C) and total protein, decreasing the R/protein and
      R/C ratios. A hyperplastic burst caused by high-dose oestrogen-replacement
      treatment was associated with an increased level of RI and little change in RII
      and C levels. Only minor differences were noted for the expression of mRNA for
      the alpha and beta subtypes of RI, RII and C between rat uteri from castrated and
      oestrogen-treated animals, or between mammary tumours from normal and castrated
      animals. Expression of RI beta-mRNA was detected only in the uterus. Our findings
      provide an experimental correlate for the reported value of the parameter
      R/protein in human mammary cancer biopsies to predict prognosis and outcome of
      therapy. Due to the sensitivity of the R/protein ratio towards changes in
      extracellular protein content, we recommend the biologically more meaningful R/C
      ratio in further clinical evaluations of mammary tumour biopsies.

PMID- 1457343
TI  - The anti-tumour effects of the prodrugs N-l-leucyl-doxorubicin and vinblastine
      isoleucinate in human ovarian cancer xenografts.
AB  - N-l-leucyl-doxorubicin and vinblastine-isoleucinate can be considered as
      relatively non-toxic prodrugs from doxorubicin and vinblastine, respectively. A
      comparative analysis was carried out of the anti-tumour activity of the four
      compounds as well as vintriptol in four human ovarian cancer xenografts different
      in histology, growth rate and chemosensitivity. Injections were given i.v. weekly
      twice into mice bearing well-established s.c. tumours. At equitoxic doses, the
      amount of drug administered for N-l-leucyl-doxorubicin and vinblastine
      isoleucinate was respectively 3-fold and 2-fold higher than the doses of the
      parent compound. N-l-leucyl-doxorubicin induced a growth inhibition > 50% in
      three out of four human ovarian cancer lines. The anti-tumour effects obtained
      were significantly better (P < 0.01) than in the case of doxorubicin. Vinblastine
      isoleucinate studied in two of these lines could induce a growth inhibition of >
      50%. This prodrug appeared slightly less effective than vinblastine.
      Insignificant growth inhibition (< 50%) was obtained by vintriptol.

PMID- 1457344
TI  - 131I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine therapy in neuroblastoma spheroids of different
      sizes.
AB  - Mathematical models have predicted that targeted radiotherapy of neuroblastoma
      with metaiodobenzylguanidine (mIBG) is less likely to cure small rather than
      large micrometastases if 131I is the conjugated radionuclide. This study uses
      multicellular tumour spheroids as an in vitro model to test the hypothesis that
      smaller tumours of sub-millimetre dimensions are relatively resistant to 131I
      mIBG. Spheroids of the human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-BE(2c), either 250
      microns or 400 microns diameter, were incubated with 131I-mIBG at concentrations
      of up to 6.0 MBq ml-1. Using both regrowth delay and spheroid 'cure' as
      endpoints, the greater vulnerability of larger spheroids was confirmed. From this
      in vitro result we conclude that when used in vivo 131I-mIBG may spare smaller
      micrometastases. Therefore, either a radionuclide such as 211At which emits a
      shorter path length radiation should be conjugated to mIBG, or targeted
      radiotherapy should be combined with a treatment such as total body irradiation,
      the efficacy of which is not reduced in smaller tumours.

PMID- 1457345
TI  - Enhancement of the cytotoxicity of SR 4233 to normal and malignant tissues by
      hypoxic breathing.
AB  - The bioreductive cytotoxic agent SR 4233 (1,2,4-benzotriazine 3-amine 1,4
      dioxide) has been shown to markedly potentiate the cell killing of mouse tumours
      when combined with fractionated radiation therapy. Differential metabolism under
      oxic compared to hypoxic conditions results in SR 4233 exhibiting selective
      cytotoxicity to hypoxic cells. This is thought to result from the production of a
      cytotoxic free radical which is generated predominantly in the absence of oxygen.
      We have examined a way of enhancing the effectiveness of this antitumour agent in
      vivo by artificially increasing the hypoxic fraction of tumours by hypoxic
      breathing. Mice are placed in a chamber containing 10% Oxygen 90% Nitrogen for 1
      h after each administration of SR 4233. Our results in the SCCVII tumour model
      indicate that this manoeuvre results in a 10-fold increase in antitumour
      effectiveness of SR 4233 when administered in a fractionated regime with
      radiotherapy (8 x 2.5 Gy and 0.08 mmol kg-1), but not when a single treatment
      regime (1 x 20 Gy and 0.3 mmol kg-1) is used. Mathematical modelling of this
      effect is used to illustrate this phenomenon and can be used to predict the
      dependence of this type of therapy on the modification of tumour oxygenation.

PMID- 1457346
TI  - Increasing the effect of photodynamic therapy on the RIF-1 murine sarcoma, using
      the bioreductive drugs RSU1069 and RB6145.
AB  - The effect of combining photodynamic therapy (PDT) and bioreductive drugs has
      been investigated using the RIF-1 experimental murine tumour. Light was delivered
      interstially to the tumour at 675 nm using a single optical fibre attached to an
      argon-ion dye laser. The photosensitizer was disulphonated aluminium
      phthalocyanine (AlS2Pc) and the bioreductive drugs were the dual function
      nitroimidazole RSU1069 and its pro-drug RB6145. Varying the time between
      administration of the photosensitizer and light delivery (TL) from 30 min to 24 h
      had little influence on the extent of the anti-tumour effect of PDT alone, as
      measured by the regrowth delay endpoint. When the bioreductive drug was included
      in the treatment, administered 20 min before light irradiation, regrowth delay
      was greatly increased. The effectiveness of the combined treatment was optimum
      for short values of TL (about 1 h). Fluorescence microscopy was used to
      investigate the distribution of the photosensitizer within the tumours. This
      showed that the compound was mainly confined to the tumour vasculature over the
      first few hours post-treatment. The high efficacy of the combined treatment of
      PDT and bioreductive drugs for short values of TL suggest that photodynamic
      action, during the period when the photosensitizer AlS2Pc is confined to the
      vasculature, enhances the severity of tumour hypoxia which is sufficient to
      induce activation of the bioreductive drugs.

PMID- 1457347
TI  - Effects of staurosporine, K 252a and other structurally related protein kinase
      inhibitors on shape and locomotion of Walker carcinosarcoma cells.
AB  - The structure/activity relationship of the protein kinase inhibitors,
      staurosporine and K 252a and their analogues on motility of Walker carcinosarcoma
      cells has been studied in vitro. Staurosporine and K 252a, similar to phorbol
      myristate acetate (PMA) and diacylglycerols, suppress cell polarity and locomotor
      activity of Walker carcinosarcoma cells. Staurosporine inhibits spontaneous and
      colchicine-induced front-tail polarity (ID50 of about 6.0 x 10(-8) M) as well as
      spontaneous and colchicine-stimulated locomotion at 10(-7) M. K 252a suppresses
      cell polarity (ID50 of about 4.5 x 10(-6) M) and inhibits spontaneous and
      colchicine-stimulated locomotion at 10(-5) M, but suppression of locomotor
      activity is not complete in the presence of colchicine. CGP 41251, a
      staurosporine derivative with a much higher specificity for protein kinase C
      (PKC) than staurosporine, induces a dose-dependent increase in the proportion of
      polarised cells, and stimulates cell locomotion. Two K252a analogues, KT 5720 and
      KT 5822, which act preferentially on cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases,
      and CGP 42700, an inactive staurosporine analogue, had no effect on cell polarity
      and locomotion. The findings suggest that protein kinase inhibitors acting
      preferentially on PKC may be of interest in pharmacological regulation of tumour
      cell locomotion.

PMID- 1457349
TI  - A model of multiple myeloma: culture of 5T33 murine myeloma cells and evaluation
      of tumorigenicity in the C57BL/KaLwRij mouse.
AB  - The 5T33 multiple myeloma is one of a series of transplantable murine myelomas
      arising spontaneously in C57BL/KaLwRij mice. This study describes the
      establishment and characterisation of the 5T33 murine myeloma in vitro as a
      cultured cell line in terms of its morphology, growth rate, expression of
      paraprotein (IgG2b) and tumorigenicity in syngeneic animals. The 5T33 cell line
      has been in continuous culture for over 10 months and has achieved more than
      passage 34. In culture, 5T33 myeloma grows as single cells or in small clusters
      of loosely adherent cells on an adherent stromal cell layer. Maximum doubling
      time is approximately 25 h, and over 90% of the cells express cytoplasmic IgG2b
      paraprotein. The cultured 5T33 myeloma cells are highly tumorigenic in
      C57BL/KaLwRij mice with as few as 500 cells inducing paralysis and death as early
      as day 36 post-tumour inoculation. Kinetics of tumour development and detection
      of IgG2b paraprotein are dose dependent. Two weeks following intravenous
      inoculation of 5 x 10(5) cultured 5T33 myeloma cells, tumour cells were readily
      identified in the bone marrow. By 3 weeks post-tumour inoculation, 5T33 myeloma
      cells were found in various tissues throughout the animal. Studies are now
      underway to determine the sensitivity of this cell line to various therapeutic
      modalities.

PMID- 1457348
TI  - Oestrogen receptor isoforms, their distribution and relation to progesterone
      receptor levels in breast cancer samples.
AB  - Oestrogen receptors (ER) in breast cancer tumours are highly heterogeneous. In
      this study, the variability in the profile of ER isoforms and its relation to
      progesterone receptor (PgR) levels in breast tumours has been studied. Using high
      resolution isoelectric focusing (IEF) 4 ER isoforms can be detected with pI
      values of 6.1 (corresponding to the 8S ER), and 6.3, 6.6 and 6.8 (all of which
      have a sedimentation pI values of 6.1 (corresponding to the 8S ER), and 6.3, 6.6
      and 6.8 (all of which have a sedimentation coefficient of approximately 4S in
      sucrose density gradients). Data were obtained on the soluble receptors from
      supernatants of 66 ER-positive primary breast tumour homogenates using high
      resolution IEF. In 43 of these samples PgR levels were also measured. The isoform
      at pI 6.6 was present in 97.0% of tumours, the isoform at pI 6.1 in 83.3%, the pI
      6.3 isoform 39.4% of tumours and the pI 6.8 isoform in only 33.3% of tumours.
      Only 12.1% of tumours studied contained the full complement of ER isoforms (pI
      6.1, 6.3, 6.6 & 6.8). The ER isoforms at pI 6.1 & 6.8 were only found in PgR
      positive (> 10 fmol PgR/mg protein) tumours. Some tumours contained only a single
      ER isoform at pI 6.6 or 6.1, but those at pI 6.3 and 6.8 were never found singly.
      Tumours containing 3 or 4 ER isoforms had significantly higher levels of PgR (>
      90 fmol/mg protein) than those with only 1 or 2 (P < 0.001). The presence of ER
      isoforms at pI 6.3 and pI 6.8 also significantly correlated with high levels of
      PgR (P < 0.001). This variability in the ER isoform profile of breast tumours and
      their correlation with PgR levels may have a bearing on prognosis and tumour
      response to endocrine therapy.

PMID- 1457350
TI  - Detection of RET oncogene activation in human papillary thyroid carcinomas by in
      situ hybridisation.
AB  - We have recently reported the activation of a new oncogene in human papillary
      thyroid carcinomas. This oncogene, named PTC, is a novel rearranged version of
      the ret proto-oncogene. In fact PTC is the product of the fusion of the tyrosine
      kinase domain of the ret proto-oncogene with the 5'-terminal region of another
      gene that we have named H4. The ret proto-oncogene shows a pattern of expression
      restricted to neuroendocrine tissue. Its fusion with H4 allows the expression of
      the activated form in thyroid papillary carcinomas. Therefore the detection of
      ret transcripts is a tool to investigate ret activation in thyroid neoplasms.
      Here we show the detection by in situ hybridisation, of activated ret transcripts
      in human thyroid papillary neoplasms that were positive for PTC activation by
      Southern blot analysis. We did not find any ret transcripts in papillary
      carcinomas negative for PTC activation, nor in normal thyroid and in non
      papillary thyroid neoplasias.

PMID- 1457351
TI  - Pixel-to-pixel correlation between images of absolute ATP concentrations and
      blood flow in tumours.
AB  - Iodo(14C-)antipyrine autoradiography and imaging bioluminescence have been
      combined to obtain pixel-to-pixel correlations between absolute values for local
      blood flow and ATP concentrations at a microscopical level within designated
      areas in hamster melanomas. Positive pixel-to-pixel correlations were obtained in
      4 of 6 tumours. Both flow and ATP values were less in mostly necrotic than in
      mostly viable tumour regions. The data provide evidence for the energetic state
      of cancer cells being strongly influenced by the efficiency of tumour
      microcirculation in several but not in all malignancies investigated.

PMID- 1457353
TI  - Intra-hepatic-arterial infusion of misonidazole--an experimental study of
      regional radiosensitisation by intraarterial embolisation.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to generate a selective radiosensitising effect by
      the intra-hepatic-arterial infusion of misonidazole (MISO). MISO (10 mg) was
      infused after transcatheter hepatic-arterial embolisation into the livers of
      rabbits bearing VX2 liver cancer. This procedure was followed by 15 Gy electron
      irradiation. Evaluation of tumour volume and histological examination was carried
      out on the 7th day after treatment. The greatest tumour response was obtained in
      the group which received MISO followed by radiation and was characterised by
      extensive fibrosis around the tumour and nearly complete tumour necrosis. Liver
      cell regeneration was also noted in adjacent liver tissue. The advantages of
      regional infusion of MISO following hepatic-arterial embolisation are: (1)
      Selectivity increased radiosensitivity of liver cancer alongside very low drug
      concentration in the plasma. (2) Reduced or absent deleterious side effects of
      MISO with higher tumour/normal tissue ratios of drug concentration. (3) Reduced
      cost due to the lower dosage of MISO required for regional infusion.

PMID- 1457352
TI  - Reduced drug accumulation as a major mechanism of acquired resistance to
      cisplatin in a human ovarian carcinoma cell line: circumvention studies using
      novel platinum (II) and (IV) ammine/amine complexes.
AB  - Acquired resistance to cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II)) has been
      generated in vitro in the 41M human ovarian carcinoma cell line, established from
      a previously untreated patient. Three cisplatin-resistant variants were selected
      at approximately 2, 4 and 6-fold resistance (in terms of 50% inhibitory
      concentrations), in order to study the underlying mechanisms of acquired
      cisplatin resistance. Compared to the parent line, platinum accumulation
      following exposure to equimolar concentrations of cisplatin was on average
      (across the entire concentration range) 2.9, 3.6 and 4.8-fold lower in the
      41McisR2, 41McisR4 and 41McisR6 cell lines, respectively. Thus the difference in
      uptake corresponded closely with their resistance factor in the three resistant
      variants. Moreover, a significant reduction in platinum accumulation was observed
      as early as 5 min after exposure to cisplatin in the 41M vs 41McisR6 cell lines.
      Platinum accumulation was similar in all cell lines following exposure to
      equitoxic concentrations (2 h IC50) of cisplatin. Enhanced efflux of drug was not
      observed between the 41M and 41McisR6 cells. In addition, there was no difference
      in intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels. Our previous studies have shown no
      indication of metallothionein involvement and the decrease in cisplatin uptake in
      the 41McisR6 cells was reflected by a similar reduction in DNA interstrand cross
      links (ISC) formation. These results suggest that the mechanism of acquired
      resistance to cisplatin in the 41McisR6 cell line may be predominantly due to
      reduced drug uptake. The 41McisR6 cells were not found to be cross-resistant to
      ouabain, a postulated specific inhibitor of sodium-potassium adenosine
      triphosphatase (Na+, K(+)-ATPase), suggesting that decreased cisplatin
      accumulation in these cells is probably not regulated by alterations in their
      Na+, K(+)-ATPase levels, and Na+ potential across the plasma membrane. Cellular
      accumulation of a novel class of platinum (IV) ammine/cyclohexylamine
      dicarboxylates, which exhibit enhanced cytotoxicity over cisplatin and completely
      circumvent resistance to cisplatin in the 41McisR line, was also examined. The
      data suggests that increased accumulation of these compounds, as a result of
      their enhanced lipophilicity, could account for the dramatic increase in their
      potency over cisplatin.

PMID- 1457354
TI  - Kaposi's sarcoma in England and Wales before the AIDS epidemic.
AB  - The epidemiological features of Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) incidence in England and
      Wales in the period 1971-1980 are reviewed. The epidemiology of KS in England and
      Wales in this period is distinct from that associated with the AIDS epidemic. The
      incidence was probably very low compared to other Western countries, there was
      little male excess, and no indication, based on marital status data, of a raised
      incidence in male homosexuals. Half the cases registered were in people born
      outside the UK. The region of birth distribution in these migrants reflected the
      known pre-AIDS geographic distribution of KS and also pointed to high risks in
      those from Middle Eastern countries and the Caribbean. The very low incidence
      rates of KS in natives of England and Wales suggests that the background
      prevalence of the causative agent for KS was low in England and Wales prior to
      the AIDS epidemic.

PMID- 1457355
TI  - Confidentiality in the cancer registry.

PMID- 1457356
TI  - Oestrogen receptor protein and mRNA in adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix.
AB  - We have investigated the oestrogen receptor (ER) status of 20 cervical
      adenocarcinomas by immunocytochemistry for ER protein and non-isotopic in situ
      hybridisation for ER mRNA. Both methods, which are applicable to paraffin
      sections, were developed and validated in breast carcinomas with known ER
      content. Six cervical adenocarcinomas contained immunocytochemically demonstrable
      ER protein; all contained ER mRNA, but staining was less intense in poorly
      differentiated areas of four tumours. This disparity between protein and mRNA
      detection needs further investigation as does the possibility that oestrogens may
      play a role in the pathogenesis of cervical adenocarcinoma.

PMID- 1457357
TI  - Outcome of children with resistant and relapsed Hodgkin's disease.
AB  - During the period 1974-89, 169 children with Hodgkin's disease were treated in
      the Paediatric Oncology Units of the Royal Marsden and St Bartholomew's
      Hospitals. The overall actuarial survival for the whole group was 81% at 10
      years. Thirty-five of the 169 children either did not achieve a complete
      remission or subsequently relapsed. The estimated actuarial survival from initial
      relapse or failure of primary treatment was 60% at 5 years and 45% at 10 years.
      Over half of the patients requiring salvage therapy had declared themselves
      within 2 years and only 3 relapses occurred more than 3 years from diagnosis.
      Very few patients remain disease free long term after failure of primary and
      initial salvage therapy. Patients relapsing within a year of diagnosis or not
      achieving a complete response to primary therapy and those with disseminated
      relapse had a poor response to salvage therapy. A significant subgroup of
      patients had prolonged survival despite multiple relapses. Neither initial
      histology nor stage affected survival from relapse although numbers in each
      subgroup were small.

PMID- 1457358
TI  - Beta-carotene supplementation in smokers reduces the frequency of micronuclei in
      sputum.
AB  - beta-carotene has been hypothesised to reduce lung cancer risk. We studied the
      effect of 14 weeks of beta-carotene supplementation (20 mg d-1) on the frequency
      of micronuclei in sputum in 114 heavy smokers in a double-blind trial.
      Micronuclei reflect DNA damage in exfoliated cells and may thus provide a marker
      of early-stage carcinogenesis. Pre-treatment blood levels of cotinine, beta
      carotene, retinol and vitamins C and E were similar in the placebo group (n = 61)
      and the treatment group (n = 53). Plasma beta-carotene levels increased 13-fold
      in the treatment group during intervention. Initial micronuclei counts (per 3,000
      cells) were higher in the treatment group than in the placebo group (5.0 vs 4.0,
      P < 0.05). During intervention, the treatment group showed a 47% decrease,
      whereas the placebo group showed a non-significant decrease (16%). After
      adjustment for the initial levels, the treatment group had 27% lower micronuclei
      counts than the placebo group at the end of the trial (95% CI: 9-41%). These
      results indicate that beta-carotene may reduce lung cancer risk in man by
      preventing DNA damage in early-stage carcinogenesis.

PMID- 1457359
TI  - Is liver to lung shunting in colorectal liver metastasis the cause of toxicity
      following treatment with cytotoxic microsphere aggregates?
AB  - Incorporation of cytotoxic drugs into microspheres reduces but does not eliminate
      systemic toxicity. The extent of liver to lung shunt was measured in 26 patients
      with colorectal liver metastasis. Liver to lung shunting correlated with
      proportion of liver replacement but did not exceed 4.4% and therefore is unlikely
      to cause systemic toxicity.

PMID- 1457360
TI  - The combination of radiotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide
      doxorubicin-ftorafur) and tamoxifen in stage II breast cancer. Long-term follow
      up results of a randomised trial.
AB  - Two hundred patients with node positive stage II breast cancer were randomised to
      four groups after radical mastectomy and axillary evacuation: (1) Postoperative
      radiotherapy, (2) Adjuvant chemotherapy with eight courses of CAFt
      (cyclophosphamide 500 mg m-2 + doxorubicin 40 mg/m-2 + ftorafur 20 mg kg-1 orally
      day 1-14) every fourth week, (3) Postoperative radiotherapy and adjuvant
      chemotherapy and (4) postoperative radiation, adjuvant chemotherapy and tamoxifen
      40 mg daily for 2 years. Thirty-two per cent of the patients discontinued
      treatment due to GI-toxicity, while 26% required dose reductions due to
      leukopenia. Radiation pneumonitis was more frequent after the combination of
      postoperative radiotherapy with chemotherapy. There was a better relapse-free
      survival in the groups receiving chemotherapy compared to radiotherapy alone (P =
      0.05), which was highly significant in a multivariate Cox analysis (P = 0.004).
      No significant survival differences were seen. Tamoxifen had no clear overall
      effect but there were better relapse-free (P = 0.04) and overall (P = 0.004)
      survival with tamoxifen in estrogen receptor positive patients, while estrogen
      receptor negative patients had a somewhat poorer survival (P = 0.07) after
      tamoxifen. Local control was better (NS) after the combination (93%) radiotherapy
      and chemotherapy compared to either treatment alone (76% with radiotherapy and
      74% with chemotherapy at 5 years).

PMID- 1457361
TI  - Peripheral blood lymphocyte number and phenotype prior to therapy correlate with
      response in subcutaneously applied rIL-2 therapy of renal cell carcinoma.
AB  - The phenotype of peripheral blood lymphocytes of 27 renal cell carcinoma patients
      before and at the end of subcutaneously given rIL-2 therapy was determined by two
      colour flow cytometry. Therapy induced changes in peripheral blood leucocyte
      composition and phenotypes were comparable to those reported for intravenously
      given rIL-2. The present paper shows a correlation between the 'activation
      status' of the patient before therapy and eventual response.

PMID- 1457363
TI  - Interleukin 2 therapy in cancer: identification of responders.
AB  - C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in serum were measured in fifteen patients with
      metastatic colorectal carcinoma, prior to and during treatment with a continuous
      intravenous infusion of rIL.2. Patients were subsequently classified as
      responders or non-responders to this therapy. Baseline serum CRP levels, prior to
      treatment, were significantly lower in the responders (range < 2-8 mg l-1) when
      compared with the non-responders (range 7.5-116 mg l-1), P = 0.004. Furthermore,
      the responding patients demonstrated significantly and grossly elevated CRP
      stimulation indices (SI) compared with non-responders at different time intervals
      during the rIL2 infusion. At the cessation of rIL2 therapy, the CRP stimulation
      index was 31.3 +/- 9.3 in the responders, and only 1.6 +/- 0.3 in the non
      responders (means +/- s.e.m, P = 0.014). These findings suggest that it is
      possible to predict those cancer patients who are most likely to respond to and
      benefit from rIL2 therapy, either prior to the commencement of or during the
      first course of rIL2.

PMID- 1457362
TI  - The association of body size, reproductive factors and thyroid cancer.
AB  - A population-based case-control study of the association of diet and other
      factors and thyroid cancer was conducted between 1980 and 1987 on Oahu, Hawaii.
      Study participants included 51 men and 140 women with thyroid cancer, and 113
      male and 328 female controls matched on age (+/- 5 years) and sex. A significant,
      positive monotonic dose-response relation of weight in late adulthood (5 years
      prior to interview) and the risk for thyroid cancer was found for men and women.
      A greater than five-fold increase in the risk for thyroid cancer among men, and
      more than a two-fold increase in risk among women, was found for subjects in the
      highest compared with the lowest quartile of weight in late adulthood. Height was
      significantly related to the risk for thyroid cancer among men, but not women.
      Among men, there was a significant dose-response relation of weight in early
      adulthood (20-29 years of age) and the odds ratios (ORs) for thyroid cancer,
      although the trend was not significant after adjustment for height. Among women,
      there was also a positive relation of adult weight gain and thyroid cancer, with
      an OR of 2.6 associated with more than a 14% increase in weight. The effects of
      relative weight and weight gain on thyroid cancer risk were stronger in post
      menopausal women than in premenopausal women. There was a significant positive
      interaction between fertility drug use and early adult weight and the risk for
      thyroid cancer in women. Odds ratios were also significantly elevated for women
      above the median weight in early adulthood who experienced a miscarriage or
      stillbirth at first pregnancy. In summary, these data show an association of
      weight, particularly in late adulthood, and the risk for thyroid cancer in men
      and women, and further suggest a positive interaction between weight in young
      adulthood and fertility drug use on thyroid carcinogenesis in women.

PMID- 1457364
TI  - Expression of metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in primary pulmonary
      carcinomas.
AB  - Nine primary pulmonary carcinomas, one metastatic carcinoma, and two malignant
      pleural mesotheliomas have been analysed for the expression at the mRNA level of
      metalloproteinases (MPs) and tissue inhibitors of MPs (TIMPs). In situ
      hybridisation showed TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 transcripts predominantly over tumour
      stroma and gelatinases evenly distributed over both stromal and tumour cells.
      While both TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were expressed in non-neoplastic lungs (NNL) as well
      as in carcinomas, stromelysin 3 (ST3), 92 kDa gelatinase and interstitial
      collagenase were expressed only by carcinomas. Expression of these MPs by
      carcinomas was independent of histologic type and such tumour features as
      fibrosis or necrosis. The consistent expression of ST3 by all of the carcinomas
      examined and absence of its expression in NNL indicates that ST3 production is
      likely associated with the malignant phenotype. However, since 92 kDa gelatinase
      and interstitial collagenase transcripts were found in some but not all tumour
      samples, their expression is not a uniform feature of pulmonary carcinomas. The
      possible prognostic significance of the expression of the latter two enzymes by
      carcinomas remains to be established.

PMID- 1457365
TI  - Alcohol and cancer.

PMID- 1457366
TI  - Malignant neoplasms associated with cancer of the ampulla of Vater.

PMID- 1457367
TI  - Adjuvant therapy in resectable gastric cancer.

PMID- 1457368
TI  - IL2 treatment for cancer: from biology to gene therapy.
AB  - In this review we shall discuss the biological rationale and the clinical
      findings obtained using Interleukin 2 (IL2)-based immunotherapy in the management
      of cancer patients. Objective and long-lived clinical responses have been
      documented in a proportion of cases, particularly renal cell carcinoma, melanoma
      and acute myeloid leukaemia. Though encouraging, the clinical use of IL2 has so
      far been limited by toxicity, as well as by the heterogeneous and unpredictable
      responses and by the lack of specific anti-tumour effect. These considerations
      have led to the belief that more sophisticated technologies aimed at introducing
      the IL2 gene into the neoplastic cells may potentially overcome some of the
      limitations coupled to the in vivo infusion of high doses of IL2. The data
      accumulated in animal models and, more recently, also with human tumour cells
      indicate that the IL2 gene may be successfully inserted into neoplastic cells.
      The constitutive secretion of IL2 by the tumour cells leads to a reduced or
      abrogated tumorigenicity in several different tumour models. The evidence that in
      some experimental tumours the transduction of the IL2 gene into the neoplastic
      cells may elicit a specific cytotoxic response and confer anti-tumour memory,
      suggests that vaccination protocols based on this innovative strategy may
      represent a potential new tool in the management of cancer patients.

PMID- 1457369
TI  - Intrathecal chemotherapy with ACNU for meningeal gliomatosis.
AB  - ACNU [1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl) methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea
      hydrochloride], one of the chloroethylnitrosoureas (CENUs), is believed to be
      effective against malignant glioma when intravenously or intrathecally
      administered. A rat model with meningeal gliomatosis (MG) induced by an
      intracisternal inoculation of rat C6 or 9L glioma cells was intrathecally and
      intravenously treated with ACNU in order to test the feasibility of intrathecal
      chemotherapy with ACNU in the treatment of meningeal gliomatosis. The median
      survival time (MST) of the animals was significantly prolonged when ACNU was
      intrathecally administered at dosages of 0.5 to 1.5 mg kg-1 in the early stages
      of MG, i.e. within 3 days after the tumour inoculation, whereas intravenous
      therapy with ACNU at a dose of 15 mg kg-1 did not exhibit any efficacy in the
      rats inoculated with C6 glioma cells (C6-MG). Intrathecal ACNU, however, at
      dosages of up to 1.5 mg kg-1 failed to demonstrate any therapeutic effect in the
      late stage of MG, i.e. 5 days after the tumour inoculation, except in the rats
      inoculated with 9L brain tumour cells (9L-MG). Intravenous chemotherapy with ACNU
      at a dose of 15 mg kg-1 extended the MST of the 9L-MG rats more significantly in
      the late stage of MG than in its early stage. This points to the feasibility of
      intrathecal ACNU in the treatment of meningeal gliomatosis in its early stages,
      but not in its late stages in which intravenous ACNU might be more effective than
      intrathecal treatment against MG of which the parenchyma has already been deeply
      invaded by the tumour.

PMID- 1457370
TI  - Fibrous dysplasia of the skull in children.
AB  - Early diagnosis of skull fibrous dysplasia in children is relatively easy, based
      on a history of painless progressive bony bulging. The therapeutic approach is
      still controversial, due to the benignity of the lesion. However, the clinical
      course may be unpredictable, with sudden appearance of symptoms, some of which
      can be important and irreversible. In pediatric patients, the possibility that an
      early surgical correction might positively interfere with the natural history of
      the lesion has to be evaluated by taking into account the obvious difficulties
      that will be encountered in reconstructing the skull after a wide excision of the
      pathologic bone. In the present report, we describe our personal experience on
      the surgical treatment of 9 children, ranging in age between 7 and 14 years. The
      patients were subdivided into two groups, according to the localization and
      extent of the disease. Patients in group 1 presented an involvement of the hair
      covered cranium and/or the fronto-orbital region. Group 2 patients presented with
      a multizonal involvement of the skull, including the central cranial base
      (pterygoid, sphenoid, petrous and mastoid bone). The different surgical options,
      chosen for the two groups of patients, are discussed, together with the technical
      methodologies utilized, the cosmetic results and the long-term follow-up.

PMID- 1457371
TI  - Time course of intraventricular pressure change in a canine model of
      hydrocephalus: its relationship to sagittal sinus elastance.
AB  - Hydrocephalus was induced in adult greyhounds by intracisternal kaolin.
      Intraventricular pressure (IVP) was monitored in the conscious animal for 2 weeks
      using a small implantable sensor, and the time-course of IVP change was
      characterized. Intraventricular pressure increased significantly within 36 h of
      kaolin infusion and gradually subsided to normal values within 1 week.
      Enlargement of the lateral ventricles was not observed during the early phase of
      intracranial hypertension (less than 2 days). Evolving hydrocephalus and
      intracranial hypertension increased the elasticity (dP/dV) of the sagittal sinus.
      This effect was statistically significant (p < 0.05) and is possibly reversible
      in the acute stage. Normotensive hydrocephalus (1 and 2 weeks after kaolin) was
      associated with an irreversible increase in resistance to outflow (i.e.,
      increased sagittal sinus elasticity). Sagittal sinus venography of animals with
      obvious ventricular enlargement (at least 1 week after kaolin) showed development
      of venous collaterals and atypical outflow pathways.

PMID- 1457372
TI  - Biopsy diagnosis of familial Alexander's disease.
AB  - A 26-year-old woman presented with headaches, incoordination and a cerebellar
      mass (1982). The CT scan revealed dilated ventricles and a hypodense space
      occupying lesion adjacent to the fourth ventricle. Neuronal loss, gliosis and
      masses of Rosenthal fibers were seen in biopsy. There was no evidence of
      neoplasm. A second biopsy 2 years later was similar to the original specimen. A
      diagnosis of Alexander's disease was suggested. Later that year the patient's 11
      year-old brother manifested a clinical picture initially diagnosed as brainstem
      glioma, but whose biopsy was characteristic of Alexander's disease. There has
      been a gradual deterioration of these siblings over the past 6 years (1986-1991).
      No evidence of neoplasm has appeared.

PMID- 1457373
TI  - The Vater association and spinal dysraphia.
AB  - We here present a hereto previously undescribed association of occult spinal
      disorders of the distal spinal cord/filum in the Vater association. We present 6
      patients who were diagnosed as having the Vater association who subsequently
      presented with occult spinal disorders, primarily lipomas of the filum/conus
      complex with or without subcutaneous lipomas. Uniformly the spinal cord was
      tethered to the lipoma/filum complex. Progressive neurological dysfunction was
      noted in those in whom the diagnosis was made late in the disease. The importance
      of neuroimaging of the distal spinal canal, in children in whom the diagnosis of
      the Vater association has been made, is emphasized to prevent insidious
      neurological damage if not already present.

PMID- 1457374
TI  - Perinatal spinal cord injury: clinical, radiographic and pathologic features.
AB  - Perinatal spinal cord injury is a relatively uncommon, but a frequently
      misdiagnosed disorder. Often, the injury is not suspected and an erroneous
      diagnosis is made. We present five cases of perinatal spinal cord injury. In
      four, the referring physicians (including pediatric neurologists) misdiagnosed
      the condition. In view of these diagnostic difficulties, we review the clinical,
      radiographic and pathologic aspects of these injuries. Serious spinal injuries
      occasionally occur in the perinatal period. With improving medical care, many
      infants with less severe injuries are surviving the neonatal period. Therefore,
      the prompt recognition of neonatal spinal cord damage is essential and allows for
      optimal treatment of the injured child.

PMID- 1457375
TI  - Osteoplastic laminotomy in children.
AB  - The article reviews 180 cases of osteoplastic laminotomies, 1 year after
      operation. The patients were predominantly children undergoing selective dorsal
      rhizotomies. Also included were a few pediatric patients who received
      laminotomies for spinal cord tumors. Spinal X-rays were reviewed at 1 and 3 years
      of follow-up. There was complete to partial bridging of the laminar roof in all
      cases. This experience confirms that the procedure is well tolerated and is
      associated with reossification of the replaced bony segment.

PMID- 1457376
TI  - How to reduce the morbidity of wound closure following extensive and complicated
      laminectomy and tethered cord surgery.
AB  - Prior irradiation and surgery predispose laminectomy wounds to a higher than
      usual incidence of wound problems. Likewise the tightness or absence of local
      fascia in the tethered cord patient make wound closure more complicated. To
      reduce morbidity, i.e., CSF leak or pseudomeningocele formation, specific
      techniques are required. These methods are outlined below.

PMID- 1457377
TI  - Removal of adherent ventricular catheter.
AB  - The technique for freeing adherent ventricular catheters is described in which a
      Bugbee wire, insulated except for the tip, is used to deliver a monopolar
      coagulating current to the tissue adherent to the drainage holes of the catheter.
      This may have some advantage over the use of an uninsulated metal cannula for
      delivery of a unipolar diathermy cutting current. The technique described has
      permitted effective and safe removal of adherent ventricular catheters.

PMID- 1457378
TI  - IGF-2 stimulates growth and metabolism of early mouse embryos.
AB  - Recent reports indicate that the insulin gene family plays a significant role in
      early development. Both insulin and IGF-1 stimulate growth and metabolism in
      preimplantation mouse embryos, however, little is known of the physiological
      effects of IGF-2. In this study, addition of IGF-2 to defined culture medium for
      the culture of 2-cell embryos stimulated blastocyst formation by 15%, ICM
      mitogenesis by 37%, and protein synthesis by 35%. EC50s of 12-63 pM IGF-2 for
      these responses were in the range for mediation by IGF-2 receptors. These results
      coupled with the previously demonstrated presence and expression of the IGF-2
      receptor from the 2-cell stage supports a role for this third member of the
      insulin gene family in early development.

PMID- 1457379
TI  - Over-expression of fibroblast growth factors in Xenopus embryos.
AB  - A number of forms of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) were over-expressed within
      Xenopus embryos by injection of synthetic FGF mRNAs into fertilized eggs.
      Injected embryos showed abnormalities in development which were mainly secondary
      to a disruption of gastrulation movements. The effects observed after injection
      of bFGF mRNA, however, were much less severe than those observed after injection
      of an altered form of bFGF mRNA which differs only by the addition of a signal
      sequence for secretion, or of another member of the FGF family, kFGF, which is
      normally efficiently secreted. All forms of FGF caused the induction of mesoderm
      in animal cap explants isolated from blastulae, but the amount of bFGF mRNA
      required to induce the formation of significant levels of mesoderm was higher by
      a factor of over a hundred than that of the FGFs which contain a signal sequence
      for secretion. Over-expressed bFGF accumulated in the nuclei of blastulae but did
      not necessarily cause mesoderm formation. These results show that FGFs must be
      secreted from the cells in which they are synthesised in order to act efficiently
      as mesoderm inducing factors and suggest that bFGF itself, which does not contain
      a signal sequence for secretion, is unlikely to be directly involved in mesoderm
      induction during early embryonic development.

PMID- 1457380
TI  - Ectopic expression of the Drosophila tramtrack gene results in multiple embryonic
      defects, including repression of even-skipped and fushi tarazu.
AB  - The tramtrack (ttk) gene of Drosophila encodes 69-kDa and 88-kDa proteins through
      alternative splicing of the primary ttk transcript. The two proteins share a
      common amino-terminal sequence, but contain different carboxy-terminal portions,
      each of which has a distinct zinc finger domain with a unique DNA binding
      specificity. The 69-kDa ttk protein has been shown to bind multiple sites within
      important regulatory elements of the pair-rule genes even-skipped (eve) and fushi
      tarazu (ftz), and it has been suggested that this protein may function as a
      repressor of ftz transcription. Here we present evidence that the 69-kDa ttk
      protein can indeed repress expression not only of ftz, but also of eve. Ectopic
      expression of the 69-kDa protein, but not of the 88-kDa form, was found to nearly
      abolish the striped patterns of expression of both eve and ftz in transgenic
      embryos. These findings, coupled with our detection of significant levels of ttk
      protein in ovaries and 0-2-h embryos, support the idea that maternally supplied
      ttk protein serves to prevent premature activation of eve and ftz, thereby
      helping to establish the timing of the onset of zygotic expression of these two
      genes. Furthermore, gross defects in the larval cuticle resulting from
      misexpression of the 69-kDa protein suggest that this protein performs additional
      functions in the early embryo.

PMID- 1457381
TI  - Comparative analysis of Pax-2 protein distributions during neurulation in mice
      and zebrafish.
AB  - Members of different vertebrate species share a number of developmental
      mechanisms and control genes, suggesting that they have similar genetic programs
      of development. We compared the expression patterns of the Pax-2 protein in Mus
      musculus and Brachydanio rerio to gain a better understanding of the evolution of
      developmental control genes. We found that the tissue specificity and the time
      course of Pax-2 expression relative to specific developmental processes are
      remarkably similar during the early development of the two organisms. The brain,
      the optic stalk, the auditory vesicle, the pronephros, and single cells in the
      spinal cord and the hindbrain express Pax-2 in both species. The Pax-2 expression
      domain in the prospective brain of E8 mouse embryos has not been described
      previously. Expression appears first during early neurulation at the junction
      between the midbrain and hindbrain. However, there are some differences in Pax-2
      expression between the two species. Most notable, expression at the
      midbrain/hindbrain boundary is no longer detectable after E11 in the mouse. Using
      monoclonal antibodies, we could exclude that primary neurons express Pax-2 in the
      zebrafish spinal cord. Our results confirm that Pax genes are highly conserved
      both in sequences and in expression patterns, indicating that they may have a
      function during early development that has been conserved during vertebrate
      evolution.

PMID- 1457382
TI  - An early molecular component of the wound healing response in rat embryos-
      induction of c-fos protein in cells at the epidermal wound margin.
AB  - The spreading of epithelial sheets plays a pivotal role in normal embryonic
      morphogenesis but the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these
      processes are not very well understood. One way of directly examining epithelial
      spreading in the embryo is to excise a piece of tissue and follow the epithelial
      wound healing process. In this paper we report our studies of the healing of a
      simple excisional lesion to the E12.5 rat embryo hindlimb. The wounded, living
      embryo is cultured in a roller bottle and under such conditions the lesion is
      completely re-epithelised by 24 h. We find that epidermal cells specifically at
      the margin of the wound rapidly (within 15 min of wounding) and transiently
      express the nuclear transcription factor c-fos. This induction occurs whether or
      not serum is included in the culture medium. We speculate that local induction of
      c-fos at the wound site may play a role in regulating transcription of genes
      involved in the healing process.

PMID- 1457383
TI  - Computer-aided classification of malignancy in astrocytomas. I. The value of
      nuclear parameters obtained by automated black and white image analysis.
AB  - Ninety-three selected cases of astrocytomas including glioblastomas (astrocytomas
      grades 1-4) were evaluated by means of Feulgen-stained microscopic slides for
      nuclear parameters obtained by automated black and white image analysis (ABWIA).
      The goal was to determine to what extent nuclear features evaluated by ABWIA were
      applicable as classifiers for the computer-aided numerical classification of
      malignancy in astrocytomas. Before the automated evaluation, all tumours had been
      subjectively graded according to the Mayo Clinic grading rules as delineated by
      Ringertz. Twenty-three nuclear parameters were evaluated and tested for their
      classification impact. With a model of five parameters (number of nuclei per
      area, mean of the convex form factor, extinction sum, extinction variation, and
      full-width-half-maximum of the extinction distribution) the highest
      reclassification rate of 75% correctly reclassified cases was obtained. Although
      this is a good result for a classification using only nuclear parameters, it is
      too poor for practical application. Thus, nuclear parameters evaluated by ABWIA
      alone are insufficient for numerical classification models assessing the
      malignant expression of astrocytomas.

PMID- 1457384
TI  - Computer-aided classification of malignancy in astrocytomas. II. The value of
      categorically evaluated histologic and non-histologic features for a numerical
      classifier.
AB  - The present study was carried out in order to obtain a numerical classifier for
      the assessment of the malignancy in astrocytomas including glioblastomas
      ('astrocytomas grade 4'). The attempt resulted in 'TESTAST 268', a classifier
      based on a reference sample of 268 tumours, 67 in each of four malignancy
      classes. TESTAST 268 aids the identification of astrocytomas with one of four
      malignancy classes by means of eight classification variables, five histologic
      and three non-histologic. Identification is achieved with the aid of linear
      discriminant functions, both according to Bayes' decision rule (BAYTEST) and by
      canonical discriminant analysis (CANTEST) using the squared Mahalanobis distance.
      The discriminant functions with the calibration of the reference sample of the
      268 tumours may be implemented on personal and even small pocket computers for
      practical application.

PMID- 1457385
TI  - Can chromatin texture predict structural karyotypic changes in diploid cells from
      thyroid cold nodules?
AB  - To assess the effect of a single chromosomal translocation on the nuclear
      phenotype of human cells, seven diploid adenomas and five diploid carcinomas of
      the thyroid gland were studied using quantitative nuclear morphometry. Four
      adenomas and three carcinomas were cytogenetically normal, whereas three adenomas
      and two carcinomas had a unique chromosomal translocation. A densitometric
      parameter discriminated adenomas from carcinomas (skewness of the optical density
      histogram, SODH), and tumours with and without chromosomal translocation
      (standard deviation of the optical density, SDODH). These results demonstrate
      that single chromosomal structural rearrangements produce quantifiable
      alterations of nuclear organisation, but that other nuclear features which do not
      express an aneuploid DNA content or an abnormal karyotype differentially
      characterise benign and malignant conditions.

PMID- 1457386
TI  - A morphometric filter improves the diagnostic value of morphometric analyses of
      frozen histopathological sections from mammary tumours.
AB  - Frozen sections of 202 consecutive breast tumour cases were analyzed by
      morphometric quantitation of nuclear features. Nuclei were selected at random.
      Conventional light microscope examination of the paraffin-embedded specimens
      revealed 144 cases of cancer and 56 benign tumours. Using multivariate
      discriminant analysis of morphometric features, all but two of the benign cases
      and 79% of the malignant tumours were correctly classified. When a
      morphometrically based dynamic filter set to exclude 'non-diagnostic' nuclei was
      used, the correctly classified malignant cases rose to 86% Morphometry is a fast,
      reproducible and efficient method that can be used in conjunction with the
      histomorphological diagnosis of mammary frozen sections. The combination of
      systematic sampling and an objective dynamic filter may be a powerful approach to
      quantitative analyses of tumours from other sites. However, it is also likely
      that efficiency can be improved by combining nuclear morphometric features with
      structural, histochemical and molecular biological data. The combination of
      traditional histomorphological examination with quantitative information may well
      increase the diagnostic accuracy in individual patients.

PMID- 1457387
TI  - How often is dysplasia diagnosed by biopsy or smear examination? Application of a
      maximum likelihood based method to the assessment of detection rates in the nasal
      mucosa of nickel workers.
AB  - In view of the known increased risk of nasal carcinoma and the high prevalence of
      dysplastic lesions of the nasal mucosa among nickel workers, regular screening
      for the existence of possibly precancerous dysplastic lesions is offered to
      workers in a Norwegian nickel refinery. Unfortunately, available sampling
      techniques do not allow the identification of all subjects in whom dysplastic
      changes are present. Independent histological and cytological (brush cytology)
      diagnoses, obtained for each of a group of 90 workers, have been used to
      estimate, by a maximum likelihood method, the probabilities that existing
      dysplastic lesions will be detected by each of these two screening methods. In
      the group studied, cytology performed rather less well than histology in
      unambiguously detecting dysplasia. However, when cytological specimens showing
      irregular (possibly dysplastic) epithelial cells were grouped with those showing
      clear dysplastic changes, detection probabilities were estimated at 0.52 by
      histology and 0.57 by cytology. Detection probabilities were estimated to be
      higher among subjects with a previously known history of dysplasia, particularly
      by histology (P < 0.01), probably due to larger dysplastic areas. In view of both
      its greater facility and speed of sampling, and its greater acceptability, brush
      cytology may be preferable to biopsy sampling for the screening of large numbers
      of workers at risk.

PMID- 1457388
TI  - The determination of the steady-state pharmacokinetic profile of fluphenazine
      decanoate by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry detection.
AB  - This study uses the highly sensitive method of gas chromatography/mass
      spectrometry to compare the basic steady-state pharmacokinetic parameters of two
      fluphenazine decanoate formulations. Sixteen stable outpatients participated in a
      two-way crossover design study of the bioavailability of a new formulation of FPZ
      Dec, i.e., 10 mg/ml, to the standard 25 mg/ml formulation. When compared to a 1
      ml injection of the standard formulation (25 mg/ml) over a two-week, steady-state
      period, we found bioequivalence as evidenced by similar mean areas under the
      curve (hrs x ng/ml). We did find that the injection volume of the same dose (2.5
      ml of a 10 mg/ml formulation) results in a statistically significantly higher
      maximum serum level of parent fluphenazine. A tendency toward faster time to peak
      level was observed with the 10 mg/ml formulation but the difference was not
      statistically significant. Both of these differences are considered too small to
      be clinically significant. In a subgroup of 10 patients, pre-injection serum
      fluphenazine levels correlated significantly (Pearson r = 0.78, p < 0.05) with
      serum prolactin levels.

PMID- 1457389
TI  - Repetitive behaviors in chronically institutionalized schizophrenic patients.
AB  - Repetitive dysfunctional behaviors (e.g., polydipsia, bulimia, hoarding,
      mannerisms) are frequently observed in chronically institutionalized
      schizophrenics, cause significant morbidity and are readily reproduced in animal
      models. The goal of this study was to assess the frequency and severity of these
      behaviors. Thirty-two chronic schizophrenics on an extended treatment unit were
      rated on the Elgin Behavioral Rating Scale, which includes eight repetitive
      behaviors and eight positive and negative symptoms. Forty-seven percent of the
      patients exhibited at least one severe, or 2 moderate, repetitive behaviors,
      while 63% exhibited at least one severe or 2 moderate positive or negative
      symptoms. The mean total score (+/- SD) on the eight repetitive behaviors (10.3
      +/- 6.1) was about 2/3 that for the eight positive and negative symptoms (15.3 +/
      8.9, t = 4.1, p = .0001). Interrater reliability for the repetitive behaviors
      was similar to that for the positive and negative symptoms. Repetitive behaviors
      were positively related to male gender, white race and total length of
      hospitalization. Repetitive dysfunctional behaviors are frequently observed and
      can be reliably rated in chronically institutionalized schizophrenics.

PMID- 1457390
TI  - Natural killer cell activity in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: a
      pilot study.
AB  - Natural killer cell activity was prospectively studied in 15 patients with
      chronic schizophrenia and in seven patients with schizoaffective disorder,
      depressed type. These patients were compared to individually matched normal
      controls. No mean differences in natural killer cell activity between the patient
      groups and their controls were observed.

PMID- 1457391
TI  - Deficits in social schemata in schizophrenia.
AB  - Several recent studies have examined the manner in which social information is
      processed in an attempt to better understand the interpersonal functioning
      deficits of schizophrenia. In this study, the manner in which schizophrenic
      subjects represent social information, and the relationships between these social
      representations and measures of information processing, are examined.
      Specifically, 30 DSM-IIIR patients with schizophrenia and 15 normal controls were
      assessed on measures of social schema processing, information processing, and
      symptomatology. Results showed that schizophrenic patients earned significantly
      lower schema processing scores than the normal comparison group. Schema deficits
      of the schizophrenic group were significantly associated with recall memory and
      vigilance. These findings suggest that deficits in the representation of social
      information provides a unique perspective for understanding the interpersonal
      dysfunctions of schizophrenia.

PMID- 1457392
TI  - Selecting controls for schizophrenia research studies: the use of the National
      Adult Reading Test (NART) is a measure of premorbid ability.
AB  - The National Adult Reading Test (NART) has achieved popularity as a measure of
      pre-morbid intellectual ability, based on the premises that pronunciation of
      irregular words is unaffected in many clinical disorders and that performance is
      highly correlated with general intellectual ability. Recently, schizophrenia
      research studies have begun to appear in the literature, where the NART has been
      used to estimate pre-morbid ability. However, this use has preceded the basic
      required demonstration that, in fact, NART performance is unaffected by the
      schizophrenic process. In the present study, NART performance was compared across
      three groups; 20 acutely ill unmedicated DSM-IIIR schizophrenics, 10 other
      unmedicated acute psychotics, and 20 control subjects. When demographic
      variability between the groups was controlled for, there were no group
      differences in terms of NART performance. NART performance was not correlated
      with Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores, and in all three groups, no
      significant differences emerged when demographically predicted intelligence
      quotients were compared with NART estimated intelligence quotients. NART
      performance (predicted on the basis of demographic variables) was not
      significantly different from observed NART performance in any of the three
      experimental groups. However, within the sample with schizophrenia, NART
      estimated pre-morbid IQ was significantly higher than currently measured
      intellectual abilities. These results suggest that the National Adult Reading
      Test provides a reasonable estimate of pre-morbid ability in acutely ill,
      unmedicated schizophrenic patients.

PMID- 1457393
TI  - Positive and negative symptoms in the psychoses: multidimensional scaling of SAPS
      and SANS items.
AB  - Recently, the validity of the simple dichotomy between positive and negative
      symptoms in psychosis has been questioned. A newly admitted group of 114 DSM-III
      patients with psychotic disorder were assessed using Andreason's positive and
      negative symptoms scales. Multidimensional scaling, augmented by cluster
      analysis, was applied to the full item set of these scales and showed clearly
      that there are three major, independent groups of symptoms:
      Hallucinations/Delusions, Positive Thought Disorder and Negative Symptoms. Within
      the Hallucinations/Delusions and Negative Symptoms groups there was some
      additional structure which does not conform to the SAPS and SANS sub-scales. In
      particular there was considerable heterogeneity within the
      Hallucinations/Delusions group, and delusions of persecution may represent a
      fourth independent dimension of psychopathology which is under-represented in
      these scales.

PMID- 1457394
TI  - Procedural learning of cognitive and motor skills in psychotic patients.
AB  - Two kinds of procedural learning, viz. learning of a sequence of simple motor
      responses and learning to solve a rather complex problem (Tower of Hanoi), as
      well as declarative learning (word list learning) were investigated in a group of
      psychotic inpatients (n = 67) and a control group of non-psychotic psychiatric
      inpatients (n = 19). Within the psychotic group, correlations of the task
      variables with positive and negative symptoms were explored. There was no
      difference between both groups in motor procedural learning. Psychotic patients
      were less efficient than controls in solving the Tower problem, but both groups
      again showed an equal amount of procedural learning. Consistent with the
      literature, however, a clear difference between both groups was found in
      declarative learning. The memory tasks did not correlate significantly with
      psychotic symptoms. These findings are interpreted as another indication that
      automatic information processing in psychotic patients is intact. The results are
      discussed with reference to neuropsychological research on procedural learning in
      neurological patients.

PMID- 1457395
TI  - Semantic priming of word pronunciation and lexical decision in schizophrenia.
AB  - Experimental assessments of semantic memory structure and function in
      schizophrenic subjects can be a useful approach for delineating some of the
      information processing deficits in schizophrenia. In this study, a pronunciation
      and a lexical decision semantic priming experiment were conducted with 19
      schizophrenic subjects and 20 normal controls. A short stimulus-onset asynchrony
      (250 msec) and a relatively low proportion of related prime-target pairs were
      used in order to examine automatic priming and in order to avoid the contribution
      of attentional, controlled processes. On the pronunciation task, schizophrenic
      subjects showed a significant priming effect, equal to the priming shown by
      normal controls. However, on the lexical decision task, schizophrenics, unlike
      normal controls, did not show a priming effect which is significantly greater
      than zero, even though the group difference in priming effect (interaction of
      priming effect by group) was nonsignificant. The lack of priming on the lexical
      decision task is consistent with the hypothesis that schizophrenic subjects may
      show abnormalities in the realm of post-lexical, controlled information
      processing. The equal-to-normal priming for schizophrenic subjects indicates that
      the basic structure of the semantic network, including associations among related
      concepts, is intact in schizophrenia, and that spreading activation also occurs
      normally.

PMID- 1457396
TI  - Carboxy-terminal-extended variant of the human fibrinogen alpha subunit: a novel
      exon conferring marked homology to beta and gamma subunits.
AB  - Similarities between the N-terminal regions of the three subunits of the clotting
      protein fibrinogen--(alpha beta gamma)2--suggest that they evolved from a common
      progenitor. However, to date no human alpha chain has been found with the strong
      C-terminal homology shared by the beta and gamma chains. Here we examine the
      natural product of a novel fibrinogen alpha chain transcript bearing a separate
      open reading frame that supplies the missing C-terminal homology to the other
      chains. Additional splicing leads to the use of this extra sequence as a sixth
      exon elongating the alpha chain by 35%. Since the extended alpha chain (alpha E)
      is assembled into fibrinogen molecules and its synthesis is enhanced by
      interleukin-6, it suggests participation in both the acute phase response and
      normal physiology.

PMID- 1457397
TI  - Helical structure and orientation of melittin in dispersed phospholipid membranes
      from amide exchange analysis in situ.
AB  - A trapping method combined with high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance
      spectroscopy is described for the measurement of hydrogen-deuterium exchange
      rates for individual amides of polypeptides bound to fully hydrated, dispersed
      phospholipid bilayers. Exchange rates were measured for 22 of the 24 amide
      hydrogens of bee venom melittin bound to bilayers composed of egg
      phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylserine (88:12, mol/mol) dispersed in 20 mM sodium
      acetate, pH 4.0. Amides of residues 5-11 and 16-22 had exchange rates suppressed
      by between 30- and 1000-fold, and the rate suppression exhibited a helical
      periodicity with amides on the hydrophobic helix face up to 20-fold more stable
      than those on the hydrophilic face of the helix. These results demonstrate that
      under the conditions studied melittin adopts a helical conformation with stable
      helical hydrogen bonds extending to residue 22 and that the helix is oriented
      with the hydrophobic face directed toward the membrane interior.

PMID- 1457398
TI  - Structure and dynamics of transmembrane signaling by the Escherichia coli
      aspartate receptor.
AB  - The structure of the cytosolic extension of the first transmembrane region (TM1)
      of the Escherichia coli aspartate receptor (residues 3, 4, and 5) and
      conformational changes within that region have been characterized by targeted
      cross-linking studies and by measurement of the effect of aspartate binding on
      cross-linking and methylation rates and compared with the periplasmic extension
      of the same helix. These experiments show that (1) the cytosolic extension of TM1
      is helical, with residues 4 and 4' closest together at the dimer interface; (2)
      the helix is more solvent-exposed at the cytosolic side of the membrane than on
      the periplasmic side; and (3) aspartate binding enhances the rate of cross
      linking at Cys 4, and the resulting cross-linked receptor displays aspartate
      induced transmembrane increases in methylation by the cytoplasmic methylase (the
      CheR protein). We conclude that aspartate induces a conformational change that
      does not involve large intersubunit movements that lead to an increase in
      distance between the cytosolic ends of the first membrane-spanning helices;
      rather, the motion involved is largely contained within individual subunits,
      possibly resulting in a small movement between positions 4 and 4'.

PMID- 1457399
TI  - Structure-function analysis of Escherichia coli translation initiation factor
      IF3: tyrosine 107 and lysine 110 are required for ribosome binding.
AB  - Translation initiation factor IF3 is required for peptide chain initiation in
      Escherichia coli. IF3 binds directly to 30S ribosomal subunits ensuring a
      constant supply of free 30S subunits for initiation complex formation,
      participates in the kinetic selection of the correct initiator region of mRNA,
      and destabilizes initiation complexes containing noninitiator tRNAs. The roles
      that tyrosine 107 and lysine 110 play in IF3 function were examined by site
      directed mutagenesis. Tyrosine 107 was changed to either phenylalanine (Y107F) or
      leucine (Y107L), and lysine 110 was converted to either arginine (K110R) or
      leucine (K110L). These single amino acid changes resulted in a reduced affinity
      of IF3 for 30S subunits. Association equilibrium constants (M-1) for 30S subunit
      binding were as follows: wild-type, 7.8 x 10(7); Y107F, 4.1 x 10(7); Y107L, 1 x
      10(7); K110R, 5.1 x 10(6); K110L, < 1 x 10(2). The mutant IF3s were similarly
      impaired in their abilities to specifically select initiation complexes
      containing tRNA(fMet). Toeprint analysis indicated that 5-fold more Y107L or
      K110R protein was required for proper initiator tRNA selection. K110L protein was
      unable to mediate this selection even at concentrations up to 10-fold higher than
      wild type. The results indicate that tyrosine 107 and lysine 110 are critical
      components of the ribosome binding domain of IF3 and, furthermore, that
      dissociation of complexes containing noninitiator tRNAs requires prior binding of
      IF3 to the ribosomes.

PMID- 1457400
TI  - Backbone dynamics of the glucocorticoid receptor DNA-binding domain.
AB  - The extent of rapid (picosecond) backbone motions within the glucocorticoid
      receptor DNA-binding domain (GR DBD) has been investigated using proton-detected
      heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy on uniformly 15N-labeled protein fragments
      containing the GR DBD. Sequence-specific 15N resonance assignments, based on two-
      and three-dimensional heteronuclear NMR spectra, are reported for 65 of 69
      backbone amides within the segment C440-A509 of the rat GR in a protein fragment
      containing a total of 82 residues (MW = 9200). Individual backbone 15N spin
      lattice relaxation times (T1), rotating-frame spin-lattice relaxation times (T1
      rho), and steady-state (1H)-15N nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs) have been
      measured at 11.74 T for a majority of the backbone amide nitrogens within the
      segment C440-N506. T1 relaxation times and NOEs are interpreted in terms of a
      generalized order parameter (S2) and an effective correlation time (tau e)
      characterizing internal motions in each backbone amide using an optimized value
      for the correlation time for isotropic rotational motions of the protein (tau R =
      6.3 ns). Average S2 order parameters are found to be similar (approximately 0.86
      +/- 0.07) for various functional domains of the DBD. Qualitative inspection as
      well as quantitative analysis of the relaxation and NOE data suggests that the
      picosecond flexibility of the DBD backbone is limited and uniform over the entire
      protein, with the possible exception of residues S448-H451 of the first zinc
      domain and a few residues for which relaxation and NOE parameters were not
      obtained. in particular, we find no evidence for extensive rapid backbone motions
      within the second zinc domain. Our results therefore suggest that the second zinc
      domain is not disordered in the uncomplexed state of DBD, although the
      possibility of slowly exchanging (ordered) conformational states cannot be
      excluded in the present analysis.

PMID- 1457401
TI  - Cloning, nucleotide sequence, and chromosome localization of the human
      pleiotrophin gene.
AB  - Pleiotrophin (PTN), midkine (MK), and retinoic acid-induced heparin-binding (RI
      HB) protein are members of a recently discovered family of developmentally
      regulated cytokines. We report here the cloning, sequencing, chromosomal
      localization, and structural organization of the genomic version of the human PTN
      gene and its comparison to the mouse MK gene. The PTN gene was found to be
      arranged in five exons and four introns, in a fashion similar to that of the
      mouse MK gene. Exon 1, as for MK, does not appear to encode amino acid sequence.
      As in the case of the MK gene, exon 2 encodes the hydrophobic leader sequence of
      PTN, which constitutes the beginning of gene translation. The signal peptide
      cleavage site of both genes lies toward the 3' end of exon 2. Exons 3 and 4 of
      PTN were most closely related to exons 3 and 4 of the MK gene; in particular, six
      of the ten cysteine residues were coded for in exon 3 and the remaining 4 in exon
      4. The intron-exon splice junctions of both genes occurred through the same
      residues. The two genes were found to be less closely related in the fifth exon
      which encodes the highly basic C-terminal domains, the translation termination
      codon, and the polyadenylation signal of both cDNAs. We also report approximately
      2000 bp of the 5' untranslated sequence of the PTN gene and the site of
      initiation of transcription in human placenta. PTN was localized to human
      chromosome 7q33-34 by fluorescence in situ hybridization. These data confirm the
      existence of a new gene family of developmentally regulated cytokines.

PMID- 1457402
TI  - Comparative circular dichroism studies of an anti-fluorescein monoclonal antibody
      (Mab 4-4-20) and its derivatives.
AB  - This study presents circular dichroism (CD) spectra of a high-affinity monoclonal
      anti-fluorescein antibody (Mab 4-4-20), its Fab fragments, and corresponding
      single-chain antibody (SCA). In the region 200-250 nm, the differences in the CD
      spectra between these proteins reflect the uneven distribution of chromophores
      (tryptophan and tyrosine) rather than a major conformational change. On the basis
      of near-UV CD spectra, binding of the hapten fluorescein to these protein
      antibodies elicits an increased asymmetry in the microenvironment of the
      chromophoric residues in contact with the hapten and also perturbs the interface
      between VL and VH domains. The hapten-binding site provides a chiral
      microenvironment for fluorescein that elicits a pronounced induced fluorescein CD
      spectrum in both the visible and UV regions. In contrast to the parent molecules,
      SCA is thermolabile. Our results demonstrate that (1) UV CD spectra are useful
      for assessing the chromophoric microenvironment in the binding portion of
      antibodies and (2) the extrinsic fluorescein hapten CD spectra provide
      information about the interaction of hapten with the binding pocket.

PMID- 1457403
TI  - Characterization of recombinant HIV-1 Tat and its interaction with TAR RNA.
AB  - Recombinant HIV-1 Tat (Tat 1-86) has been purified from the cytoplasmic fraction
      of Escherichia coli without the use of protein denaturants or chaotropic agents.
      Chloroquine-mediated uptake of the purified protein into cells resulted in
      transactivation of the HIV LTR promoter. Tat retains 1.64 mol of Zn2+/mol of
      protein by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Circular dichroism measurements
      indicated that the structure of recombinant Tat contains 15-20% alpha-helix.
      Filter binding assays showed that Tat binds to a 63-nucleotide target TAR RNA
      with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 10 nM at 25 degrees C, 0.05 M ionic
      strength, pH 7.5, in a 1:1 Tat-TAR RNA stoichiometry. Nonelectrostatic
      interactions provide the principal source of free energy of association. While
      the pH optimum occurs over a wide H+ concentration, the salt dependence of Kd
      indicates formation of a single ion pair. UV-induced protein-RNA cross-linking
      produced a labeled Tat-TAR RNA adduct, indicating that direct contact occurred
      between the Tat protein and TAR RNA.

PMID- 1457404
TI  - DNA sequence selectivities in the covalent bonding of antibiotic saframycins Mx1,
      Mx3, A, and S deduced from MPE.Fe(II) footprinting and exonuclease III stop
      assays.
AB  - DNA sequence selectivities in the covalent binding of the antitumor antibiotic
      saframycins Mx1, Mx3, A, and S have been determined by complementary strand
      MPE.Fe(II) footprinting and exonuclease III stop assays on two different 545 and
      135 base pair long HindIII/RsaI restriction fragments of pBR322 DNA. Saframycins
      Mx1, Mx3, A, and S recognize primarily 5'-GGG sequences. All four antibiotics
      also recognize 5'-GGPy sequences, however a cytosine is preferred over a thymine
      at the 3'-end of this recognition site in all cases. Saframycins Mx1, Mx3 and S,
      which possess the OH leaving group, also recognize the 5'-CCG sequence, in
      contrast to saframycin A, which contains the CN leaving group. In contrast, the
      OH-containing saframycins also recognize the 5'-CTA sequence. Saframycins Mx2, B
      and C, which lack the critical CN or OH leaving group, do not show any footprints
      on the restriction fragments examined in this study. The measured binding site
      size for all four antibiotics is three base pairs. The exonuclease III stop assay
      independently confirmed the formation of a covalent bond and the strong
      preference of the antibiotics for 5'-GGG and 5'-GCC sequences. The latter enzyme
      assay also suggests that the 5'-terminal or central G of the triad binding site
      is the base to which reversible covalent attachment of the antibiotic takes
      place.

PMID- 1457405
TI  - Very stable mismatch duplexes: structural and thermodynamic studies on tandem G.A
      mismatches in DNA.
AB  - We have used ultraviolet melting techniques to compare the stability of several
      DNA duplexes containing tandem G.A mismatches to similar duplexes containing
      tandem A.G, I.A, and T.A base pairs. We have found that tandem G.A mismatches in
      5'-Y-G-A-R-3' duplexes are more stable than their I.A counterparts and that they
      are sometimes more stable than tandem 5'-Y-T-A-R-3' sequences. This is not the
      case for tandem G.A mismatches in other base stacking environments, and it
      suggests that tandem G.A mismatches in 5'-Y-G-A-R-3' sequences have a unique
      configuration. In contrast to tandem 5'-G-A-3' mismatches, tandem 5'-A-G-3'
      mismatches were found to be unstable in all cases examined.

PMID- 1457406
TI  - Influence of an exocyclic guanine adduct on the thermal stability, conformation,
      and melting thermodynamics of a DNA duplex.
AB  - As part of an overall program to characterize the impact of mutagenic lesions on
      the physiochemical properties of DNA, we report here the results of a comparative
      spectroscopic study on pairs of DNA duplexes both with and without an exocyclic
      guanine lesion. Specifically, we have studied a family of four 13-mer duplexes of
      the form d(CGCATGYGTACGC).d(GCGTACZCATGCG) in which Y is either the normal
      deoxyguanosine residue (G) or the exocyclic guanine adduct 1,N2
      propanodeoxyguanosine (X), while Z is either deoxycytosine (C) or deoxyadenosine
      (A). Thus, the four duplexes studied, which can be designated by the identity of
      their central Y.Z base pair, are a Watson-Crick duplex (GC), a duplex with a
      central mismatch (GA), and two duplexes with exocyclic guanine lesions (X), that
      differ only by the base opposite the lesion (XC and XA). The data derived from
      our spectroscopic measurements on these four duplexes have allowed us to evaluate
      the influence of the exocyclic guanine lesion, as well as the base opposite the
      lesion, on the conformation, thermal stability, and melting energetics of the
      host DNA duplex. To be specific, our circular dichroism (CD) spectra show that
      the exocyclic guanine lesion induces alterations in the duplex structure, while
      our temperature-dependent optical measurements reveal that these lesion-induced
      structural alterations reduce the thermal stability, the transition enthalpy, and
      the transition free energy of the duplex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457407
TI  - Solution structure of the TnAn DNA duplex GCCGTTAACGCG containing the HpaI
      restriction site.
AB  - The solution structure of the self-complementary DNA duplex [d(GCCGTTAACGGC)]2,
      which contains the HpaI restriction site GTTAAC, has been elucidated by two
      dimensional NMR, distance geometry (DG), and NOE back-calculation methods.
      Initial distance constraints were determined by polynomial fitting the two-spin
      initial NOE rates; backbone constraints from NOE and J-coupling observations (Kim
      et al., 1992) were included. RMSDs between initial-distance-refined structures
      derived from random-embedded DG, A-DNA, and B-DNA starting structures were all in
      the range 0.5-1.0 A, indicating good convergence properties of the algorithm,
      regardless of the starting structure. A semiautomatic back-calculation refinement
      procedure was developed and used to generate more refined structures for which
      the BKCALC-simulated NOE volumes matched the experimental data. The six final
      structures refined from various starting structures exhibit very good agreement
      with the experimental data (R values = 0.18) and converge well to within 0.8-A
      RMSD differences for the central 8 base pairs. The torsion and pseudorotation
      phase angles were found to be well determined by the data, and the local helical
      parameters for each base step converged quite well. The final structures show
      that the central T6-A7 step is somewhat underwound (twist angle ca. 29 degrees),
      with a large negative cup and a normal (wide) minor groove width, while the T5-T6
      and A7-A8 steps have a partially narrowed minor groove.

PMID- 1457408
TI  - Site-directed analysis of the functional domains in the factor Xa inhibitor tick
      anticoagulant peptide: identification of two distinct regions that constitute the
      enzyme recognition sites.
AB  - Recombinant tick anticoagulant peptide (rTAP) is a highly selective inhibitor of
      blood coagulation factor Xa. rTAP has been characterized kinetically as a slow,
      tight-binding, competitive inhibitor of the enzyme. We used an approach
      consisting of both recombinant, site-directed mutagenesis and solid-phase
      chemical synthesis to generate 31 independent mutations in rTAP to identify those
      regions of the molecule which contribute to the specific, high-affinity binding
      interaction with factor Xa. Our results demonstrate that the four amino-terminal
      residues of rTAP constitute the primary recognition determinant necessary for the
      formation of the high-affinity enzyme-inhibitor complex. The Arg residue in
      position three is probably not interacting with the S1-specificity pocket of
      factor Xa in a substrate-like manner since substitution at this position with a D
      Arg amino acid produced only a modest decrease in affinity (5-fold). An
      additional domain in the rTAP molecule located between residues 40 and 54 was
      identified as a probable secondary binding determinant. Interestingly, this
      region in rTAP shares significant amino acid sequence homology with a sequence in
      prothrombin immediately amino-terminal to the factor Xa cleavage site that
      generates meizothrombin. These observations indicate that specific segments
      within two different regions of the rTAP molecule contribute to the potent
      binding interaction between rTAP and factor Xa.

PMID- 1457409
TI  - Expression of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor in Escherichia coli
      and confirmation of its thymidine phosphorylase activity.
AB  - Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) has been expressed in
      Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase (GST). The
      fusion protein was purified by one-step affinity chromatography on glutathione
      agarose beads, and recombinant PD-ECGF was proteolytically cleaved with thrombin
      from its GST leader peptide to yield pure protein. Recombinant PD-ECGF stimulated
      [3H]methylthymidine uptake by endothelial cells in vitro; however, we were unable
      to detect stimulation of cell proliferation under a wide variety of conditions.
      We confirm that in accord with the recent report that PD-ECGF and human thymidine
      phosphorylase are products of the same gene [Furukawa, T., Yoshimura, A.,
      Sumizawa, T., Haraguchi, M., & Akiyama, S. I. (1992) Nature 356, 668] recombinant
      PD-ECGF has thymidine phosphorylase activity comparable to that of E. coli
      thymidine phosphorylase. Further, E. coli thymidine phosphorylase was able to
      mimic the activity of recombinant PD-ECGF in the [3H]methylthymidine uptake
      assay, and it appears that recombinant PD-ECGF's effect on the uptake of
      thymidine by endothelial cells may be due to modulation of cellular thymidine
      pools. The mechanism by which PD-ECGF stimulates angiogenesis remains to be
      elucidated.

PMID- 1457411
TI  - Orotidylate decarboxylase: insights into the catalytic mechanism from substrate
      specificity studies.
AB  - Pyrimidine nucleotides were tested as substrates for pure yeast orotidylate
      decarboxylase in an attempt to gain insight into the nature of the catalytic
      mechanism of the enzyme. Substitutions of the 5-position in the pyrimidine ring
      of the orotidylate substrate resulted in compounds that are either excellent
      inhibitors or substrates of the enzyme. The 5-bromo- and 5-chloroorotidylates are
      potent inhibitors while the 5-fluoro derivative is a good substrate with a
      turnover number 30 times that observed with orotidylate. When carbon 5 of the
      pyrimidine ring is replaced by nitrogen in 5-azaorotidylate, the resulting
      compound is unstable in solution with a half-life of 25 min at pH 6. However,
      studies with freshly generated 5-azaorotidylate show that an enzyme-dependent
      reaction occurs, presumably decarboxylation. This enzyme reaction follows simple
      Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Because the 5-aza group is not electrophilic, an
      enzyme mechanism utilizing a nucleophilic addition of the enzyme at the 5
      position is ruled out. We also present studies that are not compatible with a
      mechanism requiring the formation of a Schiff's base prior to decarboxylation.
      The enzyme is tolerant of modest substitution at the 4-position, for the 4-keto
      group can be replaced with a thioketone. However, no catalysis is observed when
      the same substitution is made at the 2-position. Similarities in the substrate
      specificity of orotate phosphoribosyltransferase and orotidylate decarboxylase
      led us to compare the amino acid sequences of the two enzymes; significant (20%)
      sequence homology was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457410
TI  - Identification of topaquinone and its consensus sequence in copper amine
      oxidases.
AB  - The nature of the active site cofactor and the amino acid sequence flanking this
      structure have been determined in a range of copper amine oxidases. For enzymes
      from porcine plasma, porcine kidney, and pea seedlings, proteolytic digestion was
      performed on phenylhydrazone or p-nitrophenylhydrazone derivatives. Thermolysin
      treatment leads to relatively small active site peptides, which have been
      characterized by Edman degradation and by resonance Raman spectroscopy. Resonance
      Raman spectra of peptides show identical peak positions and intensities relative
      to each other and to a model p-nitrophenylhydrazone derivative of topaquinone
      hydantoin, establishing topaquinone as the cofactor in each instance. Edman
      degradation of peptides provides active site sequences for comparison to previous
      determinations with bovine serum and yeast amine oxidases. The available data
      establish a consensus sequence of Asn, Topa, Asp/Glu. Trypsin leads to
      significantly longer peptides, which reveal a high degree of sequence identity
      between plasma proteins from bovine and porcine sources (89%), with significantly
      decreased identity between the porcine serum and intracellular amine oxidases
      (56%). A lower degree of identity (45%) is observed between the pea seedling and
      mammalian enzymes. As an alternative to the isolation of active site peptides for
      topaquinone identification, visible spectra of intact proteins have been
      investigated. It is shown that p-nitrophenylhydrazone derivatives of native
      enzymes, active site-derived peptides, and a topaquinone model exhibit identical
      behavior, absorbing at 457-463 nm at neutral pH (pH 7.2) and at 575-587 nm in
      basic solution (1-2 M KOH). These spectral properties, which appear unique to
      topaquinone, provide a rapid and simple test for the presence of this cofactor in
      intact enzymes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457412
TI  - A unique catalytic and inhibitor-binding role for Lys93 of yeast orotidylate
      decarboxylase.
AB  - The presence of a proton-donating catalytic amino acid side chain in orotidylate
      decarboxylase (ODCase) was sought by site-directed mutagenesis. Replacement of
      yeast ODCase Lys93 with a cysteine resulted in a mutant protein (K93C) with no
      measurable activity, representing a decrease in activity by a factor of, at most,
      2 x 10(-8) times the activity of the wild-type enzyme. Treatment of this mutant
      protein with 2-bromoethylamine, designed to append Cys93 to yield S-(2
      aminoethyl)cysteine, restored activity by a factor of at least 5 x 10(5) over the
      untreated mutant protein. Activity could not be restored by treatment with other
      brominated reagents designed to replace the epsilon-amino of S-(2
      aminoethyl)Cys93 with a different functional group. The overall architecture of
      the K93C protein was not significantly changed, as judged by the similar
      dimerization properties (in the absence of ligands) of the mutant enzyme compared
      to the wild-type enzyme. The binding affinity of the substrate orotidylate was
      not measurably changed by the mutation, indicating that Lys93 has an essential
      role in catalysis which is mechanistically distinguishable from substrate
      binding. Apparently the mutation removes an integral portion of the active site
      and does not drastically affect the structural or substrate binding properties.
      However, the affinities of the mutant protein for the competitive inhibitors 6
      azauridylate (6-azaUMP) and UMP are significantly altered from the pattern seen
      with the wild-type enzyme. The K93C protein has an affinity for the neutral
      ligand UMP which is greater than that for the anionic 6-azaUMP, in clear contrast
      to the preference for 6-azaUMP displayed by the wild-type enzyme. Lys93 is
      apparently critical for catalysis of the substrate to product and for the binding
      of anionic inhibitors; the data are discussed in terms of previously existing
      models for transition-state analogue inhibitor binding and catalysis.

PMID- 1457413
TI  - Characterization by infrared spectroscopy of the interaction of a cardiotoxin
      with phosphatidic acid and with binary mixtures of phosphatidic acid and
      phosphatidylcholine.
AB  - The effect of cardiotoxin IIa from Naja mossambica mossambica, a small basic
      protein extracted from snake venom, on dimyristoylphosphatidic acid (DMPA) and on
      equimolar mixtures of DMPA and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) has been
      studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The interaction of
      cardiotoxin with DMPA dispersions decreases both the cooperativity of the phase
      transition of the lipid and the molecular order of the lipid acyl chains in the
      gel phase. This effect increases with the proportion of the toxin in the
      complexes and leads to the total abolition of the phase transition of DMPA at a
      lipid-to-protein molar ratio of 5. Small-angle X-ray results demonstrate that the
      structure of the lipid-protein complexes is poorly ordered and gives rise to
      broad diffusion peaks rather than to well-resolved diffraction patterns. Infrared
      spectra of oriented cardiotoxin-DMPA films show that the protein is not
      homogeneously oriented with respect to the bilayer surface. The destabilization
      of the gel-phase structure of DMPA by cardiotoxin also results in a deeper water
      penetration in the interfacial region of the lipid since more carbonyl ester
      groups appear to be hydrogen bonded in the presence of the toxin. The infrared
      results on the phosphate group vibrations also indicate clearly that the basic
      residues of cardiotoxin interact strongly with the phosphate group of DMPA that
      becomes partly ionized at a pH as low as 6.5. The results obtained on the
      interaction of cardiotoxin with an equimolar mixture of DMPA and DMPC clearly
      demonstrate the ability of this toxin to induce lateral phase separation in this
      mixture with one phase containing DMPA-rich domains perturbed by cardiotoxin
      while the second phase is composed of regions enriched in DMPC. Comparison of the
      results of the current study with those obtained on other basic proteins and
      polypeptides suggests that charge-induced phase separation occurs only when the
      charge density on certain regions of the protein structure is high enough to lead
      to efficient electrostatic interactions with anionic phospholipids. This
      condition occurs only when the conformation of the protein or polypeptide is well
      ordered at the lipid interface.

PMID- 1457414
TI  - The major glycolipid recognized by SP-D in surfactant is phosphatidylinositol.
AB  - Surfactant protein D (SP-D), a multimeric calcium-dependent lectin isolated from
      pulmonary alveolar lavage, has been previously shown to interact reversibly with
      crude surfactant [Persson et al. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 5755-5760]. In this
      study, SP-D is shown to interact reversibly with a preparation of organelles
      enriched in lamellar bodies, in a manner inhibited by calcium-chelating agents
      and by competing saccharides. An interaction with an endogenous glycoprotein
      could not be identified by electrophoresis of surfactant or lamellar body
      associated proteins followed by electrotransfer of the separated proteins to
      nitrocellulose and then probing with radioiodinated SP-D via lectin overlay.
      Separation of the surfactant or lamellar body lipids on two-dimensional thin
      layer chromatography (2D-TLC) followed by probing with radioiodinated SP-D via
      lectin overlay demonstrated binding to a single lipid. This interaction was
      dependent on the presence of calcium and was inhibited by competing saccharides.
      By assaying column fractions for the ability to bind radioiodinated SP-D after
      TLC, the glycolipid was purified to homogeneity and identified as
      phosphatidylinositol (PI). Identification was confirmed by mass spectrometry. We
      further demonstrate the ability of radiolabeled SP-D to bind to PI presented in a
      lipid bilayer through separation of free SP-D from liposome-bound SP-D on density
      gradients of Percoll. The interaction of SP-D with PI is dependent on calcium and
      inhibited by competing saccharides. SP-D binds with similar efficiency to
      liposomes with mole fractions of PI ranging from 2.5% to 30%, thereby
      demonstrating the lectin's ability to recognize mole fractions of PI available in
      surfactant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457415
TI  - Gangliosides: differentiation markers for murine T helper lymphocyte
      subpopulations TH1 and TH2.
AB  - On the basis of the pattern of lymphokines they secrete, murine T helper clones
      can be divided into two subsets, TH1 and TH2. This concept of two different T
      helper effector cells helps to explain the diversity of immune reactions
      occurring in different parts of the body. The in vivo localization of T helper
      subtypes is of great interest, but up to now no biochemical or surface markers
      were available to distinguish between them. We analyzed the glycolipids from
      altogether 12 murine TH1 and TH2 cell lines or clones. A comparison of the
      gangliosides by thin-layer chromatography showed differences between the TH1 and
      TH2 cells. Binding studies with specific antibodies to asialo backbone structures
      after degradation by neuraminidases showed that the main gangliosides from these
      lymphocytes shared a common GgOse4 backbone and thus differed only in their
      degree or position of sialylation. Two disialogangliosides appeared to be
      characteristic. They were isolated from the D10.G4.1 TH2 cell clone and
      identified by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry as IVNeuAc,IINeuAc
      GgOse4Cer (GD1a) and IVNeuAc,IIINeuAc-GgOse4Cer (GD1 alpha), respectively. GD1a
      was characteristically only detected in TH2 cells, whereas GD1 alpha was
      preferably, but not exclusively, expressed by TH1 lymphocytes. Although GD1a was
      also found in the lung, heart, kidney, and spleen, its expression within the
      murine immune cells under investigation was unique to TH2 lymphocytes. Scarcely
      any GD1a was found in thymocytes, B cells, or CD8 positive (cytolytic) T cells,
      but significant expression was seen in CD4 positive (helper) T cells which
      include the TH2 subpopulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457416
TI  - Structure of the N- and O-glycans of the A-chain of human plasma alpha 2HS
      glycoprotein as deduced from the chemical compositions of the derivatives
      prepared by stepwise degradation with exoglycosidases.
AB  - The structure of the glycans of the A-chain of human plasma alpha 2HS
      glycoprotein was established from the chemical compositions of its derivatives
      prepared by sequential enzymatic degradation of the carbohydrate moiety, from the
      determination of the kind and amount of the monosaccharides liberated after each
      step of the enzymatic digestion, and from the distinct specificity of the highly
      purified exoglycosidases. The exoglycosidases were three sialidases (Vibrio
      cholerae, fowl plague virus, and Arthrobacter ureafaciens), two beta
      galactosidases (Streptococcus pneumoniae and bovine testis), one alpha-N
      acetylgalactosaminidase, one beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, and one alpha
      mannosidase. Utilizing sialidases with different cleavage specificities, the
      number of alpha 2-3- and alpha 2-6-linked sialic acid residues could be
      separately determined. As to the beta-galactosidases, the enzyme isolated from S.
      pneumoniae cleaves only beta 1-4-linked galactose residues, whereas the bovine
      testes enzyme acts on both the beta 1-4- and beta 1-3-linked galactose residues.
      Jack bean beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase cleaves beta 1-2, beta 1-4, and beta 1-6
      GlcNAc with higher activity for the beta 1-2. Jack bean alpha-mannosidase cleaves
      alpha 1-2, alpha 1-6, and alpha 1-3 Man with greater activity for alpha 1-2 and
      alpha 1-6. Bovine liver alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase cleaves O-linked GalNAc.
      On the basis of these results, the A-chain of alpha 2 HS-glycoprotein was found
      to possess two biantennary N-glycans and two O-linked trisaccharides.

PMID- 1457417
TI  - The oxygen-evolving complex requires chloride to prevent hydrogen peroxide
      formation.
AB  - Illumination of PSII core preparations can cause the production of H2O2 at rates
      which approach 60 mumol of H2O2 (mg of Chl.h)-1. The rate of peroxide production
      is maximal at pH 7.2 at low sucrose concentrations and at concentrations of Cl-
      (1.5-3.0 mM) that limit the rate of the oxidation of water to O2. The rate of
      H2O2 production increased with pH from pH 6.8 to 7.2 and was inversely
      proportional to the oxidation of water to O2 from pH 6.8 to 7.5. While EDTA does
      not inhibit H2O2 production, this reaction is abolished by 5 mM NH2OH and
      inhibited by the same concentrations of NH3 that affect water oxidation which
      indicates that the oxygen-evolving complex is responsible for the production of
      peroxide generated upon illumination of PSII core preparations. These results
      support a mechanism in which bound Cl- in the S2 state is displaced by OH- ions
      which are then oxidized by the OEC to form H2O2. Thus, the OEC requires Cl- to
      prevent access to the active site of the OEC until four oxidizing equivalents can
      be generated to allow the oxidation of water to O2.

PMID- 1457418
TI  - Anomeric specificity of D-xylose isomerase.
AB  - Crystal structures of complexes of D-xylose isomerase with deoxysugars have been
      determined. Deoxynojirimycin is a structural analogue of alpha-pyranose and
      mimics the binding of these aldose substrates. The structure of this complex
      supports the hypothesis that an imidazole group catalyzes ring opening of the
      pyranose. The steric restrictions in the active site of the enzyme prevent a beta
      pyranose from binding in the same way. For the reverse reaction with ketoses, the
      anomeric specificity is less certain. Dideoxyimino-D-glucitol is a structural
      analogue of the ketose alpha-D-furanose. The binding of the inhibitor
      dideoxyimino-D-glucitol to the crystals of the enzyme does not mimic the binding
      of the reactive alpha-D-fructofuranose. Superposition of the nonphysiological
      substrate alpha-D-fructofuranose onto the atomic positions of dideoxyimino-D
      glucitol is not possible due to the steric restrictions of the active site.
      However, by utilizing the approximate 2-fold symmetry of the sugar, a
      stereochemically sensible model is produced which is consistent with other data.
      In addition to reaction with alpha-D-furanose, the enzyme probably reacts with
      open ring keto sugars which are present at significant concentrations. Other
      sugars which resemble furanoses either do not inhibit significantly or are not
      observed in the crystals bound in a single conformation.

PMID- 1457419
TI  - Molecular movements in the actomyosin complex: F-actin-promoted internal cross
      linking of the 25- and 20-kDa heavy chain fragments of skeletal myosin
      subfragment.
AB  - We describe, for the first time, the F-actin-promoted changes in the spatial
      relationship of strands in the NH2-terminal 25-kDa and COOH-terminal 20-kDa heavy
      chain fragments of the skeletal myosin subfragment 1 (S-1), detected by their
      exclusive chemical cross-linking in the rigor F-actin-S-1 complex with m
      maleimidobenzoic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS). Quantitative
      electrophoretic analysis of the reaction products showed extensive conversion of
      the 95-kDa heavy chain of the actin-bound S-1 into a new species with an apparent
      mass of 135 kDa (yield = 50-60%), whereas the heavy chain mobility remained
      unaffected when actin was omitted. The 135-kDa entity retained the fluorescence
      of AEDANS-S-1 but not of AEDANS-actin, indicating that it was not a cross-linked
      acto-heavy chain adduct. Its extent of production depended markedly on the S-1:
      actin molar ratio and was maximum near a ratio of 1:4. The MBS treatment of acto
      S-1 led also to some covalent actin-actin oligomers which could be suppressed by
      using trypsin-truncated F-actin lacking Cys-374, without altering the generation
      of the 135-kDa heavy chain derivative.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457420
TI  - Effect of 2,3-butanedione monoxime on myosin and myofibrillar ATPases. An example
      of an uncompetitive inhibitor.
AB  - 2,3-Butanedione monoxime (BDM) reversibly inhibits force production in muscle. At
      least part of its action appears to be directly on the contractile apparatus. To
      understand better its mechanism of action, we studied the effect of BDM on the
      steps of myosin subfragment 1 Mg(2+)-ATPase in 0.1 M potassium acetate, pH 7.4.
      Because of the rapidity of certain processes, we experimented at 4 degrees C and
      our main technique was the rapid flow quench method. By varying the experimental
      conditions (relative concentrations of reagents, time scale, quenching agent), it
      was possible to study selectively the different steps of the S1 Mg(2+)-ATPase:
      [formula: see text] At saturation (20 mM), BDM had two major effects on the
      ATPase. First, it increased the equilibrium constant of the cleavage step (K3)
      from 2 to > 10. Second, it slowed the kinetics of the release of Pi by an order
      of magnitude (k4; from 0.054 to 0.004 s-1). By contrast, the kinetics of the
      binding of ATP (k) and the release of ADP (k6) were little affected by BDM. Thus,
      the oxime appears to interact specifically with M**.ADP.Pi, and it is a rare
      example of an uncompetitive inhibitor. Its effect is to reduce the steady-state
      concentration of the "strong" actin binding state M*.ADP and to increase that of
      the "weak" binding state, M**.ADP.Pi. The effect of BDM on the initial ATPase of
      Ca2+ activated myofibrils was very similar to that on S1 ATPase. Thus, with
      myofibrils too BDM seems to exert its main effect subsequent to the initial
      binding and cleavage steps.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457421
TI  - Conformation of tachyplesin I from Tachypleus tridentatus when interacting with
      lipid matrices.
AB  - The mode of action of tachyplesin I, an antimicrobial cationic heptadecapeptide
      amide isolated from the hemocyte debris of a horseshoe crab, Tachypleus
      tridentatus, toward lipid matrices was studied with synthetic tachyplesin I, its
      analogs with Phe in place of Trp or Tyr, a linear analog with no disulfide bonds,
      and two linear short fragments. Circular dichroism spectra showed that
      tachyplesin I took an antiparallel beta-structure in buffer solution and a
      certain less ordered structure in acidic liposomes composed of egg
      phosphatidylcholine and egg phosphatidylglycerol (3:1). Spectrophotometric
      titration of the peptides with laurylphosphorylcholine revealed that both Trp and
      Tyr residues orient toward the inside of lipid matrices, suggesting that they are
      on the same side of the peptide backbone. The carboxyfluorescein leakage
      experiment and fluorescence data indicated that tachyplesin I interacted strongly
      with neutral and acidic lipid bilayers and an aromaticity-rich hydrophobic part
      of the peptide was embedded in lipid membranes. All the peptides except for the
      short fragments were almost equally active in lipopolysaccharide binding. The
      energy-transfer experiment showed that a conformational change occurred such that
      the Tyr and Trp residues are positioned more closely to each other in acidic
      liposomes than in buffer solution. The present study strongly suggested that
      amphipathic lipid bilayers induced a conformational change of tachyplesin I from
      an energetically stable beta-structure to a less ordered, probably more
      amphipathic structure.

PMID- 1457422
TI  - Molten globule monomer to condensed dimer: role of disulfide bonds in platelet
      factor-4 folding and subunit association.
AB  - Platelet factor 4 (PF4) exhibits high affinity for heparin and exists as a
      tetramer in solution under physiologic conditions. Reduction of the two disulfide
      bridges in PF4 increases the protein's dissociation constant for heparin
      approximately 20-fold and shifts the highest apparent aggregation state from
      tetramer to dimer as evidenced by gel filtration, chemical cross-linking, and 1H
      NMR studies. 1H-NMR spectra of reduced PF4 monomers generally show narrower, less
      dispersed, upfield-shifted NH and alpha H resonances, suggesting the presence of
      an unfolded monomer state. Reduced PF4 monomer folding, however, is evidenced by
      the presence of about 12 relatively long-lived backbone NHs and by CD spectra
      that indicate conservation of overall secondary structure. These data suggest the
      presence of a molten globule-type state. Urea denaturation shifts this apparent
      molten globule to a fully unfolded state characterized by more random coil-like
      resonance shifts. The reduced PF4 dimer state yields NMR and CD data consistent
      with preservation of tertiary structural folds found for the native species. In
      this regard, the reduced PF4 folding transition is thermodynamically linked with
      dimer formation which stabilizes tertiary structure. Monomer-dimer association
      equilibria for reduced PF4 essentially follow the same pH and salt titration
      trends as reported previously for native PF4 dimers [Mayo, K. H., & Chen, M. J.
      (1989) Biochemistry 28, 9469-9478], indicating that that dimer interface is
      generally conserved in the absence of disulfide constraints. Reduced PF4
      tetramers are not apparent under any conditions investigated, suggesting that
      disulfides are necessary for efficient antiparallel beta-sheet alignment between
      dimer pairs.

PMID- 1457423
TI  - Structure of the proteolytic fragment F34 of calmodulin in the absence and
      presence of mastoparan as revealed by solution X-ray scattering.
AB  - The solution X-ray scattering technique has been applied to examine the
      conformations of the proteolytic fragment F34 (78Asp-148Lys) of calmodulin in the
      absence of both Ca2+ and mastoparan, in the presence of Ca2+ only, and in the
      presence of both Ca2+ and mastoparan. The radius of gyration and the molecular
      weight for the F34 fragment increased by 1.1 +/- 0.3 A and 19%, respectively,
      upon binding of both 2 mol of Ca2+/mol to the F34 fragment and mastoparan to form
      the tertiary complex. A smaller change was found for the Ca(2+)-saturated F34
      fragment in the absence of mastoparan (0.3 +/- 0.3 A) without any change of the
      molecular weight. The analysis based on the small-angle scattering data showed
      that the F34 fragment in the presence of Ca2+ alone preserved the tertiary
      structure of the globular domain in the crystal to a great extent. Further
      analyses based on a two-domain model showed that the center-to-center distance
      between F34 and mastoparan is about 12.7 A, if the structure of the F34 fragment
      in the presence of mastoparan resembles that in the absence of mastoparan and if
      mastoparan in the complex retains an alpha-helical conformation. The modeling
      studies using their crystal structure coordinates have been made on the basis of
      the solution X-ray scattering data. The combined results support a model proposed
      by Persechini and Kretsinger [Persechini, A., & Kretsinger, R. H. (1988) J.
      Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 12 (Suppl. 5), S1-S12], although the center-to-center
      distance between mastoparan and the F34 fragment is shorter by about 5 A than
      that in their model.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457424
TI  - Trimerization of the heat shock transcription factor by a triple-stranded alpha
      helical coiled-coil.
AB  - We have isolated and characterized a 91 amino acid fragment of the heat shock
      transcription factor from both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces lactis.
      The two protein fragments behave similarly: they form homotrimers, as indicated
      by sedimentation equilibrium and cross-linking, and contain approximately 80%
      alpha-helix, as indicated by circular dichroism. Sedimentation velocity and
      diffusion coefficients indicate that they have an elongated, nonspherical shape.
      We conclude the following: these fragments contain a domain which forms a trimer
      via a triple-stranded alpha-helical coiled-coil, similar to that found in
      influenza hemagglutinin.

PMID- 1457425
TI  - Interleukin-6, a marker of preservation injury in clinical lung transplantation.
AB  - Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is one of the cytokines produced by human alveolar
      macrophages, lung parenchyma, and other cells in response to injury and
      infection. We hypothesized that IL-6 is released from poorly preserved lung
      grafts and may serve as a marker of preservation injury. Sixteen patients who
      received lung allografts were enrolled in this study. The average ischemic time
      was 284 +/- 78 minutes. Serum IL-6 level was measured before and at 4 and 24
      hours after reperfusion of the grafts by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
      Preservation injury was assessed by (1) the need for prolonged intubation (> 7
      days), (2) the arterial/alveolar oxygen tension ratio (PaO2/PAO2 ratio) at 4
      hours after graft reperfusion (only in heart-lung or double lung recipients), (3)
      the presence of diffuse alveolar damage on first lung biopsy, and (4) the 30-day
      graft survival rate. IL-6 level peaked at 4 hours after reperfusion and returned
      to baseline at 24 hours. The patients were divided into group I (n = 6) and group
      II (n = 10), depending on whether the 4-hour IL-6 level was more than 1000 pg/ml
      or less than 500 pg/ml, respectively. Group I patients required longer intubation
      (p < 0.01) and had a lower PaO2/PAO2 ratio (p < 0.001), more diffuse alveolar
      damage (p < 0.01), and a lower graft survival rate (p < 0.01) than those of group
      II. No bacterial, fungal, or viral infection was found during postoperative week
      1 in either group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457426
TI  - Effects of allopurinol pretreatment with pulmonary flush on lung preservation.
AB  - This study was designed to test whether use of allopurinol could improve lung
      preservation after 6 hours of cold storage. Thirty-two rabbits were divided into
      four groups (n = 8 each group): (1) the control group received no flush or
      storage, (2) the EC group received Euro-Collins (EC) solution for both flush and
      storage, (3) the Allo-F group received Euro-Collins solution with allopurinol (1
      mmol/L) for both flush and storage, and (4) the Allo-R group received Euro
      Collins solution to which allopurinol (1 mmol/L) was added only to the reperfused
      blood. For groups 2 through 4, the lungs were flushed (40 ml/kg) in situ,
      excised, and then stored at 4 degrees C. After storage, the lungs were reperfused
      for 1 hour with an in vitro blood-perfused ventilated model. Lung function was
      measured during reperfusion with mean pulmonary arterial pressure, end
      inspiratory airway pressure, and blood gas data. The lung wet/dry weight ratio
      was used to measure lung edema. The lungs in the EC group had a significant
      increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure, airway pressure, and wet/dry weight
      ratio when compared with the control group. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure
      in either of the groups receiving allopurinol was consistently lower than that in
      the EC group. The airway pressure in the Allo-R group also significantly
      decreased compared with the EC group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457427
TI  - Graft cytokine mRNA activity in rat single lung transplants by reverse
      transcription-polymerase chain reaction: effect of cyclosporine.
AB  - Intragraft levels of cytokine mRNA were studied in an orthotopic rat left lung
      transplant model. Three groups of rats were compared at 7 days after
      transplantation. Isogeneic (Lewis to Lewis), allogeneic (Brown-Norway to Lewis)
      untreated, and cyclosporine-treated (25 mg/kg/day, intramuscularly) allogeneic
      animals underwent analysis of cytokine mRNA isolated from total RNA in freshly
      excised grafts. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction amplification of
      interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, and actin (control) mRNA was performed with custom
      synthesized oligonucleotide amplimers targeted to known sequences of rat IL-2 and
      IL-4 cDNA. Semiquantitative analysis was performed by radioanalytic scanning of
      gel preparations. Sample specimens from the retrieved grafts were also graded
      histologically for rejection on a five-point scale. Rejection was most severe in
      the untreated allografts (p < 0.003). IL-2 mRNA was significantly greater in the
      untreated allografts when compared with isografts (p < 0.05) and cyclosporine
      treated allografts (p < 0.05). No significant differences in IL-4 mRNA between
      groups were observed. We conclude that semiquantitative analysis of cytokine mRNA
      by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction is a useful and sensitive
      method for the study of acute rejection in lung grafts and that this technique
      may become an important tool in future studies of cytokine-mediated responses in
      cyclosporine-treated allografts.

PMID- 1457428
TI  - Changes in serum catecholamine levels in patients who are brain dead.
AB  - Prospective blood samplings from 15 patients admitted with a Glasgow Coma Score
      of less than 7 were obtained to observe and compare epinephrine, norepinephrine,
      and dopamine serum levels in patients with brain injury before, after, and in the
      absence of brain death. Nine of the patients developed or were admitted after
      brain death. Wide variations in catecholamine blood levels over time were
      documented, and subgroup analysis precluded useful statistical comparison or
      inference of the data. The data are presented therefore as descriptive
      observations only. No apparent differences were noted between similarly injured
      patients in whom brain death did not develop and patients before brain death or
      between patients with penetrating versus nonpenetrating brain injury. Brain death
      was preceded by hypertension and corresponding elevations in serum catecholamine
      levels in one patient with complete data. Catecholamine levels appeared to fall
      after brain death in most patients. Only minimal changes in myocardial histology
      were present in three donor hearts, and the two transplanted hearts functioned
      satisfactorily. Serum catecholamine measurement or monitoring does not provide a
      precise method of determining potential injury to the donor heart before or after
      brain death. Other experimental data and clinical observation indicate that some
      hearts may be injured in the donor during the evolution of brain death.
      Pharmacologic intervention may prevent such injury in experimental animals but
      must be used before brain death is induced. Such interventions should be studied
      in selected human donors before brain death to determine whether cardiac function
      is improved in the donor or recipient.

PMID- 1457429
TI  - Remnant atrial function in human and animal recipients of a total artificial
      heart.
AB  - The native atria remains intact after total artificial heart (TAH) implantation.
      The electrical activity of the recipient's atria can be recorded from wires
      placed during TAH implantation. Regulating TAH heart rate by coupling it with
      native atrial activity has the potential for a more physiologically responsive
      TAH. The reactivity of the atrial impulse rate is a critical component of this
      link, but little is known about atrial responsiveness after TAH placement. Two
      human and three animal TAH recipients had recordable atrial electrical activity.
      Human atrial impulse rate after TAH was relatively constant at rest but
      unresponsive to physiologic stimuli. Analysis of human atrial contraction
      provided no discernable effect on ventricular filling. Animal atrial impulse rate
      at rest was more rapid than calves without a TAH. The bovine TAH recipients had
      an atrial impulse rate that responded to catecholamine stimulation and blockade.
      Isoproterenol caused a significant rise in atrial impulse rate (152 +/- 16
      impulses per minute to 216 +/- 24 impulses per minute; p < 0.05) and propranolol
      caused a decrease in atrial impulse rate (142 +/- 20 impulses per minute to 122
      +/- 19 impulses per minute; p > 0.05). Despite beta blockade, the atrial impulse
      rate remained abnormally elevated secondary to unknown factors. Animal atrial
      contraction did appear to intermittently augment TAH ventricular filling. These
      data indicate that the atria remains electrically intact after TAH implantation.
      The human atrial impulse rate was unresponsive to physiologic stimuli although
      the animal atrial impulse rate was affected by exogenous catecholamine
      administration, but the rate remained abnormally rapid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1457431
TI  - Sinoatrial node dysfunction in recipients of domino heart transplants:
      complication of a surgical harvesting technique.
AB  - Two of six domino transplantations performed at our institution required
      permanent pacemaker implantation as a result of persistent sinoatrial node
      dysfunction and symptomatic nodal rhythm. Retrospective analysis of several
      potential etiologic factors showed that the only obvious difference between these
      two patients and the remaining four domino transplant recipients without this
      complication was the technique used during harvesting of the cardiac graft. The
      hearts from the two patients with sinoatrial node dysfunction were harvested
      using a "right atrial cuff preservation" technique, and the hearts of the
      remaining four patients were harvested with a standard bicaval division
      technique. Based on this experience, we think that this right atrial cuff
      preservation harvesting technique carries a potential risk for sinoatrial node
      damage, and we do not recommend its use for domino transplantation.

PMID- 1457430
TI  - Early diagnosis and follow-up by echocardiography of acquired cor triatriatum
      after orthotopic heart transplantation.
AB  - Acquired cor triatriatum in a heart transplant recipient, secondary to a
      prominent left atrial suture line and torsion of the atria, was diagnosed
      immediately after cardiopulmonary bypass by transesophageal echocardiography. The
      patient was followed with serial echocardiograms and right heart
      catheterizations, showing resolution of the obstruction.

PMID- 1457432
TI  - Leukocyte-depleted reperfusion of transplanted human hearts: a randomized, double
      blind clinical trial.
AB  - Standard methods of myocardial preservation for heart transplantation have
      generally provided good results. Preservation times beyond 3 hours, however, have
      been associated with decreased survival. Leukocyte-mediated reperfusion injury is
      partly responsible for decreased graft function after prolonged graft ischemia.
      Leukocyte-depleted reperfusion has been shown experimentally to improve cardiac
      function after cold ischemic arrest. To determine the efficacy and safety of
      leukocyte-depleted reperfusion, 20 patients were enrolled in a randomized, double
      blind clinical trial to be treated with either warm whole blood reperfusion
      (group I; n = 9) or warm leukocyte-depleted blood reperfusion (group II; n = 11).
      Reperfusion with leukocyte-depleted blood or whole blood was carried out for 10
      minutes, with enriched cardioplegic solution added for the first 3 minutes of
      reperfusion. The mean donor and recipient age and the ischemic time (142 versus
      153 minutes) were not significantly different between the two groups. Coronary
      sinus release of creatinine phosphokinase-MB 5 minutes after reperfusion was
      significantly less in group II (1.65 EU/min) than in group I (3.83 units/min; p =
      0.05). Thromboxane B2 release was also significantly less (p = 0.05) in group II
      (33.6 pg/min) than in group I (67.0 pg/min). All hearts functioned adequately in
      both groups. The duration of inotropic support was shorter in group II than in
      group I, but the difference was not statistically significant. Postoperative
      hemodynamics, rejection episodes, and infectious complications were also not
      significantly different between groups in a mean follow-up of 9 months. Mean
      ejection fraction 1 month after operation was 65% in both groups. One early death
      occurred at 66 days secondary to infection; two late deaths occurred in group II,
      both from rejection. Leukocyte-depleted reperfusion is safe and easily applied in
      the operating room. Furthermore, leukocyte-depleted reperfusion decreases
      biochemical evidence of reperfusion injury. Although not influencing
      postoperative cardiac function when the ischemic time is short, less than 3
      hours, leukocyte-depleted reperfusion may prevent significant reperfusion injury
      and improve posttransplantation graft function when ischemic times are long. Safe
      extension of the ischemic time would expand the donor pool and allow for better
      crossmatching.

PMID- 1457433
TI  - Clinical heart transplantation without routine endomyocardial biopsy.
AB  - In a prospective clinical study, routine endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) for early
      detection of cardiac allograft rejection was replaced by two noninvasive
      diagnostic techniques. In 32 patients who underwent transplantation during a 6
      month period, intramyocardial electrogram (IMEG) amplitude was recorded with the
      telemetry function of a dual-chamber pacemaker system. An amplitude decrease of
      more than 8% below the individual range of variability in overnight long-term
      recordings served as an indicator of rejection. A prolongation of the time
      interval Te--the time span between maximal posterior wall contraction and peak
      retraction velocity--of more than 20 msec was used as an additional indicator of
      rejection-related left ventricular dysfunction. For patient safety, routine EMBs
      were still performed but remained undisclosed to the transplantation team. The
      pathologist was asked to intervene in cases of discrepancies between biopsy
      results and medical decisions, but no such intervention was necessary. Twenty
      seven rejection episodes were treated medically, of which 22 were diagnosed
      noninvasively. In four patients, EMB, ordered because noninvasive parameters
      remained inconclusive, led to medical treatment. No false negative IMEG results
      were observed. Retrospective correlation with rejection gave a 100% negative
      predictive value for IMEG and a 96.9% negative predictive value for
      echocardiographic diagnosis. We conclude that omission of a schedule of routine
      biopsies is justified, if the described techniques of IMEG and echocardiography
      are meticulously applied and indicate normal cardiac function. EMB remains
      indicated if noninvasive parameters are not conclusive or if false-positive IMEG
      results, which were observed in the presence of infection or arrhythmias, are
      suspected. The frequency of EMB can be reduced by 90%, compared to conventional
      routine biopsy schedules. Diagnostic safety is increased because the additional
      information gained from IMEG and echocardiography is helpful in the
      interpretation of EMBs.

PMID- 1457434
TI  - Methotrexate pulse therapy in the treatment of recurrent acute heart rejection.
AB  - Despite cytolytic induction therapy and triple-drug immunosuppression, acute
      allograft rejection continues to cause important morbidity and occasional death
      after heart transplantation. Between November 1, 1988, and May 1, 1990, 24
      patients received methotrexate pulse therapy for recurrent or persistent acute
      rejection despite methylprednisolone, OKT3, or antithymocyte globulin therapy.
      Methotrexate was administered as a daily oral dose of 2.5 to 15 mg on 1 day/week
      over 3 weeks (longer in 15 patients because of either severe leukopenia with
      temporary interruption of therapy or recurrent rejection during methotrexate
      therapy) with reduction or discontinuation of azathioprine. Rejection incidence
      was reduced from 1.1 episodes/patient month before methotrexate therapy to 0.2
      episodes/patient month after completion of therapy (p = 0.0001). Two patients
      died within 3 months after treatment, one of cytomegalovirus pneumonia and one of
      lymphoma. Mean white blood count (WBC) fell from 6900 per ml before methotrexate
      therapy to 3700 during the first month of methotrexate therapy (p = 0.0005). The
      lowest WBC typically occurred about 3 weeks after starting methotrexate therapy,
      and a transient WBC of less than 1000/ml developed in seven patients. By
      multivariable analysis, the WBC 1 month after starting methotrexate therapy was
      significantly related to greater bone marrow suppression (lower WBC), immediately
      before methotrexate therapy, greater overall immunosuppression (more rejection
      episodes) during the 3 months before methotrexate therapy, and a higher total
      dose of methotrexate. The following conclusions can be drawn: (1) Methotrexate is
      a useful adjunct in the treatment of recurrent or persistent rejection.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457435
TI  - Acute septal myocardial infarction diagnosed by endomyocardial biopsy in a heart
      transplant recipient.
AB  - We describe an unusual case of acute septal myocardial infarction in a heart
      transplant recipient. The clinical presentation was most suggestive of acute
      rejection; the correct diagnosis was first made by endomyocardial biopsy and was
      then verified by coronary angiography. Acute myocardial infarction should be
      included in the differential diagnosis of acute rejection after heart
      transplantation and included among the possible diagnoses made by endomyocardial
      biopsy in these patients.

PMID- 1457436
TI  - Cyclosporine interactions with miconazole and other azole-antimycotics: a case
      report and review of the literature.
AB  - Several antimicrobial drugs have been shown to pharmacokinetically interact with
      cyclosporine. On two separate occasions, we observed increases in cyclosporine
      plasma concentrations during concomitant miconazole therapy in a heart transplant
      patient with an infection secondary to Pseudallescheria boydii. To our knowledge,
      no interaction between cyclosporine and miconazole has previously been reported.
      In addition, drug interactions were observed between cyclosporine and
      ketoconazole and possibly between cyclosporine and SCH 39304, an investigational
      azole-antifungal agent. No interaction was noted between cyclosporine and
      fluconazole. In general, clinicians should anticipate drug interactions between
      cyclosporine and azole-antimycotic agents.

PMID- 1457437
TI  - Efficacy of dobutamine in the failing transplanted heart.
AB  - Acute rejection often leads to severe myocardial failure and death. Surprisingly,
      no systematic study on the efficacy of beta-adrenergic pharmacologic agents have
      been reported to the present. Because of all the pathophysiologic alterations
      documented during rejection, we expected an inappropriate response to inotropic
      drugs, so we have questioned the value of dobutamine during those circumstances.
      Twelve dogs underwent orthotopic transplantation and were prepared with
      implantable devices for serial hemodynamic studies to be performed on the resting
      unanesthetized subject. Of this number, six dogs were studied while they were in
      immediate postoperative heart failure (3 hours after operation), and the same
      study was performed when myocardial failure secondary to rejection occurred (5 to
      7 days). After basal state measurement, 5 and 10 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 of
      dobutamine were infused continuously, and the hemodynamic response during the two
      phases was compared. The baseline cardiac index in the immediate postoperative
      period was 1.4 +/- 0.4 L.min-1.m2 and 1.8 +/- 1.0 L.min-1.m2 during rejection,
      showing a similar degree of heart failure. Dobutamine (5 micrograms.kg-1.min-1)
      increased cardiac index by 97% 3 hours after transplantation and by 35% during
      rejection (p < 0.05). With 10 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 of dobutamine, the difference
      between increments was not significant (99% versus 79%). Raising the infusion
      rate of the drug to 15 and 20 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 during rejection increased
      cardiac index by 97% and 118%, respectively. Interestingly, no detrimental
      tachycardia occurred with this increased dosage. Heart failure secondary to acute
      rejection can therefore be improved by dobutamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1457438
TI  - Hemodynamic performance in a heterotopically transplanted dog heart: proposal of
      techniques for working left heart model of heterotopic (abdominal) heart
      transplantation.
AB  - To study hemodynamics together with various aspects of rejection after
      experimental heart transplantation, we developed a technique to produce a working
      left heart model of heterotopic (abdominal) heart transplantation. The
      interatrial septum and tricuspid valve of the donor heart are removed. The
      pulmonary arterial trunk, pulmonary veins, and inferior vena cava are ligated,
      and the stumps of the donor aorta and superior vena cava are anastomosed in an
      end-to-side fashion to the recipient abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava,
      respectively. Arterial blood from the recipient abdominal aorta thus perfuses the
      donor myocardium through the coronary artery, and the donor left ventricle
      receives venous blood from the recipient inferior vena cava as preload. In this
      model, the donor left ventricle does not pump out enough venous blood to
      desaturate the recipient femoral arterial blood but does generate approximately
      the same pressure as the recipient's heart. This model is reproducible, easy to
      manage, and can be applied to heterotopic heart transplantation in various
      experimental animals including rats.

PMID- 1457439
TI  - Living with a donor heart: feelings and attitudes of patients toward the donor
      and the donor organ.
AB  - For the patient, heart transplantation means more than an operation; adjustment
      to its rigors requires a high degree of personal strength and adequacy of coping
      skills. The goal of our study was to gain insight into how heart transplant
      patients cope with the fact that their own heart has been replaced by a donor
      organ from an unknown dead donor who was the target of disease, accident, or even
      suicide. Over a period of 2 years 44 transplant patients were interviewed after
      rehabilitation in a semi-structured interview regarding their feelings about and
      reactions to the graft and the donor. Their answers were recorded, transcribed,
      and analyzed as to content. Three groups of patients were identified: (1) the
      complete deniers (N = 15), who denied thinking about the donor; (2) the partial
      deniers (N = 17), who were aware of avoiding thinking about the donor; and those
      who coped (N = 12), who accepted the death of the donor as reality and also
      reported having more or less close connections with the donor. Eighty-two percent
      of the patients interviewed accepted the donor heart immediately as their own,
      whereas the remaining 18% avoided talking and thinking about the graft and donor.
      The findings are supported by verbatim statements of patients. The role of
      defense mechanisms in heart transplant patients is discussed.

PMID- 1457440
TI  - Natural history and predictors of obesity after orthotopic heart transplantation.
AB  - Excessive weight gain resulting in obesity is commonly seen after orthotopic
      heart transplantation. Obesity increases the risk for the development of many
      significant health problems and the associated morbidity and mortality. The
      purpose of this study was to define the occurrence, magnitude, and predictors of
      overweight/obesity in this group. We followed 47 consecutive patients for 1 year
      after orthotopic heart transplantation for changes in weight. Weight gain from
      baseline was significant at months 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10, with significant weight
      increments between each measurement interval (p < 0.05). The mean weight gain was
      10.1 kg +/- 1.6 (standard error [SE]) at 12 months. Based on entry body mass
      index patients were divided into two groups: group I, overweight/obese, body mass
      index more than 27 kg/m2 (n = 11); group II, not overweight/obese, body mass
      index 27 kg/m2 or less (n = 36). No significant difference was found in the
      amount of weight gained between the two groups (group I, 10.3 kg +/- 1.2 [SE];
      group II, 10.1 kg +/- 1.4 [SE]). Only age predicted weight gain, with younger
      patients gaining more than older patients after transplantation (14.2 +/- 13.2 kg
      versus 8.8 +/- 7.9 kg; p < 0.05). We found no relationship between the observed
      weight gain and any of the other measured predictors, that is, history of
      overweight, age, diabetes, family history of overweight, sex, patient's
      participation in cardiac rehabilitation. The universal nature of this weight gain
      and the lack of markers predicting patients at greatest risk for obesity
      underscores the seriousness of this problem.

PMID- 1457441
TI  - The psychosocial impact of pediatric heart transplantation.
AB  - Children with terminal heart disease experience a dramatic improvement in
      functional status after heart transplantation but may be at increased risk for
      problems in psychosocial adaptation. Selected psychosocial outcomes were assessed
      in 49 pediatric heart transplant recipients and their families from five heart
      transplantation centers. Heart transplant recipients did not appear significantly
      different from their peers on self-report measures of self-concept and anxiety,
      but they showed significantly less social competence and more behavior problems
      than a normative population. Behavior problems observed were most frequently
      suggestive of depression and were significantly associated with greater family
      stress and diminished family resources for managing stress. The study findings
      further suggest that the heart transplant recipients' ability to verbalize or
      ventilate their feelings and concerns to others seems to facilitate psychosocial
      adaptation. Assessment of stress, resources, and coping is imperative to enable
      health professionals to promote the psychosocial adaptation of pediatric heart
      transplant recipients and their families.

PMID- 1457442
TI  - Relationship of cardiac allograft size and pulmonary vascular resistance to long
      term cardiopulmonary function.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term cardiopulmonary function
      of heart transplant patients who received disproportionately sized allografts for
      varying levels of pulmonary vascular resistance. Resting hemodynamics and oxygen
      uptake during exercise were recorded at 1 year after transplantation in 52
      patients. No differences in resting heart rate, cardiac output, stroke volume,
      peak oxygen uptake during exercise, and exercise duration were found in
      recipients of undersized hearts (donor:recipient weight ratio [D:R] < 0.75),
      sized-matched hearts (D:R = 0.75 to 1.25), and oversized (D:R > 1.25) hearts. In
      a further analysis according to preoperative pulmonary vascular resistance,
      resting cardiac output (5.8 +/- 1.3 L/min) was normal, and peak exercise oxygen
      uptake (22.7 +/- 8.0 ml/kg/min) was mildly decreased in recipients of size
      matched allografts with a pulmonary vascular resistance of less than 3 Wood units
      (size-matched hearts, with mild or no pulmonary vascular resistance). Of patients
      with moderate pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary vascular resistance > or = 3 Wood
      units), resting cardiac output was normal (5.1 +/- 0.6 L/min) in recipients of
      oversized hearts and was reduced (4.7 +/- 1.0 L/min) in recipients of sized
      matched hearts (p < 0.05 versus recipients of size-matched hearts with pulmonary
      vascular resistance less than 3 Wood units).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457443
TI  - Clinical results of heart transplantation in recipients over 55 years of age with
      donors over 40 years of age.
AB  - Between November 1985 and November 1991, 180 patients underwent heart
      transplantation at our institution; 55 of these patients (31%) were over 55 years
      of age. Eighteen patients (10%) received hearts from donors who were over 40
      years of age (mean age, 47 years; range, 40 to 55 years); (group 1); 37 hearts
      (21%) were from donors who were under 40 years of age (mean age, 23 years; range,
      8 to 38 years). Mean recipient age was 59 years (range, 55 to 64 years) and 57
      years (range, 55 to 68 years) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The main
      indication for transplantation was ischemic heart disease in group 1 and dilated
      cardiomyopathy in group 2. Perioperative mortality and intensive care assistance
      were similar in the two groups. Survival was 88% versus 84% at 1 year and 81%
      versus 80% at 4 years in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Although infections were
      more frequent in group 1 (0.27 versus 0.11 episode/patient), the incidence of
      acute rejection was comparable in the two groups (1.50 versus 1.65
      episode/patient). Angiographic and echocardiographic controls showed normal graft
      function up to 4 years, with low incidence of chronic rejection in both groups.
      We conclude that heart transplantation in patients over 55 years of age with
      donors over 40 years of age offers excellent short-term and mid-term results. The
      consideration of older donors makes heart transplantation a valid therapeutic
      option for selected patients in the sixth and seventh decade of life, in spite of
      chronic donor shortage.

PMID- 1457444
TI  - Adult heart transplantation: adverse role of chronic alcoholism in donors on
      early graft function.
AB  - Because of the increasing shortage of heart donors, selection criteria have been
      gradually extended. The purpose of this study was to determine the donor-related
      factors implied in early graft dysfunction and to define new selection criteria.
      The 70 consecutive adult patients who underwent heart transplantation in our
      institution between January 1988 and February 1992 were retrospectively studied.
      Mean donor age was 38 +/- 11 years (10 donors were more than 50 years of age; two
      donors were more than 60 years of age). Mean ischemic time was 130 +/- 39
      minutes. An important proportion of donors (20%) had a history of chronic
      alcoholism. Thirteen patients experienced immediate graft dysfunction; five of
      them died within the first operative month. The different parameters studied,
      which were found to have no significant influence on the early graft function,
      were the age of the donor, the duration of inotropic support and the dose
      administered, a relative hemodynamic instability, resuscitation maneuvers, chest
      trauma, and weight mismatch between donor and recipient. Ischemic time was
      significantly longer in patients who died of cardiac dysfunction (p < 0.05).
      Chronic alcoholism in the donor was a very detrimental factor: 54% of patients
      who had early graft dysfunction versus only 12% of patients who had immediate
      normal graft function had received a graft from an alcoholic donor (p = 0.003).
      Excluding such alcoholic donors or reserving them for critically-ill recipients,
      with an increased risk of early graft dysfunction would be preferable.

PMID- 1457445
TI  - Effect of estradiol on accelerated atherosclerosis in rabbit heterotopic aortic
      allografts.
AB  - Migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells are early and major
      events in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. We report on an aorta
      transplant model in rabbits wherein myointimal proliferation is inhibited by 17
      beta-estradiol. The abdominal aortas of outbred white New Zealand rabbits were
      harvested and allografted to the carotid artery of the recipient. The animals,
      which were fed either a normal or a high-cholesterol (0.5%) diet, were killed 3
      weeks later. The degree of myointimal proliferation was measured with a digitized
      system attached to a light microscope. The myointimal hyperplasia was expressed
      as the cross section area of the intima/the area of the intima + the area of the
      media x 100. Transmission electron micrographs were obtained for all vessels.
      Intimal thickening was shown mainly to consist of proliferating smooth muscle
      cells. The cholesterol diet resulted in significantly higher serum total
      cholesterol levels compared to animals on a normal diet (p < 0.0001) but did not
      affect serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol or serum triglyceride levels.
      The cholesterol diet was also associated with a greater but not significant
      amount of intimal thickening. Treatment with 17-beta-estradiol significantly
      decreased both serum triglyceride concentration (p < 0.05) and myointimal
      thickening (p < 0.01) in cholesterol-fed animals. Transmission electron
      microscopy showed that the endothelial cells appeared structurally normal in the
      estradiol-treated animals. Further, estradiol prevented the appearance of
      vacuolized macrophages. Thus estradiol may decrease myointimal thickening by
      preserving the endothelium and preventing macrophage appearance in the
      intima.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457446
TI  - Effect of calcium channel antagonists on renal function in hypertensive heart
      transplant recipients.
AB  - Orthotopic heart transplant recipients treated with immunosuppressive regimens
      based on cyclosporine have a high incidence of hypertension. Cyclosporine-induced
      nephrotoxicity characterized by afferent glomerular arteriolar vasoconstriction
      also develops in these patients. Calcium channel antagonists produce afferent
      glomerular arteriolar vasodilation. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
      (ACEI) dilate the efferent arteriole and have been suggested to decrease
      glomerular filtration rate in subjects taking cyclosporine. To test the
      hypothesis that calcium channel antagonists would improve glomerular filtration
      rate in heart transplant patients receiving ACEI treatment, we reviewed the
      charts of our patients whose treatment for hypertension had been changed from an
      ACEI to a calcium channel antagonist. A change in renal function was assessed by
      the average of serum creatinine level, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine
      clearance within 3 months before and after the change from ACEI to calcium
      channel antagonist. Blood pressure was assessed on two different occasions before
      and after conversion to calcium channel antagonist. The data were analyzed by a
      paired Student t test. Serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels decreased
      significantly when patients were treated with calcium channel antagonists (p <
      0.05). Creatinine clearance increased in all patients when the treatment was
      converted to a calcium channel antagonist (CCA) (ACEI = 56.4 +/- 19.3 ml/min
      versus CCA = 71.06 +/- 23.77, N = 9; p < 0.005). A 5-mm Hg decrease occurred in
      mean arterial pressure when treatment was changed from ACEI to calcium channel
      antagonists.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457447
TI  - Effects of double-filtration plasmapheresis and a platelet-activating factor
      antagonist on the prolongation of xenograft survival.
AB  - Xenotransplantation may be considered a possible solution to the clinical donor
      organ shortage. We studied the effects of the removal of preformed natural
      antibodies against donor tissue by double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) and
      the administration of a platelet-activating factor antagonist on the prolongation
      of xenograft survival using the pig-to-dog model. The porcine hearts were
      perfused with the blood of mongrel dogs. Pairs of animals were divided into four
      groups: group I (n = 3) was given no pretreatment before perfusion; group II (n =
      6) was pretreated by DFPP; group III (n = 3) was given a platelet-activating
      factor antagonist intravenously at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg 5 minutes before and after
      perfusion; group IV (n = 5) was pretreated by DFPP and then given a platelet
      activating factor antagonist. The titer of natural antibodies was measured by
      lymphocytotoxicity and hemagglutination. Heart specimens were examined by
      immunohistochemical staining for deposits of dog antibodies. No immunosuppressive
      drugs were given in this study. The porcine hearts resumed beating immediately
      after perfusion in all groups. The mean duration of the graft beating was 17.0 +/
      2.0 minutes for group I, 215.2 +/- 22.6 minutes for group II (p < 0.001 compared
      with group I), 18.3 +/- 2.1 minutes for group III, and 317.0 +/- 26.5 minutes for
      group IV (p < 0.001 compared with group II). Immunoglobulin (Ig) M, IgG,
      complements (C3, C4), and fibrinogen were removed significantly from the
      perfusing blood, and natural antibody titer was scarcely detectable in groups II
      and IV after DFPP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457448
TI  - Evidence for antibody and immune-complex deposition in heart transplantation: a
      report of three cases.
AB  - Immunofluorescence microscopy of endomyocardial biopsy specimens from heart
      allograft recipients identified immunopathologic changes in three of 17 patients.
      These changes included immunoglobulin G and complement C3 deposition in tissue
      structures such as capillary endothelium and basal membranes, cardiomyocyte
      sarcolemma, and interstitial tissue. Moreover, the immunopathologic changes could
      be correlated with acute cellular rejection episodes evidenced by endomyocardial
      biopsy criteria.

PMID- 1457449
TI  - Henri Metras: a pioneer in lung transplantation.

PMID- 1457450
TI  - Cefaclor uptake by the proton-dependent dipeptide transport carrier of human
      intestinal Caco-2 cells and comparison to cephalexin uptake.
AB  - The human Caco-2 cell line spontaneously differentiates in culture to epithelial
      cells possessing intestinal enterocytic-like properties. These cells possess a
      proton-dependent dipeptide transport carrier that mediates the uptake of the
      cephalosporin antibiotic cephalexin (Dantzig, A.H. and Bergin, L. (1990) Biochim.
      Biophys. Acta 1027, 211-217). In the present study, the uptake of cefaclor was
      examined and found to be sodium-independent, proton-dependent, and energy
      dependent. The initial rate of D-[3-phenyl-3H]cefaclor uptake was measured over a
      wide concentration range; uptake was mediated by a single saturable transport
      carrier with a Km of 7.6 mM and a Vmax of 7.6 nmol/min per mg protein and by a
      non-saturable component. Uptake was inhibited by dipeptides but not amino acids.
      The carrier showed a preference for the L-isomer. The effect of the presence of a
      5-fold excess of other beta-lactam antibiotics was examined on the initial rates
      of 1 mM cefaclor and 1 mM cephalexin uptake. Uptake rates were inhibited by the
      orally absorbed antibiotics, cefadroxil, cefaclor, loracarbef, and cephradine and
      less so by the parenteral agents tested. The initial uptake rates of both D-[9
      14C]cephalexin and D-[3-phenyl-3H]cefaclor were competitively inhibited by
      cephalexin, cefaclor, and loracarbef with Ki values of 9.2-13.2, 10.7-6.2, and
      7.7-6.4 mM, respectively. Taken together, these data suggest that a single proton
      dependent dipeptide transport carrier mediates the uptake of these orally
      absorbed antibiotics into Caco-2 cells, and provide further support for the use
      of Caco-2 cells as a cellular model for the study of the intestinal proton
      dependent dipeptide transporter.

PMID- 1457451
TI  - The conformational behaviour of phosphatidylinositol in model membranes: 2H-NMR
      studies.
AB  - Dimyristoylphosphatidylinositol (DMPI) has been synthesized with the appropriate
      natural stereochemistry and labelled with deuterium at specific sites in the D
      myo-inositol headgroup. 2H-NMR spectroscopy of DMPI in its lamellar phase at a
      molar ratio of water-to-lipid RW/L of 129 and at 70 degrees C reveals quadrupolar
      splittings delta v of 3.83 and 2.17 kHz, respectively, for the five axially
      oriented C-D bonds and the single equatorially oriented C-D bond of the D-myo
      inositol headgroup. Between RW/L ratios of 129 and 210 and between 30 degrees C
      and 80 degrees C the value of the ratio of these splittings delta nu ax/delta nu
      eq varies significantly (between 1.17 and 4.38). If it is assumed that, at a
      particular temperature, there is a single preferred orientation of the inositol
      headgroup, and that motion of the DPMI molecule establishes axial symmetry with
      respect to the bilayer normal then the ratio of these quadrupolar splittings can
      be used to impose constraints on that orientation. For example, the data are
      inconsistent with a situation in which the inositol ring lies parallel to the
      membrane surface and are difficult to reconcile with an arrangement where the
      inositol ring lies perpendicular to the surface. Computational modelling
      identifies four possible 'tilted' orientations, all of which are consistent with
      the data, and two of these allow good intramolecular hydrogen bonds to be formed.
      In one there is hydrogen bonding between the inositol C2-OH and the phosphate pro
      R oxygen. This is close to the conformation previously identified as being
      dominant in DMSO solution (Bushby, R.J., Byard, S.J., Hansbro, P.M. and Reid,
      D.G. (1990) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1044, 231-236).

PMID- 1457452
TI  - Shear stress-facilitated calcium ion transport across lipid bilayers.
AB  - Small unilamellar liposomes were used in this study of shear stress effects on
      the trans-bilayer flux of calcium ions (Ca2+). Liposome suspensions were prepared
      from 99% egg phosphatidylcholine by a microporous filter extrusion technique. The
      inner aqueous phase of the unilamellar liposomes contained indo-1(5-), a
      fluorescent indicator of free Ca2+. The external aqueous phase was composed of
      Hepes-buffered saline containing normal physiological levels of common ionic
      species. Calcium ion levels were set at 100 nM and 1 mM in the inner and outer
      aqueous phases, respectively. Liposome suspensions were exposed to graded levels
      of uniform shear stress in an optically modified rotational viscometer.
      Intraliposome Ca2+ concentration was estimated from continuous measurement of
      indo-1(5-) fluorescence. Electronically measured particle size distribution was
      used to determine liposome surface area for estimation of trans-bilayer Ca2+
      flux. Trans-bilayer Ca2+ flux increased linearly with applied shear rate from 27
      s-1 to 2700 s-1. Diffusional resistance of the lipid bilayer, not the convective
      resistance of the surrounding fluid, was the limiting step in the transport of
      Ca2+. Liposome permeability to Ca2+ increased by nearly two orders of magnitude
      over the physiologically relevant shear rate range studied. Solute transport in
      injectable liposome preparations may be dramatically influenced by cardiovascular
      fluid stress. Solute delivery rates determined in liposomes exposed to static
      conditions may not accurately predict in vivo, cardiovascular solute transport.

PMID- 1457453
TI  - Isolation of the plasma membrane and organelles from Chinese hamster ovary cells.
AB  - Two methods are described enabling the plasma membrane from Chinese hamster ovary
      (CHO) cells to be obtained rapidly, relatively pure and with a good yield. In
      both cases, cells were disrupted by nitrogen cavitation in an isoosmotic buffer
      either at pH 5.4 or at pH 7.4. In the first approach, cells were lysed at pH 7.4
      and the plasma membrane and cell organelles were isolated on a self-generated
      gradient of Percoll, at neutral pH. Mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum were
      recovered in the denser fractions, plasma membrane fragments were found in the
      lighter fractions, but always contaminated by lysosomes. Because lysosomes were
      found to sediment in acidic conditions, cells were lysed at pH 5.4 and
      presedimentation (1500 x g) of the cell homogenate at the same pH enabled more
      than 80% of the lysosomes to be removed. Then, ultracentrifugation of the
      supernatant over a Percoll gradient at neutral pH yielded plasma membrane
      fractions practically free of lysosomes with an enrichment ratio of 3 and
      fractions of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum with enrichment ratios of 17
      and 6, respectively. A major problem was encountered in the final step of
      elimination of Percoll from the purified plasma membrane fractions. Whatever the
      technique used for eliminating Percoll, plasma membranes were observed to be
      contaminated by a Percoll constituent which prevented further purification and
      biochemical identification of the lipids extracted from these membrane fractions
      to be carried out. A second method of plasma membrane preparation was tested
      consisting first in the coating of the cell surface with positive colloidal
      silica which was stabilized by an anionic polymer. Then, and through differential
      centrifugations, plasma membrane fractions were easily obtained within less than
      1 h, with a yield of 65% and an enrichment ratio of 7. The coating pellicle was
      quantitatively removed thus enabling any biochemical manipulation of the plasma
      membrane to be carried out. The lipids present in the plasma membrane of CHO
      cells were analyzed and are described, both in terms of headgroup and acyl chain
      composition.

PMID- 1457454
TI  - Influence of retinoids on phosphatidylethanolamine lipid polymorphism.
AB  - The interaction of all-trans-retinoic acid and all-trans-retinol with
      dielaidoylphosphatidylethanolamine has been studied by differential scanning
      calorimetry and 31P-NMR spectroscopy. Increasing concentrations of all-trans
      retinoic acid up to a mol fraction of 0.09 were found to induce shifts to lower
      temperatures of both the L beta to L alpha and L alpha to hexagonal-HII phase
      transitions, with a slight decrease in the enthalpy change of the transitions. At
      higher concentrations no further effects on the transitions were observed, and
      this is interpreted as indicative of a limited miscibility of retinoic acid with
      the phospholipid. 31P-NMR spectroscopy confirmed that the L alpha to hexagonal
      HII phase transition was shifted to lower temperatures in the presence of
      retinoic acid. On the other hand increasing concentrations of all-trans-retinol
      up to a mol fraction of 0.166, induced a progressive shift of the L beta to L
      alpha and the L alpha to hexagonal-HII phase transitions to lower temperatures.
      At higher concentrations the main gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition was
      further displaced to lower temperatures and the lamellar to hexagonal-HII phase
      transition was not observed in the thermograms. 31P-NMR spectroscopy indicated
      that retinol was able of inducing the phospholipid to adopt the hexagonal-HII
      phase at temperatures even below the main gel to liquid-crystalline phase
      transition temperature of the pure phospholipid.

PMID- 1457455
TI  - Structure and activity studies of pardaxin and analogues using model membranes of
      phosphatidylcholine.
AB  - Thirteen synthetic pardaxin analogues were assayed for their ability to interact
      with model membranes of phosphatidylcholine. The results suggested the following:
      An amphipathic alpha-helix from isoleucine-14 to leucine-26 is responsible for
      most of the membrane perturbing properties of pardaxin. A hydrophobic N-terminal
      region enhances the activity of the isoleucine-14 to leucine-26 alpha-helix by
      binding the pardaxin molecule to the lipid bilayer. A bend centered around 12Ser
      13Pro appears to create overall amphipathicity for the two different helical
      regions of pardaxin, but this contributes only slightly to potency. The C
      terminal amino acids are unimportant for membrane perturbing activity and may be
      present only to enhance transportation in an aqueous environment prior to
      membrane binding in the native system.

PMID- 1457456
TI  - Interaction of synthetic glycophospholipids with phospholipid bilayer membranes.
AB  - A series of glycophospholipids synthesized by coupling mono-, di-, or tri
      saccharides to dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) by reductive amination was
      used to investigate the interaction of glycophospholipids with phospholipid
      bilayer membranes. These synthetic glycophospholipids functioned as a stabilizer
      for the formation of DOPE bilayer vesicles. The minimal mol% of glycophospholipid
      needed to stabilize the DOPE vesicles were as follows: 8% N-neuraminlactosyl-DOPE
      (NANL-DOPE), 20% N-maltotriosyl-DOPE (MAT-DOPE), 30% N-lactosyl-DOPE (Lac-DOPE),
      and 42% N-galactosyl-DOPE (Gal-DOPE). The estimated hydration number of
      glycophospholipid in reverse micelles was 87, 73, 46, and 14 for NANL-DOPE, MAT
      DOPE, Lac-DOPE, and Gal-DOPE, respectively. Thus, the hydration intensity of the
      glycophospholipid was directly related to the ability to stabilize the DOPE
      bilayer phase for vesicle formation. Glycophospholipids also reduced the
      transition temperature from gel to liquid-crystalline phase (Tm) of
      dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers. Interestingly, incorporation of
      NANL-DOPE induced a decrease of membrane fluidity of DPPC bilayers in the gel
      phase while other glycophospholipids had no effect. Also, low level of NANL-DOPE
      but not other glycophospholipids increased the transition temperature (TH) from
      liquid-crystalline to hexagonal phase of dielaidoylphosphatidylethanolamine
      bilayers. These results showed that NANL-DOPE with a highly hydratable headgroup
      which provides a strong stabilization activity for the L alpha phase of
      phospholipid membranes, may also be involved in specific interactions with
      neighboring phospholipids via its saccharide moiety.

PMID- 1457457
TI  - Effect of bovine prothrombin fragment 1 on the translational diffusion of
      phospholipids in Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers.
AB  - Previous work has shown that bovine prothrombin fragment 1 binds to supported
      planar membranes composed of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine in a
      Ca(2+)-specific manner (Tendian et al. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 10991; Pearce et
      al. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 5983-5995). In the present work, fluorescence pattern
      photobleaching recovery has been used to examine the effect of membrane-bound
      fragment 1 on the translational diffusion coefficients of two fluorescent
      phospholipids in fluid-like phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylcholine Langmuir
      Blodgett monolayers. The results show that saturating concentrations of fragment
      1, in the presence of Ca2+, reduce the diffusion coefficient of
      nitrobenzoxadiazolyl-conjugated phosphatidylserine (NBD-PS) and
      nitrobenzoxadiazolyl-conjugated phosphatidylcholine (NBD-PC) by factors of
      approximately four and two, respectively. Ca2+ or fragment 1 alone do not have a
      statistically significant effect on NBD-PS or NBD-PC diffusion. In addition, a
      nonspecific protein (ovalbumin) does not change the diffusion coefficients of the
      fluorescent phospholipids either in the absence or presence of Ca2+. The
      fractions of the fluorescent phospholipids that are laterally mobile are
      approximately 0.9 for all samples. These results are interpreted with several
      models for possible mechanisms by which extrinsically bound proteins might retard
      phospholipid diffusion in membranes.

PMID- 1457458
TI  - Comparative theoretical study of the conformations of amphotericin methyl ester
      and amphotericin B polar heads in the presence of water.
AB  - Amphotericin methyl ester (AmE) is an interesting derivative of amphotericin B
      (AmB) because of its enhancement of selectivity against the fungicells. Both AmB
      and AmE molecules differ by the structure of their polar heads. This work deals
      with a theoretical study of conformations of the polar head of AmE in the
      presence of hydration water molecules. The results will be compared with our
      previous work concerning AmB.

PMID- 1457459
TI  - Ethanol effects on the stratum corneum lipid phase behavior.
AB  - The stratum corneum is considered to be the diffusional barrier of mammalian skin
      for water and most solutes. The intercellular lipid multilayer domains of the
      stratum corneum are believed to be the diffusional pathway for most lipophilic
      solutes. Fluidization of the lipid multilayers in the presence of ethanol is
      frequently conceived to result in enhanced permeation. Current investigations
      address the effect of ethanol on the phase behavior in terms of stratum corneum
      lipid alkyl chain packing, mobility and conformational order as measured by
      Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Phospholipid multilamellar
      vesicles were also studied as model systems. There appeared to be no effect of
      ethanol on either the solid-solid phase transition or the gel phase interchain
      coupling of the stratum corneum lipids. However, there was a reduction in the
      mobility of the alkyl chains in the presence of ethanol. Possible mechanistic
      relationships between the current FTIR spectroscopic results with available
      literature data of ethanol induced lipophilic solute penetration enhancement
      through the skin are discussed.

PMID- 1457460
TI  - The stratum corneum lipid thermotropic phase behavior.
AB  - The stratum corneum, the outermost layer of mammalian skin, is considered the
      least permeable skin layer to the diffusion of water and other solutes. It is
      generally accepted that the intercellular lipid multilayer domain is the
      diffusional pathway for most lipophilic solutes. Fluidization of the lipid
      multilayers is believed to result in the loss of barrier properties of the
      stratum corneum. Current investigations address the lipid thermotropic phase
      behavior in terms of lipid alkyl chain packing, mobility and conformational order
      as measured by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. A solid-solid
      phase transition is observed with increased alkyl chain mobility followed by a
      gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition near 65 degrees C. These results
      further elucidate the role of lipid fluidity that may contribute to the transport
      properties of the stratum corneum.

PMID- 1457461
TI  - The functions of Myc proteins.
AB  - The functions of Myc proteins have remained a mystery for a number of years.
      Recent data have now provided us with a clear working hypothesis of how myc may
      act. What appears to be still missing is a link between the biochemical
      properties of this oncoprotein and its observed biological effects. Further
      research will be necessary to fill this void.

PMID- 1457462
TI  - The interleukin-2 receptors: insights into a complex signalling mechanism.

PMID- 1457463
TI  - Oncoprotein phosphorylation and cell cycle control.

PMID- 1457464
TI  - Genes and functions: trapping and targeting in embryonic stem cells.

PMID- 1457465
TI  - Transcriptional regulators of Drosophila embryogenesis.

PMID- 1457466
TI  - Regulation of proto-oncogene mRNA stability.

PMID- 1457467
TI  - Determination of (22R,S)budesonide in human plasma by automated liquid
      chromatography/thermospray mass spectrometry.
AB  - (22R,S)Budesonide was isolated from human plasma by solid-phase extraction.
      Switching from reversed-phase conditions during sample application and washing to
      normal-phase conditions during elution afforded a very clean extract. Budesonide
      was derivatized with acetic anhydride to form the 21-acetyl derivative before
      analysis by reversed-phase liquid chromatography combined with thermospray mass
      spectrometry. Deuterium-labelled budesonide was used as internal standard.
      Standard samples prepared in human albumin solution were used for the calibration
      curve. An automated liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry system, allowing
      unattended overnight operation, was used for routine analysis. The recovery of
      budesonide from plasma was 88.9 +/- 5.9% (mean +/- SD) and the method was linear
      over the range 0.30-30 pmol (amount analysed), corresponding to plasma
      concentrations of 0.10-10 nmol l-1. Budesonide could be measured down to 0.10
      nmol l-1 with a within-day variation of 10-18% (CV). The error was less than +/-
      15% at 0.10 nmol l-1 and less than +/- 7% at concentrations of 0.20 nmol l-1 or
      higher. The total imprecision between days was 9% (CV) at a concentration of 0.30
      nmol l-1.

PMID- 1457468
TI  - Identification and quantitation of an oxidative metabolite of labetalol in sheep:
      pharmacokinetic and metabolic implications.
AB  - A sensitive and selective assay has been developed for the identification and
      quantitation of 3-amino-1-phenyl butane (3-APB), a metabolite of labetalol, in
      biological fluids using electron impact gas chromatography/mass-selective
      detection. Samples were extracted with n-hexane, derivatized with
      heptafluorobutyric anhydride and chromatographed on a cross-linked fused-silica
      capillary column. A positive EI spectrum was obtained using a mass-selective
      detector. Identification of the metabolite was accomplished using an authentic
      standard; quantitation was performed in the selected ion monitoring mode using
      ions m/z 345 (M+) and 132. The assay was linear over the calibration range of 0.5
      1000 ng of the analyte and the intra-sample coefficients of variation were less
      than 12% in all cases. The absolute recovery of 3-APB following extraction from
      urine and bile was found to be 102.9 +/- 4.9% and 98.3 +/- 1.45% (mean +/- SEM)
      respectively. The minimum quantitation limit of the assay was 0.5 ng ml-1
      (approximately 2 pg injected). Application of the assay in a pharmacokinetic
      pharmacodynamic study of labetalol in sheep is demonstrated. The metabolite was
      detected in urine and bile samples obtained from adult non-pregnant sheep
      following labetalol administration. The cumulative amount of 3-APB excreted in
      urine over 24 h was found to be 71.55 micrograms in one animal following a 100 mg
      dose of labetalol. Evidence for biliary excretion, glucuronidation and sulfation
      of 3-APB was also found.

PMID- 1457469
TI  - Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of stable isotopes of 3
      methylhistidine in biological fluids: application to plasma kinetics in vivo.
AB  - A simple and rapid method for measuring 3-methylhistidine (3MH) in plasma and
      urine is described. Internal standard, 1-methylhistidine (1MH), was added to
      plasma, acidified and absorbed onto cation-exchange columns. It was then eluted
      from columns, dried, and derivatized for gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A
      major fragment of 3MH was monitored at 238 u and 3-methyl-(methyl-2H3)histidine
      (d3-3MH) (used for in vivo kinetics) at 241 u, whereas 1MH was monitored at 340 u
      and eluted 0.5 min later than 3MH. Standard curves for plasma analysis were
      linear and nanamole amounts of 3MH in plasma were determined with a precision of
      3.5%. 3MH was also quantitated in urine; however, because of substantial amounts
      of 1MH, (18O2)1MH was used as the internal standard. Nanamole amounts of 3MH were
      determined in urine with a precision of 2.7%. Application of the 3MH analytical
      method was used to develop a kinetic compartmental model by using the stable
      isotope of 3MH, d3-3MH. Cattle, like humans, quantitatively excrete 3MH in the
      urine. A young bovine was injected with d3-3MH and the enrichment curve in plasma
      was evaluated in order to obtain a steady-state production rate of 3MH. The decay
      curve was modeled through the use of NIH-SAAM modeling program. The kinetics of
      d3-3MH from plasma were adequately described by a three-pool compartmental model.
      The de novo production rate of 3MH estimated in the calf was 665 mumol per day.
      This corresponded to an estimated fractional turnover rate of 1.56% per day,
      which was similar to estimates obtained from urine collections.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457470
TI  - Analysis of peptides of human seminal plasma by mass spectrometry.
AB  - A procedure is described to isolate peptides from complex biological fluids (e.g.
      seminal plasma) in pure form within a short time. The sequence of the isolated
      peptides was determined by liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry in combination
      with enzymatic cleavage reactions. The method was used for the structure
      elucidation of a peptide of molecular weight 2766 u with an N-terminal
      pyroglutamine residue.

PMID- 1457471
TI  - Fragmentations of dipeptides in plasma desorption mass spectrometry: new rules
      for the sequence elucidation of oligopeptides.
AB  - 252Cf plasma desorption mass spectrometry is well suited for determining both
      composition and sequence of unknown small oligopeptides. A systematic study of a
      large number of dipeptides first leads to establishing common rules of
      fragmentation from positive ion mass spectra. These rules are then applied to the
      sequence elucidation of larger peptides.

PMID- 1457472
TI  - Laser microprobe mass spectrometric identification of cyclosporin-induced
      intrarenal microliths in rat.
AB  - Using laser microprobe mass analysis (LAMMA), the composition of 'micro
      calcifications (dystrophic type)' or 'metastatic calcifications', previously
      described in rats given high doses of cyclosporin, have been identified. Female
      Wistar rats given 12.5, 25 or 50 mg kg-1 per day of cyclosporin in olive oil by
      gastric gavage developed intrarenal calcifications detected by silver nitrate
      staining (von Kossa) in the outer medulla after two weeks. The calcifications
      stained red with periodic acid-Schiff reagent and appeared to be intraluminal
      microliths with concentric laminations. They could be identified by LAMMA as
      calcium phosphate (hydroxyapatite), indistinguishable from undecalcified bone.
      These studies indicate that intraluminal obstruction by calcium phosphate
      microliths, similar to that seen with magnesium depletion or high phosphate
      diets, may contribute to renal damage in rats given high-dose cyclosporin. LAMMA
      appears to be an appropriate technique for identifying both the elemental and
      organic moieities of intrarenal calcium deposits.

PMID- 1457473
TI  - [Space-occupying lesions of the orbit: modern imaging diagnosis].
AB  - The paper summarises imaging of orbital diseases by CT and MRI. As localisation
      is an important clue to differential diagnosis in orbital tumours, the different
      pathologies are described according to sites of prevalent occurrence.
      Morphological criteria of orbital pathology are described, and the more frequent
      entities are illustrated.

PMID- 1457474
TI  - [Quality control of laser imagers].
AB  - Multiformat imagers based on laser systems are used for documentation in an
      increasing number of investigations. The specific problems of quality control are
      explained and the persistence of film processing in these imager systems of
      different configuration with (Machine 1: 3M-Laser-Imager-Plus M952 with connected
      3M Film-Processor, 3M-Film IRB, X-Rax Chemical Mixer 3M-XPM, 3M-Developer and
      Fixer) or without (Machine 2: 3M-Laser-Imager-Plus M952 with separate DuPont
      Cronex Film-processor, Kodak IR-Film, Kodak Automixer, Kodak-Developer and Fixer)
      connected film processing unit are investigated. In our checking based on DIN
      6868 and ONORM S 5240 we found persistence of film processing in the equipment
      with directly adapted film processing unit according to DIN and ONORM. The
      checking of film persistence as demanded by DIN 6868 in these equipment could
      therefore be performed in longer periods. Systems with conventional darkroom
      processing comparatively show plain increased fluctuation, and hence the demanded
      daily control is essential to guarantee appropriate reaction and constant quality
      of documentation.

PMID- 1457475
TI  - [The influence of the spectrum and the type of exposure on the contrast of double
      sided coated x-ray film].
AB  - The present article describes the circumstances concerning the use of testing
      aids such as sensitometers with one-sided exposure. It is shown which phenomena
      must be considered if radiographic films coated on both sides are exposed with a)
      standard pocket sensitometers (one-sided exposure), b) lab sensitometers (double
      sided exposure to ANSI Ph 2.9 [1964]), c) x-radiation in the cassette,
      intensifying screen and film system (to DIN 6867 T 1). The effect of the emission
      spectrum on the resulting contrast factor is described. The importance of
      different emulsion technologies (e.g. orthochromatic anticross-over films) for
      the contrast factor with one-sided exposure is described. The cross-over factor
      (c.o.), the apparent variation in sensitivity of the front and back emulsion with
      one-sided exposure, is the cause of the reduction in the contrast factor (G
      average) as against double-sided exposure: delta G(%) = c.o.2 x 10(3)/8.4

PMID- 1457477
TI  - [Potentialities and limitations of MR angiography in the imaging of intracranial
      aneurysms].
AB  - The potential value of MR angiography in imaging of intracranial aneurysms was
      analyzed in seven patients. Six cases were confirmed by angiography or computed
      tomography. In one patient MR angiography was not useful in distinguishing
      bleeding from an aneurysm. Five aneurysms were imaged by 3D angiography, one was
      diagnosed by 2D angiography. The extent of thrombosis was evaluated by selective
      presaturation. MR angiography was a useful non-invasive method in imaging of
      intracranial aneurysms. However, for complete work-up angiography is mandatory.

PMID- 1457476
TI  - [The place of computed tomography and magnetic resonance tomography in the
      diagnosis of bone sequestra].
AB  - Conventional radiographs of 45 patients with chronic osteomyelitis, mostly of
      posttraumatic origin, were compared with computed tomography (CT) and operative
      findings. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in 6 of
      these patients. In 28 patients (65%) bony sequestra were identified and in most
      cases histologically confirmed by surgical exploration. CT proved to be the
      method of choice for the preoperative diagnosis of sequestra in patients with
      chronic osteomyelitis. MRI provided no significant additional diagnostic
      information, its advantage appears to be a more detailed and accurate imaging of
      the extent of the intra- or extraosseous inflammation, thereby facilitating
      surgical planning.

PMID- 1457478
TI  - [Differential diagnosis of angiodysplasias using angiography and CT with special
      reference to the MR tomographic aspects].
AB  - The basic prerequisite for a rational therapy of angiodysplasia is differentiated
      diagnostics, especially the differentiation between arteriovenous malformations,
      haemangiomas, and venous malformations. Angiography reveals the arterialisation,
      arteriovenous fistulas, CT infiltrations of bone and soft-tissue. MRT
      demonstrates completely the extent of haemangiomas because of its bright signal
      intensity in the T2-weighted images. Hence, differentiation of malignant vessel
      tumours and malformations with rapid blood flow is possible, because the signal
      intensity is much lower in MRT. The three supplementary methods allow a correct
      diagnosis of angiodysplasia.

PMID- 1457479
TI  - [Roentgeno-morphologic changes in the bones of battered children].
AB  - The demonstrated characteristic bone lesions should raise the suspicion of
      "battered child syndrome". The important role of the radiologist is stressed.

PMID- 1457480
TI  - [The problem of diffuse cranial hyperostosis following cerebral trauma in early
      childhood--a case report].
AB  - This is a report on an uncommon case of cranial hyperostosis with generalised
      considerable thickening of the calvarium. As a consequence of a cerebral trauma
      in early childhood the patient developed an intracerebral haematoma. Subsequently
      a disturbance of brain growth with posttraumatic, symptomatic epilepsy was noted.
      The anticonvulsant long-term treatment was mainly based on dilantin
      (diphenylhydantoin). Two different reasons for the distinct skull changes in the
      present case must be taken into consideration. Firstly, a widening of the dipole
      induced by dilantin, and secondly, a compensatory thickening of the vault with
      alterations of the skull base as seen in cerebral atrophy or after relieved
      hydrocephalus. These mechanisms are discussed with regard to the relevant
      literature.

PMID- 1457481
TI  - [Pachymeningeosis(-itis) haemorrhagica chronica interna].
AB  - A case of chronic internal haemorrhagic pachymeningeosis, a rare disease with
      uncharacteristic clinical appearance is presented. Derived from
      pathomorphological and histological findings, the typical CT appearance is
      described and main differential diagnoses are marked off by their characteristic
      criteria.

PMID- 1457482
TI  - [Lymphangioleiomyomatosis].
AB  - A female patient is presented with a history of asthma, recurrent pneumothoraces
      and chylothoraces. A CT of the chest revealed typical thin-walled cysts of
      lymphangioleiomyomatosis. The suggested diagnosis was confirmed histologically.
      CT is exceptionally suited to narrow down the scope of differential diagnosis of
      interstitial lung diseases.

PMID- 1457483
TI  - [Lobular carcinoma of the breast in magnetic resonance tomography. A case
      report].
AB  - The invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast, the incidence of which is 10-15 per
      cent, occupies a special position in respect of histological differentiation and
      biological behaviour. No MR signal enhancement was seen after contrast medium
      application in the tumoral tissue in the case described here, namely, an invasive
      lobular carcinoma of the breast of 2 cm size. Hence, it is not always possible to
      exclude with absolute certainty the presence especially of an invasive lobular
      carcinoma of the breast in the absence of contrast medium uptake.

PMID- 1457484
TI  - [Iopamidol-300/370 in galactography--a clinical comparative study].
AB  - From 12. 1988 to 6. 1990 we carried out on 27 patients at the Department of
      Gynaecology of the University of Freiburg an open study to compare the two water
      soluble, nonionic, monomeric contrast agents (Iopamidol-300 corresponding to
      Solutrast-300 and Iopamidol-370 corresponding to Solutrast-370) with different
      osmolality (616 mosm/kg H2O resp. 799 mosm/kg H2O) and concentration (300 mg I/ml
      resp. 370 mg I/ml). It is a remarkable fact that the contrast quality in the x
      rays was higher for Iopamidol-300. Complications such as hypersensitivity
      reactions or local irritations were not recorded. Iopamidol-300 was found to be
      the best tolerated of the two contrast media in respect of mildest intensity of
      pain.

PMID- 1457485
TI  - [Advice on the x-ray positioning of the upper and the lower leg].
AB  - Roentgenographic images of the femur and tibia to demonstrate the bones in two
      true right-angled projections (anteroposterior, lateral view) can be obtained by
      using a small hydrostatic level with two levels positioned at right angles
      against each other. By taping the small plastic device to the skin of the leg
      under examination, rotation of the limb between the two x-ray exposures can be
      controlled and adjusted to exactly 90 degrees. Compared to other common
      positioning procedures (rotation of the leg to approximately 90 degrees by the
      patient; angulation of the x-ray tube to 90 degrees around the leg) this method
      yields the highest accuracy of adjustment.

PMID- 1457486
TI  - The health assessment questionnaire 1992: status and review.
AB  - Over 100 papers describing and utilizing the Stanford Health Assessment
      Questionnaire (HAQ) have been published since 1980. A brief overview of the HAQ
      is presented along with a guide to the accumulated literature. The topics covered
      include: studies using the disability, pain, economic, and drug side effect
      dimensions of the HAQ; reliability and validity studies; applications to various
      rheumatic diseases; language adaptations; modifications and derivative scales;
      studies correlating the HAQ with sociodemographic, health status, laboratory, and
      physical measures; and randomized controlled trials and observational studies
      using the HAQ. A few comments regarding future directions for research are also
      presented.

PMID- 1457487
TI  - Sensitivity to change of the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) and other
      clinical and health status measures in rheumatoid arthritis: results of short
      term clinical trials and observational studies versus long-term observational
      studies.
AB  - To obtain evidence concerning short-term and long-term efficacy of clinical and
      health status measures in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we conducted two
      observational studies--a 6-month study of 233 patients receiving methotrexate and
      a 10-year study of 157 patients receiving multiple treatments in a rheumatic
      disease clinic. Results of the 6-month study yielded effect sizes for treatment
      similar to the meta-analyses reported by Felson [corrected] et al. (Arthritis
      Rheum 33:1449-1461, 1990) and the controlled trials of methotrexate reported by
      Weinblatt et al. (Arthritis Rheum 33:330-338, 1990), suggesting that
      observational studies provide valid measurements of treatment effect. The effect
      size for the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) was 0.5. By contrast, the 10
      year study suggested that standard clinical variables changed little and were not
      useful in assessing RA outcome, while the effect size of the HAQ was -2.39. These
      data continue to underscore the differences between short-term trials and the
      long-term outcome of RA, and suggest an important place for the HAQ or similar
      instruments in all phases of RA evaluation and assessment.

PMID- 1457488
TI  - Comparison and sensitivity to change of self-report scales to assess difficulty,
      dissatisfaction, and pain in performing activities of daily living over one and
      five years in rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - We analyzed the longitudinal sensitivity to change of three self-report
      activities of daily living (ADL) scales over 1 and 5 years in 982 patients with
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from 15 private practices. Over 1 year, the ADL
      difficulty status worsened in 28.3% of the patients, remained the same in 50.2%,
      and improved in 21.5%. Over 5 years, 41.3% worsened, 38.8% stayed the same, and
      19.9% were improved. Similar percentages for 1- and 5-year changes were found for
      the ADL dissatisfaction and pain scales. The effect sizes for change over 1 and 5
      years for the ADL difficulty, dissatisfaction, and pain scales were--(-)0.05,
      0.01, and -0.02, and -0.28, -0.20, and -0.14, respectively, indicating small to
      moderate declines. These data indicate that the three ADL scales are sensitive to
      change in status, and ADL change status scores after 1 and 5 years were
      significantly correlated with each other (r = 0.49-0.68, all p < 0.001).
      Monitoring of these three constructs may be helpful in the longitudinal
      evaluation of some patients with RA.

PMID- 1457490
TI  - Scoring methods and application of the activity record (ACTRE) for patients with
      musculoskeletal disorders.
AB  - The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Activity Record (ACTRE) has been used to
      document daily activities in patients with musculoskeletal disorders.
      Quantification of the amount of time spent resting and physically active, the
      intensity of pain and fatigue associated with patterns of activities, and
      motivational considerations are possible with the ACTRE. Scoring has been
      streamlined to permit identification of the amount of pain, fatigue, and
      motivational factors as they relate to activity patterns (e.g., rest and physical
      activity). The ACTRE provides a performance-based, quantifiable measure of daily
      activity.

PMID- 1457489
TI  - Does musculoskeletal function deteriorate in a predictable sequence in the
      elderly?
AB  - A variety of functions decline with aging, but whether losses occur in a
      predictable sequence is unknown. Improved understanding might facilitate the
      early detection and possible prevention of functional deterioration. We assessed
      self-reported difficulty with functional tasks in 288 community-dwelling elderly
      aged 65 to 97. We hypothesized that the ability to perform tasks involving
      strength, skill, and endurance (run errands, shop, yardwork or housework) would
      be lost first, followed by activities requiring less strength or mobility (rise
      from a chair with no hands, walk), followed by easier, but essential tasks (pick
      up clothes, rise from bed, lift a cup to the mouth). The patterns of decline were
      evaluated with Guttman scalograms. Picking up clothes and walking were reversed
      from the predicted order. Scale reliability was 0.92, indicating that functional
      decline is ordered; 75% of subjects fell into one of the modal sequence types.
      Analysis by self-reported presence of arthritis showed that 83% of nonarthritic
      subjects fit the predicted patterns (reliability = 0.95) versus 65% of arthritic
      subjects (reliability = 0.86), who tended to lose hand ability out of sequence.
      Sequential functional loss scales may tell more than the typical simple summation
      of functional loss, and may have predictive value to the clinician monitoring an
      elderly patient. If the sequence is accelerated or out of order, such as was seen
      in patients with arthritis, it may indicate the need for intervention.
      Examination of sequences of loss may help characterize adaptations to impairment
      and differences among subgroups.

PMID- 1457491
TI  - Arthritis problem indicator: preliminary report on a new tool for use in the
      primary care setting.
AB  - Improving the quality of life for people with rheumatic disease involves timely
      identification of problem areas and application of appropriate interventions. In
      response to a 1987 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania study, which reported a wide
      variety of unmet needs in arthritis patients and their families, the Arthritis
      Problem Indicator (API) was developed. It is a single-page, self-report, low-cost
      tool. A mixed rheumatology population (n = 50) and their primary care physicians
      participated in a pilot study. The study revealed that the seven most common
      areas of patient concern were pain, weight control, sleep, mobility/walking,
      activities of daily living, community access, and depression/anxiety. The
      physicians reported that the patient's answers on the API led them to initiate
      new treatment or referral for 32% of the patients. The physicians also stated
      that for 80% of the patients, the API was helpful in providing information about
      the patient. The API is easily interpreted by health professionals and designed
      to be an indicator of problem areas frequently associated with arthritis.

PMID- 1457492
TI  - Do self-reported arthritis symptom (RADAR) and health status (AIMS2) data provide
      duplicative or complementary information?
AB  - This study assessed whether self-report measures of symptoms and functional
      health status provide unique outcome information, or whether functional status
      assessments primarily serve as a proxy for self-reported arthritis symptoms.
      Symptom scores of 138 individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) collected with
      the Rapid Assessment of Disease Activity in Rheumatology (RADAR) measure were
      compared with same-day functional health scores collected with the recently
      revised Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales (AIMS2). Correlational and factor
      analyses revealed that self-assessed arthritis symptoms, physical function and
      work impact, psychological status, and social health each made independent
      contributions to outcome. Satisfaction with health status was shown not to be
      independent of symptoms, functional capacity, or psychological status. It is
      important to document that self-reported symptom and health status information,
      when collected concurrently, provides complementary rather than duplicative
      information.

PMID- 1457493
TI  - Quality of life and policy analysis in arthritis.
AB  - Problems in the American health care system have stimulated interest in cost
      effectiveness methodologies. However, there is little consensus on how to define
      a common unit of health outcome. Many measures used in policy studies consider
      only mortality and do not fully capture the significant impact of disease-related
      dysfunction. The impact of conditions, such as osteoarthritis, that have little
      impact on mortality rates but substantial impact on functioning and well-being
      may be underestimated in these analyses. In this article, we propose a
      measurement and policy model that is based on a theoretical conceptualization of
      health outcome. The model considers the impact of disease and its treatment in
      terms of both morbidity and mortality. The value of the model for clinical
      trials, population assessments, and policy analysis is reviewed. A public policy
      application of the model in Oregon is briefly described.

PMID- 1457494
TI  - Characterizing the meaning of psychological distress in rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - Symptoms of depression are frequently reported by people with rheumatoid
      arthritis (RA). To advance our understanding of how best to assess and treat
      these symptoms, their meaning must be elucidated. This article explores two
      possible meanings for the emotional distress of RA patients reported on the
      Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale: (1) Certain CES-D
      scale items may inflate actual depressive symptom scores. (2) Depressive symptoms
      are experienced and/or expressed in unique ways in an RA population due to the
      presence of chronic physical symptoms. In this study of 988 people with RA, it
      was found that there is some modest inflation of the CES-D scale due to the items
      of "having difficulty getting going" and "everything was an effort." However,
      irrespective of the modest inflation of the scale, there is evidence that
      distress in RA is not a static concept. Distress in this RA population was
      expressed differently from that of a community population, and within the RA
      population, distress was expressed differently over time.

PMID- 1457495
TI  - Pathology of malignant lymphomas.
AB  - Although the subject is now seldom formally addressed, much of the pathologic
      research into malignant lymphoma is still tacitly directed at developing a
      rational and reproducible classification. Pure morphology, while remaining of
      critical importance in the diagnosis of malignant lymphomas, has been exhausted
      as a means of understanding the biology of these tumors, which must be the
      eventual basis of a firm, enduring and clinically relevant classification. Thus,
      histopathologists have turned first to immunohistochemistry and now to molecular
      genetics to make sense of their morphologic observations. Correlation of various
      genetic (including oncogenetic) rearrangements with morphology has preoccupied
      pathologists this past year and has led to important advances in the
      understanding of B- and T-cell lymphomas. Lymphomas occurring in a setting of
      immunodeficiency, whether therapeutically induced or acquired, have received
      special attention, and the possible role of the Epstein-Barr virus in their
      pathogenesis has induced pathologists to develop exciting in situ molecular
      hybridization techniques for its identification in tissues. The certainties
      underlying the diagnosis and classification of Hodgkin's disease (in which
      Epstein-Barr virus also appears to play a role), formally the only truly secure
      area for pathologists, have been disturbed, and the borderline between Hodgkin's
      disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is now seriously blurred. The lymphoma pot has
      been well and truly stirred; we must now wait to see what the new sediment
      offers.

PMID- 1457496
TI  - Advances in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease.
AB  - Through the careful application of appropriate staging procedures and treatment
      modalities, at the beginning of the 1990s about 75% of patients with Hodgkin's
      disease can expect long-term remission or even cure. At present, radiotherapy
      remains the best therapeutic option for localized stages while advanced disease
      is cured by chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy combined with irradiation. In this
      decade, the challenge in the management of Hodgkin's disease will probably be
      represented by an optimal use of reasonably short-term chemotherapy regimens
      combined with limited-field irradiation in early stages and by an accurate
      evaluation of the best chemotherapy regimens for advanced disease. In the search
      for the optimal approaches to improve current therapeutic results, appropriate
      considerations should be given to the identification of effective treatment
      modalities with a minimum amount of acute and late toxicity.

PMID- 1457497
TI  - T-cell leukemia-lymphoma and mycosis fungoides.
AB  - Notable efforts have been made to relate aspects of the cell biology of T cells
      to the pathology, diagnosis, and treatment T-cell neoplasms. In particular, the
      application of molecular biologic tools to these areas has already allowed the
      generation of patient-specific markers for disease. A case can be made that a
      knowledge of the distinctive natural history of T-cell neoplasms should influence
      choices of treatment. Additional insights into the relevance of the human T-cell
      leukemia-lymphoma virus family to human disease have been recorded, and an
      important association of cutaneous T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders with
      human immunodeficiency virus infection has been documented.

PMID- 1457498
TI  - Chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
AB  - The term non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) refers to a diverse group of illnesses that
      have in common a high frequency of chemotherapy sensitivity. In fact, high-grade
      NHL was among the first cancers to be cured with chemotherapy. Although the
      curability of patients with low-grade NHL remains debatable, all patients with
      intermediate- and high-grade NHL should be approached with curative intent, even
      if they present with advanced disease. Our ability to treat patients with NHL is
      steadily improving. There have been significant advances in our understanding of
      the biology of the disease and our ability to predict treatment outcome. New
      treatments and innovative uses of already available treatments are regularly
      reported. This paper reviews the highlights of the past year's literature
      regarding the treatment of patients with NHL.

PMID- 1457499
TI  - Biologic response modifiers: therapeutic approaches to lymphoproliferative
      diseases.
AB  - Some biologic agents have proven effective in the treatment of
      lymphoproliferative diseases by stimulating host antitumor immunity or by
      applying active antitumor properties that specifically or nonspecifically effect
      tumor growth or tumor survival. These agents include interferons, which regulate
      cell gene expression, structure, and function; interleukin-2, which has several
      functions related to lymphoproliferation and mediation of lymphoid cell
      transport; anti-idiotype antibodies, which appear to cause a specific
      antiproliferative response against the patient's tumor; anti-idiotype vaccines,
      which produce cyclic complementary binding sites and idiotypes to induce specific
      immunity to tumors with resultant antitumor activity; radioisotope labeled
      monoclonal antibodies, which directly deliver tumoricidal doses of radiation to
      tumors, sparing normal tissue toxicity; and monoclonal antibody-immunotoxin
      conjugates, which directly deliver tumoricidal doses of radiation to tumors,
      sparing normal tissue toxicity. Encouraging results have been seen in clinical
      studies with these agents and much knowledge has been gained regarding the
      mechanisms involved. These findings dictate ongoing therapy modifications to
      produce continuing progress in the therapeutic applications of biologic agents in
      lymphoproliferative disease processes.

PMID- 1457500
TI  - Prognostic factors in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
AB  - There is an emerging consensus on the importance of identifying non-Hodgkin's
      lymphoma patients with different prognoses so that these patients can be
      optimally treated and the relative benefits of different therapeutic approaches
      can be adequately assessed. This review of recent publications on prognostic
      factors in lymphoma will summarize papers identifying: 1) clinical features
      associated with prognosis in specific subgroups of lymphoma patients; 2) the
      prognostic significance of pathologic and immunologic subclassification; 3)
      prognostic features predictive for relapse from complete response; and 4) newly
      identified prognostic features, including cytogenetic abnormalities, serologic
      parameters, and aberrant expression of adhesion molecules.

PMID- 1457501
TI  - Cancer in AIDS.

PMID- 1457502
TI  - Clinical aspects of Kaposi's sarcoma.
AB  - Kaposi's sarcoma is the most common tumor found in patients with the acquired
      immunodeficiency syndrome. This opportunistic neoplasm has characteristics of a
      sexually transmitted disease. Growth factors, cytokines, immune suppression, and
      interaction with infectious organisms all appear to play a role in the
      pathogenesis of this enigmatic disorder. The manifestations of Kaposi's sarcoma
      are protean, and lesions may appear at any time in the course of human
      immunodeficiency virus disease, remain localized and asymptomatic, or spread
      aggressively and cause morbidity. Treatment, which must be individualized, ranges
      from observation, local therapy with cosmetic makeup, and cryotherapy with liquid
      nitrogen or local intralesional injection of agents, to radiotherapy and systemic
      therapy with interferon-alpha and cytotoxic chemotherapy.

PMID- 1457503
TI  - The epidemiology of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related lymphomas.
AB  - Approximately 3% of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome cases present with non
      Hodgkin's lymphoma. By 6 to 8 years after human immunodeficiency virus infection,
      lymphoma risk is elevated 100-fold, and the risk approaches 1% per year following
      acquired immunodeficiency syndrome diagnosis. The proportions presenting as
      lymphoma differ by age, sex, and race, with relative rates being higher in older
      persons, males, and whites. The differences are similar in magnitude and
      direction to those seen in non-human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons and
      account for the variation by risk group. The relative risk of high-grade lymphoma
      is greatest, but significant increases are also seen for some intermediate-grade
      tumors. At diagnosis, persons with Burkitt's lymphoma, more common in children,
      have significantly higher average CD4 counts than those with immunoblastic
      tumors. Human immunodeficiency virus-associated lymphoma risk is probably related
      to dysregulation of the immune system leading to uncontrolled proliferation of
      transformed cell clones and subsequent genetic accidents. Environmental factors
      are unlikely to be important. By 1994, 10% of all lymphomas will be human
      immunodeficiency virus related, but this proportion will increase in the future.
      New approaches to the therapy of lymphoma are needed for this tumor, which we can
      neither prevent nor adequately treat.

PMID- 1457504
TI  - Clinical aspects of human immunodeficiency virus-related lymphoma.
AB  - As patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection live longer because of
      better antiretroviral therapy and infection prophylaxis, the incidence of non
      Hodgkin's lymphoma has increased. The risk increases inversely with CD4 count-
      the most widely used surrogate marker for progressive immune suppression.
      Zidovudine itself does not appear to be a risk factor. Patients frequently
      present with extranodal advanced disease. The central nervous system is the
      primary site in 10% to 20% of cases. Important prognostic factors are performance
      status, a prior history of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and bone marrow
      involvement. Therapy is complicated by underlying immunosuppression,
      opportunistic infection, and poor bone marrow reserve. Progress has been made
      using colony-stimulating factors and less intensive chemotherapy regimens in
      systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Treatment of primary central nervous system
      lymphoma with radiation therapy has not improved survival.

PMID- 1457505
TI  - Biologic aspects of human immunodeficiency virus-related lymphoma.
AB  - A high frequency of lymphoma in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals
      has been reported since the outbreak of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
      (AIDS) epidemic in 1982. In the vast majority of cases, these lymphomas are
      highly aggressive B-cell, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of intermediate or high grade of
      malignancy. AIDS-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are histologically classified
      as small noncleaved cell lymphoma, large cell immunoblastic plasmacytoid
      lymphoma, or large noncleaved cell lymphoma. Host factors predisposing to
      lymphoma development in AIDS patients include decreased immunosurveillance as
      well as human immunodeficiency virus-induced chronic perturbation of the immune
      system leading to cytokine overproduction and increased B-cell stimulation. These
      alterations are associated with the development of multiple oligoclonal B-cell
      expansions, which are characterized by persistent generalized lymphadenopathy.
      The presence of Epstein-Barr virus within a persistent generalized
      lymphadenopathy clone further increases the risk of its neoplastic
      transformation. The appearance of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is characterized by the
      presence of a monoclonal B-cell population displaying several genetic lesions,
      including monoclonal Epstein-Barr virus infection, c-myc rearrangements, Ras
      mutations, and p53 inactivation. The number and type of lesions varies among the
      different types of AIDS-non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, defining multiple alternative
      molecular pathways in AIDS-associated lymphomagenesis.

PMID- 1457507
TI  - Risk factors, epidemiology, screening, and prognostic factors in female genital
      cancer.
AB  - This review, which due to limitations of space cannot be exhaustive, summarizes
      the recent literature on risk factors and epidemiology, screening and prognostic
      factors in a cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancer. There have been a large
      number of pertinent publications during this period and this paper summarizes and
      highlights recent advances in the identification of women at particularly high
      risk of developing gynecologic cancer, analyzes studies on early detection and
      screening, and reviews prognostic studies with particular reference to selection
      of therapy according to risk of relapse and likelihood of benefit.

PMID- 1457506
TI  - Human immunodeficiency virus as a risk factor in miscellaneous cancers.
AB  - The association of malignancies, such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Kaposi's
      sarcoma, with human immunodeficiency virus infection has been recognized since
      the beginning of the epidemic. However, an increasing number of tumors not
      diagnostic of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome has been described in this
      setting. Taking into consideration that survival of patients with human
      immunodeficiency virus infection is increasing because of improvement of
      supportive care and better control of human immunodeficiency virus and related
      opportunistic infections, oncogenic viruses such as human papillomavirus,
      hepatitis B virus, Epstein-Barr virus, in a setting of prolonged
      immunosuppression could increase the risk of a variety of malignant tumors.

PMID- 1457508
TI  - Surgery for gynecologic malignancies.
AB  - The surgical management of invasive and preinvasive gynecologic malignancies
      continues to evolve at a brisk pace. Several good techniques are available for
      the treatment of preinvasive cervical disease, including cryotherapy, loop
      electrocautery excision, laser therapy, and standard knife conization. The use of
      radical surgery for early invasive cervical cancer has been extended to older
      women, and complications have been minimized. There has been a significant trend
      toward more conservative surgery in the management of invasive vulvar cancer. The
      new surgical staging system for endometrial cancer has generated much
      controversy. The importance of thorough surgical staging for ovarian cancer is
      clear, and our understanding of the role of cytoreduction has increased. The role
      of new techniques, including operative laparoscopy, is being defined in the
      management of gynecologic cancers.

PMID- 1457509
TI  - Radiotherapy for gynecologic malignancies.
AB  - This review highlights the curative potential of radiation in gynecologic
      malignancies. The controversies concerning the role of surgery in the management
      of bulky cervical cancer is discussed. Prognostic factors associated with
      improved pelvic control with radiation alone are described, particularly the bulk
      of pelvic disease, which is not accounted for in the current International
      Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging system. The potential for
      integration of radiation and chemotherapy into the management of vulvar cancer to
      improve cosmesis and function as well as to reduce the risk of locoregional
      recurrence is described. The role of whole abdominal radiation in the management
      of advanced endometrial and ovarian cancers as well as the role of
      hyperfractionation to reduce acute morbidity of large abdominal fields is
      reviewed. Prognostic factors associated with locoregional and distant failure for
      endometrial cancer are outlined and the new pathologic staging system is
      critically analyzed. Finally, the treatment of vaginal cancer with radiation
      alone (external beam plus interstitial-intracavitary radiation) or surgery is
      reviewed and the prognostic importance of the present modifications to the
      vaginal staging system are emphasized.

PMID- 1457510
TI  - Systemic therapy for gynecologic cancer.
AB  - Over the past year, a number of important papers have appeared in the medical
      literature dealing with the chemotherapeutic management of gynecologic cancers.
      Among these papers, several studies have again demonstrated the superiority of
      platinum-based chemotherapy regimens for ovarian cancer compared with non
      platinum-containing regimens, and have confirmed the equivalence of carboplatin
      to cisplatin in advanced disease. A number of trials have reported activity for
      intraperitoneal chemotherapy regimens in patients with small-volume residual
      disease. In endometrial cancer, combination cisplatin-based chemotherapy programs
      have been reported to achieve an overall 40% to 50% objective response rate.
      Although induction chemotherapy has been advocated in the management of advanced
      localized cervical cancer, this conclusion has yet to be supported by the results
      of randomized trials. The etoposide, methotrexate, dactinomycin,
      cyclophosphamide, vincristine regimen has been demonstrated to be highly
      effective in patients with high-risk gestational trophoblastic tumors. Finally, a
      recent report has demonstrated that it is possible to perform conservative
      surgery in patients with germ cell tumors to preserve fertility without
      compromising therapeutic efficacy.

PMID- 1457512
TI  - Lymphoma.

PMID- 1457511
TI  - Biology and therapy with biologic agents in gynecologic cancer.
AB  - Growth of epithelial ovarian cancer is influenced by several factors including
      transforming growth factor-alpha and transforming growth factor-beta, macrophage
      colony stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 and
      interleukin-6, c-erb B-2 (HER-2/neu), and mutant p53. Continued expression of the
      epidermal growth factor receptor, new expression of c-fms, and overexpression of
      HER-2/neu are associated with a poor prognosis. A number of cytokines have been
      used to treat patients with ovarian cancer, including interferon-alpha,
      interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-2. Judging from
      preclinical models, interferon-gamma may be more active than interferon-alpha
      against human ovarian cancer. Although tumor necrosis factor-alpha can stimulate
      proliferation of some ovarian cancers, the cytotoxic activity of tumor necrosis
      factor-alpha has been amplified ex vivo by inhibitors of protein synthesis.
      Similar heterogeneity exists with regard to interleukin-1 where stimulation or
      inhibition of cell proliferation has been observed. Tumor-infiltrating
      lymphocytes from ascites fluid contain cells capable of major histocompatibility
      complex-restricted and major histocompatibility complex-nonrestricted
      cytotoxicity. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and interleukin-2 have been combined
      with cytotoxic chemotherapy to treat advanced or recurrent disease. Bispecific
      monoclonal antibodies that react both with T cells and ovarian tumor cells have
      produced tumor inhibition in human tumor xenografts. Immunotoxins that contain
      OVB3 and pseudomonas exotoxin have been evaluated in a phase I clinical trial.
      Dose-limiting central neurotoxicity has been observed without tumor regression. A
      monoclonal antibody designated OVX1 has been developed against a high-molecular
      weight mucinlike molecule associated with ovarian cancers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457513
TI  - Cancer in AIDS.

PMID- 1457514
TI  - Gynecologic cancer.

PMID- 1457515
TI  - Biology of breast cancer and its clinical implications.
AB  - Several established prognostic factors are used routinely in the clinical
      management of breast cancer. These factors include extent of axillary lymph node
      involvement, tumor size, histologic differentiation, and estrogen and
      progesterone receptor status. Unfortunately, these factors are not perfect
      predictors of outcome for the individual patient. This review highlights recent
      advances in the field of breast cancer biology that may ultimately improve our
      ability to predict prognosis more accurately, select therapy more appropriately,
      and possibly identify women who are at high risk for breast cancer development.
      In particular, studies addressing mechanisms of estrogen and antiestrogen
      resistance, clinical utility of flow cytometry, roles of certain oncogenes and
      tumor suppressor genes in breast cancer growth, and biologic factors involved in
      invasion and metastases are reviewed.

PMID- 1457517
TI  - The surgery of early breast cancer.
AB  - This review highlights important issues for surgeons treating early breast
      cancer. The optimal use of ovarian ablation, the value and timing of radiotherapy
      for breast preservation, and axillary dissection are considered. New information
      on the importance of local surgery, even for older women, and the biology of
      small (up to 10 mm), screen-detected cancers has been recently reported. The
      value of support services for women having breast cancer surgery is stressed.

PMID- 1457516
TI  - Early detection, epidemiology, and prevention of breast cancer.
AB  - Control of breast cancer will ultimately be achieved through a better
      understanding of the epidemiology of the disease and application of primary
      prevention. Until then, use of screening mammography offers the promise of a 30%
      reduction in breast cancer mortality, which continues to be shown by screening
      studies with prolonged follow-up. Biologic markers of cancer risk, including
      nipple aspirates and cyst fluid, suggest that a complete risk profile can be
      developed using fluid and tissue obtained from the normal breast. Epidemiologic
      studies of dietary factors and geographic differences in breast cancer risk
      continue to provide promising leads relating to the etiology of the disease.
      Increasing evidence suggests that circulating androgens and estrogens affect
      breast cancer risk, whereas exogenous estrogen therapy does not increase risk
      except for small subgroups of women at risk. Increasing understanding of the
      genetics of breast cancer will have an impact on the disease in the near future.
      The greatest impact in the short term will come from the use of tamoxifen for
      primary prevention of breast cancer. The retinoids, particularly N-(4
      hydroxyphenyl)retinamide, hold great promise as agents for primary prevention.

PMID- 1457518
TI  - Systemic adjuvant therapy for breast cancer.
AB  - Systemic therapy for operable breast cancer can delay the time to recurrence.
      Recurrence of breast cancer can follow a variable clinical course but will lead
      to death in virtually all cases. This delay is reflected in an accompanying
      improvement in overall survival with treatment. Almost 35 years have passed since
      the introduction of adjuvant chemotherapy, whereas adjuvant tamoxifen trials were
      begun 17 years ago. In that time, only in a minority of patients has a clear
      consensus emerged on the appropriate use of adjuvant therapies. Overview analysis
      from large numbers of controlled clinical trials has produced a much larger data
      base for examining the effects of hormonal and cytotoxic therapy on the outcome
      of patients with early-stage breast cancer and provides greater statistical power
      to detect small differences in particular subgroups of patients, which may not
      have been apparent in individual studies. Patients with involved lymph nodes are
      now routinely treated with chemotherapy if they are premenopausal and with
      tamoxifen if they are postmenopausal, especially if their tumors contain estrogen
      receptor. More recent trials attempt to examine the use of these therapies
      outside of these prescribed groups as well as the introduction of new
      chemotherapeutic agents and dosage regimens, some of which are based on biologic
      principles of alternating, non-cross-resistant therapy and dose responsiveness.
      Treatment of node-negative breast cancer remains controversial. Small but real
      differences in odds of relapse have emerged with adjuvant treatment, although the
      nature of the risks and benefits remains to be defined.

PMID- 1457519
TI  - Metastatic breast cancer and its complications.
AB  - Tamoxifen is now established for use in premenopausal as well as postmenopausal
      patients. Recent reports have not shown its activity to be enhanced by the
      addition of either prednisolone, progestogens, or interferon. Reversible ocular
      toxicity from tamoxifen appears to be more common than had been previously
      realized. Different schedules giving the same dose intensity of doxorubicin give
      markedly different pharmacokinetic profiles. Although this does not lead to
      differences in responses or physical toxicity, it seems to have important
      implications for quality of life. Taxol is showing impressive activity in
      advanced breast cancer, and significant response rates have also been reported
      for carboplatin and podophyllotoxin derivatives. To achieve maximum effectiveness
      from the cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil combination, attention
      to schedule and dose intensity has been shown to be important. No new effective
      cytotoxic combinations have been described. High-dose chemotherapy requiring bone
      marrow support remains experimental. Further progress has been made in monitoring
      the response of metastatic bone disease to treatment. The precise significance
      for patients of the results in many of the papers reviewed is often uncertain
      because they lack quality-of-life measures; the importance of this approach is
      emphasized.

PMID- 1457520
TI  - Psychosocial aspects of breast cancer.
AB  - Over the past year, several research areas have been noteworthy. This article
      discusses several reports on psychiatric morbidity and psychological factors of
      breast cancer, quality-of-life issues related to breast cancer treatment, and
      psychological factors in breast cancer screening. An area of increasing interest
      includes studies examining the psychological status and breast cancer screening
      practices of women at increased risk of developing breast cancer, primarily as a
      function of family history.

PMID- 1457521
TI  - Cisplatin and platinum analogues: recent advances.
AB  - Cisplatin is a critically important antineoplastic agent employed in treating
      patients who have a broad spectrum of neoplasms. Resistance to this agent poses a
      serious clinical dilemma. The objective of this review is to summarize the
      principal mechanisms that contribute to cytotoxicity by this agent and underlie
      resistance. Knowledge of these processes provides a rational basis for developing
      therapeutic strategies to circumvent resistance.

PMID- 1457522
TI  - Antitumor antibiotics, epipodophyllotoxins, and vinca alkaloids.
AB  - This paper reviews manuscripts published from June 1991 to June 1992 that, in the
      author's opinion, have added to the understanding and clinical use of a group of
      commonly used antineoplastic agents. New developments highlighted include 1)
      clarification of the mechanism of action of the anthracyclines and
      epipodophyllotoxins, 2) evaluation of tests used for the early detection of
      bleomycin pulmonary toxicity, 3) results of studies on the epidemiology and
      prevention of anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy, 4) the potential use of
      therapeutic drug monitoring to predict etoposide toxicity, and 5) identification
      of drug interactions that alter the pharmacokinetics of the epipodophyllotoxins.

PMID- 1457523
TI  - Antimetabolites.
AB  - Research efforts over the past year further elucidate the determinants of
      sensitivity and mechanisms of resistance to the antimetabolites fluorouracil,
      methotrexate, and cytarabine. Progress has been made in clarifying the complex
      regulation of target enzyme expression for these antimetabolites. Advances in
      analytical methodology should facilitate quantitation of thymidylate synthase
      content in tumor tissue prior to and following fluorouracil-based therapy.
      Information concerning the basis for certain drug interactions may guide rational
      dose rates and schedules for clinical trials. A better understanding of the
      clinical pharmacology of these agents has suggested strategies to minimize their
      toxicity while maintaining therapeutic activity.

PMID- 1457524
TI  - Recent developments in radiotherapy.
AB  - Radiation oncology is a dynamic discipline. The radiobiologic basis for
      understanding and anticipating treatment effects continues to grow. Improved
      understanding is permitting study of altered fractionation regimens and safer
      integration into the clinic of high-dose-rate brachytherapy. A new agent, SR
      4233, may completely revise clinical approaches to tumor hypoxia, especially
      intermittent (or "dynamic") hypoxia. The availability of computer technology that
      permits three-dimensional treatment planning with unusual beam and treatment
      table orientations should result in isodose lines that conform very tightly to
      desired treatment volumes, permitting higher doses of treatment with acceptable
      normal-tissue risk. The biology of cytotoxic drug and irradiation interactions
      and of cytokine and irradiation interactions is an area of growing promise.
      Combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments have, in the past year,
      suggested major improvements in the management of esophageal and laryngeal
      cancer. The importance of local and regional tumor control in contributing to
      clinical disease course is being understood with increasing clarity, validating
      the development of technically demanding new approaches to administering
      irradiation and the use of adjunctive radiotherapy following chemotherapy for
      selected neoplastic diseases.

PMID- 1457525
TI  - Modulation of chemotherapy antineoplastic agents with biologic agents:
      enhancement of antitumor activities by interleukin-1.
AB  - Cytokines or biologic response modifiers in combination with traditional
      chemotherapeutic agents can be used as therapeutics in patients with cancer.
      Biologic response modifiers, which are involved in the control and regulation of
      a wide variety of physiologic activities, have previously been used primarily to
      enhance or boost host immunologic function. Although immune modulatory
      therapeutic approaches are yet to be fully realized, biologic response modifiers
      have also been considered in combination with cytotoxic drugs for their effects
      on hematopoietic progenitor cells, tumor cells directly, and microvascular
      endothelial cells. Interleukin-1 is a multifunctional cytokine that not only
      activates the immune system but also plays a central role in regulating
      hematopoiesis, has potent effects on vascular function, and has shown significant
      antitumor activity alone or in combination with various chemotherapeutic agents.
      As a result, interleukin-1 is an excellent candidate for combination with
      conventional antineoplastic drugs toward the design of innovative therapeutic
      approaches to malignancy. This review examines the studies using preclinical
      animal tumor models as well as the recent phase I clinical trials and includes an
      overview of their potential for further application.

PMID- 1457526
TI  - New biologic agents come to bat for cancer therapy.
AB  - Biologic therapies are playing an increasingly important role in the treatment of
      patients with cancer. A better understanding of immune responses to tumors now
      exists, and more defined reagents are now available including new recombinant
      cytokines, cultured lymphoid cells of defined specificity, and most recently,
      vectors containing specific genes that can be introduced either into tumor cells
      or lymphoid effectors. During this past year, we have observed the reporting of
      new cytokines identified and tested in humans and the advent of cytokine gene
      therapy. The successful application of these new reagents either singly or in
      combination will require significant ingenuity, resources, and intuition over the
      next decade.

PMID- 1457527
TI  - Immunotherapy with cytokine gene-transduced tumor cells: the next wave in gene
      therapy for cancer.
AB  - Recently, new tumor vaccine approaches were developed in animal systems that
      modify tumor cells genetically to secrete certain cytokines. Engineering tumor
      cells to secrete cytokines in a paracrine fashion can induce powerful local
      cytokine effects without producing significant systemic toxicity. In addition to
      local inflammation, this approach can alter the presentation of tumor antigens or
      activation of tumor antigen-specific T lymphocytes, resulting in systemic
      antitumor immunity. The development of high efficiency gene transfer technologies
      such as defective retroviral vectors allows for the translation of these
      preclinical studies to clinical trials. However, before large investments are
      made in this area of gene therapy, it will be important to demonstrate that the
      actual gene transfer component of the strategy significantly enhances antitumor
      immune responses relative to alternative nongenetic approaches.

PMID- 1457528
TI  - Targeted delivery of biologic and other antineoplastic agents.
AB  - This review summarizes several strategies under investigation for targeted
      delivery of antineoplastic agents to tumor cells, which avoids normal tissue
      damage. Monoclonal antibodies remain the molecules of choice for targeted
      therapy, and several improvements to immunotargeting are discussed. These
      improvements include the use of novel radioisotopes, cytokines, new linkers for
      chemotherapeutic drugs, more potent drugs, and improved immunotoxins.
      Bifunctional antibodies, in which one antigen-binding site recognizes a tumor
      associated antigen and the other an antineoplastic agent, have been investigated
      for radioimmunotherapy and for the activation of cytotoxic cells for targeted
      immunotherapy. The activation of relatively nontoxic prodrugs by antibody-enzyme
      conjugates is increasingly being investigated in an effort to reduce the systemic
      toxicity associated with conventional chemotherapy. Finally, the use of liposomes
      as carriers of drugs or as activators of macrophages is described.

PMID- 1457529
TI  - Breast.

PMID- 1457530
TI  - Therapeutic modalities.

PMID- 1457531
TI  - [Ethical frontiers of sciences].

PMID- 1457532
TI  - [Pregnancy in renal transplant recipients. Long-term evaluation of their
      children].
AB  - The course of eight pregnancies in seven renal transplant patients was analyzed.
      Immunosuppression consisted of Azathioprine and Prednisone. Pregnancy lasted from
      32 to 39 weeks and the fetal development corresponded to the gestational age in
      every case. There were three cases which had complications during the pregnancy.
      One case had severe arterial hypertension, proteinuria and pedal edema, which was
      thought to be due to pre-eclampsia. Another patient had cholestatic jaundice and
      premature fissure of membranes and the third patient also had this last
      complication. Four patients had vaginal deliveries and in four cesarean section
      was performed. Renal function did not deteriorate during any of the pregnancies
      nor during the follow-up period, but the expected increase in creatinine
      clearance was not found. Clinical evaluation of the children, 4 months to 8 years
      of age, did not disclose any abnormalities.

PMID- 1457533
TI  - Successful pregnancy in a severe hypertensive patient treated with nitrendipine.
      Case report.
AB  - Nitrendipine (NIT), a new potent calcium channel blocking agent, was administered
      to a patient with essential severe (191/119 mm Hg), refractory, and resistant
      hypertension (HT) to conventional triple drug regime. Three previous pregnancies
      had been unsuccessful in the past 4 years because of uncontrollable HT and
      repeated hypertensive crises. NIT (20 mg tablets) was given PO as a single
      morning dose and 15 months after BP control, she became pregnant again. With a 20
      mg/day dose of NIT throughout pregnancy, a healthy 2400 g, 47 cm male boy was
      delivered by a non-emergency cesarean section at 37 weeks' pregnancy. Both mother
      and son remain normal months after birth. The results suggest NIT may be
      considered as an alternative for this type of patients and should be studied in
      clinical trials.

PMID- 1457534
TI  - [Chronic manganese poisoning: autoradiographic quantification of cholinergic
      muscarinic receptors in mouse brain].
AB  - Chronic administration of manganese chloride (5 mg Mn/kg body weight/day) during
      nine weeks, did not affect the [3H]-quinuclidinyl benzilate binding to muscarinic
      cholinergic receptors in mouse brain. The quantitation and anatomical
      distribution of the receptors were determined by autoradiographic methods on
      coronal sections of midbrain and olfactory bulb. It is concluded that, in our
      experimental conditions, no alteration in the density of the muscarinic
      cholinergic receptors is produced in the brain of manganese intoxicated mouse.

PMID- 1457535
TI  - [Teratogenic effect of the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus: a review of the
      problem].
AB  - Clinical findings on Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus infection and the
      teratogenic effects of several Togaviruses are described. Similarities between
      the intrauterine alterations induced by Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus and
      rubella virus are pointed out. Findings described by Wenger in 1967 were those of
      massive cerebral necrosis in fetuses of women presumably suffering of
      encephalitis and they are commented along with the development of an animal
      experimental model at the end of 1970-1980. Pathogenesis of the intrauterine
      infection seemed to be related to changes in the placental vessels, vascular
      changes in the central nervous system were also described in rats surviving
      Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis experimental infection; similar changes were
      described in the brain of children with post rubella syndrome. The need for
      multidisciplinary studies in the endemic areas of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis
      in order to detect sequelae of the viral effects in utero is emphasized. Finally,
      some experimental animal models are proposed to examine diverse aspects on
      intrauterine effect of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus.

PMID- 1457536
TI  - The use of computer-assisted diagnosis in cardiac-perfusion nuclear medicine
      studies: a review.
AB  - The use of computer-assisted diagnosis has become widespread in cardiac nuclear
      medicine. Quantitative programs are commercially available for ventriculography,
      phase analysis, and thallium 201 perfusion studies. The goal of these programs is
      to eliminate interobserver variability by objectively analyzing the studies
      without causing a loss of accuracy. In addition, by using quantitative data not
      apparent on visual inspection, some programs attempt to increase sensitivity for
      disease above that possible by the visual reading of images. Programs that
      analyze perfusion studies to detect coronary artery disease have received the
      most interest. Results have varied, but sensitivities as high as 95% have been
      reported. This review discusses the techniques of computer-assisted diagnosis for
      thallium 201 myocardial-perfusion studies. The circumferential and washout
      profile methods are discussed in detail.

PMID- 1457538
TI  - Cooperative image workstation based on explicit models of diagnostic information
      requirements.
AB  - A medical image workstation designed to act as a cooperative dialogue partner in
      diagnostic radiology has been conceived, and a prototype has been made. The
      system can automatically select relevant information (eg, from current and
      previous examinations) and generate a meaningful and appropriate image
      arrangement on the display screen. For a number of routinely performed tasks in
      radiology, the users' interaction may be as simple as switching from one patient
      to the next. This is shown to considerably simplify and speed up radiological
      image access and presentation, saving the user time and effort. The cooperative
      system response is based on explicit (formalized and computer-accessible) models
      of diagnostic information requirements. These models are context dependent and
      take into account that diagnostic information needs vary with radiological work
      procedures, workstation users, and patient cases. Initial models have been
      acquired from expert radiologists in two European hospitals and were integrated
      in a cooperative workstation prototype. For the representation of models, rule
      based and object-oriented techniques were applied. The rule base was designed
      with a distinct modular structure, separating between rule sets for general, task
      dependent, and user-dependent information requirements. The installed rule-based
      mechanism also offers a solution for the automatic prefetching of images to avoid
      transmission delays in the course of diagnostic work sessions. The first part of
      the report reviews the objectives for the design of cooperative workstation user
      interfaces and explains the benefits from the users' point of view. In the second
      part, the acquisition, structuring, formalization, and representation of context
      dependent information requirement models is described. The rule-based model is
      explained using examples. A layered workstation architecture consisting of model,
      object, and real-time layers is presented. Difficulties in the implementation of
      cooperative workstations are discussed that point to future research topics and
      standardization efforts.

PMID- 1457537
TI  - Enhancement of chest images by automatic adaptive spatial filtering.
AB  - Postprocessing of the image data is an exciting capability of digital radiography
      that may improve diagnostic performance. We present a new algorithm that
      selectively enhances edges and contrast in both lungs and mediastinum while
      minimally amplifying noise in chest images. Using different size kernels, two
      smoothed images are generated from the original chest image. The two regions of
      interest (lungs and mediastinum) are identified based on the distribution of
      pixel values in the image. A modified nonlinear unsharp mask subtraction
      technique is then applied. The resulting image has enhanced high- and middle
      frequency information in the mediastinum without distorting lung parenchyma or
      significantly enhancing noise. We consider that the technique employed in this
      study could be suitable for routine use although its true effectiveness in
      improving diagnostic accuracy awaits observer-performance evaluation that is
      currently under way.

PMID- 1457539
TI  - Three-dimensional display of hepatic venous anatomy generated from spiral
      computed tomography data: preliminary results.
AB  - A new method is presented for generating three-dimensional images of the hepatic
      venous anatomy from helical computed tomography (CT) scans using volumetric
      rendering. The helical CT scans were obtained using peripheral injection of
      intravenous contrast via a power injector. Five patients with suspected liver
      tumors were studied from which one sample case was selected for illustration.
      Surgical planning of hepatic resection from three-dimensional images will soon
      become a practical part of patient care.

PMID- 1457540
TI  - Demonstration of digital radiographs by means of ink jet-printed paper copies:
      pilot study.
AB  - Different digital medical images have been printed on paper with a continuous ink
      jet printer, and the quality has been evaluated. The emphasis has been on digital
      chest radiographs from a computed radiography system. The ink jet printing
      technique is described as well as the handling of the image data from image
      source to printer. Different versions of paper prints and viewing conditions were
      compared to find the optimum alternative. The evaluation has been performed to
      maximize the quality of the paper images to make them conform with the
      corresponding film prints and monitor images as much as possible. The continuous
      ink jet technique offers high-quality prints on paper at a considerably lower
      cost per copy compared with the cost of a film print. With a future switch-over
      from diagnosing of digital images on film to diagnosing them on monitors, hard
      copies for demonstration purposes will occasionally be needed. This need can be
      filled by ink jet-printed paper copies.

PMID- 1457541
TI  - Subsystem throughputs of a clinical picture archiving and communications system.
AB  - We measured the throughtput rates of individual picture archiving and
      communications system (PACS) subsystems including the acquisition, archive,
      display, and communication network as a basis of evaluation the overall
      throughput of our clinical PACS. The throughput rate of each PACS subsystem was
      measured in terms of average residence time of individual images in the
      subsystem. The residence time of an image in a PACS subsystem was determined by
      the total time the image was required to be processed within the subsystem. The
      overall throughput of the PACS was measured as the total residence time of an
      image in the various subsystems. We also measured throughputs of the PACS
      subsystems using three types of networks (Ethernet; fiber distributed data
      interface; and UltraNet, UltraNetwork Technologies, San Jose, CA), and the
      results were compared. Approximately 200 gigabytes of data transactions including
      magnetic resonance, computed tomography and computed radiography images from our
      PACS were analyzed. Results showed that PACS throughput was limited by three
      major factors: (1) low-speed data interface used in the radiologic imaging
      devices and archive devices; (2) competition for systems processing time among
      the PACS processes; and (3) network degradation caused by heavy network traffic.
      We concluded that PACS performance could be improved with a well-designed network
      architecture, a job prioritizing mechanism, and an image routing strategy.
      However, device-dependent low-speed data interface has limited PACS performance.

PMID- 1457542
TI  - Comparison of three different techniques for dual-energy subtraction imaging in
      digital radiography: a signal-to-noise analysis.
AB  - Dual-energy subtraction imaging techniques allow the tissue and bone structures
      in the patient to be visualized and studied in two separate images, thus removing
      the obscurity associated with overlapping of the two structures. In addition,
      they allow the subtraction image signals to be used for quantifying the tissue
      and bone thicknesses. Thus, capability for dual-energy subtraction imaging is
      often incorporated with new digital radiography systems. There are three
      different approaches to dual-energy image subtraction imaging techniques. Among
      them, the dual-kilovolt (peak) [kV(p)] and sandwich detector techniques have been
      two widely used approaches. A third approach is the single-kV(p) dual-filter
      technique, which allows some flexible control of the spectra while avoiding the
      technical complexity of kV(p) value switching in slit-scan imaging. In this
      report, the noise properties associated with these three techniques are studied
      and compared by computing the noise variances in the subtraction image signals as
      a function of the kV(p) values and filter thicknesses. It was found that the dual
      kVp technique results in the least noisy subtraction images, whereas the dual
      filter technique results in slightly less noisy subtraction images than the
      sandwich detector technique. Following optimization of the kV(p) value and filter
      thicknesses, the dual-filter and sandwich detector techniques result in a noise
      level of approximately three and four times higher than that resulted from the
      dual-kV(p) technique, respectively.

PMID- 1457543
TI  - Salmonella enteritidis in commercial layer farms in New York state; environmental
      survey results and significance of available monitoring tests.
AB  - Seven hundred fifty-one environmental samples were collected from 76 chicken
      layer houses in a voluntary Salmonella enteritidis (SE) survey study carried out
      in New York state between January 15 and April 8, 1991. SE was recovered from
      both houses on 1 farm. Sampling of manure pits and mice in hen houses was useful
      for SE screening. Phage types of SE from the environment, birds, and mice were
      identical. The rapid whole-blood test was unreliable, and culture of cloacal
      swabs was inadequate for detection of SE carriers. Culture of organs from
      chickens did not correlate well with results of environmental samples.

PMID- 1457544
TI  - Use of ELISA to detect toxigenic Pasteurella multocida in atrophic rhinitis in
      swine.
AB  - The use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a means of detecting
      dermonecrotoxin-producing strains of Pasteurella multocida was investigated. The
      assay was evaluated as a means to identify toxigenic P. multocida isolates
      recovered from nasal secretions of swine with atrophic rhinitis. The sensitivity
      and specificity of the ELISA for detecting dermonecrotoxin-producing P. multocida
      strains were compared to those of mouse-inoculation and cytotoxicity assays. The
      ELISA was highly sensitive and more specific than animal inoculation or tissue
      culture assay and is thus a more effective method for screening swine herds for
      the presence of toxigenic strains of P. multocida. The ELISA is a rapid,
      effective, economical way to identify toxigenic P. multocida isolates.

PMID- 1457545
TI  - Mycobacterium bovis infection in North American elk (Cervus elaphus).
AB  - A naturally occurring outbreak of Mycobacterium bovis infection in captive wild
      elk (wapiti) in Montana was confirmed by mycobacteriologic examination. Twenty
      eight of 143 elk responded to M. bovis purified protein derivative (PPD)
      tuberculin injected intradermally in the cervical region (SCT). The results of
      comparative cervical tuberculin skin tests conducted within 9 days of SCT
      revealed greater responses to M. bovis PPD tuberculin than to M. avium PPD
      tuberculin in 23 of 28 elk responding. At necropsy, several grossly visible
      tuberculous lesions were observed in the parenchyma of the lung, thoracic lymph
      nodes, and submandibular lymph nodes. Microscopic examination of appropriately
      stained tissue sections revealed the presence of granulomatous lesions containing
      acid-fast bacilli. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed
      using a sarkosyl extract of M. bovis (antigen) and peroxidase-labeled protein G
      (conjugate); reactions were detected in the sera of 8 of 9 elk responding to M.
      bovis PPD tuberculin. Lymphocyte blastogenic assay responses were detected using
      M. bovis antigens in 7 of 9 elk positive on skin tests using M. bovis PPD.

PMID- 1457546
TI  - Gross and microscopic lesions of naturally occurring tuberculosis in a captive
      herd of wapiti (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) in Colorado.
AB  - A Mycobacterium bovis-infected herd of captive wapiti (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) in
      Colorado was depopulated after lesions of bovine tuberculosis were confirmed in 8
      of 10 tuberculin skin test reactors. Of the 43 animals > 1 year of age, 26 had
      gross lesions suggestive of tuberculosis, 24 had microscopic lesions of
      tuberculosis, and 23 had acid-fast bacilli associated with the lesions. Lungs and
      retropharyngeal lymph nodes were the most frequently affected sites. Most lesions
      grossly and microscopically resembled tuberculosis in cattle; however, some
      lesions resembled abscesses or ovine caseous lymphadenitis lesions. Special
      stains and immunohistochemical techniques labeled few to numerous mycobacteria
      associated with the lesions.

PMID- 1457547
TI  - Bovine plasma beta-mannosidase activity and its potential use for beta
      mannosidosis carrier detection.
AB  - Plasma beta-mannosidase activities were determined for Salers cattle from 8 herds
      as an evaluation of this method for detection of beta-mannosidosis heterozygotes.
      Several biological factors, such as age, gender, herd, and risk of being a beta
      mannosidosis carrier, were considered in this study. The mean enzyme activity for
      obligate heterozygotes (n = 8) was 55 U/ml (range = 43-65 U/ml), which was 59% of
      the mean enzyme activity for cattle that were low risk for being a carrier. These
      data indicate that bovine beta-mannosidosis is characterized by a gene dosage
      effect. The analytical and biological variation of plasma beta-mannosidase
      activity that was observed necessitates limiting the test to adult
      fullblood/purebred Salers cattle within a herd. Plasma beta-mannosidase analysis
      provides important information for intraherd selection of Salers cattle that are
      heterozygous for beta-mannosidosis.

PMID- 1457548
TI  - Confirmation of indandione rodenticide toxicoses by mass spectrometry/mass
      spectrometry.
AB  - Mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (MS/MS) with collision-activated dissociation
      (CAD) was utilized to unequivocally distinguish 1,3-indandione rodenticides in 2
      cases of anticoagulant toxicosis. Anecdotal evidence provided by the veterinarian
      in a case involving feedlot cows and physical evidence at the site of occurrence
      in a similar case involving lambs strongly implicated diphenadione (diphacinone;
      DP) in both instances. However, high performance liquid chromatography indicated
      chlorophacinone (CP), not DP, was present in the blood samples obtained from both
      cows and lambs. Intact 1,3-indandiones exhibit poor gas chromatographic
      properties, so procedures were developed for analysis by MS/MS using a direct
      exposure probe for sample introduction. The EI mass spectra of DP and CP
      contained a base peak at m/z 173, with molecular ions (M+) at m/z 340 and m/z 374
      (Cl isotope cluster), respectively. Corresponding MS/MS CAD parent ion spectra of
      m/z 173 showed an ion of m/z 340 for DP and 374 (Cl cluster) for CP. CAD analysis
      of the blood extracts showed a parent ion scan of m/z 173 identical to that of
      CP, with the m/z 374 (Cl cluster). (Additional evidence was obtained by MS/MS
      examination of the CAD daughter ion spectrum of m/z 374.) Blood extracts from the
      affected animals revealed CAD daughter ion spectra for m/z 374 identical to that
      of reference CP. Positive confirmation of CP in both cases led to identification
      of the source of the toxicant and prevention of further animal exposures.

PMID- 1457549
TI  - Assessment of western immunoblotting for the confirmatory diagnosis of ovine
      scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

PMID- 1457550
TI  - Budgerigar fledgling disease (papovavirus) in pet birds.

PMID- 1457551
TI  - A comparison of isolation and a commercial ELISA for the diagnosis of
      chlamydiosis in psittacine birds.

PMID- 1457552
TI  - Isolation of Chlamydia psittaci from pleural effusion in a dog.

PMID- 1457553
TI  - Development of a DNA hybridization probe for detection of Mycoplasma bovis.

PMID- 1457554
TI  - Strain diversity within bovine Pasteurella haemolytica serovar 2 respiratory
      tract isolates.

PMID- 1457555
TI  - Binding of a recombinant form of streptococcal protein G to porcine IgG.

PMID- 1457556
TI  - Diarrhea associated with Enterococcus durans in calves.

PMID- 1457557
TI  - Transmural intestinal penetration of polyester fibers as an uncommon cause of
      peritoneal adhesions in a dog.

PMID- 1457558
TI  - Peripheral neuroblastomas in two dogs.

PMID- 1457559
TI  - Outbreak of toxoplasmosis in wallabies on an exotic animal farm.

PMID- 1457560
TI  - Acute hepatic sarcocystosis in a chinchilla.

PMID- 1457561
TI  - Acute hepatic necrosis associated with a Sarcocystis-like protozoa in a sea lion
      (Zalophus californianus).

PMID- 1457562
TI  - Pulmonary coccidiosis in a dog.

PMID- 1457563
TI  - Lymphosarcoma in a desert bighorn sheep.

PMID- 1457564
TI  - The assessment of patients undergoing esophagectomy.

PMID- 1457565
TI  - Current status of preoperative treatment for carcinoma of the esophagus.

PMID- 1457566
TI  - Adenocarcinoma in Barrett's esophagus.

PMID- 1457567
TI  - Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction of the laryngopharynx and
      cervical esophagus.

PMID- 1457568
TI  - Free jejunal interposition of the esophagus.

PMID- 1457569
TI  - Cervical exenteration.

PMID- 1457570
TI  - Comparison of transhiatal and transthoracic esophagogastrectomy.

PMID- 1457571
TI  - Transhiatal esophagectomy.
AB  - THE is a versatile procedure that has become indicated for a variety of disease
      processes over the past two decades; amongst these indications are to treat many
      benign and malignant esophageal diseases, as well as for use in restoring
      gastrointestinal continuity after extensive pharyngeal or laryngopharyngeal
      resections. Careful and meticulous handling, formation, and transposition of the
      gastric tube are essential to the development of a well-perfused neo-esophagus.
      Present studies indicate acceptable morbidity and mortality of THE compared with
      transthoracic resections for carcinoma of the esophagus. There appears to be no
      significant detriment in overall long-term survival when THE is used as primary
      resection therapy for malignant esophageal disease.

PMID- 1457572
TI  - Results of standard left thoracoabdominal esophagogastrectomy.
AB  - The left thoracoabdominal incision is approaching its first century of use.
      Although less popular than the Ivor Lewis and transhiatal techniques, it
      continues to be a useful approach for esophageal or gastric tumors near the
      gastroesophageal junction. For these tumors, the incision provides excellent
      exposure, and maximizes reconstructive options during esophagogastrectomy. The
      incision has a proven track record of safety and is well-tolerated.

PMID- 1457573
TI  - Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.

PMID- 1457574
TI  - Radical esophagectomy.

PMID- 1457575
TI  - Short segment colon and jejunal interposition.

PMID- 1457576
TI  - Long segment colon interposition.

PMID- 1457577
TI  - The BFM-protocol for HIV-negative Burkitt's lymphomas and L3 ALL in adult
      patients: a high chance for cure.
AB  - During a period of 9 years we used the pediatric BFM-NHL protocol for treatment
      of 14 adult patients with Burkitt's lymphoma or L3 acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
      Ten of 14 patients obtained a complete remission including 5/8 with stage-IV
      disease or B-ALL. After a median follow-up of 55 months none of these ten
      patients relapsed. The projected survival after 8 years is 71%. Toxicity was
      moderate, with one early death; a tumor lysis syndrome occurred in four patients.
      From our experience we conclude that the BFM-NHL protocol is very effective in
      adult patients, with a high cure rate and acceptable toxicity, even in advanced
      stages of disease.

PMID- 1457578
TI  - Increased risk of second cancers in managing Hodgkins disease: the 20-year Leiden
      experience.
AB  - Between January 1969 and December 1988, 482 patients were treated for Hodgkin's
      disease at the Leiden University Hospital. All cases were routinely recorded in
      the Hospital Information System, which has an active annual follow-up. Of all
      patients, 57% remained relapse free. According to the kinds of treatment they
      received, the following major categories were established: radiotherapy only
      (28.2%), chemotherapy only (20.1%), only initial combination of radiotherapy and
      chemotherapy (34.2%), all other combinations of radio- and chemotherapy (15.4%),
      or not registered (2.1%). Twenty-seven second cancers were observed; six
      leukemias, five non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and 16 solid tumors. Of all solid tumors
      only nine occurred in relapse-free patients. The overall relative risk of second
      cancers increased with the duration of follow-up. Using general population
      incidence rates to calculate expected numbers, the risk for developing leukemia,
      non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and solid tumors was increased 36-fold, 31-fold, and 2.4
      fold, respectively. The cumulative risk of developing a second cancer 10 years
      after diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease was 7% for both the radiotherapy-only and
      the initial combination of radio- and chemotherapy group. It was 16% and 17% for
      the chemotherapy-only and the other combinations of radio- and chemotherapy
      group, respectively. Multivariate analysis (using the Cox regression model) show
      an increased risk of second cancers (RR = 0.7) when a relapse of Hodgkin's
      disease resulting in increasing cumulative therapy occurred. Age at diagnosis of
      Hodgkin's disease was an important determinant for the risk of non-Hodgkin
      lymphoma and solid tumors. Cumulative chemotherapy intensity was an important
      factor in increasing leukemic risk in a dose-response fashion. Apart from this,
      the stage of Hodgkin's disease, although closely related to the kind of therapy,
      seemed to have an independent effect on leukemic risk.

PMID- 1457579
TI  - Immune and hormonal changes in early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients.
AB  - Fifty-six previously untreated stage-I (according to Rai) chronic lymphocytic
      leukemia (CLL) patients were examined for their clinical data, immunological
      characteristics, and hormonal values. Dysfunction of T and B lymphocytes was
      demonstrated by changed lymphocyte blastogenic response to stimulation with
      phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (ConA), pisum sativatum agglutinin
      (PSA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), recombinant interleukin 2 (IL 2), and dextran
      sulfate (DxS); also by decreased immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA, IgE) and
      increased beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M) values. Simultaneously, dysregulation
      of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, immune system integration, imbalance
      of sex hormones, and changes in thyroid hormones were observed in the same group
      of patients. Disturbed immunohormonal interactions in early-stage CLL may be
      responsible for the pathogenetic mechanisms in this lymphoproliferative
      malignancy.

PMID- 1457580
TI  - No evidence for neoantigens in human plasma after photochemical virus
      inactivation.
AB  - Photodynamic virus inactivation of human fresh plasma mediated by visible light
      in the presence of the phenothiazine dyes methylene blue or toluidine blue was
      investigated to determine whether it influences functional, structural, and
      immunological properties of plasma proteins. The activities of the coagulation
      factors I, VIII, IX, X, and XI were affected to a certain degree, while those of
      most other plasma proteins were not. The elution profiles obtained by ion
      exchange chromatography of untreated and photodynamically treated plasma were
      almost identical. Using a number of antisera against human plasma and single
      plasma proteins, different immunochemical techniques revealed identical patterns
      for untreated and treated plasma. Thus, there was no indication that the
      photodynamic virus inactivation procedure applied considerably influences the
      properties of plasma proteins.

PMID- 1457581
TI  - Hemoglobin Kansas found in a patient with polycythemia.
AB  - A 62-year-old woman, long suspected of having heart disease, was admitted to our
      hospital for thorough examination. Her hemoglobin level was 17.7 g/dl and her 2.3
      DPG level was 8.90 microM/ml RBC. The patient proved to have polycythemia,
      hemoglobin Kansas, and diabetes mellitus. To our knowledge, this is the third
      case of hemoglobin Kansas in the world.

PMID- 1457582
TI  - Treatment of neutropenia in Felty's syndrome with granulocyte-macrophage colony
      stimulating factor--hematological response accompanied by pulmonary complications
      with lethal outcome.
AB  - We report on a 67-year-old man with Felty's syndrome (FS) complicated by
      recurrent pneumonia and an infected wound, which was not healing in spite of
      maximal antibiotic and local therapy. Encouraged by previous experience, we
      treated him with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). His
      total leukocyte count rose, but the patient's pneumonia deteriorated. In
      addition, a previously known chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) was
      exacerbated acutely. These complications finally led to his death. Postmortem
      examination revealed widespread pneumonia with invasive aspergillosis and a
      peripheral adenocarcinoma in his left lung.

PMID- 1457583
TI  - Hemolytic-uremic syndrome associated with pancreatitis in an HIV-positive
      patient.
AB  - Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is a newly recognized hematologic manifestation
      of HIV infection that may be triggered by local or systemic infections as well as
      by immunological disorders. We report the case of a 36-year-old HIV-positive man,
      an intravenous drug abuser who developed HUS during an episode of acute
      pancreatitis. Hematologic and clinical improvement occurred following 2 weeks of
      nonaggressive therapy including vitamin E and fresh-frozen plasma.

PMID- 1457584
TI  - Severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia
      responsive to fludarabine-based treatment.

PMID- 1457585
TI  - Hypoplastic acute leukemia: description of eight cases and search for
      hematopoietic inhibiting activity.
AB  - Hypoplastic acute leukemia (HAL) is characterized by pancytopenia and by
      hypocellularity of the bone marrow. The marrow contains equal to or more than 30%
      myeloblasts. Absence of tissue infiltrates and/or tumor masses is mandatory.
      Eight patients are described here. They do not fit into the FAB classification
      for either acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) or myelodysplastic syndrome
      (MDS), except for one patient who subsequently proved to have a chronic
      myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). The median age is 65 years. Two patients,
      including the CMML patient, are alive, 22 and 6 months from diagnosis. Six
      patients have died. The median survival is 8 months. Normal bone marrow cells
      cultured either with HAL sera or with HAL peripheral blood mononuclear cells as
      feeders and exogenous GM-CSF yielded subnormal CFU-GM counts. This might indicate
      inhibitory activity of HAL serum and defective stimulatory activity of HAL
      peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

PMID- 1457586
TI  - Pharmacokinetics and hemostatic effect of different factor VIII/von Willebrand
      factor concentrates in von Willebrand's disease type III.
AB  - Four different plasma-derived concentrates composed of coagulation factor VIII
      (FVIII) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) of varying quality (Hemate-P, Behring;
      Profilate, Alpha; and F VIII-VHP-vWF, C.R.T.S Lille), or almost purified vWF
      (Facteur Willebrand, C.R.T.S Lille) and one recombinant F VIII concentrate
      (Recombinate, Baxter) were given, in doses of 30-60 IU VIII: C/kg or 70-110 IU
      RCof/kg, to five patients with von Willebrand's disease type III, in order to
      evaluate the role of the vWF in factor F VIII concentrates. All plasma
      concentrates except Profilate had a multimeric vWF pattern almost similar to that
      of normal plasma. Bleeding time (b.t.), VIII: C, vWF:Ag, ristocetin cofactor
      activity, and multimeric pattern of the plasma-vWF were followed for 72 h. Both
      Duke b.t. and the multimeric pattern in plasma normalized after infusion of
      Hemate-P, F VIII-VHP-vWF, and Facteur Willebrand and, to a lesser extent, after
      Profilate. As expected, in response to Recombinate there was no effect on primary
      hemostasis, and the half-life of F VIII procoagulant activity (VIII: C) was very
      short. Normalization of the vWF is important not only for improving the primary
      hemostasis, but also for maintaining the plasma F VIII concentration on a high
      level, both by reducing the elimination rate of infused F VIII and via a
      secondary release of endogenous F VIII. If a prompt hemostatic effect is
      required, we recommend a concentrate containing both F VIII and all vWF
      multimers, but for prophylactic treatment, pure vWF may be used.

PMID- 1457587
TI  - Effect of hypoxic exposure on iron absorption in heterozygous
      hypotransferrinaemic mice.
AB  - Heterozygous hypotransferrinaemic mice show serum iron, haemoglobin and
      reticulocyte levels similar to those of normal (+/+) controls but the plasma
      apotransferrin level is significantly reduced. Male heterozygous
      hypotransferrinaemic Balb/cJ mice and control (+/+) littermates were exposed to 1
      3 days' hypoxia at 0.5 atmospheres. Controls increased their haemoglobin and iron
      absorption significantly during the first day of exposure; serum transferrin
      levels were increased and iron absorption had returned to normal levels by the
      third day or serum transferrin above normal levels and the elevated iron
      absorption persisted for longer than in controls. Serum iron levels were lower
      following hypoxic exposure than in controls. Liver iron loading was significantly
      enhanced by hypoxia in heterozygotes, but not in controls. These observations
      demonstrate the importance of the reservoir of plasma apotransferrin in the
      initial phase of enhanced erythropoiesis, and that the ability to enhance plasma
      levels of iron-bound transferrin is required in order to increase haemoglobin
      levels under the hypoxic stress.

PMID- 1457588
TI  - Iron stores and serum transferrin receptor levels during recombinant human
      erythropoietin treatment of anemia in rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - Ten rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with anemia of chronic disorders (ACD)
      were treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-Hu-Epo) using a dose of 250
      U/kg s.c. 3 times a week for 6 weeks, in order to evaluate its effects on the
      anemia, iron stores, and serum-soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) levels. All
      patients showed a rise in hemoglobin (Hb). Median Hb increased from 5.9 (5.5-7.0)
      at baseline to 6.7 (5.8-7.8) at 3 weeks and to 7.2 (5.9-8.5) mmol/l at 6 weeks
      during treatment. Ferritin levels decreased significantly during the 6 weeks, and
      five patients were iron deficient after 6 weeks of treatment. TfR levels
      increased significantly at 3 and 6 weeks during treatment. These preliminary
      findings may indicate that r-Hu-Epo is effective in improving ACD in RA. The sTfR
      rise may be explained by an increase in erythroid precursor cell mass or
      increased TfR expression and a decrease in tissue iron stores, although direct
      effects of Epo on TfR regulation cannot be excluded. Large double-blind studies
      with r-Hu-Epo in patients with RA and ACD are warranted.

PMID- 1457589
TI  - Some storage characteristics of buffy coats used for preparation of platelet
      concentrates.
AB  - The present study examined biochemical storage lesions in 58 buffy coats (BCs)
      intended as the raw material for platelet concentrates. The work was conducted in
      three series; the aims were to investigate: (a) the storage quality of BCs
      obtained from the routine production (series I), (b) whether improvement in
      platelet quality could be achieved by continuous agitation during storage (series
      II), and (c) whether macroscopic aggregate formation indicates platelet damage
      (series III). Series I and II consisted of 20 BCs each. Series III compared ten
      BCs with visible clumping with eight BCs not demonstrating macroscopic
      aggregates. In series I and II platelet counts and platelet factor 4 (PF4)
      release were determined after 1, 3, 5, and 24 h; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
      extracellular activity was measured after 1 and 24 h. In addition, in series I
      elastase concentrations were analyzed after 3, 5, and 24 h. Finally, in series
      III extracellular beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) levels were determined after 18
      24 h. Low platelet counts, most likely reflecting the presence of aggregate
      formation, were found in 20% of the BCs (series I); in this series a total of 25%
      demonstrated increasing platelet counts, together with elevated PF4 and elastase,
      over the study period. Significant biochemical storage lesions were found after 5
      and 24 h of storage. The study also demonstrated that continuous agitation during
      storage does not improve platelet quality (series II) and that BCs demonstrating
      visible clumping (series III) had augmented levels of extracellular beta-TG (p <
      0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457590
TI  - A case of congenital leukemia with monosomy 7.
AB  - A case of congenital leukemia with monosomy 7 is reported. Immunological study of
      the blast cells using monoclonal antibodies was suggestive of both
      myelomegakaryocytic and T-lymphoblastic leukemia. Chromosomal analysis of the
      bone marrow cells showed monosomy 7. Chemotherapy was initiated with a
      combination of adriamycin, cytosine arabinoside, 6-mercaptopurine, and
      prednisolone. The patient obtained complete remission, which has been maintained
      for 4 years and 1 month. He receives no chemotherapy now. Our case shows that
      monosomy 7 in congenital leukemia is rare, but the presence of monosomy 7 in
      congenital leukemia does not necessarily indicate a poor prognosis.

PMID- 1457591
TI  - Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease complicated by severe rhabdomyolysis.

PMID- 1457592
TI  - [Effect of superlow doses (10(-18)-10-(-14) M) of biologically active substances:
      general rules, features, and possible mechanisms].
AB  - The effects of ultra-low (10(-18)-10(-14) M) doses (ULD) of biologically active
      substances have been reviewed in terms of common regularities of ULD effects and
      peculiarities of action of various groups of compounds. The most common and at
      the same time paradoxical regularities of ULD action are bi- or polymodal
      patterns of dose dependence, absence or presence of an inverse effect at higher
      doses, and instability of ULD effect. Possible mechanisms of ULD action including
      the mechanism based on the adaptation theory are discussed.

PMID- 1457593
TI  - [Ganglioside lactones].

PMID- 1457594
TI  - [An unusual leucine motif in amino acid sequences of subunit 9 of ATP-synthase
      from plant mitochondria, modified by mRNA editing].
AB  - The amino acid sequences of subunit 9 of plant mitochondrial ATP-synthase contain
      a leucine motif which differs from the leucine repeat earlier detected within the
      composition of proteinaceous products of Myc, Fos, and Jun proto-oncogens. The
      structural organization of this repeat in proteolipid sequences can be modified
      via transformation of serine triplets into leucine ones as a result of editing of
      an appropriate mRNA.

PMID- 1457595
TI  - [Structural changes of chromatin during proto-oncogene activation by
      cycloheximide: dose-effect].
AB  - The level of expression of cellular proto-oncogens c-myc and c-fos in rat liver
      has been studied as a function of protein synthesis rate (cycloheximide dose).
      Activation of proto-oncogens has been established to be initiated by 50%
      inhibition of nuclear protein synthesis. This promotes a certain level in
      chromatin structural rearrangements which is manifested, in particular, in
      decreasing activity of chromatin cleavage by Ca2+, Mg(2+)-DNAase and increasing
      degree of chromatin condensation. A role of topoisomerase II in chromatin
      structural rearrangements during proto-oncogen activation is postulated.

PMID- 1457596
TI  - [Membrane ATPase of Vibrio alginolyticus. Ion transport activity and homology
      with F0F1-ATPase from E. coli].
AB  - F0F1-ATPase has been isolated from the marine alkali-resistant bacterium Vibrio
      alginolyticus. The enzyme subunits cross-reacted with antibodies against subunits
      alpha, beta, gamma, epsilon, and b of E. coli ATPase. The purified ATPase was
      reconstituted into liposomes effecting an ATP-dependent uptake of H+. Proton
      transport was inhibited by the ATPase blockers DCCD, triphenyltin, and
      venturicidin. Na+ ions had no effect on ATP-dependent proton transport. No ATP
      dependent transport of Na+ was detected in proteoliposomes.

PMID- 1457597
TI  - [Metabolism of extracellular phosphocreatine during changes in the ionic
      composition of the medium in the perfused rat heart].
AB  - Perfusion of isolated rat hearts with a phosphocreatine (10(-4) M) containing
      solution to which strophanthin or KCl had been added up to a concentration of 27
      mM as well as Ca2+ depletion decreased phosphocreatine concentration in the
      perfusate with a simultaneous increase in creatine and phosphocreatine
      concentrations in the myocardium. Neither high extracellular concentrations of
      Na+ (200 mM), nor phosphocreatine increased creatine and phosphocreatine levels
      in the myocardium. The effect of high sodium perfusion media was completely
      reversed by strophanthin. Phosphocreatine decreased the lactate content in the
      perfusate. Strophanthin or potassium chloride enhanced the effect of
      phosphocreatine on the lactate release. Conversely, creatine augmented the
      lactate content in the perfusate. A high specificity of the phosphocreatine
      effect on the myocardium independently of the ionic composition of the perfusate
      was postulated. A mechanism of protective effects of phosphocreatine and high
      sodium perfusion media on "calcium paradox" is proposed.

PMID- 1457598
TI  - [Significance of extracellular concentration of sodium ions in the protective
      effect during the "calcium paradox"].
AB  - Increasing of extracellular sodium concentration up to 200 mM diminishes heart
      damage under "calcium paradox". Phosphocreatine (10(-4) M) potentiates the effect
      of high sodium perfusion media; in this case myoglobin release from the
      myocardium is minimal (5-9% of control). An the same time, ATP and
      phosphocreatine concentrations and oxidation to phosphorylation coupling in
      mitochondria remain at a sufficiently high level. Elevation of osmotic pressure
      by the effect of 120 mM sucrose enhances heart damage under "calcium paradox"
      both in the presence and absence of phosphocreatine. The protective effects of
      superhigh (200 mM) sodium concentrations and phosphocreatine are completely
      reversed by strophanthin or decreasing K+ concentration down to 0.5 mM.

PMID- 1457599
TI  - [Hydrocortisone and partial hepatectomy activate a proteinase associated with
      histones].
AB  - Proteinase activity has been shown to be associated with histones of rat thymus
      and liver nuclei. Hydrocortisone increases the activity of proteinases associated
      with thymus nuclear histones. Increasing activity of histone-associated
      proteinases is also observed during intensive transcription and replication in
      regenerating rat liver.

PMID- 1457600
TI  - [Correlation between the stability of alpha-chymotrypsin at high temperatures and
      "salting in" of a strong solution].
AB  - A correlation was found between the thermal stability of alpha-chymotrypsin and
      the coefficient Ks of the Sechenov equation as a quantitative measure of the
      "salting-in" or "salting-out" capacity of solutes. At high temperatures, an
      increase in the concentration of "salting-in" agents (KSNC, GuHCl, urea,
      formamide) resulted in thermal stabilization of alpha-chymotrypsin. The maximal
      (about 100-fold) stabilizing effect in concentrated solutions of salting-in
      agents was comparable with those induced by covalent modification with
      hydrophilic reagents or immobilization. Conversely, an increase in the
      concentration of "salting-out" agents stabilized the enzyme only marginally at
      high temperatures. An additivity of solutes' action on the thermal stability of
      the protein has been demonstrated. The observed correlation was explained in
      terms of the solutes' action on the reversible conformational transition of the
      enzyme native form into a much more stable form existing at high temperatures.

PMID- 1457601
TI  - [The effect of pyridine and pyridine-N-oxide on the monooxygenase system of rat
      liver microsomes].
AB  - Effects of pyridine and pyridine-N-oxide on the monooxygenase system of rat liver
      microsomes have been studied. Pyridine (200 mg/kg) increased total cytochrome P
      450 content and activated metabolism of some specific substrates 24 hours after
      injection. There was an increase in the degree of p-nitrophenol and chlorzoxazone
      hydroxylation due to increasing ethanol-induced cytochrome P-450IIE1 content.
      Pyridine was also able to induce cytochrome P-450IIB1 in rat microsomes; this
      reaction was accompanied by acceleration of 7-pentoxyresorufin 0-dealkylation.
      Cytochrome P-450IA1 appearance in liver microsomes was associated with increasing
      content of cytochrome P-450IA2. Dealkylation rates for specific substrates (7
      ethoxyresorufin and 7-methoxyresorufin) were also increased. Similar to pyridine,
      pyridine-7-oxide induced cytochromes P-450IIE1, P-450IIB1/B2, and P-450IA1/A2,
      resulting in activation of specific substrate metabolism. Hence, pyridine and its
      derivative pyridine-N-oxide can be regarded as effective inducers of cytochrome P
      450.

PMID- 1457602
TI  - [Membrane transport of antigenic peptides].

PMID- 1457603
TI  - Cell death induced by vincristine in the intestinal crypts of mice and in a human
      Burkitt's lymphoma cell line.
AB  - Although vincristine is widely used clinically in the treatment of some human
      cancers, its mechanism of action has not been clearly established. In this study,
      the patterns of cell death induced by vincristine in the intestinal crypts of
      mice and in a human Burkitt's lymphoma cell line were investigated by light and
      electron microscopy. Vincristine was found to enhance apoptosis of interphase
      cells in both systems and also to cause the arrest of cells in mitosis, the
      latter effect being more pronounced in the intestinal crypts. Arrested mitotic
      cells went on to die by a process that had a number of features in common with
      apoptosis. These include compaction of chromatin (following coalescence of
      chromosomes), condensation of the cytoplasm, initial preservation of organelle
      integrity, and eventually the fragmentation of the cell into a number of membrane
      enclosed bodies which are morphologically similar to conventional apoptotic
      bodies. The results suggest that the cytocidal effect of vincristine is not
      solely dependent on metaphase arrest but is a cumulative one, resulting both from
      apoptosis of interphase cells and the 'apoptotic-like' death of cells arrested in
      metaphase.

PMID- 1457604
TI  - The role of cell death in the growth of preneoplastic lesions: a Monte Carlo
      simulation model.
AB  - A variety of experimental and clinical examples of preneoplasia demonstrate that
      regression of early lesions is common. This paper examines the hypothesis that
      early lesions operate under the identical growth kinetics of 'late' lesions
      (neoplasms), but that kinetic features favouring continuous growth in established
      lesions tend to favour extinction of lesions composed of small numbers of cells.
      Growth simulations of early lesions were produced using the Monte Carlo method, a
      technique demanding intensive computations. With the advent of powerful personal
      computers, this technique is now widely available to biologists. Simulating
      growth under conditions of cell loss similar to those observed in established
      tumours, the model predicts that the great majority of initiated cell clusters
      are expected to reach extinction within a few cell doubling times, and most early
      (promoted) lesions would not likely progress to the size of a clinically
      detectable lesion within the life span of the host organism. These Monte Carlo
      simulations provide a model of initiated cell growth consistent with the recently
      demonstrated role of early lesion cell death in the development of human
      lymphomas and in transgenic mice expressing the bcl-2 oncogene. The model
      demonstrates that small increments in the intrinsic cell loss probability in even
      the earliest progenitors of malignancy can strongly influence the subsequent
      development of neoplasia from initiated foci.

PMID- 1457605
TI  - A model of the control of cellular regeneration in the intestinal crypt after
      perturbation based solely on local stem cell regulation.
AB  - The control mechanisms involved in regeneration of murine intestinal crypts after
      perturbations are presently not well understood. The existence of some feedback
      signals from the cells on the villus to the cells in the crypt has been
      suggested. However, some recent experimental data point to the fact that
      regeneration in the crypt starts very early after perturbation, at a time when
      the villus cell population has hardly changed. In particular, this early cell
      proliferative activity is seen specifically at the bottom of the crypt, i.e. in
      the presumed stem cell zone and furthest from the villus. The objective of this
      study was to investigate whether a new concept of regulation operating solely at
      the stem cell level could explain the present mass of accumulated data on the
      post-irradiation recovery, which is an extensively studied perturbation from the
      experimental point of view. In order to check its validity, the new concept was
      formalized as a mathematical simulation model thus enabling comparison with
      experimental data. The model describes the cellular development from stem cells
      to the mature villus cells. As a basic feature it is assumed that the self
      maintenance and the cell cycle activity of the stem cells are controlled by the
      number of these cells in an autoregulatory fashion. The essential features of the
      experimental data (i.e. the recovery with time and the consistency between
      different types of measurements) can be very well reproduced by simulations using
      a range of model parameters. Thus, we conclude that stem cell autoregulation is a
      valid concept which could replace the villus crypt feedback concept in explaining
      the early changes after irradiation when the damage primarily affects the crypt.
      The question of the detailed nature of the control process requires further
      investigation.

PMID- 1457606
TI  - Ferritin-iron increases killing of Chinese hamster ovary cells by X-irradiation.
AB  - Stationary-phase Chinese hamster ovary cells were cultured in medium containing
      ferritin (approximately 19% iron by weight) added at concentrations ranging from
      0 to 128 micrograms/ml. One set of cultures was unirradiated, and another set was
      exposed to 4.0 Gy of X-ray. Clonogenic cell survival was assessed in each set of
      cultures. In the absence of added ferritin, 4.0 Gy killed approximately 50% of
      the cells. In the absence of radiation, ferritin was not toxic at less than 48
      micrograms/ml; above 48 micrograms/ml, toxicity increased with concentration.
      Apoferritin was not toxic at any concentration tested (up to 1000 micrograms/ml).
      Although 32 micrograms/ml ferritin, reflecting only a 3-6 fold increase in iron
      concentration over normal serum, was not toxic, it reduced the survival of X
      irradiated cells by an additional 75%. These results indicate that a sublethal
      concentration of ferritin can be a potent radiosensitizer. This suggests the
      possibility that high body iron stores may increase susceptibility to radiation
      injury in humans.

PMID- 1457607
TI  - Haemopoietic long-term bone marrow cultures from adult mice show osteogenic
      capacity in vitro on 3-dimensional collagen sponges.
AB  - Adult murine bone marrow cells, cultured under conditions for long-term
      haemopoietic marrow cultures, produce bone matrix proteins and mineralized tissue
      in vitro, but only after the adherent stromal cells were loaded on a 3
      dimensional collagen sponge. Provided more than 8 x 10(6) cells are loaded,
      mineralization as measured by 85Sr uptake from the culture medium, occurred in
      this 3-dimensional configuration (3-D) within 6 days. In contrast if undisrupted
      marrow fragments (containing more than 10(7) cells) are placed directly on a
      collagen sponge, then it requires more than 10 days before significant
      mineralization can similarly be detected. The 2-dimensional (2-D) long-term
      marrow culture system allows prior expansion of the stromal cells and some
      differentiation in an osteogenic direction within the adherent stromal layer.
      This is suggested by the presence of type I collagen and alkaline phosphatase
      positive cells. However; synthesis of osteonectin and a bone specific protein,
      osteocalcin, as well as calcification are only observed in 3-D cultures. Electron
      microscopy demonstrated hydroxyapatite mineral on collagen fibres, osteoblast
      like cells, fibroblasts, cells which accumulated lipids, and macrophages which
      were retained on the collagen matrices. Irradiation of confluent long-term bone
      marrow cultures, prior to their loading on the collagen sponge showed that
      haemopoietic stem cells are not necessary for the mineralization.

PMID- 1457608
TI  - Autoradiographic studies of rat astroglial cell proliferation in vitro with and
      without treatment with basic fibroblast growth factor.
AB  - Using specific autoradiographic methods, cell cycle parameters of untreated and
      basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-treated astroglial cells from newborn rats
      grown in primary culture were directly measured. The mode of proliferation was
      also analysed. In untreated cultures, S phase duration (Ts = 6.9-13.1 h) and cell
      cycle time (Tc = 10-18 h) can be modified by about a factor of 2 depending on the
      culture conditions (serum-supplemented or defined medium, thyroid hormone
      concentration). However, growth fraction (GF = 0.15) and the ratio Ts/Tc remain
      stable. With increasing days in vitro (DIV) (DIV 7-DIV 20), Ts (7.8-10.6 h) and
      Tc (10-21 h) are prolonged and GF (0.14-0.06) decreases, probably due to cell
      maturation. In general, astroglial cells proliferate exponentially with a GF < 1,
      but stop proliferating about 30-36 h after the last feeding, probably caused by
      exhaustion of the medium. However, after refeeding they continue to proliferate.
      As opposed to in vivo, no transition of non-proliferating cells into the GF
      occurs. After addition of bFGF, GF increases (e.g. GF at DIV 7 = 0.43), but Ts
      and Tc are not influenced at DIV 7 and 12. At DIV 20, bFGF additionally shortens
      Ts and Tc, thereby producing values of Ts, Tc and GF like 'younger' cultures.
      However, the revitalizing effect on 'mature' cells is only transitory. In
      general, bFGF leads to a single re-entry of G0 cells into the GF. Thereafter,
      bFGF does not affect the mode of proliferation.

PMID- 1457609
TI  - The mechanism of action of the tetrapeptide acetyl-N-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro (AcSDKP) in
      the control of haematopoietic stem cell proliferation.
AB  - The mechanism of action of the haemoregulatory tetrapeptide Acetyl-N-Ser-Asp-Lys
      Pro (AcSDKP, M(r) = 487 amu), was investigated using an in vitro assay of a
      murine high proliferative potential colony-forming cell (HPP-CFC) which responds
      to proliferation regulators of the haematopoietic stem cell population. AcSDKP
      had no direct inhibitory effect on the number, or the proportion in S phase, of
      the committed granulocyte-macrophage progenitor (GM-CFC), or cycling HPP-CFC
      populations. However, AcSDKP blocked the action of a stimulator of haematopoietic
      stem cell proliferation, preventing the switching of quiescent HPP-CFC into cell
      cycle. It would appear that AcSDKP exerts its inhibitory haemoregulatory role
      indirectly, by preventing stimulator action on haematopoietic stem cells.

PMID- 1457610
TI  - Effects of growth media on cell cycle progression in CHO cells exposed to the
      radioprotector WR-1065.
AB  - WR-1065 (2-[(aminopropyl)amino]ethanethiol) reduces cytotoxic and mutagenic
      effects caused by exposure of cells to radiation and chemotherapeutic drugs, but
      the mechanisms involved are not fully known. We have observed an accumulation of
      cells in G2 in WR-1065 treated Chinese hamster ovary cells grown in alpha-minimal
      essential medium, while others have found no cell cycle effects in WR-1065
      treated Chinese hamster ovary cells grown in McCoy's 5A medium. To determine if
      the two types of media had an effect on cells treated with WR-1065, we examined
      survival and cell cycle progression. Population doubling times of 12 h were
      observed for cells grown in both media. Incubation of AA8 cells grown in McCoy's
      5A medium with 4 mM WR-1065 30 min prior to and during irradiation with 137Cs
      gamma-rays resulted in a protection factor of 2.2, in close agreement with the
      value of 2.0 we previously obtained for AA8 cells grown in alpha-minimal
      essential medium. Treatment with WR-1065 caused an alteration in the cell cycles
      of cells grown in both media. An increase in the G2 population and a decrease in
      the G1 population was observed in cells incubated up to 3 h in the presence of 4
      mM WR-1065, with a redistribution of the cells throughout the cell cycle
      occurring following removal of the drug. These data suggest that exposure of
      cells to WR-1065 is the cause of perturbations in cell cycle progression, and is
      not affected by the type of medium the cells are grown in.

PMID- 1457611
TI  - Comparison and characterization of retinal pericytes and retinal pigment
      epithelial cells on subcellular IP3-sensitive Ca2+ pools.
AB  - A comparative study of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-induced Ca2+
      mobilization in bovine retinal capillary pericytes (BRCP) and bovine retinal
      pigment epithelial cells (BRPE) was carried out. Both cells were permeabilized
      with saponin. The two cell types had similar basal levels of [Ca2+]i (130 nM for
      BRCP, 132 nM for BRPE) and responded to IP3 in a dose-dependent manner. However,
      when stimulated by various concentrations of IP3 (1-10 microM), the increase in
      [Ca2+]i of BRCP was always two- to threefold higher than that in BRPE.
      Subcellular-fractionation studies showed that a single population of IP3 binding
      site with a high affinity and high specificity of IP3 mainly localized to plasma
      membrane in these two cell types. Although the dissociation constant of specific
      [32P]-IP3 binding sites (Kd 1.9-2.8 nM) was similar, the profile of maximal
      binding capacity (Bmax) of each fraction was markedly different. In comparison,
      plasma membrane fractions of BRCP were with Bmax of 165 fmol/mg protein versus 90
      fmol/mg protein for BRPE membranes. The ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake and IP3
      dependent Ca2+ release were observed in the both plasma membrane fractions. With
      quantitative correlation, the membrane fraction (2 mg) of BRCP released 0.2 nmol
      Ca2+ whereas BRPE only released 0.07 nmol Ca2+ with the same dose of IP3 (5
      microM). The selectively higher density of IP3 binding sites in coupling to the
      larger Ca(2+)-release in the membrane of BRCP suggests that the quantity of Ca2+
      mobilized is determined by the spatially preferential distribution of membrane
      associated IP3 binding sites. These findings may provide an explanation for the
      differences observed between BRCP and BRPE in IP3-induced DNA replication.

PMID- 1457612
TI  - The relationship of chemical modification of membrane proteins and plasma
      lipoproteins to reduced membrane fluidity of erythrocytes from diabetic subjects.
AB  - The significance of the two most common hallmarks of the diabetic state,
      hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidaemia, was investigated in terms of disorders of
      cell membrane dynamics. In order to examine whether the alterations in cell
      membrane lipid bilayer dynamics are somehow related to protein chemical
      modifications in plasma low-(LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and blood
      cell membranes, we compared 19 poorly controlled diabetic subjects with 19 age-
      and sex-matched controls. The extent of (non-enzymatic) glycation, lipid
      peroxidation and the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio were increased in plasma low
      density lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins from diabetic patients. The
      mean steady-state fluorescence polarization values in 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5
      hexatriene-labelled isolated erythrocyte membranes from diabetic subjects were
      significantly greater than from control subjects (0.186 +/- 0.008 vs 0.173 +/-
      0.006, p < 0.001); the fluorescence polarization values in erythrocyte membranes
      from diabetic and control subjects positively correlated with the extent of
      membrane protein glycation, lipid peroxidation and the cholesterol content. The
      cholesterol to phospholipid molar ratios in low density lipoproteins and high
      density lipoproteins from diabetic and control subjects correlated significantly
      with the fluorescence polarization values in erythrocyte membranes from these
      subjects. Furthermore, the extent of glycation of low density lipoproteins
      appears to be strongly correlated with the extent of lipoprotein lipid
      peroxidation (r = 0.789, p < 0.001). The atherosclerotic potential of plasma
      lipoproteins in diabetes mellitus was discussed in terms of membrane and plasma
      protein chemical modifications.

PMID- 1457613
TI  - Determination of 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase in serum and peripheral blood
      mononuclear cells before and after subcutaneous application of recombinant
      interferon beta and gamma.
AB  - The interferon-inducible enzyme, 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase, was estimated
      in healthy donors and in patients before and after subcutaneous application of
      recombinant interferon beta and gamma. Tests were carried out with lysates of
      peripheral blood mononuclear cells, using an established radioenzymatic assay,
      and in serum samples, using a new radioimmunoassay. Both test systems
      substantially yielded the same results: after a single injection of interferon
      beta (1-5 x 10(6) IU), 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase increased in a dose
      dependent manner reaching maximal catalytic concentrations in most patients after
      24-48 hours (leukocytes) and 48-72 hours (serum). In contrast, interferon gamma
      (2-4 x 10(6) IU) caused only a small induction of 2'-5'-oligoadenylate
      synthetase. However, daily application of interferon gamma for 7 days led to a
      distinct time-dependent increase of 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity
      concentration during this observation period. Characteristically, even during
      daily application, the 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity concentration
      dropped just 48-72 hours after the first injection of interferon beta. The
      determination of 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase proved to be useful for
      optimizing and monitoring subcutaneous therapy with interferon. The new
      radioimmunoassay which allows the determination of this enzyme in serum is
      superior to other methods used in the past.

PMID- 1457614
TI  - Affinity of europium-labelled proteins A and G for immunoglobulin G from seven
      mammalian species.
AB  - Proteins A and G were each labelled with two different europium chelates (p
      isothiocyanatophenyl-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and
      diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid). Their affinities for IgG from rabbit, goat,
      horse, sheep, mouse, pig, and rat were then measured using time-resolved
      fluorescence. Protein G labelled with the second chelate was found to be
      especially effective in binding to goat and horse IgG.

PMID- 1457615
TI  - A fully automated enzyme immunoassay for the measurement of cortisol in
      biological fluids.
AB  - This paper describes a fully automated assay on the Serono SR1 for the
      measurement of cortisol in serum, heparinised plasma and urine. The assay
      incorporates a specific polyclonal antibody to cortisol and cortisol conjugated
      to alkaline phosphatase as a label. Following immunoincubation, bound and free
      labelled cortisol are separated by magnetic sedimentation of the antibody
      complex. Phenolphthalein is liberated by the enzymatic hydrolysis of the
      substrate (phenolphthalein monophosphate) and the absorbance generated is
      measured as the assay end-point. All processing steps are performed by the SR1.
      The assay has good analytical performance with respect to precision (within and
      between run CVs less than 10 and 11.5% respectively), detection limit (less than
      5 nmol/l) and recovery of added cortisol (100 +/- 10%). The assay agrees well
      with cortisol concentrations determined by ID-MS and by established immunoassays
      (r > 0.96). Reference ranges of normal urine samples (pretreated by solvent
      extraction) are in good agreement with accepted values. The study demonstrates
      that the SR1 Cortisol assay on the SR1 analyzer is suitable for the routine
      determination of cortisol in serum, heparinised plasma and urine samples.

PMID- 1457616
TI  - Which is the appropriate coenzyme for the measurement of ammonia with glutamate
      dehydrogenase?
AB  - The determination of ammonia in plasma, using glutamate dehydrogenase, is
      complicated by non-specific oxidation of the coenzyme, promoted by components of
      the sample matrix. Measurements performed with appropriate plasma blanks show
      that 2'-phosphorylated coenzymes (NADPH, deamino-NADPH) are much less oxidized
      than NADH. By adding lactate dehydrogenase, NADH oxidation by endogenous pyruvate
      can be completed within a short time. Considerable consumption of coenzyme
      occurs, however, and endogenous L-alanine aminotransferase also represents a
      possible source of interference. The results of ammonia determinations using
      deamino-NADPH (y) or NADPH (x) were identical (a = 0.0 mumol/l, b = 1.00; r =
      0.996, n = 62). With NADH as the coenzyme, the method displays adequate
      specificity only at high sample dilution, e.g. in the measurement of urea after
      conversion to ammonia.

PMID- 1457617
TI  - Free epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine in saliva and plasma of healthy
      adults.
AB  - To investigate whether salivary catecholamine levels reflect short term changes
      of sympathoadrenal activity, we simultaneously measured plasma and saliva
      epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine concentrations at rest, during bicycle
      ergometry and during epinephrine infusion in 12 healthy adults, using a
      radioenzymatic method. Whereas all plasma catecholamines significantly increased
      during bicycle ergometry and epinephrine infusion, no changes were observed in
      the salivary catecholamine concentrations and the salivary catecholamine flow
      rate after stimulation by rhythmic chewing. Moreover, salivary catecholamine
      concentrations were related neither to heart rate nor to blood pressure.
      Obviously, free catecholamines are rapidly inactivated by enzymatic degradation,
      neuronal reuptake or extraneuronal uptake in tissues before they diffuse through
      the tight junctions into the saliva. Therefore, stimulated saliva catecholamine
      levels do not reflect short term changes in the activity of the sympathoadrenal
      nervous system.

PMID- 1457618
TI  - Influence of reagent composition on atypical pseudocholinesterase activity
      measurement: comparison of a manual and an automated method and implications for
      routine.
AB  - In determining activities of atypical pseudocholinesterase using a Hitachi 737
      and a Cobas Bio analyser, respectively, we repeatedly found discrepancies between
      the enzyme activities measured by both instruments which were presumably due to
      differences in the reagent composition (Hitachi 737: Boehringer Mannheim
      Automated Analysis for BM/Hitachi Systems; Cobas Bio: Boehringer Mannheim
      Monotest). We consider the present results as a strong hint for manufacturers
      towards generally declaring all components of the chemical systems they produce
      and as a warning for users when interchanging apparently identically composed
      sets of reagents.

PMID- 1457619
TI  - A multicentre evaluation of the Ektachem DT60-, Reflotron- and Seralyzer III
      systems.
AB  - The analytical performance of the three analytical systems Reflotron, Ektachem
      DT60 and Seralyzer III was studied according to ECCLS guidelines (1) and partly
      according to a protocol of the Societe Francaise de Biologie Clinique (SFBC) (2)
      in a multicentre evaluation involving four laboratories. The determination of 11
      analytes led to more than 180,000 data. With the Ektachem DT60, imprecision was
      acceptable for all analytes except for sodium. With the Reflotron, imprecision
      for glucose and creatinine was wider than the acceptable limits. With the
      Seralyzer III, imprecision for glucose, uric acid, cholesterol, creatinine and
      potassium was not within acceptance limits. The recovery of system assigned
      control sera values was acceptable for all analytes, except for glucose,
      creatinine and sodium with the Ektachem DT60 system, and for all but glucose and
      cholesterol with the Reflotron. On the Seralyzer III, the limits of acceptance
      were exceeded only with the creatinine assay. The recovery of the reference
      method values with Kontrollogen L caused problems with all three systems and for
      all analytes. Only 30% of the mean values of Kontrollogen L measured with the
      Ektachem and with the Seralyzer III were within the limits of acceptance. 40% of
      the mean values determined with the Reflotron were inside these limits. The upper
      limits of linearity as claimed by the manufacturers were obtained with all
      analytes and systems with the exception of cholesterol on all systems and the
      creatinine assay on the Seralyzer III. The systems under test and several
      different comparison methods showed good agreement for the analysis of patient
      samples, except in one laboratory for the analysis of sodium and aspartate
      aminotransferase with the Ektachem system and potassium with the Seralyzer III.
      Turbidity showed no significant influence on the measurements of all analytes and
      all systems. Haemolysis, hyperproteinaemia, and bilirubinaemia affected several
      methods on all three systems. A start time delay of up to 60 s did not affect the
      results of the Reflotron, except in the case of the triacylglycerol assay, which
      was affected by start time delays greater than 45 s. The results of 4 assays on
      the Seralyzer III were decreased considerably by a delayed start time
      (triacylglycerols and creatinine above 5 s, aspartate aminotransferase above 35 s
      and creatine kinase above 15 s). For reliable results from all the assays in each
      of the three analytical systems, it was necessary to use the prescribed sample
      volume within certain limits. The practicability of all analytical systems tested
      was found to be very good. A field study was conducted with the Reflotron system.
      The analyte concentration was determined in venous blood from various patients.
      In 25 out of 30 experiments, the results of the "field" laboratories showed a
      greater spread about the fitting line than those obtained in the "expert"
      laboratories.

PMID- 1457620
TI  - Event-related potential correlates of impaired selective attention in children at
      high risk for schizophrenia.
AB  - Auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) associated with selective attention were
      recorded in 21 children at high-risk for schizophrenia and in 21 matched
      controls. The subjects performed a selective listening task. For behavioral
      evaluation, target counts on the selective listening task and on cognitive
      performance were assessed. Group-specific differences of ERP components could be
      demonstrated, as reflected by significant amplitude reductions of the frontally
      located negative difference wave (Nd) and of the P3 component, following
      selectively attended stimuli, in the high-risk children. P3 latencies tended to
      be prolonged in the high-risk group. Reduced Nd was found in 14 and reduced P3 in
      16 high-risk children among the 21 matched pairs. Significant correlations
      between the ERP reductions and psychometric deficit (counting accuracy) were
      observed. Mismatch negativity (MMN), an ERP component associated with automatic
      processing of physically deviant stimuli, did not differentiate significantly
      between groups, but was distinctly reduced in the high-risk group. The Nd and P3
      reductions suggest deficits of selective attention in a considerable number of
      the subjects genetically at risk for schizophrenia. The present findings are
      discussed with respect to their relevance as indicators of a predisposition to
      schizophrenia.

PMID- 1457621
TI  - Periodicity of episode occurrences in rapid cycling affective disorders.
AB  - We analyzed the medical records of nine patients with severe rapid cycling
      affective disorders (RCAD), and determined the cycle of mania occurrences by
      calculating the period between two successive onsets of mania for each patient.
      Using the cycle as the index we devised a cycle-oriented diagram by dividing the
      observation period by the index cycle, and visually studied the mode of episode
      occurrences. In seven patients, the onset of mania generally followed the index
      cycle, but sometimes shifted from the day estimated by the index cycle. The shift
      seemed to be caused by a cycle other than the index cycle, which appeared
      temporarily in the course. The period between two successive onsets of mania was
      often several times longer than the index cycle length. In patients with RCAD,
      some sort of periodic rhythms may possibly control the course of episode
      occurrences on a continuing basis.

PMID- 1457622
TI  - EEG mapping and psychopharmacological studies with denbufylline in SDAT and MID.
AB  - Computed tomography (CT), electroencephalograms (EEG), clinical and psychometric
      data were obtained in 96 mildly to moderately demented patients (72 women, 24
      men), aged 61-96 years (mean 82), diagnosed according to DSM-III criteria.
      Patients were off drugs for at least 2 weeks and subdiagnosed according to the
      modified Marshall-Hachinski ischemic score and CT in 45 senile dementia of the
      Alzheimer type (SDAT) and 51 multiinfarct dementia (MID) patients. Evaluations
      were carried out before and 12 weeks after treatment with either 100 mg
      denbufylline BID or placebo and included EEG mapping, the Sandoz Clinical
      Assessment Geriatric (SCAG) score/factors, the Clinical Global Impression (CGI),
      the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), the Trail-Making Test (TMT) and the
      Digit Span Test (DS). Descriptive data analysis including confirmatory statements
      found delta/theta activity enhanced, alpha and beta activity reduced, total power
      augmented, and the centroid slowed down over various brain regions in patients as
      compared with controls. The two subtypes of dementia could be differentiated in
      some conventional EEG variables but mostly by means of power asymmetry indices.
      Denbufylline induced a statistically significant and clinically relevant
      improvement in both SDAT and MID patients, whereas after placebo this was not the
      case in CGI, the TMT, and the DS, with interdrug differences being significant in
      all primary target variables such as the CGI, MMS, SCAG, and DSST. Thus, both the
      degenerative and vascular type of dementia exhibited a therapeutic benefit that
      could be objectified at the neurophysiological level by EEG mapping in an
      improvement of vigilance.

PMID- 1457623
TI  - Brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAERs) during the menstrual cycle in women
      with and without premenstrual syndrome.
AB  - Brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAERs) were recorded at three menstrual
      cycle phases (menstrual, late follicular, and late luteal) in a sample of healthy
      control women (n = 21) and in a sample of women (n = 30) diagnosed as suffering
      from Late Luteal Phase Dysphoric Disorder (LLPDD). The latter were divided on the
      basis of retrospective and prospective self-ratings into moderate (PMS+) and
      severe (PMS++) symptom groups. Results showed (1) no change in BAER latencies at
      different phases of the menstrual cycle; (2) increased BAER latencies for wave
      III in women with moderate PMS symptoms compared with healthy controls; (3)
      increased BAER latencies for waves III and V in women with severe PMS symptoms
      compared with healthy controls. These results raise the possibility of brainstem
      dysfunction in PMS women, and support the idea of a neurobiological
      predisposition to this order.

PMID- 1457624
TI  - Blood flow response to auditory stimulations in normal, mentally retarded, and
      autistic children: a preliminary transcranial Doppler ultrasonographic study of
      the middle cerebral arteries.
AB  - Using the noninvasive transcranial ultrasonic Doppler method, flow dynamics of
      the middle cerebral arteries were investigated in relation to auditory
      stimulations in 12 children with autistic behavior compared with 12 normal
      controls and 10 mentally retarded children. In normal children, auditory
      stimulation evoked lateralized modifications: blood flow increased and resistance
      index decreased on the left side; such modifications were not recorded on the
      right side. This pattern should indicate vasodilatation mechanisms induced by
      changes in the metabolism of the brain areas supplied by the left middle cerebral
      arteries (MCA). Although less asymmetrical, this pattern was also found in the
      mentally retarded children. Autistic children significantly differed from these
      two groups. They displayed a symmetric pattern of responses with a blood flow
      decrease and resistance-index increase on both sides; this could suggest abnormal
      metabolic mechanisms induced by auditory stimulation in autistic children and
      could be related to the previous hypothesis of impairment in the development of
      cerebral lateralization in autism. These preliminary results show that
      transcranial Doppler ultrasonography may be a valuable and practicable tool for
      the noninvasive study of evoked blood flow responses in psychopathology.

PMID- 1457625
TI  - Changes in norepinephrine output following light therapy for fall/winter seasonal
      depression.
AB  - Recurrent fall/winter depressions that remit during spring and summer have been
      called Seasonal Affective Disorders (SAD) (Wehr and Rosenthal 1989). The
      pathophysiology of SAD, its relationship to nonseasonal affective disorders, and
      the mechanism of action of light therapy, which is effective in treating SAD,
      remain to be elucidated (Depue et al 1989; Jacobsen et al 1987; James et al 1986;
      Joseph-Vanderpool et al 1991; Skwerer et al 1988, Terman et al 1989).
      Norepinephrine (NE) may play a role in the mechanisms of action of many
      antidepressant treatments (Schildkraut 1965) that alter NE metabolism
      (Schildkraut et al 1964 and 1965) and decrease the urinary output of NE and its
      metabolites, i.e., "whole-body NE turnover" (WBNET) (Golden et al 1988; Potter et
      al 1988). The present study explored whether light therapy also reduces the
      urinary output of NE and its metabolites.

PMID- 1457626
TI  - Melatonin and jet lag: confirmatory result using a simplified protocol.
AB  - This study replicates the alleviation of jet-lag with melatonin in a simplified
      protocol for eastward flight. At 22-n hr (n is the time-lag between the North
      American departure point and France), subjects took either melatonin (8 mg, n =
      15), or placebo (n = 15) on the day of the return flight and for 3 consecutive
      days. On day 8, self-ratings significantly discriminated between melatonin and
      placebo for global treatment efficacy, morning fatigue, and evening sleepiness.

PMID- 1457627
TI  - The use of carbamazepine for episodic violence in multiple personality disorder
      and dissociative disorder not otherwise specified: two additional cases.

PMID- 1457628
TI  - Ganglioside antibodies in schizophrenia and major depression.

PMID- 1457629
TI  - Thrombin-induced platelet calcium mobilization is enhanced in bipolar disorders.

PMID- 1457630
TI  - Antinuclear and gastric parietal cell autoantibodies in schizophrenic patients.

PMID- 1457631
TI  - Evolving role of flucytosine in immunocompromised patients: new insights into
      safety, pharmacokinetics, and antifungal therapy.
AB  - Flucytosine is an antifungal agent useful in combination with amphotericin B in
      the treatment of several deeply invasive mycoses. The potentially dose-limiting,
      hematologic, gastrointestinal, and hepatic toxicities of flucytosine lead to a
      reluctance to use it in myelosuppressed patients. To investigate the safety and
      tolerability of flucytosine in this setting, we evaluated its use in 17 patients
      with cancer or aplastic anemia during a 2 1/2-year period at our institution and
      reviewed the literature describing mechanisms of action, resistance, in vitro and
      in vivo antifungal activity, clinical antifungal activity, pharmacokinetics, and
      toxicity. The combination of amphotericin B plus flucytosine eradicated the
      mycosis in 12 (71%) of 17 patients, whereas 3 (18%) of 17 died of progressive
      fungal infection. Serial serum levels of flucytosine measured by a creatinine
      iminohydrolase assay permitted reliable dosage adjustment. During therapy, only 2
      (12%) of 17 patients had elevated mean serum levels of flucytosine (> 100
      micrograms/mL) and 3 (18%) other patients had transiently elevated levels. Paired
      serum samples (n = 45) obtained at steady state during therapy with orally
      administered flucytosine showed similar peak and trough levels. Adverse effects
      of flucytosine therapy included one case each of reversible nausea, diarrhea,
      elevated transaminase levels, and thrombocytopenia. No cases of bone marrow
      aplasia, enterocolitis, hepatitis, or death due to flucytosine toxicity were
      encountered. We conclude that flucytosine in combination with amphotericin B is
      well tolerated in myelosuppressed patients when serum flucytosine levels are
      serially monitored.

PMID- 1457632
TI  - Human babesiosis in New York State: an epidemiological description of 136 cases.
AB  - Epidemiological data on 136 cases of human babesiosis reported from laboratories
      and clinicians in the state of New York from 1982 to 1991 were reviewed. All but
      two patients, who had traveled to Nantucket Island in Massachusetts, acquired
      disease in Suffolk County, Long Island. The highest average age-group-specific
      annual incidence rates occurred among men > or = 80 years of age (7.72 per
      100,000) and among women 70-79 years of age (3.61 per 100,000). Seven patients
      (5%) had previously undergone splenectomy, and 31 (23%) had evidence of
      concurrent Lyme disease. One hundred three patients (76%) were hospitalized, and
      seven (5%) died. Although the geographic distribution of this disease has
      remained constant, the recent introduction of babesiosis in mainland Connecticut
      and the spread of Lyme disease in New York suggest that the geographic
      distribution of babesiosis could also spread in New York.

PMID- 1457633
TI  - Culture isolation of Acanthamoeba species and leptomyxid amebas from patients
      with amebic meningoencephalitis, including two patients with AIDS.
AB  - Acanthamoeba species and leptomyxid organisms are free-living amebas that cause
      meningoencephalitis, primarily in immunocompromised patients. We report the
      isolation and culture of Acanthamoeba species and leptomyxid amebas from four
      patients with fatal amebic meningoencephalitis. Acanthamoeba species were
      cultured from brain abscess specimens from three immunocompromised patients
      (including two patients with AIDS). In the case of the fourth patient, who had no
      identifiable immunodeficiency, leptomyxid amebas were cultured from a specimen
      from a subcutaneous nodule and were identified in amebic granulomas in brain
      tissue by the indirect immunofluorescence test. Persons with advanced infection
      due to the human immunodeficiency virus may be at increased risk for amebic
      meningoencephalitis, but the diagnosis should be considered in the differential
      diagnosis of any immunocompromised patient with cerebral abscesses.

PMID- 1457634
TI  - The management of pregnancies complicated by genital infections with herpes
      simplex virus.
AB  - In this review we summarize current knowledge related to the identification of
      pregnancies that may be complicated by genital herpes and describe the
      consequences of maternal infections with genital herpes. We address the
      implications of this information for the management of genital herpes during
      pregnancy and at delivery and for the care of neonates exposed to herpes simplex
      virus at delivery. On the basis of the current data, we cannot make specific
      recommendations concerning many of the clinical problems that are caused by
      herpes simplex virus infections in pregnant women. We identify and discuss
      unresolved questions about optimal management.

PMID- 1457635
TI  - Successful treatment of disseminated nocardiosis complicated by cerebral abscess
      with ceftriaxone and amikacin: case report.
AB  - We report the case of an 85-year-old female patient who suffered from
      disseminated Nocardia asteroides infection complicated by a cerebral abscess.
      Treatment with amikacin for 2 weeks and ceftriaxone for 6 weeks led to complete
      recovery, and there was no recurrence of disease over a follow-up period of 12
      months after therapy. The use of ceftriaxone in combination with amikacin might
      significantly shorten the duration of treatment for patients with disseminated
      nocardiosis. This combination of antibiotics merits further investigation with
      use of a larger sample of patients.

PMID- 1457636
TI  - Guidelines for the evaluation of new anti-infective drugs for the treatment of
      urinary tract infection: additional considerations.

PMID- 1457637
TI  - Stomatococcus mucilaginosus meningitis in a child with leukemia.

PMID- 1457638
TI  - Imipenem in the treatment of lung infections due to Mycobacterium fortuitum and
      Mycobacterium chelonae: further experience.

PMID- 1457639
TI  - Infection of the psoas muscle secondary to Streptococcus pneumoniae infection.

PMID- 1457640
TI  - No serologic evidence of borna disease virus in patients with chronic fatigue
      syndrome.

PMID- 1457641
TI  - Acute pancreatitis associated with Campylobacter jejuni bacteremia.

PMID- 1457642
TI  - Evans's syndrome triggered by recombinant hepatitis B vaccine.

PMID- 1457643
TI  - Kingella denitrificans as a cause of granulomatous disease in a patient with
      AIDS.

PMID- 1457644
TI  - Rhabdomyolysis, infection due to the human immunodeficiency virus, and
      staphylococcal bacteremia.

PMID- 1457645
TI  - Identification of Campylobacter laridis.

PMID- 1457646
TI  - Another case of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in a patient with dyskeratosis
      congenita (Zinsser-Cole-Engman syndrome)

PMID- 1457647
TI  - Effects of antimalarial chemoprophylactic agents on the viability of the Ty21a
      typhoid vaccine strain.

PMID- 1457648
TI  - Isolation of Borrelia burgdorferi from a patient infected in Maryland.

PMID- 1457649
TI  - Native valve endocarditis due to Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum.

PMID- 1457650
TI  - Streptococcus pneumoniae peritonitis secondary to genital tract infection in a
      previously healthy woman.

PMID- 1457651
TI  - Cerebrospinal fluid adenosine deaminase levels in a patient with cryptococcal
      meningitis.

PMID- 1457652
TI  - Candidal mitral endocarditis and long-term treatment with fluconazole in a
      patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

PMID- 1457653
TI  - Drug interactions in patients with AIDS.

PMID- 1457654
TI  - Seven cases of bacteremia due to Ochrobactrum anthropi.

PMID- 1457655
TI  - Group B streptococcal infection of a pacemaker wire following sigmoidoscopy.

PMID- 1457656
TI  - Thrombosis of the mesenteric vein as a complication of Mediterranean spotted
      fever.

PMID- 1457657
TI  - Use of tetracycline for treatment of Vibrio vulnificus infections.

PMID- 1457658
TI  - Recurrent pneumococcal bacteremia.

PMID- 1457659
TI  - Reactivation of tuberculosis during therapy with corticosteroids.

PMID- 1457660
TI  - Infections due to Rochalimaea: the expanding clinical spectrum.

PMID- 1457661
TI  - Cryptosporidiosis in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.
AB  - Infection caused by Cryptosporidium species has proved to be one of the most
      taxing and frustrating conditions faced by clinicians caring for patients with
      AIDS. Unfortunately, this unique organism, which was identified as a human
      pathogen only shortly before the AIDS epidemic began to manifest itself, has
      received only minimal attention during the past decade. Dr. Carolyn Petersen, an
      assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco,
      and a member of the Division of Infectious Diseases at San Francisco General
      Hospital, is a molecular parasitologist whose investigative career is focused on
      elucidating the biology of Cryptosporidium species. In this AIDS Commentary Dr.
      Petersen provides an update on recent developments in this field.

PMID- 1457662
TI  - Disseminated candidiasis in addicts who use brown heroin: report of 83 cases and
      review.
AB  - From November 1983 to April 1990, disseminated candidiasis was diagnosed in 83
      heroin addicts at our institution. All patients had consumed brown heroin diluted
      in fresh lemon juice. Sixty-two (75%) had skin lesions, 41 (49%) had ocular
      lesions, and 35 (42%) had one or several costochondral tumors. Candida albicans
      was grown in culture or histopathologically identified in 34 cases (41%). The
      patients who had only cutaneous lesions were treated with ketoconazole, and they
      were all cured. The patients with ocular involvement received systemic
      amphotericin B with or without oral flucytosine; 29 of these patients developed
      varying degrees of vision loss. The method of treatment of costochondral tumors
      was not uniform; in 14 cases the lesions were resected. The one patient who died
      developed endocarditis involving the aortic valve. Cases of pleuropulmonary
      involvement, spondylitis, and large-joint arthritis have also been described
      among the 300 cases reported in the reviewed literature. This is a new syndrome
      of candidal infection in drug addicts who use brown heroin; ocular lesions are
      the most harmful manifestation, and loss of vision is the major sequela.

PMID- 1457663
TI  - Cutaneous leishmaniasis: review of 59 cases seen at the National Institutes of
      Health.
AB  - Fifty-nine cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis seen at the National Institutes of
      Health in Bethesda, Maryland, are reviewed. The group of patients involved was
      unique in that the majority were American civilians, their disease was acquired
      in many different endemic areas of the world, and their illnesses represented all
      points on the clinical spectrum of cutaneous disease. The majority of American
      patients acquired leishmaniasis while engaging in activities related to their
      occupations. Cutaneous disease acquired in the New World usually consisted of one
      or two lesions, while multiple lesions often characterized Old World infections
      with Leishmania major. Patients with chronic relapsing or diffuse cutaneous
      leishmaniasis were native to endemic areas and were infected at an early age.
      Even the localized form of cutaneous leishmaniasis was often extensive and
      difficult to treat. Diagnosis with culture and identification of the parasite to
      the subspecies level is instrumental in the selection of optimal therapy.
      Cutaneous leishmaniasis may be encountered increasingly often in the United
      States because of the frequent international travel of U.S. residents and the
      influx of immigrants from endemic areas of the world.

PMID- 1457664
TI  - Agrobacterium tumefaciens peritonitis mimicking tuberculosis.
AB  - Agrobacterium species have been previously implicated in the development of
      clinical disease. We report what we believe to be the first case of ascites
      caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens in a cirrhotic patient. Since the correct
      diagnosis was made only after laparoscopy-guided collection of specimens from two
      different tissues, we suggest that Agrobacterium may be an underdiagnosed
      pathogen in clinical situations in which tuberculosis is considered to be the
      cause of high-protein ascites.

PMID- 1457665
TI  - Epidemiology of infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in burn patients: the role
      of hydrotherapy.
AB  - Pseudomonas aeruginosa remains a cause of serious wound infection and mortality
      in burn patients. By means of restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis
      and a DNA probe for the pilin gene of Pseudomonas, a lethal strain of nosocomial
      P. aeruginosa was identified as the cause of an outbreak of wound infections
      among burn patients. Environmental surveys suggested an association of the
      outbreak with hydrotherapy provided to many patients in a common facility. In a
      trial of burn wound care without hydrotherapy, overall mortality was reduced
      significantly, mortality associated with pseudomonas sepsis was eliminated, and
      the strain of P. aeruginosa associated with earlier mortality was eradicated.
      Moreover, fewer nosocomial pseudomonas infections, lower levels of pseudomonas
      resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics, significantly fewer pseudomonas
      infections of skin graft donor sites, and later appearance of Pseodomonas species
      in burn patients were found during the period when hydrotherapy was not used.

PMID- 1457666
TI  - Clostridium sordellii bacteremia: case report and review.
AB  - Clostridium sordellii is a gram-positive, anaerobic bacillus that has rarely been
      implicated as a human pathogen. It produces several exotoxins, which contribute
      to the progressive edema and refractory shock frequently seen with human
      infection. There have been eight prior reports of bacteremic C. sordellii
      infection and seven prior reports of nonbacteremic infections not due to
      myonecrosis of skeletal muscle. Mortality was 50% in the bacteremic group and 71%
      in the nonbacteremic group. Mortality correlated with both shock and leukemoid
      reaction at presentation. We present a case of C. sordellii sepsis in an asplenic
      patient with sickle beta thalassemia and inflammatory bowel disease, and we
      review the literature.

PMID- 1457667
TI  - Aerobic and anaerobic microbiology of external otitis.
AB  - Microbiological and clinical data from 46 patients with external otitis were
      retrospectively evaluated. Specimens were processed for isolation of aerobic and
      anaerobic bacteria. A total of 42 aerobic bacteria, 22 anaerobic bacteria, and 3
      Candida albicans organisms were recovered. Aerobic bacteria only were isolated
      from 31 patients (67%), anaerobic bacteria only were isolated from 8 (17%), and
      mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were isolated from 4 (9%). C. albicans alone
      was recovered from two patients (4%), and the organism was mixed with aerobic
      bacteria in one case (2%). The most common isolates were Pseudomonas aeruginosa
      (19 instances), Peptostreptococcus species (11), Staphylococcus aureus (7), and
      Bacteroides species (5). One isolate was recovered from 30 patients (65%), 2
      isolates were recovered from 11 (24%), and 3 isolates were recovered from 5
      (11%). beta-Lactamase activity was detected in 32 isolates recovered from 27
      specimens (59%). These data illustrate the polymicrobial nature of external
      otitis in one-third of the patients and the role of anaerobic bacteria in one
      quarter of them. Further prospective studies are warranted for evaluating the
      role of anaerobic bacteria in this infection and the therapeutic implications of
      these findings.

PMID- 1457668
TI  - Protothecosis complicating prolonged endotracheal intubation: case report and
      literature review.
AB  - Prototheca species are ubiquitous, aerobic, unicellular algae closely related to
      the green algae Chlorella. Their involvement in human disease--in both
      immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients--has been reported with increasing
      frequency. The wide array of presentations has included cutaneous, subcutaneous,
      mucosal, bursal, catheter-related, and (in rare instances) systemic disease. We
      report a case of protothecosis complicating prolonged endotracheal intubation
      presenting as a nasopharyngeal ulceration with a soft-tissue mass, and we review
      the presentation, treatment, and outcome of the 59 previously reported cases of
      protothecosis. Optimal therapy for protothecosis includes excision (where
      possible) followed by systemic administration of amphotericin B; the sole
      exception is in the case of olecranon bursitis, where excision alone appears
      curative. The role of the newer imidazoles is yet to be determined.

PMID- 1457669
TI  - Fever of unknown origin: review of 86 patients treated in community hospitals.
AB  - This study describes the clinical features of fever of unknown origin (FUO) in 86
      patients in a community setting from 1984 to 1990. Infectious diseases remain the
      most common category of illnesses causing FUO; in this study, infectious diseases
      including recently described diseases--such as AIDS (three cases) and Lyme
      disease (one case)--caused FUO in 28 patients. Although percutaneous computed
      tomography-guided procedures were useful for obtaining diagnostic specimens (15
      cases), a noninvasive approach established the diagnosis in many instances (37
      cases). In all but nine cases, diagnostic testing was guided by abnormalities
      detected during the physical examination or routine laboratory tests.

PMID- 1457670
TI  - Systemic manifestations of invasive amebiasis.
AB  - Eighty-four patients with serious infection due to Entamoeba histolytica were
      evaluated for systemic complications by objective criteria for dysfunction of the
      organ systems normally assessed in surgical sepsis. Of 71 patients with amebic
      liver abscess (ALA), 41% had systemic complications and 13% had more than one
      organ system involved. Patients > or = 40 years of age and those being treated
      with steroids were at significantly increased risk of developing complications (P
      < or = .05). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the levels of the acute-phase
      markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) were significantly
      elevated in patients with ALA over values in those without ALA (P < or = .05).
      ALA patients with complications had lower CRP and SAA concentrations than those
      without complications (P < or = .05). Blood and liver aspirates in ALA patients
      were usually bacteriologically sterile. The pathogenesis of systemic
      complications and the associated acute-phase response requires further study, and
      ways of predicting disease severity and intervening therapeutically must be
      devised.

PMID- 1457671
TI  - Persistent fever in association with infective endocarditis.
AB  - Fever persisting despite adequate antimicrobial therapy for endocarditis can be
      an ominous sign. To evaluate the significance of persistent fever in this
      situation, we reviewed the records of patients at three hospital affiliates of
      Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Twenty-six patients with 27 episodes of
      endocarditis and fever lasting for > or = 2 weeks despite appropriate
      antimicrobial therapy were identified and compared with a matched cohort of 26
      patients with endocarditis but without prolonged fever. The median duration of
      fever in the former group was 35 days. Cardiac infection caused fever in 13 of
      these patients, seven of whom had myocardial abscesses. Additional causes of
      infection included drug treatment, nosocomial transmission of pathogens, and
      pulmonary emboli. Sixteen patients required cardiac surgery (seven on an emergent
      basis), whereas only two controls underwent such a procedure (P < .001). Twenty
      two patients with persistent fever and five controls developed nosocomial
      complications (P < .001). Six patients with fever died, five from endocarditis
      related complications. Thus persistent fever often indicates complicated
      endocarditis. We present an approach for the evaluation of the patients affected
      by this condition.

PMID- 1457672
TI  - Septicemia in 980 patients at a university hospital in Berlin: prospective
      studies during 4 selected years between 1979 and 1989.
AB  - A total of 980 episodes of clinically and bacteriologically proven septicemia
      were included in four prospective 1-year studies at a 1,300-bed university
      hospital in Berlin between 1979 and 1989. The incidence was 8.1 per 1,000
      admissions. The percentage of patients with severe underlying diseases increased
      significantly from 67% to 95% over the decade. Septicemia due to gram-positive
      bacteria decreased from 47.3% in 1979 to 43.7% in 1986 and increased again to
      51.2% in 1989. Septicemia due to gram-negative organisms decreased constantly
      from 45.0% in 1979 to 39.8% in 1989. The most frequently isolated species were
      Escherichia coli (26.4%), Staphylococcus aureus (18.9%), coagulase-negative
      staphylococci (10.2%), enterococci (7.7%), viridans streptococci (6.4%),
      Klebsiella species (5.5%), and pneumococci (5.0%). The overall mortality rate
      decreased significantly from 33.6% in 1979 to 20.8% in 1989. Mortality for
      episodes of septicemia due to gram-positive bacteria (25.5%) was higher than that
      for septicemia due to gram-negative bacteria (18.3%). Mortality rates associated
      with polymicrobic and fungal septicemia were higher than the overall mortality
      rate.

PMID- 1457673
TI  - Biocompatibility of particulate polymethylmethacrylate bone cements: a
      comparative study in vitro and in vivo.
AB  - The biocompatibility of particles of four different commercial
      polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cements was evaluated by exposing human
      synovial fibroblasts and mouse peritoneal macrophages to particles of cement.
      Cell integrity and inflammatory potential were assessed using enzyme release and
      microscopical examination. Results suggested the occurrence of cell damage in
      both cell types and macrophage studies indicated inflammatory potential. The
      response in vivo was investigated by intra-articular injection of the particles
      into mouse knee joints. Clinical and histological evaluation was performed over 2
      52 wk. Particles of all four cements were well tolerated in the joints.

PMID- 1457674
TI  - Cellular reaction on the intraperitoneal injection of four types of polylactide
      particulates.
AB  - Four types of polylactide particulates, P-L-LA 100, 250, 550 KD and a P-DL-LA 400
      KD were injected into the peritoneal cavity of mice. The inflammatory reaction
      showed an increase in cell number (mainly neutrophilic granulocytes) up to 48 h
      after which the cell numbers decreased below the control (phosphate-buffered
      saline). All four polylactide particulates aggregated and intermingled with
      inflammatory cells. The aggregates remained throughout the investigation period
      of 6 months. Quantitative measurements showed that standardization of the
      particle form and size is essential. From this study and other experiments in
      which calcium phosphates and asbestos were injected intraperitoneally, it is
      concluded that the inflammatory response observed in the peritoneal cavity is
      related to the type of material injected and probably to form and size of the
      individual particles, but not to molecular weight.

PMID- 1457675
TI  - Permucosal implantation pilot study with HA-coated dental implant in dogs.
AB  - The histological response of transmucosal one-stage titanium dental implants
      coated with hydroxyapatite is described. The gingival adhesion to the implant was
      examined with regard to coated, partially coated or non-coated surfaces in the
      cervical region. From each coating type, 9 implants were inserted into dogs. Six
      months after the insertion, 19 implants could be evaluated, but 8 implants were
      lost. From these 19 implants, 6 implants showed severe pockets with inflammation
      up to the bony tissue. The 13 successful implants showed direct bone bonding with
      the hydroxyapatite coating and adhesion of submucosal connective tissue to the
      implant surface, with inflammation. The marginal gingiva showed slight
      inflammation. A totally coated implant will probably introduce inflammation by
      debris formation against the rough implant surface more easily. The
      hydroxyapatite coating often disappeared in the soft tissue or in the oral
      cavity. Bone which directly adapted to the coating seemed to prevent it from
      resorption.

PMID- 1457676
TI  - Modification of the biocompatible and haemocompatible properties of polymer
      substrates by plasma-deposited fluorocarbon coatings.
AB  - The polymerization of gases present in a low temperature plasma is a technique
      particularly well suited for biomedical material processing. Therefore, the
      possibilities this technique offers to increase the biocompatibility and
      haemocompatibility of polysulphone and poly(hydroxybutyrate) membranes to be used
      in a new bioartificial pancreas device were studied. The deposition of thin
      fluorocarbon coatings from an argon plasma containing perfluorohexane gave very
      smooth and hydrophobic surfaces without affecting the filtering properties of the
      treated membranes. Adding hydrogen increased the reaction yield, but gave rougher
      and less hydrophobic coatings. We characterized the biological properties of the
      treated surfaces and discussed the influence of the modified surface properties
      on the biological behaviour of the treated polymers. The good biocompatibility of
      the deposited coatings was established by following in vitro the insulin
      secretion of Langerhans islets cultured on the treated membranes and by examining
      the fibrous capsule that developed on plasma-treated polymer disks after three
      months of in vivo incubation in the peritoneum of Wistar rats. Rough and
      haemocompatible films of poly(hydroxybutyrate) and smoother, but more
      thrombogenic, polysulphone films were treated by perfluorohexane and
      perfluorohexane + H2 plasmas to study the relative influence of surface roughness
      and surface energy on polymer thrombogenicity. In vitro protein adsorption and
      total blood clotting tests proved that the surface roughness influences the
      thrombogenicity more than the other surface properties. This study seems to show
      that the plasma deposition of smooth and hydrophobic fluorocarbon coatings can
      increase the biocompatibility and reduce the surface thrombogenicity of the
      treated membranes without affecting their filtering properties.

PMID- 1457677
TI  - Human serum albumin as a probe for surface conditioning (opsonization) of block
      copolymer-coated microspheres.
AB  - The adsorption of human serum albumin to polystyrene microspheres sterically
      stabilized with block copolymers, was investigated using photon correlation
      spectroscopy and laser doppler anenometry. The block copolymers used were non
      ionic surfactants of the poloxamer and poloxamine series made of polyoxyethylene
      and polyoxypropylene chains. Photon correlation spectroscopy and laser doppler
      anenometry showed that the coating reduced the adsorption of the protein to the
      polystyrene microspheres surface. Quantitative studies using 125I-labelled human
      serum albumin and sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gels (in combination
      with densitometry), were employed to evaluate the adsorption of human serum
      albumin to uncoated and coated polystyrene microspheres. They confirmed that the
      hydrophilic polyoxyethylene steric layer, created by coating with the block
      copolymers, reduced the adsorption of human serum albumin. Moreover, the amount
      of human serum albumin adsorbed was related to the polyoxyethylene content of the
      block copolymers.

PMID- 1457678
TI  - Controlled drug release from implantable matrices based on hydrophobic polymers.
AB  - Reports on the controlled release of drugs, including macromolecular drugs, from
      silicone elastomers and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, based on the formation
      of channels and cracks in the polymer, are reviewed. Aqueous interconnected pores
      are produced by osmotically active additives or by using loads of water-soluble
      drugs exceeding the percolation threshold. The release is generally proportional
      to the square root of time (t1/2). Nevertheless, pseudo-zero-order release
      kinetics can be obtained by adequately controlling the formulation variables. The
      factors controlling the release pattern and rate are discussed. In vivo
      applications of these types of systems are also considered.

PMID- 1457679
TI  - Antibacterial activity and mutagenicity studies of water-soluble phosphazene high
      polymers.
AB  - Eight water-soluble phosphazene high polymers, [NPR2]n (R, organic, water
      solubilizing side-group; n, approx: 15,000) and the small-molecule counterparts
      of the polymers were examined for antibacterial activity against six different
      strains of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium (TA 100),
      Salmonella pullorum, Streptococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa). Antibacterial testing was carried out by measuring zones of
      inhibition and changes in solution turbidity over time. In addition, the
      antibacterial activity of the surfaces of cross-linked
      poly[di(methoxyethoxyethoxy)phosphazene] (MEEP) hydrogels were investigated. A
      number of the high polymers, as well as the MEEP hydrogels, impeded bacterial
      growth. Only E. coli was unaffected by the phosphazenes. A possible explanation
      for the antibacterial character of the polymers is presented. The same compounds
      were monitored for potential mutagenic activity using the Salmonella typhimurium
      tester strains TA 100 and TA 98. None of the high polymers or their small
      molecule analogues showed mutagenic activity in either strain of Salmonella at
      the concentrations tested. The use of these materials as coatings for artificial
      implants is discussed.

PMID- 1457680
TI  - Poly(ethylene oxide)-graft-poly(L-lysine) copolymers to enhance the
      biocompatibility of poly(L-lysine)-alginate microcapsule membranes.
AB  - A graft copolymer having poly(L-lysine) (PLL) as the backbone and monomethoxy
      poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) as pendent chains was synthesized. This polycationic
      copolymer was used to form microcapsules with sodium alginate, a polyanion.
      Microcapsules and model surfaces formed with PLL-graft-MPEG demonstrated reduced
      protein adsorption, complement binding and cell adhesion in vitro compared to
      materials with unmodified PLL. Microcapsules with PLL-g-MPEG on the surface were
      seen to be much more biocompatible than the widely used alginate/PLL/alginate
      microcapsule in a mouse intraperitoneal implant model. The graft copolymers
      demonstrated a lower affinity for alginate and increased microcapsule
      permeability more than PLL. To correct this, pentalayered
      alginate/PLL/alginate/PLL-g-MPEG/alginate microcapsules were fabricated, and
      these demonstrated both appropriate permselectivity and enhanced
      biocompatibility.

PMID- 1457681
TI  - Epifluorescent video microscopy (EVM) for platelet-biomaterial interactions:
      elimination of photoactivation and dye effects.
AB  - The use of two intracellular dyes for epifluorescent video microscopy (EVM) in
      observations of cell-surface interactions is evaluated and discussed. This
      methodology permits determinations of cell adhesion, detachment and movement at
      the surfaces of biomaterials in the presence of flow and physiological
      haematocrit. Two tests, one which examines for the effect of incident light on
      platelet adhesion and one which checks for sufficient light for accurate
      observation of cells, have been designed. Evaluations were made of the adhesion
      of platelets labelled with the fluorescent dyes mepacrine and acridine orange,
      used singly and in combination. The use of a number of light level-dye level
      combinations with glass and several polymers and the addition of a plasma level
      of fibrinogen did not show any photoactivation effects. This methodology paves
      the way for longer than previous exposures to light with our system, from 1 min
      up to 30 min now. Washed platelet suspensions are preferred; these allow for the
      selective labelling of specific cells and the removal of dye from the surface of
      the cell.

PMID- 1457682
TI  - Effect of electrostatic forces on the dynamic rheological properties of
      injectable collagen biomaterials.
AB  - Injectable collagen is a concentrated dispersion of phase-separated collagen
      fibres in aqueous solution used to correct dermal contour defects through
      intradermal injection. The effect of electrostatic forces on the rheology of
      injectable collagen was studied by observation of the birefringence of collagen
      fibres through a polarizing microscope as well as by oscillatory rheological
      measurements on dispersions of varying ionic strengths (0.06-0.30). The
      birefringence of fibres progressively increased as ionic strength was reduced
      from 0.30 to 0.06. The linear viscoelastic measurements displayed a logarithmic
      relationship between storage (and loss) moduli and frequency over oscillation
      frequencies of 0.1-100 rad/s. The associated relaxation time spectra, interpreted
      using the theory of Kamphuis et al. for concentrated dispersions, show that
      collagen fibres become more flexible as ionic strength increases. This result was
      analysed at the molecular level from the perspective that collagen fibres are a
      liquid-crystalline phase of rigid rod collagen molecules which have phase
      separated from solution. Electrostatic forces affect the volume fraction of water
      present in the collagen fibres which in turn alters the rigidity of the fibres.
      Flexible collagen fibre dispersions displayed emulsion-like flow properties
      whereas more rigid collagen fibre dispersions displayed suspension-like flow
      properties. Changes in fibre rigidity significantly alter the injectability of
      collagen dispersions which is critical in clinical performance.

PMID- 1457683
TI  - Central connections of trigeminal primary afferent neurons: topographical and
      functional considerations.
AB  - This article reviews literature relating to the central projection of primary
      afferent neurons of the trigeminal nerve. After a brief description of the major
      nuclei associated with the trigeminal nerve, the presentation reviews several
      early issues related to theories of trigeminal organization including modality
      and somatotopic representation. Recent studies directed toward further definition
      of central projection patterns of single nerve branches or nerves supplying
      specific oral and facial tissues are considered together with data from
      intraaxonal and intracellular studies that define the projection patterns of
      single fibers. A presentation of recent immunocytochemical data related to
      primary afferent fibers is described. Finally, several insights that recent
      studies shed on early theories of trigeminal input are assessed.

PMID- 1457684
TI  - Recent advances in primary palate and midface morphogenesis research.
AB  - During the sixth week of human development, the primary palate develops as facial
      prominences enlarge around the nasal pits to form the premaxillary region. Growth
      of craniofacial components changes facial morphology and affects the extent of
      contact between the facial prominences. Our recent studies have focused on
      developing methods to analyze growth of the primary palate and the craniofacial
      complex to define morphological phases of normal development and to determine
      alterations leading to cleft lip malformation. Analysis of human embryos in the
      Carnegie Embryology Collection and mouse embryos of cleft lip and noncleft
      strains showed that human and mouse embryos have similar phases of primary palate
      development: first, an epithelial seam, the nasal fin, forms; then a mesenchymal
      bridge develops through the nasal fin and enlarges rapidly. A robust mesenchymal
      bridge must form between the facial prominences before advancing midfacial growth
      patterns tend to separate the facial components as the medial nasal region
      narrows and elongates, the nasal pits narrow, and the primary choanae (posterior
      nares) open posterior to the primary palate. In mouse strains with cleft lip
      gene, maxillary growth, nasal fin formation, and mesenchymal replacement of the
      nasal fin were all delayed compared with noncleft strains of mice. Successful
      primary palate formation involves a sequence of local cellular events that are
      closely timed with spatial changes associated with craniofacial growth that must
      occur within a critical developmental period.

PMID- 1457685
TI  - Salivary gland function and aging: a model for studying the interaction of aging
      and systemic disease.
AB  - This review describes an approach to examining the interaction of aging and
      systemic disease on a key aspect of oral physiology, salivation. The approach
      requires several steps: defining general health, and a specific physiological
      function, at different ages; defining a disease of interest and the influence of
      the disease on the specific physiological function; and determining if the
      disease can affect performance of the physiological function with increased age.

PMID- 1457686
TI  - Mesoderm and jaw development in vertebrates: the role of growth factors.
AB  - The head and neck arise during development as the result of a complex series of
      cellular and molecular interactions that begin in the fertilized egg. In this
      article, the role of an important class of molecules, growth factors, is examined
      in two main steps of the developmental sequence: the initial induction of
      mesoderm and the later induction of jaw cartilage and bone. The article focuses
      particularly on the roles of members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF
      beta), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and epithelial growth factor (EGF)
      families in these processes and current models of growth factor involvement.
      Possible experiments for the future are discussed.

PMID- 1457687
TI  - Artificial cells in immobilization biotechnology.
AB  - Artificial cells contain biologically active materials. Artificial cells
      containing adsorbents have been a routine form of treatment in hemoperfusion for
      patients. This includes acute poisoning, high blood aluminum and iron, and
      supplement to dialysis in kidney failure. Artificial cells are being tested for
      use as red blood cell substitutes. Artificial cells encapsulated cell culture are
      being tested in animals for the treatment of diabetes and liver failure. A novel
      2 step method has prevented xenograft rejection. Artificial cells containing
      enzymes are being studied for treatment in hereditary enzyme deficiency diseases
      and other diseases. Recent demonstration of extensive enterorecirculation of
      amino acids in the intestine has allowed its oral administration to deplete
      specific amino acids. Artificial cells containing complex enzyme system convert
      wastes like urea and ammonia into essential amino acids. Artificial cell is being
      used for the production of monoclonal antibodies, interferons and other
      biotechnological products. It is also being investigated for drug delivery, and
      for use in other applications in biotechnology, chemical engineering and
      medicine.

PMID- 1457688
TI  - Semi-selective immunoadsorption treatment in myasthenia gravis.
AB  - We treated some patients with severe generalized myasthenia gravis (MG) with semi
      selective adsorption by plasma perfusion(PP) on IM-T350 column. We studied
      efficiency and undesired effects of the employed material to verify the safety
      and effectiveness of methodology. Thus a treatment protocol has been prepared: 6
      PP per treatment cycle; 3-7 days between PP sessions; plasma to treat per session
      1,2 lt; only one adsorbent column for every cycle. Our experience, on 13 cycles
      of treatment, showed that PP in autoimmune MG has provided good clinical results
      without any improvement in genetic MG.

PMID- 1457690
TI  - Adsorption treatment in hyperlipidemia.
AB  - Clinical LDL- adsorption has made overwhelming progress in recent years. Thus,
      immunoadsorption with polyclonal anti-LDL-antibodies and chemoadsorption using
      the dextransulfate system have been applied successfully for selective LDL
      removal in routine clinical plasma treatment of hypercholesterolemic patients
      suffering from coronary artery disease. Clinical pilot studies showed good
      results using immunoadsorption with anti-LDL-F(ab)-columns. Promising laboratory
      results have been achieved using immunoadsorption with monoclonal LDL-antibodies,
      polyacrylate/fractogel and macroporous cellulose. While these systems need a
      primary separation step for cells and plasma, the integrated plasma
      separation/adsorption device and the LDL-hemoperfusion module using E 280590 can
      even treat whole blood. Thus, these systems hold a great promise for the future.

PMID- 1457689
TI  - Phosphate removal by resin hemoperfusion efficacy and biocompatibility of a new
      exchange resin.
AB  - A new coated anionic exchange resin for blood purification specifically designed
      to remove phosphates was experimentally employed in animals. 3 pigs, in which
      uremia had been surgically induced, underwent 6 extracorporeal hemoperfusion
      sessions (2 per pig) with a cartridge containing 100 gr of resin. The phosphate
      clearance proved satisfactory, values being 120 ml/min after 10' and around 80
      ml/min after 2 hours. The biocompatibility of the resin and of the coating
      membrane was satisfactory. The negligible variation in pH and plasma bicarbonate
      during all sessions confirmed the low absorption by the tested resin of other
      blood anions competing with phosphate.

PMID- 1457691
TI  - Extracorporeal elimination of carbamazepine by haemoperfusion.
AB  - The clearance of the haemoperfusion cartridge H 200 C Tekin was determined in
      vitro for blood dissolved carbamazepine to test the efficiency of haemoperfusion
      treatment. In the first hour of in vitro haemoperfusion test of pig blood
      (concentration of carbamazepine 1084 mg/l) a clearance of 190 ml/min was
      obtained, which declined slightly to 150 ml/min after 4 hours. In a second test
      the elimination of carbamazepine from albumin solution was proven to be more than
      1000 mg of carbamazepine after a four hour perfusion period using teflon coated
      charcoal. These results are in accordance with the clinical course of a 30 years
      old male patient who presented with severe hypoxaemia due to acute intoxication
      by 6 g carbamazepine. The carbamazepine blood level was 33.7 mg/l. Charcoal
      haemoperfusion was started immediately. A dramatic improvement of clinical
      symptoms was already observed during haemoperfusion. The carbamazepine serum
      level was 18.6 mg/l after 4 hours of haemoperfusion.

PMID- 1457692
TI  - Hybrid artificial pancreas: islet transplantation inside membrane bioreactors.
AB  - The use of pancreatic islet transplantation in membrane bioreactors put in
      vascular circuits aims at resetting the glucose homeostasis in diabetic or
      pancreatectomized patients, avoiding immune host rejection. Our experience was
      carried out at following stages: porcine pancreas explantation and enzymatic
      separation of endocrine tissue from exocrine fraction by collagenase; evaluation
      of islet functionality (culture tests); in vitro tests of the islets-bioreactor
      system, to assess the metabolic response to the glucose; in vivo evaluation to
      assay the haemodynamic behaviour. The trials showed a good metabolic bioreactor
      functionality and a decreasing incidence of coagulative problems.

PMID- 1457693
TI  - Treatment of uraemic hyperphosphatemia with calcium acetate: a safe alternative
      to calcium carbonate.
AB  - Clinical usefulness of calcium acetate (CAA) as phosphorus binder was assessed in
      19 stable hemodialysis patients with persistent hyperphosphatemia. All were
      dialysed thrice weekly with a constant dialytic schedule and a dialysate calcium
      of 3.5 mEq/l. One month prior the study beginning all patients stopped assumption
      of Ca and vitamin D supplements. In the first period of the study CAA (mean daily
      doses 2.2 g) was administered for one month followed by 15 days of withdrawal.
      The mean serum phosphorus decreased from 7.6 +/- 1.4 to 5.8 +/- 0.8 mg% (p <
      0.005). After 15 days of withdrawal mean serum phosphorus reached the
      pretreatment value. Then the patients entered a long term study with personalized
      doses of CAA (between 1 and 4 g/day) and administration in 8 of them of alpha
      calcidol. After a mean follow-up period of 5.4 +/- 1.5 months serum phosphorus
      was reduced from 7.5 +/- 1.1 to 5.6 +/- 1.1 mg% (p < 0.0005) while calcemia
      increased from 9.0 +/- 0.7 to 9.6 +/- 0.6 mg% (p < 0.005). Only one patient
      developed mild hypercalcemia. We concluded that CAA is a safe alternative to
      calcium carbonate for the control of hyperphosphatemia of uraemic patients for
      the most efficient phosphorus binding and the lesser absorption of calcium.

PMID- 1457694
TI  - DNA-coated carbon adsorbents experimental assessment and results of severe
      psoriasis treatment.
AB  - Newly developed combined adsorbents, containing from 1 to 8 mg of thymic DNA per
      1 g of the granulated or the fibrous carbonic matrix, demonstrated good
      biocompatibility and selectivity for DNA- and DNP-binding substances. In a group
      of 14 patients with severe psoriasis (uncontrol trial) a single hemoperfusion
      procedure through DNA-coated granulated synthetic carbons (perfusion volume was
      2.5-3.1 L, sorbent quantity was 30 g) resulted in complete remission in 6
      patients and in substantial improvement of clinical status in 6 other patients. A
      positive effect was observed in 4 patients during 7-11 months; in 8 patients it
      is being observed for more than 29-33 months. The double-blind tests in the group
      of patients subjected to hemoperfusion through the DNA-coated charcoal (27
      people) and uncoated charcoal (9 people) showed the full-scale remission in 55.5%
      and 11.2% respectively. The authors believe that the DNA-coated activated carbons
      can be an effective therapeutic procedure for treatment of numerous immuno
      dependent diseases and states associated with disorders in the kinetics of cell
      division.

PMID- 1457695
TI  - Removal of beta 2-microglobulin by hemodialysis and hemofiltration: a four year
      follow up.
AB  - Efficient removal of total body burden beta 2-Microglobulin (beta 2-M) in uremia
      is a continuing challenge, as dialysis-related amyloidosis represents a major
      complication of chronic renal replacement therapy. To investigate long-term beta
      2-M removal we studied 3 groups of stable end-staged renal failure patients over
      a period of 4 years; we compared low flux (cuprophane) hemodialysis (n = 12),
      high flux (polysulfone) hemodialysis (n = 12) and hemofiltration using high flux
      polysulfone (n = 8). In contrast to the cuprophane membrane, the polysulfone
      membrane eliminated considerable amounts of beta 2-M. This was associated with a
      sustained reduction of predialysis serum beta 2-M-levels (by 20%). Compared with
      high flux hemodialysis, hemofiltration provided a 50% higher elimination of beta
      2-M. Thus, our long-term evaluation of beta 2-M removal suggests that
      hemofiltration rather than hemodialysis may be the treatment of choice for
      delaying the incidence of dialysis-related amyloidosis.

PMID- 1457696
TI  - The whole molecule design approach to drug discovery.
AB  - An approach to drug design and lead generation is presented which attempts to
      retain the qualities of traditional drug design and leave control with the bench
      scientist, whilst harnessing the power of computers to handle the combinatorial
      explosion of ideas. A computer language, ALEMBIC, is used to collate the ideas of
      the scientists. The resulting list of potential molecules is then parameterised
      using whole molecule descriptors. Based on these descriptors, appropriate
      statistical techniques are used to generate sets of molecules retaining the
      maximum amount of the information inherent in all possible combinations of the
      scientists ideas.

PMID- 1457697
TI  - Synthesis and ACE inhibitory activity of the stereoisomers of perindopril (S
      9490) and perindoprilate (S 9780).
AB  - Perindopril, a powerful ACE inhibitor contains 5 chiral carbons, thus there is
      the possibility of 2(5) = 32 stereoisomers for the general structure 1. These 32
      stereoisomers were synthesized by cross-coupling the 8 stereoisomers of
      perhydroindole 2-carboxylic acid benzylester with the 4 stereoisomers of 2-(1
      carbethoxybutylamino) propionic acid 4, then hydrogenating the resulting
      benzylesters. Each stereoisomer of perindopril furnished by saponification the
      corresponding diacid stereoisomer 2 of perindoprilate which is the active form of
      perindopril. For each of the 32 stereoisomers 2 the in vitro ACE inhibitory
      potency (IC50) was determined. Four of them, including perindoprilate, had
      activities in the nanomolar range, and four more were ca. 10 x less active. The
      four acid esters 1 corresponding respectively to the four most active diacids 2
      in vitro were studied (1 mg/kg via the oral route) for their in vivo activity in
      dogs. It could be concluded that p.o. absorption of the active acid esters 1 and
      their activation to the active diacid 2 depended only on the chiralities of the
      two ring junction carbons of the perhydroindole ring.

PMID- 1457699
TI  - Synthesis and antitumor activity of poly(ethylene glycol)s linked to 5
      fluorouracil via a urethane or urea bond.
AB  - In order to provide a macromolecular prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) with reduced
      side-effects and exhibiting strong antitumor activity, 5FU was covalently linked
      to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) via a urethane or urea bond. For the purpose of
      evaluating the release behavior of 5FU, the hydrolysis of the urethane or urea
      bond in the obtained conjugate of PEG-end capped with 5FU was investigated in
      vitro at 37 degrees C in aqueous solution media. The survival effect for the
      conjugate was assessed in vivo against p388 lymphocytic leukemia in female CDF1
      mice by intraperitoneal (i.p.) transplantation/i.p. injection. The effects of a
      hydrophobic hexamethylene spacer group, the end group and the number n of
      ethylene oxide (EO) units in PEG on the release behavior of 5FU and the survival
      effect were investigated. The release rate of 5FU from the 5FU-terminated PEG
      conjugates via urethane or urea bond was very fast. However, it became slow with
      increasing n of EO units in PEG and was depressed by the introduction of
      hydrophobic spacer group. The 5FU-terminated PEG conjugates obtained exhibited
      significant survival effects against p388 leukemia mice i.p./i.p. Especially, the
      methoxy PEG (n = 113)/urethane/hexamethylene/urea/5FU conjugate showed the
      strongest survival effect among the synthesized 5FU-capped PEG conjugates via
      urethane or urea bond compared to free 5FU against p388 leukemia mice. These
      conjugates obtained did not display an acute toxicity even in high dose ranges.

PMID- 1457700
TI  - [Equity, the national health system and the autonomous areas].

PMID- 1457698
TI  - Molecular modeling of adenosine receptors. I. The ligand binding site on the A1
      receptor.
AB  - The amino acid sequence of the canine adenosine A1 receptor and the atomic
      coordinates of a structurally related protein, bacteriorhodopsin, were combined
      to generate a three-dimensional model for the adenosine A1 receptor. This model
      consists of seven amphipathic alpha-helices, forming a pore that has a rather
      distinct partition between hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions. Subsequently, a
      highly potent and selective ligand, N6-cyclopentyladenosine, was docked into this
      cavity. A binding site is proposed that takes into account the conformational
      characteristics of the ligand, obtained from indirect modeling studies by the
      'active analog approach'. Moreover, it involves two histidine residues that were
      shown to be important for ligand coordination from chemical modification studies.
      Finally, the deduced binding site was used to model other potent ligands that
      could all be accommodated consistent with earlier biochemical and pharmacological
      findings.

PMID- 1457701
TI  - [Limitations of primary care teams in taking care of mental patients].

PMID- 1457702
TI  - [Functional capacity of patients over 65 according to the Katz index. Reliability
      of the method].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To find functional capacity of elderly patients by using the Katz
      Index, which measures the "Basic Activities of Daily Life". To examine how
      reliable the Katz Index is in the Primary Care field. DESIGN: Descriptive
      crossover study. Assessment of the measuring instrument's internal consistency
      and reliability, using a test-retest method. SITE. Otero Health Area, in Oviedo.
      PATIENTS OR OTHERS PARTICIPANTS: This was a random sample, ordered by age and
      gender, of people over 65 who used the Otero Health centre. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND
      RESULTS: The elderly population made up 12.86% of our base Health Area. The Katz
      Index showed that 81.6% of the elderly in the sample were independent in all
      their functions. A significant age difference was found. Internal consistency was
      measured by Cronbach's Alpha and was 0.8612 for nurses and 0.8362 for doctors.
      The correlation coefficient within Sperman's estimated observer was r = 0.936074.
      Kappa was 0.8436 (p < 0.0000) for the different observers, i.e. nurses or
      doctors. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the elderly patients in our base Health area
      possess full functional capacity, at the level of the routine activities of their
      daily life. The Katz Index is a reliable method of evaluating elderly peoples'
      functional capacity, at the Primary Care level. It can be used by any
      professional in the health team.

PMID- 1457703
TI  - [Calibration and safety of sphygmomanometers in health centers of Murcia].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To find the levels of calibration, safety and physical faults in the
      sphygmomanometers used in Health Centres. DESIGN: A multi-centre, observational,
      descriptive and crossover study. SITE. 7 Health Centres in the urban zone of
      Murcia and nearby towns. All the sphygmomanometers in the 7 Health Centres, that
      is 80 aneroid and 62 mercury ones. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: It needs high
      lighting that 43.7% of the aneroid sphygmomanometers and 12.3% of the mercury
      ones were wrongly calibrated. We noted that 20% of the measurements made with
      wrongly calibrated aneroid sphygmomanometers had a margin of error above +/- 8
      mmHg, with a tendency towards under-registering. We found very significant
      differences between the average arterial pressure measured by aneroid instruments
      as against mercury ones (p < 0.001). The number of sphygmomanometers which show a
      margin of error greater than +/- 3 mmHg at every level of pressure is
      significantly greater in aneroid instruments than in mercury ones (p < 0.001). We
      found physical faults in 23.9% of the instruments. CONCLUSIONS: We consider the
      number of wrongly calibrated aneroid sphygmomanometers to be excessively high.
      Therefore mercury ones should be used whenever possible and particularly during
      diagnosis and treatment. Both aneroid and mercury sphygmomanometers should be
      regularly checked, using a proper procedure. Mercury instruments set at zero are
      correctly calibrated and can be used as a model for checking aneroid ones.

PMID- 1457704
TI  - [Oral-dental hygiene habits in 12-year-old schoolchildren of the city of Huesca].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study dental hygiene habits and their relationship to dental
      caries. DESIGN: A descriptive epidemiological crossover study, based on
      observation. SITE. Schools in the city of Huesca. PATIENTS: Every child in the
      7th grade (i.e. 12 years old) of Basic General Education (EGB) in the city of
      Huesca. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: We found that only 43.83% of the children
      (689 in all: 340 male, 349 female) brushed their teeth every day. 49.20% had had
      a dental check-up during the previous year. We noted a significant link between
      cariogenic factors, especially those to do with tooth-brushing and the
      consumption of sweets, and the actual existence of caries. CONCLUSIONS: There was
      a notable lack of dental hygiene, both around the questions of using a tooth
      brush and in eating habits. There was little primary (the use of fluorides or
      dental hygiene) or secondary prevention (programmes of odonto-stomatologic care).

PMID- 1457705
TI  - [Postvaccinal reactions to simultaneous administration of the triple viral, oral
      polio and diphtheria-tetanus vaccines compared with their administration in
      sequence].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency and characteristics of post-vaccination
      reactions, between on the one hand the simultaneous administration of the Oral
      Antipolio (OP), the Triple Virus (TV) and the Anti-Diphtheria and Anti-Tetanus
      (DT) vaccines; and on the other hand, their administration in sequence. DESIGN:
      Prospective study with interventions, with a non-random, non-blind determination.
      SITE. Survey covering the mothers of infants vaccinated at 24 vaccination centres
      in Mala province. PARTICIPANTS: 490 infants vaccinated during their second year
      of life. 263 had the vaccines administered simultaneously and 227 in sequence.
      INTERVENTIONS: Simultaneous administration of the TV, OP and DT vaccines at 15
      months; as against the administration of TV at 15 months, followed by OP and DT
      at 18 months. MAIN RESULTS: 78 infants (29.66%) suffered a reaction that could be
      attributed to the vaccination after the simultaneous administration of TV, OP and
      DT; and 86 infants (37.88%) after one of the two occasions of vaccination in the
      administration in sequence: 27.31% after the TV, 17.18% after the OP-DT and 6.62%
      after both. CONCLUSIONS: The safety of simultaneous administration, taken
      together with data coming from other studies on its immunogenic effectiveness,
      reaffirms the usefulness of simultaneous administration of TV, OP and DT vaccines
      at 15 months, as a strategy to improve vaccine coverage of infants in their
      second year of life.

PMID- 1457706
TI  - [Active pulmonary tuberculosis in the community. Current presentation].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To discover how patients in a provincial general hospital, diagnosed
      as having pulmonary tuberculosis had first clinically and radiologically
      presented. DESIGN: This was a retrospective observational study. SITE. The San
      Jorge de Huesca General Hospital. The period of study was between January, 1986,
      and December, 1989. PATIENTS AND OTHERS PARTICIPANTS: Those studied were the 59
      patients diagnosed as having active pulmonary tuberculosis during the study
      period. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 45.6
      +/- 19.25 SD. There was greater occurrence in males. The most common form in
      which the disease first appeared was thoracic symptomatology (59%), followed by
      constitutional syndrome (45.7%). 8 patients were addicted to drugs taken
      parenterally (ADVP), of whom 4 were HIV-positive (6.8%). The most common
      radiological pattern was ulcero-caseous. CONCLUSIONS: We underline the importance
      of diagnostical awareness at the Primary Care level in order to rapidly begin the
      correct treatment; and thus fight the adverse epidemiological situation caused by
      tuberculosis today.

PMID- 1457707
TI  - [Smoking in primary schools].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyze policies related to tobacco use in primary schools. DESIGN:
      Cross-sectional study. SITE. Primary schools in the city of Barcelona, Spain.
      PARTICIPANTS: Schools principals of a representative sample of the 493 primary
      schools in the city; 98 of the 100 selected schools participated. MEASUREMENTS
      AND MAIN RESULTS: Schools are aware of the existing regulations in Catalonia.
      Although there is no smoking in classrooms--which represents an improvement
      compared with previous years--, visible use of tobacco by adults is frequent.
      Usually there is no formal policy on smoking. No smoking signs are rare, and
      usually there is no designated person with responsibilities for the enforcement
      of smoking policies. Schools rarely address smoking outside school hours, and
      adults are often allowed to smoke in the court, the dining room or the aisles.
      There are no significant differences between public and private schools.
      CONCLUSIONS: Although an improvement can be seen compared to the previous
      situation, smoking is still visibly present in schools. There must be specific
      prevention projects if schools are to have a positive influence in the social
      perception of smoking by schoolchildren.

PMID- 1457708
TI  - [Measles epidemic in Huesca. Study of cases in a health center].

PMID- 1457709
TI  - [Ongoing care at the primary care level].

PMID- 1457710
TI  - [Packets per year].

PMID- 1457711
TI  - [Management of the aged in primary health care].

PMID- 1457712
TI  - [Uses and abuses of computers in medical research].

PMID- 1457713
TI  - [Factors influencing neurological care].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyse certain factors which contribute to the existing backlog in
      specialised neurological care, such as: where the patient was referred from, the
      reason for the appointment, tests carried out and the final diagnosis. We used a
      random sample of patients. DESIGN: Retrospective study of patients referred from
      Primary Care, who were attended as out-patients in the Neurology clinic during
      1991. SITE. Health Area 2 of the Autonomous Community of Madrid. MAIN
      MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The average number of patients per doctor sent from
      each one of the seven Centres studied was 7.69, with outliers of between 2 and
      21, with a standard deviation of 3.95 and a rate of 51.31%. The proportion of new
      patients to patients having follow-up checks was 2 to 3, respectively. The
      differences between the number of patients sent from the different centres were
      found in the less serious pathologies. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the criteria
      used by Primary Care professionals and specialists should be strengthened and
      unified. This was one of the factors which weighed most on the quality and
      backlog of care.

PMID- 1457714
TI  - [Evaluation of the quality of care at a nursing station in a health center].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To analyse the procedures in the care of patients who attend the
      nursing station (NS), identify possible faults and evaluate the effect of these
      procedures on the patients. DESIGN: Descriptive and retrospective study
      concerning the quality of the NS. SITE. Primary Care. At the Molino de la Vega
      Health Centre, Huelva. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: The 602 people who
      attended the NS: patients with Hypertension, Diabetic, Obesity and osteoarticular
      problems. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: 54.4% of the procedures show a high
      level of control: in the case of Hypertension, the percentage reaches 62.7% (C.I.
      95%: 57.8-68%). 87.3% of diabetics treated with insulin managed to give
      themselves their injections. 45.4% of patients suffered more than one chronic
      illness. The analytical tests envisaged were carried out on 62% of those with
      light Hypertension and on 41.4% of those with severe Hypertension. 71.3% of
      patients with light Hypertension had a high rate of attendance at the station,
      which was correct in 93.8% of the severe cases. All categories of patients with
      diabetes attended with excessive frequency. CONCLUSIONS: The high level of
      control attained clearly shows the NS's usefulness. The high percentage of self
      injection achieved means that the majority of our diabetics who are treated with
      insulin are responsible for their own health. A fair number of patients present
      varied pathologies. Over-use of the NS by the large proportion of those patients
      with light Hypertension and diabetes implies inadequate care for other groups of
      patients, for example those suffering severe Hypertension.

PMID- 1457715
TI  - [Aneurysm of the abdominal aorta].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Three clinical cases of Aneurysm in the abdominal Aorta are presented,
      in order to make a clinical review of aneurysms in the abdominal Aorta (AAA) and
      underline the importance of their early diagnosis in Primary Care, given the risk
      factors. DESIGN: A retrospective, descriptive analysis of three cases of AAA from
      1991. SITE. The patients studied had attended the hospital emergency department
      in the Alcoy Health area. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Case 1: A patient, who
      attended because of three days of bilateral lumbar pain of a colic type spreading
      to the mesogastrium, which did not respond to treatment for nephritic colic. The
      patient died in a few hours, with the diagnosis of hypovolaemic shock caused by a
      burst AAA. Case 2: A patient with generalised continuous abdominal pain, which
      over 12 hours had been located in the lower right hemiabdomen, who was admitted
      with the provisional diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis. Case 3: A patient who,
      after an emergency surgical intervention where the diagnosis of AAA was
      confirmed, presented after a month a clinical picture consistent with a cerebral
      vascular accident and died afterwards because of renal failure. CONCLUSION: Given
      the present increase of patients diagnosed in hospital as suffering AAA in our
      Health Area, we urge that special attention be paid to the early diagnosis of
      this pathology. It is important to look actively for this pathology in patients
      with chronic pathologies of high prevalence and include it in Primary Care
      preventive programmes.

PMID- 1457716
TI  - Cloning and expression of midecamycin 4"-acylase gene in spiramycin producing
      strains.
AB  - A recombinant plasmid p66B containing the midecamycin 4"-acylase gene was
      obtained by cloning this gene into plasmid vetor pIJ680 from the primary clone
      pCN6C5, presumably harboring the midecamycin biosynthetic gene. The expression of
      the midecamycin 4"-acylase gene (p66B) in spiramycin producing strains resulted
      mainly in the production of 4"-isovalerylspiramycin. Another positive clone
      pCN10F5 was discovered from the genomic library of S. mycarofacians 1748 by
      probing with p66B DNA BamHI-BamHI 2.3kb fragment. A BamHI-BamHI 8.0kb homologous
      region on pCN10F5 was determined by Southern hybridization and was subcloned into
      plasmids pWHM3 and pIJ680. Recombinant plasmids pWF5 and p6F5 with molecular size
      about 15.2kb and 13.3kb, respectively, were obtained. Transformation of
      spiramycin producing strains with these plasmids resulted in the production of
      two major components. Based on their physicochemical properties and spectral
      evidences, component I was identified as 4"-propionylspiramycin III, and
      component II as 4"-propionylspiramycin II. Southern hybridization confirmed that
      the BamHI-BamHI 8.0kb fragment was cloned in the spiramycin producing strain.
      Only pCN10F5 clone was identified from the genomic library of S. mycarofaciens
      1748 when the 4"-isovaleryltransferase gene of carbomycin producing strain S.
      thermotolerans was used as a probe in colony hybridization. It suggests that
      there is a difference between the 4"-acyltransferase genes in the pCN6C5 and
      pCN10F5 clones.

PMID- 1457717
TI  - Restriction mapping and localization of GL-7-ACA acylase gene.
AB  - This paper presents the results about the restriction mapping of recombinant
      plasmids pMR5 and pMR6 containing GL-7-ACA acylase gene from Pseudomonas sp. 130,
      gene localization and its expression under the control of different promoters,
      tet, tac or lac/tac, in Escherichia coli. The analysis of gel electrophoresis of
      pMR5 cleaved with several kinds of restriction enzymes indicated that there is no
      sites of EcoRI, HindIII and ClaI but the presence of following sites: one HpaI,
      two XhoI, three EamHI and four PstI on the cloned gene fragment. The restriction
      maps of pMR5 and pMR6 were determined by comparative digestion of various
      endonucleases. The gene of GL-7-ACA acylase was localized on a 3.0kb fragment of
      B2-B3-HpaI from the studies on a serial subcloning. Expression of subclones pMR9,
      pMR10 and pMR11 in E. coli was compared. Higher yield of acylase was obtained
      when the gene fragment was placed downstream of the tac promoter. The expression
      of Pseudomonas gene in E. coli was also discussed.

PMID- 1457718
TI  - Significance of the 56th tyrosine on cytotoxic activity of tumor necrosis factor.
AB  - After using site-specific mutagenesis a conserved amino acid residue, the 56th
      tyrosine in human tumor necrosis was substituted by glutamine. The expression
      level of the mutant protein in E. coli did not changed significantly, however,
      its specific activity of the cytotoxicity on L929 cultural cells was decreased to
      1/583 of that of the unmutant tumor necrosis factor. The results show that the
      56th tyrosine residue or the region where tyrosine 56th located is important for
      the cytotoxic activity of tumor necrosis factor.

PMID- 1457719
TI  - The reverse DNA sequencing using Bst DNA polymerase.
AB  - The reverse DNA sequencing (RDS) [1] is a rapid method used to check the DNA
      sequences by sequencing them from the opposite orientation. Because the RDS is
      basically a double stranded sequencing, the quality of the sequence patterns so
      obtained generally is not as good as those obtained by the single stranded
      sequencing, and extra bands and higher background are produced more frequently.
      This paper shows that the RDS could now generate as good sequence patterns as
      those obtained by sequencing on the single stranded DNA template if Bst DNA
      polymerase instead of the conventional enzymes, such as the Klenow enzyme, was
      used in the RDS. Bst DNA polymerase is heat stable (optimum reaction temperature
      65 degrees C) and has recently been successfully used in the conventional DNA
      sequencing. The RDS has recently been further simplified to meet the need of
      large DNA sequencing projects such as the human genome project. The combination
      of the simplified RDS and the use of Bst polymerase should be expected to
      facilitate greatly the work on sequence confirmation and correction.

PMID- 1457720
TI  - Electrofusion of protoplasts from Porphyra haitanensis and P. yezoensis thalli
      (Rhodophyta).
AB  - In this paper the electrofusion of protoplasts from P. haitanensis and P.
      yezoensis thalli by using an electrofusion instrument (Shimadzu Company, Japan)
      under different conditions of AC field, DC pulse, fusion buffer solutions and
      concentrations of protease are described. The results showed that the fusion rate
      could reach 21-31% by applying AC field of 30-35V for 25-30s and DC pulse of 300
      350 V for 60 microseconds and in the presence of 3 mM Ca2+ and 3 mM Mg2+ in the
      fusion buffer. The pretreatment with protease had a positive effect on cell
      fusion. The fusion cells formed cell walls after 7 day's culture and grew into
      cell aggregates after 41 day's culture.

PMID- 1457721
TI  - Production of monoclonal antibody in hollow fiber culture system with serum-free
      medium.
AB  - Hybridoma cells 7E8, secreting mouse monoclonal antibody (McAb) IgG against
      potato virus X, were cultured in hollow fiber cell culture system (module VF-2)
      with serum-free medium 1640SFM. The maximum viable cell density was found to be
      2.34 x 10(6) cells/ml that was 3.7 and 2.2 times as high as those achieved in
      spinner and static flask culture respectively. About 10,000ml of cell culture
      media had been collected in the cultural period of 42 days. The ELISA titer of
      the McAb in the media was about 1:20,000 that was 25 times as high as those
      attained from the cultures in either spinner or static flask. From 1,000ml of
      cell culture media, an amount of 51.2mg of 7E8 McAb IgG had been purified by 50%
      saturated ammonium sulfate precipitation and Sephadex G-200 chromatography. The
      average yield of McAb in the hollow fiber cell culture system was 12.3mg/day. The
      results of the study suggest that it is hopeful for hybridoma cell culture in the
      hollow fiber cell culture system with serum-free medium for McAb production on
      large-scale.

PMID- 1457722
TI  - Selection of strains capable of utilizing D-xylose and cellobiose to produce
      ethanol by electric field-induced protoplast fusion.
AB  - The protoplast fusion between Candida guilliermondii S208 (Arg-) and
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae 314 was induced by three pulses (18kV/cm, 10
      microseconds duration) applied at an interval of 1 s with the model GH-401
      Electric Induced Gene Transfer/Cell Fusion System. The frequency of appearance of
      prototrophic hybrids was 3.6 x 10(-3). Stable fusion products were obtained after
      continual subculture over 20 times on selected and unselected media. Comparative
      studies showed that the fusion products were real hybrids of both parents. Two
      fustants, F-106 and F-308, could ferment both D-xylose and cellobiose to ethanol.
      The ethanol production of F-106 in the media containing 2% D-xylose or 2%
      cellobiose were 3.1g/l and 1.05g/l, respectively. The ethanol production of F-308
      in the above media were 0.2g/l and 2.8g/l, respectively.

PMID- 1457723
TI  - The suspension culture of Tripterygium wilfordii.
AB  - In suspension culturing of Tripterygium wilfordii, 18.4 mg/l of dry cells and
      9.184 mg/l of diterpene-lactone compounds were obtained from 6,7-V liquid medium
      containing 1 mg/l NAA. Besides those within the cells, diterpene-lactone
      compounds were also found in the cultured liquid and the yield reached 30.16
      43.14% of the total yield. The total yield of diterpene-lactone compounds in
      suspension culture (6,7-V medium containing 1 mg/l NAA) was 12.19 times as much
      as that in the roots of the original plant. In addition, 3 samples of diterpene
      lactone extracts from the suspension culture were found toxic to KB cells.
      Compared with those in solid culture, less incubation time was needed and more
      diterpene-lactone compounds were produced in suspension culture.

PMID- 1457724
TI  - Analysis of the effectiveness of proline substitutions and glycine replacements
      in increasing the stability of phage T4 lysozyme.
AB  - It was previously shown that the two replacements Gly 77-->Ala (G77A) and Ala 82-
      >Pro (A82P) increase the thermostability of phage T4 lysozyme at pH 6.5. Such
      replacements are presumed to restrict the degrees of freedom of the unfolded
      protein and so decrease the entropy of unfolding [B. W. Matthews, H. Nicholson,
      and W. J. Becktel (1987) Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA Vol.
      84, pp. 6663-6667]. To further test this approach, three additional replacements-
      G113A, K60P and A93P--have been constructed. On the basis of model building, each
      of these three replacements was judged to be less than optimal because it would
      tend to introduce unfavorable van der Waals contacts with neighboring parts of
      the protein. The presence of such contacts was verified for G113A and K60P by
      conformational adjustments seen in the crystal structures of these mutant
      proteins. In the case of G113A there are backbone conformational changes of 0.5
      1.0 A in the short alpha-helix, 108-113, that includes the site of substitution.
      In the case of K60P the pyrrolidine ring shows evidence of strain. The thermal
      stability of each of the three variants at both pH 2.0 and pH 6.5 was found to be
      very close to that of wild-type lysozyme. The results suggest that the procedure
      used to predict sites for both Xaa-->Pro and Gly-->Ala is, in principle, correct.
      At the same time, the increase in stability expected from substitutions of this
      type is modest, and can easily be offset by strain associated with introduction
      of the alanine or proline. This means that the criteria used to select
      substitutions that will increase thermostability have to be stringent at least.
      In the case of T4 lysozyme this severely limits the number of sites. The analysis
      reveals a significant discrepancy between the conformational energy surface
      predicted for the residue preceding a proline and the conformations observed in
      crystal structures.

PMID- 1457726
TI  - DNA torsional dynamics by multifrequency phase fluorometry.
AB  - The time decay of the fluorescence polarization anisotropy of calf thymus DNA
      ethidium complexes is obtained from measurements with sine-modulated excitation
      employing the so-called multifrequency phase fluorometry. A torsional dynamics
      model developed by J. M. Schurr [(1984) Chemical Physics, Vol. 84, pp. 71-96] and
      translated into the frequency domain is found here to describe accurately DNA
      ethidium fluorescence data collected under modulated excitation. At a low dye/DNA
      ratio (1:400) the value of the DNA torsional constant (alpha = 4.63 +/- 0.2 10(
      12) dyne cm) fitting the data agrees very well with the known values of alpha.
      When the measurements are extended to a higher ethidium/DNA ratio, energy
      transfer effects between intercalated dyes are observed. A theoretical prediction
      of the donor and acceptor dye contributions to the fluorescence polarization
      anisotropy is made here, taking into account also dye-dye distance distributions.

PMID- 1457725
TI  - Flexible-geometry conformational energy maps for the amino acid residue preceding
      a proline.
AB  - Previously calculated conformational energy maps suggest that the alpha-helical
      conformation for the residue preceding a proline is disfavored relative to the
      extended conformation by more than 7 kcal/mol. In known protein structures this
      conformation is observed, however, to occur for about 9% of all prolines. In
      addition, introduction or removal of prolines at theoretically unfavorable
      positions in proteins and peptides can have modest effects on stability and
      structure. To investigate the discrepancy between calculation and experiment, we
      have determined how the conformation of the proline affects the calculated
      energy. We have also explored the effect of bond length and bond angle relaxation
      on the conformational energy map. The conformational energy of the preceding
      residue is found to be unaffected by the conformation of the proline, but the
      effect of allowing covalent bond relaxation is dramatic. If bond lengths and
      angles, and dihedral angles within the pyrrolidine ring, are allowed to relax, a
      calculated energy difference between the alpha and beta conformations of 1.1
      kcal/mol is obtained, in reasonable agreement with experiment. The detailed shape
      of the calculated energy surface is also in excellent agreement with the observed
      conformational distributions in known protein structures.

PMID- 1457727
TI  - Facilitated synthesis of peptaibols: alamethicin via enzymatic segment
      condensation.
AB  - We have used a combined chemical-enzymatic approach to facilitate the total
      synthesis of the 20-residue peptaibol, alamethicin. The 1-11 segment of
      alamethicin, having a C-terminal Gly, and the 12-20 segment, having an N-terminal
      Leu, were prepared by well-established chemical methods, and then coupled using
      papain to afford a 54% yield of alamethicin in straightforward fashion. In
      contrast to the reported chemical syntheses of alamethicin requiring side-chain
      protection at Glu,18 the papain-catalyzed coupling proceeded readily and
      selectively using a C-terminal segment having a free gamma-carboxyl group at this
      position. Several alamethicin partial sequences were obtained via enzymatic
      formation of the Gly11-Leu12 bond. The high efficiency of this route is
      illustrated by the enzymatic assembly of the 1-17 alamethicin fragment on a 400
      mg scale in 62% yield. An alternative route to alamethicin through enzymatic
      formation of the Ala6-Gln7 bond was less successful because of a low yield in the
      final coupling.

PMID- 1457728
TI  - Quasielastic light scattering study of thermal excitations of F-actin solutions
      and of growth kinetics of actin filaments.
AB  - In the first part of this work we report quasielastic light scattering (QELS)
      studies of the internal dynamics of transient actin networks over a time range of
      10(-6)-10(-2) s, scattering angles between zeta = 20 degrees and 150 degrees, and
      a concentration range of 0.015 (0.3) to 0.7 mg/mL (15 microM). We confirm our
      previous result that (1) the dynamic structure factor g(q,t) is determined by the
      thermally excited undulations of the actin filaments and (2) that the initial
      decay of g(q, t) scales as g(q, t) varies; is directly proportional to exp(-q
      alpha t) while the long time decay scales as g(q, t) varies; is directly
      proportional to exp [-(Aq alpha t) 2/3] with alpha = 2.75. The deviation of alpha
      from the theoretical value of alpha = 3 predicted for Rouse-Zimm chains is
      similar to that found for high molecular weight macromolecular solutions by QELS.
      A refined analysis of the dynamic structure factor showed that it can be
      interpreted in terms of three relaxation processes (besides the contribution of
      the residual monomer diffusion): (1) the dominant Rouse-Zimm dynamics, which
      comprises between 65 (at high concentrations) and 85% of the signal; (2) a fast
      relaxation process with a decay constant of gamma = 9 x 10(3) s-1, which
      contributes at all concentrations with the same amplitude; and (3) a
      nonexponential ultraslow contribution of the form g(us) varies; is directly
      proportional to exp [(-gamma ust)]1/4. The third contribution appears only at
      high concentrations and increases strongly with decreasing scattering angles. It
      is thus attributed to fluctuations of the mesh size of the transient actin
      network. In the second part we show that high sensitivity QELS may be applied to
      follow the actin polymerization process at low temperatures (10 degrees C). The
      apparent diffusion coefficient and the static scattering intensity of the actin
      filaments were determined as functions of polymerization time tpol. We show that
      the process consists of the rapid growth of a few filaments that become very long
      (approximately 10 microns; even at actin concentrations of 0.04 micrograms/mL)
      near the critical growth concentration of 0.012 micrograms/mL, as is expected for
      a growth process determined by nucleation. Finally, we studied actin networks
      polymerized in the presence of complexes of gelsolin with actin. By application
      of the CONTIN program we could determine the length distribution of the
      filaments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1457729
TI  - Monte Carlo calculations of ion distributions surrounding the oligonucleotide
      d(ATATATATAT)2 in the B, A, and wrinkled D conformations.
AB  - We calculated the uni-univalent ion distributions around the oligonucleotide
      d(AT)5.d(AT)5 in the A, B and wrinkled D conformation using the Metropolis Monte
      Carlo method. All atoms were included in the oligonucleotide model with partial
      charges and hard sphere radii assigned to each atom. The univalent counter- and
      coions were modeled as hard spheres with radius 0.3 nm. The solvent was assigned
      a dielectric constant of 80, corresponding to a temperature of 298K. The
      counterion distribution surrounding each of the conformers and the distribution
      surrounding an impenetrable cylinder, were calculated for four salt
      concentrations. We found significant counterion density in the major groove of
      the A DNA while fewer counterions occupied the grooves of B DNA. In the wrinkled
      D DNA, where groove occupancy is sterically hindered, the ion distributions were
      identical to the distributions surrounding the impenetrable, cylindrical model.
      This suggests that excluded volume effects significantly influence the details of
      the ion distributions near the oligomer, while the detailed charge distributions
      of the oligomer affects the ion distributions only minimally. Although
      substantial variation in counterion density was observed near the oligomers of
      differing conformations, the total number of counterions located within a
      cylinder surrounding the oligomer bounded radially by 2.4 nm was independent of
      the conformation of the oligomer. Therefore, for this model system, the local
      univalent counterion distributions are extremely sensitive to the geometry of the
      oligonucleotide whereas the extent of neutralization of the oligoanion is
      insensitive to the conformation of the oligomer.

PMID- 1457730
TI  - A synthetic analogue for the active site of plant-type ferredoxin: two different
      coordination isomers by a four-cys-containing [20]-peptide.
AB  - The (Fe2S2)2+ complex of an artificial 20-peptide ligand, Ac-Pro-Tyr-Ser-Cys-Arg
      Ala-Gly-Ala-Cys-Ser-Thr-Cys-Ala-Gly-Pro-Leu-Leu-T hr-Cys- Val-NH2, containing an
      invariant Cys-A-B-C-D-Cys-X-Y-Cys (A, B, C, D, X, Y = amino acid residues)
      fragment of plant-type ferredoxins was synthesized by a ligand exchange method
      with [Fe2S2(S-t-Bu)4]2-. 1H-nmr spectroscopic and electrochemical data of the
      complex indicate the presence of two coordination isomers. One of them having a
      Cys-X-Y-Cys bridging coordination to the two Fe(III) ions, has the (Fe2S2)2+ core
      environment similar to those of the denatured plant-type ferredoxins and exhibits
      a positive shifted redox potential at -0.64 V vs saturated colonel electrode
      (SCE) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Another isomer with the Cys-A-B-C-D-Cys
      bridging coordination shows a negative redox potential at -0.96 V vs SCE in DMF.

PMID- 1457731
TI  - Peptide hormone-membrane interactions: the aggregational and conformational state
      of lipo-gastrin derivatives and their receptor binding affinity.
AB  - The (2RS)-1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-mercaptoglycerol/-, (2RS)-1,2-dimyristoyl-3
      mercaptoglycerol/-, and (2RS)-1-myristoyl-2-palmitoyl-3-mercaptoglycerol/maleoyl
      bet a-alanyl- [Nle15]-human-gastrin-(2-17) adducts were prepared as lipo-gastrin
      derivatives of explicitly primary amphiphilic properties. As representative of
      this class of lipo-gastrins, the dimyristoyl derivative has been thoroughly
      characterized in its aggregational state since, among the three compounds,
      theoretically it should exhibit the lowest degree of lipid character. It
      aggregates in aqueous solution to form monodispersed unilamellar spherical
      vesicles with dislocation of the peptide moiety at the bilayer surface in
      predominantly unordered structure. The liposomes are remarkably stable toward
      solubilization with trifluoroethanol and toward vesicle to micelle transition
      with neutral and negatively charged surfactants even above their critical
      micellar concentrations. Asymmetric fusion with the detergent micelles induces
      polydispersion of the liposomes in terms of shape and size without affecting in
      significant manner the mode of display of the gastrin portions at the bilayer
      surface. Only the positively charged hexadecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide
      provokes the collapse of the vesicles into mixed micelles with concomitant
      altered dislocation of the gastrin-peptide in the new aggregational state.
      Despite the lipid properties of the gastrin derivatives, i.e., formation of
      liposomes, they retain remarkable receptor affinities (IC50 = 1.5 x 10(-9) M for
      myristoyl-palmitoyl-gastrin, IC50 = 2.0 x 10(-9) M for di-myristoyl-gastrin and
      IC50 = 3.1 x 10(-9) M for di-palmitoyl-gastrin vs IC50 = 2.8 x 10(-10) M for
      Nle15-gastrin). Since the displacement of radiolabeled Nle15-gastrin from rat
      pancreatic acinar cell line membrane preparations by both the parent gastrin
      hormone and the three lipo-gastrins occurs in parallel manner, the data support a
      mechanism of receptor occupancy via accumulation of the gastrins at the membrane
      surface and their two-dimensional diffusion to the target receptor. Thereby the
      differentiated decrease of affinity in function of fatty acid chain length has to
      be attributed to the energetically more or less favored transfer of the monomers
      from the donor vesicles to the acceptor membranes. Moreover, according to this
      model migration of the lipo-gastrins with their interdigitating di-fatty-acyl
      moieties should be delayed, again in lipid structure-dependent manner, in
      comparison to the parent gastrin molecule, which is free to float in the membrane
      interfacial phase.

PMID- 1457732
TI  - Conformational perturbation of the anticancer nucleotide arabinosylcytosine on Z
      DNA: molecular structure of (araC-dG)3 at 1.3 A resolution.
AB  - The left-handed Z-DNA structure of an araC-containing (where araC stands for
      arabinosylcytosine) hexamer, (araC-dG)3, has been solved by x-ray diffraction
      analysis at 1.3 A resolution. This hexamer was crystallized in the hexagonal
      P6(5)22 (a = b = 17.96 A, c = 43.22 A) space group in which the hexamers have
      statistically disordered packing arrangement along the 6(5) screw axis, yet the
      crystals diffract x-rays to high resolution. Its structure has been refined by
      the constrained least square refinement to a final R factor of 0.287 using 737 [>
      3.0 sigma(F)] observed reflections. The asymmetric unit of the unit cell contains
      only a dinucleotide, 5'-p (araC)p(dG). The overall conformation resembles that of
      the canonical Z-DNA, but with some differences in details. The O2' hydroxyl
      groups of the araC residues form intramolecular hydrogen bonds with N2 of the 5'
      guanine residues. In the deep groove of Z-DNA, these hydroxy groups replace the
      bridging water molecules that stabilize the guanine in the syn conformation. The
      results reinforce the earlier observation made by the structural analysis of
      another hexamer, d(CG[araC]GCG), with a mono-substitution of araC [M.-K. Teng, Y.
      C. Liaw, G. A. van der Marel, J. H. van Boom, and A. H.-J. Wang (1989)
      Biochemistry, vol. 28, pp. 4923-4928]. These two structures show that araC
      residue can be incorporated readily into the Z structure and probably facilitates
      the B to Z transition, as supported by uv absorption spectroscopic studies in a
      number of araC-containing oligonucleotides. The potential biological roles of the
      araC-modified Z-DNA are discussed.

PMID- 1457733
TI  - Kinetics of folding and unfolding of beta beta-tropomyosin.
AB  - The kinetics of folding from random coils to two-chain coiled coils of beta beta
      tropomyosin was studied by stopped-flow CD (SFCD) in the backbone region (222
      nm). Two species were studied: the reduced form and the doubly disulfide cross
      linked form. The proteins were totally unfolded in 6M urea-saline buffer, then
      refolded by tenfold dilution into benign buffer. In the refolding medium, they
      spontaneously recover the two-chain coiled-coil structure. Reduced beta beta
      refolds in at least two stages: one or more fast phases (< 0.04 s), in which an
      intermediate with 71% of the equilibrium ellipticity forms, followed by a slower
      time-resolvable phase that completes the folding. The slow phase is first order,
      signifying that dimerization occurs in the fast phase. The time constant of the
      slow phase is 2 s at 20 degrees C and requires activation parameters of delta S
      not equal to = -7 +/- 0.3 cal/mol.K, delta H not equal to = 15 +/- 1 kcal/mol.
      These results are very similar to those previously found for the reduced genetic
      variant alpha alpha-tropomyosin. In contrast, refolding of doubly disulfide cross
      linked beta beta is complete within the dead time (< 0.04 s), whereas the singly
      cross-linked alpha alpha species also displays a slow phase. The opposite
      process, unfolding reduced beta beta from the coiled-coil state, is complete
      within the dead time, as in the alpha alpha variant.

PMID- 1457734
TI  - Alpha-helix to random coil transitions: interpretation of the CD in the region of
      linear temperature dependence.

PMID- 1457735
TI  - The antigen-antibody interaction algebraically interpreted as a relational
      process.
AB  - The antigen-antibody interaction occurring previous to the triggering of the
      immunological response is analyzed as a relational process in terms of lattices.
      Accordingly, this process is expressed as a lattice belonging to a pseudo-Boolean
      algebraic variety. The Heyting arrow operation, which appears in this kind of
      algebra, is used to analyze behaviors between non-comparable biological states
      expressed by the lattice. The resulting states coming from the arrows are
      connected with the influence of increasing and decreasing energies involved in
      the linking process.

PMID- 1457736
TI  - The uncertainty principle as an evolutionary engine.
AB  - Heisenberg's uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics underlies the genesis of
      evolutionary variability. When the uncertainty principle is coupled with the
      incontrovertible principle of the conservation of energy and material resources,
      there appears an uncertainty relationship between local fluctuations in the
      quantities to be conserved on a global scale and the rate of their local
      variation. Since the local fluctuations are accompanied by the non-vanishing rate
      of variation because of the uncertainty relationship, they generate subsequent
      fluctuations. Generativity latent in the uncertainty relationship is non-random
      and ubiquitous all through various evolutionary stages from abiotic synthesis of
      monomers and polymers up to the emergence of behavior-induced variability of
      organisms.

PMID- 1457737
TI  - Periodical changes of amino acid reactivity within the genetic code.
AB  - Enthalpies (delta H++) and entropies (delta S++) of activation for the reaction
      of 18 N'-hydroxysuccinimide esters of N-protected proteinaceous amino acids with
      p-anisidine were measured and free enthalpies of activation (delta G++) at 25
      degrees C were calculated on this basis. A regular correlation between delta G++s
      and the corresponding amino acid codons was found. To obtain this correlation all
      the codons had to be arranged in a closed ring in which the consecutive codons
      were connected by one-step mutational changes. One-step mutations appeared as a
      regular series: 2,3,3,3,1,3,3,3,1,3,3,3,1,3,3,3,2,3,3,3. (the numbers denote a
      codon position in which a change took place). There were three such 'one-step
      mutation periods' in the ring, each containing 20 codons (in each block of 16
      codons with A, U and C, in the central position and 4 codons containing G in the
      central position). The end of the third period (UG) and the beginning of the
      first period were bridged by the four codons of glycine with G in the second
      position. The values of delta G++ change similarly in each period, increasing
      upon approaching Lys, Pro, and Ile. The periodical relation between the chemical
      reactivities of the coded amino acids (reflected by delta G++s) and the structure
      of their codons could be of importance for the origin of the genetic code i.e.
      for selection of proper codons for the definite amino acids.

PMID- 1457738
TI  - Enzymes as molecular automata: a reflection on some numerical and philosophical
      aspects of the hypothesis.
AB  - Enzymes, by means of their properties of specific recognition and allosteric
      modulation, are able to integrate many separate processes into systemic units
      with coherent functions; in a sense, they have to be considered as the true
      organizers of the cytoplasmic processes. In this respect, the present article
      describes a simple model, based on binary variables and automata theory, which
      simulates the basic regulatory performance of the modulated enzyme. The model
      admits a variety of modifications and improvements; it also suggests some
      original lines of thought on which to reflect about the organization and
      collective phenomena of the networks of enzymes. In discussing the connection of
      this 'molecular automata' hypothesis with other areas of present-day theoretical
      biology, a fertile panorama of initiatives appear. A special partnership between
      Information Science (computation) and Biology is developing.

PMID- 1457739
TI  - Fibronectin promotes lung colony formation in the mouse by B16 melanoma cells
      spheroids.
AB  - By microscopical observation and using an original method of automatic image
      analysis, we studied on histological sections the rate of lung colony formation
      after intravenous injection into the mouse of B16 melanoma cells previously
      cultivated in vitro as pure or mixed spheroids (B16 + 3T3 fibroblasts). The
      preincubation in vitro of pure spheroids with fibronectin significantly increased
      the percentages of lung section area occupied by tumors and the relative number
      of internal lung colonies. This effect of fibronectin was even more obvious when
      mixed spheroids were injected.

PMID- 1457740
TI  - Bacterial mutagenicity of extracts of the baked and raw Agaricus bisporus
      mushroom.
AB  - Aqueous extracts of baked and raw Agaricus bisporus (AB) mushroom were tested for
      mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA1535 and TA1537. The
      extracts were studied with and without metabolic activation by Aroclor-induced
      rat liver S9 mix. The extracts of the baked and raw AB exhibited a dose related
      mutagenic activity with and without activation in strain TA1535. Similar findings
      were obtained in strain TA1537, although the net revertant values were of lower
      magnitude. Because humans mainly consume the cultivated mushroom AB in baked
      form, the implications of the findings are self-evident.

PMID- 1457741
TI  - Anti-influenza virus activity of a lignin fraction from cone of Pinus parviflora
      Sieb. et Zucc.
AB  - When mice were inoculated intranasally or intracerebrally with lethal doses of
      influenza virus A/WSN/33, most died within 12 days. However, the infectivity of
      virus that had been preincubated with a lignin prepared from cones of Pinus
      parviflora Sieb. et Zucc. (PC-Fr. VI) was significantly reduced. Intraperitoneal
      or oral administration of PC-Fr. VI, prior to virus inoculation, slightly
      increased the survival ratio of the infected mice. Experiments using radiolabeled
      PC-Fr. VI revealed that this fraction effectively binds to virions as well as to
      cultured cells. These data suggest that PC-Fr. VI either inactivates the virus or
      induces the anti-viral state in cells by binding to virions or cells.

PMID- 1457742
TI  - Effects of a human urinary kininogenase (SK-827) on cerebral microcirculation
      after glass bead-induced cerebral embolism in rabbits.
AB  - The pharmacological effects of a human urinary kininogenase (SK-827) on the
      cerebral microcirculation were studied intravital-microscopically in a rabbit
      with cerebral microvessel injury induced by glass bead injection into an internal
      carotid artery. Intravenous administration of SK-827 dilated pial arteries of the
      brain and increased cerebral hemoglobin content (IHb). SK-827 tended to dilate
      smaller arterioles more markedly than larger arterioles, and larger arterioles
      than small arteries. SK-827 appeared to have a vasodilating effects qualitatively
      different from those of nicardipine and CDP-choline. Findings obtained by
      concurrent hematological and biochemical examinations also suggested its
      beneficial effects on the function of platelets and erythrocytes.

PMID- 1457744
TI  - Changes in the chicken bursa of Fabricius and immune response after treatment
      with melatonin.
AB  - Since melatonin causes considerable reduction in the thymic weight of chickens,
      the aim of the present study was to find out whether the bursa of Fabricius and
      the immune response are also affected by this substance. The results show that
      melatonin also acts on the bursa of Fabricius depending upon the administration
      route. When injected subcutaneously it does not reduce bursal weight and the
      histological pattern does not change, while primary and secondary immune
      responses are significantly lowered. When melatonin is introduced into the bursa,
      it causes a considerable decrease in bursal weight and the histological pattern
      is greatly modified. A significant reduction in antibody production is observed
      involving the primary immune response alone. Transmission electronic microscopy
      seems to show that melatonin affects the reticulo-epithelial (REp) cells.

PMID- 1457743
TI  - Suppressive effect of vitamin E on lipid peroxidation in halothane-administered
      guinea pig liver.
AB  - The effect of vitamin E on halothane-induced liver damage was studied in guinea
      pig halothane hepatitis. Twenty animals were divided into 3 groups, consisting of
      a control group, a halothane group and a vitamin E + halothane (H) group. The
      animals in the control group (n = 6) were allowed to inhale air only. The animals
      in the halothane group (n = 6) and the vitamin E + H group (n = 8) were allowed
      to inhale 1% halothane with air. Animals in the vitamin E + H group were
      additionally injected with 30 mg kg-1 of vitamin E 30 minutes prior to inhalation
      of halothane. Blood was aspirated from the heart immediately after sacrificing to
      measure the serum activity of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and
      glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT). A microsomal suspension was prepared from
      the excised liver. Then the amount of thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactive products
      in the microsomes were measured. The amount of tissue TBA-reactive products was
      increased by inhalation of halothane. The increase in the amount of TBA-reactive
      product was inhibited by the administration of vitamin E. The serum GPT activity
      was increased by halothane inhalation. Increased serum GOT and GPT activity were
      inhibited by the administration of vitamin E. These results demonstrated that
      vitamin E suppressed halothane-induced liver damage in the guinea pig by
      inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

PMID- 1457745
TI  - The high resolution RBG-banded karyotype of Felis catus.

PMID- 1457746
TI  - Thirty day genotoxicity study of an organophosphate insecticide, monocrotophos,
      in a chick in vivo test system.
AB  - The genotoxicity of an organophosphate insecticide, monocrotophos, was evaluated
      upon chronic exposure in a chick in vivo test system employing micronucleus
      bioassay. In this study the animals were treated once daily for 30 days. The
      induced frequency of micronuclei in the erythrocytes of both bone marrow (BM) and
      peripheral blood (PB) were significantly higher than the respective control
      values. Weekly recording of the body weight of treated and control groups did not
      reveal any significant effect of the chemical on the general growth rate. The
      present results revealed the genotoxic potential of monocrotophos and also
      substantiate our earlier suggestion regarding the suitability of the chick in
      vivo test system to screen environmental abuses for mutagenicity.

PMID- 1457747
TI  - Monocyte release and plasma levels of interleukin-6 in patients irradiated for
      cancer.
AB  - Interleukin-6 (IL-6) release from purified blood monocytes was determined in
      patients with breast cancer or prostatic cancer before and after radiation
      treatment (Rx). Plasma levels of IL-6 and neopterin were also determined.
      Spontaneous IL-6 release in vitro was higher in breast than in prostatic cancer
      or in controls. Strong lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cellular IL-6 release was
      detected in breast cancer and controls but was subnormal in prostatic cancer.
      Addition of indomethacin to cultures had no effect on IL-6 release. Rx generally
      increased levels of in vitro released IL-6 and raised LPS-stimulated IL-6
      secretion in prostatic cancer to normal. Plasma levels of IL-6 were lower in
      breast than in prostatic cancer or controls. Rx resulted in a tendency towards
      raised levels in both patient groups suggestive of monocyte activation. In
      accordance with this, plasma levels of neopterin, which were normal before
      treatment, increased in prostatic cancer patients after Rx. Taken together, the
      results of this study indicate that monocyte release as well as plasma levels of
      IL-6 are affected by the malignant state as well as by radiation treatment. In
      view of the antiproliferative effects of IL-6, the findings may have bearing on
      the pathogenesis and treatment of malignant disease.

PMID- 1457748
TI  - Intraperitoneal injection of dipyridamole increases the life span of tumor
      bearing mice treated with fluorouracil.
AB  - This study was carried out to investigate the effect of the Fluorouracil (5-FU)
      and Dipyridamole (DP) combination on the growth of P388 murine lymphoid
      neoplasms. The first stage was to determine the lethal dose (LD 50) for each
      compound (5-FU, DP) to normal B6D2F1 mice after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection.
      The LD 50 were 700 and 54 mg/kg for DP and 5-FU respectively. B6D2F1 mice bearing
      P388 ascitic tumors and receiving a 4-day schedule of 5-FU (2 mg/kg/day) with DP
      (100 mg/kg/day) 1 hr before each 5-FU dose were studied. DP was found to lower
      significantly (p < 0.0001) the mortality of 5-FU in tumor bearing mice by nearly
      2.5 fold. This study aims at defining the best dose combination of
      intraperitoneal injection of 5-FU in conjunction with DP. These data allow a
      prospective evaluation of 4-day, i.p. 5-FU and DP with an increase of life span
      without toxic death.

PMID- 1457749
TI  - Histopathological changes in rat pancreas after fasting and cassava feeding.
AB  - Histopathological changes in rat pancreas were induced by cyclic periods of
      experimental malnutrition or by cassava (manioc) feeding for 11 weeks. Decline of
      body weight was correlated with decrease in testicular fat pad weight as a
      measure of body fat stores. A marked decrease in pancreatic weight in the cassava
      fed group was correlated with shrinkage of acinar structures and degenerative
      features in exocrine pancreas. In the malnutrition group vacuolisation and loss
      of tissue architecture were observed in some parts of the organ. No signs of
      ductal obstruction as a tentative cause of pancreatic pathology after
      malnutrition could be detected. Loss of islets tissue was occasionally seen in
      degenerative areas. It is concluded that histopathological changes in exocrine
      pancreas result from malnutrition and cassava feeding differentially and precede
      ultimate degenerative processes of pancreas endocrine tissue. Tropical
      malnutrition type diabetes and low protein related diabetes may in their etiology
      be different entities, but may coincide in practice and aggravate each other to
      yield severe and irreversible morbidity.

PMID- 1457751
TI  - Hypertension associated with diabetes mellitus--past and future.

PMID- 1457750
TI  - Improved efficacy of doxorubicin by simultaneous treatment with interferon-gamma
      and interleukin-2.
AB  - Doxorubicin (DOX) is a potent anticancer agent active against a wide range of
      human neoplasms, yet, as is characteristic of most chemotherapeutics, the
      treatment of cancer with DOX alone has met with only limited success. This study
      was designed to investigate the possibility that the therapeutic potential of DOX
      could be enhanced by combination with one or more biological response modifiers.
      Segments (1mm3) of a transplantable colonic adenocarcinoma were implanted into
      the hind limbs of male WAG rats (200-250g). Serial tumour measurements were taken
      3 x weekly throughout the 4 week experimental period by measuring the longest and
      perpendicular lengths with calibrated calipers. All drug administration was via a
      chronic indwelling jugular catheter, commencing 12 days after tumour implant,
      with control animals receiving physiological saline. Treatment of animals with
      DOX (4.5mg/kg as a 15 minute i.v. infusion), interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) (5 x
      10(5) U/kg/day bolus i.v. for 5 days) or interleukin-2 (IL-2) (1 x 10(5)U/rat/day
      continuous i.v. infusion for 5 days) retarded tumour growth by approximately 30%
      by the completion of the study period (P < 0.001). The combined administration of
      IFN-gamma with DOX did not significantly alter the antitumour activity of either
      DOX or IFN-gamma. Concurrent administration of IL-2 with DOX also showed this
      treatment to have no therapeutic activity over that achievable with either agent
      alone. However, treatment of animals with IL-2, IFN-gamma and DOX resulted in a
      significant increase in tumour growth inhibition compared to DOX with either
      single cytokine (P < 0.001) and this was achieved without any apparent increases
      in the gross toxicity of DOX.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457752
TI  - Coronary artery disease is the major determinant of excess mortality in patients
      with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and persistent proteinuria.
AB  - The goal of this review was to assess the magnitude of coronary artery disease
      (CAD) mortality and its determinants in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
      (IDDM) patients with persistent proteinuria. By reanalyzing data from two
      previously published studies of patients with nephropathy, it was found that
      these patients had extremely high CAD mortality rates in comparison with IDDM
      patients without proteinuria, but only after the age of 35 yr. In addition, the
      risk of CAD death was associated with high serum cholesterol levels but was
      unrelated to systemic blood pressure, smoking habits, and obesity. Further
      studies of the determinants of CAD in patients with IDDM and proteinuria are
      urgently needed. Except for efforts to lower serum cholesterol, it is not known
      whether any other measure can be undertaken to reduce the extremely high
      mortality due to CAD that afflicts IDDM patients with persistent proteinuria, in
      particular those patients whose renal failure might have been "successfully"
      postponed by antihypertensive therapy.

PMID- 1457753
TI  - Cost-effectiveness of screening and early treatment of nephropathy in patients
      with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
AB  - Studies have demonstrated that "antihypertensive" treatment with angiotensin
      converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) may retard the progress of nephropathy in
      patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. To obtain an indication of the
      potential effect of ACEI treatment and as a guide to future research, the effects
      of screening and early ACEI treatment programs were estimated using cost
      effectiveness models. The preliminary analysis suggests that the early treatment
      of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients with ACEI is likely to be a very
      cost-effective use of health care resources. The cost-effectiveness ratio for
      screening and treatment at the stage of microalbuminuria ($7,900 to $16,500 per
      year of life saved) compares favorably with those of other medical life-saving
      interventions. Less-aggressive programs (screening followed by treatment at the
      stage of proteinuria) would improve life expectancy to a lesser extent but could
      save net health care costs as well as years of life. Although more exact and
      comprehensive cost-effectiveness analysis must await clinical trials, these
      illustrative results demonstrate the range of cost-effectiveness that can be
      expected from these programs and identify data needed for more decisive policy
      conclusions.

PMID- 1457754
TI  - Hypertension and the development of complications in patients with non-insulin
      dependent diabetes mellitus in Japan.
AB  - Hypertension is a very frequent condition in individuals with non-insulin
      dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in Japan and has affected the occurrence of
      late diabetic complications, especially stroke and nephropathy. Despite similar
      characteristics of hypertension among Japanese and white patients, the effect of
      hypertension on the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) in these two
      populations is strikingly different. In white NIDDM patients, hypertension is one
      of the major risk factors for the development of CAD. However, CAD is an
      infrequent complication in NIDDM patients in Japan, even though they have
      hypertension, lipid abnormalities, and renal complications.

PMID- 1457755
TI  - Hypertension and coronary artery disease in non-insulin dependent diabetes--cause
      and effect?
AB  - There is a log-linear increase in the risk of coronary heart disease with
      elevation of levels of blood pressure. Allowing for the phenomenon of regression
      dilution bias, this corresponds to around a 20 to 25% increase in risk for each 5
      to 6 mm Hg elevation in usual diastolic blood pressure. In diabetic subjects, a
      similar relationship occurs, but of somewhat lesser degree. Recent overviews of
      therapy suggest that in nondiabetics, reducing blood pressure reverses around 50%
      of the excess coronary heart disease risk, but this has not yet been conclusively
      shown in patients with diabetes. The reduction in risk with therapy is a
      prerequisite to defining the antecedent as a causal influence on outcome, but it
      is as likely that the incomplete reversibility of excess risk represents other
      pathways of connection between hypertension and coronary heart disease as a
      consequent of iatrogenic effects of current treatments. Several alternative
      mechanisms are outlined, and the suggestion is made that only in the context of
      randomized controlled studies could the possible benefits on coronary heart
      disease of agents influencing such mechanisms be assessed.

PMID- 1457756
TI  - Pharmacologic therapy of mild to moderate hypertension: possible generalizability
      to diabetics.
AB  - This article reviews the evidence on pharmacologic therapy of hypertension in
      reducing morbidity and mortality from stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) and
      considers the possible generalizability of these findings to diabetics. For
      malignant hypertension, benefits are large and obvious from uncontrolled case
      series. For severe hypertension, conclusive benefits have been shown in several
      randomized trials. For mild to moderate hypertension, however, it is necessary to
      consider meta-analyses of all individual trials. The most comprehensive of these
      shows reductions of 42% for total stroke (95% Cl, -33 to -50%; P < 0.0001) and
      14% for all CHD (95% Cl, -4 to -22%; P < 0.01). The applicability to diabetics is
      unclear because they were excluded from most of the trials. The Hypertension
      Detection and Follow-Up Program included diabetics and reported subgroup
      analyses. The reduction in mortality among the actively treated diabetics of 5%
      was less than the 17% achieved in nondiabetics. It is unclear, however, whether
      the mortality reductions are truly different or reflect the play of chance.
      Because of the higher incidence of CHD events among diabetics with hypertension,
      a similar relative benefit would result in a much greater absolute risk
      reduction. Further, the drugs used adversely affect lipid and glucose metabolism.
      New antihypertensive drugs without these side effects may further improve the
      risk-to-benefit ratio of antihypertensive treatment, especially in diabetics, who
      are at a several-fold absolute increased risk or cardiovascular disease.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457757
TI  - Identifying genetic determinants in human essential hypertension.
AB  - Genetic factors play an important role in the pathophysiology of human essential
      hypertension. The remarkable success of molecular genetic techniques in
      identifying the basis for single gene disorders at the DNA level has encouraged
      investigators to apply similar techniques in an attempt to identify blood
      pressure genes. In contrast to single gene disorders, however, the study of blood
      pressure is complicated by its quantitative, complex, heterogeneous, and
      polygenic nature. This article examines current methods and strategies for
      identifying genetic determinants in human hypertension. The availability of
      highly polymorphic markers, the advances in quantitative trait analysis, and the
      mapping of blood pressure-determining genes in a polygenic rat model of
      hypertension suggest that molecular genetic research in human hypertension has
      come of age.

PMID- 1457758
TI  - Predisposition to essential hypertension and the development of diabetic
      nephropathy.
AB  - Only a subset of insulin-dependent diabetic patients are at risk of developing
      nephropathy. Prospective studies of uncomplicated insulin-dependent diabetic
      cohorts have shown that a rise in systemic arterial pressure is a concomitant
      feature of the progression to early nephropathy. The development of hypertension
      is an integral feature of established nephropathy in diabetes, and its
      amelioration retards the progression of disease and may improve overall
      mortality. Family studies have suggested that nondiabetic parents of insulin
      dependent diabetic patients with nephropathy have a greater prevalence of
      hypertension, and in certain groups of non-insulin dependent patients, it has
      been found that the blood pressure before the onset of diabetes correlates with
      the development of nephropathy after the onset of diabetes. These results
      indicate that a propensity to hypertension may be part of the genetic
      predisposition to nephropathy. This contention is further supported by the
      finding that a raised erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport, a biochemical
      marker of hypertension and cardiovascular disease whose activity is largely
      genetically determined, occurs with greater frequency in proteinuric diabetic
      patients and their nondiabetic parents than in those diabetic patients without
      nephropathy and their parents. Recent family studies have also shown that a
      family history of cardiovascular disease significantly increases the risk of
      nephropathy by up to three-fold in insulin-dependent diabetes. It is suggested
      that the cardiorenal complications of diabetes mellitus may be linked to reduced
      insulin sensitivity, which itself is associated with hypertension, raised sodium
      lithium countertransport rates, and cardiovascular disease.

PMID- 1457759
TI  - Predisposition to essential hypertension and renal hemodynamics in recent-onset
      insulin-dependent diabetic patients.
AB  - The offspring of essential hypertensive parents have been found to exhibit
      abnormalities in renal hemodynamics and sodium handling before the eventual
      occurrence of hypertension. The reported abnormalities represent a wide spectrum
      of changes including increased GFR, normal or decreased RPF, slight increase in
      blood pressure (although within the normal range), and an exaggerated natriuresis
      response to a sodium load. The heterogeneity of these abnormalities may reflect
      the specific conditions of the studies, the lability of the changes, or different
      subgroups of subjects with genetic predisposition to essential hypertension.
      Several lines of evidence have suggested a relationship between hypertension and
      the development of diabetic nephropathy in insulin-dependent diabetics. This
      laboratory has found that recent-onset insulin-dependent diabetics can exhibit
      renal hemodynamics abnormalities very early in the course of diabetes according
      to a positive or negative family history of essential hypertension. These changes
      include increased GFR and mean arterial pressure, but no differences in renal
      sodium and lithium handling in diabetics with a genetic predisposition to
      essential hypertension. In addition, diabetics with a positive family history of
      essential hypertension exhibited a more-marked vasodilative response to an acute
      interruption of the renin-angiotensin system, further suggesting inadequate
      angiotensin modulation of renal vascular tone. The significance of these
      abnormalities in relation to the development of diabetic nephropathy requires
      further investigation.

PMID- 1457760
TI  - Sodium activation kinetics of red blood cell Na+/Li+ countertransport in
      diabetes: methodology and controversy.
AB  - Although many studies report an elevated Vmax of red blood cell Na/Li
      countertransport (CTT) activity in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes
      mellitus (IDDM) complicated by renal disease, divergent reports exist. This
      article reviews the technical issues and selection criteria that fuel this
      controversy. In addition, new studies from this laboratory indicate that insulin
      in vitro and in the nonfasted state modulate CTT activity and may contribute to
      the discrepant findings. Incubation of red blood cells from fasted controls with
      physiologic concentrations of insulin induced a twofold increase in the Km for
      external Na+. Similarly, Na+ activation kinetics of Li+ efflux showed saturation
      between 50 and 150 mM Na+ in fasted controls whereas saturation, postprandially,
      occurred between 100 and 150 mM Na+ as a result of an increase in Km. To clarify
      the role of prandial status on the measurement of Na+/Li+ CTT activity in
      diabetes, Na+ activation kinetics were investigated in 34 nonfasting patients
      with IDDM. Li+ efflux was fully saturated between 80 and 150 mM Na+ in the
      normoalbuminuric subjects (N = 22), whereas saturation occurred between 150 and
      280 mM Na+ in the patients with diabetic nephropathy (N = 14). Patients with
      nephropathy have higher values of Km for Na+ than do the patients free of renal
      complications (86 +/- 9.5 versus 41.3 +/- 3.4 mM Na+, respectively; P <
      0.000012). The higher Km prevented complete saturation of Li+ efflux at 150 mM
      extracellular Na+ concentration and contributed to the underestimation of Vmax at
      150 mM Na+ selectively in persons with renal complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457761
TI  - Close relationship between microalbuminuria and insulin resistance in essential
      hypertension and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships among insulin
      resistance and albumin excretion rate in 25 nondiabetic patients with essential
      hypertension and in 28 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
      (NIDDM). Two groups of healthy subjects matched for age, sex, and weight served
      as controls. Patients with essential hypertension were divided into two
      subgroups: without (H1) and with (H2) microalbuminuria. Diabetic patients were
      divided into four subgroups: those with normoalbuminuria without (NIDDM1) and
      with (NIDDM2) hypertension and those with microalbuminuria without (NIDDM3) and
      with (NIDDM4) hypertension. Whole-body glucose utilization during euglycemic
      hyperinsulinemic clamp (40 mU/m2/min insulin infusion) was calculated by tracer
      dilution techniques (6,6 2H2 glucose tracer continuous infusion) and was
      significantly lower in hypertensives with microalbuminuria than in those without
      (H2 versus H1 versus controls: 3.41 +/- 0.51 versus 6.52 +/- 0.62 versus 7.03 +/-
      0.48 mg/kg/min; mean +/- SE). Whole-body glucose utilization in NIDDM patients-
      NIDDM4 versus NIDDM3 versus NIDDM2 versus NIDDM1 versus controls--was: 1.86 +/-
      0.31 versus 2.21 +/- 0.39 versus 2.01 +/- 0.40 versus 5.98 +/- 0.77 versus 5.52
      +/- 0.92 mg/kg/min (mean +/- SE). Whereas the first three subgroups did not
      differ among themselves, they had significantly lower glucose utilization than
      did the normotensive NIDDM1 patients without microalbuminuria and nondiabetic
      controls (P < 0.01). Hypertensives with microalbuminuria had higher Vmax of
      sodium-lithium countertransport (Na/Li CTT) in red blood cells than did both
      hypertensives without microalbuminuria and controls. It was also observed that
      NIDDM patients with microalbuminuria had higher Vmax of Na/Li CTT than did NIDDM
      patients without microalbuminuria and controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457762
TI  - Normal blood pressure in patients with insulinoma despite hyperinsulinemia and
      insulin resistance.
AB  - This article examines the relationship between blood pressure and serum insulin
      patients with endogenous hyperinsulinemia due to insulinomas. The hypothesis that
      hyperinsulinemia is an independent causal factor in the development of essential
      hypertension in this patient population was investigated. Inappropriately high
      plasma concentrations of insulin and proinsulin were found in these patients;
      however, their blood pressure levels did not differ from those of normal control
      subjects. Moreover, the surgical removal of the insulinomas did not reduce their
      blood pressure. Therefore, these findings argue against the hypothesis that
      hyperinsulinemia is an independent causal factor in the development of essential
      hypertension in humans.

PMID- 1457763
TI  - Alterations in insulin receptor and substrate phosphorylation in hypertensive
      rats.
AB  - Insulin stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and of an
      endogenous substrate of approximately 185 kd (insulin receptor substrate 1 or IRS
      1) in most cell types. Tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor and of IRS-1
      have been implicated in insulin signal transmission based on studies with insulin
      receptor mutants. In the study presented here, the levels and phosphorylation
      state of the insulin receptor and IRS-1 in liver and muscle after insulin
      stimulation in vivo have been examined in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)
      by immunoblotting with antipeptide antibodies to insulin receptor and IRS-1 and
      antiphosphotyrosine antibodies. It was found that the levels of insulin receptor
      and IRS-1 protein in liver and muscle are similar in controls (Wistar-Kyoto rats)
      and SHR. By contrast, there is a decrease in autophosphorylation in the liver and
      muscle of SHR and a parallel decrease in phosphorylation of IRS-1. These data
      indicate that reduced insulin receptor kinase activity and reduced substrate
      phosphorylation may play an important role in the impaired insulin action in the
      hypertensive rat.

PMID- 1457764
TI  - Cellular ions in hypertension, insulin resistance, obesity, and diabetes: a
      unifying theme.
AB  - The clinical linkage of hypertensive cardiovascular disease, left ventricular
      hypertrophy, and accelerated atherosclerosis with a spectrum of metabolic
      disturbances including peripheral insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, obesity,
      and frank non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, has been increasingly
      appreciated. However, the underlying biologic basis mediating this clinical
      association remains unclear. Nuclear magnetic resonance techniques have been used
      to measure various intracellular ion species in human erythrocytes and have found
      that common, shared intracellular abnormalities of cytosolic free calcium, free
      magnesium, and pH occur in each of these clinical syndromes. Specifically,
      essential hypertension is characterized by higher fasting free cytosolic calcium
      concentrations and reciprocally lower intracellular free magnesium and pH levels
      compared with those of normotensive control subjects. Furthermore, for all
      subjects, free calcium and free magnesium levels were closely related both to the
      left ventricular mass and to the degree of insulin resistance present. Moreover,
      these same intracellular ionic lesions were found in normotensive obese and/or
      non-insulin diabetic individuals. Last, evidence has recently been provided that
      the cardiovascular consequences of increased dietary sugar and salt intake may
      well be determined by their concurrent influence on cellular ion metabolism.
      These data led to a hypothesis for a central role for altered cellular ion
      homeostasis in mediating the clinical linkage of cardiovascular and metabolic
      disease. According to this ionic hypothesis, essential hypertension, non-insulin
      dependent diabetes, and their frequently associated features of obesity, left
      ventricular hypertrophy, and accelerated atherosclerosis all derive from and
      reflect different clinical manifestations of the same underlying cellular lesion,
      characterized at least in part by elevated cytosolic free calcium and suppressed
      free magnesium levels.

PMID- 1457765
TI  - Molecular genetic approaches to the identification of genes involved in the
      development of nephropathy in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
AB  - Genetic factors contribute significantly to the development of diabetic
      nephropathy in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. This report
      discusses some models of diabetic nephropathy that incorporate genetic
      susceptibility and presents strategies for identifying the responsible genes. To
      identify variation at a locus, newly developed methods are discussed that employ
      denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis to study sequence differences in both
      polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA fragments and genomic DNA. These
      techniques are illustrated with studies of the angiotensinogen gene and the
      insulin receptor gene. In preliminary data from a comparison between individuals
      with and without diabetic nephropathy, no DNA sequence difference in that part of
      the angiotensinogen gene that codes for angiotensin I was found. However, with a
      probe corresponding to exons 7 and 8 of the insulin receptor gene and denaturing
      gradient gel electrophoresis of Rsal digestions of genomic DNA, different
      distributions of a DNA polymorphism were found in patients with fast as compared
      with slowly progressing nephropathy. The interpretation of this finding and the
      need for further studies are discussed. In conclusion, the advent of methods of
      molecular genetics makes possible studies on genetic determinants of diabetic
      nephropathy. However, more clinical and epidemiologic data are needed to find out
      how many genes are involved and how they interact with exposure to diabetes.
      Foremost, DNA from families with two or more siblings with diabetic nephropathy
      must be collected to permit the necessary genetic studies.

PMID- 1457766
TI  - Does antihypertensive treatment prevent progression of microalbuminuria to overt
      proteinuria in insulin-dependent diabetic patients?
AB  - Prospective studies in insulin-dependent diabetic patients have shown that
      microalbuminuria is a strong predictor of clinical nephropathy. Because this
      syndrome is associated with a dramatic excess in mortality, different types of
      intervention have been proposed for insulin-dependent diabetic patients with
      microalbuminuria to prevent or postpone clinical nephropathy. The effects of
      antihypertensive treatment are being extensively investigated. Beta-blockers,
      calcium antagonists, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have proved
      effective in reducing albumin excretion and postponing overt proteinuria in
      hypertensive and normotensive insulin-dependent diabetic patients with
      microalbuminuria. However, many problems remain to be solved. A decrease in
      albumin excretion may not be an adequate endpoint for intervention trials,
      because it has been shown that patients with normal albumin excretion can develop
      diabetic nephropathy lesions, whereas patients with microalbuminuria alone may
      have little or no pathology. The patients included in these trials all had
      incipient diabetic nephropathy but exhibited different functional, and probably
      morphological, forms of the disease. For insulin-dependent diabetic patients with
      microalbuminuria, the real aim of antihypertensive treatment is not to reduce
      urinary albumin excretion or to prevent its progression but to preserve renal
      function and to reduce the incidence of premature cardiovascular deaths. To
      achieve this, we have to improve our knowledge of the natural history of the
      early pathology of diabetic nephropathy and of the mechanisms of action of
      antihypertensive treatment. New large-scale intervention trials will have to be
      designed in which the patients will have to be carefully characterized on the
      basis of functional and morphological data.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457768
TI  - [Cancer of the gastric stump].
AB  - 627 cases of gastric cancer treated surgically during the last 5 years, at the
      Hospital Nacional "Edgardo Rebagliati Martins" from Instituto Peruano de
      Seguridad Social (Lima-Peru) were revised. 4 of the patients had been operated
      before of hemigastrectomy or antrectomy with pyloroplasty for peptic ulcer. The
      time between the first operation and diagnosis of cancer of the gastric stump was
      more than 20 years. 3 of these cases were able to be resected. The international
      incidence of cancer in the gastric stump is 1.1% to 9.2% according to different
      authors. The risk is higher after 15 years. In the pathogenesis are advocated the
      lower gastric acidity, biliary reflux, the presence of bacteria, the formation of
      nitrosamines, intestinal metaplasia, etc. Is necessary to perform periodic
      endoscopic survey in patients who were treated surgically of peptic ulcer with
      antrectomy or hemigastrectomy with more than 15 years of evolution.

PMID- 1457767
TI  - A controlled clinical trial of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition in type I
      diabetic nephropathy: study design and patient characteristics. The Collaborative
      Study Group.
AB  - A placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial has been initiated to determine
      whether angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) therapy with captopril (25
      mg three times daily) slows the progressive loss of renal function in patients
      with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Entry criteria include; (1) ages 18 to 50 yr; (2)
      onset of insulin-dependent diabetes before the age of 30 yr, insulin dependent
      for at least 7 yr; (3) 24-h urine protein excretion > 500 mg, plus: (a) diabetic
      retinopathy or (b) if no retinopathy, a renal biopsy diagnosis of diabetic
      nephropathy; (4) serum creatinine (SCr) < 2.5 mg/dL; (5) informed consent.
      Patients follow strict medical management protocols. Systemic blood pressure is
      controlled to predefined goals (< 140-90 mm Hg). The primary outcome of the Study
      is a doubling of the patients' entry SCr to at least 2 mg/dL confirmed by a > 50%
      decrease in GFR by radioactive iothalamate clearance technique. Baseline
      characteristics of the cohort at entry into the Study are (mean +/- SD):
      male/female, 52%/48%; age, 35 +/- 8 yr; duration of diabetes, 21 +/- 7 yr;
      duration of proteinuria, 2.8 +/- 3.3 yr; duration of retinopathy, 4.5 +/- 4.1 yr;
      50% of cohort presented with hypertension, duration, 4 +/- 4.7 yr; blood
      pressure, 139/86 +/- 19/12; SCr, 1.35 +/- 0.44 mg/dL; GFR 78 +/- 32 mL/min; BUN,
      24 +/- 11 mg/dL; proteinuria, 3.1 +/- 3.3 g/day; cholesterol, 236 +/- 50 mg/dL;
      total glycosylated hemoglobin, 11.1 +/- 2.1%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457769
TI  - [Polyps of the colon and the rectum].
AB  - This is a retrospective study en 189 cases of colorectal polyps, from 1985-1989
      including medical record review, pathologic diagnosis and surgical management.
      The main symptom was rectal bleeding. The follow up period and it's relation to
      colorectal cancer was evaluated, considering this entity as a premalignant
      lesion. 189 histopathology slides were reclassified according to the actual
      classification. Males were predominant (69%), with increasing incidence from the
      fifth decade (62% of the total); a 2% malignization rate was found.

PMID- 1457770
TI  - [New epidemic outbreak of cholera in Lima].
AB  - We report a new outbreak of cholera on the beginning of last Summer (Dec. 91 and
      Jan 92). Were 281 patients, 63% male and 36% female, treated in our Cholera Unit
      of treatment; all of them coming from marginal-urban populations. There was a
      rate of lethality of inpatients of 0.46% and a mortality of 0.25% over the total
      of patients that we saw in our hospital; on this summer the outbreak is early and
      greatest than the summer of 1991. We can conclude that because of epidemic
      behavior during the whole 1991 and in the time elapsed of 1992, Peru has become
      an endemic zone of this new disease, while the current epidemiologic settings
      stay unchanged.

PMID- 1457771
TI  - [Redefining dyspepsia].
AB  - On the last years there is a discussion about the dyspepsia for its prevalence
      and because the symptoms could indicate a serious disease. Now, there are
      problems with the terminology; functional or organic aspects; it is named non
      ulcer dyspepsia or ulcer-dyspepsia; also with the diagnosis and management. This
      paper is a review about the definition and etiology of dyspepsia.

PMID- 1457772
TI  - [Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with a calcium antagonist (pinaverium
      bromide): experience with 40 cases].

PMID- 1457773
TI  - [Early prognostic risk factors in acute pancreatitis: study of a representative
      population from Peru].
AB  - Thirty-one patients with acute pancreatitis were prospectively evaluated using
      the Early Prognostic Risk Factors of Ranson and Bank & Wise, in order to assess
      severity of that condition. The purpose was to determine the usefulness of such
      factors as clues to orient diagnosis and treatment of acute pancreatitis,
      particularly in the most severe clinical forms; and the factibility of using them
      in our setting. The presence of 4 or more of Ranson's and/or 1 or more of Bank &
      Wise Factors fulfilling positive criteria, identified the patients with a high
      risk of complications and mortality. Hypocalcemia, leucocytosis and hyperuricemia
      were the most frequent findings in this group. The development of Early Objective
      Prognostic Risk Factors in acute pancreatitis, as a clinical concept, has
      improved the management of these patients. It allows to establish diagnosis and
      therapeutics upon objective basis.

PMID- 1457774
TI  - Small GTP-binding proteins as compartmental markers.
AB  - Each intracellular compartment involved in the biosynthetic/secretory pathway of
      eukaryotic cells bears at its surface at least one small GTP-binding protein.
      Most of them belong to a distinct branch of the p21ras superfamily, the
      Sec4/Ypt1/rab family. Other proteins are members of the ARF family. They play a
      key role in the regulation of budding and targeting/fusion events occurring
      during protein transport.

PMID- 1457775
TI  - Beauty and the yeast: compartmental organization of the secretory pathway.
AB  - Our perception of intracellular organelles and cellular architecture was
      initially based on striking light and electron micrographs of animal and plant
      cells. The high degree of compartmental organization within specialized mammalian
      secretory cells aided early efforts to track the movement of proteins through the
      organelles of the secretory pathway. In contrast, the morphological detail of the
      yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae appeared superficially simple, even primitive, by
      comparison with the higher eukaryotic cells. However, the combination of genetic
      tools and the development of assays reconstituting vesicular traffic in yeast
      have facilitated the identification and characterization of individual proteins
      that function in the secretory pathway. Analogies between the function of yeast
      and mammalian proteins in vesicular traffic are being drawn with increasing
      frequency. In this review, the combination of genetic, biochemical, molecular and
      cell biological approaches used to study compartmental organization in the yeast
      secretory pathway will be discussed. The rapid progress in our understanding of
      yeast membrane traffic has revealed the beauty of working with this organism.

PMID- 1457776
TI  - Subcompartments of the endoplasmic reticulum.
AB  - The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the largest continuous endomembrane structure
      in the cytoplasm. It may be viewed as a series of unique subcompartments. In this
      review, we examine the rough ER, nuclear envelope and several smooth ER
      subcompartments. Consideration is given to the characteristic properties and
      functions of the ER and its domains, and to the formation and maintenance of
      subcompartments. Associations within the ER membrane bilayer, and with
      constituents of the cytoplasm and the ER lumen, contribute to the formation of
      domains and lead to the establishment of subcompartments that reflect specialized
      functions and vary according to the physiologic state and phenotype of the
      individual cell. Although the structural complexity of some ER subcompartments
      (such as the sarcoplasmic reticulum) is highly elaborate, the ER remains a
      dynamic organelle, subject to assembly and disassembly, capable of extensive
      remodelling and active in exchange with other organelles through mechanisms of
      membrane transport.

PMID- 1457777
TI  - Pathways of protein sorting and membrane traffic between the rough endoplasmic
      reticulum and the Golgi complex.
AB  - Recent results have provided increasing evidence for the existence of an
      intermediate membrane compartment between the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the
      Golgi complex which seems to function in protein sorting and the regulation of
      membrane traffic in the early part of the exocytic pathway. Localization of
      resident marker proteins has shown that this compartment consists of both
      peripheral and central elements. The aim of the present review is to combine the
      data on the pre-Golgi compartment with previous ideas of membrane traffic at the
      ER-Golgi interface. We propose a model which describes how mobile, endosome-like
      elements of the pre-Golgi compartment function in the generation of the
      compositional and functional boundary between the widely distributed ER and the
      more centrally located Golgi stacks.

PMID- 1457778
TI  - Biogenesis of secretory granules.
AB  - The biogenesis of secretory granules in endocrine, neuroendocrine, and exocrine
      cells is thought to involve a selective aggregation of the regulated secretory
      proteins into a dense-cored structure. The dense-core is then enveloped by
      membrane in the trans-Golgi network and buds, forming an immature secretory
      granule. The immature secretory granule then undergoes a maturation process which
      gives rise to the mature secretory granule. The recent data on the processes of
      aggregation, budding and maturation are summarized here. In addition, the current
      knowledge about the mature secretory granule is reviewed with emphasis on the
      biogenesis of the membrane of this organelle.

PMID- 1457779
TI  - Healthcare needs scale for patients with HIV/AIDS: content validation.
AB  - The authors of this study adapted Peters' (1987) community health specifications
      of patients' nursing requirements so they could be applied to patients with
      HIV/AIDS in hospital, dedicated outpatient HIV clinic, home care, and long-term
      care settings. The authors then collected validity evidence on the revised
      specifications, developed a sample of 62 multiple-choice items, and obtained
      content-related validity evidence via a judgmental review panel. The results
      produced: (a) a set of specifications for the environmental, psychosocial,
      physiological, and health behaviors domains; and (b) a 44-item scale of patient
      characteristics related to four levels of healthcare needs.

PMID- 1457780
TI  - The legacy of Kimberly Bergalis: unanswered questions. Counterpoint.

PMID- 1457781
TI  - The legacy of Kimberly Bergalis: unanswered questions. Point.

PMID- 1457782
TI  - Genital herpes and prevention of HIV infection: the report of a study in
      progress.
AB  - Although genital herpes is not a reportable disease, research has shown that
      about one in five women and one in eight men carry the antibody. The chronic
      ulcerative disease may place affected individuals at risk for human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This article directs attention to a study
      in-progress of adaptation in young adults with genital herpes. The use of
      qualitative and quantitative approaches in the study of adaptation will increase
      knowledge of adaptation regarding both process and outcome.

PMID- 1457783
TI  - Case management problems and home care.
AB  - The author summarizes a review of the case management problems encountered at the
      Visiting Nurse Service of New York, the largest certified provider of home care
      services to people with AIDS in the world. Case management problems can be
      divided into four general categories: client/significant others,
      housing/community, support services, and nurses' needs. Concrete solutions to
      these problems are discussed. As the number of people with AIDS increases, more
      home care agencies and discharge planners will need to consider these issues when
      planning care in the community.

PMID- 1457784
TI  - Educational learning needs of ANAC members--1991.
AB  - One of the purposes of the Education Committee of ANAC is to assess the learning
      needs of ANAC members. In order to achieve this purpose the Educational Needs
      Assessment tool was developed. It was included in the July 1991 issue of
      ANACDOTES and sent to the 1,116 members of ANAC. One hundred and fifty-five ANAC
      members responded (14%) by the cut-off date of August 15th. Demographic
      information about the respondents was compared to demographic data about ANAC
      members; the top three interest and expertise areas in the primary, secondary,
      tertiary prevention of HIV infection categories were identified. The Educational
      Needs Assessment tool can be used in other settings to plan programs and identify
      learning needs.

PMID- 1457785
TI  - Adolescents and HIV infection.

PMID- 1457786
TI  - Hidden messages.

PMID- 1457787
TI  - [Oral magnetic particles as an MR contrast medium for the gastrointestinal
      tract].
AB  - The authors summarise their experience of four clinical studies with a negative
      oral contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen and pelvis. 140
      patients were enrolled in the studies. These were partly comparative studies pre-
      and post-contrast, partly at 0.5 and 1.5 T, partly pre-injection and post
      injection of glucagon. All patients received 800 ml of a suspension of oral
      magnetic particles "OMP". The distribution of this contrast agent was homogeneous
      throughout the entire GI tract. A complete or partial signal void was observed in
      all patients in T1, T2-, and intermediately weighted images. Generally,
      diagnostic information was higher after contrast. Artifacts caused by peristalsis
      and movement of the diaphragm were fewer after contrast. After contrast metallic
      artifacts were observed in a minority of patients. Adverse events after contrast
      were minimal; they included nausea and vomiting.

PMID- 1457788
TI  - [Manganese DPDP as a contrast medium for MR tomography of focal liver lesions.
      Tolerance and image quality in 20 patients].
AB  - Twenty patients with focal liver lesions (18 metastases, 1 hepatocellular
      carcinoma, 1 cholangiocarcinoma) were given manganese DPDP as part of a
      multicentric phase II study of paramagnetic hepatobiliary MR contrast media. 5
      mumol/kg manganese DPDP were injected into 10 patients in a concentration of 50
      mumol/ml or 10 mumol/ml (3 ml/min). Blood pressure, pulse rate, ECG, respiratory
      rate, body temperature, blood and serum parameters and the patients' subjective
      feelings were recorded. MRI was performed with 1.5 T using T1- and T2-weighted
      sequences. 6 patients reported 8 side effects (flushing, feeling of warmth,
      metallic taste); 7 of these were produced by the 50 mumol concentration. Two
      hours after injection there was a significant reduction in alkaline phosphatase
      which was no longer present after 24 hours. On T1-weighted images manganese DPDP
      resulted in marked improvement in the contrast difference between the lesions and
      the liver parenchyma which resulted in a marked increase in the signal to noise
      ratio. Comparing the two concentrations, better results were obtained by the
      lower concentration. Extrahepatic uptake was found in the gallbladder, duodenum,
      pancreas, kidneys, gastric mucosa and myocardium. Manganese DPDP in a
      concentration of 10 mumol/ml and a dose of 5 mumol/kg is a well tolerated
      contrast medium which improves the demonstration of focal liver lesions in view
      of its distribution and uptake. The mechanisms for the transitory side effects
      require further studies.

PMID- 1457789
TI  - [The value of tumor volumetry as opposed to bidimensional determination of tumor
      size during follow-up of hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma].
AB  - 36 patients with liver metastases due to colorectal carcinoma under treatment
      with arterial perfusion chemotherapy of the liver with 5-fluoro-2-desoxyuridine
      (FUDR) via a subcutaneous pump were investigated by axial liver CT at 6-monthly
      intervals. In all examinations a dynamic CT scan with intravenous bolus injection
      of contrast medium was carried out following a native scan. Changes in tumour
      size were documented by means of 1. volumetry and 2. bidimensional measurement
      according to WHO criteria. Since we were not able to assess small newly
      developing lesions within the liver using the volumetric classification, the WHO
      classification showed much higher sensitivity in cases of progressive disease. In
      addition, volumetric determination of tumour size by means of region-of-interest
      technique proved to be rather impracticable in clinical routine compared to
      bidimensional measurement.

PMID- 1457790
TI  - [The place of portangiography in the follow-up control of locoregional
      chemotherapy].
AB  - 101 portangiographies in patients with liver metastases from colorectal primaries
      who underwent hepatic intraarterial or intraperitoneal chemotherapy were
      performed and studied between January 1991 and February 1992. 81% of the
      examinations did not involve complications. In 19% of the angiographies
      abnormalities of the arterial perfusion of the liver, like occlusion, dissection
      or narrowing of hepatic arteries, were found. We conclude that portangiography is
      a very important investigation before regional chemotherapy.

PMID- 1457791
TI  - [Magnetic resonance tomographic imaging of pulsatile CSF movement in
      communicating hydrocephalus before and after shunt placement].
AB  - 16 patients with hydrocephalus communicans and 5 healthy volunteers were examined
      to demonstrate the pattern of the pulsatile CSF flow. After implantation of a CSF
      shunt system the same patients were examined again to show the influence of the
      shunt on the CSF pulsations. We used a flow-sensitised, cardiac-gated 2D FLASH
      sequence and analysed the phase and magnitude images. It could be shown that most
      patients (n = 12) had a hyperdynamic pulsatile flow preoperatively. After shunt
      implantation the pulsatile CSF motion and the clinical symptoms were improved in
      8 of these patients. MRI of pulsatile CSF flow movement seems to be a helpful
      noninvasive tool to estimate the prognosis of a shunt implantation in patients
      with hydrocephalus communicans.

PMID- 1457792
TI  - [Sonographic findings in lateral ligament lesions of the upper ankle joint
      following conservative and operative therapy].
AB  - 72 patients with injury of the ankle joint were examined with ultrasound after
      therapy. Sonographic findings were assessed by plain x-ray films and stress
      views. In 39 patients an injury of the lateral ligament was treated by surgery
      and in 33 patients without surgery. 40 patients showed a scar of the lateral
      ligaments. Patients treated without surgery and showing a scar in ultrasound
      demonstrated a smaller tilt of the talus in stress views than patients without
      scars. Measurement of stability was not possible. In conclusion, sonography is a
      valuable tool in examining the ankle joint after therapy. With regard to
      stability, stress films cannot be replaced by sonography.

PMID- 1457793
TI  - [Clinical potentialities and limitations of two- and three-dimensional time-of
      flight MR angiography in the diagnosis of carotid stenosis].
AB  - For diagnosing a carotid artery stenosis, 26 patients underwent MR angiography. A
      spin echo (SE) sequence with presaturation on which the flowing blood appears
      with low signal intensity was applied, as well as a two- and three-dimensional
      gradient echo (GRE) sequence with flow compensation, showing blood flow with high
      signal intensity. Subsequently, projection angiograms were made from the MR
      images with a maximum intensity projection algorithm. Degree, length and
      localisation of a carotid artery stenosis were reviewed. To find out the clinical
      usability, the results of the MR angiograms were compared subsequently with the
      findings of intravenous digital subtraction angiography (i.v. DSA). In comparison
      with DSA a correlation in the degree of stenosis was noticed in 42 out of 48 SE-,
      in 39 out of 52 2-D GRE and in 41 out of 48 3-D GRE sequence angiograms. The
      length of 34 moderate and severe stenoses, demonstrated by DSA, was overestimated
      5 times with the SE-sequence, 9 times with the 3-D and 23 times with the 2-D GRE
      sequence. MR angiography with a 3-D GRE sequence is suitable for screening for
      carotid artery stenosis. In cases of severe stenosis an SE sequence should be
      performed for more precise delineation of the stenotic lesion.

PMID- 1457794
TI  - [Doppler and duplex sonography of the vertebral arteries].
AB  - In a prospective study 451 patients were examined with extracranial CW-Doppler
      sonography (mastoidal slope), suboccipital transcranial Doppler sonography and
      colour-coded duplex sonography to evaluate unusual vertebral arteries
      (hypoplasia, stenosis and occlusion). Colour duplex sonography was used as
      reference method. CW-Doppler sonography had a sensitivity of 100% and a
      specificity of 27% for the detection of an unusual vertebral artery. For
      transcranial Doppler sonography these values are 38% and 58%. Our study showed
      that CW-Doppler is a useful screening examination for identifying pathological
      findings of vertebral arteries. In case of abnormalities in CW-Doppler, duplex
      sonography, especially colour-coded duplex sonography, should be added.

PMID- 1457795
TI  - [Angiographic diagnosis in giant cell arteritis of the arm arteries].
AB  - Three women of 66, 68 and 69 years of age presented with chronic arm claudication
      caused by giant cell arteritic stenoses and occlusions of their arm arteries. In
      the early stage of the disease, arteriography revealed smooth or undulatory long
      segment narrowings. Subsequently, spindle-shaped filiform stenoses developed.
      They were unilateral in one patient, bilateral-symmetric in another and like a
      string of beads in the third. In the end, untreated arteritis resulted in
      smoothly tapered occlusions of the diseased vessels. In patients with symptoms
      and signs suggestive of giant cell arteritis, typical arteriographic findings may
      confirm the diagnosis even if histopathological proof is lacking.

PMID- 1457796
TI  - [Magnetic resonance angiography of the renal veins and the vena cava inferior for
      the staging of renal cell carcinoma].
AB  - The staging of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) comprises exclusion of tumour expansion
      into the renal veins and the inferior vena cava (IVC). In 44 patients with RCC
      these vessels were examined using MRA on the basis of "time-of-flight" technique
      (coronal/axial 2D GE-flash-sequence, MIP-algorithm). The method was evaluated
      against contrast-enhanced CT and DSA in normal conditions and tumour-involved IVC
      (n = 12) and renal veins (n = 32) respectively. Following analysis of projection
      angiograms (PA) and individual slices the results of MRA without contrast
      material included an information on vascular tumour extension that was
      identically safe as CT and DSA. In coronal slice orientation tumour extension
      into the vena cava was proven in 100%, and into the renal veins in 84%.
      Additional axial slices were necessary to demonstrate tumour extension into the
      renal veins in unclear cases. Single slices showed to be superior to PA for a
      correct identification of the size of the tumour thrombus.

PMID- 1457797
TI  - [Stent-supported percutaneous therapy of iliac vein stenosis following operative
      thrombectomy and placement of a shunt].
AB  - Among 15 patients with acute thrombotic disease of pelvic veins who had been
      submitted to operative thrombectomy and creation of arteriovenous fistula in the
      groin, 12 presented with stenotic lesions 3 months later. These stenoses were
      submitted to percutaneous angioplasty. If angioplasty failed, percutaneous
      placement of a vascular stent (wall stent) was performed immediately (n = 7).
      Stenting in cross-over-technique proved practicable in all cases. Secondary
      stenotic disease in the exclusively dilated area was observed in 3/5 cases and
      was also treated with a wall stent. In one patient with recurrent stenoses who
      refused stenting, extended thrombosis occurred after occlusion of the AV-fistula.
      At mid-term PTA was successful in only two cases. Intimal hyperplasia was
      observed in only one wall stent treated patient. Percutaneous treatment of
      iliacal stenoses in patients with postthrombotic syndrome may be performed safely
      under the protective effect of the fistula. With the presented technique, patency
      of pelvic veins could be restored in 11/12 patients with postoperative
      significant venous stenoses.

PMID- 1457798
TI  - [Radiation dosage during hysterosalpingography using a digital image intensifying
      technique].
AB  - Hysterosalpingography using a digital and conventional image intensification
      technique was carried out on two groups of 32 patients as part of investigation
      for infertility. Radiation dose was recorded as surface dose. In 51.7% of digital
      images and 54.8% of conventional images the findings were normal. Surface dose
      with conventional technique was 442 +/- 144 cGy/cm2, significantly higher than
      207 +/- 113 cGy/cm2 with digital image intensification. The number of exposures
      was also significantly higher when using the conventional technique. The digital
      images showed no lack of diagnostic detail when compared with the conventional
      100 mm films.

PMID- 1457799
TI  - [Arterial interventional measures using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a contrast
      medium].

PMID- 1457800
TI  - [A rare case of bilateral benign kidney tumors with a complication].

PMID- 1457801
TI  - [Symptomatic chylous prepatellar bursitis following lymphography].

PMID- 1457802
TI  - [The intramural esophageal hematoma].

PMID- 1457803
TI  - [Osteopoikilosis].

PMID- 1457804
TI  - Hemolymph concentrations of host ecdysteroids are strongly suppressed in
      precocious prepupae of Trichoplusia ni parasitized and pseudoparasitized by
      Chelonus near curvimaculatus.
AB  - Regulation of ecdysteroid production in lepidopteran prepupae was studied using a
      parasitic wasp (C. near curvimaculatus) which specifically suppresses host
      prepupal ecdysteroid production after the induction of precocious host
      metamorphosis. At the developmental stage at which the hemolymph of the
      unparasitized metamorphosing host has its maximum titer of prepupal ecdysteroids,
      the hemolymph of 4th instar "truly parasitized" hosts (hosts with a surviving
      endoparasite) had a strongly reduced ecdysteroid titer. However, during the
      photophase about 12 h later, just prior to emergence of the parasite larva, an
      ecdysteroid peak was observed in the host hemolymph. Fourth instar
      pseudoparasitized prepupal hosts (in which the endoparasite was not present or
      died early in development) exhibited a sustained suppression in the hemolymph
      ecdysteroid titer. Small 5th instar pseudoparasitized hosts, which normally would
      molt to a 6th instar prior to metamorphosis, but which precociously attained the
      prepupal stage, also had a strongly reduced ecdysteroid titer. The late increase
      observed in truly parasitized hosts could be completely prevented by surgical
      removal of the parasite 24 h earlier, resulting in a titer similar to that in
      pseudoparasitized hosts. HPLC analysis of ecdysteroids in normal, truly
      parasitized, and 4th or 5th instar pseudoparasitized prepupae showed that both
      ecdysone and 20-OH ecdysone* were suppressed in truly and pseudoparasitized
      prepupae, with ecdysteroid levels being lowest in pseudoparasitized hosts. These
      data, and those of Brown and Reed-Larsen (Biol Contr 1, 136 [1992]), showing
      endoparasite secretion of ecdysteroids just prior to its emergence from the host,
      strongly indicate that: (1) the prepupal peak in truly parasitized hosts
      originates from the endoparasite, and (2) the low level of ecdysteroids in
      pseudoparasitized hosts results from the host's intrinsic inability to express a
      normal level of prepupal ecdysteroid titer. While precocious 4th or 5th instar
      prepupae of similar size had similarly suppressed ecdysteroid titers, smaller 4th
      instar prepupae had a lower ecdysteroid titer than larger, precocious 5th instar
      prepupae. Rare 5th instar pseudoparasitized prepupae that were of nearly normal
      size showed a prepupal ecdysteroid titer distinctly greater than those of the
      usual smaller, precocious 5th instar prepupae. The data suggest that the
      competence of the host to express a normal hemolymph titer of prepupal
      ecdysteroids is more closely correlated with the size of the prepupae than with
      the instar attained.

PMID- 1457805
TI  - A protein from Daudi cell line conditioned medium induces ovarian dysgenesis in
      Drosophila melanogaster.
AB  - From a medium in which Daudi cells had been grown, we isolated by HPLC a protein
      that caused ovarian abnormalities in adult females of Drosophila melanogaster
      when injected into preblastoderm embryos. This protein, whose apparent M(r) is
      between 30,000 and 50,000, was found to be a moderately polar compound which is
      heat stable and whose activity is destroyed by acidification. The protein is
      characteristic of medium conditioned from Daudi cells.

PMID- 1457806
TI  - Non-random distribution and co-localization of purine/pyrimidine-encoded
      information and transcriptional regulatory domains.
AB  - In order to detect sequence-based information predictive for the location of
      eukaryotic transcriptional regulatory domains, the frequencies and distributions
      of the 36 possible purine/pyrimidine reverse complement hexamer pairs was
      determined for test sets of real and random sequences. The distribution of one of
      the hexamer pairs (RRYYRR/YYRRYY, referred to as M1) was further examined in a
      larger set of sequences (> 32 genes, 230 kb). Predominant clusters of M1 and the
      locations of eukaryotic transcriptional regulatory domains were found to be
      associated and non-randomly distributed along the DNA consistent with a
      periodicity of approximately 1.2 kb. In the context of higher ordered chromatin
      this would align promoters, enhancers and the predominant clusters of M1
      longitudinally along one face of a 30 nm fiber. Using only information about the
      distribution of the M1 motif, 50-70% of a sequence could be eliminated as being
      unlikely to contain transcriptional regulatory domains with an 87% recovery of
      the regulatory domains present.

PMID- 1457807
TI  - A simple protocol for the automation of DNA cycle sequencing reactions and
      polymerase chain reactions.
AB  - Automated DNA sequencing methods using robotic workstations have been previously
      reported, however it is often an arduous task to import these technologies into a
      laboratory. We describe protocols making use of a Beckman Biomek 1000 robotic
      workstation to prepare polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and "cycle sequencing"
      reactions to be performed in a Perkin Elmer Cetus System 9600 thermocycler. The
      combination of these two instruments allows a high throughput of PCR and DNA
      sequencing reactions. The programs described are freely available via anonymous
      file transfer protocol (FTP).

PMID- 1457808
TI  - Comparison of the genomic organizations of the rat grp78 and hsc73 gene and their
      evolutionary implications.
AB  - GRP78, a 78-kDa protein localized in the endoplasmic reticulum, is a member of
      the HSP70 protein family. However, unlike hsp70 which is intronless and belongs
      to a multigene family, grp78 is a single copy gene and contains intervening
      sequences. In this aspect, the grp78 gene resembles more closely that of the
      constitutively expressed heat shock cognate gene, hsc73. In this report, we
      compare the grp78 and hsc73 genes and show that: (1) the intron/exon junctions of
      the two genes are not conserved, but occur at similar positions; (2) while the
      protein sequences are highly conserved, being 62% identical, the conservation is
      concentrated at discrete regions over the N-terminal three-fourths of the
      protein; (3) this conservation represents the ATP binding and structural domains
      shared among the members of the HSP70 family; (4) the C-terminus is highly
      divergent and likely represents domains specific for the individual family
      members; and (5) sequences partially homologous to the grp78 5' UTR and signal
      sequence, which targets GRP78 into the ER, are found within an additional first
      intron of hsc73. The evolutionary implications of these two genes are discussed.

PMID- 1457809
TI  - Gene sequences of chicken BDNF and NT-3.
AB  - The respective amino acid sequences of mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor
      (BDNF) and of mature neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) are identical among mammals, making
      these among the structurally conserved factors known. Here we show that only a
      single conservative amino acid substitution distinguishes the chicken mature NT-3
      protein from its mammalian counterpart. Chicken mature BDNF shows slightly more
      variation, differing from mammalian BDNF at several positions. We also note the
      presence of amino acid sequence motifs in the precursor protein sequences of
      chicken BDNF and NT-3 that are universally conserved among all known mammalian
      neurotrophin precursors and have been demonstrated to play a crucial role in
      promoting correct processing of the pro-proteins.

PMID- 1457810
TI  - New protocols for DNA sequencing with dye terminators.
AB  - We have developed a new two-step protocol for Taq cycle sequencing using the ABI
      dye terminators. First, linear PCR is used to extend a single sequencing primer
      in the absence of dye terminators. This nested set of polynucleotides as well as
      the original primer then serve as starting points for the cycled termination
      reactions. Using this method it is easily possible to generate dye terminator raw
      data with much improved signal intensity beyond 400 to 500 bp. We also present a
      quick and convenient method to remove excess of dye terminators by gel filtration
      using 24 mini columns fixed in a block of perspex.

PMID- 1457811
TI  - A standard file format for data from DNA sequencing instruments.
AB  - There are now a number of machines for determining DNA sequences. These devices
      are currently of two types: those such as the Applied Biosystems 373A and the
      Pharmacia A.L.F. which interpret the sequences of samples as they run on gels
      within the machine, and those, such as the Bio-Rad and Amersham readers that scan
      and analyse conventional autoradiographs. Both types of machine can produce their
      data in the form of traces which represent the band intensity of each of the four
      base types at each position in the sequence. At present all the machines write
      files in different formats. We describe a machine independent format for storing
      data derived from automatic sequencing machines. Files in this format can store
      the derived sequence, the traces and a set of confidence measures for each base.
      We have adopted the format as the standard for our sequence handling software.

PMID- 1457812
TI  - The isolation and sequence of sheep interleukin 4.
AB  - A cDNA corresponding to sheep IL-4 has been isolated and sequenced. The cDNA was
      synthesized using PCR and oligonucleotides designed from conserved regions of IL
      4 cDNA published sequences. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of a sheep IL
      4 cDNA are presented and compared with sequences from other species. At the
      nucleic acid level, the sheep cDNA shared 73 and 62% homology with human and
      mouse cDNA homologues, respectively, while comparisons at the amino acid level
      revealed 50% homology with human IL-4 and 33% with the mouse homologue. Total
      amino acid homology between these species was 27%.

PMID- 1457813
TI  - Nucleotide sequence of the bovine interleukin-6 gene promoter.
AB  - We report the cloning and sequencing of a 1252 base pairs (bp) DNA fragment
      containing the bovine interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene promoter. This fragment was
      isolated from a bovine genomic library constructed in the lambda GEM11 vector.
      Comparison with human, murine and rat IL-6 gene promoters reveals a high degree
      of conservation of the 200 bp immediately upstream of the RNA CAP site. This
      region contains nucleotide stretches matching with consensus sequences recognized
      by transcription factors, including NF-KB, CREB and NF-IL6. A potential AP-1
      binding site is found 284 nucleotides upstream of the RNA CAP site. The bovine IL
      6 gene promoter cloned upstream of the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyl
      transferase (CAT) gene was shown to be active in bovine and ovine cells.

PMID- 1457814
TI  - Nucleotide sequence and exon-intron structure of the bovine transition protein 1
      gene.
AB  - The nucleotide sequence and exon-intron structure of the bovine transition
      protein 1 gene was determined. It consists of 2 exons (E1, 139 bp; E2, 29 bp) and
      a single intron (220 bp). The position of the transcription initiation site was
      determined 30 nucleotides upstream of ATG. TAAATA- and CAAT-boxes were found 60
      and 121 bp upstream of the ATG-translation start point, respectively. It was
      observed that transition protein 1 is highly conserved in mammals at the
      nucleotide as well as at the amino acid level.

PMID- 1457815
TI  - The sea urchin erg homolog defines a highly conserved erg-specific domain.
AB  - A genomic clone, isolated from a phage library prepared from the DNA of the sea
      urchin Lytechinus variegatus, was shown by sequence analysis to be a homolog of
      the ets family genes, ERG and Fli-1. It contains an open reading frame of which
      the coding region begins at a consensus 3' splice site and extends for 173 amino
      acid residues. The first 84 amino acids are homologous with all members of the
      ets gene family, while the remainder of the sequence is only homologous with the
      human ERG and murine Fli-1 genes. This latter region, designated R, represents a
      highly conserved erg-specific domain.

PMID- 1457816
TI  - M13 single-strand purification using a biotinylated probe and streptavidin coated
      magnetic beads.
AB  - A new method for M13 single-strand purification has been developed and tested.
      The procedure gives sufficient DNA for one set of thermally cycled sequencing
      reactions when analysed on the Applied Biosystems 373A fluorescent DNA sequencer.
      For this report, 250 random M13 subclones with 1-2 Kb inserts were grown and
      prepared using this method.

PMID- 1457817
TI  - Sequence and pattern of expression of a bovine homologue of a human mitochondrial
      transport protein associated with Grave's disease.
AB  - A human cDNA has been isolated previously from a thyroid library with the aid of
      serum from a patient with Grave's disease. It encodes a protein belonging to the
      mitochondrial metabolite carrier family, referred to as the Grave's disease
      carrier protein (GDC). Using primers based on this sequence, overlapping cDNAs
      encoding the bovine homologue of the GDC have been isolated from total bovine
      heart poly(A)+ cDNA. The bovine protein is 18 amino acids shorter than the
      published human sequence, but if a frame shift requiring the removal of one
      nucleotide is introduced into the human cDNA sequence, the human and bovine
      proteins become identical in their C-terminal regions, and 308 out of 330 amino
      acids are conserved over their entire sequences. The bovine cDNA has been used to
      investigate the expression of the GDC in various bovine tissues. In the tissues
      that were examined, the GDC is most strongly expressed in the thyroid, but
      substantial amounts of its mRNA were also detected in liver, lung and kidney, and
      lesser amounts in heart and skeletal muscle.

PMID- 1457818
TI  - Sequences of the human and bovine genes for the mitochondrial 2-oxoglutarate
      carrier.
AB  - The oxoglutarate carrier transports 2-oxoglutarate across the inner membranes of
      mitochondria in an electroneutral exchange for malate or other dicarboxylic
      acids. The sequences of its human and bovine genes have been determined from
      overlapping genomic clones generated by polymerase chain reactions by use of
      primers and probes based on the bovine cDNA sequence. The bovine and human genes
      are split into 6 and 8 exons, respectively, and five introns are found in the
      same positions in both genes. The coding and protein sequences are 93% and 96.6%
      identical, respectively. The human oxoglutarate carrier protein is 314 amino
      acids in length and, in common with the bovine protein, does not appear to have a
      processed presequence to help to target it into mitochondria.

PMID- 1457819
TI  - Indexing the sequence libraries: software providing a common indexing system for
      all the standard sequence libraries.
AB  - We describe a set of programs for creating and using indexes for the distributed
      forms of the major sequence libraries. The indexes conform to the specification
      of those distributed on cd-rom by the EMBL sequence library. The programs create
      entry name, accession number, author and freetext indexes and a brief directory
      index. If a suitable application program is given an entry name or accession
      number these indexes allow rapid retrieval of sequences or annotation. Similarly
      the author and freetext indexes provide the data for extremely fast searching on
      author names and "keywords". The indexing programs can create indexes for EMBL,
      Swiss-Prot, GenBANK, PIR and NRL3d libraries. We also describe the organisation
      and use of the different sequence libraries and their index files.

PMID- 1457820
TI  - Significance of the positivity of some ELISA tests different as concerning the
      antigenic source in interpreting the western blot indeterminate sera in
      monitoring the epidemiology of high risk populations.
AB  - The paper analyses 50 pairs of sera pre-elevated within the "sentinel"
      epidemiological surveillance in a population exposed to a high risk at a 2 months
      interval. At the first determination all these sera showed an indeterminate
      Western Blot pattern; after 2 months, 93.7% revealed the occurrence of a
      certainly positive pattern. The paper is an analysis of the way in which
      different ELISA kits diagnosed at the first determination the Western Blot
      indeterminate sera. The purpose of the paper is to adopt a methodology of
      accurately diagnosing HIV infections in a population exposed to a high risk
      within an epidemiological surveillance of the "sentinel" type where the receiving
      of a second serum sample is quite difficult.

PMID- 1457821
TI  - Presence of IgE class antibodies with cardiolipinic and treponemal specificity in
      syphilis. Quantitative evaluation by IgE prist radio-immuno-assay.
AB  - 60 serum samples (reactive in VDRL, ELISA-Reiter, FTA-Abs tests) from 25-45 years
      old male patients with untreated latent syphilis (EL) (30 cases) and persistent
      positive treated syphilis (ET+) (30 cases) were tested for IgE by IgE-PRIST. On
      30 sera from 25-45 years old male healthy persons, normal mean value for serum
      IgE was established: 159.63 +/- 124.09 U/ml. Cardiolipin and group treponemal IgE
      fractions were indirectly calculated by the difference between the specific
      activity induced by sera as such and that induced by sera absorbed with
      cardiolipin and group treponemal sorbents. In EL, total IgE level was 197 +/- 107
      U/ml; cardiolipin IgE -24.9 +/- 8.3 U/ml and group treponemal IgE 35.8 +/- 6.6
      U/ml. In ET, total IgE value was 152.6 +/- 122.5 U/ml, cardiolipin IgE -11 +/-
      10.5 and group treponemal IgE -26.6 +/- 14.2 U/ml. Summing up the two
      specificities, the total specific IgE represent about 1/3 from total IgE in EL
      and 1/5 in ET+. Taking into account the short half-life (2-3 days) of IgE
      presence of a significant proportion of specific IgE in those two stages proves,
      by their continuous synthesis paralleling antigenic stimulation, the presence in
      various tissular zones of viable treponemas as sources of antigens.

PMID- 1457822
TI  - Development of an irradiated vaccine that protects against enterotoxigenic
      Escherichia coli diarrhoea.
AB  - In the pathogenesis of diarrhoea in man bacteria adhesion to enterocytes is
      mediated by specific CFA/I or CFA/II antigens. A perorally administered vaccine
      was prepared from E. coli H10407 (078:H11) by irradiation with electrons with
      high energy (EHE). Two hours after cimetidine administration rats were immunized
      per os with 5 irradiated vaccine doses at 4-day intervals. Seven days after the
      last immunization animals were infected by inoculating 1 x 10(9) germs in the
      ligated intestinal loop. Reduction of the intestinal secretion by over 50% 18
      hours after inoculation was considered an efficient protection marker. The
      obtained results have proved a significant reduction of the intestinal secretion
      in immunized animals infected with serotypes 078:H11(63 +/- 4%) and 078:H12(59 +/
      5%) as compared to non-immunized animals. Experimental induction of the
      intestinal protection against Escherichia coli enterotoxigenic (ETEC) strains
      points to the possibility of using this type of irradiated vaccine in the
      prophylaxis of diarrhoea in man.

PMID- 1457823
TI  - Experimental study on intradermal antitetanus antityphoid immunization.
AB  - A new type of concentrated unadsorbed Tetanus vaccine was administered in animals
      by intradermal route, associated or not with Typhoid vaccine. The results of the
      laboratory tests demonstrated that this vaccine is innocuous and produces minimal
      reactions. A single doses of Tetanus vaccine inoculated in guinea pig or rabbit
      resulted in a relevant titer which increased when the Typhoid vaccine was
      associated. Also, in such immunized guinea pigs, a remarkable resistance to
      tetanic toxin was achieved. The levels of the active or passive typhoid
      protective power as well as that of the agglutinating antibodies were not
      influenced by the association of the Tetanus vaccine to the Typhoid vaccine.
      Therefore, when the Typhoid vaccine suspended in Tetanus vaccine was administered
      intradermally to the animals by Jet injector, it had not a negative effect for
      none of the two components, had a beneficial effect upon the levels of determined
      antibody production and allowed an easier and more rapid administration of these
      vaccines.

PMID- 1457824
TI  - The anti-initiator action of p-methoxyphenol phosphate upon the transformation of
      normal human embryo cells induced by benzo(a)pyrene.
AB  - The association of p-methoxyphenol phosphate (10(-5)M) to benzo(a)pyrene
      treatment (10(-6)M) reduced significantly the anchorage independent growth and
      the number of transformed foci of the human embryo lung fibroblasts, after six
      passages from treatment application. Results from cytogenetic analysis show that
      p-methoxyphenol phosphate induced the decrease of numerical and structural
      chromosome aberration after the first passage of the treated cells. In terms of
      the results obtained by cytogenetic analysis the reduction of genetic instability
      seems to remain constant from the first to the sixth passage in the cell cultures
      treated with p-methoxyphenol phosphate associated to benzo(a)pyrene.

PMID- 1457825
TI  - Oncogenes and their mechanisms of action.

PMID- 1457826
TI  - Science education reform: broadening the agenda.

PMID- 1457828
TI  - Anti-sense transforming growth factor alpha oligonucleotides inhibit autocrine
      stimulated proliferation of a colon carcinoma cell line.
AB  - Many carcinoma cells secrete transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha). A 23
      base anti-sense oligonucleotide that recognizes the TGF alpha mRNA inhibits both
      DNA synthesis and the proliferation of the colon carcinoma cell line LIM 1215.
      The effects of the anti-sense TGF alpha oligonucleotide are reversed by epidermal
      growth factor (EGF) at 20 ng/ml. When the LIM 1215 cells are grown under serum
      free conditions, the anti-sense TGF alpha oligonucleotides have their greatest
      effects at high cell density (2 x 10(5) cells/cm2), indicating that the secreted
      TGF alpha is acting as an exogenous growth stimulus. In addition, at higher cell
      densities, the kinase activity of the EGF receptor is activated and the receptor
      is down-modulated. The cell density dependent activation of the EGF receptor is
      inhibited by the application of the antisense TGF alpha oligonucleotides.

PMID- 1457827
TI  - Molecular basis of loss-of-function mutations in the glp-1 gene of Caenorhabditis
      elegans.
AB  - The glp-1 gene encodes a membrane protein required for inductive cell
      interactions during development of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we
      report the molecular characterization of 15 loss-of-function (lf) mutations of
      glp-1. Two nonsense mutations appear to eliminate glp-1 activity; both truncate
      the glp-1 protein in its extracellular domain and have a strong loss-of-function
      phenotype. Twelve missense mutations and one in-frame deletion map to sites
      within the repeated motifs of the glp-1 protein (10 epidermal growth factor [EGF]
      like and 3 LNG repeats extracellularly and 6 cdc10/SWI6, or ankyrin, repeats
      intracellularly). We find that all three types of repeated motifs are critical to
      glp-1 function, and two individual EGF-like repeats may have distinct functions.
      Intriguingly, all four missense mutations in one phenotypic class map to the N
      terminal EGF-like repeats and all six missense mutations in a second phenotypic
      class reside in the intracellular cdc10/SWI6 repeats. These two clusters of
      mutations may identify functional domains within the glp-1 protein.

PMID- 1457829
TI  - Genetic dissection of the signaling domain of a mammalian steroid receptor in
      yeast.
AB  - The mechanism of signal transduction by steroid receptor proteins is complex and
      not yet understood. We describe here a facile genetic strategy for dissection of
      the rat glucocorticoid receptor "signaling domain," a region of the protein that
      binds and transduces the hormonal signal. We found that the characteristics of
      signal transduction by the receptor expressed in yeast were similar to those of
      endogenous receptors in mammalian cells. Interestingly, the rank order of
      particular ligands differed between species with respect to receptor binding and
      biological efficacy. This suggests that factors in addition to the receptor alone
      must determine or influence ligand efficacy in vivo. To obtain a collection of
      receptors with distinct defects in signal transduction, we screened in yeast an
      extensive series of random point mutations introduced in that region in vitro.
      Three phenotypic classes were obtained: one group failed to bind hormone, a
      second displayed altered ligand specificity, and a third bound hormone but lacked
      regulatory activity. Our results demonstrate that analysis of glucocorticoid
      receptor action in yeast provides a general approach for analyzing the mechanism
      of signaling by the nuclear receptor family and may facilitate identification of
      non-receptor factors that participate in this process.

PMID- 1457830
TI  - The nuclear-mitotic apparatus protein is important in the establishment and
      maintenance of the bipolar mitotic spindle apparatus.
AB  - The formation and maintenance of the bipolar mitotic spindle apparatus require a
      complex and balanced interplay of several mechanisms, including the stabilization
      and separation of polar microtubules and the action of various microtubule
      motors. Nonmicrotubule elements are also present throughout the spindle apparatus
      and have been proposed to provide a structural support for the spindle. The
      Nuclear-Mitotic Apparatus protein (NuMA) is an abundant 240 kD protein that is
      present in the nucleus of interphase cells and concentrates in the polar regions
      of the spindle apparatus during mitosis. Sequence analysis indicates that NuMA
      possesses an unusually long alpha-helical central region characteristic of many
      filament forming proteins. In this report we demonstrate that microinjection of
      anti-NuMA antibodies into interphase and prophase cells results in a failure to
      form a mitotic spindle apparatus. Furthermore, injection of metaphase cells
      results in the collapse of the spindle apparatus into a monopolar microtubule
      array. These results identify for the first time a nontubulin component important
      for both the establishment and stabilization of the mitotic spindle apparatus in
      multicellular organisms. We suggest that nonmicrotubule structural components may
      be important for these processes.

PMID- 1457831
TI  - Biochemical and physiological changes induced by anthrax lethal toxin in J774
      macrophage-like cells.
AB  - Experiments were performed to probe the mechanism by which Bacillus anthracis
      Lethal Toxin (LeTx) causes lysis of J774 macrophage-like cells. After incubation
      of cells with saturating concentrations of the toxin, two categories of effects
      were found, which were distinguishable on the basis of chronology, Ca(2+)
      dependence, and sensitivity to osmolarity. The earliest events (category I),
      beginning 45 min postchallenge, were an increase in permeability to 22Na and 86Rb
      and a rapid conversion of ATP to ADP and AMP. Later events (category II) included
      alterations in membrane permeability to 45Ca, 51Cr, 36Cl, 35SO4, 3H-amino acids,
      and 3H-uridine, beginning at 60 min; inhibition of macromolecular synthesis,
      leakage of cellular lactate dehydrogenase and onset of gross morphological
      changes, at approximately 75 min; and cell lysis, beginning at 90 min. Category
      II events exhibited an absolute requirement for extracellular Ca2+ and were
      blocked by addition of 0.3 M sucrose to the medium, whereas category I events
      were attenuated, but not blocked, by either of these conditions. On the other
      hand, both ATP depletion and the category II events were blocked in osmotically
      stabilized medium that was also isoionic for Na+ and K+. This suggests that
      permeabilization of the plasma membrane to monovalent cations and water may be
      the earliest of the physiological changes described here. The resulting influx of
      Na+ and efflux of K+ would be expected to cause depletion of ATP, via increased
      activity of the Na+/K+ pump. Subsequently the influx of Ca2+, induced by
      depletion of ATP, imbalances in monovalent cautions, and/or more dramatic changes
      in permeability due to influx of water, would be expected to trigger widespread
      changes leading ultimately to cytolysis.

PMID- 1457832
TI  - Artificial organs of the future.

PMID- 1457833
TI  - Cross-sectional assessment of weekly urea and creatinine clearances in patients
      on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.
AB  - In 55 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, the authors
      determined daily renal and dialysate clearances of urea nitrogen (CUN) and
      creatinine (CCr). Results are expressed as weekly CUN in liters (Kt) divided by
      liters of total body water determined from a nomogram (V). The authors calculated
      weekly CCr as the weekly dialysis clearance plus the average of renal CUN and CCr
      (to correct for creatinine secretion); they normalized total weekly CCr to 1.73
      m2 body surface area. Mean weekly Kt/V and CCr were 2.1 and 65.2, respectively.
      Mean dietary protein intake by dietary survey was 0.85 g/kg body weight. Protein
      catabolic rate (PCR) calculated from urea kinetics was 0.94 g/kg standardized
      weight (V/0.58); PCR was significantly (p < 0.01) correlated with Kt/V (r =
      0.53). The authors used linear regression to determine PCR, as follows: PCR =
      0.80 [weekly Kt/V]/3 + 0.39. This slope is nearly 1.5 times that reported for the
      relationship of PCR to [weekly Kt/V]/3 in hemodialysis patients. Eighty-two
      percent of patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis had more than
      the targeted minimum weekly Kt/V of 1.7, 71% had a weekly CCr more than the
      targeted minimum of 50, and 75% had a PCR > 0.8 g/kg/day. In support of the
      hypothesis that Kt/V requirements are related to peak concentration control
      rather than to time averaged blood urea nitrogen, patients on continuous
      ambulatory peritoneal dialysis have a higher PCR at given Kt/V values compared to
      hemodialysis patients. These patients are more likely to have a PCR > 0.8 if
      weekly Kt/V > 1.7.

PMID- 1457834
TI  - Initial clinical experience with centrifugal pumps coated with the Carmeda
      process.
AB  - From September 5 to November 4, 1991, four consecutive patients placed on
      centrifugal ventricular assist devices (VADs) for cardiac failure were supported
      with Biomedicus pumps coated with the Carmeda bioactive surface. The study
      included three men and one woman aged 52-65 years. Two patients were supported
      with a right VAD, one with a left VAD, and one with a biventricular VAD. Support
      ranged from 35.5 to 65.75 hr, and VAD flows ranged from 1.0-5.5 L/min. Three
      patients were weaned from the VADs, and two survived. At explant, all four
      systems had clots adherent to the surface of the tubing and connectors on the
      pump outflow side of the circuit. Two patients had clots in the pump. Some of the
      clots were firmly adherent, whereas others dislodged easily after being rinsed
      with saline. All patients received heparin for insertion, and in three patients,
      heparin was reversed with protamine. Two patients received no further
      anticoagulation, and two received continuous heparin within 24 hr of implant to
      maintain activated clotting times of 140-150 sec. All patients had bleeding
      complications before and after VAD placement, necessitating multiple blood
      product transfusions. One patient who was weaned and survived had multiple
      thromboembolic strokes. These data suggest that clots can form on surfaces coated
      with the Carmeda process, even if a low dosage of heparin is used.

PMID- 1457835
TI  - Intraoperative timing may provide criteria for use of post-cardiotomy ventricular
      assist devices.
AB  - When surgeons consider ventricular assist devices (VADs) for post-cardiotomy
      support, unnecessary delays and early use can have detrimental effects on patient
      outcome. The authors analyzed the timing of intraoperative events in all patients
      receiving post-cardiotomy VAD support at their institution during a 2-1/2 year
      period (N = 17). They used ability to wean patients from VAD support as a measure
      of outcome. Neither preoperative risk factors nor the timing of distinct
      intraoperative events (e.g., cross-clamp time, total bypass time, delay to VAD)
      significantly differed between those patients able (Group I, n = 9) and those
      unable (Group II, n = 8) to be weaned from VAD support. The authors did find,
      however, that the time intervals from completion of the cardiac procedure to
      insertion of either an intra-aortic balloon pump (time to IABP) or VAD (time to
      VAD) were predictive of outcome when normalized to the duration of the cardiac
      procedure (DCP). [Time to IABP]/DCP ratios of < 1.0 versus > 1.0 (p = 0.02) and
      [time to VAD]/DCP ratios of < 2.5 versus > 2.5 (p = 0.10) each segregated Group I
      and II patients, respectively. Appropriate timing criteria for VAD insertion may
      be predicted during surgery by consideration of the duration of the cardiac
      procedure. This approach may attenuate tendencies to delay VAD use without
      leading to premature VAD insertion in the post-cardiotomy setting.

PMID- 1457836
TI  - The importance of patient mobility with ventricular assist device support.
AB  - Patients bridged to transplantation with ventricular assist devices (VADs) often
      require prolonged support. To reduce complications associated with bed rest, the
      authors developed a program to mobilize patients with VADs. Between August 1986
      and May 1992, 25 men and 7 women aged 12-65 years (mean: 42.4 years) were bridged
      for possible transplantation. The 32 patients were supported with either a
      Novacor (n = 9) or a Thoratec (n = 23) VAD. Thirty-one patients were turned
      within 2-12 hr of VAD insertion and received range of motion therapy. Twenty-six
      patients sat in a chair 2-16 days (mean: 5 days) after VAD insertion. Twenty-one
      patients used a stationary bicycle, and 23 patients were ambulatory 3-57 days
      (mean: 11 days) after VAD insertion. Two patients were transplanted within 72 hr
      of device insertion. Twenty-one of the 23 ambulatory patients were successfully
      transplanted or weaned from the VAD and discharged from the hospital. Two
      ambulatory patients who were difficult to rehabilitate (ambulatory 22 and 57
      days, respectively, after VAD insertion) died before transplantation. In
      conclusion, VAD patients should be mobilized early because the VAD can improve
      exercise capability and survival rate.

PMID- 1457837
TI  - Photoinduced prevention of tissue adhesion.
AB  - Postoperative tissue adhesion causes retarded wound healing and the need for
      reoperation; it can even be life threatening. In this report, the authors present
      prototype materials and performance of newly developed tissue adhesion prevention
      technology based on photocurable polysaccharides. Polysaccharides used were
      hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate, both of which were partially derived
      with photoreactive groups such as cinnamoyl, coumarin, and thymine. Photoreactive
      hyaluronic acids with low degrees of derivatization were soluble in water. Films
      of cinnamated hyaluronic acid or an aqueous solution of cinnamated chondroitin
      sulfate were photocured by ultraviolet irradiation, resulting in water adsorbable
      films or water swollen gels, respectively. Gelation was due to intermolecular
      dimerization between cinnamoyl groups. The authors provide two potentially
      applicable examples: 1) a photocured, water swollen hydrogel film, and 2) a
      photocurable chondroitin sulfate buffer solution. The authors used hydrogel films
      to cover the peritoneum after mechanically injuring its surface. Histologic
      examination showed neither tissue nor cell adhesion, and only a minimal
      inflammatory response. When tissues were coated with a photocurable chondroitin
      sulfate solution, the viscous solution was converted to a hydrogel upon
      ultraviolet irradiation, resulting in in situ tissue covering. Although an
      optimal molecular design has not yet been found, unique features of
      mucopolysaccharides (e.g., high water uptake; biodegradability and
      bioresorbability; and nontoxicity of photodimerizable groups) may result in the
      development of photoinduced tissue adhesion prevention technology.

PMID- 1457838
TI  - A method to reduce thrombogenicity of a graft for small diameter arterial
      substitution seeded with autologous venous tissue fragments.
AB  - The authors successfully applied a method to accelerate endothelialization by
      tissue fragmentation to a small diameter fabric vascular prosthesis. Tissue
      fragment seeded grafts showed rapid healing of the neointima. The thrombogenicity
      of the collagen fibrils in the fragments, however, caused major problems when the
      method was applied to small diameter grafts: the positively charged collagen
      fibrils aggregated the negatively charged platelets. The authors masked the
      fibrils electrostatically with heparin molecules, which are negatively charged. A
      canine jugular vein was resected, minced into tissue fragments, and suspended in
      the heparin solution; it then was sieved through the wall of a fabric prosthesis.
      The grafts (4 mm internal diameter and 3.5 cm in length) were implanted into both
      carotid arteries of six dogs (12 grafts). Tissue fragment seeded grafts without
      heparin also were implanted into six dogs. As a control, preclotted fabric grafts
      were implanted into six dogs (12 grafts). These grafts occluded within 1 week,
      whereas all the masked grafts were patent without thrombi. In vitro examination
      of heparin release revealed that approximately 92% of heparin in the graft was
      released during the first 5 hr, but approximately 6% remained after 25 hr. These
      results indicate that the method is applicable to small diameter arterial grafts.

PMID- 1457839
TI  - In-storage hypothermic perfusion for heart and lung transplantation.
AB  - The authors developed a new waterproof-packed infusion device for easy and
      sterile in-storage hypothermic perfusion during organ transportation for heart
      and lung transplantation. They examined the accessibility and efficacy of this
      infusion device for portable heart and lung preservation in canine transplant
      models. Sixteen heart and bilateral lung blocks were preserved by an in-storage
      hypothermic perfusion technique using the infusion device with University of
      Wisconsin solution. Of 16 dog recipients, 5 underwent orthotopic heart
      transplantation with cardiopulmonary bypass, and 5 dogs received left lung
      transplantation; the remaining heart and lung blocks were intrathoracically
      transplanted into 6 dogs. Functional status and histology of 11 heart and 11 lung
      allografts were evaluated by post-transplant course, hemodynamic parameters,
      arterial blood gas measurements, microscopic examination, and so on. Eleven
      transplanted hearts showed good cardiac performance and maintained systemic
      circulation after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. Eleven transplanted lungs
      had excellent respiratory function, and all five dogs with left lung
      transplantation survived for 5-46 days (mean: 18.8 days). These results suggest
      that in-storage hypothermic perfusion with this waterproof-packed infusion device
      can be a useful technique for long-term organ preservation in heart and lung
      transplantation.

PMID- 1457840
TI  - A bioartificial ventricle used as a totally implantable circulatory assist
      device.
AB  - The authors designed a totally implantable circulatory assist device consisting
      of a bioartificial ventricle composed of a skeletal muscle ventricle lined with a
      bioartificial endocardium. The bioartificial endocardium consists of a structural
      matrix made of a polyurethane porous membrane, fragmented blood vessels, and
      collagen gel. The authors prepared the polyurethane porous membrane by solvent
      cocasting with salt powder. They used collagen gel with fragmented goat carotid
      vein to perform in vitro construction of the bioartificial endocardium. For in
      vivo construction of the bioartificial endocardium, the authors used a modified
      version of the tissue fragment method for vascular prostheses. The authors
      prepared suspensions of tissue fragments using collagen gel with fragmented goat
      carotid artery. They used a highly porous fabric vascular prosthesis as a
      structural matrix; tissue fragments were entrapped on the outer surface of the
      prosthesis, and the prosthesis then was implanted into the carotid artery of four
      adult goats. In specimens 1 and 3 months postimplantation, cells from the
      fragmented tissue regenerated an endothelium-like monolayer sheet on the inner
      surface of the prostheses. Output of a prototype bioartificial ventricle reached
      660 ml/min at an afterload of 60 mmHg and a preload of 20 mmHg. Based on these
      data, the authors conclude that the bioartificial ventricle is promising as an
      implantable device with excellent antithrombogenicity.

PMID- 1457841
TI  - Novel instrumentation monitoring in situ platelet adhesivity with a quartz
      crystal microbalance.
AB  - The quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) in a solution is capable of sensing an
      extremely small mass change in the nanogram range. In this article, the authors
      attempted to apply QCM to in situ continuous monitoring of platelet adhesion in
      plasma. The instrumentation consisted of a piezoelectric quartz crystal vacuum
      deposited with gold and connected to two electrodes, an oscillation circuit, a
      frequency counter, and a DC source (5 V), coupled with a personal computer, a
      television monitor, and a printer. The authors noted resonant frequency shifts to
      determine weight increase upon cell adhesion. A QCM sensor, with the sensitivity
      of 1 ng/Hz, was placed horizontally in platelet poor plasma. The authors did not
      observe any measurable frequency shift upon adding a suspension of non-adherent
      cells, such as red blood cells and prostaglandin I2-sensitized platelets,
      indicating that QCM does not count the increase in the mass of cells that simply
      settled on the quartz. They did observe, however, a time-dependent frequency
      shift upon addition of platelet rich plasma. Coupled with visual determination of
      numbers of adherent platelets and their morphology under scanning electron
      microscopy, they found that the magnitude of shift and its time dependence seem
      to correlate not only numbers of adherent platelets, but to their spreading
      state, indicating that QCM detects only the weight at the focal contact region of
      adherent cells. This suggested that the former contributes to the early phase of
      the frequency shift, and the latter contributes to a shift change after a longer
      period of incubation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457842
TI  - Prevention and control of bacterial infections associated with medical devices.
AB  - Bacteria that grow in association with medical devices always form slime enclosed
      biofilms, within which they are protected, to a large extent, from the
      bactericidal activity of chemical biocides and antibiotics. Mature biofilms (> 7
      days) are demonstrably resistant to 500-5,000 times the concentrations of these
      agents than are necessary to kill free floating (planktonic) cells of the same
      organism. The authors have discovered that this well established inherent
      resistance of biofilm bacteria to antibacterial agents can be completely obviated
      if these agents are applied to these adherent populations within an electric
      field. The killing of biofilm bacteria by antibiotics can be dramatically
      enhanced by relatively weak electric fields (1.5 V/cm and 15 microA/cm2) that, in
      themselves, have no deleterious effects on these slime protected populations
      adherent to plastic or metal surfaces. This bioelectric technology can readily be
      used to enhance the preimplantation sterilization of medical devices by biocides.
      The authors suggest that it may also be used to control biofilm formation and
      consequent infection by electrically enhanced perioperative antibiotic
      prophylaxis and by electrically enhanced penetration of antibiotics to kill the
      biofilm bacteria that form the inherently resistant nidus of chronic device
      related infections.

PMID- 1457843
TI  - Influence of Kt/V and protein catabolic rate on hemodialysis morbidity. A long
      term study.
AB  - Urea clearance over time, divided by volume of total body water (Kt/V) and
      protein catabolic rate (PCR), were calculated monthly in 88 long-term
      hemodialysis patients. Patients were divided into four groups: Group A (n = 40),
      Kt/V > 1.0 and PCR > 1.0 g/kg/day; Group B (n = 7), Kt/V > 1.0 and PCR < 1.0;
      Group C (n = 24), Kt/V < 1.0 and PCR > 1.0; and Group D (n = 17), Kt/V < 1.0 and
      PCR < 1.0. Various clinical, biochemical, and morbidity factors were compared.
      Group A had significantly less morbidity than did the other groups (p < 0.05).
      Blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, serum albumin, and phosphorus were lower
      in Group B than in the other groups (p < 0.05). These data suggest that
      determination of Kt/V and PCR is important for predicting dialysis morbidity and
      that they should be monitored together for adequacy of therapy and dialysis
      quality assurance.

PMID- 1457844
TI  - Continuous measurement of blood volume during hemodialysis by an optical method.
AB  - A new method is described to noninvasively and continuously measure changes in
      blood volume (BV) during hemodialysis by means of an optical reflection method
      with an optical monitor (950 nm) clipped onto the arterial blood line. The amount
      of reflected light (L) appeared to be linearly proportional to the erythrocyte
      concentration (r = 0.91). Changes in L correlated well with changes in
      erythrocyte concentration during hemodialysis (r = 0.94). A study in 10 patients
      on regular dialysis was done. The BV decrease after 3 hr of treatment was 17.0 +/
      5.2%, and it correlated with the amount of fluid withdrawn by ultrafiltration
      (mean, 2,519 +/- 589 ml). Five hypotensive episodes were seen that were
      characterized by a higher rate of BV fall during the preceding 15 min (9.9 +/-
      1.9 versus 3.6 +/- 4.3%/hrp; p < 0.05) and by a lower BV value at that moment
      (78.2 +/- 3.4 versus 84.5 +/- 4.5%; p < 0.025) than in the other five patients at
      comparable times. It was concluded that this optical method was a means to detect
      hypovolemia at an early stage and to prevent ultrafiltration induced hypotension.

PMID- 1457845
TI  - Total body water measured by bioelectrical impedance in patients after
      hemodialysis. Comparison with urea kinetics.
AB  - Bioelectrical impedance (BEI) measurements have been used to measure total body
      water volume (VBEI). The VBEI were measured after hemodialysis in 14 patients, as
      was dialyzer blood water urea clearance (KBW) and dialysate urea clearance (KD).
      Urea clearance based on the mass transfer coefficient, KoA, was determined
      (KKoA). Residual renal function was measured, and three point variable volume
      single pool urea kinetic modeling (UKM) was done. Urea distribution volumes were
      calculated using the measured urea clearance values from blood water (VBW),
      dialysate (VD), and KoA (VKoA) as inputs. Direct dialysate quantitation was
      calculated based on total dialysate collections to measure urea clearance (KDDQ)
      and urea distribution volume (VDDQ). Total body water estimates were made using
      the Hume and Watson anthropometric formulas (VHUME and VWATSON). It was found
      that average VBEI (34.76 L) was larger than VBW (27.50 L) and VD (26.69 L), but
      it was not different from VKoA (32.15 L), VHUME (35.15 L), or VWATSON (34.53 L).
      Linear regression revealed a good correlation between VBEI and both VBW and VD (R
      = 0.873 and 0.882, respectively). The BEI measurements provide a simple method
      for measuring total body water in dialysis patients that correlated well with UKM
      volumes.

PMID- 1457846
TI  - Non-invasive determination of recirculation in the patient on dialysis.
AB  - Recirculation of blood flow occurs when the fistula flow rate is inadequate to
      support the desired dialyzer blood flow. The percentage recirculation is normally
      calculated using the blood urea nitrogen of blood samples from the two dialyzer
      blood lines and a peripheral blood sample. However, this method is time
      consuming, costly, and may not always give accurate measurements. A technique was
      developed to measure recirculation using the injection of saline into the venous
      dialysis line. For this technique, an optical detector is placed across the
      arterial dialysis tubing, and the light intensity, which is proportional to the
      hematocrit, is continually measured using a computerized data collection system.
      After a baseline data collection period, 10 ml of saline is injected into the
      venous dialysis line using the sampling port. The saline that appears in the
      arterial dialysis line as a result of recirculation will cause a dilution of the
      blood and an increase in light intensity. In vitro testing showed an excellent
      correlation between the area under the dilution curve and percentage
      recirculation. This technique will provide a quick, inexpensive, and reliable
      measurement of recirculation.

PMID- 1457847
TI  - Cardiopulmonary recirculation in dialysis. An underrecognized phenomenon.
AB  - Access recirculation can be determined by measuring blood temperature or blood
      water concentration in the dialyzer inlet after injecting a bolus of cold saline
      into the venous line. In patients with access recirculation, some of the cooled
      venous blood re-enters the blood inlet line soon after injection, resulting in a
      sharp transient drop in its temperature. There is also a prompt increase in blood
      water concentration at the dialyzer blood inlet caused by the dilution effect of
      the recirculated saline. In this study, data are reported on four patients
      studied under conditions where no access recirculation could occur because blood
      was returned to a second access or into a central vein. In these patients,
      transient cooling of the blood in the dialyzer inlet and a transient hemodilution
      after venous line injection of cold saline was still observed. These observations
      can be explained by passage of the injected saline through the heart and
      pulmonary blood vessels and return of a portion of the cooled blood to the
      vascular access, bypassing the systemic capillary microcirculation. This
      "cardiopulmonary recirculation" can cause dilution of urea in dialyzer inlet
      blood, with resulting errors in urea kinetic modeling and in computing access
      recirculation.

PMID- 1457848
TI  - Microporous small diameter PVDF-TrFE vascular grafts fabricated by a spray phase
      inversion technique.
AB  - Microporous prostheses of 1.5 mm internal diameter were fabricated with a
      polyvinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE)n co-polymer by the spray
      phase inversion technique. Some of the grafts were made piezoelectric by poling
      under a high electrical field. Overall, 24 poled grafts (P) and 24 unpoled grafts
      (UP) (15-22 mm in length) were implanted in the infrarenal aorta of 48 adult
      rats. Patency rates in P were 100% (8/8) at 2 days, 100% (8/8) at 2 weeks, 75%
      (6/8) at 6 months, and 92% total (22 of 24). Patency rates in UP were 100% (8/8)
      at 2 days, 63% (5/8) at 2 weeks, 100% (8/8) at 6 months, and 88% total (21 of
      24). Thus there was no significant difference in patency between the two types of
      grafts. Both showed similar macroscopic and microscopic findings. At 2 days,
      fibrin deposition was somewhat heavier on the poled grafts, but no difference in
      surface platelet deposition could be detected. Endothelialization was observed
      from both anastomoses at 2 weeks and was almost complete at 6 months. The
      excellent biocompatibility of PVDF-TrFE and the microporous structure of the
      grafts were probably the dominant factors in success with these grafts. Although
      piezoelectric activity in excised cleaned poled prostheses remained significantly
      higher than that in the control UP, the charges developed may have been too small
      to exert a biologic effect, either because of insufficient dipole orientation or
      inadequate mechanical deformation.

PMID- 1457849
TI  - A new, all silicone rubber small vessel prosthesis.
AB  - A new small vessel prosthesis composed entirely of silicone rubber was developed.
      The new prosthesis has a trilaminar wall structure consisting of: 1) a porous
      blood contacting layer designed to promote the deposition of a pseudoneointima
      (PNI) from blood flowing over the surface; 2) a solid middle layer the thickness
      of which is adjusted to provide approximately the same radial compliance as the
      host artery; and 3) a porous outer layer that promotes connective tissue
      attachment to the exterior of the prosthesis to limit tissue capsule formation
      around the implant and preserve its compliance after healing of the perigraft
      tissues. The new graft also has excellent suture retention in addition to its
      other desirable physical characteristics. The mechanical integrity of the
      textured surfaces was first evaluated in vitro with cyclic flexure testing at a
      20-30% strain. Grafts of 4 mm inside diameter by 5 cm length were then implanted
      in the left carotid artery of adult dogs for an 8 week period. Seven animals were
      studied. Platelet inhibitors were administered postoperatively. The patency rate
      was 86% (six of seven); all grafts except the first remained widely patent. After
      the animals were killed, the grafts were surgically exposed, and compliance was
      measured directly. The PNI from the grafts was then studied with light and
      scanning electron microscopy, and morphometric measurements were made of PNI
      thickness over the length of the graft. Overall, the grafts retained 80% of their
      preimplant compliance (n = 5); however, in the absence of any postoperative
      complications such as hematoma or infection, the grafts remained essentially
      isocompliant with the host artery during the duration of this study.

PMID- 1457850
TI  - In vitro performance of venous valve prostheses. An experimental model study.
AB  - The performance of fresh and glutaraldehyde fixed bovine jugular vein valves (10
      mm diameter) was investigated in an experimental flow loop that provides
      adjustable flow rates and a downstream oscillatory pressure. Three different
      venous valve (VV) conduit geometries (curved [C], straight [S], and tapered [T]),
      were tested. The flow loop consisted of two independently adjustable components,
      with the mean flow generated by adjusting the elevation difference between the
      head tank and outflow chamber. An adjustable sinusoidal pressure pulse was
      superimposed on the downstream of a VV to mimic the respiratory effects. Flow
      visualizations were made using 100 microns mica chip tracers in the laser
      illuminated flow fields. To assess VV performance under various flow conditions,
      the closure opening (CO), partial opening (PO), and leaflet fluttering (LF) were
      evaluated. At a given pulse pressure, the three conduits required different flow
      rates to reach CO mode. At 12 cm H2O pulse pressure, the fresh valve in C-conduit
      exhibited stable CO operation at a flow rate of 1.01 ml/sec. That in S and T
      conduits required 1.67 ml/sec and 2.25 ml/sec, respectively. At higher flow
      rates, PO and LF performances were observed in all three conduits. Different
      threshold values of pulse pressure were needed to reestablish the CO operation
      mode for the C, S, and T conduits, individually. These observations provide some
      insight into the role of conduit geometry and sinus configuration in the function
      of VV.

PMID- 1457851
TI  - Optimal management of a ventricular assist system. Contribution of flow
      visualization studies.
AB  - The Novacor (Baxter Novacor, Oakland, CA) Left Ventricular Assist System (LVAS)
      incorporates a versatile microprocessor based controller that permits a variety
      of operating modes. These include internally triggered automatic synchronous
      counterpulsation, electrocardiogram triggered synchronous operation, and full to
      empty or fixed rate asynchronous operation. The aim of this pilot study was to
      determine the extent to which washing of the blood contacting surfaces of the
      pump may be optimized by suitable choice of operating mode. Visualization of flow
      fields adjacent to surfaces in confined areas requires small, neutrally buoyant
      tracer particles for feature extraction. A novel technique using fluorescent
      tracer particles (100 microns), an argon laser, and a low pass optical filter has
      been developed for this purpose. Particle motion was tracked from video images
      and calculations were made of velocity. Flow visualization was performed under
      conditions that simulated clinically observed hemodynamic conditions, typical of
      the immediate post-implant period. At a given LVAS output, fluid speed in the
      vicinity of the inflow valve tended to increase at higher LVAS beat rates (and
      consequently lower LVAS stroke volumes). This and future work may well be useful
      in selecting the optimum modes of LVAS operation as a function of the hemodynamic
      status of the patient.

PMID- 1457852
TI  - Effect of stationary guiding vanes on improvement of the washout behind the rotor
      in centrifugal blood pumps.
AB  - In centrifugal pumps, there always exists an area of stagnation between the rear
      of the rotor and the rear housing wall that promotes thrombus formation around
      the axle. Some current devices overcome the problem by using holes in the rotor
      plane, leading to increased hydrodynamic losses and shear stress. In this study,
      a simple apparatus was developed to overcome this problem. Guiding vanes were
      fixed to the rear housing wall. These vanes decrease the tangential velocity of
      the fluid and thus the centrifugal force, leading to an increased secondary flow
      toward the axle. The effect of such vanes was studied in videographic and
      ultrasound studies. An increase of washout and mixing between the flow layers
      could be demonstrated (stay time < 200 msec versus several seconds without
      vanes). In the first animal experiment using nonoptimized vanes, there was no
      thrombus at the back plane or the seal, and only a small thrombus at the
      transition between axle and rotor. Hemolysis was slightly elevated (3.2 mg/dl
      versus 2.5 mg/dl in control experiments). In conclusion, it is highly likely that
      this simple system will improve the flow characteristics in centrifugal pumps.

PMID- 1457853
TI  - Fluid mechanics of left ventricular assist system outflow housings.
AB  - Using the Novacor (Baxter Novacor, Oakland, CA) Left Ventricular Assist System
      (LVAS) as a test bed, phasic flow patterns were analyzed for three outflow valve
      housing designs: 1) a triple sinus; 2) an axisymmetric concentric sinus (CS); and
      3) a modified triple sinus (MS). The 21 mm Carpentier-Edwards trileaflet
      pericardial heart valve prosthesis was used for all experiments done on the three
      housing designs. The LVAS was actuated by a laboratory model of the Novacor LVAS
      control console, and it was connected to a mock flow loop with an adjustable
      afterload system to provide physiologic pressures and flows (Pao, 120/80 mmHg;
      pump output [PO], 2-6 L/min). Laser illuminated flow visualization techniques
      were used to investigate the phasic flow patterns of the housings, and the
      visualization derived velocity was verified by laser Doppler velocimetry at
      several selected points in the field. Formation of vortices behind the leaflets
      during the LVAS ejection phase was observed in each of the housing designs. They
      were well organized, and they circulated with the greatest strength in MS. These
      vortices tended to lie in a plane parallel to the main flow axis, with the
      rotational velocity increasing with the stroke volume of the LVAS. In the CS and
      the MS housings, a circumferential flow that provided good washing of this region
      was observed behind the stents.

PMID- 1457854
TI  - Quantitation of right ventricular shape changes after left ventricular assist
      device implantation.
AB  - Complex effects of left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) interaction account for
      changes in RV function during LV assist device (LVAD) support. It has been
      hypothesized that changes in RV cross-sectional shape (RVS) may be a contributing
      factor in the development of RV dysfunction during LVAD support. To test the
      hypothesis that the RVS would become more circular as a result of septal shift
      during LVAD support, 13 patients were studied before and after LVAD implantation.
      The shape of the RV was quantified using a shape factor (SF) that was equal to (4
      x pi x area)/P2, where P is the perimeter of RVS. The RV area and perimeter were
      measured from digitized images of the RV obtained by transesophageal
      echocardiography in patients before and after LVAD implantation. The group SF
      increased considerably after LVAD (SFpre = 0.78 +/- 0.12 versus SFpost = 0.88 +/-
      0.07, p < 0.05). Patients were divided into three groups: 1) patients whose RV
      exhibited a low SF pre-LVAD that increased significantly, 2) those with a
      moderate SF pre-LVAD that increased slightly, and 3) those who had high pre-LVAD
      SF (< 0.90) that did not change. The decompression of the LV caused by LVAD
      implantation results in a shift of the septum from right to left, increasing SF.
      This increase is more pronounced in some patients. Quantitation of the degree of
      RV SF change may help predict the development of RV failure during LVAD support.

PMID- 1457855
TI  - A motor integrated regenerative pump as the actuator of an electrohydraulic
      totally implantable artificial heart.
AB  - The authors have developed a new actuator to drive an electrohydraulic totally
      implantable artificial heart. The basic concept of this artificial heart is that
      the blood pumps are implanted in the thorax and an actuator is placed separately
      in the abdominal region. The actuator is a regenerative pump that pumps fluids
      against high pressures and is thin enough for easy implantation. The rotor-magnet
      of the brushless DC motor is mounted on the impeller of the pump to miniaturize
      the actuator and reduce the number of moving parts. The height, diameter, and
      weight of the actuator are 32.5 mm, 73 mm, and 360 g, respectively. A pair of oil
      ports is connected to the left and right blood pumps with mesh reinforced tubes
      filled with silicone oil. The blood pumps are alternately driven by bidirectional
      rotation of the motor. Performance of the system was evaluated in in vitro and in
      vivo experiments. Maximum output of the right heart was 6.7 L/min in both
      experiments. Systemic circulation was well maintained in acute animal experiments
      using 49 and 50 kg goats. The feasibility of the actuator was confirmed.

PMID- 1457857
TI  - Two-dimensional cell manipulation technology. An artificial neural circuit based
      on surface microphotoprocessing.
AB  - The precise regional control of cell adhesion and growth on a substrate may
      create two-dimensional tissue formation, as in a neural network. To prepare a
      neural circuit, micropositioning of neural cells and guidance of extending axons
      in a given region are required. In general, the adhesion of neural cells and
      their axonal extension are mediated by adhesive proteins found in the
      extracellular matrix. This paper describes a novel surface photoprocessing that
      enables the creation and guidance of regionally selective cell adhesion, leading
      to a neural network. The non-adherent region was created by chemical fixation of
      a photoreactive hydrophilic co-polymer of azidostyrene and N, N
      dimethylacrylamide on a hydrophobic substrate. Ultraviolet irradiation with the
      use of a photomask placed on a substrate hydrophilically modified the irradiated
      regions, which was evident in ESCA and contact angle measurements. The addition
      of a collagen buffer solution resulted in collagen adsorption only on the non
      irradiated hydrophobic portions. Seeded neuroblastoma cells adhered only on
      collagen-adsorbed pathways 130 microns in width. One day after seeding, nerve
      growth factor was added to the culture medium, resulting in cell differentiation
      from growth to axonal extension. The axons grew along the collagen-adsorbed
      pathways. Sooner or later, cells were interconnected with extended axons, which
      was clearly visible microscopically. Further culturing completed the honeycomb
      like patterning, as designed. The surface processing developed here can
      manipulate fundamental cellular behavior, leading to two-dimensional patterned
      tissue, which may provide information on the morphogenesis of the neural network
      and neurotransmission.

PMID- 1457856
TI  - Fabrication of a jellyfish valve for use in an artificial heart.
AB  - For a valve to be fabricated seamlessly into an artificial heart (AH) blood pump,
      a jellyfish valve has been developed, in which a thin membrane is fixed at the
      center of a valve seat having several spokes to protect against prolapse of the
      membrane. The valve is superior in performances to a Bjork-Shiley valve, and
      reveals good blood compatibility. The valve would be very useful not only for AH
      animal study, but for future clinical use in infants to adults. Several
      institutions are already trying the valve. In this paper, the fabrication of the
      jellyfish valve is introduced, and in vitro and in vivo results summarized. A
      computer aided design (CAD) system was developed to cut a male wax mold of the
      valve seat. The input parameters to the CAD are diameter, height, thickness of
      rim, number of spokes, width and thickness of spokes, etc. Jellyfish valves with
      diameters of 4 to 27 mm have already been fabricated for many types of AHs and
      assist pumps.

PMID- 1457858
TI  - Selective feedback control of spastic musculature in a canine model.
AB  - Muscular spasm, the etiology of which remains elusive, has been difficult to
      control. The authors, therefore, proposed selective restraint of forced
      contractions by a closed-loop circuit. In four dogs, the strap (n = 6) and
      thyroarytenoid (n = 4) muscles were submitted to tetanic contractions via bipolar
      supramaximal stimulation (30 Hz, 6 mA, 0.5 msec) of ansa hypoglossi and recurrent
      laryngeal nerves, respectively. Subsequent reduction of distance between two
      sonomicrometer crystals embedded into muscle was used in lieu of "spastic
      information" for a stimulator to deliver blocking signals through tripolar
      electrodes passed downstream. By modifying frequency (30-110 Hz) and current (60
      95%) distribution between the central cathode and the peripheral anodes,
      significant relaxation (up to 100%) was recorded within "blocking windows,"
      varying with each nerve (3-18 mA sweeps). The selective restraint of unwanted
      contractions, leaving "normal" subthreshold tone undisturbed, may offer a more
      mature approach to spastic disorders than destructive procedures, such as nerve
      section and its chemical counterpart, botulinum toxin injection.

PMID- 1457859
TI  - A pathway for information transmission to the inner ear. Application to cochlear
      implants.
AB  - The use of cochlear implants as an aid to neurosensory deafness is becoming an
      established procedure. The transmission of a processed speech signal is
      accomplished either transcutaneously via radiofrequency or percutaneously by
      connector coupling. Whereas the former is sensitive to electromagnetic
      interference, the latter increases the risk of infection. To overcome these
      disadvantages, an infrared (IR) system for transmission through the tympanic
      membrane was devised and tested. The transmitter/receiver consisted of an IR
      light emitting diode (LED; 920 nm) and a photovoltaic cell. The LED was placed
      inside the auditory canal of four dogs and the photovoltaic cell in the tympanic
      cavity over the cochlear promontory. A sinusoidal signal modulation was applied
      to the LED. The emitted signal was detected undistorted after crossing the
      tympanic membrane, with an average absorbance of 20%. High frequency cut-off was
      adequate for cochlear implant purposes and audio prosthetic devices in general.
      The authors conclude that the tympanic membrane may be used as a translucent
      sealed interface to transmit data in the audio range to the middle and inner
      ears, with small power loss, good frequency response, and immunity to
      interference.

PMID- 1457860
TI  - Implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator after coronary artery bypass
      surgery.
AB  - The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has been used in conjunction
      with surgical coronary revascularization for prevention of postoperative
      malignant arrhythmias. However, there is no consensus regarding which patient
      should receive concomitant insertion of the ICD system in a one stage (patches
      and generator) or two stage (patches, and subsequent implantation of the
      generator) procedure. To assess differences in hospital course and outcome, the
      authors studied 8 survivors of sudden death syndrome and 17 patients with
      preoperative ventricular tachycardia refractory to conventional antiarrhythmic
      therapy who underwent coronary revascularization and prophylactic implantation of
      an ICD system in either one or two stages. Patients with advanced coronary
      disease, poor ventricular function, and silent ischemia received the ICD system
      in one stage. Those with good ventricular function and well defined coronary
      pathology received only patches concomitant with myocardial revascularization.
      Seventy-nine percent of the patients with patches needed subsequent implantation
      of the ICD generator, as determined by postoperative electrophysiologic studies.
      There were three postoperative deaths unrelated to arrhythmias. There was no
      difference between the groups regarding the number of ICD discharges. It was
      concluded that the prophylactic use of the ICD system is an important adjuvant in
      the treatment of postoperative malignant arrhythmias for patients undergoing
      myocardial revascularization. The insertion of the ICD, however, should be based
      on pathophysiologic considerations and postoperative electrophysiologic findings.
      This may result in important savings in terms of unnecessary cost and operative
      procedures.

PMID- 1457861
TI  - Prophylactic implantable defibrillator patches in patients at high risk for
      malignant ventricular dysrhythmias.
AB  - The indications for prophylactically placing implantable cardioverter
      defibrillator (ICD) patches at cardiac surgery are unclear. Over the past 4
      years, 25 patients have undergone placement of prophylactic ICD patches at the
      authors' institution. Indications were severe coronary artery disease with
      ventricular tachycardia (VT) (n = 14) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) (n = 2),
      and left ventricular aneurysmectomy and/or subendocardial resection (SER) (n =
      9). Four patients died in-hospital, three from refractory VT (which could be
      transthoracically cardioverted until recurrence was unremitting), and one from
      congestive heart failure (CHF). All of the remaining 21 patients underwent post
      operative electrophysiologic studies (EPS), and 12 had inducible VT (8/14 CABG,
      4/7 SER). Eight of the 12 inducible patients had generators implanted, whereas 3
      patients were controlled medically. One patient refused generator implantation
      and died at home from sudden cardiac death, and one initially non-inducible
      patient required late ICD generator placement, yielding a total of nine patients
      who received generators. All nine of these patients are currently alive at 14 +/-
      7 months follow-up, and five have subsequently received appropriate ICD
      discharges. In patients undergoing cardiac surgery considered preoperatively or
      intraoperatively to be at increased risk for VT/VF and too unstable for
      preoperative EPS, prophylactic ICD patches should be considered.

PMID- 1457862
TI  - A new RV-PA conduit with a natural valve made of bovine jugular vein.
AB  - A new RV-PA conduit with a natural valve was developed using bovine jugular vein.
      To maintain the natural, mechanical properties of the veins, a hydrophilic cross
      linking reagent, a glycerol polyglycidyl ether polyepoxy compound (PC) was used.
      The treatment has already been proven in the field of vascular grafts to be able
      to reduce antigenicity, biodegradability, and degenerative changes such as
      calcification, to induce antithrombogenicity with hydrogenicity, and to improve
      affinity to host cells. Bovine jugular veins were cross-linked with the reagent
      and were implanted as a conduit into the RV-PA position in six dogs. The main PA
      was ligated after implantation. One animal died due to bleeding 2 days after
      implantation; the other animals were healthy and allowed to survive until they
      were sacrificed. The graft was very soft and as pliable as native tissue, and was
      as strong as a heart valve. Post-operative catheterization and angiography showed
      adequate function of the valve. Macroscopic and microscopic observations revealed
      the antithrombogenicity of the graft in this animal study. These results
      indicated that this newly developed biologic valved conduit has a high
      probability of overcoming many problems observed in existing RV-PA conduits.

PMID- 1457863
TI  - The effect of prolonged left ventricular support on myocardial histopathology in
      patients with end-stage cardiomyopathy.
AB  - To determine the histopathologic effect of prolonged (> 30 days) left ventricular
      unloading on the myocardium, the authors studied myocardial tissue specimens from
      eight men (mean age, 40.8 years) with end-stage cardiomyopathy (six idiopathic,
      two ischemic) who were supported with the HeartMate (Thermo Cardiosystems, Inc.,
      Woburn, MA) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as a bridge to cardiac
      transplantation. The average length of support was 79.6 days (range, 31-136
      days). Before left ventricular support was instituted, transthoracic
      echocardiography revealed that all patients had significantly dilated left
      ventricular cavities (average left ventricular diastolic dimension, 7.2 cm).
      Tissue specimens from the core of the left ventricular apex, which is removed at
      the time of LVAD implantation, were compared through pathologic examination with
      specimens from the explanted hearts at the time of cardiac transplantation.
      Apical core specimens from all patients exhibited extensive areas of attenuated
      myocardial fibers, combined with wavy patterns in some areas. In these regions,
      the nuclei of the cardiac myocytes from idiopathic cardiomyopathy specimens were
      neither pyknotic nor disappearing, as was noted in an infarcted area of a
      specimen from one patient with ischemic cardiomyopathy. At the time of heart
      transplantation, myocardial tissue specimens from the explanted hearts had a
      significant decrease or disappearance of stretched fibers. There was also a
      slight increase in interstitial replacement fibrosis, as well as an increase in
      the diameter of the myocardial fibers. These findings appear to correlate with
      the clinical impression of improved native ventricular function and with
      radiographic findings and decreased chamber size during prolonged ventricular
      support.

PMID- 1457864
TI  - Preparation of an RGD ALB conjugate. In vitro analysis of cellular responses.
AB  - RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) tripeptide was identified as the minimal active core peptide
      sequence common to adhesive proteins. In this paper, the authors report
      preparation of RGD containing peptide albumin conjugate (RGD ALB), and its
      effects on cellular adhesive function in vitro. RGD ALB was prepared via a
      coupling reaction of albumin with pentapeptide (GRGDS; Gly-RGD-Ser) by water
      soluble carbodiimide. Bovine endothelial cells (ECs) adhered to and spread well
      on a surface coated with RGD ALB, whereas few ECs adhered on surfaces coated with
      GRGESP-albumin conjugate (GRGESP peptide with little cell attachment activity;
      false control) and albumin. Cellular behavior, such as adhesion, spreading,
      growth, and migration, on surfaces coated with GRD-ALB, fibronectin (FN), and
      vitronectin (VN) were quantitatively examined. Adherent cell number on RGD ALB
      coated surfaces was larger than on those coated with FN and VN. Cell morphology
      on RGD ALB coated surfaces was similar to that on FN coated surfaces. The cell
      growth and migration activities on RGD ALB coated surfaces were almost equal to
      those coated with FN and VN. Thus, RGD ALB was found to promote cell adhesion,
      migration, and growth as effectively as fibronectin. This indicates that an
      artificial adhesive protein, simply derived with bioactive peptidyl ligand, can
      find versatile applications in fields in which cellular events play a critical
      role--for example, extracellular matrices and wound healing promotion aids.

PMID- 1457865
TI  - Patients on hemodialysis rely on nephrologists and dialysis units for maintenance
      health care.
AB  - The extent to which hemodialysis patients rely on nephrologists for primary
      medical care is unknown. The authors surveyed 74 in-center hemodialysis patients
      to obtain demographic data and information about primary medical care and
      subspecialty referrals and follow-up. Health care maintenance was also assessed.
      All patients were dialyzed in a free-standing university affiliated dialysis
      unit. The mean age of the patients was 55 +/- 17 years; most were women (43/74)
      and on hemodialysis more than 3 years (48/74). Most of the patients did not have
      a family physician and relied on the nephrologist for health maintenance care
      (80%) and the treatment of minor acute illnesses (91%). The most common non-renal
      chronic illnesses were gastrointestinal disease (32%), heart disease (26%), and
      diabetes (26%). Although referrals to subspecialists occurred in 55% of patients
      during the preceding year, nephrologists usually provided ongoing management care
      (gastrointestinal disease 21/24, heart disease 10/19, diabetes 12/19). Over half
      the women had a Papanicolaou's test within 3 years and 72% had a routine
      mammogram that, in most cases, had been ordered by the nurse practitioner or
      nephrologist. Because nephrologists provide primary medical care to the majority
      of dialysis patients, preventive health care protocols, such as mammography and
      cancer screening, should be incorporated into the nephrology practice in chronic
      dialysis units.

PMID- 1457866
TI  - Inadequate dialysis increases gross mortality rate.
AB  - The authors correlated the dialysis parameters of 613 patients on hemodialysis
      with their morbidity and mortality. Dialysis prescription (Kt/V) was calculated
      according to the dialyzer, blood flow, and dialysis time. Dialysis delivered was
      calculated using percentage urea reduction (PUR). Eighty patients who underwent
      dialysis in three units had only predialysis blood urea nitrogen (BUN) values
      available. Mean predialysis BUN was between 58 +/- 16 and 83 +/- 17 mg/dl.
      Patients with predialysis BUN > 100 mg/dl ranged from 0-22%, and those with
      predialysis BUN < 50 mg/dl ranged from 0-41%. Kt/V prescribed was between 0.45
      and 1.75. Mean dialysis time was 191 +/- 28 min, and blood flow was 327 +/- 48
      ml/min. Delivered dialysis was 78% of that prescribed. Patients who had a
      prescribed or delivered Kt/V < 0.8 varied from 0-44.8%. Mortality rate per year
      was between 11.3% and 54%. The authors attributed elevated BUN to increased
      protein intake or inadequate dialysis. Low BUNs may have been due to residual
      renal function or malnutrition. None of the dialysis parameters correlated with
      mortality rate except for a Kt/V < 0.8 (p < 0.001) that was directly related to
      mortality rate. Inadequate dialysis increases mortality rate.

PMID- 1457867
TI  - Relationship between dialysis induced hypotension and adenosine released by
      ischemic tissue.
AB  - Two types of dialysis induced hypotension apparently exist. One type presents as
      gradually decreasing blood pressure with eventual symptoms (gradual hypotension),
      whereas the other presents as abruptly and sharply decreasing blood pressure,
      along with symptoms (abrupt hypotension). In the current study, the authors found
      that the plasma hypoxanthine concentration during abrupt hypotension was
      significantly higher than before the hypotension occurred (20 min after saline
      was administered or at the beginning of dialysis), whereas comparison of the
      plasma hypoxanthine concentration during gradual hypotension and that before the
      hypotension occurred (20 min after saline was administered or at the beginning of
      dialysis) revealed no significant difference. The current results indicate that
      abnormally increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) degradation associated with
      tissue ischemia occurred during abrupt hypotension but not during gradual
      hypotension. It can be speculated that the increased release of adenosine due to
      abnormally increased ATP degradation caused the abrupt hypotension. This
      conclusion seems reasonable given that adenosine directly decreases small vessel
      tone and inhibits prejunctional release of norepinephrine.

PMID- 1457868
TI  - Effect of coexistent diseases on survival of patients undergoing dialysis.
AB  - A cohort retrospective study was used to analyze the effect of comorbidity on
      survival of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing dialysis. The
      authors analyzed the survival of 255 patients (144 men, 111 women; median age 54
      years; range 8-81 years) followed at the District Hemodialysis Unit in Foggia,
      Italy, over a 15 year period (median follow-up 30 months; range 1-190 months).
      Two subscales assessing the overall severity of the identified coexistent
      diseases and overall physical impairment, and a composite four level index of
      coexistent diseases (ICED) were assembled using information recorded at the time
      of admission. The Cox proportional hazard model was applied to evaluate the
      association of various patient characteristics with the probability of death.
      Mortality risk was associated with patient age (RR = 3.4 for patients aged 42-61;
      RR = 4.8 for patients older than age 61 compared with patients younger than age
      42), initial condition leading to renal failure (RR = 3.1 for diabetes compared
      with primary renal disease) and ICED (RR = 3.0 for patients with uncontrolled
      coexistent disease or severe impairment compared with patients with no coexistent
      disease and no or mild impairment). Gender and type of dialysis were not
      associated with mortality risk. It was concluded that, as is the case with other
      chronic conditions, co-morbidity is a powerful independent prognostic factor in
      determining the mortality of ESRD patients.

PMID- 1457869
TI  - Development of an axial flow blood pump LVAS.
AB  - Nimbus, Inc., (Rancho Cordova, CA) and the University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh,
      PA) are collaborating to develop an implantable rotary blood pump that can be
      used as a left ventricular assist system (LVAS). The short-term goal of this
      project is to show that an LVAS based on this pump can operate safely and
      reliably during chronic implantations in animals. Work conducted to date includes
      in vitro testing of hydraulic performance, hemolysis, endurance demonstration,
      and flow visualization. Results indicate that the pump is capable of generating
      an output of up to 10 L/min at physiologic pressures. Associated electrical power
      to drive these pumps is in the range of 6-10 watts. One integrated pump was
      placed in a mock flow loop and operated continuously at a fixed speed (10,000
      rpm), pressure (100 mmHg), and flow rate (6 L/min) for 90 days with no apparent
      difficulty. In vitro hemolysis test results have consistently ranged between 3-6
      g of liberated hemoglobin/day, which is an acceptable range for chronic use. Two
      in vivo trials of 7 and 14 days were performed using calves, after which tests
      have been done using sheep as the animal model. Five short-term sheep experiments
      have been conducted with good results. Future studies will include implantations
      in sheep of 3 months duration.

PMID- 1457870
TI  - Baylor multipurpose circulatory support system for short- to long-term use.
AB  - A multipurpose circulatory support system has been developed as both a temporary
      and permanent device in total artificial hearts (TAHs) and ventricular assist
      devices (VADs). The multipurpose concept was derived from the development of a
      totally implantable electromechanical, one-piece TAH. The blood pump is
      pneumatically driven in short-term use and is electromechanically driven in long
      term or permanent use. Both TAH and VAD versions consist of the same components,
      except for the actuation mechanism. The common components are a compact pumping
      chamber with the same configuration, a blood contacting surface biolized with
      gelatin, a pusher-plate, a Hexsyn rubber diaphragm (University of Akron, Akron,
      OH) and bovine pericardial valves. Both TAHs and VADs have 63 ml of stroke
      volume, and the VADs are compact compared with other available investigational
      device exemption devices. Currently, 1 week survival has been achieved using the
      electromechanical TAH and 2 week survival using the electromechanimcal VAD
      without anticoagulation. Results suggest that the currently developed system
      could be applied in varied patients as a temporary device after cardiotomy, a
      long-term device for bridge to transplantation, or a permanent device for end
      stage heart disease.

PMID- 1457871
TI  - Electrohydraulic ventricular assist device development.
AB  - An electrohydraulic ventricular assist device has been developed. An axial flow
      pump driven by a brushless DC motor provides actuation. Energy is supplied by
      internal Ni/Cd batteries and by external Ag/Zn batteries, both rechargeable.
      Electromagnetic induction is used to pass energy through the skin with a
      transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) system. Physiologic control, battery
      management, motor commutation, and communication functions are performed by a
      surface mount internal controller. An infrared data link within the TET coils
      provides bidirectional communication between the external and internal
      controllers. A computer model was developed to predict system performance. The
      dimensions are 180 mm x 116 mm x 40 mm. An in vitro system pumped 5.7 L/min at 10
      mmHg inflow and 100 mmHg outflow pressure. The internal battery can provide the
      projected energy requirements for 40 min after 540 charge/discharge cycles, and
      the external battery is capable of 4 hr of operation after 150 cycles. The TET
      system can deliver 60 W of power and exceeds 80% efficiency between 15 and 30 W.
      The device configuration is based on human cadaver and intraoperative fit trials.
      The device is being modified for calf implantation by redirecting the blood
      ports, increasing the output, and incorporating the internal controller in the
      unified device base.

PMID- 1457872
TI  - Prolonged extracorporeal circulation without heparin. Evaluation of the Medtronic
      Minimax oxygenator.
AB  - Bleeding remains the most common complication of prolonged extracorporeal life
      support (ECLS). This study evaluated the Medtronic Minimax (Annaheim, CA)
      microporous oxygenator with the Carmeda Bio Active (heparin bonded) Surface
      (Stockholm, Sweden) for use in prolonged neonatal ECLS. Eight adult sheep were
      maintained on venovenous extracorporeal circulation (ECC) for a period of 4 days
      without systemic heparin. After 4 days of venovenous ECC without anticoagulation,
      there was no evidence of significant bleeding, circuit thrombosis, or systemic
      embolism. Gas exchange, hydrodynamic performance, coagulation, and
      biocompatibility studies suggest that the Minimax is safe and reliable for short
      term or long-term ECLS in neonates.

PMID- 1457873
TI  - Rate constants of embolization and quantitation of emboli from the hollow-fiber
      oxygenator and arterial filter during cardiopulmonary bypass.
AB  - A direct technique was developed to estimate parameters related to half life
      (T1/2) and rate constants of embolization (RCE) and to quantitate emboli of three
      sizes (small, medium, and large) shed from the oxygenator and arterial filter
      during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Cardiopulmonary bypass was performed in 16
      Yorkshire pigs divided as follows: systemic heparin group (SHG:6), systemic
      heparin/heparinized circuit group (SH/HCG:5), and Iloprost (Bentley) (2
      ng/kg/min)/heparinized circuit group (IHCG:5) with In-111 labeled autologous
      platelets. The anesthetized pigs (20-25 kg) underwent CPB at 2.5-3.0 L/min for 3
      hours. Pigs were injected with In-111 platelets (300-420 microCi) 24 hours before
      CPB. Cardiopulmonary bypass was instituted with a roller pump and hollow-fiber
      oxygenator, and thrombosis and embolization on the oxygenator and filter were
      monitored by a calibrated Geiger probe (WMB Johnson Associates, Montvale, NJ).
      The radioactivity in the oxygenator and filter reached peak values at 25-45 min
      after CPB; the radioactivity then declined in the oxygenator but remained at a
      steady state in the filter, suggesting continuous embolization at the same rate
      of trapping. The curve stripping technique of the normalized radioactivity time
      curve of the oxygenator was used for RCE estimation of different sized emboli
      shed from the oxygenator; 42% of thrombus embolized from the oxygenator in SHG
      with three rate constants, with T1/2s of 12 min, 42 min, and 13 hr; the SH/HCG
      embolized 35% with T1/2 of 78 min, and the IHCG embolized 30%, with a T1/2 of 22
      min. This indicates that there is less embolization in the IHCG.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457874
TI  - Respiratory dialysis. A new concept in pulmonary support.
AB  - Use of a new intravenous oxygenator made of hollow fiber membranes arranged
      around a centrally positioned balloon is reported. In vitro studies using
      fluorescent image tracking velocimetry and gas exchange analysis demonstrated
      enhanced convective mixing with balloon pulsations and augmented gas flux (100%
      increase in pO2) compared with the device in its static configuration. In vivo
      observations confirmed a greater than 50% increase in O2 flux with balloon
      activation. Those parameters that produce radial flow and convective mixing in
      vitro enhance gas flux in vivo, thus confirming the efforts to exceed the fluid
      limit translate into improved gas exchange.

PMID- 1457876
TI  - Use of bone char as an adsorbent in preparation of water for dialysis.
AB  - Currently, deionizers (DI) and reverse osmosis (RO) are used to prepare water for
      dialysis. When water metal levels increase, for example, with the use of alum,
      the variation in metal content can reduce RO performance. Pretreatment of water
      with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or alkali can be used to reduce Al fouling.
      The authors examined adsorption of metal water contaminants with bone char
      (BRIMAC, Biolab, Oakville, Canada) as a cheaper alternative. Water treatment for
      the unit consists of a blend valve, 30 mu filter, 2 X 3 cu ft adsorption tanks, 5
      mu filter, 30,000 grain automatic water softener, 5 mu filter, Millipore RO
      1,000, 2 X 7" mixed bed DI in series, and a polysulfone ultrafilter. During 29
      weeks of continuous bone char adsorption, raw water Al ranged from 0.022 to 0.298
      ppm (mean, 0.097 +/- 0.075 ppm; cf. the Environmental Protection Agency's
      proposed drinking water standard of < 0.05 ppm). Postadsorption Al ranged from
      0.002 to 0.076 ppm (0.041 +/- 0.04), a decrease of 55-91% (83.0 +/- 8.5%). Final
      water Al was < 0.001 at all times. No fouling of the RO membrane occurred.
      Residual chlorine after the first adsorption was < 0.02 to 0.09 ppm. Significant
      reductions in other metals, notably Pb, Cu, and Zn were noted. Bone char is a
      cheap, effective, and simple alternative for removing excess trace elements from
      water for hemodialysis. Further study to evaluate the efficacy of bone char in
      removing other organic and inorganic water contaminants is needed.

PMID- 1457875
TI  - Polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n-3 class in chronic dialysis.
AB  - N-3 PUFAs are believed to 1) reduce serum lipids, 2) modify the complement
      activating system, 3) increase red blood cell elasticity, and 4) decrease
      thrombotic events. These four parameters were investigated in 19 chronic
      stabilized dialysis patients assessed by 1) the control of the serum lipids, 2)
      the degree of leukopenia 10 minutes after the start of dialysis, 3) the degree of
      red cell fragmentation (RCF) during dialysis, and 4) the reusability of the
      dialyzer. The patients were their own controls during four periods: 1) no PUFAs
      for longer than 6 months, 2) 4 x 425 mg of PUFAs/day for 6 weeks, 3) 6 x 425 mg
      PUFAs/day for 6 weeks, and 4) no PUFAs during at least 6 weeks. Previous diets
      and medications remained unchanged. It was concluded that there was no
      significant effect on serum lipids in the given dosages, and no effect on the
      degree of leukopenia, red blood cell elasticity or bleeding, and/or
      antithrombotic activity. No change was seen in insulinemia, fibrinogenemia, or
      arterial pressure. No serious side effects were noted other than a "fishy
      aftertaste."

PMID- 1457877
TI  - Clinical experience with heat sterilization for reprocessing dialyzers.
AB  - Use of heat sterilization for dialysis reprocessing offers significant advantages
      over chemical germicides. Polysulfone dialyzers (Fresenius 60M or 80M) can be
      sterilized by heating to 105 degrees C for 20 hr, thus permitting clinical trials
      of this method. One hundred eighty patients received 9,000 treatments. Pyrogenic
      reactions, sepsis, and subjective symptoms have not occurred. In vitro clearances
      (Qb 500 ml/min, Qd 800 ml/min) at baseline and after 2-8 uses did not differ (340
      +/- 29 vs. 352 +/- 4 ml/min, respectively). KoA determined in vivo did not
      decrease (baseline 709 +/- 131 vs. 7th use 632 +/- 50 ml/min). Kt/V for urea was
      not different in 18 patients treated with heat sterilized dialyzers over 6 months
      when compared with a baseline period with formaldehyde sterilized dialyzers (1.37
      +/- 0.12 vs. 1.32 +/- 0.11 at similar time and blood flows). Mean use number was
      7.4 (dialyzers limited to 11 uses). Of discarded dialyzers, 44% failed a bedside
      integrity test (blood side pressurized at > 400 mmHg for 1 min), 36% failed
      automated fiber bundle or pressure holding tests, 8% had a blood leak, and 12%
      reached 11 uses. Clinical blood leaks occur in < 0.5% of treatments. Heat
      sterilization is a safe and effective method of dialysis reprocessing, but
      quality control of the process is essential. Based on initial clinical
      experience, heat sterilization of dialyzers for reuse is a promising alternative
      to chemical disinfection.

PMID- 1457878
TI  - Skeletal muscle powered pumps can work under low preload. Design considerations.
AB  - Characteristics of a dual chambered, single layered skeletal muscle powered pump
      (DCSLP) and a single chamber, multilayered pump (SCMLP) made from similar masses
      of untrained latissimus dorsi muscle (LD) were compared. For the DCSLP, 16 canine
      LDs (51.5 +/- 1.6 g) were wrapped in a "figure eight" around two parallel
      mandrels, whereas for the SCMLP, LDs were made in 10 by wrapping the LD (54 +/-
      8.5 g) twice around one mandrel. Chamber compliance and pump isovolumic peak
      developed pressure (PDP), stroke volume (SV), stroke work (SW), and ejection
      fraction (EF) of single contractions were measured. In six of the DCSLP dogs
      (LV), heart left ventricular stroke volume (LVSV) and left ventricular stroke
      work (LVSW) were determined. Stimulation parameters were the same for all.
      Student's t-test (* = p < 0.05) was used for statistical analysis. Dual
      chambered, single layered skeletal muscle powered pumps with a diastolic
      volume/mass ratio of 0.63 were more compliant than SCMLPs with a ratio of 0.37.
      Single chamber, multilayered pumps generated slightly higher PDP, but this was
      significant only at 60 mmHg preload. At a preload of 15 and an afterload of 120
      mmHg, DCSLPs had higher SV (10.7 +/- 1.1 ml) and SW (0.98 +/- 0.14 x 10(6) ergs)
      than SCMLPs (6.8 +/- 0.7 ml* and 0.58 +/- 0.08 x 10(6) ergs*), or their LV
      counterparts (5.3 +/- 0.9 ml and 0.84 +/- 0.22 x 10(6) ergs).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457879
TI  - A new thermal shape memory Ti-Ni alloy stent covered with silicone.
AB  - An attempt was made to develop an airway stent for nonsurgical transluminal
      implantation using a bronchofiberscope. The stent is composed of a single wire
      with a diameter of 0.5 mm. The wire is made of thermal shape memory titanium
      nickel alloy, with a transition temperature of 25-30 degrees C. To avoid direct
      contact between the metal and the tissue, the wire is covered with a 300 microns
      thick coating of silicone. The stent is horseshoe shaped in cross-section. It is
      15 mm in outer transverse diameter and 40 mm long. Ten stents were implanted in
      10 dogs whose tracheal cartilages had been previously broken. The stents were
      first cooled in ice water to reduce their diameter and then inserted into the
      target site. The wire was warmed to body temperature and recovered its initial
      shape within 10 sec. The dogs were killed for examination between 1 week and 6
      months after implantation. All the stents were located at the implantation sites
      and were patent. Tissue reactions, such as ulceration and granulation formation,
      were less severe than in those with previously implanted non-silicone covered
      stents. Microscopic observation showed that the wires became gradually covered
      with epithelium within 2 months. This transluminal technique for preserving
      airway patency shows promise for clinical application.

PMID- 1457880
TI  - Evaluation of a continuous thermodilution cardiac output catheter.
AB  - The authors evaluated a thermodilution catheter designed to continuously measure
      cardiac output (CO). A 10 cm long surface heating element is positioned in a Swan
      Ganz catheter corresponding to a right atrial-ventricular site. Heat is
      repetitively deposited into flowing blood in a unique, pseudorandom binary form.
      Small temperature fluctuations are sensed with a high performance thermistor and
      correlated with the heat input pattern, from which CO is determined. Seven adult
      sheep were anesthetized and instrumented for both continuous and standard cold
      bolus injection thermodilution (COM1) flow measurements. Heart rate and blood
      volume were adjusted to vary CO from 1.5 to 13.2 L/min. Continuous measurements
      correlated well with triplicate COM1 determinations (Sy,x = 0.56, r = 0.967) that
      improved with experience (Sy,x = 0.38, r = 0.99 for the last three animals). The
      surface heat transfer coefficient was measured in water (catheter parallel to
      flow). Results agreed well with a standard cylinder-in-crossflow correlation. The
      right ventricle heating element surface temperature was predicted for several CO
      and heating combinations. Worst case results yielded a 5.8 degrees C surface
      temperature elevation, suggesting that thermally induced damage is unlikely.
      Results suggest this catheter provides accuracy at least comparable to that of
      standard cold bolus injection methods, with no heat induced damage to blood.

PMID- 1457881
TI  - Development of a polyepoxy compound cross-linked heterologous connective tissue
      tube.
AB  - A heterologous connective tissue tube with "built-in" polyester mesh was
      developed using a rabbit subcutaneous tissue and polyepoxy compound cross-linking
      method. To evaluate the graft, 11 grafts were implanted end to end in the
      position of the thoracic aorta of 11 dogs and evaluated from 1 hr to 80 days
      after surgery. The graft was white and pliable, and the mesh was seen through the
      connective tissue. The handling characteristics were good, and no bleeding was
      observed from either the graft wall or suture holes. Macroscopically, at 1 hour,
      the luminal surface was covered with a thin thrombus layer. At 80 days, most of
      the inner surface of the explanted graft was white and shiny without
      irregularity, but a small area of blood stain was observed. Microscopically,
      fibroblasts were observed in the graft wall at 7 days; capillaries penetrating to
      the luminal surface appeared at 29 days. Bleeding was rarely observed around the
      fabric. A layer of donor connective tissue was still observed at 80 days. No
      foreign body reaction was observed except around the mesh. It was concluded that
      the graft healed well and could be an arterial substitute.

PMID- 1457882
TI  - Development of an implantable centrifugal blood pump.
AB  - The efficacy of centrifugal pumps for short-term (0-30 days) ventricular support
      has been widely reported and favorably compared with pulsatile systems. A small,
      durable, implantable centrifugal blood pump is being developed for medium-term
      use (up to 6 months). The pump is based on the Medtronic Hemadyne system that has
      existed in multiple forms over the past 30 years. The pump is approximately the
      size of a tennis ball, weighs 240 g, and is comprised of a 2.5 cm plastic
      impeller driven by a radially coupled brushless DC motor. In vitro hydraulic
      performance was recorded over a wide range of flow conditions on a mock
      circulatory loop. The pump generated 7 L/min flow against an afterload of 100
      mmHg pressure, with a maximum power draw of 10.4 watts. Pulsatile flow was
      preserved when placed in conjunction with a simulated left ventricle. In vivo
      testing was performed in 10 healthy sheep for 10-292 hr. Heparin was used to
      facilitate cannulation, and no anticoagulation was administered after pump
      implantation. Blood chemistries reflecting hematologic, pulmonary, renal, and
      hepatic functions were recorded and demonstrated no adverse effects with normal
      pump operation. Complications were related to kinking of blood conduits and
      thrombus formation within the cannulae. These results are encouraging and warrant
      further studies to prove feasibility of this pump as a medium-term implantable
      ventricular assist device.

PMID- 1457883
TI  - Pulmonary function in a non-pulsatile pulmonary circulation.
AB  - The authors suggested that a mammal immediately accommodates well to nonpulsatile
      flow in the systemic circulation. In the current study, nonpulsatile pulmonary
      blood flow using a centrifugal pump was established in chronic models to analyze
      its influence on the pulmonary circulation. A pulsatile right ventricular assist
      device (RVAD) was implanted to draw blood from both the right atrium and
      ventricle and send blood to the pulmonary artery in six goats. After 2 weeks, the
      pulsatile pump was quickly replaced with a centrifugal pump without anesthesia,
      and a 100% non-pulsatile pulmonary blood flow was obtained. Cardiac output was
      kept at 80-120 ml/kg/min during the experiments. No changes were observed in
      hemodynamic parameters, including pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary vascular
      resistance index, and blood gas data, after the immediate depulsation of the
      pulmonary blood flow. There was also no significant change in the ventral to
      dorsal tissue blood flow ratio of the lower lobe of the right lung, which was
      calculated by a colored microsphere method, between pulsatile and non-pulsatile
      pulmonary blood perfusion. These results suggest that pulmonary function,
      including blood flow distribution, is not affected by non-pulsatile pulmonary
      circulation for periods up to 14 days.

PMID- 1457884
TI  - Toxicity of heat sterilized peritoneal dialysis fluids is derived from
      degradation of glucose.
AB  - Heat sterilization makes peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions cytotoxic. Two
      compounds in the solutions, lactate and glucose, can be degraded by heat. This
      study's goal was to discover which of the compounds was responsible for the
      cytotoxicity. The influence of sterilization temperature on degradation of the
      compounds was also subjected to investigation. Solutions of glucose and lactate
      and a mixture of lactate and glucose were prepared. These were sterilized in
      glass ampules in an oil bath at different temperatures for varying times.
      Toxicity was determined as inhibition of cell growth with a fibroblast cell line
      (L929), and ultraviolet (UV) absorbance was measured at 284 nm. Lactate solutions
      did not show cytotoxicity after heat sterilization. Glucose solutions that were
      heat sterilized showed an increase in UV absorbance at 284 nm and were cytotoxic.
      The mixture of lactate and glucose exhibited the same cytotoxicity as glucose
      alone. Lower sterilization temperatures lead to increased cytotoxicity and an
      increase in UV absorbance at 284 nm. Results indicate that the toxic products
      formed during heat sterilization of PD fluids are derived from glucose.

PMID- 1457885
TI  - Estimation of urea and creatinine clearance in peritoneal dialysis.
AB  - The authors performed peritoneal equilibration tests (PET) in children and young
      adults of widely varying sizes to characterize membrane transport type, and used
      data (D/P ratios) obtained to predict clearances of urea (KT/Vurea) and
      creatinine (CrCl). Overall, PET predicted and measured values for KT/Vurea and
      CrCl were not significantly different. KT/Vurea could be reliably predicted from
      PET data for all membrane transport types. However, the relationship between
      predicted and measured CrCl was only significant for patients with high and high
      average membrane transport. In addition, the relationship between KT/Vurea and
      CrCl was significant only in patients with high and high average membrane
      transport.

PMID- 1457886
TI  - Development of continuous recirculating peritoneal dialysis using a double lumen
      catheter.
AB  - Continuous recirculating peritoneal dialysis (CRPD) was newly introduced to
      improve solute removal efficiency in conventional dialysis therapies such as
      hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). In CRPD,
      a part of the dialysate in the peritoneal cavity was drained through a double
      lumen catheter and purified by an extracorporeal dialyzer. Urea removal
      characteristics in CRPD were examined in a canine study. In this study, a
      recirculation-dialysis experiment using a dog weighing 9.0 kg was carried out
      under 100 and 200 ml/min of flow for recirculating and delivered dialysates,
      respectively. An FB-50H (Nipro Medical Industries, Ltd., Osaka, Japan) composed
      of cellulose diacetate membrane with 0.5 m2 of surface area and Dianeal-1.5
      (Baxter Limited Laboratories, Tokyo, Japan) containing urea were used as the
      extracorporeal dialyzer and dialysate. Urea peritoneal and dialyzer dialysances
      (DBP and DBD) were 3.05 and 33.3 ml/min by computer simulation using a
      compartment model for CRPD. This DBP value can be estimated as 20.3 ml/min for a
      60 kg human. From this result, time-averaged value for BUN over an 8 hr/day CRPD,
      combined with three exchanges/day as CAPD is estimated to be 34.3 mg/dl, which is
      much lower than 45.2 mg/dl for a 12 hr/week HD, or 53.0 mg/dl for conventional
      CAPD.

PMID- 1457887
TI  - Two-dimensional orientational response of smooth muscle cells to cyclic
      stretching.
AB  - It was hypothesized that an orientated cellular tissue for incorporation into
      vital, functioning hybrid artificial organs can be prepared by periodically
      applying mechanical stresses on a hybrid tissue. Therefore, the effect of cyclic
      stretching on the two-dimensional (2-D) orientation response of arterial smooth
      muscle cells (SMCs) was studied. Smooth muscle cells derived from bovine aortas
      were seeded onto transparent elastomeric membranes made of polyurethane, and
      subjected to periodical stretching with various amplitudes from 5-20% at
      frequencies of 15 to 120 RPM for up to 24 hours. Phase-contrast microscopic views
      of SMCs were time-lapse video recorded. The orientation angle to the direction of
      stretching (OA) and cellular longitudinal length (CLL) of individual cells were
      analyzed by a computerized image processor. After several hours, SMCs subjected
      to the stress exhibited orientation responses perpendicular to the direction of
      stretching, evidenced by a significant increase in OA. The responses were more
      rapid under operating conditions with higher amplitudes and frequencies of
      stretching. Meanwhile, little significant change in CLL was observed. These
      findings indicate that an applied mechanical stress induces a significant
      orientation response, without morphologic alteration of SMCs. The mechanically
      induced orientation response provides a fundamental basis for more structured
      hybrid organs and tissue engineering.

PMID- 1457888
TI  - Inflammatory reaction induced by agarose implants reduced by adding adrenal cells
      to the polymer.
AB  - Microencapsulation of adrenal cells is proposed for reducing the non-specific
      inflammatory reaction observed around polymer implants. This hypothesis was
      tested by comparing both host cellular reaction and the surrounding graft cell
      populations that appeared when either agarose embedded cells or empty agarose
      beads were implanted. The authors' results showed that the fibrotic material that
      surrounded the implanted empty agarose microbeads was not as severe when adrenal
      cells were present. Similarly, the T lymphocyte population surrounding the graft
      was considerably reduced, along with the percentage of CD4 and CD8 positive cell
      subpopulations. The activation macrophage marker IaD disappeared. The authors'
      results support the hypothesis that embedded adrenal cells may be a suitable
      solution for reducing early inflammatory events due to microcapsule implantation.

PMID- 1457889
TI  - Evaluation of the biocompatibility of a new method for heparin coating of a
      cardiopulmonary bypass circuit.
AB  - The biocompatibility of the Terumo (Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) covalent
      heparin coating method in a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit was evaluated in
      ex vivo and in vivo experiments. In the ex vivo experiment, fresh human
      heparinized blood primed both a miniature heparin coated circuit (HCC) and the
      identical noncoated circuit (NCC), and was circulated simultaneously for 2 hr (n
      = 6). In the in vivo experiment, 10 rabbits underwent 2 hr of CPB under systemic
      heparinization (ACT > 400 sec) with HCC (n = 5) and with NCC (n = 5). In the ex
      vivo study, thrombin/anti-thrombin III complex, thromboglobulin, platelet factor
      IV, granulocyte elastase, and C3a were significantly lower in the HCC than in the
      NCC at 60 and 120 min of circulation (p < 0.05). In the in vivo study, platelet
      counts (percent of value at 10 min of CPB) were significantly higher in the HCC
      than NCC (HCC:NCC 87 +/- 10:71 +/- 12 at 60 min, 81 +/- 17:56 +/- 16 at 120 min).
      Scanning electron microscopic examination of the circuits showed less significant
      adhesion and pseudopod formation of platelets in the HCC than NCC in both ex vivo
      and in vivo situations. These results demonstrate that this heparin coated CPB
      circuit provides superior biocompatibility compared with a noncoated circuit by
      reducing the activation of the coagulation cascade, platelets, leukocytes, and
      complement.

PMID- 1457890
TI  - Plasma leakage through microporous membranes. Role of phospholipids.
AB  - Plasma leakage through microporous membrane oxygenators is a well known
      complication of prolonged extracorporeal circulation. The authors hypothesized
      that adsorption of bipolar plasma molecules, such as phospholipids on the
      microporous membrane, results in formation of a hydrophilic layer over the
      hydrophobic surface of the membrane; this, in turn, leads to plasma leakage at
      normal surface tensions. A lipid phosphorus assay was used to measure
      phospholipid adsorption onto the fibers of microporous membrane oxygenators
      tested under a variety of experimental conditions. Adsorption of phospholipids on
      the microporous membrane was concentration dependent. Reproducible plasma leakage
      occurred both in vitro and in vivo, and the time to leakage was dependent on the
      concentration of phospholipids adsorbed upon the microporous membrane. Based upon
      these results, the authors conclude that adsorption of phospholipids contributes
      to the development of plasma leakage through microporous membrane oxygenators.

PMID- 1457891
TI  - Laboratory experience with a novel, non-occlusive, pressure-regulated peristaltic
      blood pump.
AB  - Current blood pumps have potential safety problems, including the ability to
      generate extreme positive and negative pressures. These problems were addressed
      in the design and testing of a non-occlusive, peristaltic blood pump. The pump
      consists of a tubing of unique design (pump chamber) wrapped under tension around
      a rotor with rollers. The pump chamber design is such that the pump is passively
      filling; flow is dependent upon the pressure of the blood supply and the size of
      the pump chamber. Thus, negative pressures cannot be generated. With the outlet
      occluded, the pump produces the maximum attainable pressure, which can be set by
      adjusting the tension of the pump chamber around the rollers. The design
      characteristics make the pump suitable for prolonged use. The pump was tested in
      vitro for pressure safety, hemolysis, and durability. The pump prototype was used
      in 25 experiments involving extracorporeal circulation on sheep, with an average
      duration of approximately 6 hr and bypass flow rates between 0.5 and 2.0 L/min.
      No pump related complications occurred in any of these experiments. The pump
      described here is suitable for short- and long-term perfusion applications, and
      does not require additional pressure regulation, as do current blood pumps.

PMID- 1457892
TI  - Tissue viability measurement by in situ fluorometry.
AB  - A prototype laser-fiber optic based sensor for in situ monitoring of nicotinamide
      adenine dinucleotide (NADH) has been developed. This system is based on a compact
      neodymium-yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser with associated harmonic
      generators. Light distribution to and from tissue is handled by a fiber optic
      network, including a long optical fiber to be inserted into the target tissue.
      Immobilizing the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase on the fiber tip converts the
      monitoring channel into a lactate sensor. A new dual beam reflection approach for
      blood volume artifact compensation is tested. Detection sensitivity of free NADH
      in the micromolar region is achieved. The method and system configuration appear
      feasible for continuous in situ monitoring of two important indices of ischemia
      and hypoxia in a clinical setting.

PMID- 1457893
TI  - Subcutaneous capillary filtrate collector for measurement of blood glucose.
AB  - The capillary filtrate collector (CFC) is a device that creates an ultrafiltrate
      at 50-100 microliters/h from subcutaneous capillaries, and carries this filtrate
      out of the body for chemical analysis. From inside out, components include three
      looped hollow fiber ultrafiltration membranes, a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
      cuff, polyurethane tubing, a "Y" connector leading to a sampling port, a hub, and
      a needle placed into a 5 ml vacutainer tube. Animal studies have demonstrated
      that the CFC filtrate glucose level is exactly that of blood at the time the
      filtrate is created. The authors have performed clinical trials to determine the
      correlation of blood glucose and CFC glucose levels, and the time delay between
      contemporary samples. Seven diabetic patients wore the CFC device, tubing, and
      vacutainer tube for 1 month. In home monitored diabetic patients, fingerstick
      glucose measurements were performed at the usual daily schedule. The vacutainer
      was then evacuated, and this average sample analyzed and compared with the
      average of prior blood glucose levels. An optical device then was applied to
      measure the linear velocity of CFC fluid through external tubing, and predict the
      time for fluid to pass from fibers to the sampling port (average, 25 min).
      Capillary filtrate collector samples drawn at this time had glucose
      concentrations that generally correlated with blood levels. In diabetic patients
      on hemodialysis, the vacutainer was evacuated at the start of each treatment, and
      CFC and blood samples were drawn every 20 min during the treatment. Comparison of
      glucose-versus-time curves indicated a reasonable correlation between blood and
      CFC samples, with a delay related to flow rate (which declined 50% during
      dialysis).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457894
TI  - Surface fixation of hydrogels. Heparin and glucose oxidase hydrogelated surfaces.
AB  - The authors report a new photochemical technique for the fixation of hydrogels
      onto the surface of fabricated devices and sensors. The preparative method is
      based on two different types of photochemistry: photocross-linking due to
      intermolecular photodimerization of cinnamoyl groups, and photoinduced covalent
      bonding due to the photoreactivity of azido groups. The immobilization of
      heparin, useful as a thromboresistant coating, onto poly(ethylene terephthalate),
      and the immobilization of glucose oxidase onto the surface of a carbon fiber
      electrode, were demonstrated. In the former, immobilized heparin was found to be
      continuously released from the hydrogel, and the release rate was effectively
      controlled by the thickness of the hydrogel. In the latter, upon the addition of
      glucose, a spontaneous electrical response was observed to function as a glucose
      sensor. No delamination was found for either system after vigorous washing with
      water. Thus, durable surface hydrogelation, simultaneous immobilization of
      bioactive substances, and functioning of the systems were demonstrated.

PMID- 1457896
TI  - In search of sterile, endotoxin-free dialysate.
AB  - Sterile dialysate, free of endotoxin (ET) and other cytokine inducing factors,
      will probably become a future standard. High-flux dialysis with bicarbonate and
      reuse has the membrane, the pressures, and bacteriologic potential for ET
      fragments to pass from dialysate to the blood side of the membrane with
      activation of monocytes and production of cytokines. Ultrafiltration through
      polysulfone filters has been shown to remove bacteria, ET, and its fragments and
      other cytotoxic inducing factors. The authors found that in spite of sterile, ET
      free, reverse osmosis (RO) water, ET was usually present at the dialyzer inlet
      and arose from the RO storage tank water with bacteria < 30 CFU/ml, in spite of
      repeated disinfection. The authors now remove bacteria, ET, and fragments from RO
      tank water with a 5 mu cellulose filter followed by ultrafiltration with a
      Fresenius F-80 polysulfone dialyzer inserted between the wall RO delivery port
      and each delivery system. At the dialyzer inlet, monthly bacterial counts were <
      30 cfu/ml, and ET values (n = 38) were not detectable in 89% and < 0.5 EU/ml in
      11%. The F-80 filters were used for 180+ dialyses along with the 5 mu filters,
      which replaced the frequently endotoxin contaminated 10 mu filters in the
      Monitral-S delivery systems. The costs did not increase.

PMID- 1457895
TI  - A blood pump with an interatrial shunt for use as an electrohydraulic total
      artificial heart.
AB  - A recently designed blood pump subsystem for the completely implantable
      electrohydraulic total artificial heart (EHTAH) has been developed and is under
      evaluation. The subsystem consists of joined left and right ventricles, atrial
      cuffs with an interatrial shunt (IAS), and two outflow grafts. The ventricles
      were developed to fit within the pericardial space based on the results of
      anatomic fit trials. An optimized configuration for animal use, which was
      adaptable for human use with minimal modification, was identified. The core
      dimensions of the ventricles with an energy converter are approximately 10 x 11 x
      7 cm. Maximum output and stroke volume are 9.2 L/min and 81 ml, respectively. The
      IAS is used to balance the volumetrically coupled EHTAH, and is made by forming
      an orifice in the common septum of the left and right atrial cuffs. Performance
      and durability of the IAS were examined in animal experiments for up to 9 days.
      The diameter of the IAS was 3.4-5.5 mm, and the left-right atrial pressure
      difference ranged from 2 to 10 mmHg, with 0.57-1.48 L/min of theoretically
      calculated shunt flow. No evidence of thrombus formation was found in or around
      the IAS at autopsy. The entire EHTAH system with a new blood pump is being
      assembled for long-term animal studies.

PMID- 1457897
TI  - LDL apheresis in atherosclerotic disease with hyperlipidemia.
AB  - Low density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis was carried out in 28 atherosclerotic
      patients with clinical signs of poor peripheral circulation and abnormally high
      LDL levels. The LDL apheresis using extracorporeal adsorption with a dextran
      sulfate cellulose column (Liposorber, Kaneka, Japan) was done 10 times over 3
      months. Hyperlipidemia was rapidly corrected after the initial two aphereses,
      whereas clinical signs of arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO), such as coldness of
      the legs in 17 of 19 patients (89.5%), intermittent claudication in 14 of 17
      patients (82.4%), foot pain at rest in 15 of 18 patients (83.3%), poor arterial
      pulsation in 12 of 16 patients (75.0%), and diminution of ulcer/necrosis in 3 of
      5 patients (60.0%), improved in parallel. Improvement in plethysmographic and
      thermographic findings were observed in 10 of 10 patients (100.0%) and 13 of 14
      patients (92.9%), respectively. Our tentative conclusion is that LDL apheresis
      using the Liposorber system was very effective in removing LDL from blood, and
      clinical symptoms rapidly improved in all patients concomitant with a reduction
      in plasma LDL levels. Hyperlipidemia may be a risk factor for symptomatic ASO in
      the lower extremities, and its active correction may be worth trying.

PMID- 1457898
TI  - The efficiency of new leukocyte removal filters. CF-1 and CF-2.
AB  - Two new leukocyte removal filters, Nipro CF-1 and CF-2 (Nipo Medical Industries,
      Osaka, Japan), were evaluated. These non-woven polyester filters, which are
      gravity flow devices that require no priming and no rinsing after use, were
      developed for preparing 400 ml of whole blood or red cell concentrates from 400
      ml of whole blood. A flow cytometric technique was developed to measure extremely
      low white blood cell (WBC) counts. To evaluate the efficiency of these filters,
      leukocyte counts were measured by three techniques: 1) electronic, 2) visual, and
      3) flow cytometry. Flow cytometric counting was done using a Coulter EPICS-C
      cytometer (Coulter Corp., Hialeah, FL). Nipro CF-1 removed 99.97 +/- 0.01% (mean
      +/- SD, n = 14) of leukocytes measured by flow cytometry, and CF-1 recovered 90.7
      +/- 4.47% (n = 21) of red blood cells. After filtration through CF-2, more than a
      6 log10 (> 99.9999%) depletion of WBCs was detected in six samples, a 6 log10
      (99.9999%) depletion of WBCs was detected in two samples, a 5 log10 (99.999%)
      depletion was detected in five samples, and a 4 log10 (99.99%) depletion was
      detected in one sample. CF-1, in which size and priming volume was smaller than
      other commercial leukocyte removal filters, accomplished a 3 log10 reduction in
      WBC count, compared with other commercial filters. CF-2 achieved a 4-6 log10
      depletion of WBCs assayed by flow cytometry.

PMID- 1457899
TI  - In vitro perfusion of hybrid artificial pancreas devices at low flow rates.
AB  - Type I diabetes is characterized by insulin insufficiency due to lack of
      functional beta cells. To replace injection therapy, schemes such as the Hybrid
      Artificial Pancreas (HAP) were developed. This consists of an acrylic housing
      enclosing a semipermeable hollow fiber membrane. Donor islets can be seeded in
      the annular space through a port in the housing, and thus are separated from the
      recipient's bloodstream or perfusate. Before scaling the HAP to human size, the
      dynamics of its insulin response to a perfusion glucose challenge must be better
      understood. In this study, the HAP's insulin response after a step increase in
      the lumenal glucose concentration was determined as a function of the radial
      thickness of the annular space (0.173-0.973 mm) and islet distribution at a flow
      rate of 1 ml/min. Devices containing a single, 65 mm long fiber were used. Rat
      islets were isolated using standard collagenase digestion techniques. In unseeded
      HAP perfusions, the washout time for glucose and insulin from the annular space
      was dependent on flow rate and radial thickness. Both solutes were removed in < 3
      min from the smallest devices when perfused at 10 ml/min. Thus, solute transport
      within the HAP is very fast. In the seeded HAP perfusions, the devices were
      subjected to a step increase in the lumenal glucose concentration. Sequential
      samples of the HAP effluent were collected and assayed for glucose and insulin.
      The spatial distribution of the islets in the annular space was one of the most
      important factors in determining the HAP's insulin response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457900
TI  - Islet transplantation using an immunoprotective membrane in dogs that have
      undergone a pancreatectomy.
AB  - The use of a selectively permeable membrane to transplant nonsyngeneic tissue
      without accompanying immunosuppressive therapy has been investigated using two
      approaches. The first hybrid artificial pancreas is implanted as a vascular shunt
      in which blood circulates through the lumen of a tubular membrane. The islet
      tissue is distributed within a chamber surrounding the membrane enclosed by an
      acrylic housing. Studies with diabetic dogs that have had pancreatectomies have
      demonstrated that these devices could replace exogenous insulin therapy for at
      least 6 months in five animals. This report presents data on two of these dogs,
      demonstrating viability and function of the transplanted tissue after 1 year. As
      an alternative to the vascular device, islets sealed within cylindrical
      permselective membrane chambers have been implanted in the peritoneum.
      Preliminary data from three dogs indicate that the nonvascular implants can also
      regulate fasting glucose levels in the diabetic dog model.

PMID- 1457901
TI  - The spring-driven implantable pump. A low-cost alternative.
AB  - In the current era of cost containment in medicine, manufacturing economics have
      become increasingly important. The authors devised an implantable pump powered by
      spring force from an elastomeric Belleville washer, which is also the outer
      flexible wall of the drug reservoir. Use of formed and injection molded parts
      provides for low-cost manufacturing, in contrast to the precision welded
      alternative designs. Additional advantages include insensitivity to changes in
      ambient temperature and pressure. Finite element modeling of the elastomer spring
      allows prediction of the effects of parameter changes on performance, so that
      expansions and reductions of scale can be made without compromising the uniform
      spring rate of the device. A concern that subcutaneous fibrous encapsulation
      might markedly alter reservoir pressure was not supported by experimental data.
      In a unit implanted subcutaneously in a dog, reservoir pressures measured over a
      4 year period were stable. This new, simple, implantable infusion pump can serve
      as an economical vehicle for prolonged parenteral drug treatment of ambulatory
      subjects in circumstances where continuous single-rate infusion is appropriate.

PMID- 1457902
TI  - Glucose-sensitive membrane and infrared absorption spectroscopy for potential use
      as an implantable glucose sensor.
AB  - The applicability of using infrared absorption spectroscopy for an implantable
      glucose sensor was tested by measuring absorbance at 9.66 microns for glucose in
      aqueous solution at known concentrations. A commercial Fourier transform infrared
      spectrometer was used with an attenuated total reflection technique (ATR).
      Absorbance measurements were reproducible and linearity was excellent
      (coefficient of correlation: 0.996), in spite of pH and temperature changes over
      values that span the human physiologic ranges (pH 6.8-7.8, temperature, 32-43
      degrees C) and 18-34% decreases in incident infrared energy. The minimum
      detectable concentration of glucose, however, was 31 mmol/L (560 mg/d) and, to
      use infrared sources and detectors compatible with an implantable device, an
      absorbance peak between 1 and 3 microns must be used. To solve the detection
      sensitivity and wavelength problems, the ATR prism was coated with a hydrophobic
      liquid membrane. The absorbance of water varied at 2.95 microns in inverse linear
      proportion to glucose concentration between 2-31 mmol/L (35-560 mg/dL, r = 
      0.992). Estimated incident infrared energy at 2.95 microns (0.2 micron bandwidth)
      was low enough to theoretically allow the use of a lithium battery small enough
      for implantation. These findings support the concept of using infrared absorption
      spectroscopy for an implantable glucose sensor.

PMID- 1457903
TI  - Immunoprotection of xenocytes in a hollow fiber bioartificial liver.
AB  - A new, hollow fiber bioartificial liver (BAL) was tested in an anhepatic rabbit
      model to assess the hollow fiber membrane as an immunologic barrier. The
      extracorporeal BAL contained rat hepatocytes (xenocytes) entrapped in collagen
      gel inside the lumen of hollow fibers with 100 kd nominal molecular weight cut
      off. Blood from the anhepatic rabbit flowed in the extracapillary compartment.
      After 4 h of BAL hemoperfusion, the hepatocyte gels were tested for evidence of
      rabbit immunoglobulin and complement. Samples of the gels were stained with
      fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled antibodies directed against rabbit IgM,
      rabbit IgG (Fc and F[ab]2), and rabbit complement (C3) and studied by
      immunofluorescence microscopy. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western
      blotting were used, respectively, to quantify and identify proteins inside the
      BAL and in the rabbit blood. These studies suggest that very little rabbit IgG
      (primarily fragments of IgG) and no IgM or C3 crossed the hollow fibers during
      hemoperfusion. Rat albumin steadily accumulated in the rabbit blood during
      hemoperfusion, which indicated membrane permeability to molecules of that size
      and stable hepatocyte function by the BAL. The authors conclude that hollow
      fibers with 100 kd nominal molecular weight cut-off provide immunoprotection for
      xenocytes in an extracorporeal BAL.

PMID- 1457904
TI  - Does a porcine hepatocyte hybrid artificial liver prolong the survival time of
      anhepatic rabbits?
AB  - To examine cultured porcine hepatocytes as a bioreactor of a hybrid artificial
      liver (HAL) in rabbits, a small version of a multiplated HAL was manufactured. In
      vitro and ex vivo studies were performed to evaluate the small HAL. The HAL
      consisted of 50 glass plates (10 x 5 x 0.04 cm each) on which porcine hepatocytes
      were cultured in a monolayer at confluent cell density. After 2 days of standard
      cultivation, the glass plates with hepatocytes were placed in the module and were
      used for studies. The module contains about 5 grams of hepatocytes (1/10 of 2
      kg.bw rabbit liver). After undergoing perfusion culture for 5 days, the HAL
      showed satisfactory hepatic function. Glucose and urea were synthesized at the
      rate of 4.06 +/- 0.7 mg/module/hr and 0.62 +/- 0.09 mg/module/hr, respectively,
      and loaded ammonia was metabolized at the rate of 1.29 +/- 0.26 mg/module/hr. Ex
      vivo extracorporeal plasma perfusion studies revealed that the module with
      cultured porcine hepatocytes, which were heterogeneous to rabbits, showed a
      tendency to prolong the survival time of anhepatic rabbits. These results
      indicate that the HAL system, using multiplated porcine hepatocyte monolayers, is
      a promising artificial liver support system for clinical cases.

PMID- 1457905
TI  - Effects of left ventricular pressure unloading during LVAD support on right
      ventricular contractility.
AB  - The effects of left ventricular pressure (LVP) unloading with a left ventricular
      assist device (LVAD) on right ventricular (RV) end-systolic pressure volume
      relationships were studied. A Thoratec (Berkeley, CA) LVAD was implanted in open
      chest anesthetized pigs via apical cannulation, and an electromagnetic flow probe
      and computer controlled pneumatic occluder were attached to the pulmonary artery.
      RV and left ventricular (LV) pressures were measured with Millar catheters, and
      changes in RV volume during ejection were determined by integrating the flow
      signal. As an index of contractility, RV maximal systolic elastance (Emax) was
      calculated as the slope of the end systolic, pressure volume relationship between
      an isovolumic beat and a series of transiently occluded beats at different times
      in the ejection phase. After an 83 +/- 15% decrease in LV pressure time integral
      during LVAD pumping, there were no significant changes in cardiac output, mean
      systemic arterial pressure, or in RV dP/dtmax. Most important, RV Emax during
      LVAD unloading (0.63 +/- 0.16 mmHg/ml) was unchanged from control (0.62 +/- 0.10
      mmHg/ml). Therefore, in the normal intact porcine heart, the effective
      contractility of the right ventricle is not altered by significant LV pressure
      unloading produced with a LVAD.

PMID- 1457906
TI  - Effects of uremia and dialysis on brain electrophysiology after recombinant
      erythropoietin treatment.
AB  - Quantitative electrophysiologic assessments are sensitive and useful indices of
      clinical state, and they are valuable in evaluating brain electrical activity
      before and after recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) treatment. To study
      the hypothesis that, theoretically, anemia might be a cause of brain dysfunction
      in uremia, the authors assessed 18 patients (10 men and 8 women) on hemodialysis
      (RDT, age range, 35-58 years) before treatment (T1), and after 12 weeks (T2) and
      24 weeks (T3) of r-HuEPO treatment, utilizing the following electrophysiologic
      tests: visual evoked potentials (VEP), brainstem auditory evoked responses
      (BAER), and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP). The r-HuEPO was injected
      subcutaneously two times a week after RDT to produce hematocrit (Hct) levels of
      30-35%. This drug induced a decrement of latency in P100 VEP (134.2 +/- 7.9 msec
      in T1 versus 116.5 +/- 6.9 msec in T2, p < 0.001, and versus 107.6 +/- 5.7 msec
      in T3, p < 0.005) and in the four main components of BAER. The most significant
      SEP changes were P27-N35 from peroneal nerve (p < 0.01), as an augmentation of
      SEP amplitude. Correction of anemia with r-HuEPO leads to a significant
      improvement in brain function in patients on RDT. The increased Hct level leads
      to enhanced brain oxygen delivery, directly improving brain metabolism. When the
      Hct rises, cerebral blood flow falls from high levels to normal, decreasing
      delivery of uremic "toxins" to the brain. The decrease in cerebral blood flow may
      decrease intracranial pressure and, in this way, may exert its beneficial effects
      by a rheologic pathway.

PMID- 1457907
TI  - Dialysis leg cramps. Efficacy of quinine versus vitamin E.
AB  - A controlled randomized double-blind study was done to determine the frequency
      and severity of leg cramps in 40 patients on dialysis with a history of leg
      cramps. All patients entered a 2 month placebo washout and were randomized into a
      2 month double-dummy phase of quinine 325 mg at bedtime versus vitamin E 400 IU
      at bedtime. Of the 29 patients completing the study, 16 received quinine and 13
      vitamin E. During placebo washout, the vitamin E group had a mean of 10.4 leg
      cramps per month, and the quinine group had a mean of 10.9. The vitamin E and
      quinine groups had a 1 month reduction in leg cramps to 3.3 and 3.6, respectively
      (p < 0.0005 for both groups combined); this was sustained at 2 months. A severity
      of pain index showed a statistically significant decrease for both groups. The
      95% confidence interval for the difference between the number of leg cramps after
      vitamin E versus quinine treatment (95% confidence interval, -3.8, +3.2) suggests
      similar efficacy. Quinine and vitamin E were effective treatments for leg cramps
      in these patients. Considering the potential toxicity of quinine, vitamin E is
      recommended as the initial treatment of choice for patients on dialysis with leg
      cramps.

PMID- 1457908
TI  - Registry report. Use of total artificial hearts: summary of world experience,
      1969-1991.
AB  - Eleven models of total artificial hearts (TAHs) have been used for transient or
      permanent circulatory support in patients with failing hearts. From April 4, 1969
      to July 1, 1991, 230 TAHs were used in 226 patients (four patients received a
      second TAH) at 39 centers worldwide. Five patients received a Symbion TAH as a
      permanent circulatory support device; the remaining 221 received TAHs as bridges
      to cardiac transplantation. The principal investigators received written requests
      for demographic and clinical information after each implant and annually
      thereafter to assess survival. The mean patient age (+/- SD) was 43 +/- 12 years
      (range, 13-69 years); 88% of patients were men. The primary indications for
      implantation were deterioration while on a transplant waiting list (34%) and
      acute cardiogenic shock (33%). The duration of implantation ranged from < 1 to
      603 days; 65% received heart transplants. The incidence of infection and embolic
      events occurring during implantation times were 36% and 9%, respectively (stroke,
      5%; transient ischemic attacks 4%). Most deaths were caused by sepsis (33%) and
      multiorgan failure (32%) during the implantation period; sepsis (36%) and
      rejection of the donor heart (19%) were responsible for most deaths in patients
      who died after transplantation. The 1 year survival rate was 37% for all patients
      receiving a device and 50% for those who received a transplanted organ. In the
      overall Symbion TAH population (187 patients), 40% survived 1 year and 56% of the
      transplanted group survived 1 year; 39 non-Symbion TAH implants resulted in one
      long-term survivor (3%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457909
TI  - Effects of mechanical ventilation and spontaneous respiration on hemodynamics in
      calves with total artificial hearts.
AB  - The effects of respiration on hemodynamics were evaluated in four Holstein calves
      with total artificial hearts (TAH). The electrohydraulic actuated E4T-TAH has a
      continuously reciprocating actuator packaged between two alternately ejecting
      blood pumps that passively fill. The hemodynamic parameters (right atrial
      pressure [RAP], left atrial pressure [LAP], pulmonary artery pressure [PAP],
      aortic pressure [AoP]), and right and left pump filling (Rt% fill and Lt% fill)
      were measured when the animal was intubated and mechanically ventilated. These
      measurements were repeated with spontaneous respiration after the animal was
      extubated. With mechanical ventilation, LAP, PAP, and AoP were significantly
      higher during inspiration than during expiration. However, RAP during inspiration
      was slightly lower than that during expiration. The Rt% fill during inspiration
      was significantly lower than during expiration, but Lt% fill during inspiration
      was significantly higher than during expiration. During spontaneous respiration,
      these changes were opposite to those observed during mechanical ventilation. That
      mechanical ventilation generates positive intrathoracic pressure during
      inspiration, but spontaneous respiration generates negative pressure may explain
      these results. The change in venous return to the right atrium caused the change
      in RAP to be opposite in direction to that of the other pressures.

PMID- 1457910
TI  - Initial in vivo tests of an electrohydraulic actuated total artificial heart.
AB  - The authors are involved in developing a total artificial heart (TAH) for
      permanent human use. This device was designed to fit human anatomy, and it has
      housings made of carbon fiber-epoxy composite and titanium. Tissue valves and
      protein coating of blood contacting surfaces minimize the need for
      anticoagulants. A continuously reciprocating electrohydraulic actuator is
      packaged between two alternately ejecting and passively filling ventricles. The
      control system varies the pump rate to maintain average left ventricular filling
      at 90%. This TAH in vivo successively progressed through 1, 5, 9, and 45 day
      implants in calves of 84, 94, 82, and 82 kg preoperative body weights. The
      operating modes include automatic and fixed rate. The chronic and acute effects
      of varying the right pump displaced stroke volume indicated the need for it to be
      limited to 85% of that of the left for stable hemodynamics at maximum flow. The
      pump exhibited afterload insensitive and preload sensitive performance. Pump
      output ranged from 4.0-9.5 L/min at left atrial pressures of 7-16 mmHg at pump
      rates of 80-160 beats/min in these four experiments. These data suggest that this
      device will meet clinical hemodynamic requirements; it has the potential for
      total implantable cardiac replacement.

PMID- 1457911
TI  - Experimental studies of pulsatile flow and endothelial cell adaptation in
      ventricle shaped cell culture chambers.
AB  - The authors' long-term research goal is to minimize the risk of thromboembolic
      complications in cardiac prostheses by lining blood contacting surfaces with a
      functional monolayer of autologous endothelial cells. These cells recognize
      changes in hemodynamics and can adapt effectively to experimentally manipulated
      flow conditions. By implication, the morphology of endothelial cells, in
      conjunction with their function, might serve as an indicator of the flow patterns
      in a particular location. It was hypothesized that, by understanding flow
      patterns at a given site, the local morphology and function of the endothelial
      cells in such a region could be predicted. To test this hypothesis, a series of
      ventricle shaped flow chambers were designed and perfused with pulsatile flow.
      The flow field in the chambers was studied by computer aided dye visualization
      and nuclear scintigraphy. The results showed that the large scale motion of the
      fluid in the cavity was highly coherent and consisted of distinct flow patterns.
      The temporal and spatial characteristics of the flow patterns, and their
      implications with respect to endothelial cell endurance in this in vitro
      environment, were examined in detail.

PMID- 1457912
TI  - A skeletal muscle actuator for an artificial heart.
AB  - The authors developed a system to use skeletal muscle as an artificial heart
      actuator. This system consists of a flexible rod, sheath, crank, and cam to
      transmit the muscle power to a pusher plate pump and actuate it. The latissimus
      dorsi muscle was dissected at the lower ribs, and its end was connected with the
      flexible rod. The contraction of skeletal muscle was linearly transmitted, with
      the rod introduced inside the sheath, to the pump. The whole system was implanted
      in dogs (14-18 kg) and pump performance was evaluated with a mock circulatory
      system (preload = 10 mmHg, afterload = 75 mmHg). In these experiments, the pump
      output was maintained at 0.8 to 2.0 L/min (60 bpm) for 200 min, with a non
      preconditioned muscle that was stimulated continuously. The output obtained was
      2.5 mW/gram. Efficiency of this system was about 50% of the muscle power
      available. When the muscle was stimulated intermittently every 30 min, pump flow
      was maintained at > 0.8 L/min for 20 hr. Advantages of this system are: 1) the
      muscle power was linearly transmitted effectively, 2) this system could be
      installed with minimal surgery and without interruption in blood flow to the
      muscle, 3) the muscle is free from high intraventricular pressure that caused
      ischemia and, 4) the muscle can be set to the proper length in diastole to
      potentiate strong contractions.

PMID- 1457913
TI  - Improved patency of an elastomeric vascular graft by hybridization.
AB  - A newly devised hybrid graft with high antithrombogenicity for small caliber
      vascular grafts was developed. The design concept was based on the incorporation
      of a compliant open cell structured graft, autogenous endothelial cells (ECs),
      and artificial basement membrane. The latter, a gel complex of type I collagen
      and dermatan sulfate that showed enhanced adhesion and growth of ECs but reduced
      platelet adhesion, was coated onto a microporous polyurethane graft (internal
      diameter, 3 mm; length, 4.5 cm), with near-natural compliance. Ten seeded grafts
      were implanted bilaterally into the carotid arteries of dogs; anticoagulant or
      antiplatelet therapy was not administered. This hybrid graft showed a marked
      improvement in patency at 1 month compared with that of simply preclotted grafts
      (control specimens). This result was explained by the almost complete
      endothelialization when the graft was implanted, a high degree of adherent
      strength resistance to shear stress, and a high proliferative potential. Thus,
      this approach of combining biomechanical and cellular engineering designs may
      lead to an important functional small caliber graft.

PMID- 1457914
TI  - Growth and functional assessment of pulmonary valves in pigs after replacement of
      sinuses of Valsalva.
AB  - Neopulmonary artery stenosis may occur after the arterial switching procedure to
      correct transposition of the great arteries. One technique to reduce this
      complication is to use a single rectangular piece of autogenous pericardium to
      reconstruct two adjacent sinuses of Valsalva and maintain pulmonary artery size.
      The long-term effect of this technique on pulmonary artery and valve growth and
      function is unknown. To assess this technique, Yorkshire-cross pigs (n = 5)
      weighing 29 +/- 1.7 kg (mean +/- SEM) were anesthetized, and during
      cardiopulmonary bypass, the pulmonary artery was transected distal to the
      pulmonary valve. Pulmonary artery diameter and commissure distances were
      measured. Two adjacent pulmonary artery sinuses of Valsalva were completely
      excised from the anulus to 4 mm distal to the commissures, leaving 2 mm of
      pulmonary artery tissue attached to the skeletonized commissure and on each side
      of the one remaining intact sinus of Valsalva. A single rectangular patch of
      fresh autologous pericardium was sutured to the anulus and remnant of the
      pulmonary artery along the commissure and edges of the one intact sinus of
      Valsalva. Pericardium composed two thirds of the circumference of the proximal
      pulmonary artery; this was anastomosed to the distal pulmonary artery. Weight
      gain occurred at a rate of 0.6 kg/day (median). The animals underwent right heart
      catheterization and cineangiography. They were killed 157.2 +/- 12.9 days post
      operatively. The reconstructed pulmonary artery grew from 17.6 +/- 0.8 mm to 30.8
      +/- 1.5 mm (p < 0.01), and the commissure distances grew from 17.0 +/- 1 mm to
      27.2 +/- 1.6 mm (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457915
TI  - Venous access pressures and the detection of intra-access stenosis.
AB  - Venous pressure measured by the dialyzer is an unreliable measure of intra-access
      venous pressure. During dialysis and zero extracorporeal blood flow, intra-access
      venous limb pressure (VPd) was measured directly 401 times in 133 subjects using
      a high flow "in-line" three-way stopcock adjacent to the venous return needle.
      Subjects with systolic VPd/systolic blood pressure (BP) > or = 0.4, inadequate
      blood flow, or edema in the access extremity were referred for angiography.
      Percent diameter lumen reduction by a stenosis (%D) > 50% was considered
      hemodynamically significant. The authors did 138 angiograms. It was found that
      VPd/BP increased with %D in both ePTFE bridge grafts and native fistulae.
      Measurements of venous limb VP/BP taken at the time of dialysis and at the time
      of angiography did not differ (n = 55). On 80 occasions, accesses had significant
      stenoses. The overall sensitivity of VPd/BP in ePTFE bridge grafts was 91% and
      specificity 91%. False negative results occurred in seven of 24 native and eight
      of 114 ePTFE graft studies; 14 of 15 patients had arm swelling caused by central
      stenosis. Recirculation > 15% was more sensitive (71%) in detecting stenosis in
      native accesses than was intra-access pressure. It was concluded that VPd/BP >
      0.4 is a useful, sensitive, and specific criteria for detecting synthetic bridge
      graft accesses at risk for thrombosis.

PMID- 1457916
TI  - The effect of Doppler flow screening studies and elective revisions on dialysis
      access failure.
AB  - A retrospective study was undertaken to see if screening ultrasounds and elective
      surgical revision could decrease access failure. Two hundred fifty-three accesses
      [177 gortex grafts, 76 arteriovenous (AV) fistulas] were studied with duplex
      imaging. Patients were subdivided by access type, flow, percent stenosis, and
      whether they were surgically revised. Data was examined to determine access
      failure within 6 months. Ten of 76 fistulas clotted (13.1%), while 53 of 177
      grafts clotted (29.9%) (p = 0.005). In Gortex grafts, stenosis (p < 0.05) and
      decreased flow (p = 0.005) correlated with clotting. In unrevised grafts with
      flow < or = 801 ml/min, 13 of 14 (92.8%) clotted, whereas of those with flow > or
      = 1603 ml/min only, 10 of 38 (26.3%) clotted (chi-square = 24.74; p < 0.0001).
      Only 1 of 18 (5.6%) revised grafts with flow < or = 1300 ml/min clotted, while 29
      of 69 (42%) unrevised grafts clotted (p = 0.004). We were unable to demonstrate
      decreased clotting in fistulae with revisions. In conclusion, screening duplex
      scanning was able to select groups with a higher risk of access failure over the
      subsequent 6 months. Elective revision with correction of areas of stenosis in
      grafts with flows < or = 1300 ml/min significantly decreased the incidence of
      clotting.

PMID- 1457917
TI  - Vascular access thrombosis during recombinant human erythropoietin therapy.
AB  - The increased incidence of vascular access thrombosis (VAT) associated with
      recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) therapy is multifactorial and
      controversial. Sixty-three hemodialysis patients who received > or = 12 weeks of
      r-HuEPO therapy were prospectively followed for the incidence of VAT. Those who
      experienced VAT (Group 1) were compared with those who did not (Group 2). The
      patients initially received r-HuEPO 50 U/kg intravenously three times a week. The
      dose was adjusted for a target hematocrit (t-Hct) of 30-33%. Twenty-five of the
      63 patients (40%) experienced VAT (Group 1). These patients were older (mean,
      54.0 +/- 14.0 years versus 47.3 +/- 15.0 years, p = 0.08). There was no
      difference between Groups 1 and 2 with respect to the baseline Hct level (21.5 +/
      2.9% versus 21.4 +/- 4.3%), the number of patients who achieved t-Hct (20 versus
      28), and the mean time to reach t-Hct (18.6 +/- 15.1 weeks versus 16.9 +/- 16.2
      weeks). However, 20 of 25 Group 1 patients (80%) were diabetic compared with only
      18 of 38 Group 2 patients (47%, p = 0.0169, by Fisher's exact test). In addition,
      the types of vascular access differed markedly between the two groups:
      arteriovenous (AV) grafts/AV fistulae/Permcaths, Group 1: 21/3/1 versus Group 2:
      15/21/2, p = 0.0018. It was concluded that the occurrence of VAT in r-HuEPO
      treated patients was not related to the patient's hematologic response to the
      drug, but rather, it depended upon the integrity of the patient's vasculature and
      the type of vascular access used.

PMID- 1457918
TI  - Effect of shear rates on protein adsorption in the total artificial heart.
AB  - Plasma protein adsorption is the first event in blood-material interaction and
      influences subsequent platelet adhesion and thrombus formation. Thromboembolic
      events are strongly influenced by surface characteristics of materials and fluid
      dynamics inside the blood pump. In vitro flow visualization, and an animal
      experiment with a moving actuator total artificial heart (TAH), were performed to
      investigate fluid dynamic effects on protein adsorption. The different levels of
      shear rate inside the ventricle were determined by considering the direction of
      opening of the four heart valves in the implanted TAH, and the visualized flow
      patterns as well. Each ventricle of the explanted TAH was cut into 12 segments
      according to the shear rate level. The adsorbed protein on each segment was
      quantified using an ELISA method after soaking in 2% (w/v) SDS/PBS for 2 days.
      Adsorbed protein layer thicknesses were measured by the immunogold method under
      transmission electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopic observation
      showed that the right ventricle, immobilized with albumin, displayed different
      degrees of platelet adhesion on each segment, whereas the left ventricle, coated
      with polythyleneoxide-sulfonate, indicated nearly the same platelet adhesion
      behavior, regardless of shear rates. The surface concentrations of adsorbed
      proteins in the low shear rate region are higher than those in the high shear
      region, which was confirmed statistically.

PMID- 1457919
TI  - Changes with respect to time in the in vivo adsorption of plasma proteins onto
      artificial heart blood pumps.
AB  - The distribution of adsorbed plasma proteins (albumin, IgG, and fibrinogen) on 10
      artificial heart blood pumps coated with 2 segmented polyurethanes was evaluated
      quantitatively after long-term in vivo experiments with goats to determine how
      the adsorption of plasma proteins on the pumps was affected by the kinds of
      biomaterials used, and by the pumping duration. The adsorbed plasma proteins on
      the materials were determined quantitatively using the iodine-125 conjugated
      antibody method. Microscopically, the adsorbed plasma proteins were marked by the
      gold colloid conjugated antibody method, and analyzed using a field emission
      scanning electron microscope. The macroscopic results showed that: 1) the
      adsorbed plasma proteins on KP-13 were more evenly and finely distributed than
      those on Cardiothane; 2) with KP-13, the adsorption of IgG and albumin at the
      center of the pumps was significantly less than in the peripheral areas, and the
      adsorbed IgG and albumin decreased significantly as the pumping duration
      increased; 3) in contrast, the adsorbed fibrinogen increased significantly with
      time; and 4) with Cardiothane, the tendencies for adsorbed IgG and albumin to
      decrease, and for adsorbed fibrinogen to increase, were less significant than
      with KP-13. Microscopically, the gold colloids marking plasma proteins were found
      to not cover the whole of the surface, but were found scattered randomly or in
      clusters, with no relationship observed between the distributions of the three
      plasma proteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457920
TI  - Performance of a hydrogel composite pericardial substitute after long-term
      implant studies.
AB  - A novel composite patch has been tested as a pericardial substitute to reduce
      adhesion formation after cardiac surgery. The patch consists of poly 2
      hydroxyethyl methacrylate (pHEMA) hydrogel reinforced with a polyethylene
      terephthalate (PET) mesh. The hydrogel-PET composite pericardial patches were
      implanted in canines for 6, 9, and 12 months. Upon termination, adhesion
      formation and epicardial reaction to the implant were rated. No adhesions formed
      between the patch and the native pericardium or epicardium. A thin fibrous layer
      on the epicardium progressively developed where the patch contacted the heart.
      The coronary anatomy remained visible. Histologically, the response to the
      implant was fibrous in nature. No significant signs of cellular inflammation were
      found. The gross appearance of the retrieved patches was nearly identical to that
      of preimplant patches. Mechanical tests showed no significant changes (alpha =
      0.05) in patch strength or stiffness. Hydrogel water content initially increased
      during implantation. The thickness of the patch did not change significantly
      (alpha = 0.05) throughout the study. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed
      unequal layers of hydrogel on either side of the PET mesh and cracks in the
      hydrogel surfaces of retrieved patches. Both SEM and light microscopic
      observation of the patches showed traces of calcification in patches in the 9 and
      12 month studies.

PMID- 1457921
TI  - Heparin-free hemodialysis with an oral anti-platelet agent.
AB  - Heparin-resistant blood clotting in hemodialysis, caused mainly by platelets
      activated with artificial materials, was ameliorated by oral administration of a
      newly developed anti-platelet agent, 4-cyano-5,5-bis (4-methoxy phenyl)-4
      pentenoic acid (E5510, Eisai Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). Six hemodialysis patients,
      who were given 0.5. 1, 2, and 4 mg of E5510 orally 1 to 2 hr before starting
      hemodialysis, underwent hemodialysis using a hollow fiber dialyzer (PMMA or
      cellulose acetate). The platelet aggregation rate was depressed according to dose
      response, and fell to less than 30% of the initial value with 2 mg of E5510.
      Plasma thromboxane B2 concentration was depressed significantly. Bleeding time
      was mildly but not significantly prolonged. Based on these results, we tried
      heparin-free hemodialysis using E5510 as sole anticoagulant. Six of nine patients
      were successfully hemodialyzed with minimal blood clotting in the dialyzer and
      drip chambers. Three patients needed additional low dose heparin to prevent blood
      clotting in the circuit's air trap. Neither hemorrhagic complications nor other
      side effects were observed in these cases. E5510 is considered to be a promising
      oral anti-thrombogenic agent for patients with heparin-resistant blood clotting
      or heparin-free hemodialysis.

PMID- 1457922
TI  - Study of anatomic constraints using three dimensionally reconstructed images for
      total artificial heart implantation.
AB  - The authors established a method of clarifying the three dimensional
      interrelationship among the mitral and tricuspid annuli, ascending aorta, main
      pulmonary artery, diaphragmatic surface of the heart (DS), and anterior thoracic
      wall, using four chamber view magnetic resonance imaging. This method was applied
      to measuring the parameters that restrict the size and shape of a total
      artificial heart (TAH) from three dimensional reconstructed images of six normal
      subjects. Assuming that the TAH is implanted on the diaphragm, which corresponds
      to DS, the width of the TAH is restricted to 7.6 cm, the transverse dimension of
      the cardiac base (D-B), and the height to 7.8 cm, the dimension from the DS to
      the center of the pulmonic annulus (DS-P1). Depth is restricted by the
      longitudinal dimension of the left ventricle projected on the DS (D-L). While D-L
      in early systole is 9.7 mm, in late systole D-L is reduced to 7.6 cm. The angle
      (DS) (AW) is 65.7 degrees; this is the angle between the DS and anterior thoracic
      wall that restricts the shape of the TAH. While these data in normal subjects may
      be useful for TAH implantation, in the patient with acute cardiac failure,
      further study of patients with chronic cardiac failure is necessary.

PMID- 1457923
TI  - Permeation of silicone oil through a diaphragm in an electrohydraulic ventricular
      assist system.
AB  - This study was designed to investigate the permeation of silicone oil through a
      pump diaphragm made of Pellethane in the authors' electrohydraulic ventricular
      assist system (EHVAS) and to evaluate influences on organ function. The
      permeability of the diaphragm to silicone oil was investigated by in vitro
      experiments. Influences on organ function were evaluated in five goats with an
      EHVAS by monitoring serum silicon levels (SSi), blood chemical parameters, and
      histologic findings. Elevation of silicone oil levels in Pellethane sheets
      immersed in silicone oil demonstrated that the Pellethane diaphragm was, in fact,
      permeable to silicone oil. The permeation rate of silicone oil was calculated to
      be 1.75 ml/year in the authors' EHVAS from the data of a diffusion apparatus
      test. Serum silicon levels did not increase during the EHVAS pumping, and renal
      and hepatic function were not affected. No abnormality or deposit suggestive of
      silicone oil was observed. However, the problem of permeation of silicone oil
      through the pump diaphragm must be solved to allow for a circulatory assist
      device for long-term use.

PMID- 1457924
TI  - Heparin induced thrombocytopenia in patients undergoing intra-aortic balloon
      pumping after open heart surgery.
AB  - Heparin is usually administered to patients with intra-aortic balloon pumps
      (IABP) to prevent thromboembolism. In addition to thrombocytopenia caused by IABP
      mechanical damage to platelets, exposure to heparin can cause heparin induced
      thrombocytopenia (HIT). Heparin induced thrombocytopenia is caused by an immune
      mechanism in which heparin antibodies are produced, causing platelet aggregation,
      leading to bleeding or thromboembolic complications. Over a 9 year period, 35 of
      764 (4.5%) patients with IABPs have been diagnosed as having HIT. Surgical
      procedures included coronary artery bypass (CABG) in 14 (40%), valve repair or
      replacement in 7 (20%), and CABG and other cardiac procedure in 14 (40%). Lowest
      platelet counts ranged from 17,000-114,000/mm3 (median, 44,000/mm3). Thirty-three
      of 35 (94.3%) had mediastinal hemorrhage requiring infusion of multiple blood
      products, and 6 of these 35 (17%) required return to the operating room.
      Seventeen of 35 (48.6%) experienced thromboembolic complications. Hospital
      mortality was 15 of 35 (42%). Etiology of thrombocytopenia in patients on IABPs
      is multifactorial. Patients on an IABP who develop thrombocytopenia should be
      tested for heparin dependent anti-platelet antibodies to rule out HIT. When a
      heparin antibody is present, heparin must be discontinued and alternate forms of
      anticoagulation/platelet inhibition initiated to reduce morbidity and mortality.

PMID- 1457925
TI  - Influence of an impeller centrifugal pump on blood components in chronic animal
      experiments.
AB  - A chronic animal experiment was designed to examine the changes in blood
      components induced by the use of a centrifugal pump (CP). In the pump, an
      impeller spins in a blood chamber by magnetic coupling with a rotating magnet
      outside the blood chamber. A pulsatile ventricular assist device was implanted
      between the left atrium and the descending aorta in four goats weighing from 63
      to 75 kg; the CP was installed to replace the assist device, without surgery and
      anesthesia, more than 2 weeks later when the influences of implantation surgery
      were diminished. Antithrombotic therapy was performed with oral administration of
      an antiplatelet agent, cilostazol, a cyclic adenosine monophosphate
      phosphodiesterase at a dose of 30 mg/kg/day. No significant differences were
      observed in any of the following parameters: 1) hematocrit, 2) plasma free
      hemoglobin, 3) lactic acid dehydrogenase, 4) adenosine diphosphate, 5) platelet
      count, 6) fibrinogen, and 7) antithrombin III, between the data before and after
      the use of the CP, nor were deformation or pseudopods of platelets seen. The CP
      developed in the authors' institute and evaluated in this study did not damage
      blood components, and it proved to be a promising device for long-term use.

PMID- 1457926
TI  - Characteristics of artificial red cells. Hemoglobin encapsulated in poly-lipid
      vesicles.
AB  - Artificial red cells (ARC) were prepared by encapsulation of purified human Hb
      with polymerizable phospholipid, 1,2-bis (2,4-octadecadienoyl)-sn-glycero-3
      phosphocholine (DODPC). The polymerized lipid bilayer of the ARC produced great
      physical stability that could not be achieved using a non-polymerizable lipid for
      encapsulation. ARC showed no change in particle size or distribution or leakage
      of Hb after repeated freeze thawing (stability test). ARC have also been studied
      with regard to biocompatibility. The authors' results showed low acute toxicity
      (> 8000 mg/kg) and adequate blood compatibility. The result of transfusion tests
      in dogs showed that ARC had sufficient oxygen transporting capabilities.

PMID- 1457927
TI  - Peritoneal dialysis solution calcium concentration regulates peritoneal
      fibroblast proliferation in CAPD.
AB  - Peritoneal fibrosis remains one of the major causes of dropout in continuous
      ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), by reducing ultrafiltration capacity.
      Since studies in vitro have shown that cytoplasmic Ca2+ regulates the
      proliferation of most cell lines and the release of cytokines from immune cells,
      eight uremics and four controls at the start of CAPD were evaluated for the in
      vitro effects of different peritoneal dialysis solution (PDS) Ca2+ concentrations
      (1, 1.25, 1.75, and 2 mmol/L) on: 1) peritoneal fibroblast (PF) proliferation; 2)
      peritoneal macrophage (PM) and peritoneal lymphocyte (PL) release of interleukin
      1 (IL-1) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)--cytokines that are known to induce PF
      proliferation; and 3) cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentrations in PF, PM, and PL. Results
      showed that in both the uremics and controls, increasing the dose of Ca2+ in the
      medium induced a dose-dependent rise in PF proliferation, and in the release of
      IL-1 and IFN-gamma from PM and PL. Meanwhile, the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration
      of PF, PM, and PL also increased. With a PDS containing 1 mmol/L of Ca2+ in the
      uremics, these parameters were below normal; they exceeded the norm with a Ca2+
      concentration of 1.75 and 2 mmol/L, and were normal with a Ca2+ concentration of
      1.25 mmol/L. These data suggest that in CAPD patients, the use of a low Ca2+ PDS
      (1 and 1.25 mmol/L) may be useful in reducing the proliferation of PF and the
      production of IL-1 and IFN-gamma from PM and PL, thereby preventing peritoneal
      sclerosis.

PMID- 1457928
TI  - Factors influencing transperitoneal calcium balance during CAPD.
AB  - A dialysate containing a calcium concentration of 1.75 mmol/L has been the
      standard in CAPD for a long time. This concentration was chosen to achieve a
      positive calcium balance to suppress hyperparathyroidism. In the measurement of
      peritoneal calcium mass transfer, conflicting results have been published, with
      positive and negative calcium balances reported. These differences have been
      explained by differences in the filtration rate, and a negative correlation
      between the filtration rate and the peritoneal calcium mass transfer can be
      found. Whereas nearly all patients in this study had a negative calcium balance
      using a glucose solution of 3.86%, a wide variation was found for the 1.36%
      glucose solution. There were several patients who had a positive calcium balance
      despite a positive filtration rate. The explanation for this finding lay in
      differences in serum concentrations of calcium, and especially differences in the
      size of the total exchangeable calcium pool that contains the plasma calcium
      compartment. A negative correlation between peritoneal calcium balance and the
      size of the total exchangeable calcium pool could be demonstrated. This finding
      may explain the differences in the peritoneal calcium flux reported in the
      literature. As an enlargement of the exchangeable calcium pool correlates with
      the progression of vascular calcification, therapeutic efforts should be directed
      toward prevention of an enlargement of this pool.

PMID- 1457929
TI  - Low calcium peritoneal dialysis solution. Effects on calcium metabolism and bone
      disease in CAPD patients.
AB  - Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is an effective phosphate (PO4) binder in uremics, and
      its use reduces aluminum (AI) intake. By maintaining high serum Ca2+ levels, it
      decreases serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. Hypercalcemia, however, often
      limits the dosage. To evaluate the effects of a low Ca2+ peritoneal dialysis
      solution (PDS; 1.25 mmol/L) on calcium metabolism, the following were studied in
      continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients with hypercalcemia (six
      with high PTH levels, and high turnover bone disease [Group 1], and six with low
      PTH levels, and low turnover bone disease [Group 2] documented by bone biopsies):
      1) serum Ca2+ and PO4 levels; 2) serum PTH levels; 3) serum AI levels; and 4)
      bone morphology. The follow-up was 12 months. In both groups, within the third
      month, there was a decrease in serum Ca2+. In Group 2, serum PTH increased,
      reaching the norm, and in Group 1 it further increased, exceeding the norm.
      Because in both groups serum Ca2+ was normal, it was possible to give oral CaCO3
      (10.5 +/- 2.5 g/day) to control PO4 levels while stopping AI gels. This did not
      induce any increase in serum Ca2+, whereas serum AI fell significantly. In Group
      1, to avoid a further rise of serum PTH, the low Ca2+ PDS was supplemented with
      calcitriol (mean 3.5 +/- 0.5 microgram/day); this was followed by a reduction in
      serum PTH with no increase in serum Ca2+ or PO4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457930
TI  - Experimental Staphylococcus epidermidis implant infection in the mouse. Kinetics
      of rifampin and vancomycin action.
AB  - Staphylococcus epidermidis implant infections remain a therapeutic challenge;
      they frequently result in failure of conservative management and require removal
      of the implant. This resistance to antibiotic therapy has been ascribed to the
      presence of a protective bacterial biofilm at the surface of the implant. An
      animal model of implant associated infection has been developed in which
      preformed bacterial biofilm catheter segments are implanted intraperitoneally,
      resulting in a chronic standardized localized infection. The authors have
      determined the superior rapid action of rifampin (Cieba-Geigy) compared to
      vancomycin hydrochloride (Eli Lilly) and determined that the combination is
      superior to either used alone. No rifampin resistant surviving infection was
      noted, which indicates the significant contribution of mammalian host defenses.
      This animal model is an excellent vehicle for the study of Staphylococcus
      epidermidis implant associated infection and the evaluation of the relative
      efficacy of antibiotic regimens, singly and in combination.

PMID- 1457931
TI  - Pivot design in bileaflet valves.
AB  - The design criteria leading to the development of a new bileaflet valve (Sorin
      Bicarbon) were derived from the analysis of functional requirements, the
      performance of existing prostheses, and the availability of an advanced carbon
      coating technology (Carbofilm). The hinge is the critical element affecting fluid
      dynamics, durability, and thrombus formation in bileaflet valves. A comparative
      study of three existing models led to a new hinge design that was based on
      coupling two spheric surfaces with different radii of curvature (leaflet pivot
      and hinge recess) and obtained by electroerosion into a Carbofilm-coated metallic
      housing. In this valve, the point of contact moves continuously by rolling, not
      sliding. This minimizes friction and wear and allows uninterrupted washing of the
      blood exposed surfaces even during diastole (a finding established in patients
      using transesophageal echocardiography). Tricuspid implantation without
      anticoagulation in 33 sheep did not lead to thrombotic events (follow-up, 40-400
      days). In the first 36 clinical implants observed for 15 months (mitral position,
      size 29; two unrelated deaths), the mean diastolic gradient by echo Doppler was 4
      +/- 1.25 mmHg; the functional area was 3.2 +/- 0.6 cm2. No leaflet fracture and
      no thrombotic or embolic complications were observed clinically using a standard
      anticoagulant regimen.

PMID- 1457932
TI  - A non-conventional reniform heart valve bioprosthesis with improved performance.
AB  - Conventional bioprosthetic heart valves have been designed with circular mounting
      rings. This article describes a mitral bioprosthetic valve consisting of three
      bovine pericardial leaflets with a "reniform" base. Its shape resembles that of
      the mitral anulus, and therefore, it provides a better anatomic fit. Hydrodynamic
      comparisons were made between conventional valves (CV) and equivalent sized
      reniform valves (ERV) that would adapt to the same anulus. Under steady flow of
      30 L/min, pressure drops were compared in CVs and ERVs. For CV sizes 27, 29, and
      31mm, the ratios of pressure drops compared with ERVs were 2, 1.49, and 1.30,
      respectively. With the same flow rate, the ratios of effective orifice areas
      (EOA) for CVs and ERVs in sizes 27, 29, and 31mm were 1.41, 1.21, and 1.14,
      respectively. Under pulsatile flow (mean flow, 5 L/min, 100 beats/min [bpm]), the
      pressure drop across CVs was averaged for sizes 27, 29, and 31mm, and found to be
      1.51-fold the averaged pressure drops for ERVs. In addition, ERV sizes 27, 29,
      and 31mm had EOAs averaging 1.24-fold those of CVs. Similarly, for an 80 bpm
      frequency, the pressure drops across CVs for the three sizes averaged 1.48-fold
      that of ERVs. The EOAs of ERVs were 1.22-fold those of CVs averaged for the three
      sizes.

PMID- 1457933
TI  - Assessment of the in vitro transport parameters for ethanehydroxy diphosphonate
      through a polyurethane membrane. A potential refillable reservoir drug delivery
      device.
AB  - Calcification (CALC) is the most frequent cause of failure in bioprosthetic heart
      valves (BHV) fabricated from glutaraldehyde pretreated porcine aortic valve or
      bovine pericardium. Site specific controlled administration of ethanehydroxy
      diphosphonate (EHDP), using numerous carriers, has been successful in inhibiting
      CALC of BHV tissue in an accelerated rat subdermal model, without adverse effects
      on serum calcium, bone development, or overall somatic growth. The current study
      was designed to evaluate refillable reservoir devices fabricated from
      polyurethane (Biomer Woburn, MA) with regard to their transport properties
      relative to EHDP. The refillable reservoirs were evaluated for EHDP release in
      vitro at 22 degrees C (under perfect sink conditions) into both a physiologic
      receptor phase (N-2 hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid buffer, pH =
      7.4) with (1.5 mM) or without Ca2+ present. Transport parameters for EHDP
      diffusion through the polyurethane membranes used to fabricate the reservoirs
      were significantly different for the two receptor phases evaluated. The mean
      diffusion coefficients (D) for EHDP through the polyurethane membrane into each
      receptor phase were not significantly different. However, an approximately 3.5
      fold reduction was observed in the mean value of the partition coefficient (K)
      for EHDP when EHDP was evaluated for release into a receptor phase that contained
      1.5 mM Ca2+.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457934
TI  - Initial clinical trial of a closed loop, fully automatic intra-aortic balloon
      pump.
AB  - A new generation, closed loop, fully automatic intraaortic balloon pump (CL-IABP)
      system continuously optimizes diastolic augmentation by adjusting balloon pump
      parameters beat by beat without operator intervention. In dogs in sinus rhythm
      and with experimentally induced arrhythmias, the new CL-IABP system provided
      safe, effective augmentation. To investigate the system's suitability for
      clinical use, 10 patients meeting standard indications for IABP were studied. The
      patients were pumped by the fully automatic IABP system for an average of 20 hr
      (range, 1-48 hr). At start-up, the system optimized pumping parameters within 7
      20 sec. Evaluation of 186 recordings made at hourly intervals showed that
      inflation began within 20 msec of the dicrotic notch 99% of the time. In 100% of
      the recordings, deflation straddled the first half of ventricular ejection. Peak
      pressure across the balloon membrane averaged 55 mmHg and, in no case, exceeded
      100 mmHg. Examination of the data showed that as soon as the system was actuated
      it provided consistently beneficial diastolic augmentation without any further
      operator intervention. Eight patients improved and two died (one of irreversible
      cardiogenic shock and one of ischemic cardiomyopathy). No complications were
      attributable to the investigational aspects of the system. A fully automated IABP
      is feasible in the clinical setting, and it may have advantages relative to
      current generation IABP systems.

PMID- 1457935
TI  - Clinical responses to ventricular assistance versus transplantation in a series
      of bridge to transplant patients.
AB  - Hemodynamic and peripheral organ responses to ventricular assistance were
      compared with transplantation in a cohort of patients bridged with the HeartMate
      1000 IP left ventricular assist device (LVAD) (Thermo Cardiosystems Inc., Woburn,
      MA). The study population included 27 patients that were supported an average of
      102 days (range, 15-324 days). Two hepatic (total bilirubin and serum glutamic
      oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT]) and two renal (creatinine and blood urea
      nitrogen [BUN]) parameters were measured: 1) before LVAD insertion, 2) 30 and 60
      days during ventricular assistance, 3) before transplantation while still on the
      VAD, and 4) 30 and 60 days after transplantation. Total bilirubin values were
      significantly greater just before LVAD implant (2.3 mg/dl) than before
      transplantation (0.7 mg/dl). Although there was no difference after 30 days of
      either treatment, the total bilirubin values were greater at 60 days after
      transplantation (1.1 mg/dl) than at an equivalent time on the LVAD (0.6 mg/dl).
      The SGOT values were also significantly reduced before transplantation. No
      differences at 30 and 60 days after either procedure were noticed. Creatinine and
      BUN values were greater before LVAD implant (1.7 and 37 mg/dl) than before
      transplantation (1.2 and 19 mg/dl). The creatinine values were also greater after
      transplantation at 30 and 60 days (2.0 and 1.6 mg/dl) than at comparable
      intervals after LVAD implantation (1.0 and 1.2 mg/dl), presumably as a result of
      the use of immunosuppressive drugs. End organ function was markedly improved
      while on the device, enhancing the physiologic status of the patients before
      transplantation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1457936
TI  - Non-pulsatile circulatory support in 90 cases.
AB  - Survival after cardiac arrest is reportably less than 10%; after cardiogenic
      shock it is less than 50%; and in failure to wean post-cardiotomy (even with
      centrifugal pumps in several large series) it is only 11-21%. The authors'
      experience with non-pulsatile circulatory support in 90 consecutive cases from
      1986-91 has shown improved survival. The emergent cardiopulmonary bypass system
      (CPS) was used in 67 of the 90 patients, with 65 patients resuscitated, 34 (51%)
      weaned, and 19 (28%) transferred to other cardiovascular support therapies. Of
      the patients weaned or transferred, 34 (51%) survived > 24 hr, and 21 (31%)
      survived > 30 days. In the current series, 108 major cardiovascular procedures
      were done during or after CPS implementation. An in-house trained nursing team
      working with surgeons and perfusionists contributed to early implementation of
      the CPS and the subsequent improved survival. The BioMedicus centrifugal pump
      (VAD) was used predominantly for post-cardiotomy failure to wean in 16 patients
      and as a bridge to transplant in 7 patients. Fourteen patients (61%) were weaned
      or transplanted. Of these 14 patients, 11 (48%) survived > 30 days. Non-pulsatile
      circulatory support devices are relatively inexpensive and available to most
      hospitals. With careful patient selection and early implementation, one can
      expect survival of 37% of patients who would otherwise not survive.

PMID- 1457937
TI  - An abdominally placed, implantable left ventricular assist system for long-term
      use.
AB  - An implantable left ventricular assist system was developed for long-term use.
      The system includes an implantable blood pump, a portable control drive unit
      (CDU), and a monitoring system. The blood pump was designed to be positioned in
      the left abdominal wall and was made of segmented polyether polyurethane. A
      percutaneous drive line connected it to the external CDU. The CDU included a
      continuous pump performance monitoring system that measured electrical impedance
      between the two metal connectors of a blood pump. In animal experiments using six
      adult goats, the pump was installed between the left ventricular apex and the
      descending aorta, and it was placed in the abdominal wall. No antithrombogenic
      agents were administered during the course of the experiment. This LVAS was easy
      to use and provided stable hemodynamic conditions for > 8 weeks. Pump output
      (Op), estimated by impedance, was linearly related to Op measured with an
      electromagnetic flowmeter. Pump performance was effectively estimated, and the
      fill-empty drive was well controlled by impedance. There were no significant
      abnormal hematologic or blood chemistry values, no signs of infection around the
      pump pocket (except in one animal), and no obvious thromboembolic symptoms.
      Maximum flow was 6.7 L/min with use of a prototype portable CDU (dimensions, 500
      x 168 x 435 mm; weight, 16 kg). In conclusion, this LVAS is promising for long
      term clinical use.

PMID- 1457938
TI  - Thrombin activity resides on LVAD Dacron inflow and outflow grafts.
AB  - Patients on left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are at increased risk for
      thromboembolism, and they experience elevations in platelet release and thrombin
      activity indices during device implantation. The Dacron grafts that lead from the
      ventricle to the LVAD and back to the aorta may harbor thrombin activity and
      protect this thrombin from anticoagulant action. To investigate this possibility,
      specimens isolated from LVAD grafts at the time of device explantation or
      implantation were incubated with citrated platelet poor plasma (cPPP), cPPP and 2
      U/ml of heparin, cPPP and 2 U/ml of recombinant hirudin (r-hirudin), or cPPP and
      50 U/ml of heparin. Thrombin activity was measured by the increase in incubated
      cPPP fibrinopeptide A (FPA) concentrations over cPPP FPA levels, without material
      contact. A chromogenic substrate for thrombin verified the effects seen. Thrombin
      activity was found at comparable levels on both the inflow and outflow LVAD
      grafts at explantation. This activity was not inhibited by low concentrations of
      heparin, but 50 U/ml of heparin and 2 U/ml of r-hirudin reduced the activity. At
      graft implantation (after preclotting), thrombin activity was higher than at
      explantation, but susceptibility to inhibition by heparin was also significantly
      greater. These results confirm that the LVAD Dacron grafts harbor surface
      thrombin activity resistant to anticoagulation that may be a primary source for
      LVAD thrombogenicity.

PMID- 1457939
TI  - Heparin immobilization by surface amplification.
AB  - A method to increase the amount and improve the bioactivity of heparin (HEP)
      immobilized on a polymer surface was developed. The surface of polyurethane-urea
      (PU) coated glass beads was first modified with diisocyanates, followed by
      surface grafting of polyfunctional polymers (PFP), including: poly(vinyl
      alcohol), poly(ethyleneimine), and poly(allylamine). The functional groups of the
      surface grafted PFP (-OH, -NH, or -NH2) were modified with diisocyanates (TDI) to
      amplify the surface concentration of isocyanate groups, alpha, omega-diamino
      terminated polyethylene oxide (PEO; molecular weight, 4,000 daltons) was then
      coupled to the surface grafted PFP, and the free amino groups were derivatized
      with TDI. Finally, HEP was coupled to the amplified surface through free -NCO
      groups of PU-PFP-PEO. The surfaces were quantified during each step of the
      procedures for -NCO groups and HEP. All grafted surfaces showed a four to
      eightfold increase in -NCO content and a twofold increase in immobilized HEP
      content compared with HEP immobilized directly onto the PU surface. The HEP
      bioactivity tests (including activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin
      times, and factor Xa) demonstrated an increased bioactivity of HEP when
      immobilized through PFP-PEO compared with PFP and PU alone.

PMID- 1457940
TI  - Albumin immobilized polyurethane and its blood compatibility.
AB  - Surface pretreatment with albumin on a blood contacting material inhibits
      platelet adhesion, activation, and subsequent thrombus formation. Although
      adsorbed albumin improves blood compatibility, rapid desorption occurs when this
      surface is exposed to circulating blood. In this study, human serum albumin was
      immobilized on a polyurethane (PU) surface to investigate its blood compatibility
      and extended effects on a blood-material interface. The PU surface was treated
      with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), and the PU-HMDI was further grafted with
      albumin to produce an albumin immobilized PU surface (PU-albumin). The PU-albumin
      surface was characterized by attenuated total reflection infrared electron
      spectroscopy for chemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic
      contact angle. Blood compatibility was evaluated by in vitro protein adsorption,
      platelet adhesion, and occlusion time in an ex vivo rabbit arterio-arterial
      shunt. Immobilization of albumin was confirmed by the disappearance of the -NCO
      peak observed at 2,250 cm-1 on the PU-HMDI surface by infrared spectroscopy and
      the existence of sulfur atomic percent by electron spectroscopy for chemical
      analysis. The concentration of PU-albumin was approximately 5.8 micrograms/cm2.
      The PU-albumin also showed a slight increase in hydrophilicity on the Wilhelmy
      plate method, and there was less fibrinogen adsorption than a PU control. In
      addition, PU-albumin had less platelet adhesion, platelet activation, and
      thrombogenicity. The ex vivo occlusion time of untreated PU was 50 min, that of
      PU-albumin was extended to 150 min, indicating that a PU-albumin surface has
      better blood compatibility than PU alone.

PMID- 1457941
TI  - Binding kinetics of thrombin and antithrombin III with immobilized heparin using
      a spacer.
AB  - The immobilization of heparin onto polymeric surfaces using a hydrophilic spacer
      was effective in curtailing surface induced thrombus formation. In this study,
      the binding kinetics of immobilized heparin with antithrombin III (ATIII) and
      thrombin were investigated. Low molecular weight heparin (molecular weight, 6,000
      daltons) was fractionated on an ATIII affinity column, and it was immobilized
      onto a styrene/p-amino styrene random co-polymer surface via hydrophilic spacer
      groups. This polymer substrate was coated onto glass beads (diameter range, 0.088
      0.105 mm). PEO (molecular weight 3,400), modified by tolylene diisocyanate, was
      covalently coupled as a spacer group, followed by heparin. The bioactivity of
      immobilized heparin was approximately 16.2%, relative to free heparin, and nearly
      1:1 binding between heparin and PEO was calculated. The binding constants of
      immobilized heparin and ATIII, and immobilized heparin and thrombin, were 0.958 x
      10(7) M-1 and 1.76 x 10(8) M-1, respectively. The immobilized heparin bound with
      both ATIII and thrombin, and the binding mechanism was similar to that of free
      heparin.

PMID- 1457942
TI  - Acute renal failure in critical illness. Conventional dialysis versus acute
      continuous hemodiafiltration.
AB  - The dialytic therapy of choice in critically ill patients with acute renal
      failure (ARF) is a matter of controversy. The clinical outcome of such patients
      managed with either conventional dialytic therapy (CDT) or acute continuous
      hemodiafiltration (ACHD) was compared through retrospective review of medical
      records from the intensive care unit of a tertiary institution. Records from 167
      critically ill patients with ARF consecutively treated in the same intensive care
      unit were reviewed. Eighty-four patients with ARF treated by CDT were compared to
      83 treated with ACHD. The etiology of ARF and the degree of illness severity were
      similar in both groups (failing organs: CDT 3.9 vs. ACHD 4.1; mean APACHE II
      score: CDT 25.8 vs. ACHD 28.1). Overall survival was 29.8% for the CDT patients
      and 41% for the ACHD group (NS). In those with two to four failing organs,
      survival was greater in the ACHD group (53.8% vs. 31.1%; p < 0.025). This was
      also true for patients with an intermediate APACHE II score (24-29) who
      demonstrated better survival when treated by ACHD (46.4% vs. 12.5%; p < 0.025).
      Acute continuous hemodiafiltration was associated with better control of azotemia
      and hyperphosphatemia and increased nutritional intake. This retrospective study
      suggests that ACHD may offer clinically significant advantages over CDT,
      particularly in patients with an intermediate degree of critical illness
      severity.

PMID- 1457943
TI  - Intermittent venovenous hemofiltration as a chronic treatment for refractory and
      intractable heart failure.
AB  - Chronic heart failure (HF) is considered to be refractory when persisting despite
      an intensive drug regimen, or intractable when requiring "artificial" supports.
      Among them, hemofiltration (HE) has been used frequently, but only on an "acute"
      basis, to induce fast and safe water removal. Since 1985 the authors have treated
      refractory and intractable HF first by means of acute CAVH (continuous
      arteriovenous HE: 11 patients) and then (1988-1992) with IVVH (intermittent
      venovenous HE), initially done on an "acute" basis (13 patients) and then an a
      chronic basis (CIVVH): 8 subjects (6M, 2F; mean age, 60.8 years), 3 with RCHF and
      5 with ICHF. This report deals with our experience in CIVVH. All patients were in
      severe failure. During a follow-up period of 63 months (range, 1-17/patient), 82
      IVVH treatments (10.2/patient) were carried out, using this schedule: permanent
      Tesio catheter in superior vena cava, 0.6 m2 filter, double blood pump (blood
      flow = 80-250 ml/min); transmembrane pressure = 50-150 mmHg; mean ultrafiltration
      = 19 ml/min; replacement fluid = 8.6 ml/min; and session time = 340 +/- 88 min,
      according to individual dry weight (bioimpedance system). Six patients died (1-13
      months after IVVH began); four of six had ICHF and two of six had RCHF; five of
      eight patients showed a significant amelioration of functional state, changing
      from fourth to third, to second and first degree failure, but this was after
      heart transplantation. In all cases a marked reduction in the drug regimen and in
      hospitalization was the rule.

PMID- 1457944
TI  - Urea kinetics during continuous hemofiltration.
AB  - Urea kinetic analysis allows for the calculation of the urea distribution volume
      and urea generation rate. This method was employed in patients with acute renal
      failure managed by continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH). Based on serial
      serum urea nitrogen concentration measurements, each patient's treatment course
      consisted of both steady state and non-steady state periods. Thirteen data sets
      were obtained from 11 critically ill patients treated with CVVH. The duration of
      therapy was 9.5 +/- 7.5 days (mean +/- SD). Serum urea nitrogen concentration
      fell from 114 +/- 32 mg/dl to a steady state value of 79 +/- 17 mg/dl (p <
      0.0005). The urea distribution volume was 0.55 +/- 0.11 L/kg (range 0.29-0.73),
      and the urea generation rate 11.7 +/- 3.1 mg urea N/min (range 7.1-17.3). The
      steady state serum urea nitrogen concentration had a linear relationship to the
      rate of urea generation (r = 0.92). Urea kinetic analysis permitted the
      simultaneous determination of the urea generation rate and distribution volume,
      on an individualized basis, in patients with acute renal failure treated with
      CVVH.

PMID- 1457945
TI  - Peritoneal membrane plasmapheresis.
AB  - A novel process has been devised that uses the peritoneal membrane to remove
      plasma proteins from the body at a rate comparable to conventional extracorporeal
      plasma-pheresis. A vasodilator (4 mg histamine phosphate) is added to 1 liter of
      hypertonic solution (485 mOsmol/L), and infused intraperitoneally with a
      residence time of 4 hr. Plasma containing proteins is convected across the
      peritoneum through open pores into the cavity and removed. The next alternating
      infusion is with a hypotonic solution (214 mOsml/L) containing a vasoconstrictor
      (1.0 mg norepinephrine). This infusion restores the fluid removed from the
      subject in the previous exchange, and prevents the rapid fall-off in protein
      removal rates obtained with repeated infusions with vasodilators only. Peritoneal
      membrane plasmapheresis was successfully tested on canines, with protein removal
      rates of between 30% and 50% of total serum protein per day for 13 days over a 22
      day period. Peritoneal membrane plasmapheresis represents a potentially
      inexpensive, continuous/nightly home treatment for protein mediated diseases
      treatable by extracorporeal plasmapheresis.

PMID- 1457946
TI  - Prolongation of cardiac xenograft survival by double filtration plasmapheresis
      and ex vivo immunoadsorption.
AB  - A double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) technique and ex vivo immunoadsorption
      were applied to remove natural antibodies and avoid hyperacute rejection in
      discordant xenotransplantation. A swine heart was heterotopically transplanted
      into a dog's neck after DFPP and ex vivo immunoadsorption using a swine spleen or
      liver. Mean graft survival time was prolonged to 240 +/- 141 min in the group
      treated by combined DFPP and splenic adsorption, and 225 +/- 62 min in the group
      treated by combined DFPP and hepatic adsorption, whereas it was 9 +/- 5 min in
      the group without any treatment (p < 0.01). Mean removal rates of IgG and IgM
      were 85.5% and 93.3%, respectively. Anti-swine lymphocytotoxic antibodies and
      hemagglutination antibodies were also effectively removed. Deposits of canine IgM
      and C3 on the vascular endothelium of the graft were observed on
      immunofluorescence, which suggested that natural antibodies in the IgM fraction
      played an important role in xenohyperacute rejection.

PMID- 1457947
TI  - Differential regional function of the right ventricle during the use of a left
      ventricular assist device.
AB  - The use of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as a bridge to transplant is
      associated with a 52% incidence of RV failure requiring additional inotropic or
      mechanical support (RVAD). This study evaluated the differential performance of
      the RV free wall and septum to identify the need for additional RV support. Cross
      sectional views of the RV were obtained immediately before, and 1 hr after,
      Novacor LVAS implantation in 12 consecutive patients using transesophageal
      echocardiography. Each image was divided into a free wall portion (FW) and a
      septal portion (SP) by grids drawn from the center of gravity of the end
      diastolic endocardial outline to the junction between the FW and the SP.
      Percentage change between preimplant and postimplant for RV ejection fraction
      (RVEF), fractional area change for the FW (FAC-FW) and the SP (FAC-SP), and
      fractional shortening of the FW to SP distance (F-S) is reported for patients
      based upon the need for RV support: minimal (Group 1), maximal (Group 2). After
      LVAS implantation, patients showed a reduction in SP fractional area change.
      However, this reduction was most pronounced in Group 2. The degree of SP
      impairment may explain the mechanism of RV failure in patients on an LVAD.

PMID- 1457948
TI  - A miniature intraventricular axial flow blood pump that is introduced through the
      left ventricular apex.
AB  - A new intraventricular axial flow blood pump has been designed and developed as
      an implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The pump consists of a tube
      housing (10 cm in length and 14 mm in diameter), a three-vane impeller combined
      with a guide vane, and a DC motor. This pump is introduced into the LV cavity
      through the LV apex, and the outlet cannula is passed antegrade across the aortic
      valve. Blood is withdrawn from the LV through the inlet ports at the pump base,
      and discharged into the ascending aorta. A pump flow of > 8 L/min was obtained
      against 90 mmHg differential pressure in the mock circulatory system. In an acute
      dog model, this pump could produce a sufficient output of 200 ml/kg/min. In
      addition, the pump flow profile demonstrated a pulsatile pattern, although the
      rotation speed was fixed. This is mainly due to the changes in flow rate during a
      cardiac cycle--that is, during systole, the flow rate increases to the maximum,
      while the differential pressure between the LV and the aorta decreases to the
      minimum. Thus, this simple and compact axial flow blood pump can be a potential
      LVAD, with prompt accessibility and need for less invasive surgical procedures.

PMID- 1457949
TI  - Thermal, operational, and storage stability of immobilized carbonic anhydrase in
      membrane lungs.
AB  - The significant improvement in CO2 removal rates from blood through membrane
      lungs with EMCO and ECCO2R is achievable by means of the immobilization of
      carbonic anhydrase (CA) onto the membrane surface. The practical application of
      this technology requires that the enzyme be maintained for long periods without
      loss of activity. Thus, studies were performed to evaluate the thermal,
      operational, and storage stability of CA in a cellulose nitrate-encapsulated,
      silicone rubber membrane-immobilized form. Cellulose nitrate microcapsules
      containing 1000 micrograms/ml CA were prepared using a modified version of the
      method of Chang, and immobilized onto a 0.06 m2 section of commercial silicone
      rubber membrane material. The extent of enzyme activity in free solution and in
      the encapsulated form was determined after long-term storage at 4 degrees C, 37
      degrees C, and 50 degrees C. Likewise, in an in vitro test circuit, CO2 removal
      efficiency in both CA treated and untreated membrane lungs was measured for
      extended time periods of 10 hr over a 10 day period. The thermal stability tests
      showed a significantly greater degree of retained enzyme activity in the
      encapsulated form, over the free enzyme in solution, at all temperatures. This
      was especially evident at higher temperatures and when the enzyme was stored for
      extended periods. In the operational stability tests, the CO2 removal efficiency
      of the treated membrane was not degraded, and stayed significantly higher than
      the untreated membrane for extended time periods. This further illustrates the
      potential for the use of the immobilized enzyme, carbonic anhydrase, for improved
      CO2 removal efficiency.

PMID- 1457950
TI  - Autopsy findings in patients on postcardiotomy centrifugal ventricular assist.
AB  - Reported experience with ventricular assist devices (VAD) routinely includes the
      rate of thromboembolic events, which is commonly calculated from clinically
      evident findings. Fifty-four patients have had postcardiotomy circulatory support
      with the Sarns centrifugal device at our institution. We have reviewed 43
      patients who failed to survive VAD support to compare the thromboembolism rate
      diagnosed clinically to that determined at autopsy. In the 35 patients who had no
      autopsy, there was one clinically apparent thromboembolic event (2.3%). In eight
      similar patients who had autopsy, there was no clinically apparent
      thromboembolism. Five of these eight patients (63%) had acute thromboembolic
      infarcts determined at autopsy. Three had evidence of pulmonary thromboembolism,
      two cerebrovascular infarction, two liver infarcts, two splenic infarcts, two
      kidney infarcts, and one each gastric, pancreatic, prostate, adrenal, cervical,
      and ileal infarcts. All had left and/or right ventricular infarctions. It is
      concluded that patients dying following VAD have commonly suffered perioperative
      myocardial infarction. When evaluating complications associated with VAD, one
      should consider that the true incidence of thromboembolic events is
      underestimated by clinical findings.

PMID- 1457951
TI  - Dialysate and blood flow dependence of diffusive solute clearance during CVVHD.
AB  - To define the flow dependence of diffusive solute clearance (Kd) during
      continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHD), urea, creatinine, and phosphate
      clearance were measured during CVVHD, while ultrafiltration was minimized.
      Studies were performed using AN69, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and polyamide (PA)
      hollow fiber hemofilters. To assess the dialysate flow dependence of Kd,
      clearances were measured at constant blood flow (QB), while dialysate inflow
      (QDi) was increased incrementally from 8.3 to 33.3 ml/min. Kd increased linearly
      for all three solutes using all membranes. To assess its blood flow dependence,
      Kd was measured at blood flows of 50, 75, 100, and 150 ml/min, while QDi was held
      constant at 33.3 ml/min. The PA membrane showed no flow dependence; for the other
      membranes, Kd was flow independent for QB > 100 ml/min. At all values of QB and
      QDi, clearances for the AN69 and PAN membranes were two to three times that of
      the PA membrane (p < 0.01). Lactate uptake increased with increasing QDi for all
      three membranes, but did not result in blood lactate accumulation. It is
      concluded that: 1) small molecule clearance is dialysate flow limited during
      CVVHD; 2) increasing QB beyond 100 ml/min is unnecessary for maintaining solute
      clearance; and 3) the PA membrane is unsuitable for CVVHD because of its low
      diffusive solute clearance.

PMID- 1457952
TI  - Solute clearance in continuous venovenous hemodialysis. A comparison of
      cuprophane, polyacrylonitrile, and polysulfone membranes.
AB  - Critically ill patients with ARF and MOSF were treated with continuous venovenous
      hemodialysis (CVVHD). The BSM 22 delivery system (CGH Medical, Denver, CO) and
      four different dialyzer membranes were used. Vascular access was achieved with a
      dual lumen catheter placed percutaneously into a large vein. Heparin was used for
      anticoagulation, and commercially available peritoneal dialysis fluid was used as
      dialysate. At a fixed blood flow rate of 100 ml/min, the dialysate inflow and
      outflow rates were regulated to control azotemia and fluid balance. Blood side
      and dialysate side clearances for urea nitrogen, creatinine, bicarbonate, and
      lactate were measured. All dialyzer membranes studied provided high urea nitrogen
      clearance approximating dialysate outflow rate and resulting in excellent control
      of azotemia. Some of the dialyzer membranes also had high creatinine and
      bicarbonate clearances. Bicarbonate loss was balanced by lactate uptake with all
      dialyzers. It is concluded that CVVHD is an efficient and safe therapy for acute
      renal failure, capable of maintaining nitrogen balance in patients with protein
      catabolic rates up to 2 g/kg/day. Urea nitrogen clearance is dependent upon
      dialysate outflow rate rather than the dialyzer membrane type or dialyzer flow
      geometry, and may prove to be the modality of choice for therapy of acute renal
      failure in unstable patients with MOSF.

PMID- 1457953
TI  - Non-thrombogenic hemofiltration system for acute renal failure treatment.
AB  - Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH) has become an accepted therapy for
      patients with acute renal failure. A major technical concern with CAVH is
      clotting of the hemofilter, resulting from blood-material interactions. This
      study compares the thromboresistance and performance characteristics of a Duraflo
      II heparin treated CAVH circuit with those of an untreated control circuit. The
      circuit consisted of a polysulfone hemofilter, tubing sets, and catheters. The
      heparin treatment did not change the mass transfer properties of the hemofilter.
      The thromboresistance of the heparin treated circuit was compared directly with
      that of an untreated circuit in a heparinless sheep model using bilateral
      circuits. The heparin treatment significantly enhanced the blood compatibility of
      the circuit, as indicated by the reduction in thrombus formation, prolonged work
      life, and superior performance in heparinless sheep. There was minimal heparin
      leaching from the hemo-filter. A heparin treated circuit may improve the safety
      and effectiveness of the CAVH procedure, and offers potential for a systemic
      heparin protocol to be modified for patients with bleeding disorders.

PMID- 1457954
TI  - An electrically powered total artificial heart. Over 1 year survival in the calf.
AB  - An electric motor driven orthotopic artificial heart was implanted in a 110 kg
      female Holstein calf as part of a series of 12 such implants intended to
      demonstrate the in vivo durability and compatibility of the device. The device
      uses pusher plates set into motion by a reversing brushless DC motor and roller
      screw to alternately eject two cylindrical sac type blood pumps. The pumps use
      Bjork-Shiley Delrindisc convexo-concave or monostrut valves. The left pump
      provides an 88-90 ml dynamic stroke volume. Woven Dacron grafts and polyurethane
      coated Dacron/Lycra cuffs are used to attach the device to the major arteries and
      atria, respectively. A polyurethane conduit and anchoring skin button bring motor
      wires percutaneously to an extracorporeal controller. The controller provides
      balanced cardiac output sensitive to atrial or aortic pressures, without operator
      intervention. The system is hermetically sealed and uses a simple compliance sac
      to maintain thoracic pressure between the pumps. The calf recovered uneventfully
      from surgery and thrived thereafter. She was killed on the 388th post-operative
      day because of worsening cardiac insufficiency. The previous three operative
      survivors in this series lived 131, 134, and 204 days. These results indicate the
      device's good potential for durability and body compatibility.

PMID- 1457955
TI  - Development of a totally implantable artificial heart.
AB  - The first generation of an integrated, totally implantable electrohydraulic total
      artificial heart was designed for long-term cardiac replacement. The system
      consists of an elliptical blood pump with an interatrial shunt, Medtronic-Hall 27
      mm and 25 mm inflow and outflow valves, respectively, an energy converter
      consisting of an axial-flow, hydraulic pump driven by a brushless DC motor, and
      an electronics system with transcutaneous energy transmission and telemetry.
      Energy is supplied by internal nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries that supply
      power for 20 min and external silver-zinc batteries that are designed to supply
      energy to run the system for 5 hr. The blood pump consists of a single layer
      diaphragm cast from Biolon, with joined right and left ventricles sharing a
      common base. The dynamic stroke volume is 84 ml, and maximum cardiac output is
      9.2 L/min at a heart rate of 110 beats/min on the mock circulation. A 4.3 mm
      diameter interatrial shunt is used to balance the volumetrically coupled
      ventricles. The energy converter pumps hydraulic fluid alternately between
      ventricles, with controlled, active filling in one ventricle during the systolic
      phase of the other ventricle. Internal or external controllers adjust the heart
      rate and motor speed to maintain normal atrial filling pressures and full stroke.
      Electromagnetic induction is used to transfer energy through the skin and a
      bidirectional infrared data link incorporated within the transcutaneous energy
      transmission coils is used to transmit information. The entire system is being
      assembled and refined for long-term animal implant studies.

PMID- 1457956
TI  - The second and third model of the flow transformed pulsatile total artificial
      heart.
AB  - For the purpose of future total implantation, a new pulsatile total artificial
      heart, a flow transformed pulsatile total artificial heart (FTPTAH), in which the
      continuous flow from a single centrifugal pump (CFP) was converted to pulsatile
      flow by switching two three-way valves that could alternately perfuse the
      systemic and pulmonary circulation, was proposed, and the data from the prototype
      model were reported. As the next step, the second model, in which a CFP and a
      spool valve (SV) driven with a solenoid were fabricated in one piece, was made
      and tested in a mock circulatory system. The system could send 4.7 L/min of
      pulsatile output alternately to the pulmonary artery and aorta, with 30 and 100
      mmHg afterload, respectively, at 3000 rpm CFP. However, three problems were
      encountered: the output was not enough, mixture or inversion of venous and
      arterial blood in the CFP would occur, and heat generation at the solenoid was
      very severe. To solve these problems, a third model was designed in the current
      study. To increase pump output, hydrodynamic analysis was performed. The SV was
      divided into inlet and outlet to control the blood mixture or inversion. To
      suppress heat generation, each SV was driven back and forth by two solenoids, one
      on each side of the SV. The model revealed satisfactory results in a mock
      circulatory system.

PMID- 1457957
TI  - In vitro assessment of the Milwaukee Heart and right to left balance.
AB  - A new, electrically powered, total artificial heart, the Milwaukee Heart, has
      been developed. This device is undergoing testing in vitro. The unidirectional
      motion of the brushless DC motor (BDCM) affords easier motor control and reduces
      energy demand. Motors with a unidirectional motion have a longer life than those
      with bidirectional motion. This device requires less power due to the highly
      efficient mechanical design. It consumes 6.5 W of power at an average flow of 5
      L/min into 100 mmHg of mean aortic pressure and 20 mmHg of mean pulmonary
      pressure. Pumping at 8 L/min it requires 9.6 W of power. The maximum pump flow is
      10 L/min and overall efficiency is 20%. A slotted optocoupler is used to
      determine the position of the pusher plate at the start of left systole. The
      number of revolutions that the BDCM makes is counted from this position. There
      are 50 revolutions of the BDCM per stroke (using a 50:1 gear reducer connected to
      the motor). The position of the pusher plate is determined from the number of
      BDCM revolutions. Based on where the pusher plate encounters resistance from the
      bladder, the force on the left pump is increased or decreased. Left to right
      balance has been achieved by reducing the size of the right pusher plate in
      conjunction with varying right stroke volume. In vitro tests show that this new,
      electrically powered artificial heart provides reliable performance and
      satisfactory hemodynamic results.

PMID- 1457958
TI  - Achievement of physiologic pulsatile flow on cardiopulmonary bypass with a 24
      French cannula.
AB  - In 1990, the NIH formally recognized the need for investigation of the problem of
      damaging the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass, issuing RFA HL-90-12-H, which
      emphasized production of neurologic defects in the very young and the elderly.
      The authors were at that time involved in comparison of pulsatile flow to steady
      flow cardiopulmonary bypass in large ungulates. The world literature recognizes
      five damaging effects of steady flow cardiopulmonary bypass that can be mitigated
      by pulsatile flow: metabolic acidosis, interstitial fluid accumulation, elevated
      systemic vascular resistance, arteriovenous shunting, and impaired brain
      oxygenation. To maximize the beneficial effect of pulsatile flow, however, it is
      necessary that its morphology be physiologic. It has been stated in the past that
      this goal may not be possible using standard size aortic cannulas. The purpose of
      this publication is to describe a method by which this feat has been achieved in
      150 pound ungulates undergoing prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass.

PMID- 1457959
TI  - Studies on the electrical stimulation-induced contractile responses of hamster
      and mouse gallbladders.
AB  - Isolated gallbladders of both hamsters and mice showed a contractile response
      consisting of initial and secondary contractile responses to electrical
      stimulation with rectangular pulses (50 volt, 40 Hz) of 6 msec duration for a
      period of 10 seconds. The duration time of the contractile response was very
      long. This was because the duration time of the process of the initial
      contractile response was as short as 5 to 40 seconds, but that of the secondary
      contractile response was as long as 8 to 15 minutes. Both initial and secondary
      contractile responses of the gallbladder in both hamsters and mice were little
      affected by atropine (1 x 10(-6)M, guanethidine (1 x 10(-6) M) and tetrodotoxin
      (1 x 10(-7) M). In both animals, further, the initial contractile response of the
      gallbladder was little affected by indomethacin (1 x 10(-5) M) and 5, 8, 11, 14
      eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) (5 x 10(-6) g/ml), while the amplitude of the
      secondary contractile response of the gallbladder was significantly reduced by
      such drugs. From these results, we obtain the following conclusions: 1) In both
      animals, the intramural nerves of the gallbladder may have no influence on the
      both initial and secondary contractile responses of the gallbladder. 2) The
      initial contractile response is probably mediated by a direct effect of the
      electrical stimulation to the muscle in the wall of the gallbladder, while the
      secondary contractile response is probably attributable to prostaglandins
      released from the wall of the gallbladder by a direct effect of the electrical
      stimulation to the wall.

PMID- 1457960
TI  - [Effects of trimebutine on colonic propulsion in mice].
AB  - Effects of oral administration of trimebutine on colonic propulsion in conscious
      mice were studied by measuring the time required to evacuate a bead which had
      been inserted into the colon, and compared with those of metoclopramide and
      domperidone. In normal animals, trimebutine (10 and 50 mg/kg), metoclopramide (50
      mg/kg) and domperidone (50 mg/kg) had no effect on the bead evacuation.
      Metoclopramide and domperidone at 30 mg/kg showed no effect on the delay of
      colonic propulsion induced by clonidine, while trimebutine (10 and 30 mg/kg)
      restored the delay significantly. Trimebutine also showed restoration of the
      delay induced by loperamide. On the acceleration of the propulsion induced by
      neostigmine, trimebutine (10 and 30 mg/kg) showed an inhibition. In addition,
      trimebutine (3-30 mg/kg) dose-dependently suppressed the development of soft
      feces and/or diarrhea induced by neostigmine. According to the results, it is
      concluded that trimebutine produces both acceleration and inhibition on the
      colonic propulsion in mice.

PMID- 1457961
TI  - [Electrical activities of urethral circular muscle and bladder detrusor and their
      control, examined by in vivo dogs].
AB  - While the micturition reflex was induced in dog by infusion of Ringer solution
      into the bladder, the following four types of electrical activity were picked up
      by two bipolar wire electrodes, embedded in the posterior wall of bladder and in
      the prostatic part of male urethra; 'intravesical ureter potential' and 'detrusor
      spike' by bladder electrode, and 'slow wave' and 'external sphincter spike' by
      urethral electrode. The relative size, respective rhythm and timing of discharge
      during voiding cycle were specific for each of them and they were readily
      identifiable for their own sources. The 'ureter potential' was not actively
      related to the voiding cycle but its triphasic wave form was dissociated at the
      maximum contraction phase of the bladder. Unexpected finding was the 'quasi
      synchronization' of discharges between detrusor and external sphincter. The
      entire discharges in both muscles were consisted of 'initial burst',
      'intermittent inhibition' and 'prolonged after-discharge'. The initial burst of
      detrusor was definitely delayed in comparison with that of external sphincter,
      but the end of prolonged after-discharges was again synchronized in both muscles.
      The possible mechanism for synchronization was discussed. The 'slow wave' was
      sometimes superposed on the tonic discharge of external sphincter recorded by
      same wire-electrode in urethral wall, therefore, their properties were analyzed
      under the condition of 'immobilization' of external sphincter. The sustained
      waxing and waning 'slow waves', observed in all female urethrae and one-fifth of
      male urethrae, were markedly suppressed by elicitation of isovolumetric rhythmic
      contractions of bladder with fall of intraurethral pressure. This bladder
      dependent behavior of 'slow wave' was interpreted as a sign of 'urinary'
      sphincteric activity of urethral circular muscle. On the other hand,
      'spontaneous' cyclic activation of 'slow wave' which was seen in about four
      fifths of male urethrae and was not dependent upon the state of bladder, was
      interpreted as a sign of 'genital' sphincteric activity of the same circular
      smooth muscle.

PMID- 1457962
TI  - Haemopoietic tissue.

PMID- 1457963
TI  - Growth factors in haemopoiesis. Dedicated to the memory of Dr. John Freeman
      Loutit.

PMID- 1457964
TI  - T-lymphocyte proliferation: tyrosine kinases in interleukin 2 signal
      transduction.
AB  - Interleukin 2 (IL-2)-induced tyrosine phosphorylation appears to play a major
      role in IL-2-induced cellular proliferation. Several intracellular substrates
      including the beta chain of the IL-2 receptor complex (IL-2R beta), raf, MAP2
      kinase, the regulatory 83 kDa subunit of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and S6
      kinases are substrates for the IL-2 receptor activated kinase(s). However, none
      of the identified members of the IL-2 receptor complex exhibits intrinsic
      tyrosine kinase activity. Therefore, the IL-2R complex must activate
      intracellular tyrosine kinases. We have demonstrated that specific tyrosine and
      serine/threonine kinases are coprecipitated with IL-2 receptor constructs that
      mediate IL-2-induced cell proliferation but not with those that do not. The IL-2
      activated tyrosine kinase appears to be associated with a serine and proline rich
      intracellular domain which is highly conserved between IL-2R beta and the
      erythropoietin receptor. Although the responsible kinase has not been identified,
      lck, fyn, fgr, ltk, hck and lyn can be ruled out as obligatory mediators. Using
      methods to clone tyrosine kinases from T cells, we have identified potential
      candidate kinases, including several which had not been known to be expressed by
      T lymphocytes as well as several unique kinases which had not been previously
      identified in any cell type.

PMID- 1457965
TI  - Cell adhesion in the stromal regulation of haemopoiesis.
AB  - Haemopoiesis occurs in close physical contact with elements of the bone marrow
      stroma. This review examines some adhesion molecules which are expressed in
      haemopoietic environments. These molecules may act to maintain cell contact
      between haemopoietic progenitors and the cellular and extracellular matrix
      elements of the marrow stroma. A review is undertaken of several families of
      adhesion molecules and their ligands, including integrins, CD44, LEC-CAMs, CAMs
      and variant glycosylation patterns expressed by haemopoietic cells. Both CD44 and
      integrin receptors have been implicated in mediating important cellular
      interactions within the haemopoietic system and the significance of these and
      other molecules in haemopoiesis is discussed.

PMID- 1457966
TI  - Stem cell proliferation inhibitors.

PMID- 1457967
TI  - Growth restrictions in the regulation of haemopoiesis.

PMID- 1457968
TI  - Clinical uses of growth factors.
AB  - The haemopoietic growth factors are a diverse group of hormones with effects on
      different haemopoietic cell lineages and at various points in their developmental
      differentiation. The biology of many of these factors is now well understood.
      They have entered clinical trials and have demonstrated benefits in particular
      clinical situations. The thrust of current phase II and III clinical
      investigations now is to use these factors, alone or in combinations, to modify
      various disease states and to ameliorate many of the side-effects of other
      therapeutic agents, particularly cytotoxic anticancer agents. Many other disease
      states also lend themselves to therapy with these growth factors. Other
      haemopoietic growth factors have not been as extensively studied in humans but
      hold great promise. In this chapter, the current status of the haemopoietic
      growth factors presently under clinical trial has been reviewed. In addition,
      several factors which have been recently described but which have not yet entered
      clinical trials have been discussed.

PMID- 1457969
TI  - The asparagine-linked oligosaccharides at individual glycosylation sites in human
      thyrotrophin.
AB  - The asparagine-linked carbohydrate structures at each of the three glycosylation
      sites of human thyrotrophin were investigated by 400 MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy.
      Highly purified, biologically active human thyrotrophin (hTSH) was dissociated
      into its subunits hTSH alpha (glycosylated at Asn 52 and Asn 78) and hTSH beta
      (glycosylated at Asn 23). The alpha-subunit was further treated with trypsin
      which gave two glycopeptides that were subsequently separated by reverse-phase
      HPLC and identified by amino acid sequence analysis. The oligosaccharides were
      liberated from hTSH alpha glycopeptides and from intact hTSH beta by
      hydrazinolysis, and were fractionated as alditols by anion-exchange and ion
      suppression amine-adsorption HPLC preparatory to structural analysis. The N
      glycans present on hTSH were mainly diantennary complex-type structures with a
      common Man alpha 1-3 branch that terminated with 4-O-sulphated GalNAc. The Man
      alpha 1-6 branch displayed structural heterogeneity in the terminal sequence,
      with chiefly alpha 2-3-sialylated Gal and/or 4-O-sulphated GalNAc. The relative
      amounts of the two major complete diantennary oligosaccharides and their core
      fucosylation differed according to glycosylation site; the sulphated/sialylated
      diantennary oligosaccharide was most abundant at the two sites on the alpha
      subunit, whereas the disulphated, core-fucosylated oligosaccharide was more
      plentiful on the beta-subunit. Some interesting structural features, not
      previously reported for the N-glycans of hTSH, included 3-O-sulphated galactose
      (SO4-3Gal) and peripheral fucose (Fuc alpha 1-3GlcNAc) in the Man alpha 1-6
      branch of some diantennary structures; the former suggests the presence of a
      hitherto uncharacterized galactose-3-O-sulphotransferase in thyrotroph cells of
      the human anterior pituitary gland.

PMID- 1457970
TI  - Structure elucidation of sulphated oligosaccharides from recombinant human tissue
      plasminogen activator expressed in mouse epithelial cells.
AB  - Sulphated N-linked carbohydrate chains isolated from recombinant human tissue
      plasminogen activator expressed in mouse epithelial (C127) cells were analysed as
      oligosaccharide alditols by methylation analysis, liquid secondary ion mass
      spectrometry, and one- and two-dimensional 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The results
      demonstrate that the major component has the following novel structure: NeuAc
      alpha 2-6Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-2[NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1- 4GlcNAc beta 1-4]
      Man alpha 1-3[NeuAc alpha 2-3(SO4-6)Gal beta 1- 4-GlcNAc beta 1-2Man alpha 1-6]
      Man beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1- 4[Fuc alpha 1-6]GlcNAc-o1.

PMID- 1457971
TI  - Characterization of recombinant murine interleukin 5 expressed in Chinese hamster
      ovary cells.
AB  - We have purified recombinant murine interleukin 5 (rmIL-5) from the supernatant
      of Chinese hamster ovary cells. Each peptide fragment of the purified rmIL-5
      generated by Achromobacter protease I digestion was characterized and
      glycosylation sites were determined. Although rmIL-5 contains three potential
      sites of N-linked glycosylation (Asn-26, Asn-55 and Asn-69), Asn-69 is not
      glycosylated. The oligosaccharides released from the protein by hydrazinolysis
      were fractionated by paper electrophoresis, lectin column chromatography and gel
      permeation chromatography, and their structures were analysed by sequential
      exoglycosidase digestion in combination with methylation analysis. The results
      indicated that they are a mixture of bi-, tri- and tetraantennary complex-type
      sugar chains with and without a fucose at the C-6 position of the proximal N
      acetylglucosamine residue and high-mannose-type sugar chains. Although > 80% of
      the sugar chains are neutral oligosaccharides similar to recombinant human IL-5
      (rhIL-5; Kodama, S., Endo, T., Tsuroka, N., Tsujimoto, M. and Kobata, A. (1991)
      J. Biochem., 110, 693-701), rmIL-5 has more tetraantennary oligosaccharides than
      rhIL-5. A site differential study revealed that Asn-55 has more tetraantennary
      oligosaccharides than Asn-26.

PMID- 1457972
TI  - Tritiated borohydride reduction of carbohydrates: reduction of individual
      monosaccharides, alone or in groups, results in highly divergent specific
      activities.
AB  - Reduction of carbohydrates by tritiated borohydride resulted in the production of
      alditols or glycosides with characteristically divergent specific
      radioactivities. Simultaneous reduction of individual sugars in the presence of a
      reference standard, talose, permitted the assignment of a unique specific
      radioactivity with respect to talitol as 100%. A variety of structures was
      examined, including neutral hexoses, free and acetylated aminosugars, ketohexoses
      and glycosides containing a fixed pyranose ring adjacent to a carbonyl group. In
      the latter case, the resulting steric hindrance severely restricted the
      incorporation of tritium. In both of the ketohexoses tested, the minor product of
      the two epimeric alditols exhibited the higher specific radioactivity. In all
      cases, reduction produced a characteristic and reproducible specific activity in
      which the values varied from 51 to 182% of that found for talose. These results
      are interpreted on the basis of generalizations concerning mechanism and
      predictive value.

PMID- 1457974
TI  - 21st Annual Meeting of the Society for Complex Carbohydrates. Nashville,
      Tennessee, November 11-14, 1992. Abstracts.

PMID- 1457973
TI  - Schistosoma mansoni synthesizes novel biantennary Asn-linked oligosaccharides
      containing terminal beta-linked N-acetylgalactosamine.
AB  - This report describes the structure of novel complex-type Asn-linked
      oligosaccharides in glycoproteins synthesized by the human blood fluke,
      Schistosoma mansoni. Adult schistosome worm pairs (male and female) isolated from
      infected hamsters were metabolically radiolabelled with either [3H]glucosamine,
      [3H]mannose or [3H]galactose. The glycopeptides prepared by pronase digestion of
      the total glycoprotein fraction were isolated by affinity chromatography on
      columns of immobilized Concanavalin A (Con A) and Wisteria floribunda agglutinin
      (WFA). A subset of glycopeptides, designated IIb, that bound to both Con A and
      WFA was isolated. WFA has been shown to have affinity for oligosaccharides
      containing beta 1,4-linked N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) at their non-reducing
      termini. Compositional analysis of IIb glycopeptides demonstrated that they
      contained N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), GalNAc, mannose (Man) and fucose (Fuc),
      but no galactose (Gal) or N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc). Methylation analyses
      and exoglycosidase digestions indicated that IIb glycopeptides were complex-type
      biantennary structures with branches containing the sequence GalNAc beta 1-4-[+/-
      Fuc alpha 1-3]GlcNAc beta 1-2Man alpha 1-R. The discovery of these unusual
      oligosaccharides synthesized by a human parasite, which appear to be similar to
      some newly discovered mammalian cell-derived oligosaccharides, may shed light on
      future studies related to the role oligosaccharides may play in host-parasite
      interactions.

PMID- 1457975
TI  - Iron-binding proteins in human colorectal adenomas and carcinomas: an
      immunocytochemical investigation.
AB  - By immunocytochemistry, the presence of major iron-binding proteins (lactoferrin,
      transferrin and ferritin) was investigated in tubular adenomas (12 cases),
      villous adenomas (7 cases), carcinomas of the large bowel and rectum (39 cases)
      and lymph nodes involved in carcinomas (8 cases); 5 samples of colonic
      inflammatory pseudopolyps were also studied. Dysplastic areas of tubular and
      villous adenomas as well as adenocarcinomas and colloid carcinomas showed a
      variable cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for all antisera, although no staining was
      noted in some cases; tubular adenomas without dysplasia and colonic inflammatory
      pseudopolyps were always unstained. Metastatic elements present in lymph nodes
      maintained the immunohistochemical staining for iron-binding proteins. An
      autoctone production of lactoferrin, transferrin and ferritin by tumour cells may
      be hypothesized in relation to the increased requirement of iron for the turnover
      of rapidly dividing cells.

PMID- 1457976
TI  - Morphometric study on the renal glomeruli of streptozotocin (SZ)-induced diabetic
      APA hamsters.
AB  - Morphometrical analysis was done on the renal glomeruli of streptozotocin (SZ)
      induced diabetic and control APA hamsters. In coincidence with the
      histopathological and ultrastructural findings, the areas of whole glomerulus
      (WG) and mesangial region (MR) were significantly larger in diabetic animals than
      in controls at 1 and 3 months after SZ-injection (1 and 3MAI). The area of
      capillary lumen in diabetic animals was larger than that in controls at 1MAI but
      it became similar between both groups at 3MAI probably due to an increase in the
      area of MR. The thickness of basement membrane was significantly larger in
      diabetic animals than in controls at 3MAI. The present morphometrical findings,
      together with histological and ultrastructural ones, suggest that SZ-induced
      diabetic APA hamsters are useful as a model system for the investigation of focal
      and segmental glomerulosclerosis.

PMID- 1457977
TI  - Experimental induction of biliary cystadenoma in rats: a morphological study.

PMID- 1457978
TI  - The arterial pattern and fractal dimension of the dog kidney.
AB  - A method has been developed by which it is possible to measure the fractal
      dimension of the arterial tree of the kidney. The objective of this work is to
      determine a method which permits us to discriminate between the architectures of
      specific organs by reference to a unique number, namely the fractal dimension of
      the arterial tree of that organ. This method opens the possibility of a new
      taxonomy for normal organs and for the pathological injiries related to the
      vascular morphology of those organs. The method that we have devised uses as its
      input the volume which is taken up by the arterial tree of the kidney. In order
      to calculate this volume we first obtained a plastic cast (the arteries were
      filled with Araldite CY233 plastic resin after which the organic tissues were
      corroded); thereafter we constructed a theoretical arterial tree having the same
      volume as the renal one. From this simplified tree, we were able to calculate its
      fractal dimension. The complete process of constructing the theoretical arterial
      tree and the subsequent calculation of its fractal dimension was carried out
      automatically by way of a computer programme to which we have given the name
      fractal program.

PMID- 1457979
TI  - Role of multipotent fibroblasts in the healing colonic mucosa of rabbits.
      Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical study.
AB  - Light- and electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry were used to study the
      healing colonic mucosa of rabbits after experimental excision. Between 3 and 5
      days, abundant young fibroblasts which retained many features of mesenchymal
      cells invaded the growing capillaries into the loose connective tissue of the
      healing colonic mucosa. Our electron microscopy revealed the transformation of
      these young fibroblasts into smooth muscle cells, into histiocyte-like cells
      involved in phagocytotic activity, and into vasoformative cells incorporated into
      the growing capillaries. The mitotic proliferation of pre-existing smooth muscle
      cells at the ulcer margin did not seem to be the major reason for re
      establishment of the muscular tissue. The present immunocytochemistry revealed an
      active production of fibronectin in rough endoplasmic reticulum in the young
      fibroblasts. This may mean that this glycoprotein is involved in the re
      establishment of both connective and muscular tissues by enhancement of adhesion
      and chemoattractant activities of such cells. In addition, the immunoreaction of
      endothelial cells of the growing capillaries suggests a role of this glycoprotein
      in the acceleration of the neocapillarization.

PMID- 1457980
TI  - Ontogeny of reactivity to endothelial cell markers during development of the
      embryonic and fetal rat lung.
AB  - The reactivity of endothelial cells to putative endothelial cell-specific markers
      varies with species, with vessel size and with the organ studied. To determine
      their value in studies of fetal rat lung, and whether organ immaturity would also
      influence reactivity, we studied endothelial cell immunoreactivity to antibodies
      against Factor VIII/von Willebrand factor (VIII/vWF), and binding reactivity to
      Bandeiraea (Griffonia) simplicifolia 1 lectin (BSL 1) during rat fetal lung
      development. Using an indirect immunofluorescent technique to detect Factor
      VIII/von Willebrand factor (VIII/vWF), endothelial cells lining the aortic arches
      were identified as early as day 11 of gestation (term = 22 days), prior to lung
      development. Immunoreactivity to VIII/vWF was subsequently localized to
      intrapulmonary endothelial cells and was not dependent on vessel size. In
      contrast, binding reactivity of FITC-conjugated BSL 1 was observed to both
      endothelial cells and to the basement membrane of developing airways, thus
      limiting its value as endothelial cell marker. During very early lung development
      solitary angioblasts could not be identified by reactivity to either VIII/vWF
      antibodies or to BSL 1, and neither marker appears to be of value for studies of
      early angiogenic events.

PMID- 1457981
TI  - Ultrastructural study of inflammatory bowel disease.
AB  - Ultrastructural changes that occurred in chronic active ulcerative colitis and
      Crohn's disease were investigated and compared to normal as well as to higher
      grades of dysplasia in adenomas and carcinomas. A greater number of immature
      absorptive cells, undifferentiated and intermediate cells were seen as compared
      to normal. One case of Crohn's and two cases of chronic ulcerative colitis
      including one with coexisting carcinoma showed increased number of vesicles and
      electron-dense bodies (EDB) in the absorptive cells and increased heterogeneity
      of mucin droplets in goblet cells and presence of atypical secretory cells (ASC).
      Higher grades of dysplasia characterised by large numbers of atypical secretory
      cells were not seen in the present series and provide no relationship between the
      atypical ultrastructural features and increased risk of malignancy. However, the
      number of cases investigated is too small and a large series is required to
      clarify the significance of observations such as increased number of electron
      dense bodies and vesicles in the apical cytoplasm and presence of atypical
      secretory cells.

PMID- 1457982
TI  - Ultrastructural study of neuromuscular junction in rectus femoris muscle of
      streptozotocin-diabetic rats.
AB  - The neuromuscular junctions (NMJ) from rectus femoris muscle in streptozotocin
      (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were examined by electron microscopy eight weeks
      after the STZ injection. When compared to controls and vehicle-injected groups,
      both the axon terminal and the junctional sarcoplasm showed serious alterations
      including mitochondrial degeneration, presence of myeloid bodies, breakdown of
      presynaptic membrane and changes in the form of the synaptic vesicles. The
      results suggest that NMJ can contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic proximal
      myopathy.

PMID- 1457983
TI  - In vitro differentiation of myxoid liposarcomas maintained in organ culture
      system.
AB  - Liposarcoma falls into the differential diagnosis of myxoid malignant mesenchymal
      tumors. On the other hand, its relation with white or brown fat is controversial.
      Two cases of liposarcoma have been studied by organ culture, a method which
      provides cell and tissue redifferentiation in vitro. Both cases developed
      successively cytoplasmic glycogen granules and lipid droplets as well as a single
      lipidic vacuole in the late phase of cultivation as a marker of fat
      differentiation. Our results support the possibility of identifying myxoid
      liposarcomas as well as their origin from white fat tissue.

PMID- 1457984
TI  - Murine monoclonal antibodies cytotoxic to human glioma cells in vitro.
AB  - Six monoclonal antibodies (mABs) against human glioma cells (T2) were produced.
      T2 cells grown as solid tumors in nude mice, were dissociated and used to
      immunize Balb/c mice. After fusion of splenocytes with myeloma cells, eight
      hybrids secreting mABs were selected according to their ability to react
      immunohistochemically with T2 cells, but not with normal adult human brain.
      Cytotoxicity of mABs was tested using (3H)-thymidine incorporation assays in
      vitro. Four mABs showed complement-mediated cytotoxicity for T2 cells, other
      human glioma cells (T1), and a human melanoma cell line. Incubation with one
      antibody, mAb2A1, lowered (3H)-thymidine incorporation in the T2 and T1 cells to
      ca. 10%, and in melanoma cells to ca. 35% of control levels. Another antibody,
      mAb3B2, displayed a similar cytotoxicity for T2 and T1 cells, but did not show
      measurable cytotoxicity for melanoma cells and rat primary astrocyte cultures.
      Moreover, this antibody did not crossreact with haematopoietic cells from
      patients bearing CNS tumors or normal subjects. MAb3B2, therefore, appears to
      recognize and epitope associated to human gliomas, will be a useful glioma tumor
      marker and may have some potential therapeutical value.

PMID- 1457985
TI  - Radiohistology and histochemistry of barium granuloma of the colon and rectum.
AB  - Barium granuloma of the colon and rectum is a rare complication of X-ray
      examination of the digestive tract using barium. The authors report 5 new cases
      occurring in the last 3 years. Histological examination revealed a granulomatous
      reaction with greyish finely granular refractile PAS-negative material located in
      the cytoplasm of histiocytes and in the interstitial space. The radiographic
      study of the paraffin blocks confirmed the nature of this material, which was X
      ray opaque, and this was corroborated histochemically with the rhodizonate
      technique.

PMID- 1457986
TI  - Seeding of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) vascular grafts. A
      morphological study of porcine endothelial and fibroblast cells.
AB  - The need to improve clinical results with small and medium calibre grafts has led
      to extensive research on cell seeding of prosthetic materials. Numerous problems
      remain regarding identification, seeding, adhesion and survival of the cells
      attached. We have studied the behaviour of seedings of endothelial and fibroblast
      cells on ePTFE grafts. Scanning electron microscopy allows us to observe the
      morphological characteristics and their interaction with the biopolymers. It has
      been possible to differentiate both cellular types by their characteristics and
      interactions with the ePTFE. At the same time, from this "in vitro" study it can
      be concluded that the time needed to obtain a stable and confluent monolayer on
      ePTFE pretreated with fibronectin is between 18 hours to 4 days for endothelial
      cells, and 24 hours for fibroblasts. These would be the optimal time periods for
      "in vivo" grafting of the seeded prostheses.

PMID- 1457987
TI  - Immunohistochemical localization of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in rat
      pineal stalk astrocytes.
AB  - In the present work, the presence and distribution of astrocytes in the rat
      pineal stalk is investigated applying an immunohistochemical technique for the
      demonstration of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) on Epon-embedded semithin
      sections (0.5 micron thick). GFAP-immunoreactive cells are evenly and regularly
      distributed along the entire pineal stalk. The GFAP-immunoreactive cells display
      a stellate shape showing variable numbers of cell processes that are mainly
      oriented parallel to the longitudinal stalk axis. Astrocytic processes show a
      clear tendency to encircle the remaining elements of the pineal stalk; i.e.,
      pinealocytes, nerve fibres and blood vessels. Furthermore, glial processes form a
      cover layer separating the stalk from surrounding anatomical structures.

PMID- 1457988
TI  - Expression of neuronal and glial markers in so-called oligodendroglial tumors
      induced by transplacental administration of ethyl-nitrosourea in the rat.
AB  - A series of 18 tumors with histological features of oligodendrogliomas, induced
      in the rat by means of transplacental ethyl-nitrosourea administration were
      studied for immunohistochemical demonstration of neuronal (synaptophysin and
      neurofilament protein) and glial (gliofibrillar acidic protein and vimentin)
      markers. Most of the tumors showed cells with strong positivity to synaptophysin
      and to a lesser degree, to neurofilament protein, suggesting the neuronal
      character of these neoplasms. In 10 tumors, cells with strong positivity to
      vimentin were found, and in three cases, tumoral cells expressed gliofibrillar
      acidic protein. The observation that ENU-induced oligodendroglial tumors express
      neuronal and, to a minor degree, glial markers, suggests their interpretation as
      primitive neuroectodermal tumors with clear neuronal differentiation.

PMID- 1457989
TI  - Stereological study of the synaptic profiles belonging to interneurons in the
      dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the rabbit.
AB  - This study is concerned with some characteristics of the interneurons belonging
      to the dLGN (dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus) of the rabbit. The work deals
      with the distribution of such cells in the alpha E sector of the nucleus and
      their F1 and F2 presynaptic contacts. The F1 and the F2 profiles are present in
      all three of the alpha E zones studied. The F1 profiles are significantly more
      numerous in the upper zone (57 +/- 2 profiles per 10(4) microns2 of section) and
      the middle zone (59 +/- 3 profiles per 10(4) microns2 of section) than in the
      lower one (41 +/- 2 profiles per 10(4) microns2 of section). The F2 profiles are
      more abundant in the alpha E sector than the F1 ones are, particularly in the
      lower zone, where F2 profiles (104 +/- 4 profiles per 10(4) microns2 of section)
      are not only significantly more numerous than F1 profiles but also more abundant
      than the F2 profiles in the middle zone (84 +/- 3 profiles per 10(4) microns2 of
      section) and upper zone (88 +/- 2 profiles per 10(4) microns2 of section). These
      results and their comments reveal diverse density of the element distribution
      from the dorsal to the ventral part of the alpha E sector as well as the possible
      relationship or independence from the extranuclear afferent inputs.

PMID- 1457990
TI  - Circadian and seasonal cortico-medullary variations in pinealocyte nuclear size.
      A comparative statistical analysis.
AB  - Circadian and seasonal variations were observed in the karyometric index of
      pinealocytes in the cortical and medullary regions of the distal pineal body. The
      study involved 70 Wistar rats over a 24-hour interval (0:6, 10:00, 14:00, 18:00,
      22:00, 02:00, 06:00 h) during two natural photoluminous periods, i.e. late summer
      (Long photoperiod) and Winter (Short photoperiod). The results show a difference
      between the high and low points of both photoperiods. Cortico-medullary
      differences are found at different times of day during long photoperiod (0:6;
      10:00; 14:00 and 18:00 h.) and short photoperiod (14:00; 22:00 and 02:00 h.). The
      variance analyses between nuclear volume and point-time and between nuclear
      volume, point-time and location are significative. A high correlation between
      circadian rhythms and volumetric variations in both layers and photoperiod are
      found. The results also show significant differences in cortico-medullary
      karyometric indices between both seasons as well as between the diurnal and
      nocturnal hours of both photoperiods. It is suggested that the pineal body of the
      rat is influenced by circadian and seasonal photoperiod and may have groups of
      cells with different functional characteristics, depending on their location
      within the gland.

PMID- 1457991
TI  - Lack of intimal hyperplasia response in an experimental model of non-endothelial
      vascular wall damage.
AB  - The endothelial and medial layers are generally presumed to play an important
      role in the appearance and development of intimal hyperplasia. We have carried
      out a short-, media- and long-term study of the morphological changes taking
      place in the common iliac artery of rats after surgical removal of the
      adventitial layer. Our aim has been to assess the likely role played by this
      layer in the development of intimal hyperplasia. Our results show recurrent
      periods of cellular desquamation and almost complete absence of hyperplastic
      response during the first two months. After three months three is a slow process
      of endothelialization which is completed by the 6th month and persists one year
      after adventitial resection. Thus, adventitial resection seems to cause
      instability at the subendothelial bed level, not allowing the junction and
      embedding of endothelial cells nor the development of intimal hyperplasia. This
      lack of hyperplasia might also result from the fact that the endothelial
      desquamation process does not involve cellular rupture, which would prevent
      mitogenic-factor release. After morphological repair of the endothelium, a slow
      morphofunctional recovery of the artery takes place.

PMID- 1457992
TI  - An autopsy case of tuberous sclerosis. Histological and immunohistochemical
      study.
AB  - We report an autopsy case of tuberous sclerosis. A 19-year-old Japanese man had
      shown facial adenoma sebaceum, intractable convulsive seizures and severe mental
      retardation. Gross inspection of the brain showed a cortical tuber from the
      orbital frontal lobe to the rhinencephalon of the left side and a few
      subependymal nodules. Histological examination revealed many cortical tubers in
      the cerebral hemispheres, a few subependymal nodules with calcification and
      multifocal clusters of heterotopic cells in the white matter (white matter
      nodules). In these lesions, massive giant cells with abundant eosinophilic
      cytoplasm and without Nissl substances were found. Although the size and shape of
      the giant cells were variable, the majority of them were gemistcytic, ovoid or
      polygonal. Immunohistochemistry was employed in these lesions using antibodies
      against neurofilament protein (NFP), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP),
      vimentin (VM) and myelin basic protein (MBP). In the cortical tuber, the majority
      of the giant cells were positive for both NFP and VM, but a few were positive for
      GFAP. All of them were negative for MBP. In the subependymal nodule and white
      matter nodule, the majority of the giant cells were positive for NFP, but a few
      were positive for VM, and none were positive for either GFAP and MBP. These
      findings suggest that the majority of the giant cells may be immature cells
      toward neuronal series and a few may be those toward astroglial series. These
      findings also indicate that the giant cells in the subependymal nodule and white
      matter nodule may be more differentiated than those in the cortical tuber. The
      nature of the giant cells in tuberous sclerosis is discussed.

PMID- 1457993
TI  - An in vitro study on the effects of melatonin on the ultrastructure of the
      hamster parathyroid gland.
AB  - Isolated parathyroid glands from adult female golden hamsters were incubated on a
      black Millipore filter in an incubation vessel containing Ham's F-12 medium, with
      or without melatonin at final concentration of 10(-5) M for 1 hour. In the
      parathyroid glands used for in vitro treatments with melatonin, the Golgi
      complexes associated with a few prosecretory granules and cisternae of the rough
      endoplasmic reticulum showed a significant decrease, and lipid droplets and
      lysosomes appeared to be increased compared with those of the control parathyroid
      glands. These changes are considered to be induced by suppression of the
      synthesis of parathyroid hormone in parathyroid glands incubated in a vessel
      containing medium with melatonin.

PMID- 1457994
TI  - Sex-specific response of the vasopressin-reacting neurons of the paraventricular
      nucleus of the rat hypothalamus following chronic administration of met
      enkephalin.
AB  - Using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunocytochemical technique, a morphometric
      study of the magnocellular neurons of the Paraventricular nucleus of the rat
      hypothalamus, reactive to specific anti-vasopressin rabbit serum, was made.
      Following systemic and chronic administration of met-enkephalin the number of
      immunoreactive neurons was higher, especially in females. Additionally, in the
      females, it was possible to observe an increase in the immunoreactivity and the
      presence of well-stained fibres. These findings suggest, especially in females, a
      blockage in the release of vasopressin, facilitating its immunocytochemical
      visualization.

PMID- 1457995
TI  - Lesion and regeneration in the medial cerebral cortex of lizards.
AB  - The cerebral cortex of Squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes) may be regarded as
      an archicortex or "reptilian hippocampus". In lizards, one cortical area, the
      medial cortex, may be considered as a true "fascia dentata" on grounds of its
      anatomy, connectivity and cyto- chemo-architectonics of its main zinc-rich axonal
      projection. Moreover, its late ontogenesis and postnatal development support this
      view. In normal conditions, it shows delayed postnatal neurogenesis and growth
      during the lizard's life span. Remnant neuroblasts in the medial cortical
      ependyma of adult lizards seasonally proliferate. The late-produced immature
      neurocytes migrate to the medial cortex cell layer where they differentiate and
      give off zinc-containing axons directed to the rest of cortical areas. This
      results in a continuous growth of the medial cortex and its zinc-rich axonal
      projection. Perhaps the most important characteristic of the lizard medial cortex
      is that it can regenerate after having been almost completely destroyed. Recent
      experiments in our laboratory have shown that chemical lesion of its neurons (up
      to 95%) results in a cascade of events; first, those related with massive
      neuronal death and axonal-dendritic retraction and, secondly, those related with
      a triggered neuroblast proliferation and subsequent neo-histogenesis, and the
      regeneration of an almost new medial cortex that shows itself undistinguishable
      from a normal undamaged one. This is the only report to our knowledge that an
      amniote central nervous centre may regenerate by new neuron production and neo
      histogenesis. Perhaps the medial cortex of lizards may be used as a model for
      neuronal regeneration and/or transplant experiments in mammals or even in
      primates.

PMID- 1457996
TI  - Demographic characteristics of a population of people with moderate, severe and
      profound intellectual disability (mental handicap) over 50 years of age: age
      structure, IQ and adaptive skills.
AB  - Studies characterizing community populations of older people with intellectual
      disability (mental handicap) have frequently derived data from mental handicap
      registers. Such large-scale studies permit the establishment of reliable age
      trends, yet may utilize unreliable information and omit some individuals. Here, a
      functional characterization of a 50+ years sample with moderate, severe and
      profound intellectual disability is described, in which an extensive outreach
      exercise to identify individuals not known to mental handicap service providers
      ensured that almost 100% of people fulfilling the residence, age and ability
      criteria were included. Functional level, assessed by the Adaptive Behaviour
      Scale (ABS), is reported in relation to six factors derived from factor analysis.
      Overall, the sample was relatively high functioning and generally free of severe
      problem behaviours. There was no evidence for significant age-related functional
      decline.

PMID- 1457997
TI  - A preliminary analysis of environmental variables affecting the observed
      biobehavioural states of individuals with profound handicaps.
AB  - Recently, various researchers have recommended investigation of biobehavioural
      states as a worthwhile endeavour toward providing a more valid assessment of
      students with profound handicaps. To date, the research conducted in this area
      has largely focused on the biobehavioural state variable in isolation. This pilot
      study was conducted to examine the relationships between environmental variables
      and biobehavioural state variables. Six students with profound handicaps were
      selected as subjects and observed during normal daily school routines. The
      investigators discovered significant relationships between the students' prior
      state, position, grouping type of staff cue given, the proximity of the staff and
      type of activity stimulus provided, and the students' biobehavioural states. A
      discussion of the results and recommendations for future research are provided.

PMID- 1457998
TI  - Cognitive profiles in adolescents with mental retardation.
AB  - Cognitive profiles of performance were obtained from a selected group of
      adolescent subjects with mental retardation (MR) (n = 32; mean age: 15.4 years,
      S.D. = 3.7) by means of an ad hoc neuropsychological battery. On the basis of
      each subject's IQ, the experimental sample was divided into three homogeneous
      subgroups (severely, moderately and mildly retarded) and cognitive performances
      obtained in the battery tests were compared. Subsequently, in order to clarify
      the qualitative aspects of MR, the cognitive patterns of subjects with the same
      IQ and chronological age were examined. Altogether, from a neuropsychological
      point of view, the results of this study seem to support the hypothesis that MR
      is a heterogeneous condition of cognitive deficits (some abilities are better
      preserved than others) and indicate that a set of multiple tests exploring single
      cognitive functions is needed in order to describe cognitive profiles in MR.

PMID- 1457999
TI  - Dexamethasone suppression test and response to antidepressants in depressed
      mentally handicapped subjects.
AB  - Nineteen mentally handicapped subjects who were referred to the service with
      clinically significant depression were assessed with a view to determining the
      value of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) in clinical diagnosis and in
      predicting response to antidepressant treatment. They were assessed initially and
      then 3 months after they had been treated with a tricyclic antidepressant. It was
      found that a significant proportion had an abnormal DST response which reversed
      after recovery in some but not in others. Non-reversal was more likely to occur
      in the more severely handicapped patients. It was concluded that DST was of
      little value as a diagnostic tool for the detection of depression in mentally
      handicapped subjects.

PMID- 1458000
TI  - Chromosome fragility in the Lennox-Gastaut epilepsy syndrome.
AB  - Chromosome fragility was sought in a well-defined cohort of patients with Lennox
      Gastaut epilepsy syndrome. Twenty-five patients plus 25 age- and sex-matched
      normal controls had cytogenetic studies performed. All patients were taking
      sodium valproate, and four were also on hydantoin. Blood cultures from both
      patients and controls were set up simultaneously in an appropriate medium
      designed to elicit fragile-sites. Harvesting took place after 96 h by standard
      techniques. In addition to routine banded analysis, at least 50 cells were scored
      for chromosome breaks and gaps from each patient and control. Results showed no
      difference between the patients and the control group in the overall occurrence
      of fragility or the type of aberration detected. No fragile-X syndrome was
      detected. This study found no effect due to sodium valproate on the occurrence of
      chromosome aberrations.

PMID- 1458001
TI  - Mental retardation and WAIS-R scatter analysis.
AB  - In an earlier article, the psychometric properties of Wechsler Adult Intelligence
      Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) subtest difference scores were explored using a sample
      with IQ < 80. Data were offered which allowed the practitioner to determine
      whether the difference between two subtests was statistically reliable. This
      article represents an extension of the earlier work. It presents a set of
      reliability estimates for the difference between a single WAIS-R subtest and the
      mean of all subtests, and permits the clinician to determine whether the
      difference obtained by a particular examinee is statistically significant.

PMID- 1458002
TI  - Autism in Down's syndrome: presentation and diagnosis.
AB  - Although autism is said to occur rarely with Down's syndrome, it may be more
      common in those persons with Down's syndrome who also show superimposed
      behavioural problems. In this brief report, the authors explore this possibility.
      They describe three patients with Down's syndrome who were referred for
      behavioural reasons and were found to have coexisting autism. They propose that a
      systematic study of the association of these two conditions may have implications
      on research and clinical practice.

PMID- 1458003
TI  - Kallmann's syndrome and mental handicap.
AB  - A case of Kallmann's syndrome is reported in a 62-year-old mentally handicapped
      man with clinical and laboratory characteristics of the syndrome. The literature
      is reviewed and the possible associations with mental handicap explored.

PMID- 1458004
TI  - Auxological aspects of male and female puberty.

PMID- 1458005
TI  - The chronicle of growth hormone receptor deficiency (Laron syndrome).

PMID- 1458006
TI  - Clinical and biochemical characteristics of growth hormone receptor deficiency
      (Laron syndrome).

PMID- 1458007
TI  - Molecular biology of growth hormone receptor dysfunction.

PMID- 1458008
TI  - Point mutations in the growth hormone receptor gene of patients with Laron
      syndrome.

PMID- 1458009
TI  - Therapeutic use of insulin-like growth factor I: lessons from in vivo animal
      studies.

PMID- 1458010
TI  - Growth and growth hormone secretion at puberty: the role of gonadal steroid
      hormones.

PMID- 1458011
TI  - Pubertal growth in genetic disorders of sex hormone action and secretion.

PMID- 1458012
TI  - Myocyte cellular hypertrophy and hyperplasia in the heart during postnatal
      maturation and ageing.

PMID- 1458013
TI  - Growth hormone therapy in Turner's syndrome: an update on final height. Genentech
      National Cooperative Study Group.
AB  - The Genentech National Cooperative Study of growth hormone (GH) therapy in
      Turner's syndrome was initiated in 1983; 70 girls with Turner's syndrome were
      randomly assigned to observation or to treatment with GH alone, oxandrolone
      alone, or a combination of GH plus oxandrolone for a period of 12-24 months.
      After completion of this phase, patients receiving GH alone were continued on GH,
      while all other patients received the combination of GH plus oxandrolone. Data
      are currently available on the 62 girls who were treated for a minimum of 3-6
      years. When compared with the height velocities anticipated for girls of
      comparable ages with untreated Turner's syndrome, both GH alone and a combination
      of GH plus oxandrolone resulted in an increase in height velocity, which was most
      prominent during the first 2 years of treatment and was sustained for at least 6
      years. Although GH therapy is continuing at present in half of the patients, 14
      of 17 girls (82%) receiving GH alone and 42 of 45 girls (93%) receiving
      combination therapy have exceeded their projected adult heights. For the 30 girls
      who have stopped therapy, the current mean height is 151.9 cm, compared with
      their original mean projected adult height of 143.8 cm. These results demonstrate
      that GH therapy can result in short-term (3-6 years) acceleration of growth, as
      well as in improved adult height.

PMID- 1458014
TI  - Effects of chronic growth hormone excess on cardiac contractility and myosin
      phenotype in the rat.
AB  - The effects of chronic growth hormone (GH) hypersecretion on intrinsic
      contractile properties of the myocardium were studied in rats bearing a GH
      secreting tumour. Body weight and heart weight increased, but no true cardiac
      hypertrophy was observed. The maximum active force of left ventricular papillary
      muscle was increased, and the maximum shortening velocity of the unloaded muscle
      was unaltered. This was despite a marked shift of the myosin isoforms towards the
      low ATPase activity V3 form, which was associated with a similar shift of myosin
      mRNAs. Total ATPase activity, measured on frozen sections, was unaltered
      suggesting, together with the results of the mechanical study, an increase in the
      number of active enzymatic sites. Studies performed on skinned fibres confirmed
      the increased myocardial contractility, thus suggesting that myocardial
      adaptation to chronic GH excess occurred, at least in part, at the level of the
      myofibrillar contractile apparatus.

PMID- 1458015
TI  - Cardiovascular effects of growth hormone--with special reference to growth
      hormone replacement therapy.

PMID- 1458016
TI  - Physiology of the fat cell, with emphasis on the role of growth hormone.

PMID- 1458017
TI  - Methods for determining fat mass and fat distribution.

PMID- 1458018
TI  - Hormonal effects on fat distribution and its relationship to health risk factors.

PMID- 1458019
TI  - Effects of growth hormone on fat mass and fat distribution.
AB  - GH has profound effects on the amount and distribution of adipose tissue. GHD in
      both children and adults is accompanied by an increased amount of adipose tissue
      and by the abdominal predominance of adipose tissue. In contrast, treatment with
      GH reduces adipose tissue, and redistributes adipose tissue from abdominal to
      peripheral depots.

PMID- 1458020
TI  - Effects of growth hormone on low-density lipoprotein metabolism.
AB  - GH appears to play an important role in mediating the increase in hepatic LDL
      receptor expression that occurs in response to pharmacological oestrogen
      treatment. Furthermore, in normal individuals there is evidence of an increased
      number of hepatic LDL receptors in response to GH, resulting in an accelerated
      elimination rate of the LDL particle and a subsequent lowering of LDL
      cholesterol. Further studies on lipoprotein metabolism in patients with GH
      deficiency, and also in patients with hypercholesterolaemia, would therefore be
      of interest.

PMID- 1458021
TI  - Genetic analysis of recombination in prokaryotes.
AB  - Bacteria provide a simple system for the genetic analysis of homologous
      recombination. More than twenty genes have been identified in Escherichia coli.
      The enzymatic activities associated with the products of many of these genes have
      been revealed by studies with model DNA substrates. It is now possible to pair
      homologous molecules in vitro and process these through defined intermediates
      into mature recombinants of the types predicted by genetic crosses.

PMID- 1458022
TI  - Interaction between bacteriophage lambda and its Escherichia coli host.
AB  - Bacteriophage lambda relies to a large extent on processes requiring interactions
      between viral- and host-encoded proteins for its lytic growth, establishment of
      lysogeny, and release from the prophage state. Both biochemical and genetic
      studies of these interactions have yielded new information about important host
      and lambda functions. In particular, mutations in Escherichia coli that
      compromise lambda DNA replication, genome packaging, transcription elongation,
      and site-specific recombination have led to the identification of bacterial genes
      whose products are chaperones, transcription factors, or DNA-binding proteins.

PMID- 1458023
TI  - Heat-shock proteins and stress tolerance in microorganisms.
AB  - Heat-shock proteins help microorganisms cope with the toxic effects of a wide
      variety of stresses. Some help the organism grow under moderately stressful
      conditions, others help it to survive more extreme conditions. Surprisingly, the
      relative importance of individual proteins differs between organisms.

PMID- 1458024
TI  - Flagella in prokaryotes and lower eukaryotes.
AB  - During the past year, significant advances have been made in the understanding of
      both prokaryotic and eukaryotic flagella. About 50 genes are dedicated to the
      assembly and operation of bacterial flagella. Recent discoveries have advanced
      our understanding of how these genes are regulated and how their products
      assemble into a functional, rotating organelle. The dynein arms of eukaryotic
      flagella are now also better understood. Several genes that are found in the
      mechanochemical macroassemblies have been cloned, and other loci have been
      identified, suggesting that there is even greater complexity than first expected.

PMID- 1458025
TI  - Movement of macromolecules between the cytoplasm and the nucleus in yeast.
AB  - Since the first description of signals for nuclear protein localization, studies
      with yeast have played an important role in our understanding of nuclear protein
      import. Very recent experiments suggest that new insights into the poorly
      understood process of RNA export will also emerge from analyses of yeast. Recent
      advances have facilitated our understanding of protein and RNA exchange between
      the nucleus and cytoplasm.

PMID- 1458026
TI  - Genetic analysis of photosynthesis in prokaryotes and lower eukaryotes.

PMID- 1458027
TI  - What is the minimum number of dedicated functions required for a basic cell
      cycle?
AB  - The genome of Escherichia coli has a coding capacity for about 4500 proteins but
      only a small number of these appear to be specific for the periodic events
      (initiation of DNA replication, chromosome partitioning and cell division) that
      punctuate the cell-duplication cycle: furthermore, many of these cell cycle
      dedicated functions are dispensible under certain conditions, although their
      presence undoubtedly increases the fitness of the organism to survive in a
      competitive environment. A simplified but effective cell replication cycle can
      probably operate with only a few cycle-dedicated proteins, in addition to those
      required for cell growth itself.

PMID- 1458029
TI  - Prokaryotes and lower eukaryotes.

PMID- 1458028
TI  - Sporulation in prokaryotes and lower eukaryotes.
AB  - During the past year, highlights in sporulation research include the
      demonstration that phosphorylation of SpoOA is a critical factor in Bacillus
      subtilis development; the identification of C alpha proteins, adenylyl cyclase
      and protein kinase A genes in Dictyostelium; proof that an endogenous antisense
      RNA regulates gene expression in Dictyostelium; and characterization of a second
      type of differentiated cell in Myxococcus.

PMID- 1458030
TI  - Freedom of speech--but only for the wealthy and powerful.

PMID- 1458031
TI  - Control, confront or collude: how family and society respond to excessive
      drinking.
AB  - Research on excessive drinking in the family context has revealed the range of
      ways of coping used by close relatives. Case material from ongoing research in
      England and Mexico is used to illustrate this point. This research is also
      revealing the ways in which the family, close and extended, often fail to support
      the coping actions of close relatives. The analogy is drawn between coping with
      excessive drinking in the family and coping in the work setting. In the latter
      context explicit alcohol policies have been developed. These often recommend
      combining confrontative and supportive coping. It may be difficult for relatives,
      in the family setting, to adopt such a policy without support. The forms of
      coping identified in family research and in work policies correspond to basic and
      universal dimensions of interpersonal behaviour: dominance-submissiveness and
      friendliness-hostility. These forms of responding to excessive drinking may be
      identified beyond the microsocial systems of family and workplace. They are
      evident, also, in the responses of community agents such as police and social
      workers, and at the level of local and national government.

PMID- 1458032
TI  - Severity of dependence and route of administration of heroin, cocaine and
      amphetamines.
AB  - This study investigates severity of dependence upon heroin, cocaine and
      amphetamines in a group of 200 heroin users, 75% of whom were not in contact with
      any treatment agency. For drug takers who were current users of more than one
      drug, heroin produced more severe dependence than either cocaine or amphetamine
      and many users of these stimulant drugs reported having experienced no problems
      of dependence. Severity of dependence was influenced by route of administration
      as well as type of drug. Heroin taken by injection was associated with more
      severe dependence than smoked heroin. For cocaine, injection and smoking were
      associated with equivalent dependence ratings, and both of these routes were
      associated with more severe dependence than cocaine used intranasally. For
      amphetamine, there were no differences in severity of dependence ratings for
      injection, intranasal or oral use. Severity of dependence was correlated with
      dose and duration of drug use; it was also associated with previous attendance at
      a drug treatment agency, though dependence problems were also common among heroin
      users who had never received treatment. Implications of these findings are
      discussed.

PMID- 1458033
TI  - Bromocriptine and cocaine cue reactivity in cocaine-dependent patients.
AB  - Based on previous reports that bromocriptine, a postsynaptic dopamine agonist,
      reduced cocaine craving and prevented relapse in cocaine-dependent subjects,
      effects of the drug were evaluated in 20 cocaine-dependent males in an inpatient
      drug rehabilitation programme. The subjective and physiologic effects of exposure
      to both cocaine-associated and neutral stimuli, presented using videotapes, were
      measured at one-week intervals. Between laboratory sessions subjects received
      either bromocriptine (1.25 mg bid) or a matched placebo, administered in double
      blind fashion. Compared with the neutral videotape, the cocaine videotape
      elicited both a greater desire to use cocaine and more symptoms associated with
      cocaine self-administration. These results support an appetitive conditioning
      model of cocaine effects. Bromocriptine, however, had no effect on the cocaine
      cue-associated reactivity, which declined over the 1-week interval in both
      treatment groups. Methodological differences among studies that have examined the
      effects of bromocriptine in cocaine-dependent subjects may explain the variable
      findings observed.

PMID- 1458034
TI  - HIV risk of transmission behaviour amongst HIV-infected prisoners and its
      correlates.
AB  - Thirty-eight from a total of 42 known HIV-positive prisoners in the Irish prison
      system voluntarily cooperated in a survey of psychological attitudes, knowledge
      of risk behaviour, intentions with respect to future risk behaviour, and actual
      past risk behaviour. Of this group, 65% reported that they had put others at risk
      of HIV, since they became aware of their own HIV+ status. Only 16% stated that
      they would definitely not share their drug-taking equipment in the future and 32%
      that they would always use a condom in sexual intercourse. In general,
      psychological and biographical variables were not strongly related to whether or
      not the respondents had put others at risk of HIV. Nor were there any significant
      differences in knowledge of at risk behaviour between those who had and those who
      had not put others at risk. However, there was some evidence for considerable
      independence between risk-taking behaviour in the sexual and in the drug-taking
      domains, in that risk-taking in one area was not highly predictive of risk-taking
      in the other.

PMID- 1458035
TI  - Adolescent drug sellers: trends, characteristics and profiles.
AB  - This study examines drug selling among representative samples of high school
      students in Ontario. It involves three approaches, (i) examining the trend in
      drug selling between 1983 and 1989, (ii) assessing differences between sellers
      and non-sellers on demographic characteristics, levels of alcohol and drug use,
      and problems, and (iii) drawing detailed profiles of drug seller types. Drug
      selling declined considerably between 1983 and 1989. Sellers were more likely to
      be males and to use alcohol and drugs more often than non-sellers. Sellers also
      had more alcohol and drug problems and engaged in more delinquent acts. Drug
      sellers who sold cannabis only were less frequent users of drugs, less likely to
      have drug problems, and were also delinquent.

PMID- 1458036
TI  - Unemployment and use of drug and alcohol among young people: a longitudinal study
      in the general population.
AB  - A prospective study of a representative sample of nearly 2000 young people aged
      17-20 years was started in 1985. It was followed up twice, in 1987 and in 1989.
      The Central Bureau of Statistics in Norway was responsible for the data
      collection. Sixty-five per cent of the stratified sample (1985) participated in
      all the three surveys. The aim of this paper has been to explore the relationship
      between unemployment and the use of drugs and alcohol. The results show that
      unemployment does not appear to influence the consumption of alcohol. In a high
      consumption group, unemployment seems to lead to a decrease in alcohol
      consumption, though there was a clear tendency to increase use of cannabis. The
      results seem to indicate that there was no increase in use of alcohol or drugs in
      response to stress as a result of unemployment, though unemployment may lead to a
      stronger identification with or joining marginalized or deviant subcultures which
      in turn leads to an increased use of cannabis.

PMID- 1458037
TI  - Smoking: a special need?
AB  - The smoking behaviour of 665 children aged 12-15 years with special educational
      needs was compared with that of a control group of 842 children in mainstream
      education. Each child was interviewed using a structured questionnaire and
      reported smoking behaviour was validated against scores on a carbon monoxide
      monitor. We identified as the most at risk group children with emotional and
      behavioural disorders. They had the highest smoking rates and were the heaviest
      smokers. In contrast, children with learning difficulties had slightly lower
      smoking rates than those of the control. There were significant associations
      between the children's smoking behaviour and the smoking behaviour of siblings
      and 'other adults' in the household, belonging to single parent families, low
      self-esteem and large friendship groups. The reported smoking rates of the
      families of both groups of special needs children was found to be considerably
      higher than that in the control group or in the general population.

PMID- 1458038
TI  - Dying to be equal: women, alcohol, and cardiovascular disease.
AB  - This data note explores the relationship of gender, alcohol consumption and
      premature death from cardiovascular disease (MCVD). Data on the 8164 deaths
      attributed to MCVD from the National Mortality Followback Study (NMFS) were
      analyzed controlling for gender and consumption. Women who are heavy drinkers die
      young at a rate equal to that of men who drink heavily. In light of this, we
      recommend that future research and preventive efforts in this area include
      females as subjects and alcohol as a major risk factor.

PMID- 1458039
TI  - The effects of advertising restrictions on tobacco consumption.

PMID- 1458040
TI  - Parent educational attainment and adolescent cigarette smoking.
AB  - In a longitudinal design, this study examined psychosocial mediators of the
      effects of parental educational attainment on adolescent smoking acquisition and
      also examined whether smoking transition had different antecedents among
      adolescents from families of varying educational backgrounds. Parents' low
      educational attainment acted as a moderate to strong risk factor for the initial
      onset of smoking among middle school girls. Some of this effect was mediated by
      the higher smoking prevalence among both parents and friends of these adolescent
      girls, as well as by their lowered expectations for academic success. However,
      these variables only partially mediated the effect of parent education. There
      were few indications of differential antecedents of smoking acquisition among
      adolescents from less and more highly educated families. Implications for public
      health antismoking campaigns are discussed.

PMID- 1458041
TI  - Gender differences in depression and anxiety among alcoholics.
AB  - Recent research suggests that psychopathology, in particular depression and
      anxiety, differentially affects the substance abuse treatment response of men and
      women. This study explores the relationship between global psychopathology,
      depression, anxiety, and alcoholism treatment outcome. These variables were
      assessed in a sample of 507 (373 men; 134 women) substance abuse clients at
      intake and at a 6-month follow-up. With the exception of alcohol dependence,
      there were significant differences in the levels of alcohol problems, depression,
      anxiety, and global psychopathology for men and women at both intake and follow
      up. For the whole sample and for men, initial levels of alcohol problems and
      alcohol dependence were the best predictors of alcohol problems at follow-up. For
      women, the initial levels of alcohol dependence and a global measure of
      psychological functioning were predictive of outcome at follow-up. These findings
      are compared with past research, and suggestions for further investigation are
      proposed.

PMID- 1458042
TI  - Gender differences in the manifestations of problem drinking in a community
      sample.
AB  - A probability sample of 6,250 respondents in Ontario and Quebec was surveyed by
      telephone to determine the prevalence of problem drinking and its relationship to
      other psychiatric symptoms. The survey instrument included a psychiatric symptom
      inventory and questions relating to problem drinking that were adapted from the
      Diagnostic Interview Schedule. This survey found a rate of 7.1% for problem
      drinking which parallels other recent community surveys. Rates for men are
      approximately six times greater than for women. A significant proportion (18.5%)
      of problem drinkers have concurrent psychiatric impairment. The extent and nature
      of concurrent psychiatric impairment and disability differs significantly for men
      and women.

PMID- 1458043
TI  - Duration of bulimia nervosa and symptom progression: a retrospective analysis of
      treatment-seeking bulimics.
AB  - Severity of bulimia nervosa upon presentation for treatment may be influenced by
      duration and age of onset of bulimic behaviors. This hypothesis was investigated
      in a retrospective study by correlating duration of bulimia and age of onset with
      sets of variables measuring the primary symptoms and other psychopathology
      associated with bulimia nervosa. The experimental design was cross-sectional. The
      sample included 153 women who had been diagnosed with bulimia nervosa. Canonical
      correlations indicated that younger age of onset and longer duration were
      associated with more severe bulimic symptoms and increased body image distortion.
      Anorexic symptoms were reduced over time, however, and weight gain (at a rate of
      about 0.54 Kg [1.2 lbs] per year) was correlated with duration of bulimic
      behaviors. Also, older age of onset and longer duration were associated with
      increasing social introversion. These findings were interpreted as supportive of
      the hypothesis that younger age of onset and longer duration of bulimic behaviors
      are associated with more severe bulimia and general psychopathology. Though
      limited by the retrospective nature of the study, these results substantiate the
      need for longitudinal investigations of bulimia nervosa.

PMID- 1458044
TI  - Processes of change in smoking cessation: a cross-validation study in cardiac
      patients.
AB  - The processes of change associated with smoking cessation were examined for 213
      smokers and recent exsmokers who were scheduled for cardiac catheterization and
      compared to the processes reported by a sample of 180 nonmedical smokers and
      exsmokers. Subjects were classified into one of three stages of change depending
      on their readiness to quit smoking: precontemplation, contemplation, and action.
      The cardiac sample employed the processes of change more frequently than the
      nonmedical sample in all stages, but the functional relationship between the
      stages and processes of change was generally similar for the two groups. The
      hierarchical structure of the processes of change also was similar for both
      groups. Differences between the two samples in the use of the processes of change
      are discussed. These results are the first to support the validity of the stages
      and processes-of-change model of smoking cessation in a population experiencing
      severe illness.

PMID- 1458045
TI  - Utility and evaluation of biochemical markers of alcohol consumption.
AB  - Biochemical markers of alcohol consumption have a variety of clinical and
      research applications. Currently available markers such as the serum gamma
      glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), serum transaminases, and the mean corpuscular
      volume (MCV) lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity to be used for screening
      of alcoholism in ambulatory patients. However, these tests can be helpful in
      corroborating a clinical suspicion of alcoholism. A number of special laboratory
      markers of alcoholism recently have been developed which may have increased
      diagnostic accuracy. Promising potential markers include serum carbohydrate
      deficient transferrin (CDT), red blood cell acetaldehyde, and acetaldehyde
      adducts. The application of reliable and practical markers of alcohol consumption
      could lead to significant improvements in the treatment of alcoholism and in the
      assessment of clinical trials.

PMID- 1458047
TI  - Nagging and other drinking control efforts of spouses of uncooperative alcohol
      abusers: assessment and modification.
AB  - This article presents a conception of spouse drinking control and an approach to
      assessment and modification to reduce the customary drinking control efforts of
      spouses of alcohol abusers unmotivated to enter treatment. Modification of the
      nonalcoholic spouse's customary drinking control is offered as an important early
      step in helping to prepare him or her to become a positive rehabilitative
      influence. Based on its use in unilateral family therapy with 68 spouses of
      uncooperative alcohol abusers, procedural guidelines, criteria for use, and two
      case examples from a crossover experimental dyad are described. Also presented
      are clinical results illustrating the success of the program, benefits and
      conditions relating to its use, and areas of possible application.

PMID- 1458046
TI  - A randomized double-blind study of neuroelectric therapy in opiate and cocaine
      detoxification.
AB  - Prior research on the use of transcranial neuroelectric stimulation suggested
      that the application of low-amperage, low-frequency alternating current via
      surface electrodes placed in the mastoid region could relieve the physiological
      signs and subjective symptoms of withdrawal and craving during opiate
      detoxification. These effects were reported without gradual tapering of the
      opiate or the addition of other medications. To test the efficacy of one
      particular form of neuroelectric therapy (NET), a double-blind, randomized,
      placebo-controlled study was conducted comparing active NET and placebo NET in
      the treatment of withdrawal and stabilization of 18 opiate-dependent and 25
      cocaine-dependent subjects. Scores on scales for measuring substance withdrawal
      and craving for each abused substance, as well as the multiple dimensions of
      mood, were compared for degree of difference across the 10 days of treatment.
      There was an overall completion rate of 88%, with both cocaine and opiate groups
      reporting a comfortable detoxification and substantial improvement over the
      course of a 12-day hospitalization. There was no significant difference between
      the active or placebo groups, suggesting that placebo was as effective as active
      NET in reducing drug withdrawal or craving during cocaine and opiate
      detoxification. However, all placebo patients received 0.2 mA of current, which
      may have provided a degree of active current. Suggestions are offered for future
      research.

PMID- 1458048
TI  - Patterns and predictors of simultaneous and concurrent use of alcohol, tobacco,
      marijuana, and hallucinogens in first-year college students.
AB  - Polydrug use produces important health and safety risks. Little research has
      examined whether multiple drugs are used simultaneously (at the same time or in
      close temporal sequence). Instead, researchers have assessed concurrent polydrug
      use (the use of multiple drugs within a given time period such as years or
      months). The research here examined patterns and predictors of both simultaneous
      and concurrent polydrug use in 575 first-year college students. Both concurrent
      and simultaneous polydrug use were common for alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana.
      The percentage of concurrent polydrug users who were also simultaneous polydrug
      users ranged from 82% to 93% across subgroups defined by gender and the use of a
      single drug. Male gender, high levels of sensation seeking, and frequent alcohol
      use predicted single-drug versus polydrug use status as well as simultaneous
      polydrug use. Patterns and predictors of simultaneous and concurrent polydrug use
      should be addressed in prevention research and preventative interventions.

PMID- 1458049
TI  - Brain casein kinase 2: affinity purification procedure using immobilized
      polyethylenimine.
AB  - A simplified procedure for casein kinase 2 purification from bovine brain is
      described. The purification procedure consists of two affinity chromatography
      steps, using heparin and polyethylenimine immobilized on a synthetic matrix
      (Toyopearl 650M). The adsorption and elution conditions for each column were
      optimized, resulting in a simple elution protocol for each column. A stable,
      highly purified casein kinase 2 preparation was obtained in 4 h using this
      procedure. Polyethylenimine was shown to stimulate the casein kinase 2 activity
      using exogeneous substrates (casein, calmodulin, MAP2, and tau) but not the
      enzyme's autophosphorylation activity. The polyethylenimine stimulation could be
      overcome by applying a mass excess of the casein kinase 2 inhibitor, heparin.

PMID- 1458050
TI  - Purification of recombinant chimeric B72.3 Fab' and F(ab')2 using streptococcal
      protein G.
AB  - Streptococcal protein G has been used extensively for the purification of
      antibodies using the interaction of the Fc region with protein G. Many antibodies
      also interact with protein G through a low-affinity binding site for the Fab
      region. The exploitation of this low-affinity interaction for the purification of
      Fab' fragments is described here. Chimeric mouse-human B72.3 Fab' and F(ab')2
      fragments were expressed by CHO cells and purified from CHO cell supernatant
      using protein G-Sepharose. Since chimeric B72.3 Fab' bound weakly to the protein
      G-Sepharose it could be separated from F(ab')2 and eluted with a pH 7 wash
      whereas B72.3 F(ab')2 required elution at pH 2. Both Fab' and F(ab')2 were
      recovered with full immunoreactivity and could be further purified using gel
      filtration chromatography to greater than 99% purity. This method allows the
      simple purification of directly expressed Fab' or F(ab')2 fragments from CHO cell
      supernatant.

PMID- 1458051
TI  - Expression in Escherichia coli: purification and properties of the recombinant
      human general transcription factor rTFIIB.
AB  - The human class II transcription factor TFIIB (rTFIIB) was overexpressed in
      Escherichia coli using a T7 RNA polymerase expression system and further purified
      to apparent homogeneity. The purified rTFIIB is identical to the endogenous
      factor according to the following criteria: molecular weight, microsequencing and
      mass spectra studies, ability to recognize the stable preinitiation complex
      formed between TFIID and the adenovirus 2 major late TATA box as demonstrated by
      gel shift as well as by DNase I footprinting assays, and transcription activity.

PMID- 1458052
TI  - High-level expression and simplified purification of recombinant ricin A chain.
AB  - Ricin toxin is a glycoprotein which catalytically inactivates eukaryotic
      ribosomes by depurination of a single adenosine residue from the 28S ribosomal
      RNA. The enzymatic activity is present in the A chain of the toxin molecule,
      whereas the B chain contains two binding sites for galactose. Since it is highly
      potent in inhibiting protein synthesis, the A chain is used to prepare cytotoxic
      conjugates effective against tumor cells. Such chimeric proteins are highly
      selective and have a wide range of clinical applications. Extensive preclinical
      studies on these conjugates require large amounts of purified A chain. Native
      ricin A chain is heterogeneous, since plants produce a number of isoforms of
      ricin toxin. Purified, native preparations often contain two types of ricin A
      chain which differ in the extent of glycosylation. By cloning and expressing the
      gene of A chain, one could obtain homogeneous toxin molecules devoid of
      carbohydrates. In addition, structural changes in the toxin polypeptide could be
      introduced by in vitro mutagenesis, which can improve the pharmacological
      properties and antitumor activity. Earlier methods of expression strategies using
      Escherichia coli have yielded only moderate levels of expression. In the present
      study, the coding region of ricin A chain was cloned into pET3b, a high-level
      expression vector under the control of the T7 promoter. Recombinant ricin A chain
      produced by this construct has an additional 14 amino acid residues at the NH2
      terminus. Subsequently, a NdeI site was created at the 5' end of the gene by
      oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. The modified fragment was then introduced
      into pET3b vector to produce toxin polypeptide identical to the native
      sequence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1458053
TI  - Bacterial expression, purification, and in vitro N-myristoylation of HIV-1
      p17gag.
AB  - The coding region of the N-terminal 17-kDa portion of HIV-1 Pr55gag (p17gag) was
      cloned into the pET-3c expression vector and was used to overexpress HIV-1 p17gag
      in Escherichia coli. Induction of the transformed bacteria caused the
      accumulation of a 17-kDa polypeptide in the soluble cell fraction which was
      released by sonication in hypotonic nondetergent buffer. The 17-kDa polypeptide
      was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and successive chromatography on G
      75 Sephadex, DEAE-Sephacel, and S-Sephadex. The final product was purified 12
      fold with about a 16% recovery from the original soluble cell lysate and was
      judged to be 97+% pure by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis. Western blotting with two different antibodies confirmed the
      identify of the purified 17-kDa polypeptide as authentic p17gag. In the presence
      of myristoyl-CoA and bovine brain N-myristoyl-transferase, p17gag was
      quantitatively N-myristoylated in vitro with a pseudo-first-order rate constant
      of 4.7 +/- 1.0 x 10(-3) min-1, but with only about 3% of the catalytic efficiency
      of N-myristoylation of a 16-residue peptide homologous to the N-terminus of
      p17gag. The myristate group in the N-myristoylated p17gag was stable to treatment
      with detergent and hydroxylamine consistent with a covalent N-acyl-amide linkage.
      The N-myristoylglycyl linkage was confirmed by partial acid hydrolysis and
      identification of the p-nitrobenzylazlactone derivative of the resulting N
      myristoylglycine by high-performance liquid chromatography.

PMID- 1458054
TI  - Rapid screening of a large number of immobilized textile dyes for the
      purification of proteins: use of penicillin-binding protein 4 of Escherichia coli
      as a model enzyme.
AB  - A rapid method for screening the affinity of proteins to dye-modified resins is
      described. Performing the binding and elution of the protein extracts in a batch
      wise manner and eluting the bound proteins with SDS-PAGE denaturation buffer
      speed up the screening process and allow the analysis of large collections of
      dyes. Penicillin-binding protein 4 of Escherichia coli was used as a model enzyme
      to determine the influences of pH, metal ions, and ionic strength (0 to 500 mM
      NaCl) on its binding behavior using a collection of 98 dye-affinity resins.

PMID- 1458055
TI  - Copurification of RNA polymerase I and the glucocorticoid-regulated transcription
      factor IC.
AB  - A simple and rapid method to copurify RNA polymerase I and the glucocorticoid
      regulated transcription factor, TFIC, is described. This protocol results in 1262
      fold purification and 15% total recovery of the enzyme and factors needed to
      support faithful transcription in vitro from cloned mouse rRNA gene (rDNA). Using
      this method, proteins involved in rDNA transcription were purified from
      exponentially growing lymphosarcoma P1798 cells as well as cells treated with 0.1
      microM dexamethasone. A combination of transcription and reconstitution assays
      using G-free cassette-containing constructs and polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoretic analysis upon silver staining were used to detect TFIC activity
      as well as the characteristic TFIC polypeptides in control and dexamethasone
      treated cell extracts. Treatment of P1798 cells with 0.1 microM dexamethasone for
      24 h results in an over 95% reduction of TFIC activity, but no significant
      differences in the amount of TFIC polypeptides in the final product purified from
      control and glucocorticoid-treated cells could be detected. Our data indicate
      that glucocorticoid regulation of transcription of rDNA is mediated via post
      translational modulation of the activity of TFIC.

PMID- 1458056
TI  - Tyrosine-ester sulfotransferase from rat liver: bacterial expression and
      identification.
AB  - A nucleotide sequence that had been proposed for, but not identified as, rat
      liver aryl sulfotransferase (EC 2.8.2.1) was prepared in an appropriate vector
      and transformed into Escherichia coli. The protein, expressed in large amounts,
      was not aryl sulfotransferase (EC 2.8.2.1) but rather tyrosine-ester
      sulfotransferase (EC 2.8.2.9), a sulfotransferase also active with phenols but
      having a much wider substrate range that includes hydroxylamines and esters of
      tyrosine. The recombinant tyrosine-ester sulfotransferase was identified by its
      unique substrate spectrum, by comparison with three peptides that were sequenced
      from homogeneous tyrosine-ester sulfotransferase isolated directly from rat
      liver, and by the specificity of antibody raised to the rat liver enzyme. Two
      isoforms were obtained, each of which was difficult to solubilize upon sonication
      of E. coli. Both forms were solubilized with a solution of polyols (glycerol and
      sucrose) and subsequently purified to homogeneity.

PMID- 1458057
TI  - Biotin derivatives of endothelin: utilization for affinity purification of
      endothelin receptor.
AB  - Three different types of biotinylated endothelin 1 (ET-1) derivatives, [Cys1]
      biotinylated ET-1, [Lys9]-biotinylated ET-1, and [Cys1][Lys9]-dibiotinylated ET
      1, were obtained when the biotinylation reaction was carried out with
      sulfosuccinimidyl-6-(biotinamido)hexanoate in an aqueous solvent. The binding of
      [Lys9]-biotinylated ET-1 to the ET receptor was as efficient as that of natural
      ET-1, whereas the binding of either [Cys1]-biotinylated ET-1 or [Cys1][Lys9]
      dibiotinylated ET-1 was significantly reduced. When ET-1 was reacted with
      succinimidyl-6-(biotinamido)hexanoate in an organic solvent, ET-1 was exclusively
      modified at lysine 9. The ET receptor was then isolated from human placenta by
      affinity chromatography with [Lys9]-biotinylated ET-1 and avidin-agarose. The
      purified ET receptor was active in ET binding and was resolved by sodium dodecyl
      sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis into two polypeptides with apparent
      molecular masses of 45 and 35 kDa. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence indicated
      that the two polypeptides were from an identical subtype of the ET receptor (ETB,
      the ligand-nonselective type). A signal peptide from Met1 to Gly26 was missing
      from the 45-kDa ETB, whereas 64 amino acids at the NH2 terminus were missing from
      the 35-kDa ETB due to proteolytic cleavage which occurred between Arg64 and
      Ser65. Indeed, incubation of purified ETB with endopeptidase Arg-C resulted in
      degradation of the 45-kDa ETB, giving rise to the 35-kDa species by a specific
      cleavage at Arg64. The 35-kDa ETB was active in binding to ET-1, indicating that
      the NH2-terminal 64-amino-acid residues are not essential for ligand
      binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1458058
TI  - High-level production and purification of Escherichia coli N-acetylneuraminic
      acid aldolase (EC 4.1.3.3).
AB  - The Escherichia coli gene which encodes N-acetylneuraminic acid aldolase was
      isolated by the polymerase chain reaction, cloned into the inducible expression
      vector pTTQ18, and overexpressed in E. coli. The high yield of aldolase was
      achieved through both optimum growth of cells and efficient expression of the
      aldolase gene (20-30% soluble cellular protein). The recombinant enzyme was
      purified to homogeneity with an activity of 1.2-2.2 U/mg, which compared
      favorably with that of commercial preparations of E. coli aldolase (1.1 U/mg) and
      Clostridium perfringens aldolase (0.4 U/mg). The cloning strategy, fermentation
      conditions, purification protocol, and activity assay are described.

PMID- 1458059
TI  - Sigma Theta Tau International contributes to research on women's health issues.

PMID- 1458060
TI  - Nursing doctoral programs in the United States. Nursing doctoral programs listed
      outside the United States.

PMID- 1458062
TI  - Nursing research centers and organizations.

PMID- 1458061
TI  - Reflections on research in nursing.

PMID- 1458063
TI  - Grateful Med: an easy to use information tool.

PMID- 1458064
TI  - Initiation of a research program from a Sigma Theta Tau funded project.

PMID- 1458065
TI  - A deep and serious commitment to infants.

PMID- 1458066
TI  - Research utilization awards, utilization versus dissemination?

PMID- 1458067
TI  - Beveridge after 50 years.

PMID- 1458068
TI  - Life insurance and HIV antibody testing.

PMID- 1458069
TI  - Skin lightening creams containing hydroquinone.

PMID- 1458070
TI  - The demand for ophthalmic services.

PMID- 1458071
TI  - Audit and research.

PMID- 1458072
TI  - Trial of glucose versus fat emulsion in preparation of amphotericin for use in
      HIV infected patients with candidiasis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To compare the tolerance, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of
      amphotericin deoxycholate (Fungizone) prepared in a parenteral fat emulsion
      (Intralipid 20%) or glucose in HIV patients with candidiasis. DESIGN: Non-blind
      randomised controlled trial. SETTING: University hospital; tertiary clinical
      care. PATIENTS: 22 HIV positive patients with oral candidiasis. INTERVENTIONS:
      Amphotericin 1 mg/kg/day given on four consecutive days as a one hour infusion
      dissolved in either 5% glucose (amphotericin-glucose) or parenteral fat emulsion
      at a final concentration of 2 g/l fat emulsion (amphotericin-fat emulsion). MAIN
      OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical tolerance (fever, chills, sweats, nausea, arterial
      pressure, and pulse rate); biological tolerance (serum creatinine, electrolyte,
      and magnesium values); clinical score of candidiasis; and serum concentrations of
      amphotericin. RESULTS: 11 patients were enrolled in each group. All the
      amphotericin-fat emulsion infusions were given without serious problem whereas
      four amphotericin-glucose infusions were stopped because of renal impairment (n =
      3) or severe chills (n = 2), or both. For patients completing the amphotericin
      glucose treatment creatine concentration increased by 42 mumol/l; four of seven
      patients had at least one creatinine value > or = 133 mumol/l versus one of 11
      receiving amphotericin-fat emulsion. Magnesium concentration fell significantly
      with amphotericin-glucose but not with amphotericin-fat emulsion. Clinical side
      effects were noted in 36/38 infusions with amphotericin-glucose but 10/44 with
      amphotericin-fat emulsion. Oral candidiasis score was reduced similarly in both
      groups. Serum amphotericin concentrations were significantly lower and the volume
      of distribution of the drug higher after infusion of amphotericin-fat emulsion
      than after amphotericin-glucose. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and renal toxicity of
      amphotericin are reduced when the drug is prepared in fat emulsion. Preparation
      is simple and cost effective. Its efficacy is similar to that of conventional
      amphotericin.

PMID- 1458073
TI  - Vitamin C depletion and pressure sores in elderly patients with femoral neck
      fracture.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the contribution of specific nutritional deficiencies (as
      indicated by zinc; vitamin A, C, and E; albumin; and haemoglobin concentrations)
      to the risk of pressure sores. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: St
      James's University Hospital, Leeds. SUBJECTS: 21 elderly patients presenting
      consecutively to the orthopaedic unit with femoral neck fracture. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURE: Full thickness epidermal break over a pressure bearing surface. RESULTS:
      10 patients (48%) developed a pressure sore during their hospital stay. Indices
      of zinc status and concentrations of albumin, haemoglobin, and vitamins A and E
      were similar in patients who developed a pressure sore and those who did not.
      Mean leucocyte vitamin C concentration, however, was 6.3 (SD 2.2)
      micrograms/10(8) cells in patients who developed a pressure sore as compared with
      12.8 (4.6) micrograms/10(8) cells in patients who did not. CONCLUSIONS: Low
      concentrations of leucocyte vitamin C appear to be associated with subsequent
      development of pressure sores in elderly patients with femoral neck fractures.

PMID- 1458076
TI  - Juniors' hours: is the end in sight?
AB  - The question of how to reduce junior doctors' hours has taxed the government and
      hospital managers for nearly two decades. Now regional task forces are being
      asked to get them down to a maximum of 83 a week by 1 April next year. From a
      comparison of the way in which two different task forces (Northern and North West
      Thames) have responded to the challenge it emerges that most units will probably
      meet the 83 hour deadline by making simple rationalisations. Meeting the next
      deadline--of a 72 hour maximum by December 1996--will, however, require radical
      restructuring of working patterns.

PMID- 1458075
TI  - Demand incidence and episode rates of ophthalmic disease in a defined urban
      population.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To estimate demand incidence and episode rates of ophthalmic disease
      in a defined urban population over one year. DESIGN: Study of patients presenting
      with eye problems to general practice and eye casualty department. SETTING:
      General practice and ophthalmic services in west Nottingham. SUBJECTS: 36,018
      people from the combined practice lists of 17 Nottingham general practitioners.
      MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ophthalmic disorder, age and sex of patient, and where
      presented. RESULTS: 587 consultations were recorded for ophthalmic problems, 1771
      with general practitioners and 816 with eye casualty. Most consultations to
      general practice were by females (1066 (60%)), whereas men aged 15-44 accounted
      for most work in eye casualty. These men commonly presented with trauma.
      Infective conjunctivitis, the commonest condition, had an episode rate of
      13.5/1000 population/year. Demand incidence for cataracts was 1.9/1000
      population/year. Demand incidence for chronic conditions increased with age.
      CONCLUSIONS: As the average age of the population increases demand for ophthalmic
      services will rise. Planning and provision of resources to meet this increased
      demand should be considered now.

PMID- 1458074
TI  - Comparison of Yuzpe regimen, danazol, and mifepristone (RU486) in oral postcoital
      contraception.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness and acceptability of three regimens of
      postcoital contraception. DESIGN: Randomised group comparison of
      ethinyloestradiol 100 micrograms plus levonorgestrel 500 micrograms repeated
      after 12 hours (Yuzpe method); danazol 600 mg repeated after 12 hours; and
      mifepristone 600 mg single dose. SETTING: Community family planning clinic.
      SUBJECTS: 616 consecutive women with regular cycles aged 16 to 45 years. MAIN
      OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of pregnancies, incidence of side effects, and timing of
      next period. RESULTS: The raw pregnancy rates (with 95% confidence intervals) for
      the Yuzpe, danazol, and mifepristone groups were 2.62% (0.86% to 6.00%), 4.66%
      (2.15% to 8.67%), and 0% (0% to 1.87%) respectively. Overall, these rates
      differed significantly (chi 2 = 8.988, df = 2; p = 0.011). The differences
      between the mifepristone and Yuzpe groups and between the mifepristone and
      danazol groups were also significant. Side effects were more common and more
      severe in the Yuzpe group (133 women (70%)) than in either the danazol group (58
      (30%)) or the mifepristone group (72 (37%)). The Yuzpe regimen tended to induce
      bleeding early but mifepristone prolonged the cycle. Three women bled more than
      seven days late in the Yuzpe group compared with 49 in the mifepristone group.
      CONCLUSIONS: Mifepristone was effective in reducing expected pregnancy rates and
      the Yuzpe method also had a clinical effect. Danazol had little or no effect. A
      further multicentre trial is needed.

PMID- 1458078
TI  - Sexual harassment at work.

PMID- 1458077
TI  - US health care. III: The reform problem.

PMID- 1458079
TI  - ABC of monitoring drug therapy. Why monitor drug therapy?

PMID- 1458080
TI  - Euthanasia.

PMID- 1458081
TI  - Euthanasia.

PMID- 1458082
TI  - Euthanasia.

PMID- 1458083
TI  - Euthanasia.

PMID- 1458084
TI  - Euthanasia.

PMID- 1458085
TI  - Propofol infusion in children.

PMID- 1458086
TI  - Propofol infusion in children.

PMID- 1458087
TI  - Propofol infusion in children.

PMID- 1458088
TI  - Propofol infusion in children.

PMID- 1458089
TI  - King's College Hospital's A&E department.

PMID- 1458090
TI  - Partners in practice.

PMID- 1458091
TI  - Treating tuberculosis in developing countries.

PMID- 1458092
TI  - Reducing pain associated with injection of lidocaine.

PMID- 1458093
TI  - Dermatological causes of pruritus ani.

PMID- 1458094
TI  - Dermatological causes of pruritus ani.

PMID- 1458095
TI  - Osteoporosis in men.

PMID- 1458096
TI  - Faecal urge incontinence caused by exercise.

PMID- 1458097
TI  - Use of live donors in renal transplantation.

PMID- 1458098
TI  - Change in drug treatment after discharge from hospital.

PMID- 1458099
TI  - Human insulin and awareness of hypoglycaemia.

PMID- 1458100
TI  - Severity of imported falciparum malaria.

PMID- 1458101
TI  - Controlling deaths from volatile substance abuse.

PMID- 1458102
TI  - Assessment of patients over 75.

PMID- 1458103
TI  - John Loutit's advance in collecting blood.

PMID- 1458104
TI  - X-Y linkage and schizophrenia.

PMID- 1458105
TI  - Acne associated with inhaled glucocorticosteroids.

PMID- 1458106
TI  - Intracerebral haemorrhage after dermal nitrate application.

PMID- 1458107
TI  - Iron dextran and systemic lupus erythematosus.

PMID- 1458108
TI  - Are elderly people living alone an at risk group?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that elderly people living alone are an at risk
      group with a high level of morbidity that makes high demands on health and social
      services. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data from a community survey of 239
      people aged 75 and over, identified from general practitioners' age-sex
      registers. SETTING: Nine practices in the London boroughs of Brent and Islington.
      MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Scores on the mini-mental state examination; stated
      satisfaction with life; assessment of mobility; numbers of diagnoses of major
      physical problems; numbers of prescribed drugs taken; urinary incontinence;
      alcohol consumption; contacts with general practitioners and hospital outpatient
      and inpatient services; contact with community health and social services.
      RESULTS: There were significantly more women among those living alone (93/120
      (78%) v 63/119 (53%); p < 0.0005) and the median age of elderly people living
      alone was higher (81 v 80; p < 0.04). Those living alone and those living with
      others showed no significant differences in measures of cognitive impairment,
      numbers of major physical diagnoses, impaired mobility, or use of general
      practitioner or hospital services. Stated satisfaction with life was somewhat
      higher in those living alone. Elderly people living alone were significantly more
      likely to have contact with chiropody, home help, and meals on wheels services
      and less likely to have someone they could contact in an emergency or at night.
      Living alone increased the likelihood of contact with one or more community
      health professionals (district nurses, health visitors, or chiropodists)
      considered as a group and also increased the likelihood of contact with social
      services as a whole. There was a tendency for more of those living alone than
      those living with others to have home visits from their general practitioners,
      but there were no significant differences in contact with hospital services
      between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly people living alone do not have an
      excess of morbidity compared with those living with others and do not seem to be
      an at risk group requiring specifically targeted assessments. More help is needed
      to provide elderly people living alone with a point of contact in case of
      emergency.

PMID- 1458109
TI  - Introduction of a partial shift system for house officers in a teaching hospital.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: (1) To introduce a partial shift system to reduce the hours of work
      of preregistration house surgeons to an average of 64 a week to comply with the
      New Deal for junior doctors; (2) to test linking the partial shift concept to an
      existing structure of "on call" firms. DESIGN: Formal assessment after three
      months of a pilot partial shift system for eight house surgeons on three firms
      instituted on 1 November 1991, followed by questionnaire and interview evaluation
      at three and six months of a revised system implemented on 1 February 1992.
      SETTING: Department of general surgery at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London.
      SUBJECTS: 24 house surgeons attached to three surgical firms. RESULTS: In eight
      weeks each house surgeon worked one week (five shifts) of night duty, one week of
      "cover" (afternoon and evening) duty, and six weeks of normal daytime hours. Each
      weekday a house surgeon from the firm on call worked an extended daytime on call
      shift until 10 pm. Weekend duties were split between two house surgeons from the
      firm on call. A computer generated graphical display of the rota was used to
      facilitate leave planning. Average working hours were reduced to below 64 per
      week, including prospective cover, without detriment to patient care and
      educational standards. Within the shift system individual house surgeons could be
      on call with their own firm by day and at weekends. Opinions were equally divided
      among junior staff as to their preference for either on call or partial shift
      systems. CONCLUSIONS: The principles of this partial shift system are generally
      applicable and the model can readily be adopted by district general hospitals.

PMID- 1458110
TI  - ABC of monitoring drug therapy. Patient compliance.

PMID- 1458111
TI  - Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms.

PMID- 1458112
TI  - Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms.

PMID- 1458113
TI  - Domiciliary thrombolysis by general practitioners.

PMID- 1458114
TI  - Domiciliary thrombolysis by general practitioners.

PMID- 1458115
TI  - Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms.

PMID- 1458116
TI  - Domiciliary thrombolysis by general practitioners.

PMID- 1458117
TI  - Domiciliary thrombolysis by general practitioners.

PMID- 1458118
TI  - On site medical services at major incidents.

PMID- 1458119
TI  - UK major trauma outcome study.

PMID- 1458120
TI  - Vitamin K and childhood cancer.

PMID- 1458121
TI  - Vitamin K and childhood cancer.

PMID- 1458122
TI  - Antenatal screening for Down's syndrome.

PMID- 1458123
TI  - Antenatal screening for Down's syndrome.

PMID- 1458124
TI  - Antenatal screening for Down's syndrome.

PMID- 1458125
TI  - Simulation model for planning renal services.

PMID- 1458126
TI  - Simulation model for planning renal services.

PMID- 1458127
TI  - Heterosexual AIDS epidemic.

PMID- 1458128
TI  - Heterosexual AIDS epidemic.

PMID- 1458129
TI  - Tachycardia during cisapride treatment.

PMID- 1458130
TI  - Tachycardia during cisapride treatment.

PMID- 1458131
TI  - Measuring glycated haemoglobin.

PMID- 1458132
TI  - Measuring glycated haemoglobin.

PMID- 1458133
TI  - Thoracoscopic pericardiectomy.

PMID- 1458134
TI  - Specialist training.

PMID- 1458135
TI  - Specialist training.

PMID- 1458136
TI  - Specialist training.

PMID- 1458137
TI  - SI units still used in some American journals.

PMID- 1458138
TI  - Abortion in the first trimester.

PMID- 1458139
TI  - Abusing old people.

PMID- 1458140
TI  - Corticosteroids in advanced cancer.

PMID- 1458141
TI  - Pet birds and lung cancer.

PMID- 1458142
TI  - Mental health services for children.

PMID- 1458143
TI  - "Without work all life goes rotten".

PMID- 1458144
TI  - Comparison of enalapril and nifedipine in treating non-insulin dependent diabetes
      associated with hypertension: one year analysis.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerance of enalapril and
      nifedipine in hypertensive patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes. DESIGN:
      One year double blind follow up of patients randomly allocated to either
      enalapril or nifedipine with matching placebos for the alternative drug. SETTING:
      Metabolic Investigation Unit, Hong Kong. SUBJECTS: 102 patients were randomised:
      52 to nifedipine and 50 to enalapril. At baseline 44 patients had
      normoalbuminuria, 36 microalbuminuria, and 22 macroalbuminuria. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: Blood pressure, albuminuria, and parameters of renal function and
      glycaemic control. RESULTS: In patients who completed one year's treatment the
      median dose required by the nifedipine group (n = 49) was 60 mg/day; seven (14%)
      required additional diuretics. Of 41 patients given enalapril, 37 required the
      maximum dose (40 mg/day) and 27 (76%) required diuretics. At one year mean
      arterial blood pressures were similar in both groups. Albuminuria fell by 54% in
      the enalapril group and 11% in the nifedipine group (p = 0.006). Fractional
      albumin clearance ratio fell by 47% in the enalapril group and increased by 3% in
      the nifedipine group (p = 0.009). Creatinine clearance fell similarly in both
      groups but plasma creatinine concentration was increased by 20% in the enalapril
      group versus 8% in the nifedipine group (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients taking
      enalapril often required diuretics to control blood pressure. Enalapril reduced
      proteinuria significantly more than nifedipine in the microalbuminuric and
      macroalbuminuric patients but increased plasma creatinine concentrations. Longer
      follow up is required to clarify the importance of enalapril's antiproteinuric
      effect.

PMID- 1458145
TI  - Pet birds as an independent risk factor for lung cancer: case-control study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that exposure to pet birds increases risk of
      developing lung cancer. DESIGN: Case-control study. Computerised interviews were
      used to assess previous exposure to pets and other risk factors for lung cancer.
      SETTING: Three major hospitals treating respiratory disease in former West
      Berlin. SUBJECTS: All people newly diagnosed as having primary malignant neoplasm
      of the trachea, bronchi, or lung who were 65 or younger and control subjects
      matched for age and sex from the general population of former West Berlin. 279
      cases and 635 controls qualified for the study; 239 cases and 429 controls
      participated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Odds ratio of developing lung cancer
      according to whether or not pet birds were kept and the duration of keeping pet
      birds. RESULTS: In addition to the risk of lung cancer imposed by smoking,
      passive smoking, and occupational exposure to carcinogens, an increased relative
      risk of 2.14 (95% confidence interval 1.35 to 3.40) was found among people
      exposed to pet birds. The adjusted odds ratio for exposures longer than 10 years
      was 3.19 (1.48 to 8.21). CONCLUSIONS: Avian exposure seems to carry a risk of
      lung cancer. Until the pathogenesis is understood, long term exposure to pet
      birds in living areas should be avoided, especially among people at high risk of
      developing lung cancer.

PMID- 1458146
TI  - Avian exposure and bronchogenic carcinoma.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between bird keeping and risk of lung
      cancer. DESIGN: Case-control study asking detailed questions on exposure to
      domestic birds and other pets, smoking, and various demographic and potentially
      confounding variables. SETTING: District general hospital; current admissions
      interviewed in hospital or recent admissions interviewed at home. PATIENTS: 143
      patients with lung cancer, 143 controls with heart disease, and 143 controls with
      orthopaedic conditions individually matched for age, sex, date of admission, and
      current or past admission. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Odds ratios for lung cancer in
      relation to various aspects of bird keeping, after adjustment for smoking and
      other relevant confounding variables. RESULTS: Risk of lung cancer was not
      significantly associated with household exposure to pet birds at any time or at
      various specific periods in life, or to keeping large numbers of birds. For
      specific types of birds no association was seen for living in households with
      budgerigars or canaries but risk was significantly associated with keeping
      pigeons (odds ratio 3.53, 95% confidence interval 1.56 to 7.98). This remained
      significant after regression analysis to account for confounding variables (3.9,
      1.2 to 12.62) in both sexes and all age groups. CONCLUSION: Bird keeping may
      confer some risk of lung cancer but the relation is not as strong as previously
      reported.

PMID- 1458147
TI  - The TAPS project. 16: Difficult to place, long term psychiatric patients: risk
      factors for failure to resettle long stay patients in community facilities.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify patients who could not be resettled in the community as
      part of the closure plans of two psychiatric hospitals and to determine their
      numbers and risk factors for failure. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective study of
      the closure of Friern and Claybury psychiatric hospitals. PATIENTS: The first
      third (369) of long stay psychiatric patients to be resettled. OUTCOME MEASURES:
      Reasons for patients being readmitted to hospital and not leaving the patients'
      service needs. RESULTS: 22--6% of both hospitals' long stay patients--were not
      successfully resettled in the community. Eighteen continuing care places per
      100,000 of catchment area population seem to be required for this group. Patients
      whose placements were unsuccessful were usually readmitted because of a
      deterioration of their mental state and aggressive behaviour, both of which
      persisted and necessitated their continuing stay in hospital, often in a locked
      ward. Risk factors associated with failure were a high level of psychosis; a
      diagnosis of paranoid psychosis; incontinence; and being male. But having a
      social network, especially a large one, seemed to aid successful placement in the
      community. CONCLUSION: Rehabilitation efforts should be focused on the
      characteristics of these patients that put them at risk of failing to succeed in
      community placements.

PMID- 1458148
TI  - The TAPS project. 17: Readmission to hospital for long term psychiatric patients
      after discharge to the community.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors which increase the likelihood of readmission
      for long stay psychiatric patients after discharge from hospital. DESIGN: Follow
      up for five years of all long stay patients discharged from two large psychiatric
      hospitals to compare patients readmitted and not readmitted. SETTING: Friern and
      Claybury Hospitals in north London and their surrounding catchment areas. Most
      patients were discharged to staffed or unstaffed group homes. SUBJECTS: 357
      psychiatric patients who had been in hospital for over one year, of whom 118 were
      "new" long stay and 239 "old" long stay patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
      Readmission to hospital and length of subsequent stay. RESULTS: Of all discharged
      patients 97 (27%) were readmitted at some time during the follow up period, 57
      (16%) in the first year after discharge, and 31 (9%) then remained in hospital
      for over a year. The best explanatory factors for readmission were: male sex,
      younger age group, high number of previous admissions, higher levels of
      symptomatic and social behavioural disturbance, a diagnosis of manic-depressive
      psychosis, and living in a non-staffed group home. CONCLUSIONS: During the
      closure of psychiatric hospitals, facilities need to be preserved for acute
      relapses among long term, and especially younger, discharged patients. Staffed
      group homes may help prevent relapse and reduce the number of admission beds
      required.

PMID- 1458149
TI  - Elder abuse in Britain.

PMID- 1458150
TI  - Steroids in advanced cancer: survey of current practice.

PMID- 1458151
TI  - [A comparative study of the psychotropic activity of different salts of
      homopantothenic acid].
AB  - Psychotropic activity of different salts of homopantothenic acid was studied. In
      homopantothenic acid derivatives, the substitution of calcium ions by sodium and
      magnesium ions gives rise to a decrease of the sedative and potentiation of the
      stimulating properties.

PMID- 1458152
TI  - [Changes in the narrow-band components of the EEG spectrum under the action of
      nootropic drugs].
AB  - Patients with asthenic disorders were examined for EEG reactions to the
      administration of some nootropics. The significance of the narrow bands of the
      post-drug EEG spectrum was revealed. According to these data, the detailed EEG
      profiles of the nootropics under study were obtained. Analysis of these EEG
      profiles discovered the common and specific characteristics of different
      nootropics.

PMID- 1458153
TI  - [The prolonged use of calcium antagonists in myocardial infarct in rats: their
      effect on hemodynamics and the contractile function and morphology of the heart
      muscle].
AB  - Experiments on rats with myocardial infarction induced by occlusion of the left
      coronary artery were made to explore the influence of calcium antagonists
      injected intraperitoneally for a long time (daily, for 21 days) on hemodynamics,
      contractile function and morphology of the heart muscle. It has been shown that
      verapamil (0.5 mg/kg), diltiazem (2 mg/kg) and nimodipine (20 micrograms/kg) do
      not exert under those conditions any noticeable effect on pump and contractile
      heart functions. Administration of verapamil in a doze of 2 mg/kg enhanced heart
      failure. The drugs under study normalized the response of contractile heart
      function to volumetric load, which is related to a considerable measure to the
      acceleration of reparative processes in the myocardium.

PMID- 1458154
TI  - [The characteristics of the action of mildronate (dihydrate 3-(2,2,2
      trimethylhydrazine)propionate) on the red blood parameters in heart failure].
AB  - Mildronat potentiates the therapeutic effect of the combined treatment of heart
      failure, which includes the use of nitro drugs. It also decreases the level of
      methemoglobin in the patients' blood and improves the phosphate balance,
      especially that of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate to control oxygen transport by
      hemoglobin, which is of paramount importance in hypoxia caused by coronary heart
      disease.

PMID- 1458155
TI  - [The cytotoxicity of strophanthin G and digoxin].
AB  - Cytotoxicity of strophanthin G and digoxin was studied in experiments on lymphoid
      cells and carcinoma of cervix uteri cells. The glycosides inhibited the growth of
      three strains of cultured tumor cells tested. It has been found that highly toxic
      doses of the drugs produced no changes in the cell multiplication of normal human
      fibroblasts.

PMID- 1458156
TI  - [The effect of grofollon on the induction of sex maturation in female rats].
AB  - The authors provide the results of experimental studies carried out in immature
      female rats given the gonadotropin grofollon to stimulate puberty. Grofollon was
      administered in doses of 20, 30 or 50 units. It was dissolved in a physiological
      solution or prolongon. The effect of grofollon was found to depend on the dose
      and type of the solvent. The earliest response (in 6 hours) to grofollon
      administration was marked by an increase of plasma estradiol. 24 hours after the
      hormonal treatment there was a rise of the mass of the ovaries and uterus, in
      particular. The vagina opened on the 3d day. The dissolution of grofollon in
      prolongon was discovered to enhance the drug efficacy.

PMID- 1458157
TI  - [The effect of L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine on blood serum lipid
      peroxidation in vitro].
AB  - In the action mode of carnitine derivatives, the leading role is played by lipid
      transport inside the cell. Bearing in mind the important role of lipid
      peroxidation in lipid metabolism in the body and broad-range indications for use
      of carnitine derivatives in medical practice, it was decided to investigate the
      influence of carnitine derivatives on lipid peroxidation (LPO) in vitro to have a
      better understanding of the action mode of these drugs, as carnitine, according
      to the reported data, may affect certain LPO parameters in vivo.

PMID- 1458158
TI  - [The effect of isonitrozine on gas homeostasis].
AB  - The action of the cholinesterase reactivator isonitrosine on gas homeostasis was
      studied in experiments on intact dogs. It has been found that oxygen consumption
      and CO2 release by tissues were enhanced within the period from 15 min to 6 days
      following isonitrosine administration. Simultaneously, oxygen return by the blood
      was improved. Such action of isonitrosine was unrelated to its effect on the
      cholinesterase activity of red blood cells.

PMID- 1458159
TI  - [The antioxidizing activity of malonic acid derivatives].
AB  - Nine newly synthesized malonic acid derivatives were shown to have antioxidizing
      activity which makes up from 30 to 60% of the antioxidizing activity of ionol and
      vitamin E in vitro and does not yield to the activity of the latter substances in
      vivo. It is suggested that malonic acid derivatives may influence the
      antioxidizing enzymes--catalase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and superoxide
      dismutase.

PMID- 1458160
TI  - [The effect of verapamil and nifedipine on cholesterol esterification and
      accumulation in macrophages].
AB  - Administration of verapamil and nifedipine in doses of 10-75 microM into the
      culture of mouse peritoneal macrophages incubated in a non-lipid medium with
      acetylated low density lipoproteins (50 g protein/ml) decreased the incorporation
      of 14C oleate into cholesterol esters by 50-90%, increased the content of
      intracellular free cholesterol by 19-79% and did not influence the content of
      total cholesterol in macrophages. Administration of verapamil and nifedipine in
      doses of 25 and 50 microM in the culture of macrophages previously enriched with
      cholesterol reduced the rate of cholesterol esterification by 22-62%. After
      combined administration of verapamil and nifedipine in doses of 25 microM into
      the medium the rate of cholesterol esterification in macrophages fell by 72.4%.

PMID- 1458161
TI  - [The effect of protease tissue inhibitor on the activity of pancreatic
      proteolytic enzymes in in-vitro experiments].
AB  - The authors provide the data on in vitro experimental studies into the
      pharmacological properties of protease inhibitor obtained from bovine pancreas.
      It is shown that the preparation exerts an inhibitory action on pancreatic
      proteolytic enzymes such as trypsin, kallikrein, and elastase, drastically
      reduces the total proteolytic activity in pancreatic tissue homogenates.
      Comparison with the protease inhibitor gordox has demonstrated the inhibitory
      effect of both preparations to be practically similar.

PMID- 1458162
TI  - [The mechanism of the antioxidant action of D-penicillamine].
AB  - The mechanism of the antioxidative effect of D-penicillamine was studied under
      the conditions of NADPH- and CCl4-dependent lipid peroxidation in microsomes of
      rat liver and adrenalin autooxidation reaction. The antioxidative action of the
      drug was shown to be due to both its chelating properties and direct anti-radical
      influence. The chelating effect was more pronounced and depended on the
      concentration of ferric ions in the medium.

PMID- 1458163
TI  - [An experimental validation of the combined use of dimephosphon with nonsteroidal
      anti-inflammatory preparations].
AB  - The effects of dimephosphon combined with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
      were studied in rats and mice with experimental inflammation. The influence of
      dimephosphon on ulcerogenic activity of these drugs was also investigated. The
      dependence of the combinations efficiency on the scheme of dimephosphon
      administration was established. Synergism in anti-inflammatory activity between
      dimephosphon and ortophen (sodium diclofenac), indomethacin, and acetylsalicylic
      acid was shown. The possibility of decreasing the ulcerogenic effects of the
      drugs by dimephosphon was established. The effects of dimephosphon combinations
      are discussed as the basis for their use in clinical practice.

PMID- 1458164
TI  - [The pharmacokinetics of the prolonged-action beta-adrenoblocker nadolol in
      hypertension patients after a single administration].
AB  - The pharmacokinetics of the beta-adrenoceptor blocker nadolol was studied in 30
      patients suffering from mild hypertension given a single 80 mg dose of the drug.
      It has been shown that distribution of the pharmacokinetic parameters in this
      sample can be assumed normal. Their averages are similar to the reported data on
      healthy subjects. The mean retention time of nadolol in the body was estimated
      for the first time. The absorption of the drug was shown to be slow, which
      together with a low degree of bioavailability, may be associated with its low
      lipophility. A close correlation was demonstrated between the half-life and the
      mean absorption time estimates computed from blood serum and nadolol excretion
      with urine. The conclusion is made that glomerular filtration plays the key role
      in the drug elimination.

PMID- 1458165
TI  - [The effect of clofelin on the carotid sinus and cardiopulmonary baroreceptor
      reflexes in man].
AB  - A study was made of the influence of clophilin on the vasomotor component of the
      sinocarotid and cardiopulmonary baroreflexes of man. Clophilin was shown to
      intensify the cardiochronotropic component of the sinocarotid reflex, thereby
      suppressing blood pressure fall, evoked by activation of carotid sinus
      mechanoreceptors, and producing no effect on vasoconstriction induced by a
      decrease of pressure in the right atrium. It is concluded that the mechanism of
      the hypotensive effect of clophilin is not related to modulation of the
      baroreceptor reflexes from the regions of high and low pressures.

PMID- 1458166
TI  - [The correction of the hepatotoxicity of antitubercular preparations with
      tocopherol acetate and riboxin].
AB  - It has been established in experiments on white rats that prolonged (for 2 weeks)
      intoxication with antituberculous drugs (isoniazid plus rifampicin plus
      pyrazinamide) results in cytolytic liver injury. This manifests by
      hyperaminotransferasemia, initiation of lipid peroxidation, suppression of the
      antioxidant system and bile production. Daily injections of tocopherol acetate
      (15 mg/kg) and riboxine (100 mg/kg) together with administration of
      antituberculous drugs reduce their hepatotoxicity. The combined use of these
      hepatoprotectors and antioxidants provides a dramatic increase of their efficacy
      in durable intoxication with antituberculous drugs.

PMID- 1458167
TI  - [An analysis of acute poisonings with drugs].
AB  - Analysis of acute drug poisonings was made using materials available at the Saint
      Petersburg Toxicological Center for the period of 10 years. The indicated
      poisonings became two times more frequent and in 1989 accounted for 76% of the
      total number of intoxications. Poisonings with tranquilizers ranked first in
      frequency, then followed antihistamine drugs, neuroleptics and hypnotics. There
      was an increase in the percentage of hemiton poisonings, which turned out lethal
      in 1.6-3% of cases. In most cases, the drugs were taken to commit suicide, more
      rarely they were used to have or to potentiate the effects of alcoholic euphoria.
      Among women, poisonings were encountered three times more often than among men.

PMID- 1458168
TI  - [The selectivity and protective properties of m-cholinolytics in
      dichlorodivinylphosphate poisoning].
AB  - The activity of selective and nonselective muscarinic antagonists was examined in
      different experimental models. According to the results obtained, the protective
      effect of muscarinic antagonists during acute dichlordivinyl phosphate (DDVP)
      poisoning depends on the M1-subtype cholinoreceptor blockade. Meanwhile the
      efficiency of muscarinic antagonists in inhibition of tremor reaction induced by
      arecoline administration is associated with interaction between the drugs and the
      M2-subtype. The blocking of presynaptic M2-cholinoreceptors is likely to cause
      the decrease of protective potency of muscarinic antagonists in acute DDVP
      poisoning.

PMID- 1458169
TI  - [The experimental treatment of cyanide poisoning with a methemoglobin solution].
AB  - The stroma-free methemoglobin solution proved to be an effective antidote against
      acute cyanide poisoning in experiment. The poisoning was induced by
      intraperitoneal administration to rats of cyanide solutions in doses of 5, 10 and
      15 mg/kg. Methemoglobin solutions were injected intravenously in doses of 2 and 4
      g/kg. All the rats given methemoglobin solution after the administration of
      cyanide survived. Spectrophotometry of rat urine demonstrated rapid excretion of
      methemoglobin cyanide.

PMID- 1458170
TI  - [A spectral analysis of the effect of adapromine on brain bioelectrical
      activity].
AB  - A study was made of the influence of adapromine on bioelectrical activity of the
      brain, sensorimotor cortex, dorsal hippocamp and lateral hypothalamus in freely
      moving wakeful rats. Adapromine was established to evoke a decrease of the
      amplitude of the dominant peak and dominant theta-activity in power spectra of
      the EEG in the cortex and hippocamp, with an increase of rapid wave activity in
      the beta 2 range in the right cortex and hippocamp. These changes attained
      maximum after 1 to 1.5 hour and lasted up to 4-5 hours after adapromine
      administration. These changes can be viewed as activation of the cortex and
      hippocamp, which may attest to the presence of antidepressive and psychostimulant
      effects in the action spectrum of adapromine. The specific influence of
      adapromine on catecholaminergic processes of the brain may lie at the basis of
      the above effects.

PMID- 1458171
TI  - [An experimental study of the hepatoprotective properties of phytoecdysteroids
      and nerobol in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver lesion].
AB  - The phytoecdisteroids ecdisterone, turkesterone and cyasterone were administered
      in a dose of 5 mg/kg per os to rats with hepatitis induced by subcutaneous
      injections of CCl4. Similarly to the anabolic drug nerobol (10 mg/kg), the above
      agents not only interfere with the manifestation of the hepatic action of CCl4
      (in this case the effect of the phytoecdisteroids is more remarkable) but also
      favour a more rapid normalization, as compared to the control, of functional and
      metabolic disorders in the liver. The phytoecdisteroids and nerobol noticeably
      stimulate the recovery of bile secretion, the synthesis of bilirubin and bile
      acids, cholesterol excretion.

PMID- 1458172
TI  - [The effect of GABA-ergic agents on the blood electrolyte balance in acute
      craniocerebral trauma].
AB  - A study was made of the balance of potassium and sodium ions in red blood cells
      and blood plasma of rats with acute craniocerebral injury seen over time. It has
      been established that phenibut (50 mg/kg) and sodium hydroxybutyrate (0.2 g/kg)
      prevent electrolytic changes in blood at different periods of injury. The K+/Na+
      ratio of red blood cells can be used as an objective indicator to characterize
      the time course of changes in craniocerebral injury and to evaluate the
      efficiency of its pharmacological correction.

PMID- 1458173
TI  - [The antihypoxic and radioprotective properties of selective adenosine receptor
      agonists].
AB  - The selective A1- and A2-receptor agonists L-PIA (ED50 = 0.55-0.78 mmole/kg) and
      NEGA (D50 = 0.05-0.1 mmole/kg) possess high antihypoxic and radioprotective
      effects. A2-subtype receptors may be involved in the antihypoxic and
      radioprotective effects of adenosine analogs.

PMID- 1458174
TI  - [The kinetic characteristics of drugs in the presence of perfluorocarbon blood
      substitutes].

PMID- 1458175
TI  - [The mechanisms of the ethomersol correction of postischemic hypoperfusion].
AB  - In rat experiments during brain ischemia (30-min carotid artery occlusion),
      ethomersol administered intraperitoneally in a dose of 50 mg/kg before occlusion
      or at the end of ischemia eliminated postischemic hypoperfusion. The effect of
      the drug was due to its spasmolytic and antiaggregatory activities. An analysis
      of the vasodilating action of ethomersol revealed its capacity to block potential
      dependent calcium channels and partially intracellular calcium mobilization when
      the adrenergic and serotoninergic receptors were activated. The antiaggregatory
      activity of the drug appeared as inhibited platelet aggregation, which was
      induced by ADP, serotonin, arachidonic acid, thrombin, and as enhanced
      antiaggregatory activity of the vascular wall.

PMID- 1458176
TI  - [A comparative evaluation of the cardioprotective and antianginal actions of
      energy-providing agents].
AB  - The limitation of a myocardial necrotic area by some energy-yielding compounds in
      rat coronary occlusion and their capacity to elevate the ischemia threshold in
      conscious rabbits were studied. Sodium malate, ascorbic acid and
      phosphoenolpyruvate were demonstrated to reduce the sizes of necrotic areas and
      increase the ischemia threshold, whereas cytochrome C and fructose-1,6
      diphosphate were effective solely in limiting the infection area. It was
      concluded that the preventive antianginal effect of energy-yielding and electron
      accepting compounds depended on their capacity to accumulate in intact
      cardiomyocytes.

PMID- 1458177
TI  - [The efficacy of hepatoprotectors and cytochrome P-450 inducers in correcting the
      functional activity of the hepatocyte microsomal system in an acute lesion of the
      liver in prepuberty].
AB  - Intragastric CCl4 inhibited the activity of and lowered the levels of the major
      components of the hepatic monoohygenase enzyme system in one-month rats. Benzonal
      was found to be more effective in correcting the impaired monooxygenase enzyme
      system of hepatic cells in immature rats with acute hepatitis than silibor,
      phytin and zyxorin.

PMID- 1458178
TI  - [The effect of hepatoprotectors on the functional activity of rat hepatocyte
      mitochondria in in-vitro and in-vivo systems].
AB  - In in vitro experiments essential, flacumin, and silibor inhibited the
      respiratory activity of isolated mitochondria and failed to affect the
      respiration of hepatocytes in rats at condition 4 by Chance. Essential uncoupled
      mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in the in vitro system. The
      hepatoprotectors used in ethanol-induced abnormality restored the activity of
      mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation of hepatocytes to its level in intact
      animals.

PMID- 1458179
TI  - [The mechanism of action of the bioflavonoid lespeflan and the antihypoxant TB-4
      on nitrogen metabolism in animals with acute kidney failure].
AB  - The changes in the levels of urea and creatinine caused by the new native
      preparation lespeflanum and the antihypoxant TB-4 were studied in animal
      experiments. The agents tested produced a significant hypoazotemic effect in
      acute renal failure. Lespeflanum showed diuretic and natriuretic effects in
      healthy animals, elevated plasma aldosterone levels and decreased hepatic
      arginase activity. There was a normalization of thioldisulfide metabolism in
      patients treated with lespeflanum and TB-4. The hypoazotemic effect of
      lespeflanum was due both to its anabolic and anticatabolic effects. Lespeflanum
      is recommended for wide clinical application to treat patients with chronic renal
      failure.

PMID- 1458180
TI  - [The effect of clofelin on uterine contractile activity (experimental and
      clinical research)].
AB  - Pregnant rat experiments have revealed a pronounced and prolonged naloxone
      irreversible depriming effect of clofelin, 0.05 and 0.5 mg/kg, on the frequency
      and amplitude of myometrial biopotentials, which was eliminated with
      phenoxybenzamine. In clinical testing, clofelin in therapeutical doses showed a
      marked tocolytic effect in threatened abortion at 18-34-week gestation. The agent
      in the same doses normalized blood pressure in hypertensive pregnants, without
      having a negative action on the fetus.

PMID- 1458181
TI  - [The enhanced efficacy of the pharmacological regulation of the processes of
      blood cell activation and interaction in the flow by polymer additives decreasing
      the hydrodynamic resistance of the blood].
AB  - The increase of blood cell auto- and interactivation and the decrease of aspirin
      antiaggregant effect were demonstrated under hemodynamic conditions of a stenotic
      zone in a model maximally approached to the real blood circulation. The lowering
      of platelet activation, of the release of active agents from platelets, and of
      platelet-leukocyte interactivation was attained under the conditions of the flow
      modified by the drag-reducing polymer solution. The recovery of aspirin
      antiaggregant activity and aspirin-induced reduction of the total platelet
      release of platelet- and leukocyte-activating agents were demonstrated under the
      influence of the polymer.

PMID- 1458182
TI  - [The mechanism of the prevention by ethomersol of disorders in erythrocyte
      deformability in cerebral ischemia and recirculation].

PMID- 1458183
TI  - [The antithromboxane activity of alpha- and omega-modified carbocyclic analogs of
      PGH1].
AB  - In in vitro experiments on a model of arachidonate- and thrombin-induced platelet
      aggregation, analogues of PG endoperoxides displayed an antiaggregatory effect or
      stimulated spontaneous platelet aggregation in the whole blood of man and
      rabbits, but a slight antiaggregatory effect in the rabbit intact organism. The
      presence of the hydroxyl group instead of the routine alkyl omega-chain produced
      an antiaggregatory effect due to TxA2 receptor blockade.

PMID- 1458184
TI  - [The action of carnitine-series preparations in experimental alloxan diabetes
      mellitus].
AB  - The study was undertaken to examine the effects of l-carnitine and acetyl-l
      carnitine in rats and mice with experimental alloxan diabetes. The findings
      suggest that acetyl-l-carnitine is more effective against diabetes in increasing
      glucose tolerance, restoring the impaired response of glucagon to glucose,
      showing glycogen-sparing action than is l-carnitine.

PMID- 1458185
TI  - [The possible participation of the GABA metabolic system in the mechanisms of the
      protective action of L-aspartate in hypoxia in an enclosed space].
AB  - L-Aspartate given intradermally in a dose of 100 mg.kg-1 to mice 2-3 minutes
      before placement to a hypoxic chamber was shown to prolong the mean animal
      lifespan by 38% and to delay hypoxic convulsions by 38-40%. The agent was
      ascertained to maintain the higher glutamate decarboxylase (GD) activity and GABA
      levels in the brain during hypoxia and prevent GD activity and GABA levels from
      their drastic diminution when hypoxic convulsions occurred.

PMID- 1458186
TI  - [A comparative study of the activity of antihypoxic agents in hemic hypoxia].
AB  - Amino derivatives of ortho-benzoquinone (OBQ) were demonstrated to have a
      protective action in acute toxic hemic hypoxia induced by sodium nitrite given to
      laboratory animals. This action of OBQ was due to its capacity to activate the
      recovery of blood oxygen transport function by accelerating the restoration of
      methemoglobin and determined by their electron-acceptor properties, lipophilicity
      and NADP-dependent methemoglobin reductase affinity.

PMID- 1458187
TI  - [The pharmacological regulation of inflammation: the current problems and
      developmental outlook].
AB  - The papers summarizes the latest data on the pathogenesis of an inflammation
      reaction, with emphasis on the mechanism of action of antiinflammatory agents,
      including the drug regulation of the arachidonic acid cascade, and on the
      mechanisms of unassociated action on prostaglandins. It also discusses the
      prospects for using the existing antiphlogistics and the main trends in designing
      the new approaches to the pharmacological regulation of inflammation.

PMID- 1458188
TI  - [The influence of modulators of enzyme activity on the pharmacological effect of
      thiopental sodium and ketamine and on the pharmacokinetics of thiopental sodium].
AB  - The rat experiments studied the impact of inductors and inhibitors of enzymatic
      activity of xenobiotic metabolism on the pharmacological activity of sodium
      thiopental and ketamine and on the pharmacokinetics of sodium thiopental.
      Cocarboxylase, cobalt chloride and cimetidine enhanced the pharmacological action
      of sodium thiopental, but failed to exert any action on the effect of ketamine.
      The preparations of vitamin K, particularly vikasol and menadione sodium
      bisulfite, and phenobarbital attenuated the effects of these anesthetics, but
      tocopherol unchanged it. Phenobarbital and vikasol accelerated blood elimination
      of sodium thiopental, whereas cimetidine and cocarboxylase slowed down this
      process.

PMID- 1458189
TI  - [The radioprotective and antioxidant properties of solubilized alpha-tocopherol
      acetate].
AB  - A single intravenous administration of solubilized alpha-tocopherol acetate in a
      dose of 1 mg/kg to CBA x C57Bl x F1 male mice 3 and 24 hours before radiation was
      demonstrated to increase 30-day survival rates in the animals. Oily alpha
      tocopherol acetate had the identical effects when the agent was intramuscularly
      given in a dose of 10 mg/kg. There was a rise in peripheral leukocyte counts 0.5
      hour after solubilized alpha-tocopherol acetate administration. The antioxidative
      activity of the solubilized agent was 3.3 times as high as that the routine agent
      when attacking Tween 80. The higher radioprotective activity of solubilized alpha
      tocopherol acetate is accounted for by its enhanced bioavailability,
      antioxidative activity and effects on the factors of nonspecific body's
      resistance.

PMID- 1458190
TI  - [The interaction of the immune system and the liver mono-oxygenase system].
AB  - The effect of different immunostimulants (prodigiosan, levamisole, T-activin,
      sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate, sodium nucleinate, lithium chloride, muramil
      dipeptide, B-activin) and mixed hepatic function oxidase inhibitors (cimetidine,
      chloramphenicol) or inducers (phenobarbital, flumecinol, rifampicin) on immune
      reactivity (macrophage function, humoral and cellular responses) and hepatic
      microsomal function (hexobarbital sleeping-time) was studied in non-inbred and
      BALB/c male mice. There was a high correlation between the ability of
      immunostimulants to depress hexobarbital metabolism and their ability to enhance
      macrophage activity (carbon clearance test), but not humoral and cellular
      immunity. No reciprocal changes occurred in immune reactivity after positive or
      negative pharmacological modulation of hepatic drug metabolizing enzyme activity.

PMID- 1458191
TI  - [The pharmacological correction of recurrent immediate-type allergic reactions].
AB  - The effect of drugs on the early and late phases of repeated allergic reactions
      (RAR) was studied in experiments on rabbits. The action of the drugs was
      estimated by the number of challenge doses of antigen, endured by survived and
      dead rabbits, percentage of the animals' death, and by the place of each group on
      the lethality scale. Diphenhydramine, ouabain and their combinations, silver
      nitrate (20 mg/kg) and DOCA enhanced whereas histamine, unithiol, cholesterol,
      and silver nitrate (20 and 0.2 mg/kg) decreased allergization in the period of
      RAR. The characteristic features of the action of the drugs on RAR were revealed
      and compared to the first allergic reaction. Qualitative and quantitative
      differences were shown in the action of different drug doses and combinations on
      RAR. The authors provide evidence for the possibility of treating allergic
      diseases by drug administration in a quiet period.

PMID- 1458192
TI  - [The inhibiting effect of 8-Cl-adenosine-3',5'-cyclophosphate on the growth of
      melanoma B-16 in mice].
AB  - A site-selective analogue of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate 8-chloro
      adenosine-3',5'-cyclophosphate was studied for its effects on the growth of
      transplanted murine melanoma B-16. When the agent was given to the mice, a
      substantial effect on the growth of the tumor was produced by a number of
      factors, which included the route of administration, concentration of the agent,
      the time and duration of therapy. Intraperitoneal injections of the agent in a
      dose of 20 mg/kg/day which were made during three consecutive days, beginning
      from day 5 after tumor transplantation caused a 58% decrease in tumor growth as
      compared to the controls. An examination of tumour biopsy specimen revealed that
      after a course of the injections there was a significant suppression of the
      activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, type I, and a drastic increase in that
      of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, type II.

PMID- 1458193
TI  - [The polymorphism of pachycarpine oxidation].
AB  - The ratio of urinary excretory pachycarpine to its oxidized metabolites, 2- and 5
      dehydropachycarpines (metabolic ratio) was determined in a selective group of 81
      unrelated cardiac patients from a Moscow Caucasian population given pachycarpine
      in a dose of 25 g. The metabolic ratio distribution was shown to be bimodal.
      Ninety five per cent of the patients had the metabolic ratio lower than 28 while
      4 (5%) patients higher than 70. In 25 patients of the group, the pachycarpine
      metabolic ratio was evaluated after quinidine, 50 mg. Twenty-two patients with a
      relatively low metabolic ratio showed a dramatic (several times) increase, while
      in 3 patients with the prior metabolic ratio higher than 70, the effect of
      quinidine was insignificant. The findings suggest that pachycarpine oxidation is
      genetically polymorphic and similar to the polymorphism of sparteine/debrisoquine
      oxidation. Pachycarpine may be used as a marker in phenotyping the population.

PMID- 1458194
TI  - [The role of ketone bodies in the development of postalcoholic-intoxication heart
      damage in rats].
AB  - Experiments on rats subjected to forced alcoholization for 5.5 days were made to
      measure the content of ethanol, acetaldehyde and ketone bodies in the blood
      during intoxication and 2 days after ethanol withdrawal and to estimate the
      intensity of postintoxication disorders in heart activity on the third day after
      alcoholization withdrawal. A positive correlation was discovered between
      depression of left ventricular contractility and the blood content of
      acetaldehyde and ketone bodies. The magnitude of the threshold of heart
      fibrillation did not correlate well with the concentration of ethanol during
      alcoholization. However, it agreed well with ethanol concentration in the
      postintoxication period. Additional administration to the animals of beta
      hydroxybutyrate or caprylic acid in the postintoxication period intensified heart
      contractility depression. The conclusion is drawn that elimination of ketosis in
      ethanol withdrawal as well as a progressive taking out of alcoholic patients from
      dipsomania can prevent the development or attenuate the intensity of
      postintoxication heart injury.

PMID- 1458195
TI  - [A morphological assessment of the efficacy of benzofurocaine in experimental
      burns].
AB  - Studies of the effect of benzophurocaine on the morphological structure of the
      skin and viscera in animals with burn disease have shown the drug to have a
      protective action. The latter one manifested itself in a considerable reduction
      of injuries to the viscera and in a more rapid recovery of the disordered
      structure and function.

PMID- 1458196
TI  - [A comparative pharmacological evaluation of sea buckthorn, rose and plantain
      oils in experimental eye burns].
AB  - Hippophae, Rosa and plantain oils have been shown to produce and essential
      therapeutic action on chemical burns of rabbit eye. The effect was attained in
      the phases of trophic disturbances and epithelialization.

PMID- 1458197
TI  - [The chronobiological approach--a way to enhance the efficacy of pharmacotherapy
      in neurology and psychiatry].

PMID- 1458198
TI  - [Dimethyl sulfoxide in experimental and clinical medicine. The achievements and
      prospects].

PMID- 1458199
TI  - [The choice of the preparation in the drug therapy of arrhythmias].

PMID- 1458200
TI  - Ultrasonic study of processed milk cream and vegetable oils.
AB  - Food systems are complex and inhomogeneous in nature. Ultrasonic propagation
      velocity in the food systems, in this case processed milk cream and vegetable
      oils, is studied. Ultrasonic properties of the food systems are similar to those
      of complex biological tissues. The presence of vegetable oil as an adulterant in
      the processed milk cream is detected with the help of a double-probe-through
      transmission ultrasonic technique. The present study helps to maintain quality
      control of various food systems, particularly with regard to their adulteration,
      if any.

PMID- 1458201
TI  - High frequency pressure propagation in viscoelastic tubes: a new experimental
      approach.
AB  - A new method for estimating the high-frequency characteristics of wave
      propagation (phase velocity and attenuation per wavelength) in hydraulic lines is
      presented in this work. It consists of measuring the ratio of pressure amplitudes
      at two distinct sections of an occluded tube at different frequencies, and
      minimizing the difference between the experimental pattern and the theoretical
      one predicted on the basis of the transmission line theory. In this work the
      method is used for estimating the high frequency propagation characteristics of
      two different latex tubes. The values obtained are then compared with those
      provided by the more traditional three-point pressure method. The results of our
      trials demonstrate that the new method furnishes reliable estimations of the
      asymptotic values of phase velocity and attenuation per wavelength, provided the
      frequencies used during the experiment are sufficiently high. Moreover, the
      method turns out quite robust as to the influence of noise and possible
      measurement errors. For this reason it seems particularly suitable for studying
      wave propagation under difficult experimental conditions, such as those met with
      when measurements are performed on blood vessels in vivo. Finally, some
      discrepancies between our experimental results and the predictions of the
      transmission line theory are pointed out, and their possible origin examined.

PMID- 1458202
TI  - A study of fracture and inelastic behavior of bioactive glass-ceramics and
      glasses.
AB  - The fracture and inelastic behavior of A-W glass-ceramics, phosphate glasses,
      silicate glasses, and borate glasses were determined in simulated body fluid
      (SBF), kerosene, and water. By using the stable crack growth technique, an
      inelastic behavior was observed on the diagram of load versus load-point
      displacement. From these studies, it was suggested that the inelastic behavior of
      bioactive glass-ceramics was produced by the plastic deformation of glassy phase
      on the grain boundary.

PMID- 1458203
TI  - Computer simulation on creep of amalgam in Class I cavity.
AB  - The creep behavior of amalgam in Class I cavity was simulated by an axi-symmetric
      elastic creep finite element method. In this procedure, the stress and time
      dependencies of the creep strain of amalgam were incorporated. Exponents of
      stress and time dependencies were postulated as 2.0 and 1.0, respectively.
      Amalgam with 1.0% of creep value (tested by American Dental Association
      Specification No. 1) were selected for the material to calculate. Simulation was
      conducted for the occlusal force of 40, 100, and 150 N, respectively, on the caps
      of enamel and vertical direction to the axis of the tooth. Results show that
      creep strain of amalgam in the cavity did not increase linearly with time because
      the amalgam deformed to become stress-free and creep rate was a function of the
      stress. It was concluded that elastic deformation of the crown with no filling
      material in its cavity is an important factor in determining the creep strain and
      the gap between the cavity and the restorative material.

PMID- 1458204
TI  - Literature survey on biomedical applications of thermography.
AB  - Thermography is a noninvasive technique through which temperatures are monitored
      and recorded, thereby allowing visualization of heat flow. There are three types
      of thermography: liquid crystal thermography (LCT), infrared thermography (IRT)
      and microwave thermography (MWT). This paper presents a survey of the literature
      pertinent to the biomedical applications of these types of thermography. The
      noninvasive and high resolution characteristics of the thermographic systems make
      them valuable diagnostic as well as therapeutic aids. Typical research areas
      include detection of blood flow, diagnosis of joint inflammation and cancer,
      thermal modeling of various body parts, and use in reproductive problems. The
      survey discloses that thermography has found applications in various fields in
      medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry.

PMID- 1458205
TI  - Comparison of the electrochemical properties of various orthopedic porous metals.
AB  - The electrochemical properties of various porous metal coatings used in
      reconstructive orthopedic prosthetics were examined. Potentiodynamic corrosion
      testing was used to evaluate the behavior of the following porous metals; CSTi on
      Cast CoCr, CSTi on Ti-6Al-4V, CoCr beads on Cast CoCr, CoCr beads on Ti-6Al-4V,
      CP Ti beads on Cast CoCr, and CP Ti beads on Ti-6Al-4V. Analysis of the resultant
      corrosion scans showed that these materials behave similarly to one another. No
      corrosion-related anomalies were noted.

PMID- 1458206
TI  - Flexibilized gelatin film-based artificial skin model: I. Preparation and
      properties of the films.
AB  - A method was developed to prepare a simple, flexibilized gelatin film-based
      artificial skin model. The films are tough, adhere to open wounds spontaneously,
      are permeable to body fluids, and can release incorporated bioactive compounds
      over 4-5 days.

PMID- 1458207
TI  - Flexibilized gelatin film-based artificial skin model: II. Release kinetics of
      incorporated bioactive molecules.
AB  - Any delivery system for bioactive molecules should have the ability to release
      the compound in question in a reproducible and predictable way over a certain
      period. For artificial skin models that are designed to enhance healing by the
      use of growth factors, this requirement poses another problem: the design of a
      delivery method that can provide a realistic assessment of the release kinetics.
      This means that the design should "mimic" conditions encountered in an open
      wound, i.e., only a certain part of the film can face the wound, from which it
      can absorb wound fluid that will dissolve the incorporated bioactive molecule and
      bring it to the open wound. Such a system has been developed and the release of
      125I-labelled insulin, incorporated into flexibilized gelatin films, has been
      determined. The details of this study follow.

PMID- 1458208
TI  - An experimental study on biomechanical properties of hepatic tissue using a new
      measuring method.
AB  - Hepatic tissue is an important internal organ for life. In this paper, we
      combined the moire method (an optical method) and indentation technique to
      investigate biomechanical response of hepatic tissue. To examine this measuring
      technique, we first measured the biomechanical properties of the block of pig's
      hepatic tissue using this method. The experimental result indicated that the
      pig's hepatic tissue was obviously a viscoelastic material. We closely analyzed
      the change of curves for force relaxation, creep, and nonlinear deformation of
      the block of pig's liver. Meanwhile, we also compared the changes in the
      biomechanical parameters of normal and cirrhosis hepatic tissue of humans.

PMID- 1458209
TI  - Sonomicrometric studies on the effects of long-term pumping of cardiac assist
      device on the bulk and regional mechanics of the normal left ventricle in goat.
AB  - Pneumatically driven, diaphragm type left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) were
      implanted into 2 goats with normal hearts for approximately 1 month to study the
      effects of long-term pumping of LVAD on the cardiac mechanics. One sham-operated
      goat was used to obtain control data. Diameters and myocardial segment lengths of
      the left ventricle were measured with an ultrasonic displacement meter to
      calculate the bulk mechanical work (BMW) and regional myocardial mechanical work
      (RMW), respectively. The LVAD was pumped in the 2:1 drive mode (one
      counterpulsated pumping in every two cardiac cycles), and was temporarily driven
      in the 1:1 mode (one pumping in every cardiac cycle) or stopped to obtain the
      data under these conditions. During the second half of the post-operative period
      while the animal condition was stable, the BMW in the 2:1 and 1:1 modes were
      approximately 59% and 72% of that observed under the temporary pump-off condition
      (0.22 W/(100 g)), respectively. The RMW in the 2:1 and 1:1 modes were 69% and 74%
      of that obtained during pump-off (6.2 mW/cm3), respectively. The myocyte diameter
      in the subendocardial layer was reduced by unloading effect of 1-month pumping,
      whereas those in middle and subepicardial layer showed little change.

PMID- 1458210
TI  - Wave propagation in the silicon tube: comparison of the two-point and three-point
      pressure methods.
AB  - The values of the propagation coefficient measured on a silicon rubber tube in
      the frequency range 1-15 Hz were compared, using four different equations. The
      first formula is based on three simultaneous pressure measurements performed at
      equidistant points; the remaining three equations are original, and make use of
      only two of the three pressure measurements together with a no-flow condition at
      the terminal tube section. The results of our trials demonstrate that the
      experimental phase velocity, obtained with all equations, settles at a value
      about 25% in excess of the theoretical one computed with a classic linear
      mathematical model. This result may be explained by an increase in the dynamical
      Young modulus with respect to that measured in static conditions. However, the
      three-point method introduces great errors in the results in the frequency range
      11-14 Hz where the spectrum of the second signal becomes minimum. In all cases,
      the experimental value of attenuation per wavelength at mid-high frequencies is
      greater than the theoretical one valid for a purely elastic tube. The attenuation
      values obtained with the two-point method can be explained by introducing a small
      contribution of wall viscoelasticity (2-3 degrees) into the linear model.
      Attenuation per wavelength computed with the three-point methods turns out about
      threefold that computed with each of the two-point formulas. This result supports
      the idea that the accuracy of the three-point method may be insufficient to
      achieve correct estimation of wave attenuation, especially when the distance
      between transducers is small compared to wavelength.

PMID- 1458211
TI  - Greater incidence of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy in black
      men than in white men in Evans County, Georgia.
AB  - Population-based studies of black populations in the United States and Puerto
      Rico have reported higher prevalences of electrocardiographic left ventricular
      hypertrophy compared to white or lighter-skinned populations residing in the same
      areas. This study examines the incidence and correlates of electrocardiographic
      left ventricular hypertrophy in a population-based, biracial cohort of 435 white
      and 163 black men from the Evans County, Georgia, Heart Study, who were examined
      at entry in 1960 and reexamined in 1967. Only men over 35 years of age who were
      free of cardiovascular disease and had normal electrocardiograms at entry were
      eligible. Black men had a nearly fourfold greater incidence of
      electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy compared to white men (13.5% vs
      3.7%, respectively; incidence ratio 3.7; 95% CI 3.2-4.4). After statistically
      adjusting for age, systolic blood pressure, weight, and the change in weight and
      blood pressure, black men had a threefold greater incidence of
      electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy compared to white men (logistic
      odds ratio 3.0; 95% CI 1.6-6.1). In summary, black men showed a significantly
      greater risk of developing electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy at 7
      year follow-up in Evans County compared to their white counterparts. This
      elevated risk could not be explained by the independent or joint effects of risks
      factors for electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy.

PMID- 1458212
TI  - Differences in neonatal mortality by race, income, and prenatal care.
AB  - To determine the extent to which the social and physical environment affects the
      association between prenatal care and black pregnancy outcome in Chicago, we
      performed a stratified analysis of 1982-1983 Illinois vital records and 1980
      United States census income data. Median family income of the mother's census
      tract was used as the ecologic variable. In very-low-income census tracts (less
      than $10,000 per year), 40% of blacks and 47% of whites received adequate
      prenatal care. There was no racial disparity in the percentage of low-birth
      weight infants attributed to inadequate prenatal care among poor mothers. For
      mothers who resided in moderate-income areas ($20,001 to $30,000 per year), 50%
      of blacks and 67% of whites received adequate prenatal care. Although adequate
      (compared to inadequate) prenatal care was associated with improved birthweight
      distribution independent of community income, only in moderate-income areas was
      it related to black neonatal survival. For term black infants who received
      adequate prenatal care, residence in impoverished areas was associated with a
      nearly fourfold greater neonatal mortality rate (deaths per 1000 live births):
      5/1000 vs 1/1000; RR = 3.8 (1.3-11.0). We conclude that place of residence is an
      important risk factor for black neonatal mortality.

PMID- 1458213
TI  - Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and thromboxane A2/prostacyclin in
      normotensive and hypertensive black Zimbabweans.
AB  - Fourteen normotensive and 14 hypertensive black men with mild essential low-renin
      hypertension were examined during two protocols producing sodium depletion (less
      than 40 mmol sodium diet per day) for 5 days, followed by sodium loading (300
      mmol sodium diet per day) for another 5 days. Changes in plasma renin activity,
      urinary aldosterone excretion, and excretion rates of stable breakdown products
      of thromboxane A2 (thromboxane B2) and prostacyclin (6-keto PGF1 alpha) were
      simultaneously assessed by radioimmunoassay. On the basis of low-renin status and
      paradoxically normal aldosterone excretion in both normotensives and
      hypertensives, thromboxane B2 excretion was increased by 14% (not significant); 6
      keto PGF1 alpha was significantly decreased by 47% in the hypertensives compared
      to the normotensives. As a result, thromboxane B2/6-keto PGF1 alpha ratio was
      significantly increased from 1.29 +/- 0.10 in the normotensives to 2.78 +/- 0.12
      in the hypertensive patients. The same ratio increased significantly after sodium
      loading in both groups, but more distinctly in the hypertensives (40%).
      Prostacyclin is a vasodilator, a natriuretic, and a potent inhibitor of platelet
      aggregation. Thromboxane A2 has opposite effects. The impaired prostacyclin
      biosynthesis we found in the hypertensive patients could account for the
      increased vascular resistance and some complications typical for hypertensive
      state.

PMID- 1458214
TI  - Distributions of hemostatic variables in blacks and whites: population reference
      values from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.
AB  - The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study measured hemostatic variables in
      nearly 16,000 men and women, aged 45 to 64 years, from four US communities. This
      report, based on the first 12,681 participants, presents distributions of
      fibrinogen concentration, factor VII activity, factor VIII activity, von
      Willebrand factor antigen, protein C antigen, antithrombin III activity, and
      activated partial thromboplastin time. Many of the hemostatic variables differed
      between blacks and whites, and by sex and age. For example, compared to whites,
      blacks had higher mean values of fibrinogen, factor VIII, von Willebrand factor,
      and antithrombin III, and lower mean values of protein C. Some seasonal
      fluctuations in hemostatic variables were noted; most notably, mean values of
      factor VII were lowest and protein C were highest in subjects examined in the
      summer compared to those examined during the other seasons. These results provide
      population-based reference values on blacks and whites for those interested in
      the relation of hemostasis to disease.

PMID- 1458215
TI  - Race, stage of disease, and survival with cervical cancer.
AB  - Significant disparities in survival with cervical cancer were observed according
      to social and disease characteristics of 3711 patients from Connecticut from 1984
      through 1988. Women with advanced disease were 25 times more likely to die during
      a 4-year follow-up than those diagnosed with carcinoma in situ. Elevated risk of
      death was also noted for blacks (OR = 1.73; 95% CI = 1.2-2.5) and for women
      diagnosed after the age of 52 years (OR = 33.4; 95% CI = 16.5-69.9). Persons
      living in census tracts with large proportions of high school graduates or with
      high median incomes experienced decreased risk (OR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.45-0.98 and
      OR = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.44-0.95, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression
      analysis found the effects of stage of disease on vital status to be reduced by
      approximately 50% when adjusted for other factors, reflecting the sizable effect
      of a woman's background on those variables. Nonwhite and older women were at
      significantly greater risk of being diagnosed with invasive disease.

PMID- 1458216
TI  - Blood pressure in the South Pacific: the impact of social change.

PMID- 1458217
TI  - Ethnic variations in the chronic pain experience.
AB  - Although ethnic identity has been found to have an important influence on
      experimental and acute pain intensity and response, little work has been directed
      to understanding how ethnicity affects the chronic pain experience. We report the
      results of a quantitative study of 372 chronic pain patients, in six ethnic
      groups, who were under treatment at a multidisciplinary pain management center in
      New England. The study used questionnaires and standardized instruments for
      assessing pain intensity to determine whether ethnic background was significantly
      related to interethnic or intraethnic group variation in pain intensity and
      response when other significant medical, sociodemographic, and psychological
      variables were controlled. In this study population, the most frequent
      statistically significant intergroup differences in pain intensity and in
      behavioral, psychological, and attitudinal responses to pain are related to
      differences in ethnic identity and psychological coping style according to locus
      of control. In addition, in this population, ethnic identity is a predictor of
      locus-of-control coping style. The major statistically significant intragroup
      differences in pain intensity and response are related to differences in
      generation, degree of heritage consistency, and locus-of-control style. We
      suggest that treatment programs for multiethnic populations should include a
      thorough cultural assessment and that providers need to be aware of the potential
      effect of ethnic background on chronic pain patients' communications, concerns,
      and coping styles related to the chronic pain experience.

PMID- 1458218
TI  - Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy: what do we measure?

PMID- 1458219
TI  - The effect of ethnic origin on the rate of spontaneous late mid-trimester
      abortion.
AB  - The effect of ethnic origin on perinatal outcome is well recognized. An effect on
      the rate of spontaneous abortion has not been previously documented, to our
      knowledge. We report the results of a retrospective survey of late mid-trimester
      abortions (20 to 26 weeks gestation) at Dudley Road Hospital, Birmingham,
      England. The aims of the study were to document the rate of spontaneous late mid
      trimester abortion by ethnic origin and to define any differences in these
      groups, both medically and as a result of histological examination of the
      abortus, that might account for observed differences. Over an 18-month period,
      during which 6508 infants beyond 26 weeks gestation were delivered, 30 late mid
      trimester spontaneous abortions occurred (13 black, 10 white, 7 Asian). Abortion
      rates per 1000 deliveries were 12.9 for blacks, 3.6 for whites, and 2.7 for
      Asians. The differences between ethnic groups were statistically significant (chi
      2 = 17.4; P = .0002). The black women experiencing spontaneous mid-trimester
      abortion were of higher mean parity and were more likely to have undergone a
      previous therapeutic termination. Review of pathology reports revealed more cases
      of chorioamnionitis and fetal pneumonia in this group. Although these results
      should be interpreted with caution, a relationship clearly exists between ethnic
      origin and late mid-trimester loss. Further study is warranted to establish the
      cause.

PMID- 1458221
TI  - The impact of molecular biology on the diagnosis and treatment of hemoglobin
      disorders.

PMID- 1458220
TI  - Primary health care in Senegal: lessons learned.

PMID- 1458222
TI  - The molecular genetics of Down syndrome.
AB  - Major advances have occurred in the understanding of the genetics of DS since the
      discovery a little more than 30 years ago that it resulted from an extra copy of
      HSA-21. It has been learned that only a small region of HSA-21 is required in
      triplicate to produce at least some of the DS phenotype. Future work will clarify
      which regions are responsible for particular phenotypes of interest. The
      mechanisms by which extra genetic material leads to phenotypic abnormalities in
      DS and other aneuploidies appear to be complex. Although gene dosage effects are
      operative for many loci, they do not appear to be strictly operative for all
      genes. A more thorough understanding of the effects of aneuploidy on gene
      expression is needed. To understand adequately the mechanisms by which extra
      genetic material leads to particular phenotypic features will require the use of
      animal models. The trisomy 16 mouse, as well as new transgenic and partial
      trisomic mouse lines currently being developed, may be of particular help in this
      endeavor.

PMID- 1458223
TI  - Mammalian X chromosome inactivation.

PMID- 1458224
TI  - Molecular analysis of mutation in the human gene for hypoxanthine
      phosphoribosyltransferase.

PMID- 1458225
TI  - Regulatory genes of human immunodeficiency viruses.

PMID- 1458226
TI  - The fragile X syndrome.

PMID- 1458227
TI  - Quality improvement: evolution or revolution.

PMID- 1458228
TI  - Indicators: will yours pass a survey?

PMID- 1458229
TI  - Our hospital uses a point system for medication errors.

PMID- 1458230
TI  - Monitoring readmissions to ICU.

PMID- 1458231
TI  - Visual techniques to report data.

PMID- 1458232
TI  - Three data sources beyond the chart.

PMID- 1458233
TI  - Prioritizing aspects of care.

PMID- 1458234
TI  - Using the PDCA cycle.

PMID- 1458235
TI  - Quality education: the Beloit Memorial Hospital experience.

PMID- 1458236
TI  - Groups: chaos or collaboration?

PMID- 1458237
TI  - Moving toward 1994--Part 2: Techniques of QI.

PMID- 1458238
TI  - Communicating quality information.

PMID- 1458239
TI  - Cause-and-effect diagrams.

PMID- 1458241
TI  - Making fun a part of quality.

PMID- 1458240
TI  - Employee involvement in the health care industry.

PMID- 1458242
TI  - Difficulties with the 10 steps.

PMID- 1458243
TI  - Promoting the development of hospitalized children.

PMID- 1458244
TI  - Action-oriented report forms.

PMID- 1458245
TI  - Shouldn't we punish personnel after repeated medication errors?

PMID- 1458246
TI  - Spreadsheets.

PMID- 1458247
TI  - Preoperative evaluation of the patient for regional anesthesia.
AB  - The preoperative evaluation of the surgical patient is important for optimizing
      the anesthetic management. The evaluation process for the regional anesthesia
      candidate is reviewed. Patient selection, a review of organ systems, and the
      impact of medications and selected diseases are also discussed.

PMID- 1458248
TI  - Current regional anesthesia techniques of the brachial plexus: 1992.

PMID- 1458249
TI  - Complications of continuous spinal anesthesia.
AB  - The increased use of continuous spinal anesthesia (CSA) in recent years has
      resulted in research efforts directed at reducing the complications associated
      with the technique. Complications of CSA are categorized as general, the same as
      those associated with single-shot spinal anesthesia, and specific, those
      associated solely with CSA. General complications include infection, backache,
      hematoma, and neurological sequelae. Specific complications are all related to
      catheter use. The risk of developing the neurological complication of postdural
      puncture headache (PDPH) led to the use of microcatheters designed specifically
      for CSA. While the incidence of PDPH decreased with the use of microcatheters,
      the risk of developing the more serious complication of cauda equina syndrome
      increased, resulting in a Safety Alert being issued by the Food and Drug
      Administration.

PMID- 1458250
TI  - Epidural blockade: a multifaceted anesthesia tool.
AB  - The search for an optimal analgesic and route of administration continues. The
      development of the epidural route of administration of local anesthetic solutions
      and opioids approaches this ideal. In this article, the author details why
      epidural blockade is a multifaceted anesthetic technique useful in obstetrics,
      surgery, and pain therapy.

PMID- 1458251
TI  - Beneficial effects of the combined techniques of caudal and general anesthesia in
      the pediatric patient: two case reports.
AB  - The practice of combining a caudal anesthetic with a general anesthetic is
      frequently used in the management of pediatric patients. The principal advantage
      is improved postoperative pain management. Additionally, the perioperative
      reduction of inhalation agents as well as narcotic and non-narcotic analgesics
      provides a faster, more pleasant recovery from anesthesia that may result in a
      shorter hospital stay. The addition of caudally administered narcotics provides
      superior postoperative pain management in the pediatric patient requiring
      prolonged hospitalization. This article examines this combined technique in two
      pediatric patients: one, an ambulatory patient, the second, a patient requiring a
      postoperative intensive care admission.

PMID- 1458252
TI  - Use of the peripheral nerve stimulator and standard, unsheathed needles in
      performing regional nerve blocks.
AB  - Although the use of peripheral nerve stimulators and unsheathed needles in
      performing nerve blocks has been previously described, there has been a growing
      emphasis on the use of specific, expensive equipment to ensure success. The
      availability of equipment designed for use in peripheral nerve blocks, insulated
      needles and nerve stimulators, will help promote the use of these techniques, but
      the expense of purchasing this specialized equipment may contribute to a decline
      in performance of certain types of blocks. This article reviews the use of
      standard equipment, available in most anesthesia departments, for performing
      peripheral nerve blocks successfully.

PMID- 1458253
TI  - Sedation and analgesia techniques for regional anesthesia.
AB  - The use of adjuvant drugs for regional anesthesia may be indicated for a variety
      of reasons. Some general patient considerations, indications for the commonly
      used sedatives and analgesics, and administration techniques for these agents for
      patients having regional anesthesia are discussed.

PMID- 1458254
TI  - An interesting postanesthesia case was presented.

PMID- 1458255
TI  - Anesthetic drug interactions.

PMID- 1458256
TI  - [Epidemiology of endemic non-venereal treponematoses].
AB  - The occurring resurgence of endemic treponematoses warrant the renewal of WHO
      mass campaigns. These various infections, pinta, yaws, bejel and endemic
      syphilis, are due to a treponema apparently identical to the venereal syphilis
      one. These different treponematoses do act upon epidemiology of venereal
      syphilis. The recent outbreak of treponematoses justify the current researches in
      the development of a treponemal vaccine.

PMID- 1458257
TI  - Elucidation of kidney function by micropuncture: an historical perspective.
AB  - An understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of kidney function awaited the
      advent of micropuncture techniques. The initial micropuncture study by Wearn and
      Richards in 1924 presented the first direct evidence that the initial step in
      urine formation was the process of ultrafiltration at the glomerulus and that
      certain solutes were reabsorbed in the renal tubules. Subsequent micropuncture
      studies and the development by Burg and colleagues for in vitro perfusion of
      surviving tubular segments have provided an enormous amount of information about
      glomerular function and the transport characteristics of all nephron segments in
      the normal and diseased kidney.

PMID- 1458258
TI  - [Importance of diets and their effect on fetal development: function and
      structure of the endocrine pancreas following protein deficiency during
      intrauterine life].
AB  - When an isocaloric low protein diet (8% versus 20%) is administrated to rats
      during gestation, the fetus or the neonate has a lower body weight and the
      structure and function of the endocrine pancreas is altered: islet cell
      proliferation, islet size and islet vascularisation are reduced when compared
      with a control group. If these fetal islets are cultured during 7 days in vitro,
      they secrete less insulin than normal islets in response to an AA challenge. When
      these newborns are fed with a low protein diet until adult age and analyzed at 70
      days, the same alterations of the endocrine pancreas persist: the in vitro
      insulin secretion of the isolated islets in response to AA is dramatically
      depressed although their response to glucose is normal. However in vivo glucose
      and insulin levels in response to oral glucose challenge are abnormal. In
      addition, permanent functional alterations seem to persist when induced in utero.
      A normal diet (20% protein) given from birth to adulthood does not restore a
      normal insulin response in vivo to an oral glucose challenge.

PMID- 1458259
TI  - [Report of the joint Commission of the Royal Academy of Medicine on the analysis
      of publications concerning the study of homeopathic preparations aimed at
      immunotherapeutic treatment of AIDS and cancer].

PMID- 1458260
TI  - [Epistemological observations on the placebo].

PMID- 1458261
TI  - [Refractory diarrhea in infants: experimental basis of current therapeutic
      perspectives].
AB  - Intractable diarrhoea is a severe condition of early infancy producing prolonged
      food intolerance, massive watery diarrhoea and malnutrition. Although the
      etiology remains unknown in more than half of the cases, a basic
      physiopathological mechanism appears to be a variable inhibition of the
      maturation and differentiation of the crypt cell resulting in immature villus
      cells. Among the known nutritional and hormonal factors that control maturation
      of the enterocytes, polyamines (spermine, spermidine) emerge as the most trophic
      substances potentially useful for humans. Clinical studies are warranted to
      determine whether semi-elemental diets enriched in polyamines would provide some
      benefit for patients with intractable diarrhoea or with an adapted bowel after
      extensive enterectomy.

PMID- 1458262
TI  - [Cataract surgery: past, present and future].

PMID- 1458263
TI  - New developments in bacterial arthritis.

PMID- 1458264
TI  - Genetics and osteoarthritis.

PMID- 1458265
TI  - Rheumatoid arthritis and depression: an overview.
AB  - Clearly, the determinants of depression in RA are complex and multifaceted. As
      with the disease itself, there is no simple cure for the depression that often
      accompanies it. Knowledge in this area is growing rapidly, however. Increasingly
      effective interventions are being developed to help those having difficulty
      adjusting to RA. As our understanding of the determinants of depression in RA
      increases, these therapies will continue to evolve. Ultimately, they may provide
      the long-term benefits desired by clinicians and patients alike.

PMID- 1458266
TI  - Early mortality in RA predicted by poor clinical status.

PMID- 1458267
TI  - Influencing mortality outcomes in RA.

PMID- 1458268
TI  - Exercise and osteoarthritis.

PMID- 1458270
TI  - The neglected male.

PMID- 1458269
TI  - Surgical enabling works.

PMID- 1458271
TI  - Dentistry in the community: the future.

PMID- 1458272
TI  - Clinical monitoring of neuromuscular function.
AB  - With the advent of shorter-acting non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs,
      the use of nerve stimulation as a means of monitoring the neuromuscular junction
      has become more widespread. This article describes the patterns of nerve
      stimulation and modes of monitoring muscular response in current clinical use.
      These patterns and modes are compared and their clinical relevance is discussed.

PMID- 1458273
TI  - Surgical management of Graves' ophthalmopathy.
AB  - While most patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy have minor or largely cosmetic
      problems, severe ocular morbidity can occur and lead to blindness or eye loss. In
      this article the role of surgery in the management of Graves' ophthalmopathy is
      reviewed.

PMID- 1458274
TI  - Illness and insight.
AB  - The term insight, when applied to illness, encompasses a patient's awareness and
      the personal significance of his/her disease, and the need for treatment. Insight
      is shaped by cultural, psychological and neurological factors. It affects
      attitudes to compliance and screening, levels of distress and may influence
      prognosis.

PMID- 1458275
TI  - Computers in respiratory medicine.
AB  - Information ranging from patient symptoms to bed state is essential for the
      efficient functioning of clinical services. Computers have a central role in
      organizing this information and this review illustrates the impact of their
      introduction on clinical hospital departments.

PMID- 1458276
TI  - Management of pregnancy in women with HIV infection.
AB  - HIV infection is a common medical problem in pregnancy in many parts of the
      world. Management involves supportive multiagency care, easy and effective
      communication, an awareness and understanding of other issues (which may be more
      important to the mother than her HIV infection), and specialists with both
      experience and an up-do-date knowledge base.

PMID- 1458277
TI  - How to prepare for your foreign fellow.
AB  - Visiting fellows on a 1-year sabbatical can take months to settle in and organize
      their personal lives. Some forward planning, a general information pack
      containing useful addresses and an introduction to relevant people can speed
      their integration.

PMID- 1458278
TI  - Repeated ventilatory arrest: consider tracheal tumours.

PMID- 1458279
TI  - How to titillate the parts that other videos cannot reach.

PMID- 1458280
TI  - Caution advised when changing to new therapies.

PMID- 1458281
TI  - French medical training: a comparison with the UK.

PMID- 1458282
TI  - Proceedings of the British Pharmacological Society Meeting. 9-11 September 1992.
      Abstracts.

PMID- 1458283
TI  - Provisional guidelines for measuring disease activity in clinical trials on
      rheumatoid arthritis.

PMID- 1458284
TI  - Performing arts medicine.

PMID- 1458285
TI  - Arthritis and rheumatism council fellowships.

PMID- 1458286
TI  - Localization of interleukin-1 alpha, type 1 interleukin-1 receptor and
      interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in the synovial membrane and cartilage/pannus
      junction in rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - Using monoclonal antibodies and immunohistochemical techniques we have
      investigated the presence and distribution of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha),
      type 1 IL-1 receptor (IL-1R1) and of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra)
      in synovial tissue from 18 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and eight osteoarthritis
      (OA) patients and in eight normal synovial tissue samples. IL-1 alpha and IL-1R1
      were found in all of the samples examined. In RA, there were a large number of
      synovial cells expressing IL-1 alpha and IL-1R1, with 85 and 90% positive cells
      in the lining layer, 45 and 80% in the interaggregate area, and 90% of the
      vascular endothelial cells. In the lymphoid aggregates, 20% of the cells
      contained IL-1 alpha and 70% expressed IL-1R1. IL-1 alpha and IL-1R1 expressing
      cells showed a similar distribution in OA synovial membrane, but there was a
      smaller number of positive cells in the deeper area; and the staining intensity
      was lower. In contrast to IL-1 alpha and IL-1R1, IL-1ra was found only in 10/18
      RA, 5/8 OA and 2/8 normal tissue samples. IL-1ra was detected in 35% of RA and
      45% OA lining layer cells; 25% RA and 35% OA vascular endothelium; 10% RA and 15%
      OA interstitial cells and 30% cells in RA lymphoid aggregate. The staining
      intensity in both RA and OA tissues was comparably low. The presence of IL-1ra in
      RA and OA tissues was confirmed by Northern blot analysis for IL-1ra
      mRNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1458287
TI  - Clinical manifestations and anti-(U1)snRNP antibodies: a prospective study of 29
      anti-RNP antibody positive patients.
AB  - Twenty-nine anti-RNP positive patients were followed prospectively with a mean
      observation time of 65 months (29-120 months). The clinical course was correlated
      to the presence of IgM and IgG anti-(U1)snRNP antibodies as revealed by
      immunoblotting from sequentially obtained sera. There was a striking dissociation
      between the fluctuating course, with the appearance of new manifestations
      followed by remissions, and the stability of the anti-snRNP antibody
      specificities where an appearance or a disappearance of anti-snRNP specificities
      was a rare phenomenon. The main epitope recognized by the IgG antibodies was the
      70 kDa protein and of the IgM antibodies the B/B' proteins. No shift from the IgM
      to the IgG isotype was observed. The presence of IgG anti-70 kDa and IgM anti
      B/B' antibodies was highly associated with presence of arthralgias, Raynaud's
      phenomenon and arthritis. Further, an association was noted between the combined
      presence of IgG anti-70 kDa, anti-A and anti-C antibodies and IgM anti-B/B' and
      puffy hands, myositis, pulmonary fibrosis and sclerodactyly, i.e. all
      manifestations of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). On the contrary,
      serositis as often seen in SLE was correlated to the presence of IgG anti-B/B'
      antibodies. Thus the longitudinal analysis of the correlation between anti-snRNP
      antibody specificities and clinical manifestations support the concept of MCTD as
      a distinct entity.

PMID- 1458288
TI  - Postmenopausal screening for osteopenia.
AB  - Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements of bone mineral density (BMD)
      in the lumbar spine and femoral neck have been performed in 1000 consecutive
      women aged between 40 and 60 years referred for screening for osteopenia. A
      detailed history was taken from each woman that included relevant lifestyle
      parameters and known risk factors for osteoporosis. After exclusions, e.g.
      because of fractures, corticosteroid or prolonged HRT use, 627 women (mean age 53
      years) were considered suitable for further analysis. The mean BMD in the lumbar
      spine (L1-L4) was 0.946 g/cm2 and in the femoral neck was 0.767 g/cm2.
      Significant correlations were found between BMD and years after the menopause and
      weight (range r = 0.20-0.24). However, these parameters are not reliable enough
      predictors of BMD to be of value in clinical practice. If osteopenia is to be the
      basis for initiating prophylactic measures against bone loss, then a threshold
      BMD must be chosen below which treatment will be advised. Since the correlation
      coefficient between spinal and femoral neck BMD measurements was only 0.64,
      assessment of any individual requires consideration of both sites. There is as
      yet no consensus as to the number of women who may require to be treated and we
      have provided BMD values that identify a range of population sizes (the lowest
      20, 30, 40 and 50 percentiles). It should be noted that there was a 16% loss of
      BMD in the spine and 14% in the femoral neck during the first 5 years after the
      menopause.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1458289
TI  - A longitudinal study of pulmonary function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
      treated with gold and D-penicillamine.
AB  - Sixty-two patients with classical or definite RA who were considered suitable for
      disease-modifying drug therapy were entered into a prospective longitudinal study
      to determine the long-term effects of commonly used drugs such as gold, D
      penicillamine and azathioprine on pulmonary function. Each patient had an
      assessment of pulmonary function, including spirometry, static lung volumes and
      diffusion tests, before starting drug therapy and at 6-monthly intervals during
      treatment. In those patients where drug therapy was discontinued, pulmonary
      functions were performed at withdrawal and 1 year later. Forty-six per cent of
      the patients in the 'gold group' and 21% in the 'penicillamine group' had
      developed a restrictive defect after 2 years. There was a significant reduction
      in vital capacity and transfer factor for carbon monoxide (P < 0.001) in both
      groups. A significant improvement in pulmonary function was found in the gold
      treated patients (P < 0.05) a year after treatment was discontinued. This study
      shows that a significant proportion of rheumatoid patients on second-line drugs
      such as gold and penicillamine develop chronic progressive pulmonary damage
      indistinguishable from fibrosing alveolitis or 'rheumatoid lung'. Its recognition
      is important as the condition is asymptomatic, slowly progressive and appears to
      be reversible on withdrawal of the drug therapy in the majority of the patients.

PMID- 1458290
TI  - Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy: clinicopathological observations in the Indian
      population.
AB  - The present study attempts to investigate the pathological basis of the two
      clinically different forms of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) namely,
      polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM). Clinicopathological analysis of 73
      cases showed that muscle fibre necrosis and regeneration were more frequent in PM
      than in DM, the latter being significantly so (P < 0.05). On the other hand,
      vasculitis was more associated with DM while perifascicular atrophy of the muscle
      fibres was confined to it. Vasculitis was present in eight cases. Its incidence
      in patients with myositis with systemic connective tissue disease (4/9) was
      significantly more than in other PM and DM patients (P < 0.01). An equally
      significant higher frequency of perimysial inflammatory infiltrate was also seen
      in the former as compared to the latter. Interestingly, idiopathic DM affected
      men as often as women and juvenile IIM affected boys more frequently than girls.
      A female predilection was noted in the remaining groups of IIM. These
      observations indicate that there may be some basic immunopathogenetic differences
      between polymyositis and dermatomyositis as well as between idiopathic PM/DM and
      that associated with systemic connective tissue diseases. Though the number of
      patients studied is small, the absence of female predilection in idiopathic DM
      and juvenile IIM may be peculiar to the IIM in the tropics.

PMID- 1458291
TI  - What are the long term follow-up results of silastic metacarpophalangeal and
      proximal interphalangeal joint replacements?

PMID- 1458292
TI  - A study to compare the efficacy of two methods of skin preparation prior to joint
      injection.
AB  - This paper compares two methods of skin preparation in terms of their
      effectiveness in rendering the skin sterile, ease of use, and their cost.

PMID- 1458293
TI  - Rheumatology in Russia: an opportunity to help.

PMID- 1458294
TI  - A case of adult dermatomyositis treated with cyclosporin A.

PMID- 1458295
TI  - Spontaneous neutrophil activation in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon
      and systemic sclerosis.

PMID- 1458296
TI  - Infrared thermography: what is its place in rheumatology in the 1990s?

PMID- 1458297
TI  - Arthritis--a presenting feature of occult coeliac disease.

PMID- 1458298
TI  - A profile of the rheumatology nurse specialist in the United Kingdom.

PMID- 1458299
TI  - Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis.

PMID- 1458300
TI  - Methotrexate in older patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

PMID- 1458301
TI  - New treatments for cystic fibrosis.
AB  - The cornerstones of CF medical treatment remain optimised nutrition, antibiotics
      and chest physiotherapy. There are however a number of promising new approaches
      which may add considerably to these traditional treatments. The most fundamental
      prospective new treatment is gene therapy which is still a long way off but
      could, in theory, provide a virtual cure for the disease. Less visionary but
      potentially as important is drug therapy aimed at the basic defect in airway ion
      transport. Both of these approaches are best suited to patients with early or
      even pre-symptomatic disease. In contrast, a third group of new treatments may
      prove useful in patients with established lung damage; these include a variety of
      anti-inflammatory drugs and DNase. This chapter will discuss each of these new
      treatments as well as exploring the difficult issue of assessing new treatments
      in pre-symptomatic disease.

PMID- 1458302
TI  - Screening for cystic fibrosis.
AB  - Neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis (CF) reduces short-term morbidity but its
      long term effects remain to be demonstrated. The best available method is the
      assay of immunoreactive trypsin in dried blood spots, and specificity can be
      improved by adding direct or indirect genetic analysis. Pregnancies known to be
      at risk of CF can also be screened by molecular methods, and affected pregnancies
      terminated. The application of genetic testing to whole communities, to detect
      unknown heterozygotes, raises many questions which require consideration by
      society and the health professions. The development of effective treatment of the
      basic abnormality of cell function in CF would enhance the need for neonatal
      screening, and possibly reduce the requirement for abortion.

PMID- 1458303
TI  - Cystic fibrosis: nutrition.
AB  - There has been renewed interest in examining the multiple causes of
      undernutrition and growth failure in cystic fibrosis. It is now recognized that
      undernutrition is caused by unfavourable energy balance rather than an inherent
      component of the disease. Furthermore, there appears to be a direct association
      between the degree of undernutrition and the severity of pulmonary disease, which
      in turn affects overall prognosis. Energy imbalance may be caused by three main
      factors: increased energy loss because of nutrient maldigestion; reduced energy
      intake due to an improper diet and/or anorexia from respiratory disease,
      abdominal symptoms or clinical depression and increased energy expenditure with
      advanced lung disease. Most patients are capable of compensating for these
      factors; provided energy intake is sufficient, normal growth velocity and
      nutritional status is maintained. However, in a minority of older patients, when
      advanced lung disease supervenes, energy expenditure rises resulting in an energy
      deficit. Undernutrition, with loss of energy stores and lean tissue may in turn
      contribute to progressive deterioration of lung function. When this occurs, long
      term invasive methods of nutritional support can restore energy balance.

PMID- 1458304
TI  - Cystic fibrosis: gastrointestinal complications.
AB  - An individual who has cystic fibrosis (CF) may suffer from gastrointestinal
      problems related to inadequately controlled intestinal absorption secondary to
      the pancreatic insufficiency. These include neonatal meconium ileus, distal
      intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS), constipation and acquired megacolon,
      rectal prolapse and rarely pancreatitis. If the intestinal malabsorption is well
      controlled with an effective pancreatic enzyme preparation, DIOS, constipation
      and rectal prolapse are infrequent. Persisting gastrointestinal symptoms should
      be investigated thoroughly to exclude other disorders not directly related to the
      cystic fibrosis; these include cows' milk intolerance, coeliac disease,
      giardiasis, Crohn's disease and intra-abdominal malignancy. Both appendicitis and
      intussusception may cause difficult diagnostic problems particularly in patients
      who may also have distal ileal obstruction syndrome.

PMID- 1458305
TI  - Cystic fibrosis: bile secretion.
AB  - Bile is an isotonic aqueous solution of bile acids, cholesterol, phospholipids,
      bile pigments and inorganic electrolytes. It is secreted by the hepatocytes into
      the bile canaliculi and modified in the bile ductules or ducts. The three main
      processes identified in the generation of bile flow are: 1. Active transport of
      bile acids from blood into bile canaliculi. This is responsible of the bile acid
      dependent canalicular bile flow. Coupling between water flow and bile acid
      secretion is probably effected mainly through an osmotic mechanism. There is
      evidence that water flows (at least in part) through the interhepatocytic
      junctions. The bile acid-dependent flow accounts for 30 to 60% of spontaneous
      basal bile flow. 2. A canalicular, bile acid-independent secretion, probably due
      to transport into bile of organic solutes (glutathione) and inorganic
      electrolytes. This fraction of bile flow is stimulated by phenobarbital. It
      represents 30 to 60% of basal bile flow. Normal canalicular bile flow also
      depends on the integrity of intracellular cytoskeletal organelles, mostly
      microfilaments. 3. Reabsorption and secretion of fluid and inorganic electrolytes
      by the ductules and ducts. Secretion chiefly occurs in response to secretin and
      represents 30% of basal bile flow. Although several ion transport systems have
      been identified on the biliary epithelial cells (in particular a Na+/H+ exchange,
      a Na+:HCO3- symport and a CI-/HCO3- exchange), the cellular mechanism of
      secretion is not known. Abnormalities of bile duct function may account for the
      liver disease of cystic fibrosis, but these abnormalities have not been
      characterized.

PMID- 1458306
TI  - Liver and biliary problems in cystic fibrosis.
AB  - There have been striking advances in the management of complications of cirrhosis
      in the 50 years since biliary cirrhosis was recognised as a feature occurring in
      a minority of patients with cystic fibrosis. Many questions remain unanswered
      with regard to its pathogenesis, its effect on other systems, morbidity and
      mortality and to its optimum management. Factors which may initiate liver disease
      and/or cause progressive biliary fibrosis leading to biliary cirrhosis in some
      cystic fibrosis patients are being defined but much is still poorly understood
      and further research is required. Clinical and pathological studies confirm that
      cirrhosis is frequently asymptomatic and only slowly progressive, with the
      prevalence rising with age. In a recent large epidemiological study, however, it
      was found that the age related prevalence fell in patients over the age of 20
      years although deaths from liver disease were rare. Does the presence of liver
      disease cause premature respiratory death in teenagers? Current treatments
      control variceal bleeding, the important sequel for most patients with biliary
      cirrhosis, with less morbidity and mortality than in the past but require
      reappraisal as newer techniques become available. Endoscopic radiologically
      controlled methods are emerging as an important adjunct to the surgical control
      of biliary complications which cause symptoms in up to 4%. Ursodeoxycholic acid
      improves liver function tests but its effect on hepatic fibrosis and portal
      hypertension will only be demonstrated by large scale prospective controlled
      trials. Should liver transplantation have a larger role in management? In this
      chapter we have attempted to summarise the current state of knowledge and to
      assess the efficacy of present management.

PMID- 1458307
TI  - Immunology of cystic fibrosis.
AB  - The combination of all the immunological abnormalities described in CF appear to
      have a final common pathway through effects on neutrophils. Potent neutrophil
      chemotactic factors are produced as a result of antibody-antigen interactions
      leading to complement activation and the generation of C5a and the many cytokines
      released as a result of cellular immune responses leading to neutrophil influx
      and activation. In addition, the product of bacterial metabolism fMLP also
      produces neutrophil chemotaxis. The activated neutrophils release a range of
      proteases and oxygen radicals which directly damage tissues. It can, therefore,
      be hypothesised that the excessive immune response is directly contributing to
      the tissue damage. Indeed, it is even possible that this is the principal cause
      of the lung function defect without invoking any direct influence of the
      infecting organisms. This, of course, has major implications for approaches to
      therapy. Currently the main focus is on suppression of the organisms. However,
      modulation of the immune response is an attractive alternative approach.

PMID- 1458308
TI  - Cystic fibrosis: respiratory problems and their treatment.

PMID- 1458309
TI  - Lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis.
AB  - Significant progress has been made since the first successful human heart-lung
      transplantation (HLT) for pulmonary vascular disease performed in 1981. The
      refinement of surgical techniques, use of cyclosporin as the main
      immunosuppressant, technique of distant organ procurement to expand the donor
      organ pool, and improved diagnosis and management of pulmonary infection and
      rejection have all contributed to this accomplishment. This has inevitably
      coincided with the extension of this procedure to other groups of patients with
      end stage heart and lung disease. Initially, HLT was offered to patients with
      cardiac disease associated with pulmonary hypertension. Because of the success,
      consideration was given to transplantation for parenchymal pulmonary diseases,
      initially pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema, and then suppurative lung disease
      such as in cystic fibrosis (CF). However, the application of HLT to patients with
      CF lagged behind because of concern related to the risk of sepsis, the systemic
      nature of the disease, malnourishment, and fear of recurrence of the epithelial
      CF defect in the transplanted lungs.

PMID- 1458310
TI  - Reduction of glutamate release and protection against ischemic brain damage by BW
      1003C87.
AB  - BW 1003C87, 5-(2,3,5-trichlorophenyl)-2,4-diaminopyrimidine ethane sulphonic
      acid, has been tested for its in vitro and in vivo effects on glutamate release
      in rat brain tissue, and for its cerebro-protective action in two rodent models
      of cerebral ischemia. In rat brain slices the release of glutamate evoked by
      veratrine is inhibited by BW 1003C87 (IC50 = 1.6 microM). In anaesthetised rats
      with microdialysis probes implanted in the dorsal hippocampus the increase in
      extracellular glutamate evoked by veratrine is markedly reduced by co-infusion of
      BW 1003C87, 100 microM. In anaesthetised rats with microdialysis probes implanted
      in the cortex and the caudate nucleus ipsilateral to a middle cerebral artery
      (MCA) occlusion the increase in dialysate glutamate concentration seen in the
      first 2 h following MCA occlusion is markedly attenuated by the prior
      administration of BW 1003C87, 20 mg/kg i.v. In rats subjected to 10 min of
      bilateral common carotid artery occlusion the loss of CA1 pyramidal neurons
      (assessed 7 days later) is reduced by administration of BW 1003C87 (20 mg/kg
      i.v., at the time of ischemia and 4 h later). The volume of cortex showing
      infarction 72 h after unilateral MCA occlusion is reduced by treatment with BW
      1003C87 (20 mg/kg, i.v., beginning 5 min after occlusion). Inhibition of
      glutamate release may provide a therapeutic approach in cerebral ischemia as well
      as in epilepsy.

PMID- 1458311
TI  - Neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus mediate the serotonergic
      stimulation of renin secretion.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to resolve which hypothalamic nucleus is
      necessary for the serotonergic control of renin secretion. RU 24969 is considered
      a serotonin (5-HT1A/5-HT1B) agonist, while p-chloroamphetamine is a 5-HT
      releaser. Both drugs reliably elevate plasma levels of renin when injected
      peripherally. Previous studies suggest that serotonergic neurons, projecting to
      the hypothalamus, mediate the effect of p-chloroamphetamine on renin secretion.
      Discrete cell-selective lesions were made with ibotenic acid in three
      hypothalamic sites: the paraventricular, the dorsomedial or the ventromedial
      nuclei. Two weeks after surgery rats were injected with RU 24969 (5 mg/kg, i.p.)
      or p-chloroamphetamine (8 mg/kg, i.p.). The renin response to both RU 24969 and p
      chloroamphetamine was significantly reduced in rats with histologically verified
      paraventricular lesions compared to vehicle treated controls. In contrast, the
      renin response to p-chloroamphetamine remained unchanged in rats with either
      dorsomedial or ventromedial hypothalamic lesions. Thus, these results are
      consistent with the hypothesis that 5-HT receptors located on cell bodies in the
      paraventricular nucleus mediate the renin response to a serotonin agonist and
      releaser. Furthermore, they confirm previous studies that suggest that 5-HT
      neurons regulate renin secretion through central receptors.

PMID- 1458312
TI  - Potentiation of cyanide neurotoxicity by blockade of ATP-sensitive potassium
      channels.
AB  - Exposure of primary hippocampal cultures to NaCN (2 mM) or glyburide (5 microM)
      alone for 3 h did not produce a rise in extracellular lactic dehydrogenase (LDH)
      activity. Coincubation with NaCN and glyburide produced a significant efflux of
      LDH from the neurons. Diazoxide or D-2-amino-5-phosphovalerate (APV) partially
      reversed the release of LDH by the combination of NaCN and glyburide. These
      observations indicate ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP) are activated by
      nonlethal concentrations of cyanide and their blockade with glyburide unmasks
      cyanide's toxicity. The cytotoxicity of cyanide appears to result from a
      combination of processes resulting in altered ion handling and excitotoxicity.

PMID- 1458313
TI  - Accumulation of amyloid precursor protein in damaged neuronal processes and
      microglia following intracerebral administration of aluminum salts.
AB  - Alzheimer's disease is characterized by neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid
      deposits, with the latter probably occurring because of abnormal accumulation
      and/or processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP). Aluminum salts are known to
      be neurotoxic and to be capable of inducing neurofibrillary tangles. We explored
      the effects of intraventricular or intrastriatal injections of AlCl3 on the
      immunodistribution of APP in rat brain. There was a striking and long-lasting
      accumulation of APP in affected neurites, as well as in activated
      microglia/macrophages. Abnormal neurites also showed argentophilic changes,
      neurofilament accumulation, and Alz50 immunoreactivity. However, no extracellular
      amyloid fibrils were seen. The results, taken together with previous studies on
      colchicine, are consistent with the hypothesis that interruption of axoplasmic
      flow can lead to both APP accumulation and cytoskeletal changes.

PMID- 1458314
TI  - Ketamine blocks the induction of LTP at the lateral entorhinal cortex-dentate
      gyrus synapses.
AB  - In many regions NMDA receptor activation is required for the synaptic induction
      of long-term potentiation (LTP). This role for NMDA receptors is controversial at
      the synapses formed between the cells of the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) and
      the dentate gyrus (DG). Using anesthetized rats, the present study shows that
      ketamine reversibly blocks the induction of LTP at the LEC-DG synapses, thus
      favoring a role for NMDA receptors in the induction of LTP there. Ketamine also
      reversibly blocks the induction of the small translaminar depression of the
      medial EC response or of the LEC response by conditioning the other system while
      the test system is inactive.

PMID- 1458315
TI  - Amyloid precursor protein accumulates in regions of neurodegeneration following
      focal cerebral ischemia in the rat.
AB  - The distribution of beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) was examined
      immunocytochemically in rats subjected to focal cerebral ischemia by permanent
      occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. At 4 and 7 days post-occlusion, APP
      immunoreactivity was preferentially localized within axonal swellings, dystrophic
      neurites and neuronal perikarya all along the periphery of the infarct.
      Immunolabeling was observed with antibodies generated against N-terminal,
      midregion, and C-terminal domains of APP. No immunoreactivity was observed with
      antisera directed against beta-amyloid protein (beta A4) itself. This
      pathological accumulation of APP is consistent with alterations of APP recently
      described in other models of neurodegeneration and implies a role for this
      protein in the response to CNS injury.

PMID- 1458316
TI  - Hypotension preferentially induces c-fos immunoreactivity in supraoptic
      vasopressin neurons.
AB  - Immunoreactivity to Fos protein (Fos-IR) was detected in rat hypothalamic neurons
      within 1 h of onset of hemorrhage by withdrawing 4-5 ml of blood, which lowered
      the arterial blood pressure to 50-70 mm Hg. About 70% of vasopressin (AVP)
      containing neurons in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and 20% in the paraventricular
      nucleus (PVN) expressed Fos-IR. In contrast, 5% of oxytocin (OXY)-containing
      neurons in the SON and < 1% in PVN were Fos-IR. Intravenous infusion of the
      vasodilating agent, nitroprusside, which lowered the blood pressure to levels
      comparable to that attained by hemorrhage, induced Fos-IR in greater than 65% of
      AVP-containing neurons in the SON, while relatively few AVP neurons in the PVN
      were Fos positive. These results suggest that hemorrhage or hypotension
      preferentially induces c-fos expression in supraoptic AVP-containing neurons.

PMID- 1458317
TI  - Age-related changes of motor evoked potentials in healthy humans: non-invasive
      evaluation of central and peripheral motor tracts excitability and conductivity.
AB  - A comparative analysis of the corticospinal tract nervous propagation and
      excitability threshold was carried out in young (25 subjects, age range 16-35
      years) and in elderly (40 subjects, 51-86 years) populations of healthy
      volunteers. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded from the hand and foot
      muscles following transcranial magnetic stimulation (TCS) during complete
      relaxation and active contraction of the target muscles. Threshold intensities
      corresponded to the stimulator's output eliciting liminal MEPs in about 50% of
      stimuli during relaxation. It was found that threshold values of magnetic TCS
      were significantly higher in the elderly (44 +/- 6.4% vs 39 +/- 3.5% for the
      hand; 66 +/- 10.1% vs 56 +/- 6.7% for the foot; P < 0.001) than in the young
      subjects. Moreover, this index progressively increased with age (P < 0.001),
      whilst the propagation time along the central motor tracts did not parallel such
      an age-related trend.

PMID- 1458318
TI  - Stimulation of cholecystokinin (CCK) release from superfused rat hypothalamo
      neurohypophyseal complexes by interleukin-1 (IL-1).
AB  - This in vitro study examined the effects of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interferon
      gamma (Ifn-gamma) on the release of cholecysto-kinin (CCK) from superfused
      hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal complexes (HNC) of rats. An increase of CCK from HNC
      was elicited in a dose-dependent manner by recombinant human IL-1 alpha and -1
      beta in concentrations of 0.1-10 nM. In contrast, the release of CCK from HNC was
      not affected by recombinant human Ifn-gamma at any dose tested (0.1, 1 and 10
      nM). The increased release of CCK elicited by IL-1 was calcium-dependent, as was
      that induced by potassium (60 mM), but it was biphasic and had a different time
      course and a lower magnitude than those induced by potassium and veratridine.
      These results suggest that IL-1 activates pituitary-adrenal axis by stimulating
      CCK neurons in the hypothalamus and/or neurohypophysis to release CCK, since CCK
      has been implicated in the regulation of adrenocorticotropin release.

PMID- 1458319
TI  - Extracellular calcium is a mediator of astroglial injury during combined glucose
      oxygen deprivation.
AB  - We tested the hypothesis that extracellular calcium is a mediator of astroglial
      injury during combined glucose-oxygen deprivation. Both differentiated and
      undifferentiated astroglial cultures were exposed to combined glucose-oxygen
      deprivation in the presence and absence of extracellular calcium. Lactate
      dehydrogenase efflux was used as an index of cellular injury. Both types of
      cultures exhibited significantly less cellular injury when exposed to combined
      glucose-oxygen deprivation in the absence of extracellular calcium (e.g. lactate
      dehydrogenase efflux in undifferentiated cultures after 12 h of exposure:
      presence of calcium, 65.2 +/- 2.5% vs. absence of calcium, 21.4 +/- 1.3%). To
      further elucidate the mechanism by which extracellular calcium produces injury,
      we studied the effect of nimodipine, an L-type calcium channel blocker, on
      astroglial injury resulting from combined glucose-oxygen deprivation. Nimodipine
      decreased cellular injury in both types of cultures (e.g. lactate dehydrogenase
      efflux in undifferentiated cultures after 12 h of exposure: untreated, 65.4 +/-
      2.2% vs. 10 nM nimodipine, 44.6 +/- 4.2%). Extracellular calcium appears to be a
      mediator of astroglial injury during combined glucose-oxygen deprivation. These
      results suggest that influx of extracellular calcium via L-type voltage-gated
      calcium channels may contribute to astroglial injury during cerebral ischemia.

PMID- 1458320
TI  - Measurement of gamma-enolase release, a new method for selective quantification
      of neurotoxicity independently from glial lysis.
AB  - We have developed a sensitive enzymatic-immunoassay to quantify the level of
      gamma-enolase (a specific neuronal enzyme) which is released from cultured cells
      after exposure to various toxins. We show that this method can estimate
      selectively neuronal cell death without significantly interfering with glial cell
      death. Indeed, no gamma-enolase is released when glial cells are killed with free
      radical producing agents. Experiments comparing the levels of neuronal cell death
      induced by NMDA or free-radical producing drugs, performed either by measuring
      gamma-enolase release or using the classical fluorescein diacetate method,
      yielded similar results. In addition to selectively follow neuronal death in a
      mixed population of neurons and glial cells, this method provides a way of
      determining the cell death kinetics from a single culture dish, since enolase can
      be measured on small samples taken from the culture medium. Finally, we propose
      these two methods as being complementary and useful neuronal and other cellular
      death indexes and also to understand the complex problem of glial influence on
      neuronal survival or death.

PMID- 1458321
TI  - Enduring increase in membrane-associated protein kinase C activity in the
      hippocampal-kindled rat.
AB  - In a previous study we demonstrated that the membrane-associated protein kinase C
      (PKC) activity in the amygdala/pyriform cortex (AM/PC) and both the right and
      left hippocampus (HIPP) of rats kindled from the left HIPP increased
      significantly 4 weeks after the occurrence of the last seizure compared with
      control rats. In this study, we carried out further investigations into the
      enduring effect of HIPP-kindling on membrane-associated PKC activity, the protein
      concentrations and brain wet tissue weights of the AM/PC and right
      (contralateral) and left (ipsilateral) HIPP 15-16 weeks after the last
      generalized kindled seizure had occurred. In addition, we determined the membrane
      associated PKC activity one week after the occurrence of the last partial (stage
      1-3) seizure. Fifteen to sixteen weeks after the final kindled full seizure, the
      membrane-associated PKC activity which was expressed as mol/min per mg protein
      increased significantly in the AM/PC (by 62%, P < 0.02) and left HIPP (by 33%, P
      < 0.03) compared with control rats, whereas the cytosolic PKC activities did not
      differ in any brain region examined. The wet tissue weight increased
      significantly (by 10%, P < 0.04) in the left HIPP only. Furthermore, when it was
      expressed as pmol/min per mg wet tissue weight, the membrane-associated PKC
      activity increased significantly in the AM/PC (by 47%, P < 0.02), right HIPP (by
      27%, P < 0.05) and left HIPP (by 35%, P < 0.03) compared with the
      controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1458322
TI  - Normal equine ocular anatomy and eye examination.
AB  - When compared with small domestic animals, the horse has unique ocular
      characteristics (complete bony orbit, well-developed eyelid muscles, a nasal and
      temporal gray limbal line, granulae iridica, paurangiotic fundus). Knowledge of
      normal equine ocular anatomy is essential for ocular lesion interpretation. It is
      important to obtain a full history and general examination before sedation, nerve
      blocks, or other diagnostic ophthalmic tests are performed. All ocular
      examinations should include a systematic evaluation of both the anterior and
      posterior segments. Selection of other diagnostic tests depends on information
      obtained from the history, general inspection, and ophthalmic examination. The
      appropriate order of performing various special diagnostic tests must be
      considered before beginning the examination. If a diagnosis is elusive, referral
      to an ophthalmologist for further diagnostics should be considered.

PMID- 1458323
TI  - Equine vision and optics.
AB  - Vision is a marvelous sense, critical to the well-being and functional use of
      horses. Anatomic, optical, and visual acuity generalities are presented. The
      constituents of unsoundness due to equine ocular disease are discussed, and
      recommendations are made.

PMID- 1458324
TI  - Congenital ocular anomalies.
AB  - This discussion provides an idea of the diversity and relative prevalence of
      certain congenital ocular conditions of horses. Many are not difficult to
      diagnose, yet curative treatment may be impossible. When dealing with owners of
      horses affected with unusual anomalies, responsible client service requires
      veterinarians to provide accurate information and to know where answers to
      unusual questions can be found. Again, most veterinarians never encounter all of
      the diverse congenital defects. As a result, the horse owner frequently receives
      misinformation. Hopefully, this brief coverage of congenital ocular anomalies
      will provide useful information and assist in appropriate communication to
      concerned parties.

PMID- 1458325
TI  - Principles of therapeutics.
AB  - Topical administration of drugs is the treatment of choice for diseases of the
      anterior segment. Drug levels attained by this means are usually of short
      duration, however, necessitating frequent therapy or continuous perfusion if
      prolonged drug levels are required. A drug-delivery device (collagen shield or
      contact lens) or subconjunctival injections can be used to augment topical
      therapy if frequent treatment is not possible. Subconjunctival injections are
      recommended for drugs that have low solubility and, hence, low corneal
      penetration. Retrobulbar injections are seldom indicated, except for regional
      anesthesia. Systemic administration is useful for anti-inflammatory therapy but
      it may be difficult to establish therapeutic levels of antibiotic agents in the
      eye because of the blood-ocular barrier. In severe cases, intraocular injection
      may be required.

PMID- 1458326
TI  - Eyelid and nasolacrimal disease.
AB  - An understanding of normal structure and function of the equine eyelid is
      essential to make an accurate diagnosis and appropriately treat equine eyelid
      diseases. Entropion, eyelid trauma, neoplasia, and nasolacrimal disorders are
      reviewed. Methods of diagnosis and treatment are presented.

PMID- 1458327
TI  - Ocular trauma.
AB  - Horses with ocular trauma frequently present as emergency cases. This article
      provides a succinct review of various adnexal and globe injury issues. Accurate
      case assessment, management, prognosis, and follow-up considerations are
      presented.

PMID- 1458328
TI  - Equine ulcerative keratitis.
AB  - Ulcerative keratitis is one of the most common vision-threatening diseases of the
      horse. Successful therapy, however, can be achieved in the majority of cases
      provided the diagnosis is made early and the treatment is specific for the
      disease. This article reviews the pathophysiology, clinical signs, and
      contemporary medical and surgical approaches to bacterial and fungal ulcerative
      keratitis in the horse.

PMID- 1458329
TI  - Equine uveitis.
AB  - Uveitis (inflammation of the iris, ciliary body, or choroid) is a potentially
      blinding condition with a significant economic impact on the horse industry.
      Variable symptoms are described, as well as a considerable range of structural
      and functional sequelae. Known causes of initial episodes include bacterial,
      viral, traumatic, and parasitic insults, with recurrence by immunologic
      mechanisms. Treatment strategies and management recommendations that may reduce
      the incidence or severity of episodes are discussed.

PMID- 1458330
TI  - Diagnosis and treatment of lens diseases.
AB  - The lens represents a unique tissue in light of its embryologic development,
      retention of old cells and nuclear make-up, transparent nature, immune privileged
      status, and metabolic restrictions. Disorders of malformation and malposition
      occur, but cataract development is the most common and significant problem for
      owners and animals. Technologic and pharmacologic advances have allowed surgical
      removal of equine cataracts to become an acceptable alternative, capable of
      returning a visually impaired horse to a functional status. Uveal inflammation
      represents the greatest threat to successful surgical cataract removal.
      Veterinarians should consult with those versed in ophthalmology for assistance in
      diagnosis, prognosis, peroperative treatment, surgical intervention, and follow
      up on lens disorders.

PMID- 1458331
TI  - Retinal and optic nerve diseases.
AB  - Basic knowledge of the normal appearance and variations of the equine fundus
      coupled with frequent practice in ophthalmology will allow equine practitioners
      to be confident when assessing the equine fundus during ophthalmic examinations.
      Once the normal variations are mastered, appreciation of retinal, choroidal,
      optic nerve, and vitreal abnormalities is possible. Congenital and acquired
      lesions of the equine retina, optic nerve, and vitreous are discussed and
      illustrated.

PMID- 1458332
TI  - Ocular neoplasia.
AB  - Except for two neoplasms, notably SCC and sarcoid, ocular and periocular tumors
      are uncommon in horses. The practitioner must accurately determine the type of
      tumor by histopathology so appropriate treatment and a legitimate prognosis can
      be offered. The first attempt at treatment has the greatest chance to result in a
      cure; an aggressive treatment regimen therefore should be selected from the
      start.

PMID- 1458333
TI  - Ocular manifestations of systemic diseases.
AB  - The diseases included in this article constitute a wide range of maladies that
      affect the horse. Certainly, the diseases that are known today to produce ocular
      lesions are just a few of what will be discovered if attending veterinarians
      always examine the eyes of patients with systemic diseases.

PMID- 1458334
TI  - Ocular cosmetic and prosthetic devices.
AB  - Specific details on surgical procedures, although not covered here, are available
      in other references. Factors enhancing the overall cosmetic appearance obtained
      with procedures are emphasized, providing information that should allow
      veterinarians to offer clients a good cosmetic appearance and effective treatment
      for disfiguring ocular problems in their horses. Questions regarding procedures
      should be addressed to your referral ophthalmologist or, in the case of a
      corneoscleral prosthesis, the ocularist assisting.

PMID- 1458335
TI  - Bone strength: the bottom line.

PMID- 1458336
TI  - Minimal levels of serum estradiol prevent postmenopausal bone loss.
AB  - Biochemical parameters reflecting bone resorption [urinary calcium/creatinine
      (Ca/Cr) and hydroxyproline/creatinine (OH/Cr)] were related to serum estrogens
      [estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2)] in 262 healthy women including 158 patients
      receiving estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) for at least 6 months, 49 eugonadal
      women, and 55 untreated postmenopausal women. A significant (P < 0.001)
      correlation exists between serum E2 and Ca/Cr: Ca/Cr (mg/dl) = -0.00044 E2
      (pg/ml) + 0.129 (n = 262; r = -0.37), serum E2 and OH/Cr: (OH/Cr (mg/g) = -0.049
      E2 (pg/ml) + 18.76 (n = 262; r = -0.36), serum E1 and Ca/Cr: Ca/Cr (mg/dl) = 
      0.0003 E1 (pg/ml) + 0.127 (n = 261; r = -0.28) but not between serum E1 and
      OH/Cr. Women with circulating levels of E2 between 60 and 90 pg/ml have a
      significant (P < 0.01) reduction of Ca/Cr and OH/Cr when compared with those with
      lower levels of E2. Higher values of E2 do not provide additional benefit. We
      conclude that in postmenopausal women receiving an estrogen replacement therapy
      (ERT), a significant reduction of bone resorption is achieved when circulating
      levels of estradiol reach a value (60 pg/ml) corresponding to the one measured,
      in eugonadal women, during the last days of the early follicular phase of the
      menstrual cycle. We suggest that oral or percutaneous ERT should induce a minimal
      value of 60 pg/ml to prevent postmenopausal bone loss.

PMID- 1458337
TI  - Measurement of estrogen and progesterone receptors in abnormal human parathyroid
      tissue.
AB  - Estrogen and/or progestin administration to postmenopausal women with primary
      hyperparathyroidism lowers serum calcium. We measured cytosolic estrogen
      receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) by classical hormone-receptor
      binding techniques in parathyroid tissue removed from 10 men and 20 women, and ER
      by immunocytochemistry in tissue from an additional one man and seven women in
      order to ascertain whether these agents might exert a direct effect upon tissue
      responsible for hyperparathyroidism. ER were negative (< 3.1 fmol bound
      estradiol/10 mg tissue) in all 8 adenomas and 4 of 5 secondary hyperplasias
      removed from men, and from women in 19 of 22 adenomas, 2 of 3 secondary
      hyperplasias, and 3 of 4 primary hyperplasias. PR were negative (< 10.1 fmol
      bound progesterone/10 mg tissue) in 7 of 8 adenomas and all 5 secondary
      hyperplasias removed from men, and from women in 20 of 22 adenomas, all 3
      secondary hyperplasias, and all 4 primary hyperplasias. For immunocytochemical
      studies, quick-frozen specimens were analyzed with a monoclonal antibody (Abbott
      Laboratory) directed at nuclear ER. All eight samples--five adenoma and three
      primary hyperplasia--were negative. We conclude that abnormal human parathyroid
      tissues have nondetectable levels of ER and PR. It is unlikely that estrogen and
      progesterone exert a direct, ER, or PR-mediated effect upon parathyroid tissue.

PMID- 1458338
TI  - Bone marrow plays a role in bone metabolism: histomorphometry of iliac bone in
      postmenopausal women.
AB  - We conducted a histomorphometrical study on the role of the bone marrow in
      cancellous bone metabolism using iliac bone specimens from 79 postmenopausal
      women. A gradual decrease in hematopoietic tissue of the bone marrow was
      proportionate to the decrease in cancellous bone and the ratio of osteoid
      perimeter/bone perimeter regardless of age. On the other hand, the ratio of
      eroded perimeter/bone perimeter remained almost steady until hematopoietic tissue
      decreased significantly. These findings suggest that a change in the bone marrow,
      that is, a decrease in hematopoietic tissue, causes an imbalance in bone
      formation and resorption and leads to bone loss.

PMID- 1458339
TI  - Comparative assessment of bone mineral density of the forearm using single photon
      and dual X-ray absorptiometry.
AB  - Forearm bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at proximal and distal sites by
      125I single photon absorptiometry (SPA) and by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
      (DXA) in 67 consecutive subjects, aged 18-75 years. Correlations and regression
      equations between these two techniques were determined. All forearm measurements
      were significantly correlated with each other (r = 0.599-0.926; P < or = 0.0001).
      Although SPA and DXA correct for fat in different ways, we found similar
      correlation and regression equations in women with body mass index measurements
      above and below the mean. In addition, forearm measurements by both techniques
      were moderately correlated with vertebral spine and hip BMD. We conclude that
      overall, SPA forearm measurements in a population can be calibrated to DXA
      measurements if necessary, and that DXA forearm measurements are as predictive of
      the remainder of the skeleton as SPA measurements.

PMID- 1458340
TI  - Isolation and characterization of human embryonic osteoblasts.
AB  - Human osteoblasts were obtained by migration and proliferation of cells from
      embryonic membranous bone on glass fragments. Light and electron microscopy
      analyses revealed a typical osteoblast-like appearance with high protein
      synthesis activity. The cells showed high alkaline phosphatase activity that was
      associated with plasma membranes and matrix vesicles and was 1,25
      dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] responsive. In contrast to the adult
      osteoblasts, embryonic cells could not produce detectable levels of osteocalcin,
      not even in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3. Osteoblasts grown in multilayers
      produced a thick extracellular matrix, mainly composed of type I collagen, that
      mineralized in the presence of 10 mM beta-glycerophosphate. Because of their
      intrinsic osteogenic capacity, embryonic osteoblasts represent a valuable model
      for studying the mineralization process in vitro. In addition, the embryonic
      origin of these cells renders them a precious experimental system for the
      elucidation of mechanisms at the basis of differentiation of osteoblastic
      lineage.

PMID- 1458341
TI  - Nacre initiates biomineralization by human osteoblasts maintained in vitro.
AB  - When nacreous shell produced by the marine oyster Pinctada maxima, used as a
      biomaterial in oral surgery, is implanted in human bone, new bone formation
      occurs, resulting in a tight welding of the bone to the nacre [16]. These
      findings are consistent with the possibility that nacre adjacent to bone can
      locally stimulate osteogenic activity. To test this hypothesis, we have evaluated
      the effect of the simultaneous presence of bone and nacre on human osteoblasts in
      vitro. Nacre chips (1 mm3) were placed at approximately 1 mm distance from a
      similarly sized bone chip on a layer of first passage human osteoblasts. None of
      the chemical inducers generally required to obtain bone mineralization in vitro
      (in particular, beta-glycerophosphate) was added to the cultures. Mineralized
      sections of the cultures were evaluated by light and electron microscopy, contact
      microradiography, and Laser Raman Spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that
      nacre has strong osteogenic effects on human osteoblasts when placed in proximity
      to bone in vitro. New bone formation occurred by both appositional growth on the
      existing bone and by the formation of mineralized nodules within the matrix
      adjacent to the bone explant. Electron microscopic evaluation of these sites
      demonstrated findings typical of those described in the course of bone formation
      in vivo, and no evidence of toxicity was observed. In addition, under the
      conditions of culture used, nacre can also promote the formation by osteoblasts
      of a structure with characteristics similar to nacre (e.g., lamellar organic
      matrix mineralized with aragonite, as demonstrated by Laser Raman
      Spectroscopy).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1458342
TI  - Characteristics of steroid hormone receptors in cultured MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic
      cells and effect of steroid hormones on cell proliferation.
AB  - We examined the binding characteristics of three kinds of steroid hormones-
      estrogen, androgen, and glucocorticoid--in cultured MC3T3-E1 mouse osteoblastic
      cells by whole-cell binding assay. The binding studies revealed the presence of a
      single class of high-affinity binding sites for [3H]17 beta-estradiol,
      [3H]mibolerone (a synthetic androgen), and [3H]triamcinolone acetonide (a
      synthetic glucocorticoid). The numbers of binding sites for these steroid
      hormones were found to be 4534 +/- 819, 14312 +/- 1884, and 24898 +/- 655
      sites/cell; and the Kd values were 8.57 +/- 0.62 x 10(-10) M, 1.12 +/- 0.19 x 10(
      9) M, and 6.08 +/- 1.24 x 10(-10) M, respectively. We also examined the effects
      of steroid hormones on the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells. 17 beta-estradiol
      significantly stimulated the proliferation of the cells (130-150% of control).
      Dihydrotestosterone also significantly stimulated the proliferation of the cells
      (115% of control); the effect was, however, much less potent than that of 17 beta
      estradiol, although the number of binding sites was approximately three times
      more than that of 17 beta estradiol. Triamcinolone acetonide and dexamethasone
      had no effect on cell proliferation. These results suggest that estrogen and
      androgen act directly on osteoblastic cells through a receptor-mediated
      mechanism, and that androgen is much less potent than estrogen in stimulating the
      proliferation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells.

PMID- 1458343
TI  - Interactions of tumor necrosis factor with local and systemic factors in fetal
      rat limb bones.
AB  - In many tissues the actions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) are indirectly
      mediated through the production of autacoids or other cytokines. To determine the
      role that these factors might have in the action of TNF on bone resorption, we
      examined the effects of several selective inhibitors on TNF-stimulated
      resorption. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin did not prevent TNF
      stimulated resorption in fetal rat limb bones. Stimulation of resorption by TNF
      was also unaffected by the platelet activating factor antagonist WEB 2086. A 17.5
      kD interleukin receptor antagonist protein, at concentrations that completely
      blocked the bone-resorbing actions of maximally effective concentrations of
      interleukin (IL)-1 beta, failed to affect the stimulatory actions of TNF. TNF
      stimulated resorption was inhibited by both interferon-gamma and dexamethasone.
      Dexamethasone inhibited TNF-stimulated resorption more effectively than it
      inhibited parathyroid hormone (PTH)-stimulated resorption. When bones were
      treated simultaneously with low concentrations of TNF and PTH, potentiation of
      the bone-resorbing effects was elicited. These results suggest that TNF
      stimulates resorption through a pathway different from that by which PTH produces
      its effects. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) enhanced responses to
      TNF; TGF-beta failed to inhibit the effects of TNF, even in long-term culture or
      when bones were pretreated with TGF-beta. Synergistic interactions between TNF
      and several other bone-resorbing factors have now been demonstrated. In contrast
      to the actions of TNF on certain other functions, the bone-resorbing effects of
      TNF, as determined in the fetal rat limb bone system, do not seem to be mediated
      by PAF, IL-1, or prostaglandins.

PMID- 1458344
TI  - Primary and secondary culture of rat ameloblasts in serum-free medium.
AB  - Enamel is the hardest tissue in vertebrates. Ameloblasts are derived from
      epithelial cells and are responsible for enamel formation. They secrete enamel
      matrix components in which amelogenins are the major proteins, the biochemical
      properties of which are well known. However, little is known about the
      characteristics of ameloblasts themselves or about the functions of amelogenins.
      In this study, we developed a novel primary and secondary culture system for
      ameloblasts using a monoclonal antibody which recognized amelogenin (En3). The
      cell layer on dentine removed from rat mandibular incisors was isolated and
      cultured in low calcium, serum-free medium. Primary culture was performed on
      collagen-coated culture plates and typically, two types of cells appeared. One
      major type changed morphology after the addition of a high concentration of
      calcium to the medium. Expression of amelogenin was shown as cytoplasmic
      particles in these cells using En3. In the secondary culture, expression of
      amelogenins was also observed. In this system, the cells grew and maintained the
      expression of amelogenin for about 3 weeks.

PMID- 1458345
TI  - Factors affecting the future need for dental manpower in Canada and Quebec.
AB  - During the past decade, dental faculties in North America have reduced class
      sizes due to a perceived oversupply of dentists. Several schools have been closed
      outright, and others have been threatened with closure. These actions may have a
      negative impact on the future supply of dentists. The current beliefs with
      regards to the oversupply of dentists have inadequately accounted for the
      dramatic demographic and epidemiologic changes that are occurring in North
      America. Major changes in population distribution and disease trends point to an
      increased need for adult dental services in the future. Therefore, models for
      dental manpower needs should integrate these data to avoid a potential shortage
      of dental health care personnel in the future.

PMID- 1458346
TI  - [Clinical characteristics affecting the need for relining of class 1 and class 2
      removable mandibular prostheses].
AB  - This study attempts to identify, from a sample of people wearing a class 1 or 2
      removable prosthetic device on the lower jaw, the extent of the relining needs
      for these prostheses and their determining factors. Epidemiological methods were
      used to solve this problem. The relining needs increase with the amount of time
      elapsed since the prosthetic device was put in the mouth (p = 0.014). As for the
      other factors reviewed, i.e. class of device, type of retainers used, and
      occlusion, the authors have identified trends instead of real risk factors, since
      the impact of this study was significantly reduced due to the small number of
      people we were able to recruit. It was not always possible, therefore, to verify
      the statistical meaning of the associations observed. In clinical practice, the
      treatment plan should include a periodical evaluation of the relining needs. As
      it is now impossible to establish the approximate time when a prosthetic device
      may need relining, patients wearing one should be examined periodically and
      regularly.

PMID- 1458347
TI  - Magic disillusion.

PMID- 1458348
TI  - AIDS patient's discrimination appeal denied.

PMID- 1458351
TI  - Amalgam fees.

PMID- 1458349
TI  - Procera: a new concept in crown and bridge.

PMID- 1458352
TI  - Infection control.

PMID- 1458353
TI  - Infection control.

PMID- 1458354
TI  - Infection control.

PMID- 1458355
TI  - Leadership: the essential ingredient for practice success.

PMID- 1458356
TI  - Does HIV cause AIDS? A review.
AB  - It would require a detailed knowledge of virology, molecular biology,
      epidemiology, clinical medicine and politics, to appropriately compare and
      contrast the hypotheses on the causes of AIDS. The purpose of this review was not
      to do that, but to inform colleagues that alternative etiologies for AIDS have
      been considered. No doubt, this healthy questioning will continue until it has
      been demonstrated--via controlled studies of high-risk groups (both HIV positive
      and negative), matched for all other characteristics--that only those individuals
      with HIV positivity actually develop AIDS. It cannot be denied that a common
      theme to the hypotheses is the presence of high-risk activities. This has been
      used against the risk-AIDS hypothesis. How, for example, could it explain babies
      born with immunodeficiencies, K. Bergalis contacting AIDS from her dentist, the
      British nurse who died of AIDS after contracting HIV from her husband, or AIDS in
      the wives of hemophiliacs? It may be that these people died of specific diseases
      (leukemia, pneumonia, infections), which 20 years ago would have been diagnosed
      as such. Now, because these individuals are found to be HIV positive, they are
      viewed as AIDS patients. Alternatively, they may not have been asked about their
      nutritional status, use of psychoactive drugs, and immunosuppressive sexual
      practices. Additionally, it is possible that by the time AIDS was diagnosed they
      may have already received numerous antibiotic (immunosuppressive) drug
      treatments. In North America, for whatever reason, AIDS is associated with high
      risk groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1458357
TI  - The teaching of geriatric dentistry in Canada.
AB  - Very little is known about the current status of geriatric training programs at
      Canadian universities because of the scarcity of information published on the
      subject. A study of the geriatric dentistry training programs offered by Canada's
      10 dental schools has been completed. Its intent was to determine what type of
      educational activities in geriatric dentistry have either been offered in the
      past, are being offered now, will be offered in the next academic year, or are
      planned for the next five years. The results indicate that the 10 schools are
      doing very little in this regard. To keep pace with the level of geriatric
      dentistry training currently being offered in the United States, the dental
      profession must convince Canadian faculty members that the teaching of geriatric
      dentistry is crucial to both the undergraduate student and the graduate dentist.
      Continuing education in geriatric dentistry could be used to meet the oral health
      needs of our frail and dependent senior citizens. Geriatric dentistry must be
      taught at all levels of the profession so that this special clientele can receive
      the necessary treatment either within or outside of the dental office.

PMID- 1458358
TI  - Denture identification: the University of Manitoba's denture identification
      service.

PMID- 1458359
TI  - Surface disinfection of saliva-contaminated dental X-ray film packets.
AB  - A study was undertaken to determine the most effective method for the surface
      disinfection of saliva-contaminated dental X-ray film packets. Size 2 Kodak Poly
      Soft film packets were placed in the oral cavities of patients and "sham"
      irradiated. After removal from the oral cavity, some of these packets were left
      untreated before being placed in transfer vials containing transport medium.
      Other packets were handled in one of three different ways before being placed in
      the transfer vials: 1) wiped with a piece of sterile tissue paper to remove
      visible saliva; 2) wiped once with a sterile piece of gauze soaked with
      disinfectant and then immediately wiped dry with a piece of tissue paper ("one
      wipe" surface-disinfection technique); or, 3) wiped twice with a sterile piece of
      gauze soaked with disinfectant and allowed to air dry ("two-wipe" surface
      disinfection technique). The transport medium was serially diluted and
      microbiological processing completed to obtain bacterial counts corresponding to
      the levels of bacterial contamination of the film packet surfaces. The two-wipe
      surface-disinfection method effectively eliminated bacterial contamination of the
      film packets, with all of the disinfectants tested being equally effective. The
      one-wipe technique, using disinfectant, appeared to be slightly less effective.
      Mere physical removal of the saliva from the film packet, without the use of
      disinfectant, was the least effective method.

PMID- 1458360
TI  - [Risks and benefits of removal of impacted third molars: critical review of the
      literature. 1].
AB  - Because of the ever-increasing enthusiasm that new graduates have demonstrated
      for practising minor oral surgery procedures, the authors believed that it would
      be useful to translate the results of a research project done in 1990 by Drs.
      David S. Precious and Paul Mercier, who are well-known oral and maxillofacial
      surgeons. This paper is about the risks and benefits associated with the removal
      of impacted third molars.

PMID- 1458361
TI  - Monitoring nursing productivity: a unique approach integrating an on-line kardex
      with workload measurement.

PMID- 1458362
TI  - Consider becoming a computer lab coordinator.

PMID- 1458363
TI  - Evaluating the appropriateness of a nurse expert system's patient assessment.
AB  - The Urological Nursing Information System (UNIS) is an expert-system prototype
      designed to help nurses perform patient assessments on elderly nursing home
      residents known to be incontinent of urine. A study was conducted to evaluate the
      appropriateness of the patient-assessment parameters stored in the knowledge base
      of UNIS. These parameters were stored as objects--a kind of template for holding
      related clusters of data, facts, rules, hypotheses, or any knowledge in a single
      conceptual unit. Each object was rated for its appropriateness by 14 nurse
      experts. Resulting scores ranged from +14 to -14. The effect of the nurse
      experts' educational backgrounds and work settings on their ratings were also
      analyzed. The results indicated that 95.6% of the objects received favorable
      ratings from the nurse experts. Educational background was not a significant
      factor chi 2 = 5.2, but work settings did have a significant affect chi 2 =
      21.07, p = 0.01.

PMID- 1458364
TI  - The nursing case management computerized system: meeting the challenge of health
      care delivery through technology.
AB  - Does nursing case management compute? In this article, the author attempts to
      explain how computerizing the team plan of care and critical pathways decreases
      paperwork, makes it easier to develop standardized team care plans, enhances
      quality improvement trending, and is flexible enough to update the plan of care
      according to the patient's changing needs. The Nurse Case Management Computerized
      System puts the patient care team plan into an interactive computer program. The
      computer does the work of presenting the nurse with care plan options and
      printing a hard copy ready to implement. Use of the computer program enhances the
      health care team's ability to individualize the team plan of care while
      maintaining patient care standards. The system is also used to collect patient
      care data automatically and to trend for quality improvement.

PMID- 1458365
TI  - Use of the nursing minimum data set.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to obtain information about usage of the Nursing
      Minimum Data Set (NMDS). Forty-six individuals (44%) who requested the NMDS Data
      Collection Manual responded to a mailed questionnaire. Most respondents reported
      actually using the Manual to educate other nurses or to structure nursing
      documentation. More than one third of the respondents used all of the elements
      within the NMDS, but the majority used, or intended to use, the elements in the
      Nursing Care category. The majority of NMDS elements that were being used, or
      intended to be used, were available from handwritten patient records. The NMDS
      elements had been recorded on an ongoing basis by 86% of the respondents, but
      only 31% could retrieve readily all of the elements. Implications for access to
      comparable, minimum nursing care and resources data are discussed.

PMID- 1458366
TI  - Implementing computer simulations as a strategy for evaluating decision-making
      skills of nursing students.
AB  - This article describes the implementation of a computer assisted instruction
      clinical simulation, as an evaluation strategy for determining baccalaureate
      students' clinical decision-making skills. Students' reactions toward this
      strategy have been consistently positive. Similarly, faculty were satisfied with
      this method of assessment. Our experience has convinced us that computer
      simulation is an objective, efficacious, and pragmatic method for measuring
      students' clinical decision-making skills.

PMID- 1458367
TI  - Some nutritional requirements of a mixed culture transforming Reichstein's
      compound S into prednisolone.
AB  - Reichstein's compound S was successfully converted to prednisolone in a single
      step fermentation using a mixed culture of Curvularia lunata and Mycobacterium
      smegmatis. Introducing additional medium at the time of bacterial inoculation and
      increasing the M. smegmatis inoculum to 8% were necessary for maximal
      dehydrogenation of cortisol to prednisolone (86%). However, beef extract, corn
      steep solids, and malt extract were inhibitory to the dehydrogenase activity and
      stimulatory to hydroxylase. Of the vitamins tested, nicotinic acid and riboflavin
      at 0.2 and 1.13 mg/L, respectively, resulted in maximum transformation of
      Reichstein's compound S (100%) and optimized prednisolone yields (92%) in the
      mixed culture. The trace elements present in the medium were sufficient for
      maximal transformation, and there was no need for an exogenous supply. Addition
      of ATP, sodium acetate, and NAD inhibited the dehydrogenation reaction.

PMID- 1458368
TI  - Regulation of alpha-aminoadipate reductase from Penicillium chrysogenum in
      relation to the flux from alpha-aminoadipate into penicillin biosynthesis.
AB  - The activity and regulation of alpha-aminoadipate reductase in three Penicillium
      chrysogenum strains (Q176, D6/1014/A, and P2), producing different amounts of
      penicillin, were studied. The enzyme exhibited decreasing affinity for alpha
      aminoadipate with increasing capacity of the respective strain to produce
      penicillin. The enzyme from all three strains was inhibited by L-lysine, and the
      enzyme from the lowest producer, Q176, was least sensitive. Between pH 7.5 and
      6.5, inhibition of alpha-aminoadipate reductase by L-lysine was pH dependent,
      being more pronounced at lower pH. The highest producer strain, P2, displayed the
      lowest alpha-aminoadipate reductase activity at pH 7.0. In Q176, the addition of
      0.5-1 mM of exogenous lysine stimulated penicillin formation, whereas the same
      concentration was ineffective or inhibitory with strains D6/1014/A and P2. The
      addition of higher (up to 5 mM) lysine concentrations inhibited penicillin
      production in all three strains. In mutants of P. chrysogenum D6/1014/A, selected
      for resistance to 20 mM alpha-aminoadipate, highest penicillin production was
      observed in those strains whose alpha-aminoadipate reductase was most strongly
      inhibited by L-lysine. The results support the conclusion that the in vivo
      activity of alpha-aminoadipate reductase from superior penicillin producer
      strains of P. chrysogenum is more strongly inhibited by lysine, and that this is
      related to their ability to accumulate increased amounts of alpha-aminoadipate,
      and hence penicillin.

PMID- 1458369
TI  - Sporulation of Streptomyces antibioticus ETHZ 7451 in submerged culture.
AB  - Streptomyces antibioticus ETHZ 7451 formed spores in cultures grown in a liquid
      medium from either a spore or a mycelium inoculum. The spores formed were similar
      to those formed on surface-grown cultures, except for reduced heat resistance.
      Both types of spores were sensitive to lysozyme, which is unusual for
      Streptomyces spores. Glucose and other carbon sources, which promoted different
      growth rates, did not affect sporulation efficiency. Nitrogen sources, such as
      casamino acids, that allowed high growth rates suppressed the sporulation. A
      remarkable repression was also observed in media with some nitrogen sources that
      promoted noticeably lower growth rates. In permissive media, with nitrogen
      sources that permitted relatively high growth rates, sporulation was conditioned
      to the consumption of ammonium in the medium, but not to that of other nitrogen
      sources, such as asparagine. Phosphate did not show a repressive effect on
      sporulation in the assayed conditions.

PMID- 1458370
TI  - Prevention of 5-fluorouracil-induced infection with indigenous Escherichia coli
      in tumor-bearing mice by nonspecific immunostimulation.
AB  - We have previously reported that the lethal toxicity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in
      specific-pathogen-free mice is due to an indigenous infection with Escherichia
      coli (K. Nomoto, T. Yokokura, Y. Yoshikai, et al. Can. J. Microbiol. 37:244-247,
      1991). In the present study, we demonstrate that nonspecific immunostimulation
      augments host resistance against the lethal toxicity of 5-FU in tumor-bearing
      mice. Intravenous administration of a preparation of heat-killed Lactobacillus
      casei (LC 9018), a nonspecific immunostimulant, at a dose of 20 mg/kg to BALB/c
      mice augmented their resistance against the lethal toxicity of 5-FU if the
      preparation was injected into the mice 10-40 days before administration of 5-FU.
      Injection of LC 9018 into BALB/c mice bearing Meth A fibrosarcoma also enhanced
      their resistance against the lethality of 5-FU. Systemic infection with E. coli
      was induced in all of the 5-FU-treated tumor-bearing mice 10 days or more after
      administration of the drug at a lethal dose of 500 mg/kg, and it was accompanied
      by an overgrowth of the bacteria in the intestine. Treatment of tumor-bearing
      mice with LC 9018 resulted in decreased rates of occurrence of systemic infection
      with E. coli and inhibition of overgrowth of the bacteria in the intestine after
      administration of 5-FU. A single administration of either LC 9018 or 5-FU
      significantly inhibited the growth of Meth A cells in vivo, and a combined
      antitumor effect was shown in the mice treated with both 5-FU and LC 9018.

PMID- 1458371
TI  - Pectin decomposition and associated nitrogen fixation by mixed cultures of
      Azospirillum and Bacillus species.
AB  - Cocultures of different Azospirillum species with Bacillus polymyxa or Bacillus
      subtilis allow the efficient utilization of pectin as carbon and energy sources
      for nitrogen fixation. The nitrogenase activity obtained with cocultures was as
      high as 30-80 nmol C2H4 h-1 mL-1, a much higher value than that obtained with
      pure cultures of either Azospirillum (up to 13 nmol C2H4 h-1 mL-1) or B. polymyxa
      (up to 2 nmol C2H4 h-1 mL-1) alone. To establish to what extent each partner
      contributed to nitrogenase activity, acetylene reduction was assayed as a
      function of time and it was also measured on Azospirillum cultivated in the
      cultures filtrates of the Bacillus. The results suggested that the nitrogenase
      activity was mostly produced by Azospirillum. The nitrogenase activity occurred
      at the expense of the degradation and fermentation products of the pectin. The
      new pectinolytic species, Azospirillum irakense, utilized both degradation and
      fermentation products of pectin, whereas the nonpectinolytic strains
      (Azospirillum brasilense, Azospirillum lipoferum, Azospirillum amazonense)
      utilized only the fermentation products of pectin, including acetic and succinic
      acids. These cocultures can be considered as metabolic associations, where the
      Bacillus produces degradation and fermentation products of pectin, which can be
      used by Azospirillum species.

PMID- 1458372
TI  - Nonspecificity of the Anda A60-tb ELISA test for serodiagnosis of mycobacterial
      disease.
AB  - The conventional methods for the laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis and other
      mycobacterial diseases are time consuming and beyond the scope of most of the
      small and medium-sized hospital facilities. Therefore, there has been
      considerable interest in the development of a serological method for the
      detection of antibodies against mycobacteria. We recently evaluated a
      commercially available ELISA test (Anda Biologicals, Strasbourg, France) that
      measures antibody levels to A60 antigen, a membrane glycoprotein that is found in
      most mycobacteria. Of the 123 patients with positive pulmonary cultures for
      Mycobacterium tuberculosis, 82% had detectable antibodies against the kit
      antigen. Of the 68 patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis, 59% yielded
      positive results. Specimens from 2 of the 12 patients that grew Mycobacterium
      avium-intracellulare complex, and one each with Mycobacterium fortuitum and
      Mycobacterium chelonei, were considered significant on the basis of medical
      history and repeated isolation of the bacterium from clinical specimens, and
      these patients yielded positive serology. Of the healthy, normal PPD positive and
      PPD negative controls, 24% gave false positive results.

PMID- 1458373
TI  - Interactive effects of salt concentration and temperature on growth and lipid
      composition in the moderately halophilic bacterium Vibrio costicola.
AB  - The interactive effects of NaCl concentration and growth temperature on the
      growth and lipid composition of the moderately halophilic eubacterium Vibrio
      costicola have been investigated. Vibrio costicola was shown to be capable of
      growth over the temperature range 4-37 degrees C. Maximum growth yields were
      obtained at 30 degrees C when the optimum NaCl concentration was 1.0 M NaCl. In
      contrast with some previous studies, at higher or lower growth temperatures both
      the optimum and lower limit of NaCl concentration were higher, but there was no
      change in the upper limit of NaCl concentration for growth. There were no
      differences between the lipid compositions of cultures grown in 1 M NaCl at 30 or
      37 degrees C, but as the growth temperature was lowered from 30 to 10 or 4
      degrees C, the ratio of phosphatidylethanolamine to phosphatidylglycerol
      increased significantly as a result of the conversion of phosphatidylglycerol to
      diphosphatidylglycerol; in addition, at the lower growth temperatures the
      phospholipid fatty acyl composition became more unsaturated and the mean acyl
      chain length was shorter. It is suggested that the altered salt dependence of V.
      costicola at temperatures below the optimum for growth is due to a modification
      in membrane lipid phase behavior and stability brought about by changes in lipid
      composition, whereas a different mechanism operates above the growth temperature
      optimum.

PMID- 1458374
TI  - A filamentous-like mutant of Listeria monocytogenes with reduced expression of a
      60-kilodalton extracellular protein invades and grows in 3T6 and Caco-2 cells.
AB  - We describe a spontaneous rough mutant of Listeria monocytogenes that produces
      reduced amounts of a 60-kilodalton major extracellular polypeptide (p60) as shown
      by sodium dodecyl sulfate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot
      analysis. The cells of this mutant are filamentous, do not give rise to smooth
      wild-type colonies, and produce listeriolysin O in amounts equal to that of the
      wild-type cells, but they show a reduced virulence in the mouse LD50 model and in
      the Caco-2 tissue culture virulence assay. Light and electron microscopic studies
      show that this mutant invades and remains filamentous during in vivo growth in
      both Caco-2 and 3T6 tissue culture monolayers. The reduced virulence of the rough
      mutant is not due to the inability of its filamentous forms to invade or to grow
      in nonprofessional phagocytes since invasion and growth of the smooth wild-type
      and the rough mutants are comparable in both Caco-2 and 3T6 monolayers.

PMID- 1458375
TI  - Identification of Salmonella typhimurium invasiveness loci.
AB  - Salmonella typhimurium is capable of entering into (invading) nonphagocytic host
      cells. To systematically identify the bacterial genes necessary for this process,
      15,000 Tn10dCm random transposon mutants of S. typhimurium were individually
      screened for invasiveness, using the human colonic epithelial Caco-2 cell line.
      Four hundred and eighty-eight mutants had decreased levels of invasiveness; most
      were nonmotile. However, five mutants, representing four loci, were completely
      motile. Further characterization of these five mutants showed that they were also
      unable to enter the dog kidney epithelial cell line MDCK and the mouse macrophage
      line J774.A1. In contrast to the parental strain, they were unable to disrupt the
      transepithelial resistance of polarized epithelial monolayers, nor were they able
      to penetrate across these epithelial barriers. Three of the four classes of
      mutants remained virulent in mice. The results confirm several aspects of S.
      typhimurium invasiveness: (i) intact motility enhances invasiveness of cultured
      cells; (ii) S. typhimurium invasiveness is multifactorial, and at least six
      distinct genetic loci are involved; and (iii) invasion loci involved in uptake
      into epithelial cells are also needed for uptake into cultured phagocytic cells.
      The results also emphasize that decreased levels of invasiveness eliminate
      bacterial penetration of polarized epithelial barriers and invasiveness loci
      mutants are not necessarily avirulent.

PMID- 1458376
TI  - DNA sequence heterogeneity in the gene encoding a 60-kilodalton extracellular
      protein of Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria species.
AB  - Chromosomal DNA sequences from the 60 kilodalton protein gene of Listeria
      monocytogenes, amplified by the polymerase chain reaction, were used for
      restriction fragment length polymorphism differentiation of L. monocytogenes
      serotypes and other Listeria species. All 24 strains of L. monocytogenes examined
      produced an extracellular protein of molecular weight 60,000 (p60) as determined
      by Western blot analysis. Four of six other Listeria species had a protein that
      cross-reacted to antibodies to p60, but all differed in molecular weight, ranging
      from approximately 50,000 to 65,000. The gene encoding p60 was amplified from
      chromosomal DNA in all strains using polymerase chain reaction with a single
      primer pair. Restriction enzyme digestion with HindIII of the amplified product
      revealed a restriction pattern that was distinct between serotypes 1/2a and
      either 4b or 1/2b of L. monocytogenes. Of the other Listeria species, four
      strains that produced a cross-reacting protein likewise produced a polymerase
      chain reaction amplification product with the primer pair. Listeria innocua alone
      had a restriction pattern similar to that of Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b
      and 1/2b. Genotypic heterogeneity, as revealed by DNA amplification and
      restriction endonuclease digestion of the p60 open reading frame, correlates with
      "electrophoretic type" grouping and may be related to differences in virulence
      mechanisms of Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria species.

PMID- 1458377
TI  - [Changes in culture and biochemical characteristics of Salmonella paratyphi B
      after incubation in seawater].
AB  - After incubation in seawater Salmonella paratyphi B cells rapidly became unable
      to grow on bacteriological media. Previous adaptation to high osmolarity
      conditions greatly slowed down this process. Strains isolated from seawater
      microcosms after varying incubation periods were qualitatively different and
      showed changes in some of their growth (colony shape and size) and biochemical
      properties (acidification of some sugars, gelatinase activity, acetoin
      production, nitrate reduction). Because of these modifications, the bacteria
      showed atypical profiles and could not be identified as members of the Salmonella
      genus. The alteration of the phenotype, although reversible, could explain some
      of the false-negative results obtained upon isolation and identification of these
      bacteria in seawater samples.

PMID- 1458378
TI  - Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: the six hemoclip rule.

PMID- 1458379
TI  - Treatment for nonunion of humeral shaft fractures.

PMID- 1458380
TI  - Routine nasogastric decompression after abdominal surgery?

PMID- 1458381
TI  - An unusual case of hemoperitoneum due to forgotten blunt trauma.

PMID- 1458382
TI  - Goodbye to routine.

PMID- 1458383
TI  - Choledochal cysts: a retrospective review of 28 patients and a review of the
      literature.
AB  - Retained choledochal cysts have been associated with recurrent cholangitis,
      portal hypertension and malignant lesions of the biliary tract. The authors
      reviewed the cases of 23 females and 5 males who had congenital cystic dilatation
      of the biliary tree; 26 were seen primarily and 2 were referred because of
      complications from previous surgery. Patient age at presentation ranged from 6
      weeks to 46 years. The presenting complaints in 25 patients were pain or
      jaundice, or both; the classic triad of pain, jaundice and an abdominal mass was
      present in only 3 patients. Primary cyst excision was performed in 11 patients.
      Internal drainage procedures were performed in 12 patients, external drainage
      procedures in 3 patients and no direct operative procedure in 2 patients. Follow
      up ranged from 1 to 20 years. Nine of 11 patients with primary excision were
      asymptomatic; 2 had recurrent cholangitis and required treatment for bile duct
      stricture. Five patients with retained cysts were asymptomatic. Recurrent
      cholangitis occurred in seven patients. Six patients required at least one
      reoperation, but only two had secondary cyst excision. The long-term complication
      rate for patients with retained cysts was 66.7% and for those with primary
      excision was 18%. The findings of this study support the current recommendation
      of primary excision of choledochal cysts. Symptomatic patients with retained
      cysts should have secondary cyst excision. Asymptomatic patients with retained
      cysts are at risk for malignancy and should undergo lifelong periodic radiologic
      examinations and liver-function testing.

PMID- 1458384
TI  - Primary cutaneous malignant melanoma: experience of the British Columbia Cancer
      Agency from 1972 to 1981.
AB  - A retrospective review of 891 patients with newly diagnosed primary cutaneous
      malignant melanoma (CMM) registered at the British Columbia Cancer Agency from
      1972 to 1981 is presented. Age-standardized incidence rates in British Columbia
      have increased markedly over that time. The female-to-male ratio was 1.13:1 and
      the median age overall was 47 years. A change in the size of a mole was the most
      common presenting sign (in 43% of patients) and the median duration of signs was
      5.9 months. Predominant tumour sites were the trunk for males and the lower limbs
      for females. Dominant growth patterns were superficial spreading melanoma (65%),
      nodular melanoma (25%), lentigo maligna melanoma (5%) and acral lentiginous
      melanoma (2%). On staging of the primary tumour, 90% of patients had local
      disease, 9% of patients had regional disease and 1% of patients had distant
      disease at presentation. Median depths of tumours were 1.45 mm for males and 1.10
      mm for females; no T1 tumours (tumours 0.75 mm or less in depth [TNM
      classification]) were staged beyond the local area. Disease recurred in 44% of
      males and 32% of females. The 15-year survival rate was 55.5% for males and 70.3%
      for females. These findings are compared with those of recent international
      series. It is apparent that earlier diagnosis improves survival and that more
      education is needed in view of the increasing incidence and death from CMM.

PMID- 1458385
TI  - Elective and therapeutic regional lymph node dissection for cutaneous malignant
      melanoma: experience of the British Columbia Cancer Agency, 1972 to 1981.
AB  - The authors present a 10-year review of patients registered at the British
      Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA) who underwent lymph node dissection for malignant
      melanoma. Pathological findings in the regional lymph nodes were correlated with
      primary site, growth pattern, depth of invasion and Clark's level. Elective lymph
      node dissection (ELND) was performed in 223 patients, and the overall positivity
      rate (pathologically involved nodes) was 16%. Survival rates for patients who had
      ELND were compared with those for BCCA patients not having had ELND and patients
      from the University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Although patients who underwent
      ELND had thicker and more frequently ulcerated primary tumours than patients with
      stage I disease who did not undergo ELND, survival was better in the group who
      had ELND. However, when all potential prognostic factors were analysed by
      multivariate analysis, ELND was not a significant factor in prognosis.
      Therapeutic lymph node dissection (TLND) was performed in 50 patients at the time
      the primary tumour was diagnosed, and involvement of the lymph nodes was found in
      36. Of 525 patients with clinical stage I disease who did not have ELND, disease
      recurred in the regional lymph nodes in 119; 86 of them had TLND for recurrence
      (RTLND). Median survival rates from the time of diagnosis of the primary lesion
      for ELND-positive, TLND-positive and RTLND patients were 4.2, 2.7 and 4.4 years
      respectively; the differences were not significant. New treatments are required
      for patients with involved regional lymph nodes.

PMID- 1458386
TI  - Clinical performance of the Duromedics bileaflet pyrolite mechanical prosthesis.
AB  - The Duromedics (Baxter Healthcare Corp., Edwards CVS Div., Irvine, Calif.)
      mechanical cardiac valvular prosthesis was implanted in 480 patients between 1984
      and 1987 at the Montreal Heart Institute, the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona and
      the teaching hospitals of the University of British Columbia. The mean age of the
      patients was 52 years. The early mortality was 7.9% and the late mortality was
      4.1% per patient-year. The overall survival at 4 years for aortic valve
      replacement (AVR) was 87.0% +/- 3.7% and for mitral valve replacement (MVR) was
      81.9% +/- 2.9%. There were 16 valve-related reoperations in 14 patients--for
      prosthetic valve endocarditis in 9 patients, for thromboembolism in 1 patient and
      for nonstructural dysfunction in 4 patients. The freedom from thromboembolism at
      3 and 4 years was 94.3% +/- 3.1% for AVR and 95.1% +/- 1.8% for MVR. The freedom
      from prosthetic valve endocarditis at 3 and 4 years was 95.3% +/- 2.2% for AVR
      and 96.2% +/- 1.6% for MVR. The freedom from structural valve deterioration for
      all positions was 100%. The freedom from reoperation at 4 years was 95.3% +/-
      2.1% for AVR and 92.3% +/- 4.3% for MVR and from valve-related death was 98.7% +/
      1.3% for AVR and 96.2% +/- 1.6% for MVR. The freedom from all valve-related
      complications at 4 years was 87.7% +/- 3.8% for AVR and 85.7% +/- 2.9% for MVR.
      Long-term evaluation of the Duromedics prosthesis is required to determine the
      influence of documented structural valve deterioration.

PMID- 1458387
TI  - Acute mesenteric ischemia: an aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approach.
      1991 Roussel Lecture.
AB  - The incidence of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) has increased substantially over
      the last few decades. Death rates of 70% to 90% have been reported for
      traditional methods of diagnosis and therapy. Use of an aggressive radiologic,
      pharmacologic and surgical approach has decreased the mortality and morbidity
      associated with AMI. The cornerstones of management are prompt diagnosis by the
      earlier and more liberal use of angiography and the incorporation of intra
      arterial papaverine in the treatment of both occlusive and nonocclusive AMI.
      Widespread adoption of this protocol in patients at risk might improve the
      overall results of treatment of AMI.

PMID- 1458388
TI  - Routine omission of nasogastric intubation after gastrointestinal surgery.
AB  - The need for routine nasogastric-tube decompression after gastrointestinal
      surgery has been challenged repeatedly for several years. To determine whether
      nasogastric intubation can be omitted routinely, 101 consecutive patients who
      underwent gastrointestinal surgery were managed prospectively without nasogastric
      tubes. Excluded were patients with complete bowel obstruction and those who
      required prolonged endotracheal intubation. These patients were compared with 101
      retrospective controls who had nasogastric decompression routinely. There were
      four protocol violations in the prospective group (nasogastric tubes were left in
      place postoperatively) and one in the retrospective group (no nasogastric tube
      postoperatively), leaving 97 and 100 patients, respectively, for follow-up. The
      mean duration of hospitalization in comparable patients was 10.6 days in patients
      without decompression and 11.9 days in those with routine decompression.
      Subsequent nasogastric-tube insertion was required in nine patients who did not
      undergo routine decompression, compared with two patients who had routine
      decompression. There were no statistically significant differences in the rates
      of anastomotic leaks, wound disruptions and pulmonary or other complications
      between the two groups. The authors conclude that nasogastric decompression can
      be safely omitted as a routine part of postoperative care after gastrointestinal
      surgery.

PMID- 1458389
TI  - A prospective randomized trial of routine postoperative nasogastric decompression
      in patients with bowel anastomosis.
AB  - Until relatively recently, the nasogastric (NG) tube has been used routinely for
      decompression in the patient with small- or large-bowel anastomosis. To determine
      if routine postoperative NG decompression benefited such patients, 102 patients
      were randomized prospectively to either NG decompression or no-NG tube. Excluded
      were patients with chronic bowel obstruction, peritonitis, gross fecal
      contamination or spillage, and previous abdominal or pelvic irradiation. There
      were 52 patients in the no-NG group and 50 in the NG group. Patients in the no-NG
      group had earlier bowel sounds, return of flatus, oral intake and first bowel
      movement. Four patients (8%) in the no-NG group, compared with one patient (2%)
      in the NG group, required subsequent decompression. Length of hospital stay was
      significantly (p < 0.001) shorter in the no-NG group. There were no significant
      differences in the presence of atelectasis, postoperative fever, wound infections
      and anastomotic leaks between the two groups. The authors conclude that routine
      nasogastric decompression is not warranted after elective surgery involving small
      or large-bowel anastomosis.

PMID- 1458390
TI  - Renal perfusion with the Biomedicus pump during resection of an abdominal aortic
      aneurysm.
AB  - Renal artery perfusion is usually unnecessary during resection of an abdominal
      aortic aneurysm, because most of these aneurysms are situated below the renal
      arteries. The authors report the interesting case of a patient with a solitary
      functioning kidney, who had undergone previous bypass grafting from the right
      iliac artery to the right renal artery and in whom the kidney was perfused with
      the Biomedicus pump during the repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. This
      technique may be useful in special situations in which any period of renal
      ischemia might be hazardous to renal function.

PMID- 1458391
TI  - Reconstruction of avulsed scalp after go-cart injury.
AB  - Scalp avulsion is a rare injury that has significant physical and psychological
      consequences. It may require emergency replantation or late, challenging surgical
      reconstruction, or both. The authors describe two patients who had scalp
      avulsion. Each patient got long hair entangled in the uncovered engine of a go
      cart. One underwent unsuccessful replantation without vascular repair; the other
      had a large segment of scalp successfully replanted with microvascular repair.
      Both patients required late reconstruction with tissue expansion. The final
      results were good. When feasible, microvascular replantation is the treatment of
      choice. If replantation is not possible, temporary cover by skin grafts followed
      by later reconstruction with tissue expansion can be effective.

PMID- 1458392
TI  - Injuries to the nervous system and spine in downhill skiing.
AB  - The authors describe injuries to the nervous system and spine from downhill
      skiing accidents through a review of the charts of downhill skiers admitted over
      5 years to the three teaching hospitals of the University of Calgary. The office
      of the chief medical examiner provided details about accidental deaths from
      downhill skiing in which nervous system trauma occurred. During the study period,
      145 downhill skiers suffered injury to the nervous system or spine. There were
      five deaths from nervous system trauma. The mean age of the injured skiers was
      23.8 years, and these injuries were three times more common in men than in women.
      Eighty-eight skiers sustained a head injury, 25 had spinal fractures alone, 20
      had spinal cord or nerve root injury and 12 had peripheral nerve injury. A simple
      fall on the hill was the commonest method of injury, followed in frequency by
      collision with a tree, which caused the most severe injuries. Reckless skiing,
      design of ski runs and man-made snow were contributing factors. The serious
      nature and number of these injuries must be recognized, and further study is
      needed on causal factors and preventive measures.

PMID- 1458393
TI  - Splenic vein thrombosis as a cause of variceal bleeding.
AB  - Splenic vein thrombosis as a cause of variceal bleeding is underdiagnosed. Newer,
      noninvasive techniques of diagnosis that have been introduced recently appear to
      be accurate. Isolated gastric varices in the presence of normal liver function
      and especially in the presence of pancreatic disease should prompt a search for
      splenic vein thrombosis. Splenectomy is the treatment of choice.

PMID- 1458394
TI  - Major vessel excision in retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.
AB  - Retroperitoneal malignant tumours, both primary and metastatic, may involve
      surrounding structures such as the aorta and vena cava, making complete tumour
      excision difficult. En bloc resection of major blood vessels should be considered
      in such cases. The authors describe three patients who underwent excision of
      major blood vessels with retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Two patients had
      aortic resection with placement of a Dacron tube graft, and one had excision of
      the vena cava from above the renal vessels to the level of the common iliac veins
      with distal venous ligation. The low complication rate confirms the feasibility
      of excising major blood vessels to accomplish complete retroperitoneal
      lymphadenectomy.

PMID- 1458395
TI  - Blunt traumatic avulsion of an intercostal artery: an unusual case of thoracic
      aortic injury.
AB  - The aortic isthmus is the most commonly injured part of the thoracic aorta in
      patients who survive blunt deceleration injury to that vessel long enough to
      reach a hospital. Occasionally, avulsion of the brachiocephalic arteries from the
      aortic arch is seen. The authors describe an unusual form of intrathoracic
      vascular injury in which mediastinal hemorrhage occurred secondary to avulsion of
      an intercostal artery from the descending thoracic aorta as a result of a
      vertical deceleration injury.

PMID- 1458396
TI  - Treatment for nonunion of the shaft of the humerus: comparison of plates and
      Seidel interlocking nails.
AB  - From July 1986 to November 1989, fractures of the humeral shaft in 35 adults who
      had nonunion of the fracture were managed by plate fixation (19 patients) or
      antegrade nailing of the fracture fragments with the Seidel interlocking nail (16
      patients) together with cancellous bone grafting. The follow-up period ranged
      from 12 to 52 months. Of the patients who had plate fixation, 89.5% had fracture
      union within 4.5 +/- 1.7 months; of the patients whose fracture was managed with
      the Seidel interlocking nail, 87.5% had fracture union within 4.4 +/- 1.8 months.
      The range of shoulder motion was improved with both techniques. Patients who had
      plate fixation had more complications than those whose fracture was managed by
      interlocking nailing (21% v. 12%). The authors prefer interlocking nailing
      because it is a relatively simpler technique, resulting in fewer complications.
      It may replace plating in the treatment of nonunion of humeral shaft fractures.
      However, rotatory instability with interlocking nailing cannot be disregarded,
      and if this is evident plate fixation should be done.

PMID- 1458397
TI  - Tobacco control boards?

PMID- 1458398
TI  - Why another examination?

PMID- 1458399
TI  - Why another examination?

PMID- 1458400
TI  - Why another examination?

PMID- 1458401
TI  - Why another examination?

PMID- 1458402
TI  - Exodus of Canadian physicians.

PMID- 1458403
TI  - Changes in the undergraduate medical curricula.

PMID- 1458404
TI  - Immunization of immigrants.

PMID- 1458405
TI  - Women can abuse too.

PMID- 1458406
TI  - Chlamydial infection in Canada.

PMID- 1458407
TI  - Physicians and the environment.

PMID- 1458408
TI  - Beta-carotene: potential anticarcinogen.

PMID- 1458409
TI  - Attention deficit disorder and food intolerance.

PMID- 1458410
TI  - Strike out flu!

PMID- 1458411
TI  - Steroid therapy.

PMID- 1458412
TI  - Nasogastric tube placement.

PMID- 1458413
TI  - Conflict of interest among researchers.

PMID- 1458414
TI  - Kaiser Permanente system.

PMID- 1458416
TI  - Physicians are not overpaid.

PMID- 1458415
TI  - Hospital mergers recommended for London, England.

PMID- 1458417
TI  - The most northerly practice in Canada.

PMID- 1458418
TI  - Improving epidemic control: lessons from the 1987 toxic mussels affair.

PMID- 1458419
TI  - Outcomes and the management of health care. Health Services Research Group.

PMID- 1458420
TI  - Guidelines for transfusion of erythrocytes to neonates and premature infants.
      Fetus and Newborn Committee, Canadian Paediatric Society.
AB  - The transfusion of erythrocytes to neonates and premature infants is common and
      should be minimized through a reduction in the number of blood samples taken for
      laboratory tests. The risks to patients have been minimized with current blood
      banking techniques, although neonates and premature infants may require special
      consideration. The indications for transfusion of erythrocytes to neonates
      include the presence of shock, a loss of 10% or more of the blood volume within
      72 hours when further blood sampling is expected, a hemoglobin level of less than
      130 g/L in neonates with cardio-respiratory disease who require increased oxygen
      carrying capacity, and a hemoglobin level of less than 80 to 100 g/L in neonates
      with tachypnea, tachycardia, recurrent apnea, poor feeding or failure to gain
      weight. The attending physician should consider these indications along with
      clinical judgement to ensure safe and effective erythrocyte transfusion.

PMID- 1458421
TI  - Rate of death from cervical cancer among native Indian women in British Columbia.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the rates of death from cervical cancer among native Indian
      women and non-native women in British Columbia from 1953 to 1984. DESIGN:
      Retrospective analysis of data retrieved from the British Columbia Division of
      Vital Statistics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age-standardized death rate and relative
      rate. RESULTS: The rate of death from cervical cancer was significantly higher
      among the native women than among the non-native women throughout the study
      period. No deaths from cervical cancer were recorded in women under 20 years of
      age. Among those 20 to 64 the relative rate increased from 3.83 in 1953-62 to
      6.53 in 1973-84; among those 65 or more it decreased slightly. For the entire
      study period the relative rate for women 20 to 64 years old was 5.95 and for
      those 65 or older 2.98. CONCLUSION: The rate of death from cervical cancer among
      native women in British Columbia is unacceptably high, probably because the
      provincial screening program does not reach as many native women as it does non
      native women.

PMID- 1458422
TI  - Underrecognition of chylomicronemia as a cause of acute pancreatitis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine how often chylomicronemia is considered by admitting
      physicians as a possible cause of acute pancreatitis. DESIGN: Retrospective
      hospital chart review. SETTING: Tertiary care teaching hospital in an urban
      centre with a referral population of 1 million. PATIENTS: All patients admitted
      with acute pancreatitis from Jan. 1, 1985, to Dec. 31, 1987. Episodes of
      pancreatitis were divided into two groups: those for which a cause was known
      after history taking, physical examination and laboratory investigation at the
      time of admission (group 1) and those for which a cause was unknown after full
      examination (group 2). RESULTS: There were 319 episodes of chylomicronemia in 162
      patients. The cause of the pancreatitis was known after examination at the time
      of admission in 239 (75%) of the episodes; there was hypertriglyceridemia in 7
      (3%). No cause was identified after examination in the other 80 episodes (25%);
      chylomicronemia was considered in 18 cases (29%) and was found in 6 (33%) of them
      (mean serum triglyceride level 34.4 mmol/L). Of the remaining 62 episodes in
      group 2, 10 (16%) were later found to be caused by chylomicronemia (mean serum
      triglyceride level 22.6 mmol/L). Among the 80 episodes in group 2 at least one
      medical condition associated with chylomicronemia was present in 24. In only 7
      (29%) of the 24 was chylomicronemia considered; in 6 the mean serum triglyceride
      level was 19.7 mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: Although the overall detection rate of
      chylomicronemia was low, its presence in patients without other etiologic factors
      after examination may have been much higher. Consideration of chylomicronemia in
      this subgroup at the time of presentation may increase diagnostic yield and help
      prevent further occurrences of pancreatitis.

PMID- 1458423
TI  - Hypoalphalipoproteinemia.

PMID- 1458424
TI  - Christmas 1982: religion, science and faith. 1982.

PMID- 1458425
TI  - Major antismoking moves proposed after navy survey points to smoking epidemic.

PMID- 1458426
TI  - Yellowknife MDs forced to deal with fallout from bitter strike, explosion.

PMID- 1458427
TI  - Night myopia may place many young drivers at risk, MD says.

PMID- 1458428
TI  - Is health technology assessment medicine's rising star?

PMID- 1458429
TI  - Move to pay more attention to women's issues sign of changing health care times
      in US.

PMID- 1458430
TI  - About that fee increase ....

PMID- 1458431
TI  - Supreme Court decision forces CMA to revise policy on patients' right to records.

PMID- 1458432
TI  - Selling services becoming increasingly important to bottom line, hospitals say.

PMID- 1458433
TI  - Ultrastructural localization of HIV-1 RNA and core proteins. Simultaneous
      visualization using double immunogold labelling after in situ hybridization and
      immunocytochemistry.
AB  - The analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA sequences in CEM
      and Jurkat lymphoid cells infected with the virus has been performed at the
      subcellular level. Using a biotinylated DNA probe specific for HIV-1, virus RNA
      sequences were detected on Lowicryl thin sections after immunogold cytochemistry.
      The labelling observed on the cytoplasm was localized near the plasma membrane
      connected with extracellular cluster of virions. On free immature and nascent
      form of the virus the detection of HIV-1 RNA was associated with the peripheral
      electron-dense structure, whereas on mature form the labelling was concentrated
      on the central nucleoid known to be the site of the HIV-1 genomic RNA. The
      identification of virus RNA was also performed simultaneously with the detection
      of HIV-1 core protein p24 or p17 using a double immunogold labelling. Whereas the
      HIV-1 RNA showed again a cytoplasmic and virions localization, the structural
      protein was only observed on viral formations. The cytoplasmic localization of
      virus RNA, at the time of virus production, suggests that they are of genomic
      origin destined to be packaged in virions once the assembly of virus structural
      proteins has taken place in the plasma membrane at the viral budding site. The
      present molecular investigation conducted at the subcellular level provides
      insight into the cell periphery distribution of HIV-1 RNA observed at the light
      microscope as corresponding to the detection of HIV-1 infected lymphoid cells
      actually releasing virions.

PMID- 1458434
TI  - A study of peritoneal cells from healthy and Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice
      with special reference to myofibroblasts arising in culture.
AB  - Adherent, trypsin-resistant, peritoneal cells from mice with chronic
      schistosomiasis mansoni, and from control mice, were cultivated in vitro up to 20
      days. Fibroblasts regularly appeared, about 6 days after seeding, in cultures of
      the manyfold more numerous cells from infected mice, concomitantly with a
      dramatic increase, detected by autoradiography, in the percentage of DNA
      replicating cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage. Peritoneal cells from
      healthy and from infected mice were fractionated on discontinuous Percoll
      gradients. Eight cell subsets were harvested in both cases, quantitated, and
      studied by electron microscopy. Two fractions (2 and 3: 1.041 < densities < 1.060
      g/ml) from infected mice were greatly enriched in monoblasts and promonocytes.
      The cells of the different subsets were seeded separately, trypsin-treated and
      cultivated in vitro. Cultures of cell fractions 2 and 3 from infected mice
      contained the majority of the DNA-synthesizing cells and gave regularly rise to
      fibroblasts. Cultures of the different fractions were used for sequential
      morphological observations (2-11 days) at the electron microscope level. Early
      cultures were also used for the ultrastructural detection of the Mac-1 (CD 18/CD
      11b) surface antigen by gold immunocytochemistry. A few fibroblasts were rarely
      observed in cultures of fractions 2 and 3 from control mice, while cells with
      ultrastructural features of myofibroblasts were regularly observed in cultures of
      the same fractions harvested from mice with chronic schistosomiasis. Fractions 2
      and 3 from infected mice contained a large number of Mac-1 positive monoblasts.
      The correlations between the presence of monoblasts, DNA replication in cells of
      the monocyte-macrophage lineage and the appearance of myofibroblasts in cultures
      of the same fractions derived from infected mice are discussed.

PMID- 1458435
TI  - A mouse repeat sequence conserved in eukaryotic genomes.
AB  - To study the biological role of simple repetitive DNA sequences, we analysed a
      clone isolated from a mouse macrophage cDNA library called T2. This clone
      contains two simple repetitive sequences: a new sequence, 'CAGAGAGG', and a
      sequence previously described, 'GATA'. By sequencing analysis, an open reading
      frame, coding for 225 amino acids, is detected in the T2 clone. The new simple
      sequence is present thousands of time in the mouse genome, associated or not with
      the sequence 'GATA'. The sequence 'CAGAGAGG' is transcribed in messenger RNAs.
      Northern blots of RNAs extracted from adult tissues and from differentiated or
      non differentiated cell lines show a large number of transcripts that
      quantitatively decrease when in vitro differentiation occurs. Moreover, Southern
      blots of DNA extracted from different organisms, hybridize with a fragment
      containing only the 'CAGAGAGG' sequence, demonstrating that this sequence is
      represented in the genome of phylogenetically distant eukaryotes, and is highly
      conserved during eukaryotic evolution.

PMID- 1458436
TI  - Ultrastructure of cilia in horses.
AB  - This paper presents some ultrastructural details of cilia from the ciliated
      tracheal epithelium of healthy horses. By using a new fixation method, the
      Authors were able to describe minute details, some of which have been only rarely
      observed in other species and mostly by means of the freeze-etch technique (i.e.
      electron dense particles of ciliary necklace). The Authors justify the need to
      investigate the ultrastructural details of cilia in various species since the
      minute morphological differences might be functionally significant.

PMID- 1458437
TI  - Reorganization of the Golgi complex in association with mitosis: redistribution
      of mannosidase II to the endoplasmic reticulum and effects of brefeldin A.
AB  - Previous studies have shown that the Golgi complex is broken down into dispersed
      clusters of vesiculotubular elements as mammalian cells enter mitosis and is
      reformed in each daughter cell in telophase/cytokinesis. In the present
      investigation, mannosidase II (a membrane-bound enzyme involved in
      oligosaccharide processing) was used as a marker to explore the fate of the Golgi
      complex in dividing L929 and CHO cells in some additional detail.
      Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated a juxta- or perinuclear staining for
      mannosidase II (man II) in interphase and immunoelectron microscopy revealed that
      it was restricted to the stacked Golgi cisternae at this stage. As the cells
      entered mitosis, the staining for man II assumed a pattern of dispersed elements
      in prophase and then turned into a diffuse pattern during metaphase and anaphase.
      At the electron microscopic level, this corresponded to a successive
      disorganization of the Golgi complex, first into structurally modified stacks
      scattered throughout the cytoplasm, and thereafter into small clusters of
      vesicles and tubules. In parallel, most of the immunoreactivity for man II was
      shifted into partially fragmented cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum, and only
      small amounts were found in the clusters just mentioned. During
      telophase/cytokinesis a circumscribed staining for man II reappeared in each
      daughter cell. At the electron microscopic level, cisternal stacks positive for
      man II were found to reform at the same time as immunoreactivity disappeared from
      the endoplasmic reticulum. Typically, the Golgi region was first located on the
      proximal side of the nucleus as related to the intercellular bridge, and then
      moved to the distal side of the nucleus before the cells were about to separate.
      Treatment of synchronized mitotic cells with brefeldin A, a fungal metabolite
      that inhibits endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi transport, prevented reformation of
      the Golgi complex in telophase/cytokinesis. Nevertheless, the separation of the
      daughter cells was completed at a similar rate as in the controls. On the basis
      of these findings, an extended model of the disorganization and reorganization of
      the Golgi complex in association with mitosis is presented. According to this
      model the disorganization of the Golgi complex at the onset of mitosis is a two
      step process: the Golgi stacks are first separated from each other and spread out
      in the cytoplasm; thereafter the Golgi stacks disintegrate, at least in part by
      return of Golgi components to the endoplasmic reticulum. In interphase cells,
      similar changes in the organization of the Golgi complex are produced by
      microtubule-disruptive drugs (dispersion of the stacks) and brefeldin A
      (redistribution of Golgi proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum), respectively.

PMID- 1458438
TI  - Ultrastructural analysis of differentiation of rat endoderm in vitro. Adipose
      vascular-stromal cells induce endoderm differentiation, which in turn induces
      differentiation of the vascular-stromal cells into chondrocytes.
AB  - Isolated definitive endoderm from 9-day-old rat embryos was cultivated up to 24
      days in plastic and glass petri dishes and on developing vascular-stromal cells
      (mesenchymal cells) from epididymal white and interscapular brown adipose tissue
      of 4-week-old male rats. Explants were analyzed histologically and
      ultrastructurally. Endoderm attached to the bottom of the glass or petri dishes
      degenerated under one week of cultivation. Endoderm free floating in the culture
      medium developed into unilaminar vesicles whose flat epithelium did not
      differentiate. However, endoderm inoculated on developing mesenchymal cells
      differentiated into glandular explants or into ciliated pseudostratified columnar
      respiratory epithelium. The glandular explants were made up of at least four
      different kinds of cells whose cytoplasm showed predominantly: a) polyribosomes,
      b) lysosomes, c) mitochondria or d) cytoskeletal filaments. Endodermal cells
      differentiated only if, during cultivation, they were in contact with or in close
      proximity to developing mesenchymal cells. Endoderm differentiating into the
      respiratory epithelium in turn directed differentiation of the underlying
      vascular-stromal cells into lamina propria cells and chondrocytes. Cultivated
      vascular-stromal cells in the upper layers became thicker, ellipsoid in shape and
      with enlarged intercellular space. They appeared to be lamina propria cells and,
      together with the respiratory epithelium, built folds of respiratory mucosa. The
      vascular-stromal cells in the layers close to the bottom developed into
      chondrocytes; i.e., the cells became oval and agglomerated in nest like
      structures with a defined extracellular matrix. Their cytoplasm contained
      abundant cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum and numerous vacuoles with PAS
      positive substance. These observations showed that even developing vascular
      stromal cells from adipose tissue from postlactating rats can trigger the process
      of definitive endoderm differentiation. Once triggered, differentiating endoderm
      influenced differentiation of the vascular-stromal cells into the cells and
      tissues of a wall of the respiratory tract.

PMID- 1458439
TI  - The effect of thyrotropic hormone (TSH) on the thyroid gland of the newborn rat.
      An electron microscopic study.
AB  - The activity of the thyroid gland of the newborn rat is influenced by the
      treatment of TSH. Shortly after hormone injection, its effects can be detected in
      the synthesis and storage of the colloid. In a longer term (30 min and 60 min)
      the morphological signs of resorption and secretion are evident. At this early
      age the cellular compartments involved in the secretory pathway of the cells are
      still not complete in maturation (less developed Golgi complex, missing secretory
      vesicles and micropinocytotic vesicles). According to our results, even TSH
      administration cannot influence this picture in the short term. Our work supports
      the intracellular way of folliculogenesis, and the TSH action as a promoter in
      this way.

PMID- 1458441
TI  - Conventional and high resolution scanning electron microscopy of outer and inner
      surface features of cerebellar nerve cells.
AB  - This paper provides an exploration into the inner and outer surfaces of
      vertebrate cerebellar neurons utilizing secondary electron (SE-I and SE-II)
      topographic contrasts. SE-I enriched chromium coated, cryofractured Rhesus monkey
      cerebellum staged within the condenser/objective stage of SEMs equipped with high
      brightness LaB6 and field emission emitters generated quality images of intact
      and fractured nerve cells studied at intermediate and high magnifications. These
      images were compared with conventional SE-III images of gold-palladium teleost
      fish cerebellar neurons and transmission electron micrographs of mouse cerebellar
      nerve cells obtained either by thin-sections or freeze-etch replicas. Chromium
      coated Rhesus monkey granule and Golgi cell surfaces revealed smooth, accurately
      delineated profiles of true cell surface features, which lacked the SE-III
      dominated brilliance of conventional teleost fish gold or gold-palladium,
      decorated neurons. Chromium coated fractured nerve processes showed the outer
      smooth surface of interconnected anastomotic networks or ER tubules, vesicles and
      cisterns. Cross fractured presynaptic endings of parallel fibers in the molecular
      layer exhibited spheroidal synaptic vesicles and SE-I edge brightness contrast
      delineated their limiting plasma membranes. Fractured synaptic endings showed a
      homogeneous extravesicular material surrounding the synaptic vesicles. The
      presynaptic dense projections appeared as columnar shaped structures. The
      postsynaptic membrane and associated postsynaptic density showed a discontinuous
      surface formed by round subunits 25-35 nm in diameter. The neuroglial cytoplasm
      ensheathing nerve process exhibited a smooth discontinuous surface. The surface
      of the myelin sheath showed a mixed population of globular structures 10-30 nm in
      diameter, apparently corresponding, according to freeze-etch images, to protein
      and phospholipid microdomains.

PMID- 1458440
TI  - Increased adhesion of human diabetic platelets to cultured valvular endothelial
      cells.
AB  - Diabetes is accompanied by impaired platelet function and accelerated vascular
      disease. To find out whether a correlation exists between these two
      complications, and if modifications occurring in diabetic platelets influence
      their relationship with endothelium, we have studied the interaction between
      platelets isolated from plasma of diabetic patients and bovine valvular
      endothelial cells (VEC), in culture. For quantitative analysis, normal and
      diabetic [3H]-adenine-labeled platelets were incubated with confluent VEC grown
      in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium, containing 4.5 g/l glucose, for 30 min at 37
      degrees C. After extensive washing and solubilization of the monolayer, the
      calculated adhesion index showed a two-fold increased adherence of diabetic
      platelets to VEC as compared to normal platelets. Statistical analysis (by Pitman
      randomization test) indicated that the adhesion was significantly higher (p =
      0.0003) than that of normal platelets to VEC. To partially identify the membrane
      components implicated in the adhesion process, either platelets or VEC were
      treated with neuraminidase, trypsin or heparinase prior to the adhesion assay.
      Trypsin or neuraminidase treatment of platelets significantly diminished their
      adherence to VEC, suggesting a role of platelets sialylated glycoproteins in the
      adhesion process. Neuraminidase or heparinase treatment of VEC increased the
      adhesion of both normal and diabetic platelets, indicating that the cell membrane
      sialyl residues and heparan sulfate participate in the normal thromboresistant
      properties of VEC. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy revealed a close
      apposition between platelets and VEC with the formation of an adhesion plaque,
      characterized by fine fibrillar bridges between the plasma membranes of the two
      cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1458442
TI  - Ultrastructure of Brunner's glands in the horse.
AB  - Investigation of the duodenal submucosal glands of Brunner in the horse for the
      first time at the ultrastructural level has clarified some of the unique features
      of these equine glands. The horse is one of the very few mammals in which
      Brunner's glands are comprised of both mucous and serous tubuloacinar glands.
      Although the ultrastructural differences between the serous and mucous cell types
      are marked, particularly with respect to secretory granules and rough endoplasmic
      reticula, these cell types closely correspond to serous and mucous cells in the
      upper digestive system of other mammals. A minor and distinct population of
      goblet cell-like mucous cells, and endocrine-like cells were also observed in
      equine Brunner's glands. Both the serous and mucous cells appear to empty into
      common ducts which enter the base of the duodenal crypts. These submicroscopic
      cytologic data taken together with other physiologic data would suggest that, in
      the horse, Brunner's glands function both to provide mucosal protection in the
      proximal duodenum as well as to release digestive enzymes, such as lipase or
      other unidentified materials.

PMID- 1458443
TI  - Genetics and cytogenetics of retinoblastoma.

PMID- 1458444
TI  - Cytogenetic studies in 112 cases of untreated myelodysplastic syndromes.
AB  - Cytogenetic studies were performed in 112 untreated cases of myelodysplastic
      syndrome (MDS) between 1985 and 1990. Among 112 patients who were examined at the
      time of diagnosis, 54 had an abnormal karyotype (48%). The highest frequency of
      chromosome abnormalities was observed in refractory anemia with excess of blasts
      (RAEB) and RAEB in transformation (RAEB-t) and the lowest in refractory anemia
      with ring sideroblasts (RARS) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMMoL).
      Numerical changes were observed in 19 cases and structural in 17; chromosome 8
      was most frequently gained (11 cases), whereas chromosome 7 was most frequently
      lost (6 cases), 5q- in 14 (4 as a sole anomaly); involvement of 7q22 was seen in
      3 cases, 11p in 2 patients, 11q in 3 (one patient as a sole anomaly), 12p in 4 (2
      patients as a sole anomaly), i(17q) in 4 (3 patients as a sole anomaly), and
      complex chromosomal defects in 10 patients. If one takes into account the
      prognosis value, a complex karyotype and the presence of ring chromosomes were
      correlated with the worst prognosis, followed by -7/7q-; an intermediate
      prognosis corresponds to i(17q), 12p as a sole anomaly, +8 (as a sole anomaly or
      plus other anomalies), and involvement of 12p. Patients with a 5q- as a sole
      anomaly or with a normal karyotype, had the best prognosis.

PMID- 1458445
TI  - Chromosome 12 in human testicular cancer: dosage changes and their parental
      origin.
AB  - Cytogenetically, a marker chromosome interpreted as i(12p) is present in most
      testicular tumors of germ cell origin. In this study, 22 patients with testicular
      germ-cell tumors were investigated by Southern blot hybridization to characterize
      changes in chromosome 12. In comparison with normal DNA, tumor DNA of 18 patients
      showed increased dosages of 12p accompanied by a comparable or smaller increase
      or no change in the dosage of centromeric sequences of chromosome 12. A likely
      interpretation was that most testicular tumors had one or several isochromosomes
      for 12p that were formed by somatic division of the centromere and that the
      points of breakage and reunion in the centromeric region were different in
      different tumors. Allelic 12p fragments showing increased intensity were paternal
      in four and maternal in three of seven informative cases. Thus, there was no
      evidence of sex-limited parental imprinting. Furthermore, the observed patterns
      of allelic fragments suggested that the marker was an i(12p) formed by sister
      chromatids of one homolog number 12 rather than the result of interchange of
      genetic material between different homologues.

PMID- 1458446
TI  - Translocation (12;17)(p11-12;q11-12): a recurrent primary rearrangement in acute
      leukemia.
AB  - We identified two patients with acute leukemia in relapse (one lymphoblastic and
      the other with evidence of mixed lymphoid-myeloid differentiation) with
      t(12;17)(p12;q11) as the primary karyotypic abnormality. There are six previously
      reported cases of acute leukemia with an identical or similar translocation. To
      our knowledge, t(12;17) has not been reported in other forms of neoplasia. A
      review of these cases suggests that t(12;17) carries a poor prognosis.

PMID- 1458447
TI  - Variant complex translocation t(8;15;21) in acute myeloblastic leukemia (M2)
      associated with bilateral chloroma.
AB  - Complex translocation t(8;15;21)(q22;q21;q22) in a 9-year-old female with acute
      myeloblastic leukemia (M2) with bilateral chloroma is described. This particular
      variant type of translocation in M2 type is rare. The importance of variant
      translocation in defining the critical segment on the chromosomes responsible for
      phenotypic expression of the disease is emphasized.

PMID- 1458448
TI  - A t(2;3)(q12-13;p24-25) in follicular thyroid adenomas.
AB  - We report the cytogenetic analysis of five cases of follicular thyroid adenoma.
      In two of them, we observed an identical t(2;3)(q12-13;p24-25) as a unique
      chromosome change. A third case showed a hyperdiploid karyotype with trisomies of
      chromosomes 7 and 12. Two cases had a normal diploid karyotype. These changes
      could define subgroups of follicular adenomas endowed with different malignant
      potential.

PMID- 1458449
TI  - Cellular proliferation and genetic events involved in the genesis of Burkitt
      lymphoma (BL) in immune compromised patients.
AB  - A mathematical model simulating lymphomagenesis based on the two-hit theory of
      carcinogenesis is presented by contrasting the biologic variables responsible for
      a high risk of developing Burkitt lymphoma (BL) in three immunosuppressed groups
      with that of nonendemic BL. In this model, the pro-B lymphocyte is considered to
      be the target for BL-specific translocations such as t(8;14). With repeated
      mitosis, the target cell pool expands in the high-risk individual, and, thereby,
      the opportunities for a spontaneous translocation to arise are increased. The
      chromosomal translocation endows the target cell with survival advantages, and,
      hence, lymphoma develops. Modeling results demonstrate that this increased cell
      proliferation is sufficient in accounting entirely for the increase in tumor
      prevalence. Preventing enhanced cellular proliferation by obviating immune
      deficiency and treating patients with agents that restore immunity or have
      antiviral and antiproliferative properties prior to conversion from polyclonal B
      cell proliferation to monoclonal malignancy could obviate the development of BL.

PMID- 1458450
TI  - Prognostic significance of karyotype in a twelve-year follow-up in childhood
      acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
AB  - We report a follow-up of 49 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
      diagnosed between 1972 and 1978 (follow-up 12-18 years). This series allowed us
      to analyze the predictive value of karyotype in a long-term follow-up. Karyotypes
      were abnormal in 33 cases (67.3%): pseudodiploidy in 11 (22.4%), hyperdiploidy >
      50 chromosomes in 8 (16.3%), hyperdiploidy 47-50 chromosomes in 11 (22.4%), and
      hypodiploidy in 3 cases (6.1%). Event-free survival (EFS) and survival studies
      showed that the outcome of patients was determined only by treatment and
      karyotype. Eleven patients have survived, nine in first remission (6 years 5
      months to 15 years 2 months), and two are in second remission (3 years 8 months
      and 8 years 2 months). All ploidy groups are represented in these patients. Late
      relapses can occur in the hyperdiploid > 50 group, thus accounting for shorter
      EFS than expected, but because of the unusually long second remission of one
      patient, the rate of surviving patients was higher for this ploidy group than for
      all other ploidy groups together. Conversely, patients with only numerical
      abnormalities (no matter which ploidy group they belonged to), had a better
      outcome than did patients with structural changes or normal karyotypes and no
      discrepancy between EFS and survival curves was observed in this chromosomal
      group. Thus, our results suggest that numerical changes only should be considered
      an indicator of low risk factor, but our results, based on partially banded
      karyotypes, need to be verified by a current method and therapy.

PMID- 1458451
TI  - A new nonrandom chromosomal abnormality, t(2;16)(p11.2;p11.2), possibly
      associated with poor outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
AB  - We report a new, nonrandom t(2;16)(p11.2;p11.2) in childhood acute lymphoblastic
      leukemia (ALL). Three of 292 patients with childhood ALL studied at Indiana
      University Medical Center had this translocation. All three had additional
      chromosomal abnormalities at diagnosis and were classified as having low
      hyperdiploidy (47-49 chromosomes) with structural abnormalities. The patients,
      two boys and one girl, ranged in age from 3 to 13 years. Peripheral white blood
      cells (WBC) counts ranged from 1.8 to 107.4 x 10(9)/L, all were classified as
      French-American-British (FAB) type L1, and all had B-lineage ALL. Because all
      three patients have relapsed after first remissions of 2 years 8 months to 6
      years, the t(2;16) may indicate a poor prognosis and more aggressive treatment
      may be indicated for such patients. Because this translocation was the sole
      abnormality in one clone of patient 2 at relapse, it may be considered the
      primary abnormality. Therefore, it may also be the primary abnormality in the
      other two patients, and the genes involved in the breakpoints may be important in
      leukemogenesis.

PMID- 1458452
TI  - Abnormalities of chromosome 22 in meningiomas and confirmation of the origin of a
      dicentric 22 by in situ hybridization.
AB  - We report three cases of meningioma. Case 1 had a dicentric chromosome number 22
      resulting in partial monosomy for a portion of the q-arm, i.e.,
      46,XX,idic(22)(pter-->q11.2::q11.2-->pter) and 46,XX,psu dic(22)(pter-
      >q11.2::q11.2-->pter), which was the sole clonal abnormality. The origin of the
      dicentric chromosome from 22 was confirmed by in situ hybridization studies,
      using biotin-labeled alpha centromeric DNA probes for the acrocentric
      chromosomes. Case 2 had two distinct clonal abnormalities: deletion of 22q and
      monosomy of 22. Case 3 also had a deleted 22q.

PMID- 1458453
TI  - DNA sequence analysis of mutations induced by melphalan in the CHO aprt locus.
AB  - In previous work, we established that treatment with melphalan (L-phenylalanine
      mustard) produced a predominance of A.T-->T.A transversions in the Simian virus
      40 (SV40)-based shuttle vector pZ189 during replication in human 293 cells.
      Mutations were induced with varying doses (4-12 microM) melphalan in the aprt
      gene of the hemizygous Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line D422 to determine
      whether a similar mutation spectrum would be observed in an endogenous gene. DNA
      sequence alterations were determined for 39 spontaneous and 41 melphalan-induced
      independent mutant clones. Other than a predominance of transversions in both
      systems, the spectrum of melphalan-induced aprt mutations bears little
      resemblance to the spectrum observed in the supF gene of the shuttle plasmid
      pZ189. In aprt, mutations at G.C base pairs (bp) predominated (29 of 41 base
      substitutions). Significantly enhanced mutagenesis was observed at 5' G-G-C 3'
      and 5' G-G-C-C 3' sites in the aprt gene. Almost half of the melphalan-induced
      base substitutions occurred at 5' G-N-C 3' sequences, which are believed to be
      potential interstrand crosslink sites.

PMID- 1458454
TI  - Acute leukemia with t(1;3)(p36;q21), evolution to t(1;3)(p36;q21),
      t(14;17)(q32;q21), and loss of red cell A and Le(b) antigens.
AB  - At transformation of refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts to acute
      nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) the bone marrow cells of a 75-year-old woman
      showed three different karyotypes, i.e., 46,XX,46,XX,t(1;3)(p36;q21) and
      46,XX,t(1;3)(p36;q21),t(14;17)(q32;q21). She received no antileukemic therapy,
      and 1 year later, all her bone marrow cells were
      t(1;3)(p36;q21),t(14;17)(q32;q21). In association with the onset and first 11
      months of ANLL, the platelet count increased 10-fold to a peak of 750 x 10(9)/L,
      providing further evidence that the t(1;3)(p36;q21) translocation causes
      stimulation of thrombopoiesis. Six months after transformation, her red cells
      showed reduced expression of A and Leb antigens. Serum alpha-n-3
      acetylgalactosaminyl transferase (blood group A transferase) and red cell
      adenylate kinase were both reduced. The genes for both these substances are at
      9q34, which suggests an abnormality here, although cytogenetically chromosome 9
      appeared normal. This is the first case with t(1;3)(p36;q21) to show concurrent
      loss of red cell antigens and the first report detailing the course of untreated
      ANLL with t(1;3)(p36;q21).

PMID- 1458455
TI  - Myelodysplastic syndrome and trisomy 14q.
AB  - Trisomy 14 as a sole karyotypic abnormality in neoplasia is extremely rare. In
      hematologic disorders, 18 cases have been reported so far, 17 of which involved
      disorders of the myeloid lineage. Five were cases of myelodysplastic syndrome
      (MDS), and a further four involved Philadelphia-negative atypical chronic myeloid
      leukemia. The case presented here is the second case of trisomy 14q in MDS
      involving the chronic myelomonocytic leukemia subtype. There were certain
      features in common with some of the previously reported cases. We raise the
      possibility that this represents a specific entity.

PMID- 1458456
TI  - Concomitant presence of trisomy 21 and del(9q) in acute myeloid leukemia.
AB  - We report two cases of acute myeloid leukemia with deletion of the long arm of
      chromosome 9 [del(9q)] and trisomy 21. del(9q) and +21 do not often occur as a
      sole karyotypic abnormality in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Their concomitant
      presence is rare; the significance of the findings in leukemia is discussed.

PMID- 1458457
TI  - Cytogenetics of sacral chordoma.
AB  - Only four cases of chordoma have been described cytogenetically. We report the
      cytogenetic findings of a fifth case. Chromosome analysis of a primary sacral
      chordoma from a 69-year-old man showed the following chromosome complement:
      43,XY,-2,-3,del(4)(q32),-6,+7,-11,der(12)t(9;12)(q12;p11),add(16)(q23),-
      20,add(22)(q13),+mar.

PMID- 1458458
TI  - Isochromosome 14q and leukemia with dysplastic features.
AB  - We report a case of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMMoL) with unusual features
      and an isochromosome 14q as the sole abnormality. A review of the literature
      suggests that isochromosome 14q (or trisomy 14) is a marker of leukemia with
      dysplastic features.

PMID- 1458459
TI  - Trisomy 7 in nonneoplastic kidney tissue cultured with and without epidermal
      growth factor.

PMID- 1458460
TI  - Human gastric carcinogenesis: a multistep and multifactorial process--First
      American Cancer Society Award Lecture on Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention.
AB  - Evidence from pathology and epidemiology studies has been provided for a human
      model of gastric carcinogenesis with the following sequential stages: chronic
      gastritis; atrophy; intestinal metaplasia; and dysplasia. The initial stages of
      gastritis and atrophy have been linked to excessive salt intake and infection
      with Helicobacter pylori. The intermediate stages have been associated with the
      ingestion of ascorbic acid and nitrate, determinants of intragastric nitrosation.
      The final stages have been linked with the supply of beta-carotene and with
      excessive salt intake. Nitrosating agents are candidate carcinogens and could
      originate in the gastric cavity or in the inflammatory infiltrate.

PMID- 1458461
TI  - Down-regulation of c-MYC antigen expression in lymphocytes of Emu-c-myc
      transgenic mice treated with anti-c-myc DNA methylphosphonates.
AB  - In transgenic mice bearing a murine immunoglobulin enhancer/c-myc fusion
      transgene (Emu-myc), it was found that antisense DNA methylphosphonates targeted
      against c-myc mRNA inhibited production of c-MYC protein in peripheral
      lymphocytes. The decrease in protein was measured 3-4 h after i.v. administration
      of a 300-nmol dose. c-MYC was detected by immunofluorescence of fixed cells
      stained with an anti-c-MYC antiserum. In addition, DNA methylphosphonates did not
      induce acute toxicity following i.v. administration of a 300-nmol dose. An
      identically administered scrambled sequence oligomer did not decrease c-MYC
      protein or induce toxicity. Finally, recovery of DNA methylphosphonates from the
      blood plasma of treated mice indicated that the oligomers remained intact up to 3
      h, while their concentrations decreased rapidly for the first h, then slowly
      decreased over the next 2 h. This is the first demonstration of sequence-specific
      antisense DNA methylphosphonate inhibition of gene expression in the bloodstream
      of an animal model.

PMID- 1458462
TI  - Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of the novel platinum analogue CI-973 on a 5
      daily dose schedule.
AB  - CI-973, a platinum(II) derivative with a 2-methyl-1,4-butanediamine carrier
      ligand, has activity in cisplatin-resistant tumor models in vitro and in vivo. In
      a Phase I pharmacokinetic study, 31 patients were treated with CI-973 (24 to 50
      mg/m2/day for 5 days; 28-day cycles) given i.v. over 30 min without routine
      antiemetic prophylaxis or hydration. Of the 29 patients evaluable for maximum
      tolerated dose determination, most had a performance status of 0 or 1, and most
      had received prior chemotherapy. Neutropenia was dose limiting at 40 and 50
      mg/m2/day. Recovery from neutropenia was generally rapid with nadir counts and
      recovery usually occurring by Days 15 and 22, respectively. Drug-associated
      thrombocytopenia was uncommon and never severe, even in patients with Grade 4
      neutropenia. Anemia was common, but did not appear dose related. Drug-related
      nausea and vomiting and changes in renal function were relatively infrequent and
      mild. No clinically evident ototoxicity was reported, although changes in
      audiograms were noted in several patients. CI-973 concentrations were measured in
      plasma ultrafiltrate and urine by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The
      harmonic mean terminal half-life was 2.0 h. The mean CI-973 renal and nonrenal
      clearance values were 42.3 and 37.4 ml/min/m2, respectively. The mean recovery of
      CI-973 in urine was 53% of the administered dose. The mean ratio of CI-973 renal
      clearance to creatinine clearance was 0.92. Total clearance correlated with
      creatinine clearance (r2 = 0.63). A relationship between toxicity, expressed as
      the percentage of reduction in absolute granulocyte count, and area under the CI
      973 plasma concentration-time curve was found in a subgroup of "good-risk"
      patients. This relationship, described well by a sigmoidal Emax pharmacodynamic
      model, did not hold for patients with extensive prior therapy or poor performance
      status. A model for toxicity prediction based on dose and creatinine clearance
      has been derived and will be validated in future studies. The recommended Phase
      II dose of CI-973 is 30 mg/m2/day for 5 days.

PMID- 1458463
TI  - Biological and immunological features of humanized M195 (anti-CD33) monoclonal
      antibodies.
AB  - Human-mouse chimeric immunoglobulins G1 and G3 (IgG1 and IgG3) (ChG1, ChG3) and
      "complementarity-determining region"-grafted, humanized IgG1 and IgG3 (HuG1,
      HuG3) constructs of the mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb) M195 were characterized.
      M195 is a murine immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a), anti-CD33 mAb, specifically reactive
      with acute myelogenous leukemia cells, that is active as an antileukemia agent in
      humans. The new mAb constructs maintained specificity and biological function,
      including rapid internalization after binding to the cell surface, which has been
      important for delivery of therapeutic isotopes in patients. Although previously
      reported complementarity-determining region-grafted mAbs had reduced avidities,
      the HuG1 and HuG3 M195 showed up to an 8.6- and 4-fold higher binding avidity,
      respectively, than the original murine mAb. All constructs were effective at
      mediating rabbit complement-mediated cytotoxicity against HL60 targets.
      Fibroblasts transfected with CD33 genes and expressing high levels of CD33
      antigen were also lysed in the presence of human complement, but HL60 cells or
      fibroblasts with lower CD33 levels were not killed. Thus, the inability of M195
      and constructs to kill HL60 targets with human complement is due to the much
      lower antigen density on HL60 cells compared to CD33+ fibroblasts. Unlike the
      murine M195, the chimeric and humanized M195 demonstrated antibody-dependent cell
      mediated cytotoxicity using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells as
      effectors. Because the chimeric and humanized M195 have improved avidities as
      compared to the original M195 and have, in addition, the potential to avoid human
      anti-mouse antibody responses and to recruit human effector functions, these new
      constructs may be useful therapeutically, either alone or conjugated to toxins or
      isotopes, in the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia.

PMID- 1458464
TI  - High molecular weight transforming growth factor beta is excreted in the urine in
      active nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease.
AB  - To measure the in vivo secretion of high molecular weight (HMW) transforming
      growth factor (TGF)beta by Reed-Sternberg cells from patients with nodular
      sclerosing Hodgkin's disease, we studied the urine samples from untreated
      patients. The urinary proteins did not promote the proliferation of NIH-3T3 cells
      in monolayer culture and contained similar amounts of total TGF activity when
      compared with normal controls. Urinary proteins from 24 different control and
      test urines were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis and immunoblotting. Either of two primary antibodies were used
      for immunoblot detection: (a) affinity column purified polyclonal anti-TGF beta 1
      prepared against platelet TGF beta 1 or (b) monoclonal anti-HMW-TGF beta prepared
      against HMW-TGF beta secreted by cloned L-428 Reed-Sternberg cells. All patients
      with active nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease had a detectable HMW-TGF beta
      (approximately 300,000) which cross-reacted with both anti-TGF beta 1 and anti
      HMW-TGF beta. Purification demonstrated HMW-TGF beta which was active at
      physiological pH. Twelve control urine samples from healthy adults and 5 follow
      up samples from the Hodgkin's patients after successful treatment contained no
      detectable urinary HMW-TGF beta. The in vivo production of HMW-TGF beta in
      untreated nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease supports the conclusion that this
      growth factor is secreted in large amounts by Reed-Sternberg cells or cells
      stimulated by Reed-Sternberg cells.

PMID- 1458465
TI  - Pharmacokinetics and therapeutics of sterically stabilized liposomes in mice
      bearing C-26 colon carcinoma.
AB  - Three different liposome types were compared for blood clearance and tissue
      uptake in mice bearing C-26 colon carcinoma growing either s.c. or in liver.
      Therapeutic experiments were performed with the liposome preparation showing the
      highest tumor uptake. Liposomes were composed of solid-phase phosphatidylcholine,
      either distearoyl phosphatidylcholine or hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine,
      and cholesterol at a 2:1 molar ratio. These liposomes were compared with similar
      but sterically stabilized liposomes (SL) which, in addition, contained either GM1
      ganglioside or phosphatidylethanolamine derivatized with poly(ethylene glycol).
      Pharmacokinetic analysis of drug disposition was based on the areas under the
      curve for liposome-entrapped 67Ga uptake per gram of tissue up to 96 h following
      i.v. injection. The highest tissue area under the curve values with both liposome
      types were obtained in spleen, liver, and tumor. However, the sterically
      stabilized liposomes gave an area under the curve value 2-3-fold higher in the
      s.c. tumor and about 2-fold lower in liver and spleen. The therapeutic efficacy
      of doxorubicin (DOX) and epirubicin (EPI) encapsulated in poly(ethylene glycol)
      derivatized phosphatidylethanolamine-containing liposomes was compared with that
      of free drug at two doses, 6 and 9 (or 10) mg/kg animal weight. Liposomes
      containing drug were injected either as a single dose, at different times
      following tumor implantation, or as three weekly doses starting 10 days after
      implantation. When injected as a single dose, liposome-encapsulated DOX had the
      maximal effect on tumor growth when injected 6 to 9 days after tumor
      implantation. When injected as three weekly doses, with treatment starting with a
      delay of 10 days, tumors which had grown to a size of approximately 0.05-0.1 cm3
      regressed in groups of animals treated with either liposome-encapsulated drug (SL
      DOX or SL-EPI) but continued to grow unabated in untreated mice and in mice
      receiving either of the free drugs. Survival of tumor-bearing animals treated
      with either SL-EPI or SL-DOX was significantly prolonged. Animals receiving
      saline, EPI, or DOX survived a mean of 50, 62, and 49 days, respectively,
      following tumor implantation. Eight of nine and nine of 10 animals receiving 6
      and 9 mg/kg SL-EPI, respectively, survived to 120 days. Ten of 10 animals in both
      groups receiving 6 and 9 mg/kg SL-DOX survived to 120 days. None of the surviving
      animals in the SL-EPI and SL-DOX group showed any histological evidence of tumor
      at the conclusion of the experiment (120 days).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1458466
TI  - alpha-Difluoromethylornithine alters calcium signaling in platelet-derived growth
      factor-stimulated A172 brain tumor cells in culture.
AB  - alpha-Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an irreversible inhibitor of the polyamine
      biosynthetic enzyme ornithine decarboxylase, inhibits the growth of brain tumor
      cell lines and is undergoing clinical trials as a treatment for brain tumors.
      Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is thought to regulate the growth and
      development of precursors of both normal and neoplastic astrocytic cells; calcium
      signaling is thought to play a role in the transduction of PDGF signals. Using
      laser fluorescence image cytometry, flow cytometry, and spectrofluorometry, we
      studied the effect of DFMO on the calcium signals induced by PDGF in A172 human
      glioblastoma cells. Four days of treatment with 5 mM DFMO substantially shortened
      PDGF-induced calcium signals. The effect was reversed more than 10 h but less
      than 24 h after putrescine treatment, even though polyamines were repleted 4 h
      after putrescine and spermidine were added. DFMO did not substantially affect
      intracellular calcium release or the timing of the opening and closing of plasma
      membrane calcium channels. These findings support the notion that calcium
      signaling may be a target for inhibitors of polyamine metabolism.

PMID- 1458467
TI  - Modulation of cisplatin resistance in human malignant melanoma cells.
AB  - Previous studies have shown that the combination of dacarbazine, carmustine,
      cisplatin (DDP), and tamoxifen (TAM) produced a 53% overall response rate in
      patients with disseminated melanoma. Deletion of TAM from the regimen resulted in
      a fall in the response rate to 10%, and reincorporation of TAM returned the
      response rate to 52%, suggesting an important role for TAM. Using the human
      melanoma cell line T-289, we examined the nature of the interaction between TAM
      and each member of this combination in clonogenic assays in soft agar. The
      combination of TAM with DDP was highly synergistic as demonstrated by median
      effect analysis, whereas TAM was antagonistic with carmustine and an activated
      form of dacarbazine. The mean combination index at 50% kill was 0.26 +/- 0.02
      (mean +/- SD) for TAM and DDP. This marked synergism was observed at
      concentrations of TAM that are clinically achievable. TAM had no effect on the
      uptake of the DDP analogue [3H]dichloro(ethylenediamine)platinum(II). There was
      no effect on the formation or repair of DDP intrastrand DNA adducts. Similarly,
      there was no effect demonstrated on the intracellular concentrations of
      glutathione or metallothioneins. We conclude that the interaction between TAM and
      DDP is truly synergistic in this cell line and is accomplished through none of
      the four mechanisms commonly associated with DDP resistance.

PMID- 1458468
TI  - Resistance of murine lung tumors to xenobiotic-induced cytotoxicity.
AB  - Studies were performed to test the hypothesis that urethane-induced murine lung
      tumors exhibit xenobiotic resistance and alterations in pulmonary cytochrome P
      450 enzymes. 1,1-Dichloroethylene, naphthalene, and paraquat were administered to
      tumor-bearing and control mice to elicit acute lung cytotoxicity, and responses
      were evaluated in tumors (papillary and solid), uninvolved surrounding tissue,
      and untreated control lung. 1,1-Dichloroethylene (125 mg/kg, i.p.) and
      naphthalene (225 mg/kg, i.p.) caused preferential necrosis of Clara cells in
      control lungs and uninvolved tissue of tumor-bearing lungs. In contrast,
      papillary and solid tumors were both resistant to 1,1-dichloroethylene-induced
      cytotoxicity. Paraquat (10, 20 mg/kg, i.v.) elicited Clara cell damage in control
      lungs and uninvolved lung tissue of tumor-bearing mice, with minor disruption of
      the alveolar epithelium. Neither papillary nor solid tumors sustained any
      apparent cell damage from paraquat. Immunoblots of P-450 enzymes confirmed
      constitutive expression of CYP2B1 in control lung and uninvolved lung tissue of
      tumor-bearing mice, but this P-450 enzyme was not detected in either adenomas or
      carcinomas. Lung CYP1A1 was inducible by beta-naphthoflavone in non-tumor-bearing
      mice and uninvolved tissue of tumor-bearing mice; however, inducibility was
      decreased in adenomas and abolished in carcinomas. These results demonstrate
      resistance of lung tumor cells to chemically induced cytotoxicity and diminished
      expression of cytochrome P-450 enzymes in tumors.

PMID- 1458469
TI  - Clonal growth of hepatitis B virus-integrated hepatocytes in cirrhotic liver
      nodules.
AB  - A total of 83 cirrhotic nodules (pseudolobules) individually collected from 11
      cirrhotic livers of hepatitis B virus carrier patient were analyzed for the
      frequency and mode of hepatitis B virus integration as well as histological
      features. Southern blot analysis disclosed discrete bands at higher molecular
      weight region in 26 of 83 nodules (31.3%), indicating a clonal growth of
      hepatocytes with viral integration. Considerable variation (0-75%) existed in the
      positive rates for discrete bands in nodules among livers. Molecular cloning
      revealed the sequence flanking an integrated viral sequence to be host DNA and
      thus confirmed true integration. Histological analysis, however, did not reveal
      any neoplastic-appearing foci of growth within nodules, despite the fact that the
      detection sensitivity would predict clones of more than 10(5) cells to give rise
      to clonal integration patterns on Southern blot analysis. The question of whether
      clonal expansion of hepatocytes reflects any viral integration-associated growth
      advantage and/or a preneoplastic condition awaits future studies.

PMID- 1458470
TI  - Lower heat shock factor activation and binding and faster rate of HSP-70A
      messenger RNA turnover in heat sensitive human leukemias.
AB  - Normal bone marrow progenitors and some leukemic cells develop only a limited
      amount of thermotolerance. Further, once developed, thermotolerance decays at a
      faster rate than that normally observed in cells of nonhemopoietic origin.
      Thermotolerance induction and maintenance correlates with reduced levels of
      expression of various M(r) 70,000 heat shock proteins (HSP-70) mRNAs after heat
      shock. We have now compared the accumulation of HSP-70 proteins in heat-shocked
      human leukemic cells KG-1, HL-60, and K562 to that in Ht1080, a colon carcinoma
      cell line. We have found reduced accumulation of HSP-70 proteins in all leukemic
      cells. The rate of decay of HSP-70A mRNA, measured following heat shock by using
      actinomycin D treatment to inhibit further RNA synthesis, was more rapid in KG-1
      and HL-60 cells compared to Ht1080 cells. The half-life of HSP-70A mRNA was 2 h
      in KG-1 and HL-60 cells while in Ht1080 cells it was > 7 h. HSP-70A mRNA is known
      to decay with a half-life of 2 h in unheated cells; this is increased to > 7 h
      following heat shock. We therefore postulate that leukemic cells lack the
      mechanism to stabilize HSP-70A mRNA after heat shock. One postulated mechanism
      for HSP-70 mRNA decay rate is known to be due to the nucleotide sequences at the
      3'-untranslated region. We examined the 3'-untranslated region in leukemic cells.
      No sequence variations, however, were observed at either the genomic or the
      complementary DNA levels between leukemic or nonleukemic tumor cells. Heat shock
      factor activation and binding by gel retardation assays showed that KG-1 and HL
      60 cells had a reduced heat shock factor binding to the heat shock element when
      compared to K562 and Ht1080 cells. Furthermore, HSF-1 mRNA was found to be
      expressed at relatively lower levels in HL-60 cells when compared to Ht1080 or KG
      1 cells. In conclusion, reduced HSP synthesis and accumulation of leukemic cells
      after heat shock correlates with the reduction in heat shock factor-heat shock
      element binding and a faster HSP-70A mRNA decay rate that is observed in these
      cells.

PMID- 1458471
TI  - Effects of ketoconazole on the proliferation and cell cycle of human cancer cell
      lines.
AB  - The growth-inhibitory effects of ketoconazole, an antifungal agent which inhibits
      arachidonic acid lipoxygenases and cytochrome P-450 enzymes, were tested in human
      colon and breast cancer cell lines. In the serum independent HT29-S-B6 colon cell
      clone, ketoconazole reduced cell proliferation and [3H]thymidine incorporation in
      a dose-dependent fashion, with a 50% inhibitory concentration of approximately
      2.5 microM. Flow cytometry showed an accumulation of cells in the G0-G1 phase of
      the cell cycle and a concomitant decrease of the percentage of cells in S phase.
      Ketoconazole also inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation in the hormone
      independent breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 and Evsa-T, with respective 50%
      inhibitory concentration of approximately 13 and 2 microM. The mechanism of
      action of ketoconazole is unknown. However, another lipoxygenase inhibitor,
      BW755C, inhibited only weakly [3H]-thymidine incorporation and accumulated the
      cells in S and G2. Conversely, clotrimazole and SKF525A, inhibitors of cytochrome
      P-450 enzymes, had effects similar to those of ketoconazole on HT29-S-B6 cells
      whereas metronidazole and secnidazole, other azole derivatives which do not
      inhibit cytochrome P-450 enzymes, had no effect. The results suggest that
      cytochrome P-450 enzyme(s) activity(ies) could be implicated in the
      antiproliferative effects of ketoconazole.

PMID- 1458472
TI  - Isolation and characterization of a highly malignant variant of the SW480 human
      colon cancer cell line.
AB  - We found that the human colon cancer cell line SW480 consists of two distinct
      subpopulations which we have designated E-type (epithelial) and R-type (round).
      Pure cultures of each type were obtained by subcloning, and both have maintained
      their characteristic phenotypes for at least 1 year (40 passages). E-type cells
      are the major (> 98%) type in the parental SW480 cell line. They form flat
      epithelial-like colonies. In contrast, R-type cells, which constitute a minor
      fraction (< 2%) of the parental cell line, have a rounded shape and grow in
      clusters of piled-up cells. Compared to E-type cells or the parental SW480 cells,
      isolated R-type cells display decreased doubling time, loss of contact
      inhibition, less adhesiveness to culture plates, higher anchorage-independent
      growth in soft agar, and a much more aneuploid karyotype. When injected s.c. into
      nude mice, R-type cells produce much larger tumors within the same period of time
      than E-type cells, and the tumors are less differentiated than those produced by
      the E-type cells. Cell fusion experiments between R-type and E-type cells
      revealed that the R-type phenotype is dominant, and the results suggest that this
      is due to one or a few genetic changes. Taken together, these findings suggest
      that the R-type cells represent a more malignant variant of the E-type cells.
      They may be useful, therefore, for studying mechanisms involved in tumor
      progression.

PMID- 1458473
TI  - Overexpression of metallothionein in Chinese hamster ovary cells and its effect
      on nitrogen mustard-induced cytotoxicity: role of gene-specific damage and
      repair.
AB  - Overexpression of metallothionein in mammalian cells has been associated with
      protection from cytotoxic chemicals and acquired resistance of tumors to
      cytotoxic drugs. The mechanism of this effect, however, remains unclear. We have
      explored whether cytotoxicity of the bifunctional alkylating agent nitrogen
      mustard was correlated with the extent of DNA damage formation and repair in the
      metallothionein gene regions in Chinese hamster ovary cells. The DNA damage and
      repair were examined in metallothionein-overexpressing, cadmium-resistant Chinese
      hamster ovary cells, Cdr200T1, with or without zinc-induced transcriptional
      activation, and in the parental CHO-met- cell line. The zinc-induced Cdr200T1
      cells tolerated significantly higher doses of nitrogen mustard than did the
      uninduced Cdr200T1 variant. The parental CHO-met- cells, which did not have any
      detectable metallothionein expression, were even more resistant to nitrogen
      mustard than the zinc-induced Cdr variants. Nitrogen mustard-induced N
      alkylpurines were formed with a higher frequency in inactive genomic regions than
      in the active genes. The removal of N-alkylpurines was similar in the active MT I
      gene region in Cdr200T1 and the silent MT I gene region in the parental cells,
      and the expression of these genes was determined by Northern assay. The MT II
      gene-containing region was repaired less efficiently than the MT I gene,
      independently of zinc induction. Further, preferential repair of nitrogen mustard
      induced N-alkylpurines were detected in a single copy of the essential active
      dihydrofolate reductase gene as compared to a downstream noncoding region. This
      preferential repair was unaffected by the presence of zinc. Neither damage
      formation nor repair kinetics in the MT gene regions seemed to parallel the
      observed spectrum of sensitivity to HN2.

PMID- 1458474
TI  - Identification of a protein factor secreted by 3T3-L1 preadipocytes inhibitory
      for the human MCF-7 breast cancer cell line.
AB  - The 3T3-L1 cell line is a preadipocyte cell line derived from the Swiss 3T3 mouse
      fibroblast cell line. We have compared the effect of 3T3-L1 conditioned medium
      (3T3-L1 CM) and Swiss 3T3 conditioned medium (3T3 CM) on the growth of normal
      mouse mammary cells (NMMG) and the human MCF-7 breast carcinoma cell line. 3T3 CM
      increased the growth of both NMMG and MCF-7 cells by 19 +/- 2% (SD) and 24 +/-
      3%, respectively, and increased thymidine incorporation by 74 +/- 4% and 104 +/-
      8%, respectively. Conditioned medium from 3T3-L1 cells stimulated the growth of
      NMMG cells by 64 +/- 2%; in contrast, 3T3-L1 CM inhibited the growth of MCF-7
      cells by 36 +/- 1%. In parallel with these growth studies, thymidine
      incorporation increased by 20 +/- 4% in NMMG cells and decreased by 72 +/- 5% in
      the MCF-7 cells. Moreover, a similar effect was also noted in NCI H630 colon
      cancer cells, where 3T3-L1 CM produced a 58 +/- 4% decrease in growth and a 82 +/
      6% decrease in thymidine incorporation. Heating the 3T3-L1 CM at 100 degrees C
      for 30 min destroyed all inhibitory activity. Several known inhibitory growth
      factors (fibroblast growth factor, 20 ng/ml; interleukin 6, 1000 units/ml; tumor
      necrosis factor alpha, 15 ng/ml; transforming growth factor beta, 1 ng/ml) were
      tested for activity in the MCF-7 cells. Tumor necrosis factor alpha and
      transforming growth factor beta produced a 97% and 67% inhibition of thymidine
      uptake, respectively, whereas interleukin 6 and fibroblast growth factor had no
      effect. Neither transforming growth factor beta nor tumor necrosis factor alpha
      activity was detectable in 3T3-L1 CM using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
      High-performance liquid chromatography fractionation of the 3T3-L1 CM revealed
      that the inhibitory activity eluted at a molecular weight of 67,000; moreover,
      silver staining of these eluates on a denaturing polyacrylamide gel revealed that
      M(r) 69,000 peptide was the predominant protein band in the inhibitory fractions.
      Thus 3T3-L1 CM stimulates the growth of normal breast epithelial cells and
      inhibits the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. This inhibitory activity
      appears to be due to a protein secreted by 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

PMID- 1458475
TI  - Inability of leucovorin to rescue a naturally methotrexate-resistant human soft
      tissue sarcoma cell line from trimetrexate cytotoxicity.
AB  - A human lymphoblastoid line (RPMI-1788), a methotrexate-sensitive human
      fibrosarcoma cell line (HT-1080), and a naturally resistant mixed mesodermal
      human sarcoma cell line with impaired methotrexate polyglutamylation (HS-42),
      recently established in our laboratory, were used to compare the ability of
      leucovorin to prevent trimetrexate cytotoxicity. Growth inhibition and an in situ
      thymidylate synthesis activity assay showed that inhibitory effects of
      trimetrexate (1 to 10 microM), 24-h exposure, were prevented by 10 microM
      leucovorin in the RPMI-1788 and HT-1080 cell lines but not in the HS-42 cell
      line. Total intracellular reduced folates increased about 2-fold in the three
      cell lines after exposure to leucovorin (10 microM) for 4 h, and after a 6-hour
      efflux remained elevated (1.5- and 1.3-fold of control levels) in RPMI-1788 and
      HT-1080 cells but decreased to 80% of control levels in HS-42 cells. Although
      uptake of leucovorin and levels of N5,N10-methylenetetrahydrofolate achieved
      after leucovorin administration were similar in RP-MI-1788 and HS-42 cells,
      polyglutamylate forms of this coenzyme were less in the HS-42 cells as compared
      to RPMI-1788 cells. Based on these studies, the combination of trimetrexate with
      leucovorin should be further investigated as a way to increase the therapeutic
      index in some patients with soft tissue sarcomas.

PMID- 1458476
TI  - Regulation of smooth muscle alpha-actin promoter in ras-transformed cells:
      usefulness for setting up reporter gene-based assay system for drug screening.
AB  - Oncogenic activation of ras results in changes in the transcription of several
      genes leading to uncontrolled cell growth. In this paper, we demonstrate that
      transformation of fibroblast cells by the ras oncogene leads to transcriptional
      repression of the smooth muscle alpha-actin promoter. Transient transfection
      analysis of plasmids containing the 5' upstream region of the human alpha-actin
      gene fused to human growth hormone or bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase
      coding sequences into Rat-2 and ras-transformed Rat-2 (HO6) cells indicates that
      alpha-actin promoter is repressed in ras-transformed cells. In addition, stable
      rat fibroblast cell lines expressing human growth hormone or beta-galactosidase
      under the control of alpha-actin promoter exhibit repressed reporter gene
      activity following transformation by the ras oncogene. alpha-Actin promoter
      driven beta-galactosidase activity is derepressed in revertants of ras
      transformed stable cell lines. This revertant cell line expresses elevated levels
      of ras p21 protein and is resistant to retransformation by Ki and Ha-ras
      oncogenes. The revertant may have either a defective target protein whose
      activity is essential for the transforming activity of ras or an activated tumor
      suppressor gene which can suppress the activity of ras. These results indicate
      that smooth muscle alpha-actin promoter activity is a sensitive marker to follow
      phenotypic changes following transformation by ras and subsequent reversion. The
      advantages of this alpha-actin promoter-reporter gene assay system to screen for
      drugs that inhibit the transforming activity of ras, either directly or
      indirectly, are discussed.

PMID- 1458477
TI  - Relationship of cellular glutathione to the cytotoxicity and resistance of seven
      platinum compounds.
AB  - The role of glutathione (GSH) in the effectiveness of and resistance to 7
      platinum compounds [5 Pt(II) and 2 Pt(IV) drugs] was evaluated in a 8.6-fold
      cisplatin (CDDP)-resistant human small cell lung cancer cell line (GLC4/CDDP),
      the parent GLC4 line, a 3.7-fold CDDP-resistant human embryonal carcinoma cell
      line (Tera-CP), and the parent Tera line (NTera2/D1). Resistance factors for both
      CDDP-resistant cell lines were determined after continuous incubation (4 days)
      with CDDP. Continuous incubation with the other studied platinum drugs revealed
      complete cross-resistance for carboplatin (CBDCA) and zeniplatin but less for
      enloplatin (ENLO) and iproplatin in both models. Tetraplatin and lobaplatin
      showed, respectively, partial and complete cross-resistance in GLC4/CDDP but no
      cross-resistance in Tera-CP. GSH level, but not glutathione S-transferase
      activity, of the 4 cell lines correlated with platinum drug concentrations
      inhibiting cell survival by 50% after continuous incubation (r = 0.86, P < 0.05).
      GSH depletion by DL-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine (BSO) increased sensitivity, as
      measured after a 4-h exposure to the drugs, of GLC4/CDDP for CDDP 2.0-fold, for
      CBDCA 1.7-fold, for zeniplatin 1.7-fold, and almost to the level of the sensitive
      GLC4 for ENLO, whereas no effect was observed for lobaplatin and the Pt(IV)
      compounds iproplatin and tetraplatin. BSO-modulating effect was higher in the
      sensitive GLC4 line for most compounds; therefore reduction of resistance could
      be achieved only for CDDP and ENLO. In contrast to GLC4, no modulation occurred
      in Tera. In Tera-CP BSO increased sensitivity for CDDP 1.5-fold, for CBDCA 1.9
      fold, and for zeniplatin 1.2-fold; no effect was observed for ENLO, lobaplatin,
      and the Pt(IV) compounds. Reduction of CDDP resistance by BSO was known to occur
      with identical cellular platinum levels and higher Pt-DNA binding in GLC4/CDDP.
      However, pretreatment with BSO followed by 4 h ENLO incubation increased cellular
      platinum levels in both GLC4 and GLC4/CDDP while Pt-DNA binding remained
      unchanged. In conclusion, GSH reflected sensitivity to platinum-containing drugs.
      However, since the involvement of GSH differed between the models and the various
      platinum drugs, the effect of modulation with BSO was unpredictable.

PMID- 1458478
TI  - Inhibition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-caused tumor promotion in 7,12
      dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-initiated SENCAR mouse skin by a polyphenolic fraction
      isolated from green tea.
AB  - Our laboratory has been studying cancer chemopreventive effects of polyphenolic
      fraction isolated from green tea (GTP). In prior studies we have shown that (a)
      GTP possesses antigenotoxic effects in various test systems; (b) topical
      application of GTP protects against UV radiation and chemical carcinogen-induced
      tumorigenesis in murine skin; and (c) feeding of GTP in drinking water p.o. to
      mice protects against carcinogen-induced forestomach and lung tumorigenesis.
      Recently, we showed that in a dose-dependent manner GTP inhibits tumor promoter
      caused induction of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity in SENCAR mice (R.
      Agarwal et al., Cancer Res., 52: 3582-3588, 1992). In the present study, we
      assessed the effect of GTP on TPA-induced skin tumor promotion in 7,12
      dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-initiated SENCAR mouse. Topical application of varying
      doses of GTP (1-24 mg) 30 min prior to that of each TPA application resulted in
      highly significant protection against skin tumor promotion in a dose-dependent
      manner. The animals pretreated with GTP showed substantially lower tumor body
      burden such as decrease in total number of tumors per group, number of tumors per
      animal, tumor volume per mouse, and average volume per tumor, as compared to the
      animals that did not receive GTP. Since TPA-induced epidermal cyclooxygenase and
      lipoxygenase activities and edema and hyperplasia are conventionally used markers
      of skin tumor promotion, we also assessed the effect of preapplication of GTP on
      these parameters. As quantitated by the formation of prostaglandin and hydroxy
      eicosatetraenoic acid metabolites from, respectively, cyclooxygenase- and
      lipoxygenase-catalyzed metabolism of arachidonic acid, skin application of GTP to
      SENCAR mice resulted in significant inhibition of TPA-caused effects on these 2
      enzymes. Prior application of GTP to mouse skin also resulted in 30-46%
      inhibition of TPA-induced epidermal edema and hyperplasia. The results of the
      present study suggest that GTP possesses anti-skin tumor-promoting effects, and
      that the mechanism of such effects may involve inhibition of tumor promoter
      induced epidermal ornithine decarboxylase, cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase
      activities, edema, and hyperplasia. Further studies are in progress to define
      which component present in GTP is responsible for its anti-skin tumor-promoting
      effects.

PMID- 1458479
TI  - Novel expression of gastrin (cholecystokinin-B) receptors in azaserine-induced
      rat pancreatic carcinoma: receptor determination and characterization.
AB  - Many reports have emphasized the role of gastrin as a growth factor for normal
      gastrointestinal mucosa and gastrointestinal cancers. Recent studies have pointed
      out that this peptide acts also as a growth factor for the pancreatic cancer cell
      line AR42J. This effect is mediated by gastrin [cholecystokinin (CCK)-B]
      receptors. In the present study, we investigated gastrin (CCK-B) receptor
      expression in the azaserine-induced rat pancreatic carcinoma DSL-6, comparing it
      to normal rat pancreas, and we also characterized CCK receptor subtypes in this
      tumor. The results showed that there is extensive gastrin binding to the DSL-6
      pancreatic carcinoma. No evidence of specific gastrin binding to normal pancreas
      was found. Analysis of the ability of gastrin-17-I to inhibit 125I-gastrin-I
      binding demonstrated that gastrin bound to a single class of receptors with a Kd
      of 0.21 +/- 0.04 nM and a binding capacity of 184 +/- 29 fmol/mg protein. 125I
      Gastrin-I binding was inhibited by the specific CCK-B receptor antagonist
      L365,260 approximately 40 times more effectively than by the specific CCK-A
      receptor antagonist L364,718. Analysis of the ability of cholecystokinin
      octapeptide (CCK-8) to inhibit 125I-Bolton-Hunter-CCK-8 binding revealed two CCK
      binding sites, i.e., a high affinity site and a low affinity site. The observed
      binding affinities of CCK-8 were then introduced into the computer analysis of
      the dose-inhibition curve of the ability of gastrin-17-I to inhibit binding of
      125I-Bolton-Hunter-CCK-8, which was significantly better fit by a three-site
      model than by a two-site model. The three sites meet the criteria for CCK-B, high
      affinity CCK-A, and low affinity CCK-A receptors. The binding capacity of CCK-B
      receptors constitutes 34% of the total high affinity CCK binding sites. This
      study demonstrated that DSL-6 pancreatic carcinoma expresses three subtypes of
      CCK receptors. Gastrin (CCK-B) receptors, which were not detected in normal rat
      pancreas, constitute about one third of the total high affinity CCK receptors. We
      suggest that novel expression of gastrin (CCK-B) receptors may be generated by
      gene mutation or amplification during carcinogenesis and may play an important
      role in promoting tumor growth.

PMID- 1458480
TI  - Immunogenicity and safety of a recombinant vaccinia virus vaccine expressing the
      carcinoembryonic antigen gene in a nonhuman primate.
AB  - We have previously reported the development of a recombinant vaccinia virus
      vaccine expressing the human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) gene, designated
      rV(NYC)-CEA. This construct has been shown to elicit specific anti-CEA immune
      responses and an antitumor effect in a murine tumor model. In the studies
      reported here, the safety and immunogenicity of this recombinant vaccinia virus
      were evaluated in a rhesus monkey model. Human CEA is a M(r) 180,000 glycoprotein
      expressed in approximately 90% of gastrointestinal carcinomas and in some breast
      and non-small cell lung carcinomas. This family also includes normal cross
      reacting antigen (NCA). Rhesus monkeys, like humans, have some NCA on the surface
      of their granulocytes. Eight monkeys were immunized 3 or 4 times by skin
      scarification with the recombinant CEA vaccine and four monkeys received wild
      type vaccinia virus as control. After three vaccinations, all rV(NYC)-CEA
      vaccinated animals exhibited a strong anti-CEA antibody response as measured by
      enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The functional ability of these antibodies to
      mediate lysis of a CEA-bearing tumor cell was demonstrated using human effector
      cells. This response could be enhanced by interleukin 2. Cellular immunity to CEA
      was measured by delayed-type hypersensitivity upon intradermal challenge with
      purified CEA. Only those animals receiving the recombinant vaccine displayed
      significant anti-CEA responses. Furthermore, peripheral blood mononuclear cells
      from immunized monkeys were found to proliferate in response to CEA stimulation.
      All vaccinated monkeys developed local skin irritation at the site of the
      vaccination, regional lymphadenopathy, and low-grade fevers after immunization.
      Following immunization with rV(NYC)-CEA, the response was consistent with the
      usual constitutional symptoms seen with human smallpox virus immunization. Blood
      counts, differentials, and hepatic and renal chemistries remained normal in all
      animals throughout the study and for up to 1 year following the primary
      vaccination. No evidence of immunological cross-reactivity to NCA was found by
      either a fall in the granulocyte count or analyses for anti-NCA antibodies. Thus,
      the rV(NYC)-CEA vaccine appears to be safe in rhesus monkeys. The administration
      of a CEA recombinant vaccine to rhesus monkeys induces both a humoral and a cell
      mediated immune response directed against human CEA.

PMID- 1458481
TI  - Potent and specific inhibition of p60v-src protein kinase both in vivo and in
      vitro by radicicol.
AB  - A fungal metabolite, radicicol, with a macrocyclic ring induced the reversal of
      transformed phenotypes of v-src-transformed fibroblasts (Rous sarcoma virus
      transformed 3Y1 rat fibroblast) at a quite low concentration of 0.1 microgram/ml.
      Actin stress fibers reappeared in the transformed cells after treatment with
      radicicol. Radicicol reduced the intracellular level of autophosphorylation of
      p60v-src as well as the level of other tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in a dose
      dependent manner. In vitro kinase assay revealed that radicicol effectively
      inhibited not only autophosphorylation but also transphosphorylation activities
      of purified p60v-src with a concentration producing 50% inhibition of 0.1
      microgram/ml. However, radicicol showed no inhibitory effect on protein kinase C
      or protein kinase A. These results suggest that radicicol is a novel and specific
      protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor and that the decreased level of tyrosine kinase
      activity of p60v-src causes reversion of transformed phenotypes of Rous sarcoma
      virus-transformed 3Y1 rat fibroblast. Furthermore, differentiation of Friend
      leukemia cells, which is one of the known characteristic phenomena associated
      with the inhibition of tyrosine kinase, was also induced in the concentration
      range of 0.05-0.5 microgram/ml, suggesting that the agent is useful for the
      analysis of differentiation as well as the kinase-mediated signal transduction.

PMID- 1458482
TI  - Carcinogenicity studies of fluoxetine hydrochloride in rats and mice.
AB  - The antidepressant drug fluoxetine HCl was tested for carcinogenicity in three
      well designed and controlled studies in Fischer rats and C57BL/6 x C3H F1 mice.
      The compound was administered to the animals for 24 months at dietary doses of
      approximately 0, 0.5, 2.0, or 10.0 mg/kg body weight in rats and 1.0, 5.0, or
      10.0 mg/kg in mice. The highest dose tested was a maximum tolerated dose for both
      species as evidenced by clinical signs (rats and mice) and some mortality (mice)
      referable to central nervous system pharmacological effects, decreased weight
      gain (rats), and histopathological changes of phospholipidosis (rats) and hepatic
      fatty change (mice). There was no evidence of an increased incidence of any type
      of unusual or commonly occurring spontaneous neoplasm in either rats or mice.
      There were statistically significant decreases in a few commonly occurring
      neoplasms. The data reported herein provide convincing evidence that fluoxetine
      is neither a complete carcinogen nor a tumor promoter.

PMID- 1458483
TI  - Expression of the protooncogene bcl-2 in the prostate and its association with
      emergence of androgen-independent prostate cancer.
AB  - The significance of apoptosis in relation to the development and progression of
      prostate cancer remains largely undefined. bcl-2 is an oncogene that functions by
      overriding apoptosis. bcl-2 expression was localized to the basal epithelial
      cells in the normal human prostate with the use of immunohistochemistry. Androgen
      dependent and androgen-independent prostate carcinomas were evaluated
      immunohistochemically for bcl-2 expression. bcl-2 was undetectable in 13 of 19
      cases of androgen-dependent cancers. In contrast, androgen-independent cancers
      displayed diffuse, high levels of bcl-2 staining (P < 0.01). In rats, steady
      state levels of bcl-2 mRNA, assessed by S1 assays, reached maximum levels 10 days
      following castration. Addition of exogenous testosterone with, or without,
      flutamide demonstrated that the increased bcl-2 mRNA resulted from androgen
      ablation. Our findings indicate that bcl-2 expression is augmented following
      androgen ablation and is correlated with the progression of prostate cancer from
      androgen dependence to androgen independence.

PMID- 1458484
TI  - Consistent disruption of the AML1 gene occurs within a single intron in the
      t(8;21) chromosomal translocation.
AB  - The AML1 gene on chromosome 21 was rearranged by the t(8;21) chromosomal
      translocation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Southern blot analysis of 21 AML
      patients with t(8;21), including three with complex translocations, t(8;V;21),
      demonstrated that all the breakpoints occurred at random within a single intron
      between two coding exons of AML1. Clustering of the breakpoints in the restricted
      intron suggests the formation of a unique fusion gene between the AML1 gene and a
      presumable counterpart gene on chromosome 8. Nucleotide sequencing of the
      breakpoint region revealed that the translocation event was accompanied by
      deletion of a short stretch of nucleotides.

PMID- 1458485
TI  - Immunohistochemical staining for transforming growth factor beta 1 associates
      with disease progression in human breast cancer.
AB  - The transforming growth factor beta s (TGF-beta) comprise a family of M(r) 25,000
      pluripotent growth factors which have been implicated in the development and
      progression of human breast cancer. Conflicting data suggest that TGF-beta has
      the potential to either inhibit or promote the progression of mammary neoplasia.
      We therefore examined a pathological library of malignant breast biopsy specimens
      to determine the prevalence and distribution of immunoreactivity with antibodies
      specific for the three mammalian isoforms of TGF-beta (beta 1, beta 2, and beta
      3). We found that intense staining for TGF-beta 1 was positively associated with
      rate of disease progression, and that this was independent of age, stage, nodal
      status, or estrogen receptor status (P = 0.009).

PMID- 1458486
TI  - Disruption of mitochondrial function by suramin measured by rhodamine 123
      retention and oxygen consumption in intact DU145 prostate carcinoma cells.
AB  - Suramin, an antiparasitic drug, has shown antitumor activity in humans. This may
      occur in part through disruption of energy balance, which is believed to be part
      of its antiparasitic action. Suramin disrupts mitochondrial function in intact
      DU145 prostate carcinoma cell monolayers as seen by its causing the release of
      rhodamine 123 from prestained cells beginning at about 10 microM in 96-well
      microtiter plates measured with a fluorescent plate scanner. This effect was
      similar to the ionophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, dissolved in
      ethanol at 0.01 N and indicates that suramin acts as a respiratory poison or an
      ionophore. This effect was confirmed by studies of oxygen consumption with a
      Clark oxygen electrode and cellular ATP content which demonstrated uncoupling of
      oxidative phosphorylation by 100 microM suramin, a clinically achievable plasma
      drug level.

PMID- 1458487
TI  - Growth suppression mediated by transfection of p53 in Hut292DM human lung cancer
      cells expressing endogenous wild-type p53 protein.
AB  - This study was undertaken to analyze the effect of wild-type p53 transfection on
      the growth potential of a human lung cancer cell line Hut292DM expressing
      endogenous wild-type p53. Transfection efficiencies obtained with either the wild
      type or a mutant p53 complementary DNA revealed a significant decrease in the
      number of colonies obtained with the wild-type p53 as compared to the mutant p53
      complementary DNA (27%) or control vector DNA only (20%), suggesting that wild
      type p53 inhibited the growth of Hut292DM cells. A series of wild-type and mutant
      p53 transfection clones were then analyzed for the presence and expression of the
      exogenous p53 gene. Polymerase chain reaction amplification revealed that 98% of
      mutant p53 transfection clones analyzed contained the exogenous p53 gene as
      opposed to 47% for wild-type p53 clones. The majority of mutant p53 clones
      expressed high levels of exogenous p53 mRNA and protein as analyzed by Northern
      and Western blots, respectively. In contrast, all wild-type p53 clones analyzed
      failed to express exogenous p53 mRNA transcript or protein of a normal size.
      Aberrant-size p53 mRNA was detected in two wild-type p53 clones (X833.W2 and
      W18), and Western blot analysis revealed that these clones expressed truncated
      p53 proteins (M(r) 45,000 and 33,000 respectively). No difference in
      proliferation rates in vitro or in tumorigenic potential in nude mice were
      observed between mutant p53 clones or control cell lines. In contrast, a wild
      type p53 clone (X833.W2) exhibited a significantly reduced tumorigenic potential
      in nude mice, whereas its in vitro proliferation rate was comparable to parental
      Hut292DM cells. The data indicate that exogenous expression of wild-type p53 is
      incompatible with Hut292DM lung cancer cell proliferation in vitro and suggest
      that p53-mediated growth control in vitro and in vivo may be dissociated and
      exerted by separate domains of the p53 protein.

PMID- 1458488
TI  - Expression and regulation of the leukemia inhibitory factor/D factor gene in
      human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 infected T-cell lines.
AB  - The expression of the leukemia inhibitory factor/D factor (LIF) gene in human T
      cell leukemia virus type 1 infected T-cell lines was examined. Human T-cell
      leukemia virus type 1 infected T-cell lines MT-1, MT-2, H89-59, H89-79, and H109
      expressed LIF mRNA, but the T-cell lines MOLT-4 and TALL-1 did not. LIF mRNA
      expression was enhanced by interleukin 2 or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate
      in MT-2 cells. The biological activity of LIF was detected in culture medium
      enhanced by interleukin 2 in MT-2 cells. The expression of LIF mRNA was
      suppressed by 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and dexamethasone. These results
      imply that the expression of the LIF gene is involved in the development of
      hypercalcemia and abnormalities of the immune system observed in patients with
      adult T-cell leukemia.

PMID- 1458490
TI  - A functional screen for germ line p53 mutations based on transcriptional
      activation.
AB  - Germ line p53 mutations represent a genetic predisposition for cancer
      development. At the present time, their detection requires extensive work and
      their functional significance must be documented. Therefore, we have designed a
      simple biological assay which detects functionally significant germ line p53
      mutations. This assay is based on the cloning of the patient's p53 complementary
      DNA into a eukaryotic expression vector followed by the cotransfection into human
      cells of the recombinant vector with a reporter plasmid for the transcriptional
      activity of p53. This assay potentially offers a powerful method to screen
      fibroblasts or lymphocytes from patients for germ line mutations which inactivate
      the p53 tumor suppressor gene.

PMID- 1458489
TI  - Differential display and cloning of messenger RNAs from human breast cancer
      versus mammary epithelial cells.
AB  - Identification of the genes that are specifically expressed in tumor cells but
      not in normal cells (oncogenes), or vice versa (tumor suppressor genes), is
      important for understanding the molecular basis of cancer. The differential
      display technique was applied to compare mRNAs from normal and tumor-derived
      human mammary epithelial cells, cultured under the same conditions. Complementary
      DNA fragments corresponding to several apparently differentially expressed mRNAs
      were recovered and sequenced. They exhibit characteristics of the 3' end of
      eukaryotic mRNA, as predicted by the method. A complementary DNA fragment seen
      only in the normal cell was used as a probe to isolate its corresponding
      complementary DNA clone from a library. Northern analysis confirmed its
      differential expression. Thus, this method can be used for detecting, cloning,
      and sequencing of genes that are unique to a host of biological and disease
      processes.

PMID- 1458491
TI  - Lack of T-cell immunity in humans with preexisting anti-mouse immunoglobulin
      reactivity.
AB  - We have identified five normal individuals without known exposure to mouse
      immunoglobulin with "preexisting" human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA) against a
      panel of four mouse monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal mouse IgG. Competitive
      inhibition by polyclonal mouse IgG of HAMA binding to monoclonal antibody coated
      beads demonstrates the mouse constant region specificity of these sera. Lack of
      such inhibition by polyclonal human IgG eliminates polyclonal rheumatoid factors
      as an explanation. Lymphoblastic transformation studies in these five persons
      failed to demonstrate a memory T-cell response to the four mouse monoclonals or
      polyclonal mouse IgG. Positive controls included T-cell responses to streptolysin
      O in these five individuals as well as responses to monoclonal antibody D612 in
      three patients following treatment with that antibody. This lack of T-cell
      immunity to mouse IgG suggests that "preexisting" HAMA is the product of
      inadvertent cross-reactivity with murine constant region by antibodies directed
      against other antigens. Therefore, "preexisting" HAMA should pose no risk of
      anamnestic or allergic response in patients considered for murine monoclonal
      therapy.

PMID- 1458492
TI  - Re: S. M. Bronstein et al. Efficient repair of O6-ethylguanine, but not O4
      ethylthymine or O2-ethylthymine, is dependent upon O6-alkylguanine-DNA
      alkyltransferase and nucleotide excision repair activities in human cells. Cancer
      Res., 52: 2008-2011, 1992.

PMID- 1458493
TI  - Regarding some aspects of the positive and negative effects of ionizing and
      medical treatment of pediatric brain tumors.

PMID- 1458494
TI  - Observations on electrical stimulation of lumbosacral nerve roots in children
      with and without lower limb spasticity.
AB  - Selective functional posterior rhizotomy (SFPR) is a popular operation for the
      treatment of spasticity in children with cerebral palsy, but the physiologic
      basis of the procedure is poorly understood. As part of SFPR operations in 60
      consecutive children, the responses to electrical stimulation of posterior
      lumbosacral roots and rootlets, and the corresponding anterior roots were
      studied. In addition, similar electrical stimulation of posterior roots was
      performed in four nonspastic "control" children. Sustained responses to 50 Hz
      stimulation, one of the criteria used to signify abnormality in the spastic
      children, was found frequently in the "control" children. Contralateral spread to
      the lower limb muscles and suprasegmental spread to the upper limbs, face, and
      neck were determined to be the most valid criteria which differentiated abnormal
      from normal responses. Stimulation of anterior nerve roots at 50 Hz caused
      sustained responses and ipsilateral lower limb spread, at a low threshold
      compared to that of corresponding posterior roots. The results of this study
      bring into question the validity of some of the criteria that are used to select
      abnormal posterior rootlets in the SFPR procedure, and suggest criteria that may
      be more valid based on findings in nonspastic children.

PMID- 1458496
TI  - Congenital spinal cord astrocytomas.
AB  - Congenital spinal cord astrocytomas have only rarely been reported. We report two
      additional cases and a review of the literature on these infrequent tumors. The
      congenital cord astrocytomas can have obscure initial presentations, including
      fever and irritability, leading to delays in diagnosis. Magnetic resonance
      imaging is the diagnostic procedure of choice, allowing noninvasive delineation
      of the lesion. The congenital tumors are similar in location and pathology to
      astrocytomas of the cord in older children. As in older patients, initial
      treatment should include attempted surgical extirpation, delaying or avoiding
      radiation therapy with its attendant risks. Reported follow-ups of the congenital
      astrocytomas suggest they will behave in a fashion similar to spinal cord
      astrocytomas in older children.

PMID- 1458495
TI  - Central neurocytoma: its differentiation from intraventricular oligodendroglioma.
AB  - Two patients with intraventricular tumours are presented. Both had similar
      features on light microscopic examination. On the basis of the specific
      immunohistochemical staining patterns and the ultrastructural findings, one was
      diagnosed as a central neurocytoma while the other was diagnosed as an
      intraventricular oligodendroglioma. The possibility of central neurocytoma should
      be considered in all young patients including children presenting with an
      intraventricular lesion. Definitive diagnosis requires electron microscopic and
      immunohistochemical studies.

PMID- 1458497
TI  - Histological changes in the midbrain around the aqueduct in congenital
      hydrocephalic rat LEW/Jms.
AB  - Primary aqueductal stenosis is one of the main causes of congenital hydrocephalus
      in humans and experimental models. The congenitally hydrocephalic rat strain
      LEW/Jms is one such model. In this report, we describe further detailed
      histological features of periaqueductal structure, including the posterior
      commissure, subcommissural organ (SCO), and ependyma, and discuss the changes in
      these structures in relation to the cause of hydrocephalus. Coronal sections of
      the aqueduct in normal rats showed that the usual ependyma was absent in the
      center of the base facing the dorsal side, which was replaced by tall columnar
      cells. On the other hand, in hydrocephalic rats the ependyma encircled the
      aqueductal cavity. In midline sagittal sections, normal and hydrocephalic rats
      showed the SCO, although the SCO in hydrocephalic rats was shorter than in normal
      rats. There was also a marked difference between normal and hydrocephalic rats in
      the dorsoventral dimension of the rostral midbrain. In hydrocephalus, this
      dimension was large in comparison with normal rats. The superior collicular
      commissure located caudal to the posterior commissure ran along the ventral side
      of the midbrain in rats with hydrocephalus, and there was a cell-depleted area
      just dorsal to the superior collicular commissure. The same findings were
      observed from the 17th day of gestation until the postnatal period. Although the
      role of the SCO has been widely discussed from the viewpoint of secretory
      function, the present study indicated that this organ might be involved in the
      formation of the shape of the aqueduct.

PMID- 1458498
TI  - Expanding cranioplasty for craniosynostosis and allied disorders.
AB  - For early correction of craniosynostosis in the newborn or in early infancy,
      strip craniectomy may produce satisfactory results. For late correction, however,
      more radical cranial reconstruction procedures are essential in order to achieve
      adequate remodeling of cranial deformities and normalization of intracranial
      pressure. Craniosynostosis presents various types of cranial deformity, and
      different procedures for its correction have been reported. Expanding
      cranioplasty is presented for the increase of cranial volume and immediate
      correction of the cranial deformity. This cranioplasty can be applied not only
      for late correction of various types of craniosynostosis but also for other
      cranial deformities.

PMID- 1458499
TI  - Management of brain abscess in children: review of 130 cases over a period of 21
      years.
AB  - The data on 130 children with brain abscesses treated over 21 years (1970-1990)
      were analyzed retrospectively. The whole group included four infants. Chronic ear
      infection and cyanotic congenital heart disease were the most common predisposing
      factors. In infants, meningitis and/or ventriculitis were dominant in the
      etiopathogenesis. Cases were evaluated according to the treatment received and
      also according to time periods. More than half of the patients (n = 74) in this
      series were treated by primary or secondary excision. Computed tomography (CT)
      facilitated the diagnosis and helped the planning of treatment. Aspiration gained
      increasing credit after the advent of CT. Microorganisms could be identified in
      54% of the cultured specimens. Staphylococci, streptococci and Proteus were the
      dominating microorganisms. Penicillin and chloramphenicol have long been the
      mainstay of antimicrobial therapy but have recently been replaced by third
      generation cephalosporins and sulbactam-ampicillin combinations. Overall
      mortality was 15.5% but showed a decline from 30% in the pre-CT era to 6% in the
      last 5 years and to zero in the last three. Neither the location nor associated
      heart disease contributed to the mortality, but mortality among infants was as
      high as 50%.

PMID- 1458500
TI  - Perioperative rifampin/trimethoprim in cerebrospinal fluid shunt surgery.
      Comments on the paper by B. C. Walters et al., published in Child's Nerv Syst
      (1992) 8:253-257.

PMID- 1458501
TI  - New head-prone position for posterior fossa surgery in infants with severe
      hydrocephalus.
AB  - A new head-prone position is described for posterior cranial fossa surgery on
      infants whose cerebral cortical mantle has been markedly thinned by severe
      hydrocephalus. The new position furnished a direct line of sight to the apex of
      the IV ventricle corresponding to that provided by the classic high sitting
      position, without the latter's risks of air embolism and of acute subdural
      hematoma secondary to tearing of corticodural bridging vessels due to escape of
      gravity-impelled CSF from the large ventricles. The anesthesiologic technique,
      the positioning of the patient, and the surgeon's posture presented no unusual
      problems.

PMID- 1458502
TI  - Congenital cerebral venous dysgenesis. Decreased cerebral blood flow in deep
      cerebral regions revealed by SPECT.
AB  - This report describes a rare case of primary cerebral venous dysgenesis in a 3
      year-old child with development retardation. Angiography resulted in
      nonvisualization not only of deep cerebral veins but also of superficial cerebral
      veins. In computed tomography and in magnetic resonance imaging the collateral
      venous circulation appeared as a strange configuration in the pineal region.
      Single photon emission computed tomography using N-isopropyl-p-[I-123]
      iodoamphetamine revealed decreased regional cerebral blood flow in the basal
      ganglia and thalamus, but cerebral infarction was not detected in the area. These
      features indicate that in this case, dysgenesis of deep cerebral veins, which
      probably occurred during prenatal life, had caused hypoperfusion in the deep
      cerebral regions.

PMID- 1458503
TI  - Vertebrobasilar infarcts in infancy: a case report and review of the literature.
AB  - We report a rare case of a child with cerebellar infarction confirmed by
      vertebral angiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The
      etiology of this case is unknown. The relevant literature is reviewed.

PMID- 1458504
TI  - Alcohol acts to promote incidence of tumors.
AB  - Alcohol is a major cancer risk factor. A variety of roles in carcinogenesis have
      been assigned to ethanol. Our recent studies indicate that ethanol may act as
      tumor promoter. Further studies suggest that ethanol may act as tumor promoter
      through free radicals generated during its metabolism because an increase in
      tumors was observed under conditions in which ethanol-induced lipid peroxidation
      could take place and not in which such lipid peroxidation could not occur. Other
      possibilities include ethanol effect on cell necrosis and cell proliferation and
      generation of a secondary mutagenic event through a DNA repair deficiency. The
      immune system, because it is a defense mechanism against carcinogenesis and
      because ethanol is immunosuppressive, must also play a role. Our current studies
      are aimed at elucidating some of these mechanisms and pointing out the complexity
      of the mechanisms that are affected by ethanol and that may be involved in tumor
      promotion.

PMID- 1458505
TI  - Food habits and esophageal cancer: an overview.
AB  - Cancer of the esophagus has a more varied geographical distribution and incidence
      than any other commonly occurring cancer. Its incidence rate is increasing in
      many countries, especially among males. Esophageal cancer has been found to be
      associated with the consumption of alcohol and tobacco, particularly when
      combined, and in the last decade the role of nutrition and diet in the etiology
      of this disease has attracted worldwide attention. Regions with a large incidence
      of this disease are generally located in poor parts of the world, and their
      inhabitants share several dietary characteristics. They subsist on a diet high in
      starch and almost without fresh fruit or vegetables, eat rapidly without
      sufficient mastication, and consume many foods (rice gruel) and drinks (tea) at
      very high temperatures. Hard and scratchy foods also are consumed frequently. In
      the high-risk region of northern Iran, where the frequency of esophageal cancer
      is higher among women than men, the main food during pregnancy contains strong
      black pepper and sharp crushed pomegranate seeds, which irritate the esophagus.

PMID- 1458506
TI  - Epidemiological study of French uranium miners.
AB  - An epidemiological cohort study has been carried out to demonstrate any excess
      cancer mortality in a group of French uranium miners who worked underground for
      at least 2 years. The latency period of cancer associated with this type of
      professional exposure was long (10 to 20 years). The first study includes miners
      who began underground mining between 1946-1972. The individual monthly exposure
      to radon and its decay products has been recorded since 1956. The exposure of the
      first 10 years had to be estimated retrospectively for each miner regarding the
      working conditions. Problems associated with these two different exposure
      recordings are discussed. The results revealed an excess of lung cancer mortality
      for miners who had begun underground mining during the years 1946-1956.

PMID- 1458507
TI  - The effects of iodinated glycerol, trichlorfon, and acetaminophen on tumor
      progression in a Fischer rat leukemia transplant model.
AB  - Sixty-day bioassays of iodinated glycerol, trichlorfon, and acetaminophen were
      conducted using a leukemia transplant model in 6- to 8-week-old F344 rats to
      investigate the potential of these chemicals to affect tumor progression. The
      chemicals were administered in the drinking water at doses that approximated
      those used in previously conducted 2-year carcinogenesis studies. Simultaneous
      with dose administration, half of a group of young, healthy, syngeneic rats were
      given subcutaneous transplants of mononuclear cells derived from spleens of
      leukemic donors. Variables used to quantitate tumor progression included body
      weight, spleen weight, white blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC) counts,
      packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, and platelet counts. Iodinated
      glycerol at 1.25 or 2.5 mg/ml caused a greater increase in leukocytosis in dosed
      transplant recipients in comparison to that experienced by undosed recipients:
      trichlorfon at 2.5 or 5.0 mg/ml enhanced splenomegaly and induced greater
      reductions in RBC parameters in dosed recipients in comparison to that
      experienced by undosed recipients. Acetaminophen at 3.0 and 6.0 mg/ml resulted in
      insignificant but dose-related increases in spleen weight and leukocytosis only
      in the female rat transplant recipients, as was observed in 2-year studies. Based
      on results from the short-term leukemia transplant model, data from 2-year
      carcinogenicity studies, and structure-activity considerations, exposure to
      iodinated glycerol and trichlorfon was more strongly associated with the
      expression of leukemia than exposure to acetaminophen. The potential
      carcinogenicity of each of these chemicals should be taken into consideration
      when calculating estimates of risk and decisions for their use.

PMID- 1458508
TI  - Detection of N-myc gene amplification in bone marrow specimen of stage IV
      neuroblastoma patients.
AB  - N-myc gene amplification is an unfavorable prognostic factor in neuroblastoma;
      therefore, its detection might have therapeutical consequences. Because of the
      reliability of noninvasive diagnostic methods such as X-ray examination and
      measurement of vanilymandelic acid and the lack of technical unavailability at
      most institutions, the determination of the N-myc status of neuroblastoma often
      is not done. In our investigation of 14 neuroblastoma patients, we could
      demonstrate N-myc gene amplification in the bone marrow of 5 patients with
      neuroblastoma stage IV disease and in bone marrow infiltration without enrichment
      of neuroblastoma cells. Otherwise, no information about the tumor content of N
      myc gene copies at the time of initial diagnosis could be obtained. At the
      subsequent resection, the N-myc gene amplification was confirmed by the
      additional Southern blot analysis and in situ hybridization of tumor tissue.
      Furthermore, the N-myc status of bone marrow was analyzed during the stages of
      chemotherapy in three cases.

PMID- 1458509
TI  - Descriptive analysis of the tumor registry experience for malignant melanoma from
      1977 to 1986 at the University of Miami School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial
      Hospital.
AB  - A descriptive analysis was performed of malignant melanoma data ascertained by
      the University of Miami School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital (UM/JMH)
      Tumor Registry. A total of 376 melanoma cases were collected and reviewed. Most
      of the melanoma lesions occurred on the trunk, especially in the 40- to 49- and
      50- to 54-year-old age groups. Local-stage cases had the best 5-year survival-
      77%. The difference in survival between local-stage case and regional- and
      distant-stage cases was statistically significant (p = 0.0000). In males with
      local-stage disease, lesions on the trunk were associated with better survival
      than lesions at other sites (p = 0.04). In females with local-stage disease,
      survival was 68% for 5 years for trunk sites vs. 87% for other sites (p = 0.05).
      In local-stage disease, the overall 5-year survival was 85%.

PMID- 1458510
TI  - Promoting dietary change in the Stockholm Cancer Prevention Program.
AB  - The Stockholm Cancer Prevention Program (SCPP) is a community-based program aimed
      at reducing cancer incidence and mortality by reducing risk factors related to
      life-style: dietary habits, tobacco use, and sunbathing. The program, which came
      about as a result of a political initiative and commitment, has as its dietary
      objectives to reduce fat intake to 30% of energy and to increase fiber intake to
      30 g/day. SCPP strives to achieve these goals by simultaneously affecting food
      supply and food demand. To date, the program collaborates with 12 municipalities
      and several large occupational health services and restaurant chains. It has
      developed cook books for caterers and the general public and has organized food
      fairs targeting policymakers and those working with food, education, or health
      promotion. SCPP emphasizes collaboration across sectors of society and has
      initiated contests for students studying food service technology and for
      retailers with the aim of promoting dietary change. The intervention is based on
      the principles and strategies of community organization.

PMID- 1458511
TI  - Effects of opioid peptides on the tumoricidal activity of spleen cells from nude
      mice with or without tumors.
AB  - The present study was designed to explore the effects of opioid peptides on the
      immune systems of intact nude mice and nude mice bearing human ovarian cancer
      cells (KF). When spleen cells from intact nude mice were incubated with medium
      alone, a significant ability of spleen cells to lyse the KF cells was not
      observed. However, incubation of the spleen cells with 1 microM beta-endorphin or
      1 microM alpha-endorphin induced a significant lytic activity on the KF cells.
      The control-level lytic activity was increased significantly to about 4.5-fold by
      1 microM beta-endorphin and about 3.7-fold by 10 microM met-enkephalin. These
      results suggest that opioid peptides play a crucial role in cellular immunity.
      Thus, we examined plasma levels of beta-endorphin in patients with ovarian or
      uterine carcinoma. The plasma beta-endorphin levels in patients with ovarian or
      uterine carcinoma were significantly higher (more than twofold) than those of age
      matched healthy women.

PMID- 1458512
TI  - Clonal karyotypic aberrations in enchondromas.
AB  - Enchondromas, benign cartilaginous tumors arising within the medullary cavity of
      bone, are frequently difficult to differentiate from their malignant counterpart.
      In this study, cytogenetic analysis was performed on seven cases of solitary
      enchondroma. Normal karyotypes were observed in five cases. Clonal abnormalities
      were detected in two cases. An isochromosome of the short arm of chromosome 6
      characterized one case, and t(12;15)(q13;q26) in addition to random numerical and
      structural abnormalities such as telomeric association was observed in the other
      case. An i(6p) and structural rearrangements involving 12q13 previously have been
      described in chondrosarcoma. Our findings suggest that similar clonal karyotypic
      abnormalities exist in benign and malignant cartilaginous neoplasms.

PMID- 1458513
TI  - Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency in lymphocytes of patients with
      colorectal carcinoma treated with razoxane.
AB  - The increased risk of neoplasia following cytotoxic therapy for both malignant
      and nonmalignant disease is well known. Sister chromatid exchange (SCE)
      frequencies in patients receiving such chemotherapy are often elevated, and the
      persistence of high levels after treatment may provide an indicator for
      susceptibility to secondary neoplasia. The cytostatic drug razoxane has been used
      for the treatment of psoriasis, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and colorectal
      carcinoma. Prolonged use of this drug, however, has been associated with the
      subsequent development of AML and, up to November 1987, 16 cases of acute
      leukemia following razoxane treatment have been reported. We report the SCE
      frequencies for 34 patients with colorectal carcinoma who were receiving or had
      previously been treated with razoxane. Our results show no significant increase
      in SCE levels in the razoxane group compared with either normal controls or
      untreated patients.

PMID- 1458514
TI  - Immunocytochemical detection of oncoproteins in animal and human tumor lines with
      acquired or inherent multidrug resistance.
AB  - In this presentation, we analyze the relationship between protein expression of
      the protooncogenes c-fos, c-erb B1, c-K-ras, and c-myc and acquired or inherent
      multidrug resistance (MDR) in a panel of animal (CHO, S 180, L 1210) and human
      (KTCTL 44, KTCTL 18, CX 1, CXF 94) tumor lines by means of immunocytochemistry.
      Increased expression of c-fos and c-erb B1 proteins is a constant feature of all
      resistant cell lines except L 1210 cells, which did not reveal any alteration in
      oncoprotein expression. No apparent relationship between c-K-ras and c-myc
      proteins and MDR was found. The immunocytochemical results were corroborated by
      radioimmunoassays (RIAs). The data indicate that c-fos and c-erb B1 might play a
      role in the development of MDR.

PMID- 1458515
TI  - Early detection of colorectal cancer: a profile of current practice.
AB  - This study examines the prevalence of colorectal cancer screening among
      individuals in the general community. The survey was undertaken as part of a
      large scale general population survey of health practices and attitudes. A sample
      of 1090 people aged 40 years and over with no previous history of colorectal
      cancer or other predisposing condition was interviewed. Only 56% of this group
      reported that they regularly checked their bowel movements, the toilet bowl, or
      the toilet paper for signs of rectal bleeding. Only 13% could recall a doctor
      ever advising them to check for rectal bleeding; and 21% could recall a doctor
      asking them if they had ever noticed blood in their bowel movements. More
      involved practitioner-based procedures, such as digital rectal examination, fecal
      occult blood testing, endoscopy, and barium enema, were reported by only a
      minority of participants. Analysis of screening rates in the 9.3% of people who
      reported a family history of colorectal cancer revealed that this higher risk
      group was no more likely to be screened than those at average risk.

PMID- 1458516
TI  - Compliance with guidelines for mammography screening.
AB  - The health belief model was used to identify potential variables related to
      intention or compliance with mammography guidelines. Scales to measure
      independent and dependent variables were developed from previous research and
      assessed for validity and reliability. A probability sample of women 35 and older
      (x = 50) who resided in a large metropolitan area and surrounding counties (n =
      322) participated in in-home interviews. Intent to complete mammography was
      related to having a family history of breast cancer, perceived barriers to
      mammography, and perceived control over breast cancer. Compliance with
      mammography was influenced by general health motivation and perceived
      susceptibility to and seriousness of breast cancer, benefits, and control over
      breast cancer. In addition, knowledge about breast cancer and breast cancer
      detection, age, having a health care provider suggest mammography, having
      symptoms of breast cancer, and socioeconomic status were significantly related to
      actual compliance with mammography.

PMID- 1458518
TI  - The perfusion pattern in coronary artery occlusion: comparison of exercise and
      adenosine.p6.
AB  - This study compared exercise to adenosine thallium-201 single photon emission
      computed tomography in detecting occlusion of left anterior descending or right
      coronary arteries in patients with no previous myocardial infarction. There were
      41 patients who underwent adenosine thallium imaging (adenosine infusion at a
      rate of 140 micrograms/kg/min for 6 min), and 143 patients who underwent exercise
      thallium imaging. There were more patients with right coronary than left anterior
      descending coronary artery occlusion. Thus, in the adenosine group, there were 15
      patients with left anterior descending artery occlusion, and 26 with right
      coronary artery occlusion, and in the exercise group, there were 46 patients with
      left anterior descending artery occlusion, and 97 patients with right coronary
      artery occlusion. In the adenosine group, the thallium images were abnormal in 41
      patients (100%), while in the exercise group, the thallium images were abnormal
      in 125 patients (87%, P < 0.02) in the territories of the occluded arteries. ST
      segment depression was noted in 19 patients (46%) in the adenosine group, and 69
      patients (48%) in the exercise group (P:NS). In patients with isolated single
      vessel occlusion, the size of the perfusion abnormality was 28 +/- 9% with
      adenosine, and 21 +/- 12% with exercise (P:NS). Thus, most patients with
      occlusion of the left anterior descending or right coronary artery have regional
      perfusion abnormality during stress; the different role of collaterals with each
      type of stress may explain the higher percentage of abnormal results with
      adenosine than exercise.

PMID- 1458517
TI  - Combined differentiation therapy in myelodysplastic syndrome with retinoid acid,
      1 alpha,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3, and prednisone.
AB  - The myelodysplastic syndrome (MDPS) provides an opportunity for identifying host
      factors (genetic, endocrine, immune) involved in initiation and progression of
      preleukemia into frank acute myeloid leukemia. The aim of this study was to
      identify bone marrow (BM) cellular and humoral dysfunctions central to the
      development of MDPS and useful in therapeutic follow-up studies. Our preclinical
      studies have shown that (1) the characteristic stromal cell composition of the
      normal BM microenvironment was impaired in MDPS and in AML in 67 and 86% of the
      cases, respectively; (2) the 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 concentration in BM plasma was
      abnormal in 50% of MDPS and 30% of AML; and (3) an inverse correlation existed in
      MDPS between the 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 concentration and the frequency of F-CFU, (r =
      0.41, p < 0.02), suggestive of a regulatory interaction between this secosteroid
      hormone and BM stromal cells. The analysis of clonal extinction of BM blast cells
      in response to all trans retinoic acid (RA), 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3, and colony
      stimulating factors (PHA-LCM), either alone or in various combinations, revealed
      individual patterns of responses in the cases of MDPS or AML. The results
      indicate the necessity for preclinical studies to select patients for combined
      differentiation therapy. Our ongoing clinical trials suggest that RA (Roaccutan,
      20 mg/day continuously) as induction therapy, followed at weeks 6 to 8 by
      prednisone (40 mg/day for 15 days) and 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 (Rocaltrol, 3 x 0.25
      micrograms/day for 3 months) may induce a long-lasting hematological remission in
      MDPS.

PMID- 1458519
TI  - Use of sideholes for diagnostic coronary arteriography by Judkins technique in
      patients with ostial coronary stenosis.
AB  - Patients with ostial left main coronary artery stenosis are at increased risk
      from diagnostic cardiac catheterization. In order to reduce this risk a modified
      Judkins coronary catheter with a sidehole 1.5-2 cm from the tip has been used in
      6 patients in whom pressure damping was observed after initial use of a standard
      end-hole Judkins left coronary catheter. This eliminates damping and allows
      forceful hand injection with good proximal and distal vessel opacification. It
      also allows the acquisition of multiple views without the need for catheter
      removal after each injection, thereby reducing the risk involved in multiple
      cannulations of a vessel with a potentially unstable lesion at its origin. The
      technique has also been used for ostial lesions in a right coronary artery and a
      vein graft.

PMID- 1458520
TI  - Cardiac catheterization laboratory survey: 1990. Society for Cardiac Angiography
      and Interventions, Laboratory Performance Standards Committee.
AB  - A survey of 117 member cardiac catheterization laboratories was undertaken by the
      Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions. The survey included numbers
      and types of procedures, both diagnostic and interventional, in adult as well as
      pediatric age groups. Radiation safety, various laboratory policies, frequency of
      short stay, and outpatient procedures were tabulated. Report generation, training
      programs, administrative organization, and laboratory equipment were all
      included. The results were compared with a 1978 survey. Areas of concern in terms
      of safety of the patient and possible underutilization of laboratories were
      identified.

PMID- 1458521
TI  - Early coronary artery stent restenosis: utility of percutaneous coronary
      angioscopy.
AB  - Restenosis of an endovascular stent may be caused by thrombus, intimal
      hyperplasia, or extrinsic compression. Angiography may not adequately define the
      etiology of restenosis. We describe a patient in whom angioscopy proved important
      in diagnosing intimal hyperplasia obviating the need for thrombolytic therapy and
      prolonged anti-coagulation.

PMID- 1458522
TI  - Early postoperative occlusion of a left internal mammary artery bypass graft with
      subsequent restoration of patency.
AB  - Total occlusion of a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) bypass graft is a rare
      complication, and reversal of a documented occlusion has not been reported. This
      is a case of an early postoperative occlusion of a LIMA graft that was found to
      be patent 4 months later. A patient with three vessel disease (including a
      moderate lesion in the proximal left anterior descending artery and a severe
      lesion in its mid-portion) underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with a LIMA
      to the mid-left anterior descending artery (LAD) and saphenous vein grafts to the
      right coronary and left circumflex arteries. Coronary angiography 3 months after
      surgery revealed a totally occluded internal mammary artery and saphenous vein
      grafts. The patient then underwent a successful angioplasty of the more distal
      lesion in the LAD. She subsequently returned with recurrent angina. Repeat
      coronary angiography revealed rapid progression of the disease in the proximal
      LAD with the more distal angioplasty site being widely patent. Selective
      arteriography of the internal mammary artery at that time revealed a patent
      vessel. Thus, the internal mammary graft is a physiologically active conduit that
      is dependent on flow dynamics. Competitive flow through the nonobstructive native
      LAD in combination with impedance of flow through the internal mammary artery due
      to a severe lesion in the LAD distal to the anastomosis led to a functionally
      occluded LIMA. When the obstruction in the proximal LAD progressed and the distal
      obstruction was successfully angioplastied, the flow dynamics in the internal
      mammary improved, allowing for its dilatation and restoration of
      patency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1458523
TI  - Coronary perforation during angioplasty: angiographic detection and demonstration
      of complete healing.
AB  - A patient is presented with localized perforation of the left anterior descending
      artery secondary to angioplasty balloon rupture. Despite a remarkable
      angiographic picture of coronary tear and dye extravasation into the surrounding
      pericardial tissue, the patient remained hemodynamically stable, and was
      medically treated. Five years later she redeveloped angina, and repeated coronary
      arteriography revealed complete healing of the perforation site. This case
      attests to the remarkable ability of the coronary artery to completely heal from
      a major wall trauma. Although a rare complication of coronary angioplasty,
      perforation can occur, and various management aspects should be considered.

PMID- 1458524
TI  - Failure of endocardial biopsy from the internal jugular vein due to endocardial
      scar: a new indication for the femoral venous approach.
AB  - Following cardiac transplantation, patients undergo serial endomyocardial
      biopsies to evaluate rejection, usually by the internal jugular approach. A case
      report and data are presented that demonstrate that this approach becomes less
      efficient and occasionally impossible in the third year after transplant (53%
      success rate per biopsy attempt) as compared to the first year after transplant
      (80%) probably due to the development of endocardial scar in the area sampled by
      the bioptome. Alternatively, one can change to the femoral venous approach which
      continues to have a high success rate in the third year after transplant (83%)
      because a different area of the interventricular septum is sampled when this
      approach is used.

PMID- 1458525
TI  - Interpretation of cardiac pathophysiology by waveform analysis: adult congenital
      anomalies.
AB  - Congenital anomalies are unusual in adults, but characteristic hemodynamic data
      facilitate precise diagnoses. A complete evaluation, including assessment for
      intracardiac shunts, is usually indicated in patients prior to major surgical
      procedures or electrophysiologic interventions.

PMID- 1458526
TI  - Collagen application for sealing of arterial puncture sites in comparison to
      pressure dressing: a randomized trial.
AB  - One hundred patients undergoing routine diagnostic or interventional
      catheterization were randomly assigned to receive either percutaneously applied
      collagen (group A; n = 50) or conventional pressure dressing (group B; n = 50)
      for sealing of the femoral artery. Clinical variables were comparable in both
      groups. The heparin dose was 100 IU/kg in 30 patients and 200 IU/kg in 20
      patients of either group. The average compression time was 4.3 min in group A and
      42.3 min in group B (p < .001). Bleeding was not observed in group A but was
      observed in 6/50 patients in group B. The time to ambulation was 6.4 hr (range, 4
      12 hr) in group A and 21.6 hr (range, 10-48 hr) in group B (p < .001). Hematomas
      with a diameter of > 6 cm developed in 4/50 patients in group A and in 11/50
      patients in group B (p < .05). Blood-transfusions or surgical interventions were
      not required and there was no loss of ankle pulses in either group. In
      conclusion, percutaneously applied collagen reduced compression time and duration
      of bedrest after diagnostic catheterization and PTCA. Despite earlier ambulation,
      the incidence of bleeding was lower with collagen than with conventional pressure
      dressing.

PMID- 1458527
TI  - PTCA with side-by-side balloon using fixed guide wire systems: a potential
      alternative autoperfusion device--an in vitro study.
AB  - The use of "hugging balloons" for the implementation of a coronary angioplasty is
      a well-known and much-written-about technique. It has not, on the other hand,
      ever been stressed that two inflated hugging balloons are not totally
      obstructive, leaving enough space, between the balloons and the arterial wall,
      for perfusion. The cross section of this free area can be as much as 12% of the
      total arterial cross section, when the side-by-side balloons are of a relatively
      similar size. Calculations show that similar total conduit cross sections are
      achieved when inflating either a 3.0 balloon or two 2.0 side-by-side balloons. An
      in vitro experiment compares how systems using 2.0 double balloons and a 3.0
      autoperfusion balloon affect the distal flow of a 3 mm internal diameter conduit.
      A semi-rigid silastic tubing is perfused with a 5% glucose isotonic solution at
      various predetermined proximal pressure levels. Distal pressures and flows are
      measured at different stages: with no balloon, with deflated balloons, and with
      inflated balloons. Comparison shows that 1) the double balloon system offers
      little resistance to flow compared to the autoperfusion balloon; 2) this system's
      rate of perfusion run-off is hardly affected and is constantly better than with
      the autoperfusion balloon; 3) this difference is all the more marked, the lower
      the proximal perfusion. These results suggest that the use of a double balloon
      could, in some cases, provide an alternative solution to autoperfusion equipment.
      Further clinical studies are needed to test this hypothesis.

PMID- 1458528
TI  - The Tracker catheter: a new vascular access system.
AB  - Technologic advances in dilation equipment have been important in improving
      angioplasty success rates and in expanding the indications of dilation. Despite
      these improvements, approximately 7% to 10% of attempted dilations may ultimately
      fail because of inability to cross the culprit lesion. As angioplasty techniques
      are applied to an increasingly complex cohort of patients, the ultimate success
      of a given procedure depends more and more on the ability of the operator to
      select the appropriate equipment for a given procedure. We report the unique
      application of a commercially available perfusion catheter which may improve
      patient outcome during complex angioplasty.

PMID- 1458529
TI  - Mitral balloon valvuloplasty with transesophageal echocardiography without using
      fluoroscopy.
AB  - Balloon mitral valvuloplasty with Inoue technique was performed in two group of
      patients. In group I (n = 40) valvuloplasty was performed under fluoroscopy
      without using echocardiography, whereas in group II (n = 13) valvuloplasty was
      performed under the guidance of transesophageal echocardiography alone, without
      using fluoroscopy. Patients in two groups were comparable with regard to clinical
      variables and hemodynamic parameters. Two female patients in group II were
      pregnant. Transmitral pressure gradient decrease did not differ significantly
      between two groups (pressure gradient: 17 +/- 5 to 4 +/- 1 in group I and 15 +/-
      4 to 3 +/- 1 mm Hg in group II). Mitral valvular area increase was also not
      different in two groups (1.09 +/- 0.2 cm2 to 2.3 +/- 0.5 cm2 in group I and 0.9
      +/- 0.2 to 2 +/- 0.3 cm2 in group II). In 14 cases from group 1 and 2 cases from
      group II mitral regurgitation increased after valvuloplasty (p < .05). Left
      atrial perforation occurred in one patient from group 1 and 2 patients from group
      II. In conclusion, mitral balloon valvuloplasty under transesophageal
      echocardiographic guidance alone is a safe and effective procedure in the
      treatment of mitral stenosis.

PMID- 1458530
TI  - Rotational atherectomy in anomalous coronary arteries.
AB  - We describe two cases of high speed rotational atherectomy performed in patients
      with anomalous coronary anatomy. These procedures are performed with standard
      equipment requiring no modifications using a percutaneous femoral approach. We
      feel these cases clearly illustrate the facile application of this new technology
      to unusual anatomical situations.

PMID- 1458531
TI  - Improved support for right coronary artery angioplasty with a new guiding
      catheter.
AB  - Inadequate guiding catheter support is a frequent cause for failure in right
      coronary angioplasty (PTCA). A new guiding catheter designed to provide easy
      placement in the right coronary and improved stability and backup support is
      described. Use of this catheter for PTCA of right coronary lesions, the majority
      of which were considered technically difficult to dilate, in 100 patients
      resulted in successful dilatations in 88% of patients. Failures were due to
      inability to seat the guide adequately in 8 patients with narrow aortic roots or
      unusual coronary origins and to inability to cross a lesion in 4 patients despite
      good support. In 4 patients successful dilatation was achieved after failure
      using another presently available guide.

PMID- 1458532
TI  - Missing arteries?

PMID- 1458533
TI  - The TATA-binding protein and associated factors are components of pol III
      transcription factor TFIIIB.
AB  - RNA polymerases I, II, and III require the TATA-binding protein (TBP) to initiate
      promoter-specific transcription. We have separated HeLa TBP into four
      phosphocellulose fractions that elicit polymerase specificity in supplying TBP
      activity to TBP-depleted pol II and pol III transcription reactions. Polymerase
      specificity might arise in part through distinct TBP-associated factors (TAFs),
      which have recently been identified in pol I and II transcription. However, the
      requirement for pol III TAFs has not been established. Here we show that
      classical pol III transcription involves a minimum of two novel TAFs: TAF-172 and
      TAF-L. Not only does TAF-172 activate pol III transcription, but it also inhibits
      the binding of TBP to the TATA box, thereby repressing pol II transcription. The
      TBP-TAF-172-TAF-L complex can replace TFIIIB both in transcription reactions
      reconstituted with TFIIIC and in template commitment assays. Thus SL1, TFIID, and
      TFIIIB might be functionally similar TBP-TAF complexes that direct pol I, II, and
      III transcription, respectively.

PMID- 1458534
TI  - A TBP complex essential for transcription from TATA-less but not TATA-containing
      RNA polymerase III promoters is part of the TFIIIB fraction.
AB  - The TATA box-binding protein TBP directs transcription by all three eukaryotic
      RNA polymerases. In mammalian cells, TBP is found in at least three different
      complexes: SL1, D-TFIID, and B-TFIID. While SL1 and D-TFIID are involved in RNA
      polymerase I and II transcription, respectively, no unique function has been
      assigned to the B-TFIID complex. Here we show that the TFIIIB fraction required
      for RNA polymerase III transcription contains two separable components, one of
      which is a TBP-containing complex that may correspond to B-TFIID. For
      transcription of TATA-less RNA polymerase III genes such as the VAI, 5S, and 7SL
      genes, this complex cannot be replaced by either TBP alone or the D-TFIID
      complex. In contrast, TBP alone is active for basal transcription from the TATA
      containing U6 promoter. This indicates different requirements for recruiting TBP
      to TATA-less and TATA-containing RNA polymerase III promoters.

PMID- 1458535
TI  - Mechanism of TATA-binding protein recruitment to a TATA-less class III promoter.
AB  - The TATA-binding protein (TBP) is required for transcription by RNA polymerase
      III (pol III), even though many pol III templates, such as the adenovirus VA1
      gene, lack a consensus TATA box. We show that TBP alone does not form a stable,
      productive interaction with VA1 DNA. However, it can be incorporated into an
      initiation complex if the other class III basal factors, TFIIIB and TFIIIC, are
      also present. TFIIIB can associate with the evolutionarily conserved C-terminal
      domain of TBP in the absence of DNA or TFIIIC, suggesting that TFIIIB exists in
      solution as a complex with TBP. The stable association of TBP with an essential
      component of the pol III transcription apparatus may account for the ability of
      TATA-less class III genes to recruit TBP.

PMID- 1458536
TI  - The role of the TATA-binding protein in the assembly and function of the
      multisubunit yeast RNA polymerase III transcription factor, TFIIIB.
AB  - The Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA polymerase III transcription factor (TF)IIIB has
      been assembled from three components. An assembly pathway of these polypeptides,
      which specifies their interactions, has been determined. The TATA-binding
      protein, TBP, and the TFIIB-related BRF1 gene product BRF, together reconstitute
      the transcription factor activity and TFIIC-dependent DNA-binding activity of the
      B' component of TFIIIB. BRF alone weakly binds to a TFIIIC-tRNA gene complex; TBP
      greatly stabilizes this interaction. B" transcription factor activity is
      recovered with its previously identified 90 kd polypeptide from SDS
      polyacrylamide gels. Incorporation of the 90 kd B" protein into the transcription
      complex requires TBP. The heparin-resistant TFIIIB-DNA complex retains all three
      of its constituent proteins, TBP, BRF, and B".

PMID- 1458537
TI  - Xeroderma pigmentosum, Cockayne's syndrome, helicases, and DNA repair: what's the
      relationship?

PMID- 1458538
TI  - Focal adhesion kinase (p125FAK): a point of convergence in the action of
      neuropeptides, integrins, and oncogenes.

PMID- 1458539
TI  - Molecular parasitology at Woods Hole.

PMID- 1458540
TI  - A Drosophila model for xeroderma pigmentosum and Cockayne's syndrome: haywire
      encodes the fly homolog of ERCC3, a human excision repair gene.
AB  - The haywire gene of Drosophila encodes a protein with 66% identity to the product
      of the human ERCC3 gene, associated with xeroderma pigmentosum B (XP-B) and
      Cockayne's syndrome (CS). XP is a human autosomal recessive disease characterized
      by extreme sensitivity to ultraviolet irradiation and marked susceptibility to
      skin cancer. In addition, XP and CS patients often exhibit a variety of defects,
      ranging from central nervous system disorders to hypogonadism. Phenotypes of
      haywire mutants mimic some of the effects of XP. Many haywire alleles are
      recessive lethal, viable alleles cause ultraviolet sensitivity, and files
      expressing marginal levels of haywire display motor defects and reduced life
      span. Progeny of females carrying a maternal effect allele show central nervous
      system defects.

PMID- 1458541
TI  - Collagenase expression in the lungs of transgenic mice causes pulmonary
      emphysema.
AB  - Transgenic mice were generated that expressed a human collagenase transgene in
      their lungs under the direction of the haptoglobin promoter. Histological
      analysis demonstrated disruption of the alveolar walls and coalescence of the
      alveolar spaces with no evidence of fibrosis or inflammation. This pathology is
      strikingly similar to the morphological changes observed in human emphysema and
      therefore implicates interstitial collagenase as a possible etiological agent in
      the disease process. Although elastase has been proposed as the primary enzyme
      responsible for emphysematous lung damage, this study provides evidence that
      other extracellular matrix proteases could play a role in emphysema. In addition,
      these transgenic mice are a defined genetic animal model system to study the
      pathogenesis of emphysema.

PMID- 1458542
TI  - Isolation of a stem cell for neurons and glia from the mammalian neural crest.
AB  - We have isolated mammalian neural crest cells using a monoclonal antibody to the
      low affinity NGF receptor, and established conditions for the serial propagation
      of these cells in clonal culture to assess their developmental potential. This
      analysis indicates that, first, single mammalian neural crest cells are
      multipotent, able to generate at least neurons and Schwann cells like their avian
      counterparts. Second, multipotent neural crest cells generate multipotent
      progeny, indicating that they are capable of self-renewal and therefore are stem
      cells. Third, multipotent neural crest cells also generate some clonal progeny
      that form only neurons or glia, suggesting the production of committed
      neuroblasts and glioblasts. Manipulation of the substrate alters the fate of the
      multipotent cells. These findings have implications for models of neural crest
      development in vivo, and establish a system for studying the generation of
      cellular diversity by a multipotent stem cell in vitro.

PMID- 1458543
TI  - Polymer-bound enzyme inhibitors: synthesis, properties, and physiological
      relevance.
AB  - For the most part, the pharmacological effect of an enzyme inhibitor results from
      its interaction with a single target molecule--the target enzyme. In many cases,
      the inhibitor moiety can interact effectively with the enzyme without necessarily
      being released from the polymer carrier. In the simplest form, i.e., the
      inhibition of an extracellular enzyme, this interaction can be understood as
      being two macromolecules in a solution--a reaction that can be readily modeled in
      vitro. Thus, enzyme inhibitors are very suitable for preparing polymer-bound
      drugs for investigative purposes or therapeutical applications. The
      macromolecular properties of polymers impact on the pharmacokinetic behavior of
      the compound because of the controlled intercompartmental transport. The
      physiological significance of the polymer-bound enzyme inhibitors is considered
      herein regarding the factors controlling the biodistribution of polymers among
      the physiological compartments. Extracellular proteinases and lysosomal enzymes
      are the most easily approachable targets. Strategies for preparation of polymer
      bound inhibitors are discussed.

PMID- 1458544
TI  - Block copolymers as drug carriers.
AB  - The main subject of this review is to describe the concept and strategy of
      utilizing block copolymers as drug carriers and to present a perspective for this
      utilization. The first section points out preferable properties of block
      copolymers as drug carriers with a brief survey on classifications and synthesis
      of block copolymers and specifies the merits of block copolymers for this purpose
      in the historical background of polymeric drug carriers. The second section
      introduces several studies using block copolymers as drug carriers. These studies
      contain surface modification of microspheres with block copolymers, polymeric
      micelles, and a conjugate of an antibody and block copolymer. In conclusion, it
      is determined that block copolymers possess a high potential for use as drug
      carriers irrespective of some difficulties in their synthesis.

PMID- 1458545
TI  - The uses and properties of PEG-linked proteins.
AB  - Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is a water soluble polymer that when covalently
      linked to proteins, alters their properties in ways that extend their potential
      uses. PEG-modified conjugates are being exploited in many different fields. The
      improved pharmacological performance of PEG-proteins when compared with their
      unmodified counterparts prompted the development of this type of conjugate as a
      therapeutic agent. Enzyme deficiencies for which therapy with the native enzyme
      was inefficient (due to rapid clearance and/or immunological reactions) can now
      be treated with equivalent PEG-enzymes. PEG-adenosine deaminase has already
      obtained FDA approval. PEG-modified cytokines have been constructed and,
      interestingly, one of the conjugates, PEG-modified granulocyte-macrophage colony
      stimulating factor, showed dissociation of two biological properties. This novel
      observation may open new horizons to the application of PEGylation technology.
      The biotechnology industry has also found PEG-proteins very useful because PEG
      enzymes can act as catalysts in organic solvents, thereby opening the possibility
      of producing desired stereoisomers, as opposed to the racemic mixture usually
      obtained in classical organic synthesis. Covalent attachment of PEG to proteins
      requires activation of the hydroxyl terminal group of the polymer with a suitable
      leaving group that can be displaced by nucleophilic attack of the epsilon-amino
      terminal of lysine residues (other nucleophilic groups can also interact).
      Several chemical groups have been exploited to activate PEG, thereby giving rise
      to a variety of PEG-proteins. Some of these varieties retain part of the
      activating group as a coupling moiety between PEG and protein and others provide
      a direct linkage. For each particular application, different coupling methods
      provide distinct advantages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1458546
TI  - Skin absorption enhancers.
AB  - When we try to maximize drug flux through the skin, we usually meet major
      difficulties because of the impervious nature of the stratum corneum. A popular
      solution incorporates penetration enhancers into transdermal products. Such
      materials ideally possess the sole property of reversibly reducing the barrier
      resistance of the horny layer, allowing the drug to reach the living tissues at a
      greater rate. This article considers examples of accelerant action that support a
      general concept explaining enhancer activity in human skin. The core of the
      proposal is that enhancers usually work by one or more of three main mechanisms:
      alteration of the lipid or protein domains of the stratum corneum or increase in
      tissue partitioning of a drug, a coenhancer, water, or any combination of these
      three chemicals. We may usefully refer to the overall hypothesis as the lipid
      protein-partitioning (LPP) concept.

PMID- 1458547
TI  - DNA-directed aniline mustards based on 9-aminoacridine: interaction with DNA.
AB  - A series of 4-substituted aniline mustards ArNH(CH2)nOpC6H4N(CH2CH2Cl)2, where Ar
      is an acridine and n varies from 2 to 5, interact with DNA. Scatchard analysis
      shows the compounds bind tightly, with a binding site size similar to that of 9
      aminoacridine. The rate of hydrolysis of the mustards, measured by HPLC, is
      essentially constant across the series. With increasing length of the
      polymethylene linker, non-covalent binding becomes less strong, but the rate of
      DNA alkylation increases. Viscometric helix extension measurements and
      electrophoretic analyses using closed circular supercoiled DNA show that all the
      compounds are DNA intercalating ligands. Despite these similarities, the
      compounds are known to have quite different patterns of DNA alkylation, switching
      from guanine to adenine alkylation as the chain length is extended.

PMID- 1458548
TI  - Isotopically sensitive regioselectivity in the oxidative deamination of a
      homologous series of diamines catalyzed by diamine oxidase.
AB  - The equivalence of aminomethylene groups in selected diamine substrates of
      diamine oxidase was exploited for the determination of intramolecular isotope
      effects. In the series of substrates, [1,1-2H2]-1,3-diaminopropane, [1,1-2H2]-1,5
      diaminopentane, [1,1-2H2]-1,6-diaminohexane, [1,1-2H2]-1,7-diaminoheptane and
      [alpha,alpha-2H2]-4-(aminomethyl)benzylamine, the preference of the enzyme for
      reaction at the unlabeled methylene was found to vary from 1.45 to 10.5-fold. The
      observed partitioning ratios go through a minimum value with 1,5-diaminopentane,
      the best substrate of diamine oxidase of the compounds tested. The results
      suggest that fast substrates have less opportunity to reorient into alternate
      binding conformations while bound to the active site of the enzyme. On the other
      hand, diamine substrates tested that cannot exist in energetically favorable
      conformations with internitrogen distances of about 7-8 A showed larger
      intramolecular isotope effects.

PMID- 1458549
TI  - Sphingosine induced release of K+ and 5-HT in platelets should not be confused
      with membrane leakiness.
AB  - The release of 43K+, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and [14C]-5-hydroxytryptamine
      ([14C]-5-HT) from platelets treated with sphingosine and four differently charged
      model amphiphiles was studied. Sphingosine was found to differ from the
      detergents because it induced a concentration-dependent release of both 43K+ and
      [14C]-5-HT without causing a release of LDH. The release of [14C]-5-HT preceded
      the release of 43K+ and it is concluded that these effects are associated with
      platelet activation. The detergents caused a release of 43K+ followed by a
      release of LDH without causing a release of [14C]-5-HT. These effects are
      attributed to a non-specific perturbation of the platelet plasma membrane.

PMID- 1458550
TI  - The involvement of selenium in peroxisome proliferation caused by dietary
      administration of clofibrate to rats.
AB  - The effects of dietary treatment with clofibrate (0.5% w/w for 10 days) on the
      livers of selenium-deficient male rats were examined. The peroxisome
      proliferation (as determined by electron microscopy) in the livers of selenium
      deficient animals was much less pronounced than in the case of selenium-adequate
      rats and no increase in peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation (assayed both as
      antimycin-insensitive palmitoyl-CoA oxidation and lauroyl-CoA oxidase activity)
      was observed in the deficient animals. On the other hand, in selenium-deficient
      rats clofibrate caused increases in the specific activity of microsomal lauric
      acid omega- and omega-1-hydroxylation and an apparent change in mitochondrial
      size, seen as a redistribution of mitochondria from the 600 x g(av) pellet to the
      10,000 x g(av) pellet, which were approximately 50% as great as the corresponding
      effects on control animals. Obviously, then, these three different effects of
      clofibrate are not strictly coupled and may involve at least partially distinct
      underlying mechanisms. Initial experiments demonstrated that peroxisome
      proliferation could be obtained by exposing primary hepatocyte cultures derived
      from selenium-deficient rats to clofibric acid (an in vivo hydrolysis product of
      clofibrate which is the proximate peroxisome proliferator), nafenopin or mono(2
      ethylhexyl)phthalate. This finding suggests that selenium deficiency does not
      have a direct influence on the basic process(es) underlying peroxisome
      proliferation, but rather has indirect effects, influencing, for example, the
      pharmacokinetics of clofibrate and/or hormonal factors.

PMID- 1458552
TI  - Ultrasonic diagnosis of oral and neck malignant lymphoma.
AB  - A series of 14 patients with nodal and extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the
      oral and neck region was analyzed by ultrasonogram evaluation. Eight nodal
      lymphomas and six extranodal lymphomas commonly exhibited almost completely
      similar ultrasonographic findings, specifically, clear delineation of the
      boundary echo and a homogeneous, weak internal echo, the so-called pseudo-liquid
      like images. The results derived from our study suggest that ultrasonic diagnosis
      is also helpful in evaluating patients with lymphoma during the initial diagnosis
      and initial treatment like other diagnostic imaging modalities.

PMID- 1458551
TI  - The mechanism of Hg2+ toxicity in cultured human oral fibroblasts: the
      involvement of cellular thiols.
AB  - To study amalgam-related toxicity in a primary target cell type, human oral
      fibroblasts were grown in a low-serum medium containing 1.25% fetal bovine serum
      and exposed to Hg2+, a corrosion product of amalgam. A 1-h exposure to various
      concentrations of Hg2+ resulted in a dose-dependent loss of colony forming
      efficiency. Removal of the low-molecular-weight thiol cysteine from the medium
      increased the toxicity of Hg2+ almost 50-fold in comparison with complete medium
      or medium without fetal bovine serum. Accordingly, fetal bovine serum was not
      found to contain detectable levels of low-molecular-weight thiols. The levels of
      cellular free protein thiols were shown to be depleted Hg2+ at significantly
      lower concentrations of the metal ion than those required to decrease the levels
      of the major cellular low-molecular weight thiol glutathione. These decreases
      were dependent on the exposure conditions, i.e. the presence of serum and thiols,
      in a manner similar to the effect on colony forming efficiency. Other functions
      commonly related to cell viability, including the accumulation of the vital dye
      neutral red, the cytosolic retention of deoxyglucose and the mitochondrial
      reduction of tetrazolium were also inhibited by Hg2+, albeit at higher
      concentrations. Finally, the depletion of cellular glutathione, by pre-exposure
      of the cells to the glutathione synthesis inhibitor buthionine sulfoximine,
      somewhat increased the toxicity of Hg2+ and potentiated the depletion of protein
      thiols. Taken together, the toxicity of Hg2+ in human oral fibroblasts was
      demonstrated in several assays of which colony forming efficiency was the most
      sensitive, cell killing by this agent was related to its high affinity for
      protein thiols, whereas glutathione showed a significant, but limited, ability to
      protect the cells from Hg2+ toxicity.

PMID- 1458553
TI  - Cardiotoxicity of mitomycin A, mitomycin C, and seven N7 analogs in vitro.
AB  - The alkylating antitumor agents mitomycin A (MMA), mitomycin C (MMC), and seven
      N7 analogs were compared in terms of their cardiotoxic and antitumor activity in
      vitro. Neonatal rat-heart myocytes were sensitive to five of the compounds
      studied, including MMA, 7-dimethylamidinomitosane (BMY-25282), 7-(N-methyl
      piperazinyl)-mitosane (RR-194), N7-(4-iodophenyl)-MMC (RR-208), and N7-(4
      hydroxyphenyl)-MMC (M-83) in order of descending molar potency. MMA and RR-208
      possessed the greatest cytotoxic potency against 8226 human myeloma tumor cells
      in vitro. Two of the nine mitomycins studied, BMY-25282 and M-83, showed greater
      cytotoxic potency for heart cells. For these two agents, the ratio of the 50%
      inhibitory concentration in heart cells to that in 8226 myeloma cells was 50 and
      32, respectively. For the other analogs, the tumor-cell cytotoxic potency was
      much higher (ranging from 200 to 7,000). For the nine mitomycin compounds, a
      correlation was found between heart-cell toxicity and low reduction potentials
      (E1/2 values) ranging from -0.16 to -0.37 V. Thus, as the reduction potential
      decreased (easier reducibility), the cardiotoxic potency in vitro increased (r =
      0.81). In contrast, mitomycins with reduction potentials of higher than -0.37 V
      were much less potent cardiotoxins. Thus, mitomycin C (E1/2 = -0.45 V) was
      noncardiotoxic even when tested at concentrations 100-fold above those
      pharmacologically achievable in humans. Mitomycin C also failed to enhance
      doxorubicin (Adriamycin) cardiotoxicity in vitro. Importantly, no correlation was
      found between the reduction potential and the antitumor activity of the nine
      analogs (n = 0.51), in this small series.

PMID- 1458554
TI  - Cell cycle-specific metabolism of arabinosyl nucleosides in K562 human leukemia
      cells.
AB  - Exponentially growing K562 cells incubated with 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine
      (ara-C) accumulate ara-C triphosphate (ara-CTP) at a higher rate and to a greater
      concentration after pretreatment with 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-2-fluoroadenine
      (F-ara-A) than do cells treated with ara-C alone. Potentiation of ara-C
      metabolism is due in part to an indirect effect of F-ara-A triphosphate (F-ara
      ATP)-mediated reduction in deoxynucleotide pools and consequent activation of
      deoxycytidine kinase. Because the levels of deoxynucleotide pools and the
      activity of deoxycytidine kinase are cell cycle-specific, we investigated the
      effect of cell cycle phases on the accumulation of ara-CTP and the influence of F
      ara-A pretreatment on such accumulation. Exponentially growing K562 cells were
      fractionated into G1, S, and G2+M phase-enriched subpopulations (each enriched by
      > 60%) by centrifugal elutriation. The rate of ara-CTP accumulation was 22, 25,
      and 14 microM/h and the rate of F-ara-ATP accumulation was 38, 47, and 33
      microM/h in the G1, S, and G2+M subpopulations, respectively. The rate of
      elimination of arabinosyl triphosphates was similar among the different phases of
      the cell cycle. After pretreatment with F-ara-A, the rate of ara-CTP accumulation
      in the G1, S, and G2+M phase-enriched subpopulations was 43, 37, and 26 microM/h,
      indicating a 1.7-, 1.5-, and 1.9-fold increase, respectively. These results
      suggest that a combination of F-ara-A and ara-C may effectively potentiate ara
      CTP accumulation in all phases of the cell cycle. This observation is consistent
      with the results of studies on the modulation of ara-C metabolism by F-ara-A in
      lymphocytes and leukemia blasts obtained from patients with chronic lymphocytic
      leukemia and acute myelogenous leukemia, respectively.

PMID- 1458555
TI  - Distribution of hexadecylphosphocholine and octadecyl-methyl-glycero-3
      phosphocholine in rat tissues during steady-state treatment.
AB  - The distribution of the alkylphosphocholine hexadecylphosphocholine (He-PC) and
      the (alkyl)lysophospholipid 1-0-octadecyl-2-0-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine
      (ET18-OCH3) was analyzed in rats. The compounds were given orally at a daily dose
      of 75 mumol/kg body weight. After 6, 11, and 18 days, three rats in each
      treatment group were killed and the drug concentration in various tissues and
      fluids was determined. With the exception of the kidney (He-PC) and brain (He-PC
      and ET18-OCH3), steady-state levels of the drugs could be achieved in all organs
      investigated and in serum. Maximal concentrations of He-PC were found in the
      kidney, adrenal glands, and spleen, whereas the highest concentrations of ET18
      OCH3 were detected in the adrenal glands, spleen, and small intestine. The
      concentrations of He-PC exceeded those of ET18-OCH3 in most tissues by a factor
      of about 2-25. Since samples of urine and feces did not contain detectable
      amounts of the compounds, the absorption of both lipid analogues was assumed to
      be complete. The total amount of He-PC recovered after 6, 11, and 18 days was
      15%, 12%, and 6%, respectively, and that of ET18-OCH3 was 1.3%, 0.8%, and 0.3%,
      respectively. This indicates that the bioavailability of He-PC and ET18-OCH3 is
      not controlled by differences in the uptake of the two drugs, but by differences
      in their metabolism. The results could explain the differing efficacy of these
      two compounds in their antitumor action in animal models.

PMID- 1458556
TI  - The role of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase in mitomycin C- and porfiromycin
      resistant HCT 116 human colon-cancer cells.
AB  - A mitomycin C (MMC)- and porfiromycin (PFM)-resistant subline of the HCT 116
      human colon-cancer cell line was isolated after repeated exposure of HCT 116
      cells to increasing concentrations of MMC under aerobic conditions. The MMC
      resistant subline (designated HCT 116-R30A) was 5 times more resistant than the
      parent cells to MMC and PFM under aerobic conditions. Both the MMC-resistant
      cells and the parent HCT 116 cells accumulated similar amounts of PFM by passive
      diffusion, but levels of macromolecule-bound PFM were about 50% lower in the
      resistant cell line, implying a decrease in PFM reductive activation in the
      resistant cells. The finding that microsomes from either sensitive or resistant
      cells showed an equal ability to reduce MMC and PFM indicated that the activity
      of NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase (EC 1.6.2.4) was not changed in the resistant
      subline. Soluble extracts of HCT 116 cells reduced MMC and PFM more effectively
      at pH 6.1, and NADH and NADPH were utilized equally well as electron donors under
      both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. These data suggest that quinone reductase
      (EC 1.6.99.2; DT-diaphorase) in soluble extracts is responsible for the reduction
      of MMC. Quinone reductase activities in soluble extracts of HCT 116-R30A cells
      for the reduction of dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP) and menadione-cytochrome c
      at optimal pHs were decreased by 95% as compared with those obtained in parent
      cells. However, the MMC-reducing activity of HCT 116-R30A soluble extracts was
      only 50% lower than that of the parent cell extracts. The kinetic constants (Km,
      Vmax) found for quinone reductase in the two cell lines with respect to the
      substrates DCPIP and menadione differed. Two species of mRNA for quinone
      reductase (2.7 and 1.2 kb) were detected in both cell lines, and there was no
      detectable difference between parent and resistant cells in the steady-state
      level of either of these mRNA species. Furthermore, incubation with the quinone
      reductase inhibitor dicoumarol rendered HCT 116 cells more resistant to MMC.
      Alteration of the quinone reductase activity in HCT 116-R30A cells appears to be
      the mechanism responsible for their resistance to MMC and PFM.

PMID- 1458557
TI  - Intraperitoneal administration of the antitumour agent N-[2
      (dimethylamino)ethyl]acridine-4-carboxamide in the mouse: bioavailability,
      pharmacokinetics and toxicity after a single dose.
AB  - The pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and toxicity of the antitumour agent N
      [2-(dimethylamino)-ethyl]acridine-4-carboxamide (AC) were studied after i.p.
      administration of [3H]-AC (410 mumol/kg) to mice. The latter is the optimal
      single dose for the cure of advanced Lewis lung tumours. AC was rapidly absorbed
      into the systemic circulation after i.p. administration, with the maximal
      concentration (Cmax) occurring at the first time point (5 min). There was no
      reduction in bioavailability as compared with previous i.v. studies, but the
      shape of the plasma concentration-time profile was considerably different,
      reflecting a 3-fold lower Cmax value (20.9 +/- 3.6 mumol/l) and a longer t1/2
      value (2.7 +/- 0.3 h) as compared with that observed after i.v. administration
      (1.6 +/- 0.6 h). Model independent pharmacokinetic parameters after i.p.
      administration were: clearance (C), 17.5 l h-1 kg-1; steady-state volume of
      distribution (Vss), 14.1 l/kg; and mean residence time (MRT), 1.46 h. High but
      variable tissue uptake of AC was observed, with tissue/plasma AUC ratios being
      5.7 for heart, 8.4 for brain, 18.9 for kidney and 21.0 for liver but with similar
      elimination t1/2 values ranging from 1.3 to 2.7 h. All radioactivity profiles in
      plasma and tissues were greater than the respective parent AC profiles and showed
      prolonged elimination t1/2 values ranging from 21 h in liver to 93 h in brain.
      However, tissue/plasma radioactivity AUC ratios were near unity, ranging from 0.7
      to 1.57, with the exception of the gallbladder (15.6), which contained greater
      amounts of radioactivity. By 48 h, approximately 70% of the total dose had been
      eliminated, with the faecal to urinary ratio being approximately 2:1. This i.p.
      dose was well tolerated by mice, with sedation being the only obvious side
      effect. No major change was observed in blood biochemistry or haematological
      parameters. Comparisons of Cmax, tmax and AUC values determined for AC in brain
      after its i.p. and i.v. administration suggest that the reduction in acute
      toxicity after i.p. administration is not due to reduced exposure of the brain to
      AC as measured by AUC but may be associated with the lower Cmax value or the
      slower rate of entry of AC into the brain after i.p. administration.

PMID- 1458558
TI  - Cyclosporin A potentiation of VP-16: production of long-term survival in murine
      acute lymphatic leukemia.
AB  - Our prior in vitro studies on the correction of multidrug resistance by
      cyclosporin A (CsA) prompted us to investigate the effect of CsA and VP-16 in
      vivo. CsA given simultaneously at 2 or 10 mg/kg with VP-16 to BDF/1 mice bearing
      parental drug-sensitive P388 or L1210 lymphatic leukemia produced a 100% increase
      in survival as compared with VP-16 treatment alone. CsA-containing regimens also
      promoted 60-day survival in a significant number of P388 or L1210 leukemia
      bearing mice as compared with animals receiving VP-16 in the absence of CsA (P <
      0.02 and P < 0.001, respectively). CsA enhancement of the survival of mice
      bearing these lymphatic leukemias is restricted to VP-16, since the addition of
      CsA to therapeutic agents such as vincristine, daunorubicin, methotrexate, or
      cisplatin had no effect on survival.

PMID- 1458559
TI  - Distribution characteristics of mitoxantrone in a patient undergoing
      hemodialysis.
AB  - The pharmacokinetic profile of mitoxantrone in a patient undergoing hemodialysis
      is described. Significant characteristics of our patient included lymphoma with
      liver involvement, tumor lysis syndrome, renal and hepatic failure. Combination
      chemotherapy consisted of mitoxantrone, vincristine, and cyclophosphamide.
      Mitoxantrone plasma samples were obtained prior to dosing and at 0, 0.25, 0.5,
      0.75, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.5, 7.0, and 12 h after the
      intravenous infusion of a 17-mg dose over 20 min. Serum concentrations were
      determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The serum concentration
      versus time curve was consistent with a three-compartment model. However,
      rebounds in serum drug concentrations were detected during the last portion of
      dialysis and after its completion. The gamma elimination half-life could not be
      determined due to the continued detection of rebounds in drug concentrations
      throughout the postdialysis sampling period. The alpha and beta distribution
      phases did not appear to be affected by hemodialysis. The peak mitoxantrone
      concentration fell within the reported range. Mitoxantrone does not appear to be
      eliminated by hemodialysis, and dose adjustments are not needed in patients
      undergoing this procedure.

PMID- 1458560
TI  - Relationship between tumor cell density and drug concentration and the cytotoxic
      effects of doxorubicin or vincristine: mechanism of inoculum effects.
AB  - When tumor cell density increases, the cytotoxic activity of certain anticancer
      agents, such as vincristine (VCR) and doxorubicin (DXR), progressively decreases.
      This phenomenon is termed the inoculum effect. Since VCR and DXR are less active
      in an acidic environment, we questioned whether the inoculum effects could have
      resulted from acidification of the medium that may have developed due to the high
      cell density. However, measurements of the cytotoxic activity of these agents in
      a pH-controlled medium revealed only a minor correction of the inoculum effects.
      Second, we wondered whether the inoculum effects that occurred at the high cell
      density might have been attributable to insufficient amounts of drugs to bind all
      the binding sites of the cells. To test this hypothesis, we used drug-resistant
      sublines, which required higher VCR or DXR concentrations for cell killing than
      did the parent cell line. When higher drug concentrations were used, the dose
      response curves generated for low- and high-density cell populations became
      closer and overlapped each other, resulting in virtual disappearance of the
      inoculum effects. Measurements of cellular drug levels revealed that at a high
      cell density, cells accumulated much smaller amounts of both VCR and DXR in
      parallel with the positive inoculum effect. In contrast, when high concentrations
      of the drugs were used in drug-resistant cells, differences in the cellular drug
      contents between low and high cell densities became narrow. Cisplatin (DDP)
      belongs to a group of drugs that do not produce inoculum effects, and DDP's
      cytotoxic effects were not influenced by the pH-controlled medium or by the use
      of drug-resistant cell lines. These observations indicate that the inoculum
      effects are the result of the unavailability of VCR or DXR molecules to all
      cellular binding sites when cells at high densities are exposed to drugs. The
      drug concentration relative to cell density was apparently the major determinant
      for the inoculum effects seen in VCR- or DXR-induced cell killing.

PMID- 1458561
TI  - Mechanistic implications of alterations in HL-60 cell nascent DNA after exposure
      to 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine.
AB  - To improve our understanding of the mechanism of 1-beta-D
      arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) incorporation into DNA, we investigated the
      physical properties (size, position of nucleoside incorporation) of small
      fragments of nascent DNA (nDNA) obtained by pH-step alkaline elution of intact HL
      60 cells following their exposure to ara-C. In the pH-step alkaline elution
      procedure, the smallest fragments of nDNA elute at pH 11. Anion-exchange high
      performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of nDNA obtained by 1 h elution at pH
      11.0 of lysed HL-60 cells revealed a preponderance of nDNA fragments ranging from
      0.5 to 40 kb in control ([3H]-dThd-labeled) cells. Exposure of cells to ara-C
      (0.8-1 microM) resulted in a loss of the preponderance of radiolabel in fragments
      of 0.5-40 kb along with redistribution of the radiolabel (from [3H]-dThd or [3H]
      ara-C) into smaller nDNA fragments (predominantly < 100 bases in length) as
      determined by HPLC. We used the ability of pH-step alkaline elution to provide
      these small nDNA fragments produced by ara-C to investigate the paradoxical
      behavior of ara-C as a chain terminator in cell-free DNA synthetic systems while
      being incorporated into an internucleotide position in intact cells. Following
      the digestion of purified nDNA with micrococcal nuclease and spleen
      phosphodiesterase II, the proportion of radiolabel in 3'-dNMP (indicating an
      internucleotide position) or free nucleoside (indicating a chain terminus
      position) was determined by reverse-phase HPLC. In digests of prelabeled genomic
      DNA, as expected, > 90% of the radiolabel from [14C]-dThd or [3H]-ara-C was found
      to exist in an internucleotide position (as determined by co-chromatography with
      authentic 3'-dTMP or 3'-ara-CMP). In contrast, digests of nDNA that eluted at pH
      11.0 revealed a significantly higher proportion of radiolabel in the chain
      terminus position (29%-35%) when the nDNA was obtained from cells exposed to 1
      microM [3H]-ara-C as compared with cells exposed to [3H]-dThd or [3H]-dCyd alone
      (< 10%). These data obtained from pH-step alkaline elution of intact cells
      suggest that by causing the inhibition of chain elongation while failing to
      inhibit the formation of new nDNA replication intermediates, ara-C exposure leads
      to the production of very small nDNA fragments. This relative chain-terminating
      effect of ara-C is most apparent in the small nDNA replication fragments that
      elute at pH 11.0.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1458563
TI  - Serum elimination half-life of tamoxifen and its metabolites in patients with
      advanced breast cancer.
AB  - In breast cancer patients discontinuing chronic tamoxifen therapy, the serum
      elimination of metabolites X, Y and E paralleled that of tamoxifen, whereas that
      of metabolite Z did not. The serum elimination of tamoxifen and metabolites X and
      B was increased by amino-glutethimide treatment, whereas that of metabolites Z,
      Y, and E was not.

PMID- 1458562
TI  - Protection against fludarabine neurotoxicity in leukemic mice by the nucleoside
      transport inhibitor nitrobenzylthioinosine.
AB  - Fludarabine phosphate (F-ara-AMP, Fludara) is rapidly converted in the
      circulation to fludarabine (F-ara-A) and is among the most effective single
      agents in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Although current
      treatment protocols are well tolerated, severe neurotoxicity was a consequence of
      high-dose F-ara-AMP regimens used in early phase I trials against adult acute
      leukemia. The present study showed that in mice implanted with leukemia L1210,
      fatal neurotoxicity, which initially manifested as hind-limb paralysis, was a
      consequence of high-dose F-ara-AMP treatment. However, the incidence of
      neurotoxicity was reduced by the coadministration of NBMPR-P, the 5'-phosphate of
      nitrobenzylthioinosine, a potent inhibitor of the es equilibrative nucleoside
      transport (NT) system. NBTGR-P, the 5'-phosphate of nitrobenzylthioguanosine
      (also a potent NT inhibitor) similarly prevented F-ara-AMP neurotoxicity in this
      experimental system. Treatment with F-ara-AMP/NBMPR-P combinations was more
      effective with respect to the fractional yield of "cured" mice than were the same
      treatment regimens without NBMPR-P.

PMID- 1458564
TI  - Adriamycin-induced inhibition of arachidonate incorporation into phospholipids of
      mastocytoma P815 cells.
AB  - Adriamycin inhibited [1-14C]-arachidonic acid uptake by mastocytoma P815 cells in
      a dose-dependent manner (5-120 nM). The incorporation of [1-14C]-arachidonic acid
      into phospholipids was decreased mainly into cardiolipin and phosphatidylcholine.

PMID- 1458565
TI  - Primary liver cancer in Hong Kong.
AB  - From 1984 to 1987, we conducted a series of chemotherapy trials to assess their
      efficacy and impact on survival in patients with inoperable hepatocellular
      carcinoma. A total of 18 patients were treated with etoposide at a dose of 200
      mg/m2 given on days 1-3 every 3 weeks for a maximum of 8 courses. No response was
      observed in any of the 18 patients studied. A further trial using epirubicin at
      doses of 40 and 75 mg/m2 again showed no evidence of a tumor response in 14
      consecutive patients. The dose of epirubicin was further escalated to 90 mg/m2.
      Of the 33 patients treated, 1 (3%) achieved a complete response and 2 (6%) showed
      a partial response. Although the overall median survival amounted to only 72
      days, the survival of the three responders was 15, 13, and 12 months,
      respectively. Therefore, we believe that the tumor response to epirubicin may be
      dose-dependent. However, the toxicity was also dose-dependent. To improve the
      therapeutic index, we are currently evaluating the impact of intrahepatic
      arterial injection of a lipiodol-epirubicin emulsion.

PMID- 1458566
TI  - Liver transplantation in Taiwan: the Chang Gung experience.
AB  - Between March 1984 and February 1991, six orthotopic liver transplantations were
      performed at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan. The indications for
      transplantation were Wilson's disease (5 patients) and biliary atresia (1
      patient). Donors and recipients were matched only for size and ABO blood group
      compatibility, and the recipient operations were performed without the use of a
      venovenous bypass. Arterial reconstruction was carried out by end-to-end hepatic
      artery anastomosis (4), thoracic aortic conduit (1), or interposition of an iliac
      artery graft (1), whereas biliary reconstruction was accomplished by a
      choledochocholedochostomy using a T-tube stent (4) or a choledochocholedochostomy
      using an external cholecystostomy without stenting (2). Biliary complications
      occurred in three patients, and all required additional surgery. The average
      duration of donor-liver cold ischemia, operating time, and blood loss during
      surgery were 7 h and 50 min (range, 4.5-9 h), 13.5 h (range, 11.8-17 h), and
      4,385 ml (range, 750-12,000 ml), respectively. The immunosuppressive regimens
      included a cyclosporin-steroid combination (n = 2) and a triple-drug combination
      (n = 4). All except one of the surviving patients experienced at least one
      rejection episode that was reversed by a methyl-prednisolone bolus and/or
      recycle. One patient developed a primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection that
      responded well to Ganciclovir treatment. Two of the patients died, one of
      injuries sustained in a traffic accident 3 years after transplantation, and the
      other of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The overall survival value at 3
      months was 83%, and the follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 7 years. All of
      the survivors have achieved complete rehabilitation and currently enjoy an
      excellent quality of life with normal liver function. Although the present study
      involved a small number of cases, our results indicate that liver transplantation
      can be successfully achieved in a high proportion of patients with acceptable
      morbidity, mortality, and cost in an Asian setting. The extreme shortage of donor
      organs is currently the most important obstacle limiting the application of liver
      transplantation in Taiwan.

PMID- 1458567
TI  - Management of patients with unresectable liver metastases from colorectal and
      gastric cancer employing an implantable port system.
AB  - Between 1985 and 1990, 50 patients with unresectable liver metastases from
      colorectal cancer and 34 subjects with metastases from gastric cancer were
      treated by repeated hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy employing an
      implantable prot system. A catheter was inserted into the hepatic artery via the
      left subclavian artery and was connected to the implantable injection port in
      each patient. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) at 330 mg/m2 per week (167 mg/m2 daily given
      continuously over the initial 3 months for colorectal cancer), Adriamycin (ADR)
      at 20 mg/m2 every 4 weeks and mitomycin C (MMC) at 2.7 mg/m2 every 2 weeks were
      given to all 34 patients with gastric cancer and to 31 of the colorectal cancer
      patients. The remaining 19 patients with colorectal cancer received 5-FU at 1,000
      mg/m2 every week. As a rule the treatment was performed on an outpatient basis.
      The side effects and complications observed included myelosuppression (23%),
      hepatic arterial occlusion (21%), and gastroduodenal mucositis (12%), although no
      major toxicity was encountered. The response rate (CR+PR) among the evaluated
      patients as determined using CT scans was 67% for colorectal cancer and 73% for
      gastric cancer. The overall median survival was 12 months and 15 months,
      respectively. Good local control of liver metastases from the colorectal and
      gastric cancers was achieved by repeated hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy
      employing an implantable port system without the need for hospitalization and
      without producing major toxicity. Thus, the implantable port system is very
      useful for the management of patients with unresectable liver metastases.

PMID- 1458568
TI  - Standardization, calibration, and the care of diabetic patients.

PMID- 1458569
TI  - Interlaboratory study of the IFCC method for alanine aminotransferase performed
      with use of a partly purified reference material.
AB  - We present the results of a study on performance of a reference material for
      alanine aminotransferase (ALT, EC 2.6.1.2) and the corresponding IFCC-approved
      method in an interlaboratory trial involving 13 laboratories. The ALT material
      was partly purified from pig heart (specific activity, 150 kU/g) and was
      essentially free of six potentially contaminating enzyme activities, including
      aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1). The partly purified ALT was lyophilized
      in a triethanolamine-buffered matrix, pH 6.4, containing bovine serum albumin and
      saccharose. Under these conditions, the predicted yearly loss of activity was
      0.02% at 4 degrees C and < 0.01% at -20 degrees C. The final blank-corrected
      results of the accepted set of data gave a mean (SD) of 128.5 (5.1) U/L. The
      among-laboratory SD was 4.6 U/L and the within-laboratory SD was 2.0 U/L. The
      certified ALT catalytic concentration in the reconstituted material was 129 U/L
      with a 0.95 confidence interval of +/- 4 U/L.

PMID- 1458570
TI  - Affinity binding assay of glycohemoglobin by two-dimensional centrifugation
      referenced to hemoglobin A1c.
AB  - We describe an automated assay of glycohemoglobin performed with the Abbott
      Vision analyzer. The assay is based on batch affinity-extraction with 3
      aminophenylboronic acid-derivatized agarose beads. Reagents are packaged in a
      disposable test pack. Whole-blood specimens are hemolyzed with saponin within a
      glass capillary tube inserted into the test pack. The sample is automatically
      diluted with, mixed with, and separated from the solid-phase reagent. Bichromatic
      absorbance readings are used to calculate the percentage of hemoglobin bound.
      Based on the linear correlation between affinity-measured glycohemoglobin and
      HPLC-measured hemoglobin A1c, the percentage of hemoglobin bound is converted to
      a "standardized %HbA1c" result by use of regression parameters stored during a
      calibration run. The combination of affinity methodology with standardization by
      reference to HPLC produces values directly comparable with those obtained by
      methods specific for HbA1c. The method produces 10 results within 15 min. The
      assay operates with CVs < 5%, and the results correlate highly with those by ion
      exchange and affinity minicolumn methods, and by ion-exchange HPLC.

PMID- 1458571
TI  - Analytical and clinical evaluation of creatine kinase MB mass assay by IMx:
      comparison with MB isoenzyme activity and serum myoglobin for early diagnosis of
      myocardial infarction.
AB  - We analytically and clinically evaluated Abbott's IMx assay for creatine kinase
      (CK) isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) in serum. Over a 1-year period, the method was more
      specific but less precise than catalytic isoenzyme measurements by
      electrophoresis or immunoinhibition. Sera from different individuals without
      electrophoretic evidence of CK-MB but containing macro CK type 1 (n = 20),
      mitochondrial CK (n = 5), or CK-BB (n = 5) were scored as CK-MB negative by the
      IMx. Likewise, CK-MB-negative by the sera remained so after addition of purified
      human CK-MM (< or = 7600 U/L) or CK-BB (< or = 8100 U/L). For 39 patients
      admitted for suspicion of uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction (precordial
      pain for < or = 4 h), the diagnostic performance of the IMx CK-MB assay on
      admission and 4 h later was superior to that of total CK activity and compared
      well with that of CK-MB activity measured by electrophoresis or immunoinhibition.
      An admission, myoglobin showed a higher diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and
      predictive value than did CK-MB and was the most informative test. Diagnostic
      performance on admission and 4 h later was further improved by considering
      positivity for myoglobin and for CK-MB by IMx and for the change in each over the
      first 4 h of hospitalization as criteria. Twelve hours after admission,
      diagnostic performance was further improved for all CK and CK-MB methods but
      began to decline for myoglobin.

PMID- 1458572
TI  - Apolipoprotein B quantified by particle-concentration fluorescence immunoassay.
AB  - We have developed a particle-concentration fluorescence immunoassay (PCFIA) for
      estimating apolipoprotein (apo) B concentrations in plasma. A two-step antigen
      detection system with a polyclonal antibody to apo B bound to carboxyl
      polystyrene particles binds the antigen, and a fluorescein-labeled monoclonal
      antibody detects the bound apo B. Narrow-cut low-density lipoproteins (d = 1.03
      1.05 kg/L) were used as the primary standard. The assay compares well with the
      enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The PCFIA gives parallel responses with low
      density lipoprotein, very-low-density lipoproteins, and plasma samples, and can
      be fully automated and completed in 3 h. In a pilot study of patients with
      diabetes, coronary artery disease (CAD), or both, we found statistically
      significant differences in apo B concentrations for patients with both CAD and
      diabetes compared with those for patients with diabetes alone or for control
      subjects (P < 0.01).

PMID- 1458573
TI  - Use of synthetic H disaccharides as acceptors for detecting activities of UDP
      GalNAc:Fuc alpha 1-->2Gal beta-R alpha 1-->3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase in
      plasma samples from blood group A subgroups.
AB  - Concentrations of blood group A-specified alpha(1-->3)-N
      acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (A enzyme) were measured in human plasma of blood
      groups A1, A2, and A3 by using chemically synthesized H disaccharides and H type
      1 and type 2 trisaccharides attached to hydrophobic aglycones as acceptors. When
      the trisaccharides were used as acceptors, enzyme activities were reduced in
      samples from A2 and A3. However, the H disaccharides were shown to be good
      acceptors even for enzymes from A2 and A3, and no significant difference in
      enzyme concentration was detected in any of the plasma tested.

PMID- 1458574
TI  - Creatine kinase MB isoforms in patients with skeletal muscle injury:
      ramifications for early detection of acute myocardial infarction.
AB  - We measured total creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB isoenzyme, and the MB isoforms in
      202 serum and plasma samples from nine groups of patients and normal individuals:
      39 with acute myocardial infarction (MI), divided according to time between the
      onset of chest pain and blood collection (1-6 h, 7-12 h, and 13-48 h); 26 with
      chest pain for whom an MI was ruled out, sampled at admission; 17 undergoing
      bypass surgery or cardiac catheterization, sampled within 6 h after either
      procedure; 17 with acute skeletal muscle injury, sampled within 8 h after injury;
      30 marathon runners immediately after a race; 17 runners and other athletes > 12
      h after training or a race; 12 with cerebral injury or seizures, sampled at
      admission; 8 with closed head injury, sampled at admission; and 38 normal
      subjects. CK-MB (relative index) and MB isoforms (MB2/MB1) were respectively
      increased in 15% and 75% of MI patients 1-6 h after onset, 94% and 94% after 7-12
      h, and 88% and 8% after 12 h, and in 87% and 82% of cardiac surgery patients. MB
      isoforms were increased in most patients with acute skeletal muscle trauma and in
      subjects examined after exercise, but were within normal limits in patients for
      whom MI was ruled out, patients with cerebral trauma, and normal individuals. The
      relative index of MB/total CK was normal in essentially all individuals in the
      last groups, including those with acute skeletal muscle trauma. We concluded that
      the CK-MB isoform ratio is increased in both acute skeletal muscle injury and MI.
      The isoform ratio is most useful for distinguishing recent from old (> 12 h)
      injury.

PMID- 1458575
TI  - Quantitative determination of methemoglobin by measuring the solvent-water proton
      nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation rate.
AB  - We report a new method for the quantitative determination of human methemoglobin
      (metHb) based on the measurement of the solvent-water proton-nuclear magnetic
      resonance (NMR) relaxation rate R1 [normalized to 1 mmol/L hemoglobin (Hb)
      concentration]. MetHb (%) is estimated from the linear dependence of R1 on the
      metHb concentration, taking into account the simple relationship [MetHb] = [(R1 -
      R1HbO2)/(R1metHb - R1HbO2)].100, where R1HbO2 and R1metHb are values for the
      solvent-water relaxation rate of standard 1.0 mmol/L solutions of the oxygenated
      derivative of human hemoglobin (HbO2) and of metHb, respectively. The minimum
      metHb that may be determined from the analysis of the experimental data is 0.5 +/
      0.4%.

PMID- 1458576
TI  - Standardization of glycohemoglobin determinations in the clinical laboratory:
      three years of experience.
AB  - Measurement of glycohemoglobin has been recommended for the long-term assessment
      of glycemic control in diabetic patients. Because different analytical methods
      measure different glycohemoglobin species, it has been difficult to compare
      results between laboratories. Here we report 3 years of experience with
      calibration of an affinity chromatography method for measuring total
      glycohemoglobin (GHb). Calibration was achieved by including in each assay three
      hemolysate calibrators for which values for HbA1c and GHb had been determined by
      repeated analyses by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and affinity
      chromatography, respectively. Calibration improved interassay precision (CV =
      3.20-7.90% and < 5.0% before and after the introduction of calibration,
      respectively) and eliminated lot-to-lot variability. In 91 samples, HbA1c was
      estimated by the calibrated affinity chromatography assay and measured by an ion
      exchange HPLC method. Estimated and HPLC-measured HbA1c showed no clinically
      significant differences during 36 months. The high degree of long-term precision,
      the disappearance of lot-to-lot variability, and the excellent comparability
      between analytical methods measuring different species of glycated hemoglobins
      demonstrate the advantages of calibration.

PMID- 1458577
TI  - Discrepancies between sodium concentrations measured by the Kodak Ektachem 700
      and by dilutional and direct ion-selective electrode analyzers.
AB  - We have identified rare (approximately 0.2% of all samples), but clinically
      significant, discrepancies between serum or plasma sodium concentrations measured
      with the Kodak Ektachem 700's direct ion-selective electrode (ISE) method and
      concentrations measured with two other analyzers: the Beckman Synchron CX3's
      dilutional ISE instrument and the Radiometer KNA2 instrument for sodium-potassium
      analysis by the direct ISE method. The differences do not appear to be related to
      any previously identified sources of discrepancy, such as variations in
      triglycerides, bicarbonate, total protein, albumin, or gamma-globulin, the
      presence of paraproteins, or interference by benzalkonium chloride from
      heparinized catheters. They occurred despite the use of Gen 04 reference fluid on
      the Ektachem. We could not identify any drug or family of drugs that the patients
      had taken in common and that might influence the results. Until this problem is
      resolved, Ektachem users should be aware of the potential for discrepancies of >
      6 mmol/L in measurements of sodium concentrations.

PMID- 1458578
TI  - DNA diagnosis with mutation-specific artificial methylation sites: application to
      rapid screening of delta F508.
AB  - Many polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods for diagnosis of minute
      mutations are suboptimal for automated screening because of their reliance on gel
      electrophoresis or probe hybridization. In the method reported here, PCR products
      containing artificial methylation sites are analyzed by measuring incorporation
      of radiolabeled methyl groups. Primers are designed to amplify the possible
      mutation-containing region such that the 3' end of one primer lies adjacent to
      the possible mutation. Sequence modification near that end creates either a
      mutation- or wild type (WT)-specific artificial methylation site in the PCR
      product. The product is briefly incubated with an appropriate DNA methylase and
      tritiated S-adenosylmethionine ([3H]SAM), separated from free SAM by column
      chromatography, and analyzed for incorporation of tritium. Applying this
      technique to the cystic fibrosis delta F508 deletion, we accurately diagnosed
      five homozygotes, five heterozygotes, and five normal individuals within 40 min
      of PCR completion. The method can be generalized to rapid, automated detection of
      a variety of point mutations and small deletions.

PMID- 1458579
TI  - Fluorescence polarization immunoassay and HPLC assays compared for measuring
      monoethylglycinexylidide in liver-transplant patients.
AB  - We compared fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA, x) and HPLC (y) for
      measuring monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) concentrations in 119 serum samples
      from 61 liver-transplant donors and recipients. The correlation between the two
      methods was y = 1.48 micrograms/L + 0.8x (r = 0.89). The bias (mean difference)
      was 12 micrograms/L (0.055 mumol/L) through the MEGX concentration range measured
      (0-250 micrograms/L, 0-1.136 mumol/L). We observed a major difference between the
      two methods in samples from four recipients and one donor. Cross-reactivity in
      FPIA with lignocaine and two of its metabolites (glycinexylidide and 2,6
      xylidine) was < 3%. Samples with high bilirubin concentrations (> 200 mumol/L)
      required dilution before assay of MEGX by FPIA. Although there was an increase in
      apparent MEGX concentrations in some samples with increased bilirubin
      concentrations, the relationship was not constant. Increased plasma
      concentrations of cholesterol and triglyceride resulted in relatively small
      increases in apparent MEGX concentrations.

PMID- 1458580
TI  - Lactate measured in diluted and undiluted whole blood and plasma: comparison of
      methods and effect of hematocrit.
AB  - We evaluated a new analyzer that measures lactate in undiluted whole blood by
      direct (or undiluted) amperometry [Nova Stat Profile 7 Analyzer (SP7); Nova
      Biomedical, Waltham, MA] by comparing it with two other analyzers, one for
      measuring lactate in whole blood by indirect (or diluted) amperometry [Model
      2300; Yellow Springs Instrument Co. (YSI), Yellow Springs, OH] and another for
      measuring lactate in plasma by enzymatic colorimetry (aca; Du Pont Co.,
      Wilmington, DE). All between-method comparisons of the three methods showed that
      the results for plasma were comparable (Sy/x = 0.24-0.33 mmol/L). Within-method
      comparisons by the YSI differed substantially between plasma and whole blood
      (Sy/x = 0.48 mmol/L), but within-method comparisons by the SP7 produced better
      agreement between plasma and whole blood (Sy/x = 0.18 mmol/L). The difference
      between whole blood and plasma by YSI is related to hematocrit, with the greatest
      differences noted for samples with the highest hematocrit. Serum lactate measured
      by SP7 had between-day imprecision (CV) ranging from 12% at 0.5 mmol/L to 4.2% at
      3.7 mmol/L, showed a linear standard curve to at least 11.5 mmol/L, and was
      independent of hematocrit. There was a mean bias of approximately 0.4 mmol/L for
      results in the reference range for both plasma and whole blood by SP7 compared
      with plasma results by either aca or YSI.

PMID- 1458581
TI  - Direct determination of zinc in serum by Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry
      with a graphite furnace.
AB  - We developed a precise and accurate graphite furnace atomic absorption
      spectrometric method for the direct determination of zinc in serum. Serum samples
      are analyzed after 20-fold dilution with water of ultrapure analytical grade. No
      other reagent is used, from the moment of sampling until measurement. During
      atomization, the argon flow is kept at 150 mL/min instead of gas stop, to
      decrease the sensitivity and thus allow lower dilution ratios. Zinc
      concentrations are determined against a serum-matched calibration curve. Graphite
      tubes are uncoated and no L'vov platform is used. Between-run CVs were 5.9%,
      3.5%, and 1.9% for serum zinc concentrations of 0.93, 1.15, and 1.43 mg/L,
      respectively. The characteristic mass was 9 pg, and the detection limit
      (meanblank + 3SDblank) was 0.060 mg/L.

PMID- 1458582
TI  - Relation between magnesium and potassium concentrations in myocardium, skeletal
      muscle, and mononuclear blood cells.
AB  - Potassium and magnesium were measured in 26 cardiac surgery patients (right
      atrial appendage), 23 autopsy subjects (right atrial appendage, left ventricular
      free wall, and skeletal muscle), and 9 healthy volunteers (mononuclear blood
      cells) to determine whether there was a relation between these two ions in the
      tissues measured. In the cardiac surgery patients, the potassium and magnesium
      concentrations were 46.35 +/- 3.89 and 4.40 +/- 0.58 (mean +/- SD, mumol/g wet
      weight tissue), respectively, and were significantly correlated (r = 0.54, P =
      0.005). In the autopsy group, the respective concentrations were: for right
      atrial appendage, 30.54 +/- 10.18 and 3.66 +/- 0.70 mumol/g (r = 0.38, P = 0.14);
      left ventricular free wall, 60.69 +/- 17.93 and 7.74 +/- 1.73 mumol/g (r = 0.92,
      P = 0.0001); and skeletal muscle, 93.05 +/- 20.49 and 8.64 +/- 2.06 mumol/g (r =
      0.91, P = 0.0001). In the healthy volunteer group, the results for potassium and
      magnesium in mononuclear blood cells were 42 +/- 9.9 and 3.99 +/- 0.70 fmol/cell,
      respectively (r = 0.94, P = 0.0001). Thus, potassium and magnesium concentrations
      were significantly correlated in all the tissues measured.

PMID- 1458583
TI  - Studies of lipid peroxidation products in cerebrospinal fluid and serum in
      multiple sclerosis and other conditions.
AB  - Lipid peroxides were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and sera from patients
      with multiple sclerosis (MS) or other conditions and from control subjects. In
      serum, visible fluorescence, A240nm, and free and protein-bound thiobarbituric
      acid (TBA)-reactive substances were significantly greater in MS patients than in
      control subjects. No such differences were observed in CSF. There was no
      correlation between lipid peroxides and disease severity or relapse time. We
      observed a significant positive correlation between CSF protein-bound TBA
      reactive substances and CSF protein, suggesting that production of the former
      depends on protein concentration. A significant negative correlation between free
      TBA-reactive substances in serum and ultraviolet fluorescence indicated that
      production of free TBA-reactive substances may be associated with decreased
      production of fluorescent lipid peroxides. This study provides evidence for
      increased lipid peroxidation in serum but not CSF from MS patients, suggesting
      that either there is no increase in CSF lipid peroxidation in MS patients or that
      CSF lipid peroxides are rapidly removed, possibly by binding to CSF proteins that
      can be reabsorbed into the blood.

PMID- 1458584
TI  - Reference values for immunoglobulin kappa and lambda light chains and the
      kappa/lambda ratio in children's serum.
AB  - We analyzed 708 serum samples from healthy children and adolescents by
      immunonephelometry to obtain reference values for the immunoglobulin kappa
      (kappa) and lambda (lambda) light chains and for their ratio at a time of life
      when immunoglobulin synthesis is maturing and continually being stimulated. The
      lambda chain concentration that is to be maintained throughout the child's life
      is reached very early, just after 1 year, whereas the concentration of the kappa
      chains, which increases gradually, reflects the concentration of the
      immunoglobulins as a whole. These reference values may be useful for studying
      kappa and lambda chains in illnesses involving the immune system in children.

PMID- 1458585
TI  - Determination of beta 2-microglobulin in serum by a microparticle-enhanced
      nephelometric immunoassay.
AB  - This fully automated nephelometric immunoassay to quantify beta 2-microglobulin
      in human serum measures the light-scattering signal produced by agglutination of
      commercially available latex microparticles (diameter 0.1 micron) coated with
      specific F(ab')2 against beta 2-microglobulin. The calibration curve, generated
      by serial dilutions of a beta 2-microglobulin standard of known concentration, is
      used to calculate beta 2-microglobulin concentrations in serum samples by the
      logit-log function and linear-regression analysis. The assay range (sample
      dilution 400-fold) extends from 0.3 to 40.0 mg/L. No antigen excess appears at
      beta 2-microglobulin concentrations up to 320 mg/L. Within-run CVs ranged from
      1.0% to 3.4%, and between-days from 1.2% to 2.8%. Total imprecision (CV) was <
      5%. Analytical recovery averaged 99.5% +/- 2.8%. Rheumatoid factor, complement,
      bilirubin (up to 340 mumol/L), and hemoglobin (up to 2.0 g/L) do not interfere.
      Strongly turbid lipemic samples must be cleared before analysis. Standard curve
      linearity was very good in samples covering the clinical useful range of
      concentrations. Results of the method correlated well with those of
      radioimmunoassay and microparticle enzyme-linked immunoassay (r = 0.979 and
      0.975, respectively). The reference interval (nonparametric estimation) in
      apparently healthy adults (n = 303) was 0.87 (0.80-0.94) to 2.42 (2.28-2.45)
      mg/L; the median value was 1.54 mg/L.

PMID- 1458586
TI  - Measurement of free desipramine in serum by ultrafiltration with immunoassay.
AB  - We developed an ultrafiltration method for assaying free desipramine (DMI) in
      serum. An ultrafiltrate of DMI-containing serum was prepared by centrifugation
      through an Amicon Centrifree micropartition filter. Syva DMI solid-phase
      extraction (SPE) columns were used to extract the DMI from the serum and
      ultrafiltrate. The Syva monoclonal EMIT assay was used to quantify the DMI in the
      extract. In some experiments, the percent free DMI was quantified with
      radioactivity. Nonspecific losses of DMI in serum to the ultrafilter system were
      low (recoveries > 91%). Extraction of [3H]DMI from phosphate-buffered saline (to
      mimic serum ultrafiltrate) with the Syva SPE system was quantitative (recoveries
      of 98.4% +/- 4.6%). Free DMI concentrations, derived from serum containing 2.5
      2500 micrograms/L DMI, were determined by ultrafiltration; results agreed well
      with values determined by equilibrium dialysis, the average percent of free DMI
      being 18.4% +/- 0.25% and 15.9% +/- 0.51%, respectively. To increase the
      sensitivity of the free DMI assay in the therapeutic range (total DMI 125-300
      micrograms/L), we increased fourfold the ultrafiltrate volume applied to the SPE
      column. For free DMI at 11-130 micrograms/L, the within-run and between-run CVs
      for the ultrafiltration method were < 9% and < 15%, respectively. Binding of DMI
      to serum proteins decreased over the pH range 6.0-8.0, although temperatures
      between 20 and 28 degrees C did not affect binding. The ultrafiltration assay is
      fast, accurate, simple, and adaptable to standard laboratory instrumentation.

PMID- 1458588
TI  - Arsenic analysis II: rapid separation and quantification of inorganic arsenic
      plus metabolites and arsenobetaine from urine.
AB  - We describe the rapid separation of inorganic arsenic plus metabolites from
      arsenobetaine or seafood arsenic in urine. Traditional, high-pressure liquid
      chromatography is replaced by disposable silica-based cation-exchange cartridges
      for this separation. Both fractions are quickly separated and collected for
      analysis by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Analytical recovery of both
      fractions is > or = 95%, with an overall precision (CV) ranging from 1.6% to
      6.4%. Using this method, we correctly identified the sources of arsenic exposure,
      whether of inorganic or seafood origin, in 11 urine specimens supplied by the
      Centre de Toxicologie du Quebec.

PMID- 1458587
TI  - Interlaboratory standardization of measurements of glycohemoglobins.
AB  - The diversity of methods used to measure glycohemoglobins (GHb) makes it
      difficult to compare patients' results among laboratories. We reported previously
      the feasibility of providing comparable results from different assays by use of
      common calibrators. We here compare results from seven different GHb methods
      calibrated by use of hemolysates assayed by a precise ion-exchange high
      performance liquid-chromatographic (HPLC) method for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).
      Thus, regardless of the GHb species measured by the seven methods, results were
      referenced to the HbA1c content of the calibrators. Without this calibration, GHb
      values for single samples varied, e.g., from 4.0% to 8.1% and from 10% to 14.2%
      in the normal and high ranges, respectively. Calibration decreased between-method
      variability (single sample ranges of, e.g., 4.8% to 5.4% and 9.4% to 10.2% in the
      normal and high ranges, respectively) and improved interassay precision. We
      conclude that this approach to calibration of GHb measurements allows direct
      comparison of results obtained by different methods and improves precision.

PMID- 1458589
TI  - Recent developments in alkaline phosphatase research.

PMID- 1458590
TI  - Introduction: recent developments in alkaline phosphatase research.

PMID- 1458591
TI  - Perspectives in alkaline phosphatase research.
AB  - Gene cloning and site-directed mutagenesis have had a profound effect on alkaline
      phosphatase research. Four distinct structural genes encoding placental,
      intestinal, and tissue-nonspecific isoenzymes have been cloned, sequenced, and
      mapped to human chromosomes. Differences in properties between the respective
      gene products are due to variations in primary structure involving only one, or a
      few, key amino acid residues. Recognition that alkaline phosphatase belongs to
      the category of molecules that are localized to cell membranes through a COOH
      terminal glycan-phosphatidylinositol anchor provides a basis for understanding
      the generation of isoforms observed in plasma in disease. Isoforms produced by
      differential cleavage or preservation of the glycan-phosphatidylinositol anchor
      may offer new correlations with disease that are of diagnostic value. However, a
      more important contribution of alkaline phosphatase research to clinical
      chemistry may prove to be an increased understanding of disease processes at the
      molecular level.

PMID- 1458592
TI  - The two mRNAs encoding rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase represent two distinct
      nucleotide sequences.
AB  - Rat duodenal mucosa contains two mRNAs (2.7 and 3.0 kb) encoding intestinal
      alkaline phosphatase (IAP), but the mechanism for their production has not been
      clear. By means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we isolated a fragment
      that identifies a second rat IAP (rIAP-II), differing from the rIAP-I sequence in
      the coding and 3' untranslated regions and encoding a COOH-terminal sequence
      predicted to be hydrophilic. By means of probes unique to each sequence, rIAP-I
      identified the 2.7-kb mRNA, and rIAP-II the 3.0-kb mRNA. The different structures
      and differential regulation of the mRNAs after fat feeding demonstrate the
      presence of two rat IAP transcripts.

PMID- 1458593
TI  - Placental alkaline phosphatase: a model for studying COOH-terminal processing of
      phosphatidylinositol-glycan-anchored membrane proteins.
AB  - Placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) has been used as a model for studying the
      biosynthesis of the phosphatidylinositol-glycan (PI-G)-protein linkage in intact
      cells and in cell-free systems. However, for the study of processing in cell-free
      systems, a small protein devoid of glycosylation sites is preferable. A PLAP
      derived cDNA was engineered that codes for a nascent protein (mini-PLAP) of 28
      kDa in which the NH2- and COOH-termini are retained but most of the interior of
      PLAP is deleted. In vitro translation of mini-PLAP mRNA in the presence of rough
      microsomal membranes yields mature PI-G-tailed mini-PLAP. Processing of nascent
      mutant proteins occurs only when a small amino acid is located at the site of
      cleavage and PI-G attachment (omega site). Mutations adjacent and COOH-terminal
      to the omega site have revealed that the omega + 1 site is promiscuous in its
      requirements but that only glycine and alanine are effective at the omega + 2
      site. Rough microsomal membranes from T cells deficient in PI-G biosynthesis do
      not support processing of mini-PLAP; addition of exogenous PI-G restores
      activity. Translocation of the proprotein, most likely requiring ATP and GTP,
      precedes COOH-terminal processing.

PMID- 1458594
TI  - Differential release of human intestinal alkaline phosphatase in duodenal fluid
      and serum.
AB  - Human intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) can be released by the enterocyte
      into duodenal fluid as a mixture of three isoforms. A proportion of the enzyme is
      associated with triple-layered membrane vesicles (vesicular IAP). Although,
      occasionally, free hydrophilic IAP dimers are present, the remaining enzyme
      usually consists of a mixture of hydrophobic IAP dimers and more complex
      hydrophobic IAP structures of larger size, both entities being identified as
      "intestinal variant" alkaline phosphatase (VAR IAP). The hydrophobicity of VAR
      IAP stems exclusively from its attached glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)
      anchor. Both vesicular IAP and VAR IAP are converted to hydrophilic enzyme upon
      removal of the GPI tail by phospholipase D (PLD) present in duodenal fluid. The
      IAP released into the vascular bed consists mainly of VAR IAP; vesicular IAP is
      absent. The enzyme characteristics of VAR IAP partially purified from duodenal
      fluid and from serum are identical. In plasma, VAR IAP appears to associate with
      (lipo)protein complexes and is thus protected from further degradation by plasma
      PLD. Such complex formation may explain why, in the serum of a healthy reference
      population, VAR IAP was more abundant than hydrophilic dimeric IAP.

PMID- 1458595
TI  - Chemical nature of intestinal-type alkaline phosphatase in human kidney.
AB  - Approximately 10% of the alkaline phosphatase activity in human kidney is derived
      from the intestinal-type alkaline phosphatase isoform, which can be
      differentiated from adult intestinal alkaline phosphatase by selective reactivity
      with monoclonal antibodies. The NH2-terminal sequence of the renal intestinal
      type alkaline phosphatase was shown to be identical to sequences of the adult and
      meconial alkaline phosphatases except for the NH2-terminal valine residue, which
      is missing in the renal intestinal-type enzyme. Incubation of purified meconial
      alkaline phosphatase with kidney homogenate resulted in removal of the NH2
      terminal valine residue, indicating the presence of aminopeptidases in kidney
      that catalyze this hydrolysis. Furthermore, the oligosaccharide chains of the
      renal intestinal-type alkaline phosphatase were shown to differ from those of
      meconial and adult intestinal alkaline phosphatases, as revealed by lectin
      affinity chromatography. The heterogeneity of the intestinal-type alkaline
      phosphatase can therefore be generated both by partial peptide bond hydrolysis
      and differences in glycosylation.

PMID- 1458596
TI  - Placental alkaline phosphatase as the placental IgG receptor.
AB  - We review data from our studies of the physiological role of placental alkaline
      phosphatase (PLAP) and report that, in addition to functioning in catalysis, PLAP
      has the capacity to bind the Fc portion of human IgG. The dissociation constant
      for the interaction (3.86 mumol/L) indicates that the PLAP-IgG complex probably
      occurs in vivo. Furthermore, the electrophoretic and immunochemical properties of
      PLAP are identical to those of the purified placental Fc receptor. This receptor
      is believed to participate in the transfer of IgG molecules from the maternal
      circulation to the fetus during pregnancy. Studies with HEp2 cells show that PLAP
      is necessary for the internalization of IgG molecules. PLAP behaves, at least in
      this cell line, as an Fc receptor. The presence of large amounts of PLAP in
      clathrin-coated vesicles prepared from placenta strongly indicates that PLAP is
      involved in the endocytic machinery in this organ. We conclude that these
      results, taken together, suggest a novel biological role for PLAP.

PMID- 1458597
TI  - Alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme patterns in malignant disease.
AB  - Early treatment of patients with malignant disease and liver or bone metastasis
      may increase their survival time. We have used the activity patterns of liver and
      bone isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), separated by agarose gel
      electrophoresis, to detect early metastasis. We studied ALP isoenzyme patterns in
      a background population of 101 patients with no evidence of any disease that
      might influence this pattern; a healthy reference population (n = 330); and the
      following three groups of patients: 143 with malignant disease, 47 with
      nonmalignant liver disease, and 22 with nonmalignant bone disease. Cutoff and
      predictive values of liver ALP, high-molecular-mass (high-M(r)) ALP, and bone ALP
      were established for detecting liver and bone metastasis. The positive predictive
      value of liver and high-M(r) ALP was higher than that of total ALP in detecting
      liver metastasis, but liver and high-M(r) ALP did not enable us to differentiate
      between malignant and nonmalignant liver disease. Total ALP activity was of
      slightly more value than liver and high-M(r) ALP in enabling us to rule out liver
      metastasis. From bone ALP activity we could not distinguish between nonmalignant
      bone disease and bone metastasis. The negative predictive value of bone ALP in
      the diagnosis of bone metastasis was low, but its positive predictive value was
      high and superior to that of total ALP.

PMID- 1458598
TI  - Interference of maltose in Lana AG kit determination of 1,5-anhydroglucitol and
      how to avoid it.

PMID- 1458599
TI  - Effect of gastric lipase on turbidimetric and dry-film methods for measuring
      pancreatic lipase.

PMID- 1458600
TI  - Interference of Tienam in colorimetric determination of 5-aminolevulinic acid and
      porphobilinogen in serum and urine.

PMID- 1458601
TI  - Influence of dilution medium on measurements of indocyanine green concentration.

PMID- 1458602
TI  - Simple qualitative immunoassay of human anti-mouse antibodies evaluated.

PMID- 1458603
TI  - Unavailability of drug metabolite reference material to evaluate false-positive
      results for monoclonal EMIT-d.a.u. assay of amphetamine.

PMID- 1458604
TI  - Effects of ionic strength on determinations of alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes.

PMID- 1458605
TI  - AIDS testing expands.

PMID- 1458606
TI  - Flow cytometry in the clinical laboratory. Principles, applications and problems.

PMID- 1458607
TI  - Quantities and units for metabolic processes as a function of time.
      Recommendations 1992.

PMID- 1458608
TI  - Bone metal content in patients with chronic renal failure.
AB  - Bone accumulation of metals, other than aluminum (Al), in patients with chronic
      renal failure (CRF) has rarely been studied. We report the bone and blood levels
      of iron (Fe), vanadium (V), lead (Pb), Al and calcium (Ca) in 18 CRF patients on
      long-term hemodialysis and in 14 controls (C). Significant increments in mean
      blood Al (1,300%), V (160%) and Fe (60%) and decrease in blood Pb (-50%) were
      found in the patients with CRF. Renal subjects had higher bone concentrations
      (mean +/- S.E.M.; microgram/g of bone) of Al (CRF = 129.1 +/- 16.9; C = 12.6 +/-
      2.9; P < 0.0001), Fe (CRF = 940.4 +/- 133.4; C = 263.4 +/- 49.0; P < 0.0001) and
      V (CRF = 2.55 +/- 0.43; C = 1.39 +/- 0.36; P = 0.0308) and lower Ca (CRF = 268.2
      +/- 11.1 mg/g; C = 377.2 +/- 28.1; P = 0.0017). A positive correlation was found
      between bone Al and V (r = 0.355, P < 0.05). Results indicated that a significant
      bone accumulation of Al, Fe and V, but not Pb, occurred in the hemodialyzed
      azotemic individuals.

PMID- 1458609
TI  - High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for L-glyceric acid in body fluids.
      Application in primary hyperoxaluria type 2.
AB  - We describe a liquid chromatographic technique to determine L-glycerate in body
      fluids. The method is based on the derivatisation of the L-glycerate by
      incubation with lactate dehydrogenase and nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide in
      the presence of phenylhydrazine. Oxidation of L-glycerate forms beta
      hydroxypyruvate which is converted in turn into the related phenylhydrazone. The
      UV-absorbing derivative is determined using reversed-phase high performance
      liquid chromatography. The sensitivity was 5 mumol/l and 50 microliters of sample
      were required. The imprecision relative standard deviation was 4.5% and the
      recovery was 96.5 +/- 6.8% for L-glycerate in plasma. L-Glycerate concentrations
      in urine and plasma were less than 5 mumol/l in both normal individuals and
      patients with glycolic aciduria. In a patient with systemic oxalosis and normal
      plasma glycolate, plasma L-glyceric acid was 887 mumol/l.

PMID- 1458610
TI  - Red blood cells and platelet membrane fatty acids in non-dialyzed and dialyzed
      uremics.
AB  - Three groups of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), 16 non-dialyzed, 16
      undergoing haemodialysis (HD), 16 undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal
      dialysis (CAPD), and 48 controls were examined. We analyzed the fatty acid
      composition in membranes from erythrocytes and platelets and the platelet
      malondialdehyde (MDA) production as an index of thromboxane metabolism. Marked
      differences in erythrocytes fatty acid composition were observed between patients
      with CRF and controls and, particularly, among the three groups of patients with
      CRF. Patients on CAPD were characterized by an increase in oleic acid, while
      haemodialyzed had a marked increase in arachidonic acid. Platelet fatty acid
      composition showed similar differences, suggesting a 'systemic' membrane
      abnormality. Platelet MDA was increased in haemodialyzed and positively
      correlated with the platelet arachidonate content.

PMID- 1458611
TI  - Distribution of lipoprotein species (LpA-I, LpA-I:A-II) in serum and HDL
      subfractions of untrained and trained normolipemic men.
AB  - The distribution of lipoprotein species (LpA-I, LpA-I:A-II) in serum and within
      HDL subfractions (HDL2b, HDL2a, HDL3) was examined in 26 sedentary and 19
      endurance trained normolipemic male individuals. The concentrations of lipids and
      apolipoproteins in serum and HDL subfractions and the concentrations of LpA-I and
      LpA-I:A-II were determined. Significant differences (Mann-Whitney-U-test) were
      found in serum concentrations of apoB (P < 0.05), apoA-II (P < 0.01) and LpA-I:A
      II (P < 0.001). In HDL3 apoA-II concentration was significantly lower in the
      trained group (P < 0.05) but in HDL2 subclasses the concentrations of apoA-I and
      apoA-II did not differ between the groups. Despite similar concentrations of the
      two apolipoproteins, there were difference in the distribution of lipoprotein
      species within HDL2 subfractions. The concentrations of LpA-I did not differ, but
      the concentrations of LpA-I:A-II particles were higher in the trained group.
      Untrained and trained had similar concentrations of apoA-II (in HDL2b) but
      obviously more apoA-II containing particles and this leads to the assumption that
      within HDL2 of endurance trained individuals LpA-I:A-II particles have a lower
      apoA-II content compared with particles of untrained individuals. The data
      emphasize, that normolipemic individuals of different maximum oxygen uptake have
      a different distribution and composition of lipoprotein species (LpA-I, LpA-I:A
      II).

PMID- 1458612
TI  - A screening method for cystine and homocystine in urine.

PMID- 1458613
TI  - Selenium in Graves' disease.

PMID- 1458614
TI  - Standardization of Lp(a) assays.

PMID- 1458615
TI  - Incidence of 'unsuspected' extranodal head and neck lymphoma.
AB  - A series of 100 consecutive patients presenting with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in
      the head and neck region was reviewed. An examination of the contribution made to
      the staging classification by an otolaryngological examination showed that one
      third of patients presenting with cervical nodes had unsuspected extranodal
      disease in Waldeyer's ring. Overall 14% of patients undergoing an
      otolaryngological examination had their disease upstaged because of that
      examination.

PMID- 1458616
TI  - Changes in immunologic response in tonsillectomized children. I.
      Immunosuppression in recurrent tonsillitis.
AB  - The possible immunoregulatory role of the tonsils was studied by determining
      immunoglobulins IgG, A, M, E and factors C'3, C'4 and PFB of the complement
      system before and after tonsillectomy. The synthesis in vitro of IgG and IgM by
      lymphocytes stimulated with pokeweed mitogen was also measured. There were
      statistically significant differences between pre and post-operative levels of
      serum IgG, IgA and IgM, which decreased after surgery. Practically no change in
      the mean values of IgE and no significant differences in the levels of serum C'3,
      C'4, and PFB, were found. The in-vitro synthesis of both immunoglobulins (IgG,
      IgM) by lymphocytes increased significantly after tonsillectomy. Our results
      suggest that not only does tonsillectomy have no counterproductive effect on the
      immune system, but that, on the contrary, it seems to improve the immune
      response, since it appears to unblock the suppression to which the immune system
      was subject.

PMID- 1458617
TI  - Changes in immunological response in tonsillectomized children. II. Decreased
      cellular response.
AB  - The immunological cellular response was studied in 22 children aged between 5 and
      10 years. One week before and one month after tonsillectomy, the mitogenic
      response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin (ConA) and pokeweed mitogen
      (PWM) was tested. Our results showed statistically significant decreases in
      stimulation index (SI) to PHA, ConA and PWM after tonsillectomy. This suggests
      that the tonsils may influence the cellular immune status in children. The higher
      level of preoperative activity in children with recurrent tonsillitis could be
      understood as the result of stimulation of lymphocytes by bacteria.

PMID- 1458618
TI  - The role of mucosal receptors in the nasal sensation of airflow.
AB  - 50 subjects were admitted into a randomized double-blind placebo controlled cross
      over trial with 4% lignocaine as the active drug and normal saline as the
      placebo. Each subject had 2 ml of solution sprayed into each nasal cavity and all
      subjects had both sprays but on different occasions. The order in which the
      sprays were administered was randomized. The subjective sensation of nasal
      airflow was measured using a visual analogue scale before and after the spray.
      These measurements were made under conditions of the same airflow rate, which was
      monitored throughout the experiment using a reprogrammed NR6 rhinomanometer.
      Objective nasal patency was measured as peak nasal inspiratory flow rate. It was
      found that the nasal sensation of airflow decreased slightly after both
      lignocaine (difference between medians 5.0; 95% confidence interval -2.91 to
      6.11) and normal saline (difference between medians 6.0; 95% confidence interval 
      1.02 to 7.21). Nonparametric analysis of variance showed this difference to be
      non-significant (P = 0.73). In addition there was no significant change in
      objective nasal patency. The results suggest that nerve endings in the nasal
      mucosa play no part in sensing nasal airflow during respiration.

PMID- 1458619
TI  - Nasal airflow receptors: the relative importance of temperature and tactile
      stimulation.
AB  - The receptors responsible for the nasal sensation of airflow have not been
      identified with certainty. Although both mechanoreceptors and thermoreceptors
      have been implicated, evidence suggests that the nose is more sensitive to cold
      air than to air at body temperature. The present study was designed to
      investigate the relationship between the velocity and the temperature of an
      airjet as regards its ability to stimulate the nasal lining. Both the nasal
      vestibule and the nasal cavum are more sensitive to cold air than to air at mean
      intranasal temperature (P < 0.001). A similar effect is seen with warm air which
      is as stimulating as cold air. The nasal vestibule is twice as sensitive as the
      nasal cavum to an airjet at mean intranasal temperature (P < 0.001). It is
      concluded that the nasal vestible is very sensitive to the tactile stimulation of
      an airjet. This effect is highly temperature dependent being much more pronounced
      for air temperatures above or below the mean intranasal temperature. The
      temperature effect is relatively more important in the nasal cavum which is very
      much less sensitive to stimulation than the vestibule.

PMID- 1458620
TI  - T3 laryngeal cancer: a retrospective study of the Dutch Head and Neck Oncology
      Cooperative Group: study design and general results.
AB  - 511 Patients with T3 N0-3 M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, treated in
      the Netherlands from 1975 until 1984, were retrospectively analysed. Four
      different treatment policies were followed: primary surgery, planned combination
      of radiotherapy and surgery, primary radical radiotherapy, and selective
      radiotherapy. General results are presented. Local control rate was 72%. Regional
      control rate was 90% for clinically N0 patients and 78% for clinically N+
      patients. Salvage therapy was overall successful in 38%. Surgical salvage for
      local radiation failures (with regional relapse) was successful in 69%, and for
      regional failures (without local relapse) in 46%. Ultimate locoregional control
      was 78% and, due to 8% distant metastases, 5-year actuarial corrected survival
      was 70%. Prognosis did not improve over the years. Corrected survival was
      independently correlated with tumour extension, involvement of neck nodes and
      treatment strategy. Corrected survival was similar for primary radiotherapy and
      primary surgery, but significantly better for planned combined therapy. Multiple
      primary tumours occurred significantly more often in male (19.5%) than in female
      patients (7.3%) (P = 0.05), the bronchus being most commonly affected. Cumulative
      actuarial risk for metachronous tumour was 15% after 5 years and 30% after 10
      years so prevention and early detection of these second tumours may play the most
      important role in improving overall survival rates in the future.

PMID- 1458621
TI  - The role of calcium alginate swabs in adenotonsillectomy.
AB  - A randomized controlled study using swabs of calcium alginate versus gauze was
      undertaken to evaluate the haemostatic capabilities and the shortening of
      operative time. Haemostasis in adenoidectomy was shown to be more effective and
      the operating time shortened (P = 0.05) by the use of calcium alginate.
      Haemostasis and operating time for tonsillectomy were not affected.

PMID- 1458622
TI  - Non-surgical management of acoustic neuromas.
AB  - Watchful waiting is one of the options available in the management of acoustic
      neuromas and this article deals with 13 patients who were so managed. Non
      operative management was advised because of age, poor general health, small size
      of tumour, only hearing ear, or in patients unwilling to undergo surgery for
      various reasons. This group was followed up at 6-12-monthly intervals and the
      follow-up period ranged from 1 to 18 years (mean 5.3 years). Ten patients had
      small tumours and only in 2 of these was increase in tumour size demonstrated on
      follow-up CT scan. In one this increase was later followed by regression. Two
      patients required partial removal of tumour because of increasing symptoms after
      3 and 7 years of follow-up; one of them died on the twelfth post-operative day.
      There appears to be a small group of patients for whom delay is worth while
      rather than to subject all patients with acoustic neuroma to surgery from which
      full recovery cannot be guaranteed.

PMID- 1458623
TI  - The effect of parental smoking on outcome after treatment for glue ear in
      children.
AB  - A sample of 201 children aged between 2 and 9 years with bilateral chronic otitis
      media with effusion (OME) were treated prospectively and at random by
      adenoidectomy, adenotonsillectomy, or with neither procedure. In all cases only a
      unilateral grommet was inserted and the contralateral unoperated ear was examined
      one year post-operatively for persistence or resolution of the effusion. A self
      administered questionnaire was completed by the parents concerning their smoking
      habits. The resolution of effusion following surgery was assessed in relation to
      smoking by by the mother and father separately and in combination. Clearance of
      glue was statistically less frequent where the child's mother or where both
      parents smoked. This was related to the number of cigarettes smoked by the mother
      or both parents. The adverse effect was demonstrable whether or not adenoidectomy
      or adenotonsillectomy had been performed for treatment. The findings lend further
      support or professional and governmental opinions of a deleterious effect of
      passive smoke exposure on children and in this case parental smoking has been
      shown to have an adverse effect on the outcome of OME following surgical
      treatment.

PMID- 1458624
TI  - Results of full-thickness laryngotracheal wall reconstruction: a survey of the
      literature.
AB  - Full-thickness reconstruction of the laryngotracheal wall is needed after tumour
      removal, and also in patients where lumen augmentation is required to resolve
      laryngotracheal stenosis. For repairing such defects, several techniques are
      available. All techniques are more successful when small defects are
      reconstructed and less successful when there is a major deficit. The main problem
      with most methods of reconstruction is their unreliable blood supply which
      becomes most obvious in repairing larger areas.

PMID- 1458625
TI  - Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in T-stage
      evaluation of oral and oropharyngeal carcinomas.
AB  - 174 CT and 32 MRI investigations were carried out on patients with carcinomas of
      the mouth and oropharynx. The methods were compared and their value in predicting
      the pre-therapeutic T-staging studied. The combination of CT and clinical
      examination was able to improve the T-staging considerably compared with clinical
      examination alone. MRI was superior to CT in delineating the tumour margins in
      78% of patients. T1-weighted and gradient echo sequences after intravenous
      gadolinium injection were particularly useful. Nevertheless, T-staging based on
      clinical and CT-findings was changed in only 5% of patients by MRI. MRI is
      especially useful in T1 tumours and in cancer of the base of the tongue. MRI
      should also be used instead of CT were dental fillings obscure the region of
      interest. If there are good MRI facilities and an experienced team available MRI
      can be used before CT.

PMID- 1458626
TI  - CO2-laser treatment of recurrent glottic carcinoma.
AB  - The records of 23 patients treated by CO2-laser surgery for recurrent glottic
      carcinoma after radiotherapy were studied retrospectively to assess treatment
      results and complications. 15 patients (65%) were cured with one or more laser
      procedures. The remaining 8 underwent a total laryngectomy for a second or third
      recurrence. One patient (4%) died of disease. No major complications from CO2
      laser surgery were encountered. It is concluded that CO2-laser surgery is a safe
      method of treatment of recurrent glottic carcinoma.

PMID- 1458627
TI  - Treatment of T3 carcinoma of the larynx by surgery or radiotherapy.
AB  - T3 carcinoma of the larynx may be treated by surgery or by irradiation. A large
      number of oncologists feel that radical surgery offers a better chance of cure
      than does radiotherapy. We report a series of 147 patients with T3 N0 carcinoma
      of the larynx treated either by irradiation with salvage laryngectomy in the
      event of a recurrence, or by total laryngectomy. 109 patients had radiotherapy
      and 38 patients underwent surgery. The groups were well matched with no
      significant difference between the significant prognostic factors. The 5-year
      survival rate between the radiotherapy (70%) and surgery (40%) groups was
      significantly different (chi 2 = 4.48, d.f. = 1, P < 0.05). In spite of the well
      known problems associated with retrospective studies the present series suggests
      that radiotherapy combined with salvage surgery is an oncologically sound option
      for treating T3 laryngeal carcinoma.

PMID- 1458628
TI  - The use of ventilation tubes and the incidence of cholesteatoma surgery in the
      paediatric population of Liverpool.
AB  - Many surgeons believe that grommet insertion has reduced the incidence of
      cholesteatoma and thus radical mastoidectomy. Several causes for this trend have
      been postulated, including the increased use of ventilation tubes to treat otitis
      media with effusion. We have studied the number of operations for cholesteatoma,
      together with the number of ventilation tube insertions in the paediatric
      population of Liverpool, over a 28-year period between 1963 and 1990. There was a
      decline in the number of operations for cholesteatoma and an increase in the use
      of ventilation tubes, but there was no significant correlation between the two.
      This suggests that other factors are responsible for the decline in surgery for
      cholesteatoma.

PMID- 1458629
TI  - The quantitative analysis of dysphonia.
AB  - A clinical method of measuring 'hoarseness' is presented. Its value is assessed
      in 3 different types of vocal cord lesion and compared against normal values.
      There are shown to be significant differences between the normal and the abnormal
      voice and also differences between each type of vocal cord lesion. We feel that
      this quantification of hoarseness is useful in the treatment of patients as well
      as in monitoring their progress under therapy.

PMID- 1458630
TI  - Cell kinetics in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

PMID- 1458631
TI  - Salvage laryngectomy after radical radiotherapy for laryngeal carcinoma.
AB  - Of 376 patients who were treated by radical radiotherapy for squamous carcinoma
      of the larynx, 56 subsequently underwent total laryngectomy. Residual or
      recurrent tumour was identified in 43 of the resection specimens, and necrosis
      alone in 13 cases, although a positive biopsy had been obtained in 3 of these
      prior to salvage laryngectomy. No disease related factors such as site or stage
      of the original tumour, or treatment related factors such as radiation type or
      dose, were found to be predictive of whether or not tumour was present. The
      clinical opinion of an experienced surgeon was found to have a positive
      predictive value of 0.86 for the presence of tumour. The fistula rate of salvage
      laryngectomy, 15 out of 56, was similar to that of other series. The actuarial
      cause specific 5-year survival for patients with tumour was 0.589, and for
      patients with necrosis only was 0.923. Intercurrent, smoking related disease was
      the cause of death in 16 of the 33 patients who have died.

PMID- 1458632
TI  - What is pseudopelade?

PMID- 1458633
TI  - Fundamentals of skin cancer/melanoma screening campaigns.
AB  - There is increased world-wide concern about the rising incidence of melanoma and
      non-melanoma skin cancer. Screening theoretically reduces death and morbidity
      from skin cancer/melanoma. Visual examination of the skin is a rapid, safe and
      inexpensive screening tool. In this review the fundamentals of early disease
      detection before implementation of a public-health screening programme are
      critically analysed with reference to the skin cancer/melanoma, epidemic. It is
      concluded that skin cancer/melanoma fulfils, for the most part, the criteria
      enunciated by Wilson and Jungner in 1968. However, information about the effect
      of screening on reducing incidence and mortality is still lacking. Future
      research should focus on methods of improving compliance and on the costs and
      benefits of such screening programmes.

PMID- 1458634
TI  - The application of the seven-point check-list in the assessment of benign
      pigmented lesions.
AB  - One hundred consecutive histologically benign lesions seen at a pigmented lesion
      clinic were studied prospectively to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the seven
      point check-list. Lesions were scored by both patient and physician. Thirty per
      cent of lesions attained a suspicious score. While there was a high level of
      agreement between patient and clinician regarding the individual characteristics
      of a lesion as defined in the check-list, final assessments differed. Most
      patients considered their lesions suspicious, whereas the clinicians correctly
      recognized that in 94% cases they were benign. The seven-point check-list often
      fails to exclude common benign pigmented lesions. The revised (1989) check-list
      is even less specific (70% of lesions achieving a suspicious score). Such check
      lists are difficult for the inexperienced to interpret. Clinical familiarity is
      required in order to provide a confident diagnosis. Future emphasis should be
      directed towards improving screening in primary care.

PMID- 1458635
TI  - Cutaneous metastases from breast carcinoma: a report of 18 cases.
AB  - In this study, the authors report 18 patients with metastatic breast carcinoma
      affecting the skin, observed since 1988 in Forli, Italy. The results are compared
      with those already published in the literature.

PMID- 1458636
TI  - Skin thickness in psoriasis.
AB  - Skin thickness measured by the Harpenden skin-fold caliper showed that the
      uninvolved or non-lesional skin thickness in psoriasis does not differ
      significantly from that of normal skin. It is thinner in females than in males
      under 65 years and decreases with age in both sexes. It is thinner in those with
      fair skin compared to those who tan easily. Uninvolved skin thickness in
      psoriasis appears to influence the thickness of an adjacent psoriatic plaque.

PMID- 1458637
TI  - Health-care professionals' views of the effectiveness of pressure ulcer
      treatments. A survey among nursing-home physicians, dermatologists and nursing
      staff in The Netherlands.
AB  - In a survey, 237 nursing-home physicians, 113 dermatologists, and 164 supervisory
      nurses in nursing homes rated 30 treatments for stage III pressure ulcers by
      scoring their effectiveness. On average, there seems to be a fair degree of
      consensus between these groups of health-care workers about the effectiveness of
      most treatments. The most notable exceptions are ultraviolet light, ultrasound,
      and laser therapy and myocutaneous flap operations. Here, the dermatologists
      disagree with both nursing-home physicians and nurses. However, within all
      specialties there is disagreement about the efficacy of ultraviolet light,
      ultrasound, and laser therapy and the topical application of zinc oxide, betadine
      iodine, sodium hypochlorite and a few others.

PMID- 1458638
TI  - Palmoplantar keratoderma of Unna-Thost: response to biotin in one family.

PMID- 1458639
TI  - Localized crusted scabies in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
AB  - Crusted scabies (CrS) is an uncommon occurrence among patients with AIDS. Indeed
      to date only five cases have been described, all with widespread lesions. A case
      of localized CrS appearing as a yellowish and crusted plaque on the second right
      toe is reported in a woman with AIDS. Scraping off the verrucous surface, as well
      as punch-biopsy revealed many mites within the horny layer. The infestation is
      related to the cutaneous immune response and thus CrS should be considered an
      opportunistic infestation in AIDS. The importance of the early diagnosis of CrS
      in order to prevent disseminated lesions and involvement of other health-care
      workers is underlined.

PMID- 1458641
TI  - Familial tufted angioma.
AB  - Tufted angioma is a rare slowly progressive vascular lesion found typically in
      children and young adults. Cases appear sporadically and clinically have been
      confused with low grade angiosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, and multiple glomus
      tumours. We report a case of a patient with tufted angioma in whom a strong
      family history of similar lesions is apparent, transmitted in an autosomal
      dominant mode of inheritance.

PMID- 1458640
TI  - The use of calcipotriol in HIV-related psoriasis.
AB  - We report the case of a 28-year-old homosexual man with advanced HIV disease (CDC
      classification group IV A) who developed erythrodermic psoriasis which responded
      to calcipotriol, a topical vitamin D analogue. We believe this to be the first
      reported case of HIV-related psoriasis responsive to this form of treatment.
      Systemic therapy for HIV-related psoriasis is limited because of
      immunosuppressive effects. We suggest that calcipotriol may prove to be a useful
      therapeutic option in these patients.

PMID- 1458642
TI  - Lichen planus follicularis tumidus with cysts and comedones.
AB  - The lichen planus follicularis tumidus was described by Belaich et al. in 1977,
      and we have found 13 cases published so far. We report two cases we have recently
      seen, one of them with multiple lesions on the head, and the other with a temporo
      frontal lesion.

PMID- 1458643
TI  - Localized familial redundant scalp: atypical cutis verticis gyrata?
AB  - Two patients, a mother and son, with a conspicuous redundant unique scalp fold
      are reported. No underlying disorder was found. Light microscopy was
      unremarkable. An atypical familial form of cutis verticis gyrata is suggested.

PMID- 1458644
TI  - Familial acne fulminans.
AB  - We report a patient of acne fulminans with arthralgia whose sister presented with
      the same disease at an identical age 10 years earlier. The two affected siblings
      in our family also had identical HLA phenotypes which further supported the role
      of genetic susceptibility in acne fulminans.

PMID- 1458645
TI  - Bullous and haemorrhagic lichen sclerosus with scalp involvement.
AB  - We describe a patient who developed a generalized blistering eruption due to
      lichen sclerosus and who was observed to have scalp involvement. Both are unusual
      manifestations of this disease which merit consideration. Lichen sclerosus is an
      uncommon disease that most frequently affects the external genitalia of
      perimenopausal women. The aetiology is unknown. Approximately 20% of affected
      patients have extragenital lesions that present as small, ivory, shiny round
      macules or papules that later become atrophic; extragenital lesions are generally
      asymptomatic. Bullous and haemorrhagic forms may occur but these are generally
      localized and reports of extensive or generalized involvement are rare. We
      describe an elderly woman with generalized bullous lichen sclerosus. As an
      incidental finding, she was observed to have lichen sclerosus affecting her
      scalp. This has rarely been described and it would appear that she is the third
      reported case of scalp involvement.

PMID- 1458646
TI  - Possible induction of malignant melanoma by sunbed use.
AB  - Malignant melanoma of the female genitalia is rare. A patient who regularly used
      a sunbed developed a malignant melanoma after 4 years. The possible aetiological
      role of sunbeds in the development of such a malignancy is discussed.

PMID- 1458647
TI  - Perianal basal cell carcinoma.
AB  - Perianal basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a rare tumour and only a few case reports
      can be found in the literature. In this location, it is important to
      differentiate a BCC from a basaloid cloacogenic carcinoma, as the first is an
      invasive but localized tumour, while the second has a high capacity for
      metastasis.

PMID- 1458648
TI  - Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita presenting with localized facial blisters.
AB  - A 44-year-old woman presented with blisters on her face of 1-month's duration. A
      biopsy showed a subepidermal bulla with a dermal infiltrate of inflammatory cells
      and thick linear deposits of immunoreactants along the dermo-epidermal junction.
      Using Western immunoblots, the patient's IgG antibody was found to recognize type
      VII procollagen. Moderate doses of oral prednisolone resulted in a complete
      remission, without a recurrence for more than 3 years.

PMID- 1458649
TI  - Malignant melanoma complicated by schwannoma.
AB  - We report two cases of malignant melanoma associated with a schwannoma. Case 1 is
      a 32-year-old Japanese man who had a nodular melanoma in his epigastrium,
      associated with one subcutaneous nodule on the neck and another on the right
      thigh, both of which were histologically-proven schwannomas. Case 2 is a 48-year
      old Japanese woman with an acral lentiginous melanoma on her right sole who later
      developed a schwannoma of the cerebello-pontine angle. Of all 146 malignant
      melanoma cases found in our clinic during the past 20 years, 1.4% were associated
      with a neurogenic tumour, a significant association.

PMID- 1458650
TI  - The development of scar sarcoidosis at the site of desensitization injections.
AB  - Tender nodules may develop at the site of injection of allergen extracts. Some
      cases can be related to the aluminium contained in the preparation. We report a
      case where scar sarcoidosis developed at the site of desensitization injections.
      At presentation, there were no other cutaneous signs of sarcoidosis; systemic
      signs only developed 2 years later. We suggest that sarcoidosis be considered as
      a cause of granulomata developing at sites of desensitizing injections,
      particularly when aluminium is not involved.

PMID- 1458651
TI  - Generalized morphoea and primary biliary cirrhosis: a rare association and
      improvement with oxypentifylline.

PMID- 1458652
TI  - Hypopigmented mycosis fungoides.
AB  - We report the case of a 25-year-old Jamaican woman with hypopigmented mycosis
      fungoides. She first developed a hypopigmented patch on her arm at the age of 11
      years. Further lesions developed on the trunk and limbs over a period of 10
      years. The lesions were completely impalpable. Skin biopsy showed an infiltrate
      of atypical lymphocytes, some with cerebriform nuclei, suggesting a diagnosis of
      mycosis fungoides. The lesions cleared with PUVA therapy.

PMID- 1458653
TI  - Acrodermatitis continua responding to cyclosporin therapy.
AB  - A 69-year-old man with painful, recalcitrant, localized acrodermatitis continua
      developed widespread pustulation which was resistant to high-dose methotrexate
      therapy. Low-dose cyclosporin induced a rapid and persistent remission.

PMID- 1458654
TI  - Secondary T-cell lymphoma presenting as a giant ulcer.
AB  - Secondary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma may present with various types of skin
      lesions, but rarely produces ulceration in contrast to primary cutaneous T-cell
      lymphoma. We report a case of malignant lymphoma of the tonsil that recurred as a
      giant cutaneous ulcer on the back of a 45-year-old man. Biopsy of the ulcer
      revealed a malignant lymphoma of diffuse, mixed-cell type. Surface marker
      analysis of the tumour cells showed suppressor/cytotoxic T-cell characteristics.
      The skin lesions were treated by electron beam therapy.

PMID- 1458655
TI  - Induction of dysplastic-dystrophic anagen-hair-root condition.

PMID- 1458656
TI  - Semicircular lipoatrophy.

PMID- 1458657
TI  - Morphological changes associated with growth inhibition of Trichophyton
      mentagrophytes by amorolfine.
AB  - Amorolfine inhibited the in-vitro growth of Trichophyton mentagrophytes to some
      extent at a low drug concentration of 0.8 ng/ml. Corresponding to the growth
      inhibition, SEM studies revealed a slight modification of hyphal morphology, i.e.
      a waving of the hyphal surface. These morphological alterations were more
      extensive with increases in drug concentration and treatment period: collapsed
      and distorted hyphae and exfoliation of the surface of T. mentagrophytes occurred
      at 8 ng/ml and marked deformation and disruption of the hyphal structure at 80
      ng/ml of amorolfine. TEM revealed thickening of the cell walls and the
      accumulation of electron-dense granular structures in both the wall and cytoplasm
      in thin-sectioned cells pretreated with 8 ng/ml or more of amorolfine, although
      the nuclear and mitochondrial architecture was not noticeably influenced.
      Cytoplasmic membranes and other membranous structures of organelles such as
      nuclei and mitochondria were disrupted or fused, thereby losing their essential
      physiological activity in hyphal cells pretreated with 80 ng/ml of amorolfine.
      The ultrastructural study thus supports the observation that morphological
      changes of T. mentagrophytes caused by amorolfine were associated with its growth
      inhibitory and killing activity, which depended on the drug concentration and
      treatment time.

PMID- 1458658
TI  - Influence of amorolfine on the morphology of Candida albicans and Trichophyton
      mentagrophytes.
AB  - Amorolfine applied in concentrations of 0.1-100 micrograms/ml causes considerable
      damage to the ultrastructure of Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes:
      electron-lucent areas appear in the cytoplasm; extracytoplasmic membrane vesicles
      are formed and deposited in the cell wall; starved fungal cells, with normal
      ultrastructure, can be found; lysed, dead cells demonstrate the process of severe
      ultrastructural damage; T. mentagrophytes cell walls especially increase in
      thickness. The extent of the damage caused by amorolfine is comparable to that
      produced by azole antifungals.

PMID- 1458659
TI  - Treatment of dermatomycoses and onychomycoses--state of the art.
AB  - We have reached a stage whereby many of the superficial mycoses are treatable
      with short courses of antifungal drugs. However, the minimum duration of therapy
      has still not been well defined and there remain some mycoses which do not
      respond to conventional therapy. It may be possible to introduce more radical
      approaches to therapy such as the single-dose oral or topical therapy for tinea
      pedis or short-duration therapy for onychomycosis. Amongst these options, topical
      therapies still have a part to play in the management of onychomycosis, and the
      role of amorolfine in this respect is of potential value. The ability of the drug
      to produce lasting remissions after short courses of treatment is also of great
      interest. Last, but not least, amorolfine has an in-vitro spectrum of activity
      which covers some of the less common cutaneous pathogens, and hence it may prove
      of benefit in those infections for which treatment at present is limited.

PMID- 1458660
TI  - Loceryl nail lacquer--realization of a new galenical approach to onychomycosis
      therapy.
AB  - Loceryl nail lacquer was developed to provide the effective antifungal drug,
      amorolfine, in a once-weekly dosage regimen combined with a convenient mode of
      application. Traditional formulations such as creams and nail solutions do not
      fulfil these requirements because they are wiped or washed off very rapidly.
      Amorolfine nail lacquer builds a non-water-soluble film on the nail plate, and
      this film remains in place for 1 week. The film contains a high concentration of
      amorolfine and forms a depot from which the drug is delivered and which allows
      the drug to permeate the nail plate. The film-forming polymer and the solvent
      were optimized for drug release, stability, and convenience of application
      (drying time, no gloss, transparency). In preclinical development, porcine hoof
      horn was used as a screening model to differentiate between formulations and
      dosage strengths with respect to the penetration rate. A high drug concentration
      of 11.72 micrograms/specimen (10 mm in diameter) was reached in the hoof horn
      after 6 h, increasing to 39.5 micrograms/specimen within 7 days, the maximum
      duration of the investigation. The drug concentration achieved was far above its
      minimum inhibitory concentration. Furthermore, the penetration model clearly
      indicated that amorolfine crossed the horn barrier and was found in the moistened
      gauze which simulated the nail bed. After a 7-day penetration period, 1.8% of the
      applied dose (500 micrograms) was available under the nail.

PMID- 1458661
TI  - Determination of the subungual antifungal activity of amorolfine after 1 month's
      treatment in patients with onychomycosis: comparison of two nail lacquer
      formulations.

PMID- 1458662
TI  - Percutaneous absorption of amorolfine following a single topical application of
      an amorolfine cream formulation.
AB  - In an open-label, parallel-group, randomized study percutaneous absorption of 14C
      labelled amorolfine incorporated into a cream formulation was assessed in healthy
      male volunteers (n = 12). A single dose of 0.5 g of the 0.25% cream formulation
      was applied to 100 cm2 of intact (n = 6) and stripped (n = 6) skin for 24 h using
      occlusive dressing. The remaining drug was removed and the treated skin area of
      both groups was stripped with adhesive tape. Total urine and faeces were
      collected in portions up to 3 weeks after the experiment and blood samples were
      taken at intervals for 3 weeks. Radioactivity was measured in the skin strippings
      and in the urine, faeces and plasma samples. The intact drug was assessed in the
      plasma samples. Using mass balance techniques it could be shown that a mean of
      92% (range: 84-101%) of the applied radioactivity could be recovered. Small
      differences in the absorption and elimination of the radioactivity were observed
      between the two groups but they were not statistically significant (alpha =
      0.05). Therefore data from the two groups were pooled. Elimination of drug and
      drug-related material from the body was very slow. During the 3-week collection
      period, a mean of 7% (range: 3.8-10.2%) of the dose was excreted in urine and
      faeces. Another 0.9-3.3% of the dose was retained in the upper layers of the skin
      as shown by the skin strippings after treatment. Levels of radioactivity and of
      intact drug in plasma were below the detection limit of 0.5 ng-equiv./ml,
      respectively. Present data suggest that mean percutaneous absorption of
      amorolfine following topical application of the 0.25% cream formulation should
      not exceed 8-10% of the dose applied.

PMID- 1458663
TI  - Clinical and mycological diagnostic aspects of onychomycoses and dermatomycoses.

PMID- 1458664
TI  - Comparative efficacy and safety of amorolfine nail lacquer 2% versus 5% once
      weekly.
AB  - Altogether 157 patients with onychomycosis affecting not more than 80% of the
      surface area of nail with intact lunula and matrix were treated once weekly for
      up to 6 months with amorolfine nail lacquer (2 or 5%) in a double-blind
      randomized design. Clinical examinations were carried out before, monthly during,
      and 1 and 3 months after therapy. Mycological examinations were performed before,
      1 and 3 months after therapy. One hundred patients were evaluated. According to
      the overall assessment by the investigators, which was based on the clinical
      response and mycological findings, there was cure in 12%, improvement in 55% and
      failure in 33+ of the 2% group. The corresponding figures in the 5% group were:
      cure in 38%, improvement in 32% and failure in 30%. The difference in the number
      of cures was statistically significant in favour of the 5% nail lacquer. The most
      common pathogens isolated were Trichophyton rubrum in 59% of cases and
      Trichophyton mentagrophytes in 22%. Three months after the end of the treatment
      the mycological culture was negative in 55% of the 2% group and in 60% of the 5%
      group. Both concentrations were well tolerated. Only three patients (2%)
      experienced mild local adverse events. No systemic side-effects occurred and no
      patient discontinued treatment due to an adverse event. In conclusion, the 5%
      nail lacquer was more effective than the 2% nail lacquer when used once weekly
      for up to 6 months for the treatment of mild to moderate onychomycosis, and both
      concentrations were well tolerated.

PMID- 1458665
TI  - Comparative efficacy and safety of amorolfine nail lacquer 5% in onychomycosis,
      once-weekly versus twice-weekly.
AB  - Amorolfine is a new topical antifungal of the phenylpropyl morpholine class which
      is highly active both in vitro and in vivo against yeasts, dermatophytes and
      moulds responsible for superficial fungal infections. Human pharmacological
      studies have established that amorolfine has a persistent antifungal effect in
      the nail bed and in the skin without being systemically absorbed. This has been
      confirmed by clinical work showing that amorolfine is effective in treating
      dermatomycoses and onychomycoses when administered as cream or nail lacquer. It
      is ineffective when given orally for systemic mycoses or bacterial infections in
      animals. In earlier studies a 5% concentration of amorolfine nail lacquer was
      found to produce a better cure rate in onychomycosis than a lower concentration
      of 2%. From data available on the penetration of amorolfine and on the
      persistence of mycologically relevant tissue concentrations, it appeared likely
      that once- or twice-weekly application of nail lacquer should suffice to produce
      a satisfactory therapeutic effect in onychomycosis. The aim of this investigation
      was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of 5% amorolfine nail lacquer given
      once versus twice weekly to patients with onychomycosis of finger nails and toe
      nails.

PMID- 1458666
TI  - Dose-finding study of amorolfine cream (0.125%, 0.25% and 0.5%) in the treatment
      of dermatomycoses.
AB  - A total of 725 patients with mycosis of the skin folds, large areas of the body
      or feet were entered into this double-blind, dose-finding study. Treatment with
      0.125, 0.25 or 0.5% amorolfine cream was randomly allocated to patients. The
      cream was applied once daily for 4 weeks on average. At screening, in 527
      patients evaluated for efficacy, a total of 533 pathogens were isolated: T.
      rubrum (322), T. mentagrophytes (84), E. floccosum (45), M. canis (42), other
      dermatophytes (14), C. albicans (24) and other yeasts (2). One week after the end
      of treatment, the culture was negative in 80.5, 81.3 and 84.8% of patients
      treated with 0.125, 0.25 or 0.5% amorolfine cream, respectively. The differences
      were not statistically significant. Forty-four out of 714 patients evaluated for
      safety had local adverse events: 14 (5.8%), 13 (5.5%) and 17 (7.1%) in the
      amorolfine cream 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5% groups, respectively. Due to local adverse
      events, six patients (2.5%) in the 0.125% group, six patients (2.6%) in the 0.25%
      group and seven patients (2.9%) in the 0.5% group discontinued the trial
      treatment. The most common adverse events were burning, itching, erythema and
      scaling. No systemic adverse events were reported.

PMID- 1458668
TI  - Clinical manifestations of onychomycosis.

PMID- 1458667
TI  - Double-blind comparison of amorolfine and bifonazole in the treatment of
      dermatomycoses.
AB  - A total of 232 patients with mycoses of skin folds, body, or feet were entered
      into a double-blind, parallel group-study. Therapy with 0.125, 0.25, 0.5%
      amorolfine cream or 1% bifonazole cream was randomly allocated to patients. The
      cream was applied once daily for 4 weeks on average. At screening, in 208
      patients evaluated for efficacy, a total of 225 fungi were isolated: T. rubrum
      (77), T. mentagrophytes (65), other dermatophytes (15), C. albicans (34), other
      yeasts (26) and moulds (8). One to three weeks after ending therapy, the
      percentage of patients with negative cultures were as follows: 87.3, 91.7, 90.7
      and 92.2% in the amorolfine cream 0.125%, 0.25%, 0.5% and bifonazole cream 1%
      groups respectively. The differences were not statistically significant. Six out
      of 223 patients evaluated for safety had local adverse events: one (1.7%), two
      (3.6%) and three (5.4%) in the amorolfine cream 0.125%, 0.25% and bifonazole
      cream 1% groups respectively. The most common local adverse events were burning
      and increased itching, erythema or weeping. A once-daily application of
      amorolfine cream can be recommended for the treatment of dermatomycoses on the
      basis of the results from this study. However, a further and similar study with a
      larger number of patients was required to select the concentration of amorolfine
      cream for therapeutic use.

PMID- 1458669
TI  - Amorolfine in the treatment of onychomycoses and dermatomycoses (an overview).

PMID- 1458670
TI  - Preclinical data and mode of action of amorolfine.

PMID- 1458671
TI  - CD8 T lymphocyte subset markers and HIV infection.

PMID- 1458672
TI  - Intravenous immunoglobulin in the treatment of paediatric cerebral malaria.
AB  - Hyperimmune globulin can inhibit and reverse the cytoadherence between Plasmodium
      falciparum-infected erythrocytes and melanoma cells in vitro. Cytoadherence is
      believed to mediate disease in cerebral malaria. Therefore we studied the
      efficacy of i.v. immunoglobulin, purified from the plasma of local semi-immune
      blood donors, as an adjunct to standard treatment for cerebral malaria in
      Malawian children. The immunoglobulin preparation (IFAT antimalarial antibody
      titre 1:5120) recognized erythrocyte-associated antigens of each of 22 Malawian
      P. falciparum isolates studied, and reversed binding of Malawian isolates to
      melanoma cells. Immunoglobulin did not reverse binding to human monocytes or to
      cells of the human histiocytic lymphoma cell line U937. Thirty-one children with
      P. falciparum parasitaemia and unrousable coma were enrolled. All were treated
      with i.v. quinine dihydrochloride; in addition patients were randomized to
      receive either immunoglobulin (400 mg/kg by i.v. infusion over 3 h) or placebo
      (albumen and sucrose by similar infusion) in a double blind trial with sequential
      analysis. Of 16 patients receiving immunoglobulin, five (31%) died and five
      survivors had neurological sequelae. Of 15 patients receiving placebo, one (7%)
      died and two had sequelae. Parasite clearance, fever clearance and coma
      resolution times in survivors were similar in the two groups. Although the
      difference in outcome between the two groups was not significant, the trial was
      stopped because immunoglobulin was demonstrated not to be superior to placebo.

PMID- 1458673
TI  - Thyroid autoimmunity and hypothyroidism during long-term treatment with
      recombinant interferon-alpha.
AB  - Forty-five patients with myeloproliferative or myelodysplastic syndromes, treated
      with recombinant interferon-alpha (rIFN-alpha) for a minimum of 1 up to 4 years,
      were examined for the occurrence of thyroid autoimmunity. During treatment, the
      rate of thyroid autoimmunity rose to more than 20%. The decrease in severity and
      frequency of thyroid autoimmunity after withdrawal of IFN shows that this is a
      potentially reversible side effect. The key determinant for the manifestation of
      this IFN-related autoimmune phenomenon seems to be a predisposition for
      autoimmunity, since patients with initially detectable thyroid antibodies are
      prone to exacerbations of thyroid autoimmunity. Concurrent with thyroid
      autoimmunity, hypothyroidism occurred but did not correlate with the levels of
      thyroid antibodies, although severe hypothyroidism in two patients was
      accompanied by increased levels of thyroid antibodies. This investigation shows
      that thyroid autoimmunity and consecutively hypothyroidism must be expected in
      certain patients treated with rIFN-alpha during long periods. Furthermore, it may
      be assumed that IFN-alpha does not induce the development of autoimmunity, but
      rather enhances the levels of pre-existent thyroid antibodies.

PMID- 1458674
TI  - The significance of activation markers on CD8 lymphocytes in human
      immunodeficiency syndrome: staging and prognostic value.
AB  - The objective of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate the expression of
      activation markers on CD8 lymphocytes at various clinical stages of HIV infection
      and to determine the value of these markers in identifying patients likely to
      have rapidly progressive disease. One hundred and three HIV+ patients, divided
      into four disease stages, and 34 seronegative controls were evaluated at study
      entry using flow cytometric immunophenotyping. The HIV patients were followed
      clinically for disease progression during the following 2 years. CD8 cell numbers
      and percentage of lymphocytes are increased after HIV infection. Expression of
      the CD38, HLA-DR and CD57 markers on CD8 cells was significantly increased in
      asymptomatic HIV-infected patients when compared with controls, as was the CD8
      cell population which did not coexpress Leu-8. These activation markers were
      observed to be further increased in patient groups with more clinically advanced
      infection. The percentage of CD38 on CD8 cells emerged not only as a
      discriminator of disease severity, but was a strong predictor of progression in
      asymptomatic, lymphadenopathy and ARC patients. Given the utility of activation
      markers on CD8 lymphocytes in staging disease and predicting clinical outcome,
      the measurement of these parameters should be considered in the monitoring and
      management of HIV patients.

PMID- 1458675
TI  - Deficiency of complement component C3 is associated with accelerated removal of
      soluble 123I-labelled aggregates of IgG from the circulation.
AB  - Complement and erythrocyte complement receptors CR1 (CD35) play an important role
      in the clearance of immune complexes. We studied the elimination of soluble 123I
      labelled aggregates of human immunoglobulin G (123I-AIgG), used as a model for
      immune complexes, in two patients with a congenital and two patients with an
      acquired deficiency of complement component C3, and compared these with 10
      healthy controls. The first disappearance halflife of 123I-AIgG was shorter (3.3
      +/- 0.4 versus 7.0 +/- 0.4 min in the controls, P = 0.005) and maximal hepatic
      uptake of aggregates was increased in the C3 deficient patients (maximal
      liver/background ratio 3.6 +/- 0.4 versus 2.7 +/- 0.2 in controls, P = 0.04).
      Apparently, in the absence of C3, removal of circulating immune complexes by the
      liver is accelerated, probably through Fc receptor-dependent mechanisms.

PMID- 1458676
TI  - Kinetics of lymphocyte subsets from peripheral blood during a Plasmodium
      falciparum malaria attack.
AB  - Variations of lymphocyte subsets were followed longitudinally in 16 patients
      during an acute falciparum malaria attack. Before treatment, lymphocyte numbers
      were highly reduced, but the subset distribution was similar to that of healthy
      individuals. After parasite clearance, lymphocyte counts were normalized and the
      subset distribution was unchanged. This led to a normalization of all the
      absolute counts of lymphocyte subsets, except CD8+. The fast normalization of
      lymphocyte counts suggests that the initial decrease in lymphocyte numbers may
      reflect sequestration. Magnitude and kinetics of this variation were not related
      to parasite density or to severity of the attack. Activated T cells (CD3+HLA-DR+)
      were fewer in African than in European patients, suggesting the importance of the
      past exposure to malaria parasites in reallocation phenomena. These variations in
      lymphocyte numbers must be taken into account in the design and the analysis of
      cellular investigations in patients experiencing a falciparum malaria attack.

PMID- 1458677
TI  - Interference of Wegener's granulomatosis autoantibodies with neutrophil
      Proteinase 3 activity.
AB  - Classic anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (C-ANCA) are disease-specific
      markers of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). The possible pathogenetic role of these
      autoantibodies, which are directed against Proteinase 3 (PR3), is not yet clear.
      We studied the effect of C-ANCA on PR3 proteolytic activity and on the
      complexation of PR3 with alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT). C-ANCA IgG from eight
      patients with active WG significantly inhibited PR3 proteolytic activity,
      particularly towards elastin (median 84.2% inhibition). C-ANCA IgG significantly
      inhibited the complexation of PR3 with alpha 1AT (median 58.8% inhibition).
      Moreover, addition of purified PR3 to C-ANCA-positive sera from WG patients
      yielded less complexes with alpha 1AT (median 44.8%) compared with sera
      containing perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (P-ANCA) or
      ANCA-negative sera. These findings indicate the existence of a hitherto unknown
      property of C-ANCA, which may be of importance in the pathogenesis of WG.

PMID- 1458678
TI  - Autoantibodies against cyclophilin in systemic lupus erythematosus and Lyme
      disease.
AB  - Autoantibodies against cyclophilin, a cyclosporin A binding protein, were
      detected in sera of 29 of 46 (63%) patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and
      14 of 40 (35%) Lyme disease patients. The antibodies are directed against the
      denatured form of both the major and minor isoform of cyclophilin and can be
      demonstrated in Western blots. Some first-degree relatives of lupus patients also
      express these antibodies. They are specific for cyclophilin and are not the
      consequence of hypergammaglobulinaemia. Four monoclonal IgM antibodies from a
      patient with lepromatous leprosy also bound to cyclophilin. The generation of
      these antibodies may be of special interest because they are against a protein
      involved in the control of the immune system not known to be directly associated
      with DNA or RNA.

PMID- 1458679
TI  - Immunoglobulin class and IgG subclass distribution of anticardiolipin antibodies
      in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and associated disorders.
AB  - The class and subclass distribution of an antibody response may give insight into
      the stimulating mechanism and likely effector functions. IgA, IgG and IgM
      anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) were quantified in a consecutive series of 200
      samples sent to an autoimmune serology laboratory to determine the relationships
      between aCL responses of each of these antibody classes and, in particular,
      whether there was any utility in the measurement of IgA aCL. Positive results for
      one of the three aCL isotypes were found in 105 samples (53%), and in 41 samples
      IgA aCL was detected (21%). However, amongst these unselected samples, little
      additional information was obtained by measurement of IgA aCL, which was found in
      conjunction with IgM or IgG aCL in all but five samples, and in these the
      isolated elevation of IgA aCL was only slight, and showed no disease specificity.
      The levels of each of the four IgG subclasses of aCL were measured in a subgroup
      of serum samples from 28 patients with autoimmune disease and from 29 patients
      with syphilis. Amongst the SLE patients IgG1 and IgG3 aCL were the predominant
      IgG subclasses, consistent with an antigen-driven, T cell-dependent antibody
      response. However, a subgroup of eight of the autoimmune subjects had predominant
      elevation of IgG2 aCL, possibly implying a role for T cell-independent antibody
      production to cardiolipin. Amongst the syphilis patients IgG1 and IgG3 aCL were
      also the predominant subclasses of aCL but IgG4 aCL were also detected in the
      majority of subjects, consistent with prolonged antigenic stimulation.

PMID- 1458680
TI  - An altered repertoire of T cell receptor V gene expression by rheumatoid synovial
      fluid T lymphocytes.
AB  - The pattern of T cell receptor V gene expression by lymphocytes from rheumatoid
      synovial fluid and paired peripheral blood samples was compared using a
      polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay. Eight rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
      patients who had varying durations of disease (from 2 to 20 years) were studied.
      In all patients there was evidence of a different pattern of V gene expression
      between the two compartments. Significantly increased expression of at least one
      V alpha or V beta gene family by synovial fluid T cells was observed in all the
      patients studied. Three different V alpha (V alpha 10, 15 and 18) and three V
      beta (V beta 4, 5 and 13) families were commonly elevated. Sequencing of synovial
      V beta transcripts demonstrated that the basis of increased expression of
      selected V gene families in the synovial fluid was due to the presence of
      dominant clonotypes within those families, which constituted up to 53% of the
      sequences isolated from one particular synovial V gene family. There were
      considerable differences in the NDJ sequences found in synovial and peripheral
      blood T cell receptor (TCR) transcripts of the same V beta gene family. These
      data suggest that the TCR repertoire in the two compartments differs, and that
      antigen-driven expansion of particular synovial T cell populations is a component
      of rheumatoid synovitis, and is present in all stages of the disease.

PMID- 1458681
TI  - Fibroblast growth factors in connective tissue disease associated interstitial
      lung disease.
AB  - Fibrosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in chronic inflammatory
      diseases, especially interstitial pulmonary disorders. Fibroproliferation is an
      important part of this fibrotic response, and is mediated largely through growth
      factors such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), insulin-like growth factor
      (IGF) I and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Although there is some
      evidence implicating these cytokines in fibrotic disorders, strong evidence in
      vivo is almost nonexistent. In order to ascertain the role that these factors
      play in inflammatory lung disorders associated with connective tissue diseases,
      alveolar mononuclear cells have been obtained from subjects by bronchoalveolar
      lavage and assessed for the spontaneous release of fibroblast growth factors. The
      study population consisted of subjects with a variety of different connective
      tissue disorders, both with and without inflammatory pulmonary complications. It
      was found that lavage cells spontaneously secreted fibroblast growth factor
      activity over 24 h with maximum activity detected at 6 to 12 h. Growth factor
      activity could be detected in most subjects with connective tissue disease
      associated inflammatory lung disease and some normal subjects, but the amount of
      growth factor activity was much higher in the former than in the latter. By means
      of antibody depletion experiments all growth factor activity from lavage cells of
      normal patients was attributable to TNF-alpha while patients with interstitial
      lung disease secreted large amounts of PDGF and fibronectin in addition to TNF
      alpha. Approximately 40-50% of the total released growth factor activity could be
      accounted for by PDGF, and 100% by the combination of PDGF, TNF-alpha and
      fibronectin. While TNF-alpha is released from the bronchoalveolar lavage cells of
      many subjects, in addition, many patients with interstitial lung disease also
      release spontaneously, large amounts of fibroblast growth factor activity
      attributable to PDGF and fibronectin.

PMID- 1458682
TI  - Glomerular immune deposits in murine lupus models may contain histones.
AB  - Two types of lupus mice, NZB/NZW F1 female hybrids and mice with graft-versus
      host disease (GVHD), were studied. Histones H3 and H2A were detected by
      immunofluorescence in glomeruli of 22/22 proteinuric GVHD and 8/12 proteinuric
      NZB/W F1 female mice; in non-proteinuric animals, 3/5 GVHD and 2/27 NZB/W F1
      female were positive. Using antibodies to histone peptides it was shown that
      mainly the N-terminal regions of histones H3 and H2A were exposed in glomerular
      deposits. Western blot analysis revealed antibodies to histone subfractions in
      sera of 33/34 lupus mice that developed proteinuria. This study provides evidence
      that histones are involved in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis.

PMID- 1458683
TI  - Induction of adjuvant arthritis in mice.
AB  - Adjuvant arthritis, induced by injections of Freund's complete adjuvant into the
      footpads of some rat strains, has been recognized as a useful animal model for
      many years. There has, however, been notable lack of success in reproducing this
      model in other species. We now describe the development of adjuvant arthritis in
      healthy strain mice approximately 2 months after injection of Freund's complete
      adjuvant. Although the clinical appearance of the mice and the joint
      histopathology closely resemble the adjuvant arthritis reported in the rat, we
      were unable to detect rheumatoid factor in sera from the affected animals. In
      parallel studies of T cell proliferation, affected animals responded to some
      mycobacterial antigens but not to the 65-kD heat shock protein of Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis, suggesting that some other epitope is important in the development
      of the disease.

PMID- 1458684
TI  - MRL/lpr-->severe combined immunodeficiency mouse allografts produce
      autoantibodies, acute graft-versus-host disease or a wasting syndrome depending
      on the source of cells.
AB  - MRL/lpr (lpr) mice spontaneously develop a lupus-like illness as well as massive
      lymphadenopathy. Attempts to transfer autoimmunity by adoptive transfer or
      radiation bone marrow chimeras have been unsuccessful. Since severe combined
      immunodeficiency (SCID) mice have been engrafted with human and rat xenografts
      without apparent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), we subjected SCID mice to low
      dose irradiation and reconstituted the mice with spleen cells from young or old
      lpr mice or with lpr bone marrow. Fourteen out of twenty (70%) of SCID mice
      engrafted with spleen cells from old lpr mice produced autoantibodies (anti-DNA
      and anti-Sm) without evidence of the severe lymphoid atrophy previously described
      for lpr spleen-->+/+ chimeras. SCID mice engrafted with spleen cells from young
      lpr mice developed acute GVHD and 5/6 (83%) died within 4 weeks post-transfer.
      Although 8/11 (73%) of lpr-->SCID bone marrow allografts survived for at least 4
      months, these mice developed a wasting disease characterized by lymphoid atrophy
      and fibrosis without the production of autoantibodies. None of the lpr-->SCID
      grafts resulted in the transfer of double negative T cells or the
      lymphoproliferative syndrome characteristic of MRL/lpr mice. These findings
      indicate that SCID mice can be engrafted with splenocytes from old MRL/lpr mice
      and that B cells continue to secrete autoantibodies for several months in the
      SCID recipients. This study also demonstrates that, unlike i.p. transplant of
      xenogeneic cells, acute GVHD is a consistent feature of i.p. transplants of
      normal allogeneic mononuclear cells into SCID mice.

PMID- 1458685
TI  - In vitro preactivated human T cells engraft in SCID mice and migrate to murine
      lymphoid tissues.
AB  - Mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) accept grafts of human T and B
      lymphocytes derived from resting peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We
      wished to determine whether activated human T cells engraft and migrate into
      lymphoid tissues in SCID mice. PBMC (50 x 10(6)) activated in vitro in a 4-day
      mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) were injected into the peritoneum of 12 SCID mice.
      In 11 of 12 animals killed at 3 or 4 weeks after injection, human cells were
      detected in cells pooled from lymphoid organs by flow cytometry and by
      immunohistochemical staining of frozen tissue sections. The percentage of CD45+
      cells in the 11 mice ranged from 2% to 45% and the absolute numbers of CD45+
      cells recovered from lymphoid organs ranged from 4 x 10(6) to 90 x 10(6). Up to
      93% of the human cells expressed the CD3 antigen together with either CD4 or CD8.
      Human T cells were localized in periarteriolar areas in murine spleens, whereas
      in the lymph nodes and gut mucosa, the T cells did not show the pattern for T
      dependent areas found in human lymphoid tissue. Numerous human plasma cells were
      detected in the spleen and gut mucosal crypts of engrafted SCID mice. Human IgG
      was detected in the serum of all 11 engrafted SCID mice. The functional activity
      of human T cells recovered from murine splenic tissue was very low 3-4 weeks
      after engraftment.

PMID- 1458686
TI  - Activated T-lymphocytes induce growth inhibition and prostaglandin E2 release
      from syngeneic glomerular mesangial cells.
AB  - The concept of an active role of T lymphocytes in the initiation and development
      of autoimmune glomerulonephritis has gradually evolved from recent
      investigations. In the present study we started in a murine coculture system to
      directly examine cellular interactions of intrinsic glomerular mesangial cells
      (MC) and syngeneic T lymphocytes. Lymph node lymphocytes and, moreover, cloned T
      helper cells specifically affected syngeneic proliferating MC, causing growth
      inhibition and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release. The T cell specificity of
      mesangial cell responses was confirmed by demonstrating (i) that MC cocultured
      with other cell types showed no reaction and (ii) that additional activation of T
      lymphocytes by IL-2 or concanavalin A significantly enhanced the MC responses.
      Subsequently, we confirmed the presence of T cell factors in the supernatants
      responsible for the observed effects: interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumour
      necrosis factor (TNF). Experiments with combinations of recombinant mouse IFN
      gamma and human lymphotoxin or TNF-alpha showed that these lymphokines could
      substitute for the direct T lymphocyte effects causing a synergistic growth
      inhibition and PGE2 release from mouse MC. The observed lymphokine activities
      were not due to mesangiolysis as shown by neutral red uptake of MC. Pointing to
      the essential role of T helper cell-specific products, IFN-gamma antibodies
      abolished both the IFN-gamma and the combined IFN-gamma/TNF-alpha effect. Thus,
      our investigations with syngeneic MC-lymphocyte cocultures demonstrated that
      cultured MC specifically responded to T lymphocytes and their products.

PMID- 1458687
TI  - An early defect in primary and secondary T cell responses in asymptomatic cats
      during acute feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection.
AB  - As in HIV infection of humans, cats infected with FIV are particularly
      susceptible to secondary infection by opportunistic pathogens, suggesting an
      impaired ability to elicit an effective immune response against foreign antigens.
      In order to investigate the development of immunity in FIV-infected cats, we have
      used an autologous culture system to directly measure priming of naive CD4+ T
      cells to soluble protein antigen, in vitro. Using this assay, we showed
      previously that cats infected with FIV for several months had significantly
      reduced primary proliferative responses. We have now examined cats before
      infection, and at varying times after infection with FIV, to determine how soon
      after infection this defect in T cell priming was evident, compared with other
      quantitative and qualitative measurements of lymphocyte function. Our results
      showed a progressive decline in immune function in asymptomatic cats during the
      acute stage of infection with FIV. Primary T cell responses were most sensitive
      and a significant reduction in proliferation of naive T cells to foreign antigen
      occurred 5 weeks after infection, despite normal blastogenesis to T cell mitogens
      and normal CD4+/CD8+ ratios at these times. Whilst lymphocyte proliferation to T
      cell mitogens was unaffected throughout, a significant reduction in proliferation
      to a B cell mitogen occurred from week 8 onwards. CD4+/CD8+ ratios fell
      significantly from week 13 onwards, and proliferation of the memory T cell
      population to a recall antigen was significantly impaired later, from week 19
      onwards. The defect in the priming of naive T cells to foreign antigen early
      after infection may be important in determining susceptibility to secondary
      infections.

PMID- 1458688
TI  - Gene frequency and partial protein characterization of an allelic variant of
      mannan binding protein associated with low serum concentrations.
AB  - Low plasma concentration of mannan binding protein (MBP) has been shown to be the
      basis for a common opsonic deficiency and suggested to be caused by a single
      nucleotide substitution at base 230 of exon 1 in the MBP gene. This substitution
      causes a replacement of glycine (codon GGC) with aspartic acid (codon GAC). Of
      123 healthy Danish individuals investigated by polymerase chain reaction
      performed on exon 1, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism or
      allospecific probing, 93 were homozygous (75.6%) for GGC, 28 heterozygous
      (22.8%), and two homozygous for GAC (1.6%). The gene frequency of the GAC allele
      was found to be 0.13. DNA sequencing of the cloned exon 1 from one GAC homozygous
      individual revealed no other substitution. The median MBP concentration in the
      group containing the GAC allele was 6.4 times lower than in the GGC homozygous
      group (195 and 1234 micrograms/l respectively). However, the range in plasma
      concentrations of MBP was wide and overlapping between the groups. MBP protein
      was detected in both the GAC homozygotes (9 and 387 micrograms/l). Furthermore,
      no difference in relative mass and biological activity (mannan binding) was found
      when sera containing the two forms of MBP were investigated. Accordingly, it can
      be concluded that the GAC allele is able to produce a functional MBP protein
      which may be detected in serum at low concentrations.

PMID- 1458690
TI  - Bacterial lipopolysaccharide mediates the loss of CD4 from the surface of
      purified peripheral blood monocytes.
AB  - In this study we have looked at the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the
      surface antigen expression of cultured monocytes. Monocytes were purified from
      peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and cultured in the presence or absence
      of LPS. The cultured cells were then stained with anti-MO3, anti-IL-2R and anti
      CD4 MoAbs. We have shown that freshly isolated monocytes are IL-2R- and MO3
      negative and express CD4 in low density. After overnight culture, without LPS,
      the expression of these surface markers remained relatively unchanged. However,
      in the presence of LPS (1 microgram/ml) CD4 expression was reduced to
      undetectable levels while the expression of IL-2R and MO3 was induced to maximal
      density. This effect of LPS on monocyte surface antigen expression was
      demonstrated with LPS preparations from Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and
      Vibrio cholerae. Surface antigen expression after 7 days culture in medium
      supplemented with non-heat-inactivated serum was essentially as seen after
      overnight culture, with the exception that LPS-induced IL-2R expression was
      transient. The ability to prepare monocytes that maintained surface CD4
      expression after overnight culture was donor dependent.

PMID- 1458691
TI  - When do we treat hypercholesterolemia?
AB  - Although the relationships between elevated total and low-density lipoprotein
      (LDL) cholesterol and coronary heart disease (CHD) are relatively well
      established and published treatment guidelines are available, clinicians face a
      number of complex issues when deciding whom to treat. Specific patient
      characteristics and potential risk factors, of which less is known, may influence
      treatment decisions. In this presentation, the current guidelines for treating
      patients with hypercholesterolemia are reviewed and therapeutic issues that must
      be considered when selecting patients for treatment are identified.

PMID- 1458689
TI  - Detection of cytokines at the site of tuberculin-induced delayed-type
      hypersensitivity in man.
AB  - Cytokines are chiefly local mediators which play an important role in the
      regulation of the cell-cell interactions which may be involved in the development
      of the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction. Using immunohistochemical
      techniques, the presence of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, interferon-gamma (IFN
      gamma) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the skin in tuberculin
      purified protein derivative (PPD)-induced DTH reactions was investigated in six
      normal individuals. Cells staining for these cytokines were first observed 6 h
      after PPD challenge, and they were detected throughout the duration of the 7-day
      experiment. The number of cells staining for IFN-gamma reached a peak at 48 h,
      where 33% of the total aggregate cells were positive, but declined thereafter to
      3% at day 7. On the other hand, the number of cells staining for TNF-alpha and IL
      1 persisted at high levels throughout the observation period of 7 days (e.g. at
      48 h and thereafter, about 40% cells positive for TNF-alpha and 20% for IL-1
      alpha and IL-1 beta). Double immunofluorescence and staining on sequential
      sections showed that IFN-gamma-staining cells were CD3+ T cells; TNF-alpha, IL-1
      and IL-6 staining cells were mainly of the CD68+ macrophages/monocytes and that
      80% of the CD1a+ cells (Langerhans-like cells) in the dermis contained TNF-alpha
      and IL-1. The presence of these cytokines at the site of inflammation suggests
      that they may be locally produced by the inflammatory cells. Their persistence
      during the reaction suggests that they are intimately associated with this
      response, and are involved in the development of the reaction.

PMID- 1458692
TI  - Therapeutic intervention for hypercholesterolemia.
AB  - In previous presentations in these proceedings, the important relationships
      between cholesterol and coronary heart disease (CHD) have been reviewed.
      Guidelines, for Europe and the United States, for screening and intervention in
      persons with elevated total or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol have
      been compared. In this presentation, the current approaches for dietary and drug
      treatment of hypercholesterolemia are discussed.

PMID- 1458693
TI  - Cholesterol and cardiovascular disease: how strong is the evidence?
AB  - The relationship between elevated serum cholesterol and cardiovascular disease,
      specifically coronary heart disease (CHD), has been and continues to be a source
      of debate in the medical community. Other issues under debate include criteria
      for screening for elevated cholesterol, criteria for treatment, and whether
      intervention to lower elevated cholesterol prior to a cardiac event is cost
      effective. Most physicians believe this latter statement to be true; however,
      reports of no decrease in overall mortality rates in those without clinical
      coronary disease in whom aggressive lowering of cholesterol is achieved may have
      contributed to the lack of consensus on this most important issue. In this
      presentation the evidence that links cholesterol and CHD is reviewed and it is
      demonstrated that lowering elevated cholesterol concentrations can improve
      quality of life and life expectancy.

PMID- 1458694
TI  - Treatment of lupus pregnancy: can we reach consensus?

PMID- 1458695
TI  - Terminal complement complex in synovial tissue from patients affected by
      rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and acute joint trauma.
AB  - The C5b-9 complex (Terminal Complement Complex-TCC) is the final product of the
      terminal complement pathway. In this study, using the monoclonal antibody MCaE11
      (specific for a C9 neoantigen) and an immunohistochemical technique, we examined
      the TCC deposits in synovial tissues from 4 patients affected by rheumatoid
      arthritis (RA) and 6 patients affected by osteoarthritis (OA). Synovial tissues
      from 8 patients affected by acute joint trauma were examined as controls.
      Furthermore, plasma TCC levels were measured in 44 RA patients and 51 controls,
      using the above mentioned antibody and a sandwich ELISA. Eight synovial fluids
      were also included in this study. Abundant TCC deposits were detected in the
      cytoplasm of the synovial lining cells and of large stromal mononuclear cells in
      all the RA and in 3 out of 6 OA synovial tissues characterized by histological
      signs of inflammation. No TCC deposits were found in non-inflamed synovial
      tissues from patients with joint trauma. In agreement with previous observations,
      the TCC plasma levels found were significantly higher in RA patients than in
      controls, but no difference was seen between patients with active and non-active
      disease. The mean TCC level was significantly higher in the synovial fluid than
      in the plasma, but no correlation emerged between these two series of values.
      This study shows that: a) the plasma level of TCCs cannot serve as an indicator
      of disease activity in RA; b) the TCC deposits in synovial tissue correlate well
      with the extent of inflammatory synovitis, irrespective of whether the synovitis
      is rheumatoid or osteoarthritic in nature.

PMID- 1458696
TI  - Systemic lupus erythematosus and pregnancy: a prospective study.
AB  - We have prospectively followed 25 pregnancies in 21 patients: 20 were affected by
      systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 1 by subacute cutaneous lupus
      erythematosus (SCLE). A flexible treatment schedule was applied to the follow-up
      of all the pregnancies, and included low dose aspirin, steroids at medium-low
      dosage and, if needed, azathioprine (AZA) after 20 weeks of gestation. There were
      4 spontaneous first trimester abortions and 21 live-born neonates without major
      problems related to the treatment or to the maternal disease. The relapse rate of
      the disease recorded during the observation period was 0.07 patient/month, not
      different from that already reported in SLE patients (pregnant or nonpregnant).
      Obstetrical complications were relatively frequent, but careful monitoring
      allowed us to avoid late fetal wastage. We conclude that in SLE patients a
      successful pregnancy outcome, without worsening of the disease, can be obtained
      with a careful multidisciplinary follow-up.

PMID- 1458697
TI  - Antiphospholipid antibodies and complement activation in patients with cerebral
      ischemia.
AB  - Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) have been linked to stroke and TIA. The
      mechanism for aPL-associated thrombosis is uncertain, but could be related to
      complement-mediated membrane damage. Indirect evidence for complement activation
      (low C4 levels) has been associated with aPL, with variable correlation with
      disease manifestations. We measured complement activation directly using an ELISA
      for SC5b-9 in 26 patients with stroke/TIA; 13 with and 13 without aPL. Patient
      plasma levels of SC5b-9 were measured along with standard positive and 5 normal
      control samples. Nine patients with, whereas only one without, aPL had an
      abnormal SC5b-9 level (p = 0.0018, Fisher's Exact Test). These data confirm a
      relationship between aPL and complement activation, which argues for an active
      autoimmune process in aPL-associated thrombosis and suggests that complement
      activation may play a pathogenic role.

PMID- 1458698
TI  - Anti-enterobacteria antibodies in psoriatic arthritis.
AB  - The occurrence of certain antibacterial antibodies was studied in the sera of 22
      healthy donors (HD) and 66 patients with different diseases. The cases
      investigated included 22 rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 22 non-arthritic-psoriasis
      (NAP), and 22 psoriatic arthritis (PA) patients. A complement fixation test was
      used with Yersinia enterocolitica 0:3 type (YEC), Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
      (YPT), Campylobacter jejuni (CJ), and Campylobacter fetus (CF) antigens; the
      detection of anti-Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) antibodies was carried out using an
      immunoperoxidase colorimetric slide test that allowed the detection of isotypes
      of specific antibodies. It was found that the synthesis of anti-CF, CJ, YEC, and
      YPT antibodies in NAP patients does not differ significantly from that of the HD
      group; on the contrary, the antibody levels were statistically higher in PA than
      in the other disease groups or in the healthy controls, although only anti-CF
      antibodies seemed to significantly differentiate (p = 0.000003) the PA group from
      the others. Anti-CT IgA antibody titers were found to be significantly higher in
      the PA as well as in the RA groups when compared with the controls, while the
      antibody levels in NAP patients showed no clear-cut difference with respect to
      those of either the arthritic patients or the healthy controls. By showing that
      anti-enterobacterial antibodies are increased in PA but not in NAP patients, our
      data furnish additional support to the thesis of a pathogenic role of bacterial
      infections in psoriatic arthritis.

PMID- 1458699
TI  - Unusual responses to electrocutaneous stimulation in refractory cervicobrachial
      pain: clues to a neuropathic pathogenesis.
AB  - Refractory cervicobrachial pain (RCBP) is a common syndrome of uncertain
      pathogenesis, frequently seen in an occupational context. It is characterised by
      widespread neck, shoulder girdle and arm pain, often of dysaesthetic quality
      including burning, associated with paraesthesiae, impaired perception of touch,
      allodynia, hyperalgesia and hyperpathia. Despite these clinical features, the
      syndrome has not attracted investigation with other than standard
      neurophysiological tests. Electrocutaneous electrical stimulation (ECS),
      following a well-described and validated method, was chosen as a tool to
      investigate the nociceptive status in RCBP. A commercially available calibrate
      transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) machine was used to determine
      perception threshold and pain tolerance with respect to the amplitude of current
      and duration of pulse. Fifteen patients with typical RCBP and ten normal
      volunteers were studied. The response profiles obtained were reproducible over
      time in both patients and controls and were able clearly to distinguish between
      affected and non-affected limbs. The perception threshold and pain tolerance in
      the unaffected limbs of patients did not differ from those in normal subjects. In
      the affected limbs there was reduction in pain tolerance, invariably accompanied
      by spread of sensation and persistence of dysaesthesiae, both induced by ECS.
      These results define the limbs affected by RCBP as regions of secondary
      hyperalgesia at the clinical level. It is suggested that neural dysfunction may
      be involved in the pathogenesis of RCBP, although a confident distinction between
      peripheral and central processes cannot be made on the basis of these findings,
      which call for further investigation.

PMID- 1458700
TI  - Pneumococcal septic arthritis as the first manifestation of multiple myeloma.
AB  - In this paper we report a 47 year old woman with septic arthritis due to
      Streptococcus pneumoniae. No known predisposing factor was found. After an
      extensive workup a multiple myeloma was discovered. In our case septic arthritis
      was the first manifestation of multiple myeloma.

PMID- 1458701
TI  - Raynaud's phenomenon: a proposal for classification.
AB  - Major confusion exists with regard to the definition of patients with Raynaud's
      phenomenon; defining the patient and the phenomenon are reasonably
      straightforward, but variations in the definition of its primary and secondary
      forms have created a situation in which the same patient might be classified as
      primary by one group and secondary by another. The present essay is a proposal
      for the strict definition of Primary Raynaud's Phenomenon (PRP) formulated as a
      hypothesis amenable to experimental testing. This hypothesis is tested
      retrospectively on a group of 240 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon. The
      proposed criteria permit classification in 215 of 240 cases or 89%, leaving 25
      patients difficult to classify at initial evaluation. Further testing of the
      hypothesis is encouraged.

PMID- 1458702
TI  - Sneddon's syndrome.
AB  - Sneddon's syndrome refers to the rare association of extensive livedo reticularis
      with multiple ischaemic cerebrovascular episodes. Endarteritis obliterans is the
      most common cutaneous pathology. It is likely that several pathogenic mechanisms
      may give rise to Sneddon's syndrome, as the condition is associated with a high
      incidence of generalised atherosclerosis, hypertension, valvular heart disease
      and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies.

PMID- 1458703
TI  - Serum interleukin-6 levels and joint involvement in polyarticular and
      pauciarticular juvenile chronic arthritis.
AB  - We measured serum and synovial fluid interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in patients with
      polyarticular-onset and pauciarticular-onset juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA),
      using the hybridoma cell line B9. During active disease, but not during
      remission, serum IL-6 levels were significantly elevated in patients with
      polyarticular (p < 0.0001 vs controls) and in patients with pauciarticular JCA (p
      < 0.01 vs controls). In patients with active polyarticular disease (polyarticular
      and extended pauciarticular) serum IL-6 levels correlated with the extent and
      severity of joint involvement (p < 0.05), with erythrocyte sedimentation rate
      values (p < 0.005) and with C reactive protein concentrations (p < 0.05). In
      patients with persistent pauciarticular JCA, serum IL-6 levels correlated with
      the joint swelling score (p < 0.05). Synovial fluid IL-6 levels, measured in 5
      patients with pauciarticular JCA, were markedly elevated (range 600-24,000 HGF
      U/ml). In conclusion, our data suggest that IL-6 is an important pathogenic
      mediator in polyarticular and pauciarticular JCA.

PMID- 1458704
TI  - Coexistence of myasthenia gravis and seropositive juvenile chronic arthritis.
AB  - The development of myasthenia gravis (MG) in a patient with juvenile chronic
      arthritis (JCA) is a rare occurrence. This report concerns a patient with
      seropositive JCA who developed MG during her second pregnancy.

PMID- 1458705
TI  - IL-2, IL-6 and TNF levels in primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

PMID- 1458706
TI  - Comment on a model of type II collagen-immune complex arthritis in sheep.

PMID- 1458707
TI  - The Consensus Workshops for the Detection of Autoantibodies to Intracellular
      Antigens in Rheumatic Diseases: 1989-1992.
AB  - The European Consensus Study Group for Autoantibodies was formed in 1988 to
      examine test systems for the detection of autoantibodies found in patients with
      rheumatic and related conditions. In the last four years it has organised an
      annual exercise to examine the sensitivity and reproducibility of different
      methodologies for the detection of these antibodies, and the concordance obtained
      between leading laboratories in Europe. The results of these exercises show an
      improvement in detection rates. In addition, the group has produced a methodology
      handbook, containing recommended methods as used by expert laboratories, and has
      made recommendations on the performance of assays for the detection of
      autoantibodies.

PMID- 1458708
TI  - Disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis: preliminary report of the Consensus
      Study Group of the European Workshop for Rheumatology Research.
AB  - The most suitable measures to assess the disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis
      patients treated with slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs were considered in a
      prospective study. This was organised across Europe in 12 specialised centres and
      282 patients were studied. The patients were all considered to be in need of
      therapy with a slow-acting anti-rheumatic drug and were studied at the initiation
      of therapy, and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. There were 215 patients who
      remained on treatment for 6 months. The most useful measures to assess disease
      activity were: the number of swollen joints, the number of tender joints, pain,
      the patients' assessment of response, and ESR. These should form a minimum data
      set when assessing the activity of rheumatoid arthritis. Some measures such as
      grip strength, hemoglobin, and the C-reactive protein level showed too much
      variation between centres and will require considerable standardisation before
      they can be used across Europe. There were problems in collecting functional data
      and further work is needed to develop a functional questionnaire available in all
      European languages with culturally suitable questions.

PMID- 1458709
TI  - Disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus: report of the Consensus Study
      Group of the European Workshop for Rheumatology Research. I. A descriptive
      analysis of 704 European lupus patients. European Consensus Study Group for
      Disease Activity in SLE.
AB  - Using a detailed questionnaire, the cumulative historical and current
      demographic, clinical and serological data on 704 SLE patients from 29 European
      centres and 14 countries have been assessed. Ninety-three percent of the patients
      were Caucasian and the female/male ratio was 10:1. Analysis of the cumulative
      incidence showed that arthralgia/arthritis (94%), rash (69%), Raynaud's
      phenomenon (49%), serositis (44%) and renal disease (38%) were the most frequent
      clinical manifestations. Virtually all the patients (98%) were antinuclear
      antibody positive, while anti-ds-DNA antibodies (76%), hypocomplementaemia (71%)
      and anti-Ro(SSA) antibodies (35%) were frequent serological abnormalities. Whilst
      much of this data is in line with previous reports, it is notable that renal,
      lung, and central nervous system involvement and the frequency of rheumatoid
      factor, anti-Sm and anti-RNP antibodies were much lower than in most comparable
      series in the United States. We assume that ethnic differences and the greater
      present awareness of lupus could explain this variations. Low dose
      corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-malarials were
      used to treat over half of the patients, 75% of whom were between 15 and 55 years
      of age. This report offers a useful overview of lupus both clinically and
      serologically in Europe in the 1990's.

PMID- 1458710
TI  - Disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus: report of the Consensus Study
      Group of the European Workshop for Rheumatology Research. II. Identification of
      the variables indicative of disease activity and their use in the development of
      an activity score. The European Consensus Study Group for Disease Activity in
      SLE.
AB  - A European Consensus Group study, involving 29 centres from 14 countries, was
      performed in order to reach agreement on the definition of disease activity in
      systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to construct a new disease index. Data on
      704 lupus patients were collected and analysed, using univariate and multivariate
      statistical procedures, to select those clinical and laboratory features of the
      disorder which best correlate with the global assessment of disease activity
      assigned to the patients by the physician of each participating centre. A
      combination of 15 clinical and laboratory variables was shown to be the best
      predictor of disease activity in SLE. A European Consensus Lupus Activity
      Measurement (ECLAM) was then formulated. This index included the 15 selected
      variables, weighted (with some adjustments) according to their respective
      regression coefficients in the multivariate model. ECLAM appears to be an
      effective instrument for scoring patients with different degrees of disease
      activity. This is the first SLE disease activity index based on data from a very
      large number of lupus patients followed at a large number of lupus centres in
      different countries. It might therefore very well serve as a standardised measure
      for future European clinical studies. Final assessment of the validity,
      reliability and sensitivity of this index is now underway.

PMID- 1458712
TI  - The clinical significance of hemoglobinopathies in the Hamilton region: a twenty
      year review.
AB  - Between 1970-1990, the Laboratory tested 38,391 specimens for hemoglobinopathies,
      of which 7,935 were positive. The major abnormalities detected were beta
      thalassemia trait (4,688), alpha thalassemia trait (1,248) and sickle cell trait
      (847). Clinically significant hemoglobinopathies detected were Hemoglobin H
      disease (100), sickle cell disease (67) and sickle cell Hemoglobin C disease
      (79). Hemoglobinopathies are therefore common in the Hamilton area as a
      reflection of the cultural diversity of area citizens. Of the 49 patients with
      thalassemia without documented iron deficiency, 8 (16%) received iron therapy for
      a variable period of time and 3 were investigated for gastrointestinal blood
      loss. Hemoglobin abnormalities cause or have the potential to cause clinical
      disease and they can, if not detected, result in unnecessary iron therapy or
      gastrointestinal investigation.

PMID- 1458711
TI  - Disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus: report of the Consensus Study
      Group of the European Workshop for Rheumatology Research. III. Development of a
      computerised clinical chart and its application to the comparison of different
      indices of disease activity. The European Consensus Study Group for Disease
      Activity in SLE.
AB  - In the first phase of this study, a data-base containing clinical and laboratory
      findings of 704 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), originating
      from 29 centres and 14 countries, was used to assess the validity of 4 common
      indices of disease activity, SLAM, BILAG, SLEDAI and SIS. The physician's
      judgement of activity was assumed as the unique reference criterion (gold
      standard). Computer programmes were developed to calculate automatically the 4
      activity indices; this computation appeared to correspond with manual
      computations in a sample of 60 appropriately selected cases. All 4 indices were
      closely correlated with each other (r in the range of 0.716 to 0.872), and with
      the physician's score (r in the range of 0.620 to 0.719). In the second phase of
      the study the activity index developed in part I (ECLAM) was prospectively
      validated, and its performance compared to that of the other scales, both as a
      single state index and as a transition index (i.e., its ability to assess disease
      activity at a single point in time and to detect variations in consecutive
      readings). A computer-assisted clinical chart was prepared for this purpose. This
      chart allowed us to calculate automatically all the indices. Two consecutive
      observation times (time 0, and time 1 three months later) were included in the
      study protocol. Data on 75 patients from 19 centres were collected, and each
      patient was observed twice. All the computed indices were closely correlated,
      both at time 0 (r ranging from 0.725 to 0.884), and at time 1 (r ranging from
      0.607 to 0.833).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1458713
TI  - Glucose turnover and its regulation during intense exercise and recovery in
      normal male subjects.
AB  - Intense exercise to exhaustion is expected to be associated with rapid and large
      changes in glucose production (Ra) and utilization (Rd). To quantify these, and
      to determine their mechanisms and those of the prolonged postexercise
      hyperglycemia, we measured circulating metabolic regulators and glucose kinetics,
      the latter by the method of enriched tracer [3-3H] glucose infusion during
      exercise. Eighteen fit, lean young male subjects exercised to exhaustion at 80%
      of maximal workload (approximately 100% VO2max) on a cycle ergometer. Plasma
      glucose was 4.90 +/- 0.08 mM/L at rest, increased during exercise, then abruptly
      to 6.91 +/- 0.40 mM/L at 4 min recovery then gradually declined. Plasma insulin
      was constant during exercise, then doubled to 162 +/- 28 pmol/l until 20 min
      recovery, before declining. Plasma glucagon increased by 71 +/- 11 pg/mL. Plasma
      norepinephrine increased 18-fold and epinephrine 14-fold, both declining by 20
      min recovery. Ra increased 7-fold by exhaustion to 13.0 +/- 1.18 mg/kg/min, then
      decreased to 2.43 +/- 0.24 mg/kg/min by 9 min, then to about 2 mg/kg/min the rest
      of recovery. Rd rose 3-fold (6.61 +/- 0.70 mg/kg/min), and remained lower than Ra
      to 7 min recovery, but thereafter declined more slowly. Thus, the rapid and
      extremely large increase in Ra was not matched by the increment in Rd during
      exercise and early recovery. We suggest that unlike in exercise of lesser
      intensity, the major mediators of both the increase in Ra and the restraint of
      the increase in Rd are the catecholamines. The post exercise hyperglycemia and
      hyperinsulinemia are appropriate to muscle glycogen repletion.

PMID- 1458714
TI  - Pharmacokinetic study of intraperitoneal streptozotocin.
AB  - Streptozotocin, a nitrosourea, has limited antitumour activity. However, in
      concentrations and exposures higher than those achieved after intravenous dosing,
      streptozotocin has been reported to sensitize various cell lines in vitro to
      other nitrosoureas or alkylating agents. We hypothesized that the intraperitoneal
      administration of streptozotocin would achieve concentrations and exposures in
      the peritoneal cavity sufficient for this sensitization to take place. The
      pharmacokinetics of streptozotocin in the peritoneal cavity and in plasma were
      determined in patients who received 1 g of streptozotocin via the intraperitoneal
      route. Fifteen courses were administered to 12 patients. The mean total area
      under the concentration versus time curves (AUC) was 183 +/- 31 (SE) mM min in
      the peritoneal cavity (5 courses) and 5.3 +/- 1.1 (SE) mM min in plasma (6
      courses). The mean peritoneal to plasma AUC ratio was 64 +/- 23 (5 courses). The
      mean peak streptozotocin concentrations in the peritoneal cavity (5 courses) and
      plasma (6 courses) were 1.9 +/- 0.4 mM and 0.03 +/- 0.01 mM, respectively. No
      significant toxicity was observed on any course. We conclude that intraperitoneal
      administration of streptozotocin is feasible, and that drug concentrations and
      exposures are in an appropriate range in the peritoneal cavity to cause
      sensitization to other nitrosoureas.

PMID- 1458715
TI  - Double-blind randomized controlled trial of flurbiprofen-SR (ANSAID-SR) and
      diclofenac sodium-SR (Voltaren-SR) in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
AB  - A six week, double-blind, randomized, parallel group, multicentre study was
      conducted in 85 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and hip to compare the
      efficacy, tolerability, and safety of Flurbiprofen-SR 200 mg with Diclofenac
      Sodium-SR 100 mg. Between group comparisons, based on change scores from
      baseline, we detected no significant differences between the two drugs with
      respect to efficacy for the majority of outcome measures. There was no
      significant difference between the groups in the proportion of patients
      experiencing at least one adverse medical event or in terminations from
      treatment. We conclude that Flurbiprofen-SR 200 mg is similar in efficacy,
      tolerability, and safety to Diclofenac Sodium-SR in this trial.

PMID- 1458716
TI  - The comparative efficacy of cilofungin, fluconazole and amphotericin B in
      disseminated Candida tropicalis infection in neutropenic mice.
AB  - There is insufficient in vivo data on the efficacy of new antifungal agents
      against invasive Candida tropicalis infection. Disseminated infection with
      Candida tropicalis in neutropenic mice was treated with cilofungin, fluconazole,
      or amphotericin B intraperitoneally, and compared to untreated controls. Early
      survival rates at the end of treatment (day 10) were similar for amphotericin B
      (97.5%) and fluconazole (100%), and superior to cilofungin (62.6%) which was
      better than no treatment (0%). Late survival rates (day 31) were highest for
      amphotericin B (95%), and significantly lower for cilofungin (48.7%) and
      fluconazole (43.9%), p = 0.0001. Rates of sterilization of the lung, liver, and
      spleen were high in survivors for all regimens (85.1-100%) but lower for the
      kidneys: fluconazole, 21.3%; amphotericin B, 39.3%; and cilofungin, 65.5%.
      Amphotericin B was the most effective agent in this study of disseminated Candida
      tropicalis (C. tropicalis) infection.

PMID- 1458717
TI  - Knowledge of nephrologists and patients about autosomal dominant polycystic
      kidney disease (ADPKD).
AB  - Because of the availability of presymptomatic testing for autosomal dominant
      polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), we assessed the response of nephrologists,
      patients, and at-risk relatives to the introduction of a genetic counselling
      program for ADPKD. Fifty-six of seventy-six nephrologists responded. Ninety-eight
      percent reported 'generally' telling their patients that the disease was
      hereditary, but fewer reported screening relatives (81% for children and 70% for
      siblings and parents). Ninety percent were interested in referring patients to
      the service. Fourteen of the 24 patients in one renal clinic and 18 of their at
      risk relatives were interviewed. Ten of the patients but only five of the
      relatives stated that the disease was hereditary. The precise mechanism of
      inheritance was poorly understood by most patients and relatives. Of 21 patients
      offered genetic counselling, nine made appointments to see the genetic
      counsellor. There remains a large gap between advancing technology and the
      delivery of information to at-risk populations.

PMID- 1458718
TI  - Adenosine as a therapeutic agent.
AB  - Adenosine, an endogenous nucleoside has been recently approved for use in the
      treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Adenosine is nearly 100%
      effective in terminating tachycardia in which the atrioventricular node forms
      part of the reentrant circuit. Although most ventricular tachycardias are
      insensitive to adenosine, this substance is effective in ventricular tachycardia
      induced by catecholamines or exercise. An intravenous bolus dose of 6 mg is the
      initial dose. If no effect is noted a further bolus of 12 mg can be given. The
      most common side effects are dyspnea, chest pressure and facial flushing. This
      article reviews, in addition, some of the comparative trials with verapamil and
      adenosine triphosphate, some of the additional therapeutic indications, the
      possible mechanisms of action in cardiac tissue, and the type of purinergic
      receptors involved in the antiarrhythmic effects of adenosine.

PMID- 1458719
TI  - Androgen resistance due to mutation of the androgen receptor.
AB  - The androgen receptor (AR) is a 'one-stop' signal transduction system that is the
      core of the intracellular androgen-response apparatus. It is an androgen
      regulated, DNA-binding protein that regulates the expression of certain target
      genes, primarily at the transcriptional level. Mutations at the X-linked AR locus
      cause deficient or defective AR activity and, thereby, an extraordinarily wide
      spectrum of clinical androgen resistance. At one extreme, the affected 46,XY
      person is an infertile phenotypic female; at the other, he is a phenotypic male
      who may even be fertile, yet have gynecomastia or other focal signs of
      postpubertal subvirilization. We have identified 32 proven or putatively
      pathogenic alterations in the AR gene of 38 androgen-resistant families. This
      permits heterozygote detection and prenatal diagnosis whenever relevant. Most of
      the mutations affect the AR's androgen-binding domain, partly because our search
      has been targetted on those whose genital skin fibroblasts have impaired androgen
      binding activities. The AR is a prototypic member of a subfamily that includes
      the receptors for progesterone, glucocorticoid, and mineralocorticoid.
      Observations that correlate AR genotype with clinical and receptor phenotypes of
      androgen resistance will help to generate a fine structure-function map of the AR
      and its close relatives. Constitutional variation in androgen sensitivity, that
      may be restricted to an organ (or organ system), could contribute to the
      pathogenesis of certain diseases whose sex ratio departs significantly from one.

PMID- 1458720
TI  - Right atrial myxoma: an unusual presentation.

PMID- 1458721
TI  - Physicians' perceptions of laboratory costs in the intensive care unit. Hamilton
      Regional Critical Care Group.
AB  - Our objective was to determine the extent to which Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
      physicians are aware of charges for commonly used blood tests. We also wished to
      ascertain ICU physicians' perception of their motivation for, and appropriateness
      of, test ordering. Attending physicians and Internal Medicine residents in four
      university-affiliated ICUs in Hamilton were surveyed using a self-administered
      questionnaire. The response rate for the questionnaire was 91%. Physicians varied
      widely in their estimates of charges for ten laboratory tests. On average,
      residents tended to underestimate charges, while attending physicians sometimes
      underestimated, and sometimes overestimated. When all ten tests were considered,
      the mean estimates of the housestaff were lower than the ICU attending physicians
      (p < 0.001). Overall, attending estimates were 29.5% higher. Over 85% of
      physicians felt that too many blood tests were being performed. Physicians
      perceived that they pay insufficient attention to the risk of anemia and to issue
      of cost. Their feeling that test ordering in the ICU is excessive suggests that
      they may be open to modifying their practice. Given the large proportion of
      hospital resources allocated to the intensive care unit, interventions to
      decrease test ordering are warranted.

PMID- 1458722
TI  - [Studies on motor neuron disease with cranial magnetic resonance imaging].
AB  - The present study was performed to examine the pyramidal tracts of the brain in
      both 51 normal subjects (21 male and 30 female subjects; mean age of 43.5 +/-
      16.1 years) and 12 patients with motor neuron disease (6 male and 6 female
      patients; mean age of 57.4 +/- 7.9 years), using the magnetic resonance imaging
      (MRI). The 12 patients with motor neuron disease (MND) comprised 7 suffering from
      spinal progressive muscular atrophy (SPMA) and 5 from amyotrophic lateral
      sclerosis (ALS). The MRI used in this study was of both short spin echo and long
      spin echo sequence. Of the 52 normal subjects, 24 of them (47%) had the T2
      prolonged small areas (high signal intensity areas) at the posterior limb of
      internal capsule. These findings were not found in the normal subjects over fifty
      years old. No similar finding was detected in the pyramidal tracts except the
      posterior limb of internal capsule. On the other hand, 8 patients with MND (67%)
      proved to have the high signal intensity areas in the pyramidal tracts. Moreover,
      these high intensity areas were extended from the crus cerebri to corona radiata
      in 7 patients (58%). In all patients with ALS, these areas were extended in whole
      areas of the pyramidal tracts, and the similar findings were also found in two
      patients with SPMA. These findings were demonstrated to be more extensive than
      those in the normal subjects. The results thus obtained warrant us to conclude
      that cranial MRI is useful to detect the degeneration of the pyramidal tracts of
      MND patients.

PMID- 1458723
TI  - [Interleukin-2 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cell from patients with
      myasthenia gravis--correlation with clinical severity].
AB  - Interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBM) and
      the frequency of surface IgG+ B cells (%) were studied in 17 patients with
      myasthenia gravis (MG) and 12 controls. Culture supernatants from
      phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell from
      patients with MG and controls were added to IL-2 dependent proliferative cultures
      (CTLL-2). Following 24 hr of culture, 3H-Tdr was added and cultured for an
      additional 6 hr. Cultures were harvested and 3H-Tdr incorporation was determined.
      In comparison with controls we found significantly increased synthesis of IL-2 in
      patients with MG (p < 0.05). Highest synthesis was found in severe cases and
      there were highly significant correlation between IL-2 synthesis and clinical
      severity score (R = 0.85, p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the ability of
      IL-2 synthesis by PBM may reflect severity of patients with MG. B cells
      expressing surface IgG, considered to be differentiated B cells, were less
      frequent in severe cases (R = -0.67, p < 0.05). It may be that the B cells with
      further differentiation are transformed into plasma cells expressing other
      markers such as PCA-1 in severe patients with MG.

PMID- 1458724
TI  - [Correlation between clinical features and neuroradiological findings in juvenile
      muscular atrophy of unilateral upper extremity (Hirayama disease)--with and
      without "tight dural canal in flexion"].
AB  - Myelography was performed in 12 patients with juvenile muscular atrophy of
      unilateral upper extremity. Seven patients showed anterior shift of lower
      cervical dural canal in flexion (tight dural canal in flexion) (T group), however
      the other 5 patients did not show "tight dural canal in flexion" (NT group).
      Onset of illness and sex were not different between 2 groups. However, there was
      a tendency that the neurological signs and symptoms were more severe in the
      patients of T group than those of NT group. These results suggest that "right
      dural canal in flexion" can be one of mechanisms which exhibit the clinical
      symptoms of the juvenile muscular atrophy of unilateral upper extremity. However,
      there may be other etiological factors in the juvenile muscular atrophy of
      unilateral upper extremity.

PMID- 1458725
TI  - [A case of ceruloplasmin deficiency which showed dementia, ataxia and iron
      deposition in the brain].
AB  - A 55-year-old female with progressed dementia, cerebellar ataxia was reported.
      There was no family history of the same symptoms although her brothers, sisters
      and a son showed hypoceruloplasminemia and decrease of the serum copper content.
      On physical examination, anemia, dementia, dysarthria, torticollis, choreic
      involuntary movement of respiratory muscles, hyperreflexia in extremities and
      cerebellar ataxia were noted. Blood analysis revealed microcytic hypochromic
      anemia, diabetes mellitus, decrease of copper content of the serum and urine.
      Serum ferritin concentration was increased. Serum ceruloplasmin could not be
      detected. Biopsy of the liver showed that copper content in the liver was
      slightly increased and iron content was remarkably increased. On MRI study,
      dentate nucleus of the cerebellum, the thalamus, the putamen and the caudate
      nucleus and the liver showed low intensity in both T1 and T2 weighted images.
      Based on increased iron content in the liver, the radiological findings of the
      brain suggested deposition of iron in the brain. This deposition was considered
      as caused by deficiency of function of ceruloplasmin as ferroxidase. This
      disorder is suggested as a new disease due to ceruloplasmin deficiency different
      from Wilson's disease.

PMID- 1458726
TI  - [An autopsy case of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy
      with sever degeneration in the posterior column].
AB  - An autopsy case of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy was
      reported. It took a progressive course and terminated fatally in eight years. A
      41-year-old man noticed motor disturbances when he tried to lift a bath pail and
      to write on July, 1978. Neurological examination revealed proximal dominant
      muscle atrophy, weakness of all extremities, and moderately diminished tendon
      reflex. Sensation was normal. The CSF showed albumin cytologic dissociations.
      Electromyogram showed neurogenic changes. Histological examination of biopsy
      specimen obtained from the anterior tibial muscle revealed severe neurogenic
      changes and showed axonal degeneration on the ventral tibial nerve. The treatment
      by corticosteroids was not effective, and the disease gradually progressed with
      repeated improvements and exacerbations. Three years after the onset, he showed
      vesicorectal dysfunctions. He died of respiratory failure on May, 1986.
      Neuropathological examination showed severe degeneration of middle root zones in
      the posterior columns, loss of myelinated fibers in Clarke's columns,
      demyelination and mild loss of axons accompanied by lymphocytic infiltration in
      the spinal roots, especially in the anterior roots. The histogram of cervical
      ventral root, ventral and dorsal roots of thoracic and lumbar regions revealed a
      decreased number of large myelinated fibers. A characteristic finding of this
      case was the dissociation of clinical features and neuropathological findings;
      the clinical features showed a typical motor neuropathy, but neuropathological
      examination showed severe degeneration on posterior columns of spinal cord like a
      sensory-ataxic neuropathy. Our observation suggest that the pathway which
      originates from posterior ganglion cells and runs into Clarke's columns passes
      through the middle root zones, since severe demyelination in Clarke's columns was
      observed.

PMID- 1458727
TI  - [A case of autoimmune polyglandular deficiency associated with progressive
      myopathy].
AB  - We reported a 29-year-old woman with autoimmune polyglandular deficiency (APGD)
      type 1 accompanied by progressive myopathy. She had chronic mucocutaneous
      candidiasis at the age of 3, primary hypothyroidism at 12, insulin dependent
      diabetes mellitus at 27, and adrenal insufficiency at 29 years. Laboratory
      findings indicated an underlying defect in cell mediated immunity. Meanwhile, she
      had progressive muscular weakness and wasting at the age of 22 years which
      brought her to our hospital at 29 years. On admission, she could not walk without
      support and raise her arms up to the level of shoulders. Moderate to severe
      muscle wasting as well as weakness was observed in the limb girdle muscles. Serum
      CK levels were mildly elevated. A needle EMG examination disclosed short-duration
      and low-amplitude polyphasic motor units at voluntary contraction with few
      fibrillations and positive sharp waves at rest. On muscle CT examination,
      decreased density was detected in the neck extensor, paravertebral, rectus
      femoris, vastus intermedius, biceps femoris and soleus muscles. Muscle biopsy was
      performed on the biceps brachii and rectus femoris muscles. The former showed
      chronic dystrophic changes including marked variation in fiber size with necrotic
      and degenerating process, interstitial fibrosis, and lobulated and right fibers.
      In the latter, in addition to variation in fiber size with some necrotic fibers
      and occasional multi-core structures, nemaline bodies were seen in approximately
      30% of muscle fibers. The progressive muscle involvement in our patient might be
      induced from 1) endocrine abnormality, 2) autoimmune disorder, and/or 3)
      coincidental complication of nemaline myopathy or limb girdle muscular dystrophy.
      The clinical and laboratory examinations, however, failed to support any of
      them.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1458728
TI  - [A case of monoballism in unilateral lower extremity--somatotopic relation in
      subthalamic nucleus].
AB  - A 62-year-old man with monoballism in the right lower extremity was reported. The
      cranial MRI showed a small lesion affecting the posterior portion of the
      contralateral subthalamic nucleus. Superficial EMG recording revealed 1-2 Hz
      rhythmic grouping discharges in right quadriceps femoris, hamstrings, tibialis
      anterior and gastrocnemius-soleus. In the vast majority of cases, ballistic
      movements involved both upper and lower extremities of one side (hemiballism),
      but the present case showed monoballism in the lower extremity only. Previous
      reports suggested the somatotopy mapping subthalamic nucleus; the posterior
      portion being associated with the lower extremity, middle part with the upper
      extremity and the oral pole with the face. In the present case, the affected part
      of subthalamic nucleus was towards its posterior portion and it seemed legitimate
      to associate such topographic location of the lesion with the absence of
      involuntary movements in the upper extremity and the face. Coronal and axial
      sections of high-field MR scans were useful for the detection of the responsible
      lesion.

PMID- 1458729
TI  - [Central type of sleep apnea syndrome caused by unilateral lateral medullary
      infarction].
AB  - We reported here a 64-year-old man with a central apnea resulted from unilateral
      medullary infarction. He was admitted because of cerebellar ataxia, dysarthria
      and dysphasia of abrupt onset. After the injection of diazepam for alcohol
      forbidden syndrome, he induced complete apnea and required the endotracheal
      intubation. At the spontaneous respiration under room air, his arterial blood gas
      showed hypercapnea without hypoxemia, and he fell into severe hypoventilation
      when hypnotic drug was injected. Respisomnogram revealed the frequent presence of
      central apnea both while he was awake and asleep. MRI demonstrated an abnormal
      high intensity area on T2 weighted image at the right lateral medulla just below
      the ponto-medullary junction. At autopsy, areas of the infarction were limited
      within the right lateral medulla, including lateral portion of the medullary
      reticular formation, the ambigual nucleus, one part of the solitary nuclear
      complex, the inferior cerebellar peduncle and the spinal trigeminal nucleus.
      However, the dorsomotor nucleus of vagus was completely free from the infarct
      lesion. There was no other lesion within central nervous system. Such a
      distribution seemed the minimal extent of the lesion responsible for central,
      apnea compared to the previous reports. We suggest that central apnea occurs not
      infrequently in the cases of Wallenberg's syndrome.

PMID- 1458730
TI  - [Intra-abdominal visceral fat in myotonic dystrophy].
AB  - We first clarified the relationship between abdominal visceral fat accumulation
      and impaired glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with myotonic dystrophy.
      Nineteen patients aged 44.2 +/- 11.4 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 20.5
      +/- 2.8 kg/m2, and 18 controls aged 45.2 +/- 10.3 years, with a BMI 20.0 +/- 2.8
      kg/m2 were examined. The distribution of abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat
      was examined by CT scanning at the umbilical level. Visceral fat area was
      significantly greater in myotonic dystrophy than that in control (p < 0.05), and
      positively correlated with the levels of fasting plasma glucose (r = 0.65 p <
      0.01), plasma glucose area under the curve of 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (r
      = 0.67 p < 0.01), fasting plasma insulin (r = 0.77 p < 0.001), serum total
      cholesterol (r = 0.71 p < 0.001) and serum triglyceride (r = 0.68 p < 0.01). From
      the present results, we speculate that excess visceral fat accumulation in
      myotonic dystrophy induces impaired glucose and lipid metabolism.

PMID- 1458731
TI  - [A case of multiple cranial nerve palsy with severe dysphagia due to herpes
      zoster infection].
AB  - A case of multiple cranial nerve palsy by herpes zoster was reported. A 79-year
      old man showed fever, sore throat, and dysphagia. No vesicle was noted at ear and
      pharynx. The patient developed, later, left peripheral facial nerve palsy. The
      cerebrospinal fluid revealed pleocytosis with increased protein. The viral
      antibody titer of herpes zoster was significantly elevated both in cerebrospinal
      fluid and in serum. The left facial palsy was slightly improved. But his
      dysphagia didn't improve during at least 10 months after the onset. Among the
      cranial nerves, trigeminal and facial nerves are the most commonly affected by
      herpes zoster. But there are a few cases of the 9th and 10th cranial nerve
      involvement in the literature. However, dysphagia has rarely been reported in
      these previous cases, only four cases developed severe dysphagia like the present
      patient. All of these cases including our case were over sixty years old, while
      cases with slight dysphagia were under sixty years old. No other differentiating
      factor is noted between these two groups with regard to sites of vesicles,
      findings of cerebrospinal fluid and mode of therapy.

PMID- 1458732
TI  - [A case of bilateral blepharospasm responsive to edrophonium].
AB  - A case of bilateral blepharospasm who registered the efficacy of edrophonium was
      reported. The case is a 49-year-old female. She had been in good health until
      January, 1991 when she complained of difficulty in opening her eyes while
      driving. Thereafter the condition progressed to such a degree that she was unable
      to experience a comfortable life. Her blinking rate did not changed. The symptoms
      were triggered by stress or some physical action, such as walking or driving.
      They were attenuated by taking a bath, sleep or sedation. The severity of the
      symptoms varied during the day and from day to day. Neurological examination
      revealed bilateral spasms of the orbicular oculi muscles, and occasionally of the
      orbicular oris muscles, sternocleidmastoid muscles and the perinasal regions.
      Neither orolingual dyskinesia nor other involuntary movements were detected.
      Surface electromyography (EMG) disclosed tonic discharges mainly from the
      orbicular oculi muscles. The abnormal spasm disappeared with the injection of
      edrophonium chloride. The test for the serum antiacetylcholine receptor antibody
      was negative and a repetitive stimulation EMG showed no waning phenomenon. No
      thymoma or thymus abnormalities were detected by pneumomediastinography. A needle
      EMG revealed neurogenic change in the distal portion of the limbs. A single fiber
      EMG showed elongation of the jitter value and the blocking phenomenon. Although
      distigmine bromide was ineffective against the spasm, pyridostigmine bromide and
      the local injection of botulinum toxin were very effective.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1458733
TI  - [Cerebrospinal fluid neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S-100b protein in Guillain
      Barre syndrome--their relations to prognosis].
AB  - We measured the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE)
      and S-100b protein (S-100b) using enzyme immunoassay methods in 12 patients with
      Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), and 46 control subjects, and evaluated their
      clinical values in relation to prognosis. The 4 patients with the remarkably
      elevated level of NSE or S-100b in the acute stage recovered slowly over 1 year
      after onset, while the 2 patients showed the normal NSE and S-100b levels and
      recovered within 4 months. In 6 patients, the NSE and/or S-100b were slightly or
      moderately increased in the acute stage. They recovered from 1.5 to 11 months
      after onset, and the two patients showing very early recovery have the remarkably
      increase of S-100b in the recovery stage. These results suggest that CSF NSE and
      S-100b may be useful biochemical markers for estimation of prognosis in GBS
      patients.

PMID- 1458734
TI  - [Two sibling patients with late-onset familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy and
      atypical clinical manifestations].
AB  - Brothers (case 1 and case 2) had familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy type 1 (FAP
      type 1) confirmed with sural nerve biopsy and DNA analysis. Both patients were
      unique in that their ages at onset were 56 and 52, and that their only
      manifestation was sensori-motor polyneuropathy, without clinically apparent
      autonomic involvements such as orthostatic hypotension, sweat dysfunction and
      sphincter dysfunction, or severe organ involvement such as gastrointestinal
      features and myocardial involvement after the onset. They are also unique in that
      their parents were healthy. The initial manifestation was sensori-motor
      polyneuropathy starting in the lower extremities. These atypical manifestations
      made the diagnosis of FAP type 1 difficult in the present cases. Based on reports
      in the literature and the present cases, there might be a tendency that in
      patients with late-onset FAP type 1 the clinical manifestations are generally
      mild and autonomic involvement and organ disturbance are absent or mild. In the
      etiological diagnosis of polyneuropathy, FAP type 1 should be considered
      especially in steadily progressive patients.

PMID- 1458735
TI  - [Isolated abducens nerve palsy caused by pontine infarction].
AB  - An 82-year-old hypertensive man suddenly developed diplopia during right lateral
      gaze. Neurological examination revealed right isolated abducens nerve palsy
      without any other findings. By cranial CT scan, a low density area over the
      posterior limb of right internal capsule and tortuosity of basilar artery were
      noted. 3 months later, his symptom disappeared and then he was well in next 2
      years til he felt diplopia during left lateral gaze. On this time he showed left
      isolated abducens nerve palsy. Though cranial CT scan failed to find out new
      abnormality, T2-weighted cranial MRI disclosed high intensity spot over left
      pontine base located between medial lemniscus and pyramidal tract, which was
      supposed to coincide to fascicle of left abducens nerve Three months later, he
      recovered in the same manner as 2 years before. Hemilateral isolated abducens
      nerve palsy may be caused by many origins, but pontine infarct was not detected
      so much in pre-MRI era. Being the long-term prognosis of the lacunar infarction
      not satisfactory, it is important for the cases of isolated abducens palsy to
      ascertain whether there is pontine small infarction or not. So in these cases,
      precise examination including MRI should be needed.

PMID- 1458736
TI  - [Defect of taste in a patient with hypothyroidism].
AB  - A 74-year-old male presented with a total loss of taste of ten weeks' duration.
      He could not recognize both saturated sugar and salt solutions but his acuity for
      smell was normal. He also had a slight hoarseness, mild dysarthria and
      hyporeflexia of all extremities. Laboratory data revealed marked hypothyroidism
      and positive tests for antithyroglobulin and antimicrosomal antibodies. Shortly
      after the institution of thyroxine replacement, subjective response in taste
      acuity was seen. Almost complete recovery of taste followed after a month of
      incremental dose of thyroxine. The case indicates that thyroid hormones play a
      significant role in taste acuity. Hypothyroidism should be considered as one of
      the possible causes in taste defect.

PMID- 1458737
TI  - Pituitary tumors: an endocrinological and neurosurgical challenge.

PMID- 1458738
TI  - Reoperation for intractable seizures.

PMID- 1458739
TI  - Reoperation for aneurysms and vascular malformations.

PMID- 1458740
TI  - Surgery for recurrent lumbar disc herniation.

PMID- 1458741
TI  - Reoperation for extra-axial brain tumors.

PMID- 1458742
TI  - The education of a neurosurgeon: the two cultures revisited.

PMID- 1458744
TI  - Radiosurgery for intracranial vascular malformations: techniques, results, and
      complications.

PMID- 1458743
TI  - Reoperation of the cervical spine for degenerative disease and tumor.
AB  - Despite improvements in treatment for cervical spine disease over the last
      decade, failure that requires a reoperative procedure may represent up to 14% of
      the cases. With the exception of posterior foraminotomy, the most common failure
      that requires intervention is instability, which results in an anterior
      compression of the neural elements. With the advent of new operative approaches
      and innovative stabilization techniques, the options available to treat these
      patients have improved.

PMID- 1458745
TI  - Stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of brain tumors.

PMID- 1458746
TI  - Clinical decision making in spinal stabilization.

PMID- 1458747
TI  - Image-based functional neurosurgery.
AB  - The development of computerized tomography and compatible stereotactic frame and
      localization devices has improved the ease and accuracy of functional
      stereotactic neurosurgery. Computerized tomograph-directed functional stereotaxy
      appears to be a safe and effective means of target development. Magnetic
      resonance imaging holds the promise of greater anatomical definition and direct
      sagittal imaging. Significant questions remain, however, concerning the
      reliability of MRI-based stereotactic neurosurgery, and these must be addressed.
      Presently, these techniques should be viewed as a means to localize a target
      region, not the target per se, and, as stated by Apuzzo, "It is not envisioned,
      however, that the need for intraoperative stimulation will be mitigated by such
      refinements."

PMID- 1458748
TI  - Endovascular treatment of intracerebral arteriovenous malformations.

PMID- 1458749
TI  - Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms and cerebral vasospasm.

PMID- 1458750
TI  - Decision making in lumbar disc disease.
AB  - When a patient presents with an acute pain syndrome suggestive of a herniated
      lumbar disc, nonoperative treatment is almost always the rule. Urgent surgery is
      undertaken for intractable pain, significant or progressive neurological deficit,
      and abnormalities of bowel, bladder, or sexual function. Evaluation of the
      patient is not needed in typical cases until nonoperative care has failed. The
      decision to evaluate and treat by intervention is made after a reasonable time,
      usually a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 3 for the patient who is not making
      progress. Slow recoveries can be monitored for even longer if agreeable with the
      patient. The decision for intervention is almost never warranted in the face of
      normal imaging studies. Several interventions are possible. Traditional surgery,
      with or without magnification, is followed by an excellent outcome. Chymopapain
      injection is a reasonable alternative for those expert in its use. Percutaneous
      discectomy is a possibility but remains to be proved by acceptable clinical
      studies. Lumbar disc surgery is highly successful and complications are extremely
      unusual. They do occur however, and can be extremely serious. Unexpected
      postoperative complications should be investigated immediately. Recovery from
      disc surgery usually is uneventful, and no rehabilitation is required. Some
      patients, particularly those who do heavy work, can be helped by a rehabilitation
      program that stresses return to normal function. Rarely will a patient develop a
      serious neurological deficit following surgery. Unexpected serious deficits
      require urgent reevaluation. Most patients return to work promptly without
      assistance. For those who cannot, referral to a multidisciplinary rehabilitation
      program to assist with return to function through general management of
      comorbidities can be useful. It is a rare patient who is disabled by a back
      disorder, and the decision that a patient is disabled should be made only after
      thorough evaluation and adequate rehabilitative therapy.

PMID- 1458751
TI  - Intramedullary neoplasms and vascular malformations.

PMID- 1458752
TI  - Interventional neuroradiology for spinal pathology.

PMID- 1458753
TI  - Osseointegration in spinal stabilization.

PMID- 1458754
TI  - Imaging and functional localization for brain tumors.

PMID- 1458755
TI  - Surgical management of pineal region tumors (honored guest lecture).

PMID- 1458756
TI  - Clinical decision making in epilepsy surgery.

PMID- 1458757
TI  - Problems imposed by the new technology.

PMID- 1458758
TI  - Clinical decision making in intracranial aneurysms and aneurysmal subarachnoid
      hemorrhage--science and art.

PMID- 1458759
TI  - (Honored guest lecture) intracranial arteriovenous malformations.

PMID- 1458760
TI  - The role of pharmacokinetics in the development of biotechnologically derived
      agents.

PMID- 1458761
TI  - Clinical pharmacokinetics of ketorolac tromethamine.
AB  - Ketorolac is a new chiral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which is
      marketed for analgesia as the racemate. The drug is administered as the water
      soluble tromethamine salt and is available in tablets or as an intramuscular
      injection. The absorption of ketorolac is rapid, Cmax being attained between 20
      to 60 min. Its oral bioavailability is estimated to range from 80 to 100%. The
      drug is extensively bound (> 99%) to plasma proteins and has a volume of
      distribution (0.1 to 0.3 L/kg) comparable with those of other NSAIDs. Only small
      concentrations of ketorolac are detectable in umbilical vein blood after
      administration to women in labour. The elimination half-life is between 4 and 6h
      and is moderate in comparison with other NSAIDs. The area under the plasma
      concentration-time curve of ketorolac is proportional to the dose after
      intramuscular administration of therapeutic doses to young healthy volunteers.
      Ketorolac is extensively metabolised through glucuronidation and oxidation;
      little if any drug is eliminated unchanged. Most of the dose of ketorolac is
      recovered in the urine as conjugated drug. Although ketorolac is excreted into
      the breast milk, the amount of drug transferred comprises only a small fraction
      of the maternal exposure. Little stereoselectivity was present in the
      pharmacokinetics of ketorolac in a healthy volunteer receiving single intravenous
      or oral doses. The elderly exhibit reduced clearance of the drug. Renal
      insufficiency appears to cause an accumulation of ketorolac in plasma, although
      hepatic disease may not affect the pharmacokinetics.

PMID- 1458762
TI  - Pharmacodynamic monitoring of cyclosporin.
AB  - The efficacy of cyclosporin as an immunosuppressive agent is largely based on
      clinical indicators such as graft survival, rejection or nephrotoxicity.
      Therapeutic monitoring is necessary to evaluate the efficacy of cyclosporin
      therapy. The most widely used method for monitoring cyclosporin therapy is the
      measurement of predose through blood concentrations of the drug. The relationship
      of a single or multiple blood cyclosporin concentration to slowly evolving
      outcomes is difficult to establish. Some investigators have found a good
      correlation between cyclosporin trough concentrations on the one hand and
      cyclosporin toxicity and rejection on the other, but others have not. Therapeutic
      monitoring of cyclosporin may be enhanced using some biological assays for
      immunosuppression (pharmacodynamic monitoring) in addition to cyclosporin trough
      concentrations (pharmacokinetic monitoring). However, direct monitoring of the
      immune response to cyclosporin therapy using a clinically applicable biological
      assay is difficult. Some pharmacodynamic parameters have been suggested as
      biological markers in the clinical monitoring of cyclosporin.

PMID- 1458764
TI  - Pharmacokinetic study of omeprazole in elderly healthy volunteers.
AB  - The pharmacokinetics of omeprazole and its metabolites were studied in 8 healthy
      elderly volunteers using [14C]omeprazole. In another 6 healthy elderly
      volunteers, the pharmacokinetics of omeprazole were studied using unlabelled
      drug. Each volunteer received single doses of omeprazole intravenously (20mg) and
      orally (40mg) as solutions in a randomized crossover design. The plasma
      concentrations and urinary excretion of omeprazole and metabolites were followed
      for 24 and 96h, respectively. The results indicate that the average metabolic
      capacity of omeprazole is decreased in the elderly compared with that found in
      earlier studies of healthy young individuals. This was reflected in an increase
      in bioavailability from 56 to 76%, a reduction in mean systemic clearance by
      approximately 50% (0.25 L/min) and a prolongation of the mean elimination half
      life from 0.7 to 1.0h compared with the young. Despite these findings, the
      considerable overlap in these parameters between young and old volunteers,
      together with data from previous pharmacodynamic studies and the wide therapeutic
      range of omeprazole, indicate that dosage reductions are not needed in the
      elderly.

PMID- 1458765
TI  - Lack of pharmacokinetic interactions between moxonidine and digoxin.
AB  - The potential for pharmacokinetic interactions between moxonidine and digoxin at
      steady-state was investigated in 15 healthy male volunteers. Multiple oral doses
      of 0.2mg moxonidine twice daily and 0.2mg digoxin once daily were administered
      alone and in combination in a randomised 3-period crossover design. The drugs
      were administered for at least 5 days. The results indicate that neither
      moxonidine nor digoxin influences the pharmacokinetics of the other drug under
      steady-state conditions.

PMID- 1458766
TI  - The clinical value of FDA class C drugs approved from 1981 to 1988.

PMID- 1458767
TI  - Endothelin-I-mediated vasoconstriction: specific blockade by verapamil.
AB  - The capacity of three vasodilators that act by distinct mechanisms to reverse
      endothelin-I-mediated vasoconstriction was studied in 11 healthy nonsmoking male
      subjects (mean age +/- SEM, 26 +/- 2 years; mean weight +/- SEM, 74 +/- 2 kg) by
      use of brachial artery infusion and forearm strain-gauge plethysmography.
      Isoproterenol (cyclic adenosine monophosphate-mediated vasodilation), sodium
      nitroprusside (cyclic guanosine monophosphate-mediated vasodilation), and
      verapamil (L-type calcium channel blocker) were compared for capacity to reverse
      endothelin-I-mediated increase in forearm vascular resistance (FVR). Endothelin-I
      infusion increased FVR 1.9-fold in the control state. Isoproterenol infusion
      decreased FVR with or without concurrent endothelin-I infusion; however, at
      comparable isoproterenol infusion rates, endothelin-I increased FVR similar to
      the control state (for 5 ng/min isoproterenol, endothelin-I increased FVR 1.85
      fold; for 12.5 ng/min isoproterenol, endothelin-I increased FVR 2.03-fold).
      Similarly, sodium nitroprusside infusion decreased FVR with or without concurrent
      endothelin-I infusion; however, at comparable sodium nitroprusside infusion rates
      the endothelin-I increase in FVR was similar to control (for 0.48 micrograms/min
      sodium nitroprusside, endothelin-I increased FVR 1.89-fold; for 0.96
      micrograms/min sodium nitroprusside, endothelin-I increased FVR 2.36-fold). In
      contrast, verapamil infusion decreased FVR with or without endothelin-I infusion.
      At a verapamil infusion rate of 19.1 microns/min, endothelin-I increase in FVR
      was comparable to control (for 19.1 microns/min verapamil, endothelin-I increased
      FVR 1.36-fold, less than the 1.0-fold increase in the control state; p < 0.05).
      Isoproterenol and sodium nitroprusside decreased FVR during concurrent endothelin
      I infusion but did not reverse the endothelin-I effect. In contrast, verapamil
      reversed endothelin-I--induced vasoconstriction to control FVR, suggesting a
      specific antagonism of endothelin-I--mediated increase in FVR.

PMID- 1458763
TI  - Methods of determining plasma and tissue binding of drugs. Pharmacokinetic
      consequences.
AB  - The available techniques for the investigation of drug binding to plasma and
      tissues protein are reviewed and the advantages and disadvantages of the various
      techniques stated. A comparison of different plasma protein binding techniques is
      made which shows that the size of the unbound fraction of drug may be influenced
      by the method used. Protein binding may be assayed by methods including
      equilibrium dialysis, ultrafiltration, ultracentrifugation, gel filtration,
      binding to albumin microspheres and circular dichroism. Tissue binding techniques
      can involve testing binding to isolated organs, tissue slices, homogenates and
      isolated subcellular particles. Details of the available methods to compute
      pharmacokinetic constants are given. Stereoselective binding has been
      investigated for a limited number of drugs and the difference in the binding of 2
      enantiomers is usually modest. The measurement of the binding constants is often
      required to characterise the drug-protein interaction. Mathematical and graphical
      methods to compute the pharmacokinetic parameters are discussed. The implications
      of binding on the volume of distribution and clearance of drugs are examined.

PMID- 1458768
TI  - Comparison of vasodilatory responses to nitroglycerin and its dinitrate
      metabolites in human veins.
AB  - Independent of the route of nitroglycerin administration, substantial amounts of
      1,2-glyceryl dinitrate (1,2-GDN) and 1,3-glyceryl dinitrate (1,3-GDN) metabolites
      accumulate in humans. Thus far their pharmacologic activity in comparison to
      nitroglycerin in humans is unknown. To compare the venodilatory potency of
      nitroglycerin and of 1,2-GDN and 1,3-GDN in vivo, cumulative dose-response curves
      were established in nine healthy volunteers by use of the dorsal hand vein
      compliance technique. Separated by a washout period, two of the three
      venodilators were infused in randomized order after preconstriction with
      phenylephrine. Values for maximum vasodilation were similar for all compounds:
      nitroglycerin, 109%; 1,2-GDN, 100%; and 1,3-GDN, 106%. The respective values for
      the dose rate exerting 50% of maximum vasodilation were 5.1, 43, and 60 ng/min,
      indicating that the dinitrates were about 10 times less potent than nitroglycerin
      (p < 0.001) but not significantly different from each other. The findings support
      the hypothesis that activity of nitroglycerin metabolites is related to the
      number of nitrate groups in the molecule and are in agreement with lower
      dinitrate potencies found in animal experiments.

PMID- 1458769
TI  - Pharmacokinetics and biochemical efficacy of pirmagrel, a thromboxane synthase
      inhibitor, in renal allograft recipients.
AB  - The effects of a 48-hour 0.5 mg/kg/hr infusion of the thromboxane synthase
      inhibitor pirmagrel were studied in 10 renal allograft recipients with
      cyclosporine nephrotoxicity. Plasma concentrations reached a mean steady-state
      plasma level of 1798 +/- 481 ng/ml. Biphasic, rapid elimination of pirmagrel was
      observed with a distribution half-life of 6.7 minutes and a terminal half-life of
      73 minutes. Plasma clearance and the volume of distribution of the drug were 300
      +/- 87 ml/hr/kg and 497 +/- 232 ml/kg, respectively. The pharmacodynamic effects
      of pirmagrel were marked by a mean 96% suppression of serum thromboxane B2
      (TXB2), which coincided with a suppression of urinary excretion of TXB2, 2,3
      dinor-TXB2, and 11-dehydro-TXB2 of 85% +/- 8%, 91% +/- 5%, and 89% +/- 9%,
      respectively. Urinary excretion of all thromboxane metabolites measured at the
      end of 1 week after termination of infusion was returned to the baseline. In
      conclusion, pirmagrel caused effective and sustained suppression of all
      thromboxane derived metabolites in plasma and urine during continuous infusion in
      kidney transplant patients receiving cyclosporine.

PMID- 1458770
TI  - Relative sensitivity of four noninvasive methods in assessing systolic
      cardiovascular effects of isoproterenol in healthy volunteers.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: The study was performed to evaluate the relative sensitivity of
      various noninvasive methods to detect and describe the systolic cardiovascular
      effects of stepwise increasing doses of isoproterenol: two-dimensional left
      ventricular echocardiography (main variable, ejection fraction), ACVF
      (attenuation compensated volume flow)--dual-beam Doppler echoaortography (time
      averaged mean velocity), electrical impedance cardiography [(dZ/dtmax)/RZ index],
      and systolic time intervals from mechanocardiography (PEP and QS2c). METHODS:
      Isoproterenol was administered by constant rate intravenous infusion in
      consecutive steps of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.75, and 1.5 micrograms/min (each for 15
      minutes). Saline control infusions were given in analog fashion. The treatments
      (isoproterenol and saline solution) were administered in a period-balanced two
      way crossover design with randomly allocated sequences. The subjects, observers,
      and analysts were blinded to the treatment protocol. Study subjects were 10
      healthy male volunteers (age range, 23 to 31 years; mean age, 26.6 years).
      RESULTS: Compared with saline solution, isoproterenol caused a dose-related
      increase in ejection fraction, (dz/dt)/RZ index, and time-averaged mean velocity
      and a dose-related shortening of PEP and QS2c. The responses are congruent with
      an enhancement of cardiac systolic performance caused by a positive inotropic
      stimulation and an afterload reduction ("inodilatory" response). The effects on
      systolic time intervals reached statistical significance (alpha = 0.05) at the
      first isoproterenol dose step, the effects on the impedance cardiography and the
      Doppler echoaortography variables reached statistical significance at the second
      dose step, and the effects on the two-dimensional echocardiography reached
      statistical significance at the third dose step. CONCLUSIONS: All methods allowed
      to detect isoproterenol-related changes. Systolic time intervals were the most
      sensitive, followed by impedance cardiography, ACVF--dual-beam Doppler
      echoaortography, and two-dimensional echocardiography. The practical convenience
      and high sensitivity of the systolic time intervals makes them suitable to
      evaluate investigational systolic inodilatory changes in humans.

PMID- 1458771
TI  - Effects of bezafibrate on insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in subjects
      with combined hyperlipidemia.
AB  - To investigate whether the lowering of triglyceride levels has beneficial effects
      on glucose metabolism, we studied 13 nondiabetic men with combined hyperlipidemia
      (phenotype IIB) before and after 2 months of treatment with a slow-release
      formulation of bezafibrate (400 mg daily). The rates of whole body glucose
      disposal were quantitated by the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique
      (insulin infusion rate of 80 mU/m2/min). In an oral glucose tolerance test,
      fasting glucose level decreased slightly (5.0 +/- 0.2 versus 4.8 +/- 0.2 mmol/L;
      p < 0.05) during bezafibrate treatment. Glucose and insulin levels after an oral
      glucose load remained unchanged. Rates of whole body glucose disposal did not
      change during bezafibrate treatment (39.5 +/- 3.3 mumol/kg/min before treatment
      versus 40.6 +/- 2.7 mumol/kg/min after treatment; difference not significant).
      Basal hepatic glucose output also remained unchanged (8.2 +/- 0.2 mumol/kg/min
      before treatment versus 8.3 +/- 0.2 mumol/kg/min after treatment; difference not
      significant). Our findings show that bezafibrate has a triglyceride-lowering
      effect without any significant influence on insulin sensitivity.

PMID- 1458772
TI  - Nasal spray nicotine replacement suppresses cigarette smoking desire and
      behavior.
AB  - The effects of short-term nasal spray nicotine replacement in suppressing desire
      to smoke and ad libitum cigarette smoking behavior were evaluated in male and
      female smokers. In study I, 10 male and 10 female smokers received intermittent
      doses of 0, 7.5, 15, and 30 micrograms/kg nicotine by way of measured-dose nasal
      spray, with each dose on a separate day. Self-reported desire to smoke was
      significantly suppressed by each nicotine dose compared with placebo, but there
      were no significant differences among nicotine doses or between men and women. In
      study II, eight male and eight female smokers received 0, 15, and 30
      micrograms/kg nicotine intermittently and were allowed to smoke their preferred
      brands of cigarettes ad libitum. Similar to study I, nicotine replacement
      significantly suppressed number of cigarettes smoked, number of puffs, and carbon
      monoxide boost and increased latency to smoking, but there were almost no
      significant differences between the two nicotine doses. Magnitude of smoking
      suppression attributable to 15 micrograms/kg tended to be greater in men than in
      women. However, plasma nicotine concentrations were significantly higher after 15
      and 30 micrograms/kg versus placebo, suggesting only partial compensation in
      smoking behavior with short-term nasal nicotine replacement. These findings
      support the idea that short-term nicotine replacement decreases smoking desire
      and behavior, but the findings indicate that smoking behavior is partly
      influenced by factors other than nicotine regulation.

PMID- 1458773
TI  - Racial and gender differences in N-acetyltransferase, xanthine oxidase, and
      CYP1A2 activities.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The urinary molar concentration ratios of several caffeine
      metabolites are indicators of specific drug metabolizing enzyme activities. The
      ratios of 5-acetyl-amino-6-formylamino-3-methyluracil (AFMU) to 1-methylxanthine
      (1X), AFMU to 1X plus 1-methyluric acid (1U), and AFMU to 1X + 1U + AFMU are
      indicative of N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity; the ratios of 1U to 1X and 1U
      to 1U + 1X indicate xanthine oxidase activity; and the ratio of the sum of 7
      demethylated metabolites (AFMU + 1X + 1U) to the precursor for all three
      compounds, paraxanthine (PX), is a putative indicator of CYP1A2 oxidative
      activity. Our objective was to discern whether there are race-, gender-, and age
      related differences in these indexes of drug-metabolizing activity. METHODS: In
      342 normal healthy unrelated subjects, metabolites were measured in urine
      collected after administration of low-dose caffeine. RESULTS: By two-way analysis
      of variance, NAT activity was higher in black subjects than in white subjects
      when assessed as AFMU/(1U + 1X) or as AFMU/(AFMU + 1U + 1X) (p = 0.001 and p =
      0.002, respectively), but less so by use of AFMU/1X (p = 0.08). Xanthine oxidase
      activity, as assessed by 1U/1X or as 1U/(1U + 1X), was lower in black subjects
      than in white subjects (p = 0.02 and p = 0.001, respectively) and was lower in
      males than in females (p = 0.001 for both ratios). Females had higher AFMU/1X
      ratios (p = 0.03) because of higher xanthine oxidase activity. In a model in
      which AFMU/1X was the dependent variable and race, sex, age, and an index of
      xanthine oxidase (1U/1X) were independent variables, only race and 1U/1X were
      significant determinants of this NAT index (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001,
      respectively). The CYP1A2 ratio was lower in black subjects (p = 0.036) and in
      females (p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Racial and gender differences in xanthine
      oxidase activity render the AFMU/1X ratio less reliable as an assessment of NAT
      activity in a heterogeneous population compared with the AFMU/(1U + 1X) or
      AFMU/(AFMU + 1U + 1X) ratios. The observed racial and gender differences in NAT,
      xanthine oxidase, and CYP1A2 activities may have implications for racial and
      gender differences in drug effects and carcinogen biotransformation.

PMID- 1458774
TI  - Activity of oxidative routes of metabolism of debrisoquin, mephenytoin, and
      dapsone is unrelated to the pathogenesis of vinyl chloride-induced disease.
AB  - The hypothesis, that cytochrome P4502D6, cytochrome P4502CMP, cytochrome P4503A4
      or N-acetyl-transferase may form active intermediary metabolites that could be
      etiologically related to vinyl chloride-induced disease was investigated in 21
      drug-free workers with previous development of vinyl chloride-induced disease and
      in 23 drug-free workers from the same plant who did not develop the syndrome.
      Each subject received simultaneous oral administration of debrisoquin (10 mg),
      mephenytoin (100 mg), and dapsone (100 mg). Measurement of the debrisoquin
      recovery ratio, the 8-hour recovery of 4-hydroxymephenytoin, and the dapsone
      recovery ratio in the subsequent 8-hour urine sample provided in vivo phenotypic
      indexes of cytochromes P4502D6, P4502CMP, and P4503A4 activity, respectively. An
      8-hour blood sample was used to measure the acetylation ratio, a measure of N
      acetyltransferase activity. The frequency distributions of each drug metabolizing
      activity were similar between groups. Within this small sample, there was no
      evidence to implicate cytochromes P4502D6, P4502CMP, and P4503A4 and N
      acetyltransferase in the pathogenesis of vinyl chloride-induced disease.

PMID- 1458775
TI  - Translocation (8;12)(q13;q15) in a pediatric tumour.
AB  - A reciprocal translocation, t(8;12)(q13;q15), was found to be the sole karyotypic
      change in a deep-seated lipogenic tumour in a 3-year-old child. Judging from
      recent data on the cytogenetic characterization of adipose tumours, this finding
      seems to support the histopathologic diagnosis of lipoma in spite of foci of
      atypical cells observed at the histologic examination.

PMID- 1458776
TI  - IgD serum levels are influenced by HLA-DR phenotype.
AB  - In the present paper we have evaluated IgD serum levels of 84 randomly selected
      HLA-typed healthy Sicilians. The values were analysed according to age, sex and
      HLA-DR phenotypes. No correlation between age and IgD serum levels was found in
      our population since all subjects were in a narrow age range. Furthermore, no
      significant association was found between IgD serum levels and gender of studied
      subjects. The evaluation of IgD serum levels according to HLA-DR phenotypes
      revealed that HLA-DR1 positive subjects displayed significantly higher values.
      These results are in agreement with previous reports showing that HLA phenotypes
      may be involved in the control of serum immunoglobulin levels. Furthermore,
      present data strengthen our suggestion that HLA-DR1 phenotype is related to the
      'high responder' immunological profile.

PMID- 1458777
TI  - Coefficients of relationship by isonymy among Scottish males with early and late
      onset cancers.
AB  - Studies of certain cancers suggest that early onset cases tend to have a more
      pronounced hereditary component than late onset cases. We have analysed data from
      60,924 Scottish males with cancer of the stomach, colon, rectum, prostate or
      bladder, using the coefficient of relationship by isonymy to compare patients
      whose age at registration was below the median with those whose age at
      registration was equal to or above the median. There was no evidence for greater
      isonymy in younger patients suggesting that, although known genetically
      determined cancers may have earlier onset than other cancers at the same site,
      early age at onset is not widely associated with a familial predisposition to
      malignancy.

PMID- 1458778
TI  - Phenotypic markers for functional lymphocyte populations: a critical appraisal of
      current usage as disease markers and future prospects.
AB  - Abnormal immune function plays a role in a number of diseases, and measurement of
      immune function is an important role for Clinical Immunology laboratories (Chapel
      and Sewell, 1990; Miller et al., 1991; Rose et al., 1986; Stites, 1991). Tests
      for lymphocyte function tend to be slow and tedious, and to lack clinically
      useful discriminatory power; as a result their use in a clinical context is
      limited (see references cited above). On the other hand, the increasing numbers
      of monoclonal antibodies against lymphocyte membrane molecules has led to the use
      of markers as indicators of functional potential (Reinherz and Schlossman, 1982).
      This review examines the characteristics that make a clinically useful panel of
      markers, considers the kinds of questions that can be answered by marker or in
      vitro functional studies, reviews markers and functional assays in current use
      and proposes a panel of markers that may be worthy of further evaluation.

PMID- 1458779
TI  - Lymphocyte surface phenotype in common variable immunodeficiency.

PMID- 1458780
TI  - Karel Capek--Czech writer, sufferer from ankylosing spondylitis.

PMID- 1458782
TI  - Bacterial arthritis in a district hospital.
AB  - Between 1977 and 1988 in the Enschede hospital 72 patients were seen with
      bacterial arthritis of one or more joints. Staphylococcus aureus was most
      frequently the causative agent (52%) and the knee was the most frequently
      infected joint (42%); the mortality rate was 11%. Complete restoration of pre
      existent function was seen in 52% of the affected joints. In patients with severe
      deterioration of joint function after the bacterial infection, the period between
      the first symptoms and start of treatment (mean 30 days) was significantly longer
      than in patients with no or moderately deteriorated joint function (mean 10
      days). The primary focus was mostly a skin infection, predominantly localized on
      the lower extremities. Half of all cases of bacterial arthritis occurred in
      patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We therefore conclude that patients with
      RA and skin infections, especially if localized on legs or feet, should be
      treated without delay and that one should not hesitate to prescribe antibiotics.
      Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was less than 20 mm after one hour in 13%
      and blood leucocyte count less than 10 x 10(9)/liter in 55% of all patients,
      showing that a normal ESR and/or blood leucocyte count do not exclude bacterial
      arthritis. In 4 out of 9 patients with infected prosthetic joints the infection
      resulted in loosening of the joint, before antibiotic treatment was started. In
      the other 5 patients bacterial arthritis recurred, in one patient resulting in
      loosening of the joint, only shortly after stopping long-term successful
      antibiotic treatment (6-24 months). Thus, we feel that lifelong treatment with
      antibiotics is a reasonable alternative in cases, where the risk of surgery is
      very high.

PMID- 1458781
TI  - Anti-dsDNA and Sm autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus.
AB  - During the present study the coincidence of anti-dsDNA and Sm antibodies was
      detected in 16 percent of 51 consecutive SLE patients. These antibodies were
      detected by the standard indirect immunofluorescence and Ouchterlony tests. All
      patients with anti-dsDNA and Sm antibodies showed disease activity, including
      renal, CNS and pulmonary disease. We excluded a cross reactivity of these
      antibodies by ELISA, using competitive experiments with dsDNA and Sm antigens.
      The results support the presence of multiple autoantibody production during SLE
      activity, and suggest that different mechanisms may underlie the induction and
      regulation of both autoantibodies.

PMID- 1458783
TI  - Long-term follow-up study of 164 patients with definite systemic sclerosis:
      classification considerations.
AB  - To evaluate the usefulness of recently proposed schemes of classification for
      systemic sclerosis an extensive cross-sectional study of a series of 164
      consecutive patients with long-term systemic sclerosis was undertaken. There were
      47 cases of proximal sclerosis, 93 of distal sclerosis and 24 of complete CREST
      syndrome. The study included clinical, visceral, immunological and follow-up
      data. In addition, a quantitative clinical score was calculated for each patient,
      thus providing indications for prognosis. Data were expressed according to three
      conventional systems of classification: The ARA system, the diffuse versus
      limited systemic sclerosis system and the early cutaneous involvement system. The
      most reliable indications of severe outcome were: proximal sclerosis, trunk skin
      involvement, presence of anti Scl 70 autoantibody, pulmonary and/or heart
      involvement and age. Diagnosis and prognosis were not generated by the same
      items. Prognosis indicators proved more accurate for groups than for individuals.
      Mortality was 1 death per 149 patient X years of follow-up from diagnosis. We
      conclude that the ARA criteria for classification should be recognized as a
      standard, but patients with complete CREST syndrome should be included in the
      distal group. Other systems of classification, principally 2-way versus 3-way
      criteria, allow different subsets of patients that correlate with prognosis and
      the severity of the disease, and could be used for therapeutic purposes.

PMID- 1458784
TI  - Noninfectious osteitis: part of the SAPHO syndrome.
AB  - SAPHO, a rare syndrome, is a recently suggested acronym for synovitis, acne,
      pustulosis, hyperostosis and osteitis. It encompasses many features which have
      been described in different but overlapping conditions. Not all of the syndrome
      components need to be present for inclusion in SAPHO to be justified, especially
      the dermatologic components. Two cases are described as examples. Clinicians
      should be aware of this rare disorder if positive early diagnoses are to be made
      in patients presenting with skeletal pain.

PMID- 1458785
TI  - Radiographic findings of spontaneous subluxation of the sternoclavicular joint.
AB  - Eight middle-aged women with spontaneous atraumatic subluxation of the
      sternoclavicular joint were evaluated with radiography and computed tomography.
      All patients were employed in occupations involving moderate to heavy physical
      labour, and no patients could recall a specific traumatic incident associated
      with onset of symptoms. In seven of the eight patients, the displacement of the
      medial clavicle was in a cranial direction; in four of the eight patients, there
      was an associated anterior subluxation, and in one patient, the subluxation was
      purely anterior. All five patients with an anterior component to the
      sternoclavicular subluxation had associated condensing osteitis of the clavicle.
      The sclerosis of the medial clavicle is possibly the result of chronic abrasion
      on the sternum and first costal cartilage in association with normal respiration
      and with upper extremity motion.

PMID- 1458786
TI  - Thermography of frozen shoulder and rotator cuff tendinitis.
AB  - The role of thermography in the diagnosis of soft tissue lesions of the shoulder
      was evaluated by screening 28 patients with unilateral frozen shoulder and 86
      patients with unilateral rotator cuff lesions. Index shoulders were then compared
      with the normal side. Differences in skin temperature distribution were found in
      82% of subjects with frozen shoulder, nearly three-quarters of whom had reduced
      skin temperature. There was no consistent pattern of shoulder skin temperature
      found in rotator cuff tendinitis patients (49% normal, 28% reduced, 23%
      increased). Thermography can be helpful in the diagnosis of frozen shoulder but
      further studies are required to determine whether it is useful in other soft
      tissue shoulder lesions.

PMID- 1458787
TI  - Clinical differences between ANA/anti-ENA positive or negative primary Sjogren's
      syndrome.
AB  - Fifty female patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome diagnosed according to the
      Copenhagen criteria were evaluated for both glandular and extraglandular
      involvement. They were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence
      of antinuclear and anti-ENA antibodies (ANA/anti-ENA). ANA/anti-ENA negative
      patients presented with milder and later glandular and extraglandular disease and
      required less frequent corticosteroid treatment. No significant differences were
      noted in extraglandular manifestations with the exception of leukopenia which was
      noted only in ANA/anti-ENA positive cases.

PMID- 1458788
TI  - Effects of different regimes of corticosteroid treatment on calcium and bone
      metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - A clinical study of 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis was undertaken in order
      to assess the acute effects of corticosteroids on calcium and bone metabolism.
      The patients were randomly divided into 3 groups. The first group was not treated
      with corticosteroids, the second group was treated with 3 oral pulses of 100 mg
      prednisolone and the third group received 3 intravenous pulses of 1000 mg
      methylprednisolone (MP) on alternate days during one week. In both steroid
      treated groups the serum parathyroid hormone concentration tended to increase. In
      the MP treated group an increase in the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentration
      after the first pulse was followed by a significant drop; this effect was also
      seen, but somewhat retarded and less distinct, in the orally treated group. In
      the MP treated group the urinary calcium excretion raised significantly 6 hrs
      after the first pulse and then dropped significantly. In all groups no changes
      were found in the serum calcium level and the urinary excretion of
      hydroxyproline. We conclude that, acute changes in calcium and bone metabolism
      occur during treatment with intravenous pulses of methylprednisolone and with
      oral pulses of prednisolone. These changes are small and reversible in a few
      days.

PMID- 1458789
TI  - Decreased interleukin-1 beta levels in plasma from rheumatoid arthritis patients
      after dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
AB  - The effects of dietary supplementation with n-3 fatty acids on the level of
      cytokines and complement activation in plasma from patients with rheumatoid
      arthritis were examined. Thirty-two patients with active rheumatoid arthritis
      were included in a 12-week double-blind, randomized study of dietary
      supplementation with n-3 fatty acids (3.6 g per day) or placebo. The cytokines
      were measured in plasma before and after treatment with fish oil or placebo. In
      general, cytokine values at the upper limits of the calculated normal areas were
      found. The Interleukin-1 beta concentration in plasma was reduced significantly
      after 12 weeks of dietary supplementation with fish oil (p < 0.03). No
      significant difference was observed in the placebo group. The tumour necrosis
      factor alpha activity in plasma did not change significantly (p = 0.167). No
      significant changes were observed in the degree of complement activation. The
      clinical status of the patients was improved in the fish oil group, but not in
      the placebo group, judged by Ritchie's articular index (p < 0.02). We conclude
      that dietary supplementation with n-3 fatty acids results in significantly
      reduced plasma IL-1 beta levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Even
      though the cytokine levels were low, the anti-inflammatory effect of n-3 fatty
      acids could in part be explained by their ability to decrease cytokine
      production.

PMID- 1458790
TI  - Rheumatoid nodulosis: a puzzling variant of rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - Four patients with rheumatoid nodulosis are here described, together with a
      review of cases reported to date in the literature. This particular variant of
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by the presence of subcutaneous
      rheumatoid nodules, scanty or absent systemic manifestations and a clinically
      benign course. Joint involvement appears more commonly as palindromic rheumatism,
      although patients with arthralgia episodes alone and others with chronic
      polyarthritis have been described. Seldom reported up to now, a consideration of
      this entity may help to avoid diagnostic pitfalls and the use of aggressive
      therapy.

PMID- 1458791
TI  - Vestibular syndrome in multiple myeloma: role of magnetic resonance imaging.
AB  - The authors report a case of multiple myeloma involving the temporal bone and
      responsible for a vestibular syndrome associated with hypoacusis. The lesion was
      best visualised by magnetic resonance imaging.

PMID- 1458792
TI  - Possible causal association between ulcerative colitis and idiopathic
      thrombocytopenic purpura.
AB  - A 24-year-old Japanese male having ulcerative colitis and idiopathic
      thrombocytopenic purpura is described. When the symptoms of ulcerative colitis
      were manifest during his clinical course, the platelet life-span was shortened
      and the platelet associated IgG level was increased. Thus, causal association
      between the two diseases may be suggested.

PMID- 1458793
TI  - A case of Raynaud's disease with uterine cancer producing interleukin-6.
AB  - A case of cervical cancer of the uterine producing interleukin-6(IL-6) in a
      patient who suffered from Raynaud's phenomenon is described. Her serum contained
      anti SS-A antibody. The cancer was removed surgically. High level of IL-6
      activity was detected in the culture supernatant of the resected cancer cells.
      After operation, Raynaud's phenomenon had improved and anti SS-A antibody had
      disappeared. This case shows us that IL-6 produced by malignant tumour might
      induce autoimmune connective tissue disease-like symptoms.

PMID- 1458794
TI  - Recurrent and migratory reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome.
AB  - A case of recurrent reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS), involving
      consecutively three extremities in an otherwise healthy adult is described. In a
      period of four years follow-up she presented three RSDS episodes occurring
      without precipitating events and involving consecutively both lower legs and the
      left hand. The RSDS resolved without sequelae after treatment with physiotherapy
      and diclofenac in an early phase. RSDS is an often unrecognized entity which
      appears mostly confined to a single limb. Recurrent forms have also been
      described, sometimes with a migratory pattern. Involvement of upper and lower
      limbs in the same patient is thought to be infrequent.

PMID- 1458795
TI  - Behcet's syndrome and factor XII deficiency.
AB  - Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain thrombotic tendency in Behcet's
      syndrome. We report the case of a 43-year old woman presenting retinal-vein
      thrombosis, factor XII deficiency and Behcet's syndrome. This kind of association
      has thus far never been reported. Factor XII deficiency is known to possibly
      induce various types of thrombosis and might explain the prevalence of ocular
      symptoms in our patient.

PMID- 1458796
TI  - Bacterial pyomyositis in a patient with a multiple myeloma.
AB  - Pyomyositis is relatively rare in regions with a temperate climate. The most
      common aetiologic agent is staphylococcus aureus. Most patients with pyomyositis
      from temperate regions involve immunocompromised states. Because of the rarity,
      it is often initially misdiagnosed. Computed tomography scan is considered the
      most helpful tool for the diagnosis of pyomyositis. We present a case in a
      patient with multiple myeloma.

PMID- 1458797
TI  - Localized nodular myositis. A paraneoplastic phenomenon.
AB  - Localized nodular myositis was recognized in an elderly man six months prior to
      the diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease. Meticulous search of the muscle specimen
      failed to disclose tumorous involvement. The possible paraneoplastic nature of
      localized nodular myositis in this patient is discussed.

PMID- 1458798
TI  - Rheumatoid arthritis, corticosteroid therapy and Kaposi's sarcoma: a coincidence?
      A case and review of literature.
AB  - We describe a 68-year-old woman suffering from rheumatoid arthritis treated with
      low doses of prednisone who developed Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). This patient was not
      affected with AIDS, and two years previously, her sister had also complained of
      KS. In the literature only 8 rheumatoid arthritis patients who developed KS
      during steroid therapy have been reported. We present a review of the literature
      and question the responsibility of corticosteroids and autoimmune diseases as the
      cause of KS.

PMID- 1458799
TI  - Ankylosing spondylitis and sarcoidosis--coincidence or association? Case report
      and review of the literature.
AB  - We report a 25-year-old woman presenting with sarcoidosis and bilateral
      sacroiliitis. Her sarcoidosis related symptoms (malaise, cough and dyspnoea)
      improved dramatically under treatment with steroids but severe back pain
      persisted. Only seven similar cases have been described over the last 40 years
      and the question of a possible association between the two diseases has been
      raised. However, prevalence data from the literature and the apparent lack of
      genetic links are better arguments for coincidence than for association.

PMID- 1458800
TI  - Radiological vignette. Insufficiency fracture of the acetabulum.
AB  - An insufficiency fracture (IF) involving the acetabulum is presented. This
      fracture occurred in a 67-year-old woman who had been hysterectomized and
      oophorectomized 27 years earlier for a carcinoma of the uterine cervix, and who
      had received external pelvic irradiation. This IF location has been rarely
      described earlier, and its awareness should preclude unnecessary aggressive
      diagnostic procedures especially in patients with osteoporosis and previous
      pelvic radiotherapy.

PMID- 1458801
TI  - Avascular necrosis of bone in systemic sclerosis.

PMID- 1458802
TI  - Bone manifestations associated with AIDS.

PMID- 1458803
TI  - [An open non-comparative study of the efficacy and tolerability of sultamicillin
      in the therapy of respiratory infections in childhood].
AB  - Forty-eight children (25 males + 23 females), mean age 3.5 years +/- 2.6 (range 1
      11), were treated for the following respiratory infections: pharyngotonsillitis
      (9), bronchitis (18), bronchopneumonia (14), asthmatic bronchitis (4) and
      pneumonia (3). The average duration of treatment was 5.3 +/- 2.0 days (range 3
      13). Sultamicillin was administered at the dose of 50 mg/kg/day. Patients with
      fever experienced a defervescence on the second day of therapy. Forty-six
      children (96%) showed a good clinical response. The tolerability of the drug was
      excellent or good in 93.8% of the cases.

PMID- 1458804
TI  - [Ocular pathology in HIV infection].
AB  - The above short note underscores the importance of ocular complications in HIV
      infection. These syndromes are either isolated or concomitant with CNS
      involvement but frequently they do not receive due consideration.

PMID- 1458805
TI  - [Telethermography in the diagnosis of lumbo-sciatica syndromes].
AB  - Thermal maps of the lumbo-sacral and gluteal regions and of the lower limbs were
      obtained with telethermography in 30 subjects suffering from painful lumbo
      sciatic syndromes in order to assess whether there were differences of thermal
      index between painful and opposite side, and to evaluate the telethermographic
      patterns of the irritative and deficitary forms. Among 25 patients with lumbo
      sciatalgia in the irritative or early stage, 16 showed hypothermia of the
      affected side; in three of the five patients in the deficitary stage,
      hyperthermia of the affected side was observed while two did not show changes of
      the thermal gradient. The authors stress the importance of telethermography and
      suggest that this method, which is not costly, non-invasive and easily
      reproducible, should be used to complete diagnosis of and to monitor lumbo
      sciatalgic syndromes.

PMID- 1458806
TI  - [Efficacy and tolerability of ketoprofen lysine salt foam for topical use in the
      treatment of traumatic pathologies of the locomotor apparatus].
AB  - In this study the authors evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of a foam of
      15% ketoprofen lysine salt versus placebo in patients with articular traumas,
      pains and strains, distortions etc. All parameters considered were statistically
      significantly decreased after 7 days of active treatment as compared to placebo.
      Pain score decreased significantly at pressure (p < 0.001), pain on active
      movement (p < 0.005), pain on passive movement and pain at rest. Efficacy of the
      active foam was graded as satisfactory in 81.7% and its tolerability in 92.7%
      versus 44% and 29% with placebo respectively. Patients reported high
      acceptability (89%) of the new foam formulation. No systemic or local side
      effects were observed or reported. The 15% ketoprofen lysine salt foam for
      topical use can be considered an effective antiinflammatory and analgesic drug
      for the treatment of minor orthopedic and traumatic disorders, and was found to
      be perfectly tolerated.

PMID- 1458807
TI  - [Recent experience in the short-term etizolam treatment of irritable colon
      syndrome].
AB  - Twenty-two subjects (8 males, 14 females, mean age 36 years, range 21-57) with
      symptoms of diffuse pain or fullness in a lower abdominal quadrant, without
      repercussions on general health but with chronic anxiety of which the subjects
      complained or which emerged during confidential conversation with the physicians,
      were enrolled in our outpatient department for liver and gastroenterologic
      pathology at the Institute of Internal Medicine and Metabolic Disorders, II
      Faculty of Medicine, Naples University. After an average 30-day wash-out period,
      patients were treated with etizolam, a new psychoactive drug for somatized
      anxiety. Mean dosage and duration of treatment were 1 tablet twice daily for 25
      days. Painful symptoms disappeared in 16.3% of patients, decreased in 38.3% and
      remained stationary in 22.7% and became worse in 22.7%. Number of bowel motions
      decreased in 14 patients (63.6%, from an average of 2.04 to 1.56). It can
      therefore be concluded that etizolam treatment was effective in subjects with
      colon disorders accompanied by chronic anxiety syndrome or that became acute as
      result of stressful socio-economic or affective situations or personal
      disappointment.

PMID- 1458808
TI  - [Silent myocardial ischemia with raised ST tract in 2 octogenarian patients
      without ischemic cardiopathy].
AB  - The authors describe two recently observed cases of silent angina with ST segment
      elevation. The patients, both 80-years old, were submitted to 24-hour Holter
      examination to account for recurrent episodes of dizziness. The examination
      revealed silent angina with ST elevation concentrated mainly in the late evening
      and morning hours, accompanied by accelerated heart rate. Treatment with low
      diltiazem doses was completely successful.

PMID- 1458809
TI  - [Role of magnetic resonance in the evaluation of thrombosis of large thoraco
      abdominal vessels].
AB  - Magnetic resonance (MR) has been found to be a method suitable for the study of
      the vascular system since it permits to distinguish between moving (circulating
      blood) and static (thrombi, atherosclerotic plaques, intimal flaps) tissues. The
      sequences used for the evaluation of thrombi are Spin Echo (SE) and Gradient Echo
      (GE). If both sequences are used the diagnosis of thrombosis is considerably more
      reliable. The limits of the technique are represented by spatial resolution which
      is not optimal and makes the evaluation of thrombi in small or medium-size
      vessels difficult; further, small or non occlusive thrombi may be difficult to
      identify. Nowadays, with the technique of angiography with magnetic resonance
      (AMR) it has become possible to obtain high quality images of the vessels of the
      head, neck, abdomen and limbs. Further improvements of the AMR technique are
      likely to replace diagnostic angiography.

PMID- 1458810
TI  - [Human environment].

PMID- 1458811
TI  - Exercise and health.

PMID- 1458812
TI  - Nutritional needs of children with inflammatory bowel disease.

PMID- 1458813
TI  - Dietary risk factors for hypertension.

PMID- 1458814
TI  - Green tea in chemoprevention of cancer.

PMID- 1458815
TI  - Utilizing exercise in the treatment of obesity.

PMID- 1458816
TI  - The role of dietary cholesterol in infants.

PMID- 1458817
TI  - Children's diet and health requirements: preschool age through adolescence.

PMID- 1458818
TI  - Neglected organization and management issues in mental health systems
      development.
AB  - Fragmented and often uncoordinated public services for the more severely mentally
      ill are often characteristic of the current U.S. mental health system. The
      creation of local mental health authorities has been promoted as part of a
      solution, as has happened in Wisconsin at the county level and is championed in
      the ongoing Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded innovative service sites for
      severely mentally ill adults. There are indications that these innovative mental
      health authorities will fall short of fulfilling their promise. Basic principles
      from the management and organizations literature are used to identify several
      organization and management issues that may have been neglected. These include
      resource management, attention to system goals, monitoring and feedback, and the
      promotion of desirable interorganizational cultures.

PMID- 1458819
TI  - Predicting psychiatric symptoms among homeless people.
AB  - Multiple regression was used to predict psychiatric symptoms among homeless
      people. The following variables were significant predictors of psychiatric
      symptoms: current life satisfaction, previous psychiatric hospitalization, the
      number of stressful life events, social support, problem drinking, and childhood
      unhappiness. The results are discussed in terms of their policy and practice
      implications, particularly the need for crisis intervention services and for dual
      diagnosed clients.

PMID- 1458820
TI  - Social support and quality of life of community support clients.
AB  - Two aspects of social support, availability and adequacy, were assessed for 729
      severely mentally ill adults enrolled in seven state-supported Community Support
      Services (CSS) programs as part of repeated questionnaire surveys nine months
      apart. Perceived quality of life interviews with the clients were also conducted
      at both times. These interviews included the Bradburn Positive and Negative
      Affect Scales and the Satisfaction with Life Domains Scale (SLDS). Availability
      of social support was significantly correlated with positive affect over time,
      but not with negative affect at either point. Inadequacy of social support was
      significantly related to negative affect at both assessments. Both availability
      and adequacy of social support were significantly related to the SLDS at each
      time. Change in satisfaction with life domains was found to be related to both
      availability and, to a lesser degree, with adequacy of social support.

PMID- 1458821
TI  - Informal systems of care for the chronically mentally ill.
AB  - The purpose of this paper is to describe the structure and functioning of
      informal caregiving systems of community-based chronically mentally ill
      individuals. From a sample of 409 family member reports, 150 caregiving systems
      are described in terms of size, composition and division of caregiving labor.
      Results show that these systems are about as large as those found for elder
      caregiving systems, that women and relatives predominate as caregivers, that
      there is considerable diversity in the types of caregivers and that size and
      composition are related to the division of labor observed in these systems.

PMID- 1458822
TI  - Clinical issues in social network therapy for clients with schizophrenia.
AB  - Social networks are viable foci for therapeutic interventions. A social network
      therapy program for clients with schizophrenia was developed by a community-based
      mental health agency. This paper presents four of the most common clinical issues
      encountered and illustrates each with a case example.

PMID- 1458823
TI  - A comparison of how families and their service providers rate family generated
      quality of service factors.
AB  - This paper presents a method which was utilized to obtain family consensus around
      the criteria which should be used to evaluate family support programs. Twelve
      family members of persons with developmental disabilities were selected in each
      of six different sites to participate in a group process to identify the factors
      which distinguish quality family support programs. Content analysis of the
      results of the six meetings resulted in a final list of 15 quality factors. Two
      hundred and sixty one families and their family support coordinators (N = 65)
      were asked to rate the importance of each factor on a 10 point scale. Analysis
      revealed that there was high agreement between families and their coordinators on
      the importance of all 15 factors. The applicability of the method used to obtain
      family consensus regarding evaluation criteria for community mental health
      agencies is discussed.

PMID- 1458824
TI  - The quality assurance dilemma in psychiatry: a sociological perspective.
AB  - Tensions between mental health practitioners and their colleagues in quality
      assurance can be reduced. A sociological view of the evolution of psychiatric
      practice from the doctor-patient dyad to the therapist-patient-third party triad
      and of the discontinuity between the new structure and the culture of
      professional practice frames the discussion. Drawing on approaches to quality
      developed in business settings, it is argued that third parties as well as
      patients are "customers" and that a different approach to quality is appropriate
      to each. Crosby's methodology is recommended as relevant to the management of
      relationships with third parties.

PMID- 1458825
TI  - A family of retinal S-antigens (arrestins) and their genes: comparative analysis
      of human, mouse, rat, bovine and Drosophila.

PMID- 1458826
TI  - Triacylglycerol biosynthesis in bovine liver and subcutaneous adipose tissue.
AB  - 1. Adipose tissue from Angus and Brahman steers incubated with [1-14C]palmitate
      in the absence and presence of glucose exhibited a greater rate of lipid
      production than liver (P < 0.05). 2. Homogenates of adipose tissue used in the
      glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase assay exhibited a greater glycerolipid
      specific activity (nmol lipid/mg protein/30 min) when compared to liver (P <
      0.05). 3. The inverse was true for liver homogenates when calculated for tissue
      activity (nmol lipid/g tissue/30 min). 4. Lysophosphatidate was produced in
      greater (P < 0.05) amounts than all other glycerolipids in the glycerol-3
      phosphate acyltransferase assay. 5. The activity of phosphatidate
      phosphohydrolase in liver homogenates displayed greater rates than their
      respective adipose tissue homogenates. 6. Diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity
      was greater in adipose tissue homogenates compared to liver homogenates.

PMID- 1458827
TI  - Purification and biochemical properties of calmodulin in Entamoeba histolytica
      and its distribution during secretion of electron-dense granules.
AB  - 1. Calmodulin (CaM) was detected during secretion of electron-dense granules by
      Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites with immunofluorescence. 2. It was purified to
      apparent homogeneity by chromatography with a yield of 2.26 micrograms of
      calmodulin/mg of protozoan protein. Purity was established by gel
      electrophoresis. 3. The parasite calmodulin has properties characteristic of
      calmodulin isolated from other eukaryotes: an apparent molecular weight of 19 or
      17 kDa in presence of EGTA or CaCl2, respectively, activation in a calcium
      dependent manner of bovine heart cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, and its UV
      spectrum.

PMID- 1458828
TI  - The critical role of asparagine 502 in post-translational alteration of protein
      4.1.
AB  - 1. Protein 4.1 in most mammalian red cells exhibits a post-translational
      conversion of 4.1b to 4.1a, except for feline protein 4.1, which lacks this
      alteration. 2. Our previous study provided evidence that protein 4.1b in human
      red cells is converted to 4.1a by deamidation of a specific asparagine (Asn)
      residue at position 502, suggesting that the post-translational change of 4.1b to
      4.1a depends on the primary structure of the protein at the site of deamidation.
      3. To confirm this hypothesis, proteolytic fragments corresponding to the
      deamidation site of human protein 4.1 were purified from canine and feline
      erythrocyte protein 4.1 and analyzed for their amino acid sequences. 4. Two
      proteolytic peptides, D7 and D9 derived from canine protein 4.1, both
      corresponding to the human sequence Thr492-...-Asn (or Asp)502-...-Lys505 showed
      the same sequence, Thr-Gln-Thr-...-Lys, except that the 11th residue equivalent
      to the 502nd amino acid was Asn in D7 while it was Asp in D9, indicating that
      deamidation occurs at the same position in canine protein 4.1 as in humans. 5.
      However, substitution of Ser for Asn at this position was observed in feline
      protein 4.1. 6. These results demonstrate that Asn502 has a critical role in post
      translational conversion of 4.1b to 4.1a in mammalian red blood cells.

PMID- 1458829
TI  - Chicken leg muscle alpha-connectin as studied by a monoclonal antibody to the
      1200 kDa fragment.
AB  - Chicken leg gracilis muscle contained only alpha-connectin (ca 3000 kDa) without
      beta-connectin. When myofibrils were kept standing for 20 hr at 4 degrees C,
      alpha-connectin was degraded to beta-connectin (ca 2000 kDa) and 1200 kDa
      peptide. The latter was prepared from myofibrils and purified by gel filtration
      in the presence of SDS. A monoclonal antibody, alpha 7, to this 1200 kDa fragment
      was prepared. The antibody reacted with the 1200 kDa fragment and its mother
      molecule alpha-connectin, but not with beta-connectin. Immunoelectron microscopy
      using alpha 7, as well as other antibodies to chicken breast muscle beta
      connectin, revealed that the 1200 kDa peptide covered the portion of alpha
      connectin from the Z line to the N2 line region in the I band of chicken leg
      gracilis muscle sarcomeres. The results were in good agreement with those
      observed in rabbit skeletal muscle.

PMID- 1458830
TI  - Comparative characterization of liver glycogen metabolism in rat and guinea-pig.
AB  - 1. Guinea-pig liver contained more phosphorylase in the active (phosphorylated)
      form and less synthase in the active (dephosphorylated) form when compared with
      rat liver. 2. Activities of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and Ca(2+)
      dependent phosphorylase kinase were the same in rat and guinea-pig livers. 3.
      Activities of phosphorylase phosphatase and synthase phosphatase in the extract
      and glycogen plus microsomal fraction of guinea-pig liver were significantly
      lower than those of rat liver. 4. The existence of inhibitor-1 in the liver of
      guinea-pig can maintain a lower activity of type-1 protein phosphatase,
      especially when inhibitor-1 is phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein
      kinase.

PMID- 1458831
TI  - A comparative study of Drosophila phenylalanine hydroxylase with a natural and a
      synthetic tetrahydropterin as cofactor.
AB  - 1. Phenylalanine hydroxylase activity has been analyzed in Drosophila
      melanogaster using as cofactors the natural tetrahydropteridine 5,6,7,8
      tetrahydrobiopterin (H4Bip) and the synthetic one 5,6-dimethyl-5,6,7,8
      tetrahydropterin (H4Dmp). 2. The apparent Vmax and KM for substrate and cofactor
      showed that the enzyme has two times more affinity for the substrate when H4Bip
      is the cofactor in the reaction. Similarly to what was found with purified rat
      liver phenylalanine hydroxylase, H4Bip was the most effective cofactor, leading
      to 4-5 times more activity than that obtained with H4Dmp. 3. With the natural
      cofactor H4Bip, no activation of the enzyme with Phe was necessary (in contrast
      to mammalian phenylalanine hydroxylase), and this tetrahydropteridine inhibits
      phenylalanine hydroxylase activity when the enzyme is exposed to it before
      phenylalanine addition. With the synthetic H4Dmp, both types of preincubations
      led to an increase of phenylalanine hydroxylase activity. 4. The enzyme is highly
      unstable compared to mammalian phenylalanine hydroxylase, even at -20 degrees C.
      5. Thorax and abdomen extracts caused significant inhibition of phenylalanine
      hydroxylase activity from third instar larvae or newborn adult head extracts,
      when assayed with the synthetic cofactor H4Dmp. This inhibition did not happen
      with H4Bip. The presence of the pteridine 7-xanthopterin in adult bodies was not
      the cause of this inhibition.

PMID- 1458832
TI  - Purification of a novel heterodimer from shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) serum by
      gel-immobilized metal chromatography.
AB  - 1. Resolution of the fraction of sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) serum that
      was soluble in 50% saturated ammonium sulfate by gel-immobilized metal-affinity
      chromatography allowed the isolation of a novel disulfide-bonded heterodimer of
      intact mass 70 kDa. 2. Following reduction, the molecule could be resolved into
      two chains of apparent mass 36 and 24 kDa. 3. The molecules were glycoproteins as
      determined by an observed reduction in molecular weight following enzymatic
      glycosylation. 4. The two separate chains were related to one another on the
      basis of amino-acid composition analysis and by comparison of the N-terminal
      amino acids (seven out of 10 identities). 5. The exact relationship of this
      molecule to characterized heterodimers of higher vertebrates is unknown. 6. Cross
      linked agarose-acetate was synthesized and proved to be an efficient
      concentrating agent and also a hydrophobic interaction adsorbant.

PMID- 1458833
TI  - Alterations to the permeability of plant and animal mitochondria submitted to
      Ca2+ releasing agents.
AB  - 1. Mitochondria from different rat tissues and from plants were compared as
      regards their sensitivity towards Ca2+ in the presence of different Ca2+
      releasing agents, and the phospholipase A2 activity was evaluated in the
      different mitochondrial preparations. 2. The mitochondria were exposed to Ca2+
      and an oxidant such as t-butylhydroperoxide or diamide or to Ca2+ and inorganic
      phosphate, and plant mitochondria were seen to be much more resistant than liver,
      brain or kidney mitochondria of rats to the deleterious effects of these agents.
      3. The phospholipase A2 activity is not directly involved in the alterations of
      the mitochondrial inner membrane permeability within the first 10 min of
      incubation under our experimental conditions. 4. The protection conferred by ATP
      and Mg2+ against Ca2+ efflux from mitochondria or the decrease in the
      mitochondrial transmembrane electrical potential was also observed under our
      experimental conditions, but cannot be attributed to an enhancement of the
      reacylation of lysophospholipids resulting from the phospholipase A2 activity.

PMID- 1458834
TI  - The biological properties of venoms from juvenile and adult taipan (Oxyuranus
      scutellatus) snakes.
AB  - 1. The biological properties of four venom pooled samples from adult taipan
      (Oxyuranus scutellatus) snakes and one pooled venom sample from six juvenile
      taipan snakes (11 months old) were compared. 2. The intravenous LD50 (median
      lethal dose), procoagulant activity and enzymatic activities of the juvenile
      venom were not significantly different from those of the adult venoms. 3. The
      juvenile and adult venoms exhibited similar polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic
      (PAGE) and SDS-PAGE patterns, indicating that they possessed a similar protein
      composition. 4. The results suggest that there is no significant age-dependency
      in the biological properties of taipan venom.

PMID- 1458835
TI  - Inter- and intra-specific differences in serum proteins of different species and
      subspecies of zebras.
AB  - 1. Serum proteins of Equus grevyi, E. zebra hartmannae, E. burchelli boehmi, E.
      b. chapmanni and E. b. antiquorum were studied using starch-gel electrophoresis,
      1-D polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, inhibitions of trypsin and chymotrypsin,
      immunoblotting, and specific staining for esterase. 2. Clear species-specific
      patterns were observed in albumin, transferrin, and for E. grevyi in protease
      inhibitor-1. Specific esterase was detected only in E. z. hartmannae. 3. Protein
      polymorphism was found in all studied species: E. grevyi--transferrin; E. z.
      hartmannae--protease inhibitor-1; E. b. boehmi--albumin, GC, transferrin,
      protease inhibitor-1, protease inhibitor-T; E. b. chapmanni--albumin, GC,
      transferrin, protease inhibitor-1; E. b. antiquorum--GC, transferrin, protease
      inhibitor-1. 4. Phenotype patterns of the polymorphic proteins were indicative of
      simple codominant inheritance. Further studies of polymorphism of protease
      inhibitor-2 and variability of protease inhibitor-X are needed. 5. alpha 1B
      glycoprotein in all zebra species was monomorphic. 6. The main transferrin
      components and alpha 1B glycoprotein of zebra (E. b. boehmi) were characterized
      for terminal sialic acid content.

PMID- 1458836
TI  - Tissue distribution of insulin-like growth factor receptors in the turkey.
AB  - 1. The distribution and relative insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding
      capacities of membranes derived from 14 tissues of the turkey were examined. 2.
      Affinity cross-linking analyses using [125I]IGF-I and [125I]IGF-II with membranes
      derived from the liver, pectoralis major muscle, gizzard, heart and brain
      indicated that both IGFs interact with only type-I IGF receptors on these
      tissues. 3. There was no evidence for the existence of a type-II IGF receptor in
      any tissue. 4. Although considerable variation was detected in the molecular
      weights of the IGF receptor alpha subunits between tissues (112.2-132.9 kDa),
      these differences did not appear to influence receptor-ligand affinities.

PMID- 1458837
TI  - Intestinal disaccharidases in the house musk shrew, Suncus murinus: occurrence of
      sucrase deficiency.
AB  - 1. Disaccharidase activities of the small-intestinal brush border membrane were
      studied in six laboratory lines of the house musk shrew, Suncus murinus. 2.
      Sucrase activity was detected in all shrews of one line, but not in any shrew of
      three lines. In the other two lines it was found in some shrews, but not in the
      others. 3. Maltase, isomaltase, trehalase and lactase activities were found in
      all shrews of all the lines examined. 4. Sucrase was normally associated with
      isomaltase to form an enzyme complex. 5. Detergent-solubilized isomaltase,
      whether associated with sucrase or not, was inhibited by antibodies against
      rabbit sucrase-isomaltase to almost the same extent as the rabbit one, suggesting
      that isomaltase is not affected by a mutation(s) in sucrase.

PMID- 1458838
TI  - North-south regional variation in phospholipase A activity in the venom of
      Crotalus ruber.
AB  - 1. Twenty-seven individual venoms from the rattlesnake species Crotalus ruber
      from different regions were comparatively analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC and
      analyzed for phospholipase A (PLA) content using a polarographic assay. 2. Two
      fractions containing PLA activity were detected by HPLC in the venoms of all the
      C. ruber specimens from southern Baja, Mexico, but specimens from southern
      California, U.S.A., were lacking corresponding fractions and were extremely low
      or lacking in PLA activity in their venoms. 3. The north-south regional variation
      in PLA content in C. ruber venom does not correlate with the north-south ranges
      (based on external morphology) of the subspecies C. ruber ruber and C. ruber
      lucasensis.

PMID- 1458839
TI  - Nucleotide sequence and presumed secondary structure of the internal transcribed
      spacers of rDNA of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum.
AB  - 1. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 and ITS 2 of rDNA of the pea aphid,
      Acyrthosiphon pisum consisted of 229 and 280 nucleotides, whose G+C contents were
      70 and 74%, respectively. 2. Secondary structure models constructed for the ITS 1
      and ITS 2 suggested that certain structural motifs have been conserved in these
      regions despite extensive divergence in nucleotide sequence due to species.

PMID- 1458840
TI  - Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation of ATP citrate lyase activity in
      isolated rat hepatocytes is age dependent.
AB  - 1. The effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on ATP citrate lyase activity was
      determined in freshly isolated hepatocytes from rats of different ages as a
      function of incubation time, EGF concentration and hepatocyte density. 2. The
      activity of this enzyme was responsive to both dose and time of incubation of EGF
      with a two-fold increase in ATP citrate lyase activity and a half-maximal effect
      between 10(-12) and 10(-11) M. 3. EGF effects were detectable by 5 min. 4. The
      age of the rats had a strong effect on the magnitude of the EGF effect with ATP
      citrate lyase activity in younger (8 weeks) rats being more responsive than in
      older (14 weeks) rats.

PMID- 1458841
TI  - Purification, biochemical characterization and N-terminal sequence of a serine
      protease with chymotrypsic and collagenolytic activities in a tropical shrimp,
      Penaeus vannamei (Crustacea, Decapoda).
AB  - 1. Two chymotrypsin variants, with collagenolytic activities, were purified from
      the hepatopancreas of Penaeus vannamei using radioactive protein as the
      substrate. 2. These proteases are very close as far as amino acid composition,
      molecular weight, inhibitors studies and specificity against small synthetic
      substrates are concerned. 3. N-terminal amino acid sequences of both variants are
      identical and are very close to other known crustacean serine proteases.

PMID- 1458842
TI  - Characterization of the eggshell of Haemonchus contortus--I. Structural
      components.
AB  - 1. By transmission electron microscopy, the eggshell of Haemonchus contortus was
      seen to be similar to previously studied nematodes, with an outer vitelline layer
      bounded by a trilaminate membrane, a broad medial region, containing chitin, and
      an electron dense basal region, containing lipid and protein. 2. Exposure of
      Haemonchus contortus eggs to proteases resulted in disruption of the shell with
      removal of components of the outer, medial and basal regions. Exposure to
      chitinase depleted fibrillar components of the medial region of the shell, while
      collagenase had no effect. 3. Chloroform/methanol extraction of fresh eggshells
      caused a minor condensation of the outer, vitelline layer and some depletion of
      the basal layer. 4. After normal hatching, shells appeared similar to those
      treated with protease and chitinase, but also lacked the basal, lipid layer. 5.
      Extracts of isolated unhatched eggshells and hatched eggshells, and extracts of
      biotin-labelled whole fresh eggs showed three major protein bands when run on
      sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gels indicating that these three proteins
      are most likely structural in nature and do not participate in the release of the
      larva from the eggshell. 6. Biotin-labelled protein bands were degraded by
      proteases and chitinase, but not collagenase or lipase.

PMID- 1458843
TI  - Identification of vitellogenin in the little skate (Raja erinacea).
AB  - 1. Vitellogenin was isolated from mature female skates by selective precipitation
      with MgCl2/EDTA followed by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose columns. 2. A single
      monomer of approximately 205 kDa was identified on 6.0% SDS-PAGE gels. 3. In
      addition, isolation of yolk proteins with ammonium sulfate yielded proteins of 94
      and 38 kDa (putative phosvitins) and putative lipovitellins of ca 105, 91 and 67
      kDa. 4. In vivo phosphate incorporation in female and male skates implanted with
      estradiol indicated that vitellogenin was phosphorylated. 5. Total protein
      phosphate incorporation was significantly higher in females than male skates. 6.
      In male skates treated with estradiol, phosphate incorporation increased from 2
      days after implantation to a maximum at approximately 11 days after implantation.
      7. Determination of the rate of disappearance of 32P-labeled protein suggests a
      half-life of ca 200 hr in normal female skate plasma.

PMID- 1458844
TI  - Putative apolipoprotein B-100 in the freshwater turtle Chrysemys picta: effects
      of estrogen and progesterone.
AB  - 1. The isolation and purification of a putative apolipoprotein B-100 in the
      plasma of the freshwater turtle Chrysemys picta is described. 2. The protein was
      purified through differential ultracentrifugation and subsequent Sepharose 6B
      column chromatography. 3. The molecular weight of the protein determined by
      electrophoresis was approximately 350 kDa. 4. An antibody to chicken
      apolipoprotein B-100 specifically recognizes this 350 kDa protein in Western
      blots, suggesting its identity with apolipoprotein B-100. 5. An antibody to the
      putative Chrysemys apolipoprotein B-100-like protein was developed and used in an
      ELISA to quantitate protein levels in plasma. 6. Acute estrogen treatment
      increased levels of apolipoprotein B-100 (7.64 +/- 0.79 mg/ml plasma) over that
      of control animals (5.07 +/- 1.74 mg/ml plasma). 7. In contrast, chronic estrogen
      treatment reduced apolipoprotein B-100 significantly to 2.94 +/- 0.53 mg/ml
      plasma (P < 0.05).

PMID- 1458845
TI  - A comparative study on ceramide composition of cetacean brain gangliosides.
AB  - 1. Ceramide composition and N-glycolylneuraminic acid content of gangliosides
      from gray and white matters and myelin of cerebrum and cerebellum were analyzed
      in eight species belonging to the suborder Odontoceti and two species to
      Mystacoceti. 2. The most characteristic feature was high contents of C20:0 (10
      40%) and C24 species (5-40%). 3. Content of hydroxy fatty acid of C24 species was
      higher in cerebellum (5-20%) than cerebrum (0-3%). 4. Major component of long
      chain base was dC18:1 (70-90%). 5. N-glycolylneuraminic acid was found in sperm
      whale, Dall's porpoise and killer whale (0.1-1.7%).

PMID- 1458846
TI  - Species-related variations in tissue antioxidant status--I. Differences in
      antioxidant enzyme profiles.
AB  - 1. Antioxidant enzyme activity profiles in red cells of man, rabbit, quail, pig
      and rat have been investigated and found to exhibit striking differences. 2. No
      direct correlations between activities of "functionally coupled" enzymes
      (superoxide dismutase/catalase and glutathione peroxidase/glutathione reductase)
      were apparent, suggesting their independent regulation. 3. However, activities of
      red cell catalase and glutathione peroxidase in the various species studied were
      inversely correlated. 4. This was most evident in quail red cells, which showed
      negligible catalase activity but the highest levels of glutathione peroxidase of
      all the species examined. 5. A significant positive correlation between catalase
      and glutathione reductase activities was also demonstrated. 6. This may be
      relevant to the suggestion that the binding of NADPH to catalase may serve to
      decrease the intracellular inactivation of this reducing cofactor which may be
      limiting in the glutathione reductase reaction. 7. Basal levels of glutathione,
      which have been claimed to be limiting for the glutathione peroxidase reaction,
      were found to correlate positively with the activity of this enzyme in red cells.
      8. Myocardial tissues also exhibited species-related differences in antioxidant
      enzyme profiles but these did not bear any obvious relationship to patterns
      observed in the corresponding red cells.

PMID- 1458847
TI  - Species-related variations in tissue antioxidant status--II. Differences in
      susceptibility to oxidative challenge.
AB  - 1. In order to investigate possible species-related variations in antioxidant
      capacity, the susceptibility of red cells from various species (e.g. rat, rabbit,
      pig and quail) to depletion of glutathione (GSH) and formation of malondialdehyde
      (MDA), an indirect measure of lipid peroxidation, following in vitro oxidative
      challenge with t-butylhydroperoxide (tBHP) has been examined. 2. Marked
      differences in sensitivity were found, although the relative order of
      susceptibilities varied depending on the index of oxidation used. 3. For example,
      pig erythrocytes showed the highest sensitivity to depletion of GSH but the
      greatest resistance to tBHP-induced MDA formation. 4. Red cell susceptibility to
      oxidative stress under the experimental conditions used was not predictable from
      basal levels of GSH or from the activities of antioxidant enzymes, suggesting a
      prominent role of non-enzymatic antioxidants. 5. Species-dependent differences in
      antioxidant capacity were also found to extend to myocardial tissue homogenates
      and some degree of parallelism was noted with tBHP-induced MDA formation in red
      cells of the same species. 6. Thus, the relative resistance of both tissues from
      pig contrasted with the high susceptibility of red cells and myocardium from rat
      and quail. 7. This parallelism allows the suggestion that the functional
      consequences of antioxidant interventions might be discernible from measurements
      involving red cells. 8. Our findings may have potentially important implications
      in the interpretation and comparison of data obtained with experimental models of
      disease states in which oxidative processes are implicated when differences in
      species are involved.

PMID- 1458848
TI  - Purification and characterization of a humoral opsonin from the solitary
      urochordate Styela clava.
AB  - 1. We have previously identified opsonic activity in the plasma of the solitary
      urochordate, Styela clava. 2. Here, we report the purification and further
      characterization of the opsonic molecule. 3. Two purification methods were
      employed. 4. Gel filtration yielded one strongly opsonic fraction that contained
      a single, electrophoretically-resolved protein. 5. Opsonic activity was dose
      dependent and sensitive to tryptic digestion and heat denaturation. 6. SDS-PAGE
      and calibrated gel filtration indicated the opsonic protein was a 17.5 kDa
      monomer while isoelectrofocusing indicated a single pI of 7.0. 7. In an
      alternative procedure, a similar opsonic activity and protein were isolated by
      affinity purification using whole yeast cells.

PMID- 1458849
TI  - Analysis of the causes of the suppression of oxidative phosphorylation and energy
      dependent cationic transport into liver mitochondria of hibernating gophers,
      Citellus undulatus.
AB  - 1. The causes of the suppression of oxidative phosphorylation and energy
      dependent cationic transport into liver mitochondria of hibernating gophers have
      been analysed. 2. The decrease of the ATP synthesis rate and suppression of the
      energy-dependent K(+)- and Ca(2+)-transport into mitochondria during hibernation
      has been found to be mainly related to a delta psi decrease in mitochondria of
      hibernating gophers. 3. The increase delta psi upon incubation of the
      mitochondria of hibernating animals in a hypotonic medium results in an essential
      acceleration of ATP synthesis and energy-dependent cationic transport.

PMID- 1458851
TI  - Numerical phase algorithm for decompression computers and application.
AB  - Present generation decompression computers employ a simplified algorithm,
      limiting dissolved gas build-up in tissue and blood according to a method
      proposed by Haldane 80 years ago. Such a model works well for single dives, but
      is usually liberal and theoretically incomplete for multiple exposures within 24
      hr spans. Using the critical phase hypothesis in a bubble model, we have extended
      the classical model of Haldane to multi-exposures. This model is discussed, and a
      decomputer algorithm described for multi-diving. The focus is permissible bubble
      excess, not just dissolved gas per se, with phase constraints affecting all
      tissues, fast and slow, and requiring a systematic lowering of repetitive tissue
      tensions. Deep repetitive and shallow multi-day exposures are impacted most by
      the procedure. Within nucleation theory deeper-than-first dives are also treated.
      A set of multi-diving fractions, xi, accounting for micronuclei excitation and
      regeneration, reduced bubble elimination in repetitive activity, and coupled
      effects on tissue tension, are proposed, with xi representing a set of
      multiplicative factors (less than one) applied to critical tissue tensions for
      multi-exposures. These factors affect repetitive activity over short time spans,
      deeper-than-previous and continuous multi-day activities, compared to standard
      computer software, and are easily encoded into existing decompression meters,
      potentially extending their range and flexibility over exposure regimes.

PMID- 1458850
TI  - On AR modelling for MEG spectral estimation, data compression and classification.
AB  - The use of the autoregressive (AR) model for magnetoencephalogram (MEG)
      processing is examined and compared to other methods. Spectral estimation,
      classification and data compression of MEG signals are studied. In application to
      spectral estimation the AR model is compared to the classical modified
      periodogram method. Also, AR modelling appears to perform very successfully when
      used for the classification of normal and epileptic MEG signals. Finally, the
      17:1 to 23:1 data compression achieved by AR modelling, along with the above
      mentioned advantages, render it suitable for storage applications. For
      comparison, the method of feature selection via orthogonal expansion is used as a
      tool to achieve data reduction. It is seen that while effective, this is less
      drastic than the compression of data volume achieved by AR modelling.

PMID- 1458852
TI  - Automatic computer analysis of transients in EEG.
AB  - The electroencephalogram (EEG) is often used for the diagnosis of diseases and
      functional disturbances in the brain. In this paper, new algorithms developed for
      the automatic detection of transients in EEG are described. The single spike, and
      spike and wave bursts, both of which are abnormal phenomena associated with
      epileptic activity are considered. The algorithms for detecting these transients
      were tested using real EEG data. The transient detection is enhanced by two
      classification algorithms: patient-independent analysis and patient-dependent
      analysis. In the patient-independent analysis, multiple reference templates are
      generated from a patient population and for the patient-dependent analysis, the
      spikes from the patient's own EEG recording is used as reference. The description
      of the algorithms and their performances are presented.

PMID- 1458853
TI  - Development and testing of a PC-based system with menu-driven software for
      evaluating lung function in ICU patients.
AB  - This paper describes a portable PC-based system for measuring respiratory system
      resistance (Rrs) and dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn) in intubated and mechanically
      ventilated patients. A pneumotachometer placed immediately proximal to the
      endotracheal tube measures flow, and a pressure catheter with its tip at the
      distal end of the endotracheal tube measures lateral airway pressure. The
      software is menu driven and allows the user to select from options including
      patient information display and entry, data collection, data editing, and
      waveform display. Up to ten consecutive breaths can be analyzed per run. Rrs and
      Cdyn are calculated on a breath by breath basis. Results are displayed to the
      screen, output to the system printer, and written to a user-specified ACSII data
      file. The system was tested by measuring resistance and compliance in a model of
      the lung, and results compared with those calculated from analog signals. It was
      then used to make measurements in intubated post-operative patients. Results were
      comparable to those previously reported in intubated ICU patients without primary
      lung disease. We conclude that our system provides reliable measurements of lung
      mechanics in the intubated patient, and represents an inexpensive and more
      versatile alternative to microprocessor-based ventilator systems currently being
      marketed.

PMID- 1458854
TI  - A fitness analysis system with an intelligent interface.
AB  - This paper describes the development of a system with an intelligent interface
      for analysis of physiological correlates of athletes' physical performance
      capacities. The system improves the interface between the physiologist and the
      coach and provides scientific information in a systematic and coherent fashion.
      The recommendations provided are based on the results of a series of
      physiological tests. The implementation of the system is described with emphasis
      placed on recognition of the internal structure of the knowledge, independence
      from a particular shell, design for future expansion and maintenance and the
      integration with existing information resources.

PMID- 1458855
TI  - Validation of the medical expert system PNEUMON-IA.
AB  - The present study validates the expert system PNEUMON-IA. The aim of PNEUMON-IA
      is assessing the etiology of community-acquired pneumonias from clinical,
      radiological, and laboratory data obtained at the onset of the disease.
      Validation was performed using data from medical records of 76 patients with
      proven clinical diagnosis of pneumonia. The etiological diagnoses provided by
      PNEUMON-IA were compared to those established by five specialists unrelated to
      the development of the expert system. For each etiological possibility, both
      PNEUMON-IA and the experts provided a causal possibility, expressed as a
      linguistic label (i.e., "almost impossible"). Linguistic labels were then
      converted to numeric values. In the majority of cases, an etiological diagnosis
      was unavailable to be used as a gold standard. To overcome this limitation,
      distances between arrays of etiological possibilities given by specialists and by
      PNEUMON-IA were considered as an agreement measure between diagnoses. Cluster
      analysis based on those distances was used to classify PNEUMON-IA among experts.
      Results showed the same differences between specialists and PNEUMON-IA as among
      the specialists themselves. The method used to validate PNEUMON-IA could prove
      useful to assess the performance of expert systems in fields where no gold
      standard is available.

PMID- 1458856
TI  - Plots for examination of univariate twin data.
AB  - We discuss informative plots for univariate twin data that can be used in
      conjunction with twin data analyses. The plots are useful for spotting outliers,
      spotting possible single gene effects, and displaying the contribution of
      individual twin pairs to the fit of genetic models of the data. We illustrate the
      use of the plots on bone mineral data, and present programs for generating the
      plots in SAS.

PMID- 1458857
TI  - Reconstruction of the electrocardiogram during heart surgery.
AB  - Electrocardiograms (ECG) recorded during arrhythmia surgery are used for
      identification of arrhythmias of different morphology. However, the
      interpretation of an intraoperative ECG is difficult because some leads cannot be
      recorded and the signals of the remaining leads often differ from those of a
      preoperative recording because of the sternotomy. Therefore, a method for
      reconstruction of a complete intraoperative ECG, which resembles a preoperatively
      recorded ECG, was studied in 24 patients undergoing heart surgery. The
      reconstruction method involves calculating coefficients for a transformation
      matrix, using a preoperative ECG recording and a first intraoperative ECG
      recording. Once this matrix has been established, further intraoperative
      recordings can be transformed into an ECG which strongly resembles a preoperative
      ECG. The correlation between reconstructed intraoperative leads and the
      corresponding preoperative leads was high in the leads Vx and Vy (median
      correlation coefficient 0.98 and 0.97) and slightly smaller in lead Vz (0.94).
      Further studies will prove if the method can be useful in arrhythmia surgery.

PMID- 1458858
TI  - A parallel implementation of the backward error propagation neural network
      training algorithm: experiments in event identification.
AB  - An artificial neural-network-based (ANN) event detection and alarm generation
      system has been developed to aid clinicians in the identification of critical
      events commonly occurring in the anesthesia breathing circuit. To detect
      breathing circuit problems, the system monitored CO2 gas concentration, gas flow,
      and airway pressure. Various parameters were extracted from each of these input
      waveforms and fed into an artificial neural network. To develop truly robust
      ANNs, investigators are required to train their networks on large training data
      sets, requiring enormous computing power. We implemented a parallel version of
      the backward error propagation neural network training algorithm in the widely
      portable parallel programming language C-Linda. A maximum speedup of 4.06 was
      obtained with six processors. This speedup represents a reduction in total run
      time from 6.4 to 1.5 h. By reducing the total run time of the computation through
      parallelism, we were able to optimize many of the neural network's initial
      parameters. We conclude that use of the master-worker model of parallel
      computation is an excellent method for speeding up the backward error propagation
      neural network training algorithm.

PMID- 1458859
TI  - Evaluation of a computer program for teaching laboratory diagnosis of acid-base
      disorders.
AB  - A computer program was evaluated as a tool for increasing the diagnostic acumen
      of medical housestaff and students in identifying acid-base disorders. The
      participants were randomized into two groups; group A (N = 20) was encouraged to
      use the software, and group B (N = 19) was denied access. Pre- and post-tests
      were administered to delineate the groups' ability to identify correctly an acid
      base disorder from laboratory data (electrolytes and arterial blood gas). During
      6 weeks, group A used the computer for a mean of 2.83 h (range 1 to 6). The mean
      +/- SE number of correct answers out of 20 questions, prior to use of the
      computer program, were 5.7 +/- 0.8 (95% confidence interval 3.9 to 7.5) for group
      A and 5.2 +/- 0.6 (95% confidence interval 3.9 to 6.5) for group B. These results
      were not statistically different. Correct responses increased significantly in
      group A to 10.3 +/- 0.9 (P < 0.0001, 95% confidence interval 8.4 to 12.2) but did
      not increase significantly in group B. The data suggest that this software
      program was effective in increasing the diagnostic capabilities of medical
      housestaff and students for identifying acid-base disorders.

PMID- 1458860
TI  - A neural network architecture for understanding discrete three-dimensional scenes
      in medical imaging.
AB  - Magnetic resonance and computed tomography produce sets of tomograms which are
      termed discrete 3D scenes. Usually, discrete 3D scenes are analyzed in two
      dimensions by observing each tomogram on a screen so that the three-dimensional
      information contained in the scene can be recovered only partially and
      qualitatively. The three-dimensional reconstruction of the shape of biological
      structures from discrete 3D scenes would allow a complete and quantitative
      recovery of the available information, but this task has proved hard for
      conventional processing techniques. In this paper we present a system
      architecture based on neural networks for the fully automated segmentation and
      recognition of structures of interest in discrete 3D scenes. The system includes
      a retina and two main processing modules, an Attention-Focuser System and a
      Region-Finder System, which have been implemented by using feed-forward nets
      trained with the back-propagation algorithm. This architecture has been tested on
      computer-simulated structures and has been applied to the reconstruction of the
      spinal cord and the brain from sets of tomograms.

PMID- 1458861
TI  - The chronic disease data bank model: a conceptual framework for the computer
      based medical record.
AB  - The principles underlying the chronic disease data bank model are straight
      forward: (1) the purpose of medical care is to improve patient outcomes; (2)
      patient outcomes in contemporary developed societies are overwhelmingly linked to
      chronic illnesses and degenerative processes and will become increasingly so; (3)
      such outcomes have multiple determinants including the psychological and social,
      as well as the biologic; (4) outcome antecedents (risk factors) may precede
      clinical illness by years or decades; and (5) these complex characteristics
      require for their study (a) computer aid and (b) longitudinal data. The chronic
      disease data bank provides an important resource, available to many
      investigators, for examination of the complex set of clinical and policy
      questions arising with long-term illness and addressing the questions of lifetime
      health. The chronic disease data bank consecutively enrolls eligible subjects,
      follows them for life, and amasses time-oriented, multidisciplinary data
      including clinical findings, medical history, demographics, treatments, resource
      utilization and disease outcomes, and assessing both the quality of life and its
      duration. Analyses are longitudinal and time-series in type, examining changes in
      trends and tempo of the disease, and are focused upon long-term outcomes.
      Outcomes are regularly and carefully assessed, and include the outcome dimensions
      of death, disability, discomfort, iatrogenic toxicity, and dollar cost. Specific
      studies address the description of the disease from biologic, demographic,
      economic, and social viewpoints, identify the factors associated with good and
      bad outcomes, and assess the effects of treatment, both good and ill. The
      clinical and policy goals are focused upon delaying transitions from more benign
      disease states to more serious ones, thus improving both longevity and the
      quality of life. The time is appropriate to consider generalization of the
      chronic disease data bank model to the usual clinical care situation, with large
      rewards in improvement of the quality of care. The traditional medical record
      lacks systematic documentation of end results and of important covariates related
      to health risks. As such, it cannot readily be used to assess the ultimate
      quality of care and to establish a feedback loop to change behaviors and thereby
      improve outcomes. It is weak where the chronic disease data bank is strong. The
      technology is transferable.

PMID- 1458862
TI  - GOFCOX: a computer program for the goodness-of-fit analysis of the Cox
      proportional hazards model.
AB  - GOFCOX is a user-friendly FORTRAN program for assessing the adequacy of the Cox
      proportional hazards model. The underlying methodology is based on the comparison
      of the maximum partial likelihood estimator and a weighted parameter estimator.
      The latter is the root to an estimation equation that assigns varying weights to
      the individual contributions to the partial likelihood score function. The
      weighted and unweighted parameter estimators have the same expectation under the
      Cox model, but tend to differ when the model is inappropriate. The GOFCOX program
      computes a rich class of weighted parameter estimators and corresponding goodness
      of-fit test statistics. The program runs on both mainframe computers and
      microcomputers. The running time is minimal even for large data sets. A simple
      example is provided to illustrate the features of the program.

PMID- 1458863
TI  - Computer quantitation of saturation impairment time as an index of oxygenation
      during sleep.
AB  - The measurement of oxygenation during sleep has become a standard procedure in
      the assessment of hypoxemia in patients with various disorders. However, an
      accepted method for quantitating this hypoxemia is not available. This study
      describes the development of computerized data acquisition and analysis programs
      to quantitate nocturnal hypoxemia in patients with sleep and breathing disorders.
      The acquisition program samples the voltage output from pulse oximeters used to
      measure oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2) and stores this on an IBM PC or
      compatible computer. The analysis program integrates the SpO2 over time below the
      patient's pretest baseline as well as the integral below 90, 80, 70, 60 and 50%
      saturation. We refer to each integral as Saturation Impairment Time or SIT. In
      order to compare these integrals between patients or between the same patient but
      different studies, the integral is divided by the total sleep study time. We
      refer to each of these integrals, corrected for sleep study time, as the SIT
      index. Evaluation of the SIT index in 10 consecutive patients referred for
      various sleep disorders revealed acquisition program detection and deletion of 48
      of 57 (86%) oximeter probe artifacts (mean duration of 3 seconds for undetected
      artifacts). There were no significant artifacts in the analysis program
      calculation of the SIT index in these same patients. In conclusion, computer
      programs were developed to measure and quantitate oxygen saturation measured by
      oximeters. Preliminary results reveal an accuracy of measurement which should
      prove acceptable in further clinical evaluations.

PMID- 1458864
TI  - EMSA: a SAAM service for the estimation of population parameters based on model
      fits to identically replicated experiments.
AB  - This paper presents a new technique for the aggregation of models to produce
      population parameter estimates based on a set of identically replicated
      experiments. After describing the theoretical basis for the technique we discuss
      tactical and strategic issues associated with its implementation in the SAAM
      software. Finally, we demonstrate its utility in the aggregation of models fitted
      to four simulated experiments.

PMID- 1458865
TI  - Cohen's weighted kappa with Turbo Pascal (FORTRAN).
AB  - A microcomputer based Turbo Pascal and FORTRAN program for Cohen's weighted kappa
      (kappa w) is given. Three clinical applications for kappa w are also presented. A
      typical data file, the Pascal and FORTRAN program listing and corresponding
      output are given.

PMID- 1458866
TI  - TWINAN90: a FORTRAN program for conducting ANOVA-based and likelihood-based
      analyses of twin data.
AB  - We discuss the program, TWINAN90, which can perform several different types of
      analysis of twin data. TWINAN90 incorporates the ANOVA-based twin analyses from
      the TWINAN twin analysis program, and also includes maximum likelihood estimation
      of parameters from three path models. Another feature of TWINAN90 is the optional
      output of a pedigree file which can be read by the quantitative genetics package
      FISHER. The diagnostic features of the program make TWINAN90 useful also for
      preliminary analyses prior to the use of more sophisticated modeling procedures
      which are available in packages such as LISREL and FISHER. An annotated printout
      from TWINAN90 is presented to illustrate the statistical analyses performed in
      the program.

PMID- 1458867
TI  - An integrated system for quantitation of chemotaxis using a 48-well millipore
      filter assay.
AB  - We have established a computerized system for quantification of human neutrophil
      motility using a 48-well chemotaxis assay. The software is primarily written in
      the Unix C-shell and is designed to integrate with standard statistical and
      graphics packages and permit analysis either under Unix or MS-DOS. We demonstrate
      how simple image analysis techniques may be used to count neutrophils that have
      traversed a polycarbonate filter. Methods of optical optimization, cell counting
      and integration with the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) are presented.

PMID- 1458868
TI  - CD-ROM source data uploaded to the operating and storage devices of an IBM 3090
      mainframe through a PC terminal.
AB  - A powerful method of processing MEDLINE and CINAHL source data uploaded to the
      IBM 3090 mainframe computer through an IBM/PC is described. Data are first
      downloaded from the CD-ROM's PC devices to floppy disks. These disks then are
      uploaded to the mainframe computer through an IBM/PC equipped with WordPerfect
      text editor and computer network connection (SONNGATE). Before downloading,
      keywords specifying the information to be accessed are typed at the FIND prompt
      of the CD-ROM station. The resulting abstracts are downloaded into a file called
      DOWNLOAD.DOC. The floppy disks containing the information are simply carried to
      an IBM/PC which has a terminal emulation (TELNET) connection to the university
      wide computer network (SONNET) at the Ohio State University Academic Computing
      Services (OSU ACS). The WordPerfect (5.1) processes and saves the text into DOS
      format. Using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP, 130,000 bytes/s) of SONNET, the
      entire text containing the information obtained through the MEDLINE and CINAHL
      search is transferred to the remote mainframe computer for further processing. At
      this point, abstracts in the specified area are ready for immediate access and
      multiple retrieval by any PC having network switch or dial-in connection after
      the USER ID, PASSWORD and ACCOUNT NUMBER are specified by the user. The system
      provides the user an on-line, very powerful and quick method of searching for
      words specifying: diseases, agents, experimental methods, animals, authors, and
      journals in the research area downloaded. The user can also copy the TItles,
      AUthors and SOurce with optional parts of abstracts into papers under edition.
      This arrangement serves the special demands of a research laboratory by handling
      MEDLINE and CINAHL source data resulting after a search is performed with
      keywords specified for ongoing projects. Since the Ohio State University has a
      centrally founded mainframe system, the data upload, storage and mainframe
      operations are free.

PMID- 1458869
TI  - Cardiology education using hypermedia and digital imagery.
AB  - A computer-based educational system for the study of cardiovascular imaging is
      described. This system, based on HyperCard * and a standard Macintosh II,
      integrates hypertext retrieval, computer graphics, sound, and medical images into
      a single interactive environment stored on a standard hard disk. This
      'hypermedia' approach allows arbitrary complexity coupled with direct, immediate,
      easy traversal of the images and related text, which provides the opportunity for
      students to move at their own pace, choose their own direction through the
      material and repeat as often as desired. Storage on magnetic medium allows for
      easy updating with new studies and material in order to keep pace with advances
      in medical imaging technology. The system could be mastered onto CD-ROM for ease
      of distribution if so desired. The system includes a tutorial on the basics of
      digital image representation and example studies from cineangiography, nuclear
      medicine, echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging of the heart.
      Quantitative techniques for evaluation of left ventricular function are explained
      using computer graphics overlays on the original medical images. Color encoded
      functional images are also included as an aid to visualization of ventricular
      performance data. The system has proven useful as a primer for digital imaging in
      cardiology prior to specific case study in a traditional mentor relationship.

PMID- 1458870
TI  - Influence of thyroid status regulation and Synovex-S implants on growth
      performance and tissue gain in beef steers.
AB  - The separate and combined effects of Synovex-S (SYN) ear implants and thyroxine
      (T4)-5'-monodeiodinase inhibition (Trial 1) and T3 injection to create a mild
      elevation in circulating T3 concentrations (Trial 2) on BW gain and composition
      of gain were studied. Trial 1 used 24, 285-kg Angus steers in two experimental
      phases. Low-level feeding of propylthiouracil (PTU, 1.5 mg/kg BW daily) was used
      to achieve inhibition of T4-5'-monodeiodinase activity (TMA). Twelve steers
      received neither treatment (control) and 12 received SYN+PTU (hypothesized to
      maximize weight gain) from 0 to 56 d (phase 1) in a single factor treatment
      comparison. Subsequently, PTU was fed to six control steers and not fed to six of
      the original SYN+PTU steers from 56 to 175 d (phase 2) in a 2 x 2 arrangement of
      treatments. Trial 2 used 24, 302-kg Angus-Hereford steers. Treatments were
      without or with SYN and without or with sc injections of T3 in polyethylene
      glycol (2 micrograms/kg BW every 48 hr) in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of
      treatments. In both trials, all steers were individually fed a diet of a corn
      based concentrate and silage mixture at an equal metabolizable energy intakes per
      unit of metabolic body weight (.25 Mcal/kg BW.75). Measurements of daily dry
      matter intakes, weekly BW, 28-d estimates of empty body components (measured by
      urea dilution), final TMA (trial 1) and plasma thyroid hormone concentrations
      were obtained. In both trials, SYN increased BW gain and protein
      accretion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1458871
TI  - Opioid modulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in dairy cows.
AB  - Plasma cortisol responses to an intravenous bolus treatment with 250 mg naloxone,
      300 mg morphine or a combination, were studied in Holstein-Friesian cows; 4 in
      early lactation (29-43 d postpartum) and 7 in mid-lactation (90-155 d post
      partum). Blood samples were collected every 15 min from 60 min before to 90 min
      after treatment. Naloxone induced an immediate increase in cortisol
      concentration, reaching a peak within 30 min. The cortisol response (area under
      the curve) was positively correlated with pre-naloxone cortisol concentrations (r
      = 0.7, p < 0.05). The mean increase in cortisol concentration after naloxone
      appeared to be lower in early lactation (1.8 ng/ml) than in mid-lactation (8.3
      ng/ml). In contrast, morphine consistently suppressed mean tonic plasma cortisol
      concentration by 2.7 ng/ml below baseline for at least 90 min. When given with
      morphine, naloxone counteracted the suppressive effects; the cortisol response
      was similar to that after naloxone alone. A cow in mid-lactation, suffering from
      chronic lameness (joint infection), gave opposite results, i.e., treatment with
      morphine alone increased cortisol concentration, whereas morphine with naloxone
      did not result in the expected large increase in plasma cortisol concentration.
      In conclusion, the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis of dairy cows appears to be
      under suppressive opioidergic control. However, the opioidergic system involved
      in hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal functions of an animal under chronic stress
      behaved in an opposite manner.

PMID- 1458872
TI  - Is nutritional anestrus precipitated by subfunctional corpora lutea in beef cows?
AB  - Thirty-four multiparous, lactating, cyclic beef cows which calved in moderate
      body condition were used to determine effects of restricted nutrition on corpus
      luteum (CL) development and endocrine status. At 78 d postpartum, six cows were
      assigned to a control (CON) diet (26.0 Mcal ME), fed to increase bodyweight (BW)
      and body condition score (BCS), and the remaining 28 cows were fed to lose BW and
      BCS on a restricted (RES) diet (14.0 Mcal ME). Following a 40-d adjustment period
      on respective diets, estrous cycles were synchronized and cows bled daily for
      determination of progesterone (P4), luteinizing hormone (LH) and insulin (INS)
      beginning at the synchronized estrus. Ultrasonography was used to determine the
      ovulatory follicle and CL development. Control cows were maintained for one
      estrous cycle and were ovariectomized on day 11 of their second cycle. Ten cows
      on restricted diet (RES-C) continued to form a functional CL (P4 > 1.5 ng/ml at
      day 10 of an estrous cycle) through as many as 5 cycles, after which observations
      were discontinued. Fourteen cows on restricted diet (RES-A) were ovariectomized
      on day 11 of a cycle when a CL was identified by ultrasonography, but was
      subfunctional (P4 < 1.5 ng/ml on day 10 of that cycle). Four additional RES-A
      cows which had subfunctional CL were not ovariectomized but were bled for an
      additional 25 d. At ovariectomy, CL and ovarian weights were collected. Luteal
      tissue was prepared for evaluation of P4 synthesis, LH responsiveness in vitro,
      and for determination of P4 content and total LH receptors. Bodyweight and BCS
      increased in CON cows; whereas, RES cows lost BW and BCS (P < .05). In the cycle
      prior to ovariectomy, serum P4 and LH were not different in 18 RES-A cows which
      developed subfunctional CL in comparison to CON cows. Four RES-A cows not
      ovariectomized but bled for an additional 25 d neither exhibited estrus,
      ovulated, nor had P4 concentrations greater than .3 ng/ml. Serum INS was lower in
      RES-A cows during the cycle prior to ovariectomy than in CON cows (P < .05).
      During the 11-d period prior to ovariectomy, mean serum P4 and INS were lower in
      RES-A cows than in CON cows (P < .05); however, serum LH was not different.
      Furthermore, CL and ovarian weights, P4 content of CL, secretion of P4 by luteal
      tissue in response to LH in vitro and LH receptor number were not different
      between CON and RES-A cows. In conclusion, nutritional anestrus may be preceded
      by the formation of a CL with lower steroidogenic output in vivo. However, luteal
      tissue, collected from RES-A cows, did not appear to be subfunctional during in
      vitro incubation when substrate availability and gonadotropin support were equal
      between diets.

PMID- 1458873
TI  - Effect of age and intake on growth hormone kinetics in dairy heifers.
AB  - The effects of aging and intake on growth hormone (GH) kinetics and GH-releasing
      factor (GRF)-induced GH concentrations were studied in two groups of 12 Holstein
      heifers each (80 d, 85 kg: young; and 273 d of age, 246 kg: old). Each group was
      then equally subdivided into full-fed (FF) and restricted-fed (RF) subgroups.
      After 11 d of intake treatment, animals were infused for 3 hr with GH (1.5 mg/hr)
      in order to calculate GH metabolic clearance rate (MCR), secretion rate (SR) and
      half-life (t 1/2). Two d later, total plasma volume was determined and the
      following day, all heifers received a GRF challenge (5 micrograms/kg i.v.). The
      following values are LSM +/- SE for young-FF, young-RF, old-FF and old-RF. Rate
      of secretion was not affected by any treatment, averaging 1.51, 1.25, 1.34, and
      1.40 +/- .23 micrograms/min. Aging increased (P < .01) MCR (186, 159, 382, and
      300 +/- 21 ml/min) and increased plasma volume (P < .01), which resulted in lower
      basal GH concentrations. Aging also decreased (P < .01) the area under the GH
      response curve following GRF injection (AUC: 12442, 21114, 5155, and 6308 +/-
      1776 ng.min/ml) but did not affect average GH quantity in the plasma after the
      GRF challenge. Feed restriction decreased (P < .05) MCR, but not enough to affect
      basal GH concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1458874
TI  - Androgens modulate growth hormone-releasing factor-induced GH release from bovine
      anterior pituitary cells in static culture.
AB  - Static primary cultures of bovine anterior pituitary (AP) cells were utilized to
      study the effect of sex steroids on basal growth hormone (GH) and GH-releasing
      hormone (GRF)-stimulated release of GH. The AP cells (5 x 10(5) cells/well) were
      allowed to attach for 72 hr and become confluent before treatments were imposed.
      Cells were incubated for an additional 24, 48 or 72 hr with either estradiol-17
      beta (E2, 10(-11) to 10(-8) M), testosterone (T, 10(-8) to 10(-5) M),
      dihydrotestosterone (DHT, 10(-9) to 10(-6) M) or 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17
      beta-diol (3 alpha-diol, 10(-11) to 10(-8) M). Media were collected every 24 hr
      and GH concentrations determined by RIA. Incubation of calf AP cells with gonadal
      steroids did not affect (P > 0.05) basal GH released at 24, 48, or 72 hr. In
      another experiment, calf AP cells were incubated with the same concentrations of
      the steroids for 24 hr, media harvested, cells washed and challenged in serum
      free media for 1 hr with bovine GRF 1-44-NH2 (10(-8) M). In non-steroid treated
      wells, GRF increased (P < 0.05) GH from 58 to 134 ng/ml. Incubation with E2 or 3
      alpha-diol did not affect (P > 0.05) GRF-induced GH release; however,
      preincubation with T (10(-5) M) and DHT (10(-9), 10(-8) and 10(-7) M) increased
      (P < 0.05) GRF-induced GH release above control concentrations (195, 235, 190 and
      185 ng/ml, respectively). At the doses tested, sex steroids did not affect basal
      release of GH, but androgens increased responsiveness of somatotropes to GRF.

PMID- 1458875
TI  - Comparative morphometry and steroidogenic function of antral ovine follicles
      destined for ovulation or atresia.
AB  - An experimental model was established in the ewe allowing one to predict with
      accuracy an antral follicle that coincidentally would either undergo ovulation (6
      8 mm diameter) or atresia (3-4 mm diameter) following synchronization of luteal
      regression and the onset of the gonadotropin surge. Quantitative morphometric and
      hormonal criteria were used to make direct comparisons of such follicles
      collected throughout the preovulatory period. There were progressive alterations
      in percentages of granulosa cells exhibiting pyknotic nuclei, dispersion of
      granulosa cells, oocyte maturation, thecal vascular dynamics and extravasation of
      leukocytes. Nevertheless, no significant variations in temporal patterns were
      observed between follicular classification. The most notable anatomical
      distinction between preovulatory and atretogenic follicles was that the former
      had come into closer contact with the ovarian surface epithelium. The dominant
      follicle had a higher capacity than the subordinate follicle to produce estradiol
      before the gonadotropin surge; however, ensuing profiles of steroidogenic
      function (i.e., shift from the delta 5 to delta 4 pathway) occurred in parallel.
      Thus, in many respects the follicular mechanics of ovulation and atresia in the
      sheep appear analogous.

PMID- 1458876
TI  - N-methyl-d,l-aspartate stimulates growth hormone and prolactin but inhibits
      luteinizing hormone secretion in the pig.
AB  - The effects of n-methyl-d,l-aspartate (NMA), a neuroexcitatory amino acid
      agonist, on luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH)
      secretion in gilts treated with ovarian steroids was studied. Mature gilts which
      had displayed one or more estrous cycles of 18 to 22 d were ovariectomized and
      assigned to one of three treatments administered i.m.: corn oil vehicle (V; n =
      6); 10 micrograms estradiol-17 b/kg BW given 33 hr before NMA (E; n = 6); .85 mg
      progesterone/kg BW given twice daily for 6 d prior to NMA (P4; n = 6). Blood was
      collected via jugular cannulae every 15 min for 6 hr. Pigs received 10 mg NMA/kg
      BW i.v. 2 hr after blood collection began and a combined synthetic [Ala15]-h GH
      releasing factor (1-29)-NH2 (GRF; 1 micrograms/kg BW) and gonadotropin releasing
      hormone (GnRH; .2 micrograms/kg BW) challenge given i.v. 3 hr after NMA. NMA did
      not alter LH secretion in E gilts. However, NMA decreased (P < .02) serum LH
      concentrations in V and P4 gilts. Serum LH concentrations increased (P < .01)
      after GnRH in all gilts. NMA did not alter PRL secretion in P4 pigs, but
      increased (P < .01) serum PRL concentrations in V and E animals. Treatment with
      NMA increased (P < .01) GH secretion in all animals while the GRF challenge
      increased (P < .01) serum GH concentrations in all animals except in V treated
      pigs. NMA increased (P < .05) cortisol secretion in all treatment groups. These
      results indicate that NMA inhibits LH secretion and is a secretagogue of PRL, GH
      and cortisol secretion with ovarian steroids modulating the LH and PRL response
      to NMA.

PMID- 1458877
TI  - Glucose and insulin metabolism in ruminating and veal calves fed high and low fat
      diets.
AB  - Holstein male calves were maintained on conventional (milk to 6 wk of age, fed
      grain and hay after weaning) and veal (milk replacer only) diets to 16 wk of age.
      Within each of these 2 physiological states (ruminating or non-ruminating),
      calves were fed low or high fat diets (ruminating: 3 and 10%; veal: 10 and 18%).
      Glucose tolerance tests were undertaken at 8 and 16 wk of age in each group.
      Basal concentrations (4 hr postfeeding) and areas under the response curves for
      plasma glucose and insulin were higher in veal calves (P < .0001). Ruminating
      calves fed higher fat utilized glucose more readily (smaller areas under the
      curves for both glucose and insulin, P < .10) than those fed lower fat. Age did
      not influence basal glucose concentrations (P > .10), but older calves had higher
      basal insulin (P < .0001) and greater areas under the curves (P < .0005) for both
      glucose and insulin after a glucose challenge. Rate of clearance (k) was greater
      in ruminating calves (P < .001). Though rate of clearance in veal calves was
      slower, larger plasma pool size caused veal calves on average to utilize glucose
      at a 15% greater rate per kg body weight than ruminating calves. Whereas fat
      concentration in the diets did not influence glucose metabolism in veal calves,
      the high lactose content (> 50% of diet dry matter) of veal diets induced severe
      insulin resistance in these calves.

PMID- 1458878
TI  - Advances in syncope: a combined approach utilizing head-up tilt testing and
      electrophysiologic evaluation.
AB  - The electrophysiological evaluation of syncope of unknown origin yields a
      diagnosis in approximately 40% of patients. In the presence of structural heart
      disease ventricular tachycardia is the most common etiology accounting for 20% of
      cases. Over the past several years head-up tilt table testing with isoproterenol
      provocation has highlighted the syndrome of neurocardiogenic syncope. This
      syndrome accounts for an additional 30-40% of patients with syncope. There is
      compelling evidence that this syndrome involves the Bezold-Jarisch reflex with
      excessive stimulation of ventricular mechanoreceptors (C-fibers) located
      predominantly in the inferoposterior portion of the heart. Tilt table testing is
      now an established tool both for diagnosis of this syndrome and for guiding
      therapy with beta blockers, disopyramide, theophylline, or alpha-agonists. Tilt
      table testing combined with invasive electrophysiological testing significantly
      increases the diagnostic yield in the evaluation of syncope.

PMID- 1458879
TI  - Arterial substitution in lower extremity trauma: autogenous vein vs
      polytetrafluoroethylene.
AB  - This review article compares the two most commonly used grafts, autogenous
      saphenous vein and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), for treatment of arterial
      trauma. Late graft occlusion is more common with PTFE, but PTFE may be better in
      situations where infection is a concern and extra-anatomic bypass is not
      possible. When infected, saphenous vein is much more of a risk because of its
      tendency to undergo sudden hemorrhagic disruption. PTFE grafts usually show only
      moderate suture line bleeding, which alerts the surgeon to the presence of a
      problem with the graft.

PMID- 1458880
TI  - Case report: treatment of superior sagittal sinus thrombosis with urokinase.
AB  - Sagittal sinus thrombosis (SSST) is a rare disease with high mortality.
      Definitive therapy is not known, but anticoagulation or addressing the underlying
      etiology have been the most often utilized approaches. We here report the second
      case of postpartum sagittal sinus thrombosis successfully treated with urokinase.
      Though there are no studies to support this therapy it may be safe and
      efficacious in refractory cases.

PMID- 1458881
TI  - The Connecticut State Medical Society: its antecedents and early history.

PMID- 1458882
TI  - Once-daily aminoglycosides.

PMID- 1458883
TI  - Physician negotiations with managed care plans: a primer of antitrust pitfalls.

PMID- 1458884
TI  - Abortion 1992: looking ahead.

PMID- 1458885
TI  - Closed vs open medical staffs.

PMID- 1458886
TI  - House-of-cards debt.

PMID- 1458887
TI  - LifeStar Helicopter--an overreaction?

PMID- 1458888
TI  - The multiload IUD--a U.S. researcher's evaluation of a European device.
AB  - This evaluative review focused on the performance and safety of the Dutch-made
      Multiload copper IUD, primarily the Multiload-375 (MLCu-375) model which has a
      longer life expectancy (5 or more years) than the Multiload-250 (MLCu-250) model,
      usually cited for a life expectancy for three years. This copper-medicated IUD
      differs from the copper-T IUDs in shape and insertion technique. The review shows
      that (a) the MLCu-375 IUD seems to be slightly less effective in preventing
      pregnancies than TCu-380A IUD. Its efficacy is comparable to that of the Nova-T
      by two to three years of use; (b) the MLCu-250 IUD is similarly effective to TCu
      200 but may be slightly less effective than TCu-220C; (c) no consistent
      differences were detectable in expulsion rates or in removal rates for
      bleeding/pain between the Multiload IUDs and comparative Copper-T IUDs; (d) the
      Multiload IUDs may perform better in nulliparous women than the T-shaped devices;
      (e) no or a very low incidence of uterine perforation is associated with
      insertions of the Multiload IUD; (f) ectopic pregnancy risks are similarly low in
      Multiload IUD users as in Copper-T-380A users; and (g) pelvic inflammatory
      disease (PID) risks are similarly low in Multiload IUD users as in users of T
      shaped copper IUDs.

PMID- 1458889
TI  - Risk factors for copper T IUD expulsion: an epidemiologic analysis.
AB  - Little is known of the factors associated with expulsion of intrauterine devices
      (IUD). We conducted a nested case-control study to examine the risk factors for
      copper T IUD expulsion using data from a multicenter international clinical
      trial. We included 70 cases with expulsion and 1,536 controls, and we examined a
      variety of characteristics of the IUD wearers. The proportional hazards model
      showed that young maternal age, abnormal amount of menstrual flow and
      dysmenorrhea before IUD insertion are risk factors for copper T IUD expulsion.
      The risk of expulsion steadily increased as age decreased, and as the severity of
      dysmenorrhea increased.

PMID- 1458890
TI  - What do women want during medical abortion?
AB  - A questionnaire study was carried out to investigate the needs of women
      undergoing a medical abortion induced by mifepristone in combination with either
      gemeprost pessaries or oral misoprostol. One-hundred-and-eighty women undergoing
      medical abortion of pregnancy of up to 63 days amenorrhoea were randomised to
      treatment in the sitting-room (treatment room) or in the ward. Overall, 77% and
      69% treated in the sitting-room and ward, respectively, would have preferred
      treatment in the sitting-room. Fifty-four per cent did not wish their partner or
      friend to be present and 76% would prefer to stay in hospital following
      administration of prostaglandin. Ninety-five per cent of the patients would
      recommend this method of abortion to their friends. Women who received
      misoprostol required significantly less analgesia than women who were given 1 mg
      gemeprost as a vaginal pessary. The requirement for opiate analgesia was not
      influenced by parity, gestation of pregnancy, history of dysmenorrhoea or the
      dose of mifepristone. Almost 100% of the patients were satisfied with this method
      of treatment. This study indicates that the majority of women undergoing medical
      abortion prefer to be treated in a group, a method which is highly cost
      effective.

PMID- 1458891
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of levonorgestrel in 12 women who received a single oral dose of
      0.15 mg levonorgestrel and, after a washout phase, the same dose during one
      treatment cycle.
AB  - The pharmacokinetics of levonorgestrel (LNG) was determined in 12 healthy women
      (age 21 to 33 years), following single dose administration of 0.15 mg LNG. The
      same preparation was also administered during one treatment cycle after a washout
      phase of 1 week. After single dose administration, maximum concentrations of LNG
      in the serum were 4.3 +/- 1.3 ng/ml. Post maximum drug levels declined
      biphasically with half-lives of 0.6 +/- 0.2 h and 13.9 +/- 3.2 h, respectively.
      The clearance was calculated to be 1.5 +/- 0.6 ml x min-1 x kg-1. The free
      fraction of LNG was 1.1 +/- 0.1% and the fractions bound to SHBG and albumin were
      61.8 +/- 6.7% and 37.1 +/- 6.7%, respectively. There was a gradual decrease in
      serum trough levels of LNG from about 0.5 to 0.3 ng/ml during the cycle, and a
      concomitant decrease in SHBG concentrations in the serum by about 50%. Serum
      protein binding of LNG changed markedly during the treatment cycle. The free
      fraction increased to a value of 1.7 +/- 0.3%, the SHBG-bound fraction decreased
      to 42.0 +/- 11.4% and the albumin-bound fraction increased to 56.4 +/- 11.2%.
      Total serum clearance increased during the same time period from a mean value of
      1.5 to about 2.5 ml x min-1 x kg-1. The clearance of unbound LNG, however,
      remained unchanged. An examination of the free LNG concentrations revealed the
      same time course of LNG trough levels during the cycle as the simulated curve.
      This was derived from the pharmacokinetic parameters which were obtained after
      single dose administration. Thus, the present study showed that the
      pharmacokinetics of LNG can be fully explained on the basis of single dose
      pharmacokinetics and the changes in serum protein binding which were caused by a
      reduction of SHBG levels in the serum during chronic treatment with LNG.

PMID- 1458892
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol in 9 women who received a
      low-dose oral contraceptive over a treatment period of 3 months and, after a wash
      out phase, a single oral administration of the same contraceptive formulation.
AB  - The pharmacokinetics of levonorgestrel (LNG) and ethinylestradiol (EE2) were
      determined in 9 healthy women (age 23 to 42 years), during a treatment period of
      three months with a low-dose oral contraceptive, containing 0.15 mg LNG together
      with 0.03 mg EE2 (Microgynon). After a wash-out period of 3 months, 8 of these
      women received a single administration of the same formulation. The results
      showed that there was an increase in serum trough levels of LNG, reaching steady
      state in the second half of each treatment cycle. The LNG levels achieved were
      about 3 to 4 times higher than anticipated on the basis of single dose
      administration. At the end of treatment cycles one and three, the terminal half
      life of LNG was in the range of 24-26 h, while a mean value of 20 h was observed
      following single dose administration. An EE2-induced increase in the SHBG
      concentration of about 50% as compared to pretreatment values was observed during
      a treatment cycle. Pretreatment values were reached following the drug-free
      interval of 7 days between two cycles. After single dose administration, the free
      fraction of LNG was 1.3 +/- 0.2% and the fractions bound to SHBG and albumin were
      64.1 +/- 4.2% and 34.6 +/- 4.0%, respectively. Serum protein binding of LNG did
      not change during chronic treatment. An about 50% reduction in total and unbound
      clearance of LNG was observed during chronic treatment, as compared to single
      dose administration. Increased SHBG binding capacity and a reduced hepatic
      metabolic capacity were discussed as possible causes of accumulating LNG
      concentrations in the serum. On the last day of treatment cycles one and three,
      the AUC(0-24h) values of EE2 were 728 +/- 314 and 778 +/- 318 pg x ml-1 x h,
      respectively, and were in keeping with data reported from others.

PMID- 1458893
TI  - The FlexiGard 330 ICC, an ultrasound evaluation.
AB  - The FlexiGard 330 intrauterine copper contraceptive (ICC) was studied by
      ultrasound in 405 patients immediately following insertion and at each follow-up
      visit, for up to 5 years. The present study confirms the validity of the
      anchoring concept for the suspension of bioactive substances in the uterine
      cavity. The major conclusion from the study is that the anchor is non-migrating
      even when observed over a long period of time. Ultrasound examination is the
      method of choice to evaluate proper insertion technique as well as proper
      positioning of the device at follow-up.

PMID- 1458894
TI  - Clinical experience and pharmacological effects of an oral contraceptive
      containing 20 micrograms oestrogen.
AB  - The performance of a new low-dose oral contraceptive (Mercilon) containing only
      20 micrograms ethinyloestradiol combined with 150 micrograms desogestrel is
      reviewed. Eight multicentre clinical trials have been completed and provide
      information on 10,672 women studied over 73,477 cycles. The high efficacy of
      Mercilon was indicated by the finding that only 10 pregnancies were reported;
      nine of these occurred in women who omitted to take Mercilon on a number of days
      and only one in a woman who took all the tablets according to instructions. Cycle
      control was good; as with all oral contraceptives, the incidence of breakthrough
      bleeding and spotting was highest in the first treatment cycle and by the sixth
      treatment cycle the values were usually < 5% and < 7%. More than 80% of women had
      regular cycles. Side effects were few, the most common being headache, nausea and
      breast tenderness with incidences in the sixth treatment cycle of less than 2%,
      6% and 6%, respectively. There were no significant changes in body weight or
      blood pressure. Pharmacodynamic investigations showed no adverse effects. Only 1
      of 5 studies found an increased response to a glucose tolerance test compared to
      the pretreatment test. In 8 of 10 studies, serum HDL-C concentrations increased
      on treatment and this was associated with increases in apoproteins A1 and A2.
      Serum triglyceride levels also increased but no change occurred in serum
      cholesterol or LDL-C levels. Haematological factors were assessed in 8 studies
      and only minor changes were observed. Serum binding protein (SHBG, CBG,
      caeruloplasmin) concentrations increased and serum androgen levels decreased.
      Measurements of blood FSH, LH, oestradiol and progesterone indicated adequate
      inhibition of ovulation. Mercilon is the only oral contraceptive containing 20
      micrograms ethinyloestradiol to have high efficacy, to have no adverse
      pharmacodynamic effects and, importantly, to produce an acceptable bleeding
      pattern not significantly different from that of oral contraceptives with a
      higher content of ethinyloestradiol.

PMID- 1458895
TI  - Should we use prostaglandins, tents or progesterone antagonists for cervical
      ripening before first trimester abortion?
AB  - Sixty-four women requesting first trimester termination of pregnancy were
      recruited into a comparative cohort study comparing the cervical ripening
      properties of a mechanical dilator (Lamicel; n = 17), prostaglandin,
      antiprogesterone and placebo control (n = 15), gemeprost; n = 17) and
      mifepristone; n = 15). Compared to the placebo group, all 3 active agents dilated
      the cervix (p < 0.02) and they significantly reduced the force required to dilate
      it to 8 mm Hegar (p < 0.001). Although Lamicel insertion resulted in the largest
      pre-operative cervical dilatation all agents are effective. Therefore the
      cervical priming agent of choice should be the most convenient to use and the one
      with least side-effects. The oral antiprogesterone, Mifepristone, is the easiest
      to administer and has less side effects.

PMID- 1458896
TI  - Renal hypouricemia: classification, tubular defect and clinical consequences.

PMID- 1458897
TI  - Perspectives in acid-base balance in advanced chronic renal failure.

PMID- 1458898
TI  - Adverse events of subcutaneous recombinant human erythropoietin therapy.

PMID- 1458899
TI  - Recombinant human growth hormone in pubertal patients with chronic renal disease.

PMID- 1458900
TI  - Phagocytic function in the uremic patient.

PMID- 1458901
TI  - Blood-dialyzer interactions: their role in long-term complications of
      hemodialysis.

PMID- 1458902
TI  - Malnutrition in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and use of
      intraperitoneal amino acids.

PMID- 1458903
TI  - Lessons of peritoneal ultrastructure: from an inert dialyzing sheet to a living
      membrane.

PMID- 1458904
TI  - Vascular endothelin and renal disease progression.

PMID- 1458905
TI  - Lead and hypertension.

PMID- 1458906
TI  - Acquired cysts and neoplasms of the kidneys in renal allograft recipients.

PMID- 1458907
TI  - Calcium-dependent neutrophil activation.

PMID- 1458908
TI  - Altered cellular calcium metabolism in hypertension: a reassessment and a
      hypothesis.

PMID- 1458909
TI  - The metabolic acidosis of chronic renal failure: pathophysiology and treatment.

PMID- 1458910
TI  - pH homeostasis: the conceptual change.

PMID- 1458911
TI  - Whole body acid-base balance.

PMID- 1458912
TI  - Endothelium as a target for the immune injury in systemic vasculitis.

PMID- 1458913
TI  - Genetics of antiendothelial cell antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus: the
      role of HLA-DP alleles.

PMID- 1458914
TI  - Effects of ANCA-positive sera on the generation of oxygen free radicals by
      neutrophils.

PMID- 1458915
TI  - Immunological monitoring in systemic lupus erythematosus.

PMID- 1458916
TI  - Lupus anticoagulants and antiphospholipid antibodies monitoring in systemic lupus
      erythematosus.

PMID- 1458917
TI  - Clinical implication of antiphospholipid antibodies in systemic lupus
      erythematosus.

PMID- 1458918
TI  - Intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy in the treatment of systemic lupus
      erythematosus. Long-term results.

PMID- 1458919
TI  - Ciclosporin plus steroids versus steroids alone in the treatment of lupus
      nephritis.

PMID- 1458920
TI  - Treatment of the acute phase of lupus nephritis with 6-methylprednisolone pulses.

PMID- 1458921
TI  - Effects of intravenous cyclophosphamide in severe proliferative lupus
      glomerulonephritis.

PMID- 1458922
TI  - Vascular disease and thrombosis: relationship to the antiphospholipid antibodies.

PMID- 1458923
TI  - Antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with childhood onset systemic lupus
      erythematosus and their relatives. A French cooperative study.

PMID- 1458924
TI  - Lupus vasculitis.

PMID- 1458925
TI  - Approach to lupus nephritis based upon randomized trials.

PMID- 1458926
TI  - Treatment of diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis.

PMID- 1458927
TI  - Effects of corticosteroids on bone and blood pressure.

PMID- 1458928
TI  - Emerging techniques of investigation in the study of renal biopsies from patients
      with systemic lupus erythematosus.

PMID- 1458929
TI  - Significance of anticardiolipin and antiendothelial cell antibodies in the
      nephritis of lupus.

PMID- 1458930
TI  - Is renal vasculitis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus a bad
      prognostic factor?

PMID- 1458931
TI  - Renal ultrastructural findings in lupus vasculopathies.

PMID- 1458932
TI  - Peculiar type of focal and segmental lupus glomerulitis: glomerulonephritis or
      vasculitis?

PMID- 1458933
TI  - Two cases of juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus with life-threatening central
      nervous system involvement: striking association with antiphospholipid
      antibodies.

PMID- 1458934
TI  - Quality improvement standards for intensive care unit monitors: we must be
      informed and involved.

PMID- 1458935
TI  - Advances in the acute therapy of hypertension.

PMID- 1458936
TI  - Neuroendocrine immunology: relevance to the management of critical illness.

PMID- 1458937
TI  - MD or not MD: is that the question?

PMID- 1458938
TI  - Postoperative hypertension: a multicenter, prospective, randomized comparison
      between intravenous nicardipine and sodium nitroprusside.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of iv nicardipine with sodium
      nitroprusside in the treatment of postoperative hypertension after both cardiac
      and noncardiac surgery. DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label
      study. SETTING: Six tertiary referral medical centers (recovery rooms and
      surgical ICUs). PATIENTS: A total of 139 patients with postoperative
      hypertension: i.v. nicardipine (n = 71), sodium nitroprusside (n = 68).
      INTERVENTION: Administration of i.v. nicardipine or sodium nitroprusside.
      MEASUREMENTS: Vital signs (BP, heart rate), hemodynamic variables, medication
      dosage, total number of dose changes, and time to achieve BP control were
      recorded. MAIN RESULTS: Both medications were equally effective in reducing BP in
      both the cardiac and noncardiac surgical groups. Under the conditions of the
      study, i.v. nicardipine controlled hypertension more rapidly than sodium
      nitroprusside (i.v. nicardipine 14.0 +/- 1.0 mins and sodium nitroprusside 30.4
      +/- 3.5 mins, p = .0029). The total number of dose changes required to achieve
      therapeutic BP response was significantly less in the i.v. nicardipine-treated
      patients (i.v. nicardipine 1.5 +/- 0.2 vs. sodium nitroprusside 5.1 +/- 1.4, p <
      .05). Adverse effects were observed with both drugs (i.v. nicardipine 7% [5/71]
      and sodium nitroprusside 18% [12/68] [NS]). CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous nicardipine
      is as effective as sodium nitroprusside in the therapy of postoperative
      hypertension. Specific advantages have been identified. The use of i.v.
      nicardipine should be considered in the therapy of postoperative hypertension.

PMID- 1458939
TI  - Effects of dopamine on T-lymphocyte proliferative responses and serum prolactin
      concentrations in critically ill patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Dopamine is currently used in the ICU for its vasopressor, renal
      vasodilating, and cardiac inotropic properties. Animal studies have shown both
      endocrine and T-lymphocyte alterations with dopamine agonist administration. The
      relationships between exogenous dopamine and patient hormonal and lymphocyte
      proliferative responses have not been evaluated in the critically ill patient.
      These findings furnished the impetus for the present study. DESIGN: Prospective,
      controlled, clinical study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients admitted to the
      ICU at Truman Medical Center were evaluated for admission into the protocol,
      excluding patients whose medications or diseases produced effects in the study
      dependent variables. Before institution of dopamine therapy, blood samples were
      taken for T-cell analysis and prolactin measurement. Daily, early morning blood
      samples were taken if the dopamine infusion was > 5 micrograms/kg/min for 4 hrs
      during that 24-hr period. An early morning postdopamine sample was taken on the
      first day after dosage discontinuation. Control blood samples for determination
      of T-cell and prolactin responses were drawn from ICU patients who did not
      receive dopamine. A severity-of-disease score (Acute Physiology and Chronic
      Health Evaluation [APACHE II] score) was recorded for all patients. MAIN RESULTS:
      Serum prolactin concentrations decreased > 90% (p < .001) within hours in all
      patients receiving dopamine infusions at study dose limit or above. The in vitro
      T-cell proliferative response to concanavalin A decreased (a transitory response)
      in patients receiving a dopamine infusion (p < .001). Dopamine infusions in
      medical ICU patients produced an immediate and profound reduction in serum
      prolactin concentrations in both males and females. An immediate transitory
      decrease in patient T-cell response to concanavalin A stimulation in vitro was
      seen in patients receiving dopamine. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest the
      possibility of altered endocrine and immune function as a corollary of
      therapeutic concentrations of dopamine in critically ill patients.

PMID- 1458940
TI  - Use of a combined right ventricular ejection fraction-oximetry catheter system
      for coronary bypass surgery.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reproducibility and accuracy of a new pulmonary artery
      catheter system that provides both right ventricular ejection fraction and
      continuous venous oxygen saturation monitoring. DESIGN: Criterion standard study.
      SETTING: University medical center. PATIENTS: A consecutive sample of ten
      patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery provided informed
      consent for the study. Exclusion criteria included emergency surgery or
      clinically important preoperative tricuspid regurgitation as assessed by
      echocardiography. None of the patient sample was excluded. MEASUREMENTS: Catheter
      derived mixed venous and arterial oximetry data were compared with simultaneous
      values obtained using conventional laboratory cooximetry methods. Measurements
      were performed before cardiopulmonary bypass and intermittently up to 48 hrs
      after cardiopulmonary bypass. The variability of cardiac output and computed
      right ventricular ejection fraction was also assessed concurrently with the
      oximetry analysis. RESULTS: A significant correlation was observed for mixed
      venous oxygen saturation between catheter-derived and laboratory cooximetry data
      (r2 = .81, p < .01). Similarly, arterial oxygen saturation values obtained from
      pulse oximetry and laboratory values were significantly related (r2 = .81, p <
      .01). The coefficient of variation for each set of five repeated measurements for
      cardiac output was 8%, and for computed right ventricular ejection fraction, it
      was 16%. CONCLUSIONS: The combined catheter system provides the means to monitor
      both mixed venous oxygen saturation and right ventricular ejection fraction.
      These data provide a reliable and detailed assessment of cardiopulmonary function
      that should prove beneficial in the critical care setting.

PMID- 1458941
TI  - Can the need for a physician as part of the pediatric transport team be
      predicted? A prospective study.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the quality of objective information obtained during
      telephone requests for the transport of pediatric patients. To evaluate the
      ability of subjective judgment, the Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) score,
      and the presence of tachycardia for age to predict the need for a physician on as
      a member of the pediatric transport team. DESIGN: Prospective data collection.
      SETTING: The pediatric transport program of a children's hospital. PATIENTS: All
      129 infants and children transported over a 4-month period. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN
      RESULTS: We defined an objective measure of the need for a physician's presence
      during the transport of a pediatric patient, based on either the necessity for
      procedural or medical interventions during the time of transport or on direct
      admission to the pediatric ICU after transport. At the time of initial telephone
      contact, a physician's subjective opinion of the need for physician presence was
      recorded, a PRISM score was derived, and the presence of tachycardia (adjusted
      for age) was determined. Subsequently, the vital signs recorded on the record of
      this request were compared with those vital signs charted at the referring
      hospital at the time of the initial telephone request. A total of 96% of vital
      signs obtained during the initial telephone contact were consistent with those
      percentages in the referring hospital medical records. Fifty (39%) of 129
      transported patients required procedural or medical interventions or pediatric
      ICU admission. Subjective judgments predicted physician need with a high
      sensitivity (0.98), but with a low specificity (0.18). PRISM score predicted 62
      (48%) of 129 transports to be "physician-required" (sensitivity = 0.72;
      specificity = 0.67). There was no statistical association between tachycardia for
      age and the objective need for a physician's presence. CONCLUSIONS: Objective
      information obtained during request for transfer was reliable. At the time of
      request for transfer, subjective judgment, PRISM score, and the presence of
      tachycardia did not predict the need for a physician presence during transport.

PMID- 1458942
TI  - Pediatric risk of mortality scoring overestimates severity of illness in infants.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To validate Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) scoring in infants and
      children admitted for intensive care. DESIGN: Validation cohort. SETTING: A five
      bed pediatric ICU and three cots providing intensive care for surgical neonates,
      within a 159-bed tertiary care children's hospital. PATIENTS: All patients
      admitted for intensive care during an 18-month period, January 1990 to July 1991.
      METHODS: Admission (first 24 hrs) PRISM scoring was introduced as a routine
      procedure. Discretion was allowed in requesting arterial blood gas measurements
      and clotting studies. All other parameters were intended to be measured on all
      patients. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: PRISM scores were obtained on 380 (88%)
      of 433 patients. Median age was 15 months. A complete PRISM score was obtained in
      24% of cases and a score as intended (i.e., allowing discretionary omissions) was
      obtained in 56% of patients. Comparison of observed and predicted mortality rates
      using chi square goodness-of-fit tests showed a significantly better observed
      outcome for all patients (chi 2(5) = 12.04, p < .05). In-depth analysis indicates
      that the model works well for children (chi 2(5) = 1.80, p > .75), but that
      observed outcome is significantly better than predicted for infants (chi 2(5) =
      17.46, p < .01). Underscoring of children is not the cause of this finding.
      CONCLUSIONS: In our center, PRISM scoring overestimates severity of illness in
      infants. PRISM scoring is not institutionally independent and therefore, at
      present, a comparison between units may not be justified. A reappraisal of the
      parameter ranges for infants is suggested.

PMID- 1458943
TI  - Intensive care unit outcome in the very elderly.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine if age, previous functional status, or acute severity of
      illness affect the acute and long-term mortality rates and functional status of
      the very elderly (> or = 85 yrs) after an ICU admission. DESIGN: Cohort study
      (retrospective entry for the first year of the study and prospective entry
      thereafter with prospective follow-up throughout). SETTING: An ICU in a community
      teaching hospital with follow-up at home or at a skilled nursing facility.
      PATIENTS: All (n = 105) patients > or = 85 yrs admitted to the ICU over a 2-yr
      period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ICU, 30-day posthospital discharge, and 1-yr
      mortality rates, activities of daily living scores, organ system failure score at
      the time of ICU admission. RESULTS: The ICU, 30-day posthospital discharge, and
      the 1-yr mortality rates were 30%, 43%, and 64%, respectively. Mortality rates
      significantly increased between the ICU stay or 30 days posthospital discharge
      and 1-yr follow-up periods. Of those patients who lived up to 6 months after
      hospital discharge, 86% survived to 1 yr with little change in functional status
      from baseline. In the patients with > or = 2 organ system failures, there were
      88% 30-day posthospital discharge and 100% 1-yr mortality rates. Severity of
      illness, as measured by the number of organ system failures, was associated with
      increased ICU (odds ratio 3.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.51 to 7.60; p < .005)
      and 1 yr (odds ratio 5.76; 95% confidence interval, 2.49 to 13.29; p < .0001)
      mortality rates, while age within this group and preadmission functional status
      were not. CONCLUSIONS: Within the very elderly population, acute severity of
      illness is the most significant predictor of mortality after an ICU admission.
      For most very elderly patients, surviving 1 yr after an ICU admission, there is
      little change in functional status.

PMID- 1458945
TI  - Alterations in oropharyngeal flora in patients with a nasogastric tube: a cohort
      study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether or not the presence of a nasogastric tube causes
      a change in the bacterial flora in the oropharynx. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort
      (prospective) design with concurrent control. SETTING: General Surgical and Ear,
      Nose, and Throat Units of a tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Sixteen patients
      with and 14 patients without a nasogastric tube. INTERVENTIONS: Patients
      scheduled to undergo surgery under general anesthesia with endotracheal
      intubation were eligible for inclusion in the study. From these patients, a study
      cohort of 16 consecutive patients who were to have nasogastric tube intubation
      and 14 patients who were not to have nasogastric intubation were enrolled. All
      patients had a high oropharyngeal swab taken for bacteriologic culture just
      before surgery. The swab of the oropharynx for culture was repeated after 48 to
      72 hrs. The type of organism grown was identified and compared between and within
      the two groups. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the frequency of
      colonization of the oropharynx by pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria after 48 to
      72 hrs of nasogastric intubation in comparison with the preintubation level (p <
      .01) as well as in comparison with the group that did not have nasogastric
      intubation (p < .001). The pathogens included Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Proteus
      and Escherichia coli. There was also a tendency for suppression of normal flora.
      There was no significant change in the flora of the control group of patients who
      did not have nasogastric intubation. The two groups were comparable with respect
      to age, gender, severity of underlying illness, and use of prophylactic
      perioperative antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of nasogastric tubes in
      patients predisposes to colonization by Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria within
      48 to 72 hrs.

PMID- 1458944
TI  - Acute continuous hemofiltration with dialysis: effect on insulin concentrations
      and glycemic control in critically ill patients.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To quantitate insulin losses and glucose absorption during acute
      continuous hemofiltration with dialysis and to assess the clinical importance of
      these changes. DESIGN: Prospective collection of serum and ultradiafiltrate fluid
      in patients receiving acute continuous hemofiltration with dialysis. Measurements
      of serum and ultradiafiltrate insulin and glucose concentrations. Calculations of
      insulin excretion and glucose absorption. Correlation of findings with patient
      outcome. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENTS: Sixteen ICU patients with
      acute renal failure. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The mean serum glucose
      concentration before acute continuous hemofiltration with dialysis was 178 mg/dL
      (9.9 mmol/L) (95% confidence interval 112 to 244 mg/dL [6.2 to 13.6 mmol/L]),
      increasing to 257 mg/dL (14.3 mmol/L) (95% confidence interval 167 to 347 mg/dL
      [9.3 to 19.3 mmol/L]) after 4 hrs of acute continuous hemofiltration with
      dialysis, and stabilizing at 207 mg/dL (11.5 mmol/L) (95% confidence interval 160
      to 254 mg/dL [8.9 to 14.1 mmol/L]) at 24 hrs. Mean plasma insulin concentration
      before acute continuous hemofiltration with dialysis was 34.4 mU/L (95%
      confidence interval 8.6 to 60.2 mU/L), increasing to 54.4 mU/L at 4 hrs (95%
      confidence interval 25 to 83.8 mU/L; NS). There was no significant decrease in
      mean insulin concentration across the filter (51.8 mU/L before filtration vs.
      51.9 mU/L after filtration). Insulin was detected in the ultradiafiltrate but its
      overall mean clearance rate was only 6.2 mL/min, with mean daily losses of 689
      mU/day (95% confidence interval 325 to 1053 mU/day). During acute continuous
      hemofiltration with dialysis, glucose absorption through the filter averaged 134
      g/day (95% confidence interval 96.2 to 171.8 g/day). Plasma insulin
      concentrations were significantly (p < .05) lower in survivors than nonsurvivors
      (51.7 vs. 123.6 mU/L). CONCLUSIONS: Significant glucose absorption occurs during
      acute continuous hemofiltration with dialysis and is coupled with minor insulin
      losses (< 1 U/day) through the filter. These events do not appear to have major
      clinical impact. A low plasma insulin concentration is associated with diminished
      mortality rates in this group of patients.

PMID- 1458946
TI  - Evaluation of the consistency of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation
      (APACHE II) scoring in a surgical intensive care unit.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine the applicability of the Acute Physiology and Chronic
      Health Evaluation (APACHE II) scoring system in a Swiss ICU, and to evaluate its
      utility in evaluating data from 2 yrs of consecutive admissions to show that the
      predictability of outcome is similar to that predictability observed by Knaus et
      al. in 1985 (in 5,815 patients), with the provision that large numbers of
      patients are studied. DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial over 2 yrs, with
      statistical analysis of the Swiss patients, and between the Swiss patients and
      the patients studied by Knaus et al. Receiver operating characteristic curves
      were calculated. SETTING: Surgical ICU in a Swiss university hospital. PATIENTS:
      A total of 2,061 consecutive patients admitted to the surgical ICU who were
      classified as postoperative (elective or emergency) and nonoperative. Hospital
      mortality rate was considered. RESULTS: Patients were 53 +/- 16 yrs of age. Mean
      APACHE II score was 10.5 +/- 7.0. The mean APACHE II score was significantly (p <
      .001) lower in the 1,813 survivors (9.0 +/- 5.2) than in the 248 nonsurvivors
      (21.5 +/- 8.5). The mortality rate was higher among the Swiss patients when
      compared with the patients studied by Knaus et al. who had postoperative scores
      of 20 to 29 and nonoperative scores of > 24. The distribution of the scores and
      mortality rates were stable during the two study periods, as were the differences
      in mortality rates between the Swiss population and that population studied by
      Knaus et al. Sensitivity and specificity of the scores were highest in the
      emergency surgery group (87% and 78%), and lowest in the elective surgery group
      (76% and 73%). The APACHE equation underestimated the risk of death. CONCLUSIONS:
      The APACHE II score, because of its consistency over time and the stability of
      the mortality rates, can be used in our surgical ICU without modification. The
      calculated risk of death gives no additional information.

PMID- 1458947
TI  - Prospective evaluation of residents and nurses as severity score data collectors.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine the interobserver reliability of residents and nurses
      collecting Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) data and
      the subsequent effect of these data collections on individual patient mortality
      prediction. DESIGN: In a prospective study, residents and nurses independently
      collected data to derive APACHE II scores. When their scores differed, a standard
      score was determined by one of the investigators. SETTING: A general medical and
      surgical ICU. PATIENTS: A total of 120 consecutive patients were included; of
      these patients, 79 had standard scores determined because resident and nurse
      scores differed. MAIN RESULTS: There was overall agreement between the residents
      and nurses with no significant difference between mean APACHE II scores or mean
      predicted mortality rates. Intraclass correlation coefficients confirmed good
      overall agreement between observer groups for predicted mortality rate: resident
      vs. nurse r2 = .94, resident vs. standard r2 = .94, and nurse vs. standard r2 =
      .90. However, clinically significant lack of agreement was demonstrated in 5% of
      the patients by the 95% confidence limits of agreement: resident vs. nurse -14 to
      +14%, resident vs. standard -10 to +14%, and nurse vs. standard -14 to +20%.
      CONCLUSIONS: While interobserver variability between resident and nurse data
      collection has minimal effect on derived predicted mortality rate with large
      patient groups, significant variability may occur in individual patients.
      Residents were more accurate data collectors than nurses.

PMID- 1458948
TI  - High-dose magnesium sulfate attenuates pulmonary oxygen toxicity.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Rats rapidly develop respiratory distress when exposed to
      100% oxygen and die within a few days. Autopsy of the lung shows severe
      histologic damage characteristic of the adult respiratory distress syndrome. The
      purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of magnesium sulfate loading in
      a rat model of acute oxygen toxicity. Thirty-four rats were divided into three
      groups. Group 1 (n = 18) served as a control (no magnesium therapy), while group
      2 (n = 8) and group 3 (n = 8) received varying amounts of magnesium sulfate. All
      animals were exposed to 100% oxygen for 96 hrs or until death. Lung damage was
      quantitated by measuring the lung injury score on histologic examination.
      RESULTS: Administering magnesium sulfate in moderate doses at infrequent
      intervals to rats (group 2) resulted in less severe oxygen-induced lung damage
      than that which occurred in rats not receiving magnesium (control group).
      However, the difference was not statistically significant. Rats (group 3) given
      doses of magnesium sulfate in amount and frequency adequate to maintain a serum
      magnesium concentration recognized as therapeutic in eclampsia significantly
      reduced oxygen-induced lung damage. CONCLUSION: High-dose magnesium sulfate
      therapy can reduce lung injury caused by acute oxygen toxicity in rats.

PMID- 1458949
TI  - Selective decontamination of the digestive tract prevents secondary infection of
      the abdominal cavity, and endotoxemia and mortality in sterile peritonitis in
      laboratory rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND AND METHODS: This study was undertaken to find out whether
      translocation of bacteria to the abdominal cavity and endotoxemia in rats with
      sterile peritonitis could be prevented by selective decontamination of the
      digestive tract. Sterile peritonitis was caused by the intraperitoneal injection
      of either 100, 150, 200, or 300 mg of zymosan suspended in paraffin. RESULTS: The
      frequency of infection of the abdominal cavity depended on the dose of zymosan
      given, ranging from 20% in rats receiving 100 mg to 89% in rats receiving 300 mg
      of zymosan. In rats not receiving antibiotics for selective decontamination of
      the digestive tract (the control group). Gram-negative bacilli were isolated from
      the digestive tract in all rats, and Gram-negative bacilli were isolated from the
      abdominal cavity in ten of 19 rats. In rats receiving antibiotics for selective
      decontamination of the digestive tract, Gram-negative bacilli were isolated from
      the digestive tract in none of the 14 rats, and likewise, Gram-negative bacilli
      were isolated from the abdominal cavity in none of the 14 rats (p < .005).
      Moreover, in rats receiving antibiotics for selective decontamination of the
      digestive tract, endotoxin levels in feces and plasma were significantly lower,
      as compared with rats not receiving antibiotics for selective decontamination of
      the digestive tract. CONCLUSION: Selective decontamination of the digestive tract
      prevents translocation of Gram-negative bacilli to the abdominal cavity, and
      endotoxemia and mortality in rats with sterile peritonitis.

PMID- 1458951
TI  - Critical care: how should we evaluate our progress?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Review of the history and accomplishments of the Society of Critical
      Care Medicine (SCCM) to determine appropriate directions for the future. DATA
      SOURCES: Historical documents of the SCCM, Critical Care Medicine, bioethics and
      healthcare financing literature, Instant Library of Quotations. STUDY SELECTION:
      Identified (by the author) material containing specific statements concerning
      goals and objectives at the time of the founding of the SCCM and at intervals.
      Material supporting and criticizing predictive indices were identified and
      bioethical treatises concerning patient autonomy and quality-of-life decisions
      were chosen. DATA EXTRACTION: Presidential addresses of the first three SCCM
      presidents, material relevant to preservation of life and alleviation of
      suffering from bioethical and healthcare financing perspectives. Relevant
      quotations. DATA SYNTHESIS: Initial goals and objectives were identified.
      Societal and economic factors changing critical care were analyzed for their
      effect on current and future SCCM directions and objectives. CONCLUSIONS: The
      founding members set important goals for critical care and patient care,
      research, education, and organization. From a perspective of what was
      foreseeable, these goals have been accomplished to an admirable degree. The SCCM
      has responded to these goals by providing educational programs and fostering
      research, especially in its annual meetings and through the publication of
      guidelines in Critical Care Medicine. The SCCM members would do well to read the
      first three presidential addresses to experience the eloquence and foresight
      firsthand, particularly with respect to the founders' spirit, considerations of
      training, scope of care, humanism, organization and relations within and outside
      of critical care, integration of care, and development of the scientific process
      at the bedside. There have been major changes in society since the SCCM was
      founded: the maturation of the concept of patient's autonomy; recognition of
      quality-of-life values; healthcare financing; and legal and ethical aspects of
      care. The critical care profession in general, and the SCCM specifically, should
      seek to develop effective cost-containment strategies and severity of illness or
      predictive indices. The SCCM should also educate the professions with respect to
      ethical issues and provide information directly to the public, especially in the
      areas of advance directives and withholding and withdrawing care. Through these
      contributions, the SCCM can assume its proper leadership role within medicine,
      but, of greater importance, in society. In doing so, societal myths and
      misunderstandings of the capabilities, futility, role, and limitations of
      critical care can be corrected. The organization and structure of the SCCM are
      well developed to accomplish these ends. The SCCM leaders are both able and
      willing. The objectives seem reasonable and should be attainable.

PMID- 1458950
TI  - Rethinking brain death.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether current criteria for the diagnosis of brain death
      fulfill the requirement for the "irreversible cessation of all functions of the
      entire brain, including the brainstem." DATA SOURCES: Clinical, philosophical,
      legal, and public policy literature on the subject of brain death. DATA
      EXTRACTION/SYNTHESIS: We advance four arguments to support the view that patients
      who meet the current clinical criteria for brain death do not necessarily have
      the irreversible loss of all brain function. First, many clinically brain-dead
      patients maintain hypothalamic-endocrine function. Second, many maintain cerebral
      electrical activity. Third, some retain evidence of environmental responsiveness.
      Fourth, the brain is physiologically defined as the central nervous system, and
      many clinically brain-dead patients retain central nervous system activity in the
      form of spinal reflexes. We explore options for resolving these inconsistencies
      between the conceptual definition and the clinical criteria used to make the
      diagnosis of brain death. CONCLUSIONS: Brain death is a valid conception of death
      because it signifies the permanent loss of consciousness. Brain death criteria
      should therefore be based on the diagnosis of the permanent loss of consciousness
      rather than that of the loss of vegetative brain functions. Revision of our
      current "whole brain" definition of brain death to a "higher brain" standard
      should be considered.

PMID- 1458952
TI  - Control of massive hemoptysis by endobronchial tamponade with a pulmonary artery
      balloon catheter.

PMID- 1458953
TI  - Seizures after flumazenil administration in a case of combined benzodiazepine and
      tricyclic antidepressant overdose.

PMID- 1458954
TI  - Alterations in anion gap following cardiopulmonary bypass.

PMID- 1458955
TI  - Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation and Glasgow coma scores.

PMID- 1458956
TI  - Usefulness of an Antireflux valve in the intensive care unit.

PMID- 1458957
TI  - Conflicts over ethical principles in the intensive care unit.

PMID- 1458958
TI  - The emperor's new clothes.

PMID- 1458959
TI  - Interventional chest radiology.
AB  - Radiologically guided percutaneous drainage procedures are commonly performed to
      manage a variety of intrathoracic collections. As a natural extension of similar
      procedures performed for abdominal and pelvic collections, these procedures use
      both the conventional and cross-sectional imaging modalities to detect
      intrathoracic collections and to guide safe percutaneous diagnostic aspiration
      and drainage. The high-resolution images obtainable on current computed
      tomographic and ultrasound units allow detection of lung abscesses, empyemas,
      malignant effusions, and infected mediastinal fluid collections that are amenable
      to percutaneous drainage. Advances in catheter design and introduction techniques
      have allowed drainage of collections previously managed by open procedures. The
      ease of fluoroscopically guided catheter placement for treatment of spontaneous
      or biopsy-induced pneumothorax has provided a safe, effective, and comfortable
      alternative to blind large-bore surgical tube placement. Transthoracic needle
      biopsy of lung, mediastinal, and pleural or chest-wall masses has resulted from
      the availability of image intensifiers and cross-sectional imaging modalities
      useful in guiding needle placement and tissue sampling. Equally important has
      been the development of cytopathology as a subspecialty that can provide
      diagnoses of malignant and benign thoracic conditions from needle aspirates. This
      technique has had a major impact on the preoperative evaluation of the patient
      with a solitary pulmonary nodule and has eliminated unnecessary surgery in a
      significant percentage of such patients. Transcatheter arterial embolization has
      made a significant contribution to the management of the patient with massive
      hemoptysis and is the procedure of choice for treatment of pulmonary
      arteriovenous malformations. A thorough knowledge of the vascular anatomy of the
      thorax and expertise in catheterization and embolization techniques are
      prerequisites for the safe performance of these procedures.

PMID- 1458960
TI  - Behavioral treatment of drug exposed infants: analyzing and treating aggression.

PMID- 1458962
TI  - Strive for earlier diagnosis and treatment of hilar bile duct carcinoma.

PMID- 1458961
TI  - Nutrition and Head Start.

PMID- 1458963
TI  - Extrahepatic bile duct cancer. Report of 106 cases.
AB  - Extrahepatic bile duct cancers (BDC) are still frustratingly difficult lesions to
      deal with at present. 106 cases of BDC treated between January 1986 and December
      1990 were reviewed retrospectively. The resectability rate of the entire series
      was 18.9%. Hilar (upper third) BDC accounted for 51% of the entire series and its
      resection rate was 14.8%. Lymph node metastases occurred in 40.9% of the cases
      and were mostly seen in the middle 1/3 of BDC. 32% of the cases had liver
      metastases, frequently occurred in hilar BDC. Sixty-four patients had specimens
      histologically studied. Of them, adenocarcinomas accounted for 90.6% (58 cases)
      and adenosquamous carcinomas 4.7% (3). Among the adenocarcinomas, 32 (55.2%)
      cases were well differentiated and 26 (44.8%) poorly differentiated.

PMID- 1458964
TI  - Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and methyl tert-butyl ether for gallbladder
      stones.
AB  - Twenty-one patients with gallbladder stones of 1.1-2.6 cm in diameter were
      treated by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) combined with dissolution
      using methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). In 18 of 21 patients, ESWLs were followed
      by MTBE instillation through a catheter placed percutaneously via the liver and
      the gallbladder bed under ultrasonographic and fluoroscopic guidance. As a
      result, 15 of the 18 patients were cleared of their stones after 54 minutes to 3
      hours of dissolution. In the other three cases initially treated by MTBE, ESWLs
      were added because of no dissolution or poor efficacy. Consequently, after
      additional 3-5 hours of instillation, complete dissolution in one and subtotal
      dissolution in two were achieved. Our preliminary results indicated that ESWL
      followed by MTBE dissolution in the management of cholesterol gallbladder stones
      was reasonable. On the one hand, ESWL can enhance dissolution by increasing the
      surface area of stone, and on the other hand MTBE can instantly clear the
      fragments created by ESWL, so that long-term bile acid intake and potential side
      effects caused by fragment migration might be avoided.

PMID- 1458965
TI  - Surgical treatment of hilar bile duct carcinoma. Clinical and pathological
      studies.
AB  - Resection of the extrahepatic bile tract for hilar bile duct carcinoma was
      performed at the PLA General Hospital, with a resectability rate of 62% (31/50)
      and no operative mortality. Hepatic lobectomy was performed at the same time in
      16 cases (51.6%). Reoperative resections were successfully done in 5 cases; 4
      cases are still living 1-4 years after the second operation. The cause of late
      death was mainly biliary infection due to local recurrence and bile duct
      obstruction. The median survival period was 15 months. 32 cases were studied
      pathologically, of which 27 were resected surgical specimens and 5 autopsies. The
      tumors were histologically classified into 4 types: papillary adenocarcinoma (6
      cases); well differentiated adenocarcinoma (21); poorly differentiated
      adenocarcinoma (3); and simple carcinoma (2). The importance of early diagnosis
      of hilar bile duct carcinoma at its subclinical stage before appearance of
      clinical jaundice is stressed.

PMID- 1458966
TI  - Role of monoconjugated bilirubin in pathogenesis of gallstones.
AB  - In order to explore the substantial role of monoconjugated bilirubin (MCB) in
      gallstone formation, bile pigment precipitation and hemolytic jaundice, three
      experimental protocols have been studied, namely, (1) MCB and dietary induced
      pigment gallstone model, (2) MCB in human gallstone and incubated bile
      precipitates and (3) MCB in hemolytic jaundice. It was found that doubly
      increased MCB accounted for 1/3 of the total pigment in lithogenic guinea pig and
      CDCA plus glycine possessed certain protective effect from gallstone development;
      MCB was found in human gallstones both in bilirubinate and cholesterol type, and
      an unknown pigment, possibly an isomer of MCB, was found in black stone. During
      experimental hemolytic jaundice model preparation, both MCB and UCB were
      elevated, and MCB was found increased by 10 times, even exceeding the
      concentration of DCB when the injected bilirubin was about 4 mg/kg of body
      weight. It is reasonable to consider that MCB as a coprecipitant with UCB and a
      precursor of UCB played an essential role in the pathogenesis of gallstones.

PMID- 1458967
TI  - Effects of glutathione depletion using buthionine sulphoximine on the
      cytotoxicity in mammalian cells and human tumor cells in vitro.
AB  - An inhibitor of glutathione biosynthesis, buthionine sulphoximine (BSO), was used
      to deplete the endogenous thiols in mammalian cells in vitro. In this study, the
      cytotoxicity of BSO and BSO combined with the hypoxic cell radiosensitizer
      misonidazole (MISO) was investigated. Both aerobic and hypoxic cytotoxicity of
      MISO was found to be increased. The concentration of BSO required to reduce the
      colony forming ability to 50% (Cc) for the chronic cytotoxicity on V79 cells was
      0.03 mmol/L under aerobic condition, while the Cc for the acute cytotoxicity on
      V79 cells under hypoxic and aerobic conditions was 0.4 and 0.5 mmol/L. The growth
      inhibition rate of human tumor cells K562 and SGC-7901 by BSO was 6.89-26.06% and
      12.01-55.69%, respectively. Enhanced cytotoxicity activity was observed when BSO
      was used in combination with cis-dichlorodiamino Pt(II) or 5-fluorouracil.

PMID- 1458968
TI  - Optimal low dosage of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) for the prevention and treatment
      of ischemic cerebrovascular disease in geriatric patients.
AB  - A series of 108 geriatric patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease were
      treated with low dose aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA). Daily doses of 100 mg,
      50 mg and 25 mg were administered to three groups of 36 patients. Changes in
      platelet aggregation responses were dynamically observed in 64 (22 normal
      subjects, 42 patients). Monitoring of 22 normal subjects revealed inhibition of
      platelet aggregation at a dose of 300 mg or 100 mg which could last as long as 7
      days. This suggests that 100 mg or less could be clinically effective.
      Satisfactory inhibitory effects on platelet aggregation were observed in all
      three groups, with 14 patients in each group given daily doses of 100 mg, 50 mg
      and 25 mg during four weeks' observation. The most effective inhibition was
      obtained in the 50 mg group. Therefore, the authors recommend 50 mg/d as the
      optimal dosage for low dose aspirin therapy in geriatric patients.

PMID- 1458969
TI  - Value of CT myelography in differential diagnosis of spinal extradural tumors.
AB  - Twenty-three cases of spinal extradural tumors were differentiated with CT
      myelography. In 16 benign tumors, the proximal and/or distal widened extradural
      space was filled with adipose tissue, whereas in 7 malignant tumors, the widened
      extradural space showed soft-tissue density. This difference is helpful in
      evaluating the nature of the tumors.

PMID- 1458971
TI  - Effect of heparin on the anionic sites of glomerular basement membrane in
      adriamycin nephrosis in rats.
AB  - The effect of heparin on the anionic sites of glomerular basement membrane (GBM)
      in adriamycin-induced nephrotic rats was studied by means of calculating the
      polyethyleneimine (PEI) stained particles under electron microscope. The results
      showed that treatment with heparin under the anticoagulant effect markedly
      reduced the loss of anionic sites within lamina rara externa (LRE) of GBM and
      also the urinary protein excretion in nephrotic rats. The results demonstrated
      that one of the mechanisms of heparin in preventing the structural damage of
      glomeruli in kidney diseases was the reduction of the loss of anionic sites
      within LRE, indicating that changes in biomembrane charge played an important
      role in the pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome. The results provided a scientific
      basis for the use of heparin to treat glomerular diseases.

PMID- 1458970
TI  - Anisodamine inhibits acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation of
      canine femoral artery.
AB  - The effects of anisodamine on acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent
      relaxation were studied in organ chambers and under bioassay conditions. In organ
      chamber experiments, both acetylcholine and bradykinin induced an endothelium
      dependent relaxation of norepinephrine-contracted canine femoral arteries in a
      concentration-dependent manner; the relaxation induced by acetylcholine, but not
      that by bradykinin, was inhibited by anisodamine or atropine in a concentration
      dependent manner. In bioassay experiments, a denuded ring of left circumflex
      coronary artery was superfused with perfusate passed through segment of femoral
      artery with endothelium or a direct superfusion line. Acetylcholine induced the
      release of relaxing factor(s) from the segment with endothelium causing a
      relaxation of bioassay ring and the relaxation was eliminated by anisodamine
      infused into the perfusion line above, but not below, the perfused segment. The
      results suggest that anisodamine, like atropine, is able to inhibit acetylcholine
      induced endothelium-dependent relaxation by blocking endothelial muscarinic
      receptors which activate the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s).

PMID- 1458972
TI  - Hepatic stimulator substance from human fetal liver for treatment of experimental
      hepatic failure.
AB  - The authors previously reported the successful reversal of lethal D-Gal induced
      hepatic necrosis in rats by human hepatic stimulator substance (hHSS), a liver
      specific growth factor partially purified from human fetal liver cells, which
      promoted hepatocyte proliferation. In this study, they further investigated the
      mechanism of hHSS in improving survival of experimental acute hepatic failure.
      Our results demonstrated that the level of alanine transaminase and endotoxin in
      the plasma and lipid peroxides in the liver of chemically poisoned rats were
      reduced by hHSS to different extent at different periods of observation compared
      with the saline control group. The apparent recovery of liver function and the
      increase of 3H-TdR incorporation into hepatic DNA correlated with the morphologic
      changes observed under light and electron microscopes, showing that the damages
      inflicted on the cellular and subcellular structure in the liver of hHSS-treated
      rats were greatly alleviated and rapidly repaired. Therefore, hHSS, which can
      prevent liver deterioration and promote hepatocyte regeneration, may be a new
      hepatic stimulator factor readily available for clinical use.

PMID- 1458973
TI  - Changes in hepatic energy metabolism in experimental acute pancreatitis.
AB  - The changes in the cellular concentrations of ATP, ADP, AMP and oxidative
      phosphorylation of mitochondria in the liver were investigated experimentally in
      rats with acute pancreatitis (AP). The energy charge (ATP + 1/2ADP)/(ATP+ ADP+
      AMP) of the liver decreased from 0.866 to 0.806 (P < 0.05) at 24 hours after
      onset of AP, and continuously decreased to 0.769 (P < 0.01) at 48 hours. On the
      other hand, the mitochondrial phosphorylative activity increased rapidly to 130%
      and 157% in the controls at 12 hours and 24 hours respectively and then decreased
      rapidly at 48 hours. The blood ketone body ratios were paralleled to the hepatic
      energy charge level in AP rats. These findings suggest that the nature of the
      derangement of the hepatic energy metabolism initiated by AP is that the effects
      of mitochondria damage result in a significant decrease in liver energy charge
      level, leading ultimately to hepatocellular impairment, and the measurement of
      the blood ketone body ratio is useful in evaluating the energy status of the
      liver in AP patients.

PMID- 1458974
TI  - Prevention of blindness in China.

PMID- 1458975
TI  - [A hospital medical director on the "structure regulation"--outline. Open letter
      to the federal administrator of public health].

PMID- 1458976
TI  - [The physician (surgeon) as an expert witness in the court room].

PMID- 1458977
TI  - [Expert information in radiation protection. Cost of courses in radiation
      protection].

PMID- 1458978
TI  - [Surgery is a craft, a science and an art. In memory of E. Lexer on his 125th
      birthday 22 May 1992].

PMID- 1458979
TI  - [Letter to G. Aumann, "Experiences in ambulatory surgery: Anesthesia
      techniques"].

PMID- 1458980
TI  - [Letter to T. A. Angerpointner, "Ambulatory surgery--indications, results and
      limits"].

PMID- 1458981
TI  - [Indications and technique of osteosynthesis in injuries of the cervical
      vertebrae].

PMID- 1458982
TI  - [Ventral stabilization in the area of the thoracic and lumbar spine].

PMID- 1458983
TI  - [Transpedicular spondylodesis of injuries of the thoracic and lumbar spine].

PMID- 1458984
TI  - [New aspects in anterior plate osteosynthesis of injuries of the cervical spine].

PMID- 1458985
TI  - [Indications for surgical therapy of sacral fractures].

PMID- 1458986
TI  - [Surgical therapy of bone metastases of the upper and lower extremity].

PMID- 1458987
TI  - [Skeletal metastases in the area of the pelvis].

PMID- 1458988
TI  - [Continuously alternating prone and supine positioning in acute lung failure].
AB  - Acute respiratory failure is still one the main problems in surgical intensive
      care. Unknown pathophysiological mechanisms permit only symptomatic therapy.
      Today ventilatory strategies by using PEEP und IRV are established to improve gas
      exchange and FRC by recruiting collapsed alveoli, decreasing intrapulmonary
      shunting and returning V/Q matching to normal. Furthermore different studies have
      shown the effects of supine and lateral decubitus posture in patients with acute
      respiratory failure. There are only rare reports on using the prone position,
      which doesn't require two-lung ventilation in difference to lateral position. We
      have studied 16 patients with acute respiratory failure by using continuous
      changing between prone and supine position under mechanical ventilation. All were
      male, aged 41.3 years in the middle and showed an average "Injury Severity Score"
      of 30 (13-50). 15 were trauma patients with blunt chest trauma in 11 cases. We
      have used prone position on threatening or manifest ARDS. In all patients we
      observed an increment of PaO2 during prone position on to 48 mmHg so that FiO2
      could be reduced on an average of 0.2 within the first 48 h since changing
      patient's position. Posture changing depends on blood gas analysis, specifically
      on decreasing PaO2 after previous increment. Patients remained in prone and
      supine position at a mean of 6.3 (4.5-20) h and posture changing was proceeded
      over a period of 15.4 (7-32) days. No problems recording to blood pressure or
      mechanical ventilation appeared during prone position. 11 of 16 patients survived
      (68.8%), 5 died of cardiac (2) and multi organic failure (3) in connection with
      sepsis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1458989
TI  - [Use of internal fixator in injuries of the thoracic and lumbar spine].
AB  - Between 1984 and 1989 51 patients with spinal traumata received surgical
      treatment by means of Fixateur interne. The results of patients' postsurgical
      check-up were as follows: Cases with incomplete neurological dysfunctions (levels
      Frankel B-D)-especially lumbar-showed improvements of neurological deficiencies
      up to three levels Frankel after emergency decompression and stabilization. The
      majority of cases with complete paraplegia-especially thoracic-did not subside.
      This holds true even for the results of a second check-up after about three
      years. A correlation between the degree of stenosis of the spinal canal and the
      neurological dysfunctions could not be established. The results of segmental
      stabilization by means of internal fixator and of definitive spondylodesis by
      means of autogenous spongiosa were positive, as was the spine proof and the
      patients' postsurgical function.

PMID- 1458990
TI  - [External fixator in complicated tibial fracture. Effect of various fixation
      systems on fracture healing and rate of complications].
AB  - In a retrospective analysis 93 external fixations with different rigidity after
      open tibial shaft fractures have been reviewed and compared concerning
      complications and healing time. Fracture consolidation was attained in fixation
      with unilateral frame after 14 weeks, with bilateral v-shaped fixator after 19
      weeks and with triangular configuration in about 28 weeks. Subsequent internal
      fixation or extension to v-shaped fixation was necessary in about 33% after
      initial unilateral half-pin frame, whereas 90% of the two rigid systems could be
      left in situ until fracture consolidation was achieved. Cancellous bone grafts
      were performed in 58% after triangular, in 40% after v-shaped, and 28% after
      unilateral fixation. Pin infections were observed in 36% after triangular, 25%
      after bilateral v-shaped, and in 15% after unilateral fixation.

PMID- 1458991
TI  - [Histologic reactions of the bone-implant zone and cortical bone area after long
      term hip replacement].
AB  - 29 femora with cemented hip endoprostheses and 17 age related controls were
      analyzed regarding different histological criteria. All specimens were processed
      to undecalcified ultra thin grindings and in addition a few to surface stained
      block-grindings. The reactions at the bone implant interface in cases without
      loosening of the implant are: accumulation of macrophages and multinucleated
      giant cells, fibrous tissue membranes with a mean thickness of 103 microns and
      mineralization defects near the cement. The mean rate of direct bone/bone-cement
      contact is 2.7% of the whole cement surface. The phenomenons at the interface
      were explained as being the result of micromovement and resulting from wear and
      tear. The cortical bone demonstrates a remarkable loss of bone (up to 60% after
      12 years) following an increase of osteoclastic resorption with no change of
      osteoblast activity. The localization of the bone loss indicates a relation to
      the new load situation after implantation.

PMID- 1458992
TI  - [Defect coverage of the extremities with distal pedicled flap-plasty].
AB  - Clinical consideration of anatomy of skin vascularity led to the establishment of
      distally pedicled flaps in the extremities. In certain situations, distally
      pedicled flaps are a quick and safe alternative to free microvascular tissue
      transplantation or distant pedicled flaps. However, an exact indication for this
      method as well as exact planning and performance of the operation is necessary
      for success. A synopsis of clinical applications of distally pedicled flaps is
      given.

PMID- 1458993
TI  - [Intraosseous ganglion in the area of the wrist].
AB  - In the differential diagnosis of cystic lesions in bones, the intraosseous
      ganglion must be included. These tumor-like lesion is rare in the carpus, but
      often the cause of therapy-resistant pain. Four patients with intraosseous
      ganglion in the carpus are presented. This bone disease is treated by curettage
      and bone grafting. Postoperative prognosis is good.

PMID- 1458994
TI  - [Simplified surgical technique and decreased radiation exposure in dorsal
      stabilization of spinal fractures].
AB  - The dorsal approach for reposition and stabilisation of dorsal and lumbal spine
      fractures is widely accepted. It is much easier for the surgeon and with lower
      risk for the patient. For placement of the pedicle screws 3 steps with X-ray
      fluoroscopy in transversal and anteroposterior direction are necessary: K-wire
      placement in the pedicle, drill for opening the pedicle and finally screw
      placement. With the use of two fluoroscopes and a central cannulated drill which
      is placed over the K-wire the operation gets much shorter, easier and the
      fluoroscopy time can be reduced significantly.

PMID- 1458995
TI  - [Total hip joint endoprosthesis in osteopetrosis].
AB  - Albers-Schonberg disease (osteopetrosis) is a rare condition, and it very seldom
      occurs that a patient requiring a hip endoprosthesis is also suffering from this
      disease. The report describes the difficulties which may confront a surgeon
      unprepared for such a case and the author illustrates the problem taking the case
      history of a 46-year-old patient with X-rays and histological tests as an
      example. The reasons for implantation of either a cemented or cementless
      endoprosthesis are discussed.

PMID- 1458997
TI  - [Compartment resection as therapy of choice in subfascial soft tissue sarcoma
      exemplified by the thigh].

PMID- 1458996
TI  - [Carcinoma metastasis in cutaneous osseous metaplasia. Differential diagnosis of
      osseous tumor metaplasia].
AB  - The formation of metastases in heterotopic ossifications is a very rare finding.
      The example of a 63-year old male who underwent Billroth II procedure because of
      recurrent duodenal ulcers 30 years ago and median laparotomy of the upper abdomen
      because of blunt abdominal trauma 9 years ago shows the formation of metastasis
      of a carcinoma found in the gastroenteral anastomosis in a focus of heterotopic
      ossification, which was located in the scar of the upper abdominal laparotomy.

PMID- 1458998
TI  - Simultaneous analysis of immunophenotype and apoptosis of murine thymocytes by
      single laser flow cytometry.
AB  - The study of the role of apoptosis in thymocyte development has been hampered by
      the lack of a means of directly immunophenotyping cells undergoing the early
      phase of apoptosis. This restriction has been overcome by single laser flow
      cytometry in which apoptosis is detected by Ethidium Bromide (EBr) staining and
      cell phenotype by binding of FITC-labelled antibody. The initial phase of
      apoptosis is observed as a cell population that stains faintly with EBr preceding
      the characteristically bright EBr-staining normally associated with cell death.
      Here we directly demonstrate using single laser flow cytometry that CD4+ CD8+
      CD3low/CD3intermediate thymocytes undergo apoptosis in vitro in response to
      glucocorticoid treatment.

PMID- 1458999
TI  - Noise, sensitivity, and resolution of flow cytometers.
AB  - The sensitivity and resolution of flow cytometers are functions of the signal
      produced by a given particle as well as by the noise in the presence of which the
      signal is detected. The noise is primarily due to the fact that emission of light
      as well as its detection by photoelectric devises are stochastic processes. This
      fact leads to equations describing how resolution and sensitivity are limited by
      the magnitude of the signal, the background, and the photoelectron quantum yield
      of the detector. The equations are pointing to a method by which the signal and
      noise of a flow cytometer can be measured in absolute terms, as well as a way to
      determine fluorescence sensitivity without having to extrapolate to the noise
      level. The equations appear to be validated when applied to measuring data
      obtained with two different flow cytometers.

PMID- 1459000
TI  - Quantification of inter- and intra-nuclear variation of fluorescence in situ
      hybridization signals.
AB  - This study aims at the quantification of specific DNA sequences by using
      fluorescence in situ hybridization (ISH) and digital imaging microscopy. The
      cytochemical and cytometric aspects of a quantitative ISH procedure were
      investigated, using human peripheral blood lymphocyte interphase nuclei and
      probes detecting high copy number target sequences as a model system. These
      chromosome-specific probes were labeled with biotin, digoxigenin, or fluorescein.
      Quantification of the fluorescence ISH signals was performed using an
      epifluorescence microscope equipped with a multi-wavelength illuminator, and a
      cooled charge coupled device (CCD) camera. Specific image analysis programs were
      developed for the segmentation and analysis of the images provided by ISH. The
      fluorescence intensity distributions of the ISH spots showed large internuclear
      variation (CVs up to 65%) for the probes used. The variation in intensity was
      found to be independent of the probe, the type of labeling, and the type of
      immunocytochemical detection used. Variation in intensity was not caused
      primarily by the immunocytochemical detection method, since directly fluorescein
      labeled probes showed similar internuclear variation. Furthermore, it was found
      that different white blood cell types, which harbor different degrees of
      compactness of the nuclear chromatin, showed the same variation. The intra
      nuclear variation in intensity of the ISH spots on the two chromosome homologs
      within one nucleus was significantly smaller (approximately 20%) than the inter
      nuclear variation, probably due to more constant local hybridization conditions.
      Due to the relatively small intranuclear variation, copy number polymorphisms of
      the satellite DNA sequence on chromosome 1 could readily be quantified.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459001
TI  - Fluorescence ratio measurements of double-labeled probes for multiple in situ
      hybridization by digital imaging microscopy.
AB  - To expand the multiplicity of the in situ hybridization (ISH) procedure, which is
      presently limited by the number of fluorochromes spectrally separable in the
      microscope, a digital fluorescence ratio method is proposed. For this purpose,
      chromosome-specific repetitive probes were double-labeled with two haptens and
      hybridized to interphase nuclei of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The
      haptens were immunocytochemically detected with specific antibodies conjugated
      with the fluorochromes FITC or TRITC. The FITC and TRITC fluorescence intensities
      of spots obtained with different double-haptenized probes were measured, and the
      fluorescence ratio was calculated for each ISH spot. Combinations of different
      haptens, such as biotin, digoxigenin, fluorescein, sulfonate, acetyl amino
      fluorene (AAF), and mercury (Hg) were used. The fluorescence intensity ratio
      (FITC/TRITC) of the ISH spots was fairly constant for all combinations used, with
      coefficients of variation between 10 and 30%. To study the feasibility of a probe
      identification procedure on the basis of probe hapten ratios, one probe was
      double-labeled with different ratios, by varying the relative concentrations of
      the modified nucleotides (biotin-11-dUTP and digoxigenin-11-dUTP) in the nick
      translation reaction. Measurement of the FITC and TRITC intensities of the ISH
      spots showed that the concentration of modified nucleotides used in the labeling
      procedures was reflected in the mean fluorescence intensity of the ISH spots.
      Furthermore, the ratio distributions showed little overlap due to the relatively
      small coefficients of variation. The results indicate that a multiple ISH
      procedure based on fluorescence ratio imaging of double-labeled probes is
      feasible.

PMID- 1459002
TI  - Quantification of fluorescence in situ hybridization signals by image cytometry.
AB  - In this study we aimed at the development of a cytometric system for
      quantification of specific DNA sequences using fluorescence in situ hybridization
      (ISH) and digital imaging microscopy. The cytochemical and cytometric aspects of
      a quantitative ISH procedure were investigated, using human peripheral blood
      lymphocyte interphase nuclei and probes detecting high copy number target
      sequences as a model system. These chromosome-specific probes were labeled with
      biotin, digoxigenin, or fluorescein. The instrumentation requirements are
      evaluated. Quantification of the fluorescence ISH signals was performed using an
      epi-fluorescence microscope with a multi-wavelength illuminator, equipped with a
      cooled charge couple device (CCD) camera. The performance of the system was
      evaluated using fluorescing beads and a homogeneously fluorescing specimen.
      Specific image analysis programs were developed for the automated segmentation
      and analysis of the images provided by ISH. Non-uniform background fluorescence
      of the nuclei introduces problems in the image analysis segmentation procedures.
      Different procedures were tested. Up to 95% of the hybridization signals could be
      correctly segmented using digital filtering techniques (min-max filter) to
      estimate local background intensities. The choice of the objective lens used for
      the collection of images was found to be extremely important. High magnification
      objectives with high numerical aperture, which are frequently used for
      visualization of fluorescence, are not optimal, since they do not have a
      sufficient depth of field. The system described was used for quantification of
      ISH signals and allowed accurate measurement of fluorescence spot intensities, as
      well as of fluorescence ratios obtained with double-labeled probes.

PMID- 1459003
TI  - Comparison of BrdUrd and [3H]TdR incorporation to estimate cell proliferation,
      cell loss, and potential doubling time in tumor xenografts.
AB  - In this study, two different methods of estimating cell proliferation were
      compared: cell loss and potential growth rate of xenografted head and neck cancer
      grown in nude mice based on the detection of DNA incorporation of
      bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) in one method, and [3H]thymidine ([3H]TdR) in the
      other. The 21-d-old xenografts were labelled in vivo, either with BrdUrd or
      [3H]TdR and excised at intervals during 65.5 h. In tumors containing BrdUrd, the
      percent labelling was measured in mid-S and mid-G1 phase windows of cytograms
      from bivariate DNA flow cytometry (FCM). In [3H]TdR-labelled tumors, the percent
      labelled mitoses (PLM) was determined by light microscopy evaluation of
      autoradiographs. With a computer program based on a theoretical model, the
      percent labelling versus time after injection was used to analyze cell cycle
      time, cell loss, tumor growth fraction, and potential doubling time. The values
      calculated from DNA incorporation with BrdUrd agreed well with those obtained
      from labelling with [3H]TdR, i.e., cell cycle time 2.3 vs. 2.4 d, and growth
      fraction 67 vs. 70%. The estimated potential doubling time was 3.1 d and cell
      loss factor 40% by both methods. Flow cytometry analysis of BrdUrd-labelling is
      considerably faster than the evaluation of [3H]TdR-labelling, and the present
      results provide further support for the BrdUrd labelling method as a promising
      alternative to the PLM method in cell cycle studies designed to evaluate the
      relevance of cell proliferative properties in relation to biological behavior in
      xenografted head and neck cancer.

PMID- 1459004
TI  - Intercalation of anthracyclines into living cell DNA analyzed by flow cytometry.
AB  - Anthracyclines (ANT) are used in the treatment of leukemia and other cancers.
      These drugs have been shown to intercalate between the strands of DNA. In the
      present study, we show that the amount of ANT intercalated into DNA can be
      determined by measuring the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between
      Hoechst 33342 (H33342) and ANT bound to DNA. The transfer efficiency was found to
      depend on the amount of disposable ANT but was independent of the amount of
      H33342 bound to DNA over a wide range of H33342 concentrations. The method was
      adapted for flow cytometric measurement of FRET in whole living cells and was
      used to evaluate the degree of intercalation of daunorubicin (DAU) and
      idarubicine (IDA) into DAU-sensitive and DAU-resistant leukemic cell lines. ANT
      intercalation into DNA was affected by factors which modify the intracytoplasmic
      concentration of ANT, and it was shown that the action of ANT and the resistance
      to ANT could not be attributed solely to the intercalative effect of the drugs.
      The method has advantages over previously described methods and represents a
      useful complementary tool in studies on the mode of action of ANT and the
      mechanisms of chemoresistance.

PMID- 1459005
TI  - DNA quantification of squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus by flow cytometry
      and cytophotometric image analysis using formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue.
AB  - This is the first comparative study of DNA quantification of oesophageal squamous
      cell carcinoma by flow cytometry (FCM) and image cytometry (ICM) using formalin
      fixed paraffin embedded tissue. The potential advantages of ICM include the
      identification of a reliable control cell population; avoidance of non-tumour
      stromal and inflammatory cell nuclei, nuclear fragments, degenerate cell nuclei
      and doublets, triplets etc., which are not possible with FCM using archival
      tissue. Twenty-eight cases, all of the same stage (stage 2a) and similar grade
      (well or moderately differentiated) were analysed. The cases were separated into
      two groups, those that had succumbed to tumour in less than 18 months (group A)
      and those that were tumour free at least 18 months post-resection (group B).
      Using ICM all 28 tumours yielded interpretable histograms by comparison to 25 of
      28 using FCM. Aneuploidy was identified in 100% of cases in group A using ICM (in
      comparison to 73% by FCM) and in 73% of group B using ICM (in comparison to 44%
      by FCM). Any tumour aneuploid by FCM was also aneuploid by ICM. Nine cases
      aneuploid by ICM were euploid by FCM. The mean 5C exceeding rate (% of cells
      whose nuclei contain a DNA mass equivalent to > 5 sets of 23 chromosomes) was 21%
      in group A and 14% in group B (P < 0.01). Euploidy was confined to tumours of
      those patients disease free for more than 18 months. The conclusions of this
      study are that: firstly, ICM is superior in its yield of interpretable histograms
      to FCM using formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue; secondly, ICM is more
      sensitive in the identification of aneuploid stemlines than FCM; and thirdly,
      euploid tumours (as detected by ICM) appear to have a better prognosis than
      aneuploid tumours of similar stage and grade.

PMID- 1459006
TI  - Flow cytometric determination of atypical antigen expression in acute leukemia
      for the study of minimal residual disease.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate to which extent acute leukemias could be
      monitored for residual disease by using atypical antigen combinations as leukemia
      related markers. Atypical antigenic features were determined by double color flow
      cytometry and included coexpression of lymphoid and myeloid related antigens,
      unphysiological coexpression of immature and mature antigens, and lack of an
      antigen that is normally expressed during maturation. Atypical immunophenotypes
      were detected in 35 of 68 patients with AML (51.5%) and 15 of 24 patients with
      ALL (62.5%). When 12 patients with leukemia-associated markers were again
      analyzed at relapse, the relevant antigen combinations were retained in 11 of
      them. The sensitivity of this two color flow cytometric assay as determined in
      dilution experiments was 1 in 10(3) to 10(4) cells. Follow-up studies of bone
      marrow samples revealed that, after induction chemotherapy cells with leukemia
      associated markers were detectable in several patients at a frequency of 0.5 to
      4%, but only patients in whom the cells with atypical antigens never disappeared
      suffered from relapse. In contrast, patients who became negative for the atypical
      cells remained in complete remission (median remission duration after the first
      negative bone marrow assessment by flow cytometry 52 weeks, range 20-102). We
      conclude that atypical antigen combinations, which are present in a meaningful
      number of acute leukemias, are a valuable means of monitoring acute leukemia
      patients during follow-up. This flow cytometric approach can complement other
      strategies to get a more accurate definition of remission in acute leukemia.

PMID- 1459007
TI  - [Inhibiting effect of marine polysaccharides on the development of virus-induced
      Rauscher leukemia].

PMID- 1459008
TI  - [Functional role of cysteine residues of muscle succinyl-C oA-synthetase].

PMID- 1459009
TI  - [Identification of new protein kinase genes, similar to kinases of the cdc2
      family and expressed in murine hematopoietic stem cells].

PMID- 1459010
TI  - [Effect of HIV-1 nef gene on the relationship of cells in bone marrow and
      peripheral blood in transgenic mice].

PMID- 1459011
TI  - [The effect of tobacco smoke on the phospholipid composition and energetics of
      liver mitochondria].

PMID- 1459012
TI  - [Bone marrow high molecular weight glycoprotein, intensifying the activity of
      granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor].

PMID- 1459013
TI  - [Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: ERCP as standard preoperative diagnostic
      technique].
AB  - In a prospective study 250 patients with proven cholelithiasis and clinical,
      biochemical and ultrasound indications for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC)
      underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) and (if bile-duct stones
      had been shown) endoscopic papillotomy (EPT). The biliary system was demonstrated
      in 229 patients (91.6%). Biliary tract stones were confirmed in 18 of 68 patients
      in whom they had been suspected clinically. In addition, ERCP revealed small
      stones in the bile-duct in eight of 154 patients with normal biochemical results
      and unremarkable ultrasound imaging, and in seven patients bile-duct anomalies
      which required EPT or open cholecystectomy. However, in retrospect five of the
      patients with cystic duct anomalies could have been treated by LC. The
      complication rate of ERCP/EPT was 3.2%. It is concluded from these results that,
      in view of the cost and potential risk to the patient, ERCP before LC can be
      limited to patients suspected of having bile-duct stones, even though small
      stones may be missed.

PMID- 1459014
TI  - [Diabetic gastroparesis and gallbladder disease. Ultrasound diagnosis after
      multiple-component meals].
AB  - Thirty insulin-dependent diabetics (16 women, 14 men, mean age 37.7 [17-74]
      years) and 12 controls (eight women and four men; aged 20-58 years) were studied
      by real-time ultrasound before and after each of three meals to assess gastric
      and gallbladder motility. The diabetics were grouped according to the results
      into those without (n = 17) and those with diabetic autonomic neuropathy (n =
      13). Antral cross-section provided the criterion for gastric emptying. It
      decreased significantly more slowly in diabetics with autonomic neuropathy than
      in the other two groups. The difference during the postprandial observation
      period of 240 min became the greater the longer the interval after the test meal
      (multivariance analysis: P < 0.001). Gallbladder emptying, too, was slowest in
      diabetics with autonomic neuropathy (P < 0.05). These results indicate that
      abnormalities of gastric and gallbladder emptying in diabetics can be recognized
      by measuring antral cross-section and longitudinal gallbladder area on fasting
      and 180 min after a test meal.

PMID- 1459015
TI  - [Patent foramen ovale and platypnea after pneumonectomy].
AB  - Six months after a pneumonectomy for myeloma, which had preoperatively been
      indistinguishable from bronchial carcinoma, a 50-year-old man presented with
      shortage of breath, cyanosis and episodes of syncope on standing or walking,
      symptoms which improved on lying down (platypnea). On one occasion these symptoms
      necessitated controlled artificial ventilation, but even at an inspiratory oxygen
      saturation of 100%, blood gases only partially improved (pCO2 27 mm Hg, pO2 67 mm
      Hg, O2 saturation 93%). Right heart catheterization in recumbency revealed a
      right to left shunt at atrial level of 37% of systemic flow. Contrast medium
      injection into the inferior vena cava near the heart demonstrated cardiac
      displacement and rotation. Part of the inferior vena cava flow passed into the
      left atrium via a patent foramen ovale: it is likely that this shunt increased in
      the upright position. After surgical closure of the patent foramen ovale and
      partial relocation of the heart (with a vicryl net) the patient has now remained
      free of symptoms for 5 years.

PMID- 1459016
TI  - [Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis].

PMID- 1459017
TI  - [Therapy of pulmonary tuberculosis].

PMID- 1459018
TI  - [Laser-Doppler technique in diseases of peripheral blood vessels].

PMID- 1459019
TI  - [HELLP syndrome].

PMID- 1459020
TI  - [Preventive tetanus immunization and avoidance of side effects of booster
      immunization].
AB  - Prevalence of antibodies against tetanus toxoid (tetanus antitoxin titre) was
      measured in 5,235 males aged 17-60 years, 3,069 (59%) aged 20-22 years. Taking as
      criterion a threshold value of 0.1 IU/ml, 5,071 (97%) had adequate tetanus
      immunity. 1,301 of 4,355 aged 21-30 years (30%) actually had antibody
      concentrations above 6.3 IU/ml. Booster injections are especially contraindicated
      in this latter group because of the danger of side effects with further toxoid
      doses. Thoughtless routine booster immunization should therefore be avoided.

PMID- 1459021
TI  - [Incidence, frequency and resistance characteristics of methicillin-oxacillin
      resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains in Germany].
AB  - In a multicentre study, the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
      isolates in 19 large clinics in Germany were recorded, and the resistance
      characteristics of these strains were studied. Oxacillin-mannitol-salt agar
      plates were distributed to all participants to ensure uniformity of screening,
      and each laboratory used these plates to investigate 200 consecutive
      Staphylococcus aureus isolates for oxacillin-methicillin resistance. Of the 3,794
      evaluable Staphylococcus aureus isolates, 71.5% were penicillin and 3.7% (142)
      oxacillin resistant; four study centres reported methicillin-oxacillin resistance
      rates of more than 5%. Of the MRSA isolates, 75% were also resistant to
      ciprofloxacin, 61% to fosfomycin, 52% to imipenem, 50% to
      trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and 36% to clindamycin. All isolates were sensitive
      to vancomycin and teicoplanin. Of the Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from
      patients in intensive therapy units, 10.4% were methicillin-oxacillin resistant.
      Drains and catheter tips (9.8% and 5.2% respectively) were the materials with the
      highest proportions of MRSA. Of the MRSA isolates in this study, 58.2% belonged
      to lysis group II.

PMID- 1459022
TI  - [Bronchobiliary fistula in carcinoma of the hepatic duct bifurcation].
AB  - Carcinoma of the hepatic duct bifurcation was diagnosed in a 67-year-old women
      with obstructive jaundice. As metastatic spread could not be demonstrated the
      carcinoma was removed with a view of achieving a cure (hemihepatectomy, resection
      of the hepatic duct and the bifurcation, cholecystectomy and hepatojejunostomy).
      Histological examination indicated adenocarcinoma of the biliary tract. Seven
      months postoperatively the patient was found to be cachectic and cough up
      greenish liquid sputum. Bilirubin concentration in sputum was 500 mumol/l. There
      was no jaundice and total bilirubin concentration was 33 mumol/l. Alkaline
      phosphatase was 508 U/l, but GOT and GPT were normal (23 U/l and 21 U/l).
      Computed tomography confirmed the clinical diagnosis of a biliobronchial fistula.
      The patient died 9 days after renewed hospitalization of tumour cachexia. The
      biliobronchial fistula was found at necropsy.

PMID- 1459024
TI  - [Diagnosis of hyperprolactinemia].

PMID- 1459023
TI  - [Intracerebral gliofibroma].
AB  - A 14-month-old girl had three epileptiform attacks in the course of 6 months,
      each consisting of rhythmic movements of the right arm and right hand of 5
      minutes' duration, followed by a 15-minute period of weakness. There were
      otherwise no abnormal neurological signs. Prenatal and perinatal development had
      been uneventful and the mother was healthy. Computed tomography showed a tumour
      in the left frontoparietal region. Surgery revealed an intracerebral tumour 7 cm
      in diameter with two large cysts; it was not sharply demarcated from the brain
      parenchyma, had no connection with the dura and was not infiltrating the
      ventricular system. The tumour was completely removed and at follow-up 18 months
      later there was no evidence of recurrence. Histological and immunohistochemical
      investigations showed that the tumour consisted of closely interwoven astrocytes
      and fibroblasts, two different cell types the latter of which does not normally
      occur in the brain. Exact immunohistochemical analysis of the components of a
      tumour is important because, unlike pure glial tumours, gliofibromas have a good
      prognosis after complete resections.

PMID- 1459025
TI  - [Sleep apnea syndrome].

PMID- 1459026
TI  - [Nucleoli in nerve cells and tumor genesis].

PMID- 1459027
TI  - [Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy with 9- or 15-F tubes].

PMID- 1459028
TI  - [GnRH agonists in acute intermittent porphyria].

PMID- 1459029
TI  - [Pathogenesis of gastroduodenal ulcer].

PMID- 1459030
TI  - [The helminth fauna of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes LINNE, 1758) in Nordhessen and
      Ostwestfalen. 2. Nematodes].
AB  - Between November 1989 and June 1990 a total number of 397 foxes were examined for
      the presence of nematodes in the stomach and the small intestine and 403 foxes
      for the presence of Trichinella spiralis larvae. The animals came from the
      districts of Kassel, Arnsberg and Detmold. In 32.7% of the foxes infections with
      Toxocara canis were found, in 11.1% Toxascaris leonina, in 3.8% Ancylostoma
      caninum, in 3.5% Uncinaria stenocephala and in 2.3% Capillaria species. In most
      cases the number of nematodes per fox was low. Only Toxascaris leonina was
      frequently found with more than 20 specimen per animal. Trichinella spiralis
      larvae were not found in any of the foxes.

PMID- 1459031
TI  - Comparative studies on hydatidosis in farm animals in Egypt.
AB  - A survey on the frequency of hydatid disease in animals slaughtered in Cairo
      abattoir revealed that the percentage in camels, sheep, pigs, cows and buffaloes
      attained 31.0%, 1.33%, 4.62%, 0.0% and 0.0% respectively. In camels and pigs the
      lungs were the main predilection sites of hydatid cysts, while in sheep the liver
      was the most infested organ. The wall thickness of the cysts was different
      according to the host species and the location of the cyst. The parasitic
      membrane of the cysts collected from camels consisted of two layers, an outer
      layer rich with mucopolysaccharides, and an inner germinal layer; some of its
      cells were rich with glycogen others were charged with lipids; the latter were
      mainly concentrated at the origin of the brood capsule. Hydatid cysts from camels
      showed a large number of calcareous bodies which stained deeply with both von
      Kossa stain and alcian blue stain. The majority of the examined cysts from sheep
      showed non-fertile germinal membranes. The most characteristic feature observed
      in the cysts collected from pigs was the presence of large amounts of fat
      droplets.

PMID- 1459032
TI  - [Comparison of IgG determination in foals using commercially available rapid
      tests].
AB  - The three tests (EQUI Z-Test, AGLUTINADE FOAL IMMUNITY, CITE Foal IgG-Test) were
      evaluated for their accuracy and usefulness in the field. Single radial
      immunodiffusion was used as reference method. All tests were easily and rapid to
      perform and results were obtained within a few minutes. It was easy to get the
      results of the CITE Foal IgG-Test, but use of the EQUI Z-Test and the FOAL
      AGLUTINADE IMMUNITY-Test needed some practice to get correct results. Results
      obtained by the CITE Foal IgG-Test correlated to single radial immunodiffusion in
      94%, those obtained by FOAL AGLUTINADE IMMUNITY-Test in 74.1% and those obtained
      by EQUI Z-Test in 57.1%. Best results with a correspondence of 97.1% (CITE Foal
      IgG-Test) and 100% (EQUI Z-Test) were seen in the group having > 800 mg IgG/100
      ml and in the group having < 200 mg IgG/100 ml with 93.3% (CITE Foal IgG-Test)
      and 82.1% (EQUI Z-Test). The AGLUTINADE FOAL IMMUNITY-Test had the same accuracy
      in all groups (70.9%-77.8%).

PMID- 1459034
TI  - [The relationships between the internal and external pelvic measurements of
      Schwartzbunt cows].
AB  - 1118 Friesian cows and 101 Friesian heifers were investigated in internal pelvic
      measurements and their relationships to external measurements. The mean of the
      pelvic vertical and the medium diagonally diameter of the pelvis are 19.8 cm and
      18.3 cm. 363.9 square centimetres and 76.3 centimetres were found for the pelvic
      surface and pelvic circumference. The difference between the biggest and smallest
      pelvis was 295.0 square centimetres. Medium to high coefficiences of correlation
      were detected between the internal pelvic measurements but relationships between
      internal and external pelvic measurements were low. From determined external
      pelvic measurements only the hip breadth provides usefull informations of the
      pelvic shape.

PMID- 1459033
TI  - [Sonography during the pregnancy of sheep. I. Fetometry for the determination of
      the stage of gestation and prediction of the time of parturition].
AB  - Transrectal and transcutaneous ultrasonography was performed on 187 pregnant
      Merino ewes to measure the growth of fetal parameters (fetometry) such as the
      diameters of the eye, braincase and trunk, the width of one rib with its
      intercostal space and the crown-rump-length (CRL). In the ewes, cross and
      longitudinal diameters of the intrauterine lumen around the embryo and fetus were
      determined. Trunk diameter and crown-rump-length of embryos and fetuses were
      sonographically determined from Day 26 and size of eyes, braincase and ribs were
      measured from Day 52 to 66 of gestation. Embryonic resp. fetal parameters and
      uterine diameters showed almost linear growth rate. Relationship between the
      measured parameters and days of pregnancy is described by regressions and
      correlation coefficients. Correlation coefficient between gestational stage and
      the diameter of the trunk was very narrow (r = 0.98) and between gestational
      stage and the crown-rump-length resp. eye diameter equalled 89% (r = 0.89). These
      fetal parameters are appropriate to assess gestational age and growth of ovine
      fetuses. It can be concluded that sonographic fetometry in the ovine can be
      valuable for the evaluation of fetal development, the estimation of gestational
      age and the prediction of parturition dates.

PMID- 1459035
TI  - [Birth weight and measurements of various body parts of stillborn calves of a
      large dairy cattle herd].
AB  - Stillborn calves (80 animals) originating from one dairy herd were used for
      studies on allometric measures in newborn calves. In the first approach some
      factors were neglected and only the effect of the calves' sex was considered.
      Differences in mean birthweight between male and female calves were reflected in
      organ and other body constituent weights too, but with different relations
      between them. Enlarged thyroid glands could be observed in both sexes but more
      often in female calves meaning that there is no correlation between thyroid size
      and body weight. Strong correlations of bones, muscles and outer body measures
      and looser ones of internal organs (thymus, liver, lung, kidneys, spleen) and
      endocrine glands (adrenal glands) with body weight were found especially in male
      calves. In some calves the sometimes enlarged liver looked like a fatty liver
      with its pale yellowish appearance and crumbly consistency.

PMID- 1459036
TI  - [Campylobacter as the cause of diarrhea in calves].
AB  - The modified Preston medium allows the isolation of C. jejuni, C. coli and C.
      fetus subsp. fetus from intestinal samples of calves at an incubation temperature
      of 37 degrees C. In the first series of investigation, Campylobacter excretion in
      calves (n = 7) was followed up to the age of 4 months. In the first 4 days of
      life, these bacteria could not be detected in any of the animals. Thereafter
      first C. coli we found in all calves. In 4 animals, only strains of this species
      were isolated during the whole investigation period. In 3 animals C. fetus subsp.
      fetus could be detected repeatedly, however C. coli and sometimes C. jejuni were
      found, too. In the second series of investigation, isolation of Campylobacter
      from different parts of the gastrointestinal tract or organs was successful in 19
      out of 25 diarrhoeal, moribund calves. 16 out of 19 positive animals harboured
      large amounts of these gramnegative bacteria in the distal jejunum and ileum. In
      10 animals out of these 16, the germ colonized also the proximal jejunum and
      abomasum. From 6 calves, C. fetus subsp. fetus was isolated, and C. jejuni from 7
      calves. C. coli was relatively rare. From the lymph nodes of the proximal and
      distal jejunum, Campylobacter (exclusively C. jejuni) were isolated from 5
      animals. Due to the Campylobacter presence in the small intestine of diarrhoeal
      calves, a contribution of this bacteria within the pathogenesis of calf diarrhoea
      is possible. Final evaluation of their pathogenesis importance is only positive
      by means of virulence tests.

PMID- 1459037
TI  - [Skeletal muscle samples from slaughtered bodies of swine in student laboratories
      for the study of muscle physiology].
AB  - Viable, excitable and contractile samples from gracilis muscle of pig carcasses
      were used in our student laboratory of muscle physiology. Samples were taken
      about 20 minutes after stunning. Sampling, transport of the samples and equipment
      are described. Some examples of registered isometric contractions are shown.

PMID- 1459038
TI  - Monensin poisoning in dromedary camels.
AB  - Four female fistulated camels (Camelus dromedarius), 4-5 years of age, were each
      given two grams of 10% monensin intraruminally daily for six days to study the
      effect of monensin on the rumen fermentation pattern. Signs of toxicity appeared
      on the sixth day, and included depression, anorexia, muscular weakness, inability
      to stand, salivation and regurgitation of ruminal contents. On the eighth day,
      two animals died. The ruminal contents were replaced in the survivors, but they
      died on the tenth and eleventh day from the start of the experiment.

PMID- 1459039
TI  - [An unusual tumor of the nictitating membrane gland of dogs-- a case report].
AB  - A tumor of the third eyelid gland was diagnosed in a 13 year old female
      Chihuahua. Histopathology of the excised tissue revealed an apocrine adnexoma
      with squamous metaplasia. The literature regarding prolapse and tumors of the
      third eyelid gland was reviewed. No case with similar morphology to this tumor
      was described to our knowledge.

PMID- 1459040
TI  - Successful pretreatment/therapy of soman, sarin and VX intoxication.
AB  - Chemical pretreatment is effective against a 2 LD50 challenge of soman, sarin or
      VX or a 5 LD50 challenge of tabun. Chemical pretreatment followed by post
      challenge therapy should be effective against greater levels of agent. Such tests
      in guinea pigs are reported here; pretreatment regimens (PRGs) consisted of
      physostigmine (0.15 mg/kg, im) and an adjunct. The adjuncts [mg/kg, im] used were
      aprophen [8], atropine (AT)[16], azaprophen (AZA)[5], benactyzine [1.25],
      benztropine (BT) [4], scopolamine [0.08] and trihexyphenidyl [2]. Pretreatment
      was given 30 min before, and atropine (16 mg/kg, im) and 2-PAM (25 mg/kg, im)
      therapy (T) at one min after, 5 LD50s of agent. Results indicate that, all of the
      PRG+T regimens, except BT-not tested with T, prevent lethality by soman;
      trihexyphenidyl and scopolamine (the only adjuncts used therein) regimens each
      prevent lethality by sarin and VX. Against soman, all PRG+T regimens (vs PRG
      only) may shorten the median recovery time to 2 hrs or less. Even without
      therapy, the PRGs containing AT, AZA or BT prevent lethality by 5 LD50s of soman;
      however, used alone, only the PRG containing AZA reduces the incidence of
      convulsions at this level of soman.

PMID- 1459041
TI  - The effect of pyridostigmine pretreatment on oxime efficacy against intoxication
      by soman or VX in rats.
AB  - This study was done to assess the effects of pyridostigmine (PYR) on a) the
      accumulation of labelled VX and soman within the brain, b) the therapeutic
      efficacy of atropine and oxime (2-PAM or HI-6) against intoxication by VX and
      soman and c) oxime-induced reactivation of inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE).
      In all experiments, rats were given PYR (131 micrograms/kg, im; I70 dose for
      whole blood AChE) or vehicle 30 min prior to nerve agent. In estimating 3H-agent
      the accumulation in the brain or estimating blood AChE activity, sufficient soman
      (47 micrograms/kg, iv) or VX (21.3 micrograms/kg, iv) was given to inhibit 50% of
      brain AChE activity. In assessing therapeutic efficacy and oxime-induced
      reactivation of blood AChE, rats were pretreated with PYR, challenged with agent
      and treated with atropine (16 mg/kg, im) and HI-6 or 2-PAM (100 umoles/kg, im) 30
      sec post agent. Whole blood was collected by tail bleeding to monitor peripheral
      AChE activity at various time points before and after PYR and challenge.
      Pyridostigmine failed to alter covalent binding of labelled VX or soman in the
      brain. The 24-hr survival data showed that PYR reduced the therapeutic benefit of
      atropine and oxime against VX intoxication (but not soman). Protective ratios in
      VX-challenged rats given vehicle or PYR and treated with atropine + 2-PAM
      decreased slightly from 2.5 to 2.1 (p > .05), whereas with atropine + HI-6 they
      decreased significantly from 3.8 to 2.4. Also, AChE reactivation by HI-6 in VX
      challenged rats was greater (p < .05) in vehicle- than in PYR-pretreated rats. HI
      6 significantly reactivated AChE activity in both pretreatment groups (PYR or
      vehicle) given soman. The data suggest that PYR decreases the overall recovery of
      inhibited AChE in VX-challenged rats given HI-6; under the conditions used, this
      adverse effect decreases atropine+oxime efficacy against VX-induced lethality.

PMID- 1459042
TI  - The effect of tetrabutylammonium ion on chicken brain acetylcholinesterase
      activity in vitro.
AB  - The effect of tetrabutylammonium ion on chicken brain acetylcholinesterase
      activity was investigated. Tetrabutylammonium ion (1-4mM) reversibly inhibited
      acetylcholinesterase activity of chicken brain (34-73%) in a concentration
      dependent manner, the IC50 being about 1.1mM. A Lineweaver-Burk plot, as well as
      a Dixon plot, indicated that the nature of inhibition is noncompetitive with a Km
      value of 0.134mM and a Ki value of 1.58mM at 37 degrees C. An Arrhenius plot
      showed that the transition temperature is significantly reduced in the presence
      of tetrabutylammonium ion.

PMID- 1459043
TI  - Relationship between activities of cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases in human
      placental microsomes and binding of benzo(a)pyrene metabolites to calf thymus
      DNA.
AB  - Benzo(a)pyrene metabolism in human placental microsomes from smokers was studied.
      Benzo(a)pyrene metabolites were separated using high pressure liquid
      chromatographic technique. Reaction of benzo(a)pyrene with a microsomal fraction
      of placenta from individuals who smoke cigarettes during pregnancy yields 7,8
      dihydroxy benzo(a)pyrene as a major metabolite, while 3'-hydroxy benzo(a)pyrene,
      4,5 dihydroxy benzo(a)pyrene and quinones constitute minor metabolites. The
      activities of arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase and 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylase
      exhibited much higher activities in smokers than in nonsmokers. Examination of
      specific binding of monoclonal antibodies to cytochrome P-450 isozymes in
      placental microsomes revealed that cigarette smoking specifically enhanced the
      level of cytochrome P-450 c and d isozymes in human placental microsomes.
      Coincubation of 3H-benzo(a)pyrene and calf thymus DNA with placental microsomes
      yielded acid insoluble 3H-B(a)P from smokers, suggesting that cigarette smoking
      may induce placental enzymes which convert benzo(a)pyrene into ultimate
      metabolites to form carcinogen-DNA adducts.

PMID- 1459044
TI  - Evaluation of acetaminophen-induced developmental toxicity using FETAX.
AB  - Potential mechanisms of acetaminophen-induced developmental toxicity were
      evaluated using FETAX (Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay-Xenopus). Early Xenopus
      laevis embryos were exposed to acetaminophen for 96-h in two definitive
      concentrations-response assays with and without an exogenous metabolic activation
      system (MAS). Two static renewal tests of acetaminophen and the MAS treated with
      carbon monoxide, cimetidine, ellipticine, diethyl maleate, and supplemented with
      glutathione were also performed. Addition of the MAS decreased the 96-h LC50 and
      EC50 (malformation) values of unactivated acetaminophen 3.9-fold and 7.1-fold,
      respectively. Addition of the carbon monoxide- and ellipticine-inhibited MAS, as
      well as the glutathione-supplemented MAS decreased the developmental toxicity of
      activated acetaminophen to levels near that of the unactivated parent compound.
      Cimetidine-inhibited MAS also reduced the developmental toxicity of
      acetaminophen, but not to the extent observed with the carbon monoxide- and
      ellipticine-inhibited, or glutathione-supplemented MAS. Addition of the diethyl
      maleate-treated MAS substantially increased the developmental toxicity of
      acetaminophen. Results indicate that a highly reactive intermediate formed as the
      result of MFO-mediated metabolism (possibly P-448) significantly increased the
      developmental toxicity of acetaminophen. Glutathione was also found to play a
      major role in intermediate detoxification in vitro.

PMID- 1459045
TI  - Influence of rumen fermentation on response to endophyte-infected tall fescue
      seed measured by a rat bioassay.
AB  - Possible alteration of toxicity of endophyte-infected tall fescue by ruminal
      fermentation was studied using 28 Harlan Sprague-Dawley rats (avg. initial wt.,
      141 g). These were assigned randomly to one of four treatments in a 2*2 factorial
      consisting of a 14-day growth period with weights and feed consumption data
      determined on days 0, 5, 10 and 14. Treatments were: endophyte-infected Kentucky
      31 tall fescue seed (E+) or endophyte free Johnstone tall fescue seed (E-) that
      was incubated for 0 (NON) or 24 hours (INC) with rumen fluid collected from a 290
      kg cannulated steer fed a diet containing 37% endophyte-infected tall fescue hay.
      Diets consisted of 50% lab chow, 39% fescue seed and 11% rumen contents (air-dry
      basis). Alkaloid content (N-acetyl plus N-formyl loline) for the four diets were
      2540, 2680, 0, and 0 micrograms/g for E+NON, E+INC, E-NON, and E-INC diets,
      respectively. E- treatments gained faster, consumed more feed and converted feed
      more efficiently (P < .05) than did E+ fed groups. No difference in feed intake
      was observed within E+ treatments, however, the E+INC diet gained faster (P <
      .05) and converted feed more efficiently (P < .05) than did E+NON fed rats (2.56
      vs 1.96 g/d and 5.94 vs 7.51 g of feed/g of gain for gain and feed conversion,
      respectively). Including endophyte-infected seed in rat diets depressed
      performance (ie. intake, gain and feed efficiency). This depression was partially
      alleviated by a 24-hour incubation with rumen fluid contents suggesting that
      toxicity of endophyte-infected tall fescue is lessened due to rumen microbial
      action.

PMID- 1459046
TI  - Biology of normal luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone neurons during and after
      their migration from olfactory placode.

PMID- 1459047
TI  - Clinical counterpoint: gonadotropin-releasing hormone deficiency: perspectives
      from clinical investigation.
AB  - Advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of Kallmann syndrome have
      come from an interdisciplinary approach involving developmental biology, clinical
      investigation, and molecular biology. It is equally clear that progress to date
      is but the first chapter of what will be a fascinating biological story. It now
      seems likely that the full expression of reproductive potential from the
      neuroendocrine perspective is likely to be as complicated as other aspects of
      reproduction, such as the multigene control of external genital differentiation.
      An analogous story may well emerge for the neuroendocrine control of reproduction
      in which the GnRH gene is encoded on the eighth chromosome, the protein guiding
      the embryonic journey of the GnRH-producing neuron to the hypothalamus lies on
      the X chromosome, and many, as yet to be determined, other genetic loci
      collaborate in the full expression of reproductive potential. Such a detailed
      study is warranted not only because of the clinical and genetic implications for
      an individual patient with this disorder, but also from an organizational theme
      for the evolution of the species (and its potential regulation). Given the
      pressing nature of world population growth, obtaining such understanding and its
      applications to fertility and contraception is crucial. These advances will only
      come from enlightened interactions of clinical investigators, molecular
      geneticists, and developmental biologists in which interdisciplinary approaches
      should be fostered. This should be an exciting story to follow given the
      remarkable nature of the tools at hand to study these clinical conditions.

PMID- 1459049
TI  - International glossary of antiepileptic drugs.

PMID- 1459048
TI  - Clinical counterpoint: vitamin D: new actions, new analogs, new therapeutic
      potential.

PMID- 1459050
TI  - Annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society. Seattle, Washington, December 6
      9, 1992. Abstracts.

PMID- 1459051
TI  - 'For want of a joint the horse was lost...'.

PMID- 1459052
TI  - How effective is your treatment of bacterial endometritis?

PMID- 1459053
TI  - Arthroscopic surgery for osteochondritis dissecans of the femoropatellar joint of
      the horse.
AB  - Arthroscopic surgery for the treatment of osteochondritis dissecans was
      undertaken on 252 femoropatellar joints in 161 horses (82 Thoroughbreds, 39
      Quarter Horses, 16 Arabians, 9 Warmbloods and 15 others of various breeds). There
      were 53 females and 108 males. Twenty-two horses were 1 year of age at the time
      of surgery, 68 were yearlings, 36 were 2-year-olds, 21 were 3-year-olds, and 14
      were > or = 4 years old. Ninety-one had bilateral involvement and 70 had
      unilateral disease. Follow-up information was obtained on 134 horses, including
      79 racehorses and 55 non-racehorses: 86 (64%) of these 134 horses returned to
      their intended use, 9 (7%) were in training, 21 (16%) were unsuccessful and 18
      (13%) were unsuccessful due to other defined reasons. Horses with Grade I lesions
      (< 2 cm in length) had a significantly higher success rate (78%) than did horses
      with Grade 2 (2-4 cm) or Grade 3 (> 4 cm) lesions (63% and 54% success rates
      respectively). A significantly higher success rate was also noted for horses
      operated on as 3-year-olds compared with the remainder of the study population. A
      significantly lower success rate was noted for yearlings than for the remainder
      of the population. There was no significant difference in outcome as related to
      sex of animal involved, racehorse versus non-racehorse, lesion location,
      unilateral versus bilateral involvement, presence or absence of patellar or
      trochlear groove lesions, or presence or absence of loose bodies.

PMID- 1459054
TI  - Fractures of the lateral malleolus of the tibia in 16 horses.
AB  - Clinical and radiological features of 16 horses with fractures of the lateral
      malleolus of the tibia are reported. The paper describes surgical techniques
      used, results obtained and discusses justification for removal. Fourteen
      fractures were unilateral and two bilateral. There was no left:right disparity.
      The history included a known traumatic incident in 14 cases. All animals had a
      tarsocrural joint effusion and 10 had palpable thickening of the lateral
      collateral ligaments. Crepitus was also palpable in 10 horses. The fracture was
      identified in all dorsoplantar and 14 of 18 dorsomedial-plantarolateral oblique
      radiographic projections. Nine fractures were simple and 9 comminuted. All
      fractures were removed via a tarsocrural arthrotomy. Approaches were dorsolateral
      in 14 joints, plantarolateral in 3 and dorsolateral and plantarolateral in 1.
      After an ascending exercise programme horses returned to work 6 months after
      surgery: 15 horses were free of lameness after 17-62 months, with 13 animals
      performing at a level similar to pre-injury standard.

PMID- 1459055
TI  - Septic arthritis in 15 standardbred racehorses after intra-articular injection.
AB  - Case histories, results of synovial fluid analyses, treatment regimens and
      outcome are described for 15 adult Standardbred horses with confirmed post
      injection septic arthritis. Joint sepsis followed injection of corticosteroids,
      hyaluronic acid, polysulphated glycosaminoglycan, or local anaesthetic. The
      median interval from injection to appearance of clinical signs was 2.5 days, and
      median interval from injection to referral was 9 days. The median initial
      synovial leucocyte count on admission was 57 x 10(9)/litre, but there was a wide
      range of values (18-258 x 10(9)/litre). The median synovial neutrophil percentage
      was 95% (77-99%). All bacterial isolates were Gram-positive cocci, 86% of which
      were staphylococci. All treated horses (12/15) initially received broad-spectrum
      parenteral antibiotic therapy, and the articulations of all horses except one
      were lavaged, either with non-surgical through-and-through techniques only (N =
      3), or surgically with arthrotomy (N = 1) or arthroscopy (N = 7). The owners of
      all treated horses were contacted and racing records were consulted. Eleven of 12
      horses returned to racing. Outcome was judged as either satisfactory (3/12) if
      the horse had returned to racing levels similar to or better than before
      treatment, or unsatisfactory (9/12) if the horse had poorer performance or could
      not return to racing. The 3 horses with satisfactory follow-up had been treated
      with arthroscopy and post-surgical closed suction drainage. The results of
      bacterial cultures suggest that the initial antimicrobial agents used should be
      effective against penicillin-resistant staphylococci.

PMID- 1459056
TI  - A retrospective study of 192 horses affected with septic arthritis/tenosynovitis.
AB  - The medical records of 192 horses with septic arthritis/tenosynovitis 1979-1989
      were reviewed. Forty-three horses developed infection after an intra-articular
      injection, 46 following a penetrating wound, 25 following surgery, 66 were foals
      less than 6 months old, and 12 were adult horses without a known aetiology.
      Haematogenous infection of a joint occurs in adult horses and should be
      considered as a differential diagnosis in horses with an acute onset of severe
      lameness. The aetiology of the infection had a significant effect on the type of
      bacteria identified by culture. Staphylococcus was cultured from most of the
      horses that developed infection following a joint injection or surgery, 69% of
      the horses from which an organism was identified. Horses that developed infection
      secondary to a penetrating wound frequently provided cultures of more than one
      organism; Enterobacteriaceae and anaerobes were more frequently isolated in this
      group. The most common organisms isolated from foals were Enterobacteriaceae; E.
      coli was identified in more than 27% of the foals. The hock was the most
      frequently involved joint. Multiple treatments were used over the 10-year period
      of study. Survival rates were lowest in foals; only 45% survived to be released
      from the hospital. Survival was greater in adult horses; 85% of the horses that
      were treated were released from the hospital. Survival was significantly greater
      in horses with septic tenosynovitis; all 14 of the horses that were treated
      survived. Survival was not significantly affected by the joint involved or by the
      type of bacteria cultured from the synovial fluid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1459057
TI  - Open drainage, intra-articular and systemic antibiotics in the treatment of
      septic arthritis/tenosynovitis in horses.
AB  - Open drainage was used to treat 26 horses with persistent or severe septic
      arthritis/tenosynovitis. Infected synovial structures were drained through a
      small (3 cm) arthrotomy incision that was left open and protected by a sterile
      bandage. Joint lavage was performed in all 26 horses. In addition to systemic
      antibiotics, 23 of these horses were also treated with intra-articular
      antibiotics; amikacin (17 horses), gentamycin (2 horses), cefazolin (2 horses),
      and 2 horses were injected at different times with gentamycin and amikacin. The
      infection was eliminated from the involved synovial structures in 25 of 26
      horses; 24 survived and were released from the hospital. The arthrotomy incisions
      healed by granulation in 16 horses; in 9 horses the arthrotomy incision was
      sutured closed once the infection was eliminated. Seventeen horses returned to
      soundness and resumed athletic function. Open drainage was an effective method of
      achieving chronic drainage from a joint or tendon sheath. It is indicated in
      horses that have established intra-synovial infections or in horses that do not
      respond to joint lavage through needles.

PMID- 1459058
TI  - Antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial isolates from 233 horses with
      musculoskeletal infection during 1979-1989.
AB  - Bacterial culture and susceptibility results were analysed from 233 horses with
      septic arthritis/tenosynovitis or osteomyelitis that developed after fracture
      repair. Antibiotics were deemed highly effective, effective or ineffective if >
      or = 85%, 70-84.9% or < 70% of the isolates were susceptible respectively. In
      total, 424 bacterial types were isolated; 386 were aerobic or facultative and 38
      were anaerobic. Enterobacteriaceae (28.8%) were the most common bacterial group
      isolated, followed by non-beta-haemolytic streptococci (13.0%), coagulase
      positive staphylococci (11.8%), beta-haemolytic streptococci (9.4%), and
      coagulase-negative staphylococci (7.3%). The remainder of the organisms were
      other Gram-negative (15.8%), other Gram-positive (2.3%) and miscellaneous (2.6%)
      bacteria. Penicillin and ampicillin were highly effective against beta-haemolytic
      streptococci, but were ineffective against other bacteria. Ampicillin was no more
      effective than penicillin against most bacteria. Amikacin was the most effective
      antibiotic against the wide range of bacteria isolated in this study. Amikacin
      was highly effective against coagulase-positive staphylococci, Enterobacteriaceae
      and Pseudomonas and was effective against coagulase-negative staphylococci and
      Actinobacillus. Gentamycin was not highly effective against any bacterial group;
      but was effective against coagulase-positive and negative staphylococci,
      Pseudomonas, Salmonella and Actinobacillus. Kanamycin was ineffective against all
      bacteria with the exception of Actinobacillus. Cephalothin was highly effective
      against beta-haemolytic streptococci, coagulase-positive staphylococci and
      Actinobacillus and was effective against coagulase-negative
      staphylococci.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459059
TI  - Evaluation of progesterone treatment to create a model for equine endometritis.
AB  - To investigate a model for equine endometritis, 12 mares with normal reproductive
      tracts were divided into 2 groups. All mares received progesterone in oil, 250 mg
      im, daily. At 5 days after initiation of progesterone administration, the uteri
      were inoculated with 10(6) colony forming units of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The
      day of inoculation was designated Day 0. On Day 6, endometrial swab samples
      yielded P. aeruginosa in 5 mares; samples from the other 7 mares yielded heavy
      growth of Escherichia coli, Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Klebsiella pneumoniae,
      Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter diversus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and
      Streptococcus morbillorum. On Days 6, 7 and 8, Group A mares received
      intrauterine infusions of 6 g ticarcillin disodium and 0.2 g clavulanate
      potassium in 100 ml sterile saline. Group B mares received infusions of saline
      only. The incidence of swab specimens yielding no bacterial growth was
      significantly higher in Group A than Group B mares on Days 8 and 13 (4/6 vs 0/6).
      Swab samples from 5 of the 6 mares in Group A yielded growth of fungi on Days 13
      and 19. Mares in Group B were then similarly treated with ticarcillin/clavulanate
      infusions, on Days 19, 20 and 21. The incidence of swab specimens yielding no
      bacterial growth was 2/6 and 1/6 on Days 21 and 26, respectively; fungi were not
      recovered from these mares at any time. The incidence of no-growth swabs after
      antibiotic treatment tended to be higher in Group A and incidence of fungal
      recovery after antibiotic treatment was significantly higher in Group A.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459060
TI  - Effects of high-intensity exercise on plasma catecholamines in the thoroughbred
      horse.
AB  - In Study 1, a single speed test of 6 to 12 m/sec was performed for 2 mins at an
      incline of 5 degrees on a high-speed treadmill (single-step test). Only one speed
      was performed per session and blood samples were taken before and after the test.
      In Study 2 horses cantered for 1 min at increasing speeds of 6 to 13 m/sec on an
      incline of 3 degrees (multiple-step test). Blood samples were taken before
      exercise, throughout the test and during recovery. In the single-step test plasma
      concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline both increased at speeds of 9
      m/sec, as did blood lactate. Mean concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline
      at the end of the 12 m/sec test were 153 and 148 nmol/litre, respectively. Plasma
      concentrations were similar over all speeds although there was a tendency for the
      increase in noradrenaline to be greater than that of adrenaline at the lower
      speeds. The multiple-step test resulted in smaller increases in both adrenaline
      and noradrenaline. Although again closely correlated, increases in adrenaline
      were 20-30% greater than those for noradrenaline. In both exercise models,
      changes in plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline values with exercise showed an
      exponential relationship to plasma lactate. A plasma half-life of less than 30
      secs was indicated during recovery from the multiple-step test. Changes in
      adrenaline and noradrenaline were much greater than previously recorded in man
      and emphasise the importance of catecholamines in mediating the physiological
      response of the horse to exercise.

PMID- 1459061
TI  - Outcome of treatment in 23 horses with progressive ethmoidal haematoma.
AB  - This paper describes the outcome of treatment in 23 horses with an ethmoidal
      haematoma. In 22 cases a diagnosis could be made by endoscopic means alone but in
      1 horse the lesion was confined to the maxillary sinus and a diagnosis was made
      only at surgery. One horse was destroyed at the owner's request but the other 22
      underwent radical excision of the lesion via a facial flap approach under general
      anaesthesia. Post-operative haemorrhage was controlled by nasal packing with a
      gauze bandage and this was removed between the 2nd and 4th post-operative day.
      One horse died from encephalitis the day after surgery. Other complications
      included facial wound dehiscence, sequestration and suture periostitis. Of 21
      horses followed up post-operatively there was definite recurrence of lesion in 2
      cases and possibly a third. However, in 18 horses there was no evidence of
      recurrence (follow up times were 2 to 85 months). It is suggested that radical
      excision of the lesion provides an effective means of treatment.

PMID- 1459062
TI  - Effect of dietary biotin supplement on equine hoof horn growth rate and hardness.
AB  - Over a 10-month period, 24 randomly selected riding horses were fed various
      amounts of biotin. Statistically significant improvements in growth rates and
      hardness of hooves were produced by biotin supplementation. Greater growth rates
      and hardness were achieved at a daily dose of 15 mg than at 7.5 mg. Increased
      hoof hardness was greatest in the hoof quarters and toe. No ring formation
      occurred in hooves of horses fed biotin intermittently.

PMID- 1459063
TI  - Effects of hypoxia and azotaemia on the pharmacokinetics of amikacin in neonatal
      foals.
AB  - The effects of hypoxia and azotaemia on the pharmacokinetics of amikacin were
      evaluated in 20 full-term neonatal critically ill foals which required 24-h
      supportive care, antibiotics and dextrose-supplemented polyionic fluids given
      intravenously, nasal insufflation with oxygen and nutritional supplementation.
      There was no association between sepsis score or survival and pharmacokinetic
      parameters. Concurrent hypoxia and azotaemia were associated with significantly
      decreased clearance and increased peak and trough serum concentrations of
      amikacin; however, peaks or troughs did not exceed toxic values. Derangements in
      serum peak, trough and clearance values, which were present on admission,
      persisted over the 6-day duration of this study. Daily monitoring of serum
      amikacin concentration revealed a tendency to underdose (particularly in foals
      receiving aggressive fluid therapy), which necessitated increasing the dose/kg
      body weight (9-12 mg/kg) and increasing the dose interval (10-12 h) in 40% (8/20)
      of the cases, so that blood concentrations of amikacin could be maintained within
      the target range of 3-15 micrograms/ml. Amikacin-induced nephrotoxicity was not
      indicated by conventional laboratory testing, nor was it strongly suspected after
      examination of post mortem lesions.

PMID- 1459064
TI  - Catheterisation of carotid artery in horses using ultrasonography.

PMID- 1459066
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of ceftiofur sodium in neonatal foals after intramuscular
      injection.

PMID- 1459065
TI  - Effect of vitamin E status on lipid peroxidation in exercised horses.

PMID- 1459067
TI  - A field evaluation of three methods of administration of anthelminthics to
      horses.

PMID- 1459068
TI  - Pemphigus foliaceus in a 2-month-old foal.

PMID- 1459069
TI  - Pulmonary plasma cell granuloma (inflammatory pseudotumour) in a horse.

PMID- 1459070
TI  - Comparison of two surgical methods for treatment of crib-biting in horses.

PMID- 1459071
TI  - 'Laterally aggregated' polyacrylamide gels for electrophoresis.
AB  - A new method is described for producing highly porous polyacrylamide matrices:
      polymerization in presence of a preformed hydrophilic polymer. If a standard
      mixture of monomers (e.g., 5%T, 4%C) is polymerized in presence of, e.g.,
      polyethylene glycol (PEG) 10 kDa, lateral chain aggregation occurs, with
      formation of large pore sizes. In PEG 10 kDa, the transition from a small- to a
      large-pore gel is clearly apparent at 0.5% PEG addition and reaches a plateau
      already at 2.5% PEG. Even with shorter PEG fragments (6.2 and 1 kDa) this
      transition occurs, but with progressively larger amounts of PEG in solution (up
      to 25% for the 1 kDa species). Other polymers such as hydroxymethyl cellulose
      (1000 kDa) and polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (360 kDa and 25 kDa) are also able to elicit
      this phenomenon. It appears that lateral chain aggregation (before the cross
      linking event) is induced via intra-chain hydrogen bonding, since urea and
      temperature strongly inhibit it, whereas tetramethylurea (an agent quenching
      hydrophobic interactions) does not hamper it. By scanning electron microscope, it
      is found that the maximum pore size obtained in a 5%T, 4%C gel in presence of
      2.5% PEG 10 kDA is of the order of 0.5 micron, whereas the same 5%T, 4%C control
      gel would have an average pore diameter of 5 nm. Thus, an increment of pore size
      of about 2 orders of magnitude is obtained: in these new matrices, a 21000 bp DNA
      fragment exhibits a much greater migration than in a control gel in which the
      sample is entrapped at the application site.

PMID- 1459073
TI  - Information on DNA conformation derived from transverse pore gradient gel
      electrophoresis in conjunction with an advanced data analysis applied to
      capillary electrophoresis in polymer media.
AB  - Abnormally slow migration of DNA is conventionally viewed as being due to an
      abnormal conformation relative to "linear" standards. The evidence for this rests
      on a few instances where nonlinear DNA structures have been established by
      independent methods and yield low mobilities relative to standards. Transverse
      pore gradient gel electrophoresis of authentically bent kinetoplast DNA and of an
      upstream activator sequence (UAS) of an E. coli operon promoter shows in addition
      that curves of migration distance vs. gel concentration ("Ferguson curves") of
      such abnormally conformed DNA differ from those of "linear" standards. Since
      Ferguson curves are interpretable with regard to molecular size in concordance
      with a mathematical model (Ogston model), transverse pore gradient gel
      electrophoresis provides a simple means of correlating abnormally slow migration
      of DNA with molecular size. In addition, transverse pore gradient gel
      electrophoresis is able to distinguish between DNA banding which exhibits a
      steeper dependence on gel concentration than "linear" standards from one which
      shows the same dependence. The former appears characteristic of circularly bent
      DNA and gives rise to a substantial retardation, the latter of bending across a
      knot or kink in the DNA chain associated with a relatively minor retardation
      relative to standards. Circularly bent restriction fragments formed from
      kinetoplast DNA retain the characteristic intersecting Ferguson curves on the
      transverse pore gradient gel. Another authentically "abnormal" DNA structure
      recognizable on transverse pore gradient gels is supercoiled DNA derived from the
      reaction of topoisomerase with a plasmid. Different lengths of supercoiled
      sequences give rise to parallel Ferguson curves clearly intersecting with those
      of linear standards.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459072
TI  - The effect of gel structure on matrix orientation.
AB  - Four polymeric gels of different structure, low electroendosmosis (LE) agarose,
      highest electroendosmosis (HEEO) agarose, beta-carrageenan, and polyacrylamide,
      were studied by transient electric birefringence to determine the importance of
      various structural features on the orientation of the gels in an electric field.
      The two types of agarose, but not the polyacrylamide or beta-carrageenan,
      exhibited anomalous orientation effects. Both agarose and beta-carrageenan
      exhibited large birefringence signals, suggesting that the noncovalent hydrogen
      bonds joining the agarose fibers within the matrix allow the high degree of
      orientation of the gel. The spatial arrangement of the sugars of the agarose
      backbone is necessary for the anomalous orientation effects in reversing electric
      fields.

PMID- 1459074
TI  - Molecular sieving of lambda phage DNA in polyacrylamide solutions as a function
      of the molecular weight of the polymer.
AB  - Electrophoresis of lambda phage DNA was carried out in solutions at various
      concentrations of uncrosslinked polyacrylamide of 0.6, 1, 5 and 9 x 10(6)
      molecular weight (Mw) with narrow Mw distribution. By inspection of mobilities in
      the various concentration ranges, it appears that mobilities decrease, and
      retardation increases, with increasing Mw. The relation between electrophoretic
      retardation and the Mw of the polymer was also interpreted (i) in the manner
      previously applied to nonlinear Ferguson plots and compatible with the Ogston
      model; and (ii) empirically, on the basis of the first derivatives of the
      functions describing the Ferguson plots at the polymer concentrations used.
      Interpretation (i) shows that the retardation increases linearly in the order of
      0.6, 1, 5 and 9 x 10(6) Mw of polyacrylamide. Interpretation (ii) shows a
      nonlinear increase of retardation in the Mw range 5 to 9 x 10(6), and a decrease
      in retardation as Mw is raised from 0.6 to 5.0 x 10(6). Hypothetically,
      interpretation (ii) can be explained mechanistically by a progressive change, as
      the polymer size is increased, from a collision with the surface of the polymer
      fiber to one occurring after permeation in the interior of a random-coiled fiber.
      Interpretation (i) may fail to detect that change due to the large difference
      between DNA mobility in solutions of the smallest polymer and the free mobility.
      DNA peak detection in all of the four size classes of polyacrylamide in solution
      is limited to relatively narrow ranges of polymer concentration.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459075
TI  - Advances in DNA electrophoresis in polymer solutions.
AB  - DNA electrophoresis in gels and solutions of agarose and polyacrylamide was
      objectively evaluated with regard to separation efficiency at optimal polymer
      concentrations. In application to DNA fragments, polyacrylamide gels were
      superior for separating fragments of less than 7800 bp, and agarose gels are the
      best choice for larger fragments. Agarose solutions are nearly as good as
      polyacrylamide gels for small DNA (< 300 bp). Agarose solutions have a higher
      efficiency than polyacrylamide solutions for DNA of less than 1200 bp. Separation
      efficiency sharply decreases with increasing length of DNA. Retardation in
      polyacrylamide solutions was found to depend on polymer length in a biphasic
      fashion. The choice of resolving polymer concentrations depends on the
      progressive stretching of DNA in proportion to polymer concentration. The rate of
      that stretching appears higher in polyacrylmide solution than in gels or in
      liquid or gelled agarose. Application of polymer solutions to capillary
      electrophoresis raises further problems concerning agarose plugs, DNA
      interactions with the polymers, operation at low field strength and long
      durations as well as detection sensitivity.

PMID- 1459076
TI  - High-throughput automated DNA sequencing facility with fluorescent labels at the
      European Molecular Biology Laboratory.
AB  - One of the aims of the facility is to develop and push the automated on-line DNA
      sequencing gel technology to its limit in sequence throughput, which may be
      somewhere around 100 kilobases of sequence per device per day. Key new
      developments were initiated and applied in operation on the European Molecular
      Biology Laboratory (EMBL) automated sequencer and its commercial version A.L.F.
      (Pharmacia). Sequencing speed was increased by a factor of 10-20, up to 1500
      bases per hour per clone on ultrathin (about 100 microns) gels, while the
      resolution and reading length were extended to 1000 bases on gels with 50 cm
      separation length, using fluorescein-15-*dATP as the internal label. With our
      sequencing strategy, closing about 40% of the sequence with "walking" primers and
      F-15-*dATP as internal label, we sequenced both strands of a cosmid insert of
      38.5 kb in length, each strand twice, in only 430 sequencing reactions and with
      average reading of 380 bases per reaction.

PMID- 1459077
TI  - Manual sequencing using pulsed field.
AB  - The use of pulsed fields in manual sequencing opens up the compression zone found
      with a DC field and extends the range of resolution from a few hundred bases to
      several thousand bases. The band inversion problem is overcome with the proper
      pulsing conditions, and the bands are sharper than for the DC field case.
      Accurate visual reading is possible up to about 800-900 bases. The method is
      compatible with automation techniques, since the band spectrum is stretched
      continuously during migration, and the smaller fragments are run off the gel.

PMID- 1459078
TI  - Towards a fingerprint method covering the immunological genome.

PMID- 1459079
TI  - Physical genome analysis of bacteria.
AB  - Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is a general analytical tool to separate
      large DNA molecules and may therefore be applied to problems from all areas of
      bacteriology. The genome size of bacteria covers the range of 0.6 to 10 megabase
      pairs. For genome fingerprinting, the bacterial chromosome is cleaved with a
      restriction endonuclease that gives a resolvable and informative number of five
      to one hundred fragments on the PFGE gel. Restriction enzymes are chosen
      according to GC content, degree of methylation, and codon usage of the respective
      bacterial genus. Macrorestriction fingerprinting allows the identification of
      bacterial strains and the distinction between related and unrelated strains. If
      fragment patterns of several restriction digestions are quantitatively evaluated,
      strains can be classified according to genetic relatedness at the level of genus,
      species, and biovar. In particular, members of a clonal lineage can be uncovered.
      Hence, any problem from applied, environmental, and clinical microbiology may be
      addressed by PFGE restriction analysis where the spatiotemporal spread of a
      bacterial clone is of interest. In bacterial genomics, PFGE is employed for the
      top-down construction of macrorestriction maps of the chromosome which yields
      data about genome organization, mobile genetic elements, and the arrangement of
      gene loci and gene families. The genomic diversity of a bacterial species is
      elucidated by comparative chromosome mapping. Map positions of restriction sites
      and gene loci of interest serve as landmarks to assess the extent of gross
      chromosomal modification, namely insertions, deletions and inversions. Intra- and
      interspecies comparisons of genome organization provide insights into the
      structure and diversity of bacterial populations and the phylogeny of bacterial
      taxa.

PMID- 1459080
TI  - PCR amplification products are of limited use for the study of DNA/protein
      interaction.
AB  - Conventional methods for labeling double-stranded DNA lead to high specific
      activity. Yet they often alter the target DNA sequence to such an extent as to
      prevent a meaningful protein/DNA interaction analysis. Therefore we tried to
      establish a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method which allows
      radiolabeling to high specific activity and should maintain the protein binding
      capability of small double stranded DNA fragments. By using PCR it is possible to
      label double stranded DNA to high specificity, but the protein binding capability
      of such DNA is drastically reduced.

PMID- 1459081
TI  - Genetic heterogeneity of prostatic carcinoma-derived cell lines as emphasized by
      DNA fingerprinting.
AB  - To investigate genetic heterogeneity during in vitro cultivation of human
      prostatic carcinomas following radical prostatectomy we performed DNA
      fingerprinting using the digoxygenin-labeled probes (GACA)4 and (GTG)5. DNA was
      isolated from fresh material stemming from different areas within one tumor and
      from cell cultures of the same material. The patterns which were obtained by the
      nucleolar organizer region (NOR)-specific probe (GACA)4 exhibit only a few
      prominent low molecular mass bands and no differences were observed between any
      of the tumors analyzed so far. Changes in the fingerprint pattern occurred
      between cell cultures derived from different areas within one tumor when the DNA
      was cleaved by HaeIII and signals detected with the (GTG)5 probe. The "area
      specific" pattern was stable during several subcultivations of these cell lines,
      indicating genetic stability of these prostatic carcinoma cells in vitro. Thus
      individual cell lines derived from radical prostatectomy seem to represent a
      biological system very close to the situation in vivo.

PMID- 1459082
TI  - Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa pathovar.
AB  - This paper presents the genome organization and mobility of Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa strains that had been isolated in half-year intervals from 30 patients
      with cystic fibrosis since the onset of colonization over a 2- to 8-year period.
      The chromosomes were digested with DraI or SpeI, separated by pulsed-field gel
      electrophoresis, blotted and hybridized with probes encoding housekeeping or
      virulence genes. Strains were differentiated by relatedness of macrorestriction
      fingerprints. After some turnover of strains during the first two years of
      colonization, each patient had acquired a set of strains that diversified during
      the course of the disease. In the majority of patients, two clonal lineages were
      found to account for colonization in the air passages but each lung habitat was
      characterized by some specific signature of bands in the macrorestriction
      fragment pattern.

PMID- 1459083
TI  - A PacI/SwaI map of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO chromosome.
AB  - The PacI/SwaI macrorestriction map of the 5.9 Mb Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO (DSM
      1707) genome was constructed by fragment size comparisons of complete single and
      double digests and hybridization with probes of known genomic localization. P.
      aeruginosa PAO contains five recognition sites for PacI and six sites for SwaI.
      An integrated DpnI/PacI/SpeI/SwaI map was obtained by fragment pattern and
      Southern blot hybridization analyses of all combinations of double digestions and
      by two-dimensional pulsed-field gel electrophoresis mapping protocols.

PMID- 1459084
TI  - Chromosomal localization of the HYP2-gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and use of
      pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for detection of irregular recombination events
      in gene disruption experiments.
AB  - In the hypusine-containing protein (HP), a specific lysine residue is modified by
      spermidine to form the unusual amino acid hypusine (4-amino-2
      hydroxybutyllysine). The HP has been designated as an eucaryotic translation
      initiation factor--eIF-5A--because of its stimulating effect in the methionyl
      puromycin in vitro assay. Nevertheless, the precise function of this protein
      remains to be elucidated. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae two genes, HYP1
      and HYP2, coding for two different forms of the HP, are present. The HYP1-gene is
      identical to the ANB1-gene and has already been localized on chromosome X.
      However, the chromosomal localization of the HYP2-gene has not been elucidated.
      By using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and subsequent Southern
      blotting, we determined the localization of the HYP2-gene to chromosome V.
      Furthermore, PFGE was used for the detection of irregular recombination events,
      such as misintegration or integration into a duplicated gene, and in gene
      disruption experiments using haploid and diploid yeast cells. The obtained data
      support the critical role of the HP for cell viability.

PMID- 1459085
TI  - Evaluation of isoelectric focusing runs as specific resistance/volthour plots.
AB  - Isoelectric focusing (IEF) runs, e.g. on ultrathin gels, are characterized by an
      extensive change of gel electric parameters, caused by the rearrangement of
      carrier ampholyte components from a uniform distribution to a highly ordered pH
      gradient. A particularly important parameter is the specific resistance rho
      [Ohm*cm] which has been determined in polymerization mixtures (with and without
      carrier ampholytes) and in 125 x 0.15 mm ultrathin gels, pH 3-10 with 5% T, 3% C,
      5% Servalyt carrier ampholytes, pH 3-10. The starting specific resistance rho of
      ultra-thin IEF gels, calculated from the geometric gel dimensions and electric
      current values (V, mA), is in agreement with the data determined directly in 30
      mL samples of polymerization mixtures by using a conductivity meter. Electric
      specific conductivity/Volthour (Vh) plots proved to be a valuable tool for the
      evaluation of gel systems with and without protein samples during IEP runs. These
      plots are usually S-shaped, indicating that the key part of pH gradient formation
      takes places in a relatively short time. A "good" ultrahin gel, after a short lag
      phase, shows a rapid increase in specific resistance due to a rapid pH gradient
      formation and a slope of about 18 Ohm*cm/Vh. IEF is finished in about 3000 Vh.
      After prolonged gel storage, and especially in partially dried gels, the
      electrical parameters approach equilibrium only slowly, as indicated by the
      relatively shallow slope (8.9 Ohm*cm/Vh). Accordingly, separations need more than
      4000 Vh.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459086
TI  - Analysis of members of the Ig-gene superfamily by thermal gradient polyacrylamide
      gel electrophoresis.
AB  - A solid aluminum block, connected with a warm and cold thermostated waterbath,
      provided for a linear transversal temperature gradient (TG) during polyacrylamide
      gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Noncovalently bound heavy chain dimers as well as
      heavy-light chain dimers, derived from human monoclonal IgG, could be melted into
      monomers using a 40-75 degrees C TG under conditions of sodium dodecyl sulfate
      PAGE. Using native PAGE, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I
      molecules, preloaded with the iodinated peptide FAPGNYPAL could be melted in a 4
      40 degrees C TG to release the peptide. The method is in general applicable to
      thermal stability analysis of noncovalently bound hetero-oligomers if the product
      after melting possess different electrophoretic mobilities.

PMID- 1459087
TI  - Mass spectrometric analysis of blotted proteins after gel electrophoretic
      separation by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization.
AB  - The molecular masses of electroblotted proteins were determined with a time-of
      flight mass spectrometer by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization directly
      from blot membranes. Therefore standard proteins, separated by polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis, were electroblotted onto polyvinylidene difluoride or polyamide
      membranes by standard procedures. Pieces of membrane containing the protein of
      interest were soaked in matrix solution and analyzed in the mass spectrometer.

PMID- 1459088
TI  - Thin-layer electrophoresis with PhastSystem facilitates analysis of phosphoamino
      acids from proteins bound to Immobilon.
AB  - A modification of thin-layer electrophoresis of phosphoamino acids on miniplates,
      using the PhastSystem (Pharmacia) is described. This method not only reduces the
      amount of radioactivity required but also the radioactive waste. In addition, it
      also decreases the handling of hazardous substances and takes only a fraction of
      the time required for the standard procedure.

PMID- 1459089
TI  - Purification to single isoforms of a secreted epidermal growth factor receptor in
      a multicompartment electrolyzer with isoelectric membranes.
AB  - A purified, size-homogeneous (100 kDa), desialylated form of a truncated, soluble
      form of the epidermal growth factor receptor secreted by A431 human tumor cells
      has been found, by isoelectric focusing in immobilized pH gradients, to consist
      of two major isoforms (with pIs of 6.96 and 6.71), one intermediate form (pI
      6.45) and a number (> 10) of minor components. The two major components have been
      purified to charge homogeneity by isoelectric focusing in a multicompartment
      electrolyzer with buffering isoelectric membranes having the following pI values:
      5.90, 6.63, 6.76, 6.92, 7.05 and 7.35. Such single pI species are presently used
      for attempts at crystal growing.

PMID- 1459091
TI  - Identification of peaks in capillary zone electrophoresis based on actual
      mobilities.
AB  - A procedure is proposed for the calculation of the actual effective mobility of a
      zone from its migration time. It is based on the use of internal standards with
      known mobilities; the use of two internal standards provides reliable mobility
      data even if the magnitudes of the effects of sample composition, capillary
      temperature, capillary length, migration distance, used voltage, as well as the
      tube length occupied by the injected sample are unknown. Formulas have been
      derived for the calculation of the actual mobilities, and their experimental
      verification has been carried out by using a model set of anionic solutes with
      mobilities ranging from -56 to -20 x 10(-9) m2V-1s-1 and chloride as the ion
      modelling the effect of the sample matrix.

PMID- 1459090
TI  - Preparative continuous separation of biological particles by means of free-flow
      magnetophoresis in a free-flow electrophoresis chamber.
AB  - For sorting, cells or cellular components can specifically be labeled by antibody
      coated magnetic beads. We have developed a device for continuous magnetic sorting
      based on the flow-chamber of a free-flow electrophoresis system. Magnetically
      labeled particles are injected into a given continuously flowing chamber buffer
      and pass an inhomogeneous magnetic field, configurated perpendicular to the flow
      direction. According to its magnetic moment, the magnetic material is deviated
      into the direction of the magnetic forces, while nonmagnetic material passes the
      field without interaction. The magnetic forces can be changed with the electrical
      current of the solenoids producing the magnetic field. As in the free-flow
      electrophoresis system, the particle fractions are collected in different vials.
      On-line control of the experiments can be performed by an optical scanning
      system. Experiments with model particles achieved a sorting purity of more than
      99% at a rate of up to 5 X 10(8) particles per hour. In experiments with blood
      cells, a high enrichment of either B-or-T-lymphocytes was obtained. In contrast
      to free-flow electrophoresis, there is no limitation, in principle, regarding the
      type of chamber buffer to be used. This allows an optimal adaptation of the
      buffer conditions to the requirements of vital sorting. The preliminary results
      so far confirm this conclusion.

PMID- 1459093
TI  - Enantiomers resolution in capillary zone electrophoresis by using cyclodextrins.
AB  - Cyclodextrins added to the background electrolyte are shown to be useful for the
      resolution of racemic compounds in their enantiomers. Several parameters have to
      be controlled in order to achieve resolution, e.g., cyclodextrin type,
      concentration, analyte shape, as well as column temperature. The resolution of
      nor-epinephrine, epinephrine and isoproterenol in their enantiomers decreased by
      increasing the column temperature. Octopamine and ketamine have been resolved by
      supporting the background electrolyte with 2, 6-di-O-methyl-beta-cyclodextrin. In
      spite of the stronger inclusion-complex of ketamine than octopamine with the
      modified cyclodextrin its resolution was not satisfactory.

PMID- 1459092
TI  - Application of capillary electrophoresis in peptide research.
AB  - Comparison of high performance liquid chromatograms (HPLC) with capillary
      electrophoresis shows the latter to be superior in many cases owing to rapid
      separation, high resolution and high sensitivity. This is demonstrated with two
      examples (i) the isolation of natural peptides from bovine tissue and (ii)
      characterization of a synthetic peptide mixture with the natural sequence
      (fragment) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmembrane glycoprotein
      gp 41 env.

PMID- 1459094
TI  - Capillary electrophoresis of macromolecules in 'syrupy' solutions: facts and
      misfacts.
AB  - 'Syrupy' solutions of liquid linear polyacrylamide (> or = 10%T, 0%C) appear to
      be excellent for fractionation of oligonucleotides and, potentially, for DNA
      sequencing. For such analyses, the silica wall must be coated by covalently bound
      strings of polyacrylamide; otherwise, the electroosmotic flow will slowly pump
      out the viscous electrolyte solution. Due to the enormous viscosity (100 Pa s for
      an 8% T solution) the polymer strings must be prepared in situ, by filling the
      capillary with the appropriate monomer solution. The reaction, however, cannot be
      driven to better than 80-85% conversion: in 10%T, the concentration of unreacted
      monomers will thus be 200-300 mM. This will give a substantial background
      absorbance (even at 254 nm) and leave a huge amount of potentially harmful
      reacting species in the background electrolyte. A chemical scavenging method is
      proposed here: after polymerization, a 100 mM solution of cysteine is driven in
      from the cathode and allowed to react for up to 10 h. At the end of the reaction
      period, the excess cysteine and its acrylamido adduct are driven out
      electrophoretically and the column is reconstituted with its normal background
      electrolyte. Columns thus preconditioned have been found to perform extremely
      well and to last as long as the inner coating (and the linear polymer filling)
      will last. No 'carry over' from run to run was experienced.

PMID- 1459095
TI  - Atrazine and simazine determination in river water samples by micellar
      electrokinetic capillary chromatography.
AB  - A rapid and sensitive micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography analytical
      method was used for the determination of chlorotriazine herbicides in river water
      samples. Several electrolyte systems in the pH range 7-10 were tested in order to
      optimize the separation. The two compounds were separated in less than 10 min and
      the determination limit was about 0.4 ppb for each herbicide. Recovery values of
      the method were in the range 80%-117%.

PMID- 1459096
TI  - Applications of an automated apparatus for two-dimensional electrophoresis, Model
      TEP-1, for microsequence analyses of proteins.
AB  - Two-dimensional electrophoresis has become a rapid and powerful separation method
      for the preparation of samples for sequence analysis depending on the development
      of automated microsequencers accompanied by a blotting technique. We have
      constructed an automated apparatus for two-dimensional electrophoresis, Model TEP
      1, which allows precise analytical runs under computer-control with a fully
      automated transfer from the first- to the second-dimensional gel. In the present
      paper we describe several applications of TEP-1 followed by blotting and
      sequencing to reveal the primary structure of proteins in a complex mixture.
      Several known and unknown proteins were analyzed. Enzymatic digests of proteins
      could be directly applied onto the TEP-1, in which a gel of lower molecular
      weight proteins was used as the second dimension. Subsequent blotting and
      sequencing provided internal sequence information. The use of TEP-1, followed by
      blotting, provides spots containing ca. 10-100 pmol protein. These figures
      permitted the identification of 10-40 amino acid residues from the N-terminus.
      The TEP-1 provides a simple and rapid separation of complex mixtures obtained
      from natural sources and chemical, biological or genetic products.

PMID- 1459097
TI  - Plasma protein map: an update by microsequencing.
AB  - The reference plasma protein map, obtained with immobilized pH gradients in the
      first dimension of two-dimensional electrophoresis, is presented. By
      microsequencing, more than 40 polypeptide chains were identified. The new
      polypeptides and previously known proteins are listed in a table and labeled on
      the protein map, thus providing an update of the human plasma two-dimensional gel
      database.

PMID- 1459098
TI  - Immune complexes in blood: a new strategy for the analysis of their antigen
      portion.
AB  - A method is described for the characterization of protein antigens from
      circulating immune complexes from plasma. Free immunoglobulins G were separated
      from larger immune complexes by gel filtration with a fast protein liquid
      chromatographic system. The collected immune complexes were dissociated with 4M
      urea into antigens and antibodies. With a second column run with 4M urea,
      antigens smaller than 120 kDa were separated from unloaded antibody fractions.
      After concentration, they were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

PMID- 1459099
TI  - Protein synthesis in murine organs during postimplantation development detected
      by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.
AB  - Mouse embryos were isolated from the uterus on days 10 to 11 of gestation and
      incubated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) with [35S]methionine for 4
      h. Subsequently, their hearts and the brains were dissected. The brain was
      divided into three parts, containing the telencephalon, mesencephalon, and
      myelencephalon. These tissues were then processed for two-dimensional (2-D) gel
      electrophoresis. Protein synthesis of the isolated tissues was analyzed for organ
      and cell lineage-specific patterns. We studied proteins with isoelectric points
      (pI) ranging from 4 to 10 and relative molecular weights (M(r)) varying from
      10000 to 200000 and found several significant quantitative and qualitative
      differences between the tissues and the developmental stages analyzed. In
      particular, we were able to distinguish between protein spots that we now
      attribute putatively to the corresponding embryonic organs. These differences may
      reflect some of the organ- and cell lineage-specific changes in protein synthesis
      and gene expression during early mammalian differentiation.

PMID- 1459100
TI  - A human myocardial two-dimensional electrophoresis database: protein
      characterisation by microsequencing and immunoblotting.
AB  - This communication briefly describes how a human heart two-dimensional
      electrophoresis (2-DE) protein database is being established in our laboratory.
      The database contains more than 1500 polypeptides and approximately fifty
      proteins from 2-DE gels of human myocardial tissue have been characterised.
      Information about the proteins has been compiled including molecular weight
      (M(r)), isoelectric point (pI), sample spot (SSP) number, protein name, partial
      sequence, and antibody reacting with the protein. The first stage of this project
      involves the investigation of protein with pIs in the range pH 4-7. Future
      studies will employ immobilised pH gradient (IPG) gels as the first dimension of
      the 2-DE to examine basic proteins. The ultimate goal of this project is to
      establish a global picture of human heart protein expression in both normal and
      disease conditions.

PMID- 1459101
TI  - Electrophoretic analysis of electrically trained skeletal muscle.
AB  - Sheep latissimus dorsi muscle was electrically trained, thereby inducing fast-to
      slow fibre-type transformation. Using a combination of one- and two-dimensional
      gel electrophoresis techniques with computer analysis, we have analysed altered
      expression of contractile protein isoforms at protein and mRNA level over a time
      course of electrical training extending to 5 months. Myosin heavy chain and
      regulatory myosin light chain analysis showed predominant expression of their
      slow isoforms (86% and 92%, respectively) after 3 months of training. At the same
      time point, however, tropomyosin analysis revealed that the slow isoform of the
      alpha-subunit accounted for 64% of the total alpha expression. Troponin T isoform
      switching proceeded more slowly over the same time course than tropomyosin and
      the thick filament proteins studied. Troponin T analysis revealed 5 fast and 2
      slow isoforms in the sheep, of which the second slow isoform only became clearly
      visible after 5 months' training. At this time point the two slow isoforms were
      more predominant than their fast counterparts. This suggests that a wide
      heterogeneity of fast and slow isoform combinations are possible in the thin
      filament of skeletal muscle.

PMID- 1459102
TI  - Towards a two-dimensional database of common human proteins.
AB  - A protein pattern of common human proteins was constructed by comparing the two
      dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) protein patterns from five cell lines of
      different germ layers. Total cell lysate and the isolated and purified nuclei of
      each cell line were separated by parallel electrophoresis runs in a multiple
      casting system of highest reproducibility. The computerized image analysis of the
      digitized 2-DE gels revealed a master protein pattern for each cell line. By
      comparison of all master protein patterns a 2-DE protein map of only common human
      proteins was constructed as a basis for a new 2-DE database. In a first step we
      have started characterizing a number of spots by microsequencing, amino acid
      composition analysis, and mass spectroscopy.

PMID- 1459103
TI  - Examination of microheterogeneity in grass pollen allergens.
AB  - The separation of timothy pollen extract by two-dimensional immunoblotting
      revealed microheterogeneity of the major allergens PhI p I and PhI p V. There was
      not only a diversity in size, 38 and 32 kDa for PhI p V and 37, 35, and 33 kDa
      for PhI p I, but also a separation into proteins of identical sizes but different
      pIs. Since former studies on the protein structure by amino acid analysis and N
      terminal microsequencing did not reveal any differences, we examined other
      possibilities that might cause microheterogeneity. In allergens belonging to the
      PhI p I group, the variability in pI can be due to the carbohydrate structure and
      to the fact that charges are hidden in the interior of the protein, as shown by
      varying concentrations of urea. On the other hand we were not able to detect any
      such reasons for the existence of PhI p V isoallergens. Thus, we assume that they
      are stable conformational isomers of the proteins (allomorphism) or that there
      are only slight variations in the internal sequences of these proteins
      (polymorphism) causing distinct pIs.

PMID- 1459104
TI  - Identification of human myocard proteins separated by two-dimensional
      electrophoresis.
AB  - N-Terminal sequencing, internal sequencing and amino acid analysis were used to
      identify twelve proteins of the human myocard two-dimensional gel electrophoresis
      (2-DE) pattern. Amino acid analysis was shown to be a powerful tool in addition
      to sequencing. The identification of a disease-associated N-terminally blocked
      protein by internal sequencing was not successful. The twelve identified proteins
      are the basis of a human myocard 2-DE database.

PMID- 1459105
TI  - Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to study immune response against
      intracellular bacterial infection.
AB  - Principal component analysis was applied to two-dimensional (2-D) gel
      electrophoresis patterns, obtained in various phases of infection. Untreated
      controls could be satisfactorily differentiated from patterns after infection on
      days 3 and 7 whereas day 10 of infection was grouped with the controls.
      Comparison of host cellular protein patterns could help to classify in vivo
      developing infection without requiring any so-called immune marker functions.
      Immunoaffinity separation of infected cells treated with detergent, followed by 2
      D electrophoresis of negative as well as positive eluates, did not reveal
      radiolabeled bacterial protein antigens.

PMID- 1459106
TI  - Effects of bile salt exposure on pancreatic duct barrier function and protein
      release determined by two-dimensional electrophoresis and lectin-affinoblotting.
AB  - We analyzed effects of a bile salt on pancreatic duct barrier function and
      protein release into pancreatic juice in cats, using two-dimensional
      electrophoresis and lectin-affinoblotting. Preanalyzed pancreatic juice was
      perfused along the pancreatic duct following duct exposure to a bile salt. In
      this case, pancreatic duct mucosa showed a partial loss of barrier function to
      the leakage of exocrine pancreatic proteins dependent upon molecular weight and
      charge. The release of a sialic acid possessing protein into pancreatic juice was
      observed.

PMID- 1459107
TI  - Application of high resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
      of polypeptides from cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes: regulation of protein
      synthesis by catecholamines.
AB  - High resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) was
      applied to cultured neonatal rat heart muscle cells, incubated for 72 h at 37
      degrees C in serum-free medium, either in the absence or in the presence of 0.1
      microM norepinephrine. After silver staining, about 340 and 550 protein spots
      could be seen in cardiomyocytes, cultured either in the absence or presence of
      norepinephrine. Of these spots, 141 could be further characterized according to
      isoelectric point and molecular weight, with 71 protein spots being present under
      both conditions. In cells cultivated in presence of norepinephrine, 58 new
      protein spots appeared, whereas 12 spots disappeared, and 22 spots increased
      (whereas 3 spots decreased) in intensity. In comparison with 2-D PAGE of rat
      cardiomyocytes, the protein pattern of the intact heart of neonatal rats is
      incongruent. 2-D PAGE of polypeptides of cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes may
      be a suitable tool to study the regulation of protein synthesis by various
      stimuli with relevance to cardiac growth adaptation, inotropy and heart failure.

PMID- 1459108
TI  - Regulation of protein biosynthesis in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes by adrenoceptor
      stimulation: investigations with high resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide
      gel electrophoresis.
AB  - The role of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor-mediated regulation of protein patterns
      in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes was studied with high resolution two
      dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Spontaneously beating neonatal
      rat cardiomyocytes were cultured for 72 h at 37 degrees C in serum-free medium,
      supplemented with either the catecholamine norepinephrine (0.1 microM), or with
      norepinephrine (0.1 microM) plus the alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocker prazosin (1
      microM), or with neither of these substances. In transmission light, 105 protein
      spots could be seen in the lysates from control cells, 244 spots were identified
      in lysates from norepinephrine-treated cells, and 114 protein species were
      counted in the case of lysates from cardiomyocytes which had been cultured in the
      presence of norepinephrine plus prazosin. This experimental approach allows a
      clear classification of alpha- and non-alpha (probably beta)-adrenoceptor
      mediated catecholamine effects on protein synthesis in cardiomyocytes. In
      comparison with previous experiments (Chang et al., Electrophoresis, this issue,
      pp. 748-754), less protein species were identified in the untreated control
      cardiomyocytes, as well as in the norepinephrine treated cells. The only actual
      modification in the experimental setup in these two series was the addition of
      dimethyl sulfoxide--a substance known for its repressive effect on oncoprotein
      expression--to the culture medium, as solvent for prazosin.

PMID- 1459109
TI  - Genetic variability of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seed proteins studied by 2-D
      electrophoresis with immobilized pH gradients.
AB  - Ten pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) inbred lines were successfully differentiated by
      two-dimensional electrophoresis with immobilized pH gradients. Qualitative
      polymorphism of water-soluble and urea/detergent-soluble seed proteins,
      respectively, was investigated by computer analysis and used for establishing a
      dendrogram derived from maximum-parsimony analysis. The dendrogram calculated
      from urea/detergent-soluble proteins shows four types of distance indices,
      whereas water-soluble proteins show two sets of inbred lines with similar
      intraset distance indices. The validity of the dendrograms with respect to
      quantitative inherited traits, such as cold tolerance and earliness, will be
      tested by field trials.

PMID- 1459110
TI  - Improved phenotyping of alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) by isoelectric focusing
      and immunoprinting: first demonstration of a deficient protein variant in the ACT
      system.
AB  - Genetic variation of human alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) was investigated in
      sera using thin-layer polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing (pH range 4.0-6.5)
      followed by immunoprinting with a monospecific anti-human ACT antibody. Sialidase
      treated samples showed a microheterogeneous banding pattern which consisted of
      two major and several additional minor components with isoelectric points between
      pH 5.0 and 5.3. A population study of 200 unrelated individuals from southern
      Germany revealed no genetic variation. In a clinical investigation, however, we
      found a unique banding pattern in a female patient suffering from chronic
      obstructive pulmonary disease. In comparison with the monomorphic normal type the
      detected variant phenotype shows two additional bands that have lower intensities
      and are located cathodically to their major bands. Inheritance of the deficient
      IEF variant "ACT Bochum" was confirmed by a family study. To our knowledge this
      is the first genetic ACT mutant to be observed at the protein level.

PMID- 1459111
TI  - Isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting of the platelet membrane glycoprotein
      complex IIb. IIIA following urea solubilization.
AB  - Effective solubilization of the major platelet membrane component, the
      glycoprotein IIb.IIIa complex, can be achieved with 8 M urea. By avoiding
      nonionic detergents in the separation medium it is possible to obtain clear
      immunoblot patterns without interference from the isoelectric focusing matrix.
      Upon running on a pH 4.25-5.25 immobilized pH gradient, immunoreactive bands
      corresponding to the nonreduced IIb.IIIa complex stain between pH 4.5 and 5.0.
      The method appears of significant potential utility in evaluating glycoprotein
      IIb.IIIa polymorphisms under different clinical conditions.

PMID- 1459112
TI  - Genetic study of orosomucoid by isoelectric focusing and immunoprinting in
      patients with carcinoma.
AB  - The carbohydrate moiety of the orosomucoid (ORM) molecule shows
      microheterogeneity [1] and the pteridine-containing variant seems to be tumor
      specific [2-4]. However, there also exists a genetic (protein-related)
      polymorphism coded by the ORM1 and ORM2 loci on chromosome 9 [5, 6]. To
      investigate the relationship between ORM1 gene products and the development of
      carcinoma, we analyzed the ORM1 phenotypes of desialated sera from 125 patients
      with carcinoma. The allele frequencies were estimated for ORM1*F1 0.556, ORM1*F2
      0.012 and ORM1*S 0.432. In comparison to healthy individuals from the same
      geographical area [6] the ORM1 S phenotypes are significantly more frequent in
      carcinoma patients. The patients' sera frequently showed additional ORM-positive
      proteins which focused slightly cathodically to the ORM 2 A band. These proteins
      may represent posttranslational modifications of the ORM1*S allele product.
      Whether these modifications are tumor-specific and related to the carbohydrate
      moiety of the molecule must be confirmed in further studies.

PMID- 1459113
TI  - Qualitative and quantitative changes in barley seed protein patterns during the
      malting process analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis with respect to malting quality.
AB  - Seeds of two barley cultivars, similar in total protein content and malt extract
      yield but different in their final attenuation values, were malted. Samples taken
      at daily intervals during the malting process were extracted sequentially with
      Tris-HCl buffer, aqueous 2-propanol, aqueous 2-propanol containing 0.5%
      dithiothreitol, and 4 M urea, containing 0.5% dithiothreitol and 1% Nonidet P-40.
      The protein composition of these extracts was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and computer densitometry to determine whether
      differences observed in the rate or extent of protein modification are related to
      the malting quality character final attenuation. It was found that, common to
      both cultivars, the albumin and globulin proteins were relatively resistant to
      proteolysis, whereas the hordeins suffered a dramatic breakdown during malting,
      with the D hordein being degraded most rapidly, followed by the B and C hordeins.
      Besides these similarities, differences between both cultivars were observed in
      the relative rates of D hordein degradation, as this rate was considerably higher
      in the cultivar with high malting quality. Similar, but much less distinct
      kinetics were seen with certain B hordeins. Since a possible relationship might
      exist between the rate of proteolysis of the D hordeins and the character final
      attenuation, we analyzed a larger number of barley cultivars with different final
      attenuation values with a simplified technique. For the ten cultivars examined,
      differences during germination were again seen in the rates of modification of
      the D hordeins. However, significant correlations between the D hordein breakdown
      and final attenuation values were not obtained, so that we propose that there
      exists at best a loose correlation between the relative rate of proteolysis of
      these proteins and the malting quality character final attenuation.

PMID- 1459114
TI  - Stress effects on hormonal growth factors in tobacco tissues indicated by special
      changes in the isoelectric peroxidase patterns.
AB  - The isoelectric peroxidase patterns of tobacco tissue cultures allow us to draw
      inferences to cell elongation and cell division because certain zones in acid pH
      ranges respond to the influence of auxines and gibberellins (promoting cell
      elongation) and others respond to the influence of cytokinins (promoting cell
      division). Stress, due to the absence of phosphate and presence of lead in the
      medium, causes characteristic changes in the intensity of these sensitive zones
      in peroxidase patterns. It may be deduced that the increase and decrease of these
      zones correspond to stimulation and inhibition of cell elongation and cell
      division, respectively. Cell elongation remains almost unaltered by lack of
      phosphate but is markedly inhibited by lead, while cell division is enhanced.
      However, stress brings about a reduction of dry weight. Reactions to stress can
      be observed earlier in patterns of peroxidase than in growth.

PMID- 1459115
TI  - Wheat gliadin: digital imaging and database construction using a 4-band reference
      system of agarose isoelectric focusing patterns.
AB  - An isoelectric focusing method using thin-layer agarose gel has been developed
      for wheat gliadin. Using flat-bed units with a third electrode, up to 72 samples
      per gel may be analyzed. Advantages over traditional acid polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis methodology include: faster run times, nontoxic media, and
      greater sample capacity. The method is suitable for fingerprinting or purity
      testing of wheat varieties. Using digital images captured by a flat-bed scanner,
      a 4-band reference system using isoelectric points was devised. Software enables
      separated bands to be assigned pI values based upon reference tracks. Precision
      of assigned isoelectric points is shown to be on the order of 0.02 pH units.
      Captured images may be stored in a computer database and compared to unknown
      patterns to enable an identification. Parameters for a match with a stored
      pattern may be adjusted for pI interval required for a match, and number of best
      matches.

PMID- 1459116
TI  - Discontinuous electrophoresis of beta-caseins for the determination of bovine
      caseins in milk and dairy products.
AB  - Discontinuous acidic anodic polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis enables the
      separation of bovine beta-caseins from those of ovine and caprine. Interfering
      protein bands as a consequence of ripening or processing have not been detected.
      After evaluation of the stained gel by laser densitometry, quantification was
      performed with calibration standards on the same gel by the ratio of the peak
      areas from bovine to ovine and bovine to caprine, respectively. Thus,
      independence from the extractability of proteins affected by denaturation and
      ripening (which might in some cases raise the limit of detection) is achieved.
      The range of quantification extends from 5 to approximately 70% bovine casein in
      relation to total casein.

PMID- 1459117
TI  - Fish species identification by peptide mapping of the myosin heavy chain.
AB  - Fish species of seafood made of washed fish flesh (e.g. imitation crab meat from
      surimi) were identified by peptide mapping of the myosin heavy chain (MHC). In
      the first step the MHC was separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in 7.5% T gel, followed by a second SDS-PAGE in a 15%
      T gel with proteolytic digestion of the MHC in the gel. The resulting peptides
      gave species specific patterns.

PMID- 1459118
TI  - Characterization of endopolygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15) from Aspergillus niger as
      glycoprotein by electrophoretic methods and lectin affino-blotting.
AB  - Chromatographically purified endopolygalacturonase (PG) from Aspergillus niger
      was deglycosylated with N-glycosidase F (PNGase F) and characterized by means of
      sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-electrophoresis, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
      (PAGE) without denaturing agents, isoelectric focusing (IEF) and lectin affino
      blotting. The results show that PG, which is apparently homogeneous in SDS-PAGE
      but heterogeneous in IEF and PAGE, consists of at least two polypeptide chains
      with different glycosylation patterns. The component with the higher
      electrophoretic mobility is deglycosylated with PNGase F and reacts with
      concanavalin A (Con A) and Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA), indicating a "high
      mannose" or "hybrid"-type of glycoprotein (GP). The other component may contain O
      glycosidically linked mannose, N-acetylglucosamine or glucose.

PMID- 1459119
TI  - An outbreak of gentamicin-resistant Klebsiella bacteraemia at a children's
      hospital.
AB  - An outbreak of Klebsiella bacteraemia at the Ethio-Swedish Childrens' Hospital,
      Addis Abeba, Ethiopia is described. The epidemic occurred between February 1988
      and February 1990 and appeared to originate in the neonatal nursery and
      subsequently spread to involve other wards in the hospital. Resistance to several
      antibiotics, including gentamicin, was common. The importance of effective
      surveillance and the early institution of control measures for the prevention of
      nosocomial infection are discussed.

PMID- 1459120
TI  - Relapsing fever in children--demographic, social and clinical features.
AB  - Louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) is an acute febrile illness endemic Ethiopia.
      To date reports of childhood LBRF are few. The demographic, social and clinical
      features of eighty children with LBRF admitted to Ethio-Swedish Children's
      Hospital, Addis Abeba between 1989 and 1991 is presented. The mean age of
      patients was 8.8 years (range 4 months to 15 years). The male to female ratio was
      1.2:1. Seventy-seven (97%) patients came from Addis Abeba. They came from poor
      families living in overcrowded homes. Fever, headache, right upper quadrant pain,
      chills and rigors were common symptoms. Fever and hepatosplenomegaly were common
      signs. Three drug regimens were used in the treatment of patients. A combination
      of penicillin and tetracycline, chloramphenicol alone and erythromycin alone, all
      given for 3 days. There was only one death. The literature on LBRF in adults is
      reviewed and the results are compared (1).

PMID- 1459121
TI  - National tuberculin test survey in Ethiopia.
AB  - To plan and implement an effective National Tuberculosis Control Programme, it is
      essential to know the incidence of tuberculosis. Thus a tuberculin survey was
      conducted in Ethiopia between December 1987 and April 1990. A sample of 55
      children, aged 6 to 10 years was selected from each of 480 representative
      clusters from 16 weredas (districts), which were chosen randomly. A total of
      26,529 children were given intradermal tuberculin test and the results read in
      26,269. There were 23,595 children who had no BCG vaccination of whom 2,503
      (10.6%) were positive; this gives a "risk of infection" of 1.4% which is lower
      than the 3.0% reported for the same age group during the tuberculin survey in
      1953-1955, suggesting that there has been a reduction in the tuberculin test
      positivity rate.

PMID- 1459122
TI  - Bronchial asthma in Jima: a prospective analysis of 204 patients.
AB  - Two hundred and four (204) consecutive adult asthmatic patients who visited the
      outpatient clinic of Jima Institute of Medical Sciences from May 1 to August 30,
      1989 were prospectively studied. Data on age, sex, ethnic distribution and the
      associated etiological factors were documented. The age range was from 17-75
      (mean 33.4) years and the male to female ratio was 1.4:1. The majority (80%) were
      not members of the ethnic group indigenous to the area. Of the total, 175 (85%)
      were not natives of Jima town and its surroundings. One hundred and fifty (85.7%)
      of the latter developed the disease in Jima. Ninety-six (64%) of the 150 patients
      contracted the disease in less than 5 years of their stay in the area.
      Infections, emotional stress, dust, and weather changes were the main
      precipitating factors. The majority of the attacks occurred from June to October.
      Allergic rhinitis was present in 88% of the patients and atopic dermatitis in 3%.
      Forty-one (20%) patients had a family history of asthma. Forty-eight percent of
      the patients claimed that change of climate relieved their symptoms. Eosinophilia
      was documented in 51.5% and parasitic infestations were observed in 39% of
      patients. The study shows that a variety of environmental factors such as pollen
      dust, fungus and climatic changes play a major role and may account for the high
      performance of asthma in Jima town. It is recommended that further studies be
      conducted to find out the causative factors so that appropriate preventive
      measures can be implemented.

PMID- 1459123
TI  - Chylous mesenteric and retroperitoneal cysts of developmental origin amongst
      Ethiopians: report of four cases.
AB  - Chylous mesenteric and retroperitoneal cysts of developmental origin are unusual
      and rarely diagnosed with accuracy before laparotomy. They may produce
      compression of viscera and may rupture with haemorrhage. This is the first report
      of four cases, with varied presentations, from an African country.

PMID- 1459124
TI  - The effect of driving force on intramolecular electron transfer in proteins.
      Studies on single-site mutated azurins.
AB  - An intramolecular electron-transfer process has previously been shown to take
      place between the Cys3--Cys26 radical-ion (RSSR-) produced pulse radiolytically
      and the Cu(II) ion in the blue single-copper protein, azurin [Farver, O. & Pecht,
      I. (1989) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 86, 6868-6972]. To further investigate the
      nature of this long-range electron transfer (LRET) proceeding within the protein
      matrix, we have now investigated it in two azurins where amino acids have been
      substituted by single-site mutation of the wild-type Pseudomonas aeruginosa
      azurin. In one mutated protein, a methionine residue (Met44) that is proximal to
      the copper coordination sphere has been replaced by a positively charged lysyl
      residue ([M44K]azurin), while in the second mutant, another residue neighbouring
      the Cu-coordination site (His35) has been replaced by a glutamine ([H35Q]azurin).
      Though both these substitutions are not in the microenvironment separating the
      electron donor and acceptor, they were expected to affect the LRET rate because
      of their effect on the redox potential of the copper site and thus on the driving
      force of the reaction, as well as on the reorganization energies of the copper
      site. The rate of intramolecular electron transfer from RSSR- to Cu(II) in the
      wild-type P. aeruginosa azurin (delta G degrees = -68.9 kJ/mol) has previously
      been determined to be 44 +/- 7 s-1 at 298 K, pH 7.0. The [M44K]azurin mutant
      (delta G degrees = -75.3 kJ/mol) was now found to react considerably faster (k =
      134 +/- 12 s-1 at 298 K, pH 7.0) while the [H35Q]azurin mutant (delta G degrees =
      -65.4 kJ/mol) exhibits, within experimental error, the same specific rate (k = 52
      +/- 11 s-1, 298 K, pH 7.0) as that of the wild-type azurin. From the temperature
      dependence of these LRET rates the following activation parameters were
      calculated: delta H++ = 37.9 +/- 1.3 kJ/mol and 47.2 +/- 0.7 kJ/mol and delta S++
      = -86.5 +/- 5.8 J/mol.K and -46.4 +/- 4.4 J/mol.K for [H35Q]azurin and
      [M44K]azurin, respectively. Using the Marcus relation for intramolecular electron
      transfer and the above parameters we have determined the reorganization energy,
      lambda and electronic coupling factor, beta. The calculated values fit very well
      with a through-bond LRET mechanism.

PMID- 1459125
TI  - Characterization of peptides related to neuropeptide tyrosine and peptide
      tyrosine-tyrosine from the brain and gastrointestinal tract of teleost fish.
AB  - Neuropeptide Y was isolated from the brain of the Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua and
      its primary structure established as Tyr-Pro-Ile*-Lys-Pro-Glu*-Asn-Pro-Gly-Glu10
      Asp-Ala-Pro-Ala-Asp*-G lu*-Leu*-Ala- Lys*-Tyr20-Tyr-Ser-Ala-Leu-Arg-His-Tyr-Ile
      Asn-Leu30-Ile-Thr -Arg-Gln-Arg-Tyr- CONH2. Residues denoted by an asterisk are
      different from the corresponding sequence of human neuropeptide Y. A structurally
      similar peptide was isolated from the brain of the trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss.
      Trout neuropeptide Y contains four substitutions (Ile3-->Val, Ala14-->Thr, Asp15-
      >Glu and Ser22-->Thr) compared with cod neuropeptide Y. A second peptide of the
      neuropeptide Y family was identified in the trout brain and this component was
      structurally similar to peptide tyrosine-tyrosine previously isolated from frog
      intestine (six amino acid substitutions) and identical to a peptide isolated from
      the pancreas of the closely related species, Oncorhynchus kisutch (Coho salmon).
      Peptide tyrosine-tyrosine, with the same primary structure as the brain peptide,
      was also isolated from an extract of the trout stomach. The data indicate that a
      peptide analogous to mammalian neuropeptide Y is present in the brain of teleost
      fish and a peptide analogous to mammalian peptide tyrosine-tyrosine is present in
      brain, gastrointestinal tissue and pancreas. We speculate, therefore, that the
      putative gene duplication that led to pancreatic polypeptide in the higher
      vertebrates took place after the time of divergence of fish and tetrapods.

PMID- 1459126
TI  - Substitution of Arg214 at the substrate-binding site of p-hydroxybenzoate
      hydroxylase from Pseudomonas fluorescens.
AB  - The gene encoding p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase from Pseudomonas fluorescens was
      cloned in Escherichia coli to provide DNA for mutagenesis studies on the protein
      product. A plasmid containing a 1.65-kbp insert of P. fluorescens chromosomal DNA
      was obtained and its nucleotide sequence determined. The DNA-derived amino acid
      sequence agrees completely with the chemically determined amino acid sequence of
      the isolated protein. The enzyme is strongly expressed under influence of the
      vector-encoded lac promotor and is purified to homogeneity in a simple three-step
      procedure. The relation between substrate binding, the effector role of substrate
      and hydroxylation efficiency was studied by use of site-directed mutagenesis.
      Arg214, in ion-pair interaction with the carboxy moiety of p-hydroxybenzoate, was
      replaced with Lys, Gln and Ala, respectively. The affinity of the free enzymes
      for NADPH is unchanged, whereas the affinity for the aromatic substrate is
      strongly decreased. For enzymes Arg214-->Ala and Arg214-->Gln, the effector role
      of substrate is lost. For enzyme Arg214-->Lys, binding of p-hydroxybenzoate
      highly stimulates the rate of flavin reduction. In the presence of substrate or
      substrate analogues, the reduced enzyme Arg214-->Lys fails to stabilize the 4
      alpha-hydroperoxyflavin intermediate, essential for efficient hydroxylation. Like
      the wild-type, enzyme Arg214-->Lys is susceptible to substrate inhibition. From
      spectral and kinetic results it is suggested that secondary binding of the
      substrate occurs at the re side of the flavin, where the nicotinamide moiety of
      NADPH is supposed to bind.

PMID- 1459127
TI  - Purification, properties and primary structure of thioredoxin from Aspergillus
      nidulans.
AB  - This paper reports the purification and the properties of a thioredoxin from the
      fungus Aspergillus nidulans. This thioredoxin is an acidic protein which exhibits
      an unusual fluorescence emission spectrum, characterized by a high contribution
      of tyrosine residues. Thioredoxin from A. nidulans cannot serve as a substrate
      for Escherichia coli thioredoxin reductase. Corn NADP-malate dehydrogenase is
      activated by this thioredoxin in the presence of dithiothreitol, while fructose
      1,6-bisphosphatase is not. The amino acid sequence of Aspergillus thioredoxin was
      determined by automated Edman degradation after cleavage with trypsin, SV8
      protease, chymotrypsin and cyanogen bromide. The masses of tryptic peptides were
      verified by plasma-desorption mass spectrometry. The mass of the protein was
      determined by electrospray mass spectrometry and shown to be in agreement with
      the calculated mass derived from the sequence (M(r) = 11,564). Compared to
      thioredoxins from other sources, the protein from A. nidulans displays a maximal
      sequence similarity with that from yeast (45%).

PMID- 1459128
TI  - Subtilisin removes the surface layer of the phage fd coat.
AB  - The major coat protein of native filamentous phage fd is vulnerable to digestion
      by subtilisin, but not by any of a number of other proteolytic enzymes.
      Degradation by the non-specific protease subtilisin occurs at specific sites in
      the N-terminal portion of g8p. The N-terminal part of the protein is considered
      to be the outer layer of a two-layered coat. Thus, subtilisin treatment results
      in a monolayered phage particle. These particles possess the morphology and
      stability of native phage fd. Furthermore, subtilisin proteolysis proved to be an
      efficient instrument in detecting variations in the topology of the g8p of
      related filamentous phages.

PMID- 1459129
TI  - Analysis of the isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase reaction by total rate equations.
      Magnesium and spermidine in the tRNA kinetics.
AB  - Derivation of a steady-state rate equation for the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases is
      described, and its suitability for the analysis of various details of the
      reaction is tested. The equation is applied to the magnesium and spermidine
      dependences of the isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase reaction. Earlier work [Airas, R.K.
      (1990) Eur. J. Biochem. 192, 401-409] is expanded by experiments and calculations
      of the tRNA kinetics. The analysis suggests the following new details in addition
      to the earlier results: (a) The binding of tRNA to the enzyme (and not only the
      rate of the aminoacylation reaction) is affected by the presence of the Mg2+ and
      spermidine in the tRNA molecule. At least two bound Mg2+ or spermidines are
      required. (b) tRNA and PPi partly inhibit the binding of each other to the
      enzyme. (c) The transfer reaction is rather slow, and, at least under some
      conditions, it participates in rate limitation. (d) A Mg(2+)-induced reduction in
      the aminoacylation rate seems to be directed to the dissociation of the aminoacyl
      tRNA from the enzyme. This dissociation rate is enhanced if a Mg2+ is first
      dissociated from the enzyme or tRNA. An increase in the Mg2+ concentration shifts
      the rate limitation from the transfer reaction towards dissociation of the
      product.

PMID- 1459130
TI  - Effect of inorganic pyrophosphate on the pretransfer proofreading in the
      isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli.
AB  - A total rate equation was used to calculate the discrimination of valine by the
      isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli. The PPi present in the cell
      makes the backward reaction or the pyrophosphorolysis of the E.aa-AMP possible.
      If the E.Ile-AMP has been corrected for wrong aminoacyl adenylation by the
      pretransfer proofreading, the pyrophosphorolysis rapidly equilibrates the
      corrected E.Ile-AMP with E.Ile and thus spoils the effect of the proofreading.
      The loss of the corrected species is avoided if there is a barrier (perhaps
      conformational) formed by a slow reaction step between the noncorrected E.Ile-AMP
      and the corrected (*E)tRNA(Ile-AMP). If such a slow conformational change exists,
      the increase in accuracy from the pretransfer proofreading would be beneficial,
      and, in addition, the PPi increases the accuracy by optimizing the initial
      discrimination of the wrong amino acid.

PMID- 1459131
TI  - Mechanism of carboxypeptidase-Y-catalysed peptide semisynthesis.
AB  - The initial rate steady-state kinetics of carboxypeptidase-Y-catalyzed hydrolysis
      and aminolysis reactions with some alpha-N-benzoyl-L-tyrosinyl compounds has been
      investigated using L-valinamide as the nucleophile in aminolysis. Hydrolysis of
      alpha-N-benzoyl-L-tyrosinyl ethyl ester, 4-nitroanilide, and -amide has been
      studied in the pH range 4-9. The results are interpreted in terms of the
      classical serine proteinase mechanism, which involves enzyme-substrate complex
      formation, followed by acylation and deacylation of the enzyme. The three
      reactions share the same deacylation step. It is rate-determining with the ester
      substrate, but with the 4-nitroaniline acylation is and this is even more
      pronounced with the amide. From the pH dependencies, no change of rate
      determining step is apparent in the range pH 4-9. For the 4-nitroanilide and the
      amide substrates, the kinetic parameter, Kc/Km, is influenced by an ionizing
      group with a pK value of 6. Probably this is the active-site histidine residue,
      which thus is active in acylation in its deprotonated form. That group affects
      the deacylation reaction similarly as seen from the kinetics of the ester
      substrate. Aminolysis occurs in parallel to hydrolysis in the presence of
      reactive nucleophiles. Here L-valinamide was used as model nucleophile. The
      analysis of the observed kinetic effects of L-valinamide on the initial rate
      behaviour of carboxypeptidase-Y-catalyzed hydrolysis reactions suggests a
      reaction mechanism which involves (a) the binding of the free nucleophile to the
      free enzyme and (b) reaction of the free nucleophile with the acyl-enzyme complex
      forming an enzyme-aminolysis product complex, which dissociates into the free
      enzyme and the aminolysis product. The reactions are characterized by a number of
      kinetic parameters, the values of which are determined. The results of aminolysis
      progress reactions indicate that the formation of the product in high yields is
      strongly dependent on the leaving group of the substrate. The initial production
      of aminolysis product, however, is the same for the three substrates. But the
      fact that their Kc/Km values differ by several orders of magnitude leads to
      significantly different progresses of the aminolysis. The ester substrate is the
      only one that efficiently competes with and hinders the hydrolysis of the
      aminolysis product.

PMID- 1459132
TI  - Purification and properties of a novel arylmalonate decarboxylase from
      Alcaligenes bronchisepticus KU 1201.
AB  - A novel decarboxylase which catalyzes an enantioselective decarboxylation of
      alpha-aryl-alpha-methylmalonates to alpha-arylpropionates has been purified from
      a soil bacterium Alcaligenes bronchisepticus KU 1201. The enzyme was purified 300
      fold to homogeneity, judged from the analysis of N-terminal amino acid sequence,
      and found to be a monomeric enzyme of apparent 24 kDa. The enzyme catalyzes a
      decarboxylation giving alpha-arylalkanoates from substituted malonates such as
      alpha-arylmalonate and alpha-alkyl-alpha-arylmalonates. The decarboxylase is not
      a biotin containing enzyme because avidin have no influence on the enzyme
      activity. In addition, the enzyme does not require known co-factors (ATP, ADP and
      coenzyme A) for maximum activity. The enzyme activity was inhibited by sulfhydryl
      agents. The electronic effect of the substituents on kcat for the enzymic
      decarboxylation of arylmalonates has been studied. The logarithm of relative
      value of kcat gave a linear correlation to Hammett's sigma with a rho value of
      +1.9, for substituted phenylmalonates. Comparing the relative activities, it is
      clear that the enzyme prefers alpha-arylmalonates to alpha-aryl-alpha
      methylmalonates. Thus, the enzyme was tentatively named as arylmalonate
      decarboxylase.

PMID- 1459133
TI  - Regulation of vimentin expression in cultured epithelial cells.
AB  - Most cell types start expressing vimentin when brought into tissue culture. Using
      both vimentin-expressing (HeLa) and vimentin-negative (MCF-7) epithelial cell
      lines, we have identified the cis-regulatory DNA elements involved in this
      process. Sequences located 1.1-0.6 kb upstream of the vimentin transcription
      initiation site strongly enhance expression in HeLa cells, but are silenced in
      MCF-7 cells. Other regulatory elements in the vimentin promoter (an enhancer 3.2
      2.6 kb upstream and a minimal promoter region including the CAAT-box) are
      potentially active in both cell types, but are silenced by the 0.5-kb fragment in
      MCF-7 cells. Deletion of this fragment restores transcriptional activity of a
      transfected vimentin promoter. Our data indicate that a double AP 1/jun-binding
      site present in the 0.5-kb fragment mediates the induction of vimentin expression
      in cultured epithelial cells, while silencing sequences located within the same
      fragment are responsible for the absence of vimentin expression in MCF-7 cells.
      In contrast to MCF-7 cells, a transfected vimentin promoter and gene are
      transcriptionally active in the vimentin-negative epithelial cell line T24.
      Transfection studies show that type-III-intermediate-filament expression is not
      impaired at any level in these cells. Upon transfection and expression of a
      desmin construct in T24 cells not only desmin, but also vimentin was detected.
      Both proteins assembled into intermediate filaments. This induction of vimentin
      expression appeared to be regulated at the post-transcriptional level.

PMID- 1459134
TI  - Regulatory phosphorylation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in protoplasts from
      Sorghum mesophyll cells and the role of pH and Ca2+ as possible components of the
      light-transduction pathway.
AB  - The light-dependent phosphorylation of the photosynthetic phosphoenolpyruvate
      carboxylase (PyrPC) was shown to occur in protoplasts from Sorghum mesophyll
      cells. It was accompanied by an increase in PyrPC protein-serine-kinase activity
      and conferred the target-specific functional properties, i.e. an increase in Vmax
      and apparent Ki for L-malate, as previously found with the whole leaf. The light
      dependent regulatory phosphorylation of PyrPC was (a) specifically promoted by
      the weak bases NH4Cl and methylamine (agents which increase cytosolic pH), but
      not by KNO3, (b) inhibited by the cytosolic protein-synthesis inhibitor,
      cycloheximide, thus confirming that protein turnover is a component of the signal
      transduction cascade, as reported in [4], (c) found to moderately decrease in the
      presence of EGTA and to be strongly depressed when the Ca(2+)-selective ionophore
      A23187 was added to the incubation medium together with EGTA. Addition of Ca2+,
      but not of Mg2+, to the Ca(2+)-depleted protoplasts partially, but significantly,
      relieved the inhibition. Calcium deprivation apparently affected the in-situ
      light-activation of the PyrPC protein kinase. These data indicated that both Ca2+
      and an increase in cytosolic pH are required for the induction of PyrPC protein
      kinase activity/PyrPC phosphorylation in illuminated protoplasts from Sorghum
      mesophyll cells.

PMID- 1459136
TI  - Zinc-specific activation of a HeLa cell nuclear protein which interacts with a
      metal responsive element of the human metallothionein-IIA gene.
AB  - Transcription of metallothionein genes is activated by heavy metals such as zinc
      and cadmium, and a DNA element called metal responsive element (MRE) is essential
      for this process. By mobility-shift assay, we identified a HeLa-cell nuclear
      protein which specifically binds to MREa of human metallothionein-IIA gene. This
      protein, named ZRF (zinc-regulatory factor), is present in the cells untreated
      with heavy metals. Zinc is essential for, and increases in a dose-dependent
      manner, the binding of ZRF to MREa. Other heavy metals which can also induce
      metallothioneins, including cadmium, copper and mercury, do not activate ZRF. A
      MREa-containing oligonucleotide that can bind ZRF confers heavy metal
      inducibility to a heterologous promoter, suggesting that ZRF is a zinc-dependent
      transcriptional activator. In addition to the MRE core sequence, the surrounding
      sequences are also important for both ZRF binding in vitro, and zinc-dependent
      transcriptional activation in vivo. MREa by itself responds not only to zinc but
      also to other metallothionein-inducing heavy metals, indicating that the ZRF
      protein, not the MREa sequence, is responsible for the zinc specificity.

PMID- 1459135
TI  - Analysis of soluble human and mouse interferon-gamma receptors expressed in
      eukaryotic cells.
AB  - The extracellular domains of the human and mouse interferon-gamma receptors were
      produced in insect Spodoptera frugiperda cells infected with recombinant
      baculoviruses and in mammalian Chinese-hamster-ovary cells. The receptors
      expressed in both systems are secreted into the culture medium. Their signal
      peptides are cleaved off and the proteins show heterogeneity in glycosylation
      which, however, does not affect the capacity to bind interferon gamma or specific
      antibodies. The soluble mouse receptors exhibit binding capacities similar to
      those of cell-surface-anchored receptors, whereas the human receptors exhibit a
      lower binding capacity. All soluble receptors inhibit the binding of interferon
      gamma to cellular receptors and neutralize the antiviral activity exerted by
      interferon gamma. These receptors could therefore be useful for
      structure/function analyses and in vivo studies.

PMID- 1459137
TI  - Allosteric characteristics of GTP cyclohydrolase I from Escherichia coli.
AB  - The kinetic and regulatory properties of GTP cyclohydrolase I were investigated
      using an improved enzyme assay and direct determination of the product,
      dihydroneopterin triphosphate. The enzyme was purified from Escherichia coli to
      absolute homogeneity as demonstrated by N-terminal sequencing of up to 50 amino
      acid residues. A 30-residue internal fragment showed 42% similarity with rat
      liver GTP cyclohydrolase I. The enzyme did not obey Michaelis-Menten kinetics or
      show a sigmoid reaction curve. The substrate saturation kinetics were found to be
      slow with low response to minor changes in GTP concentrations. GTP cyclohydrolase
      I has a relatively high apparent Km. The values are slightly different for enzyme
      purified by GTP-agarose (100 microM) and UTP-agarose (110 microM). Low turnover
      numbers of 12/min and 19/min were calculated for the respective enzyme
      preparations. GTP-cyclohydrolase-I activity was modulated in Vmax by K+, divalent
      cations, UTP and tetrahydrobiopterin. Divalent cations, such as Mg2+, had an
      activating effect with an optimum at 8 mM Mg2+. A different catalytic function
      and formation of a new, unidentified product by GTP cyclohydrolase I was observed
      in the presence of Ca2+. In the presence of 1 mM EDTA and Mg2+, GTP
      cyclohydrolase-I activity was strongly inhibited by chelate complexes. UTP proved
      not to be a competitive inhibitor, but a positive modulator. The inhibition by
      chelate complexes was totally abolished by UTP. Tetrahydrobiopterin showed an
      inhibitory effect, with 50% inhibition at 100 microM tetrahydrobiopterin. UTP was
      able to reduce the inhibition by tetrahydrobiopterin. Using monoclonal antibody
      1F11 (related to the GTP-binding site), and monoclonal antibody NS7 (mimicking
      tetrahydrobiopterin), different binding sites were demonstrated for GTP and
      tetrahydrobiopterin on each enzyme subunit. Western-blot competition analysis
      revealed a UTP-binding site different from the binding sites of GTP and
      tetrahydrobiopterin. Based on the kinetic behaviour and the kind of modulations
      observed we defined GTP cyclohydrolase I as an M-class allosteric enzyme.

PMID- 1459139
TI  - Effects of chemical modification of Anabaena flavodoxin and ferredoxin-NADP+
      reductase on the kinetics of interprotein electron transfer reactions.
AB  - The influence of chemical modification of arginine residues (using phenylglyoxal)
      in ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase (FNR), and of carboxyl groups (using glycine ethyl
      ester) in flavodoxin (Fld), on the kinetics of electron transfer between FNR and
      Fld, and between ferredoxin (Fd) and FNR, was examined using laser flash
      photolysis methods. All proteins were obtained from the cyanobacterium Anabaena
      PCC7119. Reduction by laser-generated 5-deazariboflavin semiquinone of the FAD
      moiety of phenylglyoxal-modified FNR occurred with a second-order rate constant
      2.5-fold smaller than that obtained for reduction of native FNR, indicating
      either a small degree of steric hindrance of the cofactor, or a decrease in its
      redox potential, upon chemical modification. In contrast, no changes were found
      in the kinetics of reduction of the FMN cofactor of Fld modified by glycine ethyl
      ester as compared with the native protein. The observed rate constants for
      reoxidation of Fdred (reduced Fd) by FNRox (oxidized FNR) were dramatically
      decreased (approximately 100-fold) when phenylglyoxal-modified FNR was used. In
      contrast to the reaction involving the native proteins, no ionic strength effects
      on kobs values were found. These results, and those obtained upon varying the
      protein concentration, indicate that the rate constant for complex formation and
      the attractive electrostatic interaction between the two proteins were greatly
      diminished by chemical modification of arginine residues of FNR. When
      phenylglyoxal-modified FNRsq (FNR semiquinone) was used to reduce Fldox (oxidized
      Fld), similar inhibitory effects were observed. In this case, the limiting first
      order rate constant for Fldsq (Fld semiquinone) formation via intracomplex
      electron transfer from FNRsq was approximately 12-fold smaller than that obtained
      for the native FNR (600 s-1 vs 7000 s-1). Again, ionic strength effects were
      diminished. The glycine-ethyl-ester-modified Fld yielded a limiting first-order
      rate constant for intracomplex electron transfer from FNRsq to Fldox which was
      approximately 7-fold smaller (1000 s-1) than that obtained with native Fld, and
      ionic strength effects were again diminished. These results indicate that complex
      formation can still occur between modified FNR and native Fld, and between native
      FNR and modified Fld, but that the geometry of these complexes is altered so as
      to decrease the effectiveness of interprotein electron transfer. The results are
      discussed in terms of the specific structural features of the proteins involved.

PMID- 1459138
TI  - Molecular mimicry of trifluoroacetylated human liver protein adducts by
      constitutive proteins and immunochemical evidence for its impairment in halothane
      hepatitis.
AB  - A monospecific antibody (anti-CF3CO antibody) was obtained by affinity
      chromatography on a N epsilon-trifluoroacetyl-L-lysine (CF3CO-Lys) matrix of a
      rabbit polyclonal antiserum, directed against trifluoroacetylated protein adducts
      (CF3CO-proteins). The anti-CF3CO antibody recognized distinct CF3CO-proteins on
      immunoblots of a liver biopsy obtained from a human individual 10 h after
      halothane anaesthesia. Cross-reactive proteins of 52 kDa and 64 kDa were
      recognized on immunoblots of livers obtained from human individuals not exposed
      to halothane. Recognition of both CF3CO-proteins and the 52-kDa and 64-kDa cross
      reactive proteins was abolished in the presence of 1 mM CF3CO-Lys. Anti-CF3CO
      antibody, affinity-adsorbed to the 52-kDa or the 64-kDa cross-reactive proteins
      of human liver, recognized the majority of target CF3CO-proteins on immunoblots
      of the human liver biopsy of an individual exposed to halothane. Liver biopsies
      of 5 out of 7 (71%) patients with halothane hepatitis exhibited an absence or low
      amounts of immunorecognizable 52-kDa and/or 64-kDa cross-reactive proteins. In
      contrast, of 22 control human individuals tested, all liver tissue samples were
      positive for the 52-kDa and/or the 64-kDa cross-reactive proteins. These data
      indicate that epitopes on the cross-reactive proteins of 52 kDa and 64 kDa of
      human liver bear strong immunochemical resemblance to epitopes on human liver
      CF3CO-proteins. Low-level expression of the cross-reactive proteins of 52 kDa and
      64 kDa is discussed as one possible factor in human susceptibility to halothane
      hepatitis.

PMID- 1459140
TI  - Binding of Bacillus sphaericus binary toxin to a specific receptor on midgut
      brush-border membranes from mosquito larvae.
AB  - The presence of specific receptors for Bacillus sphaericus binary toxin on brush
      border membrane fractions (BBMF) from Culex pipiens larvae midgut cells was
      demonstrated by an in vitro binding assay. Both activated and radiolabelled
      polypeptides from the 51-kDa and 42-kDa binary toxin of B. sphaericus 1593
      specifically bound to BBMF. Direct binding and homologous competition experiments
      indicated a single class of B. sphaericus toxin receptors, with a dissociation
      constant (Kd) of approximately 20 nM and a maximum binding capacity (Bmax) of
      approximately 7 pmol/mg BBMF protein. The sugars GalNAc, GlcNAc and N-acetyl
      neuraminic acid had no detectable inhibitory effect on toxin binding to C.
      pipiens BBMF. Binding experiments with the non-susceptible mosquito species Aedes
      aegypti failed to detect significant binding of B. sphaericus binary toxin to A.
      aegypti BBMF.

PMID- 1459141
TI  - Non-lysosomal degradation of misfolded human lysozymes with and without an
      asparagine-linked glycosylation site.
AB  - Human lysozyme is a monomeric secretory protein composed of 130 amino acid
      residues, with four intramolecular disulfide bonds and no oligosaccharides. In
      this study, a mutant protein, [Ala128] lysozyme, which cannot fold because it
      lacks a disulfide bond, Cys6-Cys128, was expressed in mouse fibroblasts and was
      found to be mostly degraded in the cells, whereas the control wild-type lysozyme
      was quantitatively secreted into the media. The degradation of [Ala128]lysozyme
      was independent of the transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi
      apparatus. The degradation was greatly inhibited by incubation of cells at 15
      degrees C, but was minimally affected by treatment of cells with the
      lysosomotropic agent, chloroquine, implying a non-lysosomal process. Additional
      mutations (Gly48-->Ser or Met29-->Thr) were created to make asparagine-linked (N
      linked) glycosylation site in the [Ala128]lysozyme, and the resultant double
      mutants, [Ser48, Ala128]lysozyme and [Thr29, Ala128]lysozyme, were analyzed with
      respect to their intracellular degradation. These mutant proteins were
      susceptible to N-linked glycosylation, and were degraded in a similar manner to
      that of [Ala128] lysozyme, except that the onset of degradation of [Ser48,
      Ala128]lysozyme and [Thr29, Ala128] lysozyme, but not of [Ala128]lysozyme, was
      preceded by a lag period of up to 60 min. Furthermore, the degradative double
      mutants, [Ser48, Ala128]lysozyme and [Thr29, Ala128]lysozyme, were glycosylated
      post-translationally as well as co-translationally. These observations suggest
      that there is some interaction between the mechanisms of glycosylation and
      degradation.

PMID- 1459142
TI  - Oleate stimulation of diacylglycerol formation from phosphatidylcholine through
      effects on phospholipase D and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase.
AB  - Hydrolysis of exogenous phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) to 1,2-diacylglycerol by rat
      liver plasma membranes was stimulated by oleate concentrations as low as 0.1 mM.
      In the presence of 75 mM ethanol, the fatty acid also enhanced
      phosphatidylethanol (PtdEtOH) formation from PtdCho. These effects were also
      observed with linoleate and arachidonate, but not with saturated fatty acids or
      detergents, and were minimal in microsomes or mitochondria. Release of
      [3H]choline from exogenous Ptd[3H]Cho was stimulated by oleate, whereas
      phosphoryl[3H]choline formation was inhibited. Oleate and other unsaturated, but
      not saturated, fatty acids also stimulated the conversion of exogenous
      [14C]phosphatidic acid to [14C]diacylglycerol. These data are consistent with
      stimulatory effects of these fatty acids on both phospholipase D and
      phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in liver plasma membranes. The stimulatory effect
      of guanosine 5'-O-[3-thio]triphosphate) (20 microM) on PtdEtOH and diacylglycerol
      formation from PtdCho was enhanced by low concentrations of oleate. Phospholipase
      A2 also stimulated PtdEtOH and diacylglycerol formation from exogenous PtdCho. It
      is proposed that unsaturated fatty acids may play a physiological role in the
      regulation of diacylglycerol production through activation of phospholipase D and
      phosphatidate phosphohydrolase.

PMID- 1459144
TI  - Chromatin structure and conserved sequence elements in genes encoding ribosomal
      proteins in Tetrahymena thermophila.
AB  - The chromatin structure of the macronuclear genes encoding ribosomal proteins S25
      and L1 in the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila was analyzed. Using the
      indirect end-labelling technique, DNase-I-hypersensitive regions were located in
      the promoter regions as well as in the 3' regions of the genes. The DNase-I
      hypersensitive regions were present in chromatin of exponentially growing cells,
      where the rate of ribosomal-protein gene transcription is high, and in chromatin
      from starved cells, where transcription of ribosomal-protein genes is severely
      depressed. Micrococcalnuclease-digestion experiments revealed that the promoter
      regions of the S25 gene and the L1 gene are devoid of nucleosomes in
      exponentially growing cells. In starved cells, no nucleosomal organisation of the
      promoter region of the L1 gene could be detected, whereas nucleosomal structures
      were discernible in the promoter region of the S25 gene. A conspicuous polypurine
      sequence motif, AARGGGAAA, is present within or adjacent to the DNase-I
      hypersensitive regions in the promoter of the S25 and the L1 gene, and
      interestingly, the same motif is found also in the promoter regions of the genes
      encoding ribosomal proteins L21 and L37.

PMID- 1459143
TI  - Studies on the interaction of alpha subunits of GTP-binding proteins with beta
      gamma dimers.
AB  - The interaction of several preparations of purified beta gamma dimers with two
      types of guanosine-nucleotide-binding-regulatory-(G)-protein alpha subunits, a
      recombinant bv alpha i3, made in Sf9 Spodoptera frugiperda cells by the
      baculovirus (bv) expression system, and alpha s, either purified from human
      erythrocyte Gs-type GTP-binding protein, and activated by NaF/AlCl3, or
      unpurified as found in a natural membrane, were studied. The beta gamma dimers
      used were from bovine rod outer segments (ROS), bovine brain, human erythrocytes
      (hRBC) and human placenta and contained distinct ratios of beta subunits that,
      upon electrophoresis, migrated as two bands with approximate M(r) of 35,000 and
      36,000, as well as distinct complements of at least two gamma subunits each. When
      tested for their ability to recombine at submaximal concentrations with bv alpha
      i3, ROS, brain, hRBC and placental beta gamma dimers exhibited apparent
      affinities that were the same within a factor of two. When bovine brain,
      placental and ROS beta gamma dimers were tested for their ability to promote
      deactivation of Gs, brain and placental beta gamma dimers were equipotent and at
      least 10-fold more potent than that of ROS beta gamma dimers; likewise, brain
      beta gamma and placental dimers were equipotent in inhibiting GTP-activated and
      GTP-plus-isoproterenol-activated adenylyl cyclase, while ROS beta gamma dimers
      were less potent when assayed at the same concentration. The possibility that
      different alpha subunits may distinguish subsets of beta gamma dimers from a
      single cell was investigated by analyzing the beta gamma composition of three G
      proteins, Gs, Gi2 and Gi3, purified to near homogeneity from a single cell type,
      the human erythrocyte. No evidence for an alpha-subunit-specific difference in
      beta gamma composition was found. These findings suggests that, in most cells,
      alpha subunits interact indistinctly with a common pool of beta gamma dimers.
      However, since at least one beta gamma preparation (ROS) showed unique behavior,
      it is clear that there may be mechanisms by which some combinations of beta gamma
      dimers may exhibit selectivity for the alpha subunits they interact with.

PMID- 1459145
TI  - Evidence for two histidine ligands at the diiron site of methane monooxygenase.
AB  - Circular dichroism spectroscopy has shown the hydroxylase component of methane
      monooxygenase to have a high helical content. The apoprotein has the same
      secondary structure as the holoenzyme. Chemical modification shows 12 histidines
      to be reactive with diethylpyrocarbonate in the holoenzyme, whereas 14 are
      reactive in the apoenzyme. Two histidine residues are implicated as iron ligands.
      Further chemical modification results suggest a cysteine residue is in close
      proximity to the diiron centre.

PMID- 1459146
TI  - The kinetic mechanism of sheep liver sorbitol dehydrogenase.
AB  - The relations between the kinetic parameters for both sorbitol oxidation and
      fructose reduction by sheep liver sorbitol dehydrogenase show that a Theorell
      Chance compulsory order mechanism operates from pH 7.4 to 9.9. This is supported
      by many parallels with the kinetics of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase, which
      operates by this classical mechanism. An isotope-exchange study using D
      (2H8)sorbitol confirmed the existence of ternary complexes and that, under
      maximum velocity conditions, their interconversion is not rate-determining.
      Substrate inhibition at high concentrations of D-sorbitol or D-fructose confirmed
      rate-determining enzyme--coenzyme product dissociation, slowed by the existence
      of more stable abortive ternary enzyme-coenzyme product complexes with substrate.
      The effect of the inhibitor/activator 2,2,2-tribromoethanol showed the existence
      of enzyme-NAD-CBr3CH2OH complexes inhibiting the first phase of reaction and
      enzyme-NADH-CBr3CH2OH complexes dissociating more rapidly than the usual rate
      determining enzyme-NADH coenzyme product dissociation in the final phase.
      Inhibition studies with dithiothreitol also confirmed an ordered binding of
      coenzymes and second substrates to sorbitol dehydrogenase. Neither D-sorbitol nor
      D-fructose had any effect on enzyme inactivation by the affinity labelling
      reagent DL-2-bromo-3-(5-imidazolyl)propionic acid, thus giving no evidence for
      their existence as binary enzyme-substrate complexes. Several alternative polyol
      substrates for sorbitol dehydrogenase gave the same maximum velocity as sorbitol.
      This indicated a common rate-limiting binary enzyme-NADH product dissociation and
      a similarity of mechanism. An enzyme assay for pH 7.0 and 9.9 is given which
      enables the concentration of sorbitol dehydrogenase to be determined from initial
      rate measurements of enzyme activity.

PMID- 1459147
TI  - Radical prostatectomy in the management of stage A carcinoma of the prostate.
AB  - A total of 115 patients (29 with stage A1 and 86 with stage A2 prostate cancer)
      underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy. Residual cancer was found in the
      radical prostatectomy specimens in 11 of the 29 stage A1 patients (38%) and in 66
      of the 86 stage A2 patients (77%). Fourteen percent of the stage A1 patients and
      29.5% of the stage A2 patients had pathological evidence of disease extension
      beyond the confined prostate. No perioperative death occurred and no patient
      suffered rectal injury or was totally incontinent. Early postoperative
      complications occurred in 6 patients (5%). There were no late complications.
      Complete urinary control was achieved in 111 patients (96.5%) and stress urinary
      incontinence was present in 4 patients (3.5%). Sexual function was preserved in
      21 of the 26 patients (81%) who underwent a nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy.
      Follow-up ranged from 12 to 84 months with a mean of 30 months. All patients were
      alive at the time of this study and only 3 patients suffered disease progression.
      These 3 patients were among the stage A2 group and had pathological evidence of
      tumor extension beyond the prostatic capsule. Twenty-six patients who also had
      evidence of disease extension were alive without evidence of disease. These data
      demonstrate that patients with stage A disease are at risk for disease
      progression if left untreated and with a morbidity as low as that achieved in our
      series, radical prostatectomy should remain an optimal option for tumor control
      in these patients.

PMID- 1459148
TI  - Buserelin treatment of advanced prostatic carcinoma: prognostic factor analysis.
AB  - From August 1986 to August 1990, 116 patients with prostatic carcinoma, advanced
      disease (stage C-D1 only in patients older than 75 years, or D2) were treated
      with Buserelin (0.5 mg 3 times/day subcutaneously for 7 days, followed by 0.4 mg
      3 times/day intranasally) until progression. No concomitant antiandrogens were
      administered. Of the 108 evaluable patients, 10 had complete remission (CR), 49
      partial remission (PR), 46 remained stable while 3 progressed (response rate =
      54.6%). Median duration of response was 31 months, median survival was 34 months.
      The toxicity of treatment was mild and mainly related to the hormonal effect of
      the drug. Castrate testosterone levels were obtained in all patients except 7.
      Slight, transient pain increase was noted at day 8 in 12 patients. Absence of
      symptoms at the start of treatment, well- or moderately differentiated tumor and
      serum testosterone negativization following Buserelin were associated with a
      significantly higher response rate as compared to presence of symptoms, poorly
      differentiated tumor and failure to obtain castrate testosterone levels,
      respectively. The following prognostic factors were found, at univariate
      analysis, to be associated with a prolonged survival: stage (C-D1 versus D2), PS
      (greater than 80 versus equal or less than 80), symptoms (absent versus present)
      and histological grade (G1 + G2 versus G3). Age and basal T levels did not
      influence survival. Those patients who obtained a CR or PR survived significantly
      longer than those with stable disease or progression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1459149
TI  - Value of electrical dispersion as a cause of urethral stenosis after endoscopic
      surgery.
AB  - We have evaluated the incidence of iatrogenic urethral strictures in a
      prospective study of 125 patients with a diagnosis of initial, superficial
      bladder tumors (without prior urethral instrumentation) and who were treated with
      endoscopic surgery. A global incidence of 12% was found after 24 months of follow
      up with the strictures detected a mean of 9.5 months after the endoscopic
      procedure. These patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 was treated using
      standard transurethral resection (TUR) and group 2 underwent Nd:YAG laser
      photocoagulation. Both populations of patients underwent cystoscopic controls
      every 4 months as part of our standard follow-up protocol in bladder tumors. In
      the group of patients who underwent diathermy using a 24-F sheath (85 patients),
      the percentage of stenosis was 16.4%. In the patients treated with laser via a 21
      F panendoscope (40 patients), the incidence of postoperative urethral stenosis
      was only 2.5%. We believe that the electrical dispersion generated by the
      unipolar electric current as well as the caliber of the operating instruments are
      factors which may influence the development of iatrogenic endoscopic urethral
      strictures.

PMID- 1459150
TI  - Clinical study of the longitudinal deformation of the flaccid penis and of its
      variations with aging.
AB  - The length changes of the flaccid penis provoked by a maximum manual stretching
      of the glans have been measured in 905 men in order to study its biomechanical
      qualities. Our study shows that the flaccid penis is deformable, extensible and
      elastic in its longitudinal axis. The analysis of the variations of these
      biomechanical properties with aging shows a significant decrease. Thus, the
      biomechanical behavior of the flaccid penis during stretching is highly different
      in young men and old men. This distortion difference according to age proves the
      physiological importance of the penile distortion since impotence significantly
      increases with age. As the vascular mechanisms may be disregarded during
      flaccidity, these penile physical features of the flaccid penis are only due to
      tissue mechanisms. Consequently, any distortion loss would reflect a tissue
      impairment, very likely a progressive senile fibrosis of cavernous tissues.

PMID- 1459151
TI  - Incidentally diagnosed renal cell carcinoma.
AB  - We analyzed the incidence, sex and age distribution, diagnostic methods and
      survival rate of incidentally detected renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) and compared
      these factors with those of symptomatic RCCs. Of 141 patients with RCC treated
      between 1980 and 1989, 44 cases (31.4%) were incidentally detected. Thirty-one of
      these 44 cases were diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography. The age of the
      incidental cases was significantly higher than that of the symptomatic ones (p =
      0.045), particularly in male patients (p = 0.049). The tumor size in incidental
      cases was smaller and tumor stage earlier (p less than 0.0001). Moreover, the
      grade of malignancy was significantly lower, and clear cell type tumors were more
      frequently detected in the incidental cases. No difference was observed between
      the survival rates of incidental and symptomatic cases with stage 1 or 2 tumors.
      Of the incidental cases with stage 1 or 2, however, no patient with a tumor 3 cm
      or less in diameter has died. In conclusion, abdominal ultrasonography is a
      useful tool to detect RCC at an early stage, and patients with a relatively small
      tumor tend to have a good prognosis.

PMID- 1459152
TI  - Studies of temperature rise in bladder cancer and surrounding tissues during
      radiofrequency hyperthermia.
AB  - Temperatures in the tumor on the bladder wall, tumor margin, intravesical urine,
      rectal cavity and pubic subcutaneous fat tissue (SCFT) were measured in a total
      of 48 bladder tumor patients during radiofrequency (RF)-capacitive heating of the
      tumors. There were close correlations (p less than 0.01) between the temperature
      of the tumor margin and intratumor temperature, between the intravesical
      temperature and the temperature of the tumor margin, between the RF power applied
      and the intravesical temperature and also between the thickness and the
      temperature of SCFT. As long as the thickness of SCFT was 20 mm or less, it was
      possible to raise the temperature of bladder cancer to 42.5 degrees C or above.
      The intravesical temperature could be regarded as an indicator for hyperthermia
      treatment since the intravesical urine temperature of over 42 degrees C implied a
      therapeutic temperature of 42.5 degrees C or more in the margin of the tumor.
      Since the intravesical temperature was closely related to the output power, the
      therapeutic magnitude of the output power could be defined at least as 400 W, by
      which intravesical urine temperature could exceed 42 degrees C.

PMID- 1459153
TI  - Immunophenotypic characterization of the bladder mucosa infiltrating lymphocytes
      after intravesical BCG treatment for superficial bladder carcinoma.
AB  - The lymphocytes infiltrating the bladder mucosa of 28 patients treated with
      bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for superficial bladder carcinoma were
      characterized using an immunohistochemical technique on frozen sections of biopsy
      specimens obtained during cystoscopy. The inflammatory response induced by BCG
      consisted mainly of T lymphocytes (CD3+), most of which had the helper/inducer
      phenotype (CD4+), with a CD4/CD8 ratio greater than 1. A minor subset of
      lymphocytes were of B phenotype (CD22+). These findings persisted for the whole
      follow-up period (6-12 months) in spite of a progressive decrease of the
      inflammatory infiltrate. No difference in the lymphocyte phenotype was observed
      between nonresponding patients and those who responded to BCG in the short term.
      It is concluded that, although intravesical BCG therapy does affect the
      immunocompetent cells of the bladder wall, the BCG-induced antitumor activity is
      unlikely to depend exclusively on a local immune mechanism.

PMID- 1459154
TI  - Postoperative long-term course of peripheral blood immune parameters and
      immunomodulating effects of keyhole limpet hemocyanin in patients with
      nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma.
AB  - Therapeutic approaches to metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) often focus on
      the application of immune modulators; the success rates, however, are not
      satisfactory. Up to the time of this study, no diagnostic tool has been available
      to select those patients who might profit from immunotherapy. Starting from this
      point, we have been assessing the immune status of patients suffering from RCC,
      intending to find markers that would characterize the more favorable prognosis.
      Our interest is focused not only on the metastatic but also on the nonmetastatic
      disease, i.e., the disease with the better prognosis. In the present study, we
      have assessed both the postoperative long-term course of several immune
      parameters of the peripheral blood and the reactivity of the immune system to
      immunostimulation with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) in patients with
      nonmetastatic RCC. In a prospectively randomized study, the verum group (n = 8)
      got 1 mg KLH per month up to 1 year while the control group (n = 9) got no
      immunostimulator after tumor nephrectomy. Both patient groups had stable or even
      increasing cell counts of lymphocyte subpopulations (T, B, natural killer, T4, T8
      cells), and the humoral immunoactivation markers neopterin, beta 2-microglobulin
      and tumor necrosis factor increased considerably after tumor nephrectomy. An
      effect of KLH is evident 4-8 months postoperatively: here, the neopterin values
      in the KLH group are more than twice as high as in the control group. Thus, while
      patients with metastatic disease had turned out to be immunosuppressed (previous
      study), in patients with nonmetastatic RCC, both the long-term course indicating
      postoperative immunostimulation and the reactivity to KLH give evidence of
      immunocompetence.

PMID- 1459155
TI  - Renal insufficiency induced by parathyroid hormone: influence of the calcium
      antagonist Go 6070.
AB  - To study the pathogenesis of parathyroid-hormone-induced renal insufficiency and
      the influence of the new calcium channel antagonist Go 6070 (Godecke AG, Berlin,
      FRG) rats were assigned to three groups (n = 8 each): (1) control, (2) PTH, (3)
      PTH plus Go 6070. PTH (30 micrograms/24 h, a nonhypercalcemic dose) was
      administered i.p. and Go 6070 (1 mg/kg/24 h) p.o. for 6 days. PTH did not change
      plasma or urinary calcium and did not induce nephrocalcinosis. The glomerular
      filtration rate (GFR), however, was decreased (4.9 vs. 10.3 ml/min/kg).
      Concomitant administration of Go 6070 attenuated the PTH-induced fall in GFR (6.2
      ml/min/kg).

PMID- 1459156
TI  - Role of the autonomic nervous system in catheter-induced urethral inflammation.
AB  - We have studied role of the autonomic nervous system on experimentally induced
      urethral inflammation in the rat. Urethral inflammation was produced by inserting
      latex strips into the urethra. The effects of different experimental procedures
      were assessed by using a 4-grade inflammation scale based on histological
      findings. Rats pretreated with the nonspecific catecholamine depletors reserpine
      or quanethidine had a significantly less severe urethral inflammation than
      vehicle-treated controls. The severity of urethral inflammation was increased in
      spontaneous hypertensive rats, which have an increased sympathetic tone as
      compared to the normotensive rats. Propranolol, a nonselective beta-adrenergic
      receptor antagonist reduced and butoxamine, a beta 2-antagonist, significantly
      reduced the urethral inflammation. Neither phenoxybenzamine (nonselective) nor
      prazosin (alpha 1) or yohimbine (alpha 2), alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonists,
      affected the degree of urethral inflammation. These data taken together indicate
      that the autonomic innervation of the urethral mucosa is critically involved in
      the inflammatory reaction and that the use of beta 2-antagonist may be a
      treatment alternative in the future for the treatment of catheter-induced
      inflammation.

PMID- 1459157
TI  - Blind-ending bifid ureters--report of five pediatric cases.
AB  - We report 5 cases of blind-ending ureters according to Culp's criteria.
      Occurrence of vesicoureteral reflux allowed us to make the diagnosis of
      retrograde cystography in all our patients. We wish to emphasize that this
      procedure must be done as the first step of urinary tract examination in
      children.

PMID- 1459158
TI  - Polyorchidism: an exceptional case of three homolateral testes.
AB  - Polyorchidism is an uncommon congenital anomaly defined as the presence of more
      than two histologically proved testes. The present case of polyorchidism was
      discovered casually in an 11-year-old boy while performing an orchiopexy. Three
      testes were found on the left side; we have been unable to find this exceptional
      anomaly previously published in the medical literature.

PMID- 1459159
TI  - Intrascrotal extratesticular malignant schwannoma.
AB  - We report a rare case of intrascrotal extratesticular malignant schwannoma with
      rhabdomyoblastic features in a 48-year-old man. Malignant schwannomas, which
      arise from the peripheral nerves, usually occur in the extremities, the trunk or
      paravertebral areas. The patient had no manifestation of von Recklinghausen's
      disease. To our knowledge, there has been no intrascrotal extratesticular
      malignant schwannoma reported.

PMID- 1459160
TI  - A practical and theoretical guide to measurement invariance in aging research.
AB  - We describe mathematical and statistical models for factor invariance. We
      demonstrate that factor invariance is a condition of measurement invariance. In
      any study of change (as over age) measurement invariance is necessary for valid
      inference and interpretation. Two important forms of factorial invariance are
      distinguished: "configural" and "metric". Tests for factorial invariance and the
      range of tests from strong to weak are illustrated with multiple group factor and
      structural equation modeling analyses (with programs such as LISREL, COSAN, and
      RAM). The tests are for models of the organization and age changes of
      intellectual abilities. The models are derived from current theory of fluid (Gf)
      and crystallized (Gc) abilities. The models are made manifest with measurements
      of the WAIS-R in the standardization sample. Although this is a methodological
      paper, the key issues and major principles and conclusions are presented in basic
      English, devoid of technical details and obscure notation. Conceptual principles
      of multivariate methods of data analysis are presented in terms of substantive
      issues of importance for the science of the psychology of aging.

PMID- 1459161
TI  - Modeling incomplete longitudinal and cross-sectional data using latent growth
      structural models.
AB  - In this paper we describe some mathematical and statistical models for
      identifying and dealing with changes over age. We concentrate specifically on the
      use of a latent growth structural equation model approach to deal with issues of:
      (1) latent growth models of change, (2) differences in longitudinal and cross
      sectional results, and (3) differences due to longitudinal attrition. This is a
      methodological paper using simulated data, but we base our models on practical
      and conceptual principles of modeling change in developmental psychology. Our
      results illustrate both benefits and limitations using structural models to
      analyze incomplete longitudinal data.

PMID- 1459162
TI  - Types of change: application of configural frequency analysis in repeated
      measurement designs.
AB  - Many researchers are concerned both with intraindividual change patterns and
      interindividual differences and similarities in those change patterns. Configural
      Frequency Analysis (CFA) provides a way to identify overrepresentations (types)
      and underrepresentations (antitypes) in the frequencies of multiple variable
      classifications organized to reflect patterns of change. Three methods of CFA for
      analyzing repeated measures data are considered. To establish trends, two of them
      require at least ordinal data and the third requires interval data. Data analysis
      and the interpretation of results are illustrated. CFA is compared with residual
      analysis from log-linear modeling.

PMID- 1459163
TI  - Multitrait-multimethod models in aging research.
AB  - The multitrait-multimethod matrix is a versatile tool for structuring the design
      and analysis of studies in many areas of psychology, including the aging of
      psychological processes. The basic goal for which the multitrait-multimethod
      matrix was developed is the establishment of the construct validity of measures.
      With newer forms of analyzing multitrait-multimethod data, particularly those
      using structural equation modeling, it is possible to specify models and employ
      model comparisons for an even broader goal: the more adequate generalization of
      conclusions across the facets included in the study. Topics addressed in this
      paper include the design of multitrait-multimethod studies, the specification of
      an array of structural models for such data, model comparisons that allow the
      estimation of the degree of convergent validity, discriminant validity, and
      method variance exhibited by a set of measures, and the extension of structural
      models to more than a single group, which allows the testing of questions
      regarding means, as well as the traditional tests of differences in variance and
      covariance. The procedures discussed are then explicated by describing the
      representation of data from a hypothetical four-group study of memory employing a
      form of design that is common in research on aging. Strengths and weaknesses of
      the structural modeling approach to the analysis of multitrait-multimethod data
      are discussed.

PMID- 1459164
TI  - Component analysis in multivariate aging research.
AB  - A method of components analysis, related to principal components analysis, is
      described for applications in multivariate cross-sectional or longitudinal data.
      The method may be useful to researchers seeking to reduce the number of observed
      variables through scale construction. The method creates component variables as
      weighted sums of the observed variables using weights that are identical across
      groups and occasions. The statistical and conceptual properties of these
      components are discussed. The method is contrasted with traditional principal
      components analysis and factor analysis. An application of the method is
      presented using longitudinal WAIS and WAIS-R data.

PMID- 1459165
TI  - Age, cohort, and time development muddles: easy in practice, hard in theory.
AB  - The debate among developmental psychologists over how best to combine
      longitudinal and cross-sectional data sequences can be traced back at least four
      decades. During the 1970s, a variation of this theme received much attention:
      could the developmental influences of age, cohort, and time be unraveled by
      sufficiently ingenious application of combined data sequences? We believe
      discussion of this question has been needlessly parochial and confused.
      Substantive and methodological contributions from other disciplines have, until
      recently, been largely ignored by developmental psychologists. Moreover, the
      solutions debated by psychologists have generally been formulated in language
      that obscured, rather than explicated, the formal indeterminacy implicit in
      models of age, cohort, and time parameters. Methodologists have outlined formal
      solutions to problems of indeterminacy in the contexts of model identification
      and estimability theory. Sociologists have proposed solutions, based on
      explicitly theoretical assumptions, that permit model identification and
      unambiguous interpretation. We review these contributions, and suggest a
      hierarchy of solutions to the problem of age, cohort, and time indeterminacy.

PMID- 1459166
TI  - Age-based construct validation using structural equation modeling.
AB  - In this paper we describe some mathematical and statistical models based on
      structural equation modeling (SEM) using computer programs like LISREL. We focus
      on SEM methodology for the simultaneous examination of the internal validity of
      psychological constructs and the external validity represented by age relations.
      To illustrate these ideas we use a latent variable path model to examine the
      organization of intellectual abilities measured by the WAIS-R in the
      standardization sample. We also examine different ways in which age can be used
      to structure this organization. This is primarily a methodological paper, but we
      try to integrate conceptual principles of modeling with some substantive issues
      of research on the psychology of aging.

PMID- 1459167
TI  - Abnormal neuroendocrine immune communications in patients with rheumatoid
      arthritis.

PMID- 1459168
TI  - Increased tissue concentrations of the gastrin precursor in patients treated with
      omeprazole.
AB  - The main form of gastrin in antral mucosa, the amidated heptadecapeptide G17, is
      generated from an inactive precursor, progastrin, by steps involving
      endopeptidase cleavage and amidation. Gastrin cells are normally inhibited by
      gastric acid and in this study we have examined how suppression of acid by
      treatment with omeprazole for 6-8 weeks influences gastrin production in patients
      with oesophagitis. Plasma concentrations of total amidated gastrins in the
      fasting state increased from 18 to 43 pmol l-1; assays specific for G17
      immunoreactivity indicated that the plasma concentrations of this form increased
      from 6 to 12 pmol l-1. In endoscopic biopsies of antral mucosa there was no
      change with omeprazole treatment in the concentrations of total amidated
      gastrins, or their immediate precursors, the Gly-extended gastrins. However,
      assays using an antibody that reacts with progastrin, together with size
      exclusion chromatography, indicated that tissue progastrin concentration
      increased 6-fold. The data suggest a modest net increase in gastrin production
      with omeprazole-treatment; because the ratio of tissue concentrations of total
      amidated gastrins to Gly-extended gastrins did not change, it would seem that the
      amidating capacity of the gastrin cell was maintained. However, the increase in
      progastrin concentrations suggests a relative failure of the initial steps of
      post-translational processing, and consequently that in certain circumstances
      endopeptidase cleavage of progastrin may be rate limiting.

PMID- 1459169
TI  - Supplementation with n-3 fatty acids reduces triglycerides but increases PAI-1 in
      non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
AB  - The effects of dietary supplementation with n-3 fatty acids on lipid and glucose
      metabolism and on fibrinolysis were evaluated in 14 non-insulin-dependent
      diabetic patients who were given 10 g of MaxEPA (3 g n-3 fatty acids) or placebo
      (olive oil) per day in a randomized double-blind cross-over study during two
      consecutive 8-week periods. The serum triglyceride (TG) concentrations decreased
      by 27% (P < 0.01) after addition of MaxEPA with a reduction of VLDL TG by 36% (P
      < 0.05) while LDL cholesterol increased by 6% (P = 0.05). The fasting blood sugar
      and HbA1c concentrations increased significantly after addition of MaxEPA but the
      changes were not significantly different from those during the placebo period.
      The highest glucose concentrations at fasting and after an i.v. glucose injection
      were seen after MaxEPA while the serum insulin concentrations were unchanged. The
      peripheral insulin sensitivity, as measured by a euglycaemic, hyperinsulinaemic
      clamp technique, did not change during the study. The mean plasminogen inhibitor
      1 (PAI-1) activity of the patients was elevated compared with healthy controls.
      In spite of the reduction of the triglyceride concentrations and unchanged
      insulin levels, there was a significant increase of the activity of PAI-1 (+21%,
      P < 0.01) after MaxEPA suggesting a possible impairment of the fibrinolytic
      capacity. In many situations there seems to be a reduction of PAI-1 when the
      triglycerides are lowered. In the diabetic patients given n-3 fatty acids this
      was not the case.

PMID- 1459170
TI  - In vitro immune modulation of polymorphonuclear leukocyte adhesiveness by sodium
      fluoride.
AB  - We investigated the influence of sodium fluoride on polymorphonuclear leukocyte
      (PMN) adhesiveness in a healthy subject with low serum levels of fluoride. The
      PMN were separated from venous blood, and the percentages of adhered and
      unadhered cells were determined in vitro in plastic culture plates. The cells
      were cultured with five different fluoride concentrations ranging from 6.25 10(
      2) microM to 4.0 microM in the presence and absence of autologous serum. PMN
      adhesiveness in both the presence and in the absence of autologous serum was
      98.5%; the addition of fluoride had no effect on the results in the absence of
      serum. However, in the presence of autologous serum, PMN adhesiveness decreased
      significantly with the addition of fluoride (P < 0.05) from 0.5 microM. The
      decrease was smaller (1.1%) at a concentration of 0.125 microM, and larger at 12
      times this concentration of fluoride (52.7%). We conclude that sodium fluoride
      reduces PMN adhesiveness in a dose-dependent manner. The effect is not direct,
      but should be modulated by a seric factor.

PMID- 1459171
TI  - Antibody mediated enhancement of HIV-1 infection of an EBV transformed B cell
      line is CD4 dependent.
AB  - Low levels of anti-viral antibodies may facilitate virus infection of Fc-receptor
      bearing cells. For human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) it has been reported that
      antibodies can enhance infection of phagocytic cells. We show that HIV-1 can
      infect an Epstein-Barr virus transformed B cell line and that low levels of anti
      HIV antibodies enhance infection. The enhanced infection was characterized by an
      increase in viral DNA and increased HIV p24 protein production. Detection of cell
      surface antigen expression of CD4, the receptor for HIV, Fc-receptor type II for
      IgG, but not of type I and III could be demonstrated by immunofluorescence
      cytometry. The enhancement was abrogated when infection was performed in presence
      of a monoclonal antibody directed against CD4. Based on these results we conclude
      that antibody mediated enhancement of HIV-1 infection can also occur in non
      phagocytic cells in a CD4 dependent manner and that IgG Fc-receptors other than
      types I or III are involved in this process.

PMID- 1459172
TI  - Circulating inhibitor of interleukin 1 activity in patients with chronic renal
      diseases.
AB  - The effects of sera derived from patients suffering from chronic renal diseases
      (endemic Balkan nephropathy, glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis) on T cell
      proliferative response was studied. It was found that these sera contained
      factors which affect interleukin 1 (IL-1) dependent events in T cell
      proliferative response. The factors prevent costimulatory effects of IL-1 on T
      cells but do not bind to IL-1, nor do they affect interleukin 2 (IL-2) dependent
      T cell proliferation. These findings indicate that immuno-suppression observed in
      some kidney disorders may be partially due to serum immunoinhibitory factors
      affecting IL-1 activity.

PMID- 1459174
TI  - The critical role of magnesium ions in osteoclast-matrix interaction:
      implications for divalent cations in the study of osteoclastic adhesion molecules
      and bone resorption.

PMID- 1459173
TI  - The effects of dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in
      patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized, double blind trial.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of dietary supplementation with n-3
      polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) on disease variables in patients with
      rheumatoid arthritis. DESIGN: Multicenter, randomized, placebo controlled, double
      blind. SETTING: Three Danish hospital Departments of Rheumatology. PATIENTS:
      Fifty-one patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. INTERVENTION: Random
      allocation to 12 weeks of treatment with either six n-3 PUFA capsules (3.6 g) or
      six capsules with fat composition as the average Danish diet. MAIN RESULTS:
      Significant improvement of morning stiffness and joint tenderness. No significant
      effect on the four other assessed clinical parameters. No serious side effects.
      CONCLUSIONS: Dietary supplementation with n-3 PUFA in patients with rheumatoid
      arthritis improved two out of six patient reported disease parameters. Further
      studies are needed to clarify the more precise role of n-3 PUFA in the treatment
      of rheumatoid arthritis.

PMID- 1459175
TI  - Insulin sensitivity and secretion in healthy elderly human subjects with
      'abnormal' glucose tolerance.
AB  - Glucose tolerance deteriorates dramatically with advancing age. It is not known
      whether the underlying pathophysiology is different in older subjects. We
      employed a two step hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic glucose clamp with [6(14)C]
      glucose infusion to compare peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity in eight
      elderly (EAGT) with eight young (YAGT) subjects with abnormal (matched) glucose
      tolerance and nine elderly subjects with normal glucose tolerance (ENGT). There
      was no difference in basal HGO (EAGT 14.5 +/- 0.9, YAGT 15.3 +/- 1.1 mumol kg-1
      min-1). Glucose turnover was similar in both groups at step 1 (EAGT 13.2 +/- 0.8,
      YAGT 13.4 +/- 0.8 mumol kg-1 min-1) and step 2 (EAGT 25.1 +/- 3.1, YAGT 27.2 +/-
      2.7 mumol kg-1 min-1). HGO was lower in the EAGT subjects at step 1 (2.3 +/- 0.4
      vs. 4.3 +/- 0.6 mumol kg-1 min-1 P = 0.01). Incremental serum insulin response to
      oral glucose was comparable (EAGT 66.8 +/- 11.6 YAGT 57.8 +/- 12.2 mU l-1.h).
      Compared to the ENGT group the EAGT group was insulin resistant with a lower MCR
      of glucose at step 1 (2.03 +/- 0.28 vs. 3.23 +/- 0.44 ml kg-1 min-1 P = 0.04) and
      at step 2 (6.18 +/- 0.83 vs. 9.64 +/- 0.38 ml kg-1 min-1 P = 0.004) and had a
      lower early insulin response (AUC 0-30 min 5.9 +/- 1.1 vs. 9.8 +/- 1.4 mU l-1.h P
      = 0.04).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459176
TI  - Increased GPIIB/IIIA expression and altered DNA-ploidy pattern in megakaryocytes
      of diabetic BB-rats.
AB  - Hyperactive platelets contribute to angiopathic complications in diabetes
      mellitus. It is unclear whether the increased platelet function is a primary
      pathogenetic factor in diabetes or follows vascular injury. Increased platelet
      size and numbers of glycoprotein receptors on diabetic platelets suggest that
      thrombopoiesis is altered in diabetes mellitus. For further support of this
      hypothesis we studied whether megakaryocytes are changed with regard to the DNA
      ploidy pattern and the GPIIB/IIIA expression in 10 acute diabetic (AD) and 24
      insulin treated diabetic (ITD) BB rats in comparison with 22 diabetes resistant
      (ND) BB rats. In the AD group megakaryocyte size (P = 0.035) and the modal DNA
      ploidy distribution dropped (P = 0.0001) concomitant with increased TNF-alpha
      activity (P = 0.001). GPIIB/IIIA expression and the peripheral platelet status
      were unchanged. After 4 weeks of insulin substitution metabolic parameters
      (glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides) were lowered, but remained still elevated.
      As compared to the AD group the modal DNA-ploidy pattern reversed, but the
      relative percentage of 64n megakaryocytes increased 2.3-fold and GPIIB/IIIA
      expression increased 1.6-fold. Simultaneously, the peripheral platelet count and
      size increased. From these results we conclude that alterations of the
      megakaryocyte compartment occur at early onset of diabetes. These changes could
      reflect a response to increased systemic cytokine production during inflammatory
      islet cell destruction. The peripheral platelet thrombotic potency increased with
      insulin treatment. This was associated with an increase of 64n-megakaryocytes
      with upregulated GPIIB/IIIA expression and could reflect a mitogenic effect of
      insulin upon the endomitotic cycle of the megakaryocytes.

PMID- 1459177
TI  - Correspondence between plasma mevalonic acid levels and deuterium uptake in
      measuring human cholesterol synthesis.
AB  - To assess the validity of two techniques capable of identifying immediate changes
      in human cholesterol production, plasma mevalonic acid levels and the rate of
      uptake of deuterium into plasma free cholesterol were compared in 5 healthy
      individuals over 48 h. The free-living subjects self-selected three meals per day
      prior to and during study. At t = 0, deuterium oxide was administered orally.
      Blood samples were collected before and every 4 h after dosing. Total cholesterol
      and mevalonic acid levels were determined in plasma at each timepoint. Deuterium
      enrichment changes in plasma free cholesterol, relative to plasma water content,
      were used to calculate free cholesterol fractional synthetic rates (FSR) at each
      timepoint. Total plasma cholesterol levels remained constant, whereas significant
      circadian rhythmicity was observed in both plasma mevalonic acid and deuterium
      uptake methods, with nadir and peak formation rates indicated at 14.00 to 16.00 h
      and about midnight, respectively. It is suggested that plasma mevalonic acid
      levels and free cholesterol deuterium uptake rate techniques are both suitable
      techniques for short-term measurement of human cholesterol synthesis.

PMID- 1459178
TI  - Effect of lipid A on the deformability, membrane rigidity and geometry of human
      adult red blood cells.
AB  - Lipid A is responsible for the activities of endotoxin and may cause circulatory
      failure and haemolysis. This study evaluated the effects of different lipid A
      concentrations on red blood cell (RBC) deformation (rheoscope), the aspiration
      pressure required to aspirate RBC into 3.3 microns pipettes, the membrane shear
      elastic modulus (i.e. membrane rigidity) and cellular geometry (micropipette
      system) after 15 min of incubation. Lipid A concentrations of 10 and 100
      micrograms ml-1 of RBCs decreased RBC deformability by 26% and 39%, respectively.
      The aspiration pressure for RBCs into a 3.3 microns micropipette increased by
      235% at a lipid A concentration of 10 micrograms ml-1 and by 586% at a
      concentration of 100 micrograms ml-1. The elastic shear modulus almost doubled at
      a lipid A concentration of 10 micrograms ml-1 and tripled at 100 micrograms ml-1.
      At a lipid A concentration of 100 micrograms ml-1, 37% of RBCs showed spicules.
      These echinocytes were less deformable than discocytes. Mean corpuscular volume,
      RBC volume and surface area were not affected by lipid A. We conclude that lipid
      A causes marked reduction of RBC deformability due to increasing membrane
      rigidity.

PMID- 1459179
TI  - Colchicine analogues: effect on amyloidogenesis in a murine model and, in vitro,
      on polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
AB  - Colchicine has been used in diverse clinical settings such as gout, familial
      Mediterranean fever, liver cirrhosis, Behcet's disease and pericarditis. It also
      has an antimitotic potential hitherto unexplored due to its narrow therapeutic
      toxic ratio. The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness and
      the toxicity of colchicine and three analogues: thiocolchicine, 2,3 dimethyl
      colchicine and 3-dimethylthiocolchicine in the blockage of amyloid synthesis in a
      murine model. 3-demethylthiocolchicine was equipotent to colchicine in the
      blockage of casein induced amyloidogenesis. However, it was markedly less toxic
      (LD50 11.3 mg kg-1 vs. 1.6 mg kg-1). Thiocolchicine was toxic (LD50 1.0 mg kg-1)
      and 2,3 didemethyl-colchicine was far less effective. The effect of 3
      dimethylthiocolchicine on polymorphonuclear leukocytes was then compared to
      colchicine. The effect of this analogue on inhibition of chemotaxis was
      equivalent to that of colchicine whereas the latter was superior to the analogue
      in the suppression of phagocytosis (by a ratio of 2:1) and in the inhibition of
      bactericidal activity (by a ratio of 10:1). Since in therapeutic concentrations
      the only detectable effect of colchicine on PMNs is inhibition of chemotaxis, our
      data may point to 3-demethylthiocolchicine as an optional, perhaps superior
      alternative to colchicine for some of its therapeutic indications.

PMID- 1459180
TI  - Neuropsychological impairment in auto-immune disease.
AB  - Estimations of the prevalence of central nervous system involvement in patients
      with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) vary from 25 to 75%. In order to assess
      possible deficits in memory, attention, and/or reaction time, a battery of
      neuropsychological tests was administered to 15 patients with SLE and to two
      matched groups of control subjects; eight patients on corticosteroids and 15
      healthy controls. The test battery included the Multiple Choice Word Fluency Test
      (MWT-B), Benton Visual Memory Scale, Syndrome Short Test (SKT; attention and
      memory), Attention and Concentration Test (d2), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
      (WAIS) subtests for Comprehension, Digit Span, Block Design, a Computer
      Controlled Reaction Time task (CCRT), and a Learning and Memory Test (LGT-3).
      Results revealed a statistically significant short-term memory deficit (for all
      six relevant subtests used) and a marked delayed simple reaction time in SLE
      patients as compared with scores in healthy subjects. An attention deficit as
      well as the expected difference between the estimated premorbid and actual level
      of intelligence could not be demonstrated. With three exceptions (SKT-9 figural
      recognition, Benton Visual Memory, and LGT-3 figural recognition), patients
      treated with corticosteroids did not differ from healthy controls. They also did
      not differ from SLE patients in any of the parameters tested. It therefore
      appears that the demonstrated deficit in short-term memory and reaction time in
      SLE patients may not only be due to the neuropsychiatric manifestation of SLE but
      possibly also result from medication side-effects.

PMID- 1459181
TI  - Neuroimmunological axis and rheumatic diseases.

PMID- 1459182
TI  - Modulation of the immune response to stress in patients with systemic lupus
      erythematosus: review of recent studies.
AB  - Physical and psychological stress in healthy subjects leads to characteristic
      alterations of plasma hormone concentrations and the lymphocyte subset
      distribution. After short-term bicycle ergometry or acoustic stress, and after a
      2-h-long neuropsychological examination, a rise in B- and T-suppressor/cytotoxic
      lymphocytes and a decrease in T-helper lymphocytes has been shown to occur. This
      cell mobilization was accompanied by an elevation in plasma catecholamines.
      Although the rise in catecholamine levels was similar in patients with systemic
      lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in healthy subjects, the alterations in the
      lymphocyte subsets were less pronounced in SLE patients after bicycle ergometry
      as well as after psychological testing than in healthy subjects, patients with
      sarcoidosis, and patients without collagenosis under treatment with
      corticosteroids. Differences between short-term physical exercise and the
      acoustic stress test on the one hand, and the 2-h-long neuropsychological test on
      the other, were observed only for the absolute lymphocyte count. After short-term
      stress, a rise in the leukocyte and lymphocyte count was noted, whereas after
      long-term testing, only an increase in leukocytes and a decrease in lymphocytes
      could be found. In conclusion, sympathomimetic stimulation by bicycle ergometry
      or by psychological stress led to a characteristic cell mobilization in all the
      groups investigated. The extent of cell mobilization was attenuated in SLE
      patients despite the fact that comparable increases of plasma catecholamines were
      observed.

PMID- 1459183
TI  - Modulation of lymphocyte subsets due to psychological stress in patients with
      rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - The influence of a 1-hour neuropsychological stress test on the distribution of
      lymphocyte subpopulations and on plasma catecholamine levels was investigated in
      18 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 14 sex- and age-matched controls.
      Despite significant increases in lymphocyte counts in both groups, lymphocyte
      subsets did not change accordingly. A wide scattering of catecholamine levels in
      plasma before and after stress was observed. Plasma levels of lymphokines such as
      interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-6 could not be detected in RA patients. Enzyme
      immunoassay of markers of lymphocyte activation such as HLA-DR and cell-bound IL
      2 receptor showed only a significant elevation of HLA-DR marked cells in RA
      patients at baseline. Significantly higher amounts of the soluble IL-2 receptor
      were detected in patients with RA before the stress test, but stress testing did
      not alter this parameter. In conclusion, lymphocyte activation in RA and a defect
      in the expression of IL-2 receptor on the cell surface of lymphocytes were
      confirmed in the present study.

PMID- 1459184
TI  - Bidirectional communication between the brain and the immune system.
AB  - There is now a substantial body of data available indicating that the brain, the
      nervous system, and the immune system are functionally connected. Consequently,
      environmental conditions of a psychosocial or physical nature may influence the
      body's defence. The magnitude of the change in immune reactivity is partly
      determined by the individual's evaluation of the psychological or physical
      stimulus. This is illustrated by pharmacological modification of perception
      resulting in more pronounced stress-induced immunomodulation. In man, it has been
      demonstrated that recently experienced life stress, particularly daily hassles,
      can codetermine the effect of an experimental stressor applied for a short period
      of time on the immune system. An intriguing finding relates to the synthesis and
      secretion of hormones and neuropeptides by immune cells. These chemical
      messengers act as autocrine or paracrine immunoregulatory molecules on the one
      hand, and as messengers for communication with the brain and peripheral nervous
      system on the other. Animal research indicates that this dialogue is of
      biological significance.

PMID- 1459185
TI  - Interferon inducer, polyriboguanylic.polyribocytidylic acid, inhibits
      experimental hepatic metastases in mice.
AB  - The antitumour activity of an interferon inducer, the double-stranded complex of
      polyriboguanylic.polyribocytidylic acid was studied on murine lymphosarcoma
      LS/BL. The antitumour effect was determined with the aid of an experimental liver
      colony model and compared to that exhibited by another synthetic RNA,
      polyriboinosinic.polyribocytidylic acid. We found that both polynucleotide
      complexes decreased the number of liver colonies and prolonged the survival of
      the tumour-bearing mice. This effect was only observed if the complexes were
      applied in an appropriate dose schedule which included the administration of the
      drug prior to tumour cell inoculation and subsequent continuous treatment. We
      have also verified that the polynucleotide complexes did not exert their
      antitumour effect by a direct action on tumour cells.

PMID- 1459186
TI  - Effect of muscarinic cholinergic drugs on ischemia-induced decreases in glucose
      uptake and CA1 field potentials in rat hippocampus slices.
AB  - To clarify the role of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the
      hypoxia/hypoglycemia (ischemia)-induced functional deficit in hippocampal
      neurons, we examined the effect of cholinergic drugs on ischemia-induced
      impairments of glucose uptake and CA1 field potentials in hippocampus slices.
      Muscarinic receptors were subdivided into M1 (high affinity for pirenzepine) and
      M2 (low affinity for pirenzepine) subtypes. The M1 receptor subtype is coupled to
      an increase in phosphoinositide hydrolysis and the M2 receptor subtype is
      associated with inhibition of adenylate cyclase. The greater potency of carbachol
      in stimulating phosphoinositide hydrolysis resulted in exacerbated ischemia
      induced deficits. Treatment with the muscarinic receptor antagonists scopolamine
      and pirenzepine (M1 receptor-selective antagonist) had a strong dose-dependent
      protective effect against ischemia-induced deficits. Oxotremorine and McN-A-343,
      weak stimulators of phosphoinositide hydrolysis and strong inhibitors of
      adenylate cyclase, had a weak neuroprotective action against ischemia-induced
      deficits. These results suggest that stimulation of M1 muscarinic receptors
      coupled with an increase in phosphoinositide hydrolysis may play a facilitatory
      role in ischemia-induced deficits. Stimulation of M2 muscarinic receptors may
      play an inhibitory role in ischemia-induced neuronal deficits.

PMID- 1459187
TI  - A rodent model of focally evoked self-sustaining status epilepticus.
AB  - We describe a novel model of status epilepticus produced by the focal application
      of bicuculline methiodide into the deep prepiriform cortex of rats pretreated
      with lithium chloride. Three out of eight rats pretreated with one dose of
      lithium (3 mmol/kg) 24 h prior to induction of seizures by focal bicuculline, and
      eight out of 12 rats pretreated with two doses of lithium (at 24 and 48 h) prior
      to seizure induction, exhibited continual uninterrupted convulsive seizure
      activity (status epilepticus) lasting between 10 min and > 2 h. This status
      epilepticus which was manifest both behaviorally and electroencephalographically,
      was sensitive to reversal by diazepam (5 mg/kg i.p.) given as long as 2 h after
      the onset of sustained status epilepticus. Pilocarpine (25 mg/kg) pretreatment
      also predisposed to status epilepticus in response to the focal application of
      bicuculline, but diazepam (5 or 10 mg/kg i.p.) was ineffective in suppressing the
      status epilepticus in the presence of pilocarpine.

PMID- 1459188
TI  - Pharmacology of the 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced depolarization of the ferret
      vagus nerve in vitro.
AB  - Grease-gap recordings revealed that 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) depolarized the
      ferret vagus nerve (pEC50 = 4.9). This response was mimicked by 2-methyl-5-HT and
      1-phenylbiguanide, but not by 5-carboxamidotryptamine. Paroxetine (1 microM) or
      ketamine (10 microM) did not potentiate the response. Ketanserin (1 microM) did
      not reduce the depolarization, but four 5-HT3 receptor antagonists did. It is
      concluded that 5-HT depolarizes the ferret vagus nerve via 5-HT3 receptors, but
      these receptors may differ pharmacologically from those in other species.

PMID- 1459189
TI  - Evidence that 5-HT2 receptors predominantly mediate the contraction of the rat
      basilar artery to 5-hydroxytryptamine.
AB  - We characterised the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor subtype which mediates
      the contraction of the rat isolated basilar artery, mounted in a myograph, by
      using agonists and antagonists for 5-HT1-like, 5-HT2, 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors.
      The rank order of potency for a range of selective agonists was: 5-HT > alpha
      methyl-5-HT > 5-carboxamidotryptamine > 2-methyl-5-HT > sumatriptan. The maximum
      contractions for these agonists (Emax) was less than for 5-HT while 8-hydroxy-2
      (di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) was devoid of contractile activity.
      Ketanserin antagonised the contractile effect of 5-HT in the rat basilar artery
      with a provisional pA2 estimate of 9.3 +/- 0.2. A similar antagonism was observed
      against alpha-methyl-5-HT. Ergometrine (0.01-1 microM) was devoid of any agonist
      activity but antagonised the contractile effect of 5-HT on the rat basilar artery
      with a provisional pKB of 8.7 (7.8-9.8, 95% confidence limits). The 5-HT3 and 5
      HT4 receptor antagonist ICS 205930 (10 microM) did not alter the response to 5
      HT. The high potency and efficacy of alpha-methyl-5-HT, poor effect of
      sumatriptan and antagonism of 5-HT by ergometrine and ketanserin, support the
      conclusion that the 5-HT2 receptors are primarily responsible for the 5-HT
      induced contraction of rat basilar artery.

PMID- 1459190
TI  - Capsazepine inhibits low pH- and lactic acid-evoked release of calcitonin gene
      related peptide from sensory nerves in guinea-pig heart.
AB  - In the isolated perfused guinea-pig heart low-pH buffer (pH 5), lactic acid (5
      mM), capsaicin (10(-7) M) and nicotine (10(-4) M) all evoked a clear-cut release
      of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from sensory nerves. Incubation with
      the proposed capsaicin receptor antagonist, capsazepine (10(-5) M), significantly
      reduced the CGRP release evoked not only by capsaicin but also by low pH and
      lactic acid, indicating a common mechanism of C-fibre activation, while the
      nicotine response remained unchanged.

PMID- 1459191
TI  - Unmasking the vasoconstrictor response to neuropeptide Y and its interaction with
      vasodilating agents in vitro.
AB  - Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a powerful vasoconstrictor in vivo but is usually much
      less active on isolated blood vessels. The contractile effect of NPY was examined
      in the isolated rat femoral artery exposed to various degrees of
      vasoconstriction. The effects of NPY on the relaxation induced by vasodilator
      agents was also studied. NPY (< or = 1 microM) had no contractile effect. In
      vessels pretreated with a low concentration of phenylephrine (0.3-1.0 microM),
      NPY evoked a concentration-dependent contraction, which was similar in intact and
      in endothelium-deprived vessels. Other vessels were contracted with phenylephrine
      (3-10 microM) and relaxed with histamine (0.1 mM). Subsequent addition of NPY
      elicited a contraction which was much greater than that observed in vessels
      pretreated with phenylephrine only. The Y1 receptor agonist, [Pro34]NPY, but not
      the Y2 receptor agonist, NPY 13-36, evoked a concentration-dependent contraction
      in phenylephrine-pretreated vessels. Acetylcholine (ACh) induced endothelium
      dependent relaxation in vessels contracted with phenylephrine. NPY (0.1 microM)
      induced a rightward shift of the concentration-response curve and a lower maximum
      relaxation in response to ACh. NPY was without effect on the dilatation evoked by
      nitroprusside, histamine or forskolin. In conclusion, under appropriate
      vasoconstrictor and vasodilator influence, NPY can act at Y1 receptors to evoke
      vasoconstriction in the femoral artery via endothelium-independent mechanisms. In
      addition, NPY seems to attenuate the endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by
      ACh. These actions of NPY may contribute to explain the strong vascular effects
      of the peptide in vivo.

PMID- 1459192
TI  - Protective effect of a selective endothelin receptor antagonist, BQ-123, in
      ischemic acute renal failure in rats.
AB  - To elucidate the pathophysiological role of endogenous endothelin (ET), we
      examined the effects of the newly synthesized ETA receptor-selective antagonist,
      BQ-123, on ischemic acute renal failure induced by bilateral clamping of renal
      artery and vein followed by reperfusion in rats. BQ-123, when given by i.v.
      infusion of 0.5 mg/kg per min for 2.5 h during the pre- and post-ischemic period,
      was found to prevent the decrease in creatinine clearance and increases in blood
      urea nitrogen, plasma creatinine and the fractional excretion of sodium.
      Morphological observation also showed an effect of BQ-123, i.e. prevention of
      proximal tubular (S3 segment) necrosis. At 2 h after the start of reperfusion,
      the ET-1 content in the kidney increased to its maximal level. At this time, the
      Ca2+ content in the mitochondrial fraction of the renal cortex increased, with a
      concomitant increase in blood urea nitrogen. However, these increases were
      limited by treatment with BQ-123. Thus, BQ-123 was effective to both prevent
      mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation in the early phase of ischemic acute renal
      failure and protect proximal tubular cells from post-ischemic degeneration. We
      conclude that ET may be at least partially involved in the pathogenesis of
      tubular cell injury in this acute renal failure model.

PMID- 1459193
TI  - Histamine H1 receptors mediate vasodilation in guinea-pig ileum resistance
      vessels: characterization with computer-assisted videomicroscopy and new
      selective agonists.
AB  - Histamine receptors on guinea-pig ileum submucosal arterioles (outside diameter
      40-80 microns) were studied in vitro using a computer-assisted videomicroscopy
      system (Diamtrak). Histamine receptor agonists investigated in this study were
      histamine, the H1 receptor-selective compound, 2-[2-(3-fluorophenyl)-4
      imidazolyl]ethanamine (VZ 20), the H2 receptor-selective compounds, dimaprit,
      impromidine, (+/-)-N1-[3-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(pyridin-2-yl)propyl]- N2-[3-(1H
      imidazol-4-yl)propyl]guanidine (arpromidine) and (+/-)-N1-[3-(3,4-difluorophenyl)
      3-(pyridin-2-yl)propyl]- N2-[3-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)propyl]guanidine (BU-E-75), as
      well as the H3 receptor-selective drug, (R)-alpha-methylhistamine ((R)-alpha
      MeHA). Applied to vessels at resting tone, the agonists (1 nM-300 microM) did not
      change arteriolar diameter. Vessels preconstricted by 10 microM noradrenaline
      showed similar concentration-dependent vasodilations with histamine and VZ 20
      (pD2 = 5.38 and 5.36, respectively). This histamine-induced vasodilation was not
      affected by tetrodotoxin (0.5 microM) or indomethacin (1 microM), but was
      completely abolished in the presence of 1 microM of the H1 receptor antagonist,
      mepyramine. Calculation of the antagonist affinity of mepyramine for the
      histamine receptors in submucosal arterioles yielded a pA2 of 9.46. In contrast
      to histamine and VZ 20, the H2 receptor agonist, dimaprit, and the H3 receptor
      agonist, (R)-alpha-MeHA, were ineffective at preconstricted arterioles. The
      guanidine-type H2 receptor agonists, impromidine, apromidine and BU-E-75,
      produced vasodilation at noradrenaline-preconstricted arterioles (-log EC50 =
      4.47, 5.30 and 5.39, respectively) but, in contrast to histamine, were
      ineffective at arterioles preconstricted by U-46619 (300 nM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459194
TI  - Tetronothiodin, a novel CCKB receptor ligand, antagonizes cholecystokinin-induced
      Ca2+ mobilization in a pituitary cell line.
AB  - We found a novel nonpeptide CCKB receptor antagonist, tetronothiodin (Ro 09
      1468), in the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. NR0489. The structure of the
      compound (C31O8H38S), which has a 19-membered ring with an alpha-acyltetronic
      acid and tetrahydrothiophene moiety, is completely different from that of any
      known CCK receptor antagonist. Tetronothiodin inhibited [125I]CCK-8 binding to
      rat brain CCKB receptors with an IC50 of 3.6 nM, whereas it showed only weak
      affinity for rat CCKA receptors (IC50 = 70 microM). As demonstrated
      autoradiographically, tetronothiodin concentration dependently inhibited
      [125I]CCK-8 binding to CCKB receptors in rat forebrain slices. The effects of
      tetronothiodin on cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations in GH3 cells, a rat anterior
      pituitary tumor cell line, were investigated with the fura-2 method.
      Tetronothiodin inhibited CCK-8-induced Ca2+ mobilization without affecting basal
      cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations. In conclusion, tetronothiodin is a new, potent and
      highly selective CCKB receptor antagonist. It is a useful tool for investigating
      the pharmacological and physiological roles of CCKB receptors.

PMID- 1459195
TI  - Effects of exogenous wild-type p53 on a human lung carcinoma cell line with
      endogenous wild-type p53.
AB  - Several studies have shown that expression of exogenous wild-type p53 is
      detrimental to the growth of cell lines with absent or mutant p53. In this study,
      wild-type p53 cDNA expression plasmids were transfected into A549 lung carcinoma
      cells which had previously been shown by sequencing to contain wild-type p53.
      When a constitutively expressed wild-type p53 plasmid containing the neomycin
      resistance gene was transfected into these cells, no G418-resistant colonies
      contained the exogenous p53 cDNA even though the neomycin resistance gene was
      integrated. When cells were transfected with a dexamethasone-inducible wild-type
      p53 cDNA expression plasmid, induction of p53 expression resulted in a decreased
      growth rate and a decreased proportion of S-phase cells. Continuous treatment
      with dexamethasone resulted in continued p53 expression for 16 days, but beyond
      that time expression ceased and could not be reinduced. These data indicated that
      although the A549 cell line could proliferate in the presence of endogenous wild
      type p53 there was a strong selection pressure against continued expression of
      additional exogenous wild-type p53.

PMID- 1459196
TI  - Analysis of competence in cultured sea urchin micromeres.
AB  - Sea urchin embryo micromeres form the primary mesenchyme, the skeleton-producing
      cells of the embryo. Almost nothing is known about nature and timing of the
      embryonic cues which induce or initiate spicule formation by these cells. A
      related question concerns the competence of the micromeres to respond to the
      cues. To examine competence in this system we have exposed cultured sea urchin
      micromeres to an inducing medium containing horse serum for various periods of
      time and have identified a period when micromeres are competent to respond to
      serum and form spicules. This window, between 30 and 50 h after fertilization,
      corresponds to the time when mesenchyme cells in vivo are aggregating and
      beginning to form the syncytium in which the spicule will be deposited. The loss
      of competence after 50 h is not due to impaired cell health since protein
      synthesis at this time is not significantly different from controls. Likewise the
      accumulation of a spicule matrix mRNA (SM 50) and a cell surface glycoprotein
      (msp 130), both indices of micromere/mesenchyme differentiation, still occurs in
      cells that have lost competence to respond to serum by forming spicules. These
      experiments demonstrate that the acquisition and loss of competence in these
      cells are regulated developmental events and establish an in vitro system for the
      identification of the molecular basis for inductive signal recognition and signal
      transduction.

PMID- 1459197
TI  - Isolation and characterization of a brefeldin A-resistant mutant of monkey kidney
      Vero cells.
AB  - Brefeldin A (BFA) is a fungal antibiotic which disrupts protein transport between
      the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi. A BFA-resistant mutant of monkey kidney
      Vero cells, BER-40, which exhibited about a 90-fold increase in the LD50 of BFA
      (5.2 ng/ml for Vero cells versus 460 ng/ml for BER-40 cells), has been isolated.
      The increased resistance of BER-40 cells toward BFA was also manifested in a
      greatly reduced inhibition of protein secretion by BFA in the mutant and a lack
      of protection by BFA of the mutant cells from ricin cytotoxicity. Somatic cell
      hybridization between the Vero and BER-40 cells showed that the BFA-resistance in
      BER-40 behaved as a codominant trait. The structure of the Golgi region, as
      examined by immunofluorescence microscopy with antibodies against Golgi markers
      (the 110-kDa protein and mannosidase II) or with fluorescent lipid NBD-ceramide,
      was unchanged in the mutant cells as compared to that in the wild-type cells.
      Treatment of Vero cells with BFA (1 micrograms/ml) or with 2-deoxyglucose plus
      sodium azide resulted in a rapid release of the 110-kDa protein, mannosidase II,
      and NBD-ceramide from the Golgi membrane to a more diffuse distribution in the
      cytosol. In contrast, these three Golgi markers remained to be Golgi-associated
      following treatment of BER-40 cells with BFA or with 2-deoxyglucose plus sodium
      azide. Immunoblotting of cell extracts from Vero and BER-40 cells with monoclonal
      antibody against the 110-kDa protein did not reveal any significant difference in
      the level of this Golgi marker in the mutant cells. These data suggest that the
      BFA-resistance mutation in BER-40 has rendered the cyclic pathway of the 110-kDa
      protein assembly to the Golgi membrane resistant to both BFA and 2-deoxyglucose
      plus sodium azide.

PMID- 1459198
TI  - Evidence that oocyte maturation induced by an oncogenic ras-p21 protein and
      insulin is mediated by overlapping yet distinct mechanisms.
AB  - We have recently shown that a peptide (residues 35-47) from a functional region
      of the ras p21 protein, thought to be involved in the binding of p21 to GTPase
      activating protein, the antibiotic azatyrosine, known to induce the ras-recision
      gene, and the selective protein kinase C inhibitor, CGP 41,251, all inhibit
      oncogenic p21 protein-induced maturation of oocytes in a dose-dependent manner.
      We now show that these three agents only partially inhibit insulin-induced oocyte
      maturation, known to be dependent on activation of cellular p21 protein. On the
      other hand, the anti-p21 protein antibody Y13-259 completely inhibits both
      insulin- and oncogenic p21 protein-induced maturation as does a tetrapeptide,
      CVIM, known to block the enzyme farnesyl transferase which covalently attaches
      the farnesyl moiety to the p21 protein allowing it to attach to the cell
      membrane. Our results suggest that while the oncogenic and insulin-activated
      normal p21 proteins share certain elements of their signal transduction pathways
      in common, these pathways diverge and allow for selective inhibition of the
      oncogenic pathway.

PMID- 1459199
TI  - Metabolic consequences of adenine-phosphoribosyl transferase deficiency in V79
      hamster fibroblasts.
AB  - Two APRT- clones (V79-E3 and V79-E1A) were isolated from V79 hamster fibroblasts
      treated with ethyl methanesulfonate. Selection involved sequential exposure of
      the mutagenized cells to the adenine analogues 8-azaadenine and 2,6
      diaminopurine. To examine the influence of APRT deficiency on cell metabolism we
      determined the size and turnover of adenine ribonucleotide pools, the
      deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate pools, the rate of DNA synthesis, and the length
      of the cell cycle. Clone V79-E3 was hemizygous for aprt and carried a new
      chromosome, 3p-. Clone V79-E1A was quasi-tetraploid with a cell volume more than
      twice that of the WT cells. When the difference in size was taken into account,
      both clones behaved similarly. While WT V79 cells released no adenine into the
      medium, they excreted adenine at a rate of 6 pmol/min. This did not affect the
      size of the ATP pool. The main change in the deoxynucleotide pools was a marked
      decrease of the concentration of dCTP. The rate of DNA synthesis was the same in
      WT cells and in the diploid V79-E3 clone. APRT is known to recycle adenine
      produced during polyamine synthesis, but the enzyme apparently contributes little
      to the maintenance of adenine ribonucleotide pools of V79 fibroblasts.

PMID- 1459200
TI  - Localization by high resolution in situ hybridization of the ribosomal
      minichromosomes during the nucleolar cycle of Physarum polycephalum.
AB  - We have used biotinylated rDNA probes to localize by in situ hybridization the
      extrachromosomal genes for ribosomal RNA in the slime mold Physarum polycephalum.
      We established conditions that allow for highly specific hybridization at the
      ultrastructural level and determined that the 60-kb palindromic rDNA molecules
      are confined to the nucleolus in interphase. Our study definitively locates these
      extrachromosomal genes in mitosis in the form of thin DNA fibers contained within
      nucleolar remnants. We further show that these rDNA minichromosomes do not
      condense and that they segregate as entities independent of the condensed
      chromosomal DNA. In telophase, these minichromosomes migrate from the poles
      toward the equatorial region of the nucleus in a direction opposite that of the
      chromosomes. Our results illustrate the discontinuous nature of the nucleolar
      organizing region in Physarum.

PMID- 1459201
TI  - Cellular interactions with the extracellular matrix are coupled to diverse
      transmembrane signaling pathways.
AB  - Extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoproteins such as laminin, fibronectin, or
      collagen IV play a major role in cell behavior regulation. The molecular
      mechanisms taking place at the interface between the ECM and the cell surface are
      now rather well defined; however, very little is known about intracellular
      signals induced by these interactions. In order to get insights into the
      transduction pathways involved in cell-ECM interactions we have investigated the
      effects of several intracellular kinase inhibitors. Calmodulin-dependent kinase
      inhibitors, W-7 and sphingosine, have negative effects on cell-matrix
      interactions. They inhibit adhesion of several cell lines to laminin (IC50 = 4-10
      microM), fibronectin and collagen IV (IC50 = 7-25 microM). The effects are
      immediate, reversible, and also cell specific, certain combinations of cell line
      substrate being irresponsive to these inhibitors. In contrast, two inhibitors, H
      7 and staurosporine, for which protein kinase C is a common target, increase two-
      to fourfold the attachment of HT1080, OVCAR-4, and B16F10 cells to laminin but
      not to fibronectin. Another inhibitor, HA-1004, known to inhibit protein kinase A
      at low concentrations, has an activating effect only at high concentration (> 200
      microM) when it becomes an inhibitor of protein kinase C. These inhibitors are
      without effect on RuGli and Saos-2 cell adhesion on the three substrates.
      Altogether these results suggest that calmodulin-dependent kinases and protein
      kinase C could be separately involved in ECM-induced cellular responses. However,
      the effects of kinase inhibitors are substrate-specific and cell type-specific,
      suggesting that the intracellular signals induced by the extracellular matrix
      vary with the nature of integrin involved in signal transmission.

PMID- 1459202
TI  - Nuclear colocalization of c-myc protein and hsp70 in cells transfected with human
      wild-type and mutant c-myc genes.
AB  - Using immunofluorescence and electron microscopy we have studied the localization
      of wild-type and mutant c-myc proteins transiently expressed in CV-1 cells. In
      agreement with our previous observations, wild-type c-myc protein accumulated in
      large amorphous globules in the nucleus. All mutant proteins tested accumulated
      in the nucleus as well, but gave rise to morphologically different inclusion
      bodies. Many small globules appeared in cells transfected with D145-262 (deletion
      of amino acids 145-262), while cells transfected with D371-412 or D414-433
      generated structures looking like a fine network or like beads on a string. In
      addition, a particulate cytoplasmic staining appeared in some cells transfected
      with the wild-type gene and in cells transfected with mutants D145-262 or D414
      433. Since the c-myc protein has been reported to stimulate expression of
      exogenous hsp70 protein, we also examined the intracellular distribution of hsp70
      in the transfected cells. Double immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that
      hsp70 codistributed with the c-myc protein in distinct globules in the nucleus of
      many but not all myc-positive cells. However, the levels of hsp70 transcripts
      were not significantly raised compared to nontransfected and vector-transfected
      cells. Likewise, the levels of hsp70 protein did not vary significantly. These
      findings indicate that overexpression of c-myc stimulates translocation of
      preexisting hsp70 from the cytoplasm into the nucleus, rather than influencing
      hsp70 expression. Conceivably, this may represent one of several mechanisms
      whereby the cell deals with excessive amounts of c-myc protein.

PMID- 1459203
TI  - The effect of staurosporine, a protein kinase inhibitor, on asialoglycoprotein
      receptor endocytosis.
AB  - Receptor-mediated endocytosis via coated pits is modulated by the activity of
      protein kinases and protein phosphorylation. We examined the effects of the
      potent protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine (SSP) on endocytosis of the
      asialoglycoprotein (ASGP) receptor in HepG2 cells. Staurosporine caused a rapid
      (< 2 min) inhibition of ligand internalization from the cell surface. In contrast
      the rate of receptor exocytosis from intracellular compartments to the cell
      surface was not altered (t1/2 = 8 min). This resulted in increased ASGP receptors
      at the plasma membrane (140% of control) while the total number of receptors per
      cell was unchanged. Receptor up-regulation was half-maximal at 30 nM SSP. At this
      concentration staurosporine also inhibited the internalization of iodinated
      transferrin by HepG2 cells and SK Hep-1 cells, another human hepatoma-derived
      cell line. Staurosporine was without effect on the non-receptor-mediated uptake
      of Lucifer yellow by pinocytosis. We investigated the possible involvement of
      protein kinase C in the inhibitory effects of staurosporine on receptor
      endocytosis. The active protein kinase C inhibitor H7 did not inhibit ASGP
      receptor internalization. Furthermore depletion of cellular protein kinase C by
      overnight incubation with 1 microM phorbol myristate acetate did not abrogate the
      SSP effect. Together these data suggest that the mechanism of SSP action is
      independent of the inhibition of protein kinase C. In conclusion staurosporine is
      a potent and rapid inhibitor of receptor trafficking which is specific for
      receptor internalization from the plasma membrane.

PMID- 1459204
TI  - ORS12, a mammalian autonomously replicating DNA sequence, is present at the
      centromere of CV-1 cell chromosomes.
AB  - ors12, an 812-bp-long sequence, previously isolated by extrusion of nascent DNA
      from replication bubbles active at the onset of S phase (G. Kaufmann, M. Zannis
      Hadzopoulus, and R. G. Martin Mol. Cell. Biol. 5, 721-727, 1985), has been shown
      to function as an origin of DNA replication in autonomously replicating plasmids
      (L. Frappier and M. Zannis-Hadjopoulos Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 6668-6672,
      1987) and in a cell-free system (C. E. Pearson, L. Frappier, and M. Zannis
      Hadzopoulos Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1090, 156-166, 1991). A portion of ors12
      (nucleotides 1-168) consists of the highly reiterated alpha-satellite sequence
      (B. S. Rao et al. Gene 87, 233-242, 1990). We have estimated the copy number of
      the non-alpha-satellite portion of ors12 in CV-1 cells to be < 9 copies per
      haploid genome and have used it as a probe to generate a genomic map of ors12 on
      CV-1 DNA. In situ hybridization of CV-1 metaphase chromosomes, using a
      biotinylated probe of the entire ors12 sequence, positively identified the
      centromeres of all chromosomes. However, when the non-alpha-satellite portion of
      ors12 was used as a probe, it positively identified the centromeric region of
      only six chromosomes, namely, B4, C11, D14, D24, E25, and E27, as well as that of
      a marker chromosome. The results suggest that ors12 represents a centromeric
      putative replication origin that is present on a subset of CV-1 chromosomes and
      is activated at the onset of S phase.

PMID- 1459205
TI  - Polyoma middle T antigen or v-src desensitizes human epidermal growth factor
      receptor function and interference by a monensin-resistant mutation in mouse
      Balb/3T3 cells.
AB  - Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced down-regulation of its receptor is an
      obligatory pathway for cellular regulation of EGF-specific receptor (EGF-R) in
      normal and malignant cells. BNER4 cells are mouse Balb/3T3 cells transfected with
      the human EGF-R complementary DNA (cDNA). Polyoma middle T antigen-transfectants
      of BNER4, B4/MT-2, B4/MT-13, B4/MT-23, and B4/MT-24, showed diminished down
      regulation of cell surface human EGF-R in response to EGF relative to the
      parental BNER4 cells. Also, the v-src-transfectants B4/SRC-13 and B4/SRC-24
      showed much less down-regulation than BNER4 cells, whereas H-ras-transfectants of
      BNER4, B4/RAS-24 and B4/RAS-25, showed EGF-induced down-regulation of the cell
      surface EGF-R similar to that of BNER4. EGF induced DNA synthesis more than 20
      fold in BNER4, but induced only about a 1.5- to 6-fold increase in the middle T
      antigen- and v-src-transfectants. EGF-Rs of the middle T antigen-transfectants
      were metabolically stable in the presence of EGF in comparison with their
      parental BNER4 cells. EGF-Rs of BNER4 cells degraded with half-lives of about 2 h
      in the presence of EGF, but those of the middle T antigen transformants were
      found to be highly stabilized in the presence of EGF. On the other hand,
      transfection with polyoma middle T antigen (MTAg) cDNA causes malignant
      transformation of Balb/3T3 cells, but not its monensin (an ionophoric antibiotic)
      resistant mutant MO-5 cells, which have no significant EGF binding activity.
      Transfection of human EGF-R cDNA into MO-5 leads to the expression of high levels
      of human EGF-R in MNER31. Unlike the polyoma MTAg transfectants of BNER4, EGF-R
      in polyoma MTAg cDNA-transfectants into MNER31, M31/MT-13 and M31/MT-14, were
      down-regulated to levels similar to those of their parental MNER31. Exposure to
      EGF induced a more than 10-fold increase in DNA synthesis of quiescent BNER4,
      MNER31, M31/MT-13, and M31/MT-14 cells. Polyoma middle T antigen or v-src appears
      to modulate EGF-induced down-regulation of EGF-R, possibly through interaction of
      the receptor with the viral oncogenes, and this interaction may be altered in the
      mutant.

PMID- 1459207
TI  - Inhibition of gliding movement by calcium in doublet microtubules on Tetrahymena
      ciliary dyneins in vitro.
AB  - We examined the effects of Ca ions on the gliding movement of Tetrahymena ciliary
      doublet microtubules induced by 14S or 22S dyneins in an in vitro motility assay
      system. The doublet microtubule appeared as circular-arc in solution, about 5 to
      6 microns in length [1]. The doublet microtubules glided distal-end first on a
      14S or 22S dynein-coated glass surface either clockwise or counterclockwise
      following the addition of ATP. The diameter of the circular path changed
      according to Ca concentration in the solution. Gliding velocity was from 1 to 5
      microns/s. The addition of 0.1% Nonidet P-40 was necessary to induce the gliding
      movement on 22S dynein. This movement on 22S dynein was strongly inhibited above
      0.5 mM ATP in the presence of 10(-9) M Ca, and at 0.05 to 1 mM ATP in the
      presence of 10(-3) M Ca. Many studies have indicated that Ca ions regulate
      ciliary movement [2-8] in which dyneins and doublet microtubule in the axoneme
      may play an essential role. The inhibition of the gliding movement of doublet
      microtubule on dyneins at appropriate concentrations of Ca and ATP as observed in
      this study may be the key for understanding Ca regulation of ciliary motility.

PMID- 1459206
TI  - Deficiency in integrin-mediated transmembrane signaling and microfilament stress
      fiber formation by aging dermal fibroblasts from normal and Down's syndrome
      patients.
AB  - Previous evidence has shown a deficiency in microfilament stress fiber formation
      upon short-term cycloheximide treatment of cultured human dermal fibroblasts
      while cytoplasmic spreading appeared completely normal and other cytoskeletal
      networks organized normally. This deficiency applied to collagen substrata (not
      fibronectin substrata) and was specific for in vitro-aged normal fibroblasts and
      for fibroblasts from three different Down's syndrome patients at any passage
      level. To identify the mechanism(s) for matrix receptor deficiency in aging
      cells, cells were evaluated for amounts and distributions of several integrin
      subunits using specific monoclonal antibodies and two complementary experimental
      approaches. Flow cytometric analyses have shown that all these cells at all
      passage levels have large amounts of alpha 3 and beta 1 integrin subunits and
      smaller amounts of the alpha 5 subunit, directed to fibronectin, which are
      minimally affected in their cell surface availability by cycloheximide treatment.
      In contrast, cycloheximide treatment leads to the loss from surface availability
      of most of the alpha 2 subunit, directed to collagen, in late-passage papillary
      and reticular normal fibroblasts and in all three Down's patient cells at all
      passages. Prior growth of cells in ascorbate-supplemented medium, which overcomes
      the deficiency in stress fiber formation, conserves the large amounts of cell
      surface-available alpha 2 subunit detectable by flow cytometry. When amounts of
      integrin subunits were evaluated by immunoprecipitation of [35S]methionine
      radiolabeled cells, there was no diminution of the alpha 2 subunit or any other
      subunit for any cells upon cycloheximide treatment; however, there was much less
      alpha 2 subunit complexed with beta 1 in aging normal and Down's cells.
      Therefore, cycloheximide treatment does not lead to loss in the amounts of the
      alpha 2 subunit but rather to its masking at the cell surface and inability to
      transmit signals across the plasma membrane to effect stress fiber formation.
      This aging-related deficiency in integrin-mediated signaling can now be studied
      mechanistically with a variety of approaches to determine the nature of cell
      surface molecules interacting with integrins (cis- and/or trans-acting molecules)
      that discriminate functional from nonfunctional receptors.

PMID- 1459208
TI  - The short-term increase in extracellular potassium concentration causes DNA
      replication onset in density-inhibited cells.
AB  - The high potassium concentration effect on the human diploid fibroblasts (HDF)
      and 3T3 cells was investigated. The incubation of confluent cultures of HDF or
      3T3 Swiss cells in the medium with 50 mM K+ for 35 min induced, 12 h later, the
      onset of DNA replication in a significant proportion of culture cell population.
      The same treatment had no effect upon the sparce cell cultures. No stimulation of
      DNA replication was observed in the absence of serum in culture medium.

PMID- 1459209
TI  - Radiolabeling of DNA can induce its fragmentation in HL-60 human promyelocytic
      leukemic cells.
AB  - Incorporation of radiolabeled thymidine is commonly used to investigate DNA
      damage. Using a filter-binding assay, we observed that the addition of various
      doses of [methyl-3H]thymidine (0.2 and 2 microCi/ml) or [2-14C]thymidine (0.02
      and 0.2 microCi/ml) in the culture medium for 2 days, a standard method for cell
      labeling, induces DNA fragmentation in HL-60 human promyelocytic cells. This
      effect was dose- and time-dependent and the DNA fragments were not protein-linked
      since the levels of DNA fragmentation were identical in the presence and in the
      absence of proteinase K (0.5 mg/ml). Radiolabeled thymidine-induced DNA
      fragmentation was associated with an inhibition of cell growth, but cells
      remained able to exclude trypan blue, suggesting that plasma membrane integrity
      was conserved, except at very high doses of [methyl-3H]thymidine (2 microCi/ml).
      By agarose-gel electrophoresis, the DNA-fragmentation was demonstrated to be
      internucleosomal with a typical ladder pattern. Addition of unlabeled thymidine
      to the culture medium prevented DNA fragmentation in a dose-dependent manner,
      indicating that radiolabeled thymidine incorporation in DNA was directly
      responsible for DNA fragmentation. We conclude that radiolabeling of DNA using
      thymidine incorporation can induce DNA fragmentation in some cell lines such as
      HL-60. This observation must be taken into account in methods using radiolabeling
      to study DNA damage in these cells.

PMID- 1459210
TI  - Basic FGF and TGF-beta differentially modulate integrin expression of human
      microvascular endothelial cells.
AB  - Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF
      beta) are known to alter the migratory and proliferative capacity of endothelial
      cells in vitro and to stimulate angiogenesis in vivo. One mechanism by which
      these cytokines induce their effects may be through the regulation of integrin
      adhesion receptor expression and activity. We examined the ability of these
      growth factors to modulate the expression of specific integrins in human
      microvascular endothelial cells (MEC). Immunoprecipitation of metabolically
      labeled MEC showed that bFGF upregulated the biosynthesis of alpha 2, alpha 5,
      beta 1, and beta 3. bFGF induced an increase in the levels of mRNA for alpha 2
      and beta 1. TGF-beta increased synthesis of alpha 2, alpha 5, and beta 1. These
      results suggest that bFGF and TGF-beta selectively alter integrin profiles and
      influence interactions of MEC with the extracellular matrix during
      neovascularization. In particular, the upregulation of the collagen/laminin
      receptor, alpha 2 beta 1, by bFGF may provide activated endothelial cells with an
      enhanced capacity to migrate through both their underlying basement membrane and
      the interstitial matrix.

PMID- 1459211
TI  - Aging, longevity, and immortality in vitro.

PMID- 1459212
TI  - Genome reorganization through division: implications for aging of the mammalian
      organism.

PMID- 1459213
TI  - The telomere hypothesis of cellular aging.

PMID- 1459214
TI  - A somatic genetic approach to the analysis of senescence in human diploid
      fibroblasts in vitro: from heterokaryons to molecules.

PMID- 1459215
TI  - Oncogenes, protooncogenes, and tumor suppressor genes: a hitchhiker's guide to
      senescence?

PMID- 1459216
TI  - Altered expression of cell cycle dependent genes in senescent WI-38 cells.

PMID- 1459217
TI  - Inhibitors of DNA synthesis derived from senescent human diploid fibroblasts.

PMID- 1459218
TI  - Expression of prohibitin, an antiproliferative protein.

PMID- 1459219
TI  - Are all nonproliferating cells similar?

PMID- 1459220
TI  - Metalloproteinase and TIMP-1 gene expression during replicative senescence.

PMID- 1459222
TI  - Clonal attenuation and cell senescence: the next 30 years.

PMID- 1459221
TI  - Werner syndrome: molecular genetics and mechanistic hypotheses.

PMID- 1459223
TI  - Functional coupling of the stabilizing eye and head reflexes during horizontal
      and vertical linear motion in the cat.
AB  - The otolith contribution and otolith-visual interaction in eye and head
      stabilization were investigated in alert cats submitted to sinusoidal linear
      accelerations in three defined directions of space: up-down (Z motion), left
      right (Y motion), and forward-back (X motion). Otolith stimulation alone was
      performed in total darkness with stimulus frequency varying from 0.05 to 1.39 Hz
      at a constant half peak-to-peak amplitude of 0.145 m (corresponding acceleration
      range 0.0014-1.13 g). Optokinetic stimuli were provided by sinusoidally moving a
      pseudorandom visual pattern in the Z and Y directions, using a similar half peak
      to-peak amplitude (0.145 m, i.e., 16.1 degrees) in the 0.025-1.39 Hz frequency
      domain (corresponding velocity range 2.5 degrees-141 degrees/s). Congruent
      otolith-visual interaction (costimulation, CS) was produced by moving the cat in
      front of the earth-stationary visual pattern, while conflicting interaction was
      obtained by suppressing all visual motion cues during linear motion (visual
      stabilization method, VS, with cat and visual pattern moving together, in phase).
      Electromyographic (EMG) activity of antagonist neck extensor (splenius capitis)
      and flexor (longus capitis) muscles as well as horizontal and vertical eye
      movements (electro-oculography, EOG) were recorded in these different
      experimental conditions. Results showed that otolith-neck (ONR) and otolith
      ocular (OOR) responses were produced during pure otolith stimulation with
      relatively weak stimuli (0.036 g) in all directions tested. Both EMG and EOG
      response gain slightly increased, while response phase lead decreased (with
      respect to stimulus velocity) as stimulus frequency increased in the range 0.25
      1.39 Hz. Otolith contribution to compensatory eye and neck responses increased
      with stimulus frequency, leading to EMG and EOG responses, which oppose the
      imposed displacement more and more. But the otolith system alone remained unable
      to produce perfect compensatory responses, even at the highest frequency tested.
      In contrast, optokinetic stimuli in the Z and Y directions evoked consistent and
      compensatory eye movement responses (OKR) in a lower frequency range (0.025-0.25
      Hz). Increasing stimulus frequency induced strong gain reduction and phase lag.
      Oculo-neck coupling or eye-head synergy was found during optokinetic stimulation
      in the Z and Y directions. It was characterized by bilateral activation of neck
      extensors and flexors during upward and downward eye movements, respectively, and
      by ipsilateral activation of neck muscles during horizontal eye movements. These
      visually-induced neck responses seemed related to eye velocity signals. Dynamic
      properties of neck and eye responses were significantly improved when both inputs
      were combined (CS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1459224
TI  - Discharge properties of neurones in the hand area of primary somatosensory cortex
      in monkeys in relation to the performance of an active tactile discrimination
      task. II. Area 2 as compared to areas 3b and 1.
AB  - The discharge patterns of 144 single cortical neurones, within the cutaneous
      representation of the hand in area 2 (primary somatosensory cortex, SI), were
      studied in two rhesus monkeys during the performance of an active tactile
      discrimination task. These were compared to those previously described for units
      within areas 3b and 1 recorded from the same animals. The task consisted of
      making a single scanning movement of the digit tips over a surface (first half
      smooth; second half either smooth or rough). The nature of the texture
      encountered over the second half of the surface was indicated by the monkey
      making a differential lever response (push or pull) with the opposite hand.
      During the task, area 2 units with cutaneous receptive fields (RFs) on the digit
      tips of interest (those scanned over the surfaces) generally showed an increase
      in their discharge (75%); patterns of decreased discharge or no modulation
      (respectively, 12 and 13%) were rarely observed. Units with digital cutaneous RFs
      not in contact with the stimuli were much more likely to show either a pattern of
      decreased discharge or no modulation whatsoever (47% in each case), suggesting
      that there is some selection of cutaneous inputs in this task in that non-active
      inputs are selectively gated. For units with a cutaneous RF, the sign of
      modulation changed significantly across SI, in a manner consistent with a pattern
      of increased convergence onto the more caudal regions of SI. Overall, the
      proportions of area 2 units with digital RFs on the tips of interest that were
      classified as either texture-related (25%) or movement-related (26%) were similar
      to those reported previously for areas 3b and 1, suggesting that their presumed
      roles in, respectively, the analysis of surface texture and the representation of
      the physical parameters of movement are shared and distributed across the three
      cytoarchitectonic subdivisions of SI under consideration. In addition, the
      discharge patterns of single texture-related cells in areas 3b, 1 and 2 did not
      reliably signal whether or not the animal successfully discriminated the
      surfaces, suggesting that information from a population of cells is required for
      the performance of the task. Texture-related responses in area 2 were, however,
      unique in two ways. Firstly, 35% of the texture-related units had additional
      discharges related to the performance of the scanning movement (texture- and
      movement-related cells); no such units were found in area 3b, and only one was
      encountered in area 1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1459225
TI  - Systemic tocainide relieves mechanical hypersensitivity and normalizes the
      responses of hyperexcitable dorsal horn wide-dynamic-range neurons after
      transient spinal cord ischemia in rats.
AB  - In the present study we examined the effect of systemic tocainide on sensory
      hypersensitivity in rats after spinal cord ischemia induced by a photochemical
      technique. After induction of spinal cord ischemia the rats exhibited a sensory
      disturbance which was mainly expressed as vocalization to innocuous cutaneous
      mechanical stimuli (allodynia) in the flank area during the following several
      days. Tocainide at 75 mg/kg i.p., but not 50 mg/kg i.p., significantly increased
      the vocalization threshold to mechanical pressure for 2 h. The effect of
      intraarterial (i.a.) tocainide on the responses of dorsal horn wide-dynamic-range
      (WDR) neurons to suprathreshold electrical stimulation of their receptive fields
      was also examined in normal rats and after transient spinal cord ischemia, at a
      time when the animals exhibited typical behavioral allodynia in the dermatomes
      innervated by the ischemic spinal segments. In normal rats, tocainide (50 mg/kg
      i.a.) strongly suppressed the responses of WDR neurons to C fiber input with
      lesser effect on A fiber input. In allodynic rats, tocainide suppressed the
      augmented A and C fiber mediated responses of WDR neurons to the extent that
      their responses were similar to those seen in normal rats without tocainide.
      There was no difference in the overall depression of A and C fiber mediated input
      by tocainide between normal and allodynic rats. The present results demonstrated
      the analgesic effect of systemic tocainide in relieving allodynia in rats and
      indicated that systemic local anesthetics, at doses that do not block nerve
      conduction, can be effective in suppressing dorsal horn WDR neuronal
      activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459226
TI  - Low-threshold, short-latency cutaneous reflexes during fictive locomotion in the
      "semi-chronic" spinal cat.
AB  - Low-threshold, short-latency cutaneous reflexes evoked in ipsilateral hindlimb
      motor nerves were examined during fictive locomotion. Locomotion in 11
      anaemically decerebrated spinal animals (1-3 weeks after transection at T13-L1)
      was induced by administration of clonidine, L-dopa and nialamide; by
      administration of the latter two drugs only; or by exteroceptive stimulation in
      the absence of any drugs. The caudal and lateral cutaneous sural, caudal
      cutaneous femoral, saphenous and superficial peroneal nerves were stimulated at
      low threshold (1.5-3 T). Pooled results from all combinations of cutaneous nerves
      stimulated and muscle nerves recorded show that the initial response was
      excitatory in 40 of 50 triceps surae and 17 of 20 semitendinosus (St)
      electroneurograms (ENGs). These excitatory responses occurred at latencies that
      ranged from 5 to 15 ms and tended to be maximal during the motor nerve's active
      period in the step cycle (i.e. they were modulated in a phase-dependent manner).
      Only three inhibitory responses (9-12 ms earliest latency) were encountered in
      total: in two St ENGs of one animal and in one lateral gastrocnemius-soleus ENG
      of a different animal. In two animals a "second" excitatory response (15-25 ms
      latency) was sometimes recorded in triceps surae and St nerves and,
      interestingly, could be modulated out of phase with the early response. Weak
      short-latency excitatory reflexes were also found in contralateral St ENGs when
      examined. Finally, among medial gastrocnemius, lateral gastrocnemius and soleus
      nerves, excitatory responses due to stimulation of any particular cutaneous nerve
      tended to be modulated similarly but were of consistently different amplitude
      among the three. This finding, together with the general observation that
      excitatory reflexes produced by stimulation of a particular cutaneous nerve were
      modulated similarly in extensors (or flexors) of different animals, suggests that
      spinal circuits generating locomotion may indeed exert a stereotypic control over
      interneurons in specific cutaneous reflex pathways to motoneurons. The results
      are primarily discussed in terms of the existing evidence for short-latency
      excitatory cutaneous reflexes in extensors in a variety of locomotive and non
      locomotive preparations.

PMID- 1459227
TI  - Observations on the development of transplanted embryonic ventral horn neurones
      grafted into adult rat spinal cord and connected to skeletal muscle implants via
      a peripheral nerve.
AB  - Embryonic spinal cord grafts from 12-day-old rat embryos were placed into the
      lumbar spinal cord of adult rats depleted of sciatic motoneurones by a neonatal
      nerve injury. A soleus muscle was removed from the leg and implanted
      paravertebrally, the proximal end of its nerve connected to the graft site.
      Fluorescent retrograde tracers injected into the soleus implant, 37-64 days
      postoperatively, labelled neurones that had grown axons to the muscle.
      Approximately one-fifth of retrogradely labelled neurons were within the graft;
      however, the majority were found within the host spinal cord close to the graft.
      These included large neurons within the motoneurone-depleted dorsolateral ventral
      horn. In control experiments a muscle and nerve were implanted but no embryonic
      tissue grafted. Significantly fewer neurones were labelled. In some animals, one
      tracer was injected into the soleus muscle whilst another was applied to the cut
      sciatic nerve ipsilateral to the graft site. No neurones were found to project
      axons to both targets. In animals that received grafts prelabelled with
      bromodeoxyuridine (BrDU) some neurones were found to be both BrDU positive and
      retrogradely labelled from the soleus implant. These were most frequently within
      the motoneuron-depleted ventral horn ipsilateral to the graft. Thus, grafted
      neurones may migrate to an appropriate location within the host neuropil.
      Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemistry showed the graft site contained
      immature but AChE-positive neurones. Some regions of host ventral horn contained
      unusually few AChE-positive nerve fibres and occasional large AChE-positive
      neurones, some of which were also retrogradely labelled from the implanted
      muscle. Studies of implanted soleus 21-90 days after transplantation showed that
      muscle fibres, after initial degeneration, regenerated displaying differing
      phenotypes, presumably under the influence of new motor innervation.

PMID- 1459228
TI  - Responses of barrel cortex neurons in awake rats and effects of urethane
      anesthesia.
AB  - A "barrel" is an interconnected network of layer IV neurons that is an important
      component of a functional cortical column in the whisker area of the rodent
      primary somatosensory cortex. The present study was undertaken in order to
      resolve apparently conflicting findings from single-unit studies of barrel
      neurons conducted in rats maintained under different anesthetic conditions.
      Multiunit responses to controlled deflections of mystacial vibrissae were
      recorded from the whisker/barrel cortex of awake, undrugged rats, and responses
      at the same recording site were reexamined after the animal was anesthetized with
      urethane. In contrast to the awake condition, stimulus-evoked responses under
      urethane were characterized by a large late component. Such effects were more
      pronounced for deflections of noncolumnar or "adjacent" whiskers than for the
      columnar whisker. Latencies to peak responses were virtually identical for the
      columnar whisker in awake and urethane states (11.9 vs 11.8 ms) but were
      considerably longer for adjacent whisker deflections in urethane-anesthetized
      animals (15.5 vs 29.0 ms). The magnitudes of adjacent whisker responses, relative
      to the response evoked by the columnar whisker, varied with the laminar location
      of the recording site in awake but not in urethane-anesthetized animals; in awake
      rats, receptive fields were clearly smallest in the layer IV barrels. Results in
      the awake condition confirm those of previous studies conducted in unanesthetized
      or lightly sedated animals, and data obtained with urethane are comparable to
      others' results in urethane-anesthetized rats. The former have important
      implications for how barrel cortex processes information in behaving animals.

PMID- 1459229
TI  - Pretectal jerk neuron activity during saccadic eye movements and visual
      stimulations in the cat.
AB  - The activity of 'jerk neurons' was recorded extracellularly in the pretectum of
      the awake cat. The characteristic response of jerk neurons was a short, high
      frequency burst that occurred after fast movements ('jerks') of a large,
      structured visual stimulus, during saccadic eye movements in the light, and after
      'on' or 'off' visual stimulation. Mean burst latency to pure visual 'jerks' was
      50 ms, whereas it was 30 ms to saccadic eye movements. Bursts were found to be
      stereotyped; the highest discharge rate was always at burst onset. Jerk neurons
      were not selective for stimulus parameters (such as movement amplitude or
      direction) except that in some neurons a weak correlation between stimulus
      velocity and discharge frequency was found. During saccades in the dark, clear
      bursts were only rarely found. In about half of the neurons, however, there was a
      slight but significant increase in the number of spikes above spontaneous
      frequency. Visual receptive fields were very large (46 degrees horizontal and 35
      degrees vertical extent, on average). Nevertheless, the pretectal jerk neurons
      showed a rough retinotopic order, which was in accordance with the published
      retinotopy of the pretectum. Jerk neurons were found throughout the whole
      superficial pretectum, but preferentially in an area that corresponds to the
      nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) and the nucleus pretectalis posterior (NPP).
      Saccades were elicited by electrical stimulations at the sites where jerk neurons
      were recorded. The direction of the elicited saccades depended strongly on the
      pretectal stimulation site. A possible role of the jerk neurons as a visuomotor
      relay to elicit saccades or to modulate perception and attention is discussed.

PMID- 1459230
TI  - Transcallosally evoked responses in the visual cortex of normal and monocularly
      enucleated rabbits.
AB  - In visual cortex of normal adult rabbits, callosal projections are restricted to
      a 2 mm wide band at the area 17/18 border. In adult rabbits which are monocularly
      enucleated (ME) on the day of birth, the callosal zone extends 4 mm into the
      medial region of area 17 in the cortex ipsilateral to the remaining eye. In this
      study, the function of these anomalous callosal projections in ME rabbits was
      investigated using electrophysiological techniques. A microelectrode was placed
      in the visual cortex ipsilateral to the enucleated eye at the 17/18 border,
      bipolar stimulating electrodes were placed in a homotopic location in the
      contralateral cortex, and averaged evoked responses (AERs) to stimulation were
      recorded. The stimulating electrodes were then moved mediolaterally in 1 mm
      steps, and the AERs were recorded for each location of the stimulating
      electrodes. In the normal rabbit, a maximal short latency evoked response was
      recorded when the stimulating electrodes were at a location homotopic to the
      recording electrode. When the stimulating electrodes were moved a distance of 1
      mm or more from this optimal position, this short latency response was either
      absent or dramatically decreased in amplitude, reflecting the precise topographic
      pattern of the normal callosal projection. In contrast, in ME rabbits, a
      consistent response was evoked at the 17/18 border when the stimulating
      electrodes were moved as much as 3 mm medial to the homotopic position. Since
      antidromically activated responses and both pre- and postsynaptic orthodromically
      activated responses contribute to the AER, recordings were also made from single
      cells in some animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459231
TI  - The effects of monocular enucleation on visual topography in area 17 in the
      rabbit.
AB  - The effects of neonatal monocular enucleation on the topographic representation
      of the ipsilateral visual field in the visual cortex of the rabbit were
      investigated, using electrophysiological recordings of multi-unit activity in
      area 17. Topography of receptive fields was determined in normal adult rabbits,
      adult rabbits monocularly enucleated on the day of birth and adult rabbits
      monocularly enucleated as adults. In normal rabbits and in adult enucleates, the
      projection from the ipsilateral eye is represented by a strip of cortex extending
      approximately 2 mm from the 17/18 border. In neonatal enucleates, the width of
      the area of cortex in which the projection from the ipsilateral eye is
      represented was approximately twice as large as normal. Visual topography was
      normal in the superior-inferior axis but was distorted in the nasotemporal axis.
      Our data suggest that the abnormal topography observed in the visual cortex of
      neonatally enucleated rabbits may play a major role in shaping the abnormal
      visual callosal projections observed in these animals. In addition, our data
      indicate that, following neonatal monocular enucleation, developmental
      abnormalities in the topography of geniculocortical projections can occur
      independently of any alteration in the retinogeniculate projection patterns.

PMID- 1459232
TI  - Pattern of projections of group I afferents from elbow muscles to motoneurones
      supplying wrist muscles in man.
AB  - The pattern of projections of low threshold afferents from triceps and biceps
      brachii muscles onto motoneurones innervating muscles acting at the wrist was
      assessed by a reflex and a poststimulus time histogram (psth) technique.
      Activation of low-threshold afferents originating from elbow flexors or extensors
      resulted in an early, short-lasting inhibition of wrist flexor motoneurones
      (flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris). An inhibition was also found in
      the extensor carpi radialis (ECR) motoneurones after stimulation of low-threshold
      afferents from triceps. Evidence is presented that Ia fibres contribute to these
      effects. The inhibitory effects were found in all subjects, but they were
      constant in only 57% of the reflex experimental sessions and in 25% of the
      explored motor units. Stimulation of biceps low-threshold afferents was always
      ineffective on ECR motoneurones. No early facilitation was ever seen in motor
      nuclei innervating wrist muscles following stimulation of low threshold afferents
      from biceps and triceps. The pattern of transjoint projections of group I
      afferents from proximal to distal muscles and from distal to proximal ones
      (Cavallari and Katz 1989) is discussed in relation to that described in the cat
      forelimb.

PMID- 1459234
TI  - Synergistic finger movements in a skilled motor task.
AB  - When skilled typists strike one key, typically all of the fingers of one hand are
      in motion simultaneously. We studied the extent to which the motion of the
      individual fingers was similar. Subjects were asked to type lists of words, each
      word designed so that only one key would be pressed by a finger of one hand, the
      remaining letters being typed with the other hand. Changes in the lengths
      (flexion-extension) and orientation (abduction-adduction) of each finger were
      measured and the similarity of the motion of pairs of fingers was assessed by
      computing correlation coefficients. For each pair of fingers, the correlation
      coefficients were broadly distributed, but in most instances the mean was
      significantly greater than zero. Adjacent fingers showed a higher degree of
      correlation than did non-adjacent fingers. When one of the fingers was actually
      used to press the key, the degree of correlation decreased substantially. The
      results demonstrate that in this skilled motor task, the fingers usually tend to
      be moved together, but they can be moved independently when the task so requires.

PMID- 1459233
TI  - The transcortical nature of the late reflex responses in human small hand muscle
      to digital nerve stimulation.
AB  - The hypothesis that long-latency reflex activity in human small hand muscles in
      response to stimulation of digital nerves involves a transcortical pathway was
      tested by combining digital nerve stimulation and magnetic stimulation over the
      motor cortex in 12 studies on nine normal subjects. Postsynaptic events in human
      single first dorsal interosseous (FDI) motoneurones were derived from changes in
      the firing probability of voluntarily activated single motor units.
      Electromagnetic stimulation over the contralateral motor cortex resulted in a
      short-latency, brief facilitation of FDI motor units considered to be due to the
      activation of "fast" corticospinal neurones making monosynaptic projections to
      motoneurones. Stimulation of the digital nerves of the index finger produced a
      period of reduced firing probability (I1), a period of increased firing
      probability (E2) and a further period of reduced firing probability (I2) in FDI
      motor units. When the two stimuli were given separately and then together, timed
      so that the magnetic stimulus occurred at the predicted transit time of the E2
      through the cortex, the facilitation of FDI motoneurones by the combined
      stimulation was often less than the algebraic sum of the facilitations from each
      stimulus alone. Thus, in contrast to the results of similar studies on the late
      response to muscle stretch, there is no confirmation that the E2 from digital
      nerve stimulation is due to a transcortical reflex.

PMID- 1459235
TI  - Bidirectional control of saccadic eye movements by the disconnected cerebral
      hemispheres.
AB  - The present investigation demonstrates that callosotomy patient J.W. can generate
      either leftward or rightward saccades in response to color cues presented
      unilaterally. When asked to name the colors, performance was at chance for left
      visual field presentations, demonstrating a disability in interhemispheric
      transfer of chromatic information. The successful control of saccadic direction
      based on discriminative color cues that appear confined to a single hemisphere
      may suggest a capacity for bidirectional control of saccadic eye movements in the
      disconnected cerebral hemispheres.

PMID- 1459236
TI  - The vertex-positive scalp potential evoked by faces and by objects.
AB  - The influence of stimulus form on the scalp-recorded "vertex positive peak" (VPP)
      evoked by images of faces (Jeffreys 1989a) was studied in seven subjects. In
      separate experiments, we recorded the responses to 2D images of: (1) many
      different depictions of human faces; (2) the heads of several different species;
      (3) many familiar non-face objects; and (4) stimuli where the configuration of
      objects were modified to produce an "illusory" or "non-contextual" subjective
      impression of a face. The results showed that every facial representation,
      including the "illusory" stimuli, and most of the non-face objects, evoked a VPP
      of corresponding form and scalp distribution. The object-evoked VPPs, however,
      were always smaller and usually later than those evoked by the faces. VPPs of
      longer latency but often comparable amplitude were also recorded for impoverished
      compared to well-defined facial representations; and for most non-human compared
      to human faces. Very consistent responses were recorded to repeated presentations
      of the same stimulus for the same subject, but there was considerable variation
      in latency as well as amplitude (but not form) of the VPP evoked under identical
      experimental conditions for different subjects. These response properties of the
      VPP, suggest that its underlying physiological generators are sensitive to basic
      configural properties of the visual stimulus; and also the face- and object
      related information are processed in the same brain area(s), although not
      necessarily by the same physiological mechanisms.

PMID- 1459237
TI  - Evoked potential evidence for human brain mechanisms that respond to single,
      fixated faces.
AB  - The influence of visual fixation position and stimulus size on the scalp-recorded
      "vertex positive peak" (VPP) evoked by images of faces was studied in three
      subjects. Responses were recorded, in turn, for line-drawn, frontal-view faces of
      approximately 8, 4, 2, and 1 deg length, fixated at the centre (bridge of the
      nose), and at points 1, 2, 3, and 4 deg to the left and right, and above and
      below, centre. The results showed that central fixation produced VPPs of similar,
      maximal amplitude for all face sizes. By comparison, "on-face" eccentric viewing
      yielded attenuated and delayed responses, and the degree of response attenuation
      as a function of eccentricity was directly related to the face size, with similar
      amplitude responses being evoked for corresponding fixation locations on each
      face. Very small or no VPPs were recorded for most "off-face" fixations. Similar
      results were observed for profile faces, except that the maximal VPP was recorded
      for fixations near the eyes and not in the centre of the head, and almost
      identical VPPs were evoked by a centrally fixated face presented with and without
      an adjacent face or object. These response properties, which correspond to the
      subjective perception of the facial stimuli, suggest that the VPP reflects brain
      mechanisms optimized to respond to single, fixated faces, irrespective both of
      facial image size and of the presence of neighbouring figures.

PMID- 1459238
TI  - Do G protein subunits associate via a three-stranded coiled coil?
AB  - We used a computer-based prediction algorithm to identify probable coiled-coil
      segments at the N-termini of G protein alpha, beta and gamma subunits. This
      result indicates that G protein trimers may form via a three-stranded coiled
      coil. Previous biochemical results had shown that the N-termini of alpha and beta
      are involved in subunit interactions. Here we present a structural model for the
      N-terminal domain of beta gamma and a hypothesis for the reversible association
      of alpha to beta gamma.

PMID- 1459239
TI  - Site-directed mutation makes rabbit calcyclin dimer.
AB  - Unlike human, rat and mouse calcyclin, purified rabbit calcyclin did not form a
      dimer on Tricine SDS-PAGE under non-reduced conditions. Based on the internal
      peptide sequence of rabbit calcylin, we isolated and sequenced a cDNA clone
      encoding calcyclin. The sequence of this clone (pCalC) is 629 bp long and codes
      90 amino acid residues of a protein with a molecular mass of 10,153 Da. By
      Northern blot analysis, a major band of 0.9 kbp and a minor band of 2.6 kbp were
      detected in the lung. The recombinant calcyclin mutated serine at the third
      position to cysteine was expressed in E. coli and made dimer formation under non
      reduced conditions on SDS-PAGE. Whether or not this type of mutation which
      prevents dimer formation of calcyclin plays a physiological role in the rabbit
      lung is the subject of an ongoing study.

PMID- 1459240
TI  - Amiloride at pH 7.0 inhibits the Na(+)-driven flagellar motors of Vibrio
      alginolyticus but allows cell growth.
AB  - Amiloride, a specific inhibitor for the Na(+)-driven flagellar motors of
      alkalophilic Bacillus, is known to inhibit secondarily the growth of
      alkalophiles. The motility of a marine Vibrio, V. alginolyticus, was almost
      completely inhibited by 2 mM amiloride either at pH 7.0 or 8.5. We found that
      this concentration of amiloride inhibited the cell growth completely at pH 8.5
      but only slightly at pH 7.0. Kinetic analysis of the inhibition of motility by
      amiloride at pH 7.0 showed that the inhibition was competitive with Na+ in the
      medium. Thus, amiloride at pH 7.0 is really a specific and useful tool for the
      analysis of the Na(+)-driven flagellar motors of Vibrio.

PMID- 1459241
TI  - Determination of proteinase 3-alpha 1-antitrypsin complexes in inflammatory
      fluids.
AB  - Physiological inhibitors were tested for their in vitro interaction with
      neutrophil proteinase 3 (PR3). The major plasma proteinase inhibitor of PR3 is
      alpha 1AT. We have developed a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for quantitative detection
      of PR3-alpha 1AT complexes formed in vivo in inflammatory exudates such as
      synovial fluid and plasma from patients with sepsis. Levels of PR3-alpha 1AT
      complexes correlated significantly with levels of human neutrophil elastase (HNE)
      alpha 1AT complexes. Thus, in vivo alpha 1AT not only protects against excessive
      HNE activity, but also against excessive PR3 activity.

PMID- 1459242
TI  - Chromogranin A processing in sympathetic neurons and release of chromogranin A
      fragments from sheep spleen.
AB  - Chromogranin A (CGA) has been localized to the large dense cored vesicles (LDV)
      of sympathetic neurons. SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting of soluble LDV proteins from
      ox and dog adrenergic neuronal cell bodies, axons and nerve terminals, revealed
      an increasing number of CGA-immunoreactive forms, consistent with proteolytic
      processing during axonal transport. Splenic nerve electrical stimulation (10 Hz,
      2 min) revealed that, apart from CGA, these CGA-processing products are released
      from the sheep spleen. The secretion of CGA-derived fragments from sympathetic
      neurons might suggest a role in the regulation of synaptic transmission.

PMID- 1459243
TI  - Detection of an enzyme bound gamma-glutamyl acyl ester of carbamyl phosphate
      synthetase of Escherichia coli.
AB  - E. coli carbamyl phosphate synthetase binds 0.2-0.4 mol equivalents of glutamine
      in an acid resistant form. The bound material is quantitatively released as
      glutamate by weak base hydrolysis and as a mixture of 12% glutamate, 10% gamma
      glutamylhydroxamate, and 70% pyrrollidonecarboxylic acid by hydrolysis with
      hydroxylamine. These results provide direct evidence for a gamma-glutamyl acyl
      ester on the enzyme. The absence of the acyl ester in a mutant carbamyl phosphate
      synthetase with a Cys269-->Ser substitution in the glutaminase subunit further
      suggests that the covalent intermediate is a thioester of Cys269. Under
      equilibrium conditions, the Cys269Ser mutant enzyme binds glutamine with a Kd of
      7 +/- 1 microM, indicating that Cys269 is essential for acyl ester formation but
      not for binding of glutamine.

PMID- 1459244
TI  - Identification of the active site serine of the X-prolyl dipeptidyl
      aminopeptidase from Lactococcus lactis.
AB  - The active site serine of the X-prolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidase from Lactococcus
      lactis (PepX) was identified. The enzyme was labeled by [3H]DFP, treated by CNBr
      and the resulting peptides were separated by reverse-phase-HPLC. The main
      radiolabeled peptide was sequenced. Ser-348, in the following sequence, Gly-Lys
      Ser-Tyr-Leu-Gly, was identified as the active site serine. A sequence comparison
      between the active site of PepX and other serine proteases was made, showing only
      limited sequence homologies in this area. The consensus sequence surrounding the
      active site serine in the three known X-prolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidases
      (mammalian DPPIV, yeast DPAB and PepX) is G-X-S-Y-X-G, where X is a non-conserved
      amino acid.

PMID- 1459245
TI  - Annexin V forms calcium-dependent trimeric units on phospholipid vesicles.
AB  - The quaternary structure of annexin V, a calcium-dependent phospholipid binding
      protein, was investigated by chemical cross-linking. Calcium was found to induce
      the formation of trimers, hexamers, and higher aggregates only when anionic
      phospholipids were present. Oligomerization occurred under the same conditions
      annexin-vesicle binding. A model is proposed in which cell stimulation leads to
      calcium-induced organization of arrays of annexin V lining the inner membrane
      surface, thus altering properties such as permeability and fluidity.

PMID- 1459246
TI  - Retinoic acid enhances the secretion of plasminogen from cultured rat microglia.
AB  - To determine the amount of plasminogen in microglial conditioned medium, a highly
      sensitive and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for rat
      plasminogen was established. Weak cross-reactivity with human serum plasminogen
      was observed, while no reactivity was detected with frog and carp plasminogen.
      The specificity of the immunosorbent assay was confirmed by Western blotting. The
      secretion of plasminogen into the microglial culture medium was quantified by
      using the established ELISA and was found to be increased depending on the
      culture time and number of microglia. The secretion was increased about 5-fold by
      stimulation with retinoic acid, while interleukin-1, and basic fibroblast growth
      factor showed no significant effect.

PMID- 1459247
TI  - Protein structural effects of agonist binding to the nicotinic acetylcholine
      receptor.
AB  - The effects on the protein structure produced by binding of cholinergic agonists
      to purified acetylcholine receptor (AcChR) reconstituted into lipid vesicles, has
      been studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning
      calorimetry. Spectral changes in the conformationally sensitive amide I infrared
      band indicates that the exposure of the AcChR to the agonist carbamylcholine,
      under conditions which drive the AcChR into the desensitized state, produces
      alterations in the protein secondary structure. Quantitative estimation of these
      agonist-induced alterations by band-fitting analysis of the amide I spectral band
      reveals no appreciable changes in the percent of alpha-helix, but a decrease in
      beta-sheet structure, concomitant with an increase in less ordered structures.
      Additionally, agonist binding results in a concentration-dependent increase in
      the protein thermal stability, as indicated by the temperature dependence of the
      protein infrared spectrum and by calorimetric analysis, which further suggest
      that AcChR desensitization induced by the cholinergic agonist implies significant
      rearrangements in the protein structure.

PMID- 1459248
TI  - Identification of four FGF receptor genes in Medaka fish (Oryzias latipes).
AB  - Four types of cDNA clones encoding tyrosine kinases highly homologous to
      mammalian fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGF-R) were isolated from Medaka
      fish (Oryzias latipes) by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
      Comparison of the four deduced amino acid sequences with four known mammalian FGF
      Rs indicated that four FGF-R species corresponding to mammalian FGF-Rs exist
      universally in vertebrates including fishes, although FGF-R4 might have diverged
      sequences between fishes and mammals. Each of four FGF-R genes is transcribed to
      various extents as multiple mRNAs possibly by alternative splicing in adult
      fishes.

PMID- 1459249
TI  - A mechanism for NADPH inhibition of catalase compound II formation.
AB  - Catalase-bound NADPH both prevents and reverses the accumulation of inactive
      bovine liver catalase peroxide compound II generated by 'endogenous' donors under
      conditions of steady H2O2 formation without reacting rapidly with either compound
      I or compound II. It thus differs both from classical 2-electron donors of the
      ethanol type, and from 1-electron donors of the ferrocyanide/phenol type. NADPH
      also inhibits compound II formation induced by the exogenous one-electron donor
      ferrocyanide. A catalase reaction scheme is proposed in which the initial
      formation of compound II from compound I involves production of a neighbouring
      radical species. NADPH blocks the final formation of stable compound II by
      reacting as a 2-electron donor to compound II and to this free radical. The
      proposed behaviour resembles that of labile free radicals formed in cytochrome c
      peroxidase and myoglobin. Such radical migration patterns within haem enzymes are
      increasingly common motifs.

PMID- 1459250
TI  - Beta-glucosidase activity towards a bile acid glucoside in human liver.
AB  - Human liver contains hydrolytic activity toward 3 beta-glucosido-chenodeoxycholic
      acid. This beta-glucosidase activity, localized predominantly in the microsomal
      fraction, was optimally active in the presence of divalent metal ions close to pH
      5.0 and was inhibited by EDTA. Kinetic parameters and other catalytic properties
      of hydrolytic activity towards 3 beta-glucosido-chenodeoxycholic acid from human
      liver microsomes are described.

PMID- 1459251
TI  - cDNA sequence analysis of an antibiotic dodecapeptide from neutrophils.
AB  - The full-length cDNA of a neutrophil antibiotic dodecapeptide has been cloned by
      reverse transcription/PCR from bovine bone marrow RNA. This peptide was
      originally isolated from bovine neutrophils, and shown to exert a potent
      antimicrobial activity in vitro on both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus
      aureus. The cDNA codes for a polypeptide of 155 amino acid residues with a
      predicted mass of 17,629 Da and a pI of 8.03. The deduced sequence comprises a
      putative signal peptide of 29 amino acids, a 114 residue pro-region, and a
      carboxy-terminal dodecapeptide corresponding to the mature antibiotic. The pro
      sequence displays extensive identity to corresponding regions of other
      structurally unrelated antibiotic peptides of bovine neutrophils recently cloned.

PMID- 1459252
TI  - Talin anchors and nucleates actin filaments at lipid membranes. A direct
      demonstration.
AB  - Platelet talin nucleates actin assembly as we show here directly by using
      rhodamine-phalloidin labelling of actin filaments. Nucleation by talin still
      occurs after reconstitution into liposomal bilayers. This is also demonstrated
      directly after protein-lipid double labelling and light microscopic imaging.
      Talin, thus, is the first actin binding protein for which anchoring and
      nucleation of actin filament growth at lipid interfaces have been visualized.

PMID- 1459253
TI  - Cytokines--involvement in reproduction.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To relay the current knowledge on the interaction between the immune
      and reproductive systems that results from sharing certain lymphohematopoietic
      cytokines and their receptors. DATA IDENTIFICATION: Major studies related to this
      topic have been identified through MEDLINE searches and through the published
      literature. STUDY SELECTION: Those that have reported on the role of cytokines in
      the neuroendocrine events of reproduction, ovarian function, placenta, and the
      developing embryo. RESULTS: The field of growth factor and cytokines and their
      effects on reproduction is a rapidly growing new area of investigation. Immune
      cells and related cytokines have been shown to affect the neuroendocrine events
      of reproduction, ovarian function, placenta, and the developing embryo.
      Furthermore, it is now becoming apparent that these relationships are reciprocal
      in that the different cellular components of the neuroendocrine and reproductive
      systems and the developing embryo can modulate the production of cytokine by the
      immune system and can also produce certain cytokines. The presence of lymphocytes
      and macrophages in the female reproductive system, together with the fact that
      these cells may secrete soluble factors influencing embryo development and
      trophoblast growth, might suggest that cytokines may play a fundamental role in
      the mechanisms of immunological reproductive failure. In addition, different
      mixtures of these mediators, generated by immune cells, the developing embryo, or
      other maternal cells, may modulate the fine tuning of these activities.
      CONCLUSIONS: Current knowledge indicates a close interaction between the immune
      and reproductive functions. Further understanding of these interactions may lead
      to new concepts in fertility regulation.

PMID- 1459254
TI  - Operative endoscopy: the pressing need for a structured training and
      credentialing process.

PMID- 1459255
TI  - Pituitary function before, during, and after chronic gonadotropin-releasing
      hormone agonist therapy.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine possible adverse effects on pituitary function of long-term
      administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a). DESIGN:
      Prospective analysis of blood sampling before, during, and after GnRH-a therapy.
      SETTING: Tertiary institutional outpatient care. PATIENTS: Twelve normally
      ovulatory women with a diagnosis of endometriosis. INTERVENTIONS: Six-month
      suppression with GnRH-a. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum levels of follicle
      stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, free thyroxin index, cortisol (F),
      growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
      RESULTS: Basal and stimulated values of gonadotropins, PRL, F, TSH, and GH were
      normal and unchanged by 6 months of GnRH-a after resumption of menses.
      CONCLUSIONS: Utilizing dynamic pituitary function tests, we were unable to
      demonstrate an adverse effect of long-term GnRH-a therapy on pituitary function.

PMID- 1459256
TI  - Effect of human corticotropin-releasing hormone on gonadotropin secretion in
      cycling and postmenopausal women.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is
      linked to stress-associated reproductive dysfunction in the human by determining
      if the administration of human corticotropin-releasing hormone (hCRH) results in
      an inhibition of gonadotropin secretion. DESIGN: Twenty-four-hour prospective
      study with frequent (every 10 minutes) blood sampling. SETTING: University
      Clinical Research Center. INTERVENTIONS: Sequential 8-hour infusions of normal
      saline, hCRH (1 to 5 micrograms/kg per hour), and hCRH plus naloxone (2 mg/h).
      SUBJECTS: Four normal cycling women and four postmenopausal women. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: Plasma luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),
      prolactin (PRL), and adrenal and ovarian steroids. RESULTS: In response to hCRH,
      a prompt and sustained rise in cortisol (F) was noted in both normal cycling
      women and postmenopausal women. No inhibition of LH or FSH was noted during
      either the hCRH or hCRH plus naloxone infusion in either group of women.
      Unexpectedly, elevations in the mean LH peak amplitude and the transverse mean LH
      concentration were noted in the postmenopausal women during the infusion of hCRH
      as compared with saline. The infusion of hCRH had no apparent effect on
      concentrations of PRL, FSH, and gonadal and adrenal steroids (except for F).
      CONCLUSIONS: Under these conditions, intravenously administered hCRH has no
      inhibitory effect on gonadotropin secretion in either premenopausal or
      postmenopausal women. The mechanism by which stress exerts its deleterious effect
      on reproductive function in the human remains unknown.

PMID- 1459257
TI  - Influence of basal androgen levels in euandrogenic women on glucose homeostasis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate possible relationships between insulin action and the
      normal variations of serum androgens in euandrogenic women. DESIGN: Prospective
      evaluation of insulin action in normal nonobese women using hyperglycemic and
      euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp techniques, correlating insulin action to serum
      testosterone (T), free T, androstenedione (A), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate
      (DHEAS). Statistical analysis used Spearman's rank correlation. SETTING: Yale
      University Clinical Research Center. PARTICIPANTS: Nonobese females with normal
      oral glucose tolerance tests, on no medications known to affect glucose
      metabolism, having the following range of serum androgen levels: T, 0.69 to 3.12
      nmol/L; free T, 0.17 to 1.25 nmol/L; A, 2.48 to 11.31 nmol/L; DHEAS, 0.68 to
      10.61 mumol/L. Total number of patients studied: hyperglycemic clamps, n = 58;
      euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps, n = 43. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: Pancreatic insulin secretion in response to hyperglycemia and insulin
      action as assessed by insulin-mediated glucose utilization using the euglycemic,
      hyperinsulinemic clamp technique. RESULTS: We identified no significant
      correlation between serum androgens and either glucose uptake or insulin-mediated
      glucose utilization. Glucose-stimulated insulin release was negatively correlated
      with serum T and free T throughout the normal range of these hormones.
      CONCLUSION: We conclude that, within the normal range, variations of serum
      androgens are not correlated with changes in the response to insulin. It seems
      unlikely, therefore, that modest increases of serum androgens within the normal
      range are responsible for inducing insulin resistance.

PMID- 1459258
TI  - Effect of hyperprolactinemia on the androgen response to an oral glucose load.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of hyperprolactinemia on the androgen
      response to an oral glucose load in patients with normal and abnormal
      carbohydrate metabolism. DESIGN: Sixty-three women underwent a 75-g oral glucose
      tolerance test (OGTT) at approximately 6 weeks' postpartum. SETTING: University
      hospital setting. PATIENTS: Patients with a previous history of gestational
      diabetes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Adrenal and ovarian androgen response to oral
      glucose load. RESULTS: Results were stratified by the result of the OGTT
      (patients with impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes as a single group and
      patients with a normal OGTT as a separate group) and prolactin (PRL) level. All
      androgens decreased significantly over the 2-hour test in all groups except
      dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) in the patients with both elevated PRL and
      abnormal glucose tolerance. CONCLUSION: Hyperprolactinemia and insulin resistance
      may act synergistically in the adrenal to alter DHEAS suppression and may result
      in chronically elevated circulating DHEAS levels.

PMID- 1459259
TI  - Interinstitutional variability of follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol
      levels.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the variability of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and
      estradiol (E2) results from different laboratories. DESIGN: Prospective analyses
      of sera separated and frozen, obtained from 15 female patients in the follicular
      phase. All kits used for radioimmunoassay (RIA) for FSH were from the Second
      International Reference Preparation (IRP). Four different kits were used for FSH
      and three for E2. SETTING: Sera obtained from each patient were separated into
      five test tubes and frozen. Analysis of all samples was done on the same day in
      each one of five participating hospital-based RIA laboratories (North Shore,
      Cornell, Yale, Mount Sinai, and Norfolk). PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen consecutive
      patients from the assisted reproductive technology program at North Shore
      University Hospital participated in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: After FSH
      and E2 levels were tabulated for each laboratory, mean levels were calculated.
      RESULTS: Using the Bonferroni adjusted pairwise multiple comparisons analysis,
      significant differences were found between three groups of laboratories within
      the FSH results and three different groups within the E2 results. CONCLUSIONS:
      [1] Different results may be obtained on the same sera for FSH and E2 at
      different laboratories; [2] for FSH, even though the same IRP is used, different
      results are reached; [3] for E2, even when the same kits are used, results may be
      significantly different. These results suggest that specific FSH and E2 levels
      used to predict chances for achieving a viable pregnancy through in vitro
      fertilization should be interpreted with caution across institutions.

PMID- 1459260
TI  - Endometrial dating in the conception cycle.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate endometrial dating during the conception cycle. DESIGN:
      Endometrial biopsies of the last half of the luteal phase of conception cycles
      were dated based on urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) surges. SETTING: Endometrial
      samples were obtained from women attending the fertility clinic of the Department
      of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Gunma University Hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred
      eighty-five women, of whom 15 (8.1%) conceived during this study. MAIN OUTCOME
      MEASURES: Urinary LH surge, serum progesterone (P) levels, and endometrial
      dating. RESULTS: All 10 women who conceived showed 2 or within 2 days in-phase
      endometrial biopsies on days 7 to 11 after the LH surge. In 4 of 5 women biopsied
      on day 12, an unequivocally delay in the stroma was found, i.e., a persistence of
      edema and poor development of predecidual reaction. Since serum P levels in
      conception cycles were significantly higher than in nonconception cycles on days
      10, 11, and 12, we interpreted this delay in the stroma as a consequence of
      conception. CONCLUSION: Endometrial specimens during the last half of the luteal
      phase of conception cycles are in-phase until day 12. On day 12, gestational
      hyperplasia causes apparent out-of-phase.

PMID- 1459261
TI  - Transcervical cannulation of the fallopian tube for the management of ectopic
      pregnancy: prospective multicenter study.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of transcervical tubal cannulation and
      intraluminal methotrexate injection for the management of tubal ectopic pregnancy
      (EP). DESIGN: Prospective multicenter study of 33 patients with tubal
      pregnancies. SETTING: Four university-based gynecology and radiology departments
      in three different countries: France, England, and Germany. PATIENTS: Thirty
      three patients who presented with a clinical diagnosis of EP. INTERVENTIONS:
      Patients underwent transcervical tubal cannulation under fluoroscopic or
      ultrasound control and local injection of methotrexate (up to 50 mg). MAIN
      OUTCOME MEASURES: We evaluate the feasibility of transcervical tubal cannulation
      for the management of tubal pregnancy. RESULTS: Two patients elected to withdraw
      from the protocol. In the remaining 31 patients there was complete resolution of
      the EP in 27 (87%). Surgery was performed in 4 patients. Seventeen patients, 14
      of whom desired pregnancies, were available for follow-up to assess the return of
      reproductive potential. Seven of 7 patients who subsequently underwent
      hysterosalpingography had patency of the affected tube. Five patients later had
      an intrauterine pregnancy. One patient had an early miscarriage, two have given
      birth, and two singleton pregnancies are still ongoing. The remaining patients
      are symptom free. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that transcervical tubal
      catheterization in patients with tubal pregnancies is feasible and can be
      performed without anesthesia or analgesia in most cases. Intraluminal
      methotrexate per se is capable of causing regression of the EP. This approach
      offers a new alternative for the treatment of selected patients with tubal EP.

PMID- 1459262
TI  - Standardization of hysterosalpingography and selective salpingography: a valuable
      adjunct to simple opacification studies.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between opacification and perfusion
      pressures during hysterosalpingography (HSG) and selective salpingography under
      the assumption that the latter may add to the diagnostic capabilities of the
      procedures. DESIGN: Perfusion pressures were uniformly evaluated by standardizing
      injection volume per time interval of contrast medium and the delivery system.
      Pressures were measured in a closed system through a digital manometer and
      recorded on tracing paper. SETTING: Fully ambulatory gynecoradiology suite at
      academically affiliated infertility center. PATIENTS: Thirty infertility
      patients. INTERVENTION: Hysterosalpingography and selective salpingography for
      diagnostic purposes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Correlation between opacification
      patterns and perfusion pressures. RESULTS: The evaluation of perfusion pressures
      during HSG is unreliable because they may be affected by uterine factors and will
      only reflect the oviduct of least resistance. In contrast, perfusion pressures
      during selective salpingography are reflective of only the investigated tube.
      They appear to lie within a functionally normal range of up to 350 mm Hg. Tubes
      by opacification judged as normal exhibited a pressure range of 429 +/- 376 mm
      Hg, which was significantly lower than that of abnormally appearing oviducts (957
      +/- 445 mm Hg; P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The concomitant performance of perfusion
      pressure studies during selective salpingography further enhances the diagnostic
      capability of selective salpingography over HSG in the diagnostic evaluation of
      fallopian tubes.

PMID- 1459263
TI  - A contraceptive subdermal implant releasing the progestin ST-1435: ovarian
      function, bleeding patterns, and side effects.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study ovarian function, bleeding patterns, and side effects during
      the 1-year use of a new modified contraceptive subdermal implant releasing the
      progestin ST-1435 with a lifetime of 2 years. DESIGN, PATIENTS: The effect on
      ovarian function and bleeding patterns of one contraceptive implant releasing the
      progestin ST-1435 was studied in 26 healthy women who volunteered. Side effects
      were recorded. SETTING: The outpatient clinic of the City Maternity Hospital,
      Helsinki, Finland. INTERVENTION: One ST-1435 contraceptive implant was inserted
      subcutaneously into the ventral aspect of left upper arm. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
      The women attended the clinic at half-year intervals. Records of bleeding were
      kept. Blood samples were collected from 5 women before insertion of an implant,
      from 12 women during the first 5 to 6 weeks of use, and from 10 women during the
      6th and 12th month of use. Serum concentrations of ST-1435, progesterone, and
      estradiol were determined. Side effects were reported. RESULTS: The study covered
      302 woman-months. The implant gave serum concentrations of ST-1435 high enough to
      inhibit ovulation in all of the 37 analyzed cycles. No pregnancies occurred.
      Irregular bleeding or spotting was the main event observed, especially during the
      1st year of use. One half of the users had irregular cycles. None of the women's
      implants was removed during 1 year of use because of irregular bleeding. The
      implant was well accepted and tolerated by the women; no hormonal side effects
      were reported. CONCLUSIONS: One single 4-cm subdermal ST-1435 implant with a
      lifetime of 2 years showed good contraceptive efficacy and led to suppression of
      ovulation. No hormonal side effects were reported. Irregular bleeding patterns
      were common but well-tolerated, and the implant had a high continuation rate.

PMID- 1459264
TI  - In vitro lymphocyte activity in women with endometriosis--an altered immune
      response?
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the possible role of the immune system in the
      pathogenesis of endometriosis. DESIGN: The lymphocyte proliferative response in
      the presence of autologous endometrial cells was assayed by tritiated thymidine
      incorporation. SETTING: Patients were recruited from a university outpatient
      clinic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: To determine the lymphocyte proliferative response
      to endometrium in controls and patients with endometriosis. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty
      patients with endometriosis and 26 control women were studied. RESULTS: The
      lymphocyte proliferative response in the presence of autologous endometrium was
      significantly lower in women with endometriosis when compared with controls.
      CONCLUSION: This study indicates that an altered lymphocyte/endometrial cell
      relationship is operational in women with endometriosis and may contribute to the
      pathogenesis of the disease.

PMID- 1459265
TI  - Steroidogenesis of cultured granulosa cells in women at risk for ovarian
      hyperstimulation syndrome.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine if cultured human granulosa cells (GCs) obtained from
      women at risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) possess altered
      steroidogenic capacity. DESIGN: Prospective analysis of 28 consecutive in vitro
      fertilization-gamete intrafallopian transfer (IVF-GIFT) cycles. SETTING: In Vitro
      Fertilization Program at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago,
      Illinois. PATIENTS: Eighteen patients (group I) with serum estradiol (E2) levels
      > 7,342 pmol/L on the day of exogenous human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
      administration (day 0) with > 10 ovarian follicles present (high risk for OHSS);
      10 patients (group II) with E2 < or = 7,342 pmol/L on day 0 and < or = 10
      follicles. INTERVENTIONS: Human GCs obtained during gonadotropin-releasing
      hormone agonist-pretreated IVF-GIFT cycles were cultured in the absence (control)
      or presence (hCG) of hCG, 1 IU/mL, and/or androstenedione (A) 10(-7) M. Granulosa
      cells obtained from follicles < or = 15 mm diameter were cultured separately from
      those obtained from follicles > 15 mm diameter. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Estradiol
      (E2) and progesterone were measured in tissue-culture medium by a solid-phase
      direct radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: In vitro E2 production by cultured GCs was
      significantly increased in follicles < or = 15 mm diameter from women considered
      at risk of developing OHSS (group I). Estradiol response to hCG and/or A appeared
      enhanced in all follicles in group I. Progesterone production in the basal and
      hCG challenged state was greater in cells obtained from large follicles in group
      I than in group II. CONCLUSION: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome appears to be a
      function of an increased number of follicles that express an enhanced
      steroidogenic capacity.

PMID- 1459266
TI  - The prevalence and predictability of depression in infertile women.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, severity, and predictability of
      depression in infertile women compared with a control sample of healthy women.
      DESIGN: Subjects were assessed while waiting to see their physician: infertility
      patients before a visit with an infertility specialist and control subjects
      before seeing either a gynecologist or internist for a routine gynecological
      examination. Subjects completed a demographic form and two depression scales.
      SETTING: A group infertility practice affiliated with an academic medical center,
      a hospital-based gynecology practice, and a health maintenance organization
      internal medicine clinic. PARTICIPANTS: 338 infertile women and 39 healthy women.
      INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Beck Depression Inventory and the
      Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. RESULTS: The infertile women
      had significantly higher depression scores and twice the prevalence of depression
      than the controls; women with a 2- to 3-year history of infertility had
      significantly higher depression scores compared with women with infertility
      durations of < 1 year or > 6 years; women with an identified causative factor for
      their infertility had significantly higher depression scores than women with
      unexplained or undiagnosed infertility. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms are
      common in infertile women. Psychological interventions aimed at reducing
      depressive symptoms need to be implemented, especially for women with a
      definitive diagnosis and for those with durations of 2 to 3 years of infertility.

PMID- 1459267
TI  - Ultrashort gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) protocol in comparison
      with the long-acting GnRH-a protocol and menotropin alone.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To compare the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET)
      outcome of a 3-day gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a)
      administration: ultrashort protocol with the outcome of long-acting GnRH-a cycles
      or human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) alone. DESIGN: Ninety-two cycles of the
      ultrashort protocol were matched with 92 cycles with long GnRH-a and with 92 hMG
      cycles. SETTING: The IVF-ET program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Amount and duration
      of hMG treatment, hormonal profile on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin
      administration, cancellation rate, number of oocytes retrieved, and fertilization
      and pregnancy rates (PRs) were examined and compared among the three groups.
      RESULTS: The ultrashort group needed a higher number of hMG ampules than the hMG
      group but significantly less than in the long GnRH-a regimen. The number of
      oocytes in the ultrashort protocol was the same as in the long GnRH-a, but the
      number of embryos per retrieval was significantly lower than with the long GnRH-a
      protocol and similar to that found in the hMG group. The ultrashort protocol
      yielded 10% PR per cycle and 17% per replacement, significantly lower than with
      the long GnRH-a protocol, 26% and 36%, respectively, but also lower than in the
      hMG one, namely 13% and 28%. CONCLUSION: The ultrashort protocol, although being
      convenient and having some advantages found in the long GnRH-a protocol, is
      inferior in its outcome compared with the two other protocols.

PMID- 1459268
TI  - Prospective study of short and ultrashort regimens of gonadotropin-releasing
      hormone agonist in an in vitro fertilization program.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of the ultrashort regimen of gonadotropin
      releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) in ovulation induction in an in vitro
      fertilization (IVF) program. DESIGN: A prospective randomized trial comparing
      short and ultrashort regimens of GnRH-a. SETTING: Aberdeen Assisted Reproduction
      Unit. PATIENTS: Forty-eight patients having IVF for the first time were
      randomized between the two protocols. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Response to ovarian
      stimulation and occurrence of spontaneous luteinizing hormone (LH) surges.
      RESULTS: In ovulation induction, fertilization, and pregnancy rates the
      ultrashort regimen produces results that were no different to the short regimen
      but it did not always prevent an LH surge. CONCLUSION: The ultrashort regimen can
      be a useful alternative for ovarian stimulation of patients undergoing IVF.

PMID- 1459269
TI  - Influence of ovarian cysts on the results of in vitro fertilization.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine if ovarian cysts are associated with a particular basal
      endocrine profile and impair follicular growth. DESIGN: Retrospective study.
      SETTING: In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Center. PATIENTS: Nine hundred fourteen
      stimulation cycles stimulated with a combination of luteinizing hormone-releasing
      hormone analogues (LH-RH-a) and human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG) in a long
      protocol in an IVF program. RESULTS: After 15 days of LH-RH-a therapy, ovarian
      cysts (> or = 20 mm) were observed in 8% of cases. These cysts were not related
      to a particular basal endocrine profile and did not impair follicular growth and
      IVF results. However, puncturing these cysts enhanced the quality of subsequent
      follicular growth. On the contrary, cysts appearing during hMG treatment (> or =
      25 mm) were related with a lower LH:follicle-stimulating hormone ratio (0.79 +/-
      0.52 versus 0.92 +/- 0.74 in absence of cyst) and to a lower ovarian response as
      assessed by the maximal estradiol level to the total number of hMG ampules ratio
      (51.6 +/- 36.5 versus 65.9 +/- 47.9 in absence of cyst). However, this difference
      had no influence on the pregnancy per stimulation rate (18% versus 16% in absence
      of cyst; not significant). CONCLUSIONS: Results show that the pathogens of
      ovarian cysts appearing during the blockage phase and during the stimulation
      phase are different. However, they do not impair the results of IVF, and thus it
      is not necessary to cancel the attempt in case of ovarian cyst.

PMID- 1459270
TI  - Direct effects of progesterone and antiprogesterone on human sperm hyperactivated
      motility and acrosome reaction.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To study the direct effects of progesterone (P) and its antagonist
      RU486 (mifepristone) on sperm hyperactivation (HA) and acrosome reaction. DESIGN:
      Prospective evaluation of semen samples incubated in capacitation media with P
      and/or RU486. SETTING: University-affiliated tertiary care center. PATIENTS:
      Normal healthy volunteers. INTERVENTIONS: Semen samples were incubated in media
      with P or RU486 alone or in combination, and aliquots were taken at 10 minutes,
      1, 5, and 24 hours for HA analyses by computer-aided sperm analysis system, and
      at 0, 5, and 24 hours for assessment of acrosome reaction by fluorescein-labeled
      Pisum sativum (pea) agglutinin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: HA and acrosome reaction.
      RESULTS: Sperm HA was significantly increased at 10 minutes by P both at 10(-7) M
      (9.27 +/- 1.59%; mean +/- SEM) and 10(-6) M (9.39 +/- 1.94%) when compared with
      untreated spermatozoa (5.62 +/- 1.59%). The stimulatory effect of P on sperm HA
      was transient because this was not observed after 1, 5, and 24 hours of
      incubation. The antiprogesterone RU486 (10(-6) M) alone had no effect and did not
      abolish the stimulatory effect of P on HA. The %HA was further enhanced by the
      addition of RU486 at 10(-6) M to P at 10(-7) M (12.43 +/- 3.31%) or P at 10(-6) M
      (13.52 +/- 4.10%); however, this effect was not significantly different from P
      alone. Coincubation of P or RU486 with spermatozoa during capacitation did not
      stimulate the acrosome reaction in the concentrations tested. CONCLUSION:
      Progesterone directly stimulates human sperm HA transiently. Progesterone has no
      significant effect on acrosome reaction in capacitating spermatozoa. The effects
      of P are rapid and not counteracted by RU486, suggesting that the mechanism of
      action of P may not be mediated by specific P nuclear receptors.

PMID- 1459271
TI  - Correlation between puberty and the development of autoimmunity to spermatozoa in
      men with cystic fibrosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that puberty is a necessary factor in the
      pathogenesis of autoimmunity to sperm in men with cystic fibrosis (CF), we
      studied prepubertal and postpubertal males with CF versus an age-matched group of
      males with type 1 diabetes as controls. DESIGN: Sera from CF and diabetic males
      treated at University Hospital, State University of New York, Stony Brook, were
      tested by indirect immunobead binding for antisperm antibodies and by
      radioimmunoassay for testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone, and follicle
      stimulating hormone. The finding of autoantibodies to spermatozoa was correlated
      with chronological age, as well as with clinical and hormonal pubertal status.
      RESULTS: Autoimmunity to sperm, as detected by humoral antisperm antibodies, was
      documented solely in postpubertal males, as judged by hormonal and clinical
      criteria. Eighty-three percent of sexually mature CF males and 6.3% (1 of 16)
      diabetic males exhibited autoantibodies to sperm. These antibodies were only
      detected when serum T levels were > 8.7 nmol/L (250 ng/dL). CONCLUSIONS: These
      results suggest that puberty, and presumably, active spermatogenesis is a
      requirement for the development of autoimmunity to sperm in men with CF.

PMID- 1459272
TI  - Enhanced gamete interaction in the sperm penetration assay after coincubation
      with pentoxifylline and human follicular fluid.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of pentoxifylline and heat-inactivated human
      follicular fluid (FF) on performance in the sperm penetration assay (SPA) as a
      paradigm for the effect of these agents on human sperm-egg interaction in vivo
      and in vitro fertilization. DESIGN: Semen specimens from men undergoing SPA
      testing for evaluation of suspected male factor infertility were coincubated with
      neat medium or media supplemented with pentoxifylline or human FF in a nonblinded
      manner. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty male factor infertility patients. INTERVENTIONS:
      Semen specimens were preincubated with: [1] pentoxifylline 0.25 mg/mL; [2] 10%
      human FF; [3] pentoxifylline+human FF; and [4] neat Biggers, Whitten, and
      Whittingham medium. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in the rate of penetration
      of zona-free hamster oocytes. RESULTS: Preincubation with either human FF or
      pentoxifylline produced a significant improvement in hamster egg penetration
      rates. Coincubation with a combination of human FF and pentoxifylline resulted in
      a significant enhancement of penetration as compared with single agent treatment.
      CONCLUSIONS: Coincubation of sperm with human FF and pentoxifylline may provide a
      means of enhancing sperm activity for insemination and assisted reproduction.

PMID- 1459273
TI  - Interval required for gonadotropin-releasing hormone-agonist-induced down
      regulation of the pituitary in cynomolgus monkeys and duration of the refractory
      state.
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine the minimal interval of gonadotropin-releasing hormone
      agonist (GnRH-a) administration required to induce pituitary refractoriness to
      the positive feedback effects of estradiol (E2) and to determine the duration of
      the induced refractory state in a nonhuman primate model. SETTING: Research
      laboratories of The Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine. SUBJECTS:
      Cynomolgus monkeys with documented regular menstrual cycles. INTERVENTIONS: Part
      1. Groups of four monkeys treated with leuprolide acetate (LA) for increasing
      intervals (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 days), then challenged with E2 benzoate to induce a
      gonadotropin surge. Part 2. Groups of four monkeys treated with LA for the
      minimal time required to induce pituitary refractoriness (6 days), then
      challenged with E2 benzoate 2, 4, or 7 days after cessation of LA treatment. MAIN
      OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Pituitary luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating
      hormone and E2 levels were monitored. RESULTS: A minimum of 5 days of treatment
      is required for LA to induce pituitary refractoriness to the positive feedback
      effects of E2 benzoate. Once the down regulated condition is achieved, the
      refractory state lasts for at least 4 but not more than 6 days. CONCLUSION: The
      minimal treatment interval required for a GnRH-a to induce pituitary
      refractoriness to the positive feedback effects of estrogen and the duration of
      the induced refractory state are determined to be 5 days for these primates.

PMID- 1459274
TI  - Experimentally induced endometriosis in rats: effect on fertility and the effects
      of pregnancy and lactation on the ectopic endometrial tissue.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the repercussion of experimentally induced
      endometriosis on the fertility of Wistar rats and the effects of pregnancy and
      lactation on endometrial ectopic implants. DESIGN: Eight-five animals were used
      for the experiment. Experimental endometriosis was induced in 44 and the
      remaining 41 were sham-operated (control group). After evaluating the growth of
      the implants in a second laparotomy, all the animals were mated until finding
      sperm in vaginal smears. In third and fourth laparotomies during pregnancy and
      lactation, pregnancy rate was determined, and the implants were re-evaluated,
      being resected for histological study. Serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P)
      levels were also measured. RESULTS: The pregnancy rate in animals with
      endometriosis was 65.7% versus 100% in control group. No statistical differences
      in days of gestation and number of pups were found between the two groups.
      Ectopic implants underwent a significant regression during lactation period.
      Serum E2 and P levels and histological features sustained these findings.
      CONCLUSION: Experimentally induced endometriosis diminishes pregnancy rate in
      rats. It is not pregnancy, but the anestrus condition created by lactation that
      exerts a beneficial effect on experimentally induced endometriosis in rats.

PMID- 1459275
TI  - Proliferative and morphogenic changes induced by the coculture of rat uterine and
      peritoneal cells: a cell culture model for endometriosis.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the proliferative and morphogenic effects induced by the
      coculture of uterine and peritoneal cells to establish a cell culture model for
      endometriosis. DESIGN: Uterine epithelial and stromal cells and peritoneal
      mesothelial and subserosal cells were cocultured with homologous cell types,
      heterologous cell types, or as isolated populations using a bicameral chamber
      design. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of
      Missouri, Columbia, Missouri. ANIMALS: Cells isolated and purified from five
      mature female Sprague Dawley rats of normal reproductive status were used to
      establish cell cultures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cell proliferation
      (deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis) was measured by the incorporation of 3H
      thymidine, and cell morphology was assessed using inverted phase-contrast
      microscopy. RESULTS: Peritoneal mesothelial cells augmented proliferation and
      induced cellular aggregation of uterine stromal cell monolayers. Peritoneal
      subserosal cells amplified proliferation and induced an irregular, compacted
      morphology in uterine epithelial cells. The proliferation and morphology of the
      two peritoneal cell types was not altered by uterine cell coculture. CONCLUSIONS:
      The coculture of uterine and peritoneal cells in bicameral chambers provides a
      tool to study the paracrine interactions of cells that comprise the endometriotic
      lesion. The altered proliferation and morphology of the uterine cells may be
      related to the histologic and biochemical asynchrony observed between uterine
      endometrium and ectopic endometriotic tissue in vivo and offers insight into
      possible mechanisms of the histogenesis of endometriosis.

PMID- 1459276
TI  - The menstrual cycle: relations of biophysical and hormonal determinations in
      normal women of reproductive age.
AB  - Appropriate relationships between circulating levels of 17 beta-E2 and P are
      necessary for normal endometrial development and blastocyst implantation. The aim
      of this study was to relate biophysical and biochemical measurements obtained
      during the menstrual cycle of six healthy women in 25 menstrual cycles. One
      hundred eighteen vaginosonographic determinations of the endometrial thickness
      together with serum E2 and P assays were performed at 5-day intervals. The three
      parameters studied were standardized by the formula: observation minus mean
      determination for that parameter divided by the standard deviation of that
      parameter. Using this common unit, the physiological relations between
      ultrasonographically determined endometrial thickness, E2, and P were readily
      seen.

PMID- 1459277
TI  - The role of office hysteroscopy in in vitro fertilization.
AB  - Twenty-eight patients participated prospectively in a study to evaluate the
      impact of hysteroscopically detected uterine and cervical anomalies on the
      success rate of ET in an IVF-ET program. All participants had a normal
      intrauterine cavity by standard HSG. All the patients had a diagnostic office
      hysteroscopy under paracervical block before commencing COH. Because our IVF
      program does not include hysteroscopy as a requirement before undergoing IVF and
      because the significance of mild intrauterine abnormalities is not yet known, the
      hysteroscopic findings were not relayed to the personnel involved in the IVF-ET
      procedure. Sixteen patients (group I) had a normal hysteroscopic evaluation.
      Twelve patients (group II) had abnormal hysteroscopic findings including small
      uterine septa, small submucous fibroids, uterine hypoplasia and cervical ridges.
      Although no difference in patients or cycle characteristics was present, there
      was a significant difference in the clinical PR between patients in groups I and
      II. In conclusion, in an IVF-ET program patients with normal hysterography but
      abnormal hysteroscopic findings had a significantly lower clinical PR,
      demonstrating the importance of performing hysteroscopy before IVF-ET.

PMID- 1459278
TI  - Local anesthesia with conscious sedation for laparoscopic intrafallopian
      transfer.
AB  - Local anesthesia with conscious sedation is well accepted by patients and
      provides scheduling flexibility, cost containment, patient safety, and ease of
      recovery. We believe the technique should be offered to selected patients
      undergoing intrafallopian transfer. By adhering to specific guidelines for
      surgical technique and monitoring, the procedure is a safe and acceptable
      alternative to general anesthesia for laparoscopic intrafallopian transfers.

PMID- 1459279
TI  - Method for the transportation of peritoneal macrophages.
AB  - This report outlines a method of PF transport that preserves the viability and
      activation level of peritoneal macrophages. Collection of macrophages in this
      manner will allow transport of PF from multiple centers for evaluation of
      macrophage function in a single laboratory. Such technology will make it possible
      to intensively study the relationship between peritoneal macrophages and
      infertility.

PMID- 1459280
TI  - Chlamydia antibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and associated severity
      of tubal factor infertility.
AB  - We have evaluated the clinical utility of the serum chlamydial antibody value by
      ELISA in predicting the severity of tubal factor infertility quantified by the
      use of a previously reported pelvic scoring system. Significant differences in
      salpingitis scores, tubal occlusion scores, adhesion scores, and pelvic stages
      were found with increasing chlamydia antibody grades. The level of ELISA value
      strongly correlated with salpingitis, tubal occlusion, and total pelvic scores
      and pelvic stages. The serum chlamydia antibody level by ELISA now appears to be
      a useful prognostic tool for predicting the severity of tubal factor infertility
      in addition to its value in screening for its presence.

PMID- 1459281
TI  - Umbilical metastases from a stage IB cervical cancer after laparoscopy: a case
      report.
AB  - The first reported case of laparoscopy site metastases from an unsuspected stage
      IB cervical cancer diagnosed during laparoscopy for endometriosis is presented.
      Implications of this clinical situation are discussed.

PMID- 1459282
TI  - Fresh and frozen-thawed human sperm bind in a similar pattern to the zona
      pellucida in the hemizona assay.
AB  - This study evaluated the impact of sperm cryopreservation on sperm quality. The
      HZA was used to test the binding capacity of fresh as opposed to frozen-thawed
      sperm from 12 donors. Fresh and frozen-thawed sperm motility was 47% +/- 1.5% and
      24% +/- 3.8% (mean +/- SE), respectively. However, the number of sperm cells
      attached to the hemizonae was 75 +/- 12.0 and 74 +/- 11.9, respectively. We
      conclude that cryopreservation results in a reduced number of motile sperm cells
      but does not adversely affect the ability of rescued sperm cells to bind to the
      ZP. The study also supports the use of frozen-thawed rather than fresh donor
      sperm for control in the HZA procedure.

PMID- 1459283
TI  - Round cells and sperm fertilizing capacity: the presence of immature germ cells
      but not seminal leukocytes are associated with reduced success of in vitro
      fertilization.
AB  - Fifty semen samples produced for IVF by patients diagnosed as having unexplained
      infertility were screened for leukocytes, leukocyte subsets, and immature germ
      cells using a mAB-based staining procedure. Nonfertilizing ejaculates were found
      to contain significantly larger numbers of immature germ cells, although no
      significant differences in leukocyte content were observed between groups.
      Neither sperm density or progressive motility were significantly different
      between fertilizing and nonfertilizing groups. We conclude that seminal
      leukocytes have little if any influence on the fertilizing capacity of the
      spermatozoa in patients undergoing IVF for unexplained infertility, but the
      presence of large numbers of germinal elements is associated with reduced
      fertilizing capacity and may be indicative of an immature sperm population.

PMID- 1459284
TI  - Laparoscopic internal spermatic vein ligation: report of a new technique.
AB  - Over the past 22 months, 51 laparoscopic internal vein ligations have been
      performed to determine its application and practicality in treating the infertile
      male with varicoceles. Of the 33 cases available for a follow-up of greater than
      6 months, 16 pregnancies are reported. Five patients reporting pregnancies
      refused to submit a postoperative semenogram. Of the reportable series, 17 of 33
      had significant improvement in sperm density (51%), 15 of 33 (45%) in sperm
      viability, and 15 of 33 (45%) in sperm motility. No major complications were seen
      and minor complications were few and transient. Morbidity was extremely low.
      Laparoscopic internal spermatic vein ligations would appear to be a reasonable,
      practical, and effective method to correct varicoceles.

PMID- 1459285
TI  - New technique for ovulation induction--transvaginal follicular aspiration?

PMID- 1459286
TI  - Pharmacokinetics of intratubal methotrexate.

PMID- 1459287
TI  - Oral contraceptives and breast cancer.

PMID- 1459288
TI  - Oral contraceptives and breast cancer.

PMID- 1459289
TI  - Levitating human sperm--an Adman's dream.

PMID- 1459290
TI  - Levitating human sperm--an Adman's dream.

PMID- 1459291
TI  - [Did growth hormone-deficient children grow up to normal adult height by growth
      hormone treatment?].
AB  - One of the important aims of growth hormone (GH) treatment in GH deficient
      children is to allow them to grow to their full genetic potential. Usually,
      however, the final height of GH deficient children does not reach normal adult
      height and is below their target height. Furthermore, isolated GHD with
      spontaneous puberty is known to lead to a shorter adult height than that obtained
      in GHD associated with gonadotropin deficiency. The height at the start of
      puberty is reported to be well correlated with final height in GHD. Therefore,
      when isolated GHD subjects treated with GH reached puberty while they were still
      shorter than normal, they ended up by being shorter than normal as adults. The
      trial to increase the GH dose during puberty did not seem to increase the final
      height. The gonadal suppression therapy combined with GH treatment significantly
      increased the final height in isolated GHD. It is now the consensus that
      insufficient height at the onset of puberty leads to short final height and that
      early diagnosis of GHD is thus important to allow catch-up growth to optimal
      height before puberty. It may also be beneficial to treat GHD with higher doses
      to overcome the waning phenomenon with GH treatment.

PMID- 1459292
TI  - [Difference of acute ketone body metabolism between insulin-dependent diabetic
      and non-insulin-dependent diabetic individuals].
AB  - The difference in the acute metabolic change in ketone bodies between patients
      with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and non-insulin-dependent
      diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) was investigated in this study. The subjects employed
      were 7 patients with IDDM losing residual insulin secretion and 7 patients with
      NIDDM matched to the former patients for age, body mass index, duration of
      diabetes, daily insulin dosage, fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c. Blood samples
      were drawn at 3A.M. and 7A.M. on the same day, and plasma glucose, acetoacetic
      acid (AcAc), 3-beta-hydroxybutylic acid (3-OHBA), free fatty acid (FFA),
      glycerol, cortisol and growth hormone (GH) concentrations were determined. Plasma
      total ketone bodies (AcAc and 3-OHBA), 3-OHBA and FFA concentrations at 7A.M.
      were significantly higher in the patients with IDDM than in those with NIDDM (p <
      0.05), while there were no significant differences in any other parameters at
      3A.M. between the patients with IDDM and those with NIDDM. The ratios of 7A.M.
      value/3A.M. value of total ketone bodies, AcAc and 3-OHBA concentrations were
      also more significantly elevated in the patients with IDDM than in those with
      NIDDM. It was observed that the ratio of 3-OHBA was more than 2.0 in all of the
      patients with IDDM and less than 2.0 in all of the patients with NIDDM, the
      difference being significant with p < 0.001.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459293
TI  - [Pregnancy in Cushing's syndrome].
AB  - Pregnancy in cases of Cushing's syndrome is rare. A pregnant patient with
      Cushing's syndrome due to an adrenal adenoma who was diagnosed in the third
      trimester is described. She underwent conservative treatment for Cushing's
      syndrome and delivered a normal infant by Caesarean section. Currently, 121
      pregnancies in 97 patients have been reported, but a principle for the treatment
      of the mother and fetus has not yet been established. We reviewed pregnancy in
      Cushing's syndrome based on the world literature and evaluated the choice of
      treatment to take. In the first trimester of pregnancy, therapeutic abortion or
      surgical treatment, such as adrenalectomy or resection of the pituitary tumor in
      Cushing's syndrome, is recommended for patients with severe hypercorticism
      (plasma cortisol > or = 30 micrograms/dl, urinary 17-OHCS > or = 15 mg/day,
      urinary free cortisol > or = 1000 micrograms/day), while conservative treatment
      is recommended for patients with mild hypercorticism (plasma cortisol < 30
      micrograms/dl, urinary 17-OHCS < 15 mg/day, urinary free cortisol < 1000
      micrograms/day). In the second trimester of pregnancy, surgical treatment is
      recommended for patients with severe hypercorticism, while conservative treatment
      is recommended for patients with mild hypercorticism. In the third trimester of
      pregnancy, Caesarean section is recommended for most cases. Drug treatments such
      as with metyrapone should be limited to patients showing severe hypercorticism or
      a maternal high risk who have contraindications to surgical treatment.

PMID- 1459294
TI  - Epidemic of malaria in Barmer district (Thar desert) of Rajasthan during 1990.
AB  - Barmer district of Rajasthan in Thar desert and hitherto a hypoendemic area for
      malaria came in the grip of a severe malaria epidemic during 1990. The epidemic
      occurred as an aftermath of floods, preceded by normal rains during 1988 and 1989
      after a prolonged drought phase. The epidemic was spread over the whole district
      including Barmer town. Annual Parasite Incidence (API) and Annual falciparum
      Incidence (AFI) for the district touched record figures of 17.20 and 5.83
      respectively while for the Barmer town they were 36.5 and 14.0 respectively. Out
      of the eight PHCs, Baitu PHC was the worst affected where the two indices touched
      all-time high figures of 55.3 and 19.6 per cent respectively. A total of 122
      infants were reported positive for malaria, of which 103 were contributed by
      Baitu PHC alone. Eighty per cent infant positivity was spread over September and
      November, indicating a high rate of transmission. A total of 47 deaths due to
      cerebral malaria were reported. However, in view of the high infectivity among
      infants and paediatric groups there was a strong possibility of deaths among
      these groups which could not be verified. Entomological findings revealed that a
      sudden increase in An. culicifacies densities due to extensive breeding
      potential, as a sequel to floods, activated the transmission, which was
      maintained at a low level by An. stephensi, predominant in this desert region.
      Other factors which contributed to the intensity and extent of epidemic were the
      return of drought-migrated population from malarious areas, low cattle density,
      malaria non-immune population, inadequate and poor spray coverage and delayed
      radical treatment. Insecticide adult susceptibility tests revealed a high degree
      of resistance in An. stephensi against DDT and dieldrin.

PMID- 1459295
TI  - Gujarat model of health management information system with reference to malaria.
AB  - The Gujarat model of health management and information system has been developed
      with the objective of reducing the work load of health workers at all levels
      pertaining to record keeping and report preparation for enhancing the quality of
      health services, as well as for better implementation and timely monitoring of
      health programmes. Pro formas currently in use under various health programmes
      have been reorganized and updated. For monitoring malaria, the total number of
      registers has been reduced from seven to one, reporting forms from 23 to six and
      the number of columns in reporting forms from 493 to 59. The model is expected to
      save the working time of laboratory technicians (15%) and multi-purpose health
      supervisors (5%) at PHC level and of all workers (100%) engaged in report
      preparation at district, state and national levels. The data generated by using
      this model are expected to be of high quality and accuracy and should lead to
      more rational planning.

PMID- 1459296
TI  - Antigenic diversity amongst ten geographic isolates of Plasmodium falciparum
      defined by merozoite invasion inhibition assay.
AB  - The extent to which human antibodies involved in functional immunity react with
      antigenic determinants varying between different isolates or strains of human
      malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum will influence the design of vaccine
      against malaria. In this study, in vitro inhibition of merozoite invasion in
      erythrocytes by an immune human serum was used to define the antigenic
      differences in 10 isolates of P. falciparum from three endemic areas, i.e.
      Africa, South America and Southeast Asia. The serum inhibited the invasion of
      merozoites of all the strains but the extent of inhibition varied from low to
      moderate to high degree indicating antigenic differences amongst isolates of P.
      falciparum. The antigenic differences could not be correlated to the geographic
      origin of the parasite isolate.

PMID- 1459297
TI  - Observations on malaria patients seeking treatment in hospitals in a rural and an
      urban area of Sri Lanka.
AB  - Malaria in Sri Lanka is endemic in the dry zone and occurs during epidemics in
      the wet zone. A survey was carried out on malaria patients presenting at a
      hospital located in a predominantly rural area in the dry zone (Polonnaruwa) and
      an urban area in the wet zone (Ragama). Higher incidence of Plasmodium falciparum
      infections than reported nationally were observed in both locations. Of
      particular interest is the rapidity with which patients gained access to hospital
      treatment after the onset of malaria symptoms. The observed mode is 3-6 days. It
      is postulated that early treatment may impair the development of clinical
      immunity to malaria in the Sri Lankan population.

PMID- 1459298
TI  - Breeding habitats and their contribution to Anopheles stephensi in Panaji.
AB  - A one-year longitudinal study conducted in 9 categories of breeding habitats in
      Panaji, Goa, showed that 1.1% of the 67,360 breeding sites contained Anopheles
      stephensi immatures and the overall positivity varied from 0.4 to 3.5% with a
      peak in June. The habitat-wise proportion of An. stephensi was: wells, 0-1.3%;
      fountains, 1.4-11.4%; masonry tanks, 0.8-6.1%; overhead tanks, 0.1-4.0%; curing
      water in construction sites, 0.6-9.0%; groundwater tanks, 0-1.4%; tyres, 0-8.9%;
      barrels and tins, 0-5.4%; and intradomestic containers, 0-1.9%. An. stephensi was
      breeding along with An. subpictus, An. vagus, An. barbirostris, Culex
      quinquefasciatus, Cx. vishnui, Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus and Ae. vittatus.

PMID- 1459299
TI  - Reversal of chloroquine resistance with verapamil in P. berghei in vivo.
AB  - The effects of verapamil on the parasite susceptibility to chloroquine were
      examined in mice infected with chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant
      lines of Plasmodium berghei. Verapamil in a dose of 10-50 mg/kg daily s.c. for 4
      days did not affect the growth of both sensitive and resistant parasites. When
      verapamil in the same dose range was combined with 1.5 mg/kg chloroquine
      diphosphate, the chloroquine-sensitive parasites became more susceptible to
      chloroquine. Similarly, verapamil severely suppressed the growth of chloroquine
      resistant parasites in combination with 3 mg/kg (base) of chloroquine, but the
      reversal of resistance was not complete. Thus, still higher doses of verapamil,
      which are not tolerated by the host, are required for the complete reversal of
      resistance.

PMID- 1459300
TI  - Anopheline breeding in ponds of central Gujarat with reference to water hyacinth
      infestation.

PMID- 1459301
TI  - Malaria morbidity survey in schoolchildren in age group 5-15 years in an urban
      area.

PMID- 1459302
TI  - Enhancing the efficacy of Gambusia affinis to control mosquito breeding in ponds.

PMID- 1459303
TI  - Biochemical alterations in Plasmodium vivax-infected malarial patients before and
      after radical treatment.
AB  - Biochemical alterations in 152 malaria patients infected with Plasmodium vivax
      were studied and the effect of parasitaemia on these changes was assessed. The
      degree of parasitaemia correlated positively with plasma uric acid, total and
      unconjugated bilirubin. A decrease in the levels of serum total protein, albumin,
      serum total, free and ester cholesterol was observed in vivax malaria. A follow
      up study done on a section of the above patients after administration of
      chloroquine and primaquine for radical treatment of malaria showed the most of
      the alterations observed were bought back to normal. However, blood haemoglobin
      level was not restored to normal even after ten days of commencement of
      treatment.

PMID- 1459304
TI  - Gambusia affinis: dispersal due to floods and its failure to colonize new water
      bodies in Shahjahanpur District (U.P.).
AB  - In villages of District Shahjahanpur, 122 decentralized Gambusia multiplication
      ponds were established to cover the need of the entire district. Profuse breeding
      of Gambusia was observed in these ponds. The fishes are being successfully used
      in mosquito control all over the district. In July 1990 there was a widespread
      flood due to which 70 Gambusia multiplication ponds were affected and the fish
      was washed away in large numbers, leaving only a scanty population in the flood
      affected ponds. We utilized this opportunity to study the natural dispersal and
      colonization of Gambusia in different aquatic habitats. The study revealed that
      Gambusia was either not found in most habitats or was present in very small
      numbers, and on its own Gambusia was unable to eliminate the local fauna to
      become a dominant species. Predatory fishes and birds played a major role in
      eliminating Gambusia. Gambusia is therefore unlikely to pose any ecological
      hazard in vector-control programmes.

PMID- 1459305
TI  - Socio-cultural factors associated with malaria transmission: a review.

PMID- 1459306
TI  - Involvement of gastrointestinal tract in Plasmodium vivax Malaria.

PMID- 1459307
TI  - Some observations on Plasmodium falciparum gametocytaemia in natural infections
      in an endemic area of Koraput district, Orissa.
AB  - Peripheral P. falciparum gametocytaemia with respect to its minimum average time
      taken for appearance in peripheral blood, its peak density, duration of
      persistence in peripheral circulation, conversion rate and sex ratio was studied
      in 22 persons with natural infections in a village of Koraput district, Orissa.
      The minimum average time taken for the appearance of gametocytes was 9.3 days in
      children (below 15 years) and 8.9 days in adults (15 years and above). The peak
      count was low, the maximum density being 31/microliters. The duration of
      gametocytaemia in peripheral circulation was also short, the longest being 32
      days. The gametocyte conversion rate on an average was 0.74% in children and
      2.04% in adults. The mean sex ratio of micro:macro gametocytes was 1:2.6 in
      children and 1:6.2 in adults.

PMID- 1459308
TI  - Effect of tissue culture media on multiplication of Plasmodium falciparum in
      vitro.
AB  - To date RPMI-1640 has been the best medium for cultivation of Plasmodium
      falciparum in vitro. In addition to this medium, several alternative media,
      essentially the ones used in animal and plant tissue culture, were employed for
      the cultivation of P. falciparum. Only the media rich in glucose content, viz.
      Nitsch medium and White's medium S-3, supported the parasite multiplication.

PMID- 1459309
TI  - Microscopic diagnosis of malaria in Kheda district of Gujarat.
AB  - A study conducted in 1990 revealed that 2% (range 0.6-4.8) of negative blood
      smears were mislabelled as positive, and 6.7% of positive blood smears were
      mislabelled as negative. A result of such mislabelling would be inadequate
      treatment of a large number of patients. Hence the need to look into the training
      aspect and system of supervision of laboratory technicians. The present system of
      cross-checking of blood smears at different levels also needs to be reviewed. A
      study which could address itself to these needs is indicated.

PMID- 1459310
TI  - Problem of antimalarial drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum in Mizoram.
AB  - Studies conducted in Mizoram during 1981 to 1990 have shown areas with increasing
      RIII level of chloroquine resistance. These foci need urgent liquidation.
      Sulfalene-pyrimethamine drug combination was found suitable for treatment of P.
      falciparum cases in these areas with only 5.3 per cent cases showing RI level of
      Plasmodium response. Quinine combined with sulfalene-pyrimethamine showed 100 per
      cent success. Amodiaquine however was similar in response to chloroquine though
      the mean parasite clearance time with amodiaquine was slightly better.

PMID- 1459311
TI  - Management of admitted malaria cases in four major hospitals of Delhi: a case
      study.
AB  - A hospital-based retrospective case study of admitted patients was undertaken in
      four major hospitals of Delhi during 1991, with a view to assessing (i) recording
      and reporting system of malaria cases, (ii) diagnostic criteria being followed,
      (iii) management of complicated and severe malaria cases, and (iv) availability
      of life-saving antimalarials. The study showed that none of the hospitals either
      followed the international coding system for recording or adopted the National
      Malaria Eradication Programme guidelines for diagnostic criteria malaria, i.e. by
      blood smear examination. Diagnosis of malaria in three out of four hospitals was
      not preceded by blood examination in all cases. Only 55% of the 283 clinically
      suspected malaria cases were screened for malaria parasite with overall
      positivity of 20.14 per cent and of 38.25 per cent in examined cases. Age and sex
      break-up indicated that males suffered more and 65 per cent of the patients
      belonged to 16-40 years' age groups as compared to 38.4 per cent population
      falling in this age group according to 1981 census. Out of 263 recovered study
      cases, 13 per cent came from adjoining states while this percentage went up to 35
      per cent (7 out of 20 cases) in the case of malaria deaths. Over 80 per cent of
      the clinically suspected cases presented with signs and symptoms of fever or
      fever with rigour, chills or vomiting. In 38 per cent of the cases there was a
      definite time lag in reporting of the cases to hospitals but most of the cases
      (91 per cent) were administered antimalarials within 24 h of admission.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459312
TI  - [The role of the HLA system in the genetics of Type I diabetes mellitus].
AB  - Major determinants of susceptibility to Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes
      (IDDM) have been mapped to the HLA complex, near to or identical with genes
      encoding class II molecules. The association of IDDM with HLA-DR3 and/or DR4
      antigens and the highest risk for DR3/4 heterozygotes suggest a synergistic
      effect of the two haplotypes. The characterization at the molecular level of the
      class II region has provided evidence that DQ rather than DR determinants may
      primarily influence the disease. In caucasians the susceptibility strongly
      correlates with the absence of aspartic acid at position 57 on the DQ beta chain
      and/or the presence of arginine at position 52 on the DQ alpha chain. The
      formation of a putative DQ susceptibility molecule (DQ alpha Arg52+, DQ beta
      Asp57-) accounts best for the disease associations when trans-complementation
      between alpha and beta chains encoded by different haplotypes is postulated to
      explain the excess of heterozygotes. Observations in other populations and in
      animal models indicate, however, that other residues on DQ alpha and beta chains,
      other class II (DR beta) molecules and non-HLA linked genes also contribute to
      the susceptibility. The mechanism(s) by which susceptibility determinants
      influence IDDM is not known. It is probably in relation with the role of class II
      molecules in the antigen presentation to T lymphocytes.

PMID- 1459313
TI  - Increased lipid peroxidation in type 2 poorly controlled diabetic patients.
AB  - An increased lipid peroxidation, due to the altered intracellular ratio between
      free radicals and antioxidant systems, has been recently related to diabetes. To
      study the possible relationship between lipid peroxidation and metabolic control,
      we measured the plasma concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), end product of
      the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, in poorly and well controlled Type
      2 diabetic patients. A significant increase in plasma malondialdehyde
      concentrations was found in poorly controlled diabetics when compared to well
      controlled patients (p < 0.001) and to healthy normoglycaemic subjects (p <
      0.001), whereas no significant difference was observed between the two latter
      groups. Plasma MDA/Cholesterol and MDA/triglyceride ratios were both higher in
      poorly controlled diabetics than in well controlled (p < 0.005) and in normal
      subjects (p < 0.01 and p < 0.02 for MDA/CHOL and MDA/TG respectively). In
      diabetic patients a positive correlation was found between plasma MDA levels and
      mean daily blood glucose (p < 0.01), plasma fructosamines (p < 0.001), HbA1 (p <
      0.05) and plasma triglycerides (p < 0.05), while no significant correlation was
      shown between plasma malondialdehyde and total cholesterol. Malondialdehyde
      levels were followed-up for 7 days running (T1-T7) in five poorly controlled
      diabetics, treated with conventional insulin therapy. This group showed
      normalized plasma lipid peroxide values (0.486 +/- 0.13 mumol/l, T5, M +/- SEM)
      72 h after the restoration of glycaemic control (145 +/- 25 mg/dl, T2, M +/-
      SEM). These results confirm the increase of lipid peroxidation during Type 2
      diabetes. The correlation with the degree of metabolic imbalance suggests a
      possible role for lipid peroxidation in the occurrence of glucose-induced
      macromolecular changes.

PMID- 1459314
TI  - Intermediate and long-acting insulin preparations without protamine sulphate are
      complement activators in vitro.
AB  - Recently, we have documented an abnormal in vivo complement metabolism in Type 1
      diabetic children treated with monocomponent porcine insulin Monotard MC and its
      correction after switch-over to human insulin Protaphane HM. This prompted us to
      investigate the ability of different kinds of insulin preparations to induce
      complement activation in vitro. Freshly collected serum samples from healthy
      blood donors were incubated with commercial rapid and intermediate or long-acting
      (by protamine sulphate (PS) or zinc) insulin preparations for 2 hours at 37
      degrees C. The C3d content of the supernatants was measured by turbidimetry as a
      marker of C3 complement fraction consumption. Only long-acting preparations of
      insulins without protamine sulphate were associated with highly significant
      increased levels of C3d, whatever the source of insulin, animal or human.
      Moreover, addition of exogenous protamine sulphate was able to inhibit the C3
      conversion. This effect was dose-dependent and peaked at the concentration of
      commercial NPH insulin preparations. The mechanism by which protamine sulphate
      inhibits complement activation in vitro could be related to its ability to
      interfere with the physical nature of the solid surfaces presented by the insulin
      crystals. Indeed, insulin crystals were rapidly cleared (< 5 min) in the
      incubated serum when small doses of protamine sulphate were added. The complement
      activating capacity of long-acting insulin without protamine was dose dependent,
      equivalent to the known complement activator Zymosan, and abolished in the
      presence of EDTA. In conclusion, the present study has documented the ability of
      some protracted insulin preparations to activate the complement system in vitro
      if they are devoided of protamine sulphate. On the other hand, short-acting and
      NPH insulins are not complement activators.

PMID- 1459315
TI  - Differential effects of insulin-induced hypoglycaemia on the plasma branched
      chain and non-branched-chain amino acid concentrations in humans.
AB  - In order to determine plasma amino acid concentrations during a prolonged but
      moderate insulin-induced hypoglycaemia, six healthy volunteers received a
      constant subcutaneous insulin infusion (15 mU.m-2.min-1) over a 12 hour period.
      The plasma glucose concentrations decreased from 4.72 +/- 0.11 to 2.83 +/- 0.07
      mM at 600 minutes and then remained stable over the last 120 minutes. Plasma
      counterregulatory hormones (glucagon, epinephrine, growth hormone and cortisol)
      increased significantly between 120 and 180 minutes. The plasma concentration of
      all the amino acids paralleled the decrease in plasma glucose. The branched chain
      amino acids decreased to a greater extent in the first part of the study (0-360
      min) in comparison to the essential non-branched chain aminoacids (p < 0.01),
      then increased significantly with a peak at 600 minutes (p < 0.05 vs 360 min)
      despite stable hyperinsulinaemia. These results suggests that during prolonged
      but moderate hypoglycaemia the counterregulatory hormones are able to antagonize
      partially the effects of insulin on protein metabolism, analogous to their well
      known anti-insulin effects on glucose and fatty acid metabolism.

PMID- 1459316
TI  - Short-term metabolic effects of the ACE-inhibitor benazepril in type 2 diabetes
      mellitus associated with arterial hypertension.
AB  - To assess the short-term metabolic effects a long-acting non-sulphydryl ACE
      inhibitor benazepril on glycaemic control in Type 2 diabetes mellitus and
      arterial hypertension, 10 hypertensive diabetic patients treated with
      glibenclamide were studied in a double-blind, crossover fashion over two 10-day
      periods in which either benazepril (10 mg/day) or placebo was given. At the end
      of the 10 day treatment, both blood pressure and plasma glucose concentrations
      were lower after benazepril versus placebo (benazepril, blood pressure: 143 +/-
      11/83 +/- 5 mmHg, plasma glucose: 7.1 +/- 1.2 mmol/l; placebo: blood pressure:
      157 +/- 10/99 +/- 2 mmHg, plasma glucose: 8.2 +/- 1 mmol/l, p < 0.05). In
      response to an oral glucose tolerance test combined with 1 mg intravenous
      glibenclamide, plasma glucose levels were lower after benazepril versus placebo
      (0-460 min: 8.4 +/- 0.8 versus 10.5 +/- 0.9 mmol/l, p < 0.05), whereas plasma
      insulin, C-peptide and glibenclamide concentrations were not different. It is
      concluded that a short-term administration of benazepril in Type 2 diabetes
      mellitus reduces blood pressure and improves blood glucose control, most likely
      by decreasing insulin resistance.

PMID- 1459317
TI  - Influence of obesity and hypertriglyceridaemia on the low HDL2-cholesterol level
      and on its relationship with prevalence of atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes.
AB  - High density lipoprotein subfraction 2 (HDL1)-cholesterol level is usually
      decreased in Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes. A study was carried out in
      251 Type 2 diabetic patients (106 males [M], 145 females [F]) and in 120 non
      diabetic controls in order to determine the influence of hypertriglyceridaemia
      and obesity on the HDL2-cholesterol level and to analyse the relationship between
      HDL2-cholesterol level and atherosclerosis (coronary heart disease, peripheral
      atherosclerosis or cerebral vascular disease), in Type 2 diabetes. Influence of
      hypertriglyceridaemia and obesity on HDL2-cholesterol level was studied by
      comparing the mean values of HDL2-cholesterol between diabetics and controls,
      after controlling for hypertriglyceridaemia and obesity, and by a multiple linear
      regression test. A stepwise logistic regression was performed to analyse the
      association between the prevalence of atherosclerosis and several variables: age,
      duration of diabetes, hypertension, cigarette smoking, body mass index, mean
      glycaemia, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, HDL2-cholesterol and
      HDL3-cholesterol levels. In both men and women, when both of the factors
      (hypertriglyceridaemia and obesity) were present of when only one was, HDL2
      cholesterol level was significantly lower in the diabetic population, compared
      with controls. But when obesity and hypertriglyceridaemia were absent, HDL2
      cholesterol level, in the diabetic population, was not significantly different
      from controls (M: 17.9 +/- 13.3 vs 20.5 +/- 13.8 mg/dl: NS; F: 30.1 +/- 21.5 vs
      27.6 +/- 14.2 mg/dl: NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459318
TI  - [Respective weight of genotypes DQA1 and DQB1 associated with insulin-dependent
      diabetes in French children].
AB  - Genetic susceptibility alleles have been identified at the DQ HLA region. The aim
      of the present study was to confirm the value of these markers, and to evaluate
      the respective weight in the risk of the different alleles at the DQA1 and DQB1
      levels, identified by restriction mapping after polymerase chain reaction on exon
      2. A significant enrichment in DQB1 alleles encoding for an aminoacid different
      from Aspartic acid at position 57 (NA) was observed in diabetic (n = 213) in
      comparison to control (n = 93) children (94% vs 52%; p < 10(-8)). Not all the
      given NA/NA allelic combinations were equally and positively associated to the
      disease. Homozygous "Ala/Ala" combinations carried the highest relative risk (OR
      = 12.3; p < 10(-8)), and among them, the *0201/*0302 genotype was more positively
      associated to type 1 diabetes (OR = 66; p < 10(-8)). A significant enrichment in
      DQA1 alleles encoding for Arginine at position 52 in diabetic children was also
      observed (82% vs 40%; p < 10(-8)). The *0301/*0501 (Arg/Arg) genotype was
      significantly associated to Type 1 diabetes (OR = 16.2; p < 10(-4)). The highest
      risk was carried by the whole genotype, a result which could be expected from the
      known linkage desequilibrium between HLA-DQA1 and DQB1, DRB1 loci. The frequency
      of Ala DQB1 alleles was low in the background non-at-risk population, although
      the incidence of the disease is low in our country.

PMID- 1459319
TI  - Similarity of HLA-DQ profiles in adult-onset type 1 insulin-dependent diabetic
      patients with and without extra-pancreatic auto-immune disease.
AB  - Some insulin-dependent diabetic patients present with auto-immune diseases
      involving extra pancreatic tissues (type 1b diabetes mellitus). The genetic
      specificity of this syndrome, as opposed to insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
      (IDDM) free of such associations (Type 1a IDDM) is not clearly established. We
      have analyzed the HLA-DQB1 and DQA1, loci, after PCR amplification of genomic
      DNA, in 44 Type 1b IDDM patients, 78 Type 1a IDDM patients and 105 control
      subjects. No essential difference in HLA-DQ profiles appeared between Type 1b and
      Type 1a IDDM patients. Both diabetic groups displayed a significant enrichment in
      DQB1 alleles negative for aspartate at position 57 (Type 1b: 83%; Type 1a: 89%;
      controls 48%; p < 0.001 vs both patient groups) and in DQB1 Asp 57 negative
      homozygosity: 71% of Type 1b; 80% of Type 1a; 25% of controls (p < 0.01). This
      enrichment in DQB1 Asp 57 negative alleles was accounted for by DQB1* 0201 in the
      Type 1b group, and by DQB1 % 0201 and 0302 in the Type 1a patients. Conversely,
      alleles DQB1* 0602 and 0301 (DQB1 Asp 57 positive) were protective. Both diabetic
      groups also displayed a significant enrichment in DQA1 alleles positives for
      arginine at position 52 (65% of Type 1b; 76% of Type 1a; 50% of control subjects;
      p < 0.01 and 0.001, respectively, vs controls), and in DQA1 Arg 52 positive
      homozygotes (48% of Type 1b, 58% of Type 1a, 22% of control subjects; p < 0.01).
      All differences between diabetic groups and the control group were more
      pronounced in the case of Type 1a than of Type 1b patients. The HLA-DQ genes
      shared by Type 1a and Type 1b patients must therefore be closely associated with
      islet autoimmunity. Genetic differences between Type 1a and Type 1b syndromes, if
      any, must be investigated in other MHC and non-MHC regions of the genome.

PMID- 1459320
TI  - [Transition from insulin U40 to U100].

PMID- 1459321
TI  - [Transition from insulin U-40 to insulin U-100: the Belgian experience].

PMID- 1459322
TI  - [Reverse genetics of positional cloning].

PMID- 1459323
TI  - Hair zinc and dietary zinc intake during pregnancy and puerperium.
AB  - A longitudinal study of hair zinc concentration was carried out in 36 pregnant
      women at 12 and 36 weeks of gestation and 40 days postpartum. A progressive
      decrease in hair zinc concentration was noted through pregnancy; the decline
      between 12 and 36 weeks of gestation was statistically significant (P < 0.005)
      remaining without significant changes in the postpartum. Nutrient intakes were
      calculated from 3-day weighed food records at the same periods and at 20 weeks of
      gestation. Zinc, energy and protein intakes decreased during pregnancy. Mean zinc
      intake at 20 and 36 weeks of gestation was about 66% of the recommended dietary
      allowance (RDA) (9.8 and 10 mg, respectively) and about 52% of the RDA in the
      postpartum (9.8 mg). Although hair zinc levels do decline in pregnancy and zinc
      intake was lower than RDA, the study revealed that zinc nutriture was adequate
      for normal growth and development of fetus.

PMID- 1459324
TI  - Cytogenetic analysis of spontaneous abortions with direct analysis of chorionic
      villi.
AB  - A total of 224 cases of spontaneous abortions were studied by analysing
      chromosomes directly from chorionic villi. Abnormal karyotypes were found in
      51.3% of the investigated cases. Among the chromosome abnormalities the most
      frequent were the trisomies (55.7%), followed by polyploidy (23.5%), monosomy X
      (15.6%) and structural anomalies (5.2%). The rapid and relatively simple method
      is suitable for studying the causes of spontaneous abortions, and this
      information may be helpful also for genetic counselling.

PMID- 1459325
TI  - The reliability, acceptability and applications of basal body temperature (BBT)
      records in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility.
AB  - The possibilities and limitations of basal body temperature (BBT) records as an
      adjunct in the management of infertility were re-evaluated. To assess its
      accuracy as an index of ovulation, 172 charts were analyzed by three different
      physicians. While the average true positive rate was 90%, the false negative rate
      was only 2%. The remaining graphs (8%) were classified as non-interpretable,
      probably reflecting measurement problems. Retrospective assessment of 210
      biphasic records showed the thermal nadir to occur within 1 day of the urinary
      luteinizing hormone (LH) surge in 75% of the cases, and in 90% when 2 days where
      considered. This confirms BBT as a relatively accurate guide for retrospective
      identification of the periovulatory period. Moreover, results of a study
      conducted to investigate how patients experienced daily recording of BBT graphs
      suggest that the method is well accepted by a high proportion of women. From all
      these it appears that there are many indications where BBT graphs can still be
      applied. Development of new electronic devices may further improve the
      reliability, acceptability and applications of the BBT records in the fertility
      investigation.

PMID- 1459326
TI  - Paradoxical ovarian stimulations in the use of LHRH analogs.
AB  - In the case of in vitro fertilization, LHRH analogs are used to induce an
      hypophysary blockage, before the phase of stimulation, via administration of
      exogenous gonadotropin. During in vitro fertilization attempts using LHRH
      analogs, the blockage is controlled after 14 days of treatment through
      measurement of the plasmatic estradiol and pelvic ultra-sonography. In this
      retrospective study, which concerned 1075 in vitro fertilization cycles, a
      paradoxical ovarian stimulation with LHRH analogs was observed in 93 cases
      (8.7%), with high estradiol levels and follicular growth (detected by ultra
      sonography), in spite of low FSH and LH levels. In 4 cases, a follicular puncture
      was performed, which allowed to collect oocytes from which embryos were obtained,
      thus confirming the observed follicular growth and maturation. The most probable
      hypothesis explaining this phenomenon seems to be a direct ovarian stimulation,
      effectuated in vivo by LHRH analogs. This stimulation is only observed in certain
      patients, and apparently more frequently, with certain LHRH analogs, probably
      through a variation in the expression of ovarian LHRH receptors.

PMID- 1459327
TI  - The unicornuate uterus: clinical implications.
AB  - The unicornuate uterus is associated with a poor reproductive outcome and many
      gynecological problems. We collected data from 45 women with a unicornuate
      uterus. We found a high abortion rate of 22% in the first trimester and 16% in
      the second trimester. Premature labor occurred in 18%. The prevalence of
      infertility and endometriosis in women with a unicornuate uterus was comparable
      to women without the anomaly.

PMID- 1459328
TI  - Early stage cervical cancer: aborted versus completed radical hysterectomy.
AB  - In a retrospective study, the treatment results of patients with stage IB and IIA
      cervical cancer were evaluated. In 26 patients radical hysterectomy was
      discontinued after intra-operative finding of positive lymph nodes. These
      patients received radiotherapy. In 57 patients lymph nodes were negative, and
      radical hysterectomy was completed. Of these, 13 patients received adjuvant
      radiotherapy because of positive surgical margins or parametrial involvement, and
      44 patients received no adjuvant therapy. Five-year survival was 61% in patients
      with positive pelvic lymph nodes and 88% in patients with negative pelvic lymph
      nodes, comparable with the results mentioned in the literature. The complication
      rate did not differ from similar other reports. This management shows treatment
      results comparable with other reports with minimal morbidity.

PMID- 1459329
TI  - Beneficial effects on serum lipoproteins by 17 beta-oestradiol-dydrogesterone
      therapy in postmenopausal women; a prospective study.
AB  - STUDY OBJECTIVE: To study the possible changes of reproductive hormones, sex
      hormone binding globulin, serum lipids and lipoproteins, lipoprotein (a)
      included, coagulation and glucose in postmenopausal women treated with 17 beta
      oestradiol and cyclic dydrogesterone for 14 days per 28 days treatment cycle.
      DESIGN: Open longitudinal prospective study. DURATION: Twelve 28 days treatment
      cycles. SETTING: Gynaecological department of university hospital. SUBJECTS: 27
      healthy postmenopausal women. RESULTS: After treatment for six cycles serum
      concentrations of FSH and LH decreased significantly with 43.0% and 24.4%,
      respectively. Serum concentrations of 17 beta-oestradiol and oestrone increased
      significantly with 302% and 792%, respectively, and SHBG increased as well with
      111% (P < 0.01). Serum total cholesterol decreased with 9.0% (P < 0.01). Serum
      VLDL-cholesterol did not change significantly. Serum LDL-cholesterol decreased
      with 16.3% (P < 0.01) and HDL-cholesterol increased with 8.0% (P < 0.01). This
      was accompanied with similar significant changes in the apolipoproteins:
      apolipoprotein A-I rose with 14.4% and apolipoprotein B decreased with 6.0%.
      Serum triglycerides and VLDL-triglycerides increased significantly with 14.4% and
      17.9%, respectively. Lipoprotein (a) decreased with 17.5% (P < 0.01). These
      results more or less sustained at cycle 12 of treatment. Serum concentrations of
      antithrombin III and glucose did not change. Fibrinogen decreased slightly but
      significantly below the initial value. CONCLUSIONS: This combination replacement
      therapy gives beneficial changes in lipid-metabolism, indicating a reduced risk
      of developing coronary heart disease without unfavourably changing coagulation
      and glucose metabolism. The expected beneficial changes with oestradiol alone are
      not counteracted by the intermittent addition of dydrogesterone. Therefore this
      oestrogen/progestagen scheme can, indeed, be recommended for use in HRT.

PMID- 1459330
TI  - Ultrasound diagnosis of interstitial pregnancy.
AB  - A case of interstitial pregnancy is reported. The diagnosis was made by
      ultrasound examination in an asymptomatic patient at risk for ectopic pregnancy
      following cornual anastomosis. Characteristic sonographic signs are discussed,
      with a review of the literature.

PMID- 1459331
TI  - Vulvar pseudolymphoma.
AB  - We report a 31-year-old patient with longstanding complaints of vulvar itching
      and painful intercourse treated with many antimycotic drugs. On examination a
      small tumor, clinically not differentiable from a malignant lymphoma, on and near
      the clitoris was found. After excision biopsy the lesion proved to be a
      pseudolymphoma. Six months after excision of this rare vulvar tumor the patient
      was completely free of complaints. Although pseudolymphomas are small benign
      tumors they may case diagnostic problems and major complaints. To our knowledge
      this very rare disorder has not been reported in the gynecological literature
      until now.

PMID- 1459332
TI  - Post-menopausal cyclic eruptions: autoimmune progesterone dermatitis.
AB  - Two cases of autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (AIPD) are reported. The patients
      developed a recurrent eruption, primarily on the extremities after receiving oral
      oestrogen/progesterone replacement for the treatment of climacteric symptoms. The
      diagnosis was confirmed in one of the cases who had intradermal progesterone
      injection producing an early positive reaction. One case required transient
      prednisolone therapy and both eventually resolved completely. Aetiological
      postulates are discussed.

PMID- 1459333
TI  - Doppler velocimetry of the umbilical artery in pregnancies complicated by insulin
      dependent diabetes mellitus.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to investigate vascular resistance by Doppler
      ultrasound in the umbilical artery of insulin-dependent diabetics longitudinally
      over the course of pregnancy. Special interest was put on the effects of glycemic
      control and maternal vascular disease on the flow velocity waveform (FVW) and the
      predictive value of Doppler flow measurements with regard to perinatal morbidity.
      Using a duplex-pulsed wave scanner, the resistance-index (PR index) in the
      umbilical artery was calculated. The mean value of a 24-h blood glucose profile
      and the concentration of glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1C) were used as parameters
      of metabolic control. 53 pregnant diabetic women were examined longitudinally
      during the course of pregnancy on average on three occasions (range: 1-7) between
      17 weeks of gestation and delivery at 37.7 +/- 1.3 (mean +/- SD) weeks. To test
      the predictive value of Doppler flow velocimetry with regard to perinatal
      morbidity the results were compared to the FVWs measured in the umbilical
      arteries of 30 non-diabetic women with normal fetal outcome. Vascular resistance
      in the umbilical artery of the diabetics declined significantly during the course
      of pregnancy, with a mean PR index of 0.729 (SD 0.051) at 17 weeks and 0.603 (SD
      0.083) at the end of pregnancy (P < 0.002). The majority of PR indices were
      within the range reported for normal pregnancy and measured in the non-diabetic
      women. Regression analysis showed no significant correlation between vascular
      resistance and mean blood glucose level (r = 0.1325) or concentration of HBA1C (r
      = -0.0519). Maternal vascular disease had no effect on umbilical FVWs.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459334
TI  - Inhibition of binding of bacteria to amniochorionic membranes by amniotic fluid.
AB  - The immunological composition of amniotic fluids is shown to be of such a lower
      order of activity that its role in fetal protection may be limited. Also,
      amniotic fluids were found not to have classical antibiotic activity. Amniotic
      fluids (25/31), however, were found to inhibit, by 27.5% to 88.2%, three target
      bacteria from binding to discs of amniochorionic membranes. This inhibition is
      also demonstrable with the monosaccharides alpha-D(+)-fucose, D(+)-galactose,
      alpha-D-glucose, alpha-D-lactose and bovine serum albumin-lactose conjugate,
      whereas other glycoconjugates enhanced bacterial binding. This demonstrates that
      the test bacteria bind to the amniochorionic membranes using bacterial lectins.
      In intraamniotic infection bacterial lectins may be complexed by amniotic fluid
      glycoconjugates which prevent the bacteria from binding to the amniochorionic
      membranes. This would explain asymptomatic infection and in the absence or
      reduced levels of the glycoconjugates the bacteria would bind to the
      amniochorionic membranes giving rise to symptomatic infection.

PMID- 1459335
TI  - Calbindin-D9k gene expression during pregnancy and lactation in the rat.
AB  - Calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k) is a calcium binding protein expressed in mammalian
      intestine, uterus and placenta. It is believed to be involved in transepithelial
      calcium transport in intestine and placenta and regulation of cytosolic calcium
      concentration in uterus. CaBP-9k mRNA levels were measured by Northern blot
      analysis in maternal duodenum, uterus, placenta and fetal/neonatal duodenum
      during pregnancy and lactation. In maternal duodenum a maximal increase occurred
      at day 15 of lactation (2.3-fold) and 20 days post-lactation levels decrease to
      30.3% of non-pregnant controls. In non-pregnant uterus a 10-fold variation of
      CaBP-9k mRNA levels was observed between individual animals despite a uniform
      expression of beta-actin. During pregnancy high CaBP-9k expression is found,
      averaging about 20% of duodenal levels, which abruptly drops below detection
      during early lactation. At late lactation CaBP-9k mRNA levels are again subject
      to great variation ranging from no expression to maximal levels found in the non
      pregnant uterus. Placental CaBP-9k is maximally expressed at the end of pregnancy
      (day 20) reaching about 2.5% of duodenal levels. Fetal intestinal CaBP-9k mRNA
      was detectable in 20 micrograms total RNA at day 18 of pregnancy and rose sharply
      in early lactation reaching about 50% of adult duodenal levels at day 20
      lactation. The profound changes of uterine CaBP-9k mRNA in non-pregnant
      (cycling), pregnant, and lactating rats indicate a rapid hormonal regulation of
      gene expression, most likely involving 17 beta-estradiol.

PMID- 1459336
TI  - Rat oocytes induced to mature by epidermal growth factor are successfully
      fertilized.
AB  - Epidermal growth factor (EGF), which is a known mitogen, can also induce
      resumption of meiosis in the rat oocyte. The present study was designed in an
      attempt to elucidate whether oocytes, induced to mature by EGF in a follicle
      enclosed oocyte culture, are fertilizable and can further develop into two-cell
      embryos. For further clarification of the effect of EGF on steroidogenesis in the
      ovarian follicle, progesterone concentrations were determined by
      radioimmunoassay. We found that oocytes matured by EGF (100 ng/ml) were
      successfully fertilized. Even though their rate of fertilization was relatively
      lower as compared to that of oocytes stimulated by luteinizing hormone (LH) both
      in vitro and in vivo (61%, 79%, and 83% respectively), once fertilized they
      exhibit an equal potential for further development (EGF: 48%, LH: 45%). On the
      other hand, EGF-induced progesterone production was very poor. These findings
      strongly support the idea that both mitogenesis and meiogenesis can be mediated
      by common signals. The results further suggest that progesterone production and
      oocyte maturation, in the rat, are independent events.

PMID- 1459337
TI  - Interaction of the 90-kDa heat shock protein with native and in vitro translated
      androgen receptor and receptor fragments.
AB  - Androgen receptor (AR) from rat ventral prostate and AR synthesized in vitro by
      translation in rabbit reticulocyte lysate of AR mRNA, transcribed from a pGEM-4Z
      DNA template were compared by gel permeation chromatography and by sucrose
      gradient ultracentrifugation. Under non-activating conditions the AR from rat
      prostate migrated as an 8-9 S complex of approx. 300 kDa. The addition of chicken
      antibodies against HSP90 shifted this complex to the void volume of the column or
      to the bottom of the ultracentrifugation gradient. Under activating conditions,
      on the other hand, the AR migrated as a 110 kDa, 5.2 S protein and was no longer
      displaced by HSP90 antibodies. Under all these conditions, the behaviour of in
      vitro synthesized AR was very similar to that of AR from rat prostate. By
      selective use of restriction enzymes on the template of transcription AR mutants
      could be prepared from which an increasing part was deleted at their carboxy
      terminal end. The interaction with HSP90 was conserved for AR1-758 missing the
      last 145 amino acids, but was lost in AR1-703. Furthermore, a large internal
      deletion (ARd41-469) of the major part of the amino terminal half of the AR did
      not result in the loss of HSP90 binding. These results indicate that a specific
      subregion (amino acids 704-758) of the carboxy terminal half of the AR is
      required for the interaction with HSP90.

PMID- 1459338
TI  - Identification of a transcriptional enhancer upstream from the bovine
      thyroglobulin gene.
AB  - The DNA sequences corresponding to a DNaseI-hypersensitive region identified
      previously in bovine thyroglobulin gene chromatin (Hansen et al. (1988) Eur. J.
      Biochem. 178, 387-393) exhibited the properties of a transcriptional enhancer in
      a transient assay in primary cultured dog thyrocytes, but did not so in
      transfected HeLa cells. By contrast to the thyroglobulin proximal promoter, the
      enhancer element did not require cyclic AMP stimulation of the thyrocytes to be
      active. Using a bi-directional deletion approach, the minimal region displaying
      enhancer activity has been localized between positions -1906 and -1744 relative
      to the thyroglobulin gene transcription start. DNA-footprinting experiments
      revealed the presence of several binding sites for the thyroid-specific
      transcription factor TTF-1 within the enhancer sequence.

PMID- 1459339
TI  - Evidence for basic fibroblast growth factor receptors in cultured immature Leydig
      cells.
AB  - Previous studies have shown that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) can
      modulate basal and luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin (LH/hCG)
      stimulated Leydig cell functions. It has not been ascertained whether these
      actions are due to direct or indirect effects on Leydig cells. To resolve this
      question, a multi-step procedure was used to isolate highly-purified Leydig cells
      from immature rats. 125I-bFGF binding studies were performed on cultured cells.
      Scatchard analysis of the data indicated a single binding site with an apparent
      Kd of 82 pM and a binding capacity of approximately 2800 sites per cell. Both
      bFGF and acidic FGF similarly were effective in displacing 125I-bFGF, suggesting
      that the receptor binds both bFGF and aFGF. However, neither hCG, follicle
      stimulating hormone (FSH), insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1),
      prolactin, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or epidermal growth factor (EGF)
      were effective competitors. When binding studies were conducted on cultured
      testicular interstitial cellular fractions that are normally discarded during
      Leydig cell purification, bFGF receptors were identified in these fractions.
      These results demonstrate that bFGF can have direct effects on Leydig cells
      through specific receptors; however, because other interstitial cell type(s) also
      have bFGF receptors, they stress the importance of using highly purified cells
      when evaluating bFGF actions on Leydig cells.

PMID- 1459340
TI  - Biphasic effects of exogenous ganglioside GM3 on follicle-stimulating hormone
      dependent expression of luteinizing hormone receptor in cultured granulosa cells.
AB  - The major ganglioside NeuAc alpha 2-->3Gal beta 1-->4Glc beta 1-->1Cer (GM3)
      present in cultured rat granulosa cells was examined for potential function in
      the expression of luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor on the cell surface in
      response to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Synthesis of GM3 was stimulated
      concentration-dependently by FSH, and the stimulation was enhanced
      synergistically by insulin, as revealed by metabolic labeling of
      glycosphingolipids with [3H]galactose. When granulosa cells were cultured in the
      media containing GM3 (0.2-20 microM), biphasic changes in FSH-dependent
      expression of LH receptor were observed, as measured by the binding of 125I
      deglycosylated human choriogonadotropin to the intact cells. Exogenous GM3
      suppressed expression of LH receptor in the cells treated with a low dose of FSH
      (20 ng/ml), which was characterized by a low GM3 level, to 30% of control at 10
      microM, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 8 microM. In contrast, in
      the cells treated with a high dose of FSH (100 ng/ml) and insulin, which was
      characterized by a high GM3 level, expression of LH receptor was enhanced by
      exogenous GM3, to 148% of control at 10 microM, with a half-maximal effective
      concentration of 2 microM. Exogenous GM3 produced concomitant changes in the
      levels of extracellular cAMP. These effects of exogenous GM3 were not accompanied
      by changes in granulosa cell proliferation. Exogenous GM3 also modulated the LH
      receptor expression by the synergistic action of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13
      acetate with insulin, with no significant changes in cellular DNA contents,
      suggesting that exogenous GM3 does not modulate directly the action of FSH at its
      receptor sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459341
TI  - The murine luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor genes:
      transcription initiation sites, putative promoter sequences and promoter
      activity.
AB  - The putative promoter regions of the murine follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
      and luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor genes were isolated and used to map
      transcription initiation sites for both genes. For the FSH receptor gene, a major
      transcription initiation site was found 534 nucleotides upstream, and for the LH
      receptor gene 310 nucleotides upstream of the corresponding translation
      initiation codons. In addition, several alternative minor transcription
      initiation sites were observed for both genes. The nucleotide sequences of the
      promoter regions revealed no canonical promoter elements, such as TATA and CCAAT
      consensus sites 5' of the main transcriptional start sites. The isolated promoter
      segments for both receptor genes showed low functional activity as verified in
      transient expression studies in immature rat granulosa cells using the luciferase
      coding region as the reporter for promoter activity. Both promoter elements seem
      to be still under tissue specific control, since neither LH receptor nor FSH
      receptor promoter activity was detectable in another cell line (CHO)
      investigated.

PMID- 1459342
TI  - Differential regulation of anterior pituitary prodynorphin and gonadotropin
      subunit gene expression by steroid hormones.
AB  - Prodynorphin is expressed by neurons of the hypothalamus and gonadotrophs of the
      anterior pituitary gland (AP) and plays a role in the negative feedback
      regulation of the reproductive neuroendocrine axis. The present study examined
      whether gonadal steroid hormones are capable of modulating pituitary prodynorphin
      expression in immature, female rats. Steroids were administered via subcutaneous
      Silastic implants and rats were killed at 29 days of age. Northern blot analysis
      was used to measure AP prodynorphin, luteinizing hormone-beta (LH beta), follicle
      stimulating hormone-beta (FSH beta), and common alpha-subunit mRNA levels
      (normalized to 18S ribosomal RNA). Treatment groups (n = 5-6) consisted of
      control (CNT; empty implants), estradiol (E2; 4 days), E2 + progesterone (E2 +
      P4; 8 days and 4 days, respectively), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT; 4 days).
      Pituitary prodynorphin mRNA was significantly suppressed in only the DHT-treated
      animals (26 +/- 10% of CNT, p < 0.01). LH beta mRNA was suppressed by all steroid
      treatments (p < 0.01), FSH beta was lower in only the E2 group, and alpha-subunit
      was reduced in both the E2 + P4 and DHT groups (p < 0.01). Serum LH was
      suppressed by all steroid treatments but FSH was reduced in only the E2 and E2 +
      P4 groups (p < 0.01). Treatment of prepubescent rats with continuous high levels
      of gonadal steroids is known to severely reduce endogenous hypothalamic
      gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) release and this is supported by our
      observation of reduced gonadotropin-subunit gene expression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459343
TI  - Ontogeny of apomorphine-induced stereotypy and its D1 and D2 receptor mediation
      in rats depleted of dopamine as neonates.
AB  - The ontogeny of apomorphine-induced stereotypy in rats treated with 6-OHDA (100
      micrograms) or its vehicle on postnatal Day 3 was determined on Days 6, 21, or 60
      90. Stereotypic sniffing and mouthing behavior were produced by apomorphine in
      control and DA-depleted animals as early as Day 6. Animals depleted of DA as
      neonates exhibited supersensitivity to these behavioral effects from Day 6 into
      adulthood. The relative contributions of D1 and D2 receptor activation to
      apomorphine-induced behaviors were determined by measuring the ability of
      specific D1 or D2 antagonists to block these effects in adults. Blockade of D1
      receptors with SCH 23390 or D2 receptors with clebopride suppressed apomorphine
      induced stereotypy in both vehicle- and 6-OHDA-treated rats. However, adults
      depleted of DA as neonates were less sensitive to the DA antagonists than were
      control rats. These results demonstrate that apomorphine-induced stereotypy is
      present as early as postnatal Day 6. Rats depleted of DA as neonates continue to
      exhibit these behaviors, even at lower doses of apomorphine than were necessary
      in control animals. Finally, coactivation of D1 and D2 receptors appears
      necessary for apomorphine-induced stereotypy in both groups of rats.

PMID- 1459344
TI  - Thermogenesis during ultrasonic vocalization by rat pups isolated in a warm
      environment: a thermographic analysis.
AB  - Ultrasonic vocalizations, emitted by rat pups when separated from their mother,
      littermates, and home cage, have been used as a measure of isolation distress.
      Recently, we demonstrated that cold exposure is the primary component of
      isolation that induces the vocalization. We were unable, however, to suppress all
      ultrasound production when transferring pups to a thermoneutral (35 degrees C)
      environment. Using an infrared thermography system that allows us to estimate
      noninvasively heat production by brown adipose tissue, we found that pups
      transferred from the home nest to a 35 degree C test chamber exhibited sizable
      levels of heat production while they were vocalizing. Moreover, both heat
      production and ultrasound emission decreased over the 15-min test. Next, we used
      extreme care to minimize thermal, and therefore respiratory, stimulation of pups
      before, during, and after the transfer procedure. We found that such precautions
      prevented both heat production and ultrasound emission following transfer. These
      results indicate that infant rats' thermal sensitivities are far greater than
      previously suspected.

PMID- 1459345
TI  - Ultrasonic vocalization by rat pups during recovery from deep hypothermia.
AB  - Vocalization in the ultrasonic range (USV) has been reported to occur in young
      rodents in response to isolation, novelty, handling, and cold. Heretofore these
      calls have been known to occur only in alert, attentive, or emotionally aroused
      animals. These studies describe the emission of USV by comatose 9- to 10-day-old
      rat pups during recovery from deep hypothermia. Calling began at 15-18 degrees C
      core temperature while pups were virtually unresponsive to stimulation.
      Experimental results describe the patterns of call production in relation to
      respiration, cardiac function, colonic temperature, and brown adipose tissue
      thermogenesis. These vocalizations were 32-42 kHz in frequency, reached peak
      rates of 50/min at 23 degrees C, and were eliminated by laryngeal denervation,
      thus resembling isolation-induced vocalizations. However, contact with their dams
      failed to reduce call rates until pups had warmed above 25 degrees C. Newborn and
      weanling pups also emitted USV in deep hypothermia, but no USV were observed in
      pups recovering from general anesthesia. The possible functions and evolution of
      this behavior are discussed.

PMID- 1459346
TI  - Prenatal stress exposure alters postnatal behavioral expression under conditions
      of novelty challenge in rhesus monkey infants.
AB  - This prospective study investigated whether mild maternal stress during pregnancy
      could alter the behavioral and affective responses in rhesus monkey infants in a
      complex, novel environment. Twenty-four rhesus monkey infants were tested on
      three occasions at 6 months of age in a novel environment. Twelve infants were
      derived from mothers exposed to a daily 10-min mild stressor from Day 90 to Day
      145 postconception, while 12 were derived from mothers undisturbed during
      pregnancy. Prenatally stressed infants demonstrated more disturbance behavior,
      and lower levels of gross motor/exploratory behavior. Moreover, half of the
      prenatally stressed infants showed an abnormal response, falling asleep, while
      none of the control infants displayed this behavior. Males exhibited more
      clinging to surrogates, while females spent more time in gross motor/exploratory
      behaviors, with prenatally stressed males tending to spend the least time in
      gross motor/exploratory activity.

PMID- 1459347
TI  - Protective effect of human pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor on cerulein
      induced acute pancreatitis in rats.
AB  - We examined the protective effect of human pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor
      (PSTI), a specific trypsin inhibitor secreted from pancreatic acinar cells into
      the pancreatic duct, on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in conscious rats.
      The protective effect of human PSTI-RS, an analogue of PSTI with Arg-44 to Ser
      substitution which has a longer half-life in vitro, was also examined.
      Intraperitoneal administration of a pharmacological dose of cerulein to conscious
      rats induced acute pancreatitis, characterized by light microscopy as cellular
      disorganization of the acini and interstitial edema. Intravenous infusion of
      human PSTI (10, 50 or 250 micrograms/rat/h) into rats with cerulein-induced acute
      pancreatitis decreased their pancreatic wet weight and plasma amylase
      concentration. It also caused a dose-dependent decrease in vacuoles in acinar
      cells and interstitial edema. Human PSTI-RS, which has a longer half-life in
      vivo, was more effective than native PSTI at the same dose rate (10
      micrograms/rat/h) in reducing pancreatitis. These results suggest that human PSTI
      may have a beneficial effect on acute pancreatitis.

PMID- 1459348
TI  - Gallbladder emptying in patients with primary achalasia.
AB  - Being more evident that primary achalasia is not confined to the esophagus and
      that it may involve other organs in the digestive tract, gallbladder emptying was
      ultrasonographically evaluated in 10 patients affected with primary achalasia and
      in 10 controls. An intravenous cerulein infusion was used to induce gallbladder
      contraction. Eight out of 10 achalasic patients had a lower gallbladder emptying,
      and 6 out of 10 had a markedly delayed gallbladder emptying compared with the
      controls. Achalasic patients, taken as a whole, showed a significantly lower and
      delayed mean gallbladder emptying when compared with the controls. Such a finding
      confirms the possible extra-esophageal extension of primary achalasia. In this
      study, the hypothesis of impaired cholinergic gallbladder innervation in primary
      achalasia is discussed.

PMID- 1459349
TI  - E2 prostaglandins modulate cell proliferation in the small intestinal epithelium
      of the rat.
AB  - Groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were administered 1 mg/kg indomethacin
      subcutaneously, indomethacin subcutaneously plus 200 micrograms/kg oral 15-R-15
      methyl-prostaglandin E2 (MePGE2) or oral MePGE2 twice daily for 10 days. The
      animals were treated with antibiotics to prevent mortality. Two control groups
      were used: control 1 was given placebo and control 2 was treated with
      antibiotics. All rats were killed 4 h after injection of a metaphase blocker, and
      the proliferative activity of the distal small intestine was examined in
      histological sections by means of the cumulative mitotic index (MI). A reduction
      in the number of villous cells was observed in the rats given antibiotics (p <
      0.05 vs. control 1). The small intestinal villi of the rats treated with
      indomethacin had fewer cells than those of both control groups (p < 0.05) whereas
      the crypts contained more cells (p < 0.05) and had a higher MI than those of the
      controls (p < 0.05 vs. controls 1 and 2). These changes were reverted by the
      prostaglandin analogue. The number of cells of the small intestinal crypts and
      the cumulative MI in the rats who received indomethacin and the prostaglandin
      analogue were similar to controls, and they were significantly lower than the
      values observed in the animals treated with indomethacin (p < 0.05). The animals
      treated with the prostaglandin analogue and placebo developed a marked
      hyperplasia of the small intestinal villi (p < 0.05 vs. both control groups), but
      the atrophy of the villi induced by indomethacin was not prevented by
      simultaneous administration of the analogue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459350
TI  - Life events and daily stress in duodenal ulcer disease. A prospective study of
      patients with active disease and in remission.
AB  - Life events and daily stress were assessed in patients with duodenal ulcer,
      active or in remission, and in matched disease and normal controls. The mean
      positive life event scores were significantly lower in duodenal ulcer patients
      than in disease and healthy controls, and lower in patients with active ulcer
      than in those in remission. The positive scores and total life change scores
      decreased significantly after 6 months in the control groups and showed no
      significant variation in the duodenal ulcer group after 6 months. We conclude
      that the perception of life events, especially positive ones, is associated with
      duodenal ulcer.

PMID- 1459351
TI  - pH-dependent secretion of gastrin in duodenal ulcer disease: effect of
      suppressing Helicobacter pylori.
AB  - Patients with duodenal ulcers and Helicobacter pylori infection have elevated
      plasma gastrin concentrations which fall after suppression of the organism. This
      may be due to H. pylori elevating the pH of the antral mucous layer, therefore
      preventing luminal acid from inhibiting gastrin release. To test this idea, we
      measured the plasma gastrin concentrations under basal conditions and in response
      to 4% peptone when the gastric lumen was maintained at pH 2.5 and at pH 5.5 by
      gastric perfusion. We studied 11 duodenal ulcer patients before and after
      suppression of H. pylori. Gastrin concentrations were significantly higher before
      suppression of H. pylori than after treatment in all three states; basal gastrin
      (pmol/l) fell from 9.2 (3.7-23, median and range) to 5.1 (1.7-15) after
      treatment; from 11.3 (3.8-29) to 5.9 (5.7-6.1) at pH 2.5 and from 15.2 (3.9-32)
      to 7.15 (6.1-14) at pH 5.5. The ratio of peptone-stimulated gastrin at pH 2.5/pH
      5.5 was similar before (0.8; 0.5-1.7) and after (0.8; 0.5-1.1) suppression of H.
      pylori. These results indicate that infection with H. pylori increases basal and
      peptone-stimulated plasma gastrin concentrations, and that this response is
      independent of luminal pH.

PMID- 1459352
TI  - Sexual dysfunction amongst women with Crohn's disease: a hidden problem.
AB  - The sexual problems of 50 women with Crohn's disease, of whom 45 had a stable
      relationship, were investigated by structured interview and compared with age
      matched controls. Twenty-four percent patients had either infrequent or no
      intercourse compared with 4% of controls (chi 2 = 8.3, p < 0.005). However,
      amongst patients and controls who were sexually active, the frequency of
      intercourse was similar. Reasons for sexual inactivity included abdominal pain
      (24%), diarrhoea (20%) and fear of faecal incontinence (14%). Dyspareunia was
      common in patients (chi 2 = 6.5, p < 0.01) and this was irrespective of the site
      of disease (large vs. small bowel chi 2 = 0.85, NS). Women with perianal disease
      and fistulae were more likely to have dyspareunia than women with neither (chi 2
      = 4.2, p < 0.05), although this was not so for less extensive involvement with
      only perianal disease (chi 2 = 2.8, NS) or fistulae (chi 2 = 0.8, NS). Vaginal
      candidiasis was more common in patients (chi 2 = 5.8, p < 0.02), and on occasions
      this may have contributed to dyspareunia. Women with Crohn's disease experience
      sexual problems much more than healthy controls and they need support,
      sympathetic investigation and management.

PMID- 1459353
TI  - The integrated response of the cardiovascular system to food.
AB  - To obtain information about the integrated response of the cardiovascular system
      to food, cardiac output and regional blood flow (superior mesenteric artery,
      renal artery and calf blood flow) were measured in 14 normal young healthy
      subjects after an overnight fast and following a standard 800-kcal meal. Results
      were compared with 8 subjects who remained fasted throughout the study. Cardiac
      output increased from a mean (SEM) fasting value of 4.8 (0.3) l/min to a peak
      after 30 min of 6.1 (0.5) l/min (p < 0.001). Superior mesenteric blood flow
      increased from a fasting value of 463 (45) to a peak of 854 (110) ml/min also
      after 30 min (p < 0.001). These changes were accompanied by a significant fall in
      both systemic vascular resistance and superior mesenteric vascular resistance (p
      < 0.001). Only at the 15-min postprandial measurements was there a significant
      relationship between the increase in cardiac output and superior mesenteric
      artery blood flow (r = 0.62, p = 0.02). Calf blood flow increased and vascular
      resistance fell postprandially (p < 0.05), but there was little change in right
      renal artery blood flow. There was an insignificant fall in renal vascular
      resistance. Heart rate increased from a resting value of 65 (3) to a peak of 77
      (4) beats/min after 15 and 30 min (p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure fell
      postprandially with little change in systolic blood pressure. These results
      suggest that in healthy young subjects the increase in gut blood flow is met by
      an increase in cardiac output, with little evidence of redirection from other
      vascular beds. The early postprandial increase in superior mesenteric blood flow
      may account for the increase in cardiac output, although the magnitude of the
      change is much greater for cardiac output than superior mesenteric artery blood
      flow.

PMID- 1459354
TI  - Medical therapy of Menetrier's disease with omeprazole.
AB  - Medical therapy of Menetrier's disease is often unsatisfactory and may lead to
      surgical treatment. Two cases, previously unresponsive to H2 antagonists, are
      presented showing a marked response to omeprazole.

PMID- 1459355
TI  - Irritable bowel syndrome: can the patient's response to colonoscopy help with
      diagnosis?
AB  - The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder estimated to affect up to
      20% of adult Caucasians, with only a small percentage requiring investigation.
      This prospective study was performed to substantiate the impression that patients
      with IBS experience more pain during endoscopic examination of the colon than do
      patients with other conditions. Patients with IBS were observed to experience
      significantly more pain during colonoscopy than did patients without IBS (median
      observed pain scores 46 and 9, respectively), p < 0.001. The intensity of the
      pain perceived during examination was significantly higher for patients with IBS
      than for those without IBS (median 52.5 and 23.5, respectively), p < 0.001.
      Within the groups, there was no significant difference between flexible
      sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy in observed or perceived pain. 64% of the patients
      with IBS said that the pain experienced at colonoscopy was identical to their
      presenting pain. This study supports the hypothesis of a lower colonic pain
      threshold with colonic hyperalgesia in patients with IBS. We have found that
      hypersensitivity to the endoscopic examination of the colon is a useful clinical
      adjunct in the diagnosis of the IBS in those selected to undergo colonoscopy.

PMID- 1459357
TI  - Increased concentrations of synovial-type phospholipase A2 in serum and pulmonary
      and renal complications in acute pancreatitis.
AB  - The most important fatal complications of acute pancreatitis are respiratory
      dysfunction and anuria. Phospholipase A2 has been postulated to be associated
      with pathologies of various diseases, such as acute pancreatitis, septic shock
      and multiple injuries. We have recently developed immunoassays for the
      measurement of pancreatic and nonpancreatic synovial-type phospholipase A2. The
      present prospective study on 35 consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis
      indicated that the concentration of synovial-type phospholipase A2, the catalytic
      activity of phospholipase A2 and the concentration of C-reactive protein in serum
      were significantly higher in those patients suffering from acute pancreatitis who
      needed respirator treatment than in those who managed with spontaneous breathing,
      while there was no difference between these groups in the concentration of
      pancreatic phospholipase A2. The only significant difference between patients
      whose highest creatinine concentration rose up to 140 mumol/l and those whose
      highest creatinine concentration remained below this cutoff value was in their
      synovial-type phospholipase A2 values. The increased concentration of
      nonpancreatic synovial-type phospholipase A2 in serum was associated with
      pulmonary and renal complications. These results emphasize the role of synovial
      type phospholipase A2 in the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis.

PMID- 1459356
TI  - Lack of effect of synthetic human gastric inhibitory polypeptide and glucagon
      like peptide 1 [7-36 amide] infused at near-physiological concentrations on
      pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion in normal human subjects.
AB  - Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide 1 [7-36 amide]
      (GLP-1) are glucose-dependent insulinotropic gut hormones. Under experimental
      conditions, both have been shown to reduce stimulated gastric acid secretion. To
      study their individual and combined effects on pentagastrin-stimulated (0.1
      micrograms/kg/h from -90 to 120 min) gastric volume, acid and chloride output, on
      separate occasions, synthetic human GIP (1 pmol/kg/min) and/or GLP-1 [7-36 amide]
      (0.3 pmol/kg/min) or placebo (0.9% NaCl with 1% albumin) were infused
      intravenously (from -30 to 120 min) in 9 healthy volunteers. At 0 min, a glucose
      infusion was started that mimicked the glycemic profile after an oral glucose
      load of 50 g/400 ml and allowed for the glucose-dependent insulinotropic action
      of GIP and GLP-1 [7-36 amide]. Pentagastrin stimulated acid output significantly,
      but neither GIP nor GLP-1 [7-36 amide] either alone or in combination, reduced
      pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion. The circulating concentrations of
      GIP and GLP-1 [7-36 amide] obtained at steady state during exogenous
      administration of synthetic peptides were similar to or higher than those reached
      after oral glucose (endogenous secretion). In conclusion, (penta)gastrin
      stimulated gastric acid secretion is not inhibited by physiological circulating
      concentrations of GIP or GLP-1 [7-36 amide]. Therefore, the insulinotropic action
      of these intestinal hormones is physiologically more important than their
      possible role as enterogastrone.

PMID- 1459358
TI  - The mammalian anti-alpha-smooth muscle actin monoclonal antibody recognizes an
      alpha-actin-like protein in planaria (Dugesia lugubris s.l.).
AB  - The presence of an alpha-smooth muscle (alpha-sm) actin-like protein in planaria
      (Dugesia lugubris s.l.) is reported. The protein shows a 42 kDa molecular weight
      determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and is
      specifically recognized by the mammalian anti alpha-sm actin monoclonal antibody.
      When a planarian is induced to regenerate by head amputation, the immunostaining
      of the alpha-sm actin-like molecule becomes important in the area of growing
      blastema, reaching a maximum between 70-120 hours after injury. Conventional
      electron microscopy at the 4-day-regeneration stage shows that blastema-forming
      cells are a homogeneous population whose morphological features resemble those of
      migrating mesenchyme-like cells; only the myoblasts show a recognizable
      phenotype. The immunocytochemical localization of alpha-sm actin-like molecule by
      immunoperoxidase (light microscopy) and immunogold stains (electron microscopy)
      was carried out on both intact and injured worms. The antigen was localized
      mainly at the basal portion of the epidermal cells and in the undifferentiated
      mesenchyme-like cells. Myoblasts, but not differentiated myofibers, were also
      labelled by this antibody. The results indicate that in the lower Eumetazoan
      planarians, as well as in vertebrates, the alpha-sm actin can be considered to be
      a marker for myoid differentiation. The suggestion that alpha-sm actin can be
      used as a marker for mesenchyme-like cells in vertebrates and in invertebrates is
      also discussed.

PMID- 1459359
TI  - Identification of plakoglobin in oocytes and early embryos of Xenopus laevis:
      maternal expression of a gene encoding a junctional plaque protein.
AB  - We have isolated a cDNA encoding the junctional plaque protein plakoglobin of
      Xenopus laevis and determined its amino acid sequence. Comparisons with sequences
      of related proteins of the same and other species revealed that in Xenopus
      plakoglobin and beta-catenin are two different proteins, encoded by separate
      genes, that both genes are expressed in embryogenesis, and that the amphibian
      plakoglobin is more closely related to the human plakoglobin than to beta-catenin
      of the same species. Using this cDNA as a probe, we also show that plakoglobin
      mRNA is produced and stored in Xenopus oocytes and eggs. We discuss the
      possibility that the maternal pool of this junctional protein contributes to the
      junctional structures connecting the oocyte with the follicle epithelium and to
      the rapid formation of desmosomes and other plaque-bearing junctions in
      pregastrulation embryogenesis.

PMID- 1459360
TI  - Time dependency of 1,25(OH)2D3 induction of calbindin mRNA and calbindin
      expression in chick enterocytes during their differentiation along the crypt
      villus axis.
AB  - Quantitative methods of in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry have been
      used to measure 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) induction of calbindin
      mRNA and calbindin protein expressed in jejunal enterocytes at all points along
      the crypt-villus axis over a 24 h period. Small amounts of calbindin mRNA
      detected in vitamin D3 deficient (D-deficient) chick intestine increased rapidly
      to maximal values 8 h after hormone injection. The magnitude of this response was
      inversely related to age of enterocyte measured separately by injecting tritiated
      thymidine into D-deficient and 1,25(OH)2D3-injected birds. Enterocytes of all
      ages expressed small amounts of calbindin 3 h after hormone injection. This
      amount of calbindin then increased up to 24 h after hormone injection. Maximal
      calbindin expression took place in basal villus enterocytes. Later decrease in
      the ability of upper villus enterocytes to express calbindin was associated with
      a similar fall in calbindin mRNA expression. Previously it was suggested that
      inefficient translation to calbindin mRNA might take place in basal villus
      enterocytes 48 h after vitamin D injection. Present work using 1,25 (OH)2D3 shows
      that calbindin expression takes place at a constant rate during this early stage
      of enterocyte development. Secondary events limiting higher rates of calbindin
      synthesis in upper crypt and basal villus enterocytes remain to be identified.

PMID- 1459361
TI  - The chromatin structure of the mouse beta-2-microglobulin locus.
AB  - Within the promoter regions of both major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class
      I genes and the beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) gene, there are a number of common
      regulatory elements suggesting co-ordinate control. However, there is also
      evidence to suggest that beta 2m and class I are differentially regulated,
      indicating that these genes may have distinct regulatory elements. We sought to
      explore this question by analysing DNase I hypersensitive (DH) sites flanking the
      beta 2m gene. Five DH sites have been found within the vicinity of the beta 2m
      gene. One of these sites (DH1) located within the promoter region, correlates
      with the transcriptional activity of beta 2m since it is weak in embryonal (beta
      2m negative) cell lines. The remaining DH sites (2-5) are located downstream of
      the beta 2m gene. The most proximal downstream site, (DH2) located 5.5 kb from
      the last exon, was observed only in embryonal cell lines, indicating possible
      involvement in the downregulation of beta 2m. Furthermore, this site is markedly
      diminished in differentiated F9 cells. Possible roles for the remaining sites are
      discussed, in particular relationship to a second transcriptional unit identified
      in the vicinity. In addition, a similar analysis reveals a cluster of DH sites
      located downstream from the last exon of the human beta 2m gene.

PMID- 1459362
TI  - Ontogenesis of the murine hepatic extracellular matrix: an immunohistochemical
      study.
AB  - To define the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in hepatogenesis, we
      examined the temporal and spatial deposition of fibronectin, laminin and collagen
      types I and IV in 12.5-21.5 day fetal and 1, 7 and 14 day postnatal rat livers.
      In early fetal liver, discontinuous deposits of the four ECM components studied
      were present in the perisinusoidal space, with laminin being the most prevalent.
      All basement membrane zones contained collagen type IV and laminin, including
      those of the capsule (mesothelial), portal vein radicles and bile ductules.
      Fibronectin had a distribution similar to that of collagen type IV early in
      gestation. However, at later gestational dates, fibronectin distribution in the
      portal triads approached that of collagen type I, being present in the
      interstitial connective tissues; whereas, collagen type IV and laminin were
      restricted to vascular and biliary basement membrane zones in those regions. The
      cytoplasm of some sinusoidal lining cells and hepatocytes reacted with antibodies
      to extracellular matrix components. By electron microscopy the immunoreactive
      material was localized in the endoplasmic reticulum, indicating the ability of
      these cells to synthesize these ECM proteins. Biliary ductular cells had
      prominent intracytoplasmic staining for laminin and collagen type IV from day
      19.5 gestation until 7 days of postnatal life, but lacked demonstrable
      fibronectin or collagen type I. These results demonstrate that by 12.5 days of
      gestation the rat liver anlage has deposited a complex extracellular matrix in
      the perisinusoidal space. The prevalence of laminin in the developing hepatic
      lobules suggests a possible role for this glycoprotein in hepatic morphogenesis.
      In view of the intimate association of the hepatic lobular extracellular matrix
      with the developing vasculature, we hypothesize that laminin provides a scaffold
      of the developing liver, but once the ontogenesis is complete, intrahepatic
      perisinusoidal laminin expression is suppressed.

PMID- 1459363
TI  - Cytoplasmic events in human meiotic arrest as revealed by immunolabelling of
      spermatocyte proacrosin.
AB  - Proacrosin appears in the Golgi complex as early as the mid-pachytene stage and
      immediately thereafter initiates partition to be equally distributed in
      spermatids. The anti-proacrosin monoclonal antibody 4D4 (mAb 4D4) was used as a
      marker of these cytoplasmic events in ten men exhibiting spermatogenesis arrest
      in three specific stages: (i) leptotene/zygotene spermatocyte I with impaired
      chromosome pairing (six cases), (ii) early pachytene I (one case) and (iii)
      metaphase/anaphase I (three cases). Prophase arrest stages were identified on
      testis sections stained by silver nitrate. MAb 4D4 labelling revealed two types
      of leptotene/zygotene arrest depending on whether proacrosin was expressed or
      not. The data obtained enabled us to distinguish between: (i) nuclear blockages
      due to chromosome and/or nuclear matrix anomalies, when cytoplasmic events were
      either inhibited or not inhibited, and (ii) nuclear anomalies due to microtubular
      disturbances. In this latter case, cytokinesis was impaired as early as the
      prophase I, thus indicating a relationship between the Golgi partitioning and the
      microtubule network. Data show that meiotic arrest investigations, by means of an
      appropriate marker of the cytoplasmic events, provide valuable information on
      spermatogenic developmental processes.

PMID- 1459364
TI  - Reducing the number of rabbits in the low-volume eye test.
AB  - Although the Draize eye irritation test has provided important and useful
      information for eye safety assessments, considerable effort has been directed
      toward refining the assay procedure, reducing the number of animals used, and
      replacing this assay with alternative methods. The low-volume eye test (LVET) is
      a refinement of the Draize eye irritation test that uses 1/10 the volume of test
      substance placed directly on the cornea. The level and duration of eye irritation
      in the LVET are less than those in the Draize procedure, which means that it is a
      less stressful test. Furthermore, LVETs are more predictive of human response.
      Statistical studies have been conducted to determine the effects of reducing the
      number of animals used in the Draize test. These results suggested that a three
      animal test would provide essentially the same information as the six-animal
      test. A similar analysis has not been performed on results from the LVET.
      Accordingly, the present study was undertaken to evaluate previously existing
      LVET data to determine if the number of animals used in a LVET can be decreased
      as has been shown for the Draize test. The results of the analysis are consistent
      with the findings of earlier evaluations of classical Draize data. Three-animal
      subsets from 119 six-animal LVETs provided the correct classification greater
      than 92% of the time for three different classification schemes. Furthermore, the
      discrepancies between the three-animal subsets and the six-animal maximum average
      score tended to be smaller than those observed for the Draize test.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459365
TI  - Adduction of hemoglobin and albumin in vivo by metabolites of trichloroethylene,
      trichloroacetate, and dichloroacetate in rats and mice.
AB  - Adducts to macromolecules from trichloroethylene formed by in vivo and in vitro
      metabolism have been reported by many investigators. We examined the in vivo
      adduction of the blood proteins hemoglobin (Hb) and albumin in rats and mice
      dosed orally with [14C]trichloroethylene ([14C]TRI) to explore the development of
      a protein adduct biomarker of TRI exposure. We also examined the adduction of
      these two proteins from doses of [14C]trichloroacetate (TCA) and
      [14C]dichloroacetate (DCA), two metabolites of TRI. Association of label with
      albumin peaked at 4-8 hr in the rat (2480 nmol eq TRI/mg protein) and 2-4 hr in
      the mouse (1580 nmol eq TRI/mg protein). The decay was exponential with a half
      life consistent with that of rat or mouse albumin (approx 24 hr). The time course
      of label with Hb was characterized by an early plateau at 8 hr in rat (28 nmol eq
      TRI/mg protein), 4 hr in mouse (7 nmol eq TRI/mg protein), and followed by a slow
      steady increase, peaking at 120 hr (54 nmol eq TRI/mg protein, rat; 38 nmol eq
      TRI/mg protein, mouse). This apparent binding was linear with dose in the rat,
      but was convex in the mouse albumin (mouse Hb label was below detection at low
      dose). We also found that a portion of the irreversibly associated label,
      referred to by previous investigators as "binding," could be accounted for as
      metabolic incorporation of label into glycine and serine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459366
TI  - The action of chelating agents in experimental uranium intoxication in mice:
      variations with structure and time of administration.
AB  - The determination of the relative abilities of 11 chelating agents to enhance the
      urinary and fecal excretion of uranium when administered 10 min after uranyl
      acetate dihydrate (UAD) in mice showed that the most effective of these were
      Tiron, desferrioxamine, and 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypyrid-4-one. An increase in the
      interval between UAD administration and that of the chelating agent drastically
      reduces the net mobilization of the uranium by the chelating agents examined.
      When given shortly after UAD, Tiron produced the greatest reduction in renal and
      bone levels of uranium. None of the chelating agents were able to affect the bone
      levels of uranium when administered 24 hr or more after the administration of the
      UAD.

PMID- 1459367
TI  - Pulmonary toxicity of inhaled polypropylene fibers in rats.
AB  - This study was initiated to assess the pulmonary toxicity of a polyolefin fiber
      composed of polypropylene in male Fischer 344 rats after 90 days of inhalation
      exposure. To increase fiber respirability in the rodent, polypropylene fibers
      were size-selected before aerosolization to have a geometric mean diameter of 1.6
      microns (46% < 1 micron) and a geometric mean length of 30.3 microns. Three
      groups of animals were exposed in nose-only inhalation chambers, 6 hr/day, 5
      days/week, for 90 days to 15, 30, or 60 mg/m3 of polypropylene, or filtered air
      (negative control). Microscopic examination of the polypropylene fiber-exposed
      lungs revealed that, at all time points examined in the study, there was a dose
      dependent increase in pulmonary macrophages. These minimal or mild increases in
      cellularity appeared to be reversible, especially at the lower doses 30 days post
      exposure. No fibrosis was observed in any of the groups. A strong correlation was
      found between the external exposure concentration, the time of exposure, and the
      lung fiber burden. The number of partially degraded (segmented) fibers within the
      lung increased with the exposure concentration and period of exposure, as well as
      with the period of recovery after termination of exposure at 90 days. Fibers were
      recovered from exposed lungs using a hypochlorite digestion technique.

PMID- 1459368
TI  - The effect of exposure pattern on the accumulation of particles and the response
      of the lung to inhaled particles.
AB  - We hypothesized that a rapid rate of delivery of particles to the lung would
      overwhelm the normal clearance mechanisms of the lung and result in a higher lung
      burden of particles and a greater inflammatory response than a slower rate of
      particle delivery. F344/N rats were exposed over a 12-week period to the same
      weekly concentration times time product of carbon black (CB) particles, but at
      three different exposure rates: 3.5 mg/m3, 16 hr/day, 7 days/week; 13 mg/m3, 6
      hr/day, 5 days/week; or 98 mg/m3, 4 hr/day, 1 day/week. The intermediate exposure
      rate was chosen to mimic an occupational work week and to give an 8-hr, time
      weighted average exposure equal to the threshold limit value (TLV) for nuisance
      dusts of the American College of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (10 mg/m3).
      Pure CB has a lower TLV, 3.5 mg/m3, than nuisance dusts, but this is based on
      avoidance of excessive dirtiness in the workplace, not on the toxicity of CB.
      Lung burdens of CB were measured after 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks of exposure and at
      4, 8, 12, 16, and 24 weeks after the exposure ended. The inflammatory response
      was quantified by analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) after 6 and 12
      weeks of exposure and at 1, 12, and 24 weeks after exposure. The histopathology
      of the lung was evaluated at the end of the exposure and at 24 weeks after the
      exposure. Acquired lung burdens were between 3 and 4 mg/lung at the end of the
      exposure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459369
TI  - Quantitation of paraquat in biological samples by radioimmunoassay using a
      monoclonal antibody.
AB  - We have developed a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for the quantitative
      determination of paraquat in plasma, urine, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
      using a monoclonal antibody. The synthesis of the iodinated paraquat tracer is
      novel and less complicated than a previously reported method. Regardless of the
      type of biological sample analyzed, the sensitivity of the assay was 0.46 ng/ml
      in a 200-microliters aliquot. The results correlated well with those of another
      assay performed in a separate laboratory. Paraquat concentrations were determined
      in plasma and in urine of a dog over several days after the intravenous
      administration of 7.48 mg paraquat cation/kg and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
      obtained 34 hr after the 2-hr infusion was discontinued. Concentrations of
      paraquat measured ranged from 14.1 to 0.03 micrograms/ml in plasma and 2034 to
      0.36 micrograms/ml in urine. Concentrations of paraquat in plasma obtained at
      various times after the ingestion of paraquat by three patients ranged from 51.0
      to 0.010 micrograms/ml.

PMID- 1459371
TI  - Relative bioavailability of lead from mining waste soil in rats.
AB  - The purposes of this study were to determine the extent of absorption of lead
      (Pb) in mining waste soil from Butte, Montana, and to investigate the effect of
      mining waste soil dose (g soil/day) on tissue lead concentrations. Young, 7- to 8
      week-old male and female Sprague-Dawley rats (5/sex/group) were given mining
      waste soil that contained 810 or 3908 ppm lead mixed in a purified diet (AIN-76)
      at four different dose levels (0.2, 0.5, 2, and 5% dietary soil) for 30
      consecutive days. Standard groups included untreated controls and dosed feed
      soluble lead acetate groups (1, 10, 25, 100, and 250 micrograms Pb/g feed). The
      test soil dose levels bracketed a pica child's soil exposure level and the lead
      acetate concentrations bracketed the test soil dose levels of lead. Liver, blood,
      and femur were analyzed for total lead concentration using graphite furnace
      atomic absorption spectroscopy. Clinical signs, body weight, food consumption,
      and liver weights for test soil and standard groups were similar to control.
      Tissue lead concentrations from test soil animals were significantly lower than
      the tissue concentrations for the lead acetate group. Relative percentage
      bioavailability values, based on lead acetate as the standard, were independent
      of the two different test soils, dose levels, and sex and were only slightly
      dependent on the tissue (blood > bone, liver). Mean relative percentage
      bioavailability values of lead in the Butte mining waste soil were 20% based on
      the blood data, 9% based on the bone data, and 8% based on the liver data. The
      results of this study will provide the information needed to determine the
      significance of lead exposure from Butte soils in assessing human health risks as
      part of the Superfund Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study process.

PMID- 1459370
TI  - Neuropathologic findings in young male rats in a subchronic oral toxicity study
      using triethyl lead.
AB  - This study was undertaken to ascertain the neuropathologic effects of low level
      exposure of triethyl lead (3EL) to young male rats. Groups of 20 male Sprague
      Dawley weanling rats were given 3EL at 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.50, and 1.00 mg/kg
      body wt for 91 days, 5 days/week by oral gavage. Lead acetate (PbHOAC) was given
      at 200 mg/kg body wt/day as a positive control. Animals (five or six) were
      perfused with glutaraldehyde following barbiturate anesthesia at the termination
      of the experiment. These animals and the remaining members of the group received
      a thorough gross and microscopic postmortem examination. Sections of the central,
      peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems were examined and lesions scored. No
      lesions were noted in the brain, but randomly distributed light microscopic
      changes of spinal cord Wallerian degeneration were noted to increase in a dose
      responsive manner (rho = 0.48; p < 0.01), with 3EL administration.
      Ultrastructural examination of selected sections of the lumbosacral nerves,
      revealed lesions characterized by reduced neurofilaments and neurotubules, and
      irregular lamellated axoplasmic dense bodies in all animals receiving lead.
      Organolead was only detected in animals receiving 3EL, but lead cations were
      detected in all lead-treated animals. The brain lead levels of 1.00 mg/kg/day and
      200 mg Pb acetate positive control animals were equivalent. As distinctive
      ultrastructural lesions were seen in all rats treated with 3EL, we suggest that
      the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for 3EL be lowered to less than 0.05
      mg/kg/day.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459372
TI  - Gonadal effects of fetal exposure to the azo dye congo red in mice: infertility
      in female but not male offspring.
AB  - The present study describes the relationship between gonadal agenesis and
      fertility in male and female mice exposed in utero to the diazo dye Congo red
      (CR). Maternal CR treatment inhibited testicular and ovarian function in the
      offspring after oral administration of 1 or 0.5 g/kg/day on Gestational Days 8
      12. The testes of male offspring from CR-exposed dams were small in size and
      contained hypospermatogenic seminiferous tubules. However, despite the fact that
      testis weight was reduced by more than 70% in some males, they displayed normal
      levels of fertility when mated to untreated females for over 10 months. In
      contrast, female offspring from CR-exposed dams produced only about half as many
      litters and pups as the control pairs did under long-term mating conditions.
      Histological examination of the ovaries revealed that subfertility was correlated
      with ovarian atrophy. Females lacking maturing follicles were considerably less
      productive (1.3 litters and 11.5 pups) than treated females with histologically
      normal ovaries (7.1 litters and 78.1 pups). In summary, prenatal exposure to the
      dye CR affects the gonads of both male and female offspring, but only the female
      offspring display reduced fertility.

PMID- 1459373
TI  - Toxicity and carcinogenicity studies of quercetin, a natural component of foods.
AB  - Quercetin is a naturally occurring chemical found in our daily diet in fruits and
      vegetables. Toxicity and carcinogenicity studies of quercetin were conducted in
      male and female F344/N rats, under conditions which allowed comparison to results
      of approximately 400 previously tested chemicals. The chemical was administered
      in the feed for 2-years at concentrations of 0, 1000, 10,000, or 40,000 ppm, and
      the estimated dose delivered was approximately 40-1900 mg/kg/day. There were no
      treatment-related effects on survival and no treatment-related clinical signs of
      toxicity. The high-dose groups had reduced body weight gain in comparison to
      controls during the last half of the study. At interim evaluations at 6 and 15
      months, treatment-related toxic lesions were not observed, but at 2 years toxic
      and neoplastic lesions were seen in the kidney of male rats, including increased
      severity of chronic nephropathy, hyperplasia, and neoplasia of the renal tubular
      epithelium. Under the conditions of these 2-year studies quercetin showed
      carcinogenic activity in the kidney of the male rat, causing primarily benign
      tumors of the renal tubular epithelium. Quercetin did not cause tumors at other
      sites. Quercetin is a genotoxic chemical, but the neoplastic response observed in
      the kidney may be due in part to a combination of nongenotoxic and genotoxic
      events.

PMID- 1459374
TI  - Examination of the local lymph node assay for use in contact sensitization risk
      assessment.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of the murine local lymph
      node assay (LLNA) for contact sensitization risk assessment. Cellular
      proliferative activity in draining lymph nodes was determined for individual
      animals on Day 5 following four daily epicutaneous applications of the test
      chemical to the ears. Seventeen chemicals were tested, covering a range of
      materials including preservatives, drug actives, and perfume raw materials. The
      assay was found to be useful for identifying strong, moderate, and some weak
      sensitizers as defined by other testing methods (guinea pig, human). For
      evaluating the antigen specificity of the LLNA proliferative response, an in
      vitro blastogenesis assay was used. Dendritic cells (DC) isolated from lymph
      nodes of mice treated 24 hr earlier with trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB) were
      capable of in vitro stimulation of lymphocytes from TNCB-sensitized mice, but not
      lymphocytes from mice sensitized to the preservative mixture of 5-chloro-2
      methylisothiazolinone plus 2-methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI). Conversely, DC from
      mice treated 24 hr earlier with MCI/MI were capable of stimulating lymphocytes
      from MCI/MI-sensitized mice, but were unable to stimulate lymphocytes from TNCB
      sensitized mice, demonstrating the specificity of the response. The results of
      these studies support the use of the murine LLNA for both investigative and
      predictive contact sensitization testing. The LLNA offers the advantages of
      requiring less time for completion, incorporating an objective endpoint,
      requiring approximately half the number of animals, and being less costly than
      most currently employed guinea pig test methods. In addition, we believe the
      murine LLNA is a useful test to incorporate into a scheme for contact
      sensitization risk assessment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459375
TI  - Alkoxyresorufin metabolism in white-footed mice at relevant environmental
      concentrations of Aroclor 1254.
AB  - Recent investigations have detected polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) body burdens
      in wild white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) captured at hazardous waste
      sites. Insufficient information is currently available to interpret the
      toxicological significance of these body burdens. In an effort to provide this
      information, we investigated hepatic changes and PCB body burdens in white-footed
      mice following a 21-day dietary exposure to a PCB mixture, Aroclor 1254. Dietary
      concentrations tested were 0, 2.5, 25, 50, and 100 mg Aroclor 1254/kg diet
      (reported as ppm). Liver weights were significantly increased at all
      concentrations except 2.5 ppm. Ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (EROD) activity, an
      aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase-type substrate, was significantly increased at all
      PCB concentrations, but the dose-response tended to plateau above 25 ppm.
      Pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (PROD) activity, a putative phenobarbital-type
      substrate, was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner at 25 ppm PCB
      and above, with no plateau response. Pentobarbital sleep time was significantly
      decreased at 25 ppm, but not at 2.5 ppm. Results indicate white-footed mice
      undergo a mixed-type induction pattern following exposure to Aroclor 1254, with
      EROD the most sensitive indicator of PCB exposure. This investigation identified
      a no observed effect concentration for liver weights and PROD activity at 2.5 ppm
      in the diet which is equivalent to a body burden of 2.0 mg Aroclor 1254/kg wet wt
      of mice; the no observed effect concentration for EROD is below these levels.
      These results support the use of EROD, PROD, and liver weight as biomarkers of
      PCB exposure in field-captured rodents.

PMID- 1459376
TI  - Neurobehavioral effects from acute exposures to methyl isobutyl ketone and methyl
      ethyl ketone.
AB  - Subjects were tested for neurobehavioral performance in an environmental chamber
      to detect the presence of subclinical central nervous system effects from 4-hr
      exposures to methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) at 100 ppm, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)
      at 200 ppm, MIBK at 50 ppm with MEK at 100 ppm, or a placebo (i.e., a 5-min
      presentation of 25 ppm MEK-MIBK at each exposure period outset). Subjects were 68
      males and 75 females recruited from local universities; ages ranged from 18 to 32
      years. Ethanol by ingestion (95%-0.84 ml/kg) was used as a positive control. Five
      psychomotor tests (choice reaction time [CRT], simple reaction time [SRT], visual
      vigilance, dual task [auditory tone discrimination and tracking], memory
      scanning), one sensorimotor test (postural sway), and a test of mood (profile of
      mood states) were used to measure neurobehavioral effects. Additionally, chemical
      measurements (blood and breath) and reports of sensory and irritant effects were
      measured. The chemical exposures produced statistically significant performance
      effects on only 4 of 32 measures (% correct responses-visual vigilance, movement
      time-CRT, SRT, % incorrect responses-dual task). These effects, however, were not
      substantial and could not be attributed directly to the chemical exposures.
      Alcohol ingestion, however, produced significant decrements on every performance
      test except memory scanning and mood. An interaction occurred between gender and
      alcohol ingestion, such that more statistically significant performance
      decrements were found for females than for males. Significant odor sensations and
      irritant effects were reported by the subjects during the chemical exposures. The
      MEK results agree with earlier MEK experiments at comparable exposure conditions,
      and the MIBK results are consistent with a recent Swedish study that used MIBK
      exposures and showed no significant behavioral performance decrements from single
      MIBK exposures at 50 ppm with 50 W exercise. Additionally, the MIBK-MEK
      combination exposure showed no evidence of any interaction effects on either the
      behavioral or chemical measurements. The principal effects resulting from
      exposures to MEK and MIBK at the durations and concentrations used in the study
      are limited to sensory and irritant effects.

PMID- 1459377
TI  - Behavioral development following daily episodes of mother-infant separation in
      the rat.
AB  - Use of dermal or inhalation routes of maternal exposure during the postnatal
      period in rodent developmental neurotoxicity evaluations would be most practical
      if dams could be separated from their pups during the exposure period. However,
      this procedure raises questions concerning the effects of mother-infant
      separation itself on neurotoxicity endpoints. In the present study, Sprague
      Dawley rat pups were either maternally deprived in warm incubators for 6 hr each
      day (7:00 AM-1:00 PM) or left with their dams (control), from Postnatal Day 4-20
      (PND4-20), and were tested on a range of endpoints commonly used in developmental
      neurotoxicology. These included motor activity (PND13, 17, 19, 21, 29, 60),
      olfactory learning (PND18) and retention (PND25), T-maze delayed alternation
      (PND23, 24), acoustic startle response (PND23, 62), and auditory thresholds
      (PND62). None of the behavioral measures were affected by daily separation.
      Apparently, interrupting the mother-infant interaction for 6 hr/day has little or
      no effect by itself on behavioral development, as assessed by these measures.

PMID- 1459378
TI  - Diagnosis, antibiotic treatment and outcome of acute tonsillitis: report of a WHO
      Regional Office for Europe study in 17 European countries.
AB  - The diagnostic and prescribing habits of general practitioners from 17 European
      countries for 4094 patients with acute tonsillitis were assessed, and differences
      in outcome were identified. At least 10 general practitioners from each country
      filled in a questionnaire for each episode of acute tonsillitis treated during a
      three month period, November 1989-May 1990. Differences in days of fever and
      illness were tested by one-way analysis of variance. Bacteriological tests were
      rarely used for diagnosis in East Germany, Poland and the Netherlands, while a
      high percentage (70-96%) occurred in Turkey, Romania, Israel, Yugoslavia, Finland
      and Greece. Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci (40 per cent) and a negative
      test result (43 per cent) were the most common results. Ninety per cent or more
      patients were treated with an antibiotic. Oral penicillin was especially
      prescribed in the northern countries of Europe and parenteral penicillin in
      southern Europe. For almost all countries the mean number of days with fever was
      between 2 or 3 days. The mean number of days with illness differed greatly (F =
      62.12; P = 0.0000). Turkey had the lowest mean (2.56), while Poland had the
      highest mean (8.23).

PMID- 1459379
TI  - Fever in general practice. I. Frequency and diagnoses.
AB  - Although fever is a common symptom, few studies have broadly addressed this as a
      clinical problem in general practice. The aims of this study were to determine
      the frequency of fever among general practice patients in two rural
      municipalities in Norway, the diagnoses (according to ICHPPC-2-def.) of
      conditions causing fever, and the receptionist's role in the management of these
      problems. All the general practitioners and their receptionists within the study
      area participated. During 4 weeks throughout 1988 all individuals attending their
      general practitioner had their body temperature measured with an electronic
      thermometer (orally > or = 7 years, rectally < 7 years). Fever was defined as an
      oral body temperature > or = 37.5 degrees C (rectally > or = 38.0 degrees C in
      those < 7 years). All telephone applications, including telephone encounters for
      fever, were recorded. Fever was detected in 80 (5%) of a total of 1610 direct
      encounters: 36% of those below 7 years of age (n = 70) were febrile. One-third of
      the total encounters for fever were telephone encounters (n = 36), of which 30%
      were managed by the receptionists. A wide range of diagnoses were made, most of
      which were associated with infectious diseases. The distribution of the diagnoses
      of primary care patients with fever is different from those admitted to hospital
      for fever of unknown origin. General practitioners and their receptionists should
      consider fever a diagnostic challenge, especially when the patient is handled
      over the telephone.

PMID- 1459380
TI  - Pregnant women's ailments and psychosocial conditions.
AB  - Pregnant women's ailments may cause anxiety and reduce the quality of life. Sixty
      five pregnant women were followed prospectively in antenatal care in general
      practice, and spontaneously reported ailments not associated with serious
      pregnancy complications were registered prospectively. The vast majority of
      pregnant women spontaneously reported one or more ailments. A higher number of
      ailments was reported by women with psychosocial problems and heavy physical
      work. Abdominal pain was more often reported by women assessed as having
      psychosocial problems. Based on background knowledge, clinical observations and a
      somewhat extended history on the psychosocial situation, it is possible to
      identify a subgroup of women who experience a more than 50% increase in the
      frequency of such ailments. Reporting of a high number of ailments in antenatal
      care may provide the clinician with important clues regarding need for
      psychosocial support.

PMID- 1459381
TI  - Striking balances: detachment or empathy in the management of Parkinson's
      disease?
AB  - This paper, based on in-depth interviews with a group of 18 GPs, was part of a
      wider study of what GPs and patients thought about communication between them in
      the case of Parkinson's disease. Four areas where GPs experienced anxiety and
      uncertainty in responding to their Parkinson's disease patients were examined:
      that of sustaining care over time; accepting that patients cannot be cured;
      managing the task of 'just being there' with patients; and responding to patients
      with communication impairments. Such uncertainties have to be managed if doctors
      are to accomplish their work lives. The paper goes on to examine how GPs struck
      balances for themselves between detachment and empathy to keep uncertainty at
      bay, enabling some GPs to be responsive to patients' needs and others less so. An
      understanding of these difficulties and strategies has important implications for
      doctor-patient communication. Some suggestions for change are discussed.

PMID- 1459382
TI  - Cataract, functioning and co-morbidity: a cross-sectional study in family
      practice.
AB  - Cataract is a slowly developing eye disease, the prevalence of which rises with
      age. Although patients often adapt to the diminished visual acuity accompanying
      the development of cataracts, their functional health may be impaired by poor
      vision. An index for visual functioning was derived from the literature. As older
      people often have additional chronic diseases, vision, visual functioning index
      and chronic co-morbidity were measured. Functional health was measured with
      different validated instruments. Eighty cataract patients participated in this
      study and were visited at home. Results showed statistically significant
      correlations between vision and co-morbidity on the one hand and visual
      functioning and functional health on the other. As in most participants vision
      was only slightly impaired, these results might even be more pronounced in
      patients with mature cataract. We conclude that indications for cataract surgery
      might not only be derived from visual acuity, but also from visual functioning
      and functional health.

PMID- 1459383
TI  - The effects of treatment of urinary incontinence in general practice.
AB  - A total of 110 women who had reported urinary incontinence to their general
      practitioners were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. Treatment
      consisted of pelvic floor exercises in the case of stress incontinence and
      bladder training in the case of urge incontinence. The results were measured
      after 3 and 12 months by a research assistant on the basis of a constructed
      severity scale, an incontinence diary, and a comparison by the patients
      themselves of their previous and current conditions. After 3 months the control
      group were given the same treatment. After a further 3 and 12 months, they were
      assessed in exactly the same way as the treatment group. After 3 months about 60%
      of the patients were either dry or only mildly incontinent; the mean number of
      wet episodes had gone down from 20 to 7, and 74% of the women felt improved or
      cured. These results were later corroborated by the control group. After 12
      months this successful outcome was improved slightly further. It may be concluded
      that the majority of women with incontinence can be successfully treated by the
      general practitioner. The effect of this treatment continues after one year.

PMID- 1459384
TI  - Morbidity from childhood to adulthood. The medical life history of 103 patients.
AB  - The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between presented
      morbidity in consecutive periods of time in the first 35 years of life. Data were
      collected in a large rural general practice from 1946 to 1990 and covered 103
      persons born between 1946 and 1959 in a general practice in the east of The
      Netherlands. Morbidity scores were calculated for all registered diagnoses in 5
      year periods. Morbidity was allocated to three degrees of seriousness, to all
      atopic disorders, and to eight important diagnosis groups. There were strong
      correlations between consecutive time periods for all but serious morbidity. The
      same pattern was found between 0-4 years of age and consecutive periods till the
      age of 20-25. After this age no significant correlations could be established.
      Atopic disorders were inter-related in the first 20 years of life. Strong
      correlations were also found for eczema and lower respiratory tract infections in
      the first 20 years, while strong correlations were found for accidents and
      nervous complaints between the ages of 20 and 35. We conclude that causes of
      morbidity presented in general practice in childhood and adulthood are strongly
      inter-related over consecutive 5-year periods.

PMID- 1459385
TI  - Eliciting patients' views of the cause of their problem: a practical strategy for
      GPs.
AB  - One thousand consecutive consultations with one general practitioner were studied
      to determine the value of seeking the patients' ideas about the cause of their
      condition. The diagnosis was an issue in 543 of the consultations. A total of 150
      patients spontaneously volunteered a clear cause. When the remainder were asked
      to express their ideas about cause, 266 were able to do so. There were no
      significant age or sex differences between those who were able to express a cause
      compared with those who were unable to. The most common ideas expressed were
      infection, injury, anxiety and allergy. Thirty per cent of ideas were valuable to
      the doctor in reaching a deeper understanding of the patient's concerns over the
      condition and 20% helped determine the most likely cause of the condition. There
      were no significant differences in the value to the doctor between the causes
      spontaneously volunteered and those given as a result of questioning. The most
      valuable ideas to the doctor were cancer, anxiety, age, occupation, and heart
      disease. This study suggests that in the half of general practitioner
      consultations in which diagnosis is an issue, it is worthwhile seeking the
      patients' ideas as to cause of their condition.

PMID- 1459386
TI  - Women's undefined disorders--a challenge for clinical communication.
AB  - Patients presenting illness without disease are common in general practice. A
      clinical communicative method was developed in order to clarify women's
      'undefined' disorders. Outcomes from this approach registered from 122 audiotaped
      consultations were qualitatively analysed, in order to explore potential
      conditions and premises constituting the phenomena labelled as undefined.
      Knowledge produced by female patients was applied for transformation of the
      undefined nature of the problem into various levels of medical understanding.
      Gender-specific illness-promotive mechanisms were identified, as well as certain
      communicative dilemmas distorting symptom presentation into undefinedness.
      Relevant medical management was also suggested.

PMID- 1459387
TI  - Patient satisfaction in primary health care. A comparative study of two modes of
      treatment for hypertension.
AB  - The object of this study was to compare patients' experiences of two different
      treatments of hypertension (one mainly non-pharmacological and one
      pharmacological) and study the degree of patient satisfaction and experiences of
      treatment in general. The 165 patients in the non-pharmacological group
      participated in a two-year-long study of non-pharmacological treatment of
      hypertension (NPTH) at eight health centres in mid-Sweden. In addition to regular
      visits to the same doctor at the health centre, patients received monthly check
      ups by a nurse at the health centre and participated in information programmes
      and group activities. The NPTH patients also used cuffs for home measurements of
      blood pressure. The 85 patients in the control group were recruited from two
      health centres and received traditional, pharmacological treatments of
      hypertension. The hypothesis was that the patients in the NPTH group would
      experience satisfaction with the treatment and perceive the treatment in general
      as more positive than those in the control group. The 250 patients have answered
      a postal inquiry with structured and open questions concerning the treatment. The
      results show that the patients in the NPTH group throughout this study have
      experienced higher satisfaction with the treatment and had a more positive
      attitude towards the treatment than the controls. The content and design of the
      treatment obviously had a positive influence on patient satisfaction.

PMID- 1459388
TI  - Patient-centredness: is it applicable outside the West? Its measurement and
      effect on outcomes.
AB  - Patient-centredness has been shown to be associated with improved patient
      outcomes in the West. The objectives of this study were: (i) to further test a
      specific method for measuring patient-centredness that had previously
      demonstrated validity and reliability, and (ii) to test the effectiveness of a
      patient-centred approach amongst poor, non-Western people in South Africa.
      Patient-centredness was measured in terms of the practitioner's facilitation of
      the patient's reasons for coming, including symptoms, thoughts, feelings, and
      expectations. The study involved nurse practitioners and medical doctors in three
      primary care settings with patients from eight language groups. The method for
      measuring patient-centredness was found to be valid, reliable (inter-rater
      correlations, rs = 0.95, 0.88, and 0.87), sensitive, and practical, being
      inexpensive, time efficient, suitable for consultations involving interpreters,
      and not requiring transcripts. The score for the first 2 minutes of the
      consultation correlated highly with the score for the entire consultation (rs =
      0.92), which could make the method useful on a large scale. Patient-centredness
      itself, was also time effective, applicable to cross-cultural consultations
      involving interpreters, and was associated with patients feeling understood (P =
      0.03), patient-practitioner agreement (P = 0.049), symptom resolution (P = 0.01),
      and concern resolution (P = 0.006). This study supports the effectiveness of
      patient-centred interviewing in a non-Western setting as well as this method of
      assessing it.

PMID- 1459389
TI  - Differences between patient and physician perceptions of predicted compliance.
AB  - One approach to improving patient compliance is for physicians to adapt their
      behaviour to fit patients' psychological characteristics. Previous university
      based research has suggested that physician adaptation to patients' locus of
      control interferes with patient-physician congruence on expected compliance, but
      not with congruence on satisfaction with their relationship. This study was
      conducted in a community practice to clarify the relationship between the
      physician's adaptation to locus of control and likelihood of and commitment to
      compliance, and satisfaction with the doctor-patient match. One physician saw 148
      patients with a variety of illnesses after they had completed the Health Locus of
      Control (HLC) questionnaire. The physician altered how he spoke with a patient
      based on whether the patient scored internally or externally on the HLC. After
      the encounter, both patient and physician rated the patient's likelihood of and
      commitment to complying with each of the three recommendations. The physician and
      each patient also rated their satisfaction with the match between them. Patients'
      ratings of commitment, likelihood, and satisfaction were significantly higher
      than those of the physician. Unlike earlier results, there were strong
      correlations between the patients' and physician's estimates of compliance
      (commitment and likelihood). Just as with the previous study, there was no
      correlation between the levels of physician and patient satisfaction with their
      match. This study indicates that physician adaptation to patients' locus of
      control does not interfere with compliance outcomes of doctor-patient encounters.
      Whether such adaptation will improve compliance outcomes is yet to be determined.

PMID- 1459390
TI  - Medical students' perceptions of an undergraduate general practice preceptorship.
AB  - A survey was undertaken to evaluate an undergraduate general practice
      preceptorship by means of an open-ended six-item questionnaire given to students
      at the end of their general practice attachment. The aim of the survey was to
      evaluate the preceptorship as a learning experience and to examine ways in which
      the preceptorship might be improved. Questionnaires from two medical student
      years (1985 and 1990) were examined retrospectively. Of 398 potential responders,
      386 (97%) had completed questionnaires. Students expressed a very high level of
      satisfaction with the attachment and this was expressed most often in terms of
      the personal interest shown by the general practitioner, the variety of clinical
      problems encountered, and the experience gained in managing common clinical
      problems. Areas of the attachment which students felt could be improved were:
      involvement in the consultation, the time constraints on teaching and the
      teaching of practical skills. The paper discusses possible improvements which
      could be made to preceptorship programmes on the basis of these findings.

PMID- 1459391
TI  - International primary care classifications: the effect of fifteen years of
      evolution.
AB  - To better understand the development of primary care classifications over the
      past 15 years, 10 primary care databases have been retrospectively analysed using
      the structure of the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) as the
      basis. All datasets were based on routine data collection using different
      classification systems by several family physicians during all encounters with
      their patients over considerable periods of time, in most cases one year. The
      prevalences or the rates of the available diagnostic--and reason for encounter-
      classes were distributed over four frequencies. With a few exceptions the
      distribution of diagnostic labels referring to common diseases is surprisingly
      similar. The use of ICPC however results in a quantum leap in the use of symptom
      and complaint diagnoses. Because of this shift primary care physicians now have
      available a classification with 400 diagnostic classes used with a prevalence of
      > or = 1/1000 patient-years or per 1000 visiting patients per year. The
      classification of reasons for encounter allows the physician to identify over 300
      reasons for encounter used > or = 1/1000 patient years or per 1000 visiting
      patients per year. Family physicians have been successful in the development of
      new primary care classifications. Rag bag rubrics which are the result of the
      structure of ICPC are used relatively often and deserve more attention from
      primary care taxonomers.

PMID- 1459392
TI  - The conversion between ICPC and ICD-10. Requirements for a family of
      classification systems in the next decade.
AB  - The International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) was developed to order
      medical concepts into classes that have been chosen for their relevance for
      family medicine. Family physicians use this to label the most prevalent
      conditions in their practice as well as their patients' symptoms and complaints.
      At the same time they do not want to be divorced from the needs of the medical
      community at large as these are reflected in the most recent medical
      nomenclature: the Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases
      (ICD-10). A full conversion between all classes in the first and seventh
      component of ICPC (n = 646) with those of ICD-10 (n = 1983), with the exception
      of the chapter on external causes, has been prepared. It was concluded that ICD
      10 at the three-digit level cannot function as a core classification for an
      international primary care system. Of the three-digit ICD-10 rubrics only 120 are
      compatible on a one to one basis with an ICPC rubric. A total of 114 three-digit
      ICD-10 rubrics have to be broken open into four-digit rubrics to allow at least
      one compatible conversion to one or more ICPC rubrics. On this basis only 25% of
      the diagnostic classes in ICPC can be converted to a single three- or four-digit
      ICD-10 rubric without lumping. The rest of ICD-10, either on the three- or on the
      four-digit level, has to be grouped into combinations of classes (lumping) to
      allow compatible conversion to the remaining rubrics of ICPC. Even though ICD-10
      cannot serve as a core classification for primary care, a technical conversion
      between ICPC and ICD-10 is practically always possible which allows primary care
      physicians to implement ICD-10 as a contemporary nomenclature within the
      classification structure of ICPC.

PMID- 1459393
TI  - Minimum basic data set in general practice: definitions and coding.
AB  - A minimum basic data set (MBDS) was designed and used in general practice. The
      most important purpose and need for establishing such a data set is to assist in
      the provision of patient care. MBDS is designed to meet common needs for many
      general practitioners. Minimum means that individual programmes or the GP are
      free to collect as much additional data as they may wish. The MBDS includes two
      kinds of data: permanent and dynamic/encounter items. Permanent items are:
      patient data (identification, problem list, chronic treatments, source of
      payment) and GP data (professional characteristics). Dynamic/encounter items are:
      date, place, reasons for encounter, problems, process and prior encounter status.

PMID- 1459394
TI  - Computerization of general practices and quality control. Blood glucose
      regulation in type 2 diabetics investigated in the Registration Network family
      practices.
AB  - The extent to which computerized medical administration facilitates quality
      control was studied using as an example the quality of blood glucose regulation
      in diabetics supervised by general practitioners in 11 computerized practices.
      Systematic use of the general practice computer rapidly provided an unequivocal
      answer that 37% of such patients were not regulated in accordance with the
      guidelines for type 2 diabetes mellitus of the Dutch College of General
      Practitioners. The extra workload for the participating general practitioners was
      minimal. Automated recording of problem lists, as applied in the general
      practices belonging to the Registration Network, facilitates access to data on
      chronic diseases and risk factors for purposes of research, quality control and
      quality assessment.

PMID- 1459395
TI  - General practitioners' attitudes towards future developments in practice
      computing--a representative survey in the north of Germany.
AB  - A postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of general practitioners in
      Lower Saxony, Germany to assess how general practitioners regard newly developed
      but not yet implemented options of practice computers and future applications
      such as expert systems and information retrieval systems. Replies were received
      from 276 (response rate 73.6%) general practitioners. Replying doctors were
      younger (P < 0.05) but they did not differ by sex, practice location, type of
      vocational training and grade of computerization from non-responding GPs. Twenty
      eight per cent of the practices were computerized. Doctors who currently used a
      computer and those who intended to do so within the next 5 years were
      significantly younger than those doctors who did not intend to computerize their
      practice (P < 0.001). Female doctors were less willing to buy a computer than
      their male colleagues (P < 0.05). A computerized drug database and a medical
      library ranked best from 8 options given. Overall attitudes to all features were
      positive, except for an expert system giving criteria for referrals to specialist
      care. Doctors already working with a computer and those intending to buy one were
      significantly more positive about future options for computers than those doctors
      who do not intend to use a computer (P < 0.01). GPs' attitudes about new features
      of practice computers in general were positive but even more so about those
      options which are already available. Referral to a specialist seems to be a
      crucial point for GPs--they apparently do not want to be guided by a computer
      here.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459396
TI  - Selections from current literature: treatment of congestive heart failure with
      angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.

PMID- 1459397
TI  - Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of a phoA gene encoding a phosphate
      irrepressible alkaline phosphatase of Zymomonas mobilis.
AB  - The Zymomonas mobilis phoA gene, encoding a phosphate-irrepressible alkaline
      phosphatase (ZAPase), was cloned and its expression was studied in phoA mutants
      of Escherichia coli. The ZAPase was recovered in the soluble fraction of E. coli.
      The enzyme was synthesized constitutively and its synthesis not repressed by
      phosphate, unlike the phoA gene of E. coli. The phoA gene of Z. mobilis was
      mutagenized by Mini Mu PR13 and the mutated gene crossed into Z. mobilis in order
      to obtain phoA mutants by reverse genetics. Although Z. mobilis mutants with Mini
      Mu PR13 integrated in the chromosome were obtained, none had an allele
      replacement for none was defective in ZAPase.

PMID- 1459398
TI  - Biosynthesis of modified peptidoglycan precursors by vancomycin-resistant
      Enterococcus faecium.
AB  - In the presence of bacitracin, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (vanA
      phenotype) accumulate UDP-N-acetylmuramyl(UDP-Mur-NAc)-tetrapeptide and a UDP
      MurNAc-depsipentapeptide containing lactate substituted for the carboxy-terminal
      D-alanine residue. In an in vitro peptidoglycan polymerization assay, the
      modified precursors function and confer resistance to vancomycin.

PMID- 1459399
TI  - Urea-hydrolysis-dependent citrulline synthesis by Ureaplasma urealyticum.
AB  - Some of the ammonia produced by hydrolysis of urea by Ureaplasma urealyticum is
      channelled into an anabolic pathway with resultant 'de novo' synthesis of
      citrulline. The organism appears to possess ornithine carbamoyltransferase and
      carbamoyl phosphate synthetase or some modified form of these enzymes.

PMID- 1459400
TI  - Ergosterol levels in two L-methionine-enriched mutants of the methylotrophic
      yeast Candida boidinii ICCF26.
AB  - Two L-methionine-enriched mutants, SN-78 and SE-57, were isolated in a sulphur
      deficient medium from the methylotrophic yeast Candida boidinii ICCF26. No
      significant differences were detected between the L-cysteine pools of the mutants
      and the wild-type. In mutant strain SE-57, S-adenosylmethionine and ergosterol
      levels were higher than in the wild-type strain, while in the other mutant, SN
      78, the levels were lower. The evidence presented would suggest that, in both the
      mutants and the wild-type used in this study, S-adenosylmethionine was of key
      importance for the accumulation of L-methionine and ergosterol.

PMID- 1459401
TI  - Detection and differentiation of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides isolates using
      PCR.
AB  - An oligonucleotide primer (CgInt), synthesised from the variable internally
      transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of Collectotrichum
      gloeosporioides was used for PCR with primer ITS4 (from a conserved sequence of
      the rDNA) to amplify a 450-bp fragment from the 25 C. gloeosporioides isolates
      tested. This specific fragment was amplified from as little as 10 fg of fungal
      DNA. A similar sized fragment was amplified from DNA extracted from C.
      gloeosporioides-infected tomato tissue. RAPD analysis divided 39 C.
      gloeosporioides isolates into more than 12 groups linked to host source and
      geographic origin. Based on the results obtained, the potential of PCR for
      detection and differentiation of C. gloeosporioides is discussed.

PMID- 1459402
TI  - An FNR-dependent promoter from Escherichia coli is active and anaerobically
      inducible in Paracoccus denitrificans.
AB  - A transcriptional fusion of a synthetic FNR-dependent promoter derived from
      Escherichia coli has been introduced into Paracoccus denitrificans on a broad
      host-range plasmid. The patterns of expression of beta-galactosidase from this
      fusion and from a control which is not regulated by FNR have been studied. The
      results indicate that P. denitrificans expresses a transcriptional regulator
      which has a very similar DNA-binding specificity to FNR, and responds to a
      similar physiological signal.

PMID- 1459403
TI  - Pulsed field gel electrophoresis of representatives of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
      and Mycobacterium bovis BCG strains.
AB  - Using field inversion gel electrophoresis (FIGE), different Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis strains, such as phage prototypes, exhibit different DNA restriction
      patterns which are easy to compare. Virulent and avirulent variants of M.
      tuberculosis H37, as well as daughter strains of M. bovis BCG, display
      characteristic DNA profiles. BCG strains isolated from suppurative adenitis
      following vaccination of French patients showed patterns identical to the BCG
      Pasteur strain used for vaccination. These results demonstrate that FIGE of DNA
      restriction fragments generated by DraI represents a suitable technique for the
      analysis of mycobacteria at a genomic level. The DraI profiles allow the
      differentiation and precise identification of the BCG Pasteur, Glaxo, Russian and
      Japanese strains.

PMID- 1459404
TI  - Analysis of genomic DNA from Chlamydia trachomatis for Dam and Dcm methylation.
AB  - Chlamydia trachomatis is a Gram-negative eubacterium with a dimorphic
      developmental cycle and obligate intracellular growth in the eucaryotic host. The
      Dam transmethylase of Escherichia coli methylates at the N6 position of adenine
      in the sequence 5'-GATC-3' and the Dcm transmethylase adds methyl groups to the
      C5 position of the internal cytosines in the sequences 5'-CCWGG-3'. In contrast
      to E. coli, C. trachomatis DNA appears to have unmethylated Dam sites and only
      low level Dcm methylation.

PMID- 1459405
TI  - Mineralization of 2-chloro- and 2,5-dichlorobiphenyl by Pseudomonas sp. strain
      UCR2.
AB  - Pseudomonas sp. strain UCR2 was isolated from a multi-chemostat mating experiment
      between a chlorobenzoate-degrader, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain JB2, and a
      chlorobiphenyl-degrader, Arthrobacter sp. strain B1Barc. Strain UCR2 differed
      from either of the parental organisms in that it grew on both 2-chloro- and 2,5
      dichlorobiphenyl with concomitant release of chloride. Phenotypic typing by the
      Biolog system indicated that strain UCR2 shared greater similarity with strain
      JB2 (88%) than strain B1Barc (3%). In DNA:DNA hybridization experiments, genomic
      DNA from strain UCR2 hybridized with both strain JB2 and strain B1Barc, with the
      former pairing yielding a much stronger signal than the latter. In contrast, no
      hybridization whatsoever was observed when the parental organisms strains JB2 and
      B1Barc were probed against each other.

PMID- 1459406
TI  - Temperature-sensitive mutants of the Mycobacterium plasmid pAL5000.
AB  - Two plasmids were isolated as thermosensitive replicons following in vitro
      mutagenesis of pB4, a pAL5000 derivative mycobacteria/Escherichia coli shuttle
      plasmid. Plasmids pCG59 and pCG63 replicate at 30 degrees C but not at 39 degrees
      C. This will allow their utilisation for transposon delivery, site-specific
      integration, or allele exchange.

PMID- 1459407
TI  - Dimorphism in Itersonilia perplexans: yeast and hyphal phases differ in their
      sensitivity to mycocins produced by tremellaceous yeasts.
AB  - The monokaryotic yeast phase of the heterobasidiomycete Itersonilia perplexans,
      unlike the hyphal phase, was found to be sensitive to mycocins produced by killer
      strains of Cryptococcus humicola, Cr. laurentii, Cystofilobasidium bisporidii and
      Rhodotorula fujisanense. Both the yeast and hyphal phases wer resistant to
      mycocins of Cr. podzolicus, Filobasidium capsuligenum, Rhodotorula glutinis, Rh.
      mucilaginosa, Rh. pallida, Sporidiobolus johnsonii, Sb. pararoseus and
      Sporobolomyces alborubescens. The different sensitivity patterns of yeast and
      hyphal phases are probably caused by biochemical differences in the cell walls.

PMID- 1459408
TI  - Enterotoxicity and immunological properties of two mutant forms of Escherichia
      coli STIp with lysine or arginine substituted for the asparagine residue at
      position 11.
AB  - Two variants of Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin Ip, in which the amino
      acid residue at position 11 was substituted with lysine or arginine, were
      purified to near homogeneity from the culture supernatants of toxin-producing
      mutant strains. Neither the purified heat-stable enterotoxin Ip(Lys-11) nor the
      purified heat-stable enterotoxin Ip(Arg-11) showed a positive response in the
      suckling mouse assay or in the mouse intestinal loop assay. Furthermore, live
      bacteria producing these mutant heat-stable Ip enterotoxins did not cause fluid
      accumulation in mouse intestinal loops, in contrast to bacteria producing native
      heat-stable enterotoxin Ip. Nevertheless, antisera raised against both heat
      stable enterotoxin Ip(Lys-11) and heat-stable enterotoxin Ip(Arg-11) neutralized
      the enterotoxic activity of native heat-stable enterotoxin Ip. These results
      demonstrate that heat-stable enterotoxin Ip(Lys-11) and heat-stable enterotoxin
      Ip(Arg-11) lose enterotoxicity but retain epitopes which are common to native
      heat-stable enterotoxin Ip.

PMID- 1459409
TI  - Characterization of two forms of hemagglutinin/protease produced by Vibrio
      cholerae non-O1.
AB  - Two forms (34 kDa and 32 kDa) of hemagglutinin/protease produced by Vibrio
      cholerae non-O1 were characterized. The hemagglutinin/protease purified by
      immunoaffinity column chromatography using a monoclonal antibody was essentially
      a 34-kDa form. By incubation of the purified 34-kDa form at 37 degrees C, it was
      processed (autodigested) to the 32-kDa form. The N-terminal 20 amino acid
      sequences of both the 34- and 32-kDa forms were identical, suggesting that
      proteolytic processing at the C-terminal region of the 34-kDa
      hemagglutinin/protease resulted in the 32-kDa form. With this shift, protease
      activity increased, but hemagglutinating activity decreased, suggesting that the
      C-terminal region of the hemagglutinin/protease is related to hemagglutinating
      activity.

PMID- 1459410
TI  - Mycobacterium avium rough-to-smooth colony conversion resulting from growth in
      Tween 80 without presence of type-specific glycopeptidolipid antigens.
AB  - Growth of a Mycobacterium avium complex serotype 20 rough-colony variant in 1.0%
      Tween 80 resulted in a smooth-colony morphological conversion that was reversible
      upon removal of Tween and was not associated with the presence of serotype
      specific glycopeptidolipid antigens. Electron microscopic examination suggested
      the role of an outer layer in the Tween-related morphological modification.

PMID- 1459411
TI  - Antibody-mediated uncoating of adenovirus in vitro.
AB  - In a virus destabilization assay in vitro it was demonstrated that exposure of
      adenovirus to proteins will non-specifically protect the virus from being
      uncoated following transfer to low pH and hypotonic conditions. Such uncoating
      was also fully inhibited upon pretreatment of virus with 0.05% of the non-ionic
      detergent polyoxyethylenesorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20). However, in the
      presence of low concentrations of Tween 20 it was shown that monospecific
      immunoglobulins, directed against the fiber antigen and polyspecific antibodies
      produced in response to intact virions, were able to overcome the detergent
      protecting effect of uncoating. Immunoglobulins directed towards the remaining
      outer-capsid components, the hexon, the penton base and the protein IIIa,
      revealed no such effects. The antifiber-mediated uncoating was paralleled by an
      aggregation of the virions. The data suggest that the virion-stabilizing effect
      of salt is enhanced by the hydrophobic action of a non-ionic detergent. Under
      these conditions the interaction between antifiber antibodies and fibers of the
      virion will trigger a destabilization of the virion upon transfer to low pH and
      hypotonic conditions.

PMID- 1459412
TI  - N-acetyl-D-glucosamine-specific lectin purified from Vibrio cholerae 01.
AB  - An N-acetyl-D-glucosamine-specific cell associated hemagglutinin (HA) was
      isolated and purified from a strain of Vibrio cholerae 01 by chitin affinity
      chromatography followed by separation on Bio Gel P-150. A single stained protein
      band of 47 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS
      PAGE) was observed with the purified HA. HA-antisera produced a single precipitin
      band against the purified HA in an immunodiffusion test without exhibiting any
      reactivity towards purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Purified HA, used as solid
      phase antigen in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reacted strongly
      with HA-antisera but cross-reacted negligibly with antisera raised against
      purified LPS. Hemagglutinating activity of the purified HA was highly sensitive
      to N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. The immunogold-labelling method using HA-antisera
      confirmed the location of the HA on the surface of the bacterial cells. The HA
      antisera reacted with a protein component of the homologous outer membrane
      preparation. A significant inhibition was observed in the adhesive capability of
      the V. cholerae 01 strain to isolated rabbit intestinal epithelial cells (RIEC)
      in vitro when the later were pre-treated with the purified HA.

PMID- 1459413
TI  - Interrelations between populations of methanogenic archaea and sulfate-reducing
      bacteria in the human colon.
AB  - In humans, CH4 is produced in the colon by methanogenic archaea and is detected
      in breath samples from approximately 50% of healthy adults, identified as CH4
      excretors. Methanogenesis and sulfate reduction have been described as two
      mutually exclusive processes, potentially regulated by sulfate availability. To
      determine whether microbial population balances reflected these apparently co
      regulated activities, we compared sulfate-reducing bacteria, methanogenic
      archaea, sulfate and sulfide concentrations in faeces of 10 CH4-excretors (CH4+)
      and 9 non-CH4-excretors (CH4-). The mean +/- SE of the logarithm of methanogenic
      archaea per gram wet weight were 9.0 +/- 0.2 and 4.0 +/- 0.7 for CH4+ and CH4-,
      respectively (P < 0.001). Sulfate-reducing bacterial counts were 6.5 +/- 0.1 and
      7.3 +/- 0.2, respectively (P < 0.001). Fecal sulfate and sulfide concentrations
      did not differ between groups. These results suggest that a competitive
      interrelation between methanogenic archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria occurs
      in the human colon. However, it does not lead to a complete exclusion of the two
      populations.

PMID- 1459414
TI  - Purification and partial characterization of two azoreductases from Shigella
      dysenteriae type 1.
AB  - Two azoreductases (I and II) were purified to homogeneity from extracts of
      Shigella dysenteriae (type 1). Azoreductase I was a dimer of identical subunits
      of M(r) 28,000, whereas azoreductase II was a monomer of 11,000 M(r). Both were
      flavoproteins, each containing 1 mol of FMN per mol enzyme. Both NADH and NADPH
      functioned as electron donors for the azoreductases. Azoreductase I used Ponceau
      SX, Tartrazine, Amaranth and Orange II as substrates. Azoreductase II utilized
      all the dyes except Amaranth.

PMID- 1459415
TI  - Binding of bovine lactoferrin to Streptococcus agalactiae.
AB  - Bovine lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein present in mammary gland
      secretions. The exposure of Streptococcus agalactiae to bovine lactoferrin
      resulted in the binding of this protein to all the 12 strains of bovine origin
      tested, and also, although to a lesser degree, to the five tested strains of
      human origin. The interaction of lactoferrin with one high-binding bovine strain
      (24/60, the prototype NT/X strain) was studied. Binding was time-dependent, dose
      dependent, and saturable. The binding of lactoferrin was slightly affected by
      cultivation conditions, and appeared to be heat-stable. The binding of
      biotinylated lactoferrin was inhibited by unlabelled lactoferrin but not by
      bovine serum albumin.

PMID- 1459416
TI  - Siderophores and related outer membrane proteins produced by pseudomonads
      isolated from eels and freshwater.
AB  - A total of 46 environmental pseudomonads, together with six type strains, were
      examined for their siderophore-producing activity. All strains were able to grow
      under iron-limiting conditions, gave orange halos in the CAS agar assay, and
      produced hydroxamates, and some of them also produced phenolate-type compounds.
      Bioassays showed that all strains, except Pseudomonas aeruginosa, promoted growth
      of mutant strain Arthrobacter flavescens JG-9, deficient in hydroxamate
      production, and some of them promoted growth of Salmonella typhimurium enb-1,
      which requires enterobactin for growth. The presence of iron-regulated outer
      membrane proteins was observed, the molecular size of the main induced proteins
      ranged between 76 and 93 kDa.

PMID- 1459417
TI  - Stimulation of neutrophil leukocyte chemotaxis by a cloned cytolytic enterotoxin
      of Aeromonas hydrophila.
AB  - A cytolytic enterotoxin produced by Aeromonas hydrophila, isolate SSU, has been
      cloned in our laboratory. This enterotoxin lysed rabbit red blood cells,
      destroyed Chinese hamster ovary cells, caused fluid secretion in rat ligated
      ileal loops, inhibited the phagocytic function of mouse phagocytes, and was
      lethal to mice when injected intravenously. In this study, the effect of this
      cytolytic enterotoxin on the chemotaxis of human leukocytes (cell line RPMI 1788)
      was examined. This toxin, at concentrations from 92.5 to 370 ng/ml, significantly
      stimulated the chemotactic activity of human leukocytes in a dose-dependent
      fashion. The stimulation of leukocyte chemotaxis elicited by cytolytic
      enterotoxin was abolished when the toxin was neutralized, heated, or exposed to
      low pH values. This stimulatory effect also was inhibited by various
      concentrations of pertussis toxin. These results demonstrated that cytolytic
      enterotoxin may stimulate increased chemotaxis of human leukocytes, and suggest
      that human leukocytes may possess cytolytic enterotoxin receptors which may be
      coupled to pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein.

PMID- 1459418
TI  - Phosphate starvation affects the synthesis of outer membrane proteins in
      Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.
AB  - The outer membrane protein (omp40) component from the chemolithoautotrophic
      acidophilic Thiobacillus ferrooxidans is apparently regulated by the external pH
      and the concentration of phosphorus. Its amino-terminal sequence showed little
      identity with the Escherichia coli OmpC, OmpF or PhoE porins, but was 38.5%
      identical to the outer membrane channel-forming protein NosA from Pseudomonas
      stutzeri, whose expression is also regulated environmentally. In addition, the
      partial amino acid sequence of T. ferrooxidans omp40 showed between 34 and 38%
      identity with the amino-terminal end of the small outer membrane proteins Rck and
      PagC from Salmonella typhimurium and OmpX from Enterobacter cloacae.

PMID- 1459419
TI  - Influence of nutrient media on the chemical composition of the exopolysaccharide
      from mucoid and non-mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
AB  - Two mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains and their non-mucoid revertants
      isolated from two different clinical origins (cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis)
      were grown in various chemically defined media. The extracted exopolysaccharide
      was characterized by gas-liquid chromatography and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The
      exopolysaccharide was always heterogeneous, with an alginate fraction and a
      neutral fraction essentially composed of glucose, galactose, rhamnose and
      hexosamines. The alginate composition (mannuronate/guluronate ratio and O
      acetylation degree) changed according to the carbon source in nutrient media and
      whether the strains tested were responding differently to these environmental
      stimuli. In all cases, the best carbon source for the alginate production was
      glycerol: the two cystic fibrosis strains produced a predominantly O-acetylated
      alginate whereas only the mucoid bronchiectasis strain produced a polymannuronate
      exopolysaccharide.

PMID- 1459420
TI  - The bacteriocidal effects of transition metal complexes containing the NO+ group
      on the food-spoilage bacterium Clostridium sporogenes.
AB  - The chemical and molecular mechanism of toxicity of nitrite towards food-spoilage
      bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum or Clostridium sporogenes is not well
      understood. In order to discover the active species and explore its chemistry, a
      number of compounds related to nitrite were synthesized. Their bacteriocidal
      effects on C. sporogenes were investigated in Oxoid nutrient broth No. 2 growth
      medium at pH 7.0. Inhibition of cell growth, expressed as the concentration which
      causes 50% cell inhibition, was observed with nitrite at 10 mM, whereas
      [Fe4S3(NO)7]-(the anion of Roussin's black salt) and (Fe2(SCH2CH2OH)2(NO)4] (a
      water-soluble Roussin's red salt ester) were found to be effective at 0.001 mM
      and 0.005 mM, respectively, confirming previous reports that iron-sulphur
      nitrosyl complexes are much more toxic to these organisms than nitrite itself.
      The nitroprusside anion, [Fe(CN)5NO]2- was found to be toxic at 0.030 mM and the
      corresponding chromium species, [Cr(CN)5NO]3-, at 0.1 mM. Therefore, on the basis
      of the number of NO groups present, the nitrosylcyano complexes are comparable in
      activity with the iron-sulphur-nitrosyl compounds. These results show that
      neither iron nor sulphur are essential for the bacteriostatic effect of the
      Roussin's type compounds. The property that all these compounds have in common is
      that they contain NO+. It is proposed that this is the active species responsible
      for the preservative effect of nitrite, and that a relationship may exist between
      the N-O stretching frequency, a measure of the NO+ character, and the toxicity of
      these NO(+)-containing complexes.

PMID- 1459421
TI  - Lectin-like activity of Lactobacillus acidophilus strain JCM 1026.
AB  - The lectin-like activity of the Lactobacillus acidophilus strain JCM 1026 was
      studied by hemagglutination and hemagglutination-inhibition assays. L.
      acidophilus strain JCM 1026 was found to hemagglutinate human and animal
      erythrocytes. Neuraminidase-treatment of human-type O erythrocytes enhanced the
      activity. Treatment of the bacterial cells with proteinase K reduced
      hemagglutinating activity significantly. Although several mono- and disaccharides
      did not inhibit hemagglutination, several different glycoproteins did. These data
      indicate that a proteinaceous lectin-like component(s) recognizing carbohydrate
      containing molecules is located on the cell surface of L. acidophilus.

PMID- 1459422
TI  - Structure of mycoside F, a family of trehalose-containing glycolipids of
      Mycobacterium fortuitum.
AB  - Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry,
      gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, as well as chemical degradations were used
      to elucidate the structure of the major glycolipids of Mycobacterium fortuitum.
      Three main glycoconjugates were detected and their structures established as 2,3
      diacyl, 2,3,4- and 2,3,6-triacyl trehalose. The characteristic infrared spectrum
      which led to their original designation as mycoside F, a family of glycolipids
      limited in distribution to M. fortuitum, was due to the nature of the fatty acyl
      substiuents identified primarily as 2-methyl-octadecen-2-oyl. The antigenic
      glycolipids typified the biovar. fortuitum, thus allowing its easy recognition
      from the C-mycoside glycopeptidolipid-containing biovar. peregrinum.

PMID- 1459423
TI  - Regulation of pag gene expression in Bacillus anthracis: use of a pag-lacZ
      transcriptional fusion.
AB  - The production of protective antigen (PA), the common component of the two
      anthrax toxins, is influenced by the environment. In order to examine factors
      involved in its regulation, a transcriptional fusion between the promoter region
      of the PA gene (pag) and the lacZ gene was constructed and introduced into
      Bacillus anthracis Sterne. Activity of the pag promoter was followed by measuring
      beta-galactosidase activities under various growth and medium conditions.
      Expression from the pag promoter was observed throughout exponential-phase and
      was maximal in early stationary phase. The activity of the pag promoter was
      stimulated by the addition of glucose in the medium.

PMID- 1459424
TI  - Uniparental cytogamy: a novel method for bringing micronuclear mutations of
      Tetrahymena into homozygous macronuclear expression with precocious sexual
      maturity.
AB  - A new method of inducing self-fertilization, uniparental cytogamy, yields
      homozygous germinal and somatic genotypes in the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila.
      Progeny are highly fertile and show a marked tendency for precocious sexual
      maturity. This method is highly effective in protocols designed to generate and
      express nonlethal dominant or recessive mutations.

PMID- 1459425
TI  - Copies of a Stellate gene variant are located in the X heterochromatin of
      Drosophila melanogaster and are probably expressed.
AB  - Two variants of X chromosome Stellate genes responsible for crystal formation in
      XO male primary spermatocytes occupy different genome positions. The majority if
      not all of the 1250-bp Stellate genes are located at the 12E site where the Ste
      locus has been mapped and almost all of the 1150-bp Stellate repeats are
      concentrated in the distal X heterochromatin. Sequencing of Stellate genes
      derived from X heterochromatin reveals the preservation of their open reading
      frames and precise matching with some Stellate cDNAs reported earlier. At least
      some heterochromatic Stellate genes are suggested to be expressed and, therefore,
      involved in the interaction with the Y chromosome locus Su(Ste), as are the
      Stellate genes from 12E.

PMID- 1459426
TI  - Sister-chromatid misbehavior in Drosophila ord mutants.
AB  - In Drosophila males and females mutant for the ord gene, sister chromatids
      prematurely disjoin in meiosis. We have isolated five new alleles of ord and
      analyzed them both as homozygotes and in trans to deficiencies for the locus, and
      we show that ord function is necessary early in meiosis of both sexes. Strong ord
      alleles result in chromosome nondisjunction in meiosis I that appears to be the
      consequence of precocious separation of the sister chromatids followed by their
      random segregation. Cytological analysis in males confirmed that precocious
      disjunction of the sister chromatids occurs in prometaphase I. This is in
      contrast to Drosophila mei-S332 mutants, in which precocious sister-chromatid
      separation also occurs, but not until late in anaphase I. All three of the new
      female fertile ord alleles reduce recombination, suggesting they affect homolog
      association as well as sister-chromatid cohesion. In addition to the effect of
      ord mutations on meiosis, we find that in ord2 mutants chromosome segregation is
      aberrant in the mitotic divisions that produce the spermatocytes. The strongest
      ord alleles, ord2 and ord5, appear to cause defects in germline divisions in the
      female. These alleles are female sterile and produce egg chambers with altered
      nurse cell number, size, and nuclear morphology. In contrast to the effects of
      ord mutations on germline mitosis, all of the alleles are fully viable even when
      in trans to a deficiency, and thus exhibit no essential role in somatic mitosis.
      The ord gene product may prevent premature sister-chromatid separation by
      promoting cohesion of the sister chromatids in a structural or regulatory manner.

PMID- 1459427
TI  - Evidence for intrinsic differences in the formation of chromatin domains in
      Drosophila melanogaster.
AB  - The results of an investigation into intrinsic differences in the formation of
      two different heterochromatic domains are presented. The study utilized two
      different position effect variegation mutants in Drosophila melanogaster for
      investigating the process of compacting different stretches of DNA into
      heterochromatin. Each stretch of DNA encodes for a gene that affects different
      aspects of bristle morphology. The expression of each gene is prevented when it
      is compacted into heterochromatin thus the genes serve as effective reporter
      systems to monitor the spread of heterochromatin. Both variegating mutants are
      scored in the same cell such that environmental and genetic background
      differences are unambiguously eliminated. Any differences observed in the
      repression of the two genes must therefore be the result of intrinsic differences
      in the heterochromatic compaction process for the two stretches of DNA. Studies
      of the effects different enhancers of variegation have upon the compaction of the
      two genes indicate each compaction event occurs independently of the other, and
      that different components are involved in the two processes. These results are
      discussed with regard to spreading heterochromatin and the role this process may
      play in regulating gene expression.

PMID- 1459428
TI  - Rearrangement of upstream regulatory elements leads to ectopic expression of the
      Drosophila mulleri Adh-2 gene.
AB  - The Adh-2 gene of Drosophila mulleri is expressed in the larval fat body and the
      adult fat body and hindgut, and a 1500-bp element located 2-3 kb upstream of the
      Adh-2 promoter is necessary for maximal levels of transcription. Previous work
      demonstrated that deletion of sequences between this upstream element and the Adh
      2 promoter results in Adh-2 gene expression in a novel larval tissue, the middle
      midgut. In this study we show that the upstream element possesses all of the
      characteristics of a transcriptional enhancer: its activity is independent of
      orientation, it acts on a heterologous promoter, and it functions at various
      positions both 5' and 3' to the Adh-2 gene. Full enhancer function can be
      localized to a 750-bp element, although other regions possess some redundant
      activity. The ectopic expression pattern is dependent on the proximity of at
      least two sequence elements. Thus, tissue-specific transcription can involve
      complex proximity-dependent interactions among combinations of regulatory
      elements.

PMID- 1459429
TI  - An examination of the effects of double-strand breaks on extrachromosomal
      recombination in mammalian cells.
AB  - We studied the effects of double-strand breaks on intramolecular extrachromosomal
      homologous recombination in mammalian cells. Pairs of defective herpes thymidine
      kinase (tk) sequences were introduced into mouse Ltk- cells on a DNA molecule
      that also contained a neo gene under control of the SV40 early promoter/enhancer.
      With the majority of the constructs used, gene conversions or double crossovers,
      but not single crossovers, were recoverable. DNA was linearized with various
      restriction enzymes prior to transfection. Recombination events producing a
      functional tk gene were monitored by selecting for tk-positive colonies. For
      double-strand breaks placed outside of the region of homology, maximal
      recombination frequencies were measured when a break placed the two tk sequences
      downstream from the SV40 early promoter/enhancer. We observed no relationship
      between recombination frequency and either the distance between a break and the
      tk sequences or the distance between the tk sequences. The quantitative effects
      of the breaks appeared to depend on the degree of homology between the tk
      sequences. We also observed that inverted repeats recombined as efficiently as
      direct repeats. The data indicated that the breaks influenced recombination
      indirectly, perhaps by affecting the binding of a factor(s) to the SV40 promoter
      region which in turn stimulated or inhibited recombination of the tk sequences.
      Taken together, we believe that our results provide strong evidence for the
      existence of a pathway for extrachromosomal homologous recombination in mammalian
      cells that is distinct from single-strand annealing. We discuss the possibility
      that intrachromosomal and extrachromosomal recombination have mechanisms in
      common.

PMID- 1459430
TI  - A genetic model for control of hypertriglyceridemia and apolipoprotein B levels
      in the Johns Hopkins colony of St. Thomas Hospital rabbits.
AB  - The St. Thomas Hospital (STH) rabbit has been previously shown to have a
      Mendelian form of hypertriglyceridemia, accompanied by accelerated
      atherosclerosis, and these animals may serve as a useful model for human
      dyslipoproteinemia syndromes. Here we describe the establishment of a new colony
      of these STH animals, and present genetic analysis of triglyceride (TG) and
      apolipoprotein B (apoB) levels. Segregation analysis of TG in 39 STH animals and
      24 controls gave evidence of Mendelian segregation for an allele leading to both
      elevated TG levels and increased variability in these levels. Predicted means
      from the most parsimonious model for the Johns Hopkins STH colony were quite
      similar to that seen in the original London colony, and this model accounted for
      80% of the variation in TG seen in the sample. This hypertriglyceridemia locus
      indirectly influenced the mean apoB levels in these rabbits, and segregation
      analysis of mean apoB levels suggested a second locus controlling apoB levels.
      Analysis of residual apoB levels (adjusted for predicted effects of the
      hypertriglyceridemia locus) revealed clearer evidence for a second locus
      controlling mean apoB levels in this colony. Arguments for two distinct genetic
      mechanisms operating in these STH animals are presented.

PMID- 1459431
TI  - Patterns of interallelic divergence at the rabbit b-locus of the immunoglobulin
      light chain constant region are in agreement with population genetical evidence
      for overdominant selection.
AB  - Population studies at the b-locus of the "constant" regions of the rabbit
      immunoglobulin kappa 1 light chain (c kappa 1) revealed patterns of gene
      diversity resembling those that mark the peculiar nature of the major
      histocompatibility complex, such as large number of alleles, high heterozygosity
      levels, consistent excess of heterozygous individuals and long allele coalescence
      times. This paper documents the evolutionary patterns at the b-locus as inferred
      from DNA sequence comparisons. Among alleles, synonymous substitutions
      outnumbered expectations for neutral alleles by an order of magnitude. They were
      distributed randomly throughout the c kappa 1 coding region while interallelic
      amino acid differences did cluster into segments overlapping with the regions
      exposed to the solvent. Within these regions, acceptance rates of mutation at
      amino acid replacement sites were even higher than those at synonymous sites
      (dr/ds = 1.6-3.0), while in the intervals between these regions the opposite was
      found (dr/ds approximately 0.3). Under the assumption that allelic variation is
      adaptive at the molecular surface, the divergence patterns at the b-locus are
      therefore very similar to those reported for the major histocompatibility
      complex. An analysis at the quasi silent bas-locus (c kappa 2), which is linked
      to the b-locus, and comparisons among genes of the "variable" region of the kappa
      1 light chains (v kappa 1), revealed patterns of divergence which differed
      markedly from those observed at the c kappa 1 constant regions. It is suggested
      that allelic variability at immunoglobulin constant regions can be due to
      mechanisms similar to those enhancing diversity at histocompatibility loci.

PMID- 1459432
TI  - Length polymorphisms of simple sequence repeat DNA in soybean.
AB  - The objective of this work was to ascertain the presence and degree of simple
      sequence repeat (SSR) DNA length polymorphism in the soybean [Glycine max (L.)
      Merr.]. A search of GenBank revealed no (CA)n or (GT)n SSRs with n greater than 8
      in soybean. In contrast, 5 (AT)n and 1 (ATT)n SSRs with n ranging from 14 to 27
      were detected. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers to regions flanking the
      six SSR loci were used in PCR amplification of DNA from 43 homozygous soybean
      genotypes. At three loci, amplification produced one PCR product per genotype and
      revealed 6, 7 and 8 product length variants (alleles) at the three loci,
      respectively. F1 hybrids between parents carrying different alleles produced two
      PCR products identical to the two parents. Codominant segregation of alleles
      among F2 progeny was demonstrated at each locus. A soybean DNA library was
      screened for the presence of (CA/GT)n SSRs. Sequencing of positive clones
      revealed that the longest such SSR was (CA)9. Thus, (CA)n SSRs with n of 15 or
      more are apparently much less common in soybean than in the human genome. In
      contrast to humans, (CA)n SSRs will probably not provide an abundant source of
      genetic markers in soybean. However, the apparent abundance of long (AT)n
      sequences should allow this SSR to serve as a source of highly polymorphic
      genetic markers in soybean.

PMID- 1459433
TI  - Population genetics of polymorphism and divergence.
AB  - Frequencies of mutant sites are modeled as a Poisson random field in two species
      that share a sufficiently recent common ancestor. The selective effect of the new
      alleles can be favorable, neutral, or detrimental. The model is applied to the
      sample configurations of nucleotides in the alcohol dehydrogenase gene (Adh) in
      Drosophila simulans and Drosophila yakuba. Assuming a synonymous mutation rate of
      1.5 x 10(-8) per site per year and 10 generations per year, we obtain estimates
      for the effective population size (N(e) = 6.5 x 10(6)), the species divergence
      time (tdiv = 3.74 million years), and an average selection coefficient (sigma =
      1.53 x 10(-6) per generation for advantageous or mildly detrimental
      replacements), although it is conceivable that only two of the amino acid
      replacements were selected and the rest neutral. The analysis, which includes a
      sampling theory for the independent infinite sites model with selection, also
      suggests the estimate that the number of amino acids in the enzyme that are
      susceptible to favorable mutation is in the range 2-23 at any one time. The
      approach provides a theoretical basis for the use of a 2 x 2 contingency table to
      compare fixed differences and polymorphic sites with silent sites and amino acid
      replacements.

PMID- 1459434
TI  - The effects of selection on linkage analysis for quantitative traits.
AB  - The effects of within-sample selection on the outcome of analyses detecting
      linkage between genetic markers and quantitative traits were studied. It was
      found that selection by truncation for the trait of interest significantly
      reduces the differences between marker genotype means thus reducing the power to
      detect linked quantitative trait loci (QTL). The size of this reduction is a
      function of proportion selected, the magnitude of the QTL effect, recombination
      rate between the marker locus and the QTL, and the allele frequency of the QTL.
      Proportion selected was the most influential of these factors on bias, e.g., for
      an allele substitution effect of one standard deviation unit, selecting the top
      80%, 50% or 20% of the population required 2, 6 or 24 times the number of
      progeny, respectively, to offset the loss of power caused by this selection. The
      effect on power was approximately linear with respect to the size of gene effect,
      almost invariant to recombination rate, and a complex function of QTL allele
      frequency. It was concluded that experimental samples from animal populations
      which have been subjected to even minor amounts of selection will be inefficient
      in yielding information on linkage between markers and loci influencing the
      quantitative trait under selection.

PMID- 1459435
TI  - Prediction of selection response for threshold dichotomous traits.
AB  - This paper presents a formula to predict expected response to one generation of
      truncation selection for a dichotomous trait under polygenic additive
      inheritance. The derivation relies on the threshold liability concept and on the
      normality assumption of the joint distribution of additive genetic values and
      their predictors used as selection criteria. This formula accounts for asymmetry
      of response when both the prevalence of the trait and the selection rate differ
      from 1/2 via a bivariate normal integral term. The relationship with the
      classical formula R = iota rho sigma G is explained with a Taylor expansion about
      a zero value of the correlation factor. Properties are illustrated with an
      example of sire selection based on progeny test performance which shows a
      departure from usual predictions up to 15-20% at low (0.05) or high (0.95)
      selection rates. Univariate approximations and extensions to several paths of
      genetic change are also discussed.

PMID- 1459436
TI  - Heterozygote advantage and the evolution of a dominant diploid phase.
AB  - The life cycle of eukaryotic, sexual species is divided into haploid and diploid
      phases. In multicellular animals and seed plants, the diploid phase is dominant,
      and the haploid phase is reduced to one, or a very few cells, which are dependent
      on the diploid form. In other eukaryotic species, however, the haploid phase may
      dominate or the phases may be equally developed. Even though an alternation
      between haploid and diploid forms is fundamental to sexual reproduction in
      eukaryotes, relatively little is known about the evolutionary forces that
      influence the dominance of haploidy or diploidy. An obvious genetic factor that
      might result in selection for a dominant diploid phase is heterozygote advantage,
      since only the diploid phase can be heterozygous. In this paper, I analyze a
      model designed to determine whether heterozygote advantage could lead to the
      evolution of a dominant diploid phase. The main result is that heterozygote
      advantage can lead to an increase in the dominance of the diploid phase, but only
      if the diploid phase is already sufficiently dominant. Because the diploid phase
      is unlikely to be increased in organisms that are primarily haploid, I conclude
      that heterozygote advantage is not a sufficient explanation of the dominance of
      the diploid phase in higher plants and animals.

PMID- 1459437
TI  - Using markers in gene introgression breeding programs.
AB  - We investigate the use of markers to hasten the recovery of the recipient genome
      during an introgression breeding program. The effects of time and intensity of
      selection, population size, number and position of selected markers are studied
      for chromosomes either carrying or not carrying the introgressed gene. We show
      that marker assisted selection may lead to a gain in time of about two
      generations, an efficiency below previous theoretical predictions. Markers are
      most useful when their map position is known. In the early generations, it is
      shown that increasing the number of markers over three per non-carrier chromosome
      is not efficient, that the segment surrounding the introgressed gene is better
      controlled by rather distant markers unless high selection intensity can be
      applied, and that selection on this segment first can reduce the selection
      intensity available for selection on non-carrier chromosomes. These results are
      used to propose an optimal strategy for selection on the whole genome, making the
      most of available material and conditions (e.g., population size and fertility,
      genetic map).

PMID- 1459438
TI  - Maximum likelihood mapping of quantitative trait loci using full-sib families.
AB  - A maximum likelihood method is presented for the detection of quantitative trait
      loci (QTL) using flanking markers in full-sib families. This method incorporates
      a random component for common family effects due to additional QTL or the
      environment. Simulated data have been used to investigate this method. With a
      fixed total number of full sibs power of detection decreased substantially with
      decreasing family size. Increasing the number of alleles at the marker loci
      (i.e., polymorphism information content) and decreasing the interval size about
      the QTL increased power. Flanking markers were more powerful than single markers.
      In testing for a linked QTL the test must be made against a model which allows
      for between family variation (i.e., including an unlinked QTL or a between family
      variance component) or the test statistic may be grossly inflated. Mean parameter
      estimates were close to the simulated values in all situations when fitting the
      full model (including a linked QTL and common family effect). If the common
      family component was omitted the QTL effect was overestimated in data in which
      additional genetic variance was simulated and when compared with an unlinked QTL
      model there was reduced power. The test statistic curves, reflecting the
      likelihood of the QTL at each position along the chromosome, have discontinuities
      at the markers caused by adjacent pairs of markers providing different amounts of
      information. This must be accounted for when using flanking markers to search for
      a QTL in an outbred population.

PMID- 1459439
TI  - RIPping and RAPping at Berkeley.

PMID- 1459440
TI  - Unicorns revisited.

PMID- 1459441
TI  - Chi enhances heteroduplex DNA levels during recombination.
AB  - The major pathway of homologous recombination in Escherichia coli, the RecBCD
      pathway, is stimulated by Chi sites. To determine whether Chi enhances an early
      or late step in recombination, we measured formation of heteroduplex DNA (hDNA)
      in extracts of lambda-infected E. coli. Chi elevated hDNA levels in these
      extracts, supporting a role for Chi early (before hDNA formation) in
      recombination. RecA protein and RecBCD enzyme were both necessary for detection
      of hDNA, indicating that they, too, act early. Analysis of a panel of recBCD
      mutants indicated that Chi-nicking activity was needed for Chi's stimulation of
      hDNA formation. These results support a previously proposed model of
      recombination. Further results suggested that RecBCD enzyme has an additional
      role late in recombination.

PMID- 1459442
TI  - Rhizobium meliloti genes involved in sulfate activation: the two copies of nodPQ
      and a new locus, saa.
AB  - The nitrogen-fixing symbiont Rhizobium meliloti establishes nodules on leguminous
      host plants. Nodulation (nod) genes used for this process are located in a
      cluster on the pSym-a megaplasmid of R. meliloti. These genes include nodP and
      nodQ (here termed nodPQ), which encode ATP sulfurylase and APS kinase, enzymes
      that catalyze the conversion of ATP and SO(4)2- into the activated sulfate form
      3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS), an intermediate in cysteine
      synthesis. In Rhizobium, PAPS is also a precursor for sulfated and N-acylated
      oligosaccharide Nod-factor signals that cause symbiotic responses on specific
      host plants such as alfalfa. We previously found a highly conserved second copy
      of nodPQ in R. meliloti. We report here the mapping and cloning of this second
      copy, and its location on the second megaplasmid, pSym-b. The function of nodP2Q2
      is equivalent to that of nodP1Q1 in complementation tests of R. meliloti and
      Escherichia coli mutants in ATP sulfurylase and adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (APS)
      kinase. Mutations in nodP2Q2 do not have as severe an effect on symbiosis or
      plant host range as do those in nodP1Q1, however, possibly reflecting differences
      in expression and/or channeling of metabolites to specific enzymes involved in
      sulfate transfer. Strains mutated or deleted for both copies of nodQ are severely
      defective in symbiotic phenotypes, but remain prototrophic. This suggests the
      existence in R. meliloti of a third locus for ATP sulfurylase and APS kinase
      activities. We have found a new locus saa (sulfur amino acid), which may also
      encode these activities.

PMID- 1459443
TI  - The influence of local DNA sequence and DNA repair background on the mutational
      specificity of 1-nitroso-8-nitropyrene in Escherichia coli: inferences for
      mutagenic mechanisms.
AB  - We have examined the mutational specificity of 1-nitroso-8-nitropyrene (1,8
      NONP), an activated metabolite of the carcinogen 1,8-dinitropyrene, in the lacI
      gene of Escherichia coli strains which differ with respect to nucleotide excision
      repair (+/- delta uvrB) and MucA/B-mediated error-prone translesion synthesis (+/
      pKM101). Several different classes of mutation were recovered, of which
      frameshifts, base substitutions, and deletions were clearly induced by 1,8-NONP
      treatment. The high proportion of point mutations (> 92%) which occurred at G.C
      sites correlates with the percentage of 1,8-NONP-DNA adducts which occur at the
      C(8) position of guanine. The most prominent frameshift mutations were -(G.C)
      events, which were induced by 1,8-NONP treatment in all strains, occurred
      preferentially in runs of guanine residues, and whose frequency increased
      markedly with the length of the reiterated sequence. Of the base substitution
      mutations G.C-->T.A transversions were induced to the greatest extent by 1,8
      NONP. The distribution of the G.C-->T.A transversions was not influenced by the
      nature of flanking bases, nor was there a strand preference for these events. The
      presence of plasmid pKM101 specifically increased the frequency of G.C-->T.A
      transversions by a factor of 30-60. In contrast, the -(G.C) frameshift mutation
      frequency was increased only 2-4-fold in strains harboring pKM101 as compared to
      strains lacking this plasmid. There was, however, a marked influence of pKM101 on
      the strand specificity of frameshift mutation; a preference was observed for -G
      events on the transcribed strand. The ability of the bacteria to carry out
      nucleotide excision repair had a strong effect on the frequency of all classes of
      mutation but did not significantly influence either the overall distribution of
      mutational classes or the strand specificity of G.C-->T.A transversions and 
      (G.C) frameshifts. Deletion mutations were induced in the delta uvr, pKM101
      strain. The endpoints of the majority of the deletion mutations were G.C rich and
      contained regions of considerable homology. The specificity of 1,8-NONP-induced
      mutation suggests that DNA containing 1,8-NONP adducts can be processed through
      different mutational pathways depending on the DNA sequence context of the adduct
      and the DNA repair background of the cell.

PMID- 1459444
TI  - Donor locus selection during Saccharomyces cerevisiae mating type interconversion
      responds to distant regulatory signals.
AB  - Mating type interconversion in homothallic strains of the yeast Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae results from directed transposition of a mating type allele from one
      of the two silent donor loci, HML and HMR, to the expressing locus, MAT. Cell
      type regulates the selection of the particular donor locus to be utilized during
      mating type interconversion: MATa cells preferentially select HML alpha and MAT
      alpha cells preferentially select HMRa. Such preferential selection indicates
      that the cell is able to distinguish between HML and HMR during mating type
      interconversion. Accordingly, we designed experiments to identify those features
      perceived by the cell to discriminate HML and HMR. We demonstrate that
      discrimination does not derive from the different structures of the HML and HMR
      loci, from the unique sequences flanking each donor locus nor from any of the DNA
      distal to the HM loci on chromosome III. Moreover, we find that the sequences
      flanking the MAT locus do not function in the preferential selection of one donor
      locus over the other. We propose that the positions of the donor loci on the left
      and right arms of chromosome III is the characteristic utilized by the cell to
      distinguish HML and HMR. This positional information is not generated by either
      CEN3 or the MAT locus, but probably derives from differences in the chromatin
      structure, chromosome folding or intranuclear localization of the two ends of
      chromosome III.

PMID- 1459445
TI  - Spontaneous amplification of the ADH4 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - Five spontaneous amplifications of the ADH4 gene were identified among 1,894
      antimycin A-resistant mutants isolated from a diploid strain after growth at 15
      degrees. Four of these amplifications are approximately 40-kb linear
      extrachromosomal palindromes carrying telomere homologous sequences at each end
      similar to a previously isolated amplification. ADH4 is located at the extreme
      left end of chromosome VII, and the extrachromosomal fragments appear to be the
      fusion of two copies of the end of this chromosome. The fifth amplification is a
      chromosomal amplification carrying an extra copy of ADH4 on both homologs of
      chromosome VII. These results suggest that the ADH system can be used to study
      amplification in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PMID- 1459446
TI  - The CCR4 protein from Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains a leucine-rich repeat
      region which is required for its control of ADH2 gene expression.
AB  - The CCR4 gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is required for the transcription of
      the glucose-repressible alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH2). Mutations in CCR4 also
      suppress the transcription at the ADH2 and his4-912delta loci caused by defects
      in the SPT10 (CRE1) and SPT6 (CRE2) genes. The CCR4 gene was mapped to the left
      arm of chromosome I and cloned by complementation of function using previously
      isolated segments of chromosome I. DNA sequence analysis of the cloned gene
      defined CCR4 as a 2511 bp open reading frame that would encode a polypeptide of
      837 amino acids. The CCR4 mRNA was found to be 2.8 kb in size and Western
      analysis identified CCR4 as a 95,000 D protein. Disruption of the CCR4 gene
      resulted in reduced levels of ADH2 expression under both glucose and ethanol
      growth conditions and in temperature sensitive growth on nonfermentative medium,
      phenotypes essentially indistinguishable from previously identified mutations in
      CCR4. The amino terminus of the CCR4 protein was found to be rich in glutamine
      residues similar to a number of genes which are required for transcription. More
      importantly, CCR4 showed similarity to a diverse set of proteins sharing a
      leucine-rich tandem repeat motif, the presence of which has been implicated in
      mediating protein-protein interactions. Deletions of several of the five leucine
      rich repeats in CCR4 were shown to produce nonfunctional proteins indicating the
      importance of the repeats to CCR4 activity. This leucine-rich repeat region may
      mediate the contact CCR4 makes with another factor.

PMID- 1459447
TI  - Isolation and characterization of two Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes encoding
      homologs of the bacterial HexA and MutS mismatch repair proteins.
AB  - Homologs of the Escherichia coli (mutL, S and uvrD) and Streptococcus pneumoniae
      (hexA, B) genes involved in mismatch repair are known in several distantly
      related organisms. Degenerate oligonucleotide primers based on conserved regions
      of E. coli MutS protein and its homologs from Salmonella typhimurium, S.
      pneumoniae and human were used in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify
      and clone mutS/hexA homologs from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Two DNA sequences
      were amplified whose deduced amino acid sequences both shared a high degree of
      homology with MutS. These sequences were then used to clone the full-length genes
      from a yeast genomic library. Sequence analysis of the two MSH genes (MSH = mutS
      homolog), MSH1 and MSH2, revealed open reading frames of 2877 bp and 2898 bp. The
      deduced amino acid sequences predict polypeptides of 109.3 kD and 109.1 kD,
      respectively. The overall amino acid sequence identity with the E. coli MutS
      protein is 28.6% for MSH1 and 25.2% for MSH2. Features previously found to be
      shared by MutS homologs, such as the nucleotide binding site and the helix-turn
      helix DNA binding motif as well as other highly conserved regions whose function
      remain unknown, were also found in the two yeast homologs. Evidence presented in
      this and a companion study suggest that MSH1 is involved in repair of
      mitochondrial DNA and that MSH2 is involved in nuclear DNA repair.

PMID- 1459448
TI  - HTS1 encodes both the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial histidyl-tRNA synthetase of
      Saccharomyces cerevisiae: mutations alter the specificity of compartmentation.
AB  - Genetic and biochemical evidence shows that a single nuclear gene HTS1 encodes
      both the mitochondrial and cytoplasmic histidyl-tRNA synthetases (Hts). The gene
      specifies two messages, one with two in-frame ATGs (-60 and +1) and another with
      only the downstream ATG (+1). We have made a new set of mutations that enables us
      to express only the mitochondrial or the cytoplasmic form and compared the
      subcellular distribution of the Hts1 protein in these mutants and wild type,
      using an antibody that interacts with both the mitochondrial and cytoplasmic Hts1
      as well as Hts1::LacZ fusions. Mutations in the upstream ATG (-60) or frameshift
      mutations in the presequence affect only the mitochondrial enzyme and not the
      cytoplasmic enzyme. Mutations in the downstream ATG (+1 ATG to ATC) destroy the
      function of the cytosolic enzyme, but do not affect the function of the
      mitochondrial enzyme. Overexpression of this construct restores cytoplasmic
      function. Cells expressing a truncated form of Hts containing a deletion of the
      first 20 amino-terminal residues (Htsc) produce a functional cytoplasmic enzyme,
      which does not provide mitochondrial function. Overexpression of this truncated
      cytoplasmic protein provides mitochondrial function and produces detectable
      levels of the synthetase in the mitochondrion. These experiments suggest that
      Hts1 contains two domains that together allow efficient localization of Htsm to
      the mitochondrion: an amino-terminal presequence in the mitochondrial precursor
      that is likely cleaved upon delivery to the mitochondrion and a second amino
      terminal sequence (residues 21-53) present in both the precursor and the
      cytoplasmic form. Neither one by itself is sufficient to act as an efficient
      mitochondrial targeting signal. Using our antibody we have been able to detect a
      protein of increased molecular mass that corresponds to that of the predicted
      precursor. Taken together these studies show that the specificity of
      compartmentation of the Hts protein depends upon both the primary sequence and
      the concentration of the protein in the cell.

PMID- 1459449
TI  - Loss of N-myc function results in embryonic lethality and failure of the
      epithelial component of the embryo to develop.
AB  - myc genes are thought to function in the processes of cellular proliferation and
      differentiation. To gain insight into the role of the N-myc gene during
      embryogenesis, we examined its expression in embryos during postimplantation
      development using RNA in situ hybridization. Tissue- and cell-specific patterns
      of expression unique to N-myc as compared with the related c-myc gene were
      observed. N-myc transcripts become progressively restricted to specific cell
      types, primarily to epithelial tissues including those of the developing nervous
      system and those in developing organs characterized by epithelio-mesenchymal
      interaction. In contrast, c-myc transcripts were confined to the mesenchymal
      compartments. These data suggest that c-myc and N-myc proteins may interact with
      different substrates in performing their function during embryogenesis and
      suggest further that there are linked regulatory mechanisms for normal expression
      in the embryo. We have mutated the N-myc locus via homologous recombination in
      embryonic stem (ES) cells and introduced the mutated allele into the mouse germ
      line. Live-born heterozygotes are under-represented but appear normal. Homozygous
      mutant embryos die prenatally at approximately 11.5 days of gestation. Histologic
      examination of homozygous mutant embryos indicates that several developing organs
      are affected. These include the central and peripheral nervous systems,
      mesonephros, lung, and gut. Thus, N-myc function is required during
      embryogenesis, and the pathology observed is consistent with the normal pattern
      of N-myc expression. Examination of c-myc expression in mutant embryos indicates
      the existence of coordinate regulation of myc genes during mouse embryogenesis.

PMID- 1459450
TI  - Embryonic lethality in mice homozygous for a targeted disruption of the N-myc
      gene.
AB  - The N-myc gene encodes a putative transcription factor that is thought to
      function in the regulation of gene expression during cell differentiation and/or
      growth. To examine the role of N-myc during development, we have used targeted
      mutagenesis in embryonic stem cells to produce a mouse line that carries an N-myc
      null allele. Mice homozygous for the mutation died between 10.5 and 12.5 days of
      gestation. Histological analysis of mutant embryos revealed that organs and
      tissues expected at these stages of development were present. However, multiple
      defects were observed, primarily in tissues and organs that normally express N
      myc. In particular, mutant hearts were underdeveloped, often retaining the S
      shape more typical of 9-day-old embryos. In addition, cranial and spinal ganglia
      were reduced in size and/or cellularity. Most of the noted defects were more
      consistent with a role of N-myc in proliferation of precursor populations than
      with a block in differentiation per se, at least at these early stages. These
      results demonstrate that N-myc plays an essential role during development and
      clearly confirm that N-myc has a physiological function that is distinct from
      that of the other myc-family genes.

PMID- 1459451
TI  - Mechanism of transcriptional antirepression by GAL4-VP16.
AB  - Promoter- and enhancer-binding factors appear to function by facilitating the
      transcription reaction as well as by counteracting chromatin-mediated repression
      (antirepression). We have examined the mechanism by which a hybrid activator,
      GAL4-VP16, is able to counteract histone H1-mediated repression by using both H1
      DNA complexes and reconstituted H1-containing chromatin templates. The GAL4 DNA
      binding domain alone was sufficient to disrupt local H1-DNA interactions, but a
      transcriptional region was additionally necessary for antirepression. GAL4-VP16
      mediated antirepression required an auxiliary factor, denoted as a co
      antirepressor, which was partially purified from Drosophila embryos. We have
      found that the co-antirepressor activity was sensitive to digestion with RNase A.
      Moreover, total RNA from Drosophila embryos could partially substitute for the co
      antirepressor fraction, which indicated that the co-antirepressor may function as
      a histone acceptor ("histone sink"). These findings suggest a model for gene
      activation in which sequence-specific transcription factors disrupt H1-DNA
      interactions at the promoter to facilitate transfer of H1 to a histone acceptor,
      which then allows access of the basal transcription factors to the DNA template.

PMID- 1459452
TI  - Initiation on chromatin templates in a yeast RNA polymerase II transcription
      system.
AB  - Templates were prepared with either the TATA box or transcription start sites of
      the yeast CYC1 promoter in a nucleosome. In both cases, initiation in an
      unfractionated yeast RNA polymerase II transcription system was abolished by the
      nucleosome. The inhibition appeared to be relieved by the activator protein Gal4
      VP16 binding to a site upstream of the promoter. Inhibition was not relieved,
      however, in a transcription system reconstituted from purified components,
      indicating a requirement for additional factors for the effect of Gal4-VP16.

PMID- 1459453
TI  - Evidence that SNF2/SWI2 and SNF5 activate transcription in yeast by altering
      chromatin structure.
AB  - Changes in chromatin structure have frequently been correlated with changes in
      transcription. However, the cause-and-effect relationship between chromatin
      structure and transcription has been hard to determine. In addition, identifying
      the proteins that regulate chromatin structure has been difficult. Recent
      evidence suggests that a functionally related set of yeast transcriptional
      activators (SNF2/SWI2, SNF5, SNF6, SWI1, and SWI3), required for transcription of
      a diverse set of genes, may affect chromatin structure. We now present genetic
      and molecular evidence that at least two of these transcriptional activators,
      SNF2/SWI2 and SNF5, function by antagonizing repression mediated by nucleosomes.
      First, the transcriptional defects in strains lacking these SNF genes are
      suppressed by a deletion of one of the two sets of genes encoding histones H2A
      and H2B, (hta1-htb1) delta. Second, at one affected promoter (SUC2), chromatin
      structure is altered in snf2/swi2 and snf5 mutants, and this chromatin defect is
      suppressed by (hta1-htb1) delta. Finally, analysis of chromatin structure at a
      mutant SUC2 promoter, in which the TATA box has been destroyed, demonstrates that
      the differences in SUC2 chromatin structure between SNF5+ and snf5 mutant strains
      are not simply an effect of different levels of SUC2 transcription. Thus, these
      results strongly suggest that SNF2/SWI2 and SNF5 cause changes in chromatin
      structure and that these changes allow transcriptional activation.

PMID- 1459454
TI  - Drosophila C/EBP: a tissue-specific DNA-binding protein required for embryonic
      development.
AB  - Recently, we reported the cloning of the Drosophila melanogaster homolog of the
      vertebrate CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP). Here, we describe studies of
      the DNA-binding and dimerization properties of Drosophila C/EBP (DmC/EBP), as
      well as its tissue distribution, developmental regulation, and essential role in
      embryonic development and conclude that it bears functional as well as structural
      similarity to mammalian C/EBP. DmC/EBP contains a basic region/leucine zipper
      (bZIP) DNA-binding domain very similar to that of mammalian C/EBP and the
      purified C/EBPs bound to DNA with the same sequence specificity. Among the DNA
      sequences that DmC/EBP bound with high affinity was a conserved site within the
      promoter of the DmC/EBP gene itself. In vitro, DmC/EBP and mammalian C/EBP
      specifically formed functional heterodimers; however, as we found no evidence for
      a family of DmC/EBPs, DmC/EBP may function as a homodimer in vivo. The DmC/EBP
      protein was expressed predominantly during late embryogenesis in the nuclei of a
      restricted set of differentiating cell types, such as the lining of the gut and
      epidermis, similar to the mammalian tissues that express C/EBP. We have
      characterized mutations in the DmC/EBP gene and found that deleting the gene
      caused late embryonic lethality. Embryos that lack C/EBP die just before or just
      upon hatching. The lethal phenotype of C/EBP mutants can be rescued with the
      cloned C/EBP gene introduced by P-element-mediated germ-line transformation. The
      strict requirement for C/EBP during Drosophila embryogenesis, coupled with its
      structural and functional similarities to mammalian C/EBP, provides a useful
      genetic system in which to study the role of C/EBP in development.

PMID- 1459455
TI  - Pumilio is essential for function but not for distribution of the Drosophila
      abdominal determinant Nanos.
AB  - The Drosophila gene pumilio is expressed maternally, and its function is
      essential during early embryogenesis for the formation of abdominal segments. Our
      molecular analysis reveals that pumilio is a large gene that encodes a protein of
      160 kD whose RNA is enriched at the posterior pole of the egg. As with pumilio,
      the maternal effect gene nanos is specifically required for abdomen formation.
      The Nanos protein is expressed in a posterior-to-anterior concentration gradient
      in the developing embryo. Previous experiments demonstrated a genetic interaction
      between pumilio and nanos, and led to the suggestion that pumilio is required for
      the proper spatial distribution of the Nanos protein. Here, we show that the
      expression and distribution of nanos RNA and protein in embryos derived from
      pumilio mutant females are indistinguishable from wild type. We conclude that
      abdomen formation depends both on Nanos activity, spreading from the localized
      posterior source, and on Pumilio activity, present throughout the embryo.

PMID- 1459456
TI  - Transcription factors junB and c-jun are selectively up-regulated and
      functionally implicated in fibrosarcoma development.
AB  - Bovine papillomavirus transgenic mice develop skin tumors arising from dermal
      fibroblasts in a process comprised of three distinctive stages: mild and
      aggressive fibromatoses, and fibrosarcoma. In both tissue biopsies and derivative
      cell lines, the proto-oncogenes junB and c-jun are induced in the latter two
      stages, in contrast to junD and fos. Fibrosarcoma cell lines have increased AP-1
      DNA-binding activity. Overexpression of junB or c-jun by transfection into the
      mild fibromatosis stage elicited changes in cell shape and anchorage
      independence, whereas junD did not. Similar transfections of normal skin
      fibroblasts had no effect. Thus, junB and c-jun represent progression factors
      whose activities are necessary at an intermediate stage of tumor development,
      subsequent to the initiation of aberrant proliferation.

PMID- 1459457
TI  - The proto-oncogene bcl-3 encodes an I kappa B protein.
AB  - The bcl-3 gene product, overexpressed in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
      patients with the translocation t(14;19), is a member of the I kappa B family.
      The bcl-3 protein is able to inhibit the DNA binding and trans-activation of
      authentic NF-kappa B heterodimers p50-p65 and p49-p65, as well as p50 and p49
      homodimers. The bcl-3 protein does not inhibit either the DNA-binding activity of
      the Rel protein or its ability to trans-activate genes linked to the kappa B
      site. A human 37-kD protein (I kappa B alpha), identified previously as a member
      of the I kappa B family, is also unable to inhibit DNA-binding activity of the
      Rel protein. However, unlike bcl-3, the 37-kD (I kappa B alpha) protein has no
      effect on the DNA-binding activity of p50 or p49 homodimers. Two dimensional
      phosphotryptic peptide maps of the human bcl-3 and the human 37-kD (I kappa B
      alpha) proteins reveal that the phosphopeptides from the 37-kD (I kappa B alpha)
      protein are nested within the bcl-3 protein. Furthermore, bcl-3 antisera
      immunoprecipitates an in vitro-radiolabeled 37-kD (I kappa B alpha) protein.
      Proteins of 56 and 38 kD can be identified in HeLa cells stimulated with PMA and
      immunoprecipitated with bcl-3 antisera. Comparison of tryptic peptide maps of the
      bcl-3 protein synthesized in vitro, and p56 and p38 from HeLa cells, shows that
      they are all structurally related. Removal of the amino-terminal sequences of the
      bcl-3 protein generates a protein that inhibits the DNA binding of the p50-p65
      heterodimer but, like the 37-kD (I kappa B alpha) protein, is no longer able to
      inhibit the binding of the p50 and p49 homodimers with kappa B DNA. We propose
      that the bcl-3 and 37-kD (I kappa B alpha) proteins are related and are members
      of the I kappa B family.

PMID- 1459458
TI  - Serine-to-alanine substitutions at the amino-terminal region of phytochrome A
      result in an increase in biological activity.
AB  - We have used a tobacco transgenic plant system to assay the structure/function
      relationship of phytochrome A (phyA), a plant photoreceptor. The amino terminus
      of phyA from different plant species is very rich in serine residues. To
      investigate whether these serine residues are required for phytochrome function,
      the first 10 serine codons encoding amino acid residues 2-4, 10-14, 19, and 20 in
      the amino-terminal domain of the rice phyA gene (phyA) were changed to alanine
      codons. The mutant (S/A phyA), as well as the wild-type phyA cDNA, was placed
      under the control of the 35S promoter, and the chimeric genes were transferred
      into the tobacco genome by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic
      tobacco plants expressing either wild-type or S/A phyA showed similar phenotypic
      alterations, including dwarfism and dark-green leaves. However, hypocotyl
      elongation experiments revealed that transgenic seedlings expressing S/A phyA
      showed a higher amplitude of the red light response with respect to the
      inhibition of hypocotyl elongation. The observed difference is not correlated
      with expression levels of the transgene. The chromophore is attached to the
      mutant phyA apoprotein (PHY A), and the mutant photoreceptor is photoreversible,
      giving a difference spectrum indistinguishable from that of the rice phyA. Our
      results indicate that the S/A mutant has a higher biological activity as compared
      with the wild-type rice phyA.

PMID- 1459459
TI  - Developmental and light regulation of eas, the structural gene for the rodlet
      protein of Neurospora.
AB  - The surface of many fungal spores is covered by a hydrophobic sheath termed the
      rodlet layer. We have determined that the rodlet protein of Neurospora crassa is
      encoded by a cloned gene designated bli-7, and that bli-7 is identical to the
      known gene eas (easily wettable). Using eas DNA as a probe we show that eas mRNA
      is abundant in illuminated mycelia and conidiophores but is not detectable or is
      barely detectable in dark-grown mycelia, mature macroconidia, microconidia, and
      ascospores. Mutations in the genes acon-2, acon-3, and fl block early
      conidiophore development; of these, only fl prevents normal eas transcription.
      The EAS protein is homologous to the rodlet protein (RodA) of Aspergillus
      nidulans, and the hydrophobins of Schizophyllum commune. eas is the first cloned
      conidiation (con) gene of N. crassa that is associated with a phenotypic
      alteration.

PMID- 1459460
TI  - The Neurospora circadian clock-controlled gene, ccg-2, is allelic to eas and
      encodes a fungal hydrophobin required for formation of the conidial rodlet layer.
AB  - The Neurospora crassa clock-controlled gene (ccg-2) is transcriptionally
      activated by the circadian clock in a time-of-day-specific manner. Transcript and
      sequence analyses of ccg-2 reveal that the predicted Ccg-2 polypeptide bears
      significant similarity to a class of low-molecular-weight, cysteine-rich,
      hydrophobic proteins (hydrophobins), first identified in Schizophyllum, and
      including the product of the developmentally regulated Aspergillus gene,
      rodletless, required for spore surface rodlets. Allelism between ccg-2 and easily
      wettable (eas) (one of the first developmental genetic loci identified in
      Neurospora) was predicted on the basis of this similarity, their close genetic
      linkage, and previous findings demonstrating that eas mutants lack rodlets. In
      this study allelism is confirmed experimentally by showing that (1)
      transformation of an eas mutant strain with ccg-2 DNA results in phenotypic
      complementation, including restoration of surface rodlets, (2) inactivation of
      the ccg-2 gene, by RIP, results in an eas phenotype including loss of rodlet
      fascicles, and (3) the original eas strain has dramatically reduced levels of ccg
      2 mRNA. Thus, the clock-controlled ccg-2 gene encodes an integral component of
      fungal asexual spores important for spore dispersal. The dramatic reduction of
      ccg-2 expression in the eas mutant has no apparent effect on the normal operation
      of the circadian clock, confirming that there is no feedback of this clock output
      on the oscillator itself. These data, in conjunction with the previous
      observation that ccg-2 is light induced, serve to focus attention on the dual
      interacting role of light and the circadian clock in the regulation of fungal
      spore development.

PMID- 1459461
TI  - A temporally controlled sigma-factor is required for polar morphogenesis and
      normal cell division in Caulobacter.
AB  - The transcription of many spatially and temporally controlled flagellar
      structural genes in Caulobacter requires the RNA polymerase sigma 54 subunit.
      Like flagellar biogenesis, stalk formation is an asymmetric polar morphogenesis
      that occurs once each cell cycle in response to internal cell cycle signals. We
      have isolated the sigma 54 gene (rpoN) and describe here a novel role for this
      alternative sigma-factor in cell differentiation: It is required for the
      biogenesis of both polar structures, and the disruption of the rpoN gene results
      in aberrant cell division. Surprisingly, the transcription of rpoN is temporally
      regulated during the cell cycle; it increases 10-fold commensurate with stalk
      formation and just before the onset of flagellar gene expression. These results
      suggest that sigma 54 abundance responds to cell cycle cues and is involved in
      the global timing of the central events of Caulobacter development, whereas the
      transcriptional activators of sigma 54-dependent promoters are responsible for
      the refined control of the expression of individual or small groups of genes
      required for each specific event.

PMID- 1459462
TI  - Transcriptional control via translational repression by c4 antisense RNA of
      bacteriophages P1 and P7.
AB  - The c4 repressors of bacteriophages P1 and P7 are antisense RNAs that inhibit
      antirepressor synthesis. This antisense inhibition is unusual in that the c4
      repressor and the repressed genes orfx and ant are cotranscribed in that order
      from the same promoter, and c4 RNA is processed from a precursor RNA. Here, we
      show that c4 RNA directly represses translation of orfx, a small open reading
      frame, to which ant is translationally coupled. This translational repression
      blocks ant transcription via a rho-dependent terminator. Thus, c4 RNA controls
      expression of the ant gene by a novel indirect mechanism combining translational
      repression, translational coupling, and rho-dependent termination.

PMID- 1459463
TI  - Biphasic effect of Max on Myc cotransformation activity and dependence on amino-
      and carboxy-terminal Max functions.
AB  - In Ras cotransformation assays, Max exhibited a biphasic effect on Myc
      transformation activity. Cotransfection of low levels of Max expression plasmid
      stimulated Myc transformation activity, but cotransfection of high levels
      suppressed it. Mutations in the functionally undefined Max amino- and carboxy
      terminal regions outside of the B/HLH/LZ motif partly separated these activities,
      suggesting various modes of Max regulation. We demonstrate that the Max protein
      is a nuclear protein in vivo and identify a carboxy-terminal region similar to
      nuclear localization signals whose integrity is necessary for efficient
      localization. Two mutants that delete amino- or carboxy-terminal consensus
      signals for casein kinase II (CKII) exhibited altered gel mobility and DNA
      binding potential in vitro and showed modified transforming potential in the Ras
      cotransformation assay, suggesting that CKII or a CKII-related enzyme may
      regulate Max function in vivo. Our data suggest that both the ratio of Myc/Max
      hetero-oligomers to Max homo-oligomers and Max-specific regulation can contribute
      to determining the biological activity of Myc in vivo.

PMID- 1459464
TI  - Putting the heat on sex determination.
AB  - Sex determination and differentiation are inherently fascinating to both
      layperson and geneticist. Major advances have accelerated interest in the
      molecular genetic events mediating these processes in nematodes, flies, mice and
      humans. Far less attention has been paid to those organisms, particularly
      reptiles, where sex is determined by environmental cues. However, recent
      experimental evidence suggests that the two modes of sex determination may not
      only share common genetic elements, but may also be regulated by similar
      mechanisms. We argue that the ability to manipulate sex by temperature provides a
      particularly suitable model for exploring the molecular basis of this fundamental
      biological process.

PMID- 1459465
TI  - Evolution of pericentromeric heterochromatin of human X chromosome.
AB  - An unusual large heterochromatic segment around the pericentromeric region of the
      X-chromosome is reported. In normal circumstances, the pericentromeric region of
      the X-chromosome is negative by the restriction endonuclease AluI/Giemsa
      technique. However, this unusual X-chromosome was found to have AluI resistant
      (positive) chromatin. The evolution of extra heterochromatin is a postzygotic
      event as substantiated by the presence of a normal cell line.

PMID- 1459467
TI  - Accumulation of amyloid precursor protein and beta-protein immunoreactivities in
      axons injured by cerebral infarct.
AB  - To determine the distribution of amyloid precursor protein (APP), monoclonal
      antibodies against APP45-62 (APP1-28-9) and beta1-17 (4A18 and 4A61) were
      produced. In the sections of Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain, APP1-28-9 was
      reactive with neurites around senile plaques and a few neurons but not with
      amyloid cores. This antibody also immunostained the axons in the ischemic lesions
      of brain tissues from cases with cerebral infarct. 4A18 and 4A61 were reactive
      with amyloid plaques but not with neurites and neurons. The latter two antibodies
      also immunostained axons in ischemic lesions. These findings suggest that APP,
      transported by the fast axonal flows, accumulated in the injured axons in the
      central nervous system. The beta immunoreactivity appearing in those axons may
      provide a clue to the mechanism of amyloidogenesis.

PMID- 1459466
TI  - Nucleotide sequence analysis of a mouse Y chromosomal DNA fragment containing Bkm
      and LINE elements.
AB  - The strong suppression of crossing-over between the X and Y chromosomes permits
      rapid accumulation of repetitive sequences in the Y chromosome. To gain insight
      into the mechanism responsible for the sequence amplification, it is essential to
      characterize Y chromosomal repetitive sequences at the molecular level. Here, we
      report the entire nucleotide sequence (3,902bp) of AC11, a mouse sequence that is
      repeated 300 times in the Y chromosome. AC11 is AT rich (32.8% GC), and contains
      many short poly(A) sequences. In addition, it has Bkm and LINE sequences as well
      as a Y chromosome-specific sequence. The Bkm sequence consists of typical (GATA)
      and (GACA) repeating units, whereas the LINE sequence deviates considerably from
      other mouse LINE sequences (71-76% identity) and may be considered atypical. The
      Y chromosome-specific region seems to be unique and does not identify similar
      sequences in the GenBank library. The information obtained from the nucleotide
      sequence should form the foundation to study the evolutionary processes through
      which AC11-related sequences have accumulated in the mouse Y chromosome.

PMID- 1459468
TI  - Alzheimer's disease beta-amyloid precursor protein in rat neural cells in
      culture.
AB  - Immunochemical studies were performed on Alzheimer's beta-amyloid precursor
      protein (APP) in rat brain and cultured rat neural cells. Multiple APP subtypes
      were detected on immunoblots of brain homogenate with several antisera specific
      for subsequences of APP. In rat neural cell cultures, it was demonstrated that
      the composition of APP subtypes differed among cell types and subcellular
      fractions, and that APP subtypes in PC12h cells varied in their heparin binding
      affinity, suggesting distinct functional roles for different APP subtypes.
      Compatible with the possible role of APP in cell-matrix interaction, an increase
      in oligodendroglial APP was observed following their attachment onto poly-L
      lysine substratum.

PMID- 1459469
TI  - Circulating suppressing factor for the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in
      patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type.
AB  - Circulating suppressing factor for the binding of quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB),
      an antagonist for the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, to the synaptic
      membranes was evaluated in 48 patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type
      (SDAT), in 17 patients with the vascular type dementia (VTD) and in 11
      nondemented elderly subjects (NE). The mean suppression rate on the binding in
      the SDAT group was significantly greater than that in the NE group, although that
      in the VTD group was similar to that in the NE group. Moreover, the percent QNB
      binding was significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with the score of the mini-mental
      state in the SDAT group. The circulating suppressing factor may participate in
      the pathogenesis of SDAT.

PMID- 1459470
TI  - Production of endothelin-1 in vascular endothelial cells is regulated by factors
      associated with vascular injury.
AB  - We studied the effects of factors associated with vascular injury on the
      production of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells.
      ET-1 mRNA expression and peptide production in endothelial cells were increased
      by thrombin, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1), interleukin-1 (IL-1)
      and tumor necrotizing factor alpha (TNF alpha). The analysis of the
      enhancer/promoter region of the human ET-1 gene showed that the ET-1 gene
      transcription is regulated in a cell-specific manner and is activated by
      thrombin, TGF beta 1 and IL-1. These results suggest that the production of ET-1
      in endothelial cells is regulated by factors associated with platelet
      aggregation, macrophage infiltration and the formation of atherosclerotic
      lesions.

PMID- 1459471
TI  - Expression of glucose transporter isoforms with aging.
AB  - To elucidate the cellular mechanisms for impairment of glucose metabolism
      associated with aging, the facilitative glucose transporter protein and mRNA were
      studied in various tissues of young (7-week-old) and aged (20-month-old) rats.
      GLUT4 glucose transporter protein, a major glucose transporter isoform in the
      insulin-responsive tissues, was selectively decreased in the epididymal fat
      tissues of the aged rats compared with the young rats. This decrease is likely to
      be due to a decrease in protein synthesis rather than in protein stability, since
      GLUT4 mRNA per unit cellular total RNA was also decreased. GLUT4 mRNA in the
      skeletal muscle was rather increased in spite of the decreased level of GLUT4
      protein in the aged rats, suggesting that the translational efficiency and/or
      stability of GLUT4 protein is decreased in the skeletal muscle of the aged rats
      compared with the young rats. In contrast to these alterations in GLUT4
      expression, no apparent decrease in the GLUT1 protein amount was observed in the
      fat tissues, skeletal muscle and brain of the aged rats compared with the young
      rats. Thus, the tissue and isoform-specific alterations in glucose transporter
      expression are associated with aging and may contribute to impairment of glucose
      metabolism observed with aging.

PMID- 1459472
TI  - Human platelet-derived transforming growth factor-beta stimulates synthesis of
      glycosaminoglycans in cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells.
AB  - Human platelet-derived transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) stimulated the
      incorporation of [35S]sulfate into glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) both in the medium
      and on the cell surface of cultured aortic endothelial cells in a dose- and time
      dependent manner. TGF-beta inhibited the suppression of GAG synthesis by other
      cytokines. TGF-beta increased the protein synthesis, while reducing the DNA
      synthesis by endothelial cells. The proportion of anticoagulant heparan sulfate
      in total GAGs was reduced. Thus, TGF-beta affected the endothelial GAG metabolism
      both quantitatively and qualitatively.

PMID- 1459473
TI  - Genetic and environmental factors of bone mineral density indicated in Japanese
      twins.
AB  - To evaluate the effects of genetic and environmental factors on the bone mass, we
      determined the bone mineral density (BMD) in the total body, the lumbar spine and
      in the femoral neck in 23 Japanese twin pairs including 21 monozygotic (MZ)
      pairs, applying dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. In MZ pairs aged 20-49 years,
      highly significant intraclass correlation coefficients, ranging from 0.775 to
      0.926, were observed at several sites, including the lumbar spine and the femoral
      neck, which suggests considerable contributions of genetic factors to the BMD.
      Neither intraclass correlation coefficients nor intrapair differences were found
      to change with increasing age in the present analysis. In female MZ pairs,
      exercises both at the present time and in the past were correlated with the BMD
      at several sites as well as body mass index in multiple regression analyses.

PMID- 1459474
TI  - Nitroxide-mediated protection against X-ray- and neocarzinostatin-induced DNA
      damage.
AB  - The stable free radical Tempol (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidinyloxy) has
      been shown to protect against X-ray-induced cytotoxicity and hydrogen peroxide-
      or xanthine oxidase-induced cytotoxicity and mutagenicity. The ability of Tempol
      to protect against X-ray- or neocarzinostatin (NCS)-induced mutagenicity or DNA
      double-strand breaks (dsb) was studied in Chinese hamster cells. Tempol (50 mM)
      provided a protection factor of 2.7 against X-ray-induced mutagenicity in Chinese
      hamster ovary (CHO) AS52 cells, with a protection factor against cytotoxicity of
      3.5. Using the field inversion gel electrophoresis technique of measuring DNA
      dsb, 50 mM Tempol provides a threefold reduction in DNA damage at an X-ray dose
      of 40 Gy. For NCS-induced damage, Tempol increased survival from 9% to 80% at 60
      ng/mL NCS and reduced mutation induction by a factor of approximately 3. DNA dsb
      were reduced by a factor of approximately 7 at 500 ng/mL NCS. Tempol is
      representative of a class of stable nitroxide free radical compounds that have
      superoxide dismutase-mimetic activity, can oxidize metal ions such as ferrous
      iron that are complexed to DNA, and may also detoxify radiation-induced
      organoperoxide radicals by competitive scvenging. The NCS chromophore is reduced
      by sulfhydryls to an active form. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy
      shows that 2-mercaptoethanol-activated NCS reacts with Tempol 3.5 times faster
      than does unactivated NCS. Thus, Tempol appears to inactivate the NCS chromophore
      before a substantial amount of DNA damage occurs.

PMID- 1459475
TI  - MDA, oxypurines, and nucleosides relate to reperfusion in short-term incomplete
      cerebral ischemia in the rat.
AB  - Short-term incomplete cerebral ischemia (5 min) was induced in the rat by the
      bilateral clamping of the common carotid arteries. Reperfusion was obtained by
      removing carotid clamping and was carried out for the following 10 min. Animals
      were sacrificed either at the end of ischemia or reperfusion. Controls were
      represented by a group of sham-operated rats. Peripheral venous blood samples
      were withdrawn from the femoral vein from rats subjected to cerebral reperfusion
      5 min before ischemia, at the end of ischemia, and 10 min after reperfusion.
      Neutralized perchloric acid extracts of brain tissue were analyzed by a highly
      sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the direct
      determination of malondialdehyde, oxypurines, nucleosides, nicotinic coenzymes,
      and high-energy phosphates. In addition, plasma concentrations of
      malondialdehyde, hypoxanthine, xanthine, inosine, uric acid, and adenosine were
      determined by the same HPLC technique. Incomplete cerebral ischemia induced the
      appearance of a significant amount (8.05 nmol/g w.w.; SD = 2.82) of cerebral
      malondialdehyde (which was undetectable in control animals) and a decrease of
      ascorbic acid. A further 6.6-fold increase of malondialdehyde (53.30 nmol/g w.w.;
      SD = 17.77) and a 18.5% decrease of ascorbic acid occurred after 10 min of
      reperfusion. Plasma malondialdehyde, which was present in minimal amount before
      ischemia (0.050 mumol/L; SD = 0.015), significantly increased after 5 min of
      ischemia (0.277 mumol/L; SD = 0.056) and was strikingly augmented after 10 min of
      reperfusion (0.682 mumol/L; SD = 0.094). A similar trend was observed for
      xanthine, uric acid, inosine, and adenosine, while hypoxanthine reached its
      maximal concentration after 5 min of incomplete ischemia, being significantly
      decreased after reperfusion. From the data obtained, it can be concluded that
      tissue concentrations of malondialdehyde and ascorbic acid, and plasma levels of
      malondialdehyde, oxypurines, and nucleosides, reflect both the oxygen radical
      mediated tissue injury and the depression of energy metabolism, thus representing
      early biochemical markers of short-term incomplete brain ischemia and reperfusion
      in the rat. In particular, these results suggest the possibility of using the
      variation of malondialdehyde, oxypurines, and nucleosides in peripheral blood as
      a potential biochemical indicator of reperfusion damage occurring to postischemic
      tissues.

PMID- 1459476
TI  - Breath ethane: a specific indicator of free-radical-mediated lipid peroxidation
      following reperfusion of the ischemic liver.
AB  - A major component of the organ injury mediated by toxic oxidants, such as seen
      following reperfusion of the ischemic liver, is due to the peroxidation of
      polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially of cell membranes. We utilized the
      measurement of exhaled breath ethane, a metabolic product unique to oxidant
      mediated lipid peroxidation, as a noninvasive indicator of this process in swine
      liver subjected to warm ischemia/reperfusion. Under rigorously controlled
      anesthesia conditions, pig livers were subjected to 2 h of warm total ischemia,
      followed by reperfusion in situ. Expired air was collected and its ethane content
      quantitated by a novel gas chromatographic technique. The time course of breath
      ethane generation correlated closely with the appearance of hepatocellular injury
      as measured by impairment of Factor VII generation and other measures of liver
      integrity. Moreover, the administration of the specific superoxide free radical
      scavenger, superoxide dismutase (SOD), significantly attenuated both the
      elaboration of ethane and the hepatocellular injury. These findings not only
      provide confirmation of the previously reported link between hepatocellular
      injury by free radicals generated at reperfusion, but also establish the use of
      expired breath ethane analysis as a sensitive, specific, and noninvasive
      indicator of the injury process in real time.

PMID- 1459477
TI  - The inhibitory effects of 21 mimics of superoxide dismutase on luminol-mediated
      chemiluminescence emitted from PMA-stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocyte.
AB  - Four groups comprising 21 superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimics synthesized by us
      were comparatively studied for their inhibitory effects on luminol-mediated
      chemiluminescence emitted from phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated
      polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL). Among these groups, 20-membered macrocyclic
      bicopper(II) complexes and 13-membered macrocyclic dioxotetramine copper(II)
      complexes exhibited relatively higher activities of scavenging reactive oxygen
      species (ROS) produced by PMA-stimulated PMNL as compared with polyamine Cu(II)
      Zn(II) complexes and copper(II) complexes of bis-shiff-base. Moreover, distinctly
      different effects of SOD mimics in the biological system have been found even in
      the same group. It is suggested that the biological effects of some SOD mimics
      are related to their structures.

PMID- 1459478
TI  - Fenton reagents may not initiate lipid peroxidation in an emulsified linoleic
      acid model system.
AB  - This study includes two parts. First, the Fe2+ autooxidation and chelation
      processes in the presence of the chelators ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
      and diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) were studied by measuring UV light
      absorbance alterations. Competition for Fe3+ between chelators and water or
      phosphate buffer (PB) ions was confirmed. The addition of EDTA or DTPA to Fe3+ in
      water or PB only slowly turned the water/PB-Fe3+ complexes to EDTA-Fe3+ or DTPA
      Fe3+ complexes. In the second part of this study, the initiation mechanisms of
      Tween 20 emulsified linoleic acid peroxidation under stimulation by chelator-Fe
      O2 complexes were studied by measuring changes in UV light absorbance following
      diene conjugation. Fe3+ in the presence of EDTA or DTPA did not stimulate diene
      conjugation. Fe2+ (0.10 mM) and EDTA (0.11 mM) stimulated diene conjugation of
      the linoleic acid emulsion, but only after apparent Fe2+ autooxidation. Fe2+ and
      DTPA, as well as premixed DTPA-Fe2+ complex, resulted in very fast diene
      conjugation in a wide range of concentrations. A nonlinear, mainly square root
      relation between Fe2+ concentration and peroxidation rate was noted. Superoxide
      dismutase (SOD), catalase, and mannitol did not prevent the lipid peroxidation.
      H2O2 substantially decreased the DTPA-Fe2+ stimulated, otherwise rapid, diene
      conjugation but slightly enhanced the slower one stimulated by EDTA-Fe2+. Without
      ambient oxygen, Fenton reagents did not result in .H abstraction-related diene
      conjugation. The findings suggest that .OH resulting from Fenton reagents may not
      be the main cause for the initiation of peroxidation in this model system.
      Furthermore, a study with different combinations of Fe2+ and Fe3+ did not support
      the Fe2+/Fe3+ (1:1) optimum ratio hypothesis. We therefore conclude that
      perferryl ions or chelator-Fe-O2 complexes may be responsible for the first-chain
      initiation of lipid peroxidation, at least in this model system.

PMID- 1459479
TI  - Use of essential metalloelement complexes or chelates in biological studies.

PMID- 1459480
TI  - Modification of reperfusion-induced ionic imbalance by free radical scavengers in
      spontaneously hypertensive rat retina.
AB  - We studied the effects of free radical scavengers, superoxide dismutase (SOD),
      vitamin E, and EGB 761, on ion shifts (Na+, K+, and Ca2+) induced by ischemia
      reperfusion in rat retina obtained from spontaneously hypertensive rats. Eyes
      were subjected to 90 min of retinal ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Two
      basic protocols were used: (1) chronic application, in which rats received SOD
      (7500, 15,000, and 30,000 U/kg, i.v.), vitamin E (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, i.v.),
      and EGB 671 (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, orally) for 10 d, respectively; and (2)
      acute administration, in which 7500, 15,000, and 30,000 U/kg of SOD, 50, 100, and
      200 mg/kg of vitamin E, and 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of EGB 761 were administered
      after an ischemic episode, at the onset of reperfusion, respectively. In the drug
      free control group, 90 min ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion resulted in
      an accumulation of retinal sodium and calcium from their nonischemic control
      values of 76 +/- 4 and 3.2 +/- 0.1 mumol/g dry weight to 112 +/- 6 (p < .001) and
      6.2 (p < .001) mumol/g dry weight, respectively. Tissue potassium loss was also
      observed in this model of retinal ischemia reperfusion, and after 90 min ischemia
      followed by 24 h of reperfusion potassium content was significantly reduced from
      its nonischemic control value of 266 +/- 5 to 207 +/- 6 (p < .001) mumol/g dry
      weight. The chronic administration of SOD, vitamin E, and EGB 761 dose
      dependently reduced the reperfusion-induced ionic imbalance and improved the
      recovery of retinal ion contents.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459481
TI  - Salicylate hydroxylation as an early marker of in vivo oxidative stress in
      diabetic patients.
AB  - In vivo metabolism of salicylic acid produces two main hydroxylated derivatives
      (2,5- and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid). The former can be produced by enzymatic
      pathways through the cytochrome P-450 system, while the latter is reported to be
      solely formed by direct hydroxyl radical attack. Therefore, measurement of 2,3
      dihydroxybenzoate, following oral administration of salicylate in its acetylated
      form (aspirin), has been proposed for assessment of oxidative stress. In this
      article we report plasma levels of 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoates following the
      administration of 1 g aspirin and plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive
      material (TBARM) in well-controlled diabetic patients and in healthy subjects.
      2,3-Dihydroxybenzoate levels were significantly higher (23%) in diabetic patients
      than in controls (63.4 +/- 20.1 versus 49.0 +/- 6.8 nM; p < .05). On the other
      hand, TBARM values were not significantly different between groups. These results
      suggest that the method is useful to reveal in vivo oxidative stress
      independently from the peroxidation of lipids, and they support the hypothesis
      that oxygen radicals are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic complications of
      diabetes.

PMID- 1459482
TI  - Trolox C, a lipid-soluble membrane protective agent, attenuates myocardial injury
      from ischemia and reperfusion.
AB  - The lipophilic antioxidant Trolox C, a vitamin E analog, was administered to
      isolated, buffer-perfused rabbit hearts subjected to 25 min of global stop-flow
      ischemia and 30 min of reperfusion. In six hearts, Trolox C (200 microM) was
      infused for 15 min immediately prior to ischemia and for the first 15 min of
      reperfusion. Six control hearts received only vehicle. Gas chromatography
      analysis confirmed that effective myocardial levels of Trolox were attained. At
      30 min reperfusion, the recovery of left ventricular developed pressure was 56 +/
      3% of baseline in control hearts versus 70 +/- 4% in Trolox-treated hearts (p <
      .01). There was also significant improvement in recovery of Trolox-treated hearts
      in diastolic pressure and both maximum and minimum values of the first derivative
      of left ventricular pressure (dP/dt). Creatine phosphokinase release into the
      coronary effluent at 30 min of reperfusion was 16.5 +/- 8.4 IU/min in untreated
      and 6.3 +/- 1.0 IU/min (p < .05) in Trolox-treated hearts. Thus Trolox C, a
      lipophilic antioxidant, attenuated myocardial injury during stop-flow ischemia
      and reperfusion.

PMID- 1459483
TI  - Effect of oxidant stress on calcium signaling in vascular endothelial cells.
AB  - The endothelial cell is recognized as a critical modulator of blood vessel tone
      and reactivity. This regulatory function of endothelial cells occurs via
      synthesis and release of diffusible paracrine substances which induce contraction
      or relaxation of adjacent vascular smooth muscle. In response to stimulation by
      blood-borne agonists such as bradykinin or histamine, the endothelial cell
      utilizes cytosolic ionic Ca2+ as a trigger in the transduction of the stimulatory
      signal into a paracrine response. Considerable evidence has accumulated to
      indicate that various forms of biologically important oxidant stress alter
      vascular function in an endothelium-dependent manner. Further, oxidant stress is
      known to alter the mechanisms which govern Ca2+ homeostasis in the endothelial
      cell. Recently, we have described a model in which the oxidant tert
      butylhydroperoxide is utilized to examine the effects of oxidant stress on Ca(2+)
      dependent signal transduction in vascular endothelial cells. In this model, three
      temporal phases are evident and consist of (1) inhibition of the agonist
      stimulated Ca2+ influx pathway, (2) inhibition of receptor-activated release of
      Ca2+ from internal stores and elevation of resting cytosolic free Ca2+
      concentration, and (3) progressive increase in resting cytosolic Ca2+
      concentration and loss of responsiveness to agonist stimulation. In this review,
      the mechanisms which characterize agonist-stimulated Ca2+ signaling in vascular
      endothelial cells, and the effects of oxidant stress on signal transduction will
      be described. The mechanisms potentially responsible for oxidant-induced
      inhibition of Ca2+ signaling will be considered.

PMID- 1459484
TI  - Reactive oxygen intermediates and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
AB  - HIV infection affects various parts of the immune system, including the CD4+
      lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes, and causes a progressive
      immunodeficiency. This renders the patient susceptible to various opportunistic
      infections and neoplasms. Reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) are important for
      the intracellular killing of microorganisms by mononuclear phagocytes and
      neutrophils. Although data are discrepant, several studies suggest that the
      generation of ROI is impaired in mononuclear phagocytes, and possibly also in
      neutrophils, from HIV-infected individuals. This may lead to deficient killing of
      intracellular microorganisms predisposing the HIV-infected patient to certain
      opportunistic infections. Recently, in vitro studies have shown that ROI activate
      the intracellular transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) which
      stimulates HIV replication. Intracellular antioxidant systems, such as the
      glutathione system, seem to be of importance for the regulation of ROI levels and
      thus probably for HIV replication in vitro. However, the role of ROI in
      regulation of HIV replication in vivo is unknown at present. The role of ROI in
      HIV infection is thus difficult to assess, both at the cellular and clinical
      level. Reduced intracellular concentrations of ROI may lead to impaired phagocyte
      microbicidal functions, thus predisposing HIV-infected patients to various
      opportunistic infections. On the other hand, increased ROI levels may be
      associated with a stimulation of HIV replication leading to clinical
      deterioration.

PMID- 1459485
TI  - Effects of catecholamines on eicosanoid synthesis with special reference to
      prostanoid/leukotriene ratio.
AB  - Catecholamines (adrenaline, dopamine, and noradrenaline) stimulate prostanoid
      synthesis by acting as "cosubstrates." On the other hand, many inhibitors of
      leukotriene synthesis, such as nordihydroguaiaretic acid and caffeic acid, have a
      catecholic structure. Catecholamines have opposite effects on prostanoid and
      leukotriene synthesis in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and whole blood.
      Basic phenols (catechol, hydroquinone, and phenol) also increase the
      prostanoid/leukotriene ratio in polymorphonuclear leukocytes. These actions
      correlate to their antioxidant capacities and oxidation potentials, and they are
      not mediated via adrenergic receptors. There is only limited knowledge about the
      effects of natural catecholamines on the prostanoid/leukotriene ratio in vitro
      and in vivo. Indirect data suggest that catecholamines could increase prostanoid
      production in physiological or pathological situations, such as heavy physical
      exercise, myocardial infarction, and surgical stress. This interaction may also
      be of clinical importance in asthma, gastric ulcer, and psoriasis, where
      decreased prostanoid/leukotriene ratios have been reported.

PMID- 1459486
TI  - Protein A of quinolinate synthetase is the site of oxygen poisoning of pyridine
      nucleotide coenzyme synthesis in Escherichia coli.
AB  - De novo biosynthesis of pyridine nucleotide coenzymes in Escherichia coli is
      initiated by an enzyme complex (quinolinate synthetase) containing protein B
      which converts L-aspartate into iminoaspartate and protein A, which then
      generates quinolinate on the pathway to the coenzymes. This complex has been
      shown to be poisoned by hyperbaric oxygen. We performed assays made dependent on
      both proteins B and A versus only protein A, using cell-free extracts of
      hyperbaric-oxygen poisoned and aerobically grown cells. The specific activities
      were reduced by similar amounts of 68% and 60%, respectively, when measured in
      assays made dependent on enzymes B and A virus only protein A that was derived
      from oxygen-poisoned extract. Thus, protein A is the oxygen-sensitive component.

PMID- 1459487
TI  - Isolation of a malondialdehyde-deoxyguanosine adduct from rat liver DNA.
AB  - In previous studies, an adduct of malondialdehyde (MDA) with guanine was
      identified in rat and human urine. Subsequent detection of an adduct with
      deoxyguanosine (dG) in urine prompted an investigation of its possible occurrence
      in DNA. Rat liver DNA was hydrolyzed using nuclease P1 and alkaline P-ase and
      subjected to deoxyribonucleoside analysis using reverse phase high-pressure
      liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. A compound was isolated
      that could not be separated from a synthetic pyrimidinopurine adduct of MDA and
      dG (dG-MDA). Partial hydrolysis released guanine (Gua), Gua-MDA, and dG in
      amounts that, in aggregate, were the molar equivalent of the starting material
      calculated by fluorescence analysis as dG-MDA. Complete acid hydrolysis of the
      isolate yielded an equimolar amount of MDA. Analysis of liver DNA isolated from
      growing rats yielded a value for dG-MDA content of 9.0 +/- 1.6 pmol/100
      micrograms DNA (mean +/- SEM, N = 5). This value is approximately 7 times those
      reported for the 8-hydroxy deoxyguanosine content of rat liver nuclear DNA. This
      study demonstrates that DNA is modified in vivo by reactions of its guanylate
      moiety with MDA, and indicates that, at least in the case of rat liver DNA, the
      prevalence of such modifications is greater than those caused by reactions with
      hydroxyl radicals.

PMID- 1459489
TI  - Ferritin cannot release iron in vivo if there is no ferritin present.

PMID- 1459488
TI  - Modification in amino acids of Dead Sea Scroll Parchments.
AB  - Fragments of Dead Sea Scroll Parchments were extracted for collagen and subjected
      to amino acid analysis. In modern parchment samples, 90% or more of the protein
      could be extracted in hot aqueous solution as collagen. In the ancient specimens,
      70% or less was extractable. The hot-solution insoluble material was analyzed for
      collagen. In the soluble extract, the quantity of tyrosine, histidine, and
      methionine was reduced. Dityrosine was detected. The need to extend such studies
      is discussed.

PMID- 1459490
TI  - A chelator is required for microsomal lipid peroxidation following reductive
      ferritin-iron mobilisation.
AB  - In the past, antioxidant and chelator studies have implicated a role for iron
      dependent oxidative damage in tissues subjected to ischaemia followed by
      reperfusion. As ferritin is a major source of iron in non-muscular organs and
      therefore a potential source of the iron required for oxygen radical chemistry,
      we have determined conditions under which ferritin iron reduction leads to the
      formation of a pool of iron which is capable of catalysing lipid peroxidation.
      Under anaerobic conditions and in the presence of rat liver microsomes, flavin
      mononucleotide (FMN) catalysed the reduction of ferritin iron as shown by both
      continuous spectrophotometric measurements of tris ferrozine-Fe(II) complex
      formation and post-reaction Fe(II) determination. The presence of either
      ferrozine or citrate was not found to alter the time course or extent of ferritin
      reduction. In contrast, the addition of air to the reactants after a 20 min
      period of anaerobic reduction resulted in peroxidation of the microsome
      suspension (as determined with the 2-thiobarbituric acid test) only in the
      presence of a chelator such as citrate, ADP or nitrilotriacetic acid. These
      results support the concept that reduced ferritin iron can mediate oxidative
      damage during reperfusion of previously ischaemic tissues, provided that
      chelating agents such as citrate or ADP are present.

PMID- 1459491
TI  - Circadian variations in antioxidant defences and lipid peroxidation in the rat
      heart.
AB  - Circadian variations in antioxidant defences and lipid peroxidation were
      investigated in 12 rat hearts perfused during light (i.e., at 08.00, n = 6) and
      dark cycle (i.e., at 19.00, n = 6). Higher levels of non proteic thiol compounds
      (P < 0.01), glutathione transferase activity (P < 0.05) and lipid peroxidation (P
      < 0.01) were detected in evening-excised hearts, associated with a lower (P <
      0.05) selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity; superoxide dismutase
      and glutathione reductase activities, as well as vitamin E content, were similar
      in the two groups. Moreover, a greater release of thiobarbituric acid reactive
      substances (P < 0.01) and proteins (P < 0.05) was detected in the myocardial
      effluent of another group of 5 evening-excised hearts perfused with Krebs
      Henseleit buffer containing 30 microM cumene hydroperoxide, as compared to 5
      light-cycle hearts. In conclusion, a higher oxidative stress seems to be
      operative in the rat heart during early stages of the dark phase, in spite of the
      increase level of non proteic thiol compounds (namely, glutathione). An imbalance
      of antioxidant defences, and/or higher radical generation and unsaturation degree
      of biomembranes lipids, may be hypothesized to favour myocardial oxidative stress
      at the beginning of the motor activity phase in rats.

PMID- 1459492
TI  - Lipoate prevents glucose-induced protein modifications.
AB  - Nonenzymatic glycation has been found to increase in a variety of proteins in
      diabetic patients. The present study examined a possibility of preventing
      glycation and subsequent structural modifications of proteins by alpha-lipoic
      acid (thioctic acid) as lipoate, a substance which has gained attention as a
      potential therapeutic agent for diabetes-induced complications. Incubation of
      bovine serum albumin (BSA) at 2 mg/ml with glucose (500 mM) in a sterile
      condition at 37 degrees C for seven days caused glycation and structural
      modifications of BSA observed by SDS-PAGE, near UV absorption, tryptophan and
      nontryptophan fluorescence, and fluorescence of an extrinsic probe, TNS (6-(p
      toluidinyl)naphthalene-2-sulfonate). When BSA and glucose were incubated in the
      presence of lipoate (20 mM), glycation and structural modifications of BSA were
      significantly prevented. Glycation and inactivation of lysozyme were also
      prevented by lipoate. These results suggest a potential for the therapeutic use
      of lipoic acid against diabetes-induced complications.

PMID- 1459493
TI  - ["Saddam syndrome:" acute psychotic reactions during the Gulf War--renewal of
      concept of brief reactive psychosis].
AB  - 6 patients came to our psychiatric emergency room during the first 2 weeks of the
      Gulf War presenting the clinical picture of acute delusional paranoid psychosis
      (4 women and 2 men between the ages of 30-77). 4 were without previously known
      psychopathology, while the other 2 were known to have had some nonpsychotic
      cognitive impairment. The first 4 recovered completely within a short time while
      the other 2 continued to have psychopathological symptoms. We discuss psychogenic
      or reactive psychosis, and the concept of reactivation when cumulative trauma
      exceed the individual's personal threshold, as may occur during a war. Different
      phenomenological syndromes may follow.

PMID- 1459494
TI  - [Living with celiac disease].
AB  - Celiac disease (CD) is caused by ingestion of gluten-containing foods by gluten
      sensitive individuals. The gluten causes malabsorption by damaging their
      intestinal mucosa. Adherence to a gluten-free diet is not simple, because the
      composition of foods stocked on store shelves is often not known, Patients with
      CD, particularly when adolescent, often refuse to comply with the diet; and
      parents are occasionally unable, or unwilling, to prepare gluten-free food.
      Furthermore, school teachers are usually ignorant of the specific dietary
      requirements of these patients. We examined physical, scholastic, and social
      aspects of CD patients in comparison with their siblings in the same age groups
      (10-18 years) to determine whether CD and the need to keep a diet influence these
      parameters. 25 CD patients and 14 of their siblings were interviewed at home
      where they filled a questionnaire. The mean adherence to a gluten-free diet was
      96.6%; the heights of the patients were comparable to those of their siblings. We
      did not find significant differences in scholastic achievement and social
      adjustment between patients and siblings. It appears that children and
      adolescents with CD can live with their disease and keep a gluten-free diet while
      performing satisfactorily in school. However, some complained of difficulties,
      such as feeling uneasy at social gatherings, wanting to discuss their disability
      with friends, and feeling unhappy. Some were angry at society for pitying them
      and considering them as having a disease, while the patients considered
      themselves as having a food sensitivity.

PMID- 1459495
TI  - [Cytokines in anorexia nervosa--nutritional or neuroimmunal changes?].
AB  - Natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC), spontaneous release of tumor necrosis
      factor (TNF-alpha) by mononuclear cells in vitro, and PHA-induced interferon (IFN
      gamma) production were examined by standard methods in 14 females with anorexia
      nervosa (AN) and marked weight loss and in 16 normal matched controls. The
      results were confirmed by neutralization with monoclonal antibodies. In the
      anorectic patients there was a significant increase in TNF production (16 +/- 5
      vs 4 +/- 3 mu/ml), and depressed CMC (4 +/- 2 vs 10 +/- 3 lytic units per
      50/10(6) cells) and IFN-gamma production (172.5 +/- 25 vs 367 +/- 34 mu/ml).
      Following successful refeeding and nutritional rehabilitation, all values
      returned to normal. Thus there are changes in cytokines and defective natural
      cytotoxicity in AN, apparently related to undernutrition and not to
      neuroimmunomodulation. The increased TNF-release may further suppress food intake
      and enhance tissue catabolism, suggesting that nutritional rehabilitation should
      be the earliest therapeutic goal in anorexia nervosa.

PMID- 1459496
TI  - [The day-care unit as a framework for successful community rehabilitation].
AB  - Due to rapid advances in psychiatric treatment, increased sophistication of
      welfare services, and increasing life expectancy, the number of psychiatric
      patients is increasing rapidly. Many of them do not have the necessary adaptive
      capacity to deal satisfactorily with their daily functions, such as housework,
      financial arrangements, and medical treatment. These patients could be assisted
      in day-care treatment units. We present the ideology and the different models of
      psychiatric day-care units which are becoming widely used in treatment,
      especially for rehabilitation of chronic mental patients.

PMID- 1459497
TI  - [Lithium augmentation for mianserin-resistant depression in the elderly].
AB  - Depression in the elderly is characterized by a prolonged course and resistance
      to pharmacological treatment. Moreover, in old age sensitivity to the
      anticholinergic and cardiac side-effects of tricyclic antidepressants (TCA)
      increases. Recently new antidepressants with fewer side-effects have been
      developed. Of these, trazodone and mianserin have been particularly recommended
      for the treatment of depression in older patients. However, the effects of these
      new compounds on depression are similar to those of the older TCA's, leaving a
      substantial number of elderly patients with resistant depression. While there are
      many publications on the potentiation of the effect of TCA's by lithium
      carbonate, there is little data on the potentiation of the effects of trazodone
      and of mianserin by lithium, and no reports of their combined use in elderly
      patients. Birkhimer et al. reported a case of successful treatment of refractory
      depression with trazodone and lithium in a 45-year-old man. Heninger et al.
      successfully treated 2 treatment-refractory patients (aged 52 and 58 years,
      respectively) with a combination of mianserin and lithium. Price et al. reported
      that 85% of 12 drug-resistant patients improved when treated with lithium and
      mianserin, but only 22% of 9 patients treated with lithium and trazodone. We
      report a 73-year-old man with resistant depression whose physical condition
      contraindicated tricyclic antidepressants, in whom the combination of mianserin
      and lithium was both safe and effective.

PMID- 1459498
TI  - [Combined tricyclic antidepressants and ritalin in elderly depressives].
AB  - Psychostimulants, including ritalin (methylphenidate), were used as
      antidepressives in the '50s but were then replaced by tricyclics and MAO
      inhibitors. Treatment of depression with psychostimulants is still controversial.
      Several anecdotal reports in the past decade approved the use of tricyclic
      antidepressants (TCA) together with methylphenidate in apathetic and withdrawal
      states in medically ill and in elderly patients. Ritalin elevates mood by
      releasing catecholamines and blocking their re-uptake, and also increases serum
      TCA levels. 5 men and 5 women between the ages of 65 and 79 were diagnosed as
      suffering from major depressive disorders, either single or recurrent, based on
      the Revised Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R).
      They had been treated with TCA for up to several months with no response.
      Following addition of methylphenidate, 5-15 mg/d for 2 weeks, 4 men and 3 women
      improved rapidly, 2 of them within 24 hours.

PMID- 1459499
TI  - [Withdrawal reactions after clomipramine].
AB  - Abrupt or gradual discontinuation of tricyclic antidepressants may precipitate
      withdrawal symptoms. The most common of these are general somatic or
      gastrointestinal distress, anxiety and agitation, sleep disturbance, akathisia,
      parkinsonism, paradoxical behavioral activation and mania. There are very few
      reports of withdrawal reactions following discontinuation of clomipramine since
      it has not been in use in the US until recently. 2 patients with withdrawal
      symptoms following discontinuation of clomipramine are presented. A 45-year-old
      man had general somatic symptoms, including headache, myalgia, weakness, fatigue
      (flu-like syndrome) and nervousness and insomnia after clomipramine, 75 mg/d, had
      been discontinued abruptly. All symptoms disappeared without treatment after 3
      days. A 47-year-old woman presented mainly with severe insomnia, anxiety,
      agitation, jitteriness and tension after discontinuing a low dose of 25 mg/d of
      clomipramine. Symptoms disappeared after she started self-treatment with 50 mg/d
      of the drug. It is important to differentiate withdrawal symptoms from relapse of
      the primary psychiatric disorder.

PMID- 1459500
TI  - [Subclinical renal involvement in rheumatoid arthritis].
AB  - No evidence of renal involvement was found in 104 patients with rheumatoid
      arthritis in routine laboratory tests, including serum creatinine, urea, uric
      acid, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and urinalysis. In view of recent
      publications (1-9) which report renal involvement in rheumatoid arthritis, we
      studied 16 patients of our group (nonrandomized, 3 men and 16 women, average age
      55.4 years, average duration of disease 11.9 years). We examined creatinine
      clearance, urinary excretion of alpha-2 microalbumin, beta-2 microglobulin,
      cystine, and urine concentration and acidity after a 10-hour fast. 10 patients
      had disturbances in 1 or more of the functions examined, in 9 of whom tubular
      functions were involved. In 6 there was no evidence of renal involvement. There
      was no correlation between renal involvement and past or present therapy, but
      there were direct correlations between renal involvement, duration of disease and
      age. Thus we found evidence for subclinical renal damage not revealed by routine
      laboratory tests in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This damage should be
      taken into consideration when operation, examination with contrast material, or
      treatment with other nephrotoxic agents are being considered in these patients.

PMID- 1459501
TI  - [Poststreptococcal reactive arthritis].
AB  - Reactive arthritis is defined as arthritis of 1 or more joints, in association
      with infection at a distant site, but without the infective agent being found in
      the synovial fluid. Patients with Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection
      and articular disease, who do not fulfill the modified Jones criteria for
      diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever, have been classified as having
      poststreptococcal reactive arthritis. We describe 6 patients seen during the
      winter of 1991 who had various clinical presentations of poststreptococcal
      reactive arthritis. This condition is considered by some as a distinct disease,
      but by others as part of the spectrum of acute rheumatic fever.

PMID- 1459502
TI  - [Brucella infection of the testis mimicking malignancy].
AB  - A testicular mass is a diagnostic challenge, as it may include both benign and
      malignant processes. Due to the difficulty in diagnosis and the need to prevent
      complications, it is sometimes necessary to perform orchiectomy. We present an
      unusual case of brucellosis in which the presenting features were persistent
      cough for 6 months and a right testicular mass. The clinical picture and
      ultrasound findings suggested malignancy. Orchiectomy and medical treatment
      resulted in rapid resolution of symptoms.

PMID- 1459503
TI  - [Sweet's syndrome in a young woman].
AB  - Sweet's syndrome is an uncommon and dramatic skin disease associated with
      systemic symptoms such as fever, headache and arthralgia. Since it is also
      accompanied by an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and leukocytosis, it
      may be confused with severe systemic infections and other systemic illnesses. We
      describe a 30-year-old woman who presented with typical features of the disease.
      They included high fever, headache, sore throat, increased sedimentation rate,
      and a painful violaceous, nodular and papular rash on her limbs and upper trunk.
      Histologic features included dense neutrophilic infiltration and edema of the
      dermis, with foci of leukocytoclasia, but without leukocytoclastic vasculitis.
      There was a dramatic repose to treatment with prednisone.

PMID- 1459504
TI  - [Organization of psychiatric services in Israel and their financing].

PMID- 1459505
TI  - [Psychosurgery in the modern era: therapeutic and ethical aspects].

PMID- 1459506
TI  - [Musical hallucinations and psychopathology].

PMID- 1459507
TI  - [Sleep disturbances in children and adolescents].

PMID- 1459508
TI  - [Serological diagnosis of celiac disease].

PMID- 1459509
TI  - [Tegretol as a therapeutic agent for psychotic disorders].

PMID- 1459510
TI  - [The Human Genome Project: ethical and social implications].

PMID- 1459511
TI  - [Selling of mental health services: some ethical doubts].

PMID- 1459512
TI  - [The status of the fetus in Halacha].

PMID- 1459513
TI  - [Living with celiac disease].

PMID- 1459514
TI  - [Is there a need for drug therapy in childhood febrile seizures?].

PMID- 1459515
TI  - Mitochondrial dysfunction in the non-obstructed lobe of rat liver after selective
      biliary obstruction.
AB  - In order to elucidate the function of non-obstructed hepatic lobe during partial
      cholestasis, we have examined the effects of selective biliary obstruction on the
      mitochondrial energy transducing system in rat liver. The non-ligated lobe became
      hypertrophic after ligation of the bile ducts that drained 90% of the liver, and
      there was no increase in the level of serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase
      activity, or bile acids. However, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation
      function, specific enzymic activities of the oxidative phosphorylation complexes,
      and the subunit contents of these complexes were markedly decreased in the non
      obstructed lobe at 4 weeks after the 90% biliary obstruction. There was no
      increase in the specific content of mitochondrial DNA. The mitochondrial energy
      transducing system in the non-obstructed lobes is not enhanced, but is
      significantly impaired during prolonged selective biliary obstruction, despite
      normal serum biochemical data and hypertrophy of the non-ligated lobe. These
      results imply early release of obstruction of cholestatic lobe, e.g. by biliary
      drainage, would be beneficial for maintaining the mitochondrial function in the
      non-cholestatic lobe.

PMID- 1459516
TI  - Octylonium bromide in the treatment of the irritable bowel syndrome: a clinical
      functional study.
AB  - We investigated the effect of octylonium bromide on a number of symptoms and
      functional aspects of the irritable bowel syndrome. Seventy-two patients
      complaining mainly of abdominal pain were studied in a double-blind trial
      (octylonium bromide 40 mg tid for 4 weeks or placebo). Clinical parameters were:
      abdominal pain, bloating and bowel frequency. Sigmoid manometry with simultaneous
      recording of the thresholds for distension and/or pain upon graded inflation of
      an endoluminal balloon was performed before and at the end of treatment. In
      contrast to placebo, octylonium bromide significantly reduced pain and bloating,
      and significantly increased (p < 0.02) the pain threshold throughout the
      treatment period. However, comparison with the placebo group failed to show any
      relevant differences. Neither treatment influenced the frequency of bowel
      movement. Sigmoid motility during distension was significantly reduced after
      octylonium bromide (p < 0.05), but it did not change after placebo. In
      conclusion, octylonium bromide is capable of reducing symptoms and motor
      reactivity of the sigmoid in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

PMID- 1459517
TI  - Predictors of relapse in peptic ulcer.
AB  - Four hundred and two patients with peptic ulcer were selected for acute therapy
      with either pirenzepine (100 mg/day) or cimetidine (800 mg/day) using the
      envelope method. Those who achieved healing within 3 months (251 patients) were
      randomized in a double-blind fashion to maintenance therapy with either
      pirenzepine (75 mg/day) or placebo. In a preliminary study of 163 patients in
      which a multiple regression life-table method was employed, 4 out of 15 possible
      predictors were found to have a significant influence on relapse. These were site
      of ulcer lesions, psychological stress, endoscopic findings at the time of
      healing of the original ulcers, and acute therapy. Stratified analysis of the
      evolution of relapse by the Cutler-Ederer life-table method indicated that
      several other factors also influenced relapse in certain patient subgroups. Most
      relapses (93.8%) occurred at the same site as, or close to the site of, the
      original ulcers, indicating that ulcer scars also play a role in relapse.

PMID- 1459518
TI  - Early cancer of the gastric remnant--with special emphasis on the importance of
      follow-up of gastrectomized patients.
AB  - Seven patients with early cancer of the gastric remnant (group 1) and nine with
      gastric remnant cancer which developed after surgery for early gastric cancer
      (group 2), were studied clinicopathologically. The findings can be summarized as
      follows: In group 1, the majority of cases were classified as type I by gross
      type. Most lesions were in the posterior wall of the remnant stomach. All lesions
      were differentiated carcinomas. In group 2, of the nine early gastric tumors
      resected at the initial surgery, six were present at site A and three at site M.
      The gross type of the tumor was varied. Six patients underwent a Billroth II, and
      two a Billroth I, resection. The findings at the second operation (for gastric
      remnant cancer) showed that five lesions were located in the gastric stump or
      anastomosed region and four in the posterior or anterior wall of the remnant
      stomach. Histologically, the lesions included four undifferentiated and five
      differentiated carcinomas. Of the nine lesions involving the gastric remnant,
      only two were at an early stage, the remaining seven being at an advanced stage.
      The outcome was extremely poor in this group. Many of the patients died of
      carcinomatous peritonitis. In summary, a large percentage of the patients of
      group 1 had a type I lesion in the remnant stomach. In group 2, more than half of
      the lesions were located in the gastric stump or at the site of the anastomosis,
      and the majority of the lesions were at an advanced stage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459519
TI  - Results of orthotopic liver transplantation: a personal experience.
AB  - The authors report on their experience of 158 liver transplants performed on 135
      patients. Nineteen underwent re-transplantation and four of these required a
      second re-transplantation; total number of re-transplantations: 23 (14.6%).
      Hepatic cirrhosis was the most common indication (50.6%), of which alcoholic
      cirrhosis was the most common type (32.5%). The authors briefly report on their
      operative techniques and the results of their procedures. The operative mortality
      (30 days) was 13.3% (18 out of 135 patients). Complications included nine cases
      of hepatic artery thrombosis (5.7%), four of arterial stenosis (2.5%), one case
      of portal venous stenosis (0.63%), four cases of post-operative portal venous
      thrombosis (2.5%), seven of biliary fistula (4.4%; five following
      choledochocholedochostomy and two following choledochojejunostomy), and two cases
      of common bile duct stenosis (1.3%). The actuarial survival rate at 48 months is
      80%.

PMID- 1459520
TI  - TRH-immunoreactivity in chronic pancreatitis.
AB  - Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is abundantly present in the pancreas. We
      studied the circulating TRH-immunoreactivity (IR) in 27 patients with chronic
      pancreatitis (CP) and different degrees of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
      (EPI), as well as in 23 normal subjects. Furthermore we examined the effect of
      oral administration of 100 g glucose on peripheral TRH-IR in normal subjects (n =
      5) and in patients with severe exocrine insufficiency (SEI, n = 5). Basal TRH-IR
      plasma levels in the CP group (20.8 +/- 7 fmol/ml, mean +/- SD) were
      significantly lower (p < 0.005) as compared with the normal subjects (38 +/- 14).
      TRH-IR plasma levels in patients with CP and SEI (15.8 +/- 3) were significantly
      lower (p < 0.05) than in patients with normal pancreatic function (28.1 +/- 8),
      but were no different from those in patients with CP and moderate exocrine
      insufficiency (18.7 +/- 5). In normal controls TRH-IR rose 120-180 min after
      glucose ingestion from 33 +/- 5 to 64 +/- 20 fmol/ml, while no increase in TRH-IR
      levels was observed in patients with SEI. We conclude that circulating TRH-IR
      levels are mainly of pancreatic origin. Patients with SEI have very low
      peripheral TRH-IR, indicating that CP does indeed influence TRH-release.

PMID- 1459521
TI  - Surgical management of biliary cystadenocarcinoma.
AB  - Four patients, one woman and three men, with biliary cystadenocarcinoma were
      surgically treated during a 7-year period. The mean age was 58 years. Symptoms
      prior to admission were mild, and blood tests including liver function tests, CEA
      and AFP were for the most part within the normal range. Surgery followed
      diagnostic work-up including US, ERCP, CT, angiography and MRI. Radical surgery
      was accomplished in three patients by extended left lobectomy in two and extended
      right lobectomy in one patient, respectively, in this latter patient preceded by
      therapeutic embolization of the right portal branch prior to resection, while the
      fourth patient had a palliative resection. Histological examination revealed
      papillary adenocarcinoma with mucin production within the cyst. The size of the
      cyst (maximum diameter) varied between 4.5 and 24 (mean 12) cm. The postoperative
      course was uneventful in all patients. Two patients are alive with no sign of
      recurrence 5 and 53 months after surgery, while two patients died after 26 and 75
      months, respectively. Thus, radical resection of this rare kind of malignant
      hepatic tumor seems to offer a chance of long-time survival.

PMID- 1459522
TI  - Morbidity and mortality after abdominal operations for cancer.
AB  - A review of 316 consecutive patients operated on for intra-abdominal cancer was
      undertaken to analyze the incidence of postoperative morbidity and mortality and
      identify contributory factors. The overall postoperative morbidity and mortality
      after operations performed for primary cancer were, respectively, 26% (75/288)
      and 7% (20/288), and those seen after operations for recurrent cancer 43% (12/28)
      and 29% (8/28). Factors that were statistically associated with a fatal outcome
      were recurrent cancer (p = 0.0005), palliative resection (p = 0.005), a serum
      albumin level under 35 G/L (p = 0.011) and a weight loss of more than 5 kilograms
      (p = 0.046); those associated with a significantly greater complication rate were
      a serum albumin level under 35 G/L (p = 0.000004), a weight loss of more than 5
      kilograms (p = 0.00007), intra-abdominal carcinosis (p = 0.0057), and an
      emergency procedure (p = 0.048). Infective complications were more common among
      the patients who underwent resective surgery than among those operated on non
      resectively. It is concluded that preoperative malnutrition is predictive of both
      postoperative complications and increased mortality, and that recurrent disease
      and palliative surgery are associated with high postoperative mortality.

PMID- 1459523
TI  - Prophylactic effect of albendazole in experimental peritoneal hydatidosis.
AB  - To determine the effectiveness of prophylactic short-term administration of
      albendazole in experimental peritoneal hydatidosis this substance was given at a
      dose of 15 mg/kg for 96 hours prior to scolex implantation. In contrast to the
      81.8% of the controls, only 11.1% of the experimental animals developed
      intraperitoneal hydatidosis over a period of 18 weeks (p < 0.001). The newly
      defined cyst index was also decreased from 2.09 to 0.22 by the administration of
      albendazole (p < 0.005). It is concluded that albendazole, when given for 96
      hours prior to any suspected intraperitoneal spillage of viable hydatid cyst
      contents could significantly reduce secondary peritoneal hydatidosis.

PMID- 1459524
TI  - Portal vein thrombosis following sclerotherapy.
AB  - We present the case of a woman with idiopathic portal hypertension who underwent
      sclerotherapy for bleeding esophageal varices. She had a rebleed 27 months after
      complete eradication of esophageal varices. Endoscopy showed bleeding gastric
      varices. Ultrasonography, and later splenoportography, revealed a large thrombus
      in the right branch of the portal vein causing gross dilation of the portal and
      splenic vein. A proximal splenorenal shunt was done to decompress the portal
      system and hence gastric varices. Repeat endoscopy 4 weeks after surgery revealed
      complete disappearance of the gastric varices, while ultrasonography at 38 weeks
      showed marked decompression of the portal system with complete disappearance of
      the thrombus from the right branch of the portal vein. No new thrombus formation
      was seen.

PMID- 1459525
TI  - Treatment of locoregional recurrence after intentional curative resection of
      pancreatic cancer.
AB  - In order to analyze the results of treatment of patients with locoregional
      recurrence after intentional curative resection of pancreatic cancer, a
      retrospective study was performed. During the period 1978-1988, 108 patients
      underwent an intentional curative resection fo the pancreas. In 34 patients
      locoregional recurrence occurred, all within a period of three years (cumulative
      recurrence rate 56%). Sixty-eight percent of the patients presented with upper
      abdominal pain, and 62% with weight loss. Survival was significantly better (p =
      0.02) in the group of 18 patients without distant metastases (1-year survival
      22%) than in the 16 patients with distant metastases (1-year survival 0%). Five
      patients without proven distant metastases were treated by resection or
      chemotherapy. The mean survival was 33 months (range 6-74) in the treated group,
      and 4 months (0.4-7 months) in the untreated group, p = 0.002. In this
      retrospective study the longest survival was seen after radical resection of
      locoregional tumor recurrence. We therefore recommend that patients with
      locoregional recurrence without distant metastases after intentional curative
      resection of pancreatic cancer be treated.

PMID- 1459526
TI  - Review of operative indication and prognosis in gastric cancer with hepatic
      cirrhosis.
AB  - Prognosis following surgery for gastric cancer has markedly improved as a result
      of early diagnosis, advances in operative techniques, and perioperative
      management. However, gastrointestinal surgery in patients with hepatic cirrhosis
      has continued to be associated with a high operative morbidity and mortality. On
      the basis of a detailed classification of the preoperative hepatic conditions
      into three risk groups, we have established a preoperative means of assessing
      surgical indication. Depending on the preoperative assessment, 40 gastric cancer
      patients with hepatic cirrhosis underwent surgical exploration. Thirty-seven
      patients (92.5%) received gastric resection, while 3 patients (7.5%) were non
      resectable. Postoperative complications occurred in only 8 patients (20%), and no
      anastomotic leakage occurred; the overall operative mortality was zero. The five
      year-survival rate following a curative resection, as calculated by Kaplan-Meier
      statistical analysis, was 51.4% (n = 30).

PMID- 1459527
TI  - The risk of cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in diabetic patients.
AB  - In order to evaluate the risk of acute cholecystitis in diabetic patients, we
      analyzed 2,700 consecutive cholecystectomies, 566 of which were performed in the
      presence of acute cholecystitis. Of these patients 123 had diabetes mellitus (DM)
      and 433 had no diabetes (ND). The aim of this study was to establish the
      comparative risks in the two groups. We found that diabetics are more likely to
      be operated on in the acute stage of their disease (22% vs. 12%). The DM group
      had a higher rate of septic bile, gangrenous changes and perforations of the
      gallbladder wall. The morbidity rate was higher in the DM group (21% vs. 9%), and
      mortality was slightly higher in the DM group. The degree of additional operative
      risk does not in our view justify recommending cholecystectomy in diabetic
      patients with asymptomatic gallstones. Early surgery however, is highly
      recommended in diabetics with symptomatic gallstones and acute cholecystitis.

PMID- 1459528
TI  - Results of transhiatal esophagectomy in cancer of the esophagus and other
      diseases.
AB  - We present the results we obtained during the last 12 years with transhiatal
      esophagectomy. Two hundred and eighty-three patients were operated on using this
      procedure; 171 of them underwent the operation for cancer of the esophagus, 73
      for cancer of the cardia, and 11 for cancer of the hypopharynx. The tumor stage,
      the operative technique, and the type of esophageal replacement (stomach: 62.9%;
      colon: 37.1%) are described. Overall operative mortality was 5.6%, mainly as a
      result of respiratory insufficiency. Long-term survival was 11.9% at five years
      for cancer of the esophagus, much lower than the 48.3% for cancer of the cardia.

PMID- 1459529
TI  - Oral BCAA supplementation in cirrhosis with chronic encephalopathy: effects on
      prolactin and estradiol levels.
AB  - The effects of oral BCAA supplementation on fasting levels of prolactin and
      estradiol were retrospectively analyzed in frozen plasma samples of patients with
      cirrhosis and chronic hepatic encephalopathy, taking part in a 3-month
      randomized, double-blind trial. Twenty-five patients had received 0.24g of BCAA
      per kg body weight, 24 had received an equinitrogenous amount of casein, in
      addition to a diet providing 0.7-1.0 g/kg of protein. Thirty-eight were males, 11
      post-menopausal women. Fasting prolactin did not show any change in the BCAA
      group, where mental state significantly improved. In the casein group plasma
      prolactin increased by nearly 50% during the 3-month period. Similarly, estradiol
      concentrations were unchanged during BCAA supplementation, and increased during
      casein treatment. The analysis of variance demonstrated significant differences
      between the 2 treatments. Liver function tests and nutritional parameters
      (albumin, transferrin, urinary creatinine) supported a superiority of BCAA over
      casein. These data suggest that the favorable effects of BCAA on mental state are
      not mediated by changes in cerebral neurotransmission, but are due mainly to
      maintained liver function, possibly related to improved nutrition.

PMID- 1459530
TI  - Management of pancreatic injuries.
AB  - With the aim of aiding the accurate diagnosis and treatment of patients with
      pancreatic injuries, we reviewed the medical records of all those patients,
      treated for traumatic pancreatic lesions at our hospital in the period between
      1971 and 1987. For all twenty-four male patients the mechanism of the injury, the
      diagnostic methods employed, associated injuries, location of the pancreatic
      injury, the presence of pancreatic duct lesion, treatment, the final outcome, and
      complications are described. In our view, the high mortality rate of patients
      with pancreatic trauma is due not to the pancreatic injury per se, but to the
      severe concomitant injuries resulting from a high-energy trauma. On the basis of
      the literature and our own experience we designed a flow chart for the management
      of pancreatic injuries. If the history and physical examination indicate that
      intra-abdominal injury might be present, radiographic and ultrasound
      investigation are the diagnostic methods of choice. Patients without pancreatic
      duct injury can be treated with debridement and external suction drainage. If
      pancreatic duct lesion is presented and is located to the right of the superior
      mesenteric vessels, treatment should consist of partial pancreatic resection and
      pancreatico-jejunostomy or a Whipple procedure. If the pancreatic duct lesion is
      located to the left of the superior mesenteric vessels, distal pancreatectomy and
      splenectomy with pancreatico-jejunostomy, should be performed.

PMID- 1459531
TI  - Influence of beta blockade on branched chain amino acid concentrations in
      cirrhosis.
AB  - Cirrhosis of the liver is typically accompanied by low plasma levels of the three
      branched chain amino acids (BCAA). These patients also demonstrate increased
      concentrations of several hormones such as insulin, glucagon and catecholamines.
      Catecholamines have been shown to influence the plasma levels of amino acids in
      healthy subjects and diabetics. In the present study, amino acid concentrations
      were investigated before and up to 3 hours after beta blockade (Inderal, 40-80
      mg, n = 10) or fasting (n = 8) in cirrhotic patients. In the basal state the
      patients had low levels of all three BCAA, as compared with healthy subjects.
      Norepinephrine was more than 3 times as high in the patients (3.65 +/- 0.6 vs.
      0.84 +/- 0.08 nmol/l, p < 0.01) while epinephrine was only slightly raised (0.43
      +/- 0.1 vs. 0.25 +/- 0.06 nmol/l, NS). Significant correlations were observed
      between the concentrations of norepinephrine and individual as well as the sum of
      the three BCAA (r = 0.43-0.62, p < 0.05-0.001), while no correlation was observed
      between the BCAAs and epinephrine or insulin. Three hours after beta blockade the
      concentrations of leucine (basal: 74 +/- 6, 180 min: 89 +/- 6 mumol/l, p < 0.05)
      and valine (basal: 110 +/- 10, 180 min: 132 +/- 11 mumol/l, p < 0.01) had
      increased significantly. A similar tendency was observed for isoleucine. No
      changes were observed after prolonged fasting. The results suggest that
      catecholamines, primarily norepinephrine, might contribute to the low levels of
      BCAA in cirrhotics.

PMID- 1459532
TI  - Differential diagnosis of space-occupying lesions of the liver with MR imaging.
AB  - In a retrospective study of 84 patients who underwent MRI examination of the
      liver the qualitative parameters margin, shape, internal structure, signal
      intensity and the presence of a capsule were evaluated in 152 lesions comprising
      48 hemangiomas, 54 secondary deposits, 23 hepatomas, 8 simple cysts, 17 hydatid
      cysts, 1 abscess and 1 focal fatty infiltration. Our main objective was to
      differentiate hemangiomas from secondary deposits and hepatomas. In hemangiomas
      the combination of smooth margin (98%) round or oval shape (90%) homogeneity
      (96%) very high signal intensity on T2-weighted sequence (94%), and the complete
      absence of capsule helped to distinguish them from secondary deposits and
      hepatomas in the majority of cases. It is concluded that with MR imaging we can
      establish the diagnosis of focal lesions of the liver in about 95% of cases.

PMID- 1459533
TI  - Relationship of cholecystectomy and detachment of the common bile duct to chronic
      bile duct dilation.
AB  - A combination of a cholecystectomy and detachment of the supportive tissue
      surrounding the extrahepatic bile duct results in chronic bile duct dilation. To
      clarify whether this cholangiectasis is due to the detachment of the surrounding
      tissue or to the cholecystectomy, we have studied 4 groups of adult mongrel dogs,
      i.e., a control group given a sham operation (n = 20), a group given
      cholecystectomy (n = 20), a group that had the surrounding tissue detached from
      the bile duct (n = 20), and a group given both a cholecystectomy and detachment
      of the surrounding tissue (n = 29). On examination by cholangiography at 1, 2, 3,
      and 4 weeks after the initial laparotomy, no significant cholangiectasis was
      found in dogs subjected to either cholecystectomy alone or to detachment of the
      surrounding tissue alone. In contrast, in dogs subjected to a cholecystectomy
      combined with detachment of the bile duct, the bile duct gradually dilated,
      resulting in significant cholangiectasis at 4 weeks. However, the intrabiliary
      pressure, the residual pressure, and the actual resistance value, which are
      indices of a passage disturbance in the sphincter of Oddi, were normal in all 4
      groups. It is therefore concluded that both the extirpation of the gallbladder,
      and the lack of supportive tissue surrounding the bile duct were responsible for
      the resulting cholangiectasis.

PMID- 1459534
TI  - Extended excision of the ampulla of Vater--a new operative technique for elderly
      patients.
AB  - This report describes a 72-year-old female patient treated by extended excision
      of recurrent ampullary carcinoma. The procedure comprised pylorus-preserving
      resection of the descending segment of the duodenum, and excision of a large
      portion of the pancreatic head using an ultrasonic surgical dissector.
      Restoration of food transit, pancreatico-jejunal and choledocho-jejunal
      anastomosis by a Roux-en-Y reconstruction was readily accomplished. The
      operation, which has the advantage of being more radical and accurate than the
      standard excision of the ampulla of Vater, and less time-consuming and mutilating
      than the Whipple procedure, may be indicated in elderly patients with ampullary
      carcinoma.

PMID- 1459535
TI  - Ectopic ACTH-producing adenocarcinoma of the stomach.
AB  - A 73-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of weight loss and
      pretibial edema. Plasma levels of adenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol
      were elevated, and neither hormone showed circadian rhythm. Dexamethasone (2 mg
      for 2 days) failed to reduce the urinary excretion of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids
      and the plasma cortisol level. The stomach biopsy specimens showed a moderately
      differentiated papillo-tubular adenocarcinoma. Computed tomography of the abdomen
      showed multiple metastases to the liver. Immunohistochemical staining of the
      autopsy specimens showed immunoreactive ACTH in the primary tumor cells of the
      stomach as well as the metastatic tumor cells of the liver. On the basis of the
      clinical, histological and immunohistochemical findings, we diagnosed this
      patient as having ectopic ACTH syndrome caused by adenocarcinoma of the stomach.

PMID- 1459536
TI  - Providing mental health care for children and adolescents.

PMID- 1459537
TI  - Capitation from a provider's perspective.

PMID- 1459538
TI  - Disease-prone and self-healing personalities.

PMID- 1459539
TI  - Rehabilitation and quality of life.

PMID- 1459540
TI  - Chronic dyspnea and suicide in elderly men.
AB  - In a structured psychological autopsy study of suicide in older adults, 14 cases
      in which the subjects experienced chronic dyspnea in the months or weeks before
      death were examined. Thirteen of the subjects were white men. Most had a
      diagnosable psychiatric disorder, although none had previous contact with a
      mental health professional. Other common characteristics were chronic or terminal
      heart or lung disease, very recent contact with a primary physician, prior
      experience of self or a significant other suffering a debilitating disease, and a
      fiercely independent and inflexible personality type. The cases illustrate the
      intricacy of risk factors associated with suicide and alert other investigators
      and health care professionals to a possible link between chronic dyspnea and
      suicide risk.

PMID- 1459541
TI  - Religious affiliation and major depression.
AB  - Data from the Duke Epidemiologic Catchment Area survey were used to examine the
      relationship between religious affiliation and major depression among 2,850
      adults in the community. Religious affiliations were categorized into six groups:
      mainline Protestant (27 percent), conservative Protestant (59 percent),
      Pentecostal (4.2 percent), Catholic (2.4 percent), other religions (2.6 percent),
      and no affiliation (4.4 percent). The six-month prevalence of major depression
      among Pentecostals was 5.4 percent, compared with 1.7 percent for the entire
      sample. Even after psychosocial factors such as gender, age, race, socioeconomic
      status, negative life events, and social support were controlled for, the
      likelihood of major depression among Pentecostals was three times greater than
      among persons with other affiliations. Carefully designed studies are needed to
      understand the complex interactions of religion and mental health.

PMID- 1459542
TI  - Perspectives on effective advocacy for homeless mentally ill persons.
AB  - To make appropriate treatment and public policy recommendations to address the
      problems of homeless mentally ill persons, it is important to differentiate the
      homeless mentally ill population from the homeless population in general.
      Effective advocacy for homeless mentally ill persons should have realistic goals
      that address the specific needs of that population rather than attempt to change
      the basic problems of society. The effective advocacy that has secured services
      for developmentally disabled persons can serve as a model. Mental health
      professionals' limited response to the problems of homeless mentally ill persons
      has further stigmatized mentally ill persons in general; one of the most powerful
      actions mental health professionals could take to fight stigma would be to help
      provide treatment and residential alternatives for homeless mentally ill persons.
      The recommendations of both the first and the second American Psychiatric
      Association task forces on the homeless mentally ill are discussed.

PMID- 1459543
TI  - Ethical issues for academic participants in state-university collaboration
      programs.
AB  - State-university collaboration programs often create ethical dilemmas for
      participants because of their conflicting values, goals, and expectations.
      Treatment and administrative staff in state agencies often seek to create an
      atmosphere of managed stability rather than fostering patients' autonomy.
      Academic participants in collaboration programs often feel impelled to change the
      system, even though the goal of collaboration requires them to find common ground
      with state agency staff. Academic participants must decide whether collaboration
      programs will contribute to needed reforms without overly compromising
      professional and academic standards. If they cannot endorse the values and
      quality of care provided in state systems, they must consider whether their
      participation should be conditioned on an agreement to work toward change.
      However, even in situations that are improving, clinicians must not let temporary
      compromises become permanent.

PMID- 1459544
TI  - Patterns of utilization of outpatient mental health services by children and
      adolescents.
AB  - Although as many as one-fifth of children and adolescents may meet DSM-III
      criteria for at least one psychiatric diagnosis, data from the Minnesota
      Department of Human Services for 1988 show that only 20 to 38 percent of children
      and adolescents in the state who are eligible for medical assistance and who are
      potentially in need of psychiatric care are referred for or seek treatment. A
      study of publicly funded mental health care for youths under 18 found that in
      1988 the average cost for state-supported psychiatric services per outpatient
      case was $520, compared with $8,556 per inpatient case. However, overall cost of
      state-supported mental health services for youths under 18 increased by 28
      percent between 1987 and 1988, primarily due to increases in payments for
      inpatient care of patients with dual diagnoses of mental illness and chemical
      dependency.

PMID- 1459545
TI  - Indicators of adverse somatic outcome in three Veterans Affairs nursing homes.
AB  - Frequencies of undernutrition, bedsores, and deterioration in activities of daily
      living were compared in three Veterans Affairs nursing homes serving both chronic
      psychiatric patients and medical or neurological patients. The three facilities
      varied in the proportions of patients with adverse outcomes, with one home having
      noticeably higher rates for both subgroups of patients. In each home, the two
      subgroups were equally likely to show evidence of adverse outcome, suggesting
      that differences in the frequency of adverse outcomes among the facilities were
      accounted for by extrinsic factors related to quality of care rather than
      intrinsic factors related to patient characteristics.

PMID- 1459546
TI  - The economic burden of mental illness.
AB  - Mental illness imposes a substantial burden on individuals and society. Using
      data from national surveys and a newly developed methodology for calculating
      costs, the authors estimate that in 1985 the total economic costs of mental
      illness were $103.7 billion. Of this total, direct treatment and support costs
      were $42.5 billion, or 11.5 percent of total personal health care spending for
      all illnesses. Morbidity costs--the value of reduced or lost productivity-
      amounted to $47.4 billion. Mortality costs--the lost value of productivity due to
      premature death resulting from mental illness--were estimated to be $9.3 billion,
      or 5.1 percent of total productivity losses for all deaths. Other related costs,
      including the cost of caregiver services, amounted to $4.5 billion.

PMID- 1459547
TI  - Predicting need for long-term hospitalization of severely mentally ill young
      adults.

PMID- 1459548
TI  - Multiple personality disorder presenting as postpartum depression.

PMID- 1459549
TI  - Psychotropic medications.

PMID- 1459550
TI  - Methadone and cocaine.

PMID- 1459551
TI  - Cost of HIV.

PMID- 1459552
TI  - Data watch. A snapshot look at hospital staffing reforms.

PMID- 1459553
TI  - RBRVS impact. Academic medical centers gauge impact of new fee schedule.

PMID- 1459554
TI  - Stories of survival. Riots in Los Angeles. Being prepared: a lesson well-learned
      for area facilities.

PMID- 1459555
TI  - Stories of survival. Hurricane Andrew. South Florida hospitals shared resources
      and energy to cope with the storm's devastation.

PMID- 1459556
TI  - Experts agree on this: it was a banner year for health care polls.

PMID- 1459557
TI  - Four experts look at technology under Clinton-style reform. Interview by Kevin
      Lumsdon.

PMID- 1459558
TI  - The year's most quotable quotes: what the health care leaders said.

PMID- 1459559
TI  - On-the-job training vital supplement to degree.

PMID- 1459560
TI  - Inching toward EDI: experts look at obstacles.

PMID- 1459561
TI  - CONs come back in context of state reform plans. American Hospital Association,
      State Issue Forum.

PMID- 1459562
TI  - DVA to study financial impact of home care.

PMID- 1459563
TI  - Health care reform issues call for plain talk.
AB  - Getting the health care reform message out to your community is vital, writes the
      author, but learning how to communicate that message is equally critical. To do
      that, he says, you must know your audience, establish common ground with as many
      people as possible, and say what you have to say in language they can understand.
      The media filter, he says, poses a persistent challenge to communicating the
      issue.

PMID- 1459564
TI  - Graphical displays: implications for divided attention, focused attention, and
      problem solving.
AB  - When completing tasks in complex, dynamic domains observers must consider the
      relationships among many variables (e.g., integrated tasks) as well as the values
      of individual variables (e.g., focused tasks). A critical issue in display design
      is whether or not a single display format can achieve the dual design goals of
      supporting performance at both types of tasks. We consider this issue from a
      variety of perspectives. One relevant perspective is the basic research on
      attention and object perception, which concentrates on the interaction between
      visual features and processing capabilities. The principles of configurality are
      discussed, with the conclusion that they support the possibility of achieving the
      dual design goals. These considerations are necessary but not sufficient for
      effective display design. Graphic displays map information from a domain into
      visual features; the tasks to be completed are defined in terms of the domain,
      not in terms of the visual features alone. The implications of this subtle but
      extremely important difference are discussed. The laboratory research
      investigating alternative display formats is reviewed. Much like the attention
      literature, the results do not rule out the possibility that the dual design
      goals can be achieved.

PMID- 1459565
TI  - Choosing specifiers: an evaluation of the basic tasks model of graphical
      perception.
AB  - Effect sizes obtained from 39 experiments were used to evaluate the predictions
      of the basic tasks model of graphical efficacy. This model predicts that
      performance will be attenuated with graphical displays as a function of the
      particular specifier, or visual dimension, used to code data values. In this
      review the basic tasks model predicted performance more accurately than did
      Tufte's data-ink principle. In addition, variability in effect sizes across
      studies revealed that the model was more successful at predicting performance in
      local (focusing) tasks than in global information synthesis tasks. Furthermore,
      the model was better at predicting performance in tasks requiring the use of
      physically present rather than remembered graphs. Further differences in effect
      sizes resulted from variability in the exact specifiers used in experimental
      graphs. Minimal differences were obtained among graphs that used position,
      length, or angle as specifiers. However, graphs that used area or volume to
      represent quantitative values were associated with consistently worse performance
      than found with other formats.

PMID- 1459566
TI  - Distance and organization in multifunction displays.
AB  - One approach to organizing information in a multifunction display (MFD) is to
      place related screens of information closer to each other. This study identified
      three metrics that could be used to operationalize the concept of distance in an
      MFD. The proposed distance metrics-navigational (the number of choice points
      lying between two screens), organizational (the hierarchical structure of the
      data base), and the cognitive (the user's perception of relationships among
      screens)-were empirically examined by using a simulated, hierarchically arranged,
      menu-driven MFD in an aviation context. Subjects engaged in two tasks that
      required them to access different target screens from various starting screens in
      a 290-screen MFD. The tasks differed in the navigational mechanisms subjects were
      allowed to use to navigate around the MFD and the relationships between the
      starting and target screens. The results suggest that the three distance metrics
      are meaningful within the context of a multifunction display.

PMID- 1459567
TI  - Using stereokinetic effect to convey depth: computationally efficient depth-from
      motion displays.
AB  - Recent developments in microelectronics have encouraged the use of 3D data bases
      to create compelling volumetric renderings of graphical objects. However, even
      with the computational capabilities of current-generation graphical systems, real
      time displays of such objects are difficult, particularly when dynamic spatial
      transformations are involved. In this paper we discuss a type of visual stimulus
      (the stereokinetic effect display) that is computationally far less complex than
      a true three-dimensional transformation but yields an equally compelling depth
      impression, often perceptually indiscriminable from the true spatial
      transformation. Several possible applications for this technique are discussed
      (e.g., animating contour maps and air traffic control displays so as to evoke
      accurate depth percepts).

PMID- 1459568
TI  - Spatial judgments with monoscopic and stereoscopic presentation of perspective
      displays.
AB  - Spatial judgments with monoscopic and stereoscopic presentation of perspective
      displays were investigated in the present study. The stimulus configuration
      emulated a visual scene consisting of a volume of airspace above a ground
      reference plane. Two target symbols were situated at various positions in the
      space, and observers were instructed to identify the relative depth or altitude
      of the two symbols. Three viewing orientations (15, 45, or 90 deg elevation
      angle) were implemented in the perspective projection. In the monoscopic view,
      depth cues in size, brightness, occlusion, and linear perspective were provided
      in the format. In the stereoscopic view, binocular disparity was added along the
      line of sight from the center of projection to reinforce the relative depth in
      the visual scene. Results revealed that spatial judgments were affected by
      manipulation of the relative spatial positions of the two target symbols and by
      the interaction between relative position and viewing orientation. The addition
      of binocular disparity improved judgments of three-dimensional spatial
      relationships, and the enhancement was greater when monocular depth cues were
      less effective and/or ambiguous in recovering the three-dimensional spatial
      characteristics.

PMID- 1459569
TI  - Chromaticity and luminance as coding dimensions in visual search.
AB  - Visual search times were measured as a function of chromaticity and luminance
      differences between a target and distractor stimuli. Results showed that mean
      search time increased linearly with the number of distractors if the luminance
      difference between target and distractors was small but was roughly constant if
      the luminance difference was large. Similar results were previously found for
      chromaticity differences. With the number of distractor stimuli held constant,
      the mean search time decreased with increases in the difference between target
      and distractors, up to some critical difference. Further increases in target
      distractor difference had little effect. Results were similar for targets defined
      by luminance and chromaticity. There was some advantage to combining luminance
      differences with chromaticity differences when the target was dimmer than the
      distractors. Generally there was no advantage for combining a chromaticity
      difference with a luminance difference when the target was brighter than the
      distractors.

PMID- 1459570
TI  - Visibility of transmissive liquid crystal displays under dynamic lighting
      conditions.
AB  - Liquid crystal displays maintain superior contrast under bright sunlight
      conditions compared with cathode-ray tube displays. This attribute, along with
      reduced weight, volume, and power requirements, make liquid crystal displays
      especially desirable for use in vehicular applications. The present experiment
      was designed to determine the luminance requirements for transmissive liquid
      crystal displays viewed under a wide range of lighting conditions typical of many
      vehicular environments. Both the ambient illumination incident on the display
      surface and the forward-field-of-view adaptation luminance were parametrically
      manipulated. The visual task involved speeded spatial discrimination responses
      for detection of the gap in a modified Landolt-C acuity target. The results
      indicate that under the worst lighting conditions tested, a display luminance of
      approximately 180 cd/m2 yielded asymptotic spatial discrimination performance.
      The results have been incorporated into a predictive visual performance model for
      spatial discrimination tasks, which describes the present data well and
      represents a first step toward a device-independent model of display visibility.

PMID- 1459571
TI  - Characterization of a 28-kD polymorphic polypeptide detected by two-dimensional
      electrophoresis of human platelets.
AB  - A genetic polymorphism of a human platelet polypeptide with a molecular weight of
      28 kD detected by two-dimensional electrophoresis was investigated in family and
      population studies, and cell distribution. The 28-kD polypeptide showed autosomal
      codominant inheritance of two alleles. The gene frequencies of the two alleles
      were 0.925 and 0.075, respectively. The 28-kD polypeptide was observed in
      lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes, in addition to platelets.
      This polypeptide showed good reproducibility in electrophoresis, and appears to
      be useful as a genetic marker of the human genome in gene mapping and pedigree
      analysis.

PMID- 1459572
TI  - Effective population size of a rural village on a large plain (Veggiano, Padua,
      Italy).
AB  - A small municipality of about 2,000 inhabitants on a large plain (that of the
      river Po, which flows across the whole of Northern Italy) was chosen as a model
      to study the level of genetic isolation of a population which is not delimited by
      clear geographical barriers. Wright's treatment of isolation by distance was
      considered to be applicable to this case. Estimates of the non-random component
      of inbreeding and of the immigration rate in the past showed that, despite the
      deeply rural environment, the population turnover in the area was extremely
      rapid. Although the parameter estimates were computed on the basis of little
      direct empirical evidence, it was concluded that the effective population size
      was at least one order of magnitude larger than might appear when considering the
      total population size of the municipality.

PMID- 1459573
TI  - Deletional types of alpha-thalassaemia in central Java.
AB  - The frequency of deletional alpha-thalassaemia in a Javanese population sample (n
      = 103) was investigated at three restriction sites of the alpha-globin gene
      (BamHI, BglII and RsaI). The overall gene frequency of alpha+ deletional
      thalassaemia was found to be very low (0.03). Leftward (-alpha 4.2) and rightward
      (-alpha 3.7) deletions and triplicated genes were present in equal frequency
      (0.015 and 0.005, respectively).

PMID- 1459574
TI  - Type II hereditary angio-oedema associated with two mutations in one allele of
      the C1-inhibitor gene around the reactive-site coding region.
AB  - The polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequence analysis have been used to
      characterise two point mutations in the eighth exon of one allele of the C1
      inhibitor gene in a kindred with type II hereditary angio-oedema (HAE). The
      mutations comprise a G to A substitution at C1-inhibitor gene nucleotide 16789
      and an upstream C to T substitution at nucleotide position 16765. This represents
      the first report of these two mutations in the same C1-inhibitor allele in type
      II HAE. The molecular genetic pathogenesis of HAE is discussed in the light of
      these findings.

PMID- 1459575
TI  - Serological identification of HLA-B13 subtypes.
AB  - A serological approach is used to confirm subtypes of HLA-B13 originally observed
      by one-dimensional isoelectric focusing (1D-IEF). Sixty anti-B13 alloantibody
      sera were screened against Chinese panel cells. Two clusters of sera showing
      distinct reactive patterns were identified. One is a shorter reactive pattern
      than the other. Using these serological reaction patterns, the B13 antigen can be
      divided into two subtypes, B13.1 and B13.2, in the Chinese population. These
      serological subtypes appear to correlate well with the 1D-IEF patterns of B13
      subtypes. The serological subtyping is also in agreement with the differences in
      nucleotide sequence previously determined to exist in B13 antigen subtypes.
      Family studies show that both B13.1 and B13.2 segregate as HLA-B locus alleles.
      Gene frequencies for B13.1 and B13.2 were 0.0676 and 0.0612, respectively, in our
      study population of 337 southern Han Chinese.

PMID- 1459576
TI  - Distribution of ORM1, C6, C7 and APO C-II allele frequencies in populations from
      mainland Italy and Sardinia.
AB  - The genetic variation of the human plasma proteins ORM1, C6, C7 and APO C-II was
      investigated by isoelectric focusing followed by immunoblotting in populations
      from mainland Italy and Sardinia. The frequencies of ORM1*1 were 0.621 and 0.564,
      while those of C6*A were 0.657 and 0.706 on mainland Italy and in Sardinia,
      respectively. In the Roman sample, 8 heterozygotes with C6 variant alleles were
      encountered, while none were observed in Sardinians. For C7 and APO C-II a number
      of heterozygotes with the rare alleles C7*2 and APO C-II*2 were found, but their
      frequency did not reach polymorphic levels in either population. The two
      populations showed a significant difference in the gene frequencies distribution
      for ORM1.

PMID- 1459577
TI  - PI and TF subtypes in Chuetas (Majorcan Jews).
AB  - PI and TF subtypes were studied in a sample of 137 individuals of the Chueta
      population. In addition to the PI*M alleles, PI*S, PI*Z, and PI*F were observed
      in the PI system. In the TF system no TF*B or TF*D alleles were found. PI results
      were compared with those of some Jewish and non-Jewish populations. The
      relatively high frequency of PI*S is indicative of a substantial Spanish
      influence. There are no previous data available on TF*C subtypes in Jews. The
      very low TF*C3 frequency in Chuetas (lower than in Spain) indicates that this
      allele may be extremely rare or absent in other Jewish populations.

PMID- 1459578
TI  - Blood groups in relation to carcinoma of cervix uteri.
AB  - Data are presented on AB0 and RhD blood groups in 186 patients suffering from
      carcinoma of cervix uteri and 274 controls from Delhi, India. A strong
      association is observed between carcinoma patients and blood group A, and a
      slightly weaker association with blood group B. There is no significant
      association with RhD blood group. The available data in other populations confirm
      the association with AB0 blood group.

PMID- 1459580
TI  - The inverted Y-chromosome polymorphism in the Gujarati Muslim Indian population
      of South Africa has a single origin.
AB  - Y-specific polymorphisms were studied in Gujarati Muslim Indians possessing a Y
      chromosome pericentric inversion [inv(Y)] in an attempt to prove a common genetic
      origin for the inversion. The p49a/TaqI and p49a/PvuII haplotypes were determined
      for 9 normal and 8 inv(Y) Gujarati Muslim men. Men with the inversion possessed
      identical TaqI and PvuII profiles, as opposed to 7 different TaqI and 8 different
      PvuII haplotypes observed in the 9 normal men. These results provide conclusive
      evidence for a common genetic origin of the inverted Y chromosome observed in
      this Gujarati Muslim community.

PMID- 1459579
TI  - Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase variants in Hawaii.
AB  - Sequence analysis has been performed on the DNA of 13 glucose-6-phosphate
      dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient males from Hawaii, 6 of Filipino, 6 of Laotian,
      and 1 of Chinese extraction. Four different mutations were found: A-->T at cDNA
      nt 835, G-->A at nt 871, C-->T at nt 1360, and G-->A at nt 1388. The mutations at
      nt 835 and nt 1360 have not been described previously, and the latter, in
      particular, appears to be relatively common. The nt 1360 mutation changes the
      same codon as is altered in a previously described mutation, G6PD Andalus.

PMID- 1459581
TI  - Biochemical characterization of Trop-2, a cell surface molecule expressed by
      human carcinomas: formal proof that the monoclonal antibodies T16 and MOv-16
      recognize Trop-2.
AB  - Trop-2 is a cell surface structure recognized by the 162-46.2 mAb and expressed
      by most human carcinomas. Since the 162-46.2 mAb works poorly in
      immunoprecipitation, to characterize the structure of Trop-2 we searched for
      other mAbs directed against this molecule. Selection of candidates was performed
      by analyzing the characteristics of mAbs directed against epithelial cells and by
      comparing the staining pattern of each mAb with the one of the 162-46.2 on frozen
      sections of human epidermis. Two mAbs, T16 and MOv-16, were selected for further
      analysis. Formal proof that candidate mAbs reacted with Trop-2 was obtained by
      comparing their binding patterns to mouse L cells transfected with the Trop-2
      gene by genomic DNA transfection and selected by FACS using the FITC-162-46.2
      mAb. In immunofluorescence FACS analysis the FITC-T16 and FITC-MOv-16 mAbs
      specifically stained Trop-2 transfectants. The specificity of binding was
      confirmed by selective blocking of the staining by the respective unconjugated
      mAb. Interestingly, cross-blocking studies indicated that the 162-46.2, T16 and
      MOv-16 mAbs recognize the same epitope or closely spaced ones on the Trop-2
      molecule. T16 and MOv-16 efficiently immunoprecipitate Trop-2 from Trop-2
      transfectants and from the human cell line OVCA-432, indicating that it is a cell
      surface glycoprotein, with an apparent molecular weight of 57 kD in non-reducing
      conditions. A weaker band of 38 kD is often co-precipitated with the 57 kD form
      in an apparently specific manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459582
TI  - A monoclonal antibody produced against a rat esophageal carcinoma cell line
      reacts with an integrin-like molecule expressed by rat epithelial cells.
AB  - A monoclonal antibody, designated MAb-5A IIgG1), was generated against a
      tumorigenic rat esophageal epithelial cell line, B-2T. MAb-5A reacted with a
      series of non-tumorigenic and tumorigenic epithelial cell lines derived from F
      344 rat esophagi or tracheas. However, the highest level of antigen expression
      was detected on tumorigenic rat epithelial cell lines. A trace amount of antigen
      was detected in primary cultures of normal rat epithelial cells derived from
      either esophagi or tracheas. MAb-5A did not react with rat fibroblasts. MAb-5A
      reacted with B-2T derived tumor tissues propagated in vivo but showed only slight
      reactivity with normal rat esophageal epithelial tissues. Cell surface
      radioiodination, extraction and immunoprecipitation experiments were conducted to
      characterize the antigen molecule. Analysis of the immunoprecipitates by SDS-PAGE
      and autoradiography revealed two protein bands with mobilities corresponding to
      approximately 140 and 120 kDa, respectively. Under reducing conditions the 140
      kDa band shifted to approximately 120 kDa whereas the 120 kDa band shifted upward
      to approximately 130 kDa. The non-reduced/reduced mobilities of these bands
      suggest that they may be members of the integrin family of matrix receptors. A
      polyclonal antibody to the beta 1 subunit immunoprecipitated two similar bands
      detected by MAb-5A, further suggesting that the antigen complex may be related to
      members of the integrin superfamily.

PMID- 1459583
TI  - Production of a monoclonal antibody that defines the alpha-subunit of the feline
      IL-2 receptor.
AB  - A mAb, termed 9F23, to feline Con A-stimulated PBMC was prepared to characterize
      feline IL-2R. 9F23 was identified by FACS studies, which showed that the antigen
      was expressed at a high density on Con A-induced feline T cell blasts while 9F23
      binding was not detected on nonactivated PBMC or the Crandell feline kidney cell
      line CRFK. Chemical crosslinking of 125I-IL-2 to membrane IL-2Rs on Con A
      stimulated feline PBMC under the low-affinity condition resulted in detection of
      a major 65-kDa band. 9F23 specifically immunoprecipitated the IL-2.IL-2R alpha
      complex in a cell extract; in contrast, neither anti-human IL-2R alpha H48 nor
      anti-mouse IL-2R alpha 7D4 reacted with the complex. Moreover,
      immunoprecipitation with 9F23 of the extract from surface-iodinated Con A
      stimulated PBMC showed a major 50-55 kDa band. Furthermore, 9F23 had no effect on
      either IL-2-driven proliferation of the Con A-stimulated PBMC or IL-2 binding.
      Finally, the expression of feline IL-2R alpha on Con A-stimulated PBMC was up
      regulated by addition of exogenous IL-2. Thus, 9F23 defines an epitope different
      from the IL-2 binding site on the alpha-subunit of feline IL-2R.

PMID- 1459585
TI  - Detection and neutralization of bovine tumor necrosis factor by a monoclonal
      antibody.
AB  - Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have been produced which are specific for bovine
      tumor necrosis factor (TNF). MAb BC9 detects bovine TNF in a radioimmunoassay
      with a detection limit of 24 pg/ml. BC9 also neutralizes the in vitro biological
      function of bovine recombinant TNF. The activity of 250 ng TNF/ml was entirely
      neutralized by 1% ascitic fluid. When ascites was added at a saturating
      concentration (10% ascitic fluid), up to 25 micrograms TNF per ml was
      neutralized. The neutralizing effect of BC9 was seen in cytotoxic assays using
      L929 cells and WEHI 164 clone 13 cells. The cytotoxic activity of supernatants
      from in vitro activated bovine monocytes was entirely blocked by BC9.

PMID- 1459584
TI  - Lack of effect of recombinant human interferon-alpha 2b on expression of 17-1A
      antigen on human colon cancer cells.
AB  - The effects of recombinant human interferon alpha (rHuIFN-alpha 2b) on cell
      growth, expression of antigenic receptor sites (r) and the affinity constant (Ka)
      of monoclonal antibody CO 17-1A IgG were studied on two human colorectal cancer
      cell lines, CX-1 and SW 1116. Cells were incubated with varying concentrations of
      rHuIFN-alpha 2b prior to exposure to 125I-labeled 17-1A IgG at 37 degrees C
      following which r and Ka were determined by means of Scatchard plots. Varying
      concentrations of rHuIFN-alpha 2b had significant growth inhibitory effects on CX
      1 and SW 1116 cells, which were time and concentration dependent, but no effects
      on expression of r and Ka compared to controls. Our data indicate that rHuIFN
      alpha 2b does not invariably increase the expression of tumor-associated antigens
      and that this effect may be independent of its antiproliferative activity. The in
      vitro response or lack thereof of neoplastic cells to rHuIFN-alpha 2b may be
      useful to identify those patients who potentially might gain from a clinical
      course of rHuIFN-alpha 2b for either therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.

PMID- 1459586
TI  - Negative effect of multiple antigen injections on the yield of murine monoclonal
      antibodies obtained by hybridoma technology.
AB  - One of the critical steps in the preparation of monoclonal antibodies is the
      obtainment, by in vivo immunization and boost, of the maximal number of antigen
      activated B lymphocytes. In hybridoma laboratories, the common procedure is to
      immunize a group of mice with several antigen injections and use the mouse
      showing the highest serum antibody titre for the fusion experiment. The
      observation that the use of mice hyperimmunized with human red blood cells failed
      to yield a high number of monoclonal antibodies, led us to study the effect of
      multiple antigen injection prior to the fusion experiment. The results obtained
      showed that the maximal yields of monoclonal antibodies were obtained using mice
      that had received only one or two antigen injections while the mice immunized
      with three antigen injections consistently yielded at least a three-fold
      reduction in the number of monoclonal antibodies. The negative effect could not
      be reversed by prolonged resting of the animals and suggests the induction of a
      tolerance/suppression state which can prevent the final activation step. These
      results point out to the importance of avoiding the hyperimmunization of mice for
      the preparation of a high number of monoclonal antibodies by standard hybridoma
      technology.

PMID- 1459587
TI  - Cloning hybridomas in a reversible three-dimensional alginate matrix.
AB  - Alginate is a transparent polymer of guluronic and mannuronic acids that provide
      a favorable microenvironment for cell growth. Alginate gelation is calcium
      dependent and temperature independent. To facilitate the isolation of stable and
      productive antibody-producing hybridomas, we have developed a technique of
      cloning hybridomas in the three-dimensional alginate matrix. To provide cavities
      for hybridoma growth, we encorporated 10-15% (v/v) gelatin into the alginate
      prior to gelation. We have cloned more than 90 monoclonal antibody-producing
      hybridomas using the alginate matrix. The alginate matrix is readily reversible
      with the addition of a calcium chelator. The alginate matrix permits efficient
      cloning in limited incubator space, without the use of a feeder layer, and with
      minimal amount of medium. The transparent matrix also permits easy screening for
      clonality and growth.

PMID- 1459588
TI  - Instability of a hybridoma cell line in a homogeneous continuous perfusion
      culture system.
AB  - In this study several analytical techniques were applied to obtain information
      about the stability of expression, the yield, and the integrity of a monoclonal
      antibody (Mab) produced by hybridoma cell line RIV6 in a homogeneous continuous
      perfusion culture system. The total antibody as well as the isotype-specific
      antibody contents decreased continuously during the course of cultivation, while
      the viable cell concentration remained constant. The origin of the discrepancy
      between the Mab contents observed by two enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay
      (ELISA) systems during the steady state was due to fragmentation of the IgG
      molecule, either cytoplasmic or in the culture fluid, as determined by sodium
      dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and western
      blotting. The IgG-secreting cells as well as the fraction of cells containing a
      high cytoplasmic IgG content decreased continuously during cultivation. The
      isoelectric focusing (IEF) pattern showed the appearance of two additional bands
      after five days of cultivation. This work indicates that cell line RIV6 is
      unstable in the culture system used, with respect to cell properties and product
      formation.

PMID- 1459589
TI  - Cloning and reexpression of a functional human IgM anti-lipid A antibody.
AB  - The human hybridoma cell line HR78 secretes a human antibody of the IgM isotype
      directed against bacterial endotoxin. The cell line produces low levels of
      antibody and, more importantly, the antibody product is likely to be impure since
      two and perhaps more species of heavy chain are being synthesized as judged by
      cloning and expression studies. To address these issues, the cell line was used
      as a source of mRNA for the construction of cDNA libraries and the subsequent
      isolation of the sequences encoding heavy and light chains. Expression of these
      chains in a non-immunoglobulin producing murine hybridoma cell line resulted in a
      monoclonal antibody that bound antigen in a manner essentially identical to that
      observed for the parental antibody. Moreover, the level of expression of human
      IgM in selected clones was increased approximately 50-fold over the parental cell
      line and was comparable to or better than antibody expression by a typical murine
      hybridoma.

PMID- 1459590
TI  - Introduction of a segment of Rhizobium meliloti megaplasmid in Escherichia coli
      slows down its growth in minimal medium.

PMID- 1459591
TI  - Intraspecific sexual isolation in Drosophila.
AB  - Intraspecific sexual isolation was examined among wild strains of Drosophila
      malerkotliana, D. parabipectinata and D. pseudoananassae by multiple-choice
      method in Elens-Wattiaux mating chamber. In D. pseudoananassae, mating between
      two strains tested was random and isolation estimate was close to one. In one out
      of 6 crosses, involving geographic strains of D. malerkotliana, there was
      significant deviation from randomness and isolation estimate remained low which
      shows non-random (preferential or positive assortative) mating. In D.
      parabipectinata, the deviation from randomness was statistically significant due
      to higher number of homogamic matings in three crosses involving wild strains
      derived from geographically distant places and isolation estimate remained low in
      these crosses. The results provide evidence for incipient sexual isolation within
      D. malerkotliana and D. parabipectinata as a result of genetic divergence.

PMID- 1459592
TI  - Gonado-modulatory effects of high humidity is pineal dependent in Indian palm
      squirrel Funambulus pennanti (Wroughton).
AB  - F. pennanti presented a clear biphasic pineal mediated seasonal sexual cycle.
      This sexual cycle was essentially characterised by a very short period of sexual
      quiescence with an arrest of spermatogenesis during October-November. A small but
      clear decrease in sexual activity was also observed during March-April. This
      decrease in sexual activity, however, had no quantifiable effect on
      spermatogenesis. Sexual recrudescence was observed from December-January. The
      testes remained sexually active from January till September. Almost an inverse
      relationship was observed between pineal and testicular weight. Pinealectomy,
      however, prevented naturally induced gonadal regression during both the periods,
      i.e. September-November and February-April. Exposure of animals to high RH (80 +/
      4%) during sexually active phase induced a steep regression in testicular weight
      of sham-operated animals even in the presence of gonad stimulatory long
      photoperiod (16L:8D) and high temperature (40 degrees +/- 5 degrees C) while
      exposure of animals to moderate RH (65 +/- 5%) during sexual regression phase
      partially prevented testicular regression even in presence of inhibitory short
      photoperiod (11L:13D) and normal environmental temperature (30 degrees +/- 5
      degrees C). Pinealectomized animals, neither exhibited testicular regression in
      February-March nor had involuted testes in September-October, thus, suggesting
      that the effect of humidity is mediated via the pineal gland.

PMID- 1459593
TI  - Localization and detection of ovarian follicular fluid protein in follicles of
      human ovaries.
AB  - Human ovarian follicular fluid protein has been partially purified and the active
      fraction designated as hGF2. Using specific polyclonal antiserum to hGF2, it was
      observed to be localized immunohistochemically in the granulosa cells of medium
      but not large follicles of human ovary. The hGF2 levels were estimated by ELISA
      in serum and follicular fluid of 10 gonadotropin-stimulated women recruited for
      IVF-ET programme. The results revealed a 3-fold increase in the concentration of
      hGF2 in follicular fluid compared to that in serum of these patients. These data
      indicate that the protein is secreted by granulosa cells and plays an important
      role in the regulation of follicular maturation and ovulation.

PMID- 1459594
TI  - Age related modulation of circadian time structure of blood, plasma and tissue
      variables in male domestic fowls.
AB  - To study modulation of circadian time structure of 11 blood, plasma and tissue
      variables in male domestic fowls, as a function of age, three experiments were
      made in one-day-old fowls (72) standardized by 12L:12D. In the first experiment,
      at 6 week age, 24 birds were killed by decapitation, four each at six different
      circadian stages (2, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 22 hr after light onset, HALO). Equal
      number of birds were killed at similar circadian stages at the age of 12 and 18
      week in the second and the third experiments, respectively. Age affected both,
      the circadian patterns and the mesors (24 hr mean values). The circadian pattern
      included amplitude (half of the total extent of variation) and acrophase
      (estimated time of peak) for each variable. The results clearly suggest that the
      pattern of circadian rhythm may vary as a function of age of the bird.

PMID- 1459595
TI  - Electrokinetic behaviour of subpopulations of T lymphocytes in allografted mice.
AB  - In AKR(H-2k) mice transplanted with DBA/2(H-2d) skin grafts, the mean
      electrophoretic mobilities (EPM) of total lymph node cells (LNC) and T cells were
      significantly reduced. Subpopulations of T lymphocytes, viz. CD4- (CD8- (CD4+) T
      cells were obtained by depletion treatment of T cells with monoclonal antibodies
      specific for these surface antigens and complement. Determination of EPM of these
      two subpopulations revealed that the electrokinetic change following
      immunostimulation equally afflicted these two subpopulations. These data thus
      confirmed that CD4+ as well as CD8+ T cells were activated in MHC unmatched
      allograft rejection.

PMID- 1459596
TI  - Effect of chemically different calcium antagonists on lipid profile in rats fed
      on a high fat diet.
AB  - Different classes of calcium antagonists, viz. verapamil (diphenylalkylamine),
      diltiazem (benzothiazepine), nifedipine, felodipine and nimodipine
      (dihydropyridines), were examined for their effects on lipid profile in rats.
      Clofibrate was the reference standard. Clofibrate significantly prevented the
      rise of serum triglycerides and total cholesterol produced by high fat diet and
      raised antiatherogenic index to 1.6 times than that of high fat diet controls. Of
      the calcium antagonists studied, felodipine was most effective in preventing the
      rise of serum triglycerides and total cholesterol in high fat diet fed rats.
      Felodipine's antiatherogenic index was very high (886%)--much more than that of
      clofibrate (303%). Diltiazem and nimodipine which also significantly prevented
      the rise in triglycerides and total cholesterol produced by high fat diet had a
      moderately beneficial antiatherogenic index similar to that of clofibrate. Though
      verapamil and nifedipine slightly increased the triglyceride levels, total
      cholesterol levels were reduced only by verapamil and not by nifedipine. Despite
      this both these drugs moderately raised antiatherogenic index similar to
      clofibrate.

PMID- 1459597
TI  - Effect of variations in temperature of injected saline on early development of
      chick embryo.
AB  - Development of chick embryo is sensitive to the incubation temperature and
      increase or decrease in incubation temperature produces defect in development but
      the effect of drug solution injected at variable temperatures on developing chick
      embryo has not been established so far. Fresh embryonated eggs were incubated and
      saline was administered at various temperatures after 17 hr of incubation.
      Embryos were harvested to see the effect of temperature variations of injected
      saline on neural tube formation. Normal neural tube development was seen only at
      37 degrees C, hot or cold saline produced maldevelopment of neural tube. Thus it
      is concluded that any solution or drug which needs to be injected should ideally
      be used at 37 degrees C, as temperature lower or higher than that may vitiate the
      results.

PMID- 1459598
TI  - Respiratory responses and blood sugar level of the crab, Barytelphusa cunicularis
      (Westwood), exposed to mercury, copper and zinc.
AB  - Barytelphusa cunicularis (Westwood), a freshwater crab was exposed to mercuric
      chloride, copper sulphate and zinc sulphate from 0 to 12 hr and the oxygen
      consumption of the animal was measured in order to study the stress caused by
      these heavy metals. Normal oxygen consumption was affected by the three heavy
      metals. Similarly, crabs exposed to sublethal concentrations of the same
      pollutants for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hr showed an elevation in the blood sugar level
      with a maximum increase at 48 hr. The results indicate a switch towards
      glycolysis in order to overcome the anaerobic stress caused by the heavy metals.

PMID- 1459599
TI  - Distillery effluent treatment using Artemia.
AB  - Artemia functions as living filter for the secondary treatment of distillery
      effluent, which reduces up to 69% of the total solids and 33.34% of BOD in the
      saline medium of 60 ppt. Chemical analysis of diluted effluent after treatment
      with Artemia showed a significant (P less than 0.001) decrease in the electrical
      conductivity, calcium and potassium values. However, an increase in sodium
      concentration and pH values, was recorded during experiment.

PMID- 1459600
TI  - Potentiation of hypoglycemic response of glibenclamide by piroxicam in rats and
      humans.
AB  - Influence of piroxicam (PX) on glibenclamide (GL) induced hypoglycemia has been
      studied in rats, healthy human volunteers and diabetics. GL per se has
      significantly reduced blood sugar levels in rats and in humans. PX per se has
      significantly reduced BSLs, in diabetics, while having no significant influence
      on blood sugar level in rats and healthy human volunteers. Prior administration
      of PX has potentiated the hypoglycemic effect of GL in rats, healthy human
      volunteers and diabetics. GL, PX + GL administration have also significantly
      influenced the glucose tolerance test (GTT) in healthy human volunteers.

PMID- 1459601
TI  - Alterations in metabolic activity of Cysticercus fasciolaris on some anthelmintic
      treatments.
AB  - Effect of candidate compounds 81-470 i.e. methyl [5[4-(2-pyridinyl)-1
      piperazinyl]carbonyl]-1H-benzimidazole-2-yl]- carbamate and 86-162 i.e. methyl
      5(6)-(alpha-hydroxyphenyl methyl) benzimidazole-2-carbamate along with reference
      drugs mebendazole and praziquantel on energy metabolism of C. fasciolaris
      recovered from rats treated with single dose of 500 mg/kg, ip was investigated.
      All the drugs significantly lowered the rate of uptake of glucose and alanine by
      the parasite. Suppression in the formation of lactate, the major end-product, was
      also noticed. Nonetheless the ratio of lactate produced versus the substrates
      consumed was not substantially affected. The recovered cysticerci also possessed
      less glycogen and ATP compared to the normal parasites. Although the effects
      exerted by the drugs were of the identical nature, they significantly differed in
      the magnitude of their action. Mebendazole followed by praziquantel maximally
      affected all the above metabolic activities while 86-162 proved to be the weakest
      in action. The results suggest that the examined drugs exert their
      chemotherapeutic activity by interfering with uptake of glucose and alanine but
      do not significantly alter their catabolism.

PMID- 1459602
TI  - Mechanisms of Bacillus cereus enteropathy.
AB  - Three strains of Bacillus cereus isolated from sausages (Salami and Trekker,
      RANBAC, Ranchi) produced enterotoxin which caused vascular permeability in skin
      and haemorrhage in the ligated ileal loops of rabbits. Histopathological studies
      revealed haemorrhage and congestion in submucosa, mononuclear cell infiltration
      in lamina propria and submucosa and villous atrophy. Histochemical studies ruled
      out the effect on mitochondrial enzymes of intestinal epithelial cells. Purified
      enterotoxin given intradermally to rabbits caused severe necrotic reaction at the
      site of injection and death within 4 hr. Histopathological changes observed in
      liver included congestion of portal veins and sinusoids, vacuolar degeneration of
      hepatocytes, and hyperplasia of bile ducts. These suggested that B. cereus
      enterotoxin affected the capillaries of blood vessels locally and also
      systemically resulting into release of proteinaceous exudates and red blood
      cells.

PMID- 1459603
TI  - Correlative studies on mating speed and metric traits in Drosophila
      malerkotliana.
AB  - Relationship between mating speed, an important component of fitness, and
      morphological characters such as lengths of wing, femur, tibia and first tarsus
      have been analysed in D. malerkotliana. Flies mating first have longer wings and
      forelegs and mating flies have lower coefficient of variability in wing length
      than nonmating ones. Age seems to have no detectable effect on the relationship
      between these metric traits and mating speed.

PMID- 1459604
TI  - Antimutagenic activity of Terminalia chebula (myroblan) in Salmonella
      typhimurium.
AB  - Antimutagenicity of water and chloroform extracts of dried myroblan Terminalia
      chebula was determined against two direct acting mutagens, sodium azide and 4
      nitro-o-phenylenediamine (NPD) in strains TA100 and TA1535, and TA97a and TA98 of
      Salmonella typhimurium respectively and S9-dependent mutagen 2-aminofluorene (2
      AF) in TA97a, TA98 and TA100 strains. Water extract reduced NPD as well as 2-AF
      induced his+ revertants significantly but did not have any perceptible effect
      against sodium azide included his+ revertants in TA100 and TA1535 strains of S.
      typhimurium. The pre-incubation studies, where the extract was incubated at 37
      degrees C for 30 min with the said mutagen prior to plating, enhanced the
      inhibitory effect. Autoclaving the water extract reduced the inhibitory effect
      but the reduction in the effect was not significant. No inhibitory effect was
      observed in any of the strains and against any of the test mutagens with
      chloroform extract.

PMID- 1459605
TI  - Effect of RMI 12,936, an antiprogestational steroid on decidual cell reaction and
      embryos in rat.
AB  - Subcutaneous administration of RMI 12,936 at a dose level of 2 mg/rat on day 5 of
      unilaterally pregnant rat having trauma-induced decidual cell reaction (DCR) in
      the contralateral uterine horn, suppresses DCR, induces resorption of implanted
      embryos and leads to decrease in the plasma level of progesterone. Progesterone
      replacement (D 5-8) in this situation reverses DCR suppressive effect of RMI
      12,936 but fails to prevent resorption of implanted embryos. It is concluded that
      possibly the drug simultaneously exerts embryotoxic as well as luteolytic
      effects, but these effects are independent.

PMID- 1459606
TI  - Evaluation of Biken test for detection of Salmonella enterotoxin.
AB  - Biken test by using antiserum to purified Salmonella enterotoxin (SE) was
      standardized and carried out to screen salmonellae for their enterotoxigenicity.
      As many as 101 strains of Salmonella belonging to 15 different serotypes isolated
      from foods of animal origin were subjected to Biken test. Of these, 68 (67.32%)
      were found seropositive. The test correlated with the rabbit ligated ileal loop
      (RLIL) test completely for the detection of enterotoxin producing salmonellae
      with 24 test strains. However, 5 of the 13 strains which were negative in the
      RLIL test, yielded positive results with the Biken test.

PMID- 1459607
TI  - Effect of graded doses of naloxone on renal function in canine hemorrhagic shock.
AB  - All the parameters of renal function (inulin clearance, para amino hippuric acid
      clearance and urine flow) which were depressed during experimentally induced
      hemorrhagic shock in dogs improved significantly in addition to improvement in
      mean arterial pressure (MAP) after bolus administration (iv) of 1 or 2 mg/kg
      naloxone. A smaller dose (0.5 mg/kg) of naloxone, however, did not improve the
      renal function. Even renal arterial injection of the same dose of naloxone showed
      no improvement in the renal function. In both these cases the improvement in the
      MAP was significantly less as compared to other groups of animals which received
      1 or 2 mg/kg naloxone. It may be concluded that (a) naloxone at doses of 1 or 2
      mg/kg improved the renal function by improving MAP and (b) naloxone has no direct
      action on renal vasculature.

PMID- 1459608
TI  - Neurophysiological alterations following fluvalinate administration in mice.
AB  - Median lethal dose (LD50) of fluvalinate (Marvik 25EC) was 105 (94.6-116.5 mg/kg,
      ip) in albino mice. Gross observable signs were dose dependent and indicative of
      central and peripheral nervous system stimulation. Fluvalinate, at 10.5 and 21.0
      mg/kg, ip doses in mice, facilitated maximal electroshock seizures, reduced
      reaction time in analgesic test and enhanced duration of ether anaesthesia. Acute
      and subacute (7 days) treatment at lower and higher doses enhanced pentobarbitone
      sleeping time. Acute and subacute treatment (7 days) with phenobarbitone (50
      mg/kg, ip) prior to fluvalinate enhanced toxicity of fluvalinate.

PMID- 1459609
TI  - Effect of malathion on antioxidant defence system in human fetus--an in vitro
      study.
AB  - Malathion under in vitro condition even at lower concentration (250 ppm) altered
      the level of enzymes associated with glutathione cycle and antioxidant defence
      system in human fetal brain and liver. Such changes involved alterations in
      glutathione status and extent of lipid peroxidation. The inhibitory effect of
      malathion was dose dependent in case of human fetal brain and was more vulnerable
      than fetal liver. This alteration (inhibition or activation) was maximum in case
      of tissues from fetuses of early period of development, suggesting greater
      susceptibility of human fetus towards this organophosphorus insecticide.

PMID- 1459610
TI  - Effect of antioxidants on adenosine triphosphatase activity of brain and heart in
      male mice during ageing.
AB  - The present study deals with the effect of butylated hydroxy anisole, propyl
      gallate and alpha-tocopherol on ATPase activity of brain and heart in ageing male
      mice. The activity of both the tissues significantly increased during pre
      reproductive and reproductive phases. However, during the post-reproductive
      phase, ATPase activity of heart increased while that of the brain remained
      unaltered. The enhanced activity could be attributed to interference by the
      antioxidants in cellular metabolism and/or their free radical scavenging effect.

PMID- 1459611
TI  - Characterization of a continuous lymphocyte cell line derived from BALB/c mice
      inoculated with a recombinant Moloney murine leukemia virus-TB.
AB  - Neonatal BALB/c mice were inoculated (ip) with a recombinant Moloney murine
      leukemia virus-TB. Majority of the inoculated mice developed lymphoma within 5-7
      months post infection. The cells from splenic lymphomas were cultured and 3
      continuous cell lines (GP1, GP2 and GP3) developed. GP1 was single cell cloned
      and characterized. Based on Thy 1.2 (98.4%) phenotypic marker, the cell line was
      categorized as T cell line. The percent positivity for different cell surface
      markers on analysis with FACS was 98.4, 4.8, 5.5, 2.2, 1.8, 1.2 and 9.5 for Thy
      1.2, mu, L3T4, Lyt2, Ia, IL2R and PNA receptor, respectively. A total of 16.5%
      GP1 cells was also positive for Moloney murine leukemia virus envelope protein
      (gp 70). Incomplete retrovirus like particles were demonstrated in the cytoplasm
      of GP1 cells by electron microscopy. The cell line on inoculation(ip) in neonatal
      BALB/c mice produced lymphomic lesions in almost all the vital organs of the
      mice.

PMID- 1459612
TI  - Antigenic analysis of purified surface antigens of filarial nematode Setaria
      digitata.
AB  - The surface antigens of S. digitata were isolated by treatment with Triton X-100.
      In non SDS-PAGE the surface antigen preparation resolved into more than 6 protein
      bands. Electroelution of gel slices corresponding to the protein bands with
      relative mobilities 0.09, 0.32, 0.41, 0.53, 0.61 and 0.76 gave 6 purified surface
      antigen fractions (SAF). Analysis of SAFs by SDS-PAGE showed that the proteins
      with molecular weights 17, 29 and 36 KD were the three major polypeptides and
      different combination of these gave rise to the 6 native surface proteins. The 29
      KD protein existed as a monomer and as cross-linked with the 17 and 36 KD
      proteins. All surface antigen fractions showed antigenicity, where as 29 KD
      protein remained as a high avidity surface antigen.

PMID- 1459613
TI  - Diosgenin--a growth stimulator of mammary gland of ovariectomized mouse.
AB  - Estrogenic action of diosgenin on the mammary epithelium of ovariectomized (OVX)
      mouse has been reported. Diosgenin when administered (sc) at the dose levels of
      20 and 40 mg/kg body weight for a period of 15 days stimulated the growth of
      mammary epithelium. This was indicated by the increase in DNA content, increase
      in number of ducts and appearance of terminal endbuds. There was a significant
      increase in the mammary development scores in the presence of diosgenin.
      Concomitant treatment of estrogen and diosgenin showed augmentation of estrogenic
      effect of diosgenin especially at the higher dose level (40 mg/kg body wt).
      Diosgenin showed a lack of progesterogenic action as was apparent from the
      absence of alveolar development even in the presence of exogenous estrogen.

PMID- 1459614
TI  - Lytic effect of Bacillus subtilis elastase on gram-positive and negative
      bacteria.
AB  - Elastase of B. subtilis 6a caused lysis of freshly grown cells of Gram-negative
      (Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa and Gram-positive (B. subtilis) bacteria. Heat killed and lyophilised
      Gram-positive and negative bacteria showed higher sensitivity to elastase. Both
      Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria were lysed maximally by elastase at pH
      8.0. At this pH, activity of elastase was maximum in Tris-HCl and glycine-NaOH
      buffers followed by Tris-maleate and cacodylate buffers.

PMID- 1459615
TI  - Modulatory effects of metanil yellow on immunity in rodents.
AB  - Pathomorphological and immunological studies were carried out on rodents
      following oral administration of 0, 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5% (w/w) metanil yellow,
      mixed in diet, for 30 days. No significant change in hematologic parameters and
      histologic architecture of liver, kidney, mesenteric lymph node, thymus and
      urinary bladder was observed except for mild desquamation of intestinal villi and
      moderate changes in Peyer's patches of small intestine with higher doses. Among
      immunological parameters, significant enhancement in the primary humoral immune
      response (anti-SRBC IgM plaque forming cells of spleen) was observed with the
      lowest dose of metanil yellow while higher doses produced opposing effects. An
      elevated cutaneous delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction to SRBC was seen
      in 0.1% metanil yellow treated animals but higher doses did not influence the
      reaction. The treatment also caused changes in functional capabilities of
      macrophages. Although these immune alterations could hardly influence the local
      immunity of gut, as measured by the capacity of animals to cause rejection of
      Nippostrongylus brasiliensis parasite, the potential to modulate the immunity in
      general by metanil yellow however assumes considerable biological significance.

PMID- 1459616
TI  - Toxic effects of different concentrations of dimethoate on lysosomal enzymes of
      female albino rats.
AB  - The effect of three different concentrations of dimethoate on the activity of
      certain lysosomal enzymes, viz. beta-glucuronidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase,
      cathepsin B and cathepsin D in serum, skin, liver, kidney and spleen and the
      stability of liver and kidney lysosomes was studied in female albino rats. The
      activity of beta-glucuronidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, cathepsin D was
      found to increase in serum and tissues in higher concentration (2.25 mg/100 g
      body weight) of dimethoate treated rats. A significant increase in the rate of
      release of beta-glucuronidase was found in the liver and kidney of higher
      concentration of dimethoate treated rats compared to controls. The results
      demonstrate that the activity of lysosomal enzymes increased in higher
      concentration of dimethoate treated rats than the lower concentration (0.56
      mg/100 g body weight) of dimethoate treated rats.

PMID- 1459617
TI  - Effect of styrene on testicular enzymes of growing rat.
AB  - Effect of styrene (100 or 200 mg/kg body wt/day) for 60 days was observed on
      testicular enzymes of postnatally maturing rats. A significant decrease in
      epididymal spermatozoa count was observed only at 200 mg/kg body weight dose.
      Activities of testicular sorbitol dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase decreased
      while activities of lactate dehydrogenase, beta-glucuronidase, glucose-6
      phosphate dehydrogenase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase significantly
      increased only in animals exposed to styrene at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight.
      The results suggest that exposure to high dose of styrene during developmental
      period alters the activities of enzymes associated with specific cell type of
      testis.

PMID- 1459618
TI  - Trichloroethylene toxicity in mice: a biochemical, hematological and pathological
      assessment.
AB  - Oral administration of trichloroethylene (TCE; 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg/day)
      to male mice once daily, 5 days a week for a period of 28 days, caused a
      significant increase in liver weight, degeneration/necrosis of hepatocytes and
      characteristics proliferation of endothelial cells of hepatic sinusoids. Increase
      in kidney weight, glomerular nephrosis, degeneration/desquamation of tubular
      epithelium and characteristic amyloid deposition in glomeruli were observed only
      in the group of mice treated with 2000 mg/kg TCE. These changes occurred
      concurrently with a significant increase in total protein and free sulphydryl
      contents, elevated activities of acid phosphatase and catalase and decreased
      activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (delta-ALAD) indicating the
      sensitivity of liver and kidney as target tissues in TCE-toxicity. Hematological
      studies showed a significant increase in RBC counts and a reduction in WBC counts
      without any statistically significant change in the hemoglobin, urea nitrogen,
      creatinine and uric acid levels in the blood of TCE-exposed mice. A dose-related
      increase in cell density and acid phosphatase activity with a parallel
      significant decrease in the activity of delta-ALAD were observed in the bone
      marrow, which appear to be responsible for hematological alterations in TCE
      exposed mice. The results suggest that early metabolic, pathological and
      hematological perturbations following a short-term exposure of TCE in mice, can
      provide the basis for its documented potential for chronic effects like blood
      dyscrasia and cancer.

PMID- 1459619
TI  - Hepatic mixed function oxidase system and effect of phenobarbital, 3
      methylcholanthrene and 1, 1, 1-trichloro-2, 2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane in
      developing chickens.
AB  - Contents of hepatic microsomal protein, aminopyrine N-demethylase, acetanilide
      hydroxylase, aniline hydroxylase, hydrogen peroxide formation, cytochrome-c
      reductase, cytochrome b5 and cytochrome P-450 were examined in control,
      phenobarbital (PB), 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) and 1, 1, 1-trichloro-2, 2-bis(p
      chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) treated group of 1-28 days old chickens. Increase in
      aminopyrine N-demethylase, acetanilide hydroxylase, aniline hydroxylase,
      cytochrome-c-reductase, cytochrome b5 and cytochrome P-450 was noticed at all
      stages of development during administration of PB and 3-MC. But these enzyme
      activities were not always paralleled by increase in age. Aminopyrine N
      demethylase was increased in early stages only during DDT administration, which
      indicates that the form of cytochrome P-450, responsible for aminopyrine N
      demethylation is present in early stages only. However, acetanilide hydroxylase
      was decreased in all stages of development, in postnatal development the basal
      activities of the enzymes for various substrates do not exhibit identical
      pattern, the degree of inducibility by inducers varied in relation to age of
      animal. Hydrogen peroxide formation increased in all stages of developing
      chickens due to the administration of PB and DDT. It however decreased due to 3
      MC administration which may be due to induction of high spin cytochrome P-450.

PMID- 1459620
TI  - Acidic and basic protein contents in Gastrocnemii and pectoralis muscles of chick
      under denervation and work-induced stress conditions.
AB  - Biochemical estimation of acidic and basic proteins of chick gastrocnemii (G.
      externus, G. medius and G. internus) and pectoralis muscles has been done under
      normal, denervated and work stress conditions from 1-56 days of postnatal growth.
      The reciprocal relationship of the two protein groups is clearly established. It
      is evident that muscle denervation acts as a stimulant for proteosynthetic
      activities and probably may also be an inhibitory factor for protein degradative
      reactions. During work overload stress, the rapid growth of muscles has been
      related to high rate of contractile activity.

PMID- 1459621
TI  - Hypolipidemic action of taurine in rats.
AB  - The effect of taurine on the serum and liver cholesterol and triglyceride levels
      was studied in rats fed cholesterol plus cholic acid. Four groups of 4 weeks old
      rats were fed control diet, hypercholesterolemic diet (HCD), HCD + 1% taurine or
      HCD + 2% taurine for 8 weeks. Addition of taurine in HCD diet showed a
      significant reduction not only in serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels
      but also in liver total cholesterol, lipid and triglyceride contents compared to
      the animals fed HCD alone. Histological examination of organs of these animals
      showed severe fatty vacuolation in livers and signet ring type vacuolation in
      kidneys of rats fed HCD. Taurine showed ameliorating effect on these
      abnormalities. The animals fed taurine in HCD also showed increased bile and
      sterol excretion in faeces compared to rats fed HCD alone. Taurine showed
      significant hypocholesterolemia in rats probably by enhancing the catabolism of
      cholesterol and reducing the absorption of dietary cholesterol.

PMID- 1459622
TI  - Effect of some natural pesticides on entomogenous muscardine fungi.
AB  - Five commercial preparations of natural pesticides were tested for in vitro
      compatibility with muscardine fungi, Beauveria brongniartii and Metarhizium
      anisopliae. Neemark (azadirachtin) was found compatible with both the fungi.
      Phytoallexin, the natural fungicide, significantly inhibited the growth of both
      the fungi, while other natural pesticides showed moderate to severe inhibition.

PMID- 1459623
TI  - Neurodepressive action of a piscicidal glycoside of plant, Aesculus indica
      (Colebr.) in fish.
AB  - Sublethal concentration (2.6 mg/l) of a triterpene based piscicidal glycoside of
      A. indica damaged the neurons, fibre tracts and central correlation sites for
      gustatory, tactile and visceral sensory impulses in medulla oblongata of fish
      after prolonged poisoning. The fear, sinking to bottom, lack of schooling and non
      discriminatory pattern in treated fish were because of neurodepression. The jerky
      movement, ventilatory inefficiency, swallowing air bubbles and light pinkness of
      gills were due to the degradation of respiratory centres in the vagal lobes of
      toxified fish.

PMID- 1459624
TI  - Effect of banana stem juice on biochemical changes in liver of normal and
      hyperoxaluric rats.
AB  - Influence of stem extract of banana (family Musaceae), was studied on glycolic
      acid oxidase (GAO) and lactate dehydrogenase enzymes, calcium, phosphorus,
      oxalate and glycolic acid in liver tissues of sodium glycolate-induced
      hyperoxaluric rats. Activity of GAO was significantly lowered in the extract
      treated rats compared to that of the glycolate-fed rats. LDH increased
      significantly in glycolate administered rats when compared with the extract
      treated rats. The levels of calcium, phosphorus, oxalate and glycolic acid during
      hyperoxaluric state showed remarkable alterations in liver tissue.

PMID- 1459625
TI  - Effect of dietary salt (NaCl) supplementation on urinary profile of guinea pigs
      (Cavia porcellus).
AB  - Sodium chloride supplementation (120 mg/kg of body weight/day) for 12 days
      increased the urinary excretion of calcium from 91.6 +/- 9.0 to 159.4 +/- 16.0
      mumol/day and of sulphate from 266.8 +/- 24.5 to 1176.9 +/- 87.2 mumol/day in
      guinea pigs. The stone risk due to increased urinary calcium excretion could
      possibly be counterbalanced by increasing urinary sulphate excretion. High salt
      intake, thus, could not increase the risk of stone formation.

PMID- 1459626
TI  - A comparison of vessel sensitivity and vessel constant in oxygen uptake
      determination with pure oxygen and air as gaseous media.
AB  - Air proved to be a superior gaseous medium to pure oxygen used for oxygen uptake
      study in the Warburg apparatus Recording of volume change (vessel sensitivity
      method) was the only correct method of recording the oxygen uptake. It is
      concluded that the volume change method should be followed for recording oxygen
      uptake by Warburg apparatus and pure oxygen should not be used as a gaseous
      medium.

PMID- 1459627
TI  - Replicative activity of X-chromosome and autosomes of Drosophila melanogaster in
      autosomal hyperploids and the problem of dosage compensation.
AB  - Replicative behaviour of two hyperploid autosomal arms (2L and 3L) of D.
      melanogaster has been analysed by 3H-thymidine autoradiography. Results reveal
      that hyperploid autosomal arms (2L-trisomy or 3L-trisomy) replicate synchronously
      with other disomic non-homologous chromosome arms i.e. there is no asynchrony in
      the initial mid or late phase of replication patterns between the trisomic 2L or
      trisomic 3L and disomic arms, suggesting that the extra dose of an autosomal arm
      can not alter the inherent pattern of replication of that arm. Results further
      reveal that 2L-trisomy or 3L-trisomy does not impart any influence on X
      chromosomal replication in either sex. It is suggested from these results that
      change in the genomic dose of autosome does not play any role in modulating the
      replicative organization of the autosomes, 2L and 3L. Thus, although a regulatory
      mechanism of autosomal dosage compensation does exist for Drosophila, the
      hierarchy of genetic programming of regulation for X-chromosomal and autosomal
      dosage compensation might be different. Neither hypertranscriptive activity nor
      faster replication pattern of the male X-chromosome is influenced by 2L- or 3L
      trisomy.

PMID- 1459628
TI  - Differential response of testis and serum gonadotropins to testosterone in rats
      treated with a gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist or estradiol 17 beta.
AB  - Adult rats treated with a GnRH antagonist (Ac D2Nal1, D4Cl Phe2, DTrp3, DArg6,
      DAla10 GnRH; code: 103-289-10, National Institutes of Health, USA) for 5 weeks
      (250 micrograms/kg b.w) showed multiple degrees of impairment and atrophy of the
      genital organs concomitant with decreased serum levels of testosterone, LH and
      FSH. Inhibition of spermatogenesis was characterized by germ cell degeneration
      and overall decline in different cell numbers and in particular, spermatids of
      any kind were completely absent. Testosterone supplementation (60
      micrograms/rat/day, sc) to GnRH antagonist treated rats, for the same period,
      significantly elevated the weights of the sex organs, and the serum levels of
      hormones. Spermatogenesis was improved both qualitatively and quantitatively;
      albeit failed to be restored back to control levels. Treatment with estradiol 17
      beta (1 microgram/rat/day) for 5 weeks had insignificant effect on
      spermatogenesis but the weights of the genital organs (seminal vesicles by 19%
      and ventral prostate by 40%) and the levels of serum hormones (LH by 24%, FSH 22%
      and testosterone by 25%) were otherwise reduced. Administration of testosterone
      either alone or in combination with estradiol 17 beta had only a marginal effect
      on spermatogenesis or on other reproductive parameters. The results indicate a
      positive shift in the response of the testis and serum levels of gonadotropins to
      testosterone supplementation in rats treated with either GnRH antagonist or
      estradiol 17 beta.

PMID- 1459629
TI  - Sperm production and fertility of bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata) following
      immunization with ovine follicle stimulating hormone.
AB  - Adult male bonnet monkeys were rendered oligospermic but not azoospermic
      following active immunization with ovine follicle stimulating hormone. The
      percentage of sperms in the semen having good motility was reduced with a
      concomitant increase in the sperm ATPase activity. Eight out of 10 immunized
      monkeys failed to impregnate females of proven fertility after mating for
      consecutive three cycles while the remaining two impregnated the cohabitated
      females during the third cycle at a time when the antibody titer was reduced.
      Active immunization with ovine follicle stimulating hormone may not produce
      complete azoospermia but renders adult male monkeys infertile provided sufficient
      antibody titer is maintained.

PMID- 1459630
TI  - Neuropharmacology of amide derivatives of P-GABA.
AB  - Three lipophilic amide derivatives of phthaloyl-GABA (P-GABA), namely gamma
      phthalimido N-amyl butyramide (PGA), gamma-phthalimido-N-hexylbutyramide (PGH)
      and gamma-phthalimido N-phenylbutyramide (PGP), were synthesized and evaluated
      for their hypnotic and anticonvulsant activities in mice. Both PGA and PGH showed
      moderate hypnotic activity but PGP had no such action. Picrotoxin (0.08 mg/kg) a
      non-specific GABA antagonist completely abolished the hypnotic action of PGA in
      subconvulsive doses. Bicuculline (0.04 mg/kg) a GABAA antagonist, 3
      mercaptopropionic acid (6 mg/kg) a GAD inhibitor at subconvulsive doses failed to
      neutralise the hypnotic action of PGA. On the other hand, PGA showed significant
      protection only against picrotoxin-induced convulsions, but was inactive against
      other convulsants tested. PGP which has no hypnotic activity, and has a mild
      anticonvulsant action in all the models except picrotoxin. A definite correlation
      was observed between the brain GABA and the hypnotic activity of PGA. However the
      present data indicate that the hypnotic and anticonvulsant activities are
      mediated probably through different brain GABA-ergic mechanisms.

PMID- 1459631
TI  - Evaluation of some newer non-steroidal anti-inflammatory indan-1-acids in various
      biological systems.
AB  - In line of the effort towards development of some newer indanyl non-steroidal
      anti-inflammatory agents and providing comprehensive SAR among this class of
      compounds some significantly active derivatives with low ulcerogenic potential
      were identified. Dealing with various long chain and branched chain compounds
      among this series, 3-(5, 6-dimethoxy indan-1-yl) propionic acid, 2-(5, 6
      dimethoxy indan-1-yl) propionic acid and 3-(6-methoxy indan-1-yl) propionic acid
      were observed to have encouraging biological activity. Screening in various
      animal models of inflammation suggests their longer duration of action and lower
      ulcerogenic liability.

PMID- 1459632
TI  - Mechanism of anti-stress activity of Ocimum sanctum Linn, eugenol and Tinospora
      malabarica in experimental animals.
AB  - Effects of restraint stress (RS) and its modulation by O. sanctum (Os), eugenol
      and T. malabarica (Tm) were evaluated on some biochemical and biophysical
      parameters in rats. RS induced elevations in blood glucose and urea levels, were
      unaffected by either Os, eugenol or Tm pretreatment. However, both Os and eugenol
      lowered RS-induced cholesterol levels. RS also caused a generalized increase in
      enzyme activity and Os, eugenol or Tm effectively lowered the RS-induced
      elevations in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase. RS also
      induced (a) increased membrane protein clusterization, (b) increased membrane
      fluidity and (c) reduced membrane thickness--in RBC membrane, whereas, the
      effects on the synaptosomal membrane were less marked. The RS-induced changes in
      RBC membrane dynamics were attenuated/reversed by Os, eugenol or Tm, in a
      differential manner. These biochemical and membrane changes during Rs and their
      modulation by the adaptogens are discussed in light of the possible mechanisms of
      action of these agents, during such aversive stimuli.

PMID- 1459633
TI  - Effect of cadmium on tissue glutathione and glutathione peroxidase in rats:
      influence of selenium supplementation.
AB  - Administration of cadmium (2.5 mg/kg, sc on alternate days for 3 weeks) to male
      albino rats led to significant accumulation of cadmium and metallothionein in the
      liver and kidneys. The activity of glutathione peroxidase was significantly
      decreased whereas, the concentration of glutathione was increased in these
      organs. Glycine-l-14C incorporation studies showed enhanced synthesis of
      glutathione in kidney but not in the liver. Selenium supplementation (1 mg/kg/day
      orally) failed to prevent these cadmium-induced changes, although it resulted in
      very high accumulation of selenium in these organs indicating the formation of
      cadmium-selenium complex.

PMID- 1459634
TI  - Experimental pathogenicity of Mollicutes of bovine udder origin in hamster
      tracheal ring organ culture.
AB  - Hamster tracheal-ring organ culture was employed to examine pathogenic effects of
      8 isolates of Mollicutes of bovine udder origin. The tested Mollicutes could be
      categorized into two groups: (i) Mycoplasma F-38, M. mycoides var. capri, M.
      bovigenitalium mixed with M. bovirhinis, and M. bovigenitalium mixed with M.
      bovirhinis and Mycoplasma F-38 produced significant ciliostatic effect and
      infiltration of neutrophils and lymphocytes in lamina propria/subepithelium,
      hyperplasia and desquamation of epithelial lining cells and loss of cilia; and
      (ii) A. laidlawii, A. axanthum, an unidentified Acholeplasma and a mixed isolate
      of M. bovis, M. bovigenitalium, Mycoplasma F-38 and A. laidlawii showed
      insignificant ciliostatic effects and produced mild histopathological lesions.
      This correlates with the disease causing potentials of the strains.

PMID- 1459635
TI  - Cardioprotective effect of cromakalim (potassium channel opener) in isoproterenol
      induced myocardial infarction in rats.
AB  - Animals pretreated with cromakalim (1 mg/kg,po) along with isoproterenol (85
      mg/kg,sc) showed less myocardial degenerative changes on histopathological
      examinations when compared with those treated with isoproterenol alone.
      Cromakalim's beneficial effects on myocardium were in dose-dependent manner.
      Administration of cromakalim (po) lowered significantly the serum LDH and SGOT
      and depleted intracytoplasmic glycogen as demonstrated by periodic schiff
      staining procedure. Increase in blood clotting time was highly significant (P
      less than 0.001). The results suggest cardioprotective effect of cromakalim in
      isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1459636
TI  - Effect of doxorubicin on heart mitochondrial enzymes in rats: a protective role
      for alpha-tocopherol.
AB  - Effect of doxorubicin on heart mitochondrial enzymes was studied in rats with or
      without the administration of alpha-tocopherol. Rats were treated with
      doxorubicin 2.5 mg/kg, ip body wt once a week for 8 weeks. Alpha-tocopherol was
      co-administered orally for 2 months (400 mg/kg body wt daily). TCA cycle enzyme,
      NADH-dehydrogenase, cytochrome-C-oxidase and Na+,K(+)-ATPase activities were
      found to be decreased in doxorubicin treatment. A significant decrease in
      protease activity was observed with a concomitant increase in mitochondrial
      protein level. Mitochondrial lipid peroxide level was found to be increased with
      a decrease in thiol content. Alpha-tocopherol co-administration was found to
      maintain the mitochondrial enzyme activities as well as the thiol content. The
      results are discussed with reference to the antioxidant nature of alpha
      tocopherol.

PMID- 1459637
TI  - Effect of five-membered heterocycles against Leishmania donovani infection.
AB  - Impact of change of heteroatom in pentavalent heterocycles, viz., pyrroles,
      isoxazoles, imidazoles and crotonates on the profile of antileishmanial activity
      against amastigotes of L. donovani using in vivo test system and macrophage
      amastigote culture system has been studied. Sixty-three compounds were tested.
      Nine imidazoles showed marginal activity in vivo, whereas 3 out of 10 compounds
      of isoxazolone series and 2 out of 4 substituted aminocrotonates exhibited
      antileishmanial activity. Of the 30 substituted pyrroles, except 8 all showed
      antileishmanial activity in vivo on day 7 post treatment.

PMID- 1459638
TI  - Autoimmunity in amoebiasis.
AB  - Amoebic liver abscess (ALA) and symptomatic intestinal amoebiasis cases were
      assessed by indirect haemagglutination assay for auto-reactive IgG and IgA class
      of antibodies in response to healthy human serum IgG and IgA. The present results
      indicated the presence of autoreactive IgG and IgA class of antibodies in ALA and
      intestinal amoebiasis respectively.

PMID- 1459639
TI  - Bromocriptine-induced implantation failure in mice: failure of the stud male to
      protect pregnancy.
AB  - The presence of the stud male failed to prevent implantation failure in newly
      inseminated females induced by administration of bromocriptine. This is in
      contrast with the ability of the stud male to prevent implantation failure in
      females induced by alien male exposure, and nutritional stress. Since
      bromocriptine is a potent inhibitor of hypophysial prolactin release by virtue of
      its stimulatory effect on hypothalamic dopaminergic activity, the results suggest
      that the stud male-originating luteotrophic stimulus is incapable of overriding
      the dopaminergic activity in bromocriptine-treated females.

PMID- 1459640
TI  - Lung injury by amiodarone, an antiarrhythmic drug, in male rats.
AB  - Administration of single dose (175 mg/kg body wt) of amiodarone dissolved in
      water through gavage for 3 weeks damaged the lung and changed the content of lung
      lavage. Activities of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) angiotensin converting enzyme
      (ACE) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increased significantly. Also, the protein
      and lactate content of the lavage fluid increased significantly over the control.
      The drug also produced marked changes in morphology of the lung of experimental
      animals.

PMID- 1459641
TI  - Cervix tumour cell line established from tumour after long term passages as
      heterotransplant in nude mice.
AB  - One human cancer of the uterine cervix xenograft was established in tissue
      culture only after repeated passages in nude mice suggesting that with the
      repeated passages in nude mice, tumour cells acquire some properties which allow
      them to grow in vitro. Attempts to establish cell line tumours from earlier
      passages were not successful. The established cell line is tumourigenic. On
      inoculation of cultured cells in nude mice tumour take was found to be 100%.
      Karyotypic analysis revealed human origin.

PMID- 1459642
TI  - Tissue changes induced by enterotoxic preparations of Salmonella weltevreden in
      ligated rabbit gut segments.
AB  - Culture filtrates and cell lysates of two strains of S. weltevreden which caused
      dilation of ligated rabbit gut segments (characteristic associated with the
      enterotoxic activity) induced mild to severe architectural changes in the test
      segments of intestine. The dilated segments contained thick, bloody and mucoid
      exudates. The results suggested that besides invasiveness and enterotoxigenicity,
      S. weltevreden possibly possessed factor (s) that damaged intestinal tissue and
      played part in the pathogenesis of Salmonella gastroenteritis.

PMID- 1459643
TI  - Cloning and nucleotide sequencing of sheep growth hormone cDNA.
AB  - cDNA was prepared from the mRNA isolated from sheep anterior pituitary glands. On
      cloning cDNA in E. coli, a clone coding full sequence of sheep pre-growth hormone
      was determined. The sequence for the sheep growth hormone (GH) is in agreement
      with the amino acid sequence of the protein determined previously except for the
      asparagine residue at position 99 rather than aspartic acid and the arginine
      residue at position 146 in place of threonine. The cDNA sequence presented is
      also in accordance with the genomic sequence for the sheep GH gene that has been
      reported.

PMID- 1459644
TI  - Effect of storage duration on cell cycle kinetics and yield of chromosomal
      aberrations in PHA-responsive human peripheral blood lymphocytes.
AB  - Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-responsive lymphocytes from human peripheral blood
      samples, either irradiated or un-irradiated, showed increased frequency of first
      division metaphase cells (detected by fluorescence plus Giemsa (FPG) staining) as
      a function of duration of storage. Irradiated and subsequently stored samples
      showed small but significant increase for the yield of dicentrics. The yield of
      aberrant metaphases and deletions (excess acentrics) remained unchanged.
      Increasing Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) concentrations slowed down the cell cycle
      progression but did not influence the yield of aberrations including that of
      dicentrics.

PMID- 1459645
TI  - Effects of hCG and PMSG on responsiveness of ovary during period of delayed
      ovulation in an Indian vespertilionid bat, Scotophilus heathi.
AB  - Both hCG and PMSG treatments given either individually or sequentially between
      September and early February failed to induce ovulation in S. heathi, though they
      produced high degree of ovarian stimulation. The treatments induced ovarian
      enlargement, intense hyperaemia, marked changes in interstitial cells (ICs) and
      development of several antral follicles and varying degrees of abnormality in
      oocyte of most of the antral follicles. The percentage of abnormal oocytes in the
      ovary following hCG or PMSG treatment was dose-dependent.

PMID- 1459646
TI  - Influence of different photoperiods on development of gonad, cloacal gland and
      circulating thyroid hormones in male Japanese quail Coturnix coturnix japonica.
AB  - One day old chicks of Japanese quail were exposed to different photoperiods (LD,
      8:16, 13.5:10.5, 16:8 and LL) and observations (testes weight, cloacal gland
      size, body weight and circulating thyroxine and triiodothyronine) were taken at
      the age of 3, 5, 7, 9 and 16 weeks. Results indicate that immediate reproductive
      development occurred in birds exposed to long photoperiods (greater than 12 hr).
      Growth under LD 8:16, was not apparent till 7th week and by 16 weeks, degree of
      gonadal development was similar in all the birds, irrespective of photoperiodic
      treatment. Whereas body weight of the intermediate and long day (LD 13.5:10.5,
      16:8 and LL) treated birds increased upto 5th week and remained constant
      thereafter. But the chicks maintained under short day length (LD 8:16), showed
      spontaneous increase till the end of the study and birds were much heavier
      compared to all other groups. Plasma T4 concentration increased with increasing
      age till 9th week and remained unaltered thereafter. On the other hand T3 level
      did not change till 7th week followed by a decline. It is suggested that the
      initiation and degree of gonadal growth in quail depends on the availability of
      daily photoperiod, until the achievement of full breeding condition. Peak level
      of T4 observed in 9 week old birds may be involved in the development of
      photorefractoriness at that age.

PMID- 1459647
TI  - Effect of divalent metal ions on soluble and membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase
      activity in suckling rat intestine.
AB  - EDTA treatment of intestinal brush border membranes (BBM) and epithelial cell
      supernatant completely inhibited alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity in suckling
      rat intestine. AP activity was fully regained upon dialysis of the preparations
      against Zn2+ and to a lesser extent against Co2+, Ca2+ and Mn2+ ions. Other metal
      ions (Cd2+ and Mg2+) tested were essentially ineffective in restoring the enzyme
      activity. Considerable differences were observed in kinetic characteristics of
      the membrane-bound and soluble AP activities in response to various metal ions.
      There were apparent differences in Km, Vmax, energy of activation (Ea) and
      thermal stability of the soluble and membrane-bound AP activities, after metal
      ion substitutions. Nearly 35% AP activity was solubilized on sodium dodecyl
      sulphate treatment of brush borders (membrane protein: detergent ratio 1:3; w/w).
      Dialysis of detergent solubilized BBM against different metal ions reconstituted
      AP activity in the particulate fraction: the order of effectiveness was Zn
      greater than Ca greater than Mn greater than Co. The kinetic properties of the
      reconstituted AP were essentially similar to the non-integrated enzyme activity
      in response to various divalent metal ions examined. But there were apparent
      differences in Km, Vmax, Ea and thermal stability of the reconstituted AP
      activity compared to native brush border enzyme. The results suggest the unique
      requirement of Zn ions for stability and catalytic activity of the soluble and
      membrane-bound AP activity in suckling rat intestine.

PMID- 1459648
TI  - Induction of tumour necrosis factor alpha in experimental animals treated with
      hepatotoxicants.
AB  - Administrations of hepatotoxicants namely carbon tetrachloride (CCl4:0.4 ml in
      1.2 ml of liquid paraffin) and ANIT (1 ml of 1.5% solution in liquid paraffin) in
      Charles foster rats (force fed) and D-galactosamine (8 mg in water per swiss
      albino mouse, ip) induce the release of TNF-alpha in case of CCl4 and D
      galactosamine. High TNF-alpha level was observed up to 48 hr in CCl4 and up to 24
      hr in D-galactosamine treated animals. Elevated levels of biochemical like ALP
      and SGPT are also recorded. TNF-alpha level can be measured of tissue damage and
      prognosis in case of hepatitis.

PMID- 1459649
TI  - Insecticide induced disruptions in functioning of developing brain of Rana
      cyanophlictis.
AB  - Synthetic pyrethroid insecticide permethrin significantly decreased the levels of
      regulatory proteins (S-100 and calmodulin) in the developing CNS of tadpoles of
      R. cyanophlictis. Remarkable inhibition of enzymes acetylcholinesterase and
      choline acetylase and significant accumulation of neurotransmitter acetylcholine
      were observed in permethrin treated animals. Permethrin exposure significantly
      decreased the activity of phosphodiesterase. The results support molecular
      disruptions occurring due to permethrin induced toxicity. This in turn may bring
      about neuronal inefficiency in the treated tadpoles.

PMID- 1459650
TI  - Effect of citrate feeding on free radical induced changes in experimental
      urolithiasis.
AB  - Feeding calculi producing diet (CPD) to rats for 4 weeks produced calcium
      oxaltate stones. Supplementation of sodium citrate to CPD (c-CPD) prevented stone
      formation. Except oxalate, the excretion of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium was
      restored to normal in c-CPD fed rats. The CPD fed rats exhibited increase in
      glycolic acid oxidase (GAO) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities and only
      GAO activity was partially restored in c-CPD fed rats. Kidney sub-cellular
      fractions of calculi producing diet (CPD) fed rats showed increased
      susceptibility for lipid peroxidation in presence of promotors. Antioxidant
      enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione
      peroxidase and antioxidant concentrations of reduced glutathione, total thiols,
      ascorbic acid and vitamin E were significantly decreased while the xanthine
      oxidase activity, and concentrations of hydroxyl radical, diene conjugates and
      hydroperoxides were significantly increased in CPD fed rats. The susceptibility
      to lipid peroxidation, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and the concentration
      of antioxidants were not normalized by feeding citrate.

PMID- 1459651
TI  - Effect of picroliv on glutathione metabolism in liver and brain of Mastomys
      natalensis infected with Plasmodium berghei.
AB  - Administration of picroliv, the active principle from Picrorhiza kurrooa, at a
      dose of 6 mg/kg, po for two weeks showed significant protection against changes
      in liver and brain glutathione metabolism of Plasmodium berghei infected Mastomys
      natalensis. The depletion of reduced glutathione level and inhibition of
      glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase
      activities due to P. berghei infection were markedly recovered by picroliv. The
      increased levels of lipid peroxidation products in damaged tissues were also
      reduced along with the recovery of glutathione metabolism.

PMID- 1459652
TI  - Effect of gossypol on tissue levels of glutathione and thiobarbituric acid
      reactive products in rats.
AB  - Gossypol was administered in pubertal and adult rats and lipid peroxide formation
      and GSH levels were estimated in different tissues like liver, testis, heart and
      kidney. Gossypol caused low generation of lipid peroxides, measured as
      thiobarbituric acid reactive products (TBAR), without causing significant changes
      in tissue glutathione (GSH) levels. This effect was more pronounced in liver and
      testis as compared to other tissues. In vitro effect of gossypol to inhibit lipid
      peroxidation as observed in vivo suggested that binding of gossypol to plasma
      membranes may result in inhibition of lipid peroxide generation.

PMID- 1459653
TI  - Elevation of C-reactive protein in serum of Channa punctatus as an indicator of
      water pollution.
AB  - Effect of some pollutants like heavy metals, non-metals and pesticides on the
      circulating level of C-reactive protein (CRP) which is an acute phase plasma
      protein was studied in a freshwater murrel C. punctatus. Fish was exposed to
      nonlethal doses of these xenobiotics which were apparently safe. But the level of
      CRP detected by sensitive single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) technique showed
      that within 12 hr of exposure the nonlethal doses of xenobiotics could initiate
      the acute phase response in terms of elevated CRP titre. Heavy metals caused the
      acute phase within 24 hr, nonmetals and Metacid-50 within 48 hr exposure. The
      carbamate compound, carbaryl demonstrated a biphasic response to CRP level which
      may be correlated with the reversible type of anticholinesterase property of this
      compound while Metacid-50 is an irreversible type of anticholinesterase agent.
      The assessment of the CRP level in the serum of fish may be utilized as a primary
      bioindicator of a contaminated environment toxic enough to mount an acute phase
      response.

PMID- 1459654
TI  - Hepatoprotective activity of Azadirachta indica leaves on paracetamol induced
      hepatic damage in rats.
AB  - Effect of A. indica leaf extract on serum enzyme levels (glutamate oxaloacetate
      transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, acid phosphatase and alkaline
      phosphatase) elevated by paracetamol in rats was studied with a view to observe
      any possible hepatoprotective effect of this plant. It was interesting to observe
      that serum enzyme levels were much elevated in paracetamol induced animals than
      in those receiving a combination of paracetamol and lead extract. It is
      stipulated that the extract treated group was protected from hepatic cell damage
      caused by paracetamol induction. The findings were further confirmed by
      histopathological study of liver.

PMID- 1459655
TI  - Role of pure and biologically active amoebal RNA in assessment of lymphokines: a
      report of 55 ALA cases.
AB  - Amoebic liver abscess cases (55) were assessed for release of lymphokines (LMIF)
      using pure and biologically active amoebal RNA of axenic Entamoeba histolytica
      (NIH: 200) obtained with cesium chloride centrifugation. Lymphokines released by
      T lymphocytes in response to both amoebal RNA and whole amoebic lysate (WAL) were
      tested by leukocyte migration inhibition test (LMIT) on blood samples from
      amoebic liver abscess cases. A significant increase was observed in the release
      of lymphokine and 100% positivity was observed with amoebal RNA compared to whole
      amoebic extract with a positivity of only 78%. The difference between means
      leukocyte migration inhibition of the above two with regards to release of
      lymphokine was highly significant (P less than 0.001). This shows that patients
      had high degree of leukocyte sensitization to amoebal RNA of E. histolytica
      compared to whole amoebic lysate. These findings suggest that the amoebal RNA
      plays an important role as a potent antigen in the elicitation of cell mediated
      immune responses in amoebic liver abscess cases.

PMID- 1459656
TI  - Disposition of norepinephrine and epinephrine in jejunum of WLH chicken.
AB  - Disposition of (-)-norepinephrine and (-)-epinephrine in jejunum of WLH chicken
      was studied using oil-immersion technique. The relative rate of different routes
      of disposition of catecholamines was in the following order: for (-)-NE COMT
      greater than or equal to MAO greater than or equal to U2 greater than U1, for (-)
      Epi U2 greater than or equal to COMT greater than MAO greater than U1. The role
      of enzymatic degradation is almost equal to that of uptake processes for (-)-Epi,
      but it was greater for (-)-NE.

PMID- 1459657
TI  - Relative ranking of culture media based on proliferation kinetics and spontaneous
      chromosomal aberrations in PHA-responsive human peripheral blood lymphocytes.
AB  - Proliferation kinetics and spontaneous yield of chromosomal aberrations
      phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-responsive peripheral blood lymphocytes were studied
      from blood samples collected from 45 individuals in 4 different synthetic media.
      Except for a significant difference for Eagle's MEM and RPMI 1640, the other
      media did not show difference for the yield of chromatid or chromosome type of
      aberrations. Differences were however noticed in the proliferation kinetics
      (mitotic and proliferative rate indices) of cells among the media used. The study
      indicated that (i) the intrinsic properties of media which influence
      proliferation rate and yield of chromosomal aberrations are independent of each
      other as higher proportion of first division cells do not correspond with higher
      frequency of chromosomal aberrations, (ii) the amount of free-radical scavengers
      present in the medium, apart from the genetic make-up of the individuals, may
      contribute to the spontaneous yield of chromosomal aberrations and (iii) RPMI
      1640 medium, which showed higher transformation and faster cycling rate for the
      lymphocytes, may be considered as medium of choice for analysing two main
      cytogenetic end-points, chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges
      (SCEs).

PMID- 1459658
TI  - Presence of RNA from yeast inhibits the photoreactivation of UV-irradiated DNA by
      Phr A photolyase from Escherichia coli.
AB  - Photoreactivation of UV-irradiated DSNA with phr A photolyase from Escherichia
      coli was studied in the presence of yeast RNA. Mixing of RNA with UV-irradiated
      DNA before its treatment with photolyase inhibited the photoreactivation of DNA.
      Denatured (by sonication) RNA was found to be more effective in blocking
      photolyase action. Agarose gel electrophoresis experiments suggest that this
      inhibition of photoreactivation is due to interference in the binding of
      photolyase with UV-irradiated DNA by yeast RNA.

PMID- 1459659
TI  - Cockroach in right main bronchus--an unusual foreign body.
AB  - Foreign body aspiration in children is not a uncommon clinical problem. Usually
      the foreign body is of vegetable origin. It is distinctly uncommon to find a
      living organism like cockroach, especially a large one as a foreign body in
      respiratory tract. Here we report one such rare experience.

PMID- 1459660
TI  - Cold abscess due to malignant pleural mesothelioma.
AB  - A middle aged male presented to us with a cold abscess on the left side of chest
      which later proved to be a malignant pleural mesothelioma. The clinical,
      radiological and histopathological findings have been discussed.

PMID- 1459661
TI  - Fracture of tracheostomy tubes--report of 3 cases.
AB  - Fracture of the tubes appears to be caused by their prolonged use and defective
      fusion at the junction of cannula and phalange. We report here three cases of
      fractured polyvinyl chloride tracheostomy tube, an unusual complication of
      tracheostomy, presenting as foreign body in the trachea.

PMID- 1459662
TI  - Farmer's lung disease in north-western India--a preliminary report.
AB  - A study of farmer's lung (FL) disease was carried out in 197 subjects engaged in
      farming and having respiratory complaints of varying duration. It revealed that
      13.2% of the subjects had precipitating antibodies against thermophilic
      actinomycetes, with Faenia rectivirgula (Micropolyspora faeni) alone accounting
      for 85% of the positive reactions. Precipitating antibodies against
      Thermoactinomyces vulgaris and T. thalpophilus were observed only in 1.5% and
      0.5% of the subjects, respectively. Two subjects concomitantly demonstrated F.
      rectivirgula and T. vulgaris-specific serum precipitins. Sixty (30%) of the
      subjects related their respiratory symptoms to exposure to wheat straw/thresher's
      dust or other vegetable substrata in the working environment. Based upon a
      suggestive clinical history, roentgenography, pulmonary function studies and
      demonstration of serum precipitins against F. rectivirgula, FL was diagnosed in 4
      subjects whose salient features are presented and discussed. To the best of our
      knowledge, this is the first authentic report on FL from India. A comprehensive
      epidemiological survey is indicated to determine the prevalence of FL in
      different geo-climatic regions of the country.

PMID- 1459663
TI  - Evaluation of unguided transbronchial biopsy in the diagnosis of pulmonary
      disease--its safety and efficacy as an out-patient procedure.
AB  - Sixty-five patients underwent unguided fiberoptic transbronchial biopsy on an out
      patient basis. Satisfactory material for histopathological examination was
      obtained in 55 patients. A reasonably definite pathological diagnosis could be
      established in 51 patients. The commonest diagnosis arrived at was that of
      interstitial fibrosis. Complications were observed in 4 (6.2%) patients.
      Fiberoptic transbronchial biopsy is, therefore, a safe and efficacious out
      patient technique for establishing a pathological diagnosis in patients with
      infiltrative, diffuse or localized pulmonary disease.

PMID- 1459664
TI  - Intensive respiratory care service--our eight-year experience.
AB  - Intensive respiratory care service has come a long way from the beginning in
      Scandinavia in early 1952. Intensive care service (IRCU) was started at our
      institute in 1983 as tetanus and respiratory care ward which has developed into
      Department of respiratory diseases over years. We are reporting our experience of
      886 cases of acute respiratory failure (ARF) treated from Jan, 1983 upto April
      1990.

PMID- 1459665
TI  - Perfusion lung scan in tropical pulmonary eosinophilia.
AB  - Perfusion lung scan using macroaggregate of human serum albumin tagged with I131
      was done in 7 patients with tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE). In the 3
      untreated patients perfusion defect of varying degree could be noticed, whereas
      in 4 other patients with history of chronic illness and previous treatment with
      multiple courses of diethylcarbamazine the lung scan was normal. Possible
      pathophysiology in light of above findings in TPE is discussed.

PMID- 1459666
TI  - Effect of growth on lung transfer factor and its components.
AB  - Measurement of lung transfer factor for CO (TLCO) and its constituent components,
      viz. diffusion capacity across alveolar capillary membrane (Dm) and instant
      pulmonary capillary blood volume (Vc) were undertaken in 120 healthy non-smoker
      males by single breath technique. All the three parameters (TLCO, Dm, Vc) showed
      direct negative correlation with age. While TLCO and Dm showed a significant
      direct positive correlation with height, there was no correlation between VC and
      height. The degree of correlation increased when both age and height were used
      together than either of them alone for prediction of TLCO120. The prediction
      formulae (TLCO120 = 3.8 + 21 H (m)-0.308 A) using both age and height has
      regression value (R) of 0.6479 (p < 0.001).

PMID- 1459667
TI  - Acute accidental exposure to chlorine fumes--a study of 82 cases.
AB  - Eighty-two patients were hospitalized following an accidental exposure to
      chlorine. All patients presented with dyspnoea and cough. The other symptoms
      included irritation of throat (53.6%), irritation of eyes (42.3%), headache
      (29.2%), abdominal pain (26.8%), vomiting (24.3%) and giddiness (9.7%). All of
      them had bronchospasm and 5 (6%) had cyanosis at the onset. An x-ray of the chest
      revealed patchy infiltrates in 3 (3.85%) and hilar congestion in 2 (2.44%).
      Pulmonary function tests showed an obstructive pattern in 27.4%, restrictive in
      3.25% and mixed in 53.2%. Pulmonary functions were normal in 16.1% of the
      patients. Bronchoscopy revealed tracheobronchial mucosal congestion in all cases,
      hemorrhagic spots in 35.7%, erosions and ulcers in 12.5%. All patients were
      treated with oxygen, aminophylline, hydrocortisone and antibiotics. Haematemesis
      (n = 1) and pulmonary oedema (n = 2) developed 12 hours after the admission. Two
      other patients developed pneumonia 48 hours later. All patients recovered
      satisfactorily. On follow-up 16 patients had no sequelae after one year.
      Pulmonary functions were normal in 5 patients after 3 years of follow-up.

PMID- 1459669
TI  - Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase of mice erythrocytes & synaptosomes by
      dimethylsulfoxide.
AB  - In vitro inhibitory effect of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on acetylcholinesterase of
      erythrocyte membranes and synaptosomes of mice was observed using
      acetylthiocholine as substrate. DMSO inhibited the enzyme from both sources and
      the effect was concentration dependent. It produced an inhibition of 26 to 28 per
      cent at a concentration of 0.13 mM and 92 to 95 per cent at a higher
      concentration of 1.91 mM. The Km of bound and solubilized enzyme of the
      synaptosomes was 0.2 and 0.15 mM while that of erythrocyte membranes 0.5 and 0.33
      mM respectively. The Vmax was 0.4 and 0.4 (for synaptosomes) and 0.67 and 0.59
      (for erythrocyte membranes) Mmoles/mg protein/min, respectively for bound and
      solubilized forms. The Ki of solubilized enzyme of synaptosomes was 0.11 mM.
      Kinetic studies showed that the inhibition was competitive in nature.

PMID- 1459668
TI  - Lung cancer in India--a perspective.
AB  - The epidemiology, aetiopathogenesis, diagnostic methods and management of lung
      cancer in India have been reviewed based on the published data from this country.
      Over the years, the incidence has been increasing and the disease is being
      recognized more often. Smoking is the most important aetiological factor. Beedi
      smoking which is a common practice in this country is equally, if not more,
      harmful than cigarette smoking in causing lung cancer. Tremendous improvement has
      been made in various diagnostic techniques. Cytological methods, fiberoptic
      bronchoscopy and percutaneous lung aspiration are being used more frequently. At
      the treatment front, although radiotherapy and chemotherapy are being used, the
      results are not very encouraging. Except in few cases, surgery is usually not
      feasible because of advanced disease. Prevention of lung cancer by anti-smoking
      measures should be the main goal of solving the problem in this country.

PMID- 1459670
TI  - Serum lipids & lipoprotein profiles of cigarette smokers & passive smokers.
AB  - Serum lipids and lipoproteins of 50 active and passive smokers were compared with
      levels in 25 control subjects. Active smoking resulted in an increase in total
      cholesterol (Tc) and triglycerides (Tg) as compared to control group. The passive
      smokers also showed relatively higher levels but the effect was not significant.
      Active smoking raised the low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and very low
      density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDLc) levels whereas high density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (HDLc) content was lowered, thus resulting in decreased ratios of
      HDLc/Tc and HDLc/LDLc. The passive smokers also showed slightly higher levels of
      LDLc and VLDLc but lower levels of HDLc, and a lower HDLc/LDLc ratio. Our
      findings suggest that smoking alters the serum lipids and lipoproteins and these
      changes are related to the duration and amount of smoking.

PMID- 1459671
TI  - Effect on curcumin on cholesterol gall-stone induction in mice.
AB  - A study was carried out on the efficacy of curcumin in reducing the incidence of
      cholesterol gall-stones (CGS), induced by feeding a lithogenic diet in young male
      mice. Feeding a lithogenic diet supplemented with 0.5 per cent curcumin for 10 wk
      reduced the incidence of gall-stone formation to 26 per cent, as compared to 100
      per cent incidence in the group fed with lithogenic diet alone. Biliary
      cholesterol concentration was also significantly reduced by curcumin feeding. The
      lithogenic index which was 1.09 in the cholesterol fed group was reduced to 0.43
      in the 0.5 per cent curcumin supplemented group. Further, the cholesterol:
      phospholipid (C/PL) ratio of bile was also reduced significantly when 0.5 per
      cent curcumin supplemented diet was fed. A dose-response study with 0.2, 0.5 and
      1.0 per cent curcumin supplemented lithogenic diets showed that 0.5 per cent
      curcumin was more effective than a diet with 0.2 or 1 per cent curcumin.

PMID- 1459672
TI  - Effect of three antibacterial drugs in lowering blood & stool ammonia production
      in hepatic encephalopathy.
AB  - Neomycin (700 mg/8 h), ampicillin (500/6 h) and metronidazole (400 mg/8 h), were
      compared for their effect, on oral administration for 4 days, in reducing blood
      ammonia in 27 patients with stable chronic liver disease. It was found that there
      was 38.2, 38.5 and 8.7 m mol/litre mean reduction in blood ammonia in the
      neomycin, ampicillin and metronidazole treated groups respectively. The
      difference in blood ammonia was statistically significant for both neomycin (P =
      0.01) and ampicillin (P = 0.03) but there was no significant change after
      metronidazole treatment (P = 0.6). The total stool enzyme activity at optimum pH
      was maximally reduced by ampicillin and minimally with metronidazole. The
      reduction was noted to be 3.51 m mol/1 (P = 0.01), 3.87 m mol/1 (P = 0.08) and
      2.8 m mol/1 (P = 0.02) of NH3/g dry weight of stool for neomycin, ampicillin and
      metronidazole respectively. The main bacterial gut enzymes responsible for
      ammonia production, urease and protease, were found to be very sensitive to stool
      pH. At pH 6 their activity was around 20 per cent of what was found in optimum pH
      of 7.4 and at pH 5 it is only about 8 per cent of optimum activity. None of the
      three antibacterial agents changed the stool pH significantly. It can be
      concluded that oral neomycin and ampicillin are superior to oral metronidazole in
      lowering blood ammonia.

PMID- 1459673
TI  - Detection of gene deletion in patients of Duchenne muscular dystrophy/Becker
      muscular dystrophy using polymerase chain reaction.
AB  - Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to study the presence of gene deletion
      (the most prominent type of mutations) in some families afflicted by Duchenne
      muscular dystrophy/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD). The results clearly
      demonstrate deletion in the central part of the DMD gene in two of the three
      families studied. This information can be useful for genetic counselling with
      particular reference to prenatal diagnosis and carrier analysis.

PMID- 1459675
TI  - Indian Council of Medical Research. Eight decades of progress (1911-1991).

PMID- 1459674
TI  - Induction of sister chromatid exchanges in phenytoin treated & untreated patients
      with epilepsy.
AB  - The mutagenic potential of phenytoin (PHT) was studied using the sister chromatid
      exchange (SCE) assay. Twenty nine PHT treated epileptics, 32 untreated and 32
      normal healthy controls were analysed. Similar SCE frequencies were observed in
      untreated patients and patients on PHT monotherapy. Both groups had significantly
      increased SCE frequency as compared to controls. No positive correlation of SCE
      frequency with sex and duration of therapy was observed. The results of the
      present study suggest the role of the disease condition in inducing genetic
      damage as assessed by increased SCE frequencies.

PMID- 1459676
TI  - Communication with mothers--key to child survival.

PMID- 1459677
TI  - Perinatal mortality in Ludhiana, Punjab--a seven year hospital study.
AB  - Perinatal deaths occurring over a seven year period were studied in a teaching
      hospital in Punjab. Causes of death were analysed as per Wigglesworth's
      classification. We have further modified this by correlating different gestations
      and weight groups with causes of death. The perinatal mortality rate (PNMR) in
      the present study was 74/1000 and showed a downward trend secondary to a
      statistically significant fall of early neonatal mortality. There was a decline
      in PNMR among babies of 1500-2000 g. birth weight and 33-36 weeks gestation.
      Asphyxia and macerated still births were found to be the two main causes of
      death. Macerated still births were seen more commonly among babies of lower
      weight at all gestations. The PNMR of babies born to booked mothers was 22/1000
      as compared to 152/1000 among unbooked mothers. It was concluded that to bring
      down the PNMR, economic development alone is not enough. Provision of adequate
      antenatal care to all mothers, health education and timely referral of high risk
      mothers is very essential.

PMID- 1459678
TI  - Socio-biological factors in underfive deaths in a rural area.
AB  - In 1985-86, 286 underfive deaths occurred among a population of 30,000 in a rural
      area of Haryana. Two hundred and eighty one were analysed for socio-biological
      factors related to under five mortality. Females had a higher mortality. About
      2/3 of the deaths were in infants, and 90% in first 3 years. Most of the deaths
      (94%) occurred in the village itself, 58.4% did not seek any medical care during
      the terminal illness, 80-90% did not receive even a single dose of BCG, DPT or
      O.P.V., and 36.7% died in the first attack of illness. Though 68% had at least
      one episode earlier, 31.0% had been admitted in hospitals for an earlier episode
      of illness. In 42.8% of deaths, the birth order was IV or above. Deaths in
      socially and economically disadvantaged cases constituted 77.6%. The triad of
      diarrhea, ARI and malnutrition claimed 56% deaths. In 93% of the deaths, the
      mothers were illiterate and 96.4% were house wives. There was a sibling death
      earlier in the family in 78.3%, and 60.1% deaths were of those living in poor
      housing conditions. About 50% had radio for communication, 85.8% had bicycle for
      conveyance, and in 66.9% the family had piped water supply. All these findings
      have been discussed in the study.

PMID- 1459679
TI  - Infant feeding practices in rural Bangladesh.
AB  - A longitudinal study was done on the infant feeding practices in a rural area.
      One hundred and ten infants were followed up from birth to 1 year of age by
      alternate day home visits, to inquire about the type of food, and frequency of
      consuming it. It was found that 100% mothers breast-fed their infants from birth
      to 1 year, almost every day. But, bottles containing various kinds of milk and
      starchy food were added to 60% of infants diets by 3 months, and 80% by 5 months
      of age. This additional food was given mostly in diluted form, which was more so
      in case of tinned milk. Family food such as rice and vegetables were given in 30%
      and 40% child days respectively from 6 months to 1 year. Rural people withhold
      protein food and fruits during infancy. It is concluded, that infant feeding
      practices in our population is improper and mothers should, therefore, be trained
      and motivated on weaning practices for timely and adequate supplementation to
      ameliorate the presently observed dietary deficiency and early malnutrition in
      rural Bangladesh.

PMID- 1459680
TI  - Severity of rheumatic mitral regurgitation.
AB  - Thirty patients below the age of 15 years (range 8-1/2 to 15 years, mean 11.8
      years) have been studied for the severity of rheumatic mitral regurgitation.
      Moderately severe to severe pulmonary venous hypertension was found in 76.6% and
      pulmonary arterial hypertension in 60%. Left ventricular volumes could be
      calculated in 13 patients. The end-diastolic volume was elevated in 11 and the
      endsystolic volume in 12 cases. The regurgitant fraction, calculated in nine
      patients was 0.6 or more in seven cases. The clinical and hemodynamic severity of
      mitral regurgitation in children was identical to that seen in adults in the
      absence of active rheumatic carditis. Children with dominant rheumatic mitral
      regurgitation can develop congestive failure on the basis of valvar damage per
      se.

PMID- 1459681
TI  - Prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders in adolescents.
AB  - In the present study the iodine status of 300 adolescent boys and girls was
      assessed by clinical examination and biochemical tests. The clinical examination
      revealed the total goitre rate (TGR) to be 65.2% among boys, and 69.6% among
      girls. The visible goitre rate (VGR) was 17.7% among boys and 21.1% among girls.
      Nutritional status of all adolescents was found to be poor as compared to their
      well-nourished counterparts. Using discriminant analysis it was found that age,
      height and weight of the adolescents were significantly related to goitre grade
      (p < 0.001), and they are important in prediction of goitre. Mild and moderate
      iodine deficiency were found to be prevalent among the adolescents. On the basis
      of urinary iodine/creatinine ratio, 38% of the adolescents were found to be
      suffering from mild iodine deficiency, i.e. average urinary iodine excretion
      between 50-100 mcg iodine/g creatinine. Moderate iodine deficiency (< 50 mcg
      iodine/g creatinine) was found to be prevalent among 12.4% of the adolescents.
      The results of this study indicate a high prevalence of mild and moderate IDD
      among the adolescents studied.

PMID- 1459683
TI  - Electrical response audiometry (ERA) in infants.
AB  - The electric response audiometry is a useful diagnostic technique for identifying
      hearing loss in infants. Among the various electrical responses, the BSER enables
      us to arrive at an accurate early clinical diagnosis of hearing loss in infants
      so that effective auditory input, which is the prime requisite for the conceptual
      foundation for the growth of communication, can be provided through appropriate
      intervention programmes. The electric response audiometry provides information
      regarding the physiologic state of the peripheral organs and auditory pathways
      but however, cannot ascertain whether the infant can hear, in terms of perceiving
      auditory information. Inspite of this major limitation, the growing acceptance of
      brainstem electrical potentials in clinics and laboratories throughout the world
      attests to their increasing importance especially in the assessment of hearing
      sensitivity of infants.

PMID- 1459682
TI  - Acute laryngeal stridor--controversies in current management.

PMID- 1459684
TI  - Evaluation of a deaf child.
AB  - One should be aware that the measurement of hearing is really an evaluation of a
      child's behavioural responses in a controlled setting to the presentation of
      various acoustic stimuli. The determination of hearing loss in some children is
      an ongoing process and may require more than one test session. Difficult to test
      children should be evaluated with as many techniques as possible for accurate
      cross checking of test results. Flexibility, patience and understanding and
      persistence are the watch words of successful hearing testing with children. For
      the bulk of patients who require audiological assessment however, the test
      battery (BOA, IMPEDANCE & BSER) approach seems to be the best available present
      day approach coupled with long term follow ups and careful management.

PMID- 1459685
TI  - Speech disorders in children.

PMID- 1459687
TI  - Cleidocranial dysplasia: underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed?

PMID- 1459686
TI  - Congenital malformations of the ear.

PMID- 1459688
TI  - Acro-osteolysis of phalanges in a case of cystic fibrosis.

PMID- 1459689
TI  - Family outbreak of scalp phthiriasis.

PMID- 1459690
TI  - Should cow milk be diluted for young infants.

PMID- 1459691
TI  - Neonatal uterine prolapse.

PMID- 1459692
TI  - Peripheral exchange transfusions.

PMID- 1459693
TI  - Acquired malaria--how early can it occur.

PMID- 1459694
TI  - Effects of interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha on osteoblastic
      expression of osteocalcin and mineralized extracellular matrix in vitro.
AB  - Osteoblasts play a pivotal role during the bioresponse of bone to agents that
      stimulate bone resorption and/or inhibit bone formation including hormones,
      polypeptide growth factors, and cytokines. We examined the cytokines interleukin
      1-beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) for their effects
      on osteoblastic proliferation and development and expression of alkaline
      phosphate and the osteoblast-specific protein osteocalcin in a mineralizing
      environment. Primary rat osteoblast-like cells (ROB) and osteoblastic cell lines
      derived from rat (ROS 17/2.8) and human (MG-63) osteosarcomas were studied. IL-1
      beta and TNF-alpha were chosen because of their critical importance during the
      host response to local inflammatory stimuli. Qualitatively similar two- to
      threefold inhibition of osteocalcin synthesis by IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha were
      observed in all three postconfluent bone-forming model systems. Because of the
      readily measurable concentrations of osteocalcin produced in our culture
      protocol, it was not necessary to enhance osteoblastic synthesis of osteocalcin
      by supplementation with 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D3, a treatment which exerts
      pleiotropic effects on osteoblasts. Under the constraints of our protocol, where
      alkaline phosphatase and mineralization were already elevated at the 14-day onset
      of treatment, neither of these phenotypic properties was sensitive to a three-day
      cytokine exposure. Differences were noted in proliferation, where only TNF-alpha
      stimulated DNA synthesis in ROB cells, while both cytokines stimulated MG-63
      cells. IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha failed to alter ROS 17/2.8 DNA synthesis except at
      the highest doses (25 pM IL-1 beta and 1 nM TNF-alpha) where inhibition was
      observed. These results further support the view that cytokine-mediated
      osteoblastic regulation can be relatively selective.

PMID- 1459695
TI  - Adhesive effect of certain cytokines and other perturbants on human neutrophils.
AB  - Pretreatment of normal human neutrophils with certain cytokines and other
      mediators caused some of the cells to become adhesive and stick to the plastic
      (polypropylene) incubation tubes during pretreatment and during the assay for
      phagocytosis of C3b.IgG-coated microspheres. Often as much as 40% of the cells
      were adherent to the tubes after the reaction. This sticking of the neutrophils
      to the plastic tubes was confirmed by increase in cytometer sipping time and by
      lactic dehydrogenase assay of the suspended cells and of the cells stuck on the
      sides of the empty incubation tubes. Only those perturbants that caused an up
      regulation of C3b receptors (CR1, CD35) and in most cases caused an enhancement
      of phagocytosis mediated the adhesiveness of the cells. Unless these stuck cells
      were detached by vigorous flushing with cold buffer containing EDTA, many of the
      cells were not admitted into the cytometer for determination of the effect of the
      perturbants on binding and phagocytic capacity of the neutrophils. This
      observation could have implications regarding the possibility of subpopulations
      of neutrophils and differences in function of adherent cells versus cells in
      suspension. In the cases studied there was no appreciable difference between the
      total binding and phagocytic capacities of the adherent and suspended cells.

PMID- 1459696
TI  - Changes in serum glycoprotein glycosylation during experimental inflammation in
      mice are general, unrelated to protein type, and opposite changes in man and rat:
      studies on mouse serum alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, alpha 1-esterase, and alpha 1
      protease inhibitor.
AB  - Using the method of crossed affinity immunoelectrophoresis with concanavalin A in
      combination with digital image processing, unrelated serum glycoproteins from
      normal mice and from mice undergoing an experimentally induced inflammation were
      analyzed for their carbohydrate-derived microheterogeneity profile. This profile
      changed in a generalized way in mouse serum samples taken at various time
      intervals after the initial induction of inflammation. The changes are not
      related to the acute-phase behavior of the protein itself (be it positive,
      negative, or nonreacting), and they are opposite to the changes in
      microheterogeneity profiles reported previously for glycoproteins during the
      acute phase in human and rat sera. These findings are discussed in the context of
      the biosynthetic control of glycoprotein glycosylation during the acute-phase
      response.

PMID- 1459697
TI  - Loose stools in the early neonatal period.
AB  - During a two-year period, the various factors associated with loose stools in the
      early neonatal period were studied among hospital born babies. Low birth weight
      babies had a lower incidence of non-infective loose stools when compared to
      neonates with a birth weight of more than 2500 g (p < 0.001). Newborns delivered
      by Cesarean section (p < 0.001) and those born to women with more than two
      children (p < 0.02) had a greater frequency of loose stools. Initiation of
      supplementary feeding and administration of antibiotics were important factors in
      causing loose stools. Bacterial etiology could be found only in 9.3% of newborns
      having loose stools. A later onset of loose stools was noted in those, whose
      stool culture grew bacterial organisms. Only nine newborns with loose stools
      required antibiotic therapy. Although loose stools were less common among low
      birth weight babies, they often required treatment with antimicrobials. None of
      them developed any complications. Since majority of them are non-bacterial and
      non-infective, great caution must be exercised before administering antibiotics
      to newborns with loose stools.

PMID- 1459698
TI  - Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: experience at Calcutta.
AB  - Eight patients (7 females, 1 male) with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH),
      were seen over a 24-month period beginning from March 1988. Seven patients had 21
      hydroxylase (21-OH) deficiency while one had 11 beta hydroxylase deficiency. Of
      the 7 patients with 21-OH deficiency, 3 were of the salt losing (SL-CAH), and 4
      were of the non-salt losing (NSL-CAH) type. The patients with NSL-CAH were
      diagnosed by their elevated 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) levels. The 3 cases
      with SL-CAH were diagnosed on the basis of ambiguous external genitalia, typical
      electrolyte picture, normal female internal genitalia, sex chromatin and response
      to steroids. In one patient post-ACTH 17 OHP was alter measured. All 3 patients
      with SL-CAH were assigned the male sex. Sex reassignment was advised for two
      children; one accepted the advice and the child is doing well; one family did not
      accept sex reassignment and the child died. One patient died due to non
      availability of fludrocortisone. Six patients are under follow-up. All are doing
      well except one patient with NSL-CAH who started treatment late. We conclude that
      a high index of suspicion, early diagnosis and meticulous patient education are
      the key features of successful management of CAH in India.

PMID- 1459699
TI  - Perinatal hypophosphatasia.

PMID- 1459700
TI  - Neonatal adrenal hemorrhage.

PMID- 1459701
TI  - Acute glomerulonephritis in multi-drug resistant Salmonella typhi infection.

PMID- 1459702
TI  - Parapharyngeal abscess: an unusual complication of measles.

PMID- 1459703
TI  - Unusual presentation of tuberculous peritonitis.

PMID- 1459704
TI  - Congenital sensory neuropathy with anhidrosis.

PMID- 1459705
TI  - Priapism in children with sickle-cell disease.

PMID- 1459706
TI  - Hereditary retinal-renal dysplasia.

PMID- 1459707
TI  - Cerebellar syndrome in malaria.

PMID- 1459708
TI  - Antithymocyte globulin in aplastic anemia.

PMID- 1459709
TI  - A satellited metacentric marker chromosome in a phenotypically normal male
      (transsexual).

PMID- 1459710
TI  - Celphos poisoning.

PMID- 1459711
TI  - Neglected foreign body larynx.

PMID- 1459712
TI  - Irrational use of oral rehydration solutions.

PMID- 1459713
TI  - Aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity in clinical practice.

PMID- 1459714
TI  - BCG test in diagnosis of tuberculosis.

PMID- 1459715
TI  - Bacteriological examination of pharyngeal secretions.

PMID- 1459716
TI  - Breast feeding and infant growth.

PMID- 1459717
TI  - Nutritional disorders in adolescent girls.
AB  - Four hundred and fifty four adolescent girls (11-18 years) were screened for
      nutritional disorders by anthropometry (weight, height and triceps skinfold
      measurements), clinical examination and hemoglobin estimation. Of these, 56%
      belonged to high socio-economic groups (Group A) and the rest (44%) to lower
      middle class (Group B). A large number of girls from Group B were undernourished
      (35.5% had weight/height2 less than the fifth percentile of reference standard)
      stressing the need for nutritional screening, nutrition and health education.
      Obesity was prevalent in 3.1% of Group A adolescents. Goitre grade I or more was
      observed in a high proportion of Group B girls, stressing the need for continued
      consumption of iodized salt in Delhi. Anemia appears to be a major health problem
      in adolescent girls in both groups (47, 56% in Groups A and B, respectively)
      underlying the ned for iron supplementation along with health education.

PMID- 1459718
TI  - Per rectal diazepam therapy in convulsive disorders.
AB  - One hundred and twenty children with persistent convulsions (lasting > or = 10
      min) were treated with per rectal diazepam (dosage: 0.2 to 0.7 mg/kg/dose).
      Another group of 100 age matched children with convulsions, along with those who
      did not respond to rectal therapy were given intravenous diazepam in a dosage of
      0.2 to 0.3 mg/kg/dose. Rectal treatment was effective in 80.83% cases while
      intravenous diazepam was effective in 90% cases which is statistically just
      significant (p < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in the efficacy of
      two routes of administration in controlling convulsions of different clinical
      types and various etiological groups (p < 0.05), except for primary generalized
      type where intravenous route was more effective than the rectal one (p < 0.05).
      No significant side-effect was observed with rectal therapy. Among the 23
      (19.17%) children in whom rectal therapy failed, 12 (10%) responded to
      intravenous diazepam while the remaining 11 (9.17%) cases were resistant to both
      routes of administration.

PMID- 1459719
TI  - Kerosene oil poisoning--a childhood menace.
AB  - This study documents 3-year retrospective analysis of accidental kerosene oil
      poisoning in 70 children with regard to clinical profile, radiological changes
      and outcome. About 77% of cases were between 1 and 3 years old. Fifty children
      (71.4%) developed significant symptoms, with onset soon after to within 10 hours
      of ingestion. These included breathlessness (55.7%), fever (47.1%), cough
      (31.4%), restlessness (25.7%) and abdominal distension (15.7%). Chest X-rays were
      obtained in 65 children. Abnormal radiographs were seen in 45 (69.2%) children
      with right basal infiltrates being the commonest picture (21.4%). Ingestion of
      more than one ounce of kerosene oil adversely affected the clinical and
      radiological profile. Severely malnourished children had extensive radiological
      changes and poorer clinical outcome. One case developed myocarditis, a
      complication which has not been reported to the best of our knowledge. Mortality
      rate was 4.3%. All deaths occurred within 48 hours of admission.

PMID- 1459720
TI  - Psychosocial study of leukemic children and their parents.
AB  - Psychosocial assessment was carried out in 35 children with acute lymphatic
      leukemic, an equal number with non-leukemic chronic illness and their parents.
      Psychological dysfunction existed more frequently in parents of leukemic
      children. Depression as an initial reaction on being conveyed the diagnosis, was
      seen in 85.8% whilst anger was observed in 42.8%. Majority (89.7%) entertained
      doubts about whether a correct diagnosis has been established. Understanding of
      the disease, its possible course and the need for prolonged treatment, was
      appreciated by about 65.7% of parents. The disease imposed serious social,
      financial and occupational burdens on the family. Measures used to cope with such
      stresses included meeting close friends and relatives and finding solace in
      religious activities. When comparing psychopathology in leukemic children with
      that in chronically ill non-leukemic counterparts, significant differences were
      observed in certain specific syndrome scores. Conduct disorder, anxiety,
      depression and psychotic symptoms were more prevalent in leukemic children. This
      study emphasizes the necessity of active psychosocial intervention in the total
      care of childhood leukemia.

PMID- 1459721
TI  - Cerebral palsy.
AB  - The clinical pattern and etiology of 544 cases of cerebral palsy were studied
      retrospectively. Of these cases, 354 (65.1%) were males. Four hundred and ninety
      seven (91.4%) cases were of spastic type. Hypotonic, ataxic and athetoid cerebral
      palsy were observed in 5.5, 1.5 and 1.3% cases, respectively. There was one case
      each of tremor and mixed type. In the spastic group, quadriplegia comprised the
      maximum number of cases (34.9%). Hemiplegia (28.7%) and diplegia (21.9) were also
      common. Mental retardation was found in 47.2%, while speech impairment was
      observed in 37% cases. Other handicaps included visual (9%), seizures (8.8%), and
      auditory handicap (2.9%). The etiological factors were prenatal in 7.7% cases,
      natal in 43.8% cases and postnatal in 26.1% cases. More than one etiological
      factor was observed in 14.5% cases, while in 7.9% cases, no apparent cause could
      be found.

PMID- 1459722
TI  - Thyroid dysfunction in multi-transfused iron loaded thalassemia patients.
AB  - Seventy-two transfusion-dependent iron loaded thalassemia patients were
      investigated for thyroid dysfunction by estimating circulating thyroid hormones
      (T4 and T3) and basal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). They were also evaluated
      for their liver function (biochemically) and iron overload by estimating serum
      ferritin. Thyroid failure (hypothyroidism) was documented in 14 patients (19.4%).
      In all, 3 groups were seen, i.e. Group 1: Normal T4, T3, TSH (58 patients:
      80.6%); Group 2: Compensated hypothyroidism characterized by normal T4, T3 and
      raised TSH (9 patients: 12.5%); Group 3: Decompensated hypothyroidism
      characterized by decreased T4 and increased TSH (5 patients: 6.9%).
      Interestingly, impaired thyroid function could not be correlated with age, amount
      of blood transfused, liver dysfunction or degree of iron overload. It is
      postulated that an inter-play between chronic hypoxia, liver dysfunction and iron
      overload may be responsible for the thyroid damage.

PMID- 1459723
TI  - Smoking-related DNA adducts in human gastric cancers.
AB  - DNA was extracted from the tumour tissue of 26 patients (18 smokers, 8 non
      smokers) undergoing surgery for gastric cancer, and analyzed for the presence of
      DNA adducts by the 32P-post-labelling method. Adducts were detected in all
      samples tested, and adduct levels ranged from 2 adducts/10(8) nucleotides to 60
      adducts/10(8) nucleotides. In male subjects, adduct levels were significantly
      greater in the DNA of smokers than in that of non-smokers. These results support
      epidemiological data suggesting that smoking is a risk factor for gastric cancer.

PMID- 1459724
TI  - Cell kinetics evaluation of colorectal tumors after in vivo administration of
      bromodeoxyuridine.
AB  - Although several biomarkers have been tested, Dukes' (or TNM) stage at diagnosis
      is still considered the only prognostic factor of clinical relevance in
      colorectal cancer. Among the various biomarkers, the fraction of cells engaged in
      DNA synthesis has been extensively investigated as an indicator of tumor
      aggressiveness. Bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) is a non-radioactive thymidine analogue
      which is incorporated into DNA during the S-phase of cycling cells. In order to
      evaluate the relationships between cell kinetics and morphologic variables, 500
      mg of BUdR were given i.v. to 46 patients with colorectal cancer prior to
      surgery. After operation, a large tumor sample was taken and processed for
      immunohistochemical detection of BUdR-labeled cells in various regions of the
      neoplasm and in normal colorectal mucosa. Smaller superficial tumor specimens
      were also incubated with 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) for the autoradiographic
      identification of labeled cells. In the 43 evaluable tumors, the overall BUdR
      labeling index (BLI, percent of labeled cells) was significantly higher in
      carcinoma (20.30 +/- 0.86%, SEM) than in normal colonic mucosa (6.51 +/- 0.49%).
      BLIs in central and peripheral regions of carcinoma were closely correlated (r =
      0.48, p = 0.003). In 21 neoplasms a high correlation between overall BUdR and 3H
      TdR labeling index in the same tumor was observed (r = 0.57, p = 0.007). No
      evident association between overall BLI and clinical or morphologic parameters of
      the tumor was seen, including number of capillaries and ras-p21 protein
      expression. We conclude that BUdR immunostaining after in vivo administration of
      BUdR is a simple method for studying cell kinetics in various regions of
      colorectal cancer. BUdR labeling data are comparable to those obtained with in
      vitro incorporation of 3H-TdR.

PMID- 1459725
TI  - EGF receptor expression in primary laryngeal cancer: correlation with clinico
      pathological features and prognostic significance.
AB  - Epidermal-growth-factor-receptor(EGFR) expression was evaluated in 103 primary
      laryngeal tumors and in 42 normal laryngeal tissue specimens. Significantly
      higher EGFR levels were found in cancer specimens than in normal mucosa (p =
      0.0053). EGFR expression did not correlate with age, tumor localization, T
      classification, cervical-lymph-node involvement or type of surgery, whereas it
      was higher in poorly differentiated tumors (G3) than in well/moderately
      differentiated (G1-G2) tumors (p < 0.05). Follow-up data were available for 74
      patients. When EGFR status and the most important clinico-pathological
      characteristics were submitted to univariate analysis, tumor localization, type
      of surgery and EGFR status were found to be significantly correlated with disease
      free survival. The 24-month disease-free survival rate was 58% for EGFR+ cancer
      patients and 82% for EGFR- ones. With multivariate analysis, only EGFR status and
      tumor localization were identified as significant independent prognostic
      parameters. Data reported here suggest that high EGFR levels may identify a sub
      set of laryngeal-cancer patients with a particularly unfavorable prognosis.

PMID- 1459726
TI  - The p53 tumor-suppressor gene and ras oncogene mutations in oral squamous-cell
      carcinoma.
AB  - The frequencies of mutations in the p53 tumor-suppressor gene and ras proto
      oncogenes were investigated systematically in surgically resected oral squamous
      cell carcinomas (SCCs) using single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP)
      and/or dot-blot hybridization analysis of DNA fragments which had been amplified
      by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). p53 gene mutations, within the region of
      exons 5 to 8, were detected in 17 out of 27 (63%) tumor specimens. The role of
      p53 mutations in cell-line establishment was investigated. p53 gene mutations
      were detected in 5 out of 6 tissue samples from which cell lines were established
      and in 4 out of 5 specimens from which cell lines could not be established,
      suggesting that the presence of p53 gene mutations is not by itself sufficient
      for cell-line establishment. Tumor samples were also analyzed for point
      mutational activation of the ras proto-oncogenes. One out of 30 (3%) tumors
      showed an activating point mutation in codon 12 of H-ras, this being consistent
      with reports from Europe and USA but not with any from India. Compared to
      frequencies of the other genetic changes so far reported for oral SCC, the p53
      mutations have been observed most often to undergo genetic change. p53 gene
      mutation is thus intimately involved in the genesis of oral SCC and consequently
      should be useful as a marker for the diagnosis of this neoplasm.

PMID- 1459727
TI  - Prognostic relevance of serum hyaluronan levels in patients with breast cancer.
AB  - The serum hyaluronan (HA) level of 238 women with breast cancer was measured by
      means of a specific radiometric assay. The results show no significant increase
      in serum HA when compared to levels in 120 control sera. A number of prognostic
      factors were evaluated including stage of disease, lymph-node involvement, tumour
      size, histology and presence of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in the
      tumour. No correlation was found with serum HA concentration and we conclude that
      serum HA level is of no prognostic significance in breast cancer.

PMID- 1459728
TI  - Neutralizing activity of human antibodies against the structural protein of human
      T-cell lymphotropic virus type I.
AB  - We have identified and mapped the regions responsible for neutralization in the
      human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) structural proteins by using region
      specific human antibodies derived from seropositive blood donors. We have
      obtained 18 kinds of region-specific antibody (2 in the p19 gag, 10 in the gp46
      env and 6 in the gp21 env proteins) from seropositive human plasma by means of an
      affinity column coupled with the synthetic peptides corresponding to the
      antigenic regions of the HTLV-I structural proteins. These antibodies were highly
      specific in ELISA using synthetic peptides as an antigen. Subsequently, we
      examined the neutralizing activity expressed by the inhibition of virion-induced
      syncytium formation by region specific antibodies. Twelve of 16 antibodies
      derived from the env protein were able to inhibit syncytium formation induced by
      co-cultivation of 8C cells with HTLV-I antigen-positive T cells. The antibodies
      derived from the p19 gag protein and the seronegative plasma used as the control
      showed no significant activity. The sequences recognized by the 10 neutralizing
      antibodies were sites corresponding to amino acids 20 to 49, 89 to 115, 136 to
      160, 175 to 199, 213 to 236, 235 to 254, 277 to 292, 332 to 352, 350 to 386, 382
      to 403, 426 to 448 and 458 to 488 from the amino terminal of the env protein.
      These observations suggest that the neutralizing epitopes were widely distributed
      in the env proteins of HTLV-I.

PMID- 1459729
TI  - Establishment of a murine model of malignant mesothelioma.
AB  - Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive tumour of the serosal cavities which
      is associated with previous asbestos exposure and is generally found to be
      resistant to conventional forms of therapy. Adequate scientific and clinical
      assessment of this disease has been severely limited by the relatively low
      incidence of mesothelioma and the lack of representative cell lines and animal
      models. The purpose of this study was to develop an asbestos-induced murine model
      of MM both as an in vivo-passaged malignancy and as in vitro-established cell
      lines. Such a model system would be invaluable for use in the study of various
      cellular, molecular and genetic aspects of the disease, and for the pre-clinical
      evaluation of potential therapeutic agents. BALB/c and CBA mice were injected
      intraperitoneally with crocidolite asbestos. Seven to 25 months after exposure,
      35% of the mice developed mesothelioma (5 BALB/c, 9 CBA), as determined by
      standard cytological and histological parameters. From these primary tumours, 12
      continuously growing cell lines (5 BALB/c, 7 CBA) were established in culture.
      All have been confirmed as mesothelioma by cytological and ultrastructural
      (electron microscopy) analyses. These lines have been in culture for 7 to 24
      months and have achieved passages above 32 (range 32 to 106). As in the human
      disease, the murine mesothelioma lines vary in their morphology and growth rates
      (doubling times ranging from 14 to 30 hr). All cell lines produced tumours when
      injected into syngeneic mice.

PMID- 1459730
TI  - Growth of Hodgkin cell lines in severely combined immunodeficient mice.
AB  - No animal model exists for the in vivo growth of Hodgkin's-lymphoma-derived
      cells. Neither unmanipulated Hodgkin's-disease(HD)-derived cell lines nor primary
      biopsy tissue could be grown in nude mice. Since the severe combined
      immunodeficient (SCID) mouse has been reported to be a better recipient for
      transplanted human lymphatic tissue than the nude mouse, we tested whether SCID
      mice provide suitable conditions for the in vivo growth of HD cell lines.
      Tumorigenicity of HD cells was tested in untreated and pre-treated SCID mice and
      in another combined immunodeficient mouse strain, beige/nude/X-linked
      immunodeficient (BNX) mouse. SCID mice supported in vivo growth of the 6 HD cell
      lines tested (L428, L540, L591, DEV, HD-LM2, KM-H2). Only one of the 6 lines
      (DEV) was tumorigenic in BNX mice. No HD cell line proliferated in T-cell
      deficient nude mice. Thus, in vivo growth of HD cell lines appeared to be related
      to the degree of host immunodeficiency. Additional growth supportive treatments
      such as fibrosarcoma co-transplantation, intraperitoneal mineral oil injection or
      immunosuppressive pre-treatment (anti-asialo-GMI-antibody injection) permitted
      growth of 3 additional HD cell lines in BNX mice. The immunophenotype and
      karyotype of explanted graft cells were identical to the original cell lines. Our
      experiments describe an effective and reproducible xenograft model for growth of
      Hodgkin's-disease-derived cell lines. This may be of value for elucidating the
      growth characteristics of Hodgkin's-lymphoma-derived cells as well as for testing
      new therapeutic regimens.

PMID- 1459731
TI  - Antibody against p58 surface antigen of RA-2 rat rhabdomyosarcoma cells inhibits
      their metastatic activity.
AB  - Antibodies generated against the whole membrane preparation isolated from
      rhabdomyosarcoma RA-2 cells were shown by immunoblotting and immunoaffinity
      chromatography to recognize 58-kDa polypeptide, p58. The latter was confirmed to
      be a surface molecule in a test of radioiodination of RA-2 membrane by lodogen.
      The antibodies added to a suspension of RA-2 cells before their inoculation into
      rats decreased metastatic activity 50-fold without any noticeable influence on RA
      2 proliferation level and viability. The data indicate that masking of p58
      surface antigen by antibodies could make RA-2 cells unable to form experimental
      metastases in lung. We suggest that p58 may participate in the specific
      recognition by RA-2 of lung endothelial cells.

PMID- 1459732
TI  - DOK, a cell line established from human dysplastic oral mucosa, shows a partially
      transformed non-malignant phenotype.
AB  - There are many reports of cell lines being established from human oral squamous
      cell carcinomas but apparently none of cell lines from dysplastic or "pre
      malignant" oral mucosa. We describe here the isolation and characterization of a
      cell line, DOK (dysplastic oral keratinocyte), from a piece of dorsal tongue
      showing epithelial dysplasia. The tissue was obtained from a 57-year-old man who
      was a heavy smoker prior to the appearance of a white patch on his tongue. Eleven
      years later a squamous-cell carcinoma developed at the site and was excised.
      Subsequently the remaining dysplasia was removed, and it was from a piece of this
      that the primary cell cultures which eventually gave rise to DOK were initiated.
      The DOK line has been single-cell cloned and is apparently immortal. It grows in
      the absence of 3T3 feeder cells, is anchorage-dependent for growth and is non
      tumorigenic in nude mice. The keratin profile of the cells shows a striking
      similarity to that of the original tongue dysplasia. The karyotype of DOK is
      aneuploid and complex. By PCR and oligonucleotide hybridization on dot blots,
      codons 12, 13 and 61 of Ha-ras, Ki-ras and N-ras in DNA extracted from DOK cells
      were shown to be normal. Immunohistochemistry showed no abnormal, i.e., elevated
      expression of the onco-suppressor protein p53. Because of its origin and
      partially transformed phenotype, DOK presents an opportunity to study whether
      specific carcinogens associated with tobacco and areca nut can cause malignant
      transformation of oral keratinocytes in vitro.

PMID- 1459733
TI  - Protection by muscimol against gastric carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'
      nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
AB  - The effects of prolonged administration of the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor
      agonist muscimol on enhanced induction of gastric carcinogenesis by N-methyl-N'
      nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and on
      the norepinephrine concentration in the gastric wall and the labeling index of
      gastric mucosa were investigated. SHR and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats as
      controls were given a solution of MNNG (25 micrograms/ml) for 25 weeks and then
      i.p. injections of 0.5 mg/kg body weight of muscimol every other day. In control
      WKY rats, gastric cancers were found in 1 (7%) of 14 rats examined at week 52. In
      SHR treated with NaCl solution only, the incidence of gastric cancers was
      significantly increased to 50% compared with that in control WKY rats. However,
      treatment of SHR with muscimol significantly increased its incidence to 12%
      compared with the value in SHR treated with NaCl solution only. The
      norepinephrine concentration in the gastric wall and the labeling index of the
      gastric mucosa were significantly greater in SHR than in WKY rats. Prolonged
      administration of muscimol to SHR significantly reduced the norepinephrine
      concentration in the antral portion of the gastric wall or the labeling index of
      the antral epithelial cells. These findings indicate that long-term treatment of
      SHR with muscimol attenuated the enhancement of gastric carcinogenesis in SHR.

PMID- 1459734
TI  - Analysis of factors associated with the tumorigenic potential of 12 tumor clones
      derived from a single rat colon adenocarcinoma.
AB  - We analyzed several factors which could influence the immunogenicity of colon
      tumor cells, using a series of clones derived from a single chemically induced
      rat adenocarcinoma cell line. These clones display variable tumorigenic potential
      in syngeneic immunocompetent animals, and it has been established that in this
      model the tumorigenicity of the cells depends on their ability to escape immune
      surveillance. The results show an absence of relationship between tumorigenicity
      and expression of MHC-class-I antigens, cell adhesion to rat fibroblasts or
      fibroblast extracellular matrix. The secretion of latent and active TGF beta I
      appeared to be quite variable from one clone to the other, but was unrelated to
      tumorigenicity. Unexpectedly, some regressive clones produced elevated levels of
      this cytokine, suggesting that in this model, spontaneous secretion of TGF beta I
      is not sufficient to impair the immune system of the host. In contrast, the more
      tumorigenic clones were more resistant than less tumorigenic ones to cytotoxicity
      mediated by NK or LAK cells. They also showed arrest of cell proliferation after
      reaching confluence, something not observed in the less tumorigenic clones.
      Finally, the strongest relationship with tumorigenicity was found for expression
      of blood-group carbohydrate antigens. Increased expression of blood-group-H
      antigen and, conversely, decreased expression of beta-galactoside precursors of
      this antigen correlated with increased tumorigenicity.

PMID- 1459735
TI  - Functions of estrogens and anti-estrogens in the rat endometrial adenocarcinoma
      cell lines RUCA-I and RUCA-II.
AB  - Inbred rats of the DA/Han and BDII/Han strains have been proposed as suitable
      model systems for studying hormonal carcinogenesis, because they die mainly from
      hormone-dependent endometrial adenocarcinoma. Here we characterize the RUCA-I
      cell line derived from an endometrial adenocarcinoma of an inbred DA/Han rat and
      the RUCA-II cell line derived from an endometrial adenocarcinoma of an inbred
      BDII/Han rat. The RUCA-I cell line, if transplanted to the neck of female DA/Han
      rats, gives rise to endometrial adenocarcinomas at the ectopic site. The
      morphology of these ectopically grown tumors is predominantly of the moderately
      differentiated sub-class. In contrast, ectopic tumor growth of the RUCA-II cell
      line can be observed only if cells are transplanted to athymic nude mice.
      Biochemically, both cell lines are characterized by the stable expression of
      estrogen receptors. However, no statistically significant mitotic response of
      RUCA-I and RUCA-II cells to estradiol was measurable, and no induction of
      expression of the progesterone receptor by estradiol was detectable, although
      estradiol transformed the estrogen receptor into its stable DNA-binding state. In
      contrast, the rate of proliferation of RUCA-I but not of RUCA-II cells was
      reduced in the presence of 10(-6) M tamoxifen. From these results we conclude
      that (i) both cell lines, RUCA-I and RUCA-II, represent a new and promising
      endometrial tumor model; (ii) the mechanism of the hormone-dependent growth
      regulation of RUCA-I and RUCA-II cells is obviously impaired; (iii) the RUCA-I
      cell line appears to be a suitable model system for the study of molecular
      aspects of estrogen- and tamoxifen-dependent gene expression.

PMID- 1459736
TI  - The development of human tumor-cell resistance to TNF-alpha does not confer
      resistance to cytokine-induced cellular cytotoxic mechanisms.
AB  - We have derived a TNF-alpha-resistant clone (RA-I) from the parental TNF
      sensitive human breast-adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7). The acquisition of TNF
      resistance was not associated with endogenous TNF production or with differential
      levels of TNF receptors since both MCF-7 and RA-I display comparable TNF-receptor
      expression. We have investigated the relationship between acquisition of
      resistance to TNF and susceptibility to lysis by cytokine-activated effectors.
      Experiments were performed using human peripheral-blood monocytes stimulated with
      IL-2, IFN or GM-CSF, and lymphokine-activated killer cells as effector cytotoxic
      cells. Our data indicate that both TNF-resistant (RA-I) and TNF-sensitive (MCF-7)
      cells were killed by IL-2-activated monocytes. Incubation of monocytes with IFN
      also resulted in the activation of their tumoricidal activity against MCF-7 and
      RA-I. When stimulated monocytes were pre-incubated in the presence of a TNF
      specific neutralizing monoclonal antibody, prior to co-culture with target cells,
      no effect on their lytic capacity was observed. Thus, the monocyte killing does
      not appear to involve the membrane form of TNF. These observations suggest that,
      in our experimental system, IL-2 and IFN are able to induce non-TNF-mediated
      mechanisms of cytotoxicity by monocytes. Experiments performed using GM-CSF and
      LPS for monocyte stimulation indicate that, although both reagents were efficient
      in inducing the membrane form of TNF on monocytes, they did not enhance the cell
      killing capacity towards MCF-7 and RA-I targets. Furthermore, using IL-2
      stimulated LGL as effector cells, we show in this study that the TNF-resistant
      clone RA-I was as sensitive as MCF-7 to human LAK cells.

PMID- 1459737
TI  - Second-messenger pathways involved in the regulation of survival in germinal
      centre B cells and in Burkitt lymphoma lines.
AB  - Spontaneous apoptosis in germinal-centre (GC) B cells can be prevented by
      treatment with anti-immunoglobulin (Ig). By contrast, susceptible group-I Burkitt
      lymphoma (BL) cells can be driven to apoptosis by anti-Ig. The second-messenger
      pathways involved in the regulation of apoptosis in GC B lymphocytes and in BL
      cell lines were studied using pharmacological agonists or inhibitors of
      intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) and protein kinase C (PKC). Anti-Ig was found to
      mobilize Ca2+ in group-I cells. Pre-incubation with the Ca2+ chelator EGTA
      partially reduced apoptosis induced by anti-Ig or by Ca2+ ionophore in group-I BL
      cells. Activation of PKC with phorbol ester reduced such Ca(2+)-driven programmed
      cell death (PCD) to control levels of apoptosis. Apoptosis in group-I BL cell
      lines could also be triggered by the kinase inhibitors staurosporine and Ro-31
      8220 at concentrations selective for PKC activity. Expression of the bcl-2
      protein in BL group-I cells following gene transfer affords protection from
      apoptosis induced by ionomycin or anti-Ig. In the present study, bcl-2 was
      additionally found to protect from apoptosis driven by staurosporine. The high
      levels of spontaneous apoptosis exhibited by normal GC B cells were reduced, but
      not abrogated, by co-culture with phorbol ester. These results indicate that, in
      group-I BL cells, imbalance in the phosphoinositide pathway of signalling, in
      favour of [Ca2+]i and away from PKC, results in apoptosis: constitutive
      phosphorylation of key proteins by PKC may therefore suppress apoptosis in BL as
      well as in GC B cells.

PMID- 1459738
TI  - Analysis of two human monoclonal antibodies against melanoma.
AB  - B cells derived from peripheral-blood lymphocytes (PBL) and tumor-infiltrating
      lymphocytes (TIL) from a patient with a high serum antibody titer to autologous
      melanoma were transformed with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and evaluated for
      reactivity against autologous tumor. B cells producing antibody reactive with
      autologous tumor and unreactive with normal fibroblasts were detected both in TIL
      and in PBL. One cell line derived from PBL and another derived from TIL sustained
      production of tumor-reactive antibody for 10 weeks and over 15 months
      respectively. The cell line derived from PBL, 2D11, produced an antibody reactive
      with a trypsin-resistant antigen expressed on the cell membrane of autologous and
      allogeneic melanoma cell lines. The cell line derived from TIL, 1F6, produced an
      antibody reactive with a cell-surface glycoprotein expressed by 5 autologous
      melanoma cell lines derived from 5 different metastases and 16/19 allogeneic
      melanoma cell lines. 1F6 also showed reactivity with cell lines derived from a
      blue nevus, a congenital nevus, an astrocytoma, and 1/4 renal-cell carcinomas;
      but it was not reactive with 5 foreskin melanocyte cell lines, 2 normal
      fibroblast lines, 5 leukemia/lymphoma lines, 8 lung-cancer lines, 8 glioblastoma
      lines, or lines derived from 1 ovarian carcinoma, 1 colon carcinoma, 1 vulvar
      carcinoma, 1 fibrosarcoma, 1 murine melanoma, or 4 murine leukemia/lymphomas. We
      describe here an antibody that detects a new melanoma specificity obtained by EBV
      transformation of tumor-infiltrating B cells.

PMID- 1459739
TI  - Cancer-cell traffic in the liver. I. Growth kinetics of cancer cells after portal
      vein delivery.
AB  - Following the intrasplenic injection of B16F10 melanoma cells into mice, at first
      single cells, and later multicellular tumor foci were observed at different times
      in the liver. Cell numbers and tumor volumes were determined over the next 12
      days, by confocal microscopy of thick liver sections. Fifteen minutes after
      injection, approximately 20% of the melanoma cells were identified in the liver
      microvasculature; after 48 hr, only 0.68% of these retained morphologic
      integrity; by 5 days only 0.13% of the originally detected cells incorporated
      BUdR; and, by 12 days, these subsequently grew into tumor nodules. Tumor volume
      changes with time were not exponential and, following a non-replicative period
      during the first 2 1/2 days, the volume doubling times increased from
      approximately 8 to 39 hr at 12 days. BUdR incorporation indicated that this was
      probably due to a diminishing proliferative fraction in the cancer-cell
      population. When animals were killed at 12 days, tumor foci were centered on the
      liver sinusoids and appeared to represent expansive growth of arrested cells,
      with no evidence of parenchymal invasion by migrating cancer cells, in spite of
      the absence of a subendothelial basement membrane. Our direct observations
      indicate that, in this model system, the post-delivery phase of hepatic
      colonization is characterized by high levels of inefficiency with respect to
      cancer-cell survival, growth and extravasation.

PMID- 1459740
TI  - Proliferation of human colon cancer cells: role of epidermal growth factor and
      transforming growth factor alpha.
AB  - Human colon cancer cells produce and secrete a variety of polypeptide growth
      factors. The functional role of these growth factors, however, is poorly
      understood. Though the secretion of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like activity
      and EGF-related molecules by human colon cancer cells in culture has been
      reported, it is not known whether colon cancer cells produce and secrete EGF, and
      the functional role of EGF in the growth control of these cells is also unknown.
      We have shown that EGF acts as a potent growth stimulator on the moderately
      differentiated Moser colon cancer cell line and as an inhibitor on the highly
      metastatic KM12SM cell line. In the present study, we show that EGF is produced
      by human colon cancer cells and characterize the levels of EGF mRNA expression
      and EGF protein secretion from 8 human colon cancer cell lines. The cell-surface
      EGF receptors on these cell lines were also characterized by radiolabeled ligand
      binding and Scatchard analyses. All the cell lines expressed EGF mRNA and
      secreted EGF. Both high- and low-affinity subtypes of EGF receptor were detected
      on 7 of the cell lines. These lines also secreted transforming growth factor
      (TGF)alpha. Some cell lines exhibited a proliferative response to treatment with
      either exogenous EGF or TGF alpha, while others did not respond to treatment with
      these growth factors. Antibody-blocking experiments, using anti-EGF or anti-EGF
      receptor antibody, suggested that these cell lines could be broadly classified
      into 2 groups in terms of their autocrine or paracrine growth regulation via the
      cell-surface EGF receptor: (1) cells that utilized EGF and/or TGF alpha; and (2)
      cells that did not utilize EGF or TGF alpha (via the cell-surface receptor), even
      though they secreted abundant amounts of these growth factors.

PMID- 1459741
TI  - Orthotopic growth and metastasis of human prostate carcinoma in nude mice after
      transplantation of histologically intact tissue.

PMID- 1459742
TI  - Cholesterol consensus: a trans-Atlantic perspective. Amsterdam, The Netherlands,
      31-October-1 November 1991.
AB  - This consensus document has been drawn up following the round-table conference
      'Cholesterol Consensus: a Trans-Atlantic Perspective', Amsterdam, 31 October and
      1 November 1991. Its recommendations are as follows. Elevated plasma cholesterol
      level should be viewed as one of a number of important risk factors that
      contribute to the high incidence of coronary heart disease in industrialized
      societies. Control of lipid abnormalities forms an essential part of an overall
      preventive strategy of risk factor reduction. Both population and individual
      strategies are required. To reduce the mean plasma cholesterol levels of
      populations, a multidisciplinary approach is needed, involving the health-care
      professions, government, food manufacturers and distributors, community and
      consumer organizations, and the media. While it is desirable for all individuals
      to know their plasma cholesterol level, universal screening is recommended only
      where resources for treatment and follow-up are sufficient to cope with the case
      load detected. As an interim measure, screening should be focused on individuals
      at special risk. The recommendations of the European Atherosclerosis Society and
      the U.S. National Cholesterol Education Program should be followed with regard to
      thresholds for treatment by dietary counselling and pharmacological methods, and
      targets for cholesterol reduction. These recommendations should be periodically
      reviewed as new research data becomes available. A number of key areas for
      research are listed.

PMID- 1459743
TI  - Catecholamine excretion and heart rate as factors of psychophysical stress in
      table tennis.
AB  - Table tennis, like tennis, squash and badminton, is a racket sport. All these
      sports have in common a rapid succession of mostly short-term maximal or
      submaximal efforts and short recovery phases. The goal of this paper is to
      investigate the psychophysical stress in table tennis by means of the stress
      hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine. The catecholamines were determined from
      urine samples. 16 Austrian top-level table tennis players were examined. There
      were 8 female and 8 male players in this group. The catecholamine excretion at
      rest (R), training (TR), practice competition (PC), competition (C) and treadmill
      ergometry (TE) are indicated in ng/min of collecting time. When the group is
      divided according to sex, we find marked differences in the catecholamine
      release. While the epinephrine excretion during and after training and practice
      competition is basically the same, it is lower during and after treadmill
      ergometry and higher after competition. The same result was found with respect to
      norepinephrine excretion. The ratio between norepinephrine and epinephrine was
      4:1 at rest and during and after treadmill ergometry, 6:1 during and after
      training, 5:1 during and after the practice competition and 2:1 during and after
      the competition. The investigation showed that a table tennis competition puts
      high stress on the player. The mental component should therefore receive much
      more importance in order to keep the stress low.

PMID- 1459744
TI  - Haemorheology and exercise: intrinsic flow properties of blood in marathon
      running.
AB  - Haemorheological and haematological parameters were studied in venous blood
      samples taken from 8 endurance-trained athletes before and after a marathon run.
      Viscometry was performed in a 20 microns glass capillary and in a Couette
      viscometer. Apparent blood viscosity was lower in the capillary than in the
      rotational viscometer, but significant differences between pre- and post-run
      samples were not observed in either system. This is presumably due to the absence
      of changes of haematocrit (pre-run [mean +/- SD]: 0.453 +/- 0.016, post-run:
      0.456 +/- 0.018). Although protein concentration increased significantly from
      70.8 +/- 2.1 g/l (pre-run) to 76.0 +/- 3.9 g/l (post-run), the difference of
      plasma viscosity was not statistically significant (pre-run: 1.26 +/- 0.03 cP,
      post-run: 1.30 +/- 0.07 cP). In all samples, plasma viscosity showed a
      significant positive correlation with total protein, globulin, albumin, but not
      with fibrinogen concentration. Cone-plate aggregometry and a filtration technique
      were used to evaluate red cell aggregation and deformability, two determinants of
      blood rheology which also were not different between pre- and post-run samples.
      The absence of viscosity changes in relation to the marathon run may be due to
      the relative stability of blood and plasma volume, which can be deduced from
      haematological parameters. Alterations of plasma composition (e.g. acidosis or
      hyperosmolality) seem to cause only minor, if any, changes of microrheological
      cell properties.

PMID- 1459745
TI  - Determining the variability of performance on Wingate anaerobic tests in children
      aged 6-12 years.
AB  - In two parts, this study investigated variability of performance in Wingate
      anaerobic tests (WAnTs) of normal, healthy, male children aged six, eight, ten
      and twelve years. The purpose of the first part of the study was to investigate
      the mean coefficient of variation (C.V. = [S.D./X].100) of children who performed
      four WAnTs over a period of four weeks. The results revealed age-related
      differences in the performance data of peak power (PP) and mean power (MP) but no
      differences between age groups in fatigue index (FI%) = [PP-Pend)/PP.100]. C.V.
      data from this group of children did not differ significantly between ages in any
      of the dependent variables. Coggan and Costill (5) measured the variability of
      male adults during 30 seconds of highly intense cycling and reported C.V.s in PP
      and MP performances of 6.7 and 6.5%, respectively. C.V.s of children in the first
      part of the present study were 7.3 and 6.8% for PP and MP, respectively. The C.V.
      in the FI% of the children (26.7%) however differed substantially from the
      previously studied adults (10.3%). The second part of the study was conducted to
      examine the C.V. in FI% performances of children in the WAnT. The purpose of this
      part of the study was to examine the extent to which a computerized onscreen
      game, which was linked to pedal cadence affected the variability of children
      performing WAnTs. A significant decrease was obtained in the C.V. of the FI% in
      the presence of the computerized feedback game (16.3 and 23.6, with and without
      the game, respectively). It is suggested that game-based testing procedures may
      ensure more consistent result in the assessment of pediatric populations.

PMID- 1459746
TI  - A new approach for the determination of ventilatory and lactate thresholds.
AB  - In order to determine the ventilatory threshold (VT) and the lactate threshold
      (LT) in a reliable way, a new method is proposed and compared with conventional
      methods. The new method consists of calculating the point that yields the maximal
      distance from a curve representing ventilatory and metabolic variables as a
      function of oxygen uptake (VO2) to the line formed by the two end points of the
      curve (Dmax method). Male cyclists (n = 8) performed two incremental exercise
      tests a week apart. Ventilatory/metabolic variables were measured and blood was
      sampled for later lactate measurement during each workload and immediately after
      exercise. No statistical differences were observed in the threshold values
      (expressed as absolute oxygen uptake; VO2) determined by the Dmax method and the
      conventional linear regression method (according to O2 equivalent; EqO2) and
      venous blood at the onset of blood lactate (OBLA), while VT assessed with the
      conventional linear method (according to the slope of CO2 output; Vslope) yielded
      significantly lower threshold values. Similar results were obtained from the
      reproducibility test. Thus, the Dmax method appears to be an objective and
      reliable method for threshold determination, which can be applied to various
      ventilatory or metabolic variables yet yield similar results. The results also
      showed that breathing frequency can be used to determine VT.

PMID- 1459747
TI  - Accuracy of pulse oximetry during exercise stress testing.
AB  - Pulse oximetry is used extensively during exercise stress-testing in the clinical
      and sports medicine settings. There are few validation studies to assess the
      appropriateness of using pulse oximetry under conditions of potentially
      compromised peripheral blood flow. To study the accuracy of pulse oximetry during
      severe exercise stress, 10 athletes undertook 3 bouts of exhaustive exercise;
      once at an intensity requiring VO2max (max), once at 115% of VO2max (Smax), and
      once at Smax while FIO2 was increased to 0.30. The results indicate relatively
      large underestimations occur when pulse oximetry is used to estimate %SaO2 during
      exercise, when compared to the criterion samples of gas analysis in arterial
      blood. These differences were exacerbated as the exercise intensity increased
      from a mean(+/- SE) difference of 2.9 +/- 0.7 %SaO2 at max to 4.6 +/- 0.7 %SaO2
      at Smax. Breathing a higher FIO2 reversed the hypoxemia that occurred during the
      normoxic exercise, however, pulse oximetry measurements failed to detect this
      alteration in %SaO2. Estimates of oxygen saturation during severe exercise using
      pulse oximetry should be viewed with caution, as potentially large errors may
      occur.

PMID- 1459748
TI  - Maximal-intensity intermittent exercise: effect of recovery duration.
AB  - Seven male subjects performed 15 x 40m sprints, on three occasions, with rest
      periods of either 120 s (R120), 60 s (R60) or 30 s (R30) between each sprint.
      Sprint times were recorded with four photo cells placed at 0, 15, 30 and 40 m.
      The performance data indicated that whereas running speed over the last 10 m of
      each sprint decreased in all three protocols (after 11 sprints in R120, 7 sprints
      in R60 and 3 sprints in R30), performance during the initial acceleration period
      from 0-15 m was only affected with the shortest rest periods increasing from
      (mean +/- SEM) 2.58 +/- .03 (sprint 1) to 2.78 +/- .04 s (spring 15) (p < .05).
      Post-exercise blood lactate concentration was not significantly different in R120
      (12.1 +/- 1.3 mmol.l-1) and R60 (13.9 +/- 1.2 mmol.l-1), but a higher
      concentration was found in R30 (17.2 +/- .7 mmol.l-1) (p < .05). After 6 sprints
      there was no significant difference in blood lactate concentration with the
      different recovery durations, however, there were significant differences in
      sprint times at this point, suggesting that blood lactate is a poor predictor of
      performance during this type of exercise. Although the work bouts could be
      classified primarily as anaerobic exercise, oxygen uptake measured during rest
      periods increased to 52, 57 and 66% of maximum oxygen uptake in R120, R60 and
      R30, respectively. Evidence of adenine nucleotide degradation was provided by
      plasma hypoxanthine and uric acid concentrations elevated post-exercise in all
      three protocols. Post-exercise uric acid concentration was not significantly
      affected by recovery duration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459749
TI  - Physiological changes in male competitive cyclists after two weeks of intensified
      training.
AB  - To study the physiological response to heavy training, seven male competitive
      cyclists intensified their normal training program for two weeks (IIT) in order
      to achieve a state of short-term overtraining. The subjects underwent a graded
      cycle ergometer test to exhaustion, an outdoor 8.5 km time trial and a
      computerized test to study reaction time and visual perception, before, during
      and after the two weeks of intensified training and after two weeks of recovery.
      Furthermore subjects kept a daily log in the form of a questionnaire. After two
      weeks of IIT all subjects showed symptoms of overtraining: the general state of
      well being declined as indicated by the questionnaire while performances on time
      trial (mean +/- SEM: 830 +/- 14 sec-871 +/- 19 sec), contests and maximal power
      output (mean +/- SEM: 336 7 watt-310 +/- 5 watt) declined significantly. Maximal
      (mean +/- SEM 11.8 +/- 1.1 mmol.l-1-5.9 +/- 0.5 mmol.l-1) and submaximal lactate
      values were significantly lowered during ergometer test after the IIT, while the
      workload at the 4 mmol point increased significantly (mean +/- SEM 234 +/- 10
      watt-267 +/- 13 watt). Sleeping heart rate increased significantly (mean +/- SEM
      49.5 +/- 9.3 BPM-54.3 +/- 8.8 BPM). Maximal heart rate (mean +/- SEM 185 +/- 3
      BPM-178 +/- 2 BPM, mean heart rate during the time trial (mean +/- SEM 178 +/- 2
      BPM-169 +/- 2 BPM) and VO2max (mean +/- SEM 4801 +/- 121 ml.min-1-4409 +/- 101
      ml.min-1) were all significantly lowered by the IIT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1459750
TI  - Response of beta-endorphin and estradiol to resistance exercise in females during
      energy balance and energy restriction.
AB  - The acute effect of weightlifting on beta-endorphin and estradiol was studied in
      experienced female recreational weightlifters. Five eumenorrheic females
      completed two months of testing, each with a different sequence of testing
      conditions (SEQ1 and SEQ2). In SEQ1, a week of weight maintenance diet and
      prescribed exercise (3 d.wk-1, 3 sets, approximately 85% 1 RM, 10-12 reps, eight
      lifts) beginning on d 11 of their menstrual cycle was followed by measurement of
      hormone response to a weightlifting bout during energy balance (EBAL) on d 18.
      This included blood sampling via a catheter before, just after, and at 15 and 30
      min of recovery. The women consumed 500 kcal per day for the next 48 hrs and then
      repeated the weightlifting test during negative energy balance (NEBAL). SEQ2 was
      similar except that the 48 hrs of NEBAL preceded the EBAL test condition.
      Estradiol and beta-endorphin increased from baseline to immediately post exercise
      under both dietary conditions but was significant only during NEBAL. Estradiol
      increased 1.6 fold and beta-endorphin 3.7 fold by the end of the resistance
      exercise bout during NEBAL. Both hormones were also elevated for a longer time
      during recovery in the NEBAL condition. Since estradiol and beta-endorphin can
      suppress gonadotropin release, it is possible that repeated elevations in these
      hormones during weightlifting, especially concurrent with energy restriction,
      could contribute to disruption of the menstrual cycle.

PMID- 1459751
TI  - Seasonal deterioration of selected physiological variables in elite male skiers.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine whether seasonal deterioration in
      physiological variables could be observed in skiers. Eighteen international male
      British downhill, free-style, and speed skiers were subjected to a maximal
      treadmill running test, a 30-s Wingate test, and isokinetic dynamometry at the
      beginning, middle, and end of the 1989-90 competition season. Maximal oxygen
      intake (VO2max) and respiratory anaerobic threshold (T vent) were among the
      parameters measured on the treadmill test, while peak and mean power outputs were
      measured during the Wingate test. During dynamometry, knee flexors and extensors
      were bilaterally assessed at 1.04 and 3.14 rad.s-1. Mean VO2max (p < 0.01) and
      mean T vent (p < 0.05) were lower at the end compared to the beginning, but not
      compared to the middle of the competition season. The isokinetic test
      demonstrated lower mean peak torques at 1.04 rad.s-1, for the knee extensors
      measured at the end of the season, compared with both the start (p < 0.01) and
      the middle (p < 0.05). Also at 1.04 rad.s-1, knee flexors produced lower torques
      at the end than the start of the season (p < 0.05). No further statistical
      differences were found. It was concluded that seasonal deterioration in key
      physiological variables such as aerobic endurance and muscle strength, can be
      observed in elite alpine skiers, and that in-season fitness training programmes
      should take account of this.

PMID- 1459752
TI  - The effect of exercise on anterior knee laxity in female basketball players.
AB  - To study the effect of physical activities on the anterior laxity of the knee
      joint, the anterior knee laxity of female semi-professional basketball players
      was measured during a typical day. The participants worked in the office in the
      morning, and practiced in the afternoon, which included a 60 minute warm-up,
      followed by a 150 minute game style practice. The laxity was measured six times
      in one day at different activity levels. The anterior knee laxity did not change
      during sedentary work in the morning, but increased significantly with game style
      practice. After 1 1/2 hours the increased anterior knee laxity had not recovered
      completely. However, after five hours it had recovered completely.

PMID- 1459753
TI  - Dermatologic lasers: three decades of progress.

PMID- 1459754
TI  - Role of food allergy in atopic dermatitis.

PMID- 1459755
TI  - The causative agent of bacillary angiomatosis.

PMID- 1459756
TI  - Incident light microscopy: reflections on microscopy of the living skin.

PMID- 1459757
TI  - Vitiligo in children.
AB  - In our study the relative incidence of vitiligo among new patients was 2.6%.
      Twenty percent were children and 74% were adults. Of the 90 children, 38.9% were
      boys, and 61.1% were girls. This sex difference was statistically highly
      significant. The adult sex-ratio was not statistically significant. The relative
      incidence of the clinical subtypes in children and adults was compared, and the
      difference was found to be statistically highly significant only in the case of
      vitiligo vulgaris and segmental vitiligo. On the basis of the difference in the
      sex-ratio and in the relative incidence of the subtypes of vitiligo vulgaris and
      segmental vitiligo, we feel that childhood vitiligo is a distinct subtype of
      vitiligo.

PMID- 1459758
TI  - Specific cutaneous lesions in a CD8+ peripheral T-cell lymphoma.
AB  - Histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural studies were carried
      out on cutaneous lesions of a 43-year-old man with an aggressive peripheral T
      cell lymphoma involving the lung, central nervous system, bone marrow, and skin.
      Some results are distinctive and not previously reported, such as extremely
      strong epidermotropism, aberrant CD8+ immunophenotype with lack of one pan T
      antigen (CD5), and giant cytoplasmic granules. We discuss these features
      comparing them with other hematologic malignancies usually involving the skin,
      such as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, angiocentric
      lymphomas, and malignant histiocytosis.

PMID- 1459759
TI  - Lack of predictive factors in late recurrence of stage I melanoma.
AB  - Through the UCLA tumor registry, patients treated for late-relapse malignant
      melanoma (after a 10-year disease-free interval) were identified and studied
      retrospectively. The patients were studied in regards to age, sex, primary site
      of the lesion, the disease-free interval, elective lymph node dissection, mode of
      recurrence and survival time following relapse. The histologic characteristics
      studied included the maximal tumor thickness, Clark's levels, rate of mitoses,
      and presence of ulceration. Based on the 0.84% incidence of late-relapse, the
      recommendation for annual life-time follow-up examinations for all patients with
      malignant melanoma is supported.

PMID- 1459760
TI  - Reaction in leprosy: acute phase reactant response during and after remission.
AB  - Sera from 25 patients with type 1 (Lepra), upgrading and downgrading, and type 2
      (erythema nodosum leprosum [ENL]) reactions were assayed, during the reaction and
      after its clinical remission, for changes in levels of alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1A)
      and C-reactive protein (CRP). The results were compared with those from normal
      healthy adults and patients of leprosy without history and/or clinical evidence
      of reaction. The A1A levels correlated better with changes in status of type 1
      reaction; whereas CRP levels correlated well with alterations in type 2 reactions
      and were definitely superior to A1A in this situation for monitoring the course
      of these episodes.

PMID- 1459761
TI  - Multiple basal cell carcinoma in tropical Australia.
AB  - No association between HLA DR1 and the development of multiple basal cell
      carcinomas (BCC) was found among patients who had lived at least two-thirds of
      their lives in the tropics. The percentage of patients with multiple BCCs
      increased with age; this was different from what has been found in people living
      in the temperate zone of Australia.

PMID- 1459762
TI  - Multiple bone metastases from basal cell carcinoma.

PMID- 1459763
TI  - Malignant spitz nevus.

PMID- 1459764
TI  - Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome) associated with Behcet's
      disease.

PMID- 1459765
TI  - Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome) associated with prostate
      adenocarcinoma and a myelodysplastic syndrome.

PMID- 1459766
TI  - Papulonodular cutaneous mucinosis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus.

PMID- 1459767
TI  - Systemic lupus erythematosus with hereditary deficiency of the fourth component
      of complement.

PMID- 1459768
TI  - Cutaneous myiasis: a simple and effective technique for extraction of Dermatobia
      hominis larvae.
AB  - We describe two patients with cutaneous myiasis caused by Dermatobia hominis.
      Three larvae were removed successfully by a simple technique that involved the
      injection of each larva with 2 mL of lidocaine, making surgical extraction by
      incision and exploration unnecessary.

PMID- 1459769
TI  - Lymphedema treated by microwave and elastic dressing.
AB  - For lymphedema, surgical treatment is contraindicated and other conservative
      treatments including oral medicine are not sufficient. Treatment with microwave
      and elastic dressing has been evaluated in 30 cases of lymphedema with 11 control
      patients who received only one of the two treatments. Twenty-four patients were
      effectively treated. In six, edema was not decreased as compared with reduction
      due to daily physical activity. It was observed that the earlier the patient was
      treated after onset of edema, the better the results. Six of 10 control patients
      who received only elastic dressing showed slight decrease in edema. A patient who
      received only microwave did not show any improvement. There was no recurrence in
      half of the treated patients. Treatment of lymphedema by microwave and elastic
      dressing appears satisfactory, particularly when given at an early stage of the
      disease.

PMID- 1459770
TI  - Tinea versicolor treated with fluconazole shampoo.

PMID- 1459771
TI  - Neutrophils in cerebrospinal fluid of a patient with acute febrile neutrophilic
      dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome)

PMID- 1459772
TI  - Alopecia and cutis verticis gyrata due to traction presenting as headache.

PMID- 1459773
TI  - Granuloma annulare following herpes zoster.

PMID- 1459774
TI  - Iritis and Wells' syndrome.

PMID- 1459775
TI  - Porokeratosis and cardiac transplantation.

PMID- 1459776
TI  - The survival of Ostertagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubriformis in
      faecal culture as a source of bias in apportioning egg counts to worm species.
AB  - When cultured alone or concurrently with Trichostrongylus colubriformis in sheep
      faeces, Ostertagia circumcincta produced fewer infective larvae per 100 eggs than
      did T. colubriformis. Averaged over five trials 60% of T. colubriformis eggs were
      recovered as infective larvae while for O. circumcincta the figure was only 39%.
      This result was observed for two strains of O. circumcincta and was independent
      of when larvae were harvested from culture (days 6-10 at 25 degrees C). The
      mortalities of both species occurred at the first and second larval stages. These
      observations are of concern when using larval differentiation from faecal culture
      to make quantitative estimates of worm egg numbers for each species present.
      Species such as T. colubriformis which have a low mortality during culture are
      likely to have their egg numbers overestimated when cultured with a species, like
      O. circumcincta, that suffers high mortality in culture.

PMID- 1459777
TI  - Metabolism of lipid peroxidation products by the gastro-intestinal nematodes
      Necator americanus, Ancylostoma ceylanicum and Heligmosomoides polygyrus.
AB  - Somatic extracts of the three parasitic nematodes Necator americanus, Ancylostoma
      ceylanicum and Heligmosomoides polygyrus were able to detoxify a model
      hydroperoxide and a putative natural peroxide by glutathione-dependent peroxidase
      activity while cytotoxic carbonyls could be metabolized by NADPH-linked reduction
      activities. Unlike cestodes and digeneans, the nematodes in this study could not
      enzymatically conjugate carbonyls with glutathione. The results indicate that the
      three nematodes can protect themselves against possible host-immune initiated
      lipid peroxidation of their membranes at the level of the hydroperoxide and at
      the level of cytotoxic carbonyl, although other protective enzymatic mechanisms
      are also likely to exist (superoxide dismutase and catalase).

PMID- 1459778
TI  - A strategy for production of monoclonal antibodies to Echinococcus granulosus
      antigen 5 and antigen B.
AB  - Serum antibody responses to sheep hydatid cyst fluid (SHCF) and a purified
      Antigen 5 (Ag5) were examined in ELISA, immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) and
      immunoprecipitation (IP) to facilitate production of monoclonal antibodies (MAb)
      to E. granulosus Ag5 and Antigen B (AgB). Although sera from mice immunized with
      SHCF contained antibodies of various classes, the fusions using these donor mice
      resulted in mainly anti-AgB MAb, possibly due to the preferential selection of
      MAb to AgB by the SHCF-based ELISA screening system. Donor mice immunized with
      Ag5 also produced several classes of antibodies, and the resultant fusions
      enabled selection of IgG MAb to Ag5.

PMID- 1459779
TI  - Echinococcus granulosus in sheep: transfer from ewe to lamb of 'Arc 5' antibodies
      and oncosphere-killing activity, but not protection.
AB  - Fourteen ewes were orally dosed with 2000 E. granulosus eggs at 2 weeks of age,
      were mated at 19 months, and produced lambs when the cysts were 2 years old. One
      week after parturition, all 14 ewes had 'Arc 5' antibodies in their serum, as did
      11/14 of their lambs. Fourteen uninfected ewes were immunized three times before
      parturition with E. granulosus eggs injected intramuscularly. Cysts grew at the
      first, or first and second site, but not the third, indicating that the ewes were
      immune prior to parturition. Most sera from these ewes and their lambs, and from
      14 control ewes and their lambs, produced precipitin arcs with hydatid cyst
      fluid, but no 'Arc 5'. All lambs were challenged with 500 eggs 2 weeks after
      birth. At necropsy, cyst numbers within groups ranged from 3 to > 200, but there
      was no significant difference between the three groups of lambs. The immunized
      ewes did not pass a protection to their lambs that was effective when the lambs
      were challenged. 'Arc 5' antibodies were induced by prolonged infection with
      cysts, and were not seen in the sera of ewes immunized with eggs, although the
      eggs developed into cysts at the injection sites. 'Arc 5' antibodies did not
      protect lambs against infection, and were not correlated with protection in ewes.
      Subcutaneous injection of oncospheres into four ewes from each group at the time
      of lamb challenge showed that the immunized ewes were immune to this method of
      challenge, but the infected and control ewes were not.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1459780
TI  - Apparent lack of genetic variation within Pelecitus roemeri (Nematoda:
      Filarioidea) from three Australian species of macropodid marsupial.
AB  - An electrophoretic study of Pelecitus roemeri from Macropus robustus, M.
      giganteus and Wallabia bicolor revealed no genetic differences at 23 enzyme loci.
      The genetic data support the existing morphological evidence that P. roemeri from
      these three hosts represents a single species. The data show no genetic variation
      between nematodes from the same or different host species collected in northern
      and southern Australia. This result is discussed briefly in relation to Price's
      model of parasite speciation.

PMID- 1459781
TI  - Mucosal mast cell response to Hymenolepis diminuta infection in different rat
      strains.
AB  - Five-week-old DA male rats infected with 10 Hymenolepis diminuta cysticercoids
      showed significant mastocytosis 6 weeks post-infection and low persistence of
      worms. In F344/N rats, however, no mastocytosis and no worm loss occurred during
      a 6 week infection. Mucosal mast cells appear to be associated with the expulsion
      of H. diminuta from DA rats.

PMID- 1459782
TI  - Persistence of immune response in human toxocariasis as measured by ELISA.
AB  - The antibody titer was followed in a group of patients, clinically diagnosed with
      toxocariasis, during a 5 year period. We observed that larvae can survive for at
      least 5 years in humans. Antigenic stimulation was enough to keep high levels of
      immunoglobulins over this period. Antibody levels decreased slowly and this
      pattern is similar to that shown by animal models.

PMID- 1459783
TI  - Understanding chronic nematode infections: evolutionary considerations, current
      hypotheses and the way forward.

PMID- 1459784
TI  - Sensitive detection of trypanosomes in tsetse flies by DNA amplification.
AB  - African trypanosome species were identified using the Polymerase Chain Reaction
      (PCR) by targeting repetitive DNA for amplification. Using oligonucleotide
      primers designed to anneal specifically to the satellite DNA monomer of each
      species/subgroup, we were able to accurately identify Trypanosoma simiae, three
      subgroups of T. congolense, T. brucei and T. vivax. The assay was sensitive and
      specific, detecting one trypanosome unequivocally and showing no reaction with
      non-target trypanosome DNA or a huge excess of host DNA. The assay was used to
      identify developmental stage trypanosomes in the tsetse fly. The use of
      radioisotopes was not necessary and mixed infections could be detected easily by
      incorporating more than one set of primers in a single reaction. The use of crude
      preparations of template made the process very rapid. The methodology should be
      suitable for large-scale epidemiological studies.

PMID- 1459785
TI  - Effect of genetic type, lactation and management on helminth infection of ewes in
      an intensive grazing system on irrigated pasture.
AB  - A survey of helminth infection was conducted in a flock of 290 ewes distributed
      into Romanov (R), Merinos d'Arles (M) and Romanov x Merinos (R x M) genetic
      types, grazing irrigated pasture in the south of France. Faecal egg and larval
      counts were done seven times per year from 1981 to 1984 on homogeneous groups of
      ewes and then individually once to four times every autumn from 1985 to 1988.
      Helminth fauna was diverse and more abundant during autumn. High levels of
      strongyle infection occurred in the ewes that remained on the same irrigated
      pastures during summer. Moving to Alpian pastures during the summer lowered
      autumnal infection. Significant differences between genotypes in intensity of
      infection were observed in the order R > R x M > M for strongyles (Teladorsagia
      circumcincta and/or Trichostrongylus vitrinus, Chabertia ovina and/or
      Oesophagostomum venulosum, Nematodirus spp.), Moniezia spp. and Dictyocaulus
      filaria. The hierarchy was reversed for Fasciola hepatica infection and not
      consistent from one year to another for protostrongylid infections. The effect of
      lactation intensity on the postparturient rise was studied by equilibrating
      number of ewes according to reproductive status (zero, one or two lambs in
      lactation). Merino ewes with two lambs in lactation, as well as primiparous
      Romanov ewes, had significantly higher strongyle infections than the others. The
      repeatabilities of the larval and egg counts between the four trial years were
      0.24, 0.23 and 0.16, respectively, for protostrongyles, Nematodirus and
      strongyles, with higher intra-annual values for protostrongyles and
      inconsistently significant results for strongyles due to the presence of several
      species.

PMID- 1459786
TI  - Synergistic growth studies of Entamoeba gingivalis using an Ecologen.
AB  - A unique multiple diffusion growth chamber, an Ecologen, designed for the study
      of interactions among microorganisms, was introduced as a means of growing xenic
      cultures of Entamoeba gingivalis with Crithidia sp. or Yersinia enterocolitica.
      Entamoeba gingivalis was grown in the central diffusion reservoir of the Ecologen
      connected to separate growth chambers inoculated with the microorganisms to be
      evaluated. Growth of the accompanying bacteria in the E. gingivalis compartment
      was almost completely eliminated, except for sparse Pseudomonas sp. growth. The
      most vital E. gingivalis cultures were observed when either Crithidia sp. or Y.
      enterocolitica were added to the Ecologen 48 h prior to the E. gingivalis
      inoculum. The medium which provided the best growth of the oral protozoan in this
      system was the new improved E. gingivalis medium containing antibiotics.

PMID- 1459787
TI  - Dictyocaulus viviparus: isolation and characterization of a recombinant antigen
      with potential for immunodiagnosis.
AB  - Crude adult worm antigen of Dictyocaulus viviparus was examined for specific
      antigens by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting using sera from cattle experimentally
      infected with D. viviparus, vaccinated with a normal or a reduced dosage of the
      commercial lungworm vaccine, and helminth-free cattle. A D. viviparus-specific
      region M(r) 18,000 was identified and isolated. A lambda ZAP II cDNA expression
      library consisting of 4.4 x 10(5) recombinant clones (88% of the total number of
      clones) was constructed from D. viviparus adult worm mRNA. Rabbit antiserum to
      the M(r) 18,000 antigen was used to screen the cDNA library and eight positive
      clones were picked and allocated to the same antigenic family by sibling
      analysis. All clones were subcloned into the plasmid pGEX-2T, and the clone with
      highest expression yields was expressed as a glutathione S-transferase fusion
      protein (DvGST3-14) or, after cleavage with thrombin, as pure recombinant
      parasite protein (Dv3-14). The native parasite antigen encoded by the clone was
      identified. The immunodiagnostic potential of the recombinant proteins was
      assessed by immunoblotting.

PMID- 1459788
TI  - The kinetics of mebendazole binding to Haemonchus contortus tubulin.
AB  - The kinetics of the binding of mebendazole (MBZ) to tubulin from the third-stage
      (L3) larvae of the parasitic nematode, Haemonchus contortus, have been
      characterized. In partially purified preparations, the association of [3H]MBZ to
      nematode tubulin was rapid, k1 = (2.6 +/- 0.3) x 10(5) M-1 min-1, but
      dissociation was slow, k-1 = (1.58 +/- 0.02) x 10(-3) min-1. The affinity
      constant (K(a)) for the interaction, determined by the ratio k1/k-1, was (1.6 +/-
      0.2) x 10(8) M-1. Similar results were obtained with crude cytosolic fractions.
      In equilibrium studies, performed with partially purified nematode tubulin under
      similar conditions, a K(a) of (5.3 +/- 1.6) x 10(6) M-1 was obtained. The best
      estimate for the K(a) of the MBZ-nematode tubulin interaction is considered to be
      the 'kinetic' value determined from the ratio of rate constants. The slow
      dissociation of MBZ from nematode tubulin, which contrasts with the rapid
      dissociation of MBZ from mammalian tubulin, supports the hypothesis that the
      selective toxicity of the benzimidazole anthelmintics results from a difference
      between the affinities of mammalian and nematode tubulins for these drugs.

PMID- 1459789
TI  - Selection of Merino sheep for increased and decreased resistance to Haemonchus
      contortus: peri-parturient effects on faecal egg counts.
AB  - Peri-parturient worm egg counts were compared in 395 Merino ewes bred for either
      increased (IRH) or decreased (DRH) resistance to Haemonchus contortus, or from an
      unselected control flock (CH). Following a 10 month period with no anthelmintic
      treatment, a rise in egg counts began about 4 weeks before parturition and
      continued into lactation. At all stages, egg counts were significantly lower in
      IRH ewes, even those failing to conceive. Before lambing, IRH ewes averaged 263
      epg, compared with 1113 epg in CH and 1618 epg in DRH ewes. After 2 weeks of
      lambing, lactating ewes averaged 1050, 2173 and 3708 epg, respectively, in the
      three lines. At the end of lambing, egg counts had increased to 1645, 3959 and
      4124 epg, respectively. Counts appeared to have peaked in IRH ewes but not in DRH
      ewes. Ewes with twins had higher counts than those with singles, and ewes
      suckling lambs had higher counts than those losing lambs. No significant
      variation was associated with age of ewe (2-7 years). Although there were several
      nematode species present, the results suggest that, in comparison with DRH ewes,
      IRH ewes were particularly effective in reducing pasture contamination with H.
      contortus, both before and during the peri-parturient period.

PMID- 1459790
TI  - Association of blood eosinophilia with the expression of resistance in Romney
      lambs to nematodes.
AB  - The dynamics of blood eosinophilia was studied in Romney lambs dosed twice weekly
      with 5000 infective larvae of Trichostrongylus colubriformis. A marked rise in
      blood eosinophil counts of the dosed lambs coincided with the start of the
      decline of faecal egg counts (FEC). Eosinophilia was also studied in grazing
      Romney lambs from a breeding programme, based on selection for high or low FEC.
      Comparison of the sire groups suggested that the magnitude of the eosinophil
      response was under genetic control. The significant negative correlations between
      blood eosinophil counts and FECs confirmed the association between eosinophilia
      and the expression of resistance in Romney lambs to nematodes. However,
      comparison of the mean blood eosinophil counts and FECs for both the ram and ewe
      lambs of the resistance sire groups suggested that the association of
      eosinophilia and resistance may be greater for some sire groups than others.

PMID- 1459791
TI  - Inflammatory responses in the intestine during tapeworm infections. Mucosal mast
      cells and mucosal mast cell proteases in Sprague-Dawley rats infected with
      Hymenolepis diminuta.
AB  - Comparative studies were made of two populations of Sprague-Dawley rats infected
      with Hymenolepis diminuta. The time course of infection, the development of
      mucosal mastocytosis and the levels of rat mucosal mast cell (MMC) protease (RMCP
      II) in serum and in jejunal mucosal tissues were monitored at intervals after
      infection with 40 cysticercoids of the tapeworm. Worm expulsion patterns differed
      markedly between the two populations, rats of New Zealand origin showing an
      abrupt and clear-cut loss of worms, rats of English origin showing a more gradual
      decline over a longer time period. In both populations, however, numbers of MMC
      and levels of tissue RMCP II were positively correlated with time after infection
      and negatively correlated with worm numbers. In only one of the three experiments
      (using English strain rats over a short time period) did levels of serum RMCP II
      change with time. In the other two experiments, in which English-strain and New
      Zealand-strain rats were used, there were no correlations between serum RMCP II
      and time, numbers of MMC, numbers of worms or levels of tissue RMCP II. The
      absence of correlation between serum RMCP II and worm loss in these experiments
      implies that MMC have no direct role in expulsion of H. diminuta. The data do
      show, nevertheless, that this purely luminal tapeworm is fully capable of
      activating the mucosal T lymphocyte-MMC precursor axis to elicit a mucosal
      mastocytosis.

PMID- 1459792
TI  - Secondary Echinococcus multilocularis infection in severe combined
      immunodeficient (scid) mice: biphasic growth of the larval cyst mass.
AB  - E. multilocularis infection was suppressed in C.B-17 mice after intraperitoneal
      inoculation of protoscoleces, with larval cysts weighing no more than 1.0 g. In
      scid mice, which are genetically identical to C.B-17 except for a deficiency in
      functional lymphocytes, infection progressed and larval cysts reached a mass of
      17.5 g at 15 weeks post-infection. The growth of the larval cyst mass in scid
      mice was similar to that in other susceptible mouse strains, with a biphasic
      pattern. Histological observations revealed giant cells and granulomatous
      inflammation in the C.B-17, but not in the scid mice. These results led to the
      conclusion that suppression of the growth of the larval cyst mass in the initial
      stage of infection in susceptible mice strains is caused by factors other than
      the host's lymphocytic immune response.

PMID- 1459793
TI  - The effect of adjuvant and specific or non-specific vaccination on development of
      protective immunity of rabbits against Trichostrongylus colubriformis infection.
AB  - Adult New Zealand rabbits were vaccinated subcutaneously with one dose of 100
      micrograms adult nematode phosphate buffered saline-soluble proteins (PBS-ASP,
      groups I and II), a detergent-soluble fraction of adult somatic proteins (DS-ASP,
      group III) or three doses of 1 mg normal rabbit serum proteins (group IV).
      Injections of the immunogens in groups II, III and IV were accompanied with
      beryllium hydroxide, Be(OH)2 as an adjuvant. Vaccinated rabbits and also those of
      group V (naive) were challenged orally with 10,000 infective larvae of T.
      colubriformis 14 days after antigen injection and necropsied 2 weeks later. A
      single dose of PBS-ASP induced 33.5% protection when the antigen was given alone
      (group I) and 69.4% when injected with Be(OH)2 (group II). A detergent-soluble
      fraction of ASP given with the adjuvant provided 87.2% protection (group III),
      whilst non-specific vaccination with serum proteins plus Be(OH)2 elicited 99%
      protection (group IV). Mesenteric lymph node leukocyte responses were measured
      using a leukocyte migration inhibition assay. A significant response was observed
      only in group IV. In ELISA tests IgA antibodies specific to PBS-ASP reached the
      highest level in the intestinal mucosa of groups I and II and in the bile of
      groups I and III. Antibody levels of IgG isotype were similar in the intestinal
      mucosa of all the immunized groups. Nematode antigen was detected using a
      'sandwich' ELISA method in faecal protein extracts of rabbits of groups II and
      III on days 2-6 after challenge.

PMID- 1459794
TI  - Population dynamics of Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Ostertagia circumcincta
      in single and concurrent infections.
AB  - Twenty-one-week-old worm-free pen-reared lambs were infected weekly with either
      10,000 T. colubriformis larvae, 5000 O. circumcincta larvae, or with both species
      (15,000 larvae per week). Larval establishment and total worm burdens were
      estimated after 4, 7, 10 and 13 weeks of infection. Faecal egg counts and lamb
      bodyweights were measured weekly, and numbers of eosinophils in blood were
      estimated before infection and at weeks 5, 8 and 14. For both species of worms,
      the dynamics of infection (establishment, worm burdens, egg counts) were not
      affected by concurrent or pre-existing infection with the other species.
      Infection with T. colubriformis alone did not protect against O. circumcincta,
      but infection with O. circumcincta alone provided slight protection against the
      T. colubriformis larvae. Blood eosinophils increased between 5 and 8 weeks of
      infection and were similar for the three infections. This corresponded to the
      reduction in establishment for both species.

PMID- 1459797
TI  - Tissue-type plasminogen activator and von Willebrand factor plasma levels as
      markers of endothelial involvement in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon.
AB  - In order to investigate the significance of high circulating levels of von
      Willebrand factor (vWF), recently observed in patients with vascular diseases, we
      compared the plasma levels of vWF with those of tissue-type plasminogen activator
      (t-PA) and the platelet content of serotonin (5-HT) in 40 patients with Raynaud's
      phenomenon (RP), primary or associated to systemic sclerosis (SSc), and in 14
      patients with chronic peripheral obstructive disease due to arteriosclerosis
      (PAOD). VWF and t-PA plasma levels were significantly increased (p < 0.001) in
      SSc (vWF: 158.2, range 116.3-305.0%; t-PA: 10.2, range 6.4-17.8 ng/ml). By
      contrast, normal plasma levels of both vWF (85.3, range 53.5-157.0%) and t-PA
      (6.5, range 2.7-9.3 ng/ml) were observed in primary RP. VWF and t-PA were normal
      in PAOD patients, compared with age-matched healthy controls (vWF: 143.0, range
      57.0-204.0%; t-PA: 7.5, range 3.4-13.6, ng/ml). The platelet content of 5-HT was
      within the normal range (37.3-99.7 ng/10(8) platelets) in RP patients, but
      significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in PAOD patients (39.0, range 14.7-91.4). Our
      data suggest that the different pattern of circulating vWF and t-PA between SSc
      and arteriosclerotic patients may be related to a different endothelial cell
      involvement. Whether this increase may reflect active attempts of regeneration
      and repair, indicating endothelial cell viability rather than damage is a matter
      of speculation.

PMID- 1459795
TI  - Immunoperoxidase labelling of albumin at the endothelial cell surface of frog
      mesenteric microvessels.
AB  - Albumin was visualised at the endothelial cell surface of perfused frog
      mesenteric microvessels using immuno-peroxidase labelling. Vessels in the
      mesenteries of pithed frogs were washed free of blood and then perfused with frog
      Ringer solutions containing bovine serum albumin (BSA) at a concentration of 20
      mg BSA ml-1, followed by a brief Ringer flush to remove excess albumin from the
      vessel lumen. The tissues were fixed in 1% glutaraldehyde and a double antibody
      labelling technique used to identify albumin within the tissue. A dense layer of
      peroxidase reaction product was seen, which extended 25-50 nm into the vessel
      lumen. It appeared as a continuous layer lining the luminal openings of
      interendothelial cell clefts and vesicles open to the luminal cell surface. In
      some vessels a more irregular layer of peroxidase labelled albumin was seen
      extending 150 to 200 nm into the vessel lumen, whilst in others clumps of
      peroxidase labelled albumin were also seen within the vessel lumen. These data
      offer direct evidence that BSA does interact with the endothelial cell surface of
      perfused frog mesenteric microvessels but suggest that a proportion is loosley or
      non-specifically bound to the cell surface and can be removed by a brief Ringer
      flush. The remainder appears more tightly bound and resistant to Ringer flush.

PMID- 1459796
TI  - Subcutaneous interstitial fluid pressure and arm volume in lymphoedema.
AB  - Interstitial fluid pressures were measured by the wick in needle method in the
      swollen and normal arms of 38 patients with lymphoedema resulting from treatment
      for breast cancer. The mean increase in arm volume, calculated from sequential
      circumferential measurements, was 33% (range 0.25 to 85.9). Subcutis interstitial
      fluid pressure in the swollen arm (2.0 cmH2O range -4.5 cmH2O to 6.8 cmH2O) was
      significantly greater (p < 0.001) than in the contralateral, non-swollen arm (
      2.6 cmH2O range -11 cmH2O to 0 cmH2O). Interstitial fluid pressure in the
      oedematous arm did not correlate with the duration of the swelling (1-324
      months), but did correlate with the increase in volume relative to the normal arm
      (r = 0.38, p < 0.05), the slope ('apparent compliance') being 28 ml.dl-1.cmH2O-1.
      The pressure-volume curve was less steep than the classic curve for acute oedema
      of dog limbs (Guyton, 1965). Vascular pressures were normal. The interstitial
      fluid pressures were not as high as those reported for lymphoedema of the lower
      extremity (mean 17.9 mmHg, Christensen et al., 1985). Nevertheless, the rise in
      interstitial fluid pressure by an average of 4.6 cmH2O constitutes a force
      opposing further microvascular fluid filtration and perhaps promoting fluid
      drainage out of the arm.

PMID- 1459798
TI  - Circulatory adaptation to the increased metabolism in the skin at the site of the
      tuberculin reaction.
AB  - The sequence of changes at the site of a positive tuberculin test response were
      studied in 19 healthy young adults who had been immunised with BCG in childhood.
      The development of erythema preceded that of induration and both were most
      intense at 48-72 h. The strongest reactions showed higher laser Doppler (LD) flux
      at the periphery than at the center (central relative slowing). All showed a
      substantial reduction in steady-state (ss) tcpO2 from 24 h onwards and the oxygen
      consumption rate (mlO2.kg-1.min-1), calculated from the rate of fall in tcpO2
      during temporary cuff occlusion of arterial input, was raised (greater than two
      fold) throughout the period of study (to 96 h). The density of lymphocytes and
      macrophages in the inflammatory infiltrate in the dermis was related to the fall
      in tcpO2.ss and to the extent of thickening of the dermis. These experiments
      showed that the previously healthy dermal microcirculation can adapt to temporary
      increase in metabolic demands of leucocytes emigrated from the circulation into
      the tissue: in intense delayed hypersensitivity (DHS) reactions there is
      considerable hypoxia and respiratory debt, but maintenance of viability in the
      short-term. It is likely that similar adaptations occur in the period of
      establishment of microbial infection.

PMID- 1459799
TI  - Red cell velocity and microvessel diameter measurement by a two fluorescent
      tracer method under epifluorescence microscopy: application to cerebral
      microvessels of cats.
AB  - Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled red blood cells (RBCs) and rhodamine-B
      isothiocyanate (RITC)-labeled dextran were used as two fluorescent tracers under
      intravital fluorescence microscopy. RBC velocity in cerebral microvessels of cats
      was measured with a dual window technique using FITC-labeled RBCs as a flow
      tracer. Measurement of the vessel diameter was performed using a digital image
      processor system by staining plasma with RITC-labeled dextran. The RBC velocity,
      obtained directly with digital cross-correlation of videodensitometric signals
      derived from the two windows, coincided with those obtained with the frame-by
      frame analysis. The obtained RBC velocity ranged between 12.9 and 0.45 mm/sec in
      arterioles (< 60 microns) in diameter, 4.2 and 0.18 mm/sec in venules (< 60
      microns in diameter), and 1.1 and 0.26 mm/sec in capillaries. The use of the
      labeled RBCs as the flow tracer enabled us to measure a wide range of RBC
      velocity (up to about 7 mm/sec) by setting the distance between the two windows
      beyond about 200 microns.

PMID- 1459800
TI  - In vivo responses of allografted cerebral parenchymal arterioles to ethanol and
      angiotensin II: effect of calcium channel blockade.
AB  - The goals of these studies were to determine: 1) the effect of ethanol and
      angiotensin II on the diameter of allografted cerebral parenchymal arterioles in
      vivo, and 2) the effect of the calcium antagonist, verapamil, in modulating the
      responses of allografted cerebral parenchymal arterioles to ethanol and
      angiotensin II. Using a chamber technique, neonatal (< 24 hours old) cortical
      tissue was transplanted onto the cheek pouch of adult hamsters. Eight to thirteen
      days after allografting, hamsters were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital
      (6.0 mg/100 grams i.p.), and allografted cerebral parenchymal arterioles were
      viewed using intravital microscopy. Diameter of allografted cerebral parenchymal
      arterioles was measured before (control), during and after topical application of
      ethanol (0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0%) and angiotensin II (0.1 and 1.0
      ng/ml). Application of ethanol and angiotensin II was repeated after changing the
      suffusion fluid to one containing verapamil (50 mg/L). We found that ethanol and
      angiotensin II produced dose-related constriction of allografted cerebral
      parenchymal arterioles. In addition, verapamil significantly attenuated
      vasoconstriction produced by ethanol and angiotensin II. Thus, our findings
      suggest that ethanol and angiotensin II cause constriction of allografted
      cerebral parenchymal arterioles through a calcium-dependent mechanism.

PMID- 1459801
TI  - Lessons learned from AIDS education in schools.

PMID- 1459802
TI  - AIDS-like epidemic: no evidence.

PMID- 1459803
TI  - ICN/3M scholars: tomorrow's nursing leaders.
AB  - For over 20 years ICN and the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M)
      have sponsored a scholarship programme directed toward helping nurses further
      their education in nursing. Since then 48 nurses have been provided the needed
      funds to reach their professional goals and subsequently to help answer their
      country's healthcare needs. Their degrees and expertise have opened up
      professional doors but most of all have given them the confidence to become
      driving forces in initiating research and other programmes that aim to provide
      quality care to all their countries' citizens.

PMID- 1459804
TI  - Nursing in Africa today.
AB  - In any description of nursing in Africa, one must consider the continent's vast
      size and complexity of cultures. Even the concept of nursing does not have the
      same meaning in all African countries. Below, Osei-Boateng updates the status of
      African nurses, derived from her paper that appeared in the 10th anniversary
      brochure of the West African College of Nursing (WACN). To simplify the analysis,
      she focuses only on the region south of the Sahara--excluding South Africa--in
      her overview of the slow progress and vast education needs of nurses caught in
      the web of their countries' socioeconomic and political chaos ... and lethargy.

PMID- 1459805
TI  - A unique concept of nursing care.
AB  - The form of caring may vary across cultures; but the perception of the caring by
      the receiver is universal. The patient knows what hurts, what problems are
      crucial and what experiences have been deeply buried. As a Chinese from Taiwan,
      raised in Japan and educated in the US, the author provides a unique concept of
      nursing care that relies on the patient for direction.

PMID- 1459806
TI  - Participatory research: getting the community involved in health development.
AB  - The Alma Ata Declaration states that "the people have the right and duty to
      participate individually and collectively in the planning and implementation of
      their health care." This means that community involvement in health development
      is fundamental in the battle for health. And, as the author demonstrates below,
      its participation in health research is necessary in the process of finding
      better ways and methods to provide health for all.

PMID- 1459807
TI  - Xanthofibroma of the adrenal gland.
AB  - The authors report on a 43-year-old woman who had undergone unilateral
      adrenalectomy for a right suprarenal mass. The removed specimen was
      histopathologically defined as xanthofibroma, a hitherto unpublished adrenal
      tumour. The connective tissue protein of this rare tumour contained great amounts
      of collagen, non-collagenous protein and elastin. The significance of such
      abnormal proliferation of fibrous tissue and the conventional sonographic and CT
      features of this neoplasm are discussed.

PMID- 1459808
TI  - Inverted papilloma of the renal pelvis.
AB  - The authors describe a case of inverted papilloma. It is relatively rare and
      generally appears as a benign tumour.

PMID- 1459809
TI  - Multiple fibroepithelial polyps of the renal pelvis and calyces: a case report.
AB  - Fibroepithelial polyp of the renal pelvis is an extremely rare entity. We report
      a case of multiple fibroepithelial polyps of the renal pelvis and calyces and
      discuss this rare and confusing condition with its clinical, radiological and
      pathological findings.

PMID- 1459810
TI  - Usefulness of non-invasive diagnostic methods for early detection of neoplasms of
      the urinary tract and male genitals among workers of the Mazovian Refining and
      Petrochemical Plant in Plock.
AB  - The studies were aimed at the evaluation of the usefulness of non-invasive
      diagnostic methods including inquiry, clinical examination, transabdominal
      ultrasonography, cytologic examination of the urinary sediment, determination of
      blood serum concentrations of certain neoplastic markers, and urinalysis for
      early detection of neoplasms of the urinary tract and male genitals; and at the
      determination of the sensitivity and specificity of percutaneous ultrasonography
      combined with cytologic examination of the urinary sediment for detection of
      neoplasms of the kidneys and urinary tract, particularly of the urinary bladder.
      Urological examinations were performed in 300 workers occupationally exposed to
      oil derivatives. Neoplasms of the urinary tract and male genitals were detected
      in 37 (12.3%) workers. Neoplasms of the urinary bladder were found most
      frequently. They were diagnosed by non-invasive methods in 14 (4.7%) and verified
      clinically and histologically in 11 (3.7%) persons. The results seem to indicate
      the usefulness of non-invasive diagnostic methods for urological screening
      studies among occupational populations with increased risk of neoplasms of the
      urinary system and male genitals. The high sensitivity (93%) and high positive
      predictive coefficient (0.90) for the combination of transabdominal
      ultrasonography and cytological examination of the urinary sediment for detection
      of urinary system neoplasms seem to be tokens of their high diagnostic value and
      clinical usefulness.

PMID- 1459811
TI  - In situ prone ESWL for the treatment of lower ureteral stones: experience with 28
      patients.
AB  - Twenty-eight patients with lower ureteral stones underwent in situ extracorporeal
      shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in the prone position over the period of 7 months
      between March 1990 and September 1990. For stone disintegration the spark gap
      shock wave lithotripter Tripter XI (Direx) was used. Satisfactory disintegration
      was achieved in 93 per cent of patients. The stone-free rate at 12 weeks was 82
      per cent, and 11 per cent had residual fragments less than or equal to 4 mm in
      diameter. Twenty-one per cent of patients required repeat treatments. For only 2
      patients general anaesthesia was required (7 per cent). There were no remarkable
      complications except for haemospermia which resolved spontaneously 15 days after
      treatment. It was concluded that in situ prone ESWL is an effective and safe
      procedure for the treatment of lower ureteral stones.

PMID- 1459812
TI  - Fifty years of antireflux ureterovesicoplasty.
AB  - In spite of the impressive progress in medical science, surgery remains an
      empirical skill. Surgery of the ureterovesical junction is a permanent challenge
      for all generations of urologists. Half a century of intensive development of
      modern surgery evidences the efforts to reestablish function by a perfect copy of
      natural anatomy.

PMID- 1459813
TI  - The permanent ureterocutaneostomy (UCST).
AB  - During a period of eleven years, ureterocutaneostomy (UCST) as a permanent
      urinary diversion was performed in 44 highly selected patients. Postoperative
      complications, in particular stenoses or strictures, can be avoided if subtle
      operative techniques are applied. Ureterocutaneostomy, which is functionally
      similar to an incontinent ileal conduit, turns out reasonable especially as a
      palliative procedure in patients with unresectable pelvic mass, dilated ureter,
      or solitary kidney. Thus, the authors conclude that UCST as a permanent urinary
      diversion still has to be considered valuable in a highly selected group of
      patients.

PMID- 1459814
TI  - Bladder leiomyosarcoma: report of three cases.
AB  - Three patients with leiomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder are presented. One case
      showed urothelial carcinoma in situ also. The mode of presentation and operative
      findings were similar in two female patients, whereas the lesion seemed to be
      more aggressive in a male patient.

PMID- 1459815
TI  - Percutaneous drainage of prostatic abscess.
AB  - The treatment results of 2 patients with prostatic abscess who underwent perineal
      percutaneous drainage under transrectal ultrasonographic guidance are described.
      Both patients were treated definitely and without complications. It is concluded
      that the use of transrectal ultrasound during the procedure increases the
      effectivity and safety of treatment.

PMID- 1459816
TI  - Prostatectomy in the very aged.
AB  - The number of very aged men who demand prostatectomy for benign disease is
      increasing. We have assessed surgery results in 79 patients operated during the
      last four years. Sixty-two underwent endoscopic and 17 open procedure. Mortality
      rate was 3.7%. Two patients died in the first week and one patient three weeks
      after surgery. Morbidity rate was 61% but did not significantly affect the final
      operative outcome. Operative success rate six weeks postoperatively was 87%,
      satisfactory for this age group. After detailed preoperative evaluation and
      postoperative care by specialized age care team, prostatectomy is safe, effective
      and involves low-cost treatment.

PMID- 1459817
TI  - Prognostic variables in patients with prostate cancer: influence of blood group
      ABO (H), the Rhesus system, age, differentiation, tumour stage and metastases.
AB  - Among 279 patients with carcinoma of the prostate no relationship was observed in
      survival between blood groups ABO (H) or the rhesus system. Age at diagnosis is
      relevant for the outcome of the disease, but grade of differentiation, tumour
      stage and metastases are more important predictors of survival.

PMID- 1459818
TI  - Update of experience in the treatment of localized carcinoma of the prostate by
      definitive external irradiation.
AB  - In 1987 a retrospective analysis was performed of 116 patients with carcinoma of
      the prostate localized to the pelvis who were treated by radiotherapy at the
      Northern Israel Oncology Center during the period between 1977 and 1982. It was
      shown that definitive external beam irradiation is an effective, simple, and easy
      treatment modality for localized prostatic cancer.

PMID- 1459819
TI  - Psychosomatic evaluation of patients with congenital penile deviation. A
      postoperative catamnestic follow-up.
AB  - Thirty-three patients with congenital penile deviation were examined by a semi
      structured interview and psychodiagnostic tests (Giessen test, Giessen complaint
      sheet) prior to undergoing surgery according to the Nesbit-Kelami technique. A
      prognosis was then made to determine the extent to which the problems and
      disturbances reported by the patient or uncovered by the examiner could be
      improved by the operation. This prognostic assessment was then verified in a
      subsequent catamnestic examination (N = 20), at an average of 21.3 months after
      the intervention. An attempt is made to identify and define preoperative
      indicators that permit to predict the postoperative course.

PMID- 1459820
TI  - Prostaglandin E2 in renal transplant recipients.
AB  - The concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), sodium, potassium and creatinine
      were determined in the blood and urine of 50 renal transplant recipients treated
      with cyclosporine A or azathioprine, as immunosuppressive agents, for at least
      one year post transplantation. Fourteen healthy subjects served as control group.
      The urinary PGE2 excretion was significantly decreased in all treated renal
      transplant recipients and this reduction was associated with significant decrease
      in urinary excretion of sodium and potassium. On the other hand, a high elevation
      in blood PGE2 concentration was observed while no significant changes were seen
      in sodium and potassium levels in the blood of these renal transplant recipients.
      The observations suggest an association between urinary PGE2 reduction and
      immunosuppressive treatments in renal transplant recipients; also, PGE2 may
      regulate intra-renal haemodynamics and influence the renal tubular electrolyte
      excretion. Moreover, urinary PGE2 can be used as an indicator of successful renal
      transplantation.

PMID- 1459821
TI  - Vitamin B6 requirements in chronic renal failure.
AB  - According to our results the long-term daily oral supplementation of 6 mg vitamin
      B6 was sufficient for prevention of vitamin B6 deficiency in chronic renal
      failure, regular dialysis treatment and CAPD groups of patients. Haemodialysis
      and charcoal haemoperfusion have led to non-significant decrease of erythrocyte
      vitamin B6. A favourable effect was found of daily oral administration of 50 mg
      pyridoxine on electrophoretic mobility of peripheral blood lymphocytes and
      cellular immunity.

PMID- 1459823
TI  - Spontaneous peripelvic extravasation of urine.
AB  - Spontaneous peripelvic extravasation of urine is relatively uncommon. We
      experienced 11 cases of spontaneous peripelvic extravasation. Urinary obstruction
      was caused by calculi in 9 cases, invasion by sigmoid carcinoma in 1 case and
      ureteral tumour (transitional cell carcinoma) in 1. Six patients presented with
      signs of peritonitis and 4 out of 9 with calculus did not develop
      microhaematuria. It is important to differentiate peripelvic extravasation from
      other acute abdominal conditions. We must pay special attention to patients with
      signs of peritonitis and normal urinalysis.

PMID- 1459822
TI  - Laparoscopic surgery in urology.
AB  - In recent months, laparoscopy has been used for such urological procedures as
      varicocelectomy, pelvic lymph node dissection and even nephrectomy. It would
      appear that laparoscopic surgery is going to make an important contribution to
      the field of endourology. In order to assess the current status and value of
      laparoscopic techniques to urologists, we have reviewed the history of
      laparoscopy in general and urologic laparoscopy in particular.

PMID- 1459824
TI  - Urinary tuberculosis: experience of a teaching hospital in Syria.
AB  - This study was designed to show our experience of urinary tuberculosis in one of
      the large teaching hospitals in Syria. It was a prospective study involving 48
      patients (29 males and 19 females) with confirmed tuberculous lesions in the
      urinary tract. The study period was between 1982-1987. The presenting symptoms
      were protean, and there were often delays between onset of symptoms and eventual
      diagnosis. The highest age incidence was in the second and fourth decades. Beside
      the suggestive clinical manifestations, final diagnosis was reached by various
      means. Repeated examinations of EMU smears were positive in about 20% of cases.
      Urine culture was positive in 33.3%, while varied percentage of cases showed some
      radiological changes suggestive of tuberculosis. Other investigations included
      cystoscopy and biopsy of suspected lesions. Treatment was conservative by
      chemotherapy in 45% of cases, with complete recovery in about 33%, while
      acceptable results were shown in congruent to 19%, and failure of treatment or
      recurrence of active disease in 48% of cases. Some forms of surgical intervention
      were carried out in 55% of patients. Cure was seen in 50% of them, while 25% had
      acceptable results and failure was shown in the remaining 25%. It is concluded
      that urinary tuberculosis remains an important infectious disease problem in our
      country. The high rate of failure of both medical or surgical treatment is mainly
      due to late diagnosis.

PMID- 1459825
TI  - Experience with the Direx Tripter X-1 shock-wave lithotripter.
AB  - The authors give account of the experience they gained with the Direx Tripter X-1
      (ESWL) apparatus. In a random material they succeeded to render 81.5% of the
      patients stone free within three months. They judge the apparatus suitable for in
      situ treatment of pelvic and ureteric stones and for the monotherapy of staghorn
      calculi. It is easy to handle, inexpensive to buy and maintain but noisy to
      operate, moreover the patient has to be anaesthetized. All in all it is highly
      useful in the treatment of renal lithiasis.

PMID- 1459826
TI  - Late development of pelviureteric junction obstruction (PUJO) in a girl with
      previously normal pyelogram: a case report.
AB  - A case of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in a girl with previously normal
      pyelogram is presented. The aetiology of this development is unclear but this
      report emphasizes the need for a close follow-up of patients with persistent
      flank pain even if the initial pyelograms are normal.

PMID- 1459827
TI  - Transurethral ultrasonography, fiberoptic cystoscopy and bladder washout cytology
      in the evaluation of bladder tumours.
AB  - The impact of transurethral ultrasonography, fiberoptic cystoscopy and bladder
      washout cytology on assessment of bladder tumours was investigated in this study.
      Transurethral ultrasonography had an accuracy rate of 96.5% in diagnosing and
      staging bladder tumours. The accuracy rates of fiberoptic cystoscopy and washout
      cytology were 90.9% and 73.7%, respectively, in diagnosis. The efficacy of
      transurethral ultrasonography was found to be high enough for routine employment
      in the evaluation of the bladder tumours. Fiberoptic cystoscopy in conjunction
      with washout cytology as a combination relatively easy to perform can be used
      especially for follow-up purposes of the bladder tumours.

PMID- 1459828
TI  - Terodiline in the treatment of nocturnal enuresis in children.
AB  - The effect of terodiline was investigated in 17 children with nocturnal enuresis.
      Twelve of them were evaluated urodynamically before treatment and 6 of these were
      proved to have detrusor instability with or without provocation. Terodiline in a
      daily dose of 12.5 mg was administered for 4 weeks. After treatment the number of
      wet nights per week has significantly decreased. Urodynamically, maximum
      cystometric capacity has statistically increased and in 2 patients involuntary
      contraction has disappeared. During these periods no serious side effects were
      encountered. Terodiline could improve urodynamic parameters in nocturnal
      enuresis. These changes appear to be favourable in clinical improvement.

PMID- 1459830
TI  - Positron emission tomography in the study of acute radiation effects on renal
      blood flow in dogs.
AB  - Renal blood flow measurements have been carried out by means of positron emission
      tomography (PET) to facilitate the detection of radiation-induced injuries. The
      advantages of the method employed in animal experiments are described.

PMID- 1459829
TI  - Primary lymphoma of the penis with rationale of treatment.
AB  - Appropriate care of a patient with primary lymphoma of the penis requires
      consideration of the diagnoses, thorough evaluation, and knowledge of the various
      therapeutic approaches. A patient is presented with brief review of similar cases
      together with the rationale for the use of radiation therapy and chemotherapy
      rather than surgery.

PMID- 1459832
TI  - The variety of clinical and histopathologic presentations of glomerulonephritis
      associated with latent syphilis.
AB  - Glomerulonephritis is a well established but rather uncommon complication of
      latent secondary syphilis. We present three cases of glomerulopathies associated
      with luetic infection, observed and managed in our institutions in the past three
      years. They illustrate a variety of clinicopathologic presentations of this
      nephropathy, from acute nephrotic syndrome through membranous glomerulopathy up
      to rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. Regardless of the clinical course and
      histologic type, they were all characterized by strongly positive results of
      serologic tests for syphilis. Our observations suggest the necessity of
      eliminating luetic infection in aetiologic considerations of each newly diagnosed
      case of nephrotic syndrome.

PMID- 1459831
TI  - Central catecholamine, sympathetic nerve and vascular protein in the acute phase
      of two-kidney, one-clip renovascular hypertension in rats.
AB  - Incorporation of 3H-proline into the non-collagenous protein in mesenteric
      arteries in two-kidney, one-clip hypertensive rats was greater than that in
      normotensive rats. Splanchnicotomy predominantly over the root of mesenteric
      arteries or intracranioventricular injection of 6-hydroxydopamine prevented the
      development of hypertension in 2K-1C rats concomitant with the reduction of
      incorporation of 3H-proline into the non-collagenous protein in mesenteric
      arteries. The content of norepinephrine in the hypothalamus in 2K-1C rats was
      lower than that in normotensive control rats. These findings indicate that
      increased non-collagenous protein synthesis in mesenteric arteries or low level
      of hypothalamic norepinephrine has facilitative effects on the development of 2K
      1C hypertension.

PMID- 1459833
TI  - Calcium blockers enhance cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.
AB  - To examine the effects of calcium blockers on nephrotoxicity caused by cisplatin,
      the renal function and renal accumulation of Pt in Sprague-Dawley rats given 6.5
      mg/kg i.v. cisplatin simultaneously with several doses of verapamil or
      nicardipine were evaluated. BUN, serum creatinine and kidney Pt concentrations in
      rats given more than 5.0 mg/kg of verapamil were significantly higher than those
      of the control animals injected with 6.5 mg/kg i.v. cisplatin alone, and the
      increase of each value was dependent upon the dose of verapamil. BUN, creatinine
      and kidney Pt in rats injected with more than 0.5 mg/kg i.p. nicardipine were
      also significantly higher than those of the controls. Calcium blockers enhanced
      the renal accumulation of Pt and the nephrotoxicity of cisplatin.

PMID- 1459834
TI  - Influence of prostacyclin infusion on haemodialysis efficiency and blood cells.
AB  - Dialysis efficiency, platelet and leukocyte counts, as well as malonyldialdehyde
      (MDA) level and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in serum were assessed in 10
      patients (8 males, 2 females, aged 28-58 years) treated with repeated
      haemodialysis due to terminal renal failure. Patients were examined twice: during
      a 4-hour haemodialysis in the presence of heparin as the anticoagulant, and a
      week later in the course of another haemodialysis combined with infusion of
      heparin and prostacyclin. Statistically significant lower level of urea at the
      end of dialysis and significantly higher urea clearance were found during
      haemodialysis with prostacyclin-heparin infusion in comparison with infusion of
      heparin alone. As compared with the initial values obtained prior to dialysis,
      neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were observed during haemodialysis with heparin
      alone but the counts remained generally unaltered when both prostacyclin and
      heparin were administered. During and after haemodialysis with heparin and
      prostacyclin both MDA level and LDH activity were lower than in case of
      haemodialysis with heparin alone.

PMID- 1459836
TI  - CAPD versus haemodialysis: a comparison in the same patients.
AB  - Most studies comparing CAPD and haemodialysis (HD) were done in different
      populations, matched for sex and age. The present report compared 13 non-diabetic
      end-stage renal failure patients who were treated for at least six months with
      each type of therapy. Analysis of the data revealed a higher haemoglobin during
      CAPD but no differences in the blood transfusion requirements. Serum creatinine,
      BUN and potassium were lower during CAPD and serum calcium was higher during HD.
      Serum cholesterol levels were higher during CAPD and returned to pre-CAPD levels
      during the fourth month after being transferred to HD. Hospitalization rates were
      similar with the two treatments. Our study confirmed previous sex- and age
      matched studies comparing CAPD and HD therapy.

PMID- 1459837
TI  - The killing of four therapists in the West Jerusalem Mental Health Center.

PMID- 1459835
TI  - Peritoneal dialysis in Hungary.
AB  - In 1991 the technical conditions and the number of patients receiving peritoneal
      dialysis were surveyed in the Hungarian nephrology and dialysing units. Not only
      the number of patients with chronic uraemia (undergoing dialysis +
      transplantation) is lower in this country as compared to the European average
      (106 and 236 per one million people, respectively), but also their distribution
      according to the type of treatment is different. For several years patients under
      intermittent peritoneal dialysis make up more than 10% of the cases and those
      under continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis less than 2% (in Europe: < 2% and
      4-43%, respectively). The survey also included the types of solution,
      disinfection and connecting devices used in peritoneal dialysis, as well as the
      incidence of peritonitis and the administration of antibiotics. The principles of
      biocompatibility, the function of interleukin, as well as the effectiveness and
      the conditions of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis are summarized.

PMID- 1459838
TI  - Adjustment problems among Soviet immigrants at risk. Part I: Reaching out to
      members of the "1000 families" organization.
AB  - An outreach, preventive mental health project with Soviet immigrants implemented
      during and immediately following the Gulf War is described. One hundred and fifty
      immigrant families were visited by immigrant mental health professionals when the
      level and nature of their psychological distress was assessed. In the analyses of
      data, patterns of distress over time and factors which contributed to
      psychological distress were also examined. The main finding of the study
      concerned the subjects' well-being which was found to be marginally related to
      the Gulf War. Furthermore, no post-traumatic reactions could be discerned.
      Instead, immigration related factors, both emotional and objective, were
      correlated with the psychological distress of the subjects.

PMID- 1459839
TI  - The psychological profile of Jewish late adolescents in the USSR: a pre
      immigration study.
AB  - Psychological well-being and the level of psychological autonomy were studied in
      a group of 109 Jewish late adolescents in the USSR. The subjects were not found
      to be more distressed than their American peers, but their dependency on their
      parents was significantly higher. The findings are discussed in the light of
      Soviet social values and child rearing attitudes and their impact on the
      adjustment of Soviet immigrant adolescents in Israel.

PMID- 1459840
TI  - Clinicians' assessments of suicide risk: can self-report measures replace the
      experts?
AB  - This study examined the possibility of using standardized self-report measures as
      "stand-ins" for clinicians' assessments of suicide risk. Subjects were 252 new
      applicants to a military mental health clinic who completed a battery of
      questionnaires and underwent clinical interviews. The self-report measures of
      psychiatric symptomatology (general and depression), personality (impulsivity,
      anger), and cognitions (hopelessness, attitudes toward life and death) were not
      highly correlated with clinicians' assessments of suicide risk and some showed a
      non-linear association. These findings suggest that the two methods of assessment
      are not interchangeable and that clinicians base their assessments of suicide
      risk, at least in part, on factors not assessed by the above questionnaires.

PMID- 1459841
TI  - Program and process: designing the physical space of a day hospital.
AB  - Programmatic changes in the delivery of mental health services demand a
      reevaluation of the space devoted to those services. A growing body of mental
      health literature has been reported concerning the need to involve
      multidisciplinary teams in the design of mental health facilities. The
      development of Day Hospitalization Units offers a team the professional challenge
      of dealing with the physical environment. The following case study describes a
      given physical space and the process of change therein; based on this study and
      other relevant examples, we will discuss the relationship between physical space
      and the process of change.

PMID- 1459842
TI  - Traffic accident injuries of children: the need for prospective studies of
      psychiatric sequelae.
AB  - This paper presents a literature review of epidemiological data relevant to
      traffic accidents of children, including their personality and behavioral
      predisposition, social factors, association with risk taking behavior,
      rehabilitation, and incidence of post traumatic stress syndrome. The need for
      prospective studies of psychiatric sequelae of such accidents is highlighted.
      Three case vignettes are presented.

PMID- 1459843
TI  - Is there a place for paradoxical "maneuvers" in conventional psychotherapy?
AB  - This paper reviews the literature concerning the use and theoretical background
      of paradoxical maneuvers in conventional psychotherapy. By demonstrating a
      clinical example we highlight the usefulness of such an approach and the
      necessity for further research in finding valid indications and contraindications
      for its use.

PMID- 1459844
TI  - Federal policy on forgoing treatment or care: contradictions or consistency?

PMID- 1459845
TI  - The case for euthanasia: a humanistic perspective.

PMID- 1459846
TI  - Once more unto the breach: the right to die--again.

PMID- 1459847
TI  - Altruistic humanism and voluntary beneficent euthanasia.

PMID- 1459848
TI  - Voluntary active euthanasia: the next frontier?

PMID- 1459849
TI  - Voluntary active euthanasia: the next frontier. Impact on the indigent.

PMID- 1459850
TI  - State v. McKown.

PMID- 1459851
TI  - Werth v. Taylor.

PMID- 1459852
TI  - Nutrition and hydration: moral and pastoral reflections. Committee for Pro-Life
      Activities National Conference of Catholic Bishops April 1992.

PMID- 1459854
TI  - Hawaii no ka oi in terms of health care.

PMID- 1459853
TI  - The right to die: an up-date on the law.

PMID- 1459855
TI  - Evolutionary patterns in chromosome numbers in neotropical Lepidoptera. I.
      Chromosomes of the Heliconiini (family Nymphalidae: subfamily Nymphalinae).
AB  - Chromosome counts in meiotic metaphase plates in the gonads of 67 of the probable
      68 species of mimetic neotropical heliconian butterflies (Nymphalidae),
      representing 1524 individuals in 617 subspecies and geographically separate
      populations from southern Texas to northern Argentina, revealed a consistent
      haploid number of n = 21 in the genus Heliconius (except for the most advanced
      species with n = 33, 37, 56, and 60) and n = 31 in the more primitive genera
      (Eueides, Dryas, Dryadula, Agraulis, and Dione), with a transitional genus
      (Neruda) showing three species with n = 28-32, 21-22 + 5-10 "microchromosomes",
      and 20-22 + 1-5 "microchromosomes". The genus Laparus, with a single polymorphic
      species doris, probably an offshoot of early Heliconius, shows wide karyotypic
      variation (n = 20-30, 38) sometimes even within a single individual. The two most
      primitive genera also show much variation: Podotricha has two species with n = 9
      and n = 26-29; and Philaethria shows many phenotypically similar species, two
      with n = 29 and a still uncertain number (at least 3) with n = 88 (most common),
      67-72 (most widespread), 62 (very restricted geographically), 52, 21, and 12.
      Several interspecific hybrids (Heliconius cydno x H. melpomene) showed normal
      chromosome pairing, while deficient pairing was seen in intersubspecific hybrids
      in Eueides tales and Heliconius sara. The importance of these results in the
      evolutionary study of polytypic tropical species is discussed.

PMID- 1459856
TI  - Putative fragile sites in the horse karyotype.
AB  - After fluorouracil/5-bromodeoxyuridine synchronization and subsequent FPG
      staining, the karyotype of 15 phenotypically normal horses displayed several
      breaks and gaps. Twelve bands 1q24, 4p12, 8q23, 11p12, 16q21, 17q21, 23q31,
      23q32, Xp21, Xq22, Xq25 and Xq27 showed relatively frequent fragility. After
      thymidine/cytidine synchronization and subsequent GWL-banding the same horses
      display karyotypes without any fragility. Hence it is suggested that the above
      listed bands harbour folate and/or 5-bromodeoxyuridine sensitive fragile sites.

PMID- 1459857
TI  - Frequency of multiple insemination in a natural population of Drosophila montana.
AB  - The frequency of multiple insemination was studied in a boreal Drosophila montana
      population using mother-offspring data for a sex-linked allozyme locus. Mating
      with respect to the marker studied was random. In crowded laboratory cultures the
      heterozygous offspring had higher viability than homozygotes, but no deviations
      from Hardy-Weinberg proportions were found in natural populations. In multiply
      sired progenies the males did not contribute equally to the progeny, but the
      proportion sired by the second male was 0.76. The estimated frequency of multiple
      inseminated females was 1.19 +/- 0.31, indicating that practically all the
      females carried sperm of at least two males. The estimate is the largest ever
      reported in natural populations of Drosophila. However, the interspecific
      comparisons may not be relevant, because the frequency of multiple insemination
      does not necessarily reflect the real lifetime frequency of multiple matings. The
      effects of local ecology and life history characters, e.g., the uniform age
      structure and the temporal patterning of matings, on the high degree of detected
      multiple inseminations are discussed.

PMID- 1459858
TI  - Effects of genetic and environmental factors on the a-b, b-c and c-d interdigital
      ridge counts.
AB  - A study of 100 MZ (55 female and 45 male) and 97 DZ (50 male and 47 female) same
      sexed twin pairs was carried out to analyse the genetic component of the variance
      of the a-b, b-c and c-d interdigital ridge counts by means of the Christian
      method. Especially for the a-b interdigital ridge count, we found it important to
      analyse both sexes separately. Our results suggest that the a-b count in males
      seems to be more influenced by environmental factors than the other counts. For
      females, the three interdigital counts seem to have a strong genetic component
      influencing their phenotypic expression. Factor analysis with VARIMAX rotation
      showed each interdigital ridge count to be genetically independent.

PMID- 1459859
TI  - Identification of a hemA gene from Synechocystis by complementation of an E. coli
      hemA mutant.

PMID- 1459860
TI  - The expression of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) in normal
      parathyroid: histochemistry and in situ hybridization.
AB  - The expression and localization of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), a
      major factor responsible for humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM), was
      investigated in 14 cases of surgically resected normal parathyroid glands. For
      light microscopic immunohistochemistry, formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded
      specimens were stained with avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) using the anti
      PTHrP monoclonal antibody (MoAb), 4B3. Four percent paraformaldehyde (PFA)-fixed
      and OCT compound-embedded specimens were used for pre-embedded immunoelectron
      microscopy. For in situ hybridization, 4% PFA-fixed, frozen sections were studied
      using a bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeled PTHrP cDNA probe. Immunohistochemically,
      12 of the 14 cases were positive for PTHrP, which was observed mainly in the
      oxyphil and transitional oxyphil cells. The chief and clear cells, on the other
      hand, were faintly positive. Electron microscopically, secretory granules
      positive for PTHrP were observed in cells containing abundant mitochondria.
      Consistent with the PTHrP immunoreactivity, transcripts of PTHrP were observed
      also in the oxyphilic cells by in situ hybridization. Thus the production and
      secretion of PTHrP was shown by the oxyphil cell lineage in the normal
      parathyroid glands.

PMID- 1459861
TI  - Comparison of 35S- and digoxigenin-labeled RNA and oligonucleotide probes for in
      situ hybridization. Expression of mRNA of the seminal vesicle secretion protein
      II and androgen receptor genes in the rat prostate.
AB  - The sensitivity of radiolabeled and digoxigenin-labeled RNA probes and synthetic
      oligonucleotide probes for the detection of seminal vesicle secretion protein II
      (SVS II) and androgen receptor (AR) mRNA was compared by in situ hybridization in
      paraformaldehyde-fixed cryostat sections of the rat prostate. Both genes are
      expressed in different amounts in the various prostatic lobes and contiguous
      glands. SVS II or AR RNA probes were either labeled with digoxigenin-11-UTP or
      [35S]UTP by in vitro transcription. A synthetic SVS II oligonucleotide probe was
      3' end-labeled (tailed) with either digoxigenin-11-dUTP or [35S]dATP. Hybridized
      35S-labeled probes were detected by autoradiography and digoxigenin-labeled
      probes by immunohistochemistry using alkaline phosphatase conjugated anti
      digoxigenin antibody or gold-labeled antibody followed by protein A-gold and
      silver enhancement. Digoxigenin-labeled probes provided the same degree of
      sensitivity as their 35S-labeled counterparts for the detection by in situ
      hybridization of weakly and strongly expressed mRNA. Using both labeling methods,
      the SVS II RNA probes were more sensitive than the oligonucleotide probes and
      background labelling of the 35S-labeled oligonucleotide probe was high. The
      digoxigenin method produced less background with all probe types, hybridization
      signals showed higher resolution and results were obtained faster than with
      radiolabeled probes. The immunogold silver enhancement system provided the
      fastest detection of digoxigenin-labeled probes with a sensitivity and resolution
      similar to that provided by alkaline phosphatase anti-digoxigenin
      immunohistochemistry. It is concluded that digoxigenin probe labeling and
      detection provides a sensitive, reliable, and efficient alternative to
      radiolabeled probes for in situ hybridization of mRNA.

PMID- 1459862
TI  - Versatility of anti-horseradish peroxidase antibody-gold complexes for
      cytochemistry and in situ hybridization: preparation and application of soluble
      complexes with streptavidin-peroxidase conjugates and biotinylated antibodies.
AB  - In previous studies we have employed a gold-labelled, affinity-purified
      polyclonal antibody against horseradish peroxidase (anti-HRP--gold) in the avidin
      biotin peroxidase complex (ABC) technique and indirect labelled avidin-biotin
      methods. The gold-labelled antibody was used as final revealing reagent to
      replace the 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) reaction by immunogold silver staining.
      The anti-HRP--gold reagent proved to be advantageous since blocking of endogenous
      peroxidase activity in the tissue sections was not further required and staining
      of superior contrast and resolution could be achieved in paraffin sections. In
      the present study we have optimized this technique by combining the last two
      incubation steps, i.e. HRP-conjugated streptavidin and anti-HRP--gold. Different
      ratios of the two reagents were tested empirically to establish the conditions
      for the formation of a soluble complex with optimal staining properties.
      Quantitative evaluation by densitometry of the staining intensity showed that the
      soluble streptavidin-HRP/anti-HRP--gold complex and the indirect labelled avidin
      biotin method employing the gold-labelled anti-HRP antibody performed equally
      well. Thus, the availability of this complex simplifies the streptavidin-biotin
      immunogold technique for immunohistochemistry, lectin histochemistry and in situ
      hybridization and further demonstrates the versatility of anti-HRP--gold
      complexes.

PMID- 1459863
TI  - Identification of brush cells in the alimentary and respiratory system by
      antibodies to villin and fimbrin.
AB  - Brush cells represent a population of epithelial cells with unknown function,
      which are scattered throughout the epithelial lining of both the respiratory
      system and the alimentary system. These cells are reliably distinguished from
      other epithelial cells only at the ultrastructural level by the presence of an
      apical tuft of stiff microvilli and extremely long microvillar rootlets that may
      project down to the perinuclear space. In the present study we show that brush
      cells can be identified in tissue sections even at the light microscopic level by
      immunostaining with antibodies against villin and fimbrin, two proteins that
      crosslink actin filaments to form bundles. In brush cells, villin and fimbrin are
      not only present in the actin filament core bundles of apical microvilli and
      their long rootlets but, in addition, both proteins are also associated with
      microvilli extending from the basolateral cell surface of the brush cells.
      Basolateral immunostaining specific for villin and fimbrin does not occur in any
      other epithelial cell type of the respiratory and alimentary tract. Thus
      immunostaining with antibodies against both proteins allows unequivocal
      identification of individual brush cells even in sectional planes that do not
      contain the brightly stained apical tuft of microvilli and their long rootlets.

PMID- 1459864
TI  - Neuron-specific enolase-like immunoreactivity in the vertebrate retina: selective
      labelling of Muller cells in Anura.
AB  - Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) immunocytochemistry was carried out in retinae of
      goldfish, axolotl, clawed frog, cane toad, lizard, chick, guinea-pig, rabbit,
      rat, cat and human. With the exception of Anura, strong immunoreactivity was seen
      in the large ganglion, amacrine cells and horizontal cells of the retina in all
      of the other species. Photoreceptors were found to be labelled in the rat and
      human retina and only one cone type in rabbit. Photoreceptor pedicles and
      ellipsoids were stained in the goldfish and the somata and inner segments of some
      photoreceptors in axolotl. In the axolotl retina, besides neurons, Muller cells
      (MCs) were also immunolabelled. In the retina of the cane toad and the clawed
      frog MCs were the only stained elements. Similarly in other parts of the central
      nervous system of the cane toad, glial elements of the optic tectum and spinal
      cord were immunoreactive. In contrast, in the peripheral nervous system, neurons
      of the 1st sympathetic ganglion and the 2nd dorsal root ganglion were labelled.
      In double-labelling experiments, glial fibrillary acidic protein and NSE showed
      colocalisation both in the glial elements of the optic tectum and spinal cord and
      in MCs of the retina of the cane toad.

PMID- 1459866
TI  - Does ex vivo labelling of proliferating cells in colonic and vaginal mucosa
      reflect the S-phase fraction in vivo?
AB  - The ex vivo labelling of DNA-synthesizing epithelial cells in colonic and vaginal
      mucosa was compared with in vivo labelling. For this purpose, in vivo S-phase
      cells were labelled with [3H]thymidine (Tdr) and ex vivo labelling was continued
      by culturing tissue specimens in bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Various methods of
      tissue culture were employed in order to improve diffusion of medium (and BrdU)
      in the tissue. BrdU and 3H-TdR labelling were evaluated by immunohistochemistry
      and autoradiography respectively. Ex vivo labelling resulted in a patchy
      distribution of labelled cells, which did not correspond with the 3H-TdR
      labelling pattern obtained in vivo. Under the described conditions ex vivo
      labelling does not appear to be a reliable for estimation of the proliferative
      activities in vivo.

PMID- 1459865
TI  - Patching and capping of LFA-1 molecules on human lymphocytes.
AB  - The distribution and dynamics of LFA-1 molecules over the surface of human
      lymphocytes were analysed using immunogold label-fracture and fracture-flip
      methods. Patching and capping were induced by incubation at 37 degrees C with
      antibodies directed against the alpha and beta chains respectively of the
      heterodimeric LFA-1 molecule, and were followed by immunofluorescence. Treatment
      with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to link LFA-1 molecules to the
      cytoskeleton increased the percentage of capped cells, implying a faster and more
      efficient process of capping. At all times of clustering or upon phorbol ester
      treatment, the concentration of LFA-1 in patches and then in caps was not
      accompanied by a parallel concentration of membrane particles on the freeze
      fractured plasma membranes. Our results support the role of the cytoskeleton in
      regulating the capping phenomenon and in controlling the structural organization
      of the plasma membranes.

PMID- 1459867
TI  - Vimentin antibodies stain membranous epithelial cells in the rabbit bronchus
      associated lymphoid tissue (BALT).
AB  - The lymphoepithelium covering the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) of
      the rabbit lung was studied with monoclonal antibodies against vimentin, using
      the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. In the lymphoepithelium single cells
      which had a membranous apical cytoplasm and engulfed intraepithelial lymphocytes
      were vimentin-immunoreactive. All other epithelial cells of the lymphoepithelium
      and of the surrounding airway epithelium did not bind vimentin antibodies. The
      results support the hypothesis that the membranous epithelial cells in the
      lymphoepithelium of rabbit BALT are analogous with intestinal M-cells, which in
      rabbit Peyer's patches and appendix are selectively labelled by vimentin
      antibodies.

PMID- 1459868
TI  - Physiologist views osteopathic medicine from different angle.

PMID- 1459869
TI  - Serologic testing only part of Lyme diagnosis.

PMID- 1459870
TI  - Rising US infant mortality rate requires action.

PMID- 1459871
TI  - Heed 'Voices From the Future' and reform GME training.

PMID- 1459872
TI  - Transplantation in the treatment of paralysis agitans (Parkinson's disease).
AB  - Over the past 3 years, there has been great interest in transplantation therapy
      in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Following the impressive results
      reported by Madrazo in the spring of 1987, more than 350 cases of adrenal
      medullary implantation have been performed worldwide. There has been a
      significant reduction in "off" time and an increase in "on" time without chorea
      in 40% of patients having this procedure. The duration of effect is 1 year in
      half of these cases, with the other half (20% of all patients) still
      demonstrating significant improvement 3 years after the procedure. The mechanism
      of the bilateral beneficial improvement is unknown. The survival of adrenal
      medullary tissue has not been demonstrated at autopsy. It is thought that the
      mechanism of improvement involves either regenerative sprouting of the remaining
      dopamine producing neurons as a consequence of the release of neurotrophic
      factors or an interruption of the striatal pallidal output inhibitory influence
      of the basal ganglia on the thalamus (or both). Fetal mesencephalic implantation
      has also been attempted in more than 100 cases worldwide. The improvements when
      seen are not any more dramatic than those following the best results of adrenal
      medullary implantation. Graft survival has not been proved; it remains a
      possibility that interruption of the putamino-subthalamic pallidal pathway or a
      trophic influence of the tissue provides an alleviation in parkinsonism. The
      ethical controversy, need for long-term immunosuppression, and difficulty with
      obtaining tissue of the appropriate age and delivering the appropriate quantity
      to the putamen have made this technique less than adequate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459873
TI  - Managing a patient with progressive HIV disease.
AB  - This monthly series was developed from the AOA Task Force on AIDS Writers'
      Workshop, held August 16 to 18, 1991, in New York. The workshop was sponsored by
      an education grant from Burroughs Wellcome. It will provide brief clinical
      updates and perspectives on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Readers may
      request tear sheets from the AOA editorial offices.

PMID- 1459874
TI  - Voices From the Future: what students, interns, and residents want from
      osteopathic graduate medical training.
AB  - The need to attract students to--and keep them in--osteopathic internship and
      residency programs is great. Recognizing this fact, the osteopathic hospitals,
      through the American Osteopathic Hospital Association, have placed a renewed
      focus on liaisons with osteopathic medical education. Voices From the Future
      represents one such effort. This report reveals how osteopathic medical students,
      interns, and residents perceive the current state of osteopathic graduate medical
      education programs as well as the changes that they would like to see
      incorporated.

PMID- 1459875
TI  - Guillain-Barre syndrome, pregnancy, and plasmapheresis.
AB  - The case of Guillain-Barre syndrome (acute inflammatory polyradiculoneuritis) in
      pregnancy reported here brings the total reported number to 35. The patient had
      plasmapheresis with no maternal or fetal complications. She did not require
      mechanical ventilation. This is only the fifth reported case of Guillain-Barre
      syndrome in the gravid patient involving plasmapheresis. There have been no
      controlled studies assessing the safety of plasmapheresis in the pregnant patient
      with the disorder. The possible risks of the procedure need to be weighed against
      the high maternal mortality rate in such a patient.

PMID- 1459876
TI  - Relationship between CNV asymmetries and individual differences in cognitive
      performance, personality and gender.
AB  - This study used verbal and spatial variants of a cognitive 'match/mismatch'
      paradigm to explore relationships between functional brain asymmetries and
      individual differences in cognitive performance, personality and gender.
      Contingent negative variation (CNV) elicited in the 'match/mismatch' paradigm was
      recorded from central (Cz, C3 and C4) derivations in two male and one female
      samples. Results indicated gender differences in both the degree and direction of
      CNV asymmetries. Males showed a left hemisphere asymmetry in the verbal task and
      a right hemisphere asymmetry in the spatial task, with significant laterality (C3
      C4) differences between tasks across the foreperiod. Females showed a left
      hemisphere asymmetry in both tasks with laterality differences between tasks
      confined to the early part of the foreperiod. CNV amplitude in the verbal task
      correlated with verbal memory performance and verbal I.Q. CNV amplitude in the
      spatial task correlated with visuospatial memory performance. Social extraversion
      was associated with greater left-hemisphere asymmetry in both tasks, while
      behavioural extraversion was associated with left-hemisphere asymmetry in the
      verbal task only, and with smaller verbal than spatial CNVs.

PMID- 1459877
TI  - Bilateral electrodermal activity: reliability, laterality and individual
      differences.
AB  - A first aim of the present study was to estimate the short- and long-term
      stability of individual response patterns in bilateral electrodermal activity
      (EDA). A second aim was to examine the relationship of individual brain
      laterality to both peak amplitude and peak time based electrodermal asymmetry.
      Additionally, subjects were presented with verbal and spatial tasks to estimate
      the balance of left/right asymmetry in cerebral activation at time of testing.
      Finally, the influence of smoking, coffee consumption and subjective circadian
      phase (morningness/eveningness, subjects' rise time) on bilateral asymmetry and
      EDA lability was examined. Results indicated moderate to high short-term
      reliabilities of EDA laterality coefficients, but insufficient long-term
      stability. Handedness and conjugate lateral eye movements (CLEMs) were not
      related to asymmetry of EDA, but a significant interaction between CLEM tendency
      and smoking/nonsmoking on laterality of both EDA parameters was observed. Amount
      of coffee consumption was also significantly related to electrodermal asymmetry.
      Analysis of performance data demonstrated that intraindividual shifts of EDA
      laterality from one recording session to a following one were associated with
      corresponding shifts in accuracy of verbal/spatial performance. Degree of
      subjects' electrodermal lability differentiated significantly between speed and
      accuracy of performance in both verbal and spatial tasks, and was substantially
      related to subjects' rise time.

PMID- 1459878
TI  - The effect of participation in an exercise training program on cardiovascular
      reactivity in sedentary middle-aged males.
AB  - Exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity to mental stressors may be a risk factor
      for cardiovascular disease. To determine if participation in a moderate intensity
      aerobic exercise training program reduces cardiovascular reactivity to laboratory
      stressors, 40 sedentary middle-aged males were randomly assigned: training group
      (n = 25) and control group (n = 15). Cardiovascular reactivity during and after
      three mental stressors (passive responding, push-button Stroop and verbal Stroop)
      and mild exercise (bicycle ergometer) was assessed before and after an 8-week
      intervention. VO2(peak) was determined using the Balke protocol. Among 19
      subjects who completed the training, VO2(peak) increased 13.7%. Also, trained
      compared to untrained subjects showed significant reductions in baseline and
      absolute heart rate responses to all stressors. Baseline adjusted heart rates
      were significantly lower during push-button Stroop recovery and during verbal
      Stroop. Blood pressure, T-wave amplitude, finger pulse amplitude and pulse
      transit time responses were unaffected by exercise training. It was concluded
      that participation in a short-term, moderate intensity aerobic exercise training
      program may have a cardioprotective effect by significantly reducing absolute and
      baseline-adjusted heart rate responses to stressors.

PMID- 1459879
TI  - Basic emotions reflected in EEG-coherences.
AB  - The differentiation of basic emotions by means of EEG power spectra has been
      discussed extensively by Machleidt et al. (1989). The present contribution
      concentrates on the interhemispheric coupling of different EEG-signals as
      depending on the modulation of these emotions. In the first part the estimation
      and interpretation of squared coherence spectra is outlined. Results from this
      technique are presented in the following section. Intention, Aggression and Joy
      are mainly characterized by an increase of alpha-coherence, whereas a decrease is
      seen for Anxiety and Sorrow. These effects showed a widespread distribution.

PMID- 1459880
TI  - Distributions of the Nd and P300 in a normal sample.
AB  - To obtain objective criteria for assessing the attentional and cognitive
      functioning of psychiatric populations, we attempted to standardize values of two
      components in Event-Related Potentials (ERPs), namely the attention-related
      negative potential (Nd) and the P300, in normal populations. The study consisted
      of 100 healthy volunteers (50 females, 50 males) who were given the task of
      making dichotic syllable discriminations requiring key-press responses. Their
      ages ranged between 18 and 59 years (mean +/- S.D., 32.3 +/- 11.3 years). Nd was
      found to be maximum in the Fz region, P300 being maximum in the Pz region. The
      means and standard deviations of Nd and P300 areas in their maximum regions were
      554.1 +/- 307.8 microV ms and 2148.5 +/- 1248.5 microV ms, respectively. The
      transformation plot for symmetry indicated the suitable power of transformation
      to be 1/2 for both Nd and P300 distributions. After being transformed into square
      root values, the distribution patterns of Nd and P300 areas were examined. When
      the lower limit of normal values was tentatively assigned to mean -2 S.D. using
      square-root transformed data for both Nd and P300, 97% of the subjects were found
      to display values above the lower normal limit for Nd, and 98% for the P300.
      Neither, Nd nor P300 areas correlated with age, while P300 latencies displayed a
      weak positive correlation with age. Females displayed relatively larger values
      than males for Nd and P300 areas and P300-peak amplitudes. However, the
      differences between females and males were not statistically significant. Females
      and males showed nearly equal P300-peak latencies.

PMID- 1459881
TI  - Evoked potential topography in major depression. I. Comparisons with nonpatients
      and schizophrenics.
AB  - This study compared evoked potential (EP) topography in major depression (MD),
      schizophrenia and nonpatient controls. EPs to four kinds of stimuli were recorded
      from 15 locations. Patients were 69 MDs and 52 schizophrenics, currently
      unmedicated. EP waveforms of 195 controls were subjected to principal component
      factor analysis (PCA). The structures of 32 factors so extracted have been shown
      to encompass the data space of disparate groups; they were used to compute factor
      scores for all subjects. Age- and gender-matched groups were compared. Factor
      scores were normalized across leads (Z-transform) to distinguish between
      topographic and mean level differences. Topographic differences (P < 0.05)
      between MD and controls were demonstrated for scores of 8 factors, with 2 others
      at P = 0.053. Unlike those for schizophrenia/control comparisons, these
      topographic differences did not converge regionally in MD. EP findings were not
      related to duration of withdrawal from drugs. There were few differences between
      bipolar and unipolar patients. Topographies of 5 factors differed between MDs and
      schizophrenics; these involved all modalities and reflected long latency,
      cognition-related events, such as P300. These topographic differences were antero
      posterior (AP); values were greater posteriorly in MDs and anteriorly in
      schizophrenics. Deviant AP gradients appear specific to MD; gradients were
      similar in schizophrenics and controls.

PMID- 1459882
TI  - Evoked potential topography in major depression. II. Comparisons between
      subgroups.
AB  - Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) ratings of 69 patients with major
      depression (MD) were employed in an attempt to define subgroups of MD with more
      homogeneous evoked potential (EP) findings than the MD group as a whole.
      Correlations were computed between 6 BPRS ratings and scores for 32 EP factors;
      14 correlations were significant. These indicated mainly that EP values were
      related to severity of depression. When age- and gender-matched groups of MDs
      with above- and below-median depressive mood (D) ratings were compared with
      controls, 3 of the 10 factors differing significantly between groups gave
      evidence of two different subgroups of MD. EPs of these subgroups differed from
      those of controls in opposite directions. Such bidirectional differences from
      normal suggest differing pathophysiology in the subgroups and support the
      multiple process view of depression.

PMID- 1459883
TI  - Alertness pattern in healthy individuals of various ages.

PMID- 1459884
TI  - AERPs and clinical evolution of thought disorders over five years.
AB  - In a selective attention task, 21 Subjects detected rare randomized targets (P =
      0.02) in a set of randomized standard tones. In one condition, Subjects focused
      their attention and detected targets in one ear, ignoring the other ear, and vice
      versa in the next condition. AERPs (auditory event-related potentials) were
      recorded at 5 electrode sites (10-20 system), at Fz, Cz, Pz, C3, C4, in two
      conditions varying speed of stimulation (randomized interstimulus intervals of
      250-750 ms and 750-1500 ms). One group of 7 schizophrenics with the major
      syndrome of formal thought disorder (+FTD) was compared to 7 schizophrenics
      without the FTD syndrome (-FTD), and to 7 controls. The schizophrenic group was
      matched for age, education, sex, medication, hospitalization and intelligence
      score on abbreviated WAIS test. Ss were re-tested after 5 years following
      identical experimental and counterbalancing method to the pre-test. At re-test,
      similarly to pre-test, schizophrenics' AERPs showed smaller amplitudes, longer
      latencies, smaller attention effects than normals. -FTD schizophrenics showed
      intermediate values between the +FTD patients and normals. At retest, +FTD
      schizophrenics showed an aggravation of these AERP abnormalities while -FTD
      patients seemed to improve with larger amplitudes, faster latencies and better
      attention effects than at pre-test. Differential correlations between clinical
      and AERP indices indicated a dissociation between neurophysiological and clinical
      evolution: factors of dissociation included Andreasen's positive and negative
      indices of thought disorder, neuropsychological indices on the Luria-Nebraska
      scales, and severity of psychotic symptoms.

PMID- 1459885
TI  - Computerized EEG topography findings in schizophrenic patients before and after
      haloperidol treatment.
AB  - An increase of delta and fast beta activity in schizophrenic patients when
      compared with normal controls has been consistently reported. Topography of these
      abnormalities, in particular a possible frontal localization of delta, and their
      relationship to drug treatment and clinical status are still debated. In order to
      assess these issues, a multilead CEEG investigation was carried out in a group of
      20 DSM-III-R schizophrenics, both before and after haloperidol treatment. All
      findings are described in terms of amplitude and relative power. Drug-free
      schizophrenics, when compared with a group of normal controls, showed a
      generalized increase of delta and fast beta, and a decrease of alpha 2 relative
      power. After acute treatment, patients showed a significant decrease of delta,
      and an increase of theta 2, beta 1, and beta 2. After 28 days of haloperidol
      treatment, similar changes were observed for delta, together with an increase of
      alpha 1, and a decrease of fast beta.

PMID- 1459886
TI  - An EEG computerized system for the evaluation of hypnotic drugs.
AB  - Digital recording of sleep EEG allows computer analysis and quantitative
      evaluations of sleep disorders and pharmacological effects. A system for
      polygraphic signal acquisition and storage, which performs a Fourier transform to
      compute series of spectra representing the evolution of EEG frequency composition
      through different sleep stages is described. The time course of spectral
      descriptors like relative band power is used to study the cyclic patterns of
      sleep and to compute the DSRI (Delta Sleep Regularity Index), a synthetic measure
      of sleep quality. The method is compared with conventional sleep scoring and
      examples of applications to normal, pathological and pharmacological conditions
      are shown. The topographical distribution of spectral parameters is analyzed by
      means of mapping techniques, allowing the detection of regional variations of EEG
      in specific pharmacological conditions.

PMID- 1459887
TI  - Modulation of somatosensory evoked potentials during isometric contraction in
      relation to hand use.
AB  - The aim of the study was to assess the effect of the hand used on the modulation
      of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) during isometric contraction. SEPs to
      median nerve stimulation were assessed during dynamic (increase and decrease of
      force) and hold phases of isometric contractions. The experiments were carried
      out with the right or left hand. The changes in the SEP amplitude were found to
      vary with the hand used. When isometric contractions were performed by the right
      hand the amplitudes of the later components diminished during the dynamic phases,
      except for the component N140-P190 which increased. The amplitude of N55-P100
      diminished during both the dynamic and hold phases. When isometric contractions
      were performed by the left hand the amplitudes of the early components diminished
      during the dynamic phases. These results show that the changes in SEP during
      isometric contraction depend on the hand used.

PMID- 1459888
TI  - Sewall Wright, 1889-1988: a brief biography.

PMID- 1459890
TI  - Relationship of milk production, milk expected progeny difference, and calf
      weaning weight in angus and simmental cow-calf pairs.
AB  - Milk EPD, used to predict the milk production potential of a parent's daughters,
      have been reported by all major cattle breed associations. Our objectives were to
      determine the relationship of milk EPD of a dam to actual milk production (both
      fluid and components) and offspring weaning weight. Angus (AN; n = 114) and
      Simmental (SM; n = 82) cows were machine-milked at approximately 60, 104, and 196
      d postpartum after overnight calf removal. In addition, one herd of AN was also
      milked at approximately 35 and 145 d postpartum. A lactation curve was fitted to
      these measurements to estimate total milk production during lactation. Simple
      correlations between 205-d total milk yields (TMY) and adjusted 205-d calf
      weaning weight (WW) were .30 (P < .001) and .47 (P < .001) for AN and SM,
      respectively. Furthermore, milk EPD was positively correlated to adjusted WW (r =
      .38 P < .001; r = .39, P < .001) and TMY (r = .32, P < .001; r = .44, P < .001)
      for AN and SM cows, respectively. A 1-kg change in TMY changed WW by .014 +/-
      .006 kg (P < .001) in AN and by .032 +/- .009 kg (P < .001) in SM. A 1-kg change
      in milk EPD resulted in a 4.85 +/- 1.14 kg change in WW (P < .001) in AN and a
      3.74 +/- 1.73 kg (P < .05) change in SM. Corresponding changes in TMY were 42.1
      +/- 16.6 kg (P < .01) and 69.3 +/- 16.0 kg (P < .001) for AN and SM,
      respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459889
TI  - Influence of fish meal and supplemental fat on performance of finishing steers
      exposed to moderate or high ambient temperatures.
AB  - Ninety-six Hereford x Angus steers (mean initial BW = 295 kg) were used in two
      growth experiments conducted at moderate and high ambient temperatures (AT), 48
      steers per AT. Within each AT, calves were assigned to six dietary treatments
      consisting of a basal diet (approximately 60% corn and 20% grass hay)
      supplemented with either 0, 2.5, or 5% fat and with either soybean meal (SBM) or
      Menhaden fish meal (FM) included at levels such that a ratio of 16.3 kcal of NEm
      per kilogram of CP was maintained. Blood and ruminal fluid were collected 40 d
      before slaughter. During the final 28 d of the moderate AT experiment, apparent
      digestibility of dietary components was measured in four individually fed steers
      from each dietary treatment. Steer ADG was not affected by fat, and DMI and
      efficiency of gain were not affected (P > .10) by treatment. Average daily gain
      was lower for steers fed FM than for those fed SBM at moderate AT but higher at
      high AT (CP source x AT interaction; P < .05). Ruminal ratio of acetate to
      propionate declined linearly with increasing fat at moderate AT but was not
      affected by fat at high AT (fat x AT interaction trend; P = .08). Plasma urea N
      concentration increased linearly (P < .05) with increasing fat and was higher (P
      < .05) in steers kept at high than in those kept at moderate AT. Although
      apparent digestibility was not altered in steers fed FM, DM and NDF (P < .05) and
      ADF (P = .07) digestibility decreased with increasing fat in steers fed SBM (CP
      source x fat interaction).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459891
TI  - Effect of frame size, muscle score, and external fatness on live and carcass
      value of beef cattle.
AB  - Commercial slaughter steers (n = 329) and heifers (n = 335) were selected to vary
      in slaughter frame size and muscle thickness score, as well as adjusted 12th rib
      fat thickness. After USDA carcass grade data collection, one side of each carcass
      was fabricated into boneless primals/subprimals and minor tissue components. Cuts
      were trimmed to 2.54, 1.27, and .64 cm of external fat, except for the bottom
      sirloin butt, tritip, and tenderloin, which were trimmed of all fat. Four
      variable regression equations were used to predict the percentage (chilled
      carcass weight basis) yield of boneless subprimals at different fat trim levels
      (.64, 1.27, and 2.54 cm) as influenced by sex class, frame size, muscle score,
      and adjusted 12th rib fat thickness. Carcass component values, total carcass
      value, carcass value per 45.36 kg of carcass weight, and live value per 45.36 kg
      of live weight were calculated for each phenotypic group and external fat trim
      level. Carcass fatness and muscle score had the most influence on live and
      carcass value (per 45.36 kg weight basis). Carcasses with .75 and 1.50 cm of fat
      at the 12th rib were more valuable as the trim level changed from 2.54 cm to .64
      cm; however, for carcasses with 2.25 cm of fat at the 12th rib, value was highest
      at the 2.54 cm trim level. Value was maximized when leaner cattle were closely
      trimmed. There was no economic incentive for trimming light-muscled or
      excessively fat carcasses to .64 cm of external fat.

PMID- 1459892
TI  - The effectiveness of the best linear unbiased prediction of beef sires using
      field data collected from small farms.
AB  - Beef sire evaluation using BLUP was investigated under field conditions at small
      scale farms. The 6,848 records on fattened Japanese Black cattle steers were
      obtained from 1981 through 1987. The average number of steers in the subclass of
      market-year-farm was 5.2. A sire-maternal grandsire mixed model with
      relationships was used to analyze the data to yield BLUP for the sire and
      maternal grandsire effects. The regression coefficients of the realized value of
      progeny on the predicted value calculated using BLUP procedures for daily gain,
      carcass weight, and marbling score were 1.027, 1.054, and .917, respectively
      (i.e., the regression almost equaled 1). Therefore, BLUP was shown to be very
      effective in predicting offspring performance, even using field records collected
      from small-scale farms.

PMID- 1459893
TI  - Animal model for genetic evaluation of multibreed data.
AB  - Extension of beef cattle genetic evaluation procedures to multibreed data sets is
      proposed as a way to allow inclusion of crossbred animals into current analyses
      and to provide comparisons between purebred animals of different breeds. Previous
      papers dealing with multibreed BLUP have proposed sire or sire-maternal grandsire
      models. Because current models used in the beef industry are predominantly of the
      reduced animal model form, models were developed for animal model and reduced
      animal model mixed-model evaluations that would account for fixed and random
      additive genetic effects, along with fixed and random nonadditive genetic effects
      for populations with heterogeneous means and variances.

PMID- 1459894
TI  - Increased litter size in Rambouillet sheep: I. Estimation of genetic parameters.
AB  - The variance and covariance components needed to estimate heritabilities of and
      genetic correlations among litter size, ovulation rate, scrotal circumference,
      and BW in a flock of Rambouillet sheep were estimated using REML via an
      expectation-maximization type algorithm. The heritability estimates from
      univariate analyses were .14, .21, .25, .36, and .15 for litter size, ovulation
      rate, scrotal circumference, 180-d BW of females, and 180-d BW of males,
      respectively, and average heritability estimates from bivariate analyses were
      .19, .20, .20, .34, and .10 for litter size, ovulation rate, scrotal
      circumference, 180-d BW of females, and 180-d BW of males, respectively. The
      genetic correlation between litter size and ovulation rate was near unity. Body
      weight in ewes had a moderate genetic correlation with both litter size (.22) and
      ovulation rate (.20) and a low residual correlation with both litter size (.03)
      and ovulation rate (.09). The genetic correlation between BW in rams and scrotal
      circumference was 0, whereas the residual correlation was .71. The genetic
      correlations of scrotal circumference with litter size and ovulation rate were 
      .25 and +.20, respectively.

PMID- 1459895
TI  - Increased litter size in Rambouillet sheep: II. Expected responses from
      alternative selection criteria.
AB  - The variance and covariance components estimated from an experimental flock of
      Rambouillet sheep were used to predict response in litter size to direct and
      indirect selection. Indirect traits considered were ovulation rate and scrotal
      circumference. Ovulation rate was the most useful indirect selection criterion
      for genetic improvement of litter size. Expected response in litter size to
      indirect selection on ovulation rate was 93% as large as the expected response to
      direct selection on litter size. Selection based on an index of litter size and
      ovulation rate was estimated to produce 123% as much response in litter size as
      selection on litter size alone, and selection on an index of litter size,
      ovulation rate, and scrotal circumference resulted in 133% as much response in
      litter size as direct selection on litter size.

PMID- 1459896
TI  - Performance of three tropical hair sheep breeds.
AB  - The performance of three hair sheep breeds (Brazilian Somali, Morada Nova, and
      Santa Ines) was evaluated in the production environment of northeastern Brazil.
      Data from a total of 524 lambs sired by 21 rams and out of 190 ewes were
      analyzed. These data were collected from 1980 to 1983 at Sobral, Brazil from an
      experiment designed to compare performance of the three breeds. The traits
      included weights of lambs at birth, weaning, 8 mo, 10 mo, and yearling ages and
      ewe characters of weight at lambing (EWT), total lamb weight born (LWB), total
      lamb weight weaned (LWW), and prolificacy rate (PR). Differences (P < .01) among
      breeds were found for all characters. The Brazilian Somali, the smallest and
      slowest-gaining breed, was less sensitive to yearly variation than were the other
      breeds. The Santa Ines, the largest and fastest-gaining breed, was superior in
      LWB and LWW per ewe lambing. Averaged over the 4-yr period, the Morada Nova had
      the highest PR (1.82), and the Brazilian Somali and Santa Ines had similar PR
      (1.39 and 1.31, respectively). Environmental effects on PR due to yearly rainfall
      quantity and distribution pattern influenced lamb growth up to weaning and ewe
      reproduction performance. Breed x year (P < .05) interaction effects on PR were
      largely attributable to the Somali breed's exhibiting higher PR than the Santa
      Ines and Morada Nova breeds during the relatively wet years of 1981 and 1982.

PMID- 1459897
TI  - Technical note: a noninvasive procedure for measuring goat heart rates.
AB  - Heart rates were obtained simultaneously from FM radio transmitters and heart
      rate monitors externally mounted on unanesthetized and unrestrained mixed-breed
      goats. Data from transmitters were highly correlated (r = .92, P < .0001) with
      data from monitors and the percentage difference in heart rates between the two
      devices was less than that observed between animals. Analyses also revealed that
      radio transmitters provided a reliable, repeatable, and valid method for the
      noninvasive measurement of goat heart rates.

PMID- 1459898
TI  - Measures of libido and their relation to serving capacity in the ram.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine whether the ejaculation rate (serving
      capacity) of sexually experienced rams could be estimated by selected measures of
      sexual libido when rams were exposed to estrous ewes under conditions that
      prevented copulations. Twenty-four crossbred rams selected for either high or low
      rates of copulation were exposed to two restrained estrous ewes under three
      treatment conditions that 1) permitted the full range of precopulatory and
      copulatory behaviors, 2) permitted precopulatory behaviors and mounting but
      precluded copulation, or 3) permitted precopulatory behaviors but not mounting or
      copulation. Frequencies of precopulatory behaviors (bouts of leg-kicking and
      anogenital sniffing) in each of the three treatment conditions and mounting
      frequency in Treatment 2 occurred in proportion to the ram's characteristic
      ejaculation rate (P < .001), suggesting that the mating potential of rams can be
      estimated under conditions that preclude copulation. Frequencies of precopulatory
      behaviors and mounting were lower when the rams were allowed to copulate, due
      largely to periods of sexual inactivity after ejaculations.

PMID- 1459899
TI  - Influence of trenbolone acetate combined with estradiol-17 beta on growth
      performance, body characteristics, and chemical composition of goat kids fed milk
      and slaughtered at different ages.
AB  - The effects of anabolic agents (5 mg of estradiol-17 beta + 30 mg of trenbolone
      acetate) on body characteristics and chemical composition of gain were studied in
      58 intact male goat kids fed milk replacer. Four kids were slaughtered at 7 d of
      age to constitute the initial group. The other kids were allotted in a 2 x 3
      factorial arrangement with slaughter age (41, 49, and 56 d of age) and treatment
      (control and implanted at 21 d old) as factors. Energy intake decreased during
      the first 4 wk after treatment; implanted kids had the same ADG as controls but a
      better energy efficiency (P < .05). During the last week of the trial, energy
      intake was the same; treated kids tended (P < .10) to have a higher empty body
      gain (EBG). Anabolic agents increased carcass (P < .10) and hide proportions (P <
      .01) in empty BW and in EBG for all groups (except for carcass at 56 d old).
      Anabolic agents reduced the contribution of adipose tissues (P < .05), empty
      digestive tract (P < .05), and other organs (P < .01) to EBG. At all slaughter
      ages, the chemical composition of carcass and hide wet tissues, all dissectible
      adipose tissues, and EBG were altered by treatment. In these tissues (except for
      mesenteric fat tissue), water content increased and lipid content decreased (P <
      .05), but these effects diminished with age. Expressed on a DM basis, the CP
      content of the treated carcasses was increased in all groups (P < .05).
      Implanting high doses of steroids altered nutrient partitioning, which reduced
      fat and increased water and protein in the body.

PMID- 1459900
TI  - Performance, plasma hormones, histochemical and biochemical muscle traits, and
      meat quality of pigs administered exogenous somatotropin between 30 or 60
      kilograms and 100 kilograms body weight.
AB  - Forty-five Large White barrows were injected daily i.m. with either excipient
      from 30 to 100 kg BW (CTRL), excipient from 30 to 60 and porcine somatotropin
      (pST; 100 micrograms/kg BW) from 60 to 100 kg BW (pST-60), or pST (100
      micrograms/kg BW) from 30 to 100 kg BW (pST-30). Somatotropin accelerated overall
      growth rate (+4 and +9% for pST-60 and pST-30, respectively), increased
      longissimus (+10.3 and +14.7%) and semitendinosus (+17 and +13%) muscle weights,
      and decreased backfat (-49 and -58%) and leaf fat (-49 and -53%) weights. The
      administration of pST resulted in a similar increase in muscle fiber size for all
      fiber types in both longissimus (LM) and semispinalis (SS) muscles (+21%).
      Somatotropin had otherwise little effect on muscle fiber types and biochemical
      traits of LM, whereas dramatic changes were observed in SS. The relative area
      occupied by Type IIB fibers was increased (+22 and +29%) and that of Type I
      fibers was decreased (-10 and -15%). In pST-30 animals, myosin ATPase activity
      (+15%) and native myosin fast isoform proportion (+10%) were augmented, and
      energy metabolism was more glycolytic (lactate dehydrogenase: +25%) and less
      oxidative (citrate synthase: -13%; beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase: -21%).
      Compared to CTRL animals, administration of pST increased muscle water
      concentration (LM: +.8 and +1.1%: SS: +3.3 and +3.3%) and decreased intramuscular
      fat (LM: -29 and -27%; SS: -39 and -50%). The pH measured 45 min and 24 h
      postmortem, glycogen content, reflectance, and index of light diffusion were
      mostly not affected by pST treatment. In conclusion, pST had a very favorable
      effect on growth performance without any important effect on meat quality traits
      except for the reduction in intramuscular lipid content. The results indicated
      that the effects of pST on muscular histochemical and biochemical characteristics
      were different in LM and SS muscles.

PMID- 1459901
TI  - The effect of live weight gain and live weight loss on body composition of merino
      wethers: chemical composition of the dissected components.
AB  - Chemical composition of the dissected side parts and dissected side was measured
      during live weight gain (LWG) and live weight loss (LWL) to determine effects on
      the chemical composition of the dissected side parts. Thirty-five Merino wethers
      had ad libitum access to the experimental diet (17.23% CP and 12.09 MJ/kg of DE)
      to grow from 23.0 to 33.0 kg live weight and then were fed to lose a total of 10
      kg in three periods of 25 d each at the rate of 133 g/d. Groups of five animals
      were slaughtered at live weights of 23.0, 26.3, 29.6, and 33.0 kg during LWG and
      29.6 kg (first period), 26.3 kg (second period), and 23.0 kg (third period)
      during LWL. The greater dissected side weight in LWL animals than in LWG animals
      at 23.0 kg of live weight was due to the significantly greater chemical fat (P <
      .05) in the LWL animals than in the LWG animals at 23.0 kg. There were no
      significant differences between treatments in the protein and water weights in
      the dissected side. The general increase in the chemical fat in the dissected
      side of the LWL animals was due to the significant increase in the chemical fat
      in the muscle (P < .01) and bone (P < .01, 23.0 and 26.3 kg and P < .05, 29.6 kg)
      at each common slaughter weight and subcutaneous fat (P < .05), intermuscular fat
      (P < .05) kidney and channel fat (P < .05), and total side fat (P < .01) at 23.0
      kg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459902
TI  - Partial purification of somatotropin receptors from pig liver: they arise from a
      single somatotropin receptor messenger RNA transcript.
AB  - Specific binding sites for porcine somatotropin (pST) have been identified in pig
      liver microsomal membranes. Little information, however, is available about the
      size and number of ST receptor (ST-R) forms present. Therefore, the present study
      was conducted to characterize ST-R in pig liver using two approaches. In the
      first set of experiments, cross-linking of [125I]bST (bovine ST) to microsomal
      membranes, followed by gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions, revealed
      the presence of a predominant protein of 107 kDa and four other proteins of 71,
      52, 40, and 26 kDa. In a second set of experiments, ST-R were partially purified
      using affinity chromatography. Binding studies indicated that there was an
      approximately 1,800-fold purification compared to liver homogenate. Two specific
      proteins of 107 and 40 kDa were detected after crosslinking of [125I]bST to
      partially purified ST-R. Northern blot analysis revealed that these proteins
      arise by posttranslational modification of a single 4.2-kilobase somatotropin
      receptor messenger RNA transcript. Although the present study indicates that
      several forms of ST-R are present in pig liver, it is not clear what
      physiological role these different ST-R play in mediating the hepatic effects of
      pST. It is evident, however, that the smaller proteins are generated from the 107
      kDa protein, which is the predominant isoform present in liver microsomal
      membranes.

PMID- 1459903
TI  - Effects of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist guanfacine on growth and
      thermogenesis in mice.
AB  - Guanfacine is an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist with antithermogenic properties. A
      single treatment of guanfacine caused a dose-related reduction in metabolic rate.
      The maximum reduction was 40%, and a dose of .5 mg/kg was close to that required
      to produce half this effect. It was determined whether the antithermogenic action
      of guanfacine would result in increased growth rate in mice. In animals treated
      once daily for 10 d (0, .125, .5, or 2 mg/kg), the drug caused dose-related
      reductions in feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion efficiency. In a
      further experiment, mice were fed a restricted quantity of feed and treated for
      14 d with guanfacine (.5 mg/kg twice daily). Because of repeated dosing, the
      antithermogenic effect of the drug was attenuated, so that metabolic rate was not
      lower in treated mice at the end of the experiment. Control and treated mice ate
      all the feed offered, but the guanfacine-treated group gained 2.9 g less weight
      (P < .01) than the controls. Half this difference in BW was accounted for by body
      water (P < .1), whereas body energy content was also reduced by the drug (P <
      .05). In a final experiment we sought possible sources of energy loss. Mice were
      treated with guanfacine (.5 mg/kg) three times over 24 h. Severe glucosuria was
      observed in the guanfacine-treated mice, with a tendency also toward increased
      output of fecal energy. We have confirmed that guanfacine has a powerful, if
      short-term, antithermogenic action. However, in mice, other effects of the drug
      on energy metabolism result in weight loss rather than growth stimulation.

PMID- 1459904
TI  - The effect of porcine somatotropin supplementation in pigs on the lipid profile
      of subcutaneous and intermuscular adipose tissue and longissimus muscle.
AB  - The effect of porcine somatotropin (pST) on the lipid profiles of adipose tissue
      and muscle was investigated. Sixteen crossbred barrows were injected daily with
      either 3 mg of pST or a placebo. After slaughter, total lipid and fatty acid
      composition of raw subcutaneous (SC) adipose and intermuscular (IM) adipose
      tissue and longissimus muscle were determined. The SC adipose tissue from pST
      treated pigs had a 7.5% decrease in total lipid content; specific fatty acids
      16:0, 18:0, and 18:1(n-9)c decreased most. The IM fat from pST-treated pigs had
      lower levels of 16:0 and 20:0. There was no effect of pST treatment on the lipid
      profile of the longissimus muscle. The data suggest that pST treatment produces
      small but significant changes in the saturated fatty acid content of adipose
      tissue in pigs.

PMID- 1459905
TI  - Use of bioelectrical impedance to predict leanness of Boston butts.
AB  - The objective of this research was to make available bioelectrical impedance
      technology for the prediction of kilograms of lean and kilograms of fat-free
      muscle of Boston butts. Seventy butts were removed from 70 pork carcasses
      according to standard procedures (NAMP, #406), with the exception that the fat
      was not removed. After the weight in kilograms (BUTT) and internal temperature in
      degrees centigrade (TEMP) were recorded, each butt was measured for resistance
      (Rs, ohms), reactance (Xc, ohms), and distance (L, centimeters) between detector
      terminals four different ways: parallel or perpendicular to the top of the
      carcass and on either lean surface or fat surface of the cut. Each cut was
      physically separated into lean, fat, and bone. Chemical composition (moisture,
      protein, and fat) was determined on the lean portion. Variable selection analysis
      was used to develop equations for predicting kilograms of lean and kilograms of
      fat-free muscle of Boston butts. Results of measurements of the four sites were
      quite similar; however, measuring perpendicularly on the lean surface is
      recommended. The prediction equation for kilograms of lean from measurements thus
      taken is as follows: .461-.0304 x TEMP + .576 x BUTT - .0118 x Rs + .00845 x Xc +
      .0630 x L. The respective coefficients of these independent variables for
      predicting kilograms of fat-free muscle are .537, -.0415, .479, -.0139, .00804,
      and .0764. In an industry application of these coefficients, recording
      temperature would not be imperative because the temperature range would be
      sufficiently narrow to render temperature of little practical influence when
      separating butts according to leanness.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459906
TI  - The effect of postmortem time of injection and freezing on the effectiveness of
      calcium chloride for improving beef tenderness.
AB  - Three experiments were conducted to determine the effect of freezing and time
      postmortem on the effectiveness of injecting CaCl2 to tenderize beef. In Exp. 1,
      longissimus muscle treatments included 1) control 0 h, 2) CaCl2-injected 0 h, 3)
      control 24 h, and 4) CaCl2-injected 24 h. Injection consisted of .3 M CaCl2 at
      10% by weight. Injecting CaCl2 at 24 h postmortem reduced (P < .05) shear force
      requirements compared with the 24 h control but did not (P < .05) tenderize meat
      as much as injecting at 0 h. In Exp. 2, longissimus muscle treatments included
      the following: 1) aged 2 d; 2) aged 7 d; 3) frozen d 1, thawed, aged 6 d; 4)
      CaCl2-injected d 1, aged 6 d; 5) frozen d 1, thawed, CaCl2-injected, aged 6 d;
      and 6) CaCl2-injected d 1, frozen, thawed, aged 6 d. Injection alone at d 1 or
      freezing, then thawing and injecting resulted in the lowest (P < .05) shear force
      requirements. In Exp. 3, longissimus muscle treatments included the following: 1)
      aged 1 d; 2) aged 7 d; 3) CaCl2-injected 0 h, aged 7 d; 4) CaCl2-injected d 1,
      aged 6 d; 5) frozen d 1, thawed, aged 6 d; and 6) frozen, thawed, CaCl2-injected,
      aged 6 d. Both d-1 injection alone and freezing, thawing, then injecting resulted
      in meat with shear force requirements similar to those of 0-h injected meat. The
      effect of treatments on cooking loss was inconsistent. Treatments that reduced
      shear force also reduced (P < .05) calpain and calpastatin activity
      proportionately.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459907
TI  - Tracer studies of urea kinetics in growing pigs: I. The effect of intravenous
      infusion of urea on urea recycling and the site of urea secretion into the
      gastrointestinal tract.
AB  - Four gilts (average BW 80 kg) were used in the first experiment to study the
      effect of i.v. infusion of urea on urea kinetics by means of a radioisotope
      dilution technique. The pigs were fed twice daily 600 g of a cornstarch-based
      diet formulated to contain 16% CP by supplementation with isolated soy protein.
      Infusion of urea, compared with saline, increased (P < .05) plasma urea
      concentration, urea pool size, urea entry, urea excretion, and urea degradation
      rates; urea turnover rate and urea space were not affected (P > .05). Expressed
      as a percentage of the total entry rate, a lower (P < .05) percentage of urea was
      recycled in pigs infused with urea. The urea infused was almost completely
      excreted in urine, so there were no differences (P > .05) in N balance. In the
      second experiment, four gilts (average BW 40 kg), fitted with ileocecal reentrant
      cannulas, were used to determine whether the upper or the lower digestive tract
      represents the preferential site of urea secretion in pigs. Two pigs were fed
      twice daily 600 g of a cornstarch-based diet, formulated to contain 16% CP from
      soybean meal. The other two pigs were fed the same diet in which 15% cornstarch
      was replaced by beet pulp. After labeling the body urea pool of one pig on each
      treatment with [15N]urea, the reentrant cannulas were disconnected to prevent the
      flow of digesta from the small into the large intestine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459908
TI  - Tracer studies of urea kinetics in growing pigs: II. The effect of starch
      infusion at the distal ileum on urea recycling and bacterial nitrogen excretion.
AB  - Six gilts, with an average BW of 70 kg, were fitted with a simple T-cannula at
      the distal ileum to study the effect of continuous starch infusion on urea
      kinetics by means of a radioisotope dilution technique. The pigs were fed twice
      daily 600 g of a cornstarch-based diet formulated to contain 16% CP by
      supplementation with isolated soy protein. Infusion of starch, compared with
      water, decreased (P < .05) plasma urea concentration, urea pool size, and entry,
      excretion, and degradation rates; urea turnover rate and urea space were not
      affected (P > .05). Expressed as a percentage of total entry rate, approximately
      40% of urea was recycled into the digestive tract in both infusion treatments.
      The stimulation of microbial fermentation in the large intestine resulted in an
      increase (P < .05) in fecal N excretion, which was mainly due to an increased
      excretion of bacterial N. This increase could not be attributed to a greater
      secretion of urea into the large intestine and its subsequent utilization by the
      intestinal microflora. The increased bacterial N assimilation after starch
      infusion led to a reduction in ammonia absorption from the large intestine, which
      in turn was reflected by a reduced urinary N excretion. As a result, the overall
      N balance was not affected. In a second experiment, two barrows, with an average
      BW of 80 kg, were fed twice daily 1.4 kg of a cereal-based diet. The body urea
      pool of both pigs was labeled with a single injection of 1 g and 2 g of
      [15N]urea, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459909
TI  - Effects of exogenous emulsifiers and fat sources on nutrient digestibility, serum
      lipids, and growth performance in weanling pigs.
AB  - Three experiments were conducted to determine whether emulsifiers improve
      utilization of fat from diets for early-weaned pigs. In Exp. 1, 96 weanling pigs
      (17 d old) were used in metabolism cages, with main effects of fat source
      (soybean oil, tallow, lard, and coconut oil) and emulsifier treatment (no
      emulsifier, lecithin, and lysolecithin as 10% of the added fat). Soybean oil and
      coconut oil were more digestible than tallow and lard (P < .001). Tallow was more
      digestible when lecithin and lysolecithin were added (P < .007), and pigs fed
      lecithin had lower serum triglycerides and cholesterol than pigs fed lysolecithin
      (P < .03). In Exp. 2, 270 weanling pigs (21 d old) were used in a growth assay.
      Treatments were 1) control diet; 2) Diet 1 with soybean oil; 3) Diet 1 with
      tallow; 4, 5, and 6) Diet 3 with lecithin replacing 5, 10, and 30% of the tallow,
      respectively; and 7, 8, and 9) Diet 3 with lysolecithin replacing 5, 10, and 30%
      of the tallow, respectively. At d 14 of the experiment, digestibility of tallow
      was improved more by lecithin than lysolecithin (P < .008). For the total
      experiment (d 0 to 35), the control pigs had poorer gain:feed ratio than did the
      pigs fed the fat sources (P < .002). In Exp. 3, 420 weanling pigs (21 d old) were
      used. Treatments were 1) control diet with soybean oil; 2) Diet 1 with tallow;
      and 3, 4, and 5) Diet 2 with 10% of the added fat as soybean oil, lecithin, or
      monoglyceride, respectively. Adding soybean oil, lecithin, and monoglyceride to
      tallow increased digestibility of total fat (P < .07). From d 0 to 14, pigs fed
      soybean oil gained weight faster than pigs fed the other treatments (P < .06),
      and pigs fed tallow without emulsifiers had the lowest ADG. Considering all
      experiments, addition of emulsifiers increased digestibility of nutrients but had
      minimal effect on growth performance.

PMID- 1459910
TI  - Effects of feeding diets containing endophyte-infected fescue seed on luteinizing
      hormone secretion in postpartum beef cows and in cyclic heifers and cows.
AB  - Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of feeding endophyte
      (Acremonium coenophialum)-infected fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb.) seed on LH
      secretion in postpartum beef cows and in cycling heifers and cows. In Exp. 1,
      spring-calving primiparous Angus cows (n = 16) were pair-fed for 75 d diets that
      contained endophyte-free or endophyte-infected (95%) fescue seed that contained
      1.3 micrograms/g of ergovaline and 5.2 mg/g of saturated pyrrolizidines. Serial
      blood samples for basal and GnRH-stimulated serum LH analysis were obtained on d
      7, 28, 42, and 56 of the study. The endophyte had no effect on LH secretion
      (basal, pulse frequency, and amplitude) or milk production. Average daily gain
      was decreased (P < .05) in cows that consumed infected fescue seed compared with
      controls (-.20 vs -.01 kg, respectively). Basal serum prolactin concentrations
      were reduced (P < .01) in treated compared with control cows (8.9 vs 25.4 ng/mL,
      respectively) on d 70. In Exp. 2, cycling Angus heifers (n = 8; age = 2 yr) and
      cows (n = 8; age = 4 yr) stratified by age were pair-fed for 40 d diets that
      contained the noninfected or the highly infected fescue seed. Estrus was
      synchronized by prostaglandin F2 alpha (d 18 and 28). Serial blood samples for
      serum LH analysis were obtained on d 28 (luteal phase) and d 30 (follicular
      phase). The endophyte did not affect LH (P > .28) or prolactin (P > .16)
      secretion, whereas ADG was decreased (P < .05) in treated compared with control
      animals (.32 vs .70 kg/d, respectively).

PMID- 1459911
TI  - Effect of heat-stress on bovine embryo development in vitro.
AB  - Chronic elevation of uterine temperature has long been known to increase embryo
      mortality in dairy cattle. Short-term elevation in temperature of mouse embryos
      to 43 degrees C (acute) has been shown to induce intracellular production of heat
      shock proteins. In this study, in vitro development of bovine embryos was
      assessed during short-term (60 h) coculture with oviduct epithelial cells at 38.6
      degrees C (T1), 40 degrees C (T2), 38.6 degrees C after a prior pulse treatment
      (20 min) at 43 degrees C with 5% CO2 (T3), or 38.6 degrees C after a prior pulse
      treatment (20 min) at 43 degrees C with 100% CO2 (T4). During incubation, embryos
      cocultured at 40 degrees C had a greater (P < .05) mean embryo development score
      at 36 h than embryos cocultured at 38.6 degrees C. At 60 h of incubation, embryo
      development scores were greater (P < .05) for embryos cultured at 38.6 degrees C
      than for those cocultured at 40 degrees C. The number of embryos hatched at 60 h
      was similar after coculture at 38.6 degrees C (T1) or a prior pulse treatment
      with 5% CO2 and 43 degrees C (T3), but the embryo development score at 60 h was
      greater (P < .05) for the pulse-treated embryos. Embryos in T4 had greater (P <
      .05) embryo development scores than did T1 embryos from 36 through 60 h. Pulse
      treatment (T4) resulted in a greater (P < .05) number of hatched embryos at 60 h
      than T1, T2, and T3. These results indicate a detrimental effect of a chronic
      elevation in temperature that was evident shortly after embryo hatching.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459912
TI  - Effects of feeding ponderosa pine needles during pregnancy: comparative studies
      with bison, cattle, goats, and sheep.
AB  - Four experiments were conducted to determine the effect of feeding dried pine
      needles (Pinus ponderosa; PN) on the abortion rate of ruminants. In Exp. 1,
      cattle were fed 5.4 kg of PN daily for 21 d starting at 116, 167, 215, or 254 d
      of pregnancy. The PN did not cause abortions when started at 116 d; thereafter,
      the percentage of cows that aborted increased linearly, and the interval to
      abortion decreased linearly (both P < .01); all cows fed PN beginning at 254 d
      aborted. In Exp. 2, cattle were fed .7, 1.4, or 2.7 kg of PN for 21 d or 2.7 kg
      for 1 or 3 d. Sheep and goats were fed .8 and .5 kg of PN, respectively, starting
      at 121 d of pregnancy. The PN induced some abortions in cattle when fed for 1
      (11%) or 3 (30%) d, but the abortion rate was greater (P < .01) when the PN were
      fed for longer periods of time (80, 90, and 100% aborted in 19, 17, and 10 d for
      .7-, 1.4-, and 2.7-kg doses, respectively). No goats or sheep aborted in response
      to PN feeding. Pregnancy rates during the next breeding season for cows that
      aborted in response to the PN were slightly higher than rates for control cows
      (94 vs 87%). In Exp. 3, buffalo (Bison bison) and cattle were fed 2.25 kg of PN
      from the same collection. Abortions were induced in all buffalo and cattle that
      were fed PN.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1459913
TI  - Ovarian follicular characteristics, embryo recovery, and embryo viability in
      heifers fed high-fat diets and treated with follicle-stimulating hormone.
AB  - Postpubertal beef heifers (n = 55) were used to examine the effects of high-fat
      diets, independently of energy intake, on nonesterified fatty acid and
      lipoprotein metabolic patterns, ovarian follicular dynamics, and embryo
      recovery/viability after FSH superstimulation. High-lipid (HL) diets (5.4% added
      fat) increased (P < .01) serum concentrations of cholesterol, but not of
      nonesterified fatty acids, during the 35-d period before FSH treatment.
      Development of medium-sized (5 to 9.9 mm) follicles was enhanced (P < .05) during
      this period in heifers fed the HL diet. The HL diet increased total cholesterol
      (P < .05) and progesterone (P = .14) concentrations in follicular fluid obtained
      at ovariectomy (n = 10) 60 h after the onset of FSH treatment, but neither
      estradiol-17 beta nor androstenedione was affected. Granulosa cells recovered
      from FSH-induced, estrogen-active follicles in heifers fed the HL diet produced
      greater quantities of progesterone (P = .06) and less estradiol-17 beta (P < .05)
      in vitro than did granulosa cells from heifers fed the normal lipid diet. Dietary
      treatment did not influence FSH-stimulated recruitment of medium and large
      follicles, number of ovulations, embryo recovery, or embryo viability. Data
      suggest that increments in dietary fat intake can alter specific aspects of
      ovarian steroidogenic potential and can increase the population of medium-sized
      follicles theoretically available for maturation and harvest during the estrous
      cycle. However, conditions that limited the latter process in the current
      experiment are not understood and require further investigation.

PMID- 1459914
TI  - Combined effects of diet and cold exposure on insulin responsiveness to glucose
      and tissue responsiveness to insulin in sheep.
AB  - Hyperglycemic clamp and hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp techniques were used to
      investigate effects of diet and cold exposure on insulin responsiveness to
      glucose and tissue responsiveness and sensitivity to insulin in adult rams. The
      sheep were fed a high-concentrate diet (80% concentrate and 20% roughage) and a
      high-roughage diet (20% concentrate and 80% roughage), both 70% above the ME
      requirement for maintenance, and were exposed to a thermoneutral environment (20
      degrees C) and a cold environment (0 degrees C) for 2 wk. The estimated ME intake
      was greater (P < .01) for the high-concentrate diet than for the high-roughage
      diet. In the hyperglycemic clamp experiment, the ratio of the plasma insulin
      increment to the glucose infusion rate (insulin responsiveness to glucose) was
      lower during cold exposure than in the thermoneutral environment in sheep fed the
      high-concentrate diet but was unchanged in sheep fed the high-roughage diet. In
      the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp experiment, the glucose infusion rate
      (tissue responsiveness to insulin) was higher (P < .01) for the high-concentrate
      diet than for the high-roughage diet, and it was also higher (P < .01) during
      cold exposure than in the thermoneutral environment, indicating that tissue
      responsiveness to insulin was intensified in sheep fed the high-concentrate diet
      during cold exposure associated with the higher energy intake. These results
      suggest that both reduced insulin responsiveness and enhanced tissue
      responsiveness to insulin in sheep exposed to cold were dependent on the type of
      diet.

PMID- 1459915
TI  - Prolactin and luteinizing hormone secretion in the pregnant pig.
AB  - Four pregnant, primiparous, crossbred gilts and six gilts from the same
      population that had been ovariectomized (OVX) for approximately 3 wk were placed
      in individual pens in an enclosed building. Blood samples were collected every 30
      min for 12 h from all gilts via an indwelling jugular vein cannula when the
      pregnant gilts were at d 30, 50, 70, 90, and 110 of gestation. Serum was
      quantified for LH and prolactin (PRL) by RIA. The OVX gilts served as controls to
      ensure that any variations in serum LH and PRL concentrations observed in the
      pregnant animals were not due to environmental factors unrelated to pregnancy.
      Within the pregnant gilts, mean serum LH concentrations, mean basal serum LH
      concentration, and mean serum LH peak height were similar on all days; however,
      number of LH peaks on d 30, 50, and 70 were greater (P < .05) than on d 90 and
      110, and number of LH peaks on d 50 was greater (P < .05) than that on d 70.
      Within the pregnant gilts, mean serum PRL concentration, mean basal serum PRL
      concentration, and mean PRL peak height were greater (P < .001) on d 110 than on
      all other days; however, number of PRL peaks were similar among days. Parameters
      of LH and PRL secretion in the OVX and pregnant gilts varied independently.
      Results of this study indicated that 1) LH secretion does not vary appreciably
      throughout pregnancy and 2) PRL secretion does not vary significantly during the
      first 90 d of pregnancy, after which it increases markedly on or before 110 d.

PMID- 1459916
TI  - Influence of model and marker on digesta kinetic estimates for sheep.
AB  - Several models and markers are available for digesta kinetic studies. In this
      study, kinetic estimates derived from chromium-mordanted hay or pellets were
      compared to estimates derived from rare earth markers (Yb, Dy, or Er) applied
      individually to samples. Twelve yearling rams (52 kg) were given ad libitum
      access to either hay or a commercial pelleted diet in a crossover experiment.
      Digesta kinetic estimates were obtained both by nonlinear analysis with two age
      independent rates (G1G1) or with gamma time dependency in the fast compartment
      (G2G1 to G4G1) and by linear regression of natural log transformed fecal marker
      concentrations (LN method of estimate). Model did not influence total tract (P >
      .21) or ruminal mean retention times (P > .87). Partitioning of total retention
      time was similar (P > .21) for the LN, G3G1, and G4G1 models, but the G1G1 and
      G2G1 models did not adequately fit these data. Nonlinear models overestimated,
      and LN underestimated, fecal DM output by 9% (SEM = 4.7) for the hay diet. All
      the nonlinear models provided fecal DM output estimates that were within 5% of
      actual fecal DM output, but the LN model underestimated it by 18% (SEM = 3.3) for
      the pelleted diet. Ruminal outflow rate was slower (P < .01) and both ruminal and
      total mean retention time estimates were longer (P < .01) for Cr than for the
      rare earths. Despite the marker chosen, relative diet effects were similar. The
      three rare earth markers gave identical results for digesta kinetic estimates,
      indicating that they are useful for simultaneous study of more than one
      ingredient or particle, but direct comparison of rare earth and Cr-mordant
      passage rates is not advisable.

PMID- 1459917
TI  - Sulfate supplementation of alpine goats: effects on milk yield and composition,
      metabolites, nutrient digestibilities, and acid-base balance.
AB  - Effects of sulfate supplementation on milk yield and composition, ruminal and
      blood metabolites, acid-base status, and nutrient digestibilities were determined
      using 30 multiparous, lactating Alpine does. Goats were fed isonitrogenous diets
      containing .16 (basal), .26, or .36% S (DM basis) during a 13-wk lactation trial
      that coincided with wk 3 to 15 of lactation. During wk 16 to 17, four does from
      each treatment were placed in a metabolism crate to measure nutrient
      digestibility and balance. Feed intake, yield of 4% fat-corrected milk, and milk
      S content were not affected by added S, but the goats fed the .26% S diet had a
      trend of higher persistency of lactation (P < .20). During wk 10 and 15 of
      lactation, milk solids-not-fat percentage was higher (P < .10) for does fed the
      .26% S diet. Sulfur supplementation resulted in quadratic decreases in ruminal
      ammonia N (P < .05) in wk 15 and in plasma urea N in wk 10 and 15 (P < .05) but
      in linear increases (P < .05) in ruminal protein S concentrations throughout the
      experiment. Added S had little effect on blood acid-base status. Apparent
      digestibilities of DM, OM, ash, ADF, and GE were increased linearly (P < .10) by
      added S. The milk N:S ratio remained constant. Increasing S from .16 to .26% of
      diet DM was beneficial to lactating Alpine goats during early lactation.

PMID- 1459918
TI  - A net carbohydrate and protein system for evaluating cattle diets: I. Ruminal
      fermentation.
AB  - The Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) has a kinetic submodel
      that predicts ruminal fermentation. The ruminal microbial population is divided
      into bacteria that ferment structural carbohydrate (SC) and those that ferment
      nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC). Protozoa are accommodated by a decrease in the
      theoretical maximum growth yield (.50 vs .40 g of cells per gram of carbohydrate
      fermented), and the yields are adjusted for maintenance requirements (.05 vs .150
      g of cell dry weight per gram of carbohydrate fermented per hour for SC and NSC
      bacteria, respectively). Bacterial yield is decreased when forage NDF is < 20%
      (2.5% for every 1% decrease in NDF). The SC bacteria utilize only ammonia as a N
      source, but the NSC bacteria can utilize either ammonia or peptides. The yield of
      NSC bacteria is enhanced by as much as 18.7% when proteins or peptides are
      available. The NSC bacteria produce less ammonia when the carbohydrate
      fermentation (growth) rate is rapid, but 34% of the ammonia production is
      insensitive to the rate of carbohydrate fermentation. Ammonia production rates
      are moderated by the rate of peptide and amino acid uptake (.07 g of peptide per
      gram of cells per hour), and peptides and amino acids can pass out of the rumen
      if the rate of proteolysis is faster than the rate of peptide utilization. The
      protein-sparing effect of ionophores is accommodated by decreasing the rate of
      peptide uptake by 34%. Validation with published data of microbial flow from the
      rumen gave a regression with a slope of .94 and an r2 of .88.

PMID- 1459919
TI  - A net carbohydrate and protein system for evaluating cattle diets: II.
      Carbohydrate and protein availability.
AB  - The Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) has a submodel that
      predicts rates of feedstuff degradation in the rumen, the passage of undegraded
      feed to the lower gut, and the amount of ME and protein that is available to the
      animal. In the CNCPS, structural carbohydrate (SC) and nonstructural carbohydrate
      (NSC) are estimated from sequential NDF analyses of the feed. Data from the
      literature are used to predict fractional rates of SC and NSC degradation. Crude
      protein is partitioned into five fractions. Fraction A is NPN, which is
      trichloroacetic (TCA) acid-soluble N. Unavailable or protein bound to cell wall
      (Fraction C) is derived from acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIP), and slowly
      degraded true protein (Fraction B3) is neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen
      (NDIP) minus Fraction C. Rapidly degraded true protein (Fraction B1) is TCA
      precipitable protein from the buffer-soluble protein minus NPN. True protein with
      an intermediate degradation rate (Fraction B2) is the remaining N. Protein
      degradation rates are estimated by an in vitro procedure that uses Streptomyces
      griseus protease, and a curve-peeling technique is used to identify rates for
      each fraction. The amount of carbohydrate or N that is digested in the rumen is
      determined by the relative rates of degradation and passage. Ruminal passage
      rates are a function of DMI, particle size, bulk density, and the type of feed
      that is consumed (e.g., forage vs cereal grain).

PMID- 1459920
TI  - Kinetics of hydration and effect of liquid uptake on specific gravity of small
      hay and silage particles.
AB  - Kinetics of hydration of ground hay and silage particles (2-mm screen),
      determined by a pycnometric technique, was best described by a two- and one-pool
      exponential model, respectively. Fractional rates of hydration of the large pool,
      detected in hay particles only, and of the small pool present in both hay and
      silage particles averaged .135 and .021 min-1, respectively. When hydration was
      complete, liquid associated with particles averaged 1.16, 1.90, and .83 g/g of
      insoluble DM for bromegrass hay, alfalfa hay, and alfalfa silage, respectively.
      Functional specific gravity, which accounts for the effect of associated gas
      volume, averaged 1.54, 1.46, and 1.54, but unit specific gravity, calculated to
      include the effect of gases and liquid of hydration, averaged 1.22, 1.14, and
      1.26 for bromegrass hay, alfalfa hay, and alfalfa silage, respectively.
      Preservation of forage as silage not only lowered gas volume, but also reduced
      water-holding capacity, both of which contribute to greater unit specific gravity
      and faster rate of escape from the rumen. In addition, estimates of unit specific
      gravity of approximately 1.2 indicate that even in the absence of associated gas,
      hydrated forage particles would tend to escape the rumen at a slower rate than
      that achieved by more dense particles.

PMID- 1459921
TI  - Ruminal biohydrogenation of linoleoyl methionine and calcium linoleate in sheep.
AB  - Four ruminally and duodenally cannulated Hampshire wethers were used in a 4 x 4
      Latin square experiment to determine whether linoleoyl methionine and calcium
      linoleate would increase duodenal flow of unsaturated fatty acids (C18:2 + cis
      C18:1). All animals received the same basal diet plus a treatment enclosed in
      gelatin capsules that were placed directly in the rumen. Of the four experimental
      treatments, one was a control (empty capsules) and three were 5 g of fatty acid
      equivalent as either free linoleic acid, calcium linoleate, or linoleoyl
      methionine. Linoleoyl methionine had the lowest ruminal disappearance of C18:2 +
      cis C18:1. Ruminal loss of unsaturated fatty acids from each supplement exclusive
      of feed unsaturated fatty acids was 69.8, 92.9, and 94.6% for linoleoyl
      methionine, free linoleic acid, and calcium linoleate, respectively. Duodenal
      flow of methionine also was higher for linoleoyl methionine than for control,
      free linoleic acid, or calcium linoleate (2.5, 1.7, 2.0, and 2.5 g/d,
      respectively). Plasma linoleic acid was higher for linoleoyl methionine than for
      control or free linoleic acid but was not different from calcium linoleate (22.0,
      17.8, 18.9, and 20.2% of total fatty acids, respectively). Plasma methionine
      levels were not different among treatments. Intestinal disappearance of
      unsaturated fatty acids did not differ among treatments. Linoleoyl methionine
      resisted ruminal biohydrogenation and was digested normally in the intestine.
      Calcium linoleate did not escape biohydrogenation by ruminal bacteria.

PMID- 1459922
TI  - Factors that affect ovarian follicular dynamics in cattle.
AB  - Studies of ovarian follicular dynamics in cattle may lead to methods for
      improving fertility, for synchronizing estrus with more precision, and for
      enhancing superovulatory responses. Within an estrous cycle, two or three large
      (> 10 mm) follicles develop during consecutive waves of follicular growth. The
      last wave provides the ovulatory follicle, whereas preceding wave(s) provide
      follicles that undergo atresia. The life span of large follicles seems to depend
      on the pulsatile secretion of LH; decreased frequency of LH pulses results in
      atresia of large follicles. Aromatase activity in the walls of the largest
      follicles is greatest during the first 8 d of the estrous cycle and decreases by
      d 12. Steroidogenesis of the largest and second-largest ovarian follicles differs
      on d 5, 8, and 12 of the estrous cycle. Follicular dynamics are altered by
      negative energy balance and lactation. The number of large follicles and
      concentration of estradiol during the preovulatory period differs between
      postpartum lactating and nonlactating cows. Dietary fats stimulate follicular
      growth when they are fed to increase energy balance. Administration of bovine
      somatotropin decreases energy balance and has a differential effect on ovarian
      follicular responses; growth of the largest follicle does not change, but growth
      of the second-largest follicle is stimulated by somatotropin. Studies of
      follicular dynamics in lactating cows demonstrate changes in ovarian function
      associated with energy balance that may be related to inefficient reproductive
      performance of cows producing high yields of milk.

PMID- 1459923
TI  - Pharmacokinetics in immature animals: a review.
AB  - Differences in drug pharmacokinetics between newborn and adult mammals are
      reviewed. The pharmacokinetic alterations during the maturation process are
      related to changes in the pattern of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
      renal excretion. The most pronounced feature in neonates vs adults is the
      prolonged elimination half-life of drugs. The main factors causing delayed
      elimination are under-developed renal clearance and immature metabolism of drugs.
      Special attention has to be paid to central nervous system depressants and to
      drugs that are extensively metabolized because they will accumulate with repeated
      dosing of newborn animals.

PMID- 1459924
TI  - Factors that affect drug disposition in food-producing animals during maturation.
AB  - Drugs administered to neonatal food-producing animals (cattle, sheep, goats,
      swine) may exhibit significantly different pharmacokinetic/disposition
      characteristics than they do in adult animals of the same species. Undesirable
      consequences such as suboptimum therapeutic concentrations, toxic effects, and
      violative tissue residues may result if adult dosage regimens are employed in
      young animals. Using selected drugs as examples, this paper reviews factors that
      contribute to differences in drug disposition in newborn vs adult animals.
      Immaturity of mechanisms involved in drug absorption, especially from
      gastrointestinal and parenteral sites of administration, and of drug distribution
      to sites such as plasma proteins, adipose tissue, and fluid compartments are
      considered. The role of developmental changes in drug biotransformation in the
      liver and other tissues and the maturation of excretory mechanisms, primarily
      from the kidney, in the increased rate of drug clearance during maturation is
      described. Pharmacokinetic studies with specific drugs in the target species are
      an important approach to establishing rational drug use in immature food
      producing animals.

PMID- 1459925
TI  - Pathology of soft tissue sarcomas. An introduction.
AB  - Recent progress in molecular biology, cytogenetics, classification and grading of
      soft tissue sarcomas is briefly reviewed. It is emphasized that peer review of
      histopathology is highly desirable. Finally, equipped with modern imaging
      techniques, the radiologist can anticipate an increasing role in the aspiration
      cytology of deep seated soft tissue tumors.

PMID- 1459926
TI  - The multidisciplinary approach to treatment of soft tissue sarcomas.
AB  - Soft tissue sarcomas are rare tumors including many histological subtypes. They
      are pre-eminently tumors for which the multidisciplinary approach to treatment is
      of utmost importance. The two most frequently applied staging systems both
      require experienced assessment of radiology and pathology, and stage is a
      prominent prognostic factor for survival that guides the choice of treatment
      modalities. For primary treatment radical surgery is still the backbone. In many
      instances postoperative radiotherapy is a valuable and often necessary
      complementary treatment. The role of preoperative radiotherapy and/or
      chemotherapy needs to be defined although preliminary results are interesting.
      Chemotherapy as an adjunct to surgery should still be considered investigational.
      In metastatic disease "standard" chemotherapy has a definitive though moderate
      activity, but recent data on dose-intensified chemotherapy suggest that results
      may be further improved.

PMID- 1459927
TI  - Imaging in the follow-up of soft tissue tumors.
AB  - Local recurrences of aggressive soft tissue tumors are frequent and very
      difficult to detect clinically after surgery and radiation therapy. Ultrasound is
      limited because the skin is thick. On contrast-enhanced CT, both scars and
      recurrences increase their signal. MRI is the best technique, and the only one we
      presently use in the detection of recurrent tumors. We are reporting 511 follow
      up examinations in 182 patients after tumor removal. All patients had histologic
      confirmation or at least 6 months follow-up. There were 164 malignant tumors and
      18 cases of aggressive fibromatosis.

PMID- 1459928
TI  - Ultrasound evaluation of soft tissue tumors.
AB  - Because of its availability, ultrasound should be the preferred initial modality
      for the evaluation of palpable superficial masses. Most ultrasound units are
      equipped with high frequency probes that allow superficial focalization. The
      differential diagnosis of soft tissue masses and the sonographic features of some
      benign and malignant soft tissue lesions are reviewed in this article. After an
      initial ultrasound evaluation confirming the presence of a tumor, the need for
      and the role of other imaging modalities can be determined. In selected cases
      ultrasound may obviate the need for further imaging. MRI and CT should be
      reserved for cases in which sonography fails to establish a specific diagnosis or
      to demonstrate the limits of the soft tissue mass.

PMID- 1459929
TI  - CT of soft tissue tumors.
AB  - We review the documented strengths and weaknesses of CT in the evaluation of soft
      tissue tumors and we describe what we believe to be an optimal CT technique. We
      also briefly outline the relation of CT to the other techniques in the diagnosis
      of soft tissue tumors and relate some particular CT findings to the major tumor
      types.

PMID- 1459930
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging of soft tissue tumors.
AB  - The value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in histological classification was
      studied in a series of 164 histologically proven soft tissue tumors (STT) and was
      rather limited. MRI was only valuable in characterization of lipomatous, vascular
      and fibrous tumors. There are two main reasons for this limitation i.e. STT
      belonging to the same histological group may have different composition or
      different proportions in tumor components resulting in different MRI signals.
      Secondly tumor components may change individually or proportionally during
      natural evolution or as a consequence of therapy. Because well known grading
      parameters such as cellularity, mitotic rate, matrix and presence of necrosis all
      influence MRI signal intensity, the value of MRI in predicting malignancy is
      potentially high. To assess this value we retrospectively studied the findings in
      the first 141 soft tissue tumors (84 benign, 57 malignant) and evaluated a wide
      variety of MRI features (size, margins, signal homogeneity, shape, signal
      intensity, neurovascular and bone involvement, degree and pattern of enhancement
      and evidence of necrosis after injection of Gd-DTPA). Statistical analysis was
      carried out to determine accuracy of parameters individually and in combination,
      for predicting malignancy. Highest sensitivity was obtained for "absence of low
      signal intensity on T2" (100%), "mean diameter > 33 mm" (90%) and "inhomogeneous
      signal on T1" (88%). Highest specificity was obtained for "evidence of necrosis"
      (98%), "bone or neurovascular involvement or metastases" (94%) and "mean diameter
      > 66 mm" (87%). Association of best sensitivity (81%) and specificity (81%) was
      seen for "absence of low signal intensity on T2", "signal inhomogeneity on T1"
      and "mean diameter of the lesion > 33 mm". In a prospective study of 23
      consecutive patients we reevaluated sensitivity and specificity in predicting
      malignancy of all parameters. Excellent correlation with the results of the
      retrospective study was found. Although a quantitative approach to the staging
      potentials of MRI was not possible, well known staging parameters are evaluated
      to the best by this method (size, depth, compartmental versus extra-compartmental
      location, relationship to adjacent structures).

PMID- 1459931
TI  - Reactive mesenchymal proliferation.
AB  - One hundred and thirteen cases in the files of the Netherlands Committee on Bone
      Tumors were diagnosed as heterotopic soft tissue ossification. Myositis
      ossificans was diagnosed in 62, ossifying hematoma in 21, and pseudomalignant
      osseous tumor of soft tissues in 30 cases. Antecedent trauma was present in 37%,
      46% and 7%, respectively. Myositis ossificans arose in the large muscle groups of
      the thighs and upper arms; when closely related to the shaft of a bone,
      periosteal reactions were more outspoken. Pseudomalignant osseous tumor of soft
      tissues was located in the hands, feet, and pelvis, some cases were not in muscle
      groups and some were almost periosteal. Ossifying hematoma was located in the
      upper and lower legs and usually in close relation to bone. The three entities
      belong to the same kind of reactive mesenchymal proliferative process. The
      radiologic and histologic patterns are reflections of whether the lesions are
      closely localized to bone shafts or in soft tissues, e.g. in muscles and
      therefore the term "reactive mesenchymal proliferation" is preferred to myositis
      ossificans, pseudomalignant osseous tumor of soft tissues and ossifying hematoma.
      Diagnostic problems are encountered in early phases when cellularity, mitotic
      activity, and infiltrative spread suggest malignancy. Recognition of these
      reactions in early phases is important to avoid mutilating surgery.

PMID- 1459932
TI  - Vascular soft tissue tumors: medical imaging.
AB  - Histologically, tumors of the vascular system are divided into three categories.
      Benign types can be localized (hemangioma) or involve large segments of the body
      (angiomatosis). Vascular tumors of intermediate malignancy are known as
      hemangioendotheliomas. Angiosarcoma is one of the rarest malignant soft tissue
      neoplasms. The authors present the morphological and SI features of 17
      histologically proven vascular tumors (16 benign, 1 malignant) examined by MRI.
      The results are compared with the findings on other imaging techniques. On T1-WI,
      the tumors are slightly hyperintense to muscle with interspersed areas of low SI
      corresponding to fibrous septa, calcifications, or fastly flowing blood, and
      areas of SI equal to fat. On T2-WI, the lesions are more homogeneous and markedly
      hyperintense to fat. MRI is superior to all other imaging techniques for
      evaluation of extent and characterization of vascular soft tissue tumors.
      Angiography remains helpful in demonstrating feeding or draining vessels.

PMID- 1459933
TI  - Adipose tumors of soft tissues.
AB  - Thirteen patients with lipoma were examined at least with MRI, which revealed
      homogeneous and high signal lesions in both T1 and T2 WI sequences. On CT, these
      lesions were characterized by very negative density values. Sonography was useful
      to differentiate a lipoma from an old hematoma that share the same signal on MRI.
      Eighteen cases of biopsy proven liposarcomas were evaluated with at least two
      techniques. Tumor heterogeneity was the most important clue to malignancy. With
      CT, contrast injection was necessary because two cases out of eight appeared
      homogeneous on native examinations. Lobular pattern and large size are constant
      signs associated with liposarcoma. The correlation of imaging and histology
      classification was only successful with differentiated tumors. Angiography
      unspecifically reveals the malignancy of liposarcoma. MRI is better than CT to
      evaluate tumor expansion and to differentiate the mass from the surrounding
      tissue.

PMID- 1459934
TI  - Diagnostic imaging of muscular tumors.
AB  - Eight patients with muscular tumors--all malignant--were reviewed. Seven patients
      were examined by magnetic resonance imaging. Some of them also underwent
      conventional radiology and computed tomography. One patient was examined by
      computed tomography only. An overview and short description of the muscular
      tumors are given. The findings with the different imaging techniques are
      presented, followed by a discussion of the role of the imaging techniques. The
      final conclusion is that MRI is the modality of choice for detection, staging,
      and follow-up of muscular tumors, although the signal intensity features are not
      always specific.

PMID- 1459935
TI  - Medical imaging of soft tissue tumors (STT)

PMID- 1459936
TI  - Chromosome partitioning in Escherichia coli.

PMID- 1459937
TI  - HMt, a histone-related protein from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum delta H.
AB  - HMt, a histone-related protein, has been isolated and characterized from
      Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum delta H. HMt preparations contain two
      polypeptides designated HMt1 and HMt2, encoded by the hmtA and hmtB genes,
      respectively, that have been cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia
      coli. HMt1 and HMt2 are predicted to contain 68 and 67 amino acid residues,
      respectively, and have calculated molecular masses of 7,275 and 7,141 Da,
      respectively. Aligning the amino acid sequences of HMt1 and HMt2 with the
      sequences of HMf1 and HMf2, the subunit polypeptides of HMf, a histone-related
      protein from the hyperthermophile Methanothermus fervidus, revealed that 40 amino
      acid residues (approximately 60%) are conserved in all four polypeptides. In
      pairwise comparisons, these four polypeptides are 66 to 84% identical. The
      sequences and locations of the TATA box promoter elements and ribosome binding
      sites are very similar upstream of the hmtA and hmtB genes in M.
      thermoautotrophicum and upstream of the hmfA and hmfB genes in M. fervidus. HMt
      binding compacted linear pUC19 DNA molecules in vitro and therefore increased
      their electrophoretic mobilities through agarose gels. At protein/DNA mass ratios
      of < 0.2:1, HMt binding caused an increase in the overall negative superhelicity
      of relaxed, circular DNA molecules, but at HMt/DNA mass ratios of > 0.2:1,
      positive supercoils were introduced into these molecules. HMt and HMf are
      indistinguishable in terms of their abilities to compact and constrain DNA
      molecules in positive toroidal supercoils in vitro. Histone-related proteins with
      these properties are therefore not limited to reverse gyrase-containing
      hyperthermophilic species.

PMID- 1459938
TI  - Structure and expression of a cyanobacterial ilvC gene encoding acetohydroxyacid
      isomeroreductase.
AB  - Acetohydroxyacid isomeroreductase (AHAIR) is the shared second enzyme in the
      biosynthetic pathways leading to isoleucine and valine. AHAIR is encoded by the
      ilvC gene in bacteria. A 1,544-bp fragment of genomic DNA containing the ilvC
      gene was cloned from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803, and
      the complete nucleotide sequence was determined. The identity of the gene was
      established by comparison of the nucleotide and derived peptide sequences with
      those of other ilvC genes. The highest degree of sequence similarity was found
      with the ilvC gene from Rhizobium meliloti. The isolated Synechocystis ilvC gene
      complemented an Escherichia coli ilvC mutant lacking AHAIR activity. The
      expressed Synechocystis gene encodes a protein that has a molecular mass of 35.7
      kDa and that has AHAIR activity in an in vitro assay. Polyclonal antibodies
      raised against purified Synechocystis AHAIR produced a single band on a Western
      blot (immunoblot) of a Synechocystis cell extract and detected the protein in an
      extract of an E. coli ilvC mutant strain that was transformed with a plasmid
      containing the Synechocystis ilvC gene. The antibody did not react with an
      extract of an E. coli ilvC mutant strain that was transformed with a control
      plasmid lacking the Synechocystis ilvC gene or with an extract of an E. coli
      IlvC+ control strain.

PMID- 1459939
TI  - Cloning, sequencing, and high expression of the proline iminopeptidase gene from
      Bacillus coagulans.
AB  - The gene coding for proline iminopeptidase in Bacillus coagulans was cloned and
      expressed in Escherichia coli. Nucleotide sequencing revealed an 861-bp open
      reading frame with an unusual TTG initiation codon, encoding a 287-amino-acid
      protein. The calculated molecular weight of the product was 32,415. The amino
      acid sequences of the amino-terminal region and those of some peptide fragments
      obtained by endoproteinase Asp-N digestion of the purified enzyme completely
      coincided with those deduced from the nucleotide sequence. The rare TTG
      initiation codon that normally codes for leucine was translated as a formal
      initiation codon; a methionine residue was found at the amino terminus of the
      enzyme. By using a vector bearing the strong tac promoter, an expression level as
      high as 200-fold that of the first clone was achieved. The replacement of the TTG
      initiation codon with ATG and a simultaneous reduction of the distance to the tac
      promoter resulted in a further increase of 2.5-fold. The expressed enzyme was
      easily purified to homogeneity by hydrophobic chromatography on a Toyopearl HW
      65C column and crystallization, with a recovery of activity of 36%. The molecular
      weight was found to be 33,000 by both sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis and gel filtration on a Hi-Load 16/60 Superdex 200 fast protein
      liquid chromatography column. The expressed enzyme showed the same catalytic and
      physicochemical properties as those of the wild type, specifically cleaving the N
      terminal proline from small substrates.

PMID- 1459941
TI  - Molybdoenzyme biosynthesis in Escherichia coli: in vitro activation of purified
      nitrate reductase from a chlB mutant.
AB  - All molybdoenzyme activities are absent in chlB mutants because of their
      inability to synthesize molybdopterin guanine dinucleotide, which together with
      molybdate constitutes the molybdenum cofactor in Escherichia coli. The chlB
      mutants are able to synthesize molybdopterin. We have previously shown that the
      inactive nitrate reductase present in a chlB mutant can be activated in a process
      requiring protein FA and a heat-stable low-molecular-weight substance. We show
      here that purified nitrate reductase from the soluble fraction of a chlB mutant
      can be partially activated in a process that requires protein FA, GTP, and an
      additional protein termed factor X. It appears that the molybdopterin present in
      the nitrate reductase of a chlB mutant is converted to molybdopterin guanine
      dinucleotide during activation. The activation is absolutely dependent upon both
      protein FA and factor X. Factor X activity is present in chlA, chlB, chlE, and
      chlG mutants.

PMID- 1459940
TI  - Genetic analysis of the tetA(C) gene on plasmid pBR322.
AB  - The TetA(C) protein, encoded by the tetA(C) gene of plasmid pBR322, is a member
      of a family of membrane-bound proteins that mediate energy-dependent efflux of
      tetracycline from the bacterial cell. The tetA(C) gene was mutagenized with
      hydroxylamine, and missense mutations causing the loss of tetracycline resistance
      were identified at 30 distinct codons. Mutations that encoded substitutions
      within putative membrane-spanning alpha-helical regions were scattered throughout
      the gene. In contrast, mutations outside the alpha-helical regions were clustered
      in two cytoplasmic loops, between helices 2 and 3 and helices 10 and 11,
      suggesting that these regions play a critical role in the recognition of
      tetracycline and/or energy transduction. All of the missense mutations encoded a
      protein that retained the ability to rescue an Escherichia coli strain defective
      in potassium uptake, suggesting that the loss of tetracycline resistance was not
      due to an unstable TetA(C) protein or to the failure of the protein to be
      inserted in the membrane. We postulate that the mutations encode residues that
      are critical for the active efflux of tetracycline, except for mutations that
      result in the introduction of charged residues within hydrophobic regions of the
      TetA(C) protein.

PMID- 1459942
TI  - Mechanism of action of cyclic beta-1,2-glucan synthetase from Agrobacterium
      tumefaciens: competition between cyclization and elongation reactions.
AB  - We have examined some aspects of the mechanism of cyclic beta-1,2-glucan
      synthetase from Agrobacterium tumefaciens (235-kDa protein, gene product of the
      chvB region). The enzyme produces cyclic beta-1,2-glucans containing 17 to 23
      glucose residues from UDP-glucose. In the presence of added cyclic beta-1,2
      glucans (> 0.5 mg/ml) (containing 17 to 23 glucose residues), the enzyme instead
      synthesizes larger cyclic beta-1,2-glucans containing 24 to 30 glucose residues.
      This is achieved by de novo synthesis and not by disproportion reactions with the
      added product. This is interpreted as inhibition of the specific cyclization
      reaction for the synthesis of cyclic beta-1,2-glucans containing 17 to 23 glucose
      residues but with no concomitant effect on the elongation (polymerization)
      reaction. Temperature and detergents both affect the distribution of sizes of
      cyclic beta-1,2-glucans, but glucans containing 24 to 30 glucose residues are not
      produced. We suggest that the size distribution of cyclic beta-1,2-glucan
      products depends on competing elongation and cyclization reactions.

PMID- 1459943
TI  - A new nylon oligomer degradation gene (nylC) on plasmid pOAD2 from a
      Flavobacterium sp.
AB  - Flavobacterium sp. strain KI725 harbors plasmid pOAD21, a derivative of nylon
      oligomer-degradative plasmid pOAD2, in which all of nylA (the gene for 6
      aminohexanoate cyclic dimer hydrolase [EI]) was deleted but nylB (the gene for 6
      aminohexanoate dimer hydrolase [EII]) was retained. KI725 showed no growth on
      unfractionated nylon oligomers (Nom1) obtained from a nylon factory as a sole
      carbon and nitrogen source (Nom1 minimum plate). Extracts of KI725 cells
      possessed hydrolytic activity for Nom1 (approximately 5% of the activity of
      KI72), but pOAD2-cured strains (KI722 and KI723) showed no activity. KI725R
      strains which grew on the Nom1 minimum plate were spontaneously isolated from
      KI725 at a frequency of 10(-7) per cell. Activity toward Nom1 was enhanced in
      KI725R strains (10 to 30% of the activity of KI72). This new Nom1 degrading
      enzyme (EIII, the nylC gene product) hydrolyzed not only Nom1 but also the N
      carbobenzoxy-6-aminohexanoate trimer, a substrate which was not hydrolyzed by
      either EI or EII. Cloning and sequence analysis showed that the nylC gene is
      located close to nylB on pOAD21 and is a 1,065-bp open reading frame
      corresponding to 355 amino acid residues. The nucleotide sequence of the nylC
      gene and the deduced amino acid sequence of EIII had no detectable homology with
      the sequences of nylA (EI) and nylB (EII).

PMID- 1459944
TI  - Stabilization of phosphorylated Bacillus subtilis DegU by DegR.
AB  - The production of Bacillus subtilis extracellular proteases is under positive and
      negative regulation. The functional role of degR, one of the positive regulators,
      was studied in relation to the degS and degU gene products, which belong to the
      bacterial two-component regulatory system. Studies with a translational fusion
      between the Escherichia coli lacZ and the Bacillus subtilis subtilisin (aprE)
      genes indicated that the stimulatory site of DegR lay upstream of position -140,
      with the region upstream of position -200 being the major target. It was also
      found that degS and degU were epistatic to degR. These results suggested some
      relationship among the degR, degS, and degU gene products. The DegR protein was
      purified to homogeneity, and its in vitro effect on the phosphorylation reaction
      involving DegS and DegU was studied. For this purpose, a soluble-extract system
      in which the formation and dephosphorylation of DegU-phosphate could be examined
      was devised. The addition of DegR to the soluble-extract system enhanced the
      formation of DegU-phosphate. The enhancing effect was found to be due to the
      protection of DegU-phosphate from dephosphorylation. From these results, it was
      concluded that the positive effect of DegR on the production of the extracellular
      proteases is brought about by the stabilization of DegU-phosphate, which in turn
      may result in the stimulation of transcription of the exoprotease genes.

PMID- 1459945
TI  - Participation of a cyanobacterial S layer in fine-grain mineral formation.
AB  - Cyanobacteria belonging to the Synechococcus group are ubiquitous inhabitants of
      diverse marine and freshwater environments. Through interactions with the soluble
      constituents of their aqueous habitats, they inevitably affect the chemistry of
      the waters they inhabit. Synechococcus strain GL24 was isolated from Fayetteville
      Green Lake, New York, where it has a demonstrated role in the formation of
      calcitic minerals. In order to understand the detailed interactions which lead to
      mineral formation by this organism, we have undertaken detailed ultrastructural
      studies of its cell surface and the initial events in mineral growth using a
      variety of electron microscopic and computer image enhancement techniques.
      Synechococcus strain GL24 has a hexagonally symmetrical S layer as its outermost
      cell surface component. The constituent protein(s) of this structure appears as a
      double band by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with
      M(r)s of 104,000 and 109,000. We demonstrate that the S layer acts as a template
      for fine-grain gypsum and calcite formation by providing discrete, regularly
      arranged nucleation sites for the critical initial events in the mineralization
      process. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a bacterial S layer has
      been shown to have a role in mineral formation in a natural environment, and this
      report provides conclusive evidence for the specific involvement of bacterial
      surfaces in natural mineral formation processes.

PMID- 1459946
TI  - Interactions of Escherichia coli membrane lipoproteins with the murein sacculus.
AB  - Bifunctional cross-linking reagents were used to identify cell envelope proteins
      that interacted with the murein sacculus. This revealed that a number of
      [3H]leucine-labeled proteins and [3H]palmitate-labeled lipoproteins were
      reproducibly cross-linked to the sacculus in plasmolyzed cells. The results
      suggested that most of the cell envelope lipoproteins, and not only the murein
      lipoprotein, mediate interactions between the murein sacculus and the inner
      and/or outer membrane of the cell.

PMID- 1459947
TI  - Purification and characterization of the hydantoin racemase of Pseudomonas sp.
      strain NS671 expressed in Escherichia coli.
AB  - The hydantoin racemase gene of Pseudomonas sp. strain NS671 had been cloned and
      expressed in Escherichia coli. Hydantoin racemase was purified from the cell
      extract of the E. coli strain by phenyl-Sepharose, DEAE-Sephacel, and Sephadex G
      200 chromatographies. The purified enzyme had an apparent molecular mass of 32
      kDa as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
      By gel filtration, a molecular mass of about 190 kDa was found, suggesting that
      the native enzyme is a hexamer. The optimal conditions for hydantoin racemase
      activity were pH 9.5 and a temperature of 45 degrees C. The enzyme activity was
      slightly stimulated by the addition of not only Mn2+ or Co2+ but also metal
      chelating agents, indicating that the enzyme is not a metalloenzyme. On the other
      hand, Cu2+ and Zn2+ strongly inhibited the enzyme activity. Kinetic studies
      showed substrate inhibition, and the Vmax values for D- and L-5-(2
      methylthioethyl)hydantoin were 35.2 and 79.0 mumol/min/mg of protein,
      respectively. The purified enzyme did not racemize 5-isopropylhydantoin, whereas
      the cells of E. coli expressing the enzyme are capable of racemizing it. After
      incubation of the purified enzyme with 5-isopropylhydantoin, the enzyme no longer
      showed 5-(2-methylthioethyl)hydantoin-racemizing activity. However, in the
      presence of 5-(2-methylthioethyl)hydantoin, the purified enzyme racemized 5
      isopropylhydantoin completely, suggesting that 5-(2-methylthioethyl)hydantoin
      protects the enzyme from inactivation by 5-isopropylhydratoin. Thus, we examined
      the protective effect of various compounds and found that divalent-sulfur
      containing compounds (R-S-R' and R-SH) have this protective effect.

PMID- 1459948
TI  - Cellobiose chemotaxis by the cellulolytic bacterium Cellulomonas gelida.
AB  - In the course of a study on the bacterial degradation of plant cell wall
      polysaccharides, we observed that growing cells of motile cellulolytic bacteria
      accumulated, without attachment, near cellulose fibers present in the cultures.
      Because it seemed likely that the accumulation was due to chemotactic behavior,
      we investigated the chemotactic responses of one of the above-mentioned bacteria
      (Cellulomonas gelida ATCC 488). We studied primarily the responses toward
      cellobiose, which is the major product of cellulose hydrolysis by microorganisms,
      and toward hemicellulose hydrolysis products. We found that cellobiose,
      cellotriose, D-glucose, xylobiose, and D-xylose, as well as other sugars that are
      hemicellulose components, served as chemoattractants for C. gelida, as determined
      by a modification of Adler's capillary assay. Competition and inducibility
      experiments indicated that C. gelida possesses at least two types of separately
      regulated cellobiose chemoreceptors (Cb1 and cellobiose, cellotriose, xylobiose,
      and D-glucose, and it is constitutively synthesized. The presence in C. gelida of
      a constitutive response toward cellobiose and of at least two distinct cellobiose
      chemoreceptors has implications for the survival of this cellulolytic bacterium
      in nature. A possible mechanism for cellobiose-mediated bacterial chemotaxis
      toward cellulose is proposed. We suggest that, in natural environments, motile
      cellulolytic bacteria migrate toward plant materials that contain cellulose and
      hemicellulose by swimming up cellobiose concentration gradients and/or
      concentration gradients of other sugars (e.g., xylobiose, D-xylose, and D
      glucose) formed by enzymatic hydrolysis of plant cell wall polysaccharides.

PMID- 1459949
TI  - Purification and characterization of a tetrachloro-p-hydroquinone reductive
      dehalogenase from a Flavobacterium sp.
AB  - Tetrachloro-p-hydroquinone (TeCH) is the first intermediate in pentachlorophenol
      (PCP) degradation by Flavobacterium sp. strain ATCC 39723. We previously purified
      a PCP hydroxylase that oxidized PCP to TeCH. Subsequently, we identified the
      reductive dehalogenation of TeCH to 2,3,6-trichloro-p-hydroquinone and then to
      2,6-dichloro-p-hydroquinone in a cell extract with the reduced form of
      glutathione as the reducing agent under anaerobic conditions. Here we report the
      purification of a TeCH reductive dehalogenase that reductively dehalogenated TeCH
      to trichlorohydroquinone and then to dichlorohydroquinone. The enzyme was
      purified by protamine sulfate treatment, ammonium sulfate fractionation, and
      phenyl-agarose, anion-exchange, and gel filtration column chromatographies. As
      determined by gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis analyses, the protein has a molecular weight of about 30,000;
      nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis suggests that the
      native enzyme exists as a dimer. The enzyme used glutathione but not NADPH, NADH,
      dithiothreitol, or ascorbic acid as the reducing agent. The optimal pH was close
      to neutral.

PMID- 1459950
TI  - Evidence for an S-layer protein pool in the peptidoglycan of Bacillus
      stearothermophilus.
AB  - Intact cells of Bacillus stearothermophilus PV72 revealed, after conventional
      thin-sectioning procedures, the typical cell wall profile of S-layer-carrying
      gram-positive eubacteria consisting of a ca. 10-nm-thick peptidoglycan-containing
      layer and a ca. 10-nm-thick S layer. Cell wall preparations obtained by breaking
      the cells and removing the cytoplasmic membrane by treatment with Triton X-100
      revealed a triple-layer structure, with an additional S layer on the inner
      surface of the peptidoglycan. This profile is characteristic for cell wall
      preparations of many S-layer-carrying gram-positive eubacteria. Among several
      variants of strain PV72 obtained upon single colony isolation, we investigated
      the variant PV72 86-I, which does not exhibit an inner S layer on isolated cell
      walls but instead possesses a profile identical to that observed for intact
      cells. In the course of a controlled mild autolysis of isolated cell walls, S
      layer subunits were released from the peptidoglycan of the variant and assembled
      into an additional S layer on the inner surface of the walls, leading to a three
      layer cell wall profile as observed for cell wall preparations of the parent
      strain. In comparison to conventionally processed bacteria, freeze-substituted
      cells of strain PV72 and the variant strain revealed in thin sections a ca. 18-nm
      wide electron-dense peptidoglycan-containing layer closely associated with the S
      layer. The demonstration of a pool of S-layer subunits in such a thin
      peptidoglycan layer in an amount at least sufficient for generating one coherent
      lattice on the cell surface indicated that the subunits must have occupied much
      of the free space in the wall fabric of both the parent strain and the variant.
      It can even be speculated that the rate of synthesis and translation of the S
      layer protein is influenced by the packing density of the S-layer subunits in the
      periplasm of the cell wall delineated by the outer S layer and the cytoplasmic
      membrane. Our data indicate that the matrix of the rigid wall layer inhibits the
      assembly of the S-layer subunits which are in transit to the outside.

PMID- 1459951
TI  - Identification, cloning, and characterization of rcsF, a new regulator gene for
      exopolysaccharide synthesis that suppresses the division mutation ftsZ84 in
      Escherichia coli K-12.
AB  - A new gene, designated rcsF, was located adjacent to drpA at the 5.2-min position
      of the genetic map of Escherichia coli. The deduced amino acid sequence encoded
      by the rcsF gene indicates a small protein of 133 amino acid residues with a
      calculated pI of 10.8 that is rich in proline, serine, alanine, and cysteine
      residues. When overexpressed as a result of its presence on a multicopy plasmid,
      rcsF confers a mucoid phenotype and restores colony formation to ftsZ84 mutant
      cells on L agar medium containing no added NaCl. These two phenotypes are not
      observed in rcsB mutant cells. Ion mutant cells harboring an rcsF mutation
      accumulate considerably lower levels of exopolysaccharides, whereas the presence
      of a multicopy rcsF plasmid not only increases capsule synthesis but also confers
      a mucoid phenotype at 37 degrees C, a temperature at which ion mutant cells are
      known not to form mucoid colonies. RcsF does not stimulate the expression of
      rcsB, indicating that it exerts its action through the RcsB protein, possibly by
      phosphorylation. It is also shown that RcsF stimulation of capsule synthesis is
      RcsA-dependent, whereas colony formation of ftsZ84 mutant cells can be restored
      by RcsF in the absence of RcsA.

PMID- 1459952
TI  - Cloning and characterization of the Brucella ovis heat shock protein DnaK
      functionally expressed in Escherichia coli.
AB  - The Brucella ovis dnaK gene, homolog to the eukaryotic hsp70 genes, was cloned by
      using a Drosophila melanogaster probe. Comparison of B. ovis and Escherichia coli
      sequences revealed a similar organization for the dnaK and dnaJ genes and
      putative regulatory signals. In E. coli transfected with the cloned fragment, B.
      ovis hsp70 was expressed at 30 and 50 degrees C apparently under the control of
      its own promoter. The recombinant protein and a B. ovis native protein displaying
      the same molecular weight were both recognized by anti-E. coli DnaK serum. Native
      B. ovis protein was also recognized by sera of sheep either infected or
      vaccinated with an attenuated Brucella strain, suggesting that Brucella hsp70
      could be up-regulated during host colonization. A thermosensitive E. coli dnaK
      mutant transfected with the cloned fragment recovered colony-forming ability at
      42 degrees C, showing that the B. ovis DnaK protein could behave as a functional
      heat shock protein in E. coli.

PMID- 1459953
TI  - Dramatic changes in Fis levels upon nutrient upshift in Escherichia coli.
AB  - Fis is a small basic DNA-binding protein from Escherichia coli that was
      identified because of its role in site-specific DNA recombination reactions.
      Recent evidence indicates that Fis also participates in essential cell processes
      such as rRNA and tRNA transcription and chromosomal DNA replication. In this
      report, we show that Fis levels vary dramatically during the course of cell
      growth and in response to changing environmental conditions. When stationary
      phase cells are subcultured into a rich medium, Fis levels increase from less
      than 100 to over 50,000 copies per cell prior to the first cell division. As
      cells enter exponential growth, nascent synthesis is largely shut off, and
      intracellular Fis levels decrease as a function of cell division. Fis synthesis
      also transiently increases when exponentially growing cells are shifted to a
      richer medium. The magnitude of the peak of Fis synthesis appears to reflect the
      extent of the nutritional upshift. fis mRNA levels closely resemble the protein
      expression pattern, suggesting that regulation occurs largely at the
      transcriptional level. Two RNA polymerase-binding sites and at least six high
      affinity Fis-binding sites are present in the fis promoter region. We show that
      expression of the fis operon is negatively regulated by Fis in vivo and that
      purified Fis can prevent stable complex formation by RNA polymerase at the fis
      promoter in vitro. However, autoregulation only partially accounts for the
      expression pattern of Fis. We suggest that the fluctuations in Fis levels may
      serve as an early signal of a nutritional upshift and may be important in the
      physiological roles Fis plays in the cell.

PMID- 1459954
TI  - Role of PhoU in phosphate transport and alkaline phosphatase regulation.
AB  - The negative regulatory function of PhoU in alkaline phosphatase (AP) was
      suggested by the behavior of K10 phoU35 carrying a missense mutation whose
      product was detected by immunoblotting. To define more clearly the regulatory
      function of this protein for the synthesis of AP, we constructed a null mutation.
      The constitutive synthesis of AP in this phoU deletion strain confirmed the
      negative role of PhoU. However, the expression of the PhoU protein from an
      isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside-inducible promoter had no effect on the
      repression of AP synthesis. Furthermore, the involvement of PhoU in free-Pi
      uptake was demonstrated. These results provide evidence that PhoU participates in
      Pi transport and in the regulatory role of the phosphate-specific transport
      system.

PMID- 1459955
TI  - Functional and structural analyses of threonine dehydratase from Corynebacterium
      glutamicum.
AB  - Threonine dehydratase activity is an important element in the flux control of
      isoleucine biosynthesis. The enzyme of Corynebacterium glutamicum demonstrates a
      marked sigmoidal dependence of initial velocity on the threonine concentration, a
      dependence that is consistent with substrate-promoted conversion of the enzyme
      from a low-activity to a high-activity conformation. In the presence of the
      negative allosteric effector isoleucine, the K0.5 increased from 21 to 78 mM and
      the cooperativity, as expressed by the Hill coefficient increased from 2.4 to
      3.7. Valine promoted opposite effects: the K0.5 was reduced to 12 mM, and the
      enzyme exhibited almost no cooperativity. Sequence determination of the C.
      glutamicum gene for this enzyme revealed an open reading frame coding for a
      polypeptide of 436 amino acids. From this information and the molecular weight
      determination of the native enzyme, it follows that the dehydratase is a tetramer
      with a total mass of 186,396 daltons. Comparison of the deduced polypeptide
      sequence with the sequences of known threonine dehydratases revealed surprising
      differences from the C. glutamicum enzyme in the carboxy-terminal portion. This
      portion is greatly reduced in size, and a large gap of 95 amino acids must be
      introduced to achieve homology. Therefore, the C. glutamicum enzyme must be
      considered a small variant of threonine dehydratase that is typically controlled
      by isoleucine and valine but has an altered structure reflecting a topological
      difference in the portion of the protein most likely to be important for
      allosteric regulation.

PMID- 1459956
TI  - Lysis of lysis-inhibited bacteriophage T4-infected cells.
AB  - T4 bacteriophage (phage)-infected cells show a marked increase in latent-period
      length, called lysis inhibition, upon adsorption of additional T4 phages
      (secondary adsorption). Lysis inhibition is a complex phenotype requiring the
      activity of at least six T4 genes. Two basic mysteries surround our understanding
      of the expression of lysis inhibition: (i) the mechanism of initiation (i.e., how
      secondary adsorption leads to the expression of lysis inhibition) and (ii) the
      mechanism of lysis (i.e., how this signal not to lyse is reversed). This study
      first covers the basic biology of the expression of lysis inhibition and lysis of
      T4-infected cells at high culture densities. Then evidence is presented which
      implies that, as with the initiation of lysis inhibition, sudden, lysis
      associated clearing of these cultures is likely caused by T4 secondary
      adsorption. For example, such clearing is often observed for lysis-inhibited T4
      infected cells grown in batch culture during T4 stock preparation. The
      significance of this secondary adsorption-induced lysis to wild T4 populations is
      discussed. The study concludes with a logical argument suggesting that the lytic
      nature of the T4 phage particle evolved as a novel mechanism of phage-induced
      lysis.

PMID- 1459957
TI  - Cloning and characterization of the Bacillus subtilis hemEHY gene cluster, which
      encodes protoheme IX biosynthetic enzymes.
AB  - Mutations that cause a block in a late step of the protoheme IX biosynthetic
      pathway, i.e., in a step after uroporphyrinogen III, map at 94 degrees on the
      Bacillus subtilis chromosomal genetic map. We have cloned and sequenced the hem
      genes at this location. The sequenced region contains six open reading frames:
      ponA, hemE, hemH, hemY, ORFA, and ORFB. The ponA gene product shows over 30%
      sequence identity to penicillin-binding proteins 1A of Escherichia coli,
      Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Streptococcus oralis and probably has a role in
      cell wall metabolism. The hemE gene was identified from amino acid sequence
      comparisons as encoding uroporphyrinogen III decarboxylase. The hemH gene was
      identified by enzyme activity analysis of the HemH protein expressed in E. coli.
      It encodes a water-soluble ferrochelatase which catalyzes the final step in
      protoheme IX synthesis, the insertion of ferrous iron into protoporphyrin IX. The
      function of the hemY gene product was not elucidated, but mutation analysis shows
      that it is required for a late step in protoheme IX synthesis. The hemY gene
      probably encodes an enzyme with coproporphyrinogen III oxidase or
      protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase activity or both of these activities. Inactivation
      of the ORFA and ORFB genes did not block protoheme IX synthesis. Preliminary
      evidence for a hemEHY mRNA was obtained, and a promoter region located in front
      of hemE was identified. From these combined results we conclude that the hemEHY
      gene cluster encodes enzymes for the synthesis of protoheme IX from
      uroporphyrinogen III and probably constitutes an operon.

PMID- 1459958
TI  - CzcR and CzcD, gene products affecting regulation of resistance to cobalt, zinc,
      and cadmium (czc system) in Alcaligenes eutrophus.
AB  - The czcR gene, one of the two control genes responsible for induction of
      resistance to Co2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+ (czc system) in the Alcaligenes eutrophus
      plasmid pMOL30, was cloned and characterized. The 1,376-bp sequence upstream of
      the czcCBAD structural genes encodes a 41.4-kDa protein, the czcR gene product,
      transcribed in the opposite direction of that of the czcCBAD genes. The putative
      CzcR polypeptide (355 amino acid residues) contains 11 cysteine and 14 histidine
      residues which might form metal cation-binding sites. A czcC::lacZ reporter gene
      translational fusion was constructed, inserted into plasmid pMOL30 in A.
      eutrophus, and expressed under the control of CzcR. Zn2+, Co2+, and Cd2+, as well
      as Ni2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, and Mn2+ and even Al3+, served as inducers of beta
      galactosidase activity. Besides the CzcR protein, the membrane-bound CzcD protein
      was essential for induction of czc. The CzcR and CzcD proteins display no
      sequence similarity to two-component regulatory systems of a sensor and a
      response activator type; however, CzcD has 34% identity with the ZRC-1 protein,
      which mediates zinc resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (A. Kamizomo, M.
      Nishizawa, Y. Teranishi, K. Murata, and A. Kimura, Mol. Gen. Genet. 219:161-167,
      1989).

PMID- 1459959
TI  - Menaquinone (vitamin K2) biosynthesis: evidence that the Escherichia coli menD
      gene encodes both 2-succinyl-6-hydroxy-2,4-cyclohexadiene-1-carboxylic acid
      synthase and alpha-ketoglutarate decarboxylase activities.
AB  - The formation of 2-succinyl-6-hydroxy-2,4-cyclohexadiene-1-carboxylic acid
      (SHCHC), the first identified intermediate in the menaquinone biosynthetic
      pathway, requires two reactions. They are the decarboxylation of alpha
      ketoglutarate by an alpha-ketoglutarate decarboxylase, which results in the
      formation of succinic semialdehyde-thiamine PPi (TPP) anion, and the addition of
      the succinic semialdehyde-TPP anion to isochorismate carried out by the enzyme
      SHCHC synthase. Evidence is provided to support the conclusion that both
      enzymatic activities are encoded by an extended menD gene which is capable of
      generating a bifunctional 69-kDa protein. Consistent with the requirement for TPP
      in the decarboxylation of alpha-ketoglutarate, the translated amino acid sequence
      contains the characteristic TPP-binding motif present in all well-characterized
      TPP-requiring enzymes.

PMID- 1459961
TI  - Three clustered origins of replication in a promiscuous-plasmid replicon and
      their differential use in a PolA+ strain and a delta PolA strain of Escherichia
      coli K-12.
AB  - A 1,197-bp region of the broad-host-range plasmid pCU1 is adequate for its
      replication. Analysis of replicating molecules containing this region reveals
      three clustered origins of vegetative replication and replication proceeds
      bidirectionally from each in a theta mode. In an Escherichia coli polymerase I
      deletion mutant, utilization of one of these three origins was not detected. The
      potentiality for origin utilization may therefore be a determinant of replicon
      host range.

PMID- 1459960
TI  - Definition of a minimal plasmid stabilization system from the broad-host-range
      plasmid RK2.
AB  - The stable inheritance of the broad-host-range plasmid RK2 is due at least in
      part to functions within a region located at coordinates 32.8 to 35.9 kb, termed
      the RK2 par locus. This locus encodes four previously identified genes in two
      operons (parCBA and parD; M. Gerlitz, O. Hrabak, and H. Schwab, J. Bacteriol.
      172:6194-6203, 1990, and R. C. Roberts, R. Burioni, and D. R. Helinski, J.
      Bacteriol. 172:6204-6216, 1990). The parCBA operon is functional in resolving
      plasmid multimers to monomers. Analysis of the plasmid stabilization capacity of
      deletions within this region, however, indicates that this multimer resolution
      operon is required for stabilization only in certain Escherichia coli strains and
      under specific growth conditions. The deletion analysis further allowed a
      redefinition of the minimal functional region as 790 bp in length, consisting of
      the parD gene (243 bp) and its promoter as well as sequences downstream of parD.
      This minimal region stabilizes an RK2-derived minireplicon in several different
      gram-negative bacteria and, at least in E. coli, in a vector-independent manner.
      By insertional mutagenesis, both the parD gene and downstream (3') regions were
      found to be required for plasmid stabilization. The downstream DNA sequence
      contained an open reading frame which was subsequently shown by transcriptional
      and translational fusions to encode a protein with a predicted size of 11,698 Da,
      designated ParE. Since the parDE operon requires the presence of the parCBA
      operon for efficient stabilization under certain growth conditions, the potential
      role of multimer resolution in plasmid stabilization was tested by substituting
      the ColE1 cer site for the parCBA operon. While the cer site did function to
      resolve plasmid multimers, it was not sufficient to restore stabilization
      activity to the parDE operon under growth conditions that require the parCBA
      operon for plasmid stability. This suggests that plasmid stabilization by the RK2
      par locus relies on a complex mechanism, representing a multifaceted
      stabilization system of which multimer resolution is a conditionally dispensable
      component, and that the function(s) encoded by the parDE operon is essential.

PMID- 1459962
TI  - The carboxy-terminal 14 amino acids of phage lambda N protein are dispensable for
      transcription antitermination.
AB  - The analogous N proteins encoded by lambdoid bacteriophages lambda, 21, and 22
      are very different in amino acid sequence, except at their carboxy-terminal ends.
      Since N lambda remains functional despite the deletion of most of its terminal
      region of homology to N21, that region of homology cannot represent a region of
      conserved function.

PMID- 1459963
TI  - Properties of purified sporlets produced by spoII mutants of Bacillus subtilis.
AB  - A number of abortively disporic spoII mutants of Bacillus subtilis released their
      forespore compartments (termed stage II sporlets) after mother cell lysis during
      sporulation in nutrient exhaustion or resuspension media. Stage II sporlets were
      viable and contained levels of ATP and a number of enzymes similar to those in
      cells 2 to 3 h after sporulation. However, stage II sporlets carried out
      essentially no macromolecular synthesis, a result suggesting that they were in a
      quiescent state. The nucleoid of these quiescent stage II sporlets was
      significantly condensed relative to that in the original vegetative cells, as was
      previously found to take place 1 to 2 h after initiation of sporulation (B.
      Setlow, N. Magill, P. Febbroriello, L. Nakhimousky, D. E. Koppel, and P. Setlow,
      J. Bacteriol. 173:6270-6278, 1991). Stage II sporlets may be a useful model
      system for analysis of forespore properties early in stage II of sporulation.

PMID- 1459964
TI  - Rate maintenance of cell division in Escherichia coli B/r: analysis of a simple
      nutritional shift-down.
AB  - A competitive (nonmetabolizable) inhibitor of glucose uptake, alpha
      methylglucoside, was used to limit the growth of Escherichia coli. Cell division
      during such a nutritional shift-down was studied in batch cultures and with the
      "baby-machine" technique. Following a brief delay, the rate of division was
      maintained for 60 to 70 min in batch cultures and for an extended period in the
      baby machine. Decreases in cell size were due, in part, to a possible reduction
      in the mass per chromosome origin at the time of replication initiation and a
      shorter time interval between initiation and the subsequent division. These
      unusual findings suggest that this method for abrupt change in growth rate
      without modifying repression patterns is useful for studying the control of
      various aspects of the bacterial cell.

PMID- 1459965
TI  - Presence of methylated adenine in GATC sequences in chromosomal DNAs from
      Campylobacter species.
AB  - We digested chromosomal DNAs from 12 Campylobacter strains (C. jejuni, 4 strains;
      C. coli, 2 strains; C. fetus subsp. fetus, 2 strains; C. hyointestinalis, 2
      strains; and C. upsaliensis, 2 strains) and from 4 Helicobacter strains (H.
      pylori, 2 strains; and H. mustelae, 2 strains) with HindIII, SstI, BamHI, DpnI,
      MboI, and Sau3AI. Restriction fragments were then separated by electrophoresis in
      1% agarose or 10% polyacrylamide gels. Only DNAs from three Campylobacter species
      (C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. upsaliensis) were digested with DpnI (an enzyme that
      recognizes only methylated adenine in GATC sequences). We used MboI and Sau3AI to
      confirm these findings.

PMID- 1459966
TI  - Structural and functional properties of the p60 proteins from different Listeria
      species.
AB  - The major extracellular protein p60 of Listeria monocytogenes seems to be
      required for this microorganism's adherence to and invasion of 3T6 mouse
      fibroblasts but not for adherence to human epithelial Caco-2 cells. Western blot
      analysis with polyclonal antibodies against p60 of L. monocytogenes indicated the
      presence of cross-reacting proteins in the culture supernatants of all Listeria
      species. Protein p60 of L. monocytogenes could restore adhesion of the L.
      monocytogenes mutant RIII (impaired in the synthesis of p60) to mouse fibroblasts
      more efficiently than that of Listeria grayi. The amino acid sequences of the p60
      related proteins of L. innocua, L. ivanovii, L. seeligeri, L. welshimeri, and L.
      grayi indicated highly conserved regions of about 120 amino acids at both the N
      terminal and the C-terminal ends. The middle portions of these proteins,
      consisting of about 240 amino acids, varied considerably. These parts include the
      repeat domain consisting of repetitions of Thr (T) and Asn (N) which was present
      only, albeit in different arrangements, in the p60 proteins of L. monocytogenes
      and L. innocua. The p60-related proteins of L. grayi, L. ivanovii, L. seeligeri,
      and L. welshimeri each contained an insertion of 54 amino acids which was absent
      in the p60 proteins of L. monocytogenes and L. innocua.

PMID- 1459967
TI  - Evidence that the hemolysin/bacteriocin phenotype of Enterococcus faecalis subsp.
      zymogenes can be determined by plasmids in different incompatibility groups as
      well as by the chromosome.
AB  - The hemolysin (Hly/Bac) determinant in strains of Enterococcus faecalis was found
      to be present on plasmids in different incompatibility groups (conferring
      different sex pheromone responses) as well as on the chromosome. Of 33 Hly/Bac
      plasmids identified in clinical isolates, the related pheromone for 30 was cAD1;
      the related pheromone for another two (pYI1 and pYI3) or one (pYI2) was cOB1 or
      cY12, respectively. The representative Hly/Bac plasmids pAD1, pYI1, pOB1, and
      pYI2, which responded to pheromones cAD1, cOB1, cOB1, and cYI2, respectively,
      were compatible with one another. As additions to the incompatibility group
      IncHly of pAD1, groups for pOB1, pYI1, and pYI2 were designated IncHlyII,
      IncHlyIII, and IncHlyIV, respectively. Eleven of the 30 plasmids conferring a
      response to cAD1 were very similar to pAD1 on the basis of their restriction
      endonuclease profiles. EcoRI fragment D, F, or H containing parts of the Hly/Bac
      gene(s) of pAD1 hybridized to similar EcoRI fragments from each of the other
      three representatives of incompatibility groups (i.e., pOB1, pYI1, and pYI2) and
      to homologous DNA representing the chromosome of the plasmid-free Hly/Bac strain
      YI6-1.

PMID- 1459968
TI  - Treatment outcome of obsessive compulsive disorder with comorbid social phobia.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) with serotonin
      reuptake blockers has been demonstrated effective in 50% to 60% of patients in
      open and placebo-controlled studies. However, some reports indicate that comorbid
      Axis II psychopathology, including avoidant personality disorder, and deficiency
      of social skills could be predictors of a poor response to treatment in OCD
      patients. METHOD: A retrospective review elicited 12 patients who met DSM-III-R
      diagnostic criteria for both OCD and social phobia and were treated in our clinic
      last year with adequate trials of serotonin reuptake blockers or MAOIs. RESULTS:
      Only 3 (27%) of the 11 patients treated with serotonin reuptake blockers had a
      substantial improvement of OCD symptoms. Among them, only 1 (11%) of 9 patients
      with generalized subtype of social phobia versus 2 (100%) of 2 patients with the
      nongeneralized subtype responded to serotonin reuptake blockers. Four (80%) of 5
      patients with comorbid generalized social phobia receiving phenelzine had marked
      improvement of OCD symptoms. In general, response of social phobia occurred
      parallel to that of OCD. CONCLUSION: Comorbid generalized social phobia seems to
      be associated with a poor response to serotonin reuptake blockers in OCD
      patients. Deficient social skills, as well as distinct biological mechanisms, may
      be involved. MAOIs might be an effective alternative medication in refractory
      cases. Larger and controlled studies are needed to define the implications of the
      association of OCD and social phobia.

PMID- 1459969
TI  - Night terrors in adults: phenomenology and relationship to psychopathology.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Night terrors have been classically described in children. Night
      terrors occurring in adults have been linked to psychopathology. Recent
      descriptions of sleep panic attacks have raised questions about their
      relationship to night terrors. METHOD: Evaluations from a medically affiliated
      sleep disorders program were reviewed to identify adult patients presenting with
      events consistent with night terrors. Eleven patients were identified, 10 of whom
      had polysomnographic evaluation, and their records were reviewed for information
      relevant to night terrors and psychiatric symptoms. Six of these patients were
      available for further assessment which included inquiry regarding sleep events, a
      Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) for psychiatric disorders, and the Millon
      Clinical Multiaxial Inventory II (MCMI-II) for personality-related measurements.
      RESULTS: In the original sample, night terror episodes featured confused
      behaviors, motor activity, and absent or fragmented recall. Polysomnography
      documented arousals from slow wave sleep in 9 of 10 patients. All of the original
      patients reported psychiatric symptoms. All 6 patients who received the
      subsequent structured evaluation met lifetime criteria for Axis I conditions
      (most commonly affective and substance use disorders) and had elevated scores on
      the personality scales of the MCMI-II. Night terrors were not limited to
      psychiatric episodes. CONCLUSION: Night terrors occur in adults that are similar
      to episodes described in children. While distinct from sleep panic attacks, night
      terrors appear to occur in adults with histories of psychopathology.

PMID- 1459970
TI  - Restraint, seclusion, and clozapine.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The effects of clozapine, an unconventional neuroleptic drug, on the
      use of restraint and seclusion in patients have not been extensively reported on
      in the United States. METHOD: The records of 107 patients receiving clozapine in
      Missouri state mental hospitals were reviewed over a 13-month period for
      frequency and duration of restraint and seclusion. RESULTS: During clozapine
      treatment, patients had fewer episodes of restraint and seclusion than
      previously. The duration of restraints and seclusions also decreased, starting
      the second month after the initiation of clozapine treatment. CONCLUSION: For
      patients who were restrained or secluded before clozapine treatment, the decrease
      in the number and duration of restraint and seclusion episodes was dramatic.

PMID- 1459971
TI  - The effect of enalapril on serum lithium levels in healthy men.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Several authors have recently described the development of lithium
      toxicity after the addition of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors to a
      stable lithium regimen. This pilot study was designed to systematically
      investigate the effects of enalapril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor,
      on the serum level of lithium. METHOD: In a 26-day outpatient study, nine healthy
      men took lithium for 10 days, lithium and enalapril for 10 days, and lithium
      alone again for 6 days. Serum lithium levels were measured while patients were
      taking lithium alone and while they were taking the lithium/enalapril
      combination. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between
      mean serum lithium level during treatment with lithium alone and during treatment
      with the lithium/enalapril combination. However, one subject showed a 31%
      increase in serum lithium level after enalapril was added. CONCLUSION: Although
      no statistically significant differences between mean serum lithium level during
      treatment either with lithium alone or with lithium/enalapril were found, it is
      possible that the low dose of enalapril and low serum lithium levels employed for
      subject safety may have resulted in a type II statistical error. If enalapril
      doses or initial serum lithium levels were similar to those described in case
      reports, a significant difference in mean serum lithium levels may have been
      observed. While a predictable interaction between lithium and enalapril probably
      does not occur in all patients, factors such as enalapril dose, serum lithium
      level before addition of enalapril, or the presence of heart disease may make
      such an interaction more likely. At the levels of lithium and enalapril used in
      this study, elevated serum lithium concentration does not appear to be a
      universal event, but physicians must exercise appropriate caution.

PMID- 1459972
TI  - Personality and clinical characteristics in patients with trichotillomania.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Trichotillomania, a disorder of self-directed hair pulling, has been
      the subject of few systematic studies. Although personality characteristics and
      disorders are often noted to coexist with trichotillomania, no thorough
      assessment of comorbidity with DSM-III-R Axis II disorders has been published.
      The present study was conducted to evaluate personality disorders and other
      personality characteristics in a large outpatient population of trichotillomanics
      and to compare these findings with those in a nontrichotillomanic comparison
      group. METHOD: Forty-eight outpatient female trichotillomanics were evaluated
      with the Structured Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders (SIDP-R) and
      the revised version of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2).
      Personality disorders and personality cluster symptom scores from the SIDP-R and
      MMPI-2 scales were compared with those derived from a comparison group of 48 age
      matched female outpatient psychiatric patients. RESULTS: Forty-two percent of the
      trichotillomanic group met criteria for a personality disorder. The only
      statistically significant difference in frequency of diagnoses between the
      trichotillomanic and comparison groups was a greater frequency of borderline
      personality disorder in the comparison group. Trichotillomanics demonstrated
      significantly less SIDP-R cluster A personality symptoms as well as less
      depression and better psychological adjustment on the MMPI-2. CONCLUSION: Our
      study suggests that no particular personality disorder or trait characterizes
      female trichotillomanics. Female trichotillomanics seeking psychiatric
      intervention appear to have better psychological adjustment and less
      psychopathology in general than other psychiatric outpatients.

PMID- 1459973
TI  - Catatonia in a patient with AIDS-related dementia.

PMID- 1459974
TI  - AIDS-related psychosis with catatonia responding to low-dose lorazepam.

PMID- 1459975
TI  - High incidence of haloperidol decanoate injection site reactions.

PMID- 1459976
TI  - Dangerous driving and eating disorders.

PMID- 1459977
TI  - Nifedipine and nonresponse to antidepressants.

PMID- 1459978
TI  - Comparison of SPECT applications in neurology and psychiatry.
AB  - The following presentation provides an overview of SPECT brain imaging
      applications in both neurologic and psychiatric disorders. Specific findings in
      cerebrovascular disease, dementia, and epilepsy are described in order to
      highlight the role SPECT plays in distinguishing primary organic disease from
      primary psychopathology. Through case examples, new applications of three
      dimensional SPECT rCBF imaging that could play a major role in defining CNS
      network abnormalities in major depressive disorder and obsessive compulsive
      disorder are elucidated. The role of network imaging analysis across groups in
      psychiatric subjects is contrasted to its roles in neurologic disorders. The
      degree to which both neurologic and psychiatric pathology seen on SPECT exceeds
      that observed through structural modalities is defined.

PMID- 1459979
TI  - Regional cerebral blood flow imaging with SPECT in psychiatric disease: focus on
      schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse.
AB  - In psychiatric disorders where gross brain structure is preserved, as confirmed
      through computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, neuroSPECT imaging
      provides further diagnostic insight by demonstrating abnormal brain function
      related to disturbances in perfusion or metabolism. This paper will focus on how
      the psychiatrist may incorporate SPECT brain imaging into the diagnostic process
      for schizophrenia, where frontal lobe hypoperfusion and hypometabolism have been
      demonstrated; for obsessive compulsive disorder, which has been linked to
      abnormalities in the basal ganglia, anterior cingulate gyrus, and orbital frontal
      cortex; and for substance abuse, where use of cocaine can be associated with
      cortical and subcortical perfusion defects.

PMID- 1459980
TI  - Current and future applications of SPECT in clinical psychiatry.
AB  - Over the past 10 years several studies have been conducted in psychiatric and
      neurologic patients with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to
      determine if patterns of brain dysfunction exist that characterize the different
      mental diseases. Although there has not been any finding that can be referred to
      as specific for a particular disease, SPECT studies have been able to demonstrate
      evidence of brain dysfunction in patients who, when tested with other means,
      showed no evidence of brain abnormalities. In this manuscript, the current and
      future applications of SPECT in the clinical practice of psychiatry are analyzed.

PMID- 1459981
TI  - Neuroreceptor imaging with SPECT.
AB  - Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging can provide useful
      measurements of brain receptors and endogenous neurotransmitters and may have
      significant experimental and clinical applications. This presentation reviews the
      use of SPECT for neuroreceptor imaging. Studies of receptors for benzodiazepines,
      dopamine D2 agents, and dopamine reuptake sites will be used to exemplify the
      capabilities of SPECT. Tracers labeled with the radioisotope 125I have high
      affinity, high brain uptake, and high ratios of specific to nonspecific binding.
      Imaging studies of human and nonhuman primate brain will be presented, and the
      potential clinical applicability of these agents will be discussed.

PMID- 1459982
TI  - An introduction and overview to clinical applications of neuroSPECT in
      psychiatry.
AB  - This brief paper introduces the reader to the materials presented in other
      manuscripts of this issue of The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Single photon
      emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a dynamic brain imaging technique that
      grew out of the evolution of increasingly more sophisticated approaches to
      understanding the pathophysiology and biology of neurologic and psychiatric
      disorders over the past two decades. SPECT is a practical tool that is more
      available than positron emission tomography (PET), which is found primarily at
      academic centers. While SPECT has drawbacks that relate to levels of resolution
      and the possible impact of altered brain physiology on interpretation of results,
      it offers advantages of decreased cost, the need for less intensively trained
      technicians, and the ability to carry out clinical testing in facilities lacking
      a cyclotron. These factors raise the hope of more routine use of this imaging
      technique in clinical settings related to cognitive disorders, schizophrenia,
      affective disorders, and problems associated with substance use.

PMID- 1459983
TI  - Brain SPECT imaging and psychiatry.
AB  - To provide a basis for using neuroSPECT (single photon emission computerized
      tomography) in the evaluation of psychiatric disorders, this presentation will
      focus on recent developments in this field. Newer advances in cerebral SPECT
      instrumentation and radiopharmaceuticals and the potential impact on the
      evaluation of psychiatric patients will be discussed.

PMID- 1459984
TI  - Extremophiles: fascinating organisms with surprising capabilities.

PMID- 1459985
TI  - Energetics of methanogenesis studied in vesicular systems.
AB  - Methanogenesis is restricted to a group of prokaryotic microorganisms which
      thrive in strictly anaerobic habitats where they play an indispensable role in
      the anaerobic food chain. Methanogenic bacteria possess a number of unique
      cofactors and coenzymes that play an important role in their specialized
      metabolism. Methanogenesis from a number of simple substrates such as H2 + CO2,
      formate, methanol, methylamines, and acetate is associated with the generation of
      transmembrane electrochemical gradients of protons and sodium ions which serve as
      driving force for a number of processes such as the synthesis of ATP via an ATP
      synthase, reverse electron transfer, and solute uptake. Several unique reactions
      of the methanogenic pathways have been identified that are involved in energy
      transduction. Their role and importance for the methanogenic metabolism are
      described.

PMID- 1459986
TI  - Photophosphorylation elements in halobacteria: an A-type ATP synthase and
      bacterial rhodopsins.
AB  - Photophosphorylation in halobacteria is carried out by two rather simple
      elements: an A-type ATP synthase and light-driven ion-pumping bacterial
      rhodopsins. The unique features of halobacterial ATP synthase, mostly common to
      archaebacteria (A-type), and of new members of the bacteriorhodopsin family are
      introduced along with studies performed in the authors' laboratory. This is the
      story of how we found that the A-type ATP synthase is close to V-type ATPase but
      far from F-type ATPase, although all three ATPases are believed to have the same
      ancestor. Archaerhodopsins, the new members of the proton-pumping retinal
      proteins, were found in Australian halobacteria and have been used in a
      comparative study of bacterial rhodopsins.

PMID- 1459987
TI  - Structures of archaebacterial membrane lipids.
AB  - Structural data on archaebacterial lipids is presented with emphasis on the ether
      lipids of the methanogens. These ether lipids normally account for 80-95% of the
      membrane lipids with the remaining 5-20% of neutral squalenes and other
      isoprenoids. Genus-specific combinations of various lipid core structures found
      in methanogens include diether-tetraether, dietherhydroxydiether, or diether
      macrocyclic diether-tetraether lipid moieties. Some species have only the
      standard diether core lipid, but none are known with predominantly tetraether
      lipids as found in certain sulfur-dependent archaebacteria. The relative
      proportions of these lipid cores are known to vary in relation to growth
      conditions in Methanococcus jannaschii and Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum.
      Polar headgroups in glycosidic or phosphodiester linkage to the sn-1 or sn-1'
      carbons of glycerol consist of polyols, carbohydrates, and amino compounds. The
      available structural data indicate a close similarity among the polar lipids
      synthesized within the species of the same genus. Detection of lipid molecular
      ions by mass spectrometry of total polar lipid extracts is a promising technique
      to provide valuable comparative data. Since these lipid structures are stable
      within the extreme environments that many archaebacteria inhabit, there may be
      specific applications for their use in biotechnology.

PMID- 1459988
TI  - Structural features of archaebacterial cell envelopes.
AB  - Regularly arrayed surface (glyco) proteins--often referred to as S layers--are a
      common feature of the cell envelopes of almost all archaebacteria. We have
      selected some examples (Halobacterium, Sulfolobus, Thermoproteus, Pyrobaculum,
      Staphylothermus), and we describe the structure of their surface layers as
      revealed primarily by electron crystallography. In spite of a considerable
      diversity in shapes and dimensions, some common structural features emerge from
      the comparison. The glycoprotein arrays are composed of oligomeric units which
      are anchored in the plasma membrane; extended spacer or linker domains maintain
      the bulk of the more or less porous surface layers at a constant distance above
      the membrane surface, thus creating a quasi-periplasmic compartment. Functions
      ascribed to surface layers, such as compartmentalization, shape maintenance and
      determination, and adhesion are discussed.

PMID- 1459989
TI  - Function and biosynthesis of gas vesicles in halophilic Archaea.
AB  - The proteinaceous gas vesicles produced by various microorganisms including
      halophilic Archaea are hollow, gas-filled structures with a hydrophobic inner and
      a hydrophilic outer surface. The structural components of gas vesicles and their
      biosynthesis are still under investigation; an 8-kDa polypeptide appears to be
      the major constituent of the gas-vesicle envelope. Genetic analysis of the
      halobacterial gas-vesicle synthesis revealed an unexpected complexity: about 14
      genes organized in three transcription units are involved in gas-vesicle
      structure, assembly, and gene regulation. Here we describe the comparison of
      three different genomic regions encoding gas vesicles in Halobacterium salinarium
      (p-vac and c-vac regions) and Haloferax mediterranei (mc-vac region) and
      speculate on the function of the gene products involved in gas-vesicle synthesis.

PMID- 1459990
TI  - Energy transduction and transport processes in thermophilic bacteria.
AB  - Bacterial growth at the extremes of temperature has remained a fascinating aspect
      in the study of membrane function and structure. The stability of the integral
      membrane proteins of thermophiles make them particularly amenable to study.
      Respiratory enzymes of thermophiles appear to be functionally similar to the
      mesophilic enzymes but differ in their thermostability and unusual high turnover
      rates. Energy coupling at extreme temperatures seems inefficient as suggested by
      the high maintenance coefficients and the high permeability of the cell membrane
      to protons. Nevertheless, membranes maintain their structure at these extremes
      through changes in fatty acid acyl chain composition. Archaebacteria synthesize
      novel membrane-spanning lipids with unique physical characteristics. Thermophiles
      have adapted to life at extreme temperatures by using sodium ions rather than
      protons as coupling ions in solute transport. Genetic and biochemical studies of
      these systems now reveal fundamental principles of such adaptations. The recent
      development of reconstitution techniques using membrane-spanning lipids allows a
      rigorous biochemical characterization of membrane proteins of extreme
      thermophiles in their natural environment.

PMID- 1459991
TI  - Correlation between active form and dimeric structure of mitochondrial
      nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase from beef heart.
AB  - The active form of purified mitochondrial nicotinamide nucleotide
      transhydrogenase from beef heart was investigated by crosslinking with
      dimethylsuberimidate and SDS-PAGE, with or without pretreatment with the
      inactivating detergent Triton X-100. In the absence of detergent, crosslinked
      isomers of the dimeric form of 208-235 kDa were obtained. Addition of detergent
      led to the simultaneous loss of the dimers and the bulk of the activity. Removal
      of the detergent led to a partial restoration of both activity and the dimeric
      forms. The results suggest that the active form is a dimer, and that the
      detergent-dependent conversion to the largely inactive monomer is reversible. It
      is proposed that the mechanism of inactivation of transhydrogenase by Triton X
      100 involves a disruption of essential hydrophobic interactions between the
      membrane-spanning regions of the monomers.

PMID- 1459992
TI  - Differential scanning calorimetry study of glycogen phosphorylase b-detergent
      interactions.
AB  - The overall thermal denaturation of glycogen phosphorylase b is irreversible and
      our results conform to the theoretical prediction of a reversible process
      followed by a slower irreversible process. The basic thermodynamic parameters of
      glycogen phosphorylase b denaturation have been worked out and found to be:
      critical temperature 57.0 +/- 0.5 degrees C, transition half-width 8 +/- 1
      degrees C, and calorimetric enthalpy change and Van't Hoff enthalpy change of the
      denaturation process 450 +/- 50 and 105 +/- 15 kcal/mol of enzyme monomer,
      respectively, at pH 7.4. These parameters have been found to be largely altered
      by the detergents octylglucoside, cholate, and deoxycholate at or below their
      critical micelle concentration, but not by Triton X-100 nor by lecithin
      liposomes. Organic solvents, such as dimethyl sulfoxide and methanol, and the
      presence of sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes produces an alteration of the
      denaturation thermogram of glycogen phosphorylase b similar to that produced by
      the above-mentioned detergents. These results allow us to hypothesize that
      hydrophobic domains of glycogen phosphorylase b are involved in its association
      to sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes in the sarcoplasmic reticulum/glycogenolytic
      complex of mammalian skeletal muscle.

PMID- 1459993
TI  - Characterization of the inhibitor sensitivity of the coenzyme A transport system
      in isolated rat heart mitochondria.
AB  - The effect of protein labeling agents on coenzyme A (CoA) transport into isolated
      rat heart mitochondria was studied. CoA transport was substantially inhibited by
      sulfhydryl reagents (mersalyl, pCMB) as well as by the tyrosine-selective reagent
      N-acetylimidazole. The effect of pCMB was reversed by DTT. Moreover, CoA uptake
      was completely abolished by agents selective for lysine and amino terminal
      residues (pyridoxal 5-phosphate, dansyl chloride). In contrast arginine-selective
      reagents (2, 3-butanedione, phenylglyoxal) caused considerably less inhibition of
      CoA uptake. Moreover, partial inhibition of transport was observed with the
      stilbene disulfonic acid derivatives DIDS and SITS. Finally, measurement of the
      effects of the labeling agents on the mitochondrial membrane potential indicated
      that the inhibition of CoA transport into mitochondria is not a secondary effect
      that arises from an alteration in the electric potential gradient across the
      inner mitochondrial membrane. These results provide the first information on the
      types of amino acid residues that may be essential to the CoA transport mechanism
      and provide additional support for the existence of a CoA transport protein
      within the mitochondrial inner membrane. Furthermore, the identification of
      effective inhibitors of the CoA transport system will greatly facilitate the
      functional reconstitution of this transporter in a proteoliposomal system
      following its solubilization and purification.

PMID- 1459994
TI  - Tyrosine kinases and tyrosine-based activation motifs. Current research on
      activation via the T cell antigen receptor.

PMID- 1459995
TI  - Negative regulation of hepatocyte growth factor gene expression in human lung
      fibroblasts and leukemic cells by transforming growth factor-beta 1 and
      glucocorticoids.
AB  - Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a mesenchymal-derived factor which regulates
      growth, motility, and morphogenesis of epithelial and endothelial cells,
      functions as a hepatotrophic and renotrophic factor for regeneration of the liver
      and kidney. We have now obtained evidence that transforming growth factor-beta 1
      (TGF-beta 1) and glucocorticoids are negative regulators for HGF gene expression.
      When TGF-beta 1 or dexamethasone was added to cultures of MRC-5 human embryonic
      lung fibroblasts and HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemic cells, the amount of HGF
      secreted into the culture medium was inhibited to 30-40% of that of control
      cultures by 10 ng/ml TGF-beta 1 and to 40-50% by 10(-6) M dexamethasone. The
      inhibitory effect of TGF-beta 1 and dexamethasone on HGF synthesis in MRC-5 cells
      was additive, thereby suggesting that TGF-beta 1 and dexamethasone exert effects
      through distinct mechanisms. Hydrocortisone also inhibited HGF synthesis with the
      same potency as dexamethasone; however, testosterone, estriol, and beta-estradiol
      had no effect. The rate of HGF synthesis in MRC-5 cells, as measured by pulse
      labeling with [35S]methionine and subsequent immunoprecipitation, was suppressed
      to 30-40% of the control with 10 ng/ml TGF-beta 1, and to 30-45% by 10(-6) M
      dexamethasone. HGF mRNA levels in MRC-5 cells and HL-60 cells were dose
      dependently suppressed by TGF-beta 1 and dexamethasone; 10 ng/ml TGF-beta 1
      suppressed HGF mRNA levels to 32% and 35% of control culture, respectively, in
      MRC-5 cells and HL-60 cells, and 10(-6) M dexamethasone suppressed to 43% and
      38%, respectively. Thus, TGF-beta 1 and glucocorticoids seem to inhibit HGF
      synthesis by suppressing the expression of the HGF gene. We propose that a
      negative regulation of HGF gene expression by TGF-beta 1 or glucocorticoids may
      be involved in physiological or pathological processes during tissue
      regeneration.

PMID- 1459996
TI  - Thrombospondin 1 and thrombospondin 2 are expressed as both homo- and
      heterotrimers.
AB  - There exist two distinct thrombospondin molecules (designated TSP1 and TSP2)
      which are encoded by separate genes. TSP1 is a trimeric cell surface and
      extracellular matrix molecule. Sequence comparison reveals that the 2 cysteines
      involved in interchain disulfide linkage and trimer assembly in TSP1 are
      conserved in TSP2 (Laherty, C. D., O'Rourke, K., Wolf, F. W., Katz, R., Seldin,
      M. F., and Dixit, V. M. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 3274-3281). Swiss 3T3
      fibroblasts express both TSP1 and TSP2, and, therefore, an important question is
      whether TSP in such cells is expressed as homotrimers or as heterotrimers. We
      find that Swiss 3T3 cells and epithelial cells transfected with TSP expression
      vectors express both homo- and heterotrimeric forms of TSP. In addition,
      homotrimeric TSP2 has a lower affinity for heparin than homotrimeric TSP1. Thus,
      the heparin affinity of TSP can be modulated by the expression of TSP as homo- or
      heterotrimers.

PMID- 1459997
TI  - Inhibition of glyoxalase I by the enediol mimic S-(N-hydroxy-N
      methylcarbamoyl)glutathione. The possible basis of a tumor-selective anticancer
      strategy.
AB  - In principle, competitive inhibitors of glyoxalase I that also serve as
      substrates for the thioester hydrolase glyoxalase II might function as tumor
      selective anti-cancer agents, given the role of these enzymes in removing
      cytotoxic methylglyoxal from cells and the observation that glyoxalase II
      activity is abnormally low in some types of cancer cells. In support of the
      feasibility of this anticancer strategy, an inhibitor of this type has been
      synthesized by a thioester-interchange reaction between glutathione and N-hydroxy
      N-methylcarbamate 4-chlorophenyl ester to give S-(N-hydroxy-N
      methylcarbamoyl)glutathione (1). This compound was designed to be a tight-binding
      inhibitor of glyoxalase I, on the basis of its stereoelectronic similarity to the
      enediol(ate) intermediate that forms along the reaction pathway of this enzyme.
      Indeed, 1 is a competitive inhibitor of yeast glyoxalase I, with an inhibition
      constant (Ki = 68 microM) that is approximately 30-fold lower than that reported
      for S-D-lactoylglutathione and approximately 7-fold lower than the Km for
      glutathione-methylglyoxal thiohemiacetal. In addition, 1 is a substrate for
      bovine liver glyoxalase II, with a Km (0.48 mM) approximately equal to that of
      the normal substrate S-D-lactoyglutathione and a kcat approximately 2 x 10(-5)
      fold that of the normal substrate. Membrane transport studies show that 1 can be
      delivered into human erythrocytes (used here as a model cell) either by direct
      diffusion of 1 across the cell membrane or by more rapid diffusion of the
      glycylethyl ester of 1 across the cell membrane, followed by the catalyzed
      hydrolysis of the ester to give 1.

PMID- 1459998
TI  - Determinants for DNA-binding site recognition by the glucocorticoid receptor.
AB  - The glucocorticoid receptor binds with high specificity to glucocorticoid
      response elements, discriminating them from other closely related binding sites.
      Three amino acids in the recognition alpha-helix of the DNA-binding domain of the
      receptor are primarily responsible for this specific DNA binding activity. In
      this study we analyze in detail how these residues determine the specific DNA
      binding by studying a series of mutant glucocorticoid receptor DNA-binding
      domains containing all combinations of glucocorticoid and estrogen receptor
      specific residues at these positions. Statistical analysis of the results enables
      us to create models describing the association between amino acids and base
      pairs. Several strategies appear to be used in accomplishing discrimination
      between the glucocorticoid and estrogen response elements. Single residues (i.e.,
      Val-443 in the glucocorticoid receptor and Glu-439 in the estrogen receptor)
      appear to form both positive contacts with specific base pairs in the cognate
      binding site and negative contacts in the non-cognate site. In the glucocorticoid
      receptor Ser-440 is pleiotropically negative for all sites tested but the
      negative effect is stronger for the estrogen response element thus contributing
      to binding site discrimination. Furthermore, combinations of amino acids appear
      to act synergistically, most often causing a reduction in binding to non-cognate
      sites.

PMID- 1459999
TI  - Characterization and purification of a novel transcriptional repressor from HeLa
      cell nuclear extracts recognizing the negative regulatory element region of human
      immunodeficiency virus-1 long terminal repeat.
AB  - Cellular transcription factors play critical roles in regulating human
      immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gene transcription, although the precise
      mechanism(s) defining their roles are not well established. Primarily it has been
      suggested that sequence-specific interaction of trans-activating proteins with
      cis-acting DNA elements plays a crucial role in regulating the target genes. The
      negative regulatory element (NRE) of HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) is one such
      defined region that has been reported to down-regulate LTR-directed HIV gene
      expression. Information regarding the role of this region in the regulation of
      HIV expression is lacking. Here we describe an attempt to further characterize
      the role of NRE cis-elements and define any sequence-specific interaction with
      cellular factors. Using gel mobility shift DNA-binding and Southwestern blot
      assays, we have mapped a distinct region of NRE (-290 to -260, a 30-base pair
      (bp) domain of NRE-A) sequences of HIV-1 LTR, which recognizes a specific DNA
      binding protein from HeLa cell nuclear extracts. This factor is a 38-kDa
      polypeptide which can be affinity-purified to near homogeneity by this 30-bp
      specific oligonucleotide in affinity chromatography. The cellular factor from
      HeLa cell nuclear extract exhibits specific interaction only with the 30-bp NRE-A
      domain of HIV-1 LTR and acts as a strong transcriptional repressor/inhibitor
      molecule in the DNA-protein gel binding, as well as in vitro transcriptional
      studies with the nuclear extracts from cells with productive HIV-1 infection. To
      our knowledge, this is the first report of a factor recognizing a distinct
      segment within NRE that has been shown to exert an inhibitory effect on
      transcriptionally active DNA-protein "pre-initiation" complex formation,
      suggesting a possible role in HIV-1 gene regulation.

PMID- 1460000
TI  - Ultraviolet-induced dimerization of non-adjacent pyrimidines in poly[d(A-T)].
AB  - The DNA photoproduct responsible for the ultraviolet (UV) light-induced -1
      frameshift mutation remains unknown. We recently identified a UV photoproduct
      consisting of a cyclobutane dimer occurring between non-adjacent thymine residues
      in the same strand, [sequence: see text] and proposed that replication across
      this unrepaired photoproduct might result in a -1 frameshift mutation since the
      intervening base is extrahelical. Until now this novel photoproduct has only been
      identified in single-stranded DNA polymers and does not occur in UV-irradiated
      double-stranded polymers due to conformational restraint. This observation
      suggested that this photoproduct could only occur in vivo in chromosomal sites
      that were single-stranded. In the current work the cis-syn dithymine cyclobutane
      dimer has been identified in the self-complementary polymer poly[d(A-T)] when UV
      irradiated in solution conditions (concentrated manganese chloride or 60% ethanol
      plus trace salts) wherein this polymer remains double-stranded but the double
      helix is partially destabilized. Taken together, the current findings suggest
      that dipyrimidine photoproducts between non-adjacent residues on the same strand
      could occur in vivo in double-stranded, but partially destabilized, DNA.

PMID- 1460001
TI  - Cytotoxicity of momordin-folate conjugates in cultured human cells.
AB  - We have shown previously that macromolecules can be nondestructively delivered
      into cultured cells via folate receptor-mediated endocytosis if the
      macromolecules are conjugated to folic acid prior to addition to receptor-bearing
      cells (Leamon, C.P., and Low, P. S. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 88,
      5572-5576). Although an intracellular destination of the folate-linked proteins
      could be easily documented, the spatial resolution of the earlier data was
      insufficient to evaluate whether any endocytosed material was delivered into the
      cytosol. To resolve this issue, a folate-toxin conjugate was constructed using
      the impermeable ribosome-inactivating protein, momordin. Diminution of
      [3H]leucine incorporation into newly synthesized protein was then employed as a
      quantitative measure of the entry of the toxin into the cytosol. In studies with
      both HeLa and KB cells, cellular protein synthesis was found to be inhibited in a
      time- and concentration-dependent manner by the momordin-folate conjugate, but
      not by the underivatized toxin. IC50 values centered around 10(-9) M for the
      folate-linked samples. These observations provide direct evidence that folate
      conjugates not only reach the cytosol, but do so in a functionally active form.

PMID- 1460002
TI  - Sorbitol dehydrogenase from Bacillus subtilis. Purification, characterization,
      and gene cloning.
AB  - Cloning of the sorbitol dehydrogenase gene (gutB) from Bacillus subtilis offers
      an excellent system for studying zinc binding, substrate specificity, and
      catalytic mechanism of this enzyme through protein engineering. As a first step
      to clone gutB, B. subtilis sorbitol dehydrogenase has been purified to
      homogeneity and characterized. It is a tetrameric enzyme with a molecular mass of
      38 kDa for each subunit. Atomic absorption analysis shows the presence of 1 mol
      of zinc atom/subunit. Substrate specificity and stereospecificity of the enzyme
      toward C-2 and C-4 of hexitols were established. Sequence of the first 31 amino
      acids was determined, and a set of oligonucleotide probes was designed for gene
      cloning. A positive clone carrying a 5-kilobase pair HindIII insert was isolated
      and sequenced. Sequence alignment indicated that the deduced amino acid sequence
      of B. subtilis sorbitol dehydrogenase shows 36% identity in sequence with the
      liver sorbitol dehydrogenase from sheep, rat, and human. In reference to the
      sequence of alcohol dehydrogenase, two potential zinc binding sites were
      identified. Sequence information related to the structure-function relationships
      of the enzyme is discussed.

PMID- 1460003
TI  - The AMP-binding domain on adenylate kinase. Evidence for a conformational change
      during binary-to-ternary complex formation via photoaffinity labeling analyses.
AB  - The topological location of the nucleotide substrate binding environments on
      adenylate kinase has been explored with the fluorescent molecule [4
      benzoyl]benzoyl-1-amidofluorescein (BzAF) and the nucleotide analog 3'-O-[4
      benzoyl]benzoyl-ATP (BzATP), which are site-directed photoaffinity probes that
      bind covalently at the individual nucleotide sites. The MgBzATP substituted for
      MgATP as a substrate for this enzyme, whereas BzAF, which is neither a substrate
      nor a nucleotide, behaved as a competitive inhibitor for each nucleotide site
      independently. BzAF could be directed specifically to either of the nucleotide
      sites by near saturation of the second site with its natural nucleotide
      substrate. Using this second site blocking approach, each nucleotide site, in
      turn, could be protected competitively from BzAF-induced photoinhibition by the
      presence of its natural substrate. This strategy showed that under photolysis,
      the Kd(BzAF) of 0.1 mM (for the MgATP site) and 0.2 mM (for the AMP site) were
      nearly identical with the Km(app) values determined for MgATP and AMP,
      respectively. Pseudo first-order photolysis kinetics with [3H]BzAF revealed
      covalent binding stoichiometries for full inhibition of 1 mol of probe/mol of
      enzyme at either site. Thus, we prepared the binary complex ([3H]BzAF-enzyme) by
      photo-labeling the MgATP site-blocked enzyme with [3H]BzAf to 1:1 molar
      stoichiometry. Tryptic digestion followed by partial sequencing of the [3H]BzAF
      labeled enzyme disclosed that BzAF was bound specifically within the peptide span
      Gly64-->Arg77. This amino acid domain therefore probably constitutes the
      neighborhood identifiable with AMP binding. Furthermore, we also achieved double
      photocovalent labeling of adenylate kinase with both photoprobes, by first cross
      linking with approximately 1 mol of MgBzATP, followed by approximately 0.9 mol of
      [3H]BzAF, thus generating a ternary covalent complex. Comparison of the
      fluorescence of the binary species and the ternary (BzATP-enzyme-[3H]BzAF)
      complex revealed altered fluorescence emission profiles, which could indicate
      that a conformational change occurs during formation of the ternary (or
      transition state) complex.

PMID- 1460004
TI  - The influence of flanking sequence on the O-glycosylation of threonine in vitro.
AB  - To investigate the influence of flanking amino acid sequence on the O
      glycosylation of a single threonine residue in vitro, we have examined a series
      of 52 related peptides. The substrates were based upon a sequence from human von
      Willebrand factor which is known to be glycosylated in vivo (-6PHMAQVTVGPGL+5).
      Each residue of the parent peptide was substituted, in turn, with isoleucine,
      alanine, proline, glutamic acid, or arginine. Peptides were glycosylated using a
      UDP-GalNAc:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase purified 15,000-fold
      from bovine colostrum by chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, SP-Sephadex, Sephacryl
      S-300, Affi-Gel Blue, and 5-mercuri-UDP-GalNAc thiopropyl-Sepharose. Single amino
      acid changes in the sequences flanking the threonine could profoundly alter the
      glycosylation of the substrate peptides. Substitution of any amino acid tested at
      positions +3, -3, and -2 markedly decreased O-glycosylation, as did the presence
      of a charged residue at position -1. The substitution of amino acids at the other
      positions of the peptide substrate had little effect on the incorporation of
      GalNAc. Statistical analysis of sequences flanking known glycosylated threonine
      and serine residues suggests that they should be glycosylated with equal
      efficiency in the same sequence context (O'Connell et al., 1991). However, the
      bovine colostrum transferase failed to glycosylate a peptide derived from human
      erythropoietin which contains a serine that is glycosylated in vivo (
      5PPDAASAAPLR+5). When a threonine was substituted for the serine in this peptide
      (-5PPDAATAAPLR+5), the substrate proved to be an excellent acceptor of GalNAc.
      These observations indicate that although flanking amino acid sequence is
      important for the O-glycosylation of specific hydroxyamino acids, discrete
      threonine- and serine-specific transferases may exist.

PMID- 1460005
TI  - Characterization of a novel, potent, and specific inhibitor of serine
      palmitoyltransferase.
AB  - We have examined the mechanism of action of two natural products identified as
      broad spectrum antifungal agents (VanMiddlesworth, F., Dufresne, C., Wincott, F.
      E., Mosley, R. T., and Wilson, K. E. (1992) Tetrahedron Lett., in press;
      VanMiddlesworth, F., Giacobbe, R. A., Lopez, M. Garrity, G., Bland, J. A.,
      Bartizal, K., Fromtling, R. A., Polishook, J., Zweerink, M. M., Edison, A. M.,
      Rozdilsky, W., Wilson, K. E., and Monaghan, R. L. (1992) J. Antibiot. (Tokyo) 45,
      861-867), designated sphingofungin B (2S-amino-3R,4R,5S,14-tetrahydroxyeicos-6
      enoic acid) and sphingofungin C (2S-amino-5S-acetoxy-3R,4R,14-trihydroxyeicos-6
      enoic acid), and find they are potent specific inhibitors of serine
      palmitoyltransferase, which catalyze the committed step of sphingolipid
      biosynthesis. We used Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model to investigate the
      mechanism of the antifungal activity of these compounds. Macromolecular synthesis
      was not immediately affected by either sphingofungin B or C, synthesis continued
      for 60-90 min following the addition of drug to growing cultures. Significant
      loss of viability with sphingofungins required growing cultures and began only
      after several hours, with greater than 99.9% of drug-treated cells non-viable
      after 24 h. No lysis or other gross changes in cell morphology were observed in
      drug-treated cells. The structural similarity of sphingofungin B and C to
      sphingosine and phytosphingosine prompted us to investigate their effects on
      sphingolipid synthesis. Nanomolar levels of the drugs inhibited the incorporation
      of [3H]inositol into sphingolipid before incorporation into the sphingolipid
      precursor, phosphatidylinositol was affected, suggesting specific inhibition of
      sphingolipid synthesis. This hypothesis was confirmed by experiments in which the
      growth inhibitory activity of both drugs was completely ablated by the addition
      of phytosphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, or ketodihydrosphingosine to the culture
      medium. Reversal of antifungal activity by ketodihydrosphingosine suggested that
      serine palmitoyltransferase could be the actual target of these compounds. Direct
      evidence for this hypothesis was the observation of inhibition of serine
      palmitoyltransferase activity in crude membrane preparations at nanomolar
      concentrations of each drug. The potent inhibition of serine palmitoyltransferase
      coupled with the apparent lack of effect of these compounds on other cellular
      functions suggests that sphingofungin B and C will prove to be important new
      tools for studying the role of sphingolipids in yeast and perhaps in other
      organisms.

PMID- 1460006
TI  - Inhibition of carbonic anhydrases I and II by N-unsubstituted carbamate esters.
AB  - We previously showed that the zinc metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrases (CA I and II
      isozymes) bind "neutral" amides and related compounds as anions through
      coordination of their deprotonated amide nitrogen to the active site zinc
      (Rogers, J. I., Mukherjee, J., and Khalifah, R. G. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 5672
      5679). Urethan, the ethyl carbamate ester, was among such compounds. The present
      study was designed to test whether other N-unsubstituted carbamate esters of
      pharmacological interest (as sedatives, hypnotics, anxiolytics, and skeletal
      muscle relaxants) were capable of binding to CA in the same manner. We studied
      the interaction of human CA I and II with urethan, phenyl carbamate, ethinamate,
      meprobamate, and methocarbamol. Phenyl carbamate studies were greatly complicated
      by its uncatalyzed hydrolysis via an elimination mechanism to form cyanate, a
      powerful CA inhibitor. In general, the compounds display: 1) slow on-off
      inhibition binding kinetics in the seconds range, 2) maximal inhibitor affinity
      at alkaline pH, and 3) characteristic three-band visible spectra of their
      complexes with cobalt-substituted CA I. These properties are shared with the
      previously studied amide inhibitors and are taken as evidence that the
      deprotonated carbamate nitrogen coordinates to the active site metal ion. CA I
      appeared to bind carbamate esters more tightly than CA II, an unusual 1000-fold
      selectivity being seen in the case of methocarbamol. The inhibition by these
      drugs is not sufficiently strong to implicate CA I and II in their mechanism of
      action. However, it does suggest the possible existence of previously unsuspected
      similarities between binding to CA and to their physiological receptors or
      targets, particularly the involvement of zinc.

PMID- 1460007
TI  - Structural and functional relationships in DnaK and DnaK756 heat-shock proteins
      from Escherichia coli.
AB  - The secondary structures of DnaK and the mutant DnaK756 heat-shock proteins from
      Escherichia coli have been investigated by Fourier transform infrared
      spectroscopy. The analysis of infrared data showed that DnaK and DnaK756 proteins
      have different secondary structures that are not affected by the presence of ATP
      or beta, gamma-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate. The infrared data indicate
      also that the tertiary structures of DnaK and DnaK756 proteins are different and
      that DnaK protein undergoes conformational changes in its tertiary structure not
      only during binding of ATP but also during ATP hydrolysis. Using fluorescence
      spectroscopy of a single tryptophan located in the N-terminal domain of DnaK
      protein and fluorescence of 1,1'-bis(4-anilino)naphthalene-5,5'-disulfonic acid,
      which interacts with hydrophobic domains of DnaK protein, we were able to
      distinguish between two conformational states of DnaK protein. After binding of
      triphosphonucleotides, the C-terminal domain of DnaK protein changes in tertiary
      structure in such a way that fewer hydrophobic segments are exposed on the
      surface of the protein. After ATP hydrolysis, the number of hydrophobic segments
      on the surface of the protein is further reduced, and moreover the tertiary
      structure of the N-terminal domain of the protein changes. These data are
      discussed in terms of structural and functional relationships of both DnaK and
      DnaK756 proteins.

PMID- 1460008
TI  - Functional delineation of the Ca(2+)-deficient EF-hand in cardiac muscle, with
      genetically engineered cardiac-skeletal chimeric troponin C.
AB  - Cardiac and fast skeletal isoforms of TnC each comprise four putative EF-hand
      (helix-loop-helix) motifs as potential Ca(2+)-binding sites (sites 1-4), except
      that site 1 in cardiac TnC is deficient in Ca2+ coordination. In skeletal TnC,
      the N-terminal sites 1 and 2 are both essential for the trigger mechanism of the
      contraction switch. However, the mechanism in cardiac muscle is unsettled; it is
      obscure whether the cardiac site 1 is functionally inert due to calcium
      deficiency and consequently site 2 is the lone trigger site, or whether sites 1
      and 2 perform interactively despite the impairment. These possibilities were
      addressed by mutagenizing site 1 in skeletal TnC to mimic the cardiac response.
      In one mutant (STnC-1), two selected Ca(2+)-ligands were abolished. In another
      (C1/S chimera), 41 N-terminal residues from cardiac TnC were spliced to STnC. The
      Ca(2+)-binding capacities as well as skinned fiber responses were measured. The
      STnC-1 derivative failed to switch on contraction. In contrast, the chimeric
      construct expressed close to full contractile potential in myocardium (74 +/- 3%
      Po; Po = maximal tension) and also the manifest cardiac phenotype. By devising
      supplemental chimeric constructs, cardiac-type N-terminal overhang together with
      cardiac-type EF-hand for site 1 both were found essential for the phenotype. We
      conclude that cardiac TnC site 1 is actively engaged in the trigger mechanism and
      in fact dominates the phenotype despite the inability to chelate Ca2+. The N
      terminal overhang also participates in this mechanism, which is a novel finding.
      The conclusion that a non-chelating site functions interactively with a proximal
      site in cardiac TnC may have wider significance, inasmuch as similar pairings of
      disparate EF-hands are of common occurrence.

PMID- 1460009
TI  - Enhancement of the chemical and antimicrobial properties of subtilin by site
      directed mutagenesis.
AB  - Subtilin and nisin are gene-encoded antibiotic peptides that are ribosomally
      synthesized by Bacillus subtilis and Lactococcus lactis, respectively. Gene
      encoded antibiotics are unique in that their structures can be manipulated by
      mutagenesis of their structural genes. Although subtilin and nisin share
      considerable structural homology, subtilin has a greater tendency than nisin to
      undergo spontaneous inactivation. This inactivation is a accompanied by chemical
      modification of the dehydroalanine at position 5 (DHA5) with a kinetic first
      order t1/2 of 0.8 days. It was hypothesized that the R group carboxyl of Glu4 in
      subtilin participates in the chemical modification of the adjacent DHA5. Noting
      that nisin has Ile at position 4, site-directed mutagenesis was used to change
      Glu4 of subtilin to Ile, in order to eliminate this carboxyl-group participation.
      The DHA5 of this mutant subtilin (E4I-subtilin) underwent modification with a
      t1/2 of 48 days, which is 57-fold slower than natural subtilin, and the rate of
      loss of biological activity dropped by a like amount. These results suggest that
      an intact DHA5 is critical for subtilin activity against bacterial spore
      outgrowth. A double mutant of subtilin, in which the DHA5 residue of E4I-subtilin
      was mutated to Ala was devoid of detectable inhibition against spore outgrowth.
      The specific activity of E4I-subtilin was 3-4-fold higher than natural subtilin,
      suggesting that an increase in the hydrophobicity of the N-terminal end of the
      molecule enhances activity. These are the first mutants of subtilin that have
      been reported, and E4I-subtilin is the first example of any lantibiotic whose
      properties have been improved by mutagenesis. In order to carry out the
      mutagenesis, a host-vector pair was constructed that permits a deletion
      replacement in which the natural subtilin gene is replaced by the mutant gene at
      the normal location in the chromosome. This maintains normal gene dosage and
      regulatory responses, as well as eliminates ambiguities caused by expression of
      the normal and mutant genes in the same cell.

PMID- 1460010
TI  - Human lipoprotein lipase: the loop covering the catalytic site is essential for
      interaction with lipid substrates.
AB  - Lipoprotein lipase (LPL), a key enzyme which initiates the hydrolysis of
      triglycerides present in chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins, consists
      of multiple functional domains which are necessary for normal activity. The
      catalytic domain of LPL mediates the esterase function of the enzyme but separate
      lipid binding sites have been proposed to be involved in the interaction of LPL
      with emulsified lipid substrates at the water-lipid interface. Like pancreatic
      lipase (PL), LPL contains a surface loop covering the catalytic pocket that may
      modulate access of the substrate to the active site of the enzyme. Secondary
      structural analysis of this loop reveals a helix-turn-helix motif with two short
      amphipathic helices that have hydrophobic moments of 0.64 and 0.68. In order to
      investigate the role of the loop in the initial interaction of LPL with its
      substrate, we utilized site-directed mutagenesis to generate eight constructs in
      which the amphipathic properties of the loop were altered and expressed them in
      human embryonal kidney-293 cells. Reducing the amphiphilicity without changing
      the predicted secondary structure of the loop abolished the ability of the lipase
      to hydrolyze emulsified, long chain fatty acid triglycerides (triolein) but not
      the water soluble substrate tributyrin. Replacing the loop of LPL with the loop
      of hepatic lipase, which differs in 15 of 22 amino acids but is also amphiphilic,
      led to the expression of an enzyme that retained both triolein and tributyrin
      hydrolyzing activity. Substitution of the LPL loop by a short four amino acid
      peptide, which may allow more direct access to the active site than the 22 amino
      acid loop, enhanced hydrolysis of short chain fatty acid triglycerides by more
      than 2-fold, while the ability to hydrolyze emulsified substrates was abolished.
      Thus, disruption of the amphipathic structure of the LPL loop selectively
      decreases the hydrolysis of emulsified lipid substrate without affecting the
      esterase or catalytic function of the enzyme. These studies establish that the
      loop with its two amphipathic helices is essential for hydrolysis of long chain
      fatty acid substrate by LPL providing new insight into the role of the LPL loop
      in lipid-substrate interactions. We propose that the interaction between the
      lipoprotein substrates and the amphipathic helices within this loop may in part
      determine lipase substrate specificity.

PMID- 1460011
TI  - Evidence that 24- and 27-hydroxylation are not involved in the cholesterol
      induced down-regulation of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase in mouse liver.
AB  - Several authors have suggested that 27-hydroxycholesterol may be an important
      physiological regulator of cholesterol homeostasis. In the present study we
      investigated the possibility that 24- or 27-hydroxylation of cholesterol is of
      importance for the down-regulation of hydroxymethylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase
      in mouse liver induced by dietary cholesterol. Using an accurate method based on
      isotope dilution-mass spectrometry with deuterated internal standards, we were
      able to detect significant levels of both 24- and 27-hydroxycholesterol in liver
      homogenates from normal mice. Feeding cholesterol, 2% for 4 days, increased the
      levels by 80 and 30%, respectively. No significant hepatic levels of 25
      hydroxycholesterol could be demonstrated in untreated mice, and the level of this
      steroid in cholesterol-treated mice was just above the detection limit. Mouse
      liver mitochondria were able to catalyze 24- as well as 27-hydroxylation, but not
      25-hydroxylation of cholesterol. There was no such conversion in liver
      microsomes. When using 24-2H2- or 23,23,24,24,25-2H5-labeled cholesterol as
      substrate a kinetic isotope effect of about 4.5 was observed for the
      mitochondrial 24-hydroxylation. When using 26,26,26,27,27,27-2H6-labeled
      cholesterol as substrate a kinetic isotope effect of about 2.5 was observed for
      the 27-hydroxylation. Use of those deuterium-labeled cholesterol species thus
      allowed a specific suppression of the rate of 24- and 27-hydroxylation. Feeding
      mice with 0.05% unlabeled pure cholesterol in the diet for 24 h inhibited the
      hepatic HMG-CoA reductase activity by about 50%. The same degree of suppression
      was obtained after feeding with 23,23,24,24,25-2H5- and 26,26,26,27,27,27-2H6
      labeled cholesterol. Were mitochondrial 24- and 27-hydroxylation of importance,
      one would expect reduced suppression of HMG-CoA reductase when feeding deuterated
      cholesterol, due to the isotope effects. As this was not the case, it is
      concluded that neither 24-hydroxylation nor 27-hydroxylation are critical for the
      cholesterol-induced down-regulation of HMG-CoA reductase in mouse liver.

PMID- 1460012
TI  - Inhibition of agonist-induced activation of phospholipase C following poxvirus
      infection.
AB  - Recent studies indicate that viruses may influence polyphosphoinositide levels.
      This study has examined the effects of vaccinia virus infection on phospholipase
      C activity. Infection of BS-C-1 cells, an African Green Monkey kidney cell line,
      or A431 cells, a human carcinoma cell line, with vaccinia virus inhibits receptor
      mediated phospholipase C activation. As a consequence, agonist-mediated Ca2+
      mobilization in BS-C-1 cells also was inhibited by vaccinia virus infection.
      Alleviation of the inhibition of phospholipase C activation was observed in
      vaccinia virus-infected cells treated with cycloheximide without influencing
      uninfected cells. Treatment of infected cells with alpha-amanitin, an inhibitor
      of host mRNA synthesis but not virus mRNA synthesis, failed to alleviate the
      inhibition of phospholipase C activation. Together these results suggest that a
      virus-encoded gene product mediates the inhibition of phospholipase C activation
      without the need of a virus-induced host factor. Analysis of the processes
      involved in the formation of inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate and mobilization of
      intracellular Ca2+ indicate that the vaccinia virus gene product exerts its
      inhibitory effects at the level of phospholipase C activity. This may occur by
      either directly reducing the amount of phospholipase C, reducing the specific
      activity of phospholipase C, or by inhibiting the association of phospholipase C
      with its substrate, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate.

PMID- 1460013
TI  - NMR constrained solution structures for laminin peptide 11. Analogs define
      structural requirements for inhibition of tumor cell invasion of basement
      membrane matrix.
AB  - Peptide 11, CDPGYIGSR-NH2, is a segment of laminin which blocks tumor cell
      invasion. A high affinity laminin receptor in tumor cells is thought to be
      blocked by the carboxyl-terminal YIGSR, and conformational energy calculations
      suggest that the glycine in YIGSR allows an important conformational bend. We
      replaced the YIGSR glycine residue in peptide 11 with either D-alanine or L
      alanine to allow or disfavor the proposed glycine bend. We found the Gly7-->D
      Ala7 analog to be equal to peptide 11 in inhibiting tumor cell invasion of
      basement membrane matrix. The Gly7-->L-Ala7 analog was much less capable of
      invasion inhibition. Two-dimensional 1H-1H NMR was used to study the solution
      conformations of the peptide 11 analogs. NOESY experiments revealed close NH-NH
      contacts in peptide 11 and the D-Ala7 analog, but not in the L-Ala7 analog.
      Molecular dynamics generated low energy structures with excellent NOE agreement
      for peptide 11 and its analogs. Both peptide 11 and the D-Ala7 analog, but not
      the less active L-Ala7 analog, were predicted to have similar bends around Gly7
      or D-Ala7. These results suggest that a bend in the YIGSR region of peptide 11
      may be important for the binding of laminin to its metastasis-associated
      receptor.

PMID- 1460014
TI  - Aplysia peptide neurotransmitters beta-bag cell peptide, Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-amide,
      and small cardioexcitatory peptide B are rapidly degraded by a leucine
      aminopeptidase-like activity in hemolymph.
AB  - We have been investigating the role of proteolytic enzymes in the inactivation of
      peptide neurotransmitters in the marine snail Aplysia. Previous studies (Squire,
      C. R., Talebian, M., Menon, J. G., Dekruyff, S. D., Lee, T. D., Shively, J. E.,
      and Rothman, B. S. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 22355-22363) showed that
      neuroactive fragments of the neurotransmitter alpha-bag cell peptide (alpha-BCP)
      were rapidly degraded (t1/2 = 0.5-2.7 min) in plasma, hemolymph that had been
      cleared by centrifugation. Degradation was caused by one or more enzymes
      resembling mammalian leucine amino-peptidase (LAP, EC 3.4.11.1). In this report
      we show that three other Aplysia peptide neurotransmitters, beta-BCP(1-5) (Arg
      Leu-Arg-Phe-His), FMRFa (Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-amide), and SCPB(1-9) (Met-Asn-Tyr-Leu
      Ala-Phe-Pro-Arg-Met-amide) are rapidly degraded (t1/2 = 0.3-2.4 min) in plasma by
      apparently the same LAP-like enzyme(s). Our findings strongly suggest that the
      LAP-like enzyme(s), by means of its broad substrate specificity and access to the
      extracellular spaces of the nervous system in vivo, plays a significant role in
      the inactivation of many Aplysia peptide neurotransmitters, and they raise the
      possibility that proteolytic enzymes in the extracellular fluid contribute
      significantly to the inactivation of peptide neurotransmitters in other animal
      species.

PMID- 1460015
TI  - Ferroxidase kinetics of horse spleen apoferritin.
AB  - Protein ferroxidase site(s), which catalyze the reaction between ferrous ion and
      dioxygen, have long been thought to play a role in core formation in ferritin;
      however, the mechanism of the reaction has never been studied in detail. In the
      present work, the enzymatic activity of ferritin was examined using oximetry, the
      net Fe2+ oxidation reaction being as follows. [formula: see text] The reaction
      exhibits saturation kinetics with respect to both Fe2+ and O2 (apparent Michaelis
      constants: Km,Fe = 0.35 +/- 0.01 mM and Km,O2 = 0.14 +/- 0.03 mM). The enzyme has
      a turnover number kcat = 80 +/- 3 min-1 at 20 degrees C with maximal activity at
      pH 7. The kinetics are discussed in terms of two mechanisms, one involving
      monomeric and the other dimeric iron protein complexes. In both instances Fe(II)
      oxidation occurs in 1-electron steps. Zinc(II) is a competitive inhibitor of
      iron(II) oxidation at Zn2+/apoprotein ratios > or = 6 (inhibitor constant KI,Zn =
      0.067 +/- 0.011 mM) but appears to be a noncompetitive inhibitor at lower ratios
      (< or = 2), indicating the presence of more than one type of zinc binding site on
      the protein. At increments of 50 Fe2+/protein or less, all of the iron is
      oxidized via the protein ferroxidase site(s), independent of the amount of core
      already present. However, when larger increments are employed, some iron
      oxidation appears to occur on the surface of the mineral core. The results of
      these studies emphasize the role of the protein shell in all phases of core
      growth and confirm the presence of a functionally important catalytic site in
      ferritin in addition to other binding sites on the protein for iron.

PMID- 1460016
TI  - Rat hepatonuclear factor PS-1 regulates tissue-specific activity of the S14
      promoter in vitro.
AB  - We have previously identified a rat hepatonuclear factor, PS-1 that binds to the
      thyroid hormone responsive gene, S14. To determine whether PS-1 is involved in
      regulating tissue-specific expression of the S14 gene, we have correlated the DNA
      binding activity of PS-1 with mRNA-S14 expression in a variety of tissues. Gel
      retardation analysis revealed a pattern of binding to the recognition site that
      was characteristic of tissues with high levels of mRNA-S14, a different pattern
      was found in tissues which do not express the gene. Competition studies using
      mutant oligonucleotides showed that the first 4 nucleotides and the CAAT motif
      contained within the PS-1 recognition sequence are essential for protein binding.
      C/EBP, a CCAAT-transcription factor binds to the PS-1 recognition site thus
      raising the possibility that both C/EBP and PS-1 may belong to the same family of
      proteins. Next we used a cell-free transcription assay to measure activity of a
      template, pS14-GFC(-72), that contained the PS-1 sequence. The pS14-GFC(-72)
      template was active in hepatonuclear extracts but deletion of or competition with
      the PS-1 binding sequence rendered the construct inactive. A template containing
      three PS-1 binding sequences increased S14 promoter activity by 12- to 13-fold.
      In nuclear extracts from spleen and testis, relative S14 promoter activity was
      only 2% of that in the liver, this observation mimicked closely in vivo
      expression of the gene. Mixing together extracts from liver and spleen in varying
      proportions, prior to incubation with S14 template, yielded a linear increase in
      S14 promoter activity that correlated with the amount of liver extract in the
      reaction. This finding is consistent with the absence of an essential factor or
      factors in spleen that is/are required for S14 promoter activity in vitro. In
      summary, PS-1 binds to a DNA sequence that contains a CAAT motif and appears to
      play a critical role in determining tissue-specific activity of the S14 promoter
      in vitro.

PMID- 1460017
TI  - Autophosphorylation of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.
AB  - The catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase contains two stable
      phosphorylation sites, Thr-197 and Ser-338 (Shoji, S., Titani, K., Demaille, J.
      G., and Fischer, E. H. (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 6211-6214). Thr-197 is very
      resistant to dephosphorylation and thus cannot typically be autophosphorylated in
      vitro once the stable subunit is formed. Ser-338 is slowly dephosphorylated and
      can be rephosphorylated autocatalytically. In addition to these two stable
      phosphorylation sites, a new site of autophosphorylation, Ser-10, was identified.
      Phosphorylation at Ser-10 does not have a major effect on activity, and
      phosphates from Ser-10 or Ser-338 are not transferred to physiological substrates
      such as the type II regulatory subunit. Autophosphorylation at Ser-10 is
      associated with one of the two major isoelectric variants of the catalytic
      subunit. The form having the more acidic pI can be autophosphorylated at Ser-10
      while the more basic form of the catalytic subunit cannot. Phosphorylation at Ser
      10 does not account for the two isoenzyme forms. Since the reason for two
      isoelectric variants of the catalytic subunit is still unknown, it is not
      possible to provide a structural basis for the difference in accessibility of Ser
      10 to phosphorylation. Either Ser-10 is not accessible in the more basic form of
      the catalytic subunit or some other type of post- or cotranslational modification
      causes Ser-10 to be a poor substrate. Whether the myristoyl group at the amino
      terminal Gly is important for Ser-10 autophosphorylation remains to be
      established. The isoenzyme forms of the catalytic subunit do not correspond to
      the gene products coded for by the C alpha and C beta genes.

PMID- 1460018
TI  - Oxidation-reduction properties of Escherichia coli thioredoxin reductase altered
      at each active site cysteine residue.
AB  - Thioredoxin is a small oxidation-reduction (redox) mediator protein. Its
      reduction by NADPH is catalyzed by the flavoenzyme thioredoxin reductase. Site
      directed mutagenesis has provided forms of the reductase in which Cys135 and
      Cys138 have each been changed to a serine residue (Prongay, A. J., Engelke, D.
      R., and Williams, C. H., Jr. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 2656-2664). Cys135 and
      Cys138 form the redox-active disulfide in the oxidized enzyme. The redox
      properties of the two altered forms of Escherichia coli thioredoxin reductase
      have been determined from pH 6.0 to 9.0. Photoreduction of TRR(Ser135,Cys138)
      produces the blue, neutral semiquinone species, which disproportionates (Kf =
      0.73) to an apparent maximum of 29% of the total enzyme as the semiquinone. In
      contrast, the semiquinone formed on TRR(Cys135,Ser138) during a photoreductive
      titration does not disproportionate and 70% of the enzyme is stabilized as the
      semiquinione. Reductive titrations have demonstrated that 1 mol of sodium
      dithionite (2 electrons)/mol of FAD is required to fully reduce
      TRR(Ser135,Cys138) whereas 2 mol of dithionite/mol of FAD are required to fully
      reduce TRR(Cys135,Ser138). The oxidation-reduction midpoint potentials for the 1
      electron and 2-electron reductions of TRR(Ser135,Cys138) have been determined by
      NADH/NAD+ titrations in the presence of a mediator, benzyl viologen. The midpoint
      potential for the 2-electron reduction of TRR(Ser135,Cys138) is -280 mV, at pH
      7.0 and 20 degrees C. Thus, the redox potential is similar to that of the
      FAD/FADH2 couple in the dithiol form of wild type enzyme, -270 mV (corrected to
      20 degrees C) (O'Donnell, M. E., and Williams, C. H., Jr. (1983) J. Biol. Chem.
      258, 13795-13805). The delta Em/delta pH is -57.1 mV, which corresponds to a
      proton stoichiometry of 2 H+/2 e-.A maximum of 19% of the enzyme forms a stable
      semiquinone species during the titration, and the potentials for the oxidized
      enzyme/semiquinone couple, E2, and the semiquinone/reduced enzyme couple, E1, are
      -306 and -256 mV, respectively, at pH 7.0 and 20 degrees C. These studies provide
      evidence that the residue at position 138 exerts a greater effect on the FAD than
      does the residue at position 135.

PMID- 1460019
TI  - Post-translational processing of an O-glycosylated protein, the human CD8
      glycoprotein, during the intracellular transport to the plasma membrane.
AB  - The biosynthesis of human CD8 glycoprotein in transfected rat epithelial cells
      produces an unglycosylated precursor, an intermediate species only initially O
      glycosylated, and a doublet mature form carrying neutral and sialylated O-linked
      oligosaccharides with the core-2 structure (Pascale, M. C., Malagolini, N.,
      Serafini-Cessi, F., Migliaccio, G., Leone, A., and Bonatti, S. (1992) J. Biol.
      Chem. 267, 9940-9947). In this study the most relevant post-translational events:
      dimerization, addition of the first O-linked GalNAc, fulfillment of O-linked
      chains, as well as expression of involved glycosyltransferases, have been
      examined and correlated with the localization and transit rate of CD8 through the
      exocytic pathway. The glycosyltransferase activities measured in rat epithelial
      cells transfected with human CD8 DNA are entirely consistent with the primary
      structure assigned to CD8 oligosaccharides. The half-time of appearance of the
      initially O-glycosylated precursor and mature form was estimated to be 4 and 14
      min, respectively, and the half-time for delivery of mature CD8 to the cell
      surface was found to be about 30 min, indicating a very fast routing. Pulse
      experiments with [35S]cysteine at 37 degrees C followed by chase-periods at low
      temperatures showed that folding/dimerization occurs before routing to the Golgi
      apparatus, whereas the addiction of O-linked GalNAc appears to take place later,
      very likely in cis-Golgi cisternae. Treatment of cells with monensin accumulated
      the intermediate CD8 form carrying non-elongated O-linked GalNAc, whereas
      brefeldin A treatment produced a sialylated glycoprotein species with a mobility
      faster than the mature CD8. These results indicate that the two drugs affect
      assembly of O-linked chains at different time of their processing.

PMID- 1460020
TI  - Molecular cloning, cDNA sequence, and bacterial expression of human
      glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase.
AB  - Glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT) has recently been shown to
      be an insulin-regulated enzyme that plays a key role in the induction of insulin
      resistance in cultured cells. As a first step in understanding the molecular
      regulation of this enzyme the human form of this enzyme has been cloned and the
      functional protein has been expressed in Escherichia coli. A 3.1-kilobase cDNA
      was isolated which contains the complete coding region of 681 amino acids.
      Expression of the cDNA in E. coli produced a protein of approximately 77 kDa and
      increased GFAT activity 4.5-fold over endogenous bacterial levels. Recombinant
      GFAT activity was inhibited 51% by UDP-GlcNAc whereas bacterial GFAT activity was
      insensitive to inhibition by UDP-GlcNAc. On the basis of these results we
      conclude that: 1) functional human GFAT protein was expressed, and 2) the cloned
      human cDNA encodes both the catalytic and regulatory domains of GFAT since the
      recombinant GFAT was sensitive to UDP-GlcNAc. Overall, the development of cloned
      GFAT molecular probes should provide new insights into the development of insulin
      resistance by allowing quantitation of GFAT mRNA levels in pathophysiological
      states such as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and obesity.

PMID- 1460021
TI  - Osteogenic protein-2. A new member of the transforming growth factor-beta
      superfamily expressed early in embryogenesis.
AB  - Osteogenic protein-2, OP-2, a new member of the transforming growth factor-beta
      (TGF-beta) superfamily, closely related to the osteogenic/bone morphogenetic
      proteins, was discovered in mouse embryo and human hippocampus cDNA libraries.
      The TGF-beta domain of OP-2 shows 74% identity to OP-1, 75% to Vgr-1, and 76% to
      BMP-5, hence OP-2 may also have bone inductive activity. The genomic locus of OP
      2 has seven exons, like OP-1, and spans more than 27 kilobases (kb). In the C
      terminal TGF-beta domain, OP-2 has a unique additional cysteine. Mouse embryos
      express relatively high levels of OP-2 mRNA at 8 days, two species of 3 and 5 kb.
      A careful study of mRNA expression of the osteogenic proteins in specific organs
      revealed discrete mRNA species for BMP-3, BMP-4, BMP-5, and BMP-6/Vgr-1 in lung
      or liver of young and adult mice. OP-1 is expressed in kidney; however, OP-2 and
      BMP-2 mRNAs were not detected in any organs studied, suggesting an early
      developmental role.

PMID- 1460022
TI  - Structure and expression of neutrophil gelatinase cDNA. Identity with type IV
      collagenase from HT1080 cells.
AB  - Neutrophils synthesize and store intracellularly a 92-kDa type IV collagenase
      (gelatinase), the primary structure of which is unknown. We designed a primer
      based on the highly conserved cysteine-switch region of metalloproteinases and
      employed the polymerase chain reaction to generate a probe of the human
      neutrophil gelatinase (HNG) gene. This probe was used to clone the cDNA encoding
      HNG by screening a chronic granulocytic leukemia cDNA library. In vitro
      translation of the cDNA-derived HNG mRNA yielded a major product of 78 kDa and
      smaller autolytically activated or degraded products, all of which were
      recognized by anti-HNG antibody. The HNG cDNA sequence is nearly identical to
      that encoding a 92-kDa gelatinase secreted by HT1080 cells. In addition, primer
      extension and S1 analysis reveal that the above two gelatinase transcripts have
      similar initiation sites. The HNG cDNA hybridized to a 2.8-kilobase mRNA from
      chronic granulocytic leukemia cells. HNG mRNA expression was absent from
      uninduced HL60 cells and from HL60 cells induced to granulocytic maturation with
      Me2SO. However, unlike other neutrophil secondary granule genes, HNG mRNA was
      detected in HL60 cells induced to monocytic maturation with 12-O
      tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. This suggests that the HNG gene may be subject
      to differential control pathways in two related but distinct hematopoietic
      lineages.

PMID- 1460023
TI  - Palmitylation of neuromodulin (GAP-43) is not required for phosphorylation by
      protein kinase C.
AB  - Neuromodulin (also designated GAP-43, B-50, and F-1) is a prominent protein
      kinase C substrate attached to the membranes of neuronal growth cones during
      development and to presynaptic membranes in discrete subsets of adult synapses.
      In this study, we have examined the relationship between the attachment of
      neuromodulin to membranes and its phosphorylation by protein kinase C. To address
      this issue, we have compared wild-type and mutant neuromodulins expressed in
      cells that normally lack the protein. Wild-type neuromodulin expressed in Chinese
      hamster ovary cells was associated with membranes, incorporated [3H]palmitic
      acid, and was phosphorylated in response to phorbol ester treatment. Substitution
      of serine 41, the in vitro protein kinase C site, abolished the phorbol ester
      response, indicating that serine 41 serves as the sole protein kinase C
      phosphorylation site in vivo. Substitution of the putative fatty acylation sites,
      cysteines 3 and 4, abolished membrane association as well as [3H]palmitic acid
      labeling of neuromodulin. Fatty acylation therefore appears to serve as the
      mechanism for anchoring neuromodulin to membranes. Surprisingly, the soluble
      cysteine substitution mutant was phosphorylated by protein kinase C at a rate
      indistinguishable from that of the wild-type protein. Therefore, membrane
      association may not be required for the phosphorylation of neuromodulin by
      protein kinase C.

PMID- 1460024
TI  - Interconversion of GRP78/BiP. A novel event in the action of Pasteurella
      multocida toxin, bombesin, and platelet-derived growth factor.
AB  - Incubation of Swiss 3T3 cells with [2-3H]adenine, as in other cell types, reveals
      the ADP-ribosylation of GRP78 (the 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein, also known
      as BiP, the immunoglobulin heavy chain-binding protein), a resident endoplasmic
      reticulum protein that assists in the processing of proteins destined for
      secretion or cell surface expression. Here we show that Pasteurella multocida
      toxin, a potent growth factor for cultured fibroblasts, decreased the ADP
      ribosylation of GRP78/BiP to 16 +/- 6% of the control value (n = 23). The action
      of the toxin occurred after a lag period, was blocked by lysosomotrophic agents,
      and potentiated by increased incubation time (ED50 4 ng/ml and 1 ng/ml in 4 and 8
      h, respectively), thus indicating that the toxin enters the cells to act.
      Bombesin and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) similarly decreased the ADP
      ribosylation of GRP78/BiP (ED50 0.5 nM and 2.5 ng/ml, respectively) but acted
      more rapidly than the toxin. Signaling pathways activated by the toxin, bombesin,
      and PDGF had effects on the ADP-ribosylation of GRP78/BiP. Thus, activation of
      protein kinase C alone by phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate was partially effective, and
      down-regulation of protein kinase C attenuated but did not block the action of
      the toxin, bombesin, and PDGF. Agents that mobilize Ca2+ from the endoplasmic
      reticulum (A23187, ionomycin, and thapsigargin) caused a decrease in the ADP
      ribosylation of GRP78/BiP that was similar in magnitude to that achieved by the
      toxin, bombesin, and PDGF, implicating a role for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate
      mediated Ca2+ mobilization in the action of the mitogenic agents. The growth
      factor-induced decrease in the ADP-ribosylation of GRP78/BiP may represent its
      conversion from an inactive to an active state.

PMID- 1460025
TI  - The role of the mature domain of proOmpA in the translocation ATPase reaction.
AB  - The export of proOmpA, the precursor of outer membrane protein A from Escherichia
      coli, requires preprotein translocase, which is comprised of SecA, SecY/E, and
      acidic phospholipids. Previous studies of proOmpA translocation intermediates
      (Schiebel, E., Driessen, A. J. M., Hartl, F.-U., and Wickner, W. (1991) Cell 64,
      927-939) suggested that the "slippage" of the translocating polypeptide chain and
      the high level of ATP hydrolysis, characteristic of the "translocation ATPase,"
      were part of a futile cycle. To examine the role of the mature domain of proOmpA
      in its translocation-dependent ATP hydrolysis, we used chemical cleavage to
      generate NH2-terminal fragments of this preprotein. Each fragment contained the
      21-residue leader region and either 53 or 228 residues of the mature domain
      (preproteins P74 and P249, respectively). As observed with full-length proOmpA,
      the translocation of each fragment requires ATP and both the SecA and SecY/E
      domains of translocase and is stimulated by the transmembrane proton
      electrochemical gradient. The apparent maximal velocities of P74 and proOmpA
      translocation are similar. While the translocation of P74 and of proOmpA show the
      same apparent Km for ATP, far less ATP is hydrolyzed during the translocation of
      P74. Thus, the mature carboxyl-terminal domain of proOmpA has a major role in
      supporting the translocation ATPase.

PMID- 1460026
TI  - Distinct sterol and nonsterol signals for the regulated degradation of 3-hydroxy
      3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase.
AB  - The in vivo turnover rate of the endoplasmic reticulum protein 3-hydroxy-3
      methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the
      mevalonate (MVA) pathway, is accelerated when excess MVA or sterols are added to
      the growth medium of cells. As we have shown recently (Roitelman, J., Bar-Nun,
      S., Inoue, S., and Simoni, R. D. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 16085-16091),
      perturbation of cellular Ca2+ homeostasis abrogates the MVA-accelerated
      degradation of HMG-CoA reductase and HMGal. Here we show that, in contrast, the
      sterol-accelerated degradation of HMG-CoA reductase is unaffected by Ca2+
      perturbation achieved either by Ca2+ ionophore or by inhibitors of the
      endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase. The differential effects of Ca2+
      perturbation can be attributed neither to global alteration in protein synthesis
      nor to inhibition of MVA conversion to sterols. Yet, such manipulations markedly
      reduce the incorporation of MVA into cellular macromolecules, including
      prenylated proteins. Furthermore, we directly demonstrate that MVA gives rise to
      at least two distinct signals, one that is essential to support the effect of
      sterols and another that operates independently of sterols. Our results indicate
      that the cellular signals operating in the MVA-accelerated turnover of HMG-CoA
      reductase are distinct from those involved in the sterol-regulated degradation. A
      working model for the degradation pathway is proposed.

PMID- 1460027
TI  - The primary structure of rat ribosomal protein S5. A ribosomal protein present in
      the rat genome in a single copy.
AB  - The amino acid sequence of the rat 40 S ribosomal subunit protein S5 was deduced
      from the sequence of nucleotides in a recombinant cDNA and confirmed by the
      determination, directly from the protein, of 17 residues near the NH2 terminus.
      S5 has 204 amino acids; the molecular weight is 22,863. The protein designated
      S5a has the same amino acid sequence as S5 except that it lacks the NH2-terminal
      5 residues. It is not known whether the conversion of a portion of S5 to S5a is
      physiological or fortuitous. The mRNA for S5 has about 820 nucleotides.
      Hybridization of the S5 cDNA to digests of nuclear DNA indicates that the rat
      genome has only a single copy of the gene; this is in distinction to the mouse
      and human genomes which have three to six copies of the S5 gene. Rat ribosomal
      protein S5 is related to the eubacteria, the arachaebacteria, and the chloroplast
      family of S7 ribosomal proteins. There is a peptide of 16 residues at the
      carboxyl terminus of S5 that is highly conserved in 18 species spanning the three
      kingdoms and chloroplasts.

PMID- 1460028
TI  - A Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA helicase associated with replication factor C.
AB  - A novel DNA helicase has been isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This DNA
      helicase co-purified with replication factor C (RF-C) during chromatography on S
      Sepharose, DEAE-silica gel high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Affi
      Gel Blue-agarose, heparin-agarose, single-stranded DNA-cellulose, fast protein
      liquid chromatography MonoS, and hydroxyapatite HPLC. Surprisingly, the helicase
      could be separated from RF-C by sedimentation on a glycerol gradient in the
      presence of 200 mM NaCl. The helicase is probably a homodimer of a 60-kDa
      polypeptide, which by UV cross-linking has been shown to bind ATP. It has a
      single-stranded DNA-dependent ATPase activity, with a Km for ATP of 60 microM.
      The DNA helicase activity depends on the hydrolysis of NTP (dNTP), with ATP and
      dATP the most efficient cofactors, followed by CTP and dCTP. The DNA helicase has
      a 5' to 3' directionality and is only marginally stimulated by coating the single
      stranded DNA with the yeast single-stranded DNA-binding protein RF-A.

PMID- 1460029
TI  - Brefeldin A induced inhibition of de novo globo- and neolacto-series glycolipid
      core chain biosynthesis in human cells. Evidence for an effect on beta 1-
      >4galactosyltransferase activity.
AB  - De novo synthesis of neolacto-series glycolipids has been studied in human cell
      lines via metabolic labeling of ceramide with [3H]serine. Intense labeling of
      ceramide mono- and dihexoside glycolipids occurred with labeling of progressively
      longer chain derivatives with increasing time. Most of the label was recovered in
      neutral glycolipids with about 5% of the total labeling in the ganglioside
      fraction. Experiments done using cell treatment with 2.5 micrograms/ml brefeldin
      A resulted in a stimulation in the total amount of labeling, accumulation of a
      neutral glycolipid identified as Lc3 due to inhibited transfer of the neolacto
      series core chain terminal beta-Gal residue, and a corresponding inhibition of
      labeling of longer chain neutral glycolipids in all cell lines. Brefeldin A also
      blocked synthesis of the globo-series precursor, Gb3, longer chain sialylated
      structures such as IV3NeuAcnLc4, but not de novo GM3 synthesis. Brefeldin A
      treatment had no effect on cellular beta 1-->3N-acetylglucosaminyl-, beta 1-
      >4galactosyl-, or alpha 1-->3fucosyltransferase specific activities, nor was it
      inhibitory in beta 1-->4galactosyltransferase assays in vitro. The results
      describe brefeldin A-induced blocks in globo- and neolacto-series glycolipid
      biosynthesis, consistent with differential localization of enzymes in
      intracellular membranes. In particular, the results suggest that the beta 1-
      >4galactosyltransferase in these cells is either not redistributed by brefeldin A
      or is otherwise rendered nonfunctional.

PMID- 1460030
TI  - Affected paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria T lymphocytes harbor a common defect
      in assembly of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine inositol phospholipid corresponding to that
      in class A Thy-1- murine lymphoma mutants.
AB  - Deficient expression of glycoinositol phospholipid (GPI) anchored proteins in
      affected paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) cells has been traced to a
      defect in GPI anchor assembly. In a previous study (Schubert, J., Schmidt, R. E.,
      and Medof, M. E. (1993) J. Biol. Chem., in press) we characterized the
      biosynthesis of putative Man-containing GPI anchor precursors in normal
      peripheral blood lymphocytes and investigated assembly of these intracellular GPI
      intermediates in CD48- affected and CD48+ unaffected T and natural killer cell
      lines of PNH patients. We found that affected T cells from five patients
      exhibited a uniform defect in which dolichol-phosphoryl-Man was synthesized but
      no GPI mannolipids were expressed. In this study, membranes of patients' affected
      T cells were labeled with UDP-[3H]GlcNAc to evaluate earlier steps in GPI
      synthesis, and intact cells were fused to Thy-1- murine lymphoma mutants
      harboring different defects in early GPI assembly to test for the presence of
      corresponding or complementary lesions. In all cases, affected cell membranes
      failed to assemble GlcNAc-inositol phospholipid, the initial precursor of GPI
      anchor structures, and the intact cells failed to complement class A mutants
      while complementing other classes. Affected polymorphonuclear leukocytes from
      three additional patients of different origin were then labeled with [3H]Man and
      the labeling patterns found to correspond to those obtained with the T
      lymphocytes. Taken together the data indicate that the genetic lesion in PNH
      cells resides in a DNA element which: 1) encodes a product required for the
      synthesis of GlcNAc-inositol phospholipid, 2) corresponds to that altered in
      class A Thy-1- murine lymphoma mutants, and 3) is commonly affected in different
      patients.

PMID- 1460032
TI  - Purification and characterization of the rat spermatid basic nuclear protein TP4.
AB  - Following elongation of spermatids in mammals, the histones are replaced by a set
      of basic nuclear transition proteins; in the rat there are four, named TP1-TP4.
      Of these, TP1 and TP2 are well characterized. Here we report the purification to
      homogeneity of TP4 from rat spermatids. It is a low molecular mass (about 13-20
      kDa) basic protein with arginine and lysine constituting 24 mol % and histidine
      2.2 mol %. Its 25 N-terminal amino acids were sequenced, and no sequence
      homologies with any known protein were found. Polyclonal antibodies raised
      against it in rabbit did not cross-react with other transition proteins,
      protamines, or histones. The presence of TP4 during sperm development was
      monitored by cell separation studies. No TP4 was detected in round spermatids,
      and along with TP1 and TP2, it is present in step 13-15 spermatids and its amount
      decreased in steps 16-19. Trace amounts of TP4 were also detected in epididymal
      sperm. A possible role for TP4 in spermatid and sperm chromatin structure is
      discussed.

PMID- 1460033
TI  - Differential regulation of biglycan and decorin by retinoic acid in bovine
      chondrocytes.
AB  - The small, leucine-rich proteoglycans, decorin and biglycan, are prominent
      components of many extracellular matrices and are differentially regulated in
      various tissues. We have examined the effects of retinoic acid (RA) on the
      expression of biglycan and decorin at the protein and mRNA levels in cultured
      bovine articular chondrocytes. Biglycan protein expression is rapidly turned off
      after 1-2 days of treatment with RA. In contrast, decorin protein expression is
      increased 12-18-fold following 3 days of RA treatment. The level of biglycan mRNA
      was also rapidly reduced upon RA treatment, mirroring the protein expression. The
      reduction was apparent by 6 h, and, by 4 days, the levels were nearly
      undetectable. In contrast, decorin mRNA was induced upon treatment with RA. The
      increase in decorin message levels was first apparent by 24 h, reaching maximum
      by 2 days, and remained constant through 4 days. The repression of biglycan mRNA
      displayed equal sensitivity to RA concentrations from 10(-5) to 10(-9) M. Decorin
      mRNA was induced in a dose-dependent fashion by RA. Retinoic acid at a
      concentration of 10(-5) M, the highest dose examined, resulted in maximal
      induction of the message, and control levels were obtained with 10(-8) M. The
      protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide inhibited the induction of decorin
      mRNA, indicating that the induction by RA was a secondary event. In contrast, the
      repression of biglycan by RA was not significantly altered by cycloheximide,
      showing that the repression was a direct effect. Actinomycin D inhibited the
      induction of decorin mRNA, indicating that transcription was required for the
      induction. Nuclear run-on assays confirmed that RA was regulating biglycan mRNA
      expression at the transcription level. A 24-h RA treatment decreased the level of
      transcription of the biglycan gene 5-fold. In contrast, no increase in
      transcription from the decorin gene could be detected by nuclear run-on assays.
      Therefore, the elevation in decorin mRNA levels observed after RA treatment was
      the result of a post-transcriptional event, most likely the consequence of
      stabilization of the message. This study demonstrates that the genes for these
      two similar proteoglycans are under very different forms of regulation by RA in
      chondrocytes. The pattern of differential expression of biglycan and decorin
      could serve as an additional marker for indicating changes of the cartilage
      phenotype.

PMID- 1460031
TI  - Probing the phosphocholine-binding site of human C-reactive protein by site
      directed mutagenesis.
AB  - Human C-reactive protein (CRP) can activate the classical pathway of complement
      and function as an opsonin only when it is complexed to an appropriate ligand.
      Most known CRP ligands bind to the phosphocholine (PCh)-binding site of the
      protein. In the present study, we used oligonucleotide-directed site-specific
      mutagenesis to investigate structural determinants of the PCh-binding site of
      CRP. Eight mutant recombinant (r) CRP, Y40F; E42Q; Y40F, E42Q; K57Q; R58G; K57Q,
      R58G; W67K; and K57Q, R58G, W67K were constructed and expressed in COS cells.
      Wild-type and all mutant rCRP except for the W67K mutants bound to solid-phase
      PCh-substituted bovine serum albumin (PCh-BSA) with similar apparent avidities.
      However, W67K rCRP had decreased avidity for PCh-BSA and the triple mutant, K57Q,
      R58G, W67K, failed to bind PCh-BSA. Inhibition experiments using PCh and dAMP as
      inhibitors indicated that both Lys-57 and Arg-58 contribute to PCh binding. They
      also indicated that Trp-67 provides interactions with the choline group. The Y40F
      and E42Q mutants were found to have increased avidity for fibronectin compared to
      wild-type rCRP. We conclude that the residues Lys-57, Arg-58, and Trp-67
      contribute to the structure of the PCh-binding site of human CRP. Residues Tyr-40
      and Glu-42 do not appear to participate in the formation of the PCh-binding site
      of CRP, however, they may be located in the vicinity of the fibronectin-binding
      site of CRP.

PMID- 1460034
TI  - Identification of an upstream regulatory region essential for cell type-specific
      transcription of the pro-alpha 2(V) collagen gene (COL5A2).
AB  - The transcriptional features of the human alpha 2(V) collagen gene (COL5A2) were
      examined by transfection experiments coupled to various DNA binding assays. This
      approach identified an upstream region essential for the cell type-specific
      expression of the COL5A2 promoter. Within this region are two nuclear factor
      binding sites, FP-A and FP-B, responsible for the formation of distinct DNA
      protein complexes. Mutations introduced across each of the two binding sites
      eliminated the formation of the cognate complex and decreased promoter activity
      by about 3-fold (FP-A) and 40-fold (FP-B) in transfection experiments.
      Competition experiments using recognition sequences for known transcription
      factors exhibiting some similarity to the FP-A- and FP-B-binding sites failed to
      inhibit COL5A2/protein interactions. Thus, COL5A2 expression appears to be under
      the positive control of a short regulatory sequence likely to harbor two novel
      nuclear factor-binding sites.

PMID- 1460036
TI  - Purification and characterization of a Fuc alpha 1-->2Gal beta 1--> and GalNAc
      beta 1-->-specific lectin in root tubers of Trichosanthes japonica.
AB  - A prominent lectin in the root tubers of Trichosanthes japonica was purified by
      affinity chromatography on a porcine stomach mucin-Sepharose column and termed
      TJA-II. The molecular mass of the native lectin was determined to be 64 kDa by
      sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and TJA-II was
      separated into two different subunits of 33 and 29 kDa in the presence of 2
      mercaptoethanol. The respective subunits contained mannose, N-acetylglucosamine,
      fucose, and xylose. It was determined by equilibrium dialysis to have two equal
      binding sites per molecule, the association constant toward tritium-labeled Fuc
      alpha 1-->2Gal beta 1-->3GlcNAc beta 1-->3Gal beta 1-->4GlcOT being K alpha =
      3.05 x 10(5) M-1. The precise carbohydrate binding specificity of immobilized TJA
      II was studied using various tritium-labeled oligosaccharides. A series of
      oligosaccharides possessing Fuc alpha 1-->2Gal beta 1--> or GalNAc beta 1-->
      groups at their nonreducing terminals showed stronger binding ability than ones
      with Gal beta 1-->GlcNAc (Glc) groups, indicating that TJA-II fundamentally
      recognizes a beta-galactosyl residue and the binding strength increases on
      substitution of the hydroxyl group at the C-2 position with a fucosyl or
      acetylamino group. This lectin column is useful for fractionating
      oligosaccharides or glycoproteins containing blood group type 1H, type 2H, and Sd
      antigenic determinants.

PMID- 1460035
TI  - Cell-mediated cleavage of Pseudomonas exotoxin between Arg279 and Gly280
      generates the enzymatically active fragment which translocates to the cytosol.
AB  - Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE) is a three-domain toxin which is cleaved by a cellular
      protease within cells and then reduced to generate two prominent fragments
      (Ogata, M., Chaudhary, V. K., Pastan, I., and FitzGerald, D. J. (1990) J. Biol.
      Chem. 265, 20678-20685). The N-terminal fragment is 28 kDa in size and contains
      the binding domain. The 37-kDa C-terminal fragment, which translocates to the
      cytosol, contains the translocation domain and the ADP-ribosylation domain.
      Cleavage followed by reduction is essential for toxicity since mutant forms of
      the toxin that cannot be cleaved by cells are nontoxic. Previous results with
      these mutants suggest that cleavage occurred in an arginine-rich (arginine
      residues are at positions 274, 276, and 279) disulfide loop near the beginning of
      the translocation domain, but the exact site of cleavage was not determined.
      Since very few molecules of the 37-kDa fragment are generated within cells it was
      not possible to determine the site of cleavage by performing a conventional N
      terminal sequence analysis of the 37-kDa fragment. Two experimental approaches
      were used to overcome this limitation. First, existing amino acids near the
      cleavage sites were replaced with methionine residues; this was followed by the
      addition of [35S]methionine-labeled versions of these toxins to cells. The
      pattern of radioactive toxin fragments recovered from the cells indicated that
      the toxin was cleaved either just before or just after Arg279. Second,
      [3H]leucine-labeled toxin was produced and added to the cells. Sequential Edman
      degradations were performed on the small amount of radioactive 37-kDa fragment
      that could be recovered from toxin-treated cells. A peak of radioactivity in the
      fifth fraction indicated that leucine was the 5th amino acid on the C-terminal
      side of the cleavage site. This result confirmed that cleavage was between Arg279
      and Gly280.

PMID- 1460037
TI  - Interleukin 2-induced activation of Ras requires two domains of interleukin 2
      receptor beta subunit, the essential region for growth stimulation and Lck
      binding domain.
AB  - Interleukin 2 (IL-2) can stimulate the proliferation of various kinds of T-cell
      lines. The receptor for IL-2 is composed of at least two subunits (alpha and
      beta), of which beta subunit plays the major role in transducing growth signals
      into the cells. A nonreceptor-type tyrosine kinase, Lck, is associated with IL-2
      receptor beta subunit, and the binding of IL-2 to its receptor induces the
      activation of Lck. On the other hand, it has been shown that stimulation of T
      cells with IL-2 causes rapid activation of Ras protein. In this paper, we
      describe that both of the two regions in IL-2 receptor beta subunit, the
      indispensable region for the induction of cell growth (serine-rich region) and
      the binding region of Lck protein (acidic region), are required for the
      activation of Ras. These two regions are also required for tyrosine
      phosphorylation of an 85-kDa cellular protein (p85) and the accumulation of fos
      and jun mRNAs. This observation suggests also that the activation of a receptor
      associated tyrosine kinase in response to IL-2-stimulation is primarily
      responsible for subsequent activation of the pathway through Ras to Fos and Jun.

PMID- 1460038
TI  - The Na-K-Cl cotransport protein of shark rectal gland. I. Development of
      monoclonal antibodies, immunoaffinity purification, and partial biochemical
      characterization.
AB  - The Na-K-Cl cotransporter mediates the coupled transport of Na, K, and Cl across
      the plasma membrane of many animal cell membranes. It is inhibited by loop
      diuretics such as furosemide, bumetanide, and benzmetanide. We have developed a
      panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against the 195-kDa shark rectal gland Na
      K-Cl cotransport protein. Four representative antibodies (J3, J4, J7, and J25),
      each of which recognizes a discrete structural domain, were selected for detailed
      characterization. When a radiolabeled loop diuretic is bound to the cotransporter
      prior to solubilization, each antibody immunoprecipitates the same diuretic
      protein complex. Of the four antibodies, J4 favors the native protein over the
      denatured one and does not bind well to proteolytic fragments; in contrast, J7
      recognizes the cotransporter only after it has been solubilized. J3, J7, and J25
      each recognize a unique ensemble of proteolytic fragments of the 195-kDa protein;
      analysis of the patterns of recognition has yielded a tentative assignment of the
      approximate location of the epitopes within the peptide. When the cotransport
      protein is treated with N-glycanase to remove N-linked oligosaccharides, its
      apparent mass decreases to approximately 135 kDa. The deglycosylated form is
      recognized by each of the antibodies except J25; this suggests that the J25
      epitope is within the oligosaccharide component or in a peptide domain whose
      folding is disturbed by carbohydrate removal. An immunoaffinity matrix
      constructed with the J4 antibody permits single-step purification of the 195-kDa
      protein; other proteins copurify with the large glycoprotein, but none of these
      appear to be subunits of a stoichiometric complex. The amino acid sequence of
      four fragments of the 195-kDa cotransport protein is reported. Immunofluorescence
      and immunoelectron microscopy demonstrates, in agreement with physiological
      evidence, that the 195-kDa protein is distributed along the basolateral membrane
      and excluded from the apical membrane of the rectal gland secretory cell.

PMID- 1460039
TI  - Beta gamma-subunit activation of G-protein-regulated phospholipase C.
AB  - The availability of purified G alpha 11 and the G-protein-regulated phospholipase
      C from turkey erythrocytes has allowed an examination of the direct effects of G
      protein beta gamma-subunit on the components of the inositol lipid signaling
      system. Reconstitution of purified turkey erythrocyte or bovine brain beta gamma
      subunit into phospholipid vesicles containing G alpha 11 inhibited AlF4- induced
      activation of phospholipase C. However, beta gamma-subunit at higher
      concentrations increased phospholipase C activity. This stimulatory effect of
      beta gamma-subunit on phospholipase C did not require the presence of the alpha
      subunit. G alpha o had no effect on the catalytic activity of phospholipase C.
      However, coreconstitution of G alpha o and beta gamma-subunit shifted to the
      right the concentration-effect curve for beta gamma-subunit-promoted activation
      of phospholipase C. As was observed with G alpha 11, the increase in activity
      observed in the presence of beta gamma-subunit occurred as an increase in the
      maximal activity and with no change in the apparent affinity for Ca2+ for
      phospholipase C activation. The concentration dependence of G alpha 11 for
      activation of turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C and bovine brain phospholipase C
      beta, as well as the concentration dependence of the two enzymes for activation
      by G alpha 11, were very similar. In contrast, beta gamma-subunit was a much less
      effective activator of bovine brain phospholipase C-beta than the turkey
      erythrocyte enzyme. The observation of direct effects of free beta gamma-subunit
      on phospholipase C extend the possibilities for receptor-mediated regulation of
      this signaling pathway.

PMID- 1460040
TI  - Mutational analysis of the adenovirus 2 IVa2 initiator and downstream elements.
AB  - The initiator element of the adenovirus type 2 IVa2 promoter is sufficient to
      direct accurate initiation by RNA polymerase II. Analysis of the effects of
      substitution of specific base pairs on initiator activity in in vitro
      transcription systems indicated that specific sequences between positions -4 and
      +5 were essential for initiator activity. Mutations that impaired or eliminated
      initiator activity altered both base pairs that are conserved in sequence-related
      initiators and nonconserved sequences. Neither the downstream TA-rich sequence of
      the IVa2 promoter, nor the adenovirus 2 major late TATA element placed at the
      same downstream site could overcome the severe inhibitory effects of initiator
      mutations, indicating that the initiator is the primary determinant of the
      specificity and direction of IVa2 transcription. By contrast, when the ML TATA
      element was placed 31 nucleotides upstream of the IVa2 initiator, the precise
      specificity, but neither the efficiency nor direction of transcription, depended
      on the presence of a functional initiator. Activity of the IVa2 promoter was
      relatively insensitive to changes in the orientation or nature of the TA-rich
      sequence. Furthermore, only a promoter containing the ML TA-TAAAA sequence
      downstream of the IVa2 initiator was competent to direct both IVa2 transcription
      and transcription from the opposite strand. The implications of this functional
      difference for recognition of the downstream element are discussed.

PMID- 1460041
TI  - High affinity ligand binding is not essential for granulocyte-macrophage colony
      stimulating factor receptor activation.
AB  - The high affinity receptor of the cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony
      stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a heterodimer composed of two members of the
      cytokine receptor superfamily. GM-CSF binds to the alpha-subunit (GM-R alpha)
      with low affinity and to the receptor alpha beta complex (GM-R alpha beta) with
      high affinity. The GM-CSF.GM-R alpha beta complex is responsible for biological
      activity. Interactions of the N-terminal helix of mouse GM-CSF with mGM-R alpha
      beta were examined by introducing single alanine substitutions of hydrophilic
      residues in this region of mGM-CSF. The consequences of these substitutions were
      evaluated by receptor binding and biological assays. Although all mutant proteins
      exhibited near wild-type biological activity, most were defective in high
      affinity receptor binding. In particular, substitution of Glu-21 with alanine
      abrogated high affinity binding leaving low affinity binding unaffected. Despite
      near wild-type biological activity, no detectable binding interaction of this
      mutant with mGM-R beta in the context of mGM-R alpha beta was observed. Cross
      linking studies showed an apparent interaction of this mutant protein with mGM-R
      alpha beta. The deficient receptor binding characteristics and near wild-type
      biological activity of this mutant protein demonstrate that mGM-CSF receptor
      activation can occur independently of high affinity binding, suggesting that
      conformational changes in the receptor induced by mGM-CSF binding generate an
      active ligand-receptor complex.

PMID- 1460042
TI  - Polypyrimidine tract binding protein interacts with sequences involved in
      alternative splicing of beta-tropomyosin pre-mRNA.
AB  - Previous studies of alternative splicing of the rat beta-tropomyosin gene have
      shown that nonmuscle cells contain factors that block the use of the skeletal
      muscle exon 7 (Guo, W., Mulligan, G. J., Wormsley, S., and Helfman, D. M. (1991)
      Genes & Dev. 5, 2095-2106). Using an RNA mobility-shift assay we have identified
      factors in HeLa cell nuclear extracts that specifically interact with sequences
      responsible for exon blockage. Here we present the purification to apparent
      homogeneity of a protein that exhibits these sequence specific RNA binding
      properties. This protein is identical to the polypyrimidine tract binding protein
      (PTB) which other studies have suggested is involved in the recognition and
      efficient use of 3'-splice sites. PTB binds to two distinct functional elements
      within intron 6 of the beta-tropomyosin pre-mRNA: 1) the polypyrimidine tract
      sequences required for the use of branch points associated with the splicing of
      exon 7, and 2) the intron regulatory element that is involved in the repression
      of exon 7. Our results demonstrate that the sequence requirements for PTB binding
      are different than previously reported and shows that PTB binding cannot be
      predicted solely on the basis of pyrimidine content. In addition, PTB fails to
      bind stably to sequences within intron 5 and intron 7 of beta-TM pre-mRNA, yet
      forms a stable complex with sequences in intron 6, which is not normally spliced
      in HeLa cells in vitro and in vivo. The nature of the interactions of PTB within
      this regulated intron reveals several new details about the binding specificity
      of PTB and suggests that PTB does not function exclusively in a positive manner
      in the recognition and use of 3'-splice sites.

PMID- 1460043
TI  - Genomic organization of the mouse granzyme A gene. Two mRNAs encode the same
      mature granzyme A with different leader peptides.
AB  - Granzyme A is a serine protease that, together with the other granular components
      of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) cells, has been implicated in the cytolysis
      process. We report here two different messages and the genomic organization of
      the mouse granzyme A gene. The granzyme A gene is composed of six exons spanning
      7 kilobases. Alternative splicing of the second exon results in the two
      transcripts. The two mRNA species encode the same mature granzyme A protein but
      with different leader sequences. The first (HF1) encodes a typical leader signal
      sequence similar to other granzymes, but the second (HF2) putative leader
      sequence is different and less hydrophobic. Both messages are present in cultured
      CTL cell lines and in normal lymphoid tissues. They are both induced when CTL
      cells are activated in vitro or in vivo. Both messages can be translated in
      vitro, although the HF1 message appears to be much more efficient as a template.
      The putative 5' promoter region of the HF gene sequenced (500 base pairs of
      upstream sequences) contains no well defined promoter sequences aside from the
      TATA box. The results suggest that (a) granzyme A may be produced with putative
      different leader sequences from two different mRNAs; (b) this may provide a model
      system for studying alternate splicing and the evolution of a complex enzymatic
      system in an organelle; and (c) the genomic DNA reported will be useful for
      studying transcription regulations involved in controlling the specific
      expression pattern of this gene.

PMID- 1460044
TI  - Impact of O-glycosylation on the function of human intestinal lactase-phlorizin
      hydrolase. Characterization of glycoforms varying in enzyme activity and
      localization of O-glycoside addition.
AB  - Lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) is an integral intestinal brush border membrane
      glycoprotein responsible for the hydrolysis of lactose, the primary carbohydrate
      in mammalian milk. To assess the role of N- and O-glycosylation on the function
      of LPH, lectin-binding experiments combined with enzymatic and chemical
      deglycosylation of purified LPH molecules were performed. These investigations
      provided evidence for the existence of two forms of brush border LPH, an N
      glycosylated molecule (LPHN) and an N- and O-glycosylated molecule (LPHN/O).
      These two forms could be discriminated on the basis of (i) their binding capacity
      to Helix pomatia lectin, which has high specificity toward O-linked
      oligosaccharides, and (ii) their deglycosylation patterns with endo-beta-N
      acetylglucosaminidase F/GF, O-glycanase, and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid.
      Interestingly, both forms have identical Km values (approximately 14 mM) when
      assayed with lactose, but hydrolyze this substrate at different rates. Thus, the
      N- and O-glycosylated form exhibits almost a 4-fold higher Vmax than that of the
      N-glycosylated enzyme (3.28 nM/min versus 0.90 nM/min) and is therefore
      enzymatically more active than the latter. Sequential affinity chromatography of
      glycopeptides derived from [3H]mannose-labeled LPHN and LPHN/O on lectin columns
      revealed similar patterns of N-linked glycosylation of both forms indicating that
      the presence of O-linked oligosaccharides did not affect or alter the processing
      of N-linked oligosaccharides. O-Linked glycosylation of LPH appears to occur in
      the Golgi apparatus, since the earliest detectable forms of LPH, the mannose-rich
      precursor (pro-LPH) is not O-glycosylated. In view of the fact that
      differentiation of intestinal crypt cells to mature epithelial cells is
      accompanied by significant phenotypical, morphological, and structural
      alterations, including changes in the levels of several Golgi glycosyl, -sialyl,
      galactosyl-, and N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases, and since O-glycosylation is
      a Golgi event, we suggest that the generation of LPHN and LPHN/O is strongly
      linked to differentiation of intestinal cells. Finally, the variations in the
      enzymatic activity of the two forms propose a role for O-glycosylation in
      posttranslational regulation of LPH activity.

PMID- 1460045
TI  - Cloning, sequencing, and expression of the fadD gene of Escherichia coli encoding
      acyl coenzyme A synthetase.
AB  - In the enteric bacterium, Escherichia coli, acyl coenzyme A synthetase (fatty
      acid:CoA ligase (AMP-forming) EC 6.2.1.3) activates exogenous long-chain fatty
      acids concomitant with their transport across the inner membrane into
      metabolically active CoA thioesters. These compounds serve as substrates for acyl
      CoA dehydrogenase in the first step in the process of beta-oxidation. The acyl
      CoA synthetase structural gene, fadD, has been identified on clone 6D1 of the
      Kohara E. coli gene library and by a process of subcloning and complementation
      analyses shown to be contained on a 2.2-kilobase NcoI-ClaI fragment of genomic
      DNA. The polypeptide encoded within this DNA fragment was identified following T7
      RNA polymerase-dependent induction and estimated to be M(r) = 62,000 using SDS
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of acyl
      CoA synthetase was determined by automated sequencing to be Met-Lys-Lys-Val-Trp
      Leu-Asn-Arg-Tyr-Pro. Sequence analysis of the 2.2-kilobase NcoI-ClaI fragment
      revealed a single open reading frame encoding these amino acids as the first 10
      residues of a protein with a molecular weight of 62,028. The initiation codon for
      methionine was TTG. Primer extension of total in vivo mRNA from two fadD-specific
      oligonucleotides defined the transcriptional start at an adenine residue 60 base
      pairs upstream from the predicted translational start site. Two FadR operator
      sites of the fadD gene were identified at positions -13 to -29 (OD1) and
      positions -99 to -115 (OD2) by DNase I footprinting. Comparisons of the predicted
      amino acid sequence of the E. coli acyl-CoA synthetase to the deduced amino acid
      sequences of the rat and yeast acyl-CoA synthetases and the firefly luciferase
      demonstrated that these enzymes shared a significant degree of similarity. Based
      on the similar reaction mechanisms of these four enzymes, this similarity may
      define a region required for the same function.

PMID- 1460046
TI  - Type I procollagens containing substitutions of aspartate, arginine, and cysteine
      for glycine in the pro alpha 1 (I) chain are cleaved slowly by N-proteinase, but
      only the cysteine substitution introduces a kink in the molecule.
AB  - Type I procollagen was purified from the medium of dermal fibroblasts cultured
      from four individuals with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) type II who had mutations
      in the COL1A1 gene of type I procollagen. The procollagens were mixtures of
      normal molecules and molecules that contained substitutions of aspartate for
      glycine 97, arginine for glycine 550, cysteine for glycine 718, and aspartate for
      glycine 883 in one or both of the alpha 1 (I) chains of the molecule. The
      procollagens were cleaved more slowly than control type I procollagen by
      procollagen N-proteinase. Double-reciprocal plots of initial relative velocities
      and initial substrate concentrations indicated that the OI procollagens were all
      cleaved slowly by N-proteinase because of decreased Vmax, rather than increased
      Km. This suggested that slow cleavage of the OI procollagens by N-proteinase was
      the result of slow conversion of the N-proteinase-procollagen complex. Further
      experiments showed that the vertebrate collagenase A fragment of the aspartate
      for glycine alpha 1(I) 883 OI procollagen that contained the N-proteinase
      cleavage site but not the site of the substitution was also cleaved more slowly
      by N-proteinase than the normal vertebrate collagenase A fragments in the
      samples. These data show, for the first time, that an altered triple-helical
      structure is propagated from the site of a substitution of a bulky residue for
      glycine to the amino-terminal end of the procollagen molecule and disrupts the
      conformation of the N-proteinase cleavage site. Rotary shadowing electron
      microscopy of molecules in the preparation of cysteine for glycine alpha 1(I)-718
      showed the presence of a kink in approximately 5% of a population of molecules in
      which 60% were abnormal and 20% contained a disulfide bond. In contrast,
      procollagens containing aspartate and arginine for glycine were indistinguishable
      by rotary shadowing electron microscopy from those in control samples. The
      results here confirm previous suggestions that substitution of cysteine for
      glycine in the alpha 1(I) chain of type I collagen can introduce a kink near the
      site of the substitution. However, the presence of a kink is not a prerequisite
      for delayed cleavage of abnormal procollagens by N-proteinase.

PMID- 1460047
TI  - A tripeptide deletion in the triple-helical domain of the pro alpha 1(I) chain of
      type I procollagen in a patient with lethal osteogenesis imperfecta does not
      alter cleavage of the molecule by N-proteinase.
AB  - Dermal fibroblasts from a fetus with perinatal lethal osteogenesis imperfecta
      synthesized normal and abnormal type I procollagen molecules. The abnormal
      molecules contained one or two pro alpha 1(I) chains in which glycine, alanine,
      and hydroxyproline at positions 874, 875, and 876 in the triple-helical region
      were deleted as the result of a 9-base pair genomic deletion. Molecules that
      contained abnormal chains were overmodified from the site of the deletion toward
      the amino-terminal region of the molecule. Secretion of the overmodified
      molecules was impaired. The thermal stability of molecules containing abnormal
      chains was lower than that of normally modified molecules. After cleavage of
      molecules with vertebrate collagenase, the temperature of thermal denaturation of
      the overmodified A fragments was greater than that of the fragments from the
      normal molecules. The rates of cleavage of the normal and the abnormal molecules
      by N-proteinase were indistinguishable. Our findings suggest that the tripeptide
      deletion introduces a shift in the phase of the chains in the triple helix. This
      structural change is propagated from the site of the deletion toward the amino
      terminus of the molecule, but the subsequent alteration in the structure of the N
      proteinase cleavage site is not sufficient to cause a decrease in the rate of
      cleavage by the enzyme.

PMID- 1460048
TI  - Positive regulation of the skeletal alpha-actin gene by Fos and Jun in cardiac
      myocytes.
AB  - Transcription of the skeletal alpha-actin gene is selectively activated in rat
      myocardiocytes undergoing hypertrophy both in vivo and in vitro. In most of these
      models, transient expression of certain proto-oncogene transcription factors
      precedes hypertrophy and sarcomeric gene induction. Using expression vectors
      encoding Fos and Jun, the main constituents of transcriptional activator protein
      AP-1, we analyzed the role of these oncoproteins in mediating the transcriptional
      induction of skeletal alpha-actin by adrenergic stimulation. Both c-fos and c-jun
      were induced early after beta-adrenergic stimulation, with peak mRNA levels
      preceding skeletal alpha-actin induction by several hours. A second peak of c-jun
      mRNA coincided with skeletal alpha-actin induction. Co-transfection assays in
      cardiac myocytes and P19 teratocarcinoma cells demonstrated that over-expression
      of c-jun, or c-fos plus c-jun, transactivated the skeletal alpha-actin promoter
      by about 5-fold. Comparable activation was not seen for alpha-myosin heavy chain
      or cardiac alpha-actin promoters. Skeletal alpha-actin promoter sequences between
      -153 and -36 were required for maximal transactivation by c-fos/c-jun, and
      purified Fos and Jun were bound specifically within this region. A direct
      physiological role is suggested for the AP-1 transcription factor complex in
      regulating skeletal alpha-actin gene expression and alpha-actin isoform switching
      during the onset of signal-mediated cardiac myocyte hypertrophy.

PMID- 1460049
TI  - Characterization of components of the anaerobic ribonucleotide reductase system
      from Escherichia coli.
AB  - Anaerobic growth of Escherichia coli induces an oxygen-sensitive ribonucleoside
      triphosphate reductase system, different from the aerobic ribonucleoside
      diphosphate reductase (EC 1.17.4.1) of aerobic E. coli and higher organisms
      (Fontecave, M., Eliasson, R., and Reichard, P. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
      U.S.A. 86, 2147-2151). We have now purified and characterized two proteins from
      the anaerobic system, provisionally named dA1 and dA3. dA3 is the actual
      ribonucleoside triphosphate reductase; dA1 has an auxiliary function. From gel
      filtration, dA1 and dA3 have apparent molecular masses of 27 and 145 kDa,
      respectively. In denaturing gel electrophoresis, dA3 gives two bands of closely
      related polypeptides with apparent molecular masses of 77 (beta 1) and 74 (beta
      2) kDa. Immunological and structural evidence suggests that beta 2 is a
      degradation product of beta 1 and that the active enzyme is a dimer of beta 1.
      dA1 activity coincides on denaturing gels with a band of 29 kDa and thus appears
      to be a monomer. The reaction requires, in addition, an extract from E. coli
      heated for 30 min at 100 degrees C. Potassium is one required component, but one
      or several others remain unidentified and are provisionally designated fraction
      RT. With dA3, dA1, RT, and potassium ions, CTP reduction shows absolute
      requirements for S-adenosylmethionine, NADPH (with NADH as a less active
      substitute), dithiothreitol, and magnesium ions, and is strongly stimulated by
      ATP, probably acting as an allosteric effector. Micromolar concentrations of
      several chelators inhibit CTP reduction completely, suggesting the involvement of
      (a) transition metal(s).

PMID- 1460050
TI  - Activation of the anaerobic ribonucleotide reductase from Escherichia coli by S
      adenosylmethionine.
AB  - The anaerobic ribonucleoside triphosphate reductase from Escherichia coli reduces
      CTP to dCTP in the presence of a second protein, named dA1, and a Chelex-treated
      boiled extract of the bacteria, named RT. The reaction requires S
      adenosylmethionine, NADPH, dithiothreitol, ATP, and Mg2+ and K+ ions. It occurs
      only under anaerobic conditions. We now show that the overall reaction occurs in
      two steps. The first is an activation of the reductase by dA1 and RT and requires
      S-adenosylmethionine, NADPH, dithiothreitol, and possibly K+ ions. In the second
      step, the activated reductase reduces CTP to dCTP with ATP acting as an
      allosteric effector. During activation, S-adenosylmethionine is cleaved
      reductively to methionine + 5'-deoxyadenosine. This step is inhibited strongly by
      S-adenosylhomocysteine and various chelators. The activation of the anaerobic
      reductase shows a considerable similarity to that of pyruvate formate-lyase
      (Knappe, J., Neugebauer, F. A., Blaschkowski, H. P., and Ganzler, M. (1984) Proc.
      Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81, 1332-1335).

PMID- 1460051
TI  - The structure of the zinc sites of Escherichia coli DNA-dependent RNA polymerase.
AB  - X-ray absorption spectroscopy is ideally suited for the investigation of the
      electronic structure and the local environment (approximately 5 A) of specific
      atoms in biomolecules. While the edge region provides information about the
      valence state of the absorbing atom, the chemical identity of neighboring atoms,
      and the coordination geometry, the extended x-ray absorption fine structure
      region contains information about the number and average distance of neighboring
      atoms and their relative disorder. The development of sensitive detection methods
      has allowed studies using near physiological concentrations (as low as
      approximately 100 microM). RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli contains two zinc
      atoms: one tightly bound in the beta' subunit, the subunit that participates in
      template binding, and the other loosely bound in the beta subunit, the subunit
      that participates in substrate binding. X-ray absorption studies of these zinc
      sites in the native protein and of the zinc site in the beta' subunit after
      removal of the zinc in the beta subunit site by p
      (hydroxymercuri)benzenesulfonate (Giedroc, D. P., and Coleman, J. E. (1986)
      Biochemistry 25, 4969-4978) indicate that both zinc sites have octahedral
      coordination. The zinc in the beta' subunit site has four sulfur ligands at an
      average distance of 2.36 +/- 0.02 A and two oxygen (or nitrogen) ligands at an
      average distance of 2.23 +/- 0.02 A. The beta subunit zinc site has five sulfur
      ligands at an average distance of 2.38 +/- 0.01 A and one histidine nitrogen
      ligand at 2.14 +/- 0.02 A. These results are in general agreement with earlier
      biochemical and spectroscopic studies.

PMID- 1460052
TI  - In situ imaging of agonist-sensitive calcium pools in AR4-2J pancreatoma cells.
      Evidence for an agonist- and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive calcium pool
      in or closely associated with the nuclear envelope.
AB  - The activation of phospholipase C by hormones and neurotransmitters activates a
      complex combination of Ca2+ release and accumulation by intracellular organelles.
      Previously, we demonstrated that, in some cell types, the fluorescent Ca2+
      indicator, fura-2, can be loaded into intracellular, agonist-sensitive Ca2+ pools
      (Glennon, M. C., Bird, G. St. J., Kwan, C.-Y., and Putney, J. W., Jr. (1992) J.
      Biol. Chem. 267, 8230-8233). In the current study, we have attempted to exploit
      this phenomenon by employing digital fluorescence imaging of compartmentalized
      fura-2 to investigate the localization and function of the major intracellular
      sites of Ca2+ regulation in AR4-2J pancreatoma cells. By judicious use of a
      surface receptor agonist together with the Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin,
      cellular regions were identified whose behavior indicates that they contain the
      sites of agonist- and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-mediated intracellular Ca2+
      release. These regions were located throughout the cell and may include the
      nuclear envelope. They were distinct in locus and behavior from two other
      regions, which counterstained with fluorescent markers for nuclei and
      mitochondria. Fura-2 in mitochondrial regions reported low resting levels of
      [Ca2+], and revealed that organelles in these regions accumulate and retain Ca2+
      after agonist activation. These findings demonstrate that fluorescent Ca2+
      indicators can be employed to directly monitor changes in [Ca2+] in the major
      Ca(2+)-regulating organelles, and provide the first in situ visualization and
      localization of the major sites of Ca2+ regulation in cells.

PMID- 1460053
TI  - Protein LG: a hybrid molecule with unique immunoglobulin binding properties.
AB  - Immunoglobulin (Ig)-binding bacterial proteins have attracted theoretical
      interest for their role in molecular host-parasite interactions, and they are
      widely used as tools in immunology, biochemistry, medicine, and biotechnology.
      Protein L of the anaerobic bacterial species Peptostreptococcus magnus binds Ig
      light chains, whereas streptococcal protein G has affinity for the constant (Fc)
      region of IgG. In this report, Ig binding parts of protein L and protein G were
      combined to form a hybrid molecule, protein LG, which was found to bind a large
      majority of intact human Igs as well as Fc and Fab fragments, and Ig light
      chains. Binding to Ig was specific, and the affinity constants of the reactions
      between protein LG and human IgG, IgGFc fragments, and kappa light chains,
      determined by Scatchard plots, were 5.9 x 10(9), 2.2 x 10(9), and 2.0 x 10(9) M
      1, respectively. The binding properties of protein LG were more complete as
      compared with previously described Ig-binding proteins when also tested against
      mouse and rat Igs. This hybrid protein thus represents a powerful tool for the
      binding, detection, and purification of antibodies and antibody fragments.

PMID- 1460054
TI  - Human interferon consensus sequence binding protein is a negative regulator of
      enhancer elements common to interferon-inducible genes.
AB  - The promoter regions of many interferon-inducible genes share a short DNA
      sequence motif, termed the interferon consensus sequence (ICS) to which several
      regulatory proteins bind. A murine cDNA which encodes an ICS binding protein has
      been reported (M-ICSBP). The cloning of the human homologue of ICSBP (H-ICSBP) is
      described. H-ICSBP shares high sequence homology with its murine cognate. The
      derived sequence of H-ICSBP reveals restricted homology within the first 120
      amino acids to three other interferon regulatory factors, IRF-1, IRF-2, and ISGF3
      gamma. Truncated ICSBP lacking the first 33 amino-terminal amino acids fails to
      bind to the ICS, indicating that at least part of the DNA binding domain is
      located within the well conserved amino terminus. H-ICSBP is expressed
      exclusively in cell lines of hematopoietic origin. The results of transient
      transfection assays carried out either in hematopoietic or nonhematopoietic cells
      suggest that ICSBP acts as a negative regulatory factor on ICS-containing
      promoters. Furthermore, either interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or IFN-beta can
      alleviate the repression mediated by ICSBP. Therefore, ICSBP may be involved in
      maintaining submaximal transcriptional activity of IFN-inducible genes in
      hematopoietic cells. IFN treatment would then alleviate repression allowing
      maximal transcriptional activity of these genes.

PMID- 1460055
TI  - DNA binds and activates complement via residues 14-26 of the human C1q A chain.
AB  - The mechanism by which DNA activates the classical complement pathway was
      investigated, with emphasis upon the C1q binding sites involved. DNA bound to
      both the collagen-like and globular regions of C1q. Binding reactivity with DNA
      was retained after reduction/alkylation and sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment of
      C1q. DNA bound preferentially to the A chain of C1q. Binding sites for DNA were
      localized by using synthetic C1q A chain peptides to two cationic regions within
      residues 14-26 and 76-92, respectively. Peptides 14-26 and 76-92 avidly bound DNA
      in enzyme-linked immunosorbent and gel shift assays. Peptide 14-26 also
      precipitated with DNA and blocked its ability to bind C1q and activate C.
      Replacement of the two prolines with alanines or scrambling the order of the
      amino acids resulted in loss of ability of peptide 14-26 to inhibit C1q binding
      and complement activation by DNA; similar investigations showed a sequence
      specificity for peptide 76-92 as well. These experiments identify C1q A chain
      residues 14-26 as the major site, and residues 76-92 as a secondary site, through
      which DNA binds C1q and activates the classical complement pathway, and
      demonstrate that a peptide identical to residues 14-26 can modulate C1q binding
      and complement activation by DNA.

PMID- 1460056
TI  - Sequence and transcriptional analysis of the Escherichia coli rnt gene encoding
      RNase T.
AB  - The Escherichia coli rnt gene encoding the enzyme RNase T, which is responsible
      for the end-turnover of tRNA, was cloned on a 1.5-kilobase DNA fragment. When
      placed in pUC18 and pUC19 vectors this fragment led to approximately a 40-fold
      overexpression of RNase T activity. The cloned fragment was sequenced and was
      found to contain an open reading frame sufficient to encode a protein of 215
      amino acids with a molecular weight of 23,521, which is close to the subunit
      molecular weight of RNase T; the fragment also contains a second incomplete open
      reading frame with some sequence similarity to RNA helicases. The derived
      sequence of RNase T showed no similarity to any of the other E. coli
      exoribonucleases sequenced to date. Primer extension analysis and deletion of
      part of the upstream region were used to identify the transcription start point
      and the promoter of the rnt gene. Northern and primer extension analysis revealed
      that the rnt message also included the second open reading frame, suggesting that
      rnt is part of an operon.

PMID- 1460058
TI  - Molecular cloning and sequencing of cDNA encoding the phosphatidylinositol kinase
      from rat brain.

PMID- 1460057
TI  - Functional analysis of the human platelet-derived growth factor A-chain promoter
      region.
AB  - The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) A-chain gene is a developmentally
      regulated gene that is expressed in high levels in a limited number of normal and
      transformed cell lines and in cells stimulated by cytokines, including PDGF
      itself. We have now analyzed potential regulatory elements in 3.6 kilobase pairs
      (kb) of the 5'-flanking sequences of the human PDGF A-chain gene using reporter
      gene constructs and transient transfection analyses. The region between base
      pairs (bp) -618 and +392 (relative to the transcription initiation site) is
      sufficient for optimal promoter activity. A highly G + C region containing three
      contiguous Sp1 binding sites between bp -150 and -33 contributes over 80% of
      promotor activity. DNase I footprinting analyses indicates that Sp1 binds to and
      protects over 57 bp of this G + C region. A functional serum response element is
      located within bp -477 and -468 and positively regulates induction of PDGF A by
      PDGF. A negative regulatory (silencer) element is located from -1.9 to -0.9 kb.
      The results suggest that the major constitutive expression of the PDGF A-chain
      gene requires a highly G + C-rich region containing three Sp1 binding sites and
      that induction of the PDGF A-chain gene by PDGF is mediated by a SRE located at
      bp -477 to -468.

PMID- 1460059
TI  - Wrist anatomy.
AB  - The multiple joints within the wrist form a complex structure capable of
      transmitting significant loads to the upper extremity while providing a mobile
      base for the precision movements of the hand. This duality is accomplished
      through a fine interplay between the carpal bones and an arrangement of highly
      specific ligamentous structures, a system loaded by balanced muscle forces.

PMID- 1460060
TI  - Ligamentous injuries to the wrist. Imaging techniques.
AB  - The variety of imaging techniques available to the clinician facilitates the
      diagnosis of acute and chronic wrist disorders. In most cases, conventional
      radiographs provide sufficient information. Computed and trispiral tomography,
      arthrography, video-fluoroscopy, and magnetic resonance imaging are additional
      imaging techniques that are useful in making the correct diagnosis and deciding
      on a course of treatment.

PMID- 1460061
TI  - Wrist arthroscopy.
AB  - Wrist arthroscopy has become a routine method of evaluating and treating wrist
      disorders. Technical advances and improved techniques have resulted in
      therapeutic modalities with a much lower morbidity rate. Specific indications for
      wrist arthroscopy are described, as well as techniques and precautions.

PMID- 1460062
TI  - The distal radioulnar joint.
AB  - A phylogenic review shows the DRUJ to be a highly evolved and specialized
      structure. The diarthrodial joint, in combination with the TFCC, ligament
      complex, and oblique fibers of the distal interosseous membrane, permit rotation
      while preserving stability and transmitting the load borne by the radiocarpal
      joint to both bones of the forearm. Our improved, yet imperfect, understanding of
      the anatomy, biomechanics, and pathophysiology of the region, abetted by new
      imaging modalities and wrist arthroscopy, permit more precise diagnosis and thus
      more rational treatment. The persistent inconsistency of our results belies our
      imperfect comprehension. Thus humbled, consider Goethe's admonition as a call to
      further scrutiny and investigation, "Theory and experience are opposed to each
      other in constant conflict. Only action can reconcile them."

PMID- 1460063
TI  - Treatment of scapholunate dissociation. Rotatory subluxation of the scaphoid.
AB  - The treatment of scapholunate dissociation remains controversial. Although good
      to excellent results have been reported using a variety of surgical techniques,
      they have often not been confirmed by other authors. Limited wrist mobility and
      the likelihood that degenerative changes will progress appear to be inherent in
      most approaches. The ideal treatment is to restore the normal anatomy and, with
      it, the function of the wrist. Destroying a normal joint by even a limited fusion
      as a means to provide stability to an abnormal joint is counter to our usual
      approach to disease. It is for that reason that more reliable soft-tissue
      reconstructive procedures are necessary. Those interested in arthroscopy are
      pursuing endoscopic methods of repair, but, at present, little progress is
      apparent. The physician who solves this problem with an uncomplicated and
      reliable surgical solution will have indebted us all.

PMID- 1460064
TI  - Lunate-triquetral and midcarpal joint instability.
AB  - Instability of the ulnar side of carpus centers around the triquetrum, which is
      suspended by the ulnar triquetral ligaments and supported proximally by the TFCC.
      The triquetrum guides the lunate by an interosseous membrane and stout palmar
      ligaments that provide a relatively rigid connection between the two bones.
      Disruption of the LT ligament is frequently associated with pathology in the
      ulnar carpal area and may progress to triquetral instability, VISI, and finally,
      degenerative arthritic changes on the ulnar side of the carpus. The diagnosis of
      LT injuries is made by stress radiographs, arthrography, video-fluoroscopy, and
      arthroscopy. Treatment is initially nonoperative, but if symptoms persist,
      surgery is warranted. Arthroscopic debridement and pinning the LT joint, ligament
      repair or reconstruction, and intercarpal arthrodesis have all been reported as
      successful treatments. For the chronic problem confined to the LT joint, a
      limited intercarpal arthrodesis of the joint is the most predictable procedure
      for relieving pain without causing any significant restrictions in wrist motions.
      When there is a dissociation pattern in addition to LT instability, a more
      extensive intercarpal arthrodesis is required. Midcarpal instability occurs at
      the triquetral-hamate joint and is characterized by a dynamic subluxation of the
      joint. During ulnar deviation, the joint undergoes an exaggerated shift from
      volar flexion to dorsiflexion. Supportive care is generally successful; although
      in chronic cases, a midcarpal joint arthrodesis is often required.

PMID- 1460065
TI  - Rehabilitation techniques for ligament injuries of the wrist.
AB  - The goal of treatment after any wrist injury is a pain-free, stable joint with
      sufficient strength and mobility to carry out the daily recreational, and
      occupational tasks required by the individual. Treatment varies considerably
      depending on the age of the patient, the severity of the initial injury, the
      operative procedure performed, and the specific guidelines requested by the
      referring physician.

PMID- 1460066
TI  - Anatomy of the joints of the thumb.
AB  - The three joints of the thumb differ markedly with respect to anatomy and
      function. Each contributes its own anatomic personality, and when functioning
      together, they allow the thumb to move with remarkable versatility and grace yet
      with the stability necessary to perform a wide variety of tasks. The
      carpometacarpal and interphalangeal joints allow for thumb mobility while the
      metacarpophalangeal joint provides stability. Thumb rotation primarily takes
      place at the CMC joint, although the MP and IP joints each contribute a small
      amount of pronation with flexion. Although much is known about the static
      structural anatomy of the thumb, its dynamic anatomy requires further
      investigation. The fluid, elegant and powerful movements of the thumb are
      complex, and defining the contributions of the various individual structures is
      difficult. Hopefully, future investigators using newer techniques will unravel
      the complexities of the functional anatomy of this remarkable digit.

PMID- 1460067
TI  - Anatomy of the joints of the fingers.
AB  - The anatomy and function of the three joints within each finger are mutually
      complementary; none functions independently of the other two. A complex, yet
      precise, intrinsic and extrinsic soft-tissue support links these three joints and
      provides a precisely articulated balance for the mobility of the finger. This
      complex interrelationship requires both strength and stability, which are
      inherent in the design of the bony architecture and their surrounding soft
      tissues. Understanding this interrelationship is essential for the accurate
      diagnosis and treatment of the numerous problems with which these joints are
      sometimes afflicted.

PMID- 1460068
TI  - Trapeziometacarpal joint injuries.
AB  - This article begins with discussions of anatomy and thumb movement. Palmar
      (anterior) ligament reconstruction is then discussed. Peritrapezial arthritis is
      also discussed.

PMID- 1460069
TI  - Metacarpophalangeal joint injuries of the thumb.
AB  - Dorsal capsular injuries, volar plate injuries, ulnar collateral ligament
      injuries, and radial collateral ligament injuries are all discussed in this
      article. Treatment is both discussed and illustrated for ease of comprehension.

PMID- 1460070
TI  - Carpometacarpal joint injuries of the fingers.
AB  - Injuries to the carpometacarpal joints are uncommon and are sometimes overlooked
      on initial radiographs. Their recognition depends on a careful physical and
      radiographic examination that may require trispiral tomograms and CT scans. Most
      injuries can be treated successfully by closed reduction and percutaneous
      fixation of the joint(s) using Kirschner wires. Chronic joint injuries can also
      be effectively treated, and if surgery is required, an arthrodesis will restore
      stability and eliminate discomfort.

PMID- 1460071
TI  - Metacarpophalangeal joint injuries in fingers.
AB  - Although uncommon, injuries to the MP joints of fingers must not be ignored. A
      loss of function in even a single MP joint can seriously impair overall hand
      function. The potential dire consequences of these injuries can be avoided by an
      accurate diagnosis at the time of injury and the institution of appropriate
      treatment.

PMID- 1460072
TI  - Capsular injuries of the proximal interphalangeal joint.
AB  - Although capsular injuries of the PIP joints are common, their management is
      frequently complicated. Successful treatment must begin with a detailed history
      because reviewing the mechanism of injury may provide information relevant to the
      pathomechanics of the capsular disruption and facilitate making an accurate
      diagnosis. Grades I and II volar plate and collateral ligament sprains represent
      the vast majority of PIP joint injuries. They are best treated with a short
      period of dorsal splinting followed by supervised mobilization. Although
      splinting is also applicable for grade II sprains associated with instability and
      most grade III sprains, the initial period of immobilization should be longer.
      The prognosis for recovery is generally good, although some residual tenderness
      or joint stiffness are common complications. Dorsal capsular injuries, if
      unrecognized, result in deformity rather than instability. The majority of these
      injuries can also be treated by closed means, but they require more prolonged
      immobilization and more commonly result in reduced mobility than volar plate and
      collateral ligament injuries. Capsular injuries that are compound, irreducible,
      or associated with a large intraarticular fracture can result in serious
      problems. Frequently, these injuries require primary surgical treatment,
      particularly in the case of the irreducible dislocation, which always requires
      surgery. An exception to the generally poor prognosis of these injuries is the
      irreducible volar dislocation because the central tendon remains intact
      permitting early postoperative joint mobilization. A chronic dislocation or late
      instability are fortunately not common sequela of capsular injuries; however,
      when they do occur, surgery is required.

PMID- 1460073
TI  - Distal joint injuries of the thumb and fingers.
AB  - The DIP joints of fingers and the interphalangeal joints of thumbs provide
      important stability and contribute to the flexion and extension arc of the digit.
      A variety of injuries can affect these joints, involving their ligaments, bones,
      and tendons. Instituting proper and effective treatment is predicated on making
      an accurate diagnosis of the injury and understanding the function of each
      anatomic structure.

PMID- 1460074
TI  - Contractures of the proximal interphalangeal joint.
AB  - Posttraumatic stiffness of proximal interphalangeal joints remains a difficult
      problem that severely compromises hand function. The emphasis of treatment must
      be on preventing the problem from developing, which begins within hours of the
      injury. Effective treatment involves a careful evaluation of the injury and then
      instituting a rational course of therapy. When surgery is necessary, the
      operative technique must be precise, and it requires a thorough understanding of
      the anatomic and pathomechanical factors that cause the contracture. Effective
      postoperative therapy and rehabilitation are integral parts of any surgical
      procedure, and they usually continue for many months.

PMID- 1460075
TI  - The boutonniere deformity.
AB  - Understanding the pathophysiology of the boutonniere deformity requires a
      complete understanding of the anatomy of the dorsal tendon apparatus. This unique
      tendon mechanism often becomes unbalanced, requiring correction of its
      components. Splinting is the cornerstone of treatment for the boutonniere
      deformity. In the acute stage, splinting ensures that the continuity of the
      central tendon to its insertion into the middle phalanx is maintained, and in the
      chronic stage, its function is to correct the flexion contracture of the PIP
      joint and stretch the retinacular ligaments. Splinting is also important
      postoperatively because it permits healing of the central tendon and lateral
      bands in their correct anatomic positions. Without proper splinting, the patient
      with the boutonniere deformity could not be successfully treated. Frequently,
      surgery is necessary, and the choice of procedure depends on the stage of the
      condition and the extent of the defect in the extensor tendon mechanism. The
      procedure also depends on the success of the splinting program and stretching of
      the tight retinacular structures. If passive joint mobility can be restored and
      if tendon imbalance and retinacular tightness persist, rebalancing is necessary.
      This rebalancing can be accomplished by a tenotomy of the terminal extensor
      tendon, a lysis or release of the retinacular structures, or release of the
      insertion of the extensor tendon at the base of the proximal phalanx.
      Reconstituting the defect in the central tendon over the PIP joint is
      accomplished by using a variety of procedures, including mobilization and
      advancement of the more proximal portion of the central tendon, shifting the
      lateral bands, or a tendon graft.

PMID- 1460076
TI  - Rehabilitation techniques for ligament injuries of the hand.
AB  - The contributions of the hand therapist to the treatment of ligament injuries in
      the hand requires a combination of skills. A thorough knowledge of the
      pathomechanics of these injuries is a necessary prerequisite in the initial
      evaluation and treatment planning stage. Focus should never be entirely on the
      injury; it is also important to understand the emotional effect that the injury
      has had on the patient's work and leisure activities. Therapy programs usually
      require edema control and reduction and a variety of static and dynamic splints.
      The ultimate goal is returning the patient to fully functional activities.

PMID- 1460077
TI  - High-performance liquid chromatographic separation of purine deoxyribonucleoside
      monophosphate-benzo[a]pyrene adducts.
AB  - Chromatographic methods that allow the separation of adducts of purine nucleoside
      3'-phosphates with the pure enantiomers of the anti-dihydrodiol epoxide of
      benzo[a]pyrene are developed. The optimization procedure includes evaluation of
      the effect of buffer molarity, the pH of the buffer, and the role of organic
      modifiers. The method can be utilized to prepare standards with known absolute
      configuration that can be further used in the Randerath 32P-postlabeling
      procedure.

PMID- 1460078
TI  - Analytical and micropreparative separation of peptides by capillary zone
      electrophoresis using discontinuous buffer systems.
AB  - The tiny injection volumes that are usually necessary to maintain the high
      efficiency of capillary zone electrophoresis present a major problem if only
      limited sample amounts are available. To increase the sample load, discontinuous
      buffer systems were developed that allow the on-column concentration of dilute
      samples. Injection volumes can be increased in this way by at least a factor of
      30. These stacking systems were applied to the analysis of tryptic peptides, to
      the purity checking of high-performance liquid chromatographic fractions and for
      the micropreparative separation of peptides with subsequent amino acid sequence
      analysis.

PMID- 1460079
TI  - Dynamin: motor protein or regulatory GTPase.

PMID- 1460080
TI  - Effects of 2,3-butanedione monoxime on the crossbridge kinetics in frog single
      muscle fibres.
AB  - The effects of 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) on contraction characteristics were
      studied at 5 degrees C in single intact fibres isolated from the tibialis
      anterior muscle of the frog. The force-velocity relation was determined using the
      controlled-velocity method in either whole fibres or short fibre segments in
      which sarcomere shortening was measured by a laser light diffraction method. It
      is shown that 3 mM BDM decreases the speed of rise and the amount of tetanus
      tension, reduces the maximum velocity of shortening and increases the curvature
      of the force-velocity relation, as well as the value for the stiffness to tension
      ratio. BDM also slowed down the redevelopment of tetanus tension after a period
      of unloaded shortening both in fixed-end and in length-clamp conditions. In
      normal and in BDM-treated fibres length-clamping increased the speed of the
      initial rise of tetanus tension but not that of the recovery after shortening.
      The observed force-velocity data points were fitted by the Huxley (1957)
      equation. It was found that BDM produces a conspicuous decrease of the rate
      constant for crossbridge attachment. This effect, and also a reduction of the
      force per crossbridge, are responsible for the depression of the contractile
      characteristics produced by BDM.

PMID- 1460081
TI  - Two different acto-S1 complexes.
AB  - Based on change in anisotropy of fluorescently labelled S1 and on increase in
      turbidity of acto-S1 complex when S1 bound to F-actin, we reported previously
      that depending on the molar ratio of S1 to actin two different complexes of actin
      monomer (A) and myosin subfragment 1 (S1) could be formed: A1*S1 (one actin with
      one S1) and A2*S1 (two actins with one S1). Here we extend these findings to F
      actin labelled with pyrene and cross-linked to S1 with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl
      aminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC). The fluorescence of pyrene F-actin decreased with
      increase in S1 concentration and reached saturation at a molar ratio of S1 to
      actin of either 0.5 or 1.0, depending on whether S1 was added slowly (5 min) or
      quickly (10-20 s between additions). Incubation of A2*S1 complex in excess of S1
      for > 1 h caused a shift in equilibrium towards the A1*S1 complex. The A2*S1
      complexes were not formed at high S1 to actin ratios (> 1.0) owing to competition
      between heads. Crosslinking experiments showed that the formation of EDC
      crosslinked products, 175-185 kDa doublet and 265 kDa band, depended on the ratio
      S1 to actin. To assess the relative ratio of S1 and actin in crosslinked
      products, we labelled S1 and F-actin with different fluorescent probes (5-IAF and
      IATR). The S1 to actin ratio was proportional to the ratio of intensities of
      fluorescence of labelled S1 and actin. The S1 to actin ratio in 265 kDa product
      was two times smaller than in 175-185 kDa doublet (which is believed to be A1*S1
      complex) and therefore 265 kDa band corresponded to A2*S1. Transition between two
      types of binding may be important to understanding how muscle contracts.

PMID- 1460082
TI  - Early stages of myogenesis in a large mammal: formation of successive generations
      of myotubes in sheep tibialis cranialis muscle.
AB  - The generation of myotubes was studied in the tibialis cranialis muscle in the
      sheep hindlimb from the earliest stage of primary myotube formation until a stage
      shortly before muscle fascicles began to segregate. Primary myotubes were first
      seen on embryonic day 32 (E32) and reached their maximum number by E38. Small
      numbers of secondary myotubes were first identified at E38, and secondary myotube
      numbers continued to increase during the period of study. The ratio of adult
      muscle fibre to primary myotube numbers was approximately 70:1, making it seem
      unlikely that every later generation myotube used a primary myotube as scaffold
      for its formation, as described in small mammals. By E62, some secondary myotubes
      were supporting the formation of a third generation of myotubes. Experiments with
      diffusible dye markers showed that primary myotubes extended from tendon to
      tendon of the muscle, whereas most adult fibres ran for only part of the muscle
      length, terminating with myo-myonal attachments to other muscle fibres in a
      series arrangement. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and acetylcholine receptor (AChR)
      aggregations appeared in multiple bands across the muscle shortly after formation
      of the primary generation of myotubes was complete. The number of bands and their
      pattern of distribution across the muscle as they were first formed was the same
      as in the adult. Primary myotubes teased from early muscles had multiple focal
      AChE and AChR deposits regularly spaced along their lengths. We suggest that the
      secondary generation of myotubes forms at endplate sites in a series arrangement
      along the length of single primary myotubes, and that tertiary and possibly later
      generations of myotubes in their turn use the earlier generation myofibres as a
      scaffold. Although the fundamental cellular mechanisms appear to be similar, the
      process of muscle fibre generation in large mammalian muscles is more complex
      than that described from previous studies in small laboratory rodents.

PMID- 1460084
TI  - Tetragonal deformation of the hexagonal myofilament matrix in single skinned
      skeletal muscle fibres owing to change in sarcomere length.
AB  - Single skinned skeletal muscle fibres were immersed in solutions containing two
      different levels of activator calcium (pCa: 4.4; 6.0). Sarcomere length was
      varied from 1.6 to 3.5 microns and recorded by laser diffraction. Slack length
      was 2.0 microns. Small-angle equatorial X-ray diffraction patterns of relaxed and
      activated fibres at different sarcomere lengths were recorded using synchrotron
      radiation. The position and amplitude of the diffraction peaks were calculated
      from the spectra based on the hexagonal arrangement of the myofilament matrix,
      relating the position of the (1.0)- and (1.1)-diffraction peaks in this model by
      square root of 3. The diffraction peaks were fitted by five Gaussian functions
      (1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 2.1 and Z-line) and residual background was corrected by means of
      a hyperbola. The coupling of the position of the (1.0)- and (1.1)-peak was
      expressed as a factor: FAC = [d(1.0)/d(1.1)]/square root 3. In the relaxed state
      this coupling factor decreased at increasing sarcomere length (0.9880 +/- 0.002
      at 2.0 microns; 0.900 +/- 0.01 at 3.5 microns). The coupling factor tends toward
      the one that will be obtained from the squared structure of actin filaments near
      the Z-discs. At shorter sarcomere lengths a decrease of the coupling factor has
      also been seen (0.9600 +/- 0.005 at 1.6 microns), giving rise to an increased
      uniform deformation of the hexagonal matrix, when sarcomere length is changed
      from slack length. From these experiments we conclude that a change in sarcomere
      length (from slack length) increases the deformation of the actin-myosin matrix
      to a tetragonal lattice.

PMID- 1460083
TI  - Myosin heavy chain composition of single fibres and their origins and
      distribution in developing fascicles of sheep tibialis cranialis muscles.
AB  - The myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition of single muscle fibres in developing
      sheep tibialis cranialis muscles was examined immunohistochemically with
      monoclonal antibodies to MHC isozymes. Data were collected with conventional
      microscopy and computerized image analysis from embryonic day (E) 76 to postnatal
      day (PN) 20, and from adult animals. At E76, 23% of the young myofibres stained
      for slow-twitch MHC. The number of these fibres considerably exceeded the number
      of primary and secondary myotubes. By E100, smaller fibres, negative for slow
      twitch MHC, encircled each fibre from the initial population to form rosettes. A
      second population of small fibres appeared in the unoccupied spaces between
      rosettes. Small fibres, whether belonging to rosettes or not, did not initially
      express slow-twitch MHC, expressing mainly neonatal myosin instead. These small
      fibres then diverged into three separate groups. In the first group most fibres
      transiently expressed adult fast myosin (maximal at E110-E120), but in the adult
      expressed slow myosin. This transformation to the slow MHC phenotype commenced at
      E110, was nearing completion by 20 postnatal days, and was responsible for
      approximately 60% of the adult slow twitch fibre population. In the other two
      groups expression of adult fast MHC was maintained, and in the adult they
      accounted for 14% (IIa MHC) and 17% (IIb MHC) of the total fibre numbers. We
      conclude that muscle fibre formation in this large muscle involves at least three
      generations of myotube. Secondary myotubes are generated on a framework of
      primary myotubes and both populations differentiate into the young myofibres
      which we observed at E76 to form rosettes. Tertiary myotubes, in turn, appear in
      the spaces between rosettes and along the borders of fascicles, using the outer
      fibres of rosettes as scaffolds.

PMID- 1460085
TI  - Novel immunological technique.

PMID- 1460086
TI  - A monoclonal antibody that recognizes different conformational states of skeletal
      muscle troponin C and other calcium-binding proteins.

PMID- 1460087
TI  - Galactose to ceramide linkage is essential for the binding of a polyclonal
      antibody to galactosyl ceramide.
AB  - Characterization of a polyclonal antibody to galactosyl ceramide (Gal-Cer) which
      inhibits the internalization and infection of HIV-1 in neural cell lines was
      carried out. Polyclonal antibody to Gal-Cer was produced by injecting rabbits
      with Gal-Cer liposomes. The specificity of anti-Gal-Cer binding was studied by
      high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC)-based immunoassay. Using
      natural and semisynthetic lipids, the specificity of anti-Gal-Cer interaction was
      studied. The antibody bound to Gal-Cer and its derivatives. The antibody did not
      bind to glucosyl ceramide or lactosyl ceramide. Glucosyl ceramide differs from
      Gal-Cer by a hydroxyl group at the fourth carbon and in lactosyl ceramide
      galactose is linked to ceramide by an intervening glucose molecule. This
      indicates that D-galactose linked to ceramide is essential for binding. Removal
      of fatty acid from Gal-Cer, as seen with N-palmitoyl- and N-oleoyl Gal-Cer, had
      no effect on the binding. It appears that the third carbon of Gal-Cer is not
      involved in the binding. This is supported by the binding of anti-Gal-Cer to
      sulfatide or GM4 in which sulfate or sialic acid are added at the third carbon of
      Gal-Cer, respectively.

PMID- 1460088
TI  - Immunochemical characterization of a monoclonal antibody specific for Alzheimer's
      disease associated protein.
AB  - In this study, the monoclonal antibody PHF-1 which recognizes epitopes unique to
      Alzheimer's disease associated proteins (ADAP) has been characterized. Crossed
      affinity immunoelectrophoresis was used to estimate the binding constant for the
      interaction of PHF-1 with ADAP and to estimate the fraction of PHF-1 reactive
      protein. The binding constant of PHF-1 was determined to be 1.3 x 10(-8) M.
      Furthermore, the effect of dephosphorylation on the electrophoretic pattern of
      the PHF-1 reactive protein and the ensuing changes in its immunoreactivity were
      demonstrated.

PMID- 1460089
TI  - Presynaptic inhibitory effect of TNF-alpha on the release of noradrenaline in
      isolated median eminence.
AB  - The effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on the stimulation-evoked
      release of noradrenaline (NA) from isolated rat median eminence (ME) was
      investigated, using a low-volume perfusion system. Median eminence, loaded with
      [3H]noradrenaline, was superfused with Krebs solution and stimulated electrically
      (2 Hz, 120 shocks). The effect of TNF-alpha was studied on the S2/S1 ratio. It
      was found that stimulation-evoked release of NA from noradrenergic axon terminals
      in the isolated rat ME was inhibited by TNF-alpha and this effect was
      concentration-dependent. In contrast, TNF-alpha had no effect on the release of
      [3H]NA from the spleen. Since NA released in the ME might be involved in the
      modulation of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) production, it is suggested
      that TNF-alpha, through presynaptic modulation of NA release from noradrenergic
      nerve terminals in the ME, might regulate CRF and other neurohormone release in
      this hypothalamic structure.

PMID- 1460091
TI  - Expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes in astrocytes
      correlates with the presence of nuclear factors that bind to constitutive and
      inducible enhancers.
AB  - The molecular basis of constitutive and inducible major histocompatibility
      complex (MHC) class I gene expression was studied in murine astrocytes in primary
      culture. Astrocytes constitutively expressed MHC class I molecules and treatment
      of these cells with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) further induced expression. The
      conserved region containing the upstream MHC class I regulatory element (MHC-CRE)
      and juxtaposed interferon consensus sequence (ICS) enhanced constitutive MHC
      class I promoter activity. As seen with cell surface expression of MHC molecules,
      treatment of astrocytes with IFN-gamma increased MHC class I promoter activity.
      Inducible expression required the presence of the MHC-CRE/ICS enhancer region.
      Nuclear factors that bind to the MHC-CRE and ICS were constitutively expressed in
      cultured astrocytes and IFN-gamma treatment further induced binding activity both
      to the MHC-CRE and ICS and correlated with induction of MHC class I gene
      expression. This study identifies the MHC-CRE and ICS as the major cis elements
      in controlling MHC class I promoter activity and suggests that the expression of
      nuclear factor binding activities to these enhancer elements is a basic
      transactivating mechanism for the expression of MHC class I genes in astrocytes.

PMID- 1460090
TI  - Human glioblastoma cell line 86HG39 activates T cells in an antigen specific
      major histocompatibility complex class II-dependent manner.
AB  - The capacity of three different human glioblastoma cell lines to activate human T
      cells was analysed by measuring major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen
      expression, monokine secretion and lectin, mAb OKT3 and antigen-driven T cell
      proliferation. All glioblastoma cells tested were able to induce PHA and
      concanavalin A (ConA)-driven T cell proliferation in a dose-dependent fashion,
      while all failed to induce T cell activation with mAb OKT3. In addition, the
      glioblastoma cell line 86HG39 was able to induce tetanus toxoid and toxoplasma
      lysate antigen-specific T cell proliferation. The responding T cell lines
      originated from only one out of five different donors. This foreign antigen
      specific T cell proliferation induced by 86HG39 cells could be inhibited with mAb
      L243 directed against HLA-DR molecules. The study of monokine secretion by 86HG39
      cells showed a strong interleukin (IL)-6 secretion after lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
      treatment, whilst no IL-1 secretion was observed. Furthermore, only 86HG39 cells
      were positive for HLA-DR molecules, whereas interferon (IFN) gamma treatment of
      87HG28 and 87HG31 cells was necessary for the induction of class II antigen
      expression. Thus, cell line 86HG39 shows many features of an antigen presenting
      cell and the interaction of these cells with MHC compatible human T cells might
      be a useful model to study cellular immune reactions within the central nervous
      system.

PMID- 1460092
TI  - Type I interleukin-1 receptors in the mouse brain-endocrine-immune axis labelled
      with [125I]recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist.
AB  - Iodine-125-labelled recombinant human interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist
      ([125I]IL-1ra) was utilized to further determine the characteristics of IL-1
      receptors in the brain-endocrine-immune axis. The binding of [125I]IL-1ra in
      homogenates of mouse hippocampus, spleen and testis was linear over a broad range
      of membrane protein concentrations, saturable, reversible, and of high affinity
      (KD, 20-30 pM). In competition studies, IL-1ra, recombinant human IL-1 alpha, IL
      1 beta and a weak IL-1 beta analog inhibited [125I]IL-1ra binding to mouse
      tissues in parallel with their biological activities. In autoradiographic
      studies, [125I]IL-1ra and [125I]IL-1 alpha binding showed comparable distribution
      patterns with highest densities of binding sites present in the dentate gyrus of
      the hippocampus, choroid plexus, anterior pituitary, marginal zones and red pulp
      regions of the spleen, epididymis and interstitial area of the testis. The
      binding characteristics and distribution of [125I]IL-1ra are comparable to those
      of previously characterized Type I IL-1 receptors. These data provide further
      support for a role for IL-1 in coordinating brain-endocrine-immune responses to
      physiological and pharmacological stimuli.

PMID- 1460093
TI  - Specific immunotherapeutic strategy for myasthenia gravis: targeted antigen
      presenting cells.
AB  - The pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis (MG) involves a T cell-dependent antibody
      mediated autoimmune response directed against acetylcholine receptors (AChR).
      Inactivation of AChR-specific T cells should interrupt the immune response,
      resulting in therapeutic benefit. Since each individual's repertoire of T cells
      responds to a heterogeneous and unique spectrum of AChR epitopes presented in
      association with self-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, an
      individualized approach is required to target all relevant AChR-specific T cells.
      The individual's own antigen-presenting cells (APC) can be used for this purpose,
      since they process and present the antigen appropriately, and express the correct
      MHC class II. A novel method of binding AChR to surface immunoglobulin with a
      heterobifunctional antibody conjugate allows us to use all B cells as APC.
      Conjugate-plus-AChR-treated B cells (AChR-APC) effectively targeted AChR-specific
      T cells, stimulating vigorous proliferative responses in a rat cell culture
      system. If APCs are 'fixed' with cross-linking reagents, they induce long-lasting
      or permanent 'anergy' of the specific T cells. We prepared AChR-APC, allowed them
      to process AChR in vitro, and fixed them with paraformaldehyde. Pre-culture of
      these fixed AChR-APC with AChR-specific T cells induced anergy: when restimulated
      with fresh AChR-APC, the T cells exhibited markedly reduced proliferative
      responses and IL-2 production, compared with responses of T cells pre-cultured
      with control fixed B cells. Implications for the design of antigen-specific
      therapeutic strategies for MG and other immune disorders will be discussed.

PMID- 1460094
TI  - Identification of a 58-kDa antigen with increased immunoreactivity in the
      cerebella of multiple sclerosis patients.
AB  - An increase in immunoreactivity associated with a 58-kDa antigen was found in a
      majority of MS cerebellar homogenates examined by Western blot analysis using
      antisera obtained by selective immunization of rabbits with autopsy cerebella.
      Two-dimensional immunoblotting demonstrated that the majority of the increased
      immunoreactivity observed in MS cerebella was associated with the highest
      apparent pI of three immunoreactive species at 58 kDa. Immuno-crossreaction with
      rat cerebellar homogenates demonstrated that the 58-kDa antigen was
      developmentally regulated, showing the greatest immunoreactivity at embryonic day
      15. The 58-kDa cerebellar antigen may represent a membrane protein which is re
      expressed as part of the onset of MS.

PMID- 1460095
TI  - Microglial cell upregulation of HIV-1 expression in the chronically infected
      promonocytic cell line U1: the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
AB  - Culture supernatants from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated murine microglial
      cells were found to markedly induce the expression of human immunodeficiency
      virus (HIV)-1 in the chronically infected human promonocytic cell line U1 as
      detected by measurements of HIV-1 p24 antigen release into U1 culture
      supernatants. Antibody to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha had an inhibitory
      effect on the induction of virus by microglial cell supernatants. Also, treatment
      of microglia with pentoxifylline, an inhibitor of TNF-alpha production, resulted
      in suppressed amounts of TNF in the supernatants of LPS-treated microglia and in
      a reduced stimulatory capacity of these supernatants on HIV-1 expression in U1
      cells. These findings support the concept that TNF-alpha production by glial
      cells plays a pathogenetic role in HIV-1-associated brain disease by promoting
      the expression of the virus in infected cells.

PMID- 1460096
TI  - Evidence of a neurogenic component during IgE-mediated inflammation in mouse
      skin.
AB  - IgE-mediated inflammation was measured in mouse footpads that lacked sciatic
      innervation. Mice were passively sensitized with a monoclonal antibody, IgE anti
      dinitrophenol, or were immunized for specific IgE production. Antigen-induced
      swelling in the denervated footpads was reduced 23-39% when compared to sham or
      untreated controls. Reduced IgE-mediated swelling responses were attributed to
      the loss of a mast cell-nerve interaction and not to blood vessel sensitivity to
      vasoamines. Furthermore, electrical stimulation of the distal segment of the
      sciatic nerve completely restored IgE-mediated inflammation. These data provide
      in vivo evidence that peripheral nerves participate in cutaneous IgE-mediated
      swelling reactions with the net effect of increasing inflammation.

PMID- 1460097
TI  - Assessing treatment acceptance: the Abbreviated Acceptability Rating Profile.
AB  - As part of a broad focus on service accountability, increased attention has been
      devoted to the assessment of consumer judgments of treatment acceptability.
      Current treatment acceptability measures are limited by item complexity and time
      intensiveness. These limitations were addressed with the modification of an
      existing instrument (Intervention Rating Profile; Witt & Elliott, Journal of
      Abnormal Child Psychology, 13, 59-67, 1985). Psychometric support was found for
      the revised measure (Abbreviated Acceptability Rating Profile; AARP) in an
      initial sample of parents (N = 60) who rated child treatments. Results were
      replicated in a cross-validation study of a second independent sample of parents
      (N = 80). A third sample of subjects was used to assess the time-intensiveness
      and readability of the AARP. The usefulness of the modified instrument is
      discussed.

PMID- 1460098
TI  - Some relevant components of adherence behavior.
AB  - Adherence to medical or psychological prescriptions is analyzed as a type of rule
      and self-rule following behavior. Variables that increase the likelihood of
      compliance are: (1) the specific motivational condition, usually aversive when
      treatment or preventive prescription is sought, (2) the medium of contact and
      context used when receiving the prescription, (3) attentive responses under the
      control of the prescription, (4) understanding the complexity of the
      prescription, (5) the specific content of the prescription, (6) verbalization on
      the willingness to follow the prescription, (7) appropriate abilities for
      producing the behaviors described in the prescription, (8) physical facilities
      and appropriate biological conditions for producing the behaviors, (9)
      verbalization describing the relationship between the adherence response and the
      immediate and long-term consequences, functioning as a discriminative stimulus
      and as a reinforcing event, (10) compatibility between daily activities and the
      behaviors described in the prescription: response cost and self-control behavior
      when several behaviors are possible and probable. Strategies which facilitate
      self-control as well as incompatible behavior are suggested.

PMID- 1460099
TI  - The case of a newspaper phobia in a 9-year-old child.
AB  - The case of E, a 9-year-old, male, with a newspaper phobia, is presented. The
      phobia developed over a 4-year period and gradually spread until it included many
      significant areas of E's life. Treatment took place over a 4-month period. It
      involved use of a token economy administered by E's parents. Cognitively, the
      treatment involved the concepts of the acquisition of perceived self-control as a
      consequence of the token economy agreement. This included volition, attention,
      and self-control by E as well as parental reinforcement.

PMID- 1460100
TI  - Extinction and DRO in the treatment of aggression in a boy with severe mental
      retardation.
AB  - A novel use of extinction was applied in combination with differential
      reinforcement of other behavior to reduce dangerous levels of aggression
      displayed by an 11-year-old boy with severe mental retardation and cerebral
      palsy. Data taken during actual treatment sessions and in the client's "natural"
      environment (classroom and dormitory) suggest that the intervention was
      immediately effective and that the improvements were maintained and generalized.

PMID- 1460101
TI  - B. F. Skinner and the cognitive revolution.
AB  - The behaviorism that cognitive scientists attack is a caricature, drawn primarily
      from the more polemical writings of J. B. Watson and B. F. Skinner. In this brief
      commentary, I discuss the fact that these writings, and especially Skinner's,
      offered the neocognitivists such a polar difference from their own position, that
      it was easier to ignore the distinction between behaviorism and neobehaviorism
      than to recognize it. I point out that there are factors in Skinner's
      intellectual history that may account for the emergence of his more radical
      behaviorism out of what was essentially his own theoretical, neobehavioristic
      approach to the study of conditioning and learning.

PMID- 1460102
TI  - Listening to our clinical partners: informing researchers about children's fears
      and phobias.
AB  - We surveyed a national sample of clinical psychologists to expand on Graziano and
      De Giovanni's (Behaviour Research and Therapy, 1979, 17, 161-162) findings that
      6.8% of clinically referred children present with problems with fears and/or
      phobias. The survey was also conducted to assess how clinicians could inform
      researchers about current needs for investigations in this area. Questions
      involved epidemiological, demographical, and treatment characteristics of cases
      recently seen by therapists. The percentage of referred cases for fears/phobias
      in children was determined to be similar over time. In addition, types of fears,
      length of history of fear, intensity of fear, length of treatment, types of
      treatments used, and degree of parental involvement were measured and reported.
      The results were found to suggest a substantial degree of heterogeneity among
      types of fears and treatment methods for this population, as well as important
      lines of future research. They also suggest the need for controlled studies to
      assess the efficacy of a number of widely used treatments that lack an empirical
      base.

PMID- 1460103
TI  - Dietary restraint anxiety and its relationship to human eating behavior.
AB  - Ninety-five female university students completed Stunkard and Messick's (Journal
      of Research Psychosomatic Research, 29, 71-83, 1985) Three-Factor Eating
      Questionnaire, measuring three dimensions of human eating behavior: cognitive
      restraint, disinhibition, and hunger susceptibility. They were led through the
      visualization of a neutral or pleasant scene and a food scene, but were
      instructed that they would not be able to eat the food. Only hunger
      susceptibility was found to be significantly correlated with ratings of
      subjective anxiety (SUDS) and urge to eat in the not eating situation after any
      variability associated with the neutral scene was removed. That is, internal
      (hunger) and external (incentive) cues when linked to not eating are sources of
      anxiety. Treatment programmes for obesity might well include desensitization of
      these cues.

PMID- 1460104
TI  - The non-standardization of the Fear Survey Schedule.
AB  - The Fear Survey Schedule-III was administered to 860 college students. The
      results are presented in the form of frequencies, in deliberate contrast to
      previous work which present results in the form of z-scores. The argument is made
      that these z-scores do not normalize the original item distributions and thus
      provide no opportunity for normative comparisons. Data are provided allowing the
      researcher to assess the characteristics of FSS-III item distributions and make
      limited normative comparisons.

PMID- 1460105
TI  - Improving parent-child interactions for families of children with developmental
      disabilities.
AB  - Child Management Training (CMT) involves compliance training with a focus on
      consistent use of antecedents and consequences. Planned Activities Training (PAT)
      focuses on teaching parents to plan for and engage in activities with their
      children. A multiple probe design counterbalancing PAT and CMT showed that PAT
      and CMT were about equally effective in improving mother-child interactions in
      four families with children with developmental disabilities. Responses to a
      social validation questionnaire indicated that parents were satisfied with the
      services received, and that PAT was the slightly preferred treatment. Prior
      research demonstrated that PAT enhanced the results of CMT. The practical
      advantages of PAT over CMT are discussed.

PMID- 1460106
TI  - Sylvian fissure morphology and asymmetry in men and women: bilateral differences
      in relation to handedness in men.
AB  - The anatomy of the sylvian fissure in the human brain was studied to develop
      reliable criteria for anatomical landmarks of the posterior part of the fissure
      for use in its definition and measurement; to quantify right-left asymmetries in
      segments of the sylvian fissure; to assess whether any anatomical features are
      associated with hand preference (selected as one index of hemispheric functional
      asymmetry); and whether structure-function relationships are similar in men and
      women. A sample of 67 brain specimens (24 men and 43 women, mean age = 53 years)
      was studied postmortem (with the aid of dissection) from people who had been
      tested before death for detailed hand preference. Sylvian fissure anatomy in the
      human brain is very variable and no agreement exists as to the point of its
      posterior termination. The posterior ascending ramus, originating at the
      posterior bifurcation of the fissure, was found to be the continuation of the
      main limb of the sylvian fissure. Three segments of the sylvian fissure were
      defined and measured: anterior, horizontal, and vertical. The anterior segment
      showed no asymmetry; the horizontal segment was twice as large on the left side
      as on the right; and the vertical segment twice as large on the right. The two
      asymmetries counterbalanced each other, and overall asymmetry in the posterior
      region (horizontal plus vertical) was minimal. The basic asymmetry is in the
      position at which the fissure turns up, resulting in the different extent and
      position of the surrounding right and left parietal and temporal gyri and
      associated cytoarchitectonic regions. The possible embryological course of the
      asymmetry is discussed. Handedness correlated with anatomy of the sylvian fissure
      in men. In contrast to general expectation, hand preference was associated with a
      bilateral feature of morphology, and not with less asymmetry in non-right
      handers. Men having consistent-right-hand preference had longer horizontal
      segments in both hemispheres compared to men not having consistent-right-hand
      preference. The direction and magnitude of asymmetry did not differ between the
      two male hand-preference groups. Since hand preference is an index of other motor
      and perceptual functions which are asymmetrically represented in the two
      hemispheres in gyri surrounding the sylvian fissure, it is suggested that anatomy
      of the sylvian fissure is related to functional asymmetries in men. A sex
      difference in structure-function relationship was observed. No association was
      found between hand preference and sylvian fissure anatomy in women.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1460107
TI  - Cytoarchitecture and neural afferents of orbitofrontal cortex in the brain of the
      monkey.
AB  - The orbitofrontal cortex of the monkey can be subdivided into a caudal agranular
      sector, a transitional dysgranular sector, and an anterior granular sector. The
      neural input into these sectors was investigated with the help of large
      horseradish peroxidase injections that covered the different sectors of
      orbitofrontal cortex. The distribution of retrograde labeling showed that the
      majority of the cortical projections to orbitofrontal cortex arises from a
      restricted set of telencephalic sources, which include prefrontal cortex,
      lateral, and inferomedial temporal cortex, the temporal pole, cingulate gyrus,
      insula, entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and claustrum. The posterior
      portion of the orbitofrontal cortex receives additional input from the piriform
      cortex and the anterolateral portion from gustatory, somatosensory, and premotor
      areas. Thalamic projections to the orbitofrontal cortex arise from midline and
      intralaminar nuclei, from the anteromedial nucleus, the medial dorsal nucleus,
      and the pulvinar nucleus. Orbitofrontal cortex also receives projections from the
      hypothalamus, nucleus basalis, ventral tegmental area, the raphe nuclei, the
      nucleus locus coeruleus, and scattered neurons of the pontomesencephalic
      tegmentum. The non-isocortical (agranular-dysgranular) sectors of orbitofrontal
      cortex receive more intense projections from the non-isocortical sectors of
      paralimbic areas, the hippocampus, amygdala, and midline thalamic nuclei, whereas
      the isocortical (granular) sector receives more intense projections from the
      dorsolateral prefrontal area, the granular insula, granular temporopolar cortex,
      posterolateral temporal cortex, and from the medial dorsal and pulvinar thalamic
      nuclei. Retrograde labeling within cingulate, entorhinal, and hippocampal
      cortices was most pronounced when the injection site extended medially into the
      dysgranular paraolfactory cortex of the gyrus rectus, an area that can be
      conceptualized as an orbitofrontal extension of the cingulate complex. These
      observations demonstrate that the orbitofrontal cortex has cytoarchitectonically
      organized projections and that it provides a convergence zone for afferents from
      heteromodal association and limbic areas. The diverse connections of
      orbitofrontal cortex are in keeping with the participation of this region in
      visceral, gustatory, and olfactory functions and with its importance in memory,
      motivation, and epileptogenesis.

PMID- 1460108
TI  - Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical study of lamina II islet cells in rat
      spinal dorsal horn.
AB  - In order to compare the ultrastructure of GABA-immunoreactive and
      nonimmunoreactive islet cells in lamina II of the rat dorsal horn, a combined
      ultrastructural and immunocytochemical study of nine Golgi-stained neurones was
      performed. Cell bodies of these neurones were tested with antiserum to GABA, and
      in most cases with antiserum to glycine, while parts of the cell body and
      dendritic tree were examined with the electron microscope. Four of the neurones
      had cell bodies that were immunoreactive with GABA antiserum, and 2 of these were
      also glycine-immunoreactive, while 2 were not. Cell bodies of the remaining five
      neurones were not immunoreactive with GABA antiserum, nor, in the 3 cases tested,
      with glycine antiserum. Three of the GABA-immunoreactive cells possessed vesicle
      containing dendrites and were presynaptic at dendrodendritic synapses, whereas no
      vesicles were observed in the dendrites of any of the neurones that were not GABA
      immunoreactive. The axon of one of the nonimmunoreactive cells was found with the
      electron microscope. It gave rise to boutons that contained round agranular
      vesicles and a few dense-cored vesicles. Three synapses formed by this axon were
      identified and all were asymmetric. No obvious differences were detected in the
      types of profile that were presynaptic to GABA-immunoreactive and
      nonimmunoreactive cells. These results suggest that GABAergic islet cells are a
      source of presynaptic dendrites in lamina II of the rat and that some presynaptic
      dendrites contain GABA and glycine, while others contain GABA without glycine.
      The nonimmunoreactive islet cells presumably represent a distinct functional
      class of neurones and some of these may release an excitatory amino acid
      transmitter, possibly in addition to one or more neuropeptides.

PMID- 1460109
TI  - The auditory cortex of the mouse: connections of the ultrasonic field.
AB  - The cortical and subcortical connections of the ultrasonic field (UF) of the
      auditory cortex of the house mouse (Mus musculus) were studied by using
      retrograde and anterograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Small
      amounts of HRP were locally injected into the electrophysiologically defined UF.
      Superficial (layer I-IV) and deep (layer IV-VI) injections were prepared.
      Superficial injections led to labelling of both cells (retrograde) and terminals
      (anterograde) in areas of the ipsilateral primary and secondary auditory cortex
      and in its dorsoposterior field, in an ipsilateral dorsal association area
      (patches of label), probably in ipsilateral secondary somatosensory cortex, in
      the contralateral homotopic UF, and in the ipsilateral medial geniculate body
      (MGBv, MGBd, and MGBm) and caudal posterior nucleus complex. Deep injections
      showed the same connectivities as superficial ones and, in addition, terminals in
      the very caudal caudatoputamen, in the nucleus limitans and the nucleus
      reticularis of the thalamus, in the rostral pole, the dorsomedial, and lateral
      nucleus of the inferior colliculus, in the stratum griseum intermediale of the
      superior colliculus, and in a pontine nucleus ventromedial of the lateral
      lemniscus. All these projections occurred only ipsilaterally. The majority of
      connections, except those with the nucleus limitans, superior colliculus and
      pontine nucleus, suggest that UF is part of the primary anditory cortex (AI)
      and/or of the anterior anditory field (AAF) of the auditory cortex. Since UF has
      no regular tonotopy, this has important implications for the functional role that
      AI/AAF can have in communication-sound analysis.

PMID- 1460110
TI  - Immunohistochemical localization of ryanodine binding proteins in the central
      nervous system of gymnotiform fish.
AB  - The ryanodine receptor, an integral membrane protein of the sarcoplasmic
      reticulum in muscle, embodies a high conductance channel permeable to calcium
      ions. Recent studies have identified ryanodine-binding proteins in avian and
      mammalian central nervous systems. These neuronal ryanodine receptors appear to
      function as Ca2+ channels which may gate the release of Ca2+ from caffeine
      sensitive intracellular pools in neurons. In the present investigation, we
      employed monoclonal antibodies against ryanodine-binding proteins of avian muscle
      cells to the brain of weakly electric gymnotiform fish. Immunoprecipitation and
      Western blot analysis revealed two isoforms in the fish brain, with molecular
      weights comparable to those of avian and fish muscle ryanodine-binding proteins.
      By employing immunohistochemical techniques, we mapped these proteins in fish
      brain. Ryanodine receptor-like immunoreactivity was found in nerve cell bodies as
      well as dendrites and axonal processes. The ryanodine-binding protein is
      distributed throughout the neuraxis in specific cell types of the gymnotiform
      brain. In the telencephalon, immunoreactive cells were found in the glomerular
      layer of the olfactory bulb, in the supracommissural subdivision of the ventral
      telencephalon, and in the intermediate rostral subdivision of the ventral
      telencephalon. In the diencephalon, immunoreactive cells or fibers were observed
      in the nucleus prethalamicus and the habenula, within the nucleus at the base of
      the optic tract and the adjacent dorsal tegmental nucleus, the pretectal nuclei A
      and B, and the nucleus electrosensorius. In addition, immunopositive cells were
      seen in several nuclei of the hypothalamus, with the inferior and lateral
      subdivision of the nucleus recessus lateralis displaying the highest
      concentration of neurons. In the mesencephalon, the optic tectum contained the
      greatest number of immunopositive cells. In the rhombencephalon, labelling was
      seen in the nucleus of the lateral valvula, central gray, lateral tegmental
      nucleus, in boundary cells of the nucleus praeminentialis, efferent octavolateral
      nucleus, an area adjacent to the medial edge of the lateral reticular nucleus,
      nucleus medialis, and electrosensory lateral line lobe. As in avian brain,
      cerebellar Purkinje cells were positive for ryanodine-binding protein, although
      only subsets of Purkinje cells were labelled.

PMID- 1460111
TI  - Synaptic connections of the narrow-field, bistratified rod amacrine cell (AII) in
      the rabbit retina.
AB  - The synaptic connections of the narrow-field, bistratified rod amacrine cell
      (AII) in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) of the rabbit retina were reconstructed
      from electron micrographs of continuous series of thin sections. The AII amacrine
      cell receives a large synaptic input from the axonal endings of rod bipolar cells
      in the most vitreal region of the IPL (sublamina b, S5) and a smaller input from
      axonal endings of cone bipolar cells in the scleral region of the IPL (sublamina
      a, S1-S2). Amacrine input, localized at multiple levels in the IPL, equals the
      total number of synapses received from bipolar cells. The axonal endings of cone
      bipolar cells represent the major target for the chemical output of the AII
      amacrine cell: these synapses are established by the lobular appendages in
      sublamina a (S1-S2). Ganglion cell dendrites represent only 4% of the output of
      the AII amacrine and most of them are also postsynaptic to the cone bipolars
      which receive AII input. The AII amacrine is not presynaptic to other amacrine
      cells. Finally, the AII amacrine makes gap junctions with the axonal
      arborizations of cone bipolars that stratify in sublamina b (S3-S4) as well as
      with other AII amacrine cells in S5. Therefore, in the rabbit retina 1) the rod
      pathway consists of five neurons arranged in series: rod-->rod bipolar-->AII
      amacrine-->cone bipolar-->ganglion cell; 2) it seems unlikely that a class of
      ganglion cells exists that is exclusively devoted to scotopic functions. In
      ventral, midperipheral retina, about nine rod bipolar cells converge onto a
      single AII amacrine, but one of them establishes a much higher proportion of
      synaptic contacts than the rest. Conversely, each rod bipolar cell diverges onto
      four AII amacrine cells, but one of them receives the largest fraction of
      synapses. Thus, within the pattern of convergence and divergence suggested by
      population studies, preferential synaptic pathways are established.

PMID- 1460112
TI  - Three-dimensional analysis of the structure and composition of CA3 branched
      dendritic spines and their synaptic relationships with mossy fiber boutons in the
      rat hippocampus.
AB  - This paper is the third in a series to quantify differences in the composition of
      subcellular organelles and three-dimensional structure of dendritic spines that
      could contribute to their specific biological properties. Proximal apical
      dendritic spines of the CA3 pyramidal cells receiving synaptic input from mossy
      fiber (MF) boutons in the adult rat hippocampus were evaluated in three sets of
      serial electron micrographs. These CA3 spines are unusual in that they have from
      1 to 16 branches emerging from a single dendritic origin. The branched spines
      usually contain subcellular organelles that are rarely found in adult spines of
      other brain regions including ribosomes, multivesicular bodies (MVB),
      mitochondria, and microtubules. MVBs occur most often in the spine heads that
      also contain smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and ribosomes occur most often in
      spines that have spinules, which are small nonsynaptic protuberances emerging
      from the spine head. Most of the branched spines are surrounded by a single MF
      bouton, which establishes synapses with multiple spine heads. The postsynaptic
      densities (PSDs) occupy about 10-15% of the spine head membrane, a value that is
      consistent with spines from other brain regions, with spines of different
      geometries, and with immature spines. Individual MF boutons usually synapse with
      several different branched spines, all of which originate from the same parent
      dendrite. Larger branched spines and MF boutons are more likely to synapse with
      multiple MF boutons and spines, respectively, than smaller spines and boutons.
      Complete three-dimensional reconstructions of representative spines with 1, 6, or
      12 heads were measured to obtain the volumes, total surface areas, and PSD
      surface areas. Overall, these dimensions were larger for the complete branched
      spines than for unbranched or branched spines in other brain regions. However,
      individual branches were of comparable size to the large mushroom spines in
      hippocampal area CA1 and in the visual cortex, though the CA3 branches were more
      irregular in shape. The diameters of each spine branch were measured along the
      cytoplasmic path from the PSD to the origin with the dendrite, and the lengths of
      branch segments over which the diameters remained approximately uniform were
      computed for subsequent use in biophysical models. No constrictions in the
      segments of the branched spines were thin enough to reduce charge transfer along
      their lengths.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1460113
TI  - GAD- and GABA-immunoreactivity in the ascending auditory pathway of horseshoe and
      mustached bats.
AB  - A comparative study of the immunostain to antibodies directed against glutamic
      acid decarboxylase (GAD) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the ascending
      auditory pathway was carried out in horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus rouxi) and
      mustached bats (Pteronotus parnellii). In both species GAD/GABA-positive puncta
      (presumed axonal boutons) and GAD/GABA-positive cells were found in the cochlear
      nucleus, the superior olivary complex, the nuclei of the lateral lemniscus the
      inferior colliculus, and the medial geniculate body. General features of the
      immunostaining pattern in the auditory pathway agree with observations in other
      mammals. Quantitative analysis of puncta distribution shows that many auditory
      centers are characterized by subregional differences in puncta density and
      distribution. This indicates local differences in putatively inhibitory input
      related to connectivity and tonotopic organization. The following species
      characteristic features were found: 1) The dorsal non-laminated portion of the
      dorsal cochlear nucleus in horseshoe bats lacks the GAD/GABA-immunoreactive cells
      typical for the ventral laminated portion and the dorsal cochlear nucleus of
      other species. Clearly, a cytoarchitectonic specialization is accompanied by a
      loss of putatively GABAergic local inhibitory circuits. 2) The ventral division
      of the medial geniculate body of the mustached bat lacks GAD/GABA-immunopositive
      cells. Such cells are present in the horseshoe bat and other mammals. This
      finding implies functional differences in the organization of the medial
      geniculate body within the same mammalian order.

PMID- 1460114
TI  - Fine structure of rat septohippocampal neurons: II. A time course analysis
      following axotomy.
AB  - Previous light microscopic immunocytochemical studies with antibodies against
      transmitter-synthesizing enzymes have suggested that septohippocampal neurons
      undergo retrograde degeneration following transection of their axons by cutting
      the fimbria-fornix. However, a fine-structural analysis of the degeneration
      process in these cells is lacking so far. Here we have identified
      septohippocampal neurons by retrograde tracing with Fluoro-Gold. Thereafter, the
      fimbria-fornix was transected bilaterally. Fine-structural changes in prelabeled
      septohippocampal neurons were then studied after varying survival times up to 10
      weeks. Examination under the fluorescence microscope of Vibratome sections
      through the septal region revealed numerous retrogradely labeled cells after all
      survival times following axotomy. These neurons were then intracellularly
      injected with the fluorescent dye Lucifer Yellow in order to stain their
      dendritic arbor. Many cells were found after each survival time that displayed
      characteristics of septohippocampal neurons in control rats (see Naumann et al.,
      J Comp Neurol 325:207-218, 1992). In addition, increasing with survival time,
      there were many shrunken neurons with a reduced dendritic arbor. Representative
      examples of both normal appearing and shrunken neurons were photoconverted for
      subsequent electron microscopic analysis. Relatively few signs of neuronal
      degeneration were found at each survival time analyzed. The majority of cells,
      including the heavily shrunken ones, displayed fine-structural characteristics of
      normal neurons. However, a few degenerating neurons and reactive glial cells were
      present in all survival stages. We conclude that axotomized septohippocampal
      projection neurons cease the expression of transmitter-synthesizing enzymes and
      shrink, but many more cells survive for extended periods of time without target
      derived neurotrophic factor than was assumed in previous light microscopic
      studies.

PMID- 1460115
TI  - Neuroepithelial cells in the rat spinal cord express glutamate decarboxylase
      immunoreactivity in vivo and in vitro.
AB  - It is unknown whether neuroepithelial cells in the mammalian central nervous
      system express neurotransmitter-synthesizing enzymes. In this study, expression
      of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-synthesizing
      enzyme, was examined in proliferative cells and postmitotic neuroblasts in
      embryonic rat spinal cord. Immunostaining coronal sections of the embryonic
      spinal cord with K2 antiserum, which recognizes GAD proteins encoded by the GAD67
      gene, revealed intensely stained neuroepithelial cells in the basal plate at
      embryonic day (E) 13, in the intermediate plate between E 13-16, and last seen in
      the alar plate at E 16. Nissl counterstaining demonstrated that a small number of
      these GAD-immunoreactive cells adjacent to the neural tube lumen were mitotic.
      The ventral-to-dorsal gradient of GAD expression in precursor cells and
      postmitotic neuroblasts correlates anatomically and temporally with the
      sequential generation of motoneurons, commissural neurons, and interneurons in
      the dorsal horn. Some of these GAD-immunoreactive neuroepithelial cells may re
      enter the mitotic cycle, while others are postmitotic neuroblasts presumably
      migrating to the intermediate zone to differentiate into young neurons. Double
      immunostaining cells acutely dissociated from E 11-18 spinal cords with K2 and
      anti-bromodeoxyuridine antisera, following a bromodeoxyuridine pulse in vivo,
      revealed considerable numbers of DNA-synthesizing cells immunoreactive for GAD.
      The absolute number of double-stained cells peaked during E 12-15, coinciding
      with terminal cell division in most spinal neurons. These observations suggest
      that spinal neuronal precursors can synthesize GAD-related proteins prior to, or
      during, the terminal cell cycle. Although GAD immunoreactivity revealed by K2
      antiserum was detected in proliferative cells and in migrating postmitotic
      neuroblasts, GABA immunoreactivity was never detectable in these cells. These
      early embryonic GAD-immunoreactive neuroepithelial cells may either synthesize
      levels of GABA that cannot be detected immunocytochemically, and/or express
      enzymatically inactive GAD-related proteins.

PMID- 1460116
TI  - Transient expression of GABA immunoreactivity in the developing rat spinal cord.
AB  - The development of GABAergic neurons in the spinal cord of the rat has been
      investigated by immunocytochemical staining of frozen sections with anti-gamma
      aminobutyric acid (GABA) antiserum. In the cervical cord, GABA-immunoreactive
      fibers first appeared at embryonic day (E) 13 in the presumptive white matter
      within the ventral commissure, ventral funiculus, and dorsal root entrance zone,
      and in the ventral roots. There were no GABA-immunoreactive cell bodies detected
      at this age. By E14, motoneurons, the earliest generated spinal cells, were the
      first cell population to become GABA-immunoreactive at the cell body level.
      Thereafter, GABA-immunoreactive neurons increased progressively in number and
      extended from ventral to dorsal regions. GABA-immunoreactive relay neurons within
      lamina I of the dorsal horn were initially detected at E17. Interneurons in the
      substantia gelatinosa, the latest generated cells in the spinal cord, were also
      the last to express the GABA immunoreactivity at E18. Immunoreactive neurons
      peaked in intensity and extent at E18 and 19. GABA immunoreactivity was only
      detectable in neurons within the intermediate and marginal zones 1-3 days after
      they withdrew from the cell cycle. This contrasts to glutamate decarboxylase
      immunoreactivity, which is detected in precursor cells in the ventricular zone
      prior to, or during, withdrawal from the cell cycle. Toward the end of gestation,
      GABA immunoreactivity declined in intensity and extent. This regression began in
      the ventral horn of the cervical region and ended in the dorsal horn of the
      lumbosacral region. During the first week after birth, immunoreactivity in
      motoneurons and in many other neurons within the ventral horn, intermediate gray,
      and deeper layers of the dorsal horn disappeared, and only in those neurons
      predominantly within the superficial layers of the dorsal horn did it persist
      into adulthood. Thus, the expression and regression of GABA immunoreactivity in
      the spinal cord followed ventral-to-dorsal, rostral-to-caudal, and medial-to
      lateral gradients. These observations indicate that the majority of embryonic
      spinal neurons pass through a stage of transient expression of GABA
      immunoreactivity. The functional significance of this transient expression is
      unknown, but it coincides with the period of intense neurite growth of
      motoneurons, sensory neurons, and interneurons, and of neuromuscular junction
      formation, suggesting that the transient presence of GABA may play an important
      role in the differentiation of sensorimotor neuronal circuits.

PMID- 1460117
TI  - Sexual dimorphism in the vasotocin system of the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana).
AB  - Arginine vasotocin (AVT) is widespread in amphibian brains, where its levels have
      been correlated with reproductive behaviors. To better understand which neural
      systems are involved in central actions of AVT, we used immunocytochemistry to
      compare the distribution of AVT in the brains of male and female bullfrogs (Rana
      catesbeiana). AVT-immunoreactive cells were observed in the septal nucleus,
      amygdala pars lateralis, magnocellular preoptic area, suprachiasmatic nucleus,
      and hypothalamus. AVT-immunoreactive cells were also found in the pretrigeminal
      nucleus, but only in animals killed in the fall. Immunoreactive fibers were
      broadly distributed in hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic areas. The most obvious
      sex differences were found in the amygdala pars lateralis, where the density of
      immunoreactive cells and fibers was significantly greater in male than in female
      bullfrogs. In addition, in the habenular nucleus, males had a denser distribution
      of AVT-immunoreactive fibers than females. In the suprachiasmatic nucleus, AVT
      immunoreactive cells were larger in females than in males but did not differ in
      number. Since the areas that showed sex differences in AVT distribution have also
      been implicated in control of reproductive behaviors, they may form the neural
      substrates for the effects of AVT on sexually dimorphic behaviors in amphibians.

PMID- 1460118
TI  - Topical isotretinoin for photodamaged skin.
AB  - Photodamaged skin is characterized clinically by coarseness, telangiectasia,
      wrinkling, discrete hyperpigmented and hypopigmented macules, atrophy, and
      ultimately the development of neoplasms. Studies on the UVB-irradiated hairless
      mouse indicate that topical application of tretinoin or isotretinoin induces
      structural modifications at the dermal level. Clinical trials indicate that
      tretinoin improves skin appearance in patients who have photodamage. This double
      blind, vehicle-controlled clinical trial was conducted to determine whether 36
      weeks of treatment with topical isotretinoin improves mildly to moderately
      photodamaged facial skin. After they gave written informed consent 776 patients
      were randomly assigned to 36 weeks of treatment with either vehicle cream or
      isotretinoin cream, applied once nightly. Efficacy was evaluated by means of
      physician and patient assessment and a blinded analysis of standardized
      photographs taken before and after treatment. When compared with vehicle,
      treatment with isotretinoin resulted in statistically significant improvement in
      overall appearance, fine wrinkling, discrete pigmentation, sallowness, and
      texture. Isotretinoin cream was well tolerated.

PMID- 1460119
TI  - Pharmacokinetics and drug interactions of etretinate and acitretin.
AB  - Acitretin, the metabolite of etretinate, is eliminated far more rapidly from the
      human body than is etretinate. It had therefore been suggested that only a short
      period of contraception would be required after the cessation of long-term
      therapy with acitretin. However, recent studies have demonstrated the presence of
      etretinate in the plasma of patients who were treated with acitretin. In this
      article we provide results from a study in our center and discuss earlier data in
      light of the recently discovered metabolic pathways for acitretin.
      Reesterification of acitretin to etretinate, however, results in a loss of the
      metabolic advantages of acitretin. Because of this situation the recommended
      contraception period after acitretin therapy has been lengthened to 2 years.

PMID- 1460120
TI  - Guidelines for optimal use of isotretinoin in acne.
AB  - Isotretinoin is most effective for patients with acne who fail to respond to
      other forms of treatment; virtually all patients respond to isotretinoin, 0.5 to
      1.0 mg/kg/day. As many as 61% of patients are cured after one course, but 39%
      require further isotretinoin (16%) or oral antibiotics (23%). The relapse rate
      can be reduced by the administration of the higher dose of 1 mg/kg/day (thus
      achieving a significant cumulative dose of > 120 mg/kg), especially to young
      patients and men with truncal acne and more severe disease. About 85% require a 4
      month course, but 15% require longer treatment, with some up to 10 months. There
      are several reasons for a slow response to treatment, including the presence of
      macrocomedones, ovarian dysfunction, and as-yet unknown factors. Macrocomedones
      can be treated with light cautery, ovarian dysfunction with hormonal therapies,
      and in those persons who have no obvious explanation for slow response,
      persistence with isotretinoin alone is required. Repeat courses of isotretinoin
      can also be given. Six years ago most patients treated with isotretinoin had
      severe acne (60%), but today most patients (60%) have therapy-resistant moderate
      acne. Isotretinoin is a consideration in such patients to reduce the physical and
      psychological effects of acne, particularly because there is no simple method to
      treat acne scars.

PMID- 1460121
TI  - Side effects of systemic retinoids and their clinical management.
AB  - The safety profile of oral retinoids appears to be well established, although
      rare new side effects are occasionally reported. Appropriate patient selection,
      use of the lowest required dose, and adequate follow-up are significant factors
      in the prevention of these toxicities. Teratogenicity, which can be avoided by
      following recommended precautions, is the main adverse effect.

PMID- 1460122
TI  - Long-term safety of retinoid therapy.
AB  - The concern about long-term toxicity of oral synthetic retinoids has developed
      because many patients, especially those with genodermatoses, require lifelong
      therapy. Several organ systems are at risk, especially the hepatic, skeletal, and
      cardiovascular systems. Although acute hepatotoxicity is a rare side effect of
      etretinate and acitretin therapy, prospective studies have not demonstrated
      chronic liver toxicity. The frequency of bone changes induced by retinoids is
      difficult to estimate, because this adverse effect is usually asymptomatic and
      requires x-ray or scintigraphic examination for detection. Atherosclerosis
      develops in many patients who receive long-term retinoid therapy, but the extent
      to which the process is aggravated by drug-induced hyperlipidemia is not known.
      Many patients have now been treated with either etretinate or isotretinoin
      continuously for as many as 15 years and have not developed any signs of severe
      chronic toxicity. However, continued intense surveillance is recommended for
      patients expected to require lifelong therapy.

PMID- 1460123
TI  - Retinoids for the future: oncology.
AB  - A major incentive for the development of the synthetic retinoids has been their
      potential for the treatment and prevention of cancer. Early studies demonstrated
      that treatment with isotretinoin or etretinate alone could result in the
      regression of some existing skin cancers. However, even at high doses the
      response rates were poor. Greater efficacy has been observed with retinoids used
      in the prevention of cancer of the skin and oral cavity in high-risk patients.
      The potential for retinoids as chemopreventive agents is being further explored
      as selected retinoids are being targeted to specific malignancies, such as
      fenretinide for breast cancer chemoprevention. The effectiveness of tretinoin as
      a treatment for promyelocytic leukemia has raised enthusiasm for retinoids as
      cancer therapeutic agents. Furthermore, evidence of synergy between the retinoids
      and a variety of cytokines as enhances of differentiation chart a bright future
      for retinoids in oncology.

PMID- 1460124
TI  - Retinoids in psoriasis and disorders of keratinization.
AB  - Synthetic retinoids, particularly the aromatic retinoid etretinate (Tigason,
      Europe; Tegison, United States), have had an established role in the treatment of
      psoriasis and a variety of ichthyosiform disorders for more than a decade.
      Isotretinoin (Accutane), which was released at approximately the same time, plays
      a less important role in these disorders. The mechanism of action of etretinate
      is still incompletely understood although, like retinoic acid, it is thought to
      interfere with the terminal differentiation of keratinocytes. The recent
      detection of nuclear retinoic acid receptors may lead to a unifying theory of
      retinoid effects and provide the means for more targeted use of this class of
      compounds. The substantial amount of data on the clinical effectiveness of
      etretinate was obtained empirically from numerous multicenter trials and
      individual reports; its indications, dosimetry, pharmacokinetics, and side
      effects are well established. The main adverse effect associated with etretinate
      is its teratogenicity (common to all retinoids), which is of particular concern
      because the lipophilic compound is stored in fat tissue, resulting in an
      elimination half-life of as many as 120 days. To avoid this problem the much less
      lipophilic unesterified acid of etretinate, acitretin, has been made available
      and has now replaced etretinate in many countries. Acitretin represents the
      active principle of etretinate and has an elimination half-life of 2 days. No
      significant clinical differences have been observed between these two compounds.
      Partial in vivo conversion of acitretin into etretinate, however, has been
      described in some patients. Both compounds are standard treatment for pustular
      and erythrodermic psoriasis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460125
TI  - Interaction properties of doubly phosphorylated beta-casein, a major component of
      the human milk caseins.
AB  - Doubly phosphorylated beta-casein constitutes nearly 30% of the total human beta
      caseins and is thus one of the major components of that fraction. The properties
      and mode of association of doubly phosphorylated beta-casein are therefore
      important determinants of the structure and function of the human casein micelle.
      Doubly phosphorylated beta-casein has an absorbency of 6.2 and a partial specific
      volume of .74. The protein precipitated at room temperature when 10 mM Ca2+ was
      added but produced a clear solution in 1 M NaCl. Equilibrium dialysis produced an
      average of 2.06 major Ca(2+)-binding sites at 37 degrees C with a dissociation
      constant of 12.1 x 10(-4) M. The monomer at 20 degrees C was calculated to have a
      solvation of 2.1 g of H2O/g of protein and an axial ratio of 6.8, suggesting a
      prolate ellipsoid of about 11 by 2 nm. At high ionic strength, evidence exists
      for a spherical structure with a molecular weight of 2.25 x 10(6). This structure
      would represent a polymer of about 90 monomers with a radius of 14.8 nm and a
      solvation of 1.93 g of H2O/g of protein. This association behavior is similar to
      that of other phosphorylated human beta-caseins but differs from the
      nonphosphorylated form. It changes when both Ca2+ and inorganic orthophosphate
      are present.

PMID- 1460126
TI  - B-cell mitogenic activity of slime products produced from slime-forming,
      encapsulated Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris.
AB  - The mitogenic activities of whole cell lyophylized preparations, cell-wall
      components, and slime products obtained from Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris
      KVS20 were examined on murine spleen cells. Whole cell lyophylized preparations
      and slime products significantly (P < .05) stimulated mitogenic responses of the
      cells. The highest activity was induced by slime products in which the optimal
      concentration was 116 microg/ml. The significant (P < .05) increase of mitogenic
      activity induced by slime products occurred at 24 h, and the peak response was
      obtained 48 h after the stimulation. The activity was much higher in the fraction
      enriched with B cells than in the fraction enriched with T cells. In addition,
      slime products induced mitogenic activity to spleen cells of athymic nu/nu mice.
      The chemical analysis of lipopolysaccharide and the minimal concentration for
      mitogenic response eliminated the possibility that the activity of slime products
      may be due to the contamination of lipopolysaccharide. The data demonstrate that
      slime products are a potent B-cell-dependent mitogen.

PMID- 1460129
TI  - Season and lactation number effects on milk production and reproduction of dairy
      cattle in Arizona.
AB  - Records representing 19,266 Holstein cows from Arizona DHIA data over a 5-yr
      period were analyzed to determine the effects of season and lactation number on
      milk production and reproduction. Seasons were winter (December, January, and
      February), spring (March, April, and May), summer (June, July, and August), and
      fall (September, October, and November). Traits analyzed by least squares ANOVA
      were 305-d FCM, complete lactation milk, calving interval, and services per
      conception. All sources of variation were significant except the interaction
      between lactation number and season of calving for complete lactation milk. Milk
      production was depressed for cows calving in summer and fall. First lactation
      cows had lowest milk production, and highest production occurred in either
      lactation 4 or 5. Cows calving in spring and summer had reduced reproductive
      performance, as measured by calving interval and services per conception. First
      lactation cows had lowest values for both reproductive traits. Previous days dry
      was negatively related to milk production for spring calvings but was positively
      related for all other seasons. Cows with higher milk production had reduced
      reproductive performance. Partial regression coefficients for calving interval
      and services per conception were 12 d and .25 services per conception per 1000 kg
      of 305-d FCM, respectively. Despite the negative effects of thermal stress, milk
      production and fertility in this study were not depressed as severely as in
      previous research reported from Arizona. Calving schedules may be adjusted to
      minimize the adverse effect of heat stress.

PMID- 1460128
TI  - Estrous cyclicity in nonlactating and lactating Holsteins and Jerseys during a
      Pakistani summer.
AB  - Data from 36 cows were used in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement to determine the
      effects of breed and lactation status on estrous cyclicity during a Pakistani
      summer (June through October). Cows were selected from a herd of Holsteins and
      Jerseys imported from the United States 5 yr earlier. Ambient temperatures were
      highest in June and declined in the ensuing months with the onset of the rainy
      season. Relative humidity increased in July and August and them remained stable
      until the end of the study. Although early morning rectal temperatures gradually
      declined from June through October, late afternoon rectal temperatures were
      highest in August. Average early morning rectal temperatures were higher in
      Holsteins than in Jerseys (38.5 vs. 38.3 degrees C). Even though all cows were
      cyclic throughout the study, as indicated by patterns of progesterone secretion,
      observed expression of estrus was low (36.8%) and unaffected by breed or
      lactation status. Average serum progesterone concentrations were lower (2.4 vs.
      3.1 ng/ml), and cortisol concentrations were higher (4.1 vs. 3.9 ng/ml), in
      Holsteins than in Jerseys. Breed by lactation status interactions were
      significant for lengths of the luteal phase and estrous cycle. Lengths for
      lactating Holsteins were longer than those of other groups.

PMID- 1460127
TI  - Effect of high doses of a sustained-release bovine somatotropin on antibody
      formation in dairy cows.
AB  - Eighty-two lactating Holstein cows received either one, three, or five
      concurrent, intramuscular injections of a unit dose (.6 g) of zinc methionyl bST
      (some-tribove) or five doses of the vehicle. Injections were administered at 14-d
      intervals from 60 d postpartum until the end of lactation or necropsy. Thirty
      eight cows continued on the same treatment for a 2nd yr. Blood bST antibodies
      developed within the first 7 wk of treatment, and the number of cows with anti
      bST binding generally declined with time. Thirteen out of 59 cows receiving bST
      developed binding activity > 25% (positives) during the 1st yr. At the .6-g dose
      level, no binding was detected after wk 15. Seven of the 13 positive cows were
      among the group randomly selected to continue on study during yr 2. In the 2nd
      yr, only 2 out of 24 bST-treated cows were positive. Binding activity was
      associated with the IgG fraction in serum. Binding capacities of antibodies
      ranged from .625 to 3.04 mg of bST/L, and affinities ranged from 1.14 x 10(8) to
      3.14 x 10(8) L/mol. Cows considered to be clinically positive had performance
      similar to those of their herdmates having binding < 25%. No evidence of a
      pathologic effect of antibodies existed in treated cows, their calves, or
      fetuses. The presence of anti-bST antibodies did not affect milk production of
      the cow or growth of the calves conceived during bST treatment.

PMID- 1460130
TI  - Lactation curve estimation for use in economic optimization models in the dairy
      industry.
AB  - Monthly data on completed lactations were employed to estimate a three-stage
      least squares lactation curve model for milk production, milk fat content, milk
      protein content, and body weight change in lactating Holstein cattle. In
      comparison with previous work on the lactation curve, our study employed an
      augmented incomplete gamma model of the lactation curve, a simultaneous rather
      than single equation estimation technique, monthly rather than daily or weekly
      observations, and a pragmatic treatment of the genetic background of individual
      cows using sire proof data. In addition to considering genetic and dietary
      effects on the lactation curve, the model isolates the seasonal effect of calving
      date and current production month as well as the age of the cow. By allowing for
      the simultaneous explanation of various measures of cow performance, the model
      accommodates formulation of diets tailored for individual cows or groups of cows
      and can be used in profit-maximizing mathematical programming models. Diet,
      production, and body weight changes are determined simultaneously and are not
      independent of one another.

PMID- 1460131
TI  - Effects of feeding diets containing calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids to
      lactating dairy cows.
AB  - Four cows were utilized in a 4 x 4 Latin square design to investigate the effects
      of feeding Ca salts of long-chain fatty acids. Treatments were control diet with
      1) no added fat, 2) 3% Ca salts of long-chain fatty acids, 3) 6% Ca salts of long
      chain fatty acids, and 4) 9% Ca salts of long-chain fatty acids. Cows were fed
      chopped alfalfa hay, alfalfa haylage, corn silage, and concentrate (15:22:13:50)
      on a DM basis. Dry matter intake, energy intake, and ruminal fermentation were
      not altered greatly until Ca salts of long-chain fatty acids constituted 9% of
      DMI. Digestibilities of DM, OM, ADF, NDF, and hemicellulose were not affected by
      treatment. Digestibilities of cellulose, soluble residue, total C18 fatty acids,
      and total fatty acids followed quadratic patterns. Absorption of N was increased
      linearly when fat was fed, but digestibility of Ca was decreased linearly. Milk
      production, CP, and SNF were not altered greatly by inclusion of 3 or 6% Ca salts
      of long-chain fatty acids in the diet, but inclusion of 9% Ca salts of long-chain
      fatty acids decreased their production. Calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids
      increased milk fat percentage and production of fat and FCM when fed as 3 or 6%
      of the dietary DM but decreased yields of milk fat and FCM when fed as 9%.
      Calcium salts of fatty acids can be fed to provide up to 6% of the dietary DM
      without deleterious effects on ruminal fermentation and digestibilities of most
      nutrients.

PMID- 1460132
TI  - Effects of feeding lactating dairy cows diets containing extruded soybeans and
      calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids.
AB  - Four multiparous Holstein cows averaging 36 DIM and fitted with ruminal cannulas
      were utilized in a 4 x 4 Latin square design to investigate the effects of
      feeding extruded whole soybeans and Ca salts of long-chain fatty acids.
      Treatments were diets containing 1) no added fat, 2) 16% extruded whole soybeans,
      3) 16% extruded whole soybeans and 3% Ca salts of long-chain fatty acids, and 4)
      16% extruded whole soybeans and 6% Ca salts of long-chain fatty acids. Cows were
      fed for ad libitum intake a diet of alfalfa haylage, corn silage, and concentrate
      (35:15:50, DM basis). Intakes of DM and energy and production of milk, 4% FCM,
      fat, CP, and SNF were decreased by feeding extruded whole soybeans and 6% Ca
      salts of long-chain fatty acids, but differences were small among the other
      treatments. The weight percentages and yields of C18:0, C18:1, and C18:2 in milk
      were increased, and most shorter chain fatty acids were decreased, by feeding
      supplemental fat. Digestibilities of DM, OM, ADF, soluble residue, total C18
      fatty acids, and total fatty acids were decreased, but digestibility of
      hemicellulose was increased by feeding supplemental fat. The largest decrease in
      digestibilities of most dietary constituents and in energy and N utilization
      occurred when 16% extruded whole soybeans plus 6% Ca salts of long-chain fatty
      acids were fed to the cows. Calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids can supply up
      to 3% of the dietary DM in diets containing 16% extruded whole soybeans without
      having deleterious effects on most variables measured in this experiment.

PMID- 1460133
TI  - Influence of method of administration of rapeseed oil in dairy cows. 1. Digestion
      of nonlipid components.
AB  - The effects of rapeseed oil supplements on ruminal digestion and total tract
      digestibility of nutrients were studied in four cows in midlactation, fitted with
      ruminal cannulas and used in a Latin square design (three periods x three diets).
      Treatments were basal diet only (control) or 1 kg of rapeseed oil added to a
      basal diet by continuous infusion or by a single administration via the ruminal
      cannula. The ratio of forage: concentrate of the basal diet was 68:32 on a DM
      basis. Total lipid contents were 3.9, 9.4, and 9.4% of DM in control diets and in
      diets with continuous and single supplementation, respectively. Fat supply
      decreased total tract OM digestibility (77.0, 72.0, and 74.0% in control diet and
      in diets with continuous and single supplementation, respectively) because of a
      depressive effect on fiber digestion. With both oil administration methods, the
      relative proportion of propionic acid increased and acetic and butyric acids in
      ruminal fluid decreased. Moreover, continuous infusion of oil increased the
      proportion of propionate and decreased the proportion of butyrate. When oil was
      added as a single administration, ammonia N concentration before feeding was
      lower than when oil was infused continuously.

PMID- 1460134
TI  - Effects of concentration of dietary phosphorus on amount and route of excretion.
AB  - Objectives were to determine the effect of dietary concentration of P in DM on
      routes of excretion of P and to evaluate direct and indirect measures of
      calculating DM digestibility and P excretion. Twelve lactating Holstein cows were
      fed 20 kg of DM containing .41% P daily for 4 wk and then were assigned randomly
      to one of three diets: low (.30%), medium (.41%), or high (.56%) in P for 9 wk.
      Total collections of excreta (feces and urine) and milk were made during wk 4, 7,
      10, and 13. At wk 4, cows excreted 88.2% of P consumed daily: 68.6% of excreted P
      in feces, 1.0% in urine, and 30.3% secreted in milk. Cows assigned to the low P
      diet decreased intake by 26.8% and excretion of P in feces by 22.7% in wk 13
      compared with wk 4, whereas cows fed the high P diet increased intake by 36.5%
      and excretion of P in feces by 48.6%. Digestibility of DM was 62.6% when
      calculated from total collection of feces but only 55.7 or 56.5% when estimated
      indirectly using Cr or acid detergent lignin as indigestible markers. Apparent
      excretion of P was less than that estimated using either of the marker techniques
      (49.7 vs. 59.1 and 58.1 +/- .7 g/d of P) because digestibility of DM was
      underestimated. A prediction equation was developed for P excretion based on P
      intake and milk production.

PMID- 1460135
TI  - Comparison of trace elements in milk of four species.
AB  - The objective of this study was to compare trace elements in milks of four
      species. Milk samples of 4 ml or more were obtained from guinea pigs, dairy
      cattle, horses, and humans. The milks were analyzed for the trace elements Al, B,
      Ba, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Si, Sr, Ti, and Zn by inductively coupled argon plasma
      spectroscopy. Zinc ranged from more than 4 ppm in guinea pig milk to less than 2
      ppm in mare milk. Strontium was over 1 ppm in the milk of guinea pigs and less
      than .1 ppm for the human. Iron ranged from over .7 ppm for the guinea pig to
      less than .2 ppm for the cow. Copper was over .5 ppm in guinea pig milk and only
      .05 ppm for cow milk. Boron ranged from .59 to .10 ppm, Si from .58 to .16 ppm,
      Al from .45 to .10 ppm; and Ba from .22 to .08 ppm in milks of the four species
      studied. Titanium ranged from a trace to .11 ppm. Lithium, Mn, and Mo all were
      less than .04 ppm. Milk Mn was surprisingly low relative to bodily needs.

PMID- 1460136
TI  - Effect of yeast culture supplement on production, rumen fermentation, and
      duodenal nitrogen flow in dairy cows.
AB  - Six lactating Holstein cows fitted with rumen and T-type duodenal cannulas were
      used in a crossover design to examine effects of yeast culture supplement on
      production parameters, rumen fermentation, and flow of N to the duodenum.
      Treatments were control and control plus 10 g/d of yeast culture. Dry matter
      intake was greater, and milk production tended to be higher, for cows
      supplemented with yeast culture, but milk composition was not affected. Rumen pH
      was not affected by yeast culture, but peak lactic acid concentration decreased
      from 1.93 to 1.73 mM. Rumen fluid acetate:propionate ratio, dilution rate
      (percentage per hour), and ammonia N concentration (milligrams per deciliter)
      were 2.28, .12, and 10.7 and 2.04, .13, and 9.6 for control cows and for cows
      supplemented with yeast culture, respectively. Although numbers of fiber
      digesting bacteria were not affected by yeast culture, DM disappearance of wheat
      straw tended to be higher at 12 and 24 h, and CP and ADF digestibilities were
      greater. Duodenal NAN flow tended to be higher in cows supplemented with yeast
      culture because of higher bacterial N flow. Duodenal AA profile and flow of Met
      were significantly affected by yeast culture supplementation. The results suggest
      that yeast culture may alter the AA profile of bacterial protein.

PMID- 1460137
TI  - Effect of microbial inoculant on quality of alfalfa hay baled at high moisture
      and lamb performance.
AB  - The effectiveness of a microbial hay inoculant in high moisture alfalfa hay was
      evaluated. Alfalfa (third cutting) was baled at 72% DM without or with inoculant
      and at 82% DM without inoculant during yr 1. In yr 2, alfalfa (second cutting)
      was baled at 75% DM without or with inoculant and at 82% DM without inoculant.
      Application rate of inoculant was 3.8 L/.98 tonne each year. At this application
      rate, 90 billion cfu were applied per .98 tonne of forage. Hays were core sampled
      at 0, 14, 30, and 60 d after baling to determine chemical composition. By d 30,
      all hays had DM content of 89%. In yr 2, 12 wether lambs were assigned to three
      treatments in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square. Treatments were chopped, low
      moisture hay plus corn; chopped, inoculated high moisture hay plus corn; and
      chopped, high moisture hay plus corn. All diets contained 63% alfalfa hay, 35%
      ground corn, and 2% minerals and vitamins. In yr 1, inoculated and low moisture
      hays were not different in chemical composition but were higher in CP and lower
      in NDF than high moisture hay. Neither NDF nor CP were different among the three
      hays in yr 2. Average daily gain was not different on the three diets. The feed
      to gain ratio was lowest for the inoculated hay, intermediate for the low
      moisture hay, and highest for the high moisture hay diet. Daily gain and feed to
      gain ratio were not different for lambs fed the inoculated hay baled at 75% DM
      compared with lambs fed untreated hay baled at 82% DM.

PMID- 1460138
TI  - Feeding sequence and strategy effects on ruminal environment and production
      performance in first lactation cows.
AB  - Three primiparous cows were assigned randomly to a 4 x 4 incomplete Latin square
      to evaluate ruminal characteristics (Experiment 1) with the following feeding
      strategies: strategy A, supplement (protein), forage plus high moisture ear corn
      (energy), protein; strategy B, energy plus protein, forage, energy plus protein;
      strategy C, forage plus energy, protein, forage plus energy, protein; and
      strategy D, forage, energy plus protein, forage, energy plus protein. In
      Experiment 2, 36 cows were fed diets similar to those in Experiment 1 from wk 4
      through 19 postpartum. Cows fed diets according to strategy A had the highest and
      strategy D the lowest mean ruminal pH. Diurnal variation in ruminal pH was less
      with cows fed diets using strategies A and B than C and D. Other ruminal
      parameters were not significantly different. In Experiment 2, cows fed according
      to strategy B had higher DMI than those fed according to other strategies. Energy
      and protein fed together and separately from forage, regardless of sequence,
      increased milk fat percentage compared with protein fed separately. Milk
      production and protein yield tended to be highest when protein was fed
      separately, regardless of sequence to forage. Strategic feeding of protein and
      energy sources in relation to forage influenced some ruminal and production
      measurements in primiparous cows.

PMID- 1460139
TI  - Lactation, health, and reproduction of dairy cows receiving daily injectable or
      sustained-release somatotropin.
AB  - Seventy-four Holstein cows (26 primiparous) were utilized to compare the efficacy
      and safety of sustained-release versus daily injectable formulations of
      recombinant bST. Twenty-four control cows were injected biweekly with oil
      microsphere; 25 cows were injected biweekly with 350 mg of bST microsphere; and
      25 cows were injected daily with 10.3 mg of bST. Injections were initiated
      between wk 4 and 5 of lactation and continued for 280 d. Administration of bST
      caused a moderate increase in milk and FCM production and improved the efficiency
      of feed and energy conversions. Most health-related and reproduction-related
      variables did not differ among treatment groups. However, incidence of teat and
      udder disorders and feet and leg problems tended to be higher during the 40-wk
      injection period for the bST-treated cows than for the control cows. Incidence of
      GnRH therapy and number of days to first service were higher for daily bST
      treated cows than for controls. No differences existed between sustained-release
      and daily bST-treated cows for any parameters monitored.

PMID- 1460140
TI  - Specific gravity of bovine colostrum immunoglobulins as affected by temperature
      and colostrum components.
AB  - The effects of temperature and colostrum components on specific gravity in bovine
      colostrum were investigated. Thirty-nine first milking colostrum samples were
      collected from Holstein cows. The samples were assayed for alpha-tocopherol, fat,
      protein, total solids, and IgG. The concentrations of total solids, total
      protein, total IgG, and fat in colostrum were 26.6, 12.5, 3.7, and 9.4 g/100 g,
      respectively. A range of 1.8 to 24.7 micrograms/ml for alpha-tocopherol was
      measured in the colostrum samples. Specific gravity of the colostrum was measured
      using a hydrometer in increments of 5 degrees C from 0 to 40 degrees C. Specific
      gravity explained 76% of the variation in colostral total IgG at a colostrum
      temperature of 20 degrees C. The regression model was improved only slightly with
      the addition of protein, fat, and total solids. The model for samples at 20
      degrees C was IgG (milligrams per milliliter) = 958 x (specific gravity) - 969.
      Measurement of specific gravity at variable temperatures necessitated inclusion
      of temperature in the model for estimation of IgG. Inclusion of the other
      components of colostrum into the model slightly improved the fit. The regression
      model for samples at variable temperatures was as follows: IgG (milligrams per
      milliliter) = 853 x (specific gravity) + .4 x temperature (Celsius degrees) -
      866.

PMID- 1460141
TI  - Genetics of growth, feed intake, and milk yield in Holstein cattle.
AB  - Heritabilities, genetic and phenotypic correlations among growth, forage
      consumption, and BW changes of heifers and feed consumption, BW changes, and
      yields of first lactation cows were estimated. Data were from 1266 Holstein
      progeny of 74 sires born from 1972 to 1985 at three Agriculture Canada research
      herds. Heavier heifers at 26 wk consumed more feed from 26 to 34 wk than smaller
      heifers but gained the same BW. The BW gain and feed consumption heritabilities
      were .17 and .23, respectively; genetic correlation was .44, and phenotypic
      correlation was .27. During first lactation, feed intake from 8 to 16 wk and
      measures of milk yield are very tightly intercorrelated both phenotypically and
      genetically (.78 to .98). Precalving BW gain and BW at calving were genetically
      uncorrelated with measures of milk yield (-.09 to +.05). Loss of BW during the
      first 8 wk of first lactation was moderately heritable (.29) and correlated
      genetically and phenotypically with measures of milk yield in early lactation
      (.32 to .39) and feed consumption (.26). From 8 to 16 wk, average BW changes were
      small and had low heritability and weak phenotypic correlations with measures of
      milk yield or feed intake. The BW at 26 wk and BW gain from 26 to 34 wk were very
      poor indicators of early first lactation milk yield. Heifer feed intake was
      weakly correlated phenotypically (-.07 to .16) but moderately genetically
      correlated (.17 to .23) with early first lactation milk yield and feed
      consumption.

PMID- 1460142
TI  - Milk composition of Majaheim camels.
AB  - To determine composition, milk samples were obtained at random from camels at two
      camel rearing areas near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Proximate analyses indicated 3.15%
      fat, 2.81% protein, 4.16% lactose, 10.95% total solids, .15% acidity, .83% ash,
      and 88.33% water. Mineral composition was (milligrams per gram) 30.03, Ca; 72.48,
      K; 43.10, Na; .28, Fe; .18, Pb; and 4.50, Mg. Results should contribute to the
      overall knowledge of camels as a food source, but much still needs to be learned
      if efficient improvement programs are to be initiated.

PMID- 1460143
TI  - Evaluation of a nisin-based germicidal formulation on teat skin of live cows.
AB  - A purified preparation of the nontoxic antimicrobial peptide, nisin (AMBICIN N),
      was used in the formulation of a germicidal sanitizer suitable for use on cow
      teats. The germicidal activity of the formulation against mastitis pathogens was
      measured on teat skin of live cows. The nisin-based formulation gave a mean log
      reduction of 3.90 against Staphylococcus aureus and 4.22 log reduction against
      Escherichia coli after exposure for 1 min to the germicide. This activity was
      comparable with that exhibited by a 1% iodophor teat dip but was significantly
      greater than that exhibited by the .1 and .5% iodophors and by the .5%
      chlorhexidine digluconate teat dips. The nisin-based formulation showed little or
      no potential for skin irritation after multiple application to skin, but iodophor
      and chlorhexidine digluconate teat dips showed significant potential for skin
      irritation in comparable studies.

PMID- 1460144
TI  - Nonprotein nitrogen and protein distribution in the milk of cows.
AB  - The NPN content of milk represents only 5 to 6% of the total N in milk. However,
      the significance of this milk N fraction to energy and N metabolism in the dairy
      cow has not been well characterized. The single largest contributor to the NPN
      fraction of milk NPN is urea. Urea equilibrates in body water, and blood urea is
      the primary source of milk urea. The urea in milk can be derived from at least
      two sources: the end product of digestion and amino acid catabolism. Blood urea N
      was positively associated with intakes of ruminally degradable and undegradable
      protein and negatively associated with intake of net energy. Consequently, it
      might be possible to develop a system to evaluate the dietary protein and energy
      status of the lactating dairy cow employing milk urea in conjunction with milk
      true protein.

PMID- 1460145
TI  - The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic personality change. 1957.

PMID- 1460146
TI  - Introduction to special section: comorbidity and treatment implications.
AB  - This article initiates the special section on comorbidity and treatment
      implications. The presence of comorbidity is recognized, the multiple meanings of
      comorbidity are mentioned, and an invitation for much-needed research on
      comorbidity and related treatment is extended.

PMID- 1460147
TI  - Comorbidity among anxiety disorders: implications for treatment and DSM-IV.
AB  - Research on comorbidity among psychological disorders is relatively new. Yet,
      comorbidity data have fundamental significance for classification and treatment.
      This significance is particularly apparent in the anxiety disorders, which, prior
      to DSM-III-R, were subsumed under disorders considered more significant (e.g.,
      psychotic and depressive disorders). After considering definitional,
      methodological, and theoretical issues of comorbidity, data on comorbidity among
      the anxiety disorders are reviewed as well as data on comorbidity of anxiety
      disorders with the depressive, personality, and substance use disorders.
      Treatment implications are presented with preliminary data on the effects of
      psychosocial treatment of panic disorder on co-morbid generalized anxiety
      disorder. Implications of comorbidity for research on the nature of
      psychopathology and the ultimate integration of dimensional and categorical
      features in our nosology are considered.

PMID- 1460148
TI  - Comorbidity of schizophrenia and substance abuse: implications for treatment.
AB  - The problem of substance abuse disorders in schizophrenia patients is reviewed,
      including the prevalence of co-morbid disorders, assessment, hypothesized
      mechanisms underlying abuse, and the clinical effects of abuse on the course of
      illness and cognitive functioning. The principles of treatment for dual-diagnosis
      schizophrenia patients are outlined, and the limitations of existing
      interventions are noted. Gaps in current knowledge about the impact of substance
      abuse on schizophrenia and its treatment are identified, and suggestions are made
      regarding promising avenues of research in this area.

PMID- 1460149
TI  - Comorbidity of personality disorders and depression: implications for treatment.
AB  - This article reviews naturalistic and controlled studies of the impact of
      comorbidity of personality disorders and depression on response to various forms
      of treatment. The findings support the common belief that personality disorders
      are associated with a poorer response to treatment for depression. In contrast,
      the limited data available suggest that the presence of depression may be a
      positive prognostic indicator for patients with borderline and antisocial
      personality disorder. There are insufficient data to draw conclusions regarding
      the influence of specific types of personality disorders on outcome with specific
      forms of treatment for depression. More specific assessment of personality
      disorders, particularly of possible underlying dimensions, is likely to be a more
      fruitful approach than the currently used categorical approach in identifying
      effective treatments for patients with personality disorders and depression.

PMID- 1460150
TI  - Academic underachievement, attention deficits, and aggression: comorbidity and
      implications for intervention.
AB  - Although comorbidity with specific learning disabilities is less frequent than
      commonly reported, externalizing behavior disorders--particularly attention
      deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)--often overlap with various indices of
      academic underachievement during childhood. Furthermore, by adolescence,
      delinquency is clearly associated with school failure. Because the link between
      behavioral and learning problems often appears before formal schooling, and
      because the co-morbid problems predict a negative course, early intervention is a
      necessity. Controlled treatment investigations with youngsters who show these
      combined problems are rare, and such studies present a host of methodologic and
      practical problems. I discuss issues surrounding multimodality treatment programs
      and the potential for long-term interventions to break cycles of school failure
      and externalizing behavior.

PMID- 1460151
TI  - Comorbidity and treatment planning: summary and future directions.
AB  - This summary blends the commentaries from the 6 articles in the special section
      on comorbidity. Included is a discussion of various definitions of comorbidity,
      the merits and demerits of a hierarchical diagnostic system, and consideration of
      the extent, patterning, and nature of comorbidity. Directive comments with
      reference to future intervention planning mention both assessment (distinguishing
      overlapping constructs) and treatment (sequencing and treatment manuals) issues.

PMID- 1460152
TI  - Parenting in context: systemic thinking about parental conflict and its influence
      on children.
AB  - Fauber and Long's (1991) overview of research on family therapy with children is
      a valuable integration of the literatures on the family correlates of and
      treatments for childhood disorders. Several concerns apply to some of the
      inferences they draw from risk research, however. Their assertion that various
      sources of family distress have effects that are mediated primarily through
      parenting is questionable, as is their suggestion that parenting therefore is the
      appropriate focus of family treatment. The conceptual issues of reductionism,
      linearity, holism, and change in defining causality are discussed in questioning
      these conclusions about etiology and treatment. Other empirical and
      methodological issues are raised briefly, particularly as they relate to
      statistical models of direct and indirect influences and to the body of
      correlational and analogue research on how parental conflict influences children.

PMID- 1460153
TI  - Problems in families of male Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.
AB  - Interviews were conducted with a nationally representative sample of 1,200 male
      Vietnam veterans and the spouses or co-resident partners of 376 of these
      veterans. The veteran interview contained questions to determine the presence of
      posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and items tapping family and marital
      adjustment, parenting problems, and violence. The spouse or partner (S/P)
      interview assessed the S/P's view of these items, as well as her view of her own
      mental health, drug, and alcohol problems and behavioral problems of school-aged
      children living at home. Compared with families of male veterans without current
      PTSD, families of male veterans with current PTSD showed markedly elevated levels
      of severe and diffuse problems in marital and family adjustment, in parenting
      skills, and in violent behavior. Clinical implications of these findings are
      discussed.

PMID- 1460154
TI  - Contingent take-home incentive: effects on drug use of methadone maintenance
      patients.
AB  - This study examined contingent methadone take-home privileges for effectiveness
      in reducing on-going supplemental drug use of methadone maintenance patients.
      Fifty-three new intakes were randomly assigned to begin receiving take-home
      privileges after 2 consecutive weeks of drug-free urines or to a noncontingent
      procedure in which take-homes were delivered independently of urine test results.
      The contingent procedure produced more individuals with at least 4 consecutive
      weeks of abstinence (32% vs. 8%); 28% of noncontingent subjects also achieved
      abstinence after shifting to the contingent procedure. Lower baseline rate of
      drug-free urines was strongly associated with successful outcome, whereas the
      type of drug abused (cocaine vs. benzodiazepines) did not influence outcomes.
      Findings support a recommendation for using contingent take-home incentives to
      motivate abstinence during methadone maintenance treatment.

PMID- 1460155
TI  - How loss affects anger and alienates potential supporters.
AB  - The effects of loss of resources and illness symptoms on experienced anger, anger
      expression, and supporter's anger was studied among patients with severe chronic
      breathing disorder. Both illness symptoms and resource loss were related to
      greater anger. Angry feelings, in turn, led to more angry behavior. This angry
      behavior, in turn, resulted in increased anger of supporters. This process
      illustrates how chronic stress depletes both personal resources and social
      resources, making the individual increasingly vulnerable to further stressful
      experiences, inevitably to be confronted in chronic stress sequences.

PMID- 1460156
TI  - Measures of affect and nicotine dependence predict differential response to
      smoking cessation treatments.
AB  - Smokers (N = 126) were randomly assigned to 6-session smoking cessation
      treatments consisting of 1 of 2 counseling strategies (skills training or
      support) and 1 of 2 nicotine exposure strategies (nicotine gum or rapid smoking).
      Counseling and nicotine strategies were completely crossed; all four combinations
      resulted in equivalent 1-year abstinence rates. Skills training produced higher
      initial cessation and more coping responses posttreatment than did support. Rapid
      smoking, but not nicotine gum, produced tachycardia to the taste of cigarettes
      posttreatment, consistent with cigarette aversion. The treatments were
      differentially effective among subpopulations of smokers: Subjects high in
      pretreatment negative affect responded best to support counseling; those low in
      pretreatment negative affect responded best to skills training. Self-reports of
      pretreatment craving predicted response to the nicotine exposure treatments.

PMID- 1460157
TI  - Family preservation using multisystemic therapy: an effective alternative to
      incarcerating serious juvenile offenders.
AB  - Multisystemic therapy (MST) delivered through a community mental health center
      was compared with usual services delivered by a Department of Youth Services in
      the treatment of 84 serious juvenile offenders and their multiproblem families.
      Offenders were assigned randomly to treatment conditions. Pretreatment and
      posttreatment assessment batteries evaluating family relations, peer relations,
      symptomatology, social competence, and self-reported delinquency were completed
      by the youth and a parent, and archival records were searched at 59 weeks
      postreferral to obtain data on rearrest and incarceration. In comparison with
      youths who received usual services, youths who received MST had fewer arrests and
      self-reported offenses and spent an average of 10 fewer weeks incarcerated. In
      addition, families in the MST condition reported increased family cohesion and
      decreased youth aggression in peer relations. The relative effectiveness of MST
      was neither moderated by demographic characteristics nor mediated by psychosocial
      variables.

PMID- 1460158
TI  - Comparison of integrated systemic and emotionally focused approaches to couples
      therapy.
AB  - This study compared couples receiving two marital therapy approaches and a
      control group over a 10-week treatment period. Integrated systemic therapy (IST)
      and an emotionally focused approach (EFT) were both found to be superior to the
      control and to be equally effective in alleviating marital distress, facilitating
      conflict resolution and goal attainment, and reducing target complaints at
      termination. IST couples, however, showed greater maintenance of gains from
      termination to 4-month follow-up on marital satisfaction and goal attainment.
      Clients' perceptions of how change occurred and issues related to the use of a
      team of observers in IST are discussed.

PMID- 1460159
TI  - Problem solving and suicidality among prison inmates: another look at state
      versus trait.
AB  - This research examines the relationships between means-ends problem solving and
      suicidality among adult male prison inmates in light of new evidence based on
      inpatient and college student populations suggesting that state, rather than
      trait, vulnerabilities may be responsible for problem-solving deficits and
      differences. Using the Means-Ends Problem-Solving Procedure (MEPS) with 93 state
      prison inmates, we found that among inmates with a history of parasuicide,
      current suicidality did not affect problem-solving performance. We further found
      that among nonsuicidal inmates, parasuicide history had no effect on problem
      solving or affect-suicidality measures. Although these results support new
      research suggesting that trait problem-solving deficits are not causally linked
      to suicidality, they raise questions about the potentially unique relationships
      among suicidality, problem solving, depression, and hopelessness in incarcerated
      populations.

PMID- 1460160
TI  - An experimental test of three methods of alcohol risk reduction with young
      adults.
AB  - This study tested 3 forms of alcohol risk reduction programming for young adults.
      Volunteers were randomly assigned to receive a 6-week class and discussion group,
      a 6-unit self-help manual, or a single 1-hr feedback and advice session with
      professional staff. Results reveal significant reductions in self-reported
      drinking at the end of the intervention phase and maintenance of drinking changes
      throughout a 2-year follow-up period. Comparable drinking reductions were rated
      across treatments; however, noncompliance with the self-help reading program
      suggested limited utility. Treatment response was related to subject age, as
      subjects showed increased drinking during the year they reached legal drinking
      status. The efficacy of brief motivational interventions and client matching in
      prevention programs is discussed.

PMID- 1460161
TI  - Effects of videotaped preparatory information on expectations, anxiety, and
      psychotherapy outcome.
AB  - This study examined whether preparation decreases clients' state anxiety and
      improves therapy outcome and clarified the relations among preparation,
      expectations, and state anxiety. Ss were 138 adults referred for outpatient
      psychotherapy. Half of the Ss viewed an 11-min preparatory videotape, while the
      control group waited an equivalent period before their 1st appointment. Pre-post
      measures confirmed that Ss who viewed the videotape had more accurate
      expectations about psychotherapy and lower levels of state anxiety than the
      control Ss. However, at 2-month follow-up, the prepared group had significantly
      better outcomes on only 1 of 10 outcome measures. It is suggested that more
      powerful designs may be necessary to detect long-term effects of preparation and
      that the short-term benefits demonstrated warrant further study.

PMID- 1460162
TI  - Increased saliva cotinine concentrations in smokers during rapid weight loss.
AB  - Although the effect of smoking cessation on weight gain is well-documented,
      little is known about the effect of weight loss on smoking. We examined the
      association between saliva cotinine levels and weight loss in a group of 9 obese
      female smokers during participation in a protein-sparing modified fast
      (Optifast). For the first 3 months of treatment, subjects consumed only the
      protein-sparing supplement; for the next 3 months, food was gradually
      reintroduced. Body mass index and saliva cotinine concentration were assessed at
      study entry and at 3 and 6 months. A significant weight loss was noted at 3 and 6
      months, yet the cotinine level increased significantly over this time. It is
      unclear whether the cotinine increase is due to metabolic changes or an actual
      increase in nicotine intake. The results suggest that smoking-related health
      risks may increase during periods of significant weight loss.

PMID- 1460163
TI  - D-fenfluramine-induced prolactin and cortisol release in major depression:
      response to treatment.
AB  - In order to test the effects of various biological treatments on serotonergic
      function in depression, twenty-one patients with a diagnosis of major depression
      underwent neuroendocrine challenge tests before and after treatment with either
      ECT, fluoxetine or amitriptyline. The serotonin (5-HT) releasing agent d
      fenfluramine was used as a challenge drug and cortisol (CORT) and prolactin (PRL)
      plasma levels were monitored over a 5-h period. Overall PRL responses were
      significantly enhanced following pharmacotherapy irrespective of therapeutic
      outcome. Effective treatment in each case lowered baseline CORT levels but CORT
      response to d-fenfluramine remained blunted. Hypercortisolaemia may be involved
      in the impaired pretreatment PRL response as a strong inverse relationship was
      established, for the combined studies, between basal CORT plasma concentrations
      and PRL responses.

PMID- 1460164
TI  - The familial relation of personality disorders (DSM-II-R) to unipolar major
      depression.
AB  - Four hundred and fifty directly interviewed relatives of probands with non
      psychotic unipolar major depression and 320 directly interviewed relatives of
      controls were compared by the prevalences of personality disorders (P.D.) as
      defined by DSM-III-R, in relation to presence or absence of the relatives'
      affective disorder. Overall, there was only a trend for an increased risk for
      P.D. in relatives of depressed patients. However, P.D. and unipolar major
      depression co-occurred more frequently in relatives than expected by chance. It
      is suggested that this association is mainly due to non-familial factors.
      Compared with other P.D., the relationship of borderline P.D. to major depression
      was not substantially stronger.

PMID- 1460165
TI  - Help-seeking patterns of community residents with depressive symptoms.
AB  - From a community sample, fifty-five individuals identified as having three or
      more symptoms of depression were asked if and where they had sought help and how
      they found or would find treatment. Only 20 subjects (33.9%) reported having
      sought professional help. No demographic differences were found between help
      seekers and non-help-seekers. Eighty percent of the help-seekers had seen a
      mental health professional while 20% had seen a non-psychiatric physician.
      However, non-psychiatric physicians and friends or personal acquaintances were
      most frequently cited as the first point of contact for locating treatment.
      Results suggest that most individuals with a moderate number of depressive
      symptoms do not seek professional assistance but that, among those who do, a
      majority is eventually seen by a mental health professional. Virtually all
      utilize intermediaries other than mental health professionals, however, to locate
      assistance. The non-psychiatric physician plays a prominent role in locating help
      for depressed individuals, which suggests the need to educate physicians about
      appropriate treatment referral.

PMID- 1460166
TI  - Brofaromine in major depressed patients: a controlled clinical trial versus
      imipramine and open follow-up of up to one year.
AB  - In an 8-week controlled double-blind clinical trial with a total of 216 patients
      Brofaromine was found to be superior to Imipramine with regard to efficacy
      (Hamilton Depression Scale, von Zerssen self-rating scale, global evaluation) and
      tolerability (adverse experiences, global evaluation). Mean daily dosages were
      93.1 mg/day in the Brofaromine group and 92 mg/day in the Imipramine Group. No
      tyramine reduced diet had to be observed. Long-term efficacy and tolerability
      also proved to be good in an open follow-up in the Brofaromine group.

PMID- 1460167
TI  - Thyroid abnormalities during chronic lithium treatment in Hong Kong Chinese: a
      controlled study.
AB  - Fifty Chinese psychiatric patients on chronic lithium treatment and the same
      number of sex- and age-matched control outpatients were assessed by a
      thyroidologist and underwent laboratory investigations. Lithium patients had a
      higher rate of goitres (50% vs 10%, P < 0.0001) and a higher mean TSH level (P <
      0.005) than controls. Thyroid antibodies were detected in 7 older manic
      depressive patients as opposed to 1 control, but not in patients with recurrent
      unipolar mania. Five patients, but no controls, had single or multiple episodes
      of hyperthyroidism, which was followed in 2 of them by biochemical
      hypothyroidism. It is suggested that variations in iodine status, dietary
      goitrogens, immunogenetic makeup and their complex interactions with chronic
      lithium treatment may contribute to ethnically different patterns of thyroid
      abnormalities.

PMID- 1460169
TI  - Circadian rhythm abnormalities of deep body temperature in depressive disorders.
AB  - We investigated circadian rhythms of body temperature in 62 inpatients with major
      depressive episodes, by monitoring the deep body temperature through the
      abdominal skin every two hours for a consecutive 48-h period. The data were
      analyzed by both the least-squares method and the maximum entropy spectral
      analysis (MEM) and were compared with those in 29 normal volunteers who
      apparently had a regular 24-h sleep-wake schedule. Circadian rhythm phase
      disturbances in the depressed patients were likely to be manifested in a phase
      normal or a phase delay pattern rather than in a phase advance pattern. The
      amplitude of body temperature was significantly smaller and the mesor was higher
      in the depressed patients than in the normal subjects. Analysis by MEM revealed
      that the periods of circadian rhythm of body temperature tended to be longer in
      the depressed patients than in the normal subjects, though there was no
      significant difference. The power spectral density by MEM was significantly
      lower, and there were significantly more ultradian rhythm components in the
      depressed patients than in the normal subjects. These findings suggest that the
      fundamental rhythm disturbance in depression may be a weakening of the coupling
      processes between internal pacemakers and an abnormal sensitivity to
      environmental information.

PMID- 1460168
TI  - The sleep structure of patients with anxiety disorders in comparison to that of
      healthy controls and depressive patients under baseline conditions and after
      cholinergic stimulation.
AB  - This study investigated sleep EEG during placebo and after cholinergic
      stimulation with RS 86 in 36 healthy subjects, 34 patients with major depression
      and 20 patients with anxiety disorders. Cholinergic stimulation with RS 86 led to
      a decrease of slow wave sleep and REM latency. RS 86 had a more profound impact
      on REM latency in patients with major depression than in healthy controls and
      patients with anxiety disorders. Six out of 36 healthy controls, three out of 20
      patients with anxiety disorders and 24 of 34 patients with depression displayed
      sleep onset REM periods after cholinergic stimulation. Also effects on REM
      density and duration of the first REM period were more pronounced in major
      depression. Even in those patients with anxiety disorders and a secondary major
      depression no depression-like sleep abnormalities could be provoked. The results
      underline the usefulness of the cholinergic REM induction test to differentiate
      patients with major depression from those with other psychiatric disorders. The
      results can be interpreted as further evidence for the cholinergic-aminergic
      imbalance model of depression and for the reciprocal interaction model of nonREM
      REM regulation.

PMID- 1460170
TI  - Diurnal variation: reliability of measurement and relationship to typical and
      atypical symptoms of depression.
AB  - We used three rating scales to study diurnal variation of mood in 37 patients
      with major depressive disorder (17 drug-free patients and 20 treatment refractory
      patients on stable regimens of antidepressant medication). The three rating
      scales included global self-ratings administered twice a day; an itemized,
      prospective, observer-rated scale administered twice a day; and the retrospective
      item on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Z scores and Intraclass Correlation
      Coefficients demonstrated a poor level of agreement between the itemized,
      prospective scale and the self-ratings. In addition, stepwise multiple regression
      analysis and point bi-serial correlation showed no systematic relationship
      between atypical diurnal variation (i.e., mood worsening in the evening) and
      atypical depressive symptoms (weight gain, hypersomnia, etc.), or between typical
      diurnal variation (i.e., mood worsening in the morning) and typical depressive
      symptoms (weight loss, insomnia, etc.). This lack of relationship was observed in
      both drug-free and medicated patients using each of the three rating scales. We
      discuss possible explanations for these negative findings.

PMID- 1460171
TI  - Severe disturbance occurring during treatment for depression of a bulimic patient
      with fluoxetine.
AB  - We report on a 32-year old woman with bulimia nervosa treated with fluoxetine for
      depression. Fluoxetine is the only drug currently recommended for the treatment
      of bulimia. The patient became severely disturbed with tension, irritability,
      self-damage by cutting and violent, intense, suicidal and paranoid ideation
      qualitatively different to previous symptoms in the course of her illness.
      Clinical impression was of a striking association between fluoxetine and these
      symptoms. We suggest caution when using fluoxetine in bulimic patients with
      depression who have additional impulsive behaviours such as self-cutting, alcohol
      and/or drug abuse and shop-lifting.

PMID- 1460172
TI  - Living arrangements, knowledge of health risks, and stress as determinants of
      health-risk behavior among college students.
AB  - The association of knowledge of health risks, living arrangements, and perceived
      stress with health-risk behaviors was examined in a sample of college students
      included in the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Supplement of the
      National Health Interview Survey. Regressions of each health-risk behavior
      (dependent variable) were performed on the predicted correlates. Although
      knowledge was not associated with participation in physical activity or smoking,
      the study found that students who knew more about the harmful effects of alcohol
      drank less, and those with greater knowledge of health risks practiced fewer
      risky behaviors. Students living independently were more likely to smoke, and
      those living in residence halls were less like to do so. Drinking, however, was
      more common among students living in residence halls or independently than among
      those living at home. Hall residents engaged in more group physical activity than
      other students did, but their physical activity was unrelated to health-risk
      behaviors. Stress was associated with smoking but not with other health
      practices. The findings suggest that smoking may be less influenced by health
      knowledge and more associated than drinking is with a response to stress.
      Drinking appears to be a social activity associated with living among peers and
      is potentially modifiable by increased knowledge about the effects of alcohol on
      health.

PMID- 1460173
TI  - Assessing alcohol problems in college students.
AB  - Alcohol abuse among college students is prevalent, yet few instruments with sound
      reliability and validity are available to assess these problems in this
      population. As part of a large, baseline assessment battery for a prospective
      study of offspring of alcoholics, the 27-item Young Adult Alcohol Problems
      Screening Test (YAAPST) was given to 490 freshmen at a large midwestern
      university; approximately 9 months later, 482 subjects completed the scale again.
      In addition to asking about such traditional problems as experiencing blackouts
      and driving while intoxicated, the YAAPST included specific items relating to
      college experiences (eg, getting into sexual situations that were later
      regretted, missing classes, and receiving lower grades than usual). The YAAPST
      was designed to assess these drinking consequences over two different time
      frames, lifetime and past year, and also to indicate the frequency of occurrence
      during the past year. Results indicated that the YAAPST is a unidimensional scale
      with good psychometric properties (good internal consistency and test-retest
      reliability). Three different approaches were used to demonstrate the validity of
      the YAAPST. Findings supported criterion validity (with interview-based alcohol
      abuse/dependence diagnoses as the criterion), concurrent validity (comparing the
      YAAPST with other drinking measures), and construct validity (correlating the
      YAAPST with etiologically relevant personality, motivational, and peer influence
      variables). The YAAPST is a promising screening instrument for alcohol problems
      in college students. It has excellent psychometric properties and the potential
      to provide a range of useful information to the clinician or researcher.

PMID- 1460174
TI  - Fitness profiles and activity patterns of entering college students.
AB  - Fitness levels of American youth have shown a marked decline in the last decade,
      according to recent studies. To determine whether such a tendency persists for
      entering college students, the authors evaluated 115 male and 143 female students
      for performance on the following fitness-related variables: (1) maximal oxygen
      consumption (estimated from Astrand cycling protocol), (2) body composition (skin
      fold techniques), (3) muscle endurance (sit-up protocol), (4) muscle strength
      (bench-press protocol), and (5) joint flexibility (upper and lower body
      protocols). Although neither men nor women exhibited high levels of
      cardiorespiratory fitness, the women in the study showed higher relative levels
      than their male counterparts. Both groups showed excellent levels of muscle
      strength (compared with normative standards), but they achieved only an average
      standard for muscle endurance. Findings of relatively low levels of
      cardiovascular fitness compared with levels of muscle strength, particularly in
      men, seem to be a reflection of an inappropriate concentration of physical
      activity.

PMID- 1460175
TI  - Recurrent pain in college students.
AB  - The authors investigated the prevalence of recurrent pain in a college student
      sample. Of the 1,564 students surveyed, 467 (29%) indicated that they had
      experienced recurrent pain at an intensity that was mostly in the mild-to
      moderate range. Students who reported having recurrent pain were significantly
      older and more depressed than students who did not indicate they suffered from
      recurrent pain. Pain intensity was positively correlated (r = .14) with
      depression among the students who reported having recurrent pain. Implications of
      the findings for future research, treatment, and health promotion efforts are
      discussed.

PMID- 1460176
TI  - A liberal arts health promotion course.
AB  - With a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, the University of North Carolina
      at Asheville and the Mountain Area Health Education Center established a campus
      health promotion program that also trained family practice residents in health
      promotion skills. The heart of the program was a 3-credit course that emphasized
      stress management, aerobic conditioning, interpersonal relationship skills, and
      nutrition. Follow-ups after 2 years revealed that 90% of the students who
      responded said the course had had some lasting effect on their lives.

PMID- 1460177
TI  - Surveying University of Arizona students' health.
AB  - The authors sampled more than 600 University of Arizona students to determine how
      student attitudes, beliefs, and practices should be considered by healthcare
      personnel in planning campus health education programs. The survey found that
      students worried more about diet, exercise, and weight than they did about more
      serious health problems and that, although generally positive and optimistic, the
      students frequently felt anxious and overwhelmed. Two thirds of the students were
      sexually active, 74% of those who were active used various contraceptive methods.
      More than three quarters of those surveyed indicated they currently drank
      alcoholic beverages; one quarter of the drinkers said they frequently downed
      three or more drinks on one occasion, and 44% of the drinkers reported driving
      while under the influence of alcohol.

PMID- 1460178
TI  - Alcohol education and treatment: on the use of leverage in the college setting.

PMID- 1460179
TI  - Gender role strains: one man's awakening.

PMID- 1460180
TI  - Aging in humans: a continuous 20-year study of physiologic and dietary
      parameters.
AB  - The old adage, "You are what you eat," is not always reliable, as demonstrated in
      this mixed-longitudinal study of men that began in 1969. Mean values of percent
      body fat, total body potassium (TBK), and total serum cholesterol (SCHOL) did not
      show changes that correlated with any studied nutrient from repeated 4-day diet
      records. Mean blood pressure increased with increased body weight as age
      increased. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased when polyunsaturated
      fat intake increased. The men had decreased mean height, TBK and increase in
      percent body fat as age increased. Food energy intake decreased equally from
      carbohydrates, protein and fat as age increased. Large standard deviations of
      mean values of measured parameters document heterogeneity of these subjects. A
      subset of 144 male cohorts was studied serially for 20 years in time-age, cross
      sectional and longitudinal series. As they aged, height and TBK decreased (p < or
      = 0.05), percent body fat and blood pressure increased (p < or = 0.04) and SCHOL
      had no significant change. Intake of all nutrients decreased significantly (p <
      or = 0.03) longitudinally and with time, showing a time effect.

PMID- 1460181
TI  - Marginal nutritional status among institutionalized elderly women as compared to
      those living more independently (Dutch Nutrition Surveillance System).
AB  - The nutritional status (assessed by anthropometric indices, and biochemical and
      hematological variables in blood) of three groups of elderly women (aged > or =
      65 years) was evaluated within the framework of the Dutch Nutrition Surveillance
      System. The groups were composed of women living in a nursing home (n = 51),
      women living in service flats and receiving their dinners from the nursing home
      kitchen (n = 29), and women living independently (n = 52). Mean blood levels of
      folate, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin C,
      albumin, selenium and total cholesterol were significantly (p < 0.05) lower among
      nursing home women. Among these women a biochemical deficiency was frequently
      found for 25-hydroxyvitamin D (73%), pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (57%), vitamin C
      (38%), selenium (30%) and folate (28%). These nutritional risks were largely
      independent of each other. Since folate and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate were
      associated with several clinicochemical indicators, health status may be an
      important determining factor for this unfavorable situation. Low 25
      hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were associated with limited exposure to
      ultraviolet radiation and nonusage of vitamin D supplements. We conclude that
      dietary intake variables are not the only determinants of a marginal nutritional
      status among nursing home women. Use of foods with a high nutrient density should
      be encouraged, whereas other preventive measures are needed to improve vitamin D
      status.

PMID- 1460182
TI  - Lack of an effect of multivitamins containing vitamin A on serum retinyl esters
      and liver function tests in healthy women.
AB  - Two hundred eighty-four female adults (aged 40-70 years) were longitudinally
      studied to investigate the relationship between dietary supplemental vitamin A
      and serum biochemical markers of vitamin A toxicity. Serum retinol, retinyl
      esters, and retinol-binding protein (RBP), alkaline phosphatase and aspartate
      aminotransferase activities and bile acids were measured at baseline, 1 and 2
      years. Fasting serum retinol and retinyl ester concentrations were determined by
      high-performance liquid chromatography, and dietary and supplemental intake of
      vitamin A were assessed by 3-day food records. There was no difference in dietary
      vitamin A intake between supplement users and nonusers. In supplemental users,
      the mean +/- SEM supplemental vitamin A intake was 952 +/- 81 IU/day (range 250
      5000 retinol equivalents/day). Serum retinol, retinyl esters, and RBP
      concentrations were not different between the two groups during the 2-year
      period. For each group, serum retinyl esters significantly increased over time (p
      < 0.03), but the magnitude of the increase was not different between the groups.
      Serum levels of retinol, retinyl esters, and RBP were not correlated with vitamin
      A intake or age in either group. Biochemical measures of liver damage (serum
      alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase activities and serum bile
      acids) were not related to serum retinol, retinyl esters or RBP concentrations,
      nor were they different between nonusers and users of supplemental vitamin A.
      This study provides evidence that long-term supplemental vitamin A in doses
      commonly found in multivitamin supplements does not present a risk for
      hypervitaminosis A.

PMID- 1460183
TI  - Effects of dietary magnesium and nickel on growth and bone characteristics in
      rats.
AB  - We examined the interaction of dietary magnesium (Mg) and nickel (Ni) on growth
      and, in particular, the size, composition and mechanical properties of bones in
      weanling rats. Male rats were fed a diet with 0.3, 1.0 or 2.0 times the
      recommended concentration of Mg and adequate amounts of other nutrients. After a
      week, groups fed the low- and high-Mg diets were subdivided and fed the same
      concentration of Mg plus 0 or 500 mg Ni/kg diet (from Ni chloride) for the
      remaining 7 weeks. Rats fed low Mg with added Ni grew slowly and had smaller
      femurs and vertebrae that contained less ash and withstood less force before
      breaking or compression than did bones of rats fed the low-Mg diet without Ni.
      However, the breaking stress calculated for femurs from Mg-depleted, Ni
      supplemented animals was increased. Ni did not produce these effects when added
      to a diet high in Mg. Compared with high dietary concentrations, the low-Mg
      intake had little effect unless Ni was added.

PMID- 1460184
TI  - Zinc status before and after zinc supplementation of eating disorder patients.
AB  - Reduced food consumption is a major manifestation of zinc (Zn) deficiency. Many
      manifestations of Zn deficiency are complications of anorexia nervosa and bulimia
      nervosa. We evaluated serum and 24-hour urinary Zn values in 12 healthy
      volunteers and 33 eating disorder patients before and after hospitalization which
      included either Zn supplementation (75 mg Zn/day) or placebo. Bulimics had
      depressed serum Zn concentrations (p < 0.025). Admission urinary Zn was lower in
      bulimics (258 +/- 44 micrograms/day), and significantly depressed in anorexics
      (196 +/- 36 micrograms/day, p < 0.005) vs controls (376 +/- 45 micrograms/day).
      During hospitalization, serum Zn concentrations increased in all supplemented
      patients vs no change with placebo. Urinary Zn excretion increased in
      supplemented bulimics (p < 0.001) and placebo (p < 0.05). Urinary Zn excretion
      markedly increased in supplemented anorexics (179 +/- 65 to 1052 +/- 242
      micrograms/day); however, placebo values fell or remained unacceptably low
      (admission 208 +/- 48 micrograms/day; discharge 160 +/- 17 micrograms/day). By
      dietary history, controls consumed the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for Zn
      (11.95 +/- 1.25 mg/day); anorexics 6.46 +/- 1.14 mg/day; and bulimics 8.93 +/-
      1.29 mg/day. We suggest that Zn deficiency may act as a "sustaining" factor for
      abnormal eating behavior in certain eating disorder patients.

PMID- 1460185
TI  - Glucose appearance rate following protein ingestion in normal subjects.
AB  - The fate of amino acids deaminated following protein ingestion is uncertain.
      Presumably, the majority of the carbon skeletons of the amino acids are converted
      into glucose in the liver. In the present study, tritiated glucose dilution
      tracer studies have been used to determine the effect of a protein meal on the
      glucose appearance rate in plasma. Five normal male subjects ingested 50 g of
      protein in the form of cottage cheese. The glucose appearance rate was determined
      using a constant infusion of 3H-glucose, and compared to the glucose appearance
      rate following the ingestion of just water in the same subjects over an 8-hour
      period. The total amount of protein deaminated and converted to urea also was
      quantitated. Urea production could account for the metabolism of 29.3 g of
      protein ingested, or 58.5%. Glucose appearing in the circulation as a result of
      amino acid metabolism determined by tracer methodology was 9.68 +/- 5.7 g. Based
      on the gluconeogenic potential of cottage cheese (42.3 g of glucose from 50 g of
      cottage cheese protein), this could only account for at most 43% of protein
      metabolized, or 23% of the total amount of protein ingested. The fate of the
      remaining amino acids metabolized remains to be determined.

PMID- 1460186
TI  - Weight loss, body composition and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in
      obese children: long-term effects of two treatment strategies.
AB  - Two treatment strategies were compared to determine their effects on weight loss,
      body composition and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in 32 obese
      children (relative weight > 120%) aged 6-15 years. Modes of therapy included
      individual (Group I) or group treatment (Group II). The children were treated for
      1 year and observed during the second year. Relative body weight decreased by
      16.6% in Group I (p < 0.001) and by 15.8% (p < 0.01) in Group II during the first
      year; in both groups the lower relative body weight was maintained during the
      year of observation. No changes were observed in linear growth or lean body mass.
      Weight reduction was accompanied by increased high-density lipoprotein
      cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, increased ratio of HDL-C to total cholesterol, and
      reduced triglyceride concentrations in both groups. Fasting plasma insulin
      concentrations decreased significantly in Group I. In conclusion, intensive
      treatment produced significant weight loss, improved serum lipid profile and
      reduced hyperinsulinemia. These changes, if sustained, may reduce the risk of CVD
      later in life.

PMID- 1460187
TI  - The relationship of weight-height indices of obesity to body fat content.
AB  - The measurement called desirable body weight (DBW) was derived by actuaries to
      indicate that weight which is associated with the lowest mortality. Percent
      deviation from DBW has become a standard measure of fatness. A different obesity
      index, body mass index (BMI), is weight in kilograms divided by the square of
      height in meters. Many workers consider both measures inferior to the measurement
      of body fat content (BFC). We compared the three measures of fatness in 40 men
      aged 18-50 and 48 women aged 21-47, ranging from nonobese to extremely obese.
      Total BFC was determined by isotope dilution of 3H-labeled water. DBWs used were
      those listed in the US Air Force Examination Manual of 1971; these approximate
      the midpoint of the range of medium-frame values in the 1959 Metropolitan Life
      Insurance Tables, but have the advantage of providing a single value for each
      height. We found nearly perfect correlation (r = 0.99, p < 0.001) between BMI and
      percent deviation from DBW in both men and women ranging from 14% below to 305%
      above DBW. Correlations between percent deviation from DBW and total BFC were
      extremely high: 0.95 (p < 0.001) for the men and 0.94 (p < 0.001) for the women,
      essentially the same as correlations between BMI and BFC, which were 0.96 (p <
      0.001) for the men and 0.95 (p < 0.001) for the women. It appears that the two
      technically simple weight-height indices, BMI and percent deviation from DBW,
      give just as accurate a measurement of fatness as the technically complex
      measurement of total BFC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460188
TI  - Sucrose ingestion following exercise: selected cardiovascular, hormonal, renal,
      and metabolic effects.
AB  - Carbohydrates, frequently consumed following exercise for glycogen resynthesis,
      have been shown to have other systemic effects in resting men. We examined the
      effects of postexercise sucrose (a disaccharide carbohydrate) ingestion on the
      renal, cardiovascular, and sympathetic nervous systems. Eight men consumed 1 l of
      water (W) or 1 l of a 200 g sucrose solution (S) following 1 hour of bicycle
      exercise at 70% heart rate reserve. Measurements were made during 2 hours of
      recovery. Heart rate and systolic blood pressure were elevated following S as
      compared to W (p < 0.009, p < 0.04, respectively). Diastolic blood pressure was
      lower after S (p < 0.04) and mean blood pressure did not differ between
      beverages. Plasma and urinary catecholamines decreased similarly after exercise
      regardless of treatment. After S insulin (p = 0.0019) and glucose (p = 0.0036)
      were increased but serum aldosterone (p = 0.0083) and potassium (p = 0.0285)
      responses were lower. No differences were observed for plasma renin activity.
      Urine volume and kaliuresis were less after S (p = 0.03, p = 0.03). A 24%
      increase in metabolic rate (p = 0.002) and increased respiratory exchange ratio
      (p = 0.02) after S were observed. Systemic effects of sucrose ingestion following
      exercise include cardiovascular, renal, endocrine, and metabolic changes.

PMID- 1460189
TI  - Use of a modified food frequency questionnaire during pregnancy.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of the self-administered
      modified Willett food frequency questionnaire (mWFFQ) relative to duplicate 24
      hour recall interviews as a dietary assessment tool during pregnancy. Fifty
      healthy pregnant women living in the upper Midwest were recruited for the study.
      At gestational weeks 16 and 21 (second trimester) and 30 and 35 (third trimester)
      the women were interviewed at home; they provided oral responses concerning their
      food and beverage consumption during the previous 24 hours. At weeks 21 and 35,
      immediately following the interviews, the women were asked to complete an
      optically scannable food frequency questionnaire, modified to evaluate daily food
      consumption during a 2-month time period (mWFFQ). Kilocalories and seven
      nutrients were computed from all dietary data, based on USDA Handbooks 8 and 456.
      Regression analyses were performed between nutrient intake from the 24-hour
      recall averages and the nutrient data generated by the mWFFQ, with the timesters
      serving as independent time periods. According to our preset criterion,
      correlation coefficients indicated that the assessment tools were comparable
      during the third but not the second trimester. During both trials, the mWFFQ
      provided consistently higher kilocalorie and nutrient values than did the 24-hour
      recall with the exception of fat intake. Based on our findings we conclude that
      the mWFFQ is a useful tool for assessing nutrient intake of groups of pregnant
      women, but that familiarity with the characteristics of the participants and the
      instrument may be important to data interpretation.

PMID- 1460190
TI  - Toothpaste flavor-induced asthma.

PMID- 1460191
TI  - Localization of IgE to lung germinal lymphoid follicles in a patient with
      allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

PMID- 1460192
TI  - Rhinitis and asthma caused by occupational exposure to carob bean flour.

PMID- 1460193
TI  - The true story of the pilot who was itching to fly.

PMID- 1460194
TI  - Precision of prick and puncture tests.

PMID- 1460195
TI  - Intolerance to piroxicam in patients with adverse reactions to nonsteroidal
      antiinflammatory drugs.
AB  - To evaluate the tolerance to piroxicam in patients with urticaria induced by
      analgesic and/or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), we carried out a 2
      year study in an outpatient clinic. All the patients referred to the clinic for
      study entered a protocol for evaluation of intolerance to one or more drugs. If
      patients were allergic to at least two different NSAIDs they were allocated to
      group A, but if patients were allergic to only one they were considered as having
      selective intolerance (group B). Either piroxicam or placebo was administered
      under controlled conditions to both groups. In group A, five out of 18 patients
      had a positive response to piroxicam. In group B, in all the 25 cases studied a
      good tolerance to piroxicam was shown. These results indicate that in the group
      with intolerance to NSAIDs piroxicam induced a positive reaction in 27% of the
      cases, and that this drug should be administered with caution and with a previous
      controlled challenge in this type of patient. Piroxicam was well tolerated in the
      group with selective intolerance, indicating that mechanisms other than
      interference with the prostaglandin synthesis and release of inflammatory
      mediators participate in allergic reactions to NSAIDs.

PMID- 1460196
TI  - Allergenicity of peanut and soybean extracts altered by chemical or thermal
      denaturation in patients with atopic dermatitis and positive food challenges.
AB  - Peanuts and soybeans are two of the six most common foods to cause food
      hypersensitivity reactions in children. We used the serum of 10 patients with
      atopic dermatitis and positive double-blind, placebo-controlled, food challenges
      to peanut and two patients with atopic dermatitis and positive double-blind,
      placebo-controlled, food challenges to soybean to investigate the change in IgE
      specific and IgG-specific binding to these proteins altered by either chemical or
      thermal denaturation. We used IgE- and IgG-specific ELISA-inhibition analyses to
      compare these effects on the crude peanut and crude soy extracts, as well as on
      the major allergenic fractions of both proteins. Heating the soy proteins at
      various temperatures and time intervals did not significantly change the IgE- or
      IgG-specific binding of the soy positive pooled serum. When the peanut proteins
      were subjected to similar heating experiments, the IgE- and IgG-specific binding
      did not change. When these same proteins were treated with enzymes in the
      immobilized digestive enzyme assay system used to mimic human digestion, the
      binding of IgE to the crude peanut and crude soy extracts was reduced; 100-fold
      for peanut and 10-fold for soybean. Therefore it appears that thermal
      denaturation of peanut and soybean protein extracts does not enhance or reduce
      IgE- and IgG-specific binding activity. Chemical denaturation appears to
      minimally reduce the binding of these proteins.

PMID- 1460197
TI  - Complementary DNA cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of Aln g I, the
      major allergen in pollen of alder (Alnus glutinosa).
AB  - Previous data showed that the major pollen allergens from trees of the order
      Fagales, in particular alder, birch, hazel, and hornbeam, are highly
      interrelated. As only the complete amino acid sequence of Bet v I, the major
      allergen from birch, has been known, it was of interest to obtain the primary
      structure of other major allergens of this group, to attribute IgE-binding
      properties to certain features of the amino acid sequences of those allergens.
      cDNA was synthesized from alder pollen mRNA, sequence-specifically amplified by
      polymerase chain reaction and cloned into plasmid bluescript. Comparison of the
      deduced amino acid sequences of Aln g I and Bet v I revealed a 86.8% homology.
      The Aln g I encoding cDNA was subcloned into pKK223-3 and expressed in
      Escherichia coli as a full-length nonfusion protein. The recombinant Aln g I
      bound IgE from tree pollen-allergic patients and was shown to share IgE-epitopes
      with Bet v I by inhibition studies with recombinant Bet v I. Computer-aided
      calculations predicted epitopes in both Aln g I and Bet v I at the same position;
      the Bet v I molecule was predicted to possess two additional epitopes near the N
      terminus of the molecule.

PMID- 1460198
TI  - Increased contraction and inositol phosphate formation of tracheal smooth muscle
      from hyperresponsive guinea pigs.
AB  - Tracheal smooth muscle from guinea pigs with documented airway
      hyperresponsiveness in vivo after multiple antigen challenges produced 30% to 50%
      greater force than tracheas from control guinea pigs, when stimulated with
      carbachol, histamine, or leukotriene D4. When cultured smooth muscle cells were
      incubated with myo[2-3H]inositol, basal uptake of [3H]inositol was similar in
      cells from normal and hyperresponsive guinea pigs, but when these cells were
      stimulated with contractile agonists, there was increased uptake of inositol in
      hyperresponsive cells. Analysis of inositol phosphates by column chromatography
      and high-performance liquid chromatography revealed the presence of inositol
      1,4,5-triphosphate, inositol-1,3,4-trisphosphate, inositol-1,4-bisphosphate, and
      inositol-1-monophosphate. The release of inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate, inositol
      1,4-biphosphate, and inositol-1-monophosphate by smooth muscle cells stimulated
      with carbachol, leukotriene D4, or histamine was 20% to 40% greater in cells
      derived from hyperresponsive animals than cells from normal animals. These data
      demonstrate that the increased muscle contraction of hyperresponsive guinea pig
      tracheas is associated with increased inositol phosphate metabolism in these
      cells. Delineating the mechanisms of airway smooth muscle contraction should
      provide new pharmacologic targets for the inhibition of bronchoconstriction in
      asthma.

PMID- 1460199
TI  - Natural history of occupational asthma: relevance of type of agent and other
      factors in the rate of development of symptoms in affected subjects.
AB  - It is unknown whether factors such as the nature of the agent, gender, age,
      atopy, smoking habits, continuous or noncontinuous exposure, and pattern of
      asthmatic reaction can influence the rate of development of symptoms in subjects
      with occupational asthma. We compared several clinical and functional parameters
      among three groups of subjects with occupational asthma caused by Western red
      cedar (group 1, n = 433), isocyanates (group 2, n = 107), and high molecular
      weight agents acting through an IgE-mediated mechanism (group 3, n = 121).
      Survival analysis showed that the three curves relating years of exposure before
      onset of symptoms to the proportion of subjects without symptoms were
      significantly different in two respects: (1) almost 40% of subjects in groups 1
      and 2 as compared with 20% of subjects in group 3 became symptomatic within 1
      year of exposure; (2) after 5 years of exposure, the rate of sensitization was
      slower for subjects in groups 2 and 3 as compared with those in group 1. Having a
      nonimmediate reaction at the time of specific inhalation challenges, being
      continuously exposed and being younger slightly increased the risk at each time
      point on the curve of developing symptoms in subjects with occupational asthma.
      These data suggest that the natural history for onset of occupational asthma is
      different depending on the sensitizing agent. Factors such as age, type of
      exposure, and pattern of reaction on exposure to the agent also modulate the rate
      of development of this condition.

PMID- 1460200
TI  - Identification and characterization of a second major peanut allergen, Ara h II,
      with use of the sera of patients with atopic dermatitis and positive peanut
      challenge.
AB  - Peanuts are frequently a cause of food hypersensitivity reactions in children.
      Serum from nine patients with atopic dermatitis and a positive double-blind,
      placebo-controlled, food challenge to peanut were used in the process of
      identification and purification of the peanut allergens. Identification of a
      second major peanut allergen was accomplished with use of various biochemical and
      molecular techniques. Anion exchange chromatography of the crude peanut extract
      produced several fractions that bound IgE from the serum of the patient pool with
      positive challenges. By measuring antipeanut specific IgE and by IgE-specific
      immunoblotting we have identified an allergic component that has two closely
      migrating bands with a mean molecular weight of 17 kd. Two-dimensional gel
      electrophoresis of this fraction revealed it to have a mean isoelectric point of
      5.2. According to allergen nomenclature of the IUIS Subcommittee for Allergen
      Nomenclature this allergen is designated, Ara h II (Arachis hypogaea).

PMID- 1460201
TI  - Evaluation of the Multi-Test device for immediate hypersensitivity skin testing.
AB  - Test-to-test reproducibility, user variability, and the effect of positive
      reactions on adjacent negative sites were evaluated for the Multi-Test skin
      testing device. Twenty-five subjects had skin tests with 24 histamine (1 mg/ml),
      four glycerosaline controls, and four "dry" controls on two testings 7 days
      apart. To assess reproducibility from large and smaller histamine reactions
      and/or their effect on adjacent negative controls, 10 of the 25 subjects were
      retested once with the same testing format, but histamine at 10 mg/ml was
      substituted. To determine whether large allergen reactions affect adjacent
      negative controls differently than histamine reactions, 24 additional patients
      were retested on arms and back with negative controls adjacent to allergens to
      which they had prior 3+ to 4+ skin test reactions. Conclusions from 2688 skin
      tests on 49 patients are as follows: large (mean > 10 mm) histamine reactions
      reproduced better than smaller (mean < 7 mm) responses--coefficients of variation
      were 12.3 and 21.4 respectively. A 14% user variability occurred when comparing
      mean wheal sizes from histamine produced by each nurse and 1.2% when comparing
      their coefficients of variation. Neither small histamine reactions nor large
      reactions from histamine and allergens affected adjacent negative controls. We
      conclude that Multi-Test is a highly reliable skin testing technique that
      provides good reproducibility of results and low user variability.

PMID- 1460202
TI  - Comparison of the sensitivity and precision of four skin test devices.
AB  - Twenty volunteers were skin tested with seven concentrations of histamine
      phosphate and a glycerosaline control to determine the relative sensitivity and
      precision of four skin test devices: Greer Pen (GP), Greer DermaPIK (DP), Center
      Multi-Test (MT), and Morrow Brown needle (MB). The end points of the study were
      (1) wheal and flare response of each device, with a dose-response curve, (2) the
      time required to apply each set of eight tests, and (3) the volunteers'
      subjective assessment of each device. On a different day, 10 of the volunteers
      were tested to determine the precision of each device. Dose-response curves for
      half-log dilutions of histamine phosphate were produced with a glycerosaline
      control. The DP and GP induced wheal and flare responses discernible from that of
      the glycerosaline control at a lower concentration of histamine phosphate than
      the MB and MT. The DP took a shorter time to apply eight samples than any other
      device. The MB was preferred by the most volunteers, but any device tested on the
      upper half of the back was usually preferred over that tested on the lower half.
      When 5 mg/ml histamine phosphate was used, coefficients of variation for each
      device demonstrated that for wheals the precision of the DP, GP, and MT was
      similar (mean, 21.1%, 23.1%, and 24.5%, respectively). The MB was larger (mean,
      59.9%). For flares, the precision of GP and DP was similar (mean, 22.0% and
      23.5%, respectively), with the MT and MB larger (mean, 35.5% and 58.2%,
      respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460203
TI  - American Academy of Allergy and Immunology Training Program Directors' Retreat,
      Jan. 10-12, 1992. Core curriculum outline.

PMID- 1460204
TI  - The placebo effect is nothing to sneeze at.

PMID- 1460205
TI  - The physiology and pathophysiology of the parasympathetic nervous system in nasal
      disease: an overview.

PMID- 1460206
TI  - Sensory, parasympathetic, and sympathetic neural influences in the nasal mucosa.
AB  - Neural mechanisms contribute to many nasal symptoms and syndromes. Sensory nerve
      stimulation by irritants, mast cell products, and inflammatory mediators leads to
      sneezing and other systemic reflexes. Parasympathetic reflexes and sensory axon
      responses combine to increase nasal blood flow, fill venous sinusoids (which
      thickens the mucosa and reduces nasal patency), induce plasma extravasation, and
      stimulate glandular secretion of mucous and serous cell products. These putative
      roles for nerves and neuropeptides in pathologic events open new therapeutic
      avenues. Anticholinergic agents, peptide neurotransmitter agonists and
      antagonists, drugs to reduce or modulate sensory or parasympathetic nerve
      function, potent topically applied glucocorticosteroids, and agents to inactivate
      inflammatory, secretory, or vascular cells may be of use. Ablation of sensory
      nerves by topical application of the chili pepper neurotoxin capsaicin has been
      successful in reducing the symptoms of refractory vasomotor rhinitis.

PMID- 1460207
TI  - Response of nasal mucosa to histamine or methacholine challenge: use of a
      quantitative method to examine the modulatory effects of atropine and ipratropium
      bromide.
AB  - We have developed a new technique for the direct local administration of test
      solutions to the nasal mucosa and for quantification of nasal secretory
      responses. This technique, a variation on several published reports of filter
      paper use, allows simple and rapid determination of drug effects and facilitates
      the analysis of ipsilateral and contralateral responses to local challenge of the
      nasal mucosa. We have used this technique to investigate the secretory responses
      of the nasal mucosa to methacholine and histamine and to determine the effects of
      atropine and ipratropium bromide (Atrovent nasal spray) on these secretory
      responses.

PMID- 1460208
TI  - Intranasal anticholinergic therapy of rhinorrhea.
AB  - This article reviews the role of anticholinergic therapy for the rhinorrhea that
      occurs in various rhinopathies, including irritant reactions, perennial
      nonallergic rhinitis, viral infection rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, and
      temperature-induced rhinitis. The use of a topical anticholinergic medication,
      ipratropium bromide, and its ability to inhibit methacholine and rhinitis-induced
      hypersecretion is emphasized. Ipratropium bromide appears to be both safe and
      effective in reducing this troublesome symptom.

PMID- 1460209
TI  - The use of intranasal anticholinergic agents in the treatment of nonallergic
      perennial rhinitis.
AB  - Nonallergic perennial rhinitis is a heterogenous disorder. Although the
      underlying cause is unknown, there is evidence of an autonomic imbalance with
      parasympathetic hyperreactivity in affected persons. We review this evidence and
      the role of ipratropium bromide, an anticholinergic drug with topical activity,
      in the management of nonallergic perennial rhinitis. The pharmacologic features,
      safety, and efficacy of ipratropium bromide are reviewed.

PMID- 1460210
TI  - The anticholinergic treatment of allergic perennial rhinitis.
AB  - Anticholinergic agents have been used for nonallergic rhinitis expressly to
      control rhinorrhea. In allergic rhinitis, rhinorrhea can be extremely troublesome
      and unresponsive to traditional pharmacotherapeutic rhinitis treatments.
      Anticholinergic agents, through their specific ability to decrease nasal
      secretory response, should have beneficial effects for allergic rhinitis. In a
      recent trial ipratropium bromide at concentrations of 0.03% and 0.06% reduced
      rhinorrhea in allergic subjects without any demonstrable rebound effect.
      Therefore anticholinergic therapies may be a useful adjunct in controlling the
      rhinorrhea associated with allergic rhinitis.

PMID- 1460212
TI  - A point of clarification.

PMID- 1460211
TI  - A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the safety and efficacy of
      ipratropium bromide nasal spray versus placebo in patients with the common cold.
AB  - Ipratropium bromide (IB) has been found to reduce secretions in the upper
      respiratory tract; this is accomplished through competitive inhibition of
      acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors that control rhinorrhea production. This
      study compared the safety and efficacy of IB with placebo in the symptomatic
      relief of rhinorrhea in patients with the common cold. Human subjects with
      symptoms of a common cold, primarily rhinorrhea, were enrolled and treated with
      either IB (84 micrograms/nostril) or placebo; each was administered as two sprays
      per nostril, four times a day, for 4 days. Primary efficacy analyses were in
      clinic measurements of nasal discharge weights over a 3-hour period after
      administration on days 1 and 2 and assessment of rhinorrhea symptoms by use of a
      subjective patient-completed visual analog rating scale. IB significantly reduced
      rhinorrhea an average of 18% over placebo for days 1 and 2 (p = 0.01). Visual
      analog scale scores showed an average improvement in rhinorrhea of 22% over
      placebo (p = 0.001). When patients with relatively minor rhinorrhea (baseline
      weight of nasal discharge < or = 1.0 gm) were excluded, IB produced an average
      reduction in nasal discharge of 23% over placebo for days 1 and 2 (p = 0.003).

PMID- 1460213
TI  - How to arrange a shared or part-time residency.

PMID- 1460214
TI  - Breast cancer in the 1990s.

PMID- 1460215
TI  - The Breast Cancer Prevention Trial.

PMID- 1460216
TI  - Early detection of breast cancer.
AB  - Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in North American women. The
      incidence rate is increasing by about 2% annually, while the mortality rate has
      remained stable for 50 years. Screening by physical examination and mammography
      can decrease the mortality rate in women over 50 by 30%. The screening process is
      rewarding, but meticulous attention to detail is required in both the physical
      and mammographic assessment in order to define significant abnormalities.

PMID- 1460217
TI  - Mammography quality assurance.
AB  - A poor-quality mammogram is worse than no mammogram. This is particularly true in
      the screening situation. Quality assurance in mammography is defined as all of
      the practices that monitor and improve the delivery of mammographic services,
      including technical performance of the equipment, personnel qualifications,
      patient interactions, communication, and follow-up. Quality control is the
      component of quality assurance focusing on the technical performance of
      mammography equipment. The effectiveness and success of screening mammography
      depend on consistent production of high-resolution, low-dose mammographic images
      and their accurate interpretation. This article describes the American College of
      Radiology's Mammography Accreditation Program as it relates to mammography
      quality assurance.

PMID- 1460218
TI  - Physical and mammographic diagnosis of breast cancer and initial work-up.
AB  - This article briefly reviews breast cancer examination and discusses a variety of
      physical changes that may occur in the breast suffering from breast cancer. The
      selected topics include evaluation of breast masses, nipple discharge, nipple
      changes other than discharge, and a discussion of inflammatory breast cancer and
      its differentiation from mastitis. Breast cancer appearing as a solitary axillary
      mass is also discussed. A brief discussion is also undertaken of aspiration
      cytology, mammographically directed needle localized open biopsies, and
      mammographically directed or stereotactic needle aspirations for cytology.

PMID- 1460219
TI  - Psychological impact of the diagnosis of breast cancer on the patient and her
      family.
AB  - The diagnosis of breast cancer creates emotional distress for patients as well as
      family members. This article reviews studies on the psychological adjustment of
      women and their family members during the diagnosis, hospitalization, and early
      convalescence from breast surgery. Studies indicate that the diagnostic phase is
      an extremely stressful time for women, marked by high anxiety, uncertainty, and
      difficulty making decisions. The hospital phase is especially difficult for
      spouses, who must juggle work responsibilities with added home responsibilities
      and also spend time at the hospital supporting their wives. In the convalescent
      phase, patients and family members need to adjust to changes in family roles,
      cope with fears about recurrence, and learn to balance the needs of all family
      members. In order to provide high quality health care to breast cancer patients
      and their family members, physicians and nurses need to address the emotional as
      well as the physical aspects of recovery.

PMID- 1460220
TI  - The in situ carcinomas of the breast.
AB  - In situ carcinoma of the breast is being diagnosed with greater frequency on
      breast biopsies. Of the two types of CIS, lobular carcinoma in situ is considered
      a marker for increased risk of developing breast cancer in either breast, and
      treatment options are based on different philosophies of careful follow-up vs
      preventive surgery. Ductal carcinoma in situ is a direct precursor to invasive
      carcinoma and the variety of treatments available reflect the need to completely
      excise this lesion. Several trials are now in progress to define the roles of
      surgery, radiation, and hormonal manipulation in the treatment of both types of
      CIS.

PMID- 1460221
TI  - Justification for lumpectomy in the treatment of breast cancer: a commentary on
      the underutilization of that procedure.

PMID- 1460222
TI  - Reconstructive options following mastectomy.
AB  - Reconstructive breast surgery is an option a woman may choose following breast
      loss due to disease, trauma, or congenital malformation. In choosing breast
      reconstruction a woman must decide on timing and type of procedure. Recent
      decisions by the Food and Drug Administration have severely limited the type of
      reconstructive procedure that can be performed. This article discusses all of the
      options recently available in order to give information to those treating
      patients who have had these procedures as well as to be encyclopedic in the event
      that these techniques become available again.

PMID- 1460223
TI  - The pathology of breast cancer: staging and prognostic indicators.
AB  - The natural history of breast cancer is complex and the treatment modalities need
      to be adjusted to this heterogeneous disease. Several prognostic indicators have
      been described for breast cancer, including the extent of axillary nodal
      metastasis, the size of the primary tumor mass, various histopathologic
      characteristics, estrogen and progesterone receptor content, tumor proliferation
      index, detection of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, loss of heterozygosity,
      and growth factors. Although no single parameter or combination of parameters can
      definitively predict the outcome of the disease, combined criteria such as tumor
      estrogen receptor content, cell proliferative index, and lymph node status are
      relevant for identifying subsets of breast cancer patients that may require
      different therapeutic modalities. Detection of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes,
      and growth factors need further evaluation to determine their usefulness as
      prognostic factors.

PMID- 1460224
TI  - Systemic therapy of breast cancer in early and advanced disease.
AB  - Despite substantial advances in breast cancer treatment, mortality from this
      disease remains high. While adjuvant chemo-hormonal therapy has significantly
      improved survival, breast cancer still claims the lives of more than 45,000
      American women each year. This article is a brief review of various modalities
      used in the management of breast cancer, including adjuvant and neoadjuvant
      therapy, treatment for advanced disease, dose intensification, and autologous
      bone marrow transplantation.

PMID- 1460225
TI  - Psychosocial adjustment of the family to breast cancer: a longitudinal analysis.
AB  - The purpose of the current study was to assess the impact of the mother's breast
      cancer on her family during rehabilitation and to determine the processes
      families use to adjust to the illness over time. Data were obtained from 111
      child-rearing mothers with breast cancer on three occasions at four-month
      intervals using standardized measures of psychosocial adjustment. Results
      revealed that over time the families experienced significantly lower levels of
      illness-related demands and the marriages became better adjusted. Levels of
      depressive mood in the women, however, remained stable. This negative mood
      negatively affected the quality of the marriage, which, in turn, caused the
      family to cope less frequently with its problems and to function less well.
      Results strongly suggest the importance of formally assessing the woman's level
      of depressed mood and channeling women with stable depressive mood and their
      families into more intensive support services than those typically provided.
      Evidence from the current study is that, when not attended to, this depressive
      mood has sustained, deleterious effects on how well the family does during
      rehabilitation.

PMID- 1460226
TI  - Patient and family caregiver reaction to new and recurrent breast cancer.
AB  - Exploratory data on the mental health (depression), symptoms, and functional
      status of breast cancer patients and the mental health (depression) and reaction
      to care of their caregivers are examined in this paper. How both are influenced
      by new and recurrent disease is also reported. Patients and family caregivers
      were followed over a six-month period to determine whether new or recurrent
      disease status altered their reaction to the cancer experience. The data suggest
      that psychological distress may be more marked in the family member than in the
      patient. Differences in caregiver reaction were not due to new or recurrent
      disease status, health status of the patient, or the care process of the
      caregiver. Future research is needed to isolate the cause of variations in mental
      health of women and their family caregivers experiencing new or recurrent breast
      cancer.

PMID- 1460227
TI  - The politics of breast cancer.

PMID- 1460228
TI  - Tales from the front: when the doctor gets breast cancer.

PMID- 1460229
TI  - The implant problem: some personal thoughts.

PMID- 1460230
TI  - Post-stimulus depression of reflex changes in circular muscle activity in the
      guinea pig small intestine.
AB  - The extent and time course of depression of successive reflex responses recorded
      with intracellular microelectrodes from the circular smooth muscle of the guinea
      pig small intestine were determined. Two stimuli were used, distension and
      distortion of the mucosa by compression; these were applied either at the same or
      at different sites. Excitatory responses oral and inhibitory responses anal to
      the stimuli were recorded. Post-stimulus depression of both ascending excitatory
      and descending inhibitory reflexes occurred, but the extent of depression was
      slightly less for the descending inhibition. A conditioning distension lasting 9
      s depressed the excitatory response to a test distension applied 2 s later at the
      same site by 90%. After 30 s the depression was 50% and test responses were
      normal if inter-stimulus intervals were increased to 2 min. Increasing the
      duration of the conditioning stimulus increased the depression. Post-stimulus
      depression was less for compression stimuli than for distension stimuli and prior
      mucosal compression had almost no effect on responses to subsequent distension.
      The post-stimulus depression was greater if conditioning and test stimuli were at
      the same rather than different sites. For different sites, conditioning stimuli
      at 15 mm from the recording site (near) depressed responses to stimuli at 30 mm
      (far) to a greater extent than far stimuli depressed responses to near stimuli.
      If the conditioning stimulus at 15 mm was maintained until after the far test
      stimulus was applied, depression of the test response did not occur. It is
      concluded that the major sites of post-stimulus depression are at the synapses
      between primary sensory neurons and the first interneurons of reflex pathways,
      and that post-stimulus depression also occurs at other places in the pathway,
      presumably at synapses between interneurons or between interneurons and motor
      neurons.

PMID- 1460231
TI  - Actions of carotid chemoreceptors on subretrofacial bulbospinal neurons in the
      cat.
AB  - Thirty-one barosensitive bulbospinal neurons were recorded from the
      subretrofacial (SRF) nucleus in eight chloralose-anaesthetised, paralysed cats.
      Close arterial injections of CO2-saturated saline were used to stimulate carotid
      body chemoreceptors. Seven neurons were abruptly excited and six neurons abruptly
      inhibited by chemoreceptor stimuli: these were primary responses, independent of
      changes in blood pressure or central respiratory drive (monitored from the
      phrenic nerve). A further eight neurons responded only indirectly to
      chemoreceptor stimuli, showing enhanced modulation of their activity coupled to
      the enhanced central respiratory drive. The distinction between primary and
      secondary responses was shown more clearly when central respiratory drive was
      inhibited by superior laryngeal nerve stimulation. The remaining ten neurons
      showed no clear response to chemoreceptor stimuli. SRF bulbospinal neurons thus
      show the same range of responses to chemoreceptor stimuli as the sympathetic
      neurons they are believed to drive.

PMID- 1460232
TI  - The amplitude and periodicity of synchronized renal sympathetic nerve discharges
      in anesthetized cats: differential effect of baroreceptor activity.
AB  - We applied a computerized peak detection algorithm to recordings of synchronized
      sympathetic nerve discharges from anesthetized cats to retrieve information about
      the characteristics of renal nerve activity (RNA) during changes in baroreceptor
      activity. The algorithm scanned the series of RNA voltages for significant
      increases followed by significant decreases in a small cluster of voltage values.
      Once each synchronized RNA peak had been detected, its corresponding amplitude,
      width and peak-to-peak interval were calculated. The peak-to-peak interval
      periodicity showed two modes of synchronized discharge, one between 200-500 ms
      accounting for 47% of intervals, and a higher 20-180 ms frequency (49% of
      intervals). Baroreceptor stimulation decreased the occurrence of the high
      frequencies while increasing the probability of the lower frequency components.
      The overall occurrence of synchronized peaks per second fell linearly to zero
      with increases in blood pressure. The peak amplitude of RNA was unimodally
      distributed and was not affected by baroreceptor stimulation until an increase in
      mean arterial pressure reached a threshold (mean 142 +/- 5 mmHg) whereupon it
      fell quickly to zero. Sino-aortic vagal denervation did not affect the
      distribution of peak height. The width of synchronized discharges was also
      unimodal, mean 82 +/- 1 ms, and was almost unchanged during baroreflex
      stimulation acting in parallel with changes in the peak amplitude and decreasing
      at high blood pressures. Sino-aortic vagal denervation did not affect the
      synchronized width. There was no relationship between the periodicity and
      amplitude or width of synchronized discharges under all conditions. The results
      indicate that the periodicity and amplitude of renal synchronized discharges
      appear to be independent of each other and are differentially affected by
      baroreceptor input.

PMID- 1460233
TI  - Effect of asphyxia on the frequency and amplitude modulation of synchronized
      renal nerve activity in the cat.
AB  - A computerized peak detection algorithm was used to retrieve new information
      about changes in the characteristics of renal nerve activity (RNA) with asphyxia
      in anesthetized cats. The algorithm scanned the series of RNA voltages for
      significant increases followed by significant decreases in a small cluster of
      voltage values. Once each synchronized RNA peak had been detected, its
      corresponding amplitude, width, and peak-to-peak interval were calculated. The
      peak-to-peak interval showed two rhythms of synchronized discharge: one between
      200-500 ms accounting for 38 +/- 3% of intervals and a higher 20-180 ms frequency
      (52 +/- 5% of intervals). Asphyxia did not change the periodicity distribution
      despite increases in arterial pressure. The peak amplitude of RNA, reflecting the
      number of active fibers, was unimodally distributed and was increased 39 +/- 9%
      with asphyxia. The shape of the distribution was unchanged. The width of the
      synchronized activity was also unimodally distributed, mean 79 +/- 3 ms, and
      increased by asphyxia to 99 +/- 5 ms. The results indicate that the control of
      the periodicity and amplitude of synchronized discharge appear to be independent
      and are differentially affected by chemoreceptor input.

PMID- 1460234
TI  - Sympathetic and sensory neurons projecting into the cervical sympathetic trunk in
      the chicken.
AB  - The cell bodies of the sensory and sympathetic pre- and postganglionic neurons
      projecting into the cervical sympathetic trunk were retrogradely labeled with
      horseradish peroxidase in the chicken. Preganglionic neurons were located in the
      spinal segments T1-T6 (maximum T2), postganglionic neurons in the paravertebral
      ganglia T1-T3 (maximum T1) and sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia T1-T4
      (maximum T1). Labeled preganglionic neurons were widely distributed across the
      intermediate gray matter and lateral funiculus, but the majority of them were
      located in the intermediomedial area dorsolateral to the central canal. The short
      and long axis diameters of labeled preganglionic neurons in this area decreased
      caudally. From the data of the present study, it is estimated that about 4190
      preganglionic, about 450 postganglionic and about 390 sensory neurons project
      into the cervical sympathetic trunk cranial to the paravertebral ganglion T1 in
      the chicken.

PMID- 1460235
TI  - Ultrastructural localization of angiotensin II-like immunoreactivity (A II-LI) in
      the vegetative networks of the spinal cord of the guinea pig.
AB  - The localization of angiotensin II-like immunoreactivity (A II-LI) has been
      studied at an ultrastructural level in the thoracic and sacral spinal cord
      vegetative regions of male and female guinea pigs. Most of the AII-LI structures
      are axon terminals and fibers localized in both vegetative networks which connect
      bilaterally and cranio-caudally and/or caudo-cranially the preganglionic
      vegetative nuclei in the thoracic and sacral spinal cord intermediate zone. The A
      II-LI product is localized predominantly in large granular and small vesicles of
      axon terminals and varicosites which form axo-somatic, axo-dendritic and axo
      axonal synapses. Occasionally A II-LI is observed over cysterns of the
      endoplasmatic reticulum and throughout the cytoplasm of astrocytes which are
      neighbouring on blood vessels and are in contact with neuronal processi.
      Immunoreactive terminals are observed in direct contacts with endothelial cells
      too. These observations confirm recently described light-microscopic localization
      of Ang II-LI in the studied spinal cord areas, as well as its suggested role as
      transmitter and/or modulator of the neuronal function and regulatory role over
      the cardiovascular function and blood circulation.

PMID- 1460236
TI  - Seasonal variations in acetylcholine content and the levels of cholinergic
      enzymes in the alimentary tract and heart of Rana esculenta L.
AB  - The acetylcholine (ACh) content and the relative levels of choline
      acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were measured in the
      stomach and intestinal musculature and in the heart muscles of frogs (Rana
      esculenta L.) during hibernation (January-stage 1), low activity (April-stage 2)
      and high activity period (July-stage 3). The ACh content doubled in the stomach
      from stage 1 to 2, then little change occurred. In the intestine, the ACh content
      changed little during the stages, while slightly decreased levels were found in
      the heart from stage 1 to 3. A significant increase in the level of ACh was found
      in the brain during the entire period. The level of ChAT increased in all tissue
      samples during the time. The AChE level was not significantly different during
      the stages in the stomach and intestine. In the heart, a 2.5 fold increase was
      measured in April compared with January, followed by a sharp decrease to half of
      the April level by July. In the brain, the activity of this enzyme increased
      continuously from January to July. The results show that these important
      cholinergic parameters change differentially in different organs in this
      poikilotherm animal during the year, presumably resulting in a fine control of
      the viscera, probably in cooperation with other autonomic transmitter systems.

PMID- 1460237
TI  - Responses of single units in the midline medulla to stimulation of the rostral
      ventrolateral medulla.
AB  - Single units in the midline medulla were characterized as sympathoexcitatory
      (SE), sympathoinhibitory (SI) or serotonin (5-HT) neurons. Post-stimulatory
      changes in the firing patterns of sympathoexcitatory, sympathoinhibitory and 5-HT
      units were observed during single shock stimulation of the pressor area of the
      rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). Excitation, inhibition, or no change in
      cell firing patterns were observed for each cell type, but each cell showed only
      one type of response to stimulation. No midline neurons were antidromically
      activated by stimulation of the rostral ventrolateral medulla. These results are
      discussed in relation to neuronal pathways between the RVLM and the midline
      medulla involved in the generation of sympathetic activity.

PMID- 1460238
TI  - Diabetic photographic eye screening using a mobile unit in Tayside, Scotland.
AB  - Early detection and hospital referral of patients with diabetic changes
      (retinopathy) is essential if laser photocoagulation is to be effective. The
      British Diabetic Association (BDA) have therefore funded several diabetic mobile
      eye screening units and donated them to areas throughout the country, the aim
      being to screen patients for diabetic retinopathy in those areas. This article
      describes the use and findings of such a unit in the Tayside area.

PMID- 1460239
TI  - Use of unsharp masks with high-contrast retinal nerve fibre layer photographs.
AB  - Retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) photography is an established and integral tool
      in the management of ocular hypertensives and glaucoma suspects, and in assessing
      the management of glaucoma in an ophthalmic practice. When RNFL negatives are
      viewed for analysis, high-contrast negatives yield the most information. When
      positive prints are subsequently requested, the RNFL negatives are difficult to
      print. The use of an unsharp mask facilitates the transfer of all the high
      contrast negative density range to the print. The use of an unsharp mask has been
      simplified so that it is quick and efficient and can be adapted for high-contrast
      negatives other than RNFL images.

PMID- 1460240
TI  - The use of video in assessing and illustrating abnormal eye movements in young
      children.
AB  - Eye movement studies can be useful in neuro-ophthalmological investigations of
      infants and young children. In our laboratory we use a combination of an electro
      oculogram and video to record eye movements. A composite video image is created
      consisting of an image of the electro-oculographic eye movement trace
      superimposed on an image of the patient's eyes and face. This permits the
      qualitative clinical appearance of the case to be illustrated simultaneously with
      the quantitative eye movement trace.

PMID- 1460241
TI  - Some simplified methods for the photography of equipment and apparatus.
AB  - A simplified approach to the photography of equipment and apparatus is described.
      A number of examples are shown of the use of portable flash equipment,
      fluorescent light boxes and 'north-light' (daylight from North-facing windows),
      as light sources.

PMID- 1460242
TI  - Blast: injury patterns and their recording.
AB  - Exposure to explosive blast results in a variety of injuries dependent on the
      degree of blast loading, the relative contribution of secondary fragments and the
      interaction of a casualty with the surroundings. The internal and more covert
      injuries peculiar to blast are easily overlooked in the haste to treat the
      obvious external wounds which are usually much more dramatic. This paper
      describes the pathogenesis of blast injury and suggests how best it may be
      recorded.

PMID- 1460243
TI  - Translocation of aged cyclodiene insecticide residues from soil into forage crops
      and pastures at various growth stages under field conditions.
AB  - Field trials were conducted to measure translocation of pesticides by summer and
      winter forage/pasture species from soil containing aged residues of heptachlor
      and, to a lesser extent, dieldrin. Substantial amounts of heptachlor epoxide, and
      lesser amounts of gamma-chlordane were translocated to plants from contaminated
      soil. Residue levels varied with crop species and stage of plant development. In
      summer crops residues were higher in soybean > cowpeas > lab-lab > Sorghum >
      millet > sweet saccaline at the grazing and mature stages. Compared to glasshouse
      studies undertaken previously, residues in crops grown under field conditions
      were much lower. This apparently reflects the lower soil moisture levels and the
      reduced rates of translocation. Heptachlor residues in winter crops were highest
      in Saia oats > Berseem clover > Haifa clover > Cassia oats > Tetila ryegrass >
      Schooner barley > Shaftal clover > Hunter river lucerne at the grazing stage.
      There were no detectable levels in barley and oats at the mature stage. No
      dieldrin residues were translocated into the various crop species.

PMID- 1460244
TI  - Comparative metabolism of phenanthrene in the rat and guinea pig.
AB  - In the present study the biotransformation of phenanthrene in the rat and guinea
      pig was investigated. 14C-labelled phenanthrene was administered by gavage in
      corn oil to Sprague-Dawley rats (10 mg/kg b.w./day) and guinea pigs (10 mg/kg
      b.w./day). Urine and feces were separately collected for the determination of the
      radioactivity content, and pooled urine was used for the analysis of metabolites.
      Phenanthrene was metabolized by the rat and guinea pig to free hydroxylated
      phenanthrenes and their conjugates. The percentages of conjugates, expressed as
      the total urinary radioactivity, were 39% glucuronides, 24% sulfates and 18%
      cysteinylglycine for rats; and 39% glucuronides, 23% sulfates and 28%
      cysteinylglycine for guinea pigs. Enzymatic hydrolysis of glucuronides and
      sulfates resulted in the formation of free 1,2-, 3,4- and 9,10-dihydrodiols of
      phenanthrene and 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-hydroxyphenanthrene in both species.

PMID- 1460245
TI  - Hexachlorophene induced alterations in brain carbohydrate metabolism of Wistar
      rat.
AB  - Effect of repeated oral administration of hexachlorophene (HCP) on glycolytic and
      oxidative pathways was studied in the rat brain. The rats were divided into three
      batches of six in each batch. The first batch was treated with paralytic dose (60
      mg.kg-1.day-1) of HCP for 7 days. The second batch of animals was treated with
      sublethal dose (18 mg.kg-1.day-1) for 7 days. The third batch of animals was
      served as the age matched controls which received vehicle (corn oil) only. The
      glycolytic and oxidative metabolism of carbohydrates was significantly inhibited
      in the brain of rat during HCP treatment and the inhibition was more pronounced
      in paralytic dose treatment as compared to sublethal dose treatment. The
      inhibition of NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase coupled with glucose 6-phosphate
      dehydrogenase indicates reduced generation of NADPH2 and pentoses for the
      synthesis of fatty acids and nucleotides.

PMID- 1460246
TI  - Cholecystokinin, a satiety signal in newborn infants?
AB  - This study was undertaken in order to describe circulating glucose and
      cholecystokinin (CCK) concentrations in relation to the spontaneous feeding
      behavior of the human newborn infant. Eighty-three, healthy, 3-days-old infants
      were studied in connection with breast feeding. Blood samples from the infants
      were cross-sectionally collected before feeding, 5 and 10 min after the start of
      sucking, and after the infants had sucked ad libitum. Before feeding, the infants
      presented a typical "hunger behavior", which changed in connection with breast
      feeding into a pattern associated with satiety. A significant increase in the
      plasma CCK concentration was found, 5 min (P = 0.004) and 10 min (P = 0.02) after
      the start of sucking, as well as after feeding (P = 0.04). Furthermore, a
      positive correlation between the CCK concentration and the volume of ingested
      milk was found 10 min after the start of sucking, when 91% of of the volume of
      milk had been ingested; Rs = 0.51, n = 19, P < 0.02. However, no change was found
      in the glucose concentration in connection with breast feeding. It is concluded
      that CCK may be important as a satiety factor in the regulation of food intake in
      the newborn infant.

PMID- 1460247
TI  - The effect of 10% O2 on the continuous breathing induced by O2 or O2 plus cord
      occlusion in the fetal sheep.
AB  - Although the administration of 100% O2 alone or combined with umbilical cord
      occlusion induces continuous breathing and arousal in the fetal sheep (Baier,
      Hasan, Cates, Hooper, Nowaczyk & Rigatto, 1990a), the individual contribution of
      O2 and cord occlusion to the response have not been determined. We hypothesized
      that if O2 is an important factor in the induction of continuous breathing,
      administration of O2 low enough (10%) to bring fetal arterial PO2 to about 20
      torr while the fetus is breathing continuously should reverse these changes. Thus
      we subjected 12 chronically instrumented fetal sheep to 10% O2 for 10 minutes
      after the establishment of continuous breathing by O2 (4 fetuses; 137 +/- 1 days)
      or by O2 plus umbilical cord occlusion (8 fetuses; 134 +/- 1 days). Arterial PO2
      decreased from about 250 torr to 20 torr during 10% O2. This induced a
      significant decrease in breathing output (EMGdi x f) related primarily to a
      decrease in frequency (f). In 3/5 experiments in 4 fetuses, with O2 alone, apnoea
      developed within 4 +/- 0.6 min; in 12/13 experiments in 8 fetuses, with added
      cord occlusion it developed at 5 +/- 0.6 min. With the decrease in PaO2,
      electrocortical activity (ECoG) switched from low to high-voltage within 6
      minutes in 5/5 experiments (O2 alone) and in 11/13 (O2 plus cord occlusion). The
      findings suggest that umbilical cord occlusion alone is not sufficient to
      maintain breathing continuously and an increased PaO2 is needed. We speculate
      that in the fetus there is a vital link between PaO2, breathing and ECoG with low
      PaO2 inhibiting and high PaO2 favouring breathing and arousal.

PMID- 1460248
TI  - Fetal breathing is not initiated after cord occlusion in the unanaesthetized
      fetal lamb in utero.
AB  - We investigated the role of cord occlusion in the initiation of breathing at
      birth using an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator system to control fetal blood
      gases independently of the placenta in 12 chronically instrumented fetal lambs.
      In group IA (n = 9; exp = 12) PaCO2 was kept constant (5.62 +/- 0.21 to 5.70 +/-
      0.23 kPa) during cord occlusion. Group IB (n = 7; exp = 8) were cord occlusion
      experiments from group IA in which no fetal breathing movements had occurred; CO2
      flow to the membrane was increased and fetal PaCO2 rose significantly (5.45 +/-
      0.24 to 8.27 +/- 0.56 kPa). In group II (n = 7; exp = 12) PaCO2 was allowed to
      increase from 5.98 +/- 0.24 kPa to 8.09 +/- 0.48 kPa after cord occlusion. Within
      5 min of cord occlusion, FBM did not occur in 11 out of 12 experiments in group
      IA or in 11 out of 12 experiments in group II. In contrast in group IB breathing
      did occur in 5 out of 8 experiments. When they occurred, fetal breathing
      movements were always associated with low voltage electrocortical activity. Our
      results do not support the hypothesis that the initiation of breathing within 5
      minutes of birth is dependent on an inhibitory factor of placental origin.
      Furthermore these data suggest an association between the presence of breathing
      and a substantial rise in PaCO2.

PMID- 1460249
TI  - Effects of hyperoxia on the metabolic response to cold of the newborn rat.
AB  - We asked what effects hyperoxia may have on the metabolic response to cold of the
      newborn rat. Whole body gaseous metabolism (VO2 and VCO2) was measured in 2-day
      old rats by open flow respirometry at ambient temperatures (Tamb) between 40 and
      20 degrees C, changed at a rate of 0.5 degrees C/min during normoxia and
      hyperoxia (100% O2 breathing). In normoxia, the thermoneutral range was very
      narrow, at Tamb = 33-35 degrees C. A decrease in Tamb at first stimulated VO2; a
      further drop in Tamb below 28 degrees C reduced metabolic rate. The metabolic
      response to cold was not sufficient to maintain body temperature (Tb). In
      hyperoxia average values of VO2 were above the normoxic values at all Tamb, but
      the difference was mostly apparent at low Tamb; at 20 degrees C, hyperoxic VO2
      averaged 73% more than in normoxia. This metabolic increase determined a
      significant but small rise of Tb. We conclude that in the 2-days-old rat
      hyperoxia has a stimulatory effect on metabolism which is Tamb-dependent, being
      much more apparent in the cold. This supports the concept that the normoxic VO2
      of the newborn is limited by the supply of O2. However, the fact that in the
      cold, even in hyperoxia, VO2 did not reach very high values, and Tb was not
      maintained, suggests that not only O2 availability, but also the rate of O2
      utilization limits the aerobic metabolic response of the newborn.

PMID- 1460250
TI  - The vit gene maps to the mi (microphthalmia) locus of the laboratory mouse.
AB  - The murine model for human vitiligo (the vit/vit mouse) develops progressive
      depigmentation of the pelage, skin, and eyes. The vit gene is inherited as an
      autosomal recessive. We have used classical breeding and isozyme marker analysis
      to map this vit gene that produces a vitiligo-like condition in the mouse.
      Crossbreeding the C57BL/6J-vit/vit mice with C57BL/6J mice carrying the Miwh
      and/or miws alleles at the microphthalmia locus resulted in mutant phenotypes,
      demonstrating absence of complementation. When vit is heterozygous with the Miwh
      allele, a "blotched" pigment pattern results. When it is heterozygous with the
      miws allele, a novel expression of the vitiliginous phenotype results. Further
      mating analysis of these crossbred populations demonstrates allelic inheritance
      between vit and the alleles at the microphthalmia locus. Other breeding studies
      using alleles at the agouti, belted, brown, dominant spotting, extension,
      mahogany, patch, and piebald loci did not demonstrate pigmentation explainable by
      allelic inheritance with the vit gene. Also, vit was tested for linkage with
      isozyme markers located on chromosomes 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 11, and results were
      negative. Therefore, the vit (vitiligo) gene of the laboratory mouse has been
      mapped to the mi (microphthalmia) locus on chromosome 6. The gene properly should
      be designated as mivit.

PMID- 1460251
TI  - Selection for canalization at extra dorsocentral and scutellar bristles in
      Drosophila melanogaster.
AB  - Direct artificial selection for a specific pattern, in the number and position of
      extra bristles, was carried out in a wild-type population of Drosophila
      melanogaster to canalize (estimated by probit width) the selected phenotypes.
      From the same population, independent lines were selected for extra dorsocentral
      bristles (lines D3 and D4) and for extra scutellar bristles (lines E2, E3, and
      E4). Differences at canalization between both dorsocentral and scutellar systems
      were detected. Results fit an independent control hypothesis for canalization, at
      two symmetrical extra bristles, in the main regions in which extra bristles
      appear.

PMID- 1460252
TI  - Identification of an autosome to X chromosome translocation in the domestic cow.
AB  - Chromosomes were harvested from two fibroblast lines derived from a
      phenotypically normal cow and her albino daughter, both known to be heterozygous
      for an X/autosome translocation. QFH-banding after early BrdU incorporation
      identified the translocated autosomal material as chromosome 23 bands 13-25, and
      revealed that the centromeric portion of the translocated chromosome 23 had been
      retained. Fluorescent in situ hybridization of a BoLA Class I cDNA probe to the
      normal chromosome 23 and to the translocated autosomal material confirmed the
      identity of the translocation, and allowed a more precise sublocalization of the
      MHC in cattle than that previously reported.

PMID- 1460253
TI  - Health Policy Commission report alarming.

PMID- 1460254
TI  - Selected demographic changes in medicine.

PMID- 1460255
TI  - State funds needed for proper care of Central State patients.

PMID- 1460256
TI  - Woman physician sees need for mentors. Interview by Bob Carlson.

PMID- 1460257
TI  - Commission studies Indiana health care delivery.

PMID- 1460258
TI  - Doctor fills her life with favorite things.

PMID- 1460259
TI  - Cardiac transplantation at IU Medical Center.

PMID- 1460260
TI  - Maternal mortality in Indiana: a report of maternal deaths in 1990.

PMID- 1460261
TI  - From the museum.

PMID- 1460262
TI  - Blepharitis.
AB  - Blepharitis is an acute or chronic inflammatory process involving the eyelids
      that is frequently associated with conjunctivitis. In its many clinical forms,
      blepharitis is one of the most common diseases seen by ophthalmologists; yet it
      remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. This article reviews the clinical
      presentation, classification, diagnosis, etiology and pathogenesis, and treatment
      of blepharitis.

PMID- 1460263
TI  - Infectious conjunctivitis.
AB  - This article is designed to aid the clinician in the diagnosis of bacterial and
      viral conjunctivitis by evaluating a wide variety of infectious causes of
      conjunctivitis. The work-up, including techniques of examination and pertinent
      laboratory studies, is discussed. Clinical features of each type are covered at
      length and specific therapy for each is included.

PMID- 1460264
TI  - Conjunctivitis of the newborn.
AB  - Infectious conjunctivitis of the newborn is caused by a wide variety of
      microorganisms. The ocular findings may be part of a widespread systemic
      infection. Clinical presentations are not diagnostic of the cause, and a
      microbiologic work-up with cytology, cultures, and microbial sensitivities is
      mandatory. The selection of specific antimicrobial therapy is based on the
      findings of laboratory studies. Prophylaxis with silver nitrate solution, 1.0%
      tetracycline, or 0.05% erythromycin ointment is effective for the prevention of
      gonococcal and chlamydial conjunctivitis in the newborn.

PMID- 1460265
TI  - Bacterial keratitis.
AB  - Bacterial keratitis is an urgent problem requiring recognition, laboratory
      evaluation, and administration of therapy. The recognized risk factors are
      outlined. The likely bacterial causes may vary among regions of the country over
      a period of time. Topical fortified antibiotic eyedrops are the mainstay of
      therapy; indications for other modalities of therapy are discussed. Specific
      antibiotic regimens are offered.

PMID- 1460266
TI  - Fungal keratitis.
AB  - As Jones has emphasized, the successful management of microbial keratitis, fungal
      or otherwise, necessitates five steps: (1) clinical suspicion and clinical
      diagnosis; (2) performing the proper laboratory procedures; (3) initiating
      antimicrobial therapy based on the results of laboratory studies; (4) modifying
      the initial therapy based on the clinical response; and (5) deciding correctly
      when and how to terminate therapy. Keratomycosis poses special diagnostic and
      therapeutic challenges for ophthalmologists because of its low incidence, and its
      resistance to treatment, because of the lack of antifungal agents with good
      penetration into the eye, and because of the difficulties in obtaining meaningful
      in vitro drug susceptibility results for fungal isolates. We believe, however,
      that ophthalmologists are now diagnosing keratomycosis earlier and treating it
      more effectively.

PMID- 1460267
TI  - Infectious endophthalmitis.
AB  - The internist or family medicine consultant can have an important role in the
      management of endophthalmitis. Even though intraocular antimicrobial therapy is
      the most effective method of treatment, the consultant can assist in the
      selection of systemic antibiotic agents and in the monitoring of systemic side
      effects of the treatment. In addition, the consultant can be called on to
      evaluate patients with endogenous endophthalmitis for systemic involvement. The
      joint efforts of the ophthalmologist and consultant should allow optimal
      treatment in an attempt to improve the visual prognosis for these devastating
      ocular infections.

PMID- 1460268
TI  - Viral infections of the choroid and retina.
AB  - DNA (herpes viruses) and RNA (rubella, rubeola) group viruses are recognized
      causes of viral retinitis. Severe damage is often the result, not only because
      the viruses have a cytologic effect but also because the antigens may cause
      immune complex deposition that results in vasculitis. Most of the viral
      retinitides are associated with systemic disease; immune-compromised individuals
      are more susceptible than healthy individuals. A distinct clinical entity, acute
      retinal necrosis, affects the eye only in healthy individuals and is associated
      with the herpes family of viruses.

PMID- 1460269
TI  - Other infections of the choroid and retina. Toxoplasmosis, histoplasmosis, Lyme
      disease, syphilis, tuberculosis, and ocular toxocariasis.
AB  - The major clinical infectious syndromes involving the retina and choroid are
      discussed. Means for successful diagnosis and treatment are presented, as well as
      the major complications. This work emphasizes the need to identify the infectious
      nature of these syndromes in order to avoid the all-too-common pitfall of just
      treating all cases of uveitis with steroids alone.

PMID- 1460270
TI  - Human immunodeficiency virus and opportunistic ocular infections.
AB  - Opportunistic ocular infections are a common and important complication of the
      acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Cytomegalovirus retinitis is by far the most
      frequent infection, but other viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections of the
      posterior segment of the eye may be seen. Infections of the anterior segment are
      less common but may cause visual loss if not treated. Prompt recognition of these
      diseases is essential because ocular involvement may be an early sign of systemic
      dissemination.

PMID- 1460271
TI  - Infections of the lacrimal system.
AB  - Deficiency of the tears or obstruction to the free flow of tears predispose to
      infections of the lacrimal system. The relevant anatomy of the lacrimal system
      and the pathologic conditions leading to obstruction are outlined. The clinical
      manifestations of infections of the lacrimal gland, the canaliculus, and the
      lacrimal sac are described, and the basis for medical and surgical treatment is
      discussed.

PMID- 1460272
TI  - Preseptal and orbital cellulitis.
AB  - The patient with a tender, erythematous, swollen eyelid represents a complex
      clinical challenge to the physician, who must arrive at a correct diagnosis from
      numerous differential possibilities. Knowledge of the anatomy of the orbit and
      surrounding structures and proper clinical and radiologic examination are
      necessary to accurately diagnose these conditions. Proper selection of antibiotic
      therapy and timely surgical intervention, directed at both the orbital infection
      and the underlying condition, are essential to avoid serious morbidity from these
      infections. This article reviews in detail preseptal cellulitis, Hemophilus
      influenzae type B infection in children, orbital infection related to paranasal
      sinusitis, orbital infection from other causes, and mycotic infections of the
      orbit.

PMID- 1460273
TI  - Ocular leprosy.
AB  - Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, affects millions of people worldwide and
      is largely confined to the developing world. Although Hansen's disease is
      disfiguring, crippling, and even blinding in its later stages, it is not commonly
      lethal but gradually steals sensory input from the digits and the visual
      pathways. In this article, the epidemiology and pathogenesis of leprosy are
      reviewed, with an emphasis on ocular involvement, treatment, and prevention.

PMID- 1460274
TI  - Onchocerciasis.
AB  - Onchocerciasis is a parasitic disease with blinding consequences infecting
      approximately 18 million persons worldwide. In hyperendemic areas, nearly half
      the population are likely to become blind before they die. Blindness reduces the
      life expectancy of those affected and has an enormous socioeconomic impact on
      these communities. Ivermectin, given as a single oral dose of 150 micrograms/kg,
      can control the manifestations of the disease and can be safely distributed on a
      mass scale in endemic areas. This drug provides hope for the control of what has
      been until now an untreatable and devastating disease.

PMID- 1460275
TI  - T cell recognition of QA-1b antigens on cells lacking a functional Tap-2
      transporter.
AB  - MHC class Ia H chains and beta 2-microglobulin assemble with appropriate peptides
      to form stable cell surface molecules that serve as targets for Ag-specific CTL.
      The structural similarities of class Ia and the less polymorphic Q/T/M (class Ib)
      molecules suggest that class Ib molecules also play a role in antigen
      presentation, although the origin of the peptides they present remains mostly
      unclear. The cell line RMA-S has a defect in class I Ag presentation, presumably
      due to a mutation in a peptide transporter gene. This defect can be overcome by
      transfection of RMA-S cells with the Tap-2 gene (formerly Ham-2) that encodes an
      ATP-binding transporter protein. We now show that a substantial portion of
      alloreactive CTL specific for Qa-1 class Ib molecules recognize Qa-1b on RMA-S
      cells and thus differ from most class Ia specific CTL. Those anti-Qa-1b CTL that
      do not recognize untransfected RMA-S do lyse RMA-S transfected with Tap-2. We
      also examine the effects of Qdm, a gene that maps to the D region and alters
      recognition of Qa-1. Qdm(k) strains lack an epitope(s) recognized by some (Qdm
      dependent) anti-Qa-1 CTL whereas Qdm+ strains express this epitope. Thus, Qdm
      dependent CTL do not recognize Qa-1 on Qdm(k) targets whereas Qdm-independent CTL
      recognize Qa-1 epitopes in all strains. Although Qdm-independent CTL varied as to
      whether they recognized RMA-S vs RMA, all nine Qdm-dependent clones only
      recognized Qa-1b on RMA and not RMA-S. This result is consistent with Qdm
      encoding a peptide dependent upon the TAP transporter for cell membrane
      expression.

PMID- 1460276
TI  - Direct binding of peptides to MHC class I molecules on living cells. Analysis at
      the single cell level.
AB  - To directly assess the binding of exogenous peptides to cell surface-associated
      MHC class I molecules at the single cell level, we examined the possibility of
      combining the use of biotinylated peptide derivatives with an immunofluorescence
      detection system based on flow cytometry. Various biotinylated derivatives of the
      adenovirus 5 early region 1A peptide 234-243, an antigenic peptide recognized by
      CTL in the context of H-2Db, were first screened in functional assays for their
      ability to bind efficiently to Db molecules on living cells. Suitable peptide
      derivatives were then tested for their ability to generate positive fluorescence
      signals upon addition of phycoerythrin-labeled streptavidin to peptide derivative
      bearing cells. Strong fluorescent staining of Db-expressing cells was achieved
      after incubation with a peptide derivative containing a biotin group at the C
      terminus. Competition experiments using the unmodified parental peptide as well
      as unrelated peptides known to bind to Kd, Kb, or Db, respectively, established
      that binding of the biotinylated peptide to living cells was Db-specific. By
      using Con A blasts derived from different H-2 congenic mouse strains, it could be
      shown that the biotinylated peptide bound only to Db among > 20 class I alleles
      tested. Moreover, binding of the biotinylated peptide to cells expressing the
      Dbm13 and Dbm14 mutant molecules was drastically reduced compared to Db. Binding
      of the biotinylated peptide to freshly isolated Db+ cells was readily detectable,
      allowing direct assessment of the relative amount of peptide bound to distinct
      lymphocyte subpopulations by three-color flow cytometry. While minor differences
      between peripheral T and B cells could be documented, thymocytes were found to
      differ widely in their peptide binding activity. In all cases, these differences
      correlated positively with the differential expression of Db at the cell surface.
      Finally, kinetic studies at different temperatures strongly suggested that the
      biotinylated peptide first associated with Db molecules available constitutively
      at the cell surface and then with newly arrived Db molecules.

PMID- 1460277
TI  - Role of neuroendocrine hormones in murine T cell development. Growth hormone
      exerts thymopoietic effects in vivo.
AB  - Growth hormone (GH) and other neuroendocrine mediators have been implicated
      previously in T cell development. We therefore examined thymic development in
      DW/J dwarf mice. DW/J mice lack acidophilic anterior pituitary cells and
      consequently are totally deficient in the production of GH, as well as other
      neuroendocrine hormones. DW/J dwarf mice had greatly hypoplastic thymi that
      continued to decrease in size as the mice aged. Characterization of the different
      T cell subpopulations within the thymi of dwarf mice indicated a deficiency in
      CD4+/CD8+ double-positive thymocytes. This deficiency of progenitor cells became
      more complete as the mice aged culminating in the total disappearance of this
      subpopulation in some dwarf mice > 3 mo of age. Analysis of the lymph nodes
      indicated that a population of double-positive (CD4/CD8) T cells appeared in some
      mice concurrent with the disappearance of double-positive cells in the thymus
      suggesting that these thymocytes may have migrated to the periphery. However,
      peripheral T cells from dwarf mice did exhibit Ag-specific responses indicating
      that these mice have functional T cells. Treatment of the mice with recombinant
      human GH, which binds both murine growth hormone receptors and murine prolactin
      receptors, or ovine GH, which binds murine growth hormone receptors but not
      murine prolactin receptors, resulted in an increase in thymic size and the
      reappearance of the CD4+/CD8+ double-positive cells within the thymus.
      Additionally, after GH treatment, the double-positive cells disappeared from the
      lymph nodes. The thymi of mice treated with GH failed to attain normal size but
      did develop a normal distribution of T cell progenitors. Thus, GH exerts
      significant thymopoietic effects in vivo. Neuroendocrine hormones may be
      important for normal T cell differentiation to occur within the murine thymus.

PMID- 1460279
TI  - Increased avidity of mutant IgM antibodies caused by the absence of COOH-terminal
      glycosylation of the mu H chain.
AB  - We have previously described the isolation of two hybridoma variants secreting
      higher avidity IgM (D5 and 7F5), starting from the E11 hybridoma cell line, which
      produces an antibody specific for the A Ag of the ABO blood group system. In
      order to explain at the molecular level this increased reactivity, cDNA encoding
      the H and L chains of the E11, D5, and 7F5 mAb were cloned and sequenced.
      Comparison of the nucleotide sequences showed a single point mutation in each of
      the two mAb produced by the hybridoma variants. The mutations were both located
      in the H chain C region and caused a Ser to Phe substitution at position 565 in
      the D5 mAb and a Asn to Tyr substitution at position 563 in the 7F5 mAb. Both
      substitutions modified the consensus glycosylation sequence (Asn-X-Ser/Thr)
      located in the tail piece of the secretory mu-chain. The absence of glycosylation
      at this site was confirmed by CNBr cleavage of the [14C]mannose-labeled mAb. The
      two single point mutations were solely responsible for the increased avidity of
      the antibodies, as confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis of the E11 mu-chain and
      serologic analysis of the mutated E11 antibodies. We conclude that the absence of
      glycosylation at Asn 563 is responsible for the increased avidity of the mutant,
      possibly by altering the quaternary structure of the IgM polymer. To our
      knowledge, this is the first report that point mutations in the H chain C region
      can influence the reactivity of IgM mAb.

PMID- 1460278
TI  - Systemic suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity by supernatants from UV
      irradiated keratinocytes. An essential role for keratinocyte-derived IL-10.
AB  - Exposing murine keratinocyte cultures to UV radiation causes the release of a
      suppressive cytokine that mimics the immunosuppressive effects of total-body UV
      exposure. Injecting supernatants from UV-irradiated keratinocyte cultures into
      mice inhibits their ability to generate a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction
      against allogeneic histocompatibility Ag, and spleen cells from mice injected
      with supernatant do not respond to alloantigen in the in vitro MLR. A unique
      feature of the immunosuppression induced by either total-body UV-exposure or
      injecting the suppressive cytokine from UV-irradiated keratinocytes is the
      selectivity of suppression. Although cellular immune reactions such as delayed
      type hypersensitivity are suppressed antibody production is unaffected. Because
      the selective nature to the UV-induced immunosuppression is similar to the
      biologic activity of IL-10, we examined the hypothesis that UV exposure of
      keratinocytes causes the release of IL-10. Keratinocyte monolayers were exposed
      to UV radiation and at specific times after exposure mRNA was isolated or the
      culture supernatant from the cells was collected. IL-10 mRNA expression was
      enhanced in UV-irradiated keratinocytes. The secretion of IL-10 by the irradiated
      keratinocytes was determined by Western blot analysis. A band reactive with anti
      IL-10 mAb was found in supernatants from the UV-irradiated but not the mock
      irradiated cells. IL-10 biologic activity was determined by the ability of the
      supernatants from the UV-irradiated keratinocytes to suppress IFN-gamma
      production by Ag-activated Th 1 cell clones. Anti-IL-10 mAb neutralized the
      ability of supernatants from UV-irradiated keratinocytes to suppress the
      induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity in vivo. Furthermore, injecting UV
      irradiated mice with antibodies against IL-10 partially inhibited in vivo
      immunosuppression. These data indicate that activated keratinocytes are capable
      of secreting IL-10 and suggest that the release of IL-10 by UV-irradiated
      keratinocytes plays an essential role in the induction of systemic
      immunosuppression after total-body UV exposure.

PMID- 1460280
TI  - Role of protein kinase C activity in tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene expression.
      Involvement at the transcriptional level.
AB  - Primary rat astrocytes express TNF-alpha protein in response to various stimuli
      including a combined treatment with IFN-gamma and LPS, or IFN-gamma and IL-1
      beta. This study was undertaken to further elucidate the mechanisms underlying
      TNF-alpha gene expression in the astrocyte, and to determine the intracellular
      signaling pathways involved in IFN-gamma/LPS and/or IFN-gamma/IL-1 beta induction
      of the TNF-alpha gene. We demonstrate that TNF-alpha mRNA is rapidly induced, and
      mRNA levels peak after 2 h of stimulation. De novo protein synthesis is not
      required for TNF-alpha expression because the inclusion of cycloheximide does not
      prevent expression of the gene and acts to superinduce TNF-alpha mRNA levels. IFN
      gamma/LPS induces transcriptional activation of the TNF-alpha gene as assessed by
      nuclear run-on experiments. Cycloheximide acts to increase both transcription of
      the TNF-alpha gene and stability of TNF-alpha mRNA thereby resulting in increased
      TNF-alpha steady state mRNA levels. Two protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, H7 and
      staurosporine, abrogate IFN-gamma/LPS- and IFN-gamma/IL-1 beta-induced TNF-alpha
      expression in a dose-dependent manner. PKC activity is required for transcription
      of the TNF-alpha gene, and does not appear to be involved in TNF-alpha mRNA
      stabilization. Taken together, these data demonstrate that TNF-alpha gene
      expression in primary rat astrocytes is induced in a PKC-dependent manner.

PMID- 1460281
TI  - Antibody engineering by codon-based mutagenesis in a filamentous phage vector
      system.
AB  - A novel codon-based mutagenesis procedure is described that allows rapid and
      efficient modification of antibody amino acid sequences expressed as F(ab)
      fragments in M13. The procedure succeeded in generating a library of mutations in
      the complementarity-determining regions of chimeric L6, an antibody against a
      tumor-associated Ag. A set of anti-Id antibodies (anti-Id 1, 3, and 7) that bind
      near the L6 Ag-binding site served as model Ag. The goal was to select mutant
      antibody sequences that altered the L6 reactivity with the anti-Id in subtle
      ways, i.e., to eliminate the binding to one anti-Id while preserving other
      reactivities or to identify mutants with increased binding. A high frequency of
      variant M13 phage clones exhibiting altered specificity for the anti-Id were
      identified. Codon-based mutagenesis in conjunction with the M13 antibody
      expression and screening system should provide an efficient and general approach
      for redirecting the specificity and potentially improving the affinity of
      antibodies in vitro.

PMID- 1460282
TI  - Application of a filamentous phage pVIII fusion protein system suitable for
      efficient production, screening, and mutagenesis of F(ab) antibody fragments.
AB  - We describe the application of a novel filamentous phage vector system suitable
      for efficient screening and production of F(ab) antibody fragments. The vector
      system can concurrently produce free F(ab) fragments and F(ab) displayed on the
      surface of M13 bacteriophage via a VHCH1-pVIII fusion protein. When expressed in
      a supO (nonsuppressor) strain of Escherichia coli free F(ab) can be produced.
      Antibody F(ab) fragments are secreted into culture medium at concentrations up to
      0.3 mg/liter and conveniently subjected to detailed analysis with little or no
      purification. Higher concentrations of F(ab) (approximately 10 mg/liter) were
      found to accumulate in the periplasmic space. In this report the vector system is
      shown to produce correctly folded and assembled F(ab) fragments of chimeric L6, a
      mAb against a tumor-associated Ag expressed by many human carcinomas.

PMID- 1460283
TI  - L chain isotype regulation in horse. I. Characterization of Ig lambda genes.
AB  - Analysis of 10 cDNA encoding lambda L chains of horse Ig indicated that this
      species may employ a relatively small number of variable region (V lambda) genes
      in the splenic B cell population. The V lambda sequences of all of the cDNA
      analyzed were closely related (> 88% identity at the nucleotide level) and were
      characterized by a deletion of the amino acid residue at position 3 compared with
      V lambda sequences so far described in other species. The 10 V lambda sequences
      could be grouped into three groups, V lambda 1 to V lambda 3, on the basis of a
      number of linked substitutions. Sequences within the groups showed the greatest
      divergence in the third cdr regions and at the V-J junctions. The junctional
      variation included amino acid substitutions on both sides of the V-J junction as
      well as the insertion or deletion of two to four amino acid residues. Four C
      lambda genes were identified in genomic blots of horse DNA, and three of these
      were found expressed in splenic cDNA. The fourth C lambda gene may represent a
      pseudogene, inasmuch as the associated J region possessed a defective heptamer
      joining sequence. Six of the nine possible V lambda-C lambda combinations were
      found in the cDNA analyzed, suggesting that genes belonging to groups V lambda 1
      through V lambda 3 may rearrange to any one of three J lambda-C lambda genes. One
      V lambda germline gene was characterized and found to represent a distinct V
      lambda group (V lambda 4), not represented in the cDNA sequences analyzed. The
      number of germline V lambda genes was estimated to be 20 to 30, based on analysis
      of restriction fragments hybridizing with V lambda probes. On the basis of these
      data, we propose that the V lambda repertoire in horse may consist of relatively
      limited number of genes, of which only a few may be used at high frequency in the
      splenic B cell population. The results indicate that predominance of lambda
      chains in horse Ig may not simply be due to the presence of a large germline V
      lambda gene repertoire.

PMID- 1460284
TI  - Nucleotide sequence of messenger RNA encoding VHDJH and VKJK of a highly
      conserved idiotype-defined primary response anti-hapten antibody.
AB  - The primary humoral immune response of mice to the hapten phthalate (Xmp) is
      focused upon two adjacent immunodominant negatively charged carboxyl groups on a
      benzene ring that are in positions meta and para to the azolinkage (i.e., Xmp) to
      the protein carrier keyhole limpet hemocyanin. A significant fraction of the anti
      Xmp antibodies raised in several different inbred mouse strains (BALB/c, DBA/2,
      A/HeHa; C3H, and SM/J), and many wild mouse populations express a cross-reactive
      Id, CRIXmp-1. This CRIXmp-1 is conspicuously absent in C57BL/6 mice. In order to
      obtain a better understanding of the events and parameters that influence the
      selection and regulation of the primary response B cell repertoire, and to
      explore the structural basis of Ag binding, we have determined the nucleotide
      sequence of the entire V region gene complexes, which encode the H and L chains
      of these highly conserved and dominant CRIXmp-1+ antibodies. Our data establish
      that the H chain gene complex consists of a single VH germ-line gene that is
      identical to VH Oxazolone-1, encoding the H chain of another highly conserved and
      dominant cross-reactive Id family associated with the primary response to
      Oxazolone. In CRIXmp-1+ Xmp-specific hybridomas this gene is joined to a limited
      set of D region sequences that express a conserved amino acid motif-GLR. At least
      three of the five D regions examined are coded for by DFL16.2. This VHD complex
      can be utilized with one of three different JH region genes (JH1, JH2, and JH4)
      without any significant effect upon antibody fine specificity or Id. In spite of
      this lack of JH fidelity all of the CRIXmp-1+ hybridomas have precisely
      maintained the same length in the H chain CDR3 and FRW4 by altering either the
      length of the D segment or the length of JH. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the
      VL gene complex of CRIXmp-1+ anti-Xmp antibodies indicates that the L chain V
      region is also encoded by a single germ-line gene. The amino acid sequence
      predicted from the nucleotide sequence of the VKJK from Xmp-specific CRIXmp-1+
      hybridomas is identical to the sequence of the anti-arsonate antibody 1210.7,
      which is the prototype of another Id family (CRI) that is conserved and dominant
      in BALB/c mice.

PMID- 1460285
TI  - Genes encoding Xenopus laevis Ig L chains. Implications for the evolution of
      kappa and lambda chains.
AB  - Xenopus laevis Ig contain two distinct types of L chains, designated rho or L1
      and sigma or L2. We have analyzed Xenopus genomic DNA by Southern blotting with
      cDNA probes specific for L1 V and C regions. Many fragments hybridized to the V
      probe, but only one or two fragments hybridized to the C probe. Corresponding C,
      J, and V gene segments were identified on clones isolated from a genomic library
      prepared from the same DNA. One clone contains a C gene segment separated from a
      J gene segment by an intron of 3.4 kb. The J and C gene segments are nearly
      identical in sequence to cDNA clones analyzed previously. The C segment is
      somewhat more similar and the J segment considerably more similar in sequence to
      the corresponding segments of mammalian kappa chains than to those of mammalian
      lambda chains. Upstream of the J segment is a typical recombination signal
      sequence with a spacer of 23 bp, as in J kappa. A second clone from the library
      contains four V gene segments, separated by 2.1 to 3.6 kb. Two of these, V1 and
      V3, have the expected structural and regulatory features of V genes, and are very
      similar in sequence to each other and to mammalian V kappa. A third gene segment,
      V2, resembles V1 and V3 in its coding region and nearby 5'-flanking region, but
      diverges in sequence 5' to position -95 with loss of the octamer promoter
      element. The fourth V-like segment is similar to the others at the 3'-end, but
      upstream of codon 64 bears no resemblance in sequence to any Ig V region. All
      four V segments have typical recombination signal sequences with 12-bp spacers at
      their 3'-ends, as in V kappa. Taken together, the data suggest that Xenopus L1 L
      chain genes are members of the kappa gene family.

PMID- 1460286
TI  - Effect of Haemophilus influenzae polysaccharide outer membrane protein complex
      conjugate vaccine on macrophages.
AB  - Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide-conjugate vaccines elicit protective
      antibody responses in young infants. One of these conjugates, polysaccharide
      linked to outer membrane protein complex (PRP-OMPC), is produced by linking the
      capsular polysaccharide to an outer membrane protein complex derived from group B
      Neisseria meningitidis. The outer membrane protein complex contains T cell
      carrier epitopes that elicit T cell-dependent antibody responses. OMPC also has
      been shown to increase the antibody response to other proteins administered
      concurrently that are not covalently linked (i.e., acts as an adjuvant). In this
      study PRP-OMPC immunized mice demonstrated significant increases in spleen size
      as well as in splenocyte number as compared to saline controls (p < 0.01, p <
      0.001, respectively). No such increase was noted after immunization with another
      H. influenzae type b-conjugate vaccine, oligosaccharide linked to a variant of
      diphtheria toxin. By analytic flow cytometry, the mice immunized with PRP-OMPC
      demonstrated an increase in large splenocytes expressing the Ag Mac-1 (CD11b,
      CR3). Furthermore, the spleens on histologic examination were characterized by an
      increase in the red pulp area consisting predominantly of cells of macrophage
      morphology. By immunohistochemical staining, the cells were identified as
      macrophages due to expression of Mac-1 and p150,95 (CD11C) Ag. After PRP-OMPC
      immunization, severe combined immunodeficient mice also demonstrated significant
      splenomegaly with an increase in macrophages identified by expression of Mac-1
      and MHC class II Ag. Thus PRP-OMPC vaccine resulted in T cell-independent
      splenomegaly with an increase number of macrophages. We propose that this unique
      property may confer increased immunogenicity to PRP-OMPC through macrophage
      activation and cytokine release. Furthermore, the effect on macrophages may
      explain the "adjuvant" capacity of OMPC.

PMID- 1460287
TI  - Transfection of mouse cytotoxic T lymphocyte with an antisense granzyme A vector
      reduces lytic activity.
AB  - Murine CTL have seven serine proteases, known as granzymes, in their lytic
      granules. Despite considerable effort, convincing evidence that these enzymes
      play an obligatory role in the lytic process has not been presented. To
      investigate the function of one of these proteases, granzyme A (GA), we utilized
      an antisense expression vector to lower the level of the enzyme in the cells. An
      expression vector containing antisense cDNA for GA and the gene for hygromycin B
      resistance was constructed and electroporated into the murine CTL line, AR1.
      Transfectants were selected based on resistance to hygromycin B, and a number of
      stable lines were developed. One of the antisense lines had greatly reduced
      levels of GA mRNA, when compared to the parental cells or to control lines
      transfected with the vector lacking the antisense DNA. The message levels for two
      other CTL granule proteins, granzyme B and perforin, were unaffected by the
      antisense vector. The amount of GA, as measured by enzymatic activity, was 3- to
      10-fold lower in the transfectant. Most significantly, this line also
      consistently showed 50 to 70% lower ability to lyse nucleated target cells and to
      degrade their DNA. Furthermore, it exhibited 90 to 95% lower lytic activity to
      anti-CD3-coated SRBC. Conjugate formation with target cells, however, was normal.
      These data provide strong evidence that GA plays an important role in the
      cytolytic cycle, and that the quantity of enzyme is a limiting factor in these
      cytolytic cells.

PMID- 1460289
TI  - IL-10 stimulates monocyte Fc gamma R surface expression and cytotoxic activity.
      Distinct regulation of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by IFN-gamma, IL
      4, and IL-10.
AB  - T cell-derived cytokines IFN-gamma and IL-4 have different regulatory effects on
      two functionally important molecules on human monocytes: MHC class II Ag and the
      Fc receptor for monomeric IgG, Fc gamma RI (CD64). MHC class II Ag, and Fc gamma
      RI are both upregulated in the presence of IFN-gamma. IL-4 induces MHC class II
      Ag expression but reduces Fc gamma RI expression. Recently, we showed that the
      cytokine IL-10 also affects MHC class II Ag expression. Here, we demonstrate that
      in contrast to the down-regulation of MHC class II Ag expression, IL-10
      stimulates Fc gamma RI expression on human monocytes comparable to the levels of
      Fc gamma RI expression induced by IFN-gamma. The IL-10-induced Fc gamma RI
      expression is specific because anti-IL-10 antibodies completely reverse the IL-10
      induced surface expression of Fc gamma RI and correlate with an enhanced capacity
      to lyse anti-D-coated human rhesus-positive erythrocytes. IL-10 fails to induce
      the expression of Fc gamma RII (CD32) and Fc gamma RIII (CD16). Furthermore, we
      demonstrate that IL-10 is able to prevent down-regulation in surface membrane
      expression of all three Fc gamma R that can be found when monocytes are cultured
      in the presence of IL-4. In contrast to IFN-gamma, IL-10 does not restore the
      reduced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity of IL-4-cultured
      monocytes. Together, these results show that, similar to IFN-gamma, IL-10 is
      capable of enhancing Fc gamma R expression and ADCC activity, and that IFN-gamma,
      IL-4, and IL-10 have different regulatory effects on both monocyte Ag-presenting
      capacity and ADCC activity.

PMID- 1460288
TI  - Eosinophil transendothelial migration induced by cytokines. I. Role of
      endothelial and eosinophil adhesion molecules in IL-1 beta-induced
      transendothelial migration.
AB  - IL-1 beta promotes adhesiveness in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HuVEC)
      for eosinophils through expression of adhesion molecules including intercellular
      adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1
      (VCAM-1). Using an in vitro endothelial monolayer system, we examined whether IL
      1 beta or TNF-alpha can promote eosinophil transendothelial migration. We also
      evaluated the contributions of ICAM-1, E-selectin, VCAM-1, leukocyte adhesion
      complex (CD11/18), and very late Ag-4 (CD11b/18) (VLA-4) in this process using
      blocking mAb, and determined the changes in expression of CD11b and L-selectin on
      eosinophils that had undergone transmigration. IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha treatment
      of HuVEC (4 h, 5 ng/ml) induced significant transendothelial migration of
      eosinophils (a 4.1 +/- 0.4-fold (IL-1 beta) and 2.0 +/- 0.9-fold (TNF-alpha)
      increase from the spontaneous value of 3.2 +/- 0.3%). Increased CD11b expression
      and shedding of L-selectin were observed on eosinophils following IL-1 beta
      induced eosinophil transendothelial migration. Studies with mAb revealed that
      blockade of either ICAM-1 or CD11/18 inhibited transmigration, while antibodies
      against VCAM-1 and VLA-4 had no inhibitory effect. Among antibodies which block
      beta 2 integrins, anti-CD18 mAb had the best inhibitory effect (88% inhibition).
      The combined inhibitory effect of anti-CD11a mAb and anti-CD11b mAb was roughly
      equal to that of anti-CD18, although anti-CD11a (31% inhibition) and anti-CD11b
      (52% inhibition) were less effective individually. Anti-ICAM-1 by itself
      inhibited IL-1 beta-induced eosinophil transendothelial migration (24%
      inhibition) whereas neither anti-E-selectin nor anti-VCAM-1 were effective
      inhibitors. Interestingly, the combination of anti-E-selectin and anti-VCAM-1
      with anti-ICAM-1 inhibited IL-1 beta-induced eosinophil transendothelial
      migration significantly better (53% inhibition) than anti-ICAM-1 alone. These
      results suggest that although the initial attachment of eosinophils to IL-1 beta
      activated endothelial cells involves VCAM-1, E-selectin, and ICAM-1, the
      subsequent transendothelial migration process relies heavily on ICAM-1 and
      CD11/18. Finally, the changes that eosinophils have been observed to undergo
      during infiltration in vivo, namely increased expression of CD11/18 and shedding
      of L-selectin, appear to take place as a direct result of the interaction between
      eosinophils and endothelial cells.

PMID- 1460290
TI  - Probing the human antibody repertoire to exogenous antigens. Characterization of
      the H and L chain V region gene segments from anti-hepatitis B virus antibodies.
AB  - Structural studies of human antibody V regions have been largely limited to those
      involving the fetal repertoire, autoantibodies, and malignant cell
      rearrangements, leaving the "normal" repertoire relatively unexplored. In this
      study we describe the nucleotide sequences of the H and L chain V regions of four
      antibodies specific for the surface Ag of the hepatitis B virus. Monoclonal cell
      lines were derived from healthy individuals who received standard immunizations
      with the serum-derived or recombinant hepatitis B virus vaccines by fusion of PBL
      to a heterohybridoma cell line, SPAZ-4. We utilized the polymerase chain reaction
      to amplify the H and L chain V regions for cloning and sequencing. The four
      antibodies express the following V region combinations: VHIII/V lambda V, VHIII/V
      kappa II, VHIV/V kappa I, VHV/V lambda III. When compared to germline genes with
      the closest sequence homology, all of the V regions appear to have undergone
      somatic mutation, ranging from 3.4 to 11.3% for the H chain, and 5.1 to 9.2% for
      the L chain. Analysis of the mutations shows them to be typical for an Ag-driven
      immune response.

PMID- 1460291
TI  - Cytotoxic T lymphocytes do not appear to select for mutations in an
      immunodominant epitope of simian immunodeficiency virus gag.
AB  - Studies to date assessing HIV escape from CTL in vivo have yielded conflicting
      results. Previous studies have demonstrated that simian immunodeficiency virus of
      macaques (SIVmac)-infected rhesus monkeys expressing the MHC class I allele Mamu
      A*01 reproducibly develop a gag-specific CTL response limited to a 9-amino acid
      epitope of the SIVmac gag protein (residues 182-190 within peptide 11C). To
      determine whether CTL have a role in selecting for AIDS virus mutants, we
      examined mutations in SIVmac proviral DNA encoding this gag CTL epitope in PBL of
      infected rhesus monkeys. Three Mamu-A*01+ rhesus monkeys were infected with
      SIVmac and assessed for gag- and peptide 11C-specific CTL responses. This
      specific CTL response was maintained in two monkeys, but lost in the third animal
      2 yr after infection. The generation of proviral gag mutations was then
      determined by sequencing 500-bp proviral fragments amplified from fresh PBL
      obtained from the monkeys more than 2.5 yr after infection. Although numerous
      point mutations were characterized in 131 polymerase chain reaction-generated
      clones of SIVmac gag, only four mutations within the gag CTL epitope-coding
      region of the genome were identified. Comparison of synonymous and nonsynonymous
      nucleotide substitutions in the regions encoding peptide 11C (p11C) and the
      flanking gag protein indicated a lack of selective pressure for viral mutations
      in the CTL epitope coding region. Interestingly, a predominant gag mutant
      encoding a single amino acid change in p11C was found in a monkey which lost its
      CTL activity. However, even in this setting there was no evidence for selection
      of mutations in the CTL epitope coding region when compared with the flanking
      region. Furthermore, synthetic peptides corresponding to all naturally occurring
      variants in the gag epitope-coding region were recognized by cloned and bulk
      cultured effector cells of the infected monkeys with persistent CTL. These
      results indicate that SIVmac gag- and p11C-specific CTL do not select for
      mutations in the immunodominant epitope-coding region and that the naturally
      occurring mutants do not appear to escape CTL recognition.

PMID- 1460292
TI  - IFN-gamma receptor-Ig fusion proteins. Half-life, immunogenicity, and in vivo
      activity.
AB  - Two mouse IFN-gamma receptor (MoIFN gamma R)-Ig fusion proteins, which were
      constructed for the purpose of creating new efficient mouse IFN-gamma (MoIFN
      gamma) inhibitor molecules, were studied in vivo to determine their plasma half
      life and immunogenicity, and to show their biologic activity. The hybrid proteins
      show 40-h blood persistency. They do not provoke an antibody response when
      injected into mice, and they are biologically active in vivo, as demonstrated by
      the prevention of streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The two fusion proteins are
      efficient MoIFN-gamma antagonists and can be used in mouse models of human
      diseases to investigate the role of MoIFN gamma in these pathologic states.

PMID- 1460293
TI  - Infection of human natural killer (NK) cells with replication-defective human T
      cell leukemia virus type I provirus. Increased proliferative capacity and
      prolonged survival of functionally competent NK cells.
AB  - Human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) can infect a variety of human cell
      types, but only T lymphocytes are efficiently immortalized after HTLV-I
      infection. This study reports an attempt to infect and to immortalize NK cells
      with HTLV-I. Co-cultivation of freshly isolated NK cells with a HTLV-I-producing
      T cell line did not result in NK cell infection. However, NK cells activated with
      an anti-CD16 mAb and co-cultivated with a HTLV-I-producing T cell line were
      reproducibly infected by HTLV-I. HTLV-I infection was documented in NK cell lines
      and clones by the detection of defective integrated provirus by both Southern
      blot and polymerase chain reaction analysis. Although HTLV-I-infected NK cells
      produced viral proteins, they did not produce infectious viral particles. HTLV-I
      infected NK cells were phenotypically indistinguishable from their uninfected
      counterparts (CD16+, CD2+, CD56+, CD3-). They also retained the ability to
      mediate both natural and antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity. The IL-2-dependent
      proliferation of HTLV-I-infected NK cells was significantly greater than that of
      uninfected NK cells. The doubling time of this infected population was reduced
      from 9 days to 3 days, and the overall survival of the culture in the absence of
      restimulation was extended from 5 wk to 18 wk. Unlike T lymphocytes, HTLV-I
      infected NK cells were not immortal, implying a fundamental difference between
      these two lymphocyte populations.

PMID- 1460294
TI  - Generation and characterization of cloned T helper cell lines for anti-DNA
      responses in NZB.H-2bm12 mice.
AB  - We have previously demonstrated that the introduction of the bm12 mutation into
      NZB mice results in animals that spontaneously produce high titer IgG
      autoantibodies to dsDNA. The observation that NZB.H-2bm12 develop lupus although
      NZB.H-2b control mice do not, provides a unique system to study the role of Th
      cells in the production of antibodies to dsDNA. We have isolated, in the absence
      of a known stimulating autoantigen, a series of seven autoreactive T cell clones
      that provide help in vitro for the production of IgG anti-dsDNA antibodies by
      syngeneic B cells. The data on these seven cloned T cell lines was compared to
      two cloned T cell lines specific for keyhole limpet hemocyanin. The seven cloned
      T cell lines, coined clones 19D, 23G, 410F, 410H, C1, C15, and C52 all show
      significant help in vitro for production of IgM and IgG antibodies to ssDNA and
      dsDNA; antibody levels increased 7- to 30-fold compared to cultures without T
      cells. Clones C1, C15, and C52 were furthered studied and were shown to provide
      help for IgM antihistone and anti-OVA responses but provided significantly less
      help for IgG antibodies. In contrast, keyhole limpet hemocyanin-specific cloned T
      cell lines TK2 and TK5 provided help for IgM antibodies to ssDNA, dsDNA, and
      histone, but failed to significantly increase IgG antibodies to ssDNA, dsDNA, or
      histone. The cloned T cell lines were restricted to H-2bm12 and proliferated only
      in response to APC from NZB.H-2bm12 and B6.C-H-2bm12 but not NZB.H-2b or NZB.H-2d
      mice; their in vitro helper activity was inhibited by antibodies to class II. All
      cloned T cell lines expressed Thy-1, CD5, and TCR-alpha/beta. Three of the seven
      clones used TCR-V beta 4. However, the V beta expression of the four remaining
      autoreactive T cell clones could not be determined. All of the autoreactive
      cloned T cell lines produce significant IL-4 but no detectable IL-2 or IFN-gamma.
      We believe that HPLC-purified peptides eluted from I-Abm12 molecules from APC can
      potentially provide insight on the putative autoantigen.

PMID- 1460296
TI  - Medical education--expectations and reality.

PMID- 1460295
TI  - Medical education in India: present status and future perspective.

PMID- 1460297
TI  - Sophistication in medical technology.

PMID- 1460298
TI  - Graduate medical education: reappraisal.

PMID- 1460299
TI  - Teaching of pathology and microbiology in Medical College, Calcutta.

PMID- 1460300
TI  - Anatomy: the foundation in medical technology and its role in medical education.

PMID- 1460301
TI  - Teaching and training in geriatric medicine.

PMID- 1460302
TI  - Medical admissions: a confusing disease.
AB  - It is strictly for admission to undergraduate medical courses. (i) 50% of seats
      should be reserved for local candidate on merit of HSC, with academic year
      starting after the HSC results. (ii) 20% of seats should be reserved for
      candidates coming from rural areas, on the basis of merit at HSC, with academic
      year starting after HSC results. (iii) 30% of seats to be filled by an all-India
      competitive examination. The academic year to start 6 months after the HSC
      results. A ceiling of minimum number of marks and a minimum number of attempts
      for eligibility to the all-India PMT would make the conduct of such an
      examination more practical.

PMID- 1460303
TI  - Medical education de-valued. 1975.

PMID- 1460304
TI  - Medical education in India since independence. 1981.

PMID- 1460305
TI  - Medical education. 1981.

PMID- 1460306
TI  - Scientific misconduct in medical research.

PMID- 1460307
TI  - Postgraduate training in the United Kingdom: details of double sponsorship
      training programme.

PMID- 1460308
TI  - Tamilising medical education--a retrograde step.

PMID- 1460310
TI  - The medical role in environmental health.

PMID- 1460309
TI  - Family physician to regain his glory--certain random thoughts.

PMID- 1460311
TI  - Treatment of acute respiratory infection in children by practitioners in India.

PMID- 1460312
TI  - Primary malignant lymphoma of the gastro-intestinal tract: a clinicopathological
      study of 24 cases.
AB  - Twenty-four cases of primary lymphoma of the gastro-intestinal tract were
      diagnosed during the period 1970 to 1991. There was a preponderance of males and
      the male to female ratio being 1.4:1. Age ranged from 9-70 years, mean 32.2
      years. Small intestine was involved in 50% cases, large bowel in 9 cases (37.5%)
      and stomach in 3 cases (12.5%). There were 5 cases (20.8%) of Hodgkin's disease
      and 19 cases (79.2%) were of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. All cases of gastric
      lymphoma complained of epigastric pain, weight loss and vomiting. In lymphoma of
      small intestine, 8 patients complained of pain associated with vomiting and 6
      patients complained of distension of abdomen. In large bowel lymphoma, pain in
      right iliac fossa was complained by 4 patients and bleeding per rectum by 3
      patients. Out of all the 24 cases, changes in bowel habit were noted in 15
      patients and occult blood was positive in 13 cases. Palpable abdominal mass was
      noted in 14 patients. Histomorphologically, all the 3 cases in the stomach were
      of lymphocytic lymphoma diffuse type. Out of 19 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 15 were
      of lymphocytic lymphoma and 4 were of histiocytic lymphoma.

PMID- 1460313
TI  - Iatrogenic dry eye: late effect of topical steroid formulations.
AB  - A total of 69 eyes of 35 patients receiving local corticosteroid therapy over a
      period of 3 months to 2 years for different eye ailments were studied. It was
      observed that there was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) of Schirmer's test I,
      as well as tear film break up time values with an increase in the duration of
      treatment. Of the various preservatives used with the various brands of steroids
      it was observed that benzalkonium chloride is most commonly associated with dry
      eye syndrome. The complications of prolonged topical steroid therapy included
      steroid induced glaucoma (4 eyes), lenticular opacities (4 eyes), epitheliopathy
      (2 eyes) and flare up of silent viral keratitis (one eye).

PMID- 1460314
TI  - Comparative study of midtrimester termination of pregnancy using hypertonic
      saline, ethacridine lactate, prostaglandin analogue and iodine-saline.
AB  - The study consisted of terminations of 200 cases of second trimester pregnancies
      ranging from 14 weeks to 20 weeks. Out of these 200 cases, in 50 cases intra
      amniotic instillation of 20% hypertonic saline (200 ml) was done after
      withdrawing 35-200 ml of amniotic fluid. Ethacridine lactate was instilled in 50
      cases extra-amniotically. Prostaglandin F2 alpha was injected intramuscularly at
      regular intervals in 50 cases. Fifty cases of pregnancies were terminated with
      extra-amniotic instillation of 5% povidone-iodine solution mixed with normal
      saline. Comparison was made among all the methods regarding instillation-abortion
      interval, completeness of abortion, failure of the procedure and postoperative
      complications. Solution of 5% povidone-iodine in normal saline was found to be
      comparable in all aspects to other methods and above all a much cheaper
      alternative for poor patients. Success rate was highest with iodine-saline
      solution (100%) followed by ethacridine lactate (98%), hypertonic saline (96%)
      and lowest with prostaglandin F2 alpha (90%).

PMID- 1460315
TI  - The blood group and haemoglobin types of the Santals.
AB  - A total of 488 blood samples from tribal as well as non-tribal donors of Bihar
      and West Bengal were analysed for presence of abnormal haemoglobin variants. Out
      of 488 samples ABO and Rh blood groups were studied in 468 samples. Predominance
      of group B was noted in both the tribal and non-tribal groups and absence of
      Rh(d) was noted in non-tribal population with the exception of the tribals where
      4.42% Rh(d) gene was found. Incidence of haemoglobin E gene was very low in most
      cases but relatively higher in non-tribal populations, while the range of raised
      haemoglobin A2 varied from 5.84% to 8.80%.

PMID- 1460316
TI  - The natural history of smoking.
AB  - This study is a small collection of the natural history of smoking of 865 persons
      - all smokers and majority (97.11%) of them were males, more than 80% were
      between 21-50 years, most (90%) were Hindus and 75% were service holders. It
      revealed that most of the subjects started smoking between 10 and 25 years of
      age, frequently being requested by their friends but felt nothing mentionable at
      their first experience. Most of them (64%) were smoking for more than 10 years,
      48.56% were smoking more than 10 cigarettes in a day, filter-tipped more often
      (by 64% subjects) and without any history of break by 56% subjects. Majority
      (80%) used to inhale the smoke and 40% had no specific time of choice. Most of
      the subjects (80%) like to smoke in deep thoughts, 66% during excitement, 60%
      when depressed, 82% when relaxed and 62.5% when alone. But most of them (64%) did
      not smoke when busy. Majority (70.87%) felt relaxed when smoking. Most of the
      people (45%) stood reasonable having no cigarette in their stock. Majority (84%)
      used to smoke even when not offered. Tobacco was consumed largely as smoke by 75%
      subjects; 78% subjects smoked only cigarettes and about half of the smokers
      smoked even when they did not enjoy it.

PMID- 1460317
TI  - Angiomyolipoma of kidney.
AB  - Angiomyolipoma is an uncommon benign tumour accounting for less than 1% of all
      surgically excised tumours of the kidney. It may present as an isolated lesion or
      in association with tuberous sclerosis. An impalpable tumour is often detected
      incidentally during investigation of a case for some urinary tract pathology. CT
      scan has proved to be a useful investigation for pre-operative diagnosis; it may
      however, be of no value if the fat content of the tumour is low. Here a case of
      angiomyolipoma of left kidney is reported where pre-operative diagnosis was
      suggested by CT scan and histopathology confirmed it.

PMID- 1460318
TI  - Rare variant of acute promyelocytic leukaemia.
AB  - Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) is a peculiar sub-type of acute myeloblastic
      leukaemia characterised by presence of atypical promyelocytes in bone marrow and
      peripheral blood and common occurrence of haemorrhagic episodes associated with
      disseminated intravascular coagulation. Two morphological forms of APL are
      recognised--typical hypergranular and microgranular or M3 variant. This
      microgranular form of APL is rare but has got some peculiar features and often
      can be diagnosed by peripheral blood smear examination alone without bone marrow
      examination. Three cases of microgranular form of APL observed during a period of
      6 months are reported here.

PMID- 1460319
TI  - Giant sized oligodendroglioma of posterior fossa.

PMID- 1460320
TI  - Human laser assisted angioplasty: clinical results of 42 case trial in peripheral
      vessels.

PMID- 1460321
TI  - Treatment of pyogenic meningitis in children.

PMID- 1460322
TI  - Serum erythropoietin titers in hematological malignancies and related diseases.
AB  - Serum erythropoietin (Epo) titers in patients with various hematological
      malignancies and related diseases were determined by radioimmunoassay. Serum Epo
      titer was inversely correlated with hemoglobin concentration in iron deficiency
      anemia, aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), acute leukemia,
      malignant lymphoma, multiple myeloma and myelofibrosis, but there was no
      correlation between serum Epo titer and hemoglobin concentration in chronic
      myelogenous leukemia or polycythemias. Serum Epo titers in aplastic anemia were
      much higher than those in iron deficiency anemia. Serum Epo titers in MDS,
      malignant lymphoma and multiple myeloma differed considerably among patients.
      Serum Epo titers in untreated polycythemia vera were significantly lower than in
      treated polycythemia vera or secondary polycythemia.

PMID- 1460323
TI  - Peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitor cells in beta-thalassemia major.
AB  - Colony assays in methylcellulose (semisolid medium) of erythroid precursors and
      granulocyte-macrophage precursors from the peripheral blood of 34 patients with
      beta-thalassemia major and 31 age-matched normal controls were studied. In
      patients homozygous for beta-thalassemia, a significant increase of circulating
      erythroid progenitor cells to 3-5 times of normal controls was observed.
      Furthermore, the number of circulating colony forming units-granulocyte
      macrophage (CFU-GM) and colony forming units-mixed (CFU-Mixed) also increased
      significantly. In these subjects, there was a linear relationship between the
      number of burst forming units-erythroid (BFU-E) and CFU-GM. The serum level of
      erythropoietin (EPO) was also significantly higher than that of normal controls
      (p < 0.05). The increased hematopoiesis, indicated by an increased number of
      circulating hematopoietic progenitor cells and an elevated serum level of EPO,
      suggests that the physiologic regulation of erythropoiesis still operated in
      patients with beta-thalassemia major.

PMID- 1460324
TI  - An in vitro thymidine incorporation assay for human cancers: technical details
      revisited.
AB  - Among the choices of laboratory methods for in vitro testing of human tumor
      chemosensitivity, a thymidine incorporation assay (TIA) has been described.
      Advantages of a TIA over a colony-forming assay include greater probability of
      tumor growth, requirement for fewer tumor cells, less dependence on an absolute
      single-cell suspension, shorter time to completion, and the ability to measure up
      to three logs cell-kill. Specific technical details which are reported in the
      literature for performing a TIA are incomplete and/or conflicting between one
      laboratory and another. This paper reports details of methods designed to remove
      unbound 3[H]-thymidine from the agarose, standardize background counts, and
      determine optimal cell-plating densities, labeling time, optimal concentration of
      3[H]-thymidine, and the best day after seeding cultures to add the 3[H]
      thymidine. Care has been taken to compare the end point of drug sensitivity
      determinations following these methodologic changes, both among serial TIAs as
      well as with colony-forming assays.

PMID- 1460325
TI  - Cloning of human tumor cell lines in porous glass capillary tubes: a further
      development of the human tumor stem cell assay.
AB  - The conventional human tumor stem cell assay for cloning tumor cells for drug
      sensitivity testing is limited by its inability to test drug combinations. In an
      attempt to overcome this limitation, we cloned tumor cell lines within porous
      glass capillary tubes. In contrast to plastic porous tubes, the porous glass
      membranes were transparent, and colony formation could be judged on an inverted
      microscope. Human as well as animal cell lines showed sufficient colony growth.
      Colonies formed within these porous tubes were homogeneously distributed, and
      their morphology was similar to those formed in the common stem cell assay.
      Cloning efficiency and colony size depended on the mean pore diameter of the
      glass membrane, with best colony growth within tubes with a pore diameter ranging
      from 8.5 nm to 14 nm. A linear relationship between number of cells seeded and
      number of grown colonies could be demonstrated for the cell lines MDA-231 and
      Colo 201. Colony growth achieved within porous glass capillary tubes is
      comparable to that achieved in Petri dishes and in nonporous tubes. We conclude
      that the porous capillary cloning system meets the basic suppositions for a
      quantitative cloning assay. Moreover, the porosity of the glass membrane offers
      the possibility of variable perfusion of medium and drugs. Further investigations
      will focus on various perfusion modalities and chemosensitivity testing.

PMID- 1460326
TI  - Influence of feeding regimen and postnatal developmental stages on antibacterial
      activity of pancreatic juice.
AB  - Antibacterial activity of pancreatic juice in the pig (n = 8) was investigated
      during early postnatal development and in cattle (n = 6) receiving a different
      feeding regimen. For pancreatic juice collection, a catheter was surgically
      implanted in the pancreatic duct. Reintroduction of pancreatic juice was achieved
      through a T-shaped cannula in the duodenum. Pancreatic juice was collected for 30
      min in all cases. In piglets, collections were carried out at 2, 5-6, and 7-10 wk
      of age, and in cattle, after a standard meal, 48 h starvation, and following 24 h
      intraduodenal glucose infusion. Antibacterial activity was tested on Micrococcus
      Pyogenes strain ATTC 6538P by disc agar diffusion technique using nonactivated
      pancreatic juice, before and after heat treatment for 15 min at 65 and 100
      degrees C, respectively. Piglets showed a significant rise in antibacterial
      activity of pancreatic juice after weaning. In cattle, 48 h of starvation
      resulted in a marked suppression of antibacterial activity. This activity was
      found to be normal after a standard meal and comparable to that after 24-h
      intraduodenal glucose infusion. Heating of pancreatic juice to 65 degrees C
      caused a 35% increase in the antibacterial potency, whereas heating to 100
      degrees C completely abolished it. Additionally, dilution of pancreatic juice to
      1:10 did not affect antibacterial potency.

PMID- 1460327
TI  - Fibrinolytic enzymes in ascites during experimental acute pancreatitis in rats.
AB  - The ascites accumulating during acute pancreatitis contain proteases that play a
      role in the progression of this disease. The proteases of the fibrinolytic system
      in the ascites were therefore studied in experimental acute pancreatitis induced
      in rats. Synthetic substrate assay and the fibrin plate method revealed high
      activities of proteases, including plasminogen activator, in the ascites. The
      plasminogen activator had a mol wt of about 50,000 by zymography. The plasminogen
      activator adsorbed on Lys-sepharose from the ascites was observed at the 100,000
      mol wt position and in the 50,000-100,000 mol wt range on zymography and appeared
      at the 50,000 mol wt position after treatment by concentration. Its activity was
      enhanced by trypsin treatment. In other experiments, when incubated homogenate of
      normal pancreas lacking in zymographic activity was injected intraperitoneally
      into healthy rats, the recovered fluid displayed lytic zones between the 100,00
      and 50,000 mol wt positions. These findings suggest that the ascites contained
      plasminogen activator, part of which was released by intrapancreatic substances
      and was present in the precursor form.

PMID- 1460328
TI  - Effects of gastric fundectomy and antrectomy on the exocrine pancreas in the
      hamster.
AB  - The effect of gastric fundectomy and antrectomy on growth of the exocrine
      pancreas was studied in hamsters over 5 and 25 d. Sham-operated animals served as
      controls. After 5 d, basal plasma gastrin concentrations were significantly
      increased in fundectomized animals (80.3 +/- 20.6 pmol/L) and significantly
      decreased in antrectomized animals (11.6 +/- 1.1 pmol/L) as compared with the
      controls (20.0 +/- 1.7 pmol/L). Similar differences were present among the 25-d
      groups, whereas basal plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) concentrations did not differ
      significantly between any groups at any time. At 5 d after fundectomy, there was
      a significant increase in pancreatic tissue [3H]-thymidine uptake and total DNA
      content, both of which were reduced 5 d after antrectomy. Autoradiography showed
      significantly increased [3H]-thymidine labeling index of acinar, intralobular
      duct, and centroacinar cells of the pancreas at 5 d after fundectomy. The
      increased intralobular duct cell labeling index persisted 25 d after fundectomy.
      Labeling indexes after antrectomy did not differ significantly from those in the
      controls, although antrectomized animals had the lowest values in all three cell
      compartments at 25 d. At 25 d, pancreatic wet wt and total DNA and protein
      content were significantly increased after fundectomy and significantly reduced
      after antrectomy. These findings indicate that fundectomy in the hamster induces
      pancreatic exocrine tissue hyperplasia and hypertrophy, whereas antrectomy leads
      to retardation of pancreatic growth.

PMID- 1460329
TI  - Ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Histopathological features and prognosis.
AB  - Between 1972 and 1987, curative surgical resection (RO) was performed in 81
      patients with ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. In this study, slides from
      surgical specimens were reviewed, and histopathological features of the
      carcinomas were retrospectively reevaluated. Tumor stage was the most important
      prognostic factor: In UICC stages I, II, and III, the median survival times were
      13, 16, and 8 mo, respectively. Lymph node involvement and direct extension of
      the tumor into adjacent peripancreatic tissue, as well as invasion into
      peripancreatic organs were found to significantly influence survival. Tumor
      infiltration of the lymphatic vessels was present in 74% of the resected
      carcinomas and significantly correlated with survival time. There was no
      relationship between survival and tumor size; furthermore, histological grade of
      differentiation, age, and sex had no influence on prognosis.

PMID- 1460330
TI  - Effects of intraluminal peptide YY on pancreatic function.
AB  - Peptide YY (PYY) is released postprandially into both the circulation and the
      distal intestinal lumen. While circulating PYY inhibits pancreatic secretion and
      insulin release, the effects of intraluminal PYY on pancreatic function are
      unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of exogenous,
      intraileal luminal PYY on pancreatic exocrine function and fasting glucose
      levels. Chronic pancreatic and ileal fistulae (50 cm from the ileocecal valve)
      were created in nine mongrel dogs. The animals were given intravenous infusions
      of secretin (125 ng/kg/h) and cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8, 50 ng/kg/h) for
      four hours. At the beginning of the second hour, either normal saline or PYY, at
      low [physiologic (2 ng/min)] or high [supraphysiologic (50 ng/min)] levels, was
      infused antegrade into the ileal fistula for two hours. Pancreatic juice was
      collected for PYY and glucose levels. Ileal luminal PYY infusions had no effect
      on pancreatic bicarbonate or protein output. Fasting serum PYY and glucose
      concentrations were unaffected by either dose of intraluminal PYY. We conclude
      that ileal luminal PYY does not influence pancreatic exocrine function or fasting
      glucose levels.

PMID- 1460331
TI  - Influence of a platelet-activating factor antagonist on severe pancreatitis in
      two experimental models.
AB  - This study investigates the role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in
      experimental pancreatitis. The concentration of PAF quantified in ascites of bile
      induced pancreatitis by radioimmunoassay (RIA) ranged from 3.67 +/- 0.39 pmol/mL
      2 h to 0.954 +/- 0.39 pmol/mL 10 h after injection of taurocholate.
      Administration of a potent PAF antagonist, WEB-2170, prior to injection of
      taurocholate prolonged mean survival time in rats receiving i.v. camostate and
      albumin (46.4 h, n = 15, vs controls 38.3 h, n = 13). However, the survival rate
      after 72 h was not improved. The histologically estimated severity of
      pancreatitis and pancreatic enzymes in blood, tissue, or ascites was not
      affected. WEB-2170 had no effect on survival when injected simultaneously with
      taurocholate into the pancreatic duct or given i.v. after induction of
      pancreatitis (1, 0.1, or 0.01 mg/kg WEB-2170 vs controls). Subcutaneous injection
      of 10 mg/kg WEB-2170 also did not improve survival in pancreatitis induced by
      choline-deficient, ethionine-supplemented diet in mice. It is concluded that
      administration of a PAF antagonist after the onset of severe experimental
      pancreatitis does not influence its outcome, although activation of PAF may play
      a role in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis.

PMID- 1460332
TI  - Isolation of adult pig islet. In vitro assessment and xenotransplantation.
AB  - This study was conducted to develop an isolation method for adult pig islets and
      to investigate in vivo function after xenotransplantation as well as in vitro
      function of isolated islets. From the splenic portion of the glands (n = 20),
      3277 +/- 645 islets per gram of pancreas were isolated and recovered by a five
      step dextran discontinuous density gradient method. Purity of the final
      preparation obtained from 20 different consecutive pig pancreata was 80-90%. In
      vitro incubation study revealed a significant insulin release from isolated adult
      pig islets in response to glucose stimulation. In vitro perifusion study
      demonstrated a biphasic insulin response to glucose stimulation from isolated
      islets. Xenotransplantation of approx 2000 isolated adult pig islets into the
      portal vein of diabetic Wistar rats (n = 8) significantly reduced serum glucose
      levels from 431 +/- 24 mg/dL to 173 +/- 18 mg/dL 24 h after transplantation. This
      study provides a development of an isolation method for adult pig islets and
      demonstrates that isolated islets are viable and functioning both in vitro study
      and in vivo study of xenotransplantation.

PMID- 1460333
TI  - Solitary true cyst of the pancreas in an adult.
AB  - A 35-yr-old woman was presented to the hospital because of nausea 20-30 min after
      eating, associated with weight loss. A CT scan revealed a cystic lesion in the
      neck of the pancreas. At operation, a 3-cm diameter cyst was excised from the
      pancreas. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) was used intraoperatively
      to identify the transected pancreatic duct, after which a Roux-Y
      pancreaticojejunostomy was performed. Histologically, the cyst proved to be
      unilocular and was lined with cuboidal epithelium. The natural history of this
      lesion is unknown as only four previous case reports of unilocular true cysts in
      adults have been reported in the English literature. These are reviewed.

PMID- 1460334
TI  - Submandibular gland as a site for islet transplantation.
AB  - Homologous transplantation of islets of Langerhans into the submandibular glands
      of Syrian hamsters was successful in 8 out of 10 recipients. The technique was
      simple and led to formation of islets of various sizes within the parenchyma of
      the gland. The morphology and endocrine cell patterns of this islets were
      identical to pancreatic islets. The advantage of this model for islet
      transplantation is discussed.

PMID- 1460335
TI  - [Calpain and calpastatin--structure and function].

PMID- 1460336
TI  - [Parental imprinting of mammalian genomes].

PMID- 1460337
TI  - [Stress response and stress proteins].

PMID- 1460338
TI  - [Snake venom metalloproteinase family: their domain structures and functions].

PMID- 1460339
TI  - [The Src homology regions 2 and 3, mysterious associates with protein tyrosine
      kinases].

PMID- 1460340
TI  - [Vesicular transport between Golgi cisternae].

PMID- 1460341
TI  - [Small GTP-binding proteins--mode of activation and function].

PMID- 1460342
TI  - [Superoxide dismutases: structure, function and pathological significances].

PMID- 1460343
TI  - [Recent progress on band 3 protein].

PMID- 1460344
TI  - [Dystrophin--current aspects of its biochemical research].

PMID- 1460345
TI  - [Endothelin receptors].

PMID- 1460346
TI  - [Mutations in the gene responsible for malignant hyperthermia].

PMID- 1460347
TI  - Prevention of venous thromboembolism. European Consensus Statement, 1-5 November
      1991, developed at Oakley Court Hotel, Windsor, UK.

PMID- 1460348
TI  - Detection of deep vein thrombosis with a computerized strain gauge
      plethysmograph.
AB  - Forty patients suspected clinically the first episode of deep vein thrombosis
      (DVT) were studied using a new computerized strain gauge plethysmographic (SGP)
      system, the Phlebotest. A capacitance mode was used to secure the obtaining of
      maximum venous filling before deflation in every determination. Following
      parameters were calculated automatically and instantly: the maximum volume change
      (V sec), the outflow rate during the first second after deflation (F 1.0), the
      expelled volume in four seconds (EV 4.0) and the surface area over the curve
      during the first four seconds after deflation (IND). The eighty lower limbs of
      the patients were divided into three groups according to the Duplex scanning
      results: proximal (n = 19), distal (n = 13) and no DVT (n = 48) groups. The
      diagnostic accuracy of the Phlebotest parameters was determined and compared with
      that of another widely used SGP system, the Perivein. In this case the maximum
      volume change and the maximum venous outflow (MVO) were calculated manually. The
      results of the two systems were compatible. For the detection of proximal DVT,
      the parameters of venous outflow were better than maximum volume change and the
      best single parameter was maximum venous outflow: F 1.0 for Phlebotest and MVO
      for Perivein. The two parameters had a similar sensitivity of 79% when 50 and 27
      ml/100 ml/min were used as the lower limits of normal respectively. The best
      criterion for the diagnosis of proximal DVT was F 1.0 < 50 ml/100 ml/min plus the
      EV 4.0/V sec ratio < 60%, which had a sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 96% and
      overall accuracy of 94%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460349
TI  - Natural history and evolution of peripheral obstructive arterial disease.
AB  - The natural history of peripheral arterial occlusive disease is discussed. Severe
      limb-threatening ischemia is the most serious consequence of chronic arterial
      occlusive disease. Severe ischemia and amputation can be considered as an
      endpoint in peripheral vascular disease. Severe limb ischemia is relatively
      uncommon in isolated aortoiliac disease and this is more than twice in patients
      with either femoropopliteal or multisegmental disease. Subsequent studies have
      also demonstrated that both smoking and diabetes are associated with a
      substantial risk for sudden ischemia. A clear majority of about 50% deaths are
      caused by associated coronary artery disease, 15% to stroke and 10% to vascular
      disease in the abdomen. Ankle systolic blood pressure is one of the most
      significant factors in the progression of peripheral arterial occlusive disease
      and also for cardiovascular mortality. In the future, men need to know how
      therapies as exercise, during regimens would influence the most frequent
      complications besides severe limb ischemia, namely brain infarction and coronary
      artery disease.

PMID- 1460350
TI  - The grade of carotid stenosis as a prognostic factor during a 14 years' follow-up
      in 40 angiographically documented patients with cerebrovascular disease.
AB  - Forty consecutive patients underwent extracranial arteriography between 1974-1976
      because of cerebrovascular disease and were treated nonoperatively. This period
      was chosen to ensure a sufficiently long follow-up. The treatment selection was
      made individually by the patient's doctor. Deaths (n = 22) during 14 years of
      follow-up were caused by cerebrovascular disease in 41%, by coronary heart
      disease in 27% and other in 32%. The median age of decreased patients (group A)
      was 60.5 years at the time of arteriography and of patients alive after follow-up
      (group B) 55.5 years, respectively (p = 0.007). Findings were more severe
      arteriographically in group A than in group B. Twelve patients had occlusion or >
      50% stenosis in the common carotid artery or the internal carotid artery in group
      A and three in group B (p = 0.014). During follow-up there were 17/22
      cerebrovascular events in group A and 8/18 in group B (p = 0.033). Smoking was
      significantly more common in group A (p = 0.002). When the patients were divided
      on the basis of haemodynamically significant carotid artery stenosis, patients
      with significant stenosis (group C) proved to be older than patients with non
      significant stenosis (group D), 62.0 versus 57.0 years, respectively (p = 0.001).
      The incidence of cerebrovascular events was equal in these groups. Our data
      suggest that patients with over 50% carotid stenosis have a poor long term
      prognosis, associated with age and smoking.

PMID- 1460351
TI  - Is emergency aorto-superior mesenteric artery by-pass worthwhile?
AB  - Out of 9 superior mesenteric artery (SMA) revascularizations made in emergency,
      only an early direct aortic reimplantation was successful. The other cases were
      bypasses and their failures were due either to shock at revascularization (2
      cases), or to thrombosis of a by-pass (4 cases), or to persistent ischemic
      lesions (2 cases). It is suggested: (1) that late mesenteric revascularization
      should be excluded and let place to extensive bowel resection, (2) that, in
      emergency, direct SMA aortic reimplantation is preferable to aorto-SMA by-pass.

PMID- 1460352
TI  - Correlations among capillaroscopic abnormalities, digital flow and immunologic
      findings in patients with isolated Raynaud's phenomenon. Can laser Doppler
      flowmetry help identify a secondary Raynaud phenomenon?
AB  - Thirty subjects with a diagnosis of isolated Raynaud's phenomenon, according to
      anamnestic and objective criteria, were cross-evaluated by various methods: laser
      Doppler flowmetry (LDF) during a standardized cold and rewarming test, nailfold
      capillaroscopy, immunological and other laboratory parameters, to assess the
      diagnostic and prognostic significance of each method. Correlations were also
      assessed among disease duration, capillaroscopic pattern score, quantitative
      digital flow values and laboratory parameters. Nearly 30% of patients showed
      immunologic abnormalities (ANA positivity at variable titres, ENA,
      hypocomplementemia, immunocomplexes); 16% of patients had a pathologic
      capillaroscopic pattern, not well correlated with immunologic findings; a
      characteristic cold stop reaction of digital flow (partial or total) was detected
      in 86% of the subjects; in ANA+ pts., ANA titers were positively correlated with
      the intensity and length of stop reaction (Trec). A significant correlation
      between digital flow parameters and the capillaroscopic score was also found in
      each considered group. Our results outline the relevance of LDF, during a
      standardized thermic test, to evaluate apparently primary RP, because even if a
      definite scleroderma-like capillaroscopic pattern is absent, this flowmetric
      method may detect potentially secondary RP patients.

PMID- 1460353
TI  - Renal artery stenosis in patients with peripheral vascular disease and its
      correlation to hypertension. A retrospective study.
AB  - To estimate the frequency of renal artery stenosis, and to detect the correlation
      between renal artery stenosis and hypertension, 450 consecutive patients with
      peripheral vascular disease (PVD) were selected. All subjects had undergone aorto
      femoral conventional angiography. For a possible association with renal artery
      stenosis, risk factors, clinical and angiographical variables were evaluated
      e.g.: age, sex, diabetes mellitus, smoking habits, use of antihypertensive drugs,
      serum creatinine, serum cholesterol, ECG pathology, side of the renal artery
      lesion, bilateral stenoses, post-stenotic dilatation, number of renal arteries,
      aortic atherosclerosis, size of the kidneys and angiography induced renal
      dysfunction. Renal artery stenosis (RAS) was found in 49.1%, 117 patients had a
      moderate and 104 had a severe stenosis. Of the 221 patients with a renal artery
      lesion, 44 were normotensive, 177 hypertensive. Hypertension was significantly
      correlated to RAS. An association was also found for age over 70 years, smoking
      and pathologic ECG. It is concluded that renal artery stenosis is very common in
      a population with peripheral vascular disease, and the results achieved from this
      study makes it worthwhile to identify possible functional markers in a
      prospective study.

PMID- 1460354
TI  - Medical treatment of critical limb ischaemia: encouraging results if candidates
      selected early, therapy based on physiological principles and long-term control
      established.
AB  - Medical therapy of CLI is only indicated in patients unsuitable for vascular
      reconstruction or angioplasty. The approach includes early detection of subjects
      at risk, observation of physiological principles of therapy and long-term
      control. The finding of ankle pressure < or = 50 mmHg is of particular value in
      early detection because of high specificity with respect to CLI. Limb dependency
      increases skin flow in CLI while in patients with moderate ischaemia
      vasoconstriction occurs. Positioning of the limb thus contributes to
      therapeutical effect. Vasodilator substances increase foot blood flow only when
      administered to patients covered with blankets; improper administration may cause
      vasoconstriction. When a long-term control programme is established, the number
      of episodes of CLI decreases as compared to spontaneous course of disease.
      Rational use of available methods in early diagnosis and therapy considerably
      improves the prognosis of CLI.

PMID- 1460355
TI  - Walk training and drug treatment in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive
      disease stage II. A review.
AB  - On the basis of the present studies physical therapy is the most effective basis
      therapy of peripheral arterial occlusive disease stage II according to Fontaine.
      The consequent integration of the patients into widespread vascular training
      groups would be desirable. All present studies with so-called vasoactive drugs
      led to a statistically significant increase in pain-free walking distance. This
      is especially true for the substances naftidrofuryl, pentoxifylline, and
      buflomedil. Nevertheless, these studies do not fully meet the standards set by
      the GCP or the FDA guidelines. It must also be said that the increase in walking
      distance by vasoactive substances is less pronounced than the effect obtained by
      walk training alone. Both the vasoactive therapy and controlled walk training aim
      at an increase in pain-free walking distance. It is, however, still unclear
      whether the modes of therapy described influence the primary disease.
      Angiographically controlled studies are momentarily not available.

PMID- 1460356
TI  - Preliminary results of a complete study protocol on synthetic vascular graft
      healing and its complications.
AB  - The microscopic and anatomic features and bacteriologic culture results of
      different portions of single, explanted dacron synthetic vascular grafts (SVG)
      were studied together with patient clinical data. With this complete study
      protocol a better understanding of the healing process and its associated
      pathology can be achieved. We studied three, amply distanced graft portions from
      each of five patients (15 total graft portions) undergoing revision for
      infectious and non-infectious reasons. We divided the SVG portions studied into a
      Group 1, with high degrees of graft healing and into a Group 2, with both
      infection-dependent, early healing complications and perigraft chronic
      inflammatory reaction-dependent, late healing complications. These late healing
      complications were found dependent upon a host vs graft reaction. This study
      confirmed in humans the important role of an internal and external fibrotic graft
      incorporation in the definitive healing of a SVG. A host vs graft reaction was
      suggested to be an alternative to the frequently cited low virulent infection
      pathogenesis of late SVG healing complications. A sure definition and treatment
      of late SVG healing complications will only be established by means of a complete
      study protocol performed on a large number of explanted SVGs.

PMID- 1460357
TI  - Prevalence of risk factors in patients with peripheral arterial disease. A
      clinical and epidemiological evaluation.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of arterial hypertension and
      other risk factors in patients suffering from peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
      in two clinical samples (1.: 102 patients with PAD 69 M, 33 F, studied in our
      angiology laboratory, matched for sex and age with 102 healthy volunteers; 2.:
      184 hospitalized patients, 80 M, 104 F, mean age 57.2 +/- 10.8, with PAD) and in
      two epidemiological cohorts (1.: Trabia Study, 835 subjects; 2.: Casteldaccia
      Study, 723 subjects). All patients were subjected to a full clinical and
      laboratory examination, including the determination of the ankle/arm pressure
      ratio (Winsor index, positive for PAD when lower than 0.95). In the first
      clinical study we observed a significantly (p < 0.01) greater prevalence of
      arterial hypertension (51.9 vs 9.8%), hypercholesterolemia (48.2 vs 21.6%),
      hypertriglyceridemia (53.7 vs 26.1%), smoking habit (64.3 vs 44.2%), and
      hyperglycemia (26 vs 7,9%) in PAD patients than in controls. In the second
      clinical study considering separately the patients under and over 65 years, all
      risk factors resulted to be more prevalent in younger people than in the aged,
      except for diabetes and hypertension. In our epidemiological experience, the
      prevalence of PAD increases with aging, above all in males. In the Trabia Study
      the risk factors, more associated with PAD, were hypercholesterolemia, smoking
      and obesity (41.18%) in males and hypertension and hypercholesterolemia (33.3%)
      and obesity (25%) in females. In the Casteldaccia Study the most important risk
      factors were smoking (64.28%), hypercholesterolemia (42.86%) and
      hypertriglyceridemia (35.71%) in males, and obesity (60%), hypercholesterolemia
      (30%) and diabetes (20%) in females. Cholesterol levels and smoking were
      significantly higher in PAD patients than in the general population, whereas
      hypertriglyceridemia and glycemia were not. Arterial hypertension was
      significantly associated with PAD in the Trabia but not in the Casteldaccia
      Study. Obesity was significantly associated to PAD in females in both studies. In
      the Casteldaccia Study, lower HDL-cholesterol levels were observed in PAD
      patients, above all in males, whereas significantly greater Apo-B values and
      lower Apo-A1 levels (in males) were shown. The different levels of associated
      risk factors and their prevalence in PAD patients confirm the multifactorial
      pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The exact role of each risk factor in the
      genesis of PAD is difficult to be evaluated due to the complex biological and
      statistical interrelationships among different risk factors. However, the
      management of associated risk factors may favourably influence the risk profile
      in each patient suffering from PAD.

PMID- 1460358
TI  - Peripheral vascular disease in newly diagnosed non-insulin-dependent diabetic.
AB  - The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of peripheral vascular disease
      (PVD) in newly diagnosed diabetic patients and the possible relationship to
      various risk factors. One hundred and twenty non-insulin-dependent diabetics
      (NIDDs) aged 50-70 years and 93 non-diabetic subjects, matched for age and sex,
      were studied using Doppler ultrasound. None had a history of alcoholic abuse,
      while 12 diabetic and 8 non-diabetic subjects were smokers. There were 6 male
      subjects with PVD (5 NIDDs, 1 control subject) and 2 female diabetic subjects
      with PVD (p: No SD). In group of male diabetics with PVD, HDL-C levels were found
      to be lower and triglyceride levels higher, than in those without diabetes, but
      the difference was not significant. Hypertension, body mass index and smoking
      were not associated with the presence of PVD in either female or male diabetic
      subjects. It is concluded that, although PVD tended to be more common in men with
      newly diagnosed diabetes, the overall findings support the view that
      macrovascular disease is related to duration of diabetes.

PMID- 1460360
TI  - [Immunological and cytogenetic studies on early spontaneous abortions].
AB  - To reveal the role of maternal immunological mechanisms in early spontaneous
      abortions, the blocking effect (BE) of the maternal serum was evaluated in a
      mixed lymphocyte culture, and the chromosome constitution of the abortuses was
      examined. 1) The mean BE in non-pregnant women as a control (n = 7) was 0.86%. 2)
      The mean BE in women with an uneventful course of pregnancy (n = 21) was 24.1%,
      which was significantly higher than that in the non-pregnant women (p < 0.01). 3)
      Seventeen of the 36 abortuses (47.2%) were chromosomally abnormal. 4) The mean BE
      among all the patients with spontaneous abortions (n = 36) was -9.8%, which was
      significantly lower than that in the pregnant women (p < 0.01). However, no
      difference in mean BE was observed between the patients with chromosomally normal
      (-8.4%) and abnormal abortuses (-11.2%). 5) In addition, no difference in mean BE
      was observed between the patients with an abortus with a positive fetal heart
      beat and the patients with an abortus with a negative fetal heart beat. These
      results indicate that the decreased BE observed in patients with early
      spontaneous abortion is a consequence of abortion rather than the cause of
      abortion.

PMID- 1460359
TI  - Venous thromboangiitis associated with regional enteritis.
AB  - Thromboembolic complications occurring in patients with Crohn's disease are
      increasingly reported and are associated with a high mortality. The mechanism by
      which the thrombogenic process occurs is unclear. As recent findings suggest that
      Crohn's disease is a chronic vasculitis with multifocal gastrointestinal
      infarctions secondary to an imbalance of the cellular hemostatic pathway,
      extradigestive thrombotic complications might be mediated by the same vascular
      immune reaction. We report an unusual case of recurrent venous thrombosis
      associated with regional enteritis, the main point of interest being two-fold:
      first, this case provides a morphological evidence for an angiitic process as the
      cause of extradigestive thrombosis; second, the gastrointestinal disease remained
      subclinical for more than four years although the patient developed major venous
      thrombotic complications.

PMID- 1460361
TI  - [Urinary calcium excretion as an early prediction marker for pregnancy induced
      hypertension].
AB  - Two hundred and forty-nine healthy women at 36 weeks gestation and 38 women with
      pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) underwent urinalysis for urinary calcium
      excretion to obtain the calcium/creatinine ratio. This ratio was significantly
      lower in the women with PIH than in the healthy pregnant women, and it was
      especially low in those with PIH who had no family history of hypertension. Three
      hundred forty-eight healthy women at 20 weeks of gestation underwent urinalysis
      to determine their calcium/creatinine ratio as a means to predict PIH in patients
      showing no symptoms. In the primiparous group with no family history 58% of the
      patients with a low calcium/creatine ratio eventually developed PIH. Using a
      receiver operator curve, we calculated a predictive threshold calcium value for
      PIH of 0.06 at six month's pregnancy. Thus urinary calcium excretion may be a
      useful early marker for PIH.

PMID- 1460363
TI  - [Screening for gestational diabetes mellitus based on blood glucose 2hrs value
      after a 75g oral glucose load].
AB  - We examined the relationship between the time of blood collection and the blood
      glucose value by analyzing blood glucose values around one hour and two hours
      after a 75g oral glucose load in 50 women who were at 24 to 28 weeks of
      gestation. We performed a 75g, 2hrs screening test at 16 to 33 weeks of gestation
      on all 2,570 pregnant women who visited our out patient clinic between May, 1986
      and August, 1991. 1. During the 50-70 minutes after glucose loading, the blood
      glucose level changed 15-20mg/dl every 10 minutes. During the 110-130 minutes
      after glucose loading, the change was smaller (10-15mg/dl). These results suggest
      that the blood glucose level is more stable at 120 minutes than at 60 minutes. 2.
      When the cut-off point was set at 130mg/dl, the screening test for GDM with a
      75g, 2hrs value had a sensitivity of 100%, and a specificity of 85.5% and the
      incidence of GDM was 3.1%. A 75g, 2hrs screening test therefore seems to be as
      useful in detecting GDM as a 50g, 1-hour test and to be more suited to crowded
      out patient clinics because its ability to detect GDM is not seriously affected
      by small variations in the blood sampling time.

PMID- 1460362
TI  - [Clinical significance of serum CA130 level in women with spontaneous abortion,
      hydatidiform mole and early normal and tubal pregnancy].
AB  - We examined the serum CA130 level in women in early pregnancy with normal (n =
      13), and abnormal (n = 28) course. The abnormal course consisted of intrauterine
      spontaneous abortion (n = 10), hydatidiform mole (n = 3) and tubal pregnancy (n =
      15). The serum CA130 level was higher than for normal nonpregnant women (35u/ml)
      in 69% (9/13) of women with normal pregnancy, 90% (9/10) of those with
      intrauterine spontaneous abortion and 100% (3/3) of those with hydatidiform mole;
      the mean value and standard deviation for these three groups were 131 +/- 150u/ml
      (n = 13), 197 +/- 253u/ml (n = 10), and 47 +/- 15u/ml (n = 3), respectively. In
      contrast, the serum CA130 level of the 15 women with tubal pregnancy was 28 +/-
      21u/ml. Among these patients, all of the 13 women without genital bleeding had a
      CA130 level within the normal range for nonpregnant women (mean +/- SD; 20 +/-
      6u/ml). Since CA130 is abundant in the decidual tissue but is scant in tubal
      tissue, a high CA130 level in maternal sera during early pregnancy may indicate
      the presence of the destruction of decidual tissue, while a low or normal CA130
      level throughout early pregnancy is regarded as characteristic of tubal
      pregnancy.

PMID- 1460364
TI  - [Influences of magnesium sulfate on maternal calcium metabolism in preterm
      labor].
AB  - The effects of intravenous magnesium sulfate tocolysis on calcium metabolism were
      studied in 10 patients with preterm labor. A loading dose of magnesium sulfate
      (4g) was administered intravenously maintenance intravenous infusion of magnesium
      sulfate (1g per hour). All patients simultaneously received 50 micrograms
      ritodrin per minutes by intravenous infusion. Serum magnesium increased from 1.91
      +/- 0.06mg/dl to 4.6 +/- 0.71mg/dl at 30 minutes (p < 0.01) and it remained
      relatively high. The fall in serum calcium corrected by serum total protein was
      most rapid during the first 30 minutes, from 9.04 +/- 0.47mg/dl to 8.3 +/-
      0.27mg/dl (p < 0.01). Urinary excretion of magnesium, represented as the
      calcium/creatinine ratio, rose markedly from 0.05 +/- 0.01 to 3.18 +/- 0.8 at an
      hour (p < 0.01) and thereafter remained higher than the baseline level. Changes
      in urinary excretion of calcium paralleled those of urinary evcretion of
      magnesium. Serum parathyroid hormone rose from 118 +/- 42.2pg/ml to 294 +/-
      121pg/ml at 6 hours (p < 0.05). Serum 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3-rose from 89.3 +/-
      44.2pg/ml to 126 +/- 38.7pg/ml (p < 0.05). Serum calcitonin showed no significant
      change. These findings indicate that correction of hypocalcemia mainly depends on
      secretion of parathyroid hormone in the early stage, and thereafter depends on
      the cooperative action of parathyroid hormone and 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3.

PMID- 1460365
TI  - [A case of congenital laryngeal atresia with hydrops fetalis].

PMID- 1460366
TI  - [A case report of ovarian cancer stage Ia with micrometastasis of para-aortic
      lymph node].

PMID- 1460367
TI  - [Two cases of twin pregnancy with complete hydatidiform mole and coexistent
      fetus].

PMID- 1460368
TI  - [Prenatal sonographic findings of branchial cleft cyst].

PMID- 1460369
TI  - [A clinicopathologic study on adnexal tumor after prior hysterectomy].

PMID- 1460370
TI  - [Usefulness of fat saturation technique for diagnosing small endometrial
      implant].

PMID- 1460371
TI  - [Perforated internal endometrial cyst, a case report].

PMID- 1460372
TI  - [Etiological considerations of the loose shoulder from a biochemical point of
      view--biochemical studies on collagen from deltoid and pectoral muscles and
      skin].
AB  - In order to elucidate the etiology of the loose shoulder, biochemical
      characteristics of deltoid and major pectoral muscles and skin collagen from
      patients with loose shoulder have been investigated. Amounts of soluble collagen,
      reducible cross-links of collagen and their precursors in both muscles and skin
      from the loose shoulder were found to be higher than those in the control. These
      data suggest that soft tissues, especially deltoid muscles, of patients with
      loose shoulder contain relatively immature collagen fibers compared with normal
      shoulders. In re-operation cases of the loose shoulder, the collagen fibers in
      skin were more immature, which may reflect the clinical features of the disease.

PMID- 1460373
TI  - [An experimental study on tissue induction in anterior cruciate ligament
      reconstruction with the scaffold-type polyester artificial ligament (Leeds
      Keio)].
AB  - The effect of experimental autogenous tissue implantation (infrapatellar fat pad,
      fascia lata) together with scaffold type artificial ligament (Leeds-Keio) in ACL
      reconstruction was studied in 56 mongrel adult dogs. Specimens were examined
      macroscopically, histologically and by means of microangiography. The results
      were compared with those in which the artificial ligament was used alone. When
      infrapatellar fat pad was transferred on artificial ligament, tissue induction
      was observed 2 weeks after reconstruction. When ACL was reconstructed using a
      combination of artificial ligament and a small piece of fascia lata, maturated
      dense collagen fibers were observed 24 weeks after reconstruction. These results
      indicated that quicker tissue induction could be obtained in ACL reconstruction
      using an artificial ligament together with a infrapatellar fat pad, and that
      collagen fiber maturation was accelerated when ACL was reconstructed using an
      artificial ligament together with a small piece of fascia lata.

PMID- 1460374
TI  - [Experimental study on the stability of cementless porous coated endoprosthesis].
AB  - This study investigated cementless fixation of titanium porous coated
      endoprosthesis using canine weight-bearing model. Though immature and thin,
      ingrown trabeculae reached the deepest region of porous coating four weeks after
      implantation, and gradually matured and thickened thereafter. Pull-out tests of
      the porous stem at eight weeks showed excellent fixation with average ultimate
      pull-out force of 142 kgf and average ultimate shear strength of 2.6 GPa. Bone
      ingrowth rate gradually increased at the proximal and distal region of the stem
      and, conversely, it gradually decreased at the middle level, suggesting the
      dependence of bone ingrowth upon the distribution of the amount of stress
      transferred from implant to the femur. Severe bone remodeling was found on some
      specimens in which stress transfer was not physiological. Porous coated femoral
      stems achieve excellent fixation by bone ingrowth, but require physiological
      stress transfer in order to avoid significant bone remodeling after implantation.

PMID- 1460375
TI  - [A histo-morphometric study on peripheral nerve allografts in rats with
      cyclosporin A].
AB  - This investigation evaluates regeneration across peripheral nerve allografts in
      minor mismatch rats immunosuppressed with Cyclosporin A (CSA). Lewis(RT1(1)) rats
      were recipients of 20 mm sciatic nerve grafts from allogenic Fischer (RT1(1))
      donors. The recipients were randomly allocated to CSA immunosuppressed or
      untreated groups. CSA was administered at a daily dose of 5 mg/kg by subcutaneous
      injection for 8 weeks. Two animals from each group were sacrificed at 2, 4, 6, 8
      and 12 weeks after the operation, and bilateral sciatic nerves were resected.
      Until the 8th week, the CSA-treated group showed good vascularization and minimal
      scar formation. The regeneration was faster and better in the CSA-treated group
      than in the untreated group. At the 12th week, however, the CSA-treated group
      showed scarring in the grafted nerves and Wallerian degeneration in the distal
      nerves, whereas the untreated group showed increased vascularization and
      myelinated fibers. The results have demonstrated that CSA greatly facilitates the
      regeneration process across the nerve allograft whereas the discontinuation of
      CSA leads to reduction of the regenerated nerve fibers. These findings would
      indicate that the use of CSA is imperatively needed even in minor mismatch cases.

PMID- 1460376
TI  - Effects of catechol compound administration on nerve growth factor synthesis in
      the peripheral nervous system.
AB  - The effects of the intraperitoneal administration of catechol compounds on nerve
      growth factor (NGF) synthesis in the peripheral nervous system were examined in
      Wistar male rats. Five injections of 4-methylcatechol (4-MC) during a three-day
      period caused a threefold to fourfold increase in the NGF content of organs with
      sympathetic innervation (heart, submandibular gland) and the sciatic nerve. Next,
      we investigated time-dependent changes in the NGF content after a single
      injection of 2 micrograms of 4-MC. A transient increase in the NGF content was
      detected in the heart and submandibular gland at 16 hours after administration.
      In the sciatic nerve, a transient increase in the NGF content was noted at 20
      hours in the nerve segments on the distal side, and at 24 hours in the segments
      on the proximal side. In the superior cervical ganglion and dorsal root ganglion,
      i.e., the locations of the sympathetic and sensory nerve cell bodies, an increase
      in the NGF content was detected between 32 and 40 hours. Therefore, catechol
      compounds stimulate NGF synthesis in the peripheral nervous system, and NGF
      induced by 4-MC is transported retrogradely in the axon to the soma in a
      physiological manner. Furthermore, in the dorsal root ganglion and superior
      cervical ganglion, the use of substance P and tyrosine hydroxylase activity as
      biochemical markers of sensory and sympathetic neurons has demonstrated the
      biological activity of newly-synthesized NGF induced by catechol compounds.

PMID- 1460377
TI  - [An experimental study on direct nerve implantation into denervated muscle--the
      functional recovery and the site of implantation].
AB  - The functional recovery of the newly formed endplates in the muscle reinnervated
      by direct neurotization was studied grossly, electrophysiologically and
      histologically in the anterior tibialis muscle of rats. The proximal stump of the
      tibial nerve was severed at the ankle level and was embedded at the level of
      distal one fifth of the muscle where no endplates were detected just after
      denervation of the muscle. Histologically, the accumulations of
      acetylcholinesterase activity were detected 4 weeks after neurotization.
      Electrophysiological study using a multi-channel electrode revealed the two
      directional propagation of action potentials 8 weeks after neurotization, and the
      propagation started from no other sites than the nerve-implantation. The muscle
      tension revealed 42% of the contralateral muscle 52 weeks after neurotization.
      These results concluded that the function of the newly formed endplates spread
      throughout the muscle and it was lasting.

PMID- 1460378
TI  - [Experimental study on the spinal lesions in hyperostotic mouse (twy/twy):
      special reference to the pathogenesis of the ossification of the spinal ligaments
      and to the action of ethane-1-hydroxy-1, 1-diphosphonate (EHDP)].
AB  - The hyperostotic changes in the spine of the twy mouse and the action of ethane-1
      hydroxy-1, 1-diphosphonate (EHDP) on those hyperostotic changes were studied
      histomorphometrically. The periosteal bone formation and the endosteal bone
      resorption in the anterior cortex of the vertebral bodies of the twy mouse
      continued even after maturation, resulting in the anterior cortex shifting to the
      anterior direction. In parallel with these changes, calcification in the enthesis
      (to which spinal ligaments and the outer layer of disc fibrosis are attached)
      continued, ending in ankylosis of the whole spine. It was similar to a membranous
      ossification. Moreover calcification in these regions was most sensitively
      inhibited by EHDP and reappeared as soon as the discontinuation of EHDP. These
      findings showed that the pathogenesis of the twy mouse was the hyperostosis which
      continued even after maturation in the genetical region of a membranous
      ossification, especially in the enthesis. Further they appeared to be similar to
      the initial changes in ankylosing spinal hyperostosis or the ossification of the
      spinal ligaments. In addition, our results provided evidence for the usefulness
      of EHDP in the twy mouse.

PMID- 1460379
TI  - [Osteoarthropathy due to amyloid deposition in chronic renal dialysis patients].

PMID- 1460380
TI  - [Labor accidents and industrial physicians--from the standpoint of orthopaedist].

PMID- 1460381
TI  - [Radiological changes in the femoral side after cementless total hip
      arthroplasty].
AB  - We investigated radiological and functional changes of the femurs with cementless
      total hip arthroplasty. Our particular attention was paid to the relationship
      between the thigh pain and the rate, period of its incidence and the progression
      of radiological changes. The cases studied consisted of 57 female patients with
      severe coxarthrosis who were implanted with a SUS316-L macroanchoring type of THP
      (JIAT). Clinical evaluations, radiographic findings in the femoral side, and
      osteometric observations were carried out periodically in the period before
      surgery until five years after surgery. The JOA criterion at the time of the
      final examination was average 91 points. However, we observed a high degree of
      bone change in the femur on the radiogram. Of 63 hips, there was 71% cortical
      bone atrophy, a 43% reduction of cortex thickness, 25% cortical bone hypertrophy,
      94% endosteal bone bridging in the stem tip, a 64% linear sclerosis of the
      neighboring stem, and a 37% enlargement of the medullary cavity. Bone atrophy was
      manifested soon after surgery, and there was 34% recovery. Further, there was no
      connection between thigh pain and bone changes. We, therefore, concluded that
      such bone changes as atrophy would not immediately bring about adverse
      consequences.

PMID- 1460383
TI  - An evaluation of the discrepancy definition of dyslexia.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine whether children with dyslexia, that
      is, children whose reading levels were significantly lower than would be
      predicted by their IQ scores, constituted a distinctive group when compared with
      poor readers, that is, children whose reading scores were consistent with their
      IQ scores. The performance of children with dyslexia, poor readers, and normally
      achieving readers was compared on a variety of reading, spelling, phonological
      processing, language, and memory tasks. Although the children with dyslexia had
      significantly higher IQ scores than the poor readers, these two groups did not
      differ in their performance on reading, spelling, phonological processing, or
      most of the language and memory tasks. In all cases, the performance of both
      reading disabled groups was significantly below that of nondisabled readers. The
      findings were similar whether absolute difference or regression scores were used.
      Reading disabled children, whether or not their reading is significantly below
      the level predicted by their IQ scores, experience significant problems in
      phonological processing, short-term and working memory, and syntactic awareness.
      On the basis of these data, there does not seem to be a need to differentiate
      between individuals with dyslexia and poor readers. Both of these groups are
      reading disabled and have deficits in phonological processing, verbal memory, and
      syntactic awareness.

PMID- 1460382
TI  - Tissue reactions at the implant-bone interface of the cementless total knee
      prostheses with sinking (Okayama University Mark-II type).
AB  - Periprosthetic tissues of 14 revised knees of 11 patients, who had undergone Mark
      II type cementless total knee prosthesis, were examined to find the relationship
      between tissue and sinking. Nine patients had rheumatoid arthritis and two had
      osteoarthritis. Two types of tissue reactions were observed at the implant-bone
      interface: 1) granulation-dominant tissue, composed of giant cells and
      macrophages phagocytizing high density polyethylene flakes and dense granules of
      metal, on the femoral side in six cases, and tibial side in four, 2) fibrosis
      dominant tissue on the tibial side in seven, and femoral side in four. On each
      type, three zones were observed. In the deep zone adjacent to the bone, hyaline
      cartilage-like tissue was located on the tibial side in four cases, and femoral
      side in one. An immunohistochemical stain with S-100 proteins and transmission
      electron microscopy revealed chondrocyte-like features. Chondrogenesis was more
      frequently observed on the tibial side.

PMID- 1460384
TI  - Academic achievement following childhood brain disease: implications for the
      concept of learning disabilities.
AB  - The present study examined three hypotheses regarding the consequences of early
      brain damage for academic achievement: First, early brain insults will have a
      negative impact on achievement, even in children with normal intelligence.
      Second, underachievement in these children will be at least partially independent
      of IQ (i.e., not fully accounted for by a lowering of IQ within the average
      range). Third, normally intelligent children with histories of brain insult will
      also manifest selective cognitive dysfunctions. To test these hypotheses, we
      compared two groups of children who had recovered from Haemophilus influenzae
      type b meningitis. The "complicated" group consisted of children who, as a
      consequence of having sustained neurologic complications during their illness,
      were more likely to have had brain insults. Children in the "uncomplicated" group
      did not have complications with their illness and were regarded as having escaped
      significant central nervous system (CNS) pathology. Only children with normal
      hearing and a prorated Full Scale IQ of at least 80 (WISC-R) were considered.
      Group differences on the Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised were consistent with
      the first two hypotheses. Although the two groups had similar Verbal IQs, the
      complicated group also had a lower mean Performance IQ and performed less well on
      perceptually demanding neuropsychological tasks. Findings suggest that learning
      disabilities may have selective, brain-related cognitive antecedents; but they
      challenge the practice of using IQ criteria for clinical diagnosis.

PMID- 1460386
TI  - Minor neurological dysfunction is more closely related to learning difficulties
      than to behavioral problems.
AB  - In a group of 570 nine-year-old children (315 boys and 255 girls) without an
      overtly handicapping neurological condition, relationships were studied between
      the presence of minor neurological dysfunction (MND) on the one hand and
      cognitive and behavioral problems on the other hand. The aim of the study was to
      investigate whether MND was more closely related to learning problems than to
      behavioral difficulties. The group was a subpopulation of the birth cohort of the
      Groningen Perinatal Project in the Netherlands, in which perinatal developmental
      relationships are studied. The age-specific and standardized neurological
      examination technique of Touwen (1979) was used, resulting in a description of
      the neurological condition in terms of the number of deviant clusters. The
      absence of deviant clusters indicated a normal neurological condition (n = 418);
      children with one or two deviant clusters were classified as MND-1 (n = 86) and
      those with more than two deviant clusters as MND-2 (n = 66). The presence and
      severity of MND was significantly related to poor performance on standardized
      reading, spelling, and arithmetic tests. MND was also related to ratings of
      distractible behavior on parent and teacher questionnaires, but to a lesser
      extent than the cognitive problems. Ratings of so-called "troublesome" and
      "timid" behavior were not related to MND. Our conclusion is that learning
      problems are more closely related to MND than are behavioral difficulties. This
      has implications for prevention and intervention: In the former the focus should
      be more on biological hazards, in the latter on environment and rearing
      attitudes.

PMID- 1460385
TI  - Discrepancy compared to low achievement definitions of reading disability:
      results from the Connecticut Longitudinal Study.
AB  - We used data derived from a survey sample, the Connecticut Longitudinal Study
      (CLS), to compare two commonly employed definitions of reading disability: a
      discrepancy-based model (D) and a low reading achievement model (L). We
      identified children satisfying each definition in second grade and compared the
      groups retrospectively in kindergarten and prospectively in fifth grade using
      parent-based, teacher-based, and child-based measures. Our findings suggest more
      similarities than differences between the reading disabled groups. The most
      salient differences were those related to ability and seem inherent in the
      definitions of the groups: Children identified as D have significantly higher
      verbal, performance, and full scale IQ scores than those identified as L. These
      findings suggest that both groups of children with reading disability, that is,
      those defined by either D or L, should be considered eligible for special
      education services.

PMID- 1460387
TI  - Comparison of visual-spatial performance strategy training in children with
      Turner syndrome and learning disabilities.
AB  - This study examined the effects of a verbal mediation strategy on three groups of
      subjects who had visual-spatial deficits. Thirteen females with Turner syndrome,
      13 females with nonverbal learning disabilities, and 14 males with nonverbal
      learning disabilities, who ranged in age from 7 to 14 years, were taught via a
      cognitive behavioral modification approach to verbally mediate a spatial matching
      task. Pretest and posttest performance differences on parallel forms of a visual
      spatial orientation task were examined. All three groups showed significant
      improvement in visual-spatial task performance after the training. There were no
      significant differences in the degree of improvement among the three groups. The
      results suggest that children with Turner syndrome may benefit from problem
      solving strategy training in a manner similar to children with nonverbal learning
      disabilities.

PMID- 1460388
TI  - Undergraduate admission policies, practices, and procedures for applicants with
      learning disabilities.
AB  - This study examined (a) the academic and nonacademic criteria used by admission
      personnel to determine the eligibility of undergraduate applicants with learning
      disabilities, (b) agreement of criteria used by institutions of varying
      competitiveness, and (c) the frequency with which admission personnel conduct
      validity studies on these criteria. A nonrandom sample consisting of 66 state
      universities and colleges in the Northeast was surveyed. The results suggest that
      the academic and nonacademic criteria employed are similar to those employed for
      applicants without learning disabilities, the criteria used by different types of
      institutions differ significantly, and admission personnel do not conduct
      validity studies. Further clarification and validation of admission criteria
      appears warranted.

PMID- 1460389
TI  - Similarities in the social competencies of learning disabled and low achieving
      elementary school children.
AB  - This study sought to examine distinctions in social competencies between children
      with learning disabilities (LD) and other children who also experience academic
      difficulties. Eighty-five children with LD (54 male, 31 female) in Grades 3
      through 6 from a large urban school district were compared to a group of low
      achieving (LA) peers matched on achievement as well as sex, race, and grade. The
      samples were 42% black, 39% Hispanic, and 19% Anglo. Both groups completed two
      self-concept questionnaires, a loneliness scale, and a measure of their social
      relationships outside of school. In addition, their classmates completed a peer
      rating scale and their teachers completed two ratings of the child's social
      skills. The results indicated that children with LD and LA children were
      comparable on most measures, although children with LD reported themselves as
      being less lonely than LA children. In addition, regular-class children rated
      children with LD as more likable than LA children. The results highlight
      similarities in the social competencies of children with LD and LA children and
      suggest that special education classes may offer some social advantages to
      children with mild handicaps.

PMID- 1460390
TI  - Students with learning disabilities in the university environment: a study of
      faculty and student perceptions.
AB  - This study examines faculty and student perceptions regarding university students
      with learning disabilities, sensitivity to such students' special needs,
      accommodations, and the perceived impact of a learning disability. Results reveal
      a general sensitivity to the special needs of students with learning
      disabilities; however, group differences suggest several areas warranting further
      attention.

PMID- 1460391
TI  - Identifying alterable patterns in employment success for highly successful adults
      with learning disabilities.
AB  - Adults with learning disabilities were studied to ascertain the patterns of
      successful functioning that promoted high levels of vocational success. This area
      of research has been neglected in the developing research base on adults with
      learning disabilities. In this study of 46 highly successful and 25 moderately
      successful adults with learning disabilities using ethnographic interviews, it
      was found that the overriding theme was control and that control was sought
      through the pursuit of two sets of themes--internal decisions and external
      manifestations. These themes transcended the entire sample, and the clear
      difference between the groups was the degree of attainment on the various
      elements the themes comprised. These elements and themes are discussed and a
      model of successful vocational functioning is developed and explained.

PMID- 1460392
TI  - The neurobiology and neuropsychology of adult learning disorders.
AB  - The area of adult learning disabilities is reviewed from a neurobiological and
      neuropsychological perspective. The seminal contributions of Galaburda's
      neuroanatomic studies, Duffy's neurophysiologic findings, and recent magnetic
      resonance imaging studies have illustrated various possible pathophysiologic
      bases in dyslexia and are reviewed along with other neurobehavioral disorders
      that may coexist with learning disorders. Neuropsychological assessment methods
      in evaluating learning disabilities are reviewed and test results in a case of
      traumatically induced dyslexia are compared to those obtained in three adults
      with residual developmental dyslexia. The problems associated with treatment of
      adult learning disorders are discussed in the context of brain plasticity and
      recovery of function from the perspective of a brain-injury model. Lastly, the
      basis common to neurologic factors subserving learning disability and emotional
      dysfunction is explored.

PMID- 1460393
TI  - Adults with learning disabilities: current and future research priorities.
AB  - This article presents a review of current research, or what is currently known
      about adults with learning disabilities. The review is organized under different
      settings, including the community, postsecondary, and employment environments,
      and is followed by a review of longitudinal studies. Based on the review of the
      current status of the literature, research priorities for the 1990s are
      presented, including (a) identifying and conducting research with specific
      individuals or samples within the adult (LD) population; (b) identifying
      successful intervention techniques within the cognitive, social, personal, and
      vocational domains; (c) conducting research in a variety of environments,
      including community, employment, and postsecondary settings and across critical
      periods of an individual's lifespan (such as movement from postsecondary
      environments into employment and from employment to retirement); and (d)
      examining alternative methodologies, such as single-subject, case study, group
      research, and so forth, in future investigations. The priorities are followed by
      a description and comparison of various research methodologies.

PMID- 1460394
TI  - Learning disabilities in adulthood: personal perspectives.

PMID- 1460395
TI  - Some thoughts on why the prevalence of learning disabilities has increased.

PMID- 1460396
TI  - Adoptees among students with disabilities.

PMID- 1460397
TI  - The relationship of phonological awareness, rapid naming, and verbal memory to
      severe reading and spelling disability.
AB  - The present study examined the relationship of phonological awareness, naming
      speed, and verbal memory to the scores obtained from five tests assessing word
      attack, word identification, reading comprehension, and spelling skills in 54
      children with severe reading disabilities (48 boys and 6 girls; M age = 9 years,
      7 months). Multiple regression analyses indicated that the best predictor of
      achievement across the five academic tests was the Verbal Comprehension factor
      from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. Age, socioeconomic
      status (SES), and externalizing behavior problems were also significant
      predictors of achievement, depending on the academic measure. After controlling
      for age, SES, behavior problems, and intelligence, the phonological awareness
      task added significantly to the prediction of word attack, spelling, and reading
      comprehension scores; rapid letter naming added significantly to the prediction
      of word identification and prose passage speed and accuracy scores; and a word
      list memory task added significantly to the prediction of word recognition
      scores. These results suggest that several independent processes interact to
      determine the extent and severity of reading problems.

PMID- 1460398
TI  - The perspectives of mothers whose children are in special day classes for
      learning disabilities.
AB  - This article presents information about the attitudes and beliefs of mothers
      concerning their children in learning disabilities classes. Four mothers were
      interviewed over a 1-year period. Their comments about services provided by
      educational and mental health professionals indicated high levels of frustration
      and dissatisfaction. Parental expectations and perspectives differed from those
      of educators. Participants and educators were found to view learning disabilities
      differently.

PMID- 1460399
TI  - Information flow in the hospital: a comparative study of the Hungarian and the
      Dutch situation using a two axes model of hospital information flow.
AB  - This study compares the organization and structure of information flow in a Dutch
      and in a Hungarian hospital. The study was carried out as a field orientation
      part of a Health Care Management project of the Hogeschool van Amsterdam. The
      host of the field orientation was the BAZIS Foundation, the Central Development
      and Support Group Hospital Information System, Leiden. The visited hospitals were
      equipped with the BAZIS Hospital Information System. The method of study
      consisted of series of formalized interviews with all-level actors of a hospital;
      the interpretation of data was enhanced by a two axes (patient and management)
      model of information flow defined by the authors. In summary, Dutch hospitals
      show a more elaborate information flow system, with more information flow
      channels sideways among equal levels, less bureaucracy in organization of
      information flow, and significantly more benefits of automation, compared to the
      Hungarian situation.

PMID- 1460401
TI  - A visual field quantification system for the Goldmann Perimeter.
AB  - We have developed a visual field quantification system that can accurately
      quantify the measurement results by the Goldmann Perimeter (GP). This system
      calculates the plural indexes introduced in published papers. In recent years,
      several isopter quantification methods have been proposed. In these methods, the
      isopters are digitized and the data are input into a computer, after which a
      computer program evaluates the changes in the isopters quantitatively. However,
      each program is only able to evaluate private indexes. We have developed a system
      that quantifies data using multiple methods. This system used five methods that
      have been introduced in published papers. With this system, a physician can
      analyze GP data with multiple methods and can diagnose diseases accurately. We
      have already input about 2500 GP recording papers into the computer by this
      system. We then calculated the plural indexes, and visualized the temporal
      changes in the perimetry.

PMID- 1460400
TI  - Standardized nursing language for healthcare information systems.
AB  - Since a substantial component of health care delivery is reflected in nursing's
      work, it is imperative that nursing expedites implementation of a standardized
      language that reflects nursing's work and ultimately allows outcome evaluation.
      This paper will summarize the state of development and related issues of
      standardized language in nursing, including: Nursing Minimum Data Set, Taxonomies
      of Nursing Diagnoses, Nursing Interventions, Outcomes, and the Nursing Management
      Minimum Data Set. The Nursing Minimum Data Set, including nursing care, patient
      or client demographic, and service elements, reflects a standardized collection
      of essential nursing data used by multiple data users in the health care delivery
      system across all types of settings. The nursing care elements include nursing
      diagnosis, nursing intervention, nursing outcome, and intensity of nursing care.
      Currently, more than 100 nursing diagnoses have been accepted for clinical
      testing by the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) and have been
      incorporated into a taxonomy of nursing diagnoses that reflects patient responses
      to actual or potential health problems that nursing can address. A current
      formulation of a taxonomy of nursing interventions for the treatment of the
      nursing diagnoses yielded 336 nursing intervention labels organized at three or
      four levels of abstraction. Concomitant with these endeavors is the necessity for
      identifying outcomes associated with each diagnosis and its treatment. Concepts
      and a classification for indicators of these outcomes are being reviewed. Last,
      to address the contextual covariates of patient outcomes, a collection of core
      variables needed by nurse managers to make management decisions and compare
      nursing effectiveness across institutions and geographic regions is under
      development. In summary, standardized measures to determine cost effective, high
      quality, appropriate outcomes of nursing care delivered across settings and sites
      are being developed.

PMID- 1460402
TI  - The science of medical information systems.

PMID- 1460403
TI  - The effect of a multiple literature database search--a numerical evaluation in
      the domain of Japanese life science.
AB  - In literature database searching, we show that it is necessary to use plural
      databases for a more improved search. We also compare the results of a single
      database search with that of multiple database search in the domain of Japanese
      life sciences. We searched the MEDLINE and EMBASE using the same search terms.
      There were some differences in the results, owing to differences in the journals
      and recording methods. We herein show some of the differences in the journals
      contained in both databases. Furthermore, we show the differences in the number
      of papers derived from the same journal. Next, as an example of a practical
      search, we selected some universities in Japan, searched both databases regarding
      papers published from these universities and then merged the results by hand.
      According to our results, only 63% of all papers were common to both databases.

PMID- 1460404
TI  - The prevalence and risk factors of hypertension in population aged 30-65 years in
      rural area, Amphoe Phon, Khon Kaen.
AB  - The prevalence of hypertension in a population aged 30-65 years in a rural area
      in Amphoe Phon, Khon Kaen was 18 per thousand (22 per thousand in males and 16
      per thousand in females). The prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension was 5
      per thousand (10 per thousand in males and 2 per thousand in females). The risk
      factors of blood pressure elevation were age, body mass index, level of
      development of village and non farmer occupation.

PMID- 1460405
TI  - Liver injuries: a five-year study at Surat-thani Hospital.
AB  - Most liver injuries can usually be handled by simple technique. In this study, 70
      per cent of the cases needed only simple suture. There were 10 cases (16.67%) in
      which no surgical procedures were required at all, because the bleeding had
      stopped prior to surgery. Complications and mortality varied according to the
      type of liver injury, the involved organ injury and the most important factor,
      shock prior to and during surgery. This study reports not only the type of liver
      injury, causes, treatment, complications and mortality rate but it also compiles
      the surgical techniques used in managing liver injury according to severity.

PMID- 1460406
TI  - Anterior lumbar discectomy: a study of iliac and fibular bone graft.
AB  - The author studied the iliac and fibular autogenous bone grafts in anterior
      lumbar discectomy for herniated disc of 29 patients. They were examined 2 1/2 to
      8 years postoperatively. Iliac numbness was found in 4 of 15 patients (26.7%) and
      fibular pain was found in one of 14 patients (7.1%). For functional result, iliac
      and fibular graft were found excellent in 86.6 and 92.9 per cent respectively.
      There was no statistically significant difference in proportion of patients
      experiencing discomfort at donor site or in the functional result between iliac
      and fibular grafts.

PMID- 1460407
TI  - A comparative study of isobaric and hyperbaric solution of bupivacaine for spinal
      anaesthesia in caesarean section.
AB  - Though hyperbaric solution of bupivacaine following intrathecal injection had
      satisfactory spread of analgesia, it regressed rapidly with more side effects.
      Isobaric bupivacaine seemed to provide a slow regression of analgesia with fewer
      undesirable effects except for its inadequate spread of analgesia. As a result,
      if the dosages as well as the time of administration of isobaric solution are
      well adjusted, we believe that it is safe and reliable with an excellent level of
      analgesia for caesarean section.

PMID- 1460408
TI  - Treatment of outpatients with community-acquired pneumonia with roxithromycin.

PMID- 1460409
TI  - In vitro antimicrobial activity of cefodizime, a third generation cephalosporin.
AB  - Cefodizime is one of the new broad-spectrum cephalosporins. It is an
      aminothiazolyl iminomethoxy cephalosporin which is metabolically stable and has a
      prolonged serum half life. Cefodizime was primarily active against gram-negative
      bacilli and at the concentration of 0.5 mg/L, it inhibited 90 per cent of
      Enterobacteriaceae. P. mirabilis was the most susceptible species tested (MIC90
      of 0.02 mg/L). E.coli, K.pneumoniae, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and M.
      morganii were also very sensitive to cefodizime, with the MIC90 of 0.25-0.5 mg/L.
      Cefodizime, however, was not active against most gram-negative bacilli possessing
      Type I beta-lactamases of Richmond and Sykes, namely, Enterobacter spp., P.
      aeruginosa and A. anitratus (MIC90 of > 128 mg/L). Among gram-positive bacteria,
      only S.pyogenes was highly susceptible (MIC90 of 0.05 mg/L), while S. aureus
      (methicillin-sensitive) was moderately susceptible and Enterococcus spp. was
      resistant. Cefodizime appeared to be bactericidal and was not affected by serum.
      High inoculum (10(7) cfu/ml) of K.pneumoniae and Enterobacter spp. resulted in
      increase of the MIC of cefodizime. This study shows that local bacterial isolates
      in a university hospital in Bangkok, Thailand were not different in
      susceptibility pattern from those reported in developed countries. The in vitro
      activity of cefodizime as a third generation cephalosporin, with its good
      pharmacokinetic property, and the property of the agent as a biological response
      modifier, should prove that this is a promising new agent in treating serious
      infections especially in immunosuppressed hosts.

PMID- 1460410
TI  - HIV infection in male patients attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic.
AB  - Three hundred and fifty-two heterosexual males, attending a sexually transmitted
      disease clinic at Siriraj Hospital from December 1989 to February 1991 were
      studied for the prevalence of HIV infection. Of these, 334 men reported
      prostitutes as the main source of their sexually transmitted disease. No one had
      received blood transfusion in the last 5 years, and there was no history of
      intravenous drug use, homosexuality or bisexuality. HIV antibody was found in the
      sera of 24 men (6.8%). HIV seropositivity was associated with serologic makers of
      syphilis (P < 0.05) but was not associated with present genital ulcers on
      physical examination or other STDs. These data indicate the high rate of female
      prostitutes to male transmission of HIV infection in the presence of sexually
      transmitted disease and confirms the relationship between syphilis and HIV
      infection. HIV/AIDS educational programmes and campaigns to promote condom use
      among prostitutes and clients are an urgent need in Thailand.

PMID- 1460411
TI  - Primary lymphoma of the esophagus: a case report.
AB  - A case of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the esophagus was reported. The
      macroscopic manifestation from esophagography, computed tomography and
      esophagoscopy were demonstrated. Pathological findings were demonstrated. The
      tumour responded well to combined therapy of surgery, radiotherapy and
      chemotherapy.

PMID- 1460412
TI  - Acute cyanide poisoning: a case report with toxicokinetic study.
AB  - Cyanide poisoning is a life threatening condition. But specific antidotes exist
      and can be easily prepared from available substances in hospital. Administration
      of antidotes will produce methemoglobin, which itself causes hypoxia. Nitrite
      induced methemoglobin can be extremely dangerous and even lethal. Before
      administering the antidotes, the diagnosis should be confirmed. Nitrite should
      not be given if the poisoning is mild or diagnosis is uncertain, to avoid
      excessive methemoglobin, dosage of sodium nitrite must be adjusted according to
      hemoglobin level (Table 1). Usage of sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate in the
      recommended doses are safe and effective for cyanide poisoning.

PMID- 1460413
TI  - Granulomatous mastitis: case report and review of literature.
AB  - A 38-year-old woman presented with a 5-month history of a right breast mass after
      delivery of her second child. The lesion simulated the picture of a carcinoma on
      clinical grounds. Fine-needle aspiration also reported an erroneous diagnosis of
      malignancy. At surgery, a discrete granuloma with microabscesses was seen without
      any causative organisms being identified. Open biopsy or Tru-Cut needle biopsy is
      recommended to prevent such an error which may result in unnecessary radical
      surgery.

PMID- 1460414
TI  - Activation of the classical complement pathway by mannose-binding protein in
      association with a novel C1s-like serine protease.
AB  - Serum mannose-binding protein (MBP) is a C-type lectin that binds to terminal
      mannose and N-acetylglucosamine moieties present on surfaces of certain pathogens
      and activates the classical complement pathway. In the present study, we describe
      the mechanism underlying the activation triggered by MBP. The human serum MBP
      fraction was obtained by sequential affinity chromatography on mannan-Sepharose,
      anti-IgM-Sepharose and anti-MBP-Sepharose in the presence of calcium ions. This
      fraction contained a C1s-like serine protease as assessed by C4 consumption. The
      C1s-like serine protease, designated MBP-associated serine protease (MASP), was
      separated from MBP by rechromatography on anti-MBP-Sepharose in the presence of
      ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. MASP exhibited both C4- and C2-consuming
      activities. The molecular mass of MASP was estimated to be 83 kD with two
      polypeptides of heavy (66 kD) and light (L) (31 kD) chains linked by disulfide
      bonds. The serine residue responsible for protease activity is located on the L
      chain. Reconstitution experiments using MASP and MBP revealed that combination of
      the two components restores C4- and C2-activating capacity on mannan. Based on
      analyses of molecular size, antigenicity, and 11 NH2-terminal amino acid
      sequences of the L chain, we conclude that MASP is a novel protein different from
      C1r or C1s. Our findings are not in accord with a proposed mechanism by which MBP
      utilizes the C1r2-C1s2 complex to initiate the classical complement pathway.

PMID- 1460415
TI  - Human lymphokine-activated killer cells are cytotoxic against cells infected with
      Toxoplasma gondii.
AB  - Experiments were conducted to determine whether human lymphokine-activated killer
      (LAK) cells are cytotoxic against cells infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Nylon
      wool nonadherent (NWNA) peripheral blood lymphocytes, as well as purified natural
      killer cell (NK) (CD3- CD16+ CD56+) and T (CD3+ CD16- CD56-) cells obtained from
      five healthy T. gondii seronegative volunteers exhibited minimal cytotoxic
      activity against T. gondii-infected cells. When standard LAK (S-LAK) cell
      preparations were induced by incubation of NWNA cells with recombinant
      interleukin 2, induction of remarkable cytotoxic activity against T. gondii
      infected cells. When standard in LAK cell preparations from each of the
      volunteers. The phenotype of the LAK precursor and effector cells varied
      depending on the target cell used. Whereas the precursor and the effector cells
      of most of the LAK activity against K562 and Daudi cells were cells with NK
      phenotype, when T. gondii-infected cells were used as targets, both cells with NK
      and T cell phenotypes were precursors and effectors of the lysis. When cytotoxic
      activity of S-LAK cells was compared with the activity of adherent LAK (A-LAK)
      cells, A-LAK cells displayed higher cytotoxic activity against T. gondii-infected
      cells, as well as against K562 and Daudi cells. Cold target inhibition
      experiments suggested that there is a subset of LAK effector cells capable of
      lysing both T. gondii-infected cells and Daudi cells, whereas other subsets
      preferentially or exclusively lyse one of these target cells.

PMID- 1460416
TI  - Purification of three cytotoxic lymphocyte granule serine proteases that induce
      apoptosis through distinct substrate and target cell interactions.
AB  - We recently reported the purification of a lymphocyte granule protein called
      "fragmentin," which was identified as a serine protease with the ability to
      induce oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation and apoptosis (Shi, L., R. P. Kraut, R.
      Aebersold, and A. H. Greenberg. 1992. J. Exp. Med. 175:553). We have now purified
      two additional proteases with fragmentin activity from lymphocyte granules. The
      three proteases are of two types; one has the unusual ability to cleave a
      tripeptide thiobenzyl ester substrate after aspartic acid, similar to murine
      cytotoxic cell protease I/granzyme B, while two are tryptase-like, preferentially
      hydrolyzing after arginine, and bear some homology to human T cell granule
      tryptases, granzyme 3, and Hanukah factor/granzyme A. Using tripeptide
      chloromethyl ketones, the pattern of inhibition of DNA fragmentation corresponded
      to the inhibition of peptide hydrolysis. The Asp-ase fragmentin was blocked by
      aspartic acid-containing tripeptide chloromethyl ketones, while the tryptase
      fragmentins were inhibited by arginine-containing chloromethyl ketones. The two
      tryptase fragmentins were slow acting and were partly suppressed by blocking
      proteins synthesis with cycloheximide in the YAC-1 target cell. In contrast, the
      Asp-ase fragmentin was fast acting and produced DNA damage in the absence of
      protein synthesis. Using a panel of unrelated target cells of lymphoma, thymoma,
      and melanoma origin, distinct patterns of sensitivity to the three fragmentins
      were observed. Thus, these three granule proteases make up a family of
      fragmentins that activate DNA fragmentation and apoptosis by acting on unique
      substrates in different target cells.

PMID- 1460417
TI  - Comparative clonal analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)
      specific CD4+ and CD8+ cytolytic T lymphocytes isolated from seronegative humans
      immunized with candidate HIV-1 vaccines.
AB  - The lysis of infected host cells by virus-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL)
      is an important factor in host resistance to viral infection. An optimal vaccine
      against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) would elicit virus-specific
      CTL as well as neutralizing antibodies. The induction by a vaccine of HIV-1
      specific CD8+ CTL in humans has not been previously reported. In this study, CTL
      responses were evaluated in HIV-1-seronegative human volunteers participating in
      a phase I acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) vaccine trial involving a
      novel vaccine regimen. Volunteers received an initial immunization with a live
      recombinant vaccinia virus vector carrying the HIV-1 env gene and a subsequent
      boost with purified env protein. An exceptionally strong env-specific CTL
      response was detected in one of two vaccine recipients, while modest but
      significant env-specific CTL activity was present in the second vaccinee. Cloning
      of the responding CTL gave both CD4+ and CD8+ env-specific CTL clones, permitting
      a detailed comparison of critical functional properties of these two types of
      CTL. In particular, the potential antiviral effects of these CTL were evaluated
      in an in vitro system involving HIV-1 infection of cultures of normal autologous
      CD4+ lymphoblasts. At extremely low effector-to-target ratios, vaccine-induced
      CD8+ CTL clones lysed productively infected cells present within these cultures.
      When tested for lytic activity against target cells expressing the HIV-1 env
      gene, CD8+ CTL were 3-10-fold more active on a per cell basis than CD4+ CTL.
      However, when tested against autologous CD4+ lymphoblasts acutely infected with
      HIV-1, CD4+ clones lysed a much higher fraction of the target cell population
      than did CD8+ CTL. CD4+ CTL were shown to recognize not only the infected cells
      within these acutely infected cultures but also noninfected CD4+ T cells that had
      passively taken up gp120 shed from infected cells and/or free virions. These
      results were confirmed in studies in which CD4+ lymphoblasts were exposed to
      recombinant gp120 and used as targets for gp120-specific CD4+ and CD8+ CTL
      clones. gp120-pulsed, noninfected targets were lysed in an antigen-specific
      fashion by CD4+ but not CD8+ CTL clones. Taken together, these observations
      demonstrate that in an in vitro HIV-1 infection, sufficient amounts of gp120
      antigen are produced and shed by infected cells to enable uptake by cells that
      are not yet infected, resulting in the lysis of these noninfected cells by gp120
      specific, CD4+ CTL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1460418
TI  - Glucocorticoids induce the expression of CD8 alpha chains on concanavalin A
      activated rat CD4+ T cells: induction is inhibited by rat recombinant interleukin
      4.
AB  - Rat T lymphocytes, activated in vitro with concanavalin A (Con A), were shown by
      flow cytofluorographic analysis to contain a population of cells that
      simultaneously expressed CD4 and the alpha chain of CD8. The inclusion of the
      glucocorticoid hormone dexamethasone in the culture medium greatly increased both
      the frequency of these double-positive cells and the level of CD8 alpha chain
      expression. The level of expression of CD4 was not affected, and the cells that
      expressed CD8 antigen only also remained unchanged in surface phenotype. Detailed
      studies demonstrated unequivocally that the CD4+ CD8 alpha + cells were not
      artifacts produced by the random association of single-positive cells in the flow
      cytofluorograph, but arose from precursors that were single-positive CD4+ cells
      before activation. Furthermore, Con A activation of purified CD4+ T cells, in the
      presence of T cell-depleted accessory cells, showed that CD8+ T cells played no
      role in the induction process. However, the induction of CD8 alpha chain
      expression on CD4+ T cells and the enhancement of this expression by
      dexamethasone were almost completely inhibited by rat recombinant interleukin 4
      (IL-4). Detection of mRNA for rat CD8 alpha chain by Northern blot closely
      paralleled the cell surface expression of CD8 alpha antigen, indicating that
      dexamethasone and IL-4 had opposing effects on mRNA levels. In contrast, IL-4 and
      dexamethasone both induced CD8 alpha chain expression on a rat CD4+ T cell clone
      when this was activated by specific antigen, and, although the effect with IL-4
      was relatively weak, it did not antagonize the effect of the glucocorticoid. The
      possible significance of these results is briefly discussed.

PMID- 1460419
TI  - Predominance of fetal type DJH joining in young children with B precursor
      lymphoblastic leukemia as evidence for an in utero transforming event.
AB  - The presence of N sequences in the complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) of
      the rearranged immunoglobulin H chain is developmentally regulated: N regions are
      generally present in the DJH joinings of adult B cells but are often absent in
      fetal B cells. Analysis of the CDR3 in 61 B precursor acute lymphoblastic
      leukemias indicated that 87.5% of the leukemias obtained from children < or = 3
      yr old lacked N regions at the DJH junction. In contrast, in children > 3 yr old,
      only 11.1% of the leukemias lacked N regions at this junction, a frequency
      similar to what we have observed in B cells from children and adults. These
      findings suggest that the majority of leukemias presenting within the first 3 yr
      of age arise from an in utero transforming event.

PMID- 1460420
TI  - A severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mouse model for infection with Entamoeba
      histolytica.
AB  - We used severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice to study resistance to
      invasive infection with Entamoeba histolytica. Seven of seven SCID mice developed
      liver abscesses when challenged intrahepatically with virulent HM1:IMSS strain E.
      histolytica trophozoites. Only one of seven similarly challenged immunocompetent
      congenic C.B-17 mice developed an abscess. Adoptive transfer of polyclonal rabbit
      anti-E. histolytica antiserum, but not preimmune rabbit serum, completely
      protected 7 of 12 SCID mice from intrahepatic challenge with ameba. These results
      demonstrate that lymphocyte-based immunity is important in protection against
      amebic liver abscess, and that anti-E. histolytica antibody can protect against
      amebic infection in this system. The SCID mouse may provide a powerful model for
      studying the components of protective immunity to invasive amebiasis.

PMID- 1460421
TI  - Thymic selection of the human T cell receptor V beta repertoire in SCID-hu mice.
AB  - Implantation of pieces of human fetal liver and thymus into SCID mice results in
      the development of a human thymus-like organ, in which sustained lymphopoiesis is
      reproducibly observed. In this model, T cell development can be experimentally
      manipulated. To study the influence of thymic selection on the development of the
      human T cell repertoire, the T cell receptor (TCR) V beta gene repertoire of
      double-positive (CD4+CD8+) and single-positive (CD4+CD8- and CD4-CD8+) T cells
      was analyzed in the SCID-hu thymus using a multiprobe ribonuclease protection
      assay. TCR diversity in double-positive SCID-hu thymocytes was found to be
      comparable with that present in the thymus of the fetal liver donor, did not
      change with time, and was independent of the origin of the thymus donor. Thymic
      selection in SCID-hu thymus induces changes in V beta usage by the single
      positive CD4+ or CD8+ T cells comparable with those previously reported for
      single-positive cells present in a normal human thymus. Finally, significant
      differences were observed in the V beta usage by CD4 or CD8 single-positive T
      cells that matured from genetically identical stem cells in different thymic
      environments. Collectively, these data suggest: first, that the generation of TCR
      diversity at the double-positive stage is determined by the genotype of the stem
      cells; and second, that polymorphic determinants expressed by thymic epithelium
      measurably influence the V beta repertoire of mature single-positive T cells.

PMID- 1460422
TI  - Antigen binding and idiotype analysis of antibodies obtained after
      electroporation of heavy and light chain genes encoding phosphocholine-specific
      antibodies: a model for T15-idiotype dominance.
AB  - Antibodies bearing the T15 idiotype dominate the murine primary immune response
      to phosphocholine (PC). Analysis of antigen binding of antibodies derived from
      V1:DFL16.1:JH1 (VH1) germline and N region-derived variant heavy (H) chains and
      kappa 22, kappa 24, and kappa 8 light (L) chains demonstrates that the T15H:kappa
      22L (T15) antibody binds PC at least 20-40 times better than other antibodies
      derived from alternate germline forms of the VH1 H chain and kappa 22, kappa 24,
      or kappa 8 L chains. To achieve affinities in the same range as the T15 antibody,
      kappa 24 and kappa 8 L chain-containing antibodies must have H chains derived
      from variant N region or somatically mutated VH1 genes. Single amino acid
      differences at the VD junction of the various germline and N region variant VH1 H
      chains dictate the L chain that can associate with the H chain to produce a PC
      specific antibody. Several H:L combinations give rise to T15 or M167 idiotype
      positive antibodies that lack specificity for PC, and single amino acid
      substitutions or insertions at the VH1:D junction result in the loss of T15 or
      M167 idiotopes. Based on these observations, our data support a molecular model
      involving both preferential gene rearrangement and antigen-driven B cell
      selection to explain T15 idiotype dominance in the immune response to PC. In the
      absence of N region diversification, large numbers of neonatal B cells bearing
      the T15H:kappa 22L surface immunoglobulin M (sIgM) receptors would be selected
      and expanded by autologous or environmental PC antigen into the long-lived
      peripheral B cell pool.

PMID- 1460423
TI  - Genetic analysis of MRL-lpr mice: relationship of the Fas apoptosis gene to
      disease manifestations and renal disease-modifying loci.
AB  - In MRL mice, the mostly recessive lpr mutation results in both the accumulation
      of CD4-, CD8-, CD3+ T cells in lymphoid tissue and many features of generalized
      autoimmune disease, including immune complex glomerulonephritis. To positionally
      clone the lpr mutation and analyze the effects of background genes, backcross
      offspring were examined from the cross: (MRL/MpJ-lpr x CAST/Ei)F1 x MRL/MpJ-lpr.
      The lpr gene was found to be closely linked to a mouse chromosome 19 marker
      defined by a variation of a Fas gene restriction fragment. Our results identified
      differences in RNA expression and differences in the genomic organization of the
      Fas gene between normal and lpr mice, and confirm the recent report that a
      mutation in the Fas apoptosis gene is the lpr mutation. However, our results also
      indicate that the Fas gene is expressed in spleen cells from normal mice, and
      spleen and lymph node cells from mice with a second mutation at the lpr locus
      (lprcg). Together these results suggest that altered Fas transcription results in
      the failure of lymphocytes to undergo programmed cell death and may lead to an
      altered immune cell repertoire. This mechanism may explain certain central and
      peripheral defects in tolerance that are present in autoimmune disease. The
      current study also demonstrates the profound effect of background genes on the
      degree of nephritis, lymphadenopathy, and anti-DNA antibody production. Of major
      note, our studies suggest the identification of chromosomal positions for genes
      that modify nephritis. Analysis of the backcross mice for markers covering most
      of the mouse genome suggests that over 50% of the variance in renal disease is
      attributable to quantitative trait loci on mouse chromosomes 7 and 12. Moreover,
      this study provides a model for dissecting the complex genetic interactions that
      result in manifestations of autoimmune disease.

PMID- 1460424
TI  - CD45RA and CD45RBhigh expression induced by thymic selection events.
AB  - CD45 is a protein tyrosine phosphatase involved in T and B cell signaling. While
      peripheral T cells switch CD45 isoforms upon activation, events leading to exon
      switching during T cell development in the thymus have not been determined. The
      expression of high molecular weight isoforms of CD45 was examined on thymocytes
      from nontransgenic and T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice. All thymocytes from
      nontransgenic mice were CD45RB+ as assessed by staining with MB23G2, an anti
      CD45RB-specific monoclonal antibody. Interestingly, there was a small population
      (1-3%) of thymocytes that displayed a higher intensity of staining with MB23G2,
      CD45RBhigh. CD45RBhigh thymocytes were found in all subsets defined by CD4 and
      CD8 expression and were also present within the TCR-alpha/beta high population.
      To analyze whether or not CD45 expression correlated with thymic selection
      events, expression of CD45RBhigh and a second isoform, CD45RA, was examined on
      thymocytes from H-Y and 2C TCR transgenic mice and found to correlate with
      positive and negative selection events but did not occur in nonselecting
      backgrounds. CD45RA and CD45RBhigh upregulation was also not observed in
      transgenic mice backcrossed into CD8-deficient mice, a scenario in which there is
      no positive selection of transgene-expressing thymocytes. These data suggest that
      modulation of CD45 isoform expression may be involved in thymic selection events.

PMID- 1460425
TI  - Phagocytic chimeric receptors require both transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains
      from the mannose receptor.
AB  - Phagocytosis has traditionally been viewed as a specialized function of myeloid
      and monocytic cells. The mannose receptor (MR) is an opsonin-independent
      phagocytic receptor expressed on tissue macrophages. When human MR cDNA is
      transfected into Cos cells, these usually non-phagocytic cells express cell
      surface MR and bind and ingest MR ligands such as zymosan, yeast, and
      Pneumocystis carinii. Expression of cDNA for Fc gamma RI (CD64), the high
      affinity Fc receptor, in Cos cells confers binding but barely detectable
      phagocytosis of antibody-opsonized erythrocytes (EA). We report here that
      chimeric receptors containing the ligand-binding ectodomain of the Fc receptor
      and the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the MR ingest bound EA very
      efficiently, whereas chimeras with the Fc receptor ecto- and transmembrane
      domains and the MR tail, or the Fc receptor ecto- and cytoplasmic domains and the
      MR transmembrane region, are significantly less phagocytic. All of the chimeric
      receptors bind ligand with equal avidity, but gain of functional phagocytosis is
      only conferred by the MR transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. Endocytosis of
      monomeric immunoglobulin G by chimeric receptors demonstrates a similar pattern,
      with optimal uptake by the chimera containing both tail and transmembrane regions
      from the MR. The chimeric receptors with only the transmembrane or the
      cytoplasmic domain contributed by the MR were less efficient. Site-directed
      mutagenesis of the single tyrosine residue in the cytoplasmic tail (which is
      present in a motif homologous to an endocytosis consensus motif in the LDL
      receptor cytoplasmic tail [Chen, W.-J., J. L. Goldstein, and M. S. Brown. 1990.
      J. Biol. Chem. 265:3116]) reduces the efficiency of phagocytosis and endocytosis
      to a similar extent.

PMID- 1460426
TI  - Generation of large numbers of dendritic cells from mouse bone marrow cultures
      supplemented with granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor.
AB  - Antigen-presenting, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-rich
      dendritic cells are known to arise from bone marrow. However, marrow lacks mature
      dendritic cells, and substantial numbers of proliferating less-mature cells have
      yet to be identified. The methodology for inducing dendritic cell growth that was
      recently described for mouse blood now has been modified to MHC class II-negative
      precursors in marrow. A key step is to remove the majority of nonadherent, newly
      formed granulocytes by gentle washes during the first 2-4 d of culture. This
      leaves behind proliferating clusters that are loosely attached to a more firmly
      adherent "stroma." At days 4-6 the clusters can be dislodged, isolated by 1-g
      sedimentation, and upon reculture, large numbers of dendritic cells are released.
      The latter are readily identified on the basis of their distinct cell shape,
      ultrastructure, and repertoire of antigens, as detected with a panel of
      monoclonal antibodies. The dendritic cells express high levels of MHC class II
      products and act as powerful accessory cells for initiating the mixed leukocyte
      reaction. Neither the clusters nor mature dendritic cells are generated if
      macrophage colony-stimulating factor rather than granulocyte/macrophage colony
      stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is applied. Therefore, GM-CSF generates all three
      lineages of myeloid cells (granulocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells). Since
      > 5 x 10(6) dendritic cells develop in 1 wk from precursors within the large hind
      limb bones of a single animal, marrow progenitors can act as a major source of
      dendritic cells. This feature should prove useful for future molecular and
      clinical studies of this otherwise trace cell type.

PMID- 1460427
TI  - Cytokines and arachidonic metabolites produced during human immunodeficiency
      virus (HIV)-infected macrophage-astroglia interactions: implications for the
      neuropathogenesis of HIV disease.
AB  - Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of brain macrophages and astroglial
      proliferation are central features of HIV-induced central nervous system (CNS)
      disorders. These observations suggest that glial cellular interactions
      participate in disease. In an experimental system to examine this process, we
      found that cocultures of HIV-infected monocytes and astroglia release high levels
      of cytokines and arachidonate metabolites leading to neuronotoxicity. HIV-1ADA
      infected monocytes cocultured with human glia (astrocytoma, neuroglia, and
      primary human astrocytes) synthesized tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and
      interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) as assayed by coupled reverse transcription
      polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and biological
      activity. The cytokine induction was selective, cell specific, and associated
      with induction of arachidonic acid metabolites. TNF-beta, IL-1 alpha, IL-6,
      interferon alpha (IFN-alpha), and IFN-gamma were not produced. Leukotriene B4,
      leukotriene D4, lipoxin A4, and platelet-activating factor were detected in large
      amounts after high-performance liquid chromatography separation and correlated
      with cytokine activity. Specific inhibitors of the arachidonic cascade markedly
      diminished the cytokine response suggesting regulatory relationships between
      these factors. Cocultures of HIV-infected monocytes and neuroblastoma or
      endothelial cells, or HIV-infected monocyte fluids, sucrose gradient-concentrated
      viral particles, and paraformaldehyde-fixed or freeze-thawed HIV-infected
      monocytes placed onto astroglia failed to induce cytokines and neuronotoxins.
      This demonstrated that viable monocyte-astroglia interactions were required for
      the cell reactions. The addition of actinomycin D or cycloheximide to the HIV
      infected monocytes before coculture reduced, > 2.5-fold, the levels of TNF-alpha.
      These results, taken together, suggest that the neuronotoxicity associated with
      HIV central nervous system disorders is mediated, in part, through cytokines and
      arachidonic acid metabolites, produced during cell-to-cell interactions between
      HIV-infected brain macrophages and astrocytes.

PMID- 1460428
TI  - Expression of a tumor necrosis factor alpha transgene in murine pancreatic beta
      cells results in severe and permanent insulitis without evolution towards
      diabetes.
AB  - Mice bearing a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha transgene controlled by an
      insulin promoter developed an increasingly severe lymphocytic insulitis,
      apparently resulting from the induction of endothelial changes with features
      similar to those observed in other places of intense lymphocytic traffic. This
      was accompanied by dissociation of the endocrine tissue (without marked decrease
      in its total mass), islet fibrosis, and the development of intraislet ductules
      containing, by places, beta cells in their walls, suggesting a regenerative
      capacity. Islet disorganization and fibrosis did not result from lymphocytic
      infiltration, since they were also observed in SCID mice bearing the transgene.
      Diabetes never developed, even though a number of potentially inducing conditions
      were used, including the prolonged perfusion of interferon gamma and the
      permanent expression of a nontolerogenic viral protein on beta cells (obtained by
      using mice bearing two transgenes). It is concluded that (a) a slow process of
      TNF release in pancreatic islets induces insulitis, and may be instrumental in
      the insulitis resulting from local cell-mediated immune reactions, but (b) that
      insulitis per se is not diabetogenic, lymphocyte stimulation by cells other than
      beta cells being necessary to trigger extensive beta cell damage. This provides
      an explanation for the discrepancy between the occurrence of insulitis and that
      of clinical disease in autoimmune diabetes.

PMID- 1460430
TI  - Peptide-induced conformational changes in class I heavy chains alter major
      histocompatibility complex recognition.
AB  - Small peptides, derived from endogenous proteins bind within the antigen binding
      groove created by the beta-pleated sheets and alpha helices of the alpha 1 and
      alpha 2 domains of the class I molecule of the major histocompatibility complex
      (MHC). However, the precise role of peptide in class I MHC conformation remains
      unclear. Here, we have shown that, in at least some instances, changes induced in
      the MHC molecule by the binding of distinct peptides can be identified as
      specific alterations in serological epitopes expressed on the class I protein.
      The nature of specific peptides expressed by class I-bearing cells may,
      therefore, have a dramatic influence on T cell development, self-tolerance, and
      alloreactivity.

PMID- 1460429
TI  - Vaccination of rhesus monkeys with synthetic peptide in a fusogenic
      proteoliposome elicits simian immunodeficiency virus-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T
      lymphocytes.
AB  - An effective vaccine against the human immunodeficiency virus should be capable
      of eliciting both an antibody and a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response.
      However, when viral proteins and peptides are formulated with traditional
      immunological adjuvants and inoculated via a route acceptable for use in humans,
      they have not been successful at eliciting virus-specific, major
      histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-restricted CTL. We have designed a novel
      viral subunit vaccine by encapsulating a previously defined synthetic peptide CTL
      epitope of the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) gag protein within a
      proteoliposome capable of attaching to and fusing with plasma membranes. Upon
      fusing, the encapsulated contents of this proteoliposome can enter the MHC class
      I processing pathway through the cytoplasm. In this report, we show that after a
      single intramuscular vaccination, rhesus monkeys develop a CD8+ cell-mediated,
      MHC class I-restricted CTL response that recognizes the synthetic peptide
      immunogen. The induced CTL also demonstrate antiviral immunity by recognizing SIV
      gag protein endogenously processed by target cells infected with SIV/vaccinia
      recombinant virus. These results demonstrate that virus-specific, MHC class I
      restricted, CD8+ CTL can be elicited by a safe, nonreplicating viral subunit
      vaccine in a primate model for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Moreover, the
      proteoliposome vaccine formation described can include multiple synthetic peptide
      epitopes, and, thus, offers a simple means of generating antiviral cell-mediated
      immunity in a genetically heterogeneous population.

PMID- 1460431
TI  - Lymphoproliferative disease in human peripheral blood mononuclear cell-injected
      SCID mice. I. T lymphocyte requirement for B cell tumor generation.
AB  - Mechanisms of tumor development were studied in SCID mice injected with human
      lymphoid cells from Epstein-Barr virus-positive (EBV+) donors. About 80% of
      peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-injected animals developed a
      lymphoproliferative disease associated with oligoclonal EBV+ tumors of human B
      cell origin. No change in tumor development rate occurred when monocyte-depleted
      PBMC were inoculated. No tumors developed when purified B cells were injected. B
      cell lymphoproliferative disease was also prevented in most cases when PBMC
      injected animals were treated with agents that prevent T cell activation, such as
      cyclosporin A. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subpopulations were able to provide
      putative factor(s) necessary for EBV+ B cell expansion and progression to tumors.
      These data suggest that the transfer alone of potentially tumorigenic human cells
      into an immunodeficient environment, such as the SCID mouse, might not be
      sufficient for cell progression to tumor, and raise the possibility that chronic
      activation events could play a major role in the pathogenesis of some EBV+
      lymphomas in the immunocompromised host.

PMID- 1460434
TI  - A high molecular weight proteoglycan is differentially expressed during
      development of the mollusc Concholepas concholepas (Mollusca; Gastropoda;
      Muricidae).
AB  - Incorporation of radioactive sulfate to hatched veliger larvae of the gastropod
      muricid Concholepas concholepas indicated that over 87% of the sulfated
      macromolecules were found in the detergent insoluble fraction, rich in
      extracellular matrix (ECM) components. The sulfated material was solubilized with
      guanidine salt followed by urea dialysis and fractionated by DEAE-Sephacel
      chromatography. Three sulfated compounds eluting at 0.7, 1.1, and 3.0 M NaCl,
      called peaks I, II, and III, respectively, were obtained. The sulfated compound
      present in peak I was degraded by pronase or sodium alkaline treatment to a small
      sulfated resistant material, suggesting the presence of a proteoglycan (PG).
      Filtration analysis on Sephacryl S-500 and SDS-PAGE of the intact PG indicates
      that it has a high molecular weight (360,000 to over 1 x 10(6)). Monoclonal
      antibodies (mAb) against this PG were produced. The specificity of one mAb, the
      6H2, was demonstrated by size chromatography and ELISA analysis. The epitope
      recognized by this mAb seems to be present in the core protein of the PG. Both
      the extent of sulfation and the presence of different sulfated species of PGs
      were evaluated during the development of this mollusc. A twelvefold increase in
      the incorporation of sulfate to PGs per milligram of protein was found in veliger
      larvae compared to blastula-glastula stages. This change correlated well with the
      differential expression of the sulfated PG present in peak I. Biochemical and
      immunological analysis indicate that high levels of this PG are found in veliger
      and trocophore larvae in comparison with blastula-gastrula and early
      juveniles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460432
TI  - Identification of HLA-DR alpha chain residues critical for binding of the toxic
      shock syndrome toxin superantigen.
AB  - Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) binds to major
      histocompatibility complex class II molecules, and the toxin-class II complexes
      induce proliferation of T cells expressing V beta 2 sequences. To define the
      residues involved in TSST-1 binding, a set of transfectants expressing 21 HLA-DR
      alpha chain mutants were analyzed for their abilities to bind and present TSST-1
      and to present an antigenic peptide. Mutations at DR alpha positions 36 and 39
      markedly decreased the ability of the DR7 molecule to bind and present TSST-1 but
      did not affect the ability to present an antigenic peptide. These data indicate
      that DR alpha residues 36 and 39, predicted to be located on an outer loop, are
      important in the formation of the TSST-1 binding site on DR molecules.

PMID- 1460433
TI  - Autoaggressive myocytotoxic T lymphocytes expressing an unusual gamma/delta T
      cell receptor.
AB  - Polymyositis mediated by gamma/delta T cells is a unique disease in which
      autoaggressive T lymphocytes surround, invade, and destroy muscle fibers.
      Histochemically, the vast majority of muscle-infiltrating T cells in a patient
      with polymyositis were reactive with a pan-gamma/delta T cell receptor (TCR)
      specific monoclonal antibody (TCR-delta 1+), but unlike > 90% of peripheral blood
      gamma/delta T cells, these lymphocytes did not react with V delta 1- or V gamma 9
      specific antibodies (A13- and Ti gamma A-, respectively). Differential reactivity
      with two different V delta 2-specific monoclonal antibodies (BB3-/TiV-delta 2+)
      indicated that the infiltrating T cells express a V delta 2-containing TCR with
      unusual additional structural features. Using conventional and anchored
      polymerase chain reaction for the analysis of TCR transcripts, we found a
      striking predominance of one unusual V delta 2-J delta 3 recombination and one V
      gamma 3-J gamma 1 recombination. Both the unusual phenotype (TCR-delta 1+/A13-/Ti
      gamma A-/BB3-/TiV-delta 2+) and the dominance of distinct TCR transcripts are
      compatible with the assumption that one T cell clone, which expresses a V gamma 3
      J gamma 1-C gamma 2/V delta 2-J delta 3-C delta disulfide-linked TCR, dominates
      among the infiltrating T cells of the polymyositis muscle specimen analyzed.

PMID- 1460435
TI  - Effect of air exposure on nitrogen metabolism in the crab Cancer pagurus.
AB  - In C. pagurus exposed to air for 18 h, blood ammonia content decreased within the
      2 first hours, then increased at a relatively constant rate (25 microM/h); blood
      urate content increased at a lower rate (10 microM/h) and a classical blood
      acidosis was observed. In the cheliped muscle, a transient 22% decrease in GDH
      activity for ammonia formation and a 48% increase in GDH activity in the reverse
      reaction (glutamate synthesis) occurred following 6 and 12 h of emersion,
      respectively. Changes in LDH activity, used as an indicator of anaerobic
      potential of muscle, were not observed, except for an 18% increase in crabs
      exposed to air for 24 h. The increase in blood urate content, not known as a
      response to emersion in decapods, appeared to be different from that observed in
      response to hypoxia. The relatively low blood ammonia overload and the GDH
      increased activity for glutamate synthesis suggested that part of the produced
      ammonia was stored under a bound form in some tissues. The response of C. pagurus
      to air exposure is discussed on account of the Storey and Storey ('90) theory.

PMID- 1460436
TI  - The bimodal auditory-vibratory system of the thoracic ventral nerve cord in
      Locusta migratoria (Acrididae, Locustinae, Oedipodini).
AB  - In locusts the auditory receptors of the tympanal organs and many of the
      vibratory receptors of all 6 legs converge at the level of the thoracic ventral
      nerve cord, forming a combined auditory-vibratory sensory system; it is
      represented by the VS-, S-, and V-neurons ascending to the supraesophageal
      ganglion. The connections between vibratory receptors of the different legs and
      the dendritic inputs of the bimodal ascending neurons are investigated in this
      report. As an example, the dendritic branches of the G- and V3-neurons for
      auditory and vibratory input could be localized by simultaneous recording at 2
      different positions of the axon. The vibratory input from the receptors of the
      different legs was determined. Segmental and/or intersegmental thoracic
      interneurons are intercalated between the receptors and the ascending auditory
      vibratory neurons (G- and V3-neurons). The morphology and function of 2
      intersegmental vibratory interneurons (VI1- and VI2-neurons) are described. They
      probably connect the vibratory receptors of 1 (or 2) leg(s) of 1 thoracic segment
      with the different bimodal auditory-vibratory neurons. The importance of the
      anterior Ring Tract for synaptic connection between receptor cells, first order
      interneurons, and bimodal auditory-vibratory neurons is discussed on the basis of
      morphological and physiological data.

PMID- 1460437
TI  - The role of protein kinase C in reorganization of the cortical cytoskeleton
      during the transition from oocyte to fertilization-competent egg.
AB  - Fertilization-competent amphibian eggs (metaphase II) are programmed to undergo
      an actin-myosin based contraction of the cortical cytoplasm (i.e., cortical
      contraction) in response to an elevation of intracellular-free calcium which
      accompanies fertilization. This ability to undergo cortical contraction is
      acquired within a few hours after the meiotically-arrested oocyte is triggered to
      resume meiosis by exposure to progesterone. This report examines the timing of
      changes in the contractile potential of the cortical cytoplasm as the oocyte
      becomes the egg, and in addition, the signal transduction events which induce
      these changes. We use the bisected oocyte system developed by Christensen et al.
      ('84; Nature 310: 150-151) to assess the changes in cortical potential during the
      meiotic resumption. Immediately after progesterone treatment (less than 5% of the
      way through the meiotic resumption) the cortex acquires the ability to form a
      contractile ring, an ability which gradually disappears during the meiotic
      resumption. Eighty percent of the way through the meiotic resumption the cortex
      of the hemisphere rapidly acquires the ability to undergo cortical contraction.
      In contrast, when bisected in a medium containing protein kinase C (PKC)
      agonists, the cortex of the hemisphere undergoes cortical contraction much
      earlier (i.e., 50% through the meiotic resumption). In addition, treatment of
      oocytes with PKC agonists alone can mimic the complete spectrum of changes in
      cortical potential induced by progesterone, suggesting that PKC has a role in
      reorganization of the cortical cytoskeleton which occurs as a normal response to
      progesterone. In support of this, antagonists of PKC block the progesterone
      induced reorganization of the cortical cytoskeleton.

PMID- 1460438
TI  - Histochemical heterogeneity of fibers in the abdominal superficial flexor muscles
      of the Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus (L.).
AB  - The superficial flexor muscle in the abdomen of the Norway lobster Nephrops
      norvegicus (L.), comprises medial and lateral bundles with distinct fiber type
      composition. Fibers of the medial bundle have long sarcomeres (> 9 microns) and a
      thick fringe of subsarcolemmal mitochondria. In histochemical tests they have a
      low total myofibrillar ATPase activity, a pH-stable isoform of myosin ATPase, and
      a high level of oxidative enzyme activity. A few fibers of the lateral bundle
      also display these morphological and histochemical properties. However, the
      majority of lateral fibers have shorter sarcomeres (< 8 microns), no
      subsarcolemmal mitochondria, but a well-developed tubular system. They also have
      a higher total myofibrillar ATPase activity, a pH-labile isoform of myosin
      ATPase, and a low level of oxidative enzyme activity. The heterogeneous pattern
      of different fiber types in the lateral bundle of this muscle is similar but not
      identical in the different abdominal segments and in different individuals.

PMID- 1460439
TI  - Seasonal changes of the adrenocortical response to stress in birds of the Sonoran
      Desert.
AB  - Many avian species of the North American Sonoran desert, e.g., the black-throated
      sparrow, Amphispiza bilineata, cactus wren, Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus, and
      curve-billed thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre, can potentially breed from
      March/April to August. It is possible that, at least in summer, intense heat and
      aridity may have inhibitory effects on breeding by precipitating a stress
      response. Stress typically results in a rise in secretion of adrenocorticosteroid
      hormones that then inhibit reproduction by suppressing release of gonadal
      hormones. However, we found that plasma levels of corticosterone were not higher
      during summer, compared with winter, even in 1989 when summer temperatures were
      higher than normal. In June 1990, temperatures were also above normal and soared
      to the highest level recorded in Arizona (50 degrees C). Plasma levels of
      corticosterone during June were high in black-throated sparrows, but less so in
      two other species (Abert's towhee, Pipilo aberti, and Inca dove, Scardafella
      inca) found in more shady riparian and suburban habitat with constant access to
      water. The adrenocortical response to stress (as measured by the rate of
      corticosterone increase following capture) was reduced in the hottest summer
      months in black-throated sparrows, cactus wrens, and curve-billed thrashers, but
      less so in Abert's towhee an Inca dove. These data suggest that at least some
      birds breeding in the open desert with restricted access to water are able to
      suppress the classical adrenocortical response to stress. The response is then
      reactivated in winter after breeding has ceased. It is possible that this stress
      modulation may allow breeding to continue despite severe heat. Analysis of plasma
      from these species indicated that the apparent modulation of the adrenocortical
      response to stress was not an artifact of reduced affinity or capacity of
      corticosterone binding proteins.

PMID- 1460440
TI  - The mechanism of antler casting in the fallow deer.
AB  - The process by which antlers are detached from their pedicles was examined
      histologically in fallow deer castrated in the autumn to induce precocious
      casting. Osteoclastic erosion across an abscission line between the dead bone of
      the antler and the living bone of the pedicle was found to be responsible for the
      separation of the 2. As early as 3 days after castration, osteoclasts and
      associated lacunae were present on the sides of the pedicle bone. These were then
      found in progressively deeper locations, by 2 weeks extending across the entire
      width of the pedicle. Concomitant with the centripetal spread of osteoclasts was
      the enlargement of Haversian canals, the surfaces of which became lined with
      osteoclasts. These widening vascular channels within the bone were filled with
      connective tissue, which in precasting stages formed a mesodermal pad about 1 mm
      thick. In later stages, a circumferential cleft was excavated beneath the antler
      burr, and connective tissues from the surrounding pedicle skin invaded the space
      between the antler and pedicle. After casting, the ingrowing integumental tissues
      fused with the mesodermal tissues derived from the vascular channels of the
      pedicle to give rise to an incipient antler bud beneath the scab. The ingrowth of
      epidermis capable of de novo hair follicle formation gave rise to the future
      velvet skin that envelops the elongating antler.

PMID- 1460441
TI  - Is the anterior-posterior axis of the fetus specified before implantation in the
      mouse?
AB  - The mouse conceptus is generally held to be radially symmetrical about its
      embryonic-abembryonic axis from the blastocyst stage until the primitive streak
      appears at the beginning of gastrulation. However, this notion has been
      challenged by recent observations on conceptuses sectioned in utero which suggest
      that the blastocyst is already bilaterally symmetrical when it begins to implant.
      Accordingly, the blastocyst has been assigned an anterior-posterior axis which
      appears to persist through gastrulation and is claimed to coincide with the
      anterior-posterior axis of the future fetus in both orientation and polarity. In
      the present investigation the relationship between these two axes was examined in
      conceptuses dissected from the uterus early in gastrulation so that it could be
      determined more accurately than is possible in situ. The anterior-posterior axis
      of the conceptus and nascent fetus were found to be either parallel or
      antiparallel to each other, suggesting that while the orientation of the fetal
      axis may be specified at the blastocyst stage its polarity is not.

PMID- 1460442
TI  - Cryopreservation of Atlantic croaker spermatozoa: evaluation of morphological
      changes.
AB  - The spermatozoon of the Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) is a primitive
      type in that it lacks an acrosome. The kidney-shaped head has a diameter of about
      1.5 microns and is occupied by a granular and electron-dense nucleus. The short
      midpiece contains 3 spherical mitochondria and encircles the basal body of the
      flagellum but is separated from it. The flagellum consists of the typical 9 + 2
      axoneme and surrounding plasma membrane but lacks a lateral ridge. Spermatozoa of
      Atlantic croaker diluted in either NaCl or sodium citrate solutions with or
      without DMSO were examined with the electron microscope before freezing in liquid
      nitrogen and after thawing. Damage following cryopreservation appeared to be
      greater to the mitochondria, plasma membrane, and 9 + 2 axoneme than to the
      nucleus. The incidence of postthaw damage in spermatozoa diluted with NaCl
      solutions containing DMSO was remarkably lower than that with either pure NaCl
      solutions, pure sodium citrate solutions, or sodium citrate solutions containing
      DMSO.

PMID- 1460443
TI  - Fat body ovarian relationship in the garden lizard, Calotes versicolor (Daud.).
AB  - Abdominal fat body mass of Calotes versicolor showed annual changes that were
      universal related to the changes in ovarian somatic (GSI) and hepatosomatic (HSI)
      indices. Fat bodies were absent in late breeding phase (June-August). Thirty day
      fatectomy (FBX) during prebreeding phase significantly reduced GSI, HSI, and
      total number of extrastromal follicles; also, recruitment of vitellogenic
      follicles was arrested and ateretic follicles increased. The FBX during
      postbreeding phase had no such effect, whereas in 30 day ovariectomised (OvX)
      lizards in prebreeding phase fat body mass significantly increased but HSI
      decreased. However, in lizards in prebreeding phase, E2 caused a significant
      decrease in fat body mass and an increase in HSI, while during the postbreeding
      phase there was a significant increase in HSI but the fat bodies were not
      affected. The above findings suggest that the development of the first clutch of
      vitellogenic follicles in the lizard utilises lipids stored in the fat bodies and
      that the growth of the subsequent clutches of vitellogenic follicles is met
      through the intake of food, which is abundant in the latter part of the breeding
      phase. The fat bodies are not needed for the growth of previtellogenic follicles.
      The fact that lipolytic action of E2 occurs only during the breeding phase
      suggests that responsiveness of the fat bodies to the steroid is related to the
      reproductive phase and that during postbreeding phase of the lizard they become
      refractory to E2.

PMID- 1460444
TI  - Arginine vasotocin concentrations in the supraoptic nucleus of the lizard Anolis
      carolinensis are associated with reproductive state but not oviposition.
AB  - Arginine vasotocin (AVT) is a neuropeptide involved in reproductive function in
      many nonmammalian vertebrates. We determined brain and plasma AVT concentrations
      during the estrous cycle and oviposition in the lizard Anolis carolinensis. There
      were no differences in AVT concentrations in the plasma or any brain region
      during the ovipositional sequence. However, we found that females with an egg in
      each oviduct and a large pre-ovulatory follicle (diameter > 4.5 mm) in one-ovary
      had significantly higher AVT concentrations in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of
      the hypothalamus than did females with small pre-ovulatory follicles in both
      ovaries. In a second study, females with an egg in each oviduct and a large pre
      ovulatory follicle had significantly greater AVT concentrations in the SON than
      females with only one oviductal egg and a large pre-ovulatory follicle or females
      with an egg in each oviduct and a small pre-ovulatory follicle in each ovary.
      Concentrations of AVT in other brain regions and in the plasma did not differ
      among these groups. Changes in steroid profiles during estrous and/or direct
      neural communication between the uterus, ovary, and brain may account for the
      changes in AVT concentrations seen in the supraoptic nucleus during the estrous
      cycle of Anolis carolinensis.

PMID- 1460445
TI  - Influence of a capacitation period on human sperm acrosome loss.
AB  - The present study investigates whether a 5 hour capacitation period modifies the
      ability of human spermatozoa to undergo induced acrosomal loss. Human sperm
      acrosomal loss was induced by treatment with either the calcium ionophore A23187,
      low concentrations of the phospholipid dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (PC12), or 2
      hours incubation in conditioned medium prepared from human cumulus cells (CM/CC).
      The use of a dual staining method (FITC-ConA and Hoechst 33258) for simultaneous
      assessment of acrosomal status and viability demonstrated that induction of
      acrosomal loss with calcium ionophore was not dependent on a capacitation period.
      A short (5 hour) incubation period was not sufficient to induce acrosomal loss
      with CM/CC above spontaneous acrosome reaction rates in medium alone. A
      significant capacitation-dependent increase (P < 0.05) in acrosomal loss was
      observed when human spermatozoa were incubated with PC12. Induction of acrosomal
      loss of capacitated human spermatozoa with PC12 therefore provides a simple assay
      for the simultaneous assessment of human sperm capacitation and the acrosome
      reaction in vitro.

PMID- 1460446
TI  - Indigent care. A possible model for reforming health-care delivery.

PMID- 1460447
TI  - Health care reform. As efficient as possible.

PMID- 1460448
TI  - Volunteer health care proposal.

PMID- 1460449
TI  - Codfish, maybe whales.

PMID- 1460450
TI  - Preventive health for the elderly. Role of vaccination.
AB  - Elderly patients should receive three vaccinations as part of routine health
      maintenance: influenza virus vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, and tetanus
      diphtheria toxoid. The injections are inexpensive, well-tolerated, and effective.
      The greatest barrier to effective immunization of the elderly population is not
      patient compliance but physician compliance. You are the key to the preventive
      health of your patients.

PMID- 1460451
TI  - Single dose oral fluconazole vs intravaginal terconazole in treatment of Candida
      vaginitis. Comparison and pilot study.
AB  - Candida vaginitis develops in approximately one-fourth of women in their
      childbearing years. Conventional management consists of antifungal creams or
      tablets/suppositories administered intravaginally. Many patients have stated
      preferences for oral therapy. A randomized, double-blind placebo trial compared
      the efficacy of a single oral 200 mg dose of fluconazole with the application of
      terconazole 80 mg vaginal suppository daily for 3 days. Twenty-two patients
      (fluconazole = 12, terconazole = 10) were evaluated during a four-month period
      and favorable clinical responses were observed at both early and late
      evaluations. Mycologic cure was attained by 75% of the fluconazole group and 50%
      of the terconazole group at the early evaluation. At the late evaluation,
      mycologic cure was 75% and 100% respectively. The mean time to onset of symptom
      relief was 2.4 (1.7) days for the fluconazole group and 1.8 (1.8) days for the
      terconazole group. The mean time to complete relief of symptoms was 6.08 (2.84)
      and 6.6 (2.95) days respectively. A statistically significant difference did not
      exist for any of these measures. Seventy-three percent of the patients preferred
      oral therapy.

PMID- 1460452
TI  - New onset childhood seizures. Emergency department experience.
AB  - Fifty-six cases of new onset seizures evaluated in a pediatric emergency
      department (ED) during a one-year period were assessed retrospectively for
      efficiency of diagnosis and workup. The majority of patients (69%) were less than
      two years of age. Based on etiology, the most common seizure type was febrile
      (71%) followed by idiopathic (21%) and symptomatic (7%). Significant laboratory
      abnormalities were found in four (7%) patients; two had hyponatremia, one
      carbamazepine overdose and one bacterial meningitis. Screening laboratory tests
      including brain CT scans were generally not helpful. A thorough history including
      specific details regarding the seizure and a complete physical examination should
      eliminate the need for major laboratory and radiologic workup in the emergency
      department.

PMID- 1460453
TI  - Blood-brain barrier and treatment of central nervous system tumors.
AB  - The blood-brain barrier (BBB) separates the central nervous system (CNS) from
      systemic blood circulation by a continuous capillary network. The barrier's
      capillary endothelium has interendothelial tight junctions which prevent passage
      of large molecular weight, water soluble, highly polar molecules. The barrier
      protects the brain from toxic substances and also prevents therapeutic drugs from
      CNS entry. Its permeability within brain tumors is different with fenestrated
      endothelium resembling that of normal brain regions outside the BBB. Despite
      capillary changes within CNS tumors, their effect on improved therapies has not
      been shown. Combined chemotherapy with surgery and radiation does not
      significantly prolong glioma patients' survival. Discussed are new therapeutic
      approaches which include: osmotic, transient blood-brain barrier disruption
      followed by chemotherapy or immunotherapy, drug "tailoring" to render them more
      effective in barrier entry, and genetic glioma manipulation to make it the target
      of antiviral drugs which may penetrate the barrier.

PMID- 1460454
TI  - How to avoid a DPR complaint.
AB  - Reasons are enumerated why the medical malpractice crisis has abated. Further
      advice is given on how to avoid a complaint from the Florida Department of
      Professional Regulation and an explanation is presented of how the DPR functions.
      An understanding is essential to prevent an investigation and possible
      disciplinary action by the Board of Medicine.

PMID- 1460455
TI  - You only get what you do not pay for.

PMID- 1460456
TI  - Voltage dependence of acetylcholine receptor channel gating in rat myoballs.
AB  - Whole-cell currents from nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) channels were
      studied in rat myoballs using a light-activated agonist to determine the voltage
      dependence of the macroscopic opening and closing rate constants. Myoballs were
      bathed in a solution containing a low concentration of the inactive isomer of the
      photoisomerizable azobenzene derivative, cis-Bis-Q. A light flash was then
      presented to produce a known concentration jump of agonist, trans-Bis-Q, across a
      wide range of membrane potentials in symmetrical solutions (NaCl or CsCl on both
      sides) or asymmetrical solutions (NaCl in the bath and CsCl in the pipette). At
      the low agonist concentration used in this study, the reciprocal of the
      macroscopic time constants gives an unambiguous measure of the effective closing
      rate. It showed an exponential decrease with membrane hyperpolarization between
      +20 and -100 mV, but tended to level off at more depolarized and at more
      hyperpolarized membrane potentials. The relative effective opening rate was
      derived from the steady-state conductance, the single-channel conductance, and
      the apparent closing rate; it decreased sharply in the depolarizing region and
      tended to level off and then turn up in the hyperpolarizing region. The two
      effective rate constants were shown to depend on the first, second, and third
      power of membrane potential.

PMID- 1460457
TI  - Shedding of infectious virus and virus antigen during acute infection with
      respiratory syncytial virus.
AB  - Shedding of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA)
      of hospitalized children with acute respiratory infection was studied using
      direct antigen detection by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay, rapid identification
      of infectious virus in centrifugally inoculated cell cultures by immunoperoxidase
      staining and conventional virus culture. Sequential NPAs, in which also local RSV
      specific IgA response was measured, were collected from children with proven RSV
      infection. The shedding pattern was similar for both infectious virus and viral
      antigen. The overall agreement of the three methods was good (81%) in diagnostic
      specimens collected on admission, but markedly reduced (46%) in follow-up
      specimens. Secretory IgA was abundant in specimens giving discrepant or negative
      results only. The proportion of patients who shed RSV was high (> or = 87%) in
      the first week after onset of symptoms, and decreased sharply in the second week.
      An opposite temporal pattern was found in the proportion of patients with
      detectable RSV-IgA in their secretions. Sequentially isolated strains were
      antigenically stable as determined by their reactivity with a large panel of
      monoclonal antibodies. The findings suggest that RSV shedding should be monitored
      by using more than one method for virus detection.

PMID- 1460458
TI  - HTLV-I infection in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's
      thyroiditis).
AB  - To investigate the possible relationship of HTLV-I virus infection to autoimmune
      thyroid disease, we examined, firstly, the frequency of HTLV-I seropositivity
      among patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and, secondly, the frequency of
      Hashimoto's thyroiditis in patients with HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical
      spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Of 144 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis in
      the Tokushima and Kochi Prefectures, Japan, 9 (6.3%) were positive for serum HTLV
      I virus antibody 2 of whom were confirmed histologically to have Hashimoto's
      thyroiditis. This percentage is significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the
      estimated prevalence (2.2%) of HTLV-I carriers among the general population in
      this region. Of 9 patients with HAM/TSP, 3 (33.3%), including 2 biopsy-proven
      cases, had evidence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This proportion is apparently
      much higher than the prevalence (1.7%) of Hashimoto's thyroiditis in the general
      population. These findings suggest that HTLV-I virus may be related to the
      development of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

PMID- 1460459
TI  - Evidence for T-cell involvement during the acute phase of echovirus meningitis.
AB  - Little is known about the cellular immune response during the acute phase of
      enterovirus infection. This was studied in patients with echovirus meningitis by
      analysing changes in the lymphocyte subset distribution both in blood and in
      cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and their stage of activation. A significant increase
      of whole T-cell and CD4+ T-cell counts was observed in CSF in parallel with a
      slight decrease of T-cell percentage in blood. Activation of the cellular immune
      response is supported by the observation of elevated neopterin levels in serum
      and CSF. However, the phenotypic markers of T-cell activation, IL-2 receptor
      (CD25), and HLA-DR antigens were not detected in blood or in CSF.

PMID- 1460460
TI  - Current seroepidemiology of hepatitis D virus infection among hepatitis B surface
      antigen carriers of general and high-risk populations in Taiwan.
AB  - In order to assess the current seroepidemiology of hepatitis D virus (HDV)
      infection in Taiwan where hepatitis B virus (HBV) is hyperendemic, a total of 756
      voluntary blood donors, 641 prostitutes, 1,014 patients with sexually transmitted
      diseases (STDs), and 628 drug abusers were studied. Radioimmunoassays were used
      for testing HBV infection markers and antibody against HDV (anti-HDV) among HBsAg
      carriers. The anti-HDV prevalence among HBsAg carriers was significantly higher
      in STD patients (9.6%), prostitutes (33.1%), and drug abusers (68.1%) than in
      blood donors from the general population (2.2%). The prevalence gradually
      increased with age in blood donors and STD patients, but reached a plateau at a
      young age in prostitutes and drug abusers. Males had a higher prevalence than
      females in blood donors (2.7% vs. 0), STD patients (8.2% vs. 7.5%), and drug
      abusers (69.0% vs. 57.1%), but the difference was not statistically significant.
      STD patients with syphilis had a higher prevalence (19.5%) than those affected
      with non-ulcerating STDs (5.3%). While unlicensed prostitutes had a lower
      prevalence (13.6%) than licensed prostitutes (44.9%), intravenous drug abusers
      had a higher prevalence (73.1%) than non-intravenous drug abusers (34.6%). There
      was a twofold increase in anti-HDV prevalence from 1986 to 1989 among
      prostitutes, but the prevalence remained unchanged in the general population and
      drug abusers. HDV infection remains limited to the high-risk groups and spread
      mainly by promiscuity and needle sharing in Taiwan.

PMID- 1460461
TI  - Right-side dominance for song control in the zebra finch.
AB  - Adult male zebra finches underwent unilateral denervation of the syrinx or
      unilateral lesion of the forebrain nucleus HVC known to be important for song
      control. Disruptive effects on song were greater after right-side than after left
      side operations. After denervation of the right half of the syrinx, the
      fundamental frequencies of all syllables within a song converged on a value near
      500 Hz, and nearly all syllables were altered in type. In contrast, the syllables
      produced after denervation of the left side of the syrinx largely maintained
      their preoperative frequencies, and fewer syllables changed in type. Unlike nerve
      sections, HVC lesions did not result in strikingly lateralized effects on
      syllable phonology; however, HVC lesions did affect the temporal patterning of a
      bird's song, whereas nerve sections did not, and changes in temporal patterning
      were more marked after right than after left HVC lesions. Right-side dominance
      for zebra finch song control is the reverse of that described in other songbird
      species with lateral asymmetry for vocal communication. We suggest that the need
      for a dominant side is more important than the side of dominance.

PMID- 1460462
TI  - Normal and abnormal pathfinding of facial nerve fibers in the chick embryo.
AB  - Development of the facial nerve was studied in normal chicken embryos and after
      surgical disruption of ingrowing sensory facial nerve fibers at 38-72 h of
      incubation. Disruption of facial nerve fibers by otocyst removal often induced a
      rostral deviation of the facial nerve and ganglion to the level of the trigeminal
      ganglion. Cell bodies of the geniculate ganglion trailed their deviating neurites
      and occupied an abnormal rostral position adjacent to the trigeminal ganglion.
      Deviating facial nerve fibers were labeled with the carbocyanine fluorescent
      tracer DiI in fixed tissue. Labeled fibers penetrated the cranium adjacent to the
      trigeminal ganglion, but they did not follow the trigeminal nerve fibers into the
      brain stem. Rather, after entering the cranium, they projected caudally to their
      usual site of entrance and proceeded towards their normal targets. This rostral
      deviation of the facial nerve was observed only after surgery at 48-72 h of
      incubation, but not in cases with early otocyst removal (38-48 h). A rostral
      deviation of the facial nerve was seen in cases with partial otocyst removal when
      the vestibular nerve was absent. The facial nerve followed its normal course when
      the vestibular nerve persisted. We conclude that disruption of the developing
      facial pathway altered the routes of navigating axons, but did not prevent
      pathfinding and innervation of the normal targets. Pathfinding abilities may not
      be restricted to pioneering axons of the facial nerve; later-developing facial
      nerve fibers also appeared to have positional information. Our findings are
      consistent with the hypothesis that navigating axons may respond to multiple
      guidance cues during development. These cues appear to differ as a function of
      position of the navigating axon.

PMID- 1460463
TI  - GAP-43 phosphorylation is dynamically regulated in individual growth cones.
AB  - In vivo, kinase C phosphorylation of the growth-associated protein GAP-43 is
      spatially and temporally associated with the proximity of growing axons to their
      targets. Here we have used dissociated dorsal root ganglia (DRG)s and an antibody
      specific for the phosphorylated form of GAP-43 to demonstrate that neurite
      regeneration in culture also begins in the absence of detectable levels of
      phosphorylated GAP-43. Since the beta isoform of kinase C was found to be
      enriched in growth cones before stably phosphorylated GAP-43 was detected, it may
      normally be inactive during initial neurite outgrowth; however, premature
      phosphorylation of GAP-43 could be stimulated in newly dissociated DRGs by
      plating them on cultures in which phosphorylation had already been initiated
      media conditioned by such cultures caused no response suggesting an effect of
      either cell-cell or cell-substrate contact. Increased GAP-43 phosphorylation
      correlated with a reduced extent of neurite outgrowth but not with the rate at
      which individual growth cones translocated so that motile growth cones contained
      very low levels of phosphorylated GAP-43, whereas stationary growth cones showed
      much more immunoreactivity. Downregulation of kinase C by phorbol ester prevented
      increased GAP-43 phosphorylation and led to growth cone collapse. Finally,
      phosphorylated GAP-43 was found to be differently distributed within growth
      cones. Increased immunoreactivity was frequently observed in the neck of the
      growth cone and was heterogeneously distributed in lamellae and filopodia. These
      results, which demonstrate the dynamic regulation of GAP-43 phosphorylation in
      individual growth cones, are discussed with reference to the association between
      changes in growth cone shape and the ability to translocate and change direction.

PMID- 1460464
TI  - SSB, an antigen that selectively labels morphologically distinct synaptic boutons
      at the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction.
AB  - In this report we describe the expression of Small Synaptic Bouton (SSB), an
      antigen that is selectively expressed in a specific subset of neuromuscular
      junction terminals in the body wall of Drosophila larva. The expression of SSB
      was studied with a polyclonal antibody raised against the cAMP phosphodiesterase
      of the Drosophila learning mutant dunce (Nighorn et al., 1991, Neuron 6:455-467);
      however, immunoreactivity was not abolished by the dunce (dnc) alleles dncM14 and
      dncM11 or deficiencies of the dnc gene, indicating that the antigen labelled
      could not be the dnc gene product, but another antigen that we termed SSB.
      Immunoreactivity was localized in the body wall muscles to a specific subset of
      neuromuscular junction terminals that have been implicated in activity-dependent
      plasticity. This demonstrates that these morphologically distinct terminals can
      be immunocytochemically distinguished and that they probably represent
      innervation by a distinct neuronal population. Confocal and electron microscopic
      examination demonstrated that staining was restricted to the synaptic boutons
      themselves, not to neurites or motor axons. Ultrastructural analysis showed label
      close to synaptic vesicles in the presynaptic terminal and in the surrounding
      subsynaptic reticulum. Central nervous system (CNS) staining was restricted to a
      segmentally repeated pattern of cell bodies in the ventral ganglion and to a few
      small groups of cells in the brain lobes.

PMID- 1460465
TI  - Cellular interactions determine neuronal phenotypes in rodent retinal cultures.
AB  - Progenitor cells isolated from early rat embryo retinas differentiate into
      phenotypes normally generated early in retinal development (e.g., ganglion
      cells), whereas progenitors isolated from postnatal retinas differentiate into
      later-generated retinal cell types (e.g., rod photoreceptors; Reh and Kljavin, J.
      Neurosci. 9:4179-4189; 1989; Adler and Hatlee, 1989; Science 243:391-393;
      Sparrow, Hicks, and Barnstable, 1990, Dev. Brain Res. 51:69-84). To determine
      whether this change in committment is intrinsic to the progenitor cells, or
      alternatively can be modified by interactions with their developing environment,
      I co-cultured mouse and rat retinal cells, from different developmental stages,
      and identified the resulting phenotypes with species-specific and cell class
      specific antibodies. I found that the phenotypes into which mouse neuroepithelial
      cells differentiate depends on the phenotypes of the rat cells that surround
      them. Retinal precursor cells from embryonic day (E) 10-12 will adopt the rod
      photoreceptor phenotype only when close to cells expressing this phenotype. By
      contrast, when the E10-12 retinal progenitor cells are cultured with cells from
      the cerebral cortex, they differentiate primarily into large multipolar neurons,
      similar in their morphology and antigen expression to retinal ganglion cells.
      These results indicate that interactions among the cells of the developing retina
      are important in the determination of cell fate.

PMID- 1460466
TI  - Hypertrophy of gonadotropin releasing hormone-containing neurons after castration
      in the teleost, Haplochromis burtoni.
AB  - In the African cichlid fish, Haplochromis burtoni, males are either territorial
      or nonterritorial. Territorial males suppress reproductive function in the
      nonterritorial males, and have larger gonads and larger gonadotropin-releasing
      hormone- (GnRH) containing neurons in the preoptic area (POA). We describe an
      experiment designed to establish the causal relationship between large GnRH
      neurons and large testes in these males by determining the feedback effects of
      gonadal sex steroids on the GnRH neurons. Territorial males were either castrated
      or sham-operated, 4 weeks after which they were sacrificed. Circulating steroid
      levels were measured, and the GnRH-containing neurons were visualized by staining
      sagittal sections of the brains with an antibody to salmon GnRH. The soma areas
      of antibody-stained neurons were measured with a computer-aided imaging system.
      Completely castrated males had markedly reduced levels of circulating sex
      steroids [11-ketotestosterone (11KT) and testosterone (T)], as well as 17 beta
      estradiol (E2). POA GnRH neurons in castrates showed a significant increase in
      mean soma size relative to the intact territorial males. Hence, in mature
      animals, gonadal steroids act as a brake on the growth of GnRH-containing
      neurons, and gonadal products are not responsible for the large GnRH neurons
      characteristic of territorial males.

PMID- 1460467
TI  - Olfactory physiology in the Drosophila antenna and maxillary palp: acj6
      distinguishes two classes of odorant pathways.
AB  - This article provides characterization of the electrical response to odorants in
      the Drosophila antenna and provides physiological evidence that a second organ,
      the maxillary palp, also has olfactory function in Drosophila. The acj6 mutation,
      previously isolated by virtue of defective olfactory behavior, affects olfactory
      physiology in the maxillary palp as well as in the antenna. Interestingly,
      abnormal chemosensory jump 6 (acj6) reduces response in the maxillary palp to all
      odorants tested except benzaldehyde (odor of almond), as if response to
      benzaldehyde is mediated through a different type of odorant pathway from the
      other odorants. In other experiments, different parts of the antenna are shown to
      differ with respect to odorant sensitivity. Evidence is also provided that
      antennal response to odorants varies with age, and that odorants differ in their
      age dependence.

PMID- 1460468
TI  - Depolarization-induced changes in neurite elongation and intracellular Ca2+ in
      isolated Helisoma neurons.
AB  - This study focuses on the effects of K+ depolarization on neurite elongation of
      identified Helisoma neurons isolated into culture. Application of K+ to the
      external medium caused a dose-dependent suppression of neurite elongation. Lower
      concentrations of K+ were associated with a slowing in the rate of neurite
      elongation, whereas higher concentrations produced neurite retraction.
      Surprisingly, the effects of K+ depolarization were transient, and neurite
      elongation rates recovered towards control levels within 90 min even though the
      neurons remained in high-K+ solution. Identified neurons differed in the
      magnitude of their response to K+ depolarization; neurite elongation of buccal
      neuron B4 was inhibited at 5 mM K+, but elongation in B5 and B19 was not affected
      until concentrations of 25 mM. Electrophysiologically, K+ application evoked a
      brief period (5-10 s) of action potential activity that was followed by a steady
      state membrane depolarization lasting 2 h or more. The changes in neurite
      elongation induced by K+ depolarization occurred in isolated growth cones severed
      from their neurites and were blocked by application of calcium antagonists.
      Intracellular free Ca2+ levels in growth cones of B4 and B19 increased and then
      decreased during the 90-min depolarization, corresponding to the changes in
      elongation. B4 and B19 showed differences in the magnitude, time course, and
      spatial distribution of the Ca2+ change during depolarization, reflecting their
      different sensitivities to depolarization.

PMID- 1460469
TI  - Distribution and developmental change in [3H]MK-801 binding within zebra finch
      song nuclei.
AB  - In many songbirds, vocal learning depends upon appropriate auditory experience
      during a sensitive period that coincides with the formation and reorganization of
      song-related neural pathways. Because some effects of early sensory experience on
      neural organization and early learning have been linked to activation of N-methyl
      D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, we measured binding to this receptor within the
      neural system controlling song behavior in zebra finches. Quantitative
      autoradiography was used to measure binding of the noncompetitive antagonist
      [3H]MK-801 (dizocilpine) in the brains of both adult and juvenile male zebra
      finches, focusing on four telencephalic regions implicated in song learning and
      production. Overall, the pattern of MK-801 binding in zebra finches was similar
      to the pattern found in rats (Monaghan and Cotman, 1985, J. Neurosci. 5:2909
      2919; Sakurai, Cha, Penney, and Young, 1991, Neuroscience 40:533-543). That is,
      binding was highest in the telencephalon, intermediate in thalamic regions, and
      virtually absent from the brain stem and cerebellum. The telencephalic song areas
      exhibited intermediate levels of binding, and binding in the juveniles was not
      significantly different from adult levels in most song nuclei. However, in the
      lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior neostriatum (IMAN), binding at 30
      days of age was significantly higher than binding in adults. Given the
      established role of NMDA receptors in other developing neural systems, both their
      presence in song control nuclei and their developmental regulation within a
      region implicated in song learning suggest that NMDA receptors play a role in
      mediating effects of auditory experience on the development of song behavior.

PMID- 1460470
TI  - Measuring health status: what are the necessary measurement properties?
AB  - The different measurement properties necessary for instruments whose goal is to
      detect differences between subjects at a single point in time (discriminative
      instruments) and those whose goal is to detect longitudinal change within
      subjects (evaluative instruments) is becoming increasingly recognized. Up to now,
      requirements for evaluative instruments have been presented as reproducibility,
      validity, and responsiveness (i.e. the ability to detect change over time). An
      alternative conceptualization would characterize any instrument as requiring two
      crucial measurement properties. One is validity, the other a high ratio of signal
      to noise. For discriminative instruments, the signal to noise ratio can be
      summarized in a reliability coefficient; for evaluative instruments, in a
      responsiveness index or coefficient. This formulation can simplify and clarify
      the understanding and teaching of issues in health status measurement.

PMID- 1460471
TI  - How should health status measures be assessed? Cautionary notes on procrustean
      frameworks.

PMID- 1460472
TI  - A methodologic framework for health status measures: clarity or
      oversimplification?

PMID- 1460473
TI  - Heart disease in patients with diabetes mellitus.

PMID- 1460474
TI  - Cost efficient sampling design for quality control of a birth defects registry.
AB  - Quality control studies of registries are frequently conducted. We employed a
      cost effective sampling scheme for assessing the quality of case identification
      and abstracting in one birth defects registry. The general sampling method was a
      stratified two-stage design, and the optimal sample size for each stratum was
      chosen to minimize cost, which was defined as time for data collection. The
      resulting sample sizes depended on the variability in the number of abstracts
      between and within data collection facilities, and the amount of time needed to
      complete each data collection step. The most time effective scheme was to visit
      several facilities each for a short period of time rather than fewer facilities
      for a longer period of time. Cost efficient sampling strategies, such as the
      method used here, can be applied to ensure precision in registry quality control
      analyses and other public health studies.

PMID- 1460475
TI  - Abdominal pain in a 70-year-old Danish population. An epidemiological study of
      the prevalence and importance of abdominal pain.
AB  - In order to assess the prevalence and importance of abdominal pain in the
      elderly, an epidemiological study of a 70-year-old Danish population was carried
      out. Seventy two percent of 1119 randomly selected persons answered a
      questionnaire concerning abdominal pain. One year prevalence of abdominal pain
      was 28% among women and 17% among men (p < 0.01). Among those with abdominal pain
      no significant sex difference was found as regards location, severity, frequency,
      or medicine consumption. Eleven percent of the men and 19% of the women had
      abdominal pain which they considered to be of importance to their well-being in
      terms of frequency, severity, or need of medicine (sex difference: chi 2 = 10.18,
      df = 2, p < 0.01). Participants who had no abdominal pain judged their general
      health to be better than those who had experienced abdominal pain (p < 0.01). It
      is concluded that abdominal pain is frequent in a 70 year old population and
      influences the well-being of the subjects. Further studies are needed to evaluate
      whether subjects with abdominal pain have a poorer prognosis than subjects
      without.

PMID- 1460476
TI  - Different risk factor profiles in young and elderly stroke patients with special
      reference to cardiac disorders.
AB  - The risk factors of ischemic cerebrovascular disorders in 77 young patients (< or
      = 40 years) were compared to those in 138 older patients (> 40 years). The risk
      factor profile of patients with juvenile stroke was considerably different from
      that of older patients. Migrainous headache and mitral valve prolapse occurred
      more frequently in the younger age group, whereas hypertension, diabetes
      mellitus, high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides were found more often in
      older patients with stroke. 65% of the women under the age of 40 took oral
      contraceptives which compares to the baseline community value of 28% of women in
      childbearing age in this country. Cardiac disorders such as atrial fibrillation,
      left ventricular hypertrophy, coronary heart disease including a history of
      myocardial infarction, as well as mitral valve disease were demonstrated more
      often in the group of elderly patients. 7 out of 77 younger patients (9.1%), and
      59 out of 138 older patients (42.8%) were considered to belong to a group with
      "high cardiac risk for stroke". The results of this study indicate that
      electrocardiographic screening is of prime importance for detecting cardiac risk
      factors. However, echocardiographic examination often yields additional
      diagnostic information, particularly in younger patients. The conflicting
      opinions concerning the relevance of certain risk factors for ischemic stroke
      could partly be explained by the fact that these risk factors are distributed
      unevenly depending on age.

PMID- 1460477
TI  - Heterogeneity in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type: individual differences,
      progressive deterioration or clinical sub-types?
AB  - Although senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) is commonly referred to as
      a disease involving global intellectual deterioration, clinical reports suggest
      the existence of variable patient profiles. A review of the clinical and
      biological research reporting heterogeneity in SDAT is summarized in terms of
      three descriptive models representing stage, compensation and sub-type
      hypotheses. Together the results suggest the existence of both quantitative and
      qualitative differences within a SDAT population. While the former may be partly
      attributable to the use in cross-sectional studies of persons at different stages
      of the disorder, qualitative differences in clinical evolution, variable patterns
      in regional cerebral blood flow, genetic markers and type of cognitive deficit
      strongly suggest the existence of different groups. This hypothesis requires
      verification by longitudinal neurological and psychometric studies of elderly
      persons with early dementia.

PMID- 1460478
TI  - A profile of users of specialty pain clinic services: predictors of use and cost
      estimates.
AB  - During the past decade, the multidisciplinary pain clinic has become a popular
      alternative to the traditional treatment of persistent pain. There is, however,
      little information describing this population of health care users nor the impact
      this new demand has on utilization of health care services. The objectives of
      this study were three fold: to develop a profile of the characteristics of
      patients referred to a specialty pain clinic including their psychosocial
      adjustment to their condition; to identify predictors of the use of the specialty
      services; and to estimate the cost of health service utilization. This historical
      cohort analytic survey of 571 patients referred to the clinic assessed them for
      exposure to selected referral variables through a chart review and sampled (n =
      222) these patients' current adjustment and health service use through mailed
      questionnaire. There were four types of use of specialty clinic services. These
      included: non-users (n = 210); consultation only (n = 180); and the remaining 32%
      of the referrals were divided between "users-non complete" (n = 98) and "users
      complete" (n = 83). "User" groups were similar in characteristics to each other
      at referral and follow-up on all the major variables with the exception of two
      factors: non-users lived further from the clinic than users and users were rated
      as psychologically more vulnerable than non-users. The best predictors for
      attending the clinic were the presence of referral information from the referring
      physician and the geographic location of the patient's referring physician. The
      prevalence of poor psychosocial adjustment was 55.7%, high by comparison with
      other specialty clinics. Seventy percent of the variance in psychosocial
      adjustment to chronic pain was explained by social and cognitive variables. In
      addition, users of specialty pain clinic services generated proportionately less
      costs in the use of other health services when they were compared to non-users.
      The importance of social support and meaning of illness variables in predicting
      psychosocial adjustment to chronic pain is corroborated in this study as is the
      relevance of the pain clinic cognitive behavioural approach for these problems.
      In addition, compared to other chronic pain sufferers with similar
      characteristics, it appears that the use of the pain clinic contains the use of
      other services and thus has an important economic impact.

PMID- 1460479
TI  - Determinants of sex hormone levels in men as useful indices in hormone-related
      disorders.
AB  - Because the determinants of serum sex hormone levels in men have been
      infrequently studied, we investigated the relation of several personal
      characteristics to serum levels of testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT),
      estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) among 98
      Japanese American men in Hawaii, aged 52-74. The SHBG levels and T/(E1 + E2)
      ratios decreased progressively with increasing body mass index. The SHBG levels
      were also inversely associated with hematocrit levels. Serum androgen and
      estrogen levels did not correlate with smoking, alcohol intake, serum
      cholesterol, serum uric acid and blood pressure. Some of the associations
      observed in the present study may be implicated in the etiology of hormone
      related neoplasms in men.

PMID- 1460480
TI  - The association of antihypertensive treatment patterns and adverse lipid effects
      in population-based studies.
AB  - We investigated the relationship between antihypertensive drug treatment of
      hypertensives and their mean serum lipid concentrations in population based
      studies in Germany. Data from three surveys (Luebeck Blood Pressure Study (LBS)
      of 1984, MONICA Augsburg Survey I of 1984/85, MONICA Augsburg Survey II of
      1989/90), obtained on random samples of the population aged 25-64 years, were
      used for cross-sectional analyses. Moreover, prospective analyses were carried
      out on participants of the MONICA Augsburg cohort study of 1987/88 (3-year-follow
      up of the MONICA Survey I). Blood pressure, non-fasting serum total cholesterol
      and HDL-cholesterol, and body height and weight were measured under strictly
      standardized conditions. Interview data were available on medical history
      including medication use, and on smoking and alcohol consumption. In cross
      sectional and prospective analyses treated male and female hypertensives in each
      population had significantly lower crude mean HDL-C concentrations than untreated
      hypertensives, borderliners, or normotensives. Differences in mean HDL-C between
      untreated and treated hypertensives were attenuated but still significant after
      control of confounders and ranged from 1.8 to 6.1 mg/dl (i.e. in relative terms, 
      3.4 to -12.9%) in men and from 3.6 to 9.4 mg/dl (-5.7 to -14.9%) in women. By
      contrast, crude and multivariate associations of antihypertensive treatment with
      non-HDL-C (total minus HDL-C) levels were inconsistent and not significant. The
      inverse association of drug therapy with HDL-C was confirmed by prospective
      analyses in the MONICA cohort study supporting a causal relationship. Treatment
      patterns in a community (prevalence of prescribed drug classes) correlated with
      the magnitude and significance of HDL-C effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460481
TI  - Palliative care in non-cancer patients and the neglected caregiver.
AB  - Diseases other than cancer can be progressive and have a terminal phase and many
      of the philosophies of palliative care are applicable. The case studies emphasize
      two types of palliation. First, for the patient and that is well recognized and
      second, palliation for the caregiver which should include provision of respite
      care.

PMID- 1460482
TI  - Estimating the benefits of cholesterol lowering: are risk factors for coronary
      heart disease multiplicative?

PMID- 1460483
TI  - Problems with kappa.

PMID- 1460484
TI  - Modulation of BUdR labeling index in rat brain tumors following intracarotid ACNU
      administration.
AB  - Chloroethylnitrosourea (CENU) chemotherapy has yielded limited benefit on
      survival of malignant brain tumors. Intracarotid administration of CENU is
      expected to have the advantage of increasing drug concentration reaching tumors.
      To understand basic knowledge of intracarotid chemotherapy, we monitor changes of
      proliferating rate after intracarotid injection of 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5
      pyrimidinyl)methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea hydrochloride (ACNU), using a
      bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) labeling index (LI) in transplanted brain tumors of
      three cell strains. C6-2 tumor cells were in vitro sensitive to ACNU, and C6
      2/ACNU and C6-1 cells were resistant. The drug sensitivity to ACNU was as
      follows: 11.9 microM in the C6-2 cells, 46.0 microM in the C6-2/ACNU cells, and
      49.7 microM in the C6-1 cells at SD10, which gives 10% survival of clonogenic
      cells. The intracarotid ACNU at a dose of 30 mg/kg abruptly decreased the LI to
      11% (mean) from 36% in C6-2 transplanted tumors. The LI remained low between 12
      and 48 hours after, and then increased to the pretreatment level by 96 hours. In
      contrast, the LI of C6-1 tumors transiently fell to 15% from 42% at 12 hours
      after the injection, and subsequently increased to 36% at 24 hours and 37% at 48
      hours. These results indicate that intracarotid ACNU administration shortly
      suppresses proliferating activity of tumors and that combined and alternating
      chemotherapy are mandatory for enhancing effectiveness of brain tumor
      chemotherapy.

PMID- 1460485
TI  - MR imaging of experimental meningeal melanomatosis in nude rats.
AB  - MR imaging of the rat brain has become an increasingly frequently used method in
      experimental neuroradiology. On a generally available 1.5 T whole body tomograph,
      supplemented with an individually made small coil and a special SE sequence we
      obtained fairly fine images of the structures of the rat brain. With gadolinium
      DTPA, we were able to visualize posterior fossa and cervical leptomeningeal
      growth of intrathecally injected B16 melanoma in nude rats. Using MRI to follow
      experimental leptomeningeal metastasis, may provide a new means for diagnostic
      evaluation and preclinical testing of treatment modalities.

PMID- 1460486
TI  - Differentiation of a primitive neuroectodermal tumor into a benign ganglioglioma.
AB  - We describe a case of cerebellar neuroblastoma with histologic documentation of
      maturation into a ganglioglioma sixteen months later. Only chemotherapy was
      administered following the initial surgery and the child is well and disease-free
      three years following her final surgical procedure. The outcome of this patient
      supports previous hypotheses that the cerebellar neuroblastoma may be a less
      malignant tumor than its other primitive neuroectodermal posterior fossa
      counterparts. Furthermore, this case suggests a role for second-look surgery in
      the management of selected pediatric brain tumors.

PMID- 1460487
TI  - Quality of life self-reports from 200 brain tumor patients: comparisons with
      Karnofsky performance scores.
AB  - To test a method of assessing quality of life, 200 primary brain tumor patients
      in an outpatient clinic answered a 20-minute questionnaire covering ten aspects
      of quality of life. These results were compared with Karnofsky performance scale
      (KPS) scores, taking age into account. Among patients with KPS 90-100 (two-thirds
      of the patients), the KPS alone was difficult to interpret. The questionnaire,
      with its specific questions related to the key dimension of well-being, provided
      a more definitive assessment of status. The central importance of well-being was
      supported by its strong statistical relationships with other dimensions.
      Particularly, well-being was related to freedom from depression (p < 0.0001),
      active social life (p < 0.0001), energy (p < 0.01), and fewer symptoms (p <
      0.05). The KPS was more useful in differentiating the other one-third of the
      patients (KPS 50-80) but was highly sensitive to age. KPS scores, therefore, may
      have been unreliable. Depression, reported by half of the patients, was not
      predicted by the KPS when age was excluded from the regression analysis but was
      related to the scores in well-being and socializing. Neither depression, well
      being, nor socializing was influenced by age. Thus, the questionnaire directly
      assessed these central, emotionally based variables, particularly among patients
      with satisfactory KPS. Such an assessment is especially crucial as a supplement
      to the KPS in evaluating brain tumor survivors, whose emotional well-being is
      often severely challenged by treatment after surgical excision.

PMID- 1460488
TI  - Multiple-fraction-per-day external beam radiotherapy for adults with
      supratentorial malignant gliomas.
AB  - The prognosis following therapy for adults with supratentorial malignant gliomas
      is poor. Standard therapy of 60 Gy of external beam radiotherapy with
      chemotherapy achieves a median survival time of 35 to 51 weeks following surgery.
      A variety of innovative therapies have been considered for therapy of malignant
      gliomas. Multiple-fraction-per-day (MFD) external beam radiotherapy has been
      evaluated by many investigators. The rationale for MFD teletherapy is based upon
      exploiting differences in the recovery capacity for radiation damage between
      slowly and rapidly proliferating tissues and/or shortening the overall treatment
      time. A large number of clinical trials have, for the most part, failed to show
      any survival benefit from MFD radiotherapy. These trials have utilized b.i.d. and
      t.i.d. radiotherapy with fraction sizes of 0.89 to 2 Gy to total doses of 30-81.6
      Gy. The linear quadratic model of the radiation cell survival curve suggests that
      a biological effective tumoricidal dose > or = 10% higher than standard daily
      radiotherapy, with approximately isoeffective normal tissue damage, could be
      achieved at 1.2 Gy b.i.d. to a total dose of approximately 72 Gy. Trials of low
      dose per fraction MFD radiotherapy, to total doses less than 72 Gy, would be
      predicted to be inadequate to the task.

PMID- 1460489
TI  - The prognostic significance of postoperative residual contrast enhancement on CT
      scan in pediatric patients with medulloblastoma.
AB  - The clinical and therapeutic features of 20 patients with medulloblastoma treated
      at Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Seattle, from 1980 to 1987, were
      retrospectively analyzed with regard to prognosis. The overall actuarial 5-year
      survival rate was 63%, with 57% of patients free from recurrence at 5 years.
      Residual contrast enhancement on CT scans taken immediately postoperatively was
      associated with a significantly decreased 5-year recurrence-free survival rate;
      the 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was 100% for those patients without post
      operative residual enhancement compared to 41% for those patients with residual
      enhancement. A high risk group of patients with residual contrast enhancement
      persisting one year following diagnosis was identified. No patient in this group
      survived without disease progression. Other factors, including sex, age at
      diagnosis, evidence of tumor dissemination, or extent of surgical resection as
      reported by the neurosurgeon, did not significantly influence prognosis.

PMID- 1460490
TI  - Primary central nervous system lymphoma: a role for adjuvant chemotherapy.
AB  - Sixteen immunocompetent patients, 10 of whom were previously reported, with
      primary non-Hodgkins lymphoma of the central nervous system (PCNSL) were treated
      and followed longitudinally by the Neuro-oncology Service at the University of
      California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the University of California, San Diego
      (UCSD). After undergoing surgery (biopsy or resection), these patients received
      radiation therapy (RT) with hydroxyurea (HU) followed by adjuvant chemotherapy
      with the combination of procarbazine, CCNU, and vincristine (PCV) as previously
      reported. All patients ultimately died of progressive recurrent PCNSL. Toxicity
      using the HU + RT followed by PCV schedule was tolerable. Median and quartile
      survival data (41 and 65 months, respectively) suggest efficacy for this
      chemotherapy schedule and further emphasizes a role for adjuvant chemotherapy in
      the primary treatment of PCNSL.

PMID- 1460491
TI  - Meningeal hemangiopericytoma: defining the role for radiation therapy.
AB  - Meningeal hemangiopericytoma is a rare neoplasm arising from perivascular
      pericytes. Accounting for < 1% of all brain tumors, these neoplasms are
      characterized by a high local recurrence rate and metastatic potential. Meningeal
      hemangiopericytoma occur most frequently during the fifth decade of life, with an
      almost equal sex incidence. To evaluate and define the role for primary,
      postoperative, or palliative radiotherapy in meningeal hemangiopericytoma, data
      were gathered from our own tumor registry and compiled with an extensive analysis
      of published series and case reports. This analysis reveals a 90%, 9 year
      actuarial risk for local recurrence following surgical resection only.
      Interestingly, less than 33% of these recurrences were noted within the first
      five years, which may account for the false assumption that these tumors are
      highly curable with surgical resection only. Radiation therapy appears to reduce
      this local recurrence rate, prolonging disease-free and overall survival.
      Radiation responses are dose dependent, with > 50 Gray providing superior long
      term disease-free survival. Meningeal hemangiopericytoma are characterized by a
      slow, but progressive radiographic response to ionizing radiation, not unlike
      other radiated, highly vascular brain lesions, such as arteriovenous
      malformations. A retrospective review of clinical demographics, sites of
      meningeal origin, radiographic and pathologic findings and the role of
      chemotherapy is also presented.

PMID- 1460492
TI  - Going critical: 50 years of nuclear energy.

PMID- 1460493
TI  - Quantification of walking exercise required for improvement of dipyridamole
      thallium-201 image quality.
AB  - Dipyridamole 201Tl imaging is an accepted diagnostic procedure for the evaluation
      of patients unable to perform adequate treadmill exercise, but is limited by high
      infradiaphragmatic activity. While recent studies have shown that the addition of
      exercise reduces this activity, the amount of exercise needed to effect such an
      improvement is uncertain. To prospectively evaluate the amount of walking
      exercise required to produce improvement in image quality, 120 patients were
      randomized to either a control group receiving dipyridamole alone, or to
      dipyridamole supplemented with one of four exercise protocols. Ratios of heart-to
      liver and heart-to-adjacent infradiaphragmatic activity were generated from
      anterior images acquired immediately following the test. Heart-to-total
      infradiaphragmatic activity was also graded semiquantitatively. Results showed
      improved target-to-background ratios as well as semiquantitative assessment of
      image quality for dipyridamole supplemented with exercise as compared to
      dipyridamole alone. No difference was seen between walking in place and Bruce
      treadmill exercise at Stage 0 or 0.5. A trend towards higher values was seen with
      Bruce Stage 1 exercise supplementation, but this did not reach statistical
      significance. No significant complications occurred during the study. We conclude
      that 3 min of walking exercise is a safe and effective means of improving the
      quality of dipyridamole 201Tl images.

PMID- 1460494
TI  - Determination of extent and location of coronary artery disease in patients
      without prior myocardial infarction by thallium-201 tomography with pharmacologic
      stress.
AB  - Seventy-six patients undergoing pharmacologic stress 201TI tomography and
      coronary angiography within 14 +/- 12 days were studied to determine how well
      coronary artery disease extent and location could be determined by this
      scintigraphic technique. No patient had prior myocardial infarction or
      revascularization. Scintigrams were scored visually and quantitatively.
      Angiographic lesions > or = 50% were considered significant. Receiver operating
      characteristic curves were generated for the scintigrams against the angiographic
      gold standard. Predictive accuracies were determined and compared with the
      quantitative results. Predictive accuracy was 0.49 for visual and 0.58 for
      computer identification of single-vessel disease, 0.52 for both visual and
      computer identification of multivessel disease, 0.64 for both in correctly
      localizing left anterior descending artery disease, 0.78 versus 0.70 for the
      right coronary artery and 0.72 versus 0.68 for the left circumflex artery. For
      the overall detection of disease, the predictive accuracies were 0.79 and 0.80.
      Although high diagnostic accuracy for detection of coronary artery disease by
      this approach has been previously documented, the assessment of extent of disease
      in patients without prior myocardial infarction appears limited.

PMID- 1460495
TI  - Referral bias and the efficacy of radionuclide stress tests: problems and
      solutions.

PMID- 1460496
TI  - Serial tomographic imaging with technetium-99m-sestamibi for the assessment of
      infarct-related arterial patency following reperfusion therapy.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of changes in the
      severity and extent of hypoperfusion on serial tomographic 99mTc-sestamibi images
      with patency of the infarct related artery during acute myocardial infarction. We
      studied 109 patients with acute myocardial infarction using tomographic 99mTc
      sestamibi imaging acutely and at 18-48 hr later. Perfusion defect extent and
      defect area, an index of defect severity, were measured on both studies. Both
      defect extent and defect area were significantly (p = 0.0001) greater for
      anterior infarctions than for inferior and lateral infarctions. By two factor
      analysis of variance, the change in defect area varied significantly with both
      infarct location (p = 0.0001) and patency of the infarct-related artery (p =
      0.002). The change in defect extent also varied significantly with both infarct
      location (p = 0.0001) and with patency of the infarct-related artery (p = 0.004).
      In patients with inferior myocardial infarction, a change in defect extent or
      defect area of greater than 4% or 0.017, respectively, had a positive predictive
      accuracy of 96% and 93%, respectively, for the identification of a patent infarct
      artery. Therefore, sequential changes on tomographic 99mTc-sestamibi images are
      of potential value for the noninvasive assessment of patency of the infarct
      related artery.

PMID- 1460497
TI  - Early thallium imaging after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty:
      tomographic evaluation during adenosine-induced coronary hyperemia.
AB  - This study examined the immediate results of 201Tl imaging during adenosine
      induced coronary hyperemia in 25 patients with one-vessel coronary artery
      disease, 4 +/- 3 days after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
      (PTCA). There were special features in our study: use of quantitative angiography
      and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT); a homogeneous group of
      patients (one-vessel disease) and a uniform stress (adenosine infusion). As a
      group, quantitative coronary angiography showed a decrease in percent diameter
      stenosis from 72% +/- 12% to 23% +/- 14%, p < 0.001. The thallium images were
      normal in 17 patients and abnormal in eight patients. However, of the eight
      patients, four had residual stenosis either in a secondary branch or downstream;
      one patient had local dissection (the residual stenosis could not be assessed
      reliably), two patients had > 50% residual diameter stenosis, and one patient had
      previous Q-wave myocardial infarction with a corresponding fixed thallium defect.
      In each of the eight patients with an abnormal image, a logical explanation could
      be identified. Thus, our results suggest that maximum reactive coronary hyperemia
      returns to normal immediately after PTCA, and that abnormal thallium results are
      due to inadequate dilatation or associated lesions.

PMID- 1460498
TI  - Volume expanded diuretic renography in the postnatal assessment of suspected
      uretero-pelvic junction obstruction.
AB  - Controversy surrounds the role of 99mTc-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid
      renography in suspected uretero-pelvic junction obstruction in early life.
      Accordingly, we retrospectively reviewed 18 patients (28 hydronephrotic kidneys)
      with a mean age of 2 mo (range: 1 wk-6 mo) who underwent a total of 36 scans
      using intravenous volume expansion (10 ml/kg) and furosemide diuresis (1 mg/kg).
      Initial scans were classified as obstructed, not obstructed or indeterminate
      using differential renal function, furosemide washout T 1/2 and visual assessment
      of tracer clearance. Those initially classified as obstructed (n = 8) have been
      surgically confirmed. In the indeterminate (n = 6) and nonobstructed (n = 14)
      groups, three and two kidneys, respectively, developed obstruction on progress
      scans. Mean follow-up in the nonsurgical patients was approximately 9 mo (range:
      4-17 mo). A total of 13 kidneys had developed obstruction by renographic
      criteria, and to date 12 have surgical confirmation. Our data indicate that: (1)
      scans classified as obstructed correlate well with surgery; (2) an initial
      classification of indeterminate or nonobstructed does not exclude later
      development of obstruction; and (3) serial scans correctly stratify children with
      possible uretero-pelvic junction obstruction.

PMID- 1460499
TI  - Tracking the natural history of infantile hydronephrosis with diuretic
      renography.

PMID- 1460500
TI  - Cerebral glucose metabolic rates after 30 and 45 minute acquisitions: a
      comparative study.
AB  - This study was undertaken to determine if measurements of absolute regional
      cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (rCMRglc) and variance of rCMRglc are
      independent of time between 30 and 45 min following injection of the radiotracer.
      Sixteen subjects received two sets of 18FDG PET scans commencing 30 and 45 min
      following intravenous injection of 18FDG. No statistically significant
      differences were detected in either absolute rCMRglc or rCMRglc variance between
      the two sets of scans. These data demonstrate that for most FDG PET studies,
      scanning can commence 30 min after injection of the radiotracer without
      compromising the metabolic data.

PMID- 1460501
TI  - Iodine-131 contamination from thyroid cancer patients.
AB  - High-dose radioactive iodine therapy using 131I is the treatment of choice for
      patients with thyroid cancer following thyroidectomy. Because of the large amount
      of activity which is excreted during hospitalization, contamination hazard from
      131I excretion via perspiration, saliva, breath and urine may arise. In eight
      patients treated with doses of 131I ranging from 3.7 to 14.8 GBq (100-400 mCi),
      activity levels were measured in room air, from room surfaces, the toilet, the
      patients' exhaled breath, skin, saliva and toothbrushes, and the gloves used by
      medical staff. Thyroid bioassays were also performed on medical staff personnel
      caring for these patients both before and two days after administration of the
      treatment dose. Removable activity from the skin was positively correlated with
      treatment dose and reached a maximum at 24 hr post-therapy. Removable activity
      from room surfaces exceeded the level of contamination which requires clean-up in
      a restricted area during the patient's hospitalization. Thyroid bioassays on
      medical staff showed no significant uptake 2 days after treatment. The relatively
      high activities present in the saliva, urine and on the skin of these patients
      emphasizes the need for all individuals coming in contact with these patients to
      be made aware of the contamination hazard present.

PMID- 1460502
TI  - How harmful to others are iodine-131 treated patients.

PMID- 1460503
TI  - Detection of extrapulmonary tuberculosis with gallium-67 scan and computed
      tomography.
AB  - We evaluated 23 patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) with 67Ga imaging
      to assess its usefulness in the diagnosis of this condition. We performed
      computed tomography (CT) in 17 patients to assess CT features of extrapulmonary
      TB in comparison with findings from 67Ga scans. Nineteen of 23 patients (83%) had
      positive findings on 67Ga scans. One of five patients with tuberculous
      mediastinal lymphadenopathy, two patients with cervical lymphadenitis and a
      patient with renal TB had negative 67Ga scans. It was observed that the detection
      of previously unrecognized primary foci of TB, without concomitant pulmonary TB,
      was possible using 67Ga imaging in five patients (22%). The 67Ga scan was
      relatively sensitive for the localization of extrapulmonary TB. It is suggested
      that the 67Ga scan could serve as a screening method, when followed by CT and
      ultrasonography, for the initial detection of occult tuberculous lesions,
      especially in patients with prolonged fever.

PMID- 1460504
TI  - Left ventricular volume calculation using a count-based ratio method applied to
      first-pass radionuclide angiography.
AB  - Most count-based radionuclide methods for calculating left ventricular volume
      rely on measurement of radioactivity in a peripheral blood sample and a
      measurement of ventricle to collimator distance. We have developed a method which
      requires neither a blood sample nor a distance measurement and which is
      applicable to first-pass radionuclide angiography. The parameters used to
      calculate volume are the area of pixel, the total counts in the left ventricle
      and the maximum pixel count. The equation was used to calculate the volumes in 50
      patients who had both resting first-pass radionuclide angiography (25 patients
      with a single crystal and 25 patients with a multicrystal camera) and contrast
      ventriculography on the same day. Correlation coefficients for end-diastolic and
      end-systolic volumes showed r ranging 0.93-0.98 and standard error of estimate
      ranging 23-35 ml for end-diastolic volume (14%-17% of mean end-diastolic volume)
      and 16-23 ml for end-systolic volume (18%-21% of mean end-systolic volume). Image
      processing software for extracting the needed values is generally available on
      most commercial nuclear medicine imaging systems and the additional time for the
      calculations is short. Although the theory is based on multiple assumptions, the
      volume calculation appears to be reasonably accurate and clinically applicable.

PMID- 1460505
TI  - Noninvasive assessment of regional cardiac adenosine using positron emission
      tomography.
AB  - One of the early metabolic changes associated with myocardial ischemia is the
      breakdown of adenine nucleotides resulting in the enhanced production of
      adenosine. In order to image regional cardiac adenosine by positron emission
      tomography (PET) the enzymatic conversion of adenosine into [11C]-S
      adenosylhomocysteine ([11C]SAH) was used in the presence of 11C-labeled
      homocysteine thiolactone (adenosine + [11C] - homocysteine-->[11C] - SAH + H2O).
      Following production of an experimental coronary constriction in anesthetized
      dogs carrier added 1-[11C]-D,L-homocysteine thiolactone (5-27 mCi, 30 mg/kg) was
      infused over 1 min. This intervention, while hemodynamically ineffective,
      increased the plasma homocysteine concentration from 2.5 to 306 microM, which
      thereafter declined with a T1/2 of 28 min to 97 microM after 60 min. During the
      first minutes following infusion of [11C] homocysteine, the radioactivity
      concentration in the blood pool, the nonischemic and the ischemic myocardium were
      similar. Between 20 and 60 min, however, the regional radioactivity concentration
      was highest in the perfusion area of the stenosed vessel: 6.6% compared to 5.2
      and 5.2% of the injected dose per 1 I tissue. The elevated radioactivity
      concentration was strictly confined to the perfusion area of the occluded artery.
      Using [35S]-L-homocysteine (20 microCi; 30 mg/kg) chromatographic separation of
      SAH in tissue extracts confirmed that the radioactivity accumulation was due to
      trapping of adenosine in the cellular SAH-pool. These experiments provide first
      evidence that 1-[11C]homocysteine thiolactone can be successfully used to assess
      regional adenosine formation in the heart with PET via measurement of [11C] SAH
      accumulation.

PMID- 1460506
TI  - PET imaging of carbon-11-S-adenosylhomocysteine: a measure of myocardial energy
      balance?

PMID- 1460507
TI  - Chromatofocusing studies involving a monoclonal Fab'.
AB  - Isoelectric focusing (IEF) of the Fab' derivative of murine monoclonal antibody
      ZCE-025 is known to detect at least six bands having isoelectric points (pI)
      ranging from 5.4 to 7.8. Chromatofocusing was employed to separate these bands.
      Electrophoresis of the starting materials under nonreducing conditions indicated
      all of the materials to migrate as Fab'. The electrophoresis of urine samples
      obtained from Balb/c and nude mice 8 hr after the i.v. injection of the various
      125I bands revealed the low pI bands to migrate approximately as a 125I-Fab'. The
      higher pI band activity was located in lower molecular weight regions. Serum
      samples taken at 8 hr postinjection from the above mice revealed a series of what
      appeared to be high molecular weight complexes and some low molecular weight
      species. Biodistribution studies in comparison Balb/c mice and nude mice revealed
      that the low pI 125I-Fab' bands gave an organ and tumor uptake at 8 hr very
      similar to Fab', while the high pI 125I-Fab' bands were rapidly excreted into the
      urine and feces and did not concentrate in the tumor. The data suggest that the
      population of molecules making up the Fab' of this antibody is heterogeneous and
      variably stable. Theoretically, some of the entities observed could be counter
      productive to successful radioimmunoimaging. It is also possible that some of the
      labeled molecules are associating in vivo with endogenous proteins that might, in
      some Mabs, affect the biodistribution of the radiopharmaceutical.

PMID- 1460508
TI  - c-erbB2 protein overexpression in breast cancer as a target for PET using iodine
      124-labeled monoclonal antibodies.
AB  - ICR 12, one of a panel of rat monoclonal antibodies recognizing the external
      domain of the human c-erb B2 proto-oncogene product, (Styles, 1990) was chosen as
      a candidate for radiolabeling with 124I for positron emission tomography of
      selected patients with breast cancer. By using N-bromosuccinimide (NBS), optimal
      labeling conditions were established using 125I. The labeling efficiency was
      determined using instant thin-layer chromatography (ITLC) and gel filtration
      (HPLC). The antibody was then labeled with the positron emitter 124I, and a
      labeling efficiency of 96% and immunoreactivity of 80%-90% was obtained. The
      product was stable, with less than 5% of the radiolabel being eluted after six
      days storage in plasma at 37 degrees C. Immunolocalization studies were performed
      in athymic mice bearing human breast carcinoma xenografts overexpressing the c
      erb B2 gene product using as controls 125I labeled isotype-matched rat antibody,
      and antigen-negative tumors. Good uptake of 124I-labeled ICR12 was obtained in c
      erb B2 expressing tumors (up to 12% injected dose per gram at intervals up to 120
      hr), with localization indices of 3.4-6.2. Tumor xenografts of 6 mm diameter were
      successfully imaged with high resolution at 24, 48 and 120 hr using the RMH/ICR
      MUP-PET camera. We suggest that 124I-labeled ICR12 is a suitable agent to image
      and quantify immunolocalization in patients whose tumors overexpress the c-erb B2
      proto-oncogene product.

PMID- 1460509
TI  - Radiolabeled antibodies to oncogene-encoded molecules for tumor imaging and
      therapy.

PMID- 1460510
TI  - Significance of secondary ion mass spectrometry microscopy for technetium-99m
      mapping in leukocytes.
AB  - Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) microscopy is the only method potentially
      capable of mapping all the elements in the periodic table including stable and
      radioactive isotopes. We used this method to study 99mTc distribution by
      detecting and localizing of 99Tc, a daughter product which has the same mass and
      the same chemical properties. It was combined with albumin macroaggregates or
      with Hexamethylpropylene-amine oxime (HMPAO) in leukocytes. The efficiency of
      99Tc ionization under Cs+ bombardment was higher than with an O2+ beam. By using
      high mass resolution we succeeded in detecting and localizing 99Tc in cell
      sections by eliminating polyatomic ions that arise from this biological matrix.
      The 99Tc specific signal was obtained with a mass resolution of 2000 for labeled
      albumin macroaggregates, and 5000 for HMPAO-labeled leukocytes. In the latter,
      the labeling varied from one cell to another and 99Tc was present in both the
      nucleus and the cytoplasm. The results indicate that SIMS microscopy can provide
      new insights into 99mTc dosimetry.

PMID- 1460511
TI  - Plasmapheresis in radioimmunotherapy of micrometastases: a mathematical modeling
      and dosimetrical analysis.
AB  - The feasibility of combining plasmapheresis with a large administration of
      radiolabeled antibody in order to overcome the "binding-site" barrier to antibody
      penetration in targeting hematologically distributed micrometastases is examined.
      In such a strategy, intravenous administration of excess radiolabeled antibody,
      to saturate antigen sites on the cell cluster periphery, is followed by removal
      of unbound antibody from the plasma, by plasmapheresis, to reduce the absorbed
      dose to the red marrow. Plasma antibody kinetics are simulated by a non-linear
      compartmental model representing free and antigen-bound antibody. This provides
      the boundary condition for a model of antibody diffusion, saturable binding to
      and dissociation from antigen sites within a 200 microns diameter cluster of
      tumor cells. Using these models, the absorbed dose to the red marrow and the
      absorbed dose profile across the cell cluster are calculated. Changes in marrow
      and cell cluster absorbed dose from alterations in the onset time and rate of
      plasmapheresis are illustrated for antibody labeled with 123I, 125I and 131I. The
      results demonstrate that the "binding site" barrier may be overcome, yielding a 2
      to 100-fold improvement in the cell cluster absorbed dose for a given bone
      marrow absorbed dose.

PMID- 1460512
TI  - Radioimmunotherapy of micrometastases: a continuing evolution.

PMID- 1460513
TI  - Development of a monoclonal antibody specific for beta/A4 amyloid in Alzheimer's
      disease brain for application to in vivo imaging of amyloid angiopathy.
AB  - We evaluated the efficacy of murine monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) targeted to
      beta/A4 amyloid for development of procedures for the in vivo identification of
      amyloid angiopathy (AA) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mabs to beta/A4 amyloid were
      prepared and screened for effectiveness in visualizing AA and senile plaques in
      postmortem AD brain sections. They were assessed again after enzymatic cleavage
      to produce Fab fragments and after labeling with 99mTc using a diamide
      dimercaptide ligand system. Modified and radiolabeled Fab fragments retained
      activity and specificity towards amyloid-laden blood vessels and senile plaques.
      A highly specific murine Mab, 10H3, was identified and characterized that
      fulfills criteria necessary for the development of a diagnostic imaging agent.
      Expansion and adaptation of these strategies may provide the methods and
      materials for the noninvasive analysis of AA in living patients, and permit
      assessment of the contribution of AA to the clinical and pathological features of
      AD.

PMID- 1460514
TI  - Synthesis and renal excretion of technetium-99m-labeled organic cations.
AB  - Organic cations are excreted more efficiently than organic anions in uremia
      suggesting superiority as renal imaging agents. In this study, three 99mTc
      labeled cationic cyclam complexes were synthesized and their renal clearance
      quantified in rats. The complexes are cleared at a rate of about 2.5-3 times that
      of inulin and about 60% that of p-amino-hipurate. Inhibition of 99Tc-cyclam
      excretion by quinine indicates transport by the organic cation process.
      Comparative in vivo imaging experiments demonstrated that in normal rats 99mTc
      cyclam reached peak renal activity 1.8 +/- 0.6 min after injection, a value
      intermediate between that for [131I]OIH (1.0 +/- 0) and 99mTc-MAG3 (2.8 +/- 0.6).
      In rats injected with the acute nephrotoxin cisplatin, the times to peak were
      lengthened with the relative order being 99mTc-cyclam > 99mTc-MAG3 > [131I]OIH.
      The results demonstrate that cationic complexes may be useful for renal imaging
      diagnostic applications.

PMID- 1460515
TI  - Radiotoxicity of some iodine-123, iodine-125 and iodine-131-labeled compounds in
      mouse testes: implications for radiopharmaceutical design.
AB  - In this work, spermhead survival in mouse testis was used to investigate the
      radiotoxicity of several intratesticularly localized radioiodinated
      pharmaceuticals. Radioiodines that decay by electron capture and/or internal
      conversion (123I, 125I) as well as by beta- decay (131I) were coupled to
      pharmaceuticals that selectively localize in different cell compartments. Dose
      response curves yield D37 values of 62 cGy, 75 cGy, 61 cGy and 7.7 cGy for 123IMP
      (N-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine), 131IdU (iododeoxyuridine), H131IPDM (N,N,N'
      trimethyl-N'-(2-hydroxyl-3-methyl-5-iodobenzyl)-1,3-propanediami ne) and 125IdC
      (iododeoxycytidine), respectively. At 37% survival, the relative biological
      effectiveness (RBE) of these radiochemicals, when compared to the pure gamma
      emitting radiochemical 7Be-chloride (D37 = 65 cGy), are 1.0, 0.89, 1.1 and 8.4,
      respectively. Intratesticular 7Be, with an effective half-life of 430 hr in the
      organ, was used as the source of reference radiation to determine the RBE values
      because it solely emits 477 keV gamma rays, and the dose to the testis is
      delivered chronically, as in the case of the other radiocompounds. Subcellular
      distribution studies show that all of the cellular activity is localized in the
      cytoplasm in the cases of 123IMP and H131IPDM, while virtually all of 131IdU and
      125IdC were bound to DNA in the cell nucleus. In agreement with our earlier in
      vivo studies, these data show that subcellular distribution plays a key role in
      the radiotoxicity of Auger electron emitters such as 123I and 125I, and has no
      role for beta emitters such as 131I. These findings may have implications in the
      design of radiopharmaceuticals for both diagnosis (localize Auger emitter in
      cytoplasm of cell) and therapy (localize Auger emitter in cell nucleus).

PMID- 1460516
TI  - Noninvasive detection of hypoxic myocardium using fluorine-18-fluoromisonidazole
      and positron emission tomography.
AB  - Fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) is metabolically trapped in viable cells as a function
      of reduced cellular pO2. Therefore [18F]-FMISO is potentially useful for
      evaluating patients with hypoxic but viable myocardium. The goal of this study
      was to investigate [18F]FMISO uptake in ischemic myocardium non-invasively using
      positron emission tomography (PET). Studies were performed in 10 open-chest dogs
      subjected to either complete (Group 1, n = 5) or partial (Group 2, n = 5)
      occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The tracer was
      administered by intravenous bolus following the onset of ischemia and serial PET
      images were acquired for the next 4 hr. In Group 1, viability was assessed using
      histochemical staining (nitroblue tetrazolium, NBT) and 99mTc-pyrophosphate (Tc
      PYP). In Group 2, viability was assessed using measurements of regional wall
      motion, histochemical staining and histology (two animals). In each study, PET
      images obtained at times between 2 and 4 hr postinjection showed specific
      enhancement of tracer activity in the distal anterior wall and apex of the left
      ventricle. At 4 hr, the tissue-to-blood pool count ratio was significantly higher
      in ischemic regions; 1.8 +/- 0.4 for Group 1 and 1.6 +/- 0.2 for Group 2 versus
      1.0 +/- 0.1 in nonischemic regions. Postmortem tissue sampling of Group 1 hearts
      showed significant FMISO retention in samples without evidence for infarction,
      either by NBT or Tc-PYP deposition, as well as in more severely ischemic regions.
      In Group 2 animals, FMISO was retained in myocardial regions with reduced blood
      flow (microspheres), which exhibited improved contraction following reperfusion.
      We conclude that PET imaging of [18F]FMISO is a promising technique for the
      noninvasive identification of viable hypoxic myocardium.

PMID- 1460517
TI  - Technetium-99m-HMPAO cerebral perfusion scintigraphy: considerations for timely
      brain death declaration.
AB  - The lipophilic cerebral perfusion agent 99mTc-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime
      (HMPAO) is increasingly used to demonstrate the absence of blood flow for the
      declaration of brain death. We report a case that illustrates how the timing of
      such studies is important when organ harvesting is the underlying emergent
      indication. If performed too early, a study showing the presence of cerebral
      perfusion may not expedite the declaration of brain death, but instead may
      complicate patient assessment and unnecessarily delay the process.

PMID- 1460518
TI  - Brain death: a diagnostic dilemma.

PMID- 1460519
TI  - Complications, sequela and dosimetry of iodine-131 therapy for thyroid carcinoma.

PMID- 1460520
TI  - An assessment of factors which influence the effectiveness of the modified in
      vivo technetium-99m-erythrocyte labeling technique in clinical use.
AB  - This study assessed factors which may contribute to suboptimal image quality when
      the modified in vivo erythrocyte labeling technique is used with standard
      clinical 99mTc activities. For each assessment duplicate or triplicate blood
      specimens were withdrawn from > or = 10 patients, into syringes containing 700
      900 MBq 99mTc as pertechnetate. After incubation the percent of 99mTc which was
      not bound to erythrocytes at blood re-injection time (%Unbound 99mTc), was
      measured and compared when one of four factors was varied. The most significant
      results, in descending order of measured effect were: [table: see text] Our data
      suggest that the requirements for optimal erythrocyte labeling with standard
      clinical 99mTc activities are: (A) Erythrocyte tinning time between 10 and 30
      min; (B) blood volume > or = 3 ml; (C) blood incubation time > or = 20 min; and
      (D) Generator ingrowth time < or = 24 hr.

PMID- 1460521
TI  - Spatially dependent deadtime losses in high count rate cardiac PET.
AB  - Cardiac PET scans result in nonhomogeneous distributions of activity within the
      body, which might lead to great variations in singles rates around the detector
      ring. Conventional deadtime correction algorithms assume that the singles rates
      are uniform. This paper investigates singles nonuniformities during several
      typical cardiac scanning protocols (bolus injections of 15O-water and 82Rb, slow
      infusion of 18F-FDG and static imaging with FDG) and estimates how such
      nonuniformities might affect quantitative data. Nonuniformity was observed in all
      studies and was described by an asymmetry index which increased to 58% during
      bolus water injection, the most inhomogeneous study. These results are valid for
      any scanner with a ring diameter of approximately 78 cm and are independent of
      the amount of activity injected. Deadtime losses depend on the amount of activity
      and on the scanner type. Nonhomogeneities in singles can be shown to produce
      spatially dependent deadtime correction factors; for our scanner, these were seen
      to differ by up to 16% from the mean deadtime correction during bolus water
      injection. To demonstrate the distortions generated by average deadtime
      correction, the activity distribution during a clinical cardiac study was
      simulated using a phantom. A simple local deadtime correction and its
      implementation on our system are described, and the resulting improvements in
      both absolute and relative quantitation of the phantom study are shown.

PMID- 1460522
TI  - SPECT quantification: a simplified method of attenuation and scatter correction
      for cardiac imaging.
AB  - The quantitative and visual interpretation of SPECT myocardial perfusion images
      is limited by physical factors such as photon attenuation, Compton scatter, and
      finite resolution effects. A method of attenuation correction is described for
      use in nonhomogeneous media and applied to cardiac SPECT imaging. This method,
      termed multiplicative variable attenuation compensation (MVAC), uses tissue
      contours determined from segmentation of a transmission scan to assign a priori
      determined attenuation coefficients to different tissue regions of the transaxial
      images. An attenuation correction map is then constructed using a technique
      inspired by Chang's method that includes regionally dependent attenuation within
      the chest cavity and is applied after reconstruction by filtered backprojection.
      Scatter correction using the subtraction of a simultaneously acquired scatter
      window image enables the use of narrow beam attenuation coefficients.
      Experimental measurements to evaluate these methods were conducted for 201Tl and
      99mTc SPECT using a homomorphic cardiac phantom. Finite resolution effects were
      included in the evaluation of results by computer simulation of the three
      dimensional activity distribution. The correction methodology was shown to
      substantially improve both relative and absolute quantification of uniform and
      nonuniform regions of activity in the phantom's myocardial wall.

PMID- 1460523
TI  - Simultaneous acquisition of emission and transmission data for improved thallium
      201 cardiac SPECT imaging using a technetium-99m transmission source.
AB  - Transmission computed tomography (TCT) data provides useful complementary
      information to single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
      reconstructions, especially for cardiac studies. In particular, TCT data has been
      used to correct for nonuniform attenuation in the chest. Typically the
      transmission data are acquired in a separate acquisition, but simultaneous
      acquisition is preferable both to save time and to avoid difficulties involved
      with registration. In this work, we present a technique for simultaneously
      acquiring 201Tl SPECT and TCT data using a 99mTc sheet source that requires only
      minor equipment modifications. The use of these isotopes results in cross
      contamination of the emission and transmission data. We present a practical
      technique to compensate for this contamination using post-acquisition image
      processing. This technique was evaluated by performing phantom and patient
      studies. The resulting images compare well with data obtained from separate
      emission and transmission studies.

PMID- 1460524
TI  - Mean time parameters reveal differences in the pharmacokinetics of indium-111 and
      iodine-131-labeled B72.3 monoclonal antibody.

PMID- 1460525
TI  - U.S. policy on low-level radioactive waste challenged.

PMID- 1460526
TI  - DOE research appropriations scorecard.

PMID- 1460527
TI  - Saluting the National Birth Center Study.

PMID- 1460528
TI  - The National Birth Center Study. Part III--Intrapartum and immediate postpartum
      and neonatal complications and transfers, postpartum and neonatal care, outcomes,
      and client satisfaction.
AB  - This is the final article of the three-part report of the National Birth Center
      Study. Eight percent of the mothers or infants had serious complications; 16%
      were transferred, 12% before and 4% after the deliveries. Fifteen percent of
      transfers were emergencies. Nulliparous women were much more likely than parous
      women to experience dystocia, be transferred, or have cesarean sections. Seventy
      five percent of the nulliparous women gave birth in the centers, compared with
      95% of the parous women. Eighty-four percent of the women had at least one
      postpartum home or office visit. There were 11,814 mothers, no maternal deaths,
      and 15 intrapartum/neonatal deaths (1.3/1,000 births, 0.7 excluding congenital
      anomalies). Postterm deliveries with macrosomic infants, placental abruption,
      sustained fetal distress, and thick meconium were associated with high mortality.
      Mortality was very low for those not transferred and much lower for transfers
      during labor as compared with those after the delivery. Women with no
      medical/obstetric risk factors had the lowest rates of transfers and serious
      complications. Except for postterm pregnancies, the intrapartum/neonatal
      mortality rate for birth center clients was not higher than rates from studies of
      low-risk hospital births, and the cesarean section rate was lower. There is no
      evidence that hospitals are a safer place for low-risk births.

PMID- 1460529
TI  - The Yolo County Midwifery Service. A descriptive study of 496 singleton birth
      outcomes, 1990.
AB  - The Yolo County Midwifery Service was begun in January 1989 to serve pregnant low
      income women who were denied care by local obstetricians. In 1990, 58% of women
      served were Latina and 33% were Anglo-white. Their mean age was 24.5 +/- 5.5
      years, and their mean level of education was 9.9 +/- 3.5 years. Thirty-seven
      percent were nulliparous. All deliveries were at the only hospital in the county
      with a maternity service. To evaluate the effectiveness of nurse-midwifery care
      in this sample, a prospective study of the service's 496 singleton birth outcomes
      during 1990 was undertaken. Although the cesarean rate in 1990 for the
      obstetricians not associated with the midwifery service at this hospital was
      20.6%, the midwifery clients experienced a primary cesarean birth rate of 3.7%
      and a total rate of 6.7%. Instrument-assisted deliveries took place for 1.0% of
      births. The success rate for women attempting vaginal birth after cesarean was
      87.2%. Delivery over an intact perineum occurred for 51.8%. Preterm birth was
      experienced by only 1.0% of the women. A newborn birth weight of < 2,500 g
      occurred in 2.4% of births. Occult cord prolapse preceded a single neonatal
      death, resulting in a perinatal and neonatal death rate of two per 1,000. These
      data add to the growing body of information about nurse-midwifery in which that
      care is found to be a safe, well-accepted, and cost-effective adjunct to existing
      obstetric care services.

PMID- 1460530
TI  - Hematocrit values during pregnancy in a nurse-midwifery caseload.
AB  - This article reviews the normal hematologic changes in pregnancy and the kinetics
      of iron metabolism. The differences between iron depletion and anemia are
      described. The hematocrit levels of a nurse-midwifery caseload in a tertiary-care
      setting are described and compared with recently published population norms.
      Hematocrits of the sample compared favorably to the population hematocrits until
      24 weeks' gestation, when the sample hematocrit mean became statistically lower
      and remained that way throughout pregnancy. Further analysis was done on the
      sample hematocrits, comparing differences in parity, age, pregnancy spacing, and
      AS versus AA hemoglobin. Parous women with a pregnancy interval > 12 months had a
      higher mean hematocrit than nulliparous women. Mean hematocrits of age groups
      varied significantly only at the 29-32-week interval, with women younger than 18
      having lower mean hematocrits than those > or = 18. A trend of women with AS
      hemoglobin having higher hematocrits than women with AA hemoglobin was
      identified, reaching statistical significance at the 29-32-week interval.

PMID- 1460531
TI  - Evaluation of research studies. Part II: Observational studies.
AB  - Clinical practice is often based on the results of research. Critical evaluation
      of research studies is important if appropriate conclusions are to be drawn. In
      this series of columns, we review principles of research methodology and
      statistical analysis. Our intent is to assist certified nurse-midwives in
      understanding the relative merits of the research they read and use. This paper,
      the second of the series, will review issues pertinent to observational study
      design.

PMID- 1460532
TI  - No-bridge of Drosophila melanogaster: portrait of a structural brain mutant of
      the central complex.
AB  - The mutant no-bridge (nobKS49) has its name from a structural defect in the
      protocerebral bridge of the central complex. This rod-shaped neuropil in nobKS49
      has a large gap at the sagittal midplane, with some of the missing material
      accumulated more laterally. Mutant nob flies have a reduced maximal and average
      walking speed. Leg coordination is disturbed during turning but not while walking
      straight. Motivation for walking is low and steps are small due to slow forward
      swinging of the legs. Flies spontaneously may pass into an autistic (and possibly
      spastic) state in which they can move their legs and even perform cleaning
      movements but do not walk or fly. They spontaneously recover if left undisturbed.
      Gynandromorph experiments place the focus of the walking defects into the head.
      Mutant flies have a reduced tendency to escape when mechanically stimulated. In a
      brightly lit arena they do not avoid a black square above the horizon and they
      are negatively phototactic. In tethered flight optomotor responses are normal but
      the amplitude of spontaneous torque modulations as well as the number of torque
      spikes are reduced. If a single black bar is slowly rotated around the fly, the
      normal response pattern is observed. It vanishes, however, at moderately fast
      angular velocity at which the wild type still is fully responsible. The
      behavioral defects support the notion that the protocerebral bridge is part of a
      higher center for the regulation of behavior.

PMID- 1460533
TI  - A mammalian homologue of a transcript from the Drosophila pecanex locus.
AB  - The Drosophila pecanex locus contains a maternal-effect neurogenic gene. A
      homologue of this gene has not yet been described in mammals or other organisms.
      We report here a partial complementary DNA clone from rat brain mRNA that encodes
      sequences which are very similar (83% over 189 amino acids) to a portion of
      sequence encoded by a transcript from the Drosophila pecanex locus [LaBonne,
      S.G., Sunitha, I and Mahowald, A.P. (1989) Dev. Biology 136: 1-161].

PMID- 1460534
TI  - Ki67--structure, function, and new antibodies.

PMID- 1460535
TI  - KiS1--a novel monoclonal antibody which recognizes proliferating cells:
      evaluation of its relationship to prognosis in mammary carcinoma.
AB  - Immunohistochemical staining with a novel monoclonal antibody, KiS1, which
      recognizes a cell cycle-associated antigen, was investigated in 142 cases of
      stage I and II invasive breast carcinoma. KiS1 staining indices were compared
      with disease-free interval, overall survival, and post-relapse survival. Using a
      semi-quantitative method of assessment, we found that tumours with a high level
      of staining (34/142, 24 per cent) had a significantly worse prognosis than those
      with a low level of staining (108/142, 76 per cent). Significant correlations
      were found between KiS1 staining and disease-free interval (P < 0.001), overall
      survival (P < 0.001), and post-relapse survival (P = 0.008). A more time
      consuming, quantitative method of assessment gave similar results. Cox
      multivariate analysis showed these results to be independent of nodal status,
      histological type, and grade of tumour (P = 0.01). We conclude that KiS1 is a
      valuable new antibody which affords useful prognostic information in breast
      carcinoma. As it can be used in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material, it
      may be of particular use in the study of small lesions such as those identified
      in the Breast Cancer Screening Programme.

PMID- 1460536
TI  - Production of a monoclonal antibody (IND.64) identifying a cell cycle-associated
      antigen using spleen cells from nude mice bearing Ichikawa tumour.
AB  - Using spleen cells from athymic nude mice grafted with Ichikawa tumour, we have
      generated the monoclonal antibody IND.64, which detects a proliferation
      associated nuclear antigen. Immunoblotting analysis with IND.64 showed a double
      band with apparent molecular weights of 395 and 345 kD. In normal human tissues,
      the antigen detected by IND.64 was expressed only by the nuclei of proliferating
      cells, such as germinal centre cells of reactive lymph nodes, cortical
      thymocytes, the basal layer of the skin, and proliferative compartments of the
      stomach, small intestine, and colon. IND.64 did not react with cells known to be
      non-proliferative or to show only a low turnover, such as cells of the kidney,
      liver, smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and brain. The expression of this antigen
      during the cell cycle was determined using two approaches: IND.64 immunostaining
      of synchronized adult bovine aortic endothelial cells and flow cytometric
      analysis of double-labelled PHA-stimulated peripheral mononuclear blood
      leucocytes with a DNA marker and IND.64. The antigen recognized by IND.64 was
      found to appear in the late G1 phase, and persisted in phases S, G2, and M, but
      was absent in the G0 and early G1 phases. IND.64 was further investigated in
      different tumour types to evaluate the correlation between the percentage of
      IND.64-positive cells (IND.64 index) and the histological grade. In non-Hodgkin's
      lymphomas, an excellent correlation was found between the percentage of IND.64
      positive cells and the cytomorphological grade. In nodular sclerosis and mixed
      cellularity Hodgkin's disease, a high number of Reed-Sternberg cells were
      positive with IND.64. The non-lymphoid neoplasms investigated showed a variable
      percentage of positive cells. IND.64 appears to be a promising tissue marker to
      complement the evaluation of prognosis in human cancer.

PMID- 1460537
TI  - Morphometry of gastric carcinoma: its association with patient survival, tumour
      stage, and DNA ploidy.
AB  - Morphometric image analysis of nuclear features was performed on tissue from 46
      patients who had had curative resections for gastric cancer. Clinical,
      pathological, flow cytometric, and follow-up data were available for these
      patients, which were drawn from a larger, previously reported series. The
      morphometric data were compared with patient survival, clinico-pathological
      status, and DNA ploidy. Univariate survival analysis revealed that morphometric
      parameters were not significantly related to survival, but examination of clinico
      pathological data showed lymph node involvement, involvement of the resection
      margin, and lymphatic invasion to be significantly associated (P < 0.01) with
      patient prognosis. Multivariate survival analysis using the Cox model found only
      lymph node and resection margin involvement to be independently related to
      survival. Comparison of morphometric results with the clinico-pathological
      parameters showed various features, relating to nuclear size, and its variation
      to be significantly associated (P < 0.01) with the presence of lymphatic
      invasion, resection margin involvement, and tumour pattern (intestinal/diffuse).
      A comparison of morphometry with flow cytometric analysis in these cases showed
      that nuclear size was not significantly related to either DNA aneuploidy or the
      DNA proliferative index.

PMID- 1460538
TI  - Adhesion receptors of intimal and subintimal cells of the normal synovial
      membrane.
AB  - The distribution of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and matrix proteins in the
      normal synovium of four subjects was studied by immunohistology in order to
      determine the factors governing the cellular and tissue organization of the
      intimal and subintimal compartments. Basement membrane proteins, laminin, and
      collagen type IV, as well as vitronectin and fibronectin, were identified in the
      intima and there was corresponding expression of integrin and non-integrin
      receptors (e.g., CD29, CD49b, CD49d, CD49e, CD49f, CD51, CD61, CD44) for these
      matrix proteins. There were notable differences in CAM expression between
      intimal, subintimal, and vascular compartments of the synovial membrane.
      Phenotypic heterogeneity for CAMs involved in cell-cell interactions,
      particularly CD11a, CD11b, ICAM-1, and HLA-DR, was also present. The range of
      CAMs expressed by synovial and endothelial cells not only indicates a structural
      role for these antigens, but also suggests that they may control leucocyte
      traffic into the membrane, including recruitment of cells into the synovial
      lining.

PMID- 1460539
TI  - Heparin causes partial removal of glomerular antigen deposits by a mechanism
      independent of its anticoagulant properties.
AB  - We have previously reported that heparin can enhance the removal of antigen from
      the glomeruli of rats with chronic serum sickness glomerulonephritis. We have
      performed two studies to investigate the relevance of anticoagulation to this
      effect. The first experiment was essentially a repeat of those described before,
      but instead of using heparin, anticoagulation was achieved using Ancrod, which
      causes depletion of fibrinogen. The amount of antigen in the glomeruli of these
      rats at the end of the experiment did not differ from controls. In the second
      experiment, both kidneys were excised from rats with glomerulonephritis induced
      by a radiolabelled cationic antigen. Of each pair of kidneys, one was perfused
      for 30 min at 5 ml/min with Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) at 37 degrees C.
      The other was perfused with HBSS to which a total of 4500 units of heparin had
      been added. The antigen content of isolated glomeruli was subsequently measured.
      In every case, the kidney perfused with heparin had less antigen per glomerulus
      than the control contralateral kidney. The ability of heparin to enhance removal
      of glomerular immune complex deposits is therefore not mediated by
      anticoagulation.

PMID- 1460541
TI  - Neuropathology.

PMID- 1460540
TI  - Isologous monoclonal antibodies can induce anti-GBM glomerulonephritis in rats.
AB  - Injection of isologous monoclonal antibodies (SR2, SR3) caused anti-glomerular
      basement membrane antibody-induced glomerulonephritis (anti-GBM nephritis) in
      WKY/NCrj rats. The antibodies were obtained from hybridoma cells derived from
      fusion of the spleen of a nephritic WKY/NCrj rat injected with rat solubilized
      renal basement membranes with adjuvant, and mouse SP2-myeloma cells. They
      belonged to the rat IgG2a subclass and bound to rat kidney in a linear pattern
      along the glomerular and tubular basement membranes. Histological changes in
      glomeruli were detected at day 1 after the injection; proteinuria with haematuria
      appeared on day 2; and proteinuria became severe and reached a plateau by day 5.
      These results demonstrate that anti-GBM nephritis can even be induced by an
      isologous monoclonal antibody and that the rat IgG2a subclass is at least
      nephritogenic. The experimental model of anti-GBM nephritis with isologous
      monoclonal antibodies makes it possible and easier to analyse further the
      mechanism of anti-GBM nephritis.

PMID- 1460542
TI  - Structure, function and organization of antenna polypeptides and antenna
      complexes from the three families of Rhodospirillaneae.
AB  - Comparative primary structural analysis of polypeptides from antenna complexes
      from species of the three families of Rhodospirillaneae indicates the structural
      principles responsible for the formation of spectrally distinct light-harvesting
      complexes. In many of the characterized antenna systems the basic structural
      minimal unit is an alpha/beta polypeptide pair. Specific clusters of amino acid
      residues, in particular aromatic residues in the C-terminal domain, identify the
      antenna polypeptides to specific types of antenna systems, such as B880 (strong
      circular dichroism (CD)), B870 (weak CD), B800-850 (high), B800-850 (low) or B800
      820. The core complex B880 (B1020) of species from Ectothiorhodospiraceae and
      Chromatiaceae apparently consists of four (alpha 1 alpha 2 beta 1 beta 2) or
      three (2 alpha beta 1 beta 2) chemically dissimilar antenna polypeptides
      respectively. There is good evidence that the so-called variable antenna
      complexes, such as the B800-850 (high), B800-850 (low) or B800-820 of Rp.
      acidophila, Rp. palustris and Cr. vinosum, are comprised of multiple forms of
      peripheral light-harvesting polypeptides. Structural similarities between
      prokaryotic and eukaryotic antenna polypeptides are discussed in terms of similar
      pigment organization. The structural basis for the strict organization of pigment
      molecules (bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) cluster) in the antenna system of purple
      bacteria is the hierarchical organization of the alpha- and beta-antenna
      polypeptides within and between the antenna complexes. On the basis of the three
      domain structure of the antenna polypeptides with the central hydrophobic domain,
      forming a transmembrane alpha helix, possible arrangements of the antenna
      polypeptides in the three-dimensional structure of core and peripheral antenna
      complexes are discussed. Important structural and functional features of these
      polypeptides and therefore of the BChl cluster are the alpha/beta heterodimers,
      the alpha 2 beta 2 basic units and cyclic arrangements of these basic units.
      Equally important for the formation of the antenna complexes or the entire
      antenna are polypeptide-polypeptide, pigment-pigment and pigment-polypeptide
      interactions.

PMID- 1460543
TI  - Core mutations of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 phycobilisomes: a spectroscopic
      study.
AB  - Three cyanobacterial strains harboring mutations affecting phycobilisome (PBS)
      cores were studied using steady state absorption and fluorescence and time
      resolved fluorescence. The apcF mutant, missing beta 18, and the apcDF mutant,
      missing both alpha APB and beta 18, showed only small spectroscopic differences
      from the wild-type strain; their PBS emission was blue shifted by 10 nm, whereas
      their absorption spectra and time-resolved fluorescence kinetics were virtually
      unchanged. The third mutant studied was the apcE/C186S mutant in which the
      chromophore-binding cysteine-186 in the LCM99 polypeptide has been substituted
      with serine. The apcE/C186S mutant contained a modified chromophore which
      significantly changed the spectroscopic properties of the PBS complex. The
      apcE/C186S PBS absorbed more than the wild-type strain at 705 nm, and the
      emission spectrum gave two peaks at 660 nm and 715 nm. The time-resolved kinetics
      of the apcE/C186S mutant PBS were also significantly altered from those of the
      wild-type strain.

PMID- 1460544
TI  - Effect of volatile thiol compounds on protein metabolism by human gingival
      fibroblasts.
AB  - The levels of volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) in periodontal pockets and mouth
      air have been found to correlate with severity of the disease process. The
      purpose of this study was to examine the influence of hydrogen sulphide and
      methyl mercaptan on protein metabolism of human gingival fibroblasts. The
      incorporation of labelled amino acids into protein was used to evaluate effects
      on total protein content. Changes in collagenous protein concentration were
      monitored by release of radioactivity following collagenase digestion as well as
      direct analysis of hydroxyproline. Both thiols were found to reduce total protein
      synthesis, with mercaptan exerting a greater adverse effect. In cultures exposed
      to mercaptan, total protein was reduced by 35%. The changes in total protein were
      accompanied by a corresponding decrease in collagenase-digestible protein.
      Hydroxyproline analysis of CH3SH-exposed cultures confirmed the changes
      associated with collagenous proteins. It indicated that in comparison to the
      controls the CH3SH-exposed cultures had a 70% reduction in collagen which
      resulted from a combined effect of suppressed synthesis and increased rate of
      collagen degradation. The possibility of thiol reaction with collagen was
      determined using in vitro systems in which type I collagen was reacted with
      varying concentrations of [35S]-H2S. The carboxymethyl (CM) cellulose assays of
      resulting reaction mixtures indicate that [35S]-radioactivity was incorporated
      directly into alpha 1, alpha 2, beta 11, beta 12 peptide chains. Furthermore,
      upon exposure of collagen to elevated H2S concentrations, the H2S converted some
      of the acid-soluble collagen to a more soluble product which could be extracted
      in neutral salt and analyzed by CM-cellulose chromatography.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460546
TI  - Relationship between bacterial counts, microbial vitality and the accumulation of
      supragingival dental plaque in humans.
AB  - Comparisons between plaque index (PlI) and bacterial counts have been made
      already; however, these did not take into account the area used for plaque
      sampling. The objective of the present study was to determine the correlation
      between the PlI score, the number of bacteria and the bacterial plaque vitality
      when dental plaque was repeatedly sampled from the same area in each subject
      during early plaque accumulation. Between intervals of optimal oral hygiene, 10
      participants refrained from all oral hygiene measures for periods of 1, 2, 3, 4
      and 5 days. The PlI was recorded on the vestibular surface of all first premolars
      as local PlI:LS. For statistical reasons, the scores of the independent variable
      LS were added for each subject giving LS* values ranging from 0 to 8. The plaque
      sampled from this specific surface was circumscribed by the marginal gingiva and
      an acrylic splint, giving reproducible areas for plaque collection. Total
      microscopic bacterial counts (BC), colony forming units of anaerobes (CFUan) and
      aerobes (CFUae), and proportions of vital bacteria (VF) were compared with LS*
      values. BC and LS* values were strongly correlated. CFUan and CFUae increased
      significantly with LS*, but this increase was higher for LS* 0 to 4 than for LS*
      4 to 8. The ratio between vital and dead microorganisms, assessed by two
      different methods, was low when an LS* of 0 was recorded, with higher ratios
      registered for LS* values 4 and 8.

PMID- 1460545
TI  - Fine structure of adrenergic nerve fibers in human periodontal ligament.
AB  - The presence of adrenergic nerve fibers was demonstrated ultrastructurally in the
      human periodontal ligament obtained from extracted premolar teeth from 8 young
      patients. The nerve endings were located close to arterioles. The results suggest
      that they seem to control blood flow in the human periodontal ligament.

PMID- 1460547
TI  - Influence of temperature and foil hardness on interocclusal tactile threshold.
AB  - Determinations of interocclusal tactile threshold levels so far have involved
      neither appropriate psychophysical approaches nor an assessment of the mechanical
      and thermal properties of the foils used. Twenty subjects (12 females) aged 18 to
      50 (mean age 35) were tested for their absolute threshold level (RL). Both the
      method of limits and the staircase method were applied to determine the active or
      passive RL. For the active RL assessment, foils of different thicknesses were
      placed between edge-to-edge opposed incisors during gentle biting. Inner ear
      receptors of the blindfolded subjects were blocked by broad band noise applied
      through earphones, because vibrations induced by occlusal contact and conducted
      through bone might be perceived by these receptors. The foils presented were
      aluminum (Al), tin (Sn), polyester (PE) and calibrated steel (St) (thickness
      ranging from 8 to 50 microns) which offer different physical and thermal
      properties. The range of RL of the group varied between 8 microns for aluminum to
      46 microns for polyester for 50% correct assessments. Increasing the foil
      temperature from room temperature (20 degrees C) to body temperature (35 degrees
      C) significantly increased the RL for conducting materials (one-way blocked
      ANOVA). These results indicate that temperature exchange takes place while
      presenting conducting foils at 20 degrees C (cold stimulus) interocclusally,
      which influences the RL by activating thermosensitive receptors. The passive RL
      determination with classical von Frey-hairs resulted in a mean axial RL of 3.0 g.
      Both psychophysical RL assessments (method of limits, staircase method) gave
      reproducible and similar results as ascertained by ANOVA. Furthermore, a positive
      correlation was established between active and passive RL (Pearson correlation
      test).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460548
TI  - The mechanisms of Eikenella corrodens aggregation by salivary glycoprotein and
      the effect of the glycoprotein on oral bacterial aggregation.
AB  - The mechanism of aggregation of Eikenella corrodens 1073 with E. corrodens
      aggregating factor (EcAF) which was purified from submandibular-sublingual (SM
      SL) saliva was investigated. Heating (100 degrees C, 10 minutes) or protease
      treatment of E. corrodens cells abolished the aggregating activity. The
      aggregation was inhibited by adding N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc) and
      saccharides which contain a galactose residue at the non-reducing end. The
      aggregating activity was sensitive to EDTA and was restored by Ca2+ but not by
      Mn2+ or Mg2+. Neuraminidase treatment of EcAF increased their ability to
      aggregate. E. corrodens, suggesting that the sialic acids on EcAF interfere with
      aggregation. These data suggest that the aggregation of E. corrodens 1073 with
      EcAF is mediated by specific interactions between a bacterial cell surface lectin
      like substance and a complementary GalNAc-like receptor. EcAF also aggregated 16
      strains of oral bacteria including periodontopathic bacteria such as
      Porphyromonas (Bacteroides) gingivalis 381 and Actinobacillus
      actinomycetemcomitans ATCC29522; however, those aggregations were not inhibited
      by GalNAc. Therefore, EcAF appears to have more than two types of bacterial
      binding site and plays important roles in accumulation of dental plaque by
      forming a complex network of plaque bacteria including periodontopathic strains.

PMID- 1460549
TI  - Tetracycline administration increases protein (presumably procollagen) synthesis
      and secretion in periodontal ligament fibroblasts of streptozotocin-induced
      diabetic rats.
AB  - Streptozotocin-induced, insulin-deficient diabetic adult rats were daily
      administrated either minocycline or a chemically-modified non-antimicrobial
      tetracycline (CMT) by oral gavage for a 3-week time period; untreated diabetic
      and non-diabetic rats served as controls. On day 21, all rats received an
      intravenous injection of 3H-proline followed by perfusion fixation with an
      aldehyde mixture at 20 minutes and 4 hours after isotope injection. The upper and
      lower mandibles of these rats were dissected and processed for quantitative
      electron microscopic autoradiography to study 3H-proline utilization by
      fibroblasts in the periodontal ligament (PDL) of molars. In the non-diabetic
      controls, at 20 min after 3H-proline injection, radioprecursor was incorporated
      by the Golgi-RER system of PDL fibroblasts. At the 4-h time period, most of the
      label was present over the collagen fibers around these cells. In contrast, PDL
      fibroblasts in the untreated diabetic rats showed marked abnormalities
      ultrastructurally and minimal uptake (20 min) and secretion (4 h) of labeled
      proline. At both time periods, in both minocycline- and CMT-treated diabetic
      rats, fibroblasts were structurally more normal and the radioprecursor was
      localized in the fibroblasts and the PDL matrix in a pattern similar to that seen
      in the control rats. These results suggest that the diabetes-induced structural
      abnormalities and suppression of synthesis and secretion of protein (presumably
      collagen and its precursor) by PDL fibroblasts can be restored to near-normal by
      administration of a tetracycline and that this effect is mediated by a non
      antimicrobial property of this family of antibiotics.

PMID- 1460550
TI  - Living arrangements and nutrient intakes of healthy women age 65 and older: a
      study in Manhattan, Kansas.
AB  - One hundred healthy women over age 65 were recruited for a study to determine
      differences in nutrient intakes by living arrangement and to examine the effect
      of demographic characteristics, health habits, and social contacts on nutrient
      intakes. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the mean intakes for
      calcium and riboflavin between women living alone and women living with a spouse.
      There were no significant differences in health habits by living arrangement, but
      women living alone were more likely to have fewer social contacts than women
      living with a spouse (x2 = 38.25; p < 0.001). Education, physical activity, and
      smoking were the most important predictors of nutrient intakes.

PMID- 1460551
TI  - Nutrition promotion for mature adults: a case study in peer education.
AB  - The peer education model, which enables trained learners to instruct their peers,
      was tested in a case study involving senior citizens in a nutrition education
      program. The case study approach, using action research, was chosen because the
      project involved the description and analysis of a unique group of 32 mature
      adults. Topics selected for presentation in the three two-hour sessions were
      selected by open consensus of the entire participating body. Six members of the
      group volunteered to engage in a preliminary training program. These individuals
      became known as volunteer peer educators (VPE), who subsequently took full
      responsibility for disseminating the nutrition information to their peers.
      Educational materials to meet the goals of the program were compiled by the
      researcher in a resource manual for each of the volunteer peer educators.
      Techniques of participant observation for data collection and qualitative
      analysis were used. The satisfactory implementation of the program was due in
      great part to group selection of the learning episode; to a relaxed atmosphere;
      to enthusiasm on the part of the VPE; to the availability of a good resource
      manual and a facilitator who provided a strong organizational framework. The peer
      education model was found to be a particularly useful tool in providing nutrition
      information to a much broader sector of the senior population than can be
      currently reached via public health programs.

PMID- 1460552
TI  - Project director characteristics in the Elderly Nutrition Program.
AB  - The federally funded Elderly Nutrition Program (ENP) began in 1972, authorized
      under Title 7 of the Older Americans Act. Its purpose was to serve elders,
      targeting those in greatest social and economic need. This article describes the
      characteristics of the Nutrition Project Directors in the ENP through data
      gathered by a questionnaire completed by a random sample of 430 directors across
      the nation. One important finding was that directors of programs serving large
      numbers of low-income or minority elders tended to have less education and
      commanded lower salaries than directors serving fewer poor and minority elders.
      In addition, while a higher proportion of these directors were minority members,
      numbers of nonwhite Nutrition Project Directors remains low.

PMID- 1460553
TI  - Sous vide processed foods: are they safe for the elderly?
AB  - Demographic trends and market analyses indicate that Americans' interest in
      convenience foods that are nutritious, safe, and high quality will influence the
      food industry into the next century. The increase in individuals over 55 plus
      working women, and the changing family have caused the food industry to develop a
      new generation of foods. One of the processes, sous vide, is an advanced method
      where fresh foods are vacuum sealed in impermeable plastic, cooked at low
      temperature in circulating water, and chilled and held at refrigerator
      temperature for up to three weeks. Nutritionists and food scientists have
      concerns about the food safety of sous vide products and the possible increase in
      food borne illnesses. Continued research is needed for the food industry to
      deliver safe, nutritious foods, particularly to the elderly.

PMID- 1460554
TI  - Affect, personality, and social activity.
AB  - These studies examined relations between social activity and state and trait
      measures of Positive and Negative Affect. In Study 1 Ss completed scales relevant
      to 3-factor models of personality and a weekly mood and social activity
      questionnaire for 13 weeks. In Study 2 Ss completed measures of the 5-factor
      model of personality and a daily mood and social activity survey for 6-7 weeks.
      In within- and between-Ss analyses, socializing correlated significantly with
      state measures of Positive Affect and with trait measures of
      Extraversion/Positive Emotionality. These relations were relatively general
      across various types of positive affect and social events; however, specific
      types of social events also were differentially related to affect. In contrast,
      social activity had no consistent association with measures of Negative Affect or
      the other personality dimensions. The results support a temperamental view of
      Extraversion.

PMID- 1460555
TI  - Repression at encoding: discrete appraisals of emotional stimuli.
AB  - In previous research, the emotions associated with repressors' memorial
      representations were found to be more discrete than those associated with
      nonrepressors'. In each of the 3 experiments reported here, repressive
      discreteness was apparent in repressors' appraisals of emotional stimuli at the
      time they were encoded. In 1 experiment, Ss appraised individual facial
      expressions of emotion. Repressors judged the dominant emotions in these faces as
      no less intense than did nonrepressors, but they appraised the blend of
      nondominant emotions as less intense than did nonrepressors. In the remaining 2
      experiments, Ss appraised crowds of emotional faces as well as crowds of
      geometric shapes. In both crowd experiments, the repressive discreteness was
      evident in appraisals of crowds of emotional faces but not in appraisals of
      crowds of geometric shapes. The repressive discreteness effect did not appear to
      reflect a general repressor-nonrepressor difference in the appraisal of stimulus
      features. Rather, the results suggested that repressive discreteness may be
      constrained to appraisals of emotions.

PMID- 1460556
TI  - Intergenerational continuity of parental rejection and depressed affect.
AB  - Using survey and observational data from a sample of 451 intact families, this
      study used structural equation modeling to examine the intergenerational
      continuity of depressed mood and rejecting parenting. The model partially
      replicated the intergenerational model of Elder, Caspi, and Downey (1986) that
      indicates a cyclical transmission process by which parents' personality traits
      affect parent-child interaction, which, in turn, increases the propensity for
      developmental problems among offspring. The results indicated a pattern of
      intergenerational transmission of depressed mood through parental rejection of
      offspring. Multiple reporters and multiple indicators strengthen previous
      intergenerational findings by reducing some of the method variance biases that
      have been problematic in prior studies.

PMID- 1460557
TI  - Thinking is for doing: portraits of social cognition from daguerreotype to
      laserphoto.
AB  - From the outset, perspectives on social cognition have taken an emphatically
      pragmatic stance, as evident in early writing by James, Allport, Bruner, Asch,
      Heider, Tagiuri, and Jones. After a hiatus, during which social cognition
      research neglected its proper attunement to social behavior, researchers again
      are emphasizing that thinking is for doing, that social understanding operates in
      the service of social interaction. Early and recent (but not intermediate)
      theories have reflected a pragmatic orientation in 3 recurring themes: People are
      good-enough social perceivers; people construct meaning through traits,
      stereotypes, and stories; and people's thinking strategies depend on their goals.
      The pragmatic viewpoint again opens up new areas for research and theory in
      social cognition.

PMID- 1460558
TI  - Memory accessibility and probability judgments: an experimental evaluation of the
      availability heuristic.
AB  - Consistent with Tversky and Kahneman's (1973, 1974) availability heuristic
      hypothesis, the current study found a negative correlation between recall latency
      for past events and the perceived future probability of similar events.
      Furthermore, when the relative accessibility of memories of positive and negative
      events was experimentally manipulated using the Velten mood-induction procedure,
      the perceived future probabilities of similar events also changed in a manner
      consistent with the availability heuristic account. Reductions in recall
      latencies resulting from the mood manipulations were, as predicted, related to
      increases in perceived probability, and vice versa. Partial correlations
      indicated that this association between the observed patterns of changes in
      recall latencies and probability judgments could not be accounted for by the
      existence of independent associations between each of these effects and the
      magnitude of mood change.

PMID- 1460559
TI  - Why do people need self-esteem? Converging evidence that self-esteem serves an
      anxiety-buffering function.
AB  - Three studies were conducted to assess the proposition that self-esteem serves an
      anxiety-buffering function. In Study 1, it was hypothesized that raising self
      esteem would reduce anxiety in response to vivid images of death. In support of
      this hypothesis, Ss who received positive personality feedback reported less
      anxiety in response to a video about death than did neutral feedback Ss. In
      Studies 2 and 3, it was hypothesized that increasing self-esteem would reduce
      anxiety among individuals anticipating painful shock. Consistent with this
      hypothesis, both success and positive personality feedback reduced Ss'
      physiological arousal in response to subsequent threat of shock. Thus, converging
      evidence of an anxiety-buffering function of self-esteem was obtained.

PMID- 1460560
TI  - Controlling the uncontrollable: effects of stress on illusory perceptions of
      controllability.
AB  - Individuals' failure to exercise actual control over an event might be
      compensated for by trying to bolster a generalized, subjective sense of control.
      Control might then be sought by undertaking acts the effect of which on the
      environment is illusory. This observation led to the hypothesis that stress,
      which undermines persons' sense of control, would engender illusory perceptions
      of controllability. The hypothesis was tested in 3 experiments that required Ss
      to choose between 2 gambling forms. Although the 2 forms were essentially
      identical, 1 was designed to instill an illusion of control. The results showed
      that highly stressed Ss, compared with those who experienced low stress,
      preferred gambling forms that heightened perceptions of controllability.

PMID- 1460561
TI  - The impact of mothers' gender-role stereotypic beliefs on mothers' and children's
      ability perceptions.
AB  - The focus of this study is the relation between mothers' gender stereotypic
      beliefs, their perceptions of their children's abilities, and their children's
      self-perceptions in 3 activity domains. Approximately 1,500 mothers and their 11-
      to 12-year-old children responded to questions about the children's abilities in
      the math, sports, and social domains. It was predicted that mothers' beliefs
      about their children would be moderated by their gender stereotypic beliefs about
      the abilities of female and male people in general. As predicted, path analyses
      revealed that mothers' gender stereotypic beliefs interact with the sex of their
      child to influence their perceptions of the child's abilities. Mothers'
      perceptions, in turn, mediate the influence of past performance on children's
      self-perceptions in each domain.

PMID- 1460562
TI  - Social facilitation and inhibition of emotional expression and communication.
AB  - Does the presence of others facilitate or inhibit emotional expression? Female
      "senders" (n = 45) viewed 12 emotionally loaded slides either alone or with
      another sender while responses were secretly videotaped. In Study 1, 14
      "receivers" guessed the type of slide viewed by dyads more accurately (eta =
      .366). In Study 2, 42 receivers viewed 10 senders with friends, 10 with
      strangers, and 10 alone. One dyad member was covered so that only 1 sender was
      visible. Analysis revealed significant effects of condition (alone, friend, or
      stranger; eta = .456), slide type (sexual, scenic, unpleasant, or unusual; eta =
      .325), and the Condition x Slide Type interaction (eta = .350). Strangers had
      overall inhibitory effects on communication accuracy, whereas friends had
      facilitative effects on some slides and inhibitory effects on others. Thus, both
      social facilitation and inhibition of expression occurred on the basis of the
      emotional stimulus and personal relationship involved.

PMID- 1460563
TI  - Fishy-looking liars: deception judgment from expectancy violation.
AB  - To explain how people judge that others are lying, an expectancy-violation model
      is proposed. According to the model, deception is perceived from nonverbal
      behavior that violates normative expectation. To test the model, 3 experiments
      were conducted, 2 in the United States and 1 in India. In each experiment, people
      described acquaintances while exhibiting weird nonverbal behaviors, such as arm
      raising, head tilting, and staring. Other Ss watched the videotapes of the
      descriptions and made deception judgments. Consistent with the expectancy
      violation model, both American undergraduates and Indian illiterates inferred
      deception from weird behaviors. Implications of the model are discussed.

PMID- 1460564
TI  - Disclosure and anxiety: a test of the fever model.
AB  - According to the fever model of Disclosure, the relationship of Disclosure
      (utterances that reveal subjective information) to psychological distress is
      analogous to the relationship of fever to physical infection: Both are indicators
      of some underlying disturbance and part of a restorative process. High and
      moderate trait anxious university students (but not the low trait anxious
      students) used higher percentages of Disclosure when speaking about an anxiety
      arousing topic than when speaking about a happy topic. With topic order
      counterbalanced, students tended to use more Disclosure during their 1st
      presentation than during their 2nd. These results support the fever model's
      suggestion that people tend to Disclose when they are distressed.

PMID- 1460565
TI  - Modeling cognitive adaptation: a longitudinal investigation of the impact of
      individual differences and coping on college adjustment and performance.
AB  - Drawing on cognitive adaptation theory, optimism, psychological control, and self
      esteem were explored as longitudinal predictors of adjustment to college in a
      sample of 672 freshmen. Although a direct effect of optimism on adjustment was
      found, most of the predicted effects were mediated by coping methods. Controlling
      for initial positive and negative mood, the beneficial effects of optimism,
      control, and self-esteem on adjustment were mediated by the nonuse of avoidance
      coping, greater use of active coping, and greater seeking of social support.
      Alternative models of the causal relations among these variables did not fit the
      data as well as the a priori mediational model. The results of a 2-year follow-up
      indicated that self-esteem and control predicted greater motivation and higher
      grades, controlling for college entrance exam scores. Implications for cognitive
      adaptation theory and for interventions with populations under stress are
      discussed.

PMID- 1460566
TI  - Susceptibility of a line of dolphin kidney cell culture to several herpesviruses.
AB  - A cell line was established from cell cultures of kidney cortex of a pantropical
      spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuate. The replication of 6 strains of
      herpesviruses was studied in the cells. Five strains of them, herpes simplex
      virus type I and type II, equine rhinopneumonitis virus, infectious bovine
      rhinotracheitis virus and Aujeszky's disease virus, were grown fairly well in
      showing clear cytopathic effects and plaques under agar overlay medium.

PMID- 1460567
TI  - Metabolism of gallate in Penicillium simplicissimum.
AB  - The pathway for the degradation of gallate (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate) by a new
      strain of Penicillium was examined by in vivo and in vitro cell-free systems. The
      organism was identified as P. simplicissimum (Oud) Thom. It grew optimally at pH
      5.5 and 27 degrees C, with 11.75 mM (0.2%) gallate added to the basal salt media.
      Mycelia grown on gallate accumulated protocatechuate in the medium, and had
      inducible activity for protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase as determined by
      spectrophotometric and oxygen electrode studies. A NADPH-dependent reductase in
      the cell-free extract reduced gallate to dihydrogallate. Maleylacetate reductase
      was also detected in the gallate induced cell-free extract, while beta
      ketoadipate was detected as the product produced. The possible steps in the
      degradation of gallate are discussed.

PMID- 1460568
TI  - Fungal contamination, natural occurrence of mycotoxins and resistance for
      aflatoxin accumulation of some broad bean (Vicia faba L.) cultivars.
AB  - Using glucose-Czapek's and 10% NaCl glucose-Czapek's agar media incubated at 28
      +/- 2 degrees C, nine genera and 18 species were identified from 10 different
      cultivars seed of broad bean. Aspergillus and Penicillium were the most common
      genera on the two types of media used. The most common fungal species were
      Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. tamarii and Penicillium chrysogenum. Thin-layer
      chromatographic analysis indicated that seeds of one cultivar only was naturally
      contaminated with aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2. Nine mycotoxin-free cultivars of
      broad bean were examined for resistance or susceptibility for aflatoxin
      production when inoculated by Aspergillus flavus IMI 89717. Results obtained
      revealed that seeds of two cultivars were highly resistant, two cultivars showed
      partial resistance and the remaining were susceptible to the establishment of A.
      flavus and aflatoxin accumulation. The results did not show any relationship
      between morphological characters (colour, shape and size) and the amount of
      aflatoxin produced on the different broad bean seed cultivars. Also the results
      reveal absence of significant variation in the total nitrogen of the highly
      susceptible, partially resistant and highly resistant groups of broad bean seeds
      examined. Mean values of calcium, total phosphate and potassium of both seed coat
      and seed kernel of the susceptible seeds were low as compared to those of
      partially and highly resistant seed cultivars. The susceptible seeds contained
      higher levels of magnesium, zinc and sodium while the resistant seeds contained
      lower ones.

PMID- 1460569
TI  - Overexpression of a Rhodococcus erythropolis protein in Escherichia coli with
      immunological identity to the Rhodococcus steroid 1-dehydrogenase. Immunoelectron
      microscopic localization and electrophoretic studies.
AB  - The recombinant Escherichia coli K-12 strain chi 6060 harbouring the plasmid pYA
      1201 with a gene from Rhodococcus erythropolis IMET 7030 overexpressed a protein
      which reacts with a monospecific antiserum against the steroid 1-dehydrogenase
      (Sdh) from the same Rhodococcus strain. It was shown previously that this
      recombinant protein exhibits no enzymatic activity. By immunogold labelling the
      protein was localized on ultrathin sections of the recombinant E. coli strain.
      After cultivation at 37 degrees C it was found within large cytoplasmic
      compartments (inclusion bodies). The inclusion bodies occupied 40% to 75% of the
      sectioned cell area. The highest amount of protein was observed after induction
      of the culture with isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside. Approximately 20% of
      the induced cells became enlarged (up to 5-fold of the normal size) and deformed;
      multiplication of the Rhodococcus protein producing cells was inhibited. After
      ultrasonic cell disintegration the inclusion bodies were found only in the
      fraction of the sedimented cell debries and did still react with anti-Sdh. When
      recombinant E. coli cells were cultivated at 28 degrees C, inclusion bodies
      appeared very seldom and the immunoreactive protein was distributed throughout
      the whole cytoplasm.

PMID- 1460570
TI  - Perspectives on entry level residency training in podiatric medicine.
AB  - The author presents information related to the structures of medical and
      podiatric residency training and statistical information regarding entry level
      residency positions in approved podiatric residency programs. The results of
      surveys of residency directors (1989 and 1990) and the residency community of
      interest (1990) conducted by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education are
      reported. Specific findings from the surveys indicated the desirability of
      establishing training sequences consisting of rotating podiatric residencies
      followed by specialty training programs but identified significant difficulties
      related to implementation.

PMID- 1460571
TI  - The residency in podiatric medicine. A brief historical overview.
AB  - The author provides a general overview of the development of postgraduate
      residency training in podiatric medicine since 1956. The evolution of residency
      standards and requirements of the Council on Podiatric Medical Education are
      discussed. Integration of specialty organizations in the residency evaluation
      process also are reviewed. The author notes that the current positive number of
      entry level residency positions available to graduates of colleges of podiatric
      medicine may be a dubious facade in view of increasing college enrollments and
      the potential conversion of rotating podiatric residencies to residencies in
      primary podiatric medicine. He cautions the profession not to overlook these
      events as it considers the development of the PGY-1 concept in the restructuring
      of entry level residency training.

PMID- 1460572
TI  - Primary care podiatric medicine and entry level residency. The new millennium.
AB  - The author presents the perspective that the nation's health care initiatives
      demand that greater attention be given to primary care providers. Inasmuch as the
      credibility of the podiatric medical profession must function in a health care
      environment dominated by allopathic and osteopathic physicians, the podiatric
      primary care initiative must be pursued within the guidelines and definitions for
      primary care that are present in all of mainstream medicine. The author argues
      that primary care podiatric medicine must establish itself as a specialty that
      stands as an equal along side of the other recognized specialties in podiatric
      medicine. Also, in keeping with the essential educational needs for specialty
      training, the development of residencies in primary podiatric medicine is crucial
      to assuring a credible area of special practice.

PMID- 1460573
TI  - Postgraduate podiatric medical educational resources in the Department of
      Veterans Affairs.
AB  - The existing podiatric medical residencies in the Department of Veterans Affairs
      are reviewed. The suitability of these residencies to fill a potential need for
      entry level programs is discussed. The financial implications of providing such
      training are reviewed and a plan for implementation is presented. Ninety-eight
      rotating podiatric residency positions currently available in Department of
      Veterans Affairs hospitals are prime candidates to serve as entry level PGY-1
      positions. Assurances will need to be given that implementation of the PGY-1
      concept must serve the best interests of the veteran patient population, and that
      funds will need to be allocated to pay faculty salaries and resident stipends.
      Congressional review of student loan forbearance policies affecting podiatric
      medical residents is also needed.

PMID- 1460574
TI  - Experience with the rotating podiatric residency/podiatric surgical residency-12
      model. Twenty-four months of integrated training.
AB  - The author describes the positive experiences of Cranston General Hospital,
      Osteopathic in establishing a 24-month program, combining an entry level rotating
      podiatric residency and a podiatric surgical residency. The program grew from a
      12-month surgical program to become a 24-month program, using expanded training
      opportunities available in Brown University teaching hospitals. An improved
      quality of care and a greater fund of knowledge for the residents are two results
      of the 24-month training program. Recommendations and views about developing
      entry level residency programs are presented.

PMID- 1460575
TI  - An alternative approach to the mandatory year of clinical residency training.
AB  - The author takes the position that a mandatory fifth postgraduate year to serve
      as a uniform period of clinical education for podiatric medical graduates is
      unnecessary. A need exists to define primary podiatric medicine as the entry
      level podiatric medical field of practice. The colleges of podiatric medicine are
      urged to deemphasize podiatric surgery while placing greater emphasis on primary
      podiatric care. The author believes that the colleges are responsible for
      preparing primary podiatric medical practitioners. Residency programs should
      focus on specialty training in podiatric surgery and podiatric orthopedics.

PMID- 1460576
TI  - The future of postgraduate podiatric medical education. Report of the consensus
      panel. Consensus on critical issues with a specific focus on entry level
      positions.

PMID- 1460577
TI  - The entry level residency curriculum. Proposal for discussion.
AB  - The author discusses the curriculum proposed for the PGY-1 residency program. The
      author briefly describes the activities resulting from the March 1992 residency
      forum that have led to a national survey of residency program directors to
      ascertain opinions about the critical elements of the PGY-1 residency. The
      elements proposed as part of the PGY-1 curriculum, including specific training
      experiences for 13 clinical rotations, are presented. Results of the survey will
      be used as a basis for discussion at a second residency forum to be held in
      December 1992.

PMID- 1460578
TI  - Sexual harassment in podiatric medical education. The residency interview
      process.

PMID- 1460579
TI  - Diabetic ulcers.

PMID- 1460580
TI  - Morton's neuroma.

PMID- 1460581
TI  - Primary prevention trial of oral cancer in india: a 10-year follow-up study.
AB  - Oral cancer is caused by chewing and smoking of tobacco. To assess the
      feasibility of primary prevention of oral cancer, two cohorts were studied in
      base-line surveys and then followed up annually for 10-yr in Ernakulam district
      of Kerala state. The intervention cohort consisted of 12212 tobacco users aged 15
      yr and over, who were exposed to a concentrated program of education against
      tobacco use. The control cohort was a non-concurrent cohort of 6075 tobacco users
      studied using similar methods but with a minimal amount of advice against tobacco
      use. The stoppage of tobacco use increased and the incidence rate of leukoplakia
      decreased significantly and substantially in the intervention cohort compared to
      the control cohort. The decrease in the incidence of leukoplakia was indicative
      of the decrease in the risk of oral cancer since the two were intimately related.
      This study demonstrated feasibility of primary prevention of oral cancer.

PMID- 1460582
TI  - Melanin depigmentation of the palatal mucosa in reverse smokers: a preliminary
      study.
AB  - The melanin pigmentation in the palate of Indian reverse smokers was
      histologically studied in 80 biopsies, which were compared with corresponding
      tissue from 49 nontobacco users. The morphology of epithelium containing melanin
      in its basal part was normal in smokers and nonsmokers, in contrast to areas with
      a local melanin depigmentation of the epithelium found in some of the reverse
      smokers. Here an epithelial thinning, inflammation in the underlying connective
      tissue, and eventually a cancer was found. The histologic appearance was in
      accordance with the theory that as long as a smoker's melanosis or a genetic
      melanin pigmentation is present, melanin functions as a defence against toxic
      agents penetrating into the oral mucosa.

PMID- 1460583
TI  - Langerhans cell distribution and keratinocyte expression of HLADR in oral lichen
      planus.
AB  - Keratinocyte expression of the Class II major histocompatibility complex antigen
      HLADR, is seen in several inflammatory disorders of skin and mucosa, including
      lichen planus. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the distribution
      of Langerhans cells and their expression of CD4 in oral lichen planus is related
      to keratinocyte HLADR. The numbers of CD1- and CD4-positive Langerhans cells were
      compared in areas of keratinocyte HLADR and areas showing no expression in oral
      lichen planus and with normal oral mucosa. Cells were identified using an
      immunoalkaline phosphatase technique and numbers were expressed per mm epithelial
      surface length. In lichen planus, an increase both in the number of Langerhans
      cells and the numbers expressing CD4 were found in areas of keratinocyte HLADR
      expression compared with HLADR negative areas and with normal oral mucosa. There
      was no difference in the numbers of Langerhans cells or their expression of CD4
      between HLADR-negative areas in LP and normal oral mucosa. These results show
      that the distribution of Langerhans cells is related to keratinocyte expression
      of HLADR and suggest that Langerhans cell entry may be enhanced in these areas.
      Whilst it is possible this enhancement is mediated by CD4/HLADR interaction,
      other molecules are also likely to be important in controlling Langerhans cell
      entry into oral mucosa.

PMID- 1460584
TI  - Relative efficacy of fluocinolone acetonide compared with triamcinolone acetonide
      in treatment of oral lichen planus.
AB  - Twenty patients with oral lichen planus and topically treated with fluocinolone
      acetonide in orabase 0.1% (FAO) were compared with 20 treated with triamcinolone
      acetonide in orabase 0.1% (TAO). During 4 wk of treatment the lesions in 13 of 19
      patients could be effectively cured with FAO whereas only 8 of 19 patients were
      cured with TAO. These differences were statistically significant. There were no
      differences in blood pressure, plasma cortisol or number of circulating
      lymphocytes after treatment with FAO, but the number of eosinophils was reduced
      in every case after treatment for 6 months. There was no permanent adrenal
      cortical suppression after treatment for 6 months. Acute pseudomembranous
      candidiasis during the treatment was common but could be cured with antifungal
      drug in every case. This study shows that FAO in a majority of cases is an
      effective treatment of oral lichen planus without any serious clinical side
      effects apart from treatable candidiasis.

PMID- 1460585
TI  - Transamidase and collagenase activity in healthy and diseased human gingival
      tissues.
AB  - Transamidases are a class of calcium-dependent mammalian enzymes which cross-link
      proteins by catalyzing the formation of (gamma-glutamyl)-epsilon-lysine bonds. It
      is possible that these enzymes play an important anabolic role in tissue healing.
      This study was to quantitate transamidase activity in human gingival tissue and
      examine the relation between transmidase activity and degree of inflammation.
      Forty-four out of a total 120 collected human gingival specimens from healthy and
      diseased patients were selected based on histometric and microbiologic criteria.
      Specimens were minced and homogenized in 10 mM CaCl2 and then extracted for 30
      min, in 50 mM tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.5) containing 100 mM CaCl2. Following low
      speed centrifugation at 4 degrees C, the supernatant solution was assayed for
      both transamidase and collagenase activities by radioactive amine incorporation,
      and digestion of tritiated collagen, respectively. Appreciable levels of
      transamidase and collagenase activities in healthy gingivae were found. These
      enzyme activities were significantly elevated in the diseased and healing
      tissues. Unlike other transamidases, calcium was required in the enzyme
      extraction process.

PMID- 1460586
TI  - [New attempts in practical training of physiology for medical students].

PMID- 1460587
TI  - [Current treatment of poisoning by ingestion of caustic substances].
AB  - Lesions by ingestion of corrosive substances had so far been treated at the time
      of sequelae. In the seventies several events modified deeply the epidemiology and
      the early care of these poisonings. At that time household products like highly
      concentrated basic and acid substances and oxidizing agents were distributed and
      led to an increase of the number and the severity of these intoxications. In the
      same time, fiberoptic endoscopy of the digestive tract played a leading part to
      evaluate the diagnosis and the prognosis of these poisonings at an early stage,
      and thus, with accurate intensive care and digestive surgery contributed to
      generate appropriate guidelines, according to the severity. The first step of the
      treatment is fasting, fluid replacement and analgesic if required. A full
      examination must be performed, especially in the throat even if there is no
      strong correlation between early clinical signs and the severity of the lesions;
      blood samples must be obtained to look for metabolic acidosis, hyperleukocytosis
      hemolysis and consumption coagulopathy which could be better indicators of the
      severity. Fiberoptic endoscopy of the upper digestive tract should be performed
      as soon as the physical and psychological patient's condition is stable; if
      possible before the twelfth hour and no more late than the twenty-fourth hour. It
      should determine the lesions: type, range and grade according to Quincy's
      classification modified by Mongon and Di Constanzo. Survival and healing of
      "extremely severe" grade intoxication can only be obtained through a surgical
      intervention within the first hours; a laparotomy will indicate the depth of the
      lesions, which is not determined by endoscopy, and will consist of Celerier's
      stripping method and if necessary a gastrectomy, more seldom a cephalic duodeno
      pancreatectomy. Only the surgical excision of necrotic tissues can prevent the
      occurrence of lethal complications like oesophageal or gastric perforations and
      septic shocks. The analysis of the literature from 1975 up to now gives us
      information on the methods and the results of these different therapeutic
      approaches.

PMID- 1460588
TI  - [Current status of poisoning by ingestion of caustics: apropos of a series of 49
      cases].
AB  - The authors report the history of 49 patients, admitted to an intensive care unit
      after a caustic or corrosive ingestion. This series follows a similar one,
      related in 1979. An update is made for early evaluation and management, based on
      patients classification in three groups: severe cases, moderate cases, mild
      cases. Clinical and biological data, treatment and outcome for the three groups
      are related. The frequency and gravity of these poisonings appear to be the same
      as in the first series, with poor prognosis for extreme emergencies and high risk
      of oesophageal or gastric stricture for important forms. In this population, 20%
      of extreme emergencies have favorable outcome with early major surgical
      procedure.

PMID- 1460589
TI  - [Fatal poisoning involving amitriptyline: toxicologic data].
AB  - A fatality involving amitriptyline is described. The drug and its metabolite
      nortriptyline were separately quantified in various post-mortem samples,
      including hair. Results are discussed in the light of the existing literature.

PMID- 1460590
TI  - [Iodoform poisoning. 3 cases].
AB  - Three cases of iodoform poisoning are described following dressings with 10%
      iodoform gauze (0.10 x 5 m) on extended wounds. Five, ten and sixteen days after
      the beginning of dressings, the patients became confuse, hallucinated, and one of
      them was subsequently comatose. Vomiting, fever, tachycardia with premature
      ventricular beats and shortening of P-R interval, slight increase of
      transaminases and proteinuria were observed. Within a few days (3 to 8) after the
      iodoform dressings were discontinued, the signs of iodoform toxicity disappeared.
      The toxicity of iodoform is probably unrecognized if the rarity of the
      observations published and the amount of iodoform gauzes annually sold are
      compared.

PMID- 1460591
TI  - Risks of flumazenil in mixed benzodiazepine-tricyclic antidepressant overdose:
      report of a preliminary study in the dog.
AB  - This preliminary study evaluates the cardiac and neurological risks associated
      with the sudden antagonism of benzodiazepine (BZD)--induced sedation in dogs
      intoxicated with tricyclic anti-depressants (TCA). Twelve dogs were anesthetized
      with midazolam and ventilated with room air. EEG, ECG, and arterial pressure were
      continuously recorded. An infusion of amitriptyline (6 dogs) or clomipramine (6
      dogs) 1 mg/kg. min was maintained until signs of cardiotoxicity (QRS
      prolongation, hypotension or arrhythmias) occurred. The effects of a bolus of
      flumazenil 0.2 mg/kg were then observed until 120 minutes. In amitriptyline
      poisoning, BZD reversal was associated with development of convulsions in 3 dogs,
      with severe arrhythmias in 4 and with one death. In clomipramine intoxication, 2
      dogs developed sudden fatal arrhythmias. These results show that BZD reversal may
      unmask the convulsant properties and increase the severity of arrhythmias induced
      by TCA.

PMID- 1460592
TI  - Operation Haven--one year on.

PMID- 1460594
TI  - Naval Party 1026 (SE)--first in, first out.

PMID- 1460593
TI  - Operation Haven.

PMID- 1460595
TI  - Primary Casualty Reception Ship: the hospital within--Operation Granby.
AB  - As the build-up of Operation Granby forces developed in the Gulf, casualty
      estimates indicated the need for a 100-bed hospital facility to care for the
      possible maritime casualties. RFA Argus, the Air Training Ship, was identified as
      the potential Primary Casualty Reception Ship (PCRS) and at the end of September
      1990 plans were drawn up to convert the forward hangar into a two-storey 100-bed
      hospital in collective protection (COLPRO). In the three weeks prior to
      deployment, the hospital was designed, built, equipped and staffed. Argus arrived
      in the Gulf in mid-November as the PCRS with, all in COLPRO, a 10-bed intensive
      care unit (ICU), a 14-bed high dependency unit (HDU), a 76-bed low dependency
      unit (LDU) plus four operating tables in two theatres with full support services.
      The hospital was staffed by a medical team of 136 personnel and supported by the
      Air department with four casualty evacuation helicopters, an RN Party and the
      staff of the RFA. One hundred and five patients were treated of which 78 were
      returned to duty. Argu as PCRS spent longer in the northern Persian Gulf than any
      other ship, UK or US.

PMID- 1460596
TI  - Naval Party 1036: its role in the Gulf Conflict.
AB  - With the escalation of the Gulf Conflict in December 1990, there was a greater
      requirement for medics to support the land forces. In war, BMH Hannover becomes
      32 Field Hospital RAMC, a 200 bed third line medical facility. This account
      describes the contribution made by Naval Party 1036 when it augmented 32 Field
      Hospital in Saudi Arabia in early 1991 during Operation Granby.

PMID- 1460597
TI  - Operation Haven.

PMID- 1460598
TI  - No safe haven? Kurdish relief operation April-July 1991.

PMID- 1460599
TI  - Kurdish relief--a nurse's view.

PMID- 1460600
TI  - Operation Haven--paediatric perspective.

PMID- 1460601
TI  - Operation Haven: surgical aspects.

PMID- 1460602
TI  - Decrease in enkephalinase A number in kidney membranes from hypercholesterolemic
      and hypertensive rats.
AB  - The variation of enkephalinase A number on the hypertensive and
      hypercholesterolemia rats kidney membranes is studied using the [3H]-acetorphan,
      a potent inhibitor of enkephalinase A to label the protease in rat kidney. The
      binding of [3H]-acetorphan to kidney membrane determined in vitro with both
      equilibrium and kinetic methods is saturable and reversible involving a single
      class of sites with a dissociation constant of 4-5.3 nM. The [3H]-acetorphan
      binding capacity is identical, Bmax approximately 51 pmoles per mg of proteins,
      for kidney membranes from Sprague Dawley and Wistar Kyoto rats. In contrast, the
      enkephalinase A number is decreased in the pathological states studied: 20% for
      hypertensive rats and 50% for hypercholesterolemic rats. Such pharmacological
      results provide a great deal of information about the modification appeared in
      the metabolism of peptidic substrates of enkephalinase A in hypercholesterolemia
      and hypertension.

PMID- 1460603
TI  - Characterization of muscarinic receptor subtypes in canine left ventricular
      membranes.
AB  - The pharmacological characteristics of muscarinic receptor (mAChR) subtypes in
      canine left ventricular membranes (LVM) were determined using [3H] quinuclidinyl
      benzilate ([3H]QNB) and [3H]N-methyl scopolamine ([3H]NMS) as ligands. Binding of
      [3H]QNB and [3H]NMS was saturable with respect to the radioligand concentrations.
      Analysis of binding isotherms by Scatchard plot showed that [3H]QNB and [3H]NMS
      bound to an apparently homogeneous population of mAChRs in LVM, with KD values of
      390 +/- 100 and 285 +/- 34 pM and Bmax values of 240 +/- 20 and 133 +/- 9 fmol/mg
      protein, (n = 6), respectively. The Hill coefficients for [3H]QNB and [3H]NMS
      binding were 0.95 +/- 0.02 and 0.99 +/- 0.01, respectively. Based on the
      competitive inhibition of [3H]ligand binding, atropine and NMS as well as the
      selective M1 antagonist PZ revealed no selectivity for these mAChRs. PZ competed
      with [3H]QNB or [3H]NMS for a single binding site with a Ki value of 0.23 +/-
      0.03 microM and 0.62 +/- 0.10 microM, (n = 6), respectively, which is close to
      the values of M2 or M3 receptors. The data indicate that the M1 receptor subtype
      did not exist in canine LVM. Competition of [3H]ligand binding with selective M2
      antagonists, AF-DX 116 and methoctramine and the selective M3 antagonists, 4-DAMP
      and hexahydrosiladifenidol, gave a best fit for a two-binding site model. The
      inhibition of carbachol-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis by PZ, AF-DX 116 and
      4-DAMP, generated an affinity profile for this response also dissimilar to that
      described for the classical cardiac M2 response. Although no other muscarinic
      receptor mRNA has been detected in this tissue, these data suggest the presence
      of a second population of muscarinic sites, which may signify an M2 receptor
      diversity.

PMID- 1460604
TI  - LPS-induced decrease of specific binding of 3H-dexamethasone to peritoneal
      macrophages of C57BL/6 mice.
AB  - The effect of LPS on the specific binding of 3H-dexamethasone to peritoneal
      macrophages of C57BL/6 mice was studied. Scatchard plot of the specific binding
      of 3H-dexamethasone to the macrophages indicated that the Kd and Ro of
      glucocorticoid receptor was approximately 3.0 nM and 5,500 binding sites per
      cell, respectively. LPS, at the concentration of 10 ug/ml, caused a decrease in
      the specific binding of 3H-dexamethasone to macrophages after it interacted with
      the macrophages for different times. Con A, a mitogen for lymphocytes, did not
      significantly cause a decrease of glucocorticoid receptor in the macrophages at
      the concentration of 10 ug/ml. Our results indicated that the effect of LPS on
      the specific binding of 3H-dexamethasone to macrophages was different from the
      effect of Con A, which might be significant in the interaction of immune system
      and neuroendocrine system.

PMID- 1460605
TI  - Modulatory effect of nonesterified fatty acids on structure and binding
      characteristics of estrogen receptor from MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.
AB  - Arachidonic, docosahexaenoic and oleic acids were found to produce a dose
      dependent cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells; palmitic and stearic acids were
      totally ineffective in this regard suggesting that solely unsaturated fatty acids
      were able to arrest mammary tumor cell growth. Similarly, only former acids were
      able to decrease the binding capacity and affinity (increase Kd value) of the
      cells for 3H-E2 in a dose-dependent manner. In the case of arachidonic acid (the
      reference fatty acid), this decrease was associated with a slight cleavage of the
      native 67 KDa estrogen receptor (ER) into 50 and 25-30 KDa peptides as
      demonstrated by sequential labeling of high-salt cell extracts with 3H-tamoxifen
      aziridine, specific immunoadsorption with H-222 anti-ER monoclonal antibody, SDS
      PAGE and fluorography. Both, modifications in binding characteristics of ER and
      cleavage of the native 67 KDa receptor were found to be extremely marked when
      unsaturated fatty acids were directly added to the high-salt cell extracts. This
      clear influence on the ER structure was reflected on enzyme immunological assay
      (EIA) by a reduction of ER immunoreactivity of approximately 50% in presence of
      arachidonic acid. Our observations are discussed in terms of possible
      interference of unsaturated fatty acids either through transmembrane modulation
      of phosphokinases and/or phospholipases implicated in ER mechanism of action, or
      through an intracellular interaction between ER and these acids acting as second
      messengers in regulation of cellular functions.

PMID- 1460606
TI  - Covalent cross-linking of radiolabeled N-formylated hexapeptide to its specific
      receptor on rat and human neutrophils: evidence for a ligand induced complex
      formation.
AB  - The structure of the rat and human neutrophil receptor for N-formylated
      chemotactic peptides was characterized using 125I-labeled N-formyl-Nle-Leu-Phe
      Nle-Tyr-Lys hexapeptide as a ligand and an affinity cross-linking technique. 125I
      hexapeptide bound to purified rat peritoneal neutrophils was time, temperature
      and pH-dependent. The average receptor number per cell was about 67,000 and
      dissociation constant (Kd) 0.41 nM. Formyl-MLLP, fMLP, fNLP, were 750%, 15%, 8.6%
      respectively and Boc-MLP, Boc-NLP, and MLP 0.6% as potent as the hexapeptide in
      inhibiting the binding of 125I-hexapeptide to rat neutrophils. The same
      correlation was found between these peptides in their potency to induce
      chemotaxis. This indicates that the rat neutrophil chemotactic receptor is like
      human receptor also a highly stereoselective and requires a N-formylated ligand
      for high affinity binding. Affinity cross-linking of 125I-hexapeptide to rat and
      human neutrophil chemotactic receptor with glutaraldehyde revealed on SDS-PAGE a
      85-kDa and 62-kDa major complex and a 170-kDa and 120-kDa minor complex,
      respectively. The 120-kDa complex was absent in human neutrophils if the cells
      were treated with glutaraldehyde prior to cross-linking of 125I-hexapeptide to
      its receptor. Likewise, the larger complex was absent if neutrophils were exposed
      to heterologous ligand (C5a) prior to glutaraldehyde treatment and cross-linking
      of 125I-hexapeptide to its specific receptor. These results demonstrate that the
      rat neutrophils possess a functional high-affinity receptor for N-formylated
      chemotactic peptides and that the size of the monomeric receptor is 85-kDa and
      about 23-kDa larger than that of the human receptor. Upon homologous ligand
      binding the receptor seems to form a larger complex.

PMID- 1460607
TI  - Could the fasting plasma glucose assay be used to screen for gestational
      diabetes?
AB  - The fasting plasma glucose assay was compared with the one-hour post-glucose test
      as a screening test for identification of gestational diabetes. Of 4,561
      consecutive patients screened with a 50-g glucose test, 968 (21.2%) had results >
      or = 135 mg/dL; 141 (14.6%, or 3.1% of the total) were found to have diabetes. In
      the 968 patients, the area under the fasting plasma glucose receiver operating
      characteristic curve was greater than that under the glucose screening test
      curve, indicating greater discriminatory value of the former test. Of the 116
      patients who had sequential glucose screening tests and fasting plasma glucose
      assays performed twice during pregnancy, a significant correlation was found for
      fasting plasma glucose values, but not for glucose screening test values. We
      conclude that the fasting plasma glucose assay may perform better than the one
      hour post-glucose test as a screening test for gestational diabetes. Based on
      these data, a population-based prospective study seems justified.

PMID- 1460608
TI  - Creatine kinase and its MB isoenzyme in the third trimester and the peripartum
      period.
AB  - Forty-nine normal pregnant women were recruited late in the third trimester for
      serial determinations of creatine kinase (CK) and its MB isoenzyme fraction (CK
      MB) at four different times: (1) on recruitment between 36 and 40 weeks'
      gestation, (2) on admission in active labor, (3) immediately after delivery, and
      (4) on the first postpartum day. In the patients with vaginal delivery (n = 43)
      total CK was significantly elevated at time 4 compared with times 1, 2 and 3 (P
      value < .0001). CK-MB fraction was also significantly elevated at time 4 compared
      with times 1, 2 and 3 (P value < .0001). In 35.7% of the patients at time 4, CK
      MB was sufficiently elevated to give the laboratory interpretation of
      "borderline" or "consistent with a myocardial infarction," even though none of
      the patients had cardiac symptoms or complications. A review of the literature
      shows that CK-MB is found not only in myocardium but also in uterus and placenta.
      The implication of this study is that elevations in total CK and CK-MB should be
      used with caution during the peripartum period to diagnose myocardial ischemia or
      infarction.

PMID- 1460609
TI  - Ultrasonic surgical aspirator in cytoreduction of splenic metastases to avoid
      splenectomy.
AB  - The Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator (Cavitron) was used to reduce the
      volume of splenic metastases in seven patients. Six patients had epithelial
      carcinoma of the ovary, and one had peritoneal mesothelioma. All patients had
      stage IIIC disease. Initially, six patients had malignant disease > 15 mm in
      diameter (of any single nodule), and one had disease 6-15 mm in diameter. In
      order to avoid resection of the spleen, cytoreduction could not be performed by
      standard means. After using the Cavitron, three patients had no gross residual
      disease, and four patients had disease 1-5 mm in diameter. No complication
      resulted from cytoreduction of splenic disease using the Cavitron, and
      splenectomy was not performed in any case. The Cavitron is invaluable in
      obtaining minimal residual disease of splenic metastases without performing
      splenectomy.

PMID- 1460610
TI  - Laparoscopy using a simplified open technique. A review of 585 cases.
AB  - Laparoscopy was carried out using a simplified open method on 585 patients. In
      the group, 173 (29.5%) had undergone a previous laparoscopy or laparotomy, 28
      (4.8%) suffered from gross obesity and 1 patient had a large umbilical hernia.
      Laparoscopy was diagnostic in 216 (37%) patients and operative in 369 (63%). In
      this series there were no technical failures or major complications; the
      incidence of minor complications was 2.7%. The above results seem to suggest that
      open laparoscopy compared to the closed method may offer the advantage of a lack
      of contraindications secondary to previous surgery, no risk of failure with
      unintended laparotomy and, possibly, decreased postoperative discomfort. A
      larger, randomized series to settle the controversy between closed and open
      laparoscopy regarding the safety differences between the two approaches may
      result in more widespread use of the open technique.

PMID- 1460611
TI  - Diagnosis of intrauterine growth retardation as a two-step process with
      morphometric ultrasound and Doppler umbilical artery velocimetry.
AB  - Ultrasound and Doppler umbilical artery velocimetry have been used to diagnose
      the small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetus. Both techniques are relatively
      inefficient for this diagnosis. The aim of the present study was to see whether
      their serial use improved diagnostic accuracy. Forty women with an ultrasound
      diagnosis of SGA within three weeks of delivery were studied with velocimetry,
      and the outcome was evaluated. Diagnostic accuracy was improved from 65% by
      ultrasonography alone to 92% by the addition of an abnormal umbilical artery
      waveform (P < .02). An abnormal waveform was associated with an adverse outcome
      in 62%, compared to 14% with normal velocimetry (P < .01). The majority of small
      fetuses have a normal outcome. The combination of ultrasonography and velocimetry
      improved diagnostic accuracy and identified those small fetuses truly at risk.

PMID- 1460612
TI  - Does douching promote ascending infection?
AB  - Despite the fact that vaginal douching is practiced regularly by approximately 20
      million American women, little is known about who douches, why or its associated
      risks or benefits. Recent studies of douching collectively suggest a possible
      association with ectopic pregnancy and pelvic inflammatory disease. These
      findings, however, are difficult to interpret because of the small number of
      studies, conflicting findings and methodologic weaknesses, reflecting both the
      early stage of interest and difficulties inherent to studies of intimate
      behaviors. Further information is needed to differentiate between douching as a
      causal factor or as an indicator for behaviors that increase the risk of sexually
      transmitted diseases and their complications. The central issue is whether other
      risk factors and/or markers for sexually transmitted diseases, which are more
      common among women who douche, have been reasonably excluded as a source of bias.
      Few, if any, criteria for establishing a causal link between douching and adverse
      outcomes are satisfied, but this reflects a paucity of data rather than data that
      refute such a conclusion.

PMID- 1460613
TI  - Splenic artery aneurysm rupture in pregnancy with maternal and fetal survival. A
      case report.
AB  - A splenic artery aneurysm occurred at 30 weeks, 3 days' gestation. Both the
      mother and fetus survived.

PMID- 1460614
TI  - Ultrasound diagnosis of a twin gestation with concordant body stalk anomaly. A
      case report.
AB  - Concordant body stalk anomaly in an 18-week twin gestation was diagnosed by
      ultrasound and confirmed by pathologic examination after elective termination of
      pregnancy. The ultrasonographic presentation of this rare anomaly and its
      embryogenesis are discussed.

PMID- 1460615
TI  - Roseola infantum in pregnancy. A case report.
AB  - Roseola infantum (exanthem subitum) was first described as a specific syndrome by
      Zahorsky in 1913. It is a benign disease that occurs almost exclusively in
      infants and young children (six months to three years of age). We report a case
      of roseola in a pregnant woman. We were unable to find any prior reports of
      roseola in pregnancy. The classic presentation of roseola is characterized by
      high temperatures (103-105 degrees F) that last 3-5 days and resolve by crisis
      followed by the appearance of a morbilliform rash that lasts a few hours to a few
      days. The infectious agent is human herpesvirus-6. We recommend the addition of
      roseola to the differential diagnosis of rashes that occur in pregnancy. The
      potential danger to the fetus from this virus is unknown.

PMID- 1460616
TI  - Intraamniotic infection with Candida albicans associated with a retained
      intrauterine device. A case report.

PMID- 1460617
TI  - Distribution of the Lyme disease vector, Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) and
      isolation of Borrelia burgdorferi in Ontario, Canada.
AB  - Ixodes dammini Spielman, Clifford, Piesman & Corwin was confirmed at Long Point,
      Lake Erie, Ontario, on small mammals and white-tailed deer and by dragging for
      ticks. Mean intensities of up to 16.2 larvae and 2.1 nymphs were found on
      Peromyscus leucopus (Rafinesque), with an overall prevalence of infestation up to
      92%. Adult I. dammini (101.6 +/- 77.63) (mean +/- SD) were found on 8 white
      tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmerman). The seasonal pattern of recovery
      of ticks from hosts and the environment resembled that described elsewhere. I.
      dammini was not found on 952 small mammals trapped at 25 other localities
      throughout Ontario, although other ticks (Derma-centor variabilis (Packard),
      Ixodes angustus Neumann, I. marxi Banks, I. muris Bishopp & Smith) were
      encountered sporadically. I. dammini is not widespread or common in Ontario other
      than at Long Point. Borrelia burgdorferi was isolated from 10 of 151 P. leucopus;
      from larval and nymphal I. dammini; and from nymphal and adult D. variabilis, all
      from Long Point. B. burgdorferi was not recovered from 116 small mammals from
      localities other than Long Point. Seropositive P. leucopus (indirect fluorescent
      antibody test titer > or = 1:20) were common (up to 30% prevalence in July 1988,
      n = 23) on Long Point. Where I. dammini was not found, the prevalence of
      seroreactors among Peromyscus was 0 (15 sites), < 12% (5 sites), and 29% (1
      site); seroprevalence at 1:20 could not be calculated for a further 4 sites
      examined in 1987. Antibody to B. burgdorferi was also detected in other small
      mammals at some sites. Such antibody was interpreted as possibly cross-reacting
      or caused by direct transmission.

PMID- 1460618
TI  - Synganglial morphology and neurosecretory centers of adult Amblyomma americanum
      (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae).
AB  - Lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (L.), were processed by standard
      histological means for paraffin embedding, sectioning, and staining by the
      paraldehyde-fuchsin technique. The synganglion is highly condensed around the
      esophagus and possesses paired optic, cheliceral, palpal, pedal I-IV nerves, and
      opisthosomal nerves and a single unpaired esophageal nerve. Although optic nerves
      were observed leading from the eyes to the protocerebrum, distinct optic ganglia
      were not seen in any of the preparations examined. The paraldehyde-fuchsin
      technique revealed 14 neurosecretory centers (11 paired, 3 unpaired) within the
      synganglion, which are described in relation to the underlying neuropilar
      structure. A previously undescribed internal subesophageal center that consists
      of a single cell was observed within a cluster of perikarya lying posteriorly
      adjacent to the esophagus. A three-dimensional reconstruction of the internal
      neuropilar structure of the synganglion was made, and the included neurosecretory
      centers were mapped. Comparisons are made to previous work on other ticks, and
      physiological relationships are considered.

PMID- 1460619
TI  - Female Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in Thailand rarely feed on sugar.
AB  - Female Aedes aegypti (L.) of two different body sizes and provided with different
      diets (20% sucrose, water only, or 20% sucrose + human blood) were marked and
      released together in a rural Thai village. Recaptured marked and unmarked (wild)
      adults were tested for fructose by the cold-anthrone reaction. Both released and
      wild females showed a low frequency of sugar feeding in nature; both small-bodied
      and large-bodied individuals failed to sugar feed significantly. Marked females
      released with sugar in their crop utilized this energy source over the following
      2-3 d but failed to replenish it. In contrast, about one-third of wild, resting
      males showed evidence of recent sugar feeding. This indicated that the absence of
      plant sugar in females was not caused by a shortage of nectar sources in this
      rural domestic environment. Presumably, the nonutilization of plant sugar as an
      energy source increases the frequency of blood feeding and, therefore, the
      vectorial capacity of Ae. aegypti.

PMID- 1460620
TI  - Differentiation of vector species of phlebotominae (Diptera: Psychodidae) in
      Kenya by chorionic sculpturing of their eggs.
AB  - Chorionic sculpturing on eggs of Phlebotomus pedifer Lewis, Mutinga, and Ashford;
      the closely related Phlebotomus aculeatus Lewis, Minter, and Ashford (= P.
      elegonensis Ngoka, Madel, and Mutinga); and Phlebotomus martini Parrot was
      examined and compared by scanning electron microscopy. The eggs of P. pedifer had
      a general pattern of longitudinal ridges; those of P. aculeatus and P. martini
      exhibited intraspecific differences. Chorionic patterns of eggs were not reliable
      to differentiate these species. It is suggested that other methods of
      differentiation should be used on these species.

PMID- 1460621
TI  - Detection and identification of mammalian DNA from the gut of museum specimens of
      ticks.
AB  - A method for detection and identification of mammalian DNA in the gut of alcohol
      preserved ticks has been developed. Successful amplification and sequencing of
      host cytochrome b is reported from ticks preserved in 70% alcohol for more than
      40 yr. The method described shows promise for determination of unknown tick
      hosts.

PMID- 1460622
TI  - Distribution of Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) in residential lawns on Prudence
      Island, Rhode Island.
AB  - The distribution of nymphal Ixodes dammini Spielman, Clifford, Piesman & Corwin
      in residential lawns was assessed by flagging on Prudence Island, RI. The number
      of ticks per sample was five times greater in lawns adjacent to woods than in
      lawns adjacent to other lawns. Relative tick abundance was negatively correlated
      with distance from the woods, but the decline was gradual. Spirochete prevalence
      in ticks did not differ among lawn types or at different distances from the
      woods. Therefore, barriers that keep people away from the wood edge probably
      lower the risk of acquiring Lyme disease, but there is still a risk. Even with
      physical barriers at lawn-wood edges, personal precautions to prevent tick bites
      should be followed.

PMID- 1460623
TI  - Similar reproductive status and body size of horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae)
      attracted to carbon dioxide-baited canopy traps and a Jersey bullock.
AB  - The reproductive status and body size of four Tabanus species collected from
      canopy traps baited with carbon dioxide and from a Jersey bullock were compared.
      Parity rates, sperm prevalence, stage of follicular development in terminal
      follicles of parous females, prevalence of females retaining eggs, average number
      of eggs retained in parous flies, and the body size of parous females did not
      differ significantly between sampling methods. Based on the presence of
      nulliparous host-seeking flies, Tabanus pallidescens Philip and T. wilsoni
      Pechuman can be added to the list of tabanids found to be anautogenous.

PMID- 1460624
TI  - Occurrence of Ixodes pacificus (Parasitiformes: Ixodidae) in Arizona.
AB  - Adults and immatures of Ixodes pacificus Cooley & Kohls were collected by
      flagging vegetation and from lizards during a 3-mo period in the Hualapai
      Mountain Park, Mohave County, AZ, in 1991. Collections were made at altitudes >
      or = 2,134 m. Two of 48 gut-salivary gland extracts of adult ticks were positive
      by IFA using a monoclonal antibody (H5332) specific to Borrelia burgdorferi.
      These are the first records of I. pacificus and of spirochetes tentatively
      identified as B. burgdorferi in Arizona.

PMID- 1460625
TI  - Isolation of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, from Ixodes
      dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) collected on Prince Edward Island, Canada.
AB  - Studies were undertaken to monitor for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi, the
      etiologic agent of Lyme disease, on Prince Edward Island, Canada. Gut contents
      were removed for culturing from seven engorged ticks collected in 1991-1992
      including five Ixodes dammini (Spielman, Clifford, Piesman & Corwin) and two I.
      scapularis (Say) removed from a dog that had recently traveled to the southern
      United States. B. burgdorferi was recovered from one I. dammini that had been
      removed from a cat in Charlottetown in October 1991. The cat had not traveled off
      the island. Immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) studies on sera from 75 dogs, 7
      cats, and 8 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) collected on Prince Edward
      Island between 1989 and 1992 revealed one reactor with an IFA titer > or = 1:256.
      The reactor was a dog with a history of travel to the United States. This report
      documents the first isolate of B. burgdorferi in Atlantic Canada, possibly
      because of the introduction of I. dammini on migratory birds. Serological studies
      do not indicate widespread occurrence of B. burgdorferi on Prince Edward Island.

PMID- 1460626
TI  - Clothing impregnations of dibutylphthalate and permethrin as protectants against
      a chigger mite, Eutrombicula hirsti (Acari: Trombiculidae).
AB  - A field study to compare the effects of wearing military uniforms treated with
      permethrin or dibutylphthalate as protection against the chigger Eutrombicula
      hirsti (Sambon) was conducted in northern Queensland, Australia, during November
      1990. Volunteers who wore treated uniforms received significantly fewer chigger
      attachments than individuals who wore untreated uniforms. Australian military
      uniforms treated with dibutylphthalate provided a 97.6% increase in protection,
      whereas uniforms treated with 0.058-0.101 mg/cm2 permethrin provided 96.4%
      protection. U.S. Army uniforms treated with 0.125 mg/cm2 permethrin provided
      83.2% protection. The differences between the clothing treatments were not
      significant. The results show that wearing clothing impregnated with either
      compound is an effective method for personal protection against E. hirsti.

PMID- 1460627
TI  - Failure of dengue viruses to replicate in Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera:
      Culicidae).
AB  - Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) and Aedes aegypti (L.) were parenterally infected
      with dengue viruses and virus replication was monitored at intervals after
      infection in each species. Dengue viruses replicated rapidly in Ae. aegypti,
      reaching a peak titer of 10(6)-10(7) mosquito infectious dose 50 (MID50) per
      mosquito. In Cx. quinquefasciatus, however, dengue virus replication did not
      occur. We conclude that this mosquito species is refractory to infection with
      dengue viruses and, therefore, does not serve as a vector in nature.

PMID- 1460628
TI  - Studies on the ecology of Lyme disease in a deer forest in County Galway,
      Ireland.
AB  - The abundance of the tick Ixodes ricinus (L.) and the infection rate of ticks
      with Borrelia burgdorferi (Johnson et al.) were compared on either side of a deer
      fence in a forest park in County Galway, Ireland, in an attempt to elucidate the
      role of fallow deer, Dama dama, and woodmice, Apodemus sylvaticus, in determining
      the population density of I. ricinus and the transmission of B. burgdorferi. The
      results showed that tick numbers were much higher on the deer side of the fence,
      although the density of mice was similar on both sides. This suggests that, in
      the absence of other obvious factors, deer rather than mice are responsible for
      tick abundance in this habitat. Tick infection rates, determined by
      immunofluorescence, were consistently higher outside the deer fence than inside
      it. It is suggested, therefore, that mice rather than deer may be the important
      reservoir hosts of B. burgdorferi in this habitat and that deer, by feeding many
      larvae, probably contribute large numbers of uninfected ticks to the population.
      If this is the case, there will not be a direct relationship between deer
      abundance and tick infection rates. This has important implications for risk
      assessment.

PMID- 1460629
TI  - Relationship between female Anopheles dirus (Diptera: Culicidae) body size and
      parity in a biting population.
AB  - Wing length of host-seeking Anopheles dirus Peyton & Harrison was measured in Tha
      Mai District, Chanthaburi Province, Thailand. Overall, wing length of nulliparous
      females (mean = 3.035 mm) was not significantly smaller than that of parous
      females (mean = 3.039 mm). Wing length was correlated with rainfall and minimum
      air temperature; females tended to be smaller in the rainy season and larger in
      the cool and early dry seasons, often in association with a high parity rate.
      Malaria transmission potential based on daily survivorship was estimated to be
      highest during the cool and early dry seasons, and during the first half of the
      rainy season.

PMID- 1460630
TI  - Xenopsylla bantorum is an east African subspecies of X. cheopis (Siphonaptera:
      Pulicidae).
AB  - The geographic distribution, host association, and male genital morphology of
      Xenopsylla bantorum Jordan were examined and compared with the Nilotic and
      Oriental "strains" of Xenopsylla cheopis (Rothschild). The more acute shape of
      the ninth sternite separates X. bantorum from all types of X. cheopis; however,
      the length of the first process of the male's clasper and the number of setae on
      this process are significantly different among all three groups; the Nilotic
      strain of X. cheopis is intermediate to the others. Specimens collected from both
      wild and commensal rodents in Nakuru, Kenya, were all X. bantorum, suggesting
      that X. cheopis present early in the century that resulted from introductions on
      Rattus rattus had been absorbed by the native X. bantorum population. These
      factors and a review of opinions by others concerning the status of X. bantorum
      demonstrate that this flea is not specifically distinct from X. cheopis. The
      trinomial X. cheopis bantorum is erected. Furthermore, the Nilotic and Oriental
      "strains" of X. cheopis are distinguishable morphologically solely by the length
      of the male's first process.

PMID- 1460631
TI  - Host immunity to mosquitoes: effect of antimosquito antibodies on Anopheles
      tessellatus and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae).
AB  - Rabbit antibodies to antigens derived from the tissues of sugar-fed Anopheles
      tessellatus Theobald were fed to An. tessellatus and Culex quinquefasciatus Say
      in blood meals. These antibodies tended to reduce the number of eggs produced by
      An. tessellatus, but had no effect on the fecundity of Cx. quinquefasciatus.
      Ingestion of the rabbit antibodies did not detectably affect the mortality of An.
      tessellatus but increased the mortality of Cx. quinquefasciatus. The results
      provide preliminary evidence for the potential of antimosquito antibodies to
      disrupt the physiology of mosquito vectors and indicate the need for further
      studies with high-titer, monospecific antibodies against the relevant target
      antigens.

PMID- 1460632
TI  - Random amplified polymorphic DNA of mosquito species and populations (Diptera:
      Culicidae): techniques, statistical analysis, and applications.
AB  - A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method is described for the
      identification and differentiation of mosquito species and populations. The
      method, described first by Williams et al. (1990), employs single 10 base-long
      primers of arbitrary DNA sequence and results in the amplification of random
      segments of DNA known as random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). We wished to
      determine if RAPD of mosquito DNA could be used for the differentiation of
      species and populations, identification of unknown specimens, and the
      reconstruction of phylogeny. RAPD of mosquito DNA results in the amplification of
      a series of DNA fragments of varying length. Most amplified fragments are unique
      to an individual; however, our data indicated that in each of the five species of
      Aedes examined, some fragments are species-specific and are present in all
      individuals of that species. This enabled us to derive a diagnostic profile for
      each of the five species. A nearest-neighbor analysis of all the amplified DNA
      fragments discriminated among species on a multivariate basis. Several
      individuals of Aedes albopictus (Skuse), included in the analysis as "unknowns,"
      were correctly identified as belonging to Ae. albopictus. UPGMA clustering of
      presence-absence data enabled the separation of different Aedes species as well
      as different populations of Ae. albopictus. The entomological applications of
      RAPD include the construction of diagnostic profiles for species identification
      and differentiation among conspecific populations.

PMID- 1460634
TI  - Preparation and examination of flea larvae (Siphonaptera) by light and electron
      microscopy.
AB  - Techniques are described for making permanent slide-mounted specimens. Larvae
      were thoroughly macerated in KOH to remove soft internal tissue, yielding
      specimens with enhanced transparency and allowing examination of most of the
      exoskeleton in a single larva. Fatty material was removed in acetone to eliminate
      confusion of fat globules with sensilla in the cuticle. The more sclerotized
      exoskeletal elements, such as integumentary scales and the body sclerites
      together with their setae and sensilla, were highlighted by staining with carbol
      fuchsin. Resolution of numbers and arrangement of setae, especially those on the
      dorsum of the head capsule, in the anal comb, and on the anal mounds, was greatly
      facilitated by mounting larvae in dorsal orientation. Clearer views of the
      antennae and mouthparts were obtained, in orientations seldom achieved in whole
      mounts, by dissecting the head capsule. Discrimination of many taxonomically
      valuable features was enhanced by the use of phase-contrast microscopy.
      Interpretation of structures noted in light microscopy was complemented using
      scanning electron microscopy. The latter allowed differentiation between surface
      and internal cuticular structures.

PMID- 1460633
TI  - Reproductive activity of Synosternus cleopatrae (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in
      relation to host factors.
AB  - Reproductive activity of Synosternus cleopatrae (Rothschild) infesting Gerbillus
      andersoni allenbyi Thomas was studied in a natural setting in Israel. Rodents
      were trapped and measured (weight and length), their sex was identified, and
      their reproductive status estimated. Their ectoparasites were removed, and fleas
      were dissected and their oocytes measured. Two indices of flea reproductive
      activity were analyzed: "reproductive status," which distinguished between gravid
      and nongravid females, and "reproductive intensity," which was estimated as the
      sum over the two largest oocytes of the products of oocyte length multiplied by
      oocyte width. Both indices showed that no reproduction took place between
      November and January, but reproduction was relatively stable during the rest of
      the year. Although flea reproductive activity differed significantly among
      individual hosts, only a small fraction of gerbils (10-15%) carried a
      significantly different proportion of reproductive fleas than their monthly
      sample proportion (based on all fleas regardless of hosts). All these hosts
      carried a lower proportion of reproductive fleas than their monthly sample
      proportion. The host's sex, but not reproductive status or age, had a significant
      effect on flea reproduction, expressed as a higher reproductive activity on male
      gerbils. Infestation burden expressed as ectoparasite counts was included in the
      statistical analysis. Only lice, Polyplax gerbilli Ferris, but not S. cleopatrae,
      Stenoponia tripectinata (Tiraboschi), and a total of five mesostigmatid Acari had
      a significantly negative association with S. cleopatrae reproductive activity.
      These relationships between S. cleopatrae reproductive activity and the host
      infestation burden do not support the hypothesis of modulation of S. cleopatrae
      reproduction by the infestation burden. However, differences in the reproductive
      activity of ectoparasites between their hosts may play a major role to generate
      the parasite clumped distribution. Thus, gerbil males probably carry more fleas
      than gerbil females because of the higher reproductive activity of S. cleopatrae
      on gerbil males.

PMID- 1460635
TI  - Food ingestion and digestive enzymes in larval Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus
      (Diptera: Culicidae).
AB  - Frequency of the labral brush movements of first, second, and fourth instars of
      Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) was studied comparatively in the
      laboratory. A frequency of 197 strokes per min for the first and second instars
      was observed in the former species compared to 118 strokes per min in the latter
      species. A faster ingestion rate of algal cells also was observed in first and
      second instars of Ae. aegypti (mean 57.5 cells per s) compared with first and
      second instars of Ae. albopictus (mean 22.4 cells per s). The digestive enzymes
      chymotrypsin (EC 3.4.21.1) and trypsin (EC 3.4.21.4) were more active in the
      peritrophic membrane (including food contents) than in the midgut epithelium of
      both species. Chymotrypsin activity in 11-d-old third and fourth instars of Ae.
      albopictus was 28 times higher than in the corresponding stadia of Ae. aegypti,
      indicating that the former species may have a superior enzymatic process for
      digesting food proteins.

PMID- 1460636
TI  - The genus Parasecia (Acari: Trombiculidae), with the description of a new species
      from Mexico.
AB  - The genus Parasecia Loomis, 1966, is redefined, and Parasecia bulbocalcar Goff is
      described as new from specimens collected off a Yellow-shouldered Bat, Sturnia
      ludovici Anthony, taken in Morelos, Mexico. A key to the 15 species of Parasecia
      is provided.

PMID- 1460637
TI  - Effects of Ascogregarina barretti (Eugregarinida: Lecudinidae) infection on Aedes
      triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Illinois.
AB  - Ascogregarina barretti (Vavra), a gregarine protozoan parasite, infected 23.6 and
      5.0% of Aedes triseriatus (Say) adults that emerged from pupae collected from an
      east-central Illinois tire dump in 1990 and 1991, respectively. Infection
      significantly reduced the wing length of males and females in both years, but its
      effect was greatest in 1991. Females were approximately 1.7 times as likely to be
      infected as males. Infected pupae were 3.53 and 2.76 times more likely to die
      than uninfected pupae in 1990 and 1991, respectively. Wing length also was
      affected by location within the tire dump and by tire water volume. We conclude
      that the A. barretti infection was deleterious to Ae. triseriatus and that the
      effects of this pathogen may be moderated by environmental factors.

PMID- 1460638
TI  - Laboratory evaluation of Acanthocyclops vernalis and Diacyclops bicuspidatus
      thomasi (Copepoda: Cyclopidae) as predators of Aedes canadensis and Ae. stimulans
      (Diptera: Culicidae).
AB  - Predatory effectiveness of two vernal-pool copepods, Acanthocyclops vernalis
      (Fischer) and Diacyclops bicuspidatus thomasi (Forbes), was assessed against
      cohabiting larvae of Aedes canadensis (Theobold) and Aedes stimulans (Walker) in
      laboratory bioassays. D. b. thomasi did not exhibit predatory behavior toward
      first instars, even when both organisms were confined in 35-mm wells for 7 d and
      alternative food sources were not available. A. vernalis did feed on early
      instars, but its effectiveness was significantly influenced by the presence of
      alternate food, the size of the container, and the size and age of the larval
      prey. Results strongly suggest that in a comparatively unrestricted natural
      vernal-pool habitat where an abundance of other food sources are available,
      neither copepod species plays a major role in reducing larval mosquito
      populations.

PMID- 1460640
TI  - Variation in the efficiency of vertical transmission of dengue-1 virus by strains
      of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae).
AB  - Five geographical strains of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) were compared for their
      ability to transmit vertically a dengue-1 isolate from Jamaica. The OAHU strain
      of Ae. albopictus and a strain of Aedes aegypti (L.) from the United States were
      included as controls. The offspring of orally infected females were assayed
      individually for vertical infection. Vertical transmission rates among strains
      ranged from 11 to 41%, and filial infection rates of strains ranged from 0.5 to
      2.9%. Filial infection rates of individual positive families within strains
      ranged from 1.4 to 17.4%. These rates were higher than those previously recorded
      for Ae. albopictus. The observed differences in rates of vertical transmission
      among the strains were not statistically significant, because 95% of the measured
      variation was attributed to families within strains. The most significant source
      of variation in vertical transmission of dengue-1 by Ae. albopictus was at the
      individual level.

PMID- 1460639
TI  - Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi in laboratory-reared Ixodes dammini (Acari:
      Ixodidae) fed on experimentally inoculated white-tailed deer.
AB  - Larvae and nymphs of Ixodes dammini Spielman, Piesman, Clifford & Corwin from a
      laboratory colony were fed on two white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus
      (Zimmerman) inoculated with either the SH2-82 or JD-1 strains of Borrelia
      burgdorferi Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Brenner. Ticks were exposed to
      one deer 43 and 69 d after inoculation of the spirochete and to a second deer 35
      and 61 d after inoculation. Polymerase chain reaction assays amplified the 158 bp
      OspA DNA target sequence in 11.1% (n = 9) of fed larvae and 3.3% (n = 30) of
      nymphs from the deer inoculated with the SH2-82 strain, and 22.7% (n = 22) of
      larvae and 0% (n = 21) of nymphs from a second deer inoculated with the JD-1
      strain of B. burgdorferi. One of three females derived from nymphs fed on one of
      the inoculated deer showed presence of B. burgdorferi DNA, but none of four males
      was positive. Experimentally inoculated deer can serve as a source of at least
      two geographic strains of B. burgdorferi to I. dammini larvae and nymphs for at
      least several weeks.

PMID- 1460641
TI  - African swine fever virus infection in the soft tick, Ornithodoros (Alectorobius)
      puertoricensis (Acari: Argasidae).
AB  - In total, 1,186 second instar Ornithodoros (Alectorobius) puertoricensis Fox
      second instars were fed on a pig when it had a viremia of 10(5.2) hemadsorption
      units (HAd50/ml) and 420 second-instar O. puertoricensis were fed on an
      uninfected pig. Subsequent blood meals for ticks in both groups were from
      uninfected pigs. The effects of African swine fever virus (ASFV) infection on O.
      puertoricensis populations were evaluated for the following parameters:
      mortality; mean time to death; percentage molted per instar; percentage molted to
      male, female, or subsequent instar; effects on duration of premolt period; and
      the number of blood meals per instar. The cumulative virus-induced mortality rate
      for all immature stages (second to fifth instar) of O. puertoricensis that had
      been fed as second instars on a pig infected with ASFV was 43.2%. In contrast,
      23.1% mortality was observed among ticks fed on uninfected pigs. The mortality
      rate among third instars that fed on the viremic pig was 55.3% versus 4.8% among
      nymphs fed on normal pigs. One-third to more than one-half of all third, fourth,
      and fifth instars required at least two blood meals to molt. Mean premolt periods
      for second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth instars fed on uninfected pigs were
      approximately 12, 15, 32, 22, and 14 d, respectively. Mean weights for unfed
      second to fifth instars, males, and females were: 0.6, 1.0, 1.5, 1.7, 1.5, and
      3.1 mg per tick, respectively.

PMID- 1460642
TI  - Could Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) become established in California tree
      holes?
AB  - The ability of temperate zone-adapted Aedes albopictus (Skuse) to survive and
      complete development in California tree holes was evaluated in laboratory
      experiments that assessed development under simulated wet-season conditions,
      larval competition with Aedes sierrensis at different food levels, temporal
      survivorship of eggs stored under different humidities and temperatures, and
      suitability of larvae as hosts for the indigenous parasite Lambornella clarki. At
      all resource levels, Ae. albopictus completed development at temperatures similar
      to those in natural tree hole water in spring and early summer (> or = 16 degrees
      C), but not those during the rainy winter months (4-11 degrees C). In competition
      studies at 21 degrees C, the population performance (i.e., survivorship, pupation
      time, and adult size) of Ae. albopictus at all resource levels was as good or
      better when larvae developed with Ae. sierrensis compared with when reared with
      only conspecifics. Egg survivorship declined with increased storage time,
      increased temperature, and decreased humidity; > 55% of eggs hatched following 24
      wk storage at 11 degrees C with relative humidities > 78%. In host suitability
      tests, parasitic theronts of L. clarki consistently attacked Ae. albopictus
      larvae at rates significantly lower than Ae. sierrensis. L. clarki that
      successfully invaded Ae. albopictus larvae failed to multiply and kill their
      hosts; thus, Ae. albopictus is not a suitable host for L. clarki. The protracted
      drying of most tree holes and low water temperatures during the rainy season will
      hinder but not preclude establishment of Ae. albopictus in California.

PMID- 1460643
TI  - Caring, men and women, nurses and doctors, and health care ethics.

PMID- 1460644
TI  - HIV infection and AIDS: the ethics of medical confidentiality.
AB  - An Institute of Medical Ethics working party argues that an ethically desirable
      relationship of mutual empowerment between patient and clinician is more likely
      to be achieved if patients understand the ground rules of medical
      confidentiality. It identifies and illustrates ambiguities in the General Medical
      Council's guidance on AIDS and confidentiality, and relates this to the practice
      of different doctors and specialties. Matters might be clarified, it suggests, by
      identifying moral factors which tend to recur in medical decisions about
      maintaining or breaching confidentiality. The working party argues that two such
      factors are particularly important: the patient's need to exercise informed
      choice and the doctor's primary responsibility to his or her own patients.

PMID- 1460645
TI  - On visibility: AIDS, deception by patients, and the responsibility of the doctor.
AB  - Contrary to the usual discussion of lying or deceiving in medical ethics
      literature where the lying or deceiving is done by the doctor or surgeon, this
      paper deals with lying or deceiving on the part of the patient. Three cases
      involving HIV-infected male homosexual or bisexual persons are presented. In each
      case the patient deceives or wants the doctor to deceive a third party on his
      behalf. Are such deceptions or lies expressions of compassion? Are they in the
      patient's best interests? Do they compromise the doctor's integrity? It is
      submitted that societal attitudes towards male homosexual acts were internalised
      by the men described in these cases. Thus, a dichotomy was created between the
      private life and the public image. Fear of condemnation by the doctor or others
      restricted communication towards the goal of the maintenance of the patient's
      health. The lack of trust which inhibits truth-telling results in mutual and
      progressive isolation and impedes the provision of optimal care.

PMID- 1460646
TI  - Ethical dilemmas in malaria drug and vaccine trials: a bioethical perspective.
AB  - Malaria is a disease of developing countries whose local health services do not
      have the time, resources or personnel to mount studies of drugs or vaccines
      without the collaboration and technology of western investigators. This
      investigative collaboration requires a unique bridging of cultural differences
      with respect to human investigation. The following debate, sponsored by The
      Institute of Medicine and The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene,
      raises questions concerning the conduct of trans-cultural clinical malaria
      research. Specific questions are raised about the difficulties of informed
      consent in different cultural settings and whether there is any role for
      community involvement. Discussants debate whether drug and vaccine trials not
      approved in an industrialised country are ever defensible if performed in a third
      world setting. Potential conflicting priorities between investigators are
      discussed and ideas regarding conflict resolution are offered.

PMID- 1460647
TI  - Epidemiology and moral philosophy.
AB  - To an increasing extent ethical controversies affect and sometimes obstruct
      public health work and epidemiological research. In order to improve
      communication between the concerned parties a model for identification and
      analysis of ethical conflicts in individual-based research has been worked out in
      co-operation between epidemiologists and moral philosophers. The model has two
      dimensions. One dimension specifies relevant ethical principles (as beneficence,
      non-maleficence, autonomy and justice). The other dimension specifies the groups
      of persons involved in the conflict under consideration (for example: the study
      population, individuals who may benefit from the results, the researchers and
      their personnel, the community at large). The model has been applied to the
      problem of legitimacy of case-register research and to problems in psychiatric
      health services research as well as epidemiological research.

PMID- 1460648
TI  - Should public health respect autonomy?
AB  - This paper suggests that public health, due to its community orientation, may be
      ignoring certain ethical principles--namely the rights of individuals and
      communities to self-determination. The expectation of individual rights as a
      member of a community is reviewed and the additional right of a community for
      self-determination is proposed. The influences on ethical evaluations by the
      legal and economic environments are suggested, using US examples. The conclusion
      argues that as the focus of health-care delivery changes, it will become more
      important to consider these questions of group ethics.

PMID- 1460649
TI  - Gilligan: a voice for nursing?
AB  - The current reform of nursing education is resulting in major changes in the
      curricula of colleges of nursing. For the first time, ethical and moral issues
      are being seen as an important theme underpinning the entire course. The moral
      theorist with whose work most nurse teachers are acquainted is Kohlberg. In this
      paper, it is suggested that his work, and the conventions of morality which he
      exemplifies, may not be the most appropriate from which to address the moral
      issues facing the nurse. The author suggests that the work of Carol Gilligan of
      Harvard university is of great significance, not only for nurses involved in the
      teaching of ethics, but for all nurses. Gilligan's emphasis on caring and
      relationships accords with the common experience of the nurse, and echoes the
      current revival of interest within nursing in examining, and valuing, the
      phenomenon of caring.

PMID- 1460650
TI  - Let's keep metaphysics out of medical ethics: a critique of Poplawski and
      Gillett.
AB  - I argue that the concept of 'longitudinal form', which Poplawski and Gillett have
      introduced into ethical discussions about embryos and gametes, involves too many
      metaphysical subtleties to be a useful aid to making moral decisions. I conclude
      by suggesting a criterion for relevance in medical ethics.

PMID- 1460652
TI  - HIV-positive surgeon.

PMID- 1460651
TI  - Response to Pross.

PMID- 1460653
TI  - Nomenclature of Salmonella.

PMID- 1460654
TI  - Serum antibodies to verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) strains in
      patients with haemolytic uraemic syndrome.
AB  - Serological evidence of infection with verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli
      (VTEC) was sought in 28 patients suffering from haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS)
      and 25 age- and sex-matched controls. ELISA was used to detect anti
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antibodies to E. coli strains O157, O111, O26 and NCTC
      10418, a non-VTEC strain, and Shigella dysenteriae O1. Sera from 19 of the HUS
      patients but from none of the 25 controls had significant antibody levels to the
      verotoxin-producing bacteria. Sera from 13 patients reacted with only one LPS of
      the four verotoxin-producing bacteria; sera from six reacted with more than one
      LPS antigen but not with LPS of E. coli NCTC 10418. Paired sera taken 2-3 weeks
      apart were obtained from 20 HUS patients; 14 of these had high levels of antibody
      in the acute phase sample. Analysis of antibody levels in the convalescent sera
      showed that one patient had an increase, one was unchanged and 12 patients had a
      decrease in antibody to the verotoxin-producing bacteria.

PMID- 1460655
TI  - Comparison of cell-wall teichoic acid with high-molecular-weight extracellular
      slime material from Staphylococcus epidermidis.
AB  - Extracellular high-mol.-wt material was separated from liquid cultures of
      Staphylococcus epidermidis. This material contained protein c. 20% w/w and
      polysaccharide c. 80% w/w. The polysaccharide was isolated by gel and ion
      exchange chromatography and contained glycerol phosphate, glucose, N
      acetylglucosamine, and D-alanine. Cell-wall teichoic acid was isolated from
      strain RP-62A and had a similar composition.

PMID- 1460656
TI  - Immunological response to a Staphylococcus aureus fibronectin-binding protein.
AB  - A protein (gal-FnBP), constructed by fusion of the genes encoding beta
      galactosidase of Escherichia coli and the binding domains of fibronectin-binding
      protein (FnBP) of Staphylococcus aureus was used. FnBP is a surface protein
      responsible for attachment of bacteria to extracellular matrix of various host
      tissues. Gal-FnBP is more stable and can be produced in larger quantities than
      native FnBP. The binding specificity of this fusion protein was established in a
      Western blot analysis. Treatment of gal-FnBP with formalin inactivated the
      binding capacity of the protein but immunogenicity was retained. Immunisation of
      mice with formalin-treated gal-FnBP resulted in high antibody titres against the
      fibronectin-binding part of this fusion protein. These antibodies were measured
      by their ability to block the specific binding of fibronectin to gal-FnBP in a
      blocking assay. Sera raised against formalin-treated gal-FnBP and non-treated gal
      FnBP blocked this binding to 40 and 25% respectively, thereby indicating the
      usefulness of gal-FnBP as a vaccine component.

PMID- 1460657
TI  - Protection from Shigella sonnei infection by immunisation of rabbits with
      Plesiomonas shigelloides (SVC 01).
AB  - Plesiomonas shigelloides, an organism commonly found in water, is only rarely
      associated with diarrhoea in man. P. shigelloides serotype O:17 (SVC O1), which
      is antigenically similar to Shigella sonnei, was found to be neither virulent nor
      toxic for rabbits. Rabbits immunised by feeding with P. shigelloides (SVC O1)
      were completely protected against an oral challenge with 10(10) cells of S.
      sonnei but non-immunised rabbits were not. P. shigelloides (SVC O1) may be a
      useful vaccine strain for shigellosis.

PMID- 1460658
TI  - Character and origin of vacuoles induced in mammalian cells by the cytotoxin of
      Helicobacter pylori.
AB  - Cytotoxic activity of culture supernates of Helicobacter pylori is manifested by
      vacuolation of mammalian cells in vitro. The formation and maturation of toxin
      induced vacuoles in HeLa cells has been studied to examine the possibility that
      they are autophagosomal in nature. Observation by light microscopy revealed that
      vacuoles originate in a perinuclear position, increasing in number and size until
      cell degeneration and lysis occur after 48 h. Ultrastructural study of mature
      vacuoles indicated the presence of a bounding membrane with contents consisting
      of degenerate cytoplasmic components and acid phosphatase activity. Confocal
      fluorescence imaging demonstrated acridine orange accumulation in the vacuoles of
      toxin-treated cells, indicating an acidic intravacuolar pH. These features are
      characteristic of autophagosomes. In addition, the size of vacuoles in living,
      acridine orange-stained cells tended to be inversely proportional to fluorescence
      intensity. Fluid phase endocytic markers were observed only rarely within nascent
      vacuoles. Over the succeeding 24 h, labelling of most vacuoles with these dyes
      was observed. This, along with the observation of intravacuolar acid phosphatase
      activity, provides evidence that vacuoles communicate at some point during their
      development with endocytically derived compartments. These observations provide
      direct evidence for an autophagic origin of these structures.

PMID- 1460659
TI  - The significance of free and immune-complexed hydatid-specific antigen(s) as an
      immunodiagnostic tool for human hydatidosis.
AB  - Micro-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Micro-ELISA) systems were developed and
      evaluated for the detection of circulating (free or immune-complexed) hydatid
      antigens in the sera of patients with hydatidosis, by employing monospecific
      antibodies to hydatid-specific antigens of 8-kDa and 116-kDa. Fifteen (75%) of 20
      sera from patients with hydatidosis had both 8-kDa and 116-kDa antigens freely
      circulating in their sera while three and two samples, respectively, had only 8
      kDa or 116-kDa antigen. All the surgically confirmed cases of hydatidosis had
      detectable levels of both 8-kDa and 116-kDa circulating immune complexes in
      glycine HCl-treated sera. However, none of the sera from control subjects
      (patients with cysticercosis, ascariasis, ancylostomiasis, hymenolepiasis,
      amoebic liver abscess or viral hepatitis) had any detectable level of either type
      of circulating specific antigen. These results suggest that the demonstration of
      either 8- or 116-kDa antigen(s) in free or immune-complex form could confirm the
      diagnosis of hydatidosis.

PMID- 1460660
TI  - Evaluation of a recombinant antigen ELISA for the diagnosis of acute
      toxoplasmosis and comparison with traditional antigen ELISAs.
AB  - An evaluation of five ELISA methods for the diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis was
      undertaken by comparing a laboratory-produced ELISA employing two recombinant
      Toxoplasma gondii polypeptides as antigen with a laboratory-produced ELISA and
      three commercially available ELISAs employing traditional parasite antigen
      preparations derived from whole tachyzoites. With a panel of 75 sera from
      patients who showed either serological and clinical evidence of acute
      toxoplasmosis, or of diseases caused by other infectious agents, or from patients
      who showed no evidence of infectious disease, the ELISAs gave overall positive
      predictive values of 81.6-100%, negative predictive values of 87.8-100%,
      sensitivities of 81.3-100%, and specificities of 83.7-100%. No two ELISAs gave
      identical results with all sera tested. In total, the ELISA based on the two
      recombinant T. gondii polypeptides appeared to be the most specific ELISA in this
      comparison, showing positive predictive values and specificities of 100% for all
      groups of patients tested. The overall negative predictive value for this ELISA
      was 87.8% and the sensitivity was 81.3%. Therefore, the ELISA based on
      recombinant antigen appears to be a promising advance in the serological
      diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis.

PMID- 1460661
TI  - The clinical comparison of Oxoid Signal with Bactec blood culture systems for the
      detection of streptococcal and anaerobic bacteraemias.
AB  - Blood cultures were taken from 47 patients 1-2 min after dental extraction. These
      samples were tested by the radiometric Bactec 460 and Oxoid Signal systems for
      the detection of streptococcal and anaerobic bacteraemias. Streptococci were
      isolated from 19 (40%) patients and anaerobes from 15 (32%). In this study the
      Oxoid Signal system was significantly better for isolating oral anaerobes than
      the Bactec system; five isolates were obtained with the Bactec system and 14 with
      the Signal system. There was no significant difference in the isolation of
      streptococci between these two systems (Bactec 14, Oxoid Signal 10). The
      contamination rate was 4.1% for Bactec and 7.5% for the Oxoid Signal system.

PMID- 1460662
TI  - Identification of surface-exposed Yersinia pestis proteins by radio-iodination
      and biotinylation.
AB  - When whole cells (stationary phase) of Yersinia pestis strain EV76 were
      radiolabelled with Iodogen and 131I, 16 major and 10 minor surface-exposed outer
      membrane proteins (OMPs) were identified. Labelling with N-hydroxysuccinimidyl 6
      biotinylamino-hexanoate (biotin X-NHS) resulted in a complex protein profile
      detectable after blotting and developing with peroxidase-conjugated avidin. Y.
      pestis cell fractionation revealed that biotin X-NHS labelled not only OMPs but
      also proteins of inner cell compartments. Therefore, radiolabelling was the more
      reliable technique for identifying the OMPs of Y. pestis.

PMID- 1460663
TI  - Acute urinary retention due to a free-standing broad ligament leiomyoma.
AB  - A 38-year-old woman who had used oral contraceptives continuously since age 22
      presented with acute urinary retention. Physical examination revealed a bladder
      outlet obstruction due to a large paravaginal/broad ligament mass. Magnetic
      resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated that the mass was separate from the uterus
      which was confirmed at surgery when an isolated free-standing leiomyoma was
      removed.

PMID- 1460665
TI  - Cells yield secrets of growth and death.

PMID- 1460664
TI  - Evaluation of mammographic stellate lesions.
AB  - Breast masses can be classified into circumscribed masses and stellate masses.
      Stellate masses are more difficult to detect but are easier to analyze. Good
      technique, proper processing, proper viewing conditions, and critical comparison
      of right vs. left and current vs. old can aid in the detection of stellate
      masses. Once detected, analysis is straightforward. Most will be scirrhous
      carcinomas. A few will be radial scars, traumatic fat necrosis, or rare benign
      lesions. Additional signs such as architectural distortion and
      microcalcifications can be very important. Additional views, including spot
      compression films, may be decisive. Not all stellate lesions are malignant, but
      most will require biopsy. Traumatic fat necrosis may be differentiated on the
      basis of history or radiographic appearance and does not need intervention.
      Lesions suspicious for carcinoma and radial scars should be excised and examined
      histologically.

PMID- 1460666
TI  - European medical oncologists debate benefit of intensive chemotherapy regimens.

PMID- 1460667
TI  - Researchers gain insight into cell cycle delay.

PMID- 1460668
TI  - New data suggest fewer mammograms for younger, older women.

PMID- 1460669
TI  - Razors and refrigerators and reindeer--oh my!

PMID- 1460670
TI  - Herbicides and cancer.
AB  - Herbicides are a heterogeneous class of chemicals used in agriculture, forestry,
      and urban settings to kill weeds, shrubs, and broad-leaved trees. The role of
      herbicides in the etiology of cancer is controversial. Potential studies for
      review were identified through a MEDLINE search and from a check of references in
      related review articles. This review of the literature shows reasonable evidence
      suggesting that occupational exposure to phenoxy herbicides results in increased
      risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Several studies have noted large
      increases in risk of soft-tissue sarcomas with phenoxy herbicide exposure. In
      contrast, others have failed to observe increased risks, and evidence of an
      exposure-risk relationship is lacking. Although there have been too few
      appropriate studies for adequate assessment of risk of cancer at other sites,
      some findings have linked herbicide exposure with cancers of the colon, lung,
      nose, prostate, and ovary as well as to leukemia and multiple myeloma. Future
      studies must better identify and quantify the nature of herbicide exposures. In
      the interim, it seems only prudent to monitor and promote safety practices among
      persons occupationally exposed to phenoxy herbicides, particularly farmers and
      professional sprayers.

PMID- 1460671
TI  - Natural killer (NK) cell lytic dysfunction and putative NK cell receptor
      expression abnormality in members of a family with chromosome 3p-linked von
      Hippel-Lindau disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND. Using antibodies to a putative natural killer (NK) cell receptor
      (pNKR), we recently cloned a novel cDNA and localized this gene to the short arm
      of human chromosome 3, region 3p21-3p24. Individuals susceptible to or clinically
      manifesting von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) have a genetic defect telomeric to
      this region on chromosome 3. This defect, resulting in VHL, is manifested by a
      high incidence of certain tumors. PURPOSE: Based on the location of this gene, we
      sought to determine if VHL patients have a defect in gene expression of pNKR.
      METHODS: Because of the proximity of the VHL and pNKR genetic regions, the
      variable expression of VHL tumors, and the ability of NK cells to target tumor
      cells, we investigated NK cell activity and other aspects of the immunologic
      status in 40 members (four branches) of a family with a high incidence of VHL
      tumors. RESULTS: Individuals affected with VHL and lacking in normal surface
      expression of pNKR had virtually no NK cell lytic activity. Analysis of genotypes
      and phenotypes of all subjects revealed that the greatest difference in NK cell
      lytic activity (P = .0002) was seen when family members exhibited both VHL and
      pNKR surface expression defects, compared with normal relatives who had neither
      defect. Furthermore, the lack of NK cell activity strongly correlated (P = .0005)
      with abnormal pNKR protein surface expression. Of particular interest,
      individuals who lacked NK cell activity had normal numbers of NK cells. In
      addition, analysis of leukocyte subsets indicated normal numbers of T and B
      cells, monocytes, and NK cells in both affected and normal individuals.
      CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that although all affected individuals have the
      cell population responsible for NK cell activity, many have cells low in
      expression of pNKR and lack functional NK cell activity. Overall, these results
      indicate that, in addition to a predisposition to the development of neoplasms,
      VHL patients have a defect in a specific mechanism of natural immunosurveillance
      that correlates with a defect in expression of a novel large granular lymphocyte
      pNKR protein.

PMID- 1460672
TI  - Cancer incidence and mortality in workers exposed to fluoride.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Although a recent bioassay showed increased frequency of bone cancer
      in rats with high oral intake of fluoride, the data are reported as equivocal
      evidence of carcinogenicity. In humans, occupational fluoride exposure may cause
      skeletal fluorosis, and our earlier follow-up of fluoride-exposed workers showed
      increased incidence of respiratory cancers. PURPOSE: To further evaluate
      occupational fluoride exposure as a carcinogenic risk factor, we extended by
      approximately one decade the follow-up of a cohort of 425 men and 97 women
      employed for at least 6 months in the period 1924-1961 at the Copenhagen cryolite
      processing plant. Cryolite ore contains about 50% fluoride. METHODS: Cancer
      mortality was determined for the period 1941-1989, and incidence for 1943-1987.
      For comparison, we used national mortality rates and cancer incidence rates for
      the Copenhagen area. RESULTS: Among the men, 300 deaths occurred; 223 were
      expected. Respiratory (lung and laryngeal) cancers and violent death were
      responsible for most of this excess; rates for mortality from cardiovascular
      disease were close to the rates expected. Of the 423 male workers, 119 developed
      cancers; 103.6 were expected. There was excess incidence of cancers of the lungs
      (35 men; standard incidence ratio [SIR] = 1.35), larynx (5 men; SIR = 2.29), and
      urinary bladder (17 men; SIR = 1.84). Maximum incidence occurred after 10-19
      years of employment, but otherwise, no stable relationship between cancer
      incidence and duration of employment was observed. The incidence of respiratory
      and urinary cancers was particularly high in men less than 35 years old at first
      employment. Cancers in female workers were too few to allow detailed evaluation.
      CONCLUSIONS: The increased incidence of respiratory cancers suggests that
      cigarette smoking was frequent in this cohort, despite the unremarkable
      cardiovascular mortality, but the disproportionate increase in the incidence of
      bladder cancer is difficult to explain by smoking habits alone. Because this
      industrial cohort was exposed to high concentrations of fluoride dust, heavy
      respiratory exposure to fluoride may have contributed to the increased cancer
      risk. If these workers inhaled a carcinogenic substance partly excreted in the
      urine, an increased incidence of respiratory and bladder cancers would not be
      inconceivable. IMPLICATION: The potential role of fluoride as a cause of bladder
      cancer needs to be explored.

PMID- 1460673
TI  - Growth inhibition of estrogen-dependent and estrogen-independent MXT mammary
      cancers in mice by the bombesin and gastrin-releasing peptide antagonist RC-3095.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many breast cancers are estrogen independent, and even in patients
      who initially respond to estrogen suppression therapy, the regression is often
      temporary. We have recently shown that antagonists of bombesin and gastrin
      releasing peptide, including RC-3095, inhibit the growth of pancreatic, colonic,
      and prostatic cancers in experimental animals. This effect was associated with a
      substantial decrease in epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor levels in
      pancreatic and colon cancers. PURPOSE: In view of these findings, we investigated
      the effects of our synthetic bombesin and gastrin-releasing peptide receptor
      antagonist D-Tpi6,Leu13 psi (CH2NH)-Leu14 bombesin(6-14) (RC-3095) on the growth
      of hormone-dependent and hormone-independent MXT mouse mammary cancers in vivo.
      METHODS: Female (C57BL x DBA/2)F1 mice bearing estrogen-dependent or estrogen
      independent MXT mammary carcinomas were treated with small doses (20
      micrograms/d) of RC-3095 administered from osmotic minipumps. Separate groups of
      mice with estrogen-independent tumors received RC-3095, bombesin, or gastrin
      releasing peptide(14-27) at 20 micrograms/d. We determined tumor volume and
      weight, mitotic index, apoptosis (programmed cell death), and argyrophilic
      nucleolar organizer regions, an indicator of tumor cell proliferation. Levels of
      receptors for EGF and bombesin were measured in tumor membrane fractions.
      RESULTS: Growth of both estrogen-dependent and estrogen-independent MXT breast
      cancers was significantly inhibited by RC-3095. Bombesin or gastrin-releasing
      peptide had no effect on the growth of estrogen-independent tumors. Inhibition of
      tumor cell proliferation was indicated by a 45%-65% reduction in tumor volume, a
      35%-58% reduction in tumor weight, and statistically significant decreases in
      argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region counts after treatment with RC-3095. In
      estrogen-independent cancers, tumor inhibition was associated with a decrease in
      the capacity of EGF receptors from 0.21 +/- 0.016 pmol/mg membrane protein in
      controls to 0.03 +/- 0.003 pmol/mg membrane protein in the RC-3095-treated group.
      CONCLUSIONS: This is the first demonstration of inhibitory effects of bombesin
      and gastrin-releasing peptide antagonists on the growth of breast cancers in
      vivo. IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest that bombesin antagonists should be
      considered for breast cancer therapy.

PMID- 1460675
TI  - Reactivation of thermal burn by methotrexate.

PMID- 1460674
TI  - Karyotypic derivation of H9 cell line expressing human immunodeficiency virus
      susceptibility.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The T-cell lymphoma HUT78 cell line and the H9 clone of the CD4
      positive HT cell line, derived from HUT78, are known to be genetically identical
      on the basis of allozyme (allelic isozyme) patterns and DNA fingerprinting, but
      the chromosome compositions of these cell lines have not been determined. The HT
      cell line and its H9 clone carry susceptibility to the human immunodeficiency
      virus (HIV). PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine specific
      chromosome changes linking the expression of the HIV susceptibility that is
      unique to H9 cells by characterizing the karyotypes of the HUT78 and the H9 cell
      lines, by comparing chromosome differences between these lines, and by evaluating
      the relationships between them. METHODS: Air-dried chromosome slides were
      prepared, and the fast Giemsa-trypsin method was used to delineate G-bands. The
      numerical distribution of chromosomes from the two cell lines was determined, and
      complete chromosome analysis in 47 HUT78 metaphases and 21 H9 metaphases with
      discernible G-banding was used to specify the modal karyotypes of each cell line.
      RESULTS: Both cell lines had complex karyotypes that contained 47%-65%
      structurally modified marker chromosomes. The distribution of numbers of
      chromosomes in HUT78 cultures was broad. There were two distinct modal numbers of
      chromosomes at 42 and 43 and at 73, resulting from the presence of three actively
      growing sublines: two hypodiploid (1s) sublines (HUT78/1sA and HUT78/1sB) and a
      hypertriploid (2s) subline (HUT78/2s), respectively. HUT78/1sA and HUT78/1sB
      differed by five reciprocal chromosome replacements, and HUT78/2s had double
      copies of most of the chromosomes in 1s cells. H9 and HUT78/2s had had 21
      matching markers, 10 of which were paired; contained 21 chromosomes with the same
      number of copies; consistently lacked eight homologous normal chromosomes; and
      showed close modal numbers of chromosomes at 69 and 73, respectively.
      CONCLUSIONS: Derivation of the 2s subline from the 1s subline by polyploidization
      is apparent. All lines apparently had the same progenitor cell population, and
      HUT78/2s represents an intermediate linking HUT78/1s to H9. IMPLICATIONS: These
      data should be useful for studying specific chromosome changes linking the
      expression of the HIV susceptibility unique to H9 cells. Karyologic studies such
      as those presented here can provide data (a) to clearly identify the clonal cell
      population of a subline, (b) to examine relationships among sublines of the same
      progenitor, and (c) to provide a clue that may link a subtle chromosome change to
      a phenotypic expression.

PMID- 1460676
TI  - Surveys as a tool for needs assessment of continuing medical education.

PMID- 1460677
TI  - Health crisis in the minority community: prevention and management. Inaugural
      address.

PMID- 1460678
TI  - Primary care at DC General Hospital.

PMID- 1460679
TI  - Analysis of prehospital delay among inner-city patients with symptoms of
      myocardial infarction: implications for therapeutic intervention.
AB  - In this study, we analyzed the duration and determinants of prehospital delay in
      a group of inner-city patients hospitalized with suspected myocardial infarction.
      The average prehospital delay was 11.9 +/- 25.1 hours. Mean and median delays
      were similar for males (mean: 10.9 +/- 24.2 hours; median: 2.8 hours) and females
      (mean: 12.7 +/- 25.7 hours; median: 3.5 hours), but were longer for blacks (mean:
      13.1 +/- 27.5 hours, P < .001; median: 3 hours, P = .06) and Hispanics (mean:
      12.4 +/- 19.3 hours, P < .01; median: 4 hours, P = .07) than for whites (mean:
      3.3 +/- 2.9 hours; median: 2 hours). Most of the observed delay was due to the
      time it took for patients to decide to seek medical care following onset of
      symptoms. Patients were more likely to arrive at the hospital within 4 hours if
      they thought their symptoms might be a heart attack (79% versus 41%, P < .01), if
      they believed that coronary heart disease was preventable (68% versus 42%, P <
      .01), and if they took an ambulance to the hospital (68% versus 47%, P < .01).
      The factor most strongly associated with early hospital arrival was the patient's
      belief that the symptoms might represent a heart attack; these patients were five
      times more likely to get to the hospital within 4 hours than others, independent
      of other factors. Interventions designed to decrease prehospital delay must focus
      not only on improving knowledge of symptoms, but also on identifying high-risk
      patients and increasing patient awareness of the benefits of early response and
      treatment.

PMID- 1460680
TI  - Leukoedema: a review of the literature.
AB  - Leukoedema, a grayish-white lesion of the oral mucosa in humans, was once thought
      to be a probable precursor to leukoplakia. Clinical examination differentiates
      leukoedema from leukoplakia, lichen planus, white sponge nevus, and pathomimia
      morsicatio buccarum. Prevalence rates vary greatly in different countries and in
      different ethnic groups. For many years, leukoedema was alleged to occur only in
      adult populations until Martin and Crump found this lesion in children and youth.
      There is a definite predilection for this lesion in black Americans. Although the
      etiology is unknown, it has been suggested that leukoedema develops in areas of
      local irritation. This article reviews the literature related to the prevalence
      of leukoedema and correlates the independent findings, which might pertain to its
      etiology.

PMID- 1460681
TI  - Pitfalls in communication with Hispanic and African-American patients: do
      translators help or harm?
AB  - The Martin Luther King County General Hospital, Los Angeles, California, provides
      services for an equal number of Hispanics (most are recent immigrants from
      Mexico) and African Americans who have lived in the community since before the
      Watts riot in 1965. The hospital is staffed by a large percentage of foreign
      trained doctors and other personnel who speak some English, but suffer from a
      lack of understanding of the Hispanic as well as the African-American patients.
      Very few trained interpreters are provided for the Spanish-speaking population,
      and no interpreters are provided for African Americans. A 100-question survey on
      common African-American expressions was conducted in the Department of Family
      Medicine, as well as an opinion poll to determine if adequate understanding
      existed between patients and providers. The data revealed that native African
      American providers understood significantly more African-American expressions
      than foreign, white, and Hispanic providers. The opinion poll also revealed
      inadequate translation of medical complaints from patients through interpreters.
      In addition, the poll found that diagnoses and instructions were not adequately
      related to the patients. Furthermore, it was felt that trained interpreters
      should be provided for all patients who presented communication problems.

PMID- 1460683
TI  - Musculoskeletal trauma: the baseball bat.
AB  - Between July 1987 and December 1990 in Washington, DC, 116 patients sustained 146
      fractures and seven dislocations due to an assault with a baseball bat. The ulna
      was the most common site of trauma (61 fractures), followed by the hand (27
      injuries) and the radius (14 injuries). Forty-two of the 146 fractures were
      significantly displaced and required open reduction and internal fixation to
      restore satisfactory alignment. Twenty-nine of the 146 fractures were open
      fractures. Treatment protocol for open fractures consisted of irrigation and
      debridement, antibiotic therapy, and bone stabilization with either internal or
      external fixation, or casting. Recognition of the severity of the soft tissue and
      bone damage is important in the management of musculoskeletal trauma secondary to
      the baseball bat.

PMID- 1460682
TI  - Paratesticular liposarcoma: a report of two cases and review of the literature.
AB  - Paratesticular liposarcoma is extremely rare. Only 41 cases have been reported in
      the literature. This article reports two cases, reviews the literature, discusses
      the pathology, and proposes the use of combined surgery and radiation therapy in
      selected cases.

PMID- 1460684
TI  - Time-related effects of heparin sulfate on regional and systemic anticoagulation.
AB  - Optimal timing of vascular clamping to anticoagulation during cardiovascular
      surgical procedures is poorly defined. This study uses a canine model to
      determine the effectiveness of three different methods of heparin administration.
      Heparin sulfate (150 IU/kg) was administered by: injection into the jugular vein
      5 minutes before infrarenal aortic clamping (Group 1), injection into the
      terminal aorta immediately after infrarenal aortic clamping (Group 2), and
      injection into the jugular vein immediately after infrarenal aortic clamping
      (Group 3). Thrombin clotting times and partial thromboplastin times were measured
      in venous blood from the upper and lower extremities before (baseline) heparin
      administration, and 1, 3, and 5 minutes following heparin administration.
      Activated clotting times were assessed in lower extremity blood at baseline, and
      at 1 and 5 minutes after heparin injection. Significant differences existed
      between groups in both upper and lower extremities. Systemic anticoagulation
      occurred within 1 minute after intravenous heparin administration in Groups 1 and
      2 in the lower extremity, and Groups 1 and 3 in the upper extremity. Delayed
      anticoagulation in the lower extremity was noted with systemic injection after
      aortic clamping in Group 3, and after regional intra-aortic administration in the
      upper extremity of Group 2 subjects. Complete anticoagulation was noted by 5
      minutes in all groups in both the upper and lower extremities. These results
      suggest that the safe time period between heparin administration and vascular
      clamping varies with the route and the timing of its administration. Intravenous
      administration prior to aortic cross-clamping provided adequate anticoagulation
      in this canine model in both the upper and lower extremity blood after 1 minute
      of heparin circulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460685
TI  - Neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
AB  - Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a life-threatening reaction of neuroleptic
      medication. The estimated incidence rate of neuroleptic malignant syndrome is
      between 1% and 1.5% of patients treated with neuroleptics. The reported mortality
      rate varies from 11% to 38%. Risk factors include younger males (80% less than 40
      years) and physical disability. Although 80% of neuroleptic malignant syndrome
      cases develop within the first 2 weeks of treatment, the syndrome can develop
      anytime during the therapy period. The clinical picture and laboratory findings
      are not always unique. Less than 50% of cases manifest with classical symptoms.
      Deaths usually result from cardiovascular collapse. Renal failure, pulmonary
      emboli, aspiration pneumonia, and respiratory failure are also reported.
      Familiarity with the syndrome, baseline laboratory values including creatine
      phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, serum glutamicoxaloacetic transaminase, and
      complete blood cell count with a differential count, and a high index of
      suspicion are of the utmost importance in making the diagnosis of neuroleptic
      malignant syndrome. A judicial choice of neuroleptic medication and careful
      observation of patients may reduce the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of
      neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

PMID- 1460686
TI  - Injuries to the bowel and bladder.
AB  - The initial challenge facing the traumatologist in the management of bowel and
      bladder injuries is prompt diagnosis. Intestinal perforations following
      penetrating trauma are caused by direct penetration or by blast effect, and are
      most commonly diagnosed by physical examination (signs of peritoneal irritation)
      or peritoneal lavage. Bowel rupture from blunt trauma is more difficult to
      diagnose and results from different mechanisms of injury including crushing
      between the spinal column and the offending blunt object, shearing of the bowel
      and mesentery at fixed points from sudden deceleration, and rupture secondary to
      sudden increase in intra-abdominal pressure. Bladder rupture is most commonly
      seen in association with pelvic fractures, and the diagnosis is made by a well
      performed cystogram. This article presents essentials for diagnosis and
      therapeutic strategies.

PMID- 1460687
TI  - Fused pelvic kidneys: case report.
AB  - A case of fused pelvic kidneys is presented. We believe this to be the first
      report using ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging for
      presentation of a rare anatomic renal anomaly.

PMID- 1460688
TI  - The American doctor who was neither, but a hero nonetheless.

PMID- 1460689
TI  - Forensic psychiatry.

PMID- 1460690
TI  - Decision tree for the management of substance-abusing psychiatric patients.
AB  - This paper describes a short-term approach developed at a time of numerous drug
      related incidents occurring at a large VA Hospital to help staff manage
      psychiatric patients abusing alcohol or drugs during hospitalization. This was
      accomplished through the development of a decision tree designed to improve the
      clinical problem-solving process by identifying key decision points. Prior to
      this, staff responded emotionally either by prematurely discharging patients or
      by not recognizing the problem at all. Decision Trees have widespread
      applicability for resolving complex clinical problems.

PMID- 1460691
TI  - Therapist techniques used during the cognitive therapy of opiate-dependent
      patients.
AB  - A review of current substance abuse literature indicates that although clinicians
      espouse cognitive and behavioral methods in the treatment of drug-dependent
      patients, little is known about the process of cognitive-behavioral therapy with
      these individuals. Our objective is to examine the specific techniques used by
      manual-guided cognitive-behavioral therapists during the treatment of opiate
      dependent patients. Ratings of audiotaped sessions using the Collaborative Study
      Psychotherapy Rating Scale indicate that the cognitive-behavioral therapists did
      not rely on behavioral methods early in treatment as predicted by both theory and
      the clinical literature. Cognitive techniques and techniques oriented toward
      establishing a collaborative structure predominated and increased from early- to
      late-in-treatment sessions. We discuss the implications of the results in terms
      of treatment manual revisions and directions for future research.

PMID- 1460692
TI  - Psychological treatment of anabolic-androgenic steroid-dependent individuals.
AB  - Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetic derivatives of the sex hormone
      testosterone. Anabolic refers to the "growth-promoting" effect while androgenic
      refers to the "masculinizing" effect. It is becoming more evident that
      nonathletes as well as athletes are abusing AAS. Although the abuse of alcohol
      and other drugs contribute significantly to current chemical use problems in
      American society, AAS abuse is one of the fastest growing "new drug" problems
      facing secondary and higher education institutes of learning. The purpose of this
      discussion is to present working hypotheses regarding the psychological treatment
      of AAS dependent individuals. The treatment approach presented incorporates the
      approaches used with eating disorders, substance abuse/dependence, and
      narcissistic personality disorders. This paper considers some of the preliminary
      considerations for the first phase of treatment, some pitfalls to avoid, and
      therapist characteristics, as well as treatment modalities that might be helpful
      in the treatment of AAS-dependent individuals.

PMID- 1460693
TI  - Safe sex behavior in drug-addicted males as a function of object relations.
AB  - An inventory of sexual behavior was administered in a hospital detoxification
      program to 127 drug-addicted males, who also completed a modified form of the
      Defense Mechanisms Inventory (DMI) which yields a measure of object relations.
      Condom use was shown to be related to an object relations mode that typifies the
      individual who can structure reality and needs without requiring an integral
      aspect of "the other" in his approach. Standardization and factor analytic data
      are also presented for the DMI and the object relations measure for this
      population. The resulting pattern and the small effect size are discussed within
      the reality constraints of the addicted patient, as well as within the
      psychometric parameters inherent in psychoanalytic research.

PMID- 1460694
TI  - Assessing drug abusers with the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory: a review.
AB  - This paper reviews studies that used the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory
      with drug abusers. Although the test has been used with over 2000 such patients
      in the published literature, there is still a dearth of basic research with the
      MCMI with this population. Preliminary evidence suggests that the Personality
      Disorder Scales are quite useful to assess personality styles of drug abusers,
      but the Clinical Syndrome Scales present some problems. Specifically, the Drug
      Dependence Scale has had difficulty in reliably "detecting" drug addicted
      individuals who were in treatment for drug abuse. However, a reliable modal MCMI
      profile among this population seems to exist, although cluster research suggests
      several subtypes, each with different personality styles. MCMI computer-narrative
      reports may overdiagnose paranoid disorder and under diagnose antisocial
      disorders among this population.

PMID- 1460695
TI  - Pathogenesis and ecology: the case of cholera.
AB  - The way in which the results of various studies of cholera have influenced the
      understanding of the disease are discussed. Attention is given to the outcomes of
      medical research, targeted on problems of cholera and biological research focused
      on understanding Vibrio cholerae. The contrast between these approaches has
      produced a new understanding of the ecological nature of disease. The importance
      of the environmental reservoir of V. cholerae as the engine for the generation of
      diversity is highlighted.

PMID- 1460696
TI  - The EPI in Borno State, Nigeria: impact on routine disease notifications and
      hospital admissions.
AB  - An earlier report on the Nigerian expanded programme on immunization (EPI),
      covering 1974-1988, failed to demonstrate a clear-cut impact of the programme.
      This report attempts to determine the effectiveness of EPI in Borno State,
      Nigeria. We analysed trends in routine notifications for diphtheria, pertussis,
      tetanus, tuberculosis, measles, and pneumonia, from 1985 to 1991; data on
      poliomyelitis were excluded because of poor documentation, while we included data
      on pneumonia for comparison. We also performed a before (1983-1987) after (1988
      1991) comparison in terms of the intensifications of EPI by age-specific strata
      amongst paediatric hospitalization for all EPI diseases at the University of
      Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the sole referral hospital for childhood infectious
      diseases. Our results show an apparent reduction in morbidity from diphtheria,
      pertussis, tetanus, measles and pneumonia, and this was particularly prominent
      following intense vaccinations between 1988 and 1991. The reduction in these EPI
      diseases and pneumonia occurred despite the prevailing adverse socioeconomic
      conditions, and the absence of a specific control strategy for pneumonia in
      Nigeria. On the other hand, in spite of national BCG coverage of about 90% there
      has been a recent (1989-1991) increase in the registered cases of tuberculosis in
      infants and older children in Borno State. There is a need to intensify other
      intervention measures alongside EPI activities.

PMID- 1460697
TI  - The effect of malaria on work time: analysis of data from two Nepali districts.
AB  - Malaria patients' loss of effective work time can account for an important
      proportion of the disease's economic cost. Here the extent, incidence and
      determinants of this loss are investigated. Data from 695 matched patient-control
      pairs from Nawal Parasi and Dhanusa districts in Nepal are analysed. Pairwise
      differences in work time are attributed to malaria, and the individual influences
      of the differences' determinants identified by regression. The mean pairwise
      differences in the number of days wholly and partially disabled by illness in the
      month preceding interview were respectively 5.31 (95% confidence interval 4.82
      5.79) and 1.21 days (95% CI 0.95-1.47). The interval between fever onset and
      presumptive treatment, parasite species, the density of peripheral parasitaemia
      and district of residence each exerted significant influences over the difference
      in complete disability. The mean pairwise difference in the number of minutes
      worked on the day before the interview was 108 (95% CI 97-120). Socioeconomic
      variables, the interval between interview and perceived complete recovery, the
      pairwise difference in the number of days' complete disability in the month
      preceding interview and district of residence were significant to this
      difference. Poorer patients lose more time. The results corroborate past
      assumptions of debility, demonstrate that malaria's effect on effective work time
      may vary between socioeconomic groups, and underline the economic importance of
      speedy case detection and presumptive treatment.

PMID- 1460698
TI  - Schistosoma mansoni: cercaricidal effects of cedarwood oil and various of its
      components.
AB  - Cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni exposed to cedarwood oil show early phases of
      the penetration response before they succumb to the toxic effects of the oil. The
      toxic effect is also seen when cercariae are exposed to certain components of the
      oil followed by exposure to a known penetration stimulant, linolenic acid, which
      accelerates the inactivation of the organism. It is postulated that the process
      of penetration which results in the disruption of the cercarial glycocalyx alters
      physiological processes related to osmoregulation. This may increase the
      absorption of the toxic substances in cedarwood oil by the organisms.

PMID- 1460699
TI  - Antibacterial agents for wounds and burns in the developing world. Report on a
      workshop.
AB  - Publications on the use of antibacterial agents for wounds and burns in the
      developing world continue to emphasize the value of antiseptics such as Eusol and
      gentian violet. In the developed world these agents have been mostly discredited.
      A workshop organized by the European Society for Tissue Repair concluded that
      clearer instructions about the role of antibacterial agents in the management of
      wounds and burns could clarify appropriate usage. The report considers the
      factors contributing to infection and rationalizes the use of disinfectants,
      antiseptics and antibiotics, especially in the developing world.

PMID- 1460700
TI  - The impact of Schistosoma haematobium infection and of praziquantel treatment on
      the growth of primary school children in Bertoua, Cameroon.
AB  - Our objective was to determine in a Cameroonian school population the effect of
      mild to moderate S. haematobium infection intensity on growth and development of
      children before and 6 months after praziquantel treatment. Previous studies have
      yielded contradictory results. Children from Bertoua schools were divided into
      four study groups: heavily infected (> 500 eggs 10 ml-1), moderately infected (1
      499 eggs 10 ml-1) treated with praziquantel, a similar group treated with
      placebo, and an uninfected control group. Anthropometric measures--height for age
      per cent median (HAPM), and weight for age per cent median (WAPM)--were
      significantly higher among the uninfected children. Stepwise regression analysis
      showed that S. haematobium and Ascaris infections were the strongest predictors
      of the HAPM with hookworm and malaria infections playing a lesser role. Post
      treatment comparison of the praziquantel treatment group and the placebo group
      showed no significant differences for the anthropometric indicators except for
      mid-arm circumference. Longer observations of growth after treatment as well as
      monitoring of the rate of reinfection would be necessary to understand better the
      effect of S. haematobium on growth.

PMID- 1460701
TI  - Cervical lymphadenopathy in Khartoum.
AB  - In this prospective study, 92 patients with cervical lymphadenopathy presenting
      at Khartoum Teaching Hospital were studied. The commonest cause was found to be
      tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis (TCA) comprising 49%, followed by malignancy
      (35%) including both primary neoplasm (15 cases) and metastatic lesions (17
      cases). The tuberculous group were young patients mainly from low socioeconomic
      classes. The most affected nodes were in the posterior triangle, followed by
      upper jugular and supraclavicular nodes. In the malignant group, half the
      patients had primary reticulo-endothelial neoplasm and the other half had
      metastatic tumours, most often from the nasopharynx. The triad of symptoms of
      fever, fatigue and loss of weight was found equally in tuberculous and lymphoma
      patients. Hence empirical use of antituberculous therapy without histological
      diagnosis resulted in delay in diagnosis of malignancy. Antituberculous therapy
      should be preceded by histological proof wherever possible.

PMID- 1460702
TI  - The effect of plastering in a house persistently infested with Triatoma infestans
      (Klug) 1934.
AB  - The replastering of a house in Mambai-Goias, Brazil, as a measure to wall-in
      Triatoma infestans, is briefly described. Unfortunately, because the houseowner
      would not cooperate the roof tiles were not improved and eventually T. infestans
      reappeared at this site. A brief discussion follows of some aspects of house
      improvement in the vigilance phase of a Chagas Disease Control Programme. T.
      infestans appeared in the house described 51 and 258 days after the replastering.

PMID- 1460703
TI  - Detection of rifampicin-induced nephrotoxicity by N-acetyl-3-D-glucosaminidase
      activity.
AB  - The objective of the present study was to assess renal damage, if any, by non
      invasive technique, viz NAG activity in urine and GFR in patients on continuous
      and intermittent rifampicin therapy. Eighty-four tuberculosis patients for cross
      sectional study and six subjects for longitudinal study on antitubercular therapy
      and ten patients on withdrawal of rifampicin participated in the investigation;
      13 leprosy patients intermittently treated with rifampicin were also included.
      Twenty-seven normal subjects served as controls. Rifampicin on continuous use
      resulted in a progressive increase in enzymuria with no change in GFR. An
      additive toxic effect was obvious in patients receiving streptomycin; when the
      treatment was withdrawn the urinary NAG activity stabilized within 15-21 days.
      However, patients receiving rifampicin intermittently did not show any evidence
      of renal damage. The results suggest that there is a need for monitoring renal
      damage, particularly on antitubercular therapy, when nephrotoxic agents are
      administered together.

PMID- 1460704
TI  - Locally acquired cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka.
AB  - Cutaneous leishmaniasis in a Sri Lankan, who had not left the country, is
      reported. The diagnosis was confirmed by detecting the parasite in smears under
      microscopic examination. This is the first case report of locally acquired
      leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka.

PMID- 1460705
TI  - Vascular surgery into the twenty-first century.

PMID- 1460706
TI  - Magnetic resonance angiography of peripheral runoff vessels.
AB  - Recent improvements in magnetic resonance imaging techniques have made magnetic
      resonance angiography (MRA) a very useful adjunct to invasive angiography. Fifty
      five limbs in 51 patients with occlusive peripheral vascular disease were studied
      with both MRA and contrast arteriography. The magnetic resonance and contrast
      arteriograms were read by radiologists and surgeons and separate interventional
      plans were based on each study. The MRA findings differed significantly from
      those of conventional arteriography in 26 limbs (48%). In every case MRA
      visualized all of the same vessels and hemodynamic stenoses seen on the contrast
      arteriogram. In 48% of the cases, however, MRA revealed additional findings. Thus
      the discrepancies in the two studies were always the result of the failure of the
      arteriogram to reveal all of the patent vessels seen on MRA. The additional
      information provided by MRA resulted in alteration of the interventional plan in
      11 cases (22%). In nine cases (18%) target vessels suitable for use in a limb
      salvage procedure were identified by MRA, although they had been missed by
      conventional arteriography. In all of these cases, intraoperative arteriograms
      confirmed the suitability of these vessels for use in technically successful
      bypass procedures. In two cases (4%) additional information provided by MRA
      identified a target runoff vessel for bypass grafting that proved to be a better
      alternative than the one that would have been chosen on the basis of contrast
      arteriography.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460707
TI  - Polytetrafluoroethylene versus human umbilical vein in above-knee femoropopliteal
      bypass: six-year results of a randomized clinical trial.
AB  - In a prospective, randomized trial 6 mm polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and 6 mm
      human umbilical vein (HUV) were compared in above-knee femoropopliteal bypass
      grafting. In claudicants a prosthetic graft was used intentionally, in limb
      salvage cases only when autologous vein was insufficient. Ninety-six extremities
      were randomized (49 PTFE and 47 HUV). Operative indication was disabling
      claudication in 77 and limb salvage in 19 extremities. The two groups were
      comparable as to preoperative risk factors and operative and postoperative
      treatment. Median follow-up was 76 months (range 47 to 91 months), during which
      23 patients died of nonrelated causes with functioning grafts. Thirty-eight
      grafts failed (33 because of occlusion and five for other reasons). At 6 years
      the primary patency rate was 38.7% in the PTFE group and 71.4% in the HUV group
      (p < 0.001). Corresponding rates for secondary patency at 6 years were 51.4% and
      76.4% (p < 0.005).

PMID- 1460708
TI  - Transfusion guidelines for cardiovascular surgery: lessons learned from
      operations in Jehovah's Witnesses.
AB  - Patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery are among the top users of homologous
      blood transfusion (HBT). Awareness of the risks of disease transmission and
      immune system modulation from HBT has prompted us to find alternatives such as
      autologous predonation (APD) and intraoperative autotransfusion (IAT). However,
      these latter options are not appropriate for all patients. We reviewed our
      experience with 59 Jehovah's Witness patients who underwent 63 elective
      cardiovascular procedures without either HBT or APD to determine the safety of
      operation without these modalities and to develop revised maximum surgical blood
      ordering schedule guidelines for cardiovascular surgery. Estimated blood loss
      averaged 870 ml, but one third to one half of losses were replaced by IAT. IAT
      was not needed in lower extremity bypass operations in which the estimated blood
      loss was less than 150 ml. Three of 59 patients died (5.1%), but only one died of
      operative bleeding complications. We conclude that (1) elective cardiovascular
      operations can be done safely without the use of either HBT or APD, (2) HBT is
      not necessary in leg bypass procedures, and (3) maximum surgical blood-ordering
      schedule guidelines for HBT in major cardiovascular operations can be reduced to
      near zero by the use of intraoperative autotransfusion and acceptance of a
      postoperative hemoglobin nadir of 7.0 gm/dl.

PMID- 1460710
TI  - Iliofemoral versus femorofemoral bypass: the case for an individualized approach.
AB  - The treatment of unilateral iliac occlusion remains controversial. We report our
      experience with femorofemoral bypass (FF) and iliofemoral bypass (IF). One
      hundred sixty-two FFs and 82 IFs were performed during a 25-year period.
      Demographic characteristics of the two groups were similar. Operative indications
      included claudication in 32.1% of FFs and 19.5% of IFs, rest pain in 26.5% of FFs
      and 36.6% of IFs, ulcer in 8.0% of FFs and 3.7% of IFs, gangrene 13.6% of FFs and
      23.2% of IFs, and acute thrombosis in 13.0% of FFs and 3.7% of IFs. Five-year
      primary and secondary patency rates for all FFs were 56.9% and 65.4%
      respectively. Those for all IFs were 74.9% and 79.2%. The primary patency rate of
      FF performed for chronic arterial occlusive disease was 73.3% at 3 years and
      60.4% at 5 years and for IF it was 73.4% at 3 years. In the absence of prior
      arterial surgery in the groin, the primary patency rates of bypasses for chronic
      arterial occlusive disease were 78.3% for FF and 86.8% for IF at 4 years. Distal
      endarterectomy and acute ischemia adversely affected patency. The operative
      mortality rate was 6.2% for FF and 3.7% for IF. Eleven wound complications
      occurred in the FF group. Seven patients underwent graft removal without limb
      loss. One minor wound problem occurred in the IF group. Iliofemoral bypass avoids
      operation on an asymptomatic limb; FF avoids entry in the abdomen or
      retroperitoneum and can be performed under local anesthesia. In patients in whom
      either IF or FF is applicable, the choice between these two procedures should be
      individualized with these factors in mind.

PMID- 1460709
TI  - Treatment of iatrogenic femoral artery injuries with ultrasound-guided
      compression.
AB  - Iatrogenic injuries of the groin are becoming more common after increasingly
      sophisticated vascular intervention. These injuries are accurately detected by
      duplex and color Doppler ultrasonography. Recent treatment of these lesions by
      ultrasound-guided compression repair (UGCR) has been described. During a 1-year
      period we identified 18 femoral artery injuries, including 17 pseudoaneurysms and
      one arteriovenous fistula. Three of the pseudoaneurysms thrombosed spontaneously
      before attempted treatment. The remaining 15 lesions underwent a trial of UGCR.
      Successful closure was accomplished in 10 patients (56%). Seven of these lesions
      were successfully treated during the initial session, and thrombosis was
      accomplished after repeat compression in three additional lesions. Three patients
      who were given anticoagulants had a failed UGCR, but their pseudoaneurysms
      thrombosed after administration of anticoagulants was discontinued. Two patients
      had failed UGCR and required operation. Seven (88%) of eight patients who were
      not given anticoagulants were successfully treated. In contrast only two (29%) of
      seven patients given therapeutic doses of anticoagulant medication were
      successfully treated by the technique. There was no statistical difference
      between mean pseudoaneurysm diameter, mean width and length of pseudoaneurysm
      neck, or depth of pseudoaneurysm neck from skin surface in patients in whom
      successful initial closure was achieved when compared with those patients in whom
      the initial attempt failed. UGCR is a safe, simple, noninvasive technique that
      can be used to treat many femoral artery injuries that traditionally were treated
      with surgery. The technique can be applied by any laboratory that has the
      necessary ultrasonography equipment and is currently the method of choice for
      treating uncomplicated iatrogenic femoral artery injuries at our institution.

PMID- 1460711
TI  - Aneurysmal change at or above the proximal anastomosis after infrarenal aortic
      grafting.
AB  - We conducted a retrospective review of all patients undergoing repair of
      abdominal aortic aneurysm at or above the proximal anastomosis of a previous
      infrarenal aortic graft between 1986 and 1991. Infected grafts and patients with
      suprarenal aneurysms present at the time of the original graft were excluded.
      Twenty-one patients, 19 men and two women, were included. The original indication
      for surgery was aneurysm in 14 patients and occlusive disease in seven; the mean
      interval from initial surgery to presentation was 10 years (range, 3 to 23
      years). Twelve lesions were anastomotic false aneurysms, and nine were true
      aneurysms beginning in the proximal juxta-anastomotic aorta. Fourteen patients
      had an asymptomatic abdominal mass. Seven patients had symptoms of acute
      expansion (three), rupture (three), or thrombosis (one). True aneurysm and
      symptomatic presentation were correlated with aneurysm as the original indication
      for surgery. Repair was accomplished by an interpositional graft in 13 and graft
      replacement in eight. Seven patients required suprarenal anastomosis or renal and
      visceral reconstruction. Five operative deaths (24%) occurred, including two of
      three patients with rupture (67%) and two of seven patients (28%) in the
      suprarenal group. The mortality rate for elective repair with an infrarenal
      anastomosis was 11%. Two additional late deaths occurred during the follow-up
      period.

PMID- 1460712
TI  - Treatment of angioaccess-induced ischemia by revascularization.
AB  - Upper extremity ischemia related to the construction of a chronic angioaccess is
      a serious and occasionally devastating complication. Fourteen patients with end
      stage renal disease (mean age 58 +/- 18 years, 13 with diabetes, 10 female) had
      ischemia after construction of an angioaccess. Twelve patients had a
      polytetrafluoroethylene brachioaxillary bridge arteriovenous fistula (BAVF), one
      patient had a radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and one patient had a
      brachiocephalic AVF. All patients had severe ischemia and five of them had
      established gangrenous changes. Symptoms appeared immediately after construction
      of the access in 10 patients. The remaining four patients had late onset of
      ischemia. The technique used for revascularization in all of these patients
      consisted of ligating the artery just distal to the takeoff of the AVF or BAVF
      and establishing an arterial bypass from a point proximal to the AVF or BAVF
      inflow to a point distal to the ligature. Bypass grafts consisted of saphenous
      vein in 13 cases and polytetrafluoroethylene in one case. Thirteen patients had a
      complete recovery, including healing of gangrenous lesions. One patient with
      severe gangrene of the hand at the time of revascularization required forearm
      amputation 13 months later because of progressive occlusive arterial disease. All
      AVFs were patent at 1 year. The 1-year patency rate for the BAVFs was 81.7%. All
      arterial bypasses were patent at 1 year. It is concluded that this technique
      offers consistent and durable hemodynamic and clinical improvement in arms
      affected by access-induced ischemia, with minimal morbidity, and does not affect
      the longevity of the angioaccess.

PMID- 1460713
TI  - Natural history, duplex characteristics, and histopathologic correlation of
      arterial injuries in a canine model.
AB  - The treatment of patients with penetrating extremity trauma in proximity to major
      arteries as well as the nonoperative treatment of clinically occult arterial
      injuries remain controversial. Duplex ultrasonography (DUS) has recently been
      advocated in this setting. We therefore studied experimentally induced arterial
      injuries in dogs to correlate the natural history, duplex findings, and
      histopathologic condition of different injuries and to help define criteria for
      operation. Fifty-two canine femoral and carotid arteries were randomized to have
      surgically created intimal flaps (n = 15), crush injuries (n = 15), or
      lacerations (n = 15) or to be controls (n = 7). An experienced sonographer,
      blinded to the presence or type of injury, evaluated the vessels every 10 days
      for 1 month. Histopathologic study was performed 1 month after injury when the
      arteries were retrieved. The sensitivity (96.5%), specificity (86.4%), and
      accuracy (95.1%) of DUS in evaluating arterial injuries at 1 month correlated
      well with histopathologic evaluation. All arteries subjected to crush injuries
      showed abnormal duplex findings. These findings correlated well with the
      histologic picture of severe injury (arterial wall thickness = 2.72 x +/- 0.23 x
      control; intramural hemorrhage, 93%; mural thrombus, 60%). DUS and histologic
      study revealed healing of intimal flaps in 27% of the arteries. Other intimal
      flaps deteriorated (stenoses, 47%; dilation, 13%; occlusion, 13%). Most
      lacerations (86%) revealed duplex evidence of healing within 10 days of injury.
      This was confirmed by histologic study at 1 month in 73% of lacerated arteries.
      This study confirms the accuracy of DUS in diagnosing various arterial injuries
      and shows that the natural history of these injuries varies with the mechanism of
      injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460714
TI  - Infrapopliteal arterial injury: prompt revascularization affords optimal limb
      salvage.
AB  - Sixty-nine limbs with infrapopliteal arterial injuries were evaluated in 68
      patients. Thirty-five (50%) cases were complicated by acute limb-threatening
      ischemia. Management consisted of revascularization (26 limbs), ligation (15
      limbs), fasciotomy only (2 limbs), observation (18 limbs), and primary amputation
      (8 limbs). Penetrating injuries (n = 35) had a 33% incidence of ischemia and a
      reduced frequency of associated injury. One delayed amputation (3%) was required.
      In contrast, blunt injuries (n = 34) had a 68% incidence of ischemia and a
      greater frequency of associated injury. There were 20 amputations in the blunt
      group, including eight primary amputations performed in limbs with profound
      ischemia, complex open fractures, severe soft-tissue damage, and neural injury.
      Observation or ligation of single arterial injuries resulted in no early
      amputations. Associated local injuries in both groups included fracture or
      ligamentous disruption (64%), severe soft-tissue damage (32%), and nerve
      dysfunction (36%). In both groups, 15 of 35 ischemic limbs were salvaged by
      prompt revascularization (11 penetrating and four blunt injuries). Aggressive
      revascularization with autogenous repair or bypass is recommended for management
      of penetrating trauma. Though a good outcome will be achieved in some patients
      with combined blunt trauma and infrapopliteal arterial injury, the probability of
      delayed amputation and prolonged disability must be consciously integrated into
      the decision to pursue limb salvage. The prognosis for blunt injury complicated
      by arterial ischemia is poor; thus the severity of associated local and remote
      injuries will affect the results of revascularization program.

PMID- 1460715
TI  - Central and regional hemodynamics determine optimal management of major venous
      injuries.
AB  - Controversy continues in the selection of optimal management of major venous
      injuries. We analyzed our experience with 191 major venous injuries in 163
      patients (1986 to 1991). The mechanism of injury was gunshot (112), stab (44),
      blunt (six), and iatrogenic (one). Eighteen cervicothoracic, 51 caval, 30 iliac,
      36 visceral, and 56 extremity veins were involved. Of the 191 injuries, 105
      (54.9%) were repaired (lateral repair 76, end-to-end anastomosis 15, vein patch
      four, vein graft five, Gore-Tex graft four, and compilation one). Of the
      remaining venous injuries, 64 were ligated as a result of hemodynamic
      instability. Twenty-two injuries in 18 patients did not receive treatment because
      16 of 18 patients died before vascular control or repair. The overall amputation
      rate was 1.2%, and the mortality rate was 28.2% (46/163). The highest mortality
      rate occurred in those patients who required resuscitative thoracotomy (100%, p <
      0.00001), retrohepatic caval injuries (90%, p < 0.0004), and multiple venous
      injuries (81.8%, p < 0.00001). Seventeen patients underwent fasciotomies (15
      prophylactic and two therapeutic). Clinical or measured venous hypertension by
      stump pressure assisted in deciding for venous repair in 20 patients. A
      significant decrease in venous stump pressure (p < 0.000001) was noted after
      venous reconstruction. Thus the decision to ligate or repair venous injuries
      correlated primarily with (1) hemodynamic stability, and in stable patients, with
      (2) extent and location of injury and (3) clinical and measured venous
      hypertension. Venous ligation in clinically stable patients did not increase the
      need for fasciotomy or amputation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460716
TI  - Management of peripheral vascular problems in recipients of cardiac allografts.
AB  - Five hundred and twenty consecutive heart transplant cases (458 adult, 62
      pediatric) were reviewed to assess the impact of peripheral vascular problems.
      Peritransplant interventions requiring vascular cannulation (e.g., intraaortic
      balloon pump procedures, catheterization of the right and left sides of the
      heart, femoral bypass) resulted in 10 complications that necessitated nine
      surgical procedures. Five aortic aneurysms (three infrarenal and two suprarenal)
      were resected. There was one death unrelated to the aneurysm resection. Sixteen
      patients had evidence of peripheral vascular disease (PVD). There were three
      deaths in this group, none directly related to the PVD. Three patients required
      vascular reconstruction (axillobifemoral, bilateral femoral distal and popliteal
      endarterectomy) in the posttransplant period, all for advanced ischemic symptoms.
      Except for one patient in whom ischemia-related ulcers developed on the heels,
      all patients had improved or stable symptoms that did not require intervention.
      There were no limb losses or vascular infections. We conclude that despite the
      rigors of posttransplant immunosuppression, patients with stable manifestations
      of PVD may successfully undergo heart transplantation and subsequent vascular
      reconstruction, when indicated, without prohibitive risk.

PMID- 1460717
TI  - The influence of human immunodeficiency virus infection and intravenous drug
      abuse on complications of hemodialysis access surgery.
AB  - To examine the influence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on
      complications in dialysis access surgery, a review was performed on patients
      undergoing hemodialysis at two major metropolitan medical centers over a 30-month
      period. One hundred eight patients underwent a total of 169 graft procedures;
      mean follow-up was 14 1/2 months. There were 18 (17%) patients who were HIV
      positive who had no symptoms, 11 (10%) patients with acquired immunodeficiency
      syndrome (AIDS), and 79 (73%) patients who were HIV-negative. Twenty-three
      percent (25/108) of patients had a history of intravenous drug abuse (IVDA), most
      of whom also had either AIDS or asymptomatic HIV infection. Dialysis procedures
      included 44 autogenous reconstructions (26%), 117 polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
      grafts (69%), and 8 (5%) procedures of unknown type. Arteriovenous fistula or
      graft thrombosis was a frequent complication. The overall 12-month graft patency
      rate was 41%, and patients with HIV infection or a history of IVDA did not have a
      significantly increased risk of thrombosis. Multivariate analysis showed that the
      use of PTFE as opposed to autogenous reconstruction was the only significant risk
      factor found for occlusion within the first 12 months after operation (p < 0.01).
      Twenty-five graft infections occurred, all in PTFE grafts. The PTFE graft
      infection rate was 43% in patients with AIDS, 36% in patients who were HIV
      positive and who had no symptoms, and 15% in patients who were HIV-negative (p <
      0.05). Patients with a history of IVDA had a 41% PTFE graft infection rate versus
      a 13% infection rate in patients who did not have a history of IVDA (p <
      0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460718
TI  - Comparison of descending phlebography with quantitative photoplethysmography, air
      plethysmography, and duplex quantitative valve closure time in assessing deep
      venous reflux.
AB  - To assess the role of noninvasive tests--quantitative photoplethysmography, air
      plethysmography, and quantitative duplex scanning, we compared a group of normal
      (group N, eight limbs) volunteers to patients with severe chronic venous
      insufficiency who were stratified according to the degree of reflux seen on the
      current "gold standard," descending phlebography. Group M (10 limbs) had mild
      (grades 0 to 2) reflux, and group S (10 limbs) had severe (grades 3 to 4) reflux
      as determined by phlebography. Quantitative photoplethysmography could identify
      normal from abnormal limbs but could not distinguish the severity of reflux. Air
      plethysmography was used to calculate venous filling index, ejection fraction,
      and residual volume fraction. Ejection fraction was the same in all groups.
      Venous filling index could not significantly distinguish the degree of reflux
      (group M vs group S) but increased as reflux increased. Residual volume fraction
      was considerably higher in group S. Quantitative duplex valve closure time was
      measured in the superficial femoral and popliteal veins, with the values added
      together in each limb to give a total valve closure time (TVCT). A TVCT value
      greater than or equal to 4 seconds correlated best with severe phlebographic
      reflux, with a sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 94%, and an accuracy of 93%.
      This value was confirmed as the best test for venous reflux by receiver operating
      characteristic curve analysis. Thus in the evaluation of patients with severe
      chronic venous insufficiency who are candidates for phlebography and surgery,
      quantitative duplex measurement of TVCT gives the best noninvasive assessment of
      the severity of deep venous reflux.

PMID- 1460719
TI  - Late complications of revascularization for radiation-induced arterial disease.
AB  - During a 14-year period 23 patients underwent 25 revascularizations for radiation
      induced arterial obstructive disease. An average of 5000 rads was delivered, 3 to
      24 (mean 9) years before arterial insufficiency, for malignancies of the
      following origin: gynecologic (n = 9), lymphoma (n = 7), head and neck (n = 5),
      testicular (n = 1), and lower extremity sarcoma (n = 1). Arterial occlusive
      disease occurred in the aortic arch vessels (n = 8), visceral aortic vessels (n =
      1), and aortofemoral vessels (n = 16). Presenting symptoms were claudication (n =
      8), rest pain or nonhealing ulcers (n = 7), transient ischemic attacks (n = 6),
      asymptomatic bruit (n = 1), and renal insufficiency (n = 1). Reconstructive
      operations included anatomic bypass (n = 10), extra-anatomic bypass (n = 4),
      patch angioplasty (n = 5), endarterectomy (n = 3), and resection with
      interposition graft (n = 1). In this group of patients there were no major
      perioperative wound complications or other major radiation-associated morbidity.
      Five patients had late graft infections that manifested from 2 to 5 years after
      surgery. All occurred in anatomic regions where the bypass graft passed through
      previously irradiated tissues. Presenting symptoms of infection included a
      draining groin sinus (n = 3) or soft tissue abscess (n = 2). In all cases the
      graft had not incorporated into the surrounding tissues when passing through the
      irradiated area. Treatment included graft excision and extra-anatomic bypass
      through nonirradiated tissue. One patient died of systemic sepsis. Vascular
      reconstructive surgery can safely be performed for radiation-induced arterial
      disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460720
TI  - Carotid endarterectomy: a safe cost-efficient approach.
AB  - The diagnosis-related groups have encouraged physicians to become more efficient
      in the care of their patients; often, however, raising the question of safety.
      For 3 years all patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy at our institution
      were monitored in the intensive care unit for 24 hours and the majority were
      discharged on the second postoperative day. After review of these patient's
      hospital records and direct patient interviews, it was clear that many patients
      did not require a stay in the intensive care unit and could be discharged on the
      first postoperative day. In January 1991 a prospective policy was established to
      evaluate the safety and efficacy of outpatient arteriography, same-day admission,
      selective use of the intensive care unit, and early discharge on the first
      postoperative day when feasible. During a 10-month period all patients undergoing
      carotid endarterectomy at our institution were evaluated (n = 52). Eleven
      patients had had a prior stroke (21%), 31 had either amaurosis fugax or transient
      ischemic attacks (60%), and 10 had no symptoms (19%). The arteriogram for 49 of
      the patients was obtained on an outpatient basis or during a prior admission, and
      these patients were admitted to the hospital on the day of operation. Nine
      patients were placed under general anesthesia and had shunting procedures, and 43
      patients had cervical block anesthesia, eight of whom had shunting (19%). Only
      five patients required an intensive care unit stay for either hypertension,
      hypotension, or neurologic complication (one transient ischemic attack and one
      minor stroke). Forty-six patients (88%) were discharged on the first
      postoperative day; average length of stay was 1.29 days/patient.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460721
TI  - Routine postendarterectomy duplex surveillance: does it prevent late stroke?
AB  - Our recent finding that less than 50% of late postendarterectomy strokes are
      related to recurrent carotid stenosis led us to question the utility of routine
      postendarterectomy duplex surveillance (RpCEADS) in the prevention of late
      stroke. To evaluate our RpCEADS program, we reviewed our postoperative duplex
      studies and correlated their results with clinical data. A total of 1053
      postendarterectomy scans was carried out on 348 carotid arteries (258 patients)
      (3.0 +/- 0.1 studies/artery) during an average follow-up of 52.6 (+/- 2.3)
      months. Less than 50% of recurrent carotid stenosis was documented throughout
      follow-up in 292 (83.9%) of 348 arteries. Recurrent carotid stenosis of greater
      than 50% or occlusion of either the common or internal carotid artery was noted
      in the remaining 56 arteries (16.1%). Of the 56 duplex-detected recurrent
      stenoses, only two (3.6%) resulted directly in an unheralded stroke, whereas
      eight (14.3%) underwent prophylactic reoperation, eight (14.3%) resulted in
      transient ischemia requiring reoperation, eight (14.3%) occluded without causing
      stroke, and 29 (51.8%) remained asymptomatic and did not progress to occlusion.
      Assuming that each of our eight patients who underwent prophylactic reoperation
      would have had a stroke if operation had not been carried out and our two
      unheralded strokes could have been prevented with more rigorous follow-up,
      RpCEADS might have prevented late stroke related to 10 (2.9%) of 348 arteries in
      10 (3.9%) of 258 patients after surgery. All other cases of duplex-detected
      recurrent carotid stenosis or occlusion were asymptomatic or manifest by
      transient cerebral ischemia. Therefore RpCEADS cannot be justified as a means of
      preventing late strokes related to recurrent stenosis.

PMID- 1460722
TI  - Congress to simplify those complex, anxiety-provoking immunization booklets.

PMID- 1460723
TI  - Marfan syndrome, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy findings underline avoidance of some
      sports.

PMID- 1460724
TI  - Science organization sponsors discussions about what constitutes health care
      reform.

PMID- 1460725
TI  - From the Food and Drug Administration.

PMID- 1460726
TI  - From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trends in years of potential
      life lost before age 65 among whites and blacks--1979-1989.

PMID- 1460727
TI  - The National Practitioner Data Bank: bane or benefit?

PMID- 1460728
TI  - Outpatient anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and patient-controlled
      analgesia.

PMID- 1460729
TI  - Pulmonary toxicity of amiodarone.

PMID- 1460730
TI  - Providers?

PMID- 1460731
TI  - Estimates of physician joint ventures.

PMID- 1460732
TI  - If called by the insurance company, call in the patient on the call.

PMID- 1460733
TI  - The influence of age and sex on asthma admissions.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe demographic data from a large population of asthmatic
      patients to define the role of age and sex as risk factors for asthma admission.
      DESIGN: A retrospective review of all asthma admissions as defined by
      International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, code 493.0. SOURCE: All
      medical-surgical admissions from 67 hospitals in five counties of southeastern
      Pennsylvania from 1986 through 1989. RESULTS: Patients admitted for asthma
      treatment (33,269) were reviewed. In the 0- to 5-year-old and 6- to 10-year-old
      age groups, males were admitted nearly twice as often as age-identical females.
      In the 11- to 20-year-old age group, admissions for males and females were nearly
      identical. Between 20 and 50 years of age, the female-to-male ratio was nearly
      3:1. Thereafter, females were admitted for asthma at a rate of about 2.5:1 when
      compared with their age-equivalent male counterparts. Length of stay increased
      proportionally as the patient age increased. After 30 years of age, the length of
      stay was slightly greater for females than males. CONCLUSIONS: There is a much
      higher rate of admission for prepubertal males than females. However, there is a
      higher incidence of asthma admissions for adult females than adult male asthmatic
      patients, and female asthmatic patients experience longer hospital stays per
      admission as well. These data indicate that adult females are more severely
      affected by asthma and raise the possibility that hormonal or biochemical
      differences related to sex may play a role in the pathophysiology of asthma.

PMID- 1460734
TI  - Antidepressant medications and the relative risk of suicide attempt and suicide.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Suicide by drug overdose is a major public health problem, and
      antidepressant medications are the most common agent involved. European studies
      suggest differences in the rates of suicide by overdose among antidepressants,
      but no reports have been published for the United States. We estimated the
      comparative risks of suicide attempts and suicides, and the relative risk of
      fatality in the event of an overdose for the major antidepressants currently
      marketed in the United States. DATA SOURCES: Information regarding suicide
      attempts and suicides by antidepressant overdose was obtained from the published
      reports of the Drug Abuse and Warning Network and the annual report of the
      American Association of Poison Control Centers, and corrected for differences in
      total annual prescriptions using data from the National Prescription Audit.
      RESULTS: The risk of a suicide attempt did not appear to differ among
      antidepressants. The tricyclic antidepressants were associated with a higher rate
      of death in the event of an overdose than the newer nontricyclic antidepressants
      in both the annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers
      and the Drug Abuse and Warning Network data. The chance of death after an
      overdose was greater for desipramine hydrochloride than for other tricyclics.
      CONCLUSION: The higher risk of suicide with tricyclics vs nontricyclics may be
      explained by a higher rate of death from overdose rather than more suicide
      attempts. Tricyclics carry the risk of greater cardiotoxicity. The basis for the
      even higher rate of death/overdose of desipramine is not known and requires
      further research. If these findings are replicated in a case-control study
      design, they have important implications for the choice of an antidepressant for
      the depressed patient at risk for suicidal behavior.

PMID- 1460735
TI  - Toward an epidemiology and natural history of SIRS (systemic inflammatory
      response syndrome)
AB  - BACKGROUND: New definitions for sepsis and the systemic inflammatory response
      syndrome (SIRS) have been established. Comparatively little is known, however,
      about the types of patients who will be included within these new definitions.
      OBJECTIVES: To determine what is--and what is not--known about the epidemiology
      and natural history of severe sepsis and SIRS. DESIGN: A comparative analysis of
      patient characteristics in the Methylprednisolone, Veterans Administration
      Systemic Sepsis, HA-1A, and E5 studies. RESULTS: At least 15% of patients in
      these studies had no documented infection; the proportion of all patients with
      severe SIRS and no documented infection is probably higher. Even among patients
      with presumed infection, less than half had bacteremia, and only about half had
      gram-negative infection or shock. The difference in the mean mortality rate of
      the combined studies at 14 days was 26%, while at 1 month it was 42%. Gram
      negative sepsis and gram-positive sepsis seem to have similar mortality rates.
      Whether shock increases 30-day mortality is unclear. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with
      severe SIRS should not be assumed to have gram-negative infection; furthermore,
      data derived from studies of patients with gram-negative infection should be
      applied cautiously to all patients with SIRS. Studies of patients with sepsis or
      SIRS should include at least a 1-month follow-up if mortality is an end point.
      More consistent definitions of these disorders should permit more effective
      comparisons across studies.

PMID- 1460736
TI  - Estimates of the number of motherless youth orphaned by AIDS in the United
      States.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To estimate the number of youth in the United States who have been or
      will be left motherless by the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired
      immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic, in order to project the need for
      family supports, age-appropriate foster and congregate care, and mental health
      and social services. DESIGN: Orphans are defined as youth whose mothers (the
      usual caregiving parent) die of HIV/AIDS-related causes. A mathematical model was
      constructed to estimate the number of such motherless youth. Cumulative fertility
      rates were applied to the number of reported AIDS deaths (1981 through 1990) and
      projected deaths (1991 through 1995) of adult women less than 50 years old. The
      results were adjusted for underreporting of HIV/AIDS-related mortality, pediatric
      AIDS deaths, infant mortality, ethnic and racial variation in fertility, and
      decreased fertility associated with late-stage HIV disease. Estimates were made
      for the number who were children (less than 13 years of age), adolescents (13 to
      17 years of age), or young adults (18 years of age or older) at the time of their
      mothers' death. RESULTS: By the end of 1995, maternal deaths caused by the
      HIV/AIDS epidemic will have orphaned an estimated 24,600 children and 21,000
      adolescents in the United States; unless the course of the epidemic changes
      dramatically, by the year 2000, the overall number of motherless children and
      adolescents will exceed 80,000. In 1991, an estimated 13% of US children and 9%
      of adolescents whose mothers died of all causes were children of women who died
      of HIV/AIDS-related diseases. These proportions will surpass 17% and 12%,
      respectively, by 1995. The vast majority of these motherless youth will come from
      poor communities of color. CONCLUSIONS: A large and rapidly growing number of
      American youth are being orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Unless increased
      attention and resources are devoted to this vulnerable population, a social
      catastrophe is unavoidable.

PMID- 1460737
TI  - Risk of fatal and near-fatal asthma in relation to inhaled corticosteroid use.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between patterns of use of inhaled
      beclomethasone dipropionate and the risk of fatal and near-fatal asthma. DESIGN:
      Nested case-control analysis of a historical cohort; a further analysis. SETTING:
      The 12,301 residents of Saskatchewan aged 5 to 54 years who were dispensed 10 or
      more asthma drugs from 1978 to 1987. PATIENTS: The 129 persons who experienced
      asthma death (n = 44) and near-death (n = 85) and their 655 controls matched as
      to age and date of entry into the cohort, with the additional matching criteria
      of at least one hospitalization for asthma in the prior 2 years, region of
      residence, and having received social assistance. MAIN OUTCOME: Life-threatening
      attacks of asthma defined as death due to asthma or the occurrence of
      hypercarbia, intubation, and mechanical ventilation during an acute attack of
      asthma. RESULTS: After accounting for the risk associated with use of other
      medications and adjustment for markers of risk of adverse events related to
      asthma, subjects who had been dispensed, on average, one or more metered-dose
      inhalers of beclomethasone per month over a 1-year period had a significantly
      lower risk of fatal and near-fatal asthma (odds ratio, 0.1; 95% confidence
      interval, 0.02 to 0.6). CONCLUSION: These data support recent guidelines from
      several countries that recommend the use of inhaled corticosteroids in moderate
      and severe asthma.

PMID- 1460738
TI  - Clinical ecology. Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association.

PMID- 1460739
TI  - The impact of health insurance reform on the law governing the physician-patient
      relationship.

PMID- 1460740
TI  - Uninsured children and national health reform.

PMID- 1460741
TI  - The 'silent' legacy of AIDS. Children who survive their parents and siblings.

PMID- 1460742
TI  - A piece of my mind. Another language.

PMID- 1460743
TI  - Neuropsychiatric assessment of orphans in one Romanian orphanage for
      'unsalvageables'.

PMID- 1460744
TI  - [Effects of propentofylline (HWA285) on recovery of brain function following
      total cerebral ischemia (TCI) in dogs].
AB  - We examined the effects of a xanthine derivative, propentofylline, on recovery of
      brain function following TCI in 23 adult mongrel dogs. TCI was produced by
      clamping ascending aorta with aortoatrial bypass formation. The dogs were divided
      into 3 groups: preischemic administration (0.3 mg.kg-1.min-1, 30 min), post
      ischemic administration (0.5 mg.kg-1.min-1, 6h) and control. The progress of
      recovery of EEG, respiration, reflexes, motor functions, arousal state and
      behavior were observed for 7 days after TCI and the latter 5 functions were
      analysed using neurologic deficit score (NDS). Propentofylline shortened the time
      necessary for reappearance of EEG after the starting of recirculation but could
      not improve the NDS.

PMID- 1460745
TI  - [Clinical examination of acetated Ringer solution in patients with normal liver
      function and those with liver dysfunction].
AB  - Acetated Ringer solution (AR) was studied clinically to find its usefulness in
      patients with liver dysfunction compared with lactated Ringer solution (LR). The
      thirty-eight patients scheduled to be operated were divided into four groups
      (Group I: with normal liver function and AR infused, Group II: with normal liver
      function and LR infused, Group III: with liver dysfunction and AR infused, Group
      IV: with liver dysfunction and LR infused). AR or LR was administered to each
      group at a speed of 10 ml.kg-1.h-1, and we investigated the differences of these
      four groups clinically. L-lactic acid increased significantly in all groups after
      administration of AR or LR. D-lactic acid increased in LR groups, and acetic acid
      increased in AR groups. However, the other parameters, including the acid-base
      balance, electrolytes and liver function, showed no significant changes in any
      group. Therefore the status of liver dysfunction did not affect the metabolism of
      lactic acid in this study. These findings indicate that as an intraoperative
      fluid, AR is just as useful as LR. However, there was no significant difference
      between the data of AR groups compared with those of LR groups. In conclusion, AR
      is not necessarily a better fluid compared with LR as an intraoperative fluid in
      patients with liver dysfunction.

PMID- 1460746
TI  - [Influence of normovolemic hemodilution on organ blood flow].
AB  - The normovolemic hemodilution was carried out in adult mongrel dogs by using
      SALIN-HES, and organ blood flow was measured by hydrogen clearance method, and
      the distribution rate of cardiac output to the organ was calculated. The organ
      blood flow was measured in the cerebral cortex (CCBF), liver (LBF) and renal
      cortex (RCBF). The hematocrit level before hemodilution was 42%. The subsequent
      hematocrit levels (at 4 stages) were 26% at S1, 18% at S2, 10% at S3 and 5% at
      S4. The results suggest that higher the degree of hemodilution, CCBF increases
      more, and that CCBF increased significantly from S2 to S4. However, no
      significant variation was observed in the distribution rates of the blood flow.
      Moreover, no significant variation by hemodilution was also observed in both LBF
      and RCBF. However, a significant decrease of the distribution rate of the blood
      flow was observed in LBF from S1 to S2 and RCBF from S2 to S4, and the higher the
      degree of the hemodilution is, the rate of blood flow decreased the more
      remarkably.

PMID- 1460747
TI  - [Coagulation changes during liver resection].
AB  - Thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)
      were measured during liver resection surgery in 8 patients. TAT and PAI
      activities of patients under liver resection were compared with those of 11
      patients under resection of esophageal carcinoma. TAT activity increased during
      liver resection (P < 0.001) and reached 14 times (P < 0.001) of its control value
      in the recovery room. PAI activity was very stable during operation, but
      increased to twice (P < 0.01) of its control value in the recovery room. TAT
      activity of patients after liver surgery in the recovery room was (P < 0.05) more
      than twice of that of patients after esophageal surgery. We conclude that
      hypercoagulable state occurred during liver resection to a greater degree
      compared with that observed with esophageal surgery, and that its cause might be
      liver resection itself.

PMID- 1460748
TI  - [Effects of sevoflurane anesthesia on dopamine metabolism in the rat brain].
AB  - To elucidate the mechanism of general anesthesia, effects of sevoflurane
      anesthesia on dopamine metabolism in rat brain were studied. Sevoflurane 3% was
      administered for 20 minutes to Wistar male rats weighing 230-270 g under
      spontaneous respiration. The rats were sacrificed by decapitation and the brains
      were rapidly removed. They were dissected into nine discrete regions, locus
      coeruleus, pons plus, medulla oblongata, hypothalamus, thalamus, basal ganglia,
      midbrain, hippocampus, amygdala and cerebral cortex. The contents of dopamine
      (DA) and its major metabolites, 3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (DOPAC) and
      homovanillic acid (HVA) were measured by high performance liquid chromatography
      with the dual-cell coulometric detector before anesthesia, 20 minutes after the
      start of anesthesia and at the recovery from anesthesia. Significant increases in
      DA levels were observed in the pons, hypothalamus, thalamus and amygdala by
      sevoflurane anesthesia as compared with the control group. DOPAC levels increased
      significantly in the pons, hypothalamus, basal ganglia and cerebral cortex at the
      recovery from anesthesia. A significant increase in HVA levels was observed in
      amygdala by sevoflurane anesthesia, while an appreciable decrease in HVA levels
      was observed in hippocampus at recovery from anesthesia. It is concluded that DA
      metabolism is significantly suppressed in the pons, hypothalamus, thalamus, basal
      ganglia, midbrain and amygdala during sevoflurane anesthesia and this change in
      DA metabolism may be associated with the mechanism of sevoflurane anesthesia.

PMID- 1460749
TI  - [Effects of sevoflurane and isoflurane on intraocular pressure in adult
      patients].
AB  - We investigated effects of two anesthetic agents, sevoflurane and isoflurane, on
      intraocular pressure (IOP). Forty adult patients were allocated randomly to two
      groups; Group S (sevoflurane) or Group I (isoflurane). All patients were given a
      bolus of thiamylal (4-5 mg.kg-1) and vecuronium (0.1-0.2 mg.kg-1) and maintained
      with 1-3% sevoflurane or isoflurane supplemented with nitrous oxide. Ventilation
      was controlled and ETCO2 was monitored. IOP, blood pressure and heart rate were
      measured before induction of anesthesia (control) and at the 7 points of 5, 10,
      15, 30, 45, 60 and 120 minutes after intubation. In Group S, IOP was reduced
      significantly until 30 min compared with control IOP and the maximum decrease was
      40% at 10 min. In Group I, IOP was consistently lower than control and the
      maximum decrease was 40% at the same time as in Group S. But there were no
      significant differences between the two groups at each point. It seems that the
      remarkable reductions of IOP after inductions are mainly caused by induction
      agents. In both groups, hemodynamic parameters showed no remarkable changes
      during maintenance. These results suggest that both sevoflurane and isoflurane
      are useful anesthetics for elderly patients receiving ophthalmic surgeries.

PMID- 1460750
TI  - [Effects of enflurane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane on renal tubular functions].
AB  - Twenty-seven patients without renal disease were divided randomly into three
      groups of each nine patients. Each group received either enflurane, isoflurane or
      sevoflurane. The renal tubular functions were examined during anesthesia and on
      the first postoperative day. By inhalation of 1.49 MAC hours of enflurane, 2.17
      MAC hours of isoflurane or 1.29 MAC hours of sevoflurane, creatinine clearance,
      Na excretion rate, urine beta 2-microglobulin and urine N-acetyl-beta-D
      glucosaminidase showed no significant changes during anesthesia and the during
      postoperative period among anesthetic agents used. These results indicate that
      enflurane, isoflurane or sevoflurane does not affect renal tubular function
      specifically under anesthesia when each was given for less than four hours.

PMID- 1460751
TI  - [Plasma catecholamine levels during air-oxygen-enflurane anesthesia compared with
      those during nitrous oxide-oxygen-enflurane anesthesia].
AB  - This study was designed to investigate the differences in plasma levels of
      epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine during air-oxygen-enflurane anesthesia
      (AOE) and those during nitrous oxide-oxygen-enflurane anesthesia (GOE). These
      catecholamine levels were measured at 8 carefully defined points before and
      during hysterectomy or ovariectomy in two groups of each ten patients. Plasma
      levels of epinephrine decreased significantly immediately after intubation in
      both groups. In the AOE group, epinephrine levels increased significantly 30 and
      60 minutes after the beginning of the operation. In the GOE group, however,
      epinephrine levels decreased significantly 15 and 30 minutes after the beginning
      of the operation. The difference between the two groups was statistically
      significant. Plasma levels of norepinephrine increased significantly after the
      beginning of the operation in the GOE group but no significant differences were
      found in the AOE group except the levels 60 minutes after the operation. The
      difference between the two groups was statistically significant 15 minutes after
      the operation. Plasma levels of dopamine remained unchanged in the two groups.
      Mean arterial pressure changed with intubation and surgical stress in the two
      groups. The arterial pressure was significantly higher 30 minutes after the
      operation in the GOE group compared with AOE group. Pulse rate increased
      significantly during anesthesia and surgery in the GOE group. It is concluded
      that AOE induces more increase of plasma epinephrine and less release of plasma
      norepinephrine compared with GOE.

PMID- 1460752
TI  - [The effect of epidural anesthesia on prostaglandin synthesis during alveolar
      hypoxia].
AB  - The effect of epidural anesthesia on prostaglandin synthesis during alveolar
      hypoxia was investigated in 20 patients. Group I received intravenous anesthesia
      and group II received epidural and intravenous anesthesia. Patients in both
      groups were intubated with a double-lumen end tracheal tube, allowing separate
      ventilation of the right lung with 5% CO2, 6% O2 and 89% N2 as a hypoxic
      challenge and the left lung with 100% O2. In both groups, adequate systemic
      oxygenation was maintained. Pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular
      resistance increased significantly in both groups. Cardiac index decreased
      significantly in group II. Both 6-keto PGF1 alpha and thromboxane B2 increased in
      group I, but only 6-keto PGF1 alpha increased in group II. Hypoxic pulmonary
      vasoconstriction (HPV) stimulated prostaglandin synthesis. 6-keto PGF1 alpha is
      the major arachidonic acid metabolite released during HPV. The results suggest
      that epidural anesthesia does not inhibit HPV, but exerts some effects on
      thromboxane B2 synthesis during alveolar hypoxia.

PMID- 1460753
TI  - [Effect of halothane on the mechanical properties of rabbit right ventricular
      papillary muscle in the presence of either alpha or beta stimulant positive
      inotropic agent].
AB  - The effects of halothane (1-3 MAC) on the isometric twitch tension, the
      contracture tension induced by 1 mM barium (Ba2+) in the rabbit right ventricular
      papillary muscles, and the transient tension response to step length change
      during barium contracture, were analyzed in the presence of either alpha (3 x 10(
      5) M phenylephrine+10(-6) M bupranolol) or beta (10(-7) M isoproterenol)
      stimulants. The isometric twitch tension was significantly decreased with the
      administration of halothane dose dependently, in the presence of both alpha or
      beta stimulants. Both the time to peak (TP) and the time to half relaxation (THR)
      were remarkably shortened with the administration of halothane in the presence of
      both alpha or beta stimulants. The Ba2+ contracture tension was also decreased
      with the administration of halothane dose dependently in the presence of both
      alpha or beta stimulants. The tension transient became faster with the
      administration of halothane in the presence of the alpha stimulant, but not in
      the presence of the beta stimulant. These results suggest that halothane
      decreases the number of active crossbridges regardless of the inotropic states
      induced by the two different stimulants. Also on increase the rate of crossbridge
      kinetics occurs in the presence of the alpha stimulant but not in response to the
      beta stimulant.

PMID- 1460754
TI  - [Pharmacokinetics of ketamine and pentazocine during total intravenous anesthesia
      with droperidol, pentazocine and ketamine].
AB  - Pharmacokinetics was studied in ten surgical patients who underwent various
      operative procedures of about 4 hours under total intravenous anesthesia with
      droperidol, pentazocine and ketamine (DPK). Plasma levels of ketamine, its
      metabolites and pentazocine were determined thirteen times during and after DPK.
      During anesthesia, ketamine (KO) and norketamine (KMI) levels ranged from 0.7 to
      1.0 micrograms.ml-1 and from 0.09 to 0.74 micrograms.ml-1, respectively. A small
      amount of dehydronorketamine (KM II) was detected only 90 min after the start of
      DPK anesthesia. Plasma half-lives of ketamine were calculated to be 33 min for
      distribution phase (alpha phase) and 60 min for elimination phase (beta phase),
      respectively. Pentazocine levels decreased 300 min after the induction of DPK to
      10% of the control level measured 5 min after its injection. Plasma half-lives of
      pentazocine were 60 min for alpha phase and 140 min for beta phase, respectively.
      The data obtained in this clinical study show that pharmacokinetics of ketamine
      during DPK is almost similar to that of DFK.

PMID- 1460755
TI  - [Interdependence of preload, afterload and contractility: their relation to
      cardiac function curve].
AB  - Formerly, the major determinants of cardiac performance, i.e., preload, afterload
      contractility, and heart rate had been considered independent. This individual
      concept of these determinants was originally advocated by E.H. Sonnenblick in
      1960's, providing an extremely useful tool in understanding basic cardiac
      mechanical physiology. We now know, however, that these determinants of cardiac
      performance are, in fact, interdependent with each other both at cellular and at
      ventricular levels. This concept of the interdependency of the determinants, in
      turn, is of practical importance during the conduct of clinical anesthesia. Since
      we cannot isolate one determinant from the other, we have to deal with them as
      they are. Furthermore, monitoring a parameter of one aspects of the patient's
      cardiac performance is not sufficient to understand or estimate patient's status.
      It is necessary to integrate these informations to make clinical decision under
      uncertain situations.

PMID- 1460756
TI  - [A patient with severe ventricular tachycardia who was saved by prolonged
      extracorporeal lung and heart assist].
AB  - A 47-y-o man had been suffering from cardiac failure due to refractory
      ventricular tachycardia (VT) after myocardial infarction. He underwent resection
      of the left ventricular aneurysm and cryocoagulation of the arrhythmogenic foci.
      On the 2nd post-operative day, VT often recurred in spite of repeated
      cardioversion and drug therapy, and threatened his life, even under IABP.
      Therefore, a veno-arterial bypass route was made and extracorporeal lung and
      heart assist, ECLHA, was started with a heparin bonded Maxima lung on the
      following day. Even under ECLHA, VT continued to recur. Cryocoagulation of the VT
      foci was tried again, without immediate success. A record high dose of beta
      blockers, given under the circulatory support by ECLHA, stopped VT on the
      following day. The patient was weaned from the ECLHA circuit 12 days after the
      first operation, then from IABP on the 14th day. During the 10 day course of
      surgeries and ECLHA, the patient had almost 100 defibrillations. But for ECLHA,
      we may say that the patient couldn't have survived two open heart surgeries,
      administration of a great amount of beta-blockers, and repeated cardiac arrest
      without neurological sequelae.

PMID- 1460757
TI  - [Anesthetic management of an infant with a single ventricle (asplenia syndrome)
      for non-cardiac surgery].
AB  - Ketamine and fentanyl were used for surgery of esophageal hiatus hernia in a 9
      month old boy with single ventricle (asplenia syndrome). The patient was orally
      premedicated with diazepam 2.5 mg, and intravenously with atropine 0.04 mg.
      General anesthesia was induced with ketamine-fentanyl-pancuronium-100% oxygen,
      and maintained with fentanyl-pancuronium-100% oxygen. The total dose of ketamine
      or fentanyl was 0.8 mg.kg-1 or 15 micrograms.kg-1, respectively. Systolic blood
      pressure and heart rate of the patient were stable during ketamine-fentanyl
      anesthesia. Arterial oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry was over 90%
      and arterial oxygen tension was above 60 mmHg during the operation. Ketamine
      fentanyl anesthesia might be useful for non-cardiac surgery of a child with
      cyanotic congenital heart disease.

PMID- 1460758
TI  - [A case of bronchospasm during induction of isoflurane anesthesia].
AB  - Isoflurane is generally considered to prevent increase in bronchomotor tone. We
      report a case of bronchospasm associated with exposure to isoflurane. A 11-year
      old girl was scheduled for tonsillectomy because of repeated fever. Anesthesia
      was induced with nitrous oxide, oxygen and sevoflurane. Sevoflurane was switched
      to isoflurane and increased gradually to 3%. Shortly after inhalation of
      isoflurane, eruption at chest appeared and auscultation of the chest revealed dry
      rale. Aminophylline and hydrocortisone were injected and isoflurane was
      discontinued. Ventilation with sevoflurane was started, but there was no
      improvement. Intramuscular epinephrine was given and sevoflurane was
      discontinued. After this, the wheezing improved. Four days later she underwent
      tonsillectomy under sevoflurane anesthesia uneventfully.

PMID- 1460759
TI  - [A case of postoperative hepatic injury after sevoflurane anesthesia].
AB  - A 63 year old man underwent MCA aneurysmal neck clipping under O2-N2O-enflurane
      anesthesia. On the 46th postoperative day after the first operation, he had
      cranioplasty under O2-N2O-sevoflurane anesthesia. Hepatic injury occurred after
      the operation, and GOT, GPT and bilirubin increased above 700 IU.l-1, 800 IU.l-1
      and 15.0 mg.dl-1 respectively but consciousness disturbance, hyperammonemia and
      DIC did not appear. His hepatic injury improved on conservative therapy. It seems
      that his hepatic injury was not caused by hepatitis viruses or hepatotoxicity of
      any drugs, but caused by cross sensitization between halogenated inhalation
      anesthetics, especially enflurane and sevoflurane, judging from drug induced
      lymphocyte stimulating test (DLST). We have to select an anesthetic method
      considering potential hepatic injury by halogenated anesthetics in a case of
      repeated anesthesia and operations during a short-term.

PMID- 1460760
TI  - [The effects of pentazocine, diazepam and midazolam in patients to reduce the
      uncomfortable feeling during epidural block procedure].
AB  - The effects of pentazocine, diazepam and midazolam in 100 patients to reduce the
      uncomfortable feeling during epidural block procedure were studied. All patients
      (ASA I-II) were premedicated with intramuscular atropine sulfate 0.5 mg and
      hydroxyzine 50 mg. To relieve pain and anxiety during epidural block procedure,
      pentazocine (15 mg; 20 Cases or 30 mg; 20 Cases), diazepam (5 mg; 20 Cases) or
      midazolam (2.5 mg; 20 Cases) was given intravenously in the operating room before
      epidural procedure. After the epidural block, patients were anesthetized with
      nitrous oxide-oxygen-isoflurane or nitrous oxide-oxygen-sevoflurane. The
      following day, patients' self-assessments of pain during epidural block procedure
      were categorized as good and fair. The effects of drugs were compared between
      patients with im premedication only with patients with further iv administration.
      Patients with pentazocine 15 mg were similar to the patients given only im
      premedication. Pentazocine 30 mg and diazepam 5 mg tended to allay the patients'
      pain feeling. Midazolam 2.5 mg was effective producing anterograde amnesia and
      antianxiety effects. Small doses of midazolam were effective to relief patients'
      uncomfortable feeling.

PMID- 1460761
TI  - [Polarized light irradiation near the stellate ganglion in a patient with
      Raynaud's sign].
AB  - Polarized light irradiation near the stellate ganglion was performed in a 55-year
      old female with Raynaud's sign. She was suffering from cold and numb pain in
      bilateral fingers for 1 year. Stellate ganglion block and low reactive-level
      laser therapy near the stellate ganglion were not sufficient to relieve this
      symptom. Polarized light irradiation near the stellate ganglion induced a sting
      stimulation and warm sensation in her hands. Thermograms revealed a remarkable
      increase in temperature of her hands. The results imply that polarized light
      irradiation near the stellate ganglion increases blood flow of forearms and
      relieves Raynaud's sign.

PMID- 1460762
TI  - [Hemodynamic management of LOS using prolonged VA bypass circulatory assist].
AB  - The authors managed five LOS patients using prolonged V-A bypass circulatory
      assist. Maximum CVP values were under 12 mmHg in three survivors, and 17 mmHg and
      20 mmHg in two nonsurvivors. Maximum PCWP values were under 14 mmHg in survivors,
      and 19 mmHg and 20 mmHg in nonsurvivors. Dopamine was administrated in all cases
      and norepinephrine was administrated at a rate of less than 0.3 microgram.kg
      1.min-1 in survivors, and in two nonsurvivors, norepinephrine was used at a rate
      of 0.36 and 1.2 micrograms.kg-1.min-1. Before and after disconnection of V-A
      bypass, the bypass flow of the three survivors were under 1.0 l.min-1 just before
      disconnection, and immediately after it, the preload did not increase, and the
      dose of administrated catecholamine increased. V-A bypass time intervals of the
      three survivors were 71, 42 and 87 hours, and those of the two nonsurvivors were
      71 and 43 hours. Maximum bypass flow rate was above 40ml.kg-1.min-1 in four of
      five patients. The authors discussed the management of the patients' heart and of
      the V-A bypass machine during the prolonged V-A bypass circulatory assist.

PMID- 1460763
TI  - [The epidemiology and clinical features of anaphylactic and anaphylactoid
      reactions in the perioperative period in Japan: a survey with a questionnaire of
      529 hospitals approved by Japan Society of Anesthesiology].
AB  - In an attempt to review the Japanese epidemiology of the anaphylactic and/or
      anaphylactoid reactions in the perioperative period, we surveyed 529 hospitals
      approved by Japan Society of Anesthesiology with a questionnaire about drug
      induced immediate adverse reactions. Recovery rate of questionnaires was 15% (80
      hospitals in 529 hospitals), and 28 cases of anaphylaxis or anaphylactoid
      reaction were reported. Most patients were in their teens and twenties. Male were
      10, and female were 12 (unknown gender; 6). Reaction occurred during the
      induction of anesthesia in 28.6% of the patients, and during the maintenance of
      anesthesia in 67.9%. Seventy-five percent of the patients had no past history of
      drug-induced allergy nor tendencies of atopy. Most frequent clinical signs were
      cardiovascular (85.7%) and cutaneous (100%) manifestations. Respiratory signs
      appeared in 42.9% of the patients. Patients were frequently unconscious and
      covered with drapes, and there is a potentially danger of masking early signs and
      symptoms of anaphylaxis. In most of the patients, cardiovascular collapse
      appeared as the first noticeable sign. Causative drugs were confirmed only
      immunologically in one patient. In other cases causative drugs were presumed
      based on clinical courses. Anaphylaxis and anaphylactoid reaction are important
      causes of morbidity and mortality. The incidence in Japan was 0.01% (1:10,000)
      and the mortality was 4.76%.

PMID- 1460764
TI  - [Establishment and characterization of a new poorly differentiated gastric cancer
      cell line (MKK-1), derived from Borrmann type 3 tumor].
AB  - A new human gastric cancer cell line (MKK-1), derived from Borrmann type 3 tumor
      of the stomach, was established. It was obtained from poorly differentiated
      adenocarcinoma. The cell line grew in vitro, forming a sheet of monolayered cells
      and attaching firmly to the inner surface of culture vessels; it continued to
      grow for more than 1 year and 4 months. Its doubling time was 12.6 hours, with a
      chromosomal mode of 69. The cells could grow in nude mice; histological findings
      of the tumors developed in the mice showed a pattern similar to those in the
      primary tumor, i.e., poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. With regards to tumor
      related antigens, production of the CA19-9 was observed as time-dependent
      increase and was detected at a level of 4 U/ml in the culture supernatant on
      passage day 7, showing high values compared with the control. Immunostaining was
      positive for both the anti CEA antibody and the anti CA19-9 antibody. In sera
      examined in week 4 after subcutaneous transplantation of MKK-1 to the nude mice,
      CEA and CA19-9 levels were high, at 8.93 ng/ml and 44 U/ml, respectively. There
      was a positive correlation between increase in a tumor weight and the production
      of tumor-related antigens.

PMID- 1460765
TI  - [Hypolactasia in Japanese Crohn's patients].
AB  - 20 g lactose load test, BHT and LTT done simultaneously were examined in 32
      Crohn's disease patients and 51 healthy volunteers. Hypolactasia frequency were
      examined. A rise in hydrogen concentration > 20 parts per million (ppm) above the
      base line during breath hydrogen test and maximum blood sugar rise during lactose
      tolerance test were considered to indicated Hypolactasia. High rates, 50% by BHT
      and 72.5% by LTT, of primary adult hypolactasia were found in healthy volunteers
      as previously reported. Higher rates, 83.3% by BHT and by LTT (p < 0.05), were
      observed in Crohn's disease patients. There were higher rates in small intestine
      type Crohn's disease (91.6% by BHT, 92.3% by LTT) compare with healthy volunteers
      but no difference were found with large intestine type Crohn's disease.

PMID- 1460766
TI  - [Immunohistochemical study of proliferative cells in colorectal adenoma and
      carcinoma].
AB  - The distribution of proliferating cells was studied in colorectal carcinoma by
      immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody-DNA polymerase alpha and Ki-67.
      Colorectal carcinoma was classified into two types by growth mode: (1)
      intramucosal polypoid growth carcinoma and (2) non-polypoid growth carcinoma. The
      labeling index of anti-DNA polymerase alpha and Ki-67 in non-polypoid growth
      carcinoma was significantly higher than in polypoid growth carcinoma. The
      labeling index of polypoid growth carcinoma was significantly higher than
      adenoma. The proliferating cells in polypoid growth carcinoma and adenoma were
      mainly distributed in the upper third of intramucosal neoplastic gland. However,
      in non-polypoid growth carcinoma, the proliferating cells of intramucosal lesion
      were scattered mainly in the lower third along the neoplastic gland. The
      distribution pattern of proliferating cells in early carcinoma with non-polypoid
      growth were similar to those of non-polypoid growth advanced carcinoma. These
      results suggested that submucosal invasion occurred more rapidly in intramucosal
      non-polypoid growth carcinoma.

PMID- 1460767
TI  - [Purification and culture of mouse gallbladder epithelial cells in secondary
      culture using microexplant culture on collagen gel].
AB  - We established a new method of purification and culture of mouse gallbladder
      epithelial cells. In primary culture, mouse gallbladder tissue was cultured on
      collagen gel using microexplant culture method; the epithelial cells spread in a
      single sheet from the microexplant toward the periphery on the collagen gel. Tiny
      fragment of the collagen gel containing the border of epithelial cell layer was
      retransplanted onto the another collagen gel for secondary culture. This
      retransplantation allowed the proliferation of the epithelial cells without
      mesenchymal contamination, which spread on the collagen gel at the rate of 0.29
      +/- 0.06 mm per day for more than two weeks. The cultured epithelial cells showed
      cuboid or columnar shape with focal mucus production, which is morphologically
      and functionally similar to the in vivo epithelial cells. This suggests that this
      in vitro culture method can be used to pathophysiological studies of biliary
      epithelial cells as well as for the method of purification of the epithelial
      cells.

PMID- 1460768
TI  - [A case report of abdominal congenital esophageal cyst in adult].

PMID- 1460769
TI  - [A case report of eosinophilic gastroenteritis with CT findings].

PMID- 1460770
TI  - [A case of ulcerative colitis with localised giant inflammatory polyposis].

PMID- 1460771
TI  - [A case of HBV carrier with acute hepatitis type B developed after initial
      infection in adulthood].

PMID- 1460772
TI  - [A case of chronic hepatitis C with primary hypothyroidism manifested during
      interferon treatment].

PMID- 1460773
TI  - [A case of mucinous cystadenoma in the tail of the pancreas accompanied with
      tubular adenocarcinoma in the head].

PMID- 1460774
TI  - [A case of squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas with prominent extrapancreatic
      growth].

PMID- 1460775
TI  - [Five year follow-up study on dementia in institutions for the elderly].
AB  - The purpose of this study was to clarify the prognosis of senile dementia based
      on a 5-year follow-up study in institutions for the elderly. The subjects
      consisted of 747 cases over 60 years of age. Of these 316 cases showed clinical
      dementia but 431 cases had no intellectual disturbance in July, 1987. The
      mortality rate (56.3%) of the demented group was significantly higher than that
      (31.8%) of the non-demented group. The mortality rate of patients increased with
      aging. However, the mortality rate of the demented group did not correlate with
      the severity of dementia. An autopsy study revealed that the direct causes of
      death in 51.1% of demented patients were pneumonia and cardiovascular diseases.
      Among the demented patients followed up for 5 years, 22.5% showed severe
      worsening of dementia, 25.8% showed slight or moderate degree of worsening and
      51.7% showed no change. Factors causing exacerbation of dementia included
      cerebrovascular disease and bone fracture.

PMID- 1460776
TI  - [Effect of chronic smoking on regional cerebral blood flow in asymptomatic
      individuals].
AB  - The chronic effects of cigarette smoking upon regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF)
      are unclear. The present study investigated the effects of smoking on rCBF
      assessed by intravenous 133Xe injection in 40 asymptomatic individuals. Analysis
      was performed using linear regression analysis and multiple regression analysis,
      creating a model of the rCBF as a function of cerebrovascular risk factor. The
      risk factors included smoking status, smoking index, age, gender, mean arterial
      blood pressure, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, hematocrit and STT
      change and left ventricular hypertrophy in electrocardiogram. The male-to-female
      ratio was higher in the smoking group (18/2) than that in the non-smoking group
      (2/18). Among the smokers, mean hematocrit was significantly higher than in the
      non-smokers (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in rCBF and other
      variables between the two groups. Linear regression analysis revealed
      significantly negative correlations between smoking index and CBF in the whole
      brain (r = -0.33; p < 0.05), right hemisphere (r = -0.34; p < 0.05), right
      parietal cortex (r = -0.36; p < 0.05), right occipital cortex (r = -0.34; p <
      0.05) and left parietal cortex (r = -0.33; p < 0.05). In other variables, age,
      male sex, hematocrit, left ventricular hypertrophy and STT change showed
      significantly negative correlations with rCBF. To reduce the effect of
      confounding variables in our assessment of the dose-related response, a
      multivariate regression analysis was carried out treating rCBF as a dependent
      variable and risk factors as independent variables. In the final model, age,
      hematocrit, male sex and presence of BCG changes remained as independent negative
      predictors for rCBF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460777
TI  - [An ultrasonic study of the relationship between extracranial carotid
      atherosclerosis and ischemic cerebrovascular disease in Japanese].
AB  - The study is to evaluate the relationship between extracranial carotid
      atherosclerosis and ischemic cerebrovascular disease using noninvasive B-mode
      ultrasonography and X-ray computed tomography. The sensitivity of bruits for
      diagnosing severe carotid stenosis was also evaluated. A total of 229 consecutive
      Japanese patients were recruited for this study, of which 97 had chronic-stage
      ischemic cerebrovascular disease and remaining 132 patients had at least one risk
      factor for atherosclerosis. Carotid atherosclerosis was evaluated by B-mode
      ultrasonography. Ischemic cerebrovascular disease was assessed by history taking,
      neurological findings and X-ray CT examination. The severity of carotid
      atherosclerosis was assessed by using two indices; plaque score and maximum
      percentage diameter stenosis. We also evaluated whether it was ulcerated plaque
      or not. Plaque score was computed by summing up all carotid plaque thicknesses
      (mm) on both sides. According to the CT findings, cerebral infarction was divided
      into two types; deep subcortical infarction and cortical infarction. The
      incidence of cerebral infarction increased in relation to plaque score and
      maximum percentage stenosis. Although the incidence of cerebral infarction in
      patients without carotid atherosclerosis was only 33% (38/116), it in patients
      with moderate carotid atherosclerosis (plaque score > 5) was 59% (26/44) (p <
      0.05, chi-square test). The incidence of ipsilateral infarction was revealed to
      be higher in patients with severe (50% or more) carotid stenosis (61%) than in
      cases of mild stenosis (28%) (p < 0.05). Thirteen patients had ulcerated plaques
      and they suffered more frequently cerebral infarction than patients without
      ulcerated lesions. Cortical infarction was more frequent in patients with severe
      carotid stenosis than in patients without carotid atherosclerosis.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460778
TI  - [Clinicopathological study of autopsy cases of pancreatic carcinoma in the
      elderly].
AB  - A total of 257 autopsy cases of pancreatic carcinoma, including 160 male and 97
      female cases with an average age of 68.2 years, were divided into an aged group
      (70 years or older, 136 cases) and a control group (younger than 70 years, 121
      cases), and their respective clinicopathological features were compared. The male
      to female ratio was 1.2:1 in the aged group and 2.6:1 in the control group. In
      both groups, abdominal pain was noted in about one-third of the cases as the
      primary symptom, followed by appetite loss and icterus. Concerning the primary
      symptoms, the two groups did not differ from each other. The rate of surgical
      resection was higher in the control group (24.0%) than the aged group (10.3%).
      Mean survival times were similar in both groups (5.71 months for the aged group
      and 6.01 for the control group). Intrapancreatic location of the tumor showed
      similar tendencies in both groups. However, cancer of the head of the pancreas
      was 2.3 times more common than body/tail cancer in cases aged 80 or more.
      Approximately 90% of the cases were diagnosed as ductal carcinoma by histological
      examination. The degree of differentiation was similar in both groups, but the
      well differentiated type was somewhat predominant in cases 80 years or older.
      Metastasis or direct invasion was noted to the liver, peritoneum and lung in this
      order in both groups. Liver and lymph node metastasis were less frequent in cases
      80 years or older. Multiple primary cancers were noted in 8.8% of the aged group
      and 9.1% of the control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460779
TI  - [Quality of the life in hypertensive outpatients].
AB  - In order to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) in hypertensive outpatients, we
      selected 78 patients with hypertension of various degrees of severity (WHO
      Classification I: 29 cases, II: 15, III: 34), 59 not ill healthy persons (N1) and
      22 normotensive outpatients (N2) aged at 50 years and over, using the self
      completed questionnaire (QUIK) which we developed. QUIK covers four domains
      including physical functioning (20 questions), emotional adjustment (10),
      interpersonal relationships (10) and attitudes toward life (10) totaling 50
      questions. In this study the internal consistency of QUIK was alpha = 0.95 by the
      Kuder-Richardson formula 20 and it's repeatability was r = 0.89 by the Spearman
      Brown formula. The QOL in hypertensive outpatients was definitely worse in terms
      of total score (N1 5.1 +/- 4.4 vs WHO II 9.3 +/- 7.2 and III 12.1 +/- 5.6, p <
      0.05), for physical functioning (N1 2.5 +/- 2.1 vs WHO I 3.7 +/- 2.8, II 4.7 +/-
      3.8, III 5.4 +/- 2.8 p < 0.05), for emotional adjustment (N1 1.2 +/- 1.4 vs WHO
      III 2.3 +/- 1.7, p < 0.01), for interpersonal relationships (N1 0.8 +/- 1.3 vs
      WHO III 1.6 +/- 1.5, p < 0.01) and for attitudes toward life (N1 0.7 +/- 1.2 vs
      WHO III 2.7 +/- 2.0 p < 0.01). The total QUIK score increased according to the
      severity of symptoms (WHO I 5.8 +/- 4.4, WHO II 9.3 +/- 7.2 and WHO III 12.1 +/-
      5.6), respectively. The total score of WHO I was significantly lower compared
      with that of WHO III (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460780
TI  - [Stomal stenosis following gastrectomy in the elderly].
AB  - Seven hundred and thirty seven patients over 65 years of age (mean 76 years)
      undergoing gastrectomies from 1979 to 1991 were reviewed to evaluate the cause of
      stomal stenosis in the early postoperative period. Fifty seven (7.7%) patients,
      24 males (5.6%) and 33 females (10.6%), had overt stomal stenosis or obstruction
      documented by radiological and endoscopic findings. The incidence of stenosis in
      females was significantly higher than in males (p < 0.05). Complications
      developed in 19 (20.0%) of 95 patients after gastroduodenostomy (Billroth-I), 29
      (6.2%) of 465 after gastrojejunostomy (Billroth-II and others) and 8 (5.0%) of
      159 after esophagojejunostomy (total gastrectomy). The incidence of complications
      in the first was significantly higher than in the other two (p < 0.01). The cause
      of stomal stenosis was classified into three groups; (1) transient stenosis due
      to stomal edema in 21 patients, (2) intestinal obstruction immediately adjacent
      to the stoma (kinking, invagination and volvulus) in 22, (3) organic stenosis of
      pathological origin (stomal ulcer, anastomotic leakage and strangulation by the
      proliferated mesocolon) in 14. The period of recovery from postgastrectomy
      retention was different in each group. It was 20.7 (mean) +/- 7.7 (SD) days in
      group (1), 29.7 +/- 12.6 days in group (2) and 62.1 +/- 30.0 days in group (3).
      These mean periods were significantly different from each other (p < 0.01). Group
      (1) and most of group (2) responded well to conservative management consisting of
      decompression by nasogastric suction and parenteral feeding but a reoperation was
      necessary for only two patients in group (2). Half of group (3) was treated by
      endoscopic dilatation and one third by reoperation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1460781
TI  - [EEG findings in hip fracture of the elderly].
AB  - Twenty three patients with hip fractures, over 70 years old of age, who had
      surgical treatment and medical rehabilitation in the Yokufukai Geriatric Hospital
      were studied to evaluate changes of EEG findings at the time of hip fracture. In
      all cases, the pre-fracture ambulation status were independent. EEG findings were
      graded as normal, abnormal (minor degree, moderate-to-severe degree) and states
      of ambulation after hip fracture were graded good or poor. Good ambulation was
      defined as total independence and poor ambulation was defined as dependent on
      assistance or bedridden. In 11 cases of good ambulation, nine had an EEG which
      was normal or abnormal to a minor degree during pre- and post-fracture periods.
      In 12 cases of poor ambulation, seven had an EEG which was normal or abnormal to
      a minor degree in the pre-fracture period, but in the post-fracture period, only
      two of them were in the same grade and five showed moderate-to-severe abnormal
      EEG findings. Five out of 12 cases of poor ambulation demonstrated moderate-to
      severe EEG abnormality in pre- and post-fracture periods. The present study
      suggests that the response to hip fractures in the elderly are divided into two
      types based on their brain functions. One group can maintain good brain function
      immediately after hip fractures, while the other can not maintain sufficient
      brain function and lose their ambulatory ability.

PMID- 1460782
TI  - [A study on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure in normotensive elderly, living in
      a local home for the aged].
AB  - Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) was non-invasively monitored in 124 normotensive
      elderly, living in an old people's home at the annual health examination. Cases
      were divided into 41 cases < 75 years (group A, mean age 70.6) and 83 cases > or
      = 75 years (group B, 82.7) for analysis of the office BP and 24-hour BP. Whole
      day systolic BP in group B was significantly higher than those in the group A (p
      < 0.02) although no significant differences were observed in diastolic BP and
      pulse rate. Separated analysis of whole-day BP into daytime and nighttime
      revealed that the nighttime systolic BP in the group B was significantly higher
      than those in group A (132.2 +/- 17.4% vs. 123.8 +/- 18.6 mmHg, p < 0.02) whereas
      no significant difference was observed in day-time systolic BP between two groups
      (136.6 +/- 14.9 vs. 132.1 +/- 14.4 mmHg, n.s.). The day-night difference in
      systolic BP tended to be less in group B than in group A (4.5 +/- 11.6 vs. 8.2 +/
      12.2 mmHg, p < 0.10). The prevalence of non-dippers, who had a higher nighttime
      systolic BP than daytime systolic BP were 24.4% of the group A and 30.1% of the
      group B. It was concluded that systolic BP during the nighttime increased with
      the ageing process after age 60, although that during daytime did not change.

PMID- 1460783
TI  - [Serum alpha 1-antichymotrypsin in senile dementia].
AB  - To evaluate the clinical significance of serum alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin (ACT) as
      an early diagnostic marker of senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT), we
      measured 333 healthy and not demented elderly subjects, 27 cases SDAT and 25
      cases of vascular dementia (VD). For the measurement, a new high-sensitivity
      method, double antibody radioimmunoassay method was developed. In healthy elderly
      subjects, the mean value of serum ACT was 0.229 mg/ml. A tendency towards
      increase of ACT with aging was noted but was not significant. The serum level of
      ACT in the SDAT patients was significantly higher (0.309 mg/ml) compared with the
      healthy elderly subjects and the VD patients (0.226 mg/ml) (p < 0.01). We
      concluded that in the patients with SDAT, there was an overproduction of ACT and
      the serum value of ACT was markedly elevated. The measurement of serum ACT is
      very useful (sensitivity = 88.9%, specificity = 68.7%; cut-off value = 0.250
      mg/ml) for the early differential diagnosis of senile dementia.

PMID- 1460784
TI  - [A study of factors affecting the concentration of serum lipid peroxide in the
      elderly inhabitants in a rural area].
AB  - Among 16 male (mean age of 66.6 years) and 51 female (mean age of 65.3 years)
      inhabitants of a rural area, the concentration of serum lipid peroxide measured
      as malondialdehyde (MDA) by Yagi's method was analyzed by physicochemical and
      food intake items. The MDA level in serum showed a peak of 6.2 nmol/ml at fifties
      years old in females and showed constant values of 4.6 and 6.1 nmol/ml for
      females and males, respectively, in those aged 60 more. The MDA level
      significantly correlated positively to total- or LDL-cholesterol level and
      urinary K/Cr, thus MDA level seemed to be a risk factor of arteriosclerosis.
      Fruit intake significantly positively correlated to MDA level in male. The MDA
      level showed a significantly higher level in the group with both higher total
      cholesterol and urinary K/Cr levels, than in the other groups. It is suggested
      that a high intake of potassium increases the MDA level in the group with higher
      total-cholesterol level.

PMID- 1460785
TI  - [A case of "pure" progressive autonomic failure in an elderly male].
AB  - A 68-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of postural hypotension in
      July 1991. He was also suffering from anhydrosis, urinary disturbances,
      constipation and impotence. He had not developed signs of Parkinsonism,
      cerebellar or peripheral neuropathy four years from the onset. Various autonomic
      function tests showed sympathetic and parasympathetic dysfunction of mainly
      postganglionic origins. Thus we diagnosed this patient as "pure" progressive
      autonomic failure ("pure" PAF). "Pure" PAF is a new entity described by Bannister
      and Oppenheimer in 1982. It shows symptoms of autonomic failure without other
      neurological disturbances which manifest as Shy-Drager syndrome. Treatment with L
      DOPS increased his blood pressure level and attenuated his symptoms due to
      orthostatic hypotension.

PMID- 1460786
TI  - [Effects of night shift on plasma concentrations of melatonin, LH, FSH and
      prolactin, and menstrual irregularity].
AB  - To examine the effect of night shift on the ovarian function, 122 teachers, 67
      office workers, 377 nurses, 133 factory workers and 67 barmaids were surveyed.
      The incidence of irregular menstrual cycle was 13.1% in teachers, 14.9% in office
      workers, 24.9% in nurses, 36.8% in factory workers and 40.3% in barmaids. The
      incidence was significantly higher in women working at night than women working
      during the day. Plasma concentrations of melatonin, LH, FSH and prolactin were
      determined at 2200 h and 0200 h in 5 nurses working at night and in 6 nurses
      resting in their quarters. Plasma concentrations of melatonin and prolactin at
      0200 h were significantly lower in nurses of the working group than others of the
      resting group, but plasma concentrations of LH and FSH did not differ between the
      two groups. These results indicate that night shift suppresses the ovarian
      function by affecting the circadian rhythm of melatonin and prolactin.

PMID- 1460787
TI  - [A 4 degrees C-1 min method of cold water immersion test for peripheral
      circulatory function in fingers].
AB  - To assess the validity of a new simplified cold water immersion test (4 degrees C
      1 min method) for peripheral circulatory function, comparison was made with the
      conventional method (10 degrees C-10 min method). These two different methods of
      cold immersion test were applied to 23 patients with vibration disease and 24
      healthy men. Observation was made on finger skin temperature by a thermistor and
      complaints in the hand by a 5-step self-reported scale method every minute during
      the test. The patterns of recovery of skin temperature after cold immersion in
      each group were similar in both methods. Pain in the hand in the 4 degrees C-1
      min method was less than that in the 10 degrees C-10 min method. The recovery
      rate at 5 min in the patients with Raynaud's phenomenon was lower than that in
      those without Raynaud's phenomenon in the 4 degrees C-1 min method (p < 0.01).
      However, no significant differences were noted in 10 degrees C-10 min method. The
      results suggest that the new method is feasible in detecting the response of
      vasodilation after immersion. In the recovery rate at 5 min after immersion, near
      values of the sensitivity and specificity were observed between 50% cut-off
      values in the 4 degrees C-1 min method and 30% value in the 10 degrees C-10 min
      method. Thus, the 4 degrees C-1 min method is considered to be more useful to
      evaluate the physiological response after cold immersion than the 10 degrees C-10
      min method.

PMID- 1460788
TI  - [Excretion of styrene in rats (Part I). Elimination of styrene in exhaled air].

PMID- 1460789
TI  - [Validity of screening test for the evaluation of depressive state].

PMID- 1460790
TI  - [Upper limit of hearing in workers exposed to organic solvents].

PMID- 1460791
TI  - Can death at a low COHb concentration frequently observed in fire victims be
      explained by hypoxic hypoxia?
AB  - Fire deaths at low COHb (carboxyhemoglobin) concentrations are frequently
      observed, but it is difficult to determine the causative factors. Participation
      of hypoxic hypoxia was examined using rats and rabbits exposed to various low-O2
      and CO gas mixtures. The ranges of O2 and CO concentration were 3.0-22.2% and 0.3
      2.9%, respectively. The concentration of CO2 was fixed at about 5%. Rats were
      individually exposed to the test gas in a plastic chamber. Rabbits inhaled the
      test gas through a tracheal cannula. The survival time of rats ranged from 3.9
      7.7 min, and that of rabbits was 8.0-22.5 min. Rats exposed to the most hypoxic
      gas mixture (O2 3%-CO 0.3%) died with COHb values below 40%. Rabbits also died
      with a low COHb concentration under this condition, but the COHb concentration
      was not below 50%. Rabbits were considered to be more resistant to hypoxic
      hypoxia than rats. From the literature on the relationship between the grade of
      burns and the concentration of COHb, as well as the findings obtained in the
      present experiment, hypoxic hypoxia did not appear to be a main factor causing
      death at low COHb concentrations. In the rabbit the COHb concentration increased
      exponentially and reached plateau levels within 10 min in many groups. The time
      required to reach a plateau COHb level was shorter when the concentration of CO
      was high and that of O2 was low.

PMID- 1460792
TI  - Postmortem changes of triazolam concentrations in body tissues.
AB  - Postmortem changes of triazolam concentrations in body tissues were examined
      using rats, in order to find the most suitable tissue samples for toxicological
      analysis. Triazolam was orally given to rats (5 mg/kg), and then the rats were
      sacrificed 1 hour after administration. Tissue samples were collected 0, 1 and 2
      days after storage at 22-24 degrees C, and the triazolam concentration in each
      sample was measured using gas chromatography with a nitrogen phosphorus detector.
      Triazolam concentrations were markedly increased in the spleen, the abdominal
      muscle, the liver and the kidney, and were slightly increased in the blood and
      the lung. On the other hand, no changes were observed in the thigh muscle or the
      brain, and the value in the thigh muscle was similar to those in the blood
      samples collected immediately after death. The results indicate that triazolam
      diffuses into the surrounding tissues through the stomach wall after death, so
      that the thigh muscle and the brain have to be analyzed as well as the blood for
      a correct diagnosis of triazolam ingestion.

PMID- 1460793
TI  - VNTR polymorphism of the collagen type II, alpha 1 (COL2A1) gene detected by PCR.
AB  - The 3' side of the human type II collagen alpha 1 (COL2A1) gene contains a region
      consisting of a variable number of tandemly repeated short A + T-rich DNA
      sequences (VNTR). We amplified this region accurately by the polymerase chain
      reaction (PCR). Genomic DNA was purified from isolated buffy-coat cells, and
      thermostable Taq polymerase was used to amplify the target region. The
      amplification products were directly visualized after polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis. In this way, five alleles were distinguished in chromosomes from
      33 unrelated Japanese, and named A, B, C, D, and E in decreasing order of length.
      The relative frequencies of the COL2A1 3' VNTR alleles A through E were 0.045,
      0.075, 0.469, 0.015, and 0.393, respectively. Co-dominant segregation was
      observed in two informative families. The COLA2A1 3' VNTR locus was estimated to
      have a heterozygosity index of 62% and a polymorphic information content of 0.55.

PMID- 1460794
TI  - Serological and biochemical studies on En(a-) human erythrocytes in a Japanese
      family.
AB  - The propositus erythrocytes with phenotype En(a-), which was found in the first
      example of a Japanese family, reacted with anti-N serum weaker than the ordinary
      phenotype N erythrocytes. When the erythrocyte membranes of the propositus were
      subjected to SDS-PAGE, no glycophorin A was observed on the gel by PAS staining,
      whereas glycophorin B band was observed. The S and the s antigens of the
      propositus erythrocytes were appeared to be normal. These results suggested that
      N activity of the propositus erythrocytes may be derived from glycophorin B
      components on the erythrocyte membranes. The amounts of bound sialic acid of the
      erythrocyte membranes were significantly lower in the En(a-) erythrocytes than
      the ordinary OMN erythrocytes. Neither the OMN nor the En(a-) erythrocytes showed
      the agglutinability to Arachis hypogaea lectin. The number of lectin receptor
      sites on the En(a-) erythrocyte membranes was significantly lower than on the OMN
      erythrocyte membranes for Limulus polyphemus, Triticum vurgaris and Bauhinia
      purpurea lectins. These results provide further support for the contention that
      En(a-) cells lack the glycophorin A as major erythrocytes sialoglycoprotein on
      the membranes.

PMID- 1460795
TI  - A fatal case of a single stab wound penetrating the small, narrow atlantoaxial
      interspace.
AB  - A 73-year-old woman was found dead with a small wound on the nape of her neck.
      The wound was oval in shape, measuring about 0.6 cm in length along the major
      axis, with a slightly irregular margin. The wound injured the medulla oblongata
      through the atlantoaxial interspace, and reached the left vertebral artery. This
      wound was found to be the cause of death. The wound depth was 5 cm in length,
      with the direction of the wound canal from posterior-lower right to anterior
      upper left. The size and appearance of the wound corresponded to those of the
      horizontal section of a skewer used by the assailant. Such a fatal case due to a
      single stabbing of the medullar oblongata by the chance gliding of a skewer
      through the small, narrow atlantoaxial interspace is considered to be
      exceptional.

PMID- 1460796
TI  - [Presence of a PCR-inhibitor in hairs].
AB  - A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system was used to amplify the noncoding 333-bp
      region of mitochondrial DNA (mt333DNA) contained in DNA extracts from single
      human hairs, and the following results were obtained: 1) Using natural black
      hairs, mt333 DNA was always amplified from a 5-cm length of hair shaft sampled
      within a region 11 cm from the hair root, but it was not always amplified from a
      5-cm region adjacent to this 11-cm region, and was not amplified in almost all
      cases when a 5-cm length of hair shaft was sampled from a region more than 16 cm
      distant from the hair root. DNA preparations not responding to PCR were colored
      dark brown. 2) Using natural white hairs, mt333DNA was amplified from almost all
      specimens even up to a length of 31 cm. 3) When natural black hairs were stained
      with an oxidation-type hair-staining agent (Bigen-5Ge), mt333DNA was never
      amplified even from the hair root portion, whereas the same staining treatment of
      white hairs did not influence the amplification of mt333DNA. In the cases showing
      no response on PCR, DNA preparations were also colored dark brown. 4) These dark
      brown DNA preparations inhibited completely the amplification of mt333DNA even
      after addition of purified DNAs. These results suggest that the dark brown
      substance in the DNA preparations inhibits the amplification of mt333DNA by the
      PCR method. We therefore investigated the mechanism responsible for the
      development of this inhibitor. It was found that hydrogen peroxide (a component
      of hair-staining agent) induced formation of water-soluble melanins from
      insoluble melanins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1460797
TI  - [Asphyxial death by laryngopharyngeal tumor--two autopsy cases].
AB  - Case 1. A 44-year-old male died about 3 h after paracenteses of both palatine
      tonsils. A 6.5 x 2.5 x 2.0 cm tumor, caused by bleeding and edema, was revealed
      at medico-legal autopsy. This tumor extended from the right palatine tonsil to
      the right edge of epiglottis. The cause of death was determined to be acute
      asphyxia due to the obstruction of the airway by the tumor. Case 2. A 51-year-old
      female was thought to have been killed by manual strangulation. At medico-legal
      autopsy, three malignant tumors, each of which was not as large as the tip of the
      little finger, were found in the lower pharynx. There were no findings of acute
      asphyxia death. The cause of death was determined to be delayed asphyxia caused
      by the malignant tumors.

PMID- 1460799
TI  - [An autopsy case of fatal nicotine poisoning].
AB  - A fatal case of nicotine poisoning is reported in which a 44-year-old female
      committed suicide in a short time by taking orally the eluate from tobacco.
      External examination showed no abnormal findings except for markedly dark red
      purple postmortem lividity, and internal examination demonstrated no pathological
      changes but the signs of sudden death. Through the toxicological investigation by
      GC and GC-MS, however, nicotine was detected in the solution which she had taken
      orally and in the blood, urine and the contents of the stomach and small
      intestine. The nicotine concentrations of the blood, urine and contents of
      stomach and small intestine were 6.3 micrograms/ml, 1.5 micrograms/ml, 30
      micrograms/ml and 71 micrograms/g respectively, and enough to be lethal.

PMID- 1460798
TI  - [Fracture of the cervical spine caused by blow in patient with ankylosing
      spondylitis--a report of an autopsy case].
AB  - Fracture of the cervical spine in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis is
      presented. A 43-year-old male was involved in a fight when drinking. He received
      blows to his face and the lower jaw, and fell backward on the street and died.
      The postmortem examination showed abrasions and subcutaneous hemorrhages on the
      face and the lower jaw. A transverse fracture was observed through the
      intervertebral disc space between the fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae. The
      cervical spinal cord was completely ruptured at the fracture site. Ossification
      of the supporting ligaments and anterior surface of dics were found. The spine
      was bony ankylosed. The alcohol levels of blood and urine were 2.95 and 3.84
      mg/ml, respectively. The cause of death was paralysis of respiration. The victim
      had suffered from the ankylosing spondylitis for many years. His neck had no
      mobility. The X-ray films taken at age 42 showed complete ankylosis of the spine,
      so-called "bamboo" spine. It seemed that the blow to his face and the lower jaw
      caused hyperextension of the neck and easily caused the cervical fracture because
      of the loss of flexibility and fragility from osteoporosis in the ankylosed
      spine.

PMID- 1460800
TI  - MCI-826 is a potent and selective antagonist of peptide leukotrienes (p-LTs) and
      has characteristics distinctive from those of FPL 55712.
AB  - Antagonistic effects of a newly synthesized compound, (E)-2,2-diethyl-3'-[2-[2-(4
      isopropyl)thiazolyl]ethenyl]succinanilic+ ++ acid sodium salt (MCI-826) on the
      contraction of the isolated guinea pig trachea and human bronchus induced by
      various agonists including peptide leukotrienes (p-LTs), histamine, acetylcholine
      (ACh), prostaglandin (PG) D2 and others were investigated and compared with the
      effects of a p-LT antagonist, FPL 55712, in some experiments. MCI-826 potently
      antagonized LTD4- and LTE4-induced contractions at extremely low concentrations
      in the isolated guinea pig trachea with pA2 values of 8.3 and 8.9, respectively,
      on a molar basis. These values indicated that MCI-826 is over 100 times stronger
      than FPL 55712. Similarly, MCI-826 at 10(-8) g/ml (2.4 x 10(-8) M) markedly
      antagonized LTD4-induced contractions of the isolated human bronchus. Although
      FPL 55712 fairly inhibited the 10(-9) g/ml LTC4-induced contraction of the
      isolated guinea pig trachea, MCI-826 had little effect on the contraction at high
      concentrations like 3 x 10(-6) g/ml (7.1 x 10(-6) M). MCI-826 modestly affected
      the other agonist-induced contractions and the resting tonus of the isolated
      guinea pig trachea at 10(-6) g/ml (2.4 x 10(-6) M) or higher concentrations, but
      FPL 55712 caused fair inhibition of some of those contractions and gradually
      lowered the resting tonus with time. These results indicate that MCI-826 is a
      highly potent and selective antagonist of LTD4 and LTE4 and can be a useful tool
      for biological and pharmacological experiments on p-LTs.

PMID- 1460801
TI  - Different modes of potentiation by beta-eudesmol, a main compound from
      Atractylodes lancea, depending on neuromuscular blocking actions of p-phenylene
      polymethylene bis-ammonium derivatives in isolated phrenic nerve-diaphragm
      muscles of normal and alloxan-diabetic mice.
AB  - The essential moieties in p-phenylene-polymethylene bis-ammonium (PMBA)
      derivatives, C6H4[X(CH2)nN+R3]2, on the potentiating effects by beta-eudesmol, a
      main component of Atractylodes lancea, of their neuromuscular blockades were
      investigated in isolated phrenic nerve-diaphragm muscle preparations of normal
      and alloxan-diabetic mice. PMBA derivatives were separated into the following
      three groups based on the patterns of the potentiating effects: group I: PMBA-23
      (n = 6, R = Me) and PMBA-24 (n = 6, R = Et); group II: PMBA-1 (n = 4, R = Me),
      PMBA-21 (n = 4, R = Et) and PMBA-2 (X = O, n = 3, R = Me); and group III: PMBA-31
      (X = S, n = 3, R = Me), PMBA-3 (X = CO, n = 3, R = Me) and PMBA-4 (X = CHOH, n =
      3, R = Me). The pretreatment with 80 microM beta-eudesmol for 60 min did not
      affect group I-induced neuromuscular blocking action, and it potentiated group II
      and group III-induced ones. The potentiating effect of beta-eudesmol on group
      III was greater in diabetic muscles than in normal one and that on group II was
      to the same extent in both muscles. These results suggest that the four-methylene
      length of the side chains in normal muscles and the hydrophilic moieties adjacent
      to a phenylene ring in diabetic muscles are related to the potentiating effect by
      beta-eudesmol on PMBA derivatives.

PMID- 1460802
TI  - Assessment of the ambulation-increasing effect of ketamine by coadministration
      with central-acting drugs in mice.
AB  - The coadministration of ketamine (12.5 mg/kg, but not 3.1 mg/kg, s.c.) with
      methamphetamine (2 mg/kg, s.c.), cocaine (10 mg/kg, s.c.), scopolamine (0.5
      mg/kg, s.c.), caffeine (10 mg/kg, s.c.) and MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.)
      significantly enhanced the ambulation-increasing effects. Furthermore, in the
      coadministration with morphine (10 mg/kg, s.c.) and GBR-12909 (10 mg/kg, i.p.),
      not only 12.5 mg/kg but also 3.1 mg/kg of ketamine produced a significant
      enhancement. On the other hand, the ambulation-increasing effect of ketamine
      (12.5 mg/kg, s.c.) was significantly suppressed by ceruletide (0.01 mg/kg, i.p.),
      alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (100 and 300 mg/kg, i.p. x 2), nimodipine (1 and 3 mg/kg,
      i.p.), haloperidol (0.03 and 0.1 mg/kg, s.c.), a low dose of apomorphine (0.1
      mg/kg, s.c.), physostigmine (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.) and N6-(L-2-phenylisopropyl)
      adenosine (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.). However, imipramine (20 mg/kg, i.p.), 6R-L-erythro
      5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (100 mg/kg, s.c.), a high dose of apomorphine (0.5
      mg/kg), reserpine (0.3 and 1 mg/kg, s.c.), propranolol (0.3 and 1 mg/kg, s.c.),
      phenoxybenzamine (3 and 10 mg/kg, s.c.) and naloxone (0.3 and 1 mg/kg, s.c.)
      scarcely interacted with ketamine. These results suggest that ketamine increases
      the ambulatory activity in mice by facilitating dopamine release from a newly
      synthesized pool at the presynaptic level, which is affected by a calcium
      dependent mechanism.

PMID- 1460803
TI  - Cetraxate improves ethanol-induced gastric mucosal congestion in anesthetized
      dogs.
AB  - Gastric mucosal microcirculatory disturbance in experimental animals is stressed
      as an important factor in the development of gastric ulceration induced by
      ethanol. In this study, we used a reflectance spectrophotometry system to
      investigate the effect of cetraxate on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal
      hemodynamics in anesthetized dogs. Forty percent ethanol caused a significant
      increase in the mucosal blood volume and a significant decrease in mucosal
      hemoglobin oxygenation. The changes in these parameters indicated mucosal
      congestion and tissue hypoxia. Topical administration of cetraxate (200 mg in 10
      ml saline) prevented the increase in mucosal blood volume and decrease in mucosal
      hemoglobin oxygenation which had been induced by ethanol loading in the stomach.
      In conclusion, cetraxate showed a protective effect on mucosal microcirculation
      that resulted in the maintenance of the gastric mucosal integrity against ethanol
      loading in the gastric mucosa.

PMID- 1460804
TI  - Induction of gastric lesions by 2-deoxy-D-glucose in rats following chemical
      ablation of capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons.
AB  - Effects of chemical ablation of capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves on functional
      and mucosal ulcerogenic responses to 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) were investigated in
      the rat stomach, in comparison with those of indomethacin, a prostaglandin (PG)
      biosynthesis inhibitor. Intravenous injection of 2DG (200 mg/kg) followed by
      infusion of this agent (100 mg/kg/hr, i.v.) significantly increased gastric acid
      secretion and motility, but rarely induced macroscopic damage in the gastric
      mucosa of normal conscious rats. Chemical ablation of capsaicin-sensitive sensory
      nerves or pretreatment with indomethacin (5 mg/kg, s.c.) did not significantly
      affect the acid secretory and motility responses to 2DG, but induced severe
      hemorrhagic lesions in the stomach within 4 hr. Gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF)
      determined by laser Doppler flowmetry under anesthetized conditions did not
      consistently change during 2DG treatment in any of these three groups, but the
      rise in GMBF in response to mucosal acidification (0.2 N HCl) was significantly
      inhibited in the animals pretreated with indomethacin or following chemical
      deafferentation. We conclude that functional ablation of capsaicin-sensitive
      sensory neurons, similar to the PG deficiency, increases the gastric mucosal
      vulnerability during 2DG infusion (acid hypersecretion and hypermotility due to
      vagal excitation), resulting in hemorrhagic lesions, and that the mechanism may
      be accounted for at least partly by the impairment of gastric mucosal blood flow
      response to mucosal acidification.

PMID- 1460805
TI  - Cerebrovascular injuries induced by activation of platelets and leukocytes in
      vivo and their correction by neurotropin.
AB  - Ischemia-like brain damage was induced in cats by selective injection of 4 beta
      phorbol-12 beta-myristate-13 alpha-acetate (PMA) into the left carotid artery.
      PMA-injection provoked significant decreases in platelet and neutrophil counts
      due to their intravascular aggregation. Platelet and neutrophil aggregates caused
      brain edema with accumulation of sodium fluorescein in the cerebrospinal fluid
      and ipsilateral derangement of the cerebral energy state in the parietal cortex.
      Neurotropin administration decreased the changes in platelet and neutrophil
      counts and prevented the developments of both brain edema and cerebral energy
      failure.

PMID- 1460806
TI  - Beta-phenyl-beta-alanine prevents the activation of vagal efferent discharges
      evoked by baclofen and GABA in rats.
AB  - The effects of DL-beta-phenyl-beta-alanine (BPBA) on vagal efferent discharges
      elicited by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and baclofen were investigated in
      rats. When given alone, BPBA (40 mg/kg, i.v.) caused no significant change in
      vagal nerve response and did not elicit any convulsions. Pretreatment with BPBA
      (40 mg/kg, i.v.) resulted in 70% and 80% reductions in the vagal efferent
      discharges induced by GABA (400 mg/kg, i.v.) and baclofen (4 mg/kg, s.c.),
      respectively. The present results suggest that BPBA may be a novel GABA
      antagonist with respect to vagal activation mechanisms in the CNS.

PMID- 1460808
TI  - Protection by halothane of the vagal baroreflex system from transient global
      cerebral ischemia in dogs.
AB  - A possible cerebroprotective effect of halothane was investigated in a canine
      model of 5-min global cerebral ischemia. In pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs,
      additional inhalation of 0.5 to 1% halothane prior to ischemia prevented the post
      ischemic dysfunction of the vagal component of reflex bradycardia. In contrast,
      pretreatment with thiopental at 10 mg/kg, i.v. failed to prevent it. The
      influence of ischemia in the absence of anesthetics was similar to that under
      barbiturate anesthesia. The results suggest that halothane, but not barbiturate,
      may actively protect the vagal baroreflex system from ischemia.

PMID- 1460807
TI  - Inhibitory effects of magnoshinin and magnosalin, compounds from "Shin-i" (Flos
      magnoliae), on the competence and progression phases in proliferation of
      subcultured rat aortic endothelial cells.
AB  - Anti-proliferative effects of magnoshinin and magnosalin derived from "Shin-i"
      (Flos magnoliae) were investigated using subcultured endothelial cells (EC) of
      rat aorta. The inhibitory effects of magnoshinin were 2-fold greater at 10
      micrograms/ml than that of magnosalin on the increase in cell number when EC were
      stimulated by 5% fetal bovine serum. In the 3H-thymidine incorporation monitored
      at 3 hr-intervals, magnoshinin (0.1-3 micrograms/ml) prolonged the starting time
      of DNA synthesis and reduced the rate of incorporation into EC. Magnosalin (0.3-3
      micrograms/ml) reduced only the incorporation rate. These results suggest that
      magnoshinin inhibits both the competence phase and progression phase, but
      magnosalin preferentially inhibits the progression phase in EC proliferation.

PMID- 1460809
TI  - Anthralin, a non-TPA type tumor promoter, synergistically enhances phorbol ester
      caused prostaglandin E2 release from primary cultured mouse epidermal cells.
AB  - Primary cultures of mouse epidermal cells (i.e., target cells of skin tumor
      promotion) stimulated by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) release
      prostaglandin E2 within 30 min. Anthralin, a non-TPA type tumor promoter, also
      stimulated PGE2 release; however, no release was detectable at least up to 4 hr
      after the addition of anthralin. When the cells were incubated with TPA plus
      anthralin, both PGE2 and arachidonic acid release were synergistically enhanced.
      Other non-TPA type tumor promoters, i.e., chrysarobin, 7
      bromomethylbenz[a]anthracene, benzoylperoxide, okadaic acid and palytoxin, did
      not potentiate the TPA-caused PGE2 release. In protein kinase C-down regulated
      cells, the synergistic stimulation of PGE2 and arachidonic acid release by TPA
      plus anthralin were not detected. Anthralin plus TPA did not alter the
      incorporation of arachidonic acid into cellular phospholipids. Cellular
      cyclooxygenase activity was increased 2 hr after TPA stimulation. Anthralin
      caused increase in cyclooxygenase activity was detected at 6 hr after the
      addition of anthralin. Cyclooxygenase activity was synergistically increased by
      treating the cells with TPA plus anthralin. Cycloheximide and actinomycin D
      inhibited the increase in cyclooxygenase activity caused by anthralin or TPA plus
      anthralin. These results indicate that anthralin synergistically stimulates TPA
      caused PGE2 release by synergistically increasing arachidonic acid release and
      cellular cyclooxygenase activity.

PMID- 1460810
TI  - All in the family.

PMID- 1460811
TI  - The doctrine of necessaries in Kansas.

PMID- 1460812
TI  - The cost of excess professional liability insurance.

PMID- 1460813
TI  - A core electronic medical library in a rural setting. Part II: The on-line
      system.

PMID- 1460814
TI  - MCAD deficiency in the Holderman Mennonite population in central Kansas.

PMID- 1460815
TI  - Safety belt use in Kansas, 1990-1991.

PMID- 1460816
TI  - Prothrombin times may be misleading.

PMID- 1460817
TI  - [Somatic disorders in psychopathies].

PMID- 1460818
TI  - [Hemorrhagic vasculitis (diagnosis and treatment)].

PMID- 1460819
TI  - [Fatty acids and malignant tumors].

PMID- 1460820
TI  - [Acute suppurative-inflammatory diseases of the abdominal organs and diabetes
      mellitus].

PMID- 1460822
TI  - [Diagnosis and therapeutic tactics in polycystic liver].
AB  - The results of clinical observations of 60 patients with polycystosis of the
      liver who had been treated or examined by the authors in the period from 1964 to
      1989 were summarized. The clinical course of the disease was featured by scanty
      clinical signs: pains in the upper half of the belly and hepatomegaly were most
      frequent. The combination of diagnostic techniques for verification of surgical
      intervention necessity was established. Besides, it was stated that the diagnosis
      of polycystosis of the liver should be complex and based on anamnestic data and
      the results of clinical, laboratory and instrumental investigations. Preference
      should be given to ultrasonography and computed tomography. Cysts with diameter
      of 5 cm and more, complicated polycystosis of the liver (bleeding, suppuration,
      malignancy) and cystic compression of the extrahepatic bile ducts and vessels
      (portal and cava inferior veins) were found to be indicative signs for surgical
      treatment of hepatic polycystosis. A total of 41 patients were subjected to
      surgical treatment with 49 operational procedures employed. Fenestration of
      hepatic cysts (42), that were organosparing operations, predominated. Resection
      of the liver was performed in 2 patients who had total cyst substitution for the
      whole of the left lobe. The improvement registered in 85.7% of operated on
      patients evidenced the favorable results of surgical treatment.

PMID- 1460821
TI  - [Changes in the indicators of total plethysmography and pulmonary hemodynamics in
      patients with bronchial asthma after the treatment with ditek].

PMID- 1460823
TI  - [Indicators of the lithogenic properties of the bile: methods of their
      evaluation, clinical availability and informative value].
AB  - Duodenal bile taken by gastroduodenal intubation of patients with chronic
      calculous cholecystitis with intact gallbladder performance was investigated as
      was the bile taken in those with chronic acalculous cholecystitis or in those
      without clinical signs of cholecystitis and concurrent diseases. The bile was
      investigated for cholesterol, bile acids and lecithin levels. All the parameters
      obtained were used for computation of lithogeny parameters: Swell, Admirand
      Small, Metzger, Thomas, Andrews and cholesterol-lecithin ratio. The study
      performed indicated that Swell's parameters of lithogeny and cholesterol-lecithin
      ratio displayed more precisely lithogeny of the bile, and could be determined
      more easily than other parameters.

PMID- 1460824
TI  - [Clinical value of determining serum levels of glycocholic acid in alcoholic
      lesions of the liver].
AB  - To assess the diagnostic value of radioimmunoassay determination of serum levels
      of glycocholic acid in alcohol-induced chronic diffuse hepatic lesions, this
      technique was compared by sensitivity and informative content with conventional
      hepatic tests. Hepatocytic function was measured in combined examination of 83
      patients and 30 controls. It is shown that serum glycocholic acid concentration
      permits detection of early alcohol defects of the liver, excretory dysfunction in
      particular, control of cholestatic changes, of transformation of hepatic
      steatosis into hepatitis or cirrhosis, evaluation of cholestasis. The above
      radioimmunoassay is a useful prognostic tool in decompensated alcohol cirrhosis
      of the liver.

PMID- 1460825
TI  - [Ultrasonographic diagnosis of tumors of the gallbladder].
AB  - The role of echography in the diagnosis of gallbladder tumors was investigated.
      Benign tumors (papilloma and adenoma) were diagnosed in 2 patients and carcinoma
      in 18 subjects. This technique failed to diagnose carcinoma in 2 patients. Two
      more procedures had false-positive results (in one patient multiple clots in the
      dramatically enlarged bladder were taken for the tumor while ++post-inflammatory
      granulation in the other patient was mistaken for the tumor as well).
      Echographical signs of gallbladder tumors were presented, as were the criteria
      permitting one to differentiate carcinoma from other pathological formations in
      the gallbladder (echogenic bile, cholesterol polyps, cholecystitis,
      adenomyomatosis). High informative value of echographic investigation in the
      diagnosis of gallbladder tumors was noted.

PMID- 1460826
TI  - [Miliary tuberculosis developed after cured lymphogranulomatosis].

PMID- 1460827
TI  - [Therapeutic tactics in the early period of long-term crush syndrome].

PMID- 1460828
TI  - [Use of methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].

PMID- 1460829
TI  - [Problem of osteopoikilosis].

PMID- 1460830
TI  - [2 cases of congenital mucopolysaccharidosis].

PMID- 1460831
TI  - [Development of pre-excitation syndrome after long-term administration of
      cardil].

PMID- 1460832
TI  - [Clinical variants of the course of atrial myxoma].

PMID- 1460833
TI  - [Conservative treatment of cholelithiasis with chenodeoxycholic and
      ursodeoxycholic acid preparations].

PMID- 1460834
TI  - [Diagnosis of acute diarrheal infections].

PMID- 1460835
TI  - [Iron deficiency anemia and conditions (diagnosis, treatment and prevention].

PMID- 1460836
TI  - A restraining device for ophthalmic examination of unanesthetized rats.

PMID- 1460837
TI  - An approved method of endotracheal intubation in rabbits.

PMID- 1460838
TI  - Xylazine is known to cause arrhythmias in several species.

PMID- 1460839
TI  - Muhlbock Memorial Lecture: man, microbes, and models.

PMID- 1460840
TI  - Subclinical infection and transmission of Tyzzer's disease in rats.
AB  - Two isolates of Bacillus piliformis originally obtained from rats from Japan and
      Indiana were compared by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis and Western blotting. Protein and antigen profiles revealed
      heterogeneity between the two isolates, demonstrating that more than one isolate
      of B. piliformis is capable of infecting rats. Results of parallel infection and
      transmission studies with the two isolates were almost identical. Orally
      inoculated rats remained asymptomatic; however, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
      results revealed a significant increase in serum antibodies to B. piliformis.
      Formalin-killed B. piliformis elicited no serum antibody response among rats
      inoculated orally, indicating that viable organisms, capable of replicating
      within the host, are needed to induce a systemic humoral response. Naive rats and
      weanling gerbils were housed on soiled bedding from the experimentally infected,
      asymptomatic, seropositive rats. Although gerbils showed no clinical signs or
      histopathologic evidence of Tyzzer's disease, rats housed on bedding collected 1
      or 2 weeks postinoculation seroconverted and remained seropositive but
      asymptomatic throughout the study. These results demonstrate that subclinically
      infected rats are capable of transmitting B. piliformis to naive rats and suggest
      that the histopathologic evaluation of sentinel gerbils may not be an effective
      method for detecting all strains of B. piliformis.

PMID- 1460841
TI  - Rederivation of rat colonies seropositive for Bacillus piliformis and the
      subsequent screening for antibodies.
AB  - Latent infection of rats in a breeding colony with Bacillus piliformis detectable
      by antibodies to the agent in an immunofluorescence assay was eliminated by a
      combination of traditional rederivation techniques, using animal units not
      previously used for rat breeding, and the use of specific disinfection
      procedures. The success rate was apparently correlated with the use of peracetic
      acid instead of aldehyde products to decontaminate the animal unit.

PMID- 1460842
TI  - Correlation between megaloileitis and antibodies to Bacillus piliformis in
      laboratory rat colonies.
AB  - Rat colonies in which antibodies to Bacillus piliformis were detected in animals
      examined at the age of 8 to 15 weeks were compared with rat colonies where no
      such antibodies were present. The seropositive colonies had a low incidence of
      megaloileitis in 5-week-old rats of Sprague-Dawley stock and some few inbred
      strains. In seronegative colonies, no megaloileitis was detected. In rats with
      megaloileitis, significantly high titers to B. piliformis were noted and the
      agents could be identified in the ileal mucosa by immunofluorescence technique.

PMID- 1460843
TI  - Pulmonary clearance of Mycoplasma pulmonis in rats with respiratory viral
      infections or of susceptible genotype.
AB  - We sought to determine whether or not increased severity of bronchopulmonary
      disease due to Mycoplasma pulmonis infection in rats with respiratory viral
      infections and in rats of susceptible genotype could result from altered
      pulmonary clearance. Pathogen-free rats were exposed to aerosols of radiolabeled
      M. pulmonis and the numbers of M. pulmonis colony-forming units, and amounts of
      radiolabel in the lungs were determined immediately after exposure or 4 hours
      later. Intrapulmonary killing of M. pulmonis during the 4-hour interval was
      determined from decreases in ratios of colony-forming units to radiolabel, and
      physical clearance was determined from decreases in radiolabel. Neither
      intrapulmonary killing nor physical clearance differed between control F344 rats
      and F344 rats inoculated with Sendai virus or sialodacryoadenitis virus, or
      between F344 and LEW rats. Rates of intrapulmonary killing and physical clearance
      were 64 +/- 3% and 44 +/- 2%, respectively (overall means +/- standard error).

PMID- 1460844
TI  - Naturally occurring aortic aneurysms in owl monkeys (Aotus spp.).
AB  - Spontaneous aortic aneurysms were diagnosed in 22 owl monkeys (Aotus spp.) at
      necropsy. There were 6 males and 16 females. Clinical findings varied including
      weight loss, weakness, and lethargy and were not present in all animals. Aortic
      lesions ranged in size from 2 mm to 3 cm in diameter. Nineteen of the aneurysms
      were classified histologically as dissecting and three as saccular. Lesions
      occurred less often in karyotype I monkeys than in karyotype II or III monkeys.
      The etiopathogenesis of aortic aneurysm in owl monkeys is unknown.

PMID- 1460845
TI  - Transplantation of half kidneys in swine: I. Long-term survivors of hemirenal
      autotransplants.
AB  - We describe a novel model of hemirenal transplantation in swine wherein one-half
      of one kidney is autotransplanted by modifications of standard vascular
      anastomoses and ureteropyelostomy. Two pigs with hemirenal transplants performed
      in this manner have not only survived but have grown normally and had decreased
      but stable renal function for more than 1 year. The model confirms that one
      fourth of the total renal mass is sufficient to sustain life and growth in pigs.
      It is anticipated that this model could be used to study the effects of renal
      ablation on remnant nephrons in pigs.

PMID- 1460846
TI  - Regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA in mouse liver, kidney, and
      fat tissues by fasting, diabetes, and insulin.
AB  - Previous investigations of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) gene
      have been conducted using rats. In a recent comparative study, we investigated,
      for the first time, the effects of fasting, refeeding, alloxan-induced diabetes,
      and insulin treatment on the levels of PEPCK mRNA in mouse liver, kidney, and
      adipose tissues. As in rats, fasting and diabetes induced, while insulin
      repressed, hepatic PEPCK mRNA. In contrast, the response of renal PEPCK mRNA to
      fasting, refeeding, and diabetes in mice differed quantitatively with that in
      rats: fasting caused a twofold increase in mice and a fourfold increase in rats.
      Moreover, diabetes, which induces renal PEPCK mRNA indirectly by causing acidosis
      in rats, was without effect in mice. In adipose tissue, the results of previous
      studies in both rats and mice have shown that the amount of PEPCK protein and its
      rate of synthesis are increased by fasting and diabetes and decreased by
      refeeding and insulin treatment. Thus, it was surprising to find that fasting,
      refeeding, alloxan-induced diabetes, and insulin treatment had no effect on
      adipose tissue PEPCK mRNA in either rats or mice.

PMID- 1460847
TI  - Evaluation of maternal and fetal factors in reduced postnatal survival of NC-eob
      mutant mice.
AB  - It has been reported that mouse pups bearing a newly identified mutation, eyelids
      open at birth (eob), as a homozygous condition often die within 7 days after
      birth although they have no external malformations other than open eyelids. We
      sought to determine what factors influence the viability of eob pups by
      performing a cross-fostering experiment using NC and NC-eob mice which are co
      isogenic with each other. Viability indices of NC pups during days 0 to 7 of
      lactation were approximately 95% or more when they were fostered by either NC or
      eob mothers. However, the viability indices of eob pups were reduced to 87.3% and
      36.7% when they were fostered by NC and eob mothers, respectively. Body weight
      gains of both NC and eob pups were slightly inhibited during the entire lactation
      period when they were fostered by eob mothers. In a second experiment, eob
      mothers were examined for milk-yielding capability and the fetuses examined for
      the presence of congenital visceral and skeletal malformations. Neither decreased
      amounts of suckled milk nor malformations were observed. Based on these results,
      we concluded that a remarkably high mortality of eob pups would be caused only
      when weak lethal factors in eob pups were combined with the slightly depressed
      pup-rearing capability in eob mothers.

PMID- 1460848
TI  - Evaluation of greyhound susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia using halothane
      succinylcholine anesthesia and caffeine-halothane muscle contractures.
AB  - We investigated Greyhounds because of prior reports of malignant hyperthermia
      (MH) episodes and because Greyhounds may express high genetic relatedness due to
      inbreeding for generations. Seven Greyhound and six mongrel dogs were given
      halothane and succinylcholine anesthesia as a challenge to trigger MH. They also
      underwent semitendinosus muscle biopsy for contracture study with halothane and
      caffeine. Measurements in vivo of mixed venous and arterial blood gases, cardiac
      output by thermodilution, temperature, blood pressure, and pulse rate provided
      sequential data regarding whole body O2 consumption (product of cardiac output
      and arterial-mixed venous O2 content difference), acid-base status, and arterial
      CO2 tension. Greyhounds and mongrels had uniformly similar in vivo and in vitro
      responses, without evidence for MH. Contracture thresholds were higher than those
      reported for normal swine and humans (8 mM vs. 4 mM). Information on MH
      susceptibility in this breed is important for laboratory investigation in
      Greyhounds as well as to veterinary medicine in general. Neither mongrels nor
      this group of Greyhounds were obviously susceptible to MH. If all Greyhounds are
      genetically homologous, then Greyhounds may not be specifically MH susceptible.
      These findings overall may provide a protocol and baseline normal comparative
      data for determining MH susceptibility in dogs and other species.

PMID- 1460849
TI  - Effects of epinephrine, phenoxybenzamine, and propranolol on maximal exercise in
      sheep.
AB  - The mixed adrenergic agonist, epinephrine (10 micrograms/kg, i.v.), the beta
      adrenergic receptor antagonist, propranolol (0.2 mg/kg, i.v.), or the alpha
      adrenergic receptor antagonist, phenoxybenzamine (1 mg/kg, i.v.), were
      administered to sheep immediately before maximal incremental exercise. The
      effects of each of these drugs on hemoglobin (Hb) concentration during maximal
      exercise and on maximal exercise performance were investigated. The maximal
      incremental exercise protocol began at 4.0 km/h and 0% grade and finished at 5.6
      km/h and 12% grade, with speed or grade increases every 1.5 minutes. Maximal
      exercise in control (untreated) sheep caused a mean 42% increase in hematocrit
      and 44% increase in Hb. This exercise-induced increase in Hb was unaffected by
      propranolol but was partially blocked by phenoxybenzamine. Epinephrine caused an
      immediate increase in Hb which abated during the early minutes of exercise and
      then subsequently increased toward the end of the exercise challenge. Maximum
      oxygen consumption (VO2) in control sheep was 47.6 +/- 6.7 ml/min per kilogram.
      Maximum VO2 after epinephrine, 51.6 +/- 8.7 ml/min per kilogram, was not
      significantly different from control. Maximum VO2 after propranolol and
      phenoxybenzamine, 35.4 +/- 15.3 and 40.8 +/- 8.2 ml/min per kilogram,
      respectively, were both significantly less than control exercise (P < 0.05).

PMID- 1460850
TI  - Bronchoalveolar eosinophilia in random-source versus purpose-bred dogs.
AB  - Eosinophils (EOS) have been implicated in changes in airway and vascular
      reactivity in a variety of disease states. Analysis of cells in bronchoalveolar
      lavage samples from chronic, heartworm-free random-source (RS) dogs indicated
      higher leukocyte counts with markedly higher percent and total numbers of EOS
      than were present in purpose-bred (PB) animals. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
      (BALF) obtained from RS dogs had a significantly elevated total nucleated cell
      count: 0.8 x 10(6) vs 0.4 x 10(6) for the PB dogs. RS dogs had 24% +/- 5% and PB
      dogs had 3% +/- 0.7% EOS. The RS animals with elevated EOS had similar
      percentages of neutrophils: 4% +/- 0.6% as the PB animals. Despite aggressive
      anthelminthic treatment, the abnormal BALF cellular profile of the RS animals
      persisted even though circulating levels of EOS in this group decreased. Analysis
      of BALF for thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1(1a) (6-keto-PGF1a)
      indicated that only the TxB2 levels were significantly different between groups.
      The RS BALF TxB2 levels were 73 +/- 14 pg/ml vs 23 +/- 3 pg/ml for the PB group
      (P < 0.05). Regression analysis of the relationship between increasing TxB2
      levels and the absolute number of EOS per milliliter of BALF obtained from the RS
      dogs indicated a significant correlation (r = 0.83, P < 0.0001). No difference in
      plasma levels of these mediators was observed. Other physiologic parameters also
      differed between the two groups: the RS group had significantly increased heart
      rates and cardiac output under baseline conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1460851
TI  - Evaluation of Telazol-xylazine as an anesthetic combination for use in Syrian
      hamsters.
AB  - The availability of safe parenteral anesthetics for use in Syrian hamsters is
      limited. We evaluated the effects of Telazol-xylazine (TZX) combinations with
      respect to anesthetic efficacy and potential for tissue damage. Two dose levels
      of the combination were administered by both the intraperitoneal (IP) and
      intramuscular (IM) routes. TZX by the IM route failed to consistently produce
      anesthesia and caused gross and histopathologic muscle lesions. IP administration
      of 20 mg/kg Telazol combined with 10 mg/kg xylazine was adequate for restraint
      purposes. IP administration of 30 mg/kg Telazol combined with 10 mg/kg xylazine
      produced a safe, reliable level of surgical anesthesia without evidence of gross
      or histopathologic lesions. There was no nephrotoxicity at either concentration
      of the anesthetic. A dose level of TZX that provides safe parenteral anesthesia
      in Syrian hamsters was determined.

PMID- 1460852
TI  - A comparison of medetomidine-propofol and medetomidine-midazolam-propofol
      anesthesia in rabbits.
AB  - We evaluated and compared the effects of medetomidine-propofol and medetomidine
      midazolam-propofol anesthesia in rabbits. Fourteen New Zealand White rabbits were
      randomly assigned to receive either medetomidine (0.25 mg/kg, i.m.)-atropine (0.5
      mg/kg, i.m.)-propofol (4 mg/kg, i.v.) (n = 7) or medetomidine (0.25 mg/kg, i.m.)
      atropine (0.5 mg/kg, i.m.)-midazolam (0.5 mg/kg, i.m.)-propofol (2 mg/kg, i.v.)
      (n = 7). Five minutes after medetomidine-atropine or medetomidine-atropine
      midazolam i.m. injection, propofol was administered i.v. Both medetomidine and
      medetomidine-midazolam rapidly (within 5 minutes) immobilized all rabbits and
      greatly eased the i.v. administration of propofol. Endotracheal intubation was
      accomplished easily after propofol injection in both groups. There was no
      significant difference between medetomidine-propofol and medetomidine-midazolam
      propofol-treated rabbits in heart rate, respiratory rate, mean arterial pressure,
      or end-tidal CO2. The addition of midazolam to the medetomidine-propofol regimen
      significantly (P < 0.05) prolonged the duration of ear-pinch analgesia (25.0 +/-
      7.1 vs. 36.7 +/- 8.9 minutes), the time from extubation to sternal recumbency
      (0.0 vs. 26.7 +/- 8.1 minutes), and the time from extubation to standing (0.0 vs.
      39.5 +/- 11.3 minutes) without inducing significant changes in arterial blood
      pressure and end-tidal alveolar CO2. We consider both medetomidine-propofol and
      medetomidine-midazolam-propofol combinations to be safe and effective regimens
      for induction and short-term anesthesia in rabbits.

PMID- 1460853
TI  - Improved techniques for successful neonatal rat surgery.
AB  - Problems encountered in neonatal rat surgery include mortality due to anesthesia
      and postoperative mortality due to cannibalism or neglect by the dam. We required
      a method of anesthesia which would enable us to perform complicated, lengthy,
      recovery eye surgery on day-old rat pups. Because ethical concerns have been
      raised regarding hypothermia, the currently recommended procedure for anesthesia
      of newborn rats, we adapted two effective techniques for anesthetizing adult rats
      for use in neonates. In the first of these methods, halothane was administered
      via a gas anesthetic machine which allowed for precise regulation of anesthetic
      levels. The second method employed diluted Innovar-Vet, a neuroleptanalgesic drug
      combination that is easily administered by injection, with oxygen
      supplementation. Because each surgical procedure required 30 to 45 minutes and
      was technically demanding, it was important to minimize the loss of experimental
      animals due to cannibalism. To accomplish this, we developed an easy, noninvasive
      method to encourage acceptance of surgically manipulated pups by the dam, which
      included hand gentling and olfactory conditioning of pregnant females. All pups
      (63/63) survived eye surgery under halothane anesthesia and of those examined 7
      days later, 55/57 (97%) were alive and appeared normal. Of the pups treated with
      Innovar-Vet, 16/16 (100%) survived anesthesia and all were normal in appearance
      when examined 7 days later. Our results suggest that using these anesthetic
      methods coupled with appropriate conditioning of the dam and handling of the pups
      contribute to successful neonatal rat surgery.

PMID- 1460854
TI  - Diagnostic exercise: anemia in a baboon.

PMID- 1460855
TI  - Encephalitis in gerbils due to naturally occurring infection with Bacillus
      piliformis (Tyzzer's disease).

PMID- 1460856
TI  - Isolation of Streptobacillus moniliformis from a guinea pig with granulomatous
      pneumonia.

PMID- 1460857
TI  - Roberts-SC phocomelia syndrome in a baboon (Papio anubis).

PMID- 1460858
TI  - A new technique for the cannulation of the rat thoracic duct.

PMID- 1460859
TI  - Is endothelin-1 the regulator of myofibroblast contraction during wound healing?

PMID- 1460860
TI  - Mechanisms of cancer-induced hypercalcemia.
AB  - Cancer-associated hypercalcemia is due to the: (a) elaboration of systemically
      acting humoral factors by neoplasms which alter calcium metabolism in bone,
      kidney, and intestine; or (b) stimulation of bone resorption at sites of tumor
      metastasis to bone. It is likely that both mechanisms occur in the same patient
      with certain neoplasms. There are many humoral factors that can be produced by
      tumors, secreted into the circulation, and have distant effects which induce
      hypercalcemia. The stimulation of increased osteoclastic bone resorption is a
      principal feature of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy, but the kidney also
      plays an important role. In addition, intestinal absorption of calcium may be a
      factor in the pathogenesis of hypercalcemia in certain neoplasms. Parathyroid
      hormone-related protein plays a dominant role in the pathogenesis of HHM. PTHrP
      alone is able to induce nearly all of the clinical signs of HHM in experimental
      animals, but other humoral factors, such as cytokines, can interact with PTHrP to
      contribute to the development of hypercalcemia. Neoplasms which metastasize
      widely to bone and induce local osteoclastic bone resorption, such as multiple
      myeloma, also are capable of inducing hypercalcemia. Based upon existing data it
      is not clear what percentage of neoplasms which metastasize to bone and stimulate
      local bone resorption also are capable of stimulating hypercalcemia by systemic
      factors. Future research is needed to delineate the systemic and local factors
      associated with CAH; to define interactions of humoral factors in the
      pathogenesis of hypercalcemia; and to investigate the regulation of
      transcription, translation, modification, and secretion of hypercalcemia-inducing
      factors in normal and neoplastic tissues.

PMID- 1460861
TI  - Effect of endothelin-1 on croton oil-induced granulation tissue in the rat. A
      pharmacologic and immunohistochemical study.
AB  - BACKGROUND: To date no attempts have been made to determine the role of the
      endothelial cell derived product, endothelin-1 (ET-1) in granulation tissue
      development. This study investigates the cellular immunolocalization of ET-1 and
      its pharmacologic effect on myofibroblast-mediated rat croton oil-induced
      granulation tissue contraction. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The distribution, cellular
      localization and temporal production of ET-1 in the tissues was determined by
      immunohistochemistry at days 7, 14, 21, and 28. The contractile response of the
      granulation tissue to ET-1 was tested over the same time period, and it effects
      modified by use of calcium antagonists. The pharmacologic profile was correlated
      to the ultrastructural development of contractile fibroblast-like cells within
      the tissue. RESULTS: Endothelin-1 caused reversible concentration-dependent
      contraction of the granulation tissue. The 21-day granulation tissue was the most
      responsive, with a maximum increase in tension of 458.9 +/- 41.1 mg; this
      response could be inhibited by use of calcium antagonists. Of the calcium
      antagonists tested, verapamil (1 x 10(-4) M) was the most potent inhibitor,
      giving a 43% reduction in maximum amplitude of the response. It is suggested that
      entry of extracellular calcium via the L-type potential operated calcium channel,
      is involved in ET-1 induced responses in contractile fibroblast-like cells or
      myofibroblasts. Ultrastructural analysis showed a correlation between the
      pharmacologic sensitivity of the tissue and the development of contractile
      fibroblast-like cells. The number of cells expressing the phenotypic
      characteristics of a myofibroblast increased with time, and were first observed
      at day 7. Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of increasing numbers of ET
      1 labeled cells throughout the time course of study. The ET-1 positive cells were
      localized to the capillaries. Immunolabeling of serial sections with the rodent
      endothelial cell specific lectin, Bandeiraea simplicifolia isolectin B4 and
      factor VIII-related antigen, confirmed the specific localization of ET-1 to
      endothelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: We present evidence that ET-1 may be an
      endogenous modulator of myofibroblast-mediated granulation tissue contraction and
      that the use of calcium antagonists could afford a possible therapeutic control
      in the treatment of fibrocontractive diseases.

PMID- 1460862
TI  - Heparin induces alpha-smooth muscle actin expression in cultured fibroblasts and
      in granulation tissue myofibroblasts.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Heparin increases alpha-smooth muscle actin expression in smooth
      muscle cells in vivo and in vitro. It has been recently suggested that alpha
      smooth muscle actin expression in fibroblasts is a marker of myofibroblastic
      differentiation. We have examined the effect of heparin and of four
      nonanticoagulant heparin derivatives on alpha-smooth muscle actin expression by
      fibroblasts in vitro and in vivo. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: For in vitro experiments,
      heparin was added for 7 days to different fibroblastic cultures. We studied cell
      proliferation and alpha-smooth muscle actin protein and mRNA expression. For in
      vivo studies, osmotic minipumps filled with NaCl or tumor necrosis factor-alpha
      without or with nonanticoagulant heparin were implanted subcutaneously. After 14
      days, newly accumulated connective tissues around the pumps were processed for
      immunofluorescence and electron microscopic and biochemical studies. RESULTS: In
      vitro, heparin inhibited proliferation and increased the expression of alpha
      smooth muscle actin protein and mRNA. Analysis of [3H]thymidine incorporation in
      synchronized cells suggested that heparin produces a selection of alpha-smooth
      muscle actin expressing cells. In vivo, the local application of tumor necrosis
      factor-alpha resulted in formation of a typical granulation tissue:
      immunofluorescence showed that accumulated fibroblastic cells express alpha
      smooth muscle actin only in the presence of heparin derivatives. In tumor
      necrosis factor-alpha treated animals, electron microscopic examination
      established the presence of myofibroblasts, but alpha-smooth muscle actin was
      expressed in microfilament bundles only in the presence of heparin derivatives.
      CONCLUSIONS: These results show that heparin and its nonanticoagulant derivatives
      influence the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin in fibroblastic cells both
      in vitro and in vivo and that this effect is probably related to the selection of
      a particular cell subpopulation. They suggest a possible role for heparin during
      the formation and evolution of granulation tissue.

PMID- 1460863
TI  - Intracellular actin as a marker for myofibroblasts in vitro.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Myofibroblasts are found in a wide variety of normal tissues and
      pathological conditions. It is suggested that myofibroblasts are derived from
      normal fibroblasts and share with smooth muscle cells the expression of actin
      microfilament bundles. The aim of this study was to establish if the
      myofibroblast phenotype from tissue expander capsules and Dupuytren's nodules
      could be distinguished from normal dermal fibroblasts by quantitation of
      intracellular actin and the ratio of polymerized (filamentous) actin to
      nonpolymerized (globular) actin. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Cell lines were established
      from six patients from each group. In addition to quantitation of intracellular
      actin, the cells were characterized by criteria of light microscopy,
      ultrastructure, actin immunofluorescence, and growth rates. RESULTS: Dermal
      fibroblasts were the smallest and the most spindle-shaped but grew rapidly and
      had few actin microfilament bundles. By contrast, myofibroblasts from expander
      capsules were larger and more stellate, proliferated slowly, and had the most
      prominent microfilament arrays. Cells from Dupuytren's nodules were intermediate
      in phenotype. Substantial and significant differences in intracellular actin
      contents were found, ranging from 0.69 +/- 0.05 micrograms/10(4) cells in
      fibroblasts and 0.77 +/- 0.15 micrograms/10(4) cells for Dupuytren's nodule cells
      to 1.46 +/- 0.44 micrograms/10(4) cells in expander capsule myofibroblasts (p <
      0.05). Similar findings were found with respect to ratios of fibroblast to
      globular actins, being 0.22 for fibroblasts and 0.38 for Dupuytren's nodule cells
      compared with 0.70 for expander capsule myofibroblasts (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS:
      Measurement of intracellular actin contents and fibroblast:globular actin ratios
      offers a rapid, sensitive, and reliable technique for establishment of the
      myofibroblast phenotype and has considerable advantages over traditional
      ultrastructural approaches for the study of myofibroblast
      differentiation/regression and in vitro responses to experimental manipulation.

PMID- 1460864
TI  - A morphometric study of the blood-brain barrier in Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Abnormalities in the human blood-brain barrier may contribute to the
      pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Morphometric
      parameters relevant to integrity of the blood-brain barrier (cerebral capillary
      endothelium) were assessed in brain biopsies from patients with AD and compared
      with values from age-matched nondemented controls. RESULTS: Alzheimer patients
      showed diminished mitochondrial density and area within cerebral capillary
      endothelium, an increased number of capillary profiles containing pericytes (a
      possible second line of defense when the capillary endothelium fails), and
      features of inter-endothelial junctions that suggest 'leakiness' of the blood
      brain barrier. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate subtle but definite abnormalities
      suggesting compromise of the blood-brain barrier in AD that may contribute to its
      pathogenesis, and support neuropharmacologic and morphologic studies that suggest
      that a form of denervation microangiopathy may occur in AD brain, possibly
      secondary to loss of neurons from the pontine locus ceruleus. The changes may
      also play a role in the deposition of A4 Alzheimer amyloid within cerebral
      microvessel walls.

PMID- 1460865
TI  - Involvement of activated periglomerular leukocytes in the rupture of Bowman's
      capsule and glomerular crescent progression in experimental glomerulonephritis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In an experimental model of crescentic glomerulonephritis, we have
      investigated whether periglomerular leukocytes are involved in (a), the
      disruption of Bowman's capsule (BC), and (b) the progression of cellular
      crescents. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Experimental crescentic glomerulonephritis was
      induced in inbred Sprague-Dawley rats using passive accelerated anti-glomerular
      basement membrane disease. Groups of 4 animals were sacrificed at 3, 7, 14, 21,
      and 28 days after administration of nephrotoxic serum. RESULTS: Periglomerular
      infiltration of macrophages and T cells was evident at day 3, although focal
      accumulation of activated mononuclear cells (IL-2R+) was not apparent in this
      area until day 14. BC rupture in some glomeruli was first evident at day 14, and
      this was seen in all 12 animals from days 14 to 28. Similarly, glomerular
      crescent formation was first apparent at day 14, and from days 14 to 28, 11 of 12
      animals displayed crescent formation (25 to 74% crescentic glomeruli).
      Examination of glomeruli (> or = 200/animal) within periodic acid-Shiff stained
      sections found that BC disruption invariably occurred at sites of prominent focal
      periglomerular mononuclear cell infiltration. Monoclonal antibody labeling
      revealed that T cells and IL-2R+ cells were restricted to focal infiltrates at
      sites of BC rupture, whereas macrophages were more widely distributed throughout
      the periglomerular area. A key finding was that while BC disruption occurred in
      both the presence and the absence of crescent formation, it was always associated
      with prominent periglomerular leukocytic infiltration. In this model, most
      cellular crescents contained leukocytes (88.8 +/- 2.1%). In the presence of an
      intact BC, macrophages constituted the predominant leukocyte cell type within
      these crescents. However, when BC was ruptured, although the number of
      macrophages remained unchanged, a marked accumulation of both T cells and IL-2R+
      cells occurred within crescents. Progressive fibrous organization of cellular
      crescents was observed only in those glomeruli in which BC was disrupted.
      CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that: (a) activated periglomerular mononuclear
      cells may cause disruption of BC via a delayed-type hypersensitivity mechanism,
      (b) rupture of BC facilitates entry of activated periglomerular T cells and
      fibroblasts into Bowman's space leading to progressive fibrous organization of
      cellular crescents, and (c) disruption of BC may be a general mechanism of
      progressive glomerular damage mediated by periglomerular leukocytes irrespective
      of crescent formation.

PMID- 1460866
TI  - Nephritogenicity of anti-proteoglycan antibodies in experimental murine lupus
      nephritis.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Cross-reactivity between anti-DNA antibodies and heparan sulfate
      (HS)/heparan sulfate-proteoglycan (HS-PG) of glomerular basement membrane has
      been previously reported. Conceivably, this determines the final outcome of
      glomerular injury in lupus nephritis. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We investigated the
      status of glomerular injury in NZB/NZW F1 mice after the administration of rabbit
      anti-HS-PG antibody (experiment group). The controls received normal rabbit IgG
      only. RESULTS: All experimental animals became proteinuric 2 weeks after the
      administration of anti-HS-PG. The animals of the older age group (16 weeks) had
      significant hematuria as well. Their glomeruli exhibited hypercellularity with a
      heavy influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes into their
      capillaries, and some of them exhibited crescentic changes. Electron-dense
      deposits were present in subepithelial, subendothelial, and mesangial regions of
      the glomeruli. The control group had normocellular glomeruli with a few mesangial
      deposits. Mouse IgG and C3 displayed a granular pattern of immunofluorescence in
      the experimental group. Anti-rabbit IgG titers in the serum were higher in the
      control group, which lower in the renal glomerular eluates. No significant
      differences were observed in the concentrations of anti-dsDNA and -ssDNA either
      in the sera or in the eluates. There was also no difference between the control
      and experimental group in terms of antibody synthesis by the splenic lymphocytes
      and their proliferation subsequent to antigenic challenge. CONCLUSIONS: Data
      suggest that administration of anti-HS-PG accentuates the glomerular injury
      during the natural course of lupus nephritis in (NZB/NZW F1 mice; seemingly these
      two antibodies (anti-HS-PG and -DNA) do not competitively inhibit the binding of
      the other to the same anionic sites of glomerular basement membrane enriched with
      heparan sulfate in vivo.

PMID- 1460867
TI  - Tubule-tubule and tubule-arteriole contacts in rat kidney distal nephrons. A
      morphologic study based on computer-assisted three-dimensional reconstructions.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Functional investigations of the tubulo-glomerular feedback mechanism
      have indicated the existence of a contact between the distal nephron and the
      macula densa region. The structural justification of such a contact is
      investigated. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Tubule-tubule and tubule-arteriole contacts
      were investigated in distal nephrons from normal rat kidneys. Computer-assisted
      three-dimensional reconstructions of distal nephrons were made from serial
      sections of renal cortical tissue and selected sections were examined by electron
      microscopy. RESULTS: In 14 of 15 reconstructed nephrons, the distal convoluted
      tubule or the connecting tubule approached the macula densa region. A wall-to
      wall contact between two tubules corresponding to a three-dimensional distance
      below 28 microns between the axes of the two tubules was found in only five of
      the reconstructed tubules. The distal nephron contacts to afferent and efferent
      arterioles of the same nephron were also examined. The efferent arteriole
      revealed no consistent contacts but the afferent arteriole contacted the distal
      convoluted tubule/connecting tubules consistently in all 10 of the superficial
      nephrons and in 3 of 5 midcortical nephrons. Electron microscopy confirmed a
      close contact between the distal tubule and the afferent arteriole in superficial
      nephrons and small nerves were often found at or near the site of contact, but
      the morphology at the site of contact was not unique. The arteriole contacts were
      made with late distal convoluted tubules, connecting tubules, or cortical
      collecting ducts. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the present study shows that tubule
      tubule contacts are inconsistent between the macula densa region and the distal
      nephron but that the tubule-afferent arteriole contact is consistent and close in
      superficial nephrons. This morphology is compatible with the existence of a
      feedback mechanism between the superficial distal nephron and the afferent
      arteriole, apart from the one located at the juxtaglomerular apparatus.

PMID- 1460868
TI  - Identification of beta-subunit of GTP-binding regulatory protein in mitotic
      spindle.
AB  - BACKGROUND: The heterotrimeric GTP-binding regulatory protein (G protein) is
      important in membrane signal transduction. Since the function of the beta-subunit
      of G protein (G beta) in tumor cells is not well-documented, identification of G
      beta in tumor cells was performed. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Immunolocalization,
      Western blotting, and immunoprecipitation of G beta in mammalian tumor and normal
      cells were investigated using rabbit antisera against amino and carboxyl terminal
      peptide fragments of G beta. A human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line (NPC
      TW039) was used as the cell model because of its short doubling time. RESULTS:
      Anti-G beta immunoreactivity was found to be associated with the plasma membrane
      and the mitotic spindle throughout the mitotic phase of cell replication.
      Colcemid pretreatment resulted in random distribution of the anti-G beta reaction
      product in the mitotic cells. The same phenomenon was also seen in various other
      tumor and normal cell lines. When solubilized membranous, cytosolic, and mitotic
      spindle fractions were analyzed by Western blotting, G beta (35 +/- 1 kDa) was
      found to be associated with the plasma membrane and mitotic spindle fractions.
      Immunoprecipitation of isolated mitotic spindles with anti-G beta further
      confirmed these results. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that G beta is
      closely associated with the mitotic spindle as well as the plasma membrane and
      may be important in regulation of cell mitosis in addition to transmembrane
      signal transduction.

PMID- 1460869
TI  - Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization studies of androgen receptor
      expression in a transplantable androgen-independent prostatic carcinoma line
      (AIT) of Noble rats.
AB  - BACKGROUND: In a previous study, we had shown that testosterone (T)
      administration to castrated Noble (NBL) rats, bearing an androgen-independent
      prostatic carcinoma line (AIT), caused a dramatic increase in high-affinity
      nuclear-androgen binding sites in the neoplasms. This increase in nuclear
      androgen receptors (AR) was accompanied by a transient doubling of the mitotic
      index in the tumors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In our current study we used
      immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization to investigate the effects of
      androgen withdrawal and replacement on AR expression at the molecular/cellular
      level in the AIT. Results from immunohistochemical studies of AR expression in
      the AIT were compared with those from the prostates of intact, castrated, and
      castrated T-treated rats. RESULTS: Immunopositive staining for AR was found only
      in the nuclei of prostatic cells from the glands of intact, castrated or
      castrated T-treated animals. A few immunopositive tumor cells were present in
      AITs carried in untreated castrated hosts. In all instances, the reaction product
      was found in the cytoplasm, but it was also present in the nuclei of some tumor
      cells. Five days of T administration to castrated AIT-bearing rats caused a
      dramatic increase in immunopositive tumor cells. Nuclear staining was observed in
      all positive cells, but the reaction product was also present as well in the
      cytoplasm of some tumor cells. No differences in AR mRNA expression was detected
      by in situ hybridization studies of the AITs from castrated and castrated T
      treated rats. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in localization of AR between normal
      prostate and carcinoma cells may reflect alterations in DNA binding domains of
      the AR protein that occurred with neoplastic transformation. Our in situ findings
      suggest that unlike the normal prostate, where AR mRNA levels are autoregulated
      by androgen, AIT cells constitutively express these transcripts. Taken together,
      our findings suggest that the T-mediated increases in nuclear AR in the AIT,
      detected previously by binding assay and now by immunohistochemistry, are likely
      the result of post-transcriptional modifications in the receptor protein.

PMID- 1460870
TI  - Changes in antioxidant enzymes in isolated cardiac myocytes subjected to hypoxia
      reoxygenation.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Intracellular antioxidants have been shown to be depressed during
      hypoxia, and recovery upon reoxygenation has been correlated with the available
      antioxidant reserve. To test whether these antioxidant changes are also occurring
      at the cardiac myocytes level, we studied changes in antioxidant enzyme
      activities as well as cell injury in isolated cardiac myocytes exposed to hypoxia
      and reoxygenation. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Isolated Ca(2+)-tolerant myocytes from
      adult male rats were subjected to 30 minutes hypoxia and 15 minutes
      reoxygenation. Antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase,
      catalase; lipid peroxide content; electrolytes (Na+, Ca2+); morphology; and high
      energy phosphates (ATP, ADP, AMP, creatinine phosphate) were studied in these
      myocytes. The effects of exogenous catalase (40 units/ml) on hypoxia
      reoxygenation induced changes in myocytes were also studied. RESULTS: Hypoxia
      resulted in a reduction in Mn superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase
      activities with no change in CAT activity and malondialdehyde content.
      Reoxygenation of hypoxic cells resulted in recovery of Mn superoxide dismutase
      but not in glutathione peroxidase activity. Reoxygenation was without any effect
      on catalase activity, but a significant increase in the malondialdehyde content
      was seen. Hypoxia as well as reoxygenation caused a reduction in the number of
      rod-shaped cells with a parallel increase in hypercontracted as well as round
      cells. There was a significant increase in the myocyte Na+ and Ca2+ content
      during both hypoxia and reoxygenation, and this was accompanied by leakage of
      lactate dehydrogenase into the perfusion medium. These changes due to hypoxia and
      reoxygenation were significantly attenuated by addition of catalase (40
      units/ml). High energy phosphates ATP, ADP, and AMP declined during hypoxia, and
      creatine phosphate was significantly reduced during reoxygenation. CONCLUSIONS:
      Hypoxia induces specific antioxidant changes in the isolated cardiac myocytes.
      Reduced ability to remove hydrogen peroxide appears to be an important
      determinant of myocyte injury during reoxygenation.

PMID- 1460872
TI  - Extracellular matrix-cell interaction: Matrigel and complex cellular pattern
      formation.

PMID- 1460871
TI  - Extracellular matrix-cell interactions: Matrigel and complex cellular pattern
      formation.

PMID- 1460873
TI  - Modelling coccidial infection in chickens: emphasis on vaccination by in-feed
      delivery of oocysts.
AB  - Trickle immunization of poultry by incorporating wildtype strains of coccidia in
      the feed has been shown to be an effective and practical means of controlling
      coccidiosis. Here we develop a mathematical model of the life cycle of Eimeria
      tenella and estimate the model parameters from extant experimental studies.
      Numerical solutions of the model compare well with experiment. The model provides
      quantitative estimates of the required trickle immunization hitherto only
      available after extensive time-consuming trials.

PMID- 1460874
TI  - A model of postnatal formation of alveoli in rat lung.
AB  - In rats, and many other species, most lung alveoli are formed after birth.
      Septation of the large air saccules existing at birth has been considered as the
      main mechanism for alveoli formation. However, other undefined means of
      alveolarization have also been postulated to account for the large increase in
      gas-exchange surface area that takes place in the lung as the rat grows larger.
      Moreover, recent results show that the majority of alveoli in rat lung are formed
      by means other than septation of saccules existing at birth, but these mechanisms
      have not been identified up to the present. In this study, a mathematical model
      of alveolarization in rat lung is presented. The model is based on three
      postulates: (a) new saccules continue to be formed up to adulthood according to
      certain rules; (b) all these saccules subsequently septate generating a certain
      number of alveoli; (c) once formed, the saccules (and alveoli) do not change in
      volume, but newly-formed saccules are larger than the preceding ones according to
      a given law. The model accurately predicts the experimentally-known values at
      different ages of total alveolar volume, alveolar number, volume of the average
      alveolus, gas-exchange surface area, and alveolar volume distribution for normal
      rats and for rats in which septation is inhibited by treatment with dexamethasone
      or hypoxia during the early postnatal weeks of life.

PMID- 1460875
TI  - Kin selection in density regulated populations.
AB  - The process of kin selection has both intra- and inter-group components
      (Hamilton, 1975, in: Biosocial Anthropology Wade, 1980). Group advantageous
      characteristics can evolve when inter-group differences in fertility are
      sufficiently great to overcome any within-group disadvantage of the trait. The
      potential magnitude of inter-group differences in fertility is determined largely
      by the way a population is regulated. Inter-group differences decrease as the
      spatial scale over which a population is regulated becomes increasingly
      localized. The present paper extends previous work by Boyd (1982, Anim. Behav.
      30, 972-982) on the quantitative relation between kin selection and density
      regulation. A simple genetic model is employed to examine the conditions under
      which the interaction of local density regulation and kin selection can maintain
      a stable polymorphism. The ecological factors determining the spatial and
      temporal scale of density regulation are discussed. Finally, the results are
      applied to two biological cases in which local density regulation may be
      influencing the direction of phenotypic plasticity in group advantageous
      characters.

PMID- 1460876
TI  - Neurite branching pattern formation: modeling and computer simulation.
AB  - A model for nerve cell pattern formation is proposed in this paper. The model is
      based on some experimental results and an assumption that there is a kind of
      inhibitive interaction between growing neurites on the same nerve cell. In this
      paper, this interaction is termed lateral inhibition. A group of ordinary
      differential equations are used to describe the elongation of the terminal
      neurite segments of individual nerve cells. Computer simulation and comparison of
      it with in vitro studies are also made in this paper.

PMID- 1460877
TI  - [Thoracic radiography in Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in AIDS patients.
      Presentation forms and clinical course].
AB  - BACKGROUND: We intend to determine the frequency of the different radiographic
      findings of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with AIDS. METHODS: We
      retrospectively review the chest roentgenograms of 30 patients at admission to
      the hospital (group I [n = 30]), at follow-up (group II [n = 30]) and after
      clinical recovery (group III [n = 15]). RESULTS: Diffuse bilateral interstitial
      disease was the most frequent radiographic finding at admission (76.6%) and at
      follow-up (60%). Atypical radiographic findings were: normal chest radiograph
      (group I [n = 3]), nodules (group I [n = 2], group II [n = 2], group III [n =
      1]), thin wall cysts (group II [n = 1], group III [n = 1]), cavitated lesion
      (group II [n = 1], group III [n = 1]), pneumothorax (group II [n = 2], group III
      [n = 1]), pleural effusion (group III [n = 2]), asymmetrical distribution of the
      pulmonary lesion (group I [n = 2], group II [n = 3]) and predominant upper lobe
      involvement (group II [n = 1], group III [n = 1]). The atypical findings were
      greater during follow-up (group II [n = 33.3%], group III (46.6%) than at
      admission (group I [n = 23.4%]). CONCLUSIONS: It is important to know the
      frequency and multiplicity of the radiographic findings of Pneumocystis carinii
      pneumonia in order to establish the diagnosis and differentiation from other
      infectious diseases or other causes of pulmonary disease in patients with AIDS.

PMID- 1460878
TI  - [Treatment of gram negative bacilli bacteremia with intramuscular ceftriaxone in
      home care].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Bacteremias by gram negative bacilli (BGNB) are serious diseases
      which normally require hospital admission. In accordance with the pharmacokinetic
      characteristics of ceftriaxone, the possibility of treating such processes with
      home care (HC) and the existence of advantages for both the patient and the
      hospital were evaluated. METHODS: Twenty patients were prospectively studied.
      Upon obtaining clinical stability in the hospital the possibility of following
      home care (HC) treatment was evaluated. Ceftriaxone was administrated at
      intramuscular doses of 1g/24 h. The clinical and bacteriologic response, patient
      satisfaction and treatment time were estimated. RESULTS: The origin of the
      bacteremia was varied as was the type of gram negative bacilli responsible. All
      the patients evolved favorably with no relevant secondary effects. The mean
      length of treatment was 12.75 days per patient. The antibiotic was mainly
      administered at home (83%), permitting a mean reduction of 10.5 hospital stays
      per patient. The social and psychologic advantages for the patients were evident.
      CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the possibility of treating stable phase gram
      negative bacilli bacteremias at home efficiently with the supervision of home
      care teams leading to a substantial reduction in hospital expenses and patient
      satisfaction.

PMID- 1460880
TI  - [Hearing aids].

PMID- 1460879
TI  - [Epidemiology, clinical course++, prognosis and treatment of thrombocytopenia
      associated with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection: analysis of 41
      cases].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Thrombocytopenia is one of the manifestations of infection by the
      human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). A series of 41 patients were studied over
      a period of 2 years. METHODS: The study was prospectively carried out with a
      control group of 80 patients with the epidemiology, clinical manifestations,
      prognosis and treatment of this process being evaluated. RESULTS: The risk groups
      were: intravenous drug users (IVDU) (78%), homosexuals (12%) and heterosexuals
      (7%), patients with thrombocytopenia as the only manifestation (group IV-E)
      constituted the largest group with 30 cases. In 50% of the patients both diseases
      (thrombocytopenia and HIV infection) were simultaneously diagnosed. Nine patients
      (22%) vs 35% in the control group evolved to more advanced stages of the
      infection. Only 39% of the cases had hemorrhagic manifestations being more
      frequent in the IV-E group (47%) than in the remaining patients (18%). With
      regards to treatment, only 1 case responded completely with danazol. Steroids had
      variable, although evaluable, results with minimum secondary effects. The
      infusion of gammaglobulins achieved 80% of complete, although transitory,
      responses. Zidovudine obtained a positive response in 17/25 cases. Finally,
      splenectomy was performed in three patients definitively resolving the
      thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSIONS: In thrombocytopenia associated with human
      immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection the distribution by groups of risk is
      equal to that of the rest of infected patients. Appearing early in the natural
      history of HIV infection, thrombocytopenia presents few clinical manifestations
      and does not constitute a factor of bad prognosis. The treatment of choice is
      zidovudine at doses of 500 mg/day.

PMID- 1460881
TI  - [Paraneoplastic syndromes in medical and neurologic oncology].

PMID- 1460882
TI  - [Still's disease in adults and polymyositis. An infrequent association].
AB  - A case of coexistence of adult onset Still's disease and idiopathic inflammatory
      myopathy is reported in a patient with antecedent of Graves-Basedow disease.
      Although myalgias are common during the flares of adult onset Still's disease, a
      review of literature only disclosed two previous cases of polymyositis associated
      to adult onset Still's disease. A high index of suspicion is needed in order to
      diagnose such a rare association which has relevant prognostic and therapeutic
      implications. Treatment with methotrexate was started in order to control
      myopathy, resulting in improvement of both polymyositis and adult onset Still
      disease. A possible role of methotrexate in the management of adult onset Still's
      disease is suggested.

PMID- 1460883
TI  - [Regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in arterial hypertension. Are
      diuretics useful?].

PMID- 1460884
TI  - [Diuretics and left ventricular hypertrophy].

PMID- 1460885
TI  - [Hospital complications, their registration in the report of discharge and in the
      summary sheet of hospitalization].

PMID- 1460886
TI  - [Multiple visceral hemorrhage as a result of thrombocytopenia induced by
      cloxacillin].

PMID- 1460887
TI  - [The diagnosis of gout].

PMID- 1460888
TI  - [Bronchodilators through tracheostomy].

PMID- 1460889
TI  - [Chaos at the emergency service: several solutions].

PMID- 1460890
TI  - [Usefulness of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents in the treatment of
      temporal arteritis].

PMID- 1460891
TI  - [Usefulness of the determination of the mass concentration of creatine kinase 2].

PMID- 1460892
TI  - [Dry syndrome and acquired immunodeficiency virus infection].

PMID- 1460893
TI  - [Failure of antimalarial chemoprophylaxis in a traveler].

PMID- 1460894
TI  - [Predictive factors of mortality in severe craniocerebral trauma].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The prediction of mortality in severe head injury is of interest for
      the evaluation of patient prognosis and to also permit therapeutic measures to be
      considered and improve knowledge of this problem. METHODS: A multiple logistic
      regression model was developed and validated from the data obtained from a series
      of 231 patients hospitalized for the above mentioned condition. Seventy-five
      percent of the patients were used to define the model with the remaining 25%
      validating the same. RESULTS: The variables included in the model were:
      intraventricular hemorrhage, odds ratio = 20.4 (confidence interval 95%: 3.56
      116); compression of basal cistern and/or of the III ventricle, odds ratio = 11.5
      (4.43-29.8); mydriatic pupils in both eyes, odds ratio = 5.71 (1.32-24.6); age,
      odds ratio = 1.03 (1.01-1.05) and Glasgow scale upon admission, odds ratio = 0.57
      (0.43-0.75). The maximum global value of the model (84.9%) corresponded to a
      sensitivity of 84.5% and specificity of 85.2%. The cut-off point of probability
      of death was found to be 0.475. In the validation of the model the highest global
      value (84.2%) was also observed at the cut-off point of 0.475 with a sensitivity
      of 84.2% and specificity of 84.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The predictive factors of
      mortality in severe head injury are the evidence of hemorrhage in the cerebral
      ventricles, mydriasis and a low score on the Glasgow scale. The model presented
      is useful and valid for carrying out the prediction of mortality at the time of
      admission and is also easy to apply since the variables used are obtained in the
      initial examination of the patients with severe head injury.

PMID- 1460895
TI  - [Experience with 150 subcutaneous venous reservoirs for venous access and
      infusion for the treatment of adult patients with oncologic and hematologic
      disorders and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the present study the year experience of a multidisciplinary team
      (oncologic, unit for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and surgery) with
      the use of a new method of central intravenous administration of medication such
      as that of subcutaneous venous reservoirs (SVR) is reviewed. METHODS: The
      subcutaneous injection capsules were implanted as a venous access in 150 surgical
      procedures in 146 patients from October 1985 to April 1991 with a total follow up
      of 29.190 days and a mean length of 251 days for SVR. Sixty-two percent (94
      implantations) of the SVR were implanted in the out patient clinic, 20% (30
      patients) were admitted for placement of the reservoir although this was only
      indicated in the first two years of the series, 13% (20 patients) during
      hospitalization for the base disease and only 4% (6 patients) were specifically
      admitted for surgical preparation (plasma, platelets, and others). SVR were used
      for chemotherapy (124 cases, 82%), repeated transfusions (6 cases, 4%) and
      chronic medication (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, infections) (30 patients,
      20%). Forty-two percent permitted chemotherapy administration by continual
      transfusion on an out patient regime. RESULTS: A series of mechanical
      complications (3 cases, 2%), septic (9 episodes in 7 patients, 5%) and thrombotic
      (8 of the catheter) (5%) and 4 of the central veins (2%) were observed. In the
      present series the rate of infections (5%) (0.072 episodes of bacteremia per 100
      days/patient) and thrombosis (3%) was very low due to a strict protocol of
      maintenance and control by the medical team and hospital staff. The need for
      radiologic control during surgery is emphasized although, as demonstrated in the
      present review, the technique of localization by a cath-finder (external
      detector) permits greater speed with the same security. CONCLUSIONS: The degree
      of patient satisfaction and the minimum incidence of serious complications in
      determined risk groups (neutropenia, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)
      demonstrates that subcutaneous venous reservoirs (SVR) constitute an excellent
      method as a chronic venous access. The SVR present a lower rate of complications
      if compared with any historic series of external vascular catheterization.

PMID- 1460896
TI  - [Factors associated with hypoalphalipoproteinemia].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Hypoalphalipoproteinemia (HALP) is the most frequent lipid alteration
      found in patients with myocardial infarction at an early age. It is defined by
      amounts of lipid cholesterol at high density lipoproteins (cHDL) lower than 10%
      according to age and sex. The aim of this study was to know the frequency of main
      factors which reduce the levels of cHDL in a group of subjects with and without
      HALP. METHODS: Pathological antecedents, consumption of drugs, alcohol and
      cigarettes, the presence of obesity and levels of cholesterol, triglycerides,
      cHDL, glucose and urea were studied in a group of 1825 males. The study was
      performed in the course of medical examinations for workers. RESULTS: The
      consumption of cigarettes, the index of body mass (IBM) and the prevalence of
      diabetes mellitus were higher in the group of subjects with HALP.
      Hypertriglyceridemia (triglycerides > or = 200 mg/dl) was found in 31% of the
      subjects with HALP vs 10% in the control group (p < 0.001); hypocholesterolemia
      (cholesterol < or = 150 mg/dl) was also significantly greater (9.8% vs 4.3%, p <
      0.01). Altogether, in 64% of the subjects with HALP, factors which may decrease
      cHDL were associated. Of the factors studied, the number of triglycerides, IBM
      and the number of cigarettes consumed per day were the independent factors which
      most significantly contributed to the decrease of cHDL in the regression
      analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the subjects with hypoalphalipoproteinemia present
      other modifiable factors such as an elevated index of body mass, cigarette
      consumption and high amounts of triglicerydes, the correction of which
      constitutes the base for treatment of this disorder.

PMID- 1460897
TI  - [Influence of arterial pressure and plasma renin activity on tubular reabsorption
      of sodium].
AB  - BACKGROUND: With the aim of confirming the possible existence of an increase in
      the fractional proximal reabsorption of sodium in the development of essential
      hypertension, the tubular dynamics of sodium were compared by the lithium
      clearance technique in a group of hypertensive patients and controls. METHODS:
      Following a week of drug suspension 186 patients with slight or moderate
      essential hypertension and 37 normal subjects with homogeneous sodium ingestion
      were studied. A clearing period of 90 minutes prior to the administration of a
      tracing doses of lithium was considered to calculate the fractional proximal and
      distal reabsorption of sodium in terms of glomerular filtration. In addition to
      global comparison of the measurements, the hypertensives were classified and
      compared according to mean arterial pressure (MAP) and percentages of plasma
      renin activity (PRA). RESULTS: No differences were found in tubular dynamics of
      sodium between hypertensive and normotensive patients. Neither did the degree of
      hypertension induce differences. However, upon classifying the patients according
      to PRA, it was found that those with PRA higher than 0.5 ng/ml-1/h-1 had less
      secondary natriuresis to a greater fractional distal reabsorption of sodium (p <
      0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the this study do not support the possible
      existence of a primary defect of the transport of sodium in the proximal tubule
      in the origin and/or maintenance of essential arterial hypertension.

PMID- 1460898
TI  - [Prognosis in craniocerebral trauma].

PMID- 1460899
TI  - [Cervicobrachial fibromatosis presenting in the mother and the child
      simultaneously].
AB  - Fibromatosis is the proliferation of connective tissue with local infiltrative
      growth and a tendency to relapse in contrast with fibrosarcoma which never
      produces metastases. Two patients, a mother and son diagnosed with fibromatosis
      of initial cervical location in whom surgical extirpation and complementary
      radiotherapy were performed. The mother underwent polychemotherapy (adriamicine
      plus dacarbazine) because of extensive relapse. Definitive resolution was
      achieved in both cases.

PMID- 1460900
TI  - [Subcutaneous venous reservoirs].

PMID- 1460901
TI  - [Aluminum in human pathology].

PMID- 1460903
TI  - [The National Consensus for the Control of Tuberculosis in Spain].

PMID- 1460902
TI  - [Stevens-Johnson syndrome induced by tetrabamate in a patient with HIV
      infection].

PMID- 1460904
TI  - [Impact of the population over 75 years of age on a hospital for acute diseases].

PMID- 1460905
TI  - [Mixed cryoglobulinemia associated with hepatitis C infection].

PMID- 1460906
TI  - [Is it possible to reduce preoperatively the mortality of patients with ruptured
      aneurysm of the abdominal aorta?].

PMID- 1460907
TI  - [Esophagopericardial fistula].

PMID- 1460908
TI  - [Acute abdomen secondary to the administration of calcium channel blocker
      agents].

PMID- 1460909
TI  - [Neutrophilic pleocytosis in brucella meningitis].

PMID- 1460910
TI  - [Renal transplantation in children: punction-aspiration biopsy and renogram with
      99mTc-DTPA].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Renal transplantation in children raises numerous diagnostic
      problems. The renography obtained with diethyltriaminopentaacetic acid marked
      with (99mTc metastable technetium (99mTc-DTPA) was compared with fine needle
      aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in search of a better interpretation of post-transplant
      crisis: rejection, acute tubular necrosis, toxicity by cyclosporin A and
      infection. METHODS: Sixteen acute post-transplant episodes were studied in 13
      children submitted to renal transplantation. The post-transplant time was 6 days
      to 2.5 years. The basal renography and FNAB were carried out following the
      initial clinical manifestations and over a period of less than one week. The
      vascular and renographic phases were evaluated by interpreting the renography and
      were compared to previous renographies. The diagnosis of the aspiration biopsy
      was expressed as: normal, acute tubular necrosis, total necrosis, toxicity by
      cyclosporin A, viral infection and rejection. RESULTS: Results agreed in 14 out
      of 16 cases: 1 normal, 3 acute tubular necrosis by renography and cellular
      necrosis by cytology, 9 rejections and 1 infection (increase in renal transit
      time). In the 2 cases with total necrosis of 100% followed by loss of renal
      allograft, the renographic diagnosis was severe vascular rejection with a
      negative prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: In this series FNAB confirmed the renography as
      useful in the early diagnosis of complications which may appear in children
      undergoing renal transplantation.

PMID- 1460911
TI  - [Psoas abscess: diagnostic and therapeutic usefulness of echography and
      computerized tomography].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Psoas abscess (PA) is a clinically infrequent entity. The abscess may
      form spontaneously (primary PA) or as a complication of contiguous infection
      (secondary PA). The use of ultrasonography (US) and computerized tomography (CT)
      facilitates diagnosis and treatment of a disorder which previously required
      surgery. METHODS: Nineteen cases of PA diagnosed over the last 7 years were
      retrospectively studied. Confirmation of diagnosis was established by
      exteriorization of pus with US, CT or during surgery. RESULTS: Three primary PA
      (16%) and 16 secondary PA (84%) were diagnosed. The foci of origin of the
      secondary PA were: urologic (50%), rachydeal (25%), gastrointestinal (12.5%) and
      iatrogenic lumbar infection (12.5%). The most frequent germs in the primary PA
      were: Staphylococcus aureus (67%) and in the secondary PA, enterobacteriae (50%).
      The diagnostic profitability of US was 41% (7/17) and for CT was 100% (15/15).
      Percutaneous drainage was performed in 9 patients which failed in 2 cases due to
      compactness of pus (22%) and in another 2 because of undiagnosed osteomyelitis
      (22%). Two patients (10%) with underlying disease died despite adequate medical
      surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Psoas abscess were secondary in 84% of the
      patients studied with most being due to enterobacteriae. The diagnostic
      profitability of computerized tomography was greater than that of ultrasonography
      (100% vs 41%). Percutaneous drainage is a valid therapeutic alternative. Relapse
      observed in this study was due to previously undiagnosed osteomyelitis.

PMID- 1460912
TI  - [Psychologic factors in chronic pain].

PMID- 1460913
TI  - [Words of misleading translation in medical english].

PMID- 1460914
TI  - [Systemic chronic candidiasis following typhlitis caused by Candida albicans].
AB  - Typhlitis is an infrequent infectious complication which may appear during a
      period of intense granulocytopenia, generally in patients with acute leukemia.
      The most common causal germs are Gram negative bacilli although the importance of
      Candida sp. as an etiologic agent of this disease is ever more frequent. The case
      of a 14 years old patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who, after
      chemotherapy treatment, presented typhlitis by Candida albicans followed by
      chronic systemic candidiasis (CSC) is described. The role that Candida albicans
      may play in some cases of typhlitis is discussed as is the relation between the
      appearance of typhlitis and the posterior development of CSC.

PMID- 1460915
TI  - [Operative criteria for the prevention of alcoholism].

PMID- 1460916
TI  - [Muscle cell cultures: current perspective].

PMID- 1460917
TI  - [Cholestasis caused by captopril].

PMID- 1460918
TI  - [Domiciliary nutrition support in pediatrics. Has its time come yet?].

PMID- 1460919
TI  - [Toxoplasmosis and hepatitis].

PMID- 1460920
TI  - [Doppler of the utero-ovarian artery in the differential diagnosis of ovarian
      tumors].

PMID- 1460921
TI  - [Persistent suppurative meningitis].

PMID- 1460922
TI  - [Rapid method for identifying Escherichia coli and species of the Proteeae tribe
      in urine].
AB  - BACKGROUND: To evaluate the possibility of using the determination of beta
      glucuronidase and phenylalanine deaminase activity directly from urine samples
      for rapid detection (2 hours) of the presence of Escherichia coli and species of
      the Proteeae tribe. METHODS: To detect beta-glucuronidase activity methyl
      umbelipheryl-beta-D-glucuronic was used as a substrate. The presence of
      fluorescence after incubation at 37 degrees C for 2 hours indicated a positive
      reaction. While phenylalanine was used as a substrate for detecting phenylalanine
      deaminase activity, FeCl3 was added after incubation at 37 degrees C for 2 hours
      with a greenish color being observed indicating phenylalanine deaminase activity.
      RESULTS: The detection of Escherichia coli by beta-glucuronidase activity
      presented sensitivity and specificity of 0.91 and 0.99, respectively. The
      positive predictive value was 0.96 and the negative predictive value was 0.98,
      whereas the determination of the phenylalanine deaminase activity with the aim of
      detecting species of the Proteeae tribe presented the following results;
      sensitivity 0.92, specificity 0.99, positive predictive value 0.94 and negative
      predictive value 0.99. CONCLUSIONS: The determination of beta-glucuronidase and
      phenylalanine deaminase activities directly from urine sediment has been
      demonstrated as a rapid and specific test for detecting the presence of
      Escherichia coli and species of the Proteeae tribe, therefore it must be
      considered as a useful test in early diagnosis of urinary infection thereby
      facilitating the administration of appropriate antibiotic treatment.

PMID- 1460923
TI  - [Anti-endothelial cell antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus: association
      with vascular and renal lesions].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to know the prevalence and characteristics
      of endothelial anticellular antibodies (EAA) in systemic lupus erythematosus and
      its relation with the clinical and immunologic manifestations of this entity.
      METHODS: A prospective study of 50 patients (44 females and 6 males) diagnosed
      with SLE was carried out. EAA and anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) were
      determined by the ELISA technique, lupic anticoagulant by coagulometric
      techniques, antinuclear antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence, anti-DNA
      antibodies by the Farr technique, anti-ENA by contra-immunoelectrophoresis and
      the complement values by radial immunodiffusion. The statistical study was
      carried out by chi-square test and Fisher test. RESULTS: Positive titers of EAA
      were observed in 29 (58%) of the patients with SLE. The patients with EAA
      presented greater prevalence of both, vascular lesions (31% vs 5%, P < 0.05) and
      kidney involvement (62% vs 29%, p < 0.05) than those without EAA. Patients with
      EAA also presented a higher prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies than
      patients without EAA (59% vs 10%, p < 0.001). No association was found between
      EAA and the titers of antinuclear antibodies, anti-DNA, anti-ENA or complement
      levels. CONCLUSIONS: Endothelial anticellular antibodies appear with greater
      frequency in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and are more often
      associated with vascular and kidney involvement and with the detection of
      antiphospholipid antibodies suggesting that they may play an etiopathogenic role
      in the production of these lesions.

PMID- 1460924
TI  - [Low risk of acquiring the hepatitis C virus for the health personnel].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is transmitted by the same routes as that
      of hepatitis B (HBV) and that of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Health
      care workers have been considered at risk although of different intensity for
      acquiring the HBV and HIV with the risk of acquiring the HCV being ignored.
      METHODS: The presence of anti-HCV was investigated in 338 hospital workers, 110
      proceeding from risk areas without direct contact with patients (laboratories and
      cleaning staff), 141 in direct contact and 87 with accidental risk (needle pricks
      or splashing of blood products) whom, at the time of the accident were anti-HCV
      negative. In the latter a minimum period of 6 months, which reached one year in
      50% of the cases, elapsed to permit seroconversion. Three hundred seventy-seven
      healthy women were used as controls. The presence of anti-HCV was investigated
      with a second generation enzymoimmunoanalysis system confirming the results
      obtained with RIBA. RESULTS: The workers in zones of risk without direct patient
      contact presented global seroprevalence of anti-HCV of 1.8% with no statistical
      difference obtained between those who attended patients directly (1.4%) or the
      control group (2.1%). HCV transmission was not detected in any of the workers who
      experienced a high risk accident. CONCLUSIONS: The results concerning the study
      of the risk of health care workers to obtain hepatitis C suggest that the risk of
      transmission of the hepatitis C virus in these personnel is low.

PMID- 1460925
TI  - [Retrospective evaluation of the effectiveness of the BCG vaccine campaign in
      newborns of Barcelona].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to know the efficacy of the BCG vaccination
      campaign of the newborns of Barcelona carried out during the period from 1966
      1974. METHODS: To achieve this aim an epidemiologic investigation was undertaken
      by an observational analytical study of paired cases and controls. Two hundred
      and fifty randomly selected cases were studied between 1978-1988 from between 4
      21 years of age during the study period. The cases were paired with 750 controls
      (1:3) with identical conditions and age, sex and place of residence. Statistical
      analysis of data was performed by the specific methods for this type of study.
      RESULTS: The estimated gross odds ratio was 0.68; the interval of confidence 95%
      and 0.51-0.91 (p < 0.025). The efficacy of this vaccination campaign was
      estimated as weak at 32%, in the age group and investigation time being greater
      in males and diminished with time. The percentage of new cases of tuberculosis
      potentially prevented by this campaign was calculated at 13%. CONCLUSIONS: The
      weak efficacy of the BCG vaccination campaign may be attributed not only to the
      unforeseen effects of this vaccine but also to the deficient operative aspects of
      the campaign itself.

PMID- 1460926
TI  - [Time factors in bacteriologic diagnosis].

PMID- 1460927
TI  - [Hypertension in diabetes mellitus. Role of calcium antagonists in its
      treatment].

PMID- 1460928
TI  - [Immunoprophylaxis against hepatitis B].

PMID- 1460929
TI  - [Dynamic pulmonary insufflation in critical illness].

PMID- 1460930
TI  - [Analysis of a publication on the errors in the report of hospital discharge].

PMID- 1460931
TI  - [Treatment of elderly patients with cancer].

PMID- 1460932
TI  - [Intrafamilial transmission of HIV].

PMID- 1460933
TI  - [Blood concentrations of cholesterol among school children of the Valle del Jerte
      (Caceres)].

PMID- 1460934
TI  - [Skin metastasis of cancer of the lung in the Spanish literature].

PMID- 1460935
TI  - [Insomnia in hospitalized patients].

PMID- 1460936
TI  - [The evolution of mortality from ischemic heart disease in Basque Country 1975
      1990].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Given the importance of ischemic cardiopathy (IC) as a cause of death
      in industrialized countries, the trend of mortality by IC in people from 30 to 69
      years of age residing in the Basque Country between 1975-1990 were studied.
      Furthermore, the evolution of the mortality by cardiac diseases and by other
      causes which may compete with IC in the certification or coding of the cause of
      death was studied. METHODS: The rate of mortality standardized by age by the
      direct methods were estimated from data from the Natural Movement of Population.
      The trend was graphically studied and quantified by means of the percentage
      difference between the rates. RESULTS: Mortality by IC decreased between 1975
      1990 by 37% in men and 46% in women with a mean annual percentage decrease of
      2.8% and 2.9%, respectively. Mortality by cardiac disease decreased 34% in men
      and 52% in women. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality by ischemic cardiopathy in the Basque
      Country has significantly decreased in both sexes. This decrease is not
      explicable by possible changes over the years in the practises of certification
      or coding of the cause of death.

PMID- 1460937
TI  - [Evolution of mortality from principal chronic diseases in Spain 1975-1988].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Most mortality in developed countries is attributable to chronic non
      transmittable diseases, many of which are theoretically susceptible to
      prevention. The tendency of mortality by the principal chronic diseases in Spain
      is reviewed with different prevention strategies of the same being discussed.
      METHODS: The 9 chronic diseases which presented the highest mortality rate in
      Spain in 1988 are included. The rates of mortality, adjusted by age/year in males
      and females was calculated from the data of deaths by age, sex and cause of death
      from death statistics. Moreover, the percentage of the mean annual change of
      these during the periods 1975-1981 and 1982-1988 have also been calculated.
      RESULTS: Except for mortality by malignant tumor of the colon and rectum,
      malignant lung tumor in males and malignant breast tumors in women, which had an
      increase, the remaining diseases in the adjusted mortality rate by age decreased
      between 1975-1988. CONCLUSIONS: Among the diseases in which the rate of mortality
      has increased there is only that of malignant lung tumors for which one factor
      has consistently been identified as responsible for this increase, that being
      smoking. The possible influence of the control of arterial hypertension in the
      decrease in mortality of cerebrovascular disease must be emphasized. Moreover,
      the impact which the ninth review of the International Disease Classification had
      in the reduction in mortality by chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma must
      also be pointed out.

PMID- 1460938
TI  - [Incidence of hip fractures in Cantabria].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Fracture of the hip constitutes a serious social/health care problem
      with very little information concerning incidence in Spain being available.
      METHODS: The diagnosis of hospital admissions and the diagnosis of release from
      the traumatology units of health care centers for acute patients in Cantabria
      were reviewed. The study was carried out from the 1st of January to the 31st of
      December 1988 and only included patients over 49 years of age. Patients who did
      not habitually reside in the region were excluded. The following data were
      collected in each case: age, sex, place of residence (urban or rural), time of
      the year, side fractured, type of injury, previous contralateral fracture and
      perioperative mortality. RESULTS: The rate of fracture referred to the population
      of more than 49 years of age was 277/100,000 in the case of females and
      100/100,000 for males. The mean age of women was 80.4 +/- 8.5 years and of men
      was 76.9 +/- 10.9 years (p > 0.02), respectively. No differences were observed
      with regard to the place of residence or the time of year. The fracture was left
      sided in 61% of the females and 58% of the males. The injury was almost always
      due to a fall. Six percent of the patients had a previous contralateral fracture.
      Perioperative mortality was 6%. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of hip fracture in
      Cantabria is similar to that of other regions in Spain and lower to that of parts
      of central and northern Europe and the United States.

PMID- 1460939
TI  - [Serologic diagnosis of Lyme disease in patients with undifferentiated arthritis.
      Diagnostic problems].
AB  - BACKGROUND: Arthritis is a frequent manifestation of Lyme disease. The diagnosis
      of this disease is especially supported by serological techniques which however
      have false positives or negatives. The aim of this study was to establish the
      frequency of serologies positive to Borrelia burgdorferi in patients with non
      filiated arthritis and in other well defined rheumatic diseases. METHODS: A
      prospective study was performed to detect antibodies (AB) versus Borrelia
      burgdorferi in 43 patients with undifferentiated arthritis and in 100 patients
      with articular disease of precise diagnosis (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus
      erythematosus, psoriasis arthropathy, and reactive arthritis/Reiter's syndrome).
      The technique was performed by indirect immunofluorescence and was repeated by
      enzymoimmunoassay in doubtful or positive results. Titers greater than 1/256 were
      considered as positive. RESULTS: Positive serology was found in two patients with
      undifferentiated arthritis and in one patient with Reiter's syndrome. None of the
      three patients referred the antecedent of erythema chronicum migrans. Positive
      serology was not observed in any of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis,
      systemic lupus erythematosus or psoriatic arthritis. CONCLUSIONS: A small
      proportion of patients with undifferentiated arthritis or Reiter's syndrome
      presented positive serology at low titers versus Borrelia burgdorferi with the
      interpretation of these results being difficult. The frequency of seropositivity
      in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus is very low.

PMID- 1460940
TI  - [Ten years of new criteria for the classification of systemic lupus
      erythematosus. Is everything clear?].

PMID- 1460941
TI  - [Poisoning by delayed-release verapamil in an uremic patient].
AB  - The appearance of toxic effects upon consumption of delayed release verapamil at
      therapeutic doses (120 mg/12 h) in a 64 year old patient with renal failure is
      described. The patient presented hypotension, bradycardia due to
      auriculoventricular block, hepatotoxicity, slight hyperglycemia, hyperpotassemia
      and metabolic acidosis with increased anionic gap. The picture remitted
      spontaneously with support treatment following discontinuation of the medication.
      The pathogenesis of the syndrome and the possibility that the hepatotoxicity was
      the triggering factor are discussed. Extreme precaution is recommended when this
      type of drugs is used in severe uremic or diabetic patients.

PMID- 1460942
TI  - [Inadequate demand in a pediatric hospital emergency department: factors
      involved].
AB  - BACKGROUND: The massification of pediatric hospital emergency departments (PED)
      is due to bad use of the same by a large number of users. The causes related with
      this inadequate use have not been properly evaluated. METHODS: A sample
      representative of the population demanding medical care in a PED of a regional
      hospital was studied with the motives and sociodemographic and cultural factors
      presumably related with this inadequate demand being analyzed. RESULTS: 52% of
      the cases had had no previous contact with the primary level of health care and
      79% had gone to the PED on their own initiative. With regard to consultations,
      65.0 +/- 4.8% were catalogued as inadequate and a statistical relation was found
      with the age of the patient (less than one year), place of residence (urban) and
      the arrival by initiative of the patients themselves. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric
      hospital emergency departments receive a high number of inadequate consultations
      at the second level of health care. The importance of the age of the patient,
      accessibility of pediatric hospital emergency departments and who takes the
      initiative to come must be emphasized as predictive variables of the bad use of
      these pediatric departments.

PMID- 1460943
TI  - [Critical review of the indication for diagnostic retrograde endoscopic
      cholangiopancreatography in the 90's (I)].

PMID- 1460944
TI  - [Rhabdomyolysis associated with SC hemoglobinopathy].

PMID- 1460945
TI  - [Tumor-related hypercalcemia. Considerations of the therapeutic and
      physiopathological aspects].

PMID- 1460946
TI  - [Tetanus vaccination for adults since the establishment of primary health care
      facilities].

PMID- 1460947
TI  - [Nosocomial infection by Xanthomonas maltophilia].

PMID- 1460948
TI  - [Chylous ascites, chylothorax and cancer of the stomach].

PMID- 1460949
TI  - [Delayed toxic myocardiopathy caused by adriamycin].

PMID- 1460950
TI  - [Monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of septic shock].

PMID- 1460951
TI  - [1992 medical language].

PMID- 1460952
TI  - [Monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of sepsis and septic shock].

PMID- 1460953
TI  - [Kaposi sarcoma following treatment of giant cell arteritis with corticoids].

PMID- 1460954
TI  - [Increase in number of seizures following exposure to amoxycillin/clavulanic
      acid].

PMID- 1460955
TI  - [Neurotoxicity and acyclovir].

PMID- 1460956
TI  - [Neuralgic amyotrophy of the shoulder associated with systemic brucellosis].

PMID- 1460957
TI  - [Some considerations concerning the search for Spanish studies in international
      databases].

PMID- 1460958
TI  - [Early detection of colorectal cancer in the working medium].

PMID- 1460959
TI  - [Pure sensory syndrome from cerebral hemorrhage].

PMID- 1460960
TI  - [Early diagnosis of breast cancer].

PMID- 1460961
TI  - [IgA Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia?].

PMID- 1460962
TI  - [Backache without objective findings should not be classified as occupational
      injury].

PMID- 1460963
TI  - [How dangerous is exposure to loud music for early hearing damage?].

PMID- 1460964
TI  - [ACE inhibitors and pregnancy].

PMID- 1460965
TI  - [Cancer mutations and normal cell regulation].

PMID- 1460966
TI  - [When "throats are visiting". Increased demands should be put on the rapid test].

PMID- 1460967
TI  - [Do not forget economic interests as driving forces behind scientific fraud].

PMID- 1460968
TI  - [Dynamic psychiatric approach helps to keep conflicts from being externalized].

PMID- 1460969
TI  - [Exposure to noise by electronic amplified music--rock concerts carry a risk of
      hearing damage].

PMID- 1460970
TI  - [Growing interest in the significance of personal attitude in traumatic stress].

PMID- 1460971
TI  - [Conventional methods lead to faulty diagnosis of obscure proteinuria].

PMID- 1460972
TI  - [The majority of visits to Statshalsan (State Occupational Health Services) are
      not related to work].

PMID- 1460973
TI  - [Declining incidence of Chlamydia--increasing diagnostic demands].

PMID- 1460974
TI  - [Myocardial infarction--important field for control of quality of health care and
      therapeutic results].

PMID- 1460975
TI  - [An error concerning a neuroleptic].

PMID- 1460976
TI  - [Ablation therapy with iodine radioisotopes as an alternative in
      hyperthyroidism].

PMID- 1460977
TI  - [Cost-effectiveness of misoprostol prevention].

PMID- 1460978
TI  - [Is it much more difficult to intubate in prone position?].

PMID- 1460979
TI  - [Transient global amnesia--an obscure complaint with good prognosis].

PMID- 1460980
TI  - [Sclerosing peritonitis--a rare but severe complication of peritoneal dialysis].

PMID- 1460981
TI  - [A Swedish case of cholera with probable cause in a laboratory].

PMID- 1460982
TI  - [Women with alcohol problems. Decreased need for psychological defense activity
      and decreased number of psychological problems after 2 years of treatment].

PMID- 1460983
TI  - [Chlamydia trachomatis in young conscripts--survey, urine analysis and urethral
      culture].

PMID- 1460984
TI  - [Working with sexual abuse experienced during childhood is easier using a theme].

PMID- 1460985
TI  - [Difficulty in diagnosing total rupture of the Achilles tendon. Every 5th case is
      missed by the physicians involved in the initial treatment].

PMID- 1460986
TI  - [A comparative study in Stockholm. Significant differences between hospitals in
      mortality among patients with acute myocardial infarction].

PMID- 1460987
TI  - [Economics are widely discussed even in the Belgian health services].

PMID- 1460988
TI  - [To observe and follow up or perform surgery in early prostatic cancer?].

PMID- 1460989
TI  - [Human insulin and risk of hypoglycemia].

PMID- 1460990
TI  - [Cervical manipulation--is it really justifiable?].

PMID- 1460991
TI  - [No support by research that mercury causes mental symptoms].

PMID- 1460992
TI  - [Study on incidence of Haemophilus influenzae type b. Factual incidence on a
      county level confirms earlier nationwide estimations].

PMID- 1460993
TI  - [New pertussis vaccines are tested].

PMID- 1460994
TI  - [Knowledge about effectiveness of general screening for prostatic cancer is
      limited].

PMID- 1460995
TI  - [Urgent need for medical audit of activities at psychiatric outpatient clinics].

PMID- 1460996
TI  - [The man behind the syndrome. Hieronymus von Munchhausen. A cavalry captain well
      known both in literature and in medicine].

PMID- 1460997
TI  - [Severe effects of terfenadine overdose on the heart].

PMID- 1460998
TI  - [Introducing a 2-month general sick leave benefit during pregnancy. An
      inexpensive reform would be of advantage to all parties].

PMID- 1461000
TI  - [Medical and economic aspects of increasing antibiotic resistance].

PMID- 1460999
TI  - [Transmission of Salmonella from chickens and eggs is increasing. Sweden is an
      exception].

PMID- 1461001
TI  - [Pre-eclampsia--an endothelial disease of immunologic basis?].

PMID- 1461002
TI  - [Follow the ALARA principle].

PMID- 1461003
TI  - [Is there a basis for lowering of age limit in iodine-131 treatment of
      hyperthyroidism?].

PMID- 1461004
TI  - [Complaints about video terminals depend mostly on work organization].

PMID- 1461005
TI  - [Outpatient clinics, open during evening hours for consultation on skin changes,
      attracted many visitors].

PMID- 1461006
TI  - [Medical psychology in medical education. More understanding, less excuses for
      emotional problems in the medical profession].

PMID- 1461007
TI  - [Medical controversy at the Medical Society: can genetic diagnosis result in
      discrimination? Anxiety among geneticists, lack of interest in insurance
      companies].

PMID- 1461008
TI  - [Substantial lowering of the limit for bacteriuria in lower urinary tract
      infections is unethical without sufficient documentation].

PMID- 1461010
TI  - [Recommendations from a meeting of experts: treatment of acute and chronic heart
      failure].

PMID- 1461009
TI  - [Cholera: transmission, treatment, prevention. The 1991 epidemic is the first one
      in this century in Latin America].

PMID- 1461011
TI  - [Perianal streptococcal dermatitis is a possibility in therapy-resistant anal
      redness].

PMID- 1461012
TI  - [When should a clinical trial be prematurely discontinued?].

PMID- 1461013
TI  - [Need for stricter control of over-the-counter availability of rapid-diagnosis
      kits].

PMID- 1461014
TI  - [It would be interesting to know the number of pregnant women choosing abortion].

PMID- 1461015
TI  - [The views on the effect of breast cancer screening in younger women are
      ambivalent].

PMID- 1461016
TI  - [Training in interview techniques is effective for both students and physicians].

PMID- 1461017
TI  - [An inquiry shows minimal risk of hemorrhage resulting from thrombosis prevention
      in regional anesthesia].

PMID- 1461018
TI  - [Bed rest after lumbar puncture is unnecessary and time-consuming].

PMID- 1461019
TI  - [A new genetic technology makes the production of human monoclonal antibodies
      simpler].
AB  - New advances in DNA technology have enabled repertoires of antibodies to be
      cloned and expressed in bacteria (E coli), thus creating libraries of antibody
      DNA. In principle, heavy and light chain DNA is amplified from lymphocyte RNA and
      combined into vectors that enable antibody molecules to be expressed on the
      surface of phage particles which carry the DNA for the corresponding antibody in
      their genomes. The system constitutes an ideal tool for use in selecting even
      rare antibodies from libraries of millions. The new advances have greatly
      facilitated the generation of monoclonal antibodies against various substances.
      In particular, human monoclonal antibodies are now more easily obtained with DNA
      technology than with the methods previously used. Many of the antibodies
      generated with the new techniques were derived from lymphocyte RNA from immune
      donors, though the isolation of specific antibodies from libraries originating
      from donors who have never been in contact with the particular antigens has
      recently been reported. Moreover, the binding characteristics of the
      immunoglobulins isolated have subsequently been enhanced in vitro. Thus, modern
      antibody cloning techniques give promise of allowing the generation of a wide
      range of specific antibodies from a single, diverse library of antibodies kept
      'on the shelf' in the laboratory, without needing to immunise humans or animals.
      The impact on biomedical science is likely to be profound, as specific reagents
      for use in research or therapy will be easily obtained, irrespective of whether
      human or other mammalian antibodies are required.

PMID- 1461020
TI  - [The man and the woman behind the syndrome. A man and a woman behind the
      Cronkhite-Canada syndrome. A rare gastrointestinal polyposis with changes in the
      hair, skin and nails].

PMID- 1461021
TI  - [Heart transplantations in Gothenburg--a review of the first 100 operations].

PMID- 1461023
TI  - [SBU: magnetic resonance tomography is expensive. Cost effectiveness is still
      unclear].

PMID- 1461022
TI  - [Thrombolytic treatment in wrongly diagnosed myocardial infarction].

PMID- 1461024
TI  - [Market-oriented anesthesia--a threat or a possibility?].

PMID- 1461025
TI  - [Certification of medical technicians].

PMID- 1461026
TI  - [Weight reduction is beneficial].

PMID- 1461027
TI  - [Primary health care and ambulatory psychiatric care. Diagnosis is the most
      important part in treatment of depression].

PMID- 1461028
TI  - [Should we ignore any skin changes without taking measures?].

PMID- 1461029
TI  - [Minimal risk of mix up when handling gases in laparoscopic surgery].

PMID- 1461030
TI  - [Administration of antidepressants--comments to a therapeutic program].

PMID- 1461031
TI  - [Board of Social Welfare, Institute for Public Health, Food Administration and
      Consumer Protection Department--what are all of you doing to control ineffective
      weight reducing products?].

PMID- 1461032
TI  - [The first Swedish experiences: the umbrella is more considerate than surgery in
      patent ductus arteriosus].

PMID- 1461033
TI  - [Shorter working periods at video display terminals may diminish symptoms of
      hypersensitivity to electricity].

PMID- 1461034
TI  - [Cognitive therapy--a process of learning that changes dysfunctional thought
      patterns].

PMID- 1461035
TI  - [Drug education in schools is increasing but many schools have none at all].

PMID- 1461036
TI  - [Desmopressin--an effective agent in many hemorrhagic disorders].

PMID- 1461037
TI  - [Hypercalcemia in lithium therapy--an underestimated complication?].

PMID- 1461038
TI  - [Quality systems for emergency departments in the USA should be adopted by
      Swedish emergency care services].

PMID- 1461039
TI  - [Endocarditis complicated by left ventricular pseudoaneurysm].

PMID- 1461040
TI  - [Discussion and self-searching resulted in more effective care].

PMID- 1461041
TI  - [Some advises to my house physician if I have one].

PMID- 1461042
TI  - [The Soderberg prize to Per-Ingvar Branemark for osseointegrated implants].

PMID- 1461043
TI  - [Good prognosis of brain infarction in young adults].

PMID- 1461044
TI  - [Day surgery--the emperor's new clothes or solution of the economical crisis of
      surgery?].

PMID- 1461045
TI  - [Serotonin and philosophy of life].

PMID- 1461046
TI  - [Prognostic markers in reflux esophagitis better than wrapped up
      recommendations].

PMID- 1461047
TI  - [Clozapine, a valuable contribution for the treatment of psychoses in Parkinson
      disease].

PMID- 1461048
TI  - [Intraoperative angioscopy in infrainguinal in situ great saphenous vein bypass].

PMID- 1461049
TI  - [Health and living conditions of female refugees must be improved].

PMID- 1461050
TI  - [Alzheimer's disease--an amyloid disease of the brain].
AB  - During recent years, Alzheimer's disease (AD) has attracted increasing interest
      among clinicians and neuropathologists throughout the world. The amyloid core of
      the neuritic plaques found in the brains of individuals with the disease has been
      shown to be composed of a distinct peptide formed through proteolytic degradation
      of a large precursor protein, the Alzheimer amyloid precursor protein (APP),
      which exists in at least three isoforms differing from each other in the splicing
      of the primary transcript from which they derive. Although the physiological
      function of APP remains unknown, it has been suggested to function as a protease
      inhibitor and to be important to the blood coagulation system. The gene encoding
      APP is located on the long arm of chromosome 21. Individuals with Down's syndrome
      (trisomy 21) often develop AD in early middle age, suggesting that the 50 percent
      increase in APP, gene expression may promote the development of the disease.
      Mutations in the APP gene have also been shown to be associated, probably
      pathogenetically with familial forms of AD. The conclusions drawn from these
      studies include (i) that the amyloidosis associated with AD is probably a central
      pathogenetic factor and (ii) that the development of drugs capable of inhibiting
      amyloidosis might be an appropriate strategy for the treatment of AD.

PMID- 1461051
TI  - [The National Board of Health and Welfare on breast implants: use saline
      protheses in the first place].

PMID- 1461053
TI  - [Intravenous narcotic abuse necessitated vascular surgery].

PMID- 1461052
TI  - [Paradoxical cerebral embolization in atrial septal defect].

PMID- 1461054
TI  - [How is stomach ulcer transmitted? Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori].

PMID- 1461055
TI  - [Catheter ablation with radiofrequency current--a successful curative treatment
      of tachyarrhythmia].

PMID- 1461056
TI  - [Tethered cervical spinal cord is a recently discovered clinical syndrome].

PMID- 1461057
TI  - [Research on tumor cell immunogenicity: retroviral connection gives hope for more
      effective treatment of malignant gliomas].

PMID- 1461058
TI  - [What is good care in hip arthroplasty?].

PMID- 1461059
TI  - [Public opinion is positive towards autopsies--capital of confidence which should
      be administered better].

PMID- 1461060
TI  - [Massive attention behind the National Society against Brain Diseases: the heart
      fund--the new basis for support of Swedish research of the nervous system].

PMID- 1461061
TI  - [Treatment of basalioma--a still existing controversy].

PMID- 1461062
TI  - [Undisputable information from a Swedish committee of experts: mammography
      reduces mortality of breast cancer. Benefits for the 40-49 age group are still
      not clear].

PMID- 1461063
TI  - First Forum AMPERE, Rome, 1991: magnetic resonance imaging new methodologies:
      impact on industrial research.

PMID- 1461064
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging: a new window into industrial processing.
AB  - Although the most important use of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
      continues to be for diagnostic medicine, recognition is being gained for many
      nonmedical applications. Examples include the following areas: petrogeology,
      food, agriculture, polymers and polymer-composites, and pharmaceuticals. These
      areas all involve studies of species that have short spin-spin relaxation times,
      and consequently need far fast gradient switching. These technical details are
      discussed and typical applications given.

PMID- 1461065
TI  - In vivo NMR in pharmaceutical research.
AB  - In vivo NMR techniques are currently well established in pharmaceutical research
      and will likely become increasingly important in the future, as they procure
      noninvasively morphological, physiological, and biochemical information. The
      status of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) in drug
      development is discussed on the basis of the characterization and evaluation of a
      rat model of ischemic stroke and the development and profiling of drugs for
      cerebral ischemia in this model. It can be concluded that MRI is well suited for
      drug screening (quantitative determination of lesion size), while dynamic MRI and
      MRS techniques provide relevant information on the mechanism of drug actions. The
      possibility to follow changes, pathological and therapeutic, in the same
      individual is important from two points of view. First, variations due to
      interindividual differences may be eliminated, increasing the statistical power
      of the results. Second, dose and/or time dependence of a drug can be explored in
      the same individual. As a result, the number of animals required for a study will
      be reduced, which from both ethical and economic aspects is highly desirable.

PMID- 1461066
TI  - Spatially resolved NQR.
AB  - Pure nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) was combined with a rotating-frame
      imaging technique (rho NQRI). The method is suitable for powdery or crystalline
      materials containing quadrupole nuclei. The spatial information is encoded in the
      amplitudes of the free-induction decays (FIDs) by gradients of the radio
      frequency amplitude of the excitation pulse. The pulse length is incremented in a
      series of experiments so that a pseudo-FID can be formed from the intensities of
      a selected NQR line. A deconvolution procedure is used for the analysis of the
      pseudo-FIDs. The result is a sample profile along the gradient direction. The
      technique is particularly suitable for the detection of the spatial distribution
      of physical parameters producing NQR line shifts. Examples are stress or
      temperature. Two-dimensional images can be produced by rotating the sample step
      by step. For each orientation a profile across the sample is evaluated. A
      backprojection reconstruction formalism then permits the rendering of two
      dimensional NQR images.

PMID- 1461067
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging: applications of novel methods in studies of porous
      media.
AB  - NMR imaging is finding broad applications in nonbiological areas including the
      study of fluid flow and fluid ingress in porous media. The porous media include
      at the one end mineral rocks and various building materials through various solid
      plastic materials to foodstuffs at the other end of the spectrum. The fluids
      within these various media range from crude oil and water mixtures, and water
      itself, to a range of organic solvents in plastic materials. This paper is
      concerned with the flow and ingress of water through Bentheimer sandstone and
      Ninian reservoir specimens, and also in solid nylon blocks.

PMID- 1461069
TI  - NMR imaging of solids with magic angle spinning.
AB  - Different aspects of solid state NMR imaging are reviewed, with emphasis on
      imaging in combination with line narrowing, especially in combination with magic
      angle spinning. Experimental results obtained with the latter technique are
      discussed, along with the implications of magic angle spinning on slice
      selection.

PMID- 1461068
TI  - Rapid line scan technique for artifact-free images of moving objects.
AB  - Moving objects (e.g., heart, lung, chest wall, etc.) typically cause artifacts to
      appear in two-dimensional Fourier transform ("spin warp") images. The rapid line
      scan (RLS) technique is a simple inexpensive technique that can rapidly produce
      artifact-free images of moving objects, without requiring enormous magnetic field
      gradients or periodic motions. The basic concepts and potential industrial
      applications of the RLS technique are described.

PMID- 1461070
TI  - Lee-Goldburg solid-state imaging.
AB  - A new approach to solid-state imaging (SSI) is presented. The method relies on
      narrowing the resonance line using the Lee-Goldburg sequence. The technique is
      easy to implement in practice and may find widespread applications in materials
      science.

PMID- 1461071
TI  - Partial cerebral ischemia assessed by "in vivo" 31P NMR spectroscopy in rats.
AB  - 31P NMR spectroscopy was used to assess the cerebral ischemia status in rats by
      measuring the relative levels of phosphate metabolites. Partial cerebral ischemia
      was induced in 49 rats by reversible occlusion of the carotid arteries. Rats were
      intubated and mechanically ventilated on a hypoxic gas mixture. Physiological
      parameters such as temperature and arterial pressure were strictly controlled
      during the experiments. 31P spectra were acquired at 7 T during basal
      observation, for 15-20 min after the induction of ischemia, and for 1 hr after
      reperfusion. Depletion and increase in PCr and Pi levels, respectively, were
      already observable in the collected spectra within few minutes after the onset of
      ischemia. No appreciable changes were found in the ATP levels.

PMID- 1461072
TI  - Magnetization filters: applications to NMR imaging of elastomers.
AB  - The general Fourier scheme for parameter selective imaging is subdivided into
      three periods: A preparation period for application of magnetization filters, an
      evolution period for space encoding, and a detection period for acquisition of
      the spectroscopic dimension. Depending on sample requirements and available time,
      the first and the last period can be omitted. Preparation of the initial
      magnetization for space encoding by appropriate filters is a powerful and time
      saving way to introduce parameter-selective image contrast. This is illustrated
      by filters of molecular dynamics, which are sensitive to segmental motion in
      different time windows for contrast enhancement in composite and aged elastomers.
      Further contrast amplification is achieved by computing the difference of images
      acquired with different filter settings.

PMID- 1461073
TI  - Multiple pulse NMR imaging of polymers and chemistry.
AB  - Multiple pulse line narrowing techniques can be used to improve resolution and
      sensitivity in solid state NMR imaging. For example, pulse sequences which remove
      homonuclear dipolar broadening have been used to image proton-containing
      materials. Further enhancements in resolution and sensitivity are obtained by
      removing inhomogeneous interactions such as chemical shift, susceptibility, and
      heteronuclear dipolar broadening. Pulse sequences have been designed which
      provide efficient line narrowing over large spectral widths by taking into
      account the experimenter's control over the amplitude and time dependence of the
      gradient-induced resonance offset. These methods have been applied to centimeter
      sized samples to obtain images of polymers, composite materials, and gas-solid
      chemical reactions. T1 and T2 contrast allows differentiation between materials.

PMID- 1461074
TI  - Proton spin lattice relaxation in aromatic polymers.
AB  - The most striking requirement for the NMR imaging of an object is that this
      object should be made with components having different NMR parameters. In most
      cases these parameters are due to the presence of a fluid and to its mobility,
      thus measurable parameters are proton signal intensity contrasted in T1 or T2.
      From the glass transition temperature Tg, by decreasing the temperature, all
      nonaromatic polymers as well as any well degassed polymers, show a continuous
      increase of their proton spin-lattice relaxation, which at low temperature is
      usually larger than 10-20 sec. However, due to O2 molecules selectively adsorbed
      on aromatic rings, non-degassed aromatic polymers show a marked shortening of the
      proton spin-lattice relaxation. This effect is maximal at rather low temperature,
      where T1 can be shorter than 1 msec, and in many known cases shorter than 500
      msec. Since the amount of sorbed-O2 is a function of the chemical nature of the
      polymer, the type of crystallinity (polymorphism of semicrystalline polymers),
      the crystalline-amorphous ratio, and so on, a careful study of T1 relaxation as a
      function of the temperature can define optimal conditions for T1 contrast.
      Examples regarding polymorphism in syndiotactic polystyrene, butadiene-styrene
      block copolymers and blends, and poly(phenylene) oxide, will be discussed.

PMID- 1461075
TI  - Potential industrial applications of inhomogeneous broadening imaging.
AB  - Variations in magnetic susceptibility at air-water interfaces can result in
      inhomogeneous broadening of the NMR line. By special asymmetrical imaging
      techniques, originally developed for lung imaging, images can be formed of only
      those molecules that experience this inhomogeneous broadening. The basic concepts
      and latest developments in inhomogeneous-broadening-imaging techniques are
      described. Potential industrial applications are also discussed.

PMID- 1461076
TI  - Special-purpose MRI equipment for medical and industrial applications.
AB  - A brief survey of the permanent magnet design techniques that are made possible
      by the availability of modern magnetic materials is followed by experimental
      results and some consideration of their practical applicability to the
      realization of MRI magnets.

PMID- 1461077
TI  - Quantitative NMR imaging of multiphase flow in porous media.
AB  - Quantitative description of multiphase flow in porous media and local saturation
      distributions at steady states are of fundamental importance for petroleum
      recovery. The use of MRI provides an unprecedented means for obtaining such
      information. In this paper, profile imaging techniques for quantitative
      evaluation of fluid saturations during flow experiments in porous media are
      developed. The procedures for overcoming problems arising from very short, fluid
      saturation-dependent and spatial variation of T2, which are common in porous
      media, were addressed. The general methods developed should also be applicable to
      similar inhomogeneous biological systems. Experimental NMR imaging measurements
      of two-phase displacement were conducted in several limestones and sandstones
      representing various different types of pore structures, including a
      macroscopically homogeneous structure, a laminated structure, and a sample that
      exhibits porosity at different scales. The advantages of using each different
      type of profile imaging sequence to investigate flow in different types of porous
      structures are demonstrated. Images showing many features of multiphase flow,
      including nonuniform flow through different bedding structures, are obtained
      during the flow experiments. The use of profile images for obtaining many
      important petrophysical properties, such as permeability, porosity, saturation,
      and pore structural information, is discussed.

PMID- 1461078
TI  - Quantitative measurement and imaging of transport processes in plants and porous
      media by 1H NMR.
AB  - NMR and MRI have been applied to transport processes, that is, net flow and
      diffusion/perfusion, of water in whole plants, cells, and porous materials. By
      choosing proper time windows and pulse sequences, magnetic resonance imaging can
      be made selective for each of the two transport processes. For porous media and
      plant cells the evolution of the spatial distribution of excited spins has been
      determined by q-space imaging, using a 20 MHz pulsed 1H NMR imager. The results
      of these experiments are explained by including spin-relaxation and exchange at
      boundaries. A 10 MHz portable 1H NMR spectrometer is described, particularly
      suitable to study the response of net flow in plants and canopies to changing
      external conditions.

PMID- 1461079
TI  - Immiscible fluids permeability by T1 imaging.
AB  - Soil pollution by hydrocarbon compounds is an important part of the more general
      pollution problem. Some analogies with research problems encountered in studies
      of oil reservoirs in rocks suggested to us the opportunity to study the pollution
      dynamics by imaging the spatial distribution of the pollutant in a wet soil model
      by an NMR imaging technique. Some preliminary results using T1-weighted imaging
      are reported here.

PMID- 1461080
TI  - Diffusion and spatially resolved NMR in Berea and Venezuelan oil reservoir rocks.
AB  - Conventional and spatially resolved proton NMR and relaxation measurements are
      used in order to study the molecular motions and the equilibrium and
      nonequilibrium diffusion of oils in Berea sandstone and Venezuelan reservoir
      rocks. In the water-saturated Berea a single line with T*2 congruent to 150
      microseconds is observed, while the relaxation recovery is multiexponential. In
      an oil reservoir rock (Ful 13) a single narrow line is present while a
      distribution of relaxation rates is evidenced from the recovery plots. On the
      contrary, in the Ful 7 sample (extracted at a deeper depth in a different zone)
      two NMR components are present, with 3.5 and 30 KHz linewidths, and the recovery
      plot exhibits biexponential law. No echo signal could be reconstructed in the oil
      reservoir rocks. These findings can be related to the effects in the micropores,
      where motions at very low frequency can occur in a thin layer. From a comparison
      of the diffusion constant in water-saturated Berea, D congruent to 5*10(-6)
      cm2/sec, with the ones in model systems, the average size of the pores is
      estimated around 40 A. The density profiles at the equilibrium show uniform
      distribution of oils or of water, and the relaxation rates appear independent
      from the selected slice. The nonequilibrium diffusion was studied as a function
      of time in a Berea cylinder with z axis along H0, starting from a thin layer of
      oil at the base, and detecting the spin density profiles d(z,t) with slice
      selection techniques. Simultaneously, the values of T1's were measured locally,
      and the distribution of the relaxation rates was observed to be present in any
      slice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461081
TI  - Paramagnetic water proton relaxation enhancement: from contrast agents in MRI to
      reagents for quantitative "in vitro" assays.
AB  - The use of stable complexes of paramagnetic metal ions as probes in analytical
      applications of the NMR technique is discussed. Two examples are given that
      involve the determination of the total Fe3+ content of human serum transferrin
      (Tf) and the extent of glycation of human serum albumin (HSA). The method is
      based on the measurement of the longitudinal water proton relaxation times,
      conveniently altered following a selective chemical interaction between the
      substrate and the paramagnetic probe.

PMID- 1461082
TI  - Copper-D-penicillamine complex as potential contrast agent for MRI.
AB  - In vitro and in vivo proton T1 data are reported that demonstrate that the
      paramagnetic copper-D-penicillamine complex can be applied as a potential
      contrast agent to magnetic resonance imaging.

PMID- 1461083
TI  - Quantitative estimation of brain white matter abnormalities in elderly subjects
      using magnetic resonance imaging.
AB  - Twenty-five elderly subjects were examined with brain magnetic resonance imaging
      (MRI). The subjects were divided into two groups: those with Mini-Mental State
      Examination (MMSE) scores above 25, and those subjects with MMSE scores between
      18 and 24. The degree of white matter abnormalities (WMA) (expressed as relative
      volumes) as well as the presence of cerebrovascular risk factors were evaluated
      in the two groups. We found that a) subjects with low MMSE scores had
      significantly larger relative volumes of WMA than the subjects with higher
      scores, b) a significant correlation (rs = 0.53, p < 0.009) between MMSE scores
      and the relative volume of WMA was also established, and c) a weak significant
      correlation (rs = -0.51, p < 0.05) between arterial blood pressure and WMA was
      found in the subjects with high MMSE scores. Besides these findings no other
      correlations between the presence of cerebrovascular risk factors and WMA were
      found in any of the groups.

PMID- 1461084
TI  - Identification of patients with hereditary haemochromatosis by magnetic resonance
      imaging and spectroscopic relaxation time measurements.
AB  - A total of 4302 healthy blood donors were screened for elevated serum ferritin
      and transferrin saturation. Fifteen had increased serum ferritin at a follow-up
      examination. Five relatives of these donors also entered the study. Eleven
      patients had elevated liver iron concentrations, while five had normal liver iron
      concentrations. The R2 relaxation rate in the liver was first measured with a
      conventional multi-spin-echo imaging sequence, and then by a volume-selective
      spectroscopic multi-spin-echo sequence, in order to achieve a minimum echo time
      of 4 msec. No correlation was found between the relaxation rate R2 and the liver
      iron concentration, when R2 was calculated from the imaging data. Multi
      exponential transverse relaxation could be resolved when the spectroscopic
      sequence was used. A strong correlation between the initial slope of the
      relaxation curve and the liver iron concentration was found (r = 0.90, p <
      0.001). Signal intensity ratios between liver and muscle were calculated from the
      first three echoes in the multi-echo imaging sequence, and from a gradient echo
      sequence. A strong correlation between the logarithm of the signal intensity
      ratios and the liver iron concentration was found. Although both spectroscopic T2
      relaxation time measurements and signal intensity ratios could be used to
      quantify liver iron concentration, the gradient echo imaging seemed to be the
      best choice. Gradient echo imaging could be performed during a single breath
      hold, so motion artifacts could be avoided. The accuracy of liver iron
      concentration estimates from signal intensity ratios in the gradient echo images
      was about 35%.

PMID- 1461085
TI  - Cine MR voiding cystourethrogram in adult normal males.
AB  - Cine voiding cystourethrogram was performed in 15 normal subjects using T1
      weighted Turbo FLASH sequence. It showed the sequence of emptying of bladder,
      detrusor muscle contraction, opening of the sphincters, and various parts of
      urethra. It was found to be a good noninvasive test to study the dynamics of
      lower urinary tract without disturbing the state of the physiology.

PMID- 1461086
TI  - Outflow refreshment angiography: a bright blood, bright static tissue technique.
AB  - A new "bright blood" strategy, outflow refreshment imaging, is introduced in
      which a number of overlapping slices are excited in rapid succession. Flowing
      spins that refresh each overlapped slice portion contribute a bright signal.
      Additionally, static tissue in each non-overlapped slice portion also yields a
      bright signal. However, the flow/static contrast is comparable to that produced
      in inflow refreshment images, and angiograms can be generated by conventional
      maximum intensity projection processing. The dual ability to visualize angiograms
      and static tissue images is a major benefit of the strategy. Computer simulations
      of flow sensitivities and in vivo results are presented which compare the outflow
      and inflow refreshment imaging strategies.

PMID- 1461087
TI  - Magnetic resonance imaging and pulsed Doppler sonography of poststenotic jets:
      correlation between signal void and flow velocity distribution.
AB  - To correlate the appearance of poststenotic jets on gradient echo images with
      features of localized Doppler spectra of the jets, we studied an in vitro model
      of steady flow-through stenoses of 86, 96, and 99% area reduction. As fluids,
      water and a 40% glycerol solution in water were used. MRI was performed with a
      1.5 T whole body imager and gradient echo images were obtained in planes parallel
      to the direction of flow. Doppler spectra were acquired separately from the MR
      measurements at 1 cm intervals for a distance of 10 cm downstream from the
      stenosis. Poststenotic signal void was observed for water and for the 40%
      glycerol solution only if the mean velocity within the stenosis exceeded a limit
      of 50-60 cm/sec. On the MR images, the jets could be divided into two segments: A
      proximal jet segment of uniform width equal to the diameter of the stenosis,
      followed by a distal jet segment which was characterized by broadening and then
      dissipating signal void. Except for the 99% stenosis, a high signal intensity
      core was present within the proximal jet segment. In the proximal jet segment,
      the Doppler measurements showed a low temporal fluctuation of the maximal flow
      velocity and only little flow opposite to the main flow direction. In the distal
      jet segment, the velocity fluctuation and the intensity of reverse flow increased
      sharply. The high signal intensity core of the jet was associated with a
      poststenotic zone of constant maximal flow velocity. The results demonstrate a
      close relationship between characteristic features of poststenotic jets in MRI
      and pulsed Doppler sonography.

PMID- 1461088
TI  - Evaluation of two new gadolinium chelates as contrast agents for MRI.
AB  - Two new gadolinium chelates were investigated for potential use as tissue
      specific contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. In vitro measurements of
      stability constants, octanol/water partition coefficients and relaxation times in
      solutions of water and human serum albumin (HSA) were performed with each new
      chelate and compared with gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid,
      Gd(DTPA). Biodistribution studies and magnetic resonance imaging in rats were
      used to evaluate the new chelates in vivo. The stability constants (log K) of
      gadolinium-N,N''-bis(3-hydroxy-6-methyl-2- pyridylmethyl)diethylenetriamine
      N,N',N''-triacetic acid, Gd(DTTA-HP), and gadolinium-1,7,13-triaza-4,10,16
      trioxacyclooctadecane-N,N', N''-triacetic acid, Gd(TTCT), were determined to be
      23.65 and 18.07, respectively. These can be compared to a literature value of
      22.46 for Gd(DTPA). Octanol/water partition coefficients for both complexes
      showed they were more lipophilic than Gd(DTPA). Gd(DTTA-HP) exhibited a smaller
      relaxivity in water but a larger relaxivity in 4% HSA than Gd(DTPA). Gd(TTCT)
      exhibited a lower relaxivity than Gd(DTPA) in both water and 4% HSA. Both
      complexes showed similar biodistributions to Gd(DTPA) no carrier-added
      concentrations. Gd(DTTA-HP) had a greater percent change in signal intensity than
      Gd(DTPA) on T1-weighted spin-echo images in the heart, liver, and kidney. Percent
      change in signal intensity for Gd(TTCT) was lower than Gd(DTPA) in heart, liver,
      and kidney.

PMID- 1461090
TI  - Surface coil imaging of rat spine at 7.0 T.
AB  - An inductively coupled surface coil for imaging the rat spine at 7 T is
      described. This planar circular probe was made from microwave substrate to limit
      the size of the coil and to minimize the magnetic susceptibility. The surface
      coil was used as a single transmit/receive coil and as a receive-only coil with a
      birdcage body coil for excitation. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the probe
      was compared to a 5-cm birdcage coil and exceeded the birdcage coil's SNR by
      three to six times at superficial structures. The main advantages of the probe
      are an improved SNR for superficial structures and a simple design and use.
      Images with 50 x 50 x 500 micron voxels were obtained of the rat spine with
      excellent anatomical detail.

PMID- 1461089
TI  - MRI contrast-dose relationship of manganese(III)tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)
      porphyrin with human xenograft tumors in nude mice at 2.0 T.
AB  - Previously we reported that Mn(III)tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin, MnTPPS4,
      is a contrast agent which can effectively enhance tumor detection by MRI. By
      imaging 30 additional athymic nude mice bearing subcutaneous MCF-7 WT human
      breast carcinoma xenografts, we have extended dose-contrast relationships over a
      wide range of intraperitoneal (IP) doses ranging from 0.025 to 0.50 mmol/kg. The
      benefits of IP injection are higher possible doses on a volume basis and a
      reduction in toxicity versus IV administration. Full coronal cross-section images
      have been obtained on a 2-T spectrometer. Although individual tumor masses
      displayed different distribution patterns, reflective of their internal
      morphology, single doses of 0.10 mmol/kg or greater were necessary to produce a
      detectable effect. At a dose of 0.50 mmol/kg, marked enhancement was produced.
      Multiple small dosages administered over the course of several days before
      imaging did not produce increased enhancement. Preliminary results on the new
      porphyrin derivative, MnTPPS3, indicate that the ratio of the toxic dose to the
      effective dose may be adjustable to render this class of agents clinically
      useful.

PMID- 1461091
TI  - In vivo NMR T2 relaxation of experimental brain tumors in the cat: a
      multiparameter tissue characterization.
AB  - Experimental gliomas (F98) were inoculated in cat brain for the systematic study
      of their in vivo T2 relaxation time behavior. With a CPMG multi-echo imaging
      sequence, a train of 16 echoes was evaluated to obtain the transverse relaxation
      time and the magnetization M(0) at time t = 0. The magnetization decay curves
      were analyzed for biexponentiality. All tissues showed monoexponential T2, only
      that of the ventricular fluid and part of the vital tumor tissue were
      biexponential. Based on these NMR relaxation parameters the tissues were
      characterized, their correct assignment being assured by comparison with
      histological slices. T2 of normal grey and white matter was 74 +/- 6 and 72 +/- 6
      msec, respectively. These two tissue types were distinguished through M(0) which
      for white matter was only 0.88 of the intensity of grey matter in full agreement
      with water content, determined from tissue specimens. At the time of maximal
      tumor growth and edema spread a tissue differentiation was possible in NMR
      relaxation parameter images. Separation of the three tissue groups of normal
      tissue, tumor and edema was based on T2 with T2(normal) < T2(tumor) < T2(edema).
      Using M(0) as a second parameter the differentiation was supported, in particular
      between white matter and tumor or edema. Animals were studied at 1-4 wk after
      tumor implantation to study tumor development. The magnetization M(0) of both
      tumor and peritumoral edema went through a maximum between the second and third
      week of tumor growth. T2 of edema was maximal at the same time with 133 +/- 4
      msec, while the relaxation time of tumor continued to increase during the whole
      growth period, reaching values of 114 +/- 12 msec at the fourth week. Thus, a
      complete characterization of pathological tissues with NMR relaxometry must
      include a detailed study of the developmental changes of these tissues to assure
      correct experimental conditions for the goal of optimal contrast between normal
      and pathological regions in the NMR images.

PMID- 1461092
TI  - A study of T1-weighted 31phosphorus MR-spectroscopy from patients with focal and
      diffuse liver disease.
AB  - 31P-MR-Spectroscopy was performed in 28 patients with focal (n = 23) and diffuse
      (n = 5) liver disease and in 18 healthy volunteers. The spectra were obtained
      with a whole body scanner operating at 1.5 T by using a surface coil. To get T1
      weighted 31P-spectra a short TR of 600 msec was taken, because T1-weighted
      spectra of focal liver disease were more significantly different from spectra
      from healthy volunteers than density weighted ones. The VOI from patients with
      focal superficial alterations showed a mean volume of 172 ml, with diffuse liver
      disease 196 ml, and from volunteers 158 ml. Focal tumors filled up the VOI on an
      average of 70%. This investigation demonstrated that PME/beta-ATP- and PDE/beta
      ATP-ratios were sensitive indicators for focal liver disease. As a result of this
      study we could establish a significant increase of PME/beta-ATP- (0.75 +/- 0.30)
      and PDE/beta-ATP-ratios (1.68 +/- 0.62) in patients with superficial focal liver
      metastases (n = 19) compared to the control group (PME/beta-ATP: 0.49 +/- 0.17,
      PDE/beta-ATP: 1.24 +/- 0.24; t-test: p < 0.02). Patients with a hemangioma (n =
      1), liver infarction (n = 1), empyema of gallbladder (n = 1) and a hepatic
      involvement by a malignant lymphoma (n = 1) showed a similar increase of PME/beta
      ATP and/or PDE/beta-ATP. Up to now spectral changes seemed to be non-specific.
      The ratios of 31P metabolites of the cirrhoses (n = 4) and the fatty liver (n =
      1) did not show any characteristic changes versus the volunteers.

PMID- 1461093
TI  - Localized in vivo 1H spectroscopy of human skeletal muscle: normal and pathologic
      findings.
AB  - To obtain high signal to noise ratio in small volume elements (8 cm3), in vivo 1H
      NMR spectroscopy of normal and diseased human skeletal muscle was performed using
      a double spin-echo localization method on a 1.5-T whole body system. High
      resolved spectra of normal calf muscle show the well known resonances of lipids
      (methyl, methylene, olefinic, and other fatty acid resonances),
      creatine/phosphocreatine, choline/carnitine, taurine, and histidine with good
      intraindividual reproducibility. Pronounced intraindividual differences in the
      lipid range were found between different upper thigh muscle groups. On pathologic
      conditions like myopathy, myositis or irradiation damage the spectral lipid
      content was increased. Three months after local irradiation of the medial vastus
      muscle (50 Gy), the localized 1H NMR spectrum showed a complete loss of the
      choline and creatine signals. In a case of M. Behcet with muscular involvement
      the relative reduction of the choline signal may provide an insight in the
      pathobiochemistry. The results of our investigations in nine healthy volunteers
      and three patients are presented in detail including relaxation times of the
      metabolites.

PMID- 1461094
TI  - Three-dimensional 1H spectroscopic imaging of cerebral metabolites in the rat
      using surface coils.
AB  - Three dimensional metabolite maps of protonated metabolites were obtained using
      1H magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging at 7 T. Surface coils were used to
      increase sensitivity and spatial resolution significantly over a volume coil two
      dimensional acquisition. Adiabatic pulses were employed to provide homogeneous B1
      excitation and frequency selective refocusing over the volume of the rat brain.
      These techniques were employed to obtain three-dimensional spectroscopic imaging
      spectra from nominal voxel volumes of 9-30 microliters from rat brain. The
      improved spatial resolution and sensitivity are also demonstrated with studies of
      focal ischemia in the rat.

PMID- 1461095
TI  - Noninvasive in vivo 13C-NMR spectroscopy of a 13C-labeled xenobiotic in the rat.
AB  - This study demonstrates that the xenobiotic product, 1-(o-chlorophenyl)-1-(p
      chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloro-3-13C-propane can be monitored in the liver of an
      intact animal by in vivo 13C surface coil NMR spectroscopy after intraperitoneal
      administration. The carbon-13 label could be detected after a single dose of only
      200 mg/kg of the product. The intrahepatic changes of the signal intensity of the
      labeled product were monitored as a function of time. No signals corresponding to
      metabolites could be detected.

PMID- 1461096
TI  - In vivo relaxation of N-acetyl-aspartate, creatine plus phosphocreatine, and
      choline containing compounds during the course of brain infarction: a proton MRS
      study.
AB  - Localized water suppressed proton spectroscopy has opened up a new field of
      pathophysiological studies of severe brain ischemia. The signals obtained with
      the pulse sequences used so far are both T1 and T2 weighted. In order to evaluate
      the extent to which changes in metabolite signals during the course of infarction
      can be explained by changes in T1 and T2 relaxation times, eight patients with
      acute stroke were studied. STEAM sequences with varying echo delay times and
      repetition times were used to measure T1 and T2 of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA),
      creatine plus phosphocreatine (Cr+PCr) and choline containing compounds (CHO) in
      a 27-ml voxel located in the affected area of the brain. Ten healthy volunteers
      served as controls. We found no difference in T1 or T2 of the metabolites between
      the patients and the normal controls. The T2 of CHO was longer than that of NAA
      and Cr+PCr. Our results indicate that spectra obtained in brain infarcts and
      normal tissue with the same acquisition parameters are directly comparable with
      respect to relative signal intensities as well as signals scaled with internal
      and external standards.

PMID- 1461097
TI  - Tissue characterization by image processing subtraction: windowing of specific T1
      values.
AB  - A method for windowing specific T1 values is presented. A 1.0 T imager with two
      routine pulse sequences was employed: A T1-weighted spin echo (SE) sequence and a
      short tau inversion recovery STIR sequence (fat-suppressed IR). A T1 window for
      fat was obtained by subtracting the STIR image from the SE image. Negative values
      were coded black. The method was tested on a normal human thigh, on a human liver
      with confirmed fatty infiltration, and on the livers of four live burbots. The
      fat-containing tissues of the two human volunteers were well depicted. The
      differences in fat concentration among the burbot livers were also clearly shown.
      The fat intensity seen in the images correlated well with the chemically measured
      fat concentration. This subtraction method for windowing T1 values proved
      feasible for fat. The method could be used for tissues with other short T1 values
      as well.

PMID- 1461098
TI  - MR of an adrenal pseudocyst.
AB  - We describe the appearance of an adrenal pseudocyst on MRI and CT. The MR
      characteristics of the lesion were noteworthy in that the lesion had two
      components with different imaging characteristics. The larger component was of
      low signal intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted images and might have been
      confused with an adrenal adenoma.

PMID- 1461099
TI  - A 19-month-old child with cough, stridor, fever, respiratory distress, and
      seizures.

PMID- 1461100
TI  - Imaging case of the month. Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the
      lung, type III.

PMID- 1461101
TI  - Management of type I diabetes for children in school.

PMID- 1461102
TI  - Frank A. Gunther, Jr., chairperson of the Board of Directors of Blue Cross and
      Blue Shield of Maryland--an interview with the editor. Interview by Victor R.
      Hrehorovich.

PMID- 1461104
TI  - Functional improvement in geriatric trauma patients admitted to a dedicated
      rehabilitation hospital.
AB  - A retrospective study was undertaken of trauma patients over 55 years of age who
      were admitted to a rehabilitation hospital during an 18-month period. Significant
      risk factors for poorer in-hospital improvement in functional independent
      measures were male sex, having an offspring listed as next of kin, pre-injury
      diabetes mellitus and/or dementia, and number of co-morbidities. Being married
      was found to be protective.

PMID- 1461103
TI  - Physician estimates of substance abuse in Baltimore and Cumberland: 1991.
AB  - By identifying and counseling substance abusers within their own practices,
      primary care physicians can play a major role in reducing levels of substance
      abuse. How proficient area physicians are in identifying substance abuse is
      examined by comparing physician estimates of substance abuse in their patient
      populations with local and national statistics.

PMID- 1461105
TI  - Ophthalmomyiasis externa: a case report.
AB  - A three-year-old white male presented with an extremely painful abscess of the
      nasal portion of the right upper eyelid. A larva identified as family
      Cuterebridae, genus Cuterebra sp, was removed from the abscess, permitting its
      rapid resolution. This represents an unusual patient with external
      ophthalmomyiasis who enjoys excellent nutritional and environmental surroundings.

PMID- 1461106
TI  - Two centuries of medical organization and licensure in Maryland.
AB  - In 1766, the first American medical society was established in New Jersey. It was
      not until 1968, more than 200 years later, that the state medical societies would
      finally mold a satisfactory means of medical qualification and licensure.

PMID- 1461107
TI  - Sir William Osler--contrasts between the saint-like legend and the rough-edged
      man.
AB  - Sir William Osler, the first physician-in-chief of the Johns Hopkins Hospital and
      later Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford, is judged by many to be the
      greatest clinician of the modern era. His life history of distinguished service
      to medicine and to society is well known. What is not so well known is his
      mischievous streak.

PMID- 1461108
TI  - T1 snapshot FLASH measurement of rat brain glioma: kinetics of the tumor
      enhancing contrast agent manganese (III) tetraphenylporphine sulfonate.
AB  - The ultrafast inversion recovery snapshot FLASH technique was used to determine
      the kinetics of the contrast agent manganese (III) tetraphenylporphine sulfonate
      (MnTPPS) in experimental brain tumors in rats. In the first part of the
      investigation this technique was validated with the conventional inversion
      recovery spin-echo method by comparing in vivo T1 data of a normal rat brain.
      Agreement between T1 values obtained from both techniques was complete, as tested
      for a large number of pixels in identical coronal slices. In the second part the
      fast IR snapshot FLASH method was applied to study the effect of the NMR contrast
      agent MnTPPS on the T1 relaxation time of experimental gliomas in rat brains. T1
      of normal brain tissue (1024-1035 ms), tumor (1217 ms), and edema (1199 ms) was
      determined with the inversion recovery version of the snapshot FLASH imaging
      technique. After intraperitoneal injection of MnTPPS (0.25 mmol/kg body wt) T1
      decreased exponentially to 56% of control in tumor and to 62% in muscle. In
      normal and edematous brain tissue no significant changes in T1 were observed up
      to 5 h after injection of the contrast agent. Once the T1 contrast between tumor
      and peritumoral brain tissue had reached a saturation, the enhancement persisted
      for several hours to days. Therefore application of this contrast agent resulted
      in a sharp demarcation between glioma and peri-tumoral edema.

PMID- 1461109
TI  - Nuclear magnetic resonance velocity spectra of pulsatile flow in a rigid tube.
AB  - Velocity spectra can be derived from velocity-encoded nuclear magnetic resonance
      (NMR) images. Velocity spectra are histograms showing the amounts of fluid
      flowing at different velocities in the sensitive volume of the measurement.
      Velocity spectra may prove to be useful in characterizing the flow of blood in
      small vessels, for example, in detecting the presence of stenoses and in
      evaluating their severity. NMR velocity spectra acquired in vivo are sufficiently
      complicated that a model system was designed and tested to investigate the
      velocity spectra of pulsatile flow. This study measured the NMR velocity spectra
      of pulsatile flow in a rigid tube and compared them to velocity spectra derived
      from Doppler ultrasound measurements and to velocity spectra inferred from a
      theoretical model driven by the measured pressure difference function. The
      experimental results from each technique agree.

PMID- 1461110
TI  - Tissue characterization and assessment of preoperative chemotherapeutic response
      in musculoskeletal tumors by in vivo 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
AB  - This study investigates the potential of in vivo 31P magnetic resonance
      spectroscopy (MRS) to characterize musculoskeletal tumors and to determine
      preoperative levels of histological necrosis, which is an important clinical
      indicator of patient response. Pretherapy MRS was performed on 28 patients with
      large musculoskeletal tumors: 13 with osteosarcoma, 3 with chondrosarcoma, 5 with
      malignant fibrous histiocytoma, 1 with desmoid tumor, 1 with Ewing's, 2 with
      hemangioendothelioma, 1 with myxoid liposarcoma, 1 with synovial cell sarcoma,
      and 1 with rhabdomyosarcoma. Fifteen patients had follow-up MRS examinations
      after commencement of chemotherapy (mean of five/patient), eight of whom have now
      had surgery. Elevated levels of PMEs (P < 0.01), P(i) (P < 0.01), and PDEs (P <
      0.02) as well as elevated tumor pH (P < 0.05) were observed in all patients. The
      synovial cell sarcoma was characterized by high levels of PMEs (> 20%) and low pH
      (pH 6.76). This contrasted with the spectra obtained from the malignant fibrous
      histiocytomas which had high levels of PDEs (17 +/- 5%). Reductions in PDE levels
      postchemotherapy were associated with a high degree of necrosis (> 90%) at
      surgery, while an increase in PDE levels was associated with a low level of
      histological necrosis. Likewise, reductions in the ratios PDE/NTP and PDE/PCr and
      an increase in P(i)/PDE were also associated with a high level of necrosis.

PMID- 1461111
TI  - Spin-echo M-mode NMR imaging.
AB  - A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging and display method for the observation
      of the continuous motion of objects is presented. By modifying a line scan
      technique, the spin-density distribution along a line is displayed in succession.
      Although spatial information is limited to only one dimension, the motion of the
      object is recorded at intervals of 55 ms by using a commercially available NMR
      imaging system. In a phantom study, this method yielded accurate velocity
      measurements along a single axis. When the method was applied to the human chest,
      an image analogous to that of M-mode echocardiography was obtained. This method,
      which can be called spin-echo M-mode NMR imaging, approaches the functional
      analysis of cardiac wall motion in regions where echocardiography is not
      possible. The effects of respiratory motion on the left ventricular wall were
      recorded in addition to its intrinsic contractile motion in an image obtained
      along a line parallel to the cranio-caudal axis of the body. The advantages of
      this method to assess cardiac wall motion in a patient with an arrhythmia were
      also demonstrated.

PMID- 1461112
TI  - Signal-to-noise, resolution, and bias function analysis of asymmetric sampling
      with zero-padded magnitude FT reconstruction.
AB  - This report describes NMR image effects due to sampling asymmetry when using zero
      padded magnitude FT reconstruction. With this method, the MTF is not flat over
      the spatial frequency passband, so resolution cannot be accurately described by a
      single variable such as voxel size. At small to moderate asymmetry, shortened
      (reduced window duration) asymmetry provides increased S/N and decreased
      resolution, whereas shifted (constant window duration) asymmetry yields
      essentially constant S/N with simultaneously increased and decreased resolution.
      A bias function expression describes image distortion due to sampling in terms
      separable from the imaged object. The analyses are consistent with previous
      descriptions of perceived image differences related to data asymmetry.

PMID- 1461113
TI  - Characteristics of extracellular sodium relaxation in perfused hearts with
      pathologic interventions.
AB  - Sodium spectroscopy and imaging sequences designed to emphasize fast T2 decay or
      the multiple quantum signal have previously demonstrated a high contrast between
      normal and pathologic tissue which may be due to changes in intracellular versus
      extracellular sodium distribution. Since alterations in the amount of signal with
      fast T2 decay have previously been shown to occur with changes in intracellular
      sodium content, this study investigated the fast T2 relaxation characteristics of
      extracellular sodium during pathologic interventions on nonsubmerged perfused rat
      hearts. T2 data on total sodium content were obtained while global ischemia
      (stopping all perfusate flow) and extracellular edema (due to long perfusion
      times) were induced in the heart. The data were fit to a biexponential, with
      Mf(T2f) the magnitude (time constant) of the fast component of decay. Mf
      increased significantly in both pathologies (to 319 +/- 26%, n = 3, of baseline
      for ischemia and to 527 +/- 284%, n = 3, of baseline for edema); the increase
      with edema was demonstrated to be due to extracellular sodium by intermittently
      perfusing the heart for a short period with shift reagent. When shift reagent was
      not used until the conclusion of the edema experiment, Mf increased to 169 +/-
      35% of baseline, also due mainly to extracellular sodium. T2f did not exhibit any
      trends with these experiments, with values ranging from 1.7 to 5.5 ms. We believe
      that these results indicate that compartmental sodium content will most likely
      not be quantifiable in pathologic states in the heart with relaxation-based
      techniques. However, correlations between the pathologic state of the tissue and
      the sodium NMR signal obtained with pulse sequences or images that emphasize a
      particular aspect of relaxation may prove to be useful.

PMID- 1461114
TI  - 31P NMR spectroscopic study of the effects of gamma-irradiation on RIF-1 tumor
      cells perfused in vitro.
AB  - In order to examine the mechanisms underlying radiation-induced changes in
      phosphorus metabolite levels observed in RIF-1 tumors in vivo, RIF-1 cells in
      culture were perfused for up to 70 h following gamma-irradiation with 0-25 Gy and
      monitored continuously by 31P NMR spectroscopy at 8.5 T. Cells immobilized in the
      sample volume by incorporation into calcium alginate beads were bioenergetically
      stable, but did not replicate at the cell density used. Following an initial
      increase in PCr and NTP, which occurred in both control and irradiated cells, a
      dramatic decline in high-energy phosphates was detected beginning 24-30 h after
      irradiation with 15 or 25 Gy. In contrast, unirradiated cells or cells treated
      with 10 Gy remained metabolically stable for up to 72 h. The metabolic changes
      induced by irradiation of the cultured cells, which reflected cell death and
      lysis, were distinctly different from those observed in RIF-1 tumors in vivo
      during the same postirradiation time interval--an increase in high-energy
      relative to low-energy phosphates. This suggests that the spectral changes in
      vivo do not result from direct modification of cellular energy metabolism by
      radiation injury.

PMID- 1461115
TI  - Automatic in vivo NMR data processing based on an enhancement procedure and
      linear prediction method.
AB  - A new data processing method for in vivo NMR data quantitation is presented. This
      method (EPLPSVD) is based on the enhancement procedure (EP) proposed by J. A.
      Cadzow (IEEE Trans. Acoust. Speech Signal Process. 36, 49, 1988) followed by the
      usual linear prediction method using the singular value decomposition (LPSVD).
      The evaluation of this protocol is performed using synthesized 31P signals with
      different signal-to-noise ratios. A Monte-Carlo simulation as a function of
      signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) has proved that EPLPSVD leads to unbiased estimated
      values of parameters. Then the Cramer-Rao method yields reliable confidence
      intervals for the estimated parameters. The estimates of NMR parameters using
      EPLPSVD are reliable and accurate for SNR > or = 1.2 while the LPSVD method
      failed for SNR < or = 4. This protocol is applied to analyze automatically a
      series of 31P free induction decays obtained from the human gastrocnemius muscle
      during exercise. Spectral parameters with their confidence intervals, curves of
      relative intensity variations in phosphocreatine and inorganic phosphate, and pH
      curves are automatically provided.

PMID- 1461116
TI  - Improved cardiac gating and ventilation timing in animal experiments.
AB  - In this work we present an improved solution for cardiac gating and ventilation
      timing in in vivo spectroscopic and imaging experiments. This approach makes use
      of a pulse conditioner to extract primary timing signals from noisy and
      fluctuating input signals. A timing controller is then used to set all additional
      timing outputs. Full feedback control is utilized in this timing controller to
      optimize both magnetic resonance and respiratory timing. Feedback control also
      helps ensure that timing errors will not occur during acquisition.

PMID- 1461117
TI  - A piezoelectric respiratory monitor for in vivo NMR.
AB  - This report describes a simple electronic device employing a piezoelectric
      element which serves as a sensitive detector of motion. The device is useful as a
      monitor of respiratory motion for nuclear magnetic resonance animal experiments
      in vivo. It can also provide a trigger pulse for respiratory gating experiments.

PMID- 1461118
TI  - Changes in probe sensitivity during NMR spectroscopic studies of the perfused rat
      heart: a warning.
AB  - During NMR experiments on isolated, perfused rat heart, we observed a 57% change
      in probe sensitivity when the perfusion buffer surrounding the heart was replaced
      by either a low-ionic-strength mannitol solution or air and the heart was made
      ischemic. Such changes in sensitivity, should they go unrecognized, would result
      in substantial quantification errors.

PMID- 1461119
TI  - A simple procedure for obtaining high-quality NMR spectra of semiquantitative
      value from small tissue specimens: cervical biopsies.
AB  - The handling of small tissue biopsy samples (< 100 microliters) for NMR
      investigations poses special problems. Optimal and stable positioning of the
      samples within the sensitive volume of the radiofrequency coil can be achieved by
      inserting the sample in a capillary. Methods for quantitation of the spectral
      information from samples requiring histological evaluation after the NMR
      experiment are discussed, in particular with respect to cervical biopsies.

PMID- 1461120
TI  - Real-time observation of transient focal ischemia and hyperemia in cat brain.
AB  - Gradient-recalled echo-planar (T2*-weighted) imaging was used to noninvasively
      monitor regional blood oxygenation state changes in real time during transient
      episodes of focal ischemia in cat brain. Varying ischemic intervals (12 s to 30
      min) were caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion. A rapid signal drop was
      noted upon occlusion, due to deoxygenation of static blood in the ischemic
      tissues. Upon successful reperfusion, the signal intensity recovered immediately
      and increased above (overshot) the baseline level before slowly returning to
      normal. The "overshoot" response was strongly dependent on the duration of the
      ischemic interval and is thought to reflect reactive hyperemia.

PMID- 1461121
TI  - Shaping the signal response during the approach to steady state in three
      dimensional magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo imaging using variable
      flip angles.
AB  - A theoretical algorithm for shaping the signal response during the approach to
      steady state in three-dimensional magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo (3D
      MP-RAGE) pulse sequences has been developed and implemented. This algorithm
      derives the flip angle series required to produce specifically chosen time
      evolutions of the signal intensities during the data acquisition segment of 3D MP
      RAGE sequences. Theoretical predictions for the cases of unshaped, uniform, and
      mono-exponential decay signal responses were quantitatively validated with a
      doped-water phantom on a 1.5-T whole-body imager and in all cases there was
      excellent agreement between the theoretical and experimental values. The effects
      of RF inhomogeneities and eddy currents on the signal response shaping were also
      investigated. To demonstrate the potential utility of the technique, the signal
      response shaping algorithm was applied to a T1-weighted 3D MP-RAGE sequence to
      derive the acquisition flip angle series which theoretically yields the maximum
      white matter/gray matter signal difference (WGSD) consistent with the chosen
      response shape. Images obtained from a healthy volunteer using this variable flip
      angle sequence were compared with 3D RF-spoiled steady-state gradient-echo images
      obtained in the same total imaging time. The 3D MP-RAGE images demonstrated a 41%
      increase in the WGSD-to-noise ratio. These initial very promising results
      indicate that with further refinement to eliminate some intensity artifacts, the
      variable flip angle 3D MP-RAGE technique may, with respect to certain image
      properties, provide considerable improvements over currently available 3D
      gradient-echo imaging techniques.

PMID- 1461122
TI  - RF current density imaging in homogeneous media.
AB  - MRI has proven capable of imaging quasistatic volume current densities in
      electrolytic and biological media. In this paper, the feasibility of extending
      the method to image RF current density at the Larmor frequency is studied. RF
      current imaging could be relevant to MR power absorption and safety and to
      hyperthermia analysis, as well as creating dielectric and conductivity-dependent
      tissue contrast. The approach is to deliberately induce or inject RF currents in
      a sample synchronous with an MR pulse sequence and measure the resulting
      transverse RF magnetic field components. Current density is extracted by
      computing the curl of the magnetic fields. The preliminary theory has been
      developed for uniform media where both displacement and conduction currents exist
      while skin effects or eddy currents are absent. If the derivative in the B0
      direction of the RF magnetic field component parallel to B0 is negligible, then
      sufficient information exists to reconstruct the RF current density component
      that is parallel to B0 without rotating the sample. The relative phase of the
      current can also be estimated. The method has been proven feasible by
      successfully imaging a uniform 85.6-MHz current density in a salt water phantom.
      The experiment conforms closely to capacitively coupled hyperthermia heating.

PMID- 1461123
TI  - Fast spiral coronary artery imaging.
AB  - A flow-independent method for imaging the coronary arteries within a breath-hold
      on a standard whole-body MR imager was developed. The technique is based on
      interleaved spiral k-space scanning and forms a cardiac-gated image in 20
      heartbeats. The spiral readouts have good flow properties and generate minimal
      flow artifacts. The oblique slices are positioned so that the arteries are in the
      plane and so that the chamber blood does not obscure the arteries. Fat
      suppression by a spectral-spatial pulse improves the visualization of the
      arteries.

PMID- 1461124
TI  - A new frontier of blood imaging using susceptibility effect and tailored RF
      pulses.
AB  - In MRI, image contrast can be controlled by use of the susceptibility effect if
      an object contains paramagnetic substances. The localized linear gradient
      dephases spins in the voxel, leading to phase cancellation and thus reduced
      signal. This signal void phenomenon, can be exploited if the intrinsic linear
      gradient is either enhanced or compensated by externally applied RF generated
      phase distributions. In this paper, a new concept which utilizes the
      susceptibility effect through the use of tailored RF pulses is proposed. As
      potential applications of the method, two different types of tailored RF pulses
      are introduced: one for the enhancement of the susceptibility effect and the
      other for the correction of the susceptibility artifact, respectively. The
      former, for example, can be applied to angiography utilizing the paramagnetic
      property of deoxygenated blood, suggesting a new avenue for the angiography
      which, for the first time, is not based on flow, although the method is currently
      limited to imaging of venous blood or venography. Both a theoretical study of the
      method and experimental results are reported.

PMID- 1461126
TI  - Projection reconstruction techniques for reduction of motion effects in MRI.
AB  - Projection reconstruction (PR) techniques are shown to have intrinsic advantages
      over spin-warp (2DFT) methods with respect to diminished artifacts from
      respiratory motion. The benefits result from (1) portrayal of artifacts as radial
      streaks, with the amplitude smallest near the moving elements; (2) streak
      deployment perpendicular to the direction of motion of moving elements and often
      residing outside the anatomic boundaries of the subject; (3) inherent signal
      averaging of low spatial frequencies from oversampling of central k-space data.
      In addition, respiratory-ordered view angle (ROVA) acquisition is found to
      diminish residual streaking significantly by reducing interview inconsistencies.
      Comparisons of 2DFT and PR acquisitions are made with and without ROVA.
      Reconstructions from magnitude-only projections are found to have increased
      streaks from motion-induced phase shifts.

PMID- 1461125
TI  - Sodium ion transport in rat hearts during cold ischemic storage: 23Na and 31P NMR
      study.
AB  - The success of heart transplantation is limited by the negative correlation
      between the length of the cold ischemic storage period and the quality of
      functional recovery. We use 23Na, 31P NMR spectroscopy, and hemodynamic
      parameters to describe temperature-dependent changes in sodium influx and the
      concentration of phosphorus high-energy compounds during different storage
      periods. Perfusion with Krebs-Henseleit solutions containing Dy(TTHA)3- permitted
      discrimination of intra- and extracellular sodium during cold ischemic storage.
      The 23Na NMR visibilities under the acquisition and processing parameters used in
      our experiments were 40 +/- 4% for the intracellular compartment and 97 +/- 11%
      for the extracellular compartment. At 4 degrees C, the intracellular Na+
      accumulation exceeded that observed at 15 and 22 degrees C. The ATP and PCr
      depletion rates were much lower at 4 degrees C and the left ventricular
      contractility was higher after longer periods of storage, as the storage
      temperature decreased. The intracellular Na+ concentration cannot serve as a
      marker for the postischemic recovery probability. The relative activity of the
      Na/K ATPase pumps is not correlated with the preservation success. However,
      intracellular sodium ion accumulation is a major factor in the time lag of the
      reperfusion recovery.

PMID- 1461127
TI  - Phase-scrambled RF excitation for 3D volume-selective multislice NMR imaging.
AB  - An RF excitation technique with which one can improve the effective dynamic range
      of the receiver and reduce the interference between slices for 3D volume
      selective multislice MRI is described. The basic idea of the technique is to use
      phase scrambling in conjunction with slice encoding through the use of RF pulses.
      The spins in each slice are encoded by RF pulses which have the scrambled as well
      as slice-encoded phase components along the slice-selection direction. The
      scrambled, or randomly distributed, phase reduces the peak signal intensity,
      thereby reducing the dynamic range of the signal. Since the proposed technique
      utilizes RF slice encoding together with phase scrambling, interslice image
      interference is greatly reduced and the dynamic range is improved. In addition,
      the method has several advantages such as a reduction in the power requirement
      for the RF pulses and the elimination of the necessity for hardware such as
      nonlinear gradient coils.

PMID- 1461128
TI  - 31P transverse relaxation times of the ATP NMR signals of human skeletal muscle
      in vivo.
AB  - 31P MRS examinations of the calf muscles of 12 healthy volunteers were performed
      to determine T2 of the coupled ATP signals by using the 90 degrees-TE/2-2662-TE/2
      acq selective spin-echo sequence for elimination of phase and intensity
      distortions. The T2 relaxation times obtained are much longer than those usually
      assumed: gamma-ATP, 93 ms; alpha-ATP, 74 ms; beta-ATP, 75 ms.

PMID- 1461129
TI  - Phosphoarginine-adenosine triphosphate exchange detected in vivo in a microscopic
      nematode parasite by flow 31P FT-NMR spectroscopy.
AB  - In vivo flow 31P NMR spectroscopy of a microscopic nematode, Steinernema
      carpocapsae, is described. Long-term viability was maintained during analysis by
      continuous circulation of an oxygenated suspension of the parasite through an NMR
      spectrometer. Saturation transfer and inversion recovery were employed under
      flowing conditions to investigate the kinetics of phosphoarginine<-->adenosine
      triphosphate exchange. The kinetic constants for the forward and reverse
      reactions were 0.37/s and 1.45/s, respectively. This report is the first to
      demonstrate a functional phosphagen kinase in the metabolism of a parasitic
      helminth.

PMID- 1461130
TI  - Cardiac tagging with breath-hold cine MRI.
AB  - A method is presented for measuring myocardial deformation in a breath-hold with
      tagged cine MRI. Tagged cine images of human hearts are obtained in arbitrary
      oblique planes on a standard imager with as few as four heartbeats. The scan time
      has been reduced 16- to 64-fold from previous techniques.

PMID- 1461131
TI  - Magnetic resonance neurography.
AB  - We have made cross-sectional image "neurograms" in which peripheral nerve has a
      greater signal intensity than that of other tissue. Neurographic images of the
      rabbit forelimb were obtained using a spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
      technique that combines fat suppression and diffusion weighting. After fat
      suppression the nerve shows up in relative isolation and is brighter than the
      surrounding tissue due to its longer T2 relaxation time of approximately 50 ms
      compared to approximately 27 ms for muscle. The addition of pulsed gradients for
      diffusion weighting of the MR signal further enhances the intensity of the nerve
      signal relative to that of surrounding muscle tissue. The greater diffusional
      anisotropy of nerve tissue (D parallel/D perpendicular = 3.1) compared to that of
      muscle (D parallel/D perpendicular = 1.9) allows further enhancement of the nerve
      by a subtraction of two diffusion-weighted images, one with the gradients
      oriented parallel and one with the gradients oriented perpendicular to the nerve
      orientation. We show that by manipulation of the MRI parameters, either echo time
      or pulsed gradient strength, the nerves can be made to show up as the most
      intense feature. This verifies the feasibility of generating three-dimensional
      "neurographic" images, analogous to angiograms, but which demonstrate the
      peripheral nerve tracts in apparent isolation.

PMID- 1461132
TI  - Pulmonary arterial brain natriuretic peptide concentration and cardiopulmonary
      hemodynamics during exercise in patients with essential hypertension.
AB  - Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is secreted through the coronary sinus of the
      human heart. The purpose of this study was to determine whether BNP secretion
      from the heart is stimulated by exercise and to examine the relationship between
      pulmonary arterial BNP concentrations and hemodynamic measurements, especially
      cardiopulmonary hemodynamics, during exercise in patients with essential
      hypertension. The exercise protocol consisted of three fixed workloads (25, 50,
      75 W) on a bicycle ergometer in the supine position. The mean pulmonary arterial
      BNP level at rest was 14.8 +/- 4.1 pg/mL, and BNP values gradually increased with
      higher stages of exercise. At the maximum exercise stage, the BNP value increased
      to 40.9 +/- 6.5 pg/mL. Close correlations of pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP)
      and pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP) with pulmonary arterial BNP level
      were observed at four points at rest and during each stage of exercise. In
      contrast, heart rate, mean blood pressure, cardiac index (CI), and stroke index
      (SI) were not correlated with BNP values. Results suggest that cardiac secretion
      of BNP was increased during exercise in essential hypertensive subjects, and the
      observed increase of BNP may be related to elevated PAP and PAWP. The enhancement
      of BNP secretion during exercise in these patients may reflect increased
      redistribution of blood to the cardiopulmonary compartment.

PMID- 1461134
TI  - Metabolic availability of oral glucose during exercise: a reassessment.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to reassess the metabolic availability of oral
      glucose during prolonged exercise in man, using 13C-labeling and a computation
      procedure (J Appl Physiol 69:1047-1052, 1990) that correctly takes into account
      changes in isotopic composition of CO2 arising from oxidation of endogenous
      substrates (Rendo). These changes are due to glucose ingestion associated with
      exercise. Each of the seven subjects completed three 2-hour periods of exercise
      at 67% maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) on an ergocycle, with ingestion of
      water (1,000 mL) or 60 g (in 1,000 mL water) of 13C-labeled glucose at two levels
      of enrichment (13C/12C = 1.11482% and 1.13303%). As expected, Rendo significantly
      increased from rest to exercise with water ingestion (1.09888% +/- .00196% to
      1.09970% +/- .00175%) and with glucose ingestion (1.10002% +/- .00159%) due to
      changes in the respective contributions of endogenous carbohydrates and fat to
      energy requirements as assessed by the respiratory exchange ratio (RER). When
      changes in Rendo were taken into account, the estimated amount of exogenous
      glucose oxidized was 38.8 +/- 10.3 g. Much higher values were found when Rendo at
      rest or during exercise with water ingestion were used in the computation (42.3
      +/- 10.3 to 65.1 +/- 20.5 g) according to the commonly used method. Examination
      of data in the literature indicates that the reported oxidation rate of exogenous
      glucose (g/min) is significantly related to oxygen consumption (VO2) (L/min; r =
      .592) and that exogenous glucose contributes approximately 14% to 17% to the
      energy requirement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461133
TI  - Effects of different lipid substrates on glucose metabolism in normal
      postabsorptive humans.
AB  - We investigated the effects on glucose metabolism of the infusion of either long
      chain triglycerides (LCT), a mixture of long-chain and medium-chain triglycerides
      (MCT/LCT), D-beta-hydroxybutyrate (D-beta-OHB), or saline in normal
      postabsorptive subjects. Plasma insulin, C-peptide, and glucagon concentrations
      were unchanged in all groups. LCT and MCT/LCT infusions increased levels of
      plasma free fatty acids (FFA) compared with those of the saline group, whereas D
      beta-OHB decreased them. Plasma ketone body concentrations were higher during the
      D-beta-OHB and triglyceride infusions than during the saline test. Glucose
      concentrations and appearance (Ra) and disappearance (Rd) rates were not modified
      during saline infusion. Glucose levels decreased only in the D-beta-OHB and
      MCT/LCT groups (P < .05), whereas they were unchanged during LCT infusion.
      Glucose Ra decreased slightly by 15% to 17% in LCT, MCT/LCT, and D-beta-OHB
      groups (P < .05 v saline). Glucose Rd decreased by 14% to 16% in each lipid
      infusion group (P < .05 v saline). Glucose clearance rates decreased by 14% only
      in the LCT group (P < .001). Glucose oxidation rates did not change significantly
      during the lipid substrate infusions compared with saline infusion. In
      conclusion, (1) the effects of fatty acids on glucose metabolism appear to depend
      on the fatty acid chain length, since only LCT infusion significantly impaired
      glucose utilization; and (2) in subjects with normal endocrine pancreas function,
      we found no adverse effects of a short-term increase in lipid substrate
      availability on glucose production rate and concentration.

PMID- 1461135
TI  - The effects of acute elevations in plasma cortisol levels on alanine metabolism
      in the conscious dog.
AB  - The present study was undertaken to determine whether an acute physiological
      increase in plasma cortisol level had significant effects on alanine metabolism
      and gluconeogenesis within 3 hours in conscious, overnight-fasted dogs. Each
      experiment consisted of an 80-minute tracer and dye equilibration period, a 40
      minute basal period, and a 3-hour experimental period. A primed, continuous
      infusion of [3-3H]glucose and continuous infusions of [U-14C]alanine and
      indocyanine green dye were initiated at the start of the equilibration period and
      continued throughout the experiment. Dogs were studied with (1) a hydrocortisone
      infusion ([CORT] 3.0 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, n = 5), (2) hydrocortisone infused as
      in CORT, but with pancreatic hormones clamped using somatostatin and basal
      intraportal replacement of insulin and glucagon (CLAMP+CORT, n = 5), or (3)
      saline infusion during a pancreatic clamp (CLAMP, n = 5). Glucose production and
      gluconeogenesis were determined using tracer and arteriovenous difference
      techniques. During CLAMP, all parameters were stable except for a modest 67% +/-
      6% increase in gluconeogenic conversion of alanine to glucose and a 53% +/- 26%
      increase in gluconeogenic efficiency. When plasma cortisol levels were increased
      fourfold during CLAMP+CORT, there was no change in the concentration, production,
      or clearance of glucose. Gluconeogenic conversion of alanine to glucose increased
      10% +/- 34% and gluconeogenic efficiency increased 65% +/- 43%, while net hepatic
      alanine uptake (NHAU) increased 60% +/- 19% and hepatic fractional extraction of
      alanine increased 38% +/- 12%. Cortisol did not cause an increase in the arterial
      glycerol level or net hepatic glycerol uptake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461136
TI  - Beta-cell hypersecretion and not reduced hepatic insulin extraction is the main
      cause of hyperinsulinemia in obese nondiabetic subjects.
AB  - Obesity is characterized by peripheral hyperinsulinemia, for which either beta
      cell hypersecretion, diminished hepatic insulin extraction, or both may be
      responsible. To clarify this issue, we investigated insulin secretion and hormone
      hepatic extraction in 18 nondiabetic obese patients (body mass index [BMI], 39 +/
      1.3 kg/m2) and 18 healthy, lean control subjects (BMI, 21.3 +/- 0.7 kg/m2). Body
      fat distribution was calculated by measuring the waist to hip ratio (WHR). A
      highly reduced tissue insulin sensitivity (2.4 +/- 0.5 v 9.5 +/- 1.5 10(4).min
      1/[microU/mL], P > .0005) and glucose effectiveness, ie, glucose's ability to
      stimulate its own disappearance at basal insulin (16 +/- 2 v 30 +/- 3 10(3).min
      1, P > .005), were found in the overweight subjects compared with the controls.
      The basal (76 +/- 14 v 37 +/- 4 pmol/L/min) and total (377,848 +/- 5,562 v 16,864
      +/- 1,850 pmol/L) prehepatic insulin secretion and the basal (15 +/- 2 v 7 +/-
      0.7 pmol/L/min) and total (8,286 +/- 2,009 v 2,840 +/- 210 pmol/L) posthepatic
      insulin delivery were significantly higher in the overweight subjects compared
      with the controls (P < .005), whereas the mean hepatic insulin extraction did not
      differ (77.8% +/- 2.6% v 79.5% +/- 2.6%). A significant inverse correlation was
      found between the hepatic insulin extraction and the WHR (r = .5, P > .04),
      signifying the importance of fat distribution in insulin metabolism. The obese
      patients were subdivided into two subgroups according to their glucose tolerance;
      eight patients exhibited a normal tolerance and the remaining 10 were
      intolerant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461137
TI  - Polydisperse low-density lipoproteins in hyperalphalipoproteinemic chronic
      alcohol drinkers in association with marked reduction of cholesteryl ester
      transfer protein activity.
AB  - Long-term heavy alcohol intake is well known to increase serum high-density
      lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations. Epidemiologic studies have shown
      that the protective effect of alcohol intake against coronary heart disease (CHD)
      is observed in moderate alcohol drinkers, but not in heavy ones. To clarify
      whether heavy alcohol intake may cause abnormalities in lipoprotein metabolism,
      we analyzed the plasma lipoproteins in eight male chronic heavy alcohol drinkers
      with marked hyperalphalipoproteinemia. Although their serum HDL cholesterol
      levels were remarkably high, ranging from 2.67 to 3.58 mmol/L, three patients had
      CHD and corneal arcus was present in seven patients. Cholesteryl ester transfer
      protein (CETP) activity was reduced in all subjects (7.3% +/- 4.2%/10 microL/18 h
      in alcohol drinkers v 20.5% +/- 2.4%/10 microL/18 h in control; mean +/- SD, P <
      .001). The CETP mass levels were also markedly reduced in these subjects. The
      analysis of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) on nondenaturing polyacrylamide
      gradient gel electrophoresis revealed that four subjects with severely low CETP
      activity (< 25% of control) had polydisperse LDLs, similar to those observed in
      genetic CETP deficiency. The other four subjects with approximately half the
      normal CETP activity had homogeneous but smaller-sized LDLs, as compared with
      control subjects. Particle size of HDL was larger than that of normal control HDL
      in all subjects. After cessation of alcohol intake, plasma HDL cholesterol levels
      were decreased and LDLs became more homogeneous and normal in size, in parallel
      with elevation of CETP activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461138
TI  - Serum cholesterol and lipoprotein concentrations in mothers during and after
      prolonged exclusive lactation.
AB  - The effect of exclusive lactation on lipid levels was investigated by evaluating
      serum concentrations of total and lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and
      apoprotein (apo) B in mothers during and after exclusive, prolonged lactation.
      Serum total cholesterol concentrations were measured at delivery (n = 195), at 2
      (n = 165), 6 (n = 119), 9 (n = 74), and 12 months (n = 32) of lactation, and 2
      months (n = 27) after ending this exclusive lactation. In a subgroup of 34
      mothers, serum levels of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density
      lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein 2 (HDL2), HDL3, and LDL apo B were
      determined at 2, 6, 9, and 12 months of lactation. The mean value of serum total
      cholesterol concentrations decreased from 6.2 +/- 0.12 (SEM; n = 195) at delivery
      to 4.8 +/- 0.1 mmol/L (n = 116) at 6 months of exclusive lactation (P < .001).
      The average decrement in total cholesterol level was 0.80 mmol/L (P < .001) from
      delivery to 2 months of lactation and 0.55 mmol/L (P < .001) from 2 to 6 months
      of lactation, and levels were stable thereafter. In the 27 mothers who were
      exclusively breast-feeding their infants at 9 months of lactation and whose serum
      cholesterol levels were measured 2 months after the end of lactation, cholesterol
      levels increased rapidly to 5.7 +/- 0.21 mmol/L (P = .001). In the subgroup of 34
      mothers who were examined more closely, the course just described was also true
      for serum TG, LDL and VLDL cholesterol, and LDL apo B levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461139
TI  - Influence of dietary composition on energy expenditure during recovery of body
      weight in the rat: implications for catch-up growth and obesity relapse.
AB  - The influence of dietary composition on whole-body energetics was examined during
      the first 2 weeks of isocaloric refeeding after low food intake in a rat model.
      The high energetic efficiency and energy partitioning toward fat accretion
      characteristic of this refeeding period were unaltered by (1) dietary fat levels
      varying between 6% and 30% of energy intake; (2) protein levels between 15% and
      40%; (3) carbohydrate types (glucose v fructose v sucrose v starch v unrefined
      carbohydrate); and (4) diets containing 30% fat but differing in fatty acid
      composition (long-chain triglycerides [LCT] v medium-chain triglycerides [MCT] v
      oleic v linoleic v alpha-linolenic metabolites eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and
      docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] omega-3 fatty acids). Changes were only observed for
      extreme diets, ie, those deficient in protein or very high in fat. Low-protein
      diet was the only condition in which the high metabolic efficiency characteristic
      of the refeeding period was partially suppressed, and this occurred despite a
      lack of concomitant reduction in body fat deposition. On the contrary, with high
      fat diets (> 30% of dietary energy consumption) the elevated efficiency was
      further increased, an effect that was only partially accounted for by the lower
      energy cost of body fat gain from high-fat diets. These studies indicate that
      during body weight recovery, the mechanisms underlying the adaptive increase in
      metabolic efficiency favoring the replenishment of body fat stores override any
      effect of food type on thermogenesis, and suggest some convergence in the
      controlling neural pathway. The implications of these findings vis-a-vis
      nutritional rehabilitation (catch-up growth) and obesity relapse are discussed.

PMID- 1461140
TI  - Partial enterectomy in the rat does not diminish muscle glutamine production.
AB  - The hypothesis was posed that consumption of the amino acid glutamine by the
      splanchnic tissues is an important regulating mechanism for its production in
      muscle. Therefore, glutamine consumption or production in portal-drained viscera
      (PDV), liver, and hindquarter was measured by determining fluxes and
      intracellular concentrations after 80% enterectomy or SHAM operation in rats.
      Moreover, fluxes and intracellular concentrations of several other amino acids,
      ammonia, and liver urea production were determined concomitantly. After
      enterectomy, arterial glutamine concentration was increased, PDV glutamine
      consumption was decreased by 77%, and liver glutamine consumption was unchanged
      compared with values in SHAM-operated rats. Although hindquarter glutamine
      production remained unchanged after enterectomy, intracellular glutamate
      concentration (glutamine precursor) was lower, suggesting that enterectomy
      induces changes in muscle metabolism without changing the flux of glutamine. For
      the remaining gut, it was calculated that after enterectomy glutamine consumption
      per gram remaining gut tissue increased. These results cast doubt on the
      hypothesis that diminished splanchnic glutamine uptake can reduce muscle
      glutamine production.

PMID- 1461141
TI  - Resting energy metabolism and cardiovascular disease risk in resistance-trained
      and aerobically trained males.
AB  - The objectives of this study were (1) to examine differences in resting metabolic
      rate (RMR) and cardiovascular risk factors among aerobically trained (n = 36),
      resistance-trained (n = 18), and untrained (n = 42) young males; and (2) to
      investigate the influence of body composition, dietary intake, and VO2max as
      possible modulators of differences in cardiovascular risk among groups. Results
      showed that RMR, adjusted for differences in fat-free weight (FFW), was 5% higher
      in aerobically trained males compared with resistance-trained males (P < .01),
      and 10% higher than that in untrained males (P < .01). Plasma levels of
      cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were comparable
      between resistance-trained and aerobically trained males, but were lower (P <
      .05) than those in untrained males. (The percent intake of dietary fat was
      related to plasma cholesterol [r = .32, P < .01] and LDL-C [r = .30, P < .01].)
      When compared with untrained males, fasting triglyceride (TG) levels were 39% and
      43% lower (P < .01) in resistance-trained and aerobically trained males,
      respectively. When compared with untrained males, the fasting insulin to glucose
      ratio (I/G) was 45% and 53% lower (P < .01) in resistance- and aerobically
      trained males, respectively. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was 7% lower (P < .01)
      in aerobically trained compared with untrained males. Statistical control for
      differences in percent body fat or percent intake of dietary fat diminished the
      differences among the groups for plasma lipids, blood pressure, and the I/G
      ratio. We conclude that aerobically trained and resistance-trained males have
      higher resting energy requirements independent of FFW compared with untrained
      males. Aerobically trained and resistance-trained young males have comparable and
      favorable cardiovascular disease risk profiles compared with untrained males, and
      this appears to be related to their low level of adiposity and low intake of
      dietary fat.

PMID- 1461142
TI  - Postprandial lipoprotein(a) response to a single meal containing either saturated
      or omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in subjects with hypoalphalipoproteinemia.
AB  - We have recently reported that the apolipoprotein (apo) B-100-apo(a) complex, the
      protein moiety of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], has a high affinity for
      triglyceride(TG)-rich particles (TRP) and that this complex can affiliate with
      endogenous TG-rich lipoproteins. To shed more light on the apo B-100-apo(a)
      complex associated with plasma TRP during postprandial lipidemia, we fed five
      male subjects presenting with primary hypoalphalipoproteinemia (HP) and four male
      controls a single fat meal (60 g/m2) containing saturated fatty acids (SFA) and,
      6 weeks later, an isocaloric meal containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
      The subjects were phenotyped for plasma Lp(a) and apo C-III levels, apo(a) and
      apo E isoforms, and lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase activities. Vitamin A
      was included in the meal as a marker of intestinally derived TRP. Following the
      SFA meal, three of the HP subjects showed a decrease in plasma levels of Lp(a)
      that lasted 10 to 12 hours in the presence of an increased hypertriglyceridemic
      response. Two HP subjects who had low preprandial lipoprotein lipase activity and
      elevated plasma apo C-III levels showed an increase in plasma Lp(a) levels along
      with the hypertriglyceridemic excursion. However, in all cases, inclusive of the
      controls, there was an elevation in plasma levels of TRP of Sf greater than 1,000
      that contained apo B-100-apo(a) 6 to 8 hours after the meal. This TRP excursion
      appeared not to be related to the basal levels of plasma Lp(a), high-density
      lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, TGs, or apo(a) and apo E isoforms, and it did not
      coincide with the retinyl ester peak.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461143
TI  - Intrapancreatic islet transplantation in experimental diabetes in the rat.
AB  - Pancreatic islets have been transplanted successfully to a variety of organs
      except the pancreas. Since this organ is the most physiologic recipient for
      islets in rodents with chemically induced diabetes, we have placed neonatal
      islets intrapancreatically in highly inbred Lewis rats with streptozotocin (ST)
      diabetes. Transplantation of 2,000 neonatal islets into the pancreas of diabetic
      rats reversed diabetes within 2 weeks in all of the treated rats (seven of
      seven). The same success rate was obtained using the same number of islets placed
      under the kidney capsule in 11 recipients. Although cured of their diabetes, rats
      in both groups with inadequate islet-cell mass were not able to produce glucose
      tolerance tests equal to those observed in normal animals. Higher insulin levels
      were measured in the rats receiving islets under the kidney capsule, as compared
      with those placed intrapancreatically. In summary, syngeneic islet transplants to
      the pancreas of ST-diabetic rats are successful in reversing the diabetic state.
      This model may be useful to the study of islet function after islet transplants
      into their natural environment.

PMID- 1461144
TI  - Normal plasminogen activator inhibitor levels at long-term follow-up after jejuno
      ileal bypass surgery in morbidly obese individuals.
AB  - Forty-five patients who had been subjected to jejuno-ileal bypass (JIB) surgery
      for morbid obesity and 10 obese nonsurgery subjects were studied. The former
      group was examined 14 to 20 years after surgery, and was found to have lower mean
      plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) activity (8.4 v 32 U/mL, P <
      .001), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) antigen concentrations (7.2 v 12
      micrograms/L, P < .01), body mass index (BMI), and fasting plasma insulin,
      triglyceride, and cholesterol levels. The PAI-1 levels were correlated with BMI,
      waist to hip ratio, and insulin, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels. Thus,
      previously obese subjects have normal PAI levels 14 to 20 years after treatment
      with JIB surgery, in contrast to the high PAI-1 levels in nonsurgery obese
      subjects.

PMID- 1461145
TI  - A high-monounsaturated-fat/low-carbohydrate diet improves peripheral insulin
      sensitivity in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients.
AB  - It is commonly believed that high-carbohydrate (CHO) diets improve peripheral
      insulin sensitivity; however, this concept is based on anecdotal evidence.
      Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that in non-insulin-dependent diabetic
      patients treated with insulin, a high-monounsaturated-fat (MUFA) diet is more
      effective than a high-complex-CHO diet in reducing blood glucose levels. The aim
      of our study was to compare the effect of a high-MUFA diet and a high-CHO diet on
      peripheral insulin sensitivity and metabolic control in non-insulin-dependent
      diabetic patients. Ten non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients aged 52 +/- 8
      years with a body mass index (BMI) of 26.7 +/- 3.5 kg/m2 who were being treated
      with diet alone (n = 5) or with diet plus glibenclamide (n = 5) were randomly
      assigned to a 15-day period of either a high-MUFA/low-CHO diet (CHO, 40%; fat,
      40%; protein, 20%; fiber, 24g) or a low-MUFA/high-CHO diet (CHO, 60%; fat, 20%;
      protein, 20%; fiber, 24g) and were then crossed-over to the other diet. Diets
      were similar in their content of monosaccharides, disaccharides, and saturated
      fats, and were administered to the patients in a metabolic ward. The dosage of
      hypoglycemic drugs was maintained at a constant level throughout the study. With
      the high-MUFA/low-CHO diet, a decrease in both postprandial glucose (8.76 +/-
      2.12 v 10.08 +/- 2.76 mmol/L; P < .05) and plasma insulin (195.0 +/- 86.4 v 224.4
      +/- 75.6 pmol/L; P < .02) levels was observed. Furthermore, fasting plasma
      triglyceride levels were reduced after the high-MUFA fat/low-CHO diet (1.16 +/-
      0.59 v 1.37 +/- 0.59 mmol/L; P < .01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461146
TI  - Correlation between residual beta-cell function and age at onset of spontaneous
      diabetes in Long Evans Tokushima lean rats.
AB  - We studied the natural course of disease in spontaneously diabetic rats, Long
      Evans Tokushima Lean (LETL) rats, to determine whether it showed similar
      pathogenetic heterogeneity to that of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes
      mellitus (IDDM) with regard to the relationships between age at onset, rapidity
      of disease progress, and degree of beta-cell function at the time of its
      manifestation. Type 1 diabetes developed in 35 rats (6.3%) between 40 and 140
      days of age. Eight rats that became diabetic at age 69 days or less were more
      severely ketotic at the time of first detection of glycosuria and showed more
      rapid deterioration than seven rats that became diabetic later after birth (mean
      plasma 3-hydroxybutyrate levels, 4,707 +/- 1,215 pmol/L v 1,390 +/- 859 pmol/L;
      mean +/- SEM, P < .01). The mean plasma levels and pancreatic content of
      immunoreactive insulin (IRI) of the early onset rats, 47 +/- 13 pmol/L and 19 +/-
      12 pmol/g tissue weight, were significantly lower (P < .01) than the
      corresponding values of the late-onset rats, 262 +/- 52 pmol/L and 348 +/- 87
      pmol/g tissue weight, respectively. Both values were markedly lower than the mean
      values of 25 nondiabetic LETL rats, 976 +/- 122 pmol/L and 3,488 +/- 628 pmol/g
      tissue weight. Plasma immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) levels were significantly
      increased in the diabetic groups (early onset, 57 +/- 13 pmol/L; late-onset, 51
      +/- 12 pmol/L; nondiabetic, 18 +/- 1 pmol/L; P < .01). These changes in
      pancreatic hormone levels of the early onset and late-onset rats were compatible
      with the histological features of their pancreatic islets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461147
TI  - High-density apolipoprotein A-I and A-II kinetics in relation to regional
      adiposity.
AB  - High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein (apo) A-I
      concentrations decrease with increasing central adiposity. The present study
      investigated possible mechanisms for these effects by examining the relationship
      between body mass index, regional adiposity, and HDL apo A-I and A-II metabolism.
      Fifteen sedentary men and 10 male endurance athletes aged 22 to 44 served as
      subjects. HDL apo A-I and A-II metabolism was examined using 125I-labeled
      autologous HDL. Chest and thigh skinfold thickness and the ratio of chest to
      thigh skinfold thickness were used as indices of regional adiposity. The
      relationship of adiposity to HDL metabolism was examined using correlational and
      multiple regression analysis. In both subject groups, the fractional catabolic
      rate of apo A-I and A-II increased with increasing chest skinfold thickness and
      chest to thigh skinfold ratio (.43 < r2 < .66). This effect was partially
      independent of triglyceride or HDL cholesterol concentrations. Apo A-I and A-II
      fractional catabolic rates increased with increasing body mass index only in the
      sedentary men. Concentrations and synthetic rates (mg.d-1.kg-1) of apo A-I and A
      II were not consistently related to body mass index or regional adiposity.
      Peripheral adiposity assessed by thigh skinfold thickness was not correlated with
      any parameter of apo metabolism. We conclude that HDL apo A-I and A-II catabolism
      increases with increasing central adiposity.

PMID- 1461148
TI  - Naturally occurring SLE anti-DNA antibodies recognize unique conformation on DNA
      lysine photoadduct.
AB  - Native calf thymus DNA has been covalently modified with lysine under UV-A light.
      Human autoantibodies on purification through affinity column of native DNA linked
      to polylysyl-Sepharose 4B showed almost equal recognition of DNA and photoadduct.
      The recognition of DNA-lysine photoadduct by the affinity-purified autoantibodies
      might be helpful in understanding their origin in SLE vis-a-vis the role of
      positively charged amino acids in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.

PMID- 1461149
TI  - Ultrastructural alterations and expression of cytoplasmic antigen 48-1 in
      hepatocytes in association with hepatitis C virus infection.

PMID- 1461150
TI  - Temperature-sensitive immunoglobulin A-binding and dimerization of C-terminus
      impaired protein Arp4 produced in Escherichia coli.
AB  - A gene for protein Arp4, an IgA receptor protein derived from Streptococcus
      pyogenes AP4, was expressed in Escherichia coli. The product was demonstrated to
      be accumulated in a periplasmic space as a polypeptide with an apparent molecular
      weight of 40 kDa with the deleted C-terminal membrane anchor portion of protein
      Arp4. This 40-kDa peptide of the C-terminus-impaired recombinant protein Arp4
      produced in E. coli, designated ir-protein Arp4, was purified from a periplasmic
      fraction of transformants and its IgA-binding activity was analyzed. The IgA
      binding of ir-protein Arp4 was temperature-sensitive, that is, ir-protein Arp4
      bound IgA at 4 and 25 C, but did not at 37 C. In addition, the dimerization of ir
      protein Arp4 was also temperature-sensitive in parallel with temperature
      dependent binding activity, suggesting that the dimerization of ir-protein Arp4
      may be required for its active binding to IgA. In contrast, ir-protein Arp4
      immobilized on Sepharose 4B did bind to IgA even at 37 C as well as 4 and 25 C.
      The immobilized ir-protein Arp4 might acquire the temperature-resistant IgA
      binding activity in part through the formation of a stable dimerized ir-protein
      Arp4 on the solid support.

PMID- 1461151
TI  - Involvement of calcium in germination of coat-modified spores of Bacillus cereus
      T.
AB  - The effect of calcium on germination of coat-modified Bacillus cereus T spores
      was investigated. Coat-modified spores produced either by chemical extraction
      (SDS-DTT-treated spores) or by mutagenesis (10LD mutant spores) were unable to
      germinate in response to inosine. While SDS-DTT-treated spores could germinate
      slowly in the presence of L-alanine, 10LD mutant spores could not germinate at
      all. The lost or reduced germinability of coat-modified spores was restored when
      exogenous Ca2+ was supplemented to the germination media. The calcium requirement
      of coat-modified spores for germination was fairly specific. The simultaneous
      presence of germinant with Ca2+ was also required for germination of coat
      modified spores. The optimal recovery of germinability was observed in the
      presence of 1.0 mM of calcium acetate. The calcium requirement itself was
      remarkably diminished under the condition in which L-alanine and a certain purine
      nucleoside analog, adenosine or inosine, coexisted. The lost or diminished
      germinability observed in SDS-DTT-treated spores or 10LD mutant spores may be
      attributed to the loss of calcium associated with the spore integuments.

PMID- 1461152
TI  - Phage pattern and antibiotic resistance pattern of coagulase-negative
      staphylococci obtained from immunocompromised patients.
AB  - A total of 152 coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains were isolated from
      clinical samples of 14 patients hospitalized after bone-marrow transplantation in
      a specialized hospital ward in Hungary, during an 18-month period between 1987
      and 1989. Two species, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus
      haemolyticus, predominated (each, 45%). Using Pulverer and co-workers' phage set
      for typing, 68% of the isolates were typable; 16 phage patterns were observed. A
      characteristic long pattern with phages Ph10/Ph13/Ph15/U4/U15/U16/U20/U33 /U46
      appeared only in S. epidermidis, among 5 of 11 colonized patients (8.5% of all
      strains). Single lysis with phage Ph13 was observed in 7 of the 14 patients (49%
      of all strains), in species S. capitis, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S.
      hominis, and S. warneri. In S. haemolyticus, non-typable strains predominated
      (66%); this character occurred only in 2% among other species. The strains
      colonizing the immunocompromised patients differed from each other in phage
      pattern, antibiotic resistance pattern, and/or slime production. No hospital
      infection was suggested. On the other hand, high incidence of two well-definable
      phage patterns raises some relationship between phage receptors or some
      regulatory systems in phage multiplication and factors responsible for special
      colonization as common surface properties.

PMID- 1461153
TI  - Structural studies of peptidoglycans in Campylobacter species.
AB  - Peptidoglycans (PG) from Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter jejuni, and
      Campylobacter fetus were composed of muramic acid, glucosamine, alanine, glutamic
      acid, and diaminopimelic acid in a molar ratio of 1.1:1:1.7:1.1:09. Thirty
      percent of the amino groups of diaminopimelic acid were involved in cross
      linkages between peptides. During cultivation, C. coli and C. jejuni changed from
      a spiral to a coccoid form. In C. coli, we could isolate PG only from the spiral
      forms in yields of 0.8-1.2% by dry weight. C. fetus did not change to a coccoid
      form, and always contained PG. Thus, it is possible that the morphological
      transformation from the spirals to the coccoid forms of C. coli and C. jejuni is
      accompanied by, and probably due to, the degradation of PG.

PMID- 1461154
TI  - Characterization of the dextranase purified from Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt.
AB  - We purified dextranase from the culture supernatant of Streptococcus mutans
      Ingbritt by procedures including ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange
      chromatography, and gel filtration. The molecular weight of the enzyme was
      estimated as 78 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme degraded dextran at the optimum pH of
      5.5, but not other glucans and fructans at all. Paper chromatographic analysis
      revealed that the enzyme cleaved dextran by an endo-type mechanism. The enzyme
      was inhibited by Hg2+, Fe3+, Zn2+, and anionic detergents SDS and deoxycholic
      acid, but not inhibited by non-ionic detergents Triton X-100, Lubrol PX, Nonidet
      P-40, and Tween 80. SDS-blue dextran-PAGE analysis of the culture supernatant
      revealed that the enzyme activity detected in the 96 kDa band shifted gradually
      to the 78 kDa band during handling the supernatant. This shift was inhibited by
      phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, suggesting that the shift of the molecular size is
      due to proteolytic degradation of the enzyme by serine protease.

PMID- 1461155
TI  - IgG subclass alterations in adult asthma.
AB  - Immunoglobulin levels were measured in serum samples of 12 black adult non
      smoking asthmatic patients, 11 females and 1 male, and compared with 15 age-, sex
      matched normal controls. Their total IgG, IgA and IgM levels were within the
      normal range. However, on quantitation of subclasses, IgG1 levels were
      significantly above normal, while IgG2 and IgG3 levels were significantly lower
      than those of controls. No significant differences were found between the two
      groups when IgG4 levels were compared. These studies as well as those of others
      suggest that immunoglobulin administration, particularly of individual
      subclasses, might prove to be a beneficial addition in the management of this
      condition.

PMID- 1461157
TI  - Interprofessional education.

PMID- 1461156
TI  - The protective activity of tea catechins against experimental infection by Vibrio
      cholerae O1.
AB  - Tea catechins inhibited the fluid accumulation induced by cholera toxin in sealed
      adult mice. The catechins also reduced fluid accumulation by Vibrio cholerae O1
      in ligated intestinal loops of rabbits. These findings suggest that tea catechins
      may possess protective activity against V. cholerae O1.

PMID- 1461158
TI  - Humanitas in medical education.

PMID- 1461159
TI  - Should medical students be selected only from recent school-leavers who have
      studied science?
AB  - This study was undertaken to investigate the apparently widespread belief that in
      order to be successful at medical school, aspiring candidates must have a sound
      academic background based predominantly on the study of the natural sciences, be
      school-leavers aged about 18 (in the non-college educational environments such as
      Australia or the United Kingdom) and preferably be men. The demographic
      background and prior academic achievement of individual students entering the
      University of Newcastle Medical School between 1978 and 1989 has been reviewed
      and compared with their progress in medical studies. The data show that in the
      Newcastle medical school environment there is no significant correlation between
      outcome and previous study of any of the natural sciences. However, significant
      correlations between outcome and performance in the humanities in general, and
      English in particular, were found. In this regard a weak background in these
      subjects correlated with an increased tendency not to complete the medical
      course. There were no significant correlations found between outcome and age at
      entry, sex or levels of prior academic achievement (within the top 10%
      achievement band studied). In summary, the study offers no support for the
      current selection criteria dominating medical school admissions processes.

PMID- 1461160
TI  - A comparison of the interviewing skills of first- and final-year medical
      students.
AB  - This study compared the communication skills of randomly chosen first- and final
      year medical students. The intention was to follow up previous research,
      conducted over 10 years ago, into the effects of the medical curriculum on
      communication skills. It was hypothesized that there would be little improvement
      in such skills over the period of training, with the possibility that the final
      year students might be less caring, empathic and supportive, more directive, and
      less concerned with psychosocial information. All students interviewed a
      simulated patient in the role of a mother of a child with cerebral palsy, where
      the main problems were psychological and social. The interviews were recorded on
      videotape and analysed by an independent observer for the presence or absence of
      a set of communication behaviours considered important in facilitating an
      effective relationship and in the exploration and understanding of the problem.
      The results failed to support the hypotheses. The final-year students were
      superior to their juniors on several measures, indicating improvements in
      relating to the patient in a caring, empathic, facilitative and listening manner.
      They also elicited more information relevant to the problem. The indications were
      that these final-year students were more skilled than in earlier studies,
      suggesting that the general change in attitudes to communications skills and the
      limited, but increased input into the curriculum may be having effect, even
      though there remains a need for considerably more training.

PMID- 1461161
TI  - A skills programme for preclinical medical students.
AB  - An education programme in which preclinical medical students are introduced to
      common procedural skills is described. This programme is presented by a
      multidisciplinary health care team using short lectures, demonstrations,
      mannequin practice, and, in selected instances, practice on class-mate
      volunteers. The programme was evaluated by the students immediately following the
      presentation and for one class during their clinical activities one year later.
      The students' support for this programme was generally enthusiastic and remained
      undiminished upon reflection 12 months later.

PMID- 1461162
TI  - Learning, retention and recall of clinical information.
AB  - A representative group of 33 medical students who were entering the junior year
      clerkships was tested for retention and recall of clinical information 3 months
      after taking an examination on the same subject. The students were not given an
      opportunity to review the subject. On 39 identical multiple choice test
      questions, the students' mean score declined 10 percentile points (P < 0.05) from
      that on the original examination. On 40 comparable but previously unseen
      questions, the mean score fell 19 percentile points from that attained 3 months
      earlier. On open-ended questions of clinical reasoning, a third component of the
      assessment, the students performed at a level similar to those on the two
      multiple choice tests, but with greater variability. These assessments give data
      on retention and recall that have not previously been reported in the literature.
      Correlations among individual test components were moderate (r = 0.52-0.63).
      There was inconsistency of individual students in scores on the component tests,
      and, thus, variability in performance by students was marked. Retention and
      recall were weakly predicted by results on an initial multiple choice
      examination. In addition, on a subsequent assessment of knowledge, results from
      different types of tests were inconsistent, suggesting that these tests evaluate
      different forms of competence.

PMID- 1461163
TI  - Students' written reports as an essential part of a case-based learning programme
      in anatomy.
AB  - This paper reports on second-year medical students' views and performance on the
      written reports for the cases that were studied in a case-based learning
      programme in anatomy at the University of Otago in 1988. The mean marks for the
      reports for the three main categories of student entry are presented.
      Differential performance on the written reports relative to the case-based
      component of the examination held at the end of the year has been determined for
      each student in the class and ranked in order. The proportions of students
      falling in the top and bottom quartiles for the class are given. The data taken
      together indicate that with an intensive programme of case-based learning in
      1988, optimal performance in the written reports was reached at an early stage by
      the graduates whereas the two undergraduate categories improved their performance
      towards the end of the programme.

PMID- 1461164
TI  - Active and problem-based learning: two years' experience in physiology at the
      Medical School of the University of Barcelona.
AB  - Traditional educational methods are used in most medical schools. The
      introduction of new methods including active and problem-solving learning in
      traditional medical schools is difficult. The aims of this experiment were: (1)
      to introduce a self-learning system with a problem-solving approach in
      physiology; (2) to promote active student participation; (3) to introduce early
      clinical exposure; (4) to evaluate the response of the students to this
      experiment; and (5) to evaluate the feasibility and usefulness of a self-learning
      and problem-solving approach in only one discipline. Our experience has shown
      that it is possible to change the learning system in a traditional medical
      school, with good acceptance by the students and with a high level of
      satisfaction on the part of the teachers.

PMID- 1461165
TI  - Education in family and community health: the challenge faced by a new medical
      school.
AB  - This paper describes the efforts of the Department of Family and Community Health
      at Sultan Qaboos University in providing opportunities for the development of
      'hands-on' problem-solving skills appropriate for Oman. The curriculum of the
      Department is discussed, highlighting the unusual emphasis of this discipline in
      both the preclinical and clinical curriculum of the College of Medicine. The
      importance of continuous assessment and supervision of students is discussed.
      Course-work in the preclinical curriculum of the Department is kept to a minimum.
      Field-work forms an important part of preclinical training, where application and
      problem-based learning are emphasized. During the clinical years the students are
      exposed to an integrated series of lectures and practicals covering core
      knowledge in clinical medicine. Practical clinical training, over a total period
      of 15 weeks, takes place at a variety of sites where common problems in primary
      health care in Oman are handled by students under supervision.

PMID- 1461166
TI  - The development and evaluation of Basic Epidemiology: Student's Text.
AB  - This paper describes the development and evaluation of a World Health
      Organization book Basic Epidemiology: Student's Text. This book was a response to
      a need identified by members of the WHO Global Environmental Epidemiology
      network. A draft was commented on by members of the Network and then at an
      editorial meeting. Two thousand copies of a pre-publication version were prepared
      and this version was formally evaluated by 13 teachers of introductory courses of
      epidemiology and less formally by members of the Epidemiology Network. A high
      response was received to the evaluation questionnaires; 45% of the students rated
      the test overall as 'very useful' and another 54% as 'useful'; many useful
      comments were received and were incorporated into the final version which will be
      published by WHO in 1993.

PMID- 1461167
TI  - The contribution of general practice to medical education: expectations and
      fulfillment.
AB  - The aim of this study was to discover what students expected to learn during
      their fourth-year general practice attachment, to compare this with their GP
      tutors' expectations and to determine the extent to which the students'
      expectations were fulfilled. Questionnaires were used to gather this information;
      students completed them on the first and last days of the 4-week attachment and
      tutors shortly after the attachment. Students and their tutors had the highest
      expectations of the course in helping to raise awareness of the psychological and
      social aspects of ill health and develop clinical decision-making and management
      skills. At the end of the course students thought that they had gained most in
      these areas. Both students and tutors had lower expectations of the course
      helping to develop physical examination and practical skills and to improve
      knowledge in certain clinical areas. These were also rated lowest in terms of
      fulfillment. This study was carried out at a time when it is being suggested that
      more undergraduate teaching should take place in general practice and that this
      could include the teaching of practical skills and clinical subjects
      traditionally associated with hospital-based teaching. The results suggest that
      the expectations of students and GP tutors would need to be modified, as well as
      extra resources provided, if there is to be a shift in teaching towards the
      community.

PMID- 1461168
TI  - Independent learning among general practice trainees: an initial survey.
AB  - Self-directed learning is a natural way for adults to learn. Vocational training
      for general practice is a preparation for unsupervised clinical work that will be
      supported, in the main, by continuing medical education. This study uses the Self
      Directed Learning Readiness Scale to investigate factors influencing readiness
      for such learning among a sample of general practice trainees. Three principal
      factors emerged from analysis: enjoyment and enthusiasm for learning; a positive
      self-concept as a learner and a factor suggesting the possibility of a
      'reproducing' orientation to learning. These factors may reflect approaches to
      learning in general rather than these adopted for professional learning, but
      offer helpful pointers for the development of both vocational training and of
      continuing medical education.

PMID- 1461169
TI  - Assessing clinical competence at the undergraduate level.
AB  - This booklet aims to provide relevant background information and guidelines for
      medical school teachers in clinical departments charged with assessing the
      clinical competence of undergraduate students. It starts by emphasizing the
      difference between clinical competence and clinical performance. An approach to
      defining what should be assessed is outlined. The technical considerations of
      validity, reliability and practicability are discussed with reference to the ward
      or practice-based setting and to the examination setting. The various methods
      available to assess aspects of competence are described and their strengths and
      weaknesses reviewed. The paper concludes with a discussion of the important
      issues of scoring and standard setting. The conclusion is reached that the
      quality of many current assessments could be improved. To do so will require a
      multi-format approach using both the practice and examination settings. Some of
      the traditional methods will have to be abandoned or modified and new methods
      introduced.

PMID- 1461170
TI  - A factor in the increased risk of colorectal cancer due to ingestion of animal
      fat is inhibition of colon epithelial cell glutathione S-transferase, an enzyme
      that detoxifies mutagens.
AB  - Dietary animal fat increases the risk of colorectal cancer. A factor in the
      increased risk is hypothesised to result from the inhibition of isoforms of a
      colonic epithelial cell enzyme that detoxifies genotoxins, glutathione S
      transferase, by one of the major secondary bile acids produced in the colon by
      fat digestion, lithocholic acid. The inhibition allows mutagens to persist in
      colonic epithelial cells while proliferation is stimulated by secondary bile
      acids, with a concomitant greater frequency of neoplasia-associated mutations
      than when proliferation is stimulated in the absence of the mutagens. Elements in
      the hypothesis include the ability of relatively low concentrations of
      lithocholic acid to inhibit isoforms of glutathione S-transferase found in colon
      epithelial cells, entry of lithocholic acid into the epithelial cells, and the
      correlation of neoplasia-associated colon pathology with high levels of
      lithocholic acid in fecal water. Higher pH values in the colonic stream are
      identified as exacerbating the effects of lithocholic acid by increasing its
      solubility. Lithocholic acid is suggested to be more inhibitory to glutathione S
      transferase than the other major colonic secondary bile acid, deoxycholic acid,
      on the basis of inhibition-structure relationships.

PMID- 1461171
TI  - Could diet be one of the causal factors of Alzheimer's disease?
AB  - Recent developments show that the brains of persons who have died from
      Alzheimer's Disease (AD) have a deficiency of Essential Fatty acids in one of the
      principal classes of phospholipids. It is hypothesized that faulty brain cell
      membranes resulting from this deficiency may allow passage of an enzyme into the
      bilayer membrane space which cuts beta amyloid precursor proteins attached to
      such cells at a critical intramembrane position releasing a complete sequence of
      beta amyloid protein into the extracellular space. Beta amyloid protein appears
      to be the principal active constituent of senile plaques thought to be a probable
      cause of brain damage resulting in AD. Treatment of persons suffering from AD
      with desferrioxamine, a trivalent ion chelator to remove aluminium has shown
      results in slowing the progression of this disease, implicating aluminium and/or
      other chelated substances in its etiology. Both EFA deficiency and aluminium
      build-up may be prevented by dietary precautions.

PMID- 1461172
TI  - Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and the immune response.
AB  - Vitamin E pretreatment significantly prevented E. coli-induced Disseminated
      Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) in rats (1). DIC, a reduction in fibrinogen and a
      falling platelet count and diffuse haemorrhage are part of the clinical features
      of Haemorrhagic Shock Encephalopathy Syndrome (HSES), recognised as a disease
      entity in the 1980s (2). At the SIDS Conference 1974 Reisinger described the
      effect of Escherichia coli (E. coli) endotoxin on the rabbit (3). An early effect
      was a reduction in fibrinogen and a falling platelet count, resulting in the
      release of relatively large amounts of the neuro-transmitter serotonin, stored in
      platelets (3, 4). Fibrinogen inhibited the release of serotonin from platelets
      (24). Serotonin is released from platelets during platelet aggregation (14).
      Platelet aggregation is inhibited by vitamin E (1). Serotonin is a neuro
      transmitter associated with deep sleep, respiratory movements and cardiovascular
      collapse (3). Death at a later stage involved vascular permeability, edema and
      haemorrhage. After fibrin-platelet clots had formed DIC was present in lungs,
      kidneys and other organs (3). Medical researchers in Australia linked almost half
      of SIDS victims with a poisonous strain of intestinal E. coli bacteria (5).
      Dietary selenium in the intestinal villous tip is considered a daily modulator of
      cytochrome P450-dependent metabolism of drugs and toxins absorbed by intestinal
      mucosa (6). Villous atrophy occurs in HSES (2).

PMID- 1461173
TI  - Hypotensive drugs and the cellular energetic potential.
AB  - Clinical and experimental investigations have revealed changes of the Na, K, Ca
      and Mg concentration in serum and cells in patients with essential arterial
      hypertension (EAH). Some hypotensive drugs correct, more or less, the
      electrolytic abnormalities at the same time as the decrease of arterial pressure.
      Epidemiological studies have shown a lower arterial blood pressure in populations
      with decreased intake of Na and an increased intake of K, Ca and Mg. However the
      most frequently encountered electrolyte anomaly in patients with EAH is
      hypophosphatemia, mainly induced by a shift of inorganic phosphate from serum
      into the cells. Probably the increased influx of inorganic phosphate from the
      serum, increases the arterial cellular energetic potential. As hypotensive drugs
      lead to a reduction of the inorganic phosphate shift from serum into the cells
      one may suggest that the obtained decrease of arterial blood pressure may be at
      least partially due to a diminished energetic potential of certain cells.

PMID- 1461174
TI  - Understanding the role of oxyradicals in general and in toxic hepatic damage can
      help safer drug design.
AB  - The existence and importance of free radicals are well established both
      theoretically and in in vivo experiments. Methods and techniques are now
      available to demonstrate the formation of free radical metabolites of natural
      substances and xenobiotics. Theories of the biological effects of free radicals
      could be unified and used for a better understanding of the complex processes of
      the organism. Pharmacology can gain profit from this multidisciplinary approach,
      which helps to design safer drugs. The theories of free radicals and the results
      of experiments with antioxidants could help to decrease the oxidative stress
      caused by pharmaceutical chemicals.

PMID- 1461175
TI  - Hormonal therapy for stomach cancer.
AB  - Stomach cancer is one of the major cancers in Asia. Recent advances in diagnosis
      and surgical techniques have improved the survival of patients with gastric
      cancer. But radiation and chemotherapy had limited value in promoting the outcome
      of patients with gastric cancer. Hormonal therapy with tamoxifen had been tried
      with conflicting results. Previously, we have found that estrogen receptors (ER)
      were present in 50% cases of Chinese patients with gastric cancers. Recently, the
      amplification of c-erbB-2 oncogene and its overexpression have been found to
      correlate with the advancement of lung, ovarian, breast and gastric cancers. In
      addition, estrogen has been found to inhibit the expression of c-erbB-2 through
      ER in breast cancer cell lines. A hypothesis is that the same event may occur in
      ER-positive gastric cancer cell. Thus patients with gastric cancers whose tumors
      were positive for both ER and c-erbB-2 gene expression, may benefit from estrogen
      therapy rather than tamoxifen therapy.

PMID- 1461176
TI  - Nitric oxide-mediated neuronal injury in multiple sclerosis.
AB  - Although several explanations have been proposed for destruction of myelin and
      oligodendrocytes in multiple sclerosis, there is no proven mechanism of injury.
      We postulate that the autoimmune response seen in multiple sclerosis results in a
      cytokine-mediated increase in nitric oxide production by macrophages/microglia,
      smooth muscle cells and/or endothelium of the central nervous system. 3
      mechanisms of cellular damage due to nitric oxide are proposed: 1. direct nitric
      oxide cytotoxicity; 2. injury due to peroxynitrite formation from superoxide
      anion and nitric oxide; and 3. nitric oxide-mediated elevations of cellular cGMP
      that enhance tumor necrosis factor-alpha toxicity. In support of these
      hypotheses, the anti-inflammatory effectors, dexamethasone and transforming
      growth factor-beta, ameliorate symptoms seen in clinical multiple sclerosis and
      experimental allergic encephalitis, respectively. These 2 immunomodulators also
      inhibit induction of cytokine-mediated nitric oxide production by macrophages. An
      experimental design and therapeutic interventions which will evaluate the role of
      nitric oxide in the pathophysiology of experimental allergic encephalitis are
      presented.

PMID- 1461177
TI  - The role of lipid peroxidation in McArdle's disease: applications for treatment
      of other myopathies.
AB  - Experimental therapies for McArdle's disease have been directed toward increasing
      substrate availability to exercising muscle. Such therapies to date have proven
      largely unsuccessful. These include administration of isoproterenol to increase
      blood flow, glucagon treatment to elevate serum glucose and increased dietary fat
      intake. Each of these therapies also results in greater levels of unesterified
      fatty acids in blood. More recently, a high protein diet is suggested to provide
      increased amounts of amino acids which would be available as fuel sources. We
      hypothesize that the absence of myophosphorylase in McArdle's disease creates an
      imbalance between the enzymes of the redox systems that control the generation,
      propagation and inactivation of free radicals. This occurs because muscle cells
      are forced to rely more heavily on fatty acid oxidation. The resulting free
      radical damage to cellular components disrupts metabolic control and increases
      the permeability of membranes. Elevated levels of Ca2+ in the sarcoplasm activate
      proteases, phospholipases and other catabolic enzymes initiating muscle fatigue
      and cramping. Lipid peroxidation is a consequence of normal muscle activity and
      may occur unchecked in individuals with McArdle's disease. Continued muscle
      activity in the absence of a favorable nutritional environment may promote the
      progression of the disease by increasing susceptibility to oxidative stress.

PMID- 1461178
TI  - Bioregulatory roles for fibrin(ogen) on blood coagulation.
AB  - A high plasma fibrin(ogen) concentration is a known risk for thrombosis and
      cardiovascular disease. Because fibrin(ogen) binds alpha-thrombin with high
      affinity, it has potential to modulate the interactions of the enzyme with its
      inhibitors and other substrates in plasma. In particular, fibrin moderates the
      inhibition of thrombin by antithrombin III and antithrombin III/heparin.
      Recently, we have demonstrated a novel regulatory role for fibrin(ogen) on plasma
      coagulation. A push-pull hypothesis is proposed for bioregulation of coagulation
      by fibrin(ogen). The experimental work which led to the formulation of this
      hypothesis is outlined.

PMID- 1461179
TI  - Turner syndrome as a candidate pseudoautosomal disorder.
AB  - Turner syndrome has been clearly associated with the absence of an X chromosome,
      but it remains uncertain how this deletion produces either the range of defects
      regularly associated with the syndrome or those only occasionally seen. It is of
      particular interest in this regard that the pseudoautosomal portion of the X
      chromosome has recently been identified as the location for the GM-CSF receptor
      gene. It is submitted that Turner syndrome, with its hemizygosity for the
      psuedoautosome, may be an important model for studying the GM-CSF receptor gene
      as well as other associated genetic material.

PMID- 1461180
TI  - Clues to prolific productivity among prominent scientists.
AB  - In a survey based on the biographical sketches, obituary notes and eulogies of
      notable scientists, eight were identified as belonging to an elite group, having
      authored more than 1000 research publications, which include books, monographs
      and patents. They were, in chronological order, Thomas Alva Edison, Paul Karrer,
      Margaret Mead, Giulio Natta, Hans Selye, Herbert C Brown, Tetsuji Kametani and
      Carl Djerassi. Among these, Karrer, Natta and Brown were Nobelists in chemistry.
      Four criteria which can be identified as clues to their prolific productivity
      are, 1) enthusiasm for compulsive work and eccentric life style, 2) physical
      and/or environmental handicap, 3) pioneering efforts in a new research field, and
      4) selection of research area, predominantly organic chemistry.

PMID- 1461181
TI  - Infant colic: the effect of serotonin and melatonin circadian rhythms on the
      intestinal smooth muscle.
AB  - It is hypothesized that in the evening, peak serotonin concentration causes
      intestinal cramps associated with colic because serotonin increases intestinal
      smooth muscle contractions. Melatonin has the opposite effect of relaxing
      intestinal smooth muscles. Both serotonin and melatonin exhibit a circadian
      rhythm with peak concentrations in the evening. However, serotonin intestinal
      contractions are unopposed by melatonin during the first 3 months because only
      serotonin circadian rhythms are present at birth. Melatonin circadian rhythms
      appear at 3 months of age. The cramps of colic disappear at 3 months of age.

PMID- 1461182
TI  - The cytokine theory of headache.
AB  - Immune cell cytokines are proposed as the common mediators of headache. This
      unifying concept can not only account for headache, but also the prostaglandins,
      leukotrienes, platelet activating and vasoactive substances linked with headache,
      the varied symptoms associated with headache and the high incidence of headache
      with depression, infectious disease, trauma and in premenopausal women. The
      immune system as the central mediator of headache is consistent with the
      promoting effect of estrogen, the abortive activity of cortisol and the
      prophylactic properties of fish oil and evening primrose oil. This hypothesis
      provides a unified mechanism to explain headache triggered by food, infectious
      disease or trauma.

PMID- 1461183
TI  - An overview of the effects of convergent magnetic ionizing radiation on
      biological function.
AB  - This paper provides new theoretical premises for understanding issues in 'bio
      electromagnetics'. It firstly explains how converging magnetic fields, e.g.
      dipoles, can exert pressure on electrolyte distribution in an aqueous medium, and
      then it expands on this point to explain how this magnetic pressure is, in one
      extreme, a potential cancer causing force in the environment, and is, in another
      sense, a powerful new technique in cancer treatment. Included in this examination
      is a short analysis of the importance of this force in the morphogenesis of the
      fetus, and in the control of chromatic expression after the fact.

PMID- 1461184
TI  - Models of cell population in tumours and possibility of their application to
      optimization of radiotherapy.
AB  - Two models of cell population in tumours are analyzed and used to explain some
      experiments on the influence of radiation on tumours. There is a proposal to
      remove disagreements between these models and experiments by the assumption that
      cells under the influence of a destructive factor may reduce their degree of
      differentiation.

PMID- 1461185
TI  - Fatigue syndromes: new thoughts and reinterpretation of previous data.
AB  - Recently, the author has identified 19 patients who have complained of marked
      fatigue that had abnormal responses to copper test bracelets or necklaces. At
      this time, 8 have been shown to have at least one enzyme deficiency in the heme
      pathway. These patients have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, chronic
      fatigue syndrome and other non-specific diagnoses. A lengthy but still limited
      review of the literature was performed regarding the following conditions:
      multiple sclerosis (MS), hepatic porphyria (HP), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
      and paralytic polio (PP). The text will focus on similar epidemiologies,
      laboratory findings and clinical courses. Copper as a common but not unique
      etiologic agent will be discussed; as will the heme pathway, a biologic process
      that may be disordered in all.

PMID- 1461186
TI  - Precipitous stem cell (SC) differentiation and 1/f noise.
AB  - After a brief digression on certain types of noise of generic interest, it is
      concluded that 1/f noise offers interesting interpretations for unusual modes of
      SC differentiation such as the precipitous maturation of a subset of the
      macrophage lineage. Functionally equivalent to weak, spurious sources these
      specialized cells support the proliferation and maturation of erythroid cells
      extending thus the stimulatory influence of true, strong sources although in a
      rather indirect fashion.

PMID- 1461187
TI  - Estimating left ventricular work by gated blood pool ventriculogram.
AB  - Utilizing simplifying assumptions and a formula for ventricular radioactivity
      versus time, a method is presented for the estimation of systolic ventricular
      work. This value in MKS units is calculated from data available from the
      radionuclide blood pool ventriculogram.

PMID- 1461188
TI  - [Use of statistics in occupational medicine. Analysis of papers presented at the
      national congresses of the Italian Society of Occupational Medicine and
      Industrial Hygiene].
AB  - The statistical methods used in occupational health studies were evaluated by
      analyzing the papers published from 1986 to 1990 in the proceedings of the annual
      meetings of the Italian Society of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene,
      in order to calculate the degree of understanding of the readers provided with
      only one-sided knowledge of statistical subjects and to improve the educational
      objectives in postgraduate schools of occupational health. Almost 70% of the 1151
      articles reviewed contained some kind of statistical analysis: methods more
      complicated than descriptive statistics were used in about 35%. Student's t test
      (15%) and chi square (12%) were the most common methods. Other methods were less
      frequently used, so that it was possible to estimate that the learning of any new
      method would improve the understanding of about 1-2% of the articles. A wider use
      of statistical methods in data analysis is recommended; the attainment of a
      higher level of statistical knowledge should be a priority target in occupational
      health training.

PMID- 1461189
TI  - [Alcohol consumption by refuse collection workers: a problem of public health].
AB  - A total of 485 workers were interviewed employed by the municipal urban refuse
      collection corporation of Venice; 87.6% consumed alcoholic beverages, 24.5% of
      whom exceeded 1 litre of wine per day. Only 9.7% of the interviewees thought that
      an acceptable alcohol consumption level should not exceed 1 litre, whereas more
      than 23% thought that 2 or more litres of wine per day was not harmful. The
      variables associated with a high alcohol consumption in this working community
      were mainly: level of education and of specific knowledge about alcohol and long
      term residence in the historical centre of Venice. The authors discuss the
      possible factors connected with the type of job which could influence the
      incentive to drink and the public hygiene actions that could be taken. The need
      for community medicine programmes is emphasized.

PMID- 1461190
TI  - Five cases of pleural mesothelioma with endemic pleural calcifications in a rural
      area in Greece.
AB  - The authors describe 5 cases of pleural mesothelioma in a rural population of
      Macedonia, Greece. This population had been covered by an X-ray study over a 3
      year period to detect pleural calcifications compatible with asbestos exposure.
      The study revealed a 24.2% prevalence of pleural plaques among the inhabitants
      aged over 40 years of 7 rural villages. High contents of asbestos (chrysotile and
      tremolite)--up to 90% by volume--were found in the material that was used for
      whitewashing the houses up to 1935. Even now, environmental concentrations of
      0.01 fibres/ml were recorded in the houses. The prevalence of pleural
      mesothelioma in this rural population is high compared to the general population.
      A possible explanation of the phenomenon may be a cumulative environmental
      exposure to asbestos which, even though presumably within the acceptable limits
      for occupational exposure, lasted over a much longer time period, in terms of
      both daily exposure and total duration.

PMID- 1461192
TI  - Cadmium exposure and Wegener's granulomatosis: case report.

PMID- 1461191
TI  - [Ocular hypertension in radiologists and radiology technicians].
AB  - Ionizing radiations (IR) produce changes in the eye and, above all, in the lens.
      Several studies on radiotherapy in neoplastic diseases and dangerous nuclear
      accidents like Chernobyl have indicated the percentage and the exposure level at
      which the eye becomes the target organ of IR. The aim of the study was to
      establish the association between ocular tension and low-level IR exposure. The
      incidence of ocular hypertension in the general population is about 1-2% in
      persons aged 30-40 years and 10% in the 70-80 years age group; the frequency of
      glaucoma is 0.2-0.5% in persons aged 50-55 years and 2% in those aged 70 years
      and over; after 15 years of disease, conversion from ocular hypertension to
      glaucoma is observed in 40% of the cases. We examined 128 subjects occupationally
      exposed to IR (42 radiologists and 86 radiology technicians) and 130 non-exposed.
      For each subject we recorded age, length of employment, job titles, dosimetry,
      ocular tension, refraction and motility impairments. The data obtained from a
      complete ophthalmologic test was analyzed by the t-Student test, Chi-square and
      Pearson's test. The ocular tension of 33 occupationally exposed subjects and 2
      non-occupationally exposed subjects was higher than the cut-off value of 18 mmHg.
      There was no analogy between age distribution of ocular hypertension in the
      groups under study and the general population. There seems to have been a
      relationship between ocular tension and job titles since a higher incidence was
      observed among the radiology technicians than among the radiologists and also in
      the 30-40 years age class.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461193
TI  - [Postural tenosynovitis caused by misuse of a computer input device (mouse)].
AB  - Several reports of postural problems among video display unit workers are
      available, most frequently involving the back, neck and shoulder. The case
      described is an example of tenosynovitis of the right wrist at the point where
      the wrist rests on the work surface while operating the mouse in a computer
      workstation (2-3 hours/day 6 days/week). The alteration was caused by a
      combination of friction and pressure on the wrist joint tendon due to the faulty
      positioning of the hand and wrist. This is the normal resting position for the
      wrist (inclined towards the ulnar side), and is thus the most natural position to
      adopt. The reported alteration, which responded to a short period of rest and
      treatment with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs for 2-3 days, is described as
      an example of common injury caused by an unusual faulty posture of the hand. The
      preventive measures suggested to avoid the occurrence of this type of injury
      include: (i) instead of resting the weight of the hand on the ulnar side of the
      wrist it should be distributed between the two pads of fatty tissue which form
      the base of the palm, (ii) the mouse button could be clicked with the third
      finger instead of the index finger in order to avoid the tendency of hand to roll
      into the faulty rest position.

PMID- 1461194
TI  - [Sudden death caused by freon 22?].
AB  - Case report of a plumber's fatal work accident. Investigations on the causes of
      death made at post mortem showed that the worker had absorbed a large quantity of
      freon 22 (chlorodifluoromethane) which is known to be a narcotic agent and
      capable of inducing cardiac arrhythmia. It is believed freon inhalation was the
      cause of loss of consciousness with consequent death from drowning in the water
      issuing from the pipes. It is concluded that preventive measures need to be
      reinforced by adequate information to the workforce on the risks connected to
      this type of gas.

PMID- 1461195
TI  - [A systeM of occupational tumor registration: experience of the National INCA].

PMID- 1461196
TI  - Current status of physical measurements of the skeleton.
AB  - An overview is presented of some of the major methods of measuring the skeleton
      in the past 30 years. These include single photon absorptiometry (SPA), dual
      photon absorptiometry (DPA), quantitative computed tomography (QCT), and recently
      dual energy radiographic absorptiometry (DRA), also called DEXA (dual energy x
      ray absorptiometry). In addition to these methods, all attempting to measure bone
      mineral density, regional and total body calcium have been determined by in vivo
      neutron activation analysis (IVNAA). An attempt to determine bone quality as
      contrasted with bone quantity has been made using ultrasound, with measurements
      of speed of sound and of attenuation as useful parameters to characterize bone
      tissue. While the various methods for measuring bone density have been most
      useful, no one method includes all the features required to be entirely
      satisfactory: excellent precision and accuracy and the ability to measure
      volumetric density in gm/cm3. Least successful has been the ability to predict
      fracture risk, an essential goal in helping the patient.

PMID- 1461197
TI  - Auger electron dosimetry: report of AAPM Nuclear Medicine Committee Task Group
      No. 6.

PMID- 1461198
TI  - Biological effects of the Auger emitter iodine-125: a review. Report No. 1 of
      AAPM Nuclear Medicine Task Group No. 6.
AB  - The biological implications of Auger electron cascades following inner shell
      ionization of atoms have been of interest for over 25 years. By virtue of their
      decay via orbital electron capture and/or internal conversion, several biomedical
      radionuclides emit numerous low-energy electrons spontaneously. The biological
      effects of such radionuclides incorporated into tissues cannot be predicted a
      priori because of the highly localized patterns of energy deposition by the
      electrons. Results of extensive research using Iodine-125 as a model Auger
      electron emitter are now available. This article presents an up-to-date review of
      the physical and radiobiological data on this Auger emitter. Valuable concepts
      concerning the action of internal Auger emitters are identified
      phenomenologically, and questions that need to be answered are indicated. The
      present understanding provides a scientific basis toward estimation of risk
      associated with Auger emitters used in diagnosis, and suggests potential
      applications to therapy.

PMID- 1461199
TI  - Radiation spectra for Auger-electron emitting radionuclides: report No. 2 of AAPM
      Nuclear Medicine Task Group No. 6.
AB  - Radiation spectra for radionuclides currently provided by the MIRD Committee and
      ICRP do not include the very low-energy N- and O-shell Auger electrons. These
      electrons, emitted in large numbers by radionuclides decaying by electron capture
      and/or internal conversion, are important for determining the absorbed dose in
      microscopic volumes. Accordingly, the present AAPM Report employs Monte Carlo
      computational methods to obtain a self-consistent set of complete radiation
      spectra for a variety of radionuclides including 55Fe, 67Ga, 99mTc, 111In,
      113mIn, 115mIn, 123I, 125I, 193mPt, 195mPt, 201Tl, and 203Pb. Although the
      conventional spectra provided by MIRD and ICRP are adequate for most dosimetry
      calculations, the Auger electron spectra provided in this report are recommended
      for calculating the dose to target volumes < 1 microns in diameter.

PMID- 1461200
TI  - Analytic microdosimetry for radioimmunotherapeutic alpha emitters.
AB  - Analytic microdosimetry using Fourier transform techniques has been applied to
      internal alpha emitters. These techniques need revision and simplification for
      use with short-lived radionuclides such as those which may be useful for
      radioimmunotherapy. Analytic methods may have advantages over Monte Carlo methods
      in some cases (e.g., where time is important). Applications to eight different
      source geometries show the usefulness of these techniques. Comparisons of some of
      the results of Monte Carlo calculations prove its accuracy. For a uniform source
      of 5.867-MeV alphas spread throughout the volume outside a cell surface, the two
      methods agree well. Results are within 1% both for the average specific energy
      and for the number of hits. Analytic microdosimetry provides an alternate method
      to use for the critical evaluation of models that seek to predict the relation
      between alpha energy deposition and cell survival data. Similarly, it may be
      helpful to point the way toward the rational interpretation of general biological
      results for antibodies labeled with alpha emitters.

PMID- 1461201
TI  - Microbeam radiation therapy.
AB  - It is proposed to carry out radiotherapy and radiosurgery for brain lesions by
      crossfiring an array of parallel, closely spaced microbeams of synchrotron
      generated x rays several times through an isocentric target, each microbeam in
      the array having an approximately 25-microns-wide adjustable-height rectangular
      cross section. The following inferences from the known tissue sparing of 22-MeV
      deuteron microbeams in the mouse brain and the following exemplary Monte Carlo
      computations indicate that endothelial cells in the brain that are lethally
      irradiated by any microbeam in an array of adequately spaced microbeams outside
      an isocentric target will be replaced by endothelial cells regenerated from
      microscopically contiguous, minimally irradiated endothelium in intermicrobeam
      segments of brain vasculature. Endothelial regeneration will prevent necrosis of
      the nontargeted parenchymal tissue. However, neoplastic and/or nonneoplastic
      targeted tissues at the isocenter will be so severely depleted of potentially
      mitotic endothelial and parenchymal cells by multiple overlapping microbeams that
      necrosis will ensue. The Monte Carlo computations simulate microbeam irradiations
      of a 16-cm diameter, 16-cm-long cylindrical human head phantom using 50-, 100-,
      and 150-keV monochromatic x rays.

PMID- 1461202
TI  - A finite-size pencil beam model for photon dose calculations in three dimensions.
AB  - A three-dimensional dose computation model employing a finite-size, diverging,
      pencil beam has been developed and is demonstrated for Cobalt-60 gamma rays. The
      square cross-section pencil beam is simulated in a semi-infinite water phantom by
      convolving the pencil beam photon fluence with the Monte Carlo point dose kernel
      for Cobalt-60. This finite-size pencil beam is calculated one time and becomes a
      new data base with which to build larger beams by two-dimensional superposition.
      The pencil beam fluence profile, angle correction for beam divergence, the
      Mayneord inverse square correction, radial and angular sampling rates, error
      propagation, and computation time have been investigated and are reported. Radial
      and angular sampling rates have a great effect on accuracy and their appropriate
      selection is important. Percent depth doses calculated by finite-size pencil beam
      superposition are within 1% of values calculated by full convolution and the
      agreement with values from the literature is within 6%. The latter disagreement
      is shown to be due to a low-energy photon component which is not modeled in other
      calculations. Computation time measurements show the pencil beam method to be
      faster than full convolution and one implementation of the differential-scatter
      air-ratio (dSAR) method.

PMID- 1461203
TI  - A study of interface effects in 60Co beams using a thin-walled parallel plate
      ionization chamber.
AB  - A large plane-parallel ionization chamber has been constructed to investigate
      interface effects in 60Co beam. The designed geometry yields negligible
      perturbation from the side walls, as opposed to the large effects existing in
      commercially available plane-parallel chambers. The chamber has been used to
      investigate interface phenomena in transition zones using a wide range of
      elements (Z = 4-82) as front- and back-scattering media and a clinically relevant
      60Co gamma-ray field size. The effects of varying the chamber height discretely
      (0.5-11 mm) and increasing the wall thickness (1-9 mg/cm2) have been
      investigated. The variation of the measured ionization with the experimental
      setup (air gap between backscatter material and chamber wall, measurements at
      dmax and at 5-cm depth, varying the material both in front of and behind the
      chamber, etc.) has also been investigated. The simple geometry of the ion chamber
      has been found optimum for benchmark studies of Monte Carlo calculations. The ion
      chamber is suited for investigating experimentally the effects of varying
      transport parameters used in Monte Carlo simulations. The results presented show
      that the complex physical mechanisms governing 60Co interface dosimetry still
      make Monte Carlo condensed-history (macroscopic) techniques uncertain. It has
      been found that the EGS4 Monte Carlo system, together with the user code DOSRZ
      V4.0 and the PRESTA algorithm, yields good agreement with experiments for low and
      medium Z (main interest in dosimetry and radiotherapy), but may underestimate up
      to 10% the backscatter from high-Z materials even when transport parameters are
      optimized.

PMID- 1461204
TI  - Simple calculation of the electron-backscatter factor.
AB  - The authors have studied the dependence of the electron-backscatter factor (EBF)
      on mean electron energy and on backscatterer atomic number by using the
      semiempirical depth-dose code EDMULT. A plane-parallel electron beam is assumed
      to be normally incident on a polystyrene slab, which is backed with a layer
      (backscatterer) of different materials of effectively semi-infinite thickness. A
      small air cavity to measure ionization is embedded in the polystyrene slab at the
      boundary facing the backscatterer. The EBF is defined as the ratio of the
      ionization with the backscatterer to the ionization with a full polystyrene
      medium, and is approximated by the ratio of the doses computed at the depth of
      the cavity. Values of EBF obtained show trends similar to the experimental data
      of Klevenhagen et al. [Phys. Med. Biol. 27, 263-373 (1982)], although the former
      are generally lower than the latter. When the typical energy spread of clinical
      electron beams is taken into account, the difference between the experimental and
      the calculated values is reduced. The present results also show the same trend of
      increase of the backscatter factor with increasing energy as observed by
      Klevenhagen et al. in some series of measurements for the lead backscatterer at
      the lowest energies. This is explained by the rapid buildup of the dose with
      depth for electrons of low initial energies incident on the full polystyrene
      medium.

PMID- 1461205
TI  - Uncertainty analysis of absorbed dose calculations from thermoluminescence
      dosimeters.
AB  - Thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD) are widely used to verify absorbed doses
      delivered from radiation therapy beams. Specifically, they are used by the
      Radiological Physics Center for mailed dosimetry for verification of therapy
      machine output. The effects of the random experimental uncertainties of various
      factors on dose calculations from TLD signals are examined, including: fading,
      dose response nonlinearity, and energy response corrections; reproducibility of
      TL signal measurements and TLD reader calibration. Individual uncertainties are
      combined to estimate the total uncertainty due to random fluctuations. The
      Radiological Physics Center's (RPC) mail out TLD system, utilizing throwaway LiF
      powder to monitor high-energy photon and electron beam outputs, is analyzed in
      detail. The technique may also be applicable to other TLD systems. It is shown
      that statements of +/- 2% dose uncertainty and +/- 5% action criterion for TLD
      dosimetry are reasonable when related to uncertainties in the dose calculations,
      provided the standard deviation (s.d.) of TL readings is 1.5% or better.

PMID- 1461206
TI  - High-energy x-ray beam characterization using photonuclear reaction.
AB  - Spectral changes in the primary photon beam of a high-energy medical electron
      accelerator have been monitored using photonuclear reactions. The beam across the
      radiation field was measured using induced activity in Teflon cylinder and copper
      foil samples at several off-axis angles, at different SSDs in air and in a solid
      water phantom. The induced activities of the positron emitters were measured
      using a coincidence detection system. The experimental results are in agreement
      with Monte Carlo calculations and Schiff's theory.

PMID- 1461207
TI  - On the field-size dependence of relative output from a linear accelerator.
AB  - The radiation output in air on the central axis of a linac photon beam has been
      modeled as the sum of two components. These are a point source representing
      radiation direct from the target and a distributed source representing scatter in
      the flattening filter and primary collimator. By fitting only two parameters, the
      ratio of the two components for a 20 x 20 field and a width parameter for the
      distributed source this semi-empirical model describes the relative outputs of
      square, symmetric rectangular, and asymmetric rectangular fields with an average
      error of 0.25% for the field sizes studied.

PMID- 1461208
TI  - Wedge factor dependence on depth and field size for various beam energies using
      symmetric and half-collimated asymmetric jaw settings.
AB  - The depth- and field-size dependence of the in-phantom wedge factor have been
      determined for a Cobalt-60 (Co-60) teletherapy unit and four medical linear
      accelerators with 4-, 6-, 10-, and 18-MV x-ray beams containing 15 degrees-60
      degrees (nominal) lead, brass, and steel wedge filters. Measurements were made
      with ionization chambers in solid water or water with a source-skin distance of
      80 or 100 cm. Field sizes varied from 4 x 4 cm up to a maximum allowable size for
      each wedge filter. Measurements were performed for symmetric and half-collimated
      asymmetric fields at depth of maximum dose, 5- and 10-cm depths. For half
      collimated fields, wedge factor reference points were located at a fixed off-axis
      distance from the collimator's rotational axis. These systematic measurements on
      wedges indicate that the wedge factor dependence on depth and field size is a
      function of beam energy as well as the design of the treatment head and wedge
      filters. Significance of the results reported herein are discussed for the most
      commonly used treatment depths and field sizes with various beam energies and
      wedge filters.

PMID- 1461209
TI  - A rapid method for electron beam energy check.
AB  - Assessment of electron beam energy and its long term stability is part of
      standard quality assurance practice in radiation oncology. Conventional depth
      ionization or depth-film density measurements are time consuming both in terms of
      data acquisition and analysis. A procedure is described utilizing ionization
      measurements at two energy specific depths. It is based on a linear relationship
      between electron beam energy and its practical range. Energy shifts within the
      range covered by the two measurement depths are easily resolved. Within a range
      of +/- 0.50 MeV (+/- 1.30 MeV) around the established mean incident energy of
      5.48 MeV (20.39 MeV), the method accuracy is better than 0.10 MeV.

PMID- 1461210
TI  - Demonstration of megavoltage and diagnostic x-ray imaging with hydrogenated
      amorphous silicon arrays.
AB  - Flat-panel imagers consisting of the first large area, self-scanning, pixelated,
      solid-state arrays made with hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) are under
      development by the authors for applications in diagnostic x-ray and megavoltage
      radiotherapy imaging. The arrays, designated by the acronym MASDA for multi
      element amorphous silicon detector array, consist of a two-dimensional array of a
      Si:H photodiodes and thin-film transistors and are used in conjunction with
      scintillating materials. Imagers utilizing MASDA arrays offer a variety of
      advantages over existing technologies. This article presents initial megavoltage
      and diagnostic-quality x-ray images taken with several such arrays including the
      first examples of anatomical-phantom images. The external readout electronics and
      imaging techniques required to obtain such images are outlined, the construction,
      operation, and advantages of the arrays briefly reviewed, and the future
      potential of this new technology discussed.

PMID- 1461211
TI  - Parametrized x-ray absorption in diagnostic radiology from Monte Carlo
      calculations: implications for x-ray detector design.
AB  - The integral dose to the patient and image signal to noise ratio (SNR) are
      inexorably coupled in x-ray-based diagnostic imaging. Advancements and optimal
      design of imaging devices need to consider the SNR as well as patient dose. The
      figure of merit, FOM = (SNR)2/(integral dose), is a useful parameter in
      optimizing detector designs because it is independent of input exposure, and
      therefore eliminates exposure as a design consideration. Although numerical
      calculation of the SNR is relatively straightforward in most cases, the integral
      dose calculation is made complex due to its scatter component's high dependency
      on both x-ray energy and patient thickness. Monte Carlo calculations over a range
      of monoenergetic x-ray energies were used to calculate total energy absorption,
      and the results are parametrized using polynomial expressions. The results are
      shown to be applicable to any arbitrary polyenergetic spectrum. An example using
      the above FOM is given to illustrate the utility of the parametrized results. The
      parametrized results may prove useful in the computer simulations of x-ray
      detector systems where the above FOM is utilized.

PMID- 1461212
TI  - Improvement in specificity of ultrasonography for diagnosis of breast tumors by
      means of artificial intelligence.
AB  - A set of ultrasonograms of lesions from 200 patients between the ages of 14 and
      93 years who underwent mammography followed by ultrasonographic examination and
      excisional biopsy has been studied with computer vision techniques to improve the
      ultrasonographic specificity of the diagnosis. Selected features representing the
      texture of the lesion were calculated and then classified by an artificial neural
      network. This network was biased toward correctly classifying all the malignant
      cases at the expense of some misclassification of the benign cases. The network
      diagnosed the malignant cases with 100% sensitivity and 40% specificity (compared
      with 0% specificity for the radiologists diagnosing the same set of cases in the
      breast imaging setting), and tests performed with a leave-one-out technique
      indicate that the network will generalize well to new cases. This suggests that
      methods based on neural network classification of texture features show promise
      for potentially decreasing the number of unnecessary biopsies by a significant
      amount in patients with sonographically identifiable lesions.

PMID- 1461213
TI  - A MRI gradient waveform model for automated sequence calibration.
AB  - In order to set up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures of arbitrary voxel
      dimensions, slice orientation, and sequence timing in a reasonable time, some
      form of automatic gradient pulse calibration is required. One such method,
      involving simulation of gradient waveforms, is presented. Waveforms are modeled
      based on measurements of the step response. The model used divides each
      transition into three time regions: a "start" region in the first 0.3 ms, a
      "slew" region, and a "tail" region representing decay of the eddy current
      compensation error. In the "slew" region, the time derivative of the gradient, G'
      (t), is expressed as a function of G(t). The first two regions are nonlinear with
      respect to demand. The mean error in the simulated gradient is generally less
      than 0.04 mT m-1 in spin echo sequences. Image signal/noise ratios resulting from
      sequences calibrated using the model are within 5% of those of empirically
      calibrated sequences.

PMID- 1461214
TI  - Testing mammography equipment: evolution over a 4-year period.
AB  - The results of quality control (QC) tests on 70 mammography units in Southern
      California from 1986 to 1990 are reported. Thirteen facilities, selected because
      they housed all of the mammography units in three communities involved in a
      National Institutes of Health research project, had their units tested twice at
      an interval of 1 year. Fourteen self-selected units were also tested twice at
      intervals ranging from 1-3 years. Forty-three self-selected units in 31
      additional facilities had testing only once. All 70 units underwent measurement
      of focal spot size or resolution, tube output, half-value layer (HVL), automatic
      exposure control (AEC) accuracy, relative kVp accuracy, mean glandular dose, and
      imaging of several test objects. The test results for the units tested once
      showed no significant differences compared to those tested twice. For the latter,
      once the units were tested and determined to be acceptable, retesting showed
      differences only in overall film optical density, dose, and AEC performance.

PMID- 1461215
TI  - [New perspectives in oncology: is selective destruction of tumor cells with
      immunotoxins in Hodgkin's disease an additional therapeutic alternative?].
AB  - In the present paper, the authors describe the production and testing of
      immunotoxins for clinical application in Hodgkin's disease. The immunotoxins were
      constructed by chemical coupling of deglycolysated ricin-A to monoclonal
      antibodies against antigens on Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells (CD25, CD30,
      IRac). The cytotoxic effect of the immunotoxins was investigated in vitro against
      Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells (H-RS) and in vivo against solid Hodgkin's
      tumors in nude mice and disseminated Hodgkin's tumors in SCID mice. Cross
      reactivity with normal tissue and the staining behaviour observed in sections of
      Hodgkin's tissue of various subtypes proved important parameters for the
      assessment of clinical applicability. Of more than 30 evaluated MoAb's, eight
      immunotoxins were produced, of which six showed both, cytotoxic effects of
      considerable potency against Hodgkin's tumor cells and low cross-reactivity with
      vital human organs. The most effective immunotoxin, RFT5 gamma 1.dgA, (CD25)
      inhibits the growth of H-RS cells at concentrations of 7 pMol and destroys about
      60% of solid Hodgkin's tumors of 0.5 cm in diameter in nude mice. This
      immunotoxin binds to virtually all tumor cells in more than 90% of patients with
      Hodgkin's disease. Sufficient quantities of RFT5 gamma 1.dgA were produced for
      the treatment of patients with refractory Hodgkin's disease. These patients are
      currently being treated in a phase I clinical trial.

PMID- 1461216
TI  - [Coronary stent implantation: a procedure for treatment of acute dissections
      after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty].
AB  - The development of percutaneous wire-guided endoprostheses (stents) has expanded
      the possibilities for treating acute vascular occlusion within the field of
      coronary angioplasty (PTCA). A balloon-expandable Palmaz-Schatz stent was
      implanted in a total of 14 patients. The coronary arteries involved were the
      right coronary artery (seven cases), the anterior interventricular branch (five
      cases), and the circumflex branch (two cases). In seven cases the stent was
      inserted on an emergency basis to deal with treatening occlusion during PTCA, in
      one case of occlusion following coronary angiography, and in three cases to
      recanalize the infarcted vessel. Seven of these eleven patients were submitted to
      a follow-up angiography three months later, when none was shown to have a
      restenosis of more than 50%. Stent placement was followed by anticoagulation
      therapy comprising coumarin combined with acetylsalicylic acid. The Palmaz-Schatz
      stent represents an alternative to emergency bypass surgery in the treatment of
      acute dissection during PTCA.

PMID- 1461217
TI  - [Differential therapy of acute occlusion of leg arteries].

PMID- 1461218
TI  - [Polyneuropathy and polyneuritis: clinical aspects, diagnosis and therapy].

PMID- 1461219
TI  - [Therapy of acute and chronic viral hepatitis C (non-A, non-B) with interferon
      alpha].

PMID- 1461220
TI  - [The so-called cortisone fear].

PMID- 1461221
TI  - [Is cortisone-fear unfounded?].

PMID- 1461222
TI  - [56-year-old patient with recurrent lung infiltration and "lung tumor"].

PMID- 1461223
TI  - [Anterior ST segment depressions in acute posterior wall infarct].

PMID- 1461224
TI  - [Continuing medical education--what will change?].

PMID- 1461225
TI  - [Microbiology of Pneumocystis carinii].

PMID- 1461226
TI  - [Determinants of serum pentamidine concentration in the human].
AB  - By means of serial measurements of pentamidine in plasma, urine and feces the
      significance of biologically available dose, volume of distribution, elimination
      and dose interval for serum concentration is investigated in patients with AIDS
      and bone marrow transplantation after inhaled and intravenous application.
      Aerosolisation of the drug yields to serum concentration mostly below the
      detection limit (HPLC). In urine only 0.15 to 0.8% of the substance biologically
      available in the lung are measured as unaltered pentamidine-base. After i.v.
      infusion the dose dependent low serum concentrations of 30 to 100 ng/ml indicate
      a fast distribution in peripheral compartments from which a very slow
      deliberation is seen. The half-life of the drug is also dose dependent and
      amounts under clinical conditions at minimum four days. The fecal excretion is
      found to be only one third of that measured in urine. A difference in the kinetic
      of elimination between bone marrow transplantated and AIDS-patients could not be
      evaluated. For clinical therapy the most important pharmacokinetic variable seems
      to be the terminal elimination constant which would implicate a prolongation of
      the common dose interval.

PMID- 1461227
TI  - [Risk factors and prevention of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia after bone marrow
      transplantation].
AB  - For six months after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) there is a risk of 5 to
      15% to suffer from interstitial pneumonia due to pneumocystis carinii (PcP).
      Prophylaxis with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazol is therefore routinely and
      successfully applied. However myelotoxicity, allergic reactions, augmentation of
      the risk of nephrotoxicity with cyclosporine A and noncompliance may be serious
      problems. Since the prophylaxis of PcP with pentamidine-aerosol proved to be
      effective in patients with AIDS, we conducted a prospective trial with regular
      inhalations of pentamidine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity,
      safety, practicability and possible resorption of pentamidine when applied as
      aerosol. The first of 43 patients were treated with 60 mg pentamidine on two days
      before, at the day of BMT and 14 days after BMT. Starting four weeks after BMT,
      300 mg pentamidine were given every four weeks up to six months. After the study,
      the four 60 mg inhalations were replaced by two 300 mg inhalations before BMT,
      because this proved to be more convenient for the patients. There was no
      pneumonia due to pneumocystis carinii. The only noteworthy side effects observed
      were cough (19.8%), salivation (9.6%) and sore throat (5.7%). In general
      pentamidine was well tolerated and well accepted by the patients. Pentamidine
      could only be detected in the serum of 40 to 60% of all patients. In those
      patients the serum levels were 7.5 to 9 ng/ml and similar to concentrations found
      in comparable patients with AIDS. We conclude, that pentamidine-aerosol has only
      minor side effects, is well tolerated and safe and is therefore an attractive
      alternative for PcP-prophylaxis after BMT.

PMID- 1461228
TI  - [Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: a life threatening complication after kidney
      transplantation].
AB  - Aggressive immunosuppression in kidney transplantation increases the risk of
      opportunistic infections. We report ten cases of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
      in a group of 420 kidney recipients (2.1%). All patients showed a severe-
      hyperacute--course of the infection. One patient required mechanical ventilation.
      In all cases the diagnosis could be established applying fibreoptic bronchoscopy
      with lavage and partly using transbronchial biopsy. The therapy consisted of
      intravenous cotrimoxazole and inhalation of pentamidine. All patients survived
      even after severe course of the disease. Graft explantation for saving patients
      was not necessary.

PMID- 1461229
TI  - [Pentamidine inhalation in prevention of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in
      treatment of rejection with monoclonal antibody Orthoclone (OKT-3)].
AB  - The use of the monoclonal antibody OKT-3 (Orthoclone) is associated with an
      increased risk of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. In a retrospective study, the
      efficiency of a prophylactic inhalation of pentamidine during acute renal
      allograft rejection therapy with OKT-3 was investigated. From July 1988 until
      October 1989 32 renal transplanted patients with acute rejection refractory to
      steroids had been treated with OKT-3. Twelve of the patients developed a
      pneumonia (four pneumococcus, one klebsiella, one cytomegalovirus), in six cases,
      a pneumocystis carinii infection was diagnosed in the bronchial lavage. Four of
      these patients with pneumocystis carinii pneumonia died despite high dose
      treatment with cotrimoxazole. From November 1989, a prophylactic inhalation of
      pentamidine was performed during acute renal allograft rejection therapy with OKT
      3. From 33 patients, in eleven cases, a pneumonia was diagnosed (three
      pneumococcus, one klebsiella, two legionella, three cytomegalovirus, one
      candida), one patient developed a pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, which was
      successfully treated with cotrimoxazole. No patient in this group died because of
      pulmonary infection. The results suggest, that a prophylactic inhalation of
      pentamidine in severely immunosuppressed solid organ transplant recipients can
      prevent pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

PMID- 1461230
TI  - [Pneumocystis carinii in oncologic diseases].

PMID- 1461231
TI  - [The effect of rigid fixation on bone growth: a radiologic study in the rabbit].
AB  - The rigid fixation with plates represents an useful aid in the treatment of the
      maxillofacial diseases. To the best of our knowledge no studies on the effects of
      the plates placed across the growing fronto-nasal suture are available. We have
      therefore examined these effects in an experimental model represented by the
      suture of eight rabbits. The surgical procedure consists of placing one
      microplate and four screws across the frontonasal suture of each rabbit, one
      month old. Radiographies were made both at the moment of the operation and after
      thirty days. Our results demonstrate a decrease of the normal growth of the
      suture stressed by plates.

PMID- 1461232
TI  - [Lingual thyroid].
AB  - Lingual thyroid is a rare occurrence in oral surgical practice. A case is
      reported accompanied by a current view of the presions literature. A brief resume
      of methods of treatment is given and the importance of investigations before
      excision is emphasised.

PMID- 1461233
TI  - [A parotid arteriovenous fistula of nontraumatic origin. A case report].
AB  - The authors report their experience of a case of non traumatic arteriovenous
      communication of the parotid region in an adult subject. They confirm that its
      manifestations in grown-ups are to be linked with an inactive angiodysplastic
      field. The diagnostic approaches in the face of a hybrid symptomatology and the
      therapeutic choices are described. Moreover, an aesthetically and functionally
      efficient surgical correction is proposed.

PMID- 1461234
TI  - [A spindle-cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa. A case report].
AB  - Spindle cell carcinoma is a relatively rare tumor which occurs often in the upper
      respiratory tract, the oral cavity, and in the esophagus and skin. In this paper
      a patient who presented a tumor mass of the lover gingiva which was subsequently
      diagnosed as a spindle cell carcinoma is reported. The clinicopathologic aspects
      and diagnostic problems of this unusual tumor of the oral mucosa are discussed.

PMID- 1461235
TI  - [Prosthetic rehabilitation in patients with malignant tumors of the soft palate.
      A clinical case report].
AB  - Soft palate neoplasms are relatively rare and their care requires not only an
      adequate surgical removal but also a post-treatment rehabilitation. In this
      article the authors after having considered the importance of the soft palate
      function on the individual's ability to shallow and speak, describe one case of
      squamous cell carcinoma of the soft palate and treated with surgery followed by
      prosthetic rehabilitation. Especially it is pointed out the utility of a palatal
      obturator in the care of deleterious esthetic and psychological aspect of the
      residual anatomical defect, considering the possibility of the re-establishment
      the integrity of the tissues and structures in the oral cavity by hand-made
      prosthesis more and more exact and functional.

PMID- 1461236
TI  - [Myelolipomatosis. A report of a case located in the mandible].
AB  - Myelolipoma is a rare benign tumour involving, in the majority of cases, the
      adrenal gland. Given the absolute predominance of this localisation, in this
      report of extra-adrenal localisations of these tumours the authors considered it
      worthwhile and necessary to refer to the former, relatively more complete series
      of data, with the exception of the supposed or real differences which exist
      between the two groups. Myelolipomatosis should not be considered an example of
      dysplasia, but on the contrary benign metaplasia/hamartoma. It is therefore
      obvious that, faced with an expansive process of this type, it is vital to obtain
      a precise diagnosis on which to base the choice of clinical and therapeutic
      management since this is also influenced by the anatomical site of the tumour. On
      the basis of a series of pathophysiological parameters, the authors have
      formulated a diagnostic protocol followed by a therapeutic approach since, in
      this context, there is no point resorting to a so-called "wait and see" strategy.
      In addition, the analysis of the above parameters convinced the authors of the
      possibility that these tumours should be regarded as bodies which should not be
      separated from the reaction of the organism as a whole to and appropriate
      stressigenic event persisting over time.

PMID- 1461237
TI  - [A weight and surface analysis of glass ionomer cements in the presence of acid
      solutions].
AB  - The surface and solubility of some glass ionomer cements have been assessed after
      exposure to four acids (acetic, formic, lactic and propionic), that are usually
      present in the bacterial plaque. Therefore, we prepared 80 samples--20 for earl
      of 4 commercial products; after 7 days and, then after 30 other days, the samples
      were examined by microscope and weighed. Finally, those showing the most
      significant modifications were photographed.

PMID- 1461239
TI  - [AIDS in Italy: an update to 31 December 1991].

PMID- 1461238
TI  - [The triennial school of specialization in orthodontics: a final report of the
      Erasmus Project].

PMID- 1461240
TI  - [AIDS in the world to 1 October 1991].

PMID- 1461241
TI  - [Total atrophy of the mandibular alveolar crest. A new therapeutic proposal (the
      use of a tissue expander) and a clinical case report].
AB  - Atrophy of the alveolar crest, meant as a syndrome due to a certain variety of
      pathogenetic episodes developing in a more or less marked framework of resorption
      of the alveolar to the maxillary processes, represents an issue of debated and
      uncertain solution, especially in a view of the extreme degrees of the
      phenomenon. Various kinds of surgical approach have been suggested over time:
      among them mention should be made of the onlay graft technique, the osteotomy
      intervention visor type, the osseous interposition sandwich type, and other
      methods, which were often the result of a pontered mediation of the above
      mentioned, and which should have therefore enjoyed their single advantages. In
      consideration of the different techniques, the results were more or less
      noteworthy and it was clear, however, that a certain "gap" was still existing
      between the results aimed to and the results reached. Today, thanks to the tissue
      expander technique, combined with the use of alloplasty materials
      (hydroxylapatite), we can give a new contribution to the solution of this
      invalidating pathology, thus reaching more complete and lasting results in the
      plastic reconstruction of the alveolar crest, and avoiding at the same time the
      disadvantages, even of iatrogenic kind, of an osteotomy intervention.

PMID- 1461242
TI  - [Oral lichen planus and liver pathology. I. The prevalence of liver damage in a
      case load of 96 patients with oral lichen planus].
AB  - In order to evaluate if oral lichen planus (OLP) may be regarded as a marker of
      even unknown liver disease, 96 incident OLP cases were screened through
      anamnestic, laboratory, instrumental investigations and gastroenterology
      consultation. The frequency of hepatopathies was 23/96 (24%): 7 had cirrhosis, 3
      had chronic active hepatitis, 2 had chronic persistent hepatitis, 10 steatosis
      and 1 had undetermined liver disease. Eleven of these 23 patients (48%) had
      unknown hepatopathies, although five of them had severe liver disorders
      (cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis). Forty-four of 73 patients without definite liver
      disorders (60%) had at least one abnormal liver parameter. This results confirm
      frequent association of OLP with hepatic damage and moreover it shown that OLP
      may be an important clinical sign of symptomless hepatopathies.

PMID- 1461243
TI  - [Oral lichen planus and liver pathology. II. The clinico-statistical correlations
      between oral manifestations and liver damage].
AB  - To characterize with more precision the association between oral lichen planus
      (OLP) and hepatopathies, 96 patients with OLP were separated in two groups
      ordered by presence or absence of liver diseases comparing some variables (age,
      sex, presence of pain, clinical variety, presence of skin lesions, alcohol
      consumption and exposure to drugs inducing hepatic injury) and evaluating the
      statistical significance. Factors associated with increased frequency of liver
      diseases were erosive variety of OLP (p = 0.024) and presence of pain (p = 0.026)
      (chi square test with Yates correction). It's confirmed that OLP patients with
      higher risk of liver disease are those that have erosive lesions with severe
      symptoms and often diffused in the entire oral cavity; furthermore, it's
      highlighted that the probability to find liver disease associated with reticular
      and plaque-like form of OLP is low, but not negligible.

PMID- 1461244
TI  - [Lipoma of the tongue. A clinical case report].
AB  - Lipoma is a benign tumor of the adipose tissue. It is a common neoplasm but very
      rarely involves the tongue. Only 0.3% of all tumors involving the tongue are
      lipomas. A case of lipoma originating in the tongue is described. The tumor was
      removed and did not recur one year after excision.

PMID- 1461245
TI  - [Cervicofacial actinomycosis. A case study].
AB  - A case of cervicofacial actinomycosis, sited in the central hyoid region, is
      reported. The Authors have emphasized the difficulties of the diagnosis. It's
      very important hat the clinical diagnosis of actinomycotic infection be confirmed
      by a positive culture test. Actinomycosis can be suspected if multiple recurrent
      pustular swellings are present, associated with any trauma or teeth extractions.

PMID- 1461246
TI  - [Dermoid cysts of the mouth floor. A case report].
AB  - We report a large submandibular dermoid cyst located laterally at the floor of
      the mouth. Classification, etiopathogenesis, positive and differential diagnosis,
      treatment and prognosis are discussed. This anomaly is an infrequent congenital
      disorder that usually becomes apparent during the second or third decade of life.
      Prognosis is excellent after correct surgical treatment.

PMID- 1461247
TI  - [Oral candidiasis as the first manifestation of HIV (human immunodeficiency
      virus) infection. An analysis of 2 cases].
AB  - The authors report two cases in which unexplained oral candidiasis led to the
      diagnosis of HIV infection with clinical form of AIDS-related complex (ARC). It
      is highlighted that the dentist showed investigate the causes of every
      unexplained oral candidiasis in adult because this opportunist infection may be
      the first sign of immunosuppression associated with AIDS and AIDS-related
      syndromes.

PMID- 1461248
TI  - [The use of kinesiography and electromyography in assessing the outcome of a
      fracture of the mandibular condyles].
AB  - The purpose of this work is to consider the sensibility, reliability, and utility
      of the computerized electromyography and kinesiography in the diagnosis and study
      of the functional results in patients affected of single or bilateral previous
      fractures of the condyles. The Authors analyse three clinical parameters and
      compare them with thirteen parameters gathered from the computerized data and the
      kinesiogram and electromyogram analysis of a selected sample of thirteen patients
      with previous fractures of the condyles. This comparison has shown the greatest
      reliability and sensibility (a larger quantity of instrumental data as regards
      the clinical checkup and absence of false negative diagnosis) of these techniques
      with regard to ordinary clinical checkup. Furthermore the features of
      objectivity, non invasion and easy repetition, indicate that computerized
      electromyography and kinesiography play an important role in the diagnosis and
      study of the functional results of fractures of the condyles and in the follow-up
      examination.

PMID- 1461249
TI  - Unintended childbearing: pregnancy risk assessment monitoring system--Oklahoma,
      1988-1991.
AB  - Unintended pregnancies may be associated with delays in the initiation of
      prenatal care and behaviors during pregnancy that increase the risk for adverse
      birth outcomes (1,2). Based on estimates from the 1988 National Survey of Family
      Growth, 28% of births were mistimed during the 3-4 years before the survey, and
      12% were unwanted (3). In Oklahoma, family-planning services are provided as an
      element of the state's maternal and child health program efforts, and the state
      has made a priority of identifying mothers at high risk for unintended pregnancy.
      This report summarizes an analysis of data from the Oklahoma Pregnancy Risk
      Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) to assess the risk for unintended
      childbearing in Oklahoma during 1988-1991.

PMID- 1461250
TI  - Abortion surveillance: preliminary data--United States, 1990.
AB  - For 1990, CDC received data on legal induced abortions from 52 reporting areas:
      50 states, New York City, and the District of Columbia. This report presents
      preliminary data for 1990.

PMID- 1461251
TI  - Update: influenza activity--United States and worldwide, 1992-93 season.
AB  - Influenza activity in the United States is monitored by CDC through surveillance
      systems maintained cooperatively with state and local health departments (1); in
      addition, CDC receives reports of worldwide influenza activity from international
      World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating laboratories and from WHO, Geneva.
      This report summarizes surveillance for influenza in the United States and
      worldwide during the 1992-93 season through December 5, 1992.

PMID- 1461252
TI  - Selected behaviors that increase risk for HIV infection, other sexually
      transmitted diseases, and unintended pregnancy among high school students--United
      States, 1991.
AB  - Since the 1970s, sexual activity has increased among adolescents in the United
      States (1); at the same time, rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (1),
      unintended pregnancy (2), and--beginning in the 1980s--human immunodeficiency
      virus (HIV) infection (3,4) also have increased among adolescents. This report
      presents 1991 self-reported data from students in grades 9-12 about behaviors
      that can result in HIV infection, other STDs, or unintended pregnancy.

PMID- 1461253
TI  - Availability of sulfadiazine--United States.

PMID- 1461254
TI  - Imported human rabies--France, 1992.
AB  - Wildlife rabies has been enzootic in France since 1968; however, 13 of the 14
      human cases in France were imported, and one was in a person infected through a
      corneal transplant (1). On May 9, 1992, a 3-year-old boy who resided in Algeria
      died from rabies encephalitis in Paris. This report summarizes the investigation
      of this case by the Pasteur Institute.

PMID- 1461255
TI  - Regulation of Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum in skeletal muscles.
AB  - Ca2+ release from skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) could be regulated by at
      least three mechanisms: 1) Ca2+, 2) calmodulin, and 3) Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent
      phosphorylation. Bell-shaped Ca(2+)-dependence of Ca2+ release from both actively
      and passively-loaded SR vesicles suggest that opening and closing of the Ca2+
      release channel could be regulated by [Ca2+o]. The time- and concentration
      dependent inhibition of Ca2+ release from skeletal SR by calmodulin was also
      studied using passively-Ca2+ loaded SR vesicles. Up to 50% of Ca2+ release was
      inhibited by calmodulin (0.01-0.5 microM); this inhibition required 5-15 min
      preincubation time. The hypothesis that Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation
      of a 60 kDa protein regulates Ca2+ release from skeletal SR was tested by stopped
      flow fluorometry using passively-Ca2+-loaded SR vesicles. Approximately 80% of
      the initial rates of Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release was inhibited by the
      phosphorylation within 2 min of incubation of the SR with Mg-ATP and calmodulin.
      We identified two types of 60 kDa phosphoproteins in the rabbit skeletal SR,
      which was distinguished by solubility of the protein in CHAPS. The CHAPS-soluble
      60 kDa phosphoprotein was purified by column chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel,
      heparin-agarose, and hydroxylapatite. Analyses of the purified protein indicate
      that the CHAPS-soluble 60 kDa protein is an isoform of phosphoglucomutase (PGM).
      cDNAs encoding isoforms of PGM were cloned and sequenced using synthetic
      oligonucleotides. Two types of PGM isoforms (Type I and Type II) were identified.
      The translated amino acid sequences show that Type II isoform is SR
      form.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461256
TI  - Incorporation of 3H-N-ethylmaleimide into sheep red cell membrane thiol groups
      following protection by diamide-induced oxidation.
AB  - The thiol oxidant diazene dicarboxylic acid bis [N,N-dimethylamide] (diamide) is
      known to reversibly activate K-Cl cotransport in sheep red blood cells. Although
      the detailed mechanism of activation is unknown, functional thiols at the
      membrane or at the cytoplasmic level are recognized as important. To search for
      membrane bound thiols involved in the regulation of K-Cl cotransport, sheep red
      cells were first exposed to diamide at concentrations activating K-Cl
      cotransport, and then to the alkylating agent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) in order to
      block non-oxidized thiols. White ghosts, prepared by osmotic lysis from these
      cells, were again treated with NEM followed by reduction of the diamide-induced
      dithiols with dithiothreitol (DTT) concentrations known to reverse the diamide
      induced K-Cl flux. Maximum 3H-NEM incorporation into the DTT-reduced thiols
      occurred at 50 microM DTT. Saturation labelling by 3H-NEM of about 2 x 10(4)
      diamide-protected thiols/cell occurred at 25 microM NEM. Diamide protected about
      0.1% of all membrane thiols chemically determined earlier. Membranes from high K
      (HK) and low K (LK) sheep red cells did not differ significantly in the number of
      diamide-protected thiols, and polyacrylamide gels revealed a similar protein
      distribution of 3H-NEM-labelled thiols. Since diamide is known to stimulate K-Cl
      flux in LK cells ten times more than in HK cells this finding is consistent with
      the hypothesis of a cytoplasmic control effecting different K-Cl flux activities
      in the membranes of the two cation genotypic red blood cells.

PMID- 1461257
TI  - Influence of tight junctions on the interaction of salts with lingual epithelia:
      responses of chorda tympani and lingual nerves.
AB  - The role of tight junctions in modulating responses from chorda tympani (taste)
      and lingual (general sensory) nerves are clarified in regard to their responses
      to salts. Chorda tympani (CT) responses elicited by organic sodium salts require
      greater Na+ concentrations to elicit the same magnitude of response as NaCl.
      These data can be understood in terms of the organic anions (compared with Cl-)
      producing larger liquid-junction potentials across tight junctions between taste
      cells which, in turn, reduces Na+ influx into taste cells via amiloride
      inhibitable channels. The anion contribution to the CT response to different Na+
      salts can be eliminated (or enhanced) by voltage clamping the tongue with
      negative (with respect to the serosal solution) potentials. Whole nerve
      recordings from the lingual branch of the trigeminal nerve elicited by NaCl (and
      other salts) were reversibly inhibited by the tight junction blocker, LaCl3.
      These data suggest that small hydrophilic molecules elicit responses from
      trigeminal fibers by diffusing across tight junctions between epithelial cells
      and altering the composition of the extracellular space.

PMID- 1461258
TI  - Probing the structure of the Neurospora crassa plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase.
AB  - The structure of the Neurospora crassa plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase has been
      investigated using a variety of chemical and physiochemical techniques. The
      transmembrane topography of the H(+)-ATPase has been elucidated by a direct,
      protein chemical approach. Reconstituted proteoliposomes containing purified H(+)
      ATPase molecules oriented predominantly with their cytoplasmic surface facing
      outward were treated with trypsin, and the numerous peptides released were
      purified by HPLC and subjected to amino acid sequence analysis. In this way,
      seventeen released peptides were unequivocally identified as located on the
      cytoplasmic side of the membrane, and numerous intervening segments could be
      inferred to be cytoplasmically located by virtue of the fact that they are too
      short to cross the membrane and return between sequences established to be
      cytoplasmically located. Additionally, three large membrane-embedded segments of
      the H(+)-ATPase were isolated using our recently developed methods for purifying
      hydrophobic peptides, and identified by amino acid sequence analysis. This
      information established the topographical location of virtually all of the 919
      residues in the H(+)-ATPase molecule, allowing the formulation of a reasonably
      detailed model for the transmembrane topography of the H(+)-ATPase polypeptide
      chain. Separate studies of the cysteine chemistry of the H(+)-ATPase have
      demonstrated the existence of a single disulfide bridge in the molecule, linking
      the NH2- and COOH-terminal membrane-embedded domains. And, analyses of the
      circular dichroism and infrared spectra of the purified H(+)-ATPase have
      elucidated the secondary structure composition of the molecule. A first
      generation model for the tertiary structure of the H(+)-ATPase based on this
      information and other considerations is presented.

PMID- 1461259
TI  - Regulation of the skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase by phospholamban
      and negatively charged phospholipids in reconstituted phospholipid vesicles.
AB  - The Ca(2+)-ATPase of skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum was purified and
      reconstituted in proteoliposomes containing phosphatidylcholine (PC). When
      reconstitution occurred in the presence of PC and the acidic phospholipids,
      phosphatidylserine (PS) or phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PIP), the Ca(2+)
      uptake and Ca(2+)-ATPase activities were significantly increased (2-3 fold). The
      highest activation was obtained at a 50:50 molar ratio of PS:PC and at a 10:90
      molar ratio of PIP:PC. The skeletal SR Ca(2+)-ATPase, reconstituted into either
      PC or PC:PS proteoliposomes, was also found to be regulated by exogenous
      phospholamban (PLB), which is a regulatory protein specific for cardiac, slow
      twitch skeletal, and smooth muscles. Inclusion of PLB into the proteoliposomes
      was associated with significant inhibition of the initial rates of Ca(2+)-uptake,
      while phosphorylation of PLB by the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein
      kinase reversed the inhibitory effects. The effects of PLB on the reconstituted
      Ca(2+)-ATPase were similar in either PC or PC:PS proteoliposomes, indicating that
      inclusion of negatively charged phospholipid may not affect the interaction of
      PLB with the skeletal SR Ca(2+)-ATPase. Regulation of the Ca(2+)-ATPase appeared
      to involve binding with the hydrophilic portion of phospholamban, as evidenced by
      crosslinking experiments, using a synthetic peptide which corresponded to amino
      acids 1-25 of phospholamban. These findings suggest that the fast-twitch isoform
      of the SR Ca(2+)-ATPase may be also regulated by phospholamban although this
      regulator is not expressed in fast-twitch skeletal muscles.

PMID- 1461260
TI  - Calcium entry in rat parotid acinar cells.

PMID- 1461261
TI  - Changes in adrenergic receptors during the development of heart failure.
AB  - Moderate and severe stages of congestive heart failure due to the loss of
      myocardium upon coronary occlusion in rats was associated with an increase in
      alpha-adrenergic receptors and a decrease in beta-adrenergic receptors in the
      viable left ventricle. However, at early stages of heart failure the number of
      beta-adrenergic receptors was decreased without any changes in the number of
      alpha-adrenergic receptors. The affinities of these receptors to alpha receptor
      antagonist (3H-prazosin) and beta receptor antagonist (3H-dihydroalprenolol) were
      not altered in the failing hearts. On the other hand, the pattern of changes in
      both alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors in heart membranes treated with oxygen
      free radical generating system was different from that seen in the failing
      hearts. In particular, the affinities for these receptors were decreased whereas
      the number of beta-receptors was increased and the number of alpha-receptors was
      decreased or unchanged. These results indicate that alterations in the adrenergic
      receptors in heart failure are not due to the formation of oxygen free radicals.

PMID- 1461263
TI  - War against famine, for nutrition.
AB  - In Somalia, the world is fighting an unprecedented war in the name of basic
      nutrition. In the United States, the government has gone overboard on the matter
      of nutrition and health.

PMID- 1461262
TI  - Magnesium homeostasis in cardiac cells.
AB  - Several aspects of Mg2+ homeostasis were investigated in cultured chicken heart
      cells using the fluorescent Mg2+ indicator, FURAPTRA. The concentration of
      cytosolic Mg2+ ([Mg2+]i) is 0.48 +/- 0.03 mM (n = 31). To test whether a putative
      Na/Mg exchange mechanism controls [Mg2+]i below electrochemical equilibrium, we
      manipulated the Na+ gradient and assessed the effects on [Mg2+]i. When
      extracellular Na+ was removed, [Mg2+]i increased; this increase was not altered
      in Mg-free solutions, but was attenuated in Ca-free solutions. A similar increase
      in [Mg2+]i, which was dependent upon extracellular Ca2+, was observed when
      intracellular Na+ was raised by inhibiting the Na/K pump with ouabain. These
      results do not provide evidence for Na/Mg exchange in heart cells, but they
      suggest that Ca2+ can modulate [Mg2+]i. In addition, removing extracellular Na+
      caused a decrease in intracellular pH (pHi), as measured by pH-sensitive
      microelectrodes, and this acidification was attenuated when Ca2+ was also removed
      from the solution. These results suggest that Ca2+ and H+ interact
      intracellularly. Since changes in the Na+ gradient can also alter pHi, we
      questioned whether pH can modulate [Mg2+]i. pHi was manipulated by the NH4Cl
      prepulse method. NH4(+)-evoked changes in pHi, as measured by the fluorescent
      indicator BCECF, were accompanied by opposite changes in [Mg2+]i; [Mg2+]i changed
      by -0.16 mM/unit pH. These NH4(+)-evoked changes in [Mg2+]i were not caused by
      movements of Mg2+ or Ca2+ across the sarcolemma or by changes in cytosolic Ca2+.
      Additionally, pHi was manipulated by changing extracellular pH (pHo).(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461264
TI  - New human gene therapy institute in Pennsylvania.

PMID- 1461266
TI  - Hughes looks east for next expansion.

PMID- 1461265
TI  - Proposal opens debate over US data on animals.

PMID- 1461267
TI  - Genuine genius.

PMID- 1461268
TI  - More on legumes.

PMID- 1461269
TI  - Germane reviews.

PMID- 1461270
TI  - Nordic science.

PMID- 1461271
TI  - Change at the Karolinska.

PMID- 1461272
TI  - Merging for strength.

PMID- 1461273
TI  - No biotechnology bandwagon.

PMID- 1461274
TI  - Of mice and the MHC.

PMID- 1461275
TI  - Muscle development. Running without regulators.

PMID- 1461276
TI  - Deviant TATA-box binding protein.

PMID- 1461277
TI  - More on motor neurons.

PMID- 1461278
TI  - Per--no link to gap junctions.

PMID- 1461279
TI  - Communal nesting patterns in mice implicate MHC genes in kin recognition.
AB  - House mice (Mus musculus domesticus) form communal nests and appear to nurse each
      other's pups indiscriminately. Communal nesting probably functions to reduce
      infanticide, but it also makes females vulnerable to exploitation if nursing
      partners fail to provide their fair share of care. Kinship theory predicts that
      females will preferentially form communal nests with relatives to minimize
      exploitation and further increase inclusive fitness. Here we provide evidence
      from seminatural populations that females prefer communal nesting partners that
      share allelic forms of major histocompatibility complex genes. Such behaviour
      would lead to the selection of close relatives as communal nesting partners.
      Although criteria for the demonstration of kin recognition are currently
      embroiled in controversy, this is the first vertebrate study to meet Grafen's
      restrictive requirements: discrimination is based on genetic similarity at highly
      polymorphic loci, incidental correlations due to relatedness are experimentally
      controlled, and strong reasons exist for expecting the assayed behaviour to be
      kin-selected.

PMID- 1461280
TI  - The perception of heading during eye movements.
AB  - When a person walks through a rigid environment while holding eyes and head
      fixed, the pattern of retinal motion flows radially away from a point, the focus
      of expansion (Fig. 1a). Under such conditions of translation, heading corresponds
      to the focus of expansion and people identify it readily. But when making an
      eye/head movement to track an object off to the side, retinal motion is no longer
      radial (Fig. 1b). Heading perception in such situations has been modelled in two
      ways. Extra-retinal models monitor the velocity of rotational movements through
      proprioceptive or efference information from the extraocular and neck muscles and
      use that information to discount rotation effects. Retinal-image models determine
      (and eliminate) rotational components from the retinal image alone. These models
      have been tested by measuring heading perception under two conditions. First,
      observers judged heading while tracking a point on a simulated ground plane.
      Second, they fixated a stationary point and the flow field simulated the effects
      of a tracking eye movement. Extra-retinal models predict poorer performance in
      the simulated condition because the eyes do not move. Retinal-image models
      predict no difference in performance because the two conditions produce identical
      patterns of retinal motion. Warren and Hannon observed similar performance and
      concluded that people do not require extra-retinal information to judge heading
      with eye/head movements present, but they used extremely slow tracking eye
      movements of 0.2-1.2 deg s-1; a moving observer frequently tracks objects at much
      higher rates (L. Stark, personal communication). Here we examine heading
      judgements at higher, more typical eye movement velocities and find that people
      require extra-retinal information about eye position to perceive heading
      accurately under many viewing conditions.

PMID- 1461281
TI  - Three-dimensional illusory contours and surfaces.
AB  - Under general viewing conditions, objects are often partially camouflaged,
      obscured or occluded, thereby limiting information about their three-dimensional
      position, orientation and shape to incomplete and variable image cues. When
      presented with such partial cues, observers report perceiving 'illusory' contours
      and surfaces (forms) in regions having no physical image contrast. Here we report
      that three-dimensional illusory forms share three fundamental properties with
      'real' forms: (1) the same forms are perceived using either stereo or motion
      parallax cues (cue invariance); (2) they retain their shape over changes in
      position and orientation relative to an observer (view stability); and (3) they
      can take the shape of general contours and surfaces in three dimensions (morphic
      generality). We hypothesize that illusory contours and surfaces are
      manifestations of a previously unnoticed visual process which constructs a
      representation of three-dimensional position, orientation and shape of objects
      from available image cues.

PMID- 1461282
TI  - Association of dystrophin-related protein with dystrophin-associated proteins in
      mdx mouse muscle.
AB  - Dystrophin is associated with a complex of muscle membrane (sarcolemmal)
      glycoproteins that provide a linkage to the extracellular matrix protein,
      laminin. The absence of dystrophin leads to a dramatic reduction of the
      dystrophin-associated proteins (156DAG, 59DAP, 50DAG, 43DAG and 35DAG) in the
      sarcolemma of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and mdx mice. Here we
      demonstrate that dystrophin-related protein (DRP, utrophin), an autosomal
      homologue of dystrophin, is associated with an identical or antigenically similar
      complex of sarcolemmal proteins and that DRP and the dystrophin/DRP-associated
      proteins colocalize to the neuromuscular junction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
      and mdx muscle. The DRP and dystrophin/DRP-associated proteins are found
      throughout the sarcolemma in small-calibre skeletal muscles and cardiac muscle of
      adult mdx mice. Because these muscles show minimal pathological changes, our
      results could provide a basis for the upregulation of DRP as a potential
      therapeutic approach.

PMID- 1461283
TI  - Primary structure of dystrophin-related protein.
AB  - Dystrophin-related protein (DRP or 'utrophin') is localized in normal adult
      muscle primarily at the neuromuscular junction. In the absence of dystrophin in
      Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients, DRP is also present in the
      sarcolemma. DRP is expressed in fetal and regenerating muscle and may play a
      similar role to dystrophin in early development, although it remains to be
      determined whether DRP can functionally replace dystrophin in adult tissue.
      Previously we described a 3.5-kilobase complementary DNA clone that exhibits 80
      per cent homology to the C-terminal domain of dystrophin. This sequence
      identifies a 13-kilobase transcript that maps to human chromosome 6 (refs 2, 11).
      Antibodies raised against the gene product identify a polypeptide with a relative
      molecular mass of about 400K in all tissues examined. To investigate the
      relationship between DRP and dystrophin in more detail, we have cloned and
      sequenced the whole DRP cDNA. Homology between DRP and dystrophin extends over
      their entire length, suggesting that they derive from a common ancestral gene.
      Comparative analysis of primary sequences highlights regions of functional
      importance, including those that may mediate the localization of DRP and
      dystrophin in the muscle cell.

PMID- 1461284
TI  - Raf functions downstream of Ras1 in the Sevenless signal transduction pathway.
AB  - Specification of the R7 cell fate in the developing Drosophila eye requires
      activation of the Sevenless (Sev) receptor tyrosine kinase, located on the
      surface of the R7 precursor cell, by its interaction with the Boss protein,
      expressed on the surface of the neighbouring R8 cell. Four genes that participate
      in the intracellular transmission of this signal have so far been identified and
      molecularly characterized: Ras1, Sos, Gap1 and sina (refs 4-8). The Drosophila
      homologue of the mammalian Raf-1 serine/threonine kinase, which has been
      implicated in signal transduction pathways activated by many receptor tyrosine
      kinases (reviewed in refs 9 and 10), is encoded by the raf locus (also known as
      l(1)polehole, Draf-1 or Draf). Here we show that the Drosophila Raf
      serine/threonine kinase also plays a crucial role in the R7 pathway: the response
      to Sev activity is dependent on raf function, and a constitutively activated Raf
      protein can induce R7 cell development in the absence of sev function. We also
      present genetic evidence suggesting that Raf acts downstream of Ras1 and upstream
      of Sina in this signal transduction cascade.

PMID- 1461285
TI  - SEC21 is a gene required for ER to Golgi protein transport that encodes a subunit
      of a yeast coatomer.
AB  - Non-clathrin coated vesicles have been implicated in early steps of
      intercompartmental transport. A distinct set of coat proteins are peripherally
      associated with the exterior of purified mammalian intra-Golgi transport
      vesicles. The 'coatomer', a cytosolic complex containing a similar subunit
      composition to and sharing at least one subunit (beta-COP) with the coat found on
      vesicles, has been postulated to be the precursor of this non-clathrin coat. Here
      we describe the characterization of SEC21, an essential gene required for protein
      transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi in the yeast Saccharomyces
      cerevisiae. The 105K product of this gene, Sec21p, participates in a cytosolic
      complex that we show to be a yeast homologue of the mammalian coatomer. These
      observations demonstrate that a non-clathrin coat protein plays an essential role
      in intercompartmental transport.

PMID- 1461286
TI  - Expression cloning of a human DNA repair gene involved in xeroderma pigmentosum
      group C.

PMID- 1461287
TI  - [Prevention of central nervous system hemorrhages in patients with hemophilia].

PMID- 1461288
TI  - [Nobel Prize for the discovery of protein modification].

PMID- 1461289
TI  - [Opioids and chronic benign pain].

PMID- 1461290
TI  - [Is prescribing of opioid analgetics such as morphine to patients with chronic
      benign pain (un)ethical?].

PMID- 1461291
TI  - [Habitual mouth breathing].

PMID- 1461292
TI  - [How much information is retained by participants in clinical trials?].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess which information participants of the Dutch TIA trial could
      remember from the informed consent procedure. DESIGN: Descriptive investigation.
      SETTING: The University Hospital Utrecht and the University Medical Centre
      Amsterdam. METHODS: One hundred of the 308 patients from 2 of the 63
      participating clinical centres (the University Hospital Utrecht and the
      University Medical Centre Amsterdam), were selected at random for telephone
      interviews. Nineteen were not interviewed, most of them because they did not have
      access to a telephone. By a weighted score based on the replies the influence of
      some baseline variables was explored. The information sheet that patients had
      received was analysed with the readability tests of Flesh and Fry. RESULTS:
      Eighty-six percent of all patients were aware of the correct diagnosis. The name
      and action of the trial drug Ascal (a brand of acetylsalicylic acid) were
      retained better than those of atenolol. The nature of the disease and therapy
      were better known than the design of the trial. Of the baseline variables
      explored only the level of education was significantly related to what patients
      remembered about the trial. The readability of the information sheet required
      more education than was intended. CONCLUSION: Although we did not study a random
      sample the conclusion seems warranted that the level of information was not
      optimal in this trial.

PMID- 1461293
TI  - [Intellectual development of patients with phenylketonuria; 15-year national
      screening in The Netherlands].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the intellectual development of patients with
      phenylketonuria (PKU) or hyperphenylalaninaemia (HPA). DESIGN: Longitudinal
      follow-up study. SETTING: University Children's Hospitals of Amsterdam,
      Groningen, Nijmegen, and Rotterdam. METHODS: In September 1974 a nationwide
      neonatal screening for PKU started in the Netherlands. We obtained data on the
      intellectual development of 116 patients (101 classical PKU, 15 HPA), all
      detected and treated in the first 15 years of this screening. The children were
      tested at 6 ages with different instruments for the assessment of intellectual
      functions, and the scores were compared with the test norms. Performance and
      verbal capacities were determined as well as possible sex-related differences.
      RESULTS: Our data show that the levels of intellectual functioning of PKU and HPA
      patients do not differ from test norms until the age of 8 yr 6 months. In the
      older PKU patients there appears to be a trend towards lower IQ scores. We found
      no sex differences in the mental functioning of PKU patients. CONCLUSION:
      Continuation of this study is necessary in order to investigate possible negative
      effects of PKU on cognitive functioning, especially in the older age groups.

PMID- 1461294
TI  - [Fever caused by neuroleptics].
AB  - If fever arises in patients using neuroleptic drugs, it is possible that the
      fever is an adverse reaction to the drug. Two cases are reported of patients who
      developed fever to neuroleptic agents. In one patient it probably concerned a
      reaction to the solvent of the sustained-action preparation of the drug. The
      other patient developed fever probably as part of the neuroleptic malignant
      syndrome.

PMID- 1461295
TI  - [Financing of health research. Expenses and allocation policy].

PMID- 1461296
TI  - [Endoprosthesis in the treatment of bile leakage from the cystic duct following
      laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

PMID- 1461297
TI  - [Current possibilities in the treatment of severe stenosis of the major airways].

PMID- 1461298
TI  - [Cervical smear and pregnancy: sometimes an unhappy combination].

PMID- 1461299
TI  - [Mass screening for cervix carcinoma for the time being not extended to young
      pregnant or non-pregnant women].

PMID- 1461300
TI  - [A normal cervical smear and yet cervical cancer].

PMID- 1461302
TI  - [Index of the Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde electronically available].

PMID- 1461301
TI  - [Amyloidosis; pathogenesis and therapy].

PMID- 1461303
TI  - [14 years of screening for cervix carcinoma in a family practice].
AB  - Since 1975 the general practitioners of 'Ons Medies Centrum' in Oss have been
      inviting women systematically for cervical screening and cervical smears. The
      attendance and protection rate were evaluated for the period 1975-1989. 85% of
      the women 35-54 years of age had had a cervical smear within 5 years after they
      entered the general practice or had not been invited because of a total
      hysterectomy. After a starting period of a few years the protection rate
      stabilised at 75%. There was no relation between residential quarter, health
      insurance, ethnic origin and attendance for the screening. Age was the only
      factor related to attendance: the attendance rate among older women was lower.

PMID- 1461304
TI  - [Evaluation of the organization of the mass screening program for cervix cancer
      in northern Limburg].
AB  - The 1990 programme for screening of cervical cancer in North Limburg in the
      Netherlands was evaluated with a view improving the programme. Information was
      gathered from women in the screening programme, general practitioners, the health
      insurance company, the laboratory, and the city councils. With data from
      literature estimates were made of the effects of the screening in the region. All
      participants in the screening programme were satisfied with the set-up of the
      programme. 52% of all women did respond to the invitation for a smear, (in the
      first 7 months 3620 smears were made). 31% of the women did not need a smear
      because the uterus had been completely removed or because a smear had been made
      shortly before. 5% of the women did not receive an invitation. Only 11% of the
      women who needed a smear did not respond to the invitation, because of lack of
      time or objections. A so-called 'protection degree' for cervical cancer of 83%
      was achieved. The degree of protection was the same for different villages, age
      groups and income levels. The invitation of 12,000 women each year for a smear,
      leads to an estimate of 185 follow-up tests, detection of 20 women with abnormal
      results, unnecessary (minor) treatment of 12 women, prevention of two to three
      major treatments and of one to two deaths per year. Because of the limited
      positive effects and the relatively large negative effects the authors think that
      the cervical screening programme is questionable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1461305
TI  - [Placement in a nursing home does not automatically lead to increased use of
      drugs].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the use of drugs increases during a stay in a
      nursing home. SETTING: Fifteen nursing homes in Groningen and Haren. DESIGN:
      Prospective study. METHOD: In 250 persons admitted to a nursing home in the
      period December 1986-December 1987 the following data were determined: the mean
      number of different drugs, the total quantity of drugs used expressed in DDDs
      (Defined Daily Dose), the number of diagnosis and the functioning. RESULTS: The
      mean number of different drugs used per person per quarter increased
      significantly (4.5 in the first quarter as against 5.7 in the fourth quarter).
      The total quantity of drugs expressed in DDDs used per person per quarter, and
      the mean duration of their being prescribed did not change significantly. An
      exception were dermatological preparations (0.13 DDDs in the first quarter as
      against 0.42 DDDs in the fourth quarter), probably in connection with decubitus.
      CONCLUSION: A stay in a residential home does not necessarily lead to use of
      larger quantities of drugs (DDDs). However, there are indications that placement
      may lead to a greater diversity of the drugs used.

PMID- 1461306
TI  - [Henoch-Schonlein purpura following treatment with streptokinase].
AB  - This article presents the clinical history of a man aged 64 who developed Henoch
      Schonlein purpura after administration of streptokinase for acute myocardial
      infarction. Because of the increasing use of streptokinase it is assumed that
      type III hypersensitivity reactions to streptokinase will be seen more
      frequently. The first symptoms may arise after discharge from the hospital, as
      symptom-free periods of 3 to 21 days have been reported.

PMID- 1461307
TI  - [Pregnancy, a good opportunity to extend the domain of cervix screening].

PMID- 1461308
TI  - [Safe Motherhood Initiative: the art of the feasible].

PMID- 1461309
TI  - [Promoting working during sick leave period through cooperation among insurance
      physician and treating physician].

PMID- 1461310
TI  - [Future perspective for diabetics with nephropathy: not always cause for
      pessimism].

PMID- 1461311
TI  - [Unfavorable prognosis of long-term depression].

PMID- 1461312
TI  - [The use of antishock trousers].

PMID- 1461313
TI  - [The value of skull and cervical spine radiography in patients following blunt
      head injury].
AB  - In a consecutive series of 100 patients with blunt head trauma the efficacy of
      routine skull and cervical radiography was studied. Neurocranial and facial
      skeletal lesions were present in 8 patients, only 1 skull fracture being
      completely unsuspected clinically. In all 79 patients without cervical signs or
      symptoms the cervical spine films were within normal limits. Only two of the 21
      patients with some form of local cervical spine symptomatology presented with
      traumatic changes. In 19 patients the cervical spine films did not demonstrate
      the cervicothoracic junction to satisfaction. Although this study confirms the
      low yield of routine conventional radiography in patients with blunt head trauma,
      the authors state that optimal conventional examination of the cervical spine is
      mandatory in all patients with blunt head trauma and the slightest suspicion of
      cervical symptoms or complaints and in those patients in whom either clinical
      examination or the clinical history is not completely satisfactory. The
      cervicothoracic junction should be adequately visualised. A CT or MRI scan of the
      brain should be preferred over conventional skull films in those patients in whom
      examination of the skull is considered indicated.

PMID- 1461314
TI  - [Is skull radiography indicated in patients with head injuries?].
AB  - The value of the radiographic finding of a skull fracture in predicting
      intracranial haematoma is assessed in this study. Patients with a skull injury
      can be divided into three risk groups, based on the history and examination
      findings. The low-risk group includes patients who are asymptomatic or have scalp
      haematoma, lacerations, headache or dizziness. The moderate-risk group includes
      patients who have posttraumatic amnesia and/or alcohol intoxication and those who
      are suspected of having a skull fracture. The patients in the high-risk group
      have clear symptoms and signs such as depressed level of consciousness or focal
      neurological signs. The records of 1218 patients were studied. The risk group,
      the existence of a skull fracture and development of intracranial haematoma were
      determined. Not a single haematoma was found in the low-risk group. Therefore
      skull radiography had no significance in this group. In the moderate-risk group
      two patients had an intracranial haematoma, of whom one patient had a skull
      fracture. Negative skull radiography therefore did not fully exclude intracranial
      complications. There were many patients with an intracranial haematoma in the
      high-risk group, both in the presence and the absence of a skull fracture. CT
      scanning is the best method of detecting an intracranial haematoma in this group.

PMID- 1461315
TI  - [Meeting reports in the Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde; value for
      readers and associations].
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the objective of scientific association proceedings in
      the Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde (NTvG) and whether the objective is
      met by publication. DESIGN: Interview. SETTING: The editorial office of NTvG
      MATERIAL AND METHODS: The clinical relevancy of the proceedings published in 1990
      and 1991 was determined using selection criteria. 53 (former) secretaries of
      scientific associations which publish their proceedings in NTvG were interviewed
      by written questionnaire, and 101 physicians were interviewed by telephone,
      asking for their opinion on the objective and the use of publishing the
      proceedings. RESULTS: Of the proceedings (1610 abstracts) published in 1990 and
      1991 20% were considered clinically relevant. The opinion of the secretaries of
      the associations was that the objective of the proceedings is to record medical
      information and to provide a medical newspaper for the latest reports of the
      associations, mostly intended for all readers of the NTvG. The secretaries
      usually correct the abstracts with respect to form and to a lesser extent to
      informative value. Editorial office selection of the abstracts was not considered
      desirable, guidelines with regard to writing an abstract of the proceedings were
      appreciated. More than half of the family physicians read the proceedings, but
      often considered them too specialised. Half of these thought editorial office
      selection of the abstracts advisable. About 80% of the specialists read the
      proceedings, of which the informative value was considered variable. They
      disapproved of editorial selection. In general physicians read the proceedings
      very selectively. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical relevancy of the abstracts of the
      proceedings leaves much to be desired. The objective is to provide a medical
      record and a newspaper for all readers, but these read the proceedings very
      selectively. The informative value could be improved. Abstract selection should
      be in the hands of the associations' secretaries only, but guidelines from the
      editorial office on writing abstracts are welcomed.

PMID- 1461316
TI  - [Quality of professional practice: interrelations of the legislative proposal
      Quality of Health Care Facilities and the Bill Occupations in Individual Health
      Care].

PMID- 1461317
TI  - [Neonatal sepsis caused by Haemophilus influenzae in the first few days of life].

PMID- 1461318
TI  - [Minor symptoms in family practice; anal fissure].

PMID- 1461319
TI  - [Are long-term results of venous aortocoronary bypass operations really that
      poor? A prospective 13-year study in 428 patients].

PMID- 1461320
TI  - [Severe psychological side effects in children due to use of high-dose
      deptropine].

PMID- 1461321
TI  - Transtracheal oxygen: a step beyond the nasal cannula for long-term oxygen
      therapy.
AB  - Transtracheal oxygen represents an important advance in the technology of long
      term oxygen therapy. As an oxygen conserving technique, it allows increased
      physical activity with smaller ambulatory and portable units and facilitates the
      management of patients with refractory hypoxemia outside of the hospital. There
      is increasing evidence that transtracheal oxygen therapy provides significant
      physiologic benefits beyond those achieved with the nasal cannula because of
      tighter control of oxygen therapy and fewer episodes of hypoxemia as a result of
      uninterrupted 24-hour oxygen therapy. Transtracheal oxygen therapy should be
      viewed as a program for long-term oxygen administration and not simply as a
      procedure that involves the insertion of a catheter into the tracheal. Careful
      patient screening and patient education is important to avoid complications. The
      program is best administered through regional centers with a team approach to
      patient care.

PMID- 1461322
TI  - Need for primary care.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: This paper is a renewed call for medical schools to address the
      societal need for more primary care physicians. DATA SOURCES: Numerous studies
      from the literature are cited as background for this paper. DATA SYNTHESIS: The
      Author retraces the historical beginnings of the specialty of Family Practice and
      some of the more recent events which highlight the need for more primary care
      physicians. CONCLUSIONS: The author concludes that there is a societal need for
      more primary care physicians and that medical schools should respond to this
      need.

PMID- 1461323
TI  - Multidrug regimens in moderate & severe hypertension.
AB  - We have briefly discussed the antihypertensive drug interactions which result in
      additive or synergistic actions on lowering of blood pressure when they are
      administered concomitantly. The choice of antihypertensive agents should be
      individualized based on the patient's age, race, sex, weight prior therapy,
      coexisting diseases, underlying diseases, and the pathophysiology of the disease.
      The goal of antihypertensive treatment extends not only to the control of
      hypertension per se but also to the reduction of side effect profiles, the
      treatment of co-existing diseases and optimizing quality of life.

PMID- 1461324
TI  - Natural history of at-risk Lynch syndrome family members with respect to
      adenomas.
AB  - Our goal is to determine colon cancer surveillance strategy in patients at risk
      for Lynch's syndrome. Asymptomatic persons at 50% risk of having Lynch syndrome
      (age 25-70 years) were enrolled in colonoscopic screening. Those without adenomas
      were asked to return in one year. Those with adenomas were asked to return in six
      months because of concern for rapid malignant degeneration. RESULTS: Twenty-five
      males and thirty females participated. On initial exam, eight of fifty-five
      patients (14.5%) had adenomas. Logistic regression showed a significant effect of
      age on the probability of finding adenomas at initial examination (p < 0.02).
      Followup was available in 27 patients (mean 35.5 months). Kaplan-Meier estimation
      of time to finding new or previously missed adenomas was 58 months for patients
      clear on first colonoscopy and 16 months for patients who had adenomas on first
      exam (p < 0.01). One adenocarcinoma has been found arising in a tubulovillous
      adenoma. CONCLUSION: The short-term risk of colorectal cancer in Lynch syndrome
      relatives without adenomas is low, as is the risk in those who have had all
      visualized adenomas removed.

PMID- 1461325
TI  - Merging the departments of psychiatry of a private and state university: the
      Nebraska experience.
AB  - Medical colleges throughout the nation are being pressured to decrease the costs
      of medical education. In some of our smaller cities, the duplication of faculty
      expertise and costly technological resources at distinct but neighboring campuses
      has led to training costs far beyond what can be comfortably supported by either
      the institutions or their students. While the trend toward collaboration or
      mergers between identical medical departments on adjacent campuses is gaining
      ground, the methods required to achieve success in these ventures remain
      relatively uncharted. This paper provides an overview of the creation of
      successful merger between the departments of Psychiatry of Creighton University
      School of Medicine and the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. The
      development of the merger from conception to completion, along with the lessons
      learned along the way, are offered in the hope that other medical departments may
      benefit.

PMID- 1461326
TI  - Management of breech presentation at term.

PMID- 1461327
TI  - [Introduction: vasospasm after a ruptured aneurysm].

PMID- 1461328
TI  - [Cerebral vasospasm. Experimental study].
AB  - We have studied chronic vasospasm (V.S.) on a primate model (Cynomolgus monkey).
      The conclusion of several studies are: V.S. is related to the presence of
      adherent clots along cerebral arteries and when severe may lead to cerebral
      infarction. Clots removal within 48 h. following subarachnoid hemorrhage reduces
      V.S. intensity. Free radicals and iron dependent lipidic peroxidation have been
      involved in cerebral ischemia development. A new aminosteroid (U 74006 F) can act
      as a free radical phagocyte and antagonize iron dependent lipid oxidation.
      Histological V.S. changes are less important after S.A.H. with 74006F treatment.
      Oxyhemoglobin high concentration from red blood cells (R.B.C.) hemolysis has been
      reported to be responsible for V.S. Therefore induction of R.B.C. release from
      the clots before hemolysis occurs could prevent from high concentration of
      oxyhemoglobin. Plasminogen activator can prevent V.S. when used during 72 h.
      following subarachnoid hemorrhage.

PMID- 1461329
TI  - [Effect of nimodipine on vasospasm of cortical arteries. Experimental study].
AB  - The efficacy of the calcium channel blocker Nimodipine (N) in prevention and
      treatment of chronic cerebral vasospasm (V.S.) after subarachnoid haemorrhage
      (S.A.H.) was tested in a blind randomized experimental study. Twenty seven dogs
      (French Grande Venerie) weighing between 40 to 50 kg, were randomly assigned in
      three groups. Under general anesthesia, each animal underwent baseline
      angiography, followed by right frontotemporal craniectomy. A retractor was placed
      under the temporal lobe and the arachnoid membrane over the internal carotid
      artery was dissected. 10 ml of autologous arterial blood was placed around the
      internal carotid artery, and 5 ml of arterial blood was injected into the
      cisterna magna. Group I was placebo group: ten randomly pre selected animals
      received a placebo. Group II was preventive group: seven animals received N (5
      mg/kg) per os each day, from D0. Group III was curative group: ten animals
      received N (5 mg/kg) per os each day, from D2. At Day 2 and Day 5, all animals
      underwent a control angiography. The basilar artery, the internal carotid artery
      were measured. The craniectomy was reopened and the cortical arteries were
      measured with a calibrated optical micrometer. Intergroup comparisons at Day 0,
      Day 2 and Day 5, were made by analysis of variance. The level of significance was
      n < 0.05. V.S. was defined as a reduction in vessel caliber of 10% or greater,
      compared to baseline value. In the placebo group (Group 1), V.S. of the basilar
      and cortical arteries was present in all cases, from D2 to D5.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461330
TI  - [Diagnosis of vasospasm: comparison between arteriography and transcranial
      Doppler. A series of 112 comparative tests].
AB  - 56 consecutive patients with ruptured aneurysm (An) were studied. The An
      localisation were: anterior communicating artery (ACoA) 26 cases, internal
      carotid artery (I.C.A.) 13 cases, Middle cerebral artery (M.C.A.) 11 cases,
      Pericallosal artery (P.C.A.) 4 cases, anterior cerebral artery (A.C.A.) 2 cases.
      Nimodipine infusion was started as soon as the diagnostic was established.
      Transcranial Doppler (T.C.D.) and angiography (A degrees) were performed at the
      arrival and 10 to 12 days after surgery. Surgery was performed in the 72 first
      hours after S.A.H. in 79% of the cases. 112 comparisons A degrees-T.C.D. were
      available. An A degrees vasospasm (V.S.) was assessed if the reduction of calibre
      was 25% or more, on T.C.D. V.S. was assessed if mean cerebral flow (M.C.F.) was
      equal to or more than 130 cm/sec. There were 15 cases of A degrees V.S. in 14
      patients: 2 cases before surgery, 1 case before and after surgery in the same
      patient and 11 cases after surgery. D.T.C. exhibited 11 cases of V.S. at the
      level of M.C.A.; there were 11 true positive, 0 false positive, 97 true negative
      and 4 false negative. The diagnosis of V.S. was always correct with T.C.D. when A
      degrees V.S. was present at the level of M.C.A., it was not made when A degrees
      V.S. was restricted to the initial part of A.C.A. (A1) uni or bilaterally: 3/6
      cases of ACoA. An rupture or to I.C.A.: 1/4 case of I.C.A. An. rupture.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461331
TI  - [Cerebral blood flow in the determination of vasospasm and surgical decision].
AB  - The interest of C.B.F. studies performed on patients with subarachnoid
      haemorrhage is discussed on the basis of the literature and of our experience of
      142 cases. C.B.F. results in basic condition are influenced by many factors which
      make its use very limited and especially during the first days after haemorrhage
      (J0-J3). However, the analysis of the evolution of C.B.F. values in the same
      patient and moreover the C.B.F. reactivity to acetazolamide are good indicators
      of the occurrence of a vasospasm; progressive drop of the C.B.F. or poor
      reactivity are generally observed before clinical signs of vasospasm. Our policy
      is therefore to decide the date of surgery according to C.B.F. values but only
      for patients planned for delayed surgery (after the 3rd day).

PMID- 1461332
TI  - [Contribution of 99m Tc-HMPAO single-photon emission-computed tomography to the
      perioperative evaluation of subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by ruptured
      aneurysms].
AB  - Twenty one cases of proven subarachnoid hemorrhage (S.A.H.) have been analysed in
      a protocol especially including transcranial doppler (T.C.D.) and 88mTc
      H.M.P.A.O. single photon emission tomography (H.M.P.A.O.-S.P.E.C.T.). Seventeen
      patients were intraoperatively studied. All data were compared with clinical
      grading, computerized tomography (C.T.) and angiography. S.P.E.C.T. is a quite
      recent method of measuring and three-dimensional imaging of brain perfusion. It
      provides important information for the diagnosis of ischemic syndromes in S.A.H.
      Sixty-two S.P.E.C.T.-scans were performed in twenty one patients. Fifty-eight
      were abnormal and showed significant abnormalities of brain perfusion varying in
      extent and severity. In this preliminary study, we set out to validate the
      clinical use of H.M.P.A.O.-S.P.E.C.T. for the diagnosis of "vapospasm" comparing
      S.P.E.C.T. data with classical criteria. We propose a classification which
      allowed us to quantify the ischemic risk in an attempt to adapt the global
      therapeutic management to hemodynamic data. This method appears to be very
      sensitive and reliable in this field. It will introduce, if these first results
      are confirmed, important criteria for the evaluation of patients presenting with
      S.A.H. as far as prognosis and treatment are concerned, especially in regard to
      timing of surgery and institution of medical hemodynamic therapy.

PMID- 1461333
TI  - [Vasospasm, early surgery and nimodipine. A series of 120 consecutive cases of
      surgically treated ruptured aneurysm].
AB  - A total of 120 consecutive ruptured aneurysms (An) were managed according to a
      radio clinical investigation protocol. Preoperative evaluation included clinical
      grading (Hunt & Hess classification) (3 patients were Gr. I, 62 Gr. II, 27 Gr.
      III, 13 Gr. IV, 15 Gr. V) angiography (A degree) and C.T.Scan grading. Nimodipine
      infusion was started before surgery (1 mg/Kg/h). Surgery was performed from Day 0
      to Day 3--Control A degrees and C.T.Scan were performed 10 to 12 days after
      surgery. Post operative C.T.Scan hypodensities were evaluated according to
      preoperative C.T.scan anc control A degrees. The outcome was evaluated according
      to the Glasgow Outcome Score (G.O.S.) and the causes of sequelae and decreases
      were listed according to vasospasm (V.S.), initial hemorrhage and post operative
      thrombosis (T.H.R.). The outcome was good or excellent in 95.4% of 65 Gr. I.II
      cases, in 85.9% of 92 Gr. I.II.III cases. Among the causes of disability or death
      only one case of diffuse severe V.S. was noted; besides that and according to our
      experience V.S. incidence was lower in this series (25%) than in our previous
      experience. It is stated that nowadays with Nimodipine treatment and early
      surgery V.S. is no more a problem.

PMID- 1461335
TI  - [Cerebral vasospasm: conclusion].

PMID- 1461334
TI  - [Transluminal angioplasty in the treatment of vasospasm. Value of transcranial
      Doppler in the diagnosis and follow-up].
AB  - Vasospasm (V.S.) transluminal angiographic treatment (T.L.A.) is recommended in
      case of symptomatic V.S. before or after surgery. V.S. diagnosis and follow up
      after T.L.A. rely on clinical and transcranial doppler (T.C.D.) data. Before
      T.L.A. angiography (A degrees) demonstrates V.S. degree and location. T.L.A.
      technic is described. The authors report 14 cases of T.L.A. (7 before and 7 after
      surgery). Before surgery in 4 cases patients exhibited ischemic symptoms from
      V.S.: 2 died (one from reanimation problems the other from a new hemorrhage).
      After surgery of 7 patients one died from artery rupture, one from extra
      neurologic complication. T.C.D. capacity to follow up V.S. is emphasized. As soon
      as T.L.A. is performed the mean cerebral blood flow (C.B.F.) decreases (< 100
      cm/s) and does not increase anymore. At the level of non dilated arterial
      segments V.S. may increase after T.L.A.: it is then recommended to dilate all the
      spastic arteries, as far as it is possible. After T.L.A. C.B.F. may decrease in
      arteries far from the dilated ones probably because arterial supplies are no more
      necessary.

PMID- 1461336
TI  - [Juxtabulbar neurinoma of the spinal accessory nerve].
AB  - A 27-year-old woman presented with right spinal accessory juxtabulbar schwannoma,
      associated with hydrocephalus. The only specific clinical symptom was long
      standing weakness of the right trapezius. C.T. scan evoked a cerebellar tumor,
      whilst the jugular foramen appeared normal. Vertebral angiography was not
      decisive. M.R.I. suggested an extra-axial tumor. Post-operative evolution was
      entirely favourable. Schwannomas of the 9th, 10th and 11th cranial nerves are
      generally located at the level of the jugular foramen but can also be observed
      along the extracranial path of these nerves. An intracranial paramedial, or so
      called "intracisternal" localization is rare and is best diagnosed by magnetic
      resonance imaging.

PMID- 1461337
TI  - [Deep sylvian meningioma. Apropos of a case. Review of the literature].
AB  - One case of deep sylvian meningioma without dural attachment is reported. Ten
      cases have been described in the literature leading to discussion of histological
      origin, clinical characteristics, neuroradiological data and surgical results.

PMID- 1461339
TI  - [Postoperative dural tightness. Value of suturing of the pericranium in surgery
      of the posterior cranial fossa].
AB  - It is difficult to have the dura-mater of the posterior fossa tightly closed,
      with no excessive traction especially when it was necessary to coagulate some
      vessels. The use of a pericranial graft taken in the interparietal area on up of
      the occipital craniotomy permits a tight closure, preventing pseudomeningocele
      via diffusion of CSF, and without tension gaining space which permits a better
      tolerance of the post-operative cerebellar oedema.

PMID- 1461338
TI  - [Neurinoma of the oculomotor nerves. Apropos of 2 cases].
AB  - The authors report two cases of neurinomas of the oculomotor nerves: one
      neurinoma of the oculomotor nerve and one of the abducens nerve. The study of 30
      cases in the previous literature points out the major striking features of these
      tumors. Both headaches and oculo-motor palsies are the most regular clinical
      features. They are not typically suggestive. Therefore the diagnosis is difficult
      among all the tumors of cavernous sinus and surrounding structures. C.T. scan and
      M.R.I. with the clinical history should readily allow pre-operative diagnosis.
      These data are insufficient to distinguish the affected nerve. The surgical
      treatment is not always complete due to the tumor infiltration into the cavernous
      sinus.

PMID- 1461340
TI  - Special issue: Is beta-amyloid neurotoxic?

PMID- 1461341
TI  - In vivo neurotoxicity of beta-amyloid [beta(1-40)] and the beta(25-35) fragment.
AB  - We examined the histological changes produced by injections of beta-amyloid
      [beta(1-40)], and control peptides in rat and monkey cerebral cortex. beta(25-35)
      injections were also studied in rat cortex. Standard immunoperoxidase procedures
      were used to detect the distribution of tau, MAP2, beta(1-40) and ALZ 50
      immunoreactivity. All injections produced localized necrosis at the injection
      site surrounded by a zone of neuronal loss and gliosis. In rat cortex, lesions
      produced by solubilized beta(1-40) and beta(25-35) in water were generally larger
      than those produced by control peptides. Tau and ALZ 50 antibodies labeled
      neurites and diffusely positive perikarya around beta(1-40) injections, whereas
      MAP2 staining was reduced, paralleling the distribution of neuronal loss and
      gliosis. In aged primate cortex, beta(1-40) lesion size was dose dependent.
      Hyalinized, ALZ 50 positive neurons, and abnormal neurites were prominent around
      the injection site. Although beta-amyloid is acutely neurotoxic in both rat and
      monkey cerebral cortex, neuronal degeneration in the primate more closely
      resembles that found in AD.

PMID- 1461342
TI  - Effect of beta amyloid peptides on neurons in hippocampal slice cultures.
AB  - Several investigators have described the neurotrophic and neurotoxic effects of
      beta amyloid peptide fragments on dissociated hippocampal neurons in culture. In
      these prior studies, the peptides were added to dissociated cultures between day
      0 and day 4 in vitro, before hippocampal neurons are fully mature. We have
      analyzed the neurotrophic and neurotoxic effects of beta amyloid fragments beta 1
      28, beta 25-35 and beta 1-40 on hippocampal slice cultures, whose physiology and
      morphology resembles the intact hippocampus. Addition of beta 1-28 or beta 25-35
      to the growth medium did not produce significant changes in dendritic length or
      number of branches. Nerve growth factor, previously reported to enhance the
      neurotoxic effects of beta 1-40 on dissociated hippocampal neurons in culture,
      did not significantly enhance the neurotrophic effects of beta 1-28. To achieve
      high local concentrations of peptides and to avoid potential access problems in
      the cultures, we injected beta 1-28, beta 25-35, and beta 1-40 directly into the
      cultures. Amyloid-mediated neurotoxicity was not observed for beta 1-28 or beta
      25-35, but beta 1-40 appeared to produce neurodegeneration around the site of
      injection.

PMID- 1461343
TI  - The acute neurotoxicity and effects upon cholinergic axons of intracerebrally
      injected beta-amyloid in the rat brain.
AB  - The acute neurotoxicity and effects upon cholinergic axons of an intracerebrally
      injected synthetic peptide corresponding to the first 1-40 amino acids of beta
      amyloid protein (beta AP1-40) was studied in rats. A synthetic peptide with the
      reverse sequence (beta AP40-1) or the vehicle alone were injected in the
      contralateral hemisphere as control. The size of the resulting lesions was
      quantified in serial sections using an image analyzer. Counts of cholinergic and
      noradrenergic fibers were also obtained around the lesion area. The results
      revealed that beta AP1-40 was significantly more toxic than both reverse peptide
      and the vehicle. The latter two, however, also caused considerable neurotoxicity.
      beta AP1-40 was toxic to both cholinergic and noradrenergic fibers to the same
      extent, and this toxicity was limited to the immediate vicinity of the lesion.
      This study confirms and extends the results of previous studies reporting
      neurotoxic effects of intracerebrally injected beta-amyloid in the rat. Our
      results also show that beta AP1-40 itself is not the source of the altered
      acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity that has been described in the plaques and
      tangles of Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 1461344
TI  - Lack of Alzheimer pathology after beta-amyloid protein injections in rat brain.
AB  - In order to establish a direct relationship between beta-amyloid protein (beta
      AP) and in vivo neurotoxicity, we made intraparenchymal injections and Alzet pump
      infusions of beta AP into the hippocampus and cortex of adult rats. We tested a
      number of synthetic beta AP peptides (beta AP 1-40, 1-38, and 25-35) and peptide
      controls (scrambled and reversed 1-40, and scrambled and reversed 25-35) over a
      wide range of concentrations and in a variety of vehicles. The rats were
      sacrificed from 2-35 days following the implant, and the brains examined by
      standard immunohistochemical and histological methods used to evaluate the
      pathologies associated with Alzheimer's disease. We report the lack of Alzheimer
      related pathology and no significant morphological differences between the beta
      AP peptide and the peptide and vehicle control injections. These observations
      indicate that the simple intraparenchymal injection of beta AP in the rat brain
      is not an appropriate model of Alzheimer-related neurotoxicity.

PMID- 1461345
TI  - Failure of beta-amyloid protein fragment 25-35 to cause hippocampal damage in the
      rat.
AB  - Considerable excitement has been generated as of late over reports that fragments
      of the amyloid precursor protein can be neurotoxic both in vivo and in vitro. In
      this brief report we study the neurotoxicity of the fragment corresponding to
      amino acids 25-35 of the beta-amyloid protein in the hippocampus in vivo. Under
      the conditions studied, we do not observe any evidence of consistent, dose
      related damage above that seen with vehicle alone.

PMID- 1461346
TI  - Implants containing beta-amyloid protein are not neurotoxic to young and old rat
      brain.
AB  - Because the cellular effects of beta-amyloid protein (beta-AP) are currently
      unclear, we evaluated the in vivo effects of beta-AP implants in a lipid matrix
      to prolong tissue exposure in the brains of rats. Young 3-month-old rats and aged
      18-month-old rats received implants of beta-AP prepared in a cocoa butter matrix
      in the dorsal hippocampus and corpus striatum on one side of the brain and
      implants of either prolactin or scrambled beta-AP peptide in cocoa butter on the
      contralateral side. The old rats also received implants of beta-AP embedded in a
      cholesterol matrix or cholesterol alone in the frontal cortex. The young rats
      were sacrificed 3-4 days after implantation, while the old rats were sacrificed 6
      8 weeks after implantation. Lesion size on the beta-AP implanted side did not
      differ significantly from lesion size observed with control peptides.
      Bielschowsky silver staining revealed few argyrophilic neurites and axonal
      spheroids associated with either beta-AP or control implants. Alz 50 and
      ubiquitin immunoreactivity were not observed. None of the implant sites
      demonstrated cytopathology characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. The results of
      this study indicate that beta-AP implantation into the brains of rats produced no
      consistent effect beyond that seen with control peptide implants.

PMID- 1461347
TI  - beta-Amyloid neurotoxicity: a discussion of in vitro findings.
AB  - Significant advances in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research require definitive,
      reproducible findings from all employed paradigms. Recently, the existing in
      vitro data addressing the possible contribution of beta-amyloid protein to AD
      neuropathology have been the subject of controversy. We summarize and interpret
      existing data and discuss relevant methodological issues. We suggest that in
      vitro data support the conclusion that beta-amyloid peptides decrease the
      viability of cultured neurons and that this effect can be enhanced by subsequent
      insults.

PMID- 1461348
TI  - Solvent effects on beta protein toxicity in vivo.
AB  - Human beta (1-40) and rat beta (1-42) were dissolved in three different solvents
      and stereotaxically injected into rat hippocampus with the contralateral side
      injected with control reverse sequence peptide or vehicle alone. Results at 1
      week showed gross toxicity of the 35% acetonitrile solvent which was markedly
      enhanced by 3 nmol of beta protein but not by reverse sequence peptide. Beta
      peptide in water also appeared more toxic than reverse sequence, but the results
      were less clear cut. In contrast, 3 nmol of beta peptide in a cyclodextrin/PBS
      solution produced no marked short-term toxic effects. Peripheral injection of
      substance P failed to prevent toxicity. We conclude that solvent effects play a
      major role in acute beta protein neurotoxicity.

PMID- 1461349
TI  - The nature and metabolism of potentially amyloidogenic carboxyl-terminal
      fragments of the Alzheimer beta/A4-amyloid precursor protein: some technical
      notes.
AB  - The proteolytic processing and secretion of APP are regulated by protein
      phosphorylation, especially via protein kinase C and protein phosphatases 1
      and/or 2A. Our studies of these regulatory mechanisms have led us to perform
      extensive experimentation on the metabolism of APP carboxyl-terminal fragments,
      using as our system either untransfected, undifferentiated rat pheochromocytoma
      (PC12) cells or APP-baculovirus infected Sf9 cells. We have not assayed APP
      fragments for biological activity in either system. However, we have made
      potentially relevant observations regarding APP carboxyl-terminal fragment
      trafficking. In this note, we review our published and unpublished data in
      relation to published reports from other laboratories using related systems.

PMID- 1461350
TI  - Methodological variables in the assessment of beta amyloid neurotoxicity.
AB  - Cell culture systems for evaluating the biological effects of the beta-amyloid
      protein are potentially important tools in the study of the pathogenesis of
      Alzheimer's disease. In this report, methodological considerations in the
      assessment of beta-amyloid neurotoxicity are discussed. Chronic incubation of
      beta 1-40 in primary human cortical cultures results in progressive neuronal
      degeneration. The neurodegenerative process occurs in association with localized
      deposition of beta-amyloid on the neuronal soma ultimately resulting in the
      formation of compact beta-amyloid deposits. A beta 1-40 preparation from another
      laboratory was tested that did not form neuronal beta-amyloid deposits and was
      not neurotoxic. Thus, the conformational state of the beta 1-40 peptide leading
      to the formation of neuronal amyloid deposits is an important determinant of
      neurotoxicity. Variables in peptide preparation that influence this property may
      account for variation in neurotoxic potency.

PMID- 1461351
TI  - Alz 50 as a reagent to assess animal models of Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - As will be apparent from a reading of the papers included in this issue, one
      reagent that has been used extensively in assessing the effects of the beta/A4
      peptide on rodent neurons is the monoclonal antibody Alz 50. A variety of model
      systems have been employed, in which beta/A4 is delivered to neurons both in
      vitro, and in several different ways, in vivo. While Alz 50 can be a useful
      reagent in these studies, there are limitations to the utility of this antibody,
      and it is important to recognize that appropriate controls must be performed to
      establish the specificity of observed immunoreactivity.

PMID- 1461352
TI  - Commentary and perspective on studies of beta amyloid neurotoxicity.

PMID- 1461353
TI  - beta-Amyloid precursor protein and Alzheimer's disease: the peptide plot
      thickens.

PMID- 1461354
TI  - Toxicity of synthetic A beta peptides and modeling of Alzheimer's disease.

PMID- 1461355
TI  - The dynamic properties of neuronal chromatin are modulated by triiodothyronine.
AB  - The effect of triiodothyronine (T3) on the rate of synthesis of nuclear proteins
      was studied during terminal differentiation of rat cortical neurons cultured in a
      serum-free medium. To this aim total and acid soluble nuclear proteins were
      analyzed by different electrophoretic techniques. Our results show that: 1)
      during maturation in vitro, neuronal nuclei undergo a dramatic change in the rate
      at which different classes of histones and high mobility group (HMG) proteins are
      synthesized; the synthetic activity, measured as incorporation of radioactive
      precursors into nuclear proteins, slows indeed down with age: especially evident
      is the decrease in core histones synthesis; at day 15, on the other hand, HMG 14
      and 17 and ubiquitinated H2A (A24) are synthesized at a high rate, especially in
      T3-treated neurons; 2) neurons treated with T3 show, at any age tested, a higher
      level of lysine incorporation into nuclear proteins; 3) even if during the first
      days of culture neurons synthesize core histones more actively in the presence of
      T3, there is no accumulation of these proteins at later stages, as compared with
      untreated cells. Possible implications of these data and relationship with the
      chromatin rearrangement which accompanies neuronal terminal differentiation are
      discussed.

PMID- 1461356
TI  - Autoradiography of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in cortical and subcortical
      brain regions of C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice.
AB  - Mice of the inbred strains C57BL/6 and DBA/2 show strain-dependent behavioural
      differences which have been correlated with variations in brain cholinergic
      systems. In the present study, the density of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in
      both strains of mice was determined by autoradiographic methods using
      [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) and [3H]pirenzepine as ligands. C57BL/6 mice
      showed a significantly lower [3H]QNB binding level in the frontal cortex by one
      third as compared to DBA/2 mice. In the striatum and the cholinergic
      pontomesencephalic nucleus laterodorsalis tegmenti the [3H]QNB binding was lower
      in C57BL/6 by 28% and 31%, respectively. The [3H]pirenzepine binding level was
      found to be significantly higher in C57BL/6 temporal cortex (by 22%). These
      results are discussed in relation to interstrain differences in cholinergic cell
      density and in the activity of cholinergic enzymes.

PMID- 1461358
TI  - Effect of liposomes on lipid peroxidation and total phospholipids in rabbit
      ischemic spinal cord model.
AB  - The effect of spinal cord ischemia (induced by abdominal aorta ligation for 20
      minutes) on lipid peroxidation and TPL composition was investigated and discussed
      in our previous articles. It is known, that partially reduced species of oxygen
      can be formed under aerobic conditions. For that reason, the effect of ligation
      release for 60 minutes was observed in experimental animals treated with the
      selected liposomes. Administration of CP, (CP+SA) and (CP+Chol) liposomes applied
      30 minutes before 20 minutes ischemia revealed an ameliorating effect on in vivo
      and in vitro Fe-dependent peroxidation manifested by TBA-RS accumulation.
      Combined use of (CP+SA) liposomes with lipophylic form of stobadine (DP 1031) was
      not more effective. Application of CP liposomes directly before the ligation
      release slightly increased the antiradical capacity in spinal cord homogenates
      comparing with not-treated animals. Accumulation of TBA-RS was accompanied by TPL
      degradation during recirculation period but values of TPL after liposomal
      treatment were unaffected.

PMID- 1461357
TI  - Ethacrynic acid and furosemide alter Cl, K, and Na distribution between blood,
      choroid plexus, CSF, and brain.
AB  - Can loop diuretics like ethacrynic acid and furosemide, when administered
      intravenously, significantly alter ion transport and fluid dynamics in CNS? To
      shed light on this unresolved issue, we tested the ability of these agents to
      effect redistribution of Na, K and Cl in adult rat brain. Cl penetration into
      various CNS regions was assessed as the volume of distribution, i.e., uptake, of
      36Cl from blood. Ethacrynic acid and furosemide (50 mg/kg IV) reduced by 20-30%
      the rate of permeation of 36Cl across the blood-CSF barrier, and they elevated
      [K] and [Cl] in choroid plexus (CP) by 15-25%. The loop diuretic-induced buildup
      of K and Cl in CP (lateral and 4th ventricle) was likely a reflection of
      decreased movement of these ions across the apical membrane into CSF. 36Cl
      activity in parietal cortex and pons-medulla decreased in treatment with
      furosemide and ethacrynic acid, due to slowing of Cl transport across blood-brain
      and/or blood-CSF barriers. Our inhibitory findings in intact rats are consistent
      with those from previous in vitro experiments demonstrating diminution by loop
      diuretics of Na, K and Cl transport across isolated CP membranes.

PMID- 1461359
TI  - Long term regulation of nucleoside transport by thyroid hormone (T3) in cultured
      chromaffin cells.
AB  - The adenosine transport in cultured chromaffin cells was increased by the
      presence of triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) throughout the prolonged period studied. The
      Vmax values of this transport obtained in absence and presence of 1 microM T3
      were 36.21 +/- 2.1 and 44.17 +/- 3.5 (means +/- SD) pmol/10(6) cells/min
      respectively for 26 hours incubation-time with the hormone. The Km values were
      not significantly modified. The number of adenosine transporters in cultured
      chromaffin cells, measured by [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBTI) binding, was
      increased by 1 microM T3 for 26 hours incubation-time. The values of binding
      sites per cell were 33,500 +/- 3,000 and 40,153 +/- 3,700 in absence and presence
      of T3 respectively, without changing the Kd constant. When the transport studies
      were carried out in presence of cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis,
      the adenosine transport capacity decreased with a half-life values of 23.9 +/-
      2.8 and 24.3 +/- 2.1 hours both in the presence or absence of T3 respectively.
      When cells were incubated in the presence of both T3 and cycloheximide, not only
      the activatory effect of T3 was completely abolished but also adenosine transport
      was decreased to the same extent as with cycloheximide alone. These results
      indicated that T3 activation of adenosine transport in chromaffin cells required
      the protein-synthesizing mechanism.

PMID- 1461360
TI  - Norepinephrine, dopamine, and 5-HT release from perfused hypothalamus of the rat
      during feeding induced by neuropeptide Y.
AB  - In the unrestrained rat, the hyperphagic-like ingestion of food evoked by the
      sustained elevation of neuropeptide-Y (NPY) in the hypothalamus was correlated
      with the release and turnover of monoaminergic transmitters in this structure. A
      single guide tube was implanted stereotaxically in the perifornical region of the
      hypothalamus for localized push-pull perfusion of an artificial CSF vehicle or
      NPY1-36 in a concentration of 10, 50, or 100 ng/1.0 microliters. After the rat
      was fully satiated, a site reactive to NPY was perfused repeatedly at a rate of
      20 microliters/min for 6.0 min with an interval of 6.0-12 min elapsing between
      each perfusion. Samples of perfusate were analyzed by HPLC with coulometric
      detection for DA, HVA, DOPAC, NE, MHPG, 5-HT, and 5-HIAA. Although control
      perfusions were without effect on feeding or monoamine activity, NPY evoked mean
      cumulative intakes of food of 14 +/- 2.4, 25.6 +/- 3.0 and 26.5 +/- 3.2 g in
      response to 10, 50, or 100 ng/microliter concentrations of NPY, respectively,
      over the 4.0-5.0 hr test interval. HPLC analyses showed that during feeding the
      release of both NE and DA was enhanced significantly. The turnover of both
      catecholamines likewise increased significantly as reflected by the elevated
      levels of MHPG, DOPAC and HVA. However, neither the basal efflux of 5-HT nor its
      turnover, as reflected by the output of 5-HIAA, was affected during feeding
      induced by NPY perfused in the hypothalamus. These results suggest that a
      sustained elevation of NPY in the hypothalamus causes a perturbation in the basal
      activity of NE and DA which are both implicated in the neuronal mechanism
      regulating normal eating behavior. Thus, these catecholamine neurotransmitters
      are envisaged to comprise an intermediary step in the functional role played by
      NPY in the hypothalamus in integrating the control of energy metabolism and
      caloric intake.

PMID- 1461362
TI  - Mitochondrial factors involved in Parkinson's disease by MPTP toxicity in Macaca
      fascicularis and drug effect.
AB  - The maximal rates (Vmax) of some mitochondrial enzyme activities related to
      energy transduction (citrate synthase, succinate dehydrogenase, malate
      dehydrogenase, NADH-cytochrome c reductase, cytochrome oxidase) and amino acid
      metabolism (glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamate-pyruvate- and glutamate
      oxaloacetate- transaminases) were evaluated in non-synaptic ("free") and
      intrasynaptic "light" and "heavy" mitochondria from hippocampus of Macaca
      fascicularis (Cynomolgus monkey). The different mitochondrial populations were
      isolated from the hippocampus of monkeys treated p.o. with dihydroergocryptine at
      a dose of 12 mg/kg/day before and during the induction of a Parkinson's-like
      syndrome by MPTP administration (i.v., 0.3 mg/kg/day for 5 days). The MPTP
      administration modified the activity of some enzymes related to the metabolism of
      glutamate and the activity of succinate dehydrogenase on selected types of
      mitochondria. Pharmacological treatment by dihydroergocryptine promoted return to
      the steady-state levels of most enzymes, demonstrating a protective effect on
      these biochemical parameters.

PMID- 1461361
TI  - Regional effects of neurotensin on the electrically stimulated release of
      [3H]dopamine and [14C]acetylcholine in the rat nucleus accumbens.
AB  - This study has shown that neurotensin (NT) increases the electrically stimulated
      release of [3H]DA to a similar extent in all but the extreme caudolateral area of
      the rat nucleus accumbens and appears to modulate DA release equally in the
      medial and lateral zones of this brain area. The simultaneous release of ACh was
      not significantly affected by NT.

PMID- 1461363
TI  - Soluble enkephalin-degrading enzymes released by lymphomic and erythroleukaemic
      cell lines.
AB  - The possible existence of soluble proteolytic enzymes released by cells of
      lymphomic (U937 and 1301) and erythroleukaemic (K562) lines was studied measuring
      the hydrolysis of 3H-leucine enkephalin in the presence of cell-free supernatants
      obtained from these lines. Results indicate that leu-enkephalin is rapidly
      degraded in the presence of these supernatants, and that enkephalin disappearance
      is paralleled by the formation of peptides that can be interpreted as its
      hydrolysis fragments. To characterize the factors involved in leu-enkephalin
      degradation, cell supernatants were analyzed by ion exchange and by steric
      exclusion chromatography. Data obtained indicate the presence of three groups of
      proteins active in leu-enkephalin degradation: aminopeptidases,
      dypeptidylaminopeptidases and dypeptidylcarboxypeptidases. In all three lines,
      these enzymes are represented by a considerable number of distinct activities.
      The sizable number of soluble enzymes identified and the significant total
      activity observed suggest a possible role in the regulatory degradation of
      informational peptides, as proposed by several groups for the membrane-bound
      proteolytic enzymes of immunocompetent cells.

PMID- 1461365
TI  - Germanium-68 as a possible marker for silicon transport in rat brain.
AB  - Silicon (Si) is an essential trace element normally present in brain and
      cerebrospinal fluid, although the mechanism by which it enters and distributes in
      brain is largely unknown. Due to the short radioactive half-life of 31Si (156
      min) we have investigated the use of 68Germanium (68-Ge, half-life 282 days) as a
      possible marker for Si transport in rat brain over longer periods than are
      possible with 31Si. Adult male anaesthetised rats were given a bolus of 68Ge I.V.
      and arterial blood samples taken during experiments that lasted between 5 min and
      3 days. At termination, the brain was removed and analysed for radioactivity as
      were the plasma samples. Data were analyzed by Graphical Analysis which showed
      that the blood-brain barrier permeability to 68Ge (Kin approximately 10(-4)
      ml/min/g) is similar to that for many non protein-bound electrolytes in plasma
      and that 68Ge fluxes across cerebral capillaries are bidirectional. The
      autoradiographic distribution of 68Ge in brain was homogenous. Our results are in
      agreement with those of previous studies using 31Si or 68Ge, which suggest 68Ge
      may be a useful marker for Si when investigating the role of this element in
      conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases.

PMID- 1461366
TI  - Enhanced GABA release in cerebral cortical slices derived from rats with
      thioacetamide-induced hepatic encephalopathy.
AB  - The release of newly loaded [3H]GABA was studied in slices of different brain
      regions derived from rats in which acute hepatic encephalopathy (HE) was induced
      with a hepatotoxin thioacetamide. HE increased both spontaneous and high (50 mM)
      ammonium chloride-evoked GABA release in cerebral cortical slices by 38% and 50%,
      respectively. No effects of HE were noted in cerebellar or striatal slices. An
      increased release of GABA in the cerebral cortex may contribute to the endogenous
      benzodiazepine-mediated enhancement of GABAergic tone, which is thought to be
      partly responsible for the pathophysiological mechanism of HE.

PMID- 1461367
TI  - Velocity of Ellman's reaction and its implication for kinetic studies in the
      millisecond time range.
AB  - A detailed study of the velocity of the reaction between Ellman's reagent and
      thiocholine was undertaken, in order to test the possibilities of this reaction
      as a detection method for the earlier stages of cholinesterases reactions.
      Experiments were carried out on a stopped-flow apparatus with a built-in
      spectrophotometer. The obtained experimental data were analyzed by fitting the
      data to theoretical kinetic equations derived for the reaction. In this way, a
      complete kinetic characterization of the reaction was obtained. An important
      practical result derived from our investigations is the finding that, under most
      experimental conditions, the Ellman's reaction is more than sufficiently rapid as
      a detection method. However, in the case of reactions in the time scale of 200
      milliseconds or less, this being 5 times the half life of Ellman's reaction at
      standard conditions, one has to consider the interference of this reaction with
      the enzyme reaction itself.

PMID- 1461368
TI  - Structure of hypothalamic coronaro-constrictory peptide factors.
AB  - The following peptide structure in 3 of 5 coronaro-constrictory peptide factors
      isolated from bovine hypothalamus was determined by amino acid analysis and Edman
      degradation: 1) (P1)--Val-Val-Tyr-Pro-Trp; 2) (P2)--Val-Val-Tyr-Pro-Trp-Thr; 3)
      (P3)--Leu-Val-Val-Tyr-Pro-Trp-Thr. A computer search for these amino acid
      sequences revealed that these peptides represent fragments 33-37; 33-38; 32-38 of
      the beta-chain of bovine hemoglobin. Solid phase peptide synthesis of 2 peptides
      (P2 and P3) was carried out. It was established that synthetic peptides had the
      properties of coronaro-constrictory peptides. The possibility of the formation of
      hypothalamic coronaro-constrictory peptides in vivo is discussed.

PMID- 1461369
TI  - Evaluation of the mechanisms by which gamma-amino-butyric acid in association
      with phosphatidylserine exerts an antiepileptic effect in the rat.
AB  - The i.p. injection in rats of GABA (740 mg/Kg) after sonication with an equal
      amount of phosphatidylserine (PS) has an antiepileptic effect. The injection of
      plain GABA has no such an effect. Blood, brain and synaptosomal accumulation of
      exogenous labeled GABA under the two circumstances are evaluated. In the case of
      GABA/PS injection there is a higher passage of the exogenous labeled
      neurotransmitter into the blood and brain nerve endings (synaptosomes). A higher
      synaptosomal accumulation of the exogenous labeled neurotransmitter is found even
      when GABA and PS are injected separately. Since these accumulation increases
      occur at a time when there is the antiepileptic effect, they seem relevant to it.
      Our interpretation of the chain of the events resulting in the antiepileptic
      action is that the phospholipid facilitates from the beginning the first passage
      of the exogenous neurotransmitter form the peritoneum to the blood. Then a higher
      passage to the brain tissue and eventually to the GABA-ergic nerve endings
      ensues. The brisker accumulation of the exogenous neurotransmitter in the nerve
      endings could be at the basis of a more efficient GABA-ergic inhibitory control
      in the brain.

PMID- 1461364
TI  - Neuronal cell cultures: a tool for investigations in developmental neurobiology.
AB  - The aim of this review is to describe environmental requirements for survival of
      neuronal cells in culture, and secondly to survey the complex interplay between
      hormones, neurotrophic factors, transport- and extracellular matrix- proteins,
      which characterize the developmental program of differentiating neurons. An
      overall reconsideration of the literature in this vast field is above the limits
      of the present paper; since progress and refinement in the techniques of neuronal
      cell cultures have paralleled the advancement in Developmental Neurobiology, we
      will run instead through the main steps which form the conceptual framework of
      neuronal cell cultures.

PMID- 1461370
TI  - Muscarinic receptor subtypes in bovine adrenal medulla.
AB  - Catecholamine secretion in the bovine adrenal medulla is evoked largely by
      nicotinic receptor activation. However, bovine adrenal medulla also contain
      muscarinic receptors that mediate several cell responses. To understand the
      physiological role of muscarinic receptors in the bovine adrenal medulla it is
      important to identify the pharmacological subtypes present in this tissue. For
      this, we analyzed the abilities of different selective muscarinic antagonists in
      displacing the binding of the non-selective antagonist [3H] quinuclidinyl
      benzylate to an enriched plasma membrane fraction prepared from bovine adrenal
      medulla. All the selective antagonists bind at least two bindings sites with
      different affinities. The binding profile of the sites with high proportion is
      similar to the M2 subtype and those present in low proportion have a M1 profile.
      However, some variation in the proportion of the sites for the different ligands
      suggest the presence of the third pharmacological subtype (M3). We conclude that
      the sites in high proportion (60-80%) correspond to M2 muscarinic subtypes, and
      the rest is constituted by M1 plus M3 subtypes. The presence of multiplicity of
      subtypes in the adrenal medulla membranes suggests a diversity of functions of
      muscarinic receptors in the adrenal gland.

PMID- 1461371
TI  - D-penicillamine affects lipid peroxidation and iron content in the rat brain
      cortex.
AB  - D-Penicillamine, a trifunctional amino acid known for its ability to form metal
      complexes and for being a radical scavenger, has been investigated "in vitro" and
      "in vivo" in the rat brain cortex. At 50 microM the drug facilitated lipid
      hydroperoxides and TBARS formation in brain cortex homogenates, while at higher
      concentrations a clear inhibition of the lipid peroxidative process was observed.
      The activity of the D-penicillamine (25 and 50 mg/Kg i.p.) was evaluated "in
      vivo" after a 7-day treatment in rats in whose brain cortex a slow process of
      lipid peroxidation was induced by iron-saccharate injection. Lipid
      hydroperoxides, lipid soluble fluorescent compounds and the iron content of both
      iron-injected and contralateral hemicortices showed a significant decrease in
      comparison to rats untreated with D-penicillamine. The higher dose also induced
      in normal rats a significant decrease in basal TBARS and iron content of the
      brain cortex. In the iron-injected cortex the observed Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio was
      significantly different from that of normal rats. On the contrary ratios obtained
      form D-penicillamine treated animals were higher in comparison to both normal and
      iron-injected animals. These results suggest that D-penicillamine, acting as a
      reducing agent, inhibits the iron redox system and, as a chelating agent, can
      remove metal from action sites where lipid peroxidation may occur.

PMID- 1461372
TI  - A unique hydrophobic domain of rat brain globular acetylcholinesterase for
      binding to cell membranes.
AB  - Both salt-soluble and detergent-soluble rat brain globular acetylcholinesterases
      (SS- and DS- AChE EC 3.1.1.7) are amphiphiles, as shown by detergent dependency
      of enzymatic activity and binding to liposomes. Proteinase K and papain treatment
      transformed SS-AChE and DS-AChE into forms that, in absence of detergent, no
      longer aggregated nor bound to liposomes. In contrast, phosphatidylinositol
      specific phospholipase C had no effect on these properties. Labeling DS-AChE with
      3-(trifluoromethyl)-3-(m-(125I)-iodophenyl) diazirine ([125I]TID) revealed, by
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions, one single band of
      69 kD apparent molecular mass. The same pattern was previously obtained with
      Bolton and Hunter reagent-labeled enzyme. Proteinase K treatment transformed the
      11 S [125I]TID labeled AChE into a 4 S form which no longer showed 125I
      radioactivity and was unable to bind to liposomes. These results are compatible
      with the existence of a hydrophobic segment present both on salt-soluble and
      detergent-soluble 11 S AChE as well as on the minor forms 4 S and 7 S. This
      segment is not linked to the catalytic subunits by disulfide bounds in contrast
      to the 20 kD non-catalytic subunit described by Inestrosa et al.

PMID- 1461374
TI  - New insights into the cause of Parkinson's disease.
AB  - Current concepts as to the cause of Parkinson's disease (PD) suggest an inherited
      predisposition to environmental or endogenous toxic agents. Study of the
      substantia nigra after death in PD has highlighted three major changes: (1)
      evidence of oxidative stress and depletion of reduced glutathione; (2) high
      levels of total iron, with reduced ferritin buffering; and (3) mitochondrial
      complex I deficiency. Which of these is the primary event, generating a secondary
      cascade of changes culminating in nigral cell death, is unknown. In
      presymptomatic Lewy body-positive control brains, the nigra shows depletion of
      reduced glutathione content and, possibly, a reduction of complex I activity.
      Whatever the significance of these various abnormalities, be they causal or
      secondary, they provide novel targets for the development of new strategies to
      treat the cause of PD.

PMID- 1461373
TI  - [3H] cocaine labels a binding site associated with the serotonin transporter in
      guinea pig brain: allosteric modulation by paroxetine.
AB  - We studied the characteristics of [3H]cocaine binding to membranes prepared from
      whole guinea pig brain. Cocaine binding was specific and saturable. A one-site
      binding model fit the data adequately: the Kd value of [3H]cocaine was 44 nM with
      a Bmax value of 280 fmol/mg protein. The rank order of potency for the
      [3H]cocaine binding site was paroxetine > clomipramine > (-)-cocaine > fluoxetine
      > mazindol > desipramine > GBR12909 > phencyclidine > benztropine > GBR12935 >
      (+)-cocaine. The IC50 values of these drugs for inhibition of [3H]cocaine binding
      were highly correlated with their IC50 values for inhibition of [3H]5-HT uptake
      into synaptosomes prepared from whole guinea pig brain. High affinity 5-HT uptake
      inhibitors produced dose-dependent wash-resistant (pseudoirreversible) inhibition
      of [3H]cocaine binding. The wash-resistant inhibition produced by paroxetine was
      due to an increase in the Kd of [3H]cocaine binding sites, and was accompanied by
      an increase in the dissociation rate, consistent with an allosteric mechanism.
      These studies suggest that, using membranes prepared from whole guinea pig brain,
      [3H]cocaine labels a binding site associated with serotonin transporter and that
      paroxetine and cocaine bind to different sites on the serotonin transporter.

PMID- 1461375
TI  - Arterial delivery of myoblasts to skeletal muscle.
AB  - One of the major limitations of myoblast implantation as a therapy for muscular
      disease is that multiple injections by intramuscular implantation may be required
      for widespread delivery of cells. Also, some sites (eg, the diaphragm) are
      relatively inaccessible to injection. As an alternative, we have undertaken intra
      arterial administration of myoblasts. For these experiments, we used donor cell
      myoblasts from the immortal L6 cell line labeled with lacZ via the beta-gal-at
      gal retrovirus. In our model, target rat skeletal muscle (tibialis anterior [TA])
      was injured using 0.5 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine and 15 IU of hyaluronidase; saline
      was injected into the contralateral side as a control. We infused 3 x 10(6) lacZ
      positive cells into the abdominal aorta of previously injured, immunosuppressed
      (cyclosporine A) rats. At 7, 14, and 28 days, TA, liver, heart, lung, and spleen
      were examined for lacZ staining. In both the injured and control muscles, a few
      differentiated, lacZ-positive muscle cells were present, both singly and in
      groups, at each time point. These studies demonstrate that genetically labeled,
      transformed myoblasts may migrate from the arterial circulation to muscle and
      fuse there to form differentiated muscle cells. It is conceivable that intra
      arterial delivery of myoblasts may have a role in the therapy of selected
      diseases of skeletal muscle.

PMID- 1461376
TI  - Hemimasticatory spasm: clinical and electrophysiologic observations.
AB  - Hemimasticatory spasm is a rare disorder of the trigeminal nerve that produces
      involuntary jaw closure due to paroxysmal unilateral contraction of jaw-closing
      muscles. We report three patients with this disorder. Electrophysiologic studies
      demonstrated normal blink and masseter reflexes. The masseter inhibitory reflex
      was absent during periods of spasm. Needle electromyography demonstrated
      irregular bursts of motor unit potentials that were identical to the pattern
      observed in hemifacial spasm. The electrophysiologic findings suggest ectopic
      excitation of the trigeminal motor root or its nucleus, an abnormality that is
      analogous to ectopic excitation of the facial nerve in hemifacial spasm. One
      patient improved temporarily with surgery, one improved while on treatment with
      carbamazepine, and another responded favorably to botulinum toxin injection.

PMID- 1461377
TI  - Cerebellar diaschisis revisited: pontine hypometabolism and dentate sparing.
AB  - A unilateral supratentorial lesion may cause hypometabolism in the contralateral
      cerebellar hemisphere (crossed cerebellar diaschisis). We analyzed glucose
      metabolism, measured by PET-FDG, in the posterior fossa in 67 patients (78 PET
      studies) with primary unilateral supratentorial brain tumors selected for
      visually obvious metabolic asymmetry in the cerebellar hemispheres. We found that
      glucose utilization was 17% lower in the contralateral cerebellar cortex
      (compared with the ipsilateral one), consistent with the selection criterion, and
      19% lower in the ipsilateral pons, wherein lie the first order synapses of the
      corticopontocerebellar pathway. This finding helps to validate the prevalent view
      that cerebellar diaschisis is due to interruption of afferent input from the
      corticopontocerebellar pathway. However, glucose metabolism in the contralateral
      dentate nucleus was relatively preserved--only 2% less than the ipsilateral
      dentate. This "dentate sparing" suggests preservation of afferent input to the
      largest of the deep cerebellar nuclei from the Purkinje cells in the cortex,
      despite interruption of the major excitatory input to the Purkinje cells.

PMID- 1461378
TI  - Vertigo and the anterior inferior cerebellar artery syndrome.
AB  - We present two patients with clinical features of infarction in the distribution
      of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) who had vertigo as an isolated
      symptom for several months prior to infarction. Both had risk factors for
      cerebrovascular disease and other episodes of transient neurologic symptoms not
      associated with vertigo. At the time of infarction they developed vertigo,
      unilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, facial numbness, and hemiataxia. MRI
      identified hyperintense lesions in the lateral pons and middle cerebellar
      peduncle on T2-weighted images. Audiometry and electronystagmography documented
      absent auditory and vestibular function on the affected side. Since the blood
      supply to the inner ear and the vestibulocochlear nerve arises from AICA, a
      combination of peripheral and central symptoms and signs is characteristic of the
      AICA infarction syndrome. The vertigo that preceded infarction may have resulted
      from transient ischemia to the inner ear or the vestibular nerve.

PMID- 1461379
TI  - Accuracy and interobserver reliability of scalp ictal EEG.
AB  - We studied the accuracy and reliability of scalp ictal EEG in 137 complex partial
      seizures (119 temporal and 18 extratemporal) in 35 patients in whom we knew the
      correct site of seizure origin because all patients had been seizure-free for
      more than 2 years after seizure surgery. Three electroencephalographers
      independently determined side of seizure origin based on activity at onset of
      electrographic seizure (ASO), rhythmic theta and alpha (RTA), postictal findings
      (PIF), and the electrographic seizure as a whole. When all seizures were
      analyzed, including those with generalized features or obscured by artifact, we
      determined side of seizure onset correctly in 76% to 83% of temporal seizures and
      47% to 65% of extratemporal seizures. In most of the remainder, a lateralization
      judgment was impossible. When analysis was confined to those seizures in which
      lateralization was possible, we correctly lateralized 93% to 99% of temporal
      seizures and 89% to 100% of extratemporal seizures. Interobserver reliability was
      excellent. RTA and PIF were more accurate than ASO. RTA was significantly more
      common in temporal seizures. Our data indicate that lateralization by scalp EEG
      is highly accurate and reliable.

PMID- 1461380
TI  - A clinical staging classification for type C Niemann-Pick disease.
AB  - Analysis of the temporal sequence of neurologic events, neurophysiologic
      abnormalities, and longevity in 36 Niemann-Pick type C patients revealed two
      clinical subgroups with five stages of severity within each group. Patients with
      a preschool onset (group I; n = 18) had a higher mortality than did patients with
      a school-age onset (group II; n = 18). An asymptomatic phase (stage 0) was
      defined by biochemical and histopathologic evidence of disease. The initial
      manifestations of stage 1 were a movement disorder (group I) and cognitive
      difficulties (group II) accompanied by impaired vertical saccadic eye movements
      and abnormal acoustic reflexes. Stage 2 was characterized by the sequential
      occurrence of vertical supranuclear gaze palsy (VSGP), cognitive difficulties,
      and dysarthria in group I and a movement disorder, VSGP, and dysarthria in group
      II. Pyramidal tract signs and abnormal brainstem auditory evoked responses
      defined stage 3 in both groups. Stage 4 culminated in a nonambulant, vegetative
      state.

PMID- 1461381
TI  - Possible use of CSF glycosphingolipids for the diagnosis and therapeutic
      monitoring of lysosomal storage diseases.
AB  - We used a high-performance liquid chromatography method to measure CSF
      gangliosides, neutral glycolipids, and sulfatides in patients with lysosomal
      storage disorders. These measurements could be done on less than 1 milliliter of
      CSF. In patients with GM1 gangliosidosis, GM1 ganglioside was increased, and in
      GM2 gangliosidosis patients, GM2 ganglioside was increased in CSF. Sulfatides
      were variably increased in CSF early in the course of the disease and appeared to
      be a means of monitoring patients, following bone marrow transplantation. Fabry's
      disease patients showed an increase in globotriaosylceramide, but Krabbe's
      disease patients did not demonstrate an increase in galactosylceramide. This
      study suggests that CSF glycosphingolipid measurements may prove helpful in the
      diagnosis and monitoring of lysosomal storage diseases.

PMID- 1461382
TI  - Trisomy 17p associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy type 1A phenotype:
      evidence for gene dosage as a mechanism in CMT1A.
AB  - Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy type 1A (CMT1A) is associated with a DNA
      duplication on chromosome 17, band p11.2, resulting in partial trisomy for this
      region in CMT1A patients. The 17p11.2 duplication may lead to the CMT1A phenotype
      either through disruption of a gene at the duplication breakpoint junction or by
      trisomic dosage and overexpression of a gene within the duplication. To test the
      latter model, we evaluated a patient with complete translocation trisomy 17p for
      signs of CMT1A. In addition to the dysmorphic features seen in trisomy 17p, a
      neurologic examination and electrophysiologic studies detected a demyelinating
      neuropathy, compatible with CMT1A. A karyotype on the patient's father found a
      balanced translocation [t(14;17)] with breakpoints on chromosome 17 in either
      band p11.1 or proximal p11.2. An analysis of the patient's DNA confirmed trisomy
      17p and mapped the translocation breakpoint to a region in 17p11.2, proximal to
      the duplication breakpoint in CMT1A. Our observations in this patient with
      trisomy 17p are relevant to an understanding of the genetic mechanism in CMT1A
      and provide strong evidence that gene dosage through segmental trisomy for
      17p11.2 results in the CMT1A phenotype.

PMID- 1461383
TI  - Strong correlation between the number of CAG repeats in androgen receptor genes
      and the clinical onset of features of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy.
AB  - X-linked spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a motor neuron disease
      associated with androgen insensitivity, is caused by androgen receptor gene
      mutations with an increased number of tandem CAG repeats in exon 1. We
      investigated the increased number of CAG repeats in androgen receptor genes of 19
      SBMA patients and found that this correlated strongly with the age at onset of
      muscle weakness. Thus, SBMA is the first genetic disease in which a strong
      correlation between the degree of genetic abnormality (number of CAG tandem
      repeats) and clinical phenotypic expression is demonstrable. The results further
      indicate that androgen gene mutation is directly involved in the degeneration of
      motor neurons.

PMID- 1461384
TI  - Severe phenytoin hypersensitivity with myopathy: a case report.

PMID- 1461385
TI  - Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis in a child with protein S deficiency.

PMID- 1461386
TI  - Denervation in paraplegia.

PMID- 1461387
TI  - Abscesses and thalamic pain.

PMID- 1461388
TI  - [Etiopathogenic, physiopathologic, and clinical aspects of perianesthetic
      malignant hyperthermia and related forms].

PMID- 1461389
TI  - [Susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia: diagnostic aspects and practical
      implications].

PMID- 1461390
TI  - [Prevention of the clinical forms of malignant hyperthermia and safe anesthesia].

PMID- 1461391
TI  - [Death caused by malignant hyperthermia and approaches of the Italian judiciary].

PMID- 1461392
TI  - [Guidelines for the treatment of the "hyperthermic" patient: the S.I.A.A.R.T.I.
      recommendations"].

PMID- 1461393
TI  - Regional anesthesia in pain therapy.

PMID- 1461394
TI  - [Peripheral block with electric neurostimulation].

PMID- 1461395
TI  - [Loco-regional anesthesia and postoperative pain].

PMID- 1461396
TI  - [Free radicals and lipoperoxidation].

PMID- 1461397
TI  - [Lipoperoxidation in multiple organ failure: experimental model].

PMID- 1461398
TI  - [Cytokines and lazaroids].

PMID- 1461399
TI  - [Protective action of 21-aminosteroids in post-ischemic shock (splanchnic artery
      occlusion). Experimental model].
AB  - In anesthetized Wistar female rats a post-ischemic shock have been induced by
      splanchnic artery occlusion (S.A.O.). In these condition all animals died at 90
      min., past release of occlusion and splanchnic reperfusion. 100% of pretreated
      rats with 21-Aminosteroids (U74389F) at doses of 1.5 mg.kg-1 survive over 3-6
      hours, and 50% over 12 hours. Moreover, TNF alpha in these animals decrease
      significantly (p < 0.05). These results shown that 21-Aminosteroids can cause
      protective activity on lipoperoxidative damage in post-ischemic shock.

PMID- 1461400
TI  - [Anesthesia and pregnancy in oral medicine].

PMID- 1461401
TI  - [Relative analgesia with nitrogen monoxide in oral dentistry].

PMID- 1461402
TI  - [Conscious sedation with benzodiazepine].

PMID- 1461403
TI  - [Difficult intubation in maxillo-facial surgery].

PMID- 1461404
TI  - [Objectives in cardiopulmonary resuscitation education].

PMID- 1461405
TI  - [Treatment of anaphylactic shock].

PMID- 1461406
TI  - [Systemic complications of local anesthetics].

PMID- 1461407
TI  - [Cardiologic emergencies in oral medicine].

PMID- 1461408
TI  - [Anesthesiologic approach and prevention in dental procedures in patients with
      blood coagulation disorders].

PMID- 1461409
TI  - [Cranio-facial neuralgia and problems in oral medicine. Value of a
      multidisciplinary approach].

PMID- 1461410
TI  - [Tutorial: "monitoring depth of anesthesia"].

PMID- 1461411
TI  - [Spinal anesthesia and prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism. Results of a
      national survey].

PMID- 1461412
TI  - [Pain treatment in the patient with vascular disease].

PMID- 1461413
TI  - [Non-surgical treatment of peripheral vascular diseases: diabetic foot and
      hyperbaric oxygenation].

PMID- 1461414
TI  - [General anesthesia in carotid endarterectomy].

PMID- 1461415
TI  - [Methods for protecting the spinal cord in surgery of the thoraco-abdominal
      aorta].

PMID- 1461416
TI  - [Perioperative pressure variations during carotid thromboendarterectomy].

PMID- 1461417
TI  - [The neuromuscular plate: up-date synthesis].

PMID- 1461418
TI  - ["Instrumental methods of transplantation legislation"].

PMID- 1461419
TI  - [Behavior of the rotatory circuit with the techniques in low flows and closed
      circuit].

PMID- 1461420
TI  - [Monitoring and oxygen consumption in closed-circuit anesthesia].

PMID- 1461421
TI  - [Preoperative evaluation of the patient].

PMID- 1461422
TI  - [Immunotherapy of sepsis with the anti-endotoxin monoclonal antibody Centoxin. .
      Preliminary results of the Italian experience].

PMID- 1461423
TI  - ["Biosis--historic evolution of a concept"].

PMID- 1461424
TI  - ["Is it adviceable to code the limits of recovery in resuscitation?].

PMID- 1461425
TI  - [Vegetative state: diagnostic aspects and ethical problems].

PMID- 1461426
TI  - [The anesthetist-resuscitator between ethics--biotechnology and juridical
      problems].

PMID- 1461427
TI  - [The blood transfusion program in anesthesia: introduction and presentation].

PMID- 1461428
TI  - [Physiology of the low hematocrit].

PMID- 1461429
TI  - [Controversial elements in a blood transfusion program].

PMID- 1461430
TI  - [Role of the transfusionist in the blood transfusion program in anesthesia].

PMID- 1461431
TI  - [Role of the anesthetist in a blood transfusion program].

PMID- 1461432
TI  - [Volemic support in preoperative blood donation].

PMID- 1461433
TI  - [The hospital blood transfusion committee: experiences and proposals].

PMID- 1461434
TI  - [Validity of cardioactive glycosides].

PMID- 1461435
TI  - [The new inotropic agents].

PMID- 1461436
TI  - [Phosphodiesterase inhibitors].

PMID- 1461437
TI  - [Inotropic agents - transport and consumption of oxygen].

PMID- 1461438
TI  - [Inotropic treatment in heart transplantation].
AB  - The safe conduct of anesthesia and intensive care for heart transplant recipient
      requires a sound understanding of the pathophysiology of advanced cardiac failure
      through knowledge of anesthetic and cardiovascular pharmacology and an
      appreciation of the altered physiologic and pharmacologic responses of acutely
      denervated and transplanted heart. The most serious dysfunction is acute
      distension and failure of the transplanted heart's right ventricle. Hemodynamic
      monitoring and TEE are useful in the management of inotropic support during heart
      transplantation.

PMID- 1461439
TI  - [Current aspects and perspectives of the therapy with inotropic agents].

PMID- 1461440
TI  - [Weaning from mechanical artificial ventilation in chronic bronchopneumopathies].

PMID- 1461441
TI  - [Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the most recent curare agents].

PMID- 1461442
TI  - [Clinical semeiotics of curarization].

PMID- 1461443
TI  - [Instrumental monitoring and decurarization].

PMID- 1461444
TI  - [Is priming a useful method?].

PMID- 1461445
TI  - [Pathologic conditions that interfere with the action of curare-like agents].

PMID- 1461446
TI  - [Clinical nutrition today: metabolic and nutritional effects].

PMID- 1461447
TI  - [Enteral nutrition in intensive care units: advantages of a high calorie density
      diet].

PMID- 1461448
TI  - [Nutritional support in patients with thoracic trauma: usefulness of an enteral
      diet with a high fat content].

PMID- 1461449
TI  - [Kinetics of lipid emulsions].

PMID- 1461450
TI  - [Effects of lipid emulsions on the defense mechanisms of the host].

PMID- 1461451
TI  - [Effectiveness of early enteral nutrition in the prevention of stress ulcer].

PMID- 1461452
TI  - [Hypothermia in anesthesia, resuscitation, and in emergency situations].

PMID- 1461453
TI  - [Myofascial pain syndromes of the head and neck. Nosographic assessment].

PMID- 1461454
TI  - [Myofascial pain syndromes of the head and neck: differential diagnosis].

PMID- 1461455
TI  - [Changes in the tonic postural system in subjects with evidence of pain trigger
      points of the head and neck].

PMID- 1461456
TI  - [Anesthesia of the epileptic patient].

PMID- 1461457
TI  - [Anesthesiologic treatment of the patient with cerebrovascular insufficiency].

PMID- 1461458
TI  - [Myorelaxants in neurologic diseases].

PMID- 1461459
TI  - [Resuscitation treatment in status epilepticus].

PMID- 1461460
TI  - [Diffuse axonal injury (DAI): diagnostic assessment with nuclear magnetic
      resonance (NMR)].

PMID- 1461461
TI  - [Standards and legislation of hyperbaric medical services].

PMID- 1461462
TI  - [Critical monitoring in hyperbaric therapy: analysis of the problems].

PMID- 1461463
TI  - [Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in severe infections].

PMID- 1461464
TI  - [The role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in carbon monoxide poisoning under the
      light of the scientific literature of the past 70 years].

PMID- 1461465
TI  - [Compartment syndrome: assessment and role of hyperbaric oxygen].

PMID- 1461466
TI  - [The treatment of arterial gas embolism with hyperbaric oxygenation].

PMID- 1461467
TI  - [Diagnosis of the cerebral ischemic syndromes and hyperbaric oxygen therapy].

PMID- 1461468
TI  - [Hyperbaric emergency: concepts of physiopathology].

PMID- 1461469
TI  - Haemodynamics of intravenous anaesthetics.

PMID- 1461470
TI  - [Intravenous anesthetics and respiratory mechanics].

PMID- 1461471
TI  - Assessment of possible anaphylactic reactions to i.v. anaesthetic agents.

PMID- 1461472
TI  - [Different anaesthetic technique: conduction and outcome from multidisciplinary
      procedures].
AB  - Different anesthetic techniques in perioperative times (intraoperative induction
      and maintenance of anaesthesia, recovery and 24 and 48 postoperative hours) were
      evaluated in 100 patients underwent general surgery. After randomization, 4
      groups were clinically and statistically compared according to anesthesia
      technique (propofol + fentanyl in air/O2; isoflurane + fentanyl in air/O2;
      propofol + fentanyl in N2O/O2; isoflurane in N2O/O2). The results show that
      conduction of anesthesia without N2O is difficult; but the adequacy of induction
      and maintenance of anesthesia, the speed of recovery and the quality in the
      postoperative period show no difference in the anesthesia techniques used.

PMID- 1461473
TI  - Obstetric anesthesia.

PMID- 1461474
TI  - [Cardiac anaesthesia: drugs and techniques].

PMID- 1461475
TI  - Anaesthesia for neurosurgical procedures.

PMID- 1461476
TI  - A.R.D.S.

PMID- 1461477
TI  - Intravenous anaesthetics in anaesthesia and ICU: cerebral mapping, TCD and ICP.

PMID- 1461478
TI  - [Sedative therapy in intensive care units: hormonal and metabolic implications].

PMID- 1461479
TI  - Critically ill patients and fat emulsions.
AB  - In critically ill patients, lipid tolerance may be impaired. In ICU, patients are
      usually given TPN including fat emulsions. If sedation with propofol is given
      simultaneously the fat load increases and may exceed the maximal clearing
      capacity of exogenous fat emulsion unless the administration of the parenteral
      fat is adjusted to take account of the lipid contained in propofol. An
      accumulation of fat may result in the so-called 'fat overload syndrome'. Close
      monitoring of serum triglyceride concentration is therefore recommended to avoid
      fat overload.

PMID- 1461480
TI  - [Safety in pediatric intravenous anesthesia].

PMID- 1461481
TI  - [Cytokines in ICU. Our experience].

PMID- 1461482
TI  - [The anesthesiology work station].

PMID- 1461483
TI  - [Specialized applications and information systems].

PMID- 1461484
TI  - In search of quality--people and processes towards a unified dataset.

PMID- 1461485
TI  - Computer controlled drug infusion--value and safety.

PMID- 1461486
TI  - [Bioethics: definition of death].

PMID- 1461487
TI  - [Organ transplantation in Italy and donation problems].

PMID- 1461488
TI  - [Current laws as a technical and organizational guide for organ procurement and
      transplantations].

PMID- 1461489
TI  - [Clinical diagnosis of the status of brain death].

PMID- 1461490
TI  - [Brain death status and spinal reflexes].

PMID- 1461491
TI  - [Radioisotope techniques for the diagnosis of brain death].

PMID- 1461492
TI  - [Intracranial flowmetry study in coma and brain death].

PMID- 1461493
TI  - [SjBO2 and biohumoral parameters in coma and death].

PMID- 1461494
TI  - [Preliminary results of a multicenter study on cure profiles and outcome in
      patients treated in intensive care units. GiViTI. Gruppo Italiano per la
      Valutazione degli Interventi in Terapia Intensiva].

PMID- 1461496
TI  - Experimental therapy of acute brain neurodegeneration.

PMID- 1461495
TI  - Oxygen derived free radicals and excitatory amino acids in the pathogenesis of
      ischemia induced neuronal death.

PMID- 1461497
TI  - Cerebral plasticity: the neurosurgical viewpoint.

PMID- 1461498
TI  - [Neurosedation and neuroprotection].

PMID- 1461499
TI  - [Cytokines and ARDS].

PMID- 1461500
TI  - [Physiopathology of pulmonary embolism].

PMID- 1461501
TI  - [Pulmonary embolism in orthopedics and traumatology].

PMID- 1461502
TI  - [Pulmonary embolism in obstetrics and gynecology].

PMID- 1461503
TI  - [Pulmonary embolism: combined diagnostic imaging].

PMID- 1461504
TI  - [Radioisotope techniques in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism].

PMID- 1461505
TI  - [Pulmonary embolism: therapeutic strategies in intensive care].

PMID- 1461506
TI  - [Evolution of circuits in anesthesia].

PMID- 1461507
TI  - [Semi-open circuit, low flows, closed circuit: anesthesia circuits].

PMID- 1461508
TI  - [Clinical use of minimal flows].

PMID- 1461509
TI  - [Operating room pollution during closed-circuit anesthesia].

PMID- 1461510
TI  - [Acute respiratory insufficiency in AIDS in intensive care].

PMID- 1461511
TI  - [Therapeutic protocols in resuscitation in patients with AIDS].

PMID- 1461512
TI  - [Respiratory resuscitation in AIDS today].

PMID- 1461513
TI  - [Esophageal achalasia: cardiomyotomy or pneumatic dilatation?].
AB  - Sixty-four patients with achalasia of the esophagus were surgically treated
      during the period 1973-1990. They were analyzed a late follow-up (mean = 78
      months) by means of subjective and objective parameters. The Authors emphasize
      the efficiency of the diagnostic approach so that surgical treatment offers
      better results. The surgical technique of choice consists of an anterior
      esophagomyotomy (extending from 6 cm above the esophagogastric junction down to 1
      2 cm below it) with the addition of an anterior Dor antireflux procedure through
      a laparotomy. The other therapeutic approach to achalasia is pneumatic dilatation
      of lower esophageal sphincter. A retrospective comparison of two different
      treatments is made through the analysis of the literature (medlars 1986-1990).
      Relief of dysphagia is reported in 92.78% of patients treated by myotomy and in
      78.71% of those treated by forceful dilatation. The morbidity rate is greater
      after pneumatic dilatation (6% vs 5%) and the mortality rate is 1.1% after
      myotomy and 0.2% after dilatation. There are not rigorous criteria of choice
      between the two treatment methods but the Authors indicate that Heller's myotomy
      with an antireflux procedure achieve better and lasting results.

PMID- 1461514
TI  - [Carcinoma of the surgically treated stomach. Our experience].
AB  - Between 1977 and 1991, 12 patients (11 males and 1 female; median age of 62.7
      years) with gastric stump cancer were observed. All patients were previously
      operated for benign gastric (4) or duodenal (8) ulcer disease. Median duration
      interval between first operation and the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma was 22.0
      years (range 7-39 years). Only in 5 patients total gastrectomy was carried out.
      Two out of these 5 patients are still alive at 2 and 24 months after surgery,
      while the median survival of remaining patients was about 9 months. The
      usefulness of close follow-up and digestive endoscopy in peptic ulcer patients
      who had surgical treatment is considered in order to detect an early gastric
      stump cancer.

PMID- 1461515
TI  - [Leiomyoma of the esophagus].
AB  - In this paper the Authors report a review of the clinical records from 1972 to
      1985 of the Institut of IV Clinica Chirurgica of Rome of esophageal leiomyoma. We
      report on 7 cases: three males and four females. Their ages ranged from 37 to 78
      years (mean 54 years). The most frequent symptoms were dysphagia (71.4%), loss
      weight (57.1%) and slight epigastralgia (42.8%). Barium meal, esophagoscopy,
      esophageal manometry, TAC are the most sensitive procedures for a correct
      preoperative diagnosis. The therapy of choice is surgical treatment. However
      surgery is conservative: extramucosal enucleation of the leiomyoma is the
      procedures of choice. The postoperative course was free of complications, the
      long-term results were excellent.

PMID- 1461516
TI  - [Acute disorders of the biliary tract in geriatric patients].
AB  - Acute pathologies of the biliary tract in geriatric patients were examined in
      this study taking into account the major causes, treatment used and results
      obtained. All patients aged over 65 who had been hospitalised during the past 17
      years for acute pathologies of the biliary tract (564 cases, equivalent to 34.2%
      of all in-patients suffering from acute biliary pathologies) were included in the
      study. These patients were then subdivided into 3rd and 4th age groups (65-74 and
      < 75 years respectively). The results obtained in the 3rd age group (267
      patients, 60%) showed the greatest number of cases of inflammatory lithiasic
      disease of the cholecystus (61.2%) and VBP (17.7%), whereas 45 patients,
      equivalent to 49.5%, presented tumours with jaundice. Out of a total of 179 cases
      in patients in the 4th age group, equivalent to 39.3%, 119 (66.5%) were suffering
      from lithiasic cholecystitis and 16 (8.9%) from calcolosis of the VBP with
      jaundice. Cancer of the pancreas head was diagnosed in 27 patients (58.7%),
      whereas 9 (19.6%) had obstruent cancer of the biliary tract. The Authors conclude
      that both the preoperative preparation, the choice of operation and postoperative
      treatment give satisfactory results with a very low early mortality (0.8% in non
      tumour cases and 6.9% in tumour cases).

PMID- 1461517
TI  - [Endoscopic and intraoperative ultrasonography in staging of stomach neoplasms].
AB  - In Japan a better prognosis of gastric cancer has been achieved by early
      diagnosis and wide, careful lymphectomy. This is not true in western countries.
      Thus the Authors believe that rational surgical strategy and the careful use of
      advanced diagnostic tools would produce a better outcome. The Authors report the
      new diagnostic methods that they adopt in every case of gastric neoplasm:
      endoscopic ultrasonography, which also proved useful in submucosal tumors, like
      lymphomas; parenteral nutrition, immune status assessment for a possible use of
      immune response modulators, single-dose antimicrobial prophylaxis, antithrombotic
      prophylaxis, autologous blood storage, in order to reduce transfusion-linked
      risks. Surgical strategy is also reported, which includes wide resection with
      adequate margins, R2 lymphectomy and intraoperative assessment of disease
      extension by ultrasonography.

PMID- 1461518
TI  - [Permanent expanders in esthetic, corrective and reconstructive surgery of the
      breast].
AB  - Since 1986 we used the permanent expandable implant (PEI) as the first choice of
      prosthesis in breast surgery. The possibilities offered by multiple over
      expansions and deflations have been explored: 224 PEI were utilized in 162
      patients for aesthetic (38 with bilateral hypoplasia), corrective (20 with
      asymmetry, tubular breasts or Poland's Syndrome) and reconstructive breast
      surgery (104 patients for immediate and delayed reconstruction following radical,
      modified radical, partial and subcutaneous mastectomy). All implants were
      positioned submuscularly; a latissimus dorsi flap was transposed when pectoralis
      major was absent or damaged. Either the Becker or the Gibney implant was used.
      All PEI were immediately or progressively overinflated by 25-80% and then
      deflated to the planned volume. Twenty-two patients developing capsular
      contracture were treated by overinflations and deflations with subjective and
      objective improvement. Many of augmentation mammaplasty patients refused implant
      deflation to the planned preoperative volume. The over-expansion/deflation
      process proved to be effective in obtaining ptosis, in maintaining permanent
      volume symmetry and in keeping the base of tubular breast unfolded.

PMID- 1461519
TI  - [Review of the surgical techniques used for the treatment of breast hypertrophy].

PMID- 1461520
TI  - [Latero-terminal anastomosis in colorectal surgery using a mechanical stapler.
      Technical note].
AB  - Following a discussion of the various methods of colorectal anastomosis in cancer
      surgery, the Authors describe a technical variant using a mechanical stapler in a
      high rectal location. The rapidity of anastomosis as well as the decreased risk
      of dehiscence, fistula and stenosis are underlined.

PMID- 1461521
TI  - [Clamping the suprahepatic inferior vena cava in emergency surgery. Technical
      note].
AB  - In major hepatic surgery the temporary exclusion of the vena cava may be achieved
      using a variety of more or less complex procedures. Alternatively, for use above
      all in emergency surgery, the paper illustrates a method of clamping the
      suprahepatic inferior vena cava using a left lateral route, which is quick to
      carry out and undoubtedly efficient.

PMID- 1461522
TI  - [Deep vein thrombosis in surgery].
AB  - Deep vein thrombosis is still an underestimated and often unrecognised diseases
      both in Italy and abroad despite being far from rare and in spite of its severe
      complications and often disabilitating sequelae. It is a disease which is
      becoming more frequent due to increased life expectation, the larger number of
      operations on elderly patients, and the increased frequency of limb injuries.
      General and specialised surgery is often hampered by this complication. This has
      raised interest in a more detailed knowledge of the mechanisms leading to DVT,
      and the correct employment of the latest equipment which enable diagnosis to be
      made and daily monitoring of the disease during its evolution. But the greatest
      efforts must be reserved for preventive measures in order to achieve a
      statistically significant reduction in the incidence of the disease in operated
      patients. It is to be hoped that a greater awareness of thromboembolic diseases
      will allow this to be achieved in the future.

PMID- 1461523
TI  - [Optimal dose of amino acids administered in total parenteral nutrition (TPN) of
      malnourished patients].
AB  - A plasmatic concentration for each aminoacid, between 1 and 1.5 times the normal
      value in fasting healthy subjects, is considered as an optimal target during
      total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in malnourished patients. We have analyzed the
      correlation between the aminoacid input and the aminoacid plasmatic concentration
      during TPN at different aminoacid composition. By exponential regression curves
      we then calculated the input required to keep each aminoacid plasma concentration
      in the optimal range.

PMID- 1461524
TI  - [Primary carcinoma of the cystic duct. A rarity in surgery].
AB  - The Authors describe a case of primary carcinoma of the cystic duct as reported
      in the data od another 29 cases described in literature. The subjects it
      generally strikes are elderly men and its symptomatology is rather non specific.
      A preoperative diagnosis is as difficult as ever even with the aid of the most
      modern diagnostic techniques. The postoperative survival time is comparatively
      superior to other tumors of gallbladder and biliary tract, independently of the
      type of the surgical treatment adopts: cholecystectomy with the resection of the
      cystic duct associated less with lymphadenectomy and partial resection of the
      hepato-choledochus.

PMID- 1461525
TI  - [Cholestatic jaundice secondary to distention of the gallbladder caused by cystic
      duct syndrome].
AB  - The Authors describe a rare case of cholestatic jaundice which persisted due to
      compression of the biliary tract by a hugely swollen gallbladder due to cystic
      duct syndrome.

PMID- 1461526
TI  - [Isolated neurofibroma of the stomach. Case report and review of the literature].
AB  - An uncommon case of gastric neurofibroma is described: it was an incidental
      finding during assessment for abdominal pain, possibly due to pancreatitis, in a
      58 year old man, with no sign of von Recklinghausen's disease. The generic
      diagnosis of gastric wall neoplasia was made by CT scanning; the neoplasm was
      resected with wedge resection of gastric wall. Histological and ultrastructural
      examination revealed a neurofibroma. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare
      occurrence and usually are of smooth muscle derivation: a small percentage arises
      from nerve sheet, but such a distinction is never sharp. Neurogenic gastric
      tumors are usually benign and only 10% of von Recklinghausen associated
      neurofibromas can undergo malignant transformation. Wide excision of the tumor
      appears therefore the treatment of choice.

PMID- 1461527
TI  - [Pseudo-acute abdomen in familial Mediterranean fever. A case report].
AB  - The Authors report a case of familial mediterranean fever with pseudo-acute
      abdomen recently observed and emphasize how a careful anamnesis can avoid
      unnecessary surgical intervention.

PMID- 1461528
TI  - [Lipoprotein(a): structure, metabolism and atherosclerotic disease].
AB  - Lipoprotein(a) was discovered by chance by Berg in 1963; after twenty years of
      research, the chemical, physical and metabolic characteristics of Lp(a) are now
      known. This lipoprotein forms the missing link between the lipid metabolism and
      the coagulation-fibrinolysis process. The A. describe its similarity to
      plasminogen, its capacity to delay coagulum or embolus destruction and highlight
      its structural and functional similarity to lipid metabolism. To day, a total of
      6 Lp(a) isoforms have been identified with different molecular weights: in
      addition, the inverse proportion between the isoforms' molecular weight and Lp(a)
      plasma concentration has been demonstrated. Lp(a) is not the product of the
      metabolism of other lipoproteins nor is it a catabolite of LDL; it is produced ex
      novo and does not apparently exchange its proteic fraction with other
      lipoproteins. The paper also examines the question of whether Lp(a) is a plasma
      marker which increases during the formation of atherosclerotic plaque or whether
      it should not be considered an atherogenetic factor. To this end the possible
      mechanisms by which Lp(a) is deposited in plaque are examined. Lastly, the paper
      reviews all studies concerning the relationship between Lp(a), ischemic
      cardiopathy and cerebrovascular disease.

PMID- 1461529
TI  - [Chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis].
AB  - The Authors consider 349 liver biopsies; 32 of these showed cirrhosis. Patients
      with chronic hepatitis are at high risk for evolution to cirrhosis. Our aim is to
      establish the markers HBsAg and HBcAg comparing this with the risk groups and
      with the possible causes of cirrhosis.

PMID- 1461530
TI  - [Gastric and hematologic changes in patients with gastric parietal cell
      autoantibodies and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus].
AB  - Gastric abnormalities are more common in diabetics than in the normal population.
      They seem to be related to gastric parietal cell autoantibodies (GPCA). We have
      studied 168 patients affected with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
      (NIDDM), and assessed the GPCA in the serum and haematologic disorders. We have
      also assessed the endoscopic and histological findings of atrophic gastritis in
      patients with GPCA. GPCA were found in 15.74% of diabetic patients and in 2% of a
      control group of blood donors. 80% of GPCA positive patients showed signs of
      atrophic gastritis. Such presence of GPCA seems to be a good marker to identify
      patients affected by atrophic gastritis and its complications.

PMID- 1461531
TI  - [Influence of nutrition, age and vitamin D status on fasting urinary excretion of
      calcium in postmenopausal women].
AB  - The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the influence of nutrition, age,
      and Vitamin D status on fasting urinary calcium (Ca) as a function of creatinine
      excretion (Ca/Cr) and of glomerular filtration rate (Ca/GFR) in postmenopausal
      women. Fasting urinary calcium, urinary Cr and GFR were measured in 18 women aged
      54 to 91 years before and after six days of a calcium (400 mg/die) and sodium
      (100 mEq/die) restricted diet with a controlled content of proteins, lipids and
      glucides. Aged (over 64 y.) women having an adequate vitamin D status showed
      fasting urinary Ca/Cr and Ca/GFR after the controlled diet significantly lower
      than those showed before. It is concluded that fasting Ca/Cr and Ca/GFR may be
      nutrition-dependent. A revision of the significance of the fasting urinary Ca
      excretion is consequently suggested.

PMID- 1461533
TI  - [Neurological changes in aged patients with fractures of the femur: prevalence
      and clinical aspects].
AB  - This study evaluates the prevalence and clinical significance of the main
      neurological diseases in 246 hospitalized elderly patients with hip fracture, who
      have to undergo rehabilitative treatment. Eighty-three patients already had
      clinically noticeable neurological diseases before fracture; they were compared
      to other components the survey. As for the type of fracture and surgical
      treatment, differences have not been found. Medical conditions have proved worse
      among neurological disease bearers; the same patients also had to run into more
      complications. What results from the study, considering the high prevalence of
      neurological diseases in patients with hip fractures, suggests that these
      neurological diseases are important risk factors for accidental falls and it's
      necessary to provide these patients with careful, continuous hospital assistance.

PMID- 1461532
TI  - [Gynecomastia].
AB  - Gynecomastia is a benign pathology due to the increased volume of the mammary
      glands. The various etiological factors lead to an imbalanced estrogen/androgen
      ratio or to a greater local receptivity to the former with consequent hypertrophy
      of the mammary stromal gland components. Although the majority of cases are
      benign and/or transient, gynecomastia must be carefully examined using thorough
      anamnesis, hormone assays and instrumental tests in order to exclude local or
      further removed pathology. At present, medical or surgical therapy is reserved
      for those cases in which this condition is painful and/or psychologically
      damaging. In this study, following a review of the literature, the Authors focus
      on the etiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of gynecomastia and
      illustrate the cases they have observed.

PMID- 1461534
TI  - [Reactive arthritis HLA B27 correlated in hospital patients in a general medicine
      department].
AB  - We examined 14 cases of reactive arthritis seen during the four year period
      1982/1985 out of a total of 7,380 admissions. The average age of the patients was
      40.1 years, while hospitalisation averaged 15.6 days. More than half the patients
      presented oligoarthritis manifestations which were also characterized by
      asymmetry and migratory behavior. Visceral manifestations were noted in 10 of 14
      patients (71.4%). Etiological diagnosis was arrived at in only two cases, whereas
      half the cases showed no positive enteral or urogenital infectious antecedents.
      The HLA B-27 determination resulted positive in 25% of the cases. This is highly
      significant (p < 0.01) when compared to the control group 4% positivity. The
      follow-up was carried out medially for 4 years in all patients and evidenced only
      one case of persistent joint inflammation at the knee level and another case of
      relapsing uveitis. This study, performed on a random group of patients
      hospitalized in a General Medicine Department, confirms for the most part data
      appearing in the literature.

PMID- 1461535
TI  - [Use of ultrafiltration in refractory cardiac decompensation].
AB  - Traditional therapy for heart failure (diuretics, digitalic compound,
      vasodilators, inodilatory ACE-inhibitors) cannot arrest the progressive
      overloading of the circulatory system so that it is inevitable that a refractory
      stage to all forms of treatment will be reached when more specialised techniques,
      such as heart transplant and ultrafiltration will be needed. The paper reports
      the results obtained in 13 patients in ultrafiltration treatment for refractory
      heart failure: in the majority of these, a marked improvement in general
      conditions (edema, dyspnea) was recorded together with a regression from class 5
      to class 3 NYHA in 5 patients, and to class 2 for others. The ultrafiltration
      method in spite of not altering the prognosis which remains negative in these
      patients, allow those waiting for heart transplant to survive and may improve
      their chances of surviving heart surgery.

PMID- 1461536
TI  - [Prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia with intermittent trimethoprim
      sulfamethoxazole].
AB  - To evaluate efficacy and toxicity of intermittent trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
      (T/S) prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) our HIV-positive
      patients were given T/S (160 mg, 800 mg) twice daily for 3 consecutive days per
      week. Patients were included only if they met the CDC criteria for PCP
      prophylaxis, did not have intolerance to T/S, and if follow-up was 3 or more
      months. Thirty-eight patients received primary prophylaxis (Group I) for a mean
      period of 18.1 months and 26 patients received secondary prophylaxis (Group II)
      for a mean period of 15.5 months. Seventeen patients had adverse reactions (14
      minor and 3 major reactions). PCP occurred in 1 patient in Group I after 20
      months of T/S, and in 2 patients in Group II after 11 and 18 months of T/S. This
      pilot study suggests that intermittent T/S treatment is efficacious and
      relatively safe in the prophylaxis for PCP in HIV-positive patients.

PMID- 1461537
TI  - [Idiopathic hypereosinophilia syndrome: description of a clinical case and review
      of the literature].
AB  - Idiopathic hypereosinophilia is a disease with an unknown etiology and
      pathogenesis and uncertain nosographic classification, although there is now
      tendency to group a number of syndromes under this name which were previously
      classified separately, although having similar hematological symptoms and
      clinical manifestations. The paper examines these aspects and reports the case of
      a patient with idiopathic hypereosinophilia to steroid treatment.

PMID- 1461538
TI  - [Asymptomatic bilateral occipital calcifications. A possible atypical form of
      Sturge-Weber-Krabbe syndrome?].
AB  - Sturge-Weber-Krabbe syndrome is a rare congenital neuro-cutaneous disease which
      is characterized, in its full clinical expression, by facial naevus flammeus and
      epilepsy with mental retardation. Different atypical cases in which one or more
      symptoms are missing and clinical course is benign, have been reported in the
      literature in recent years. In the present paper a possible case of this syndrome
      radiologically diagnosed, without neurological and cutaneous symptoms, is
      reported; the importance of a more comprehensive study of this complex disorder,
      with particular attention to the incomplete forms, is stressed.

PMID- 1461539
TI  - [Clinical evaluation of a selective inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis:
      pravastatin].
AB  - The recent introduction in clinical practice of a new class of drugs able to
      reduce the endogenous synthesis of cholesterol has undoubtedly made a noteworthy
      contribution to the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia which, as is well known,
      is one of the greatest risk factors in the natural history of atherosclerotic
      disease and of its cardiovascular complications. A last generation drug belonging
      to this family is pravastatin which differs from the other substances inhibiting
      the activity of the key enzyme of cholesterol metabolism, HMGCaA reductase,
      because of certain features of the molecule, such as hydrophilia and the fact it
      is already pharmacologically active at the moment of oral administration.
      Pravastatin, which is probably a special category of HMGCoA reductase inhibitor,
      has shown, in numerous experimental studies and controlled clinical trials, a
      notable effectiveness in reducing in a highly selective fashion the synthesis of
      cholesterol in the liver cells and consequently the number of cholesterol-rich
      lipoproteins in the systemic circulation, without also determining significant
      biologically negative side-effects.

PMID- 1461540
TI  - [Changes in lipid status during pravastatin treatment].
AB  - Reduced cholesterolemia lowers the risk of ischemic cardiopathy, especially if
      LDL cholesterol levels are reduced. Today this effect can be achieved using drugs
      following the discovery of a new class of molecules: statins are specific
      inhibitors of HMG-CoA-reductase, a key enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis. These
      molecules act by modifying the intracellular quota of cholesterol, especially at
      a hepatocytic level, thus enabling an enhanced expression of those genes
      responsible for forming receptors for membrane LDL with an increased number of
      receptors. This leads to a modulation of receptor activity which interferes with
      LDL uptake, promoting more rapid clearance. The aim of this study was to confirm
      the efficacy and tolerability of pravastatin when used for long periods in
      patients with high cholesterol levels, and to compare its activity to that of
      gemfibrozil.

PMID- 1461541
TI  - [Salivary and serum beta 2-microglobulin in the diagnosis of primary Sjogren's
      syndrome].
AB  - beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) serum and salivary levels and total protein
      salivary levels were determined in 15 patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome
      (pSS), 14 patients with sicca syndrome and 11 healthy subjects. beta 2m serum and
      salivary levels were higher (p < 0.005) in the patients with pSS than in the
      healthy subjects and in the patients with sicca syndrome. The bioptic focus
      scores of minor salivary glands were correlated to beta 2m salivary levels with a
      high significance (p < 0.001) but were not correlated to beta 2m serum levels.
      The assessment of beta 2m serum and salivary levels is a non-invasive clinical
      investigation, which may be easily repeated. It is a very sensitive and highly
      specific test for the diagnosis of pSS. It may be therefore a useful mean to
      follow the natural course of pSS and to evaluate the effects of therapy.

PMID- 1461542
TI  - [Determination of serum procollagen-III peptide in chronic liver diseases.
      Clinical usefulness].
AB  - Liver fibrosis determines the course and prognosis of chronic liver disease.
      Histological examination of liver biopsy is essential for diagnosing hepatic
      disease. Evaluation of serum concentration procollagen III peptides (sPIIIP) by
      radioimmunoassay (RIA) is a biochemical test useful for evaluating a fibrotic
      process. We have investigated 20 healthy subjects and 50 patients with chronic
      liver disease, histologically diagnosed by percutaneous liver biopsy: steatosis
      (8), fibrosteatosis (7), chronic persistent hepatitis (10), chronic active
      hepatitis (7), cirrhosis (18). SPIIIP levels were increased in patients with
      cirrhosis and chronic active hepatitis and in these groups of patients such
      levels were well correlated with histological activity of hepatic disease.
      Evaluation of serum concentration of PIIIP by RIA seems to be a useful test for
      evaluating a fibrotic process in chronic liver diseases evolving towards
      cirrhosis.

PMID- 1461543
TI  - [Hormonal markers of early-stage osteitis fibrosa in patients on hemodialysis].
AB  - The diagnosis of renal osteodystrophy is straightforward when the disease has
      reached an advanced stage and the pathology is extremely difficult to treat,
      whereas it is considerably more complex during the early stages. A study was
      carried out to assess the sensitivity of some biochemical, hormonal and
      instrumental markers in the early diagnosis of osteitis fibrosa in patients
      undergoing hemodialysis due to chronic renal insufficiency. Of these markers, the
      assay of whole molecule PTH appeared to be the most sensitive and specific
      biological marker.

PMID- 1461544
TI  - [Efficacy and tolerability of nicardipine retard and captopril in hypertension in
      the aged. Results of a multicenter study].
AB  - The efficacy and tolerability of nicardipine retard and captopril were assessed
      in 174 over-60-year-olds suffering from slight or moderate essential
      hypertension. After 2-3 weeks of wash out the patients were randomly assigned to
      calcium antagonist (40 mg twice a day) or ace-inhibitor (25 mg twice a day)
      treatment which continued for 180 days. Monotherapy was combined with
      hydrochlorothiazide (12.5 mg/day) after 2 months in the event of an
      unsatisfactory reduction of arterial pressure in relation to basal values.
      Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured (1st and 5th Korotkoff's tone)
      at monthly intervals while lying and standing; heart rate was also measured using
      a palpatory method. Both nicardipine retard (no. 86) and captopril (no. 88)
      caused a significant reduction of clino- and orthostatic systolic and diastolic
      arterial pressure during the first two months of treatment. Respectively 70% and
      51% of patients responded to treatment and the blood pressure reductions achieved
      using monotherapy remained unchanged during the course of the study. The
      association of hydrochlorothiazide resulted in a significant decrease in arterial
      pressure in non-responders, an effect which was observed with both nicardipine
      retard and captopril. No significant variation in heart rate was recorded between
      the two groups. Twenty-one patients in the nicardipine retard group and 16 in the
      captopril group suffered from slight to moderate side effects. Six patients
      dropped out of the nicardipine retard group and 15 patients out of the captopril
      group, an event for which side-effects were responsible in 1 and 3 cases
      respectively. In conclusion, nicardipine retard and captopril represent an
      efficacious form of treatment for geriatric hypertension and possess a
      satisfactory level of tolerability.

PMID- 1461545
TI  - [Efficacy of L-thyroxine (L-T4) therapy on the volume of the thyroid gland and
      nodules in patients with euthyroid nodular goiter (ENG)].
AB  - The efficacy of treatment with TSH suppressive doses of L-thyroxine was evaluated
      by echography in 35 patients with euthyroid nodular goiter. Patients have been
      subdivided in two groups comparable for sex age and size of the goiter. Sixteen
      patients were treated for nine months with suppressive doses of thyroxine and
      nineteen were followed without therapy as control. Patients in treatment were
      then followed up for additional 9 months without therapy. The mean decrease of
      thyroid volume at nine months was 25% (27 +/- 10 ml vs 20 +/- 8 ml; p < 0.01).
      After discontinuation of treatment thyroid volume increased and had returned to
      base line values after nine months of follow up. In the control group mean
      thyroid volume had increased by 17.7% at nine months (28 +/- 17 vs 33 +/- 19 ml;
      p < 0.001). Thyroid nodules in response to thyroid hormone treatment showed a
      variable behaviour: 30.7% (4/13) of the nodules responded to the therapy with a
      reduction > to 25% at the ninth month; the remaining nodules were insensitive to
      the therapy. In conclusion suppressive thyroxine treatment is effective in
      reducing the goiter, nodules instead are only in part sensitive to the treatment.
      Thyroxine therapy of euthyroid nodular goiter must be followed for long term
      since upon thyroxine discontinuation there is a prompt reappearance of the
      goiter.

PMID- 1461546
TI  - [Imaging diagnosis, echography and CAT in mechanical jaundice].
AB  - In a review of 70 cases of extra-hepatic cholestasis of different origin, the
      great diagnostic value of imaging techniques, echography and computed tomography,
      was demonstrated in distinguishing the type of jaundice, and in defining the
      cause and site of obstruction.

PMID- 1461547
TI  - [Homologous artificial insemination: current perspectives].

PMID- 1461548
TI  - [High resolution electrophoresis of serum aand amniotic fluid].
AB  - In a sample group of 92 women undergoing prenatal echo-guided transabdominal
      amniocentesis between the 12th and 23rd week of pregnancy the Authors analysed
      amniotic fluid and maternal serum using the recently developed method of high
      resolution protein electrophoresis in order to identify the presence of
      particular proteins in the amniotic fluid which are pathognomonic for a number of
      maternofetal pathologies. The results obtained in normal and pathological
      pregnancies or in the case of twins showed a marked dispersion in amniotic fluid
      of total protein concentrations depending on the period of gestation; in
      addition, albumin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 2-glycoprotein acid, alpha 2
      macroglobulin and beta 2-protein were also found. Plasma levels of prealbumin,
      albumin, alpha 1-glycoprotein acid and IgG were slightly reduced, whereas there
      was a marked increase in ceruloplasmin, transferrin and fibrinogen; C3 and
      haptoglobin levels were normal. It is therefore possible to ascertain that
      amniotic fluid proteins analysed by high-resolution 15-band electrophoresis did
      not vary qualitatively or quantitatively until the 23rd week of gestation and in
      those cases of twin or pathological pregnancies examined no anomalous band was
      found in the protein electrophoresis of maternal serum or amniotic fluid which
      might prove useful in prenatal diagnosis.

PMID- 1461549
TI  - [Evaluation of a new method for cervical cytology].
AB  - An adequate sample is the most important factor for successful cervical cytology.
      In this study a conventional method is compared to a new method of biopsy in a
      group of 40 patients undergoing tests in June 1991. A quantitative and
      qualitative evaluation of esocervical and endocervical cells was made; similar
      percentages were obtained for floor cells using both using systems, whereas
      higher percentage values (82.5% vs 67.5%) were obtained for cylindrical cells
      using the new method. Compared to the conventional method the new method also
      possessed an inadequacy rate of below 50% in post-menopausal patients. Therefore,
      although the new method is similar to the conventional one in terms of quality,
      it is thought to be more appropriate due to the greater number of endocervical
      cells collected, especially in post-menopausal patients.

PMID- 1461550
TI  - [Decisional analysis in the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis].
AB  - The aim of this work is the use of decisional analysis for the clinical diagnosis
      of Chlamydia trachomatis, to verify the utility of making a routine direct
      immunofluorescence test with a strategy of no routine direct immunofluorescence
      test with a strategy of no routine test in women during gynecologic escannations.
      Patients eligible for this analysis were sexually active woman, who are not
      pregnant, woman in reproductive age who do not have evidence of a clinical
      syndrome associated with or known to be caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Our
      results show that the decision as to the use of the test involves 0.87 utility,
      while the decision of no routine test involves a 0.80 utility. We can therefore
      deduce that the best strategy for a woman who subjects herself to routine
      gynecologic care is to use this test, because the Chlamydia trachomatis has been
      implicated as the etiologic agent of acute salpingitis, chronic and tubal
      infertility.

PMID- 1461551
TI  - [Screening of endometrial carcinoma].
AB  - The Authors analyse the characteristics of the carcinoma of the endometrium
      concluding that this neoplasia has the necessary requirements to undergo a
      screening by means of endometrial cytology. The Authors believe that this test
      should be combined with those carried out to prevent cervical and mammary
      neoplasia, applying a total screening to the gynaecological neoplasia.

PMID- 1461552
TI  - [Treatment of premenstrual syndrome. Experience and considerations].
AB  - The Authors review the scientific literature on premenstrual syndrome (PMS),
      focusing on the diagnostic standards and the complex symptomatologic pattern.
      They report, furthermore, the results of a study of 4 groups of patients affected
      by PMS and treated with different therapeutic programs. The data obtained confirm
      that treatment of PMS must be personal and valued on the ground of dominant group
      of symptoms.

PMID- 1461553
TI  - [Evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of nimesulide in the treatment of
      mastodynia].
AB  - In a double blind clinical trial 40 female patients, aged between 14 and 65
      years, affected by mastodynia associated with benign non neoplastic disease of
      the breast, underwent oral treatment with nimesulide (200 mg/day) or placebo for
      a period of 15 consecutive days, during which no other drug therapy was assumed.
      The administration of nimesulide produced a clinically significant attenuation of
      mammary tenseness and mastodynia, in most cases up to complete remission of the
      symptoms. No adverse reaction was observed.

PMID- 1461555
TI  - [Treatment of dysfunctional metrorrhagia with GnRH analogs].
AB  - Thirty patients diagnosed as affected by dysfunctional metrorrhagia were treated
      with goserelin in a registered formulation of 3.6 mg injected subcutaneously into
      the anterior abdominal wall. These patients suffered from hypochromic anemia
      secondary to metrorrhagia with asthenic symptoms. After six months' treatment
      there was a significant improvement in hemocrasia and symptoms resolved without
      collateral effects requiring the suspension of treatment. The 10 patients who
      subsequently underwent surgery were in excellent condition and did not require
      blood transfusions.

PMID- 1461554
TI  - [Pain control during the expulsion period in labor using bupivacaine and
      fentanyl].
AB  - The association of extremely diluted concentrations of opioids and local
      anesthetics appears to be highly promising for pain control during labour. This
      study examined the efficacy of the association of Fentanyl 100 mcg and
      Bupivacaine 10 mg in second-stage labour pain and perineal pain. The study which
      was carried out in 20 patients confirmed the lack of collateral effects on the
      fetus, mother (except for slight itching in 25% of cases) and the progress of
      labour. A virtually total elimination of pain was obtained in all cases during
      the dilatation and expulsion stages. During the second stage of labour pain was
      completely abolished in 50% of cases, whereas in the remaining 50% it lasted on
      average for 13 minutes. Perineal analgesia was sufficient to allow episiorrhaphy
      in 50% of patients without resorting to the use of local anesthetic.

PMID- 1461556
TI  - [Sexuality of the aging male].
AB  - The paper discusses data reported in the literature concerning the sexual
      behaviour of elderly males and examines the role played by anatomical alterations
      to the genital tract, erection physiology and psycho-physical performance. The
      Authors review the current possibilities of treatment for sexual therapy in
      elderly males.

PMID- 1461557
TI  - [Research on the understanding of the relation between patient, gynecologist and
      breast disease].
AB  - The aim of our work was to identify the most important aspects of the
      relationship between gynecologist and patient who presents himself during our
      observation because of breast pathology. In order to evaluate all that said above
      we asked patients to compile a questionnaire characterized by different
      questions. The results obtained were very satisfactory and at the same time they
      lead us to a greater engagement towards the prevention of breast neoplasia,
      especially for those women predisposed to such disease.

PMID- 1461558
TI  - [HELLP syndrome. Discussion of a case].
AB  - The HELLP syndrome is the most severe variant of pre-eclampsia. A case is
      reported in a primigravida patient at 25 weeks of gestation. The lack of response
      to medical treatment and the deterioration of maternal indices necessitated a
      Cesarean section with intensive neonatal care at a very premature stage. The
      physiopathological grounds and the various methods of treating this syndrome are
      discussed and the paper concludes that rapid birth is the only solution capable
      of preventing severe maternal complications.

PMID- 1461559
TI  - [Mondor syndrome. Etiopathogenesis and case report].
AB  - The Authors observed and report a case of Mondor's syndrome in a male. In the
      attempt to identify the real origin in this peculiar thrombophlebitis they
      reviewed the recent literature. It is apparently impossible to drawn definitive
      conclusions from the different studies on this subject. Anyway Mondor's syndrome
      looks suitable for inclusion in the group of jumping thrombophlebitis. Therefore
      the real cause of the venous accident should be a pathologic situation next to
      the venous branch where the thrombophlebitis has broken out.

PMID- 1461560
TI  - 1S,3R-ACPD-sensitive (metabotropic) [3H]glutamate receptor binding in membranes.
AB  - Metabotropic glutamate receptors are selectively activated by 1S,3R-1
      aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (1S,3R-ACPD). [3H]Glutamate binding sites
      in rat brain membranes were characterized in the presence of (RS)-alpha-amino-3
      hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), kainate, and N-methyl-D
      aspartate (NMDA) to block binding to ionotropic glutamate receptors. 1S,3R-ACPD
      displaced a single population of [3H]glutamate binding sites and was mimicked by
      other metabotropic glutamate agonists with a potency order of L-glutamate > 1S,3R
      ACPD > ibotenate > 1R,3S-ACPD. Quisqualate interacted at two populations of
      binding sites. 1S,3R-ACPD-sensitive [3H]glutamate binding was saturable (Bmax =
      2.50 +/- 0.27 pmol/mg protein), reversible, and had high-affinity (KD = 187 +/-
      60 nM). 1S,3R-ACPD-sensitive [3H]glutamate binding likely represents labeling of
      metabotropic glutamate receptors in rat brain membranes.

PMID- 1461561
TI  - Alteration of delta-6 desaturase by vitamin E in rat brain and liver.
AB  - delta-6 Desaturase, measured at substrate saturation using linoleic acid, was
      found to be increased by more than two-fold when the content of vitamin E in
      brain microsomal membrane suspension was increased (up to 7.5 micrograms/mg
      membrane protein, i.e. 100 micrograms/g tissue from which microsomes were
      prepared). In contrast, this activity was reduced by 25% in the liver. This
      raises the question of the multiple role of vitamin E in membranes, the control
      of membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids through synthesis, and their protection
      against peroxidation.

PMID- 1461562
TI  - Rhythmic activities in the rat solitary complex in vitro.
AB  - In adult rat brainstem slices, rhythmic discharge of action potentials occurred
      spontaneously in 10 out of 197 cells of the solitary complex. In 6 neurones, fast
      rhythms (2-6 per min) were characterized by volleys of synaptic activity
      presenting abrupt onset denoting synchronized discharge of presynaptic elements.
      Synchronizing signals may be generated by cells discharging bursts of high
      frequency action potentials and presenting extensive axonal arborization, as
      observed in one cell. Slower rhythms (0.3-0.8 per min) monitored in three cells
      did not involve synchronizing processes and could be evoked in non-rhythmic cells
      by 15-30 min bath application of the cholecystokinin octapeptide (100 nM). These
      results suggest distinct operating mechanisms of fast and slow rhythms in the
      solitary complex in vitro.

PMID- 1461563
TI  - The effect of halothane on cultured fibroblasts and neuroblastoma cells.
AB  - Halothane exposure over the cultured cells (100 and 1,000 ppm) caused a
      disruption of the pattern of actin distribution in both fibroblasts and
      neuroblastoma cells. Neuroblastoma cells exposed to halothane also lost
      microspikes; however, neurite elongation was not affected by halothane. The
      present study suggests that halothane induces the functional disruption of actin,
      resulting in an interference of normal neural development in vivo.

PMID- 1461564
TI  - Mutations in genes for acetylcholinesterase intensify lethality by acrylamide in
      Caenorhabditis elegans.
AB  - Acrylamide inhibits growth and results in death in the nematode Caenorhabditis
      elegans. The lethargic effect is marked in the mutants defective in genes for
      acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and the effect is approximately parallel with the
      decrease in AChE activity by mutations. Although neither the activity nor the
      localization of the enzyme is affected by acrylamide, the acetylcholine level was
      significantly elevated.

PMID- 1461565
TI  - Activation of D1 receptors stimulates accumulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid in
      slices of the pars reticulata of 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats.
AB  - D1 dopamine receptors are present on terminals of striatal neurons to the pars
      reticulata of the substantia nigra in the rat. Here we have studied the effect of
      the activation of these receptors on the synthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid
      (GABA) in slices of the pars reticulata of the substantia nigra isolated from 6
      hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats. The synthesis was judged by the accumulation of
      GABA after inhibiting GABA transaminase with aminooxyacetic acid. Both dopamine
      and SCH 23390, a D1 agonist, stimulated the synthesis. The effect of both
      compounds was blocked by SCH 23390, a D1 antagonist, but not by sulpiride, a D2
      antagonist. In the absence of receptor activation, the synthesis was very slow.
      The results suggest a trophic influence of dopamine upon the synthesis of GABA
      via D1 receptors.

PMID- 1461566
TI  - Formation of muscle spindles in the absence of motor innervation.
AB  - Whether muscle spindles can form in muscles innervated only by afferents was
      investigated by removing the lumbosacral segment of the spinal cord immediately
      after crushing the nerve to the medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle in newborn rats,
      and administering nerve growth factor for 10 days afterwards. The nerve-crushed
      MG muscles reinnervated by afferents in the absence of motor innervation were
      examined at postnatal (P) days 7, 9 and 30 for the presence of spindles by light
      and electron microscope. Reinnervated MG muscles contained spindle-like
      encapsulations of 1-4 fibers at 7, 9 and 30 days after the nerve crush. The
      number of spindles exceeded that of normal MG muscles, suggestive of de novo
      formation of spindles. All nerve-muscle contacts in the spindles had features of
      sensory endings, and intrafusal fibers expressed the spindle-specific slow-tonic
      myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform at P30. No motor endplates were visible on any
      muscle fibers and extrafusal fibers were atrophied, as would be predicted in the
      absence of motor innervation. Thus, efferents are not essential for the formation
      and differentiation of muscle spindles in reinnervated muscles of neonatal rats.

PMID- 1461567
TI  - Serotonin modulates auditory information processing in the cochlear nucleus of
      the rat.
AB  - The effect of iontophoretic application of serotonin (5-HT) was studied in
      neurons of the cochlear nucleus in the rat. 5-HT inhibited the spontaneous
      activity in 71%, and the tone-evoked activity in 32% of the neurons. We also
      observed an excitatory effect, with a longer latency than that of the inhibition,
      in 40% of the neurons. In some neurons 5-HT had both inhibitory and excitatory
      effects. Neurons with different response types seem to have different
      sensitivities to 5-HT. As the effects of 5-HT were generally weaker than those of
      other putative neurotransmitters, it probably has only a small modulatory
      influence on auditory processing.

PMID- 1461568
TI  - Pattern of electroencephalographic activity during light induced seizures in
      genetic epileptic chicken and brain chimeras.
AB  - Genetic epilepsy was studied in Fayoumi epileptic (F.Epi) chickens and in neural
      chimeras obtained by selective substitution of embryonic brain vesicles of F.Epi
      donors in normal recipient chickens. Typical motor seizures accompanied by
      convulsions were evoked by intermittent light stimulation in F.Epi and in
      chimeras having embryonic substitution of the prosencephalon and the
      mesencephalon. The motor seizure was less severe in chimeras receiving only the
      prosencephalon. In the F.Epi, as well as in all the chimeras, the EEG during
      seizures was characterized by a desynchronized (or a flattening) pattern of
      activity. F.Epi and chimeras had a lower threshold to Metrazol induced seizures
      than control chickens. The experimental animals show that, in this model, large
      prosencephalic and mesencephalic areas are involved in the epileptic disease. The
      epileptic character of this genetic dysfunction is discussed.

PMID- 1461569
TI  - Ricinus communis agglutinin I reacting and non-reacting butyrylcholinesterase in
      human cerebrospinal fluid.
AB  - Differences in glycosylation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and
      butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) in human brain, plasma and cerebrospinal fluid
      (CSF) have been investigated by means of their interaction with agarose
      immobilized lectins. Most of the AChE in brain and CSF was associated to
      concanavalin A (Con A), Lens culinaris (LCA) and Triticum vulgaris (WGA)
      agglutinins, but little activity was adsorbed to Ricinus communis agglutinin I
      (RCAI). Brain, plasma and CSF BuChE was almost fully bound to Con A, LCA and WGA
      agarose. Brain BuChE was unable to react with RCA (RCA-BuChE), the plasma enzyme
      was completely bound to the lectin (RCA+BuChE) and BuChE from CSF of normal
      children was partially fixed to RCA (RCA +/- BuChE). BuChE in CSF of children
      with meningitis fully reacts with the lectin. The data suggest that the
      proportion of RCA+BuChE in CSF of children with meningitis is increased, this
      enzyme probably coming from plasma.

PMID- 1461570
TI  - Cross-linking of 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin to Drosophila head membranes identifies
      a 42 kDa toxin binding polypeptide.
AB  - The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha
      Btx) binds to two different classes of high affinity binding sites from the
      Drosophila central nervous system. We have used the bivalent reagent 1-ethyl-3-[3
      (dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide (EDAC) to cross-link 125I-alpha-Btx (M(r) = 8
      kDa) to Drosophila head membranes. Upon sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel
      electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), one major adduct of M(r) approximately 50 kDa was
      identified, suggesting that a 42 kDa polypeptide binds the toxin. Adduct
      formation was inhibited by other cholinergic ligands. Detergent-solubilized
      receptor complexes containing the cross-linked products were immunoprecipitated
      by antisera against two nAChR subunits previously identified by molecular
      cloning, the ALS and ARD proteins, suggesting that the 42 kDa toxin binding
      polypeptide constitutes a component of the previously described class 1 alpha-Btx
      binding site.

PMID- 1461571
TI  - A neuroprotective effect of adenosine A1-receptor agonists on ischemia-induced
      decrease in 2-deoxyglucose uptake in rat hippocampal slices.
AB  - The effects of adenosine (A) receptor agonists on ischemia-induced impairment of
      2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake by rat hippocampal slices was evaluated. Hippocampal
      slices were exposed to 20-min hypoxia + hypoglycemia (ischemia) and then returned
      to oxygenated and glucose-containing Krebs-Ringer solution for 6 h. Ischemia
      reduced 2-DG uptake in the hippocampal slices. The ischemia-induced reduction in
      2-DG uptake was attenuated by pretreatment with A1 receptor agonists but not with
      A2 receptor agonists. 8-Phenyltheophylline, an A1 receptor antagonist,
      exacerbated the ischemia-induced decrease. The A1 receptor agonist-induced
      neuroprotective effect was blocked by co-treatment with 8-phenyltheophylline. The
      present study suggests that the A1 receptor-mediated function has a protective
      role in ischemia-induced decreases in glucose metabolism in hippocampal slices.

PMID- 1461572
TI  - Postnatal development of neuropeptide Y-containing neurons in the visual cortex
      of normal- and dark-reared rats.
AB  - The postnatal development of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-immunoreactive neurons in the
      visual cortical areas (17, 18 and 18a) has been studied in Wistar rats reared
      under normal lighting conditions or in complete darkness. Immunohistochemistry on
      paraffin sections at postnatal days (P)7, 14, 21, 30 and 60 showed an overall
      similarity in laminar distribution of NPY neurons in all 3 visual areas of both
      normal- and dark-reared animals. The pattern of development of NPY neurons was
      characterized by an increase in their density from P7 to reach a peak at P21
      followed by a decline to 37-47% of peak levels at P60. However, this diminution
      was not so great in dark-reared rats as in the normal, since the density only
      decreased to 62-78% of peak levels. At P60 the resulting differences in neuron
      density were marked in areas 17 and 18, where the dark-reared had 75% more cells
      than normal, and moderate in area 18a (30% more than normal). These results
      suggest that the normal decline in NPY neurons is not entirely mediated by visual
      experience since it takes place, albeit to a modified extent, in its total
      absence.

PMID- 1461573
TI  - Presence of functional vasopressin V1 receptors in rat vagal afferent neurones.
AB  - The nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) is one of the brain regions by which
      arginine vasopressin (AVP) influences blood pressure. This series of experiments
      in adult male rats was designed to determine whether the AVP binding sites which
      have been demonstrated in the NTS by in vitro autoradiography might be
      presynaptic on vagal afferents from the nodose ganglion; whether the AVP binding
      sites on vagal afferent neurones are functional receptors; and whether vagal
      transport of AVP receptors to other organs also occurs. High affinity binding
      sites (using the selective V1 antagonist radioligand [125I][d(CH2)5,Sar7]AVP and
      in vitro autoradiography) with characteristics of V1 receptors in the medial
      subnucleus of the NTS were reduced by 40% ipsilateral to nodose ganglionectomy.
      The nodose ganglion itself also contained high affinity V1 AVP binding sites that
      localised over cell bodies of vagal sensory neurones. That these binding sites
      were functional receptors was apparent when low concentrations of AVP but not
      oxytocin were found to depolarize the isolated nodose ganglion utilizing the
      'silicone grease gap' technique. Furthermore, the actions of AVP were antagonised
      by low concentrations of a selective V1 receptor antagonist. However, there was
      no accumulation of AVP binding sites adjacent to either the proximal or distal
      vagal ligations suggesting that peripheral vagal transport of AVP receptors may
      not occur. Therefore these results are consistent with functional AVP V1
      receptors occurring in the nodose ganglion. These receptors may occur on central
      terminals of vagal sensory neurones in the medial subnucleus of the NTS, but
      there was no evidence for peripheral transport of AVP V1 receptors.

PMID- 1461574
TI  - Effects of lipopolysaccharide on food-motivated behavior in the rat are not
      blocked by an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist.
AB  - To investigate the role of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in the decrease in food-motivated
      behavior after peripheral administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), rats
      trained to press a lever for food on a fixed ratio 10 schedule were pre-treated
      with a recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra). This endogenous
      cytokine has been shown to block most of the inflammatory and immune effects of
      IL-1 both in vitro and in vivo. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of LPS (400
      micrograms/kg) decreased operant responding for food to 30-60% of baseline for 1
      4 h. Response rates gradually recovered, but were still below control levels 8
      and 24 h post-injection. Neither i.p. (8 mg/kg) nor intracerebroventricular (288
      micrograms/kg) administration of IL-1ra blocked the effects of peripherally
      administered LPS on food-motivated behavior. These results suggest that the
      effects of LPS on this behavior are not mediated by the release of IL-1.

PMID- 1461575
TI  - Expression of c-fos protein in lumbosacral spinal cord in response to
      vaginocervical stimulation in rats.
AB  - The pattern of vaginocervical stimulation-evoked expression of the proto-oncogene
      c-fos in lumbar 5-sacral 1 segments of the spinal cord of ovariectomized adult
      rats was mapped using immunocytochemistry. A calibrated force of
      mechanostimulation was applied to the vaginal cervix of experimental animals and
      to the perineum of control animals while they were gently restrained. The number
      of cells expressing c-fos was significantly greater in the experimental than the
      control animals in laminae I, IV, V-VI and X. The implications of the present
      findings for elucidating the spinal pathways mediating the various behavioral,
      neuroendocrine and autonomic effects of vaginocervical stimulation (VS) are
      discussed.

PMID- 1461577
TI  - MSNJ and the PRO.

PMID- 1461576
TI  - AIDS.

PMID- 1461578
TI  - National Mental Health Month.

PMID- 1461579
TI  - The importance of cancer registries.

PMID- 1461580
TI  - Review article: venous thromboembolism in trauma patients.
AB  - The increased coagulability in multiple injured patients results in increased
      risk for deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The authors discuss
      etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in
      trauma patients.

PMID- 1461581
TI  - Omeprazole in the treatment of peptic ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
AB  - Omeprazole blocks the final step of gastric acid secretion by blocking the proton
      pump (the hydrogen and potassium ATPase) in gastric parietal cells. Due to this
      direct action, omeprazole is the most potent, clinically available suppressor of
      gastric acidity.

PMID- 1461582
TI  - General surgery: is there a future?
AB  - General surgery may not survive in an age of superspecialization unless the
      emphasis of general surgical training shifts from broad competence to defined
      areas of expertise. The author presents suggestions for restructuring general
      surgery residency requirements.

PMID- 1461583
TI  - Completeness of case ascertainment of the State Cancer Registry.
AB  - The authors evaluated the ability of the New Jersey State Cancer Registry to
      detect known cancer cases during an investigation of a cancer cluster occurring
      in professional football players. The Registry was found to be a valuable tool
      for the detection of cancer cases for New Jersey residents.

PMID- 1461584
TI  - The New Jersey health care delivery structure--a clarification.
AB  - Recent SBME rules were developed from issues raised by a previous commissioner of
      health. SBME received comments on these issues at two public hearings. SBME
      drafted the rules to incorporate the substance and the principles of the state's
      Health Care Cost Reduction Act.

PMID- 1461586
TI  - 1992-1993 MSNJ councils and committees.

PMID- 1461585
TI  - CLIA-88 final rule: Part 2.
AB  - Physicians performing moderate or high complexity tests will need to prepare
      their office laboratories to meet CLIA-88 government standards. Doctors who have
      not applied for their registration certificate should do so immediately. This is
      the second in a three-part series.

PMID- 1461587
TI  - Children's preferences for high-fat foods.
AB  - Many high-fat foods are highly preferred by adults, and children soon acquire
      these preferences. The circumstances and mechanisms that contribute to
      establishing children's preferences for high-fat foods are the subject of this
      review.

PMID- 1461588
TI  - Some effects of deep frying on dietary fat intake.

PMID- 1461589
TI  - Body weight, fat storage, and alcohol metabolism.
AB  - Ethanol account for a significant fraction of the energy intake of persons
      consuming even moderate amounts of alcohol. A recent study has shown that
      although alcohol does not reveal itself as a layer floating at the top of a
      drink, metabolically it behaves more like oil than sugar.

PMID- 1461590
TI  - Retinoids and carotenoids as inhibitors of carcinogenesis and inducers of cell
      cell communication.
AB  - In cell cultures of carcinogen-initiated fibroblasts, a number of retinoids and
      carotenoids can reversibly inhibit progression to the transformed state. The
      anticarcinogenic action of retinoids and carotenoids is closely correlated with
      enhanced gap-junction cell-to-cell communication and with increased synthesis of
      the gap-junction protein, connexin.

PMID- 1461591
TI  - Directional coronary atherectomy in lesions unfavourable for balloon angioplasty:
      initial Green Lane and Mercy Hospitals experience.
AB  - AIMS: directional coronary atherectomy is a new percutaneous interventional
      technique in which coronary arterial stenotic material is shaved off to alleviate
      stenosis. This study presents the initial outcome of coronary atherectomy at
      Green Lane and Mercy hospitals where the major indications for atherectomy are
      lesions with angiographic appearances unfavourable for balloon angioplasty or
      where balloon angioplasty had been unsuccessful. METHODS: data on patients
      undergoing coronary atherectomy between February 1990 and December 1991 were
      analysed. No patient or procedure was excluded. RESULTS: for the first 28 lesions
      in 25 patients, procedural success, improvement in lumen diameter to less than
      50% diameter loss stenosis, but freedom from myocardial infarction, death or
      emergency bypass surgery, was achieved in 27 of 28 lesions. In one patient there
      was acute thrombotic coronary arterial closure treated successfully by balloon
      angioplasty. Another patient developed an asymptomatic fistulous connection with
      an adjacent coronary vein which resolved spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: although
      technically more difficult than balloon angioplasty, directional coronary
      atherectomy can be carried out in selected patients with a high initial success
      rate and low complication rate. The technique has allowed percutaneous treatment
      of a number of selected patients unsuitable for balloon angioplasty, and has
      turned an unsuccessful angioplasty into an initial procedural success in others.

PMID- 1461592
TI  - Pneumococcal bacteraemia in south Auckland: a five year review with emphasis on
      prescribing practices.
AB  - AIMS: to determine incidence, predisposing factors, management and outcome of
      pneumococcal bacteraemia in south Auckland. METHODS: medical records were
      reviewed retrospectively of patients identified as having pneumococcal
      bacteraemia at Middlemore Hospital during five years 1986-90. RESULTS: records
      were available for 143 of 149 episodes. The incidence of pneumococcal bacteraemia
      was 12.1/10,000 admissions. The male to female ratio was 1.2:1, 61.5% were over
      the age of 50 years, 76% had underlying medical conditions, and the mortality was
      16.1%. Twenty of the 23 who died were over the age of 60 years. Just over half
      attended hospital within 48 hours of becoming unwell, while 10.5% had had
      symptoms for more than one week. Pneumonia was seen in 85% and meningitis in 7%.
      Initial treatment was with a single antibiotic in 94%. Following microbiological
      diagnosis, 54% were treated with penicillin G, but in over one-third, an
      unnecessarily broad spectrum antibiotic was continued as definitive treatment.
      CONCLUSIONS: the incidence, age distribution, predisposing factors and mortality
      of pneumococcal bacteraemia in south Auckland is similar to those reported
      elsewhere. Inappropriately broad spectrum antibiotics are used too often in
      definitive treatment.

PMID- 1461593
TI  - Electrolyte intake and the prevention of hypertension.

PMID- 1461594
TI  - Adolescence and sun protection.
AB  - AIM: to examine adolescents' sun behaviours and use of sun protection measures,
      attitudes to tanning, and awareness of melanoma, in the light of the Cancer
      Society's Sun-smart campaign in the summer of 1990-1. METHODS: a sample of 345
      fourth formers from schools in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch was surveyed
      regarding their experiences and beliefs about tanning, and their use of sun
      protection measures including sunblock lotions, hats and clothing; their
      knowledge of melanoma and risks for melanoma; and their exposure to the
      educational campaign and its message. RESULTS: despite relatively high awareness
      of melanoma as a dangerous form of cancer, a significant proportion of the sample
      showed high positive attitudes towards tanning and high levels of sun exposure
      without adequate sun protection. On the positive side, reports of exposure to
      sources of information about melanoma were correlated with melanoma awareness,
      which in turn predicted use of sun protection measures. CONCLUSION: the findings
      suggest that campaigns such as those of the Cancer Society have an important role
      to play in reducing high levels of sun exposure among adolescents. Continued
      efforts need to be directed at adolescents to increase the acceptability and use
      of sun protection measures.

PMID- 1461595
TI  - General practitioners' views on the role of the community pharmacist.
AB  - AIM: to determine the views of general practitioners on the roles and activities
      of community pharmacists. METHOD: the views of 137 general practitioners in Otago
      and Southland were canvassed by postal questionnaire. RESULTS: one hundred and
      three completed questionnaires were returned. All of the general practitioners
      reported that their professional contact with pharmacists was useful. Seventy
      five percent expressed a desire for greater cooperation. Nearly all respondents
      (99%) accepted that pharmacists have a role in screening prescriptions for
      possible problems and preparing and dispensing medicines. They also accepted that
      pharmacists were capable of treating and advising in the management of minor
      illnesses. Providing drug information to general practitioners, information about
      previously diagnosed conditions to patients, and advice on personal and home
      hygiene were less widely accepted activities. The majority indicated that they
      considered it inappropriate for pharmacists to undertake screening programmes
      (blood pressure (70.6%), cholesterol (70.6%), glucose (60.8%), haemoglobin
      (72.5%)). Younger general practitioners objected more often than older general
      practitioners to reclassification of Acetopt eye drops from prescription only to
      availability through pharmacies (p < 0.05). Female general practitioners were
      more often in favour of reclassification of Gyno-Daktarin than their male
      colleagues (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: this study shows that general practitioners
      accept several aspects of the current role of pharmacists in providing primary
      health care. However, there is room for improved communication between general
      practitioners and pharmacists to ensure optimum patient care.

PMID- 1461596
TI  - Medical ethics and the New World Order.

PMID- 1461597
TI  - Industrial disaster planning.

PMID- 1461598
TI  - Screening for noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose
      tolerance.

PMID- 1461599
TI  - Matching or selection bias in the fenoterol studies?

PMID- 1461600
TI  - Fenoterol: enough is enough.

PMID- 1461602
TI  - Professional conduct?

PMID- 1461601
TI  - Glottic laryngeal cancer in New Zealand.

PMID- 1461603
TI  - Traumatic birth.

PMID- 1461604
TI  - Age and ethnicity as prognostic factors influencing overall survival in breast
      cancer patients in the Auckland region. Auckland Breast Cancer Study Group.
AB  - AIMS: to assess the effect of age at diagnosis and ethnicity on overall survival
      from breast cancer. METHODS: information was collected from 2706 breast cancer
      patients in the Auckland region, diagnosed between 1976 and 1985. Age at
      diagnosis was categorised into four groups: < 35 years, 35-49 years, 50-74 years
      and 75 years or older. Ethnicity was self reported in three categories: European,
      Maori and Pacific Island Polynesian. Independent effects were assessed by
      controlling for extent of disease, specifically metastases at presentation, nodal
      status and size of tumour. RESULTS: age and ethnic group were both significantly
      related to overall survival in univariate analyses. In multivariate analysis, age
      had an independent effect on survival mainly due to a significant survival
      difference between women aged less than 35 years and those aged 35 to 49 years (p
      < 0.0001; RR = 2.02). Survival was not significantly different between other age
      groups when adjustments were made for extent of disease. There was no significant
      effect of ethnicity on survival in the reduced dataset used for the multivariate
      analysis. Separate analyses suggested that ethnic differences in the extent of
      disease at diagnosis may be the cause of the apparent initial effect of ethnicity
      on survival. CONCLUSIONS: women < 35 years at diagnosis have a significantly
      poorer prognosis than women aged 35-49 years. Other differences between age
      groups were not significant when stage of disease was taken into account.
      Ethnicity was not an independent factor influencing survival after controlling
      for extent of disease but numbers in the Maori and Pacific Island groups were too
      small to conclusively evaluate any effect of ethnic group on prognosis.

PMID- 1461605
TI  - Membranous nephropathy: a 19 year prospective study in 51 patients.
AB  - AIM: to study prospectively patients presenting with membranous nephropathy.
      METHODS: the outcome of 51 patients (33 male; mean age 50.8 SD 17.7 years; 49
      caucasian, two Maori), aged 14 years and over, with membranous nephropathy was
      studied prospectively. The patients were enrolled between 1 July 1972 and 30 June
      1991. Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were excluded. Membranous
      nephropathy was secondary to drug therapy in eight (gold 3, nonsteroidal
      antiinflammatory drug 3, penicillamine 1, captopril 1). All patients were
      hepatitis B surface antigen negative. The majority of patients did not receive
      immunosuppressive therapy. RESULTS: forty-seven (92%) presented with the
      nephrotic syndrome, eight (16%) with a plasma creatinine > or = 0.15 mmol/L and
      28 (55%) with hypertension. The patients were followed for a mean of 5.4 years,
      the median being 3.9 years and range four months-19 years. The 10 year cumulative
      renal survival was estimated to be 78% and overall survival 66%. Six patients
      have entered a renal replacement programme and six have died of nonrenal causes.
      Of the remaining 39, eight have renal insufficiency, 27 hypertension and 22
      proteinuria. Complete remission occurred in 17 (33%)-11 spontaneously, four
      following withdrawal of the offending drug and two after immunosuppressive
      therapy. Poor prognostic indicators at presentation included renal insufficiency,
      need for antihypertensive therapy, pathological stage IV on renal biopsy and
      older age. CONCLUSIONS: membranous nephropathy is an indolent disease with a good
      chance of spontaneous remission. In most patients immunosuppressive treatment
      appears unwarranted.

PMID- 1461606
TI  - When important social interests compete with privacy.

PMID- 1461607
TI  - Attitudes to specialist recertification: results of a national survey among
      pathologists.
AB  - AIMS: to evaluate attitudes and preferred mechanisms in the establishment of
      specialist recertification for pathologists. METHODS: a national survey was
      conducted amongst the membership of the New Zealand Society of Pathologists.
      RESULTS: responses were received from 54 (62%) financial members of the society.
      The majority of respondents agreed with the concept of compulsory periodic
      recertification. The ideal recertification period should be 10 years and the
      system should be supervised by the New Zealand Society of Pathologists. The
      favoured recertification mechanism was by continuing medical education which
      should be funded by the individual candidate. The majority of respondents
      supported the establishment of voluntary recertification on a trial basis.
      CONCLUSIONS: the survey suggested a favourable attribute amongst pathologists to
      the introduction of continuing education based periodic recertification.

PMID- 1461608
TI  - Health screening in a general practice by opportunistic recruitment.
AB  - AIMS: this study aims to assess the effectiveness of opportunistic recruitment
      into a general practice health screening programme and subsequent improvement in
      screening rates. METHODS: a study group of 754 patients aged 30-69 years (345
      men, 409 women) in a Wanganui general practice were invited by the doctor when
      attending the surgery to return for a preventive health check. The check included
      a self administered screening questionnaire, selected examination items performed
      by the practice nurse, and a consultation with the doctor to review the findings.
      RESULTS: over the three year study period 327 of the men and 392 of the women
      attended the surgery. An invitation to return for a health check was offered to
      307 men and 329 women with completion of health checks by 294 men and 317 women,
      resulting in a screening rate in the study group of 85% for men and 78% for
      women. Selected screening indicators showed improvement with blood pressure
      recording increasing from 48% to 85% for men, and cervical cancer screening
      improving from 45% to 87% for women. CONCLUSION: opportunistic recruitment by the
      doctor's personal invitation proved an effective approach to health screening in
      this practice with significant improvement in selected screening indicators.

PMID- 1461609
TI  - Which cephalosporin?

PMID- 1461610
TI  - Commercially sensitive ethics.

PMID- 1461611
TI  - Medical ethics.

PMID- 1461612
TI  - Occupational overuse syndrome.

PMID- 1461613
TI  - Health expenditure and health reforms.

PMID- 1461614
TI  - Health expenditure and health reforms.

PMID- 1461615
TI  - Health reforms.

PMID- 1461616
TI  - ASH and marijuana.

PMID- 1461617
TI  - Blood products and hepatitis C.

PMID- 1461618
TI  - Health reforms.

PMID- 1461619
TI  - Overview of hormonal therapy in advanced breast cancer.

PMID- 1461620
TI  - Potential applications of high-dose megestrol acetate in breast cancer.
AB  - Empiric clinical trials have revealed new mechanisms by which hormonal therapies
      may exert their antitumor effects. Initial studies using escalated doses of
      agents like toremifene and megestrol acetate have yielded interesting results,
      showing responses in hormone-receptor-negative patients and in patients
      progressing after standard doses, respectively. A trial by Cancer and Leukemia
      Group B randomizing patients with advanced breast cancer to standard-dose (160
      mg) megestrol acetate or to 5 or 10 times the standard dose (800 and 1,600 mg)
      has completed accrual. It is hoped that these results will provide a definitive
      answer to the dose-response issue for breast cancer. However, regardless of this
      trial's ultimate outcome, higher doses of megestrol acetate have demonstrated
      important new effects on appetite stimulation and weight gain; ongoing laboratory
      research promises potential roles for megestrol acetate in the reversal of
      chemotherapeutic drug-induced tumor resistance.

PMID- 1461621
TI  - Current controversies in the endocrine therapy of advanced breast cancer.
AB  - The response of breast cancer to endocrine therapy depends on depriving the tumor
      cells of estrogen stimulation of cell division. This may be achieved by blocking
      estrogen synthesis in the body, using inhibitors of aromatase or by using drugs
      like tamoxifen, which interfere with the direct effects of estrogen on tumor
      cells. Current controversies relate to the mechanism for achieving more effective
      inhibition of estrogen synthesis and for the use of more specific antiestrogenic
      drugs.

PMID- 1461622
TI  - Megestrol acetate in the treatment of metastatic carcinoma of the prostate.
AB  - Although current hormonal therapy of prostate cancer may not appear to have
      altered survival appreciably, there have been considerable changes that may
      significantly affect the future management of this disease. A number of new
      hormonal agents have been introduced that still require definition of their
      therapeutic efficacy. Megestrol acetate, a hormonal agent with multiple sites of
      action in androgen metabolism, has recently been investigated in the treatment of
      patients with metastatic and locally advanced disease, and in those patients
      whose disease progresses with other hormonal therapies. Megestrol acetate plus
      mini-dose diethylstilbestrol (DES) is associated with fewer side effects than
      standard-dose DES and has equivalent therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of
      patients with metastatic disease. In patients with locally advanced disease that
      may benefit from hormonal cytoreduction, megestrol acetate is effective and well
      tolerated. Megestrol acetate has a role in the palliation of patients with
      progressive disease despite initial hormonal therapy. Considerable controversy
      surrounds the therapy of carcinoma of the prostate; further studies are required
      to define optimal hormonal therapy.

PMID- 1461623
TI  - Pathophysiology of cancer: hormonal and metabolic abnormalities.
AB  - Despite the development of advanced nutritional support technology, malnutrition
      remains a significant morbid and mortal complication of cancer. A number of
      metabolic abnormalities have been demonstrated in malnourished cancer patients,
      including increased protein breakdown, increased glucose production, increased
      lipolysis, hypogonadism in male patients, and insulin resistance. Previous
      studies conducted under metabolic ward conditions have demonstrated that
      metabolic abnormalities interfere with efforts at renutrition of patients with
      localized head and neck cancer. Efforts to correct these abnormalities by
      treatment with hydrazine sulfate, anabolic androgens, and insulinotropic drugs
      have been ineffective. An improved understanding of the pathophysiology of cancer
      malnutrition may lead to improved therapies of this vexing clinical problem.

PMID- 1461624
TI  - Clinical aspects of nutrition in advanced cancer.
AB  - Nutritional assessments of our patients with disseminated malignancies have
      revealed that the incidences of reported anorexia, decreased food intake, and
      weight loss range between 49 and 64%. It is therefore essential that a planned
      approach to the nutritional needs of patients with advanced cancer be part of
      routine oncology care. Our first step is a clinical assessment of the patient's
      nutritional state and diet, and a determination of caloric and nutrient needs.
      The potential tools available to the oncologist in the management of the
      undernourished cancer patient are many and include dietary counseling, food
      supplements (which contain vitamins and other micronutrients), stimulation of
      appetite, enteral nutrition, total parenteral nutrition, or a combination of
      these. The dietitian can be an invaluable component of the cancer care team, both
      in the inpatient and outpatient settings. An understanding of the role of each
      intervention will enable the physician to use available resources rationally and
      efficiently.

PMID- 1461625
TI  - Treatment of cancer weight loss in patients with advanced lung cancer.
AB  - Megestrol acetate, a semisynthetic gestagen, is effective not only for endocrine
      therapy of advanced breast carcinomas, but also in the treatment of cachectic
      patients with aggressive, hormone-independent tumors. Sixty-six patients with
      therapy-resistant, advanced bronchogenic carcinomas of different histologic
      types, who had lost more than 10% of their regular body weight within a
      prospective, randomized trial, were treated with megestrol acetate at a dose of
      either 160 or 480 mg/day for 3-4 months. The mean weight gain for all patients
      was 2.5 kg. Nearly all of them (80%) reported improved appetite and well-being.
      The mean weight gain in the group of patients receiving 480 mg/day was higher
      (3.0 kg) than in the group receiving 160 mg/day (2.0 kg).

PMID- 1461626
TI  - Clinical management of anorexia and cachexia in patients with advanced cancer.
AB  - Cachexia occurs in the majority of cancer patients before death. It is the result
      of major metabolic changes produced by tumor-released substances as well as by
      cytokines and some endogenous peptides. The most significant clinical
      manifestation is profound anorexia. Aggressive parenteral nutrition has not been
      able to increase patient survival or produce any significant symptomatic
      improvement. Recent research, therefore, has focused on drugs that might result
      in symptomatic improvement, even if no significant nutritional changes are
      detected. Corticosteroids have been shown to increase appetite for a brief period
      of time, but they do not appear to improve caloric intake or nutritional status.
      In addition to appetite stimulation, corticosteroids also improve a number of
      other symptoms transiently. Progestational drugs have been found in a number of
      studies to increase appetite, caloric intake, and nutritional status. The most
      effective type and dose of progestational drugs have not been clearly
      established. Cyproheptadine, hydrazine sulfate, and cannabinoids have all been
      suggested to have beneficial effects on appetite; their effectiveness, however,
      needs to be confirmed in prospective, controlled trials. Some of these trials are
      currently under way. Current data suggest that megestrol acetate or other
      progestational agents could be useful--because of effects on not only appetite
      but also overall nutritional status--in patients who have profound anorexia as
      the main manifestation of cachexia, provided expected survival can be measured in
      weeks or months. In patients with shorter expected survival or those who have
      problems tolerating progestational drugs, a brief course of corticosteroids may
      provide short-term symptomatic effects. Future studies should focus on (1)
      improving understanding of both the pathophysiology of cancer cachexia and the
      interaction of some of the major syndromes of terminal cancer--e.g., pain,
      cachexia, and cognitive failure--and (2) characterizing the symptomatic effects
      of different drugs more completely.

PMID- 1461627
TI  - Risks and benefits of various therapies for cancer anorexia.
AB  - A placebo-controlled, randomized trial assessed the activity, tolerance, and
      degree of weight gain and anorexia of two doses of megestrol acetate in patients
      with advanced cancer and cachexia. Patients received either low-dose (480 mg/day)
      or high-dose (960 mg/day) megestrol acetate or placebo for 8 weeks. As of March
      1991, 91 patients had been randomized; 65 patients were evaluable. Median initial
      weight loss in all patients ranged from 13 to 16%. Further weight loss was seen
      in 13 of 17 patients in the placebo group, compared with 10 of 27 and 6 of 21 in
      the low- and high-dose megestrol acetate groups, respectively. Eight of 27
      patients in the low-dose-group and 9 of 21 in the high-dose group gained weight,
      with a median of 3 and 4 kg, respectively. Beneficial effects of megestrol
      acetate were seen in 63 and 71% of the low- and high-dose groups, respectively,
      compared with 24% of the placebo group. Side effects of megestrol acetate were
      mild. No correlation between megestrol acetate dosage and weight gain was found,
      but there was a tendency for increased weight in more patients taking high-dose
      megestrol acetate.

PMID- 1461628
TI  - Megestrol acetate for anorexia and cachexia.
AB  - Based on promising preliminary information obtained from uncontrolled pilot
      studies, several randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials
      have been launched to evaluate the effectiveness of megestrol acetate for the
      treatment of patients with anorexia and/or cachexia. The results of these studies
      have demonstrated that megestrol acetate can improve patients' appetites and
      promote nonfluid weight gain in some. They also suggest that megestrol acetate
      has antiemetic properties. Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating the dose
      response relationship of megestrol acetate for these clinical problems and
      whether megestrol acetate will improve the survival of patients at risk for
      developing cancer anorexia/cachexia.

PMID- 1461629
TI  - HIV-related cachexia: potential mechanisms and treatment.
AB  - Involuntary weight loss or wasting indicative of severe protein energy
      malnutrition is a frequent complication of acquired immune deficiency syndrome
      (AIDS). Malnutrition, with its associated adverse effects on immunocompetence,
      may contribute to the progression of AIDS itself. Since death from wasting is
      ultimately related to the magnitude of tissue depletion, restoration of body cell
      mass may enhance survival. The mechanism of weight loss in AIDS has not been
      clearly elucidated. The etiology is likely to be multifactorial, the result of
      interactions between decreased caloric intake, malabsorption, and alterations in
      energy expenditure secondary to hormonal and/or metabolic abnormalities. Although
      weight loss is occasionally reversible with treatment of underlying infections
      and/or easily identifiable and reversible causes, the majority of patients are
      not this fortunate. Enteral and parenteral nutrition, which are expensive,
      cumbersome, and potentially morbid, have been suggested by some as therapeutic
      options. Megestrol acetate, a synthetic, orally active progestational agent, has
      been reported to stimulate appetite and weight gain. Data regarding the use of
      megestrol acetate for the treatment of cachexia related to human immunodeficiency
      virus (HIV) infection demonstrate convincingly its effectiveness in treating many
      patients with HIV-related anorexia and cachexia.

PMID- 1461630
TI  - High-dose megestrol acetate as third-line endocrine therapy for metastatic breast
      cancer.
AB  - High-dose megestrol acetate (800 mg/day) was administered to 34 patients as third
      line endocrine therapy for metastatic breast cancer after progression on standard
      dose megestrol acetate (160 mg/day). Among the 32 evaluable patients, no complete
      or partial response occurred. Ten patients remained stable and 22 progressed. No
      patients remained on study. Median time to progression was 2 months (range, 1-13
      months). The use of high-dose megestrol acetate did not result in objective
      responses but may have been effective in delaying progression in one third of
      patients.

PMID- 1461631
TI  - [The expression of the apolipoprotein A-1 gene in the early stages of human
      embryogenesis studied by hybridization in situ].
AB  - The apolipoprotein A-1 (apo A-1) gene expression at certain stages of human
      embryo development was studied using an in situ hybridization procedure. By the
      fifth week of development, the presence of apo A-1 mRNAs was detected in cells of
      different tissue types such as CNS rudiment, somite myotomes, ear vesicle, nasal
      placodes, lens, apical areas of the maxillary, mandibular and hyoid arcs,
      mesenchyme of limb buds, small intestine, mesonephros, genital ridge, and several
      types of blood cells. At later stages (weeks 8-9) the distribution of these mRNAs
      showed considerable changes. The high apo A-1 mRNA level was characteristic of
      liver cells, adrenals, kidney, neural tube and ganglia. These data suggest that
      changes in tissue-specific apo A-1 gene expression during human embryogenesis may
      be associated with the development of blood circulatory system and CNS.

PMID- 1461632
TI  - [An immunohistochemical analysis of rat hippocampal antigens in early postnatal
      ontogeny by using monoclonal antibodies].
AB  - In order to study the molecular mechanisms of neurogenesis, monoclonal antibodies
      (MAbs) were produced against antigens of the developing rat hippocampus. MAb 3G7
      F8 was used for immunohistochemical localization of the corresponding antigen of
      paraffin sections of the rat brain at days 0, 5, 14, and 21 of the postnatal
      development. In the hippocampus of newborn and 5-day-old rats, positive
      immunostaining was observed in the cytoplasm and proximal segments of processes
      of neurons located in granular, polymorph, and pyramidal layers, as well as in
      entorhinal cortex. In granule cell bodies and neurons of entorhinal cortex
      specific staining decreased by day 14 and disappeared by day 21 after birth,
      whereas neurons of pyramidal and polymorph layers remained immunopositive.
      Diffuse specific staining in the cerebellum was observed beginning from day 5
      after birth in the Purkinje cell layer. On days 14-21 positive reaction was
      observed in Purkinje cell bodies and in the layer containing dendrites of
      Purkinje cells and parallel fibers. External and internal granular layers
      remained immunonegative. No specific staining was observed in other regions of
      the brain, as well as in the control slices. These data suggest that the antigen
      detected by the 3G7-F8 antibody is involved in the formation of the neuronal
      connections.

PMID- 1461633
TI  - [Contractile proteins and nonerythroid spectrin in the oogenesis of the clawed
      toad].
AB  - Distribution of contractile proteins, actin and myosin, and spectrin was studied
      in oogenesis of X. laevis. These proteins are present already at the
      previtellogenic stages, where they are diffusely distributed. During
      vitellogenesis actin and myosin are distributed in the animal region in a fibril
      like way, while in the vegetal one they are concentrated around the yolk
      platelets. In the mature oocyte, distribution of actin and myosin again becomes
      diffuse. Spectrin forms in the vitellogenic oocyte a network all over the
      cytoplasm, while in the full-grown oocyte it is localized mostly in the subcortex
      of the animal region and disappears during oocyte maturation. All these proteins
      are present in the nuclei of oocytes. Changes in distribution of actin, myosin
      and spectrin during oocyte maturation are discussed with reference to the
      cortical contractility, spatial distribution of yolk platelets and regional
      sensitivity to cytochalasin B.

PMID- 1461634
TI  - [The nuclei of follicular cells do not control oocyte maturation in amphibians
      induced by gonadotropic hormones in vitro].
AB  - The inhibitory effect of actinomycin D (5 micrograms/ml) on maturation of the
      follicle-enclosed oocytes of Rana temporaria and Xenopus laevis induced in vitro
      by pituitary suspension and human chorionic gonadotropin, respectively, is not
      observed at low concentrations of the hormones. These data suggest that nuclei of
      the follicle cells are not involved in the control of the pituitary-dependent
      oocyte maturation in amphibians.

PMID- 1461635
TI  - [The population kinetics of human male germ cells in the antenatal period of
      ontogeny].
AB  - Time course of development of male germ cells in man during prenatal development
      was studied quantitatively for the first time. For each period of the prenatal
      development the following characteristics were determined: relationship between
      the number of germ and somatic cells in spermatic cords, mitotic index for germ
      cells the intensity of their degeneration, average diameter of their nuclei, and
      the proportion of germ cells at the stage of preleptothene.

PMID- 1461636
TI  - [The dermatoglyphic analysis of polydactyly and the segregation of the
      morphogenetic fields of the fingers in man].
AB  - We studied dermatoglyphic imprints of patients with preaxial or postaxial
      polydactyly. Development of the additional finger is shown to be always
      accompanied by the corresponding finger triradius and basic line; postaxial
      polydactylies are characterized by the circular epidermal ridges around the
      rudiment of the sixth finger and the presence of the second additional triradius.
      On the basis of these data we suggest that major lines of the palm and finger
      triradii serve as landmarks denoting the borders of individual morphogenetic
      fields of fingers during their segregation from general morphogenetic field of
      the hand which is related to the polar system of coordinates.

PMID- 1461637
TI  - [Intracerebral transplants of embryonic nerve tissue result in the recovery of
      the ultrastructure of dystrophic neurons following hypoxia in adult rats].
AB  - Fragments of the intact rat embryonic brain cortex were transplanted into
      sensomotor cortex of adult Wistar rats subjected to hypoxia 26 days before
      surgery. Ultrastructure of the host brain was studied 4, 100, 130 days, 1.5, and
      2 years after the operation using electron microscopy. The observed regeneration
      of ultrastructure of the host's neurons appears to be due to either recovery or
      de novo formation of the organelles.

PMID- 1461638
TI  - [The three-dimensional structure of the tunica intima and tunica media of the
      human fetal aorta studied by a new method].
AB  - A new method is developed for revealing the latent surfaces in the structure of
      organs by scanning electronic microscopy. The method is based on the treatment of
      specimens with potassium ethoxide until cells start to appear in the dissociating
      solution. Using this method, thoracic aorta of nine human fetuses at the stage of
      20-28 weeks was studied. Subendothelial intima and media of human fetal aorta
      contain smooth muscle cells differing by their arrangement, shape and surface
      microrelief. The intima cells are arranged in a mosaic pattern formed of single
      cells or cell clusters. By means of cell processes they are connected with each
      other, as well as with endothelial and smooth muscle cells of the media. Smooth
      muscle cells in the inner part of the media also have processes and form an open
      network. Part of the cells penetrate the intima through pores of the inner
      elastic membrane. In the deeper layers of the media, laterally adjoining spindle
      shaped smooth muscle cells are found. It is suggested that the observed cell
      polymorphism is due mostly to penetration of the media smooth muscle cells into
      subendothelium and modification of their shape under the effect of the
      microenvironment.

PMID- 1461639
TI  - [Alcohol and the liver: ethanol metabolism and the pathomechanism of alcoholic
      liver damage].
AB  - Ethanol is oxidized in the liver by three different enzyme systems, namely by
      alcohol dehidrogenase (ADH), the microsomal ethanol oxidizing system and
      catalase. Alcohol also undergoes a first pass metabolism in the gastric mucosa
      due to alcohol dehydrogenase. This first pass metabolism of ethanol is decreased
      in the alcoholic, in the fasted state, in the elderly and during cimetidine
      therapy leading to elevated alcohol blood-concentrations. Ethanol toxicity is
      closely related to its metabolism in the liver. Ethanol oxidation by ADH
      generates reducing equivalents (NADH) and acetaldehyde (AA). The elevated
      NADH/NAD ratio results in alterations of the intermediary metabolism of lipids,
      carbohydrates, proteins, purines, hormones and porphyrins. Furthermore, NADH
      flavours free radical production. The ethanol-associated redox changes are
      pronounced in the perivenular zone, since this is the area of low oxygen tension
      and of high ADH activity. In addition to NADH, AA exerts striking toxic effects
      on the hepatocyte. AA binds to cellular proteins and membranes including the
      mitochondria, microtubules, glutathion and various enzymes. In addition, AA and
      lactate stimulate collagen production in fibroblasts. AA-adducts stimulate the
      production of antibodies against AA-epitopes and could thus aggravate the liver
      injury. Chronic ethanol consumption results also in the microsomal induction of a
      specific ethanol-inducible form of cytochrome P--450, the cytochrome P--450IIE1
      with high affinity not only to ethanol but also to some drugs (acetaminophen),
      procarcinogens (nitrosamines) and industrial agents (carbon tetrachloride). The
      interaction between ethanol metabolism and the metabolism of these compounds
      including vitamin A may also contribute to hepatic toxicity, since the
      susceptibility of the alcoholic toward those compounds is enhanced.

PMID- 1461640
TI  - [Significance of determination of squamous cell carcinoma antigen in the follow
      up of patients with cancer of the uterine cervix].
AB  - The serum concentrations of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) were determined
      in 59 patients with invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix, in 21 patients with
      benign cervical diseases. Pretherapeutic SCC levels were elevated (> 2.5 ng/ml)
      in 63% (34/54) of the patients with squamous cervical carcinoma. 5 patients with
      adenomatosus cervical carcinoma had not elevated levels. In 21 patients with
      benign cervical diseases, 4.8% (1/21) of SCC values were above the normal range.
      There were no correlation of SCC levels and the degree of the histological
      differentiation or clinical stages. Serial SCC determinations revealed a
      correlation with the clinical course of disease in 72.2% (26/36) with squamous
      cervical carcinoma. Rising levels were always associated with progression. The
      SCC level increased before clinical signs of progression with a median lead time
      of 3 months. Patients with cervical adenocarcinoma for follow up CA 125
      determination was recommended. The determination of SCC is a useful tool checking
      the patients, detecting early progression of squamous cervical tumor.

PMID- 1461641
TI  - [False positive results of exercise tests with thallium myocardial scintigraphy].
AB  - The authors have examined supposed causes of positive Th-201 stress scintigraphy.
      Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of exercise
      induced transitory hypoperfusion or in absence of it. In both groups negative
      coronarograms were verified. Results of two groups were compared according to
      parameters of the left ventricle function, pulmonary pressure, to the presence of
      disorder of system stimulus-conduction (LBBB, RBBB), mitral prolapsus, foramen
      ovale apertum, anomalous coronary anatomy, level of load during exercise, body
      weight, heart volume-index. Significant difference was found in disorder of left
      ventricle motion, ejection fraction and in comprehensive value of left ventricle
      function (F1).

PMID- 1461642
TI  - [Incidence of intrauterine growth retardation and its significance in
      perinatology in Hungary].
AB  - The authors have examined the incidence of intrauterine growth retardation at a
      country level for the first time both in local and international aspect. Using
      the nomenclature of NDN-system they have found the frequency of WL-(proportional)
      retardation 7.95% and that of N-(disproportional) retardation 5.99%. They show
      incidence of retardation from county to county, as well. Examining the
      correlation between retardation and perinatal mortality they've stated that while
      the frequency of still-birth among the average developed and proportionally
      nutrified fetus is 0.34% and the frequency of perinatal mortality among them is
      1.23%, that of the N-retardated newborns is 0.88% and 2.08%, respectively, and
      that of the WL-retarded is higher than the latter: 2.03% and 3.90% respectively.
      Regarding the incidence and mortality ratio among the two types of retardation
      the difference is significant.

PMID- 1461643
TI  - [Pancreatic cystic tumor misdiagnosed as pseudocyst: lessons from an
      intraoperative error].
AB  - A 62-year old woman presented a fistula due to a previously made cystojejunostomy
      performed because of a small pancreatic lesion considered as a pseudocyst. This
      intervention was performed in another institute. In the course of the exploration
      the authors resected the whole mass with the Roux-en-Y loop, and with the spleen.
      The histological examination proved a cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas. There
      are discussed the problems of the intraoperative diagnosis of pancreatic lesions,
      and the possibilities of the reduction of mistakes. The authors emphasize the
      experience of the surgeon--which is the most important factor of the cure--and
      the importance of the fine needle biopsy.

PMID- 1461644
TI  - [A 150-year old controversy on occupational health issues].

PMID- 1461645
TI  - [Our predecessors on venous diseases].

PMID- 1461646
TI  - Proviral insertions near cyclin D1 in mouse lymphomas: a parallel for BCL1
      translocations in human B-cell neoplasms.
AB  - By isolating genomic DNA clones that encompass the mouse Cyl-1 (cyclin D1) locus,
      we have identified a putative CpG island close to the 5' end of the gene. Pulsed
      field gel electrophoresis with probes derived from either the 5' or 3' side of
      the CpG island established physical linkage to two independent markers on mouse
      chromosome 7, in a region that is syntenic with human chromosome 11q13. On the 3'
      side, Cyl-1 is approximately 75 kb from Hst-1 and Int-2, although there is an
      additional CpG island in the intervening DNA, while on the 5' side, Cyl-1 is less
      than 300 kb from Fis-1, an integration site for Friend murine leukaemia virus. As
      there is no intervening CpG island, proviral insertions at Fis-1 could influence
      the expression of Cyl-1 and we describe two virally induced tumours in which this
      appears to be the case. The data suggest that proviral insertions near Cyl-1 in
      mouse lymphomas are functionally equivalent to the BCL1 translocations that
      activate cyclin D1 expression in human B-cell malignancies.

PMID- 1461647
TI  - T-cell acute lymphoblastic lymphoma induced in transgenic mice by the RBTN1 and
      RBTN2 LIM-domain genes.
AB  - Two members of the RBTN gene family, RBTN1/Ttg-1 and RBTN2/Ttg-2, were found by
      their association with T-cell tumour-specific chromosomal translocations and are
      thought to be involved in the aetiology of such T-cell tumours. Here a transgenic
      mouse model is described in which T-cell tumours are induced by the presence of
      RBTN1 and RBTN2 transgenes that direct expression in thymus-derived cells. The
      latency period for lymphoid tumour appearance is variable, and tumours occur in a
      small proportion of transgenic animals that develop T-cell acute lymphoblastic
      malignancies. No significant increase in the rate of tumour development was
      observed in RBTN1 transgenic mice infected with Moloney murine leukaemia virus,
      nor did tumours arise in mice bearing a construct in which RBTN1 was expressed
      from the insulin transcriptional promoter. These data, which provide formal proof
      of the oncogenic activity of these genes, suggest that aberrant expression of
      transcription factor genes, such as RBTN1 and RBTN2, functions in tumour
      aetiology by disturbing some aspect of T-cell differentiation.

PMID- 1461648
TI  - Brain tumours and lymphomas in transgenic mice that carry HTLV-I LTR/c-myc and
      Ig/tax genes.
AB  - The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-I) is associated with adult CD4+ T
      cell leukemia (ATL) and tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP). In as much as only a
      small percentage of individuals infected with HTLV-I develop either disease, we
      set out to model a genetic partner for this virus in an effort to understand and
      possibly reproduce its pathophysiology. To this end we have developed a binary
      set of transgenic mice, one bearing the relatively inactive HTLV-I long terminal
      repeat (LTR) positioned to drive the c-myc oncogene and another bearing a fusion
      transgene consisting of the immunoglobulin promoter/enhancer driving the gene for
      the HTLV-I transcription activator, tax. Alone, the tax construct, though
      expressed in the thymus, spleen, lung and brain, has no deleterious effect.
      Alone, the HTLV-I LTR/c-myc construct is expressed at very low levels in lymphoid
      cells and occasionally induces lymphomas in older animals. When these two
      transgenic lines are mated, bigenic offspring harboring both transgenes exhibit
      dramatic tumor formation. As in the human, these animals develop CD4+ T-cell
      lymphomas, but they also develop central nervous system tumors by 25-90 days of
      age. The syndrome, which is 100% penetrant and lethal, provides an animal model
      for adult T-cell lymphoma and a source of cultured cells of neurogenic origin.

PMID- 1461649
TI  - A novel NF-kappa B element within exon 1 of the murine c-myc gene.
AB  - We have mapped a site within exon 1 of the murine c-myc gene that forms a variety
      of complexes with nuclear proteins derived from the murine WEHI 231 B-lymphoma
      cell line in exponential growth that are altered following treatment with phorbol
      ester, when transcription of this gene is reduced [Levine, R.A., McCormack, J.E.,
      Buckler, A.J. & Sonenshein, G.E. (1986). Mol. Cell Biol., 6, 4112-4116]. This
      site, located at +440 to +459 bp relative to the P1 promoter, contains an NK
      kappa B-like binding element. The sequence of this element, AGGGAATTTTT, is
      unusual in that the stretch of pyrimidines is entirely T residues. Binding of NF
      kappa B protein was demonstrated by oligonucleotide competition, induction of
      binding upon 70Z/3 pre-B- to B-cell differentiation, response to GTP in the
      binding reaction, reduction of binding upon addition of I kappa B protein and uv
      cross-linking analysis. Functional activity of this internal regulatory element
      (IRE) was demonstrated in transfection assays using chloramphenicol acetyl
      transferase (CAT) reporter constructs containing multimerized copies of the IRE
      driving a heterologous promoter. Mutation of the IRE within the context of the c
      myc promoter prevented NF-kappa B-mediated induction of transcription of this
      oncogene. Thus additional NF-kappa B elements may be defined by this new
      sequence.

PMID- 1461650
TI  - c-myc and p53 gene expression in the differentiation of temperature-sensitive
      mutants of teratocarcinoma F9 cells.
AB  - We have previously reported the isolation of several temperature-sensitive (ts)
      mutants of F9 cells. Further investigations showed that some mutants were induced
      to differentiate at non-permissive temperature of cell growth, accompanied by
      changes in the expression of various genes, whereas others were not. During the
      differentiation induced by shifting up to the non-permissive temperature, a rapid
      and transient decrease in both c-myc and p53 mRNA levels and rapid induction of c
      jun mRNA were observed. These changes were specific in differentiation-inducible
      mutants and were not observed in a non-inducible mutant. In both types of
      mutants, the level of c-myc mRNA decreased in association with growth retardation
      at the non-permissive temperature. The p53 mRNA, however, showed specific
      increase in the differentiation-inducible ts mutants. These observations suggest
      distinct roles for p53 and c-myc from proliferation to differentiation in
      teratocarcinoma stem cells.

PMID- 1461651
TI  - Molecular characterization and structural organization of D-elg, an ets proto
      oncogene-related gene of Drosophila.
AB  - We have continued the molecular analysis of D-elg, a member of the Drosophila ets
      gene family. Based on the characterization of cDNA and genomic sequences, the D
      elg gene contains five exons and four introns and produces a mRNA with an open
      reading frame of 464 amino acids. Consistent with this analysis, in vitro
      translation of a near full-length D-elg cRNA yields a protein with a molecular
      weight of approximately 56 kDa. D-elg shows significant homology to other ets
      proteins in the amino-terminal A domain and strong homology in the carboxy
      terminal ETS domain. The D-elg protein is most similar to the alpha-subunit of
      the mouse GA-binding protein.

PMID- 1461652
TI  - Characterization of activated and normal mouse Mos gene in murine 3T3 cells.
AB  - We have characterized the mouse Mos proto-oncogene product, pp39Mos, in murine
      fibroblasts. When expressed in NIH3T3 cells under the influence of the long
      terminal repeat regulatory element from Moloney murine sarcoma virus [NIH(pTS-1)
      cells], the Mos protein was present in low levels and had a half-life of about 30
      min. In extracts from NIH(pTS-1) cells, we detected additional forms of Mos
      protein that apparently arose from internal initiation codons (p24Mos and p29Mos)
      or from upstream non-AUG initiation codons (p42Mos and p44Mos). The Mos protein
      was found to exist in these cells as a phosphoprotein, pp39Mos, and, when
      immunoprecipitated with an antiserum specific for the Mos N-terminus [anti-Mos(6
      24)], had autophosphorylating kinase activity. We found that anti-Mos(6-24) also
      detected non-Mos protein kinase activity and non-Mos phosphoproteins in addition
      to p39Mos. We present evidence, on both the RNA and protein levels, that non
      transformed mouse 3T3 cells do not express endogenous Mos.

PMID- 1461653
TI  - Increased expression of the negative growth factor, galactoside-binding protein,
      gene in transformed thyroid cells and in human thyroid carcinomas.
AB  - Murine beta-galactoside-binding protein has been shown to be a cell growth
      regulatory molecule and a cytostatic factor. We analysed the beta-galactoside
      binding protein gene expression in a thyroid cell system including two normal
      cell lines (FRTL-5 and PC Cl 3) and the same cells transfected by several
      oncogenes that induce different degrees of malignancy and differentiation. We
      show that beta-galactoside-binding protein mRNA levels correlate with the
      expression of the malignant phenotype. Run-on experiments suggest that a
      transcriptional effect accounts at least in part for such a difference. We also
      show that the beta-galactoside-binding protein gene expression is increased in
      most human papillary thyroid carcinomas compared with normal thyroid.

PMID- 1461654
TI  - DNA amplification at 11q13.5-q14 in human breast cancer.
AB  - Band q13 of chromosome 11 is frequently amplified in human breast cancers, but
      the gene(s) responsible for the emergence of this amplicon remain(s) elusive as
      yet. As a tribute to the complexity of the amplification events involving 11q13
      sequences in human breast cancer, we have now studied a more telomeric region at
      11q13.5-q14 defined by a new transcription unit, D11S833E. We have observed that
      amplicons present in cell lines and primary tumors amplified for both BCL1 and
      D11S833E could be interrupted between these two loci. Such discontinuities were
      demonstrated by using a probe for the KRN1 gene, which we have localized between
      the BCL1/FGF4 region and D11S833E. In fact, KRN1 was not present in 4 out of 10
      amplicons bearing both BCL1 and D11S833E. Furthermore, we have observed tumors in
      which D11S833E could be amplified in the absence of amplification of other known
      markers of 11q13. Therefore, D11S833E defines a new and independent amplification
      unit in this region.

PMID- 1461656
TI  - Inactivation of the murine N-ras gene by gene targeting.
AB  - The mammalian ras genes have been implicated in the genesis of a wide variety of
      tumors. Although it is likely that they play an essential role in signal
      transduction, their specific function is still unknown. To initiate a genetic
      analysis of the ras genes in mammals we inactivated the N-ras gene in murine
      embryonic stem cells by gene targeting. The frequency of integration at the N-ras
      locus of our targeting vector being low (of the order of 1/5000 transfectants),
      we used a positive/negative selection followed by an analysis of individual
      colonies in order to minimize the in vitro manipulation of the embryonic stem
      cells. Using this approach, we isolated two clones of ES cells with one
      inactivated N-ras allele. These cells have no distinctive phenotype either in
      vitro or in vivo in chimeric mice.

PMID- 1461655
TI  - Rearrangement of the human tre oncogene by homologous recombination between Alu
      repeats of nucleotide sequences from two different chromosomes.
AB  - The rearranged region of the tre oncogene originating from chromosomes 5q23q31
      and 18q12 was cloned from tumor genomic DNA, sequenced and aligned with wild-type
      sequences cloned from a normal human genomic library. In the breakpoint region
      each wild-type sequence contained two Alu repeats. The recombination occurred
      between the 3'-most Alu from chromosome 5 and the 5'-most Alu from chromosome 18
      and, consequently, resulted in a hybrid Alu flanked with one Alu on either side.
      The recombinant joint was located to a 20-bp homology region in left arms of the
      Alu repeats involved in recombination. The same homology region was identified in
      the hybrid Alu of the rearranged tre. At its 5' extremity the homology region
      overlaps the B box of Alu-borne RNA polymerase III promoter. The 100% identity
      score in the region of homology suggests that the recombination process was
      conservative and not error prone.

PMID- 1461657
TI  - Alternative splicing in the human lck gene leads to the deletion of exon 1' and
      results in a new type II lck transcript.
AB  - In this study we describe a new lck mRNA transcribed from the type II promoter,
      resulting from alternative splicing, in the deletion of exon 1' which comprises
      the AUG initiation codon. In this type IIB lck transcript, as a consequence of
      exon 1' deletion, a new AUG codon in exon 1, located 35 nt upstream from the
      regular initiation codon in exon 1', and normally out of frame, is now in frame
      with exon 2 and the following lck coding sequence. In this type IIB lck
      transcript, 10 residues encoded by exon 1 from the new AUG codon replace the
      first 35 residues encoded by exon 1'. Strikingly, in this new N-terminal amino
      acid sequence, a glycine residue, needed for myristylation and anchorage in the
      plasma membrane, is present at position 2. This alternative splicing has been
      observed in T-cell lines, normal mature T cells and in peripheral blood
      lymphocytes from different leukemic patients. Different ratios of regular type
      IIA lck mRNA (with exon 1') to spliced type IIB lck mRNA (without exon 1') have
      been observed depending on the patient.

PMID- 1461658
TI  - p53 and RAS gene mutations in multiple myeloma.
AB  - We analysed genomic DNA from 30 patients with multiple myeloma (MM), searching
      for alterations in the p53 and RAS genes by a combination of polymerase chain
      reaction and single-strand conformation polymorphism techniques. Mutations in the
      p53 gene were observed in 20% (6 out of 30) of the patients, and were located in
      conserved sequence blocks within exons 5 and 7. These were single-nucleotide
      substitutions and consisted predominantly (4/6) of G:C to A:T transitions. Of the
      six patients with a mutated p53 gene, four were in the terminal phase of the
      disease. RAS gene mutations were found more frequently since they occurred in 47%
      (14 out of 30) of the patients. Mutations consisted of single-nucleotide
      substitutions, located in codons 12, 13 and 61 of either K- or N-RAS, to the
      exclusion of H-RAS. Moreover, one patient bore two simultaneous mutations,
      affecting simultaneously the K- and the N-RAS genes. RAS gene mutations were more
      frequently observed in patients with fulminating disease (10/15, 67%) than in
      patients with less aggressive forms of the disease (4/15, 26%). We also analysed
      genomic DNAs from 10 human myeloma cell lines, of which two bore mutations
      affecting codon 12 of the K-RAS gene, and one codon 12 of the N-RAS gene. The
      first two cell lines were obtained from freshly explanted tumor cells in which we
      observed identical mutations. Results presented here show that activating
      mutations in the RAS genes are, in MM, more frequent than those affecting the p53
      gene and suggest that both events are related to terminal phases of the disease.

PMID- 1461659
TI  - The amino acid sequence of a mammalian MAP kinase kinase.
AB  - The amino acid sequence of the dual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase
      kinase (MAPKK) has been determined by cDNA cloning and amino acid sequencing.
      MAPKK (393 residues, Mr 43,330) is a new member of the protein kinase subclass
      that comprises byr1 and STE7 that are involved in pheromone dependent signal
      transduction in yeast, wis1 a mitotic regulator in S. pombe and PBS2, which
      confers antibiotic resistance in S. cerevisiae.

PMID- 1461661
TI  - Health care reform: California reform plan blends strengths.

PMID- 1461660
TI  - Growing old affects understanding KePRO.

PMID- 1461662
TI  - Society to recognize physicians involved in their communities.

PMID- 1461663
TI  - Looking for changes in retroactive HCFA directives.

PMID- 1461664
TI  - Trends in staff compensation.

PMID- 1461665
TI  - The anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee: a diagnostic and therapeutic
      algorithm.
AB  - The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee is a common site of sports
      related injury. The natural history of chronic instability, reinjury, and further
      intra-articular damage is well documented. Appropriate management of ACL
      insufficiency must be based upon a knowledge of the available diagnostic and
      therapeutic options, their indications, and their effectiveness. At the same
      time, the treatment plan must be tailored to the demands and expectations of the
      individual patient.

PMID- 1461666
TI  - Meniscal tears: diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment.
AB  - Arthroscopic surgery for treatment of pathologic meniscal lesions has become the
      most commonly performed orthopaedic procedure in the United States. This article
      reviews the diagnosis, evaluation, and subsequent treatment of meniscal tears in
      the knee.

PMID- 1461667
TI  - Myositis ossificans traumatica.
AB  - Myositis ossificans is a benign condition of heterotopic bone formation. It is a
      generalized term for four separate clinical entities. Although not a rare disease
      process, diagnosis often remains difficult. This article reviews the various
      forms of myositis ossificans, as well as the pathology, diagnostic tests, and
      treatment options.

PMID- 1461668
TI  - New outpatient treatment of recurrent patellar dislocations.
AB  - From December 1987 through February 1991, outpatient arthroscopic procedures were
      done on patients experiencing recurrent dislocations of the patella. A modified
      Emslie-Trillat procedure was used. Twenty-four patients (27 knees) were available
      for follow-up. Using the criteria of Cox, excellent results were found in 78% (21
      knees), whereas 18% (5 knees) were rated as good. Only 4% (1 knee) was considered
      fair, and none were rated poor. Most patients (96%) showed improvement. No
      patient suffered a postoperative dislocation. Based upon the findings of this
      study, it is concluded that this procedure is an effective method of treatment
      for patients having recurrent dislocations of the patella.

PMID- 1461669
TI  - Difficult reductions in traumatic patellar dislocation.
AB  - A traumatic lateral dislocation with internal rotation of the patella can be
      unreducible using conventional maneuvers. These unusual dislocations may involve
      locking of the patella on the lateral femoral condyle. In these cases, reduction
      can be achieved by applying a downward force to the lateral aspect of the
      patella, which reduces the rotational deformity and unlocks the medial patellar
      facet.

PMID- 1461670
TI  - Brachial plexus injury with erect dislocation of the shoulder.
AB  - Luxatio erecta, or inferior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint, is an
      extremely uncommon variety of shoulder dislocation. Several types of
      neurovascular injuries may be associated with luxatio erecta. Concomitant
      fracture of the coracoid, clavicle, acromion, greater tuberosity, and humeral
      head may also be noted. A case of luxatio erecta associated with a fracture of
      the greater tuberosity and transient mixed brachial plexus injuries is presented.

PMID- 1461671
TI  - A unicompartmental knee replacement is not "half a total knee": five major
      differences.
AB  - Unicompartmental knee replacement surgery has known uneven success. It fell out
      of favor in the late 1970s as it was gradually replaced by total knee
      arthroplasty. The failures of unicompartmental replacements were due partly to
      the implants themselves but largely to incomplete knowledge of the principles and
      techniques associated with the unicompartmental knee replacement procedure. As
      newer implants become available, it is easy to focus on the technology at the
      expense of basic principles. The authors elaborate on five key principles that
      differentiate unicompartmental knee replacement from total knee arthroplasty.

PMID- 1461672
TI  - A 22-year-old man with a swollen left hand after a motor vehicle accident.
AB  - The following case is presented to illustrate roentgenographic and clinical
      findings of a condition of interest to the orthopaedic surgeon and emergency room
      physician. The initial history, physical examination, and pertinent
      roentgenographic findings are found on this page. The final clinical diagnosis is
      presented on the next page.

PMID- 1461673
TI  - Meniscal tears.

PMID- 1461674
TI  - Prescribing NSAIDs.

PMID- 1461675
TI  - Cytotoxic activity of 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid against Toxoplasma gondii.
AB  - Recent data indicate that platelets may play an important role in the host
      defence against Toxoplasma gondii infections. T. gondii-stimulated human
      platelets release thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12
      HETE) from arachidonic acid and 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE) from
      linoleic acid (Yong et al. 1991; Henderson et al. 1992). We have previously
      demonstrated that the eicosanoid TXA2 has potent cytotoxic activity against T.
      gondii trophozoites (Yong et al. 1991). In this study, we examined whether 12
      HETE, 13-HODE, and linoleic acid also have toxoplasmacidal activity. 13-HODE at
      concentrations > or = 10(-8) M rapidly induced cytotoxic changes in T. gondii.
      Ultrastructural changes induced by 13-HODE in T. gondii included an initial
      leakage of cytoplasmic contents into a space between the inner and outer parasite
      bilayer membrane units which was followed by intracellular vacuolation and loss
      of cytoplasmic contents. In contrast, linoleic acid and 12-HETE lacked
      toxoplasmacidal activity at 10(-10)-10(-6) M concentrations. These data indicate
      that 13-HODE, a product of linoleic acid metabolism, has potent cytotoxic
      activity against T. gondii; this toxoplasmacidal activity may be important in the
      inflammatory response to this pathogen.

PMID- 1461676
TI  - Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi: development of simple in
      vitro erythrocyte invasion assays.
AB  - Erythrocyte invasion assays are described for two species of rodent malaria,
      namely Plasmodium berghei and P.c. chabaudi. These invasion assays are simple,
      are carried out using a candle jar and allow a number of assays to be performed
      simultaneously. Our results demonstrate that both rodent malaria species show an
      in vitro preference for reticulocytes although the preference of P. c. chabaudi
      for these cells is not as marked as that of P. berghei. The details of our
      invasion assays and our results obtained are discussed.

PMID- 1461677
TI  - Assessment of parasite population dynamics in mixed infections of rodent
      plasmodia.
AB  - Cloned lines of the four rodent Plasmodium species can be differentiated by the
      RFLP pattern generated following Southern blotting and probing with PCsv4.1, a
      probe derived from a P. chabaudi chabaudi genomic library. Groups of CBA/Ca mice
      were inoculated simultaneously with cloned lines from two parasite species or
      strains. Six mixed species and three mixed strain infections using rodent malaria
      lines were initiated. The composition of the parasite population in each group
      was determined qualitatively and semi-quantitatively by analysis of the DNA
      purified from daily blood samples, thereby providing a dynamic representation of
      each mixed infection. Effects on the course of parasitaemias are presented and
      discussed.

PMID- 1461678
TI  - Selection of specific genotypes of Giardia intestinalis by growth in vitro and in
      vivo.
AB  - This study examined whether allelic changes observed when clinical isolates of
      Giardia intestinalis made in suckling mice were adapted to in vitro growth
      occurred as a result of gene switching (alternate isoenzymes) or through
      selection of organisms with different genotypes from mixed infections. Samples
      were compared electrophoretically at 20 enzyme loci. Marked allelic differences
      were detected between the uncloned clinical isolates grown in mice and the axenic
      cultures established from them. Furthermore, the allelic profiles of the uncloned
      isolates changed during the course of in vivo or in vitro growth. In contrast,
      all clones produced from each isolate retained identical allelic profiles,
      regardless of whether they were grown in vivo or in vitro. These findings argue
      against gene switching as an explanation for the observed allozyme changes and
      support preferential selection of organisms with specific genotypes by growth
      conditions. The data indicate the presence of at least 2 and possibly up to 4
      distinct genotypes within each clinical isolate. The genetic differences detected
      between clinical isolates in suckling mice were of similar magnitude to those
      that separate different axenic isolates of G. intestinalis into cryptic species.
      Conversely, the genetic differences between the isolates were limited when
      sampled after establishment in vitro. These findings have significant
      implications for research on Giardia and other medically important parasites and
      raise the possibility that culture may exert a similar selective bias on the
      genotypes isolated from infections with other parasitic protozoa.

PMID- 1461679
TI  - Proteinases of Trichomonas vaginalis: antibody response in patients with
      urogenital trichomoniasis.
AB  - Immunoprecipitation combined with electrophoresis in gelatin-polyacrylamide gels
      was successfully used for detection of antibodies against numerous proteinases of
      Trichomonas vaginalis in infected patients. The method proved to be highly
      specific as anti-proteinase antibodies were absent in women with negative
      cultivation of T. vaginalis and no history of trichomoniasis. Sera of 71% and
      vaginal washes of 86% patients with trichomoniasis were positive for these
      antibodies. In vaginal washes, but not in sera, antibodies were partly complexed
      with proteinases, possibly of trichomonad origin. It was also shown that serum
      antibodies as well as local anti-proteinase antibodies persisted for weeks after
      patients had been cured.

PMID- 1461680
TI  - Impairment of growth of Leishmania donovani by Trypanosoma brucei during co
      culture.
AB  - Cells of Leishmania donovani in co-culture with Trypanosoma brucei, were severely
      affected in their growth, resulting in swelling and subsequent lysis. Similar
      effects were also observed when Crithidia luciliae or Phytomonas sp. were co
      cultured with T. brucei. Direct contact between the cells under investigation and
      T. brucei was necessary because T. brucei did not hamper the growth of the other
      trypanosomatids, when separated by a filter with 0.2 microns pore size.
      Examination of this phenomenon at the ultrastructural level, in a co-culture of
      L. donovani and T. brucei, suggests that the plasma membrane permeability is
      increased in the former, as a result of a close cellular contact between the two
      cell types.

PMID- 1461681
TI  - Analysis of the complete sequence of a muscle calcium-binding protein of
      Schistosoma mansoni.
AB  - The complete sequence of the cDNA encoding a 20 kDa calcium-binding protein of
      Schistosoma mansoni (Sm20) has been determined. The predicted amino acid sequence
      contains 4 EF hand domains but examination of the predicted secondary structure
      of Sm20, together with the specific residues in each calcium-binding domain,
      suggests that only 1 EF hand (domain IV) is functional. Sm20 is most homologous
      to calmodulin, troponin C and the regulatory light-chain of myosin, particularly
      those of invertebrates. However, troponin C and the regulatory light-chain of
      myosin can be distinguished from Sm20 by size and by their differential levels of
      expression during the life-cycle. Sm20 also appears to be distinct from
      calmodulin but may be functionally equivalent to the soluble sarcoplasmic calcium
      binding proteins of molluscs and crustacea which may act as a reservoir for
      calcium in muscle. Sm20 is encoded by a small multi-gene family whose members are
      clustered within a 15 kb region of the genome. A 20 kDa antigen, cross-reactive
      with Sm20, is expressed in Schistosoma haematobium, Fasciola hepatica and
      Paragonomus mexicanus.

PMID- 1461682
TI  - Trichobilharzia ocellata infections in its snail host Lymnaea stagnalis: an in
      vitro study showing direct and indirect effects on the snail internal defence
      system, via the host central nervous system.
AB  - In this in vitro study we investigated whether previously described in vivo
      plasma-associated effects, that occurred in the period shortly after penetration
      of Trichobilharzia ocellata into the snail host Lymnaea stagnalis (1.5-72 h post
      exposure; p.e.) were direct and/or indirect effects of parasite-derived
      factor(s). It was investigated whether the effect is mediated by the central
      nervous system (CNS) of the host. Phagocytic activity of the haemocytes was taken
      as a parameter for the activity of internal defence of the host. A number of
      preliminary experiments were performed. When the supernatant of in vitro cultured
      parasites (33 h; corresponding with their developmental stage in vivo when plasma
      associated activation was found) was applied directly to monolayers of
      haemocytes, it appeared to enhance their phagocytic activity. No direct effect,
      however, was found with a supernatant of parasites cultured for a longer period
      of time (72 h; when, in vivo, a plasma-associated suppression was found). In this
      case, indirect suppression was detected: the parasites appeared to have released
      a factor that induced the CNS of the host to release material suppressing the
      activity of the internal defence system of the host. To date the nature of this
      factor is unknown.

PMID- 1461683
TI  - Theileria annulata-infected cells produce abundant proteases whose activity is
      reduced by long-term cell culture.
AB  - Lysates of Theileria annulata-infected bovine lymphoblastoid cells and their
      uninfected counterparts were tested for protease activity using gelatin substrate
      SDS-PAGE. The infected cells produced a number of extra activities at pH 8.0 in
      the presence of Ca2+. Calcium was found to enhance the activities but was not an
      absolute requirement. Studies using inhibitors, including E64, 3,4
      dichloroisocoumarin, pepstatin and 1, 10-phenanthroline suggested that the
      activities were metalloproteases. We analysed two vaccine lines; the Ode line
      from India and the Ankara Pendik line from Turkey. In the Ode line the later
      passage had very much reduced levels of the enzyme activities. In the case of the
      Ankara Pendik line both stages analysed had very low protease activities, but a
      reduction from the early to late passage was also observed. The reduction in the
      level of protease activity was also observed as a gradual process during on-going
      culture of lines derived from the Hissar and Ode stocks. In the Ode line we
      demonstrated a parallel decrease in the production of microschizonts upon
      temperature shift in vitro.

PMID- 1461685
TI  - Host strain, H-2 genotype and immunocompetence do not affect the survival or
      development of Onchocerca lienalis infective larvae implanted within micropore
      chambers into mice or rats.
AB  - The survival, growth and development of Onchocerca lienalis 3rd-stage (L3) larvae
      implanted into mice within micropore chambers has been studied with a view to
      developing a vaccination model for studies of protective immunity in
      onchocerciasis. The influence of host genetics on worm recoveries and development
      (growth and moulting rate) was analysed in a panel of inbred mice (CBA, BALB/c,
      DBA/2, SJL, 129J, C57BL/10 (B10), C3H/He and NIH), together with mice of BALB and
      B10 backgrounds with different major histocompatibility complex (H-2) genes
      (BALB/c, BALB.K, BALB.B and B10, B10.D2/n, B10.BR, B10.S). Parasite recoveries
      and development were similar in all mouse genotypes tested. They were unaffected
      by procedures designed to block or modulate phagocytic cell function with carbon
      or carrageenan, or to suppress inflammation by treatment with hydrocortisone
      acetate. A comparison of chambers sealed with membranes designed to admit (5.0
      microns pore size) or exclude (0.2 microns pore size) host cells demonstrated no
      effect on the percentage recovery of living larvae, although dead larvae were
      more frequently retrieved when cells were excluded. Recoveries and rates of
      development of larvae implanted into immunodeficient scid mice and athymic Hooded
      rats were similar to those recorded in immunocompetent controls. We conclude that
      host genetic factors and immunocompetence are not significant determinants of
      survival, growth or development of O. lienalis larvae implanted within micropore
      chambers into naive mice. Despite its limitations, the use of this system merits
      further investigation as an approach to the study of protective immunity against
      developing larvae in onchocerciasis.

PMID- 1461684
TI  - Antibodies against somatic antigens and excreted/secreted products of Brugia
      pahangi in rats with patent and non-patent infections.
AB  - The humoral responses of Sprague-Dawley rats infected with Brugia pahangi were
      examined for up to 6 months after infection by ELISA, immunoblotting, and IFAT.
      In 2 experiments, 50% and 62.5% of rats developed patent, microfilaraemic
      infections. Mean adult worm burdens at autopsy were approximately 2% of the
      inoculum, and only patent rats yielded living adult worms. IgG antibody levels
      against crude somatic extracts (CSE) of all parasite stages and against adult
      excreted/secreted (ES) products were significantly higher in patent than non
      patent rats. Both patent and non-patent rats produced anti-microfilarial surface
      antibody, as revealed by immunofluorescence. Immunostaining of Western blots by
      early infection sera showed no consistent difference in recognition of infective
      larval (L3) antigenic components by IgG or IgM antibody between eventually-patent
      and eventually-non-patent rats. By 26 weeks, however, patent rats recognized more
      components. The data suggest that antibodies against L3, adult, and microfilarial
      somatic antigens, ES antigens and microfilarial surface antigens do not correlate
      with the subsequent development of microfilaraemia in any individual rat.

PMID- 1461686
TI  - The effects of tumour necrosis factor on host-parasite relations in murine
      Mesocestoides corti (Cestoda) infection.
AB  - The regulatory role of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) was investigated in murine
      infection with tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides corti. Recombinant TNF alpha
      reduced macrophage larvicidal activity in vitro. M. corti primed mice for TNF
      release in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vivo. TNF activity
      was amplified 100-fold at 14 days post-infection (p.i.), with a further rise at
      day 28 p.i. Maximal inflammatory reaction was observed histologically in the
      liver at the height of TNF activity. Hepatic necrosis was located within
      inflammatory foci, but not within the vicinity of the parasite itself, suggesting
      that TNF may contribute to the pathogenesis of infection. Peritoneal cells from
      infected mice, when stimulated with tetrathyridia in vitro, showed a 4-fold
      increase in TNF alpha activity at day 14 p.i. However, when peritoneal cells were
      stimulated with LPS in vitro, a marked increase in TNF alpha secretion was
      observed at 2 months post-infection followed by a slow decline. It is suggested
      that impaired macrophage effector function, previously attributed to endogenous
      endotoxin, which gains access to peritoneal macrophages through an inability of
      the liver to detoxify endotoxin, may be mediated through TNF alpha.

PMID- 1461687
TI  - Epidemiology of nematode infections of Soay sheep (Ovis aries L.) on St Kilda.
AB  - The epidemiology of nematode infections of Soay sheep on the island of St Kilda
      over a period of 2 years (August 1988-August 1990) spanning a host population
      crash is described. Infective larvae (L3) levels on pasture were high (2422 +/-
      365 L3/kg D.M. grass in midsummer 1988) when host population density was high,
      decreasing after the sheep population declined by 70% in early 1989 (601 +/- 14
      L3/kg D.M. in midsummer 1989). The availability of infective larvae to sheep
      increased during the winter of 1988-1989, probably as a result of concentration
      of existing larvae on grass as vegetation was destroyed by bad weather and
      overgrazing. Increased availability of pre-parasitic stages was accompanied by a
      marked increased in faecal egg counts from sheep of all ages and both sexes.
      Prevalence and intensity of infection (faecal egg counts) were higher in males
      than females throughout the 2-year study (chi 2 = 208.3, P < 0.005 and F1, 2000 =
      304, P < 0.001 respectively), except during the lambing periods, and decreased
      with age in both sexes. Changes in prevalence and intensity of strongyle
      infections were associated with changes in host population density. Prevalence
      and intensity of Dictyocaulus filaria larvae in faeces increased during the host
      population crash. Infection intensity decreased with age (F1, 203 = 44.02, P <
      0.001) and was higher in males than females (F1, 203 = 13.45, P < 0.001).

PMID- 1461688
TI  - The role of nematode parasites in Soay sheep (Ovis aries L.) mortality during a
      population crash.
AB  - In early 1989, two-thirds of the Soay sheep population on St Kilda died over 12
      weeks. Post-mortem examinations revealed emaciated carcasses and considerable
      nematode burdens, with protein-energy malnutrition as the probable cause of
      death. Haematological and blood biochemical changes in the sheep, as well as
      fecundity of gastrointestinal nematodes, suggested the hosts were
      immunosuppressed. In parallel, laboratory experiments in which Soay sheep on a
      high plane of nutrition were artificially infected with Ostertagia circumcincta,
      showed no clinical signs or mortality when supporting worm burdens similar to
      those recorded in dead sheep on St Kilda. Anthelmintic treatment of a group of
      animals increased daily survival rates in ewes and male lambs, although treated
      animals became re-infected as the 'crash' progressed. It is suggested that
      parasites contribute to mortality in malnourished hosts, exacerbating the effects
      of food shortage.

PMID- 1461689
TI  - Neuropeptide F (Moniezia expansa): localization and characterization using
      specific antisera.
AB  - Immunocytochemical techniques used in conjunction with confocal scanning laser
      microscopy (CSLM) and electron microscopy have been used to demonstrate, for the
      first time, the distribution of the parasitic platyhelminth neuropeptide,
      neuropeptide F (NPF) in the cestode, Moniezia expansa. Antisera were raised to
      intact NPF(1-39) and to the C-terminal decapeptide of NPF(30-39). These antisera
      were characterized and validated for use in both immunocytochemistry and
      radioimmunoassay (RIA). NPF immunoreactivity (IR) was detected using both
      antisera throughout all of the major components of the central and peripheral
      nervous systems of the worm. The pattern of NPF-IR was found to mirror the IR
      obtained using a C-terminally directed pancreatic polypeptide (PP) antiserum and
      FMRFamide antisera; blocking studies using these antisera revealed that FMRFamide
      and PP antisera cross-react with NPF(M. expansa). RIA of acid-alcohol extracts of
      the worm measured 114 ng/g using the C-terminal NPF antiserum and 56 ng/g using
      the whole-molecule-directed antiserum. While the C-terminally-directed NPF
      antiserum cross-reacts with NPF-related peptides from other invertebrates, the
      whole-molecule-directed NPF antiserum is specific for NPF(M. expansa). The C
      terminal NPF antiserum has potential for use in the identification and
      purification of NPF analogues from other platyhelminth parasites.

PMID- 1461690
TI  - Population-based study of measles and measles immunization in human
      immunodeficiency virus-infected children.
AB  - This study reports the course of measles and results of measles immunization in a
      cohort of human immunodeficiency virus-infected children. Six cases of measles
      were identified. All had typical clinical manifestations, 5 of 6 developed
      pneumonia and 3 of 6 died. A measles intervention program consisting of serologic
      screening and active immunization (measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)) was instituted in
      1990. Among 127 children with data available for analysis (mean age, 6.7 years),
      only 35% had documentation of prior immunization with MMR. Among 80 children who
      had preimmunization measles serology reported, 56% were measles antibody-negative
      and 40% were antibody-positive; following intervention 36% remained measles
      antibody-negative. Six children lost measles antibody over time. MMR
      nonresponders had lower CD4 lymphocyte counts (303 +/- 394) compared with
      responders (865 +/- 677; P = 0.0058). Measles is a potentially fatal illness in
      human immunodeficiency virus-infected children. Prevention strategies are limited
      by low rates of age-appropriate MMR immunization, poor antibody responses to MMR
      in older human immunodeficiency virus-infected children and seroreversion.

PMID- 1461691
TI  - Infectious risks of Broviac catheters in children with neoplastic diseases: a
      matched pairs analysis.
AB  - In the present study the complication rate of Broviac catheters in the therapy of
      children with cancer was determined. Of special interest was the question of to
      what extent the incidence of bacteremias is increased by the implant. For this
      reason the method of matched pairs analysis was chosen comparing 55 patients with
      61 catheters to 1 child each who received the therapy via peripheral veins. Apart
      from having the same disease, the same therapy protocol and the same age group
      the partners had a similar number of leukocytopenic days (leukocyte counts, <
      1000/microliters) in the study period. The observation time was 9671 days in the
      catheter group and 9666 days in the control group. During this time 167 fever
      episodes (17.7 episodes/1000 days) were recorded in the patients with implant but
      only 133 episodes (14.0/1000 days) in the control patients. Study and control
      groups had similar frequencies of fever of unknown origin with leukocyte counts >
      or = 1000/microliters and fever with a known focus. However, 29 bacteremias (2.9
      episodes/1000 days) represented a 4 times higher complication rate with the use
      of Broviac catheters than in the control group (7 bacteremias, 0.7 episode/1000
      days). Episodes of fever of unknown origin with leukocytopenia were 1.5 times
      more common in the catheter group than in the control group. Although it is not
      possible to prove that the catheter played a role as focus of bacterial
      infection, an increased risk of infection must be supposed. The Broviac catheter
      meets with broad approval by the patients, parents and medical staff.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461692
TI  - Prophylaxis of ophthalmia neonatorum: comparison of silver nitrate, tetracycline,
      erythromycin and no prophylaxis.
AB  - From November, 1989, to October, 1991, 4544 neonates were born at our hospital.
      Neonatal ocular prophylaxis immediately after birth was used with 1% tetracycline
      ophthalmic ointment in 1156 neonates, 0.5% erythromycin ophthalmic ointment in
      1163 neonates and 1% silver nitrate drops in 1082 neonates. No prophylaxis for
      neonatal conjunctivitis was given to 1143 neonates. A total of 302 infants (6.7%)
      developed conjunctivitis during the first 4 weeks of life. Between December,
      1991, and January, 1992, 425 neonates were born at our hospital and all were
      given 0.5% erythromycin ophthalmic ointment twice in the first 24 hours after
      birth for ocular prophylaxis. Thirty-one (7.3%) infants developed conjunctivitis
      during the neonatal period. The incidence rates of neonatal chlamydial
      conjuctivitis in the tetracycline, erythromycin, silver nitrate, no prophylaxis
      and erythromycin twice groups were 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, 1.6 and 1.4%, respectively. We
      conclude that neonatal ocular prophylaxis with erythromycin (one or two doses) or
      tetracycline or silver nitrate does not significantly reduce the incidence of
      neonatal chlamydial conjunctivitis compared with that in those given no
      prophylaxis.

PMID- 1461693
TI  - Coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteremia in severely malnourished Jamaican
      children.
AB  - Immunosuppression increases the susceptibility to infection and changes the
      inflammatory response in children with severe protein-energy malnutrition. In
      this 5-year prospective study bacteremia was documented in 16% of 336 severely
      malnourished children, 2 to 34 months of age, who were hospitalized consecutively
      in the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, Kingston, Jamaica. The 53 children had
      60 episodes of nosocomial and community-acquired bacteremia with 69 blood
      isolates. Community-acquired bacteremia accounted for 72% (43 of 60) of
      bacteremic episodes. Thirty-five percent (24 of 69) of the strains were coagulase
      negative staphylococci, 19% (13 of 69) were Staphylococcus aureus and 11% (8 of
      69) were Streptococcus Group D. Seventeen episodes of coagulase-negative
      staphylococcal bacteremia were acquired in the community and 7 were nosocomial.
      These patients were more likely to have pneumonic consolidation than children
      with all other bacteremias combined (P < 0.02, Fisher's exact test). The
      bacteremia-related case fatality rate was 8% (5 of 60). Polymicrobial and Gram
      negative septicemia were independent positive predictive factors for mortality
      when compared with single-agent and Gram-positive sepsis (P < 0.02). This 71% (49
      of 69) prevalence of Gram-positive organisms suggests a change in the
      epidemiology from the predominant Gram-negative etiologies (76%) described in
      previous reports.

PMID- 1461694
TI  - Intensive short course chemotherapy for treatment of Greek children with
      tuberculosis.
AB  - This prospective study with an 18-month posttreatment follow-up evaluated the
      efficacy of intensive short course chemotherapy in Greek children with pulmonary
      or extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Between November, 1988, and March 1991 a 2-month
      regimen of rifampin, 10 to 12 mg/kg/day, isoniazid, 10 to 12 mg/kg/day, and
      pyrazinamide, 30 to 35 mg/kg/day, followed by rifampin and isoniazid for the
      remaining 4 months, was administered orally to 36 children with tuberculosis.
      Twenty-three boys and 13 girls ages 8 months to 12 years (mean, 5 1/2 years) were
      enrolled in the study. The diagnostic criteria for establishing tuberculosis were
      tuberculin skin test reactivity, radiographic findings compatible with
      tuberculosis, epidemiological data and clinical and laboratory findings. Four
      children had extrapulmonary and 32 had pulmonary tuberculosis; 9 of the latter
      were asymptomatic. Among the pulmonary cases there were 2 children with pleural
      effusion. Clinical response to therapy was apparent within 7 to 14 days; the
      pleural effusions resolved in 2 to 6 weeks and the pulmonary infiltrates cleared
      in 2 to 6 months. Hilar adenopathy regressed within 18 months or longer. No
      serious problems with drug tolerance or toxicity were noted during the treatment
      period. Temporary hyperuricemia and transient elevation in serum transaminases
      were observed in 11 patients but no drug modification was required. There were no
      posttreatment relapses. These findings suggest that intensive short course
      chemotherapy for the treatment of Greek children with pulmonary or extrapulmonary
      tuberculosis appears to be effective, safe, of good patient compliance and
      comparable to the longer treatment regimens.

PMID- 1461695
TI  - Role of the new quinolones in pediatric practice.

PMID- 1461696
TI  - Morphologic studies for skeletal toxicity after prolonged ciprofloxacin therapy
      in two juvenile cystic fibrosis patients.

PMID- 1461697
TI  - Varicella-zoster contracted in the second trimester of pregnancy.

PMID- 1461698
TI  - Type b and non-type b Haemophilus influenzae endocarditis.

PMID- 1461699
TI  - Serum C-reactive protein vs. tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1 beta
      of the cerebrospinal fluid in diagnosis of bacterial meningitis with low
      cerebrospinal fluid cell count.

PMID- 1461700
TI  - Disseminated cat-scratch disease simulating neuroblastoma.

PMID- 1461701
TI  - Group A Streptococcus mural endocarditis.

PMID- 1461702
TI  - Congenital malformations in an infant born to a woman treated with fluconazole.

PMID- 1461703
TI  - Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in infants and young children.

PMID- 1461704
TI  - Unusual presentation of group B Streptococcus osteomyelitis.

PMID- 1461705
TI  - Streptococcal pyomyositis in two adolescent patients.

PMID- 1461706
TI  - Mumps with presternal edema-Gellis sign.

PMID- 1461707
TI  - Plasma arginine vasopressin and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
      secretion in tuberculous meningitis.

PMID- 1461708
TI  - Immunodeficiency in asplenia.

PMID- 1461709
TI  - Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in
      infants.

PMID- 1461711
TI  - Drug Utilization Research and Pharmacoepidemiology Meeting. Utrecht, The
      Netherlands, 27 November 1992. Abstracts.

PMID- 1461710
TI  - Diarrhea among African children born to human immunodeficiency virus 1-infected
      mothers: clinical, microbiologic and epidemiologic features.
AB  - Diarrhea and weight loss are common features of pediatric and adult human
      immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1) infection, particularly in developing countries.
      We studied prospectively episodes of diarrhea in 559 children, ages 10 to 15
      months, participating in a longitudinal study of perinatal HIV-1 infection in
      Kinshasa, Zaire. Children with HIV-1 infection had more frequent episodes of
      diarrhea and were more likely to present with fever or moderate or severe
      dehydration and to have persistent or fatal diarrhea. Of 9 HIV-1-positive infants
      with diarrhea, 3 had enteroadherence factor-positive Escherichia coli, compared
      with 5 of 74 HIV-1-negative children with diarrhea (P = 0.04); no other pathogen
      was associated with HIV-1 infection. In a logistic regression model diarrhea was
      significantly associated with HIV-1 infection in the child, moderate or severe
      malnutrition and symptoms of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in the mother.
      Diarrhea among children with perinatal HIV infection in Zaire is more severe than
      among uninfected children and is associated with malnutrition and advanced
      disease in the mother.

PMID- 1461712
TI  - Pharmacological Meeting. Lunteren, The Netherlands, 14-15 December 1992.
      Abstracts.

PMID- 1461713
TI  - Aromatic aldehydes and aromatic ketones open ATP-sensitive K+ channels in guinea
      pig ventricular myocytes.
AB  - Patch-clamp techniques were used to study the effects of three carbonyl
      compounds, 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, 2,3-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, and 2,4
      dihydroxyacetophenone, on the adenosine-5'-triphosphate(ATP)-sensitive K+ channel
      current (IK.ATP) in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. 3,4-Dihydroxybenzaldehyde
      (0.5-1 mM) shortened the action potential duration, and this effect was inhibited
      by application of a specific blocker of IK.ATP, glibenclamide. The shortening of
      the action potential duration was shown to be caused by a time-independent
      outward current. In the cell-attached patch configuration, all three compounds
      activated a kind of single-channel current, which showed an inward rectification
      at positive potentials and which had a linear current/voltage relation at
      negative potentials, having a conductance of 90 pS. The current reversed at about
      0 mV in symmetrical K+ concentrations on both sides of the membrane. In excised
      patches this current was blocked by internal application of ATP. Thus we
      identified this channel as IK.ATP. The activation effects of two aromatic
      aldehydes were stronger than that of the aromatic ketone. The effect of these
      compounds on IK.ATP was not reduced by addition of cysteine (10 mM). In inside
      out patches, 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde increased the activity of IK.ATP, which
      had been blocked by 0.5 mM MgATP in the presence of 0.5 mM ADP, but the
      activation effect was variable and much weaker than that in the cell-attached
      configuration, and was completely eliminated in the absence of ADP.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461714
TI  - Effects of inhibitors and ion substitutions on oscillations of cell membrane
      potential in cells expressing the RAS oncogene.
AB  - Previous studies revealed that in NIH fibroblasts expressing the ras oncogene but
      not in other NIH fibroblasts, bradykinin leads to sustained, calcium dependent
      oscillations of cell membrane potential by repetitive activation of calcium
      sensitive K+ channels. The present study has been performed to test for ion and
      inhibitor sensitivity of these oscillations. Both, Lys-bradykinin (kallidin) and
      bradykinin, but not any shorter peptide tested, maintained the oscillations. The
      oscillations are abolished in the presence of the K+ channel blocker barium (10
      mmol/l). The amplitude but not the frequency of the oscillations is dependent on
      the extracellular potassium concentration. The oscillations are not dependent on
      the presence of extracellular sodium, bicarbonate or chloride. The oscillations
      are abolished in the absence of extracellular calcium and their frequency is
      significantly decreased at reduced extracellular calcium (to 0.2 mmol/l). The
      oscillations are not inhibited by acute administration of ouabain (0.1 mmol/l),
      by dimethylamiloride (100 mumol/l), furosemide (1 mmol/l) and hydrochlorothiazide
      (100 mumol/l), by cobalt (100 mumol/l), zinc (100 mumol/l), gadolinium (100
      mumol/l), verapamil (10 mumol/l) and diltiazem (10 mumol/l), but are abolished in
      the presence of 100 mumol/l lanthanum, 1 mmol/l cadmium, 10 mumol/l nifedipine,
      25 mumol/l SK & F 96365 and 200 mumol/l TMB-8. Stimulation of calcium entry by 10
      nmol/l ionomycin is frequently followed by oscillations of cell membrane
      potential even in the absence of bradykinin. In conclusion, in cells expressing
      the ras oncogene bradykinin leads to sustained activation of calcium channels at
      the cell membrane, which cause oscillations of the cell membrane potential by
      triggering intracellular calcium release.

PMID- 1461715
TI  - Substrate specificity of the luminal Na(+)-dependent sulphate transport system in
      the proximal renal tubule as compared to the contraluminal sulphate exchange
      system.
AB  - The efflux of [35S]sulphate from the lumen of the proximal renal tubule into
      tubular cells of rats was measured by the stop-flow tubular-lumen microperfusion
      technique. The transport parameters obtained and the apparent Ki values of
      competing substrates were compared with those of the contraluminal influx of
      [35S]-sulphate from the interstitium into tubular cells. For the luminal sulphate
      efflux a Km(l, SO4(2-)) of 0.8 mmol/l and a Jmax(l, SO4(2-)) of 0.2 pmol s-1 cm-1
      were found. The corresponding contraluminal values were Km(cl,SO4(2-)) 1.4 mmol/l
      and Jmax(cl,SO4(2-)) 1.2 pmol s-1 cm-1. Omission of Na+ from the perfusates
      reduced the luminal efflux of sulphate by 83%, while the contraluminal influx of
      sulphate was not changed. Increase in HCO3- concentration inhibited both luminal
      efflux and contraluminal influx of sulphate, while a change of pH from 6.0 to 8.0
      was without effect. Comparing the apparent Ki(SO4(2-)) values for luminal and
      contraluminal sulphate transport, a relationship close to 1:1 was seen for some
      inorganic substrates with tetrahedral molecular structure (thiosulphate,
      sulphate, molybdate and selenate). The same holds for phosphate, while for
      oxalate the contraluminal Ki(SO4(2-)) value was lower than the luminal one (1.2
      and 4.5 mmol/l). Some of the dicarboxylates and disulphonates tested show the
      same affinity to the luminal Na(+)-dependent sulphate transporter and the
      contraluminal sulphate exchange system, whereas most of the benzene carboxylate
      and benzenesulphonate derivatives tested exhibit higher luminal than
      contraluminal Ki values. The inhibitory potency increased with rising numbers of
      substituents on the benzene ring. This effect was more pronounced for the
      contraluminal sulphate transporter. In general, only disulphonates and analogues
      as well as similarly structured compounds (5-sulphosalicylate, 2-hydroxy-5
      nitrobenzenesulphonate, eosine-5-isothiocyanate) have a good inhibitory potency
      toward the luminal sulphate transporter [apparent Ki 0.9-3.1 mmol/l]. All the
      tested sulphamoyl and phenoxy diuretics, and fluorescein and phenolphthalein dyes
      showed no or a smaller inhibitory potency to the luminal sulphate transport
      system than to the contraluminal. The most effective inhibitors of both sulphate
      transport systems are 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulphonate, orange G, and H2-DIDS.
      The data indicate that the Na(+)-dependent luminal and the Na(+)-independent
      contraluminal sulphate transport systems accommodate a similar spectrum of
      anionic substrates, whereby the inhibitory potency against the luminal Na(+)
      dependent sulphate transport system is identical or smaller than against the
      contraluminal transporter.

PMID- 1461716
TI  - Lack of effect of intraluminal pressure on renin release from isolated afferent
      arterioles.
AB  - To evaluate the role of the proposed baroreceptor mechanism in the afferent
      arteriole in regulating renin release, we modified the isolated perfused tubule
      technique to perfuse afferent arterioles. Arterioles with attached glomeruli were
      isolated from rabbit kidneys and perfused using standard methods. To stop the
      arteriolar flow and allow perfusion pressure, as set by a mercury manometer, to
      be built up in the lumen of the vessel, the glomerulus was sucked into a
      constriction pipette. The preparation was continuously superfused with Krebs
      Ringer solution in the first series of experiment, and a cell culture medium in
      the second series of experiment. The superfusate droplets were collected under
      mineral oil with 10-min collection intervals. The renin content of the samples
      was assayed by radioimmunoassay of the angiotensin I generated. In the two series
      of experiments we tested the effects of sequential changes in intraluminal
      pressure on renin release. In the first series of experiments (n = 6) the renin
      release was 56.3 nGU arteriole-1 min-1 in the first 10 min of sampling. The renin
      release was then constant for 80 min with an average of 21.6 nGU arteriole-1 min
      1. In the last 30 min the renin release was 96.5 nGU arteriole-1 min-1. In the
      second series of experiments (n = 8) the renin release was 26.5 nGU arteriole-1
      min-1 throughout the course of the experiment. These results indicate that under
      these conditions there is no relation between renin release and intraluminal
      pressure in afferent arterioles.

PMID- 1461717
TI  - Relation between slow-wave frequency and spiking activity during the migrating
      myoelectric complex in dogs.
AB  - The quantitative relation between slow-wave periods and spiking activity was
      evaluated in vivo in canine small intestine during the fasted state. Experiments
      were performed in three conscious dogs with three bipolar electrodes, implanted
      respectively 10, 25 and 40 cm beyond the ligament of Treitz. Digitized electrical
      recordings were automatically processed for the individual slow-wave periods and
      spike-burst intensities using a set of computer programs developed in our
      laboratory. A linear correlation existed between the degree of spiking activity
      and the average length of the preceding slow-wave period. The slopes of the
      regression lines were less steep for more distal electrodes. A second series of
      experiments showed that an increase in the slow-wave period precedes the onset of
      phase 3 of the migrating myoelectric complex and that a fall in slow-wave period
      precedes the end of phase 3. These data show that a low slow-wave frequency is
      accompanied by a facilitation of spiking activity, whereas shortening of the slow
      wave period is accompanied by a decrease in spike burst intensity. This relation
      between slow-wave period and spiking activity shows an aboral trend that may be
      related to intrinsic slow-wave frequency.

PMID- 1461718
TI  - Epidermal growth factor stimulates Ca2+ uptake of human erythrocytes.
AB  - To examine the functional significance of epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding
      sites present on the human erythrocyte membrane [Engelmann et al. (1992) Am J
      Hematol 39:239-241], the effect of EGF on 45Ca2+ uptake and on 22Na+ efflux from
      these cells has been studied. In all cases media contained 1.25 mM Ca2+, whereas
      Na+ and K+ were varied. In 140 mM Na+/5 mM K+ medium EGF (250 ng/ml) stimulated
      45Ca2+ uptake by 50%-90% in quin-2-loaded cells, and by up to threefold in
      untreated cells. Increasing extracellular K+ up to 75 mM at the expense of
      extracellular Na2+ stimulated the EGF-induced 45Ca2+ uptake by about twofold
      compared to 145 mM Na+ medium both in quin-2-loaded and in untreated cells. In
      145 mM K+ medium, however, no EGF-induced 45Ca2+ uptake was detectable in quin-2
      loaded cells, while in untreated cells Ca2+ entry was stimulated twofold by EGF.
      After increasing intracellular Na+ from 6 mmol/l cells to 18 mmol/l cells in
      untreated cells suspended in 145 mM K+ medium, 45Ca2+ uptake induced by EGF
      gradually increased. In contrast, in 140 mM Na+/5 mM K+ as well as in 70 mM
      Na+/75 mM K+ medium, 45Ca2+ uptake accelerated by EGF was largely unaffected by a
      modified red cell Na+ content. When 22Na-loaded untreated red cells were
      suspended in 145 mM K+ medium EGF stimulated red cell 22Na+ efflux by more than
      threefold. In 140 mM Na+/5 mM K+ as well as in 70 mM Na+/75 mM K+ medium, no
      22Na+ efflux induced by the growth factor was evident.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1461719
TI  - Involvement of a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein in excitation-contraction
      coupling of intact and cut-end voltage-clamped skeletal muscle fibres.
AB  - In voltage-clamped frog muscle fibres 10 ng/ml PTX induced a decrease
      (approximately 35%) of tension when applied externally. Internal application in
      cut-end fibres significantly depressed tension after 20 min. This effect
      increased with time to reach 65% after 60 min. PTX shifted the voltage-dependent
      inactivation curve of tension by 30 mV towards hyperpolarizations and this was
      counteracted by raising external calcium concentration. The toxin induced a
      parallel decrease in tension and voltage-sensitive charge movement (49 +/- 9% and
      52 +/- 6% respectively; n = 6). This was not counteracted by prior impregnation
      with forskolin. Internally applied GTP gamma S (500 microM) induced a
      simultaneous increase in tension (57 +/- 5%) and charge amount displaced (40 +/-
      7%). By contrast, GDP beta S decreased tension and charge movement by 35 +/- 5%
      and 36 +/- 6% respectively.

PMID- 1461720
TI  - Effects of neuronal bungarotoxin and nitric oxide inhibitors on the post
      iontophoretic burst of miniature end-plate currents at the frog neuromuscular
      junction.

PMID- 1461721
TI  - Cofractionation of the TATA-binding protein with the RNA polymerase III
      transcription factor TFIIIB.
AB  - We have investigated the requirement for TBP (TATA-binding protein) in
      transcription mediated by RNA polymerase III (pol III) in fractionated HeLa cell
      extracts. Two activities, TFIIIB and TFIIIC, found in phosphocellulose fractions
      PC B and PC C respectively, have been defined as necessary and sufficient, with
      pol III, for in vitro transcription of tRNA genes. Depletion of TBP from PC B,
      using antibodies raised against human TBP, is shown to inhibit the pol III
      transcriptional activity of the fraction. Furthermore, TBP is present in
      fractions with human TFIIIB activity, and a proportion of TBP cofractionates with
      TFIIIB over four chromatographic purification steps. TFIIIB fractions are capable
      of supplying TBP in the form necessary for pol III transcription, and cannot be
      substituted by fractions containing other TBP complexes or TBP alone. The use of
      a 5S RNA gene and two tRNA templates supports the general relevance of our
      findings for pol III gene transcription. Purified TFIIIB activity can also
      support pol II-mediated transcription, and is found in a complex of approximately
      230kD, suggesting that TFIIIB may be the same as the previously characterized B
      TFIID complex (1,2). We suggest that transcription by the three RNA polymerases
      is mediated by distinct TBP-TAF complexes: SL1 and D-TFIID for pol I and pol II
      respectively, and TFIIIB for pol III.

PMID- 1461722
TI  - Characterization of the self-splicing products of a mobile intron from the
      nuclear rDNA of Physarum polycephalum.
AB  - We have characterized the splicing products formed in vitro from RNA derived from
      the mobile group I intron in the nuclear rDNA of Physarum polycephalum, Pp LSU 3.
      This intron is a close relative of the well known Tetrahymena intron Tt LSU 1,
      being inserted at exactly the same position in the rDNA and sharing about 90%
      sequence identity with Tt LSU 1 in the conserved elements characteristic of the
      catalytic core of all group I introns. However, Pp LSU 3 differs from Tt LSU 1 in
      that it encodes a site-specific endonuclease, which mediates the homing of the
      intron to unoccupied target sites. The endonuclease, I-Ppo, would appear to be a
      unique example of a protein encoded by an RNA polymerase I transcript. To gain
      clues to the splicing products formed in vivo, and to the nature of the messenger
      RNA for I-Ppo, we subjected Pp LSU 3 RNA to standard self-splicing conditions in
      vitro, and then analyzed the products by size, by northern blotting, and by
      primer extension. The results show two novel features. First, in addition to the
      expected 5' splice site, there is an alternative 5' splice site in the upstream
      exon, just preceding the first codon of the I-Ppo open reading frame. Second, at
      the position corresponding to the major circularization site in Tt LSU 1 there is
      an internal processing site, leading to the efficient separation of two halves of
      the excised intron, the 5' half encoding I-Ppo and 3' half containing the
      ribozyme. Surprisingly, this cleavage appears not to be due to circularization
      followed by hydrolytic opening of the circle, but rather to G addition. The
      formation of these products in vitro suggests how the messenger RNA for the I-Ppo
      endonuclease may be generated in vivo.

PMID- 1461723
TI  - Elongation factor-1 messenger-RNA levels in cultured cells are high compared to
      tissue and are not drastically affected further by oncogenic transformation.
AB  - Copy-DNA clones covering the complete coding sequence of human Elongation Factor
      1 gamma mRNA have been isolated and characterized. The expression of Elongation
      Factor-1 in a variety of cell lines and a number of tissues shows a large
      increase in Elongation Factor-1 mRNA going from tissue to cultured cells (20
      fold). Messenger-RNA levels for Elongation Factor-1 alpha, -1 beta and -1 gamma
      increase in parallel suggesting coordinate regulation of the expression of these
      genes. Oncogenic transformation in vitro does not strongly affect Elongation
      Factor-1 mRNA levels.

PMID- 1461725
TI  - The FLP protein contacts both major and minor grooves of its recognition target
      sequence.
AB  - The FLP protein of the 2 microns plasmid of Saccharomyces cerevisiae promotes
      conservative site-specific recombination between DNA sequences that contain the
      FLP recognition target (FRT). FLP binds to each of the three 13 base pair
      symmetry elements in the FRT site in a site-specific manner. We have probed both
      major and minor groove contacts of FLP using dimethyl sulphate, monoacetyl-4
      hydroxyaminoquinoline 1-oxide and potassium permanganate and find that the
      protein displays extensive interactions with residues of both the major and minor
      grooves of 10 base pairs of each symmetry element. We find no evidence that the
      FRT site assumes a single-stranded conformation upon FLP binding.

PMID- 1461726
TI  - Mutagenesis analysis of the self-cleavage domain of hepatitis delta virus
      antigenomic RNA.
AB  - To determine the sequence requirements and structural features of the self
      cleavage domain of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) antigenomic RNA, we constructed a
      series of mutants and measured the rate constant of the cleavage reaction for
      each. The self-cleavage activity of HDV RNA of antigenomic sense was found to
      reside in a region of less than 90 nucleotides in length. The catalytic domain
      contained a long complementary sequence which could be deleted to half of its
      original size. Moreover, this region could be replaced by other sequences as long
      as they could fold into a stem-and-loop structure. The catalytic domain also
      required a 6-basepair helix adjacent to the cleaving point for activity. The
      structural features of these two base-pairing regions are quite similar to those
      of the HDV genomic self-cleavage domain. The cleavage site as well as the the
      hinge region (the sequence between the two stems) requires specific sequences for
      activity.

PMID- 1461724
TI  - Pseudouridine in the anticodon G psi A of plant cytoplasmic tRNA(Tyr) is required
      for UAG and UAA suppression in the TMV-specific context.
AB  - We have previously isolated and sequenced Nicotiana cytoplasmic tRNA(Tyr) with G
      psi A anticodon which promotes readthrough over the leaky UAG termination codon
      at the end of the 126 K cistron of tobacco mosaic virus RNA and we have
      demonstrated that tRNA(Tyr) with Q psi A anticodon is no UAG suppressor. Here we
      show that the nucleotide in the middle of the anticodon (i.e., psi 35) also
      contributes to the suppressor efficiency displayed by cytoplasmic tRNA(Tyr). A
      tRNA(Tyr) with GUA anticodon was synthesized in vitro using T7 RNA polymerase
      transcription. This tRNA(Tyr) was unable to suppress the UAG codon, indicating
      that nucleotide modifications in the anticodon of tRNA(Tyr) have either
      stimulating (i.e., psi 35) or inhibitory (i.e., Q34) effects on suppressor
      activity. Furthermore, we have shown that the UAA but not the UGA stop codon is
      also efficiently recognized by tobacco tRNA(G psi ATyr), if placed in the TMV
      context. Hence this is the first naturally occurring tRNA for which UAA
      suppressor activity has been demonstrated. In order to study the influence of
      neighbouring nucleotides on the readthrough capacity of tRNA(Tyr), we have
      established a system, in which part of the sequence around the leaky UAG codon of
      TMV RNA was inserted into a zein pseudogene which naturally harbours an UAG codon
      in the middle of the gene. The construct was cloned into the vector pSP65 and in
      vitro transcripts, generated by SP6 RNA polymerase, were translated in a wheat
      germ extract depleted of endogenous mRNAs and tRNAs. A number of mutations in the
      codons flanking the UAG were introduced by site-directed mutagenesis. It was
      found that changes at specific positions of the two downstream codons completely
      abolished the readthrough over the UAG by Nicotiana tRNA(Tyr), indicating that
      this tRNA needs a very specific codon context for its suppressor activity.

PMID- 1461727
TI  - Detection and characterization of a ring chromosome in the fission yeast
      Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
AB  - NotI and SfiI genomic restriction maps were used to detect and characterize a
      ring chromosome II in a Schizosaccharomyces pombe strain with a meiotic defect on
      chromosome II. The ring chromosome was formed by an intrachromosomal fusion near,
      or at, the very ends of chromosome II.

PMID- 1461728
TI  - Retinoblastoma-repression of E2F-dependent transcription depends on the ability
      of the retinoblastoma protein to interact with E2F and is abrogated by the
      adenovirus E1A oncoprotein.
AB  - The product of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene interacts with the
      transcription factor E2F. Two distinct types of interactions can be detected
      between the retinoblastoma gene product (Rb) and E2F. The first type involves an
      Rb-binding protein, RBP60. The Rb/E2F complex formed in the presence of RBP60 is
      able to bind DNA and migrates with a distinct mobility in gel retardation assays.
      The second type of Rb/E2F complex is seen in the absence of RBP60. This second
      type of Rb/E2F complex does not form a band-shift complex in gel retardation
      assays and its formation results in an apparent inhibition or loss of the DNA
      binding activity of E2F. Using a series of Rb-mutants we show that these two
      types of Rb/E2F complexes depend on common domains of the Rb protein. The T/E1A
      binding region as well as the carboxyl-terminus of the Rb protein are critical
      for these two types of Rb/E2F interactions. We also show that the retinoblastoma
      protein represses the E2F-dependent transcription, and this Rb-repression of the
      E2F-dependent transcription depends on the ability of Rb to interact with E2F.
      Moreover, the adenovirus E1A gene product, which binds Rb, counteracts the Rb
      repression and restores E2F-dependent transcription.

PMID- 1461729
TI  - Regulatory gene INO4 of yeast phospholipid biosynthesis is positively
      autoregulated and functions as a transactivator of fatty acid synthase genes FAS1
      and FAS2 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
AB  - The sequence motif 5' TYTTCACATGY 3' functions as an upstream activation site
      common to both yeast fatty acid synthase genes, FAS1 and FAS2. In addition, this
      UASFAS element is shared by all so far characterized genes of yeast phospholipid
      biosynthesis. We have investigated the influence of a functional INO4 gene
      previously described as a regulator of inositol biosynthesis on the expression of
      FAS1 and FAS2. In a delta ino4 null allele strain, both genes are expressed at
      only 50% of wild type level. Using individual UASFAS sequence motifs inserted
      into a heterologous test system, a drastic decrease of reporter gene expression
      to 2-10% of the wild type reference was observed in the delta ino4 mutant. In gel
      retardation assays, the protein-DNA complex involving the previously described
      FAS binding factor 1, Fbf1, was absent when using a protein extract from the
      delta ino4 mutant. On the other hand, this signal was enhanced with an extract
      from cells grown under conditions of inositol/choline derepression. Subsequent
      experiments demonstrated that INO4 expression is itself affected by phospholipid
      precursors, mediated by an UASFAS element in the INO4 upstream region. Thus, in
      addition of being an activator of phospholipid biosynthetic genes, INO4 is also
      subject to a positive autoregulatory loop in its own biosynthesis.

PMID- 1461730
TI  - Analysis of the autonomous replication behavior in human cells of the
      dihydrofolate reductase putative chromosomal origin of replication.
AB  - Chinese hamster genomic DNA sequences from the region downstream of the
      dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene reported to contain a chromosomal origin of
      bidirectional DNA replication (OBR-1) were tested for their ability to support
      autonomous DNA replication in human cells. A 13.3 kilobase fragment containing
      OBR-1 and surrounding sequences supported replication in short-term and long-term
      replication assays, while a 4.5 kb fragment containing OBR-1 did not support
      substantial replication in either assay. These results are consistent with our
      previous observations that large fragments of human DNA support replication,
      while smaller fragments are less efficient. The replication activities of
      plasmids containing OBR-1 were no greater than those of randomly chosen human
      fragments of similar size. Furthermore, two-dimensional gel analysis of plasmids
      containing OBR-1 indicated that initiation does not preferentially occur within
      the OBR-1 region. These results suggest that in the context of autonomous
      replication, the DHFR sequences tested do not contain genetic information
      specifying site-specific replication initiation. Possible implications of these
      results for chromosomal replication are discussed.

PMID- 1461731
TI  - TGA cysteine codons and intron sequences in conserved and nonconserved positions
      are found in macronuclear RNA polymerase genes of Euplotes octocarinatus.
AB  - The gene sequences of the second largest subunits of RNA polymerases I and II of
      Euplotes octocarinatus, RPA2 and RPB2, were determined and compared to the
      respective known sequences of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The similarity of the
      derived polypeptide sequences permitted their assignment to the respective
      polymerases and allowed the comparison of the zinc binding regions. In frame TGA
      codons were detected, which are likely to encode conserved cysteinyl residues in
      the putative zinc-finger region of the RPA2 gene. They were also found in other
      positions in both the RPA2 and RPB2 genes. The RPB2 gene contains a 30 bp intron
      close to the 5'-end of its coding region. The 5'-ends of the coding regions of
      all three genes encoding the largest subunits of the three different polymerases
      were also analyzed. The zinc finger structures again show the use of TGA codons
      for conserved cysteinyl residues in two of the genes. An N-terminal intron is
      located in the RPB1 gene at a conserved position as compared to the respective
      genes of several other eucarya.

PMID- 1461732
TI  - Transcriptionally driven cruciform formation in vivo.
AB  - We studied the formation of d(A-T)n cruciforms in E.coli cells by probing
      intracellular plasmid DNA with chloroacetaldehyde followed by fine analysis of
      modified DNA bases. d(A-T)16 sequences were inserted into specifically designed
      plasmids either upstream of a single trc promoter, or between two divergent trc
      promoters. We found that in both cases, induction of transcription by IPTG leads
      to the transition of the d(A-T)16 stretch into a cruciform state. In the case of
      two divergent promoters, we observed cruciform formation even without IPTG.
      Enhanced cruciform formation correlates with the elevation in promoter activity
      as defined by the opening of the promoter at the -10 to +2 positions. We conclude
      that transcriptionally driven negative supercoiling provokes cruciform formation
      in vivo.

PMID- 1461733
TI  - Three distinct RNA sequence elements are required for efficient apolipoprotein B
      (apoB) RNA editing in vitro.
AB  - Apolipoprotein B (apoB) mRNA is edited in rat liver and intestine to convert a
      CAA glutamine codon to a UAA translational stop codon by the direct conversion of
      cytidine to uridine at nucleotide 6666. We have proposed the 'mooring sequence'
      model for apoB RNA editing, in which editing complexes (editosomes) assemble on
      specific apoB mRNA flanking sequences to direct this site-specific editing event.
      One sequence element (approx. nts 6671-81, the presumed 'mooring sequence') has
      been previously identified as necessary for editing. We have identified two
      additional sequence elements which are necessary for efficient editing: (1) a 5'
      'Regulator' region which modulates editing efficiency and (2) a 'Spacer' region
      between the editing site and the 3' mooring sequence, whose distance is critical
      for efficient editing. Utilizing this data, we have induced editing at a cryptic
      site and have defined a 22 nucleotide 'cassette' of specific apoB sequence which
      is sufficient to support wild-type levels of editing in vitro in a background of
      distal apoB RNA sequence.

PMID- 1461735
TI  - PCR amplification of tandemly repeated DNA: analysis of intra- and
      interchromosomal sequence variation and homologous unequal crossing-over in human
      alpha satellite DNA.
AB  - Tandemly repeated DNA can comprise several percent of total genomic DNA in
      complex organisms and, in some instances, may play a role in chromosome structure
      or function. Alpha satellite DNA is the major family of tandemly repeated DNA
      found at the centromeres of all human and primate chromosomes. Each centromere is
      characterized by a large contiguous array of up to several thousand kb which can
      contain several thousand highly homogeneous repeat units. By using a novel
      application of the polymerase chain reaction (repPCR), we are able to amplify a
      representative sampling of multiple repetitive units simultaneously, allowing
      rapid analysis of chromosomal subsets. Direct sequence analysis of repPCR
      amplified alpha satellite from chromosomes 17 and X reveals positions of sequence
      heterogeneity as two bands at a single nucleotide position on a sequencing
      ladder. The use of TdT in the sequencing reactions greatly reduces the background
      associated with polymerase pauses and stops, allowing visualization of
      heterogeneous bases found in as little as 10% of the repeat units. Confirmation
      of these heterogeneous positions was obtained by comparison to the sequence of
      multiple individual cloned copies obtained both by PCR and non-PCR based methods.
      PCR amplification of alpha satellite can also reveal multiple repeat units which
      differ in size. Analysis of repPCR products from chromosome 17 and X allows rapid
      determination of the molecular basis of these repeat unit length variants, which
      appear to be a result of unequal crossing-over. The application of repPCR to the
      study of tandemly repeated DNA should allow in-depth analysis of intra- and
      interchromosomal variation and unequal crossing-over, thus providing insight into
      the biology and genetics of these large families of DNA.

PMID- 1461734
TI  - Genetic effects of oxidative DNA damage: comparative mutagenesis of 7,8-dihydro-8
      oxoguanine and 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenine in Escherichia coli.
AB  - A single 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (G8-OXO; 8-hydroxyguanine) adduct in the lacZ
      alpha gene of bacteriophage M13 DNA induces a targeted G-->T transversion after
      replication in Escherichia coli (Biochemistry, 29, 7024-7031 (1990)). This
      mutation is thought to be due to the facile formation during DNA synthesis of a
      G8-OXO.base pair, where G8-OXO is in the syn conformation about the deoxyglycosyl
      bond. A related modified purine, 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenine (A8-OXO; 8
      hydroxyadenine), is an abundant product found in irradiated and oxidized DNAs.
      Similar to G8-OXO, as a mononucleoside A8-OXO assumes the syn conformation. This
      work has assessed the relative mutagenicities of A8-OXO and G8-OXO in the same
      experimental system. A deoxypentanucleotide containing A8-OXO [d(GCT-A8-OXOG)]
      was synthesized. After 5'-phosphorylation with [gamma-32P] ATP, the oligomer was
      ligated into a duplex M13mp19-derived genome at a unique NheI restriction site.
      Genomes containing either A8-OXO (at position 6275, [+] strand) or G8-OXO
      (position 6276) were denatured with heat and introduced into E.coli DL7 cells.
      Analysis of phage DNA from mutant plaques obtained by plating immediately after
      transformation (infective centers assay) revealed that G8-OXO induced G-->T
      transversions at an apparent frequency of approximately 0.3%. The frequency and
      spectrum of mutations observed in DNA sequences derived from 172 mutant plaques
      arising from the A8-OXO-modified DNA were almost indistiguishable from those
      generated from transfection of an adenine-containing control genome. We conclude
      that A8-OXO is at least an order of magnitude less mutagenic than G8-OXO in
      E.coli cells with normal DNA repair capabilities.

PMID- 1461737
TI  - Heterochromatin protein 1, a known suppressor of position-effect variegation, is
      highly conserved in Drosophila.
AB  - The Su(var)205 gene of Drosophila melanogaster encodes heterochromatin protein 1
      (HP1), a protein located preferentially within beta-heterochromatin. Mutation of
      this gene has been associated with dominant suppression of position-effect
      variegation. We have cloned and sequenced the gene encoding HP1 from Drosophila
      virilis, a distantly related species. Comparison of the predicted amino acid
      sequence with Drosophila melanogaster HP1 shows two regions of strong homology,
      one near the N-terminus (57/61 amino acids identical) and the other near the C
      terminus (62/68 amino acids identical) of the protein. Little homology is seen in
      the 5' and 3' untranslated portions of the gene, as well as in the intronic
      sequences, although intron/exon boundaries are generally conserved. A comparison
      of the deduced amino acid sequences of HP1-like proteins from other species shows
      that the cores of the N-terminal and C-terminal domains have been conserved from
      insects to mammals. The high degree of conservation suggests that these N- and C
      terminal domains could interact with other macromolecules in the formation of the
      condensed structure of heterochromatin.

PMID- 1461736
TI  - The histone mRNA 3' end is required for localization of histone mRNA to
      polyribosomes.
AB  - The final step in mRNA biosynthesis is transport of the mRNA from the nucleus to
      the cytoplasm. Histone genes from which the 3' stem-loop has been deleted are
      transcribed to give RNAs with heterogeneous 3' ends. These RNAs are localized in
      the nucleus and are stable. Addition of the histone 3' processing signal either
      on short (< 250 nts) or long (> 1000 nts) transcripts restores 3' processing and
      transport of the mRNA to the cytoplasm. In addition chimeric histone-U1 snRNA
      genes which produced RNAs with either histone or U1 3' ends were analyzed.
      Transcripts which ended with U1 snRNA 3' ends were not efficiently localized to
      polyribosomes. However, transcripts containing the same sequences including the
      snRNA 3' end followed by the histone 3' end were present in the cytoplasm on
      polyribosomes. Taken together these results suggest that the histone 3' end is
      required for export of histone mRNA to the cytoplasm and association of the mRNA
      with polyribosomes.

PMID- 1461738
TI  - Inactive O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in human cells.
AB  - A plasmid encoding a recombinant human O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase
      (MGMT) fused to a fragment of the bacteriophage lambda N protein has been
      constructed. The fusion protein retained methyltransferase activity when
      expressed at high levels in E.coli and was purified to essential homogeneity by a
      simple procedure. Antisera raised against the purified fusion protein recognized
      MGMT in western blots of extracts of human cells. For most cell lines, there was
      a quantitative relation between the amount of immunologically detectable MGMT
      protein and enzyme activity. However, four cell lines contained detectable MGMT
      protein despite having no measurable methyltransferase activity. Additionally, a
      HeLa line contained considerably more immunoreactive MGMT protein than could be
      accounted for by its methyltransferase activity. Thus, some cells contain
      significant amounts of inactive MGMT. Preliminary characterization of the
      inactive protein in HeLaS3 cells indicated that it has some properties in common
      with MGMT methylated at the active cysteine residue.

PMID- 1461739
TI  - In vivo specificity of EcoRI DNA methyltransferase.
AB  - The EcoRI adenine DNA methyltransferase forms part of a bacterial
      restriction/modification system; the methyltransferase modifies the second
      adenine within the canonical site GAATTC, thereby preventing the EcoRI
      endonuclease from cleaving this site. We show that five noncanonical EcoRI sites
      (TAATTC, CAATTC, GTATTC, GGATTC and GAGTTC) are not methylated in vivo under
      conditions when the canonical site is methylated. Only when the methyltransferase
      is overexpressed is partial in vivo methylation of the five sites detected. Our
      results suggest that the methyltransferase does not protect host DNA against
      potential endonuclease-mediated cleavage at noncanonical sites. Our related in
      vitro analysis of the methyltransferase reveals a low level of sequence
      discrimination. We propose that the high in vivo specificity may be due to the
      active removal of methylated sequences by DNA repair enzymes (J. Bacteriology
      (1987), 169 3243-3250).

PMID- 1461740
TI  - Nucleotide sequence of the Borrelia burgdorferi rpmH gene encoding ribosomal
      protein L34.

PMID- 1461742
TI  - Relationship of DNA-transfer-systems: essential transfer factors of plasmids RP4,
      Ti and F share common sequences.

PMID- 1461741
TI  - Nucleotide sequence and secondary structure of 5.8S rRNA from the unicellular
      green alga, Chlorella ellipsoidea.

PMID- 1461743
TI  - Nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacers and 5.8S rRNA gene in
      Canella winterana (Magnoliales; Canellaceae).

PMID- 1461744
TI  - The high level streptomycin resistance gene from Streptococcus pneumoniae is a
      homologue of the ribosomal protein S12 gene from Escherichia coli.

PMID- 1461745
TI  - Nucleotide sequence of the phage T5 DNA segment containing six tRNA genes.

PMID- 1461746
TI  - The complete nucleotide sequence of hepatitis B virus, subtype adr (SRADR) and
      phylogenetic analysis.

PMID- 1461747
TI  - Cyclic AMP response element binding protein CREB and modulator protein CREM are
      products of distinct genes.

PMID- 1461748
TI  - Efficient joining of large DNA fragments for transgenesis.

PMID- 1461749
TI  - Enhanced expression of recombinant proteins in insect cells using a baculovirus
      vector containing a bacterial leader sequence.

PMID- 1461750
TI  - An easy and fast alternative to plasmid shuffling for the identification of in
      vitro mutagenized alleles of essential genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PMID- 1461751
TI  - A simple and efficient protocol for isolation of high molecular weight DNA from
      filamentous fungi, fruit bodies, and infected plant tissues.

PMID- 1461753
TI  - Imagine.

PMID- 1461754
TI  - Partnerships: an alternative to rugged individualism.

PMID- 1461752
TI  - New nucleotide sequence data on the EMBL File Server.

PMID- 1461755
TI  - AIDS prevention for women: a community-based approach.

PMID- 1461756
TI  - Holding the Mississippi River in place and other implications for qualitative
      research.
AB  - Holding back a river is used here as a metaphor and five suggested "tributaries"
      are suggested with the purpose of acknowledging the situated context that
      qualitative nurse researchers may wish to journey upon. Our nursing knowledge
      base must include the human experience. We need to become oriented to a world of
      meaning. Meaning will enlighten and give direction to our nursing practice. The
      unexamined taken-for-granted approach misses the essential structures of being.
      Those essential structures of being are what might actualize the possibilities of
      new ideas, new directions, new designs, new life, birth.

PMID- 1461757
TI  - Pain management as a clinical challenge for nursing administration.

PMID- 1461758
TI  - The relationship of energy expenditure to physical and psychologic symptoms in
      women at midlife.

PMID- 1461759
TI  - AAN Expert Panel Report. Culturally competent health care.

PMID- 1461760
TI  - Who am I and why am I here?

PMID- 1461761
TI  - Myths, monsters, and magic: personal perspectives and professional challenges of
      survival.

PMID- 1461762
TI  - Love and work: oncology nurses' view of the meaning of their work.
AB  - Phenomenological interviews with 23 nurses and more than 200 hours of participant
      observation on units of one cancer hospital were conducted to obtain a better
      understanding of how nurses caring for patients with cancer view their work. When
      asked to discuss a "critical incident" that captures the essence of oncology
      nursing for them, most nurses described acute physiologic emergencies. A few
      nurses described psychosocial needs and explained how they had helped or were
      unable to help patients and families deal with these needs. A major theme in
      these incidents was how they related to the nurses' own lives. These findings
      suggest the need to provide nurses with support and an opportunity to discuss
      their work. Oncology nurses appear to be motivated by a deep concern for patients
      and families that creates tremendous stress when conditions such as poor
      staffing, excessive use of registry nurses, and unexpected crises occur. The task
      orientation of these nurses also seems to be based on their fundamental concern
      for patient welfare.

PMID- 1461763
TI  - The role of the self in adjustment to cancer in elderly women.
AB  - One way that people may adjust to illness is through a redefinition of the self,
      especially with respect to the relationship between ideal self and actual self.
      To investigate psychological adjustment in community-dwelling elderly women,
      women with cancer (n = 17) were compared to women with other health problems (n =
      30) based on measures of psychological distress and well-being, actual self,
      ideal self, and the discrepancy between actual self and ideal self. Women with
      cancer scored no differently than other women on measures of psychological well
      being, psychological distress, and actual self, but their ideal-self ratings were
      lower. The positive adjustment of women with cancer may be the result of their
      ability to lower their ideal-self expectations, thereby reducing self
      discrepancies that can result in psychological distress.

PMID- 1461764
TI  - Psychosocial functioning of adolescents with cancer: a developmental perspective.
AB  - This literature review summarizes research conducted over the past 25 years that
      investigated the psychosocial functioning of adolescents with cancer. The
      research is divided into two conceptual areas that have been investigated by
      researchers in the disciplines of medicine, psychology, and nursing. One area is
      the impact of cancer on developmental processes in the adolescent period, and the
      second area is coping strategies and styles of adolescents with cancer. Studies
      examining the effects of cancer on the adolescent's self-esteem, general
      psychosocial development, and perception of control also have been included. The
      article concludes with a summary of findings, suggestions for future research
      endeavors, and implications for nursing practice.

PMID- 1461765
TI  - Failure to master early developmental tasks as a predictor of adaptation to
      cancer in the young adult.
AB  - The ability of young adults to adapt to living with a cancer diagnosis and to
      negotiate the healthcare system is influenced by their level of maturity. If
      adolescent developmental tasks have been unresolved or pathologically resolved,
      they are likely to be reenacted during the various stages of the malignancy.
      Retrospective review of case histories that illustrate the diverse ranges of
      adaptation to life-threatening illness indicates that success or failure in
      achieving ego autonomy and continuity in adolescence significantly influences the
      young adult's capacity to cope with the malignancy. Psychosocial assessment of
      the young adult patient and spouse, with attention to childhood, adolescent, and
      family history, will assist the oncology nurse in predicting the individual's
      capacity for adapting to the illness and complying with treatment. This
      developmental information will allow clinicians to modify interventions to
      compensate for earlier stage deficits.

PMID- 1461766
TI  - Consent forms: how to determine and improve their readability.
AB  - This study investigated the reading level estimates of cancer clinical trial
      consent forms from actively accruing studies at the Medicine Branch and the
      Clinical Pharmacology Branch of the National Cancer Institute. Forty-four consent
      forms were analyzed using the SMOG formula. Readability levels ranged from grade
      12 to grade 17.5 (mean = 14.3). The conclusion was that these consent forms were
      written above most subjects' reading levels. The usefulness of consent forms
      could be improved significantly by using readability formulas, applying rewriting
      techniques, and being aware of subjects' comprehension levels. This paper
      suggests a number of strategies that nurses can use to enhance comprehension of
      the information contained in informed consent documents.

PMID- 1461767
TI  - Analgesic decision-making skills of nurses.
AB  - Administration of analgesics is a common nursing intervention for providing pain
      relief to patients with cancer. A sample of 177 nurses participated in a study to
      examine their decision-making skills when analgesic orders were changed. Nurses
      were given four clinical vignettes and reference materials to assist them in
      responding to the vignettes. Twenty-six percent of 708 responses provided by the
      nurses were answered correctly. Twenty-nine percent of the sample answered all
      four vignettes incorrectly. The majority (44%) answered only one vignette
      correctly. No statistically significant differences were found between correct
      answers and type of work setting, academic preparation, number of patients with
      cancer cared for per week, number of years employed as a nurse, recent clinical
      experience with the analgesics used in the vignettes, or the use of reference
      materials. These findings raise concerns that patients requiring analgesics may
      not receive an amount that adequately relieves their pain or avoids unnecessary
      toxicity.

PMID- 1461768
TI  - Patient education for fatigue.
AB  - Although fatigue is a frequent complaint of patients undergoing cancer treatment,
      specific self-care activities are seldom addressed in patient education
      materials. To fill this void, a patient education tool was developed, with a
      special emphasis on the management of fatigue. Testing is under way with a large
      population of patients with cancer.

PMID- 1461769
TI  - Oncology Nursing Society Life Cycle Task Force report: the life cycle of the
      oncology nurse.

PMID- 1461770
TI  - Maternity nursing pads prevent mastectomy wound leakage.

PMID- 1461771
TI  - Simple solution minimizes problems with i.v. controllers.

PMID- 1461772
TI  - Opioids may cause assumed disease side effects.

PMID- 1461773
TI  - Risk of needle-stick during port decannulation reduced.

PMID- 1461774
TI  - Steps recommended to minimize skin ulceration from mitomycin-C.

PMID- 1461775
TI  - [Physiology of pubertal maturation].
AB  - Most important features of puberty are described. The puberty is the age of
      development of sexual characters. In females it appears between 10 and 15 years
      +/- 1 year whereas in males signs of puberty are visible between 11 and 15 years.
      In our country menarche appears at the mean age of 12 years and 2 months +/- 1
      year and 2 months. Precocious puberty in females is that which appears before 8
      years and 6 months and in males before 10 years. Delayed puberty is that which
      appears in females after 15 years and in males after 16. Nowadays is possible to
      keep off puberty when it is too soon by means of an analogous of LH-RH and as the
      result the subject reaches a better statural growth. The puberty should not be
      confused with the adolescence which is characterized by psycho-social maturity.

PMID- 1461776
TI  - [Von Willebrand's disease].

PMID- 1461777
TI  - [Physiopathologic and therapeutic aspects of persistent fetal circulation. Review
      of the literature and personal histological observations].
AB  - Persistence of the fetal circulation (PFC) is a syndrome characterized by failure
      of the cardiocirculatory system to adapt successfully to postnatal life. Its
      typical feature is persisting right-left shunt across fetal channels which
      determines cyanosis refractory to oxygen treatment. PFC can simulate cyanotic
      congenital cardiopathy. It has two forms: a primitive form and secondary one due
      to various causes especially perinatal asphyxia. Both forms have a common
      pathogenesis consisting of hypertension of the pulmonary arterial circulation.
      This article reviews the physiology of the main prenatal and postnatal
      circulatory characteristics and the factors which regulate the pulmonary
      circulation. It also reports the latest findings on PFC physiopathology and
      treatment indicating the prognostic factors and future perspectives.

PMID- 1461778
TI  - [Fever as periodic disorder].
AB  - Slight, moderate but also high rises in temperature, excluding other causes of
      fever, can be considered symptoms of periodic syndrome originating by
      hypothalamic centers as soon as headache, recurrent abdominal pains, growing
      pains, dizziness, kinetosis. These rises aren't uncommon, but often aren't
      considered important and this few statistics are available. The Authors present
      16 case reports of fever as periodic symptom and discuss how common factors exist
      in the mechanism of hyperthermia and other clinical signs of periodic syndrome
      (ex. migraine) but they are generally modulated differently so that disturbance
      of temperature regulation predominates in the first case, pain in the second.

PMID- 1461779
TI  - [Neuropsychologic development of small for gestational age preterm infants:
      follow up at 12-36 months of age].
AB  - We followed 94 preterm infants (G.A. < 37 weeks) small for gestational age (SGA)
      born from 1980 to 1987 in Pavia and admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
      of S. Matteo Hospital (Pavia). A control group matched for gestational age of 94
      preterm appropriate for gestational age (AGA) was also studied. Neurological
      examination was carried out at 40 weeks postmenstrual age and at 3, 6, 9, 12, 24,
      36 months of age with the method of Amiel-Tison and Grenier (1986). Psychomotor
      development was assessed using Brunet-Lezine's Scale until 1985 and after Bayley
      Scales of Infant Development. Intrauterine mortality was 23.40% in the SGA group
      and 5.32% in the AGA group (p = 0.0003); neonatal mortality was 18% in the SGA
      group and 6.62% in the AGA group (p < 0.01). 42 SGA (80.8%) and 58 AGA (79.5%)
      were completely normal (group A) at 36 months, but SGA infants showed transient
      neurological abnormalities (TNA) more frequently than the control group (30.7% vs
      6.8% - p < 0.001). 5 SGA (9.6%) and 10 AGA (13.7%) had minor abnormalities (group
      B); no SGA children and only one AGA had diplegia (group C); 3 SGA (5.8%) and 4
      AGA (5.5%) were considered to have severe handicap (group D) SGA children had a
      higher incidence of epilepsy (3.8% vs 0) than AGA (group E). These results show
      that in our group of SGA preterm infants the union of intrauterine growth
      retardation and prematurity compromise the possibility of survival.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461780
TI  - [Neuropsychological follow-up of children with phenylketonuria treated early].
AB  - We evaluated, yearly, the neuro-psychological development in 16 out of the 27
      children with phenylketonuria detected via neonatal screening in the years 1980
      90. 14 children had the classical form, while 2 had "variant" type of
      phenylketonuria. Development quotients always were slightly lower in patients
      than in controls, but the greatest difference was seen at 1 year of age (92.5 +/-
      6.7 vs 101.6 +/- 2.2). At age 6 years, 4 children out of 11 had a IQ equal or
      below 90.2 of them had neonatal asphyxia, while the others showed, after age 2-4,
      constantly elevated phenylalanine levels. Four children had a bad metabolic
      control, as from the age of 2-4 year, and only 1 of them showed a normal IQ at 6
      years of age. Regression analyses were used to determine the best predictors of
      IQ. Parents' social level stood out as the best predictor of IQ at 6 years of
      age. If this parameter was excluded, phenylalanine level, especially at age 4,
      best predicted IQ. The following variables had no influence: age at start of diet
      (they were all begun on diet within the first month of life), pre-diet
      phenylalanine levels and phenylalanine levels at 1 year of age (all children
      were, at this age, on good control), DQ (Development Quotient) at age 1. A high
      percentage (10 out 14) of hyperactive and psychologically instable children was
      also found, but with no correlations with IQ levels.

PMID- 1461781
TI  - [Rheumatic fever from 1960's to 1990's. Case records in 2 hospitals of the
      Lombardian area].
AB  - An epidemiological study of rheumatic fever (RF) has been done. Incidence and
      prevalence of RF observed in Monza Hospital from 1964 to 1990 and in Como
      Hospital from 1980 to 1990 both show a progressive reduction. An exception to
      this trend was observed in 1986 in Monza in 1985 in Como. The percentage of
      carditis in pediatric age is high (60-70%), often associated with arthritis and
      chorea. However carditis clinical picture seems nowadays less severe, probably
      because in the past the diagnosis was delayed. Sice 1980 no death were observed
      due to RF or related cardiac involvement. Relapses and residual valvulopathies
      are significantly reduced only when penicillin prophylaxis was correctly
      performed.

PMID- 1461782
TI  - [A comparative study of 3 different types of trivalent measles-mumps-rubella
      vaccine].
AB  - The results of a randomized double blind comparative clinical trial are
      described. 201 children, 101 males and 100 females, average age 3.11 +/- 1.1
      (range 15 months to 14 years) received 3 different types of triple vaccine
      against measles, mumps and rubella. The vaccine containing the strains Edmonston
      Zagreb, Rubini and Wistar Ra 27/3 was well tolerated both for the number of side
      effects and for the number and the level of the fever attacks, that resulted the
      most frequent symptom, especially in the children from 2 to 5 years. The
      differences between side effects were highly significant. In accordance with the
      obtained results and considering the data of other studies, the Authors conclude
      that the principal reason of this tolerance is due to more attenuated strain
      against measles.

PMID- 1461783
TI  - [Edema in acute diffuse glomerulonephritis, rheumatic peliosis and epidemic
      parotitis].
AB  - The Authors present a substantial series of infant APING in which the venous
      blood gas analysis shows poor use of oxygen, due to a probably reduced cellular
      combustion associated with low pCO2, high pH, which are characteristic of
      arterial blood travelling through anastomotic paths and preferential channels at
      the microcirculation level. They emphasize the contemporaneous increase in
      volemia, even with oedema present, and the poor permeation of the capillary wall
      found with the Landis test, contrary to what happens in glomerulonephrosis with
      minimal changes which features increased systematic capillary permeation with
      hypovolemia. The look of the oedema, together with the hypervolemia, led to the
      suspicion that the nephritic oedema was a sign of mainly intracellular oedema. In
      the opinion of the Authors these nephritic forms would seem to show systemic
      cellular respiratory suffering sensitive to the action of chlorpromazine, which
      has also dealt swiftly and cleanly with the oligoanuresis. The Authors consider
      52 cases of Schoenlein-Henoch vasculitis which showed very rapid detumescence of
      periarticular swelling and those on the back of the hands and feet, as well as
      the disappearance of skin petechias and melena following treatment with
      chlorpromazine. They also mention two cases of Kawasaki's disease which seemed to
      react favorably to the combination of the action of chlorprmazine with
      acetylsalicylic acid. The effects obtained with chlorpromazine in 27 cases of
      epidemic parotitis with periscialoadenitis elastic tumescence are reported, with
      the focus on the reduction of the perisalivary tumescence. It is important to
      point out the very rapid disappearance of epigastrial pain, probably pancreatic
      in origin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461784
TI  - [Evaluation of blood sugar self-monitoring of diabetic children and its
      educational applications].
AB  - In diabetics children's education is important to "make" information, but it's
      important also to verify whether informations are given correctly. By use of
      computerized system it's possible to control the quality of self-management
      (number of glycemias, change in doses of insulin, values of HbA1c) and to
      determine the "know" and the "know how".

PMID- 1461785
TI  - [Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in infants. A retrospective study of cases
      observed in the years 1970-1990].
AB  - Although the definitive cause of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is
      unknown, it's probable that several predisposing risk factors would be associated
      with the condition. We analysed some perinatal factors in relation to the
      incidence of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis among children observed
      during the period 1970-90. We examined 61 infants with surgically confirmed
      hypertrophic pyloric stenosis and, as controls, 61 healty children comparable for
      age. In every child we studied: sex, birth rank, pregnancy and delivery,
      birthweight, parental age, type of feeding, familial history of hypertrophic
      pyloric stenosis and of atopy, seasonal variation in incidence, AB0 and Rh blood
      phenotypes. In the 61 infants with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, the incidence
      of three factors (male sex, primogeniture and feeding with artificial milk) was
      significantly higher than that in the controls. We conclude that infantile
      hypertrophic pyloric stenosis probably has a particular genetic basis, but
      perinatal factors are responsible for the rising of the condition. However the
      true aetiology remains to be elucidated.

PMID- 1461786
TI  - [Comparison of plasma concentrations of amoxicillin administered by oral and
      venous routes in neonatal bacterial colonizations].
AB  - The amoxicillin is a drug that for the incomplete capacity of intestinal
      absorption in newborn is give for intravenous way. The use of this way and the
      duration of treatment impose the separation of the newborn from mother and a
      proportionate preparation of the nurses for the execution of this therapy. We
      have compared, in newborn infants, with clinical and laboratory diagnosis of
      neonatal infection, the amoxicillin's plasmatic concentration after intravenous
      giving and oral giving, in relation to minimum inhibiting concentration the
      bacteria cause of neonatal infections. In our study (duration 10 months) the
      newborn infants were perfectly comparable for gestational age, Apgar's score,
      birthweight, breastfeeding. The newborn infants, at random, were divided in two
      groups; the first group (18 newborns) received drug for oral way, the second
      group (14 newborns) for intravenous way. The dosage was 40 mg/Kg/dose of
      amoxicillin. The duration of treatment was 4 days. Remarkable was the great
      individual variability of plasmatic concentration of amoxicillin independently
      from way of giving. The plasmatic concentrations were nearly similar except for
      the first half hour (plasmatic concentrations after oral giving was lower). The
      use of oral way is, therefore, favourable for the facility of giving and
      effective as the intravenous way in the control of neonatal infections.

PMID- 1461787
TI  - [A case of diaphragmatic eventration associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White
      syndrome].
AB  - The Authors report a case of diaphragmatic eventration associated with Wolff
      Parkinson-White's syndrome. It's difficult to explain this unusual association.
      It's possible that the presence of cardiac accessory pathways in this particular
      patient is due to the alteration of the normal anatomical relationship resulting
      from the diaphragmatic eventration.

PMID- 1461788
TI  - [Neuroblastoma with muscular localization: description of a case].
AB  - An unusual case of abdominal neuroblastoma, whose extension involved the psoas
      muscle, leading to an ultrasonographic and Magnetic Resonance imaging simulating
      an haematoma, is described. Histology disclosed the malignant nature of the
      muscle mass. The Authors discuss the value of the new imaging techniques and in
      particular of Magnetic Resonance in the diagnostic work-up of paediatric
      malignancies.

PMID- 1461789
TI  - [Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor with a retiform pattern: description of a case].

PMID- 1461790
TI  - [Long-term asymptomatic incubation in vertical HIV infection. Description of a
      case and review of the literature].
AB  - The natural history of HIV infection in perinatally-infected children is still
      poorly defined; more information about disease progression is needed for the
      design of clinical and therapeutic trials. According to the most recent reports,
      vertically-acquired infection seems to follow two different modes of progression,
      with the majority of patients expressing early signs of severe disease, whereas a
      subgroup of mildly affected infants has a longer survival, comparable to that
      previously reported for adults: the long term prognosis of this last patient
      group remains unknown. Current estimates of incubation periods in children are
      based on limited data, largely drawn from ill patients: hence subjects with a
      short incubation time are more likely to be observed. A case is described of a
      child born in 1982 to an asymptomatic intravenous drug abuser mother. HIV
      infection was detected in both mother and son only in 1984, but other risk
      factors for HIV infection of the infant (i.e. blood transfusions, sexual abuse)
      were excluded. The child had an uneventful neonatal period and childhood, with
      normal growth and development; up to now, at the age of 9 years 6 months, no
      clinical signs and symptoms possibly related to HIV infection became evident.
      Laboratory examinations showed only slight immunologic abnormalities (class P-1
      B, CDC), such as increased serum immunoglobulin levels, reduction of CD4+/CD8+
      ratio with no relevant decrease of absolute CD4+ lymphocyte count (1100/mm3); HIV
      p24Ag and virus isolation were always negative.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461791
TI  - [Spondylo-costal dysostosis: presentation of a new case with autosomal dominant
      heredity and discussion of problems in genetic counseling].
AB  - The Authors report a new family with spondylo-costal dysplasia in which three
      members in three generation are affected. The genetic heterogeneity of the
      condition and its implication in genetic counseling is discussed.

PMID- 1461792
TI  - The epidemiology and clinical features of obsessive compulsive disorder.
AB  - During the past decade, there has been rapid growth in understanding the clinical
      features, pathophysiology, and treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
      This article reviews the current state of knowledge of the epidemiology and
      clinical features of OCD with a focus on the disorder's phenomenologic
      heterogeneity and its comorbidity with other Axis I and Axis II syndromes.

PMID- 1461793
TI  - The genetics of obsessive compulsive disorder and Gilles de la Tourette's
      syndrome.
AB  - This article reviews the evidence that obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and
      Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome (GTS) are both familial and genetic. Studies are
      summarized that suggest that (1) some forms of OCD are related to GTS, (2) some
      forms of OCD are familial and may not be related to GTS, and (3) the patterns of
      inheritance of GTS and OCD within the same families are consistent with the
      transmission of an autosomal dominant genetic locus.

PMID- 1461794
TI  - Childhood-onset obsessive compulsive disorder.
AB  - The clinical presentation of OCD in children and adolescents is quite similar to
      that in adults, with overlapping obsessional content and compulsive ritualistic
      patterns. In addition, both age groups provide essentially identical descriptions
      of the anxiety accompanying their compulsions and invoke similar mechanisms to
      resist acting out the ritualistic behavior. Responses to behavioral treatment and
      pharmacotherapy are similar across ages, and the disorder appears to be chronic
      and unremitting in the studied populations whether its onset is in childhood or
      adulthood. Conversely, the strong familial influence, male predominance,
      neuroendocrine abnormalities, presence of tics and other neurologic
      abnormalities, and possible impact on personality development suggest that
      pediatric OCD has important differences from its adult counterpart. Further
      investigations of these unique features of childhood-onset OCD are warranted and
      may provide etiologic clues to the disorder.

PMID- 1461795
TI  - Trichotillomania. An obsessive compulsive spectrum disorder?
AB  - Trichotillomania is a neglected neuropsychiatric disorder that only recently has
      received research attention. Based on clinical data, it appears far more common
      than previously believed. Like OCD, the behavior is recognized as senseless and
      undesirable, but is chronic and difficult to treat. The comorbidity, drug
      response data, familiality, and phenomenology of the disorder extend the concept
      of OCD to a spectrum of inappropriately released, excessive grooming behaviors.
      Although the discovery of clomipramine's effectiveness has provided relief to
      some trichotillomanics, further work is indicated to find regimens that provide
      long-term suppression of symptoms. Ongoing investigations of early-onset
      trichotillomania may reveal etiologic triggers, whereas studies that examine the
      similarities and differences between trichotillomania and OCD may help define the
      neurobiology of OCD, and possibly of other atypical impulse control disorders.

PMID- 1461796
TI  - Hypochondriasis and obsessive compulsive disorder.
AB  - Hypochondriasis and OCD differ conceptually in the degree to which the patient's
      disease concerns are experienced as an intrusive mental event or a reasonable
      psychological response to a realistic health threat, in the degree to which the
      ideation is resisted, and in the presence of somatic sensations and medical help
      seeking. There are, however, some similarities between the conditions, including
      the development of excessive, stereotyped, repetitive behaviors in an attempt to
      allay their anxiety. Empirical data on the degree of overlap between the
      conditions are too limited to permit definitive conclusions. The little that we
      do know, however, suggests that (1) the prevalence of OCD in hypochondriasis is
      probably elevated, but not extraordinarily so; (2) the prevalence of
      hypochondriasis in OCD is unknown; (3) fears about disease, illness, and injury
      are one of the more common forms of obsessions seen in OCD; and (4) there are
      several ill-defined and largely unexplored conditions, such as disease phobias,
      which appear to be very similar to both OCD and hypochondriasis. Clinical
      experience suggests that there may be a subgroup of hypochondriacal patients who
      are closer to the anxiety disorders in general and to OCD in particular. This
      subgroup might respond to the newer, antiobsessional, serotonin reuptake blocking
      agents.

PMID- 1461797
TI  - Personality disorders in obsessive compulsive disorder.
AB  - Standardized structured interview personality scales are now available that
      provide better reliability than clinician interview, but are still imperfect.
      These scales diagnose DSM III-R personality disorders, which are more illness
      oriented than Freudian notions. Use of these scales has found that the majority
      of patients with OCD have at least one Axis II personality disorder, with most
      falling in cluster C. Obsessive compulsive personality disorder, as described in
      DSM-III-R, is, in most samples studied, present in the minority of patients with
      OCD, and is often less common than other personality disorders such as mixed,
      dependent, avoidant, and histrionic. The prevalence of this personality disorder
      as modified in DSM-III-R (making it easier for a patient to qualify for this
      personality disorder diagnosis) appears to be higher, although still present in a
      minority of patients with OCD. Obsessive compulsive personality disorder (along
      with the other cluster B and C personality disorders) has not been reported to
      have a consistent relation to treatment outcome. There is evidence that in some
      cases, obsessive compulsive personality disorder may be secondary to OCD. Swedo
      et al hypothesized that some children may develop compulsive personality traits
      as an adaptive mechanism to deal with OCD. This hypothesis is in accord with our
      finding that OCD often predates compulsive personality disorder and that mixed
      personality disorder may develop over time, possibly secondary to OCD. We found
      in our sample of 96 adult patients with OCD that the presence of mixed
      personality disorder was more likely with longer duration of OCD, suggesting that
      patients who do not have premorbid personality disorders may develop significant
      personality traits (especially avoidant, compulsive, and dependent), which may be
      related to behavioral and life-style changes that are secondary to OCD. This
      hypothesis is strengthened by our finding that patients with one of these
      personality disorders at baseline tended to no longer meet criteria for them
      following successful treatment of their OCD. It now appears that schizotypal
      personality disorder, which is thought to be related genetically to schizophrenia
      (e.g., in three male identical twin pairs concordant for OCD but discordant for
      schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, the nonpsychotic co-twins all had
      schizotypal personality disorder), is the only consistent personality disorder
      predictor of poorer outcome in OCD. These traits may help explain other proposed
      poor predictors of treatment outcome such as overvalued beliefs, poor compliance,
      and chaotic family situations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1461798
TI  - Neurobiology of obsessive compulsive disorder.
AB  - In this brief review of two of the neurobiologic aspects of OCD, two simplistic
      models have been suggested. Although these models reflect different perspectives,
      they may not be independent. For instance, the striatum, which is a focus for the
      neuroanatomic model, receives a dense serotonergic projection from the dorsal
      raphe. Similarly, as mentioned previously, combining PET studies and drug
      treatment demonstrates that the increased metabolic activity seen in the orbital
      cortex appears to normalize with serotonin uptake inhibitor treatment. Insights
      into the neurobiology of this syndrome will require combining perspectives as
      well as developing additional approaches. In addition, the search for
      neurobiologic abnormalities must be guided by a continuing regard for
      phenomenology. There is no reason, a priori, to assume that this syndrome
      subsumes only one disorder. The careful dissection of subgroups--whether based on
      symptom type, character style, or comorbid diagnoses--will be increasingly vital
      for understanding the results of neuropharmacologic and functional imaging
      studies.

PMID- 1461799
TI  - Normal and abnormal information processing. A neuropsychological perspective on
      obsessive compulsive disorder.
AB  - This article presents a neuropsychological perspective on obsessive compulsive
      disorder (OCD) and describes some of the cognitive strengths and weaknesses that
      characterize the disorder. Neuroanatomic findings and theories of the neurologic
      basis of OCD are reviewed as are studies that use neuropsychological assessments.
      Findings of frontal lobe and/or basal ganglia dysfunction as well as memory
      deficits are emphasized. This information is then discussed in the context of
      cognitive-behavioral and information processing perspectives that emphasize
      normal patterns in anxiety and worry. The goal is to provide an integrated
      conceptual model of OCD, identifying the normal and abnormal information
      processing patterns that characterize the disorder.

PMID- 1461800
TI  - Tourette's syndrome and obsessive compulsive disorder. Clinical aspects.
AB  - Tourette's syndrome (TS) is a disorder that typically has its onset in childhood
      or early adulthood and is characterized by the presence of both motor and vocal
      tics. Obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCS) frequently occur in patients with tic
      disorders. The earliest descriptions of TS included obsessive thinking as a part
      of the symptom complex. Recent studies suggest that obsessive compulsive disorder
      (OCD) may occur in as many as 7% of patients with TS, and that both of these
      disorders share a similar clinical phenomenology and familial patterns of
      transmission. This article explores similarities and differences between these
      two disorders.

PMID- 1461801
TI  - Assessment of severity and change in obsessive compulsive disorder.
AB  - Useful clinician-rated measures of OCD are now available. The Y-BOCS and NIMH
      Global OC both seem suitable for monitoring outcome in drug trials of OCD. These
      two scales seem relatively specific for symptoms of OCD and are sensitive to drug
      induced changes in symptoms. Neither the Y-BOCS nor the NIMH Global OC confuse
      trait with state. There are ample data suggesting that the Y-BOCS is reliable and
      valid scale. Unlike some of the symptom inventories, such as the LOI and MOCI,
      final scores on the NIMH Global OC and Y-BOCS are not influenced directly by the
      type or number of obsessions and compulsions present. A computer-administered
      version of the Y-BOCS has been developed. Currently available patient-rated
      instruments suffer from serious shortcomings, including insensitivity to change
      and poor representation of patients with mono-symptomatic clinical pictures
      (e.g., hoarding alone). Some rating scales have been adapted for use in children
      with OCD. Several groups, including our own, have elected to use change scores on
      the 10-item Y-BOCS and a global measure of OCD, such as the NIMH Global OC or
      modified OGI, as the principal outcome variables in drug trials in patients with
      OCD. Several studies have selected a 35% decrease in Y-BOCS scores from baseline
      as indicative of clinically significant improvement. A limitation of all single
      item global measures is that they cannot be resolved into smaller components. The
      more fine-grained analysis that is possible with the multi-item Y-BOCS makes it
      more desirable as a primary outcome measure, with a global scale as a secondary
      outcome measure.

PMID- 1461802
TI  - Neuroimaging studies of obsessive compulsive disorder.
AB  - In the last 5 years, there has been an explosion of neuroimaging studies of
      obsessive compulsive disorder. This work is now beginning to suggest
      dysfunctional brain regions and circuits that may mediate some of the symptoms of
      this classic neuropsychiatric illness.

PMID- 1461803
TI  - Behavior therapy for obsessive compulsive disorder.
AB  - Behavior therapy for OCD with exposure and response prevention is effective in
      reducing obsessions and rituals in at least half of those suffering this
      disabling disorder. Office-based sessions in which patients participate actively
      in designing exposure and response prevention homework are usually sufficient.
      Therapist assistance is sometimes needed for those who fail to perform these
      assignments on their own. Poor compliance, severe comorbid conditions, and CNS
      depressing drugs can interfere with behavior therapy. Techniques to manage these
      difficulties, including modifications of behavior treatment and the use of
      serotonin reuptake inhibiting drugs, can increase substantially the number of
      patients responsive to behavior therapy.

PMID- 1461804
TI  - Pharmacologic treatment of obsessive compulsive disorders.
AB  - Medications are currently available that have been well studied in adequately
      designed controlled trials that predictably help the majority of obsessive
      compulsive disorder (OCD) patients. This article reviews the considerable data on
      the use of these agents in patients with OCD. In addition, an approach to
      patients with resistant symptoms is presented.

PMID- 1461805
TI  - Neurosurgical treatment of malignant obsessive compulsive disorder.
AB  - Although the majority of patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
      respond well to behavioral techniques, pharmacotherapy, or combinations of these
      two approaches, a small percentage of patients remain refractory and are severely
      disabled by their symptoms. Such patients may well be helped by neurosurgical
      interventions. This article reviews the selection guidelines, indications and
      contraindications, available procedures, probable outcome, hazards involved,
      preoperative work-up, and the rationale behind neurosurgery in OCD.

PMID- 1461806
TI  - Radiation sensitization by estramustine studies on cultured human prostatic
      cancer cells.
AB  - In low-stage prostatic carcinoma, local cure can be obtained with radiation
      therapy alone, while in locally advanced disease the chances for cure are less.
      In this study, we have addressed the question of whether estramustine (EM), the
      main cytostatic metabolite of estramustine phosphate (Estracyt), may act as a
      radiosensitizing agent. This drug accumulates in prostatic cancer and has also
      been shown to arrest cancer cells at metaphase both in vitro and in vivo. The
      human prostatic cancer cell line DU 145 was grown as cultures monolayer and
      incubated with EM in concentrations varying from 1 to 20 micrograms/ml. External
      beam irradiation was performed with doses ranging from 0 to 8 Gy using gamma rays
      from a 60Co source. Clonogenic cell survival (CS) was used to analyse the
      radiation sensitizing effect of EM. The radiation dose modifying factor (DMF) at
      the survival level 0.1 was found to be 0.77 in the presence of EM (5
      micrograms/ml), i.e., 23% sensitization was obtained. When irradiating cells at
      the standard fraction dose of 2 Gy in the absence of EM, 22% of the cells lost
      their clonogenic ability. In presence of EM (5 micrograms/ml), 2 Gy caused 40% of
      the cells to lose their clonogenic ability. Thus a radiation sensitizing effect
      of EM was established in the CS assay. It was also of interest to determine if
      the radiosensitizing effect of EM could be confirmed in a rapid assay. The rapid
      fluorescence assay was used to observe early damage of the cells. Results showed
      that by 2 days after exposure to irradiation a weak tendency towards
      sensitization was seen, while a clear sensitization was obtained after 4 days.
      This indicates that the rapid assay might be developed to a predictive assay for
      detection of the response of primary prostate tumor cells to the radiation
      sensitizing effect of EM.

PMID- 1461807
TI  - Assessing cost effectiveness in orthopedic outcome studies.

PMID- 1461808
TI  - Learning curves or lines?

PMID- 1461809
TI  - More on ethics.

PMID- 1461810
TI  - Distal femoral osteotomy for valgus deformity of the knee.
AB  - Distal femoral varus osteotomy and blade-plate fixation for valgus deformity of
      the knee proved effective in restoring axial alignment in 18 of 36 knees (34
      patients). Patients were followed for an average of 5.4 years (range: 2 to 19
      years). The osteotomies were performed on 14 men and 22 women (average age: 44
      years; range: 14 to 77). The patients' average preoperative valgus deformity of
      the anatomical axis was 19.4 degrees (range: 8 degrees to 33 degrees). The
      surgical procedures performed were a medial closing wedge osteotomy (14 knees)
      and a lateral opening wedge osteotomy with bone grafting (22 knees).
      Postoperative correction of the anatomical axis averaged 3.8 degrees valgus
      (range: 8 degrees varus to 20 degrees valgus). Maximum improvement was reached
      within 6.3 months by patients who were less than 60 years old and within 5.1
      months by patients who were more than 60 years old. Pain decreased or resolved in
      21 of 35 knees (60%); activity level improved in 24 of 35 knees (69%). One
      patient was unavailable for follow up evaluation. Varus osteotomy in the distal
      femur was concluded to be an acceptable form of treatment in the valgus knee
      alone or associated with traumatic or osteoarthritis of the lateral compartment.

PMID- 1461811
TI  - Tinel's sign and Phalen's test in carpal tunnel syndrome.
AB  - Tinel's sign and Phalen's test are two provocative tests used in the diagnosis of
      carpal tunnel syndrome. A review of the literature reveals a wide range of
      sensitivity for these tests. Analyzing the historical data and comparing these to
      the Tinel's sign and Phalen's test results of 100 individuals without carpal
      tunnel syndrome (200 wrists), we conclude that the Tinel's sign is not useful in
      the evaluation of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, whereas Phalen's test,
      which has a greater sensitivity and specificity, can be of use.

PMID- 1461812
TI  - A new scale for the clinical assessment of spinal cord function.
AB  - The systems currently used for grading the severity of neurologic injuries have
      serious limitations. The authors have developed a neurologic grading system to
      assess spinal cord function. This is a new, functionally oriented scale which can
      be used at the bedside and requires no special tests other than those done in a
      routine clinical neurological examination. This scale includes assessment of
      motor and sensory function, rectal tone, and bladder control. A major advantage
      of this scale is that motor function is assessed on a functional rating system.
      To evaluate the usefulness of this scheme, patients who have been previously
      entered into a prospective study on the surgical treatment of burst fractures
      were re-evaluated. A significant number of patients under our new
      reclassification system were noted to have had significant improvement which had
      been overlooked using the Frankel Grade system. The authors conclude that their
      new spinal cord assessment technique has many advantages and suggest that it be
      used by spinal cord injury centers.

PMID- 1461813
TI  - Concomitant injuries of the hip joint and abdomen resulting from gunshot wounds.
AB  - Septic arthritis is a devastating complication of transabdominal gunshot wounds
      to the hip. Five patients sustained gunshot wounds to the hip which violated the
      alimentary tract. Diagnosis was established with plain radiographs in three
      patients, arthrogram in one patient, and a gastrointestinal series in one
      patient. Three patients had an exploratory laparotomy with diverting colostomy
      followed by immediate hip arthrotomy within 24 hours and no joint infections
      occurred. In the other two patients, hip involvement was identified late after
      septic arthritis occurred. Early diagnosis, diverting colostomy, and immediate
      arthrotomy are recommended for gunshot wounds to the hip which involve the
      alimentary tract.

PMID- 1461814
TI  - The use of postoperative suction drainage in total hip arthroplasty.
AB  - Two hundred eight primary total hip arthroplasties were reviewed to evaluate the
      effect of closed suction drainage. This review included 45 hips in which closed
      drains were used and 163 hips in which drains were not used. These two groups
      were compared for possible differences in wound problems, temperature elevations,
      changes in Hgb/Hct, and the need for transfusions. There was no statistically
      significant difference in postoperative temperatures or decrease in Hgb. However,
      there were four superficial wound infections in the drained group and three
      superficial wound infections in the non-drained group (P < .025). There were no
      deep infections in either group. These findings suggest closed suction drainage
      provides no apparent advantage in uncomplicated primary total hip arthroplasty.

PMID- 1461815
TI  - Lyme disease: an orthopedic perspective.
AB  - The incidence of Lyme disease is increasing. This spirochetal infection may
      frequently manifest itself with joint involvement without characteristic
      dermatologic signs or history of tick bite. Serologic testing remains unreliable.
      Oral or parenteral antibiotics remain the mainstay of treatment. Chronic
      arthritis develops in approximately 10% of patients with Stage III disease. Lyme
      arthritis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with mono-
      or oligoarticular joint involvement, especially in children and young adults with
      possible tick exposure. Further advances in antimicrobial therapy and serologic
      testing are anticipated.

PMID- 1461816
TI  - Mechanical failure of a Bateman bipolar prosthesis.

PMID- 1461817
TI  - Hairy cell leukemia affecting the hip joint.

PMID- 1461818
TI  - Palmaris profundus causing carpal tunnel syndrome.

PMID- 1461819
TI  - Subungal squamous cell carcinoma of the thumb masked by infection.

PMID- 1461820
TI  - Patellar tendinitis in the recreational athlete.

PMID- 1461821
TI  - Subtrochanteric fractures following osteosynthesis of femoral neck fractures with
      the VLC-femoral system.
AB  - Twenty-two patients with femoral neck fracture were treated with the VLC
      (Variable Length Cannulated)-femoral screw system. In four patients, the
      osteosynthesis had complications with ipsilateral subtrochanteric femoral
      fractures in relation to the screw holes in the lateral cortex. The problem
      seemed to be excessive stress on the lateral cortex during insertion of the
      screws. The method has been abandoned in our department.

PMID- 1461823
TI  - The Academic Orthopaedic Society: small beginnings.

PMID- 1461822
TI  - Answer please. Scaphocapitate fracture syndrome.

PMID- 1461824
TI  - Oxygen saturation during reaming and intramedullary nailing of the femur.
AB  - Oxygen saturation was monitored during the reaming and intramedullary nailing of
      15 femoral fractures (three impending) to assess the relationship between
      intramedullary reaming and nailing and the production of hypoxemia. There were no
      statistically significant drops in oxygen saturation during this procedure in
      either the fractured or intact (impending fractures) femora.

PMID- 1461825
TI  - Long-term treatment with 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 with calcium supplement in
      spinal osteoporotic patients.
AB  - The long-term effect of 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 and calcium lactate in
      osteoporotic patients was evaluated by the bone mineral density (BMD) measured at
      the distal one third and one sixth of the radius and by the vertebral fracture
      rate. Forty-five osteoporotic patients medicated for 1 to 13 years (treated
      group) and 11 osteoporotic patients with no medication for 1 to 3 years (control
      group) were compared. The BMD of the treated group remained unchanged for the
      first 4 (one-third site) and 6 years (one-sixth site), followed by significant
      decreases, whereas that of the control group decreased significantly at the
      second and third year. The effect on BMD was more prominent in the patients with
      lower initial BMD. The vertebral fracture rate of the treated group was
      significantly less than that in the control group at the third year. No serious
      side effects were recognized. Overall, we believe 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 with
      calcium supplement can be considered a safe and effective agent for long-term use
      in osteoporotic patients.

PMID- 1461826
TI  - Treatment of multiple pterygium syndrome.
AB  - Multiple pterygium syndrome is a rare, inherited disorder manifested by growth
      retardation, facial or genital anomalies, and widespread musculoskeletal
      deformities. Pterygia are the predominant hallmark of the syndrome. Five children
      with multiple pterygium syndrome were treated from 1978 to 1987. Treatment
      involved both upper and lower pterygia and contractures. The results of treatment
      and modalities used are discussed and a protocol suggested.

PMID- 1461827
TI  - Percutaneous CT-guided stabilization of complex sacroiliac joint disruption with
      threaded compression bars.

PMID- 1461828
TI  - Traumatic fracture-dislocation of the hip in a 2-year-old child.

PMID- 1461829
TI  - Solid aneurysmal bone cyst.

PMID- 1461830
TI  - Palmar fasciitis and polyarthritis associated with a malignant neoplasm: a
      paraneoplastic syndrome.

PMID- 1461831
TI  - Photoelastic analysis of stress distribution on the tibiofemoral joint after
      meniscectomy.
AB  - Three-dimensional photoelasticity models of the knee joints were made of epoxy to
      observe the change in the status of stresses according to the size of defect in
      the meniscus. Three kinds of meniscus models were made of rubber. Through axial
      application of a vertical compressive load of 8 kg, equivalent to the joint
      reaction of 3000 N in the human knee joint, the patterns of the isochromatic
      fringes were observed and stresses around the knee joint were analyzed according
      to the size of the defect in the medial meniscus. Stress was increased in
      magnitude according to the size of the defect of the meniscus, and was focalized
      after meniscectomy. In the partial meniscectomy model, the maximum stress
      concentration point of the removed side migrated to the margin of the same side
      of the joint. But, in the total meniscectomy model, stresses were markedly
      increased in magnitude on both sides of joints, and maximum stress concentration
      points were more centralized. This centralization effect would contribute to the
      degenerative process of the knee joint after meniscectomy.

PMID- 1461832
TI  - [Tutoplast-Dura and Zenoderm-Corium implant--materials for tissue replacement.
      Experimental studies].
AB  - The results of experimental studies with the use of two biostatic materials:
      solvent-preserved human dura mater (Tutoplast-Dura--Pfrimmer-Vigo) and
      lyophilized porcine dermis (Zenoderm-Corium implant--Ethicon) as prosthesis of
      deficient, abdominal wall tissue are submitted. The studies were performed on an
      animal model and consisted on the evaluation of mechanical and biological
      qualities of the investigated materials as well as their surgical handiness and
      tissue tolerability. The application of knitted polyester net as a reinforcing
      agent for both materials was also estimated. Process of incorporation of the
      prosthetic material was investigated macroscopical at 3, 6 and 12 weeks after the
      implantation. The experimental trials revealed the usefulness of Tutoplast-Dura
      and Zenoderm-Corium implant in reconstructive surgery in account of their good
      biocompatibility and adequate, mechanical properties. It was stated that
      Tutoplast-Dura was characterized by remarkably better surgical handiness in
      comparison to Zenoderm-Corium implant. Additional mechanical reinforcement with
      polyester net was not necessary.

PMID- 1461833
TI  - [Correlations between the properties and effects of clinical therapy using
      textile material with antipsoriatic action].
AB  - The aim of the study was to design a textile material as a carrier for
      dermatological drugs. Cotton fabric was chosen for experimentation to be a
      fibrous support for the system. Additional components were a drug carrier in form
      of synthetic hydrogel impregnation (partially crosslinked poly(acrylic acid) and
      a bioactive agent dithranol) dispersed within the gel. The rate of release of the
      drug from the fibrous system was measured in aqueous media and depended on the
      concentration of dithranol. The structure and physical properties of the material
      were designed and controlled in order to ensure the optimal contact with the
      skin. Clinical studies were carried out with psoriatic patients. The results of
      the treatment with the textile material containing dithranol were presented using
      a computer optimalization method. In conclusion it was asserted that this type of
      textile-based medical device is effective and in many respects more convenient
      and less troublesome alternative in the treatment of psoriasis as compared to
      conventional treatments with dithranol suspended in ointments and creams.

PMID- 1461834
TI  - [Absorption of chitosan applied to polyester discs in rats after implantation].
AB  - Experiments have been made on white rats implanting polyester blocks covered with
      chitosan into the peritoneal cavity and to the abdominal wall skin. Before
      implantation the material was sterilized with ethylene oxide or radiation. The
      animals were subjected to autopsy 3, 7, 14, 21, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60
      days after implantation with macroscopic and microscopic evaluation. On the basis
      of the carried out experiments it was stated that the disintegration of chitosan
      proceeded not uniformly. The resorption time of chitosan oscillated in the range
      of 45-60 days and it was accompanied by rather strong specific inflammation
      process. It was characterized with fibrin effusion and with appearance of multi
      flapped neutrocytes. Essential distinctions in the resorption process of
      depending on the sterilization mean of the blocks as well as on the place of
      implantation were not stated.

PMID- 1461835
TI  - A new procedure in the surgical treatment of large incisional ventral hernias
      with the use of Dexon Mesh.
AB  - A new procedure in the surgical treatment of large incisional ventral hernias is
      described. It is based on the use of enlarged relaxation incisions of the
      abdominal fascia on both sides of the hernia to perform a direct suture of the
      posterior and superficial fascial layer of the hernia defect without tension.
      Extensive fascial defects after enlarged side relaxation incisions should be
      reinforced to prevent a weakness of the ventral abdominal wall. The best material
      may be a resorbable knitted mesh.

PMID- 1461836
TI  - Activity of glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase enzyme studies in calves with long-
      survivals with total artificial heart.
AB  - The research aimed at studying metabolic changes of erythrocytes in the calves
      surviving for a long period with total artificial heart of BRNO VII type. The
      authors studied partly the count of erythrocytes, the plasma levels of free
      hemoglobin and activity of glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase enzyme. The changes
      found were compared with the levels measured in a group of 10 healthy calves.
      Constant decrease of erythrocyte count, slightly increased concentration of free
      hemoglobin in plasma and repeatedly decreased activity of the enzyme studied were
      found in the group of 4 experimental calves, from the 5th to 17th weeks of
      surviving. These changes can be explained by a long-term action of mechanical
      stress on the erythrocytes that pass through the pump of the total artificial
      heart. The cells damaged mechanically have the decreased energetic metabolism
      and, consequently, shortened viability. As young healthy animals with normal
      erythropoiesis which is stimulated by the application of drugs during the
      experiment are used, compensated anaemia develops, but it is not a limiting
      factor for the surviving of the calves with total artificial heart.

PMID- 1461837
TI  - [Effect of re-utilization of cuprophan capillary dialysers with different liquids
      on their biocompatibility and effectiveness of elimination].
AB  - In 22 patients cuprophane capillary dialyzers reutilized in turn with four sets
      of liquids were used four times (Andante type in 13 and TAF-12 in 9 patients).
      The degree of biocompatibility and efficiency of elimination of small molecules
      was evaluated. During four-time reuse of dialyzers reutilized with sodium
      hypochlorite and with formaldehyde a reduction of intra-dialysis leukopenia,
      granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia was not stated in blood of the patients.
      Activation of the complement system measured with the quantity of decrease of C3c
      fraction of the complement in the patients blood after 20 minutes of dialysis
      reduced essentially only at the fourth reuse of dialyzers (p < 0.01). Creatinine
      clearance measured always one hour after starting of the dialysis, did not change
      in succeeding reuse of dialyzers. Reutilization of dialyzers with hydrogen
      peroxide solution and formaldehyde caused essential reduction of ++intra-dialysis
      leukopenia and neutropenia (p < 0.001). There was lack of changes in ++intra
      dialysis thrombocytopenia. Activation of the complement system was reduced
      essentially only after the fourth reuse of dialyzers (p < 0.001), but was also
      essentially lower (p < 0.05) than with dialyzers reutilized with sodium
      hypochlorite and with formaldehyde. Creatinine clearance practically did not
      change and at the fourth reuse of dialyzers it decreased on the average by 1.8%.
      Reutilization with acetic acid already at the second reuse of dialyzers essential
      (p < 0.001) and deepened decrease of intradialytic leukopenia and neutropenia and
      the activation of the complement system in course of succeeding reuses.
      Intradialytic thrombocytopenia was subjected to vestigal, not essential decrease.
      Creatinine clearance lowered a little but not essentially. At the fourth reuse of
      dialyzers it was lower on the average by 3.6% than the initial one. Reutilization
      with Dialina (stabilized blend of peracetic, acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide
      solution) caused essential (p < 0.001) and, in course of further reuses,
      deepening of lowering of intradialytic leukopenia and neutropenia as well as the
      activation of the complement system already at the second reuse. At the same time
      at the second and fourth reuse of dialyzers reutilized with Dialina the
      activation of the complement system was essentially lower than reutilized with
      the other liquids (p < 0.02). At the fourth reuse intradialytic thrombocytopenia
      also lowered essentially (p < 0.01). Creatinine clearance lowered a little more
      than with other liquids and at the second reuse of dialyzers was lower on the
      average by 5.6%, and at the fourth reuse--by 6.7% in relation to the new
      dialyzers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1461838
TI  - Cysteine regulon of Enterobacteriaceae.

PMID- 1461839
TI  - [DMD gene--the largest human gene].

PMID- 1461840
TI  - [DNA repair enzymes: uvrABC endonuclease of Escherichia coli].

PMID- 1461841
TI  - [The SOS system: mutagenic response to DNA damage].

PMID- 1461842
TI  - [Nomenclature of glycoproteins, glycopeptides and peptidoglycans].

PMID- 1461843
TI  - [Metabolism of phosphatidylinositols and their role in signal transmission in
      plant cells].

PMID- 1461844
TI  - [Beta-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase--the enzyme of Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases].

PMID- 1461845
TI  - [Automated methods of image analysis and their use in cell biology].

PMID- 1461846
TI  - [Caldesmon--regulator of the smooth muscle contraction and the phenomena of the
      movement of non-muscle cells].

PMID- 1461847
TI  - [Regulation of cell cycle--continuation of its history and complications].

PMID- 1461848
TI  - End stage renal disease in sickle cell disease: future directions.

PMID- 1461849
TI  - Leg ulceration in venous disease.
AB  - We have given a brief summary of the scale of the problem caused by venous
      ulceration in the UK, and have then reviewed the various theories of causation,
      including a historical survey, and presented the evidence for and against the two
      main current theories of fibrin cuffs and white cell trapping. We also outline
      previous hypotheses of the aetiology of venous ulceration, including
      arteriovenous microanastomoses, stasis and oedema. The contribution of
      superficial venous incompetence in the pathogenesis of ulceration is also
      examined.

PMID- 1461851
TI  - Intracerebral haemorrhage after thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial
      infarction.
AB  - Seven cases of intracerebral haemorrhage were identified following the use of
      thrombolytic therapy in a total of 710 patients with acute myocardial infarction.
      Each case was reviewed in detail with particular attention to the presenting
      symptoms. A confusional state was the commonest initial feature. Increased age
      and male sex were associated with increased risk of cerebral bleed. The possible
      role of intravenous heparin in increasing risk and the management of affected
      cases is discussed. Early recognition and action is emphasized.

PMID- 1461852
TI  - Severity of alcoholic liver disease and markers of thyroid and steroid status.
AB  - Alcoholic liver disease is associated with abnormalities in circulating levels of
      thyroid, adrenal and gonadal steroid hormones. The relative importance of ethanol
      consumption and severity of liver disease in the aetiology of these changes and
      their relationship to clinical abnormalities are unclear. We studied 31 subjects
      with alcohol-induced liver disease divided into three groups according to the
      severity of histological features: fatty change, hepatitis and cirrhosis.
      Circulating concentrations of thyroid, adrenal and gonadal steroid hormones,
      together with their major binding proteins, were measured in all subjects, and
      changes related to histology and tests of liver function, as well as clinical
      endocrine status. A reduction in circulating free tri-iodothyronine (fT3) was
      seen in subjects with alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis, in association with
      normal or reduced levels of thyrotrophin (TSH). The absence of abnormalities in
      subjects with fatty change despite similar ethanol intake to the other groups,
      and correlations between fT3 and liver function tests, suggest that changes in
      fT3 reflect the severity of underlying liver disease. Similarly, marked increases
      in circulating cortisol in the hepatitis and cirrhosis groups, and correlations
      between cortisol and liver function, suggest that changes largely reflect hepatic
      disease. The absence of clinical features of hypothyroidism or Cushing's syndrome
      in these groups, despite abnormalities of fT3 and cortisol, suggest an altered
      tissue sensitivity to hormone effects. In contrast, increases in circulating
      oestradiol and reductions in testosterone were found in all three groups in
      males. These findings suggest that both direct effects of ethanol and hepatic
      dysfunction determine changes in gonadal steroids in males.

PMID- 1461853
TI  - A randomized trial of one versus three doses of Augmentin as wound prophylaxis in
      at-risk abdominal surgery.
AB  - In a randomized prospective trial of prophylactic antibiotics in at-risk
      abdominal surgery, one dose of intravenous Augmentin (amoxycillin 250 mg and
      clavulanic acid 125 mg) on induction has been compared with three 8 hourly doses
      in 900 patients. Wound infection rates which included minor and delayed
      infections were very similar in those given one dose: 48/449 (10.7%) compared
      with those given three doses: 49/451 (10.9%) 95% confidence limits - 4.25% +
      3.9%. There were more septic and sepsis-related deaths in those patients given
      one dose (14 deaths) than in those given three doses (7 deaths) P > 0.1 95% CL -
      0.4% + 3.0%. However, there were more very elderly patients in the one dose
      group: 64% of the deaths were aged over 80 and all but one had an emergency
      operation. There was no difference in the other outcome measures studied which
      included non-fatal deep sepsis, length of postoperative hospital stay, duration
      of postoperative fever or the use of antibiotics for postoperative infection. One
      dose of a suitable intravenous antibiotic gives prophylaxis against wound
      infection in at-risk abdominal surgery which is at least as effective as multiple
      doses. However, there may be a risk of overwhelming systemic sepsis in very
      elderly patients having emergency surgery.

PMID- 1461854
TI  - Patient recovery following cholecystectomy through a 6 cm or 15 cm transverse
      subcostal incision: a prospective randomized clinical trial.
AB  - The effect of incision length on patient recovery following cholecystectomy has
      not been investigated previously. In this study, 30 patients with symptomatic
      gallstones were randomized to cholecystectomy through a 6 cm or 15 cm transverse
      subcostal incision. Postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the
      6 cm incision group (median 3 days vs 5 days; P = 0.0069 Mann-Whitney U-test). In
      the 6 cm group analgesic requirements were reduced (median 2.5 vs 4.5
      intramuscular opiate injections per patient) and recovery of depressed
      postoperative pulmonary function (FVC and FEV1) was faster (3% difference between
      groups on day 1 and 7% on day 3), although these differences did not achieve
      statistical significance. These results suggest that the length of incision may
      influence patient recovery following elective cholecystectomy. This has important
      implications as surgery carried out through shorter and less traumatic incisions
      may offer a cost-effective alternative to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Moreover,
      some surgeons may find mini-laparotomy cholecystectomy easier to adopt than
      laparoscopic techniques.

PMID- 1461850
TI  - Accident and emergency medicine--II.

PMID- 1461855
TI  - Neuromuscular disease, respiratory failure and cor pulmonale.
AB  - Respiratory muscle weakness is an uncommon cause of chronic respiratory failure
      and a rare cause of cor pulmonale. The problem may not be apparent unless
      specific physical signs are sought or appropriate investigations performed. We
      present three patients who presented diagnostic difficulty for prolonged periods
      until the presence of respiratory muscle weakness was considered. Once the
      diagnosis was established treatment with nocturnal nasal intermittent positive
      pressure ventilation produced a dramatic improvement in symptoms and allowed a
      return to a near normal lifestyle.

PMID- 1461856
TI  - Safety of anticoagulation in the elderly: reasons for discontinuing therapy.
AB  - We have conducted a retrospective study on the reasons for discontinuing
      anticoagulants in 50 patients over the age of 75 years compared with 198 adults
      under 75 years to determine the safety of therapy in the elderly. Venous
      thromboembolism and arterial embolization were the most common indications for
      therapy in the elderly and the median duration of therapy in all patients was 7
      months (9 days-22 years). There were no deaths attributable to anticoagulants.
      There was no significant difference in the proportion of elderly patients who
      stopped treatment because of bleeding compared with 198 patients under 75 years
      (5/50 (10%) vs 12/198 (6.1%), P = 0.26), nor in the rate of bleeding between the
      two groups (5/52.5 (9.5%) treatment-years vs 12/249 (4.8%) treatment-years, P =
      0.15). This complication rate does not suggest that age per se is a risk factor
      in the use of oral anticoagulants.

PMID- 1461857
TI  - Craniospinal intradural arachnoid cyst.
AB  - A patient with an uncommonly situated congenital intradural arachnoid cyst is
      reported. The cyst extended from the cervical spinal canal into the posterior
      cranial fossa and was posterolateral to the spinal cord. The patient's initial
      complaint was urinary hesitancy. The location of the cyst is unique and the
      presenting complaint rare.

PMID- 1461858
TI  - Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome presenting as childhood hemiplegia.
AB  - A case of childhood hemiplegia due to idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome is
      reported. There was no cardiac lesion. The neurological complications associated
      with hypereosinophilic syndrome and the pathophysiological mechanism of
      neurotoxicity of human eosinophils are discussed. It is likely that the
      neurological deficit was due to eosinophilic neurotoxicity.

PMID- 1461860
TI  - Biliary peritonitis secondary to perforation of common bile duct: an unusual
      presentation of chronic calcific pancreatitis.
AB  - Common bile duct perforation causing biliary peritonitis is an unusual entity and
      a pancreatic calculus causing this perforation is all the more rare, and to our
      knowledge has not been reported previously. Such an unusual presentation of
      chronic calcific pancreatitis is herein reported.

PMID- 1461859
TI  - Brucellosis with nephrotic syndrome, nephritis and IgA nephropathy.
AB  - A patient with systemic brucellosis due to Brucella melitensis had severe renal
      involvement. Clinical features included hypertension, macroscopic haematuria,
      massive proteinuria of 10 g per 24 hours and azotaemia. Following treatment with
      antibiotics, the azotaemia resolved and proteinuria decreased to less than 0.5 g
      per 24 hours, but microscopic haematuria and hypertension persisted. Renal biopsy
      during recovery revealed IgA nephropathy with minimal mesangial changes,
      suggesting a causal relation between brucellosis and IgA nephropathy with a
      reversible nephrotic syndrome.

PMID- 1461861
TI  - Diagnosis and treatment of lymphomatoid granulomatosis.

PMID- 1461862
TI  - Intrapericardial phaeochromocytoma associated with two intercarotid
      paragangliomas: diagnostic considerations.

PMID- 1461863
TI  - Hypoglycaemia masquerading as a stroke.

PMID- 1461864
TI  - Acute facial nerve palsy in association with acoustic neuroma.

PMID- 1461865
TI  - Why test antiplatelet therapy in acute ischaemic stroke and how can this be done?
AB  - Stroke is a major public health problem, yet there is no treatment of proven
      value for widespread use in the acute phase of the illness. This paper outlines
      the rationale for using antiplatelet therapy in acute ischaemic stroke and why it
      appears to be one of the most promising agents for testing in very large scale
      clinical trials.

PMID- 1461866
TI  - Optimization of the blood for oxygen transport and tissue perfusion in critical
      care.
AB  - In present practice, patients in intensive care are managed with subnormal
      haematocrit values and oligovolaemia. Optimization of the blood for oxygen
      transport in preterm infants in intensive care yields major benefits in their
      prognosis. A rational basis is described for this optimization in terms of the
      circulating blood volume and haematocrit, represented by circulating red cell
      volume (mass). Extrapolation of these lessons in haematological management is
      proposed for adult patients in critical care, so as to reduce dependence on
      respiratory support and minimize clinical complications and costs.

PMID- 1461867
TI  - The use of dobutamine stress thallium scintigraphy in the diagnosis of syndrome
      X.
AB  - Dobutamine stress thallium scintigraphy is a non-exercise stress technique used
      in the assessment of myocardial ischaemia. Non-exercise techniques are
      independent of the patient's exercise capacity or the subjective development of
      limiting symptoms. Preliminary data are presented regarding the effects of graded
      infusions of dobutamine (maximum 20 micrograms/kg/min) in seven consecutive
      patients with syndrome X. The dobutamine stress test caused significant increases
      in mean heart rate (rest 65.4 beats/min, peak dobutamine infusion 112.4
      beats/min, P < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (rest 138.6 mmHg, peak
      dobutamine infusion 166.7 mmHg, P = 0.002) and provoked typical symptoms in all
      the patients. Single photon emission computerized tomography was performed and
      the mean number of reversible defects was 1.86 per patient (range 1-3). One
      patient developed transient atrial fibrillation during the dobutamine infusion
      but there were no complications in the remainder of the study group. It is
      concluded that dobutamine-thallium scintigraphy in patients with syndrome X is
      safe, reproduces patients symptoms' reliably and presents a controllable degree
      of stress to the cardiovascular system. The consistent demonstration of a
      reversible perfusion defect in patients with syndrome X is evidence of abnormal
      myocardial physiology. This criterion could be added to those currently used to
      define syndrome X in order to improve objectively the identification of this
      patient group.

PMID- 1461868
TI  - Mercury in silastic strain gauge plethysmography for the clinical assessment of
      the microcirculation.
AB  - We have used the mercury in silastic strain gauge plethysmography (MSG) system,
      which is wholly non-invasive, to obtain values (mean +/- s.e.m.) for the
      following parameters in the legs of supine control subjects: venous pressure (Pv)
      9.89 +/- 0.88 mmHg, vascular compliance (Comp) 3.50 +/- 0.29 ml 100 g-1 mmHg-1 x
      10(-2), microvascular hydraulic conductivity (Kf) 4.10 +/- 0.16 ml min-1 100 g-1
      mmHg-1 x 10(-3) and isovolumetric venous pressure (Pvi) 22.12 +/- 0.82 mmHg. On
      passive foot-down tilting of control subjects through about 45 degrees, both Pv
      and Pvi rose to 28.00 +/- 2.33 and 36.58 +/- 2.29 mmHg respectively. The
      increases in both parameters were highly significant, P < 0.0001. We found that
      the time course of the vascular compliance component was short if small pressure
      steps were used. The value increased markedly if large steps were used. We also
      observed that none of the microvascular parameters studied in the arms differed
      from those in the legs of the same subjects. We observed that the mean value Kf
      in the arms of 12 young, non-neuropathic diabetics (9.08 +/- 6.12 x 10(-3)) was
      significantly greater than that of age and sex-matched controls (P < 0.001).
      Studies on 14 venous ulceration patients indicated that the values for Kf and Pv
      were unchanged, whilst those of vascular compliance (5.60 +/- 0.58 x 10(-2) ml
      100 g-1 mmHg-1) and Pvi (37.30 +/- 2.25 mmHg) were significantly greater than
      those found in age-matched controls (P < 0.002 and 0.001, respectively). We feel
      that Pvi is a useful index of microvascular perfusion. We attribute the pressure
      dependent difference, in the time course of the vascular compliance response, to
      the veni-arteriolar reflex. We feel that the pressure dependency of this response
      might form the basis for the assessment of peripheral autonomic neuropathy. We
      believe that the MSG system offers a means of monitoring the development of
      pathologies resulting from microvascular under-perfusion and, of course, the
      improvement in response to therapeutic interventions.

PMID- 1461869
TI  - The relationship between cardiac reserve and survival in critically ill patients
      receiving treatment aimed at achieving supranormal oxygen delivery and
      consumption.
AB  - The relationship between survival and cardiac responsiveness to therapy aimed at
      achieving supranormal values for cardiac index, oxygen delivery and oxygen
      consumption (cardiac index (CI) > 4.5 l/min/m2, oxygen delivery (DO2) > 600
      ml/min/m2, and oxygen consumption (VO2) > 170 ml/min/m2), has been investigated
      in a heterogeneous group of critically ill patients. Thirty-two patients were
      prospectively studied and divided into survivors and non-survivors. Cardiac
      reserve was assessed by determining changes in CI, left ventricular stroke work
      index (LVSWI) and cardiac power output (CPO) in response to optimal fluid
      administration and inotropic stimulation with dobutamine. On admission LVSWI and
      CPO were significantly higher in survivors (P < 0.05), despite no significant
      differences in pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP). In response to fluid
      CI, CPO and LVSWI increased significantly in survivors (P < 0.01), but not in non
      survivors. Following optimal fluid administration, survivors achieved
      significantly higher values for CI, LVSWI (P < 0.01), and CPO (P < 0.001) than
      non-survivors. At maximum resuscitation all three variables were significantly
      higher in survivors than in non-survivors (P < 0.001). The dose of dobutamine
      administered to non-survivors (median (range) 100 (5-200)) was significantly
      greater (P < 0.001) than that given to the survivors (median (range) 10 (0-25)).
      The dose of dobutamine was limited by complications in 12 of the non-survivors.
      These observations suggest that cardiac reserve is an important determinant of
      outcome following critical illness. In unresponsive patients attempts to achieve
      supranormal oxygen delivery and consumption with massive inotropic support may
      not only be ineffective but frequently precipitates tachydysrhythmias and
      myocardial ischaemia.

PMID- 1461870
TI  - The renal effects of dopamine and dobutamine in stable chronic heart failure.
AB  - Although an extensive literature exists on factors controlling sodium excretion
      in animal experimental models of heart failure, the relevance of these to the
      human condition remains largely unexplored. Increased renal sympathetic
      stimulation is considered responsible for heightened urinary sodium retention.
      Stimulation of dopamine receptors is believed to cause a diuresis. Accordingly,
      we sought to explore the influence of dobutamine (a beta-1 receptor agonist) and
      dopamine in high and low doses on a frusemide-induced diuresis in patients with
      chronic stable heart failure. Preliminary results indicate that low doses of
      dobutamine and dopamine do not increase a moderate, frusemide-induced diuresis.
      With higher doses dobutamine, but not dopamine, increased urine volume and sodium
      excretion. These results suggest that direct stimulation of beta-1 receptors
      increases urinary sodium excretion, either by a direct effect on the kidney or by
      altering systemic and renal haemodynamics.

PMID- 1461871
TI  - The health of the nation.

PMID- 1461872
TI  - An alcohol problem.

PMID- 1461873
TI  - Malignant melanoma.

PMID- 1461874
TI  - Assessing family stress.

PMID- 1461875
TI  - Preventing accidents.

PMID- 1461876
TI  - Nocturnal enuresis.

PMID- 1461877
TI  - Chronic childhood disease.

PMID- 1461878
TI  - Management of HIV infection.

PMID- 1461879
TI  - A charge of sexual harassment.

PMID- 1461880
TI  - Oral cancer--diagnosis and management.

PMID- 1461881
TI  - Coping with tinnitus.

PMID- 1461882
TI  - Benign breast disease.

PMID- 1461883
TI  - Work rehabilitation resources.

PMID- 1461884
TI  - A stimulus to achieve.

PMID- 1461885
TI  - Access to information.

PMID- 1461886
TI  - Paternalism or autonomy?

PMID- 1461887
TI  - Annual reports--who benefits?

PMID- 1461888
TI  - Improving outpatient visits.

PMID- 1461889
TI  - Quinolones in general practice.

PMID- 1461890
TI  - New antibiotics--proceed with caution.

PMID- 1461891
TI  - [The epidemiological situation and the efficacy of antituberculosis measures in
      children in West Siberia].
AB  - Stabilization of tuberculosis morbidity among the children and adolescents in
      West Siberia was found against the background of its reduction in adults. The
      main causes of the unfavourable situation for tuberculosis in children of West
      Siberia include the presence of numerous infectious foci unknown to the
      antituberculosis center; incomplete examination of subjects who take care of the
      newborn; drawbacks in the organization and early detection and vaccination of the
      newborn and in the follow-up of children of groups IV and VI of dispensary
      record.

PMID- 1461892
TI  - [Epidemiology and clinical picture of tuberculosis in children in an ecologically
      unfavorable coastal zone near the Aral Sea].
AB  - Tuberculosis epidemiology was studied in children living in the Ara Sea costal
      region, in particular in the Karakalpakia, where tuberculosis incidence is twice
      as high as in the whole region on the average. In conditions of mass
      dispensarization of the population the rate of tuberculosis detection in children
      who undergo fluorographic examination from the age of 7 years was 0.06%. In 35%
      of tuberculosis children the disease took an aggravated course, 68% had
      intoxication symptoms, 84.6% polylymphadenitis, 23% anemia and 76% presented
      inhibition of immune reactivity in the form of a decreased number of T
      lymphocytes and suppression of their functional activity.

PMID- 1461893
TI  - [Extrapulmonary tuberculosis in children].
AB  - Extrapulmonary tuberculosis morbidity in children of the Novosibirsk region for
      the period of 10 years was analysed on the basis of the materials presented by
      the regional antituberculosis center. It was found that 44 children has
      extrapulmonary tuberculosis which accounted for 17.9% of the total number of sick
      children and 5.7% of all extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients. Tuberculous
      lymphadenitis was diagnosed in 50% and bone-and-joint tuberculosis in 27.3% of
      cases; nephrotuberculosis occupied the third and ocular tuberculosis the fourth
      place; 20% of sick children were detected after their examination and 80% after
      surgery for other general diseases. Complications of the main process at the
      moment of application for help had 18.2% of children. The basic causes of later
      extrapulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis in children is the absence of awareness for
      tuberculosis in the general practitioners and inadequate work carried out in
      tuberculosis infection foci.

PMID- 1461894
TI  - [Outpatient observation and treatment of patients with tuberculosis and massive
      bacterial excretion aggravated by negative social factors].
AB  - Social and epidemiologic features were studied in 1145 newly diagnosed
      tuberculosis patients in Yakutia who were on the dispensary record in the period
      between 1981 and 1990. Among the negative social and hygienic factors which
      aggravated the course of tuberculosis were unsatisfactory living and domestic
      conditions, failure in family life, unskilled hard labour, idle life, stay in the
      penitentiary-labour establishments and chronic alcoholism. To improve the
      effectiveness of dispensary follow-up and treatment of this category of patients
      measures should be taken aimed at the centralized epidemiologic control. They
      include, registration of copious bacilli excretors as a special contingent of
      antituberculosis dispensaries, active measures directed against drug addiction
      and removal of the unfavourable psychologic factors as well as obligatory
      hospitalization of patients into specialized tuberculosis centres.

PMID- 1461895
TI  - [The use of the biochemical and cytochemical indices of the bronchoalveolar
      lavage fluid for the diagnosis of the activity of pulmonary tuberculosis].
AB  - On the basis of guinea pig experiments and clinical findings related to 103
      patients of whom 51 were operated on, the authors propose a diagnostic set which
      allows determination of pulmonary tuberculosis phase. The set informative value
      is 93.5%.

PMID- 1461896
TI  - [The potentialities and results of the etiologic diagnosis of acute pneumonias].
AB  - The paper deals with the results of the joint Soviet-Hungarian study for the
      determination of etiology of acute pneumonias. Study included 617 patients. The
      bacteriologic and serologic methods were used to reveal the causative agent of
      the disease. Prevalence of Streptococcus pneumoniae (33-49%) in the etiologic
      structure of acute pneumonias was established both in the USSR and Hungary. In
      many cases pneumonia is also caused by Haemophilus influenzae (21-22%). In 15-31%
      of the cases the causative agent of pneumonia is gram-negative microorganisms. A
      protracted course of acute pneumonia is due to the complex associations of
      microorganisms including S. pneumoniae. A conclusion has been drawn to the effect
      that the initial antibacterial therapy should be started with administration of
      antibiotics that act effectively on S. pneumoniae.

PMID- 1461897
TI  - [The significance of haptoglobin in the differential diagnosis of tuberculosis of
      the female genital organs].
AB  - Study included 115 women with suspicion of genital tuberculosis. Combined
      clinical, X-ray and laboratory examination made it possible to classify patients
      into 3 groups: group 1 included 44 patients with active genital tuberculosis,
      group 2 32 women with clinically cured tuberculosis of internal genitalia and
      group 3 39 women with nonspecific genital diseases. The haptoglobin-tuberculin
      test was given to all patients. High haptoglobin parameters before or 72 h after
      tuberculin administration were found only in the group of patients with active
      genital tuberculosis. In groups 2 and 3 the haptoglobin level did not exceed
      normal values both before and after tuberculin administration in a dose of 50 TU.
      The informative value of serum haptoglobin parameters in patients with active
      tuberculosis of internal genitalia constituted 88.6%.

PMID- 1461898
TI  - [The use of intrapulmonary needle-jet injections of chemical preparations in the
      preoperative management of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis].
AB  - Among the various methods of antibacterial preparation injection for the
      management of pulmonary tuberculosis the intrapulmonary injection techniques with
      the help of a needle-stream injector (NSI-1) still remain little studied. The
      experience of using these techniques for treating more than 200 patients, among
      whom 23 patients were later operated on, showed that the early use of the method
      (immediately after the diagnosis was established) helped to stabilize the process
      in 1-1.5 months. This made it possible to perform operations within 3 months
      after the diagnosis was made. The method proved effective also in patients who
      did not present favourable dynamics during 3-6 months of the use of the
      traditional therapeutic methods. The results obtained allow for the use on a wide
      scale of needle-stream injections in the preoperative management of destructive
      tuberculosis patients.

PMID- 1461899
TI  - [The efficacy of the use of different types of lasers in the operative treatment
      of patients with tuberculosis of the lungs].
AB  - The efficiency of various types of lasers used in the surgical treatment of
      patients with tuberculosis and other diseases of the lungs and pleura was
      evaluated. Surgical (CO2 and YAG) and therapeutic lasers (helium-neon, ultra
      violet and semiconductive) were used. The findings demonstrated that use of
      various lasers in lung surgery enables one to improve preoperative management,
      reduce the volume and traumatism of surgical interventions, decrease the number
      of postoperative complications and increase the effectiveness of surgical
      treatment of patients with tuberculosis and other diseases of the lungs and
      pleura.

PMID- 1461900
TI  - [The combined use of corticosteroids and immunostimulators in the combination
      therapy of patients with tuberculosis of the lungs (methodologic
      recommendations].

PMID- 1461901
TI  - [The detection of tuberculosis of the lungs using differentiated bacteriologic
      studies].

PMID- 1461902
TI  - [A system of methods of tuberculosis immunodiagnosis based on the use of
      antigenic preparations isolated from BCG mycobacteria].
AB  - The antigenic composition, immunochemical properties and immunogenicity of the
      antigenic complexes isolated from BCG mycobacteria were studied. A system of
      sensitive and specific measures of tuberculosis immunodiagnosis has been
      developed on the basis of specific antigens and antibodies. The informative value
      of these methods considerably exceeded the previously used test-systems based on
      the commercial tuberculin.

PMID- 1461903
TI  - [Lymphocyte enzymes, activity of lipid peroxidation processes and the antioxidant
      protection of patients with tuberculosis of the lungs].
AB  - Activity of succinate dehydrogenase, alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, NAD2-
      and NADP2-diaphorases and acid phosphatase in lymphocytes of the peripheral blood
      as well as malonic dialdehyde and alpha-tocopherol, as parameters of lipid
      peroxidation defense, were studied in 49 patients with different forms of
      pulmonary tuberculosis and in 17 practically and clinically healthy subjects.
      Patients with focal pulmonary tuberculosis presented drop of succinate
      dehydrogenase and NAD2-diaphorase activity and rise of alpha-glycerophosphate
      dehydrogenase and NADP2-diaphorase activity in lymphocytes. Parameters of malonic
      dialdehyde and alpha-tocopherol in patients and healthy subjects had no
      difference. Patients with infiltrative and fibrocavernous pulmonary tuberculosis
      had drastic suppression of energy enzymes and sharp rise of acid phosphatase
      activity in lymphocytes, which correlated with a significant rise of malonic
      dialdehyde level and decrease of blood serum alpha-tocopherol. There was a
      tendency to an increase in energy enzymes activity and decrease of acid
      phosphatase activity 3-4 months after chemotherapy, which was followed by the
      clinical improvement of patients' condition. Direct dependence was found between
      the normalization of enzyme activity of lymphocytes and diminution of lipid
      peroxidation processes.

PMID- 1461904
TI  - [Results of carrying out a planned program "Acceleration of the tempo of lowering
      the tuberculosis morbidity in the RSFSR, 1983-1990"].
AB  - Analysis of the results of a planned program "Acceleration of the tempo of
      tuberculosis morbidity reduction in the RSFSR for the period of 1983-1999" has
      shown that formally it was fulfilled in 60 of the 73 administrative territories.
      The tempo of morbidity reduction during 1986-1990 was 24.2% in relation to 1985.
      This high tempo was associated with reduction of the volume of prophylactic
      screening examinations from 75% in 1985 to 52% in 1990. Hence, acceleration of
      the tempo of tuberculosis morbidity reduction is not genuine. Changes in
      socioeconomic conditions in the region should be taken into consideration in
      compiling planned programs. The basic aim of the program is to preserve a
      positive dynamics of the main epidemiologic indices for tuberculosis by finding
      the optimal model for the transition of the phthisiatric service to a new
      mechanism of economy.

PMID- 1461905
TI  - [Pneumotropic microorganisms in chronic diseases of the respiratory organs and
      tuberculosis of the lungs].
AB  - Species composition and the etiologic role of S. pneumoniae and of bacteria of
      Haemophilus genus in origination and maintenance of diverse lung pathology were
      specified and the problem of their carriage in pulmonary tuberculosis patients in
      the absence of nonspecific infection was investigated. The results of study have
      confirmed that S. pneumoniae was and still remains one of the most common
      pathogens of chronic respiratory diseases (55.8% of bacteria was found in sputum
      and 64.7% in bronchoalveolar lavage and exudate). Serological verification of
      microorganisms isolated from the sputum by the indirect immunofluorescence method
      was obtained in 77.4% of the studies. Bacteria of Haemophilus genus were more
      often isolated together with pneumococcus (15.4%) and were verified serologically
      in only 31.8% of the cases. Transitory (asymptomatic) carriage was found in 412
      pulmonary tuberculosis patients. S. pneumoniae accounted for 62% and Haemophilus
      for 20%.

PMID- 1461907
TI  - [The dynamics of the cessation of bacterial excretion and the closing of solitary
      destruction cavities in relation to their dimensions in tuberculosis of the
      lungs].

PMID- 1461906
TI  - [Serological studies of synanthropic birds for infection by M. avium].
AB  - Examination for M. avium contamination covered 702 specimens of the synanthropic
      birds of 6 species (hooded crows, daws, rooks, magpies, sparrows, starlings)
      which was carried out in 13 landscape-epizootic areas of the northern zone of the
      Low Volga region. Contamination was studied by a serological test (AIT) using the
      M. avium extract and dry avian tuberculin as an antigen in the parallel tests. It
      was found that 96 (23%) of the 416 specimens from the right bank of the Volga and
      65 (22.72%) of the 286 birds from the left bank were AIT-seropositive. The paper
      presents methods of study and contamination parameters of birds; the character of
      distribution of the infected birds by the region of the examination zone is
      discussed.

PMID- 1461908
TI  - [The application of a reversion of the lower lobe of the lung in the practice of
      a thoracic department].

PMID- 1461909
TI  - [The effect of low-intensity laser irradiation on the peroxide-oxidant system of
      the blood in patients with infiltrating tuberculosis of the lungs].

PMID- 1461910
TI  - [A mesenteric cyst masquerading as tuberculosis in a 10-year-old girl].

PMID- 1461911
TI  - [Analysis of the causes of mortality in the immediate and long-term periods of
      follow-up of patients who underwent pulmonectomy for disseminates forms of
      tuberculosis of the lungs].

PMID- 1461912
TI  - [Tuberculosis of the bronchi: problems of pathogenesis and interrelations with
      different clinical roentgenologic forms of tuberculosis of the respiratory
      organs].

PMID- 1461913
TI  - [BCG vaccination and its significance in present conditions (review of the
      foreign literature 1980-1990)].

PMID- 1461914
TI  - [Tuberculosis in the Ural and Volgo-Vyatka regions and means for optimizing
      antituberculosis activity].
AB  - Analysis of certain parameters has demonstrated that situation for tuberculosis
      in the Ural and Volgo-Vyatsky region for the period of 1986-1990 remains
      unsteady. The epidemiologic and economic conditions of today dictate the
      necessity to improve the effectiveness of tuberculosis control by strictly
      differentiating the available antituberculosis measures, their volume and
      frequency of use, depending on the risk of disease contraction in each particular
      territory in the whole population and in separate groups taking technical,
      material and personnel potentialities into consideration.

PMID- 1461915
TI  - [Tuberculosis morbidity among the population of a large industrial center].
AB  - Tuberculosis morbidity in children, adolescents, young people and adults for the
      period of 1986-1990 has been analysed. Parameters of morbidity were compared with
      general morbidity of the population of Chelyabinsk. It was found that at the
      present stage of tuberculosis control parameters of general morbidity remained
      unchanged. Morbidity in adolescents and young people aged 18-19 years markedly
      decreased, while a tendency to its slow growth was revealed in children and in
      subjects aged 24-29 years. In contrast to other groups, parameters of morbidity
      in adults are the highest (32.7-37.4 per 1,000,000) and steady owing to which
      measures aimed at tuberculosis control should be improved.

PMID- 1461916
TI  - Autoxidation and yellowing of methyl linolenate.
AB  - The autoxidation of fatty esters of linseed oil is studied extensively, and the
      products formed from these reactions are identified. The mechanism suggested for
      autoxidation, helps to understand fat deterioration resulting in offensive odours
      and flavours, and to develop new antioxidants to prevent this decomposition. The
      oxidation following oxidative copolymerization should be investigated in order to
      understand and to develop new methodology to prevent yellowing. Although the
      yellowing of indoor oil paints could be prevented to an extent, no compound is
      known to completely inhibit this process nor has the cause for this yellow
      colouration been isolated, leaving the doors wide open for further investigation.

PMID- 1461918
TI  - Monthly prostaglandin bibliography prepared by the University of Sheffield
      Biomedical Information Service.

PMID- 1461917
TI  - Role of oxidized low density lipoprotein in atherogenesis.

PMID- 1461919
TI  - Cigarette smoking reduces human salivary eicosanoids.
AB  - The effect of cigarette smoking on salivary eicosanoid levels was investigated in
      10 smoker and 10 non-smoker volunteers. The smokers consumed an average of 20
      cigarettes/day for the past 5 years or longer. The smoking status was validated
      by salivary cotinine level. Eicosanoids were extracted from saliva with ethanol,
      and the radioimmunoassay was performed to determine the concentrations of four
      major eicosanoids, i.e. prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), PGF2 alpha, 6-sulphidopeptide
      containing leukotrienes (LTs) and 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE). The
      levels of PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and LTs were significantly lower in the saliva of
      smokers as compared to that of the non-smokers (1.74 +/- 0.32 vs 2.41 +/- 0.64, p
      = 0.006; 0.36 +/- 0.12 vs 0.54 +/- 0.18, p = 0.04; 2.24 +/- 0.96 vs 4.92 +/-
      1.29, p = 0.006; mean +/- SD, ng/ml saliva). No significant differences were
      found in the levels of 12-HETE between the two groups. The results suggest that
      cigarette smoking reduces the concentrations of both the cyclooxygenase and 5
      lipoxygenase products in saliva.

PMID- 1461920
TI  - Brain tissue injury and blood-brain barrier opening induced by injection of LGE2
      or PGE2.
AB  - The hypothesis that the accumulation of prostaglandin (PG)E2 during reperfusion
      of severely ischemic tissue contributes to a breakdown in the blood-brain barrier
      (BBB) was expanded to include a parallel role for levuglandins(LGs), gamma
      ketoaldehydes produced by rearrangement of PGH2. LGE2 was shown to be more potent
      than PGE2 in causing breakdown of the BBB when injected intrahemispherically.
      Brain tissue necrosis was clearly evident with total doses of levuglandin as low
      as 100 nmole.

PMID- 1461921
TI  - Amniotic fluid embolism and leukotrienes--the role of amniotic fluid surfactant
      in leukotriene production.
AB  - Surfactant rich lipid (lipid) was extracted from cell free 10,000 x g pellets of
      amniotic fluid. White blood cells (WBC) were isolated from human donors. 36 x
      10(7) WBC and 5 g rabbit lung were incubated with pretreated lipid or dipalmitoyl
      lecithin (lecithin). Leukotrienes (LTs) were identified by high performance
      liquid chromatography (HPLC) and bioassay, and quantified by radioimmunoassay.
      Peaks of LTC4 and LTD4 on HPLC and guinea-pig ileum contraction could be
      identified in lipid and lecithin groups, but not in the control group. LTC4
      production by lipid and lecithin groups was significantly higher than that by the
      control group. An involvement of amniotic fluid surfactant in leukotriene
      production is suggested.

PMID- 1461922
TI  - Alteration of platelet activating factor (PAF) metabolism in rat pulmonary
      alveolar macrophages and plasma by cigarette smoking.
AB  - The pathophysiological role of platelet activating factor (PAF) in smoking
      induced disorders was examined in rats exposed daily to smoke for 10, 18 and 26
      weeks. The concentration of PAF in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and the
      activities of PAF biosynthetic and catabolic enzymes in alveolar macrophages and
      in plasma were determined. The concentration of PAF in lavage fluid of the smoke
      exposed group was significantly lower than that in the sham group for each
      duration of smoke exposure. The PAF biosynthetic enzyme, acetyl transferase,
      activity in alveolar macrophages of smoked group was less than that in the sham
      group although the difference was not statistically significant. PAF catabolic
      enzyme, acetyl hydrolase, activities in alveolar macrophages and in plasma were
      all significantly higher in every smoked group than in the sham group. These data
      indicate that cigarette smoking alters PAF metabolism in the respiratory tract
      and in plasma and such an alteration may contribute, at least in part, to smoking
      induced cardiopulmonary disorders.

PMID- 1461923
TI  - The influence of fish oil supplementation on plasma lipoproteins and arterial
      lipids in vervet monkeys with established atherosclerosis.
AB  - There is controversy about whether supplementing diets with marine fish oil can
      regress, promote or prevent atherosclerosis. Therefore the effects of an Atlantic
      pilchard oil (FO) supplement and dietary change were measured in a proven
      atherosclerosis model. Vervet or African Green monkeys were fed an atherogenic
      diet (AD) for long enough to ensure progression before treatments started.
      Matched groups were then treated for 20 months, either by adding FO to the AD
      (AD/FO), or by changing to a therapeutic diet with FO (TD/FO). Control treatments
      consisted of supplementing with sunflower oil (SO) instead of FO, so that
      treatments were AD/SO and TD/SO. The same total polyunsaturates were supplied by
      the FO and SO and the dose of FO was realistic (2.5% of total energy). A
      reference group (R) received the TD with no oil supplements. Supplementing with
      FO did not change the concentrations of total, low or high density lipoprotein
      cholesterol in plasma. After The AD/FO the intimas of aortas contained more total
      (p < or = 0.001), free (p < or = 0.05) and esterified (p < or = 0.05)
      cholesterol, total phospholipid (p < or = 0.01) and sphingomyelin (p < or = 0.05)
      than after the AD/SO. After FO supplementation eicosapentaenoic acid was
      significantly higher and arachidonic acid significantly lower in the plasma and
      aorta intima phosphatidylcholine. None of these changes was anti-atherogenic in
      terms of atherosclerosis measured in the same individuals (1). Nor did FO
      increase the efficacy of the TD.

PMID- 1461924
TI  - On the role of 'in vivo' injected progesterone and of the 'in vitro' presence of
      oxytocin, modulating Ca2+ uptake by the rat uteri from spayed animals and as
      controllers of the production of arachidonic acid metabolism.
AB  - We attempted to explore possible mechanism(s) subserving the influence of
      oxytocin (O) and of progesterone (P) in the isolated rat uterus studying the
      action of these hormones on: the synthesis and release of prostaglandins (PGs),
      the metabolism of labelled arachidonic acid and the uptake of Ca2+ by the tissue
      from ovariectomized animals. The experiments were done with uterine preparations
      isolated from spayed rats treated or not with P prior to sacrifice and afterward
      incubated or not with O 'in vitro'. While uterine strips from untreated spayed
      rat uterus exhibited a basal release into the incubating medium of approximately
      the same amounts of PGF2 alpha, and PGE2, the 'in vitro' addition of O (50 mU/ml)
      increased significantly (p < 0.05) the output of PGF2 alpha without changing the
      release of PGE2. In tissue from rats injected with P prior to sacrifice the
      output of PGF2 alpha rose significantly (p < 0.01) as it did after the addition
      of O to preparations obtained from spayed rats treated with P in comparison to
      findings in uteri from spayed rats but not in comparison to uteri from spayed
      rats treated with P alone. Moreover, the 'in vitro' addition of O (50 mU/ml) only
      increased the formation of PGF2 alpha (p < 0.05) and of 5-HETE (p < 0.05);
      nevertheless the administration of P to spayed rats diminished significantly (p <
      0.05) the formation of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha from uteri, but increased that of PGF2
      alpha (p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1461925
TI  - Sex and dietary fat modulate hepatic prostaglandin F2 alpha in F344/N rats.
AB  - The study was designed to determine whether sex and fat calories altered hepatic
      prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha status; a factor which may reflect susceptibility to
      cancer development. For 4 weeks, groups of 8 male and 8 female F344/N rats were
      fed diets with 9% of energy (en%) from linoleate and 15.5, 20, 30 or 40 en% fat.
      Females had greater hepatic stearate, arachidonate and PGF2 alpha whereas males
      had greater hepatic myristate, palmitate and oleate. Females also had greater
      plasma stearate levels. Greater hepatic arachidonate may have stimulated PG
      production in females. Hepatic oleate increased and hepatic palmitate decreased
      with increasing en% fat (p < 0.05). Hepatic stearate was greater and hepatic
      linoleate less when 40 en% fat was fed compared with other levels of dietary fat
      (p < 0.05). Plasma oleate was greater at 30 or 40 en% fat than at lower levels of
      fat, whereas plasma linoleate was less at 40 en% than at 15.5% en% fat. The
      ability of a 30 en% fat diet, containing equal proportions of linoleate and
      oleate, to suppress hepatic PG production may be related to the effects of
      dietary fat content and composition on plasma fatty acid profiles. Because
      suppressed PG production has been linked with suppression of cancer development,
      dietary recommendations to consume 30 en% fat with a P:M ratio of 1:1 may be
      cancer-protective.

PMID- 1461926
TI  - Does a HDL injection reduce the development of serum hyperlipidemia and
      progression of fatty streaks in cholesterol fed rabbits?
AB  - The influences of homologous (rabbit) or heterologous (human) high density
      lipoprotein (HDL) on the development of serum hyperlipidemia and progression of
      fatty streaks were studied in cholesterol fed rabbits. Three groups of New
      Zealand rabbits were fed a 0.5% cholesterol rich diet for 8 weeks. Additionally
      into these animals the following solutions were injected intravenously two times
      per week: group 1 (control): saline; group 2: human HDL dissolved in saline;
      group 3: rabbit HDL dissolved in saline. The animals of group 2 had lower serum
      cholesterol levels during the dietary period than rabbits of group 1 (p < 0.05)
      but the surface of intima covered with fatty streaks was the same as in group 1.
      On the other hand, the serum cholesterol level in rabbits of group 3 was the same
      as in group 1 during the whole experimental period, but the surface of aorta
      covered with fatty streaks was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in group 3 than in
      group 1. The results of this study support the hypothesis of an antiatherogenic
      action of HDL, which seems to be independent of the influence of HDL on the serum
      lipids but depends on the source of HDL.

PMID- 1461927
TI  - Binding of a thromboxane A2 (TXA2)/prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) receptor antagonist to
      rabbit and pig heart membrane protein.
AB  - This study aimed at testing the hypothesis that the binding sites for TXA2/PGH2
      are present and different in the heart as compared to platelets and blood
      vessels. Kinetic studies on the thromboxane binding to protein of membrane
      preparations from rabbit and pig hearts were carried out using [125I]-PTA-OH, a
      potent specific thromboxane receptor antagonist. The following points are
      stressed: 1. the binding sites to 125I-PTA-OH were shown to be present in the
      heart membrane whatever the adopted experimental conditions were i.e. the
      temperature (4 or 30 degrees C) used for incubation the protein fractions under
      study: either the 105,000 g supernatant or the 200,000 g supernatant of the
      solubilized pellet (105,000 g) the animal species: rabbit and pig 2. the
      radioligand binding was rapid, saturable and reversible 3. the kinetically
      determined Kd's were in the picomolar range--11 and 14 pM for the rabbit and pig
      heart membrane preparation respectively--instead of the nanomolar range found in
      other tissues of the nanomolar range found in other tissues--27-39 nM and 2 nM
      for human platelets and bovine artery endothelial cells respectively- using the
      same thromboxane receptor antagonist.

PMID- 1461928
TI  - NZB/NZW F1 mouse nephritis and immune response are not changed by treatment with
      a 15-lipoxygenase derivative.
AB  - 15-HETE is an arachidonic acid derivative issued from the 15 lipoxygenase
      pathway. This fatty acid possesses immunomodulatory capabilities since it was
      reported that it generates CD8 + suppressor T-cells either in vitro or ex vivo.
      The aim of the present report was to study if the suppressive capabilities of 15
      HETE were able to influence the onset of the NZB/NZW Fl auto-immune disease. For
      that purpose we produced 15-HETE and injected the eicosanoid twice a week to
      NZB/WFI mice for 40 weeks. During the 15-HETE treatment of the animals it was
      observed an augmentation of the proliferative response of lectin-stimulated
      splenocytes (at weeks 20 and 30) then the thymidine uptake decreased (at week
      40). In fact we observed that among 15-HETE treated mice the evolution of the
      nephropathy was not changed, the 'glomerular activity score' remained the same
      for the treated animals compared to controls. On the contrary antinuclear
      antibodies occurred earlier even if in some experiments the generation of CD8 +
      cells was demonstrated.

PMID- 1461929
TI  - Quantitative association between altered plasma esterified omega-6 fatty acid
      proportions and psychological stress.
AB  - Medical students (MS) tested during the first year of medical school showed both
      greater stress on the Brief Symptom Inventory and lower plasma proportions of
      total esterified arachidonic acid (AA, C20:4n-6), and its omega-6 fatty acid (FA)
      precursor, linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) than control laboratory workers. This
      association suggests that omega-6 FA metabolism may be affected during stress.
      Low AA values might result from depletion of plasma stores for immunoregulatory
      prostenoids formation or from modification of metabolic pathways by cortisol or
      other cytokine compounds implicated in stress. Values for other major FA and the
      omega-3 neuronal metabolic substrate, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) were
      similar between students and controls. The clear preservation of the omega-3 FA
      pathway suggests their programmed availability for neuronal function during
      stress. Since plasma FA proportions may affect immune cell membrane function(s),
      we suggest that altered values of plasma FAs may be an important component of the
      physiological effects of psychological stress.

PMID- 1461930
TI  - Modulation of prostacyclin production by cytokines in vascular endothelial cells.
AB  - The data presented in this review clearly show that many different cytokines
      regulate the synthesis of PGI2 in vascular EC (Tables 1 & 2). Since these agents
      are synthesized, stored, and/or released from platelets, leukocytes and cells
      present in the vascular wall (Fig.), they are to be found at sites of vascular
      injury and may, through their effect on the synthesis of PGI2 and other
      prostanoids, regulate thrombogenesis and atherogenesis. Despite the mass of
      detailed data, the picture is still fragmentary. Very little, for instance, is
      known about the 'orchestral effects' of different combinations of cytokines. In
      addition, it seems that the regulation of PGI2 synthesis by cytokines varies with
      the species and with the type of vasculature from which the cells originated.
      However, discrepancies may also be due to the use of different culture
      conditions. Moreover, we must remember that the present data are almost
      exclusively from in vitro studies, and the representativeness of these results in
      in vivo situations remains to be clarified.

PMID- 1461931
TI  - Cancer destruction in vivo through disrupted energy metabolism. Part I. The
      endogenous mechanism of self-destruction within the malignant cell, and the roles
      of endotoxin, certain hormones and drugs, and active oxygen in causing cellular
      injury and death.
AB  - Autoxidative cellular injury arises when an intact endogenous mechanism present
      in cells is triggered by a range of specific stimuli, including endotoxin, stress
      hormones, hydralazine, L-isoproterenol and certain phenothiazines. The overall
      changes involve oxygen activation, lipid peroxidation, and the generation of
      substances which disrupt mitochondrial energy production by uncoupling oxidative
      phosphorylation. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy has revealed that falls in high
      energy phosphate are commonly seen following a variety of therapeutic procedures,
      including radiation and treatment with cytotoxic agents. Sometimes the energy
      status of a tumor improves in response to therapy; in these instances tumor
      regression is due to programmed cell death, termed apoptosis. In the first part
      of this review the roles played in the development of autoxidative cellular
      injury by oxygen and its active forms, an endogenous peroxidisable substrate, and
      an oxygenase are considered and discussed.

PMID- 1461932
TI  - Cancer destruction in vivo through disrupted energy metabolism. Part II. Lipid
      peroxidation and cell death; drug resistance as a consequence of reversible
      cellular injury.
AB  - In the second part of this review of autoxidative cellular injury and death in
      tumor cells, the presence of saturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E,
      and free or esterified cholesterol in whole cells and organelles is discussed in
      the context of enhancing or attenuating lipid peroxidation. The disposition of
      unsaturation within polyunsaturated fatty acid molecules is critical for tumor
      promotion, but the situation appears ambivalent with regard to inflicting
      cellular injury. Increases in lipid peroxidation and phospholipase A2 activity
      following on from the administration of hormones or non-cytotoxic drugs are
      considered from the viewpoint of generating hydroperoxyfatty acids and
      lysophosphatides, both of which disrupt mitochondrial energy production by
      uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation. The metabolic fate of lysophosphatides is
      thought to be a crucial factor both in determining whether cancer cells survive
      or not, and in furnishing protection for surviving cells against subsequent
      attack. Both energy-dependent and energy-independent mechanisms for acylating
      lysophosphatides are reviewed. The emergence of an unstable form of drug
      resistance during the recovery phase is interpreted in terms of the chemical
      identity of the new acyl groups on the acylated lysophospholipid. Resistance to
      further free radical challenge can be conferred by the regeneration of
      phospholipids bearing saturated or monoenoic 2-substituents which are unable to
      undergo peroxidation.

PMID- 1461933
TI  - Cancer destruction in vivo through disrupted energy metabolism. Part III.
      Spontaneous drug resistance, selectivity of antineoplastic action, and strategies
      for intensifying tumor injury.
AB  - In the concluding section of this review of cancer destruction by disruption of
      energy metabolism, the cellular mechanism for interfering with energy production
      is considered in terms of drug resistance arising independently of previous tumor
      injury. The occurrence of various degrees of damage to cancerous growths as a
      consequence of secondary shock is interpreted on the basis of elevated levels of
      stress hormones, including vasopressin, which have earlier been shown to
      interfere with energy metabolism in a murine sarcoma. Similarly, the indirect
      action of various antineoplastic procedures can be related to a role for the
      endocrine system, with particular reference to vasopressin and inappropriate anti
      diuretic hormone secretion syndrome. Multiple drug resistance is also discussed,
      and the mode of action of the topoisomerase inhibitor doxorubicin is critically
      examined. The basis of selectivity of disruption of energy metabolism by
      substances such as hydralazine and L-isoproterenol is discussed from the
      viewpoint of altered activities of antioxidant enzymes in transformed cells, but
      these considerations alone are not thought to be sufficient to account for the
      highly specific nature of the antineoplastic action. Conversely, antioxidant
      enzymes, more especially those concerned with glutathione metabolism, probably
      play a major role in multiple drug resistance, although in this respect the case
      of autoxidative cellular injury awaits attention. Theoretical strategies for the
      intensification of tumor injury include the aim of prolonging the half-lives of
      lysophosphatides within damaged tissue. Whereas the clinical application of the
      principle of tumor destruction through selective disruption of energy metabolism
      is at present compromised for lack of information, the use of phenothiazines as
      antineoplastic agents is feasible, and awaits serious exploitation. The relative
      lack of incapacitating side-effects of phenothiazines should provide an
      attractive change for the clinical oncologist.

PMID- 1461934
TI  - Investigation of the possibility of solitary waves in the base stacks of DNA.
AB  - The possibility of the existence of solitary waves in DNA is investigated. On the
      basis of our classical model we do not find such a wave in a polynucleotide, but
      for a stack of adenine molecules without backbone we observe one. Possible
      extensions of the model for DNA are discussed. From our results we can conclude,
      that solitons exist in stacked systems without an additional backbone. At least
      the degree of freedom which couples a nucleotide base (pair) to the sugar
      phosphate backbones (N-C stretching vibration) has to be treated with the help of
      the quantum equations of motion.

PMID- 1461935
TI  - Molecular effects of nitrosamine toxicity.
AB  - Nitrosamines are toxic chemical compounds found low in quantity, but widespread
      in the environment. This work investigated the kinetics of chemical reaction of
      activated nitrosamines with various organic substrates. The mechanism by which
      nitrosamines react demonstrates possible pathways in which the toxicity is
      expressed. Once activated nitrosamines are very reactive. Chemical compounds
      which can act as nucleophilic substrates may be alkylated by the activated
      nitrosamines. A broad category of chemical compounds are shown to be suitable
      substrates for nitrosamine induced alkylation. This large category of substrates
      suggests a substantial potential for toxic activity in vivo. By investigating the
      reaction kinetics of activated nitrosamines a greater understanding of their
      toxic effects may be possible.

PMID- 1461936
TI  - Use of animals in medical education.

PMID- 1461937
TI  - The large plasmids found in enterohemorrhagic and enteropathogenic Escherichia
      coli constitute a related series of transfer-defective Inc F-IIA replicons.
AB  - Forty-six of 52 (88.5%) enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains
      screened carried a "common" plasmid of about 90 kb which encoded sequences
      homologous to the Inc F-IIA replicon. A similarly high incidence of Inc F-IIA
      plasmid-containing strains was observed in other groups of diarrheagenic E. coli,
      but not in random environmental coliform isolates. Enteropathogenic E. coli
      (EPEC) contain plasmids of similar properties and share a 23-kb DNA fragment with
      plasmids from EHEC. The common region encodes the F-IIA replication region and
      sequences homologous to the transfer operon of the Inc F-II plasmid R1. Sequence
      homology varied between plasmids isolated from different EHEC/EPEC strains with >
      80% showing homology to the regions encoding the rep and par genes. Only 5% of
      plasmids from EHEC strains had intact sequences homologous to the DNA between
      these two regions, including the oriT site. Some plasmids with an apparently
      intact tra operon still failed to plaque F-pilus-specific phages. This is
      consistent with observations that the large plasmids of EHEC and EPEC are
      phenotypically nonconjugative. These results suggest that the large plasmids of
      EHEC/EPEC constitute a family of transfer-deficient Inc F-IIA plasmids with
      varying degrees of deletion in tra function. The evolutionary ramifications of
      this finding are considered.

PMID- 1461938
TI  - Transformation of Acetobacter xylinum with plasmid DNA by electroporation.
AB  - Genetic analysis of Acetobacter xylinum, a cellulose-synthesizing bacterium, has
      been limited by lack of a successful transformation method. Transformation of A.
      xylinum was attempted using two broad-host-range plasmids (pUCD2 and pRK248) and
      a variety of transformation methods. Methods using CaCl2, freeze/thaw treatments,
      and polyethylene glycol were unsuccessful. Transformation of a cellulose-negative
      strain of A. xylinum with plasmid DNA has been achieved with high-voltage
      electroporation. Electroporation conditions of 25 microF capacitance, 2.5 kV, 400
      ohms resistance, and pulse lengths of 6-8 ms were applied to a cell/DNA mixture
      in a 0.2-cm cuvette. Plasmid pUCD2 transformed at an efficiency of 10(6)-10(7)
      transformants/micrograms DNA and pRK248 yielded 10(5) transformants/micrograms
      DNA. The frequency of transformation increased linearly with increasing DNA
      concentration, while transformation efficiency remained constant. pUCD2 was
      recovered from transformants following chloramphenicol amplification and observed
      by agarose gel electrophoresis. Both plasmids could be reisolated from
      Escherichia coli after back-transformation with alkaline lysis DNA preparations
      from Acetobacter transformants. Electro-transformation of A. xylinum with plasmid
      DNA suggests its potential use for analysis of the A. xylinum genome.

PMID- 1461939
TI  - Deletion derivatives of pAgK84 and their use in the analysis of Agrobacterium
      plasmid functions.
AB  - The 47.7-kb plasmid pAgK84, present in Agrobacterium radiobacter strain K84,
      confers production of a novel, highly specific, antiagrobacterial antibiotic
      called agrocin 84. Strain K84 is used commercially to biocontrol crown gall
      caused by agrocin 84-susceptible strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Efficient
      biocontrol is dependent upon production of agrocin 84 by strain K84. Starting
      with a derivative of pAgK84 containing a Tn5 insertion, a series of deletion
      derivatives of the plasmid were isolated. The smallest of these, pJS500, contains
      about 8 kb of the original agrocin plasmid and localized the replication
      functions to between 4 and 6 o'clock on the physical map. A smaller derivative,
      produced by clonal rescue of a Tn5 insertion in the 4 o'clock region, further
      localized the minimal replication functions to a 1.5-kb region mapping between
      coordinates 18.1 and 19.6. Analysis of plasmid stability indicated that functions
      required for maintenance of the plasmid under nonselective conditions are tightly
      linked to the minimal replication region. This region also encodes
      incompatibility functions; the deletion derivatives were all incompatible with
      the wild-type pAgK84. The stability/replication locus of pAgK84 maps just
      anticlockwise from the Tra region. This region is retained fully in pAgK1026, the
      directed Tra- derivative of pAgK84 which is now in use as the primary crown gall
      biocontrol agent in Australia. One of the deletion derivatives, the 15-kb pJS400,
      was used as a vector to clone the KpnI fragments of an octopine-type Ti plasmid.
      Traits known to be encoded on these fragments were expressed and properly
      regulated in Agrobacterium hosts. One clone, encoding the Ti plasmid
      replication/incompatibility region, was used to cure IncRh1 Ti plasmids from
      their hosts. This clone also was found to be incompatible with pAtK84b, a large
      plasmid encoding opine catabolism present in A. radiobacter strain K84. This
      indicates that the opine catabolic plasmid is closely related to the IncRh1 Ti
      plasmids.

PMID- 1461940
TI  - Promoter probe and shuttle plasmids for Deinococcus radiodurans.
AB  - Two improved Deinococcus radiodurans-Escherichia coli shuttle vectors have been
      constructed. pI3 is a 16-kb plasmid that confers chloramphenicol resistance in D.
      radiodurans (CmR, cat) and ampicillin resistance in E. coli (ApR) and contains a
      multiple cloning site that does not interrupt sequences necessary for replication
      or drug resistance in either host. pI304 is a promoter-probe plasmid that is
      similar to pI3, but lacks the D. radiodurans promoting sequence for the cat gene,
      while retaining sequences necessary for replication.

PMID- 1461941
TI  - Construction of recA mutants of Acholeplasma laidlawii by insertional
      inactivation with a homologous DNA fragment.
AB  - Mycoplasmas (class Mollicutes) are wall-less prokaryotes phylogenetically related
      to gram-positive bacteria. This study describes the construction of recA mutants
      of the mycoplasma Acholeplasma laidlawii. An internal fragment of the recA gene
      from A. laidlawii was cloned into a plasmid that does not replicate in this
      organism. When this plasmid construct was used to transform A. laidlawii, it
      inserted into the chromosome, disrupting the recA gene. The phenotype of the
      resulting recA mutant was compared to that of wild-type cells and to that of a
      strain that has a naturally occurring ochre mutation in its recA gene. As found
      in other bacterial systems, loss of RecA activity resulted in cells deficient in
      DNA repair.

PMID- 1461942
TI  - Nucleotide sequence of the chloramphenicol resistance determinant of the
      streptococcal plasmid pIP501.
AB  - We have sequenced the chloramphenicol resistance determinant (cat) of plasmid
      pIP501 from Streptococcus agalactiae to investigate its relationship with other
      cognate cat determinants. Sequence analysis revealed that it exhibits a high
      degree of similarity with the cat genes of plasmids pC221 and pUB112 from
      Staphylococcus aureus and pSCS1 from Staphylococcus intermedius. These genes,
      however, display several differences in their regulatory and coding regions.
      These results demonstrate that the cat determinant of plasmid pIP501 belongs to
      the pC221 subgroup of CAT variants.

PMID- 1461943
TI  - Monoamine oxidase and cortisol response in depression and schizophrenia.
AB  - The relationship between hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function and
      platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was examined in drug-free depressed (n
      = 32) and schizophrenic (n = 36) inpatients. HPA function was measured by
      determining plasma cortisol levels at 8:30 a.m. and 11 p.m. before, and 8:30
      a.m., 4 p.m., and 11 p.m. after administration of 1 mg of dexamethasone (DEX).
      There was a significant correlation between platelet MAO activity and all post
      DEX cortisol levels (8:30 a.m., 4 a.m., and 11 p.m.) in depressed patients, and
      MAO activity and pre-DEX cortisol levels (11 p.m.) in schizophrenic patients. MAO
      activity was significantly higher in depressed DST nonsuppressors than in
      suppressors, and there were more DST nonsuppressors in high-MAO groups as
      compared with low-MAO groups. Our results thus suggest a strong relationship
      between platelet MAO activity and HPA function in depressed patients. These
      biochemical markers are potentially useful in the identification of biochemically
      and clinically homogeneous subgroups of depressed patients.

PMID- 1461944
TI  - Auditory sensory gating and catecholamine metabolism in schizophrenic and normal
      subjects.
AB  - Diminished neuronal response to repeated sensory input is a sensory-gating
      phenomenon that has been found to be deficient in schizophrenic patients. For
      example, schizophrenic patients fail to decrease the amplitude of the P50 wave of
      the auditory evoked potential to the second of paired click stimuli. In some
      studies, however, normal subjects have also failed to decrease their P50
      responses. The aim of this study was to determine if accommodation to the
      recording situation over time would affect the gating of the P50 response. The
      gating of the P50 wave is measured as the ratio of the amplitude of the second
      response to the amplitude of the first. Three successive auditory evoked
      potentials were compiled, each from trains of 32 pairs of stimuli. Twelve normal
      subjects and 12 schizophrenic patients were studied. Unconjugated catecholamine
      metabolites were measured from venous samples drawn before and after the
      electrophysiological recording. Between the first and third trials, the normal
      subjects significantly increased their gating of P50. This increase in gating of
      P50 was related to decreased levels of the noradrenergic metabolite 3-methoxy-4
      hydroxyphenylglycol. No similar phenomenon was observed in the schizophrenic
      patients, a number of whom had a further decrease in P50 gating over the three
      trials. Transient failure to observe gating of P50 in normal subjects may be
      related to increased state-dependent noradrenergic activity, which is known to
      disrupt sensory gating. This mechanism does not seem to account for the more
      persistent failure of sensory gating in schizophrenia.

PMID- 1461945
TI  - Secondary social phobia in patients with major depression.
AB  - Nineteen of 42 (45.2%) patients were socially phobic when and only when
      depressed. Each of these patients met diagnostic criteria for primary depression
      (Research Diagnostic Criteria) and major depression (DSM-III-R). Every subject
      had three or more distinct episodes of depression. Eight of the 9 men (88.9%) and
      11 of the 33 women (33.3%) were socially phobic when depressed (p = 0.004).
      Patients with recurrent wintertime episodes of major depression (p = 0.036) and a
      past history of alcohol or drug abuse were more likely to be socially phobic (p =
      0.0001). The authors suggest the 19 socially phobic patients with primary
      depression should be regarded as having secondary social phobia. Secondary social
      phobia may be an important source of comorbidity in patients with primary
      depression.

PMID- 1461946
TI  - Panic disorder and major depression: a comparative electroencephalographic sleep
      study.
AB  - Family studies suggest some common etiological factors in panic disorder and
      depression. The observation of characteristic depression-like polysomnographic
      alterations in panic disorder patients would further underline the assumed
      biological interface between the two psychiatric disorders. In a polysomnographic
      study of 22 inpatients with panic disorder, 12 inpatients with major depression,
      and 12 control subjects, we found that both groups of patients had one major
      feature of depression-like sleep: a shortened rapid eye movement (REM) latency.
      However, the patterns of the first hours of polysomnography showed more
      differences than similarities between these psychiatric disorders, indicating
      that the shortened REM latency apparently is merely a common final pathway of
      different alterations in sleep regulation. Our findings, therefore, provide more
      evidence against than for a significant biological interface between panic
      disorder and depression.

PMID- 1461947
TI  - Relationship between symptoms rated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
      and brain measures in schizophrenia.
AB  - The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to rate clinical
      symptoms in 42 inpatients with schizophrenia before they were examined by
      computed tomography. Significantly higher mean size of lateral and third
      ventricles, and higher mean cortical atrophy were found in schizophrenic patients
      compared with healthy control subjects. Ventricular enlargement and cortical
      atrophy were significantly related to low scores on the Composite subscale of the
      PANSS. Positive correlations were observed mainly with negative items such as
      blunted affect, emotional withdrawal, difficulties in abstract thinking, passive
      apathetic social withdrawal, and lack of spontaneity of conversation. Additional
      positive correlations were observed with two items from the General
      Psychopathology subscale (mannerisms and disorientation). Inverse correlations
      were found with most positive items. These results suggest a relationship between
      brain structural abnormalities and the symptomatology of schizophrenia recorded
      with PANSS.

PMID- 1461948
TI  - In vivo assessment of pituitary volume with magnetic resonance imaging and
      systematic stereology: relationship to dexamethasone suppression test results in
      patients.
AB  - The relationship between dexamethasone suppression test (DST) results and in vivo
      pituitary volume was studied in 24 psychiatric inpatients. The principles of
      systematic stereology were used to measure pituitary volume from 3-mm contiguous
      sagittal spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) images of the brain. There was no
      correlation between pituitary volume and 3 p.m. or 10 p.m. postdexamethasone
      (post-DEX) plasma cortisol concentrations. However, when multiple regression
      analysis was performed to relate pituitary volume to gender, age, and post-DEX
      plasma cortisol concentrations, there was a significant relationship between
      pituitary volume and age, gender, and 10 p.m. post-DEX cortisol plasma
      concentration. This is the first study to demonstrate a method that directly
      measures, rather than estimates, in vivo pituitary volume. Furthermore, it
      suggests that activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in
      psychiatric patients, as manifested by elevated post-DEX cortisol concentrations,
      may influence pituitary volume.

PMID- 1461949
TI  - Lithium determination in outpatient clinics by an ion-selective electrode in
      venous and capillary whole blood.
AB  - The use of an ion-selective electrode (ISE) to determine lithium (Li) in routine
      clinical application was evaluated by repeatedly analyzing reference specimens
      (precision evaluation) and by comparing blood concentrations in Li-treated
      patients assessed by ISE and flame emission spectrometry (FES) (correlation and
      agreement). Precision evaluation was sufficiently high. Li values determined by
      ISE in venous and capillary whole blood showed high correlations with FES plasma
      values (correlation coefficients between 0.86 and 0.99). Within the therapeutic
      range (0.3-1.0 mmole/l Li), agreement was sufficient for venous and less
      satisfactory for capillary blood (mean differences, FES minus ISE: -0.03 and 
      0.11 mmole/l Li). Above the therapeutic range, ISE values markedly exceeded FES
      results.

PMID- 1461950
TI  - Normal nucleolar size of entorhinal cortex cells in schizophrenia.

PMID- 1461951
TI  - Age and the dexamethasone suppression test: results from a broad unselected
      patient population.
AB  - We examined the relationship between age and postdexamethasone serum cortisol
      concentration in 676 psychiatric inpatients with a variety of DSM-III diagnoses.
      Regardless of diagnosis, patients 65 years and older had significantly higher
      nonsuppression rates than those below age 65 (64% vs. 34%). The correlation
      between age and cortisol level was moderate, but significant. Aging is associated
      with increasing nonsuppression rates to dexamethasone, and this change is
      augmented by an affective disorder diagnosis. Levels of nonsuppression and age
      cortisol correlations vary depending on dose of dexamethasone, diagnosis, and
      gender.

PMID- 1461952
TI  - Affective response to color-slide stimuli in subjects with physical anhedonia: a
      three-systems analysis.
AB  - Emotion-provoking visual stimuli were presented to college undergraduates
      identified as anhedonic or normal, based on their scores on the Physical
      Anhedonia Scale (Chapman, Chapman, & Raulin, 1976). The affective stimuli (35 mm
      color slides) were chosen to elicit a wide range of both positive and negative
      emotion, with emotional response assessed through affective judgments, viewing
      time, and monitoring of a variety of physiological systems (heart rate, skin
      conductance, and facial musculature). The experiment was successful in
      demonstrating differential emotional response in the two subject groups;
      anhedonic subjects reported a less positive response than control subjects to
      positive and neutral stimuli and showed no association between heart rate and the
      emotion content of the slides. Paradoxically, activity in the muscles of facial
      expression was greater in anhedonic than control subjects during the presentation
      of both positive and negative slides. No between-group differences were noted in
      the viewing-time measure. The results are discussed in the context of Lang's
      bioinformational theory of human emotion (Lang, 1984, 1985).

PMID- 1461953
TI  - Tonic and phasic electrodermal measures of human aversive conditioning with long
      duration stimuli.
AB  - Two experiments investigated phasic and tonic electrodermal responding to long,
      variable-duration stimuli in aversive conditioning procedures. Experiment I
      demonstrated reliable differential conditioning on both phasic (first interval
      response, FIR) and tonic (change in skin conductance level, delta SCL;
      spontaneous fluctuations) measures, using 10-40-s slides as conditioned stimuli
      (CSs) and electric shock as the unconditioned stimulus (UCS). Experiment 2
      examined the sensitivity of phasic and tonic measures to UCS aversiveness. Both
      FIR and delta SCL were greater to a conditioned stimulus paired with shock than
      one paired with an innocuous reaction-time warning tone. Responding was reversed
      when the reinforcement contingencies were reversed. It was suggested that, with
      long duration CSs and an aversive UCS, phasic measures to stimulus onset, such as
      FIR, may reflect both stimulus significance and threat appraisal, whereas tonic
      measures reflect primarily arousal or anxiety arising from anticipation of the
      aversive unconditioned stimulus.

PMID- 1461954
TI  - Fearfulness and startle potentiation during aversive visual stimuli.
AB  - Recent experimental research suggests an association between negative affect and
      potentiation of the human startle reflex, as well as enhancement of this effect
      among fearful compared to low fear subjects. In the present study, 32
      undergraduates were selected for high or low total Fear Survey Schedule scores.
      Acoustic startle probes were presented while subjects received warned
      presentations of aversive and neutral photographic slides. High fear but not low
      fear subjects showed potentiated short-latency cardiac acceleration and blink
      magnitude, and reduced blink latency, during aversive compared to neutral slides.
      These results support the hypothesis that affective modulation of startle is
      enhanced among high fear compared to low fear subjects. Considered in the context
      of prior findings, the results suggest that this individual difference effect
      generalizes across psychophysiological components of the startle reflex and
      diverse procedures for manipulating affect.

PMID- 1461955
TI  - Concomitant heart rate and eyeblink Pavlovian conditioning in human subjects as a
      function of interstimulus interval.
AB  - Pavlovian heart rate and eyeblink conditioning were simultaneously assessed in
      human subjects. Tone durations of 0.6, 1.1, and 2.1 s were employed in separate
      groups of subjects as the conditioned stimulus. A 100-ms corneal airpuff, which
      served as the unconditioned stimulus, overlapped the last 100 ms of the tone in
      each group, thus producing interstimulus intervals of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 s. Other
      groups of pseudoconditioning subjects received explicitly unpaired tone and
      airpuff presentations of identical durations but in a pseudorandom sequence so
      that they never occurred together. The best eyeblink conditioning was observed in
      the group with the .5-s interstimulus interval, although the 1.0-s group also
      demonstrated some evidence of eyeblink conditioning. The group with the 2.0-s
      interstimulus interval showed a lower overall rate of conditioned response
      occurrence and the highest rate of pseudoconditioned responding. The conditioned
      heart rate response in all three conditioning groups consisted of cardiac
      decelerations, but tone-evoked cardiac accelerations were observed in the
      pseudoconditioning groups. The magnitude of the cardiac deceleration was
      comparable in all three conditioning groups.

PMID- 1461956
TI  - Taking attention to task: P300, task response probability, and within-category
      deviation detection.
AB  - Previously, we reported enhanced P3 amplitudes to between-category deviations
      among high and low probability events. Here, we tested the effects of a within
      category difference. Subjects performed a go/no-go button press task as they
      viewed repeated, randomly-ordered presentations of nine double-digit numbers.
      Eight numbers fell within a prescribed range (42-49, standards); prior to
      testing, subjects selected one standard number for later recall. A ninth, out-of
      range (91, deviant) number was also included. Subjects were tested under two
      conditions, in which they responded either to one (low response probability) or
      to seven (high response probability) standard nonselected numbers, designated as
      targets. Relatively larger P3s were consistently apparent only when the deviant
      nontarget was associated with a low probability response to a nontarget. There
      was a selective effect of nontarget response probability on P3 amplitude to the
      deviant nontarget. Our results indicate that within-category deviation detection
      is facilitated by "controlled" attention to the structure of the stimulus field.

PMID- 1461957
TI  - Word frequency and multiple repetition as determinants of the modulation of event
      related potentials in a semantic classification task.
AB  - We recorded event-related potentials while subjects performed a category
      membership decision task. The stimuli were words of high and low frequency of
      occurrence in written English, and each was presented four times. The experiment
      was intended to explore the interaction of word frequency and multiple repetition
      on the event-related potential, and thence to investigate the possible loci in
      time of the effects of these variables. First presentations of low and high
      frequency words evoked event-related potentials which differed in the presence,
      in the low word frequency waveforms, of a right-hemisphere dominant negativity
      peaking at 400 ms. This negativity was very similar to the N400 which may be
      sensitive to the semantic relations among words in a sequence. Initial repetition
      diminished this midlatency difference, but gave rise to both earlier and later
      frequency-related differences. Subsequent multiple repetition abolished the early
      frequency-related repetition effect, but did not affect amplitudes in the region
      of N400, nor did it abolish a late positivity, present only for repeated low
      frequency words.

PMID- 1461958
TI  - Interactive effects of difficulty and instrumentality of avoidant behavior on
      cardiovascular reactivity.
AB  - College-aged subjects performed 35 trials of an easy or difficult digit
      recognition task. Half were told that a good performance would ensure a high
      chance of avoiding a blast of noise, and half were told that a good performance
      would ensure a low chance of avoiding the noise. Results indicated that heart
      rate and systolic blood pressure reactivity were higher in the difficult
      condition than in the easy condition only when the probability of avoiding the
      noise (given success) was high. When the probability of avoiding the noise (given
      success) was low, heart rate and systolic responsivity were low regardless of
      task difficulty. It also was found that (1) performance quality was poorer
      overall among difficult subjects than among easy subjects, and (2) that the
      difference in performance quality between the easy and difficult groups was
      somewhat (not significantly) greater in the low-probability conditions than in
      the high-probability conditions. Major findings are considered in terms of
      Obrist's reasoning regarding the psychophysiological consequences of active
      coping and a motivational model by Brehm, which specifies conditions under which
      individuals will be more and less task engaged.

PMID- 1461959
TI  - Analysis of pattern-reversal visual evoked-potential topography: replicability in
      normal subjects and comparisons with Alzheimer's disease.
AB  - This paper reports two studies using multivariate analysis to aid the
      interpretation of cross-coherence of multiple electrode sites in evoked potential
      responses. In the first study, the replicability of principal components and
      multidimensional scaling was evaluated by applying both methods to pattern
      reversal visual evoked potentials recorded from 28 scalp sites in two subgroups
      of sex- and age-matched healthy subjects, and then comparing the results. Four
      dimensions replicated in the two initial multidimensional scaling solutions and
      appeared to reflect differences in: 1) anterior versus posterior scalp areas, 2)
      laterality, 3) separation of frontal and occipital sites from other scalp
      regions, and 4) proximal versus distal placements. The initial principal
      components did not match well in the two groups, but rotation to congruence
      improved their replicability and ultimately yielded axes similar to those of the
      multidimensional scaling dimensions. In the second study, Alzheimer's disease and
      sex- and age-matched control subjects were evaluated. The four axes identified
      were the same as those described above, but after the solutions were rotated to
      align them, the group differences appeared negligible. Examination of the
      components and dimensions from both studies showed some consistent departures
      from being merely reflectors of site location, and the apparently visual
      dimension appeared clearly in all four groups. Judged on the basis of initial
      interpretability and replicability of the solutions, the results suggest that
      multidimensional scaling, with appropriate transformation, may provide an
      effective tool for analyzing pattern-reversal visual evoked-potential topography.

PMID- 1461960
TI  - Comparison of impedance cardiographic measurements using band and spot
      electrodes.
AB  - The comprehensive assessment of cardiac function using impedance cardiography has
      led to increasingly widespread use of the technique in psychophysiology.
      Disposable adhesive band electrodes have been the most widely used electrode
      type, but spot electrode configurations present attractive alternatives in terms
      of convenience and subject comfort. The present study was designed to evaluate
      whether one such spot electrode configuration yielded the same information as the
      more standard band electrodes for cardiac output and systolic time interval
      measurement. Male and female healthy adult subjects (N = 20) were tested.
      Comparisons between spot and band electrodes were made for the absolute magnitude
      of cardiac output and systolic time intervals, as well as for responses to the
      highly reproducible effects of bicycle exercise. Consistent with previous
      findings, systolic time interval measurements were unaffected by electrode type.
      However, for cardiac output measurements, differences between spot and band
      electrode measurements were found. Under resting conditions, the absolute
      magnitudes of cardiac output values measured using spot electrodes were smaller
      than for band electrodes. Subtle, yet significant differences were also found for
      cardiac output responses to exercise, with spot electrodes indicating greater
      increases in cardiac output than band electrodes. At the same time, anticipated
      gender differences found for cardiac output at rest and in response to exercise
      were unaffected by electrode type. Overall, these findings suggest that when
      comparing the results of studies that have utilized different impedance electrode
      types, it would be prudent to remain alert to the possibility of confounding
      influences.

PMID- 1461961
TI  - Alternate cardiovascular baseline assessment techniques: vanilla or resting
      baseline.
AB  - The accurate evaluation of cardiovascular reactions to psychological challenge
      requires stable baselines against which change can be evaluated. When more than
      one challenge is employed, the recovery of this baseline becomes important in
      order to avoid carryover effects. Resting periods, even those of 20 min or more,
      do not guarantee baseline stability. We compared a 20-min resting condition and a
      new form of baseline condition in 48 college men using video tasks as the
      psychological challenges. The new form was a minimally demanding color detection
      task, termed the "vanilla" baseline condition. A 10-min version and a 20-min
      version of this condition were tested. Comparisons to 10-min resting baselines
      were made using our prior work and values from the literature. Vanilla baseline
      conditions were shown to be equal to or better than resting baseline conditions
      using criteria of between- and within-baseline stability, amplitude and
      significance of responsivity, and generalizability between sessions on separate
      days. Ten-minute resting baselines also showed acceptable stability, questioning
      the value of lengthy baselines. The good performance of the 10-min vanilla
      baseline in initial and replication samples supported its utility for estimating
      baselines for many purposes.

PMID- 1461962
TI  - Developing a level III/IV medical/psychiatry unit. Establishing a basis, design
      of the unit, and physician responsibility.
AB  - This article is part of a series defining the administrative, logistical, and
      funding issues necessary for the establishment of a medical/psychiatry unit. It
      emphasizes the experience of individuals who have developed such units and is
      offered in an attempt to prevent duplication of costly mistakes. Administrative
      issues, factors affecting the physical design of the unit, requirements for
      medical coverage and medical and psychiatric programmatic support, and the
      ethical issues encountered in managing such a unit are discussed.

PMID- 1461963
TI  - Categorization of types of medical/psychiatry units based on level of acuity.
AB  - Medical/psychiatry units can be categorized by the level of acuity of medical and
      psychiatric illness. Type I units are categorized as those that primarily provide
      psychiatric care with a low level of medical acuity. Type II units include
      general medicine or medical subspecialty units that are associated with a
      psychiatric liaison service and provide low levels of psychiatric care to those
      admitted to the general medical setting. Type III and Type IV units are
      characterized by a true departure from the current ward settings and care for
      patients who have concurrent and more severe medical and psychiatric problems in
      a unified setting. Both of these units require special physical changes in the
      ward structure, additional nurse training, and coordinated physician coverage to
      function effectively.

PMID- 1461964
TI  - Quality assurance in a setting designed to care for patients with combined
      medical and psychiatric disease.
AB  - In an attempt to address the needs of patients with combined medical and
      psychiatric illness, a variety of clinical centers are now creating
      medical/psychiatry units. These units differ widely in their clinical
      capabilities, yet no adequate delineation of safeguards regarding quality of care
      currently exists. This article discusses minimum quality guidelines for four
      types of medical/psychiatry units that are based on the level of acuity of
      patients' medical and psychiatric disease.

PMID- 1461965
TI  - The chronically ill child and family stress. Family developmental perspectives on
      cystic fibrosis.
AB  - The authors take a developmental and family systems perspective in reviewing
      research on the family stressors inherent in caring for a child with a chronic
      disease. Cystic fibrosis, a genetically transmitted and life-shortening disorder,
      exemplifies a chronic disease that places demands on the family that are both
      unique and shared with other prolonged illnesses. The authors chronicle the
      interaction of the debilitating features of this disease and its demanding
      treatment regimen with family dynamics from the point of initial diagnosis to the
      terminal stages.

PMID- 1461966
TI  - An animal model for delirium.
AB  - This study describes an animal model for delirium comparing rats treated with
      either saline or atropine. The model was defined by recordings of cortical EEGs,
      maze performance, and behavioral observations. EEG slowing and increased
      amplitude, difficulty with attention and memory, sleep-wake cycle reversal, and
      changes in behavior (lack of focused direction, irritability, fluctuating levels
      of activity, excessive random sniffing) appeared consistent with signs and
      symptoms seen in human delirium. EEG abnormalities in atropine-treated rats
      returned to normal before cognitive deficits did. Motor activity monitoring did
      not reveal diminished motor activity as a confounding variable in maze
      performance.

PMID- 1461967
TI  - Physical symptoms and depressive symptoms among individuals with HIV infection.
AB  - The authors investigate the importance of physical symptoms as a correlate of
      depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts in a large (N = 881) community-based
      sample of persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus. The study overcomes
      limitations of prior research by minimizing overlap in measures of affective and
      physical symptoms, studying a more diverse population, and including correlates
      such as measures of social support, function, employment, insurance coverage, and
      cognitive impairment in the analysis. The authors' data support the notion that
      in diagnosing depression in the medically ill, concern over isolating physical
      symptoms as either "affective" or "physical" may be exaggerated.

PMID- 1461968
TI  - Bulimia nervosa. Four uncommon subtypes.
AB  - The histories and psychological profiles of more than 500 patients meeting DSM
      III-R criteria for bulimia nervosa were reviewed. A total of 310 patients
      demonstrated the most characteristic pattern of bulimia, with finger-induced
      purging and occasional diet pill, diuretic, or laxative abuse. Seventeen patients
      reported binge eating with no self-induced vomiting but with severe laxative
      abuse (i.e., greater than or equal to 50 laxatives daily). A total of 126
      patients reported bulimia with finger-induced purging and regular mild (i.e., 2-3
      daily) laxative abuse. Eight patients reported bulimia without finger-induced
      purging, diuretic, or laxative abuse but with the regular abuse of ipecac as a
      means of inducing vomiting. Four clinical subtypes of bulimia were seen. These
      were overt bulimia, which occurred in 8.9% of the sample; obsessive-ritualistic
      bulimia, which occurred in 2% of the sample; sexually evocative bulimia (Fatal
      Attraction Syndrome), which occurred in 2.9% of the sample; and masochistic
      bulimia, which occurred in 4.9% of the sample. Each of these subtypes of bulimia
      are described and defined. The characteristic psychologic profile, clinical
      features, and implications for treatment and research are discussed.

PMID- 1461969
TI  - The power of statistical studies in consultation-liaison psychiatry.
AB  - Several authors recently have proclaimed the need for empirically based research
      articles in consultation-liaison psychiatry. The authors report that although the
      proportion of empirically based studies published in Psychosomatics increased
      148% from 1979 to 1989, the power of statistical analyses and the deleterious
      effect of multiple tests were often neglected. A power analysis of empirical
      studies published in the 1989 volume year of Psychosomatics is reported, showing
      statistical power to be low for all but the most robust of effect sizes.

PMID- 1461970
TI  - Psychological modulation of the delayed type hypersensitivity skin test.
AB  - Considerable data have demonstrated that psychological states can influence the
      immune system in animals. Whether human immune function can be intentionally
      modulated by the central nervous system is unknown. This article presents data
      from two studies that sought to demonstrate intentional modulation of the immune
      system by psychological interventions. It also discusses the methodological
      complexities involved with this type of research in humans.

PMID- 1461971
TI  - Psychosis in a male pseudohermaphrodite with 17-hydroxylase deficiency.

PMID- 1461972
TI  - Zidovudine overdose in an asymptomatic HIV seropositive patient with hemophilia.

PMID- 1461973
TI  - Organic anxiety disorder secondary to hyperthyroidism in a hemodialysis patient.
      A rare occurrence.

PMID- 1461974
TI  - Elective removal of a transplanted organ.

PMID- 1461975
TI  - Impact of religious belief on psychological distress.

PMID- 1461976
TI  - Misidentification syndrome, facial misrecognition, and dysmorphic symptoms.

PMID- 1461977
TI  - Sertraline-augmented lithium therapy of organic mood syndrome.

PMID- 1461978
TI  - Sexually transmitted spreading of HIV infection: "bridging population" or
      "suckback movement"?

PMID- 1461979
TI  - [Radiology in intensive care medicine].

PMID- 1461980
TI  - [Legionnaires' disease in intensive care patients. Results of plain film thoracic
      radiography].
AB  - We reviewed the chest radiographs and clinical data of 30 patients in an
      intensive care unit with legionellosis diagnosed by significant serological
      findings (n = 18), microscopic demonstration of the organism in the transtracheal
      aspirate (n = 5) or both (n = 7) and investigated the correlation between the
      identification of Legionella and signs of pulmonary infection. In 13 patients
      legionnaires' disease was diagnosed with a high degree of confidence. Typical
      radiographic findings included distal air space disease, which initially appeared
      to be unilateral, progressing towards bilateral infiltrates. Patchy infiltration
      at the onset of disease was followed by consolidation. Small pleural effusions
      were common, while no abscess formation was observed. Characteristically,
      infiltration persisted for weeks even with clinical convalescence. These
      radiological findings correspond well with observations in otherwise healthy
      patients with legionnaire's disease. In 10 patients the etiology of pulmonary
      infiltrates could not be identified. Seven patients did not develop radiological
      or clinical signs of pneumonia; therefore, the serological/microscopic detection
      of Legionella was not interpreted as legionnaires' disease. According to the
      results of our investigation the diagnosis of legionnaires' disease requires
      radiological findings in addition to laboratory data.

PMID- 1461981
TI  - [An economic comparison between digital luminescence radiography and conventional
      film processing in intensive care medicine].
AB  - The costs of a conventional film-screen radiography daylight-system and storage
      phosphor computed radiography (Fuji AC-1) are compared. In 1990, 3841 radiologic
      procedures (mostly portable chest X-rays) were performed in 3474 patients of a
      surgical intensive care unit. With conventional film-screen radiography 6.8%
      retakes were necessary for diagnostic or technical reasons. Comparing the fixed
      and variable costs of both systems conventional film-screen radiography was more
      economic under the given conditions of the test. It is concluded that computed
      radiography in intensive care patients has definite advantages in terms of image
      quality and reproducibility, however, in order to compete successfully in the
      economic turf CR has to be implemented in a picture archiving and communication
      system (PACS).

PMID- 1461982
TI  - [The x-ray clinical picture and evaluation criteria of implantable cardioverter
      defibrillator systems].
AB  - Since the first implantation of an automatic cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in
      February 1980, the therapy of ventricular tachyarrhythmia has been changed
      drastically. The original therapy with antiarrhythmic agents has been
      increasingly replaced by the implantation of the ICD. The radiologist should be
      aware of the different types of ICDs and their normal appearance, because thorax
      radiography is often used during regular routine follow-up of the ICD system. The
      different types of ICDs, their normal radiological appearances, the indications
      and the implantation technique are discussed in the present study. The
      radiologist has to interpret the radiographs with respect to the electrodes, the
      device and changes in heart configuration. Major migration of electrodes is
      visible, but the detection of little changes in configuration is only possible
      with the help of serial radiographs. If extraperitoneal placement of the device
      is suspected, an ultrasound examination should be obtained. An important
      complication for the radiologist is a possible deactivation of some devices by
      electromagnetic interference.

PMID- 1461983
TI  - [Splenic complications in inflammatory pancreatic diseases].
AB  - Pancreatitis in combination with splenic and vascular complications is dangerous
      and potentially lethal. The most common complications are intestinal or
      intraperitoneal hemorrhage resulting directly from either vascular changes, such
      as erosion of the splenic artery, formation of a pseudoaneurysm, hemorrhage into
      a pseudocyst, or rupture of a pseudocyst with perforation into the colon, or
      complications in the spleen, such as anemic or hemorrhagic infarction, abscess or
      rupture. CT is the method of choice for the diagnosis of splenic complications of
      pancreatitis. Angiography is indicated in every severe hemorrhage in the presence
      of pancreatitis, to demonstrate vascular changes and to localize the source of
      hemorrhage. In addition, acute arterial bleeding can be successfully treated with
      catheter embolization.

PMID- 1461984
TI  - [Radiologic diagnosis of maxillary sinus aspergillosis].
AB  - Aspergillosis of the maxillary sinuses shows an increasing incidence in even
      otherwise healthy patients. Next to inhalation as the mode of infection, a dental
      root canal filling with an orosinusal fistula can be the cause. As most
      infections remain initially undetected or underestimated as common sinusitis,
      early diagnosis must be achieved. Standard X-ray of the paranasal sinuses,
      conventional tomography as well as CT scans are of major importance. Centrally
      located hyperdense opacifications are a good criterion and can be best seen in
      CT. Even when the case has not progressed too much, radical surgery combined with
      Amphotericin B therapy is still the treatment of choice since the infection may
      progress rapidly.

PMID- 1461985
TI  - [Diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis using high-resolution computed tomography].
AB  - This report deals with 24 patients with pulmonary manifestations of sarcoidosis
      who were examined by means of high-resolution computed tomography. The
      characteristic findings were rounded masses of all sizes and shapes. Other
      findings were ground glass opacities and thickened septal walls. In the advanced
      stage fibrous strands and intrapulmonary cavities could be seen. High-resolution
      tomography allows better detection of fine granulomas and better recognition of
      their anatomic relationship to the pulmonary substructures, facilitating
      differential diagnosis against other interstitial lung diseases.

PMID- 1461986
TI  - [Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas in Osler's disease].
AB  - In a retrospective study over a period of 10 years we found 16 patients with
      Osler's disease and associated pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas in the hospital
      of the University of Heidelberg and the Thoraxklinik Heidelberg-Rohrbach. We
      report about the radiologic diagnostic findings and the clinical manifestations
      of this defined pulmonary malformation. Radiologic findings are round or oval
      lobulated homogeneous masses. The size ranges from < 1 to several centimeters in
      diameter, most fistulas were located in the lower lobes. Feeding and draining
      vessels can be identified frequently on plain radiographs or tomograms/CT. Best
      procedure to recognize these malformations is the selective pulmonary arterial
      angiography.

PMID- 1461987
TI  - [An unusual space-occupying lesion as a cause of an acute abdomen. An acute
      hemorrhage from a myelolipoma].

PMID- 1461988
TI  - Insulin, insulin-like growth factors and glucose transporters: temporal patterns
      of gene expression in early murine and bovine embryos.
AB  - mRNA phenotyping by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
      method was used to compare the patterns of expression of insulin and insulin-like
      growth factor (IGF) ligand and receptor genes in preimplantation bovine embryos
      with those established previously for preimplantation murine embryos. In the
      early bovine embryo, transcripts for IGF-I, IGF-II and mRNAs encoding receptors
      for insulin, IGF-I and IGF-II were all detectable at all embryo stages from the 1
      cell zygote to the blastocyst. In the mouse, IGF-II ligand and receptor mRNAs
      were not expressed until the 2-cell stage, and the insulin and IGF-I receptor
      mRNAs were not detectable until the 8-cell stage. Since transcriptional
      activation of the embryonic genome occurs at the 8- to 16-cell stage in the
      bovine embryo and at the 2-cell stage in the murine embryo, it is suggested that
      these transcripts are products of both the maternal and embryonic genomes in the
      bovine embryo whereas in the mouse they are present only after activation of the
      embryonic genome. Transcripts for insulin were not detected in preimplantation
      embryos of either species. Colloidal-gold immunocytochemistry with antibodies
      directed against the insulin receptor, IGF-I receptor and IGF-I ligand has
      confirmed the presence of these molecules in bovine blastocysts. RT-PCR and
      indirect immunofluorescence procedures demonstrated that the glucose transporter
      (GLUT) isoform 1 is present in murine embryos from the oocyte to blastocyst stage
      whereas GLUT 2 expression begins at the 8-cell stage.

PMID- 1461989
TI  - Insulin and the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) in preimplantation
      development.

PMID- 1461990
TI  - Metabolic and developmental responses of preimplantation embryos to platelet
      activating factor (PAF).
AB  - Platelet activating factor (PAF) is an ether phospholipid produced by
      preimplantation embryos of a number of species. Production of PAF by embryos has
      been measured by detecting thrombocytopenia in a splenectomized mouse bioassay,
      platelet aggregation bioassays in vitro and a specific radioimmunoassay.
      Production is highly variable and is adversely affected by culture in vitro. It
      has, however, been correlated with morphology, development rates in vitro and the
      pregnancy potential of embryos following transfer. Investigations using PAF
      antagonists have established an essential role for PAF in early pregnancy.
      Together with studies that have shown PAF to have direct effects on embryonic
      metabolism during culture in vitro, these observations suggest that PAF acts as
      an embryonic autocoid. Hence, a major site of action for embryo-derived PAF in
      vivo is the embryo itself. Supplementation of embryo culture media with PAF had
      no effect on the rate of development in vitro of 2-cell mouse embryos through to
      the blastocyst stage. However, PAF increased cell numbers of blastocysts cultured
      from the 2-cell stage and the mitotic index of embryos at both the 8-cell and
      blastocyst stages. Supplementation of culture media with PAF has also been shown
      to increase the implantation potential of both mouse and human embryos cultured
      in vitro. In the mouse, the effect of PAF in enhancing implantation rates was
      most evident when the developmental potential of untreated embryos was
      suboptimal. These observations suggest that the production of embryo-derived PAF
      is one limiting factor in maintaining the viability of embryos cultured in vitro.

PMID- 1461991
TI  - Actions of platelet activating factor (PAF) on gametes and embryos: clinical
      aspects.
AB  - Platelet activating factor (PAF) is a phospholipid widespread in body tissues.
      Previous reviews have discussed its production by preimplantation embryos and the
      evidence implicating it as an autocrine mediator in aspects of gamete and embryo
      physiology. Human spermatozoa contain variable amounts of PAF, the amount
      contained depending on the source and method of preparation of the sperm.
      Incubation of human sperm with PAF tends to increase their forward velocity,
      especially in samples with slow motility. PAF treatment causes an increase in the
      proportion of acrosome-reacted sperm and in their ability to penetrate both zona
      free hamster ova and cervical mucus. PAF has been found in human follicular fluid
      at ovulation. A role for PAF in ovulation has been suggested, because PAF
      antagonists reduce the rate of ovulation in rats. In some studies, modest
      improvements to mouse in vitro fertilization (IVF) rates have been achieved with
      PAF supplementation of media under specific conditions. Furthermore, in the
      rabbit and mouse, PAF antagonists have been reported to inhibit fertilization in
      vivo and in vitro respectively. However, addition of PAF to human IVF medium, but
      only at the time of insemination and fertilization, had no effect on either
      fertilization or pregnancy rates. Sensitive bio- and immuno-assays have shown
      that PAF is secreted by human embryos into their fluid milieu. PAF secretion by
      these zygotes during culture, although markedly variable, has been correlated
      with the achievement of pregnancy and pregnancy outcome. Although the secretion
      of PAF by the mouse embryo decreases during culture in vitro, exogenous PAF
      enhances embryo viability during culture. Similarly, culture of human zygotes in
      PAF-supplemented medium prior to embryo transfer significantly increases the
      chance of achieving pregnancy. Both the implantation and live-birth rates are
      increased in human IVF by addition of PAF to the medium.

PMID- 1461992
TI  - Early pregnancy factor has immunosuppressive and growth factor properties.
AB  - Early pregnancy factor (EPF) was first described as a pregnancy-associated
      substance, although recent studies suggest a more general link with cell
      development. It is a product of actively dividing cells and its apparent
      functional importance to them suggests its potential as a regulator of cell
      proliferation. The recent discovery of EPF in platelets has provided a
      comparatively rich and readily available source of EPF. The purification
      procedures employed to isolate EPF from this source have also been applied to
      pregnancy serum and urine, medium conditioned by oestrous mouse ovaries
      (stimulated with prolactin and embryo-conditioned medium), medium conditioned by
      tumour cells, and serum from rats 24 h after partial hepatectomy (PH). In all
      instances, biological activity followed the same pattern throughout. Furthermore,
      the final active reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography fraction
      from all sources was bound specifically by immobilized anti-EPF monoclonal
      antibodies (MAbs), indicating that the active fractions produced from these
      diverse sources are very closely related, if not identical. Some differences have
      been observed in the behaviour of EPF in various conditions. EPF is produced by
      proliferating tumour cells and by liver cells post-PH, and passive immunization
      studies with anti-EPF MAbs have shown that these cells need EPF for survival. In
      contrast, EPF has not been detected as a product of the pre-embryo, and addition
      of anti-EPF MAbs to embryo cultures does not adversely affect development from
      the 2-cell to the blastocyst stage. Although the pre-embryo is not dependent on
      EPF for its development in vitro, neutralization of EPF in vivo by anti-EPF MAbs
      retards its development. Thus, EPF appears to play an indirect role in
      maintaining the pre-embryo. By virtue of its ability to suppress the delayed-type
      hypersensitivity reaction, it has been suggested that EPF might act as an
      immunological response modifier of the maternal immune system. Alternatively, the
      effect of EPF on lymphocytes may be to reduce the expression of all or some
      cytokines and this could inhibit development. Whether or not EPF acts more
      directly as an autocrine growth factor from around the time of implantation, when
      the embryo first begins synthesis of EPF, is not known and remains to be
      investigated.

PMID- 1461993
TI  - Identification of molecules and mechanisms involved in the 'early pregnancy
      factor' system.
AB  - For a long time the 'early pregnancy factor' has defied molecular definition.
      First described in 1976, this phenomenon is revealed in vitro by the rosette
      inhibition assay, in which a lymphocyte-modifying activity in maternal serum is
      detected within hours of fertilization; it is present for at least the first two
      thirds of pregnancy, with continued detection dependent upon the presence of a
      viable embryo or fetus. It has potential applications in early pregnancy testing,
      for monitoring fetal well-being and in the study of fertility control. Although
      the activity detected is one of a complex biological fluid (pregnancy serum) in a
      complex biological assay, this ability of pregnancy sera to cause increased
      rosette inhibition titres (RIT) has generally been ascribed to the presence of an
      'early pregnancy factor' (EPF). The common usage of the term EPF has implied the
      existence in pregnancy sera of a unique factor, which has often been assumed to
      be a novel, pregnancy-specific protein with the unique capacity to induce
      increased RITs. Recent results render this concept untenable. These studies have
      begun to identify the molecules and mechanisms which cause the expression of
      increased RITs. In particular, thioredoxin or thioredoxin-like molecules have
      been identified as involved in the mechanisms by which pregnancy sera induced
      increased RITs. As a result, a new paradigm for the EPF phenomenon is presented
      which helps to resolve many of the enigmatic properties previously ascribed to
      the so-called 'early pregnancy factor' and which may assist in the further
      understanding of the molecular mechanisms of communication between embryo and
      mother prior to implantation.

PMID- 1461994
TI  - Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF): one of a family of
      epithelial cell-derived cytokines in the preimplantation uterus.
AB  - Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is one of a number of
      lympho-haemapoietic cytokines, including CSF-1, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and
      leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) now known to be synthesized by epithelial cells
      in the murine uterus. GM-CSF synthesis is regulated primarily by the ovarian
      steroid hormone oestrogen, but is also subject to modulation by factors including
      a seminal component of seminal vesicle origin which stimulates a 20-fold increase
      in luminal fluid content at mating, and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and
      the T-lymphocyte and natural killer (NK) cell product interferon-gamma (IFN
      gamma). In the non-pregnant mouse GM-CSF synthesis peaks at oestrus. Synthesis is
      maintained at comparable or moderately higher levels during the preimplantation
      period of pregnancy and in the non-decidualized endometrium during mid gestation.
      An embryotrophic activity is suggested by studies in vitro that indicate that GM
      CSF stimulates attachment and outgrowth of blastocysts. It is postulated that GM
      CSF is of major importance to the physiology of pregnancy through its role as a
      component of a local cytokine circuit acting to recruit and regulate function of
      endometrial leukocytes, and by its action as interlocutor and important effector
      arm in embryo-maternal interactions during gestation.

PMID- 1461995
TI  - The effect of leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on embryogenesis.
AB  - Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) was originally identified as a haemopoetic
      factor that induced the differentiation of certain myeloid leukaemia cell lines.
      In contrast to this action, LIF was subsequently shown to inhibit the spontaneous
      differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells in culture, thus maintaining their
      pluripotency and ability to contribute to the germline of chimaeric mice. In the
      mouse, mRNA for LIF is expressed by the endometrial glands of the uterus
      coincident with the time of blastocyst implantation and receptors have been found
      on the preimplantation blastocyst. The signal for LIF expression appears to be of
      maternal origin, perhaps regulated by oestradiol. Recombinant LIF improves the
      development of murine and ovine blastocysts in culture although there is some
      species specificity with respect to the type of LIF that is bioactive. It is
      proposed here that LIF acts on the trophectoderm of the rapidly expanding
      blastocyst and improves the implantation rate of otherwise compromised embryos.
      Further studies in livestock should elicit therapeutic uses for LIF in embryo
      culture, embryo transfer and embryo survival in vivo.

PMID- 1461996
TI  - Effects of hypoxia on morphological and biochemical characteristics of renal
      epithelial cell and tubule cultures.
AB  - Apoptotic cell death plays an important role in the pathogenesis of renal atrophy
      in diseases of the kidney involving chronic mild ischemia. The present study
      constitutes an in vitro model of these diseases and assesses the modes of cell
      death involved after hypoxic treatment of renal epithelium. Cultures of MDCK
      cells or primary cultures of rat renal parenchymal tubules were treated in either
      a physiological or a hypoxic atmosphere. Cultures were collected before treatment
      and at 24 h and 48 h, for morphological and biochemical studies. Both apoptosis
      and necrosis were observed at significantly increased levels by 48 h of hypoxia
      in the MDCK cell cultures. DNA gel electrophoresis patterns supported these
      findings. Experiments using tubule cultures demonstrated that, during the 48 h of
      study, tubular epithelial cells in the center of the control tubule structures
      died by apoptosis, possibly as a result of mild oxygen and/or nutrient depletion.
      With added hypoxic treatment, however, the entire tubule structure became
      necrotic. Results are similar to those found during in vivo studies, thus
      providing in vitro models that may be developed further to define factors in the
      pathogenesis of some renal diseases.

PMID- 1461997
TI  - Ischemia-reperfusion induced acute renal failure in the rat is ameliorated by the
      spin-trapping agent alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN).
AB  - The spin-trapping agent alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) reduced the
      ischemia-reperfusion induced acute renal failure in the rat. Renal ischemia was
      produced in unilateral nephrectomized rats by complete occlusion of the left
      renal artery for 60 min. Perfusion of the kidney was then reestablished, and the
      rats were sacrificed 48 h later. PBN (100 mg/kg i.p.) administered 30 min prior
      to renal artery occlusion significantly reduced the increase in serum creatinine
      and urea and renal failure index, as well as the decrease in urine/plasma
      creatinine ratio and creatinine clearance compared to saline-injected ischemic
      rats. PBN injected to control rats had no effect on these parameters. These data
      support the hypothesis of an involvement of reactive free radicals in the
      pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion induced acute renal failure in the rat and
      suggest that PBN may be a useful agent for the prevention of renal ischemia
      reperfusion damage.

PMID- 1461998
TI  - Alterations of gluconeogenesis by ischemic renal injury in rats.
AB  - This study was designed to determine changes in one metabolic function,
      gluconeogenesis (GLG), after ischemic renal injury. Tubule suspensions were
      prepared by collagenase treatment of SD rat kidneys on 1, 3, and 7 days after
      left renal artery and vein occlusion for 0-90 min and incubated in Krebs
      Henseleit buffer with or without 2 mM pyruvate or malate aerobically. Glucose
      contents were assayed photometrically. On days 1 and 3 after ischemia for longer
      than 60 min, serum creatinine levels rose significantly. The tendency of increase
      of GLG was observed on days 1 and 3 after 10-60 min of ischemia. GLG increased
      significantly on day 1 after 30-min ischemia. On the other hand, GLG decreased
      significantly on day 1 after 90-min treatment. Morphologic damage was limited to
      the corticomedullary region on days 1 and 3 after ischemic times of 30 and 60
      min. These results suggest that renal GLG is stimulated to supply energy for ATP
      decrease by ischemia and for further regeneration in extraproximal segments along
      the nephron.

PMID- 1461999
TI  - Reduction of CyA nephrotoxicity by nifedipine during and after experimental in
      situ renal preservation.
AB  - In order to evaluate the role of nifedipine in the nephrotoxic effect induced by
      both ischemia and CyA, 18 healthy mongrel dogs were used. The kidneys were
      exposed and subjected to 1 h of ischemia by clamping both renal vessels. To the
      renal artery of the first group of kidneys (n = 9), 300 mL of cold Euro-Collins
      solution, in which nifedipine (Bay a 1040-10 mg) was diluted, was infused for 15
      min (nifedipine group), while 300 mL of cold Euro-Collins solution plus 10 mg of
      placebo (Bay a 1040-placebo) was infused to the renal artery of the second group
      (n = 9) of kidneys (placebo group). Venous drainage was effected through a
      plastic cannula. All animals received through a nasogastric catheter 20 mg/kg
      cyclosporine A at the beginning of the ischemia. The 1 h of ischemia was divided
      in a 15-min period of cold ischemia and 45-min of warm ischemia, at the end of
      which the clamps were removed. During the 2 h (30 min x 4) after reperfusion, 10
      mg of nifedipine and placebo was administered additionally by a peripheral vein
      to the nifedipine and the placebo group, respectively. Then the kidneys were
      removed for histological study. Urine volume and creatinine and urea clearances
      of the nifedipine group were significantly higher than the placebo group (p <
      0.001) while TxB2 levels were higher in the placebo group in all studied periods
      (p < 0.001). Urine sodium, FENa, osmolar clearance, and LDH values were
      significantly different (p < 0.01), but the urine potassium concentration was not
      different in the two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462000
TI  - Acute cyclosporin A renal dysfunction in dogs reversed by calcium antagonists and
      antiplatelet agents.
AB  - The aim of this study was to assess the effect of nifedipine and piracetam alone
      or in combination in the protection of renal function and morphology after
      cyclosporin A (CyA) administration. Thirty healthy mongrel dogs with a mean body
      weight of 15 kg were sacrificed. Six animals (group C) were given CyA 20 mg/kg
      body weight per os, while the remaining groups (8 animals each) were given
      concomitantly 20 mg nifedipine (group CN) or 4 g of piracetam (group CP), or both
      drugs in combination (group CNP). After 5 days of drug administration the animals
      were anesthetized, both kidneys were exposed, and functional tests were
      performed. Then the kidneys were removed for histological study. The mean plasma
      CyA levels in the four groups were 1765 +/- 685 ng/mL, 1300 +/- 324 ng/mL, 1116
      +/- 491 ng/mL and 1600 +/- 290 ng/mL, respectively. Urine volume, creatinine,
      urea, and osmolar clearances were significantly higher in the groups CN, CP, and
      CNP compared to the control group C (p < 0.01). Urine sodium concentration was
      significantly higher (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) in nifedipine groups than in the
      other two groups of animals, while the fractional excretion of sodium (FENa%) was
      significantly higher (p < 0.01) in all treated groups compared to controls.
      Plasma thromboxane-B2 levels were significantly reduced by each drug alone or in
      combination (p < 0.01). Morphological lesions, similar in all groups, did not
      correlate with the functional improvement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462001
TI  - Effects of desoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) plus saline drinking on gentamicin
      mediated nephropathy in rats.
AB  - Studies were performed to examine the effect of desoxycorticosterone acetate
      (DOCA) treatment plus isotonic saline drinking on gentamicin (GM)-mediated
      nephropathy in rats. GM, 40 mg/kg/day, was subcutaneously injected for 13 days
      following a 5-week treatment with water drinking or DOCA (10 mg/kg/week) plus
      saline drinking. Twenty-four hours after the last injection of GM, renal blood
      flow (RBF) and Cin decreased to approximately 69% and 52% of the control values
      in water-drinking GM-treated rats, respectively, but was well maintained in DOCA
      plus saline-drinking GM-treated animals. There was no significant difference in
      morphologic tubular injury or the renal cortical GM content between GM-treated
      groups. Saline drinking alone (1% saline, 5 weeks) lessened neither GM-induced
      reduction in GFR nor tubular damage. Body weight loss occurred following GM
      injection in the water-drinking group but not in the DOCA plus saline-drinking
      and saline-drinking-alone groups. DOCA plus saline drinking significantly
      suppressed the plasma renin activity (PRA) but saline drinking alone did not. A
      significant inverse correlation was found between PRA and Cin in water-drinking
      GM-treated and untreated rats. The data suggest that the beneficial effect of
      DOCA plus saline drinking is associated with renin-angiotensin suppression rather
      than with the renal GM content or well-maintained hydration.

PMID- 1462002
TI  - Tubular injury and regeneration in the rat kidney following acute exposure to
      gentamicin: a time-course study.
AB  - Aminoglycoside antibiotics act as nephrotoxic drugs, inducing a lysosomal
      phospholipidosis and necrotic lesions essentially in convoluted proximal tubules.
      Previous studies have demonstrated that tubular injury caused by these compounds
      elicits a process of renal tissue repair (tubular regeneration) involving an
      increase of cell turnover in tubular epithelium. The present study was performed
      in order to: (i) achieve further insight into the temporal relationship between
      aminoglycoside-induced phospholipidosis, tubular necrosis, and tubular
      regeneration; and (ii) approach the control of tubular regeneration after
      nephrotoxin-induced insult. To investigate the latter point, we examined by
      immunocytochemistry the intrarenal distribution of epidermal growth factor (EGF)
      during tubular regeneration. Five groups of female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 5)
      were treated for 4 days with gentamicin i.p. at a daily dose of 50 mg/kg
      delivered in 2 injections per day. Sham-treated animals (n = 5) received an
      equivalent amount of vehicle (0.9% NaCl) according to the same protocol. Groups
      of treated rats, and controls, were terminated 16 h (day 1), 4 days, 7 days, 14
      days, and 21 days after the end of gentamicin administration. One hour prior to
      necropsy, each animal was given an i.p. injection of 40 mg 5-bromo-2'
      deoxyuridine (BrdU) for the immunocytochemical demonstration of S-phase cells,
      using an anti-BrdU monoclonal antibody. Renal tissue was processed for light
      microscopy analysis, namely: a computer-aided morphometry of lysosomes in
      proximal tubular cells, a single-blind evaluation of gentamicin-induced tubular
      injury, the measurement of cell proliferation by immunocytochemical detection of
      BrdU-labeled nuclei, the demonstration of EGF-like immunoreactive material in
      renal tissue by using anti-rat EGF antiserum and immunogold-silver staining. As
      revealed by the morphometry of lysosomes in proximal tubular epithelium, the
      degree of gentamicin-induced phospholipidosis was maximum at day 1 (relative area
      occupied by lysosomes was increased 25-fold over mean control value) and declined
      thereafter. In contrast, tubular necrosis reached a peak 4 days after the end of
      drug administration. In proximal tubular epithelium, the stimulation of cell
      turnover associated with tubular regeneration showed a peak at day 7 (15-fold the
      mean control value). Tubular regeneration was also accompanied by mild
      interstitial hyperplasia. Three weeks after treatment with gentamicin,
      morphological evidence of drug-induced injury had disappeared due to the tissue
      repair process, except for the occasional presence of small hyperplastic foci in
      renal cortex interstitium. In both treated animals and controls, EGF
      immunoreactivity as revealed by immunocytochemical staining was associated with
      distal tubules (renal cortex and outer medulla).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1462003
TI  - Activity of serum enzymes in puromycin aminonucleoside-induced nephrotic
      syndrome.
AB  - Total serum protein, serum albumin, total urine protein excretion, and the serum
      activity of several enzymes--aldolase (ALS), cholinesterase (CHS), leucine
      aminopeptidase (LAP), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICD), aspartate aminotransferase
      (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alpha
      hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBD), creatine kinase (CK), alkaline phosphatase
      (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)--were estimated in rats with
      nephrotic syndrome (NS) at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, and 30 days after a single
      injection of puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN). It was found that: (a) total serum
      protein and serum albumin diminished on day 4 and returned to control values on
      days 20 and 30, respectively; (b) total urine protein excretion rose on day 4,
      reached a peak value on day 8, and then fell substantially but still remained
      higher than control values on day 30; (c) ALS and CHS activities increased; (d)
      LAP, ICD, and AST activities showed a biphasic pattern, first increasing and then
      decreasing; (e) ALT, LDH, HBD, CK, and ALP activities decreased; and (f) GGT
      activity remained unchanged. The differences in the profiles of the enzyme
      activities suggest their independent regulation in experimental NS induced by
      PAN.

PMID- 1462005
TI  - Thrombocytopenia in renal failure in a developing country.
AB  - A retrospective study over a 3-year period was done looking at predialysis
      platelet levels, in particular, thrombocytopenia. Seventy-five patients with
      acute renal failure (ARF) and 75 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF),
      treated at King Edward VIII Hospital, were randomly chosen. Platelet counts were
      performed on a coulter counter (S + 2) and counts of less than 150 x 10(9)/L were
      considered as thrombocytopenia. Of the 75 CRF patients, 47 were males. Eleven
      (14.7%) were thrombocytopenic with a mean platelet count of 118.3 x 10(9)/L and a
      range of 83-146 x 10(9)/L. The mean creatinine level was 1510 micrograms/L. The
      remaining nonthrombocytopenic patients had a mean platelet count of 268 x 10(9)/L
      and a mean creatinine of 1080 micrograms/L. Of the ARF patients, 39 were males.
      Twenty-two (29.3%) had thrombocytopenia with a mean platelet count of 98 x
      10(9)/L and a range of 22-147 x 10(9)/L. The mean creatinine level was 819
      micrograms/L. The remaining nonthrombocytopenic patients had a mean platelet
      count of 319 x 10(9)/L and a mean creatinine of 1020 micrograms/L. In CRF
      patients no correlation was found between thrombocytopenia and the disease
      process. Creatinine levels appear to be higher in the thrombocytopenia group than
      in the nonthrombocytopenic group. In the ARF group of patients, females had a
      higher frequency of thrombocytopenia than males. Obstetrical and gynecological
      causes and herbal ingestion were the 2 major underlying etiologies in the
      thrombocytopenic group. Thrombocytopenia appears to be a common presenting
      feature in ARF as opposed to CRF, and this may be accounted for by the underlying
      etiologies in ARF.

PMID- 1462004
TI  - IgA nephropathy: acute renal failure, acute tubular necrosis, and features of
      postinfectious acute glomerulonephritis.
AB  - From 1976 to 1987 on our Nephrological Unit, 57 patients with IgA nephropathy
      (IgAN) proven by renal biopsies were found. Three of those presented with acute
      tubular necrosis (ATN) and glomerulitis, without extrarenal predisposing cause in
      two; and showed, as prominent manifestation, a severe acute renal failure
      syndrome (ARFS), needing dialytic treatment. All three had hematuria, which was
      macroscopic in two and microscopic in one. Thus the prevalence of the association
      of glomerulitis and ATN was about 5.2%. There was complete recovery of renal
      functions in all three patients, but the usual symptomatology of IgAN. Two
      patients presented polymorphonuclear neutrophils infiltration of glomerular
      capillaries and in one of them, electron-dense deposits on the epithelial side of
      glomerular basement membrane ("humps") were observed, as well as those identified
      in the mesangial area. The glomerular polymorphonuclear neutrophils infiltration
      and endothelial cells proliferation (cases 1 and 3), the presence of "humps"
      (case 1), high antistreptolysin O (ASO) titers (cases 1 and 2), and low serum
      complement levels (case 1), suggest the possibility that antigens able to cause
      postinfectious glomerulonephritis (streptococcal or not) could induce in some
      individuals, by another immunopathogenetic route, mixed histopathological and
      clinical features of IgAN and postinfectious glomerulonephritis.

PMID- 1462007
TI  - Normal renin-aldosterone-insulin and potassium interrelationship in FMF patients
      and amyloid nephropathy.
AB  - The renin-aldosterone system and plasma insulin were studied in 19 patients with
      familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Their relationships to serum potassium level
      at rest and before and after oral glucose loading are described. An interesting
      finding is the occurrence of hyperkalemia in the absence of oliguria, in the
      advanced stages of renal failure. No differences were found in the activity of
      the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system to explain these variations in serum
      potassium found in some of the patients. The response of the renin-aldosterone
      system to glucose loading showed no abnormality, and the regular relationship
      between serum potassium, plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone, insulin, and
      plasma pH is maintained. Levels of insulin, potassium, and bicarbonate in serum
      or plasma pH were found similar in FMF patients with normal renal function with
      and without proteinuria. Further decrease in renal function due to the
      progression of the underlying disease is manifested by an increase in FENa+ and
      FEK+ and a hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, as is the case in other patients
      with chronic renal failure.

PMID- 1462006
TI  - Contrast media nephrotoxicity: comparison of diatrizoate, ioxaglate, and iohexol
      after intravenous and renal arterial administration.
AB  - In several studies in humans and animals it has been suggested that high
      osmolality and ionicity of contrast media are responsible for higher
      nephrotoxicity. To examine this suggestion, we evaluated the renal effects of
      three different contrast media--an ionic high osmolar, an ionic low osmolar, and
      a nonionic--following intravenous and renal arterial administration, in a
      population of 84 unselected, nondiabetic patients with adequate renal function.
      The results showed that the nephrotoxicity is minimal and equal for all three
      contrast media and for both routes of their administration, and it is concluded
      that in this category of patients the far higher cost of the newer low osmolar
      ionics and nonionics should be considered seriously in regard to nephrotoxicity.

PMID- 1462008
TI  - Interleukin-2 deficit in hemodialysis patients. Role of prostaglandins.
AB  - Uremic patients suffer from various immunological alterations, whose pathogenesis
      is still unknown. Here, we studied 37 hemodialysis patients in order to
      investigate the role of prostaglandins (PGs) in uremic immunological deficiency,
      specifically in relation to interleukin-2 (IL-2) synthesis. We confirmed previous
      published data on deficient response to PHA in chronic renal failure patients
      (cpm, mean +/- SEM: 15,400 +/- 2,100 in uremics vs. 29,500 +/- 3,380 in controls,
      p < 0.04) and established a correlation between this deficiency and diminished IL
      2 synthesis (r = 0.619, p < 0.05). The direct measurement of PGs in lymphocyte
      cultures showed greatly increased concentrations in the presence of uremic serum
      (US). We found that PGs synthesis can be inhibited by up to 80% if cultures are
      supplemented with indomethacin (IND--a cyclooxigenase inhibitor) or by removal of
      monocytes (producers of PGs). Both methods situated the uremic proliferative
      response within the normal range in cultures with FCS, and close to the normal
      range in cultures with US. We observed a deficit of IL-2 in hemodialysis patients
      (means +/- SD: 8,940 +/- 6,420 in uremics vs. 16,900 +/- 3,890 in controls).
      Addition of exogenous IL-2 normalized lymphocyte response even in US cultures,
      with no additive effect between PGs inhibition and exogenous IL-2 except in US
      cultures. It is suggested that IL-2 deficit of uremics depends, at least in part,
      on an increase in PGs synthesis induced by US.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462009
TI  - Performance characteristics of contemporary hemodialysis and venovenous
      hemofiltration in acute renal failure.
AB  - Modality choice in the treatment of acute renal failure (ARF) should be based on
      the match between individual patient needs and the characteristics of available
      therapies. Considerations include access, risk of bleeding, hemodynamic
      instability, and ability to remove excess volume. We prospectively studied 547
      consecutive treatments for ARF in 110 patients to determine the performance
      features of modalities based on single-vessel venous access: hemodialysis (HD)
      and venovenous hemofiltration (VVH). All treatments were performed in an 18-month
      period at a single center. Patients' ages ranged from 16 to 84 years; 26 were
      trauma cases; 69 patients expired during their hospitalization. Mean number of
      treatments per patient was 4.97. Mean treatment duration was 197 min. Heparin was
      used unless active bleeding was present or felt to be a high risk; mean dose
      required was 2628 units. Pressor therapy was in progress prior to initiation of
      260 (48%) of treatments. RESULTS: pretreatment and posttreatment mean systolic
      and diastolic BP were unchanged for the group. Forty-three (7.9%) treatments were
      terminated prematurely; of these only 27 (4.9%) were due to hypotension. No
      patient developed clinically apparent bleeding during any treatment. Contemporary
      equipment and techniques allow for provision of high-quality intermittent therapy
      for ARF, with excellent hemodynamic stability. Shorter, single-vein access
      treatments are advantageous for severely ill or injured patients who often
      undergo invasive monitoring and multiple studies or procedures.

PMID- 1462010
TI  - Influenza vaccination in chronic hemodialysis patients. The effect of zinc
      supplementation.
AB  - Since influenza increases the mortality of chronically ill patients we decided to
      study the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in hemodialysis (HD) patients.
      Nineteen HD patients aged from 20 to 60 years, on unrestricted diet and with no
      febrile episode, were studied. Blood samples were collected before the
      intramuscular injection of 0.5 mL multivalent influenza vaccine (Inflexal Berna)
      and every 2 weeks thereafter. At the end of 4th week a second vaccination was
      done and a dosage of 200 mg of zinc acetate (60 mg elemental zinc) was given
      daily to each patient for at least 4 weeks. Before vaccination the antibody
      titers to influenza virus ranged from 1:10 to 1:80 and after vaccination from
      1:20 to 1:640. Four weeks after vaccination 6/19 (31.5%), 8/19 (42%), and 10/19
      (52.5%) patients showed a fourfold or greater increase at serum antibody titers
      to antigens A/Singapore, A/Sichuan, and B/Beijing, respectively. The zinc
      supplementation after the second vaccination induced a similar increase of serum
      antibody titers to the A/Singapore but some even greater increase of the antibody
      titers to the A/Sichuan and B/Beijing. Serum immunoglobulins and complement
      components C3/C4 were not changed during this study. It is suggested that about
      50% of uremic patients respond to the influenza vaccination and that zinc
      treatment does not increase this responsiveness.

PMID- 1462011
TI  - Evaluation and first validation study on a simplified drug dosage algorithm for
      multiple organ failure patients.
AB  - As reported previously, drug concentrations during continuous hemofiltration (HF)
      and extracorporeal lung assist (ELA) follow certain rules, which can be expressed
      by a simplified algorithm for dosage adjustment: Drug sieving (S, fu) depends on
      the protein free fraction with small limitations, while the extrarenal
      elimination rate is not a constant but correlates inversely with the clinical
      state, r = -0.34, p = 0.00067, n = 96. Up to now, more than 218 cases of drug
      dosage adjustments have been performed, following the described regimen: The
      expected concentration is obtained in 79-84% already from the first estimation
      for drugs such as aminoglycosides, vancomycin, teicoplanin, beta-lactam
      antibiotics, heart glycosides, and theophylline. Skilled therapeutic drug
      monitoring (TDM) with elaborated pharmacokinetic programs fails to improve these
      results significantly. Nevertheless, sporadic TDM is essential in these patients
      according to their rapidly changing clinical states.

PMID- 1462012
TI  - Bardet-Biedl syndrome and cystinuria.
AB  - An unusual association of Bardet-Biedl syndrome with cystinuria was described in
      one patient. A 21-year-old male was admitted to hospital because of renal
      failure, severe deterioration of visual acuity, polydactyly, brachydactyly, and
      mental retardation. Laboratory investigations revealed a serum creatinine of 292
      mumol/L (3.3 mg/dL) and a GFR of 25 mL/min per 1.73 m2. Quantitative ion exchange
      chromatography demonstrated an increased urinary excretion rate of cystine,
      lysine, arginine, and ornithine. The ophthalmologic examination showed a severe
      atypical retinal dystrophy. Visual acuity was severely deteriorated and the
      patient could only count the examining physician's fingers. The patient had been
      previously evaluated at the age of 7 years for polyuria, polydipsia, and growth
      failure. His workup at that time demonstrated nephrogenic diabetes insipidus,
      normal GFR, and a urinary amino acid pattern consistent with the cystinuric
      phenotype. There was mental retardation notwithstanding the normal ophthalmologic
      examination. Intravenous pyelography showed calyceal clubbing, calyceal cysts,
      and lobulated renal outlines of the fetal type. The patient was evaluated again
      at the age of 13 years for deterioration of visual acuity and the ophthalmologic
      examination showed an atypical retinal dystrophy, with sparse pigmentation,
      central and peripheral atrophy, attenuated vessels, and marked optic disk pallor.
      To our knowledge the association of Bardet-Biedl syndrome with cystinuria has
      never been reported. It is unlikely that cystinuria may have contributed to the
      kidney damage. The possibility that mental retardation has been induced or
      aggravated by cystinuria cannot be excluded.

PMID- 1462013
TI  - Acute renal failure in severe hypothermia.
AB  - A patient who developed acute renal failure associated with severe hypothermia is
      reported. Warm peritoneal dialysis was initiated for core rewarming followed by
      intermittent hemodialysis till he entered the diuretic phase. The factors which
      led to acute renal failure in this patient included hypovolemia, hypotension, and
      acute pancreatitis.

PMID- 1462014
TI  - Thoracoscopy: the dawn of a new age!

PMID- 1462015
TI  - Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies.

PMID- 1462016
TI  - Rationalising tuberculosis contact tracing in low prevalence areas.

PMID- 1462017
TI  - Cytokines, platelet activating factor and eosinophils in asthma.
AB  - Understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma has increased considerably during the
      past few years. These advances were possible through scientific progress in three
      areas which contribute to this complex and multifaceted disease: (a) the much
      clearer understanding of eosinophil function; (b) the defining of lipid mediators
      in tissue inflammation and bronchial obstruction; and (c) the growing knowledge
      about the biological action of a new class of protein hormones, collectively
      called cytokines. In line with this, evidence has accumulated of how these
      components may interact with each other in providing the basis of inflammatory
      processes in asthma. Hence it seems appropriate to review the potential
      implications of this new information for the pathogenesis and therapy of this
      disease.

PMID- 1462018
TI  - The determinants of the severity of acute airway narrowing in asthma and COPD.

PMID- 1462019
TI  - Radiological evidence of progression of bronchiectasis.
AB  - Radiological evidence of progression of bronchiectasis was sought in a group of
      84 consecutive adult patients admitted to a tertiary unit with a particular
      interest in the disease. Methodical comparison for each patient of the earliest
      and most recent chest X-rays (n = 84), bronchograms (n = 1) and thoracic computed
      tomography (CT) scans (n = 32) was performed. Fifteen patients (18%) were
      considered to show radiological evidence of progression of bronchiectasis, 14 on
      chest X-ray, two of whom also showed progression on CT scans, and in one patient
      on bronchography alone. The likelihood of finding evidence of radiological
      progression increased the longer the interval between examinations. Serial
      radiology allows identification of patients with progression of disease and
      indicates the need to review management strategy.

PMID- 1462020
TI  - A high incidence of asthma and respiratory symptoms in 4-11 year old children.
AB  - A study assessing the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in two primary schools
      in Birmingham, U.K. was performed. A questionnaire was delivered to pupils in
      both schools after which three open days were conducted in one of the schools,
      where probable asthmatics were identified and referred to their General
      Practitioner, Chest Clinic or a school asthma clinic. In this school 49% of
      responders and 52.9% in the control school were symptomless on questionnaire: 31%
      and 20.8%, respectively, had probable asthma, falling to 20% and 15.5% if a
      positive response to the question on recent recurrent wheeze was disregarded as
      indicating asthma. Using the total population as a denominator, the overall
      asthma prevalence was 20% which is significantly higher compared to previous
      English rates. Forty-two were seen at the Chest Clinic, 14 being followed for
      more than two visits. None were on regular anti-asthma treatment initially; 12/14
      were taking prophylactic treatment on follow-up. In the two schools, 10.0% and
      14.2% of responders were 'chesty' with 'colds' having no other typical asthmatic
      symptoms: these children should be studied further. This high incidence of
      respiratory symptoms in primary school children could represent a national trend
      or just a local increase.

PMID- 1462021
TI  - Nebulized fenoterol causes greater cardiovascular and hypokalaemic effects than
      equivalent bronchodilator doses of salbutamol in asthmatics.
AB  - The pulmonary and extrapulmonary effects of two doses of nebulized fenoterol (5
      mg) salbutamol (5 mg) and ipratropium bromide (0.5 mg) at 60 min intervals were
      compared in nine patients with asthma in a double-blind, randomized study.
      Measurements of heart rate, blood pressure, electromechanical systole (QS2I), QTc
      interval, FEV1 and plasma potassium were made at baseline and at 15, 30 and 60
      min after each nebulization. Both beta-agonists caused significantly greater
      inotropic (QS2I), chronotropic (HR), electrocardiographic (QTc) and hypokalaemic
      effects than ipratropium bromide (IB), with fenoterol being more potent than
      salbutamol. Fenoterol had no greater effect on FEV1 than salbutamol although both
      were superior to IB. Only the first four subjects had two doses as originally
      intended, because the second administration of fenoterol resulted in marked
      cardiovascular effects and hypokalaemia. The observed differences in
      extrapulmonary effects between fenoterol and salbutamol provide a plausible group
      of mechanisms which may explain the increased risk of death associated with
      fenoterol in severe asthmatics.

PMID- 1462022
TI  - Chronic persistent cough: use of ipratropium bromide in undiagnosed cases
      following upper respiratory tract infection.
AB  - The clinical effects of inhaled ipratropium bromide were studied in 14 non
      smoking patients with persistent post-viral infective cough employing a
      controlled double-blind, cross-over trial. Patients were selected if they
      demonstrated no apparent underlying cause for their persistent cough after
      appropriate radiological and respiratory function tests including methacholine
      reactivity and bronchoscopic examination. Inhaled ipratropium bromide (320
      micrograms day-1) produced significantly less day and night time cough (P < 0.05)
      with overall clinical improvement in 12 cases, five of whom had total resolution
      of their cough. We conclude that ipratropium bromide is an effective treatment in
      non-smoking adults with protracted cough following clinical upper respiratory
      tract infection.

PMID- 1462023
TI  - Pulmonary tuberculoma and indications for surgery: radiographic and
      clinicopathological analysis.
AB  - Tuberculomas of the lung are one of the more common lesions presenting a solitary
      pulmonary nodule, roentgenographically. We treated 36 patients with such nodules
      and describe here the radiologic-pathologic correlations and surgical treatment.
      In 21 patients, lung cancer was suspected preoperatively, based on radiographic
      findings of an ill-defined margin, pleural indentation and spicular radiation.
      Histologically, the tuberculous granuloma proliferated in the alveolar septa of
      the surrounding normal lung, often seen as a spicular radiation resembling lung
      cancer. In eight patients, tuberculoma was suspected because of radiographic
      findings of calcification and satellite nodules, and anti-tuberculous
      chemotherapy was prescribed for a few months. As this treatment was ineffective,
      surgical resection had to be done. Postoperative complications were nil and all
      of these patients are doing well at the time of preparation of this report. Anti
      tuberculous chemotherapy was prescribed for 28 of 36 patients, postoperatively.
      We believe that surgical intervention is required for selected patients.

PMID- 1462024
TI  - Pleural effusions: is thoracoscopy a reliable investigation? A retrospective
      review.
AB  - In this paper, we consider the results of thoracoscopy in a busy thoracic unit
      where the referring physicians place their greatest emphasis upon simple standard
      investigation of pleural disease. Between 1985 and 1989 620 patients with a
      pleural effusion of unknown aetiology were referred to our thoracic medical unit.
      Initial investigations included aspiration of pleural fluid for cytology and
      culture, and blind pleural biopsy for histological examination. Recourse to
      thoracoscopy was only taken in the absence of a diagnosis or non-resolution of
      the patients symptoms and signs. Of these 620 patients only 48 (8%) remained
      without a diagnosis and were referred for thoracoscopy. Histological assessment
      of biopsies obtained at thoracoscopy revealed malignancy in 24 patients (50%) and
      benign conditions in 16 patients (33%). In eight patients (17%) no conclusive
      diagnosis was established; in this latter group, six patients continued with
      their symptoms and further invasive investigations revealed malignancy. In this
      setting where thoracoscopy was used as a last resort, the sensitivity for
      thoracoscopy was 83% and the specificity was 100% with a predictive value of a
      negative result being 25%. In conclusion, from our experience, the majority of
      pleural disease may be diagnosed using simple techniques but thoracoscopy can be
      very helpful in the more complex cases. Moreover, inconclusive histology
      following thoracoscopy is an indication for further investigation if the
      condition does not improve.

PMID- 1462025
TI  - Time of development of tuberculosis in contacts.

PMID- 1462026
TI  - High velocity projectiles making contact with an unsuspecting pharyngeal wall.

PMID- 1462027
TI  - Simplifying the assessment of patients with chronic airflow limitation for home
      nebuliser therapy.

PMID- 1462028
TI  - [Epidemiology of malaria: research priorities (excluding entomology)].

PMID- 1462029
TI  - [Coastal urban malaria in Cotonou (Republic of Benin). Entomological study].
AB  - A one year entomological was carried out the survey in the coastal town of
      Cotonou to study the urban transmission of malaria. Three representative areas of
      Cotonou were chosen. The method adopted concerned night catches on human bait and
      dissection of A. gambiae s.l. The density of the vector (A. gambiae s.l.)
      fluctuated with the level of urbanization of the areas the annual aggressivity
      rates reached 1179 in the town center, 3666 in an the outskirts and 3363 in
      intermediate areas. Mean sporozoitic index was 1.7% and corresponding annual
      inoculation rate 46. In center of the town, transmission is seasonal and short,
      with a very high level. Sporozoitic index is 12% and the corresponding
      inoculation rate is 1.02. Outside of the town, transmission is seasonal and long:
      lasting 8 months. Transmission is imperceptible in the middle of the dry season
      and at the beginning of the long rain season. Malaria transmission into urban
      areas is generally low but in coastal like zones Cotonou, the intensity may be
      higher.

PMID- 1462030
TI  - [Morbidity and severity of malaria attacks in carriers of sickle-cell trait].
AB  - The authors made a survey in a permanent high Plasmodium falciparum transmission
      area to compare frequency and severity of malaria attacks in children belonging
      to different haemoglobin types before 15 years; 291 young out-patients of the
      local infirmary and 467 outpatients of the hospital were examined. Diagnosis of
      malaria was inferred from clinical and parasitological criteria and subsequent
      evolution of the disease. Pathogenic threshold of parasitaemia was similar in all
      haemoglobin type groups of children and was about 3,000 parasite-infected red
      cells per mm3. Malaria was diagnosed more often among HbAA patients, than among
      other patients. Mortality rate in AA haemoglobin children was higher than 3%
      whereas in sickle cell trait carriers no death could be certainly attributed to
      malaria. The S gene rate was significantly weaker (p < 0.05) in subjects attacked
      by Malaria (5%) than in all other groups of children. In the endemic malaria
      areas the susceptibility of S gene carriers appears to be lesser than in AA
      haemoglobin children and could explain the paradoxically lower rate of mortality
      in this group.

PMID- 1462031
TI  - [Plasmodium falciparum or P. malariae parasitemia in carriers of sickle cell
      trait in various Benin biotypes].
AB  - The prevalence of malaria and the frequency of gene S were surveyed in two
      different regions of Benin, savana and coastal lacustrine regions. In both
      regions, prevalence of malaria was not significantly different between Hb AA
      people and Hb AS people. Gene S prevalence was not modified by age, excepted for
      Hb SS which was not found in people upper than 25 years. In holoendemic area,
      i.e. lacustrine region, means of P. falciparum parasitaemia were significantly
      lower in Hb AS children than in Hb AA children. Sickle cell trait did not reduce
      the prevalence of malaria but seemed to decrease the level of parasitaemia.

PMID- 1462032
TI  - [Urbanization and nutritional transition in sub-saharan Africa: exemplified by
      Congo and Senegal].
AB  - To evaluate the impact of urban life-style on nutritional status, body mass index
      (BMI) of mothers and indices of malnutrition of preschool children were
      calculated in four representative surveys in two rural areas and two main cities
      of Western and Central Africa. Mean BMIs were similar in both urban settings and
      were significantly higher than those of rural mothers. Distributions shifted
      significantly towards values over 25 kgs/m2 in towns, although, values lower than
      18.5 were still present. Therefore chronic energy deficiency, largely prevalent
      in many rural areas of Africa, remains important in cities, where obesity also
      appears to have become a public health concern. Wasting was rare in young urban
      children, but the prevalence of stunting, although lower, indicates the
      persistence of nutritional deficiencies. This situation of nutritional transition
      generates a double burden to already limited health finances and requires an
      appropriate educational policy.

PMID- 1462033
TI  - [Anemia at delivery in Lome (Togo): prevalence, risk factors and consequences in
      newborn infants].
AB  - A prevalence study was carried out on 125 mothers and their newborns in Lome
      (Togo): at delivery 48% of the mothers and 30% of the newborns were anaemic
      according to WHO criteria. Iron deficiency was the major determinant of anaemia
      in the mothers, as three out of four showed at least one biochemical indicator of
      iron deficiency. Folate deficiency was detected in 68% of the mothers but did not
      influence their haematological parameters. Severe iron deficiency in the mothers
      (serum iron < 7 mumol/l) was associated with a decrease in serum iron in the
      newborns, thus demonstrating an impaired iron transfer to the fetus. Folate
      supplementation of the mothers during pregnancy improved their newborn's folate
      status. A systematic ferro-folic supplementation is needed during pregnancy and
      would be beneficial to both mothers and newborns. Supplements could be given to
      women at prenatal care clinics. Attendance in these centers by 98% of pregnant
      women in Lome allows us to anticipate a good coverage for such an intervention.

PMID- 1462034
TI  - [Man-water contacts and urinary schistosomiasis in a Mauritanian village].
AB  - For the period September to December 1985, 1226 water contacts were recorded
      during 8 days of direct observation. Various activities were analysed in order to
      determine their responsibility in transmission. An index of exposure, allowing
      for duration of contact, body surface exposed and infectiousness of the water was
      calculated for each contact. Domestic contacts, primarily female, represented 62%
      of the observations but only 15% of total exposure. Conversely, contacts for
      recreational purposes mainly involved young boys and accounted for 14% of the
      observations and 70% of total exposure. Between 6 and 20 years of age the mean
      index of exposure by contact was higher in males than in females. Changing water
      contact behavior seems to be an unrealistic means of preventing transmission in
      the community studied. The most appropriate strategy of control would appear to
      be selective treatment of heavily infected individuals.

PMID- 1462035
TI  - [STATCAN:a telemetric information system of mortality and incidence of cancer in
      France].

PMID- 1462036
TI  - [Polyneuropathies associated with lymphoplasmacytic dyscrasias: the clinical and
      instrumental characteristics of a 38-patient case load].
AB  - A varying percentage from 40 to 60% of patients having lymphoplasmacytic
      dyscrasias with a monoclonal component shows a clinical or subclinical
      polyneuropathy. From a different viewpoint, a monoclonal gammopathy has been
      detected in 10% of patients effected by chronic idiopathic polyneuropathy. A case
      study of 38 patients with lymphoplasmacytic dyscrasia subjected to clinical,
      immunohematological and electrophysiological examination revealed a high
      prevalence of polyneuropathy (84%), mainly axonal (72%) and often subclinical.
      The neuropathy was evenly distributed between patients having malignant and
      benign lymphoplasmacytic dyscrasias. No statistically significant correlation was
      found between the presence of neuropathy and the main clinical and
      immunohematological data. This supports the concept that the pathogenesis of
      polyneuropathy associated with lymphoplasmacytic dyscrasias may be
      multifactorial. Nor can it be ruled out that the paraprotein may in fact be
      secondary to the polyneuropathy or sometimes a simple coincidence.

PMID- 1462037
TI  - [The soluble IL-2 receptor in malignant hemopathies].
AB  - The increase in the serum levels of the IL-2 receptors is due to its release both
      in vivo and in vitro from activated cells or neoplastic cells expressing it
      constitutively. The diagnostic, prognostic and physiopathologic significance of
      the sIL-2R was investigated by testing the serum of 271 haemopathic patients in
      various stages of the disease. In HCL the elevated sIL-2R level has a diagnostic
      value. In HD the sIL-2R level appears to be directly correlated with the extent
      of the disease and is equally important in the follow up of patients with HCL,
      NHL, HD, AL and MDS, where the serum level of the soluble receptor is usually
      associated with the biological and clinical activity of the disease. Unlike other
      B lymphoproliferations, patients with Multiple Myeloma on average show only
      slightly elevated levels of soluble receptor with no significant differences
      related to the stage or evolution. As for the chronic myeloproliferative
      disorders, we found only slightly elevated values in ET and PV, with frankly
      pathological values in CML during a blastic crisis or in the accelerated phase
      and in MFI during the clinically active phase of the disease.

PMID- 1462038
TI  - [Ebstein's tricuspid anomaly and Down's syndrome. A clinical case report].
AB  - The authors describe a case of a 55 years old white man with Down's syndrome in
      whom an Ebstein's anomaly of tricuspid valve was casually diagnosed. The
      peculiarity of this association was searched in the literature, trying to
      explain, at the same time, the poor symptomatology. The role of echocardiography
      in the diagnosis of Ebstein's anomaly is emphasized.

PMID- 1462040
TI  - [Totally implantable systems for long-term chemotherapeutic treatment].
AB  - The authors report their own experience with completely implantable systems for
      the long-term chemotherapeutic treatment, compared with a review of modern
      literature. The experience even if low demonstrates a good methodology in
      reducing the number of complications associated with the use of percutaneous
      catheters.

PMID- 1462039
TI  - [Horton's bitemporal arteritis. A case report].
AB  - The authors report a case of Horton's arteritis in a woman (aged 76) presented
      some peculiarities. The arteritis simultaneously interested both superficial
      temporal arteries; in a second time caused a bilateral "claudicatio
      masticationis"; induced a worsening of extrapyramidal symptoms from which the
      patient had been suffering for many years, due to the possible involvement also
      of the endocranial arteries. The histologic picture on a biopsy of the left
      temporal artery was typical of the Horton's disease, but without giant cells; the
      authors suppose that this is due to a therapy with FANS administered before
      carrying out the biopsy. The patient was treated with cortisone per os at a low
      dosage, causing a quick regression of the symptoms and a normalization of the
      laboratory tests. Also this result differs from what most authors have observed:
      they maintain that Horton's arteritis has become rather resistant to the
      cortisone therapy and required high dosage for a very long time. The authors
      maintain that precocity of diagnosis and an immediate treatment can influence in
      a significant way the course of the disease.

PMID- 1462041
TI  - [Recent findings on the pathogenesis and therapy of anemia in chronic kidney
      failure].
AB  - Recent studies showed that the blood BFU-E, when subtracted from the uremic
      milieu, normally responds to the stimulating factor produced by T lymphocytes.
      The serum of uremic patients inhibits the in vitro growth of normal BFU-E,
      however, the inhibition is almost completely reversed by hemodialysis. These data
      allow to understand why the therapy with erythropoietin relieves the anemia of
      CRF. Uremic T lymphocytes fail to stimulate the BFU-E growth. Normal T
      lymphocytes are inhibited by uremic serum and the hemodialysis does not correct
      the defect. Lymphopenia, decreased number of both T4 and T8 lymphocytes and low
      T4/T8 ratio were found in 50% of patients. Cimetidine was still able to increase
      the burst-stimulating activity of uremic T lymphocytes through inhibition of the
      suppressor T subset. In conclusion, one can say that in CRF T8 lymphocytes are
      normal and that uremic toxins decrease both number and function of T4
      lymphocytes. The deficiency of BPA appears to significantly contribute to the
      pathogenesis of the anemia of CRF. The experience from our and other Institutions
      shows the effectiveness of the recombinant human erythropoietin in relieving the
      anemia of CRF, notwithstanding the hematological milieu is highly modified by
      uremia.

PMID- 1462042
TI  - [Glanzmann's thrombasthenia: a rare example of an integrin deficit].
AB  - Glanzmann's thrombasthenia is an autosomal recessive life-long bleeding disorder,
      originated from a quantitative or qualitative defect of the major platelet
      membrane receptor: the GPIIb/IIIa complex. The GPIIb/IIIa complex is a calcium
      dependent heterodimer, belonging to the integrin superfamily. The complex of
      activated platelets can bind fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, fibronectin and
      vitronectin, which are proteins playing an important role in platelet adhesion
      and aggregation. Thrombasthenic platelets are deficient in GPIIb, GPIIIa and
      GPIIb/IIIa complex; however, platelets from few thrombasthenic patients content
      near-normal amounts of functionally abnormal complex. The GPIIb/IIIa quantitative
      or functional defect leads to defective platelet hemostatic plug formation.
      Hemorrhagic symptoms consist of purpura, gingival hemorrhage, menorrhagia and
      epistaxis. Some cases of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia have been characterized at
      the molecular genetic level. Molecular abnormalities include: GPIIb or GPIIIa
      partial gene deletion, GPIIIa gene insertion, a point mutation resulting in an
      amino acid substitution within the GPIIIa molecule. In spite of the contemporary
      reduction of both GPIIb and GPIIIa in most cases of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia,
      it appears that a molecular abnormality affecting only one of the glycoprotein
      genes may result in a thrombasthenic phenotype.

PMID- 1462043
TI  - [The endothelial cell: a cell structurally simple but functionally very complex].
AB  - Vascular endothelium is morphologically similar to a simple squamous epithelium
      that lines the internal surface of vessels. These cells, even if structurally
      simple, are functionally very complex. They regulate vascular tone by producing
      vasodilators such as prostacyclin and nitric oxide and vasoconstrictors such as
      endothelin. In addition, endothelial cells express activators and inhibitors of
      coagulation, fibrinolysis and platelet aggregation. Alterations of the functional
      equilibrium of endothelial cells might be related to the development of many
      cardiovascular diseases.

PMID- 1462044
TI  - Exposure to ozone and erythrocyte osmotic resistance in the rat.
AB  - In order to learn the biological effect of photochemical oxidants on living
      bodies, we exposed newborn and adult rats, of both sexes, to ozone at a
      concentration of 0.25 ppm, which can be encountered in an urban environment, and
      then measured the osmotic resistance of their erythrocytes. The results of
      experiments using newborn rats indicated a positive increase in the osmotic
      resistance of erythrocytes in whole blood following ozone exposure for 4 weeks.
      An increase in the osmotic resistance of erythrocytes in the top part obtained by
      centrifugation was observed following ozone exposure for 12 weeks. This tendency
      was especially evident among male rats. On the other hand, no increase in the
      osmotic resistance of erythrocytes was recognized in the adult animals which had
      been exposed to the same concentration of ozone for 18 months.

PMID- 1462045
TI  - In vivo glycogen and lipid synthesis by various tissues from normal and metformin
      treated KK mice.
AB  - The incorporation of [14C] U-glucose into glycogen by liver, kidney and skeletal
      muscle and that into total lipid by adipose tissue was studied in noninsulin
      dependent genetically diabetic KK mice treated either with metformin (50 mg/kg)
      or water for 10 weeks. Results show that glycogen synthesis was increased in the
      skeletal muscle from metformin-treated mice. Liver and kidney glycogen synthesis
      was not affected by metformin. Glucose incorporation was significantly increased
      into lipid in metformin-treated mice. Insulin administration stimulated lipid
      synthesis in adipose tissue, but had no effect on muscle glycogen synthesis in
      metformin-treated mice. These data suggest that chronic metformin treatment
      potentiates the endogenous insulin action on glucose in skeletal muscle and
      adipose tissue, and thus confirm our previous results of increased glycogen
      synthesis by skeletal muscle in metformin-treated KK mice.

PMID- 1462046
TI  - Pseudocholinesterase in alloxan-diabetic rats.
AB  - Pseudocholinesterase (PChE) activity in plasma, liver, pancreas and adipose
      tissue of alloxan-diabetic rats has been determined. 48 hours after the induction
      of diabetes an increase of PChE activity in plasma and a decrease in liver and
      adipose tissue was observed. After that, the activity in plasma remained at the
      same level, in the liver it slowly rose to the control values and in adipose
      tissue significantly increased beyond the control values. Significant changes of
      PChE activity in the pancreas were not noticed. Female rats had higher PChE
      activity in plasma and liver than the male, but in the pancreas and adipose
      tissue there were no sex differences. On the basis of our results it seems
      possible to propose that PChE is synthesized also in adipose tissue, but the
      synthesis is regulated by different mechanisms than those in the liver.

PMID- 1462047
TI  - Synergism of cyclosporin A and phospholipase inhibitors in protection against
      lethal injury to rat hepatocytes from oxidant chemicals.
AB  - Cyclosporin A and phospholipase inhibitors block the oxidant-induced
      mitochondrial permeability transition. Here, protection by these agents against
      cytotoxicity of oxidant chemicals was evaluated in rat hepatocytes. The
      combination of cyclosporin A and a phospholipase inhibitor (trifluoperazine,
      mepacrine, or dibucaine), but neither alone, substantially protected against
      lethal injury from 0.5 mM iodoacetate but had little effect against iodoacetate
      plus 2.5 mM KCN. Against 100 microM t-butylhydroperoxide, cyclosporin A and
      trifluoperazine protected only if fructose was present. Cyclosporin A plus
      phospholipase inhibition protected slightly against 2.5 mM cystamine, but
      actually increased lethal injury after 100 microM menadione. These effects are
      consistent with an oxidant-induced mitochondrial permeability transition that
      accelerates cell killing after iodoacetate and t-butylhydroperoxide.

PMID- 1462048
TI  - Membrane-associated phospholipase A2 stimulates DNA synthesis in two murine
      fibroblasts.
AB  - The effect of human membrane-associated phospholipase A2 (M-PLA2) on DNA
      synthesis in fibroblasts was examined in order to clarify its biological
      function. Human M-PLA2 added exogenously to the fibroblast cell lines Swiss 3T3
      and BALB/3T3 was found to augment their DNA synthesis. This stimulation of DNA
      synthesis was not affected by treatment with indomethacin. Our results suggest
      that human M-PLA2 itself has a mitogenic effect on fibroblasts independent of
      arachidonate products such as prostaglandins.

PMID- 1462049
TI  - Cardiovascular actions of NG-methyl-L-arginine are abolished in a canine shock
      model using high-dose endotoxin.
AB  - This study was designed to test the hypothesis that endotoxin-induced hypotension
      is caused, in part, by increased endothelial synthesis of nitric oxide and that
      inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMA) would
      reverse the cardiovascular actions of endotoxin. A high dose of endotoxin (1.5
      mg/kg, i.v.) was administered by rapid intravenous infusion to pentobarbital
      anesthetized dogs. Endotoxin caused rapid and profound reductions in cardiac
      output and mean arterial pressure; systemic vascular resistance, however, was
      unaltered except for a transient increase. Coronary and mesenteric blood flows
      were reduced. NMA (30 mg/kg, i.v.) given 60 min after endotoxin administration,
      had no significant effect on cardiac function or systemic vascular function
      except for a transient increase in cardiac output and decrease in systemic
      vascular resistance. This same dose of NMA given to dogs not receiving endotoxin
      caused systemic vasoconstriction, increased arterial pressure and decreased
      cardiac output. These results suggest that increased nitric oxide production is
      not a primary factor causing endotoxin-induced hypotension and that nitric oxide
      does not modulate vascular tone following administration of high doses of
      endotoxin.

PMID- 1462050
TI  - The "anesthetic" effect of alcohols and alkanes in Caenorhabditis elegans (C.e.).
AB  - In order to help validate the free-living roundworm, C.e., as a simple model to
      study the mechanism of general anesthesia, we demonstrated that homologous series
      of alcohols and alkanes produced a reversible "anesthetic" effect in these worms
      as in other animals. Also, as in other animals, the potency of these compounds
      was directly related to their respective lipid solubilities within each series.
      The alcohols were much more potent than the alkanes even though the latter were
      much more lipid soluble than the alcohols. The cut-off point (a decrease followed
      by a loss of activity) for these compounds occurred at about C9. In mice, the
      alcohols had an effect analogous to that seen in C.e. but the alkanes were
      inactive after intraperitoneal injection.

PMID- 1462051
TI  - Oxidative metabolism of flunarizine in rat liver microsomes.
AB  - The oxidative metabolism of flunarizine [1-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)-methyl]-4-(3
      phenyl-2-propenyl)piperazine, FZ] to 1-[bis-(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]piperazine (M
      1), 1-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-4-[3-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2- propenyl]piperazine
      (M-2) and 4,4'-difluorobenzophenone (M-3) has been studied in liver microsomes of
      Wistar and Dark Agouti (DA) rats. Kinetic analysis demonstrated a sex difference
      (male > female) in the formation of M-1 and M-3, but not in that of M-2 in Wistar
      rats. Comparison of the kinetic data of FZ with those of cinnarizine [1
      (diphenylmethyl)-4-(3-phenyl-2-propenyl)piperazine, CZ], a prototypic and
      unfluorinated drug (Kariya et al., Biochem. Pharmacol., in press) revealed that
      the formation clearances (Clfs) estimated by Vmax/km for the ring hydroxylated
      metabolites of FZ and CZ are higher than those for the N-dealkylated metabolites
      of these drugs in female rats. Furthermore, the introduction of two fluorine
      atoms to CZ (forming FZ) decreased the Clfs for most of metabolites, especially
      for the N-dealkylated product, M-3. The formation of the metabolites from FZ was
      suppressed by carbon monoxide and SKF 525-A, and only the ring hydroxylation
      forming M-2 was significantly lower in female DA than in female Wistar rats.
      These results suggest that the microsomal oxidation of FZ is mediated by
      cytochrome P450, and that a cytochrome P450 isozyme(s) belonging to the CYP2D
      subfamily is involved in the ring hydroxylation of FZ forming M-2.

PMID- 1462052
TI  - A simplified gelatin tolerance test to evaluate gastric and pancreatic
      proteolytic activities.
AB  - To evaluate gastric, pancreatic and intestinal proteolytic activities, a gelatin
      tolerance test was standardized, and its clinical significance was evaluated in
      16 normal subjects and 25 patients who had undergone gastrectomy or had a
      pancreatic disease. A 15g gelatin dose given to normal subjects resulted in an
      increase of serum-free and peptide-bound hydroxyproline (HYP), with the peak
      values being observed at 1 hr and 2 hr, respectively. In patients who had
      malabsorption, both peak levels of serum-free and peptide-bound HYP were
      decreased, and the peak value of free HYP was more frequently lower than that of
      peptide-bound HYP. The determination of serum free HYP after oral administration
      og gelatin was significantly correlated with BT-PABA test. These results indicate
      that usefulness of determining serum-free HYP for the gelatin tolerance test as a
      simple reliable test for digestion and absorption of proteins.

PMID- 1462053
TI  - Reimbursement of biotherapy: present status, future directions--perspectives of
      the third-party payer.
AB  - The mission of insurers is to provide defined financial support for health care
      therapies deemed appropriate for use in specific clinical situations. In the
      current health care financial crisis, insurers are faced with keeping costs to a
      minimum and premiums reasonable. While insurers wish to finance the best
      available treatment, it is not always fiscally responsible or realistic to fund
      care provided in investigational therapies. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield
      Association (BCBSA), as the national coordinating body for local Blue Cross and
      Blue Shield Plans, assesses the status of new technologies, such as the
      biotherapy of cancer, through its Technology Evaluation and Coverage (TEC)
      Program and its Medical Necessity Program. Fundamental to both programs is
      whether a technology is effective: Does it improve health outcomes? And, if it
      does, what are its appropriate conditions of use? New technologies demonstrated
      by clinical research to improve health outcomes and found consistent with other
      related criteria are considered eligible for coverage by the TEC Program. New
      technologies not yet established as effective by clinical research and approved
      through the TEC Program are considered investigational. Most Blue Cross and Blue
      Shield Plan contracts exclude coverage for such investigational technologies.
      Most plan contracts also have medical necessity clauses, whereby only medically
      necessary technology uses are covered. Central to this is clinical research on
      appropriate medical conditions of use--the focus of the Medical Necessity
      Program. Valid conclusions on whether a technology works and where and when it
      works the best presuppose well-designed scientific studies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462054
TI  - Patterns of self-care needs and interventions related to biologic response
      modifier therapy: fatigue as a model.
AB  - Many patients receiving biologic response modifier (BRM) therapy experience
      fatigue as a significant and, at times, dose-limiting side effect. For this
      reason, a multiinstitutional pilot study was designed to collect data about the
      needs and self-care interventions of patients who had undergone at least one
      prior treatment with a BRM and had experienced fatigue as a symptom. Information
      was also obtained on the extent to which the needs and self-care interventions
      identified by patients compared with those perceived by their family members and
      nurses. Of the 16 patients who participated in the study, seven were being
      treated with interleukin-2 (IL-2), eight with interferon alfa (IFN-alpha), and
      one with tumor necrosis factor (TNF). The study found no significant correlation
      between the degree or duration of fatigue and the BRM or dosage administered. Not
      surprisingly, patient and family member responses correlated fairly well.
      However, in several parameters, including the degree and duration of fatigue,
      nurses' perceptions did not correlate at all with those of the patient. While 46%
      of nurse responses matched those of the patient as to useful self-care
      interventions, only 17% of nurses accurately identified factors or events that
      patients perceived as worsening fatigue. Further, there was no correlation among
      patient, family member, and nurse responses on interventions that could be used
      by others to help the patient cope with fatigue. The overall results of this
      pilot study indicate that nurses need to be more attuned to assessing fatigue as
      a side effect of BRM therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462055
TI  - Symptom assessment and management of outpatients receiving biotherapy: the
      application of a symptom report form.
AB  - Patients treated with high doses of biologic response modifiers (BRMs) often
      require hospitalization for monitoring and management of toxicities. However,
      with careful symptom assessment and management, patients can be treated safely
      with low-dose, long-term BRM regimens in an outpatient setting. Quantifiable,
      consistent, and accurate symptom assessment sets the groundwork for regular,
      effective symptom management. A symptom report form or nursing care flow sheet is
      a helpful daily assessment tool for recording and quantifying the most common
      side effects experienced by patients receiving BRMs. Parameters can be
      established and converted to a numerical code to provide a consistent guide for
      evaluating a patient's toxicities during treatment. Additional space on the
      report form allows for narrative comments about symptoms or concerns not
      addressed elsewhere. To be safe and effective, outpatient therapy of this kind
      requires excellent patient education and compliance, with easy access to a health
      care professional when necessary.

PMID- 1462056
TI  - Reimbursement of biotherapy: present status, future directions--perspectives of
      the hospital-based oncology nurse.
AB  - Cancer is a set of diseases that affects one in four Americans and which is too
      often fatal. For many types of cancer, there is no fully satisfactory treatment.
      Therefore, investigational therapy provided in a formal, peer-reviewed clinical
      trial can present the best available treatment for patients with life-threatening
      malignancies. At a time when clinical cancer research is at a particularly
      promising point and multiple new biologics are on the horizon, the traditional
      partnership of the federal government, the pharmaceutical industry, private
      institutions, and insurers is threatened. The issue of increasing concern is the
      impact of changes in third-party reimbursement policy on cancer clinical
      investigation. Although its incidence, magnitude, and geographic distribution
      have not been specifically defined, this issue is generating serious concern and
      intense national debate. The growing denials of patient-care costs related to
      clinical trials serve to threaten patient access to potentially efficacious
      therapy. The implications of this reimbursement issue are tremendous for both
      clinical investigation and patient care. The refusal to pay for patient-care
      costs related to investigational therapy may adversely influence clinical trial
      design and will certainly affect the speed with which new therapies are
      developed. When insurers refuse to cover these clinical costs, only affluent
      individuals have access to the most promising treatments. Nursing actions can
      positively affect the reimbursement debate. Nurses must develop cost-efficient
      plans of care and the means to evaluate their effectiveness. Educating patients
      about and assisting them with reimbursement issues maximizes their prospects for
      receiving appropriate investigational therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462057
TI  - Reimbursement of biotherapy: present status, future directions--perspectives of
      the office-based oncology nurse.
AB  - Economic forces are stimulating cost sensitivity and the need for clinical
      efficiency in medicine. The federal government has led the way with Medicare
      reform, and cost-containment efforts are evident in all health care payer
      programs. More and more, the office-based oncology nurse is involved in
      reimbursement issues as both a colleague and a patient advocate. Creative
      solutions to the challenges of reimbursement require knowledge of the issues,
      familiarity with patient-specific therapies, and recognition of unique cost and
      billing issues. Biologic agents frequently used in office-based oncology practice
      are easy targets for reimbursement denials because of regulations against their
      investigational status, "off-label" use, method of administration, and relatively
      high cost. Such agents include interferon, erythropoietin (EPO), granulocyte and
      granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors (G-CSF and GM-CSF,
      respectively), and interleukin-2 (IL-2). Reimbursement decisions are often
      characterized by inconsistency and uncertainty, and rulings are based not only on
      law, but also on interpretation. The need for clarification often opens a window
      for negotiation for the complex reimbursement issues associated with biotherapy.
      In addition to thoroughly determining cost and accurately assigning appropriate
      Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, office-based oncology nurses can
      pursue various strategies to help their patients and practices obtain
      reimbursement of biotherapy. Chief among these is educating third-party payers on
      the appropriateness and necessity of newer treatment modalities. In individual
      cases, documentation of the scientific data, clinical outcomes, and cost benefits
      supporting a treatment decision almost always gains reimbursement.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462058
TI  - [Pulmonary embolism: which diagnostic approach?].
AB  - The recent literature dealing with the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is
      reviewed. Clinical signs, electrocardiogram and arterial blood gases analysis are
      not very helpful whereas a normal level of blood D-dimers makes the diagnosis of
      pulmonary embolism very unlikely. Lung scanning must be interpreted carefully in
      parallel with chest radiography. It is most useful if the pattern is either
      normal or of high probability. All intermediate scans are inconclusive and need a
      pulmonary arteriogram. Another option in patients with good cardiorespiratory
      reserve is the use of repeated non-invasive investigations of the lower limbs.

PMID- 1462059
TI  - [Creation of a planned autologous transfusion unit in a hospital distinct from a
      transfusion center].
AB  - Autologous blood predonation now widely used for programmed surgery has been
      recently regulated by a law from january 9 1992. It establishes that the
      procedure must be performed under the responsibility of an accredited blood
      transfusion center. This work discloses that the establishment of an
      autotransfusion unit in a hospital endowed with an active surgical program is
      feasible, the major objective being improvement of the quality of life of elderly
      patients with invalidating diseases. We report the one year experience of a
      collaboration between the Braine-l'Alleud-Waterloo hospital and the Red Cross
      Erasme-Brabant Wallon blood transfusion center. Eighty patients enrolled in
      programmed surgery consisting mostly in orthopedic surgery have given 187 units
      of packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma. Sixty two patients (83%) were
      transfused solely with autologous blood. Tolerance was excellent as only 4 slight
      malaise episodes were observed. Our study also indicates that programmed
      predonation should be proposed mainly to patients for whom the prescribed blood
      is effectively transfused. Creation of such autotransfusion units in hospitals
      distinct from a blood transfusion center is feasible with the deep collaboration
      between physicians in charge of the patients, the hospital laboratory and the
      blood transfusion center.

PMID- 1462061
TI  - [Deafness and vertigo. Otospongiosis of the cochlea and auditory plate].

PMID- 1462060
TI  - [Persistent and recurrent hyperparathyroidism following parathyroidectomy].
AB  - In a series of 416 parathyroidectomies for primary or secondary
      hyperparathyroidism, 19 were reoperations for persistence (17 cases) on
      recurrence (2 cases) of the disease. (1) Preoperative localisation studies were
      useless in half of the cases. (2) In re-explorations, 72% only of parathyroid
      glands were discovered, 46% of them in ectopic locations. In reoperations for
      primary hyperparathyroidism, 56% of cases had more than one pathological gland.
      (3) Long term results have been less satisfactory after re-explorations than
      after the first operations.

PMID- 1462062
TI  - [Diffuse pulmonary hemorrhagic diseases: clinical and diagnostic approach].

PMID- 1462063
TI  - [Adaptation of the cardio-respiratory system of the elderly during physical
      training].

PMID- 1462064
TI  - [Therapeutic alternatives in Crohn disease and in ulcero-hemorrhagic
      rectocolitis: current findings].

PMID- 1462065
TI  - [Left cor triatriatum. Literature review. Apropos of a case report].

PMID- 1462066
TI  - [Diffuse nodular or regenerative hyperplasia of the liver responsible for portal
      hypertension. Apropos of a case and literature review].

PMID- 1462067
TI  - [What is your diagnosis? Acute intermittent porphyria].

PMID- 1462068
TI  - [Current aspects of neurosyphilis: therapy-resistant cases with high-dosage
      penicillin?].
AB  - The occurrence of atypical and abortive cases of neurosyphilis in the last two
      decades has tended to make this rather infrequent, treatable condition difficult
      to diagnose; therefore it is advisable to perform large-scale serologic tests
      among neurologic and psychiatric patients. The diagnosis is confirmed by the
      detection of treponema antibodies in the central nervous system (TPHA index, ITpA
      index). When serologic test results are positive, secondary diagnostic criteria
      are provided by pathologic CSF findings (elevated cell count, humoral immune
      reaction). The course of the disease and the CSF parameters are favourably
      influenced by appropriate therapy. Over the last two decades, there has been an
      increase in the number of reports of cases refractory to the low-dose penicillin
      treatment recommended by the WHO and the CDC until two years ago. There have also
      been reports of treponema resistance in association with this therapeutic
      strategy and furthermore of failure to detect CSF concentrations of penicillin
      capable of eradicating the spirochetes. Counter measures have been taken
      worldwide in the last few years in the form of high-dose penicillin therapy
      (approx. 20 million IU/day for 2 to 3 weeks), in the hope that this would
      eliminate the resistance. We observed two patients treated with 18 and 24 million
      IU penicillin for 10 and 14 days respectively. The pathogens remained resistant,
      and the disease continued to progress. In one of these cases, immunologic
      processes might have been predominantly responsible for the resistance to the
      treatment, while in the other resistant pathogens can be assumed to be
      responsible. Repeated courses of treatment with higher doses of penicillin and/or
      with ceftriaxone finally succeeded.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462069
TI  - [Localization of level of lesions in internuclear ophthalmoplegia through
      assessment of masseter and blink reflex].
AB  - The masseter and blink reflexes were investigated in 100 patients with
      internuclear ophthalmoplegia due to multiple sclerosis (58 patients) or lacunar
      brainstem infarction (42 patients). In unilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia,
      38 of 60 patients (63.3%) had masseter reflex abnormalities, two patients (3.3%)
      showed changes of the blink reflex R1 component, and 13 patients (21.7%) combined
      alterations of the masseter reflex and the blink reflex R1 component. 46 (86.8%)
      of these 53 patients with electrophysiological abnormalities had unilateral
      changes, which were ipsilateral to the medial longitudinal fasciculus lesion in
      42 patients (91.3%). In bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia, 24 of 40 patients
      (60.0%) had abnormalities of the masseter reflex, two (5.0%) showed changes of
      the blink reflex R1, and nine (22.5%) combined alterations of the masseter reflex
      and the blink reflex R1 component. 20 (57.1%) of these 35 patients with
      electrophysiological abnormalities had bilateral changes. Thus, masseter reflex
      abnormalities indicating midbrain lesions were seen in 63.3% and 60.0%,
      respectively, of unilateral and bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia. Blink
      reflex R1 component changes with or without impairment of the masseter reflex
      indicating rostral pontine to midpontine lesions occurred in 25.0% and 27.5%,
      respectively. These figures correspond to the results of postmortem examinations
      and to theoretical considerations based on the length of the medial longitudinal
      fasciculus.

PMID- 1462070
TI  - [Romantic origins of electrophysiology].
AB  - Research on static electricity and its effects on the human body date back to the
      invention of the electrizing or Wimshurst machine and the Leyden jar of 1743 and
      1746. Such experiments often served as social pastimes, but they yielded many
      publications on medical aspects of static electricity. Attempts to explain the
      'life force' of the vitalists and the old concept of the active principle of the
      nervous system, the 'spiritus animales', as electrical phenomena were
      unsuccessful because of the skeptic comments of leading experimental scientists
      such as Albrecht von Haller. When Mesmer reinvented 'animal magnetism' in 1776 as
      a fashionable term for treatment by suggestion, he appropriated theoretical,
      technical and social methods from the established ways of the experiments on
      static electricity. Therefore, the scientific character of Luigi Galvani's
      investigations was already compromised by his term 'animal electricity' when he
      published his famous 'Commentarius' in 1781. Volta in Pavia turned against
      Galvani, proving that galvanic currents are produced by metals alone, and
      rejecting 'animal electricity'. Volta's doctrine prevailed over Galvani's school
      after Volta's breakthrough with his pile, or battery, until Galvani's ideas were
      rehabilitated by Nobili, who in 1828 measured the 'frog current' with his
      galvanometer. This led to a flurry of bizarre experiments on rows of half
      dismembered animals and severed parts of human cadavers. Johannes Muller in
      Berlin, who, with his students, established new principles of biology and
      neurology, asked Du Bois-Reymond to study these experiments. Du Bois-Reymond
      found that measurements of muscle currents in intact animals were more useful,
      and he compared them with his own observations on electric fishes.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462071
TI  - [Motor evoked potentials. Physiology, indications, safety aspects].
AB  - The motor cortex and the proximal part of the peripheral nervous system can be
      stimulated by a rapidly changing magnetic field. The procedure is simple,
      painless and safe. It allows to quantify the function of the most rapidly
      conducting corticospinal fibers. It is possible to detect subclinical lesions.
      The use of this technique for the study of lesions of the proximal parts of the
      peripheral nervous system is as of yet largely experimental.

PMID- 1462072
TI  - [Gait analysis--a prerequisite for general movement analysis].
AB  - Our system for analysis of gait is a combined visualisation of angular velocities
      in any joint with dynamic measurements of pressure at the sole while walking in a
      natural surrounding. Infrared reflectors are attached to chosen parts of the
      body. Their position in space is sampled over time and transferred to an easily
      manageable personal computer that visualizes motion in progression as angular
      velocities. Pressure at the sole is measured by pressure sensors. The magnitude
      of force is expressed as calibrated circular areas following the dynamic course
      of gait. The system is accurate and easily operated. The time necessary for
      measurements and evaluation of data as well as the costs render an application in
      daily clinical work acceptable.

PMID- 1462073
TI  - [Epilepsy in middle and older age].
AB  - Single fits and epileptic illness are more frequent in advanced age; their
      occurrence reaches the same frequency as in the neonatal period. Their origin and
      the possibilities of treatment are tightly connected to the process of ageing, a
      fact that requires special consideration. The main reasons for new epileptic
      attacks in the group of age 65 or more are structural changes, i.e. ischemic
      infarctions, tumors and atrophic involution. For certain patients, the use of
      antiepileptic drugs may be limited by unavoidable side effects. Complete cure of
      the attacks in advanced age is rare, but with a well selected treatment
      sufficient control is often possible.

PMID- 1462074
TI  - [The practitioner facing the patient with chronic pain or how to preserve the
      free spirit in a relational impasse].

PMID- 1462075
TI  - [Traumatology of the shoulder].

PMID- 1462076
TI  - [History of medicine--what relevance and which common boundaries today?].

PMID- 1462077
TI  - [A true ambulatory service].

PMID- 1462078
TI  - [Physiopathology of obesity].

PMID- 1462079
TI  - [Epidemiology of obesity].

PMID- 1462080
TI  - [Food diaries in the follow-up of obese patients].

PMID- 1462081
TI  - [Obesity: from anamnesis to choice of treatment].

PMID- 1462082
TI  - [Follow-up of patients after gastroplasty].

PMID- 1462083
TI  - [Role of psychiatry in a multi-disciplinary practice for patients with excess
      weight].

PMID- 1462084
TI  - [Weight loss in obese patients. Importance of assessment of body composition].

PMID- 1462085
TI  - [Eating disorders: what kind of management problems for internists and
      psychiatrists?].

PMID- 1462086
TI  - [TIL (tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes): a new therapeutic approach for
      metastasizing kidney cancer].

PMID- 1462087
TI  - [Breast cancer: a practitioner's viewpoint].

PMID- 1462088
TI  - [Conservative surgical treatment of breast cancer: a conventional method].

PMID- 1462089
TI  - [Breast cancer: impact of treatment and diagnosis].

PMID- 1462090
TI  - [Diagnostic approach in an asthmatic patient].

PMID- 1462091
TI  - [Inactive gastroduodenal ulcers (asymptomatic). Of what clinical importance are
      they? Which treatment?].

PMID- 1462092
TI  - [Colonic Crohn's disease].

PMID- 1462093
TI  - [From hospital geriatrician to practitioner: collaboration and complementary
      aspects. Results of a survey among practitioners in the Geneva canton].

PMID- 1462094
TI  - [Therapeutic impasse in persistent illness].

PMID- 1462095
TI  - Genetics of transitional cell carcinoma.
AB  - Several models of genetic events which define the origin and progression of human
      tumors have been elucidated over the last several years. These models suggest
      that the study of tumors at the level of both the chromosome and the gene can be
      useful in elucidating molecular events in tumor progression and in determining
      the biologic behavior of individual tumors. The genetics of transitional cell
      carcinomas are reviewed with emphasis on potential mechanisms of tumorigenicity
      and the clinical utility of genetic markers.

PMID- 1462096
TI  - Biology of metastasis: clinical implications.
AB  - Bladder tumor has a spectrum of neoplastic activity. Some behave in a benign
      fashion, and others are highly aggressive and lead rapidly to metastatic disease
      and death. The processes of metastasis can be described as a sequence of
      interrelated steps. The processes involve 1) tumor cell adhesion to basement
      membranes, 2) the degradation of basement membranes, and 3) the migration of
      tumor cells through the destroyed stroma into blood and lymphatic vessels. Each
      of these processes involves the expression of molecular factors unique to tumor
      cells. With better understanding of the molecular basis of these factors, novel
      prognostic and potential therapeutic agents can be generated and applied to the
      clinical arena.

PMID- 1462098
TI  - Experimental models of histogenesis and tumor cell heterogeneity in bladder
      cancer.
AB  - The histogenetic relationships between the subtypes of bladder cancer are not
      known. Each common pattern (transitional cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and
      squamous carcinoma) can exist independently, although they may coexist in primary
      or metastatic bladder cancers, and tumors that are predominantly composed of
      transitional cell carcinoma may have regions of squamous or glandular
      differentiation. Morphologically identical tumors exhibit marked variation in
      their natural history and response to treatment. To study these aspects of the
      biology of human bladder cancer, a series of cell lines have been established and
      characterized as xenografts and in tissue culture. These studies have shown a
      likely common origin for transitional cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and
      squamous carcinoma of the bladder. Morphologically similar xenografts and cell
      lines in vitro have shown a broad range of functional heterogeneity, including
      ultrastructure, tumor marker production, ploidy, cell surface characteristics,
      and response to chemotherapy. These are useful models of heterogeneity of
      response to treatment with established and new cytotoxic agents.

PMID- 1462097
TI  - Critical review of the models to study the biologic progression of bladder
      cancer.
AB  - For transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, clinical data indicate that
      invasive, metastatic tumors can arise through at least two different progression
      pathways. The majority of invasive, metastatic bladder neoplasms clinically
      present de novo, i.e., the patients have no history of malignant bladder disease.
      This implies that the highly malignant tumor cells either arise de novo or have
      undergone a rapid progression. Alternatively, a considerable fraction of patients
      with superficial bladder cancer process to invasive disease after a history of
      relatively benign superficial TCC. The molecular and cell biological basis of
      tumor progression is only poorly understood. Clearly, a better understanding of
      this progress could have profound clinical implications, since patients with
      superficial TCC with a high risk for progression would have to be treated more
      aggressively. We discuss the problems that are associated with tumor biological
      studies on early steps in the progression of TCC, especially from a "model system
      point of view."

PMID- 1462099
TI  - Growth factors and bladder cancer: clinical implications of the interactions
      between growth factors and their urothelial receptors.
AB  - Growth factors (GFs) are a class of proteins that bind to specific cell surface
      receptors (GF-Rs), inducing a variety of responses including mitosis, in
      susceptible target cells. Abnormal production, expression, and/or function of GFs
      or GF-Rs can result in unregulated growth, the hallmark of malignant
      transformation. This chapter reviews those GFs/GF-Rs that have been linked to
      human bladder cancer. It focuses particularly on one [epidermal growth factor
      (EGF), which is excreted in urine in high concentrations] and its possible role
      in the development and growth of urothelial malignancy. Potential clinical
      applications in diagnosis, staging, prevention, and treatment are discussed.

PMID- 1462101
TI  - Flow cytometry for detection and evaluation of urinary bladder carcinoma.
AB  - Flow Cytometry (FCM) DNA assays of bladder irrigation specimens are now
      recognized as a clinically useful and reliable means of detecting and monitoring
      carcinoma of the bladder. This technique, which identifies carcinoma by the
      presence of an aneuploid population of cells, can be carried out on specimens
      obtained in an outpatient or hospital setting and is easily performed in any
      medium-sized laboratory. It is most sensitive to superficial and high grade
      tumors. Overall, nearly 80% of superficial carcinomas of bladder will have
      positive flow cytometry, comparing very favorably with conventional cytology.
      Until now, the widest clinical application of FCM has been in monitoring the
      conservative treatment of stage 0-1 flat and papillary carcinomas, but newly
      developed dual parameter measurements are capable of quantifying proliferative
      activity, oncogene expression, growth factor receptors, and other cellular
      features that may better characterize the biologic potential of these tumors and
      can be expected to aid in the selection and timing of treatment.

PMID- 1462100
TI  - Cell surface differentiation antigens of normal urothelium and bladder tumors.
AB  - Bladder cancer ranks as the third most common malignancy among men and tenth
      among women. Superficial transitional cell carcinomas (stage Ta, Tis, and T1)
      account for approximately 70-80% of these tumors, while the remaining 20-30% are
      invasive (T2, T3, and T4). Approximately 70% of superficial tumors will have one
      or more recurrences, with 25% of these expressing a higher histologic grade and
      10-15% subsequently developing invasive and/or metastatic disease. The detection
      and prediction of tumor recurrence and/or tumor progression is crucially
      important if timely and appropriate therapy is to be instituted. Conventional
      histopathologic evaluation usually provides definitive diagnosis upon which
      therapeutic planning is based. However, at present there are no more reliable
      morphologic indicator to identify which individuals will have recurrent disease
      or who will progress to invasive and/or metastatic cancer. Recent advances in
      tumor biology have identified markers that are good candidates for clinical
      applications in early tumor detection, as well as for the stratification of
      patients with like-appearing morphological lesions with different biological and
      clinical behavior. The ultimate goal is to develop predictive assays that would
      segregate patients with high probability of failures versus patients who would be
      cured by localized modes of therapy.

PMID- 1462102
TI  - Expression of blood group antigens in bladder cancer: current concepts.
AB  - Blood group antigens are a group of carbohydrate structures bound to membrane
      lipids or proteins of erythrocytes and certain epithelial tissues including
      urothelium. The Lewis antigens are structures that are genetically and
      biochemically related to the ABO blood group. The ABO and Lewis blood group
      systems are differentially expressed in the normal urothelium of "secretors"
      versus "nonsector" individuals. The normal urothelium of "secretors" is rich ABH,
      Leb, and Ley antigens while the urothelium of "nonsecretors" does not express
      these antigens. Therefore, deletion of ABH antigens, commonly noted in TCC, can
      only be reliably ascertained in "secretor" individuals. Neoexpression of the
      Lewis X antigen (which is absent in normal urothelium) is noted in over 85% of
      TCC regardless of tumor stage and grade. Immunocytological detection of the Lewis
      X antigen on exfoliated bladder epithelial cells enhances the detection of
      urothelial tumor cells, particularly from low grade and low stage neoplasms.

PMID- 1462103
TI  - Chemotherapy for urothelial tract malignancies: breaking the deadlock.
AB  - Chemotherapy treatments for urothelial tract tumors have improved to the point
      that some patients are enjoying long-term disease-free survival. Moreover, with
      currently available agents and combinations, and with our increased application
      of clinical and biologic prognostic factors, we are refining our ability to
      select appropriate therapies for individual patients. We have learned that once
      the decision is made to use combination chemotherapy, adequate doses should be
      used. This can be facilitated by the coadministration of hematopoeitic growth
      factors. Recently completed phase II trials have confirmed that higher doses and
      dose rates may increase response proportions of and in particular, the proportion
      of complete responses. The finding that granulocyte colony stimulating factor
      enhances the sensitivity of tumor cells to methotrexate in vitro and to other
      agents studied against urothelial tumors implanted in nude mice implies an
      expanded role for these compounds. However, because non-hematologic toxicities
      are still important, it is unlikely that simple escalation of all components a
      four drug regimen such as of M-VAC (cisplatin, methotrexate, vinblastine, and
      doxorubicin) will have a significant impact on survival. In addition, as more is
      learned about the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationships of the active
      agents, it appears that better schedules can be designed to improve the
      therapeutic index of the compounds. Ultimately we will be able to determine drug
      sensitivities, both at the start of therapy and as it evolves during treatment,
      that will allow a better selection of a particular chemotherapeutic regimen. For
      example, mdr1 induction appears to play a significant role in the therapy for
      treatment-resistant tumors. The availability of a number of active salvage
      regimens that are not constrained by this mechanism hints that changes in drug
      sequencing and drug scheduling may provide a significant improvement in outcome.
      While established combination chemotherapy regimens should be considered standard
      therapy in appropriately selected patients, promising strategies and new agents
      need to be investigated if we are to "break the deadlock" that has appeared in
      the treatment of urothelial tumors. These investigations can be performed safely
      in a well-controlled fashion to enable the identification of new regimens and to
      compare promising strategies with appropriate control populations in randomized
      trials.

PMID- 1462104
TI  - [Quantification of number and function of mononuclear cells. Fc gamma receptors
      in children with protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM)].
AB  - Several kind of cells T membrane receptors have been recognized, between them
      immunoglobulins heavy chains receptors mu and gamma, they act in the antigen
      recognition, they are subpopulations-cells T surface-matched too. In the
      malnutrition protein-calorie (MPC) immunologic alterations were observed, in both
      cellular immune and humoral immune, for example: The immunoglobulins are
      increased and cellular response towards antigens is decreased. This failure can
      be due to dysfunction in the lymphocyte T-subpopulation. So we research if there
      are different number, percent and function of lymphocytes T subpopulations
      between children with MPC and health infant. We observed an increment of
      lymphocytes T gamma in number and percent in children with MPC compared with
      health infant (p < 0.05) However, the lymphocytes T and subpopulation gamma
      response to phytohemagglutinin was bad. These findings are concordant with the
      literature about increased in lymphocyte T gamma of children with MPC.
      Additionally we observed a dysfunction in this subpopulation.

PMID- 1462105
TI  - [Immunoglobulin A and tobacco antigens in patients with pneumopathy].
AB  - Smoking is an addiction related with several cardiopulmonary diseases. Some
      compounds derived from tobacco combustion can be induce a response of secretory
      immune system, because antigen penetration is by respiratory tract epithelium,
      with IgA antibodies synthesis and immune complex (IC) generation. Seric anti
      tobacco antibodies were showed in 44% of healthy smokers and 71% of non-smoker.
      In 56% of smokers and 38% at non smokers were found IC with 0.19 and 0.15 mg/ml
      of IgA respectively. Molecular weight of IC constituents were between 12 and 80
      Kd. Sera were without free tobacco antigen. Pneumopathic patients had anti
      tobacco antibodies in 100% of them and positive IC in 72% of smokers and 65% of
      non-smokers. IgA concentration in CI was 1.41 and 1.26 mg/ml respectively.
      Molecular weight of IC compounds were from 14 to 90 Kd. Free tobacco antigen in
      serum was observed in 44% of smokers and 41% of non-smokers pneumopathic
      patients. We concluded that patients with lung disease had higher frequency of
      anti-tobacco antibodies and IC, further IgA concentration in IC was higher and
      free tobacco antigen present in pneumopathic sera comparing with healthy people.
      The presence of circulating IC with IgA antibodies and the potential inductive
      influence of tobacco products in these entities, should provide an energetic
      stimulus to search the role of tobacco antigens in pulmonary inflammatory
      diseases.

PMID- 1462106
TI  - [20 years of the National Council of Clinical Immunology and Allergy].

PMID- 1462107
TI  - [Symptomatic dermatographism and HLA antigens].
AB  - This research reports the unique case of manifestation of symptomatic
      dermographism which includes all of its twenty five members of the family.
      Probing a genetic transmission autosomal dominant manner and taking into account
      the highly probable role of HLA in this illness. The symptomatic dermographism
      correspond to a group of physical familiar urticarias with symptoms appearing in
      early childhood and evolving throughout adulthood with seldom periods of
      remission. Due to the fact that all patients were affected, it was not possible
      to realize a typification of HLA antigens with persons not affected, to establish
      a relationship with the data obtained. However, results show a significant
      association of haplotypes; HLA A2 (78.95), B16 (68.4%), A1 (47.3%), and B5
      (42.5%) among the most important. This is the first research that reports the
      analysis of HLA within the physical familial urticarias.

PMID- 1462109
TI  - [Ex, post, scoop, spot].

PMID- 1462108
TI  - [Sensitization to the acarus Blomia tropicalis in patients with respiratory
      allergy].
AB  - House dust mites are important environmental allergens in Southern Brazil. Some
      allergic patients do not respond to specific immunotherapy for Dermatophagoides
      ssp. For that reason we decided to evaluate the skin test sensitivity to tropical
      mites, Blomia tropicalis and Blomia kulagini. Patients with perennial allergic
      rhinitis and/or asthma were selected for tests. (N = 135). The wheals cross
      diameter were recorded. The frequency of strong reactions were 82% for B.
      tropicalis, 69% for D. pteronyssinus, 56% for D. farinae and 46% for B. kulagini.
      Wheals were larger with Dermatophagoides sp in 30 patients (22%); similar in 61
      patients (45%) and larger with-Blomia sp in 44 patients (33%). Three patients
      reacted only to Blomia. This study verifies that sensitization to Blomia is
      common in patients with respiratory allergy. In addition it contains unique
      allergens that could account for treatment failures with Dermatophagoides in some
      cases.

PMID- 1462110
TI  - [3 years of "new developments" in pharmacotherapy. An update which is also a
      proposal for participative experimentation].
AB  - The analysis of the contents of key national and international drug bulletins
      provides a comprehensive overview of what has been produced worldwide in the
      field of pharmacology and therapeutics over the last few years after the last
      publication in R d 1). The work presented, tries to avoid the risk of being a
      purely descriptive listing of true and false "new" information, and may be seen
      as an "experiment of information transfer": the available data are presented and
      summarised from various complementary points of view, to suggest also a
      methodology of permanent education, for which instruments are also proposed.
      Further, the text is tentatively proposed as an experiment of communication
      between nurses and pharmacists, to stimulate their dialogue and interaction both
      with respect to the use of drug literature and to the evaluation of daily needs
      of information in routine hospital practice.

PMID- 1462111
TI  - [The methods and instruments of nursing research: an analysis of some articles].
AB  - Three research papers published in three of the most respected foreign nursing
      journals are presented and discussed. The main aim of the contribution, which
      opens a new arena for discussion in the Rivista dell'Infermiere is to critically
      appraise published research works focusing on their strengths and weaknesses in
      the hypothesis formulation, methods and instruments used, discussion of results.
      A critical analysis should enable nurses to start to learn to read and eventually
      write a research protocol, possibly avoiding some common mistakes.

PMID- 1462113
TI  - [A window on the past: nurses and education].
AB  - The history and the state of the art of the debate on nursing education in the
      first two decades of 20th century is presented. Improvement of nursing education
      was a strongly felt need from nurses and physicians: feminist movements were
      strongly in favour of a limited role of physicians in nursing education. Nurses
      trade unions (Leghe degli infermieri) supported an improvement of nurses'
      education as a mean to protect patients rights for a better care. Only a minority
      of physicians opposed the introduction of the English model of nursing care, with
      the matron who had the power of organizing the hospital. After the advent of
      fascism the law of 1929 on institution of Scuole Convitto was approved, and this
      law hindered the development of a reform of nursing education up to the
      Seventies.

PMID- 1462112
TI  - [Nursing diagnoses].
AB  - The history and the evolution of nursing diagnoses in the USA are briefly
      presented, together with the main controversies and objections against their
      widespread introduction and use in Europe. Though the creation of a nursing
      diagnoses taxonomy might be a very exacting but culturally stimulating task, one
      of the main problems to overcome is the identification of a theoretical
      framework. Clinical and theoretical research is needed to validate in our culture
      the process of formulation and the practical implications of nursing diagnoses
      identified in the States.

PMID- 1462114
TI  - [Thrombosis].

PMID- 1462115
TI  - [Inhalation therapy and oxygen therapy].

PMID- 1462116
TI  - Teleological coherence: exploring the dimensions of the immune system.

PMID- 1462117
TI  - Anergy and suppression in B-cell responses.
AB  - Two main ideas have been put forward to explain the unexpectedly low anti-hapten
      antibody titres which can result from pre-priming a mouse with carrier before
      hapten-carrier immunization. The first involves the interaction of a network of
      idiotype-specific suppressor T cells, the second instead arguing for the role of
      intrinsic B-cell anergy. This paper proposes that the data available can equally
      be interpreted as reflecting the suboptimal interaction between T and B cells at
      differing stages of maturity, provided that memory B cells can be divided into
      two subsets. Further, it is suggested that these considerations must be taken
      into account in the analysis of B-cell anergy in receptor transgenic mice.

PMID- 1462118
TI  - Anti-Golgi antibody in rheumatoid arthritis patients recognizes a novel antigen
      of 79 kDa (doublet) by western blot.
AB  - We have detected cytoplasmic anti-Golgi antibody (AGA) during a routine
      immunofluorescence test for detecting autoantibodies. Two sera from patients with
      rheumatoid arthritis (RA) reacted to the Golgi complex by an indirect
      immunofluorescence technique on HEp-2 cells. Localization of AGA in the Golgi
      complex was confirmed by double-staining with antibodies to beta-COP. The effect
      of monensin on the integrity and morphology of the Golgi complex was also
      studied. To confirm the presence of AGA further, we performed immuno-electron
      microscopy. Both sera reacted with cytoplasmic antigen located in the Golgi
      complex of various animal tissues. Furthermore, by using the Western blot
      technique, both sera reacted to a relative molecular weight (MW) of 79 kDa
      (doublet) Golgi antigen purified from rat liver. To our knowledge, this study may
      be the first to identify the relative MW of Golgi antigen by the Western blot
      method. Identification of this antibody could provide better understanding of
      protein synthesis and secretion. The presence of AGA in RA patients further
      substantiates the diversified nature of autoantibody production seen in this
      disease.

PMID- 1462119
TI  - Studies of antibody to herpes simplex virus Fc gamma-binding protein gE in
      patients with rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and normal
      controls.
AB  - IgG antibody to gE, the Fc gamma-binding herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) viral
      glycoprotein, was studied in 49 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 43 normal
      controls. Antibody to gD, another important HSV-1 antigen, was assayed in
      parallel. No difference between RA patients and normal controls was found in
      levels of anti-gE antibody measured by reactivity of IgG F(ab')2 fragments
      reacting with gE coated to ELISA plates. No difference in anti-gD antibody was
      recorded between normals and patients with RA. Levels of IgG anti-IgE antibody
      did not correlate with quantitative elevations of serum rheumatoid factor (RF) in
      RA patients. When IgG anti-gE and anti-gD were assayed in 20 patients with
      juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and 22 children controls, no significant
      differences were noted. However, when individual RFs from patients with RA were
      tested for reactivity against a panel of affinity-isolated F(ab')2 antibodies to
      gE, some evidence for individual autospecificity was obtained. Four of 20
      monoclonal IgM RFs produced from RA patients' B cells showed marked elevations of
      reactivity with some RA patients' F(ab')2 antibodies to gE. All four of the
      monoclonal RFs showing this specificity were derived from RA synovial tissue B
      cells. These findings may provide support for the concept that some RFs in
      patients with RA show individual specificity for internal image determinants of
      IgG antibodies to viral Fc gamma-binding proteins.

PMID- 1462120
TI  - Induction of cellular immune reactions by A36, an antigen complex of
      Mycobacterium paratuberculosis: comparison of A36 and johnin components.
AB  - Paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) is a chronic enteritis syndrome of ruminants,
      which is due to infection by Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. Cutaneous testing
      with proteins extracted from a mycobacterial culture fluid (johnin-PPD) is
      currently used to evaluate the cellular immune status. We have compared the
      components of johnin-PPD with those of the A36 complex, a thermostable
      macromolecular antigen (TMA) present in the cytoplasm and associated with the
      cell wall of M. paratuberculosis. The presence in the johnin-PPD of fifteen A36
      components has been shown by Western blotting. Moreover, monoclonal antibodies,
      which bind respectively to the 65-kDa M. leprae heat shock protein, the 28-kDa M.
      leprae superoxide dismutase, and M. tuberculosis lipoarabinomannan, recognized
      components of the johnin-PPD. The ability of A36 to trigger delayed
      hypersensitivity reactions in sensitized rabbits, and to induce the proliferation
      of T lymphocytes from the lymph nodes of A36-sensitized mice, matched that of
      johnin-PPD. The homology levels of T epitopes between A36 and the TMA complexes
      of M. phlei, M. bovis, M. tuberculosis and M. avium were estimated, in a
      lymphoproliferation assay, to be 51, 52, 59 and 94% respectively. A strong cross
      reactivity of A36 with an M. leprae sonicate was also observed by cutaneous
      testing. The A36 components within the 45.2-26.8-kDa and the 21.6-19.8-kDa ranges
      were proved to induce the proliferation of T lymphocytes from sensitized mice.
      This work supports the possible use of the A36 complex, and of some of its
      components, for cutaneous tests and lymphocyte proliferation assays, in order to
      monitor cellular immunity in Johne's disease.

PMID- 1462121
TI  - Identification of immunodominant antigens during infection with Mycobacterium
      tuberculosis.
AB  - T lymphocytes isolated from mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis
      response vigorously to proteins secreted by the bacilli and these antigens may be
      of importance in the generation of protective immunity against the disease. In
      this study, short-term culture filtrate (ST-CF), which constitutes a complex
      mixture of secreted proteins, was fractionated by a modified preparative SDS-PAGE
      technique. The ability of each fraction to be recognized by T cells isolated from
      infected mice was evaluated by quantifying proliferation and IFN-gamma production
      in cell cultures. Two molecular mass regions 4-11 and 26-35 kDa were found to
      possess marked stimulatory properties. Four potent single antigens were mapped
      within the stimulatory regions. These purified antigens stimulated T cells
      isolated from mice at the height of a tuberculous infection to produce large
      amounts of IFN-gamma. Two of these stimulatory antigens belonged to the antigen
      85 complex.

PMID- 1462122
TI  - Cytokine production and responsiveness of fetal T-cell receptor V gamma 3
      thymocytes.
AB  - The aim of this study was to examine the cytokine production and cytokine
      responsiveness of the first T-cell receptor (TcR) positive cells that appear in
      the murine fetal thymus, namely TcR V gamma 3 cells. It is shown that IL-2
      cultured fetal TcR V gamma 3 thymocytes were capable of producing IL-3, GM-CSF,
      TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma upon TcR triggering. IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6 could not
      be detected. With regard to cytokine responsiveness, TcR V gamma 3 cells
      proliferated to a high extent when high concentrations of rIL-2 were added. rIL-4
      or rIL-7 alone, but not rIL-1 alone, were capable of inducing a modest
      proliferation of TcR V gamma 3 thymocytes. When combined with low concentrations
      of IL-2, a synergistic effect could be observed with IL-1, IL-4 or IL-7. It is
      shown that the synergistic effect of IL-2 with IL-4 was mainly due to induction
      of IL-2 receptor expression. The synergistic effect of IL-2 and IL-7 on the
      proliferation of TcR V gamma 3 cells could only be partially inhibited by anti-IL
      2 receptor MoAb, and this antibody had no effect on the IL-2 + IL-1 cultures.
      These observations can explain the extensive proliferation of TcR V gamma 3
      thymocytes during fetal life and they indicate that TcR V gamma 3 thymocytes have
      the potential to play a functional role during fetal thymus development.

PMID- 1462123
TI  - Spontaneous in vivo gene transcription of interleukin-2, interleukin-3,
      interleukin-4, interleukin-6, interferon-gamma, interleukin-2 receptor (CD25) and
      proto-oncogene c-myc by rheumatoid synovial T lymphocytes.
AB  - Rheumatoid synovial T lymphocytes were investigated for the presence of mRNA for
      the cytokines interleukin-2, -3, -4, -6, interferon-gamma, the interleukin-2
      receptor (CD25) and the proto-oncogene c-myc. The isolated RNAs were analysed by
      dot blot and Northern blot hybridization. Our results show that synovial T
      lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n = 12) had spontaneous in
      vivo gene transcription of interleukin-2 (93%), interleukin-4 (67%), interleukin
      6 (92%), interleukin-2 receptor (92%) and the proto-oncogene c-myc (67%). Only a
      few of the RA patients had synovial T cells with increased expression of mRNA for
      interleukin-3 (25%) and interferon-gamma (25%). The amounts of mRNA for the
      various cytokines and activation molecules produced by the rheumatoid synovial T
      lymphocytes were in most instances comparable to those of normal peripheral blood
      T lymphocytes activated in vitro by the mitogen phytohaemagglutinin. The data
      thus indicate that the synovial T lymphocytes are activated in vivo in the
      majority of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

PMID- 1462124
TI  - A sensitive simple ELISA for quantitation of sensitizing IgG from dissolved
      erythrocytes.
AB  - A simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay has been developed for quantitating
      the rabbit IgG present on the surface of sensitized red blood cells. A suitable
      cell lysis was carried out by an alkaline buffer, which dissolved the
      erythrocytes without forming any precipitate and without disruption of IgG, and
      facilitated the dissociation of the immune complexes, i.e. the erythrocyte-anti
      erythrocyte rabbit IgG. In this alkaline buffer of pH 11.4 the IgG adsorbed
      directly into wells of microtitration plates unprecoated with anti-rabbit IgG.
      The detection was performed with alkaline phosphatase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit
      IgG and p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate. Constructing a calibration curve
      from rabbit IgG made possible the calculation of molecules of IgG bound per red
      cell. The method was sensitive for the detection of fewer than 500 bound IgG
      molecules per erythrocyte.

PMID- 1462125
TI  - Phagocytosis following translocation of the neutrophil b-cytochrome from the
      specific granule to the plasma membrane is associated with an increased leakage
      of reactive oxygen species.
AB  - The effect of neutrophil b-cytochrome translocation on the respiratory burst
      activation generated during phagocytosis of yeast particles was investigated.
      Secretion of neutrophil specific granules was induced by the calcium ionophore
      ionomycin prior to phagocytosis. The secretory process is associated with a
      translocation from the specific granules to the plasma membrane of the
      respiratory burst b-cytochrome. Respiratory burst activity was measured as
      release of hydrogen peroxide in the absence of azide (extracellular leakage) and
      in the presence of azide (total production). The subcellular localization of the
      b-cytochrome was found to affect the extracellular release of hydrogen peroxide
      in that a plasma membrane localization was associated with a significantly
      increased release during phagocytosis. It should be pointed out, however, that
      most of the hydrogen peroxide, both in control and in ionomycin-treated cells, is
      produced intracellularly, probably in the phagosomes.

PMID- 1462126
TI  - T-cell receptor identification of an oligodendrocyte-specific autoreactive
      cytotoxic T-cell clone without self restriction.
AB  - In addition to myelin basic protein (MBP) and proteolipid protein (PLP),
      oligodendrocyte (Od) membrane autoantigens, such as the glycoprotein M2/MOG,
      could participate in the pathogenesis of autoimmune demyelinating diseases of the
      central nervous system (CNS), such as experimental allergic encephalomyelitis
      (EAE) or multiple sclerosis (MS). We have described an Od-specific autoreactive
      and cytotoxic T-cell clone, named C2, which recognized M2/MOG without
      conventional MHC restriction. In order to analyse the Od/C2 interaction, we
      determined the alpha/beta T-cell receptor (TCR) variable region usages and
      structures of C2. Monoclonal antibody stainings of C2 and nucleotide sequences
      show that the alpha chain is composed of a V alpha 5 and a J alpha identical to J
      alpha 18BBM142 gene segments, and that the TCR beta chain is composed of V beta
      17a, D beta 2.1 and J beta 2.2 gene segments indicating that C2 used a
      conventional alpha/beta TCR for M2/MOG recognition.

PMID- 1462127
TI  - Quantitative imaging ion microscopy: a short review.
AB  - A short review of recent efforts being made in the quantification of images in
      ion microscopy is given. Special aspects of instrumentation, detection and
      acquisition, which are unique to direct imaging secondary ion mass spectrometry,
      are discussed in relation to the successful application of traditional empirical
      quantification schemes. Application of such quantification schemes requires
      proper sample preparation, standardization, analysis, and quite often, special
      techniques in image processing and the correlation of ion microscopy with other
      microscopies. Quantification within this technique is a difficult goal which can
      only be realized if the analyst pays strict attention to every step of the
      analytical process.

PMID- 1462128
TI  - Scanning tunneling microscopy of biological macromolecular structures coated with
      a conducting film.
AB  - We have studied the capability of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to reveal
      the three-dimensional structure of biological macromolecular structures that have
      been rendered conductive by metal-coating. The sample preparation used has been
      derived from a well established method in transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
      It includes adsorption, freezing and dehydration by vacuum-sublimation, followed
      by metal-shadowing of the specimen. As an alternative to adsorption and coating,
      fluid biomaterials can be replaced by conductive freeze-fracture replica. We give
      an introduction into the sample preparation of metal-coated specimens and discuss
      how each step can affect the structural preservation and thereby the quality of
      the data. Some aspects of the data acquisition and the quantitative evaluation of
      STM data are shown. Possible contributions of STM in the biological
      macromolecular research are pointed out.

PMID- 1462129
TI  - Can we see living structure in a cell?
AB  - Colloid chemistry (kappa o lambda lambda alpha: glue, or gelatin) was introduced
      in 1861 after the discovery of protoplasm which exhibits gelatin-like properties.
      Some 80 years later, colloid chemistry (and with it, the concept of protoplasm)
      was largely abandoned. The membrane (pump) theory, according to which cell water
      and cell solute like K+ are free as in a dilute KCl solution, became dominant.
      Later studies revealed that rejecting the protoplasmic approach to cell
      physiology was not justified. Evidence against the membrane (pump) theory, on the
      other hand, has stood the test of time. In a new theory of the living cell called
      the association-induction (AI) hypothesis, the three major components of the
      living cell (water, proteins and K+) are closely associated; together they exist
      in a high-(negative)-energy-low entropy state called the living state. The bulk
      of cell water is adsorbed as polarized multilayers on some fully extended protein
      chains, and K+ is adsorbed singly on beta- and gamma-carboxyl groups carried on
      aspartic and glutamic residues of cell proteins. Extensive evidence in support of
      the AI hypothesis is reviewed. From an extension of the basic concepts of the AI
      hypothesis and the new knowledge on primary structure of the proteins, one begins
      to understand at long last what distinguishes gelatin from other proteins; in
      this new light, new definitions of protoplasm and of colloid chemistry have been
      introduced. With the return of the concept of protoplasm, living structure takes
      on renewed significance, linking cell anatomy to cell physiology. Finally,
      evidence is presented showing that electron microscopists have come close to
      seeing cell structure in its living state.

PMID- 1462130
TI  - Correction for extraneous background in X-ray microanalysis of cell cultures.
AB  - Some practical aspects of the X-ray microanalysis of cell cultures have been
      investigated. Cells were cultured on titanium grids covered with Formvar films
      and analyzed at 100 kV either in the scanning transmission (STEM) or transmission
      mode (TEM) of the electron microscope. Different holders, grids and
      configurations were compared with respect to the relative contribution of
      different factors to the extraneous background in the X-ray spectrum. When low
      atomic number holders are used, the contribution to the spectrum of electrons
      scattered through high angles, may be negligible. In practice this may result in
      negative values for the contribution of these scattered electrons to the
      background. Computer programs for correction of the extraneous background should
      ignore these negative values and replace them by zero. When a brass holder is
      used, the contribution to the spectrum from electrons scattered through high
      angles becomes more important than that of the uncollimated radiation. The
      position of the analyzed cell relative to the grid bars is more important than
      the choice of grid or holder type. The data show that for the specimens used in
      the present study the correction for extraneous background is of little
      importance and can be neglected.

PMID- 1462131
TI  - An improved method for preparing microvascular corrosion casts of rat embryos.
AB  - This paper presents an improved method for preparing microvascular corrosion
      casts of rat embryos (day 16.5-21.5). Special attention was paid on the viscosity
      of the casting material, the method of mechanical restraint, and the subsequent
      drying of the casts. The embryos were perfused with Mercox resin diluted with 25%
      methyl methacrylate monomer followed by undiluted Mercox resin to avoid outflow
      of resin from the vasculature after perfusion. The specimens were mounted on a
      stainless steel plate with self-curing resin to prevent flotation, mechanical
      damage, and collapse of the cast specimens following preparation. After digestion
      and washing, the cast specimens were freeze dried to prevent deformation of the
      casts. This specimen preparation resulted in much better scanning electron
      microscopic images of the embryonic microvasculature of various oral tissues,
      free from leakage and insufficient filling.

PMID- 1462132
TI  - Scanning electron microscopic studies of the oral mucosa and its
      microvasculature: a review of the palatine mucosa and its microvascular
      architecture in mammals.
AB  - The present paper deals with the microvascular architecture of the palatine
      mucosa in primates, carnivorae, and rodentia utilizing microvascular corrosion
      castings and epithelium-separated specimens. The submucous vascular network is
      under-developed since the hard palatine mucosa was designated the mucoperiosteum,
      except some areas. The palatine venous plexus appears to show regional
      differences with animal species differences. The well-developed plexus is
      observed to be two-layered and may contribute to the process of regurgitation of
      rough food and assist in mastication with the palatine plicae. Formation and
      patterns of the arterial network in the lamina propria are in a close relation
      with connective tissue elements. The subepithelial capillary network constitutes
      an advanced base for the ascending crus of the capillary loop and its pattern is
      affected by the properties of the connective tissue papillae and the diverging
      fashion of the capillary loops. Capillary loops of the transverse palatine plica
      are arranged parallel to the sagittal axis and at right angles to the top line of
      each plica. Features of the capillary loops are characteristics in the top, the
      anterior and posterior slopes of the plica, respectively. High connective tissue
      papillae in both the anterior slope and plical top may be of a resistant form for
      mollifying exhaustion, affected by the periodicity and mastication function.
      Although it is difficult to elucidate the lamination of the palatine mucosa in
      histological slides, it was resolved by examination on its vascular
      architectures.

PMID- 1462133
TI  - Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis studies of
      early dental calculus on resin plates exposed to human oral cavities.
AB  - Dental calculus formed after 10 days on resin plates, applied to the lingual
      sides of the mandibular gingival regions in eight human subjects, was
      investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive
      X-ray microanalysis (EDX). The mineral deposits were mainly divided into three
      types: A, B, and C. The type A deposits showing an average Ca/P molar ratio of
      1.42 were densely packed with fine needle-shaped crystals formed by the intra-
      and extra-cellular calcification. The type A deposits, probably composed of Ca
      deficient apatites and the transitional forms between apatite and octacalcium
      phosphate (OCP), were observed in all subjects. The type B deposits showing an
      average Ca/P molar ratio of 0.96 were aggregated with polygonal column,
      triangular plate-shaped, and rhombohedral crystals. These crystals identified as
      brushite (CaHPO4-2H2O:dicalcium phosphate dihydrate: DCPD) were found in four
      subjects. Platelet-shaped crystals of the type C deposits were observed in three
      subjects. Their Ca/P molar ratio of 1.26 and the crystal shape were similar to
      those of OCP. Whitlockite crystals were not found although Mg-containing
      hexagonal disk-like crystals were observed in two subjects.

PMID- 1462135
TI  - Enamel structure in astrapotheres and its functional implications.
AB  - Astrapotheres, large extinct ungulates of South America, share with rhinoceroses
      vertical prism decussation in the cheek tooth enamel. The similarity extends
      beyond merely the direction of the planes of decussation. The vertical
      decussation in astrapotheres is confined to the inner part of the enamel and has
      uniformly well-defined zones in which the prism direction differs by nearly 90
      degrees and the zones are separated by narrow transitional borders of
      intermediate prism direction. The outer enamel consists of predominantly
      occlusally and outwardly directed prisms. Within the outer enamel is a region of
      horizontally decussating prisms; here the angle of decussation is usually smaller
      than that of the inner vertically decussating prisms. Except for the horizontal
      decussation in the outer enamel, these conditions match structures that have been
      described for rhinocerotoids. These features, together with the similarity in
      premortem crack direction and gross shape of the cheek teeth, imply that
      astrapotheres and rhinocerotoids shared essentially the same system of cheek
      tooth mechanics. However, the microstructure of the canine enamel in the
      astrapotheres is distinct. The lower canine enamel of the Oligocene
      Parastrapotherium exhibits a form of vertical decussation modified by a wavelike
      bending of prism zones, whereas the decussation in the rhinocerotoid canine is
      horizontal. The lower canine in Parastrapotherium was subjected to different
      loading conditions, judging from multiple sets of premortem crack directions. The
      modified vertical decussation would in theory resist cracking under different
      directions of tensile stresses. This is confirmed by the sinuous paths of cracks
      that run in directions differing by up to 90 degrees. That diverse stresses were
      generated in the enamel during life is confirmed by the pattern of premortem
      cracks in Parastrapotherium. The enamel in the upper canine of a late Miocene
      astrapothere lacks decussation but may have resisted cracking under varied
      loading conditions by virtue of a 3-dimensional wavelike bending of the prisms.

PMID- 1462134
TI  - Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction
      analyses of human salivary stones.
AB  - Ten salivary stones in the human submandibular gland were investigated by
      scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray
      diffraction analyses. The stones usually showed a lamellar pattern. SEM
      observations revealed cubical, plate-like, granular, small and large granules,
      polyhedral or globular structures in these stones. By X-ray powder diffraction
      analysis, the main constituents of salivary stones were found to be apatite and
      whitlockite. SEM-EDS analyses showed that Ca and P were the major elements,
      frequently accompanied by Mg and S, and less frequently by Na, Al, Si, Cl, K, Fe,
      Cu and Zn. Ca/P molar ratios ranged from 1.00 to 2.00 with the average of 1.53,
      showing two maxima of about 1.50 and 1.60. The Ca/P molar ratio of about 1.50
      corresponded to the value of whitlockite. The Ca/P molar ratio of 1.60
      corresponded approximately to the value of apatite.

PMID- 1462137
TI  - Scanning electron microscopy of the mammalian organ of Corti: assessment of
      preparative procedures.
AB  - Different fixation, drying and coating procedures have been applied in
      preparation of the organ of Corti for scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and
      structural features of the apical surface of the tissue in unfixed, freeze
      fractured preparations used in assessing their effects on morphology. Fixation
      with glutaraldehyde alone or osmium tetroxide alone causes artefacts that are
      substantially avoided when tissue is doubly fixed in glutaraldehyde followed by
      osmium. Significant improvements in preservation are also obtained when tissue is
      additionally processed through thiocarbohydrazide-osmium (TOTO) processing. In
      addition to providing a conducting coat, it stabilises the tissue against
      deformations that might otherwise occur during drying, and reduces the extent of
      tissue shrinkage. Freeze-drying of TOTO processed tissue produces less tissue
      distortion than critical point drying (CPD) but is not so easy to apply
      routinely. The distortions of structure in TOTO-processed CPD tissue are not
      significant and this may be the preferred procedure for routine use, but air
      drying from hexamethyldisilazane is a useful alternative, producing results as
      good as those from CPD samples if TOTO processing is applied beforehand. One
      particular advantage of freeze-drying, though, is that after freezing, brittle
      fracture through the tissue can occur making examination of intracellular
      structure by SEM relatively easy. However, again, TOTO processing prior to
      freezing is of value as this appears to prevent the formation of large ice
      crystal during freezing. Examination of isolated outer hair cells by SEM shows
      that isolation procedures do not cause significant damage to the stereociliary
      bundles.

PMID- 1462136
TI  - Structure of rat kidneys following microwave accelerated fixation.
AB  - In contrast to fixation of tissue in externally heated fixative, microwave
      irradiation can generate uniform internal heat, which is of utmost importance for
      successful fixation of biological tissue. To evaluate the effectiveness of
      microwave-accelerated chemical fixation, we compared the structure of rat kidney
      fixed by a conventional method and a microwave-accelerated method, by scanning
      and transmission electron microscopy. Following perfusion, rat kidney pieces 1-2
      mm in size were irradiated in Karnovsky's fixative in a domestic Amana microwave
      oven, till the temperature of the fixative reached 45-50 degrees C. For
      conventional fixation, tissue pieces were fixed overnight at room temperature in
      the same fixative. Both types of samples were processed further for electron
      microscopy using identical protocols. The microwave fixed samples showed
      excellent preservation of structure comparable to the samples fixed by the
      conventional method. Glomeruli and the renal tubules showed normal morphology
      with no cellular swelling. The cytoplasm and nuclear matrix of the epithelial
      cells was uniformly dense. Other fixation sensitive organelles like mitochondria
      and Golgi apparatus showed superior preservation with continuous membranes. These
      results demonstrate that microwave accelerated chemical fixation results in
      excellent preservation of tissue structure, reduces processing time significantly
      and is therefore a practical alternative to conventional protocols.

PMID- 1462138
TI  - Review and new case reports on scanning electron microscopy of pili annulati,
      Monilethrix and Trichothiodystrophy.
AB  - Pili annulati, Monilethrix and Trichothiodystrophy are uncommon conditions in
      which the hair shaft has a distinct appearance as seen by optical microscopy and
      scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We report several new cases and review the
      characteristic ultrastructural abnormalities investigated by SEM. Pili annulati:
      abnormal areas which show a longitudinal, "curtain-like" folding of the cuticular
      cells, alternating with normal areas. The latter present regularly non
      systematized, superficial depressions. Hair specimens of the patient's mother
      show the same surface irregularities. Monilethrix: most hair shafts show
      variations in thickness giving a typical nodal appearance. In the isthmus area we
      noticed longitudinal ridging and cuticular scales that are extended lengthwise in
      a fish-scale-like pattern. In the nodus area a smooth surface due to a complete
      loss of cuticular cells, was observed. Trichothiodystrophy: the hair morphology
      observed by SEM is characterized by severe cuticular and secondary cortical
      degeneration along the entire length of the flattened hair shaft, with
      longitudinal ridging, cuticle loss, trichlorrhexis nodosa formation and
      trichoschisis. SEM observations show morphological abnormalities which are
      characteristic for each pathological condition described. This method may provide
      data that add some clarity in the surface changes of the different hair shaft
      anomalies.

PMID- 1462139
TI  - Detection of X-ray damage repair by the immediate versus delayed plating
      technique is dependent on cell shape and cell concentration.
AB  - A method commonly used to measure the ability of cells to repair potentially
      lethal damage (PLD) is to compare immediate plating (IP) and delayed plating (DP)
      survival. Lower cell survival under IP conditions relative to that after DP
      conditions has been interpreted to indicate a higher ability of cells to repair
      potentially lethal damage (PLD) under DP conditions. However, this IP
      radiosensitization has not been observed in several cell lines and tumor models.
      IP conditions involve treatment of cells with trypsin and plating them into fresh
      growth medium. We have investigated the possibility that radiosensitization under
      IP conditions may be related to both the cell-shape and the nutrient
      concentration in growth medium (GM, MEM + 15% serum). This idea predicts that the
      IP and DP survival of spheroids will show a response similar to the IP survival
      of cells in monolayers and that the IP and DP survival of crowded monolayer cells
      in high densities will be the same. Chinese hamster V79 cells grown in monolayers
      (spread cells) and spheroids (clumps of round cells) were used. The IP survival
      was lower than the DP survival for spread log phase monolayer cells but not for
      round log phase cells in spheroids. Radiosensitization of cells by fresh (as
      opposed to spent) growth medium was absent for high density plateau phase cells
      in monolayers at or above 2 x 10(6) cells/ml. However, PLD repair could be
      demonstrated in spheroid cells and in high density plateau phase cultures by
      exposing cells to hyperthermia or hypertonic saline. Comparison of immediate
      plating versus delayed plating survival detects PLD repair only in well spread
      low density monolayer cells, but not in round spheroid cells nor in dense
      monolayer cells at > 10(7) cells/25 cm2 flask/5 ml medium. The absence of a
      difference between IP and DP cell survival does not mean that PLD repair is
      absent. Incorrect prediction of tumor response to radiotherapy can occur when PLD
      repair capacity is assayed as a ratio of DP/IP survival. More than one method
      must be used to measure the capacity of cells to repair their PLD.

PMID- 1462140
TI  - Relationship between villous shape and mural structure in neutron irradiated
      small intestine.
AB  - Previous work on irradiation of mouse small intestine has assessed the changes
      produced by counting crypts/microcolonies, scoring villous shape or examining
      morphological changes in specific parts of the wall. This paper used scanning and
      transmission electron microscopy to study the effects of whole body irradiation
      with 5 Gy neutrons on the surface and internal features of the intestinal wall of
      CFLP mice, 1 day, 3 days and 7 days after treatment. Empirical scores from the
      ultrastructural findings were inserted into a Morphological Index display
      calculated from analytical data based on cell counts and area measurements
      obtained from resin histology sections. The final data display showed that the
      neutron irradiation produced marked structural changes in different cells and
      tissues by 1 day. These changes were maximal at 3 days with substantial
      improvement by 7 days. When this data display was compared with scores taken from
      scanning electron microscopy of the mucosal surface, the change in villous shape
      from erect fingerlike projections to lower profiles less suited to absorption was
      seen to correlate more with changes in the smooth muscle than with the epithelial
      cryptal compartment.

PMID- 1462141
TI  - Mechanisms of ciliary movement: contributions from electron microscopy.
AB  - A brief review of important contributions of electron microscopy to the study of
      ciliary motility is presented. The electron microscope was used to show the
      universality of axonemal structure of cilia, and to develop the sliding
      microtubule model of ciliary motility and later the switch point hypothesis to
      explain the conversion of sliding into bending. Unexpectedly, insights into the
      importance of cilia in human health have stemmed from these studies.

PMID- 1462142
TI  - [Acute severe asthma: emergency diagnostic and therapeutic measures].
AB  - There is growing evidence that the prevalence and the severity of bronchial
      asthma are rising in the industrialized countries despite a marked increase in
      the sale of antiasthmatic drugs. Non-diagnosis and undertreatment of patients
      with asthma may be causative factors. Identification of acute severe asthma by
      the physician and early hospitalization of patients at risk are important factors
      in lowering morbidity and mortality. Indicators of severe asthma on initial
      assessment are a history of poor long-term control (previous hospital admissions,
      regular use of inhaled beta agonists, maintenance oral corticosteroid treatment,
      prolonged current attack and low or greatly varying peak flow values) and
      clinical examination with spirometry as the most objective tool. A peak
      expiratory flow (PEF) of < 30% pred. (< 100-120 l/min) and a forced expiratory
      volume in the first second (FEV1) of < 25% pred. (< 0.7-1.01) indicate severe
      asthma. The physical signs and symptoms correlate well with the spirometric
      values but show too much variability to be used alone. A PaCO2 value of > or = 45
      mm Hg (6 kPa) is very specific for severe asthma. Patients whose asthma is
      considered severe on initial assessment must be referred to a hospital. In the
      emergency ward the documented response to treatment, i.e. the speed of recovery,
      is the most important parameter for discharge or admission to hospital. Only
      patients who improve within a few hours, who remain clinically stable and who
      have a PEF > 75% pred. or an FEV1 > 50% pred. should be discharged.

PMID- 1462143
TI  - [Swiss quality control in bacteriology and mycology 1989-1991].
AB  - Since 1983 there has been a voluntary quality assessment scheme (QAS) for
      bacteriology and mycology laboratories in Switzerland directed by the Committee
      for Quality Control of the Swiss Society for Microbiology. For the first time,
      the results of this QAS for the period between 1989 and 1991 are made available
      to a wider public. During the period in question, a steadily increasing number of
      participants received three samples containing microorganisms four times a year
      for identification and susceptibility testing. A mean percentage value of a point
      rating, with a maximum of 12 points, was calculated every year for each
      laboratory. Values of < or = 75% were defined as insufficient. For a first
      evaluation, laboratories were assigned to the categories of cantonal (and
      university) laboratories (C/U), private laboratories (P), and hospital
      laboratories (H, in hospitals which are neither university nor other tertiary
      care centres). Significant differences were detected between C/U and P on the one
      hand and H on the other. As a rule, H obtained poorer results than the two
      categories, examined fewer specimens, and their percentage with results < or =
      75% was significantly higher. The second evaluation classified laboratories
      according to their recognition by the Swiss Federal Department of Public Health
      (FDPH). For statistical reasons, H had to be grouped with C/U. Nevertheless,
      their share of non-recognized laboratories was exceedingly high (15 out of 17
      participants in 1991). Recognized laboratories constantly showed a better
      performance than non-recognized laboratories, examined more specimens, and their
      number of laboratories obtaining results < or = 75% was much lower.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462144
TI  - [New faces, forgotten diseases:border medical examination of asylum seekers'
      children 1990-1991].
AB  - Hitherto there has been no epidemiologic basis for the extent of initial medical
      examination (IME) of children of refugees. In Switzerland little data is
      published on the incidence of diseases among refugees; in particular information
      on their children is scarce. We report the results of IME in these children in
      the Canton of Zurich from 1 July 1990 to 30 June 1991. The Federal Refugees
      Office assigned 1487 children to the Canton of Zurich. 920 children (61.9%) were
      registered, 259 (17.4%) at Zurich Children's Hospital and 661 with local
      physicians (44.5%). The current IME included a tuberculin skin test only, with
      additional hepatitis B screening of children from high risk countries. At the
      Zurich Children's Hospital the IME was extended: every child was examined
      clinically and a history was taken. The findings in the children examined at the
      Zurich Children's Hospital were as follows: 171 (66%) were healthy. 5 children
      (2%) had tuberculosis, 2 (0.8%) vitamin D deficiency rickets, 5 (2%) had iron
      deficiency anemia, 9 had hepatitis B (all recovered), 25 (9.7%) had various skin
      diseases and in 51 a variety of diseases of differing clinical significance were
      diagnosed. The local physicians found a similar incidence of tuberculosis,
      vitamin D deficiency rickets, iron deficiency anemia and skin diseases.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462145
TI  - [Long-term course in differentiated thyroid gland carcinoma].
AB  - 545 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma were followed up for periods
      ranging up to 25 years after first treatment (mean 8.1 years, 65% for over 5
      years). 72% of patients with papillary carcinoma (n = 270), but only 52% with
      follicular carcinoma (n = 275) remained tumor-free during the further course.
      Residual malignancies persisted for more than the first year in 6% and 17% of
      patients respectively; there were tumor recurrences after an apparently tumor
      free interval in 22% and 31% respectively, the latest after 12 and 27 years
      respectively. 6% and 19% of patients respectively died as a direct result of the
      tumor (and a group of equal size from other causes), half due to residual and
      half due to recurrent carcinoma. With regard to residual tumors, few significant
      risk factors were found preoperatively, comprising distant metastases (factor =
      34 and 20 for papillary and follicular tumors respectively), age over 50 years (F
      = 6.4 and 5), infiltrating growth of primary tumor (F = 4 and 4.3), and regional
      lymph node involvement (F = 1.2 and 2). However, these factors were of little use
      in predicting the risk of the more frequently observed tumor recurrence, with
      maximum factors of 2 (for T4 and N+ stage) for papillary thyroid cancers and 1.5
      for follicular cancers. At risk for recurrence were patients in whom total
      thyroidectomy was not performed (F = 2.3 and 2) and those who did not receive
      postoperative radioiodine treatment (F = 3), irrespective of age and tumor stage.
      Therefore, any individualizing regimen beginning with the first treatment has a
      bearing not only on residual tumor's 50% contribution to mortality. The equally
      large contribution of recurrences to tumor death can be influenced only by
      thyroidectomy or, more realistically, by strumectomy combined with early ablation
      of thyroid remnants with radioiodine. Postoperative radiotherapy of the neck
      region did not prevent tumor recurrence, and although hormonal suppression was
      never given the results compared well with the best of published long-term follow
      up studies. There were no acute or late complications that could be ascribed to
      radioiodine treatment. However, a strict strategy of the reducing the
      administered doses was adopted: the ablation dose was half that used previously
      (1.5 GBq, i.e. 45 mCi on average), tumor treatment was halted even where residual
      uptake was observed scintigraphically (in 44% of patients treated) and
      radioiodine was no longer used for follow-up investigations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1462146
TI  - [Boutonneuse fever in Switzerland: apropos of a case report].
AB  - The history and clinical presentation of Mediterranean spotted fever in a 72-year
      old male patient with polycythemia vera are described. The patient presented soon
      after arrival in Bordeaux (France) with fever, arthralgia and an erythematous
      maculopapular skin rash involving the palms and foot soles. The clinical course
      was complicated by pulmonary involvement resulting in dyspnea and hypoxemia. The
      patient denied tick bite but had contact with a dog. Antibiotic therapy with
      doxycycline resulted in rapid improvement of all clinical findings. A significant
      rise in antibody titer against Rickettsia conorii confirmed the diagnosis. The
      case is discussed in relation to other published cases in Switzerland and
      illustrates that this infection can be acquired outside an endemic area.

PMID- 1462147
TI  - [Anatomo-clinical discordance: analysis of a series of consecutive autopsies].
AB  - In order to assess the level of agreement between clinical and autopsy diagnoses
      in the medical wards of a city and teaching hospital, we studied 94 consecutive
      patients autopsied during a 12 months' period. The rate of autopsy in this study
      was 59%. The main diagnosis was confirmed at autopsy in 80% of the cases, more
      precisely defined in 11% and discovered in 9%. Among 124 secondary diagnoses, 34%
      were diagnosed by the pathologist. The retrospective analysis of the cases in
      which there was disagreement between clinical and autopsy diagnosis showed that
      in 8 of them (8.5% of all patients), a clinical impact on survival was possible.
      However, all of these patients were over 80 and had multiple and/or terminal
      diseases. Thus, the real impact of these diagnostic errors is debatable.

PMID- 1462148
TI  - [Hospitalization of tuberculosis patients in Swiss hospitals in 1990].
AB  - Despite a wide spectrum of efficient chemotherapies, tuberculosis patients even
      today are often given inpatient treatment. This fact is shown by the MSV, the
      Medical Statistics of VESKA (Association of Swiss Hospitals), which is coded
      according to the ICD key and numbers tuberculosis forms from 010 to 018. The MSV
      figures for the year 1990 in its associated clinics are: total diagnoses 685,204,
      principal diagnoses 346,671, number of nursing days 4,613,737 and average stay
      13.3 days. At the same time, the following data were registered: total of 1009
      hospitalizations with a tuberculosis diagnosis, including 555 patients with a
      principal diagnosis of tuberculosis. Hospitalizations due to tuberculosis as the
      principal diagnosis account for 13,995 nursing days, which corresponds to 0.3% of
      the total. The average hospital stay lasts 25.2 days. In both diagnosis groups,
      first place is occupied by pulmonary tuberculosis (011) with 67.0% and 70.5%
      respectively, and among the extrathoracic forms 013-018, urogenital tuberculosis
      (016) with 6.3% principal diagnosis. The cases with the principal diagnosis of
      tuberculosis generate (partly calculated, partly estimated) hospital costs of
      approximately Sfr. 4.9 million and a paid wage total of some Sfr. 1.5 million. In
      the case of secondary tuberculoses of the 2nd and 3rd position in the statistics,
      analogous sums of an estimated total of Sfr. 2.4 million are added. It is
      therefore safe to say that tuberculosis is still not without financial
      significance in Switzerland.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462149
TI  - [Controversial aspects of stage I skin melanomas].
AB  - Melanoma is still the most frequent cause of death for diseases arising in the
      skin. The mortality rate is approximately 25%, tumor thickness, sex and
      localization being the most important prognostic factors. It is still unclear
      whether the margin of excision, type of anaesthesia and the pattern of follow-up
      should be taken into consideration in relation to the individual prognostic
      groups.

PMID- 1462150
TI  - [Moderate Paget's disease treated with pamidronate (APD): experience in 43
      patients with a single 60 mg infusion of varying duration of 1-to-24 hours].
AB  - Pamidronate disodium (APD) given as a single 60 mg intravenous infusion over 24
      hours was shown to be an effective treatment for Paget's disease of bone. To
      further improve the feasibility of a simple treatment that ensures compliance in
      elderly outpatients (pts), we investigated the effectiveness of a single 60 mg
      APD intravenous infusion given over 8 hours (12 pts), 4 hours (9 pts) and 1 hour
      (10 pts) compared with that over 24 hours (12 pts). Infusion rate of APD was 7.5,
      15 and 60 mg/h respectively, in comparison with 2.5 mg/h previously. Clinical
      improvement and biochemical remission were observed in all patients. Side
      effects, limited to mild transient fever and local transient increase in bone
      pain, occurred in 9 patients (2-3 pts in each group). There was no difference in
      the fall of plasma alkaline phosphatase and of urinary hydroxyproline between the
      4 infusion rates. Plasma alkaline phosphatase (U/l, mean +/- SEM) decreased from
      263 +/- 34 to 110 +/- 8 (1 h infusion), from 251 +/- 26 to 102 +/- 9 (4 h), from
      237 +/- 23 to 95 +/- 9 (8 h) and from 256 +/- 29 to 97 +/- 7 (24 h), from day 0
      to day 180 respectively (all p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462151
TI  - [Diagnosis of hydroxyapatite disease].
AB  - The possibility of detecting hydroxyapatite crystals in synovia in a routine
      setting has been studied prospectively. Coloration of the crystals with alizarin
      red-S was the method of choice. The diagnostic results were markedly improved by
      simultaneous observation of a freshly prepared positive control synovia.

PMID- 1462152
TI  - [The biotransformation of NSAIDs: a common elimination site and drug
      interactions].
AB  - Many NSAIDs are eliminated predominantly through hepatic biotransformation in
      man. We have studied, in human hepatic microsomes, the role of specific
      cytochrome P450 isozymes in the formation of the major metabolites of oxicam
      (piroxicam and tenoxicam), phenylacetic (diclofenac) and propionic acid
      (ibuprofen) derivatives. A common isozyme (P450TB, CYP2C subfamily) controls the
      major elimination pathway of these NSAIDs. We have also determined, in two in
      vitro models of P450TB, the affinity for this isozyme of NSAIDs from other
      chemical classes (acetylsalicylic acid, mefenamic acid and indomethacin). All
      NSAIDs tested displayed a high affinity (3-300 microM) for cytochrome P450TB.
      Cytochrome P450TB plays a major role in the elimination of several NSAIDs with
      different chemical structures. NSAIDs are substrates as well as potential
      inhibitors of cytochrome P450TB. Their elimination can therefore be reduced by
      concomitant administration of known inhibitors of P450TB (antifungals,
      antibacterial sulfonamides, calcium channel blockers).

PMID- 1462153
TI  - [Preliminary experience with the Storz Modulith SL 20 lithotriptor in reno
      ureteral lithiasis].
AB  - The authors report their initial results in ESWL of urinary calculi with the
      Storz Modulith SL 20 lithotriptor, a multipurpose device for both urinary and
      biliary stone treatment. During 176 sessions, a total of 144 cases (81 renal and
      63 ureteral) were treated and then, followed up. The over-all rate free of stones
      was 86.8% (90.1% for kidney and for ureteral stones). The treatment rate was 1.23
      per patient. Auxiliary procedures before ESWL were performed in 7.9% of the
      sessions: insertion of "double-J" stent or nephrostomy tube; all ureteral stones
      received "in situ" treatment. Mean number of shock waves per session was 1836.1
      (range 300-3020). The maximum voltage on the average reached was 17.1 kv. Sedo
      analgesia by Diazepam and Ketoprofen was given in 75% of the cases. No serious
      complications were observed. The experience with this machine is discussed in
      regard to performance; the advantages of its fluoroscopy and ultrasound guided
      system of focusing are stressed.

PMID- 1462154
TI  - Deep dorsal vein arterialization in vasculogenic impotence: our experience.
AB  - We describe our experience of surgical therapy for vasculogenic impotence, using
      a technique of arterialization of the deep dorsal vein. This technique was chosen
      because vascular anastomosis can easily be performed, and because of the
      possibility of inducing haemodynamic mechanisms which favour the maintenance of
      rigidity, using venous arterialization. The operation was performed on 22
      selected subjects with positive results. 12 patients (55%) reported erections
      which enabled them to have satisfactory sexual relations one year after follow
      up. From the data reported we can conclude that penile revascularization, using
      the technique of arterialization of the deep dorsal vein, in well selected cases
      of vasculogenic impotence, should be considered a valid alternative to a penile
      prosthesis implant.

PMID- 1462155
TI  - [Chronobiological approach to renal colic].
AB  - The concentration of lithogenic and antilithogenic substances in urine shows
      circadian fluctuations. With this investigation we intended to verify the
      presence of a chronobiologic rhythm of colic pain in urinary tract calculosis.
      Four hundred and forty seven consecutive patients with a clinical symptomatology
      related to urinary tract colic pain were studied. They were subdivided according
      to sex and age (297 M, 150 F; > or = 65 ys 29, < 65 ys 428). Urinary and blood
      chemical analysis and instrumental examinations permitted to confirm the clinical
      diagnosis. To evaluate the circadian and circannual variability, acute events
      were grouped into one calendar year by the month and into a ideal day by the hour
      of occurrence respectively. Chronobiologic analysis was performed utilising
      Halberg single cosinor test. The results pointed out that the symptomatology
      related to urinary tract colic pain presents a circadian rhythmicity either in
      patients as a whole or in single subgroups (males, females, younger or older than
      65 ys). Besides no seasonal variability was demonstrated, perhaps because of the
      mild climate present in the geographic area in which the study was carried on.

PMID- 1462156
TI  - [Nutritional status and chronic renal insufficiency].
AB  - The occurrence of malnutrition in patients with chronic renal failure has been
      well documented, mostly in patients undergoing regular dialysis: these patients
      often suffer from protein-calorie malnutrition, but more seldom there are
      disturbances to be due to deficit of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3, folic acid,
      vitamin B6, iron, zinc and L-carnitine, mostly in patients who do not get
      adequate supplementation. There are several causes for protein-calorie
      malnutrition in chronic renal insufficiency. These include uremia per se, altered
      hormonal milieu, abnormal amino acid metabolism due to uremia or to loss of
      metabolically active renal tissue. Dialysis treatment improves some of these
      abnormalities, but introduces others. On the other hand, it is well established
      that morbidity and mortality in chronic renal failure are influenced by their
      nutritional status: therefore it is important to know the factors and the
      mechanisms that cause malnutrition for its prevention, recognition and
      correction.

PMID- 1462157
TI  - Chronic interstitial cystitis. Successful treatment with intravesical idocaine.
AB  - A case of interstitial cystitis in a patient with a 5-year history treated by
      intravesical instillations of Lidocaine is reported. The repeated treatment
      relieved the patient from her pain and induced a potent anti-inflammatory effect
      on the bladder wall. The concentrations of plasma Lidocaine were between 1.4 and
      1.1 mg/ml. No adverse reactions were reported with a follow-up of 2-years.

PMID- 1462158
TI  - Angiosarcoma of the adrenal gland. Case report.
AB  - The vascular tumours of the adrenal gland are rare, both the benign and the
      malignant ones. Twenty two cases from the literature are reviewed in a paper by
      Kareti et al., 1988, among which only one own case of angiosarcoma the authors
      deem to be the first to be reported. A second case of angiosarcoma of the left
      adrenal gland, in a 67 y. old man, is herein reported. Notwithstanding a through
      surgical removal, a quick fatal progression of the disease ensued. Perhaps,
      considering the high malignancy of these rare tumours, an adjuvant form of
      treatment seems to be advisable.

PMID- 1462159
TI  - [Oncocytic carcinoma in a horseshoe kidney].
AB  - The Authors report a rare case of oncocytoma in a horseshoe kidney. The
      diagnostic path needed to assess the precise anatomy of the malformation and
      tumoral staging is out lined. Oncological problems dealing with oncocytoma are
      further discussed, together with the technical and surgical issues pertinent to
      the clinical case.

PMID- 1462160
TI  - Urethral manipulation syndrome (Kelamy syndrome): acquired ventral penile
      deviation.
AB  - Fibrosis of the corpus spongiosum penis, caused by urethral manipulation and the
      resulting ventral penile deviations are known as the urethral manipulation
      syndrome (Kelami Syndrome). This condition is due to fibrosis and scarring of the
      corpus spongiosum penis after any kind of urethral manipulation. We have observed
      4 urethral manipulation syndromes developing after urethrocystoscopy and
      presented them.

PMID- 1462161
TI  - [Early diagnosis and proper treatment of infections of the male genital system].
AB  - The appropriate methods for early detection and the more effective drugs for best
      treatment of "other" Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) are reviewed: the most
      important target is to prevent sequelae of infection like seminal phlogosis,
      woman's pelvic phlogosis, impotency, sterility.

PMID- 1462162
TI  - [Intrinsic endometriosis of the ureter. Clinical case].
AB  - Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue outside the cavity
      of the uterus. The urinary tract is rarely affected, only 1 to 11%. Bladder is
      the most frequent urinary localization while the ureteral involvement is rare. We
      report a case of intrinsic ureteral endometriosis in a woman with left
      hydronephrosis, lumbar pain and septic fever. Instrumental and laboratory
      investigations can hardly lead to a reliable diagnosis of ureteral endometriosis.
      A final diagnosis is feasible only by histologic examination, which obviously
      implies surgery.

PMID- 1462163
TI  - Drug discovery and development in the pharmaceutical industry.
AB  - The discovery and development of new anticancer drugs is a complex and largely
      empirical process. New compounds can be discovered by screening, modification of
      existing compounds, rational drug design, and serendipitous basic research
      observations. Selection of compounds for clinical trials depends on assays of
      uncertain predictive value. In the pharmaceutical industry, priorities for
      development of potentially active entities are set and available resources
      allocated based on the availability and cost of supplies, patent status,
      potential spectrum of activity, ability to meet regulatory requirements, and
      market assessments. Competition for resources also occurs from noncancer drugs,
      eg, cardiovascular agents. Clinical development (testing and approval for
      commercial distribution) requires close attention to the requirements of national
      regulatory agencies such as the United States Food and Drug Administration. The
      arbitrary nature by which compounds with antitumor potential are chosen for
      development means that some that would be useful never reach clinical trial and
      others are never made generally available. This article reviews the decision
      making process in the pharmaceutical industry by which compounds are identified
      and selected for clinical trial, the regulations in the United States that govern
      such trials, and what is required to have the drug approved for commercial
      distribution.

PMID- 1462164
TI  - The National Cancer Institute: cancer drug discovery and development program.
AB  - The discovery and development of novel therapeutic products for the treatment of
      malignancy is vitally important to those physicians responsible for the
      management of cancer patients. A description of the ongoing efforts at the
      National Cancer Institute (NCI) is intended to provide insight into those complex
      processes necessary to accomplish this mission. An update on the NCI's revised
      cancer screen is accompanied by a brief summary of those new agents scheduled to
      be entered into clinical investigation in the near future. The tremendous
      potential advantages and challenges associated with the use of a molecular
      approach to cancer drug design are discussed. Despite the differences of opinion
      that may exist regarding the optimal strategies for accomplishing the mission,
      there is no disagreement regarding the importance of the effort to find effective
      new therapies for cancer patients.

PMID- 1462165
TI  - New vinca alkaloids and related compounds.
AB  - The vinca alkaloids remain among the most useful classes of anticancer agents
      used in the clinic today. However, previous analogs of these agents have not
      realized either increased safety or an enhanced antitumor spectrum. Currently,
      three derivatives are in clinical trial: vinorelbine, vintripol, and vinxaltine.
      Vinorelbine has shown consistent antitumor activity in patients with breast
      carcinoma and is in phase III trials in the United States, Europe, and Japan.
      Vintripol and vinxaltine, vinca alkaloids conjugated to amino acids, are in early
      clinical trials in Europe. The dose-limiting toxicity of these agents is
      leukopenia. A similar agent with a different chemical structure, rhizoxin, is in
      early phase II clinical trials with initial activity noted in breast carcinoma.
      The ultimate role of these agents in treatment of human malignancy awaits the
      results of ongoing studies.

PMID- 1462166
TI  - The anthracyclines: will we ever find a better doxorubicin?
AB  - The anthracyclines are the class of antitumor drugs with the widest spectrum of
      activity in human cancers, and only a few cancers (eg, colon cancer) are
      unresponsive to them. The first two anthracyclines were developed in the 1960s.
      Doxorubicin (DOX) differs from daunorubicin (DNR) only by a single hydroxyl
      group. This fact has spurred researchers worldwide to find analogs of DOX that
      have less acute toxicity, cause less cardiomyopathy, can be administered orally,
      and/or have different, or greater, antitumor efficacy. Five DOX/DNR analogs are
      marketed in other countries, and one (idarubicin) is available in the United
      States. None of these analogs have stronger antitumor efficacy than the original
      two anthracyclines, but there are some differences in toxicity. Methods have been
      fashioned to keep the peak plasma level of DOX muted to minimize cardiotoxicity,
      but the only apparently effective method available so far (prolonged drug
      infusion) is cumbersome. The bisoxopiperazine class of drugs (especially
      dexrazoxane) provides protection against anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy and
      has much promise for helping mitigate this major obstacle to prolonged use of the
      anthracyclines. The DOX analogs being evaluated in the 1990s have been selected
      for their ability to overcome multidrug resistance in cancer cells. Thirty years
      after discovery of the anticancer activity of the first anthracycline, some means
      of reducing anthracycline toxicity have been devised. Current studies are
      evaluating increased doses of epirubicin to improve anthracycline cytotoxicity,
      while limiting cardiotoxicity, but at present DOX still reigns in this drug class
      as the one having the most proven cancerocidal effect.

PMID- 1462167
TI  - The anthrapyrazoles: a new class of compounds with clinical activity in breast
      cancer.
AB  - The anthrapyrazoles are DNA-binding anticancer agents with broad spectrum
      preclinical activity and reduced potential for free radical generation compared
      with doxorubicin. In early clinical trials, the dose-limiting toxicity has been
      leukopenia, other side effects being minor, and promising antitumor activity has
      been shown, especially in breast cancer. It remains to be confirmed that the
      anthrapyrazoles are less cardiotoxic than doxorubicin, but it is clear that these
      drugs are showing real promise, appear significantly less toxic than doxorubicin,
      and seem to represent a genuine therapeutic advance.

PMID- 1462168
TI  - Antifolates: the next generation.
AB  - A number of promising new antifolates have been entered in clinical trials in
      recent years. These agents have been rationally designed based on the current
      understanding of folate transport and metabolism and of the mechanisms by which
      cells become resistant to methotrexate. Methotrexate-resistant cell lines are
      generally sensitive to one or more of the newer antifolates, which differ from
      methotrexate by being either more lipid soluble, more extensively polyglutamated,
      or by inhibiting folate-requiring enzymes other than dihydrofolate reductase.
      Five of the agents furthest along in clinical testing, trimetrexate, piritrexim,
      edatrexate, lometrexol, and D1694, are discussed. These drugs offer exciting
      opportunities to expand the role of antifolates in cancer chemotherapy, as well
      as in antimicrobial and antirheumatic therapy.

PMID- 1462169
TI  - The current status of new platinum analogs.
AB  - Nine platinum analogs are currently in clinical development, including three that
      contain the diaminocyclohexane substituent and five that contain the
      cyclobutanedicarboxylato leaving group. Many of them have shown activity in at
      least one cisplatin (CDDP)-resistant cell line, most commonly L1210 murine
      leukemia. In addition, most were less nephrotoxic than CDDP in preclinical
      evaluations. While these agents share certain key structural similarities, there
      are important differences in their toxicity profiles that may be exploitable in
      future combination therapies. Though neuropathy has been a troubling toxicity
      with two of the three diaminocyclohexane (DACH) compounds, it differs in that it
      appears to be less chronic and cumulative with oxaliplatin (I-OHP), which is also
      associated with much less myelosuppression. Of the cyclobutanedicarboxylato
      compounds that are structurally related to carboplatin (CBDCA), there are several
      notable differences. For several compounds, isolated neutropenia has been dose
      limiting and thrombocytopenia, which is common with CBDCA, has been uncommon.
      Like CBDCA, neurotoxicity has not been an issue with this group. Therefore, the
      potential for dose escalation with a colony stimulating factor (CSF) appears
      enhanced. Furthermore, promising early clinical leads, such as the substantial
      response rates in cervix and head and neck cancers with 254-S and in patients
      with colon cancer using circadian modulation of I-OHP, require careful
      evaluation. Preclinical synergy data are also cited that suggest other potential
      clinical leads. The development of a number of these agents has been complicated
      by unanticipated issues, including unexpected chronic dose-limiting neurotoxicity
      with ormaplatin (OP), formulation and stability problems with liposomal
      neodecanoato-diaminocyclohexane platinum (II) (L-NDDP), and problematic
      nephrotoxicity with zeniplatin (ZP). However, several of these new compounds are
      likely to enter broader phase II and III development and should provide important
      information not only about the utility of the agents themselves but also about
      the predictive value of some of these preclinical models of CDDP resistance.

PMID- 1462170
TI  - Trans-retinoic acid and related differentiation agents.
AB  - Interest in retinoids as therapeutic agents has developed as a result of the
      observations of remission induction with all-trans retinoic acid (tRA) in
      patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), and of high objective response
      rates noted with the combination of cis-retinoic acid (cRA) with interferon-alpha
      in squamous cell carcinomas of skin and cervix. The therapeutic experience with
      RA in APL is discussed in this article from the perspectives of new information
      concerning retinoid biology, observations related to the development of the
      retinoid syndrome, complex pharmacology of this agent, and possible explanations
      for development of retinoid resistance. The current National Cancer Institute
      supported drug development strategy for RA used alone or in combination with
      other differentiating agents, and the potential therapeutic uses in cancer for
      other retinoids are also discussed.

PMID- 1462171
TI  - Research capacity building in international health: definitions, evaluations and
      strategies for success.

PMID- 1462172
TI  - Developing partnerships for health and social science research: the International
      Clinical Epidemiology Network (INCLEN) social science component.
AB  - A decade after its inception, the International Clinical Epidemiology Network
      (INCLEN) adopted a social science component. Health social science concepts were
      added to a physician training curriculum encompassing epidemiology, biostatistics
      and clinical economics, and a position was created for qualified social
      scientists at 26 clinical epidemiology units in developing country medical
      schools. This paper describes the INCLEN model for strengthening partnerships
      among clinical epidemiologists and social scientists. The rationale for
      interdisciplinary training is presented along with the difficulties inherent in
      attracting social scientists to a new career path. These include problems of
      recruitment, training curricula, re-entry, and career sustainability. The need is
      identified for collaborative international efforts to promote an infrastructure
      for professional growth and sustainable careers in health social science.

PMID- 1462173
TI  - A strategy for promoting improved pharmaceutical use: the International Network
      for Rational Use of Drugs.
AB  - Over the last decade, pharmaceutical selection, procurement, distribution, and
      financing have improved as a result of essential drugs programs. However, despite
      improved availability, pharmaceuticals are frequently used irrationally. The
      International Network for the Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD) has been established
      to help address this problem. The Network joins core groups of researchers from
      four African and three Asian countries with support groups in Boston, Sweden,
      WHO, and Australia. The activities of the Network are supported by multilateral,
      bilateral, foundation donors and by Management Sciences for Health. INRUD
      functions as a participatory organization in which members are involved in
      decision-making. The primary objective of the Network is to identify through a
      coordinated set of country-based research projects a set of effective
      interventions to recommend as policy options for the promotion of rational drug
      use. In developing these research projects, INRUD stresses the importance of a
      multi-disciplinary perspective for adequately understanding the reasons
      underlying inappropriate use of drugs. To better enable country groups to utilize
      strong research methodologies and to blend the strengths of multiple disciplines
      effectively, a major activity of the Network thus far has been the building of
      local research capacity.

PMID- 1462174
TI  - The potential of transdisciplinary research for sustaining and extending linkages
      between the health and social sciences.
AB  - The last decade of the twentieth century is witnessing a profusion of projects
      drawing together social and health scientists to study and recommend solutions
      for a wide range of health problems. The process--practiced in both developed and
      developing countries--is usually called multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary
      research. Its historical precedents are briefly reviewed in this paper along with
      the types of problems addressed. From a review and discussion of a sample of
      projects selected from two major proponents of this approach to research, the
      Social and Economic Research Component of the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special
      Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases and the Applied
      Diarrheal Disease Research Project, conclusions are drawn about the nature of
      contributions from such efforts--very useful for short-term problem solving, less
      so for longer-term programmatic changes, especially beyond the health sector, and
      even more limited in impact on theory building for coping with the changing human
      condition. The recognition of such limitations is now widespread in the social
      and natural sciences beyond the health sector, in population, ecology, and the
      humanities. Following these observations, I argue for a new approach to transcend
      the disciplinary bounds inherent in multi- and interdisciplinary research. A
      transdisciplinary approach can provide a systematic, comprehensive theoretical
      framework for the definition and analysis of the social, economic, political,
      environmental, and institutional factors influencing human health and well-being.
      The academic and career challenges for such researchers, while considerable, may
      be overcome since there is now a new flexibility in research-supporting
      organizations to encourage new ideas in international health, such as that of
      essential national health research.

PMID- 1462175
TI  - Local knowledge: research capacity building in international health.
AB  - Processes of building research capacity in international health projects and
      their implications for anthropology are addressed using examples from the Applied
      Diarrheal Disease Research project funded by the United States Agency for
      International Development. Two aspects of training are examined: the way
      interdisciplinary methods--qualitative and quantitative approaches--are presented
      to researchers, given the context of international health research culture; and
      how researchers' local knowledge and local concerns in pursuing health research
      relevant to policy led them to become interested in anthropology. The
      consequences for anthropology's place and product in future capacity building
      efforts in international health research are discussed.

PMID- 1462176
TI  - Manuals for ethnographic data collection: experience and issues.
AB  - The authors' experience in developing a manual based on ethnographic methods for
      collecting, analyzing and using information about the 'cultural context of
      diarrhea' is presented. The goal of the process outlined in the manual is to
      recommend programmatic strategies and educational messages that are likely to be
      effective in achieving the adoption of appropriate diarrhea case management
      behaviors by mothers. The implications of manuals of this type for the role of
      anthropologists, and for social science capacity building in developing country
      programs are discussed. While recognizing that this approach risks limiting the
      anthropologist's role to a technical one, the authors suggest that appropriate
      application of program specific manuals can encourage anthropological input into
      formulating program policies and strategies.

PMID- 1462177
TI  - Building applied health research capacity in less-developed countries: problems
      encountered by the ADDR Project.
AB  - As governments and other donors renew their support for research scientists in
      less developed countries, it becomes important to consider new questions about
      the process of funding scientific research and scientific researchers. This paper
      argues that research capacity building is a development goal subject to
      structural constraints and cultural impediments among both donors and recipients.
      Using data from one specific research capacity building program, the Applied
      Diarrheal Disease Research Project (ADDR), we describe a set of constraints among
      donors, recipient institutions, and individual recipients of research grants. We
      then describe how ADDR supports its investigators, how it has responded to the
      identified constraints, and what obstacles it still faces. Research capacity
      building programs in health would be well-served by focusing more attention on
      research problem identification, and dissemination and application of research
      findings.

PMID- 1462178
TI  - Developing applied medical anthropology in Third World countries: problems and
      actions.
AB  - Recognition of the usefulness of ethnographic research in Third World community
      health projects and programs developed rapidly during the 1980s. As a result, the
      various agencies and organizations promoting community health programs (UNICEF,
      WHO, NGOs) have greatly increased their recruiting of social scientists,
      particularly medical anthropologists, for research and other programmatic
      activities in primary health care, child survival (especially diarrhea, acute
      respiratory infections, maternal and child nutrition, infectious disease, and
      AIDS). However, it has proved very difficult to identify well-trained
      anthropologists and/or other social scientists for these roles, particularly in
      Third World countries. This paper examines some of the background of this
      problem, and presents examples of methodological training (in both qualitative
      and quantitative research techniques) that seek to increase the skills of social
      scientists and other researchers in the arena of international community health.

PMID- 1462179
TI  - Balancing relevance and excellence: organizational responses to link research
      with decision making.
AB  - Research faces the challenge of balancing relevance to decision making and
      excellence in the strict adherence to the norms of scientific inquiry. This paper
      examines the organizational responses that can be undertaken to promote
      integration of these potentially conflicting goals. We posit that there seem to
      be structural barriers to effective communication between researchers and
      decision makers, such as differences in priorities, time management, language,
      means of communication, integration of findings and definition of the final
      product of research. These barriers must be overcome through solutions aimed at
      the organization of research. In this respect, there are three possible models to
      approach the tension between excellence and relevance: academic subordination,
      segregation and integration. Only the latter makes it possible to reconcile the
      advantages of proximity to decision making with the procedures to assure academic
      quality. In addition to organizational design and institutional development, a
      strategy to promote research must include a set of incentives to prevent the
      'internal brain drain', that is, the tendency of researchers to move to
      managerial positions. There are four guiding principles to address this problem:
      parallel careers, academic autonomy, administrative sacrifice and inverted
      incentives. The complexities of health problems demand that we create new
      organizational formulas to finally balance relevance and excellence in research.

PMID- 1462180
TI  - Theory-driven behavioral intervention research for the control of diarrheal
      diseases.
AB  - Essentially all methods to reduce diarrheal morbidity and mortality require
      behavioral change. Research is required to design, implement and evaluate
      behavior-modifying interventions. Accumulated experience in the many involved
      disciplines should serve as a basis for this research. However, each of these
      disciplines is associated with different research perspectives and analytic
      assumptions; thus integration of these varied but potentially complementary
      experiences has been elusive. In the present paper, arguing that such
      perspectives and assumptions are embodied in discipline-based theory, we have
      developed a generic framework for the conduct of theory-based behavioral
      intervention research. We illustrate the application of this framework through
      two vignettes applying two of the theories and models to the development of
      hypothetical handwashing interventions.

PMID- 1462181
TI  - [Education for the diabetic patient: why, for whom?].

PMID- 1462182
TI  - [Patient autonomy: role of the nurse].

PMID- 1462183
TI  - [To learn dietetics].

PMID- 1462184
TI  - [Intensive stages of education].

PMID- 1462185
TI  - [Medical information for diabetic patients].

PMID- 1462186
TI  - [Information from associations].

PMID- 1462187
TI  - [Evaluation of pain].

PMID- 1462188
TI  - [Health care for diabetics in 1992].

PMID- 1462189
TI  - [Anticipatory grief].

PMID- 1462190
TI  - [The eternal youth of Eros or nursing homes for aged couples].

PMID- 1462191
TI  - [The body in European societies].

PMID- 1462192
TI  - [The disease of diabetes].

PMID- 1462193
TI  - [What is an "ethical problem"?].

PMID- 1462194
TI  - [Iron: what to do?].

PMID- 1462195
TI  - [Pneumococcus].

PMID- 1462196
TI  - [Robert Debre Pediatric Hospital].

PMID- 1462197
TI  - [Bladder sphincter rehabilitation in the aged person].

PMID- 1462199
TI  - [Study program leading to a nursing state diploma].

PMID- 1462198
TI  - [Laxatives].

PMID- 1462200
TI  - Postoperative changes in the spinal cord in cervical myelopathy demonstrated by
      magnetic resonance imaging.
AB  - The relation between improvement of myelopathy achieved by surgery and
      postoperative spinal cord morphologic changes was investigated by magnetic
      resonance imaging in 51 patients with cervical myelopathy. In 22 patients, the
      cord indentation disappeared completely (Type I), in 23 it partially disappeared
      (Type II), and in 3 it remained unchanged (Type III). In three patients the cord
      enlarged after surgery (Type IV). With the exception of Type IV, increased
      restoration of cord morphology paralleled improvement in the myelopathy,
      suggesting that morphologic changes closely reflect neurologic recovery. In Type
      IV, notwithstanding the peculiar postoperative reaction, improvement was
      relatively good, and shrinkage of the cord enlargement was seen after 1 year.
      This kind of postoperative change has not been demonstrated previously by other
      conventional imaging methods.

PMID- 1462201
TI  - Laminoplasty versus subtotal corpectomy. A comparative study of results in
      multisegmental cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
AB  - A comparative study of surgical results was used to determine the treatment of
      choice for multisegmental cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Forty-one patients who
      received subtotal corpectomy and strut grafting (SCS) and forty-two undergoing
      laminoplasty were followed up for at least 2 years after surgery. Regarding
      factors known to affect surgical prognosis (age at surgery, duration of symptoms,
      severity of neurologic deficit, anteroposterior canal diameter, transverse area
      of the cord at the site of maximum compression, number of levels involved), the
      two groups were statistically comparable with each other. The severity of
      neurologic deficits was assessed by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale.
      Results were evaluated in terms of postoperative score and recovery rate. The
      difference between the recovery rate and final score between the two groups was
      not statistically significant. Surgical complications were more frequent in the
      subtotal corpectomy and strut grafting group than in the laminoplasty group. The
      most frequent complications encountered in the subtotal corpectomy and strut
      grafting group were related to bone grafting. Spinal alignment worsened in six
      patients of the laminoplasty group, but none of them suffered from neurologic
      deterioration. Another disadvantage of subtotal corpectomy and strut grafting was
      the longer postoperative period of bed rest needed to secure graft stability. We
      conclude that laminoplasty should be the treatment of choice for multisegmental
      cervical spondylotic myelopathy when neurologic results, incidence of
      complications, and postoperative treatment are taken into consideration.

PMID- 1462202
TI  - Multidirectional instabilities of experimental burst fractures of the atlas.
AB  - For the purpose of understanding the acute instability of a burst (Jefferson)
      fracture of the atlas, the authors produced the fractures experimentally and
      measured multidirectional flexibilities in seven cadaveric C0-C3 specimens. The
      flexibilities were measured by the authors' standardized method: they applied six
      types of physiologically pure moments (up to 1.5 Nm) and recorded the ensuing C0
      C2 motions by stereophotogrammetry. The flexibility tests were performed before
      and after the production of the fracture. The greatest increase in flexibility
      due to the injury was in flexion-extension (+22.0 degrees, 41.7%). In lateral
      bending, the increase was 7.7 degrees, or 23.9%. The flexibility was mostly
      maintained in axial rotation (+4.8 degrees, 5.4%). The increase in motion was due
      to an increase in neutral zone in flexion-extension, and an increase in the
      elastic zone in lateral bending. These flexibility results of experimentally
      produced fractures reflect quite well the acute instabilities seen clinically.

PMID- 1462203
TI  - Spinal cord evoked potentials in thoracic myelopathy with multisegmental
      vertebral involvement.
AB  - Spinal cord evoked potentials were recorded preoperatively from the thoracic
      epidural space after spinal cord stimulation in 20 patients with thoracic
      myelopathy with multisegmental vertebral involvement. Waveform abnormalities in
      spinal cord evoked potentials, namely, positive-going wave or decrease in
      amplitude, were observed in all cases. Abnormalities, especially in the first
      negative component of spinal cord evoked potentials, were recorded at the most
      compressed site in each case. Decrease in amplitude of more than 50% was noted
      frequently in moderately involved cases, whereas positive-going wave was elicited
      predominantly in cases of severe myelopathy. Spinal cord evoked potentials should
      provide information for determining the range of decompression in multisegmental
      vertebral involvement.

PMID- 1462204
TI  - Rotation vector, a new method for representation of three-dimensional deformity
      in scoliosis.
AB  - Rotation vector for three-dimensional deformity, a new concept in scoliosis, is
      presented. This vector quantifies three-dimensional deformity in scoliosis.
      Rotation vectors are calculated between pairs of end plates. Any three
      dimensional malalignments (scoliosis, lordosis [or kyphosis] and rotation)
      existing between a pair of end plates should be cancelled perfectly by rotating
      one end plate against the other about an axis represented by the rotation vector.
      A rotation vector suggests how the deformity in scoliosis should be corrected
      three-dimensionally.

PMID- 1462205
TI  - Intraoperative monitoring for thoracolumbar or lumbar surgery with somatosensory
      evoked potentials after double stimuli.
AB  - Somatosensory evoked potentials were after double stimuli on the posterior tibial
      nerve for the intraoperative monitoring in 58 thoracolumbar or lumbar surgeries.
      The first cortical positive potential P38 and P'38 after the second stimulus was
      recorded after double stimuli. Transient decreased amplitude more than 50% or
      missing potential of P'38 was found in 11 cases. These P'38 changes occurred in
      five procedures of retracting the nerve roots or dural sacs, three cases of
      reducing of thoracolumbar fractures, and two procedures of transpedicular
      screwing. No causative procedure was found in one case. In those 11 cases, 5
      showed no abnormality in P38 potentials and 6 cases showed less decreased
      amplitude in P38 than in P'38. Consequently, P'38, which was evoked by the second
      stimulus, can be used for the intraoperative monitoring in the thoracolumbar and
      lower lumbar surgery.

PMID- 1462206
TI  - Pain provocation at lumbar discography as analyzed by computed
      tomography/discography.
AB  - Pain provocation was analyzed in 1477 intervertebral discs in 523 patients
      subjected to lumbar computed tomography/discography. The relation between pain
      provocation and the degree of general degeneration and anular disruption assessed
      according to the Dallas Discogram Description as indices of intradiscal
      deterioration was investigated. Pain provocation was also evaluated after
      categorizing the discs by the clinical diagnosis. Pain provocation showed little
      relation to intradiscal deterioration, whereas a strong relation was found
      between it and herniated nucleus pulposus. in herniated nucleus pulposus, discs
      with extraligamentous extrusion or sequestration, large protrusions, maximum
      protrusion site at the nerve root portion, and herniation routes passing through
      the central portion of the disc showed a high pain provocation ratio. Pain
      provocation ratios of discs associated with spinal canal stenosis were extremely
      low.

PMID- 1462207
TI  - Pathoanatomy of lumbar disc herniation as demonstrated by computed
      tomography/discography.
AB  - Computed tomography/discography was performed in 378 patients (403 discs) with
      lumbar disc herniation receiving intradiscal therapy. The grade of disc
      degeneration defined by the Dallas discogram description correlated closely with
      age. The most common herniation routes ran through the central portion of the
      posterior aspect of the disc (48.9%), through the paracentral portion (18.6%) and
      through the entire central portion (9.7%), with these directions parallel to the
      sagittal plane. However, the intraforaminal and extraforaminal routes (4.2%)
      passed obliquely to the sagittal plane. The development of these herniation
      routes has been well explained by the findings of earlier histopathologic and
      biomechanical studies. Computed tomography/discography was very useful in
      observing the detailed features of HNP such as the range, site of maximum
      protrusion and protrusion size.

PMID- 1462208
TI  - Familial predisposition and clustering for juvenile lumbar disc herniation.
AB  - The siblings and parents of 40 patients (cases) with lumbar disc herniation (aged
      18 years or younger) who underwent surgery at the Department of Orthopaedics at
      Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital between 1976 and 1990 were
      examined for incidence of lumbar disc herniation. A total of 120 randomly
      sampled, age- and sex-matched patients (controls) who were hospitalized during
      the same period due to extraspinal diseases also were studied in the same manner.
      A survey of the occurrence of definite lumbar disc herniation was carried out
      that included 75,237 students in elementary, junior high, and senior high schools
      in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, covering a mean period of 3 years and 4 months. The
      incidence of surgically treated lumbar disc herniation among people aged 18 years
      or younger was calculated, and the expected value of disc herniation was obtained
      in an age-specific manner, on the basis of the age distribution of encumbrances
      in the above case-control study. The encumbrances of 18-year-old or younger
      patients with lumbar disc herniation showed familial predisposition, with an odds
      ratio of 5.61 in comparison to the controls. It was suggested that there is
      familial clustering of lumbar disc herniation among the encumbrances of 18-year
      old or younger patients with lumbar disc herniation.

PMID- 1462209
TI  - A clinical study of degenerative spondylolisthesis. Radiographic analysis and
      choice of treatment.
AB  - Surgical treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis in 27 patients by means of
      anterior lumbar interbody fusion and in 14 patients by means of posterior
      decompression yielded average degrees of recovery of 77% and 56%, respectively.
      Preoperative analysis of myelograms, and computed tomographies after myelography
      indicated that anterior shifting of the inferior articular process of the
      slipping vertebra was the main factor responsible for compression of the nervous
      tissue in the early stages of degenerative spondylolisthesis. Patients in these
      stages should be treated by anterior lumbar interbody fusion. In the later stages
      of degenerative spondylolisthesis, osteophytes on the superior articular
      processes of the lower vertebra were an additional factor in compression, and
      patients should be treated by posterior decompression. Computed tomographies
      after myelography provided the key images for identifying pathologic processes in
      degenerative spondylolisthesis and selecting appropriate surgical procedures.

PMID- 1462210
TI  - The mechanical properties of the human L4-5 functional spinal unit during cyclic
      loading. The structural effects of the posterior elements.
AB  - Cyclic axial compression-tension tests and cyclic torsional tests were performed
      on ten fresh human L4-5 functional spinal units to investigate the structural
      effects of the posterior elements on the mechanical properties of L4-5 functional
      spinal units. The stiffness of the functional spinal unit increased with the
      increase of displacement under every loading. This was same in the intact
      functional spinal units and the functional spinal units after removal of each
      posterior element, respectively. All the posterior elements contributed to the
      compressive, tensile, and torsional stiffness of L4-5 functional spinal units.
      The apophyseal joints had a significant effect on the compressive and torsional
      stiffness. The effect of the apophyseal joints on the torsional stiffness became
      greater according to the extent of displacement, whereas their effect on the
      compressive stiffness was constant. The posterior ligaments (supraspinous and
      interspinous ligaments) had a significant effect on the tensile stiffness.

PMID- 1462211
TI  - Hypertrophied ligamentum flavum in lumbar spinal canal stenosis. Pathogenesis and
      morphologic and immunohistochemical observation.
AB  - To investigate the pathogenesis of hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum, 45 cases
      of lumbar canal stenosis were evaluated by computed tomography scan and
      pathologic and immunohistochemical studies. The ligamentum flavum along with the
      medial one-third of the superior facet was obtained en bloc to include the
      enthesis. Statistically significant differences in transverse area and thickness
      of the ligamentum flavum were evident compared to the control group (P < 0.01).
      Pathogenesis of the hypertrophied ligamentum flavum was classified into three
      major groups: 1) fibrocartilage change due to proliferation of type II collagen,
      2) ossification, and 3) calcium crystal deposition. It is stressed that marked
      proliferation of Type II collagen from the enthesis to the ligament side was
      revealed in the capsular portion of the hypertrophied ligament.

PMID- 1462212
TI  - Experimental study of denervated muscle atrophy following severance of posterior
      rami of the lumbar spinal nerves.
AB  - The morphologic changes in denervation atrophy of paravertebral muscles after
      severance of the posterior rami in cats were investigated, using histochemical
      methods and electromyography. Using a paraspinal approach, three branches of the
      posterior rami on the left side were cut under microscopy at one, two, or three
      levels (L2 approximately L4). Muscle atrophy was evaluated, using the percent wet
      weight and the percent diameter of muscle fibers as parameters. Myosine ATPase
      stain was used to observe reinnervation. Four weeks after surgery, the range and
      severity of muscle atrophy increased proportionally to the number of posterior
      rami severed. Muscle atrophy was revealed at one or two levels caudal to the
      injured nerve level. At 12 and 24 weeks, muscle atrophy recovered gradually. In
      more than two-level injury groups, however, recovery of percent wet weight
      reached up to 80% even after 24 weeks, despite the fact of reinnervation
      demonstrated in some parts of the denervated muscles.

PMID- 1462213
TI  - Histopathologic and morphometric study of spinal cord lesion in a chronic cord
      compression model using bone morphogenetic protein in rabbits.
AB  - Chronic compressive myelopathy was induced in domestic rabbits by implanting bone
      morphogenetic protein on the ligamentum flavum of the lumbar spine, and the
      resulting spinal cord lesion was studied histopathologically. In addition,
      morphometry of myelinated nerve fibers of the white matter in the pathologic
      specimens was performed to elucidate the mechanisms of cord injury. No loss of
      white matter nerve fibers was seen when the cord compression ratio (sagittal
      diameter/transverse diameter) was > 45%, although 6 months later myelin thinning
      was present throughout the white matter. When the cord compression ratio was < or
      = 45%, loss of fibers, particularly of large fibers, was seen in the superficial
      layer of the white matter, with the nerve fibers remaining after 6 months showing
      decreased diameters. No motor paresis was evident in any animal. These histologic
      changes represent the early pathologic condition induced by chronic cord
      compression.

PMID- 1462214
TI  - Analysis of spinal cord evoked potential and locomotor function during acute
      spinal cord compression in cats.
AB  - The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not conductive spinal cord
      evoked potentials and spinal cord function change correspondingly with each
      other. The relationship between conductive spinal cord evoked potentials and
      locomotor function during acute spinal cord compression in animals was
      investigated. In decerebrate cats, controlled locomotion can be induced by
      electrical stimuli in the mesencephalic locomotor region. Conductive spinal cord
      evoked potentials were recorded at the L3 level of the spinal cord and stimuli
      were given at the T4 segment. The locomotor function was evaluated through
      electromyograms of the hind limbs. By compressing the spinal cord at L1, both the
      conductive spinal cord evoked potentials and the locomotor function gradually
      decreased. When the first negative potential amplitude of conductive spinal cord
      evoked potentials was decreased to half the level found in normal cats, locomotor
      function was injured irreversibly. These results showed that changes in the
      conductive spinal cord evoked potentials were related to changes in locomotor
      function. The 50% level of the first negative potential amplitude was considered
      to be the critical level at which irreversible spinal cord paralysis occurred in
      the cats.

PMID- 1462215
TI  - The use of autologous blood in the surgical treatment of spinal disorders.
AB  - A program of autologous blood transfusion in 101 patients who underwent spinal
      surgery was analyzed. Autologous transfusion was achieved by intraoperative blood
      salvage using a cell saver and with predeposited blood. The techniques of
      predeposition of blood included freezing the blood and using a storage solution.
      Forty-eight patients had scoliosis and received mainly cryopreserved autologous
      blood and 53 patients had other spinal diseases. Surgery was performed using only
      autologous blood transfusion in more than 90% of all patients cases. The program
      was well tolerated by the patients and easily managed by the blood center staff.
      There were no severe complications associated with this program. The use of
      instrumentation and extensive spinal fusion were found to be factors associated
      with increased intraoperative blood loss. This finding suggests that
      instrumentation surgery and extensive spinal fusion are indications for
      autologous blood transfusion. Cryopreserved autologous blood transfusion is an
      effective method for storing a sufficient volume of blood for scoliosis surgery
      without affecting the patients' preoperative hemodynamic status.

PMID- 1462216
TI  - The effects of hyperthermia on the spinal cord.
AB  - This study was conducted to obtain information about the critical temperature of
      the spinal cord in hyperthermia produced by radiofrequency waves applied to the
      spine. The first component of the spinal cord evoked potential was analyzed as an
      indicator of spinal cord function. The spinal cords were heated by radiofrequency
      waves to a maximum of 47 degrees C momentarily or for 30 minutes. The
      temperatures were measured with a thermosensor in the epidural space. In
      momentary heating, the reductions in amplitude were almost parallel with the
      increases in temperature. In maintained heating for 30 minutes, at 44 degrees C
      and below, the amplitudes decreased by one-quarter to three-quarters of the
      control value in the first 5 minutes and recovered to over three-quarters of the
      control value in 30 minutes. The amplitudes returned to almost the control value
      after restoration of normal spinal cord temperatures. At 45 degrees C and above,
      however, the amplitudes were prominently reduced or disappeared in the first 5
      minutes and remained depressed during the remainder of the heating. On
      normalizing the temperature, the amplitudes did not return to the control value.
      These results suggest that 44 degrees C in the epidural space is the highest
      tolerable temperature for normal spinal cord function.

PMID- 1462217
TI  - Clinical values of intraoperative ultrasonography for spinal tumors.
AB  - Intraoperative ultrasonography was conducted in 52 cases of spinal tumor, at 7.5
      MHz, mainly by means of linear scanning, to evaluate its clinical usefulness. The
      procedure was effectively applied in such clinical purposes as: 1) locating the
      tumor, 2) deciding the resectability of intramedullary tumors, 3) deciding the
      site for intraspinal biopsy or shunt tube insertion, 4) establishing the topical
      relationship between the spinal cord and the tumor, and 5) differentiating
      neurilemoma from meningoma. Of 10 patients with intramedullary tumors, 5 (50%)
      were removed, because extirpation was possible when the spinal cord and the tumor
      were well demarcated on the ultrasonogram. Intratumorous cysts were found to
      exist in 73% of neurilemoma and 14% of meningioma cases, enabling the
      differential diagnosis between the two tumors. Intraoperative ultrasonography is
      an uninvasive method to reveal intradural and extradural conditions and thus
      constitutes a valuable diagnostic means to ensure safe and precise spinal
      surgery.

PMID- 1462218
TI  - Magnetic coil stimulation of the spinal cord in the dog. Effect of removal of
      bony structure on eddy current.
AB  - Magnetic coil stimulation applied to the spine excites the lumbosacral roots
      rather than the spinal cord itself. To evaluate the mechanism responsible for
      this phenomenon, the effects of volume conduction on the activation of neural
      elements were studied. In ten intact dogs compound muscle action potentials could
      be recorded in the soleus muscle only when the magnetic coil was placed over the
      cauda equina. After laminectomy and pediculotomy, compound muscle action
      potentials also could be elicited when the magnetic coil was placed over the
      spinal cord. These findings suggest that the bony structure surrounding the
      spinal cord interferes with the spread of magnetically induced eddy currents to
      the spinal cord.

PMID- 1462219
TI  - Atlantoaxial fusion with posterior double wire fixation.

PMID- 1462220
TI  - Atlantoaxial subluxation complicated by diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis.
      A case report.

PMID- 1462221
TI  - Severe cervical myelopathy due to diffuse hypertrophy of the cervical posterior
      longitudinal ligament. A case report.

PMID- 1462223
TI  - Reactive sclerosis of the pedicle associated with contralateral spondylolysis.

PMID- 1462222
TI  - Spinal neurenteric cyst. Report of two cases and review of forty-one cases
      reported in Japan.

PMID- 1462224
TI  - Penetration injury of the cervical spinal cord. A case report.

PMID- 1462225
TI  - A ganglion cyst in the lumbar spinal canal. A case report.

PMID- 1462226
TI  - Benign osteoblastoma in the vertebral body of the thoracic spine. A case report.

PMID- 1462227
TI  - Atlantoaxial instability in athetoid-dystonic cerebral palsy. A case report.

PMID- 1462228
TI  - [Cough paper].

PMID- 1462229
TI  - [Unanswered questions].

PMID- 1462231
TI  - [Research. Clinical nursing yesterday, today, tomorrow].

PMID- 1462230
TI  - [Congress 1992. Criticism of dismissal method].

PMID- 1462232
TI  - [Zone therapy in chronic constipation].

PMID- 1462233
TI  - [Asylum seekers. Communication is all-important].

PMID- 1462234
TI  - [Department management--the other side of the coin. Interview by Kirsten
      Bjornsson].

PMID- 1462235
TI  - [Department management--stubbornness and education. Interview by Kirsten
      Bjornsson].

PMID- 1462236
TI  - [Initiative expect backing].

PMID- 1462237
TI  - [Patient information--Volapuk].

PMID- 1462238
TI  - [Education--inspiration across borders].

PMID- 1462239
TI  - [Hygiene--diapers on the floor].

PMID- 1462240
TI  - [Hygiene--handwashing or disinfectant spray?].

PMID- 1462241
TI  - [Neonatology--nursing care and nearness].

PMID- 1462242
TI  - [Department management--dangerous when economy rules].

PMID- 1462243
TI  - Thalidomide retrospective: what did the clinical teratologist learn?

PMID- 1462244
TI  - The contributions of Widukind Lenz to teratology and science: comments on
      "Thalidomide retrospective: what did the clinical teratologist learn?".

PMID- 1462245
TI  - A personal perspective on the thalidomide tragedy.

PMID- 1462246
TI  - Standardized residuals as a means for detection of growth alteration in the
      pathologic human fetus.
AB  - This paper introduces and discusses the use of standardized residuals as a
      technique for comparing the growth of normal and pathologic human fetuses.
      Anthropometric measures, radiographic measures, and organ weights were regressed
      on known gestational age of second- and third-trimester fetuses. Standardized
      residuals were calculated for a group of potentially growth-impaired fetuses. Use
      of residuals aids in identification of patterns of growth alteration in specific
      pathologies. Most important, studying the response of developing organ systems to
      a variety of insults may elucidate mechanisms of growth regulation in the fetus.
      We emphasize the special quality of the multivariate measures of the core sample
      of fetuses from the Akron Children's Hospital collection.

PMID- 1462247
TI  - Embryotoxicity studies of norfloxacin in cynomolgus monkeys. II. Role of
      progesterone.
AB  - Norfloxacin, an orally active fluoroquinolone antimicrobial, has been reported to
      be embryolethal but not teratogenic when administered to pregnant cynomolgus
      macaques prior to gestational day (GD) 36 at doses > or = 200 mg/kg/day.
      Additional studies have been performed in an effort to examine the mechanism
      responsible for this effect, particularly regarding the role of progesterone (P).
      The first study (Study I) investigated the effect of norfloxacin administration
      during early pregnancy (200 mg/kg/day; daily GD 20-30) in the absence of a
      functional corpus luteum (CL). The CL was surgically removed from 16 gravid
      females on GD 19 in order to focus on placental-derived P; ten were dosed with
      norfloxacin and six received vehicle only. Embryolethality was observed for 7/10
      (70%) of the treated animals during GD 25-31 versus 0/6 (0%) for controls. A
      reduction in serum P was noted prior to embryonic loss, although no significant
      effects on chorionic gonadotropin (CG), 17 beta-estradiol (E2), or P or E urinary
      metabolites were observed. A second study (Study II) was performed in order to
      evaluate the capacity of norfloxacin (200 mg/kg) to reduce CL-derived P in both
      normally cycling and CG-stimulated nonpregnant females (ten treated, ten
      controls; daily for 8 days). No effects on P production or on luteal phase or
      menstrual cycle lengths were observed. The third study (Study III) was designed
      to examine the effect of norfloxacin on the metabolism and excretion of P in
      nonpregnant females. Silastic P implants were placed subcutaneously in order to
      maintain constant P levels during a 10 day treatment regimen (200 mg/kg/day; ten
      controls, nine treated). Five of the controls and four of the norfloxacin-treated
      females also received 14C-P intravenously within 1 hr of the last dose of
      norfloxacin in order to study excretory patterns. No significant differences
      between control and treated groups were observed. The results of these studies
      combined suggest that the developmental toxic effects observed in prior studies
      and Study I are specific to pregnancy and directly related to placental-derived P
      production.

PMID- 1462248
TI  - Rat hepatic glutathione S-transferase-mediated embryotoxic bioactivation of
      ethylene dibromide.
AB  - The embryotoxic effects of ethylene dibromide (EDB) bioactivation, mediated by
      purified rat liver glutathione S-transferases (GST), were investigated using rat
      embryos in culture. Significant EDB metabolism was observed with rat liver GST
      purified by affinity chromatography (specific activity of 188 +/- 11.3
      nmol/min/mg protein). The reaction was enzymatic in nature and the conjugation
      rate was proportional to the concentration of EDB (up to 0.75 mM) and the enzyme
      present in the reaction medium. EDB activation by 100 units (1 unit = 1 nmol of
      glutathione consumed per min) of purified rat liver GST caused a significant
      reduction in general development as measured by crown-rump length, yolk sac
      diameter, somite number, and the composite score for different morphological
      parameters (Brown and Fabro methodology). Structures most significantly affected
      were the central nervous and olfactory systems as well as the yolk sac
      circulation and allantois. The results of this study clearly indicate that under
      in vitro conditions, bioactivation of EDB by GST can lead to embryotoxicity.

PMID- 1462249
TI  - Congenital heart disease in the offspring and maternal habits and home exposures
      during pregnancy.
AB  - To test the effect of maternal habits and home exposures during early pregnancy
      on the occurrence of congenital heart disease in the offspring, 406 cases and 756
      controls were studied. The cases included all cardiovascular malformations
      detected in Finland during 1982-1983, while the healthy controls were randomly
      selected from all babies born during the same period. Case and control mothers
      were interviewed after delivery using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire.
      Maternal overall drug consumption during the first trimester was as prevalent
      among case mothers (13.3%) as controls (14.6%). Neither was the risk of
      congenital heart disease associated with maternal use of contraceptive pills,
      salicylates, diazepam, or sweetening agents separately. Maternal exposures to
      disinfectants, dyes, lacquers, paints, pesticides, or glues at home were equally
      prevalent in case and control groups. Several earlier miscarriages was a
      predictor of an infant born with congenital heart disease (OR = 2.7, CI95 = 1.4
      5.3). Maternal ultrasound examination was performed during the first 16 weeks of
      pregnancy more often among the case group (28.3%) than among the control group
      (22.0%). However, the association between ultrasound examination and the risk of
      congenital heart disease in the offspring was not statistically significant (OR =
      1.2, 95% confidence interval 0.9-1.7) when adjusted for confounding factors such
      as the threat of miscarriage in logistic regression analysis. It is concluded
      that maternal ultrasound examination, intake of some common drugs, and exposure
      to a number of environmental factors at home during early pregnancy are probably
      not harmful for the developing fetal heart.

PMID- 1462250
TI  - Absence of limbs and gross body wall defects: an epidemiological study of related
      rare malformation conditions.
AB  - The study is based on almost 10 million births and reports on 215 infants with
      two unusual malformations: amelia and gross body wall defect. Amelia without body
      wall defect was present in 116 cases, 67 had body wall defects without amelia,
      and 32 had both. The total rate was 2.2 per 100,000 births. The infants were
      divided into five mutually exclusive groups. There were 40 infants (0.4 per
      100,000) with agenesis of the body stalk, 18 with amelia and other types of gross
      body wall defects (0.2 per 100,000), 56 with amelia and malformations other than
      gross body wall defects (0.6 per 100,000), 41 with amelia (with or without other
      limb reduction defects) but no nonlimb malformations (0.4 per 100,000), and 60
      infants with gross body wall defects of a type other than agenesis of body stalk
      and without amelia (0.6 per 100,000). A weak trend of decreasing prevalence of
      these malformations was found during the observation period. Infants with
      agenesis of the body stalk and infants with amelia combined with other types of
      gross body wall defects occurred at an increased rate in infants of young women.
      This maternal age effect is also found with gastroschisis, but not with
      omphalocele, and may indicate etiological or pathogenetic similarities between
      gastroschisis and the two former groups of defect. In infants with amelia,
      additional limb reduction defects could be of any type: transverse, longitudinal,
      or intercalary. Therefore, amelia may be the end result of different types of
      disturbances of limb morphogenesis. There was an increased rate of twinning. The
      relationship with amniotic band syndrome is discussed.

PMID- 1462251
TI  - Association of paternal alcohol use with gestational age and birth weight.
AB  - Paternal alcohol use has been associated with a number of adverse reproductive
      outcomes in laboratory animals and there is one epidemiologic report of a
      detrimental effect on infant birth weight. To expand the epidemiologic evidence,
      data from the Child Health and Development Studies were analyzed. Data collected
      from the onset of prenatal care in 10,232 women enrolled in the Kaiser Foundation
      Health Plan and residing in the San Francisco East Bay area between June 1959 and
      September 1966 were available, including information on the mother's report of
      paternal alcohol consumption and a number of potential confounders. Pregnancy
      outcomes included preterm delivery (< 37 weeks completed gestation), moderately
      low birth weight (1,501-2,500 g), very low birth weight (< or = 1,500 g), small
      for-gestational-age (< 10th percentile of weight for gestational age), and mean
      birth weight. Paternal alcohol use, analyzed in intervals from 0 to 2.0 or more
      drinks per day, showed no association with any of the outcomes of interest.
      Adjusted prevalence odds ratios ranged from 0.7 to 1.5, with no indication of a
      monotonic dose-response gradient. Mean birth weight was also virtually unrelated
      to paternal alcohol use. Compared with the earlier report, this population had a
      very modest level of alcohol consumption. Nonetheless, within the range that was
      studied there appears to be no association between paternal alcohol use and birth
      outcome.

PMID- 1462252
TI  - Development of rat embryos in culture media containing different concentrations
      of normal and diabetic rat serum.
AB  - In vitro culture of rodent embryos has been extensively used in the search for
      teratologic agents, with possible relevance to diabetic pregnancy. However, the
      high concentrations of rat serum added to the culture medium (approximately 75%)
      have raised concern that the teratogenic effects of some compounds may be
      attenuated or masked in this culture system and thereby forced the addition of
      pharmacological concentrations of the compounds (e.g., D-glucose and beta
      hydroxybutyrate) to the medium. This issue has been examined in the present study
      where the effects of different concentrations of rat serum on growth and
      differentiation of rat embryos were recorded in cultures supplemented with
      increased concentrations of D-glucose and beta-hydroxybutyrate. The embryonic
      development was also evaluated after culture in medium supplied with serum from
      diabetic rats. Compared with normal rat serum, the diabetic serum had an elevated
      glucose concentration as well as markedly increased levels of triglycerides and
      branched amino acids, indicating a potentially rich supply of major nutrients for
      the cultured embryos. Lowering the serum concentration in the culture medium from
      80% to 50% yielded progressively retarded embryonic growth but no increased rate
      of other morphological malformations. At 40% serum concentration, however, there
      was a sharp rise in the incidence of somatic malformations, in addition to the
      prevailing growth retardation. When the embryonic growth and development were
      compared at 50% and 80% serum concentrations, increased D-glucose or beta
      hydroxybutyrate concentrations caused similar degrees of embryonic
      dysmorphogenesis. Also, the uptake of each compound by the embryos exposed to
      elevated levels of the two agents were similar in 50% and 80% serum cultures.
      There was, therefore, no protection against the teratogenic and growth-retarding
      effects of increased D-glucose or beta-hydroxybutyrate offered by high serum
      concentrations in the culture medium (i.e., 80% vs. 50%). Embryos cultured in 50%
      or 80% diabetic rat serum at 30 mmol/L or 50 mmol/L D-glucose concentration
      showed similar rates of somatic malformations as did embryos exposed to the same
      proportion of normal rat serum at similar glucose concentrations. By contrast,
      the diabetic rat serum amplified the general retarding effects of high D-glucose
      levels, yielding lower protein levels and somite numbers in embryos from diabetic
      serum culture than in embryos cultured in normal rat serum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      400 WORDS)

PMID- 1462253
TI  - Histopathological and hemodynamic studies supporting hypoxia and vascular
      disruption as explanation to phenytoin teratogenicity.
AB  - The limb plates and craniofacial regions in rabbit fetuses were examined shortly
      after the last dose of phenytoin on day 16 after daily administration by gavage
      with either 150 mg/kg on days 14-16 or 300 mg/kg on days 15-16. Both treatment
      regimens resulted in similar changes. Histologically, the digital areas of the
      limb plates showed extensive edema and dilated blood vessels within 2 h. After 8
      h, vascular disruption occurred with hemorrhages. At 24-48 h after dosing,
      mesenchymal necrosis and, on some occasions, amputation of digits was observed.
      In the craniofacial region, well-defined superficial hemorrhage was seen in the
      frontal and nasal region at 8 h. Histologically, subectodermal hemorrhage caused
      by vascular disruption and microfocal mesenchymal necrosis was observed. At 48 h,
      some fetuses showed severe diffuse intracranial and superficial hemorrhage,
      resulting in massive tissue damage, also in the central nervous system (CNS).
      Maternal heart rate, blood pressure, PO2, and PCO2 were also measured in awake
      pregnant rabbits 6 h after the last dose on day 16 after daily administration
      with 150 mg/kg during gestational days 14-16. An attempt was also made to measure
      fetal heart rate in anesthetized rabbits. The maternal heart rate and blood
      pressure decreased with about 15% in phenytoin-treated animals, resulting in a
      decrease in PO2 (approximately 15%) and an increase in PCO2 (approximately 15%).
      A decrease in fetal heart rate was also registered. The results thus indicate
      that phenytoin exerts its teratogenic effects by inducing fetal hypoxia, leading
      to vascular disrupture and necrosis of existing and developing structures.

PMID- 1462254
TI  - Methionine decreases the embryotoxicity of sodium valproate in the rat: in vivo
      and in vitro observations.
AB  - Methionine provided in the drinking water of pregnant rats injected with sodium
      valproate reduced the frequency of resorptions but did not improve embryo growth.
      Rats drinking methionine supplemented water had approximately twice the level of
      serum-free methionine and consumed only one-half the volume of water of controls.
      Using whole rat embryo cultures, the simultaneous addition of methionine and
      sodium valproate to the medium provided no protection from neural tube defects,
      nor did the addition of methionine to a medium of serum obtained from rats
      previously dosed with sodium valproate. However, protection from the teratogenic
      effects of sodium valproate was afforded by methionine when the culture medium
      was sera from rats consuming methionine and was particularly striking when
      embryos for culture were taken from pregnant rats that had been consuming
      methionine. These observations along with those of others indicated the
      importance of dietary and culture media methionine levels in evaluating
      experimental and regulatory teratology studies and suggested the possibility that
      methionine may play an important role in human teratology where multifactorial
      causes have been implicated in problems such as neural tube closure defects.

PMID- 1462255
TI  - Histochemical and immunohistochemical distribution of glycosaminoglycans, type II
      collagen, and fibronectin in developing fetal cartilage of congenital
      osteochondrodysplasia rat (ocd/ocd).
AB  - The osteochondrodysplasia rat (ocd/ocd) is a lethal dwarfism. The ocd/ocd shows
      histological abnormalities of the epiphysis, characterized by a decrease in
      amount of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the extracellular matrix (ECM). The
      present study describes histochemical and immunohistochemical distributions of
      GAGs, type II collagen, and fibronectin (FN) in abnormal humeral cartilage of the
      ocd/ocd fetuses on days 16-21 of gestation. A wide-spread region with severe
      necrosis was observed in the cartilage on days 20 and 21. The affected cartilage
      has small amounts of ECM, irregular columnizations, thinner hypertrophic zones,
      and expanded and pyknotic chondrocytes on days 16-21 of gestation. The severely
      expanded chondrocytes did not have cytoplasmic glycogens on days 19-21. Reactions
      for chondroitin sulfate (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) in the ECM were
      consistently lower in ocd/ocd than in +/+ during the entire period of
      observation, although there were granules immunoreactive to CS within the
      chondrocytes of ocd/ocd. The distribution of type II collagen seemed normal in
      relatively normal regions in the affected cartilage. Strong reactions for CS, HA,
      type II collagen, and FN were present in the necrotic region on days 20 and 21 of
      gestation. These findings suggest that the affected chondrocyte may have some
      defects in releasing ECM substances, which may be released by the process of cell
      rupture. We hypothesize that some defects in releasing processes inherent to the
      ocd/ocd cartilage may relate to cellular differentiation and cell death.

PMID- 1462256
TI  - Empathy and compassion: tools to combat stresses of an illness.

PMID- 1462257
TI  - The physician's guide to medical waste regulations--Part IV.

PMID- 1462258
TI  - Court releases opinion concerning abortion.

PMID- 1462259
TI  - Can managed care control costs without controlling you?

PMID- 1462260
TI  - Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection in hospitalized adults at a
      teaching hospital in west Texas.
AB  - The prevalence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among
      hospitalized adults at a teaching hospital in West Texas was estimated by
      conducting a serological survey. Of the 2,458 patients tested, 12 (0.5%) were
      seropositive. All 12 were men of ages 28 through 50 years; 11 were white and 1
      was Hispanic. Eleven were previously known to be HIV positive and were
      hospitalized for illnesses related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
      All seropositive patients were hospitalized on nonsurgical services of internal
      medicine, medical-surgical neurology, and family practice. These results
      indicated that the sampled population in West Texas showed a relatively low
      prevalence of HIV infection and that seropositive patients were predominantly
      white men hospitalized for AIDS-related illnesses.

PMID- 1462261
TI  - Baylor Research Institute also adds to research effort.

PMID- 1462263
TI  - The abortion issue: a "battle worth fighting".

PMID- 1462262
TI  - Risk factors for infection with human immunodeficiency virus among low-income
      women undergoing voluntary sterilization.
AB  - Data regarding risk for infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were
      collected from 486 women who presented in 1989 for tubal sterilization through a
      clinic operated by a medical school. This clinic was participating in a blind
      surveillance project administered by the local health department. The project was
      designed to estimate the prevalence of seropositivity for HIV among women seeking
      family planning services within the department's catchment area. The expectation
      was that the population of women choosing voluntary sterilization would be of
      relatively low risk for HIV infection. Surprisingly, however, when they were
      examined, nearly 25% of these women reported at least one identified risk factor
      for HIV infection. The rates for certain specific risk factors are no lower among
      these women than among the general population.

PMID- 1462265
TI  - TMA battles problems at Workers' Comp Commission.

PMID- 1462264
TI  - Heads up: legal case may affect valuing of medical practices.

PMID- 1462266
TI  - Agenda on AIDS.

PMID- 1462267
TI  - A need for balance: preventive and therapeutic medicine.

PMID- 1462268
TI  - Physicians can avoid penalties by posting required safety signs.

PMID- 1462269
TI  - Laws address issues relating to HIV-positive doctors, health-care workers.

PMID- 1462270
TI  - Approaching families for organ donation: physicians are willing.
AB  - While current literature documents a critical disparity between the increasing
      demand for organs for transplantation and the relatively static supply, reasons
      for the shortage of donors are not well understood. Public opinion surveys
      describe a population willing to donate, but consent rates reported by organ
      procurement organizations suggest problems in the process of approaching
      families. This study of Texas physicians regarding their knowledge of laws
      related to brain death and to routine inquiry for organ donation and their
      attitudes toward the critical step of seeking consent from families indicates
      that physicians need more information about questions asked by families, would
      benefit from more structured hospital policies on routine inquiry, feel that
      physicians rather than nurses should approach families, and believe that the
      public is not well informed about donation.

PMID- 1462271
TI  - Health expenditures in Texas, 1988.
AB  - Expenditures for health care in Texas during 1988 totaled $32.4 billion. Health
      spending by category of service and sources of payment was estimated and compared
      with estimates for prior years and with national trends. Texas differed from the
      nation as a whole in average annual increases in total spending, the percentage
      of spending for prepayment and administration, and the percentage of spending
      paid by consumers, the federal government, and private insurance. Proposed
      expansions in insurance coverage for the large proportion of uninsured Texans
      will probably require strong efforts to contain costs.

PMID- 1462272
TI  - It's time to ration health-care technology.

PMID- 1462273
TI  - Sunset is golden opportunity to make changes at TSBME.

PMID- 1462274
TI  - RBRVS: the first 6 months.

PMID- 1462275
TI  - The tactics are the crime.

PMID- 1462276
TI  - Relationship between the immune system and the diseases of the central nervous
      system.
AB  - Considering the eventual role of non-specific cell-mediated immune reactions in
      the pathogenesis of Parkinson's syndrome based on the destruction of dopaminergic
      cells of the substantia nigra the killer cell activity of patients suffering from
      this disease has been examined. According to the results the killer cell activity
      of Parkinson patients is significantly lower in the age group below 60 years as
      compared to the higher age groups. When comparing the age groups below 60 years,
      significantly lower activity was measured in the patients than in the controls.
      Killer cell activity is significantly higher in patients suffering from more
      severe conditions (Hoehn-Yahr's stage IV-V) when compared to the milder cases.
      These results suggest the possibility that killer cell-mediated ADCC reaction may
      play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. The results of these examinations
      open new therapeutic perspectives. It may be hoped that, as a result of our
      increasing knowledge and technical progress in immunology, the damaged immune
      system could be selectively influenced and target specific immune therapy could
      be used in the near future by means of for instance inactivations of cytotoxic
      cells, elimination of antibodies or other immunological methods.

PMID- 1462277
TI  - Anti-anginal effect of Tenormin (atenolol).
AB  - The anti-anginal effect of Tenormin (atenolol) has been examined besides placebo
      control by single blind method in 20 patients with ischaemic heart disease,
      suffering from stable effort angina proved by coronarography. It has been
      observed that atenolol significantly decreases the weekly number of anginal
      attacks, and the amount of sublingual nitroglycerin consumption. It has been
      proved that atenolol successfully prevents the exercise-induced elevation of
      blood pressure and heart rate, increases exercise tolerance, decreases myocardial
      O2 consumption. The place among beta-blockers of the cardioselective, low
      lipophilic atenolol, which lacks membrane stabilizing and partial agonist
      activity, has been discussed. The administration of a single daily dose (one 100
      mg tablet), selective cardiac effect, lack of unwanted side-effects (cold
      extremity, nightmare, insomnia, etc.) are the advantages of the drug.

PMID- 1462278
TI  - Several years observations with Mydocalm muscle relaxant in locomotor disease
      patients.
AB  - Two therapeutic methods were compared on locomotor disease patients; the
      currently used anti-inflammatory complex therapy and the same therapy
      complemented with Mydocalm. On the basis of the changes of pain indices and
      motion indices chosen as parameters it could be concluded that Mydocalm is a
      valuable adjuvant, especially in improving locomotor functions, and it promotes
      the improvement of the general condition of the patients and the performance of
      their daily activities by relieving muscular hypertonia and contractures.

PMID- 1462279
TI  - Use of pefloxacin in urogenital infections.
AB  - Forty-three patients suffering from acute or chronic urinary tract infections
      have been treated with pefloxacin at the Department of Urology of St. Istan
      Hospital. Twenty-three patients received oral doses (2 x 400 mg), 1 tabl. in the
      mornings and 1 in the evenings. Eighteen patients were given 2 x 1 intravenous
      ampoule (2 x 400 mg) dissolved in 250 ml 5% glucose in slow drip infusion. Both
      the oral and intravenous doses were given in the patients for 10 days. In two
      patients complications was observed--in one case rhagades were formed on the lip
      and face due to photo-sensibilization, in the other case the drug administration
      had to be discontinued because of nausea and vomiting. These symptoms ceased
      after the discontinuance of the drug. The clinical conditions, the routes of
      administration, clinical and bacteriological results are summarized in tables. On
      the basis of a low number of cases it has been concluded that pefloxacin is a new
      valuable antibacterial drug the use of which resulted in recovery in 15 out of 18
      patients' acute and chronic infections of the urogenital system.

PMID- 1462280
TI  - Haemodynamic effect of nitroglycerin spray.
AB  - 1. It is a reliable nitroglycerin (NTG) form influencing circulation and
      haemodynamics like other nitroglycerin products, 2. It is easily applicable, 3.
      Its use is advantageous especially for the prevention of pressure elevation
      occurring in response to physical exercise thus for the prevention of effort
      angina as well, 4. It is a reliable drug to be used in haemodynamic laboratories
      for measuring nitroglycerin effect, 5. Due to the rapidly developing fall of end
      diastolic pressure caused by the product it is also of value in controlling
      cardiac asthma attacks.

PMID- 1462281
TI  - Estulic--a well tolerated and effective antihypertensive drug in general
      practice.
AB  - The results of the treatment of 28 patients with mild to moderate hypertension
      using guanfacin (Estulic) monotherapy and of 24 patients receiving combined
      antihypertensive therapy containing Estulic are reported on. The blood pressure
      was lowered and stabilized during the first month of therapy. No addiction or
      loss in effectivity was seen. There were no changes in ECG or laboratory results
      during the mean follow up time of 11 months. Four patients discontinued the drug
      because of subjective side-effects. The single daily dose, the reliable
      effectivity, the safety of the drug makes it an important antihypertensive drug
      in general practice.

PMID- 1462282
TI  - Mydocalm treatment of muscular and vascular complaints accompanying climacterics.
AB  - Coated Mydocalm tablet, known as striated muscle relaxant and peripheral
      vasodilator, has been used in climacteric women. The women suffered from muscular
      and vascular complaints besides the common symptoms of decreased or lacking
      ovarian function which could not be controlled with oestrogen substitution
      therapy. Mydocalm significantly moderated these complaints without causing
      unwanted effects and the majority of the women could be maintained in a complaint
      free condition in this respect. According to the opinion of the author the drug
      is a valuable adjuvant to an adequate hormone therapy.

PMID- 1462283
TI  - Observations with a tri-phasic oral contraceptive (Tri-Regol) in everyday
      clinical practice.
AB  - The theoretical general principles of triphasic oral contraception are discussed
      in the introduction. This method, which is the closest to a physiological dosage,
      seems to be the most advantageous today. International data and the advantages
      and wide indication field of such "step-up" tablets are also discussed. The
      observations with the Hungarian Tri-Regol tablet are described in detail. In the
      course of controlling 355 cycles of 79 women pregnancy was not observed, the
      tablets were well tolerated by the women-except for some milder side-effects. The
      use of Tri-Regol needed not be discontinued due to, any unwanted effect or
      complication. The rate of intermenstrual bleeding was very low, and the triphasic
      therapy proved to be beneficial in case of manifesting cycle disorders or if the
      change of the contraceptive tablet became necessary because of intolerance.
      According to the opinion of the authors the oral contraceptive Tri-Regol is
      today's drug of choice due to its reliable ovulation inhibitory action, low
      hormone content, and favourable tolerability.

PMID- 1462284
TI  - Some indications for the gynaecological use of budesonide (Apulein).
AB  - Budesonide-containing Apulein ointment has been used for the treatment of 29
      women suffering from vulvitis, pruritus vulvae caused by vaginal discharge,
      gestational inflamed hemorrhoid, hymenitis, and late postoperative suture
      inflammation. The ointment rapidly and completely controlled local infiltration
      and the accompanying subjective complaints. It did not cause local alteration,
      the consistency of the ointment met the requirements and it did not disturb the
      patients' making their toilet. According to the author's opinion the product is a
      potent antiphlogistic which proved to be a valuable adjuvant to target specific
      treatment of inflammatory processes of the external female genital organs and
      perianal regions.

PMID- 1462285
TI  - Bicentenary of Theophyl Janos Fabini's birth.

PMID- 1462286
TI  - [Ethical problems of trials of drugs against chronic diseases].

PMID- 1462287
TI  - [Informed consent. A myth--or a strait-jacket for policy control?].

PMID- 1462288
TI  - [HELLP--still a syndrome].

PMID- 1462289
TI  - [HELLP syndrome--a life-threatening pregnancy complication].
AB  - A serious complication to pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia is the
      HELLP syndrome (H - haemolysis, EL - elevated liver enzymes, LP - low platelet
      count). Perinatal and maternal mortality are reported to be high, 7-60% and 2
      24%, respectively. A non-obstetric diagnosis is often made, such as
      gastrointestinal or haematologic disease. Typical symptoms are epigastric and
      right upper-quadrant pain and tenderness, nausea and vomiting. Recognition of the
      clinical and laboratory findings is important, so that early, aggressive therapy
      can be initiated in order to prevent maternal and perinatal death. We present
      data from 14 patients with the HELLP syndrome treated in our hospital. There was
      one intrauterine death. The other infants were discharged in good condition. Two
      of the patients had eclampsia.

PMID- 1462290
TI  - [HELLP syndrome--4 case reports].
AB  - HELLP-syndrome (H - haemolysis, EL - elevated liver enzymes, LP - low platelet
      count) is a serious complication of pregnancy. It can be considered as a variant
      of severe preeclampsia, where haemolysis, hepatic damage (elevated liver enzymes)
      and thrombocytopenia (low platelets) are all present. Four case reports of HELLP
      syndrome are described. HELLP-syndrome may develop within a few hours. It can be
      seen pre-, intra- and postpartum. Many patients do not exhibit a clinical picture
      of severe preeclampsia. Patients who develop HELLP-syndrome usually complain of
      malaise, nausea, epigastric pain and headache. The diagnosis is confirmed when
      haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and thrombocytopenia are demonstrated.
      Patients with HELLP-syndrome require intensive care by a team of obstetricians,
      anaesthesiologists and haematologists.

PMID- 1462291
TI  - [Organ donation from recently deceased patients. Experiences from a donor
      hospital and suggestions for handling potential organ donors and their
      relatives].
AB  - Homologous organ transplantation using organs from patients suffering complete
      destruction of the brain and brain stem is a major achievement in modern
      medicine. The care of potential organ donors and their relatives is complex and
      very demanding for the medical team and nursing staff. In Norway the law sets
      very clear criteria (documentation of total irreversible brain and brain stem
      injury) for performing donation. As a rule consent from the family is asked for,
      although not legally required. This article deals with the problems related to
      the treatment of potential organ donors. We give practical guidelines for medical
      staff on how to prepare the patient and his/her family, with emphasis on the
      human and psychosocial aspects. Preservation of the donor and the organs is not
      discussed.

PMID- 1462292
TI  - [Postrenal acute renal failure with deficient or minimal dilatation of the renal
      pelvis].
AB  - This article presents the clinical and radiological findings in three patients
      with acute obstructive renal failure. In a setting of typical clinical symptoms
      of acute postrenal obstruction, the lack of or only minimal ultrasonographic
      dilatation of the pelvicalyceal system should not lead to the conclusion that
      there is no obstruction until supplementary invasive procedures have demonstrated
      open urinary tracts. Minimal pelvic dilatation in acute obstructive renal failure
      is typically associated with malignant diseases encasing the distal parts of the
      ureters, retroperitoneal fibrosis, urinary calculi and urinary infections.
      Various pathophysiologic mechanisms are discussed.

PMID- 1462293
TI  - [Treatment of stomach ulcer with bismuth subnitrate, oxytetracycline and
      metronidazole].
AB  - 60 patients with recurrent duodenal ulcers were treated with bismuth subnitrate,
      oxytetracycline and metronidazole. Helicobacter pylori status was assessed before
      and after treatment by means of the 14C-urea breath test. All patients were
      helicobacter positive before treatment. Four weeks after cessation of therapy H
      pylori had been eradicated in 57 out of 60 patients (95%). The ulcer healing rate
      was 100% after six weeks. 43% of the patients complained of moderate to severe
      side effects, mainly nausea and diarrhoea, but no patients discontinued the
      treatment prematurely. The study indicates that nearly all patients with
      recurrent duodenal ulcer are infected with H pylori, and that the present triple
      treatment regimen is very effective both in eradicating H pylori and in healing
      the ulcer.

PMID- 1462294
TI  - [Congenital short Achilles tendon. A survey of habitual toe-walking in children].
AB  - Congenital short tendo calcaneus is seen in children as partial or complete
      walking on the toes, and may represent a major disturbance for normal motor
      development and coordination. This clinical finding may indicate a more serious,
      underlying disease (cerebral paresis, childhood psychosis or a neuromuscular
      disorder). If the patient, apart from walking on the toes exhibits normal
      clinical findings, the diagnosis of congenital short tendo calcaneus may be
      justified. The disease may be inherited. The diagnosis should be made by an
      orthopaedist, and the treatment is either conservative with aggressive physical
      therapy, or surgery. The prognosis is good after early diagnosis and special
      treatment. A review of the literature, with emphasis on diagnosis and treatment,
      is presented, together with a brief review of five patients operated by the
      authors.

PMID- 1462295
TI  - [Quality assurance in clinical trials. Problems related to patient information].
AB  - In connection with a phase-III study of cholesterol lowering agents, a
      questionnaire survey was carried out on information to patients' during clinical
      trials. The survey included 124 patients and nine team members with different
      professional backgrounds. The results show that, in spite of the fact that the
      patients had received information in accordance with the guidelines, only 47% of
      them had perceived that conventional treatment would be offered to those who
      dropped out of the study. A test of the extent of the patients' understanding
      about the drugs they were taking showed that only 39% knew how the drug acted and
      the reasons for the chosen dosing schedule. 23% of the patients would like to
      have received more information, but 9% of these had problems in formulating
      questions to the health personnel. Anxiety was a problem for 16% of patients,
      especially in the early phase of the clinical study. Only half of the team
      members were aware of this. 45% of the patients felt that they would disappoint
      the team if they expressed a wish to drop out of the study. Most of the team
      members would have tried to motivate the patients to continue to participate in
      the trial. Based on the results of the survey, we suggest some main elements of
      standard procedures for providing information to patients in connection with
      clinical trials.

PMID- 1462296
TI  - [Quality assurance in laboratory medicine--reality and challenge].
AB  - So far, quality assurance in laboratory medicine in Norway has concentrated
      mainly on results. As yet, however, much still remains to be done, particularly
      in the fields of pathology, radiology and nuclear medicine. Insufficient emphasis
      has been paid to quality assurance of the requests made for tests and
      interpretation of the results. Important for this part of quality assurance are
      teaching and education, cooperation between the laboratory physician and the
      clinician, more active participation of the laboratory physician in the solving
      of clinical problems and a change from menu-oriented to problem-oriented
      requests.

PMID- 1462297
TI  - [Bone density measurements in prevention of femoral neck fractures].
AB  - With a view to preventing hip fractures, bone mineral density measurements have
      been suggested as a means of selecting individuals at risk. We suggest two
      focuses in a preventive strategy: selection and information. The overlap in
      mineral density distributions among women who experience hip fractures and those
      who do not leads to a high number of inconclusive measurements as regards placing
      individuals into two such groups. The measurements should therefore be used
      primarily to inform individuals about their risk. In order to evaluate this
      technology, prospective studies on bone mineral density measurements prior to
      oestrogen hormone replacement therapy are highly desirable.

PMID- 1462298
TI  - [Alcohol consumption among convicted drivers].
AB  - 150 males imprisoned for drunken driving were assessed by means of a
      questionnaire and medical examination. The objectives were to study alcohol
      consumption and frequency of alcohol-related problems. Half of the assessed
      persons were less than 30 years of age. 62% had a blood alcohol concentration >
      1.50%. 36% had previously been convicted for drunken driving. Average alcohol
      consumption was 58 gram per day. 40% of the convicted persons reported a
      consumption of more than 40 gram alcohol per day. Corrected for under-reporting
      the consumption was even higher. The CAGE questionnaire was positive in 54%,
      indicating an alcohol-related problem. GGT (gamma-glutamyltransferase) was
      elevated in 23% and CDT (carbohydrate deficient transferrin) in 35%. This study
      indicates that 50-60% of convicted drunken drivers were excessive drinkers or/and
      had alcohol-related problems. Imprisonment and fines seem to have a limited
      impact on occurrence of drunken driving. Other strategies are discussed.

PMID- 1462299
TI  - [Ingvald Undset's disease].

PMID- 1462301
TI  - [Drug abusers can be rehabilitated].

PMID- 1462300
TI  - [6,000 flashes per minute].

PMID- 1462302
TI  - [Sudden infant death and the lying position].

PMID- 1462303
TI  - [How do we determine the duration of pregnancy?].

PMID- 1462304
TI  - [Fractioned abrasion--ritual or rational?].

PMID- 1462305
TI  - [Pain in infants].

PMID- 1462306
TI  - [Pain and pain relief in neonates and infants].
AB  - We review the development of the anatomical and physiological basis for
      nociception. We point out the ability of babies, even those who are born very
      prematurely, to feel pain. Procedures which would be painful to older children
      and adults are also painful to newborns and infants. A sick infant in intensive
      care may be particularly sensitive to the destabilizing effects of pain, and
      analgesics will very often be indicated in such infants. We discuss various types
      of analgesia suitable for infants, and doses of commonly used analgesics.

PMID- 1462307
TI  - [Head injuries with delayed intracranial hemorrhage].
AB  - Nine cases of delayed intracranial haematomas were found among 300 patients with
      head injuries during a two-year period. Six of the nine patients developed
      delayed traumatic intracerebral haematoma, two epidural haematoma and one
      subdural haematoma. Delayed intracerebral haematoma was diagnosed from 12 hours
      to six days after the trauma. The primary CT showed brain contusion in the
      majority of the patients. The outcome was poor. One patient died and two were
      severely disabled. The clinical course was more rapid in the two patients with
      epidural haematoma than in the others. Marked elevation of intracranial pressure
      was monitored in both cases prior to the second CT examination. In spite of
      successful evacuation of the haematoma, one patient died and the other developed
      physical and mental retardation. In one patient a subdural haematoma was
      diagnosed three months after the trauma. The patient did well postoperatively.

PMID- 1462308
TI  - [Exchange practice visits--a new and good way of training. A method for quality
      assurance in general medicine].
AB  - The Norwegian Association of General Practitioners has adopted a method for
      postgraduate education in general practice called exchange practice visit. This
      article presents the method, which is a simplified version of the procedure
      described in the booklet, What sort of doctor, from The Royal College of General
      Practitioners in England. We have tested this way of education, and describe our
      experiences of it. We conclude that an exchange practice visit is an important
      supplement to the training of general practitioners, and provides a good tool for
      quality assurance in medicine.

PMID- 1462309
TI  - [Aspects of quality assurance and research in general practice].
AB  - Research is a prerequisition for setting standards in the field of quality
      assurance. It is emphasized that scientific work that is intended to have an
      impact on general practice has to be carried out in general practice. Quality
      assurance plays a decisive role in recognizing and applying the results of
      relevant research. The author discusses the significance of typical topics
      concerning the presentation and prevalence of diseases in general practice.
      Issues related to quality assurance of scientific studies performed by general
      practitioners are considered. Intra- and interobserver variation as a problem
      towards achieving reliable results is described and discussed. The author
      emphasises the importance of The research council in general practice, as a help
      in achieving quality assurance.

PMID- 1462310
TI  - [Quality assurance in a department of pathology and anatomy].
AB  - The author describes a quality assurance programme in a department of anatomic
      pathology. An internal quality assurance committee consisting of four
      consultants, two chief technicians and a chief secretary meets monthly to decide
      what measures should be carried out each month. The main activities have been to
      review random cases of surgical pathology, frozen sections, diagnostic revisions,
      turn-around times and single event reports. Problems of diagnosis are discussed
      at a medical staff meeting before they are put before the committee. The
      programme has been well received in the department.

PMID- 1462311
TI  - [Should ultrasound examination be performed earlier in pregnancy?].
AB  - In 1991 33 perinatal deaths occurred at Rogaland hospital. Seven of the babies
      showed severely retarded growth (< 3 percentile) compared with the delivery date
      indicated by ultrasound. Five babies showed moderately retarded growth (from 3-10
      percentile) and the remaining babies were not definitely growth retarded. For the
      three groups the delivery date indicated by ultrasound was on average 18, eight
      and five days later than the date estimated according to the rule of Naegele. A
      delivery date estimated by ultrasound at 18-19 weeks may cause serious
      misjudgements in cases of early retardation of growth. Earlier ultrasound
      examination is recommended for a more reliable estimated date of delivery. The
      author discusses ultrasound examination which differentiates estimation of
      delivery date and screening for malformation.

PMID- 1462312
TI  - [Curettage in Troms and Finnmark 1980-89. Was it necessary?].
AB  - 11,201 dilatations and curettages were performed at four hospitals in the
      counties of Troms and Finnmark (Northern Norway) during the years 1980-89. The
      overall rate was 100 per 10,000 women/year. The age distribution and the
      indications for dilatation and curettage are shown and discussed. Large
      variations were found during the period, and between the four hospitals. These
      variations are probably due to differences in the physicians' style of practice.
      It is concluded that the operation rate is too high, especially in younger women.
      A further approach to investigations of variations in operation rates is
      discussed.

PMID- 1462313
TI  - [Cooperation between regional and central hospitals--how to achieve the best
      results?].
AB  - The authors reviews a recent governmental analysis of cooperation between third
      line university clinics and local and central hospitals. The hospitals are owned
      by the government (mainly by the counties), and the various Acts and regulation
      permit the central authorities to make decisions on all aspects of highly
      specialized medicine. The analysis concludes that a limited number of problems
      should be solved by decision of the central government, but only those where
      national concerns are involved. The counties within a health region should
      cooperate within a Regional Health Policy Board, to create plans for flow of
      patients through the health care system, specified for each field of medicine.
      When such plans have been approved by the Regional Health Policy Board, each
      county should be willing to accept them. In the event of local disagreement, the
      central government should decide.

PMID- 1462315
TI  - [Bicycle accidents].

PMID- 1462314
TI  - [A waiting list system for patients for access to the same physician--will be
      tested in Norway].

PMID- 1462316
TI  - [Quality assurance--a balancing act].

PMID- 1462317
TI  - [Diagnosis of abuse--without confirming analyses are client's legal rights
      threatened].

PMID- 1462318
TI  - [Quality assurance of drug prescriptions--is it good enough?].

PMID- 1462319
TI  - [This is a great country ... quality assurance in Denmark].

PMID- 1462321
TI  - [Suicide and mass media].

PMID- 1462320
TI  - [Pathology of poverty].

PMID- 1462322
TI  - [Laparoscopy in urology].

PMID- 1462323
TI  - [Cytokines--from research to clinical use].

PMID- 1462325
TI  - [Extirpation of benign renal cysts with laparoscopic technique].
AB  - Laparoscopic surgery is rapidly increasing its field of application. We describe
      the uncomplicated use of peritoneoscopic techniques to remove a benign renal
      cyst. No previous report of this mini-invasive, patient-friendly and cost
      effective method has been found in the literature. It should be considered in the
      rare cases where surgery is indicated as treatment for this benign condition.

PMID- 1462324
TI  - [Disseminated fungal infections in neonates--risk factors, treatment and course].
AB  - During 10 1/2 months in 1990/91 eight premature babies and one mature baby with
      an intra-abdominal disease had disseminated Candida albicans infections. The
      incidence in premature newborns was 9% (8/92 patients). Risk factors such as
      respirator therapy, the use of broad spectrum antibiotics, supplemental
      parenteral nutrition and central intravascular catheters were frequently seen.
      Four patients survived the fungal infection. These included three of five babies
      treated with amphotericin B 0.5 mg/kg/day. Two patients who received fluconazole
      3 mg/kg/day died after three days. In one patient the diagnosis was obtained post
      mortem, and one patient with possible fungemia survived without therapy. The
      treatment of these patients depends on optimal fungal cultures and good co
      operation between paediatricians and microbiologists.

PMID- 1462326
TI  - [Quality assurance of cooperation/distribution of work between primary health
      care and other health services. Using care for diabetics as a basis].
AB  - Chronic illnesses account for an increasing share of the work load of the health
      services, implying that health personnel have to face a number of different
      complex problems. Many of these concern co-operation between the various
      professionals and levels of the health services, and distribution of the load of
      work. How well this co-operation works will have a decisive effect on the quality
      of the treatment. These problems are discussed using care of diabetes patients as
      an example. It is important to achieve medical consensus at different levels. The
      authors suggest ways of establishing co-operation within the medical profession,
      specifically defining responsibility, ensuring good and frequent communication
      with patients, and promoting patient participation. The article also describes
      concrete solutions and includes a check list for quality assessment.

PMID- 1462327
TI  - [High quality medical records--high quality medicine].
AB  - The medical record is both an indicator of the quality of care, and a means of
      improving this quality. In addition to being a source of information and a means
      of communication in the care of patients, the medical record is also becoming a
      document of increasing legal importance. The content and design of medical
      records, and how they are kept, should comply with legal requirements. The
      patients' right to read their own records is well established in Norway.
      Incomplete records and lack of information will always be held against the doctor
      in the case of complaints or lawsuits. The medical record provides a good basis
      for evaluation of care, and a systematic evaluation of medical records, e.g. in
      groups, is an effective form of medical audit. While the authorities are making
      an effort to achieve better standardization of medical records, every medical
      practitioner should do his best to let the everyday use of medical records become
      an important part of his personal quality assurance.

PMID- 1462328
TI  - [Quality assurance of medical education--a prerequisite for good medical
      practice].
AB  - Assured quality of medical education is a prerequisite for high quality medicine.
      Quality assurance of medical education implies a well-planned assessment of the
      structure, process and outcome of education based on defined standards and
      objectives, and draws heavily on a thorough knowledge of how people learn.
      Learning in medicine shares common features at all levels, from undergraduate to
      continuing education. Three core elements are the context of learning,
      availability of information, and opportunities for elaboration (educational
      counselling, mentorship, interaction with peers) as a basis for linking practice
      and theory. A quality assurance programme must examine all these factors and
      suggest remedies when appropriate. The upgrading of educational research in
      medicine, and valuing and recognition of teaching within the profession, are
      important factors in promoting continuous improvement of the quality of medical
      education.

PMID- 1462329
TI  - [Violent behavior of patients--is it predictable?].
AB  - In previous research on prediction of violent behaviour in patients some of the
      most important limitations have been lack of precision in defining violent
      behaviour, unsystematic registration of violence, and the fact that the
      prediction has been made valid for contexts other than that in which the original
      assessment was made. Of the neurobiological factors associated with violence,
      scientists have recently focused upon the serotonergic system in the central
      nervous system as being important. The authors review the literature on
      individual predictors of violent behaviour. Strong predictors seem to be previous
      violent behaviour, a high degree of hostility, suspiciousness and grandiosity,
      and current alcohol or drug abuse. The article includes suggestions for future
      research, and concludes with a presentation of guidelines for clinical assessment
      of risk of violence, with emphasis on recent events and observed behaviour.

PMID- 1462330
TI  - [Assessment of habitually violent persons with psychiatric symptoms].
AB  - Persons with habitual violent behaviour are categorized according to their
      motivation, psychiatric illness and/or personality disorder. Assessments of the
      different types of violence are essential for placement and safe handling of
      potentially violent persons in acute threatening situations, and for planning
      treatment.

PMID- 1462331
TI  - [Social network, alcohol drinking habits and injuries caused by violence among
      women and men in the county of Akershus. Results from anonymous questionnaires
      among persons aged 40-42 years. 1990-91].
AB  - All residents aged 40-42 in Akershus county were invited to screening for
      cardiovascular risk factors in 1990-91 as part of a prevention programme. Of the
      13,607 attendants, 8,960 answered an anonymous questionnaire about social
      network, drinking habits, and injuries due to violence. Compared with data from
      the Central Bureau of Statistics, our material included a high percentage of
      persons with a higher education, a high percentage of married persons, and a low
      percentage of persons living alone. Results in respect of social network and
      drinking habits roughly agreed with those of other studies. Of the males, 15.7%
      had been injured at least once as a result of violence, most often assault and
      robbery. Of the females, the corresponding percentage was 18.1. Here the
      dominating forms of violence were maltreatment, threats and sexual assault.
      Females were more often exposed than males to repeated violence and more often
      suffered persisting problems as a result of maltreatment. Compared with other
      studies, we found a high prevalence of injuries from violence among females,
      suggesting underreporting of experiences of violence by females in studies based
      on personal interview or the hospitals' injury register.

PMID- 1462332
TI  - [Do physicians not examine patients with back pain?].

PMID- 1462333
TI  - [Surgical gloves can cause severe problems].

PMID- 1462334
TI  - [Centralization of obstetrical care and perinatal mortality in Norwegian counties
      during the period 1986-90].

PMID- 1462335
TI  - [Euthanasia].

PMID- 1462336
TI  - [Medical education out of date].

PMID- 1462337
TI  - [Physicians' practice in connection with declaration of fitness].

PMID- 1462338
TI  - [Is quality assurance integrated in basic medical education?].

PMID- 1462339
TI  - [Medical leadership at sectioned departments].

PMID- 1462340
TI  - [Supplementary hay reduces fur chewing in rabbits].
AB  - We tested the hypothesis that loose grass hay as a supplement to a pelleted diet
      reduces fur chewing in rabbits. Weanling rabbits (n = 315) were given one of
      three diets ad libitum: a control, pelleted diet, the pelleted diet containing
      20% (wt/wt) hay meal or the pelleted diet plus loose hay. Fur chewing was
      assessed indirectly by blind scoring of the extent of alopecia in live rabbits
      and the amount of gastric hair after slaughter. Rabbits given either loose hay or
      the diet pellets containing hay displayed significantly less alopecia on the back
      and sides than control rabbits did. Loose hay, but not the pellets containing
      hay, completely prevented the development of alopecia on the forehead. The
      provision of loose hay as supplement to the control diet pellets significantly
      reduced the amount of gastric hair, whereas inclusion of hay meal into the
      pellets had no effect. It is concluded that supplemental loose hay prevents
      rabbits from pulling off fur from the forehead of cage mates. This effect of hay
      might be related to satisfaction of a craving for nibbling.

PMID- 1462341
TI  - [Diarrhea in cats].
AB  - Diarrhoea is regarded as the characteristic symptom of intestinal disturbances.
      However, cats with intestinal disturbances can also show other symptoms such as
      vomiting, increased or decreased appetite and loss of weight. Cats with diarrhoea
      are usually only referred to the clinic if they have a chronic problem. Acute
      diarrhoea reacts well to symptomatic treatment, but chronic diarrhoea requires a
      specific diagnosis for a directed therapy and prognosis. It is essential to
      examine faeces and blood when evaluating a cat with diarrhoea. In contrast to the
      situation for dogs, there are no good specific digestion and absorption tests
      available for cats to evaluate pancreatic and intestinal function. Exocrine
      pancreatic insufficiency rarely occurs in cats. A preliminary diagnosis of small
      intestine disorders can be made on the basis of the faeces staining positive for
      fat, an oral fat absorption test and the response to therapy. The definitive
      diagnosis must usually await the results of histological examination of
      intestinal biopsy samples. Cats with acute diarrhoea often recover spontaneously,
      and symptomatic treatment is only necessary for severe cases. A specific
      diagnosis is needed for cats with chronic diarrhoea, to enable directed
      treatment. Corticosteroids are used in the treatment of chronic enteritis because
      of their immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory actions. Antibiotics are only
      indicated for specific bacterial infections (such as Salmonella and
      Campylobacter), bloody diarrhoea, or rampant bacterial growth. Specially
      formulated diets play a major role in the treatment of both acute and chronic
      diarrhoea.

PMID- 1462342
TI  - [Professional practice and health status of veterinarians].
AB  - By carrying out an inquiry by mail to 925 veterinarians in the Southern
      Netherlands, there was looked after a relationship between the professional
      practice of the veterinarian and his health status. The inquiry was completed and
      returned by 453 veterinarians. The questions about the health status dealt with
      complaints about: the respiratory tract, the stand and motion apparatus and the
      hearing. Based on over 75% of the work package the veterinarians were divided
      into: veterinarians in the large animal practice, veterinarians in the small
      animal practice and veterinarians with an other job. The results are compared
      with the results of a comparable inquiry by pig farmers. Veterinarians, who do
      smoke, have twice as much respiratory complaints than no smoking veterinarians.
      Veterinarians in the large animal practice have more respiratory complaints, more
      complaints about elbows and wrists and more deafness. Veterinarians in the small
      animal practice have more complaints about allergies, and more complaints about
      the back and the knees and feet.

PMID- 1462343
TI  - [Role of the veterinarian in changing animal husbandry].

PMID- 1462344
TI  - [Causes of primary and secondary glaucoma in dogs].

PMID- 1462345
TI  - [Acute mortality in pigs caused by Streptococcus suis type 1].
AB  - In early 1991 many young pigs died without clinical signs on a farm in the
      Province of Utrecht. This article describes the isolation of Streptococcus suis
      type 1 after postmortem examination of the piglets.

PMID- 1462346
TI  - [Taxus baccata poisoning in lambs and meat inspection].
AB  - Yew (Taxus baccata) poisoning in lambs: meat control twenty-two poisoned lambs
      were slaughtered at a special slaughterhouse. Yew intoxication was diagnosed on
      the basis of the anamnesis and the presence of yew needles in the rumen. Data
      from the literature concerning the toxicity of yew and some (traditional) uses of
      yew are reported. The symptoms and post-mortem findings in animals and humans are
      discussed, together with the poorly effective treatment of yew poisoning and
      preventative measures. The outcome of the meat inspection is explained on the
      basis of current and new regulations (Regulations and Guidelines Governing the
      Inspection of Meat 91/497/EEG). A reliable and recognized method for the
      detection of taxins is required.

PMID- 1462347
TI  - [Pannus].

PMID- 1462348
TI  - [Euthanasia in domestic animals].

PMID- 1462349
TI  - Effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin or 2,2',4,4',5,5'
      hexachlorobiphenyl on vitamin K-dependent blood coagulation in female germfree
      WAG/Rij-rats.
AB  - Newborn infants are susceptible to bleeding disorders caused by a vitamin K
      deficiency, so called 'haemorrhagic disease of the newborn' (HDN). These
      bleedings often occur in infants after medication of the mother with
      antiepileptics, such as phenobarbital or phenytoin. It has been suggested that an
      increase in the late type of HDN in exclusively breast-fed infants might be
      related to the presence of cytochrome P450-inducing polychlorinated biphenyls
      (PCBs), dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in human milk. In
      order to study this possible mechanistic relationship 5-week-old, germfree,
      female WAG/Rij-rats were exposed to a single oral dose of either 1 microgram
      2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin/kg body weight (TCDD) or 30 mg 2,2',4,4',5,5'
      hexachlorobiphenyl/kg body weight (HxCB), representing cytochrome P-450 1A (3
      methylcholanthrene type) and 2B (phenobarbital type) inducers. During the
      experiment blood coagulation time from each rat was measured. Also, hepatic 7
      ethoxy-(EROD) and 7-pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylating (PROD) activities and total
      cytochrome P450 content were measured. Blood coagulation time (Thrombotest) in
      the HxCB-treated rats was significantly prolonged and positively correlated to
      PROD activity and total P450 content. No clear effect of TCDD on coagulation time
      could be observed under these experimental conditions. These results suggest
      involvement of P450 2B isoenzymes in vitamin K metabolism.

PMID- 1462350
TI  - Acute renal and hepatic toxicity of 2-haloanilines in Fischer 344 rats.
AB  - Aniline and its halogenated derivatives are widely used as chemical
      intermediates. The purpose of this study was to determine the hepatotoxic and
      nephrotoxic potential of the 2-haloanilines. Male Fischer 344 rats (n > or = 4)
      were injected (i.p.) with 1.0 or 1.25 mmol/kg of: aniline (A), 2-fluoroaniline (2
      FA), 2-chloroaniline (2-ClA), 2-bromoaniline (2-BrA), 2-iodoaniline (2-IA) or
      vehicle (0.9% saline, 2.5 ml/kg). All compounds were injected as hydrochloride
      salts. Renal and hepatic function was monitored 24 h after treatment. All of the
      2-haloanilines induced oliguria, diminished kidney weight, tubular casts and
      decreased renal cortical slice accumulation of organic anions. Blood urea
      nitrogen (BUN) levels were increased (P < 0.05) by treatment with 1.0 or 1.25
      mmol/kg of 2-FA, 2-ClA or 2-BrA. Hepatic alterations were also observed and
      characterized by elevated plasma ALT/GPT activity and altered morphology in the
      centrilobular region. The nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic potentials were similar
      among the 2-haloanilines but aniline was less toxic than its 2-halo derivatives.
      These results demonstrated that halogen substitution at the 2-position of aniline
      increased hepatic and renal toxicity. However, the severity of toxicity was not
      influenced by the nature of the halogen substituent.

PMID- 1462351
TI  - Interaction of cadmium with atrial natriuretic peptide receptors: implications
      for toxicity.
AB  - Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a diuretic and vascular smooth muscle
      relaxant which plays a pivotal role in cardiovascular regulation. Since cadmium
      (Cd) produces cardiovascular toxicity and alters ANP levels in atria and
      hypothalamus, its effect on ANP receptors were studied in rats and in PC12 cells
      exposed to Cd. Male rats were injected with CdCl2 (0.01, 0.1, 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg,
      i.p.) twice a day for 7 days and then maintained for a period of 30 days. On
      experimental day 37 ANP receptor binding in the adrenal cortex, aorta and kidney
      cortex was studied by saturation isotherm analysis. In Cd-treated animals a non
      dose related decrease in receptor affinity and density was observed in the kidney
      and aorta with the aortic ANP receptors being the most sensitive. Cellular
      regulation of the receptor was studied in PC12 cells, a cell line that expresses
      functional ANP receptors. Incubation of PC12 cells with Cd reduced both the
      affinity of the receptor for ANP and decreased the number of binding sites on the
      cell plasma membrane. The ratio of ligand-receptor complex internalized in the
      cell to ligand bound to the plasma membrane was significantly decreased following
      Cd pretreatment (500 microM). A significant decrease in the internalization rate
      of [125I]ANP was observed in cells incubated concurrently with Cd and ligand. In
      photoaffinity labelling studies with [125I]ANP, binding of ANP to B and C
      receptors subtypes was decreased following treatment of either intact cells or
      plasma membranes with Cd. It was concluded that Cd produces significant
      alterations in the ANP receptor, both in in vitro and in vivo models and it is
      proposed these effects play a role in the cardiovascular toxicity of this heavy
      metal.

PMID- 1462352
TI  - Effect of cigarette smoking on salivary epidermal growth factor (EGF) and EGF
      receptor in human buccal mucosa.
AB  - The mouth acts as a primary target for cigarette smoke which is associated with
      several oral diseases and cancer. The present study investigated the effect of
      cigarette smoking on salivary EGF and the buccal EGF receptor. Samples of whole
      saliva and buccal biopsy were obtained from 15 healthy volunteers (10 smokers and
      5 non-smokers). The smokers smoked 20 or more cigarettes/day for more than 5
      years. Salivary cotinine (a major metabolite of nicotine) was determined by
      radioimmunoassay (RIA). The salivary cotinine level was consistent with the self
      reported smoking status (smokers, 106-530 ng/ml saliva; non-smokers, < 2 ng/ml
      saliva). As compared to the non-smokers, the salivary EGF concentration
      (determined by RIA) was 32% lower in those smokers whose salivary cotinine level
      was 250 ng/ml or higher (non-smokers, 2.21 +/- 0.16; smokers, 1.57 +/- 0.09 ng/ml
      saliva; mean +/- S.E.M., P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in 125I
      labeled EGF binding to the buccal receptor between the two groups. However, EGF
      stimulated the autophosphorylation of a 170-kDa protein band in the sample of non
      smokers, but not in the smokers. The immunoblot analysis using anti-EGF receptor
      antibody indicated that the smoking-related deficiency in EGF receptor
      autophosphorylation was due to the functional alteration of the receptor
      proteins. In conclusion, cigarette smoking reduces the salivary EGF level and
      impairs the function of buccal EGF receptor, which may be associated with the
      pathology of smoking-related oral disease.

PMID- 1462353
TI  - Further studies on the hematopoietic damage produced by a single dose of T-2
      toxin in mice.
AB  - Previous studies revealed that a single dose of T-2 toxin produces a strong
      inhibition of the 59Fe incorporation into circulating erythrocytes in mice. In
      the present work it is shown that equivalent doses of T-2 toxin (0.30 mg/kg and
      above) can produce a relative depletion of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming
      cells (CFU-GM) in the bone marrow of treated mice. In additional experiments,
      both the 59Fe uptake into erythrocytes and the bone marrow CFU-GM were measured
      as a function of dose and time after a single administration of T-2 toxin. It was
      found that the initial inhibitory effects are reverted between 24 h and 72 h and
      that in some cases there is even a significant increase over the normal values,
      indicating that there may be a compensatory activation of the hematopoietic
      system. The results presented here suggest that extremely small doses of T-2
      toxin can produce a significant degree of bone marrow cytotoxicity and therefore
      even low level dietary contamination may be of concern.

PMID- 1462354
TI  - The role of metabolism in carbon tetrachloride-mediated immunosuppression. In
      vitro studies.
AB  - In vitro studies were performed to determine the role of metabolic bioactivation
      in mediating immunosuppression by CCl4. Direct addition of CCl4 to naive spleen
      cell cultures sensitized with either sheep erythrocytes, DNP-Ficoll or
      lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in a marked inhibition of the antibody forming
      cell (AFC) response to all three of the selected antigens at 3.0 mM concentration
      in culture. However, this inhibition was primarily due to the direct cytotoxic
      effects of CCl4 on spleen cells following 3-5 days of culture in the presence of
      the chemical as evidenced by a decrease in cell number and viability and by the
      absence of selective effects on T-cell dependent humoral responses which is
      contradictory to the effects observed in vivo. Co-incubation of splenocytes for 1
      h with primary hepatocytes, but not with subcellular metabolic activation
      systems, such as S9 or microsomes, enhanced the immunotoxic effects of CCl4 in
      vitro. Interestingly, a 3-h co-incubation of spleen cells with metabolically
      active hepatocytes in primary culture resulted in an even greater potentiation of
      the immunotoxic effects of CCl4 as determined by the T-cell dependent IgM AFC
      response. Conversely, under identical conditions, CCl4 did not suppress humoral
      responses to the polyclonal B-cell activator LPS which is in agreement with the
      effects produced by in vivo exposure to CCl4. It is important to emphasize that
      for the metabolic activation studies (i.e. co-incubation with either S9,
      microsomes or hepatocytes), spleen cells were washed free of CCl4 immediately
      following the co-incubation period. Control splenocyte cultures (i.e. no
      metabolic activation system) incubated in the presence of CCl4 alone at 3.0 mM
      over a 3-h time-period, had no effect on spleen cell function, number or
      viability. In agreement with our previous findings which indicate that
      pretreatment of mice with inducers and inhibitors of the mixed function oxygenase
      system prior to CCl4 administration modulated the immunotoxic effects of CCl4 in
      vivo, these results lead us to conclude that immunotoxicity by CCl4 requires
      metabolic activation.

PMID- 1462355
TI  - Reduced Leydig cell volume and function in adult rats exposed to 2,3,7,8
      tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin without a significant effect on spermatogenesis.
AB  - Exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is known to alter
      testicular function. However, its effect on the efficiency of spermatogenesis or
      on Leydig cell volume has not been determined in adult rats. In two replicas,
      adult male rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of TCDD at a rate of
      0, 12.5, 25.0, or 50.0 micrograms/kg body weight. Rats were sacrificed 4 weeks
      after treatment. The cytosolic Ah receptor in the testis was estimated at 10.3 +/
      1.2 fmol/mg protein in these adult rats. The presence of the Ah receptor at this
      concentration in the testis reveals that the testis is a possible target organ
      for TCDD-induced responses. Left testes were homogenized and testicular
      spermatids were counted by phase contrast cytometry to determine daily sperm
      production. Right testes were vascularly perfused with glutaraldehyde, embedded
      in Epon 812, sectioned at 0.5 micron, stained with toluidine blue and evaluated
      by stereology for germ cells or Leydig cells. Body weight was reduced (P < 0.01)
      in a dose-dependent fashion. Testicular weight and daily sperm production per
      testis were not significantly reduced by TCDD. Androgen receptor concentrations
      in the testis and prostate were not affected. Weights of two androgen-sensitive
      organs (seminal vesicles and epididymis) were reduced (P < 0.01) in a dose
      dependent fashion and serum concentrations of testosterone were reduced in a dose
      dependent fashion in Replica 2. Due to low numbers of animals in Replica 1, the
      reduced Leydig cell volume was not significant after TCDD treatment; however, in
      Replica 2 there was a dose-dependent reduction (P < 0.01) in volume per testis of
      Leydig cell cytoplasm, nuclei, or total Leydig cell volume. Production of
      testosterone was sufficient to maintain spermatogenesis quantitatively; however,
      TCDD caused a dose-dependent reduction in Leydig cell function and Leydig cell
      volume per testis. This study showed for the first time that TCDD-induced
      androgen deficiency of male rats may be explained by the loss of total volume of
      Leydig cell cytoplasm. This study also further illustrates the reserve capacity
      of Leydig cell function to maintain spermatogenesis when the volume of these
      cells is significantly reduced.

PMID- 1462357
TI  - Interaction of monocrotophos and its novel thion analogues with microsomal
      cytochrome P-450: in vivo and in vitro studies in rat.
AB  - The binding of monocrotophos (MCP) and its two thion analogues (coded as RPR-II
      and RPR-V) to rat hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 (HMC) were investigated in
      vitro by difference spectroscopy. These three organophosphorus insecticides were
      found to bind stoichiometrically to HMC with very high affinity (Ks 34-50
      microM). RPR-V showed the highest binding affinity followed by RPR-II and MCP.
      Association of these compounds with HMC occurred within 2 min of addition in the
      cuvette and therefore, appeared to be tight binding ligands of cytochrome P-450.
      In vivo studies at equitoxic doses of the three compounds 24 h after oral
      treatment in rats revealed that they all caused reduction in MC content in liver,
      lung, kidney and brain, as against induction in cardiac and splenic cytochrome P
      450. These in vivo results suggest organ specificity in modulating the microsomal
      cytochrome P-450 (MC) content of hepatic and extra-hepatic tissues by the three
      compounds. Apparently, their binding affinity with HMC is strongly correlated
      with their LD50 value and has a substantial co-relationship with the cytochrome P
      450 level in the liver.

PMID- 1462356
TI  - Assessment of exposure to parenteral and oral aluminum with and without citrate
      using a desferrioxamine test in rats.
AB  - The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relative usefulness of
      various measures to monitor body aluminum burden in weanling rats fed various
      amounts of aluminum (0.39 mumol Al/g diet for 29 days, approximately 40 mumol
      Al/g diet with or without citrate for 29 days and approximately 100 mumol Al/g
      diet with citrate for 12 or 29 days) or injected intraperitoneally with graded
      doses of aluminum (0.01, 4.6, 11.8, 23.5 or 94 mumol Al). Twenty-four hours prior
      to sacrifice, all rats were injected intraperitoneally with either
      desferrioxamine (75 mg DFO) or buffer. All seven indices of aluminum exposure
      monitored (i.e. tibia, liver, kidney and serum aluminum concentrations; changes
      in serum aluminum concentrations in response to DFO; urinary aluminum excretion
      with and without DFO treatment) were highly (P < 0.001) correlated to parenteral
      aluminum exposure. Five of these measures (i.e. tibia, liver and serum aluminum
      concentrations and urinary aluminum excretion with and without DFO treatment)
      were also highly (P < 0.001) correlated to oral aluminum loads. Changes induced
      by DFO were very small. Moreover, the 'DFO stimulated' serum and urine aluminum
      concentrations were not more correlated to the body load of aluminum, as
      indicated by tibia aluminum concentrations, than baseline values. Comparisons of
      aluminum exposure in tibias and sera of rats exposed to parenteral and oral
      aluminum indicated that only 0.01-0.04% of dietary aluminum was absorbed.
      Ingestion of citrate had small but significant effects on aluminum retention.

PMID- 1462358
TI  - Localization and health effects of lanthanum chloride instilled intratracheally
      into rats.
AB  - Lanthanum (La) is one of the rare earths used in diverse high technology fields
      for which sufficient data for assessing its health effects have been lacking. The
      biological effects and metabolic behaviors of La were studied by instilling
      lanthanum chloride intratracheally into male Wistar rats. The distribution of La
      among tissues revealed that the metal remains mostly in the lung with a
      biological half-time of 244 days. The subcellular localization by transmission
      electron microscopy with an X-ray microanalyzer indicated that La localizes in
      macrophages as high electron-dense granular inclusions in lysosomes and on the
      cell surface and basement membranes of type I pneumocytes among lung cells. The
      pulmonary health effects were examined by biological indices of the
      bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue. The acute toxicity estimated
      by lactate dehydrogenase activity in BALF was comparable to those of yttrium and
      copper that had been determined under the same protocol. Microscopic examination
      of the lung indicated a characteristic increase in the number of eosinophils.

PMID- 1462359
TI  - Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-activity of chicken embryo cells exposed to
      nucleotoxic agents.
AB  - Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP)-activity was assessed in vitro from the
      incorporation of the adenosine-diphosphate-ribose moiety of 14C-NAD+ in the acid
      insoluble cell fraction. When compared to mammalian (rat) cells, chicken embryo
      cells exhibit an almost three- to fourfold higher constitutive PARP-activity and
      an about two- to threefold lower chromatin compactness as evidenced by viscometry
      of alkaline cell lysates and nucleoid sedimentation. X-irradiation, bleomycin and
      H2O2 activated PARP. Hyperthermia (43 degrees C), doxorubicin, ethidium bromide
      and novobiocin resulted in an inhibition of the enzyme activity. Even at the
      highest doses used, UV-light, monofunctionally alkylating agents and the
      bisbenzimide Hoechst 33258 remained without significant effects. It is suggested
      that, with respect to DNA-and/or chromatin-interactive agents, the chicken embryo
      PARP-test may be complementary to the results of morphological and biochemical
      studies.

PMID- 1462360
TI  - Reptilian thymus gland: an ultrastructural overview.
AB  - Like in higher vertebrates, the thymus gland of reptiles consists of lymphoid
      cells within epithelial framework and characteristic myoid cells. Mammalian-like
      Hassall's corpuscles are absent. Secretory cells, secretory and degenerative
      cysts as well as phagocytic cells, and plasma cells can be observed.
      Interdigitating cells and some characteristic features of thymic innervation and
      vascular system are also described in the reptilian thymus gland.

PMID- 1462361
TI  - Effects of cyclosporin A on mouse thymus: immunochemical and ultrastructural
      studies.
AB  - The in vivo effect of cyclosporin A (CsA) on the murine thymus was investigated
      by studying the ultrastructural cellular alterations, which are described for the
      first time, and the immunohistochemical modifications of thymocytes and thymic
      reticulo-epithelial cells (TREC). A marked reduction of the thymus size became
      apparent after 6 days of CsA treatment (10 mg/kg/day). Light microscopy studies
      using polyclonal antibodies (Ab) or monoclonal Ab specific to lymphoid sub
      populations (anti-CD4, anti-CD5, anti-CD8), and specific to epithelial cells
      (anti-keratin: AKs, K8), to cortical TREC (TR4) and to subcapsular/medullary TREC
      (TR5, 3H9) showed that the number of CD4- 8+ or CD4+ 8- medullary thymocytes
      dramatically decreased and that the cortical TREC are affected, after 10 days of
      CsA treatment. These observations were confirmed by electron microscopy studies
      demonstrated that the medullary lymphoid population disappeared almost entirely.
      TREC, principally cortical type, presented signs of cellular lysis. A few
      cortical thymocytes showed some damage. At day 8 the medullary thymic tissue was
      disorganized, but no change was noted in the subcapsular area right up to the
      final day (day 10) of CsA treatment. These results suggest that CsA has a harmful
      effect on cortical TREC, which affects the development of immature thymocytes.

PMID- 1462362
TI  - Interdigitating cells in the rat thymus during cyclosporin A treatment:
      ultrastructural observations.
AB  - Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class II-positive cells are almost
      completely absent in the rat thymic medulla after cyclosporin A (CsA) exposure.
      This phenomenon has been related to alterations in the medullary interdigitating
      cells (IDCs), representing either down-modulation of RT1 class II antigen on
      persistent IDCs, or actual disappearance of IDCs. To resolve this issue, we
      performed an ultrastructural study of the rat thymic medulla during CsA treatment
      (15 mg/kg body weight/day CsA subcutaneously for 7 to 14 days). At day 7 after
      exposure, only very few IDCs could be identified. They showed an abnormal
      ultrastructural morphology as judged by inconspicuous membrane interdigitations
      and lack of Birbeck granules. At day 14, the number of IDCs was larger. At this
      time, the IDCs had a normal ultrastructure, except for the almost complete
      absence of Birbeck granules. We conclude that CsA causes an initial depletion of
      IDCs from the thymic medulla. The ultrastructural morphology of the few IDCs
      present suggests an immature character. New IDC immigrants appear in the
      medullary area already during CsA treatment, indicating early recovery.

PMID- 1462363
TI  - [Hydrophobic interactions of serine proteases with low molecular weight
      compounds: partial effector displacement from the activated enzyme by the
      substrate].
AB  - 1,2,3-tris-tri-beta-phenylethylaminopropane (a compound which can simultaneously
      interact with S1- and S2'-enzyme sites and has complicated grouping in the region
      analogous to "leaving group" of a substrate) has been studied for the effect on
      chymotriptic hydrolysis. Anomalously high inhibitory effect of some cumbersome
      organic compounds is explained on the base of the obtained data.

PMID- 1462364
TI  - [Postradiation changes in Ca2+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase in thymocyte plasma
      membranes].
AB  - The rats were irradiated in the doses 1, 5, 4, 7 and 10 Gr and on the 1, 8, 15,
      22 and 30 day after the irradiation activity of Ca(2+)-ATPase and Mg(2+)-ATPase
      and peroxidation lipids in the thymocytes was determined. It was found that
      postradiation changes in activity of Mg(2+)-ATPase were characterized by a higher
      sensitivity to the processes of lipids peroxidation as compared to Ca(2+)-ATPase.

PMID- 1462365
TI  - [Thermoregulatory uncoupling of oxidation and phosphorylation in the chick brain
      in embryogenesis].
AB  - The cooling of hen incubated eggs to 28 degrees C brings to disconnection of
      oxidative phosphorylation in brain on the 12th day of development. The addition
      of DNP (5 x 10(-5) M) takes off the cooling effect.

PMID- 1462366
TI  - [Effect of compounds having hypotensive activity on microviscosity of
      phospholipids membranes].
AB  - Vincapane, apressin, raunatin, reserpine and prazosin have been studied for their
      effect on the state of microviscosity of phospholipid bilayers from lecithin and
      cardiolipine. The method of fluorescent probing using pyrene and asymmetrical
      polymethine dye 4501 u have been used for this study. Character of changes of
      phospholipid bilayers microviscosity as affected by these compounds depends on
      their concentration in the solution. Vincapan lowers microviscosity of membranes
      from lecithin in the interval of the concentrations given. Advantages of
      fluorescent probing by means of asymmetric polymethine dye in comparison with
      pyrene were shown.

PMID- 1462367
TI  - [Effect of brain cytosol proteins of embryonal and adult animals on RNA
      polymerase activity of isolated brain nuclei].
AB  - Cytosol and its fractions obtained by the precipitation with ammonium sulphate
      and ion-exchange chromatography have been studied for their effect on the RNA
      polymerase activity of isolated nuclei. We observed the discrepancies in the
      action of total cytosol of embryonal, newborn or adult animals on the label's
      incorporation in RNA. It was found that some fractions increased DNA-polymerase
      activity of isolated nuclei in cattle embryonal cytosol. The same fractions
      obtained from adult cytosol did not act in such a way. It was found that most
      fractions obtained from cytosol of adult brain inhibited the RNA-polymerase
      activity of brain nuclei.

PMID- 1462368
TI  - [Influence of delta-sleep-inducing peptide on the activity of proteolytic enzymes
      in the rat brain under hypokinesia].
AB  - Single administration of the delta-sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) in a dose of 12
      micrograms/100 g to intact animals makes the activity of neutral proteinases and
      cathepsin D higher in the rat brain and blood serum. Hypokinesia of different
      duration changes activity of neutral and acidic proteinases and induces
      accessibility of cathepsin D to the cytosol as a result of damage in lysosomal
      membrane. Injection DSIP induces a decrease A/B of cathepsin D to the control
      level under 1-h hypokinesia condition and normalizes the neutral proteolytic
      activity under 6-h hypokinesia condition.

PMID- 1462369
TI  - [Pyruvate decarboxylase inactivation by interaction with substrate and molecular
      oxygen].
AB  - Pyruvate may promote the yeast pyruvate decarboxylase inactivation when affected
      by molecular oxygen. In the presence of pyruvate and O2 inactivation of enzyme
      increases with the initial substrate concentration increasing. pH-dependence of
      pyruvate decarboxylase inactivation under joint action of substrate and O2 has
      maximum in the region 6.9-7.5. It is suggested that the influence of pyruvate and
      molecular oxygen is connected with the coenzyme-substrate complex oxidation in an
      active site of yeast pyruvate decarboxylase on the steps preceding the release of
      free acetaldehyde.

PMID- 1462370
TI  - [Isolation of lectin from horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) seeds and
      study of its interaction with carbohydrates and glycoproteins].
AB  - The lectin from horse chestnut seeds was obtained by affinity chromatography on a
      sorbent prepared from the egg white, 95 mg of lectin per 1 kg of fresh seeds
      being obtained. Molecular weight was determined by gel-filtration on tojopearl HW
      55 and it composed 132 kDa. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the
      presence of one component with molecular weight of 33 kDa. One band has been
      revealed by means of disc-electrophoresis in acidic (pH 4.5) and alkaline system
      (pH 8.9). Sugar was not detected in the lectin. Amino acid composition of the
      lectin has been determined. The lectin agglutinated horse erythrocytes in minimal
      concentration of 9.5 ngml, to the less extent rabbit (4.9 mkg/ml), rat (62
      mkg/ml), human (73 mkg/ml), but did not agglutinate erythrocytes of a sheep and
      cow. Purified lectin did not interact with monosaccharides, but interacted with O
      glycans.

PMID- 1462371
TI  - [Effect of a single and fractionated gamma-irradiation on lipid content in rat
      blood and tissues].
AB  - Contents of lipids, character of blood plasma chemiluminescence and separate
      classes of lipoproteins as well as the content of the lipids of tissues under
      single and fractionated gamma-irradiation of rats in a dose of 3 Gr. The
      development of hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia for four weeks after
      irradiation which are more expressed under a single irradiation, a decrease of
      total content of cholesterol and triglycerides in the heart and liver tissues to
      the end of the experiment 24 hour after irradiation are registered in the both
      groups of animals.

PMID- 1462373
TI  - [Electrolyte composition of cow and calf tissues in health and in acute digestive
      disturbances].
AB  - Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc and chloride contents in
      the blood plasma of calves at parturition have been established to correspond to
      their levels in blood of cows during their calving period. Iron and inorganic
      phosphorus contents in calves blood plasma appeared to increase and copper
      content to be lower in this period as compared to postnatal period. By the third
      day of postnatal ontogenesis sodium concentration in calves blood decreased,
      copper level increased and the rest indices of water-salts metabolism in calves
      and adult animals were alike. Digestion disturbances in the calves were
      accompanied by changes in levels and magnitude of Na+/K+ ratio, magnesium, iron,
      copper, manganese and zinc contents in blood, liver and kidneys as well as
      Ca++/Pi ratio in mitochondria and cytosol of liver and jejunum mucose layer cells
      in comparison with clinically healthy animals.

PMID- 1462372
TI  - [Comparative characterization of the lipoprotein spectrum and status of free
      radical processes in the blood of rabbits exposed to external gamma-irradiation
      and cholesterol administration].
AB  - Characteristic of lipoprotein spectrum and state of free-radical processes in the
      animals under action of ionizing radiation and cholesterin diet are comparatively
      studied. The content of lipids in the blood serum increases on the 5th day after
      irradiation and then decreases on the 15th and 30th days. Cholesterin diet
      increases the content of cholesterin under practically unchanged content of
      triglycerides in the blood serum in all the terms of investigations. Total
      decrease of the intensity of induced chemiluminescence of the blood serum and
      erythrocytes after irradiation is shown. Peroral introduction of cholesterin
      evokes differently directed changes in the light sum of chemiluminescence--a
      decrease in erythrocytes and increase in the blood serum.

PMID- 1462374
TI  - [Effect of hyperglycemia and hyperthermia on liver mitochondrial respiration and
      blood glucose content of rats during postnatal ontogenesis].
AB  - Correlation between glucose level in blood and liver mitochondrial energetics of
      1, 10, 20-days rats under hyperglycemia and high environmental temperature (38
      degrees C) has been studied. Glucose feeding led to a significant increase of
      glucose content in blood, this increase being less at hyperthermia. Glucose
      feeding strengthened the oxidation of such intermediates as succinate (Krebs
      cycle), pyruvate and malate (hydrocarbonates) and caprylate (lipid). High
      environmental temperature with hyperglycemia suppresses the liver mitochondria
      breathing, hydrocarbon and lipid intermediates being used; the suppression is
      less in the presence of succinate. It is found that liver mitochondria of growing
      rats at different experimental conditions oxidize different intermediates with
      various rates. These data can be explained in the light of ontogenetic evolution
      of the energetic apparatus. It is supposed that exogenic glucose is the factor
      which activates growing processes of animals and to certain extent diminishes the
      negative influence of hyperthermia on the organism.

PMID- 1462375
TI  - [Antioxidant properties of oxy- and metmyoglobin].
AB  - Lipid peroxide formation is inhibited by met- and oxymyoglobin. Oxymyoglobin as
      higher antioxidant activity than metmyoglobin. Oxymyoglobin has higher
      antioxidants activity in concentration of 800 ng/ml than metmyoglobin by 38.6%.

PMID- 1462376
TI  - [Change in the structural state of fractionated liver chromatin in E vitamin
      deficiency].
AB  - Structural modification of transcriptionally active and repressed rat liver
      chromatin fractions at antioxidant insufficiency caused by E-avitaminosis, was
      shown. This modification consisted in the compactization of the first fraction
      structure and in the relaxation of the second one. Besides, compactization of the
      active fraction structure was accompanied with the increase of fluidity of the
      lipid bilayer. On the whole antioxidant insufficiency caused more expressed
      structural changes in the active chromatin fraction, this correlated with the
      intensity of lipid peroxidation reactions in the fractions.

PMID- 1462378
TI  - [Effect of chelators of bivalent metal ions on the reaction of myometrium
      actomoysin superprecipitation].
AB  - Kinetic regularities of the reaction of superprecipitation of myometrium
      actomyosin, as well as the effect of different concentrations of EGTA, EDTA and
      diphosphonic acids on this process have been studied. Results obtained are of
      interest from the viewpoint of possible practical use of diphosphonates as
      factors modifying interaction of the contractile proteins of the uterus smooth
      muscles under the pathology of contractile response.

PMID- 1462377
TI  - [Changes in the structure and reactions of lipid peroxidation of liver chromatin
      as affected by 0,0-dimethyl-0,2,2-dichlorovinylphosphate].
AB  - Intoxication of rats by 0,0-dimethyl-0-2,2-dichlorovinylphosphate (DDVPh) leads
      to marked biochemical changes of transcriptionally active (TACh) and repressed
      (RCh) liver chromatin fractions. These changes are connected with structural
      relaxation of the fractions, which is manifested by the increase of intensity of
      protein self-fluorescence. Free radical nature of these changes was supposed,
      which was proved by the modification of LPO reactions in the both chromatin
      fractions under the influence of the pesticide concerned.

PMID- 1462379
TI  - [Humoral factors of transplantation immunity in carp].
AB  - The levels of isohemagglutinins, isohemolysins, heterohemagglutinins and lysozyme
      in blood serum of one and half year old carps have been fixed after scales
      transplantation. Since three weeks after grafting isohemagglutinins and
      isohemolysins were revealed in recipient fishes with the prevalence of 25% and
      95% respectively. Intact carps from the same group were lack of these antibodies.
      Recipient and intact fishes did not differ reliably by heterohemagglutinins and
      lysozyme level in the blood serum. There was no correlation between destroyed
      allografts share and hemolysins titre of serum, so the double role of humoral
      antibodies in grafting immunity in carps can be assumed.

PMID- 1462380
TI  - [Accidental falls among the elderly--can anything be done for this problem?].

PMID- 1462381
TI  - [Accidental falls in nursing homes. A study of the extent and circumstances of
      accidental falls in nursing homes].
AB  - Accidental falls in 54 nursing homes with 2228 elderly residents aged 65 years
      and over were registered during a period of seven months. During the seven
      months, 512 of the elderly residents fell on a total of 934 occasions. Forty-two
      fractures of the neck of the femur occurred. The risk of falls for elderly
      residents of nursing homes is very high, but the majority of falls do not result
      in permanent damage. In this investigation, no differences could be demonstrated
      between staff groups or circumstances concerning falls with and without resultant
      damage. All falls should be regarded as warnings and result in detailed
      investigation of the circumstances of the fall in view of prophylactic measures.
      Accidental falls are caused by a complex interaction between a series of health,
      therapy, furnishing and attitudes. Various circumstances are emphasized in this
      investigation which are connected with an increased risk of falling, e.g.
      vertigo, problems of balance, certain aids and activities in connection with
      toileting.

PMID- 1462382
TI  - [Accidental falls in nursing homes. A study on the role of drugs in accidental
      falls in nursing homes].
AB  - The drug consumptions of 2228 residents in nursing homes aged 65 years and over
      were investigated and related to accidental falls during a period of seven
      months. 95% of the residents received treatment with one or more drugs and 33%
      with six or more drugs. The risk of accidental falls was significantly increased
      in persons receiving hypnotics, psychomarmaca and anti-Parkinson medicine.
      Individuals receiving diuretics, particularly thiazides, were less at risk for
      accidental falls. This investigation revealed an increased risk of falls
      particularly when residents were receiving treatment with a short-term hypnotic
      (Triazolam). It is recommended that this finding should be investigated further.

PMID- 1462383
TI  - [Physical causes of accidental falls among the elderly in their own homes].
AB  - Accidental falls in elderly persons involve considerable illness and great
      hospital costs. During the period 1971-1986, the incidence has risen from 14 to
      19 per 1000 annually. Four hundred and seventy-three individuals aged 60 years or
      more who had fallen in their own homes and who sought help in Odense Hospital
      after the accident were interviewed consecutively. The replies to these
      interviews described the circumstances involved in the fall together with the
      health and social conditions. Women constituted 78% of the material with
      preponderance of people living alone as compared with the background population.
      Just under half of the patients had had a previous fall. Fractures were sustained
      in 40% of the cases. In 51% of the cases, a definite or probable external
      circumstance was the cause of the fall. In 150 out of 237 accidental falls,
      caused by external circumstances, the accident was considered to have been
      preventable by means of eg more accessible lighting, non-slip carpeting, removal
      of doorsteps, more suitable arrangement of furniture and better supportive
      measures beside stairs. The risk of falling is found to increase markedly in
      persons aged 75 years or more. Prophylactic measures are recommended before
      patients reach this age by means of information to elderly persons and to persons
      involved in home care about situations involving risks.

PMID- 1462384
TI  - [Transfusion-associated graft-vs-host disease].
AB  - Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) is a serious, often
      fatal complication to the transfusion of blood components. TA-GVHD is caused
      primarily by donor T lymphocytes reacting towards recipient MHC antigens. The
      diagnosis TA-GVHD should be considered when patients, within a month of receiving
      blood transfusion, develop sudden, unexpected high fever and erythematous rash,
      possibly accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms and/or pancytopenia. Congenital
      (cellular) immune defect, intrauterine transfusion, bone marrow transplantation,
      Hodgkin's disease, and directed transfusions (especially from first degree
      relatives) all carry high risk of developing TA-GVHD. Since mortality exceeds 90%
      irrespective of any treatment, prevention is essential. Pretransfusion gamma
      irradiation of blood components with a 25 Gy dose effectively prevents TA-GVHD,
      and it is therefore recommended that all blood components be irradiated prior to
      transfusion to patients belonging to defined groups-at-risk.

PMID- 1462385
TI  - [Can the carpal tunnel syndrome be work-related?].
AB  - The carpal tunnel syndrome is the most commonly reported nerve entrapment
      syndrome. While a number of medical risk factors are wellknown, accounting for
      approximately 25% af the cases, the significance of repetitive occupational hand
      strain has been disputed during several decades. Recently, a number of controlled
      epidemiological studies concerning this issue have emerged. A critical review
      arrives at the conclusion that jobs requiring highly repetitive and forceful
      sustained hand activity are associated with an increased risk for the carpal
      tunnel syndrome. The risk is, in particular, high when both risk factors are
      involved concomitantly. Exposure to hand-arm vibration also increases the risk,
      but it is undecided whether vibration per se or the associated ergonomic strain
      is the causal factor. It is argued that the evidence is sufficient to justify
      worker compensation and action should be taken to prevent this work-related
      disorder.

PMID- 1462386
TI  - [Kleine-Levin syndrome].
AB  - The Kleine-Levin syndrome is a rare and probably underdiagnosed syndrome. It is
      characterized by periodic attacks of the triad: hypersomnia, vegative
      disturbances such as hyperphagia and hypersexuality, psychopathological changes
      in the level of consciousness and control of emotions. Boys and young men in the
      age group 10-20 years are most commonly affected. Spontaneous remission with a
      tendency to remission is observed and the disease "burns out" after a prolonged
      period of years. The etiology and pathogenesis are unknown. Theories have been
      propounded suggesting dysfunction of the hypothalamus. No pathognomonic findings
      have been observed in the early phase of sleep during the daylight hours. Central
      stimulating drugs have been reported to have some effect on the hypersomnia. The
      diagnosis is based on the clinical picture. Frequently, a long period can elapse
      before the diagnosis is established and some cases are never diagnosed. The
      literature is reviewed and is illustrated by two case reports.

PMID- 1462387
TI  - [Transfusion-associated graft-vs-host disease in a patient with Hodgkin's
      disease].
AB  - Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) is a serious
      complication of blood transfusion which is caused by immunocompetent donor
      lymphocytes reacting against recipient antigens. We report a case of TA-GVHD in a
      male patient with Hodgkin's disease who had received several units of non
      irradiated blood components. TA-GVHD was diagnosed by histological examination of
      affected skin and demonstration of engrafted lymphocytes of female phenotype by
      in situ hybridization using a Y-chromosome specific probe. The need to irradiate
      blood components given to patients in defined risk-groups is stressed.

PMID- 1462388
TI  - [Juvenile renovascular hypertension of unusual origin].
AB  - The case history of a girl aged 10 years with renovascular hypertension is
      presented. The symptoms were atypical. The diagnosis was made on basis of
      positive captopril renography. Angiography showed delayed filling of the right
      main renal artery by a long collateral vessel. The right renal artery was found
      to be occluded proximally by intimal hyperplasia. Renal angioplasty was performed
      and resulted in normalized blood pressure and normalized right kidney function.

PMID- 1462389
TI  - [Temporal arteritis without histological changes].
AB  - A patient with severe giant cell arteritis with involvement of both eyes is
      presented. The symptoms were partly reversible by treatment with high doses of
      prednison. Three months previously (having symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica)
      she had started treatment with a low dosage of prednison. Biopsies of both
      temporal arteries showed no signs of giant cell arteritis at that time, and the
      results of eye examinations were normal. The importance of follow-up on patients
      with symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica, even if biopsies of the temporal
      arteries show no histological changes, is emphasised.

PMID- 1462390
TI  - [The art of finding it all. Possibilities and pitfalls of online searching].

PMID- 1462391
TI  - [Are surgical masks necessary?].

PMID- 1462392
TI  - [Postoperative wound infections and surgical masks].

PMID- 1462393
TI  - [Should disk surgery be centralized even more?].

PMID- 1462394
TI  - [Treatment of injuries in Denmark].

PMID- 1462395
TI  - [Treatment of injuries in the county of Ringkobing. 1. Incidence of injuries
      during a period of 4 weeks].
AB  - During a period of four weeks (17 September-14 October 1990) all treatments of
      injured persons in the five hospitals in the County of Ringkobing were
      registered. In addition, the refund accounts for all additional services
      connected with injuries submitted by the 166 general practitioners to the Danish
      National Health Insurance were also registered. A total incidence rate
      (calculated on an annual basis) of injuries requiring treatment was found to be
      229/1000 og the population per annum. As compared with a similar investigation
      carried out in 1969, increases in incidence rates of 2.1 for admissions, 3.8 for
      outpatient hospital treatments and 4.4 for treatment of injuries in general
      practice were found. An increase in the number of minor injuries is thus
      concerned, probably partly conditioned by an altered threshold for seeking
      treatment and partly a slighter increase in the number of more serious injuries.
      In addition, a significant difference in the frequency of injuries requiring
      treatment with more numerous treatments was found in the regions of Lemvig and
      Ringkobing as compared with the remainder of the county. It is recommended that
      registration from casualty departments with collection of data for analysis of
      accidents be undertaken with the object of elucidating the background for the
      increase in the injuries and the differences between the individual regions in
      the county.

PMID- 1462396
TI  - [Treatment of injuries in the county of Ringkobing. 2. Function of the closed
      casualty department].
AB  - The closed casualty department function in the County of Ringkobing was
      investigated during a period of four weeks. It was demonstrated that this
      functioned according to plan as the distribution general practice/casualty
      department was 3.4:1 and 70% of the patients in the casualty department were
      referred via general practice. The result of this was that the majority of minor
      injuries (removal of foreign bodies and treatment of wounds) were treated in
      general practice. In the casualty departments, there were fewer minor injuries
      and injuries which did not require specific treatment than are the case in open
      casualty departments. However, a definite diurnal variation was observed in the
      function of the closed casualty department as patients showed a greater tendency
      to seek treatment in the casualty department after working hours than during
      working hours and the general practitioners referred twice as many patients after
      working hours for continued treatment in the casualty departments. It is
      concluded that the closed casualty department system in the County of Ringkobing
      functions well but that problems may be anticipated with the function if the duty
      rosters for the general practitioners are altered so that the distances between
      general practitioners on duty increase and these have an increased work-load.

PMID- 1462397
TI  - [Treatment of injuries in the county of Ringkobing. 3. Attitude and behavior of
      the population and general practitioners in relation to treatment of injuries].
AB  - This investigation describes the attitudes and behaviour of the population and
      the general practitioners in the County of Ringkobing concerning treatment of
      injuries and the closed casualty department. The investigation consists of three
      parts. 1. In order to describe the general practitioners in the County of
      Ringkobing as those who treat injuries, a questionnaire was sent to these and
      88.0% replied. In general, the general practitioners had relatively great
      experience of work in casualty departments from their hospital appointments. Only
      eight (5.6%) had experience for less than six months. Practically all (93.2%) had
      assistance during the day but, during on-call periods, only 16.4% had assistance
      from doctors. Only 2.1% had access to radiographic examination in their
      practices. The general practitioners stated that they were able to complete
      treatment in 82.5% (95-50) of the patients without referral to hospital. Lack of
      facilities and expertise were the commonest reasons for referral to hospital. 70%
      considered treatment of injuries as interesting or very interesting. Only 1.4%
      found it boring. 2. In order to describe self referral to hospital in cases of
      slight injury by the population of the County of Ringkobing a questionnaire was
      sent to 600 of the population aged over 17 years chosen at random. 71.6% replied.
      70% stated that they would contact their general practitioner or doctor-on-call
      in cases of wounds and suspected fracture. The individuals who would contact the
      casualty department, particularly in the case of wounds, were persons who lived
      close to the casualty department and who did not have any advantage in contacting
      their own general practitioner where distance was concerned.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462398
TI  - [Treatment of injuries in the county of Ringkobing. 4. Referral and transport of
      severe traffic accident traumas].
AB  - In Denmark, all cases of severe injuries are referred to the nearest hospital
      regardless of the size of the hospital and the county boundaries. In order to
      investigate whether this type of referral functions according to plan, the
      authors investigated referral of all traffic accidents in the County of
      Ringkobing during the period 1 January 1983 to 31 December 1990. It was
      demonstrated that in only one out of 310 traffic accidents with fatal outcome,
      referral did not function according to plan and that the patient had been
      transported to a hospital which was not the nearest. It is thus concluded that
      referral now functions according to plan in its present form. In addition, the
      authors investigated whether there was any basis for establishing prehospital
      treatment of injuries in the country. It was found, however, that during a period
      of eight years (analysed on the basis of post mortem data) a maximum of 20
      relevant patients would be involved annually and in whom the mortality might be
      reduced was concerned. Simultaneously, the average distance for transport to the
      nearest hospital was found to be only 12.9 km. There is thus no basis for
      employing massive resources for advanced prehospital service in the County of
      Ringkobing. With an ambulance service staffed by doctors from the anaesthetic and
      intensive care units of the central hospitals it is possible to provide
      prehospital treatment in 70% of all severe traffic injuries in the County of
      Ringkobing.

PMID- 1462399
TI  - [Genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in abortion seekers. Strategy of
      examination and treatment in order to reduce the sequelae of the infection].
AB  - Among women applying for termination of pregnancy, 5-17% are infected with
      Chlamydia trachomatis. The prevalence is higher among women under 20 years of age
      (12-30%), in nulliparae and when Neisseria gonorrhoeae are found simultaneously.
      If women applying for termination of pregnancy with Chlamydia infection are not
      treated, 10-60% will develop pelvic infection after abortion. Salpingitis caused
      by Chlamydia runs a milder clinical course than salpingitis caused by gonococci
      or other etiology but salpingitis due to Chlamydia is regarded as one of the most
      important causes of tubal infertility and extrauterine pregnancy. The symptoms
      may be discharge and dysuria or objective findings such as cervicitis and
      pathological findings in wet smears of the cervical secretion. The majority of
      women applying for termination of pregnancy with Chlamydia infection have no
      symptoms. Only few investigations have analysed Chlamydia infection in connection
      with sexual behaviour and association between Chlamydia infection and the number
      of sexual partners has been demonstrated. Direct immune fluorescent microscopic
      examination or enzyme immune examination of material from the cervix and urethra
      may be employed in women applying for termination of pregnancy on account of the
      rapid results. Tetracyclines and erythromycin may be employed for treatment of
      demonstrated Chlamydia infection. Completion of treatment prior to abortion is
      probably not necessary. The sexual partners should be treated.

PMID- 1462400
TI  - [Presence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis in abortion seekers--correlates with
      young age and nulliparity but not with previous genital infection].
AB  - Out of 432 women applying for termination of pregnancy, 7.9% (34/428) had
      cervical Chlamydia trachomatis and 0.7% (3/431) genital Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
      The prevalence of Chlamydia was 19.2% among the women applying for termination
      who were under 20 years and 12.8% among those aged 21-25 years. The finding of
      Chlamydia among nulliparae was 14.5%. Only 2.8% of the women with Chlamydia had
      previously had pelvic infections. Women with Chlamydia did not have significantly
      greater frequency of previous venereal diseases. It is concluded that women under
      the age of 25 years and nulliparae who apply for termination of pregnancy should
      be examined for Chlamydia and should be treated in connection with the
      intervention. Previous pelvic infections are observed significantly more rarely
      in women with Chlamydia applying for termination and thus do not constitute an
      indication for examination for Chlamydia. It is not yet elucidated whether women
      with previous venereal diseases should be examined for Chlamydia. On account of
      the low prevalence, there are no indications for performing routine smears in
      women applying for termination of pregnancy for gonococci but, on the other hand
      it appears relevant to examine women with Chlamydia for gonococci as double
      infections are frequently present.

PMID- 1462401
TI  - [Preventive antibiotics in induced first-trimester abortion].
AB  - The frequency of infection following induced first-trimester abortion is 3-5%.
      Duration of hospitalization is often five days, and the total costs per abortion
      were 5,400 Dkr (approximately pounds 500) in Denmark in 1979. Sequelae of
      postabortal infection are similar to and occur with the same frequency as
      sequelae to "spontaneous" pelvic inflammatory disease. Thus, secondary
      infertility was found in 10% of women with postabortal infection, spontaneous
      abortion in 22%, dyspareunia in 20%, and chronic pelvic pain in 14%. The risk of
      ectopic pregnancy is probably also increased. Surgical scrub cannot sterilize the
      endocervix and, as a consequence, abortion is performed in a contaminated field.
      The presence of pathogenic bacteria, i.e. Chlamydia trachomatis, therefore
      increases the risk of postoperative infection. The organism is found in
      approximately 7% of those applying for abortion and the risk of sustaining
      infection is 20%. Other risk factors are previous pelvic inflammatory disease,
      vaginal infection, first pregnancy and young age. Prophylactic antibiotics halve
      the incidence of infection, but by applying prophylaxis to risk groups only, the
      amount of prescriptions can be reduced. Prophylaxis need only be administered
      peroperatively, and tetracyclines, metronidazol, and penicillin/pivampicillin
      have been found to be effective. Women applying for abortion should be examined
      for C. trachomatis and positive cases treated no later than at the time of the
      abortion.

PMID- 1462402
TI  - [Thrombocyte aggregation and serum thromboxane B2 in patients with unstable
      angina pectoris treated with diltiazem or verapamil].
AB  - Patients with unstable angina pectoris have increased thrombocyte aggregation and
      disturbances in serum prostaglandin balance. As a pilot project, we conducted a
      single-blind investigation of 24 patients with unstable angina pectoris treated
      with dilthiazem (n = 12, 240-360 mg) or verapamil (n = 12, 240-360 mg) for ten
      days. At the commencement of the investigation, both patient groups had
      hyperaggregating thrombocytes and increased serum-thromboxan-B2 (TXB2) as
      compared to healthy individuals (p < 0.01). In the patient group treated with
      dilthiazem, the aggregation threshold rose (p < 0.01), and the serum TXB2 values
      fell to approximately normal (p < 0.05). In the patient group treated with
      verapamil, no significant changes were observed in the measurements registered.
      The difference between the two groups remained significant during the entire
      therapeutic period (p < 0.01). Thus, dilthiazem appears to counteract thrombocyte
      aggregation in patients with unstable angina pectoris.

PMID- 1462403
TI  - [Unconsciousness after ingestion of nail varnish].
AB  - Two males in their twenties lost consciousness after ingestion of 50 ml gamma
      butyrolactone. Bradycardia was observed and treated during the first hours and
      they recovered after a few hours.

PMID- 1462404
TI  - [Reversible pulmonary hypertension in a woman with connective tissue disease].
AB  - The present case report describes a woman with known MCTD, who developed acute
      pulmonary hypertension. She was treated with methylprednisolone and had fully
      recovered after five days.

PMID- 1462405
TI  - [Control of anticoagulant treatment].

PMID- 1462406
TI  - [On the Cardiologic Society, resuscitation and quality of life].

PMID- 1462407
TI  - [Psychopharmacological adaptation].

PMID- 1462408
TI  - [Use of psychopharmaceuticals in municipal nursing homes. A nationwide survey].
AB  - In 32 nursing homes selected at random in the 16 counties in Denmark, the use of
      psychotropic medication was studied in all residents aged over 65 years (1454
      persons) by interview of nursing staff and review of treatment records regarding
      drug group, dose, duration of treatment and target symptoms. Psychotropic
      prescriptions were recorded in 56% of the elderly. The frequency of residents
      receiving daily treatment with neuroleptics was 20% and for anxiolytics,
      hypnotics and antidepressants 13%, 33% and 11%, respectively. The duration of
      treatment was two to three years. The indications were mostly unspecified
      behavioural disturbances. The use reflects the high psychiatric morbidity in
      nursing home residents, especially regarding dementia. From what is known of
      therapeutic efficacy and side-effects, it is concluded that the prescription rate
      is too high, duration of treatment much longer than necessary and that drugs
      inappropriate for elderly are often used.

PMID- 1462409
TI  - [Audit--a method for quality assessment in health care].
AB  - If the intentions of genuine assessment of quality and ensuring quality are to be
      realised in the Danish health service, it is essential that the methods employed
      are known and accessible. This review presents audit which is a concrete method
      of assessing quality. In an audit, concrete clinical cases are assessed in order
      to evaluate the quality of the services rendered by the health service in this
      instance. Assessment of quality is performed on the basis of criteria and
      standards for the services rendered. The conclusions end in assessment of whether
      the services was satisfactory or not. In connection with the unsatisfactory
      services, the reasons leading to this conclusion are specified. The object of an
      audit is to assess, ensure and raise the quality of the professional standard. By
      means of assessing concrete case histories the object is to identify problems of
      quality which could be influenced by adjustment or alteration of the practice
      with the object of improving the quality of the diagnosis, treatment and care.
      Assessment of quality in an audit should thus be carried out as a link in
      ensuring quality. This implies that the reasons for possible defects in quality
      should be elucidated. Reports should be given to the health staff involved and
      measures to improve quality should be worked out and instituted. After a suitable
      interval, the quality of the service concerned should be assessed again.
      International experience with audit is extensive. In a series of countries, audit
      is an integral part of systematic assessment of quality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462410
TI  - [The post-thrombotic syndrome. A review].
AB  - The post-thrombotic syndrome which is caused by deep venous thrombosis and
      characterized by pain, oedema, pigmentation, eczema, lipodermatosis, varices and
      ulceration, is due to deficient function of the venous valves and/or obstruction
      of the deep veins with venous hypertension. The diagnosis may be established by
      investigation of the investigation of the muscular-venous pump by pletysmography
      or dynamic phlebography and invasive measurement of the venous pressure is not
      employed to any great extent. The results of valvuloplasty have, by and large,
      been negative. The main form of treatment is, therefore, conservative compressive
      bandaging which can reduce the symptoms, facilitate healing of venous ulcers and
      prevent recurrence of ulcers. It is emphasized, however, that this treatment must
      be continued consequently during the remainder of the patient's life, regardless
      of other treatment.

PMID- 1462411
TI  - [The post-thrombotic syndrome. Description and comparison of diagnostic methods:
      clinical examination, venous return time, phlebography and ultrasonography].
AB  - Thirty-one patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) confirmed by phlebography 5
      11 years previously were examined for the post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Where
      all of the patients were concerned, the examination included crossing-off of
      their symptoms of PTS on a special chart and clinical examination carried out by
      four doctors independently of one another, for 29 patients also determination of
      the venous return time by strain gauge pletysmography and for 29 patients also
      secondary phlebography (SF) and B-method ultrasonic scanning (UL). The degree of
      severity of PTS was determined by means of a scoring value which was calculated
      on the bases of four observers assessment of the clinical symptoms and findings.
      Significant differences were found for the clinical scores for legs with and
      without previous DVT, which shows that the method is of value despite a not
      inconsiderable interobserver variation. In the form employed here, pletysmography
      was found unsuitable for quantitating of PTS. In 60% of the patients, agreement
      was present between the clinical assessment, SF and UL. The necessity of
      agreement both as regards the diagnostic clinical criteria and as a measure for
      the degree of severity of PTS is emphasized. UL is recommended as a screening
      investigation for changes after DVT. Phlebography is only considered to be
      indicated in cases where detailed knowledge of the anatomical conditions is
      desired e.g. prior to venous surgery.

PMID- 1462412
TI  - [Left-side colonic ileus treated with peroperative lavage and primary
      anastomosis].
AB  - Eight patients aged 56-85 years were operated on as emergencies because of left
      sided mechanical colonic obstruction. The whole colon was mobilized, a Foley
      catheter introduced into coecum preferably through the appendicular stump or
      alternatively a terminal ileotomy and a scavenger tube was introduced into the
      left colon proximal to the obstruction. By antegrade lavage with isotonic sodium
      chloride assisted manually colon was emptied, the pathological process resected
      and a primary anastomosis performed. No cases of anastomotic leakage or
      infectious complications occurred. One patient had to be operated on again
      because of a small wound dehiscence. The mean hospital stay was 13 days. The
      advantages of the treatment are that the patient is managed at the emergency
      operation, the frequency of complications is low and hospital stay short. It is
      therefore a good alternative to procedures involving temporary colostomy.

PMID- 1462413
TI  - [Effect of 1-year long-term treatment with sucralfate on symptomatic recurrence
      of duodenal ulcer].
AB  - One hundred and two patients, who obtained relief from their duodenal ulcer
      symptoms with sucralfate (Antepsin R) in a dosage of 2 g b.i.d. for four weeks,
      were randomized to maintenance therapy with sucralfate 2 g at bedtime or a
      placebo for one year or until possible recurrence of symptoms. Ninety-four
      patients completed the study, 46 on sucralfate and 48 on the placebo. Eighteen of
      the sucralfate-treated patients (39%) experienced relapse of symptoms, as did 36
      (75%) of the placebo treated patients. This difference was significant (p =
      0.0008). In the sucralfate group most of the symptoms recurred within three
      months after randomisation, whereas the relapse rate seemed constant in the
      placebo group. It is concluded that 2 g sucralfate at bedtime is effective in
      preventing recurrence of duodenal ulcer symptoms.

PMID- 1462414
TI  - [Evaluation of trainee assistant education].
AB  - All of the trainee assistant appointments in general practice in Denmark were
      assessed by means of a questionnaire investigation during a period of two years.
      Particular attention was paid to the quality of training and whether there were
      particular characteristics in the practice which provide the best training. The
      material consists of 360 questionnaires sent to trainee assistants in general
      practice one month before conclusion of the appointment. The percentage of
      replies was 89. The average number of years after graduation was 6.5, which is
      considerably higher than aimed at in future plans. The investigation reveals that
      the educational quality and training by the tutor did not appear to be influenced
      by the number of postgraduate years although there was no doubt that younger
      trainees required more training and supervision. The quality of training is best
      in one-man practices and this is followed closely by small partnerships. The
      investigation reveals that training by the tutor is of decisive significance. It
      is therefore recommended that trainees in general practice should be more closely
      associated with one of the practitioners responsible for training. Three fourths
      of the trainees found that trainee assistant appointment was better than hospital
      appointments in general. The investigation indicates that following should be
      standard in every practice: 1) own consultation room, 2) typed records, 3) an
      introductory leaflet and that training should be arranged with: 1) introduction,
      2) half-way assessments, 3) daily conferences about individual patients and 4)
      weekly conferences about particular subjects related to the practice.

PMID- 1462415
TI  - [Overlooked posterior shoulder dislocation].
AB  - Posterior dislocation of the shoulder is frequently overlooked. Early diagnosis
      is a prerequisite for successful treatment. Supplementary axillary or apical
      oblique projections should be included in the routine radiograms to confirm the
      diagnosis.

PMID- 1462416
TI  - [The hairdresser's syndrome, observatio pro].
AB  - Six hairdressers with minor brain damage are presented. The etiology is discussed
      and the need for a study of the possible injurious factors in hairdressing-salons
      is stressed.

PMID- 1462417
TI  - [Extremely premature infants--a registry study].

PMID- 1462418
TI  - [Ultrasonography of fetal abnormalities].

PMID- 1462419
TI  - [Multiple trauma, rhabdomyolysis and hypercalcemia].

PMID- 1462420
TI  - [Generic substitution--patients' incentives are too low].

PMID- 1462421
TI  - [The synonymous preparation Andion vs. the original preparation becotide in the
      treatment of steroid-dependent bronchial asthma. A comparative double-blind cross
      over trial].
AB  - Two different beclomethasone dipropionate inhalation aerosols (Andion and
      Becotide) were compared in a double-blind, cross-over study in patients with
      stable, steroid-dependent asthma. Fifty-two patients were included in the study,
      and 44 completed the two 6-week periods of treatment. The difference in
      therapeutic efficacy on FEV1 between Andion and Becotide was -0.018 1, and
      likewise no differences in therapeutic efficacy on FVC and peak expiratory flow
      were found. There were no significant differences between the two treatment
      periods regarding peak expiratory flow rates, symptoms, frequency of adverse
      effects, and amount of salbutamol and beclomethasone dipropionate employed. In
      conclusion, no significant differences could be demonstrated between Andion and
      Becotide with regard to pulmonary function, symptoms, and frequency of adverse
      effects in the treatment of patients with steroid-dependent bronchial asthma.

PMID- 1462422
TI  - [Oophorectomy per occasionem and ovarian cancer].
AB  - The mortality from ovarian cancer is responsible for 450-500 cancer deaths
      annually in Denmark. This high mortality rate has remained unchanged for decades.
      No effective screening method is available. Oophorectomy per occasionem may
      reduce the incidence of ovarian cancer. The literature suggests a reduction in
      the incidence of ovarian cancer of 5.7% which corresponds to approximately 30
      women annually in Denmark when OPO is performed at the age of forty or later. OPO
      also avoids reoperation due to the Residual Ovarian Syndrome, which is detected
      in approximately 2% of women after pelvic surgery.

PMID- 1462423
TI  - [Cardiovascular changes in arterial hypertension].
AB  - In untreated essential hypertension cardiovascular structural changes will
      develop after some time. In arteries and arterioles, thickening and reduced
      compliance of the vascular wall is noted and in the left ventricle, myocardial
      hypertrophy. Both types of changes will enhance the risk of ischemia and of
      developing cardiac complications, i.e. coronary heart disease, myocardial
      infarction and heart failure. Methods for measurement of vascular and cardiac
      hypertrophy are reviewed and the value of echo-cardiographic evaluation of the
      hypertensive patient is stressed.

PMID- 1462424
TI  - [Regression of hypertensive cardiovascular changes during treatment with
      antihypertensive ddrugs].
AB  - Antihypertensive medical treatment may induce regression of hypertensive
      structural cardiovascular changes after a period of time: Hypertrophy of the left
      ventricle and of the smooth muscle layer in the resistance vessels. In this
      paper, we refer to significant human studies, published during the last decade,
      concerning the degree of regression of these presumably secondary structural
      changes, resulting from antihypertensive treatment. It has been shown that most
      antihypertensive regimens in common use, calcium antagonists, ACE inhibitors and
      most beta blockers, but not diuretics and nonspecific vasodilators, are, when
      effective in lowering blood pressure, also capable of inducing a probably
      complete regression of the cardiac hypertrophy. However, complete regression of
      the vascular changes has not been shown.

PMID- 1462425
TI  - [Intrauterine hematoma in threatened abortion].
AB  - In order to demonstrate the consequences of intrauterine haematoma demonstrated
      by ultrasound in hospitalised patients with imminent abortion, the course of
      pregnancy and delivery in patients with demonstrated intrauterine haematoma and
      patients in whom intrauterine haematoma could not be demonstrated were compared
      retrospectively. Intrauterine haematoma was demonstrated in 29% of patients with
      immiment abortion in The Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics in Herlev
      Hospital. Patients with intrauterine haematoma were hospitalised more frequently
      and for more prolonged periods for imminent abortion and for imminent premature
      delivery. On the other hand, no differences were found in the frequencies of
      abortion, the birth weights, gestational age on delivery, number of preterm
      deliveries, frequencies of Caesarean section and adherent placenta between the
      two groups. Therapeutic bias may have been the cause of the increased number of
      days of hospitalisation in patients with intrauterine haematoma demonstrated by
      ultrasound.

PMID- 1462426
TI  - [Clinical usefulness of the ROMCheck Membrane Immunoassay--a new method for the
      demonstration of the rupture of fetal membranes].
AB  - An investigation of the clinical usefulness of ROMCheck Membrane Immunoassay, a
      new method for the detection of amniotic fluid in the vagina, was undertaken. The
      ROMCheck-test is a monoclonal antibody test against fetal fibronectin in amniotic
      fluid. It was compared to commonly used methods as ferning, Nile blue staining of
      fetal cells and Nitrazine paper. We examined twenty pregnant women with suspected
      rupture of membranes and twenty women with apparently intact membranes receiving
      routine prenatal care. We found that clinical detection of amniotic fluid in the
      vagina resulted in a positive ROMCheck-test. When the ROMCheck-test was negative
      there was no indication of rupture of membranes. When the ROMCheck-test was
      positive and the other tests were negative, we could not exclude the possibility
      of the presence of amniotic fluid in the vagina at the time of examination. The
      test is a useful tool in identifying the presence or absence of amniotic fluid in
      the vagina.

PMID- 1462427
TI  - [HIV testing and HIV surveillance of a venereological clientele in Denmark].
AB  - The object of this investigation was to evaluate the suitability of unlinked
      anonymous HIV screening of persons visiting one of eight out of the nine Danish
      clinics for venereal diseases in the national HIV surveillance. Data were
      collected during the period July 1, 1990-March 31, 1991 and included: gender,
      sexual orientation, history of intravenous drug use (IVDU), syphilis testing and
      HIV testing. A total of 7,455 persons participated of whom 75% were tested for
      HIV antibodies. The HIV test activity was significantly higher among male IVDUs
      than homo/bisexuals, and higher among female IVDUs than heterosexuals. The
      overall HIV prevalence among tested individuals was 0.6%, ranging from 0.1% among
      heterosexual women to 5.3% among female IVDUs. A total of 81% were tested for
      syphilis with an overall HIV prevalence of at least 1.1%, ranging from 0.2% among
      heterosexuals to 9.3% among homo/bisexual men. Since the non-participation is
      great and the venereological clientele is very heterogeneous, using blood taken
      for syphilis serology from this group for unlinked anonymous HIV screening, would
      not be particularly important as a supplement to the Danish HIV surveillance.

PMID- 1462428
TI  - [The ring chromosome 14 syndrome].
AB  - Two children with ring chromosome 14 are described. Both children have only few
      phenotypical features suggestive of a chromosome abnormality. Both have, however,
      epilepsy which is typical for the ring chromosome 14 syndrome. Chromosome
      examination is recommended in children with mental retardation and epilepsy which
      is refractory to treatment.

PMID- 1462429
TI  - [Ring chromosome 18].
AB  - Ring chromosome 18 (46,XX,r(18)) has previously been reported in about 70
      patients. Another patient with the well-known physical and cytogenetic
      characteristics and, in addition, skeletal abnormalities in the feet, is
      presented here.

PMID- 1462430
TI  - [Psychiatry--a medical specialty. Research, education, organization].

PMID- 1462431
TI  - [Prednisolone or naloxone in spinal injuries].

PMID- 1462432
TI  - [The fat canard of Christmas].

PMID- 1462433
TI  - [Vaccine--treatment of the future?].

PMID- 1462434
TI  - [Prevention of pneumococcal infections in the elderly by vaccination].
AB  - Streptococcus pneumoniae still causes serious infections especially in elderly
      people, despite relevant antibiotic treatment and intensive therapy. At present,
      Statens Serum-institut annually receives about 650 pneumococcal strains isolated
      from blood and cerebrospinal fluid for typing from the departments of Clinical
      Microbiology in Denmark. Of these strains about 55% were isolated from persons
      aged 60 years or older. The incidence of pneumococcal pneumonia in elderly people
      is said to be 4-8/1000 persons/year in countries similar to Denmark. In the USA,
      pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for groups at risk including
      immunocompetent adults > or = 65 years old. Since 1978, pneumococcal vaccine has
      been available in Denmark, where the only indication for vaccination has been and
      still is intended or already performed splenectomy in persons older than two
      years of age. According to the literature, the protective efficacy of vaccination
      of elderly persons is 60-70%. Since vaccination is, furthermore, without risks we
      believe that vaccination of elderly people in Denmark should be advised.

PMID- 1462435
TI  - [Sex chromosome abnormalities and sex determination genes. Review of the
      literature].
AB  - Molecular analysis of structural chromosomal abnormalities, involving the sex
      chromosomes, has provided us new knowledge concerning sex determination in
      humans. This has raised three hypotheses of sexual differentiation, which will be
      discussed even though none of these can explain all abnormalities involved.
      Meiotic recombination which normally takes place during the male meiotic cell
      division, can give rise to sex reversal syndromes such as XX male and XY female,
      if crossing over is abnormal. Analysis of these abnormalities has made it
      possible to map sex determining regions on chromosome Y, and to construct a
      deletion map. Methods using DNA probes, are capable of identifying Y-specific
      sequences in persons with sex reversal. This means a more optimal counselling,
      possibilities of prenatal diagnosis, and opportunities for selecting patients
      with risk of gonad cancers, for extirpation.

PMID- 1462436
TI  - [Ultraviolet rays and skin cancer].

PMID- 1462438
TI  - [Measurement of intestinal blood supply in patients with suspected intestinal
      ischemia].
AB  - The object of the investigation was to illustrate the diagnostic yields of
      measurement of the intestinal blood supply before and after a test meal and of
      abdominal angiography recorded in patients in whom chronic intestinal ischaemia
      is suspected. A retrospective review including 18 patients (age range 36-79
      years) was undertaken. The diagnosis of chronic intestinal ischaemia was
      established in four patients on the basis of measurement of the blood supply to
      the intestine and abdominal angiography and vascular reconstructive interventions
      could be performed. These interventions were technically successful in three
      cases. Control flow measurement was only performed in one patient after the
      operation. This showed normalized postprandial blood flow. By large, measurements
      of the blood supply to the intestine were free from complications. In cases of
      suspected chronic intestinal ischaemia, the combination of abdominal angiography
      and measurement of the blood supply to the intestine appear to supply the
      necessary information for selection of patients for vascular surgical
      interventions.

PMID- 1462437
TI  - [Identification of Y chromosome material in an XX male by means of fluorescent in
      situ hybridization].
AB  - This article describes a case of 46,XX male, the most frequent form of sex
      reversal syndromes in humans. A method of identifying Y chromosome material in
      these and other patients with structural chromosomal abnormalities involving
      chromosome Y is given. Chromosomes from a phenotypically normal male child
      without any congenital malformation, where prenatal diagnosis revealed the female
      karyotype 46,XX, were analysed using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH).
      The analysis revealed an X chromosome, containing Y chromosome sequences on the
      tip of the short arm. The sequences are not normally visible in conventional
      cytogenetic analyses of XX males. The breakpoint on Y was determined to be in the
      region of Yp11.2, which is proximal for the putative sex determining gene on Y.
      The results are consistent with theories of abnormal crossing-over during the
      paternal meiotic cell division where meiotic recombination can give rise to
      structural abnormalities, which can then cause sex reversal syndromes. Prenatal
      diagnosis of structural sex chromosome abnormalities has become available using
      the FISH method.

PMID- 1462439
TI  - [Urethral stricture in Greenland].
AB  - In a retrospective survey, the 46 patients treated for urethral stricture at
      Dronning Ingrids Hospital, Nuuk, (the main hospital in Greenland) during the four
      year period August 1987-August 1991 are investigated, and the consequences of not
      treating urethral stricture are illustrated by a case. The patients are
      middleaged and older men generally with long and multiple strictures close to the
      sphincter. Gonorrhoea is the common cause of the stricture. The patients have
      obstructive symptoms, urinary infections and haematuria. Furthermore, nearly 1/4
      of the patients have complications in the form of scrotal and perineal abscesses,
      and reduced renalfunction and rapidly lethal disease because of sepsis are seen.
      The urethral strictures tend to recur after treatment. Urethral stricture disease
      is undoubtedly underestimated in Greenland, and the investigation stresses this
      serious complication of venereal disease.

PMID- 1462440
TI  - [Epidemiological studies on scalded children admitted to the burns unit at the
      Hvidovre hospital during 1981-1990].
AB  - During the ten year period 1981 to 1990, a total of 436 children aged 0-5 years
      were admitted for scalds at the Burns Unit of Hvidovre Hospital. We did not find
      any reduction in the number of admissions during this period nor was any change
      in the patterns of scalds found. Water, tea and coffee were the main causal
      agents of scalds and the dominant group of scalded children was between the ages
      one to two years. In 37% of cases, the scalds required grafting and the average
      stay in hospital was 16 days. The background for this unchanged pattern could be
      that the prophylactive campaigns have been insufficient.

PMID- 1462441
TI  - [Combination therapy with pamidronate and calcitonin in hypercalcemic crisis
      caused by primary hyperparathyroidism].
AB  - Pamidronate (aminopropylidene diphosphonate, APD) is known to be an effective
      agent in lowering plasma calcium in cancer associated hypercalcaemia and in
      primary hyperparathyroidism. Combined therapy with pamidronate and calcitonin has
      proved efficient in the treatment of severe cancer-associated hypercalcaemia. A
      66-year-old woman in hypercalcaemic crisis caused by primary hypreparathyroidism
      was successfully treated with this combined therapy. Albumin corrected plasma
      calcium was 5.26 mmol/l on arrival and the PTH level was very high. The combined
      therapy lowered the plasma calcium to normal and made it possible to perform
      elective parathyreoidectomy. A 5.8 g parathyroid adenoma was removed. It is
      recommended to consider combined therapy with pamidronate and calcitonin in the
      emergency management of hypercalcaemic crisis.

PMID- 1462442
TI  - [Quality assurance or research].

PMID- 1462443
TI  - [Erythropoietin in treatment of pruritus in chronic renal failure].

PMID- 1462444
TI  - [Malignant melanoma of the skin in Denmark].

PMID- 1462445
TI  - [Information about sterilization].

PMID- 1462446
TI  - [Optimal treatment of women with breast cancer].

PMID- 1462447
TI  - [Axillary dissection in primary surgical treatment of breast cancer: risk of
      false-negative axillary status].
AB  - The present study evaluates the extent of axillary dissection as part of the
      primary surgical treatment of operable breast cancer. Data are from the period
      January 1979 to August 1990 and were collected prospectively as part of the
      Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group protocols for low-risk mammary carcinoma.
      The series consists of 6774 breast cancer patients aged 69 years or younger. The
      number of axillary lymph nodes removed was related to the frequency of
      ipsilateral axillary recurrence, recurrence-free survival, and overall survival
      after a median of five years follow-up, respectively. The recurrence-free
      survival and overall survival rate were directly related to the number of
      axillary lymph nodes removed. The difference in outcome is believed to be caused
      by false-negative classification of axillary-positive high-risk patients in
      groups of patients where only a few axillary lymph nodes were removed.

PMID- 1462448
TI  - [Determination of estrogen receptor status in breast cancer by immunocytochemical
      examination of fine-needle aspirates].
AB  - Estrogen receptor status was determined by immunocytochemical examination of fine
      needle aspirates in 109 cases of primary invasive breast carcinoma. The results
      were compared with those from biochemical determination performed on tumor
      cytosols. Positive agreement was found between qualitative determination
      (positive/negative) by the two methods in 83% of the cases, and after
      semiquantitative stratification into three groups the results corresponded in
      76%. The predictive value of a positive result on fine-needle aspirate was 96%,
      and 57% of a negative result. It is concluded that immunocytochemical
      determination of estrogen receptor status of breast carcinomas on fine-needle
      aspirate with the applied technique cannot replace the current standard
      biochemical method.

PMID- 1462449
TI  - [What do we know about consultation hypertension?].
AB  - This review article examines the essential literature concerning "white coat"
      hypertension. It is stated that "white coat" hypertension is present in
      approximately 20% of patients with diagnosed mild to moderate hypertension. It is
      concluded that the pathophysiology of "white coat" hypertension is incompletely
      investigated; that the prognosis for untreated "white coat" hypertension seems
      fair; medical treatment being scarcely required. It is concluded further that
      more accurate diagnosis of mild to moderate hypertension, including the use of
      ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, will reduce the overall expenses by
      approximately million Danish crowns annually (approximately 2,000,000 pounds).

PMID- 1462450
TI  - [Consultation hypertension diagnosed by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure
      monitoring. A study of 159 patients with recently diagnosed hypertension].

PMID- 1462451
TI  - [Treatment of hemangioma in children with recombinant interferon].
AB  - Pulmonary haemangiomatosis and large haemangiomas endangering vital structures
      and with a potential association of consumptive coagulopathy are rare but severe
      diseases in infancy and childhood. Therapy with glucocorticoids, cytostatics and
      surgical intervention has not proved satisfactory. From experience with Kaposi's
      sarcoma, about 20 children with severe forms of haemangiomatous disease have now
      been treated with alpha-interferon with promising results. Mechanisms of action
      are unknown, but these could include a cytostatic effect, inhibition of the
      abnormal proliferation of endothelial cells, fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells.
      Furthermore, alpha-interferon could inhibit the paracrine and autocrine effects
      of locally produced growth factors. Also, alpha-interferon could promote the
      production of prostacyclin, which inhibits platelet aggregation, leading to
      reduced damage and consumption of platelets. Long term treatment is mandatory.
      Initial daily doses of 2 to 5 million U/m2 are administered subcutaneously. Side
      effects in this dosage interval are uncommon in childhood. Future studies are
      needed to establish exact guidelines for the use of alpha-interferon in
      childhood, but the clinical experience hitherto obtained points to the fact that
      treatment is effective in severe forms of haemangiomas and pulmonary
      haemangiomatosis.

PMID- 1462452
TI  - [Salicylic acid poisoning].
AB  - The study analyses the role of salicylic acid (SA) in fatal intoxications with
      special reference to potentially avoidable, accidental poisonings. The study
      indicates a relation between SA intoxication and the presence of an infection of
      the respiratory tract. All deaths in Denmark in the period 1980 through 1989
      registered as caused by SA were analysed as were all deaths submitted to forensic
      toxicological examination in a defined region of Denmark in the years 1985
      through 1989. During the decade 1980 through 1989 the number of fatal
      intoxications due to SA increased from approx. five per year to approx. 23 per
      year. During the same period the sales of SA decreased. Many deaths in the
      material were registered as accidental, and an increasing frequency of accidental
      deaths was seen with a lower social level. Frequently, an infection of the
      respiratory tract was either indicated in a hospital case record or a police
      report, or found at autopsy.

PMID- 1462453
TI  - [Value of routine follow-up after infrainguinal arterial reconstruction].
AB  - Longterm patency of infrainguinal bypass procedures may be established on the
      basis of clinical evaluation and ankle pressure measurements. With the aim of
      assessing whether these parameters could predict grafts at risk for occlusion, we
      identified 24 patients in whom the bypass had occluded between 3 and 12 months
      postoperatively, but following at least one follow-up. These patients were
      compared with a control group consisting of further 24 patients operated on
      during the same period, but in whom the bypass was patent. Prior to graft
      occlusion only nine (39%) patients had complained of claudication, and a
      significant drop in ankle pressure was demonstrated in seven (29%) patients.
      These figures were significantly higher than the one (4%) patient in the control
      group who complained of claudication and the other (4%) patient who developed a
      drop in ankle pressure (p < 0.02 and 0.05, respectively). Graft surveillance
      based on patients' history and ankle pressure measurements are insufficient
      parameters for identification of grafts at risk for occlusion. However, the
      occurrence of claudication and/or a significant drop in ankle pressures are
      associated with a high incidence of graft thrombosis.

PMID- 1462454
TI  - [Asymptomatic benign mediastinal teratoma].
AB  - A case of asymptomatic benign mediastinal teratoma is presented. The necessity
      for definite diagnosis of mediastinal tumours is stressed together with the need
      for conferences involving several specialties.

PMID- 1462455
TI  - [Colchicine treatment of recurrent steroid-dependent pericarditis in a patient
      with post-myocardial-infarction syndrome (Dressler's syndrome)].
AB  - The usual treatment of pericarditis consists of non-steroid anti-inflammatory
      agents. In cases where the symptoms and/or the pericardial effusion persist or
      progress, the disease can be arrested in the majority of cases by employing
      steroids. In some patients, it may prove difficult to conclude steroid treatment
      as gradual withdrawal results in recurrence and it may, therefore, be necessary
      to continue with large doses of steroid for prolonged periods. There is, however,
      a possibility for another form of treatment. The present authors present the case
      history of a patient with pericarditis on the basis of the post-myocardial
      infarction syndrome and in whom the symptoms recurred several times during
      attempts at gradual withdrawal of prednisolone. Treatment with colchicine was
      commenced. The patient rapidly became symptom free and has now been symptom free
      for 45 weeks without prednisolone. Colchicine was withdrawn after 33 weeks
      without recurrence. It is considered that trial of colchicine treatment can be
      recommended in cases of recurring pericarditis particularly when there are
      problems (recurrence) on attempted withdrawal of steroid treatment. Naturally, it
      is important to exclude specific causes requiring other forms of treatment as the
      cause of the pericarditis (e.g. malignant disease, tuberculosis, systemic disease
      etc.).

PMID- 1462456
TI  - [Passive smoking and lung cancer--among dogs].

PMID- 1462457
TI  - [Problematic Danish AIDS policy].

PMID- 1462458
TI  - [Silicone breast implants and connective tissue diseases].

PMID- 1462459
TI  - [On ketamine].

PMID- 1462460
TI  - [Disinformation and scientific honesty in nutritional research].

PMID- 1462461
TI  - [Did did the risk of recurrent tubal pregnancy increase because of conservative
      treatment?].

PMID- 1462462
TI  - [Iron supplementation to pregnant women is again "in"].

PMID- 1462463
TI  - [Sudden, unexplained infant death--sudden infant death syndrome. Forensic
      pathological aspects].
AB  - Delimitation of the sudden unexplained infant death syndrome (SIDS) is difficult
      as the diagnosis is made by exclusion. The difficulties in the differential
      diagnosis are concentrated on interpretation of the significance of positive
      viral and bacterial findings, inflammatory changes in the respiratory organs,
      heart and central nervous system together with malformations. Classification of
      SIDS appears, therefore, to vary according to time and place. New techniques,
      e.g. DNA analysis, have explained the etiology in a few per cent of the cases but
      have not yet solved the riddle of SIDS. The article reviews hypotheses about
      apnoea, arrhythmia, overheating and inefficient surveillance of the infant. It is
      emphasized that assessment of risk factors for SIDS requires valid
      epidemiological investigations where the basis for the diagnosis is a uniform
      classification of SIDS infants as compared with other groups of sudden death in
      infancy. An investigation of this nature has been initiated in the Nordic
      countries. It is important to examine and treat infants with abnormal sleep
      apnoea but generalized employment of monitoring has not reduced the number of
      unexplained infantile deaths.

PMID- 1462464
TI  - [Significance of sleeping position on the occurrence of sudden, unexplained
      infant death. An epidemiological review].
AB  - The cause of the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is, according to the
      definition, unknown. Epidemiological research during recent years has identified
      a series of probable risk factors. One of these is the use of prone position as
      sleeping position. In the Western European countries, Australia and New Zealand,
      a total of 14 case-control studies illustrate a possible connection between the
      prone position and SIDS. Eleven of the studies revealed a significantly increased
      relative risk (RR) of between 1.4 and 12.5 for SIDS when using the prone
      position, while the three remaining studies did not demonstrate increased RR. A
      meta-analysis of the results of the 14 case-control studies showed an RR of 2.4
      for SIDS in the prone position as compared with other sleeping positions. In a
      single prospective cohort study from Australia, an RR of 3.1 was found for SIDS
      in the prone position. Interventions in which parents are advised not to place
      the infants in the prone position during sleep appear to have resulted in
      considerable reduction in the number of cases of SIDS according to preliminary
      reports from Great Britain, the Netherlands, Norway and New Zealand. A series of
      methodological problems can be demonstrated in the published results of these
      studies, including limited size of study populations, inadequate matching of
      control groups and absent confounder control. Nevertheless, the total
      epidemiological evidence, also where Denmark is concerned, speaks in favour of
      altered recommendations for sleeping positions of infants, particularly because
      there is no documentation to suggest that the prone position offers any
      advantages to health.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462465
TI  - [Favourite sleeping positions among infants in the county of Roskilde. Is there a
      connection with sudden, unexplained infant death?].
AB  - The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of the favourite
      sleeping positions and other possible risk factors for SIDS among infants in a
      Danish county, and to compare the distribution af sleeping positions with the
      sleeping positions reported in SIDS-cases from the same district. Information
      about favourite sleeping positions at the age of one month and four months was
      collected by interviews with parents, performed consecutively by health visitors
      at the routine examinations of 174 infants aged eight months. Information about
      sex, birthweight, gestational age, complications of delivery, mother's age and
      maternal smoking in pregnancy was collected for each child from the Birth
      Registration form. Thirty-two SIDS-cases from the 10 year period 1982-91, mostly
      based on police reports, were analysed retrospectively as regards sleeping
      positions and other possible risk factors. The distribution of different sleeping
      positions at the age of one month/four months was: prone 59%/52%, lateral
      39%/41%, supine 2%/6%. There was a significant negative correlation between
      birthweight and use of the prone position. Among the SIDS-cases, the prone
      sleeping position was reported in 18 of 21 cases (86%), where this information
      was available. In conclusion, the prone sleeping position seemed to be associated
      with an increased risk of SIDS (estimated OR 4.1) but some of this difference can
      be accounted for by the more frequent use of this position among children with
      low birthweight and other risk factors.

PMID- 1462466
TI  - [Testing an ultrasonic scanner for determination of urinary bladder volume].
AB  - Bladderscan BVI 2000 is a portable ultrasound scanner, specially constructed for
      determination of bladder volume. We have tested this scanner for accuracy,
      systematic errors and the training required to use it. The bladder volumes
      measured by ultrasound scanning were compared with the true volumes. Fifty-six
      measurements were made. We found the accuracy of BVI 2000 sufficient to determine
      bladder volumes as either small or large. We found no systematic errors. No
      special training is required to use the scanner. The device is thus useful in
      most clinical situations when greater accuracy than indicated here is not
      necessary.

PMID- 1462467
TI  - [Cystectomy for urinary bladder cancer. Postoperative complications and
      mortality].
AB  - During a period of ten years, 111 patients with cancer of the bladder were
      treated by total cystectomy. In 69 patients a preoperative radiation dose of 40
      Gy was administered, 23 received 60 Gy and 19 received no radiation. The crude
      survival was 50%. The postoperative mortality was low, 3.6%.

PMID- 1462468
TI  - [Primary malignant pleural neoplasms. Diagnostic code 163.09].
AB  - The code 163.09 indicates a primary malignant pleural neoplasma-malignant
      mesothelioma. We have reinvestigated 173 patients, who were discharged from a
      department of pulmonary medicine with this code number during a 8 1/2 year
      period. A revision during which repeated biopsies, course of the disease and, in
      some cases, autopsy were considered, revealed that 63 were confirmed as having a
      malignant mesothelioma, 94 had neoplastic disease secondary to malignancy
      elsewhere, 13 had benign changes and in three cases the records were missing.
      Malignant mesothelioma entitles the patient to compensation if he has worked with
      asbestos. An occupational history was present in 94% of those suffering from
      mesothelioma and in 71% of the remaining patients. Among patients with
      mesothelioma a history of asbestos exposure was obtained in 44%, a history of no
      exposure in 22% and no specific mention of asbestos in 34%. In the group of
      patients who did not have mesothelioma 14% had known exposure to asbestos, eight
      none and in 78% no specific information concerning asbestos was available. Twenty
      three of the 63 patients with mesothelioma had been notified to the workmens'
      compensation board. Retrospectively, we found that 12 more patients should have
      been notified. Eight patients who did not fulfil the criteria for malignant
      mesothelioma had erroneously been notified to the board for compensation. We find
      that code 163.09 frequently has been used as a working diagnosis, which could not
      invariably be substantiated. Although malignant mesothelioma had been suspected,
      previous history concerning asbestos exposure was often incomplete or absent. A
      correct occupational history and aggressive bioptical procedures are essential in
      all cases where malignant mesothelioma is suspected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1462469
TI  - [Pseudomonas infection associated with whirlpool bath].
AB  - After using a whirlpool-spa when the chlorine concentration in the water was very
      low (0.1 mg/l free chlorine) approximately 20 persons developed a follicular
      rash. No cases were registered in bathers when the chlorine concentration was
      acceptable (0.9-1.2 mg/l). The same sero-group and phagetype of Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa was cultivated from a patient and from the piping system of the spa.
      The importance of following directions for the installation of whirlpool-spas and
      regulations for their operation and control is strictly stressed. The National
      Agency for Environmental Protection is asked to reinforce the existing
      regulations concerning whirlpool-spas.

PMID- 1462470
TI  - [Pseudomonas bacteremia developing after whirlpool bath].
AB  - Whirlpools may be responsible for transmission of microbial infections among the
      bathers if the technical hygienic conditions in the care of the bath are not
      observed. Two cases of infection with Pneudomonas bacteria were observed after
      use of whirlpools in a deluxe summer chalet. On the basis of the documented
      cases, the necessity for specific requirements concerning the installation,
      running and control of whirlpools used commercially should be considered. In
      their advisory brochures, the responsible authorities should ensure that the
      requirements made concerning whirlpools should be intensified so that these baths
      in summer chalets which are rented out should be subject to public control.
      Owners and users of whirlpools should be aware of the importance of meticulous
      hygiene in their care.

PMID- 1462471
TI  - [Acute myelo-meningo-radiculitis caused by the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi].
AB  - A case of severe myelo-meningo-radiculitis with Lyme neuro-borreliosis is
      described in a patient aged 33 years suffering from insulin dependent diabetes
      mellitus. It is essential to examine the cerebro-spinal fluid for Borelia
      burgdorferi specific intrathecal antibody production if sensory radiculitis
      persist and, finally, if there are focal motor signs and unexplained lymphocytic
      pleocytosis in the cerebro-spinal fluid. Early diagnosis is very important in
      order to shorten the course of the illness and recovery.

PMID- 1462472
TI  - [Anxiety symptoms and depression].

PMID- 1462473
TI  - [Anaphylactic shock].

PMID- 1462474
TI  - [While the grass grows the steed starves].

PMID- 1462475
TI  - Changes in action potential kinetics following experimental bladder outflow
      obstruction in the guinea pig.
AB  - The effect of experimental bladder outflow obstruction on membrane electrical
      activity of guinea pig detrusor smooth muscle was studied. Using an intracellular
      microelectrode technique, action potentials were recorded from single smooth
      muscle cells to determine the effect of outflow obstruction on action potential
      (AP) kinetics. Bladder outflow obstruction resulted in smooth muscle hypertrophy
      with bladder weight gain to 2.7 times control levels after 8-12 weeks'
      obstruction. The changes in the AP kinetics noted with obstruction-induced
      bladder hypertrophy were a prolongation of the AP duration and a decrease in the
      maximum velocity of depolarization and repolarization. The AP amplitude, after
      hyperpolarization and overshoot potential in addition to the resting membrane
      potential (RMP) did not change significantly with bladder outflow obstruction.
      The values of these AP parameters were not affected significantly by the
      application of atropine and guanethidine in smooth muscle tissue from either
      control or obstructed bladders. These results suggest that the active electrical
      properties of the detrusor smooth muscle membrane are changed significantly by
      obstruction-induced bladder hypertrophy. Furthermore, the results suggest that
      adrenergic and cholinergic neurotransmitters do not contribute to these changes
      in AP kinetics following obstruction. The changes in AP properties with outflow
      obstruction-induced bladder hypertrophy were compared with those previously
      reported for the hypertrophic myocardium and were discussed in relation to the
      known impaired contractile properties of obstructed bladder smooth muscle.

PMID- 1462476
TI  - Effects of bacteria involved with the pathogenesis of infection-induced
      urolithiasis on the urokinase and sialidase (neuraminidase) activity.
AB  - It has been hypothesized that urinary urokinase and sialidase may play a role in
      urolithiasis. If these theories have substance it is to be expected that
      microorganisms may also affect these enzymes, since the association between
      urinary tract infection and renal stone formation is well known. It is generally
      assumed that Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus albus, which produce the urea
      splitting enzyme urease, are responsible for stone formation. However, the
      importance of non-urease-producing microorganisms (Escherichia coli and
      Enterococcus) in urolithiasis is unclear. Spectrophotometric studies were
      therefore devised to clarify this problem. Microorganisms associated with
      infection-induced stones (Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli) respectively
      inhibited the urokinase and stimulated the sialidase activity. In contrast,
      microorganisms which were not associated with infection stones (Bacillus
      subtilis) had significantly less effect on urokinase and sialidase activity. This
      study may explain infection-induced stone formation and could open a completely
      new line of research.

PMID- 1462477
TI  - In vitro adherence of Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus epidermidis,
      Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and Staphylococcus aureus to human ureter.
AB  - Staphylococcus saprophyticus adhered to human ureteral epithelium in vitro. The
      levels of adherence, which were determined quantitatively with the scanning
      electron microscope, correlated well with bacterial hemagglutinating activities
      with sheep erythrocytes (r = 0.9459, P < 0.01). Transmission electron microscopy
      revealed that the adhering bacteria and the hemagglutinating bacteria possessed
      similar pili-like structures on their cell surfaces. Staphylococcus epidermidis,
      Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and Staphylococcus aureus did not adhere to the
      epithelium. Only S. aureus adhered markedly to the connective tissue of the
      ureter, and adhesion of this organism was direct via its cell wall. This
      adherence test system clearly showed up differences in the abilities of these
      staphylococcal species to adhere to the urinary tract.

PMID- 1462478
TI  - The effect of repeated instillations of antiseptics on catheter-associated
      urinary tract infections: a study in a physical model of the catheterized
      bladder.
AB  - The activity of three antiseptic bladder washout solutions was examined in a
      physical model of the catheterized bladder. Tests were performed against cultures
      of four common urinary tract pathogens that had established themselves in the
      model and colonized the surfaces with biofilm. Double instillations of
      chlorhexidine (0.02% w/v) at 6-h intervals failed to eliminate Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, and Providencia stuartii from the bladder model.
      Escherichia coli, however, was susceptible to a second instillation provided that
      it was performed within 12 h. Supplementing chlorhexidine with EDTA and TRIS
      potentiated its activity against E. coli. Mandelic acid (1.0% w/v) was the most
      effective of the agents, double instillations eliminating all but Pr. mirabilis
      infections.

PMID- 1462480
TI  - Study of kidney and liver viability in the rat after exclusive aortic perfusion
      using intracellular ATP measurement.
AB  - To find whether the liver can be procured after exclusive aortic perfusion, three
      organ perfusion models were used in three groups of donor rats. Group 1 underwent
      liver wash-out via the portal vein; in group 2, the kidneys alone were perfused
      via the aorta; and group 3 underwent simultaneous aortic perfusion of liver and
      kidneys. All perfusion flow rates in the three groups were adjusted to
      physiological values. Harvested organs were transplanted and recipient animals
      were killed 4 h after transplantation to study liver and kidney viability by
      using intracellular ATP measurement. Liver ATP was lower (P < 0.005) in the
      portal perfusion group (group 1: 1.396 +/- 0.412) than in the aortic perfusion
      group (group 3: 2.181 +/- 0.061). Kidney ATP was comparable in groups 2 and
      3:1.066 +/- 0.09 vs 1.059 +/- 0.273 (mumol/g) tissue). Liver cooling was quicker
      with portal perfusion than with the aortic flush (20 degrees C in 20 s vs 15
      degrees C in 60 s). Aortic perfusion at a physiologic flow rate has no
      detrimental effect on renal viability studied by intracellular ATP measurement.
      We conclude that liver cooling via the aortic route only is a good alternative to
      portal perfusion and seems to give good preservation. Application of this
      observation to emergency procurement in humans is still the subject of
      controversy.

PMID- 1462479
TI  - Urinary trypsin levels observed in pancreas transplant patients with
      duodenocystostomies promote in vitro fibrinolysis and in vivo bacterial adherence
      to urothelial surfaces.
AB  - This study evaluated the role of activated urinary trypsin in mediating the
      increased incidence of infectious and hemorrhagic lower urinary tract
      complications in pancreas transplant patients with pancreatico
      duodenocystostomies (PDC). The effect of trypsin concentrations corresponding to
      those observed in the urine of PDC patients were studied using an in vitro assay
      of clot lysis and an in vivo assay of bacterial-urinary tract adherence. Results
      were compared with those of parallel assays performed using urine from a pancreas
      transplant patient with a duodenocystostomy and control human urine. All trypsin
      concentrations studied demonstrated fibrinolytic activity. Fibrinolysis increased
      as a direct function of both trypsin concentration and duration of substrate
      exposure (P < 0.0001). Fibrin lysis resulting from the urine of the transplant
      patient was 4.6 times greater than that predicted based upon assays of total
      trypsin content in the sample. Fibrinolytic activity in control urine specimens
      was 0.16% of that observed in transplant urine specimens. Exposure of the rat
      urinary bladder to 200 micrograms/ml trypsin concentrations, or transplant urine,
      resulted in a significant increase in bacterial adherence over that seen in
      control urine from treated animals (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate a
      significant effect of urinary trypsin on physiologic processes involved in
      hemostasis and the prevention of urinary tract infection. Active urinary trypsin
      may play an etiologic role in hemorrhagic and infectious lower urinary tract
      complications observed in patients with a PDC.

PMID- 1462481
TI  - Renal effect of dopexamine hydrochloride in patients with chronic renal
      dysfunction.
AB  - Dopexamine hydrochloride, a dopamine analogue, has been reported, both
      experimentally and clinically, to increase renal blood flow (RBF) and improve
      renal function in normal kidneys. The availability of computer-enhanced
      radionuclide scintigraphy, which provides accurate non-invasive measurement of
      changes in RBF, enabled us to study the renographic effects of dopexamine
      hydrochloride in patients with chronic renal dysfunction (CRD). Ten patients
      suffering from CRD and ten normal kidney donors were the study population.
      Renography was performed, heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) measured, and
      hematological and biochemical tests carried out before and after intravenous
      infusion of dopexamine 2 micrograms kg-1 min-1 for 60 min. The patient population
      displayed significant increases in total cortical and medullary RBF and
      renographic clearance rate (CR), while in kidney donors the RBF was increased in
      all kidney regions with no change in CR. HR increased in both groups, while BP
      showed no significant changes. The hematological and biochemical changes were
      transient and returned to preinfusion levels after 24 h. It is concluded that
      dopexamine hydrochloride 2 micrograms kg-1 min-1 increases RBF and CR in patients
      with CRD.

PMID- 1462482
TI  - Low-voltage coagulation for welding sutures watertight: an experimental study.
AB  - A rat model was developed to test the watertightness of sutures. In this model it
      was proved that welding by use of low-voltage coagulation current did not improve
      on the watertightness obtained with conventional skin suturing. The mean leak
      pressure after welding was about 4.2 cm H2O, i.e. statistically significantly
      lower than the mean leak pressure of the conventional suture, which is 14.1 cm
      H2O. Neither addition of protein solder nor an additional conventional suture
      improved these results. It is therefore concluded that low-voltage coagulation is
      unsuitable for welding tissues.

PMID- 1462483
TI  - [Sex differentiation disorders from the andrologic viewpoint].
AB  - Abnormal sex differentiation with ambiguous genitalia now leads to prompt and
      comprehensive diagnostic evaluation in the neonate. If necessary, phenotypic
      gender assignment is done very early and appropriate surgical correction is
      performed. Management at puberty and later is more difficult. Andrological
      guidance at this time covers problems of genital identification, sexuality and
      fertility. The different types of abnormal differentiation, i.e. genetic, gonadal
      and phenotypic alterations, may result in different andrological problems, e.g.
      hypogonadism including micropenis and undescended testes, lack of secondary sex
      characteristics and impotence. With respect to fertility the major problems are
      testicular azoospermia and/or congenital abnormalities of the male reproductive
      tract. Any proposals for treatment have to take account of all these different
      aspects of pathogenesis and the natural course of the disease. In each case,
      andrological guidance must be formulated with due consideration for the results
      of genital determination in childhood, including surgical correction.

PMID- 1462484
TI  - [Treatment of hypospadias].
AB  - Treatment of all forms of hypospadias is difficult. Several abnormal components
      have to be differentiated and corrected in a very tight space, in addition to
      which the blood supply must be preserved and infection prevented. Technical
      progress now allows early correction (around the age of 12 months) in a single
      procedure, using methods that date back to the last century. Cosmetic results are
      as important as functional ones. The glans should be reconstructed around the
      neomeatus, and the penile shaft should be straight. Microsurgical techniques,
      short transurethral urinary diversion and reliable dressings are important.
      Strategies, the sequences of surgical procedures and a selection of practical
      methods are presented and discussed.

PMID- 1462485
TI  - [Treatment of bladder exstrophy. Reconstruction or urinary diversion].
AB  - Bladder exstrophy is seen in 1 of 30,000-40,000 live births, and is seldom
      treated in many urological departments. Treatment options for children with
      exstrophy are upper urinary tract diversion or reconstruction of the bladder and
      plastic surgery of the bladder neck to gain urinary continence by the age of 4-7
      years. Historical reviews report continence rates of 10-30% after a staged
      approach with primary reconstruction and secondary bladder neck repair. This
      formerly meant upper urinary tract diversion as a third stage in 70-90%. Multiple
      operative procedures could be avoided when primary diversion was done. The best
      results were reported following antirefluxive implantation of ureters into the
      sigmoid colon (ureterosigmoidostomy). In boys, the base of the bladder was
      removed, leaving a small residual bladder which together with the reconstructed
      epispadias served as a "seminal tract". Total removal of the bladder was
      performed in girls. Long-term follow up of upper urinary tract diversion showed
      disturbances of serum electrolytes, urinary tract infections and stone formation,
      and after ureterosigmoidostomies an increased rate of colon carcinomas was
      documented. These results led to renewed interest in reconstruction. The
      technique of bladder neck reconstruction was changed, resulting in a higher rate
      of late urinary continence: augmentation cystoplasties, clean intermittent
      catheterization and the artificial sphincter help to achieve a continence rate of
      more than 90%. This goal was reached only after multiple operations and without
      knowledge of the long-term sequelae of augmentation cystoplasties. The years to
      come will show whether new concepts of ureterosigmoidotomies, such as the sigma
      rectum pouch, will be preferable, or a late urinary tract diversion after failed
      reconstruction. Most centers are now agreed that primary reconstruction of
      bladder exstrophy should be attempted in the newborn child.

PMID- 1462486
TI  - [Neurogenic disorders of bladder emptying in closed spinal dysraphism].
AB  - Closed (occult) spinal dysraphism, e.g. lipomyelomeningocele, intraspinal lipoma,
      diastematomyelia, the tethered spinal cord in its various forms and dysgenesis of
      the sacrum, is often diagnosed late and only symptoms of neurogenic bladder
      dysfunction are present. A lipomyelomeningocele mostly causes detrusor and
      sphincter dysfunction, as was the case in five of six children among our
      patients. However, improvement of neurological and urological symptoms after the
      operation can only be achieved in about 40%. Four of eight children with
      diastematomyelia suffered from neurogenic bladder dysfunction; three have
      meanwhile undergone surgery with complete recovery in one, no relevant change in
      the second, and worsening in the third. Originally a specific term, the "tethered
      spinal cord" when associated with spinal dysraphism has taken on a more general
      meaning. Nowadays this term is not only used for a short, thickened and tight
      filum terminale, but comprises any pathology, which prevents the spinal cord from
      ascending. MRI examination of the craniovertebral junction and spinal cord of
      patients with treated myelomeningocele often reveals secondary pathologic
      changes: these may be areas of cord atrophy, hydromyelic cavitation or ventral
      compression from arachnoid cysts with clinical symptoms mostly after the age of 5
      years. In these children a changing urodynamic pattern may therefore be caused by
      such a pathology and is an indication for a thorough neurological examination
      including MRI. Of all the dysrhaphic states mentioned above, sacral dysgenesis is
      the most frequent. The sacral osteological anomaly, as a numerical and as a
      structural anomaly, also determines the neuro-urological deficit.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462487
TI  - [Idiopathic left-sided varicocele. An ontogenetic abnormality?].
AB  - Phlebograms for sclerotherapy of varicoceles were performed in 659 patients. In
      484 cases no valves of the left spermatic vein could be demonstrated. However,
      172 patients showed sufficient valves or absent insertions of the spermatic veins
      at typical point with retrograde flow through collaterals (persistent
      intercardinal anastomoses). The value of nutcracker phenomena I and II is
      discussed. Ontogenetic disorders in the development of the secondary abdominal
      venous system are responsible for the occurrence of the idiopathic left-sided
      varicocele.

PMID- 1462488
TI  - [Obstructive uropathy after kidney transplantation. Experiences with endourologic
      incision of ureteral stenoses].
AB  - Between 1985 und March 1991 we have managed 8 upper urinary tract obstructions in
      kidney transplants using an endourological approach. After a graft rejection was
      excluded an obstruction was initially diagnosed by nephrosonography and further
      confirmed by IVP or antegrade pyelography. To investigate the urodynamic
      relevance of the stenosis, all patients underwent preoperative diuretic isotope
      renography. In all cases a percutaneous pyelostomy was done to preserve renal
      function. 7 of these 8 patients demonstrated a stenosis of the ureter, while in
      one case, the obstruction was caused by a coagulum in the renal pelvis. Incision
      of the stricture then was performed with a flexible knife antegrade or retrograde
      and stented for 4-6 weeks. In 6 out of 7 cases with a proven stenosis of the
      ureter, the cold knife incision lead to a successful outcome, while in one
      patient, the kidney had to be removed due to uncontrolled bleeding 12 days after
      successful percutaneous incision. Our results indicate, that the cold-knife
      technique for the management of upper urinary tract obstructions in kidney
      transplants is a promising, fast and in most of the cases effective method. Due
      to its minimalinvasive character and excellent results, this approach is able to
      replace open reintervention in most cases.

PMID- 1462489
TI  - [Vaginal estriol administration in treatment of postmenopausal urinary
      incontinence].
AB  - In an open, prospective, multicenter, controlled study, 629 female subjects
      suffering from stress and urgency urinary incontinence were treated with
      vaginally administered estriol at a dose of 0.01 g daily for 3 weeks, and 0.01 g
      bi-weekly for a further 3 weeks. All data of 552 patients were available at
      follow-up after 6 weeks of treatment. The subjective improvement in symptoms of
      stress urinary incontinence (SUI) was 82% for grade 1, 77% for grade 2, and 69%
      for grade 3. Voluntary urinary control and symptoms of urgency were improved in
      more than 80% of patients. Frequency was reduced in almost 50%. Compared with
      conditions at the outset of the study, after 6 weeks, vaginal lubrication is
      normal in 77%, and intercourse is no longer painful for 88%. Objective parameters
      were: no change in existing descent of the anterior vaginal wall, and normal
      cytoscopic findings in 66% of the patients in whom these were previously
      pathologic. Vaginal atrophy improved in approximately 40% of cases. A quality of
      life score revealed improvement in 72%, no change in 20% and worsening in 9% of
      patients compared with conditions at the start of therapy. During therapy,
      symptoms worsened in 1%; 2% of patients suffered from the adverse effects, with
      vaginal itching and burning sensations. Our results confirm the value of topical
      estrogen application as a cornerstone of efficient treatment of stress and/or
      urge incontinence in the postmenopausal patient.

PMID- 1462490
TI  - Winter outbreaks of laminitis in dairy calves: aetiology and laboratory,
      radiological and pathological findings.
AB  - During the winter months of 1984 to 1989, outbreaks of laminitis occurred in up
      to 6 per cent of all the dairy calves aged four to six months on a dairy farm in
      a village in Israel. The clinical signs were reluctance to move, an arched back,
      overgrown hooves, supracoronary swelling and occasional walking on the carpus;
      most of the calves were unthrifty. Owing to the regular recurrence of the
      disease, the feeding and haematological, radiological and pathological changes in
      both the affected and normal calves at the farm, and in normal calves at another
      farm in the same village were studied. In the affected calves there were
      significant increases in serum protein concentration and in the activities of
      creatine phosphotinase and gamma-glutamyltransferase. Radiography showed dilated
      PIII vascular channels and some PIII rotation. Post mortem studies revealed
      haemorrhages in the laminar section of the hoof. The management of the farms
      differed in the protein level of the milk replacer and the 'starter' diet used
      during the first few months. The affected farm used feeds containing 18 per cent
      digestible protein whereas the unaffected farm used feeds containing 15.3 per
      cent digestible protein.

PMID- 1462491
TI  - Actinobacillosis in bovine caesarean sections.
AB  - An infection with Actinobacillus lignieresii, which was spread by a veterinary
      surgeon, caused problems after caesarean sections in cows on several farms. The
      wounds became hard about six weeks after the operation, and a few weeks later
      small abscesses developed and later the wounds were covered with small and large
      granulomas. The general health of about 20 per cent of the affected cows was poor
      and in these cows multiple granulomas could be detected in the abdomen by rectal
      palpation.

PMID- 1462493
TI  - Update on the incidence of summer mastitis in England and Wales.

PMID- 1462492
TI  - Urethral leiomyoma causing post renal failure in a bitch.

PMID- 1462494
TI  - Positioning of identification transponders in the auricle of pigs.

PMID- 1462495
TI  - Serological response of turkeys to the intravaginal inoculation of Mycoplasma
      iowae.

PMID- 1462496
TI  - Chyloperitoneum associated with torsion of the large colon in a horse.

PMID- 1462497
TI  - Cannibalism in laying hens.

PMID- 1462498
TI  - [A novel study of the metabolism of niacin and nicotinamide coenzymes].

PMID- 1462499
TI  - [Medicinal means of metabolic therapy based on vitamins and coenzymes (review)].

PMID- 1462500
TI  - [Bioantioxidants--required nutritional factors].

PMID- 1462501
TI  - [Antioxidant properties of vitamins and their complex with blood proteins].

PMID- 1462503
TI  - [Metabolism of vitamins and their use in ischemic heart disease].

PMID- 1462502
TI  - [Excretion of vitamins and their metabolites in urine as criteria of human
      vitamin status].

PMID- 1462504
TI  - [Immunomodulating and anticarcinogenic activity of carotenoids].

PMID- 1462505
TI  - [Nicotinamide coenzymes in the regulation of cellular metabolism in various types
      of diabetes].
AB  - Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of nicotinamide in insulin-dependent and
      noninsulin-dependent types of diabetes have been investigated. Hypoglycemic
      effect of nicotinamide in alloxan- and streptozotocin-induced diabetes resulted
      in activation of NAD+ biosynthesis and corresponding alterations in the redox
      state of free nicotinamide coenzymes. Increase in the free NAD+/NADH ratio was
      accompanied by inhibition of key gluconeogenic enzymes and by a decrease in the
      rate of 2-14C-incorporation into glucose in liver tissue and by inhibition of
      sorbitol formation in lens tissue. Nicotinamide exhibited hypolipidemic effect in
      db/db mice with noninsulin-dependent diabetes. The agent inhibited the enzyme of
      primary steps of lipogenesis, altered the structure of intercellular CoA pool and
      lowered the rate of lipid biosynthesis in liver tissue, thus normalizing blood
      lipoprotein compositions.

PMID- 1462506
TI  - [Impaired metabolism of vitamin D and use of its metabolites in chronic kidney
      diseases in children].

PMID- 1462507
TI  - [Experimental basis for the use of vitamins in the multimodal treatment of
      stomatological diseases].
AB  - The "Aerovit" vitamin complex prevents metabolic acidosis development and
      increased the rate of oxidation in tissues, which is accompanied by predominance
      of oxidized metabolites of glycolysis and Krebs cycles, by activation of their
      key enzymes as well as by an increase in the ratio of SH/SS-groups in water
      soluble protein and low molecular weight fractions, by a decrease in activity of
      lipase. At the same time, patterns of acid-alkaline equilibrium were normalized
      in blood. Preventive effect of the vitamin complex was noted in treatment of the
      diseases accompanied by acidosis; in parodontitis the vitamins suppressed the
      atrophy of maxillary alveolar bone structures, normalized the acid-alkaline
      equilibrium in blood and decreased the rate of metabolic acidosis in liver and
      bone tissues.

PMID- 1462508
TI  - [The biological effectiveness of the proteins in the specialized product
      "Ovolact" in the nutrition of patients following reconstructive surgery on jaw
      bones with congenital deformities].
AB  - Postoperative feeding with a special-purpose foodstuff Ovolact proved superior to
      tube feeding in patients on after treatment following surgical correction of
      congenital jaw defects. This was evident from assessment of anthropometric and
      protein metabolism parameters. Nitrogen metabolism underwent positive changes
      reflecting the product value for maintenance of protein status of the above
      patients. Therefore, Ovolact can make more effective postoperative rehabilitation
      in jaw reconstruction.

PMID- 1462509
TI  - [Tube feeding of patients with cancer of the larynx in the early postoperative
      period].

PMID- 1462510
TI  - [Seasonal dynamics of the indices of humoral immunity in children aged 3 months
      to 1 year in relation to nutrition in an arid zone].
AB  - The paper reports seasonal data on humoral immunity of 245 Turkmen and 240
      European infants aged 3-12 months. Allowances were made for climatic conditions
      of the arid zone and essential feeding. In summer there were reduced levels of
      IgM, IgG in the serum and insufficient supply with thiamine and ascorbic acid.
      IgA serum level was the lowest in spring. IgA strongly correlated (r = 0.7-0.8)
      with thiamine and ascorbic acid intake in spring, IgM and IgG with retinol and
      thiamine in summer. The above changes in humoral immunity in summer are
      associated with growing incidence of intestinal diseases and lower body mass in
      the infants in the condition of arid zone.

PMID- 1462511
TI  - [Polyvitaminization--an effective method of optimizing the vitamin status of
      children].
AB  - Insufficient vitamin value of the food rations for children at nurseries is
      expressed in lowered levels of vitamins and their metabolites in the urine, as
      well as in a higher frequency of vitamin and, particularly, polyvitamin
      deficiency in children, especially, in the winter-spring period. Improvement of
      the quality and increasing the quantity of food, prophylactic administration of
      polyvitamins in the periods of higher vitamin deficiency would be effective and
      real ways for optimization of vitamin status of children. Dragee "Undevitum" and
      "Hexavitum" proved to be most effective among the prophylactic polyvitamins, the
      synergy of action of their components provides the improvement in the values of
      renal excretion of vitamins and their metabolites, as well as reduction in the
      frequency of micro-symptoms of polyvitamin deficiency.

PMID- 1462513
TI  - [The status of the actual nutrition of pregnant women in an epidemically
      unfavorable region of Kazakhstan].
AB  - Questionnaire survey and body mass control followed by computer estimation of the
      diet chemical composition were conducted in 30 pregnant women in summer and
      autumn. Deficiency in intake of meat products, vegetable oil, potatoes reached
      15.2-34.7, 24.2-55.8, 55-65.7%, respectively, in the trimester I and II. The
      dietary lack of fish, eggs, vegetables, fruit could be hardly compensated by
      bakery foods and sweets. Protein deficiency rose to 25-38.3%, that of fat 19.1
      25.2%. Intake of carbohydrates was satisfactory, though mineral salts and
      vitamins were provided incompletely.

PMID- 1462512
TI  - [The provision of vitamins to school children in rural regions of Lithuania].
AB  - Providing with vitamins of schoolchildren was studied in some regions of
      Lithuania during the winter-spring period. The biochemical blood count has
      revealed insufficient providing of schoolchildren with ascorbic acid, beta
      carotene, vitamins B1, B2 and B6. Decreased levels of ascorbic acid in urine, as
      well as micro-symptoms of hypovitaminosis (ascorbic acid, thiamine and
      riboflavine deficiencies) have been recorded.

PMID- 1462514
TI  - [The iron deficiency status and the actual nutrition of women in Gorno-Altai].
AB  - Standard methods (questionnaires, peripheral blood count, iron pool) were
      employed to study epidemiology (prevalence and risk factors) of iron deficiency
      in the women of the Altai mountains and the relation of this deficiency with
      essential nutrition. Hemoglobin dispersion was found to depend on fuel value of
      the ration, total protein levels, polyunsaturated fatty acid content.

PMID- 1462515
TI  - [The present nutrition of workers in the mining industry].

PMID- 1462516
TI  - [The selenium content of food products and the blood of inhabitants of Norilsk].
AB  - The intake of trace element selenium by Norilsk citizens was assessed by its
      levels in the serum, food and soil. It was found that soil and food made in the
      Norilsk region are rich in selenium, its serum concentration in the population is
      normal (102 micrograms/l). References to such values for the Moscow and Zaporoje
      (Ukraine) regions are made. Low selenium levels in the serum may be indicative of
      pulmonary diseases.

PMID- 1462517
TI  - [The effect of ascorbic acid supplements on the anti-infection resistance of the
      body].

PMID- 1462518
TI  - [The effect of water-soluble sorbents on the exocrine function of the liver].
AB  - The effect of water-soluble sorbents on exocrine function of the liver was
      studied in chronic experiments on 2 dogs with a brought out bile duct. It is
      shown that choline and digitonin sorbents exhibit choleretic properties similar
      to those of cholestyramine. Choline sorbent causes a drop in the concentration of
      (2-4-fold) cholic acid in the bile unlike digitonin sorbent. No prolonging action
      was seen upon cholestyramine administration, while choline sorbent do demonstrate
      it. Cholesterol and bilirubin levels do not respond noticeably to the above
      sorbents.

PMID- 1462519
TI  - [The effect of the zinc content in the rations of experimental animals on the
      absorption, distribution and accumulation of cadmium chloride in the body with
      different methods of administration].
AB  - Intravenous (20 kBk) and intragastric (400 kBk) cadmium chloride administration
      to 45 white noninbred rat males kept for a month on a semisynthetic isocaloric
      diet including 0.0005 and 0.001% zinc were evaluated for absorption and
      distribution. Radionuclide findings provided the conclusions that: the absence or
      excess of zinc in the diet stimulates cadmium absorption from gastrointestinal
      tract; cadmium distribution in the viscera (the liver, kidneys, pancreas) varies
      with route of entry, the least accumulation of oral cadmium in the above viscera
      is observed in animals receiving optimal zinc quantities.

PMID- 1462520
TI  - [The effect of nutritional factors on lipid peroxidation in the microsomes of
      rats of varying ages].
AB  - 5-month- (mature) and 24-month-old (old) male Wag rats were examined for lipid
      peroxidation products and antioxidant enzymes activity in the liver cytosol.
      Imbalanced rations are shown to contribute to enhancement of lipid peroxidation
      entailing accumulation of lipid peroxidation products and inhibition of
      antioxidant enzymatic activity. Enrichment of food with antioxidant vitamins and
      fibers leads to lowering of age-related peroxidation.

PMID- 1462521
TI  - [The effect of the composition of food rations on the free amino acid content and
      the indices of the acid-base balance in the blood during aging].
AB  - In experiments on aging rats fed 5 different rations by protein, tryptophan,
      prevailing base or acid equivalents it was found that tryptophan and plant
      protein deficiency, high levels of acid equivalents affect serum amino acid
      composition, aggravates acidosis. Restriction of basic food substances intake in
      parallel with prevalence of base equivalents made amino acid pool optimal,
      increased base serum reserves and contributed to longer life-span.

PMID- 1462522
TI  - [Essential fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of vascular complications
      of diabetes mellitus].

PMID- 1462523
TI  - [The effect of protein-calorie food deficiency on the activity of enteral enzymes
      in growing rats].
AB  - 30-day changes in enteral enzymes were followed up in test and control growing
      white rats. Test animals received protein- and calorie-deficient feeding. It was
      established that retardation of growth was more marked in protein than in calorie
      deficiency.

PMID- 1462524
TI  - [Experimental evaluation of the allergen activity of a peptide preparation
      produced from an enzymatic hydrolysate of milk proteins using ultrafiltration].
AB  - Noninbred guinea-pig experiments were performed to investigate specific potential
      allergenicity of cow milk proteins (CMP) consisting of casein (80%) and serum
      proteins (20%), of low-molecular peptides (LMP 20/80) produced from CMP 20/80 by
      enzymatic hydrolysis and ultrafiltration; to evaluate nonspecific effect of test
      diet CMP 20/80 and LMP 20/80 on anaphylactic response of the animals to ovalbumin
      and histamine LD50. LMP 20/80 versus CMP 20/80 had a hypoallergenic effect.
      Potential mechanisms of low anaphylactic sensitivity induced by LMP 20/80 are
      discussed.

PMID- 1462525
TI  - [A comparison of methods of determining 4-pyridoxic acid in urine].
AB  - Routine fluorescent assays for urine 4-pyridoxic acid (4-PA) in variants of
      lactone 4-PA external standard (variant 1) and internal 4-PA standard (variant 2)
      were compared to high performance liquid chromatography. Correlation between the
      two values were defined by specially derived equation. The internal standard is
      preferable, as variant 1 presents underestimated results. Variant 2 is limited to
      high 4-PA concentrations, being unfit in low ones for overestimating the data.
      The chromatography proved most reliable and specific.

PMID- 1462526
TI  - [The effect of storage conditions on the amino acid composition of champignons].

PMID- 1462527
TI  - [The chemical composition of national products from horseflesh].

PMID- 1462528
TI  - [The vitamin and microelement content of rarely cultivated vegetables in the Cis
      Urals].

PMID- 1462529
TI  - [New developments in methods of dietetic therapy of patients with hypertension].

PMID- 1462530
TI  - Caring for hearing-impaired patients in compliance with the Americans With
      Disabilities Act.

PMID- 1462531
TI  - The Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (BCPT) in West Virginia.
AB  - Female breast cancer is a major medical problem with significant public health
      ramifications. During the next decade, more than 1.5 million women in the United
      States will be newly diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. The Breast Cancer
      Prevention Trial (BCPT) is an NIH-sponsored study which will determine whether
      long-term tamoxifen therapy is effective in: 1) Preventing invasive breast
      cancer, 2) Lowering the incidence of fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction,
      and 3) Reducing the incidence of bone fractures. Sixteen thousand women,
      including at least 100 from West Virginia who are > or = 35 years of age at
      increased risk for breast cancer, will be randomized between placebo and
      tamoxifen during a two-year period. For each participant, the annual and lifetime
      probability of developing breast cancer will be estimated utilizing a
      computerized model of risk assessment. The placebo or tamoxifen will be
      administered for at least five years. Toxicity, compliance, monitoring of quality
      of-life assessment, and lipid and lipoprotein evaluations are major components of
      this trial.

PMID- 1462532
TI  - Cardiopulmonary arrest in pregnancy: the role of caesarean section in the
      resuscitative protocol.
AB  - A 36-year-old black multipara at 32 weeks gestation was referred with apparent
      peripartal cardiomyopathy. Upon arrival, she was found to be in pulmonary edema;
      and shortly thereafter developed cardiopulmonary arrest. She failed to respond to
      initial attempts at cardiopulmonary resuscitation but subsequently responded
      after Caesarean section and pericardiocentesis. This case exemplifies the unique
      aspects of performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a gravid female in the
      latter part of pregnancy and that Caesarean section should be considered an
      integral part of the resuscitative protocol when standard protocols fail.

PMID- 1462533
TI  - Efficacious treatment of the common wart (verruca vulgaris).
AB  - A relatively benign lesion, the common wart (verruca vulgaris), probably occurs
      sometime during the lifetime of most individuals. Since it is usually self
      limited, it may attract little attention unless it appears on the sole of the
      foot, adjacent to a fingernail or toenail, or somewhere on the face. Anyone with
      a serious interest in the etiology of the wart is directed to the many excellent
      works on this and related viral lesions. The purpose of this paper is to tell of
      one doctor's search for a reasonable, non-surgical, non-invasive treatment that
      would be acceptable to most patients.

PMID- 1462534
TI  - To save health care dollars.

PMID- 1462537
TI  - Controlling a syphilis epidemic.
AB  - In 1986 the rate of infectious syphilis (primary and secondary) in Los Angeles
      County began to rise from previously stable levels of about 23.5 per 100,000 to
      peak at 55.6 per 100,000 in 1987. The incidence of congenital syphilis increased
      from 205 cases in 1987 to 575 cases in 1989. The county's Sexually Transmitted
      Disease Program instituted a disease-specific plan to address the epidemic.
      Factors considered in designing the program included the high morbidity and
      mortality associated with congenital infection, the existence of latent
      infection, self-limiting symptoms, and the availability of an inexpensive
      screening test and curative treatment. Policy changes implemented comprised
      expanded screening, expanded surveillance, increased contact tracing, and the
      initiation of condom promotion programs. To evaluate the relative effectiveness
      of Los Angeles County's syphilis control efforts, the epidemic curve for
      infectious syphilis was compared with trends in other urban areas. Although the
      rate of infectious syphilis climbed a year earlier in Los Angeles than in other
      cities, it returned to baseline levels when other cities' rates remained at
      epidemic levels.

PMID- 1462535
TI  - Tuberculosis chemoprophylaxis.
AB  - The incidence of tuberculosis in the United States, after decreasing for many
      years, has recently begun to climb at an alarming rate. This rise is due mainly
      to excess cases in high-risk groups including human immunodeficiency virus
      infected patients, the elderly, the foreign born, and the homeless. In the United
      States tuberculosis has been associated with a 10% mortality despite adequate
      treatment. The tuberculin skin test is a safe and inexpensive test for detecting
      tuberculous infection. To improve its predictive value the diagnostic criteria
      for classifying a positive reaction have recently been revised. High-risk
      populations should be screened to identify those persons who would most benefit
      from preventive treatment. Isoniazid therapy taken for 6 to 12 months is a safe
      and highly effective means of preventing tuberculous infection from developing
      into active disease. The most worrisome toxicity of isoniazid, fatal hepatitis,
      is extremely rare; when patients are monitored closely the incidence of death
      from hepatotoxicity is less than 0.01%.

PMID- 1462536
TI  - The 10-year experience of an academically affiliated occupational and
      environmental medicine clinic.
AB  - Occupational and environmental diseases are underrecognized. Among the barriers
      to the successful diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these conditions are
      inadequate consultative and information resources. We describe the 10-year
      clinical and training experiences of an academically affiliated referral center
      that has as its primary goal the identification of work-related and other
      environmental diseases. The University of Washington Occupational and
      Environmental Medicine Program has evaluated 6,048 patients in its diagnostic and
      screening clinics. Among the 2,841 seen in the diagnostic clinics, 1,553 (55%)
      had a work-related condition. The most prevalent diagnoses included asbestos
      related lung disease (n = 603), toxic encephalopathy (n = 160), asthma (n = 119),
      other specific respiratory conditions (n = 197), carpal tunnel syndrome (n = 86),
      and dermatitis (n = 82). The clinics serve as a training site for fellows in the
      specialty training program, primary care internal medicine residents, residents
      from other medical specialties, and students in industrial hygiene, toxicology,
      and occupational health nursing. The program serves two additional important
      functions: providing consultative services to community physicians and training
      specialists and other physicians in this underserved area of medicine.

PMID- 1462538
TI  - Predicting risk for medical malpractice claims using quality-of-care
      characteristics.
AB  - The current fault-based tort system assumes that claims made against physicians
      are inversely related to the quality of care they provide. In this study we
      identified physician characteristics associated with elements of medical care
      that make physicians vulnerable to malpractice claims. A sample of physicians (n
      = 248) thought to be at high or low risk for claims was surveyed on various
      personal and professional characteristics. Statistical analysis showed that 9
      characteristics predicted risk group. High risk was associated with increased
      age, surgical specialty, emergency department coverage, increased days away from
      practice, and the feeling that the litigation climate was "unfair." Low risk was
      associated with scheduling enough time to talk with patients, answering patients'
      telephone calls directly, feeling "satisfied" with practice arrangements, and
      acknowledging greater emotional distress. Prediction was more accurate for
      physicians in practice 15 years or less. We conclude that a relationship exists
      between a history of malpractice claims and selected physician characteristics.

PMID- 1462540
TI  - Photorefractive keratectomy.

PMID- 1462539
TI  - Gastrointestinal complications of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
AB  - Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have become increasingly popular, with more
      than 90 million prescriptions being written annually. These drugs inhibit the
      intracellular cyclooxygenase enzyme system, thus blocking the production of
      various prostaglandin compounds. This, in turn, interferes with normal mucosal
      protective mechanisms, leading to local injury. Gastrointestinal complications of
      nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use include ulcerations, hemorrhage,
      perforation, stricture formation, and the exacerbation of inflammatory bowel
      disease. Treatment involves stopping the drug if at all possible and then
      instituting more specific therapy depending on the anatomic area that has been
      injured.

PMID- 1462541
TI  - Macular surgery.

PMID- 1462542
TI  - Laser treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

PMID- 1462543
TI  - Retinitis pigmentosa--new advances in ophthalmic genetics.

PMID- 1462544
TI  - Current therapy for disorders of the optic nerve.

PMID- 1462545
TI  - Graves' ophthalmopathy.

PMID- 1462546
TI  - Small-incision cataract operation.

PMID- 1462548
TI  - Isolation of Borrelia burgdorferi from ticks in southern California.

PMID- 1462547
TI  - Maternal death due to rupture of a low transverse cesarean section incision
      during labor at home.

PMID- 1462549
TI  - Personal renewal.
AB  - After John Gardner's presentation on "Self-Renewal" to THE WESTERN JOURNAL OF
      MEDICINE Editors' Meeting, (*) Joseph Murphy, MD, Special Editor for Wyoming,
      asked the former Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, "Where are you in
      your life's cycle?" Dr Gardner, who is 80 years old, answered, "When Chief
      Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr, was in his 90s, he was asked a similar
      question and said, ;I'm like a race horse cantering along after the race is over,
      cooling down.' Well, I'm nowhere near cantering! I'm still in the race, pushing
      the world." race, pushing the world."John Gardner, who received his undergraduate
      degree from Stanford and PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, taught
      at the college level for several years before he joined the Carnegie Foundation.
      As president of Carnegie Corporation and Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement
      of Teaching, he began to "push the world" toward education and in 1964 received
      the country's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has
      also pushed it toward political reform by founding Common Cause, toward grass
      roots political action by founding the Urban Coalition, toward leadership
      training by founding the White House Fellows program, and toward volunteerism by
      founding the Independent Sector (a coalition of for-profit and not-for-profit
      organizations and foundations). His books, including Excellence, Self-Renewal, No
      Easy Victories, and On Leadership, have pushed readers to new understanding of
      themselves and of organizations to higher levels of creativity and energy to get
      important work done. His current research focuses on discovering and defining the
      characteristics of healthy, vital communities. His call to "keep on keeping on,"
      indeed, to push the world, leads to constructive change. Active people become
      effective people, infused with the energy and optimism that good hard work
      inspires. I think you will find this paper as invigorating to read as it was to
      hear.

PMID- 1462550
TI  - 'New habits of mind'--bridging the gap between public health and clinical
      medicine.

PMID- 1462551
TI  - Complications of asplenia and hyposplenism--persistent uncertainties.

PMID- 1462552
TI  - Treatment strategies in the prevention of tuberculosis.

PMID- 1462553
TI  - Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and ulcers.

PMID- 1462554
TI  - 'What kind of work do you do?'.

PMID- 1462555
TI  - Cancer screening in women.

PMID- 1462556
TI  - Exaggerated threat of childhood lead poisoning in California--epidemic by edict.

PMID- 1462557
TI  - Another health food hazard--gamma-hydroxybutyrate-induced seizures.

PMID- 1462558
TI  - Licensing of tissue banks in California.

PMID- 1462559
TI  - Pulse oximeter versus electrocardiogram.

PMID- 1462560
TI  - Discounting our future.

PMID- 1462561
TI  - Meta-analyses revisited.

PMID- 1462562
TI  - [Biochemical indicators of the nutritional status of the body in various diseases
      of the digestive system].
AB  - In 45 patients with chronic digestive tract diseases (gastric and/or duodenal
      peptic ulcer, cholecystolithiasis, conditions after gastrectomy and
      cholecystectomy) the biochemical parameters serving as indicators of the
      nutritional status of the organism (Hb, Bc, Fe, Ca, alkaline phosphatase) were
      determined. In the group with postgastrectomy syndrome the serum calcium level
      was decreased. The other parameters were normal in all groups of patients.

PMID- 1462563
TI  - [Appendicitis and its atypical causes].
AB  - The authors analysed 2849 patients who were admitted to the Department of General
      Surgery, Regional Hospital in Pisz in the years 1980-1989 with symptoms
      suggestive of appendicitis. In 983 cases surgical intervention was abandoned,
      because the symptoms regressed spontaneously or were caused by diseases of other
      organs. The pathological conditions associated with appendicitis are analysed in
      1866 surgically treated patients. Cases of appendicitis caused by Oxyuris
      vermicularis, Salmonella-enteritidis and actinomycosis (one case each) and
      appendicular carcinoma (2 cases) are described in more detail. Attention is
      called to the aetiology, pathogenesis and treatment of these rare causes of
      appendicitis.

PMID- 1462564
TI  - [Cigarette smoking as a risk factor of premature labor].
AB  - The effect of cigarette smoking by parents on the incidence of premature labour
      was analysed. Premature labours accounted for 14.1% of all labours. Cigarette
      smoking by pregnant women was a significant risk factors for prematurity, it
      increased significantly hypoxia caused by chemical pollution of the environment
      and contributed to intrauterine hypotrophy in premature babies. The per cent of
      smokers among premature babies with normal weight was 37.4%, but among premature
      babies with the syndrome of intrauterine hypotrophy it was 58.4%. The per cent of
      heavy smokers was significantly in the group of premature babies, and also the
      duration of smoking habit by mothers was longer.

PMID- 1462565
TI  - [Acute appendicitis in pregnancy].
AB  - A retrospective analysis is reported of 110 pregnant women with acute
      appendicitis on the basis of inquiry with participation of 23 surgical centres in
      the period 1979-1989. Attention is called mainly to diagnostic difficulties and
      peculiarities of the clinical course of this acute abdomen syndrome in pregnancy.
      The authors found that acute appendicitis was most frequent in primiparae in the
      1st and 2nd trimester of pregnancy and the always high mortality was caused
      mainly to delay of operation.

PMID- 1462566
TI  - [Evaluation of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and its isoenzyme activities
      in the urine of children with primary and secondary hypertension].
AB  - The total activity of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and its isoenzymes A
      and B was determined in the urine of 18 children aged 9-18 years with essential
      hypertension and 21 with nephrogenic hypertension. The results were compared with
      those in a control group of 30 healthy children. The obtained results show that
      in children with stabilized hypertension (above the 95 centile) of essential type
      the proportion (above the 95 centile) of essential type the proportion of urinary
      isoenzymes are changes, with higher activity of the B isoenzyme. On the other
      hand, in children with nephrogenic hypertension the total activity and the
      activity of the B isoenzyme are increased. After reduction of blood pressure
      following hypotensive treatment (below the 90th centile) the activity of NAG and
      its isoenzymes was again normal in essential hypertension and was much reduced in
      nephrogenic hypertension. The study demonstrated that hypertension leads to
      transient damage to the proximal tubules which is reversed by effective
      hypotensive treatment.

PMID- 1462567
TI  - [Mediastinal infiltration in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia].
AB  - The clinical and haematological analysis is presented of six out of 68 cases of
      acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children. In these six cases mediastinal
      involvement was found. They accounted for 8.8% of all patients and all were boys
      aged over 4 years. In all these cases the course was dramatic, with high risk and
      with signs of poor prognosis: infiltration of organs, very high leucocyte counts.
      T-cell blasts. The evident clinical uniformity of the symptoms and laboratory
      similarity of these cases suggest that they should be isolated as a separate
      subgroup, and therapeutic failures observed as yet indicate the necessity of
      caution in prognosis.

PMID- 1462568
TI  - [The role of phospholipase A2 in acute pancreatitis].

PMID- 1462569
TI  - [Chorionic biopsy--a new trend in prenatal diagnosis].

PMID- 1462570
TI  - [Lyme disease--also a childhood disease].
AB  - In the light of a survey of the world literature Lyme borreliosis, an epidemic
      disease caused by gram-negative organisms Borrelia burgdorferi is described. The
      disease has three phases with involvement of the skin, the nervous system, the
      cardiovascular system and joints. Treatment with antibiotics is effective. The
      disease lies in the fields of interest of various specialties including
      paediatrics.

PMID- 1462571
TI  - [Etiology, pathomechanism and therapy of Dupuytren's contracture].

PMID- 1462572
TI  - [Controversies regarding the use of 0.75% bupivacaine].
AB  - Controversies are described regarding wide introduction of bupivacaine with
      raised concentration (0.75%) of the active components, which has been introduced
      in other countries in the strongest local anaesthetic agent used as yet but in
      early 1980s it has been withdrawn from several western countries in view of
      possible serious cardiovascular side effects. Presently, after a number of
      studies it been demonstrated that these suppositions were unfounded and the
      observed complication were due errors in anaesthesiological techniques and not to
      an exceptional cardiotoxicity of the drug.

PMID- 1462573
TI  - [A case of histiocytosis X complicated by recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax].
AB  - A rare case of the generalized of histiocytosis X is described. Due to pulmonary
      involvement the disease was complicated by three episodes of spontaneous
      pneumothorax.

PMID- 1462574
TI  - [A case of nephrotic syndrome in chronic glomerulonephritis with coexistent
      diffuse thrombophlebitis].
AB  - A case is described of nephrotic syndrome with coexistent thrombosis of the
      splenic vein and the common iliac veins. The possible pathological mechanism of
      tge disease and the therapeutic and diagnostic difficulties during this disease
      superimposed upon chronic glomerulonephritis are discussed.

PMID- 1462575
TI  - [A case of bilateral acoustic neuroma in a 19-year-old girl].
AB  - A rare case of bilateral neurinoma of the acoustic nerve is described. The
      patient was a girl aged 19 years without external evidence of von Recklingshausen
      disease.

PMID- 1462576
TI  - [Acute encephalopathy in ethylene glycol poisoning].
AB  - Poisoning with ethylene glycol is the most frequent poisoning in our country.
      Acute encephalopathy during this poisoning may be a cause of important diagnostic
      difficulties, especially in the initial phase of the poisoning, due to the
      variety of symptoms and signs. Three cases of this poisoning are reported. All
      patients were erroneously referred and admitted to neurological hospital
      department. It is postulated that in each case of coma of unknown aetiology with
      signs suggesting damage to the brain stem and hyperventilation arterial blood
      gasometric examination should be done and blood and urine should be taken for
      toxicological investigations. In the treatment of glycol poisoning the most
      important task is to correct metabolic acidosis and to apply early dialysis
      treatment in serious intoxication.

PMID- 1462577
TI  - [Intravenous rehydration in acute diarrhea in children. I. Theoretical
      considerations].

PMID- 1462578
TI  - [Intravenous rehydration in acute diarrhea in children. II. Clinical experience].

PMID- 1462579
TI  - [Medical advice for king Jan III Sobieski].

PMID- 1462580
TI  - [18th century description of malaria].

PMID- 1462581
TI  - [Evaluation of the effectiveness of delayed-action propranolol in the treatment
      of arterial hypertension].
AB  - The reported study was carried out in 25 patients aged 21 to 58 years with
      essential hypertension in second stage of WHO classification. During three months
      in 10-day courses they were given alternately 1 placebo tablet or 160 mg
      propranolol retard in one dose daily. The values of the heart rate and blood
      pressure were compared before and after the treatment. A significant decrease of
      systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate was noted. The comparison of
      blood pressure and heart rate values after 10 days on propranolol with those
      before the treatment showed a statistically significant reduction of these
      parameters. This is an evidence that the hypotensive action of propranolol retard
      develops already during 10 days of treatment.

PMID- 1462582
TI  - [Diagnostic difficulties in pleural mesothelioma].
AB  - The analysis is reported of 29 case records of patients admitted in the last 25
      years to the Department of Pulmonary Diseases and Tuberculosis, Medical Academy
      in Gdansk with suspected pleural malignant mesothelioma. In 16 cases the
      diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination, and in 13 cases the
      diagnosis of mesothelioma was based on the whole clinical picture and cytological
      examination of pleural effusion. The most frequent symptoms included dyspnoea,
      pain, progressing weakness. In most cases signs of increasing effusion volume and
      sometimes also of pleural thickening were found on medical and radiological
      examination. The mean survival time was 5 months. The results of treatment were
      not satisfactory.

PMID- 1462583
TI  - [Epidemiology of cholelithiasis among professionally active persons in the
      Katowice province].
AB  - In the workplaces of the City of Katowice 2867 subjects in 5 age groups were
      studied by inquiry, physical examination and gallbladder ultrasonography. Calculi
      in the gallbladder were found in 344 subjects that is 11.99%. The prevalence of
      calculi was much higher in females, and in both sexes it increased with age. The
      study confirms the value of USG in the diagnosis of gallbladder calculi and the
      possibility of its use for screening of the general population.

PMID- 1462584
TI  - [N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and diurnal excretion of hydroxyproline in
      chronic viral hepatitis].
AB  - In 37 patients with chronic active hepatitis, in 14 with chronic persistent
      hepatitis and in 11 with normal histological pattern of the liver the serum
      activity of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and the 24-hour excretion of
      hydroxyproline with urine were determined. The 24-hour excretion of
      hydroxyproline was similar in all groups of patients, while the activity
      hepatitis and higher than in those of chronic persistent hepatitis (36.9 +/- 12.9
      i.u. per 100 ml versus 22.4 +/- 8.2 i.u. per 100 ml, p less than 0.05). In
      patients with high serum NAGL activity cirrhosis developed significantly more
      frequently.

PMID- 1462585
TI  - [Dynamics of the changes in insulin requirement during the treatment with
      biosynthetic human insulin].
AB  - In 20 patients treated previously with porcine insulin human recombined insulin
      Eli Lilly was tried. During one year of its use under strict therapeutic
      conditions a significant decrease of the requirement for insulin was achieved,
      especially in the first three months of the trial, especially in patients with
      shorter duration of diabetes. At the same time, carbohydrate metabolism improved
      significantly. No side effects of the new insulin were noted.

PMID- 1462586
TI  - [Microbiological evaluation of the effectiveness of gynalgin in the treatment of
      vaginitis].
AB  - The microbiological effectiveness of the preparation Gynalgin produced by POLFA
      Pharmaceutical Works in Rzeszow was assessed in cases of vulvovaginitis in 55
      patients with clinically diagnosed inflammatory conditions of the lower genital
      tract, who were given Gynalgin tablets in 10-day courses. Vaginal smears were
      examined three times for the presence of bacteria, fungi and trichomonas
      vaginalis (before and immediately after the treatment, and two weeks later). In
      the initial examination in five vaginal smears mixed bacterial flora was found,
      in 6 smears trichomonas was present, in 4--bacteria and fungi, and in one-
      trichomonas and fungi. After the treatment in control examinations I and II the
      number of the isolated bacterial strains was lower, trichomonas was no longer
      present, and the number of fungi was reduced evidently. In the light of these
      microbiological examinations Gynalgin was found to exert a strong fungicidal,
      bactericidal and antitrichomonal activity, and the results of laboratory
      investigations agreed with those of clinical trials of Gynalgin effectiveness.

PMID- 1462587
TI  - [Thrombocytopenia in newborn infants caused by autoimmune thrombocytopenic
      purpura in their mothers].
AB  - Five cases of congenital thrombocytopenia caused by immunological
      thrombocytopenia in mothers are presented. In one newborn whose mother had normal
      platelet count after splenectomy performed for ITP transient congenital
      thrombocytopenia was observed after birth. One child died due to intracranial
      hemorrhage. Practical conclusions are presented with regard to the diagnosis and
      management of neonatal thrombocytopenia caused by maternal ITP, and prophylactic
      management is suggested to prevent the complications of neonatal thrombocytopenia
      in case of maternal ITP.

PMID- 1462588
TI  - [Evaluation of physical fitness of children with mitral valve prolapse into the
      left heart atrium].
AB  - Effort tolerance was assessed in 25 children with idiopathic syndrome of mitral
      valve leaflet prolapse into the left atrium. The children were aged 9 to 15
      years. The results of the ergometric test confirmed the clinical observations
      suggesting that children with the syndrome tolerate exercise as well as their
      healthy peers.

PMID- 1462589
TI  - [The so-called stroke headache].
AB  - Sudden violent headache occurring for the first time in life suggests
      subarachnoid haemorrhage and requires diagnostic management. In 20 cases the
      authors failed to find blood in cerebrospinal fluid, but in 8 cases the protein
      level was raised. The patients were examined again after 2-10 years, and had
      control neurological examination and CT of the brain. In half the cases similar
      headaches returned after various time periods, and haemorrhage was again ruled
      out. In all patient chronic headaches of lower intensity developed. Control CT
      examination showed in 7 cases scars or atrophy of brain tissue. It is difficult
      to qualify such headaches as migraine and other known types of headache. Recently
      in the literature a new name has been coined for them--thunderclap headaches, and
      some authors regard them as a sign of minor intracranial haemorrhage. CT changes,
      raised protein level in cerebrospinal fluid, and the type of pain may suggest
      haemorrhage. The usefulness of cerebral arteriography in such patients should be
      considered. We propose the name of stoke headache for suggesting the cause and
      special management.

PMID- 1462590
TI  - [Evaluation of glucose and cholesterol levels in the mother and newborn infant in
      the perinatal period].
AB  - In 30 live born newborns the connections were assessed between glucose and
      cholesterol levels in umbilical cord blood after birth, and also in maternal
      blood before and two days after birth. Statistically significant differences of
      glucose and cholesterol levels were found between mothers and newborns in the
      perinatal period. Attention is called to greater independence of cholesterol
      (total, free and esterified) levels in newborn and mother in perinatal period.

PMID- 1462591
TI  - [Arterial hypertension and arrhythmia].
AB  - In patients with hypertension and presence of left ventricular hypertrophy
      arrhythmias of ventricular origin occur more frequently than in hypertension
      without this hypertrophy. Ventricular arrhythmias predispose to sudden death. It
      is accepted presently that left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with
      hypertension should be regarded as an additional risk factor for sudden death.
      The use of hypotensive drugs reducing the mass of the myocardium may be
      justified.

PMID- 1462592
TI  - [Effects of histamine H2 receptor blockaders on the cardiovascular system].

PMID- 1462593
TI  - [Viruses and bacteria in the etiology of acute respiratory tract infections in
      young children].
AB  - Respiratory infections in small children are among the major problems in
      paediatrics. They are caused most frequently by viruses or bacteria. The role
      played by certain types of respiratory viruses in these infections is discussed,
      considering selected subgroups of children and the seasonal incidence of
      infections. The usefulness of certain virological investigations in clinical
      diagnosis is analysed. In the description of bacterial respiratory infections in
      small children attention is called also to certain bacteria belonging to
      opportunistic commensals and the importance of anaerobes. The main stress is laid
      on infections of newborns and infants which may be connected with the transfer of
      pathogens from mothers. Attention is called to the necessity of close monitoring
      of the aetiological factors of acute respiratory infections in the youngest
      children which could increase the accuracy of therapeutic management and
      prophylactic measures which should be regarded as a very important factor in the
      control of these infections.

PMID- 1462594
TI  - [Clinical picture of tuberculous peritonitis].
AB  - The clinical picture of tuberculous peritonitis in productive form with formation
      of an abdominal tumour 18 x 20 cm in dimensions is described. The patient was a
      boy aged 19 years from rural environment. The diagnosis was based on
      bacteriological investigations, histological examination and clinical
      manifestations. Attention is called to diagnostic difficulties in cases of
      tuberculous peritonitis without positive tuberculin tests and with pulmonary
      fibronodular tuberculosis.

PMID- 1462595
TI  - [Congenital toxoplasmosis in a 6-week-old infant].
AB  - A case of congenital toxoplasmosis was observed in an infant aged 6 weeks with
      fatal outcome. Histological changes produced by Toxoplasma gondii in the brain
      are described.

PMID- 1462596
TI  - [Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in 2 children with milk protein
      intolerance].
AB  - Two cases of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome with mesangial proliferation
      were observed in which prednisone treatment resulted in remission only after milk
      free diet. In both children intolerance to cow milk protein was demonstrated, and
      in one of them a family history of this intolerance was elicited.

PMID- 1462597
TI  - [Metastasis of penile cancer to the heart in a 20-year-old patient].
AB  - A case of penile cancer was observed in a 20-year-old patient with very extensive
      remote metastases. On autopsy metastases were found to the heart and brain which
      are exceptionally rare in penile cancer.

PMID- 1462598
TI  - [A rare case of tuberculosis of the maxilla, zygomatic region, maxillary sinus
      and facial skin in a patient with diabetes mellitus].
AB  - In an 82-year-old female diabetic tuberculosis involved the maxilla, zygomatic
      region, maxillary sinus and facial skin. No other foci of tuberculosis were found
      in the organism. The diagnosis and treatment are described stressing the extreme
      rarity of this involvement by tuberculosis.

PMID- 1462599
TI  - Women and sexually transmitted diseases.
AB  - This paper presents a brief review of historical developments in women's health
      care. It describes the current campaign against sexually transmitted diseases
      (STDs) and assesses the campaign's success in light of its history and the
      reality of women's lives. The authors suggest that women are forced into a double
      bind in which they are expected to take responsibility for the prevention of STDs
      although they may not have the ability to do so. Modifications are suggested
      which take into account gender-role socialization and social group norms.

PMID- 1462601
TI  - Sociodemographic correlates of alcohol consumption among African-American and
      white women.
AB  - Correlates of abstention and heavier drinking were examined among 654 African
      American and 474 white women, aged 19-70+, from a representative sample of
      households in Erie County, New York. Discriminant function analysis was employed
      to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and race, age, church
      attendance, family history of alcohol problems, household density, marriage,
      socioeconomic status (SES), employment and parity. Abstention was compared with
      drinking, and light/moderate drinking was compared with heavier drinking in the
      total sample and within each race. Compared to drinkers, abstainers were older,
      more religious, more likely to be African-American, or to be of lower SES. Racial
      differences in the correlates of abstention were found with respect to church
      attendance (positive association in African-Americans only), SES (negative
      association in African-Americans only), and household density (positive
      association in whites only). Compared to light/moderate drinkers, heavier
      drinking women were younger, less religious, more likely to be white, to have a
      positive family history, or to live in less crowded households. Racial
      differences in the correlates of heavier drinking were found with respect to
      church attendance (negative association in African-Americans only), parity
      (positive association in African-Americans only), and marital status (more
      heavier drinking among unmarried white women). Racial differences in the
      correlates of alcohol consumption document the need for further examination of
      the culture-specific determinants of women's drinking patterns.

PMID- 1462602
TI  - Secretaries, depression and absenteeism.
AB  - This study examines the prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder; missed work; and
      mental health services use among secretaries and other women employed full-time.
      In a random sample of 3,484 women employed full-time, women employed as
      secretaries were significantly more likely to be depressed than other women even
      after controlling for socio-demographic characteristics (odds ratio = 1.69, 95%
      confidence interval = 1.05, 2.73). Secretaries were significantly more likely to
      report missing work in the last three months (odds ratio = 1.77, confidence
      interval = 1.01, 3.11); a finding not attributable to depression. Secretaries
      were also more likely to seek mental health services, but this finding was not
      significant (odds ratio = 1.78, confidence interval = 0.55, 5.78). It is possible
      that these findings are attributable to a selection effect whereby depressed
      women, and women who are likely to miss work, become secretaries. A second
      possibility is that women employed as secretaries have more "nonwork role stress"
      than other employed women. Alternatively, job conditions which result in
      dissatisfaction and stress may lead to depression and absenteeism. We believe our
      findings warrant further investigation into the work environment of secretaries.

PMID- 1462603
TI  - Sexual exploitation in advertising health and wellness products.
AB  - This paper examines the way women are portrayed by the media in photographs
      advertising health and wellness products. Data were collected from five different
      health and fitness magazines. For purposes of this study, only advertisements in
      which women appeared were used in the analysis (N = 191). Findings suggest that a
      high percent of advertisements: (1) place women in submissive positions to men;
      (2) place women in unnatural poses; (3) emphasize dismemberment of body parts;
      (4) focus on sexuality rather than wellness.

PMID- 1462604
TI  - Primary care arrangements and access to care among African-American women in
      three Chicago communities.
AB  - African-American women of child-bearing age residing in three high-risk
      communities in Chicago were surveyed regarding their primary care arrangements
      and access to care (n = 552). This study examined factors which differentiated
      women who used office-based practices from those who used institutional settings
      (community clinics, health department clinics, hospital-based clinics) for
      primary care. Results of multivariate analysis indicate that women who used
      office-based practices were more likely than those who used institutional
      settings to see the same provider, to walk to their provider, to have less travel
      time and to walk in without an appointment. They were less likely to be
      hospitalized in the past year and less likely to report the availability of
      family planning at their usual source of care. Satisfaction with care, insurance
      status and sociodemographic characteristics were not associated with use of a
      particular facility type. Implications for organizing comprehensive health
      services for this population are discussed.

PMID- 1462605
TI  - WHO Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations. Thirty
      second report.

PMID- 1462606
TI  - The use of essential drugs. Model list of essential drugs (seventh list). Fifth
      report of the WHO Expert Committee.

PMID- 1462607
TI  - Recent advances in oral health. Report of a WHO Expert Committee.

PMID- 1462608
TI  - Surgical treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
AB  - The role of surgery in the treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is
      still discussed. The aim of this study was to verify our criteria of patient
      selection for splenectomy, to analyze the results of a protocol for the
      evaluation of the hemorrhagic risk, and to discuss long-term results of 70
      patients with ITP who underwent surgical treatment from 1984 to 1990. All
      patients received steroid therapy. Sixty-two patients were given high doses of
      IgG (600 mg/kg/iv bolus) pre-operatively in order to obviate the need for intra
      operative platelet transfusions. Forty-three patients showed a significant
      increase in the platelet count, 8 a moderate increase, while 11 patients did not
      respond. No operative mortality was observed, however postoperative minor
      complications occurred in 14 (20%) patients. Accessory spleens were found in 11
      (15.7%) patients. Mean follow-up was 21 months. Response to splenectomy was
      considered as complete (platelets greater than 150,000 mm3 with no need for
      medical treatment) in 63 (90%) patients. No response was observed in 7 patients.
      In 2 of the non-responders postoperative indium-111 scan revealed accessory
      spleens and ITP remitted after accessory splenectomy. All non-responders were in
      the group of patients who did not respond to the pre-operative infusion of high
      dose IgG. It can be concluded that splenectomy is a safe and effective treatment
      for ITP and that response to pre-operative infusion of IgG may be considered as
      predictive for the outcome after splenectomy.

PMID- 1462609
TI  - Small bowel anastomosis with the biofragmentable anastomosis ring and manual
      suture: a prospective, randomized study.
AB  - A total of 170 patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal surgery requiring a
      jejuno-jejunal enteroanastomosis were randomized into two groups according to the
      method to be employed at the enteroanastomosis. The most common procedures were
      partial gastrectomy for benign disease (84 patients), partial or total
      gastrectomy for malignant disease (35 patients), and bilioenteral bypass (31
      patients, 25 for malignant disease). The enteroanastomosis was created by manual
      suture (3-0 Dexon, two layers) in 89 patients and with the Biofragmentable
      Anastomosis Ring (Valtrac-BAR) in 81 patients. Both end-to-side (101 patients)
      and side-to-side (69 patients) reconstructions were done. No ruptures or
      obstructions of the jejuno-jejunal anastomosis occurred. The postoperative
      recovery of the gastrointestinal tract was similar in the two groups in duration
      of nasogastric drainage, intravenous fluid therapy, and intestinal paralysis. Nor
      was there any difference between the groups in the duration of the postoperative
      hospital stay. Ten patients, 7 in suture-group and 3 in BAR-group, died
      postoperatively of causes unrelated to the enteroanastomosis. Thus the mortality
      rate was 7.9% in the suture group and 3.7% in the BAR group. The biofragmentable
      ring offers a safe alternative to manual sutures for small bowel anastomoses.

PMID- 1462610
TI  - Chondrosarcomas of the head and neck.
AB  - Chondrosarcomas of the head and neck are uncommon. Over a 35-year period (1950
      1985) at our institution, 557 patients had an established diagnosis of
      chondrosarcoma. In 28 (5%) of these patients, the tumor was located in the head
      and neck region. A retrospective analysis was performed in an attempt to
      accurately define clinical characteristics, management, and outcome in these 28
      patients. The patient population consisted of 15 males and 13 females whose ages
      ranged from 10 to 72 years, with a median of 38 years. Ten (36%) patients were
      untreated and 18 (64%) previously treated patients were referred for further
      management. The primary sites were maxilla (11), cervical vertebrae (7), mandible
      (3), skull (2), sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses (2), frontal sinus (1), nasal septum
      (1), and orbit (1). Lesions arising in the larynx were excluded from this study.
      The most common presenting symptom was a painless mass. Surgery was the
      definitive treatment in all patients. However, adjuvant radiation therapy or
      chemotherapy was utilized for residual disease in almost half of the cases (13
      patients). Follow-up ranged from 5 to 35 years. Twelve (43%) of the 28 patients
      were known to be alive and free of disease more than 5 years after surgery. The
      most common cause of death was uncontrollable local disease (88%). However, only
      3 of the 10 previously untreated patients developed local recurrence. For all
      patients, the median interval from time of first recurrence until death was 25
      months (range 6 to 70 months). Positive margins in 8 of 12 patients resulted in
      local recurrence and eventual death.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462611
TI  - Surgical problems in octogenarians: epidemiological analysis of 1,083 consecutive
      admissions.
AB  - Patients older than 80 years of age are the most rapidly increasing group among
      surgical admissions and patients visiting emergency rooms. Epidemiological data
      of this group are of enormous medical and economic relevance. The principle aim
      of this study was to determine factors predictive of operative mortality in
      octagenarians, their clinical profiles, and length of stay compared to younger
      patients in similar diagnostic categories. A computer-based registry of geriatric
      surgery was used to record and analyze all relevant clinical and epidemiological
      data. The rate of admissions in octogenarians increased during the 18-year period
      (1973-1989) from 0.7% to 7.5% of all admissions. The number of patients
      undergoing surgery was 700. Three hundred and seventy-one of the procedures were
      elective and 329 were emergencies. Operations in octagenarians as a percentage of
      all operative procedures increased during the period considered from 1.1% to
      5.1%. The operative mortality in this series was 10.5% prior to 1984 and
      decreased to 6% during the last 5 years. The average hospital stay of
      octagenarians was 9.8 days as opposed to 4.9 days in patients less than 70 years
      of age. The prognostic classification described by the authors proved very
      helpful in predicting mortality.

PMID- 1462612
TI  - The usefulness of tests in anorectal disease.
AB  - Specialized tests of anorectal function are designed to complement but not to
      replace good clinical examination and sound professional judgement. The different
      methods of recording pressure changes have advantages and disadvantages. Poor
      correlation exists when data recorded using miniature balloons are compared with
      data from microtransducers. Prolonged ambulatory monitoring of anal sphincter and
      rectal pressure reveal that spontaneous transient episodes of sphincter
      relaxation are demonstrable in normal subjects. In the investigation of patients
      with possible traction injury to the pudendal nerve, electromyography and
      pudendal nerve terminal motor latency data are more precise than manometry data.
      Good correlation between noninvasive surface electromyography using an intra-anal
      plug electrode and anal manometry can be attained. Mapping of sphincter defects
      using concentric needle technology is reasonably accurate but distinctly painful.
      Dynamic defecography readily demonstrates abnormalities of the rectal wall. The
      division between what is normal and what is clinically relevant is rather
      imprecise. Comparative studies of sonographic and electromyographic mapping of
      sphincter defects give good correlation. Recent application of fine hooked
      electrodes have demonstrated periodic episodes of smooth muscle and sphincter
      relaxation. The saline infusion test and balloon expulsion test help to
      accurately quantify the difficulty patients experience in retention or
      evacuation, respectively. Perineometry is a simple, rapid, noninvasive method of
      measuring the extent of perineal descent on straining. Although reproducible, it
      tends to underestimate the degree of descent when compared with the radiological
      method but it avoids the use of ionized radiation.

PMID- 1462613
TI  - Autonomic influences on colorectal motility and pelvic surgery.
AB  - The nervous control of the motility of the human distal bowel was investigated by
      two physiological studies of electrical stimulation of sacral parasympathetic
      outflow in patients with high spinal injuries and in patients with intractable
      constipation following pelvic surgery. Identical and reproducible motility
      responses of the left colon, rectum, and anal sphincters were obtained by
      sequential electrical stimulation of anterior sacral roots S2, S3, and S4 in
      patients with spinal injury. S2 stimulation provoked isolated low-pressure
      colorectal contractions. S3 stimulation initiated frequency-dependent high
      pressure colorectal motor activity which appeared peristaltic and was enhanced
      with repetitive stimuli. S4 stimulation increased colonic and rectal tone.
      Quantitative responses were maximal at the splenic flexure and rectum. Pelvic
      floor activity was stimulated in increasing magnitude from S2 to S4. These
      results of distal bowel motility were achieved by an implanted Brindley
      stimulator. A newer generation of externally active stimulators are envisaged for
      the control of lower bowel in fecal incontinence. Women with intractable
      constipation following hysterectomy had significantly increased rectal volume and
      compliance together with deficits of rectal sensory function. Following
      stimulation with Prostigmine (neostigmine) a colorectal motility gradient was
      paradoxically reversed in the patients following hysterectomy, thus constituting
      a functional obstruction. Denervation supersensitivity was demonstrable in 2
      patients tested with carbachol provocation. These findings suggest dysfunction in
      the autonomic innervation of the hindgut in some patients following hysterectomy.

PMID- 1462614
TI  - Fecal incontinence: indications for repairing the anal sphincter.
AB  - Incontinent patients should be comprehensively investigated by objective tests,
      especially manometry, continence tests, and electromyography. Manometry can be
      used to predict the functional outcome and to calibrate the sphincter repair.
      Pure anatomical defects of the anal and pelvic musculature deserve surgical
      correction with or without overlapping the muscle ends. If the repair is delayed
      it should be done after a 3 month interval. A protective colostomy has to be
      performed in complex cases and in cases with septic complications. Before closing
      the colostomy, the ano-rectal function should be assessed. Acceptable continence
      can be restored in the majority of the patients, the outcome depending on the
      extent of local defects and the severity of concomitant pelvic floor neuropathy.
      Skeletal muscle transposition remains an esoteric approach to be used only in
      selected patients; the implantation of a neuromuscular stimulator seems to be
      warranted. In the presence of important functional deficits, sphincter repair may
      create a situation where additional conservative measures become more effective.
      A post-anal repair may be considered 3-12 months after rectopexy or sphincter
      repair. Incontinence based on pure functional defects is initially treated
      conservatively. A post-anal repair may improve the situation in two thirds of the
      patients but fails to help those who need it most. Failure seems to be related to
      a continuing neuropathic process. A peri-anal prosthetic band implant may be a
      valuable alternative in such patients. A sigmoidostomy is a measure of last
      resort. The prevention of fecal incontinence is most important and concerns
      surgeons, obstetricians, and physicians.

PMID- 1462616
TI  - Anismus: the cause of constipation? Results of investigation and treatment.
AB  - Anismus, or failure of the somatic sphincter apparatus to relax at defecation,
      has been implicated as a major contributor to the problem of obstructed
      defecation. Current diagnostic methods depend on laboratory measurements of
      attempted defecation and the most complex, dynamic proctography has been the
      mainstay of diagnosis. Using a new computerized ambulatory method of recording
      sphincter function in these patients at home, we report an 80% reduction in our
      diagnostic rate suggesting that conventional tests fail to accurately diagnose
      this condition, probably because they poorly represent the natural physiology of
      defecation. Treatment of this distressing condition is more complex and a variety
      of surgical and pharmacological measures have failed. Biofeedback retraining of
      anorectal function of these patients has been very successful and represents the
      management of choice.

PMID- 1462615
TI  - Treatment of complete rectal prolapse: to narrow, to wrap, to suspend, to fix, to
      encircle, to plicate or to resect?
AB  - Selection of the best surgical procedure for the treatment of complete rectal
      prolapse is difficult amid the many different techniques for which excellent
      results are reported. A critical review is given. It is concluded that any
      surgical procedure with rectal mobilization and fixation as a standard maneuver
      will lead to a recurrence rate of 2% to 4%. Advocacy of additional maneuvers to
      make the procedure easier is acceptable if it does not lead to a higher
      complication rate. But to obtain a better result its benefit has to be proven,
      either by a large prospective double-blind study, or by tests from the colorectal
      laboratory. New surgical techniques for rectal prolapse should therefore be
      based, not only on a low recurrence and complication rate, but also on tests that
      evaluate the effect of the procedure on fecal continence.

PMID- 1462617
TI  - Solitary rectal ulcer: the place of biofeedback and surgery in the treatment of
      the syndrome.
AB  - Thirty-one patients with the solitary rectal ulcer syndrome were studied, the
      majority of whom presented with fresh blood per rectum and a rectal ulcer,
      mucorrhoea, or a varying degree of rectal prolapse. Fourteen patients were
      treated conservatively or with surgery and had a high rate of recurrence of the
      solitary rectal ulcer syndrome. Seventeen patients were treated with biofeedback
      for the associated obstructed defecation (anismus) either before or immediately
      after surgery with a lower recurrence rate. The final symptomatic cure rate was
      similar in both groups but 15 episodes of recurrence requiring further surgery
      were encountered in the non-biofeedback group compared to 4 recurrences in the
      biofeedback group.

PMID- 1462618
TI  - New diagnostic imaging in rectal cancer: endosonography and immunoscintigraphy.
AB  - Endosonography of the rectum, combining the advantages of both endoscopy and
      sonography, provides information not at present available from other imaging
      modalities. It is remarkably accurate in the pre-operative assessment of tumor
      penetration. In the evaluation of lymph nodes, the specificity and sensitivity is
      83% and 72%, respectively. For the detection of local recurrence in asymptomatic
      patients promising results can be obtained. In contrast, the potential benefits
      of immunoscintigraphy in patients with rectal cancer have yet to be determined
      but preliminary results indicate that immunoscintigraphy in combination with
      endosonography may assist the surgeon in confirming or excluding the suspicion of
      recurrence.

PMID- 1462619
TI  - Results of radical surgery for rectal cancer.
AB  - This paper examines the hypothesis that a reduction in the distal mural margin
      during anterior resection for sphincter conservation in rectal cancer excision is
      safe, provided total mesorectal excision is undertaken with wash-out of the
      clamped rectum. One hundred ninety-two patients underwent anterior resection and
      21 (less than 10%) patients underwent abdomino-perineal excision (APE) by one
      surgeon (RJH). Anterior resections were classified as "curative" (79%) and "non
      curative" (21%); in the "curative" sub-group less than 4% of patients developed
      local recurrence. The series was retrospectively analyzed for the effect of mural
      margins on local recurrence with 152 patients undergoing "curative" anterior
      resections and 40 patients undergoing "non-curative" resections. In the 152
      specimens from curative resections, 110 had a resection margin greater than 1 cm
      and 42 had a resection margin less than 1 cm. Four patients developed local
      recurrence in the greater than 1 cm margin group (95% confidence interval: 0.8%
      7.8%) and no patients developed local recurrence in the less than or equal to 1
      cm margin group (95% confidence interval: 0%-5.9%). In each patient with local
      recurrence a cause for failure was apparent. There was no statistically
      significant difference in local recurrence rate between the less than or equal to
      1 cm margin group and the greater than 1 cm margin group. A reduction in
      resection margin therefore did not compromise survival after anterior resection.
      The significance of lateral resection margins is discussed. The role of deep
      radiotherapy and cytotoxics are considered.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462620
TI  - Pre-operative and post-operative radiotherapy and rectal cancer.
AB  - The appropriate role for additional radiotherapy in patients with resectable
      rectal cancer is not yet settled. Irradiation has been considered by surgeons and
      radiotherapists as superfluous since no effect on survival has been shown.
      However, numerous trials have demonstrated that peri-operative radiotherapy
      decreases an often high local recurrence rate while others believe it has a
      definite place in routine management. Several surgeons have, on the contrary,
      claimed that a skilled surgeon compared to a less skilled surgeon, will get the
      same acceptably low local recurrence rates. Since we will probably never have a
      randomized trial comparing "good" and "bad" surgeons, this argument cannot be
      settled. A further obstacle arises in the difficulty of persuading surgeons to
      organize their routine work so that it is performed in an optimal way by those
      specializing in this field. The question also arises whether radiotherapy should
      be delivered pre-operatively, postoperatively or as a "sandwich" technique, i.e.,
      both pre-operatively and postoperatively. According to radio-biological
      considerations and results from reported trials, the best effect on local tumor
      control has been achieved using pre-operative radiotherapy.

PMID- 1462621
TI  - Results of the double stapling procedure in pelvic surgery.
AB  - The double stapling technique for rectal reconstruction after resection involves
      closing the lower rectal segment with a linear stapler and performing the
      anastomosis using a circular stapler across the linear staple row. The purpose of
      this report is to review the results of double stapling, present our experience,
      and draw conclusions from the material available. We have utilized the double
      stapling technique in 80 patients for primary anastomoses and in 11 patients for
      secondary anastomoses following Hartmann procedures. Twenty-one anastomoses were
      at or near the dentate line. Fifty-six patients had rectal carcinoma, 29 patients
      had diverticulitis, 3 patients had carcinoma of the ovary, and 1 patient each had
      traumatic rectal perforation, volvulus, or rectal prolapse. Complications in the
      total 91 patients included 3 anastomotic leaks (3.3%), 1 postoperative
      hemoperitoneum (1.1%), and 3 strictures (3.3%). No anastomosis was protected by
      diverting colostomy. There were no operative deaths. Of 43 patients with cancer
      available for follow-up, 4 patients have developed local recurrence. The
      technique has been modified for ileoanal anastomosis during abdominal restorative
      proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis and early results
      are favorable. The double stapling technique provides a safe method for rectal
      reconstruction at or near the dentate line and offers the following advantages
      over other stapler techniques: (1) It eliminates the frustrating distal
      pursestring; (2) The rectal segment is not opened, minimizing contamination; and
      (3) It avoids gathering the sometimes generous circumference of the rectum on a
      pursestring thus allowing a more precise distal donut.

PMID- 1462622
TI  - The results of pouch surgery after ileo-anal anastomosis for inflammatory bowel
      disease: the manometric assessment of pouch continence and its reservoir
      function.
AB  - Anal sphincter function after restorative proctocolectomy has mainly been
      investigated by anal manometry. A significant decrease of basal pressure up to
      45%, has been recorded postoperatively, possibly due to sphincter stretch during
      endoanal mucosectomy. Both abdominal mucosectomy and anastomosis at the level of
      the anorectal ring have been reported to prevent anal sphincter damage and lead
      to better continence. The striated sphincter is not significantly affected by the
      surgical procedure. Pouch-anal inhibitory reflex is partly maintained in the
      presence of a rectal cuff which leaves the ganglionic plexus unaltered; a
      satisfactory continence is also retained in the absence of the reflex when the
      rectum is totally excised. Pouch capacity, compliance and motility have been
      investigated by endoluminal balloon and probes. Pouch emptying has been studied
      by a "porridge" test, by a semi-solid medium labelled with technetium-99, and by
      other methods. A more effective storage function is achieved by large capacity
      reservoirs which lower the bowel frequency. The motor response to pouch
      distension, to a meal, and to pharmacological stimuli is usually counteracted by
      sphincter contraction. Ileal hypermotility may lead to fecal leakage mainly in
      the presence of weak sphincters. Poor pouch emptying may be related to an anal
      stricture.

PMID- 1462624
TI  - Recent progress in surgery for the victims of disaster, terrorism, and war-
      Introduction.

PMID- 1462623
TI  - Results of pouch surgery after ileo-anal anastomosis: the implications of
      pouchitis.
AB  - The ileal pouch-anal operation is the procedure of choice for those suitable
      patients requiring surgery for chronic ulcerative colitis or familial adenomatous
      polyposis. The functional results are generally good but pouchitis remains a
      significant and poorly understood complication. This review encompasses factors
      relating to pouchitis, e.g., bacteriological, functional and histological
      changes, with emphasis on its biology and treatment, and the long-term
      implications.

PMID- 1462625
TI  - The medical effects of conventional weapons.
AB  - The medical effects of weapons used in modern conventional warfare are,
      overwhelmingly, penetrating. Fragments from explosive munitions such as shells,
      rockets, and grenades are the predominate source of missiles, especially in high
      intensity war. Bullets from assault rifles and machine guns cause fewer
      casualties, except in counterinsurgency operations. The threat from penetrating
      missiles depends upon the part of the body that is struck and, to a lesser
      extent, upon the physical characteristics of the missile. The missile's mass and
      velocity determine its potential to do physical damage, but the extent to which
      this potential is realized depends upon diverse factors such as shape,
      construction, and stability. The American experience in the wars of this century
      indicate that approximately 20%-25% of all casualties died on the battlefield and
      are therefore classified as killed in action. Approximately 3%-5% die while
      receiving care, and thus are classified as died of wounds. Wounds of the brain or
      heart and great vessels are the most common causes of death. Prevention of sepsis
      in soft-tissue and orthopedic wounds is the major medical treatment problem in
      survivors. Since it determines the quality and quantity of combat casualty care,
      the single most important factor determining mortality or morbidity for combat
      casualties is the tactical situation.

PMID- 1462626
TI  - The relationship of blast loading to death and injury from explosion.
AB  - Death and injury from explosion are becoming ever more frequent. In this study an
      attempt is made to relate the blast loading suffered by individual victims of
      explosions to the injuries sustained. It includes 828 servicemen killed or
      injured by explosions in Northern Ireland. Two hundred sixteen servicemen were
      killed, most of them before any assistance could be rendered. In those exposed to
      a higher blast loading, blast lung was common. Those exposed to lower blast
      loading died primarily of head injuries. Body armour was worn by 90% of the
      servicemen and probably reduced the number of fatal secondary missile injuries.

PMID- 1462627
TI  - Crush injury and crush syndrome.
AB  - Crush injury is caused by continuous prolonged pressure on the limbs. It is found
      in patients extricated after being trapped for at least 4 hours. The main injury
      is to the muscles of the limbs. Treatment should be conservative and fasciotomy
      should be avoided. If fasciotomy is performed, it should be followed by radical
      debridement of the injured muscle in an attempt to avoid infection of the injured
      limb. Infection endangers the patient's life and is the main cause of morbidity
      and mortality today. The outcome of conservative local treatment of crush injury
      is much superior to that of operative treatment. The pathophysiology of crush
      injury is not fully understood and no good animal model is known. Crush syndrome,
      which is the general manifestation of crush injury, is better understood. If not
      prevented, it will lead to acute renal failure. A method for preventing acute
      renal failure is discussed and a protocol is described. There is no doubt that
      prevention of acute renal failure is the goal in the treatment of crush syndrome
      and can be achieved.

PMID- 1462628
TI  - Triage: in austere environments and echeloned medical systems.
AB  - Although triage as a medical sorting process was originally developed and applied
      to echeloned military field medical systems dealing with mass casualties, the
      term has now permeated most aspects of medical practice. This essay attempts to
      refocus on triage in military and disaster settings, emphasizing the relationship
      of the echeloned system organization to the triage process, and the various non
      medical factors which may influence triage decisions and priorities. Due to the
      lack of any analogous civilian experience, it is essential that all health
      personnel who may be involved in an echeloned care system gain and maintain
      proficiency by frequent involvement in appropriate training exercises, the
      characteristics of which are described.

PMID- 1462629
TI  - The Red Cross classification of war wounds: the E.X.C.F.V.M. scoring system.
AB  - The Red Cross classification of war wounds is based upon features of the wound,
      not upon weaponry. It is proposed as a new means of understanding, communicating,
      and gathering information about war wounds and their management. The wound score
      is based on the skin wounds and the presence of a cavity, fracture, vital injury,
      or metallic bodies in the wound. All wounds so scored can be graded according to
      severity and typed according to structures injured; consequently, wounds are
      identified by their clinical significance. A study of 247 wounds shows the
      feasibility of scoring wounds in the field and yields surgically relevant
      information about bullet and fragment wounds. The applications of the
      classification are to wound assessment, establishing a scientific basis to war
      surgery, surgical audit, and collecting wound data from the field.

PMID- 1462630
TI  - Irradiated trauma victims: the impact of ionizing radiation on surgical
      considerations following a nuclear mishap.
AB  - The combination of conventional traumatic injuries and radiation exposure has
      synergistic consequences, the full extent of which may take days to weeks to
      become apparent. Our understanding of such is derived from a variety of
      laboratory and clinical scenarios involving both therapeutic and accidental
      exposures. When presented with such an individual one must discern whether the
      victim has been bodily contaminated versus exposed to a source or both. The
      former will necessitate decontamination procedures which may be as simple as
      declothing and showering the individual. Simply removing the victim from the
      source will suffice to halt further radiation induced injury. In the vast
      majority of cases basic life support and other emergency medical procedures
      should be expeditiously instituted as warranted and without fear of personal
      hazard for health care teams. Following stabilization, further medical/surgical
      support must be predicated upon the extent of the radiation injury with the
      circulating absolute lymphocyte count serving as both a reliable and readily
      accessible indicator of the degree of underlying radiation injury. As radiation
      has profound consequences on immune and wound healing systems, therapies must be
      tempered by an understanding of the impact of radiation upon these systems.
      Overall, the consequences of irradiation injury will be the potential for an
      exacerbation of the effects of conventional traumatic injuries with a higher than
      expected morbidity and mortality.

PMID- 1462631
TI  - Blunt and penetrating chest injuries.
AB  - The management of chest injuries begins with knowledge of what happened to the
      patient at the time of the traumatic incident and converting this information
      into possible diagnoses. The various organs of the chest cavity are discussed
      emphasizing the controversies that attend the management or diagnosis of each
      one.

PMID- 1462632
TI  - Advances in treatment of vascular injuries from blunt and penetrating limb
      trauma.
AB  - Military and civilian experience has contributed to the current state of the art
      in management of extremity vascular injuries. Thorough physical examination and
      judicious use of emergency center arteriography and formal arteriography provide
      means for prompt diagnosis and treatment which is critical is limb loss and
      disability are to be avoided. Prosthetic graft material has provided an
      alternative to vein grafting in many circumstances for arterial and venous
      injuries. Compartment syndrome should be anticipated when an ischemic extremity
      is revascularized and fasciotomy should be used liberally. Vascular repairs are
      the first priority in extremity wounds, but associated injuries to bones, joints,
      soft tissues, and nerves are often critical determinants of rehabilitation once
      blood supply has been re-established. The best results are obtained when a
      multidisciplinary approach is used combining expertise in orthopedic surgery,
      neurosurgery, and plastic surgery.

PMID- 1462633
TI  - Vascular trauma: a brief military perspective.

PMID- 1462634
TI  - Abdominal trauma in war.
AB  - In war, the percentage of casualties with abdominal wounds on battlefields is
      near 20%. Roughly half of these casualties die almost immediately from bleeding.
      Wounding agents are most often either bullets or fragments from various
      detonating devices. Severity of pathology induced by these agents and prolonged
      lag time between injury and treatment constitute major differences between peace
      and war abdominal injuries. Since the means of diagnosis is unsophisticated in
      war, penetrating abdominal injury leads to systematic exploratory laparotomy,
      although 10% to 20% of explorations are negative. The management of colon lesions
      remains a controversial issue. In modern war surgery manuals, primary colon
      repair is not totally condemned and is generally considered acceptable, but under
      stricter criteria than in civilian practice. In abdominal war wounds, mortality
      rate dropped from 53% during World War I to 18-36% at the end of World War II. In
      Vietnam it went down near 10% in some limited hospital series. But other data
      collected during that conflict show a less rosy picture. Of 476 abdominal
      casualties, the total mortality reached 42%. The hospital mortality among the
      survivors was 11.5%. Death in cases where abdominal wound was the primary lesion
      was due to hemorrhage in 60%, sepsis in 25%, and pulmonary insufficiency in 15%.
      Survivors had an average of 1.8 injured organs.

PMID- 1462635
TI  - A new technique for the resection of gastric cancer: modified Appleby procedure
      with reconstruction of hepatic artery.
AB  - The Appleby operation allows resection of gastric cancer with lymph nodes around
      the stomach and celiac axis en bloc. Hepatic arterial blood flow after resection
      of the celiac axis is supplied by the superior mesenteric artery. In some
      patients, however, hepatic arterial flow becomes decreased after resection of the
      celiac axis. This abrupt reduction of hepatic arterial blood flow sometimes
      causes postoperative complications such as severe liver dysfunction or
      gallbladder necrosis. To prevent the reduction of hepatic arterial blood flow and
      to perform the Appleby operation more safely, we modified the Appleby operation
      to include reconstruction of the hepatic artery. We found that after dissection
      of lymph nodes around the hepatoduodenal ligament, the proper hepatic artery and
      gastroduodenal artery can be well mobilized and it becomes possible to anastomose
      the celiac axis to the common hepatic artery directly without using
      anticoagulants. From May, 1989 to November, 1990, 15 patients with advanced
      gastric cancer underwent the modified Appleby procedure at Kinan General
      Hospital. Postoperatively, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine
      aminotransferase (ALT) levels were determined for evaluation of liver function.
      These levels were almost the same as those found after traditional total
      gastrectomy without resection of the celiac axis. Indocyanine green (ICG)
      clearance tests were performed before and 1 month after operation. There was no
      significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative values. Common
      hepatic arterial flow after celiacohepatic anastomosis was 390 ml/min on average.
      The modified Appleby procedure can be done quite safely.

PMID- 1462636
TI  - Optimal timing of elective indirect inguinal hernia repair in healthy children:
      clinical considerations for improved outcome.
AB  - Experience with several incarcerations that resulted in emergent surgery for
      children with known indirect inguinal hernias prompted this review to determine
      if there is an optimal time after hernia diagnosis during which elective repair
      should be undertaken to avoid incarceration. Over a 30 month period, 228 children
      less than 10 years of age underwent 303 indirect inguinal hernia repairs. They
      were analyzed for age, sex, interval between diagnosis and repair, predisposing
      conditions, major complications, and length of hospitalization. Excluded were 21
      children who presented with incarceration of a previously undiagnosed indirect
      inguinal hernia that required operative reduction, 13 children with conditions
      predisposing to indirect inguinal hernia, and 53 children for whom the interval
      between diagnosis and repair was unknown, leaving a study group of 141 children
      who underwent 190 indirect inguinal hernia repairs. Nearly 13% (18 of 141) of the
      children developed incarcerated hernia prior to elective repair. Compared to
      children who underwent repair of a reducible indirect inguinal hernia, those with
      incarceration were more likely (p less than 0.05): 1) to have major complications
      (11% vs 0.6%), 2) to have a shorter interval between diagnosis and repair (26 vs
      49 days), 3) to be younger (7.5 vs 25.6 mos), and 4) to require greater than 24
      hours of hospitalization. Had children with reducible incarcerated indirect
      inguinal hernia been hospitalized and undergone repair 24 to 48 hours later, 83%
      of subsequent incarcerations would have been prevented. Furthermore, this
      experience supports the recommendation that for healthy children less than 10
      years of age, indirect inguinal hernia repair should be performed on a semi
      elective basis within 7 days of diagnosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462637
TI  - Treatment of cystic lesions of the thyroid by ethanol instillation.
AB  - We analyzed the results of ethanol sclerotherapy in 61 patients with cystic
      thyroid lesions which recurred after aspiration. Cytologic study showed all of
      the lesions to be benign. The patients were followed clinically and
      ultrasonically 1 month and 6 or more months after treatment. If the cystic
      lesions recurred, repeated treatment was offered. During the follow-up, 36
      (59.0%) patients experienced no recurrence after the initial treatment and 5
      (8.2%) patients received treatments 2 or more additional times. In 44 (72.1%) of
      the 61 patients, the cystic lesion almost disappeared or decreased in size, but
      in 17 (27.9%) patients it did not decrease. Four patients underwent surgery after
      the ethanol sclerotherapy. Although no severe complications were observed, there
      were complaints of slight pain in 12 patients, severe pain in 1 patient, and a
      drunken feeling in 1 patient. We consider instillation of ethanol into recurrent
      cystic lesions of the thyroid to be a simple, safe, economical, and effective
      treatment.

PMID- 1462638
TI  - Multifactorial analysis of septic bile and septic complications in biliary
      surgery.
AB  - A unifactorial analysis for possible risk factors was applied to 2,700
      consecutive operations for benign disease of the biliary tract. A series of high
      risk factors in relation to positive bacteriology and septic complication could
      be identified. These risk factors were patients who were elderly (greater than 70
      years; p less than 0.001), those who were diabetic, those who had a serum
      bilirubin greater than 1.1 mg% (p less than 0.001), those who had acute
      cholecystitis (p less than 0.001), and those in whom choledochal stones were
      found (p less than 0.001). Using a multivariate analysis, we concluded that in
      patients with no risk factors (56.9%) the incidence of a positive bacteriology
      was low (10.9%) and they should receive no antibiotic prophylaxis. Patients with
      one risk factor (24%), had a 36% incidence of positive bacteriology and minimal
      pre-operative prophylaxis is recommended. Patients with two or more risk factors
      (19.1%) had a 77.6% incidence of positive bacteriology and full peri-operative
      prophylaxis is recommended, starting pre-operatively and continuing for 3 to 5
      days postoperatively. The aim of this study was to identify patients at risk for
      septic complication in biliary surgery and to create new guidelines for the
      antibiotic treatment of selected groups.

PMID- 1462639
TI  - Comparison of topical hemostatic agents in elective hepatic resection: a clinical
      prospective randomized trial.
AB  - To compare the difference in efficacy of microcrystalline collagen powder (CL)
      and fibrin glue (FG) in elective hepatic resection, 62 patients (female 14, male
      48) with ages ranging from 51 to 75 years were randomly allocated to receive
      either CL or FG as a topical agent during hepatectomy. There were no significant
      differences between the patients treated with CL (n = 31) and those treated with
      FG (n = 31) regarding sex, age, liver function, coagulation function, platelet
      counts, type of liver resection, and operative duration. A dry cut surface of the
      liver was obtained during surgery in 27 (87%) patients and 25 (81%) patients
      treated with CL and FG, respectively. Both CL and FG showed similar hemostatic
      effects. The CL and FG groups were not different in terms of postoperative
      rebleeding, bile leakage, or morbidity and mortality rates (6% vs. 6%, 6% vs. 6%,
      45% vs. 39%, and 13% vs. 10%, respectively). Of the 52 patients with a dry cut
      surface of the liver during surgery, 3 patients in the CL group encountered
      rebleeding (n = 1) or bile leakage (n = 2) from the cut surface postoperatively,
      while no such complications were noted in the FG group. The results seem to favor
      FG for reliability in the postoperative period. The application of CL or FG may
      be better performed with consideration of the characteristics of each agent.

PMID- 1462640
TI  - Endoscopic subfascial sectioning of incompetent perforating veins in treatment of
      primary varicosis.
AB  - Subfascial elimination of incompetent perforating veins is the most effective
      therapeutic principle in the treatment of trophic skin disorders associated with
      varicosis. A recently developed endoscopic technique allows accurate sectioning
      of perforating veins with direct observation of the veins and minor trauma. From
      November 1986 to July 1991 endoscopic sectioning of perforating veins was
      performed in 72 patients (103 legs). The most frequently transected perforating
      veins were Cockett's veins (n = 219), 24 cm perforating veins (n = 83), and
      Boyd's perforating veins (n = 82). Postoperative delayed wound healing was
      observed in 3 (2.9%) legs with pronounced trophic skin disorders in the lower
      extremities. Two patients complained of dysesthesia in the area of distribution
      of the sural nerve. Further complications recorded were extended subcutaneous
      hematoma in 6 (5.8%) legs and postoperative dysesthesia in the area of
      distribution of the saphenous nerve in 10 (9.7%) legs. At follow-up examination
      (mean 27 months postoperatively) clinical investigation and Doppler sonography
      showed newly formed incompetent perforating veins in only 2 lower legs.
      Radiography at follow-up revealed one incompetent Dodd's perforating vein in 1
      leg, which was the starting point of pronounced recurrent varicosis in the lower
      leg. After an average follow-up of greater than 2 years, we recorded the
      occurrence of new varices in 9 lower legs. Staging of chronic venous incompetence
      showed an upward trend ranging from change to a more favorable stage to complete
      cure. Findings were unchanged in only 10% of the patients. There was no case of
      postoperative aggravation.

PMID- 1462641
TI  - Biliary ascariasis: surgical aspects.
AB  - Presentation and management of 204 patients with biliary ascariasis seen over a
      period of 5 years is reported from a highly endemic area of Kashmir.
      Ultrasonography is the single most useful means of diagnosis. Endoscopic
      retrograde cholangiopancreatography is extremely helpful. Most patients respond
      to conservative management and around one-fifth of all patients require surgery.

PMID- 1462643
TI  - Whither medicine?

PMID- 1462642
TI  - 24-hour intragastric pH measurement in the assessment of duodenogastric reflux.
AB  - In this study we compared the results of measurement of duodenogastric reflux
      using 24-hour intragastric pH monitoring and nasogastric aspiration with analysis
      of bile acid and alpha amylase concentrations. Eight patients were studied at
      least 5 months after biliary and/or gastric surgery. The correlation coefficient
      of pH and bile acid concentration was 0.36 (p less than 0.001) and of pH and
      amylase concentration was 0.48 (p less than 0.001). If a pH greater than 4.0 was
      taken to indicate duodenogastric reflux this had a sensitivity of 84% compared
      with either high bile acid or amylase concentration. Bile acid concentration has
      been the "standard" method of measuring duodenogastric reflux. pH monitoring is
      relatively simple to perform, causes little patient distress, and can measure
      episodes of duodenogastric reflux over a continuous 24-hour period.

PMID- 1462644
TI  - Two objections to Adams' opinion.

PMID- 1462645
TI  - Adams offered us excellent advice.

PMID- 1462646
TI  - Surgical procedures in centenarians.
AB  - Sixteen patients 100 years of age and older underwent surgical procedures at a
      single institution during the 11-year period ending December 1991. There were 11
      (69%) females and five males. Patient ages ranged from 100 to 104 (mean, 101.1
      years). Procedures included six ophthalmologic operations, three permanent
      pacemaker implantations, three compression hip screw fixations, two leg
      amputations, one hemiglossectomy, and one cystostomy. There was one (6%)
      perioperative death. Long-term follow-up was established for each patient. One
      year survival rate in these 16 centenarians was 69%. We conclude that selected
      patients 100 years old and older can survive certain surgical procedures with
      acceptable perioperative and long-term results.

PMID- 1462647
TI  - Neuroleptic malignant syndrome in a patient with neurosyphilis.
AB  - Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a catatonic-like syndrome of uncertain
      etiology occurring in patients taking dopamine blocking medications. The paper
      describes how NMS presents and is treated and reports the case of a patient with
      undetected neurosyphilis who developed NMS. The case highlights the need for a
      thorough organic evaluation of all patients with initial-onset psychotic features
      and suggests the possibility of a CNS cofactor--neurosyphilis--initiating the NMS
      as proposed by other researchers.

PMID- 1462648
TI  - Levels of physician responsibility in diagnosis and treatment of addiction.

PMID- 1462649
TI  - Increasing incidence of prostate cancer in Wisconsin, 1980-1990.

PMID- 1462650
TI  - Mobile clinic brings care to Ukraine.

PMID- 1462651
TI  - From municipal hospital to medical center: Milwaukee County General Hospital,
      1965-1980.

PMID- 1462652
TI  - Evaluating measures to control intestinal parasitic infections.
AB  - Intestinal parasitic infections are among the most common infections of humans in
      developing countries, but the resources available for their control are severely
      limited. Careful evaluation of control measures is essential to ensure that they
      are cost-effective. The evaluation of the effects of control on intestinal
      helminths and intestinal protozoa requires an understanding of the different
      epidemiological patterns of these two groups of parasites. The transmission
      dynamics and morbidity associated with the major helminth infections (Ascaris
      lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and the hookworms) are dependent on the size of
      the worm burdens. Thus the important parameter for evaluating the impact of
      control on morbidity and transmission is the intensity of infection, which can be
      assessed by determining the mean density of parasite eggs in faecal specimens.
      Estimation of intensity is subject to systematic errors, however, due to the
      complex pattern of worm burden distributions. The frequency distribution of
      burdens is highly overdispersed, and individuals exhibit predisposition to
      particular levels of infection. Furthermore, mean intensity is age-dependent, in
      a species-specific manner, and is clustered spatially and within families. These
      complex patterns imply that the estimation of intensity is exceptionally
      sensitive to the size and demographic structure of the population sample selected
      for assessment. They also have the effect that prevalence estimates, the most
      commonly used measures of infection in communities, can seriously mislead.
      Paradoxically, prevalence is least useful where infection is most common because
      the relationship between prevalence and intensity is most markedly non-linear
      when the prevalence is high. Thus in areas where control is most needed,
      evaluation using prevalence might suggest that control had failed while
      evaluation by intensity would, correctly, show the measure of success. With the
      major protozoan infections (Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia duodenalis and
      Cryptosporidium parvum) an estimate of intensity is of little value and the
      central parameter for evaluation is prevalence. Prevalence does exhibit age and
      spatial heterogeneity, which may be species-specific, so there remains a need to
      ensure a consistent sample structure, although this is less critical than for the
      helminths. The major constraint on evaluating the control of protozoan infections
      is the need to identify pathogenic species and, in some cases, pathogenic
      strains. Harmless commensal protozoans are ubiquitous and often morphologically
      very similar to pathogens, but their control is both unnecessary and
      impracticable. Species such a E. histolytica appear to exist as strains with
      differing pathogenicity, thus control will be cost-effective only if the focus is
      on pathogenic strains. Effective diagnosis is therefore central to the evaluation
      of the control of protozoan infections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1462654
TI  - Waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States of America: causes and
      prevention.
AB  - National statistics on waterborne outbreaks in the United States of America show
      that 1,702 waterborne outbreaks with 542,018 cases of illness and 1,089 deaths
      have been reported. Almost all deaths prior to 1940 were due to typhoid fever; 9
      deaths from other causes have occurred since 1971. During the past decade, 291
      waterborne outbreaks were reported in community (43%) and noncommunity (33%)
      systems, and from the ingestion of contaminated water from recreational (14%) and
      individual (10%) water sources. Although several large waterborne outbreaks
      occurred during the past decade, most were in small communities. The number of
      illnesses per outbreak in noncommunity systems during the past decade is much
      larger than that reported during any previous period, and the magnitude of these
      outbreaks indicates the potential effect on the travelling, transient population.
      During 1981-1990, contaminated, untreated groundwater or inadequately disinfected
      groundwater was responsible for 43% of all reported waterborne outbreaks, and
      contaminated, untreated surface water or inadequately treated surface water was
      responsible for 24% of all reported outbreaks. The use of untreated groundwater
      has declined in importance as a cause of outbreaks, and more outbreaks are now
      caused by inadequate or interrupted disinfection of groundwater. The increased
      occurrence of outbreaks in disinfected groundwater systems may be due to (i)
      increased use of disinfection with little effort to reduce or eliminate sources
      of contamination, and (ii) not providing effective, continuous disinfection. In
      surface-water systems, outbreaks occur primarily because of inadequate or
      interrupted disinfection in systems that do not provide filtration, but a large
      increase in outbreaks has recently occurred in filtered systems.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462653
TI  - The magnitude of mortality from acute respiratory infections in children under 5
      years in developing countries.
AB  - This article reviews the available evidence of mortality from acute respiratory
      infections (ARI) among children aged under 5 years in contemporary developing
      countries and compares the findings with European populations before 1965. In
      European populations before 1965, the level of mortality was found to be a
      determinant of the proportion of deaths due to ARI. There were marked differences
      according to regional patterns of mortality. Deaths from ARI played a smaller
      role after 1950, when the use of antibiotics became generalized. In developing
      countries, the role of ARI mortality seems to be similar to the European
      experience. The age pattern is very marked. In absolute values, ARI mortality is
      highest in the neonatal period and decreases with age. In relative values, ARI
      mortality is highest in the postneonatal period. ARI, mainly pneumonia, accounts
      for about 18% of underlying causes of death in developing countries. Pneumonia
      and other ARI are frequent complications of measles and pertussis; ARI is also
      commonly found after other infections and in association with severe
      malnutrition. Virtually no data are available in developing countries to provide
      final estimates of the role of ARI in mortality of children aged under 5 years.
      However, the WHO figure of 1 out of 3 deaths due to--or associated with--ARI may
      be close to the real range of the ARI-proportional mortality in children of
      developing countries. Results are discussed in light of the definitions of ARI
      used in various studies, the difficulties in ascertaining and coding multiple
      causes of death and the quality of data from some sources.

PMID- 1462655
TI  - Surveillance and control of emerging zoonoses.
AB  - "Emerging zoonoses" are defined as zoonotic diseases caused either by apparently
      new agents, or by previously known microorganisms, appearing in places or in
      species in which the disease was previously unknown. New animal diseases with an
      unknown host spectrum are also included in this definition. Natural animal
      reservoirs represent a more frequent source of new agents of human disease than
      the sudden appearance of a completely new agent. Factors explaining the emergence
      of a zoonotic or potentially zoonotic disease are usually complex, involving
      mechanisms at the molecular level, such as genetic drift and shift, and
      modification of the immunological status of individuals and populations. Social
      and ecological conditions influencing population growth and movement, food
      habits, the environment and many other factors may play a more important role
      than changes at the molecular level. Diseases associated with changing farming
      practices, trade and consumer habits. Bacterial enteric diseases due to
      Salmonella enteritidis and Echerichia coli 0:157 are examples of diseases
      associated with changing farming practices and consumer habits. The increasing
      trade in live animals for animal production and research led to the introduction
      of the New World screwworm to the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in 1989 and an Ebola
      like virus in monkeys in quarantine facilities in the United States of America.
      The development of the epidemics of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the
      United Kingdom is due to multiple factors including the increasing use of
      ruminant proteins as feed for animals. Diseases associated with changing
      environmental conditions which influence reservoirs, vectors and/or victim
      species population parameters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462656
TI  - [Cholera, 1991--old enemy, new face].
AB  - The cholera epidemics of the XIXth century are described and reviewed. The
      extent, incidence and case-fatality rate for the disease in the seventh pandemic
      are described. The global epidemiological situation and its trend at the end of
      1991 are analysed. A review of cholera epidemiology highlights the factors that
      might explain the less tragic nature of the disease today. The role of water,
      food and direct contagion in transmission of cholera over the last 20 years is
      considered in the light of recent studies and with special reference to the
      epidemic in Latin America, where the intense emotion aroused by the disease has
      prompted vigorous action that could produce significant and lasting progress in
      the health field.

PMID- 1462657
TI  - The global epidemiology of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and its projected demographic
      impact in Africa.
AB  - The global epidemiology of HIV/AIDS has evolved to the point that the pandemic
      now predominantly affects heterosexuals, especially in developing countries. This
      article summarizes the status of the HIV/AIDS pandemic as of the early 1990s;
      provides estimates and short-term projections of AIDS mortality in a hypothetical
      country of sub-Saharan Africa; projects the potential demographic impact of AIDS
      in a hypothetical sub-Saharan country; and describes the major problems
      associated with modelling the long-term demographic impact of this pandemic.
      Estimated AIDS cases and deaths up to 1992 were extrapolated from public health
      surveillance data and through use of the WHO model. Estimates of HIV
      seroprevalence were based on available HIV serological data. For developed
      countries, HIV estimates developed by national experts and/or national AIDS
      programmes were used, and for developing countries estimates by regional experts
      were used or were prepared by WHO. For the first half of the 1990s, projections
      of AIDS cases and deaths were derived from the WHO model; beyond the mid-1990s,
      the potential effects of AIDS on selected demographic indicators were derived
      from a demographic projection model developed by the World Bank. Although
      estimates and long-term projections cannot be made with great precision, the
      general dimensions of the HIV/AIDS pandemic have been more clearly delineated now
      at the start of its second decade. Epidemiological data indicate that in
      industrialized countries, where extensive spread of HIV began in the late 1970s
      or early 1980s, the majority of HIV infections occurred during the first half of
      the 1980s.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462658
TI  - Control of pertussis in the world.
AB  - Available data indicate that pertussis remains an important disease during
      infancy and childhood, particularly among those who are inadequately immunized.
      Over the past 15 years, successful immunization programmes have been implemented
      in most countries in the world. Some problems have arisen in the industrialized
      world where pertussis had been well controlled previously. The underlying causes
      of these problems are apathy and complacency on the part of physicians and
      parents, negative attitudes to immunization spread by anti-immunization pressure
      groups and litigation over liability for alleged vaccine-related injures. In
      developing countries, immunization coverage with primary series of three doses of
      DPT vaccine in infants exceeds 80%, but there are considerable differences in
      coverage rates between regions and between and within countries. Failures to
      reach and maintain high immunization coverage in developing countries are caused
      by multiple factors including weak management of immunization services, missing
      opportunities to immunize eligible children and ineffective information and
      motivation of mothers to return to complete the immunization series. To
      effectively control pertussis in the world, all countries should use available
      pertussis vaccines in immunization programmes for children. Since acellular
      pertussis vaccines are not generally available, the widespread use of DPT vaccine
      containing the whole-cell pertussis component should be continued. All efforts
      should be directed to increase or maintain high immunization coverage with DPT
      immunization at the level of at least 90% in all districts. Surveillance of
      pertussis morbidity should be strengthened in all countries and ideally,
      pertussis should be a reportable disease. More information on the present
      epidemiological pattern of pertussis, especially age distribution of pertussis
      cases in developing countries, is needed to develop the policy of booster doses
      of DPT vaccine in children > 1 year.

PMID- 1462659
TI  - Progress towards the global elimination of neonatal tetanus.
AB  - Neonatal tetanus (NT) can be effectively prevented through immunization and clean
      delivery practices. However, NT claimed the lives of over 433,000 infants in
      1991. It is endemic in 90 countries throughout the world. Community-based
      neonatal tetanus mortality surveys helped to determine the true incidence of NT
      and revealed that, before immunization and clean delivery programmes were well
      established, approximately 1 million children contracted NT each year, of which
      800,000 died. Mortality rates varied markedly by locale, ranging from 0 to 70 NT
      deaths per 1,000 live births. NT is still one of the most underreported
      notifiable diseases, and routine reporting systems identified only 4% of the NT
      cases estimated to have occurred in 1990. Based on WHO estimates, tetanus toxoid
      (TT) immunization and clean delivery practices prevented over 793,000 infant
      deaths in 1991. Of the 433,000 infants who died of NT that year, approximately
      212,000 died in South-East Asia; 127,000 in Africa; 46,000 in the Western
      Pacific; 37,000 in the Eastern Mediterranean; and 1,300 in Europe. The Pan
      American Health Organization, using a separate methodology to estimate mortality,
      calculated that 10,500 newborns died of NT in the Region of the Americans. NT
      consistently clusters in geographical areas and population groups where shared
      practices or the environment enhance the risk of cord contamination. 80% of the
      newborns who died of NT in 1991 were born in South-East Asia or Africa. Of the 90
      countries endemic for NT, 10% produce 80% of the world's NT deaths. NT also
      clusters at country level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462660
TI  - Human leishmaniases: epidemiology and public health aspects.
AB  - The leishmaniases are parasitic diseases caused by different species of
      Leishmania, protozoa transmitted by sandflies, haematophagous biting insects. The
      reservoir hosts are man (anthroponotic cycle) and domestic or wild animals
      (zoonotic cycle). In man the disease takes four main clinical forms: visceral,
      cutaneous, mucocutaneous and diffuse cutaneous. Morbidity and mortality due to
      leishmaniasis are on the increase. Leishmaniasis, which is now found on four
      continents, is endemic in 82 countries (21 in the New World and 61 in the Old).
      The large number of endemic countries shows the global scale of the problem,
      though it is particularly severe in certain countries (90% of cases of visceral
      leishmaniasis come from 4 countries). Annual incidence is estimated at some
      600,000 new clinical cases, officially reported, with a global prevalence of 12
      million cases and a population at risk of approximately 350 million. It is very
      difficult to provide realistic estimates given the frequency of subclinical forms
      of visceral leishmaniasis, the large number of undiagnosed or unreported cases,
      the frequent absence of active screening and the fact that the leishmaniases are
      notifiable diseases only in a few countries (30 out of 82); nevertheless, it
      seems clear that official reporting of cases considerably underestimates the
      problem. Over the last two decades, it has become clear that leishmaniasis is a
      growing public health problem in terms of geographical extent and incidence with
      the occasional severe epidemic, such as that which occurred in Sudan.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462661
TI  - Chagas disease: epidemiology and prospects for interruption of transmission in
      the Americas.
AB  - American trypanosomiasis, or Chagas disease, is a parasitic disease caused by the
      haemoflagellate protozoa, Trypanosoma cruzi. The human infection occurs only in
      the Americas, where it is widely distributed in the periurban and rural areas of
      tropical and subtropical countries, from Mexico to Argentina and Chile. It is
      transmitted to man and other mammals mainly through insects, the triatomine bugs.
      As an enzootic disease, it extends from approximately latitude 42.5 degrees N
      (northern California and Maryland) to latitude 43.5 degrees S (southern Argentina
      and Chile). The results of several serological surveys indicate an overall
      prevalence of 16-18 million infected individuals. Up to 30% of those infected
      will develop the cardiac and/or hollow viscera irreversible lesions that
      characterize chronic Chagas disease. The endemic countries can be divided into
      four groups according to several indicators such as the number of confirmed human
      cases, the prevalence of seropositive tests in blood donors and population
      samples, the presence of infected vectors and reservoirs, and the existence or
      absence of coordinated actions towards the control of this disease. The domestic
      cycle of transmission, involving man and domestic animals such as dogs, cats, and
      domestic triatomine bugs, is the one that maintains the infections in the rural
      and periurban areas. Some triatomine species are well adapted to human dwellings
      where human and animal reservoirs are in intimate contact. The poor socioeconomic
      condition of the population and the domestic nature of the vector play crucial
      roles in maintaining the infection at an endemic level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1462662
TI  - Progress towards the global eradication of poliomyelitis.
AB  - Poliomyelitis has been virtually eliminated from the industrialized countries by
      mass campaigns conducted with oral polio vaccine (OPV). In 1988, the World Health
      Assembly set the goal of global eradication of poliomyelitis by the year 2000.
      The current WHO strategy for eradication uses three primary activities beyond
      routine immunization with OPV. They are: (i) improved disease surveillance, (ii)
      building a global network of laboratories, and (iii) supplemental immunization
      strategies which include mass immunization campaigns with OPV at the national
      level, and targeted campaigns at the local level. Eradication of polio from the
      Region of the Americas is close and may have already been achieved. In other
      regions, the number of reported polio cases has declined, largely as a result of
      high immunization coverage. As more countries implement polio eradication
      strategies, the number of polio cases will continue to fall until eradication is
      achieved.

PMID- 1462663
TI  - The epidemiology of measles.
AB  - Measles is a highly infectious disease which has a major impact on child
      survival, particularly in developing countries. The importance of understanding
      the epidemiology of this disease is underlined by its ability to change rapidly
      in the face of increasing immunization coverage. Much is still to be learned
      about its epidemiology and the best strategies for administering measles
      vaccines. However, it is clear that tremendous progress can be made in preventing
      death and disease from measles with existing knowledge about the disease, and by
      using the presently available vaccines and applying well-tried methods of
      treating cases. Research in the coming decade may provide more effective vaccines
      for use in immunization programmes. An understanding of the basic epidemiology of
      measles is a prerequisite for effective control measures.

PMID- 1462664
TI  - The XXth century dengue pandemic: need for surveillance and research.
AB  - By the last decade of the XXth century Aedes aegypti and the 4 dengue viruses had
      spread to nearly all countries of the tropical world. Some 2 billion persons live
      in dengue-endemic areas with tens of millions infected annually. Dengue pandemics
      were also documented in the XVIIIth and XIXth centuries; they were contained by
      organized anti-Aedes aegypti campaigns and urban improvements. The XXth century
      dengue pandemic has brought with it the simultaneous circulation of multiple
      serotypes and in its aftermath, endemic dengue haemorrhagic fever/dengue shock
      syndrome (DHF/DSS). Nearly 3 million children have been hospitalized with this
      syndrome in the past 3 decades, mainly in South-East Asia. Recent outbreaks of
      DHF/DSS in the Pacific Islands, China, India, Sri Lanka, Cuba and Venezuela are
      indicators of the high intensity and rapid spread of dengue transmission. The
      magnitude of the XXth century dengue pandemic requires urgent improvements in
      early warning surveillance by WHO Member States and the development of the
      capacity to study underlying mechanisms of the disease. A key research question
      is why does DHF/DSS not occur with all second dengue infections? Two answers have
      been suggested: (1) a human resistance gene. Data from the 1981 DHF/DSS epidemic
      in Cuba have demonstrated the existence in blacks of a resistance gene. The
      effect of such a gene in reducing disease susceptibility of American and African
      blacks requires more study. (2) The existence of dengue "biotypes". Some, but not
      all biotypes may cause DHF/DSS during a second dengue infection.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462665
TI  - Influenza--its impact and control.
AB  - Influenza is an underestimated public health problem. Epidemics spread rapidly
      from country to country and may affect as many as 500 million people across the
      world in a moderate influenza year. The disease, particularly influenza A, kills
      and the new influenza viruses which appeared in 1957 (Asian influenza) and 1968
      (Hong Kong) are estimated to have caused at least 100,000 deaths in the United
      States of America. Deaths from influenza also occur in years when there is no new
      virus; at least 10,000 excess deaths have been documented in the United States
      during each of 18 different epidemics recorded from 1957 to 1985. Although most
      deaths are among the elderly, influenza occurs in all age groups with
      repercussions in schools and work places, and on hospital resources, at a high
      cost to society. As many as 79-80% of influenza cases can be prevented when the
      virus inducing the outbreak and the virus used in the influenza vaccine are
      closely related. Preventing 80% of cases would correspond in the United States to
      a saving of US $2.5 billion. People at the greatest risk of influenza-related
      complications are adults and children with chronic disorders of the pulmonary or
      cardiovascular systems, residents of nursing homes and of facilities for patients
      with chronic medical conditions. Other priority groups for vaccination are those
      at moderate risk of influenza-related complications such as healthy elderly
      persons, people with chronic metabolic diseases, children and teenagers on long
      term aspirin therapy. Groups potentially capable of transmitting influenza to
      high-risk persons should also be vaccinated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462666
TI  - [Current aspects of acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage].

PMID- 1462667
TI  - [Brain abscess as an endocranial complication of otologic diseases].

PMID- 1462668
TI  - [Pleural carcinosis in renal cell cancer or pleural mesothelioma? A contribution
      to differential diagnosis].

PMID- 1462669
TI  - [Temporary AV block III in correlation with borreliosis].

PMID- 1462670
TI  - [Ventriculitis and peritonitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes--case report].

PMID- 1462671
TI  - [A case from general practice (2): conspicuous laboratory findings].

PMID- 1462672
TI  - [Friedrich Hoffmann (1660-1742)].

PMID- 1462673
TI  - [Johannes Kentmann (1518-1574). On the 475th birthday of the physician and
      investigator of nature].

PMID- 1462674
TI  - [Physician-patient interaction and university medicine].

PMID- 1462675
TI  - [Hemodynamic effects of anti-arrhythmia substances].
AB  - Medical treatment of cardiac arrhythmias is limited by several side effects.
      Haemodynamic and proarrhythmic effects are the most important limitations of
      antiarrhythmic drug therapy. In this paper we present data from several studies
      on the haemodynamic side effects of antiarrhythmic drugs of Class I and III
      according to Vaughan-Williams. The results were discussed with special regard to
      the influence of these drugs on myocardial contractility. From the results
      presented it is concluded that there are no important differences in the negative
      inotropic effects among the Class I drugs. The clinically observed more marked
      cardiodepressant action of some of these drugs is probably due to their
      unfavourable effects on pre- and afterload of the left ventricle. From a
      theoretical point of view, Class III drugs should have a more favourable
      haemodynamic profile. However, after acute administration the commercially
      available Class III drugs also had a cardiodepressant action. A possible
      explanation for this finding might be other side effects of the Class III drugs
      currently available, since a pure Class III drug does not exist at present.
      Therefore, the special haemodynamic profile of each drug should be taken into
      consideration for antiarrhythmic treatment.

PMID- 1462676
TI  - [Conventional roentgen functional diagnosis--videodensitometry. 3. Conventional
      roentgen videodensitometry exemplified by the heart].
AB  - It is possible to record movement parameters video densitometrically and
      synchronously by means of a video signal analysator at various points of the
      organ surface visible via fluoroscopic images (provided by videorecorder).
      Movement parameters of the heart surface were signed just in the same cardiac
      action by synchronous electrocardiography. There are some difficulties in this
      method according to evaluation with reference to laevocardiography in consequence
      of functional variety of the heart and the different exercise conditions. Small
      aneurysms of the cardiac apex were only seen when they were separated and located
      at the cardiac margin. Extended cardiac aneurysms were video densitometrically
      recorded as a paradoxical movement at the cardiac surface. A paradoxical movement
      was never seen with negative findings in laevocardiography.

PMID- 1462677
TI  - [Protection from uv-light-induced oxidative stress by nutritional radical
      scavengers].
AB  - Two series of examinations were carried out in two voluntary test groups for the
      purpose of elucidating the correlation between ultraviolet light load and
      oxidative stress as well as the way it is influenced by nutritive radical
      scavengers. After a 6 to 7-hour impact of sunshine on the whole body (sunbathing
      beach) at n = 8 a continuous progredient increase of thiobarbituric acid reactive
      substances could be identified in the serum (from 5.56 +/- 0.98 to 8.91 +/- 0.99
      mumol/l, p < 0.001), which after new exposure to sunshine reached 11.3 +/- 2.4
      mumol/l. Likewise, a 15-minute exposure to ultraviolet light at n = 24 induced
      increases of TBRS concentrations lasting from 1-2 days. After 14-day
      supplementation with beta-carotene (n = 6), D-alpha-tocopherol (n = 6), selenium
      (n = 6), and ginkgo biloba extract (n = 6) the extent of the oxidative stress
      could be inhibited during a second exposure to ultraviolet light up to the
      following efficiency: Se > Ginkgo > beta-carotene > vitamin E. The clastogenous
      effect of sunshine and ultraviolet light must be regarded as a factor for
      initiating and promoting cancerogenesis in the total organism. Concerning the
      aetiopathogenesis of malignant melanoma the paramagnetic properties of free
      radicals with their nonenergetic effects of the magnetic field have to be
      considered more carefully in scientific examinations.

PMID- 1462678
TI  - [Pravastatin, a new cholesterol synthesis inhibitor for lowering increased serum
      cholesterol].
AB  - The association between increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) and
      elevated plasma cholesterol has been firmly established. The beneficial effect of
      cholesterol lowering treatment modalities was confirmed in both primary and
      secondary intervention trials. Because long-term treatment is usually required
      for lipid lowering therapies the drugs used for lipid reduction have to be not
      only efficacious but also safe. Inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis that have
      become clinically available during the last few years, can reduce plasma levels
      of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol very
      effectively. In the Familial Atherosclerosis Treatment Study (FATS) an intensive
      cholesterol lowering treatment modality consisting of a combination of an
      inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis and colestipol reduced the progression of
      coronary lesions and caused a partial regression of such lesions. Among the
      various inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis developed recently, pravastatin
      appears to be tissue-specific because of its hydrophilic property.

PMID- 1462679
TI  - [Nomination criteria in the history of the Medical Faculty of the Halle
      University. III. From the turn of the century to 1945].
AB  - The restrictions that had remained applicable in respect of the right of
      nomination that had been conceded to the Departments of Universities in the 19th
      century, were rescinded in the early 20th century. As a rule, a list of three
      suggested names was submitted, but it was still possible that the ministry would
      issue a decree of appointment without prior approval of the relevant University
      department. Whereas the conventional principle of nomination continued to apply
      on paper, additional criteria were brought into play after 1933 involving
      premises determined by Nazi party politics and which resulted in centrally
      monitored vocational decisions.

PMID- 1462680
TI  - [The physician's responsibility for patient education. II].

PMID- 1462681
TI  - [Skeletal development in monozygotic and dizygotic twins].
AB  - The maturation and development of 27 monozygotic and 23 dizygotic twins were
      studied over a 10 year period with data collected at one year intervals from age
      9 to adulthood. In this manner the ossification process was recorded based on X
      ray films of the carpal bones. Further information was acquired through
      anthropometric and somatoscopic data reproduced with standard photography. Sex
      and phase specific genetic factors influencing the maturation process are
      presented and analysed.

PMID- 1462682
TI  - Secular trends of stature and weight of Chinese girls.
AB  - Stature and weight were studied in 123 12-year-old Southern Chinese girls born
      and brought up in Hong Kong. The mean stature was 147.22 centimetres with a
      standard deviation of 6.65 centimetres. The mean body weight was 37.11 kilograms
      with the standard deviation being 7.39 kilograms. Secular trend of increased body
      size was demonstrated. The increase was more marked in the lower percentile
      groups.

PMID- 1462683
TI  - Estimation of age at death from second metacarpals.
AB  - This study examined the estimation of age at death from the second metacarpal in
      227 individuals aged 30-98 years. Variables ascertained from each bone were:
      cortical thickness and microdensitometric cortical bone density measured on
      radiographs of the bone and total osteon count and density recorded on
      microradiographs of the complete cross section at its midshaft. Based on the
      latter two variables, two age groups were formed; a middle age group representing
      those individuals aged 30-65 years, and an older group aged 65+. Stepwise
      regression analysis of the four variables produced a series of regression
      equations for age estimation for the middle, old and combined age groups for each
      sex and sexes combined. Sex-specific equations provided better results than
      nonspecific ones, especially in females. Total osteon density and combined
      cortical thickness were found to be the most useful estimators in the middle and
      the old age group, respectively. The standard error of estimate was 6.71 and 6.90
      years in each age group for the sexes combined. In the combined age group, age
      could be estimated accurately from total osteon count, cortical thickness and MD
      cortical bone density with the standard error of estimate of 11.10 years. The
      relative error of estimate ranged within +/- 30% in almost all individuals aged
      above 60 years.

PMID- 1462684
TI  - [Handedness in comparison with the asymmetry of the upper extremities].
AB  - In 1990 221 males (88 children, age 3.5-7.25 years and 133 adults, age 20-44
      years) were investigated. The sample was divided into two groups based on
      handedness; 140 individuals were right-handed and 81 left-handed. 10 measurements
      were taken at the upper limbs. In addition, marked handedness, handclasping and
      armfolding were determined. The last three traits showed no statistically
      significant connection. It was determined that measurements of length, breadth
      and circumference are more often significantly asymmetric in favor of the right
      side in right-handers than in left-handers. Further, skinfolds of right-handed
      individuals are larger on the left side. Partially reverse results were found for
      left-handers as a whole, however, the results are more irregular. A difference in
      the degree of asymmetry exists between children and adults. Asymmetries of
      breadth and circumference measurements as well as forearm skinfold are larger in
      adults. Taking into account the error of measurement, frequencies of R > L, R = L
      and L > R for right- and left-handed individuals were evaluated using the chi 2
      test for significance. Preponderance of measurements on the dominant side could
      often be secured statistically.

PMID- 1462685
TI  - The formation of heart-proportion in fetal ontogenesis.
AB  - In the paper, the formation of basic heart proportions in the period from the
      19th to 43rd week of intrauterine development was investigated. The material
      consisted of 1505 fetuses (930 male and 575 female). Length, width and thickness
      of the heart were measured to 0.1 mm on unpreserved fetus material within 24
      hours after stillbirth or death, in the natural position of the organ. The
      material was divided into groups representing seven developmental periods, from
      the 5th to the 10th lunar month. Individuals from the 41st-43rd week were
      recognized as carried beyond term and included in the age category above the 10th
      month (< 10). Formation of heart proportions was investigated on the basis of a
      statistical analysis of the results, with both sexes considered separately.
      Evaluation of the research results confirmed previous results indicating a
      slightly different shape of the heart in the fetal period. In addition, the
      results show the changes that occur in heart proportions during the period of
      intrauterine development. A comparison of these proportions with analogous
      indices in adult individuals makes it possible to predict further developmental
      changes in the postnatal period. In comparison to the conical heart found in a
      grown-up individual, the fetal heart is more spherical. At the beginning of the
      fetal period, the length dimension of the heart is greater than its width.
      Beginning with the 9th month of development, a relatively slower elongation of
      the heart occurs in favour of a more rapid increase in its width
      dimension.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462686
TI  - Investigations on the variability of four genetic serum protein markers in
      Poland.
AB  - 198 unrelated male and female Poles from Ostrow Wielkopolski (Central Poland) and
      228 unrelated male and female Kashubes from Koscierzyna (Northern Poland) have
      been typed for four polymorphic serum protein systems: HP, TF, GC, and PI.
      Phenotype and allele frequencies of all these four polymorphic systems are quite
      different between Poles and Kashubes. Comparisons with some other Central and
      East European population samples (Slovaks, Hungarians, Matyos, Gypsies) revealed
      a considerable genetic heterogeneity among them. Genetic distance analysis showed
      that Hungarians and Matyos as well as Poles and Slovaks are found in two
      subclusters, which are linked up to one cluster. Gypsies and especially Kashubes
      exhibit a distinct position from this cluster. This genetic distance pattern can
      be explained satisfactorily considering the ethnohistory of the population groups
      under study.

PMID- 1462687
TI  - Investigations on the variability of four genetic serum protein markers (HP; TF,
      GC and PI subtypes) in Italy.
AB  - 14 population samples from various Italian regions with a total of 2.577
      unrelated male and female individuals were typed for four polymorphic serum
      protein polymorphisms: HP, and TF, GC and PI subtypes. The regional distribution
      of the allele frequencies of these four polymorphisms shows a considerable
      heterogeneity, which is for the most part statistically significant, thus
      indicating an obvious genetic variability of the population of the Italian
      Peninsula.

PMID- 1462688
TI  - [The SUVA (Swiss Accident Insurance Association) statistics and quality control].
AB  - Overall quality control in medicine takes place on various levels: Physician-
      Hospital--Insurer--Authorities, each having different requirements. Comparative
      standards are rather seldom. A model for a comparative standard for insurer
      purposes, the medical statistics package SUMEST' is presented. This model is
      diagnoses oriented and includes parameters for the severity of the accident, cost
      of treatment and treatment outcome, all based on 5-year data pool results.

PMID- 1462689
TI  - [The decentralized documentation system '90' of the Study Group for
      Osteosynthesis Problems (AO)].
AB  - The new decentralized documentation system '90' of the "Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur
      Osteosynthesefragen" (Association for the Study of Internal Fixation to ASIF)
      will be introduced. This system is used for gathering clinical data of
      operatively treated fractures and their clinical outcome.

PMID- 1462690
TI  - [Quality assurance exemplified by perinatology and surgery].
AB  - Quality assurance encompasses all activities which are necessary to obtain a
      demanded quality of medical care. Typically, a quality assurance process
      ("monitoring- and evaluation-process") includes the following steps: systematic
      observation of quality of medical care using quality indicators, assessment of
      quality by comparison with standards and recognizing problems, analysis of the
      most important problem, realization of appropriate problem solving strategies and
      evaluation, if the problem is successfully solved through the corrective action.
      The quality assurance programs in perinatology and surgery--established in all
      the states of the Federal Republic of Germany--support the hospitals in the
      application of this quality assurance process. Uniform documentation and
      preparation of quality relevant information (lists of complications, profiles,
      charts, etc.) help the hospitals to perform a self-evaluation, to recognize
      problems and to verify the elimination of the problems. Hence, comparisons with
      local results and with results of other hospitals are possible.

PMID- 1462691
TI  - [Basic differential documentation as conditio sine qua non for effective quality
      assurance].
AB  - The quality check in medicine increases not at all by judges order. This
      contribution shows in what point of medical-documentation quality check must
      begin, if she should be effective. Some examples explain, that only a
      discriminated and a by specialist examined basic documentation is able to give us
      valid statistics of clinical data. Some results of our quality checked basis
      documentation were presented too.

PMID- 1462692
TI  - [The hospital service misuse problem in orthopedics].
AB  - In a representative study for all German acute hospitals the amount of
      inappropriate (medically not necessary) patient care was estimated. The data
      material, sampling design, weighting technic and the appropriateness expert
      rating (retrospective, consent judging) was controlled. An overall proportion of
      inappropriate days of care of 18.45% were found but for orthopedic diseases this
      rate was 31.9% and even 37.7% for the younger than 60 orthopedic patients.
      Similar high rates for orthopedic diseases were found in US hospital studies of
      inappropriateness and should lead to an analysis of their reasons.

PMID- 1462693
TI  - [Diagnosis--therapy and documentation].
AB  - The procedures of documentation of diagnostic findings are well established--but
      different in their graphical and structural appearance of patients histories. Out
      of multiple findings a retrieval with valid informations is very clumsy. In order
      to increase quality a complete and reliable registration of clinical data base is
      necessary. For this purpose the use of electronic media is profitable if the
      requirements of the data-base are well defined. A nationwide agreement on one key
      system--including the transformation of textual structures--is proposed. Only
      this way leads to comparable results in therapeutic procedures.

PMID- 1462695
TI  - [Analysis of errors in ICD 9 diagnostic classification in compliance with the
      Federal health care regulation].
AB  - In the present study the diagnosis from 1221 letters of discharge of the years
      1986 and 1987 were additionally coded by the documentation doctor of the
      orthopaedic department and compared with the documentation sheets and the
      computer lists of the administration. Supplementary to this after one year there
      was carried out an additional coding of the letters by the documentation doctor.
      The transfer errors of the administration were amounting to 1.72 p.c. with regard
      to three digit numbers and to 11.87 p.c. with regard to four digit coding. During
      the repeated examination the documentation doctor made an error of 4.3 p.c. for
      the three digit coding and of 15.6 p.c. if the maximum coding was required. The
      corresponding errors of the house physicians for three digit numbers (maximum)
      were amounting to 8 p.c. (33.6 p.c.) for frequent diagnoses, to 28 p.c. (48.5
      p.c.) for rare diagnoses and totally 13.7 p.c. (37.8 p.c.). In the present
      documentation validity and reliability still shows a good result compared to
      other studies. Nevertheless a documentation with an error rate to such an extend
      is of no use for a base documentation, and this error rate must be taken into
      consideration in the interpretation of global medical statistics. Automatic
      coding systems integrated into medical writing service seems to be the only help
      in view of removing these problems.

PMID- 1462694
TI  - [Analysis and assurance of complete medical documentation].
AB  - A written report on the findings of the examination forms the basis for the
      further procedure in the treatment of a patient--not merely in the area of
      orthopaedics. The examination findings should, therefore, be legible, readily
      understandable and complete. On the basis of 600 individual findings established
      at admission in the case of inpatients with diseases of the spine and hip,
      stemming from a total of three hospitals, the behaviour pattern of the individual
      examiner is analysed along with deficiencies in documentation. For a number of
      significant deficits, differences in the particular emphasis applied by
      individual physicians during the examination, the fact that the time available
      for such examinations is usually limited, and the lack of documentation system,
      are probably responsible.

PMID- 1462696
TI  - [Additional coding for legally required ICD-9 as the basis for high quality
      patient record searches].
AB  - We are convinced, that the updating of the ID DIACOS diagnosis catalogue fits
      better to the today's medical language, than the former one. By using a
      consequent additional code we could eliminate several lacks of the ICD-9. Valid
      and reproducible diagnosis statistics are now possible. Subjective coding
      mistakes are largely avoidable. Inquiries of certain diagnosis can be answered by
      using the one of the two codes, that describes the diagnosis in the best form.
      Regarding the allotments of the best form. Regarding the allotments of the
      catalogue of orthopedic and traumatic diagnosis including the possibility of
      double-coding we got a special better version of ID DIACOS than before.

PMID- 1462697
TI  - [Basic medical documentation with ID DIACOS as an instrument for quality
      assurance].
AB  - Standardized methods and instruments of medical documentation are prerequisites
      for quality assurance in medicine. Support for quality assurance measures at
      present can be attained by the programme systems ID DIACOS (encoding of diagnoses
      into ICD-9 and procedures into ICPM-GE) for daily clinical routine documentation.
      Administrative statistics, e.g. the L1-statistics of diagnoses according to
      section 16 Federal Statutory Instrument on Hospital Care Rates (BPflV) can be
      compiled without waste by aggregation. Supplementations of the programme system
      are planned caused by the introduction of new forms of Hospital reimbursement
      with changed classification patterns. An increasing need for computer-aided
      encoding will also result by the implementation of new classifications, e.g. ICD
      10 and by the requirements concerning a scientific basic documentation (Selbmann,
      1990; Mau, 1990) based partly on nomenclatures. The connection of the programme
      systems ID DIACOS and SNOMED (empirical and morphological analysis of medical
      texts) is possible and will be carried out (Hultsch, Diekmann, Ruhl, 1990).

PMID- 1462698
TI  - [Electronic data processing-assisted standardization of medical documentation].

PMID- 1462699
TI  - [Medical applications of electronic data processing in surgery, trauma surgery
      and orthopedics. Results of a survey of 1,450 clinics].
AB  - With a standardized questionnaire we evaluated 1450 orthopedic and general
      surgery departments. The response rate was 57.2%, 52% of the departments were
      using computers for different purposes. The favoured system was the MS-DOS system
      (73%). The computers were mainly used for word processing (58%), statistics
      (50%), and graphics (39%). For clinical routine the leading use was patient
      documentation (70%) followed by patient report generation (43%). Other
      applications (e.g. online use of administrative data (19.4%) or the use of other
      patient information like blood parameters (10%)) were relatively rarely used.
      However, most of the users have plans to incorporate these applications in the
      nearest future. For the out patients care the leading application is private
      billing (42.5%) and statistics (30%). The majority of the departments (42.6%)
      only have one PC. Most of the departments use the printer for hard copies and as
      hard disc a the standard storage medium. The average storage capacity of the used
      hard discs is 40 to 80 MB. Other peripheral tools like a laser printer, a
      scanner, or modems are rarely used. Most of the departments invested between 5000
      and 15,000,--DM. 33.3% financed the computers only with the official budget of
      the department. However, 25.8% only used private funds to buy the hard- and
      software. The distribution according to zip codes showed a slight accommodation
      in Bavaria and NRW. The amount of new installations showed an almost constant
      increase from 1975 until 1981. Between 1981 and 1990 there was a significant
      increase with a small drop in 1986.

PMID- 1462700
TI  - [Long-term results of epicondylitis humeri ulnaris ("golfer's elbow") after
      treatment analogous to Hohmann's incision of epicondylitis humeri radialis
      ("tennis elbow")].
AB  - With an average follow-up of 6.1 years the results of Hohmann's operation in
      treatment of humeri ulnaris epicondylitis in 23 cases are presented. For
      evaluation a numerical rating system with subjective and objective criteria was
      designed. The results were excellent in 43.5%, good in 26.1% and fair in 17.5% by
      subjective and excellent in 47.9%, good in 26.1% and fair in 13% by objective
      evaluation. Three cases had a poor result. The study reviews causes, clinical
      tests, conservative treatment and our operative method.

PMID- 1462701
TI  - [Arthroscopic subacromial decompression. 1-3 year results].
AB  - In 148 patients with impingement lesion type I or type II, we performed an
      arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASD). 122 patients ran a follow up one to
      three years post-operatively. All patients were pre- and postoperatively
      documented by a 100 point shoulder score. The mean score was 57.9 (+/- 11.5)
      preoperatively. Postoperatively there was a significant increase to 80.7 (+/-
      17.9) (p < 0.05). 15% of the patients with a postoperative score less than 70
      points were determined as failures. Patients with a preoperative pain history of
      more than one year had a significantly worse result (79.1 +/- 8.4) compared to
      those patients with a preoperative course less than one year (88.8 +/- 11.6) (p <
      0.05). Other significant factors were the patient's age, and calcific tendinitis,
      whereas sex, preoperative range of motion, muscle atrophy, and degeneration of
      the acromioclavicular joint did not significantly influence the result. Our
      results after ASD in patients with subacromial pathology without a rupture of the
      rotator cuff are encouraging. Therefore, ASD seems to be a reasonable alternative
      to open acromioplasty.

PMID- 1462702
TI  - [Pathogenesis and prevention of spastic hip dislocation].
AB  - Based on retrospective analysis of 82 hips of 41 patients with cerebral palsy, a
      pathogenetic model of spastic paralytic dislocation of the hip is introduced
      including recent observations of the normal hip development. According to this
      model the reduced activity of the gluteus maximus, medius, minimus and quadriceps
      femoris muscles, which normally cause a decrease of valgus and anteversion,
      results in an increased subluxating coxa valga antetorta with a consecutive
      dislocation. In order to prevent a dislocation, these muscle groups have to
      undergo increased activation. Since walking has to be to undergo increased
      activation. Since walking has to be considered the strongest stimulus for the
      dislocation-preventing hip abductors, hip extensors, outward rotators and knee
      extensors, the erect gait should be encouraged with statomotorically favored
      children early as possible. This can be supported by muscle relaxing surgery of
      the antagonistically effective hip flexors, hip adductors and inward rotators as
      well as the knee flexors. These muscle release operations will counteract,
      although to a limited extent, a dislocation even with a severely handicapped
      child who is unable to walk.

PMID- 1462703
TI  - [Surgical treatment of hip dislocation in patients with infantile cerebral
      palsy].
AB  - The results of 63 operations on 52 patients with cerebral palsy, which were
      performed between 1978 and 1988 to correct a subluxation or dislocation of the
      hip, were reviewed. The innominate pelvic osteotomy was preferably combined with
      intertrochanteric femoral osteotomy and soft tissue release. The average age at
      time of surgery was 7 years/2 months. Surgical intervention was indicated
      irrespective of the severity of neurologic involvement. The mean follow-up period
      is 3 years/4 months. The results show, that by a combinations of these surgical
      procedures a permanent stability of the hip joint can be achieved.
      Retrospectively the 5 cases of reluxation can be explained by insufficient
      surgical technique. The postoperative development of the CE-angle and the
      acetabular index reveal, that after adequate reduction of the femoral head the
      acetabulum is able to remodel its dysplasia. From a functional point of view
      actually patients with diplegia gained the most benefit from a stable hip joint,
      because they showed the most progress in motor activity. In tetraplegic patients
      the long-term success of these surgical procedures must be seen in the prevention
      of a painful hip in adult life, the maintenance of sitting-stability and the
      improvement of perineal care condition.

PMID- 1462704
TI  - [Postoperative infections and wound healing disorders in patients with infantile
      cerebral palsy].
AB  - As part of a retrospective study including 569 patients with ICP and a group of
      405 controls, the risk of postoperative wound healing disorders and wound
      infections was investigated in surgically treated children with cerebral palsy.
      The higher rate of wound healing disorders in ICP patients could not be
      attributed to factors such as excessively long duration of operation, secondary
      interventions, or a high number of interventions per operation. Rather, the
      causes of the increased risk of infection have to be seen in connection with the
      symptoms of ICP itself, such as immunological weakness, increased tendency to
      sweat, reduced circulation in the affected extremity and disturbances of
      sensitivity and perception. A direct link between these parameters and increased
      risk of postoperative infection can only be established by prospective studies.

PMID- 1462705
TI  - On-line coupled liquid chromatography-gas chromatography (LC-GC) and LC-LC-GC for
      detecting irradiation of fat-containing foods.
AB  - On-line coupled liquid chromatography-gas chromatography-flame ionisation
      detection (LC-GC-FID) enables efficient and unambiguous determination of
      irradiation for some fat-containing foods (e.g. meat). Other products, however,
      contain interfering components or are contaminated, e.g., with mineral oil. Since
      more selective detection by mass spectrometry has limited success, the
      determination was improved by a more selective isolation of some key components
      among the fat degradation products, e.g. the dienes or trienes, by LC-LC-GC-FID.
      Applications are shown for soup mixes, some spices, fish, and shrimps.

PMID- 1462706
TI  - Determination of the heating temperature of fishery products.
AB  - The German Fish Directive prescribes that products must be heated to the core
      temperature of +70 degrees C to kill existing larvae of nematodes. For subsequent
      determination of the heating temperature samples were extracted with water. The
      extracts were analysed for protein content, for protein patterns obtained by
      isoelectric focusing and by using the coagulation test. The suitability of these
      methods was investigated with heated extracts, heated minced fish flesh, and
      smoked herring and mackerel. Smoking was performed in the kiln of the institute
      at controlled temperatures. Analysis of commercial samples showed that the core
      temperature during smoking of herring and mackerel must have been clearly below
      70 degrees C in several cases.

PMID- 1462707
TI  - Macroelements content of Common Pacific squid (Loligo opalescens).
AB  - The macroelement (sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium) concentrations have
      been determined in various tissues of the Common Pacific squid, Loligo
      opalescens. The method of measurement was flame atomic emission (sodium and
      potassium) and absorption (calcium and magnesium) spectrometry. Edible tissues
      such as the tube (mantle), arms and crown, and fin contained: from 3.3 +/- 0.4 to
      3.9 +/- 1.5 (1.9-6.8) g/kg wet weight of sodium; from 5.3 +/- 0.6 to 6.3 +/- 2.7
      (3.3-14) g/kg of potassium; 38 +/- 7 to 100 +/- 34 (28-200) mg/kg of calcium; and
      from 510 +/- 100 to 950 +/- 280 (340-1500) mg/kg of magnesium. The other tissues
      or organs examined frequently contained a higher concentration of macroelements
      than the edible flesh. Statistically significant correlations between the body
      weight of squid and macroelement concentrations or between some pairs of metals
      in whole squid, mantle and hepatopancreas have been observed.

PMID- 1462708
TI  - [Comparative studies of the Osborne protein fraction of wheat varieties with
      different dough and baking properties].
AB  - The proteins of flours from the wheat varieties Clement (CLE) and Disponent
      (DIS), which are characterized by substitution of the wheat chromosome 1B by the
      rye chromosome 1R (CLE) and by 1BL/1RS-translocation of chromosome segments
      (DIS), respectively, and which yield sticky doughs, were extracted by the Osborne
      procedure and compared with the good variety Kolibri (KOL). CLE and DIS delivered
      significantly higher amounts of water-soluble proteins (31.2 and 23.2% of the
      total protein) than KOL (15.5%). The proportions of ethanol-soluble proteins were
      approximately constant for the three varieties (31.5-33.9%) while the amounts of
      residual proteins after extraction with ethanol were significantly different
      (CLE, 16.8%; DIS, 21.6%; KOL, 26.4%). Water extracts as well as residues
      exhibited also marked differences in their amino acid compositions. Investigation
      of the water extract from DIS by gel permeation chromatography and by RP-HPLC
      showed the presence of prolamins: omega 1,2-gliadins and/or omega-secalins could
      be detected on the basis of amino acid composition and N-terminal amino acid
      sequence. In the case of good varieties such as KOL, these prolamins seem to
      remain partially in the residue of the ethanol extract under the conditions of
      the classical Osborne procedure, whereas they are found in the water extract in
      the case of such varieties as CLE and DIS. On the other hand, a modified Osborne
      procedure (salt/ethanol/acetic acid) delivered the prolamins, which correspond to
      39-40% of the total protein, completely within the ethanol fraction in the case
      of all three varieties.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462709
TI  - Application of polyuronides for removing heavy metals from vegetable oils. III.
      Application of alginic acid, pectic and pectinic acids for demetalization of
      hydrogenated sunflower oil.
AB  - Laboratory experiments have been carried out for the removal of heavy metals from
      hydrogenated vegetable oils using hydrated polyuronides (degree of swelling from
      4 to 12.8 ml/g) such as alginic acid, pectic and pectinic acids. The effect of
      the type of polyuronide, degree of esterification and oil treatment on the degree
      of demetalization has been studied. It has been shown that with increase in the
      degree of esterification of the polyuronide the efficiency of demetalization
      decreases. The second and third treatment of the hydrogenated oil with pectinic
      acid resulted in a high degree of heavy metal removal. The possibility of
      efficient demetalization of hydrogenated oils by treatment with water solutions
      of pectinic acids has also been demonstrated. The degree of metal ion removal
      increases with decreasing concentration of pectinic acids in the water solution.

PMID- 1462710
TI  - Influence of demetallization of hydrogenated sunflower oil on changes in the
      forms of heavy metals and their pro-oxidative effects.
AB  - The effect of removing heavy metals from hydrogenated sunflower oil using a
      method based on changes in the contents of the various forms of the heavy metals
      copper, iron, zinc and nickel and their respective pro-oxidative effects was
      studied. A high degree of removal of dissociated and bounded ions was observed
      for hydrogenated oil, while there was no change in the contents of the co
      ordination form. The pro-oxidative effect of the dissociated ions and of the
      bound metal ions in hydrogenated oil decreased nine-fold and seven-fold,
      respectively, compared with that of the non-hydrogenated oil, as a result of
      which the oxidation stability of hydrogenated oil increased two-fold. Comparative
      studies confirmed as appropriate the use of wash waters and auxiliary solutions
      that do not contain heavy metals for the processing of the hydrogenate after the
      classical technology.

PMID- 1462711
TI  - Tuberculosis and AIDS: European and worldwide perspectives.
AB  - To examine the possible influence of AIDS and HIV infection on the epidemiology
      of tuberculosis in Europe and worldwide in the coming decades an analysis of the
      available data on the two diseases and on the transmission of the two infections
      in relation to the demographic structure of the population was conducted,
      including projections for up to the year 2025. Globally, the effects of the AIDS
      pandemic on the tuberculosis situation will probably be very serious, adding some
      1.5 million new cases of tuberculosis annually by the year 2025 as a result of
      HIV infection. However, this effect for Europe in the year 2025 may be in the
      range of 15,000 additional cases only. The main factor determining the scale of
      aggravation of Tb is the age structure of the population infected, or at risk of
      being infected, with tubercle bacilli and HIV. Although the influence of HIV
      infection on tuberculosis in Europe may not be very high due to the fact that HIV
      infection involves mainly younger age groups it may, however, substantially
      postpone the elimination of tuberculosis from Europe. Therefore it seems
      necessary to monitor constantly all the changes in the epidemiological situation
      of both tuberculosis and AIDS/HIV.

PMID- 1462712
TI  - [HIV infection: feasibility of a seroprevalence study with consent of
      hospitalized patients].
AB  - A pilot study was carried out in order to evaluate the feasibility of determining
      the seroprevalence rate of HIV infection and the prevalence of risk factors among
      selected hospital patients at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois
      (CHUV). Consent was obtained and only blood already obtained for other purposes
      was used for testing. Among 850 patients between 16 and 65 years of age and
      residing in Switzerland who were originally selected at random, only 200 patients
      were accessible for an interview and for whom blood was available in order to be
      included in the study. Of these, 165 (83%) accepted their blood to be tested. A
      seropositive result was identified in 2 patients already aware of their
      serostatus. The age distribution, diagnosis and behavioral risk factors (when
      available through the interview) were not different among those accepting the
      test and the ones refusing. However, foreigners were more likely to refuse the
      blood test than Swiss nationals, even though none of them came from a country
      with a high rate of endemicity for HIV infection. Reasons for refusal included
      the following: lack of risk factors 10 (29%), doubts about confidentiality 6
      (17%), blood test already performed 5 (14%), language barrier 4 (11%) and others
      10 (29%). We conclude that even though the data in our sample did not suggest
      that patients refusing the test were at an increased risk of being seropositive,
      it is unlikely that with such a refusal rate, a reliable measure of
      seroprevalence could be determined in the population of study with the methods
      used, especially when one is expecting a relatively low seroprevalence rate.

PMID- 1462713
TI  - Infertility in industrialized countries: prevalence and prevention.
AB  - We discuss the prevalence and aetiology of infertility and the relevance of this
      information for national infertility services and prevention programmes. The
      prevalence of infertility in industrialized countries has been said to be as high
      as 10-20%. This estimate, and the argument that little can be done to prevent
      infertility, have been used as justification for increased government investment
      in, or expansion of, services for medically assisted conception. However,
      population prevalence surveys indicate that far fewer couples of reproductive age
      are actually infertile. For example, a recent survey in the United States
      reported that 8.5% of married couples with a wife age 15-44 were infertile. 4% of
      the sample were childless and reported having a condition which impaired
      fecundity, while less than 2% were childless, had impaired fecundity and were
      over 35 years of age. Other studies show that nearly a third of couples have
      difficulty conceiving at some point during their reproductive lives but few
      actually remain childless. A significant proportion of infertility could be
      prevented through more aggressive application of standard public health measures.

PMID- 1462714
TI  - Community involvement towards community objectives.
AB  - The World Health Organisation "Health for all children by the year 2000"
      declaration presents an exciting yet timely challenge. If these aims are to be
      achieved, the role of the health worker must be broadened. There must be a
      recognition that families will determine the true health of their children-
      physical, mental and social. Families must be able to identify and realise their
      aspirations, to satisfy their needs and to cope with and adapt to their
      environments. Only by advocacy, by forming a partnership with families, and by
      empowering families to exercise greater control over their health and their
      environment, will health workers begin to see positive change in the community.
      There is a need to collect and collate data from the community in order that the
      true needs of families are met. New outcome measures which address "quality of
      life" must be developed; these will accord closely with the WHO aims, and will
      enable communities to set the high standards that must be achieved for our
      children. "Health", interpreted in its broadest meaning, should lead to health
      professionals concentrating on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and the
      attainment of "quality of life". There must be a move away from the "medical
      model" of care to the empowerment of parents who are responsible for the care for
      their children and the need to work towards better community resources.

PMID- 1462715
TI  - [Therapy for smoking: consensus in German-speaking countries].
AB  - The german speaking countries (Austria, Germany, Switzerland) are not the most
      advanced in the world when it comes to the control of tobacco related diseases.
      The medical system in these countries has yet to be convinced that smoking
      cessation is not only necessary but feasible. In order to provide a basic
      document for further activities, a consensus development process was initiated.
      The consensus development process forms part of the activities performed by the
      UICC (International Union Against Cancer) Project Smoking Cessation, which is a
      project within the framework of the UICC Tobacco and Cancer Programme. The 1988
      Report of the US Surgeon General states very clearly, that the use of tobacco
      products is not a matter of free choice, but is the result of an addiction as
      scientifically valid as the addiction to heroin and other narcotics. The
      scientific literature provides informations on many methods and techniques for a
      smoking cessation, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological. Many
      pharmacological approaches have been tried to treat nicotine dependence in man.
      According to scientific standards and many controlled studies, nicotine has been
      the only drug found to be effective in treating nicotine dependence. Many
      techniques, ranging from self help to sophisticated combined therapeutic
      approaches including pharmacological interventions, are now available to deal
      with the nicotine addiction. Smoking cessation treatment uses time, effort and
      other resources and the question of reimbursement for these services has to be
      considered. As with any other form of treatment, costs needed to be paid either
      by the individual patient/client and/or by other sources including private and
      national health insurance systems.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462716
TI  - Different frequencies of diabetic complications in insulin-treated patients with
      diabetes of comparable duration, in relation to age at onset of diabetes.
AB  - Diabetic complications such as retinopathy and nephropathy affect the quality of
      life of diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to find out whether there
      are differences in the development of these complications associated with the age
      at onset of diabetes and the different effects of diabetes onset before, during
      or after puberty. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis whether onset of insulin
      dependent diabetes in puberty was connected with an increased risk of developing
      diabetic microangiopathy. We found a significantly increased risk in patients
      with diabetes onset in puberty up to a diabetes duration of 20 years if compared
      with diabetes onset before but not with that after puberty. It seems that
      diabetes onset before puberty delays the development of early diabetic
      complications and that changes of the hormonal status during puberty may be
      responsible for an earlier development of retinopathy. After about 20 years of
      diabetes there are no significant differences between the groups. Our results
      emphasize the necessity of early ophthalmological diagnosis and adequate
      metabolic control, especially in patients with diabetes onset during or after
      puberty, in order to prevent or delay the development of diabetic complications.

PMID- 1462717
TI  - AIDS surveillance in Europe: status at 31st March 1992. European centre for the
      epidemiological monitoring of AIDS.

PMID- 1462718
TI  - European community concerted action on monitoring HIV seroprevalence in a
      sentinel population of STD patients (June 1990-December 1991).

PMID- 1462719
TI  - Steep decline in world fertility rates: contraceptive use up sharply.

PMID- 1462720
TI  - Prevalence of mycoplasmas in the respiratory tracts of pneumonic calves.
AB  - The prevalence of mycoplasmas in the respiratory tracts of 148 pneumonic calves
      originating from 25 herds in the Netherlands is reported. Four types of culture
      media were used to isolate mycoplasmas: solid modified Edward medium, 2 types of
      Friis media, and A7B differential agar medium. Mycoplasmas were isolated both
      from nasal swab specimens and lung lavage fluids collected from live calves and
      from nasal mucosa and lung tissue specimens collected post mortem. All of the
      mycoplasma strains isolated could be identified as either Ureaplasma diversum
      (isolated from 80% of 25 herds), Mycoplasma dispar (92%), M. bovirhinis (88%), M.
      bovis (20%), M. bovigenitalium (4%), M. arginini (16%), or M. canis (12%).
      Isolation rates of M. dispar and U. diversum were considerably higher from lung
      lavage fluids than from nasal swab specimens. M. bovis was detected only in
      fattening herds and not in dairy herds. The respiratory tracts of 75% of the
      calves examined contained at least 2 mycoplasma species. In total, 25 different
      combinations of mycoplasma species were detected in specimens collected from
      noses and lungs. The pathogenic species U. diversum and M. dispar had not been
      isolated before in the Netherlands.

PMID- 1462721
TI  - Antibody responses to natural Dictyocaulus viviparus exposure in first year
      grazing cattle using vaccination or different kinds of anthelmintic treatment.
AB  - In two field trials vaccination or different anthelmintic treatments against
      Dictyocaulus viviparus infections were used in 6 groups of first year grazing
      cattle. The antibody response to lungworm infections was determined using an
      ELISA. Cattle treated once or repeatedly at long intervals with levamisole
      developed clinical signs of dictyocaulosis. The detection of anti-D. viviparus
      antibodies at the end of the grazing season confirmed that these anthelmintic
      treatments were not able to prevent lungworm infections. Cattle that received
      strategically administered treatments with ivermectin remained clinically
      healthy. These cattle were seronegative until the end of the trial which proved
      the efficacy of the strategic control. Cattle that received an intraruminal slow
      release bolus did not develop clinical disease. However one animal shed lungworm
      larvae and the herd became seropositive at the end of the grazing season
      indicating a history of infection. The serological examination of a cattle herd
      at the end of the grazing season is able to demonstrate a history of lungworm
      infections and to determine the efficacy of anthelmintic control measures.

PMID- 1462722
TI  - Canine distemper with spinal cord lesions.
AB  - A case of distemper in a 6-month-old dog is described. The dog was presented with
      a history of tetraparesis suggestive of trauma. Neurological examination and
      clinical pathology findings of lymphopenia and pleocytosis suggested a viral
      cause. Microscopic findings of a nonsuppurative meningoencephalomyelitis with
      numerous intranuclear inclusions in the cerebellum, brain stem, and all parts of
      the spinal cord suggested a diagnosis of distemper.

PMID- 1462723
TI  - [Infections with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) in cattle. 1.
      Comparison of different animal models and a cell culture system for the
      establishment of a detection system for "attaching and effacing" (AE) lesions].
AB  - In several animals species, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) were
      described as agents causing diarrhea. The histopathogenic pattern of EPEC is due
      to a typical adherence to enterocytes, called "attaching and effacing" (AE). This
      lesions are characterized by the formation of pedestals, cups and a marked loss
      of microvilli on enterocytes. In view of using an "in vitro system" (HeLa-cell
      culture) to test the adherence of EPEC, we first tested bovine EPEC in several
      laboratory animals. Various strains of mice, one day chicks (peroral) and a three
      day old calf (ligated intestinal loops) were inoculated with a bovine pathogenic
      EPEC (S 102-9). The adherence of EPEC "in vivo" was histologically, electron
      microscopically and bacteriologically investigated and compared to adherence to
      HeLa cell cultures. AE-lesions were found on calf enterocytes as well as on HeLa
      cells, no lesions were seen in mice and chicks. The ligated intestinal loop test
      seems to be a useful model to compare "in vivo" to "in vitro" adherence.

PMID- 1462724
TI  - Identification of a cyprinid fish, the tench Tinca tinca L., as a carrier of the
      bacterium Aeromonas salmonicida, causative agent of furunculosis in salmonids.
AB  - A typical, pigment-producing strain of Aeromonas salmonicida (A. sal.), the
      causative agent of furunculosis in salmonid fish species, was isolated from a
      cyprinid species, the tench Tinca tinca L. with papilloma-like skin alterations.
      Histopathology of the papilloma-like skin alterations in tench revealed "round
      holes", distinctly lined by thick layers of epithelial cells, but no bacteria.
      The organism was isolated from skin, gills and fins, but not internal organs. The
      isolate proved highly virulent for both juvenile tench and brown trout Salmo
      trutta L. in experimental infection, but it did not reproduce the clinical
      picture. The causative role of A. sal. for the surface lesions remains
      questionable. However, there is a perceived risk of the organism's transmission
      between tench and other susceptible species of fish, especially farmed trout.

PMID- 1462725
TI  - Bacillary haemoglobinuria diagnosis by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP)
      technique.
AB  - A peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) technique was used to diagnose bacillary
      haemoglobinuria in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver tissues of cattle. The
      PAP method revealed Clostridium haemolyticum in the zone of liver necrosis
      characteristic of the disease and also in culture smears of this microorganism,
      but C. novyi type B, C. chauvoei, C. septicum and C. perfringens types B and C
      remained unstained by the PAP reaction. The PAP technique performed provides a
      specific, simple and rapid method to diagnose bacillary haemoglobinuria.

PMID- 1462726
TI  - The nasal mycoplasmal flora of healthy calves and cows.
AB  - The nasal mycoplasmal flora of 270 healthy cows from 27 herds in the Netherlands
      and 35 healthy calves from 7 of these herds was examined. Various methods for
      isolating mycoplasmas were compared. The prevalence of the various species was as
      follows: Ureaplasma diversum in 3 (9%) calves; Mycoplasma dispar in 14 (40%)
      calves; M. bovis in 1 (3%) calf; M. bovirhinis in 23 (66%) calves and 16 (6%)
      cows; M. bovoculi in 8 (23%) calves and 53 (20%) cows; M. canis in 1 (3%) calf;
      M. equirhinis in 2 (1%) cows; M. conjunctivae in 2 (1%) cows; Acholeplasma
      laidlawii in 1 (3%) calf and 3 (1%) cows; and A. axanthum in 7 (3%) cows. The
      noses of healthy calves were less frequently colonized by the pathogenic species
      U. diversum and contained fewer U. diversum and M. dispar organisms than the
      noses of pneumonic calves. We concluded that the mycoplasmal flora of calves and
      healthy cows was quite different and also that cows play only a minor role in the
      epidemiology of pathogenic mycoplasma species of calves in the Netherlands.

PMID- 1462727
TI  - Studies on the application of enzyme immunoassays for the Fusarium mycotoxins
      deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, and zearalenone.
AB  - Polyclonal antisera against zearalenone (ZEA) were produced in rabbits after
      immunization with ZEA-oxime coupled to human serum albumin. Using these
      antibodies and a ZEA-oxime-horseradish peroxidase conjugate in a competitive
      direct enzyme immunoassay (EIA), the detection limit for ZEA was 70 pg/ml. The
      relative cross-reactivities of the assay with ZEA, alpha-zearalenol, beta
      zearalenol, zearalanone, alpha-zearalanol, and beta-zearalanol, respectively,
      were 100%, 37.3%, 7.2%, 59.2%, 5.3%, and 3.9%, respectively. This EIA and two
      EIAs for deoxynivalenol (DON) and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol(3-AcDON) (Usleber et
      al., 1991) were used to analyze wheat samples. The limits of determination for
      DON, 3-AcDON, and ZEA in wheat were 200 ppb, 50 ppb, and 20 ppb, respectively.
      The analysis of reference materials (wheat flour) containing DON by EIA showed
      good agreement with the nominal values. The EIA for ZEA was in addition used to
      analyze biological fluids, obtained during a feeding trial. Two lactating cows
      were administered 25 mg and 100 mg ZEA per day, respectively, over a period of 6
      days. Serum, milk, urine, and feces were assayed in the ZEA-EIA with and without
      sample treatment with beta-glucuronidase prior to the analysis. Maximum toxin
      levels (ZEA-equivalents) found in milk were 0.4 and 1.2 ppb (glucuronides). The
      toxin concentration in milk decreased rapidly after the last toxin
      administration. In the urine, maximum levels of toxin-glucuronide conjugates were
      23 ppb and 24 ppb, respectively. The serum toxin levels corresponded to those
      found in milk. In the feces, mean values were 150 ppb and 500 ppb, respectively,
      no conjugated toxins were found in feces.

PMID- 1462728
TI  - Modelling of in vivo calcium metabolism. II. Minimal structure or maximum dynamic
      diversity: the interplay of biological constraints.
AB  - The temporal behaviour of the nonlinear compartmental model we have developed for
      rat calcium metabolism is discussed with respect to the theoretical properties of
      the self-oscillating autocatalytic subunit around which the model is constructed.
      Depending on the approximations made, this subunit is described by a minimal two
      variable model, SU2, or by a three-variable one, SU3. The diversity of the
      theoretical dynamic behaviours possible with SU2 is greatly increased with SU3.
      But the identification of SU3 parameter values in three different experimental
      situations reveals that biological constraints efficiently preserve a simple
      circadian rhythm for bone metabolism. This analysis indicates the significant
      contribution of the available bone crystal pool to the dynamic organization of
      this tissue, and hence to extracellular calcium homeostasis.

PMID- 1462729
TI  - On the existence and the role of chaotic processes in the nervous system.
AB  - Chaos theory is a rapidly growing field. As a technical term, "chaos" refers to
      deterministic but unpredictable processes being sensitively dependent upon
      initial conditions. Neurobiological models and experimental results are very
      complicated and some research groups have tried to pursue the "neuronal chaos".
      Babloyantz's group has studied the fractal dimension (d) of electroencephalograms
      (EEG) in various physiological and pathological states. From deep sleep (d = 4)
      to full awakening (d > 8), a hierarchy of "strange" attractors paralles the
      hierarchy of states of consciousness. In epilepsy (petit mal), despite the
      turbulent aspect of a seizure, the attractor dimension was near to 2. In
      Creutzfeld-Jacob disease, the regular EEG activity corresponded to an attractor
      dimension less than the one measured in deep sleep. Is it healthy to be chaotic?
      An "active desynchronisation" could be favourable to a physiological system.
      Rapp's group reported variations of fractal dimension according to particular
      tasks. During a mental arithmetic task, this dimension increased. In another
      task, a P300 fractal index decreased when a target was identified. It is clear
      that the EEG is not representing noise. Its underlying dynamics depends on only a
      few degrees of freedom despite yet it is difficult to compute accurately the
      relevant parameters. What is the cognitive role of such a chaotic dynamics?
      Freeman has studied the olfactory bulb in rabbits and rats for 15 years. Multi
      electrode recordings of a few mm2 showed a chaotic hierarchy from deep
      anaesthesia to alert state. When an animal identified a previously learned odour,
      the fractal dimension of the dynamics dropped off (near limit cycles).(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462730
TI  - Application of the metabolic control theory to the study of the dynamics of
      substrate cycles.
AB  - Substrate cycles are ubiquitous structures of the cellular metabolism (e.g. Krebs
      cycle, fatty acids beta-oxydation cycles, etc...). Moiety-conserved cycles (e.g.
      adenine nucleotides and NADH/NAD, etc...) are also important. The role played by
      such cycles in the metabolism and its regulation is not clearly understood so
      far. However, it was shown that these cycles can generate multistationarity
      (bistability), irreversible transitions, enhancement of sensitivity, temporal
      oscillations and chaotic motions (Hervagault & Canu, 1987; Hervagault & Cimino,
      1989; Reich & Sel'kov, 1981; Ricard & Soulie, 1982). [formula: see text] Fig. 1:
      Scheme of the open binary substrate cycle under study. The substrate S is
      converted into P with a net rate v2. Substrate P is converted in turn into S with
      a net rate v3. Step v2 is inhibited by excess of the substrate, S. In addition,
      the cycle operates under open conditions, that is zero-order input of S at rates
      alpha 0(v1) and first order outputs of S and P at rates alpha S and alpha P(v4),
      respectively. The metabolic control theory (see also Fell, 1990), which shows how
      a metabolic network reacts to small perturbations in the vicinity of a steady
      state, and is formulated with the so-called "control coefficients", was applied
      to such a cycle in order to get a better knowledge on the importance of each step
      at the regulatory point of view. The behaviour of a binary substrate cycle (fig.
      1) in which one of the enzymes may be subjected to inhibition by excess of its
      substrate (v2) was studied theoretically.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462731
TI  - Flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle: mathematical modeling and biological
      interpretation.
AB  - Estimation of the repartition of asynchronous cells in the cell cycle can be
      explained by two hypotheses: the cells are supposed to be distributed into three
      groups: cells with a 2c DNA content (G0/1 phase), cells with a 4c DNA content (G2
      + M phase) and cells with a DNA content ranging from 2c to 4c (S phase); there is
      a linear relationship between the amount of fluorescence emitted by the
      fluorescent probe which reveals the DNA and the DNA content. According to these
      hypotheses, the cell cycle can be represented by the following equation:
      [formula: see text] All the solutions for this equation are approximations. Non
      parametric methods (or graphical methods: rectangle, peak reflect) only use one
      or two phase(s) of the cell cycle, the remaining phase(s) being estimated by
      exclusion. In parametric methods (Dean & Jett, Baisch II, Fried), the DNAT(x)
      distribution is supposed to be known and is composed of two gaussians
      (representative of G0/1 and G2 + M) and a P(x,y) function representative of S
      phase. Despite the generality, these models are not applicable to all sample
      types, particularly heterogeneous cell populations with various DNA content. In
      addition, the cell cycle is dependent on several regulation points (transition
      from quiescence to proliferation, DNA synthesis initiation, mitosis induction)
      and biological perturbations can also lead to cytokinesis perturbations. Before
      the emergence of flow cytometry, the current view of cell cycle resided in the
      assessment of cell proliferation (increase in cell number) or the kinetic of
      molecules incorporation (DNA precursors).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462732
TI  - Measurement of efflux from G1-phase in a growth factor dependent cell line.
AB  - In order to test a mathematical model of G1/S-phase transition, the proliferative
      response of the murine myeloid interleukin 3 (IL-3) dependent cell line NFS-78 to
      graded reduction of IL-3 levels was measured. Exponentially growing cells were
      exposed to bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR), which replaces thymidine (TdR) in the DNA
      double strands during DNA synthesis. After incubation periods ranging from 3 to
      36 h the cells were fixed and stained with a fluorescence dye mixture of Hoechst
      33258 and ethidium bromide (EB) and subsequently analyzed in a two-parametrical
      flow cytometer. The BUdR-quenched TdR-specific Hoechst 33258 fluorescence of each
      cell provides information on the cell cycle location at the start of incubation
      and on whether or not a cell has divided. The DNA-specific EB fluorescence
      provides information on the actual cell cycle location at the end of the
      incubation period. From the 2-dimensional fluorescence distributions the efflux
      from G1-phase was calculated. Upon IL-3 reduction the cells showed accumulation
      in the G1-phase along with a reduction in the progression rate through the other
      phases of the cell cycle. By staining with the vital dye Hoechst 33342 as well as
      with propidium iodide (PI) it was further possible to show that cell death after
      IL-3 withdrawal occurred in all phases of the cell cycle.

PMID- 1462733
TI  - Growth factors and cell kinetics: a mathematical model applied to Il-3
      deprivation on leukemic cell lines.
AB  - We assume the existence of a specific G1 protein which is an initiator of DNA
      replication. This initiator is supposed to be synthesized according to Michaelis
      Menten kinetics. In order to start DNA replication, it is assumed that this G1
      specific protein must be produced in a required amount. Intra-cellular growth
      inhibitors and extra-cellular growth factors control the production of the
      initiator. This model allows to calculate the average G1 phase time as a function
      of the various chemical concentrations of nutrients, enzymes, growth inhibitors
      and growth factors. This model is compared to cell kinetics experiments on a
      leukemic cell line responding to Interleukin 3 deprivation. The curves giving the
      experimental average G1 phase times with respect to Interleukin-3 concentrations
      are fitted by the mathematical model with a quite good agreement.

PMID- 1462734
TI  - Interpretation of epicardial mapping by means of computer simulations:
      applications to calcium, lidocaine and to BRL 34915.
AB  - The aim of this work was to compare experimental investigations on effects of
      lidocaine, calcium and, BRL 34915 on reentries to simulated data obtained by use
      of a model of propagation based on the Huygens' construction method already
      described in previous works. Calcium and lidocaine effects are investigated on
      anisotropic conduction conditions. In both cases, reduction in conduction
      velocities are observed. In lidocaine case, a refractory area is located along
      the longitudinal axis. In agreement with experimental electrical mapping, the
      simulations show that the stabilization of reentrant excitation is mainly due to
      the existence of this refractory area around which the reentrant circuit can
      develop. The experimental study shows that BRL 34915 has both arrhythmogenic and
      antiarrhythmic effects. A detailed electrophysiological analysis has shown that
      drug infusion act on normal cardiac cells by decreasing the relative and absolute
      refractory period. BRL 34915 action is simulated by a decrease in the refractory
      period showing that the time frequency of the reentrant activity is increased and
      that the spatial size where the reentry is developing is becoming smaller. These
      two effects are arrhythmogenic, the simulated data being so in good agreement
      with the experimental ones.

PMID- 1462735
TI  - Analytical modeling of the hysteresis phenomenon in guinea pig ventricular
      myocytes.
AB  - In the present study, we have demonstrated hysteresis phenomena in the
      excitability of single, enzymatically dissociated guinea pig ventricular
      myocytes. Membrane potentials were recorded with patch pipettes in the whole-cell
      current clamp configuration. Repetitive stimulation with depolarizing current
      pulses of constant cycle length and duration but varying strength led to
      predictable excitation (1:1) and non-excitation (1:0) patterns depending on
      current strength. In addition, transition between patterns depended on the
      direction of current intensity change and stable hysteresis loops were obtained
      in stimulus:response pattern vs. current intensity plots in 14 cells. Increase of
      pulse duration and decrease of stimulation rate contributed to a reduction in
      hysteresis loop areas. Changes in amplitude and shape of the subthreshold
      responses during the transitions from one stable pattern to the other, suggested
      that activity led to an increase in membrane resistance, particularly in the
      voltage domain between resting potential, and threshold. Therefore, we modelled
      the dynamic behaviour of the single cells as a function of diastolic membrane
      resistance, using previously published analytical solutions. Numerical iteration
      of the analytical model equations closely reproduced the experimental hysteresis
      loops in both qualitative and quantitative ways. In particular, the effect of
      stimulation frequency on the model was similar to the experimental findings. The
      overall study suggests that the excitability pattern of guinea pig ventricular
      myocytes accounts for hysteresis and bistabilities when current intensity is
      allowed to fluctuate around threshold levels.

PMID- 1462736
TI  - Modifiable automata self-modifying automata.
AB  - One of the most important features of living beings that seems universal is
      perhaps their ability to be modified in a functional way. In order to modelize
      this characteristic, we designed automata with a finite number of instantaneous
      internal descriptions, with input(s) and output(s) and which are able to be
      functionally modified. The rules which govern the evolution of these automata
      (and the initial conditions) are randomly chosen at the beginning and once and
      for all. When such an automaton is linked by its input and output to a
      deterministic process, it always stabilizes and it then has the property to
      rebuild itself. Thus it made a function which is inverse of the external
      function. We demonstrate the prevalence of p = 1 length period and of tau = 0
      transient length for automata with m instantaneous internal descriptions.

PMID- 1462737
TI  - Automatic search for model to simulate the differentiation of T lymphocytes
      within the thymus.
AB  - The differentiation of T Lymphocytes within the thymus is an important biological
      phenomenon during which these cell acquire their functions to further control the
      immune system. Numerous experiments under various conditions have been devised to
      understand the different mechanisms involved in this complex process.
      Nevertheless, interpretation of these experiments lead to still contradictory
      debatable hypotheses. Modelisation of this process through classical simulation
      methods cannot be envisaged because they are not adapted to modifications of the
      model structure, which is the point of interest. For these reasons, we proposed a
      new approach of automatic search for model. The program consists of four
      independent connected modules: The generator produces model, based on the
      rationale of formal grammars. Protocol and experimental data are stored in a set
      of experiments. The simulator using a protocol and a model provides simulated
      results. Finally, the supervisor by comparing simulated results and experimental
      data, adapts the model parameters to increase their fit and either chooses a new
      experiment to explore, or modifies the model structure. Change of the model
      structure is performed among still unexplored models according to their "promise"
      level, which is iteratively evaluated relatively to previously explored models
      through a proposed model distance. The generator is written in Prolog and the
      other modules in C++. The architecture of the program allows us to modify or
      complete a module without changing anything in the other modules. As a
      consequence, the proposed modeling approach conceived to study T lymphocyte
      differentiation within the thymus remains independent of this biological
      phenomenon and can be applied to other biological problems.

PMID- 1462738
TI  - [The Catastrophe theory and membrane physiological functions].
AB  - This communication is based on a preliminary work which emphasized a topological
      model of biomembranes from Thom's Catastrophe Theory. In this model called
      swallowtail bifurcation set, the structural state of a biomembrane was within the
      control of two structural attractors. Then, the physiological act of this
      biomembrane resulted in a sudden transfer of weight from the hydrophilic
      attractor to the hydrophobic attractor. In this consecutive work, the
      physiological act appears to be one of the four stages which permit to describe
      the larger notion of cyclic membrane function. Two of these stages unfold in the
      structural axis of the swallowtail model. They prepare the two others
      (physiological act and refractory stages) which expand in the functional
      direction. This conceiving of cyclic membrane function is applied to
      physiological examples such as the action potential and the endocytosis. Then,
      changes in this function are discussed on the basis of pathological data.

PMID- 1462739
TI  - [Spermatocyte and ovum symbiosis, origin of ontogenesis and phylogenesis of
      metazoans].
AB  - The origin of metazoa implies the passage from an eukarote protozoan to a
      protozygote ancestor of a metazoan zygote. The most probable hypothesis is that
      of a symbiotic origin of the first zygote by association of two protists one
      signifying a spherical oocell and the other a flagellated spermatozoan; this
      could be the first step of the metazoan ontogenesis and therefore also of the
      phylogenesis. The genesis can also be explained by two haploid genomes NX NY,
      three gametes (two spermatozoa and one ovule), NX apparently being able to create
      both forms, and two zygotes. A double symbiosis, a chromosomic crossing-over and
      a selective expulsion can prove it.

PMID- 1462740
TI  - [Quasicrystal organization in extracellular matrixes].
AB  - In this note we argue that the theoretical approach, developed in the field of
      quasicrystals, may prove to be useful in a completely different area, namely
      biology, and more precisely for the transmission electron microscopy observation
      of biological structures this sections. Whatever the real three-dimensional
      structure is periodic, a generic cut will produce a quasiperiodic pattern. This
      is illustrated in a "theoretical" example inspired by the 3D organization of
      annelid cuticle. In addition, we discuss recent results on dislocations in
      quasicrystals, and their possible consequence about observation in biology.
      Finally, this analysis could be extended to images obtained from other technics,
      like freeze-fracture, and other materials, provided that certain length scale
      relations be satisfied.

PMID- 1462741
TI  - Modelling of in vivo calcium metabolism. I. Optimal cooperation between constant
      and rhythmic behaviours.
AB  - The relevance of nonlinear dynamics to calcium metabolism led us to reevaluate
      the role of Ca-regulating hormones in Ca homeostasis. We suggest that, firstly,
      the main Ca metabolic functions in rat-bone and gut--are organized as dynamic
      entities able to generate various temporal expressions, including self
      oscillating patterns and, secondly, Ca homeostasis results from interaction
      between both metabolic and hormonal oscillators. Following this schema, a major
      role for the hormonal system, with its circadian pattern, could be to act
      directly on metabolic functions or indirectly through feeding behaviour, in order
      to optimize, coordinate and synchronize the Ca fluxes at ECF level.

PMID- 1462742
TI  - Teflon/polyurethane arthroplasty of the knee: the first 2 years preliminary
      clinical experience in a new concept of artificial resurfacing of full thickness
      cartilage lesions of the knee.
AB  - Thirty-seven full-thickness knee cartilage lesions were treated with a
      Teflon/polyurethane composite implant in 23 patients. The preoperative diagnoses
      were osteoarthritis, osteonecrosis and a traumatic osteochondral lesion. The
      implant was fixed to the subchondral bone with Tissucol (Immuno, Vienna), a human
      fibrin glue. The leg was immobilized for 6 weeks followed by 8 days of continuous
      passive motion in parallel with full weight-bearing. High tibial osteotomy to
      correct a varus or valgus deformity was performed on 16 patients approximately 6
      weeks after implantation of the composite implant. Fourteen patients were
      arthroscoped after 1 year, which demonstrated good fixation and congruity of the
      implant with the adjacent cartilage. All 23 patients were available for clinical
      and radiographic follow-up at a minimum period of 2 years after implantation.
      Seventy-eight percent of the patients reported complete pain relief. Eleven
      patients were rated as good, 3 as fair, 4 as poor, while 4 were loosenings. All
      loosenings were from knees with unicompartmental bipolar implantations and
      required only arthroscopic removal. Moreover, 21% of the patients had reduced
      range of motion post-operatively. No clinical synovitis was seen. This high
      incidence of stiff knees may be reduced by shortening or altogether eliminating
      the post-operative immobilization period in conjunction with early application of
      CPM. We conclude that a Teflon/polyurethane composite implant has been successful
      as a prosthetic knee resurface implant and demonstrates good biocompatibility.
      However, the use of unicompartmental bipolar implants should be avoided.

PMID- 1462743
TI  - [Classification of post-traumatic soft tissue lesions].
AB  - A successful treatment of fractures with soft tissue injuries depends on surgical
      principles and on the individual prognosis of each trauma. Classification systems
      are ment to be an aid in taking therapeutical decisions in the assessment of the
      prognosis and in comparising of different lesions. In the anglo-american
      literature the classification of Gustilo in open fractures grade 1 to 3 and the
      subclassification of grade 3 lesions in A, B and C are the most accepted. In the
      german-spoken countries the classification of Tscherne and Oestern, dividing open
      and closed fractures in 4 different categories is the most used.

PMID- 1462744
TI  - [Functional sequelae in tibial shaft fractures with compartment syndrome
      following primary treatment with urgent fasciotomy].
AB  - In a retrospective study on 28 patients, the incidence, nature and severity of
      the sequelae after severe lower leg trauma were studied. All patients had a
      tibial shaft fracture with a complete or impending compartment syndrome, treated
      with an urgent stabilisation and an adequate decompressive fasciotomy. In a
      thorough clinical examination, performed 17 months after trauma, the mobility of
      the knee and ankle joint, the perimetry of the lower leg and foot, and the muscle
      strength of all lower leg muscles were measured. Contractures were noticed,
      superficial sensibility was tested and an evaluation of march was done. More than
      one fourth of the patients showed late functional disabilities, mainly because of
      limitation of the dorsiflexion of the ankle joint, reduction of the muscle
      strength of the foot extensors, contractures of the foot flexors and abnormal
      superficial sensibility. The more severe the primary soft tissue trauma was, the
      more severe the functional disabilities were. The severity of the soft tissue
      damage, resulting from the trauma itself, is the most important factor for the
      late functional result after lower leg trauma. The compartment syndrome is
      certainly an aggravating factor when it is not treated by urgent fasciotomy. But
      this does not mean that all patients with lower leg fracture and compartment
      syndrome, treated with urgent fasciotomy, will show excellent functional end
      results.

PMID- 1462745
TI  - [Prevention of bacterial infection using selective intestinal decontamination in
      patients with cirrhosis admitted to intensive care. Controlled study in 120
      patients].
AB  - All cirrhotic patients admitted on a medical intensive care unit, were included
      in a randomized trial of selective intestinal decontamination provided there was
      no infection on admission. The selective intestinal decontamination consisted of
      a regimen of 3 oral, nonabsorbable antibiotics for the 74 first patients
      (Neomycin 1 gr, Colistin 1.500.000 U, Nystatin 1.000.000 U, every 6 hours), then
      of norfloxacin, 400 mg BID for the following patients. The duration of treatment
      was at least 5 days. Of the 120 patients, initially randomized to receive or not
      the treatment, 26 were ultimately excluded, mainly (18 cases) because of
      infection present but unrecognized at the time of admission. Ninety four patients
      were thus compared for the efficiency of the treatment, 45 in the treated group
      and 49 in the not treated group. The results showed a significant reduction of
      the episodes of septicemia in the treated group (4 versus 12, P = 0.044). This
      reduction was evident only for septicemia due to gram negative germs. Mortality
      was unaffected. When the risk factors were studied, bacterial infection was
      linked to the degree of hepatic failure. We recommend selective intestinal
      decontamination for cirrhotic patients admitted on intensive care unit,
      particularly when hepatic function is poor.

PMID- 1462747
TI  - Combined treatment of liver failure and hepatorenal syndrome with orthotopic
      liver transplantation.
AB  - Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a severe complication of liver failure with high
      mortality. The pathogenesis of this reversible functional renal failure is not
      yet clearly understood. Diagnosis is based upon the association of clinical and
      biological criteria. A patient was admitted to our institution for severe liver
      failure secondary to an exacerbation of cirrhosis, where he developed a fulminant
      hepatorenal syndrome. Both, the renal and hepatic failure were successfully
      treated by orthotopic liver transplantation. Special attention was paid to the
      immunosuppressive treatment with Cyclosporine whose use, we believe, should be
      delayed until function has partially recovered.

PMID- 1462746
TI  - [Tolerance of adjuvant treatment combining postoperative intraportal chemotherapy
      and a systemic treatment based on 5-fluorouracil in colorectal carcinoma with a
      histologically poor prognosis].
AB  - From April 89 to October 90, 41 patients operated for a Dukes B or C colorectal
      cancer were randomized to receive 6 courses of adjuvant treatment with (A) 5-FU
      alone (440 mg/m2 IV bolus 5/21 days) or (B) folinic acid (200 mg/m2 IV bolus 5/21
      days) preceding 5-FU (370 mg/m2 in short infusion 5/21 days). Ten patients
      received also one course of immediate post-operative continuous portal infusion
      (5-FU 500 mg/m2/day x 7 followed by a 2 hours infusion of mitomycin C 10 mg/m2).
      The portal treatment was well tolerated (1 case of GI tract disturbances, 1
      catheter obstruction). The toxicity of adjuvant systemic treatment was evaluated
      on 232 courses (125 A, 107 B). Hematologic and skin toxicities, alopecia and
      nausea-vomiting were mild. The limiting toxicities (expressed as percentages of
      courses) were stomatitis (grades 2-3: 11.4% A; 22.6% B) and diarrhea (grades 3-4:
      7.3% A; 14.2% B; one toxic death was to deplore in arm B from a grade 4
      diarrhea). The pilot study has demonstrated the feasibility of the adjuvant
      treatment proposed; a multicentric randomized trial (expected accrual: 800
      patients) has therefore been activated on 11.01.90; all patients will also
      receive levamisole while radio-therapy will be mandatory for rectal cancer.

PMID- 1462748
TI  - [Acute hepatitis and poisoning by Amanita phalloides].
AB  - We report the case of a 69-year-old woman who presented acute hepatitis due to
      Amanita Phalloides poisoning complicated of acute renal failure. Her clinical
      evolution was favorable under medical treatment whose actual modalities are
      discussed.

PMID- 1462749
TI  - Hepatobiliary cystadenoma with mesenchymal stroma: presentation of one case and
      review of the literature.
AB  - We present one case of hepatobiliary cystadenoma with mesenchymal stroma (CMS)
      which is a very unusual tumor of the biliary tract. These rare neoplasms have
      been identified as a distinct clinicopathological entity. They occur exclusively
      in middle-aged women with an average age of 45 years, and are located on the
      right hepatic lobe. Histologically, CMS are characterized by the presence of a
      typical dense stroma between an inner epithelial lining and an outer loose
      connective layer. Malignant transformation may occur and therefore a complete
      surgical resection of these premalignant neoplasms is indispensable.

PMID- 1462750
TI  - [Critical study of digestive tract dysplasia].
AB  - Dysplasia designate the presence in a tissue of atypical architectural and
      cytological features similar to those observed in carcinogenesis. It must be
      clearly distinguished from metaplasia which is, in itself, a benign state
      characterized by the progressive replacement of a normal tissue by an other,
      normally foreign to this organ. Although the theoretical definition of dysplasia
      and its relation to carcinogenesis is well demonstrated, numerous difficulties
      remain regarding its classification and clinical applications. Recent research
      based on follow-up studies and on diagnostic reproducibility have somewhat
      clarified the problem, leading to a simplification of the classification in two
      tiers (high and low grade). High grade dysplasia can be considered as a high
      cancer risk necessitating a follow-up at short intervals and possibly requiring
      surgery. Low grade dysplasia, which can regress or progress very slowly
      represents a low cancer risk. After a first control at one or two months, it is
      suggested that endoscopic follow-up can be proposed at larger intervals (one or
      two years). The authors study the aspects of the dysplasia at the different
      levels of the gastrointestinal tract and summarise the clinical implication of
      this diagnosis.

PMID- 1462751
TI  - [Celiac disease: diagnostic criteria and motivation for request for intervention.
      Viewpoint of the Belgian Group of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition].

PMID- 1462752
TI  - Blood-brain barrier and cerebrospinal fluid circulation.
AB  - There are two distinctive regions in the central nervous system of all
      vertebrates: the common brain region possessing the blood-brain barrier, and a
      group of several brain regions (circumventricular organs (CVOs) including the
      choroid plexus) devoid of the blood-brain barrier. Of the first, the
      morphological basis in vertebrates higher than teleosts is the brain-type
      capillary endothelium, and in elasmobranchs the perivascular astrocytic end-feet
      sealed by tight junctions. Of the second, the morphological basis is the
      fenestrated capillary with perivascular space. The pial connective tissue
      directly continues to the propria of circumventricular organs, and thus offers
      sites of cerebrospinal fluid drainage through CVO venous capillaries of which the
      fenestrated endothelia are anchored to perivascular tissues by the microfibrils
      of elastic fibers. The arachnoid granulations, which increase in size and number
      in accordance with the increasing volume of the skull are safety balloons against
      a sudden rise in intracranial pressure. They are possibly also sites of immune
      responses.

PMID- 1462753
TI  - [A study on the communication between the pectoral nerve and the extramural nerve
      branches of the intercostal nerves].
AB  - Kumaki et al. (1979) defined the extramural nerve as the rudimentary sensory
      nerve which appeared on the upper thoracic wall; it branched off the root of the
      lateral cutaneous nerve of the second, third or fourth intercostal nerve, ran
      inferomedially adhering to the fascia of the intercostalis externus muscle and
      ended supplying the membrane covering the adjacent rib. They also stated that the
      extramural nerve (Rxm) occasionally became a cutaneous nerve which pierced the
      pectoralis muscles and supplied the skin covering the thoracic wall similar to
      the lateral cutaneous nerve (Rcl) or the anterior cutaneous nerve (Rca). Further,
      they proposed that the muscular nerves to the obliquus externus abdominis muscle
      which are usually situated below the fifth rib might be considered a part of this
      Rxm series. Although the definition of Rxm is still not widely accepted, Rxm is
      thought to be a key morphological factor influencing the variations of peripheral
      nerve arrangement on the thoracic wall. In the student course of gross anatomy
      dissection at Iwate Medical University School of Medicine during the years 1987
      1991, three cases of Rxm communicating with the pectoral nerve and supplying the
      pectoralis major muscle were observed. Some cases have been reported in which Rcl
      innervates part of the pectoral muscles. However, the communication between the
      pectoral nerve and Rxm has not yet been discussed. Therefore, to clarify the
      morphological significance of the communication between Rxm and the pectoral
      nerve, the branching pattern and the distribution of the pectoral nerves were
      extensively investigated and the intramuscular nerve supply of some pectoral
      nerves, especially the pectoral nerves which communicated with Rxm, was examined
      in detail under a stereomicroscope. The results are summarized as follows: 1. In
      the first case, Rxm of the second intercostal nerve originated from Rcl, ran
      inferomedially adhering to the fascia of the intercostalis externus muscle and
      pierced the origin of the pectoralis minor muscle at the third intercostal space.
      Then Rxm turned superolaterally to communicate with a pectoral nerve which
      originated from the loop composed of the lateral and medial pectoral nerves and
      passed inferior to the pectoralis minor muscle. After communication, the pectoral
      nerve with Rxm supplied the caudalmost part of the sternocostal portion of the
      pectoralis major muscle. In the second case, a similar branch of Rxm of the
      second intercostal nerve passed inferior to the pectoralis minor muscle.(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1462754
TI  - Epicardial formation in staged human embryos.
AB  - The manner of epicardial formation has been unequivocally clarified by electron
      microscopy in representative species of the vertebrates. In human embryology,
      however, information on the epicardial formation is still lacking. To fill the
      gap of knowledge, we performed the light microscopic observations on serial
      paraffin sections of human embryos at Carnegie stages 12 to 17. At stage 12,
      initial formation of the epicardium was seen in 2 of 6 embryos. As was seen in
      chick embryos, villous protrusions of the mesothelial cells extending from the
      sinus wall region touched the ventricle on the dorsal side to spread out on it as
      a simple squamous epithelium. At subsequent stages, the epicardial covering was
      extended concomitantly with histogenesis and organogenesis of the embryonic
      heart. Although the final stage was difficult to define at the light microscopic
      level, the epicardium was considered to cover the entire heart by late stage 16,
      on the basis of reference to the findings on chick embryonic heart.

PMID- 1462755
TI  - [Peptidergic innervation in the sinus hair follicles of several mammalian
      species].
AB  - In this study, the detailed distribution of peptidergic nerve fibers in the sinus
      hair follicle was immunohistochemically investigated by the avidin biotin-complex
      method using antibodies against calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance
      P (SP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the
      cat, dog, hamster, rat, mouse and guinea pig. The peptide-immunoreactive (IR)
      nerve fibers presented a fine varicose appearance. They entered the sinus hair
      follicle after penetrating the capsule (Cap) at various levels. Peptide-IR fibers
      in the sinus hair were classified into the 3 types described below based on their
      course of entry and terminal distribution. Type A: these fibers arrive at the
      orifice of the sinus hair follicle from superficial dermis and innervate the
      upper portion of the follicle. Most of them form a network around the vibrissal
      shaft (VS) in the outer and inner conical body (OCB and ICB, respectively), and
      some are distributed around the rete ridge collar (RRC) and the sebaceous gland
      (SG). Type B: these fibers enter the lower third of the sinus hair follicle after
      forming a nerve bundle together with myelinated fibers, or accompany an artery.
      After distribution in the trabeculae (Trab) of the cavernous sinus (CS), they
      form a dense plexus in the connective tissue follicle (CTF) at the level of the
      CS. Some ascend through the CTF and terminate at the level of the ring sinus
      (RS). Type C: these fibers enter the sinus hair follicle at its base. They
      innervate the hair papilla (HP) and the CTF of the hair bulb. CGRP and SP were
      detected in all types of nerve fibers in all species investigated. These
      peptidergic nerve fibers showed the same distribution pattern, but CGRP fibers
      were more numerous than SP fibers. They were distributed at high density in the
      OCB, ICB, CTF, ringwulst (Rw), the Trab of the CS and the HP. A moderate number
      of VIP- and NPY-IR fibers, mainly types B and C, were detected in these portions
      in the cat, dog and hamster, but few fibers were observed in other portions or in
      other species. Although the basic structures of the sinus hair follicle presented
      almost the same features as in the mammalian species, the connective tissue of
      the HP extended to the level of the RS in the cat, rat, hamster, and guinea pig.
      In these species, CGRP-, SP- and/or VIP-IR fibers extended to the top of the
      papillary connective tissue, and in the cat, were especially well
      developed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1462756
TI  - Relationship between the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the inferior thyroid
      artery in Japanese.
AB  - The anatomical relationship between the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the
      inferior thyroid artery was studied on 784 sides of the necks of 309 male and 123
      female Japanese cadavers. On the right side, the nerve passed anterior to the
      artery in 32.4%, posterior to it in 26.7%, and between the branches of the artery
      in 40.9%. On the left side, the nerve was found coursing anterior to the artery
      in 4.9%, posterior to it in 65.8%, and between the branches in 29.3%. There was a
      statistically significant difference in the percentage distribution of the three
      types between the right and left sides, while no significant difference existed
      between males and females. The side difference in the relationship could be
      attributed to the difference in the course of the recurrent laryngeal nerve
      between the two sides. The collaterally symmetric cases of the relationship
      between the nerve and the artery were found more frequently in males (40.0%) than
      in females (28.6%). The present study revealed that the relationship between the
      nerve and the artery in Japanese was essentially similar to those in Americans
      and Europeans reported in other previous studies.

PMID- 1462757
TI  - [Nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR)-like immunoreactivity in the perineurial
      cells of the adult rat peripheral nerves: normal appearance and response to nerve
      section].
AB  - The expression of the nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR)-like immunoreactivity
      in the perineurial cells of normal rat sensory and sympathetic nerves and after
      surgical severance was analyzed using a specific anti-rat NGFR monoclonal
      antibody (192-IgG). The perineurial cells as well as axonal endings showed NGFR
      like immunoreactivity in the terminal region of normal nerves and the
      immunoreactivity in the terminal perineurial cells was enhanced after nerve
      severance. In the nerve trunk region, no cellular elements exhibited NGFR-like
      immunoreactivity in normal rats, but immunoreactivity was induced in the
      innermost perineurial cells and all Schwann cells in portions distal to the
      severance. These findings suggest that the perineurial cells function to provide
      NGF for intact and regenerating axons by binding NGF to NGFR on the perineurial
      cell surface.

PMID- 1462758
TI  - Bilateral anatomical anomaly of anterior bellies of digastric muscles.
AB  - During the gross anatomy dissection of the submandibular region, both anterior
      bellies of the digastric muscles, especially the left one, were found to be
      enlarged. They were arranged as two parallel asymmetric bands extending from the
      hyoid bone to the chin. The posterior bellies of the digastric muscles were
      normal. The suprahyoid muscles showed no abnormalities. This anomaly represents
      an anatomical variation in the mylohyoid digastric muscle group in the floor of
      the mouth.

PMID- 1462759
TI  - A Taiwanese with a pair of sternalis muscles.
AB  - A pair of sternalis muscles have been found on both sides of the chest in an
      adult Taiwanese male. The muscles are located superficial to the medial part of
      the pectoralis major, arising from the sternum and are inserted into the sheaths
      of the rectus abdominis. They are innervated by the intercostal nerve. It should
      be emphasized that the sternalis muscle is rarely found in Taiwan.

PMID- 1462760
TI  - Clarke's column in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
AB  - Histological, ultrastructural and morphometrical observations on Clarke's column
      were carried out in 18 patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
      and 15 age-matched control subjects. Of the 18 ALS patients 6 had been on a
      respirator before death. Bunina bodies were found in the neuronal cytoplasm in 7
      of the 12 non-respirator-supported ALS patients and in 3 of the 6 respirator
      supported patients. The number of spheroids was significantly higher in the non
      respirator-supported patients (P < 0.01) than in the control subjects; however,
      the number in the respirator-supported patients was about equal to that in the
      controls. The number of neurons in Clarke's column in the non-respirator
      supported ALS patients was not reduced, but in the respirator-supported patients
      they tended to disappear with time after respiratory support. These findings
      suggest that Clarke's column neurons are also involved primarily in the disease
      process in sporadic ALS. However, they may begin to disappear only after the
      patients require respiratory support.

PMID- 1462761
TI  - Vascular changes in the spinal cord in N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced
      excitotoxicity: morphological and permeability studies.
AB  - Our previous studies have demonstrated toxicity in spinal cord neuronal systems
      of middle-aged rats with continuous intrathecal infusion of N-methyl-D-aspartate
      (NMDA). The present study was undertaken to determine when during the course of
      excitotoxicity vascular changes occur. The model used was intrathecal infusion of
      NMDA in the region of the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord. Horseradish
      peroxidase (HRP) was used as a marker of vascular permeability alterations
      occurring in this model. Pathological changes were observed in the cord gray
      matter of all rats infused with 30-60 micrograms/min NMDA for 30 or 60 min. The
      changes consisted of swelling of dendrites which gave the neuropil a vacuolated
      appearance. There was expansion of the extracellular spaces in these areas and
      neurons were shrunken with pyknotic nuclei. These changes were more frequently
      encountered in the posterior than anterior horns and were specific for NMDA since
      they did not occur in NMDA-infused rats pretreated with MK-801, a specific NMDA
      antagonist. Endothelial dysfunction manifested as increased permeability to HRP.
      This was a consistent finding in all rats infused with the higher dose of NMDA
      and was less frequent in those infused with 30 micrograms/min and no vascular
      changes were observed in rats infused with NMDA for 30 min despite the presence
      of tissue changes. Increased permeability affected all types of vessels but
      principally, capillaries and venules. There was no evidence of endothelial
      necrosis or vascular occlusion. This study demonstrates that in excitotoxin
      mediated tissue damage, breakdown of the blood-brain barrier follows the
      development of nervous tissue damage. Thus, edema is not a significant feature of
      early lesions in excitotoxin-induced brain injury.

PMID- 1462762
TI  - Allocortical neurofibrillary changes in progressive supranuclear palsy.
AB  - Silver techniques for intraneuronal cytoskeleton abnormalities (neurofibrillary
      tangles and neuropil threads) and extracellular A4-amyloid deposits were used to
      examine lesions of the cerebral cortex in six cases of progressive supranuclear
      palsy (three were mentally unimpaired and three showed moderate degrees of
      dementia). Deposits of A4-amyloid protein occurred in small numbers or were
      absent. Neurofibrillary tangles and neuropil threads were present in all cases
      and were largely confined to the allocortex. A characteristic pattern of changes
      was found in the entorhinal cortex. The three mentally unimpaired individuals had
      mild cortical changes virtually confined to the transentorhinal region while all
      of the demented patients showed severe destruction of the superficial cellular
      layer in both the transentorhinal and entorhinal region. This pattern of
      allocortical destruction closely resembles that seen in clinically incipient
      Alzheimer's disease or in mentally impaired cases of Parkinson's disease. The
      entorhinal region receives dense input from isocortical association areas and
      projects via the perforant path to the hippocampal formation. The cells of origin
      of major portions of the perforant path are located within the superficial
      entorhinal cellular layer. Destruction of this layer partially or totally
      disconnects the hippocampus from the isocortex. The specific pattern of
      entorhinal destruction is considered to contribute to cognitive impairment and
      personality changes, frequently seen in patients with progressive supranuclear
      palsy.

PMID- 1462763
TI  - Immunotactoid-like endoneurial deposits in a patient with monoclonal gammopathy
      of undetermined significance and neuropathy.
AB  - An 85-year-old man with a 2-year history of progressive lower limb weakness and
      paresthesia was found to have an IgG kappa monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined
      significance (mgus). Clinical and electrophysiological studies revealed a severe
      distal bilateral symmetrical polyneuropathy. A sural nerve biopsy showed
      extensive nerve fibre loss with the deposition of large amounts of amorphous
      material throughout the endoneurium. Electron microscopy showed the deposits to
      be composed of microtubular structures which were located diffusely throughout
      the endoneurium. The deposits were also located within the lumina of the vasa
      nervorum, some of which were undergoing disintegration and rupture with release
      of the proteinaceous material into the endoneurium. The regions of the nerve in
      which they appeared most numerous showed more severe nerve fibre damage than
      other areas. These microtubular structures were also observed in disintegrating
      vessels and adjacent endoneurium. On immunohistochemistry they stained with
      antibody to IgG. Identical deposits were found in the dermis in which there was a
      leucocytoclastic vasculitis. Located in linear arrays within the axons of
      myelinated and unmyelinated fibres were highly organised tubular structures
      resembling immunotactoids. Identification of immunotactoid-like structures within
      the nerve is unique and may be another mechanism by which monoclonal proteins can
      induce nerve fibre injury.

PMID- 1462764
TI  - Moderate hypothermia reduces blood-brain barrier disruption following traumatic
      brain injury in the rat.
AB  - The effects of moderate hypothermia on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and
      the acute hypertensive response after moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) in
      rats were examined. TBI produced increased vascular permeability to endogenous
      serum albumin (IgG) in normothermic rats (37.5 degrees C) throughout the dorsal
      cortical gray and white matter as well as in the underlying hippocampi as
      visualized by immunocytochemical techniques. Vascular permeability was greatly
      reduced in hypothermic rats cooled to 30 degrees C (brain temperature) prior to
      injury. In hypothermic rats, albumin immunoreactivity was confined to the gray
      white interface between cortex and hippocampi with no involvement of the
      overlying cortices and greatly reduced involvement of the underlying hippocampi.
      The acute hypertensive response in normothermic rats peaked at 10 s after TBI
      (187.3 mm Hg) and returned to baseline within 50 s. In contrast, the peak acute
      hypertensive response was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in hypothermic rats
      (154.8 mm Hg, 10 s after TBI) and returned to baseline at 30 s after injury.
      These results demonstrate that moderate hypothermia greatly reduces endogenous
      vascular protein-tracer passage into and perhaps through the brain. This
      reduction may, in part, be related to hypothermia-induced modulation of the
      systemic blood pressure response to TBI.

PMID- 1462765
TI  - The distribution of Challenge virus standard rabies virus versus skunk street
      rabies virus in the brains of experimentally infected rabid skunks.
AB  - The proposal that the bizarre behavioral changes which occur during rabies
      infection are due to selective infection of limbic system neurons was further
      studied in skunks (a species important in naturally occurring disease). A
      detailed immunohistochemical study of brains of skunks experimentally infected
      with either Challenge virus standard (CVS) or street rabies virus revealed only
      trace amounts of viral antigen in many limbic system neurons and marked
      differences in viral distribution between street and CVS virus. These data were
      collected during early stage rabies when behavioral changes occur. Areas which
      contained heavy accumulations of street rabies virus but low amounts of CVS
      rabies virus were the neuronal perikarya and processes of the dorsal motor
      nucleus of the vagus, midbrain raphe, hypoglossal and red nuclei. In contrast,
      large accumulations of CVS virus were found in the Purkinje cells of the
      cerebellum, the habenular nuclei and in pyramidal cells throughout the cerebral
      cortex, while corresponding areas in all street virus-infected skunks contained
      minimal antigen. These findings were very consistent for animals of the same
      experimental group and between skunks inoculated both intramuscularly and
      intranasally with skunk street virus. Skunks inoculated intramuscularly with CVS
      rabies virus failed to develop rabies. Since, in this model, street virus
      infection generally produces furious rabies and CVS infection results in dumb
      rabies, we speculate that the behavioral changes which occur in these two
      different clinical syndromes are due to the heavy and specific accumulation of
      virus in different regions of the CNS. These results show that regions other than
      those of the limbic system may also be involved in the pathogenesis of behavior
      changes in rabid animals.

PMID- 1462766
TI  - Ki-M1P as a marker for microglia and brain macrophages in routinely processed
      human tissues.
AB  - The monoclonal antibody Ki-M1P recognizes a formalin/paraffin-resistant
      differentiation epitope of monocytes and their macrophage derivatives [Radzun et
      al., Lab Invest 65:306, 1991]. To evaluate its usefulness for neuropathology, we
      examined a variety of routinely processed tissues using immunohistochemistry. In
      normal brains, positivity was restricted to ramified microglial cells. Intense
      labeling of macrophages, ramified and ameboid microglial cells, and rod cells was
      seen in brains with various degenerative and inflammatory disorders. Astrocytes
      were negative as determined by double-immunofluorescence labeling using Ki-M1P
      and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Histiocytic lesions
      (histiocytosis X, xanthogranulomas, granulomatous inflammation) were
      immunopositive. Among 107 tumors, reactivity of Ki-M1P was observed with some
      schwannoma and meningioma tumor cells. In addition to macrophages, most gliomas
      contained small, elongated Ki-M1P-positive cells, which were negative for GFAP.
      Positivity was also found in two glioblastoma cell lines. Immunoblotting
      performed on spleen, meningioma and glioblastoma specimens revealed one to three
      bands in the range of 110 to 130 kDa. We conclude that Ki-M1P can serve as a
      reliable marker for brain macrophages and microglial cells in routinely processed
      normal and non-neoplastic tissues, whereas due to the unexpected
      immunoreactivities results obtained with neoplastic tissues should be carefully
      interpreted.

PMID- 1462767
TI  - Induction of FOS and JUN proteins after focal ischemia in the rat: differential
      effect of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist MK-801.
AB  - FOS and JUN proteins are transcription factors thought to be involved in coupling
      neuronal excitation to target gene expression. Cortical infarction of consistent
      size and location was produced by irradiating the rat brain with Xenon light
      through the intact skull for 20 min following systemic injection of the photo
      sensitizing dye, rose bengal. To investigate the time course and distribution
      pattern of five cellular immediate early gene (IEG)-encoded proteins after focal
      ischemia, the expression of c-FOS, FOS B, c-JUN, JUN B and JUN D was studied
      immunocytochemically in sham-operated control animals and at different
      postischemic time intervals up to 24 h. A separate group of animals was
      pretreated with the non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist MK
      801. Photochemically induced focal ischemia caused a rapid induction of FOS and
      JUN proteins in the entire ipsilateral cortex apart from the ischemic focus.
      Immunoreactivity in the ipsilateral subcortical gray and white matter and in the
      entire contralateral hemisphere was indistinguishable from control animals.
      Individual IEG-encoded proteins were sequentially induced with increased levels
      of immunoreactivity persisting for different time periods up to 24 h. c-FOS, FOS
      B, c-JUN and JUN B exhibited a characteristic distribution pattern as reflected
      by different staining intensities in individual cortical layers. The rapid IEG
      induction in the entire ipsilateral sensorimotor and limbic structure-associated
      cortices after photochemically induced infarction most likely reflects spreading
      depression caused by ischemia and mediated by NMDA receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462768
TI  - Ultrastructural features of spongiform encephalopathy transmitted to mice from
      three species of bovidae.
AB  - The ultrastructural neuropathology of mice experimentally inoculated with brain
      tissue of nyala (Tragelaphus angasi; subfamily Bovinae), or kudu (Tragelaphus
      strepsiceros; subfamily Bovinae) affected with spongiform encephalopathy was
      compared with that of mice inoculated with brain tissue from cows (Bos taurus;
      subfamily Bovinae) with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). As fresh brain
      tissue was not available for nyala or kudu, formalin-fixed tissues were used for
      transmission from these species. The effect of formalin fixation was compared
      with that of fresh brain in mice inoculated with fixed and unfixed brain tissue
      from cows with BSE. The nature and distribution of the pathological changes were
      similar irrespective of the source of inoculum or whether the inoculum was from
      fresh or previously fixed tissue. Vacuolation caused by loss of organelles and
      swelling was present in dendrites and axon terminals. Vacuoles were also seen as
      double-membrane-bound and single-membrane-bound structures within myelinated
      fibres, axon terminals and dendrites. Vacuoles are considered to have more than
      one morphogenesis but the structure of vacuoles in this study was nevertheless
      similar to previous descriptions of spongiform change in naturally occurring and
      experimental scrapie, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker
      syndrome and kuru. Other features of the ultrastructural pathology of the
      transmissible spongiform encephalopathies including dystrophic neurites and
      scrapie-associated particles or tubulovesicular bodies were also found in this
      study. Neuronal autophagy was a conspicuous finding. It is suggested that excess
      prion protein (PrP) accumulation, or accumulation of the scrapie-associated
      protease-resistant isoform of PrP, may lead to localised sequestration and
      phagocytosis of neuronal cytoplasm and ultimately to neuronal loss.

PMID- 1462769
TI  - Immunohistochemistry and proliferative activity in Lhermitte-Duclos disease.
AB  - We have evaluated a recurrence of Lhermitte-Duclos disease by
      immunohistochemistry for Purkinje cell markers and proliferative activity
      (proliferating cell nuclear antigen), by electron microscopy and for DNA ploidy
      (image analysis). While most of the abnormal neurons in the lesion appear to be
      derived from granule cells, several Purkinje cell specific polyclonal and
      monoclonal antibodies, including L7, PEP 19 and calbindin, labeled a minor
      subpopulation. Staining with monoclonal antibodies to proliferating cell nuclear
      antigen and measuring cell DNA index and ploidy with a cell image analyzer
      revealed no proliferative activity. Electron microscopy findings were similar to
      those previously reported. In spite of its recurrence, our findings support the
      notion that Lhermitte-Duclos disease is malformative, not neoplastic, and that
      the characteristic neurons are derived predominantly but not exclusively from a
      non-Purkinje cell source, probably the granule cell.

PMID- 1462770
TI  - Myelination of two axons by a single Schwann cell.
AB  - A Schwann cell can form only one internode of myelin around an axon. However, we
      observed the formation by a single Schwann cell of myelin around two axons of
      different diameters in the sural nerve of a 45-year-old man with mononeuritis
      multiplex. Schwann cell processes spiraled in the same direction around each
      axon, forming mesaxons. The findings in this case appear to be an undescribed
      type of aberrant myelination.

PMID- 1462771
TI  - Anaplastic large cell Ki-1 lymphoma in the central nervous system: report of an
      autopsy case.
AB  - A 45-year old immunocompetent man presented with multiple lesions in the brain. A
      histological examination of the tumors showed a diffuse infiltrate of lymphoid
      cells with cellular polymorphism and of multinucleated giant cells. These cells
      were immunolabeled with antibodies against B cell lineage and with a monoclonal
      antibody, Ber-H2 (CD30), which showed the presence of Ki-1 antigen. Recently,
      among systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, attention has been given to Ki-1-positive
      lymphomas, which have been incorporated in the up-dated Kiel classification. We
      report here a case of Ki-1-positive lymphoma arising in the CNS and review
      previously reported cases.

PMID- 1462772
TI  - Measurement, analysis, and modelling of the caloric response. 2. Evaluation of
      mental alerting tasks for measurement of caloric-induced nystagmus.
AB  - Management of the patient's level of arousal is one of the most important
      variables in obtaining consistent and strong caloric responses. The patient may
      suppress the caloric response and/or exacerbate beat-to-beat variability if some
      type of mental alerting (MA) task is not used to focus the patient's attention
      from his or her dizziness. An experiment was undertaken to evaluate simple MA
      tasks in terms of associated caloric response strength and variability. Warm
      caloric responses were measured while each of 10 normal subjects performed eight
      different MA tasks. The mental exercises included two math tasks, two quizzing
      tasks, two hand-motor tasks, and two alphabet tasks. One of the tasks in each
      complementary pair required the subject to interact with the examiner throughout
      the caloric response. Minimal or no interaction was required for the companion
      task. The relative ordering among the eight MA tasks was compared in terms of
      total sum of ranks, summed across 15 performance measures taken from caloric
      response indices. The highest-ranked altering task was an exercise requiring
      subjects to name or list local cities, states in the U.S.A., colors, etc. The
      lowest-ranked tasks were backward counting exercises and reflexive quizzing,
      which are the traditional tasks used in the clinic.

PMID- 1462773
TI  - Measurement, analysis, and modelling of the caloric response. 1. A descriptive
      mathematical model of the caloric response over time.
AB  - A mathematical model for describing the caloric response over time offers many
      important advantages over the commercially-available qualitatively-fitted curves
      that are now used by the clinician for evaluating caloric results. In this report
      advances in the development of a nonlinear least-squares mathematical model are
      discussed and the roles and derivations of fitting parameters and curve-derived
      indices are outlined. This model provides a rigorous and objective description of
      the caloric response in its entirety with four continuous parameters. These
      fitting parameters make it possible to 1) describe individual caloric responses
      precisely and uniquely, 2) compare pairs of individual caloric responses or
      groups of caloric responses statistically, 3) extract information not previously
      available, 4) quantify variability within the caloric response, and 5) model
      physical properties of the caloric stimulus and physiological variables affecting
      the caloric response. Results from this model are compared with the results from
      our earlier models and with traditional multiparameter caloric results.

PMID- 1462774
TI  - Middle ear gases.
AB  - The ex vacuo theory, claiming that air enters the middle ear through the
      Eustachian tube and oxygen leaves it into the blood by diffusion, does not
      provide a complete explanation and description of the mechanism of middle ear
      aeration. This study shows that both the gas diffusion between the middle ear and
      the blood and the flow of gas through the Eustachian tube are bidirectional
      processes for all the gases concerned N2, CO2, O2 as well as H2O.

PMID- 1462775
TI  - Diagnostic value of tympanometry in otitis media with effusion.
AB  - Three particular applications of tympanometry are stressed. In the first place,
      tympanometric screening fails to give any appreciation of the tubal dysfunction
      evolution. During general anaesthesia, nitrogen oxide diffusion in the middle ear
      can hide effusion. Secondly, the correlation between tympanometric curves and
      middle ear effusion is far lower than usually assumed.

PMID- 1462776
TI  - [Otologic manifestations of Wegener's disease].
AB  - Two cases of otologic involvement in Wegener's granulomatosis are reported.
      Symptoms are referable to those of an acute otitis media with impaired hearing.
      The ANCA test is helpful in the diagnosis. Immunosuppressive therapy in
      association with corticosteroids is the treatment of choice.

PMID- 1462777
TI  - [Etiology of deafness in children].
AB  - A retrospective etiological study of 112 files of deaf children is presented. A
      prenatal etiology is found in 42.8%, a perinatal in 19.6% and a postnatal in
      13.4% of the cases. No cause was suspected in 30.3% of the cases. These results
      emphasise existing literature.

PMID- 1462778
TI  - [Proposal for an original method of high-frequency audiometry using mathematical
      equations].
AB  - Many studies have established high-frequency audiometry norms. Unfortunately the
      majority presents different averages for each decade, sex and frequency together
      with standard deviations. In order to solve these problems we established our
      norms on a widespread audiometer for each sex based on a strictly normal hearing
      sample. We calculated the linear regression between age and hearing loss for each
      frequency. We propose a set of equations to predict the "normal" threshold of a
      subject in function of age and sex.

PMID- 1462779
TI  - [Evoked oto-acoustic emissions: results in at-risk newborn infants].
AB  - Fourty newborns (80 ears) from the intensive care unit were tested with evoked
      oto-acoustic emission (EOAE). The occurrence of EOAE was 93%.

PMID- 1462780
TI  - A hairy polyp of the middle ear and mastoid cavity.
AB  - A case of a 'hairy polyp', a dermoid tumor of the middle ear and the mastoid
      cavity is described, which is very unusual location. The radiological, surgical
      and histological features are discussed. Comment is made on the differentiation
      between dermoid cysts and teratomas and on the scarcity of both tumors in the
      area of the temporal bone.

PMID- 1462781
TI  - [Endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (95 cases)].
AB  - A series of 95 intranasal dacryocystorhinostomies for ophthalmologic problems
      were performed. The operative technique as well as the results are discussed.
      Success rate is about 95.8%, of which 82.1% with immediate results. Even if the
      results of both intranasal and external approaches are equivalent, the intranasal
      one presents a little advantage. No intraoperative complications are observed.

PMID- 1462782
TI  - [Problems with flute playing: an otological problem? Case report of a peculiar
      cerebellar astrocytoma].
AB  - A rare case of cerebellar astrocytoma presenting as a cerebellopontine angle
      tumour is discussed. A 35-year old woman noticed a bizarre twitching and
      fatigability of the left upper lip while playing the flute. There was also a mild
      hearing loss on the left side and she sometimes felt unsure of herself when
      walking. A thorough examination by means of speech audiometry,
      electronystagmography, ABR, CT-scan and MRI revealed a large, partly calcified
      mass occupying the cerebellopontine angle. Only the histological examination of
      the surgical specimen revealed the true nature of the tumour. The special
      characteristics of this tumour and the unusual clinical course are discussed. The
      importance of a good histological diagnosis is stressed.

PMID- 1462783
TI  - [Place of the otorhinolaryngologist in the multidisciplinary approach to
      neurofibromatosis].
AB  - Neurofibromatosis is one of the most common inherited human disorders. Two types
      have been recognized, NF 1 and NF 2. Clinical and genetic aspects of the disease
      clear the way to the aims and indications of the multidisciplinary approach of
      the neurofibromatosis patients and their families. To study the uniformity of
      patient management (protocol), a number of Belgian and Dutch medical centres were
      contacted. Great importance is attached to the common as well as the varying
      points of these protocols. We emphasize the part played by the ENT specialist in
      the multidisciplinary approach of neurofibromatosis type 1 and 2.

PMID- 1462784
TI  - Hemangiopericytoma of the head and neck: a report of four cases and a literature
      review.
AB  - Hemangiopericytoma is an infrequent vascular tumor that rarely appears in the
      head and neck. The nasal cavity and the paranasal sinuses are most often
      involved. Four cases are added to the literature and some important features are
      stressed. The clinical presentation is aspecific. Diagnosis is made only by
      careful histological examination with special stainings (reticulin,
      immunohistochemistry with Ulex Europaeus) and gives an idea about the grading.
      Treatment with radical surgery, if possible, is effective while preoperative
      embolisation can reduce the risk of hemorrhage. The median follow-up of the
      present cases is only 3 years. During this period no recurrence was observed. We
      suggest that more radical resections can probably reduce the local recurrence
      rate. However lifetime clinical follow-up is warranted since late recurrences
      have been reported in almost half of the patients.

PMID- 1462785
TI  - On the role of global and local visual information in goal-directed walking.
AB  - The aim of the present study was to determine what interactions occur between the
      visual information available to walking subjects in the global optical flow and
      those of a more local nature relating to the dilation rate of a target on the
      retina. A goal-directed walking task was used in which thirteen subjects were
      asked to stop spontaneously as near as possible to a stationary target. The
      experiment was carried out in a special room, by means of a texture flow
      generator with which the velocity and direction of the optical flow arising from
      the ground were varied. Twelve experimental conditions were tested, involving
      various combinations of target size and texture velocity. The results show that
      with both of the targets, modifications to the global flow significantly affected
      the subjects' performances (walking speed and time-to-contact with the target
      upon braking) in the fast-approaching texture situation, but not in the receding
      or slowly-approaching situations. The results are discussed as to what they
      reveal about the visual strategies used by an actively moving observer to
      anticipate a collision with a stationary target.

PMID- 1462786
TI  - Dynamic decision making: human control of complex systems.
AB  - This paper reviews research on dynamic decision making, i.e., decision making
      under conditions which require a series of decisions, where the decisions are not
      independent, where the state of the world changes, both autonomously and as a
      consequence of the decision maker's actions, and where the decisions have to be
      made in real time. It is difficult to find useful normative theories for these
      kinds of decisions, and research thus has to focus on descriptive issues. A
      general approach, based on control theory, is proposed as a means to organize
      research in the area. An experimental paradigm for the study of dynamic decision
      making, that of computer simulated microworlds, is discussed, and two approaches
      using this paradigm are described: the individual differences approach, typical
      of German work in the tradition of research on complex problem solving, and the
      experimental approach. In studies following the former approach, the behaviour of
      groups differing in performance is compared, either with respect to strategies or
      with respect to performance on psychological tests. The results show that there
      are wide interindividual differences in performance, but no stable correlations
      between performance in microworlds and scores on traditional psychological tests
      have been found. Experimental research studying the effects of system
      characteristics, such as complexity and feedback delays, on dynamic decision
      making has shown that decision performance in dynamic tasks is strongly affected
      by feedback delays and whether or not the decisions have side effects. Although
      neither approach has led to any well-developed theory of dynamic decision making
      so far, the results nevertheless indicate that we are now able to produce highly
      reliable experimental results in the laboratory, results that agree with those
      found in field studies of dynamic decision making. This shows that an important
      first step towards a better understanding of these phenomena has been taken.

PMID- 1462787
TI  - Benefits from attention depend on the target type in location-precued
      discrimination.
AB  - In previous research, we found that precuing of attention to a target location
      greatly improved discrimination of targets that differed in line arrangement, but
      had little effect on discrimination of targets that differed in line orientation.
      In the present research, a number of other targets that represent various feature
      differences were used. The new data are consistent with and extend our earlier
      findings by showing that (1) there is some effect of precuing with all targets
      tested, and (2) the size of precuing effects varies in a complex way with the
      nature of the target. Moreover, the difficulty of the discrimination cannot
      explain the size of the precuing effects. A framework for understanding the
      events occurring during trials in the location-cuing paradigm is presented and
      applied to these results.

PMID- 1462788
TI  - The role of vision in the temporal and spatial control of handwriting.
AB  - The general observation that handwriting is not noticeably impaired by the
      withdrawal of vision can be explained in two ways. One might argue that vision is
      not needed during the act of writing. Micro-analyses should then reveal that
      spatial as well as temporal writing features are identical in conditions of
      vision and no vision. Alternatively, it is possible that vision is needed during
      the act of writing, but that without vision possible errors and inaccuracies have
      to be prevented. Assuming that the latter would place an extra demand on movement
      control, this should be revealed by an increase in processing time. We have found
      evidence for the latter view in the present study in which 12 subjects wrote a
      nonsense letter sequence with and without vision. Close examination showed that
      writing shapes remained equally invariant under both vision conditions,
      suggesting that spatial control was unaffected by withdrawing vision. The
      prediction that invariance of shapes is preserved in the absence of vision at the
      expense of processing time increments was confirmed. The increase of reaction
      time observed when visual guidance was withdrawn suggests that more processing
      time was needed prior to the movement start. Moreover, the RT increment was
      larger when a short writing duration was instructed. The present findings will be
      discussed in light of the remarkable flexibility of writing as a motor skill in
      which writers appear to be able to employ specific strategies to preserve shape
      in the absence of visual guidance.

PMID- 1462789
TI  - Does evidence of inflammation on Papanicolaou smears of pregnant women predict
      preterm labor and delivery?
AB  - BACKGROUND: Preterm delivery is the most common cause of neonatal morbidity and
      mortality in the United States. There is evidence that cervicovaginal infection
      could predispose to preterm labor. This study explored a possible association of
      evidence of inflammation on an otherwise normal Papanicolaou smear obtained
      during pregnancy with subsequent preterm labor and preterm delivery. METHODS:
      Using a retrospective matched cohort design, we studied women who gave birth to
      live singleton infants at the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics during
      a 21-month period. Papanicolaou smears were obtained from 1 to 8 months before
      delivery and were interpreted in the same cytopathology laboratory. Data
      pertaining to outcome variables and potential confounding variables were
      collected from hospital charts. RESULTS: Incidence rates were 14.4 percent for
      labor < 37 weeks' gestation (preterm labor), 12.3 percent for hospitalization for
      preterm labor, 9.9 percent for delivery < 37 weeks (preterm delivery), 2.6
      percent for delivery < 34 weeks, and 7.5 percent for birth weight < 2500 g. On
      univariate and multivariate analyses, there were no significant differences in
      any outcome between the 293 women with inflammation and the 284 women without
      inflammation on Papanicolaou smear. Results were unchanged when the analysis was
      limited to the 412 women who received no antibiotics during pregnancy. Among the
      38 women with a history of preterm labor or preterm delivery, those with cervical
      inflammation had a higher rate of preterm labor than those without inflammation.
      CONCLUSIONS: In the sample as a whole, there was little evidence that findings of
      inflammation on Papanicolaou smear constituted a risk factor for preterm labor or
      preterm delivery. The data suggest that inflammation could be associated with an
      increased risk in a subgroup of women at higher risk by virtue of their obstetric
      history.

PMID- 1462791
TI  - Survey and evaluation of newsletters marketed to family physicians.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Newsletters are marketed to physicians to provide a concise,
      accurate, and timely overview of the medical literature. The goal of these
      newsletters seems to be to present information that can be a suitable substitute
      for reading the original article. The purpose of this paper is to describe and
      evaluate newsletters pertinent to family physicians. METHODS: Newsletters
      appropriate for family physicians were selected by collecting newsletter
      advertisements and by searching newsletter directories. A 3-month sample and
      pertinent data were collected from the publishers. Evaluation criteria included
      accuracy and completeness of the abstracts, scope of coverage of the medical
      literature, and relevance of article sources. RESULTS: Eight newsletters were
      collected and evaluated. Accuracy was high for the evaluated abstracts. Abstract
      completeness averaged only 70 percent (range 55 percent to 92 percent). The type
      and source of abstracted articles varied widely among the newsletters.
      CONCLUSION: Newsletters available to family physicians vary widely; personal
      evaluation should supplement the results of the evaluation.

PMID- 1462790
TI  - Community attitudes and knowledge about advance care directives.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Patients and their physicians are increasingly being encouraged to
      discuss end-of-life decisions. The purpose of this study was to enhance
      understanding of the public's attitudes and knowledge about medical decision
      making and advance care directives. METHODS: Eight focus groups of community
      members discussed their understanding of and attitudes about advance care
      directives. Transcripts of these discussions were analyzed using coding
      categories created from the transcripts. RESULTS: Eighty-three people attended
      the focus groups. Most discussions of advance care directives involved family
      members in the setting of family or personal illness. Elderly persons commonly
      confused wills with living wills. Most who had given advance directives did so
      either to make others follow their wishes or to ease family burdens. Among the
      great variety of reasons for not using advance directives was a perceived lack of
      personal relevance, as well as conceptual, moral, and practical difficulties.
      Participants were divided about whether it was appropriate for physicians to
      initiate discussions about life-sustaining care with their patients. We discerned
      three themes affecting individuals' opinions about personal decision making about
      advance directives: (1) trust in family and the medical system, (2) need for
      control, and (3) knowledge about advance directives. CONCLUSIONS: Although living
      wills are advocated by many authorities, and many of our participants endorsed
      their use, our participants also cited numerous cautions and impediments to their
      use. As the role of advance care directives changes, physicians will need to be
      aware of their patients' perceptions, as well as the legalities of these
      documents.

PMID- 1462792
TI  - Teaching physicians to be patient: a hospital admission experience for family
      practice residents.
AB  - BACKGROUND: A program has been developed to sensitize physicians to the
      discomforts, uncertainties, and anxieties experienced by patients on admission to
      the hospital, so that greater empathy and increased communication can be fostered
      with their own hospitalized patients. METHODS: For the last 5 years, all incoming
      family medicine residents at Long Beach, California, Memorial Medical Center have
      been admitted incognito to the hospital during their first day in the residency.
      Hospitalized residents are assigned an admission diagnosis and an associated
      disability, given a pseudonym, and provided with fabricated insurance information
      (by the hospital administration) to facilitate their admission. Each incoming
      group of 6 residents is admitted over the course of an afternoon and evening and
      discharged the next morning. Residents evaluated the admission experience by
      means of before-and-after questionnaires. They and residency graduates also
      responded to a follow-up survey instrument that asked participants to assess the
      program's long-term educational impact (response rate, 100 percent; n = 30).
      RESULTS: Although the program is carried out annually, we have been able to admit
      the residents to this large (998 beds) medical center typically without their
      identities being discovered, resulting in a realistic educational experience.
      While diagnoses are contrived, the discomforts are real, and participants become
      acutely aware of the loneliness, pain (e.g., from intravenous lines), and
      uncertainty experienced by patients. Long-term effects on day-to-day practice
      attributed to the program by residents and graduates include minimizing orders
      for nonessential tests and middle-of-the-night examinations and keeping patients
      well-informed (especially letting them know when they will be seen by the
      physician). CONCLUSIONS: The effort, logistical problems, and costs associated
      with hospitalization of incoming residents disguised as patients appear to be
      offset by the admission program's long-term impact on participants' sensitivity
      regarding experiences undergone by hospitalized patients and their awareness of
      their role in helping to ameliorate discomforts associated with hospital
      admission. Strong support from the hospital administration, however, is essential
      to the success of this type of program.

PMID- 1462793
TI  - Chronic headaches in family practice.
AB  - BACKGROUND: More than 11 million people in the United States have moderate or
      severe migraine resulting in much suffering and millions of lost work days
      annually. Staying abreast of current advances in headache management is important
      for family physicians, who care for most headache patients. METHODS: MEDLINE
      files were searched from 1982 to the present using the key words "headache,"
      "migraine," "serotonin," and "cerebral circulation." Also searched were the
      journals Headache and Cephalalgia and the published proceedings of meetings of
      the American Association for the Study of Headache, the International Headache
      Society, and the Migraine Trust. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A new headache
      classification based on clinical symptoms has been published by the International
      Headache Society, which clarifies headache diagnoses. Though headaches with
      serious underlying disease occur only rarely in family practice, physicians must
      be familiar with the clinical signs indicating the presence of such problems, and
      any change in or unusual presentation of headache warrants investigation.
      Headache research has expanded in the past decade, much of which has been
      directed at raising the standards of treatment. Pharmacologic treatment falls
      into two categories: acute or abortive treatment and preventive treatment.
      Analgesic overmedication by headache patients is commonplace and leads to
      withdrawal symptoms and the development of chronic daily headaches, for which
      effective treatments are now available at both ambulatory and inpatient levels.
      At the more basic research level, serotonin receptor studies have provided an
      impetus for revealing underlying headache mechanisms. A new serotonin agonist,
      sumatriptan, has proved effective in treating acute migraine and will no doubt be
      followed by further serotonergic drugs. Patient education, relaxation therapy,
      and other nonpharmacological approaches, as well as good overall standards of
      care, are essential ingredients in headache management. Family physicians are
      well-equipped to offer these approaches to their patients with headache.

PMID- 1462794
TI  - Premature labor, Part II: Management.
AB  - BACKGROUND: As the second paper in a two-part series on preterm labor, this
      article discusses the management of preterm labor as it relates to risk
      reduction, tocolytic therapy, corticosteroids, and antibiotics. METHODS:
      Published literature on the management of preterm labor was reviewed by searching
      MEDLINE files from 1983 to the present, using the terms "preterm labor,"
      "premature labor," "preterm labor and antibiotics," "tocolytic agents,"
      "tocolysis," "betamethasone," and "premature rupture of membranes." Additional
      references were obtained by cross-referencing bibliographies from available
      articles. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Effective management of preterm labor and
      birth begins with an assessment and reduction of risks for all pregnant women. In
      addition, pregnant women should be screened and appropriately treated for
      urologic and gynecologic infections (e.g., syphilis, gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and
      bacterial vaginosis). Women who are at high risk for preterm birth should be
      enrolled in a preterm birth prevention program that includes frequent contact
      with health professionals, patient education about the signs and symptoms of
      preterm labor, home monitoring, and regular cervical examinations. For women who
      develop preterm labor that does not require immediate delivery, recommended
      management strategies include reduced activity, early tocolytic therapy,
      corticosteroids for up to 34 weeks' gestation (both for women with intact and
      ruptured membranes), and antibiotics for known infections. Early studies also
      suggest that prophylactic antibiotics can be beneficial for women with idiopathic
      preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes.

PMID- 1462795
TI  - Preemployment examinations: how useful?
AB  - BACKGROUND: An article in the March-April 1991 Journal of the American Board of
      Family Practice noted a lack of consensus among family physicians regarding
      preemployment testing of workers. Family physicians do not seem to adhere to any
      explicit or uniform criteria in performing these tests. Previous writers have
      suggested how these examinations might help both the employer and the worker. The
      Americans with Disabilities Act, which went into effect 26 July 1992, however,
      appears to make true preemployment examinations illegal. METHODS: A review of the
      Healthline (1975 to 1991) and the MEDLINE (1980 to 1991) data bases using the
      MeSH headings "physical examination," "personnel management," "occupational
      medicine," and "personnel selection" yielded 13 articles dealing with the benefit
      of preemployment examinations to employees or employers. No studies appeared
      under the text word "preplacement." RESULTS: All of the published articles
      addressed the protection of the employer in some manner, but only three studies
      revealed any benefit to the employer or any protective value for the worker. The
      testing in these three investigations used detailed knowledge of the demands and
      duties of the job and, therefore, allowed for more task-specific examinations.
      CONCLUSIONS: The paucity of evidence demonstrating the usefulness of
      preemployment examinations suggests the need for further research and the
      development of preemployment evaluations that would allow family physicians to
      examine employees in a consistently beneficial and more standardized manner.

PMID- 1462796
TI  - Differences in the obstetric malpractice claims filed by Medicaid and non
      Medicaid patients.
AB  - BACKGROUND: Many physicians believe Medicaid patients are more likely than non
      Medicaid patients to file malpractice claims. This study examines the accuracy of
      this belief in regard to obstetric malpractice claims. METHODS: Claims filed
      between January 1982 and June 1988 from the major malpractice insurer in
      Washington State were used to compare obstetric malpractice claims filed on
      behalf of Medicaid and non-Medicaid patients. RESULTS: Eleven percent (7/62) of
      all closed obstetric claims were filed by Medicaid patients, whereas 19 percent
      of all births in Washington State were to Medicaid patients between 1982 and
      1988. Failure to diagnose or treat a fetal condition was the most commonly
      alleged negligence in both Medicaid and non-Medicaid groups. Most claims in both
      groups were settled before the cases went to court; a substantial minority of
      claims were dropped. The mean cost of Medicaid claims ($406,984) was three times
      that of non-Medicaid claims ($133,743), suggesting that paid Medicaid claims were
      more severe than paid non-Medicaid claims. CONCLUSIONS: Medicaid patients appear
      no more likely to file obstetric malpractice claims than non-Medicaid patients.
      The low likelihood of filing claims, coupled with large settlements, suggests
      that Medicaid patients may have less access to legal services than non-Medicaid
      patients.

PMID- 1462797
TI  - Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma.

PMID- 1462798
TI  - Hepatitis associated with Lyme disease.

PMID- 1462799
TI  - Acaridae incognito: the case of the mighty mite.

PMID- 1462800
TI  - Educational program for premature labor.

PMID- 1462801
TI  - Models of family practice.

PMID- 1462802
TI  - The AAFP access plan: getting it almost right.

PMID- 1462803
TI  - Clinical guidelines and primary care.

PMID- 1462804
TI  - [Social and family variables related to alcohol consumption].
AB  - The present study analyzed some family factors which are considered to be
      relevant for excessive alcohol consumption. Such analysis is conducted on the
      data derived from a cross-sectional epidemiological community survey directed to
      investigate, in a random sample of 1.800 persons of 18 to 65 years of age--and
      representative of the population of Cantabria--community responses to alcohol
      consumption. For this we applied among other instruments, a questionnaire
      designed by the WHO for exploring Alcohol consumption, and which has being
      extensively used in other countries. We found, among other things, that: i) Among
      the males excessive alcohol consumption tends to be higher in the single marital
      status, and also in those with a higher number of brothers; ii) On the females on
      the contrary, single marital status is associates to higher percentages of non
      excessive alcohol consumption, while the fact of having a higher number of
      brothers is related to higher rates of non consumption of alcohol.

PMID- 1462805
TI  - [The psychiatric emergency in the general hospital: an analysis of the
      indications for hospitalization].
AB  - The following is a study of psychiatric emergencies in a General Hospital in
      Madrid (Spain). The Psychiatric Emergency Service of the Ramon y Cajal Hospital
      in Madrid received a total of 3,693 patients in 1988. This was 3.4% of patients
      seen in the General Emergency Service. The study is based on an analysis of the
      variables that influence a recommendation of hospitalization and their
      statistical significance. Hospitalization was recommended more frequently in
      males and those with diagnoses of depression, alcoholism and schizophrenic or
      paranoid disorders.

PMID- 1462806
TI  - [Detoxification treatment with naltrexone in opiate dependence].
AB  - Outcome of a maintenance treatment with naltrexone (350 mg/week) are examined in
      a sample of 50 patients with opiate dependence disorder. Treatment was followed
      in an outpatient facility, in a setting similar to patient's own environment. The
      average attendance rate was of 6.4 months. Six months after the onset of the
      treatment, 46% of the patients still remained drug-free. Results of treatment was
      correlated with changes in life style of the addicts. A follow-up study found
      that, overall, the naltrexone treatment caused an increase in alcohol consumption
      whereas there was a noticeable decrease in cocaine use. Factors related to
      successful results were a good work adjustment, no use of other drugs and lack of
      psychopathology.

PMID- 1462807
TI  - [Premorbid adjustment and negative schizophrenic symptoms].
AB  - The relationship between premorbid schizoid traits and the positive and negative
      symptoms assessed by the Andreasen's SANS and SAPS scales was studied in a sample
      of 115 DSM-III-R schizophrenics. For the assessment of the schizoid traits the
      abbreviated Philip's scale of premorbid social-personal adjustment was employed.
      Negative symptoms, excepting the attentional scale, but no positive symptoms were
      significantly correlated (p < or = .01) with the Philips's scale. These results
      suggest that the schizoid traits are the behavioral precursors of schizophrenic
      negative symptoms. The implications of the results for the genetic and
      vulnerability/stress models of schizophrenia are discussed.

PMID- 1462808
TI  - [Lesions of the ureter in obstetric-gynecologic surgery].
AB  - The chapter of injuries to the ureter during obstetric-gynaecological surgery
      continues to be ignored in the literature published over the last decades, in
      spite of its prevalence in the practice. This has motivated our review and update
      of this issue. The interest of urological diagnostic procedures prior to surgery
      and conduit examination at any time during the operation exert some influence on
      the prevention of this pathology. Preoperative finding and reconstruction lead to
      better results, which benefit from the use of the urinary route, thus leaving the
      gut route and self-transplantation for exceptional situations. A new iatrogenic
      pathology has emerged from the most frequent use of gynaecological endoscopic
      surgery.

PMID- 1462809
TI  - [Renal sarcoma].
AB  - Among 322 cases of primary malignant renal tumours reviewed between 1969 and
      1991, six were renal sarcoma (1.85%). They all presented earlier symptomatology
      which was not different from other renal tumours, and nephrectomy was performed
      in all cases, 5 of which died before 14 months. The histopathological diagnose
      showed two liposarcoma, two carcinosarcomas, all the others being fibrosarcomas.

PMID- 1462810
TI  - [Evaluation of nuclear roundness as a tool for prostatic carcinoma grading].
AB  - The microscopic patterns adopted by prostate carcinomas are extraordinarily
      variable making its histopathological classification and grading extremely
      complicated. There are numerous systems for prostatic tumours' grading, but many
      of them lack a truly reproducible character and an acceptable degree of
      reliability; for this reason, we have studied a series of nuclear microscopic
      parameters, from a quantitative point of view, in a series of prostatic
      carcinomas with a minimum follow-up of five years. It was observed that of the
      morphometric values obtained--area, perimeter, projection on the X- and Y-axis as
      well as the nuclear roundness factor--the most useful and representative is the
      latter. Besides, this is an objective parameter to evaluate nuclear anaplasia and
      can also be considered as a prognostic factor since, in our series, those who
      died had a greater mean nuclear roundness factor than those who survived.

PMID- 1462811
TI  - [Diagnostic efficacy of echographic urethrography in the study of urethral
      stenosis. Comparison with radiologic retrograde urethrography].
AB  - Presentation of the first study on the diagnostic efficacy in the study of
      stenosis with ultrasound urethrography (U.U.) as compared to X-ray retrograde
      urethrography (X.R.U.). Sensitivity of U.U. in anterior bulbar urethra is, in
      general, higher than that of X.R.U. (100 U.U. > 88 X.R.U.) while X.R.U.
      specificity is higher in the posterior bulbar urethra (100 X.R.U. > 97 U.U.). In
      penile urethra both techniques showed a 100% diagnostic efficacy. Stenosis
      located in the posterior bulbar urethra are the most difficult to diagnose with
      ultrasound techniques.

PMID- 1462812
TI  - [Extrinsic stenosis of the ureter. Our caseload and review of the literature].
AB  - Obstructive uropathy is the common presentation course for various processes with
      an origin either intraluminar, parietal or extraluminar. A retrospective analysis
      of 41 cases of extrinsically originated obstructive uropathy seen in our Urology
      Unit from 1976 to 1991 was carried out. The cases were divided in three groups
      following an exclusively etiological criterion: 21.9% (9 patients) corresponded
      to primary retroperitoneal fibrosis; 51.2% (21 patients) to tumoral ureteral
      obstruction; and 26.8% (11 patients) to non-tumoral processes. For each division
      established, the features of clinical presentation, performance of the various
      diagnostic procedures used, and different therapy approaches are described also
      including a review on the current literature.

PMID- 1462813
TI  - [Vaginal metastasis of renal cell adenocarcinoma].

PMID- 1462814
TI  - [Skin metastasis in prostatic adenocarcinoma].
AB  - Skin metastasis of prostatic carcinoma are extremely rare. Presentation of one
      significant case of these spread.

PMID- 1462815
TI  - [Retrovesical hydatid cyst. A new case].
AB  - Presentation of one case of retrovesical hydatidic cyst with no evidence of
      hydatidosis in other abdominal organ. Both the case and the medical-surgical
      procedures performed are described.

PMID- 1462816
TI  - [Pelvic melanoma].
AB  - Report of a patient diagnosed with having a pelvian mass which histologically was
      a melanoma. Discussion of the possible causes of retrovesical mass and treatment
      of the melanoma.

PMID- 1462817
TI  - [Secondary bladder melanoma, presentation of a case].

PMID- 1462818
TI  - [Priapism caused by cauda equina compression. Report of a case and review of the
      literature].
AB  - As a result from the mechanical irritation provoked on the sacral roots, the
      cauda equina compression syndrome can involve, as part of its symptomatic state,
      involuntary erections and mictional disorders which arise when standing and
      stretching the spine. In the eight cases of priapism from this cause reported in
      the international literature, surgical decompression has solved the clinical
      picture. We now present a new case with the peculiarity that, following
      unsuccessful surgical therapy, the infiltration of the compromised spinal roots
      has rendered excellent results.

PMID- 1462819
TI  - [Embryonal development of interstitial Leydig cells in the rat testis].
AB  - Blood testosterone concentrations are not constant throughout life, there being a
      direct correlation with the numbers of cells producing that hormone, for which
      reason the existence of two Leydig's cells populations has been proposed: one
      foetal formation, which disappears just prior or immediately after birth, and a
      subsequent adult generation. In recent studies, however, that withdrawal has not
      been observed. Considering all the above, we have studied the evolution of these
      elements during the rat foetal period. From a morphological point of view
      Leydig's cells do not differentiate from those in the gonadal interstice until
      day 17 of pregnancy, showing a considerable increase in their numbers by day 21:
      while from that day onwards their numbers decrease they never disappear
      completely. We believe those cells become differentiated from the interstitial
      mesenchymal cells, and that their increase is facilitated by the proliferation of
      these same elements.

PMID- 1462820
TI  - On the mechanism of rat uterus desensitization to kallikrein.
AB  - An inactive form of kallikrein prepared by iodination with cold iodine, did not
      show any enzymatic or oxytocic action. However, a competitive pattern between
      this inactive and active kallikrein was observed in rat uterus preparation: When
      the inactive form was applied several times in the muscle, a single dose of
      active kallikrein was unable to cause contraction, but a double dose elicited a
      response. The rhythmic movement caused by a singular dose of active kallikrein,
      had its time curtailed by adding the inactive kallikrein to the bath. The
      inactive kallikrein did not interfere with bradykinin activity.

PMID- 1462821
TI  - Synthetic substrates and inhibitors for serine proteases from lymphocytes, mast
      cells, semen, and blood.
AB  - The substrate specificity of several serine proteases from cytotoxic T
      lymphocytes, natural killer cells, mast cells, seminal fluid, and blood plasma
      has been determined with synthetic peptide thiobenzyl ester and p-nitroanilide
      substrates. Several new enzymatic activities have been discovered. A variety of
      inhibitors such as isocoumarins, trifluoromethyl ketones, and peptide
      chloromethyl ketones were used to study these enzymes and were found to be potent
      inhibitors.

PMID- 1462822
TI  - Absorption studies with porcine pancreatic kallikrein in man.
AB  - Porcine pancreatic kallikrein (PPK), the main component of Padutin (Bayropharm,
      FRG), is used since 1974 for the treatment of some forms of idiopathic
      infertility in man. During kallikrein therapy the number of spermatozoa
      increases, and qualitative and quantitative sperm motility is improved. In order
      to investigate the intestinal absorption of PPK in man a clinical study with 7
      healthy volunteers was performed. 4500 KE (corresp. to 2.8 mg PPK) and 600 KE
      (corresp. to 0.38 mg PPK) of kallikrein respectively was orally administered in
      one dosis. Serum and urine samples were collected several times within 24 hours.
      Seminal plasma was collected 4-5 days before and 8 hours after treatment with
      kallikrein. Absorbed PPK was determined using a highly sensitive bioluminescence
      enhanced enzyme immunoassay (1) and a newly developed light measuring equipment
      (MTP reader) (3). The limit of detection was 1 pg/ml in serum corresponding to 6
      amol PPK per assay. For both groups (600 KE and 4500 KE) absorption of PPK in
      serum was found. Maximum absorption was observed between 4 and 12 h and between 2
      and 6h, respectively, after oral application of kallikrein. Renal excretion plays
      no important role in the elimination of PPK from serum. In gel filtration
      experiments with blood samples of volunteers in which absorbed PPK was detected,
      one peak of immunochemically active material corresponding to a molecular mass of
      82 kDa was found. According to our results, kallikrein is absorbed in unaltered
      form by the intestine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462823
TI  - The regulating interrelationship of some serine proteinases from leukocyte with
      the human plasma kallikrein-kinin system.

PMID- 1462824
TI  - Tissue kallikrein clearance by the liver--effect of plasma components on
      kallikrein uptake by cultured rat hepatocytes.
AB  - Rat urinary kallikrein (RUK) injected intravenously to the rat rapidly
      disappeared from the blood circulation and mainly distributed to the liver. RUK
      was also incorporated to the primary cultured rat hepatocytes. The amounts of RUK
      incorporated into the hepatocytes increased by preincubation of RUK with rat
      plasma. These results and SDS-PAGE analysis suggested some plasma components may
      be involved in tissue kallikrein clearance in the blood.

PMID- 1462825
TI  - Tissue kallikrein and the effect of bromocriptine in human prolactin and growth
      hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas.
AB  - Tissue kallikrein (TK) is present and co-localises with prolactin producing cells
      in human prolactinoma and mixed growth hormone (GH) and prolactin-secreting
      pituitary adenomas. TK immunoreactivity was reduced or absent in these types of
      adenomas from patients who had received the dopamine agonist, bromocriptine
      before surgery. Pure GH secreting adenomas had no TK immunoreactivity.

PMID- 1462826
TI  - Immunomodulators, inflammation and lysosomal proteinases of macrophages.
AB  - Zymosan-induced stimulation of mononuclear phagocyte system was used as a model
      for study of inflammation in vivo. Zymosan administration to mice was followed by
      increase of macrophage enzyme markers beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and beta-N
      acetylgalactosaminidase activity in liver and serum. Serum acid glucosidases
      secretion occurred both after macrophage stimulation by zymosan and macrophage
      depression induced by GdCl3. Liver granulomatous inflammation resulted increased
      activity of liver cathepsin B and cathepsin L. There was no changes of cysteine
      proteinases studied in the case of macrophage depression by GdCl3. The role of
      lysosomal enzymes secretion in macrophage stimulation and inflammation was
      discussed.

PMID- 1462827
TI  - Alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor and resistance to acute blood loss during injection
      of beta-1,3-carboxymethylglucan.
AB  - The present study was undertaken to evaluate the mechanism of protective effect
      of semisoluble alpha-1,3-carboxymethylglucan during massive acute hemorrhage. CBA
      mice were injected i.v. with glucan (25 mg/kg) 24 h prior to hemorrhage (50% of
      blood circulating volume). Survival data indicated that glucan increased survival
      compared with the control. However alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor activity in serum
      has been even decreased 24 h after glucan administration. Moreover enhancement of
      active oxygen form production and leakage of cytosolic and lysosomal enzymes
      after alpha-1,3-carboxymethylglucan application was noted.

PMID- 1462828
TI  - Protein proteinase inhibitor therapy in experimental pancreatitis:
      pharmacological characterization of the inhibitor.
AB  - The pharmacodynamical properties of the duck ovomucoid and its effect on the
      development of experimental pancreatitis in rats have been studied. It has been
      shown that after intravenous injection the ovomucoid initially accumulated in the
      liver, kidneys and blood, while after intraperitoneal injection--mainly in the
      pancreas and kidneys. The inhibitor is removed from circulation by renal
      filtration, one-half of the injected protein being removed for 4 hr. For the
      treatment of experimental pancreatitis two modes of ovomucoid administration were
      used: intravenous and combined (intravenous/intraperitoneal). The ovomucoid
      intravenous injection in a dose of 16,300 ATU/kg/24 hr resulted in decrease of
      both the trypsin-like activity and the level of the trypsinogen activation
      peptide in the blood to the level in intact rats and also in reduction of the
      primary pancreas destruction. The same effect observed in the case of the
      ovomucoid combined injection, but with a lower intravenous dose.

PMID- 1462829
TI  - The contact activation proteins: a structure/function overview.
AB  - In recent years, extensive knowledge has been obtained on the structure/function
      relationships of blood coagulation proteins. In this overview, we present recent
      developments on the structure/function relationships of the contact activation
      proteins: factor XII, high molecular weight kininogen, prekallikrein, and factor
      XI, with the emphasis on the localization of domains on these proteins that are
      involved in the interaction with activators, substrates and cofactors.

PMID- 1462830
TI  - Factors affecting the rate of contact activation in human plasma.
AB  - The rate of high molecular weight kininogen cleavage in human plasma treated with
      dextran sulfate depends largely on the length of preincubation at 37 degrees C
      and the sample size during preincubation. The longer the preincubation with
      aliquots < 100 microliters, the more refractory to contact activation the plasma
      became. This effect is not due to prekallikrein or factor XII
      consumption/inhibition since both proteins are functional in clotting assays and
      detectable in immunoblots even after prolonged incubation times at 37 degrees C.

PMID- 1462831
TI  - Purification of factor XI and some properties of activated factor XI from porcine
      plasma.
AB  - Porcine Factor (F.) XI was purified by following three successive
      chromatographies. By this procedure, about 5.5 mg of F. XI was obtained from 500
      ml of the plasma. The F. XI forms dimer, and is heterogeneous molecule, judging
      from SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The properties of isolated porcine
      F. XIa are great similar with those of bovine F. XIa.

PMID- 1462832
TI  - Human plasma kallikrein processing: proteolysis as an alternative control.
AB  - Human plasma kallikrein (HuPK) was detected in normal non-activated and dilution
      activated plasma by immunoblotting, using polyclonal antibodies. In non-activated
      plasma, the predominatly detected protein corresponds to prokallikrein (Mr 80,000
      90,000). Activated plasma, besides kallikrein, contains larger proteins (Mr >
      130,000) that possibly represent complexes between kallikrein and proteinase
      inhibitors. Plasma also contains species (Mr 43,000) which corresponds to
      kallikrein heavy chain. In activated plasma, monoclonal antibodies against
      kallikrein heavy chain detected, besides these same bands described above, two
      additional bands (Mr 30,000 and 20,000) possibly correspondent to fragments of
      kallikrein heavy chain.

PMID- 1462833
TI  - Chloramine T impairs the receptor-mediated endocytosis of plasma kallikrein by
      the liver.
AB  - Treatment of rat plasma-kallikrein with chloramine T (which does not affect
      neither its amidolytic activity nor its Mr) impairs the hepatic clearance of the
      enzyme in a dose-related manner. Preperfusion of the liver with chloramine T
      before the addition of plasma-kallikrein also diminishes the hepatic clearance of
      the enzyme.

PMID- 1462834
TI  - Contact system dependent fibrinolytic activity in vivo: observations in healthy
      subjects and factor XII deficient patients.
AB  - The contribution of activation of the contact system to activation of the
      fibrinolytic system in vivo was investigated in healthy volunteers and in factor
      XII deficient patients. The plasminogen activating activity in normal plasma was
      only partially blocked (for 77%) with specific antibodies to tissue-type
      plasminogen activator (t-PA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA). The
      residual activity could be quenched by a monoclonal antibody that inhibits factor
      XII activity and was not present in patients with a factor XII deficiency. The
      formation of plasmin upon the DDAVP stimulus as reflected by circulating plasmin
      alpha 2-antiplasmin (PAP) complexes was lower in factor XII deficient patients
      than in healthy volunteers. These results indicate that in vivo the plasminogen
      activating activity is partially dependent on activation of the contact system.
      This fibrinolytic activity is impaired in factor XII deficient patients which may
      explain the occurrence of thromboembolic complications in these patients.

PMID- 1462835
TI  - Variable depletion of endogenous factor XII-dependent fibrinolytic activity
      following thrombolytic therapy of myocardial infarction and its relation to
      reinfarction.

PMID- 1462836
TI  - Fibrinolysis and extracorporeal circulation.

PMID- 1462837
TI  - Influence of diabetes mellitus on renal vascular responses to bradykinin.
AB  - Streptozotocin-induced diabetes resulted in diminished vasodilator responses to
      bradykinin in the preconstricted isolated perfused kidney of the rat which were
      associated with decreased renal phospholipase A2 activity and reduced release of
      PGE2 into the renal venous effluent.

PMID- 1462838
TI  - Procoagulant changes induced by oral contraceptives are balanced by an increased
      fibrinolytic tendency.
AB  - Oral contraceptives caused increased fibrinogen, FVII, FX, and fibrinolysis. The
      latter was associated with elevated FXII and PKK, while C1-INH was decreased,
      ATIII and alpha 2M were unchanged; it could not be accounted for by changes in t
      PA, u-PA, PAI, plasminogen, alpha 2-AP, proteins C or S. HCII and alpha 1-PI were
      increased and may regulate the availability of thrombin and FXIa. The increased
      FXII/PKK dependent fibrinolytic potential and HCII may offset any increase in
      thrombin generation, while alpha 1-PI limits intrinsic coagulation.

PMID- 1462839
TI  - Studies on blood coagulation-fibrinolysis system regarding kallikrein-kinin
      system in the utero-placental circulation during normal pregnancy, labor and
      puerperium.
AB  - In our previous study (Adv. Exp. Med & Biol., 247B. 569. 1989, 198B. 41. 1986,
      blood & vessel, 17: 51. 1986), we reported on the mechanism of coagulation
      fibrinolysis system and kallikrein-kinin system in the utero-placental
      circulation during normal pregnancy, labor and puerperium. The samples were
      collected from the uterine artery (UA), uterine vein (UV) and peripheral vein
      (PV). In this study, we tried to elucidate the mechanism of coagulation
      fibrinolysis with relation to kks by measuring of Thrombin/Antithrombin III
      complex (TAT), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator
      inhibitor 1 (PAI) complex (tPA.PAI.C), active plasminogen activator inhibitor 1
      (active PAI), alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor/plasmin complex (PIC). In 20 normal
      pregnant women, the levels of TAT, tPA.PAI.C and active PAI significantly
      increased the first trimester (TAT 4.31 +/- 2.05 ng/ml, tPA.PAI.C 39.52 +/- 17.34
      ng/ml, active PAI 39.58 +/- 15.29 ng/ml, n = 20 M +/- SD P < 0.001) to the third
      trimester (TAT 6.39 +/- 1.93 ng/ml, tPA.PAI.C 57.94 +/- 30.80 ng/ml, active PAI
      304.24 +/- 148.64 ng/ml, n = 20 M +/- SD P < 0.001) as compared with those of non
      pregnant women (TAT 1.60 +/- 0.89 ng/mg, tPA.PAI.C 11.72 +/- 4.59 ng/ml, active
      PAI 11.53 +/- 7.48 ng/ml, n = 16 M +/- SD). In utero-placental circulation, the
      levels of TAT significantly increased (TAT 22.12 +/- 20.03 ng/ml n = 20 M +/- SD
      P < 0.001) in UV, and tPA.PAI.C and PIC. markedly increased (tPA.PAI.C 93.38 +/-
      56.05 ng/ml, PIC 1.03 +/- 0.94 micrograms/ml n = 20 M +/- SD P < 0.02) in UV, but
      active PAI markedly decreased (active PAI 244.18 +/- 87.55 ng/ml n = 20 M +/- SD
      P < 0.02) as compared with those in PV (TAT 6.1 +/- 2.09 ng/ml, tPA.PAI.C 59.34
      +/- 18.99 ng/ml, PIC 0.49 +/- 0.24 micrograms/ml, active PAI 349.14 +/- 157.34
      ng/ml, n = 20 M +/- SD). These findings suggest that the significant increase in
      those complexes in UA has produced a deposition of fibrin clots in the area in
      contact with utero-placental blood vessel, although the marked increase in
      tPA.PAI.C and PIC incompletely inhibited the fibrinolytic activity of tPA by the
      active PAI. The kks shows a consumption of prekallikrein, LMW-kininogen and HMW
      kininogen, and an overproduction of kinin in UV.

PMID- 1462840
TI  - Studies of blood coagulation-fibrinolysis regarding kallikrein-kinin system in
      severe preeclampsia.
AB  - In our previous study 1), 2), 3) we reported the changes of coagulation
      fibrinolysis, kallikrein-kinin system and kininase in preclampsis. In this study,
      we tried to obtain systemic information of chronic DIC status with regard to
      kallikrein-kinin system in severe preeclampsia. This systemic information was
      evaluated in 20 cases of normal gravidas from 28 to 42 weeks of gestation as a
      control by measuring plasma Thrombin/Antithrombin III complex (TAT), tissue
      plasminogen activator (tPA) plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) complex, active
      plasminogen inhibitor-1 (active PAI), 2PI plasmin complex (PIC). RESULTS: The
      levels of plasma TAT and tPA significantly increased (TAT = 10.9 +/- 8.3 ng/ml n
      = 24 M +/- SD P < 0.02, tPA = 6.1 +/- 3.2 ng/ml n = 10 M +/- SD P < 0.01), tPA
      PAI C and active PAI markedly increased (tPA PAI C = 85.07 +/- 50.01 ng/ml n = 24
      P < 0.05, active PAI = 407.4 +/- 166.0 ng/ml n = 24 P < 0.205), and PIC and D
      dimer = 435.1 +/- 145.2 ng/ml n = 8 M +/- SD P < 0.001) in severe preeclampsia as
      compared with those of normal values (TAT = 6.1 2.0 ng/ml, tPA = 3.6 +/- 1.5
      ng/ml, tPA PAI C = 57.9 +/- 30.8 ng/ml, active PAI = 304.2 +/- 148.6 ng/ml, PIC =
      0.49 +/- 0.24 mg/ml, D-dimer = 282.9 +/- 75.3 ng/ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1462841
TI  - Bradykinin-mediated metabolic effects in isolated perfused rat hearts.
AB  - Bradykinin perfusion (BK 1 x 10(-12) to 1 x 10(-8) mol/l) of isolated working rat
      hearts with postischemic reperfusion arrhythmias induced a reduction of the
      incidence as well as duration of ventricular fibrillation, improvement of
      cardiodynamics via increased left ventricular pressure, contractility, and
      coronary flow without changes in heart rate. These beneficial effects were
      accompanied by reduced activities of the cytosolic enzymes lactate dehydrogenase
      and creatine kinase as well as lactate output. In the myocardial tissue lactate
      content was reduced and the energy rich phosphates increased compared to saline
      perfused control hearts. Glycogen stores were also preserved. These beneficial
      effects of BK were concentration-dependently abolished by perfusion of the B2
      kinin receptor antagonist HOE 140 and the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor NG
      nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA). These results suggest that improved cardiac function
      during and after myocardial ischemia as well as increased energy rich phophates
      and glycogen stores are mediated by BK and the subsequent release of NO, shifting
      myocardial metabolism during ischemia and reperfusion to the glucose pathway
      which leads to changes indicative for cardioprotection.

PMID- 1462842
TI  - Evidence that nitric oxide or a related substance is a neurovasodilator in the
      submandibular gland of the cat.
AB  - Close-arterial injection of L-NG-nitro arginine methyl ester, a compound that
      inhibits the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), caused a dose-dependent reduction in
      both the parasympathetic and sympathetic (rebound) nerve-induced vasodilatation
      within the submandibular gland of the cat. At the same time, salivary secretion
      produced by each nerve was relatively unaffected, and the sympathetic
      vasoconstriction was enhanced. These results suggest that NO or a related
      compound may be either a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator contributing to the
      autonomic nerve-induced vasodilatation in the submandibular gland of the cat.

PMID- 1462843
TI  - Increased sensitivity of guinea pig gallbladder in vitro to bradykinin.
AB  - Bradykinin evoked concentration dependent contractions of guinea pig gallbladder
      smooth muscle strips in vitro. Responses to kinins increase over three hours of
      incubation. Induction of a B1-mediated action, waning activity of endogenous
      kininase(s) and involvement of eicosanoids as mediators have been investigated as
      potential contributing mechanisms to the four-fold, time dependent increase in
      response of this tissue to bradykinin.

PMID- 1462844
TI  - Involvement of bradykinin-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations in phosphatidylcholine
      breakdown in K-ras-transformed fibroblasts.
AB  - Bradykinin (BK) induced a biphasic 1,2-diacylglycerol production in both K-ras
      transformed (DT) cells and its parent NIH3T3 cells. The first phase was
      coincident with the transient phosphoinositide turnover and the second sustained
      phase was derived from hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC). In DT cells, the
      PC breakdown was considerably due to phospholipase C and dependent on
      intracellular calcium oscillations.

PMID- 1462845
TI  - Renal alteration and development of hypertension in diabetic rats.
AB  - There is a close association between diabetes and hypertension. Many studies have
      demonstrated an increased incidence of hypertension in the presence of diabetic
      nephropathy. The aim of the present work was to study the kallikrein-kinin system
      during the diabetic states with hypertension. In this study neonatal rats were
      injected with streptozotocin at two days of age. Plasma glucose, proteinuria,
      urinary kallikrein, blood pressure, creatinine clearance, diuresis and body
      weight were measured. RESULTS: control rats vs diabetic rats. Plasma glucose
      (mg/dl): 0 minutes 80.2 +/- 2.5 vs 105.5 +/- 4.5; 60 minutes 120.4 +/- 2.3 vs
      220.0 +/- 4.6; 120 minutes 105.0 +/- 1.5 vs 140.0 +/- 3.6; p < 0.05. Proteinuria
      at 8 months of age (mg/24 hs): 12.5 +/- 1.6 vs 20.6 +/- 2.4; p < 0.05. Urinary
      kallikrein at 8 months of age (umol/min/24 hs)/(ml/min) x 10(3): 46.9 +/- 3.0 vs
      28.5 +/- 2.5; p 0.005. Blood pressure at 8 months of age (mm Hg): 110.0 +/- 2.0
      vs 132.0 +/- 4.0; p < 0.001. Creatinine clearance at 10 months of age (ml/min):
      0.46 +/- 0.03 vs 0.70 +/- 0.14; p < 0.05. Diuresis at 8 months of age (ml/24 hs):
      1.55 +/- 0.65 vs 10.30 +/- 1.44, p < 0.001. The early modifications of kallikrein
      kinin system in the diabetes states may contribute to development hypertension
      with modifications in the hemodynamics renal function.

PMID- 1462846
TI  - Isolation of a thiol-dependent acid kininogenase from rat spleen.
AB  - The enzyme which could produce kinin-like peptides from rat plasma at acidic
      condition and at coexistence of thiol compound was separated from acid extract of
      rat spleen. The isolation procedure of this enzyme was established. Substrate
      specificity was examined against fluologenic substrates and two types of
      collagen. The purified enzyme was proved to have kinin-forming activity and also
      collagenlytic activity.

PMID- 1462847
TI  - Cell membrane potential oscillations induced by kinins in fibroblasts expressing
      the Ha-ras oncogene.
AB  - In NIH-3T3 fibroblasts expressing the ras oncogene (+ras) bradykinin (BK) elicits
      sustained oscillations (1/min) of cell membrane potential (PD) due to
      oscillations of intracellular calcium activity with subsequent activation of
      calcium sensitive K+ channels. In NIH-3T3 fibroblasts not expressing the oncogene
      (-ras), BK leads to a single transient hyperpolarization of the cell membrane,
      not followed by oscillations. The oscillations of cell membrane potential require
      the presence of extracellular calcium and are abolished by K+ channel blocker
      barium (1 mmol/l), as well as by calcium channel blockers cadmium (1 mmol/l),
      lanthanum (0.1 mmol/l) and nifedipine (10 mumol/l). However, the oscillations are
      not modified by 1 mumol/l nifedipine, or by other calcium channel blockers, such
      as verapamil (10 mumol/l) or diltiazem (10 mumol/l). Cell proliferation is
      inhibited by nifedipine (10 mumol/l) but not by verapamil or diltiazem,
      indicating that the oscillations of intracellular calcium are a prerequisite for
      the growth factor independent proliferation of ras oncogene expressing cells.

PMID- 1462848
TI  - Regulation of bradykinin-induced chloride secretion in a human epithelial cell
      line.
AB  - The chloride secretory response to bradykinin in T84 cells is regulated. The
      efflux rate of 125I from these cells can be used to measure this response, and to
      demonstrate that the sensitivity to bradykinin varies with time in culture. The
      response in NuT84 cells is greater than that in T84, and can be blocked by the B2
      receptor antagonist HOE-140.

PMID- 1462849
TI  - Desensitization of bradykinin-induced activation of peripheral nociceptors.
AB  - Bradykinin-induced activation of peripheral nociceptors has been studied in an
      isolated spinal cord/tail preparation from the neonatal rat. Prolonged
      administration of bradykinin consistently produced a selective desensitization
      which could be prevented by concanavalin A but not by succinyl concanavalin A or
      phenylarsine oxide. These data indicate that mannose-containing glycoproteins
      occur in or close to the bradykinin receptor site. In addition the
      desensitization observed under the present conditions, did not involve the
      internalization of bradykinin receptors.

PMID- 1462850
TI  - The kallikrein--kinin system in blood vessels.
AB  - We have previously reported that vascular tissue contains kallikrein and
      kallikrein mRNA. We can now show that kallikrein is present throughout the
      vascular tree and is released from arterial and venous rings incubated "in
      vitro". Using the isolated perfused rat hindquarters as a model, we found that
      kallikrein appeared in the perfusate in concentrations that increased linearly
      with time. Treatment with puromycin inhibited kallikrein release by 87% (p <
      0.01), these data suggest that kallikrein is synthesized and released by the
      vascular wall. Local generation of kinins (autocrine/paracrine system) may
      contribute to the regulation of vascular homeostasis.

PMID- 1462851
TI  - Vascular wall kininogen concentration is inversely related to intrinsic
      kininogenase in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
AB  - We determined kininogen concentration and kininogenase activity in the blood
      free, aorta homogenates of 15 week old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and
      in their age-matched wistar kyoto (WKY) controls. Active kininogenase in the SHR
      was only 18% of the WKY controls. Thus, the kininogen concentration was inversely
      related to kininogenase activity suggesting a local interaction of these
      components and possible generation of kinins within the vascular wall.

PMID- 1462852
TI  - Effects of bradykinin and Des-Arg9-bradykinin on the ischemic rat heart.
AB  - In isolated rat hearts subjected to 30 min stop flow followed by 5 min
      reperfusion, Bradykinin (Bk), 1 and 0.1 microM, significantly decreased
      ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, noradrenaline (NA) output at
      reperfusion as well as myocardial NA loss and lipid peroxidation, and preserved
      creatine kinase activity. Des-Arg9-Bk 0.1 microM had also similar effects. Hence,
      the active metabolite des-Arg9-Bk may be involved in the protective action of Bk,
      partly mediated by its inhibitory effect on NA liberation.

PMID- 1462853
TI  - The effect of bradykinin on coronary flow and its potentiation by SH-containing
      ACE-inhibitors.
AB  - Bradykinin plays a role in the regulation of coronary blood flow. Under basic
      conditions the vasodilating effect is primarily mediated by stimulation of the
      endogenous nitrovasodilator endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). This
      effect is shortlasting but can be increased and prolonged by sulfhydryl(SH)
      containing agents. ACE-inhibitors may cause coronary vasorelaxation by a
      bradykinin-mediated release of EDRF. This can be potentiated by the presence of
      SH-groups, as was shown with captopril and zofenoprilat. As a consequence, SH
      containing ACE-inhibitors may potentiate nitrates, because they act as exogenous
      nitrovasodilators, and reverse tolerance to their therapeutic effect.

PMID- 1462854
TI  - Direct effects of bradykinin on glomerular filtration and proximal tubule
      reabsorption in rat kidney.
AB  - Intrarenal infusion of a low dose of bradykinin devoid of extrarenal action
      exerts direct vasodilator and diuretic effects on rat kidney. It does not
      significantly alter glomerular filtration rate and absolute proximal reabsorption
      but increases the delivery of fluid from the proximal tubule evaluated by the
      clearance of lithium. None of these effects are observed in kidneys infused with
      both bradykinin and a specific bradykinin antagonist.

PMID- 1462855
TI  - Kallikrein and kinin release using superfused disaggregated cortical cells from
      rat and human kidney: effects of AVP and dopamine.
AB  - Potential regulators of the renal Kallikrein-Kinin System are poorly defined. We
      have therefore examined the effect of arginine vasopressin and dopamine on the
      release of kallikrein and kinin from collagenase-dispersed rat and human renal
      cortical cells.

PMID- 1462856
TI  - Kinin antagonist blunts the diuretic effect of furosemide in deoxycorticosterone
      treated rats.
AB  - Furosemide at a dose of 3 mg/kg body wt increased urinary volume (vehicle: 12.8
      +/- 0.6; furosemide: 42.4 +/- 2.6 ml/8h, p < 0.01) and urinary sodium excretion
      (vehicle: 0.9 +/- 0.1; furosemide: 5.0 +/- 0.4 mM/8h, p < 0.01) in
      deoxycorticosterone-treated rats. These effects were associated to a decrease in
      mean blood pressure (from 122 +/- 4 to 113 +/- 3 mmHg, p < 0.01) and renal
      vascular resistances (from 15.6 +/- 0.6 to 14.3 +/- 0.7 RU, p < 0.05). The B2
      receptor antagonist D-Arg[Hyp3,Thi5,D-Tic7,Oic8]-bradykinin significantly blunted
      the diuretic and natriuretic effect of furosemide and completely prevented the
      decrease in blood pressure and renal vascular resistances. The renal kallikrein
      kinin system may modulate the diuretic and hemodynamic effects of furosemide in
      conditions of increased mineralcorticoid activity.

PMID- 1462857
TI  - ACE inhibitor effect on bradykinin metabolism in the vascular wall.
AB  - In the isolated rabbit thoracic aorta the ACE inhibitor ramiprilat attenuated
      bradykinin degradation by enzymes localized on vascular endothelial cells as well
      as on vascular smooth muscle cells by 26% and 32%, respectively. We conclude that
      the ACE inhibitor can attenuate vascular bradykinin degradation not only by
      inhibition of endothelial ACE but also by inhibition of other bradykinin
      degrading enzymes in deeper layers of the vascular wall.

PMID- 1462858
TI  - Local production of kinins contributes to the endothelium dependent relaxations
      evoked by converting enzyme inhibitors in isolated arteries.
AB  - The angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor perindoprilat evokes
      endothelium-dependent relaxations in perfused isolated canine arteries.
      Kininogens, the precursors of bradykinin, elicit endothelium-dependent
      relaxations which are potentiated by perindoprilat, inhibited by B2-kinin
      antagonists and partially impaired after inhibition of NO synthase. These
      observations suggest that locally produced kinins may stimulate the production of
      NO and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor, and that this action is
      potentiated by ACE inhibitors.

PMID- 1462859
TI  - Captopril as a modifier of the arachidonate cascade of rat platelets.
AB  - The lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonate cascade in the platelets of
      spontaneously hypertensive rats has been found to be significantly higher than in
      normotensive animals. Repeated oral administration of Captopril (in drinking
      water - 200 mg/100 ml) for 14 days resulted in an elevation in the activity of
      arachidonate cascade in the platelets of treated rats. At the same time the
      Captopril treatment induced the formation of 12-hydroxy-heptadecatrienoic acid
      (12-HHT), which molecule is known to be a potent prostacyclin (PGI2) releaser
      and/or synthesis inducer. PGI2 is one of the most potent vasodilatator molecule
      in living organisms. The in vitro experiments in rat platelets suggest, that very
      low doses of Captopril (10(-12) to 10(-10) M) result in a significantly elevated
      12-HHT synthesis. Captopril might act through the 12-HHT--PGI2 mechanism,
      resulting in blood pressure reduction. The lipoxygenase pathway of platelets, the
      formation of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), was significantly
      elevated in vitro in the presence of low dose of Captopril (10(-11) and 10(-10)
      M).

PMID- 1462860
TI  - Cardioprotection of ACE inhibitor in ischemic heart is not dependent on the local
      angiotensin II formation.
AB  - Angiotensin II (AII) and bradykinin (BK) release into anterior interventricular
      vein (AIV) increased significantly 30 minutes after left anterior descending
      artery (LAD) occlusion in the absence of kidneys. Captopril enhanced BK release,
      but did not suppress the increase of AII release. Nafamostat suppressed both
      releases. Infarct size was significantly reduced by captopril but not by
      nafamostat. These results suggest that cardioprotective effect of captopril might
      be dependent on local BK accumulation, but not on suppression of local AII
      generation.

PMID- 1462861
TI  - Salt sensitivity and bradykinin activity in rats.

PMID- 1462862
TI  - Action of a novel kinin precursor, Met-T-kinin-Leu, on prostaglandin I2 and blood
      pressure.
AB  - The novel kinin precursor, Met-T-kinin-Leu, stimulated the release of
      prostaglandin I2 from endothelial cells cultured using bovine carotid artery
      endothelial cells and minimum essential medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf
      serum. However, it failed to stimulate the release of prostaglandin I2 from the
      cells in the fetal calf serum-free medium conditions. To examine the discrepancy
      of the release of prostaglandin I2 from the cells by Met-T-kinin-Leu in the
      presence or absence of fetal calf serum, the products formed from Met-T-kinin-Leu
      by incubation of culture medium were analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC. Regarding
      the blood pressure reaction of Met-T-kinin-Leu, it showed from one fifth to one
      hundredth of that compared with bradykinin in blood pressure reactivity of each
      species, such as rats, rabbits and cats.

PMID- 1462863
TI  - The renal kallikrein-kinin system at the prehypertensive stage of hypertension.
AB  - In essential hypertension, renal dopaminergic activity and PGE2 was suppressed as
      was the renal kallikrein-kinin system. The suppression of the renal depressor
      systems may play an important role in the etiology of hypertension through sodium
      and body fluid retention. At the prehypertensive stage of essential hypertension,
      renal dopaminergic activity was suppressed, which induced the retention of body
      fluids and sodium. On the other hand, the renal prostaglandin E2 was augmented,
      and it seemed to be a compensatory mechanism for sodium retention. We could not
      confirm the suppression of the renal kallikrein-kinin system at the
      prehypertensive stage of hypertension. Although all renal depressor systems are
      suppressed in essential hypertension, the suppression of the renal kallikrein
      kinin system and PGE2 seem to be very important in the etiology of hypertension.
      Further study is necessary to clarify when both systems are suppressed.

PMID- 1462864
TI  - Lack of oral kallikrein in lowering systemic blood pressure in primary
      hypertension.
AB  - Primary hypertension is associated with a lack in renal kallikrein activity which
      might be one of the reasons for the blood pressure elevation. Some smaller and
      partially uncontrolled studies suggested that an oral substitution of glandular
      kallikrein lowers blood pressure by a kinin-mediated vasodilation and increased
      natriuresis. To test this hypothesis we treated in two studies over 100 patients
      with untreated mild to moderate primary hypertension (WHO I-II) for 5 resp. 12
      weeks in a double blind randomized and placebo controlled manner with 1800 U
      glandular kallikrein orally. Blood pressure measurements were performed according
      to the two study designs after 3 and 5 resp. 8 and 12 weeks of treatment
      sphymomanometrically in the day time course. No significant changes in blood
      pressure by kallikrein treatment could be observed at any time. Neither renal
      kallikrein excretion, renin and ACE-activity nor blood glucose concentration in
      diabetics or non-diabetics was changed. Thus, we could undoubtedly demonstrate
      that oral applied glandular kallikrein has no effect on primary hypertension.

PMID- 1462865
TI  - The kallikrein-kinin system in early state of diabetes.
AB  - The kallikrein-kinin system was studied in 9 normals, healthy subjects (6 men, 3
      women, age range 1 to 14 years) and 15 diabetic patients (9 men, 6 women age
      range 2 to 14 years) with an evolution of the disease between 1 to 14 years.
      Diabetic patients with low microalbuminuria (6.62 +/- 0.97 mg/24 h) show
      increased total and pre-kallikrein respect to control (3 and 2 fold
      respectively). On the other hand patients with high microalbuminuria (44.7 +/-
      13.2 mg/24 h) show a total and pre-kallikrein of more than 4 and 8 fold increased
      respectively, compare with the control. According with these results we can
      concluded: 1) The total kallikrein and pre-kallikrein is increased in the
      diabetic state. 2) When microalbuminuria is high, the total and pre-kallikrein
      correlates with those increasing. 3) These changes could modified the renal
      hemodynamic in diabetes.

PMID- 1462866
TI  - Studies of the activation and inhibition of the plasma kallikrein-kinin system.

PMID- 1462867
TI  - Hageman factor dependent activation and its relationship to lethal Pseudomonas
      aeruginosa burn wound infections.
AB  - Trauma causes increases in total protease load in the circulation of the
      traumatized host animal or patient. This increase is due, in part, to Hageman
      Factor activation followed by down-line cascade system activation. Concomitant
      with the activation of these systems is a reduced host capacity to resist
      infection. Infection superimposed on a traumatized host increases the total host
      protease load even more by additional activation of Hageman Factor and cascade
      systems.

PMID- 1462868
TI  - Microbial proteinases as an universal trigger of kinin generation in microbial
      infections.

PMID- 1462869
TI  - Liver and serum lysosomal enzymes activity during zymosan-induced inflammation in
      mice.
AB  - Liver and serum lysosomal enzymes (acid glucosidases and cysteine proteinases)
      during zymosan-induced stimulation of MPS or MPR depression induced by GdCl3 have
      been studied. Zymosan was used as a model for study of inflammation in vivo. The
      development of inflammation induced by zymosan was followed by increase activity
      of macrophage activation markers - beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGlu) and beta
      N-acetylgalactosaminidase (NAGal) in liver and serum. There was enhance of liver
      cysteine proteinases activity. Similar, less prominent (partly) data were
      obtained during macrophage depression induced by GdCl3.

PMID- 1462870
TI  - Plasma exudation by activated plasma kallikrein after intraperitoneal injection
      of lambda-carrageenin or endotoxin in rats.
AB  - The experimental study was carried out to examine whether intraperitoneal
      injection of carrageenin or endotoxin activates plasma kallikrein-kinin system to
      induce plasma exudation in rats. Intraperitoneal injection of 2% lambda
      carrageenin induced plasma exudation in the peritoneal cavity by activation of
      plasma prekallikrein. Intraperitoneal injection of endotoxin (3mg/kg) also
      resulted in intraperitoneal plasma exudation, but plasma kallikrein-kinin system
      did not seem to be involved.

PMID- 1462871
TI  - The role of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor in semisoluble glucan induced resistance
      to hemorrhage.
AB  - The present study was undertaken to evaluate the mechanism of protective effect
      of semisoluble beta-1,3-carboxymethylglucan (CMG) during acute massive
      hemorrhage. CBA mice were injected i.v. with glucan (25 mg/kg) 24 h prior to
      hemorrhage (50% of blood circulating volume). Survival data indicated that glucan
      increased survival compared with control. However, alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor
      activity in serum have been even decreased 24 h after glucan administration.
      Moreover enhancement of active oxygen form production and leakage of cytosol and
      lysosomal enzymes after CMG application were noted.

PMID- 1462872
TI  - Determination of tissue kallikrein and alpha 1-antitrypsin-tissue kallikrein
      complexes in synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid, osteo and psoriatic
      arthritis.
AB  - An enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay was developed to determine tissue kallikrein
      and alpha 1-antitrypsin-tissue kallikrein complexes in pooled synovial fluid of
      patients with rheumatoid, osteo and psoriatic arthritis. Even though basal values
      could be determined, the addition of synovial fluid shifted the standard curves
      for both tissue kallikrein and alpha 1-antitrypsin-tissue kallikrein complex to
      the right, because of the presence of a novel inhibitor.

PMID- 1462873
TI  - Comparison of plasma prekallikrein levels in human skin blister and chamber
      fluids from volunteer subjects and psoriatic patients.
AB  - Suction blisters were successfully raised on lesional, perilesional and non
      lesional skin of psoriatic patients. Similar blisters were created on the skin of
      volunteer subjects. A specific method has been established for the measurement of
      plasma prekallikrein, and validated for blister fluid, skin chamber fluid, plasma
      and synovial fluid. Combined levels of plasma prekallikrein and its active form
      were compared in blister fluids obtained from psoriatic patients and the
      volunteers. Significantly higher values for plasma prekallikrein were found in
      the non-lesional blister fluids of psoriatic patients when compared to the
      volunteer subjects.

PMID- 1462874
TI  - Changes in polymorphonuclear neutrophil-elastase in pancreatitis.
AB  - In cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis, we measured the amount of
      polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN)-elastase. There was a significantly larger
      increase in PMN-elastase in patients with pancreatitis than normal adults.
      Especially, there was a particularly notable increase in amount of PMN-elastase
      in patients with severe pancreatitis. Furthermore, the peak of PMN-elastase
      increase throughout the course of the pancreatitis was seen to be 1-2 days after
      peak increase in pancreatic enzymes. In the experiment in which pancreatic juice
      and pig pancreatic kallikrein were added to granulocytes in vitro, we recognized
      a gradual release of PMN-elastase. From these data, we suggested that timely
      measurements of PMN-elastase are useful to marker of monitoring clinical changes
      in severe pancreatitis.

PMID- 1462875
TI  - CP-0127, a novel potent bradykinin antagonist, increases survival in rat and
      rabbit models of endotoxin shock.
AB  - The bradykinin antagonist dimer CP-0127 was found to be a potent and selective
      inhibitor of the depressor response to bradykinin in the anaesthetized rat and
      rabbit. When given as a single dose s.c. (3.6 mumol/kg), the depressor response
      to bradykinin was blocked for the duration of the experiment (4 hours). In
      anaesthetized control rats, LPS from E. coli produced a profound and immediate
      hypotensive response, while in rats infused with CP-0127, the response to LPS was
      almost totally reversed. In addition, CP-0127 given as a single subcutaneous dose
      (3.6 mumol/kg) to rats 1 hour before LPS challenge produced a 93% survival rate,
      compared to 14% in control animals. Finally, a survival rate of 86% was achieved
      in rabbits infused with CP-0127 at 0.36 nmol/kg/min i.v., compared to 45.5% in
      saline-infused control animals given LPS (500 micrograms/kg i.v.). The results of
      these experiments provide evidence for a significant role for the kallikrein
      kinin system in these models of endotoxic shock, and indicate the therapeutic
      potential of a bradykinin antagonist such as CP-0127 for treating this disorder
      in man.

PMID- 1462876
TI  - The bradykinin antagonist Hoe 140 inhibits carrageenan- and thermically induced
      paw oedema in rats.
AB  - The new and highly potent B2 bradykinin (BK) antagonist Hoe 140 was tested for
      its ability to inhibit oedema of rat paws induced by scalding and carrageenan.
      The data show that Hoe 140 inhibits scalding and carrageenan oedema for more than
      four and six hours, respectively. Based on its potency against actions of
      endogenously generated kinins Hoe 140 is appropriate to investigate the role of
      kinins in human inflammatory diseases.

PMID- 1462877
TI  - Effect of bradykinin on airway function.
AB  - Bradykinin (BK) has several effects on airway function which may be relevant in
      obstructive airways disease. These effects are mediated via B2-receptors. BK is a
      potent bronchoconstrictor in animals and humans in vivo. Bradykinin contracts
      airway smooth muscle, is a potent bronchial vasodilator, increases microvascular
      leakage, stimulates epithelial cells to release bronchodilators and stimulates
      mucus secretion. Perhaps its most important action is the activation of sensory
      nerves in airways, leading to reflex bronchoconstriction, coughing and neurogenic
      inflammation through the release of neuropeptides from sensory nerves.

PMID- 1462878
TI  - The potential role of bradykinin antagonists in the treatment of asthma.
AB  - The potential role of bradykinin and the use of bradykinin antagonists in the
      treatment of allergic airway disease (asthma) was studied by determining the
      effects of the bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, NPC-567 (D-Arg-[Hyp3,D-Phe7]
      bradykinin) on antigen-induced early and late bronchial responses, airway
      inflammation, mediator release and airway hyperresponsiveness in the sheep model
      of allergic asthma. In the control trial, antigen challenge produced an early
      bronchoconstrictor response that was associated with an increase in
      immunoreactive-kinins in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL), and a late bronchial
      response that was associated with increased concentrations of leukotriene [LT]B4
      and LTC4 and inflammatory cells (neutrophils and eosinophils) in the BAL. Aerosol
      NPC-567 given before, during and 4 h after antigen challenge had no protective
      effect on the early bronchoconstrictor response, but significantly inhibited the
      late bronchial response. This inhibition was correlated with a reduction in the
      inflammatory lipid mediators and inflammatory cells in BAL. These results suggest
      that antigen-induced kinin generation may be important for controlling the
      release of arachidonic acid metabolites from inflammatory cells that contribute
      to the development of late responses and airway hyperresponsiveness.

PMID- 1462879
TI  - Kallikrein-like activity in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of sensitized,
      challenged guinea-pigs.
AB  - Sensitization and challenge of guinea-pig airways with aerosols of ovalbumin
      solution administered through an endotracheal tube leads to a significant
      increase in kallikrein-like enzyme activity in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)
      fluid. This increase is present up to six hours after challenge and may be
      related to changes in airways resistance that persist for similar periods.

PMID- 1462880
TI  - Increase in the kinin levels in the bronchial washings after intravenous
      injection of leukotriene C4 in guinea pigs.
AB  - In guinea pig plasma, bradykinin (BK) was degraded mainly to des-Arg1-BK by an
      aminopeptidase-like enzyme, which was inhibited by 2-mercaptoethanol. Besides
      this degradation, BK was also hydrolyzed by kininase I and kininase II from C
      terminal end to des-Arg9-BK, des-Phe8-Arg9-BK and Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe ([1-5] BK).
      The formation of des-9-BK was strongly blocked by DL-2-mercaptomethyl-3
      guanidinoethylthiopropanoic acid (MGPA) and that of des-8,9-BK and [1-5] BK was
      inhibited by captopril. When guinea pigs were pretreated with a cocktail of 2
      mercaptoethanol, MGPA and captopril, intravenous administration of leukotriene
      (LT) C4 (10 nmol/kg) caused an increase in the levels of free kinin in the
      bronchial washings of guinea pigs. This increase was accompanied with the
      increase in glandular-kallikrein activity, which could be inhibited by aprotinin.
      As BK is reported to induce both bronchoconstriction and bronchial secretion, the
      increased free BK induced by LTC4 might enhance the effect of LTC4.

PMID- 1462881
TI  - Bradykinin and other inflammatory mediators in BAL-fluid from patients with
      active pulmonary inflammation.
AB  - We evaluated the levels of bradykinin, albumin, TAME-esterase activity,
      histamine, PGD2 and LTC4 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from asthmatics and from
      patients with pneumonia, sarcoidosis, fibrosis, and chronic bronchitis. Compared
      with the results of healthy volunteers and atopic asymptomatic asthmatics the
      bradykinin levels and TAME-esterase activity were significantly elevated. In all
      other groups, histamine was additionally elevated in asymptomatic asthmatics,
      whereas albumin was elevated in symptomatic asthmatics and fibrosis patients, and
      decreased in chronic bronchitis and pneumonia patients. Following local
      intrabronchial allergen challenge of mild grass pollen asthmatics out of season
      bradykinin levels increased significantly, correlated with albumin, histamine and
      TAME-esterase activity. In contrast to the increased mediator concentrations in
      the early phase reaction there was no change of BAL cells in asthmatics compared
      to baseline and healthy volunteers. The presence of bradykinin in the
      bronchoalveolar space of patients with active pulmonary inflammations and
      bradykinin generation in asthmatics as a result of intrabronchial allergen
      challenge provides strong evidence that kinins are involved in inflammatory
      disorders of the lower airways.

PMID- 1462882
TI  - Cough induced by ACE-inhibitors. A kinin related phenomenon?
AB  - Cough induced by ACE-inhibitors may be related to bronchial hyperreactivity
      and/or to an accumulation of kinins. In a placebo-controlled, double-blind
      randomized study in asthmatic and hypertensive patients lung function and
      bronchial reactivity to histamine and bradykinin remained unaltered although in
      hypertensive patients with cough, reactivity to histamine tended to be more
      pronounced and bronchial hyperreactivity to be more frequent than in those
      without cough. The findings do not support a major role of kinins in ACE
      inhibitor-induced cough.

PMID- 1462883
TI  - The kallikrein-kinin system of sweat in normal and cystic fibrosis subjects.
AB  - The mechanisms of kallikrein secretion was studied in 25 normal subjects (11
      male, 14 female) and 5 subjects with cystic fibrosis (identified by the usual
      criteria). The results obtained show a decreasing of prekallikrein and total
      kallikrein in cystic fibrosis stimulated by IPR or pilocarpine compare to
      controls. On the other hand sweat from males shows more prekallikrein and total
      kallikrein than females. According with this results we can concluded that the
      basic defect in sweat cystic fibrosis gland could be the possible involvement of
      the kallikrein-kinin system on the high osmolality of the sweat secretion.

PMID- 1462884
TI  - Modulation of presynaptic sympathetic activity by kinins and related compounds:
      influence of converting enzyme inhibition.
AB  - Since converting enzyme and kininase II are identical enzymes and probably
      influences both, the biosynthesis of Ang II and the metabolism of bradykinin we
      investigated the effects of bradykinin, desArg-bradykinin and some bradykinin
      antagonists (desArg[9]-Leu[8]-bradykinin, HOE S 890307) on the sympathetic
      outflow of pithed SHR or Brown-Norway-Rats before and after acute or chronic
      inhibition of the converting enzyme by ramipril. bradykinin increased dose
      dependently the noradrenaline and adrenaline release in particular when the
      converting enzyme was inhibited. DesArg-bradykinin caused a dose-dependent
      increase in adrenaline release only after converting enzyme inhibition. The
      bradykinin-antagonists led to an increase in adrenaline release during ramipril
      administration. The weak but significant stimulation of adrenaline release by the
      bradykinin antagonists after converting enzyme inhibition might be due to
      unspecific actions on the adrenal medulla possibly induced by histamine release
      from mast cells.

PMID- 1462885
TI  - The kallikrein-kinin system in cardiac tissue.
AB  - Kallikrein and minute amounts of kininogen have been found in rat cardiac tissue.
      The mRNA for kallikrein was also determined by the polymerase chain reaction
      using KK-specific probe. The existence of an intrinsic kallikrein-kinin system in
      the heart raises the possibility that the enzyme-peptide system is involved in
      local regulation of cardiac function and metabolism.

PMID- 1462886
TI  - Early ACE-inhibition in myocardial infarction. Possible role of bradykinin.
AB  - Restoration of coronary blood flow in the ischemic myocardium is absolutely
      needed to prevent irreversible cellular damage but on the other hand may have
      potentially hazardous consequences. Since thrombolysis during myocardial
      infarction is designed to salvage a maximal number of myocardial cells threatened
      by ischemia, a concommitant intervention which reduces cellular damage due to
      reperfusion will improve the net result of such procedure. The adjunctive use of
      ACE-inhibitors with thrombolytic therapy early during acute myocardial infarction
      offers theoretic advantages. This article summarizes the results indicating that
      ACE-inhibitors do play an important role in cardioprotection in the acute phase
      of myocardial ischemia followed by reperfusion. Probably, their effect on
      bradykinin breakdown is at least partly responsible for this effect.

PMID- 1462887
TI  - Activation of kinins on myocardial ischemia.
AB  - In experimental ischemic dog heart with coronary-constriction, no increase of
      coronary blood flow, Max dP/dt or MVO2 with no change of kinin in arterial blood
      were exhibited. Following sympathetic nerve stimulation, remarkable increases of
      kinin in coronary sinus blood were observed with a significant elevation of left
      ventricular end-diastolic pressure and an augmented production of lactate from
      the heart as well as an ischemic change of ECG-ST. Infusion of kinin into the
      left main coronary artery resulted in no change in the mean systemic blood
      pressure, coronary blood flow, coronary vascular resistance, cardiac function,
      myocardial metabolism or ECG-ST in the control and coronary-constricted groups.
      These data suggest that kinin was released significantly from the ischemic heart,
      however, such a level of kinin has no significant effect on coronary circulation
      or myocardial metabolism. In ischemia-reperfusion rabbit hearts, no significant
      influence of the ACE inhibitors, captopril and ramiprilat, were observed. Species
      differences may be responsible for the beneficial role of ACE inhibitors in the
      limitation of infarct size in the dog hearts, possessing collateral flow, that
      are not seen in the rabbit heart with poor collateral flow.

PMID- 1462888
TI  - The possible role of bradykinin in the antiischemic activity of ACE-inhibitors.
AB  - The ACE-inhibitor ramiprilat (40 ng/kg/min) was infused for 6 h into the left
      coronary artery of anesthetized dogs with ligation of the descending branch of
      this artery. This route of administration and the low dose were chosen to achieve
      local cardiac effects without affecting systemic hemodynamics. Ramiprilat
      significantly reduced infarct-size expressed as percentage of the area at risk.
      The cardioprotective effect of ramiprilat was mimicked by bradykinin and
      abolished by coadministration of a bradykinin antagonist. These results strongly
      suggest that bradykinin plays a role in the cardioprotective effect of the ACE
      inhibitor ramiprilat.

PMID- 1462889
TI  - Aesthetic maxillo-facial surgery: face lifting and S.M.A.S.
AB  - The article illustrates the importance of face lifting and S.M.A.S. tightening as
      an adjunct to the aesthetic aspect of maxillo facial surgery, for instance in
      combination with extreme mandibular set back or advancement in adults. The theory
      and basic techniques of the face lifting procedure and the S.M.A.S. tightening
      technique are described. A clinical example is presented. The indications pre-
      and postoperative management and complications have been mentioned.

PMID- 1462890
TI  - Submental liposuction in maxillo-facial surgery.
AB  - Liposuction is a relatively recent surgical technique used in body contouring
      plastic surgery to correct fatty dysharmonies. It is of particular interest to
      the maxillo-facial surgeon to treat submental fat excess. This relatively easy
      technique is described, using a few clinical examples. Indications in maxillo
      facial surgery are the correction of "double chin" deformity and increased
      submental fullness after orthognathic surgical procedures as mandibular setback,
      as well as an adjunct to rhytidectomy.

PMID- 1462891
TI  - [Role of arthrography in imaging of the temporomandibular joint in 1992].
AB  - In this text we briefly want to discuss the role of the arthrographic examination
      of the temporomandibular joint for detection of disc pathology. We will mention
      the normal anatomy and function of the temporomandibular joint, the technique for
      performing arthrograms and the classification of the most frequent disc
      pathology. This will be illustrated by some arthrographic examples of anterior
      disc displacement without reduction, disc perforation, and medial disc
      displacement. Finally the advantages of arthrography in comparison with other
      investigation techniques will be discussed.

PMID- 1462892
TI  - Bilateral maxillary and mandibular fourth molars. Report of a case.
AB  - Fourth molar do not occur very frequently. They tend to be unerupted or if they
      erupt may cause malalignment of the dentition or aesthetic problems. The
      preferred location is in the maxilla, and they may be normal or rudimentary and
      located either directly distal or distolingually to the maxillary third molar.
      Supernumerary molars should probably be extracted only when their presence is
      responsible for the failure of eruption or malalignment of permanent teeth.

PMID- 1462893
TI  - Direct angioplasty versus initial thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial
      infarction: long-term follow-up and changes in practice pattern.
AB  - We retrospectively studied the outcomes of patients with acute myocardial
      infarction who were treated with either direct angioplasty or thrombolytics
      followed by angioplasty. Two patient cohorts were analyzed: a previously reported
      (in regard to short-term follow-up) group of 371 patients who now have long-term
      follow-up (mean, 3.4 years) of survival and event-free survival and a second
      group of 202 patients who have been treated since publication of our initial
      data. Both 1-year and 2-year survival were significantly better (p = 0.01 and
      0.02, respectively) in the group that was treated with thrombolytics first. Event
      free survival (i.e., no myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft
      surgery, repeat angioplasty) was better overall (p < 0.01) for the group that was
      treated with thrombolytics first. The more recently treated group of patients
      also showed benefit in regard to both survival (p = 0.002) and event-free
      survival (p < 0.01) over a short-term follow-up period (mean, 39 weeks) for
      patients who were treated initially with thrombolytics as compared with those who
      were treated with direct angioplasty. Although the initial cohort was very
      similar to the treatment groups except for age (mean age for the direct
      angioplasty group was 62 +/- 12 years vs 57 +/- 11 years for thrombolytics first
      group, (p = 0.0002), several differences existed in the more recent treatment
      groups. The patients who were more recently treated with direct angioplasty were
      older, had lower mean ejection fraction, had more extensive coronary artery
      disease, and were more likely to have had prior coronary artery bypass
      grafting.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462894
TI  - Thrombolysis with recombinant human tissue-type plasminogen activator during
      instability in coronary artery disease: effect on myocardial ischemia and need
      for coronary revascularization. TRIC Study Group.
AB  - Two hundred five men, 40 to 70 years of age, admitted to the coronary care unit
      with unstable coronary artery disease (unstable angina or non-Q wave myocardial
      infarction), were randomized to double-blind placebo-controlled treatment with an
      intravenous infusion of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rTPA), 1
      mg/kg body weight (maximum 100 mg) during 4 hours, in addition to aspirin,
      heparin, and beta-blockade. No severe complications occurred. Myocardial
      ischemia, defined as myocardial infarction, incapacitating angina despite
      medication, or signs of ischemia at the exercise test, was reduced by treatment
      with rTPA compared with placebo both at discharge, 53% compared with 70% (p =
      0.02), and at 1 month, 61% compared with 80% (p = 0.005). Signs of myocardial
      ischemia during the exercise test were reduced at discharge 51.0% compared with
      68% (p = 0.03) and at 1 month 48% compared with 62% (p = 0.09). Coronary
      angiography after 1 month showed no difference in major coronary lesions between
      the groups, nor was there any reduction in the number of performed coronary
      revascularization procedures. In conclusion, treatment with rTPA in unstable
      coronary artery disease in men reduced myocardial ischemia but did not
      significantly reduce the need for revascularization in long-term follow-up.

PMID- 1462895
TI  - Outcome of urgent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in acute
      myocardial infarction: comparison of single-vessel versus multivessel coronary
      artery disease.
AB  - Despite recent clinical trials of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
      (PTCA) in acute myocardial infarction, specific groups of patients that may
      benefit from adjunctive or alternative therapy have yet to be adequately
      characterized. The in-hospital outcome of 151 consecutive patients treated for
      acute myocardial infarction with urgent PTCA of the infarct-related artery was
      studied to identify a subgroup of patients at high risk. Patients were divided
      into two groups based on the angiographic presence of either single-vessel (n =
      86) or multivessel (n = 65) coronary artery disease. Despite PTCA of only the
      infarct-related artery and similar baseline clinical characteristics such as age,
      peak serum creatine kinase concentration, left ventricular ejection fraction, and
      time from the onset of chest pain to arrival at the hospital, the group with
      multivessel disease had a lower rate of successful angioplasty (75% vs 92%, p <
      0.005), with higher incidences of persistent total occlusion of the infarct
      related artery (14% vs 3%, p < 0.02) and procedural complications during PTCA
      (28% vs 13%, p < or = 0.02), and were more likely to have multiple complications
      (12% vs 1%, p < 0.004). In addition, the group with multivessel disease had a
      higher rate of urgent (< or = 24 hours) coronary artery bypass graft surgery (13%
      vs 2%, p < 0.05) and a trend toward a higher in-hospital mortality rate (6% vs
      1%, p < or = 0.17). By stepwise logistic regression, only the presence of single
      vessel versus multivessel disease was predictive of PTCA success (p <
      0.005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462896
TI  - Calcitonin gene-related peptide in patients with and without early reperfusion
      after acute myocardial infarction.
AB  - Plasma concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a potent
      regulator of vascular tone, creatine kinase, myoglobin, and cardiac troponin T
      were assessed in 31 patients with acute myocardial infarction. In patients who
      had sustained acute myocardial infarctions, maximum CGRP concentrations (median,
      3.2 pmol/L; interquartile range, 1.5 to 4.8 pmol/L) were markedly elevated as
      compared with healthy control subjects (n = 23; median, 1.02 pmol/L; p = 0.02).
      However, no marked differences in CGRP levels were observed between patients with
      early reperfusion (n = 19; median, 3.5 pmol/L) and patients without early
      reperfusion (n = 12; median, 2.6 pmol/L; p = 0.96), as well as between those with
      congestive heart failure (n = 8; median, 3.9 pmol/L) and those without congestive
      heart failure (n = 23; median, 3.2 pmol/L; p = 0.62). CGRP did not correlate
      closely with myocardial protein release or hemodynamic parameters (heart rate and
      blood pressure) or the occurrence of arrhythmias. Therefore we conclude that
      elevated peripheral venous CGRP concentrations in patients who have sustained an
      acute myocardial infarction are independent of successful reperfusion and
      hemodynamic state. Although the cause of CGRP increase is not yet identified,
      CGRP may play a role in the regulation of coronary vascular tone in patients
      after acute myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1462898
TI  - Inosine--a natural modulator of contractility and myocardial blood flow in the
      ischemic heart?
AB  - The energetic role of inosine (INO) remains controversial. The aim of the present
      study was first to test whether endogenous INO consumption/production correlates
      with regional myocardial contractile performance and second to test whether
      locally increased levels of INO influence contractility and blood flow in
      severely ischemic myocardium. Fentanyl-anesthetized dogs with implanted
      sonomicrometry crystals and independently perfused left anterior descending
      coronary arteries were studied. Two relatively load-independent indexes of
      regional myocardial contractility derived from left ventricular pressure-segment
      length loops were used: the regional stroke work-end-diastolic segment length
      relationship (Wr/L(ed)) and the end-systolic pressure-segment length relationship
      (Plv/L(es)). Very good correlations between myocardial contractile performance
      (as measured by the slope of the regional Wr/L(ed) relationship) and endogenous
      INO consumption/production under both nonischemic and ischemic conditions were
      found. Ischemia severely depressed contractility, significantly shifting
      rightward the Wr/L(ed) and Plv/L(es) relationships. INO infused into the left
      anterior descending bypass, in a concentration of 600 to 800 mumol/L, partially
      restored contractile performance as evidenced by a significant leftward
      displacement of both relationships. Wr, measured at a common maximum L(ed),
      increased significantly by 61 +/- 5%. Border-zone collateral flow (microspheres)
      increased by 35 +/- 7% within the endocardial segments and by 34 +/- 9% in the
      epicardial segments, but no increase in flow in the ischemic region was
      measureable. With the current emphasis on recanalization with thrombolytic
      therapy and considering the apparent safety of INO, this naturally occurring
      nucleoside might prove to be a useful adjunctive agent in the treatment of acute
      myocardial ischemia.

PMID- 1462897
TI  - Adenosine is an endogenous protectant against stunning during repetitive ischemic
      episodes in the heart.
AB  - To investigate whether adenosine receptor blockade alters the response to serial
      coronary occlusions in the rabbit heart, we measured changes in segment length
      with ultrasonic dimension gauges placed in the field of a coronary branch. The
      coronary branch was subjected to four 5-minute occlusions, each separated by 10
      minutes of reperfusion. In control hearts, the percentage of segment shortening
      fell from 15.7% to 9.3% after release of the first occlusion with no further
      deterioration after each of the subsequent three occlusions. In hearts in which
      adenosine receptors were blocked with PD 115,199, a potent blocker of both A1 and
      A2 receptors, segment shortening again recovered to about two thirds of the
      preischemic value during the reperfusion period after the first occlusion. Each
      subsequent occlusion, however, resulted in a further deterioration of function to
      the extent that shortening was less than 20% of the preischemic value during
      reperfusion after the fourth occlusion. Therefore the first occlusion of a series
      of four occlusions, while mildly stunning the heart, also preconditions the
      myocardium against further stunning by subsequent occlusions. Because that
      protection was when adenosine receptors were blocked, adenosine must play an
      important role in the mediation of this protective effect.

PMID- 1462899
TI  - Comparison of acute elastic recoil after directional coronary atherectomy versus
      standard balloon angioplasty.
AB  - We evaluated intraprocedural "elastic recoil" in 25 patients (22 men and 3 women)
      undergoing directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) of left anterior descending
      stenoses, and compared these with 25 temporally-matched (14 men and 11 women)
      patients having balloon angioplasties (PTCA). Quantitative arteriography was
      performed using the Coronary Measurement System (Leiden, The Netherlands), with
      "elastic recoil" defined as the difference in maximum device or balloon size
      minus residual minimum diameter. In addition, we determined the effects of
      relative device size, specific anatomic location (proximal/mid artery), lesion
      length, eccentricity (symmetry index), and dystrophic calcification on acute
      "recoil" severity after both procedures. Although initial coronary stenoses were
      similar (minimum stenotic diameter, DCA = 0.59 +/- 0.20 mm versus PTCA = 0.55 +/-
      0.23 mm, p = NS), less "elastic recoil" was observed after atherectomy (DCA =
      0.83 +/- 0.57 mm versus PTCA = 1.26 +/- 0.56 mm, p < 0.01), and this was
      confirmed by absolute recoil/maximum device size ratios (DCA = 23.5 +/- 16.0%
      versus PTCA = 41.6 +/- 13.8%, p < 0.01). Acute "elastic recoil" was also
      influenced by maximum device size/"normal" coronary artery ratios [(ratio < 0.9,
      DCA = 0.26 +/- 0.10 mm versus PTCA = 0.84 +/- 0.13 mm, p < 0.01); (ratio 0.9 to
      1.1, DCA = 0.69 +/- 0.41 mm versus PTCA 0.75 +/- 0.32 mm, p = NS); (ratio > 1.1,
      DCA = 1.09 +/- 0.64 mm versus PTCA = 1.59 +/- 0.48 mm, p < 0.05)].(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462900
TI  - Percutaneous angioscopic evaluation of luminal changes induced by excimer laser
      angioplasty.
AB  - Angioscopy has been shown to provide more detailed information on lesion
      morphology before and after interventional procedures than angiography. Therefore
      to evaluate the effects of laser angioplasty, angioscopy was performed in five
      patients with peripheral or coronary vascular disease who underwent excimer laser
      angioplasty. The excimer laser was operated at 308 nm, 135 nsec, 25 Hz, and 40 to
      60 mjoules/mm2 and was coupled into multifiber wire-guided catheters of 1.4 to
      2.0 mm diameter for coronary lesions and into catheters of 2.2 mm diameter for
      peripheral lesions. There were three coronary (one left anterior descending, one
      circumflex, one right coronary artery) and two peripheral (one common iliac
      artery, one superficial femoral artery) lesions. Angioscopy was successfully
      performed before and after laser ablation without any complications in all five
      lesions. The characteristics of angioscopic findings after excimer laser
      angioplasty consisted of flaps, fractures of plaques, and abundant tissue
      remnants. There was no apparent thermal injury. Recanalized channels were small
      and irregular. These results indicate that (1) angioscopy is effective and safe
      for evaluation of lesion morphology after laser angioplasty; (2) laser ablation
      does not result in thermal injury; and (3) irregular channels after
      recanalization and abundant tissue remnants may explain the suboptimal results
      after laser angioplasty.

PMID- 1462901
TI  - Angiographic restenosis after successful Wallstent stent implantation: an
      analysis of risk predictors.
AB  - Follow-up angiographic study was performed in 86 patients after initially
      successful Wallstent stent (Medinvent, Lausanne, Switzerland) implantation
      between April 1986 and October 1990. The stent angiographic restenosis rate was
      16% at a mean of 8 months after stenting despite the inclusion of a substantial
      number of patients at high risk of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal
      coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Of a total 15 variables analyzed, only suboptimal
      stent placement was found to be a significant predictor of stent restenosis. Age;
      gender; baseline New York Heart Association functional class; previous PTCA;
      indication for stenting; left ventricular ejection fraction; preangioplasty and
      immediate postangioplasty diameter stenosis severity; stented vessel site,
      lesional morphology; number, diameter, and length of stents implanted; and the
      interval between stenting and follow-up angiographic restudy were not significant
      risk factors of stent restenosis. Our study suggests that intracoronary stent
      implantation with the Wallstent may be a useful and promising adjunctive option
      after PTCA, particularly in patients at high risk of restenosis after PTCA.
      However, because of the significantly enhanced risk of restenosis after
      suboptimal stent implantation, we strongly recommend the selection and placement
      of Wallstent stents that adequately cover the entire length of the dilated
      coronary segment.

PMID- 1462902
TI  - Lidocaine to prevent ventricular fibrillation in the prehospital phase of
      suspected acute myocardial infarction: the North-Norwegian Lidocaine Intervention
      Trial.
AB  - The efficacy of lidocaine to prevent ventricular fibrillation during the
      prehospital phase of suspected acute myocardial infarction was assessed 3 hours
      after administration in a randomized controlled trial. A total of 204 patients
      examined within 6 hours after onset of symptoms were included, and acute
      myocardial infarction was later confirmed in 63% of these. Lidocaine,
      administered as a 100 mg intravenous bolus dose followed by a 300 mg
      intramuscular injection, failed to prevent ventricular fibrillation, which was
      observed in 2 (2.1%) of 96 patients in the lidocaine group and in 3 (3.0%) of 101
      patients in the placebo group (p = 0.95; odds ratio 0.7, 95% confidence interval
      0.4 to 1.3). In addition, sudden cardiac collapse with unknown heart rhythm was
      observed in three patients who received lidocaine (3.1%) compared with none in
      the placebo group (p = 0.23; odds ratio 7.6, 95% confidence interval 2.8 to
      22.1). The results of this small study suggest that lidocaine, even when given in
      a high dose, is ineffective in preventing ventricular fibrillation when
      administered before hospitalization for suspected acute myocardial infarction.
      Prophylactic use of lidocaine in this situation may therefore not be warranted or
      advisable.

PMID- 1462903
TI  - Determinants of the hemodynamic consequence to sustained ventricular arrhythmias
      after a single myocardial infarction.
AB  - Patients who have sustained ventricular arrhythmias after myocardial infarction
      present with either a cardiac arrest or with hemodynamically stable sustained
      ventricular tachycardia. Recent reports have suggested a different
      electrophysiologic milieu in these two patient groups and a higher incidence of
      cardiac arrest in patients with a history of more than one myocardial infarction.
      No studies have examined patients with only a single previous myocardial
      infarction. To assess the determinants of the hemodynamic consequence of
      sustained ventricular arrhythmias more than 3 days after a single myocardial
      infarction, 82 patients who were resuscitated from arrhythmic cardiac arrest (CA
      group, 40 patients) or who had hemodynamically stable sustained ventricular
      tachycardia (No CA group, 42 patients) were examined. Patients in both groups had
      similar global left ventricular ejection fractions (mean +/- SD; 30% +/- 12% vs
      27% +/- 12%; p = NS), proportion of patients with anterior wall infarctions as
      compared with the proportion of patients with inferior wall infarctions (55% vs
      50%; p = NS), time from infarction to arrhythmia development, severity of
      coronary artery disease, and the proportion of patients with congestive heart
      failure or bundle branch block. Patients who presented without cardiac arrest,
      however, more frequently had left ventricular aneurysms (58% vs 28%; p = 0.005).
      Sixty-seven patients underwent baseline drug-free electrophysiologic studies.
      Sustained ventricular tachycardia was induced in 79% of patients in the CA group
      and 85% of patients in the No CA group (p = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462905
TI  - Outcome of endocardial resection in 33 patients with coronary artery disease:
      correlation with ventricular tachycardia morphology.
AB  - The results in 33 patients with ventricular tachycardia (VT) treated by
      endocardial resection were reviewed, with special emphasis on the presence of
      single or multiple morphologies preoperatively and intraoperatively. Multiple VT
      morphologies were induced in 16 patients and a single VT morphology was induced
      in the remaining 17. Intraoperative programmed stimulation failed to induce VT in
      eight patients and visually-directed endocardial resection was performed. The
      remaining patients underwent map-guided resection. The surgical success rate did
      not correlate with any morphologic characteristics of the VT, such as bundle
      branch block pattern or axis. In addition, concordance of VT morphologies
      preoperatively and intraoperatively before resection did not correlate with the
      surgical success rate. However, patients in whom multiple morphologies of VT were
      induced intraoperatively had a significantly higher success rate (100%) compared
      with those patients in whom only a single morphology was induced intraoperatively
      (50%, p < 0.05). Long-term follow-up was maintained in 26 patients. Ventricular
      tachycardia recurred in two patients and VF recurred in two others who did not
      have inducible VT 1 week after endocardial resection. In conclusion, neither the
      preoperative morphologic characteristics of VT nor discordance between the
      morphologies of VT induced preoperatively and in the operating room influenced
      the outcome of endocardial resection. However, the surgical success rate is
      higher when multiple morphologies of VT are inducible in the operating room than
      when only one VT morphology is inducible.

PMID- 1462904
TI  - Defibrillation electrode configurations developed from cardiac mapping that
      combine biphasic shocks with sequential timing.
AB  - Previous canine mapping studies of the transvenous defibrillation lead
      configuration of right ventricle (RV) to left R2 patch (P) revealed regions of
      low potential gradient in the left ventricular apex (A) and the right ventricular
      outflow tract (O). Thus 16 new lead configurations were tested in eight dogs,
      which incorporated electrodes in A and O to raise the gradient. When used in
      conjunction with two sequential biphasic shocks, the average defibrillation
      threshold energy from these configurations was 57% lower than that produced by a
      single biphasic shock delivered through RV-->P (phase 1 cathode-->anode, p <
      0.001). Of the 16 configurations tested, the most effective was RV-->P followed
      by A-->O. When the shocking order of this configuration was reversed in another
      eight dogs, no difference in defibrillation efficacy was noted. In individual
      configurations of RV-->P and A-->O that used a single biphasic shock,
      defibrillation was not effective. Finally, when two sequential biphasic shocks
      were delivered to the same two electrodes in seven other dogs, the defibrillation
      efficacy was low. Thus configurations that use two sequential biphasic shocks can
      produce low defibrillation thresholds when the shocks are delivered to two
      different sets of electrodes. The high efficacy may be caused by one shock
      increasing the potential gradient in regions of low potential gradient that are
      produced by the other shock.

PMID- 1462906
TI  - Irregular ventricular tachycardia: a possible manifestation of longitudinal
      dissociation within the reentry pathway.
AB  - Sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia is usually regular; that is, it is
      associated with constant R-R intervals. In several cases, however, the cycles of
      ventricular tachycardia are more or less variable. Fifty-four cases of sustained
      monomorphic ventricular tachycardia were evaluated in order to assess whether
      tachycardia was regular. Nine cases were defined as irregular (i.e., the R-R
      cycles varied by more than 40 msec throughout a 1-minute recording). In five
      cases tachycardia was "regularly irregular," since the R-R cycles could be
      divided into two separate groups: the group of long cycles and that of short
      cycles. In these cases the variability manifested according to a defined and
      constant pattern: bigeminal pattern (alternation of short and long cycles),
      trigeminal pattern (two short cycles followed by a long cycle), and so on. The
      regular variability of tachycardia cycle length suggests one of the following
      possibilities. (1) There are two alternative circuits (a short circuit and a long
      circuit) that share the same exit pathway. Whenever the reciprocating impulse
      runs through the short circuit, the R-R cycle is short; but if a block in the
      short circuit occurs, the impulse runs through the long circuit, resulting in a
      long R-R cycle. (2) There is a longitudinal dissociation within the reentry
      circuit; two separate pathways with different inherent conduction velocities are
      present. When the impulse runs through the fast pathway, the R-R cycle is short;
      whereas when a block in the fast pathway occurs, the impulse traverses the slow
      pathway, resulting in a long R-R cycle.

PMID- 1462907
TI  - Reversibility of left ventricular dysfunction after successful catheter ablation
      of supraventricular reentrant tachycardia.
AB  - Fourteen patients (mean age, 48 +/- 19 years) with left ventricular dysfunction
      in the absence of underlying organic heart disease underwent catheter ablation
      (nine with direct-current energy and five with radiofrequency energy) to treat
      drug-refractory, symptomatic supraventricular reentrant tachycardia (mean
      duration of tachycardia, 22 +/- 17 years). Clinical tachycardias were accessory
      pathway-mediated tachyarrhythmia (12 patients) and atrioventricular nodal
      reentrant tachycardia (two patients). Changes of ventricular function after
      successful ablation, as assessed by radionuclide ventriculography and
      echocardiography, showed a decrease in left ventricular end-systolic dimension
      (39 +/- 6 mm to 34 +/- 6 mm; 32 +/- 6 mm; p < 0.05) and in left ventricular end
      diastolic dimension (55 +/- 5 mm to 52 +/- 3 mm; 51 +/- 3 mm; p < 0.05) in the
      early (2 to 3 months) and late (6 to 8 months) follow-up periods, increase of
      nuclear ejection fraction (38% +/- 8% to 46% +/- 7%; p < 0.05) and fractional
      shortening (28% +/- 7% to 36% +/- 8%; p < 0.05) in the late follow-up period.
      Increase of fractional shortening was mainly due to decrease in the end-systolic
      dimension. These findings suggest that prolonged attacks of uncontrolled
      supraventricular tachycardia may result in left ventricular dysfunction, which is
      reversible after successful catheter ablation of the arrhythmias.

PMID- 1462908
TI  - Noninvasive assessment of systolic and diastolic left ventricular function in
      patients with chronic severe anemia: a combined M-mode, two-dimensional, and
      Doppler echocardiographic study.
AB  - Thirty-one patients with chronic severe anemia of more than 3 months' duration
      (hemoglobin less than 7 gm/dl) and no underlying heart disease were studied by
      means of M-mode, two-dimensional, and Doppler echocardiography; an equal number
      of normal control subjects was also studied. There are conflicting reports
      regarding the influence of chronic severe anemia on systolic myocardial function,
      but diastolic function has not been systematically assessed. It is also uncertain
      whether anemia alone can cause heart failure in a structurally normal heart. We
      therefore performed a detailed study of echocardiographic indexes of systolic and
      diastolic left ventricular function in these patients. We found that patients
      with anemia have significantly faster heart rates and lower diastolic and mean
      blood pressures than normal subjects. They also have a significantly elevated
      cardiac output and stroke volume and larger left ventricles. Left ventricular
      contractility, assessed by the end-systolic stress-dimension relationship, was
      enhanced. There was no systematic evidence of diastolic dysfunction by Doppler
      assessment of mitral inflow. There was also no clinical evidence of congestive
      heart failure. We conclude that chronic severe anemia leads to a hyperdynamic
      state with systolic hyperfunction and no impairment of diastolic function. Anemia
      does not lead to congestive heart failure in the absence of underlying heart
      disease.

PMID- 1462909
TI  - Prognostic significance of Doppler-derived left ventricular diastolic filling
      variables in dilated cardiomyopathy.
AB  - To determine the prognostic significance of pulsed wave Doppler-derived left
      ventricular diastolic filling velocity profiles and the relationship between
      Doppler variables and clinical functional status, the follow-up outcomes of 62
      consecutive patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and symptoms of left ventricular
      dysfunction were analyzed. All patients had echocardiographic left ventricular
      end-diastolic dimension > or = 6.0 cm, fractional shortening < 25%, increased E
      pointseptal separation, and diffuse hypokinesia or akinesia. During a mean follow
      up period of 30.5 +/- 13.9 months, 27 patients experienced cardiac events: 23
      died of either progressive pump failure or an episode of sudden death and four
      required cardiac transplantation because of refractory heart failure. Peak early
      filling velocity (78 +/- 23 cm/sec vs 65 +/- 25 cm/sec; p < 0.03) was higher and
      late atrial filing velocity (34 +/- 13 cm/sec vs 55 +/- 19 cm/sec; p < 0.001) was
      lower in patients with cardiac events than in cardiac event-free survivors. The
      ratio of early to late transmitral filling velocities was higher (2.6 +/- 1.2 vs
      1.5 +/- 1.3; p < 0.001), and the deceleration time of early diastole was shorter
      (133 +/- 48 msec vs 175 +/- 71 msec; p < 0.001) in patients with cardiac events.
      The cardiac event rate was significantly higher in patients with an early to late
      filling velocity ratio greater than 2 (77% vs 19%; p < 0.001) or a deceleration
      time less than 150 msec (58% vs 23%; p < 0.05) than in those without. Stepwise
      multivariate regression analysis revealed that the pattern of transmitral early
      to late filling velocity ratio was the only significant independent Doppler
      echocardiographic predictor of outcome for these patients. Repeat Doppler
      echocardiographic examinations, which were performed in 31 survivors after
      intensive treatment (mean, 38.6 +/- 6.5 months), showed that early filling
      velocity was decreased (55 +/- 20 cm/sec vs 75 +/- 25 cm/sec; p < 0.02), late
      atrial filling velocity was increased (74 +/- 27 cm/sec vs 57 +/- 21 cm/sec; p <
      0.01), early to late filling velocity ratio was reduced (0.8 +/- 0.3 vs 1.7 +/-
      1.3; p < 0.001), and deceleration time was prolonged (227 +/- 60 msec vs 167 +/-
      82 msec; p < 0.01) in 18 patients with clinical functional improvement, whereas
      these measurements were unaltered in the remaining 13 patients whose functional
      status was unchanged or had deteriorated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1462910
TI  - Mild dehydration induces echocardiographic signs of mitral valve prolapse in
      healthy females with prior normal cardiac findings.
AB  - This study was designed to investigate the hypothesis that mitral valve prolapse
      (MVP) can be induced after diuresis in women without the abnormality who have
      characteristic body habitus. Fifteen tall, slim, healthy female volunteers with a
      normal cardiac findings, echocardiogram, and history were investigated after mild
      diuresis with furosemide and after placebo. All subjects lost weight after
      furosemide and placebo administration; but mean weight loss was significantly
      greater after furosemide administration than after placebo administration.
      Echocardiography showed MVP in none of the 15 patients before treatment, in seven
      after administration of placebo, and in seven after administration of furosemide.
      Coaptation point prolapsed superior to the anulus in seven subjects with
      echocardiographically determined MVP. Left ventricular end-diastolic dimensions
      decreased significantly after placebo or furosemide administration in subjects in
      whom MVP developed compared with the measurement in those in whom MVP did not
      develop. Murmurs characteristic of MVP disappeared in all four rehydrated
      subjects and echocardiographic changes resolved in two of the five rehydrated
      subjects. Thus echocardiographically determined MVP can be induced by mild
      dehydration in women with phenotypic body habitus of MVP; changes may resolve
      with rehydration. Results suggest an explanation for variable physical
      examination findings in persons with MVP.

PMID- 1462911
TI  - Prospective study of blood culture during transesophageal echocardiography.
AB  - To ascertain the incidence and significance of bacteremia associated with
      transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), 132 consecutive patients (aged 17 to 73
      years) free of apparent infection who were undergoing 135 transesophageal
      echocardiographic procedures from October 1990 to August 1991, were prospectively
      studied. For each procedure, two sets of blood cultures were obtained for culture
      30 to 60 minutes before TEE, immediately after, and 180 to 240 minutes after the
      procedure. For each blood culture, 10 ml of venous blood was evenly inoculated
      into aerobic and anaerobic culture bottles and inoculated for 7 days using a
      radiometric system. A throat swab was obtained immediately before each procedure.
      Three of 270 preprocedure blood cultures were positive for Bacillus cereus,
      Staphylococcus simulans, and Peptostreptococcus species, respectively. No blood
      culture was positive in the immediate postprocedure period. Two of 270 late blood
      samples grew Staphylococcus epidermidis in the same patient. Nevertheless, the
      microorganisms isolated from blood cultures were different from those isolated
      from the throat swab. No patients had fever or evidence of infective endocarditis
      after TEE during the follow-up period. It is concluded that the incidence of TEE
      related bacteremia is extremely low, and a general recommendation for antibiotic
      prophylaxis during TEE is not warranted.

PMID- 1462912
TI  - Transesophageal contrast echocardiography and color flow mapping: methods of
      choice for the detection of shunts at the atrial level?
AB  - The detection of shunts at the atrial level is important, and a reliable means of
      diagnosis is required. Precordial contrast echocardiography is usually performed
      to detect such shunts. To investigate the advantages of transesophageal
      echocardiographic techniques, we studied 167 consecutive patients with both
      precordial and transesophageal echocardiography, using two-dimensional imaging
      with contrast techniques (with and without a Valsalva maneuver) and color flow
      mapping. A patent foramen ovale was diagnosed in 31 patients, an atrial septal
      defect in 11 (7 with bidirectional shunts), and a pulmonary arteriovenous fistula
      in 3 patients. All right-to-left shunts were detected with transesophageal
      contrast echocardiography. With these results used as the gold standard, the
      sensitivity of combined precordial techniques was 37% and that of transesophageal
      color flow mapping 46%. All left-to-right shunts were detected by transesophageal
      color flow mapping. With these results used as the gold standard, the
      sensitivities of both precordial color flow mapping and a transesophageal
      negative right atrial contrast study were 27%. We conclude that transesophageal
      contrast echocardiography is the echocardiographic method of choice for the
      detection of a right-to-left shunt at the atrial level, which cannot be excluded
      by negative results on precordial study or on transesophageal color flow map
      study. A left-to-right shunt at this level is best detected by transesophageal
      color flow mapping.

PMID- 1462913
TI  - Late death after arterial switch operation for transposition of the great
      arteries.
AB  - Fifty-nine patients survived for more than 1 month after an arterial switch
      operation (ASO). Diagnoses in these patients included transposition of the great
      arteries in 27, transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal
      defect in 28, and double-outlet right ventricle in four. There were six late
      deaths (10%) during the follow-up period, and all of them occurred suddenly and
      unexpectedly. Four of the six late deaths were in patients who had undergone ASO
      in the neonatal period. Late deaths occurred from 40 days to 10 months after the
      operation. Autopsies were performed in all six patients. The cause of these late
      deaths was acute myocardial infarction. Five patients died of subendocardial
      infarction resulting from stenosis of the left main coronary artery. On
      pathologic examination, a fibrocellular intimal thickening was noted at the
      proximal region of the right and left coronary arteries, which resulted in 80%
      stenosis on average.

PMID- 1462914
TI  - Balloon valvotomy for pregnant patients with severe pliable mitral stenosis using
      the Inoue technique with total abdominal and pelvic shielding.
AB  - Balloon valvotomy by means of the Inoue technique was attempted in seven pregnant
      (5 to 9 months) patients with severe mitral stenosis; the mean age of the
      patients was 32 +/- 8 years, and all had a two-dimensional echocardiographic
      mitral valve score of < 8. Indications for Inoue balloon valvotomy included
      severe symptomatic mitral stenosis with a Doppler mitral valve area < or = 1 cm2
      and heart failure refractory to medical therapy, or absolute contraindications
      for the use of beta-blockade; Inoue valvotomy was also indicated for patients who
      lived a long distance from the hospital. Inoue balloon valvotomy was performed
      with no angiography and total pelvic and abdominal shielding; the balloon
      catheter was introduced into the right atrium without the aid of fluoroscopy,
      which was used for the transseptal puncture. Stepwise two-dimensional
      echocardiographic Doppler mitral valve dilatation was done. After Inoue balloon
      valvotomy the mean Doppler mitral valve area increased from 0.8 +/- 0.1 to 2.0 +/
      0.3 cm2 (p < 0.01) and by two-dimensional echocardiography from 0.8 +/- 0.2 to
      1.9 +/- 0.3 cm2 (p < 0.01), with no significant Doppler residual stenosis
      (defined as mitral valve area < or = 1.5 cm2). The mean total fluoroscopy time
      was 16 +/- 7 minutes. The degree of mitral regurgitation increased in two
      patients from grade 1+/4+ to grade 2+/4+ and from grade 0+/4+ to grade 2+/4+,
      respectively. There was no mortality or significant morbidity. Pregnancy was
      uneventful in all patients, and all were delivered of normal babies without
      complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462915
TI  - Percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty--a comparative evaluation of two
      transatrial techniques.
AB  - The efficacy and safety of two different percutaneous transfemoral mitral balloon
      valvuloplasty procedures were evaluated in 45 patients. A double-balloon
      technique with Mansfield balloons was applied in the first 22 patients (group A),
      and an Inoue single-balloon technique was used in the subsequent 23 patients
      (group B). Mean diastolic gradient decreased from 17 +/- 7 mm Hg to 8 +/- 3 mm Hg
      (p < 0.001) in group A and from 13 +/- 4 mm Hg to 8 +/- 3 mm Hg (p < 0.001) in
      group B. The mitral orifice area increased from 1.1 +/- 0.3 cm2 to 2.2 +/- 0.8
      cm2 (p < 0.001) in group A and from 1.2 +/- 0.4 cm2 to 1.7 +/- 0.7 cm2 (p <
      0.001) in group B. The length of the total procedure and the total fluoroscopy
      time were considerably shorter in group B (86 +/- 24 minutes and 18 +/- 7
      minutes) compared with group A (128 +/- 38 minutes and 35 +/- 14 minutes; p <
      0.001). Mitral regurgitation (grade 3/4) was observed after the procedure in two
      patients in group A but in nine patients in group B. Cardiac tamponade occurred
      in two patients in group A, but no major complications were seen in group B. The
      Inoue single-balloon technique seemed to be safe, easier to perform, and equally
      effective.

PMID- 1462916
TI  - The effect of aspirin on the risk of stroke in patients with nonrheumatic atrial
      fibrillation: The BAATAF Study.
AB  - Recent randomized trials have consistently demonstrated the marked efficacy of
      warfarin in reducing the risk of stroke caused by nonrheumatic atrial
      fibrillation. These trials have provided conflicting evidence on the effect of
      aspirin. We report the aspirin analysis from the BAATAF study, a trial in which
      control patients could choose to take aspirin. There we two strokes in 446 person
      years with warfarin (annual rate of 0.45%); eight strokes in 206 person-years
      with aspirin, most at 325 mg per day (annual rate of 3.9%); and five strokes in
      271 person-years among patients taking neither aspirin nor warfarin (annual rate
      of 1.8%). Simultaneously controlling for the other significant determinants of
      stroke in the BAATAF study (age, mitral annular calcification, and clinical heart
      disease), the relative rates (95% confidence interval) of stroke were: (1)
      warfarin/aspirin = 0.135 (0.029 to 0.64); (2) aspirin/(no aspirin and no
      warfarin) = 1.95 (0.64 to 5.97); and (3) warfarin/(no aspirin and no warfarin) =
      0.263 (0.051 to 1.36). Our "treatment received" analysis argues that warfarin is
      strikingly more effective than aspirin in preventing stroke in nonrheumatic
      atrial fibrillation.

PMID- 1462917
TI  - Comparison of withdrawing antihypertensive therapy between diuretics and
      angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in essential hypertensives.
AB  - One hundred thirteen patients with essential hypertension receiving single or
      multiple antihypertensive agents were enrolled in the study. All had had mild to
      severe hypertension before treatment, but their diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at
      study entry was lower than 90 mm Hg for all measurements. In half of the
      subjects, non-thiazide diuretics (n = 35) or angiotensin-converting enzyme
      inhibitors (ACEI, n = 37) were discontinued, and their remaining drugs were
      maintained throughout the study. The other patients (n = 41) continued all their
      medications. Forty-one percent of subjects remained normotensive for 12 months
      after withdrawal of diuretics, and 37% of patients with ACEI discontinuation
      remained normotensive, although the recurrence of hypertension after withdrawal
      of ACEI tended to be earlier than its recurrence after withdrawal of diuretics.
      Serum uric acid and creatinine concentration decreased after diuretic withdrawal,
      but not after ACEI withdrawal. Diuretic withdrawal resulted in an increase in
      serum potassium, but ACEI withdrawal induced a decrease in serum potassium.
      Withdrawal of diuretics or ACEI both significantly reduced plasma renin activity.
      The present study may be indicative of the ability to withdraw some medications
      in many patients being treated with multiple antihypertensive agents.

PMID- 1462918
TI  - The treadmill exercise score revisited: coronary arteriographic and thallium
      perfusion correlates.
AB  - The treadmill exercise score has been used to stratify patients into low-,
      moderate-, and high-risk groups. This score is derived from ST segment
      depression, angina, and exercise duration. To determine the coronary
      arteriographic and exercise thallium perfusion correlates of the score, we
      examined the extent of coronary artery disease and exercise single photon
      emission computed thallium-201 results in 834 patients for whom cardiac
      catheterization data were available. Of those, 174 had no coronary artery
      disease, 195 had one-vessel, 246 had two-vessel, and 219 had three-vessel
      disease. Based on the treadmill exercise score, 369 were in the low-risk, 384 in
      the moderate-risk, and 81 in the high-risk group. The extent of coronary artery
      disease was 2.1 +/- 1 diseased vessels in the high-risk, 1.7 +/- 1 in the
      moderate, and 1.4 +/- 1.1 in the low-risk group (p < 0.01). The extent of the
      thallium abnormality (maximum number of abnormal segments 120/patient) was 10 +/-
      6 in the high-risk, 7 +/- 6 in the moderate, and 6 +/- 5 in the low-risk group (p
      < 0.05). Based on the extent of coronary artery disease and results of thallium
      imaging, patients were reclassified into three groups: group 1 had three-vessel
      disease and/or > or = 10 abnormal segments (n = 387), group 3 had no coronary
      artery disease or one-vessel disease and less than five abnormal segments (n =
      212), and the remaining patients were in group 2 (n = 235).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT
      250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462919
TI  - Radiation-induced coronary artery disease.
AB  - Excessive unprotected radiation to the heart appears to lead to the development
      of CAD, even in the absence of significant cardiovascular risk factors. The
      coexistence of such factors may enhance the probability of CAD. The presence of
      hypercholesterolemia and concomitant or sequential use of chemotherapeutic agents
      (especially doxorubicin) could further increase this risk. Therapeutic decisions,
      as with any other manifestation of CAD, relate to the extent of myocardium at
      jeopardy and to the overall diffuseness of CAD. Management options possible are
      PTCA or coronary artery bypass surgery. The latter may be required in left main
      artery stenosis and complicated ostial lesions. Use of shielding should decrease
      the associated risk of radiation-induced CAD in future years. However, clinicians
      should continue to have a high degree of suspicion of CAD in patients treated
      with thoracic radiation without cardiac shielding.

PMID- 1462920
TI  - Single photon emission computed tomographic teboroxime imaging with a
      preprocessing masking technique.
AB  - We previously reported that single-head SPECT imaging with teboroxime is
      feasible. However, excessive hepatic uptake in some patients may interfere with
      image interpretation. This study examined the feasibility of improving image
      quality by use of a preprocessing masking technique to subtract hepatic activity.
      A band of 10 pixels in width adjacent to the inferior cardiac silhouette was
      marked on the raw planar images, and then SPECT reconstruction was done with the
      Butterworth filter with a frequency cutoff of 0.3 cycles/cm and the power of 10.
      The stress and rest images were compared before and after masking in 10 patients
      who underwent SPECT teboroxime imaging during adenosine-induced coronary
      hyperemia (140 micrograms/kg/min for 6 minutes). SPECT imaging with a single-head
      detector was performed with the use of a 180-degree anterior arc (from the 45
      degree left posterior oblique projection to the 45-degree right anterior oblique
      projection); 32 images at 8 seconds per stop were obtained (total imaging time =
      6.8 minutes). All images were considered subjectively better after the masking
      technique was used, especially for assessment of inferior wall perfusion pattern.
      The maximum count in any pixel was in the hepatic region of interest before
      masking and in the cardiac region of interest after masking (303 +/- 110 counts
      vs 166 +/- 55 counts; p < 0.001). The difference was especially pronounced in the
      images that were obtained when patients were at rest (366 +/- 102 counts vs 184
      +/- 64 counts; p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462921
TI  - Survival of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator recipients: role of left
      ventricular function and its relationship to device use.
AB  - The quantitative benefit of ICD therapy in patients with malignant ventricular
      tachyarrhythmia with different degrees of left ventricular dysfunction is
      unclear. We evaluated patterns of ICD use and survival in 112 patients with
      moderate to severe left ventricular dysfunction. Group 1 included 57 patients
      with moderate left ventricular dysfunction (defined as left ventricular ejection
      fraction greater than 30%) and group 2 comprised 55 patients with severe left
      ventricular dysfunction (defined as ejection fraction equal to or less than 30%).
      The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 78 months. Age, incidence of coronary
      artery disease, and presenting arrhythmia in the two groups were similar. The
      mean left ventricular ejection fraction in group 1 was 44.6 +/- 8.2% and in group
      2 was 21.6 +/- 6% (p < 0.0001). At 3 years of follow-up 65% of the patients in
      group 1 and 71% in group 2 (p = NS) had ICD activation for presumed ventricular
      tachycardia. Survival was calculated by means of actuarial analysis. Arrhythmia
      or sudden death mortality at 4 years of follow-up was 5% in group 1 and 9% in
      group 2 (NS). Cardiac mortality was higher in patients with severe left
      ventricular dysfunction reaching levels of statistical significance at 2 years of
      follow-up. At 2 years of follow-up it was 12% in group 1 and 40% in group 2 (p =
      0.05), and at 4 years of follow-up it was 15% in group 1 and 43% in group 2 (p <
      0.01). In both groups there was no difference in cardiac mortality in patients
      who did and did not have appropriate ICD shocks.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462922
TI  - Flecainide acetate for treatment of tachyarrhythmias in children: review of world
      literature on efficacy, safety, and dosing.
AB  - A review of all published experience with flecainide in infants, children, and
      fetuses was performed to evaluate the appropriate place of the drug in pediatric
      practice and to determine dosing guidelines. A total of 704 case references was
      generated. Flecainide appeared to be safe (no deaths with usual oral dosing, < 1%
      serious proarrhythmia) and effective (73% to 100% control, depending on
      mechanism) in children with supraventricular tachycardia. The drug was very
      effective for treatment of fetal tachyarrhythmias. Flecainide may not be safe for
      children who have structurally abnormal hearts and atrial flutter or ventricular
      arrhythmias. The safety of flecainide for patients with ventricular arrhythmias
      and normal hearts requires further investigation. Pharmacokinetic data reveal an
      age-dependent change in elimination half-life. Patients younger than 1 year of
      age have a plasma elimination half-life that is similar to that in children older
      than 12 years (i.e., 11 to 12 hours). Children aged 1 to 12 years have a mean
      elimination half-life of 8 hours. The effective flecainide dose is 100 to 200
      mg/m2/day or 1 to 8 mg/kg/day. Toxicity may occur with doses in excess of these
      ranges, especially when high doses are accompanied by low serum trough levels.
      Milk blocks flecainide absorption, and toxicity may become manifest when milk
      products are removed from the diet.

PMID- 1462923
TI  - Transumbilical balloon coarctation angioplasty in neonates with critical aortic
      coarctation.

PMID- 1462924
TI  - Transcatheter coil embolization of a fistula from the posterior descending
      coronary artery to the right ventricle in a two-year-old child.

PMID- 1462925
TI  - Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy of the Japanese type: occurrence with familial
      hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a family.

PMID- 1462926
TI  - Cardiac amyloidosis detected by indium-111 antimyosin imaging.

PMID- 1462927
TI  - QRST isointegral maps in patients with Romano-Ward syndrome.

PMID- 1462928
TI  - Fatal posttraumatic cardiac causalgia.

PMID- 1462929
TI  - Delayed and spontaneous coronary artery rupture following nonpenetrating chest
      trauma.

PMID- 1462931
TI  - Reversibility of cocaine-induced cardiomyopathy.

PMID- 1462930
TI  - Asymptomatic pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle and coronary artery fistula
      after closed-chest ablation of an accessory pathway.

PMID- 1462932
TI  - Dissecting intramyocardial hematoma presenting as a massive pseudotumor of the
      right ventricle.

PMID- 1462933
TI  - Fatal pulmonary venoocclusive disease after use of oral contraceptives.

PMID- 1462934
TI  - The effects of epicardial coronary spasm on intracoronary flow velocity and
      pressure gradient in a patient after cardiac transplantation.

PMID- 1462935
TI  - Emergency recognition and treatment of strut fracture and disc embolization in
      patients with Bjork-Shiley valve prosthesis.

PMID- 1462936
TI  - Transesophageal echocardiographic detection of atrial wall aneurysm as a result
      of abnormal attachment of mitral prosthesis.

PMID- 1462937
TI  - Accelerated calcification of an aortic bioprosthesis in an octogenarian.

PMID- 1462938
TI  - Application of a new real-time temperature control pulsed laser for ablation of
      atherosclerotic plaque.

PMID- 1462939
TI  - Identification of coronary sinus septal defect (unroofed coronary sinus) by color
      Doppler echocardiography.

PMID- 1462940
TI  - Transesophageal echocardiographic diagnosis of coronary sinus type atrial septal
      defect.

PMID- 1462941
TI  - Aneurysm of the noncoronary sinus of Valsalva ruptured into the left atrium.

PMID- 1462942
TI  - Sinus node hibernation resolved by PTCA.

PMID- 1462943
TI  - Balloon valvotomy of mitral bioprosthetic stenosis.

PMID- 1462944
TI  - Intraaortic atherosclerotic debris by transesophageal echocardiography.

PMID- 1462945
TI  - Aortic dissection and cocaine use.

PMID- 1462946
TI  - ST elevation after electroversion of atrial fibrillation.

PMID- 1462947
TI  - Extraction of transvenous pacing leads.

PMID- 1462948
TI  - Heparin for left ventricular thrombus.

PMID- 1462949
TI  - QT interval after myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1462950
TI  - Counting angels and bacteria. The quest for a unifying theory of ulcerogenesis.

PMID- 1462951
TI  - Hepatitis delta virus. No longer a defective virus.

PMID- 1462952
TI  - Evidence that hepatitis D virus needs hepatitis B virus to cause hepatocellular
      damage.
AB  - Serial liver biopsy specimens from 11 patients who had liver transplants after
      hepatitis D virus (HDV)-related end-stage liver disease developed were examined,
      allowing a novel opportunity to study the evolution of HDV infection in relation
      to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection from the earliest stages. Hepatitis D virus
      antigen was detected in liver tissue in the absence of either tissue or serologic
      evidence of HBV recurrence within 3 months in all eight patients biopsied at that
      time. After serologic evidence of recurrent HBV infection in nine patients, there
      was a massive increase in hepatic expression of hepatitis D virus antigen and
      this was associated with the transient appearance of serum hepatitis D virus
      antigen in four patients. Coexpression of both HBV and HDV antigens in the liver
      was associated with the onset of lobular hepatitis, which progressed to chronic
      hepatitis in five patients. These findings indicate that HDV can survive and
      synthesize HDAg in the absence of detectable HBV, but when HBV replication
      increased to a detectable level, HDV replication was enhanced massively. Contrary
      to current thinking, the data suggest that HDV is not directly cytopathic and
      that HBV is an essential cofactor in the evolution of hepatocellular damage.

PMID- 1462953
TI  - Pasteurella multocida endocarditis.
AB  - Human infection with Pasteurella multocida is the leading cause of animal bite
      wound infection. Life-threatening infection may occur in patients with a variety
      of underlying disorders and an immunocompromised state. Infective endocarditis
      with P. multocida is very rare and only a few clinically diagnosed cases have
      been reported. Described here is an autopsy case of a 61-year-old man with
      polycystic kidney disease who had P. multocida bacteremia and acute infective
      endocarditis with multiple bacterial clumps involving bicuspid aortic valve. The
      organisms were gram negative. Apparently the sepsis with P. multocida was
      acquired via licking of leg ulcers by his pet dog, establishing an animal-related
      causal relationship. Because P. multocida is a very common flora of many animals,
      infection with this organism probably occurs more frequently than is commonly
      appreciated. High index of suspicion and early diagnosis, especially in
      immunocompromised patients, are warranted because the disease is potentially life
      threatening, yet is a readily treatable infection.

PMID- 1462954
TI  - Helicobacter pylori-related gastritis and gastric ulcer. A continuum of
      progressive epithelial degeneration.
AB  - One hundred forty-five consecutive gastric biopsy specimens showing colonization
      by Helicobacter pylori (HP) were studied. Biopsy specimens were obtained from
      patients with the following conditions: gastric ulcer (GU; 76), active chronic
      gastritis (ACG; 52), GU with duodenal ulcer (DU; 10), and ACG with DU (7). The
      mean age of the patients in the ACG group was 8.6 years less than the patients in
      the GU group. Helicobacter pylori colonization and HP-induced epithelial
      degeneration (ED) were quantified by a grading system (grades 0 to 6) comprising
      both focal and global scores for bacterial density (HP grade) and severity of ED
      (ED grade). The ED grade was directly proportional to the HP grade in all biopsy
      specimens. Gastric ulcer biopsy specimens were associated with higher HP grades:
      HP grade more than 5 in 25 cases (32.9%) and ED grade more than 5 in 18 cases
      (23.6%) of GU compared with similar respective scores in 9 cases (17.9%) and 2
      cases (3.8%) of ACG. The difference was due primarily to a higher global score of
      bacterial density and higher focal score of ED in the GU biopsy specimens. These
      results support the hypothesis that HP-positive ACG and HP-positive GU are
      lesions within a single disease spectrum. Heavy HP colonization and severe HP
      induced epithelial damage are predisposing factors in ulcerogenesis. Because HP
      positive ACG is probably a preulcerative state, eradication of the bacteria in HP
      positive ACG might prevent subsequent GU.

PMID- 1462955
TI  - The characteristics of mitotic figures in jejunal mucosa of patients with celiac
      disease.
AB  - The morphologic characteristics of the mitotic figures present in the jejunal
      mucosa of 23 pediatric patients having gluten enteropathy were recorded. Of the
      851 mitoses found, 4.9% were in prophase, 39.9% in prometaphase, 29.5% in
      metaphase, 22.3% in anaphase, and 3.3% in telophase. Of the 851 mitoses found,
      98.8% were considered to be morphologically normal and the remaining 1.2% were
      considered atypical. The occurrence of atypical mitoses in the jejunal mucosa of
      pediatric patients was unexpected. However, because jejunal adenocarcinomas in
      celiac patients are known to be rare, the plausible explanation for the present
      findings is that the occurrence of atypical mitoses may mirror morphologic
      variations from the normal mitotic pattern occurring in a rapidly proliferating
      mucosa, such as that of patients with gluten enteropathy.

PMID- 1462956
TI  - Renal oncocytoma and granular renal cell carcinoma. A comparative
      clinicopathologic and DNA flow cytometric study.
AB  - Twenty-three renal oncocytomas and 18 granular renal cell carcinomas (GRCC) were
      comparatively studied clinicopathologically and by DNA flow cytometry to
      delineate their differences. Of the patients with renal oncocytomas, 15 were men
      and 8 were women, and their ages ranged from 42 to 81 years (mean, 64 years). The
      gross appearance of renal oncocytomas was characteristically homogeneous tan
      brown, with variable scarring, without areas of large hemorrhage, and with no
      apparent necrosis. Twenty-two renal oncocytomas were confined within the kidney
      (Robson stage I) and one tumor extended into the renal vein (stage IIIa). Twenty
      two renal oncocytomas, including the stage IIIa tumor, manifested diploid DNA
      content and only one neoplasm showed a feature suggestive of near-diploid DNA
      aneuploidy. Of the 17 patients with renal oncocytomas who had adequate follow-up,
      none developed metastasis or died of disease. Of the patients with GRCC, 13 were
      men and 5 were women, and their ages ranged from 30 to 73 years (mean, 53 years).
      The gross appearance of GRCC was variegated, yellow to tan, and punctuated with
      geographic areas of necrosis. Eleven patients with GRCC were stage I, 4 were
      stage II, 2 were stage IIIa, and 1 patient had metastases at initial examination
      (stage IV). Seven GRCCs were DNA diploid, one was DNA tetraploid, and 10 tumors
      were DNA aneuploid. Twelve patients were alive with no evidence of disease (12 to
      36 months; median, 26 months). All patients with DNA diploid neoplasm pursued
      benign clinical courses. One patient was alive with metastatic disease and two
      patients developed metastases and died of their disease; all three patients had
      DNA aneuploid tumors. Two patients died of other causes and one patient was lost
      to follow-up. Our data indicate that renal oncocytoma is a distinct
      clinicopathologic disease with characteristic gross, histologic, DNA flow
      cytometric, and biologic features that are different from GRCC.

PMID- 1462957
TI  - Osteolysis after silicone arthroplasty.
AB  - A young woman with a silicone lunate prosthesis for avascular necrosis developed
      painful lytic lesions in the distal ulna and the triquetrum. At reoperation,
      abundant reactive synovitis was found extending into those bone lesions.
      Histologic examination of the curetting samples revealed granulation tissue with
      histiocytes and many multinucleated giant cells containing refractile particles
      consistent with silicone. The authors report a giant cell lesion of the bone that
      radiographically and microscopically mimicked a neoplasm.

PMID- 1462958
TI  - Evaluation of the CELL-DYN 3000 differential.
AB  - The CELL-DYN 3000 (Unipath Corp., Mountain View, CA) differential was evaluated
      in a tertiary care hospital using samples with a broad range of distributional
      and morphologic abnormalities. Particular attention was directed to the
      performance of the instrument-generated suspect flags that occur as an aid to
      identify samples with abnormal leukocytes, as well as the estimates of abnormal
      cells that are made by the instrument. The CELL-DYN 3000 showed excellent
      quantitative results for the white blood cell differential compared with a 400
      cell manual differential, in which morphologic abnormalities were absent or
      occurred in low numbers (< or = 5%). Specificity of the BLAST, VARIANT LYMPH,
      NRBC, WBC, or DIFF suspect flags (with the requirement that the blast estimate
      and variant lymphocyte estimate by the instrument be > or = 1%) was 82.6%.
      Sensitivity of these flags to detection of more than 5% "abnormal" leukocytes
      (blasts, malignant lymphoid cells, grossly dysplastic neutrophils, nucleated red
      blood cells, or reactive lymphocytes) or significant platelet clumping was 81.6%.
      The primary deficiency was the inability of the CELL-DYN 3000 to flag samples
      with small numbers (< or = 5%) of nucleated erythrocytes, lymphoid blasts, or
      hairy cells, or more than 5% reactive lymphocytes. Specificity of the IG flag
      (with immature granulocyte estimate > or = 3%) for immature granulocytes
      (metamyelocytes, myelocytes, or promyelocytes) was 94.9%. Sensitivity of the
      immature granulocyte flag varied from 41.7% for identifying IG > or = 1% to 100%
      for the three samples with immature granulocytes > or = 3%. Calculation of
      sensitivity and specificity to varying percentages of bands showed poor flagging
      performance, with many false-positive and false-negative results at all levels.

PMID- 1462959
TI  - A method for the independent assessment of the accuracy of hematology whole-blood
      calibrators.
AB  - An independent assessment of the accuracy with which a large manufacturer
      assigned values to hematologic calibrators was performed. Data were collected
      from 1,767 hospitals and clinics distributed over North America. Statistical
      analysis of the mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean
      corpuscular hemoglobin concentration of these patient data confirmed the accuracy
      of the values for hemoglobin, erythrocyte count, hematocrit, and erythrocyte
      indices for the calibrators manufactured and released during a 9-month period.
      This approach proved both workable and effective in detecting inaccuracies of
      less than 1%. Few technologist-users have the time or the equipment to verify
      independently the accuracy of hematologic calibrators. The manufacturers should
      perform ongoing, independent assessments of the accuracy of their products. The
      statistical analysis of patient data provides manufacturers with a suitable
      method.

PMID- 1462960
TI  - Multiple myeloma with tadpolelike cells and rosette formation.
AB  - A 65-year-old man with lower back pain was found to have multiple myeloma. Unique
      findings in the marrow aspirate smears of this patient were tadpolelike plasma
      cells and cellular rosettes simulating those seen in neuroblastoma. This case
      documents yet another facet of the broad morphologic spectrum of neoplastic
      plasma cells in multiple myeloma.

PMID- 1462961
TI  - Report of a case of localized Castleman's disease with progression to malignant
      lymphoma.
AB  - Patients with multicentric Castleman's disease have an increased risk of
      developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, development of lymphoma in the
      localized form of Castleman's disease has not been previously reported. This case
      study describes a patient with localized Castleman's disease, hyaline vascular
      type, whose course was complicated by follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PMID- 1462962
TI  - Angiocentric versus angiotropic lymphoma.

PMID- 1462963
TI  - Autologous blood transfusion.

PMID- 1462964
TI  - Magnetic fields of video display terminals and spontaneous abortion.
AB  - The aim of this study was to examine whether work with a video display terminal
      and exposure to the magnetic fields of video display terminals are related to
      spontaneous abortion. The study was conducted among women employed as bank clerks
      and clerical workers in three companies in Finland. The cases (191 spontaneous
      abortions) and controls (394 births) were identified from Finnish medical
      registers for the years 1975-1985. Use of video display terminals was defined
      using the workers' own reports and information provided by the companies. The
      assessment of exposure to the magnetic fields was based on measurements of the
      fields of video display terminals. The odds ratio for spontaneous abortion for
      working with video display terminals was not increased (odds ratio = 1.1, 95%
      confidence interval 0.7-1.6). However, the odds ratio for workers who had used a
      video display terminal with a high level of extremely low frequency magnetic
      fields (> 0.9 microT) was 3.4 (95% confidence interval 1.4-8.6) compared with
      workers using a terminal with a low level of these magnetic fields (< 0.4
      microT). Adjustment for ergonomic factors and mental work load factors changed
      the odds ratio for magnetic field exposure only very slightly. The findings
      suggest the need for future studies with assessment of exposure to the magnetic
      fields in the actual working environment to confirm the possible risk.

PMID- 1462965
TI  - Pregnancy and lactation as determinants of bone mineral density in postmenopausal
      women.
AB  - The relation of pregnancy and breast feeding to bone mineral density of the
      wrist, radius, hip, and spine was examined in a white, upper middle-class,
      homogeneous sample of 741 postmenopausal women ranging in age from 60 to 89
      years. Number of pregnancies ranged from 0 to 14, with a mean of 2.0 pregnancies
      and 1.5 live births. Almost two thirds of the women who had had a live birth
      reported breast feeding. Unadjusted comparisons indicated that bone mineral
      density of the wrist, radius, and hip increased with increasing numbers of
      pregnancies, and women who had breast-fed had higher bone mineral densities at
      these sites. However, after adjustment for age or age and body mass index, these
      associations were no longer significant. Multiple regression analyses adjusted
      for age, age at menopause, obesity, cigarette smoking, and estrogen and thiazide
      use also indicated that number of pregnancies and breast feeding were not
      significantly associated with bone mineral density at any of the four sites
      measured. Results of the present study suggest that reproductive history and
      breast feeding are not long-term determinants of bone mineral density.

PMID- 1462966
TI  - Lipoprotein(a) concentrations in Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites: the
      San Antonio Heart Study.
AB  - There is considerable evidence that lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is a strong
      independent risk factor for coronary heart disease. Based on their risk factor
      profile, Mexican Americans have an increased risk of coronary heart disease, yet
      Mexican Americans have coronary heart disease mortality similar to or lower than
      that of non-Hispanic whites. The authors therefore attempted to determine whether
      Mexican Americans had decreased Lp(a) concentrations relative to non-Hispanic
      whites in the San Antonio Heart Study, a population-based study of diabetes and
      cardiovascular disease. Lp(a) concentrations (mg/dl) were significantly lower in
      Mexican Americans (n = 316) than in non-Hispanic whites (n = 242) (men: 10.4 vs.
      16.3; women: 11.5 vs. 16.4). In addition, the proportion of persons with Lp(a)
      concentrations of > or = 30 mg/dl (the threshold at which increased risk of
      coronary heart disease is believed to occur) was significantly higher in non
      Hispanic whites than in Mexican Americans (18.6% vs. 7.6%; Mantel-Haenszel odds
      ratio (adjusted for sex) = 2.79). Age, obesity, body fat distribution, cigarette
      smoking, alcohol consumption, and glucose and insulin concentrations were not
      significantly related to Lp(a) levels. Decreased Lp(a) concentrations may account
      in part for Mexican Americans' relative protection from coronary heart disease
      mortality.

PMID- 1462967
TI  - Short-term intraindividual variability in lipoprotein measurements: the
      Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.
AB  - Much epidemiologic research is based on estimation of an association between a
      putative risk factor and a health outcome--for example, plasma concentration of
      lipoproteins and ischemic heart disease. Since the repeatability of a risk factor
      measurement determines, in part, the ability to ascertain its association in
      populations, the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Intraindividual
      Variability Study was conducted to estimate various components of variation in
      analyte data and to estimate the repeatability of these measurements. A total of
      40 subjects (17 males and 23 females) from Forsyth County, North Carolina,
      Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jackson, Mississippi, and Washington County, Maryland,
      were studied in 1988. Fasting blood was collected three times from each subject,
      with a 1- to 2-week interval between each visit. The contributions of between
      person variability, within-person variability, and processing and assay
      variability were estimated. From these components, the reliability coefficient,
      R, the correlation between measures made at repeat visits, was estimated. R was
      above 0.85 for total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low
      density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoprotein(a). Low
      repeatability was obtained for apolipoprotein A-I (R = 0.60). High density
      lipoprotein subfractions 2 and 3 were intermediate in repeatability. Reliability
      coefficients from the ARIC Intraindividual Variability Study are generally higher
      than those found in other studies, and this is related to relative variability in
      populations studied, to the time between measurements, and to differences in
      laboratory variability. Only for apolipoprotein A-I would the findings strongly
      suggest the need to adjust for measurement variability in estimation using one of
      these analytes as an independent variable.

PMID- 1462969
TI  - Blood lead as a cardiovascular risk factor.
AB  - Many epidemiologic and experimental animal studies support the hypothesis of
      there being a causal association between lead exposure and increased blood
      pressure/cardiovascular disease. This study includes 1,052 men and women from
      Copenhagen County, Denmark, who were examined in 1976 and 1981; in 1987, only the
      men were examined. Blood lead fell by approximately 40% for the men during the 11
      year period and by approximately 30% for the women during the first 5-year
      period. There was a univariate association between systolic blood pressure and
      blood lead for both sexes in 1976, but it disappeared at the following
      examinations. For women, there was also a significant association with diastolic
      blood pressure, even after confounders were controlled for at the two
      examinations. Moreover, the authors found a significant univariate association
      between changes in blood lead and changes in systolic blood pressure from 1976 to
      1987 in the males. All participants taking part in the study in 1976 were
      followed regarding hospital admissions and deaths throughout a follow-up period
      lasting for 14 years. There was a significant univariate association with total
      mortality, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular disease. However, with
      regard to coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease, the associations
      disappeared when confounders were controlled for. Blood lead was a significant
      predictor of total mortality after control for relevant confounders. This study
      supports the hypothesis of there being a weak causal association between blood
      lead and blood pressure, total mortality, coronary heart disease, and
      cardiovascular disease. The importance of this association is very modest for the
      individual, but the population attributable risk may be considerable.

PMID- 1462968
TI  - Serum ceruloplasmin level and the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke.
AB  - The associations between serum ceruloplasmin level and the subsequent incidence
      of myocardial infarction and stroke were studied in a nested case-control study
      in Finland (baseline examination 1968-1972). Ceruloplasmin levels were measured
      in stored serum samples from 104 myocardial infarction or stroke cases occurring
      during a median follow-up of about 11 years and from 104 individually matched
      controls. High serum ceruloplasmin levels were significantly associated with
      higher future odds of myocardial infarction but not of stroke. The odds ratios
      for myocardial infarction and stroke comparing the highest and lowest tertiles of
      serum ceruloplasmin, adjusted for smoking, serum cholesterol, body mass index,
      hematocrit, hypertension, and diabetes, were 3.1 and 0.7, respectively. The
      results of the present study support the hypothesis that a high serum
      ceruloplasmin level is a risk factor for myocardial infarction.

PMID- 1462970
TI  - The roles of insulin, obesity, and fat distribution in the elevation of
      cardiovascular risk factors in impaired glucose tolerance. The San Luis Valley
      Diabetes Study.
AB  - The objective of this study was to determine whether a less favorable risk factor
      pattern for cardiovascular disease among persons with impaired glucose tolerance
      could be explained by fasting insulin, obesity, and/or a central distribution of
      body fat. Between 1984 and 1988, cardiovascular risk factors were examined cross
      sectionally in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white participants in the San Luis
      Valley Diabetes Study who had either impaired (n = 173) or normal (n = 1,107)
      glucose tolerance. Sex-specific analysis of covariance models were constructed to
      adjust risk factor levels for age, age and insulin, and age, insulin, body mass
      index, and centrality index. Both males and females with impaired glucose
      tolerance had higher age-adjusted mean diastolic blood pressures, heart rates,
      uric acid levels, and triglyceride levels and lower levels of high density
      lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and HDL3 cholesterol than normal subjects;
      differences were significant for all risk factors except HDL cholesterol and HDL3
      cholesterol in males. Differences in diastolic blood pressure in males, and
      differences in heart rate and triglyceride in both sexes, remained significant
      after adjustment for all covariates. However, differences in uric acid in males
      and differences in diastolic blood pressure and HDL3 cholesterol in females were
      attenuated to borderline significance levels. Differences in uric acid and HDL
      cholesterol in females were diminished to nonsignificant levels, especially after
      adjustment for obesity-related measures. With few exceptions, fasting insulin did
      not appear to play a major role in accounting for differences in these risk
      factors. With adjustment, ethnic differences (Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic white)
      were smaller and were statistically significant less often than differences
      observed between impaired and normal glucose tolerant groups. The authors
      concluded that hyperinsulinemia, obesity, and a central body fat distribution
      accounted for some, but usually not all, of the less favorable cardiovascular
      risk factor pattern found in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance.

PMID- 1462971
TI  - Post-challenge glucose concentration, impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes, and
      cancer mortality in men.
AB  - The possibility that diabetes is associated with an elevated risk of cancer
      mortality has been discussed for many years. Recently, Levine et al. (Am J
      Epidemiol, 1990; 131:254-62) approached this issue by relating post-load plasma
      glucose concentration to cancer mortality. For men, there appeared to be a
      positive association between post-load glucose and mortality from cancer for all
      sites combined and for some specific sites. However, that analysis was based on
      only 298 cancer deaths among 11,521 men followed for 12 years. The current
      authors explored this issue in a cohort of 18,274 male civil servants, among whom
      there were 1,282 cancer deaths over 18-20 years of follow-up. There was no
      association between post-load glucose and cancer mortality, except for pancreatic
      cancer. A role for asymptomatic hyperglycemia in the etiology of cancer is not
      supported by the results of the present study.

PMID- 1462972
TI  - Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus among female prostitutes and patients
      with sexually transmitted diseases in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan.
AB  - The authors investigated the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti
      HCV) in 404 female prostitutes, 428 clinic patients with a history of at least
      one episode of sexually transmitted disease, and 8,944 blood donors who served as
      the controls. All subjects were Japanese, and all studies were carried out in
      Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan, in 1989. The prevalence of anti-HCV was significantly
      higher in the prostitutes (6.2%), in the female patients with sexually
      transmitted diseases (6.1%), and in the male patients with sexually transmitted
      diseases (2.9%) than in the controls (1.5%). Prevalence of anti-HCV increased
      with age in prostitutes and in the controls. The prevalence of anti-HCV in those
      who had been involved in prostitution for 1 year or more (8.1%) was higher than
      in those who had been involved in prostitution for less than 1 year (1.4%), but
      the difference was not statistically significant. One of the 152 anti-HCV
      negative prostitutes seroconverted between 1 and 2 years later. Among the
      subjects with sexually transmitted diseases, patients with a history of at least
      one episode of syphilis had a significantly higher prevalence of anti-HCV (4.4%)
      than the controls. Patients with acute urethritis and cervicitis also showed a
      high prevalence of anti-HCV (3.6% and 6.7%, respectively). These data support the
      possibility of sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus.

PMID- 1462973
TI  - Familial aggregation of a disease consequent upon correlation between relatives
      in a risk factor measured on a continuous scale.
AB  - Correlation between relatives in one or more risk factors for a disease will
      contribute to the risk in relatives of an affected individual, irrespective of
      the cause(s) of the correlation. In this paper, a model is proposed to quantify
      the relation between 1) the correlation (rho) between a random pair of relatives
      in a quantitative risk factor, 2) the dependence of the probability of being
      affected on a risk factor, assumed to be a logistic function and summarized by a
      risk ratio (RR) between upper and lower quartiles, and 3) the resultant disease
      association between relatives, represented as an odds ratio. For one risk factor,
      the odds ratio is almost independent of disease frequency across the range 0.001
      0.1, and is approximately linearly related to rho on a logarithmic scale. An odds
      ratio between relatives of about 2 occurs if rho = 1 and RR = 9, if rho = 0.6 and
      RR = 20, or if rho = 0.3 and RR = 100. For two independent risk factors with the
      same risk ratio and rho, the resultant odds ratio exceeds unity by about twice as
      much as when there is one risk factor. That is, even moderate familial
      aggregation of a disease is consistent with there being one or more strong
      familial (genetic and/or environmental) risk factors. Illustrations of the model
      are discussed.

PMID- 1462974
TI  - Sample size for studying intermediate endpoints within intervention trails or
      observational studies.
AB  - An intermediate endpoint is a biologic event or marker that is a precursor to a
      given health outcome. Examples of potential intermediate endpoints include serum
      cholesterol for coronary heart disease, endogenous steroid hormones for breast
      cancer, and CD4 count for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. When one is
      studying a potential intermediate endpoint in the context of an intervention
      trial, five types of questions may be investigated: 1) Does the intervention
      affect the intermediate endpoint? 2) Is the intermediate endpoint associated with
      prognostic or risk factors? 3) Is the intermediate endpoint associated with the
      main outcome? 4) Is the intervention effect on the main outcome mediated by the
      intermediate endpoint? 5) Are the prognostic or risk factor effects mediated by
      the intermediate endpoint? In this paper, the authors show that each of these
      questions had different sample size requirements, and they illustrate their point
      with a discussion of an ancillary study of large bowel epithelial proliferation
      in the National Cancer Institute's Polyp Prevention Trial. The same methods may
      be used in an observational study, in which case questions 2, 3, and 5 are
      relevant. However, much larger numbers than those used in the Polyp Prevention
      Trial example will be required when the main outcome is rare.

PMID- 1462975
TI  - Leave no stone unturned.
AB  - The need for locating patients lost to follow-up is well known in epidemiologic
      research projects. This paper provides for the reader the basic tools,
      techniques, and methods that can be used to locate these patients.

PMID- 1462976
TI  - Re: "Dietary cholesterol and incidence of lung cancer: the Western Electric
      Study".

PMID- 1462977
TI  - Re: "Dietary antioxidants and the risk of lung cancer" and "Dietary cholesterol
      and incidence of lung cancer: the Western Electric Study".

PMID- 1462978
TI  - Re: "A simple method to calculate the confidence interval of a standardized
      mortality ratio (SMR)".

PMID- 1462979
TI  - Re: "Tests for trend and dose response: misinterpretations and alternatives".

PMID- 1462980
TI  - Diabetic nephropathy in insulin-dependent patients.
AB  - Diabetic nephropathy is a serious complication of insulin-dependent diabetes
      mellitus (IDDM) that affects 30% to 40% of IDDM patients with a predictable time
      of onset. Epidemiologic data suggest that either a genetic susceptibility,
      perhaps for hypertension (HTN), or an environmental exposure selects out that
      subset of IDDM patients and destines them to develop diabetic nephropathy.
      Hopefully, assessing glomerular hyperfiltration, urinary albumin excretion rate
      (AER), glycemic control, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and perhaps early
      morphologic changes will allow early identification of this high-risk group of
      IDDM patients before overt nephropathy is present. Once nephropathy appears,
      renal function inexorably declines, although the natural history of this
      progression may be changing with earlier therapeutic intervention. IDDM patients
      with nephropathy suffer a high mortality rate compared with IDDM patients without
      nephropathy or with nondiabetic end-stage renal disease patients. This is
      primarily due to malignant atherosclerotic disease manifested as coronary,
      peripheral, and cerebral arterial disease. Therapeutic interventions of
      demonstrated benefit in slowing the rate of decline of glomerular filtration rate
      (GFR) include blood pressure control and low-protein diets. Strict blood sugar
      control or treatment with aldose reductase inhibitors, converting enzyme
      inhibitors (CEIs), or inhibitors of advanced glycosylation end-product formation
      are of possible benefit, but are awaiting clinical trial results.

PMID- 1462981
TI  - An overview of renal pathology in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in
      relationship to altered glomerular hemodynamics.
AB  - Clinical diabetic nephropathy in man is the consequence of the development of a
      specific constellation of glomerular, tubular, vascular, and interstitial
      structural abnormalities accompanied by highly characteristic immunohistochemical
      alterations that, together, are unique to diabetes. Because changes resembling
      the specific pathology of diabetes do not develop in patients with conditions
      that lead to long-standing glomerular hyperfunction (such as unilateral
      nephrectomy), it is unlikely that glomerular hemodynamic abnormalities per se can
      be the cause of diabetic nephropathy. Whether hemodynamic abnormalities represent
      a risk factor that, in the presence of the diabetic state, can accelerate the
      rate of development of the basic lesions of diabetic nephropathy is currently
      unclear. However, there is considerable evidence that when the renal lesions of
      diabetes are far advanced, factors such as systemic hypertension can determine
      the rate of renal functional deterioration in diabetes as in other disorders.
      Although the diabetic rat may be a useful model for the study of aspects of the
      pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, much confusion has resulted from the
      inclusion of focal segmental glomerular sclerosis as a diabetic lesion.
      Similarly, the acceptance of all increases in urinary protein excretions in this
      model as resulting from or reflecting of diabetic nephropathology can be
      misleading. It is concluded that treatment aimed at manipulating renal
      hemodynamics in diabetic patients without evidence of renal disease should remain
      in the realm of clinical research.

PMID- 1462982
TI  - Captopril acutely lowers albuminuria in normotensive patients with diabetic
      nephropathy.
AB  - Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors decrease albuminuria in patients
      with diabetic nephropathy. To study the change in albuminuria in relation to
      changes in systemic and renal hemodynamics, nine normotensive patients with type
      1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and persistent proteinuria were given a
      single oral dose of 25 mg of the ACE inhibitor captopril. Blood pressure,
      glomerular filtration rate (GFR), effective renal plasma flow (ERPF), and albumin
      excretion rate (AER) were measured in two periods of 40 minutes before and in
      four periods of 40 minutes after administration of captopril. A constant water
      diuresis was maintained. Blood pressure did not decrease significantly (130/79 +/
      4/3 v 124/74 +/- 4/3 mm Hg; mean +/- SEM), median AER decreased from 403
      (interquartile range [IQR], 812) micrograms/min to 333 (707) micrograms/min (P <
      0.01). GFR did not change (123 +/- 13 v 117 +/- 14 mL/min), but ERPF increased
      significantly from 609 +/- 56 to 714 +/- 55 mL/min (P < 0.01). Consequently, the
      filtration fraction (FF; quotient of GFR and ERPF) decreased from 0.20 +/- 0.014
      to 0.17 +/- 0.014 (P < 0.01). A strong correlation was found between the decrease
      of AER and the decrease of FF (rs = 0.75; P < 0.02). No correlation was found
      between the decrease in AER and changes in GFR or blood pressure. In the
      normotensive patient with diabetic nephropathy, captopril causes an acute
      reduction of AER, which is probably mediated by a lowering of the intraglomerular
      pressure.

PMID- 1462983
TI  - Renal replacement therapy in type 2 diabetic patients: 10 years' experience.
AB  - The objective of this study was to determine the impact of renal transplantation
      and hemodialysis treatment on outcome of elderly diabetic patients with end-stage
      renal disease (ESRD) among other factors related to survival. Results of
      treatment of ESRD in 78 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
      (type 2) showed a survival rate of 58% at 1 year and 14% at 5 years, independent
      of treatment modality. Patients who received a renal allograft had a higher
      survival rate as compared with patients on hemodialysis treatment (5-year
      survival, 59% v 2%; P < 0.005). Diabetic patients with a history of myocardial
      infarction, stroke, or peripheral gangrene before onset of renal replacement
      therapy had a worse prognosis in comparison to patients without vascular
      complications (5-year survival, 2% v 21%; P < 0.05). Analysis of patients who
      survived less than 6 months and more than 24 months was performed. Long-term
      survivors were slightly younger, had diabetes for a shorter period, and showed a
      better metabolic control of diabetes mellitus. Sixteen long-term survivors
      received a renal allograft. In contrast, only three short-term survivors were
      transplanted. Furthermore, short-term survivors also had a greater than 70%
      incidence of severe vascular complications before renal replacement therapy. A
      history of myocardial infarction, stroke, or peripheral gangrene is an
      independent predictor of decreased survival, irrespective of whether the patients
      were transplanted or maintained on chronic hemodialysis treatment. In contrast,
      renal transplantation improved survival of elderly diabetic patients without
      vascular complications and should be the treatment of choice in this specific
      group of patients.

PMID- 1462984
TI  - Renal scanning 99mTc diethylene-triamine pentaacetic acid glomerular filtration
      rate (GFR) determination compared with iothalamate clearance GFR in diabetics.
      The Collaborative Study Group for The study of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme
      Inhibition in Diabetic Nephropathy.
AB  - Traditionally, creatinine clearance is used as an estimation of the glomerular
      filtration rate (GFR) because of its relative ease and low cost. Errors in
      collection limit its usefulness. Estimation of GFR using 99mTc diethylene
      triamine pentaacetic acid (Tc-DTPA) by direct scintigraphic determination of
      fractional radionuclide accumulation within each kidney does not require blood or
      urine sampling, takes 10 to 15 minutes to perform, and has been reported to give
      a GFR that correlates with 24-hour urinary creatinine clearance (CC) in
      hospitalized patients (r = 0.95). To assess its usefulness in the outpatient
      diabetic with nephropathy, 24 patients with type I diabetes underwent 56
      iothalamate clearances during water diuresis and 56 simultaneous Tc-DTPA GFR
      estimations. GFR was also estimated from 24-hour urinary CC, 100/creatinine, and
      by the formula of Cockcroft and Gault. Tc-DTPA GFR estimation by direct renal
      scanning correlated relatively poorly with iothalamate GFR (r = 0.74) in this
      patient population when all levels of iothalamate GFR were compared (n = 56), but
      improved (r = 0.80) when iothalamate GFR values greater than or equal to 120
      mL/min were excluded from analysis (n = 45). Given all levels of iothalamate GFR,
      the best correlation was obtained with the estimation using the equation of
      Cockcroft and Gault (r = 0.86).

PMID- 1462985
TI  - The diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in uremic patients.
AB  - Two urease-based tests--the urease slide test and the radiolabeled urea breath
      test, are commonly used for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection of the
      stomach. The reliability of these tests in chronic uremia was compared with
      serological tests for H pylori antibodies, and with direct detection of the
      organism by microscopy or culture of gastric antral biopsies. Twenty-seven
      patients with chronic renal failure and dyspepsia underwent upper
      gastrointestinal endoscopy. Twelve of these patients (46%) were judged to be
      infected with H pylori on the basis of identification of the organism on
      microscopy or culture of antral biopsy. Both urease-based tests were able to
      determine H pylori status, despite the markedly increased concentrations of urea
      in the gastric juice found in chronic renal failure. The urease slide test
      performed on antral biopsies obtained at endoscopy proved reliable in determining
      H pylori status with no false-positive nor false-negative results after 20
      minutes and 24 hours of incubation. The 14C-urea breath test also differentiated
      the infected from the uninfected patients. The 20-minute 14CO2 excretion (kg
      %dose/mmol CO2 x 100) ranged from 50 to 834 in the H pylori-infected patients,
      compared with 0.3 to 27 in the H pylori-noninfected patients (P < 0.0001); the 90
      minute values ranged from 88 to 398 in the former, compared with 1 to 79 in the
      latter (P < 0.0001). The excretion of 14CO2 (derived from bacterial hydrolysis of
      ingested 14C-urea) was higher in all the uremic patients compared with nonuremic
      controls, and in half of the H pylori-noninfected uremic patients there was a
      late increase in 14CO2 excretion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1462986
TI  - Iron accumulation in human chronic renal disease.
AB  - Iron, which has been shown to accumulate within proximal tubule lysosomes in
      proteinuric models of renal disease, may play a role in the progression of
      chronic renal disease by the generation of reactive oxygen species. Therefore,
      renal biopsies from humans with proteinuria and/or chronic renal failure were
      examined at an ultrastructural level for iron by energy dispersive analysis and
      compared with normal biopsies. Iron accumulated in proximal tubular lysosomes in
      renal disease (P < 0.05 v normals), accompanied in some cases by phosphorus and
      silicon. Both the number of iron-containing lysosomes per tubular cross-section
      (1.86 +/- 0.41 v 0.66 +/- 0.22, P < 0.05) and the mean concentration of lysosomal
      iron (254.5 +/- 73.4 mg/dL v 81.2 +/- 23.8, P < 0.001) was greater in patients
      with nephrotic syndrome (n = 12) than in those without (n = 8). Iron accumulation
      (number of iron-containing lysosomes/tubule) correlated with protein excretion (r
      = 0.68, P = 0.003, n = 20), but not with glomerular filtration rate. Damaged
      tubules contained greater amounts of iron than tubules with less damage (288.5 +/
      68.5 mg/dL v 80.4 +/- 13.9, P < 0.01). Further studies are needed to define the
      possible role of iron in causing tubular damage and progression of renal disease.

PMID- 1462987
TI  - Uremic pancreopathy: impaired secretory function in vitro.
AB  - Abnormalities of the exocrine pancreas have long been described in uremia. The
      present study was performed to determine whether these abnormalities occur as a
      result of derangements in protein synthesis or disturbances in protein secretion.
      Pancreatic acini obtained from rats with renal failure and their pair-fed shams
      were studied in vitro by the method of radiolabeled leucine incorporation and
      secretory response to carbachol. In vitro protein synthesis, as reflected in
      radiolabeled leucine incorporation per DNA content was increased in uremic acini
      compared with control. However, the secretory response to carbachol was impaired.
      These results suggest that the impairment in exocrine pancreatic function is
      likely due to abnormalities in protein secretion, rather than protein synthesis.

PMID- 1462989
TI  - The determination of hemodialysis blood recirculation using blood urea nitrogen
      measurements.
AB  - The determination of blood recirculation using blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
      measurements in hemodialysis patients is a standard technique. The accuracy and
      reproducibility of these calculations have never been determined. Two pairs of
      recirculation studies (study A and study B) were performed in 13 patients during
      a single dialysis treatment. Blood samples were analyzed for BUN and
      recirculation was calculated. The first recirculation study (study A) was
      performed within 1 hour of the initiation of dialysis, with a duplicate test of
      recirculation performed within 15 minutes. In study B, the dialyzer blood lines
      were reversed in an attempt to enhance blood recirculation. After 15 minutes,
      duplicate tests of recirculation were again performed. Calculated recirculations
      before the line reversal (study A) ranged from -3.3% to 11.9% in the first test
      and -2.9% to 12.2% in the second test. In study A, there was no correlation (P >
      0.05, r = 0.09) between the first and second calculated recirculations. In study
      B, an increase in recirculation was observed. Calculated recirculations ranged
      from 16.3% to 53.5% for the first test and 5.4% to 58.1% for the second test. A
      significant relationship was observed in the calculated recirculation in study B
      (P < 0.05, r = 0.81). The results from the present study show that the use of BUN
      measurements may not provide a consistent indicator of access recirculation in a
      patient with a low recirculation. This lack of consistency should be considered
      when determining further clinical treatment.

PMID- 1462988
TI  - Eating behavior in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis
      patients.
AB  - Three groups consisting of 12 subjects each (continuous ambulatory peritoneal
      dialysis [CAPD] patients, hemodialysis patients, and healthy controls) matched
      for age, sex, and body weight were invited to a test meal for the study of
      hunger, fullness, and food preferences. They were served an excess portion of
      hash served on a plate placed on a hidden scale ("VIKTOR"), which was connected
      to a computer registering the eating process on-line. The patients filled in
      visual analogue scales (VAS) concerning appetite and food preferences before and
      after the test meal. Mean total intake of food (+/- SD) was significantly higher
      for healthy controls (357 +/- 175 g) compared with hemodialysis patients (295 +/-
      105 g), which in turn was higher than in CAPD patients (206 +/- 70 g). Eating
      velocity was lower in both dialysis groups compared with controls. CAPD patients
      experienced less hunger and desire to eat compared with hemodialysis patients and
      controls. The reason for the low eating drive in CAPD patients despite their
      great need for protein and calories is unknown, but might be explained by gastric
      retention, insufficient dialysis, metabolic effects of the high sugar load from
      the dialysate, or combinations of these factors.

PMID- 1462990
TI  - Antilymphocyte globulin versus OKT3 induction therapy in cadaveric kidney
      transplantation: a prospective randomized study.
AB  - Different induction therapies have been used in renal transplantation to avoid
      cyclosporine (CsA) nephrotoxicity and early acute graft rejection. This study
      compares the efficacy of a short course of prophylactic OKT3 to that of
      antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) in preventing acute renal allograft rejection when
      administered concomitantly with CsA and steroids. Between March 1988 and December
      1990, 140 first-cadaver renal transplant recipients were randomly allocated to
      two immunosuppression groups--ALG group (n = 68): ALG 15 mg/kg just before
      transplant surgery, ALG 12 mg/kg the first day after transplant, followed by four
      doses of 10 mg/kg on alternate days; and OKT3 group (n = 72): OKT3 5 mg just
      before transplant, followed by four doses of 5 mg/d. Both groups included low
      dose CsA and steroids. The incidence of rejection during the first 3 months after
      transplantation was 15% in the ALG group and 19% in the OKT3 group (NS). Kaplan
      Meier estimates of patients free of rejection at 2 years was 85% in the ALG group
      and 77% in the OKT3 group (NS). The 3-year actuarial graft survival was 82% and
      85% (NS), and 3-year patient survival was 97% and 98% (NS), in the ALG and OKT3
      groups, respectively. These results indicate that the concomitant association of
      CsA and ALG or OKT3 constitutes a safe and effective therapeutic strategy that
      provides a low incidence of rejection and gives good results for patient and
      graft survival.

PMID- 1462991
TI  - Cytokine-induced immunoglobulin production in primary IgA nephropathy.
AB  - Increased IgA synthesis probably plays a role in the pathogenesis of IgA
      nephropathy (IgAN). We investigated whether an increased sensitivity to the
      effect of various growth factor combinations leads to increased immunoglobulin
      synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from IgAN patients, in
      comparison to healthy controls. Although none of the growth factors studied
      (pokeweed mitogen [PWM], interleukin [IL]-2, IL-6, transforming growth factor
      beta [TGF-beta], and combinations) led to greater IgA synthesis in IgAN patients
      than in controls, the IgA subclass ratio was shifted in favor of IgA1. In
      controls, but not in IgAN patients, IL-2 enhanced the production of IgA and IgA1
      compared with media alone. This possibly reflects previous in vivo activation by
      IL-2 in IgAN patients. The suppressive effect of TGF-beta on immunoglobulin
      synthesis was modestly greater in IgAN patients than in controls. Increased
      production of IL-2 and perhaps other cytokines by T cells in vivo may be
      responsible for the elevated IgA immune response in these patients.

PMID- 1462992
TI  - Analysis of cytodiagnostic urinalysis findings in 77 patients with concurrent
      renal biopsies.
AB  - We investigated the value of cytodiagnostic urinalysis in detecting and scoring
      the severity of the four types of renal lesions (glomerular, interstitial,
      tubular, and vascular). Both cytodiagnostic urinalysis and concurrent renal
      biopsy were performed in 77 patients (47 from native kidneys and 30 from
      transplants) and the scoring and findings assessed in a double-blinded fashion.
      Evaluation of the reproducibility for the counting of renal cells showed a low
      intraobserver and interobserver variation. Cytodiagnostic urinalysis correlated
      with the renal biopsy with respect to primary lesions in 42 (89%) of the native
      kidney cases, and in 23 (77%) of the transplant kidney cases. The accuracy of
      diagnosis of glomerular lesions in both native and transplanted kidneys was 0.91,
      and for acute rejection in transplanted kidneys, the accuracy of diagnosis was
      0.73. Severity scores showed good correlation between cytodiagnostic urinalysis
      and renal biopsy in both transplanted and in native kidneys and cytodiagnostic
      urinalysis correlated well with the increase in creatinine levels. The most
      important components of cytodiagnostic urinalysis for the diagnosis of glomerular
      lesions were dysmorphic erythrocytes and proteinuria. The specificity and
      sensitivity of dysmorphic erythrocytes for a glomerular lesion were 0.89 and
      0.88, respectively. In cases with biopsy-proven glomerular lesions, more severe
      changes were found by cytodiagnostic urinalysis when the biopsy showed
      proliferative lesions in the glomeruli than when normal glomeruli were found by
      light microscopy. Cytodiagnostic urinalysis has the advantage over renal biopsy
      that it can be repeated as often as necessary and thus allows observation of the
      development or regression of the renal lesion over time. We conclude that
      cytodiagnostic urinalysis is well correlated with the renal biopsy and that it
      provides valuable and quantitative information regarding the disease process in
      the kidney.

PMID- 1462993
TI  - Obesity-associated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis: pathological features of
      the lesion and relationship with cardiomegaly and hyperlipidemia.
AB  - In a review of the autopsies and medical records of 22 obese patients, focal
      segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) was present in seven. The FSGS was mild in
      all but one patient. The FSGS of obese patients has similar features to
      idiopathic FSGS; however, our findings suggest that it lacks the hyperplasia of
      glomerular epithelial cells, shows no predilection for the corticomedullary
      junction, and is probably more often seen in the hilar region of the glomeruli.
      FSGS or glomerulomegaly was not associated with the degree of obesity. We
      demonstrated lipid deposition in the kidney of obese patients. Obese patients
      with FSGS, compared to those without FSGS, had higher blood cholesterol (P <
      0.10) and higher triglyceride levels (P < 0.01). The mean heart weight of obese
      patients with FSGS was greater than that of patients without FSGS (P < 0.01).
      Also, obese patients with FSGS had larger glomeruli (246 +/- 33 microns) than
      obese patients without FSGS (218 +/- 16 microns) (P < 0.05). These findings
      suggest that cardiomegaly with hemodynamic changes and glomerular hyperfiltration
      may play a significant role in the glomerulomegaly and FSGS of obese patients.
      The secondary or contributory role of lipids in the development of the FSGS of
      obese patients remains to be determined.

PMID- 1462994
TI  - Acute myoglobinuric renal failure in a patient with IgA nephropathy.

PMID- 1462995
TI  - Sclerosing peritonitis with gross peritoneal calcification: a case report.
AB  - We report the case of a patient on dialysis for 13 years, including continuous
      ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) for 11 years, who developed sclerosing
      peritonitis with gross peritoneal calcification. The patient first presented with
      abdominal pain in January 1990, when peritoneal calcification was detected for
      the first time. Her symptoms settled spontaneously and 1 year later she presented
      with acute peritonitis and adynamic ileus. The peritonitis settled with
      antibiotics and Tenchkoff catheter removal, but the ileus persisted. She was
      commenced on long-term parenteral nutrition, but never recovered useful bowel
      function. After 8 weeks of hemodialysis and total parenteral nutrition, a further
      laparotomy for an acute abdomen showed what appeared to be extensive bowel
      infarction and peritoneal calcification. She died several days later. Of
      significance, peritoneal calcification was first noted on x-ray and computed
      tomography (CT) scan while the patient was still largely asymptomatic and before
      peritoneal ultrafiltration capacity was significantly impaired. Unlike other
      reported cases of calcifying peritonitis, sclerosing peritonitis was present and
      calcification was far more extensive. It was not associated with factors such as
      frequent infective peritonitis or acetate dialysate. Calciphylaxis was not
      present nor was there any abnormality of calcium-phosphate metabolism. The
      outcome of this case suggests that patients with recurrent or persistent bowel
      symptoms on long-term CAPD should have early abdominal x-ray or CT scanning to
      exclude sclerosing peritonitis or bowel calcification. If present, consideration
      should be given to transferring the patient to another therapeutic dialysis
      modality if possible.

PMID- 1462996
TI  - Acute skin and fat necrosis during sepsis in a patient with chronic renal failure
      and subcutaneous arterial calcification.
AB  - Calcification of small subcutaneous arteries and arterioles is commonly found in
      patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), but the syndrome of acute ischemic
      necrosis of the skin and subcutaneous fat supplied by these vessels is relatively
      uncommon. The necrosis occurs during dialysis and after successful renal
      transplantation, and it is often fatal. Occlusion of the calcified arteries and
      associated microvessels by thrombi is reported infrequently, but it is relevant
      to the necrosis. However, the pathogenesis remains enigmatic. In the patient
      described here, who had CRF, bacteremia, and laboratory evidence of disseminated
      intravascular coagulation (DIC), the distribution of thrombi and necrosis was
      mainly that of the calcified arteries which, therefore, probably played a role in
      the localization of the thrombi. An increased susceptibility of the endothelium
      of calcified vessels to the procoagulant effects of sepsis may be a contributing
      factor.

PMID- 1462997
TI  - Neurotoxicity of acyclovir in patients with end-stage renal failure treated with
      continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.
AB  - We report two cases of herpes-zoster in which the administration of acyclovir to
      patients with end-stage renal failure treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal
      dialysis (CAPD) resulted in acyclovir neurotoxicity, even though the doses
      administered were within those recommended by the manufacturer's data sheet for
      patients with renal failure. Acyclovir removal was negligible with peritoneal
      dialysis and one patient died. The other patient was successfully treated with
      hemodialysis, which effectively reduced plasma concentrations, resulting in an
      improvement in conscious state. Acyclovir neurotoxicity should be considered in
      patients with renal failure who have been treated for viral infections, in whom
      the conscious state has deteriorated despite normal brain computed tomography
      (CT) scan and lumbar puncture investigations. Hemodialysis is the preferred
      treatment for the rapid removal of acyclovir.

PMID- 1462998
TI  - Acetazolamide in hemodialysis patients: a rational use after ocular surgery.
AB  - Acetazolamide is a weak diuretic used to decrease production of aqueous humor in
      the eye. Hemodialysis patients undergoing ocular surgery may benefit from
      acetazolamide; however, no pharmacokinetic data are available for this group of
      patients. We report a patient who received acetazolamide 250 mg every 6 hours
      after ophthalmic surgery and developed reversible neurological side effects
      associated with very high plasma concentrations. Using pharmacokinetic analysis,
      we suggest an alternate administration of acetazolamide for end-stage renal
      patients.

PMID- 1462999
TI  - Appropriate Blood Pressure Control in type II diabetes (ABCD Trial): implications
      for complications.

PMID- 1463000
TI  - Proteinuria, hematuria, hypertension, and decreased renal function in a patient
      with diabetes for 9 years.

PMID- 1463001
TI  - Children are different: the challenges of pediatric renal transplantation.

PMID- 1463002
TI  - Kidney disease and hypertension in blacks.

PMID- 1463003
TI  - Modification of diet in renal disease.

PMID- 1463004
TI  - Multicystic renal dysplasia in two consecutive male infants.

PMID- 1463005
TI  - Mitochondrial genetics: principles and practice.

PMID- 1463006
TI  - Segregation and manifestations of the mtDNA tRNA(Lys) A-->G(8344) mutation of
      myoclonus epilepsy and ragged-red fibers (MERRF) syndrome.
AB  - We have studied the segregation and manifestations of the tRNA(Lys) A-->G(8344)
      mutation of mtDNA. Three unrelated patients with myoclonus epilepsy and ragged
      red fibers (MERRF) syndrome were investigated, along with 30 of their maternal
      relatives. Mutated mtDNA was not always found in the offspring of women carrying
      the tRNA(Lys) mutation. Four women had 10%-33% of mutated mtDNA in lymphocytes,
      and no mutated mtDNA was found in 7 of their 14 investigated children. The
      presence of mutated mtDNA was excluded at a level of 3:1,000. Five women had a
      proportion of 43%-73% mutated mtDNA in lymphocytes, and mutated mtDNA was found
      in all their 12 investigated children. This suggests that the risk for
      transmission of mutated mtDNA to the offspring increases if high levels are
      present in the mother and that, above a threshold level of 35%-40%, it is very
      likely that transmission will occur to all children. The three patients with
      MERRF syndrome had, in muscle, both 94%-96% mutated mtDNA and biochemical and
      histochemical evidence of a respiratory-chain dysfunction. Four relatives had a
      proportion of 61%-92% mutated mtDNA in muscle, and biochemical measurements
      showed a normal respiratory-chain function in muscle in all cases. These findings
      suggest that > 92% of mtDNA with the tRNA(Lys) mutation in muscle is required to
      cause a respiratory-chain dysfunction that can be detected by biochemical
      methods. There was a positive correlation between the levels of mtDNA with the
      tRNA(Lys) mutation in lymphocytes and the levels in muscle, in all nine
      investigated cases. The levels of mutated mtDNA were higher in muscle than in
      lymphocytes in all cases. In two of the patients with MERRF syndrome, muscle
      specimens were obtained at different times. In both cases, biochemical
      measurements revealed a deteriorating respiratory-chain function, and in one case
      a progressive increase in the amount of cytochrome c oxidase-deficient muscle
      fibers was found.

PMID- 1463007
TI  - A variant of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy characterized by recovery of
      vision and by an unusual mitochondrial genetic etiology.
AB  - The Tas2 and Vic2 Australian families are affected with a variant of Leber
      hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). The risk of developing the optic neuropathy
      shows strict maternal inheritance, and the ophthalmological changes in affected
      family members are characteristic of LHON. However, in contrast to the common
      form of the disease, members of these two families show a high frequency of
      vision recovery. To ascertain the mitochondrial genetic etiology of the LHON in
      these families, both (a) the the nucleotide sequences of the seven mitochondrial
      genes encoding subunits of respiratory-chain complex I and (b) the mitochondrial
      cytochrome b gene were determined for representatives of both families. Neither
      family carries any of the previously identified primary mitochondrial LHON
      mutations: ND4/11778, ND1/3460, or ND1/4160. Instead, both LHON families carry
      multiple nucleotide changes in the mitochondrial complex I genes, which produce
      conservative amino acid changes. From the available sequence data, it is inferred
      that the Vic2 and Tas2 LHON families are phylogenetically related to each other
      and to a cluster of LHON families in which mutations in the mitochondrial
      cytochrome b gene have been hypothesized to play a primary etiological role.
      However, sequencing analysis establishes that the Vic2 and Tas2 LHON families do
      not carry these cytochrome b mutations. There are two hypotheses to account for
      the unusual mitochondrial genetic etiology of the LHON in the Tas2 and Vic2 LHON
      families. One possibility is that there is a primary LHON mutation within the
      mitochondrial genome but that it is at a site that was not included in the
      sequencing analyses. Alternatively, the disease in these families may result from
      the cumulative effects of multiple secondary LHON mutations that have less severe
      phenotypic consequences.

PMID- 1463008
TI  - No significant effect of monosomy for distal 21q22.3 on the Down syndrome
      phenotype in "mirror" duplications of chromosome 21.
AB  - Three Down syndrome patients for whom karyotypic analysis showed a "mirror"
      (reverse tandem) duplication of chromosome 21 were studied by phenotypic,
      cytogenetic, and molecular methods. On high-resolution R-banding analysis
      performed in two cases, the size of the fusion 21q22.3 band was apparently less
      than twice the size of the normal 21q22.3, suggesting a partial deletion of
      distal 21q. The evaluation of eight chromosome 21 single-copy sequences of the
      21q22 region--namely, SOD1, D21S15, D21S42, CRYA1, PFKL, CD18, COL6A1, and S100B-
      by a slot blot method showed in all three cases a partial deletion of 21q22.3 and
      partial monosomy. The translocation breakpoints were different in each patient,
      and in two cases the rearranged chromosome was found to be asymmetrical. The
      molecular definition of the monosomy 21 in each patient was, respectively, COL6A1
      S100B, CD18-S100B, and PFKL-S100B. DNA polymorphism analysis indicated in all
      cases a homozygosity of the duplicated material. The duplicated region was
      maternal in two patients and paternal in one patient. These data suggest that the
      reverse tandem chromosomes did not result from a telomeric fusion between
      chromosomes 21 but from a translocation between sister chromatids. The phenotypes
      of these patients did not differ significantly from that of individuals with full
      trisomy 21, except in one case with large ears with an unfolded helix. The fact
      that monosomy of distal 21q22.3 in these patients resulted in a phenotype very
      similar to Down syndrome suggests that the duplication of the genes located in
      this part of chromosome 21 is not necessary for the pathogenesis of the Down
      syndrome features observed in these patients, including most of the facial and
      hand features, muscular hypotonia, cardiopathy of the Fallot tetralogy type, and
      part of the mental retardation.

PMID- 1463009
TI  - Analysis of chromosome 21 yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones.
AB  - Chromosome 21 contains genes relevant to several important diseases. Yeast
      artificial chromosome (YAC) clones, because they span > 100 kbp, will provide
      attractive material for initiating searches for such genes. Twenty-two YAC
      clones, each of which maps to a region of potential relevance either to aspects
      of the Down syndrome phenotype or to one of the other chromosome 21-associated
      genetic diseases, have been analyzed in detail. Clones total approximately 6,000
      kb and derive from all parts of the long arm. Rare restriction-site maps have
      been constructed for each clone and have been used to determine regional
      variations in clonability, methylation frequency, CpG island density, and CpG
      island frequency versus gene density. This information will be useful for the
      isolation and mapping of new genes to chromosome 21 and for walking in YAC
      libraries.

PMID- 1463010
TI  - Nondisjunction of chromosome 21: comparisons of cytogenetic and molecular studies
      of the meiotic stage and parent of origin.
AB  - In the present report, we summarize studies aimed at examining the reliability of
      chromosome heteromorphisms in analyses of chromosome 21 nondisjunction. We used
      two cytogenetic approaches--fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) to
      repetitive sequences on 21p and traditional Q-banding--to distinguish chromosome
      21 homologues and then compared the results of these studies with those obtained
      by DNA markers. Using a conservative scoring system for Q-banding and FISH
      heteromorphisms, we were able to specify the parental origin of trisomy in 10% of
      cases; in contrast, DNA marker studies were informative for parental origin in
      almost all cases. The results of the molecular and cytogenetic studies of
      parental origin concurred in all cases in which assignments were made
      independently using both techniques. However, in 4 of 13 cases in which the
      molecular studies contributed to the interpretation of the cytogenetic findings,
      the two results did not agree with respect to the meiotic stage of
      nondisjunction. A relatively high frequency of crossing-over on either the short
      arm or proximal long arm of chromosome 21 could explain these results and may be
      a mechanism leading to nondisjunction.

PMID- 1463011
TI  - Xp21 contiguous gene syndromes: deletion quantitation with bivariate flow
      karyotyping allows mapping of patient breakpoints.
AB  - Bivariate flow karyotyping was used to estimate the deletion sizes for a series
      of patients with Xp21 contiguous gene syndromes. The deletion estimates were used
      to develop an approximate scale for the genomic map in Xp21. The bivariate flow
      karyotype results were compared with clinical and molecular genetic information
      on the extent of the patients' deletions, and these various types of data were
      consistent. The resulting map spans > 15 Mb, from the telomeric interval between
      DXS41 (99-6) and DXS68 (L1-4) to a position centromeric to the ornithine
      transcarbamylase locus. The deletion sizing was considered to be accurate to +/-
      1 Mb. The map provides information on the relative localization of genes and
      markers within this region. For example, the map suggests that the adrenal
      hypoplasia congenita and glycerol kinase genes are physically close to each
      other, are within 1-2 Mb of the telomeric end of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy
      (DMD) gene, and are nearer to the DMD locus than to the more distal marker DXS28
      (C7). Information of this type is useful in developing genomic strategies for
      positional cloning in Xp21. These investigations demonstrate that the DNA from
      patients with Xp21 contiguous gene syndromes can be valuable reagents, not only
      for ordering loci and markers but also for providing an approximate scale to the
      map of the Xp21 region surrounding DMD.

PMID- 1463012
TI  - Both inherited susceptibility and environmental exposure determine the low
      density lipoprotein-subfraction pattern distribution in healthy Dutch families.
AB  - A lipoprotein profile characterized by a predominance of small, dense, low
      density lipoprotein (LDL) particles has been associated with an increased risk of
      atherosclerosis. To investigate whether genetic factors are involved in
      determining this heavy LDL subfraction pattern, this study was undertaken with
      the aim of resolving the effects that major genes, multifactorial heritability,
      and environmental exposures have on the LDL subfraction pattern. In a random
      sample of 19 healthy Dutch families including 162 individuals, the distribution
      of the LDL subfraction pattern was determined by density gradient
      ultracentrifugation. For each subject a specific LDL subfraction profile was
      observed, characterized by the relative contribution of the three major LDL
      subfractions--LDL1 (d = 1.030-1.033 g/ml), LDL2 (d = 1.033-1.040 g/ml), and LDL3
      (d = 1.040-1.045 g/ml)--to total LDL. A continuous variable, parameter K, was
      defined to characterize each individual LDL subfraction pattern. Complex
      segregation analysis of this quantitative trait, under a model which includes a
      major locus, polygenes, and both common and random environment, was applied to
      analyze the distribution of the LDL subfraction pattern in these families. The
      results indicate that the LDL subfraction pattern, described by parameter K, is
      controlled by a major autosomal, highly penetrant, recessive allele with a
      population frequency of .19 and an additional multifactorial inheritance
      component. The penetrance of the more dense LDL subfraction patterns,
      characterized by values of K < 0, was dependent on age, gender, and, in women, on
      oral contraceptive use and postmenopausal status. Furthermore, multiple
      regression analysis revealed that approximately 60% of the variation in the LDL
      subfraction pattern could be accounted for by alterations in age, gender,
      relative body weight, smoking habits, hormonal status in women, and lipid and
      lipoprotein levels. In conclusion, our results indicate that genetic influences
      as well as environmental exposure, sex, age and hormonal status in women are
      important in determining the distribution of the LDL subfraction patterns in this
      population and that these influences may contribute to the explanation of
      familial clustering of coronary heart disease.

PMID- 1463013
TI  - The gender-specific apolipoprotein E genotype influence on the distribution of
      plasma lipids and apolipoproteins in the population of Rochester, Minnesota. II.
      Regression relationships with concomitants.
AB  - The influence of the apolipoprotein E (Apo E) polymorphism and gender on the
      regression relationships between each of nine plasma lipid and apolipoprotein
      traits (total cholesterol; ln triglycerides; high-density-lipoprotein
      cholesterol; apolipoproteins AI, AII, B, and CII; ln CIII; and ln E) and four
      concomitants (age, weight, waist-to-hip ratio, and smoking) was studied in 507
      unrelated individuals representative of the adult population of Rochester, MN.
      Analyses are presented separately for females and males. Each lipid and
      apolipoprotein trait exhibited at least one Apo E genotype-specific regression
      relationship with the concomitants investigated in this study. In most cases the
      heterogeneity of regression was associated with differences between the epsilon
      32 and epsilon 33 genotype. This study documents that the influence of Apo E
      genotype on average levels of plasma lipids and apolipoproteins varies among
      subdivisions of the population defined by age, body size, and smoking status.

PMID- 1463014
TI  - Characteristics of polymorphism at a VNTR locus 3' to the apolipoprotein B gene
      in five human populations.
AB  - We have analyzed the allele frequency distribution at the hypervariable locus 3'
      to the apolipoprotein B gene (ApoB 3' VNTR) in five well-defined human
      populations (Kacharis of northeast India, New Guinea Highlanders of Papua New
      Guinea, Dogrib Indians of Canada, Pehuenche Indians of Chile, and a relatively
      homogeneous Caucasian population of northern German extraction) by using the PCR
      technique. A total of 12 segregating alleles were detected in the pooled sample
      of 319 individuals. A fairly consistent bimodal pattern of allele frequency
      distribution, apparent in most of these geographically and genetically diverse
      populations, suggests that the ApoB 3' VNTR polymorphism predates the geographic
      dispersal of ancestral human populations. In spite of the observed high degree of
      polymorphism at this locus (expected heterozygosity levels 55%-78%), the genotype
      distributions in all populations (irrespective of their tribal or cosmopolitan
      nature) conform to their respective Hardy-Weinberg predictions. Furthermore,
      analysis of the congruence between expected heterozygosity and the observed
      number of alleles reveals that, in general, the allele frequency distributions at
      this locus are in agreement with the predictions of the classical mutation-drift
      models. The data also show that alleles that are shared by all populations have
      the highest average frequency within populations. These findings demonstrate the
      potential utility of highly informative hypervariable loci such as the ApoB 3'
      VNTR locus in population genetic research, as well as in forensic medicine and
      determination of biological relatedness of individuals.

PMID- 1463015
TI  - The gene for familial Mediterranean fever in both Armenians and non-Ashkenazi
      Jews is linked to the alpha-globin complex on 16p: evidence for locus
      homogeneity.
AB  - Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a recurrent inflammatory disorder
      characterized by short episodes of fever, peritonitis, pleuritis, and arthritis.
      While FMF has been shown to be inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion in
      both non-Ashkenazi Jews and Armenian families, clinical differences have raised
      the possibility of genetic heterogeneity. As its pathogenesis is unknown, mapping
      of the gene for FMF may provide the first objective method for early and accurate
      diagnosis of this disease. After excluding 45% of the entire human genome, we
      studied 14 Armenian and 9 non-Ashkenazi Jewish families with FMF and tested
      linkage with the alpha-globin locus on chromosome 16. Analysis of the PvuII
      length polymorphism of the 3' HVR (hypervariable region) probe showed significant
      linkage with the FMF gene (maximum lod score [lodmax] = 9.76 at maximum
      recombination fraction [theta] = .076). In the Armenians, the lodmax = 3.61 at
      theta = .10; and for the non-Ashkenazi Jews, lodmax = 6.28 at theta = .06. There
      was no evidence for genetic heterogeneity between the Armenians and the non
      Ashkenazi Jews (chi 2 = 1.28; P = .26) or within either ethnic group (chi 2 =
      .00; P = .50). Thus, the gene for FMF is linked to the alpha-globin complex on
      chromosome 16p in both non-Ashkenazi Jews and Armenians.

PMID- 1463016
TI  - Genetic mapping of the human tryptophan hydroxylase gene on chromosome 11, using
      an intronic conformational polymorphism.
AB  - The identification of polymorphic alleles at loci coding for functional genes is
      crucial for genetic association and linkage studies. Since the tryptophan
      hydroxylase (TPH) gene codes for the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of
      the neurotransmitter serotonin, it would be advantageous to identify a
      polymorphism in this gene. By examining introns of the human TPH gene by PCR
      amplification and analysis by the single-strand conformational polymorphism
      (SSCP) technique, an SSCP was revealed with two alleles that occur with
      frequencies of .40 and .60 in unrelated Caucasians. DNAs from 24 informative CEPH
      families were typed for the TPH intron polymorphism and analyzed with respect to
      10 linked markers on chromosome 11, between p13 and p15, with the result that TPH
      was placed between D11S151 and D11S134. This region contains loci for several
      important genes, including those for Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and tyrosine
      hydroxylase.

PMID- 1463017
TI  - Study of large inbred Friedreich ataxia families reveals a recombination between
      D9S15 and the disease locus.
AB  - Friedreich ataxia is a neurodegenerative disorder with autosomal recessive
      inheritance. Precise linkage mapping of the Friedreich ataxia locus (FRDA) in
      9q13-q21 should lead to the isolation of the defective gene by positional
      cloning. The two closest DNA markers, D9S5 and D9S15, show very tight linkage to
      FRDA, making difficult the ordering of the three loci. We present a linkage study
      of three large Friedreich ataxia families of Tunisian origin, with several
      multiallelic markers around D9S5 and D9S15. Haplotype data were used to
      investigate genetic homogeneity of the disease in these geographically related
      families. A meiotic recombination was found in a nonaffected individual, which
      excludes a 150-kb segment, including D9S15, as a possible location for the
      Friedreich ataxia gene and which should orient the search in the D9S5 region.

PMID- 1463019
TI  - Three novel mutations in the liver-type arginase gene in three unrelated Japanese
      patients with argininemia.
AB  - Argininemia is caused by a hereditary deficiency of liver-type arginase
      (E.C.3.5.3.1) and is characterized by psychomotor retardation and spastic
      tetraplegia. We examined findings in three Japanese patients with argininemia, by
      using the PCR, cloning, and sequencing procedures. We found three different
      mutations--G-to-A-365 in exon 4, G-to-C-703 in exon 7, and C-del-842 in exon 8-
      thereby leading to mutant arginase proteins of W122X, G235R, and L282FS,
      respectively. Patient 1 was a compound heterozygote, inheriting the allele with G
      to-A-365 from his mother and the allele with G-to-C-703 from his father. Patients
      2 and 3 were homozygotes of the allele with G-to-C-703 and of the allele with C
      del-842, respectively. Expression tests of these mutant arginases in Escherichia
      coli indicated that the mutant arginase of W122X did not remain a stable product.
      The other two mutant arginases--G235R and L282FS--were detected by immunoblot
      analyses. There was no evidence of activity of the three mutant arginases
      expressed in E. coli. We tentatively conclude that argininemia is heterogeneous,
      at the molecular level.

PMID- 1463018
TI  - Partial isodisomy for maternal chromosome 7 and short stature in an individual
      with a mutation at the COL1A2 locus.
AB  - Uniparental disomy for chromosome 7 has been described previously in two
      individuals with cystic fibrosis. Here, we describe a third case that was
      discovered because the proband was homozygous for a mutation in the COL1A2 gene
      for type I procollagen, although his mother was heterozygous and his father did
      not have the mutation. Phenotypically, the proband was similar to the two
      previously reported cases with uniparental disomy for chromosome 7, in that he
      was short in stature and growth retarded. Paternity was assessed with five
      polymorphic markers. Chromosome 7 inheritance in the proband was analyzed using
      12 polymorphic markers distributed along the entire chromosome. Similar analysis
      of the proband's two brothers established the phase of the alleles at the various
      loci, assuming minimal recombination. The proband inherited only maternal alleles
      at five loci and was homozygous at all loci examined, except one. He was
      heterozygous for an RFLP at the IGBP-1 locus at 7p13-p12. The results suggest
      that the isodisomy was not complete because of a recombination event involving
      the proximal short arms of two maternal chromosomes. In addition, the phenotype
      of proportional dwarfism in the proband suggests imprinting of one or more growth
      related genes on chromosome 7.

PMID- 1463020
TI  - Importance sampling. I. Computing multimodel p values in linkage analysis.
AB  - In linkage analysis, when the lod score is maximized over multiple genetic
      models, standard asymptotic approximation of the significance level does not
      apply. Monte Carlo methods can be used to estimate the p value, but procedures
      currently used are extremely inefficient. We propose a Monte Carlo procedure
      based on the concept of importance sampling, which can be thousands of times more
      efficient than current procedures. With a reasonable amount of computing time,
      extremely accurate estimates of the p values can be obtained. Both theoretical
      results and an example of maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) are
      presented to illustrate the efficiency performance of our method. Relations
      between single-model and multimodel p values are explored. The new procedure is
      also used to investigate the performance of asymptotic approximations in a single
      model situation.

PMID- 1463021
TI  - Statement of the American Society of Human Genetics on cystic fibrosis carrier
      screening.

PMID- 1463022
TI  - A simple and nonradioactive method for detecting the Rb1.20 DNA polymorphism in
      the retinoblastoma gene.

PMID- 1463023
TI  - Amelogenin genes and sexual dimorphism of teeth in humans and mice.

PMID- 1463024
TI  - Extended electrophoresis resolves the dystrophin gene 5.2-kbp cDMD4-5a/HindIII
      fragment into two bands.

PMID- 1463025
TI  - Some lessons from the history of coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

PMID- 1463026
TI  - Regulation of priority carcinogens and reproductive or developmental toxicants.
AB  - In California, 370 carcinogens and 112 reproductive/developmental toxicants have
      been identified as a result of the State's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic
      Enforcement Act of 1986. They include pesticides, solvents, metals, industrial
      intermediates, environmental mixtures, and reactive agents. Occupational,
      environmental, and consumer product exposures that involve these agents are
      regulated under the Act. At levels of concern, businesses must provide warnings
      for and limit discharges of those chemicals. The lists of chemicals were compiled
      following systematic review of published data, including technical reports from
      the U.S. Public Health Service--National Toxicology Program (NTP), and evaluation
      of recommendations from authoritative bodies such as the International Agency for
      Research on Cancer (IARC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
      Given the large number of chemicals that are carcinogens or
      reproductive/developmental toxicants, regulatory concerns should focus on those
      that have high potential for human exposure, e.g., widely distributed or easily
      absorbed solvents, metals, environmental mixtures, or reactive agents. In this
      paper, we present a list of 33 potential priority carcinogens and
      reproductive/developmental toxicants, including alcoholic beverages, asbestos,
      benzene, chlorinated solvents, formaldehyde, glycol ethers, lead, tobacco smoke,
      and toluene.

PMID- 1463027
TI  - Mortality studies of machining fluid exposure in the automobile industry I: A
      standardized mortality ratio analysis.
AB  - Machining fluids are widely used in a variety of common industrial metalworking
      operations to lubricate and cool both the tool and the working surfaces. Previous
      studies have suggested elevated respiratory, digestive, and skin cancers in
      exposed populations. This cohort study was initiated to assess whether long-term
      exposure to machining fluids in the course of machining, grinding, and other
      cutting operations is associated with excess cancer mortality. The cohort
      includes more than 45,000 automobile production workers from 3 plants, almost 1
      million years of follow-up, over 10,000 deaths, and an extensive exposure
      assessment component. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) have been estimated
      for each of the 3 plants, using both U.S. as well as local populations as
      reference. Relative risks of 1.2-3.1 have been observed for several specific
      respiratory and digestive cancers of a priori interest, including cancer of the
      stomach, large intestine, pancreas, lung, and larynx. In addition, elevated risks
      for leukemia and asthma were noted. Future exposure-response analyses will
      provide the opportunity to identify relatively modest excesses in cause-specific
      mortality risk associated with exposure to specific types (straight, soluble, or
      synthetic), additives, or components of machining fluids.

PMID- 1463028
TI  - Cancer of the stomach and the colon-rectum among workers in a coke gas plant.
AB  - Four thousand nine hundred and eight male workers of the Hamburg gas plant,
      employed for 10 or more years during the period from January 1, 1900 to December
      31, 1989, have been traced for cancer mortality. Based on their jobs, they were
      grouped into three subcohorts: gas furnace workers, workers in other parts of the
      plant, and white-collar workers. Despite the general "healthy worker effect," gas
      furnace workers showed a significant incidence of cancer of all sites
      (standardized mortality ratio [SMR] = 186), particularly cancers of the lung (SMR
      = 288), stomach (SMR = 177), and the colon-rectum (SMR = 184). In comparison to
      the death rates of white-collar workers, the manual workers in other parts of the
      plant also showed an excess of cancer mortality for cancer of these sites. The
      reason for this excess in cancer mortality seems to be due to the working
      conditions. The results contribute to the current evidence that exposure to coal
      carbonization fumes causes not only lung cancer, but also cancers of the stomach
      and colon-rectum.

PMID- 1463029
TI  - A case-control study of lung cancer at a dye and resin manufacturing plant.
AB  - This case-control study evaluated the relationship between lung cancer and
      occupational factors among employees at a dye and resin manufacturing plant. The
      study included 51 lung cancer cases and 102 controls who were members of a cohort
      of workers investigated in a previous retrospective follow-up study. Information
      on area of employment and on potential exposure to certain chemicals was obtained
      from plant personnel and medical records and from interviews with long-term
      employees. Information on potential confounders, including cigarette smoking, was
      obtained by interviewing study subjects or their next-of-kin. The odds ratio (OR)
      for heavy smokers compared with light or nonsmokers was 5.9 (95% confidence
      interval (CI) = 2.4-15). An elevated OR for lung cancer was observed for subjects
      who worked in the anthraquinone dye and epichlorohydrin manufacturing area of the
      plant (OR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.1-5.2) and for employees who were seen at the plant
      infirmary for acute exposure to chlorine (OR, adjusted for smoking = 27; 95% CI =
      3.5-205). Pipefitters employed at the plant for five or more years also had an
      elevated OR (3.3; 95% CI = 0.8-14).

PMID- 1463030
TI  - Fluorocarbon 113 exposure and cardiac dysrhythmias among aerospace workers.
AB  - We investigated the cardiotoxic effects of 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2- Trifluoroethane
      (fluorocarbon 113 or FC113) exposures among healthy workers cleaning rocket and
      ground support equipment for the National Aeronautic and Space Administration
      (NASA) programs. Exposure and ambulatory electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring
      data were evaluated on 16 workers, each of whom was examined on exposed and
      nonexposed workdays. We examined whether there was a greater rate of dysrhythmias
      on an exposed workday relative to a nonexposed workday. Overall, we found no
      within subject differences in the rate of ventricular and supraventricular
      premature beats (number per 1,000 heart beats), fluctuations in the length of the
      P-R interval, or heart rate. We found that levels of FC113 exposures below the
      Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 8-hour time-weighted-average
      (TWA) standard of 1,000 ppm did not induce cardiac dysrhythmias or subtle changes
      in cardiac activity. However, because fluorocarbons may sensitize the heart to
      epinephrine, this study's negative findings based on sedentary and fairly healthy
      workers may not be generalizable to other populations of workers who are not as
      healthy or engaged in more physically demanding work.

PMID- 1463031
TI  - Outbreak of hypersensitivity pneumonitis among mushroom farm workers.
AB  - Between April 1982 and August 1985, seven cases of mushroom worker's lung (MWL),
      a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, were diagnosed among workers at one
      mushroom farm in Florida. The cases suffered from episodic shortness of breath,
      cough, fever and chills, myalgia, malaise, and difficulty breathing. Pulmonary
      function testing revealed restrictive ventilatory impairment and reduced
      diffusing capacity; chest radiographs exhibited diffuse interstitial pulmonary
      infiltrates. The seven cases occurred among workers from different farm
      operations, suggesting that workers throughout the farm were exposed to the
      disease causing agent(s). Six of the affected workers left employment at the farm
      in order to remain free of symptoms. The other affected worker was able to
      continue working at the farm, but only by remaining in a maintenance shop which
      was physically separated from the rest of the farm facilities. An industrial
      hygiene survey demonstrated that farm workers from every work area were exposed
      to organic dust constituents suspected of causing MWL, but no specific antigens
      were identified as the cause of the cases. Of the remaining workers who
      participated in a cross-sectional respiratory morbidity survey at the farm,
      approximately 20% of the more heavily exposed workers reported occasionally
      experiencing symptoms consistent with MWL. Approximately 10% of the workers had
      below normal spirometry test results, but interpretation was hampered by the
      diverse racial makeup of the population and lack of an adequate comparison group.
      No abnormalities consistent with either acute or chronic MWL were seen on the
      chest radiographs. Serologic tests demonstrated that almost all workers had been
      exposed to antigens capable of causing MWL, but the results were not associated
      with health status. At the time of the cross-sectional survey, no workers were
      found to be suffering acute respiratory problems consistent with MWL.

PMID- 1463032
TI  - Upper extremity symptoms in supermarket workers.
AB  - Upper extremity symptoms in supermarket workers, particularly those who performed
      checking using laser scanners, were evaluated using a questionnaire administered
      by trained interviewers to 124 supermarket workers. Summary indices of exposure
      (short-term and long-term) as well as indices of past personal illnesses and
      personal activities were employed. Outcome data were summarized by four composite
      symptom indices. Chi square and logistic regression analyses demonstrated that
      hours of checking work in the preceding 2 weeks and cumulative weighted years of
      work were associated with adverse upper extremity symptoms. Symptoms involved
      both the proximal and distal parts of the upper extremities.

PMID- 1463033
TI  - A mortality study of workers at seven beryllium processing plants.
AB  - The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has found that the
      evidence for the carcinogenicity of beryllium is sufficient based on animal data
      but "limited" based on human data. This analysis reports on a retrospective
      cohort mortality study among 9,225 male workers employed at seven beryllium
      processing facilities for at least 2 days between January 1, 1940, and December
      31, 1969. Vital status was ascertained through December 31, 1988. The
      standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for lung cancer in the total cohort was 1.26
      (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12-1.42); significant SMRs for lung cancer were
      observed for two of the oldest plants located in Lorain, Ohio (SMR = 1.69; 95% CI
      = 1.28-2.19) and Reading, Pennsylvania (SMR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.03-1.48). For the
      overall cohort, significantly elevated SMRs were found for "all deaths" (SMR =
      1.05; 95% CI = 1.01-1.08), "ischemic heart disease" (SMR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.01
      1.14), "pneumoconiosis and other respiratory diseases" (SMR = 1.48; 95% CI = 1.21
      1.80), and "chronic and unspecified nephritis, renal failure, and other renal
      sclerosis" (SMR = 1.49; 95% CI = 1.00-2.12). Lung cancer SMRs did not increase
      with longer duration of employment, but did increase with longer latency (time
      since first exposure). Lung cancer was particularly elevated (SMR = 3.33; 95% CI
      = 1.66-5.95) among workers at the Lorain plant with a history of (primarily)
      acute beryllium disease, which is associated with very high beryllium exposure.
      The lung cancer excess was not restricted to plants operating in the 1940s, when
      beryllium exposures were known to be extraordinarily high. Elevated lung cancer
      SMRs were also observed for four of the five plants operating in the 1950s for
      workers hired during that decade. Neither smoking nor geographic location fully
      explains the increased lung cancer risk. Occupational exposure to beryllium
      compounds is the most plausible explanation for the increased risk of lung cancer
      observed in this study. Continued mortality follow-up of this cohort will provide
      a more definitive assessment of lung cancer risk at the newer plants and among
      cohort members hired in the 1950s or later at the older plants. Further
      clarification of the potential for specific beryllium compounds to induce lung
      cancer in humans, and the possible contribution of other exposures in specific
      processes at these plants, would require a nested case-control study. We are
      currently assessing whether available industrial hygiene data would support such
      an analysis.

PMID- 1463034
TI  - Coal workers' pneumoconiosis: a historical perspective on its pathogenesis.
AB  - The earliest observations on coal workers' pneumoconiosis identified fundamental
      factors and posed particular problems in its genesis. Among the former, intensity
      of exposure and particle size were recognized, while argument commenced on the
      roles of stone dust, thus anticipating the quartz question, and of complicating
      pulmonary states, which introduced the idea of infection. Major studies of the
      disease were precipitated by its greatly increased prevalence, which became
      evident among South Wales coal workers from the 1930s. The principal directions
      of enquiry remained the same as in Scotland a century before, namely the
      components of coal mine dust responsible for fibrosis and the additional factor
      required for the development of massive fibrosis. The combined human and
      experimental evidence now makes possible conclusions in which confidence may be
      placed.

PMID- 1463035
TI  - Racial differences in the prevalence of intraocular lens implants in the United
      States.
AB  - We generated population-based estimates of the prevalence of intraocular lens
      implants by using the 1988 Medical Device Implant Supplement to the National
      Health Interview Survey. This national survey of a probability sample of the
      civilian noninstitutionalized United States population comprised 47,485
      households and 122,310 persons. To produce national projections, we used survey
      respondent-reported data based on 1,941 reported intraocular lenses in 1,337
      persons. Projected to the United States population, an estimated 2.6 million
      people had a total of 3.8 million lens implants. The predominant reason for the
      implant was cataract. The intraocular lens replacement rate was 0.9%. The use of
      intraocular lens implants was statistically significantly different from the
      general population in persons with the following socioeconomic characteristics:
      age (65 years or older), race (white), gender (female), annual family income
      (less than $20,000, although more commonly at or above the poverty threshold),
      and education (less than high school). The prevalence rates per 1,000 persons
      according to age were as follows: 0.3 for persons 44 years old or younger, 9.9
      for persons 45 to 64 years old, 33.3 for persons aged 65 to 69 years, 63.5 for
      persons aged 70 to 74 years, and 113.5 for persons 75 years old or
      older.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1463036
TI  - 11-0 mersilene as running suture for penetrating keratoplasty.
AB  - We evaluated astigmatic results and complications of the combined suturing
      technique in penetrating keratoplasty by using 11-0 Mersilene as a running
      suture. Twenty-seven grafts were studied for a follow-up that ranged between ten
      and 46 months (mean, 27.2 months). During the study, complications included three
      graft failures, one instance of inadvertent breakage of the running suture, one
      instance of one suture bite cutting through the recipient cornea, and suture
      microabscesses in two eyes. Keratometric astigmatism was 2.5 +/- 2.1 diopters at
      six months, was 2.4 +/- 2.3 diopters at 12 months, and was 2.5 +/- 2.0 diopters
      at 24 months. Our data indicate that 11-0 Mersilene is suitable for the running
      suture in corneal transplants in the combined technique. Spontaneous suture
      dissolution did not occur throughout the follow-up period. The use of a less
      biodegradable suture enables the maintenance of low levels of astigmatism for
      longer periods when compared with a previous study that used 11-0 nylon suture.

PMID- 1463037
TI  - Surgical management of myokymia of the superior oblique muscle.
AB  - In the past 15 years, we have examined 20 patients in whom myokymia of the
      superior oblique muscle was diagnosed. Medical treatment (carbamazepine) failed
      in three patients, and one patient did not accept drug therapy. These four
      patients (20%) were operated on for persistent oscillopsia and diplopia. One
      patient underwent only a superior oblique muscle myotomy, but required an
      inferior oblique muscle myectomy six months later because of iatrogenic superior
      oblique muscle palsy. The other three patients underwent simultaneous superior
      oblique muscle myotomy and inferior oblique muscle myectomy. The symptoms
      resolved postoperatively in all four patients. Symptomatic patients with superior
      oblique muscle myokymia in whom medical treatment fails or is intolerable can
      benefit from surgical treatment consisting of combined superior oblique
      muscle/inferior oblique muscle myectomy.

PMID- 1463038
TI  - Intraocular fluid cultures after primary pars plana vitrectomy.
AB  - To determine what organisms enter the eye and remain in the eye after pars plana
      vitrectomy, vitreous cavity aspirates were cultured postoperatively. Two of 33
      (6%) consecutive eyes undergoing primary pars plana vitrectomy had positive
      cultures. One sample grew a single colony of Staphylococcus epidermidis, the
      second grew two colonies of Acinetobacter lwoffi. Neither of these eyes developed
      endophthalmitis. This study demonstrates that bacteria enter the eye at a low
      rate during pars plana vitrectomy and that the eye on which a vitrectomy has been
      performed is capable of clearing a low inoculum of bacteria.

PMID- 1463039
TI  - Criteria to detect minimal expressivity within families with autosomal dominant
      aniridia.
AB  - Autosomal dominant aniridia with complete penetrance without Wilms' tumor in five
      generations with 27 affected family members has been reassigned from chromosome
      2p25 to chromosome 11p13. Clinically, aniridia was obvious in affected
      individuals with variable expressivity when they had rudimentary iris stumps,
      typical or atypical iris colobomata, or round, eccentric pupils. However, iris
      and retinal fluorescein angiography was required to detect abnormal vascular
      remodeling that resulted in incomplete iris collarettes and decreased retinal
      foveal avascular zones in 27 family members at risk with round, central pupils.
      These angiograms distinguished five affected and 22 unaffected individuals, and
      were the critical criteria required to detect minimal expressivity of aniridia in
      family members with round, central pupils.

PMID- 1463040
TI  - Causes of reduced visual acuity on long-term follow-up after cataract extraction
      in patients with uveitis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
AB  - We reviewed the long-term follow-up on a consecutive series of 16 eyes from ten
      patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis-associated cataracts that were
      removed by using pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy. All patients had prominent
      cataracts, chronic uveitis, posterior synechiae, and vitreitis preoperatively,
      and had at least 12 months of follow-up postoperatively. The median length of
      follow-up was 51 months (range, 12 months to ten years). In the early
      postoperative period, a visual acuity of 20/70 or better was obtained in 13 of 16
      eyes (81%). With longer follow-up, the final visual acuity was 20/70 or better in
      only nine of 16 eyes (56%). The primary categories of delayed visual loss in
      these cases were glaucoma and macular disease (chronic cystoid macular edema,
      macular hole, hypotony maculopathy, and recurrent macular pucker). Despite these
      limitations in maintaining good visual acuity, a pars plana lensectomy and
      vitrectomy approach is effective for cataracts in these patients with uveitis.

PMID- 1463041
TI  - Prediction of visual recovery after scleral buckling of macula-off retinal
      detachments.
AB  - Patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachments involving the fovea have visual
      loss that may not be recoverable despite anatomically successful surgery. Few
      guidelines exist to predict ultimate visual outcome with any certainty. We found
      that despite macular detachment, a device commonly used to predict visual acuity
      in cataractous eyes, the Potential Acuity Meter (Mentor O & O, Inc., Norwell,
      Massachusetts), provided acuity measurements even when Snellen visual acuity
      levels were poor or unmeasurable. In a study of 50 consecutive patients with
      clear media, we investigated a possible correlation between postoperative Snellen
      visual acuity with the preoperative Potential Acuity Meter results. We found that
      actual visual improvement correlated well with potential visual improvement as
      determined by Potential Acuity Meter measurements (R = .92). Preoperative
      assessment of patients with this device was a better predictor of final visual
      outcome than preoperative Snellen visual acuity, the extent of retinal
      detachment, or the duration of the retinal detachment by history.

PMID- 1463042
TI  - Prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy among noninsulin-dependent
      diabetic subjects.
AB  - In a population-based study in Taiwan, 11,478 subjects aged 40 years or older
      were screened for diabetes in one urban and five rural areas. Among the 715
      subjects proven to have diabetes, 527 subjects underwent ophthalmoscopy. Diabetic
      retinopathy was present in 184 of the 527 subjects (35.0%), including background
      diabetic retinopathy in 157 subjects (30.0%), preproliferative diabetic
      retinopathy in 15 subjects (2.8%), and proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 12
      subjects (2.2%). Diabetic retinopathy was correlated with the duration of
      diabetes and age at onset of diabetes, type of diabetes treatment, higher serum
      creatinine levels, and lower serum cholesterol levels. Several other factors,
      including gender, age, residential area, family income, educational level,
      control and family history of diabetes, body mass index, physical activity,
      exercise, cigarette smoking, stroke, ischemic heart disease, leg vessel disease,
      hypertension, and proteinuria, had no significant association with retinopathy.
      By multiple logistic regression analysis, duration of diabetes was the most
      important risk factor related to retinopathy. Diabetic subjects treated with
      insulin had a higher risk of developing retinopathy than those treated with
      dietary control (relative risk, 1.57; .05 < P < .10). The univariate analysis
      disclosed that proliferative diabetic retinopathy was related to older age at
      examination, older age at onset of diabetes, type of diabetes treatment, and
      presence of leg vessel disease. Insulin-treated diabetic subjects also had a
      higher risk of proliferative diabetic retinopathy than patients in whom diabetes
      was controlled by diet, with a relative risk of 2.51 (.05 < P < .10) in the
      multiple logistic regression analysis.

PMID- 1463043
TI  - Cytokines in the vitreous of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
AB  - Sixteen vitreous and paired serum samples from 13 patients with proliferative
      diabetic retinopathy, vitreous samples from seven cadaveric control subjects, and
      aqueous humor samples from 15 normal control subjects were assayed for the
      cytokines interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and
      interferon-gamma. Interleukin-6 was detected in 15 of 16 vitreous samples (94%)
      from diabetic patients, but it was not detected in any of the aqueous humor
      samples. Vitreous interleukin-6 levels positively correlated with ocular disease
      activity. Interleukin-1 was detected in seven of 16 vitreous samples (44%) and in
      four of ten aqueous humor samples (40%), whereas tumor necrosis factor-alpha and
      interferon-gamma were never detected in vitreous or aqueous fluid. Serum samples
      from diabetic patients and control subjects contained comparable low levels of
      interleukin-6. Interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma
      were not found in any of the sera. Because interleukin-6 can function as B-cell
      differentiation factor, this cytokine may have a role in immunoglobulin
      deposition in the ocular tissues and in the immunopathologic characteristics of
      proliferative retinopathy.

PMID- 1463044
TI  - Results of intraoperative 5-fluorouracil supplementation on trabeculectomy for
      open-angle glaucoma.
AB  - The success rate of filtration surgery has been increased by the postoperative
      subconjunctival injection of 5-fluorouracil, a potent antimetabolite. However,
      the optimal route of administration has not been determined. Trabeculectomy was
      performed on one eye each of 14 patients. Topical 5-fluorouracil was applied
      intraoperatively (50 mg/ml for five minutes) and subconjunctival 5-fluorouracil
      was injected postoperatively (an average of 5.8 injections) (mean total dose, 29
      mg). Seven of the 14 eyes had primary open-angle glaucoma, and seven eyes had
      open-angle glaucoma with either uveitis, aphakia, or previous failed
      trabeculectomy. Mean preoperative intraocular pressure was 24.7 mm Hg during
      treatment with an average of three antiglaucoma medications, and mean final
      intraocular pressure was 11.9 mm Hg during treatment with an average of 0.2
      medication. Thirteen of 14 eyes (93%) had final intraocular pressure of 18 mm Hg
      or less. Mean follow-up was 6.4 months (range, four to nine months). No
      remarkable complications occurred. Visual acuity remained stable in 13 of 14 eyes
      (93%). Intraoperative 5-fluorouracil may be a helpful adjunct in achieving low
      final intraocular pressure after trabeculectomy.

PMID- 1463045
TI  - Ultrastructural findings in an autopsy eye from a patient with Usher's syndrome
      type II.
AB  - We studied an eye taken at autopsy from a 55-year-old woman with retinitis
      pigmentosa and partial deafness (Usher's syndrome type II). Two years before her
      death, her visual acuity was R.E.: 20/80 and L.E.: 20/50, and visual fields were
      constricted to a 30- to 40-degree diameter with a V4e white test light. Both rods
      and cones were present across the retina except for areas of the midperiphery;
      remaining photoreceptors had shortened or disrupted outer segments, or both, and
      some cones had inclusion bodies in inner segments. In the macula, most of the
      connecting cilia of photoreceptors appeared abnormal, with either extra
      microtubules or an apparent disruption of the nexin link between doublet
      microtubules. The pigment epithelium was abnormal across the eye, with diminished
      apical microvilli and basal infoldings of the plasma membrane. Possible
      mechanisms by which abnormal cilia could lead to photoreceptor cell death are
      considered.

PMID- 1463046
TI  - Visual field defects in patients with normal-tension glaucoma and patients with
      high-tension glaucoma.
AB  - We compared the automated visual field test results of 24 patients with normal
      tension glaucoma and 24 patients with high-tension glaucoma who were closely
      matched for the amount of visual field loss to determine any differences in the
      characteristics of visual field defects between the two groups. Patients were
      matched with a maximum allowable difference in mean deviation of 0.3 dB. Although
      the normal-tension group had a greater amount of focal visual field loss (pattern
      standard deviation), the difference was not statistically significant (P = .628).
      Additionally, there was no statistically significant difference in the amount of
      diffuse or focal visual field damage in the superior hemifields between the two
      groups; however, the patients with normal-tension glaucoma had a significantly
      greater amount of localized visual field loss in the inferior hemifield than the
      patients with high-tension glaucoma (P = .015). Our data support the hypothesis
      that a vascular mechanism may have a greater role in the pathogenesis of optic
      nerve damage and visual field loss in patients with normal-tension glaucoma than
      in patients with high-tension glaucoma.

PMID- 1463047
TI  - Low-tension glaucoma in identical twins.

PMID- 1463048
TI  - Impending macular hole associated with topical pilocarpine.

PMID- 1463049
TI  - The association of iridoschisis and angle-recession glaucoma.

PMID- 1463050
TI  - Vitreous pulsations, relative hypotony, and retrobulbar cyst associated with a
      congenital optic pit.

PMID- 1463051
TI  - Spontaneous retinal reattachment in a patient with persistent hyperplastic
      primary vitreous and an optic nerve coloboma.

PMID- 1463052
TI  - Late-onset sterile endophthalmitis after Molteno tube implantation.

PMID- 1463053
TI  - Bilateral panuveitis, sebopsoriasis, and secondary syphilis in a patient with
      acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

PMID- 1463054
TI  - Bilateral radiant damage to the cornea and retina after exposure to a 700-V
      electric discharge.

PMID- 1463055
TI  - Parabulbar anesthesia.

PMID- 1463056
TI  - Causes and prognosis in 4,278 cases of paralysis of the oculomotor, trochlear,
      and abducens cranial nerves.

PMID- 1463057
TI  - Sudden retinal manifestations of intranasal cocaine and methamphetamine abuse.

PMID- 1463058
TI  - Confusion in occupational therapy research: does the end justify the method?

PMID- 1463059
TI  - Cross-cultural assessment of process skills.
AB  - A standardized activities of daily living evaluation that has acceptable
      psychometric qualities, can relate discrete component skills to functional
      performance, includes culture-relevant test items, is standardized on culture
      specific samples, and is free of cultural bias is needed to evaluate diverse
      cultural populations. The Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) (Fisher,
      1990a) offers a unique solution. The AMPS consists of 35 motor and process skill
      items assumed to represent two universal taxonomies that are free of cultural
      bias. The study described in this paper focused on the 20 process skill items of
      the AMPS process skills scale. To test the hypothesis that the AMPS process
      skills scale is suitable for cross-cultural applications, a translation of the
      AMPS was calibrated on a group of 20 Taiwanese subjects. The validity and
      reliability of the AMPS process skills scale were examined when applied to this
      sample. Examination of reliability included the extent to which rater scoring
      remained stable over time. The results revealed that the AMPS process skills
      scale has high intrarater reliability and is valid when applied to young
      nondisabled Taiwanese subjects. The results suggested that the AMPS could be
      applied to Taiwanese samples. However, further investigation is needed to
      determine whether Taiwanese activities can be calibrated onto the same scale as
      North American activities to make a single cross-cultural AMPS.

PMID- 1463060
TI  - Deficits of reaching in subjects with left hemiparesis: a pilot study.
AB  - Therapy to restore functional movement of stroke patients is based on assumptions
      about the deficits that occur in motor control as a result of stroke. Success has
      been limited, perhaps as a result of insufficient information concerning the
      characteristics of movement after stroke. In this pilot study, the Waterloo
      Spatial Motion Analysis Recording Technique (WATSMART), an optoelectric motion
      analysis system, was used with surface electromyography to measure voluntary
      reaching in the impaired and unimpaired arms of 5 subjects with left hemiparesis.
      The ability to reach in a smooth coordinated way was significantly poorer in the
      impaired arms than in the unimpaired arms, for which scores were essentially
      normal. The patients were less able to activate the muscles of the impaired arm
      and, as a result, used a greater percentage of the maximum activity they could
      generate to complete the unresisted reaching task. The electromyographic
      differences between arms, however, did not reach significance. The results
      corroborate previous findings and show that movement deficits of particular
      patients can be diagnosed precisely with kinematic analysis and electromyography.
      If greater precision in diagnosis were available clinically, more effective
      therapy might be developed.

PMID- 1463061
TI  - Fine motor activities in elementary school: preliminary findings and provisional
      implications for children with fine motor problems.
AB  - This study was designed to obtain a detailed picture of the fine motor
      requirements in regular elementary school classrooms. This knowledge is critical
      for occupational therapists in working with children with fine motor and
      handwriting problems who are main-streamed into regular classes. The allocation
      of time to fine motor activities and the types of fine motor tasks children are
      expected to perform in elementary school were investigated through the
      observation of six elementary school classrooms. A written minute-by-minute
      record of one whole day's activities in each classroom showed that 30% to 60% of
      the day was allocated to fine motor activities, with writing tasks predominating
      over other manipulative tasks. Implications for children with fine motor
      difficulties include the need for modifications to volume of work, types of
      tasks, and materials.

PMID- 1463062
TI  - Activity positioning and ischial tuberosity pressure: a pilot study.
AB  - Ipsilateral ischial tuberosity pressure of 12 subjects seated in wheelchairs was
      measured during reach to an activity positioned on both an upright and a flat
      plane. Ischial tuberosity pressure during cross-body, forward, and lateral reach
      was measured with a static pressure measurement device. Differences between flat
      plane readings and upright-plane readings were analyzed with a t test; no
      significant difference was obtained. A repeated-measures analysis of variance
      revealed significant differences in ischial tuberosity pressure between cross
      body, forward, and lateral reach in the flat plane activity. However, no
      significant difference was found between cross-body, forward, and lateral reach
      in the upright-plane activity. Results of this study support the theory that
      forward and lateral positioning of activity can supplement standard techniques
      for relieving pressure.

PMID- 1463063
TI  - Effects of linear vestibular stimulation on body-rocking behavior in adults with
      profound mental retardation.
AB  - The effects of linear vestibular stimulation on body-rocking behaviors in adults
      with profound mental retardation were studied. A single-system multiple base-line
      design across 3 subjects was used. The design included three phases spread over a
      period of 9 weeks. An interval time sampling procedure was used to collect data.
      Data from the 3 subjects were graphed and interpreted through visual inspection.
      Trend lines were computed with the celeration line approach to supplement the
      visual inspection of the data. The results demonstrated a decrease in body
      rocking behaviors during the treatment and follow-up phases for Subject 2 but no
      obvious change in performance for Subjects 1 and 3. A lengthier treatment period
      and selection of subjects with similar body-rocking frequencies are suggested for
      further research.

PMID- 1463064
TI  - Occupational adaptation: toward a holistic approach for contemporary practice,
      Part 2.
AB  - This paper introduces a practice model based on the occupational adaptation frame
      of reference (Schkade & Schultz, 1992). The occupational adaptation practice
      model emphasizes the creation of a therapeutic climate, the use of occupational
      activity, and the importance of relative mastery. Practice based on occupational
      adaptation differs from treatment that focuses on acquisition of functional
      skills because the practice model directs occupational therapy interventions
      toward the patient's internal processes and how such processes are facilitated to
      improve occupational functioning. The occupational adaptation practice model is
      holistic. The patient's occupational environments (as influenced by physical,
      social, and cultural properties) are as important as the patient's sensorimotor,
      cognitive, and psychosocial functioning and the patient's experience of personal
      limitations and potential is validated. The integration of these concepts drives
      the treatment process. Through a description of treatment with a variety of
      patients, this paper presents the model's diversity and illustrates the
      relationship between the concepts. The occupational adaptation practice model
      reflects the uniqueness of occupational therapy and integrates the profession's
      historical practice with contemporary interventions and methods.

PMID- 1463065
TI  - Clinical reasoning process for service provision in the public school.
AB  - This paper outlines the clinical reasoning process used to guide decisions on the
      provision of occupational therapy services in the Wake County Public School
      System in North Carolina. The process is based on a theoretical framework derived
      from occupational therapy theory and public law. Benefits of using the clinical
      reasoning process include (a) increased consistency of decision making among
      therapists; (b) increased appropriateness of decisions regarding whether a
      student needs educationally based occupational therapy services, what type of
      occupational therapy service would meet the student's need, and how often this
      service should be provided; and (c) improved ability of therapists to articulate
      to all those involved with a student the reasoning behind decisions to provide
      educationally based occupational therapy services. The schematic diagrams that
      depict this process provide a useful tool for therapists with varied work
      experiences entering school-based practice.

PMID- 1463066
TI  - Continuing education requirements to maintain occupational therapy licensure.
AB  - Different states use a variety of regulatory mechanisms to monitor the quality of
      practice in occupational therapy. The requirement for mandatory continuing
      education has been adopted by fewer than half of American states, but there is
      reason to predict that this trend will increase. This study investigates the
      patterns linking licensure to continuing education and recommends actions to
      ensure uniformity and accountability.

PMID- 1463067
TI  - Diet manipulation to resume regular food consumption for an adult with traumatic
      brain injury.

PMID- 1463069
TI  - Ethics in evaluation in occupational therapy.

PMID- 1463068
TI  - Pediatric rehabilitation: clinical judgment regarding treatment intensity.

PMID- 1463070
TI  - Music perhaps best used by music teachers.

PMID- 1463071
TI  - Recovering relationships: a feminist analysis of recovery models.
AB  - Two models of recovery based on the concepts of independence and interdependence
      are contrasted from a feminist perspective. Drawing on social and psychological
      analyses, the authors critique the overemphasis of independence as the goal of
      health care and instead advocate a more relational model of therapy that
      reinforces social and emotional connections between people. Two narratives from
      occupational therapy are used to illustrate the differing assumptions underlying
      these models. The authors discuss some of the structural and interactional
      barriers to the expression of interdependence in health care institutions. They
      suggest that through purposefully sharing practice experiences and instating
      collaborative, nonhierarchical models of organization, practitioners can begin to
      overcome these barriers.

PMID- 1463072
TI  - Gender differences in dementia management plans of spousal caregivers:
      implications for occupational therapy.
AB  - Occupational therapists treating older people with Alzheimer disease know that
      they must also consider the others who are affected by the disease, the informal
      caregivers. Intervention is most effective when it enables both the impaired
      person and the primary caregiver to manage the secondary symptoms of dementia.
      Unfortunately, little is understood about how caregivers approach and carry out
      their tasks and about why male and female caregivers respond differently to their
      caregiving role in terms of depression, burden, stress, and substance abuse. This
      paper discusses the effects of gender on dementia management plans of spousal
      caregivers. Husbands and wives have different approaches to caregiving; each
      approach has consequences. Male caregivers adopt a task-oriented approach to
      their duties and carry out their activities in a linear fashion; female
      caregivers use a parent-child approach and nest activities inside one another in
      a constant stream of work. Two cases are presented to illustrate gender
      differences in dementia management plans. Implications for occupational therapy
      include suggestions for supporting men and women in their caregiving role,
      modulating the negative consequences of caregiving, and conducting research to
      demonstrate the efficacy of an occupational therapy approach.

PMID- 1463073
TI  - Interwoven threads: occupational therapy, feminism, and holistic health.
AB  - Occupational therapy is a predominantly female profession; 93% to 95% of
      occupational therapists are women. The implications and ramifications of this
      reality have seldom been directly addressed. In this article, beliefs about
      balance, activity, environment, and autonomy are explored from the perspectives
      of occupational therapy, feminism, holistic health, and medicine. The assertion
      that occupational therapy has more in common philosophically with feminism and
      holistic health than it does with medicine is supported. This awareness provides
      a new framework for examining current issues of concern to the profession, such
      as support for purposeful activity, existence outside the mainstream of power
      holders, and problems and powers inherent in being seen as a women's profession.
      Recommendations are made that occupational therapists commit more money and
      energy to encourage, facilitate, and support female leadership; develop
      innovative strategies for keeping members who take time out to raise families
      informed; support more holistic and feminist reorganization of work settings;
      instill awareness of these issues in our students; and address our strengths as a
      women's profession. All occupational therapists must also confront their own anti
      women prejudice.

PMID- 1463074
TI  - Women, HIV infection, and AIDS: tapestries of life, death, and empowerment.
AB  - Women, the minority population in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
      pandemic, are fast becoming one of the highest subgroups to be infected and
      affected by the disease. In the United States, most of these women are black or
      Hispanic, poor and urban dwellers, and addicted to drugs. This paper discusses
      the physical, psychological, and social manifestations of HIV disease in women,
      such as diminished activity tolerance, neurologic or cognitive changes,
      occupational and social role imbalance, and stigma and discrimination, and
      describes the sociocultural aspects of women's lives for assessment and treatment
      of women with HIV. Health promotion, education, and AIDS prevention and wellness
      programming are emphasized as strategies toward facilitation of self-empowerment
      for women with HIV disease. These health promotion and wellness strategies
      include learning of new and adaptation of current roles; learning strategies for
      self-care that include care for one's physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and
      sexual health; and learning and developing action plans toward healthy living and
      self-empowerment.

PMID- 1463075
TI  - Embracing our past, informing our future: a feminist re-vision of health care.
AB  - Using a feminist perspective, this paper explores the roots of the practice of
      healing and medicine. It traces the role of women in health care from
      prehistorical times, through the present, and into the future discussing the
      changing paradigms that the author identifies as (a) the Prototypic Paradigm:
      Mysticism and Healing; (b) the Scientific Paradigm: Curing; and (c) the Paradigm
      of Inclusion: Caring, Curing, and Healing. The role and status of women in
      society are reflected within these paradigms, and the changing status of the
      profession of occupational therapy is discussed within this framework. The unique
      skills and contributions of occupational therapy more closely fit within the
      Paradigm of Inclusion and can support us as health care leaders within the
      changing world of the 21st century.

PMID- 1463076
TI  - Aging profession, enlightened professionals?

PMID- 1463077
TI  - Motherhood, occupational therapy, and feminism: weaving or unraveling the fibers
      of our lives?

PMID- 1463078
TI  - Proud and visible as occupational therapists.

PMID- 1463079
TI  - Supports specialization in occupational therapy and use of physical agent
      modalities.

PMID- 1463080
TI  - We need research on psychosocial occupational therapy.

PMID- 1463081
TI  - Feminism: an inclusive perspective.

PMID- 1463082
TI  - A mother's work: two levels of feminist analysis of family-centered care.
AB  - The following case describes 5 years of a mother's care for her child with
      multiple chronic conditions, in the neonatal intensive care unit and at home.
      Because caregiving is primarily a female activity, a feminist approach is used.
      This mother's efforts on behalf of her son show how work within the domains of
      direct medical care, normal mothering care, coordination of equipment and
      supplies and professionals, and synthesis of meaning emanated from her definition
      of motherhood. The case suggests interventions in family-centered care, offers an
      examination of two levels of feminist analysis for their usefulness to
      occupational therapy, and provides an opportunity to examine the topic of
      motherhood within feminism.

PMID- 1463083
TI  - A woman's place: unpaid work in the home.
AB  - Household work has only recently become a valid topic of study. Feminist scholars
      were among the first social scientists to draw attention to women's unpaid work
      in the home. Although household work occupations are frequently used for
      assessment and treatment within practice, occupational therapy literature
      demonstrates a paucity in the area of these occupations. This review of the
      feminist literature summarizes theory and research that explore the historical,
      political, social, and personal meanings of household work. Feminist analysis of
      household work may sensitize occupational therapists to the complex interactions
      of these meanings and lead them to the realization that women's responsibility
      for unpaid work in the home may have repercussions in the daily lives of both
      women and men.

PMID- 1463084
TI  - Opening feminist histories of occupational therapy.
AB  - This paper frames the history of occupational therapy in feminist terms. It
      focuses on gender segregation in occupational therapy, the influence of class and
      race in shaping opportunities for occupational therapists, and the place of
      feminism in the goals and achievements of the occupational therapy profession.
      Such issues have been addressed by feminist scholars in histories of women in
      medicine, nursing, and other helping professions. These sources help place the
      achievements of occupational therapy within the context of women's historic entry
      and advancement in the American work force.

PMID- 1463085
TI  - Shanidar 1: a case of hyperostotic disease (DISH) in the middle Paleolithic.
AB  - The Shanidar 1 Neandertal partial skeleton presents osteophytic lesions on its
      vertebrae and appendicular skeleton which appear independent of the multiple
      traumatic and degenerative joint disease lesions on the individual. In
      particular, the large flowing osteophyte on the L3 body, a smaller one on the L5
      body, and enthesopathic osteophytes on both calcaneal tuberosities, both patellae
      and the left ulnar olecranon, support a diagnosis of hyperostotic disease (DISH).
      The diagnosis is supported by small enthesopathic osteophytes on the preserved
      femoral greater trochanter and scapular corocoid process. This diagnosis would
      make it the oldest hominid specimen clearly presenting this systemic condition.

PMID- 1463086
TI  - Obstetric dimensions of the true pelvis in a medieval population from Sudanese
      Nubia.
AB  - Functional analysis of the true pelvis (defined as that portion lying below and
      including the pelvic brim) was undertaken on a sample of 36 females from the
      Medieval site of Kulubnarti in Sudanese Nubia. Standard obstetric measurements
      were taken and compared to four additional prehistoric skeletal samples and to
      modern American standards for the same obstetric dimensions. Relative to the
      other prehistoric populations, the Kulubnarti pelves are smaller in most
      dimensions and, when compared to modern American standards, from one-third to one
      half would be diagnosed as contracted in one or more planes. Given the meager,
      fluctuating resources of these Medieval Nubians' harsh desert environment, pelvic
      size reduction is a likely result of body size reduction as one biological
      response to nutritional stress (Mittler and Van Gerven, 1989; Moore et al., 1986;
      Van Gerven et al., 1981). It is argued, however, that size reduction created a
      high potential for either maternal-neonatal morbidity and mortality due to
      fetopelvic disproportion or neonatal loss due to low birth weight. In either
      case, it is suggested that the Kulubnarti population paid a significant
      biological price for this aspect of size reduction.

PMID- 1463087
TI  - Evaluation of the obstetric significance of some pelvic characters in an 18th
      century British sample of known parity status.
AB  - The excavations at Christ Church, Spitalfields (1984-86) produced a sample of 968
      human skeletons which were interred between 1729 and 1859. Of these, 387 were
      recovered in association with coffin plates stating name, age at death, and date
      of death. There are 138 adult females in the named sample and the obstetric
      histories of 94 have been reconstructed from historical documentation. Such
      variables as birth spacing, number of children, and age at first and last births
      are known for the majority of this sample. Any individual about whose history
      there is any doubt has been excluded from the analysis. A middle-class group,
      they were largely of high nutritional status and, by the standards of the day,
      lived in sanitary and comfortable conditions. Both males and females have a mean
      age at death of 56 years. The presence or absence, the typology, the severity,
      the width and the length of the preauricular sulcus, the presence or absence and
      the number of pits on the dorsal aspect of the pubic body, sulci along the
      anterior sacrum adjacent to the auricular facet, and the extension of the pubic
      tubercle were evaluated in relation to the obstetric histories of these females.
      Statistical analysis has demonstrated a relationship between the presence of
      pubic tubercle extension and parity status and between the degree of extension
      and the number of children borne (P < .02). Statistically there is no significant
      relationship (P > .05) between either the preauricular sulcus or pubic pitting
      and parity status. Sacral scarring is significantly associated (P < .05) with
      parity status, but as it was evident in only eight females it has little
      practical application. Sample sizes are small, and it must be considered that
      statistical evaluation of larger samples might detect associations between
      variables not demonstrated here. There is no significant relationship between any
      of the cortical variants under consideration and age at death.

PMID- 1463088
TI  - Gene geography of South America: testing models of population displacement based
      on archeological evidence.
AB  - Gene frequencies for 13 marker systems are used to construct synthetic gene
      frequency maps of South America. The surfaces generated using the first three
      principal components exhibit clines which validate models of population
      displacement based on archeological data and a previous analysis of
      craniometrical variation.

PMID- 1463089
TI  - Longitudinal analysis of adolescent growth of ladino and Mayan school children in
      Guatemala: effects of environment and sex.
AB  - The rate of growth in height and the timing of adolescent growth events are
      analyzed for two samples of Guatemalan children. One sample includes Mayan school
      children, 33 boys and 12 girls between the ages of 5.00 to 17.99 years, living
      under poor conditions for growth and development. The second sample includes
      ladino children, 78 boys and 85 girls of the same age range, living under
      favorable conditions for growth. The Preece-Baines model I function is used to
      estimate mean values for rates and timing of childhood and adolescent growth
      events for the two groups. Significant statistical contrasts (t-tests) of these
      means show Mayan boys reach the age of "take-off" (TO; the onset of the
      adolescent growth spurt) 1.45 years later, achieve peak height velocity (PHV)
      1.68 years later, and continue growing for about 2.0 years longer than do the
      ladino boys. Despite the Mayan boys' increased duration for growth they grow
      significantly more slowly than the ladinos. Mayan boys are 6.60 cm shorter than
      ladinos at the age of TO and are estimated to be 7.71 cm shorter than the ladinos
      at adulthood. Mayan girls reach the age of TO 0.93 years later than do the ladina
      girls, but the two groups do not differ in the age at PHV or the age at
      adulthood. The mean height of Mayan girls is significantly less than that of
      ladinas at the age of TO (6.5 cm), and this difference increases to an estimated
      11.14 cm at adulthood. Possible causes of these ethnic and sex-related
      differences in amounts and rates of growth are discussed in relation to
      hypotheses about the genetic and environmental determinants of human development.

PMID- 1463090
TI  - Cross-cultural analysis of migration rates: effects of geographic distance and
      population size.
AB  - A model is developed that treats migration rates among populations as a function
      of the geographic distance between them and the size of both sources and
      recipient population. Specifically, mij/mjj = a(Ni/Nj)pe-bd, where mij/mjj is the
      relative migration rate into population j from population i, Ni is the size of
      the source population, Nj is the size of the recipient population, d is the
      geographic distance between populations i and j, p is a measure of differential
      density-dependence, b is a measure of distance decay, and a is an adjustment
      parameter with little demographic meaning. Methods of parameter estimation and
      hypothesis testing using maximum likelihood are outlined. These methods are
      applied to migration matrix data from 13 samples obtained from the literature
      representing a wide range of ecological settings. All samples show a significant
      effect of geographic distance on migration, and all but one show a significant
      effect of differential population size. All but one sample show an overall
      tendency for migration to be negative density-dependent; that is, the relative
      migration rate is greater from larger populations to smaller populations than the
      reverse.

PMID- 1463091
TI  - Human marriage systems and sexual dimorphism in stature.
AB  - Contemporary populations of Homo sapiens are sexually dimorphic on a variety of
      traits. In terms of stature, men are reliably between 4% and 10% taller than
      women in well-sampled human populations. Are cross-cultural differences in the
      magnitude of sexual dimorphism consistent with expectations from sexual selection
      theory? Prior studies have provided conflicting answers to this question in part
      because they failed to agree on how the force of sexual selection should or could
      be operationalized. Here we offer a simple and unbiased method for
      operationalizing sexual selection and retest two separate predictions from
      earlier work (Alexander et al., 1979) about its expected impact on stature
      dimorphism in a sample of 155 societies. Neither prediction matches the observed
      cross-cultural distribution of dimorphism. However, this is not the consequence
      of a random distribution of dimorphism across societies. Instead, the data
      exhibit a robust and unexpected pattern.

PMID- 1463092
TI  - Interobserver reproducibility in the diagnosis of ductal proliferative breast
      lesions using standardized criteria.
AB  - Although the categorization of proliferative breast lesions provides valuable
      information regarding subsequent risk of breast cancer, the ability of
      pathologists to classify such lesions in a reproducible fashion has not been
      adequately evaluated. To assess further interobserver reproducibility in the
      categorization of proliferative breast lesions, six pathologists each reviewed 24
      proliferative ductal lesions and classified them as either usual hyperplasia (H),
      atypical hyperplasia (AH), or carcinoma in situ (CIS). Before evaluation of the
      study slides, all the participants were instructed to use the diagnostic criteria
      of Page and co-workers and were provided with both a written summary of these
      criteria and a set of teaching slides with representative examples of each type
      of lesion. Complete agreement among all six pathologists was seen in 14 cases
      (58%); five or more agreed in 17 cases (71%); and four or more arrived at the
      same diagnosis in 22 cases (92%). No pathologist consistently rendered more
      "benign" or "malignant" diagnoses than any other. After assigning numerical
      values for each diagnostic category (H = 1, AH = 2, CIS = 3), the scores for the
      group of 24 cases did not differ significantly by pathologist (p = 0.68; average
      score range, 1.7-2.0). Our results indicate that with the use of standardized
      criteria, interobserver concordance in the diagnosis of proliferative ductal
      breast lesions can be obtained in the majority of cases.

PMID- 1463093
TI  - Chondroid chordomas and low-grade chondrosarcomas of the craniospinal axis. An
      immunohistochemical analysis of 17 cases.
AB  - The classification of cartilaginous neoplasms of the craniospinal axis is
      controversial. Indeed, the very existence of chondroid chordomas has recently
      been questioned. In an effort to clarify the direction of differentiation of
      cartilaginous neoplasms of this region, 17 neoplasms obtained from 17 patients
      with cartilaginous tumors of the craniospinal axis were examined by
      immunohistochemistry with a panel of antibodies. The panel included antibodies to
      cytokeratin (CK), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), vimentin (VIM), S-100
      protein, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and type II collagen. Areas with
      cartilaginous differentiation were present in all 17 neoplasms. These areas were
      characterized by a matrix of amorphous blue ground substance with lacunae that
      contained enlarged and slightly atypical cells. This cartilaginous matrix stained
      strongly for type II collagen. Thirteen of the 17 neoplasms had a biphasic growth
      pattern in which areas with conventional chordoma were admixed with areas with
      cartilaginous differentiation. The cells within the cartilaginous components of
      these 13 neoplasms stained for CK (10 of 12 cases), EMA (10 of 13 cases), VIM (12
      of 12 cases), S-100 protein (seven of 12 cases), and CEA (two of nine cases).
      Similarly, the conventional chordoma components of these same 13 neoplasms
      stained for CK (12 of 12 cases), EMA (13 of 13 cases), VIM (12 of 12 cases), S
      100 protein (nine of 12 cases), and CEA (two of nine cases). The hyaline
      appearing areas between the cords and sheets of cells of the conventional
      chordoma components of these 13 tumors also stained with type II collagen. These
      13 tumors with both neoplastic cartilage and conventional chordoma were
      classified as chondroid chordomas. One of the 17 cases was composed entirely of
      neoplastic cartilage; however, the cells within the matrix of the cartilage of
      this neoplasm stained with the epithelial markers (CK and EMA). Based on the
      presence of epithelial differentiation within this otherwise cartilaginous
      neoplasm, it was also classified as a chondroid chordoma. In contrast, the
      remaining three cases without histologic evidence of chordoma differentiation did
      not stain for CK or EMA, but they did stain for S-100 protein (three of three
      cases) and VIM (three of three cases). These three tumors were therefore
      classified as chondrosarcomas. For purposes of comparison, 19 conventional
      chordomas without cartilage and 29 peripheral chondrosarcomas were also stained.
      The 19 conventional chordomas stained in a pattern similar to the conventional
      chordoma components of the chondroid chordomas, whereas the 29 peripheral
      chondrosarcomas stained in a pattern similar to the three chondrosarcomas of the
      craniospinal axis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1463094
TI  - Well-differentiated thymic carcinoma. An organotypical low-grade carcinoma with
      relationship to cortical thymoma.
AB  - Based on a study of 26 cases, the well-differentiated thymic carcinoma is
      described as a distinct organotypical carcinoma of the thymus with low-grade
      malignancy. It is characterized by a predominance of epithelial cells with
      usually low mitotic rate, an epidermoid differentiation with slight to moderate
      cytological atypia, the constant presence of interepithelial immature cortical
      thymocytes, lobular growth, and formation of epithelial palisades around
      perivascular spaces. The tumor occurs at age 14 to 76 years in both sexes. An
      association with myasthenia gravis is found in 77% of the patients, and 83% of
      the tumors show invasion of adjacent organs or endothoracic metastasis at primary
      operation. This rate is higher than in cortical thymomas (47%) but lower than in
      other thymic carcinomas (92%). Two of 18 patients with follow-up died of tumor
      recurrence and pleural metastasis. Well-differentiated thymic carcinoma can be
      related to cortical thymoma by common morphological features and a similar
      immunophenotype of epithelial cells. It must be differentiated from the
      lymphocyte-depleted cortical thymomas after corticosteroid treatment and from the
      benign epithelial-rich medullary thymomas.

PMID- 1463095
TI  - Clear cell sarcoma of soft tissues. Mayo Clinic experience with 35 cases.
AB  - Thirty-five cases of clear cell sarcoma of soft tissues were studied to determine
      the clinical or morphologic features that are important in predicting prognosis.
      Tumors occurred most commonly in the extremities, and the majority of the
      patients were young women. Surgery was the elected treatment in every case. Five
      patients experienced local recurrences, and metastases developed in 22. Fifty
      four percent of the patients died of tumor, 11% are alive with disease, and the
      remaining 34% are alive and well; the average survival for each group was 67
      months, 113 months, and 103.5 months, respectively. This sarcoma is characterized
      by small clusters of polygonal to spindle cells featuring clear to slightly
      basophilic cytoplasm and vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli. The clusters
      are separated by delicate fibrous septa. In a deletion, clear cell sarcoma has
      low mitotic activity, little or no necrosis, and mild nuclear pleomorphism. Tumor
      size and the presence of necrosis are statistically significant predictors of
      prognosis. All 12 patients with tumors measuring > 5 cm died of disease or are
      alive with disease. Eleven of the 20 patients with tumors measuring < 5 cm are
      alive with no evidence of disease. Tumor necrosis was present in 10 cases; eight
      of these patients died of disease and one is alive with disseminated metastases.

PMID- 1463096
TI  - Sclerosing inflammatory pseudotumor of the urinary bladder in a child.
AB  - A case of inflammatory pseudotumor of the urinary bladder in a 2-year-old child
      is presented. It was characterized by nodular intravesical growth and massive
      infiltration of the bladder wall. Microscopically, the lesion showed in its
      largest part a relatively paucicellular spindle cell growth and a sclerotic
      appearance with a thin superficial cellular zone resembling granulation tissue.
      Another morphological characteristic was a marked capillary proliferation
      revealed by immunohistochemical reactions to factor VIII-associated protein,
      laminin, and collagen IV. The last feature appears to be an integral part of the
      process, which most closely resembled fibromatosis of the adult type, a rare
      pattern of growth in inflammatory pseudotumor.

PMID- 1463097
TI  - Myofibromatosis-like hemangiopericytoma metastasizing as differentiated vascular
      smooth-muscle and myosarcoma. Myopericytes as a subset of "myofibroblasts".
AB  - A thyroid hemangiopericytoma that was resected in a 5-year-old boy recurred
      insidiously in the larynx 8 years later. Marked cicatricial mucosal inflammation
      prevented a definitive pathologic diagnosis of recurrence until a nodule grew to
      obstruct the airway 15 years after initial surgery. After excision of the nodule,
      a larger sarcomatous metastasis was discovered in the upper esophagus and
      resected, but the patient eventually succumbed to widespread disease at the age
      of 20 years. The original tumor contained atypical pericytes and bundles of
      hyalinizing smooth muscle abutting on "staghorn vessels," a pattern similar to
      infantile myofibromatosis. Desmin immunostaining was negative in the pericytes
      but positive in smooth-muscle cells dispersed singly as well as in bundles. Both
      elements reacted strongly for vimentin and the alpha-isoform of actin (alpha-SMA)
      found in normal smooth muscle and pericytes. A third cell type showing dendritic
      processes and immunoreactivity for all three antigens was interpreted as a
      myopericyte. Spindled cells in multiple subsequent mucosal biopsy specimens
      stained retrospectively also positive for these antigens. Large bundles of
      vascular smooth muscle surrounded by radiating myocytes characterized the
      occluding laryngeal nodule. In the esophageal metastasis, which showed no
      histologic features typical of hemangiopericytoma, numerous mitotically active,
      small, vimentin+, desmin+, alpha-SMA+ cells often maintained shortened processes
      and tended to form nodular aggregates about capillaries. Single rows of pericytes
      accreted to endothelial tubes. Ultrastructurally, some cells contained
      myofilaments and irregular dense material or showed rare cell junctions and
      variable investment by a basal lamina.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1463098
TI  - Recipient of the 1992 Fred W. Stewart Award: Karl Lennert, M.D.

PMID- 1463099
TI  - Advice, remarks, and observations to young head and neck surgeons.

PMID- 1463100
TI  - Hayes Martin Lecture. Bill of responsibility.

PMID- 1463101
TI  - Cytokine expression by head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
AB  - Cytokines are known to play an important role in host defense by regulating the
      function, growth, and differentiation of the cells of the immune system. We
      hypothesize that, in the tumor microenvironment, tumor cells and resident tissue
      cells (e.g., fibroblasts) also produce cytokines that may regulate the local
      immune response to tumors. Initially, homogenates of eight head and neck squamous
      cell carcinomas (HNSCC) were assayed for the presence of interleukin-1 (IL-1),
      interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and granulocyte-macrophage colony
      stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to establish the presence of these cytokines in the
      tumors in vivo. We detected IL-1 in all tumor homogenates and IL-4, IL-6, and GM
      CSF in some homogenates. To assess the ability of HNSCC to produce these
      cytokines, supernatants of short-term primary cultures of HNSCC were assayed for
      the same cytokines. No IL-1 was detected, although baseline levels of IL-4, IL-6,
      and GM-CSF were present. However, the stimulation of primary tumor cultures with
      exogenous IL-1 induced or significantly enhanced production of IL-4 (p < 0.01),
      IL-6 (p < 0.001), and GM-CSF (p < 0.02). These results support our hypothesis
      that HNSCC secrete cytokines that may influence the response of local immune
      cells. Our data also suggest that IL-1 may have a central role in regulating the
      local immune response through the enhancement or induction of cytokine production
      by tumor and/or resident tissue cells.

PMID- 1463102
TI  - Localized carcinoma of the external ear is an unrecognized aggressive disease
      with a high propensity for local regional recurrence.
AB  - Management problems in patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of
      the external ear (pinna) have prompted a review of the management and treatment
      outcomes of patients who present with localized disease. Forty patients were seen
      over a 15-year period (1972 to 1991). Thirty-six were men, and 4 were women, with
      an age range from 43 to 93 years (average age: 71 years). Presenting TNM status
      was stage 0 in 2 patients, stage I in 15 patients, stage II in 13 patients, stage
      III in 2 patients, stage IV in 4 patients, and unknown stage in 4 patients.
      Thirty-six patients had clinically negative nodes at presentation (N0), and 4 had
      palpable nodes (N+). The primary treatment was local excision in 13 patients,
      Mohs' micrographic surgery in 16 patients, local excision plus external beam
      radiotherapy in 4 patients, and radical resection (parotidectomy/neck
      dissection/mastoidectomy) with or without radiotherapy in 5 patients. Two
      patients with stage IV disease died after diagnosis and prior to treatment, and
      two other patients with stage IV disease received palliative chemotherapy. Twenty
      patients developed recurrence from 2 months to 8 years. It included nine local
      recurrences, eight regional recurrences (parotid/neck/mastoid), and three distant
      metastases (lung or brain). After treatment of the recurrences in 20 patients, 8
      are alive 15 months to 16 years later, 2 patients died of other diseases, and 10
      patients died of SCC. The recurrences were managed by reoperation, radiotherapy,
      or chemotherapy. From the results of this study, we conclude that localized
      carcinoma of the external ear has a high propensity for local and regional
      failure and merits more aggressive treatment of the primary lesion and elective
      treatment of the regional lymph nodes and parotid gland in high-risk patients.

PMID- 1463103
TI  - Prognostic significance of cervical lymph node metastases in differentiated
      thyroid cancer.
AB  - During the last decade, several analyses of prognostic factors for differentiated
      thyroid cancer (DTC) have been reported. Although these studies have established
      a framework for rational treatment planning, they have not fully answered
      questions regarding the prognostic significance of cervical lymph node
      metastases. An analysis of patients treated for DTC at our institution over a 34
      year period has shown several factors to be significant by log-rank analysis,
      including the presence of cervical lymph node metastases, age greater than or
      equal to 50 years, a primary cancer size of greater than 3.0 cm, and distant
      metastases. Further analysis has shown the node-negative and node-positive
      patient groups to be similar in regard to age, size of primary cancer, and the
      presence of distant metastases. This report compares our data with those of other
      studies that have investigated the association of cervical lymph node metastases
      and a poorer prognosis in patients with DTC. When considered as a group, these
      studies support the finding of the prognostic significance of cervical lymph node
      metastases, particularly that of palpable lymphadenopathy in older patients.

PMID- 1463104
TI  - Comprehensive treatment strategy for oral and oropharyngeal cancer.
AB  - This prospective nonrandomized study analyzes the effectiveness of the following
      treatment protocol for oral and oropharyngeal cancers: (1) radical initial
      surgery; (2) elective modified or selective neck dissection for NO necks; (3) jaw
      preservation unless gross invasion is present; (4) radial forearm freeflap
      reconstruction; (5) elective tracheotomy; (6) postoperative radiotherapy unless
      previously given; and (7) active oral rehabilitation. Between 1987 and 1992, 75
      patients (55 men and 20 women) with a median age of 58 years had this treatment.
      Fifteen had been previously treated with radiotherapy. Clinical stages of
      untreated patients were as follows: 4 patients, stage I; 25 patients, stage II;
      12 patients, stage III; and 19 patients, stage IV. Ten patients had segmental jaw
      resection, 26 had a marginal mandibulectomy, and 26 had a jaw swing. There were
      no operative deaths, and only one flap (1.2%) failed. Median times for oral feeds
      and hospital stay were 8 and 17 days, respectively. Forty-four patients had
      postoperative radiotherapy. Median follow-up time is 30 months, and locoregional
      control is 95% for previously untreated patients and 54% for previously treated
      patients. Thirteen patients have died of disease, 8 with locoregional recurrence
      and 5 with distant metastases alone. We conclude that this treatment strategy is
      highly effective in previously untreated patients but less effective in salvaging
      patients in whom radiotherapy has failed.

PMID- 1463105
TI  - Results of surgical treatment of T3 and T4 tumors of the oral cavity and
      oropharynx.
AB  - The combined use of surgery and radiotherapy is commonly accepted as the most
      effective treatment for locally advanced head and neck cancers. T3 and T4 tumors
      of the oral cavity and oropharynx often necessitate extensive local surgery. From
      1981 to 1988, 199 patients with T3 and T4 tumors of the oral cavity and
      oropharynx were treated. One hundred seventeen patients underwent surgery plus
      postoperative radiotherapy; 78 had flap reconstructions. This series is extremely
      homogeneous because surgery was always performed by two surgeons, whereas
      radiotherapy was the responsibility of the same physician. The results of this
      study show a 96% local control rate at the end of treatment among the patients
      with combined treatment. The average time by which hospitalization was prolonged
      due to surgery was 29 days. The type and delay of recurrences and survival in
      relation with node involvement are also discussed. Extensive surgery in
      association with radiotherapy remains a reliable treatment in such patients.

PMID- 1463106
TI  - Results of surgical resection of pulmonary metastases of squamous cell carcinoma
      of the head and neck.
AB  - In this retrospective review of 58 patients (12 females and 46 males) with
      pulmonary metastases of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck treated
      between January 1, 1970, and December 31, 1989, we evaluated their clinical
      courses and analyzed the outcomes of those who underwent pulmonary resection. For
      the entire group of patients, factors predictive of survival in those patients
      with a diagnosis of pulmonary metastases included pulmonary resection of
      metastases (p = 0.0001), locoregional control of the head and neck primary tumor
      at the time of diagnosis of pulmonary metastases (p = 0.007), TNM stage of the
      head and neck primary tumor (p = 0.02), a single nodule seen on the chest
      radiograph (p = 0.02), and disease-free interval (DFI) from the primary tumor of
      the head and neck of 2 years or more (p = 0.05). Twenty-four of 58 patients
      underwent thoracotomy for resection of metastases. Four (17%) were found to have
      a second primary tumor of the lung. Of the 20 remaining patients who underwent
      explorative surgery for possible pulmonary resection, 18 (90%) underwent complete
      resection of all malignant disease with an estimated 5-year survival of 29%. In
      these patients, a DFI of less than 1 year was associated with a 5-year survival
      rate of 0%, whereas a DFI of 1 to 2 years was associated with a 5-year survival
      rate of 43% and a DFI of 2 years or longer had a 5-year survival rate of 33%. The
      number of malignant pulmonary nodules that were resected ranged from one to five
      and was not significant in predicting survival (p = 0.19). Of eight patients who
      underwent the resection of more than one malignant pulmonary nodule, 50% survived
      2 years, but none survived 5 years. Resection of a solitary pulmonary metastasis
      from squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck resulted in long-term survival
      in selected patients. Important prognostic factors included locoregional control
      of the head and neck primary tumor, the number of nodules seen on chest
      radiograph, the TNM stage of the primary tumor, and the DFI from the head and
      neck primary tumor. The value of resection in patients with more than one
      malignant pulmonary nodule remains to be defined for this group of patients.

PMID- 1463107
TI  - Patterns of failure after radical neck dissection for recurrent nasopharyngeal
      carcinoma.
AB  - Radical neck dissection (RND) for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after
      radiotherapy was retrospectively evaluated in 38 patients treated between April
      1986 and December 1991. Thirty patients (79%) had advanced-stage disease. Four
      patients required nasopharyngectomy as well as RND. The mortality was 0%, and the
      morbidity was 13%. The actuarial survival rates at 5 years from the time of
      initial radiotherapy and RND were 50% and 25%, respectively. Of the 21 patients
      with relapses after surgical salvage, 5 had recurrences in the nasopharynx, 3 had
      recurrences in the neck, and 13 had distant metastases. We conclude that RND for
      recurrent NPC is safe and efficacious; however, it is associated with a
      significant (34%) incidence of distant metastases. These results can be improved
      by evaluating patients for distant metastases and excluding those with distant
      metastases. Improvement in the treatment of distant metastases is also needed.

PMID- 1463108
TI  - Role of frozen section and clinical parameters in distinguishing benign from
      malignant follicular neoplasms of the thyroid.
AB  - The determination of malignancy preoperatively or intraoperatively is difficult
      in patients with follicular neoplasms of the thyroid. This study reviews a series
      of 395 patients treated for follicular neoplasms at the Vancouver General
      Hospital and the British Columbia Cancer Agency between the years of 1955 and
      1988, 198 of whom had frozen section at the time of surgery. Frozen section was
      79% accurate in differentiating follicular adenomas from carcinomas, with a
      sensitivity of 52% and a specificity of 100%. The positive predictive value of a
      frozen section showing carcinoma was 100%, and the negative predictive value was
      73%. An incorrect diagnosis of a benign lesion was made in 21% of patients in
      whom the final diagnosis by fixed section was carcinoma. These same statistics
      were calculated for patients aged greater than 50 years, tumor size greater than
      3 cm, and patients with a history of previous neck irradiation, three clinical
      factors shown in a previous study to be strong prognostic indicators of
      malignancy. The results were compared with those found by frozen section. The
      implications of these results in terms of patient management are discussed.

PMID- 1463109
TI  - Parathyroid re-exploration.
AB  - The authors evaluated their experience with 27 patients who required parathyroid
      re-explorations. The initial exploration was unsuccessful in 20 patients: in 8
      because of ectopic lesions, in 2 because of undetected supernumerary glands, and
      in 10 because of inadequate exploration of the neck. All of the patients with
      inadequate neck explorations were found to have eutopic disease. Seven patients
      required re-exploration because of recurrent disease. Localization studies were
      performed prior to re-explorative surgery in 26 of 27 patients, which resulted in
      successful placement in 21. Invasive procedures, selective vein catheterization,
      and/or arteriography were effective in 12 of 15 patients. Noninvasive procedures,
      including thallium-technetium scintigraphy, magnetic resonance imaging, computed
      tomography, and ultrasonography, were accurate in 14 of 21 patients. Twenty-three
      (85%) of 27 patients were cured, including 17 of 20 patients after an
      unsuccessful initial exploration and 6 of 7 patients with recurrent disease.
      Careful review of operative and pathology reports from the initial surgery was
      essential in determining the adequacy of the exploration, the presence of
      microscopic abnormalities, and the glands that were positively identified. Such
      analysis, in conjunction with noninvasive localization studies, will lead to
      successful re-exploration in the majority of cases.

PMID- 1463110
TI  - Phorbol dibutyrate plus ionomycin improves the generation of cytotoxic T cells
      from draining lymph nodes of patients with advanced head and neck cancer.
AB  - Fifty-one cervical nodes from 19 patients with advanced head and neck cancer were
      stimulated with phorbol dibutyrate and ionomycin (PDBu + Io) to determine the
      effect of such stimulation on the generation of cytotoxic T cells and whether
      this stimulation could bypass the need for autologous tumor stimulation.
      Lymphocytes stimulated with PDBu + Io demonstrated a sixfold greater in vitro
      expansion and significantly increased DNA synthesis. Whereas fresh lymphocytes
      displayed no cytotoxicity, stimulation with PDBu + Io and culture in interleukin
      2 (IL-2) led to significant cytotoxicity equivalent to that of lymphocytes
      stimulated with autologous tumor and IL-2. T cells with the greatest cytotoxicity
      were generated from patients with nodal metastases. In patients with stage IV
      tumors, effector cells demonstrating greater lysis of natural killer-resistant
      targets (Daudi cells) were associated with higher rates of recurrence (50% versus
      12%, respectively, p < 0.001). Stimulation with PDBu + Io augments growth and
      proliferation of lymphocytes from draining lymph nodes and preserves cytotoxicity
      without the need for autologous tumor. Excluding the need for antigenic
      stimulation by autologous tumor may prove useful in adoptive immunotherapy
      procedures.

PMID- 1463111
TI  - Comparison of the rectus abdominis free flap with the pectoralis major
      myocutaneous flap for reconstructions in the head and neck.
AB  - The pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PMMF) is often used in the reconstruction
      of large head and neck defects. Unfortunately, its use is associated with a high
      incidence of minor complications, can distort the contour of the neck, and may
      cause significant donor site deformity, especially in women. This study compared
      30 patients with major head and neck cancer-related defects who underwent
      reconstruction with a rectus abdominis free flap (RAFF) with 39 patients with
      similar defects who underwent reconstruction with the PMMF. The complication rate
      found in the RAFF group (13%) was significantly lower than that found in the PMMF
      group (44%; p = 0.0145). Flap necrosis was found in 10% of the PMMF group,
      whereas none was found in the RAFF group. The aesthetic outcome was also better
      in patients who had reconstructions with the RAFF. We conclude that, for most
      major head and neck defects, reconstruction methods that utilize the RAFF and
      other free tissue transfer techniques are preferable when the requisite equipment
      and expertise are available.

PMID- 1463112
TI  - Postlaryngectomy quality-of-life dimensions identified by patients and health
      care professionals.
AB  - We compared the quality-of-life (QOL) dimensions after laryngectomy in patients
      with advanced larynx or pharynx cancer that were elicited from 20 consecutive
      laryngectomy patients and 20 health care professionals working in the Regional
      Head and Neck Oncology Service. Subjects in both groups were asked to identify
      important QOL items after recovery from laryngectomy and to rank and rate each on
      a vertical visual analogue scale. Health care professionals ranked impaired
      communication and self-image/self-esteem as the two most important QOL
      dimensions, whereas patients ranked the physical consequences of surgery, e.g.,
      tracheal mucous production, and interference with social activities as the two
      most important items. The results indicate that the responses of health care
      professionals do not fully correlate with patient priorities. These findings are
      relevant to researchers developing treatment-specific QOL measures and to health
      care professionals when presenting treatment options to patients.

PMID- 1463113
TI  - Optimizing primary treatment for advanced laryngeal and pyriform sinus carcinoma.
AB  - Advocates of chemotherapy plus radiation as the definitive treatment for patients
      with advanced laryngeal cancer often cite older studies that attribute cure rates
      of less than 50% to laryngectomy plus radiation. The outcomes of patients with
      stage III and IV laryngeal and pyriform sinus carcinoma from 1980 to 1989 (96
      patients) were compared with those of patients treated from 1962 to 1977 (84
      patients). Demographics, the extent of disease, and nodal involvement were
      similar between the groups. There were more operative complications (45% versus
      22%; p < 0.01) and deaths (10% versus 2%; p < 0.01) in the patients who underwent
      irradiation preoperatively. Overall survival was improved in the recent group
      compared with the early group (73% versus 54% at 5 years; p < 0.03), as was
      disease-free survival (64% versus 38% at 5 years; p < 0.02). Results of treatment
      for advanced laryngeal and pyriform sinus carcinoma have improved significantly.
      These modern results should be used to evaluate newer treatment modalities.

PMID- 1463114
TI  - Identification of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve during
      thyroidectomy.
AB  - Seventy-six patients underwent preoperative vocal evaluation and were randomized
      into 3 groups: (1) those with the superior thyroid pole dissected by the first
      author, with the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN)
      identified by means of a nerve stimulator; (2) those patients whose dissection
      was executed by a resident, with no nerve search; and (3) those whose dissection
      was undertaken by the first author, without any nerve search. Postoperative
      analysis consisted of voice evaluation and electromyography of the cricothyroid
      muscle. No lesion occurred in patients in group 1. Twenty-eight percent of
      patients in group 2 and 12% in group 3 experienced a complete lesion of the EBSLN
      (p = 0.0123). When the patients in group 1 were compared with the patients with
      62 nerves corresponding to nonoperated thyroid lobes, patients in group 1
      exhibited no increased risk, whereas a significantly increased hazard was evident
      in both groups 2 (p = 0.0002776) and 3 (p = 0.0346393). In this study, effective
      prevention of iatrogenic EBSLN lesions during thyroidectomies was achieved only
      by the intraoperative identification of the nerve with the nerve stimulator.

PMID- 1463115
TI  - DNA image cytometric analysis of differentiated thyroid adenocarcinoma specimens.
AB  - A total of 117 differentiated thyroid adenocarcinomas that had been removed by
      total thyroidectomy were studied. Seventy (60%) were papillary, 36 (30%) were
      follicular, and 11 (10%) were Hurthle cell adenocarcinomas. The mean length of
      follow-up was 57.7 months. Adverse prognostic factors according to multivariate
      analysis were adjacent tissue infiltration (p = 0.0004), histologic type (p =
      0.0049), and patient age (p = 0.033). The nuclear DNA content of tumor cells and
      of morphologically normal adjacent tissue was assessed by image cytometry, and
      correlations between nuclear DNA content and prognostic factors were examined.
      Fifty-four (75%) adenocarcinomas were classified as aneuploid, 9 (13%) as
      diploid, and 9 (12%) as borderline. Thirty-four (60%) specimens of
      morphologically normal adjacent tissue were classified as aneuploid, 18 (32%) as
      diploid, and 5 (8%) as borderline. The correlation between tumor ploidy and
      selected prognostic factors was statistically significant for patient age (p =
      0.004) and histologic type (p = 0.033). Despite the fact that ploidy could not be
      identified as a prognostic factor, we suggest that, because of its correlation
      with age and histologic type, it might prove prognostic if the number of patients
      were increased. We also emphasize the importance of evaluating morphologically
      normal adjacent tissue because of the high rates of aneuploidy in these areas.

PMID- 1463116
TI  - Temporal bone resections for carcinoma of the middle ear and the external ear
      canal.
AB  - Petrosectomy has been used in the management of carcinoma of the external ear
      canal and the middle ear for the last 45 years. In recent years, there have been
      conflicting reports; some authors advocate a conservative approach, whereas
      others support an ultraradical approach. Most retrospective studies report
      patients who have been treated with radiotherapy or surgery as having undergone
      the primary modality depending on where the patient first presented. No selection
      criteria seem to have been employed. Although radiotherapy was used
      postoperatively, the problems of wound healing were not addressed. This study
      presents our experience with temporal bone resection as described by Lewis and
      shows that, in combination with patient selection and proper choice of incision,
      reconstruction and timely postoperative radiotherapy can achieve better results,
      and the patient's quality of life can be preserved.

PMID- 1463117
TI  - p53 overexpression correlates with increased survival in patients with squamous
      carcinoma of the tongue base.
AB  - Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), transforming growth factor alpha (TGFA),
      and p53 are frequently overexpressed in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the
      upper aerodigestive tract. We chose to study SCC of the tongue base, which is
      often advanced at presentation and fatal, to evaluate whether overexpression
      correlates with survival. Complete follow-up was available for 20 patients, 18 of
      whom had stage III or IV disease. A number of clinical (age, sex, stage of
      disease) and histologic (tumor grade, keratinization, mitotic rate, perineural
      invasion, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, host response) variables were
      analyzed. None of these variables correlated with survival. Immunohistochemical
      analysis was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue from each patient. Because
      EGFR and TGFA expression were routinely found in normal squamous epithelium,
      overexpression was considered present if greater uptake of the antibody was
      manifested by a deeper immunostain. In contrast, p53 oncoprotein was not detected
      in normal epithelium, so detection of the antibody was believed to indicate
      overexpression. EGFR was overexpressed in 60% of tumors, TGFA in 35%, and p53 in
      20%. Those patients who had an overexpression of p53 had a greater mean survival
      than those who did not (48 versus 16 months, respectively, p = 0.06). This
      difference was significant for patients with clinical stage IV lesions (p =
      0.03). EGFR overexpression and TGFA overexpression did not correlate with
      survival. p53 may serve as a biologic marker indicative of improved survival
      potential.

PMID- 1463118
TI  - Role of ultrasound in the management of thyroid nodules.
AB  - One hundred twenty patients undergoing thyroid surgery for thyroid nodules or
      goiter were examined by preoperative ultrasound and fine needle aspiration (FNA)
      cytology. In the determination of whether a lesion was malignant, FNA had
      sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values of 86%, 85%, and 58%,
      respectively. Ultrasound had sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive
      values of 74%, 83%, and 51%, respectively. The different types of thyroid
      pathology showed different ultrasonic features in most cases, although no single
      feature was pathognomonic. Malignant lesions tended to be solid and hypoechoic
      without a halo, but there was a cystic element in 26% of the lesions and
      calcification in 37%. Ultrasound was superior to FNA in diagnosing nodular goiter
      with sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values of 70%, 93%, and
      92%, respectively, compared with 55%, 86%, and 83%, respectively. The two
      modalities are complementary.

PMID- 1463119
TI  - Prognostic factors in differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid gland.
AB  - A retrospective review of a consecutive series of 931 previously untreated
      patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma treated over a 50-year period was
      undertaken to analyze prognostic factors. Data pertaining to demographic status,
      clinical, operative, and pathologic findings, and survival were analyzed.
      Univariate statistical analysis was performed based on the Kaplan-Meier method
      and the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess the
      independent effect of these variables using the Cox model. There were 630 female
      and 301 male patients, with an average age of 43 years. A total of 532 patients
      were younger than 45 years. Seven hundred thirty-one patients had either pure or
      mixed papillary carcinoma, and 200 had follicular carcinoma. In 153 patients,
      lesions were larger than 4 cm. Extrathyroidal extension was noted in 71 patients.
      Multifocal lesions were present in 159 patients. Regional lymph node metastasis
      was present on admission in 451 patients, and distant metastases were noted on
      presentation in 45 patients. Determinate survival for all patients was 87% at 10
      years. Favorable prognostic factors using univariate analysis included female
      gender, multifocal primary tumors, and regional lymph node metastases. Adverse
      prognostic factors included age over 45 years, follicular histology,
      extrathyroidal extension, tumor size exceeding 4 cm, and the presence of distant
      metastases. On multivariate analysis, the only factors that affected the
      prognosis were patient age, histology, tumor size, extrathyroidal extension, and
      distant metastases. These observations support findings of reports from the Mayo
      Clinic and Lahey Clinic regarding the significance of prognostic factors for
      differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid gland.

PMID- 1463120
TI  - Healing of microvascular free skin flaps in irradiated recipient tissue beds.
AB  - This laboratory study compared the biomechanical and biochemical healing of
      microvascular free skin flaps in irradiated and nonirradiated recipient areas. In
      the adult rat, the skin of the right groin region was exposed to a single
      fraction dose of 20 Gy, using a linear megavoltage accelerator. The left groin
      was shielded. One week after radiotherapy, the left femoral artery and vein were
      divided, and an anastomosis was created in situ at the site of the epigastric
      pedicle. The epigastric skin flap was crossed over to replace the central area of
      the irradiated skin in the contralateral right groin. The healing of the
      interface between the irradiated recipient skin and the transferred free
      epigastric flap was studied at 4 weeks. A comparison was made with the
      microvascular free flaps of nonirradiated control animals. An additional group of
      control animals was used to verify the retarding effect of the 20-Gy radiation
      dose on wound healing. In control animals, the single dose of 20 Gy decreased the
      tensile strength of standardized surgical wounds by 23% (p = 0.03). Clinical
      healing of the transferred microvascular free flaps between the irradiated and
      control recipient areas was comparable, and the flaps showed no significant
      differences in the mechanical incorporation. The biochemical assays of the DNA,
      RNA-ribose, total nitrogen, and hydroxyproline contents of the flap showed an
      increased concentration of proteins (total nitrogen) expressed per cell count
      (DNA) (25%, p = 0.04), reflecting the excessive accumulation of organic matrix
      and a relatively decreased number of cells in irradiated recipient tissues. We
      conclude that there are no major differences in the healing capacity of
      microvascular free skin flaps between irradiated and nonirradiated recipient
      areas.

PMID- 1463121
TI  - Value of fine needle aspiration biopsy of salivary gland masses in clinical
      decision-making.
AB  - The accuracy of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in the diagnosis of salivary
      tumors has been well established. This study was undertaken to determine the
      impact of FNAB on patient management. One hundred one patients underwent FNAB of
      major salivary gland masses. The physician's initial clinical impression was
      compared with the FNAB diagnosis and the final diagnosis in each case. Forty
      patients had solitary masses thought to be benign tumors other than Warthin's
      tumors. FNAB in 13 of these patients (33%) yielded a diagnosis permitting
      modification of the planned procedure. The diagnosis of Warthin's tumor was
      suspected clinically in 23 patients. In nine of these patients (39%), FNAB
      resulted in a different diagnosis. Of the 10 patients believed to have malignant
      tumors, using FNAB, 1 was found to have sialadenitis and 1 a lymphoma. Overall,
      FNAB resulted in a change in the clinical approach to 35% of the patients. We
      recommend the performance of FNAB in almost all patients with salivary masses.

PMID- 1463123
TI  - Osseointegrated implants and functional prosthetic rehabilitation in
      microvascular fibula free flap reconstructed mandibles.
AB  - The mandibulectomy deformity can be alleviated by immediate mandibular
      reconstruction using the microvascular fibula free flap. Before the advent of
      microvascular reconstruction, conventional and maxillofacial prosthetic
      rehabilitation offered limited success after surgery due to the failure to
      reestablish the bony foundation and soft tissues (tongue, floor of mouth,
      vestibule) anatomically and physiologically. With proper multidisciplinary
      pretreatment planning and postoperative treatment, osseointegrated implants can
      be strategically placed in patients with these reconstructed mandibles to restore
      occlusal and masticatory function. The records of seven patients who underwent
      reconstructive surgery and osseointegrated implants were reviewed, with an
      emphasis on the variety of prosthetic designs and principles used to maximize
      long-term efficiency and preservation of tissues.

PMID- 1463122
TI  - Prognostic factors and management considerations in patients with cervical
      metastases of thyroid cancer.
AB  - Included among the controversies involving thyroid cancer are the risk factors
      and treatment decisions in patients with nodal metastases. We have reviewed
      selected clinical, pathologic, and therapeutic parameters in patients who present
      with cervical node metastases and related these parameters to disease outcome.
      There were 108 patients (68 women, 40 men), who had a mean age of 54 years.
      Univariate analysis showed a significantly increased risk of recurrence to be
      associated with the presence of primary tumor invasion (vascular, lymphatic,
      nerve, or muscle), the age and sex of the patient, the presence of mediastinal
      nodes, and adjuvant treatment with iodine 131. The presence of tumor invasion,
      the age and sex of the patient, and the presence of mediastinal nodes were
      significantly associated with higher rates of recurrence when tested by
      multivariate analysis. The 5- and 10-year disease-free survival rates were 76%
      and 72%, respectively, with a mean follow-up of 86 months. A comparison of
      recurrence and survival rates in thyroid cancer patients who were either node
      positive or node negative during the same 10-year period (152 patients) showed no
      statistically significant differences. However, node-positive patients with the
      risk factors of tumor invasion, age over 45 years, and positive mediastinal nodes
      had more aggressive disease. Although thyroid cancer patients with nodal
      metastases generally have a good prognosis, high-risk subgroups have been
      identified who may benefit from a more aggressive therapeutic and follow-up
      approach.

PMID- 1463125
TI  - The Alaska Trauma Registry.
AB  - Recognizing that injury is the leading cause of death and disability for
      virtually all age groups in Alaska, a trauma task force was developed in the
      Anchorage area in the early 1980s. This task force established the trauma
      registry pilot project in the state of Alaska. The Emergency medical Services
      Section, Department of Health and Social Services provided the funding to the
      Southern Region Emergency Medical Services Council, Inc. and the Alaska Chapter
      of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma to develop this pilot
      project. The funding originated from a federal grant from the National Highway
      Traffic Safety Administration. Seven hospital participated in the pilot project
      which lasted approximately two and one half years. There were 5,087 entries into
      the registry with information on 4,860 patients. The rationale, methodology, and
      development of the registry, as well as some of the data accumulated is
      presented. The potential usefulness of the registry as a quality improvement tool
      and as an extensive data base for injury prevention and trauma care research also
      is discussed.

PMID- 1463124
TI  - Prognostic factors for survival in patients with T3 laryngeal carcinoma.
AB  - In a total of 511 patients with T3,N0-3,M0 laryngeal carcinoma, 24 possible
      prognostic factors were analyzed retrospectively. The factors were age, sex, mode
      of treatment, duration of several clinical symptoms, the presence of sore throat,
      otalgia, dyspnea, and dysphagia, previous tracheotomy, tumor extension, lymph
      node status (five items), histologic grading, smoking habits, and alcohol intake.
      For 300 patients in whom surgery was part of the primary treatment, pathologic
      staging of the primary tumor and of lymph nodes in neck dissection specimens,
      cartilage invasion, radicality of the operation, differentiation grade, and
      subglottic extension ware also evaluated. In a univariate analysis for the whole
      group, tumor extension (limited to the glottic region), lymph node status
      (clinically palpable lymph nodes, cytologically confirmed positive lymph nodes),
      level of lymph node metastasis (high and midjugular site), histologic grading
      (poor differentiation grade), and treatment modality (planned combined therapy)
      were considered to be prognostic factors of corrected actuarial survival. In the
      group that underwent surgery, all factors derived from specimens of the larynx
      and neck dissections had prognostic significance. Multivariate analysis revealed
      that the glottic site of the tumor, the presence of cyto- and histopathologically
      proven metastatic lymph nodes, pretreatment tracheotomy, positive resection
      margins, and planned combined treatment had a significant influence on corrected
      actuarial survival.

PMID- 1463126
TI  - Health Locus of Control in Chukotka children.
AB  - Two groups of children in the cities of Anadyr and Pevek in the Chukotka Region
      of the Soviet Far East were administered a Russian translation of the Children's
      Health Locus of Control Scale in July, 1991. Results were analyzed to assess the
      similarities between response patterns among the Russian children and those found
      in American children. The analyses revealed a consistency in the data suggesting
      both face and theoretical validity of the Scale. It appears that the underlying
      mediating variable related to the children's perceived control over their health
      is operating in this Region of Russia in much the same way that it does in the
      United States.

PMID- 1463127
TI  - Peripherally inserted central catheters--review and case reports.
AB  - Patients have been receiving intravenous therapies in their homes since the early
      1980s. Peripherally inserted central catheters have recently played a major part
      in the successful transition from hospital to home. These catheters are less
      invasive, have a lower overall infection rate and are less costly than other
      central venous catheters. This review and presentation of two case studies
      illustrates the advantages of this type of catheter for patients receiving home
      intravenous therapy.

PMID- 1463129
TI  - Explaining Alaska's Certificate of Need program.

PMID- 1463128
TI  - Health care in the workplace.

PMID- 1463130
TI  - A weekend with Joseph Lopiccolo, M.D.
AB  - There were many interesting issues discussed at the workshop and I will explore
      them more in-depth in later issues. For now, enjoy the transitions of the season
      and I'll be returning back to infertility in the next issue.

PMID- 1463131
TI  - Prescription medications--some important guidelines.

PMID- 1463132
TI  - Where is the drug problem?
AB  - This article traces the history of drug use from its earliest use to the present
      time. It treats alcohol and the "other drugs," but deals more with alcohol since
      this has been the major drug of use. It outlines the many problems associated
      with use and abuse, the legislation passed as an effort to control these and
      finally, the effect of the Uniform Alcoholism Act of 1970. This was followed by
      changing public attitudes toward alcohol and the development of many effective
      treatment programs, while the "other drug" problem remains unresolved in spite of
      a similar attempt through the Uniform Controlled Substances Act of 1970.

PMID- 1463133
TI  - Janice Kastella, M.D.

PMID- 1463134
TI  - Vaccination, the Tlingit, and a missionary's faith (1835-36).

PMID- 1463135
TI  - [Frontiers in surgery: nerve cell transplants].

PMID- 1463136
TI  - [Reflections on juvenile obesity].

PMID- 1463137
TI  - [Flow cytometry in pathological anatomy].

PMID- 1463138
TI  - [Drug surveillance: the concept, the need and methods].

PMID- 1463139
TI  - [An infrequent form of lithiasis (renal milk of calcium or renal oolitic
      gravel)].

PMID- 1463140
TI  - [Electromagnetic radiation and health].

PMID- 1463141
TI  - [Obesity: a physiopathological update].

PMID- 1463142
TI  - [Epidemiology of rabies as a current problem].

PMID- 1463143
TI  - [Current trends in the medical treatment of solid tumors].

PMID- 1463144
TI  - [Epidemiological aspects of viral hepatitis: immunogenicity of hepatitis B
      vaccine administered to children and adolescents].

PMID- 1463146
TI  - [Requiem for general pathology?].

PMID- 1463145
TI  - [Hepatitis B in health personnel: vaccination campaign].

PMID- 1463147
TI  - [Gabriel Miro in front of death: from rebellion to resignation].

PMID- 1463148
TI  - [Rapid destructive arthropathy].

PMID- 1463149
TI  - [Methods of analysis of ethical problems in human clinical practice].

PMID- 1463150
TI  - [Oscillation and resonance in the central nervous system].

PMID- 1463151
TI  - [In memoriam of Antonio Gallego Fernandez].

PMID- 1463152
TI  - [Terrorism of energetics (the threat of electromagnetic fields)].

PMID- 1463153
TI  - [New aspects of funicular pathology].

PMID- 1463154
TI  - [Premedication in retrobulbar anesthesia. A blood gas analysis comparison of
      sublingual flunitrazepam and intravenous midazolam].
AB  - Benzodiazepines for sedation may decrease the PaO2, the arterial O2 saturation
      (SaO2), and the CO2 response more in the elderly than in the young. The purpose
      of this study was to assess changes in blood gases due to i.v. midazolam or
      sublingual flunitrazepam given as premedication in elderly patients for
      unilateral cataract surgery. METHODS. Fifty patients over 65 years of age with
      treated arterial hypertension and other co-existing diseases (ASA III-IV) were
      randomly assigned to have: (1) i.v. midazolam titrated until they became drowsy
      (17 patients; 2.85 +/- 0.84 mg [mean +/- SD]); (2) sublingual flunitrazepam (16
      patients; 0.005 mg/kg); or (3) no sedation (17 patients; controls). On entering
      the operating theatre, the radial artery was cannulated and the first blood gas
      analysis was obtained. The premedication was then given. At 5, 10, 20, and 30 min
      after premedication, before and 10 min after retrobulbar block, before operation,
      5 and 15 min after the beginning of the operation, 10 and 20 min after
      administration of 500 mg acetazolamide i.v. during the operation, and 10 and 20
      min after the operation additional arterial blood samples were analysed (a total
      of 15 measuring points). Pulse oximetry, invasive blood pressure, and ECG were
      continuously monitored. All patients received oxygen 3 l/min during the operation
      by nasal cannula. Differences between the three groups were analysed by Student's
      t-test or U-test and a P value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS. The
      patient demography, including duration of anaesthesia and operation, was similar
      in the three groups (Table 1). No significant differences were seen in heart
      rate, mean arterial pressure, PaO2, pulse-oximetric oxygen saturation (SpO2),
      base excess, or serum bicarbonate levels. The PaCO2 increased in patients after
      midazolam (P < 0.01) and flunitrazepam (P < 0.05) until the beginning of the
      operation compared with the control group (Fig. 3); 20 min after the operation
      there was still a significant difference between the midazolam group and the
      controls. SaO2 was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the midazolam group 10 and
      20 min after administration of premedication compared with the control group, but
      was within physiological limits (Fig. 5). Despite titration, 2 patients had
      severe respiratory insufficiency 3 min after midazolam: the SpO2 decreased below
      85% and the paO2 below 55 mmHg. The paCO2 was higher (P < 0.05) in the midazolam
      group 10 min after acetazolamide compared with the controls. CONCLUSIONS. The
      results of the study show the potential hazards of i.v. midazolam in the elderly.
      If sedation is required for cataract surgery under local anaesthesia, we
      recommend sublingual flunitrazepam or the use of benzodiazepines with lower
      hypnogenic effects in the elderly. A thorough preoperative discussion of
      anaesthesia and the operation might be an adequate substitute for any
      premedication in high-risk patients; the best blood gas analysis results were
      obtained in the control group.

PMID- 1463155
TI  - [Suppression of the adrenal cortex by enoximone. A proband study with
      documentation of the hemodynamic course].
AB  - In contrast to the bipyridine derivatives amrinone and milrinone, the
      phosphodiesterase III/IV inhibitor enoximone is an imidazolone that creates the
      possibility of inhibiting adrenal steroid synthesis, as has already been
      demonstrated for other imidazoles, e.g. ketoconazole and etomidate. To clarify
      this point we carried out a double-blind sequential study in seven healthy
      volunteers. METHODS. After obtaining the approval of the ethics committee and the
      written consent of the volunteers, 1.25 mg/kg enoximone or saline was infused
      intravenously over a period of 20 min using a randomized crossover design with an
      interval of at least 5 days between the two trials. Twenty minutes after
      administration of the drug, 250 micrograms ACTH was injected. Plasma cortisol was
      measured prior to stimulation of the adrenal cortex and 30, 60 and 120 min
      afterwards; levels of aldosterone and 11-desoxy-cortisol were determined after 60
      min. Standard radioimmunoassays were used. Haemodynamic parameters were measured
      non-invasively. RESULTS. In contrast to the placebo, enoximone resulted in a
      significant (P < 0.01) increase in the cardiac index (from 3.2 +/- 0.7 to 3.9 +/-
      0.9 l min-1 m-2) and heart rate (from 69 +/- 11 to 81 +/- 8 min-1) and a decrease
      in peripheral resistance (from 1120 +/- 202 to 894 +/- 183 dyn s cm-5); blood
      pressure fell only slightly. Following injection of ACTH there were significant
      increases in cortisol (from 63 +/- 29 to 274 +/- 58 micrograms/l), aldosterone
      (from 86 +/- 37 to 300 +/- 105 ng/l) (both P < 0.001) and 11-desoxycortisol (from
      5.3 +/- 1.2 to 9.8 +/- 4.6 micrograms/l; P < 0.05). There was no difference
      between enoximone and placebo at any time (P > 0.2). CONCLUSIONS. This study
      confirms the inodilation caused by enoximone. The normal response to ACTH rules
      out a direct inhibitory effect of a loading dose of 1.25 mg enoximone on the
      adrenal cortex. As the concentration of the major metabolite of enoximone, the
      sulphoxide, has been shown to surmount that of the parent drug after 40 min, this
      also holds true for the metabolite. We conclude that in contrast to etomidate,
      which causes a substantial reversible adrenal suppression after a single dose of
      0.2 mg/kg, enoximone 1.25 mg/kg did not interfere with corticosteroid synthesis
      or release. Taking into account the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of this
      inodilator, there is no reason to expect an inhibitory effect even after repeated
      dosage.

PMID- 1463156
TI  - [Subdural intra-arachnoid spread of local anesthetics. A complication of spinal
      anesthesia].
AB  - Accidental subdural injections and catheterisations are a complication of
      epidural and spinal anaesthesia. The incidence of subdural spread in
      myelographies is estimated to be over 10% by the spinal technique. With
      spinaloscopy in an anatomic human model, we analysed the puncture process and the
      influence of different needle types on the incidence of subdural injection. We
      compared 22-gauge Sprotte, Quincke, and 18-gauge Tuohy needles in median and
      paramedian approaches with various bevel orientations. METHOD. The studies were
      performed in a preserved and recently expired cadaver donated to the Institut fur
      Anatomie, Westfalische Wilhelms-Universitat, Munster. The spinal column from T12
      to S1, together with the back musculature (in order to preserve the normal
      curvature of the spine), were removed from the cadaver. Spinaloscopy was
      performed with a 4-mm endoscope with a 0 degree optic (Storz, Tuttlingen,
      Germany). All observations were made in the lumbosacral region of the dissected
      preparation. The endoscope was inserted from the caudal end of the spinal canal
      and, depending on the observations being made, the spinal canal was filled with
      air or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). To obtain information on the
      distribution of local anaesthetics injected into the subarachnoid space, 0.5%
      bupivacaine was coloured with a small amount of 1% methylene blue. The
      distribution of the coloured anaesthetic was clearly visible during and after
      injection. RESULTS. Needle insertion: Multiple observations were made using
      median or paramedian advancement of the needle into the spinal canal. With all
      needles, including the pencil-point, we saw an unexpected inward movement of the
      dura to the epidural space before penetration. This dural movement was
      independent of the direction of the dural fibres in the lumbar area. Distribution
      of local anaesthetics: Our observations indicate that difficulty with injecting
      drugs occurred when needle insertion was stopped too close to the dura,
      especially with the Sprotte needle. After manually registered penetration of the
      dura, the lateral opening of the needle only partially penetrates the dura. This
      allows CSF to appear in the needle hub, and injection into the vertical subdural
      space is possible. In all cases with the Sprotte needle, we could reproduce
      deposition of methylene-blue-coloured local anaesthetics into the subdural space.
      With the Quincke and Thuohy needles, it was not possible to deposit local
      anaesthetics into the subdural space in this model. CONCLUSION. Spinaloscopy was
      done in a non-fixated anatomic preparation of a spinal column with a 4-mm, 0
      degree endoscope. From these observations we conclude that both manually
      registered penetration of the dural and the appearance of CSF in the needle hub
      can mimic correct needle position. Especially with the lateral opening of the
      Sprotte needle, deposition of local anaesthetics in the subdural space is
      possible.

PMID- 1463157
TI  - [Intrathecal morphine for postoperative pain].
AB  - At the beginning, the way intrathecal morphine was used for postoperative pain
      relief was quite unfortunate, because the doses derived from experience with
      morphine-tolerant cancer patients were considerably too high and respiratory
      depression occurred frequently. Subsequent dose-finding studies showed that the
      doses of morphine used initially could be reduced by a factor of ten without loss
      of the analgesic effect and with a marked reduction in side-effects. No
      respiratory depression has been reported when doses below 0.1 mg morphine are
      used. METHOD. In this prospective study the effect of 0.06 to 0.08 mg intrathecal
      morphine, mixed with the local anaesthetic for spinal anesthesia, was
      investigated in surgical patients aged 21 to 81 years, ASA grade I or II,
      scheduled for orthopaedic operations or herniorraphies. Thirty unpremedicated
      patients were enrolled in the study and were, after informed consent, randomly
      allocated to a control group without morphine or to a morphine group. The
      analgesic effect was assessed by the time interval between the administration of
      the spinal anaesthesia and the first demand for an analgesic medication. The mood
      state was evaluated with the adjective checklist of Janke and Debus 6 h after the
      spinal anaesthesia. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. In the control group half of the
      patients asked for an analgesic medication within 275 min (median) after the
      spinal anaesthesia, and all patients within 420 min, whereas in the morphine
      group half of the patients asked for an analgesic within 1170 min (median). Seven
      patients had not required an analgesic at the termination of the observation
      period 20 h after the spinal anaesthesia. The mood status showed no difference
      between the two groups, in particular, no dizziness or drowsiness after morphine.
      There was no difference in the incidence of side-effects such as nausea or
      urinary retention between the two groups. Pruritus was not reported spontaneously
      but was found upon questioning in five patients. It was in no case disturbing.
      CONCLUSIONS. Morphine (0.06 to 0.08 mg) mixed with the local anaesthetic for
      spinal anaesthesia provided for an analgesia of more than 20 h duration in half
      of the patients. This technique is safe, simple, reliable and virtually free of
      side-effects. No particular supervision due to the administration of intrathecal
      morphine is necessary in this dose range if systemic opiates are avoided. If the
      analgesia is unsatisfactory, a non-opioid analgesic is recommended.

PMID- 1463158
TI  - [Registration and analysis of airway pressure and gas flow in ventilated
      patients. The "Hyper-DAQ Respiration Mechanics Recorder"].
AB  - Respiratory data monitored in ventilated patients commonly consists of monitoring
      some inspiratory and expiratory pressures and volumes. For a more sophisticated
      analysis of respiratory mechanics in ventilated patients, a combined hardware and
      software system is presented that allows for continuous monitoring of airway
      pressure and gas flow. Gas flow is measured using a pneumotach. The "Hyper-DAQ"
      is an 8-channel 12-bit analog to a digital converter that can be connected to IBM
      PCs as well as to Macintosh computers using a standard RS 232 link. A special
      module consisting of three pressure transducers (airway pressure, differential
      pressure for a Fleisch head and ambient pressure) and five additional analog
      inputs is used for recording respiratory data. Once set up, the Hyper-DAQ records
      all the data in real time, independently of the host system that can query the
      data via the RS 232 link. The software runs on IBM and compatible PCs, as well as
      on Macintosh computers. The software simulates a strip-chart recorder and can be
      controlled by the keyboard and the mouse. We developed special software for the
      calibration of pressure and flow. Using models of the gas distribution in the
      lung compliance, resistance and lung time constants can be calculated from the
      raw data. For special purposes the data can be transferred to spread-sheet
      software. A mainstream CO2-detector connected to one of the additional analog
      inputs allows for additional data: alveolar ventilation, series deadspace, etc.
      The system presented can be recommended in routine work as well as for scientific
      studies in ventilated patients.

PMID- 1463159
TI  - [Vigilance disorders in intensive care patients. The central anticholinergic
      syndrome as a differential diagnosis of a brain stem lesion].
AB  - Four days after implantation of a biventricular assist device (Berlin heart) the
      39-year-old patient showed a sudden loss of vigilance and tetraplegia. Clinical
      skills and neurophysiological states indicated a serious lesion of the brain
      stem. After a test application of Physostigmine 2 days later, the neurological
      deficits improved dramatically. The case demonstrates that neurological deficits
      can also be caused by or combined with an acute anticholinergic syndrome. The
      application of Physostigmine allows disorders caused by brain lesions to be
      differentiated from transitory syndromes.

PMID- 1463160
TI  - [Acute jugular engorgement in liver transplantation].
AB  - A 56-year-old patient with chronic liver failure underwent liver transplantation;
      a Denver shunt had been placed 6 months previously. Following an initially
      uneventful operative course, during fashioning of the proximal caval anastomosis
      in the anhepatic phase, the patient developed very marked jugular engorgement.
      The central venous pressure rose to 45 mmHg and this lasted some 15 min. With the
      opening of the venous anastomosis and placement of the liver in its anatomical
      site, the central venous pressure returned to normal values once again. It can be
      concluded that during fashioning of the anastomosis, both the right atrium and
      distal superior vena cava were obstructed. While normally not haemodynamically
      significant, in this case, however, the superior vena cava became more narrow by
      the routinely placed venous lines and the Denver shunt. This in turn, gave rise
      to this particular clinical manifestation.

PMID- 1463161
TI  - [Paravasal infusion over the proximal lumen of a Swan-Ganz catheter].
AB  - In a severe traumatized patient (34 years old, 182 cm tall, 90 kg body wt.), we
      inserted a Swan-Ganz catheter (110 cm, 5 lumina, Modell 93A-831-7.5F, Baxter
      Healthcare) via the right internal jugular vein. Infusion was started using the
      proximal lumen. Several hours later we observed a large swelling on the right
      side of the neck and the supraclavicular region due to paravasal fluid
      administration while recording normal pulmonary artery and wedge pressure curves.
      The reasons and consequences are discussed.

PMID- 1463162
TI  - [Comments on the paper by N. Bang-Vojdanovski. Intrathecal opiate-spinal
      anesthesia. Clinical results of a 1-year study using 0.0375-0.15 mg morphine].

PMID- 1463163
TI  - [Anesthesia in neuromuscular diseases].

PMID- 1463164
TI  - Magill's endobronchial tubes.

PMID- 1463165
TI  - A Letter from the Editor.

PMID- 1463166
TI  - Complications of continuous spinal anaesthesia.
AB  - The practice of continuous spinal anaesthesia dates back to the beginning of the
      century. The history of the technique, and the problems which accompanied each
      method used, are reviewed. Complications encountered in current practice include
      post dural puncture headache; technical difficulties with insertion and removal
      of catheters; and a higher potential for nerve trauma, neurotoxicity, and method
      failure than seen with single-shot spinal anaesthesia. The question of the place
      of the technique in modern anaesthesia is addressed.

PMID- 1463167
TI  - Anaesthesia and breast-feeding--the effect on mother and infant.
AB  - In this paper, we summarise the physiology of lactation and discuss the
      pathophysiology brought about by fasting, stress and anaesthetic drugs. Drug
      secretion into breast milk and subsequent absorption by the infant is considered.
      Maternal hydration must be well maintained with intravenous fluids, allowing an
      added 500 to 1000 ml for daily fluid loss in lactation. Maternal premedication,
      general anaesthesia and routine postoperative analgesics are also discussed as to
      the effects on the breast-fed infant. Drug side-effects may be avoided by timing
      breast feeding just before the next due dose. Sedatives with long half-lives
      should not be used. Endocrine and metabolic responses to anaesthesia and surgery
      are less with regional anaesthesia than with general, hence regional anaesthesia
      is preferred where it is a reasonable alternative technique.

PMID- 1463168
TI  - Vasopressor therapy in cardiac resuscitation.
AB  - The standard 0.5 to 1.0 mg dose of adrenaline used in cardiac resuscitation may
      be inadequate on the basis of theoretical and experimental evidence. Well
      designed clinical trials are indicated to test the hypothesis that higher doses
      of adrenaline could be more effective in specific subgroups of people
      experiencing cardiac arrest. The success in resuscitation is related to the
      aortic diastolic pressure and the effectiveness of adrenaline relates to its
      peripheral vasopressor effect. Other catecholamines such as noradrenaline may be
      more efficacious, as could be non-adrenergic vasopressors. Clinical studies are
      required, however, to evaluate these potential alternatives.

PMID- 1463169
TI  - Mortality prediction in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: potential
      criteria for ECMO.
AB  - Over the last ten years the survival of infants born with congenital
      diaphragmatic hernia who reach the Intensive Care Unit of the Royal Children's
      Hospital, Melbourne has been constant at 56 +/- 6%. Experimental therapies such
      as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, high-frequency oscillation and lung
      transplantation are now being considered as therapeutic options, and as such the
      ability to predict survival or death of these infants is increasingly important.
      The records of all infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia admitted to the
      Intensive Care Unit between 1 January 1980 and 30 April 1989 were reviewed; blood
      gas, ventilatory details, and outcome information was obtained. Receiver
      operating curve analysis was used to determine the best predictor of death. An
      oxygenation index (MAP x FiO2/PaO2) > 0.3 or ventilation index (PIP x RR x
      CO2/1000) > 70 predicted a 94% mortality with a specificity of 96% and a
      sensitivity of 82%.

PMID- 1463170
TI  - High-volume spinal anaesthesia. A dose-response study of bupivacaine 0.125%.
AB  - The clinical effects of high-volume spinal anaesthesia with bupivacaine 0.125%
      were studied in 30 patients presenting for postpartum sterilisation. Group A, B
      and C patients received 6, 8 and 10 ml of bupivacaine 0.125% respectively. Onset,
      duration and regression of sensory block and motor blockade, haemodynamic
      parameters and postoperative complications were studied. A sensory level of T10
      was reliably obtained in Group B and C but not in Group A. Similarly motor
      blockade was unreliable in Group A compared with Group B (P < 0.05) and Group C
      (P < 0.05). Two segment regression times were similar in all three groups. L1
      regression times were 47.9, 94.3 and 99.0 minutes in Groups A, B and C
      respectively. The corresponding times for complete recovery of motor power were
      120, 212.3 and 182.7 minutes respectively (P < 0.01 when Group A compared to B
      and C). A significant incidence of high spinal anaesthesia occurred when 10 ml
      bupivacaine 0.125% was administered (P < 0.05 when compared with Group A). No
      patient experienced respiratory discomfort in spite of sensory levels of up to
      T1. Hypotension responded readily to intravenous fluids and small doses of
      ephedrine (three patients). Only one patient (Group A) developed a postdural
      puncture headache. In this study, high-volume spinal anaesthesia with bupivacaine
      0.125% was found to be satisfactory for postpartum tubal ligation. The optimal
      volume of bupivacaine 0.125% was 8 ml.

PMID- 1463171
TI  - Use of warm local anaesthetic solution for caudal blocks.
AB  - A double-blind study was undertaken to investigate the effect of prewarmed local
      anaesthetic solution on the latency of onset of caudal blocks. Forty-four (ASA I
      II) patients were allocated into two equal groups. In Group A, the local
      anaesthetic solutions were injected at room temperature (25 degrees C), while in
      Group B, they were injected at 37 degrees C. All the caudal blocks were performed
      using 20 ml of lignocaine 1.5% with adrenaline 1:200,000. The speed of onset of
      perianal analgesia was found to be significantly faster (39%) with the prewarmed
      local anaesthetic solution (P < 0.05). No adverse effects were observed.

PMID- 1463172
TI  - Oxygen dissociation curve in the adult respiratory distress syndrome.
AB  - The oxygen tension for half saturation (P50) was determined for venous blood in
      thirteen patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome undergoing
      intensive therapy. The mean value for P50 was found to be significantly lower
      than the value found in ten normal control subjects (22.9 mmHg and 26.7 mmHg
      respectively; t = 3.03, P < 0.01). The extent of reduction in P50 was not related
      to serum phosphate level nor was it a predictor of short-term outcome. It is
      unlikely that the slight left-shifted oxygen-haemoglobin dissociation curve
      contributes in a major way to an oxygen delivery deficiency and its cause is
      unexplained.

PMID- 1463173
TI  - Derived oxygen saturations are not clinically useful for the calculation of
      oxygen consumption.
AB  - In critically ill patients, oxygen consumption (VO2) and delivery (DO2) are used
      to determine optimal haemodynamic management and to grade severity of illness.
      VO2 may be measured by indirect calorimetry with metabolic gas monitoring systems
      or derived using the reverse Fick principle. Oxygen saturation (SaO2) may be
      measured directly by co-oximetry or derived by equations for incorporation into
      reverse Fick equations. A prospective study comparing VO2 measured by these
      methods was performed in 20 critically ill patients. The mean VO2 measured by the
      metabolic gas monitoring system (308 +/- 63.9 ml/min) was significantly greater
      than that measured by reverse Fick using measured SaO2 (284 +/- 72.0 ml/min) (P <
      0.01). This difference may be due to intrapulmonary VO2. When SaO2 was calculated
      from three logarithmic equations and incorporated into the reverse Fick
      equations, calculated VO2's were significantly greater (P < 0.001) than those
      measured by indirect calorimetry. Correlation was poor and wide limits of
      agreement (-118 to +350 ml/min) were demonstrated. VO2 should ideally be measured
      by indirect calorimetry in the critically ill, or if reverse Fick is used, SaO2
      should be measured by co-oximetry as the use of equations for clinical
      measurement of SaO2 is clinically suspect.

PMID- 1463174
TI  - Fibreoptic bronchoscopy in the critically ill: a prospective study of its
      diagnostic and therapeutic value.
AB  - AIM: A prospective study was undertaken to assess the diagnostic value and
      therapeutic usefulness of fibreoptic bronchoscopy in the critically ill. METHOD:
      Fifty-six bronchoscopies were performed in fifty patients. Biochemical,
      radiological, microbiological and clinical assessments were made before and after
      each procedure. RESULTS: Eighteen fibreoptic bronchoscopies were performed for
      therapeutic indications (32.1%) of which ten (55.6%) yielded a useful outcome.
      Thirty-eight bronchoscopies were for diagnostic purposes (67.8%) of which 22
      (57.9%) were clinically useful. Broncho-alveolar lavage was performed in twenty
      eight cases (50%) and it led to a clinically useful diagnosis in 17 (60.7%).
      There was no major complication. A subgroup of patients was defined (persistent
      left lower lobe collapse or consolidation following thoracic or abdominal
      surgery) in whom fibreoptic bronchoscopy usually did not yield a useful outcome.
      CONCLUSION: The use of fibreoptic bronchoscopy in the Intensive Care Unit, in
      combination with the technique of broncho-alveolar lavage, results in a
      clinically useful outcome in the majority of cases. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy is an
      effective and safe diagnostic and therapeutic tool in critically ill patients.

PMID- 1463175
TI  - Septic shock: does adrenaline have a role as a first-line inotropic agent?
AB  - Fifteen adult patients, admitted to Baragwanath Hospital ICU with septic shock
      after adequate fluid loading and on no other inotropic agents, were given
      adrenaline in incremental doses. Oxygen transport and haemodynamic variables were
      monitored with each dose increment until a systolic blood pressure of 120 mmHg
      was obtained. This was reached on an average dose of adrenaline of 0.16 +/- 0.02
      micrograms/kg/min. Mean arterial blood pressure increased by 22 +/- 2 mmHg mainly
      due to an increase in cardiac index (1 +/- 0.2 l/min/m2) and systemic vascular
      resistance index (130 +/- 41 dyn.s.cm.-5m-2) with a small increase in heart rate
      of 8 +/- 3 beats per minute. Oxygen delivery was increased with no significant
      increase in oxygen consumption and lactate levels increased. Adrenaline is
      therefore an effective initial inotropic agent. Patients may respond to lower
      doses than when used concurrently with other inotropic agents but there was still
      a significant dose variation in response. We cannot, however, exclude a
      deleterious effect on oxygen utilization.

PMID- 1463176
TI  - Total intravenous anaesthesia versus inhalational anaesthesia for dental day
      surgery.
AB  - Fifty young healthy and unpremedicated patients scheduled for removal of impacted
      teeth were randomly allocated to receive either total intravenous anaesthesia
      with propofol or conventional thiopentone/isoflurane/nitrous oxide anaesthesia. A
      double-blind postoperative assessment showed the former group to have a shorter
      reversal time and faster recovery of faculties, i.e. speech, memory as well as
      ability to sit up and walk without assistance (P < 0.01). There was no incidence
      of hypotension and of awareness in either group. The incidence of headache,
      nausea and vomiting was higher in the thiopentone/isoflurane/nitrous oxide group.

PMID- 1463177
TI  - Propofol induction for laryngeal mask airway insertion: dose requirement and
      cardiorespiratory effects.
AB  - The dosage, haemodynamic and respiratory effects of propofol for laryngeal mask
      airway (LMA) insertion were investigated. Fifty patients (ASA I-II) were randomly
      assigned one of four induction doses of propofol (1.5-2.5 mg/kg) delivered over
      30 seconds and the first attempt at LMA insertion was made at 90 seconds. The LMA
      was inserted at 90 seconds in 35 patients and by 300 seconds in 13 others (mean
      plasma concentration at 90 seconds was 7.7 mcg/ml (no delay) versus 5.2 mcg/ml
      (insertion delayed), P < 0.01). Insertion was less successful after 1.5 mcg/kg
      (failed at 90 seconds in 6 of 12 patients), but did not vary with the other
      doses. Additional propofol (0.5 mg/kg/30s) was required in 22 patients for LMA
      insertion or to prevent movement, resulting in propofol concentrations at 120-180
      seconds above 7 mcg/ml. Respiratory effects were minor, but MAP decreased by 18
      +/- 1.4 mmHg at 90 seconds. Cardiovascular effects did not differ significantly
      between dosage groups or with the use of additional propofol.

PMID- 1463178
TI  - The incidence of bacteraemia following laryngeal mask insertion.
AB  - The incidence of bacteraemia following insertion of the laryngeal mask airway
      (LMA) was investigated in one hundred fit patients. Four cultures were positive:
      three represented contamination with skin flora; the other was a microaerophilic
      streptococcus grown from an anaerobic culture bottle. Although this organism can
      be pathogenic, it may also represent contamination. Our findings suggest that
      significant bacteraemia on insertion of the LMA is uncommon and is probably no
      more than with oral intubation. Antibiotic prophylaxis is of doubtful benefit in
      these circumstances.

PMID- 1463179
TI  - The effect of epidural blockade on postoperative hypercoagulability following
      abdominal aortic bypass surgery.
AB  - The effect of epidural blockade on postoperative hypercoagulability was assessed
      in patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic bypass surgery. Twenty patients
      were randomised to receive general anaesthesia alone, or general anaesthesia plus
      thoracic epidural blockade with 0.5% bupivacaine. It was found that the addition
      of epidural blockade did not alter the postoperative increase in plasma
      fibrinogen, factor VIII coagulant, or alpha 1-antitrypsin. Similarly, epidural
      blockade did not affect the postoperative decrease in antithrombin III. The
      results suggest that epidural blockade with local anaesthetic agents does not
      prevent the postoperative hypercoagulability response following abdominal aortic
      bypass surgery.

PMID- 1463180
TI  - Anaesthetic experience with cryotherapy for treatment of hepatic malignancy.
AB  - Hepatic cryotherapy is a relatively new technique, currently employed in the
      treatment of unresectable liver malignancy, which involves direct freezing of
      tumour deposits with liquid nitrogen. In a review of 26 patients undergoing this
      procedure, the anaesthetic considerations are defined. The total operation time
      ranged from 133 to 410 minutes. In spite of preventative measures, varying
      degrees of hypothermia occurred (range 33.7 degrees C to 36.5 degrees C), but no
      sequelae were encountered. Mean blood loss was 926 ml, and eleven patients
      required blood transfusion of between one and five units. There was a marked drop
      in platelet count associated with cryotherapy (mean fall of 123,000/mm3 by the
      second postoperative day). Following the procedure, fever and basal pulmonary
      atelectasis were common, while hypoglycaemia and renal impairment occurred on
      single occasions. Six patients underwent postoperative mechanical ventilation.
      Despite this, the mean hospital stay was under seven days.

PMID- 1463181
TI  - A clinical evaluation of the Hemocue haemoglobinometer using capillary, venous
      and arterial samples.
AB  - The 'Hemocue' device for rapid estimation of haemoglobin concentration was
      evaluated in a clinical setting. Repeatable accuracy of capillary, venous and
      arterial samples was examined and then compared with standard laboratory venous
      haemoglobin estimates using a 'Coulter JT' analyser in 42 patients. The mean
      values for haemoglobin (g/l) and coefficient of variation were capillary 108.2
      (8.0); venous 104.9 (2.2); arterial 105.9 (2.0); and laboratory venous 104.6
      (1.3). Although the mean haemoglobin values were similar, capillary samples were
      significantly less repeatable than venous or arterial samples (Pitman test, P <
      0.001). Comparison of variance between the laboratory sample and each sampling
      technique demonstrated that capillary samples were significantly more variable
      than venous or arterial samples. Peripheral skin temperature did not influence
      the accuracy of capillary samples. Hemocue estimations of venous samples were
      found to be as accurate as laboratory estimations. The lack of repeatable
      accuracy of capillary estimations was sufficiently large that their use cannot be
      recommended in clinical practice.

PMID- 1463182
TI  - Fault in a Selectatec manifold resulting in awareness.
AB  - The Selectatec Vaporising System is a quick change system consisting of
      anaesthetic vaporisers of the Tec 3 and Tec 4 models and the compatibility
      manifold block on which these are seated on the anaesthetic machine backbar.
      There have been reports of difficulties with the seating and locking of the
      vaporisers which can cause a leak and failure of vapour delivery. The Faculty of
      Anaesthetists, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (now Australian and New
      Zealand College of Anaesthetists) issued a hazard alert in March 1991 drawing
      attention to this potential fault. We present two cases of awareness associated
      with failure of internal seals within a Selectatec compatibility manifold block
      which did not have a detectable leak.

PMID- 1463183
TI  - Ondansetron: indications and applications in the paediatric intensive care unit.

PMID- 1463184
TI  - Diltiazem overdose in an elderly patient: efficacy of adrenaline.

PMID- 1463185
TI  - Bilateral phrenic nerve palsy following cardiac surgery in a diabetic patient.

PMID- 1463186
TI  - Extensive central neural blockade following interscalene brachial plexus
      blockade.

PMID- 1463187
TI  - Accidental intra-arterial flucloxacillin: management using guanethidine.

PMID- 1463188
TI  - The laryngeal mask in the management of a paediatric difficult airway.

PMID- 1463190
TI  - Transcutaneous cardiac pacing for asystole during permanent pacemaker lead
      repositioning.

PMID- 1463189
TI  - Prolonged malignant hyperthermia in the absence of triggering agents.

PMID- 1463191
TI  - Acute cord prolapse in an obstetric patient with myotonia dystrophica.

PMID- 1463192
TI  - The Selectatec system: another cause of total leakage.

PMID- 1463193
TI  - CO2 sensor design fault.

PMID- 1463194
TI  - Lignocaine suppositories for migraine.

PMID- 1463195
TI  - Aspiration and the laryngeal mask airway--a survey of Australian intensive care
      units.

PMID- 1463196
TI  - Laryngoscopy through the LMA--a useful skill to acquire.

PMID- 1463197
TI  - Positioning endotracheal tubes.

PMID- 1463198
TI  - Tube in the trachea?

PMID- 1463199
TI  - Positioning double-lumen tubes.

PMID- 1463200
TI  - Endobronchial intubation during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

PMID- 1463201
TI  - Anaesthetic problems during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

PMID- 1463202
TI  - Beta-blockade or magnesium in organophosphorus insecticide poisoning (OPIP)

PMID- 1463203
TI  - Misplaced subclavian line.

PMID- 1463204
TI  - Dantrolene sharing.

PMID- 1463205
TI  - Cessation of smoking following tape suggestion under anaesthesia.

PMID- 1463206
TI  - Hospital admission from a day surgery unit.

PMID- 1463207
TI  - Day surgery admissions.

PMID- 1463208
TI  - Cardiac output alters uptake of inhaled anaesthetics.

PMID- 1463209
TI  - Peribulbar anaesthesia for intraocular surgery.

PMID- 1463210
TI  - Fit with finger block.

PMID- 1463211
TI  - Environmental analytical chemistry: a continuing frontier.

PMID- 1463212
TI  - Environmental carcinogens: in vivo monitoring using GC/MS.

PMID- 1463213
TI  - Elimination of electrooxidizable interferant-produced currents in amperometric
      biosensors.
AB  - Electrooxidizable ascorbate, urate, and acetaminophen that interfere with
      amperometric glucose assays are completely and rapidly oxidized by hydrogen
      peroxide in a multilayer electrode. The multilayer electrode is composed of an
      immobilized, but not electrically "wired", horseradish peroxidase (HRP) film
      coated onto a film of electrically "wired" glucose oxidase (GO). The "wired"
      enzyme is connected by a redox epoxy network to a vitreous carbon electrode. The
      current from the electrooxidizable interferants is decreased by their peroxidase
      catalyzed preoxidation by a factor of 2500, and the glucose/interferant current
      ratio is increased 10(3)-fold. Undesired electroreduction of hydrogen peroxide
      can result when HRP is also "wired" to the electrode. Such unwanted "wiring" is
      prevented by incorporating an electrically insulating barrier layer between the
      wired GO film and the HRP film. The hydrogen peroxide necessary for elimination
      of interferants can be added externally, or when this is not possible, it can be
      generated in situ by means of a coupled enzyme reaction.

PMID- 1463214
TI  - Influence of tyrosine on the dual electrode electrochemical detection of
      copper(II)-peptide complexes.
AB  - The bluret reaction makes peptides electrochemically active. This is the basis of
      an electrochemical method for the detection of peptides following their liquid
      chromatographic separation. This paper discusses the influence of tyrosine, an
      electroactive amino acid, on the detection of Cu(II)-peptide (bluret) complexes
      containing it. The dual electrode detector has an upstream anode and a downstream
      cathode. Tyrosine-containing peptides yield anodic signals that are approximately
      the sum of the tyrosine signal and the signal from the bluret complex of a
      nonelectroactive model peptide, phenylalanylglycyl-glycine (FGG). The cathodic
      signal is depressed in comparison to FGG. This is traced to the presence of an
      intramolecular reaction between Cu(III) and a reaction product resulting from the
      oxidation of the tyrosinyl residue. The rate constant for the corresponding
      intermolecular reaction is significant (10(6)-10(7) M-1 s-1), but in practical
      analytical situations, the concentrations of the reactants will be small, so the
      reaction will not be a major factor. Sensitivities for several bioactive peptides
      are reported. The dependence of the signals on the position of tyrosine in a
      tripeptide is also studied.

PMID- 1463215
TI  - Determination of aluminum by chemical and instrumental neutron activation
      analysis in biological standard reference material and human brain tissue.
AB  - Since aluminum is an extremely difficult element to determine reliably in
      biological samples, no National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
      biological standard reference material for tissue has yet been certified for
      aluminum. A chemical neutron activation analysis procedure employing anion
      exchange chromatography was developed. The procedure proved successful in
      decontaminating radioactivatable sodium and chlorine and phosphorus which can
      produce aluminum via a fast neutron bombardment. For bovine liver (NIST SRM 1577
      a) a value of 2.1 +/- 0.2 micrograms of aluminum/g of sample was determined,
      comparing favorably to the uncertified value 2 micrograms/g sample. For freeze
      dried urine (NIST SRM 2670) a value of 0.18 +/- 0.01 micrograms of aluminum/mL of
      urine was observed. Its uncertified value is 0.18 micrograms of aluminum/mL of
      sample. Twenty three individual samples in three different human brains were
      analyzed for their aluminum content.

PMID- 1463216
TI  - Organized media for fluorescence analysis of complex samples: comparison of bile
      salt and conventional detergent micelles in coal liquids.
AB  - Accurate quantitative determinations are often difficult to obtain from
      fluorescence analysis of complex samples due to sample matrix effects and
      intermolecular interactions between solutes. Organized media can be used to
      minimize these unwanted processes without physical separation or extraction of
      the analytes from the sample matrix by isolating the analyte molecules in a
      uniform microenvironment within the sample. The advantages of bile salt micellar
      media over conventional detergent micelles are demonstrated for analysis of coal
      liquids. The bile salt media is shown to increase the sensitivity and dynamic
      range of fluorescence measurements relative to simple ethanolic solutions,
      without promoting gound-state and excited-state interactions that occur in the
      detergent micellar media.

PMID- 1463217
TI  - Integrated approach to surfactant environmental safety assessment: fast atom
      bombardment mass spectrometry and liquid scintillation counting to determine the
      mechanism and kinetics of surfactant biodegradation.
AB  - Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and liquid scintillation counting have
      been used to study the biodegradation of a novel cationic surfactant in live
      sludge. The rates of primary biodegradation and the extent of complete
      mineralization were determined. Furthermore, an intermediate degradation product
      was identified and its rates of formation and subsequent removal have been
      established. These data find utility in assessing the environmental safety of the
      surfactant and the accuracy of various environmental fate models.

PMID- 1463218
TI  - Fast atom bombardment tandem mass spectrometric identification of diacyl,
      alkylacyl, and alk-1-enylacyl molecular species of glycerophosphoethanolamine in
      human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
AB  - Fast atom bombardment ionization with tandem mass spectrometry of both positive
      and negative ions is a useful technique for the identification of intact
      glycerophosphoethanolamine (GPE) phospholipids, providing information as to polar
      head group and fatty acyl substituents. In the identification of GPE molecular
      species, positive ion neutral loss scanning for 141 units was attempted to
      confirm the presence of the phosphoethanolamine polar head group. This scan was
      found to discriminate against the abundant subclass of phospholipids having an 1
      O-alk-1'-enyl linkage, termed plasmalogens, as well as 1-O-alkyl ether species.
      The neutral loss process is suggested to involve attack of a carbonyl oxygen from
      either sn-1 or sn-2 on the sn-3 methylene carbon with loss of neutral
      phosphoethanolamine. Using FAB/MS/MS alone, it is not possible to differentiate
      between plasmalogens and other 1-O-alkyl ether molecular species having the same
      molecular weight. The combination of mild acid hydrolysis, which selectively
      hydrolyzes the labile 1-O-alk-1'-enyl bond, with subsequent FAB/MS/MS
      distinguished species of these distinct subclasses. Using these techniques and
      precursor ion scans for the arachidonoyl carboxylate anion, m/z 303, the
      arachidonic acid containing glycerophosphoethanolamine molecular species were
      identified and the relative abundance of arachidonoyl plasmalogen, alkylacyl, and
      1,2-diacyl GPE molecular species in the human polymorphonuclear leukocyte
      (neutrophil) was determined to be 75.4%, 12.1%, and 12.5%, respectively. These
      values were not significantly different from that reported in the literature
      using conventional methodology.

PMID- 1463219
TI  - Separation of closely related large peptides by micellar electrokinetic
      chromatography with organic modifiers.
AB  - Large peptides with similar electrophoretic mobilities were separated by micellar
      electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) with organic modifiers. [Leu13]motilin and
      [Met13]motilin differ by only one neutral amino acid residue. Because the
      electrophoretic mobilities of these peptides are almost identical, these peptides
      were not separated by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). Such large peptides
      have not been separated by conventional MEKC either, because they interacted
      strongly with the micelle. However, they were completely separated by MEKC when
      an organic solvent was added to the micellar solution. Some insulins, larger
      peptides than motilin, from different origins, which have very similar
      electrophoretic mobilities, were also successfully separated by the same
      technique. The size of peptides which were separated without organic modifiers
      was examined.

PMID- 1463220
TI  - Microtiter plate binding assay for cholinergic compounds utilizing the nicotinic
      acetylcholine receptor.
AB  - A receptor-based binding assay for the determination of cholinergic compounds of
      the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor has been developed. By conducting the assay
      in a 96-well microtiter plate, the method is suitable for large-scale screening
      in drug development. Solid-phase extraction of the enzyme label significantly
      simplifies the assay protocol compared to earlier methods. The assay is based on
      immobilization of biotin-BSA on the microtiter which takes up avidin-labeled
      peroxidase due to avidin-biotin interaction. To perform the assay, a ligand (the
      analyte) and a biotin alpha-bungarotoxin conjugate (alpha Bgt-biotin)
      sequentially bind to a vesicle bound nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. This is
      done either in a test tube, assay I, or in a biotinylated microtiter well, assay
      II. Avidin-HRP is then added to this mixture; free alpha Bgt-biotin conjugate and
      immobilized biotin-BSA compete for the avidin sites. After the assay solution has
      been aspirated off, bound enzyme activity is determined which is directly related
      to the amount of alpha Bgt-biotin added. Dose-response curves of cholinergic
      compounds and Scatchard plots were generated to evaluate the apparent binding
      constants. Kinetic studies were conducted for the purpose of optimization. The
      final assay can be performed in under 4 h with a minimum of sample handling.

PMID- 1463221
TI  - Chiral separation of leucovorin with bovine serum albumin using affinity
      capillary electrophoresis.
AB  - A method for the determination of the (6R)- and (6S)-stereoisomers of leucovorin
      using electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) in the affinity mode has been
      developed. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) is used as a run buffer additive to
      incorporate enantiomeric selectivity into the system. Protein-wall interactions
      are minimized by using a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) coated capillary. Chiral
      resolution is obtained in 12.5 min with efficiencies greater than 200,000
      theoretical plates using BSA as an additive, while no resolution is obtained in
      the absence of BSA. A general equation is derived to calculate the free energy of
      interaction between the leucovorin isomers and the BSA molecule. This method
      represents a new means of obtaining thermodynamic data for substrate binding
      interactions and for the general study of drug cross-reactions and interactions
      of drugs with serum and other proteins.

PMID- 1463222
TI  - Separation and identification of DNA-carcinogen adduct conformers by
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection.
AB  - We have developed a separation protocol utilizing high-resolution polyacrylamide
      gel electrophoresis (PAGE) to isolate stable anti-benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide
      adducts of oligodeoxynucleotides. Both enantiomers produced multiple adduct
      species. The distribution of adduct types could be quantitated by densitometry of
      autoradiograms or Cerenkov counting of eluted oligomers modified by anti-BPDE
      isomers. Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra of eluted adducts at 4.2 K
      (fluorescence line-narrowing spectroscopy) and 77 K revealed that bands
      corresponded to pure conformers of pyrene chromophore. Carcinogen-modified
      oligodeoxynucleotides were single-stranded, but there were often considerable
      stacking interactions between the pyrenyl residues and the oligonucleotide bases,
      indicating that electrophoresed oligomers were single-stranded but in a native,
      versus random coil, conformation. The ability to identify and quantitate adducts
      by PAGE-LIF, coupled with the high resolution and sensitivity of both techniques,
      makes PAGE and LIF in tandem a potentially powerful tool in the study of chemical
      carcinogenesis or other ligand-DNA interactions.

PMID- 1463223
TI  - Quantitative determination of native proteins in individual human erythrocytes by
      capillary zone electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection.
AB  - Intracellular fluid within single human erythrocytes is analyzed by capillary
      electrophoresis with laser-excited native protein fluorescence. Good signal-to
      noise is achieved, allowing even minor components to be quantified. Non-Gaussian
      distributions were found for total protein, fraction carbonic anhydrase, fraction
      hemoglobin A0, and an unidentified component. Variations among a group of 29
      cells for each quantity are as much as 1 order of magnitude, even though
      erythrocytes are known to be fairly homogeneous in size distribution. Variations
      in fraction hemoglobin A0 reflect differences in in vitro oxidation rates to
      methemoglobin. A positive correlation was observed between carbonic anhydrase and
      hemoglobin A0 for individual cells. This is consistent with the presence of
      erythrocytes of different ages within the population, with the older cells being
      less capable of maintaining enzyme activity and preventing oxidative damage.

PMID- 1463224
TI  - Secondary ion emission from solutions: time dependence and surface phenomena.
AB  - The temporal behavior of FAB mass spectra from glycerol solutions of
      tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C14H29-N(CH3)3Br, TTAB) and
      tetraethylammonium iodide (TEAI) was investigated. FAB spectra of the TTAB
      solution displayed a continuous decrease in TTA+ with time. Spectra obtained from
      the TEAI solution were initially invariant for several minutes and then displayed
      a gradual increase in the relative abundance of TEA+ to a maximum, followed by a
      precipitous drop in ion intensity. Secondary ion images of droplets of TTAB
      solution showed that emission of both TTA+ and glycerol secondary ions was
      homogeneous across the sample. Secondary ion images of droplets of TEAI solution
      showed heterogeneous and segregated emission of both TEA+ and protonated
      glycerol. Results from the FAB spectra and the secondary ion images were
      correlated and rationalized on the basis of surface tension-induced mass
      transport and matrix evaporation.

PMID- 1463225
TI  - [A comparison of the determination of cardiac output by the Fick method and by
      thermodilution during heart surgery].

PMID- 1463226
TI  - [The effect of the partial pressure of O2 in arterial blood on O2 consumption by
      patients during artificial circulation].

PMID- 1463227
TI  - [Practical aspects of cardioplegia].
AB  - Concentrations of the ingredients have been analysed in a nonstandard
      cardioplegia solution (CS) and CS from St. Thomas Hospital at the outset before
      CS introduction into the coronary vessels of patients under cardioplegia. It has
      been shown that the use of nonstandard CS was accompanied by undesirable
      variability in ingredient concentration, which to some extent may be accounted
      for by the use of incompletely unfrozen CS. The use of CS from St. Thomas
      Hospital could be accompanied by moderate hypermagnesiumemia, which did not lead
      to the onset of vascular insufficiency. It is stressed that plasma magnesium
      content should be controlled when this CS is used.

PMID- 1463228
TI  - [The effect of agonists and antagonists of opiate receptors on the activity of
      the kallikrein-kinin system in hemorrhagic shock].
AB  - Mean blood pressure and heart rate have been registered in the experiments on
      male Wistar rats. Kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) components have been evaluated in
      blood plasma: plasma kallikreinogen, kallikrein-inhibiting capacity, spontaneous
      esterase activity. The parameters were determined before and after hemorrhage in
      the volume accounting for 10, 20 and 30% of the circulating blood volume. The
      rats were administered enkephalin analogues--DAGO, DADL and naloxone. The
      administration of mu-agonist DAGO improved hemodynamics. DAGO effect was
      eliminated by naloxone. The administration of enkephalins did not affect KKS
      parameters, while naloxone potentiated KKS changes induced by hemorrhage. It has
      been shown that KKS is not involved into the mechanism of hemodynamic changes in
      response to enkephalin administration during hemorrhagic shock.

PMID- 1463229
TI  - [The use of ultra-high doses of insulin for the treatment of severe heart failure
      during cardiosurgical interventions].
AB  - The experience is reviewed on the use of superhigh insulin doses 1200 to 3800 U
      (31.4 +/- 5.3 U/kg) for the treatment of acute heart failure in 17 patients
      subjected to open heart surgery. Symptoms of heart failure refractory to
      catecholamines and vasodilators were accompanied by marked hyperglycemia (23.1 +/
      4.3 mmol/l). It was impossible to discontinue assisted circulation. In 82.3% of
      patients myocardial contractility upon insulin administration improved
      considerably, which led to discontinuation of assisted circulation with moderate
      inotropic support. Possible mechanisms ensuring the efficacy of massive insulin
      therapy in patients with acute heart failure are discussed.

PMID- 1463230
TI  - [The clinical picture of non-traumatic apallic syndrome].
AB  - Clinical signs of non-traumatic apallic syndrome (AS) are caused by universal
      necrosis of the brain cortex, with the brain stem remaining intact. The reasons
      of AS are heart and respiration arrest, stable collapses of various genesis,
      vascular brain diseases. Management was ineffective. Strict AS prevention is
      necessary, i.e. timely and expert cardiorespiratory resuscitation. Intensive care
      and cardiorespiratory resuscitation are not recommended in patients with vast
      brain infarction secondary to brain vascular diseases.

PMID- 1463231
TI  - [The clinical significance of studying central hemodynamics in patients during
      extracorporeal detoxification].

PMID- 1463232
TI  - [The role of humoral factors in the pathogenesis of the postoperative syndrome].
AB  - Blood plasma levels of "pain substances" (serotonin, histamine, prostaglandin F2
      alpha, adrenaline /A/) and neuropeptides (beta-endorphin, somatostatin) have been
      evaluated in 39 patients during the early postoperative period after lung and
      mediastinum surgery. The studies have shown that the content of these
      biologically active substances increases considerably. Following stellate
      ganglion blockade A concentration decreased significantly, the uptake of narcotic
      analgesics used for postoperative analgesia reduced 1.7-fold, however the levels
      of "pain substances" and neuropeptides remained unchanged. It is believed that
      postoperative pain syndrome develops due to the elevation of the levels of the
      substances under study. Stellate ganglion blockade produces only sympatholytic
      effect, which shows the necessity of the elaboration of drug therapeutic
      techniques blocking "pain" receptors and using "pain substance" antagonists.

PMID- 1463233
TI  - [Tracheobronchial obstruction and general anesthesia in patients with mediastinal
      tumors].

PMID- 1463234
TI  - [The status of indices of immunity and hemostasis in patients with lung cancer
      and their changes due to general anesthesia and surgical trauma].
AB  - Phagocytosis, some factors of humoral immunity and hemostasis have been studied
      in cancer patients before and after surgery. Suppression of natural body
      resistance in the preoperative period, as well as significant inhibition of
      leukocyte phagocytic activity following surgery and anesthesia have been
      established. A correlation has been suggested between hemostasis damages in the
      postoperative period and an elevated IgM concentration.

PMID- 1463235
TI  - [The use of fatty emulsions in the postoperative period in cardiosurgical
      patients with kidney failure].
AB  - The data are presented on the use of fatty emulsions for parenteral nutrition of
      68 cardiosurgical patients with renal failure in the postoperative period. It has
      been established that intravenous administration of fatty emulsions ensures up to
      50% of an overall daily calories uptake, with the infusate volume restricted
      considerably, helps stabilize energy and nitrogen body balance and reduces the
      risk of complications associated with hyperosmolality and hyperglycemia.

PMID- 1463236
TI  - [The status of intracellular metabolism during intensive therapy of severe
      surgical endotoxicosis].
AB  - Introduction of separation plasmapheresis and plasmasorption into intensive
      therapy of 60 patients with surgical endotoxemia ensured marked detoxication,
      which manifested in earlier improvement of the clinical symptoms and
      normalization of intracellular metabolism in cellular elements of the peripheral
      blood. The data obtained make it possible to recommend the use of the above
      treatment procedures for elimination of profound intracellular metabolic
      disturbances in the postoperative period.

PMID- 1463237
TI  - [A comparative evaluation of the efficacy of the traditional combination of high
      frequency and intermittent high-frequency artificial ventilation of the lungs in
      patients with parenchymatous acute respiratory insufficiency].
AB  - Conventional controlled lung ventilation (CLV) with positive end expiratory
      pressure (PEEP) (Con CLV), combined high-frequency CLV (Com HF CLV) and
      intermittent high-frequency CLV with PEEP (Int HF CLV) have been performed in 43
      patients with parenchymatous acute respiratory failure (ARF). It has been
      established that Int HF CLV significantly increases PaO2 in patients with focal
      damages of the lung parenchyma and effective compliance (Ceff) > 0.033 l/cm H2O.
      Com HF CLV increases significantly PaO2 and lung compliance in patients with
      disseminated lung damages and Ceff < 0.030 l/cm H2O and has marked consequences.
      Different efficacy of various types of HF CLV under study may be to some extent
      accounted for by different intraalveolar maximum pressure, which (as it has been
      shown on the lung model) is higher in Com HF CLV and lower in Con CLV and Int HF
      CLV.

PMID- 1463238
TI  - [Auxiliary extracorporeal and hyperbaric oxygenation in the combination treatment
      of severe exotoxic shock].
AB  - Extracorporeal blood oxygenation makes it possible to stabilize blood
      circulation, improve gas exchange in severe exotoxic shock, perform blood
      replacement with small volume of donor blood and continue etio-pathogenetic
      treatment of patients with severe poisoning with acetic essence and methemoglobin
      forming poisons. Hyperbaric oxygenation in the early postperfusion period
      decreases oxygen debt, improves intravenous glucose utilization, providing
      adequate energy supply. Extracorporeal and hyperbaric oxygenation added to the
      therapeutic complex improves by half the clinical efficacy of resuscitation and
      intensive care.

PMID- 1463239
TI  - [The effect of hemosorbents on the structure of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in
      man].
AB  - The effect of various hemosorbents (HS)--carbon and textile--on the structure of
      neutrophils has been studied in vitro. It has been shown that the mechanism of
      cell degranulation is universal on various HS and does not depend on the
      anticoagulant used or on blood donor diseases. The degree of degranulation both
      for primary and for secondary granules increases with the prolongation of blood
      contact with HS, directly depends on HS--blood ratio and is determined mainly by
      the type of HS: degranulation on textile HS is considerably greater than that on
      carbon HS. Degranulation was confirmed by elevated blood plasma concentration of
      lactoferrin, a specific marker of secondary neutrophil granules. It is suggested
      that cell degranulation on HS leading to a considerable posthemosorption increase
      in the blood plasma level of biologically active intracellular components is
      essential in the process responsible for correcting hemosorption effect in
      different diseases.

PMID- 1463240
TI  - [General anesthesia during surgery of breast cancer].
AB  - In 1982-1989 intravenous anesthesia was performed to 1160 patients operated on
      for breast cancer. Intravenous analgesia has a number of advantages over
      endotracheal anesthesia. The analgesic techniques have been compared. Absence of
      complications in the operative and postoperative periods, prompt recovery of the
      patients' physical and psychic activity following intravenous anesthesia make it
      a method of choice for surgical treatment of cancer patients who require no
      myorelaxation.

PMID- 1463241
TI  - [The prospects of using dopamine as an antishock preparation].
AB  - The quantitative evaluation of the centralization reaction for shockogenic trauma
      has been experimentally established as an objective criterion of circulatory
      homeostasis failure severity and adequacy of its correction. The highest
      antishock effect of dopamine is reached when cardiac output fraction addressed to
      thoracic region vitals is supported by dopamine on the 43-45% level. Single
      infusion of the new synthesized prolonged dopamine (12.5 mg/kg) supplies
      hemodynamic stabilization for post-trauma hypovolemia during 4 hours.

PMID- 1463242
TI  - [Functional disorders of the autonomic nervous system during severe poisoning by
      clophelin in children].
AB  - Disturbances in autonomic nervous system function have been studied during
      clofelin poisoning in children. A correlation has been established between
      changes in autonomic homeostasis and reduction in body temperature, bradycardia
      and arterial hypotension. The studies of cortisol blood level suggests two phases
      of poisoning: primary (specific) vagotonic phase and secondary (nonspecific)
      hypersympaticotonic phase. Changes in autonomic homeostasis accounted for the use
      of atropine sulfate for specific (antidote) therapy.

PMID- 1463243
TI  - [Plasmapheresis in the combination treatment of toxic diphtheria in children].

PMID- 1463244
TI  - [Evaluation of the uptake of crystalline amino acid preparations based on the
      concentration of urea in the blood and tissues].
AB  - The assimilation of polyamine, levamine and "new" alvesin has been experimentally
      assessed by blood and tissue urea concentrations. It has been established that
      polyamine was best assimilated and was followed by levamine and "new" alvesin.

PMID- 1463245
TI  - [Complications associated with the use of protamine sulfate].

PMID- 1463246
TI  - [Reasons for the failures of hemosorption and thrombogenic complications of
      hemosorption during the venovenous method of setting up the extracorporeal
      system].

PMID- 1463247
TI  - [Transcutaneous transtracheal jet ventilation].

PMID- 1463248
TI  - [Editorial symposium. Varicose disease of the lower limbs. Presentation of the
      subject].

PMID- 1463249
TI  - [Definition and etiopathogenesis of varicose veins].

PMID- 1463250
TI  - [Differential diagnosis of phlebedema and lymphedema].

PMID- 1463251
TI  - [Instrumental diagnosis of varicose veins].

PMID- 1463253
TI  - [Elastic compression in varicose disease].

PMID- 1463252
TI  - [Varicose disease: pharmacological treatment].

PMID- 1463254
TI  - [Surgical treatment of varices and their complications].

PMID- 1463255
TI  - [Multifactorial surgical risk index of the development of respiratory
      complications].
AB  - Respiratory events are between the most frequent postoperative complications. The
      preoperative conditions associated with postoperative respiratory failure were
      evaluated in a prospective study of 1182 patients from six Italian Surgical
      Units. Multiple regression logistic analysis was employed for statistical
      evaluation and a predictive prognostic score was derived. Only the presence of
      the following conditions was significant in affecting postoperative respiratory
      outcomes: preoperative respiratory and cardiac failure, hypotransferrinemia,
      prolonged surgical procedures (above the 2 hours) and peroperative bacterial
      contamination. Advanced age did not appear as a major risk factor. Studies on the
      predetermination of the pulmonary complications have been widely published.
      Historical risk factors include the presence of respiratory disease, smoking
      habits, obesity and thoracic or upper abdominal surgical procedures. Although the
      results of the present study need a prospective confirmation, the predictive
      scoring system proves to be a usefull tool that can be employed in most of the
      General Surgery Units.

PMID- 1463256
TI  - [Tumors of nerve sheaths of the peripheral nerves].
AB  - Objectives of this paper are the analysis of the confidence in the complementary
      investigation for the differential diagnostic between schwannoma and
      neurofibroma, and the retrospective evaluation of the therapy based on the
      consequent follow-up. The study has been conducted on 36 patients, most of them
      observed by University Clinic of Navarra (Pamplona), and the others by N.
      Picardi, all with preoperative diagnosis of schwannoma and neurofibroma,
      localized in 13 cases in peripheral nerves. Diagnostic iter, pathologic
      definition, therapy and evolution has been evaluated for all of them. In
      conclusion we feel that this pathology has to be suspected every time we find a
      tumor with neurologic symptomatology and that surgical indication of exeresis is
      the most correct in the majority of cases; moreover imaging investigations is
      rather useful, but if any doubt occurs we must proceed to biopsy or directly to
      exeresis of the tumor. Our experience shows that schwannoma, thanks to its
      anatomic patterns, can be treated less radically toward the nerve continuity than
      neurofibroma, and that the technique of nerve graft could be a useful alternative
      in this kind of surgery.

PMID- 1463257
TI  - [Complications of gastroesophageal reflux: considerations on a non-selected case
      series].
AB  - According to the experience of the authors on a non-selected case report,
      pharmacologic progresses in the therapy of various aspects of peptic disease
      permit an ease management also of gastro-esophageal reflux disease. Moreover,
      endoscopy is the very modern pivot of conservative treatment of more severe
      complications as strictures are, through repetitive and progressive instrumental
      dilatations. The surgical treatment of the most severe and intractable eveniences
      must be chosen for only a low percentage number of patients, after a careful
      functional analysis of the single case. Very important is the endoscopic and
      histologic control of Barrett esophagus and severe dysplasia.

PMID- 1463258
TI  - [Cholelithiasis after total gastrectomy for gastric cancer].
AB  - After gastric resection for peptic ulcer and total gastrectomy for Zollinger
      Ellison syndrome, there is an increased prevalence of cholelithiasis. In order to
      assess whether this increased prevalence also exists after total gastrectomy for
      cancer, we evaluated the rate of cholelithiasis (echographic diagnosis) both
      before and after this operation. Between 1980 and 1990, 89 patients underwent
      total gastrectomy for cancer in the Surgical Department of our Institute. The pre
      operative prevalence of gallstones was 5% in the males and 13.8% in the females.
      Seventy-four of the eighty-nine patients (83%) were examined post-operatively (7
      patients with pre-operative cholelithiasis, 3 who died during the post-operative
      stay and 5 lost to follow-up were excluded from the study). The median post
      operative follow-up was 24 months (range 3-115 months). The post-operative
      prevalence of cholelithiasis in the 74 patients was 39.6% in the males and 19% in
      the females. We also calculated the expected frequency of gallstones in both the
      pre- and post-operative groups from prevalence data in the population of the city
      where our Institute is based (taken from an echographic survey). We then compared
      the observed frequency of cholelithiasis with the expected frequency and we found
      that the difference in pre-operative frequencies, both in the males and females,
      was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The same was true of the post
      operative frequencies in the females (p = 0.48), but in the males there was a
      statistically significant difference between the observed frequency of
      cholelithiasis and that expected after total gastrectomy (p < 0.0001).(ABSTRACT
      TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1463259
TI  - [Preoperative staging of gastric carcinoma using endosonography (EUS)].
AB  - Accurate staging of gastric malignancy can only be obtained at surgery and after
      detailed histological examination of the resection specimen. Endoscopic
      ultrasonography may provide accurate detection and staging of gastric cancer
      because of its ability to visualize both the intramural and extramural extent of
      the lesion and any adjacent lymph node involvement. From february 90 to april 91,
      29 patients with a gastric carcinoma were studied endosonographically before
      surgery. All studies were performed with an Olympus EU-M3. Preoperative TNM
      classification and a prediction of the resectability of gastric cancer were done
      in every patient. The results were matched with those obtained with the histology
      of resected specimens according to the TNM classification 1987. Endoscopic
      ultrasonography was accurate in assessing the extent and depth of tumor
      infiltration. The overall accuracy rate was 90.5% (19 out of 21 patients).
      Overstaging occurred in 9.5% of the cases (2 patients); none understaging
      occurred. EUS was less accurate in assessment of lymph node metastasis; the
      overall accuracy rate was 57.1%. Distinction between reactive lymph node and
      small micrometastatic lymph node involvement could be hard. Local resectability
      was correctly diagnosed with EUS in each of 23 patients; in two patients an
      intramural mass with a deep infiltration into the surrounding tissue was
      correctly diagnosed. In our opinion EUS is an essential diagnostic procedure in
      the clinical staging of the gastric cancer.

PMID- 1463260
TI  - The simultaneous presence of primary lymphoma and adenocarcinoma in the stomach.
AB  - The authors describe a rare case, recently observed by them, of coexisting
      primary lymphoma and adenocarcinoma of the stomach. After illustrating the more
      salient aspects of the clinical and anatomopathological pattern, the Authors
      discuss the general issue of the simultaneous presence of the two pathologies,
      analysing in particular their classification and etiopathogenic aspects. They
      then discuss the peculiar aspects of the case considered, including the
      preoperative diagnosis of non-Hodgkin gastric lymphoma, and highlight the fact
      that, unlike what is more frequently reported in the literature, the
      carcinomatous component had been completely ignored. As a final consideration,
      they stress the importance of studying this rare combination of tumoral
      components in order to gain a better understanding of oncogenic mechanisms so far
      unknown.

PMID- 1463261
TI  - [Ileal diverticula: apropos of a case].
AB  - The authors report a case of abdominal aortic aneurysm surgically treated. At
      surgical exploration an ileal diverticulum was discovered. A 15 cm ileum tract
      was hyperemic and oedematous. The abdominal aortic aneurysm was resected and an
      aorto aortic graft implanted. The retroperitoneal space was carefully closed and
      then the diverticulum resected and an end-to end intestinal anastomosis
      performed. An etiological review of this pathology was done identifying two
      possible causes: true and false diverticula. The true diverticulum is a
      congenital lesion involving the 3 layers of the intestinal wall. On the contrary
      the false diverticulum is acquired and generally develops on the mesenteric site
      due to a pulsion mechanism. The wall involves the mucosa and serosa layers only.
      Diagnosis is often done during abdominal exploration for other cause (as in our
      case) or for complicated diverticula. Preoperative radiologic diagnosis is rare
      and doesn't always require surgical treatment.

PMID- 1463262
TI  - [Ogilvie's syndrome: clinical reality or nosographic error?].
AB  - The authors report their experience in the management of Ogilvie's syndrome, a
      rare form of large bowel acute pseudo-obstruction. The study includes fifteen
      cases of the disease. There were ten males and five female, with a mean age of
      sixty-two years (range 45-92). Three patients were only treated with medical and
      conservative measures, one with unsuccessful colonoscopy and twelve (two with
      colonic perforation) underwent laparotomy. The surgical procedures performed were
      tube cecostomy (40%), colonic resection with primary anastomosis (27%) and
      exploratory laparotomy with decompression (13%). The overall morbidity and
      mortality rate were respectively 0 and 13%. Our epidemiological, clinical and
      therapeutic results are similar to those reported in the international
      literature. The pathophysiology of the syndrome is still unknown. It can be
      "idiopathic" or can complicate other diseases or surgical procedures (urological
      and gynaecological procedures mostly). Plain abdominal roentgenogram is the most
      useful diagnostic test, but colonoscopy may be an alternative diagnostic (and
      therapeutic) weapon. Conservative treatment is the method of choice but when the
      cecal diameter is more than 12 cm. (impending perforation), when the colon is
      perforated or when medical measures are unsuccessful, surgical procedure is
      compulsory. The age of the patient, cecal size, delay in colonic decompression
      are the most important prognostic factors. Even with a proper management, the
      prognosis is severe and the mortality rate is high (3-50%).

PMID- 1463263
TI  - [Carcinoma of the cecum: is early diagnosis possible?].
AB  - Between 1982 and 1989, a consecutive series of 34 patients with cancer of the
      cecum were operated in our hospital. Overall, at 5 years the survival was 50%. We
      did not notice any correlation among symptom duration and survival. Patients
      admitted in the asymptomatic phase had the best survival rate (66.6%). Our study
      suggest that only neoplasm diagnosed in asymptomatic patients and treated
      promptly are related to a good survival rate. We, therefore, emphasize the
      importance and the necessity to investigate all patients with a suspected cecum
      cancer by means of colonoscopy.

PMID- 1463264
TI  - [Intestinal recanalization 16 years after Hartmann's operation].
AB  - The authors report a case of a surgical intestinal recanalization after 16 years
      since a Hartmann's intervention. After some considerations on the results they
      obtained in similar cases, the Authors call attention on this specific clinical
      case. They come to the conclusion that a successful surgical recanalization-
      although the difficult availability of the remaining rectal stump--is possible
      even if a long period has passed since a Hartmann's intervention was performed.
      In fact the rectal stump and the sphincter apparatus, even if excluded from the
      fecal transit for a long while, retain largely their specific functional
      activities and show a marked ability for an effective sensitive-motor
      restoration.

PMID- 1463265
TI  - [Rare colonic occlusions: volvulus of the splenic flexure].
AB  - Authors report a case of perforated splenic flexure volvulus, treated with
      resection, end colostomy and closure of the distal stump. From the revision of
      literature it comes out the case reported is the 30th recorded till now, the 6th
      with ischemic complications, and the only one with perforation. Actual
      pathogenetic trends and various therapeutic options are reported.

PMID- 1463267
TI  - Bibliographic information retrieval.

PMID- 1463266
TI  - [Radical excision and primary suture of pilonidal sinus: our experience].
AB  - Various operations could be used for pilonidal sinus disease. The authors report
      their experience, discuss the etiopathogenesis (acquired or congenital origin)
      describe their method of treatment and results and compare them with those of the
      other reviews.

PMID- 1463268
TI  - Posttranslational processing of the neurotensin/neuromedin-N precursor.

PMID- 1463269
TI  - Actions of neurotensin: a review of the electrophysiological studies.
AB  - Three effects of NT were observed on midbrain DA cells. The modulatory effect of
      NT, that is, the attenuation of DA-induced inhibition, has been most extensively
      examined. Studies indicate that this effect of NT was not simply due to a
      nonspecific excitation. NT selectively attenuated DA-induced inhibition without
      affecting either GABA-induced inhibition or glutamate-induced excitation of the
      same cells, and the attenuation of DA-induced inhibition could be observed at the
      doses at which the basal activity of DA cells was not changed by NT. The
      attenuation of DA-induced inhibition by NT is also unlikely to result from the
      formation of a DA-NT complex, since neuromedin N, which competes with NT for the
      same receptor but does not bind to DA, mimicked the effects, and neurotensin(1
      11), which forms a complex with DA but is inactive in competing for NT receptors,
      did not. The similarities between the effects of NT and those of 8-bromo-cAMP and
      forskolin suggest that intracellular cAMP and protein kinase A may be involved.
      This suggestion was supported by the findings that IBMX (an inhibitor of
      phosphodiesterases) potentiated the effect of NT; and SQ22536 (an inhibitor of
      adenylate cyclase) and H8 (an inhibitor of protein kinase A) antagonized it.
      Phorbal-12,13-dibutyrate (an activator of protein kinase C) did not mimic the
      effect of neurotensin, and H7 (an inhibitor of protein kinase C) did not reduce
      the effect, suggesting that protein kinase C is unlikely to be involved in the
      modulatory effect of neurotensin. Experiments in vitro indicated that the
      excitatory effect of NT on DA cells occurred at higher concentrations (> 10 nM)
      than those needed for producing the modulatory effect. Its persistence during DA
      receptor blockade by sulpiride suggests that this effect was not entirely
      mediated by an attenuation of the inhibition induced by endogenously released DA.
      At even higher concentrations (> 100 nM), a sudden cessation of cell activity
      preceded by an increase in firing rate was observed. Whether this effect of NT
      was due to depolarization inactivation or a toxic effect of the peptide at high
      concentrations remains to be determined. In most other areas studied, the
      excitatory effect of NT was most commonly observed. In many areas, this
      excitatory effect was apparently a direct postsynaptic effect of NT. However,
      different mechanisms may be involved (see Table 1). For example, in some areas NT
      acted through a decrease in membrane conductance, while in others no change or an
      increase in the membrane conductance was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400
      WORDS)

PMID- 1463270
TI  - Cooperative regulation of neurotensin/neuromedin N gene expression in PC12 cells
      involves AP-1 transcription factors.

PMID- 1463271
TI  - Control of anterior pituitary hormone secretion by neurotensin.
AB  - Neurotensin is localized in discrete populations of neuronal cell bodies with
      terminals in the hypothalamus and median eminence. High-affinity binding sites
      for neurotensin have been demonstrated not only in the hypothalamus but also in
      the pituitary gland. These studies suggest a role for neurotensin in control of
      hypothalamic-pituitary function. We initially demonstrated that neurotensin could
      block the release of prolactin in conscious, ovariectomized and male rats after
      its injection into the third ventricle, whereas intravenous injection of the
      peptide significantly elevated plasma prolactin and increased prolactin release
      by pituitaries incubated in vitro. These results suggested that neurotensin had
      opposite actions on prolactin release, an inhibitory effect at a hypothalamic
      site and an excitatory one at the pituitary. Further studies employing dopamine
      receptor blockers and inhibitors of catecholamine synthesis indicated that the
      action of the peptide to block prolactin release was probably mediated by release
      of dopamine, which then inhibited prolactin release by the pituitary gland
      directly. We have evaluated the physiological significance of the peptide in
      control of prolactin release by intraventricular injection of highly specific
      antiserum against neurotensin. The antiserum evoked dose-related elevations in
      plasma prolactin in intact males that were significant but smaller in magnitude
      than those seen in females, actions opposite to those of the peptide itself,
      which indicates that the inhibitory action of the peptide within the brain is
      physiologically significant. Intravenous injection of this antiserum produced a
      significant suppression of plasma prolactin in females but not males, which
      indicates that the previously demonstrated stimulatory effect of the peptide on
      prolactin release by the gland is also physiologically significant because
      immunoneutralization of the peptide resulted in a decline in plasma prolactin.
      Our earlier experiments revealed that neurotensin had a dose-related ability to
      inhibit LH release in ovariectomized and ovariectomized, estrogen progesterone
      treated rats. Since it had no effect on the release of LH in vitro, we assigned a
      hypothalamic site for this action. It appears that this inhibitory effect of the
      peptide to suppress LH release is also physiologically significant since the
      intraventricular injection of the antiserum against the peptide produced a dose
      related stimulation of LH release in ovariectomized and ovariectomized, estrogen
      progesterone-blocked rats. The mechanism by which endogenous neurotensin inhibits
      the release of LHRH has yet to be evaluated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1463272
TI  - The manifold actions of neurotensin, a trophotropic agent.

PMID- 1463273
TI  - Biosynthesis, maturation, release, and degradation of neurotensin and neuromedin
      N.

PMID- 1463274
TI  - Increased plasma levels of leukotrienes in response to neurotensin.

PMID- 1463275
TI  - Retrograde axonal transport of neurotensin in rat dopaminergic neurons.

PMID- 1463276
TI  - Autoradiographic localization of retrogradely transported neurotensin in
      nigrostriatal neurons.

PMID- 1463277
TI  - Neurotensin and neuromedin N undergo distinct proteolytic inactivation in ventral
      tegmental area and nucleus accumbens.

PMID- 1463278
TI  - Histamine-releasing peptide is formed from albumin by stimulated rat mast cells.

PMID- 1463279
TI  - Enhancement of mesolimbic rewarding brain stimulation by neurotensin injected
      into the accumbens, the subiculum, or the ventral tegmental area.

PMID- 1463281
TI  - Expression of neurotensin messenger RNA in a human pancreatic carcinoid tumor.

PMID- 1463280
TI  - Neurotensin mRNA expression in response to haloperidol is decreased in the
      dorsolateral striatum of aged rats.

PMID- 1463282
TI  - Cocaine effects on central nervous system neurotensin concentrations.

PMID- 1463283
TI  - MK-801 blocks the changes in neurotensin concentrations induced by
      methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, cocaine, and GBR 12909.

PMID- 1463284
TI  - Internalization of neurotensin in cultured neurons.

PMID- 1463285
TI  - Mechanisms of neurotensin effects on pancreatic and duodenal bicarbonate
      secretion in the rat.

PMID- 1463286
TI  - Distribution of prepro-neurotensin/neuromedin N mRNA in the young and adult rat
      forebrain.

PMID- 1463287
TI  - Immunohistochemical detection of pro-neurotensin/neuromedin N processing
      intermediates in rat brain.

PMID- 1463288
TI  - Dopamine-neurotensin interactions in mesocortical neurons. Evidence from
      microdialysis studies.

PMID- 1463289
TI  - Neurotensin gene expression in the rat preoptic area. Implications for the
      regulation of reproduction.

PMID- 1463290
TI  - Antibodies against a 30 kilodalton cochlear protein and type II and IX collagens
      in the serum of patients with inner ear diseases.
AB  - Collagen molecules are major extracellular matrix proteins involved in the
      development and support of delicate auditory sensory organs. Type II collagen is
      widely distributed within inner ear tissues, while type IX is found only within
      the labyrinthine membrane and dense fibers of the tectorial membrane. Antibody
      specific for type II collagen has been shown to be elevated in some patients with
      hearing loss due to several presumably autoimmune illnesses (including Meniere's
      disease, otosclerosis, chronic progressive sensorineural hearing loss, and
      relapsing polychondritis). Purified human type II and IX collagens and an extract
      of human cochlear tissue were subjected to isolation by sodium dodecyl sulfate
      polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and transferred to nitrocellulose.
      The sera of 21 patients with inner ear disease were examined for the presence of
      anticollagen and anticochlear antibodies; the sera were used to probe Western
      blots of purified human collagens II, IX, and XI, and cochlear protein extract
      with peroxidase-conjugated goat anti human polyvalent immunoglobulin as the
      second antibody. Anti-type II collagen antibodies were seen in 12 of 21 (57%)
      patients, while 13 of 21 (62%) had anti-type IX antibodies detectable by Western
      blot. A previously unreported 30 kd (probably noncollagen) protein was 21 (62%)
      had anti-type IX antibodies detectable by Western blot. A previously unreported
      30 kd (probably noncollagen) protein was found by SDS-PAGE of human cochlear
      tissue extracts, with 3 patients, all with Meniere's disease, having antibody
      activity to this protein detected by Western blot.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1463291
TI  - Spontaneous remission in experimental autoimmune labyrinthitis.
AB  - We investigated the time course of hearing impairment and cellular infiltration
      into the inner ear after systemic sensitization of guinea pigs with a single
      intradermal injection of bovine inner ear antigen (IEAg) in complete Freund's
      adjuvant (CFA). Lymphocytes and polymorphonucleocytes appeared mainly in the
      scala tympani on days 7 to 14, and in addition there was thickening and cellular
      infiltration of the round window membrane at day 14. These cellular infiltrations
      resolved after day 28. The auditory brain stem response thresholds from IEAg
      sensitized animals were significantly elevated after day 7. Some sensitized
      animals (n = 5) had spontaneous remissions after day 28; however, the hearing
      thresholds did not completely recover. These results demonstrate that
      experimental autoimmune labyrinthitis can be induced by a single inoculation of
      IEAg-CFA and that remission, as evidenced by clearing of the cochlear cellular
      infiltration and improved hearing thresholds, can occur spontaneously.

PMID- 1463292
TI  - Massive osteolysis (Gorham's disease) of the temporomandibular joint.

PMID- 1463293
TI  - Cystic squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to the neck from occult primary.

PMID- 1463294
TI  - Nonsquamous carcinomas of the larynx.
AB  - Nonsquamous carcinomas make up fewer than 1% of all epithelial malignancies of
      the larynx. The majority are subsurface in origin and arise from seromucous
      glands of the larynx. Adenoid cystic carcinoma is not only representative of this
      group, it is the most prevalent. All other salivary-type carcinomas are rare.
      Rarer still are surface adenocarcinomas. Neuroendocrine carcinomas appear to
      constitute the majority of so-called laryngeal adenocarcinomas.

PMID- 1463295
TI  - Indium 111-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy in evaluating head and neck infections.
AB  - This retrospective study looked at the role of indium 111-labeled white blood
      cell (111In WBC) scintigraphy in head and neck infections. The efficacy of 111In
      WBCs was compared to gallium 67 citrate (67Ga) and technetium Tc99m methylene
      diphosphonate (99mTc MDP) scintigraphy in detecting and monitoring the resolution
      of infection. For 22 active infections, the sensitivities for 111In WBC, 67Ga,
      and 99mTc MDP scintigraphy were 94%, 56%, and 86%, respectively, and the
      specificities for 111In WBC, 67Ga, and 99mTc MDP scintigraphy were 100%, 43%, and
      0%, respectively. For 8 successfully treated infections, all seven 111In WBC
      studies became negative after therapy, in as short an interval as 1 month. In
      contrast, all seven 99mTc MDP images remained positive for as long as 6 months
      after therapy. The seven 67Ga studies had variable results, with four (57%)
      remaining positive, including two (28%) positive at 6 months after therapy. These
      results suggest that 111In WBC scintigraphy should be the initial radionuclide
      imaging tool in detecting active head and neck infections because of its greater
      accuracy, and its ability to revert to normal much sooner than 67Ga or 99mTc MDP
      scintigraphs when applied to a subset of patients with resolved infections.

PMID- 1463296
TI  - Combined effects of noise and cisplatin: short- and long-term follow-up.
AB  - The combined effects of noise exposure and intravenous cisplatin injection on
      electrophysiologic hearing thresholds in guinea pigs were studied with short-term
      and long-term follow-up. The combined effects on the permanent threshold shift
      were dependent on the order of exposure. A potentiation was achieved when noise
      exposure preceded cisplatin injection by 30 minutes or by 3 days. Cisplatin
      injection 2 or 3 days before noise exposure produced no significant potentiation
      or inhibition. The combined effects on the temporary threshold shift were not
      influenced by the sequence of exposure.

PMID- 1463297
TI  - Maxillary sinus atelectasis.
AB  - Two patients are presented with maxillary bone loss and atelectasis of the sinus
      walls in association with chronic subclinical maxillary sinusitis. Maxillary
      sinus atelectasis results in a mild cosmetic deformity, but may also cause
      diplopia by involving the orbital floor. Ostial obstruction and inflammation
      mediated osteopenia are postulated to be the responsible mechanisms. Surgical
      treatment of the sinusitis may prevent progression of the bone loss.

PMID- 1463298
TI  - Ultrastructural changes in human nasal cilia caused by the common cold and
      recovery of ciliated epithelium.
AB  - Changes in the ultrastructure of human respiratory cilia caused by the common
      cold were studied in 12 patients. The nasal mucosa was studied three times: on
      the first or second day after the beginning of symptoms, and 1 week and 3 weeks
      after the first biopsy. The damage was most severe at 1 week. The most remarkable
      finding was the loss of cilia and ciliated cells. However, the ultrastructure was
      usually normal, without any increase in tubular anomalies, as compared with the
      normal material of the previous reports. Three weeks after the beginning of the
      disease the number of cilia and ciliated cells had increased to nearly normal.
      However, as a sign of regeneration, immature short cilia (0.7 to 2.5 microns in
      length) were often seen. The ciliary orientation was uniform, dynein arms were
      normal, and there was no increase in the number of tubular anomalies. The results
      suggest that the impaired mucociliary function during viral infections is due to
      the loss of cilia and ciliated cells, rather than to ultrastructural anomalies in
      the cilia. The development of tubular anomalies and random ciliary orientation
      may require more extensive exposure to factors affecting ciliary function.

PMID- 1463300
TI  - Influence of general anesthesia on transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions in
      humans.
AB  - The influence of general anesthesia (GA) on transiently evoked otoacoustic
      emissions (TEOAEs) was studied in 19 normally hearing women undergoing surgery.
      Emissions were measured on the day before the operation, after premedication but
      before the beginning of the operation, and during and after the operation. There
      were no significant differences in TEOAE amplitude or in reproducibility between
      results obtained the day before the operation and after premedication. Ten
      patients received nitrous oxide (N2O) during GA (N2O group), and 9 patients did
      not (non-N2O group). The amplitude of TEOAEs was reduced during GA in 9 of 10
      patients in the N2O group and in 7 of 9 patients in the non-N2O group. However,
      the average decrease of amplitude after the first 10 minutes was greater in the
      N2O group (4 +/- 3.4 dB) than in the non-N2O group (0.18 +/- 1.4 dB). The
      corresponding mean reproducibility of the response decreased in 9 of 10 patients
      of the N2O group (29% +/- 24%) and was nearly unchanged in the non-N2O group
      (2.3% +/- 7.2%). The time course of the amplitude reduction was similar in both
      groups. The smallest amplitudes were reached on an average by 19.3 +/- 11.4
      minutes in the N2O group and by 17 +/- 13.6 minutes in the non-N2O group.
      Preoperative and postoperative TEOAEs were comparable in level and
      reproducibility. Differential frequency effects imply a middle ear effect for the
      greater reduction of TEOAE amplitudes in the N2O group due to gas diffusion into
      the middle ear.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1463299
TI  - Diameter of the cochlear nerve in deaf humans: implications for cochlear
      implantation.
AB  - Although the parameters that are most important for postoperative speech
      perception in cochlear implantation have not been identified, it is assumed that
      the numbers of remaining cochlear neurons and spiral ganglion cells in the
      implanted deaf ears are critical. In this study, we evaluated the correlation of
      the maximum diameter of the cochlear and vestibular nerve trunks with the number
      of spiral ganglion cells in horizontal sections of the temporal bone of 42
      patients who were profoundly deaf during life, and in 5 patients with normal
      hearing. The maximum diameters of the cochlear, vestibular, and eighth cranial
      nerves were significantly smaller in the deaf population as compared to normal
      hearing controls. In addition, the counts of the remaining spiral ganglion cells
      were significantly correlated with the maximum diameter of the cochlear (p =
      .0006), vestibular (p = .001), and eighth cranial nerves (p = .0003). The
      regression equation estimated that 25% of the variance of the spiral ganglion
      cell count was predicted by the maximum diameter of the eighth nerve. Although
      the results of this study suggest that preoperative radiographic imaging of the
      diameter of the eighth nerve may be helpful in predicting the residual spiral
      ganglion cell count, the wide variability of diameters of the eighth nerve in
      hearing and deaf subjects militates against this theoretic usefulness.

PMID- 1463301
TI  - [Insulin therapy using a portable pump in children. Apropos of a pediatric
      experience].
AB  - Experience accumulated with 17 pediatric patients with insulin-dependent diabetes
      mellitus treated with an insulin pump is reported. Follow-up exceeds four years
      in seven patients. A significant improvement in metabolic control was seen in
      only four patients and was confined to the first year of use of the pump.
      Overall, the improvement in control was not significant. Severe hypoglycemia was
      uncommon (0.27/patient-year). Ketoacidosis was rare (0.08/patient-year).
      Transient ketosis was the most common adverse event and was often related to
      technical problems which should immediately lead to appropriate action by
      patients who have received proper education. Use of an insulin pump remains an
      alternative which deserves to be considered when conventional therapies fail.

PMID- 1463302
TI  - [Idiopathic pericerebral swelling (external hydrocephalus) of infants].
AB  - Benign enlargement of the subarachnoid spaces was diagnosed in 41 infants on the
      basis of ultrasound and/or CT scan findings. 10 MHz transfontanellar
      ultrasonography is without doubt the most reliable investigation in this
      condition (skull-to-cortex distance greater than 5 mm). Patients with
      extracerebral collections due to a clearly identifiable pathologic process (e.g.,
      prematurity, IUGR, neonatal distress, malnutrition) were excluded from the study.
      Macrocrania developed rapidly in 72% of patients, either as the single
      manifestation (30%) or with delayed motor development and hypotonia (30%). Other
      clinical patterns included evidence of intracranial hypertension (15%) and
      hypotonia without macrocrania (20%). The two main findings of this study were the
      high rate of familial forms and the severity of early hemorrhagic complications,
      i.e., spontaneous subdural hematoma (5/41 cases), with permanent neurologic
      impairment in some instances (2/5 cases). These complications call into question
      the benignity of this syndrome whose long-term outcome, particularly in terms of
      cognitive function, is as yet unknown.

PMID- 1463303
TI  - [Peptic esophagitis and scoliosis in children].
AB  - Four pediatric cases of peptic esophagitis in patients with severe dorsolumbar
      scoliosis including three with a history of neurological disease provide the
      opportunity to point out that curvature of the spine fairly often causes
      development of gastroesophageal reflux. By displacing the anchoring points of the
      stomach and stretching the lower esophageal sphincter, scoliosis can be
      responsible for malposition of the cardia and fundus and for gastroesophageal
      reflux. Furthermore, plaster corsets increase intraabdominal pressure and may
      therefore promote gastroesophageal reflux.

PMID- 1463304
TI  - [Donath-Landsteiner hemolytic anemia. Physiopathological, diagnostic and
      therapeutic aspects].
AB  - Donath-Landsteiner hemolytic anemia accounts for one third of all immunologic
      hemolytic syndromes in pediatric patients. Diagnosis is suggested by results of
      the direct Coombs test which is positive with anti-C3d, evidence of
      erythrophagocytosis on admission blood smears, and results of the Donath
      Landsteiner test. Anti-P specificity should be routinely looked for. Management,
      required once the diagnosis is established, is symptomatic. Warmed red blood cell
      concentrates should be used for blood transfusions. Exposure to cold should be
      avoided. Use of maintenance corticosteroid therapy is no longer acceptable.

PMID- 1463305
TI  - [Cantrell syndrome or the "shagreen skin" pentalogy. Apropos of 3 cases].
AB  - Three patients with incomplete forms of Cantrell syndrome underwent surgical
      therapy at the Department of Infantile Surgery in Strasbourg, France, between
      1979 and 1990. One patient had a giant omphalocele. Another had a ventricular
      septal defect. Two of the three patients are alive and doing well. The nosology
      and prognostic factors in Cantrell syndrome are discussed.

PMID- 1463306
TI  - [Neonatal streptococcus group B infection in Yaounde (Cameroon). Epidemiologic
      and clinical aspects].
AB  - This study was designed to investigate epidemiologic and clinical features of
      neonatal group B streptococcal infections. Sixty cases seen over a 60-month
      period were reviewed. Incidence was 0.8% of admissions. Most affected infants
      were from low-income families (86.7% of mothers were unemployed and 73.5% of
      homes were without running water). Neonatal infection was delayed in most
      instances (76.67%). Fetid vaginal discharge (60%) and premature rupture of the
      membranes (35%) were the main findings upon history taking. Abnormal body
      temperature regulation (76.7%) was the most prominent clinical manifestation.
      Respiratory distress developed in 25% of patients. Meningeal involvement occurred
      in 73.3% of patients. Serotype B III was recovered in 31 of the 34 cases (91%) in
      which serotype was determined. Mortality rate was 21.7% and permanent sequelae
      occurred in 8.3% of patients.

PMID- 1463307
TI  - [Parent-pediatrician synergism faced with childhood fever].

PMID- 1463308
TI  - Griseofulvin in the treatment of oral lichen planus: adverse drug reactions, but
      little beneficial effect.
AB  - An open trial was conducted of systemic griseofulvin in the treatment of oral
      lichen planus. Eleven patients completed the trial. Symptomatic benefit was noted
      in 21% of the twenty-three patients starting the trial, but there was no clinical
      improvement, and about one half of the group starting the trial suffered adverse
      drug reactions.

PMID- 1463309
TI  - Central odontogenic fibroma: a case report.

PMID- 1463310
TI  - Recurrent aphthous stomatitis: the efficacy of replacement therapy in patients
      with underlying hematinic deficiencies.
AB  - A group of thirty-four patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and
      single hematinic deficiencies were given replacement therapy after any reason for
      the deficiency had been sought and excluded. The response of the RAS was assessed
      in an open trial. The aphthae in 70% of patients subjectively improved with
      hematinic replacement therapy, a benefit exceeding the defined placebo response
      in recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

PMID- 1463311
TI  - Radiographic study of mandibular nutrient canals.
AB  - This study was undertaken to determine the correlation between the presence of
      nutrient canals in the mandibular anterior region and sex, age, edentulous
      mandible, periodontal disease, and high blood pressure. The periapical
      roentgenograms taken from the mandibular anterior region of 1040 patients were
      examined. According to the data obtained from the present study, the occurrence
      of nutrient canals in the mandibular anterior region seemed related to age,
      edentulous mandible, periodontal problems, and high blood pressure. However, no
      relation to sex was found.

PMID- 1463312
TI  - Effects of restorations and carious lesions on the periodontium in humans.
AB  - The objectives of the present study were to examine the effects of dental
      restorations, crowns and fillings, and carious lesions on the periodontal
      tissues. One hundred and one clinic patients were selected on the basis of each
      having one or more teeth with either carious lesions or restorations, and having
      contralateral teeth without restorations or carious lesions. Debris, calculus,
      gingivitis, pocket depths, and bone loss were evaluated using objective criteria
      of assessment for each condition. The results showed significantly greater
      gingivitis, pocket depth, and bone loss around teeth with restorations and
      carious lesions than around their controls.

PMID- 1463313
TI  - Herniation of an antral polyp through an oroantral fistula.
AB  - This paper reports a case of herniation of an antral polyp through an oroantral
      fistula, appearing as a polypoid lesion of the alveolar ridge. The patient was a
      24-year-old female, and her upper molar had been extracted two months previously.
      The lesion was asymptomatic, and was a soft tissue mass, red in color and
      nontender to palpation, involving the alveolar ridge in the maxillary molar area.
      Review of the literature yielded only a few other such cases.

PMID- 1463314
TI  - Dental disease in the differential diagnosis of fever of unknown origin.
AB  - A patient with a one-year history of fever of unknown origin is presented.
      Extensive work-up failed to reveal the source of the fever. Treatment of
      periodontal infection resulted in complete cure, suggesting a cause-effect
      relationship. A possible role of Interleukin 1 (IL-1), universal pyrogen, in
      periodontal disease is suggested.

PMID- 1463315
TI  - Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: a case report.
AB  - A 13-year-old male patient classified as Type VIII, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, in
      which the typical periodontal findings are not seen, is presented. The patient
      has many partially erupted deciduous teeth and partially erupted mandibular
      permanent incisors. It is suggested that Type VIII has two subdivisions. In
      subdivision A there is periodontal involvement with a normal eruption pattern;
      subdivision B has no periodontal involvement, but the teeth do not erupt.

PMID- 1463316
TI  - [The metastatic liver: a rare cause of hepatocellular insufficiency].
AB  - Liver metastases are frequent, often large and sometimes very late in skin or
      choroid metastatic melanoma. Hepatic failure is a rarely described complication
      in metastatic liver melanoma. We report a case of liver failure in a metastatic
      liver melanoma in a woman 76 years old, treated 16 years before for a choroid
      melanoma. About this case, we discuss the frequency, the location of primitive
      tumors and mechanism of liver failure in metastatic liver.

PMID- 1463317
TI  - [A new case of collagenous colitis associated with rheumatoid polyarthritis].
AB  - The authors describe a case with concomittant chronic polyarthritis and
      collagenous colitis. The sub-epithelial band-like collagenous deposit may be the
      result of fibroblastic production with autoimmune stimulation.

PMID- 1463318
TI  - [Management of a focal hepatic mass: propositions of a workshop].
AB  - Focal hepatic masses are a common problem, due to the expansion of ultrasound.
      Individuals engaged in the four disciplines involved (hepatogastroenterology,
      digestive surgery, radiology and pathology) met to summarize the information
      available, to compare their experience and to make synthetic proposals. The
      method consisted of an expert report, discussion of the clinical cases, workshop
      discussion for each discipline around synthetic proposals, reporting of these
      proposals in full session and discussion. The results, i.e. the synthetic and
      consensual proposals concerned diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of focal
      hepatic masses are presented for each discipline.

PMID- 1463319
TI  - [Description of a new disease: pancreatic lithiasis with radiolucent calculi].
AB  - 118 patients presenting with pancreatic lithiasis were consecutively observed in
      our service. They underwent both an endoscopic pancreatography and god plain
      films of the abdomen. Calculi were classified in 3 groups: 1) Radiolucent calculi
      (17 cases, 5 females; 4 hereditary cases) are build up of amorphous residues of
      lithostathine S. They are not related to either alcohol, diet or tobacco. 2)
      Target calculi (27 cases, 4 females; 3 hereditary cases) have a radiolucent core
      as in 1 and a peripheral calcification. They are a late evolutionary stage of
      radiolucent lithiasis. The frequency of females and of hereditary cases is
      significantly greater in form 1 + 2 than in form 3. These two forms are a newly
      described disease without relationship with nutrition, alcohol or tobacco but the
      peripheral calcification of radiolucent calculi is favoured by alcohol and
      tobacco. This disease could be hereditary. 3) Calcic lithiasis (74 cases, 8
      females, 2 hereditary cases) is the most frequent form of pancreatic lithiasis.
      Its cause is nutritional.

PMID- 1463320
TI  - [Antibiotic residues and digestive microflora].
AB  - Can antibiotic residues modify the human gut flora, and select drug resistant
      bacteria? In volunteers given ampicillin (1.5 mg/d) or oxytetracyclin (2 mg/d),
      the fecal excretion of resistant enterobacteria was not changed significantly.
      However a possible effect would be hidden in human beings by the huge day to day
      fluctuations in the resistant bacterial populations. Heteroxenic mice (i.e.
      germfree mice associated with the flora of a human donor) and dixenic mice (i.e.
      mice harboring 2 isogenic strains, one of which carries an R-plasmid) are
      possible models to study the gut flora in vivo without contaminations and
      interfering factors. Minimum selecting doses in these models are between 0.5 and
      10 mg antibiotic per liter of drinking water. These doses are smaller than what a
      consumer could ingest in food. Last, fecal resistant enterobacteria directly come
      from contamined food, as shown by their clearance from stools of volunteers
      eating a sterile diet. Hence antibiotic residues do not modify meaningfully the
      gut flora.

PMID- 1463321
TI  - Estrogen suppresses hepatitis B virus expression in male athymic mice
      transplanted with HBV transfected Hep G-2 cells.
AB  - Hormones are known to regulate both viral and cellular genes. It has been shown
      previously that estrogen has an effect on liver gene transcription and mRNA
      stability. Sex hormones might have a role in the chronic persistence of hepatitis
      B virus (HBV) infection. In fact, there is a male preponderance in the incidence
      of chronic HBV infection, and HBsAg expression was reported to be much higher in
      male transgenic mice than in the females. We investigated the effect of estrogen
      on HBV gene expression and regulation in athymic mice bearing 2.2.15 cells, a
      human hepatoblastoma cell line derived from Hep G-2 transfected with HBV
      sequences. Both male and female mice were treated with estradiol after tumors
      could be observed. Episomal DNA was extracted from the tumors and hybridized with
      32P-labelled HBV DNA. Southern blot and slot blot analyses demonstrated that male
      mice had higher expression of HBV DNA. Estrogen treatment suppressed HBV DNA
      expression in males, but had only a minor effect on females. HBeAg production in
      male mice was also inhibited by estrogen treatment. HBV RNA extracted from 2.2.15
      cells showed 2-3-fold reduction following beta-estradiol treatment. Moreover,
      inhibition of HBV transcription by estrogen was demonstrated by an RNA pulse
      labelling experiment. These data indicate that estrogen inhibits HBV expression
      in the in vivo model presented in this study. These results might contribute to a
      better understanding of the effect of sex hormones on the pathogenesis of HBV
      induced liver disease.

PMID- 1463322
TI  - The influence of dextran sulfate on influenza A virus fusion with erythrocyte
      membranes.
AB  - Dextran sulfate suppresses the low pH-induced fusion of influenza virus A/Brazil
      11/78 with erythrocyte membranes, as shown by fluorescence dequenching assay,
      using the fluorophore octadecylrhodamine B chloride (R18). Inhibition of fusion
      was maximal at pH 5.0, while at higher pH values (> 5.6) fusion was not affected.
      Hemolysis of intact red blood cells by influenza A virus at low pH values is also
      prevented by dextran sulfate. The inhibiting effect of the polymer is mainly
      ascribed to repression of virus attachment. Evidence is given that the
      conformational change of the virus envelope protein hemagglutinin (HA)
      responsible for triggering fusion is not affected by the polymer.

PMID- 1463323
TI  - Antiviral effects of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha in combination
      with natural interferon-beta in mice infected with herpes simplex virus type 1.
AB  - The protective effects of combination therapy utilizing recombinant human TNF
      alpha (rTNF-alpha) and natural murine interferon-beta (IFN-beta) in mice infected
      with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was investigated. Mice treated with rTNF
      alpha alone at all of the doses tested (a single i.v. administration, 2.3-2,300
      micrograms/kg; multiple i.p. administrations 0.4-250 micrograms/kg) as well as
      mice that received IFN-beta alone at doses of 16 x 10(4) U/kg or less resulted in
      a 0% survival rate. Combination therapy consisting of a single administration of
      rTNF-alpha (230 and 23 micrograms/kg) and multiple administrations of IFN-beta (4
      x 10(4) U/kg) resulted in a 40% and 60% survival rate. Multiple treatments of
      infected mice with rTNF-alpha (50 and 10 micrograms/kg) in combination with IFN
      beta (4 x 10(4) U/kg) resulted in 50% and 70% survival rates, respectively. These
      results suggest that the combination therapy of rTNF and natural murine IFN-beta
      produce synergistic protective effects in mice infected with a lethal amount of
      HSV-1.

PMID- 1463324
TI  - Project team investigates how the Association's organizational structure can be
      improved to meet future changes, challenges.
AB  - The members of the Project Team realize that this is a very different concept
      than that to which members are accustomed. The details of such a change would be
      developed with member input, and the new structure would be phased in over a
      period of several years to be fully implemented by the year 2000.

PMID- 1463325
TI  - The greening of the OR. Reduce, reuse, recycle.

PMID- 1463326
TI  - Laparoscopic colotomy, polypectomy. Innovative minimally invasive procedure.

PMID- 1463327
TI  - Breaking the time barrier. Learning from a new product evaluation.

PMID- 1463328
TI  - Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing--AORN's ultimate prize.
AB  - Excellence should be part of our daily practice. Through sharing of knowledge,
      ideas, and information, private excellence is transformed into public excellence
      and deserves recognition. AORN recognizes that many individuals have and do make
      a difference in their individual practice settings as well as by their national
      influence. The importance of recognizing members for their contributions to
      perioperative nursing is evidenced by the addition of the two new awards and the
      many other individual awards given by the Association. The importance of peer
      recognition and participation in the selection process for the awards cannot be
      underestimated. The Award for Excellence Committee encourages your continued
      involvement in the nomination process. Excellence is not just for a chosen few!
      It is something each of us is capable of doing each day. What we need to do now
      is to recognize it in ourselves and others and to accord those who display this
      quality the recognition they deserve.

PMID- 1463329
TI  - Recommended practices. Sanitation in the surgical practice setting.

PMID- 1463330
TI  - Recommended practices. Selection and use of packaging systems.

PMID- 1463331
TI  - Clinical issues: risks of donor organs; tuberculosis in the OR; unexplained
      immunodeficiency states; the HIV-infected health care worker.

PMID- 1463332
TI  - Ownership rights to tissue specimens.

PMID- 1463333
TI  - [Current status of research on cancer metastasis].
AB  - Metastasis is the most critical problem for the oncologists to treat cancer
      patients. The processes of cancer invasion and metastasis consist of a long
      series of sequential, interrelated, and complicated steps. Understanding the
      mechanisms responsible for cancer invasion and metastasis is, therefore, a
      primary goal of cancer research and will produce new approaches to control and
      inhibit cancer metastasis. Massive investigations are being carried out for
      cancer metastasis. Recently many investigations on the research fields other than
      cancer result in being related with metastasis research. We reviewed the current
      findings, including our data, on the research for cancer metastasis and discussed
      the current status of the research.

PMID- 1463334
TI  - [Epidemiology of pancreatic cancer].
AB  - Pancreatic cancer has been increasing in recent years in Japan. The number of
      pancreatic cancer deaths in 1990 was 13,318, accounting for 6.1% of all cancer
      deaths in Japan. The increasing trend of pancreatic cancer mortality is observed
      more markedly in the elderly population over 60 years of age, and especially in
      persons over 80. Possible reasons for the increase of pancreatic cancer were
      discussed. The geographic distributions of pancreatic cancer mortality in Japan
      and around the world indicate that the mortality is higher in northern Japan and
      even higher as the latitude increases. Some possible reasons for the inverse
      relationship between the pancreatic cancer mortality and the latitude were
      discussed. From epidemiological studies several risk factors for pancreatic
      cancer were reported; smoking, drinking, excess intake of meat and cholesterol,
      coffee, radiation, cholecystectomy, etc. However, more epidemiological studies
      are needed to identify and confirm risk factors for pancreatic cancer and to
      promote primary prevention of pancreatic cancer.

PMID- 1463335
TI  - [Treatment and present status of pancreatic cancer].
AB  - The Pancreatic Cancer Registry of the Japan Pancreas Society registered 11,317
      patients of pancreatic cancer during these ten years. Among these patients,
      resectional procedures were performed on only 3,743 cases (33.1%). The actual 5
      year survival rate of the patients who underwent resection was 16.6%. As for
      small cancer which was less than 2cm, the 5-year survival rate was 41.0%. In
      pancreatic cancer local recurrence was more frequent than other cancers of
      pancreatic head lesions. Extended operation which means lymphangiectomy more than
      R2 has not improved survival rate generally But some patients who underwent
      extended operation have survived long period. Multi-disciplinary treatment of
      pancreatic cancer has been tried.

PMID- 1463336
TI  - [Selection of methods for diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer].
AB  - The prognosis for ductal cancer of the pancreas is extremely poor. Diagnosis of
      pancreatic cancer in the earlier stages has become possible by taking note of
      early symptoms, mild abdominal pain, back pain, anorexia, diabetes and
      obstructive jaundice. Presently, measurements of amylase in serum and urine,
      serum elastase-1, serum CA 19-9 and US are usually used for screening patients
      with the symptoms. Furthermore, for correct diagnosis, intensive study by US,
      dynamic CT, ERCP, MRI, cytological examination and CEA of pancreatic juice,
      endoscopic pancreatoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography are used. The results of
      surgical treatment for resectable pancreatic cancer are not generally favorable.
      Extended pancreatic resection (pancreatoduodenectomy, total pancreatectomy or
      distal pancreatectomy) with en bloc dissection of the lymph nodes has been
      performed for patients with invasive cancer. However, local recurrence and
      distant metastasis usually occurred after surgery. It seems difficult to cure
      pancreatic cancer by surgery alone. To improve the prognosis of resectable
      pancreatic cancer, multimodality treatment with intraoperative radiation therapy
      and chemotherapy is performed and a better outcome is achieved.

PMID- 1463337
TI  - [Involvement of lymph nodes and neural plexus in carcinoma of the pancreas].
AB  - We studied 428 lymph nodes attached to the head of the pancreas (13,14,17) in 18
      patients with ductal carcinoma of the pancreatic head. These were classified into
      the small size of the lymph nodes less than 5mm (group S), the moderate size of
      the lymph nodes (group M) and the large size of the lymph nodes more than 10 mm
      (group L). The metastases were seen in 76 nodes, which consisted of 49 with group
      S, 14 with group M and 13 with group L. The lymph node involvement in group (14)
      S was found in 7 of 18 patients (38.9%), that in group (14) M was in 4 (22.2%)
      and that in group (14) L was in 2 (11.1%). In these involved cases, the primary
      tumors tended to be locate in the portion near the superior mesenteric artery,
      such as in the uncinate process. Invasion of extrapancreatic neural plexus was
      noted in 9 of 18 patients (50%). There was no significant correlation between
      nerve plexus invasion and lymphatic invasion by Spearman's rank correlation. In
      addition, any close relationship between plexus invasion and primary tumor
      location could not be indicated. These results suggested that neural invasion in
      pancreatic carcinoma is independent of lymphatic invasion, and the routes of
      cancer spread via the neural plexus are different from those via the lymphatic
      vessels. Those without liver metastases survived longer than those with liver
      metastases, which were characteristically multiple.

PMID- 1463338
TI  - [Extensive radical surgery for carcinomas of the head of the pancreas].
AB  - Since 1973, we have applied extensive radical surgery for the head of the
      pancreas in order to improve not only the resection rate but also the surgical
      therapeutic results. The main points of our surgical procedure are as follows:
      (1) complete resection of surrounding connective tissues in retroperitoneum
      including extrapancreatic neural plexus. (2) extensive lymph node dissection, and
      (3) combined resection of the portal vein. As a result, our 3-year survival rate
      has increased to 31.4% and the 5-year survival rate to 27.9% in patients who
      underwent the macroscopically complete resection. These surgical therapeutic
      results are not satisfactory, but we have had 10 patients who survived more than
      3 years. It is also true, however, that this procedure is extremely invasive and
      requires careful, long-term nutritional management after surgery. Therefore, the
      cooperation of not only the patients themselves but also their families is
      indispensable for the success of the treatment.

PMID- 1463340
TI  - [Radiation therapy of pancreatic cancer].
AB  - We have been using external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and intraoperative
      radiotherapy (IORT) for both resectable and unresectable pancreatic cancer
      patients. EBRT (50-60 Gy) was combined with IORT (25-33 Gy) whenever possible,
      but otherwise EBRT or IORT was given alone. In patients with unresectable tumor
      but no distant metastasis, the median survival time (MST) was 7.5 months (M) for
      the EBRT group and 9 M for the EBRT+IORT group. These MST's were significantly
      longer than the MST of 3 M of patients who had been treated without radiation
      (historical control). In non-Stage IV patients undergoing non-curative resection,
      the MST was 12.5 M for the EBRT group, 15.5 M for the EBRT+IORT group, and 7 M
      for the historical control. In patients undergoing macroscopic curative
      resection, the MST was 14 M for the EBRT group, 10 M for the EBRT+IORT group, and
      10.5 M for the historical control. In Stage IV patients (with distant
      metastasis), the MST was 4.5 M for the EBRT group, 4 M for the EBRT+IORT group, 2
      M for the IORT group, and 2.5 M for the historical control. Thus, radiotherapy
      appeared useful especially in non-Stage IV patients undergoing non-curative or no
      resection. A decrease or relief of pain was obtained in 90% of patients with
      unresectable lesions. Radiotherapy seems to play an important role in the
      treatment of pancreatic cancer but more aggressive combined treatment seems to be
      necessary to further improve the dismal prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients.

PMID- 1463339
TI  - [Chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic carcinoma].
AB  - In advanced pancreatic cancer, chemotherapy has no curative potential, and the
      goal is to palliate symptoms or delay their onset so as to improve the quality of
      life of patients. There is no standard chemotherapeutic regimen with a clear
      advantage in survival prolongation or response rate, over any other regimen.
      Moreover, difficulties in determining the chemotherapeutic response have made
      accurate determination of the response rate virtually impossible for each trial.
      5-FU and MMC are two main drugs so far in single-agent chemotherapy, but
      streptozotocin, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, epirubicin and CDDP are also
      investigated. FAM and SMF are the representative regimen of combination
      chemotherapy, but recently FP or biochemical modulation have been under close
      scruting. For greater improvement of chemotherapy, a new drug or combined
      modality approach is awaited.

PMID- 1463341
TI  - [Sensitivity test for anti-tumor agents-3. MTT assay and its clinical effect].
AB  - MTT assay, a sensitivity test of anti-tumor agents was performed, and its
      clinical usefulness, was discussed. In 15 surgical specimens, the cell
      suspensions were prepared aseptically, and divided into three processing; namely,
      Papanicolaou (Pap) smears to confirm the malignant cells, MTT assay, and cell
      cultures in chamber slides. MTT assay was evaluated only when tumor cells in the
      chamber slide were observed 50% or more by Pap staining. Drugs judged to be
      effective were applied for patients, resulting in 64.2% of predictive accuracy in
      the sensitivity. Conclusions; 1) MTT assay was developed for sensitivity test of
      anti-tumor agents, 2) Strict assessment was carried out by the confirmation of
      cancer cells using chamber slides, 3) On clinical usefulness, predictability for
      the sensitivity was 64.2%, that for resistance was 100%, and over all
      predictability was 66.7% 4) MTT assay was useful for the determination of
      effective and for elimination of ineffective drugs.

PMID- 1463342
TI  - [Pharmacokinetics of carboplatin after intraperitoneal administration and
      clinical effect in ovarian cancer].
AB  - The patients with ovarian cancer are apt to combine peritonitis carcinomatosa
      (PC). The effect of intraperitoneal (IP) administration of CDDP against
      peritonitis carcinomatosa was examined. Hydration was not necessary when CBDCA
      was injected, because nephrotoxicity of CBDCA was very low compared to CDDP. We
      studied pharmacokinetics of IP-CBCCA and its efficacy and safety. Four hundreds
      and fifty mg of CBDCA was dissolved in 1,000 ml of saline and administrated
      through the subcutaneously implanted Infuse-A-Port for 60 minutes. Complete
      response was 25%. The platinum concentration in the ascites (injected saline)
      decreased to 90.8 micrograms/ml at 2 hr after administration and to 3.8
      micrograms/ml at 24 hrs, and 79.7 97.5% existed as free Pt. The concentration of
      serous Pt reached to 6.2 micrograms/ml at 15 min. and was kept at 6-8
      micrograms/ml. and 52.4-92.7% existed as free Pt in serum. Pt was excreted to
      urine and reached to the peak concentration at 4 hr. Adverse effect was mainly
      myelotoxicity without renal toxicity and emesis. Leukocytopenia of grade 4 was
      14.3%, thrombocytopenia was 25.0%. We tried IP administration to the outpatients.
      The doses were mainly 300 mg, but in some cases, it was escalated to 450 mg,
      Adverse effect of 300 mg was thrombocytopenia of grade 4 (4.8%). These results
      suggest that IP administration of CBDCA seemed to be a new method as locosystemic
      chemotherapy. We demonstrated new chemotherapeutic method to outpatients.

PMID- 1463343
TI  - [Phase I study of NK 622 (toremifene citrate)].
AB  - A phase I study of NK 622 (toremifene citrate), a novel antiestrogen, was
      conducted in female patients with cancer. Patients received a single oral dosing
      or daily once oral dosing for five consecutive days. Any adverse effects were not
      experienced in the single dosing of 40 or 60 mg of NK 622. In the daily
      administration of 10, 20, 40, 60, 120, 240 and 480 mg/day, one of three patients
      who received 20 mg/day experienced grade 1 anorexia, three of four patients
      received 240 mg/day experienced adverse effects: Grade 1 leukopenia in one
      patient, Grade 1 general hot flush in one patient, and Grade 1 nausea, hot flush
      in the face and vertigo, Grade 2 anorexia, fatigue, dull headache and general hot
      flush in another one patient. These symptoms recovered to normal levels after
      treatment. Serum hormone levels were examined in postmenopausal patients, and a
      significant increase of the sex hormone binding globulin level was observed in
      the patients received 120 and 240 mg/day doses. Serum levels of NK 622 determined
      as free base (TOR) reached the peak levels in 2 to 4 hours after administration
      on the 1st and 5th day in daily treatment, while a metabolite N
      demethyltoremifene (TOR-1) reached the peak level in 4 to 170 hours. Maximum
      serum levels and area under the concentration versus time curves of TOR and TOR-1
      increased dose-dependently. These values also increased by repetition of the
      treatment. Half-lives of TOR and TOR-1 in serum ranged in 74.5 to 148.9 hours and
      154.1 to 653.1 hours, respectively. From these results, it was concluded that
      safety and efficacy of NK 622 should be assessed by using 240 mg or less doses in
      clinical phase II studies where breast cancer patients received long term
      treatment with NK 622.

PMID- 1463344
TI  - [The pharmacokinetics of intraperitoneal (IP) carboplatin (CBDCA) and dose-up
      study of intravenous (IV) cyclophosphamide (CPM) in combination with IP CBCDA for
      advanced ovarian cancer patients].
AB  - The pharmacokinetics of IP CBDCA was compared with IV CBDCA and a dose-up study
      of IV CPM was performed in combination with 400 mg/m2 IP CBDCA for advanced
      ovarian cancer patients. The maximum concentration of free platinum (F-Pt) in
      serum following IP CBDCA administration was approximately 1/3 that of F-Pt
      following IV CBDCA. F-Pt in serum remained more than 90% of total platinum
      following IP CBDCA until 12 hours after administration. The t1/2 of F-Pt in serum
      after IP CBDCA administration was two times longer when compared with t1/2
      following IV CBDCA, showing the slow peritoneal clearance of CBDCA. The area
      under curve (AUC) following IP CBDCA was approximately 67% of AUC following IV
      CBDCA. Cumulative urinary secretion (CUS) of platinum following IP CBDCA was 37%
      of CUS after IV CBDCA. The maximum tolerable dose of IV CPM in combination with
      400 mg/m2 IP CBDCA was 550-600 mg/m2. The dose limiting factor of this
      combination therapy was leukocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia was mild in this study.
      Combination of 400 mg/m2 IP CBDCA and 550-600 mg/m2 seemed to be a tolerable and
      repeatable therapy for most patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma. Since
      thrombocytopenia was mild and the pharmacokinetics showed the smaller AUC of free
      platinum in serum following IP CBDCA, a dose-up study for IP CBDCA should be
      considered.

PMID- 1463345
TI  - [Salvage therapy for recurrent or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with
      etoposide, methotrexate, vindesine and prednisolone (EMVP)].
AB  - Seventeen patients with recurrent or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were
      treated with EMVP (Etoposide 75 mg/m2 i.v. d 1-5, Methotrexate 100mg/m2 i.v. d 1,
      Vindesine 3 mg/body i.v. d 1, Prednisolone 60 mg/m2 p.o. d 1-5), repeating every
      3 weeks. Six complete responses (35%) and five partial responses (30%) were
      obtained with an overall response rate of 65%. The median duration of response
      was 26 months (range 8-49+months) for complete response (CR) and 4 months (range
      2-6 months) for partial response (PR). The median duration of survival was 31
      months for CR, 11 months for PR and 10 months for all patients, respectively. The
      major toxic effect was myelosuppression. Leukopenia less than 1,000/mm3 and
      thrombocytopenia less than 25,000/mm3 occurred in 5 and 3 patients, respectively.
      The other toxicities were alopecia, nausea and mucositis. However, these
      toxicities were well tolerated and clinically manageable. These results suggested
      that EMVP therapy was an effective regimen for patients with recurrent or
      refractory lymphoma.

PMID- 1463346
TI  - [A case of renal cell carcinoma with lung metastasis and local recurrence
      effectively treated with nephrectomy and UFT].
AB  - A 74-year-old woman was admitted on July 18, 1989 for an abnormality on her chest
      roentgenogram. Right renal tumor with bilateral pulmonary metastasis was detected
      and right nephrectomy was performed. Because of the progression of pulmonary
      metastasis and the local recurrence after surgery, UFT was orally administered at
      a dose of 300 mg everyday since Dec. 12, 1989. The chest roentgenogram on Nov.
      21, 1990 showed progression of lung lesions. But at the 20 th month after the
      beginning of chemotherapy, both lung lesions disappeared completely and local
      recurrence around the operative wound strikingly improved. This is a rare case of
      renal cell carcinoma with local recurrence and lung metastasis successfully
      treated with UFT.

PMID- 1463347
TI  - [A case of adenocarcinoma of lung cancer with multiple brain metastasis and
      lymphangitis carcinomatosa responding well to chemotherapy with carboplatin,
      etoposide and ifosfamide].
AB  - A 75-year-old male who suffered from adenocarcinoma of lung cancer with multiple
      brain metastases, developed left hemiplegia. After diagnosis, he was treated with
      4,000 cGy whole brain radiation, but soon after advanced lymphangitis
      carcinomatosa set in and his general condition deteriorated. He was administered
      carboplatin combination with etoposide and ifosfamide. Lymphangitis carcinomatosa
      disappeared, and the main tumor of lung and brain metastases were not growing. We
      recommended carboplatin for an old patient or one in poor condition, because it
      had less cytotoxicity and retained the same antitumor activity compared with
      cisplatin.

PMID- 1463348
TI  - [Case report of a successful stage reduction of gastric carcinoma preoperatively
      treated by combined chemotherapy of 5-FU(UFT) and cisplatin].
AB  - A 52-year-old woman was diagnosed to have IIc+IIa-like advanced gastric carcinoma
      in the upper stomach by X-ray and endoscopic examination with biopsy. CT scan
      revealed swelling of the para-aortic lymph nodes which was taken to be evidence
      of metastases of the gastric carcinoma. The patient was considered to have
      surgically non-curative gastric carcinoma (Stage IV), and preoperative
      chemotherapy was initiated. The regimen consisted of CDDP 50 mg (day 1-2, drip),
      5-FU 750 mg (day 2-7, drip) and UFT 400 mg (from day 8 to the day before
      operation, oral). About one month after initiating treatment, total gastrectomy
      with lymph node dissection was performed. Histopathological examination of the
      section of the primary tumor revealed that only a few cancer cell nests (poorly
      differentiated adenocarcinoma) remained in the muscle and subserosal layer. In
      all of the lymph nodes which were suspected to have metastases preoperatively,
      cancer cells completely degenerated into mucinous lakes or foam cell nests. No
      liver metastasis nor peritoneal dissemination was detected, and this case was
      judged to be stage II after chemotherapy.

PMID- 1463349
TI  - [A case of gastric carcinoma with peritonitis carcinomatosa responding remarkably
      to etoposide, adriamycin and cisplatin (EAP) therapy].
AB  - The patient was a 62-year-old male who had Borrmann 4 type gastric cancer. He
      presented massive ascites due to peritonitis carcinomatosa and the cytology of
      ascites was class V. He was treated with 3 courses of EAP (etoposide, adriamycin,
      cisplatin) therapy. Computed tomography showed ascites nearly disappeared.
      Remarkable improvement was observed by barium meal study and endoscopic
      examination, and partial remission (PR) was achieved. As for toxicity bone marrow
      suppression, alopecia and elevation of BUN were observed.

PMID- 1463350
TI  - [Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions: predictable variable of extent of
      lymph node metastasis in breast cancer].

PMID- 1463351
TI  - Current practices for the prevention and treatment of malaria in children and in
      pregnant women in the Brazzaville Region (Congo).
AB  - Current practices for the prevention and treatment of malaria in children and in
      pregnant women in the Brazzaville Region (Congo) were studied in 1989 and 1990.
      Information was obtained by interviewing a total of 1152 subjects. Overall,
      chemoprophylaxis was used less than was the systematic treatment of fever. Fever
      was treated before seeking medical advice in over 50% of the cases. Two-thirds of
      those interviewed reported that they slept under mosquito nets. Families with
      lower socio-economic standards were less likely to use chemoprophylaxis, to have
      antimalarials in the home, and to own mosquito nets; and they were more likely to
      prefer injections and to purchase drugs in the local markets.

PMID- 1463352
TI  - The in vitro and in vivo antimalarial activity of some Mannich bases derived from
      4-(7'-trifluoromethyl-1',5'-naphthyridin-4'-ylamino)phenol, 2-(7'-trifluoromethyl
      quinolin-4'-ylamino)phenol, and 4'-chloro-5-(7''-trifluoromethylquinolin-4''
      ylamino)biphenyl -2-ols.
AB  - A series of di-Mannich base derivatives (4 and 5) from 4-(7'-trifluoromethyl
      1',5'-naphthyridin-4'-ylamino)phenol and 2-(7'-trifluoromethylquinolin-4'
      ylamino)phenol, respectively, and mono-Mannich base derivatives (6) from 4'
      chloro-5-(7''-trifluoromethylquinolin-4''- ylamino)biphenyl-2-ol were assayed for
      activity against the chloroquine-sensitive (FCQ-27) isolate of cultured
      Plasmodium falciparum using the inhibition of uptake of radiolabelled
      hypoxanthine. All seven di-Mannich base derivatives (5) revealed a higher
      activity than chloroquine, whereas the di-Mannich base derivatives (4) were
      slightly less active (with some derivatives more active and some less active than
      chloroquine). The mono-Mannich base derivatives (6) were less active than
      chloroquine. Comparative tests of selected compounds of (4 and 5) using a
      morphological assay revealed no significant differences in activity between the
      chloroquine-sensitive (FCQ-27) and chloroquine-resistant (K-1) isolates. Selected
      di-Mannich bases (4 and 5) and the mono-Mannich bases 5-7''-bromo (and 7
      trifluoromethyl)-1'',5''-naphthyridin-4''-ylamino)-3-(t- butylaminomethyl)-4'
      chlorobiphenyl-2-ols (7, X = Br, CF3) markedly suppressed parasitaemia in
      Plasmodium vinckei vinckei infected mice when administered (i.p.) in a single
      dose of 200 mg kg-1.

PMID- 1463353
TI  - The isoenzyme characteristics of Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma equiperdum
      isolated from domestic stocks in China.
AB  - Twelve stocks of Trypanosoma evansi and one of Trypanosoma equiperdum isolated
      from domestic animals in China were examined for 16 enzymes using cellulose
      acetate and thin-layer starch gel electrophoresis. Differences were seen between
      stocks in only two of the enzymes, MDH and ALAT. Three of the T. evansi stocks,
      isolated from buffalo, and the T. equiperdum stock had the unusual pattern MDH-3,
      while all the other Chinese stocks had the common MDH-1. Two other stocks of T.
      evansi and again the T. equiperdum, all from equines, showed a new pattern ALAT
      14. Otherwise the Chinese stocks had the same enzyme profile as T. evansi from
      elsewhere.

PMID- 1463354
TI  - Effects of long-term in vitro cultivation on the virulence of cloned lines of
      Leishmania major promastigotes.
AB  - The virulences of several clones from a single Leishmania major strain were
      studied in BALB/c mice. Clones showed the same pattern of infectivity and
      virulence two months after cloning as the parental population. After prolonged in
      vitro culture, however, it was apparent that two types of virulent clones
      existed: although the level of virulence remained stable in some clones, in
      others, such as C-11, it progressively decreased, as in the parental population.
      The progressive loss in virulence in a continuously cultured mixed population was
      probably due to selection, as the initial mixture of a stable virulent clone and
      a stable avirulent clone eventually yielded a totally avirulent promastigote
      population. After cultivation for 12 months, neither clone C-11 nor the parental
      population produced lesions in inoculated mice but virulent parasites were
      recovered from the inguinal nodes of the mice, possibly as a result of selection
      in vivo for virulent parasites.

PMID- 1463355
TI  - Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis: a neglected aspect of kala-azar control
      programmes.
AB  - Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) was studied in relation to the kala
      azar epidemic in Bihar, India. Between 1970 and 1989, 530 individuals, 302 males
      and 228 females, were admitted to the hospital of Patna Medical College with
      PKDL, the number of cases steadily rising from two in 1970 to 59 in 1989. The age
      of the patients varied from four to 70 years, with 33% aged 11-20 years and 16% 0
      10 years. The prevalence of kala-azar in India also increased in the same period,
      mostly as the result of an epidemic of the disease in Bihar. There were no cases
      of this disease admitted to Patna Medical College from 1958-1970, it having
      become rare in India in the 1950s, possibly as a result of the DDT sprayed during
      the National Malaria Eradication Programme. In the period 1977-1990, however,
      there were 301,076 cases of kala-azar reported in Bihar alone, with a mortality
      rate over 2% (compared with 31,074 cases and a mortality rate below 0.4% for the
      rest of India). It seems possible that, once DDT spraying stopped, the re
      establishment of large sandfly population and infection of these vectors, largely
      as a result of them feeding on cases of PKDL, provoked the resurgence of kala
      azar. The study emphasizes the need to search for cases of PKDL, even in young
      children, and to monitor and effectively treat them as part of kala-azar control
      programmes. All patients could be cured if treated with the right dosage for the
      right period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1463356
TI  - Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kabul: observations on a 'prolonged epidemic'.
AB  - Cutaneous leishmaniasis cases in Kabul have increased steadily in number since
      the first report, in 1964. This increase is despite insecticide application in
      houses and intensive detection and treatment of cases. The age distribution of
      infection remains as it was in 1972, and approximates that of the Afghan
      population. There is no evidence of accumulating immunity in the population.
      Multiple lesions are infrequent, but commoner on older people, and tend to be
      located on the arms and legs rather than the head. A house-to-house survey failed
      to distinguish risk factors promoting infection. Clustering of lesions on
      individuals and in households is interpreted as being due to multiple bites from
      a single infected sandfly. Phlebotomus sergenti numbers were strongly correlated
      with rainfall in the previous winter, but not with numbers of cases or numbers of
      houses sprayed. It is suggested that Leishmania tropica is at the limit of its
      range in Kabul and only remains endemic because of the rapid turnover of people
      in the City.

PMID- 1463357
TI  - Prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica and other intestinal parasites in a community
      from Maracaibo, Venezuela.
AB  - The prevalences of Entamoeba histolytica and other intestinal parasites were
      assessed in a suburban community of Maracaibo, Venezuela, by examination of a
      stool specimen from each of 342 individuals, using iron-haematoxylin stained
      faecal smears and formalin-ether concentration. The overall parasitic infection
      rate was 80.4%, and 65.8% of the population had multiple infections. The overall
      amoebic infection rate, which was highest in female adults, averaged 39.7%. The
      E. histolytica infection rate was 8.7% and most of those infected were passing
      cysts. Entamoeba polecki was observed in two samples. Amongst the protozoa,
      Entamoeba coli was observed most frequently (24.8%) and Giardia lamblia was the
      predominant pathogen (13.0%). Trichuris trichiura (71.9%) and Ascaris
      lumbricoides (54%) were the most common parasites, particularly in school
      children. The high rates of parasitic and multiple infections reflect the low
      socio-economic status of the community studied.

PMID- 1463358
TI  - Prevalence of human hydatid disease in northwestern Libya: a cross-sectional
      ultrasound study.
AB  - A total of 4103 people were screened in an ultrasound survey of the prevalence of
      hydatid disease (Echinococcus granulosus) in five areas of northwestern Libya;
      hydatid cysts were seen in 57 (1.4%), an overall prevalence of approximately 2.0%
      when adjusted for the likelihood of the occurrence of cysts in other sites in the
      body. All ultrasound-positive cases were confirmed by dot-blot ELISA. The
      prevalence of hydatid cysts increased with age, and differed between the sexes
      except in the five to 14 age group. All diagnosed cases, even those with large
      cysts, were asymptomatic. This study demonstrates the value of ultrasonography
      for screening field populations for hydatid disease. The technique was well
      received locally, facilitating the rapid collection of prevalence data from all
      ages and both sexes. Libyan people keep guard dogs, but there is little direct
      human:dog contact. Many people own a single dog, invariably kept outside and
      often chained up. Stray dogs are common, roaming the countryside to scavenge
      sheep carcases etc., and such dogs could be the main reservoir of E. granulosus
      in Libya. Because of the minimal direct human:dog contact, transmission of
      hydatid disease in Libya is probably indirect by ingestion of eggs from
      contaminated vegetables or drinking water.

PMID- 1463359
TI  - A survey of the intestinal helminths of refugees in Juba, Sudan.
AB  - A parasitological survey of refugees based in Juba, Sudan, involving 241 faecal
      samples, revealed that 66% of the population harboured intestinal helminths. The
      most commonly found infection was hookworm (36%), followed by Schistosoma mansoni
      (26%), Strongyloides stercoralis (20%), Hymenolepis nana (11%), Ascaris
      lumbricoides (1.2%), Trichuris trichiura (0.8%) and Taenia sp. (0.4%). Many of
      the specimens (42%) harboured a single infection, 21% had double, 2% triple and
      1% quadruple infections. Parasite prevalences and intensities were analysed in
      relation to age, sex, religion and occupation: females (70%) were found to be
      more infected than males (64%); Muslims (50%) were less infected than Christians
      (68%) and agriculturalists (90%) were the most infected occupational group.

PMID- 1463360
TI  - Helminth parasites of carnivores in northern Iran.
AB  - A total of 100 jackals, 35 stray dogs, 13 cats, two badgers, one fox and one wild
      cat were collected from two provinces in northern Iran. On post mortem
      examination 41 species of helminths were recovered, at least 12 of which have
      been reported infecting humans in various countries. Hookworms were the most
      commonly found parasites, and Echinococcus granulosus showed the highest
      intensity of infection. Seven helminth species from jackals, three species from
      dogs, four species from cats and four species from badgers are reported for the
      first time in Iran.

PMID- 1463361
TI  - Diethylcarbamazine treatment of bancroftian and malayan filariasis with emphasis
      on side effects.
AB  - A total of 1015 filarial carriers were hospitalized and treated with DEC either
      in a long course with light doses (6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 mg kg-1 b.w. divided into
      three doses daily for seven days) or in a short course with heavy doses (15 mg kg
      1 b.w. once daily for one, two or three days). The efficacy of the long course
      (85%) was much higher than that of the short course (59%); but the reaction rate
      following the heavy dose (87%) was higher than that following the light dose
      (72%). For Brugia malayi infections the overall efficacy was 92% and the reaction
      rate 82%, for mixed infections the respective rates were 85% and 77%, and for
      Wuchereria bancrofti infections 82% and 69%. The cure rates decreased from 93% in
      carriers with one to 10 microfilariae in 60 microns blood to 63% in those with
      over 100 Mff in 60 microns blood. Febrile reactions developed in 92% of carriers
      with mixed infections, in 91% of those with B. malayi, and in 84% of those with
      W. bancrofti. Overall, 63% of those treated were free of microfilariae on the
      last day of treatment, and 92% were free 48 months after treatment.

PMID- 1463362
TI  - Prevalence of dracunculiasis among Nigerian school children as an index of
      prevalence in their communities of origin.
AB  - A survey of dracunculiasis was carried out among pupils in their schools and
      among adults in the communities from which the pupils came, to determine whether
      the prevalence of infection in the pupils was a good index of the prevalence in
      their village. No significant difference was observed between the prevalence of
      current infection in pupils and that in their village of origin, although in some
      instances there were significant differences between the prevalence of previous
      infection in pupils and that in the corresponding village communities. The
      relevance and possible benefits of the rapid assessment of the prevalence of
      dracunculiasis obtained by a survey of school children are discussed.

PMID- 1463363
TI  - Distribution of hookworm infection in Cameroon.
AB  - Prevalence of hookworm infection was measured in Cameroon during a national
      survey carried out for a schistosomiasis research project. The survey provided a
      representative sample of the 10-19 year age group for each one of the 49
      administrative divisions. Prevalences were low in the Extreme North province with
      a sahelian climate. Prevalences were high in the provinces with an equatorial
      climate except for the Centre province which is more developed. Regions with
      tropical Cameroonian climate, which receive a very heavy rainfall, showed the
      highest prevalences. Urbanized areas had lower infection rates than rural areas.
      It should not be assumed that hookworm prevalence is uniformly high throughout a
      tropical country. Since hookworm distribution shows wide variations, large
      control programmes should start with a thorough evaluation of the situation.

PMID- 1463364
TI  - A mark-release-recapture experiment with Anopheles lesteri paraliae in northwest
      Peninsular Malaysia.
AB  - In a coastal village in northwest Malaysia, 3231 fed Anopheles females of eight
      to 10 species were collected, marked with fluorescent dust, and released on three
      consecutive nights. In collections made on the 10 nights after the first release,
      58 mosquitoes of three species, An. lesteri paraliae, An. subpictus and An.
      vagus, were recaptured; the recapture rates were 3.42%, 1.19% and 0.97%,
      respectively. The data for An. subpictus and An. vagus were insufficient for
      further analysis. Those for An. l. paraliae were plotted against time of
      recapture and, from the regression coefficient, an estimate of 0.68 was obtained
      for the daily survival rate. An independent estimate based on the parous rate
      during the previous year was 0.55. The temporal distribution of the recaptures
      strongly suggested a gonotrophic cycle and oviposition cycle of two days.

PMID- 1463365
TI  - The thigmotropic oviposition response of the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis
      (Diptera: Psychodidae) to crevices.
AB  - Two experiments were carried out to investigate if Lutzomyia longipalpis would be
      attracted and stimulated to lay eggs in crevices. In the first experiment,
      females were introduced into a chamber and offered the choice of oviposition in a
      test site consisting of artificial crevices, and an open control site.
      Significantly more eggs were laid in the crevices of the test site than in the
      control site. In the second experiment, females were individually isolated in
      vials containing vertically placed filter papers, either folded to provide
      artificial crevices or arranged to offer two flat surfaces. The females isolated
      with the folded papers laid significantly more eggs than those isolated with the
      flat papers. The post-oviposition survival rates of both groups of females were,
      however, similar. It is suggested that the oviposition preference of the fly for
      the surface crevices was due to thigmotropic behaviour.

PMID- 1463366
TI  - Reactivity of PHA-stimulated mononuclear cells from Schistosoma mansoni infected
      patients evaluated by blastogenesis and [3H]-inositol incorporation into
      inositolpolyphosphates.

PMID- 1463367
TI  - Videomicroscopy of intralymphatic-dwelling Brugia malayi.

PMID- 1463368
TI  - Evidence for a differential release of nitric oxide and vasoactive intestinal
      polypeptide by nonadrenergic noncholinergic nerves in the rat gastric fundus.
AB  - The roles of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and nitric oxide (NO) in
      nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) nerve-mediated relaxations were investigated
      in longitudinal muscle strips of the rat gastric fundus. Transmural stimulation
      (1-16 Hz for 2 min), VIP and noradrenaline evoked a prolonged relaxation of the
      rat gastric fundus, whereas NO evoked a transient relaxation. Only the
      electrically induced responses were blocked by tetrodotoxin. The inhibitor of NO
      biosynthesis NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) preferentially inhibited the relaxations
      induced by low frequency stimulation. In contrast, trypsin mainly reduced the
      electrically induced relaxations to high frequency stimulation; the NANC
      relaxations resistant to trypsin were further inhibited by L-NNA. VIP-induced
      relaxations were abolished by trypsin, but remained unaffected by L-NNA. NO- or
      noradrenaline-induced relaxations were not inhibited by either L-NNA or trypsin
      alone, whereas the combination of L-NNA and trypsin slightly reduced the
      noradrenaline-induced responses. These results suggest that NANC responses in the
      rat gastric fundus at low frequency are mediated mainly by NO, whereas at higher
      frequency NO together with a peptide, probably VIP, are released.

PMID- 1463369
TI  - Tolerance to the increase in coronary blood flow induced by KRN2391.
AB  - We examined whether KRN2391, isosorbide dinitrate and nitroglycerin induced
      tolerance in coronary arteries. Intracoronary arterial administration of KRN2391
      (1 microgram), isosorbide dinitrate (30 micrograms) or nitroglycerin (3
      micrograms) produced equipotent coronary vasodilatation. Development of tolerance
      was determined by whether the increase in coronary blood flow, caused by
      intracoronary arterial administration of these drugs, was attenuated by
      intravenous infusion of KRN2391, isosorbide dinitrate or nitroglycerin. The
      increase in coronary blood flow, caused by intracoronary arterial administration
      of KRN2391 was not affected by intravenous infusion of KRN2391 (0.3 or 1
      micrograms/kg/min), isosorbide dinitrate (30 or 100 micrograms/kg/min) or
      nitroglycerin (1 or 3 micrograms/kg/min). The increase in coronary blood flow,
      caused by intracoronary arterial administration of isosorbide dinitrate or
      nitroglycerin, was significantly diminished by intravenous infusion of isosorbide
      dinitrate and nitroglycerin, but was unaffected by intravenous infusion of
      KRN2391. The present results suggest that KRN2391 does not induce acute tolerance
      by itself or cross-tolerance between KRN2391 and other nitrates.

PMID- 1463370
TI  - Comparative cardiovascular effects of KRN2391 and other coronary vasodilators in
      anesthetized open-chest dogs.
AB  - The effect of KRN2391 [N-cyano-N'-(2-nitroxyethyl)-3-pyridinecarboximidamide
      monomethanesulfonate] on the cardiovascular system and on myocardial oxygen
      consumption was compared with that of nicorandil and nifedipine in anesthetized
      dogs. Intravenous administration of KRN2391 (3-30 micrograms/kg) and nifedipine
      (1 and 3 micrograms/kg) decreased mean aortic blood pressure and total peripheral
      vascular resistance, and increased coronary blood flow, cardiac output and stroke
      volume. Heart rate was not significantly affected by KRN2391, but slightly
      increased by 1 microgram/kg of nifedipine. Nicorandil (100 and 300 micrograms/kg,
      intravenously) decreased mean aortic blood pressure, cardiac output, stroke
      volume and total peripheral vascular resistance, but did not affect heart rate.
      Nicorandil also showed a tendency to decrease coronary blood flow after an
      initial increase. All drugs tested decreased the difference in oxygen
      concentration between arterial and coronary sinus blood, indicating that these
      drugs increased the oxygen supply to the heart. Myocardial oxygen consumption was
      significantly decreased by more than 10 micrograms/kg of KRN2391, but was not
      affected by nifedipine. Nicorandil showed a tendency to decrease the myocardial
      oxygen consumption, though not significantly. Thus, KRN2391 may be useful to
      treat ischemic heart disease, because it increases the coronary blood flow and
      the oxygen supply to the heart, and decreases the afterload and the myocardial
      oxygen consumption.

PMID- 1463371
TI  - Stress-induced antinociception and GABAergic mechanism.
AB  - The antinociceptive effects of GABAergic agents in presence or absence of swim
      stress were investigated in mice, using the tail-flick test. Swim-stress, the
      GABAB agonist baclofen and the GABAA agonist muscimol raised the threshold of
      withdrawal reactions to nociceptive stimulation. The antinociception, induced by
      an interaction of stress and GABA agonists, was higher than that of stress or a
      GABA agonist alone. The GABAB antagonist phaclofen and the GABAA antagonists
      bicuculline and picrotoxin decreased the antinociceptive action induced by stress
      plus baclofen. Picrotoxin administration also decreased the response of baclofen.
      Picrotoxin and biculline, but not phaclofen, reduced the antinociceptive response
      induced by muscimol in stressed mice. Administration of picrotoxin, bicuculline
      or phaclofen alone did not decrease the stress-induced antinociception. The
      antagonists even increased the base line latencies in both normal and stressed
      mice. It is concluded that stimulation of both GABAA and GABAB receptor sites has
      an antinociceptive effect, but that the involvement of a GABAergic mechanism in
      stress-induced antinociception is unlikely.

PMID- 1463372
TI  - Effects of nimodipine and nicergoline on cerebrovascular injuries induced by
      activation of platelets and leukocytes in vivo.
AB  - Cerebral ischemia was induced in rabbits by selective injection of 4 beta-phorbol
      12 beta-myristate-13 alpha-acetate (PMA) into the left carotid artery. PMA
      provoked intravascular platelet and neutrophil aggregation. After PMA injection,
      a significant decrease in platelet and neutrophil counts was observed. Platelet
      and neutrophil emboli caused ischemia of the brain and brain barrier damage with
      accumulation of sodium fluorescein in the cerebrospinal fluid. Regional tissue
      analysis showed an ipsilateral alteration of the cerebral energy state and
      increased lactate levels. Pretreatment with the prostacyclin infusion completely
      blocked the alterations in both platelet and leukocytes counts and decreased the
      cerebral energy failure. Nimodipine administration decreased the changes in
      platelet and neutrophil counts and prevented the development of both brain
      barrier and cerebral energy failure. Nicergoline had no statistically significant
      beneficial effect on PMA-induced cerebrovascular injury.

PMID- 1463373
TI  - Drug-induced modulation of endothelin-1 effects on the tone of electrically
      stimulated rat vas deferens.
AB  - The effects of endothelin-1 on the tone of the epididymal portion of the rat vas
      deferens were studied under treatment with drugs modulating the electrically
      evoked (single pulses, 1 msec, 80 V, 0.1 Hz) contractile responses. Endothelin-1
      (0.01 nM-0.1 microM) concentration-dependently increased both the smooth muscle
      tone and the electrically stimulated contractions, the EC50 being 25.4 +/- 4.17
      nM and 23.4 +/- 5.0 nM, respectively. The tonic contractions evoked by endothelin
      1 persisted in the presence of 0.3 microM of tetrodotoxin or 10 microM of
      guanethidine. There were no significant differences in the EC50 values after
      tetrodotoxin (18.8 +/- 2.29 nM) or guanethidine (22.6 +/- 0.08 nM) as compared to
      controls, while the electrically stimulated contractile responses were completely
      inhibited. Clonidine (1, 3 or 10 nM) did not induce changes in the dynamic of the
      endothelin-1 effects on the tone. However, an increase in magnitude of the
      endothelin-1-induced contractions was observed on the background of the highest
      concentration of clonidine. Yohimbine, at concentrations of 1, 3 or 10 microM,
      significantly decreased the EC50 values for endothelin-1 to 16.4 +/- 1.02 nM,
      16.1 +/- 1.60 nM and 8.09 +/- 1.15 nM, respectively. It is assumed that the
      development of the contractile effect of endothelin-1 on the tone of the
      electrically stimulated epididymal portion of the rat vas deferens does not
      depend on the integrity of the sympathetic innervation. However, a modulation of
      the endothelin-1 effects by yohimbine, rather than by clonidine, via
      postjunctional mechanisms, cannot be excluded.

PMID- 1463374
TI  - Enhancement by cimetidine of neuromuscular paralysis induced with atracurium in
      rats.
AB  - The neuromuscular action of cimetidine, the prototype of H2 antagonists, was
      examined in urethane-anaesthetized and mechanically ventilated rats that were
      paralyzed with the non-depolarizing agent atracurium. Cimetidine, administered
      i.v. at doses of 3.2 to 56.2 mg/kg (13 to 223 microM/kg), produced an immediate
      potentiation of a steady 50% atracurium paralysis which was observed within 28 +/
      5 sec and which plateaued after 24 +/- 3 min. The dose of cimetidine that
      produced a 50% potentiation during peak effect was 14.5 mg/kg (58 microM/kg) and
      was associated with a serum cimetidine concentration of 47.5 micrograms/ml (or
      188 microM). In a separate experiment, cimetidine, administered i.v. in a dose of
      56.2 mg/kg (223 microM/kg), shifted the atracurium dose-effect curve to the left
      by 1.32-fold. Cimetidine alone, at either 10 or 100 mg/kg, did not affect the
      neuromuscular function by itself. These results suggest that high doses of
      cimetidine potentiate the neuromuscular paralysis induced with atracurium. This
      effect is opposite to that noted previously with ranitidine, a newer H2
      antagonist which reverses atracurium neuromuscular paralysis in rats.

PMID- 1463375
TI  - The John Stanley Coulter Lecture. Injury control: meeting the challenge.

PMID- 1463376
TI  - Combined and separate effects of eye patching and visual stimulation on
      unilateral neglect following stroke.
AB  - In Experiment 1, 11 of 13 stroke patients with left-sided neglect benefitted from
      monocular patching in at least one (of five) tests of neglect. This beneficial
      effect in most cases was limited to the period when the patch was worn. In
      Experiment 2, another group of stroke patients (n = 18) with left-sided neglect
      were tested in a line-bisection task with monocular patching and/or lateralized
      visual stimulation--a procedure previously shown to reduce neglect. Each
      procedure resulted in substantial benefits; the two procedures combined resulted
      in significantly larger benefits than either alone. As in Experiment 1, the
      degree of benefit of patching (alone or in combination with stimulation) was not
      related to several demographic factors. These findings suggest that monocular
      patching, together with lateralized visual stimulation, may significantly reduce
      neglect in daily activities and may be more beneficial than procedures requiring
      patients to be aware of their disorder and to use strategies for scanning the
      neglected side.

PMID- 1463377
TI  - Video feedback in occupational therapy: its effects in patients with neglect
      syndrome.
AB  - The use of video feedback in occupational therapy was evaluated in four patients
      with right hemisphere stroke and hemineglect. The study followed a single-case
      research experimental pretest, posttest, and follow-up (A1, B, A2, A3) design.
      Phases A1 and A2 included four observation times and phase A3 three, with 12
      weeks for each patient. Three household tasks were assessed, and the patients'
      neglect behavior while performing these was videorecorded. One paper-and-pencil
      task using a modified Albert's test was also used, but not filmed. In the
      intervention program, the patients watched the film, which was stopped by the
      occupational therapist where the neglect behavior was significant. Through
      dialogue, the patients were led to perceive and interpret their neglect behavior,
      and strategies for relearning and remediation were recommended. The program seems
      to be effective for remediation and relearning a functional way of working.

PMID- 1463378
TI  - Electrogoniometric feedback: its effect on genu recurvatum in stroke.
AB  - The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of combining
      electrogoniometric feedback with contemporary physical therapy procedures for
      treatment of genu recurvatum following stroke. Twenty-six patients suffering knee
      hyperextension resulting from cerebrovascular disorders were allocated to either
      a control group or an experimental group. Both groups received treatment for knee
      hyperextension during two consecutive phases. During phase I the control group
      received physical therapy and the experimental group received electrogoniometric
      feedback as an adjunct to physical therapy. In phase II both groups received
      physical therapy alone. Each phase lasted four weeks, during which time patients
      were treated 45 minutes daily, five days every week. Subjects in the experimental
      group showed greater reduction in knee hyperextension. This was particularly
      evident in phase II when the difference between groups for reduction in knee
      hyperextension reached statistical significance (U = 40, p = 0.011). These
      results suggest that the addition of electrogoniometric feedback to standard
      physical therapy enhanced the effectiveness of treatment for genu recurvatum in
      stroke.

PMID- 1463379
TI  - Changes in nerve conduction and Pi/PCr ratio during denervation-reinnervation of
      the gastrocsoleus muscles of rats.
AB  - The purpose of this investigation was to study the changes in nerve conduction
      and phosphate metabolites of the gastrocsoleus muscles of rats during denervation
      reinnervation. Sixteen male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent unilateral crush
      denervation of the left sciatic nerves at the sciatic notch. Six rats were used
      for measurement of motor conduction latency and action potential amplitude of the
      gastrocsoleus muscle by stimulating the sciatic nerve at one, two and eight weeks
      after nerve crush. The other ten rats were designated for evaluation of the ratio
      of inorganic phosphorous (Pi) to phosphocreatine (PCr) by a 31P-phosphoenergetic
      spectrometer at two weeks and eight weeks after nerve crush. None of the sciatic
      nerves showed conduction to the gastrocsoleus at one or two weeks after nerve
      crush. At eight weeks postcrush, the motor conduction latency returned to within
      normal limits, whereas the action potential amplitude was only 55% of the normal.
      For the eight-week period of study, the Pi/PCr ratio of the normal control
      muscles ranged between 0.09 +/- 0.02 and 0.11 +/- 0.02 (mean +/- SD). The
      denervated muscles showed an increase of Pi/PCr ratio by 54% at two weeks
      postcrush, compared to the respective contralateral control sides. The ratios
      returned to the normal value by eight weeks postcrush. In summary, these data
      suggested that the metabolic recovery of the crush-denervated muscle followed the
      same pattern as the parameters of nerve conduction.

PMID- 1463380
TI  - Exploration of variables related to children's behavioral distress during
      electrodiagnosis.
AB  - To investigate variables potentially related to children's distress during
      electromyography/nerve conduction studies (EMG/NCS), mothers of 39 children ages
      two to 17 years reported the child's gender, experience with EMG/NCS, previous
      negative medical/dental experiences, general response to painful procedures,
      information-seeking style prior to procedures, health care fears, and information
      about the mothers' own health care fears and their anxiety regarding EMG/NCS.
      Physicians who performed the studies completed a behavioral distress checklist
      for each child. Results indicated that children exhibiting more behavioral
      distress were younger, had been uncooperative with previous painful procedures,
      were more likely to have had more negative medical/dental experiences, and had
      mothers who themselves reported greater fear and anxiety about undergoing
      EMG/NCS. Regression analyses indicated that previous negative medical/dental
      experiences accounted for additional variance in distress beyond that attributed
      to the child's age. Significant positive correlations between children's distress
      and specific previous negative medical/dental experiences were found.

PMID- 1463381
TI  - Center of mass location and segment angular orientation of below-knee-amputee and
      able-bodied children during walking.
AB  - This investigation compared the center of mass (COM) locations and segment
      angular orientations of the gait of below-knee-amputee (BKA) children to those of
      able-bodied (AB) children. Eleven AB children (mean age, 8.4 years) and three BKA
      children (mean age, 7.5 years) volunteered to participate as subjects. Film data
      (100 frames per second) of a typical walking stride, were collected for the
      children during four experimental sessions held at six-month intervals. Two 16mm
      cameras were used to obtain frontal and lateral views of the subjects. The same
      approximate rate of walking (1.2m/s +/- 10%) was enforced for all testing
      sessions and at least three trials of data were collected for each subject during
      each session. Segmental endpoints of each subject from the film of each camera
      were digitized and the direct linear transformation (DLT) method was used to
      obtain three-dimensional segmental location-time data for a complete stride.
      These data were then used to determine whole body COM locations and angular
      orientations for the segments. Discrete values describing normalized locations at
      touchdown, midsupport, and takeoff were determined for whole body COM and the
      angular orientation of the trunk, thighs, and legs. In the sagittal plane the COM
      was lower and more anterior for the BKA children when compared to that of the AB
      children. This was primarily due to the greater forward flexion of the
      trunk.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1463382
TI  - Social discomfort and depression in a sample of adults with leg amputations.
AB  - We examined the relationship between social discomfort and depression in a sample
      of 89 adults with leg amputations at two outpatient clinics. It was hypothesized
      that individuals who reported being uncomfortable with social contacts involving
      acknowledgement of their amputation or prosthesis were more prone to depression
      than other patients. A set of questions addressing different aspects of social
      discomfort demonstrated internal consistency and were used as a scale. Social
      discomfort was significantly correlated with scores on the Center for
      Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale depression scale (r = .41). Multiple
      regression analysis showed that social discomfort was a significant independent
      predictor of depression, after holding constant the effects of age, gender,
      social support, time since amputation, reason for amputation, and perceived
      health. These data indicate that health care professionals should view the
      expression of social discomfort by amputee patients as a possible "marker" for
      depression. Further studies are planned to develop and validate an expanded
      social discomfort scale.

PMID- 1463383
TI  - Energy expenditure during walking in subjects with tibial rotationplasty, above
      knee amputation, or hip disarticulation.
AB  - The surgical treatment of osteosarcoma with a tibial rotationplasty seems to
      offer functional advantages in comparison with an above-knee amputation. It has
      not been established whether the functional advantages are accompanied by a lower
      rate of energy expenditure during walking. In children with a tibial
      rotationplasty (n = 15), an above-knee amputation (n = 6), or a hip
      disarticulation (n = 5), energy expenditure was measured during treadmill walking
      at various walking velocities. The subjects with a tibial rotationplasty were
      able to walk faster, but there were no differences between the groups in energy
      expenditure per unit time or per unit distance. Correction for confounding
      variables including age, sex, height, time since operation, level of activity,
      and support during walking in a multiple linear regression model did not reveal
      any significant differences in energy expenditure during walking between groups.
      1992 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy
      of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

PMID- 1463384
TI  - Effects of cervical collars on standing balance.
AB  - The effect of cervical collars on standing balance in two age groups was
      examined. Twenty healthy women aged 60 to 78 years and 20 healthy women aged 18
      to 29 years stood on a Kistler force platform with and without a cervical collar.
      Total, lateral and anteroposterior sway velocity were measured in each of three
      positions; long-base stance and eyes open, wide-base stance and eyes open, and
      wide-base stance and eyes closed. Analysis of variance showed no significant
      difference (p < .05) between the collar and no collar conditions for any of the
      standing balance measures. Older women had significantly more sway velocity (p <
      .001) than younger women during long-base standing both with and without the
      collar. Also they showed significantly more sway velocity in both the total (p <
      .01) and the anteroposterior (AP) directions (p < .001) of wide-base standing.
      There were no significant lateral sway velocity differences (p < .05). With eyes
      closed, sway velocity was greater in all age groups. In the wide-based condition
      there were significant differences in sway velocity between AP (p < .001) and
      total and lateral (p < .01). These results indicate that a cervical collar does
      not disturb standing balance in healthy women in the age groups tested.

PMID- 1463385
TI  - Quantifying handicap.

PMID- 1463386
TI  - Measurement standards for interdisciplinary medical rehabilitation.
AB  - Rehabilitation must address problems inherent in the measurement of human
      function and health-related quality of life, as well as problems in diagnosis and
      measurement of impairment. This educational document presents an initial set of
      standards to be used as guidelines for development and use of measurement and
      evaluation procedures and instruments for interdisciplinary, health-related
      rehabilitation. Part I covers general measurement principles and technical
      standards, beginning with validity, the central consideration for use of
      measures. Subsequent sections focus on reliability and errors of measurement,
      norms and scaling, development of measures, and technical manuals and guides.
      Part II covers principles and standards for use of measures. General principles
      of application of measures in practice are discussed first, followed by standards
      to protect persons being measured and then by standards for administrative
      applications. Many explanations, examples, and references are provided to help
      professionals understand measurement principles. Improved measurement will ensure
      the basis of rehabilitation as a science and nourish its success as a clinical
      service.

PMID- 1463387
TI  - Cephaloridine-induced nephrotoxicity in the Fischer 344 rat: proton NMR
      spectroscopic studies of urine and plasma in relation to conventional clinical
      chemical and histopathological assessments of nephronal damage.
AB  - The acute toxicological effects of the nephrotoxic antibiotic cephaloridine (CPH,
      0-1500 mg/kg) in male Fischer 344 (F344) rats, have been investigated over 48 h
      using clinical chemistry, histopathology and proton nuclear magnetic resonance
      (1H NMR) spectroscopy of urine and plasma. High field (400 and 600 MHz)1H NMR
      urinalysis revealed increased excretion of lactic acid, acetoacetate, alanine,
      valine, lysine, glutamine and glutamate and a severe, time-dependent glycosuria.
      A major change observed in urine of CPH-treated animals was the dose-dependent
      increase in HB which may relate to altered energy metabolism. CPH also caused
      dose-dependent decreases in the urinary excretion of hippurate, allantoin and
      protein (conventional assay). This abnormal metabolic profile is consistent with
      a functional defect in the S1/S2 regions of the proximal tubule, and was
      confirmed by histology post mortem. Functional changes observed included
      elevations in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and urine flow rate (UFR) and dose
      related decreases in urine osmolality. Spin-echo 1H NMR spectroscopic analysis of
      lyophilised plasma, reconstituted with 2H2O revealed an abnormal phase modulation
      of the methyl signal from free alanine and it is postulated that this is due to
      the release of transaminases from damaged tissue which via a reversible
      conversion to pyruvate, cause variable deuteration of alanine at the alpha-CH
      position. This observation suggests that 1H NMR spectral patterns are also
      dependent on the level of plasma transaminases and this may provide a novel
      indicator of tissue damage.

PMID- 1463388
TI  - On the bioactivation and genotoxic action of fluoranthene.
AB  - Fluoranthene (FA) was studied with respect to possible mechanisms of its high
      mutagenicity but low carcinogenicity, in comparison with the corresponding
      properties of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), and with regard to the synergism of these two
      compounds shown by van Duuren and Goldschmidt (J Natl Cancer Inst 56, 1976,
      1237). FA and BaP activated by S9 from Aroclor 1254 (PCB)-treated rats induce
      HPRT mutations in CHO cells with about equal effectiveness at the same exposure
      doses, which also lead to the same frequencies of repairable DNA adducts, enzyme
      induced strand breaks being used as an indirect measure of adducts to DNA. FA was
      also shown to be an efficient inducer of SCE in human peripheral lymphocytes
      cocultivated with PCB-treated HepG2 cells or with liver cells from PCB-pretreated
      rats. For the induction of SCE, FA and BaP were shown to act additively. From
      metabolic studies with liver microsomes from C57Bl/6 mice it is concluded that,
      whereas BaP induces the metabolism of BaP to the mutagenic epoxide, neither BaP
      nor FA is able to induce the metabolism of FA. In mutation experiments with V79
      cells (XEM2) constitutive for P450 IA1 activity, BaP 7,8-diol but not FA 2,3-diol
      provokes a high frequency of HPRT mutations. In cells constitutive for P450 IA2
      enzymatic activity FA and BaP are but weakly mutagenic and practically
      nonmutagenic, respectively. Due to the additivity of the genotoxic effects of FA
      and BaP, induction of an error-prone condition by the latter compound seems to be
      excluded.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1463389
TI  - A mathematical approach to benzo[a]pyrene-induced hematotoxicity.
AB  - Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) has been reported to exert a differential effect on murine
      hematopoiesis that is mouse strain specific. Interpretation of these results
      based solely on experimental data is restricted and leaves important questions
      unanswered. Therefore, a mathematical model of murine hematopoiesis was applied
      in order to: (1) identify the targets of BaP, (2) quantify the damage to target
      cells and (3) based on these results, interpret differences in strain
      susceptibility. Model analysis of the hematopoietic response of D2 and BDF1 mice
      to a daily oral administration of 125 mg/kg BaP showed that proliferating
      hematopoietic cells are the targets of BaP. Within this group it was found that:
      (a) erythropoietic cells were the most susceptible to BaP, (b) granulopoietic
      cells showed a susceptibility half that of erythropoietic cells and (c) the
      susceptibility of stem cells ranged between that of erythropoietic and
      granulopoietic cells. This damage pattern was the same for both strains,
      indicating that the difference between the strains was quantitative. As cell
      destruction rates were about 3-fold higher for D2 than BDF1 mice, it was
      concluded that D2 mice were about three times as susceptible to BaP as BDF1 mice.
      The study showed that the mathematical model, in addition to experimental
      methods, provided an efficient tool for the analysis of BaP hematotoxicity.

PMID- 1463390
TI  - Abnormal thymus development and impaired function of the immune system in rats
      after prenatal exposure to aciclovir.
AB  - Aciclovir (synonym: acyclovir) causes abnormal thymus development in rats. After
      treatment on day 10 of gestation a weight reduction of the organ is obvious in 21
      day-old fetuses which persists postnatally. Adult male rats exposed in utero to
      one or three injections of 100 mg aciclovir/kg body wt given to the dam on day 10
      of pregnancy showed a reduction of the thymus weight to 333 +/- 158 mg and 276 +/
      61 mg (control: 428 +/- 92 mg; n = 10). Corresponding alterations were
      detectable in female offspring. Liver weight was also decreased and spleen weight
      (in relation to body wt) was significantly increased in the offspring after the
      three exposures. In a host resistance model with Trichinella spiralis the
      function of the immune system of rats prenatally exposed to aciclovir was
      examined. Six weeks postnatally 10-12 randomly selected male rat offspring of one
      control and two treatment groups (1 or 3 injections of 100 mg aciclovir/kg body
      wt on day 10 of gestation) were infected orally with 500 Trichinella spiralis
      muscle larvae. Before and several times after the infection blood was taken from
      a tail vein or obtained by decapitation for examination of the antibody titers
      (IgM, IgG, IgA, IgE) to antigens of T. spiralis. Six weeks after the infection
      the weight of relevant organs was determined and tongue preparations were used
      for T. spiralis muscle larvae counting. Aciclovir exposed animals showed a
      different immune response than control rats. IgM titers in both treatment groups
      were higher than in controls two weeks after the infection but not different by
      the end of the experiment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1463391
TI  - Distribution and inducibility of a P450I activity in cellular components of the
      avian immune system.
AB  - The level of expression of the cytochrome P450 system in an immune tissue could
      influence the sensitivity of that immune tissue to damage by xenobiotics. The
      capacity of immune organs and their cellular components for P450I-catalyzed
      metabolism was assayed in the 4-week-old chicken using the P450I-specific
      ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) assay and the P450I-inducer, 3,4,3',4'
      tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB). After induction by TCB, EROD was detectable in
      microsomes from whole thymus, bursa and in peritoneal exudate cells (containing
      primarily macrophages) at levels of 28.3, 7.2 and 1.3 pmol/mg microsomal
      protein/min, respectively; the level in control liver was 89.9 pmol/mg microsomal
      protein/min. No activity was detected in these immune tissues without induction.
      The P450I specific in vitro inhibitor, alpha-naphthoflavone (NF) inhibited the
      TCB-induced liver and immune tissue EROD by 50% at concentrations in the range of
      0.07-0.1 microM. The cellular distribution of EROD in the bursa and thymus was
      studied in lymphocytes and supporting tissue cells after their separation by
      density gradient centrifugation. Much higher TCB-induced EROD was detected in
      immune tissue supporting cells than in lymphocytes, particularly in the thymus.
      The P450I in the supporting tissue of the bursa and thymus at 1 week post-hatch
      was also measured after eradication of the lymphocytes in both immune tissues by
      in ovo administration of CP. TCB-induced EROD was 12-fold higher in the
      lymphocyte-depleted thymus than in normal thymus, with a less marked but similar
      pattern in the bursa.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PMID- 1463392
TI  - Reproductive toxicity and toxicokinetics of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.
      3. Effects of single doses on the testis of male rats.
AB  - The effects of a single dose of TCDD on the testis were studied in rats. The
      animals were treated (subcutaneously) once with TCDD doses of 0, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0,
      5.0 micrograms/kg body weight. Doses of 3.0 or 5.0 micrograms TCDD/kg reduced the
      number of spermatids/testis significantly (60% of the controls). Electron
      microscopic inspection revealed that both doses led to a dissolution on the
      germinal epithelium. Altered germ cells at all developmental stages occurred in
      all testes evaluated. Doses of 0.5 or 1.0 micrograms TCDD/kg did not induce any
      effects in the testis; therefore, under these experimental conditions of single
      exposure to rats the dose of 1.0 micrograms TCDD/kg can be considered as NOAEL.

PMID- 1463393
TI  - Hepatotoxic interaction between carbon tetrachloride and chloroform in ethanol
      treated rats.
AB  - The effect of coadministration of CHCl3 on CCl4-induced hepatic damage was
      investigated at low dose inhalation. Coexposure of CHCl3 did not influence CCl4
      induced changes in any index of hepatic damage in control rats. Coadministration
      of CHCl3, however, enhanced CCl4 (10 ppm)-induced hepatic damage of ethanol
      treated rats in a dose- and duration-dependent manner: simultaneous exposure of
      50 ppm CHCl3 potentiated CCl4-induced increase in plasma GPT activity and number
      of necrotic hepatocytes; the enhancement of CCl4-induced hepatic damage by 50 ppm
      CHCl3 was found over the 4 h exposure; simultaneous exposure of 10 and 25 ppm
      CHCl3 potentiated the CCl4-induced increase in liver malondialdehyde (MDA)
      content. In contrast, coadministration of 50 ppm trichloroethylene and 200 ppm
      1,1,1-trichloroethane decreased CCl4-induced increase in plasma GPT activity,
      though these exposures did not influence the liver MDA content. These results
      suggest that the concentration of 10 ppm CCl4 may be significant for CHCl3 to
      potentiate the hepatic damage caused by CCl4 in ethanol-treated rats. Heavy
      drinkers may have a higher hepatotoxic risk for a mixture of CCl4 and CHCl3 than
      for a single exposure to CCl4 or CHCl3, and a particular attention should be
      therefore given to the joint exposure to CCl4 and CHCl3.

PMID- 1463394
TI  - Effect of tetrakis-mu-3,5-diisopropylsalicylatodiaquodicopper(II) on the status
      of reduced glutathione in freshly isolated hepatocytes.
AB  - Effects of different concentrations of tetrakis-mu-3,5
      diisopropylsalicylatodiaquodicopper(II) (Cu(II)2(3,5-DIPS)4(H2O2)2) on the
      reduced status of glutathione (GSH), the major nonprotein thiol in tissues, were
      investigated using freshly isolated hepatocytes. Cu(II)2(3,5-DIPS)4 below 100
      microM did not have any significant effects on either the GSH content or
      viability of the hepatocytes, but at 150-250 microM it decreased both parameters
      after 1 h of incubation. The decrease in cellular GSH was not followed by an
      increase in the oxidized form of GSH (GSSG) in the cell suspension. The addition
      of deferoxamine with Cu(II)2(3,5-DIPS)4 to the hepatocyte suspension prevented
      depletion in GSH content and loss of cell viability by Cu(II)2(3,5-DIPS)4. Both
      GSH depletion and loss of cell viability were found to be Cu(II)2(3,5-DIPS)4 dose
      dependent. From these results, it appears that Cu(II)2(3,5-DIPS)4 penetrated the
      cell membrane and acted by decreasing the GSH level by forming a copper
      glutathione complex.

PMID- 1463395
TI  - Increased urinary cadmium excretion and its relationship to urinary N-acetyl-beta
      D-glucosaminidase activity in smokers.
AB  - To assess the renal effects of low-level exposure to cadmium due to smoking we
      examined blood and urinary levels of cadmium and urinary excretions of N-acetyl
      beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), beta 2-microglobulin (BMG) and metallothionein in
      94 male workers aged 18-55 years. Both blood and urinary cadmium levels indicated
      excess exposure to cadmium caused by smoking. The urinary cadmium concentration
      ranged between 0.1 and 5.0 micrograms/g creatinine and increased significantly
      with age in the smokers. Neither urinary NAG nor BMG was increased in the smokers
      compared from non-smokers. A positive relationship between urinary cadmium and
      metallothionein was obtained not only in the smokers but also in the non-smokers.
      Furthermore, in the smokers urinary cadmium and metallothionein was positively
      related with urinary NAG. Since NAG in urine mostly originates from tubular cells
      by lysosomal exocytosis, the results may reflect an early cadmium effect on the
      lysosomal functions. Inhibitory effect of cadmium on the lysosomal degradation
      activities was discussed as a possible explanation of the positive relationship
      of urinary cadmium and metallothionein to urinary NAG.

PMID- 1463396
TI  - External transscleral posterior chamber lens fixation.

PMID- 1463397
TI  - The use of animals in medical education.

PMID- 1463398
TI  - Aminoglycoside toxicity: a comment.

PMID- 1463399
TI  - Intravitreal aminoglycoside toxicity revisited.

PMID- 1463400
TI  - Late infectious endophthalmitis from exposed glaucoma setons.

PMID- 1463401
TI  - Tarsotomy for the treatment of cicatricial entropion.

PMID- 1463402
TI  - Successful treatment of gram-negative endophthalmitis with intravitreous
      ceftazidime.

PMID- 1463403
TI  - Chronic postoperative Rhodotorula endophthalmitis.

PMID- 1463404
TI  - Pituitary apoplexy precipitating acute angle closure.

PMID- 1463405
TI  - Recovery from pulsed-dye laser retinal injury.

PMID- 1463406
TI  - Kaposi's sarcoma of the eyelids: response to radiotherapy.

PMID- 1463407
TI  - Health Access America revisited and revised.

PMID- 1463408
TI  - Visual function and driving safety.

PMID- 1463409
TI  - Assessment of driving performance in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
AB  - The driving performance of 21 subjects with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and varying
      degrees of peripheral field loss was compared with the performance of 31 normally
      sighted control subjects who did not differ statistically from the subjects with
      RP in age, gender, years of driving experience, or miles driven per year. Driving
      performance was assessed by self-reported accident frequency and by an evaluation
      of performance on an interactive driving simulator. A significantly greater
      proportion of individuals had self-reported accidents in the RP group than in the
      normal group. Likewise, a significantly greater proportion of subjects with RP
      than normal subjects had accidents on the driving simulator. Logistic regression
      analyses indicated that binocular horizontal field extent and binocular field
      area significantly differentiated between those having no self-reported accidents
      and those subjects with RP having one or more self-reported accidents. Because
      the simulator indexes were correlated with visual field measures for the subjects
      with RP, no additional information was incorporated into the regression model by
      adding the simulator measures. Therefore, our results indicate that visual field
      loss is a primary correlate of automotive accidents in individuals with RP.

PMID- 1463410
TI  - Diode laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity. Preliminary results.
AB  - In a prospective, randomized clinical trial comparing transscleral cryotherapy
      with laser photocoagulation in the treatment of "threshold" stage 3+ retinopathy
      of prematurity, 32 infants were treated with diode laser photocoagulation in one
      eye. Twenty-eight infants have been followed up for at least 3 months, and seven
      have been followed up for at least 1 year. Twenty-five of 28 eyes treated with
      diode laser photocoagulation and followed up for at least 3 months have undergone
      regression. Of 24 fellow eyes treated with cryotherapy and followed up for at
      least 3 months, 20 have undergone regression. All seven eyes treated with diode
      laser photocoagulation and followed up for at least 1 year have undergone
      regression. Of seven fellow eyes treated with cryotherapy and followed up for at
      least 1 year, all have undergone regression. Our results suggest that diode laser
      photocoagulation is as effective as cryotherapy in the treatment of retinopathy
      of prematurity.

PMID- 1463411
TI  - Posterior chorioretinopathy and retinal detachment after organ transplantation.
AB  - Four patients, three after renal transplantation and one after heart-lung
      transplantation, developed visual loss in both eyes associated with geographic
      zones of disruption and coarse clumping of the pigment epithelium in the
      posterior fundi. Secondary retinal detachment occurred bilaterally in three
      patients. Localized choroidal intravascular coagulation is the suspected but
      unproven cause.

PMID- 1463412
TI  - Pneumatic retinopexy perfluoroethane (C2F6) in the treatment of rhegmatogenous
      retinal detachment.
AB  - Due to differences in expansile properties and duration, perfluorethane gas may
      offer advantages over other gases presently used for pneumatic retinopexy.
      Seventeen eyes with retinal detachments with single retinal breaks or groups of
      breaks no greater than 1 clock hour in extent were prospectively treated with
      perfluoroethane gas injection and retinocryopexy and followed up for a minimum of
      6 months. Twelve eyes (71%) were attached with one procedure, and five eyes (29%)
      were attached with two or three procedures. Post-operative proliferative
      vitreoretinopathy occurred in two eyes (12%), new or missed breaks in three eyes
      (18%), and premacular fibroplasia in one (6%) eye. No eyes had an apparent
      progression of cataracts. Seven (88%) of eight eyes with preoperative macular
      detachments had improved visual acuity after surgery. All nine eyes (100%) with
      preoperative macular attachment had the same or improved visual acuity after
      surgery. The efficacy of perfluoroethane appears similar to that of other
      perfluorocarbon gases.

PMID- 1463413
TI  - Peripheral visual field testing in glaucoma by automated kinetic perimetry with
      the Humphrey Field Analyzer.
AB  - A Humphrey automated perimeter was used to measure the central 24 degrees of
      vision with static threshold targets and the peripheral field with two automatic
      kinetic stimuli in 100 eyes of 100 patients with glaucoma or a suspicion of
      glaucoma and to compare the additional information gained with the peripheral
      tests. The peripheral visual field supported the diagnosis made with central
      field testing in approximately one third of the eyes and added additional
      diagnostic information in another fourth of the cases. In 4% of patients a normal
      central field was associated with a glaucomatous peripheral defect. Virtually all
      peripheral defects were in the nasal quadrant, and the more sensitive isopter
      uncovered the vast majority of the defects.

PMID- 1463414
TI  - Intraocular pressure reduction with PhXA34, a new prostaglandin analogue, in
      patients with ocular hypertension.
AB  - In a randomized, double-masked, parallel study, one drop of 0.003% (1 microgram;
      n = 9) or 0.01% (3 micrograms; n = 10) PhXA34, a new phenyl-substituted
      prostaglandin F2 alpha analogue (13,14-dihydro-15[R,S]-17-phenyl-18,19,20-trinor
      prostaglandin F2 alpha-1-isopropyl ester), or its vehicle (n = 10) was applied
      topically twice daily for 6 days to one eye in each of 29 patients with ocular
      hypertension. Compared with either baseline, contralateral, or vehicle control
      values, PhXA34 caused a significant (P < .001) dose-dependent reduction of
      intraocular pressure. The reduction lasted at least 12 hours after each drop and
      24 to 48 hours after the last drop, with a significant (P < .0001) mean +/- SEM
      reduction of as much as 10 +/- 1 mm Hg (40%). Conjunctival hyperemia was not
      produced by 0.003% PhXA34, but was noted in some eyes treated with 0.01% PhXA34,
      and after repeated tonometry with either concentration. The prostaglandin
      analogue did not produce clinically obvious miosis, anterior chamber flare or
      cellular response, or any subjective adverse effects. PhXA34 is a potent,
      effective, and well-tolerated ocular hypotensive agent based on our results in
      this small, short-term study. Its potential as a new drug for glaucoma therapy
      warrants further investigation in long-term, larger studies.

PMID- 1463415
TI  - Peters' anomaly and associated congenital malformations.
AB  - We reviewed the clinical findings in 29 patients with Peters' anomaly. There was
      developmental delay in 15 patients, congenital heart disease in eight patients,
      external ear abnormalities in five patients, structural defects of the central
      nervous system in four patients, genitourinary malformations in four patients,
      cleft lip/palate in three patients, hearing loss in three patients, spinal
      defects in two patients, and single cases of other less common defects. One
      patient had fetal alcohol syndrome; one, Pfeiffer's syndrome; and one, short
      stature, ulnar hypoplasia, and joint laxity. Colobomatous microphthalmia was
      present in seven patients, and persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous in three
      patients. Ten patients developed glaucoma, and three had retinal detachment
      unrelated to ocular surgery. Peters' anomaly may be due to a developmental field
      defect, or the complex ocular and systemic malformations may be the result of a
      contiguous gene syndrome or of a defective homeotic gene controlling the
      development of the eye and other body structures.

PMID- 1463416
TI  - Surgical dissection of capillary hemangiomas. An alternative to intralesional
      corticosteroids.
AB  - Intralesional corticosteroids are often successful in reducing the size of
      functionally significant capillary hemangiomas. While they may have a better
      benefit-risk ratio than some earlier treatment methods, a number of serious
      complications have been reported recently. We believe these resulted from the
      hemodynamic continuity of capillary hemangiomas with the orbital and systemic
      circulation and that intralesional injections are intravascular. Surgery has
      generally been avoided because capillary hemangiomas are not encapsulated and
      piecemeal resection can produce significant bleeding. In carefully selected
      patients, we have used a surgical approach that involves dissection on the
      tumor's surface without entering its substance. Hemangiomas were removed en bloc
      from five patients with insignificant blood loss and excellent anatomic
      restoration.

PMID- 1463417
TI  - Endoscopy of the lacrimal outflow system.
AB  - Management of obstructions in the lacrimal drainage system would be greatly aided
      by improvements in the ability to visualize the blockages. We describe a new
      method of observation using miniature fiberoptics to view the entire lacrimal
      excretory system. We employed flexible endoscopes of fiberoptic bundles with
      outside diameters of from 0.5 to 0.7 mm. These endoscopes were inserted through
      the puncta and canaliculi. Sixteen patients were examined. A range of pathologic
      conditions were found, including slightly stenosed passages and severely
      destroyed canalicular mucosal lining. Our results indicate that this technique is
      feasible and useful in the diagnosis of lacrimal excretory disease.

PMID- 1463418
TI  - Pseudoexfoliation syndrome. Ocular manifestation of a systemic disorder?
AB  - The pseudoexfoliation syndrome has recently been suggested to represent the local
      manifestation of a more widespread disorder. In this study, a case of classic
      bilateral pseudoexfoliation syndrome with systemic distribution of
      pseudoexfoliation material involving a variety of organ systems is described.
      Using transmission electron microscopy, typical pseudoexfoliation fibers were
      identified in autopsy tissue specimens of skin, heart, lungs, liver, kidney, and
      cerebral meninges in addition to the classic intraocular locations. The
      pseudoexfoliation material was mainly localized to connective-tissue portions or
      septa traversing the various organs. The pseudoexfoliation fibers were
      consistently associated with connective-tissue components, particularly
      fibroblasts and collagen and elastic fibers; myocardial tissue specimens; and
      heart-muscle cells. These findings provide evidence for the systemic nature of
      the pseudoexfoliation syndrome, which apparently involves an aberrant connective
      tissue metabolism throughout the body.

PMID- 1463419
TI  - Pseudoexfoliative fibrillopathy in visceral organs of a patient with
      pseudoexfoliation syndrome.
AB  - Evidence is increasing that pseudoexfoliative material develops in widespread
      areas of skin and parabulbar tissues as well as intraocularly. To determine
      whether this process is even more diffusely distributed, ultrastructural
      examination was performed on visceral and ocular tissues of a patient with long
      standing glaucoma found to have bilateral ocular pseudoexfoliation at autopsy.
      Aggregates consistent with pseudoexfoliative material were present in the lung,
      heart, liver, and gallbladder, in addition to the classic intraocular sites. The
      aggregates were in the fibrovascular septa and stroma of these organs, most
      frequently adjacent to elastic and oxytalan fibers. They stained positively for
      elastin and human amyloid P protein, like the ocular sites, in preliminary
      immunologic testing. Rare atypical aggregates were seen in one of the four
      control patients. These findings suggest that pseudoexfoliation is a systemic
      process involving abnormal matrix synthesis, particularly as related to elastic
      tissue components.

PMID- 1463420
TI  - Rapid detection of gram-negative endotoxin contamination of contact lens saline
      solutions.
AB  - The use of the limulus amoebocyte lysate for the early and rapid detection of
      gram-negative endotoxin contamination of contact lenses and their solutions could
      reduce the risk of a keratitis developing that is associated with these devices.
      Using multiple aliquots from 17 unopened brands of commercially available contact
      lens saline solutions (15 for soft, two for hard), plus multiple aliquots from
      these solutions mixed with bacterial endotoxin, we evaluated the ability of two
      limulus amoebocyte lysate (0.125 endotoxin units/mL) products to detect the
      presence or absence of gram-negative endotoxin contamination. Sensitivity ranged
      from 65% (11/17) to 82% (14/17) when the solutions were tested undiluted. When
      diluted 1:8, the sensitivity increased to 100%. Specificity was 100% for
      undiluted and diluted specimens. The solutions used for hard contact lenses had
      the highest false-negative results. The limulus amoebocyte lysate can be used to
      detect the presence of gram-negative endotoxin in contact lens solutions.

PMID- 1463421
TI  - Outflow obstruction in pigmentary and primary open angle glaucoma.
AB  - To localize the site of outflow obstruction in glaucoma, we evaluated the
      trabecular meshwork tissues by morphometric methods. Thirty-three specimens from
      27 patients with primary open angle glaucoma (n = 13), pigmentary glaucoma (n =
      4), and pigment dispersion syndrome (n = 2), and from nonglaucomatous normal
      subjects (n = 8) were compared. In these specimens, the extent of aqueous
      channels and the area occupied by these channels where they terminate in cul-de
      sacs were measured. In 32 nonglaucomatous normal specimens (six of the eight
      mentioned plus an additional 26), we discovered that 94% of the surface area of
      the cul-de-sacs is lined by trabecular cells. These measurements were used to
      calculate the resistance to aqueous outflow offered by cul-de-sacs. Three new
      concepts are advanced in this report: (1) the cul-de-sacs provide a major portion
      of the normal outflow resistance, (2) the cul-de-sac area is markedly reduced in
      pigmentary glaucoma and primary open angle glaucoma, accounting for a major
      portion of the increase in resistance in these conditions, and (3) macrophages
      are the major cell type responsible for trabecular meshwork clearance of pigment
      and debris. A common pathophysiologic sequence of events is proposed for the
      development of glaucoma in pigmentary glaucoma and primary open angle glaucoma.

PMID- 1463422
TI  - Juxtacanalicular tissue in pigmentary and primary open angle glaucoma. The
      hydrodynamic role of pigment and other constituents.
AB  - We tested the hypothesis that obstruction of the juxtacanalicular tissues, by
      melanin granules in pigmentary glaucoma and by other impermeable material in
      primary open angle glaucoma, leads to the development of a chronic glaucomatous
      condition. The distribution and concentration of melanin and other impermeable
      materials in the juxtacanalicular tissues and elsewhere in the trabecular
      meshwork was determined in 13 specimens. Six specimens were from patients with
      pigmentary glaucoma, two from patients with pigment dispersion syndrome, and
      three from patients with primary open angle glaucoma, as well as two from normal
      subjects. The effect of these materials on flow resistance was estimated using
      two hydrodynamic models. In model A, the electron-lucent spaces of the
      juxtacanalicular tissue were assumed to be open spaces, while in model B, these
      spaces and spaces filled with ground substance were assumed to be gel filled. In
      pigmentary glaucoma, 3.5% of the pigment was found in the juxtacanalicular
      tissue, while 96.5% was found in the corneoscleral and uveoscleral tissues.
      Permeabilities calculated according to model A were much higher than those
      expected from estimates of outflow facility in all groups, in agreement with the
      previous report of Ethier et al. The gel-filled spaces available for fluid flow,
      as determined by model B, showed no statistically demonstrable differences
      (pigmentary glaucoma, 32.9%; primary open angle glaucoma, 36.6%; pigment
      dispersion syndrome, 43.4%; normal, 44.1%). Furthermore, the amount of pigment
      present in the juxtacanalicular tissue was determined to have a negligible
      influence on permeability. Thus, the development of the chronic glaucomatous
      condition cannot be directly attributed to pigment accumulation in the
      juxtacanalicular tissue in pigmentary glaucoma.

PMID- 1463423
TI  - Response of the retinal pigment epithelium to selective photocoagulation.
AB  - Multiple short argon laser pulses can coagulate the retinal pigment epithelium
      selectively, while sparing the adjacent neural retina and choroid; in contrast,
      continuous-wave laser irradiation typically damages the neural retina and
      choroid. The healing response to selective photocoagulation of the retinal
      pigment epithelium was studied in rabbits during a period of 4 weeks. The lesions
      were never visible ophthalmoscopically. During the healing period, the epithelium
      was reformed by a single sheet of hypertrophic retinal pigment epithelial cells.
      In contrast to continuous-wave photocoagulation, only minimal inflammatory
      response was found. Retinal pigment epithelial cells showed clear signs of
      viability, eg, phagocytized outer segments. The local edema in the photoreceptor
      layer and subretinal space found in the early stage disappeared when the blood
      retinal barrier was reestablished. The choriocapillaris remained unaffected. No
      subsequent damage to the photoreceptors was found. This type of photocoagulation
      may be useful for retinal pigment epithelium-related diseases, eg, diffuse
      diabetic macular edema.

PMID- 1463424
TI  - Medial canthoplasty with microplate fixation.
AB  - Six patients with malpositioned or surgically excised medial canthal tendons
      underwent repair with titanium microplate, and two patients underwent repair with
      titanium miniplate fixation. The T-shaped rigid fixation plates were chosen for
      medial canthal reconstruction to allow for stabilization of the plate along the
      anterior lacrimal crest and extension of the plate over the posterior lacrimal
      crest. The medial canthal tissue was reattached to the titanium plate with 3.0
      polypropylene (Prolene) suture. This technique appears to be safer, faster, and,
      in many cases, more effective than traditional techniques for reconstruction of
      the medial canthus after tendon avulsion or loss from excision of cutaneous
      carcinoma.

PMID- 1463425
TI  - The orbital muscle of Muller.

PMID- 1463426
TI  - Binding of calcium to myoplasmic buffers contributes to the frequency-dependent
      inotropy in heart ventricular cells.
AB  - In guinea-pig ventricular cells, the Ca2+ buffer capacity of the myoplasm was
      estimated from the ratio of ionized calcium (from Indo-1 fluorescence) through
      total calcium (ionized plus bound calcium, from x-ray microprobe analysis).
      During post-rest potentiation (1 Hz paired-pulses in voltage-clamp), where
      diastolic sarcomere length remained nearly constant, Ca2+ buffer capacity slowly
      fell from 5500:1 to 700:1 suggesting that slow Ca2+ binding sites became
      saturated. We discuss that frequency-inotropy depends not only on the
      replenishment of intracellular stores with Ca2+, but also on binding of Ca2+ to
      these slow sites; the slow Ca2+ sites could complete with the fast activator
      sites on troponin C for systolic Ca2+, or they could enhance the Ca2+ affinity of
      the fast Ca2+ sites on troponin C by cooperative interaction.

PMID- 1463427
TI  - Release kinetics of cardiac troponin T in coronary effluent from isolated rat
      hearts during hypoxia and reoxygenation.
AB  - A newly developed troponin T (TnT) test for the detection of myocardial cell
      necrosis has been reported to be very efficient in the detection of acute
      myocardial infarction. The aim of the present study was to determine whether
      cardiac TnT in coronary effluent from isolated heart perfused with albumin-free
      perfusion medium could be detected using the enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay
      developed by Katus et al. Isolated rat hearts were perfused according to the
      method of Langendorff. Coronary flow rate was measured by timed collection of the
      coronary perfusate that dripped from the hearts during 5 h of hypoxia (protocol
      A) or 4 h of hypoxia followed by 1 h of reoxygenation (protocol B). Creatine
      kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) levels were compared with that of TnT.
      Myocardial adenine nucleotides were measured by HPLC. There was a strong
      correlation between TnT levels in albumin-free coronary effluent and TnT levels
      in coronary effluent diluted 1:1 with 5% bovine serum albumin (r = 0.996, N =
      72). The coefficients of correlation between TnT and CK or LD during hypoxia and
      reoxygenation were 0.891 (N = 88) and 0.871 (N = 88), respectively. The
      coefficient of correlation between CK and LD was 0.993 (N = 88). There were no
      significant differences in either the decrease of coronary flow or the increase
      of TnT content between the hearts in the two protocols. There was no significant
      correlation between sigma TnT and energy charge of adenine nucleotides. These
      results indicate that cardiac TnT levels can be easily measured in albumin-free
      coronary effluent of isolated heart preparations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
      WORDS)

PMID- 1463429
TI  - Nitric oxide (EDRF) enhances the vasorelaxing effect of nitrendipine in various
      isolated arteries.
AB  - Recent studies suggest endothelium to be involved in the vasorelaxation of
      calcium antagonists of the 1,4-dihydropyridine type, which may at least in part
      be mediated by endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF = NO). To study this
      effect further, the influence of L-NG-nitro arginine (L-NNA), a specific
      inhibitor of EDRF-synthesis, on nitrendipine-induced vasorelaxation was examined
      in different isolated porcine arteries. Coronary, basilary, and tail arteries
      were bathed in Krebs-Henseleit solution and endothelial function was verified by
      means of substance P, an EDRF releasing neuropeptide. Vasorelaxation of
      nitrendipine in PGF2 alpha-precontracted arteries was studied in the presence and
      absence of L-NNA. Nitrendipine-induced vasorelaxation was markedly reduced by the
      addition of L-NNA in all vessels studied. Tachyphylactic effects of nitrendipine
      could be excluded. The obtained results may be explained by an enhancement of
      nitrendipine action by basally released EDRF, alternatively, by an increased EDRF
      release induced by this calcium antagonist. Therefore, in a second series of
      experiments the release of EDRF was studied in isolated coronary arteries under
      cumulative application of nitrendipine. Using the nitric oxide scavenging
      properties of oxyhemoglobin, EDRF release was measured spectrophotometrically by
      means of methemoglobin formation. The application of nitrendipine resulted in a
      concentration-dependent increase in the extinction rate, indicating an increased
      release of NO which could be inhibited by preincubation with L-NNA. It may be
      concluded that, in functionally intact vessels, vasorelaxation induced by
      nitrendipine may additionally be mediated by an increased release of EDRF.

PMID- 1463428
TI  - Improvement of relaxation velocity parameters by calcium channel blockers in the
      aging rabbit myocardium.
AB  - Normal aging in man is known to be associated with a reduction in left
      ventricular diastolic function, including the rates of relaxation and filling.
      Calcium channel blockers have been reported to improve left-ventricular diastolic
      function in patients with various forms of heart disease. Clinically, the action
      of calcium channel blockers may be related to either a direct myocardial effect
      or may be secondary to the peripheral or coronary vasodilation effects. The
      purpose of this study is to investigate a possible direct effect of calcium
      channel blockers on modulation of the reported age-related reduction in
      myocardial relaxation. The direct effects on myocardial relaxation of the
      dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, nifedipine, were studied in isolated,
      perfused interventricular septa and left-ventricular wall from eight young (ages
      9 to 18 months) and 14 old (ages 3 to 5 years) rabbits. Septa were perfused with
      oxygenated Ringer's solution and paced at 48 beats/min. Maximum relaxation
      velocity per unit of developed tension [-dT/dt]/T, and relaxation time per unit
      of developed tension tR/T were continuously measured before and after infusion of
      calcium channel blockers. In absence of drugs, the older rabbits demonstrated a
      mean [-dT/dt]/T which was 32% lower (p < 0.003) and a mean tR/T which was 45%
      higher (p < 0.005) than the younger rabbits. When nifedipine was introduced at
      concentrations > 10(-8) M equivalent to doses above the therapeutic free-plasma
      concentration in humans, all contraction and relaxation parameters were
      depressed. However, at lower doses, equivalent to doses in the clinical
      therapeutic range, [-dT/dt]/T was increased in the older rabbit septa by 18% in
      the presence of nifedipine. tR/T was shortened in the older rabbit septa by 17%
      in the presence of nifedipine. Myocardial relaxation in older rabbits after drug
      infusion approximated these parameters in the younger rabbits prior to drug
      infusion (P = NS). Calcium channel blockers had similar beneficial effects on the
      relaxation properties of the myocardium in younger rabbits. All beneficial
      effects were observed at concentrations of calcium channel blockers which were
      within and below the clinically therapeutic range of plasma free drug
      concentration, i.e., 5 x 10(-9) to 4 x 10(-8) M. Potential differences in
      relaxation effects related to different segments of the myocardium and different
      mechanical recording vectors were evaluated. Isolated left ventricle preparations
      from aging rabbits demonstrated improvements in tR/T and [-dT/dt]/T similar to
      those observed in the septum. Furthermore, improvement in mechanical function
      along the y-axis and x-axis vectors of the septum was similar.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED
      AT 400 WORDS)

PMID- 1463430
TI  - Changes in heart rate by verapamil during carotid sinus stimulation in patients
      with hyperparathyroidism, pre- and postoperatively.
AB  - It has been investigated whether calcium- and verapamil-dependent sensitivities
      of carotis baroreceptors also exist in man. To answer this question, we pre- and
      postoperatively measured changes in heart rate during carotid sinus stimulation
      before and after intravenous administration of 5 mg verapamil in 23 patients with
      primary hyperparathyroidism. Findings during hypercalcemia were as expected: a
      more pronounced reduction of heart rate at comparatively low calcium levels.
      During normocalcemia, we found an opposite effect: a more pronounced reduction at
      relatively high calcium levels, which was statistically significant. This fact
      could be explained according to our interpretation. In previous reports, local
      effects on baroreceptors were examined, whereas we measured the combined effect
      of several calcium actions. As expected, verapamil attenuated the decrease in
      heart rate which, however, was not statistically significant.

PMID- 1463431
TI  - Ischemia and reperfusion injury in isolated rat heart: effect of reperfusion
      duration on xanthine oxidase, lipid peroxidation, and enzyme antioxidant systems
      in myocardium.
AB  - The aim of this work was to assess the catalytic activity of xanthine oxidase,
      the level of lipid peroxides and enzymic antioxidant systems in isolated rat
      heart muscle subjected to a globally partial ischemia followed by varying
      durations of reperfusion. After 40 min of globally partial ischemia (residual
      perfusion flow rate: 0.1 ml/min), four different durations of reperfusion were
      investigated (0, 20, 40, and 60 min). After each experimental
      ischemia/reperfusion sequence, the heart was frozen in liquid nitrogen. Lipid
      peroxides were assayed in the cardiac homogenate and the catalytic activity of
      xanthine oxidase and enzymic antioxidant systems (glutathione peroxidase,
      superoxide dismutase and catalase) were determined in the centrifuged
      supernatant. In the different experimental protocols studied in this work, there
      was no significant increase in the activity of cardiac xanthine oxidase or in the
      level of lipid peroxides when compared to the non reperfused or to the
      continuously perfused hearts. Indeed, enzymic antioxidant systems were also not
      significantly modified in the different periods of reperfusion when compared to
      control hearts (continuously perfused hearts). These results suggest that
      xanthine oxidase is apparently not a major source of free radicals in the course
      of an ischemia-reperfusion sequence in heart muscle, in particular, if we
      consider the early phases of reperfusion. The process of lipid peroxidation,
      assessed by assaying thiobarbituric acid reactants, is not a predominant
      phenomenon of reperfusion-induced injury, at least in the experimental model used
      here. However, enzymic antioxidant systems investigated in this study do not seem
      modified. This could mean that the small quantity of oxygen free radicals
      produced does not overwhelm the enzymic antioxidant systems of myocardium which
      is in agreement with peroxidatized lipid results.

PMID- 1463432
TI  - Causative role of coronary microvessels for the development and progression of
      chronic myocardial lesions in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).
AB  - The pathomechanisms responsible for the development and progression of myocardial
      alterations in hypertensive heart disease are largely unknown. Using newly
      developed preparation and measuring procedures in 78 SHR and 82 controls aged 3
      78 weeks, topological relations were detected between focal morphological
      appearances of chronic myocardial ischemia (fml.) and pathological microvessel
      (mv.) reactions characterized by morphometric signs of chronic contractions. The
      smallest ramifications are of particular pathogenic importance. A generalized
      peak of pathological mv. reactions between the 16th and 24th weeks is responsible
      for the development of first fml. The further progression of the area density of
      fml. from 1.26 +/- 0.85% (24th week) to 31.82 +/- 8.60% (78th week) is
      attributable to the further increase in pathological mv. reactions caused by
      organ-specific influences. The histological and morphometric findings suggest
      that the pathological mv. reactions are aggravated by their own effects at the
      local level.

PMID- 1463433
TI  - Influence of selective autonomic decentralization on myocardial deoxyglucose
      uptake initiated by cardio-cardiac reflexes.
AB  - The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of autonomic reflexes as
      initiated by stimulation of the right recurrent cardiopulmonary nerve afferent
      axons on myocardial deoxyglucose uptake and to determine how such uptake can be
      modified by selective neural ablation. The afferent axon in the right recurrent
      cardiopulmonary nerve was stimulated 30 s/min for 1 h in five anesthetized open
      chest dogs in which 14-C labeled deoxyglucose was i.v. injected at the beginning
      of the stimulation period. Three additional sham-operated dogs served as neurally
      intact controls. Concentrations of label and glucose were measured in plasma.
      Regional myocardial deoxyglucose concentration was measured by quantitative
      autoradiography, following the calibration of plasma samples autoradiographic
      density by beta counting. Stimulation of right recurrent cardiopulmonary nerve
      afferent axons in the intact nervous system preparation did not significantly
      enhance deoxyglucose uptake as compared to neurally intact controls. When the
      right cervical vagosympathetic complex was cut a similar uptake was observed.
      Following decentralization of the right stellate ganglion, uptake was markedly
      reduced, as well as when the right cervical vagosympathetic was cut and the right
      stellate ganglion decentralized. CONCLUSIONS: Activation of afferent axons from
      cardiopulmonary receptors does not alter myocardial deoxyglucose uptake.
      Reduction in uptake occurs following unilateral stellate ganglion
      decentralization.

PMID- 1463434
TI  - [Energy intake of adult Great Danes].
AB  - Energy intake and weight development were recorded in 5 adult Great Danes kept in
      outdoor kennels during maintenance, pregnancy and lactation. In periods with
      constant weights the energy requirement was 0.96 MJ DE/kg BW0.75/d with a minimum
      in summer (0.82) and a maximum in winter (1.1). In pregnancy (weight gain
      depending on litter size 7-15 kg) energy intake (ad-lib.-feeding) was similar to
      maintenance. During lactation energy intake reached 1.6-1.7 MJ DE/kg BW0.75/d
      with a dry matter intake of 83 g/kg BW0.75/d. Pups of great litters had to be fed
      with milk substitute for normal weight development.

PMID- 1463435
TI  - [Ionized calcium and total calcium in the blood of cattle, sheep, swine and
      horses of different ages, reproductive stages and uses].
AB  - Concentrations of ionized calcium (Cai) in blood and of total calcium (Ca(t)) in
      serum were determined in 99 cattle, 58 sheep, 74 pigs and 59 horses of different
      age groups and reproductive periods as well as kinds of use of the animals. The
      values of Cai in blood in the groups taken into account for comparison of species
      decreased significantly in the order dairy cows < ewes < sows < horses. In cattle
      and pigs, there were significant differences in the Cai-level, according to age
      with the youngest animals having the highest values. In cows from the fourth
      lactation onward, one day post partum (p.p.) the smallest concentrations were
      measured, differing significantly from animals in other reproductive periods. In
      ewes, the lowest values were estimated one week before parturition. The level of
      Cai in blood of sows decreased between day one and 6 weeks p.p. significantly. No
      significant differences could be demonstrated between the different groups of
      horses. With regard to the concentrations of total Ca, differences between the
      groups were not so clear as with Cai.

PMID- 1463436
TI  - [Seroepidemiological studies on the detection of Q fever in sheep in middle
      Thuringia].
AB  - In a random samples test altogether 4337 sheep of varying ages from several herds
      of different sizes in the middle region of Thuringia were investigated with
      complement fixing test for the existence of Q fever. In 47.1 per cent of the
      tested herds and in 5 from 8 of the included districts Q fever reagents were
      provable. The serological detection quota of all tested sheep amounts to 1.11 per
      cent, but the percentage of serological reagents in mother-sheep was 1.36 per
      cent, in the female young sheep 1.04 per cent and in the lambs 0.74 per cent. The
      investigations of rams and sheep for slaughter were negative. Serological testing
      in 7 sheep showed a Q fever antibody persistence about 6 until 10 months.
      Increased animal concentration and adverse conditions led to an increase of the Q
      fever seroprevalence in the herds.

PMID- 1463437
TI  - [Dog slaughtering in Germany in the 19th and 20th centuries with special
      consideration of the Munich area].
AB  - In the 19th century professional dog slaughter and also the public sale of dog
      flesh arose. These slaughter and the sale was mainly practised by horse butchers.
      In Germany dogs had been mostly slaughtered in Sachsen, Schlesien, Anhalt and
      Bayern. From 1905 to 1940 the meat of 235.144 dogs was inspected. But the true
      number of slaughtered dogs was certainly larger. Yet in the fifties dogs were
      professionally slaughtered. After 1960 the slaughter dropped. Sporadically dog
      flesh was used as human food until 1985. The annual number of slaughtered dogs
      depended on economic factors like wages, prices of meat, availability of meat and
      dog tax. Dogs had been also slaughtered to produce dog fat for remedy. Slaughter
      of dogs has been already discussed in the 19th century. After 1930 it was called
      for abolishing the inspection order for dogs or for the prohibition of dog
      slaughter. After four bills of the years 1954, 1963 and 1985 the slaughter of
      dogs to produce human food was finally prohibited in 1986.

PMID- 1463438
TI  - [Tenacity of S. gallinarum in chicken feces].
AB  - The survival period of 22 S. gallinarum strains in chicken feces was examined.
      The suspension of the bacterium was homogenized with a certain feces quantity.
      The initial ratio was 10(7) to 10(9) colony forming units per gram of feces. The
      results show that the growth of 5 strains was completely inhibited within 24
      hours post homogenization, 7 strains were still positive to S. gallinarum for 24
      hours, 5 strains were positive for 48 hours and the last 5 strains were positive
      for 4 days. Additionally, the effect of tryptose soy (TSB) and Rappaport
      Vassiliadis (RV) nutrient broths on the isolation rate of S. gallinarum from
      feces was examined at 37 degrees C and 43 degrees C. It was shown that the TSB
      medium was the best at 37 degrees C, in this experiment. The S. gallinarum
      concentration in RV medium was decreased at 37 degrees C from 9.1 x 10(8) to 1.6
      x 10(6) and at 43 degrees C from 9.1 x 10(8) to 4.1 x 10(2).

PMID- 1463439
TI  - [The synchronization of sow parturition using a combined treatment regimen of
      cloprostenol Jenapharm and depotocin Spofa].
AB  - The trials were conducted on a pig farm (German Landrace) over a period of about
      two years. This farm worked in 7-day cycles using artificial insemination. In
      trial 1, 209 sows were treated with the prostaglandin F2 alpha analog
      Cloprostenol (Cloprostenol Jenapharm, 87.5 micrograms i.m.). In trial 2, 646 sows
      were divided into two groups. Both groups were treated with 100 micrograms
      Cloprostenol Jenapharm not earlier than on the 113th day of gestation (day 1 of
      gestation = the day after the first insemination). 24 h later, 119 sows received
      an additional injection of 1 ml of an oxytocin analog (Depotocin inj. Spofa, 1 ml
      contains 0.2 mg Carbetocin). In the other group, 120 sows received 2 ml
      Depotocin. This additional treatment with Depotocin resulted in a mean interval
      from the injection to the onset of farrowing of 125 minutes (gilts) and 49
      minutes (sows). In trial 2, 97.9% of the sows farrowed within 30 hours after
      Cloprostenol injection (= partus rate 30). The additional treatment with
      Depotocin resulted in a shortening of farrowing periods, a reduction in mean
      expulsion time and effected an increase in farrowing during the day time. All
      these effects were significant (p < or = 0.05).

PMID- 1463440
TI  - Vitamin E in human low-density lipoprotein. When and how this antioxidant becomes
      a pro-oxidant.
AB  - Uptake of oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL) by cells in the
      arterial wall is believed to be an important early event in the development of
      atherosclerosis. Because vitamin E is the major antioxidant present in human
      lipoproteins, it has received much attention as a suppressor of LDL lipid
      oxidation and as an epidemiological marker for ischaemic heart disease. However,
      a careful examination of lipid peroxidation in LDL induced by a steady flux of
      aqueous peroxyl radicals has demonstrated that, following consumption of
      endogenous ubiquinol-10, the rate of peroxidation (i) declines as vitamin E is
      consumed, (ii) is faster in the presence of vitamin E than following its complete
      consumption, (iii) is substantially accelerated by enrichment of the vitamin in
      LDL, either in vitro or by diet, and (iv) is virtually independent of the applied
      radical flux. We propose that perodixation is propagated within lipoprotein
      particles by reaction of the vitamin E radical (i.e. alpha-tocopheroxyl radical)
      with polyunsaturated fatty acid moieties in the lipid. This lipid peroxidation
      mechanism, which can readily be rationalized by the known chemistry of the alpha
      tocopheroxyl radical and by the radical-isolating properties of fine emulsions
      such as LDL, explains how reagents which reduce the alpha-tocopheroxyl radical
      (i.e. vitamin C and ubiquinol-10) strongly inhibit lipid peroxidation in vitamin
      E-containing LDL.

PMID- 1463441
TI  - Photoaffinity labelling of steroid-hormone-binding glutathione S-transferases
      with [3H]methyltrienolone. Inhibition of steroid-binding activity by the
      anticarcinogen indole-3-carbinol.
AB  - The identification and characterization of steroid-hormone-binding glutathione S
      transferases (GST) were undertaken using photoaffinity-labelling techniques.
      Irradiation of mouse liver cytosol, in the presence of 50 nM
      [3H]methyltrienolone, resulted in the specific affinity labelling of five
      proteins. One of these proteins, designated MBP27, had an approximate molecular
      mass of 27 kDa under denaturing conditions and was induced by treatment of mice
      with either 2(3)-t-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA) or phenobarbital (PB). An
      additional affinity-labelled protein, MBP25, which was not detected in untreated
      mouse cytosol, was induced in the liver cytosols from BHA- and PB-treated mice.
      The molecular masses of these proteins and their induction by BHA and PB
      suggested that they may be steroid-hormone-binding GST subunits. Irradiation of
      mouse liver cytosol in the presence of [3H]methyltrienolone, followed by
      immunoprecipitation using GST-specific antibodies established that both GST mu
      and GST alpha bind [3H]methyltrienolone and both contribute to the affinity
      labelled protein designated MBP27. GST Ya1 Ya1, an alpha class GST that is not
      expressed in untreated mouse liver but is induced by BHA and PB, was also found
      to bind [3H]methyltrienolone and is identical with the affinity-labelled protein
      designated MBP25. Experiments were undertaken next to assess the effects of the
      anticarcinogenic plant compound indole-3-carbinol (I3C) on GST-mediated steroid
      hormone-binding using the photoaffinity labelling techniques. Treatment of mice
      with I3C resulted in the induction of immunoreactive GST mu and GST Ya1 Ya1.
      However, the steroid-binding activity of these proteins in vitro was severely
      inhibited by the acid-condensation products of I3C that are generated in the
      stomach after ingestion. These results suggest that I3C may inhibit GST-mediated
      steroid-binding activity which could contribute to the anticarcinogenic activity
      of this compound.

PMID- 1463442
TI  - Regulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase activity from pig kidney cortex.
AB  - The activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) kinase in the purified PDH complex
      from pig kidney is sensitive to changes in ionic strength. The enzyme has optimum
      activity within a small range of ionic strength (0.03-0.05 M). An increase in
      ionic strength from 0.04 M to 0.2 M lowers the activity of PDH kinase by 32% and
      decreases the Km for ATP from 25 microM to 10 microM. At constant ionic strength
      (0.15 M) the enzyme has optimum activity over a broad pH range (7.2-8.0). The PDH
      kinase is stimulated 2.2-fold by 20 mM-K+, whereas Na+ even at high concentration
      (80 mM) has no effect on the enzyme activity. The stimulation of PDH kinase by K+
      is not dependent on pH and ionic strength. PDH kinase is inhibited by HPO4(2-) in
      the presence of K+, whereas HPO4(2-) has no effect on the activity of this enzyme
      in the absence of K+. HPO4(2-) at concentrations of 2 and 10 mM inhibits PDH
      kinase by 28% and 55% respectively. The magnitude of this inhibition is not
      dependent on the ATP/ADP ratio. Inhibition by HPO4(2-) in the concentration range
      0-10 mM is non-competitive with respect to ATP, and becomes mixed-type at
      concentrations over 10 mM. The Ki for HPO4(2-) is 10 mM. When HPO4(2-) is
      replaced by SO4(2-), the same effects on the activity of PDH kinase are observed.
      PDH kinase is also inhibited by Cl-. In the presence of 80 mM-Cl- the PDH kinase
      is inhibited by 40%. The inhibition by Cl- is not dependent on K+. In conclusion,
      we postulate that changes in phosphate concentrations may play a significant role
      in the regulation of PDH kinase activity in vivo.

PMID- 1463443
TI  - Purification and properties of oestradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase extracted from
      cytoplasmic vesicles of porcine endometrial cells.
AB  - Porcine endometrial oestradiol-17 beta dehydrogenase was solubilized from the
      particulate fraction of homogenates sedimenting between 1200 g and 10,000 g by
      treatment with 0.4% Brij 35 in neutral buffers. The extracts were processed by
      successive passage through DEAE-Sepharose, Amberlyte XAD-2 and Blue-Sepharose,
      and the enzyme was collected from the washed affinity matrix at 0.8 M of a 0-2 M
      KCl gradient. A genuine oestrone reductase was eluted at 1.9 M-KCl. The
      dehydrogenase pool was resolved by butyl-Sepharose chromatography into a major
      (80%) peak (EDHM) eluted at 0.8 M-(NH4)2SO4 and a very hydrophobic fraction (VHF)
      recovered at 0.1 M. EDHM was further purified by filtration through Sephadex G
      200 and cation-exchange chromatography on Mono S. Sephacryl 300 was used for VHF
      followed by Mono S. Enrichments from the homogenate amounted to 1074-fold for
      EDHM and 632-fold for VHF. A single silver-stained band at 32 kDa is seen on
      SDS/PAGE of EDHM, and VHF contains additional bands at 45 and 80 kDa. Polyclonal
      antibodies (G436) raised against EDHM and the monoclonal antibody F1 raised
      against VHF recognize the single 32 kDa band in EDHM and both the 32 kDa and 80
      kDa bands in composite VHF. The 45 kDa band of VHF reacts with neither.
      Monoclonal antibody W1 raised against EDHM only recognizes the 32 kDa peptide of
      EDHM and VHF. The specific activity for oestradiol oxidation amounts to 4081 mu
      units/mg for EDHM and to 2402 mu-units/mg for VHF. Both possess a minimal (1/260)
      endogenous reductase activity and are devoid of 3 beta, 3 alpha- and 20 alpha
      dehydrogenases. We consider EDHM to be authentic oestradiol-17 beta dehydrogenase
      of porcine endometrium. The composite VHF could reflect the situation of the
      enzyme in vivo or result from aggregations occurring during processing.

PMID- 1463444
TI  - A competitive inhibitor of phospholipase A2 decreases surfactant
      phosphatidylcholine degradation by the rat lung.
AB  - We have shown previously that radiolabelled phosphatidylcholine (PC) in liposomes
      or natural surfactant is removed from the alveolar space and metabolically
      recycled in a process that is stimulated by cyclic AMP (cAMP). In this study, we
      evaluated the effect of a transition-state phospholipid analogue (MJ33; 1
      hexadecyl-3-trifluoroethylglycero-sn-2-phosphomethanol) that competitively
      inhibited acidic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity (pH 4.0) of lung homogenate by
      more than 97%, but had no effect on PLA2 activity at pH 8.5. MJ33 incorporated
      into unilamellar liposomes (dipalmitoyl PC/egg
      PC/cholesterol/phosphatidylglycerol, molar proportions 10:5:3:2) or co-sonicated
      with biosynthesized natural surfactant was instilled into the trachea of the
      anaesthetized rat; lungs were then removed for 2 h perfusion in the absence or
      presence of 0.1 mM-8-bromo cAMP. Total uptake for phospholipid was unchanged in
      the presence of the inhibitor MJ33. Degradation of labelled PC during 2 h
      perfusion in the absence of MJ33 was approx. 26% of that instilled for choline
      labelled liposomal PC, 16% for liposomal PC labelled in the second fatty-acyl
      position, and 33% for choline-labelled natural surfactant. Degradation of PC was
      decreased by approx. 25-40% for each substrate in the presence of MJ33.
      Inhibition of lipid degradation depended on the mole fraction of MJ33 in the
      liposomes and was maximal at 1 mol%. These studies demonstrate a significant role
      for acidic Ca(2+)-independent PLA2 in the degradation of internalized alveolar
      PC, but further indicate that this enzyme accounts for a minor fraction of total
      lung PC metabolism.

PMID- 1463446
TI  - Protein stability and interaction of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor with
      cholinergic ligands studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.
AB  - Based on the conformational dependence of the amide-I i.r. band, this paper
      explores the use of Fourier-transform i.r. spectroscopy methods to probe
      structural features of proteins present in native membranes from Torpedo highly
      enriched in acetylcholine receptor (AcChR). The interference of water absorbance
      on the amide-I spectral region has been eliminated through isotopic exchange by
      freeze-drying the membranes in the presence of trehalose to avoid protein
      denaturation induced by drying, followed by resuspension in deuterated water.
      AcChR-rich membrane samples prepared in such a way maintained an ability to
      undergo affinity-state transitions and to promote cation translocation in
      response to cholinergic agonists, which are functional characteristics of native
      untreated samples. The temperature-dependence of the i.r. spectrum indicates a
      massive loss of ordered protein structure, occurring at temperatures similar to
      those reported for thermal denaturation of the AcChR by differential scanning
      calorimetry and by thermal inactivation of alpha-bungarotoxin-binding sites on
      the AcChR [Artigues, Villar, Ferragut & Gonzalez-Ros (1987) Arch. Biochem.
      Biophys. 258, 33-41], thus suggesting that the observed i.r. spectral changes
      correspond to alterations in the structure of the AcChR protein. Furthermore, the
      presence of detergents as well as cholinergic agonists and antagonists produces
      spectral changes that are also consistent with the alterations in AcChR protein
      structure expected from previous calorimetric studies. In contrast with the
      information obtained by calorimetry, i.r. spectroscopy allows the contribution of
      secondary structural changes to be distinguished from the overall change in
      protein structure. Thus prolonged exposure to cholinergic agonists, which drives
      the AcChR protein into the desensitized state, produces only negligible
      alterations in the amide-I band shape, but increases substantially the thermal
      stability of the protein. This suggests that rearrangements in the tertiary or
      quaternary structure of the protein are more likely to occur than extensive
      changes in secondary structure as a consequence of AcChR desensitization.

PMID- 1463445
TI  - Determination of the intracellular distribution and pool sizes of apolipoprotein
      B in rabbit liver.
AB  - We have investigated the intracellular distribution of apolipoprotein B (apo B)
      in rabbit liver by immunoblotting, radioimmunoassay (r.i.a.) and enzyme-linked
      immunoassay (e.l.i.s.a.). Apo B100 was detected in total microsomes, rough
      microsomes, smooth microsomes, trans-enriched Golgi and cis-enriched Golgi and
      membrane and cisternal-content subfractions prepared from these fractions. There
      was also evidence of degradation of apo B100 in the Golgi membrane fractions. The
      amount of apo B in the subcellular fractions detected by competitive r.i.a. or
      e.l.i.s.a. ranged from 1.5 micrograms/mg of protein in the rough endoplasmic
      reticulum to 13 micrograms/mg of protein in the trans-Golgi fraction. Using
      internal standards (NADPH-cytochrome c reductase for the endoplasmic reticulum
      and galactosyltransferase for the Golgi membranes) it was calculated that all the
      apo B of liver is recovered within the secretory compartment, with 63% of the
      total apo B in the endoplasmic reticulum and the remainder in the Golgi. When the
      subcellular fractions were separated into membranes and cisternal contents, 60%,
      50%, 60% and 30% of the total apo B was recovered in the membrane of the rough
      microsomes, smooth microsomes, cis-Golgi and trans-Golgi respectively. Using
      competitive e.l.i.s.a. we found that the membrane-bound form of the apo B was
      exposed at the cytosolic surface of the intact subcellular fractions. These
      observations are consistent with a model for assembly of very-low-density
      lipoproteins (VLDL) in which newly synthesized apo B is incorporated into a
      membrane-bound pool and a lumenal pool. The membrane-bound pool not used for VLDL
      assembly may be degraded, possibly in the Golgi region.

PMID- 1463447
TI  - Dissociated effects of 2-deoxy-D-glucose on D-[2-3H]glucose and D-[5-3H]glucose
      conversion into 3HOH in rat erythrocytes.
AB  - When rat erythrocytes were preincubated with 2-deoxy-D-glucose, the generation of
      both 3H-labelled acidic metabolites and 3HOH from D-[5-3H]glucose, the total
      production of L-lactate, and the generation of 14CO2, 14C-labelled acidic
      metabolites and 14C-labelled lactate from D-[1-14C]glucose or D-[U-14C]glucose
      were all lower than in erythrocytes preincubated in the absence of a hexose or in
      the presence of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose. However, preincubation with 2-deoxy-D
      glucose failed to decrease the generation of 3H-labelled acidic metabolites and L
      [3-3H]lactate from D-[2-3H]glucose, while decreasing the production of 3HOH more
      severely from D-[2-3H]glucose than from D-[5-3H]glucose. This may be attributable
      not solely to inhibition of D-glucose phosphorylation by 2-deoxy-D-glucose and 2
      deoxy-D-glucose 6-phosphate, but also to inhibition by 2-deoxy-D-glucose 6
      phosphate of hexose 6-phosphate interconversion in the reaction catalysed by
      phosphoglucoisomerase, as also observed with the purified enzyme. The generation
      of 3HOH from D-[2-3H]glucose should therefore be considered as a tool to assess
      the efficiency of interconversion of hexose 6-phosphates in the reaction
      catalysed by phosphoglucoisomerase, rather than to estimate D-glucose
      phosphorylation rate.

PMID- 1463448
TI  - Uptake and accumulation of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium by rat liver mitochondria
      measured using an ion-selective electrode.
AB  - The compound 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) causes selective
      destruction of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in primates, giving rise to a
      condition resembling Parkinson's disease. The toxicity of MPTP is believed to be
      due to its metabolite 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). MPP+ is an inhibitor of
      mitochondrial respiration at the NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase site and this,
      together with its selective transport into dopaminergic nerve terminals, accounts
      for its neurotoxicity. In this paper an electrode selective for MPP+ was
      developed and used to measure the rate of uptake and the steady-state
      accumulation of MPP+ in rat liver mitochondria. The initial rates of MPP+ uptake
      were not saturable, confirming previous work that the transport of MPP+ is not
      carrier-mediated. The membrane potential of mitochondria respiring on succinate
      was decreased by MPP+ and the steady-state accumulation ratio of MPP+ did not
      come to equilibrium with the mitochondrial transmembrane potential gradient
      (delta psi). The effect of the cation exchanger tetraphenylboron (5 microM) was
      to increase the initial rate of MPP+ uptake by about 20-fold and the steady-state
      accumulation by about 2-fold. This suggests that there may be a mechanism of
      efflux of MPP+ from mitochondria which allows MPP+ to cycle across the membrane
      and thus decrease delta psi. These data indicate that MPP+ interacts with
      mitochondria independently of its inhibition of NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase,
      and these alternative interactions may be of relevance for its mechanism of
      neurotoxicity.

PMID- 1463449
TI  - Ethanol and glycogen synthesis in cardiothoracic and skeletal muscles following
      glucose re-feeding after starvation in the rat.
AB  - The pattern of glycogen deposition in individual cardiothoracic and skeletal
      muscles in response to oral and intraperitoneal glucose administration was
      examined in 40 h-starved rats. Rates of glycogen synthesis were consistently
      higher in oxidative muscles than in non-oxidative muscles. Intragastric ethanol
      administration was associated with an impaired glycaemic response and the almost
      total abolition of glycogen deposition in oxidative muscles in response to oral
      or intraperitoneal glucose re-feeding. This effect was dose-dependent and
      differential, in that ethanol produced no equivalent impairment in glycogen
      deposition in non-oxidative muscles. Ethanol treatment also selectively promoted
      glycogenolysis in oxidative muscles in the starved state. There was positive
      correlation (P < 0.001) between the decrease in glycogen levels in soleus and
      diaphragm muscles in response to increasing ethanol doses and blood glucose and
      lactate concentrations after intraperitoneal glucose administration, implying
      that the basis for the impairment in glycogen synthesis may be diminished glucose
      availability. The mechanism whereby ethanol may differentially compromise
      carbohydrate metabolism in oxidative muscles is discussed.

PMID- 1463450
TI  - A non-glycosylated extracellular superoxide dismutase variant.
AB  - The secretory tetrameric extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) is the only
      glycosylated SOD isoenzyme. The importance of the carbohydrate moiety for the
      properties of the enzyme is unknown. An expression vector defining
      nonglycosylated EC-SOD (ngEC-SOD) was constructed by mutagenesis of the codon for
      Asn-89 into a codon for Gln. The vector was transfected into Chinese hamster
      ovary DXB-11 cells and ngEC-SOD was isolated to 70% purity from the culture media
      of selected clones. The absence of glycosylation was established by the lack of
      affinity for various lectins, the absence of staining with the periodic acid
      Schiff reagent, the change in mobility and composition of the tryptic peptide
      containing the mutated glycosylation site, and the reduction in apparent
      molecular mass upon SDS/PAGE and size-exclusion chromatography. The tetrameric
      state was retained. The heparin affinity, a fundamental and distinguishing
      property of EC-SOD, was found to be slightly increased. The enzymic activity was
      essentially retained. The major difference from native glycosylated enzyme in
      physical properties was a marked reduction in solubility. Like glycosylated EC
      SOD, ngEC-SOD was, after intravenous injection into rabbits, rapidly sequestered
      by the vessel endothelium, and was promptly released into plasma after injection
      of heparin. The only difference from glycosylated EC-SOD in this behaviour, was a
      slightly more rapid elimination of the mutant enzyme from the vasculature. It is
      concluded that no specific biological role for the EC-SOD carbohydrate moiety
      could be revealed.

PMID- 1463451
TI  - Ca2+ influx induced by the Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitors 2,5-di-(t-butyl)-1,4
      benzohydroquinone and thapsigargin in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells.
AB  - We have characterized the effect of the Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitors 2,5-di-(t-butyl)
      1,4-benzohydroquinone (tBHQ) and thapsigargin on the concentration of cytosolic
      Ca2+ in single bovine adrenal chromaffin cells by video-imaging of fura-2-loaded
      cells. Addition of either inhibitor released Ca2+ from internal stores in the
      absence of external Ca2+. tBHQ was unable to stimulate further Ca2+ release after
      addition of thapsigargin, but thapsigargin could do so after release by tBHQ,
      indicating that the tBHQ-sensitive stores are a sub-set of those sensitive to
      thapsigargin. Angiotensin II was able to elicit Ca2+ release after application of
      tBHQ, indicating that at least part of the tBHQ-sensitive stores were distinct
      from those discharged by Ins(1,4,5)P3. In the presence of external Ca2+, both
      Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitors produced a more prolonged rise in cytosolic Ca2+
      consistent with stimulated Ca2+ entry. The ability of the inhibitors to activate
      a Ca(2+)-entry pathway was confirmed by monitoring quenching of fura-2 after
      stimulated entry of the Ca2+ surrogate Mn2+. These findings indicate that bovine
      adrenal chromaffin cells possess a mechanism by which Ca2+ entry can be
      activated, following emptying of certain internal stores, independently of
      receptor occupation.

PMID- 1463452
TI  - Characterization of a phenobarbital-inducible cytochrome P-450, NADPH-cytochrome
      P-450 reductase and reconstituted cytochrome P-450 mono-oxygenase system from rat
      brain. Evidence for constitutive presence in rat and human brain.
AB  - Cytochrome P-450 was purified to apparent homogeneity from the brain microsomes
      of phenobarbital-treated rats. The specific content of the purified P-450 was
      12.7 nmol/mg of protein. NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase (reductase) was also
      purified to apparent homogeneity from brain microsomes. The specific content was
      34.7 mumol of cytochrome c reduced/min per mg of protein. The reduced carbon
      monoxide spectrum of purified P-450 exhibited a peak at 450 nm. Both the P-450
      and the reductase moved as single bands on SDS/PAGE. The molecular masses of the
      purified P-450 and the reductase were determined to be 53.3 and 72.0 kDa
      respectively. The purified brain P-450 cross-reacted with antibodies to rat liver
      P-450IIB1/IIB2 when examined by Western immunoblotting, but no immunological
      similarity was observed with rat liver P-450IA1/IA2 or P-450IIE1. Purified rat
      brain reductase cross-reacted with antibodies to rat liver reductase. Further,
      immunoblot experiments with untreated rat and human brain microsomes using
      antisera to the purified rat brain P-450 and reductase indicated that these forms
      of P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase exist constitutively in rat and
      human brain. Purified rat brain P-450 was reconstituted with purified NADPH
      cytochrome P-450 reductase, deoxycholate and dilauroyl glyceryl 3-phosphocholine.
      NADPH-dependent N-demethylation of aminopyrine and morphine was observed in the
      reconstituted system. The catalytic-centre activities were 80.25 and 38.2 nmol of
      formaldehyde formed/min per nmol of P-450 respectively. The reconstituted system
      had a comparatively lower catalytic-centre activity for 7-ethoxycoumarin O-de
      ethylase (10.5 nmol of product formed/min per nmol of P-450).

PMID- 1463453
TI  - D-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate releases Ca2+ from crude microsomes and
      enriched vesicular plasma membranes, but not from intracellular stores of
      permeabilized T-lymphocytes and monocytes.
AB  - In the human T-lymphocyte cell lines Jurkat and HPB.ALL and the human monocytoid
      cell line U937, Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 triggers a dose-dependent release of Ca2+ from
      crude microsomal preparations, with a half-maximal effective concentration (EC50)
      of 1.2-2.3 microM. Similar results were obtained with enriched vesicular plasma
      membranes from U937 cells. However, in permeabilized preparations of the same
      cell types only Ins(1,4,5)P3 was able to release Ca2+ from intracellular stores,
      with EC50 values in the range 0.11-0.84 microM. In crude microsomes the effects
      of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 and Ins(2,4,5)P3, a non-metabolizable InsP3 isomer, occurred
      independently of each other, indicating subpopulations of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4- and
      Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive vesicles. The Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 preparation used for the
      Ca(2+)-release experiments contains neither Ca2+ nor contaminating Ins(1,4,5)P3
      and was not metabolized to Ins(1,4,5)P3 during the Ca(2+)-release experiments. We
      conclude that Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 independently of Ins(1,4,5)P3 induces a Ca2+ flux
      via a membrane compartment, most likely the plasma membrane, that is functionally
      destroyed during the permeabilization of the cells.

PMID- 1463454
TI  - Regulation of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activity by alterations in the
      intracellular polyamine content.
AB  - The effects of addition of exogenous spermidine and spermine and of two
      inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis, alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), which
      decreases spermidine concentrations, and n-butyl-1,3-diaminopropane, which
      depletes spermine, on the expression of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase
      (AdoMetDC) activity were studied in mammalian cell lines (HT29, CHO and COS-7).
      AdoMetDC levels were inversely related to the polyamine content, and spermine was
      the more potent repressor of AdoMetDC activity, but only spermidine affected the
      amount of AdoMetDC mRNA. Transfection of COS-7 cells or CHO cells with plasmid
      constructs containing a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene
      driven by portions of the AdoMetDC promoter region indicated that CAT expression
      was altered by spermidine, but not by spermine, suggesting that there is a
      spermidine-responsive element in this promoter. Transient transfection of COS-7
      cells with pSAMh1, a plasmid containing the AdoMetDC cDNA in a vector with the
      SV40 promoter and origin of replication, led to a large increase in AdoMetDC
      expression. Although treatment of COS-7 cells with n-butyl-1,3-diaminopropane
      greatly increased endogenous AdoMetDC activity, the spermine depletion brought
      about by this inhibitor did not stimulate AdoMetDC expression from pSAMh1. The
      pSAMh1 cDNA is missing 72 nucleotides from the 5' end of the AdoMetDC mRNA, and
      it is possible that translational regulation by spermine involves this region.
      The expression of AdoMetDC from pSAMh1 in COS-7 cells was greatly inhibited by
      DFMO treatment, although endogenous AdoMetDC activity was increased. The
      expression of other plasmids containing the SV40 origin of replication was also
      inhibited by DFMO in COS-7 cells, but not in CHO cells. DFMO treatment did not
      interfere with the expression of plasmids driven by the RSV promoter. These
      results suggest that low spermidine levels interfere with the replication of
      plasmids containing the SV40 origin of replication.

PMID- 1463455
TI  - Control of plasma-membrane Ca2+ entry by the intracellular Ca2+ stores. Kinetic
      evidence for a short-lived mediator.
AB  - We have studied the correlation between the degree of filling of the
      intracellular Ca2+ stores and the plasma-membrane permeability to Mn2+, a Ca2+
      surrogate for plasma-membrane Ca2+ channels, in human neutrophils loaded with
      fura-2. Refilling of the stores of cells previously depleted of Ca2+ decreased
      the entry of Mn2+, but the magnitude of this effect depended on the refilling
      protocol. When refilling was allowed to proceed to steady-state levels by a 3 min
      incubation with different external Ca2+ concentrations (0.05-1 mM), almost
      complete inhibition of Mn2+ entry was observed at 40% of maximum refilling. In
      contrast, when different degrees of store refilling were attained by incubation
      with 1 mM-Ca2+ for short periods (10-40 s), inhibition of Mn2+ entry was smaller
      at comparable degrees of refilling. When quick refilling was allowed to proceed
      up to 40% (about 20 s at 37 degrees C) and then stopped at this level by removal
      of external Ca2+, the rate of Mn2+ uptake was high just after refilling and then
      decreased with time within the next few seconds (half-times approximately 7 s at
      37 degrees C and approximately 20 s at 25 degrees C). We have proposed previously
      that the Ca2+ stores, when emptied of Ca2+, may generate a second messenger able
      to open the plasma-membrane Ca2+ channels by a mechanism involving cytochrome P
      450. The results here are consistent with the existence of such a messenger and
      suggest that it is cleared from the cytoplasm with a half-time of about 7 s at 37
      degrees C. In addition, inhibition of Mn2+ entry in cells with empty Ca2+ stores
      by cytochrome P-450 inhibitors showed a time lag consistent with the clearance
      kinetics proposed above.

PMID- 1463456
TI  - Analysis of algebraic weighted least-squares estimators for enzyme parameters.
AB  - An algorithm for the least-squares estimation of enzyme parameters Km and Vmax.
      is proposed and its performance analysed. The problem is non-linear, but the
      algorithm is algebraic and does not require initial parameter estimates. On a
      spreadsheet program such as MINITAB, it may be coded in as few as ten
      instructions. The algorithm derives an intermediate estimate of Km and Vmax.
      appropriate to data with a constant coefficient of variation and then applies a
      single reweighting. Its performance using simulated data with a variety of error
      structures is compared with that of the classical reciprocal transforms and to
      both appropriately and inappropriately weighted direct least-squares estimators.
      Three approaches to estimating the standard errors of the parameter estimates are
      discussed, and one suitable for spreadsheet implementation is illustrated.

PMID- 1463457
TI  - A cDNA clone for human glucosamine-6-sulphatase reveals differences between
      arylsulphatases and non-arylsulphatases.
AB  - Glucosamine-6-sulphatase is an exo-hydrolase required for the lysosomal
      degradation of heparan sulphate and keratan sulphate. Deficiency of glucosamine-6
      sulphatase activity leads to the lysosomal storage of the glycosaminoglycan,
      heparan sulphate and the monosaccharide sulphate N-acetylglucosamine 6-sulphate
      and the autosomal recessive genetic disorder mucopolysaccharidosis type IIID.
      Glucosamine-6-sulphatase can be classified as a non-arylsulphatase since,
      relative to arylsulphatase B, it shows negligible activity toward 4
      methylumbelliferyl sulphate. We have isolated human cDNA clones and derived amino
      acid sequence coding for the entire glucosamine-6-sulphatase protein. The
      predicted sequence has 552 amino acids with a leader peptide of 36 amino acids
      and contains 13 potential N-glycosylation sites, of which it is likely that 10
      are used. Glucosamine-6-sulphatase shows strong sequence similarity to other
      sulphatases such as the family of arylsulphatases, although the degree of
      similarity is not as high as that between members of the arylsulphatase family.
      This pattern of inter- and intra-family similarity delineates regions and amino
      acid residues that may be critical for sulphatase function and substrate
      specificity.

PMID- 1463458
TI  - Erythroid expression and DNAaseI-hypersensitive sites of the carbonic anhydrase 1
      gene.
AB  - The carbonic anhydrase 1 gene is expressed in adult human and mouse erythroid
      cells and colon epithelia from two distinct promoters. We have explored the
      erythroid promoter for cis-acting sequences involved in transcription using
      DNAaseI as a probe. Two DNAaseI-hypersensitive sites (DHS-1 and DHS-2) have been
      identified in the distal erythroid promoter in CA1-expressing erythroleukaemic
      cells. These sites are present at low levels in K562 cells, which have a
      foetal/embryonic phenotype and do not express CA1. DHS-1 and DHS-2 are not
      present in non-erythroid cells, including colon cells, which express CA1 from the
      proximal colon promoter. DHS-1 and DHS-2 were also generated in an heterologous
      CA1 gene containing 5 kb of erythroid promoter sequence after transfection into
      erythroid cells, including K562 cells. These transfection studies showed that
      both this fragment, and an abbreviated 817 bp promoter fragment which contains
      only DHS-1, were sufficient to confer erythroid-specific expression to a reporter
      gene. These promoters were active in cell lines expressing CA1 and in K562 cells.
      This latter observation implies that a developmental repressor factor is both
      present in K562 cells and binds to a cis-acting sequence that is absent from the
      sequence 5 kb upstream of the erythroid transcription start site.

PMID- 1463459
TI  - Characterization of a human seminal plasma glycosaminoglycan-bearing polypeptide.
AB  - A glycosaminoglycan-bearing polypeptide (S.GP), present in human seminal plasma,
      was purified to homogeneity by a combination of CsCl density-gradient
      centrifugation, f.p.l.c. ion-exchange chromatography on a Mono Q HR column and
      Superose 6 gel filtration. The observed polydispersity of S.GP was attributed to
      the heterogeneity of its glycosaminoglycan content. Enzymic deglycosylation
      experiments and N-terminal amino-acid sequence determination indicate that it
      consists of a polypeptide (apparent molecular mass approx. 18 kDa) bearing both
      chondroitin and heparan sulphate chains. Evidence is given that S.GP contains a
      glycosaminoglycan-linkage domain of a so far uncharacterized gene product,
      proteolytically processed in the genital tract.

PMID- 1463460
TI  - Active-site characterization of S1 nuclease. II. Involvement of histidine in
      catalysis.
AB  - Modification of the histidine residues of purified S1 nuclease resulted in loss
      of its single-stranded (ss)DNAase, RNAase and phosphomonoesterase activities.
      Kinetics of inactivation indicated the involvement of a single histidine residue
      in the catalytic activity of the enzyme. Furthermore, histidine modification was
      accompanied by the concomitant loss of all the activities of the enzyme,
      indicating the presence of a common catalytic site responsible for the hydrolysis
      of ssDNA, RNA and 3'-AMP. Substrate protection was not observed against Methylene
      Blue- and diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEP)-mediated inactivation. The histidine (DEP)
      modified enzyme could effectively bind 5'-AMP, a competitive inhibitor of S1
      nuclease, whereas the lysine (2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid)-modified
      enzyme showed a significant decrease in its ability to bind 5'-AMP. The inability
      of the substrates to protect the enzyme against DEP-mediated inactivation,
      coupled with the ability of the modified enzyme to bind 5'-AMP effectively,
      suggests the involvement of histidine in catalysis.

PMID- 1463461
TI  - Synthesis of 35S-labelled macromolecules by polymorphonuclear neutrophils.
      Evidence for the production of [35S]sulphite which can modify both endogenous and
      exogenous proteins.
AB  - The incorporation of [35S]sulphate into macromolecules by rabbit peritoneal
      polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) in vitro revealed that two major groups of
      35S-labelled macromolecules were synthesized by these cells. The first group did
      not bind to anion-exchange columns at pH 6.0 and contained 60-80% of the total
      incorporated radiolabel. The second group did bind to anion-exchange columns at
      pH 6.0 and eluted as a single peak of radioactivity at an ionic strength
      characteristic of sulphated proteoglycans; it accounted for the remaining
      incorporated radiolabel. Analysis of this material on Sepharose CL-6B
      demonstrated that 35S-labelled macromolecules isolated from the cell extract
      migrated with Kav. of 0.36, while corresponding material isolated from the medium
      migrated with Kav. of 0.51. When subjected to electrophoresis on
      SDS/polyacrylamide gels the intact proteoglycan had a molecular mass of approx.
      90 kDa and yielded two core proteins of molecular mass 31 kDa and 28 kDa after
      digestion with chondroitinase ABC. The peak of labelled macromolecules which did
      not bind to the anion-exchange column was found, by SDS/PAGE, to comprise 35S
      labelled proteins of various molecular masses. The 35S label was displaced from
      this fraction by treatment with 0.1 M-sodium sulphite, suggesting that the
      radiolabel was in the form of an S-sulpho sulphite derivative. Using the sulphite
      trapping agents N-2,4-dinitroanilinomaleimide and cyst(e)ine, [35S]sulphite was
      detected in the incubation medium of PMN, indicating that these cells were able
      to synthesize [35S]sulphite from [35S]sulphate. The release of [35S]sulphite from
      neutrophil cultures was calculated to be 78 pmol/h per 10(6) cells. When
      exogenous proteins were included in the incubation medium of cell cultures, the
      [35S]sulphite reacted with these proteins to form a stable 35S-labelled
      conjugate.

PMID- 1463462
TI  - Increased gall-bladder prostanoid synthesis after bile-duct ligation in the
      rabbit is secondary to new enzyme formation.
AB  - Ligation of the common bile duct (BDL) in the male rabbit resulted in increased
      gall-bladder microsomal total cyclo-oxygenase activity with prostaglandin E2
      (PGE2) and 6-oxoprostaglandin F1 alpha [6-oxo-PGF1 alpha, stable metabolite of
      prostaglandin I2 (PGI2; prostacyclin)] as the major prostanoids synthesized after
      24 and 72 h. Kinetic analysis of gallbladder microsomal membrane fractions
      incubated with increasing levels of [14C]arachidonic acid indicated that BDL for
      24 and 72 h did not change substrate affinity (apparent Km) but markedly
      increased the rate of conversion (apparent Vmax.) suggesting the presence of more
      total enzyme responsible for synthesis of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha and PGE2. BDL for 24
      and 72 h significantly increased gall-bladder tissue slice basal release of 6-oxo
      PGF1 alpha, but not PGE2, when compared with the controls. Gall-bladder slice
      release of PGE2 was 3-fold less than 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha in the control gall-bladder
      slices. Immunoblot analysis of 72 h BDL gall-bladder microsomal membrane
      fractions showed a slight increase in cyclo-oxygenase content and a 5-fold
      increase in the content of prostacyclin synthase as compared with the control.
      These data suggest that the BDL-stimulated total gall-bladder cyclo-oxygenase
      activity was the result of an increase in the level of specific prostaglandin
      synthetic enzymes, in particular prostacyclin synthase, and not from a change in
      enzyme affinity.

PMID- 1463463
TI  - Evidence of H- and L-chains have co-operative roles in the iron-uptake mechanism
      of human ferritin.
AB  - The ability to incorporate iron in vitro was studied in homopolymers of human
      ferritin L-chain, human ferritin H-chain and its variants and in homopolymer
      mixtures. The H-chain variants carried amino acid substitutions in the
      ferroxidase centre and/or in carboxy residues on the cavity surface. Iron
      incorporation was examined by gel electrophoresis of the reaction products by
      staining for iron and protein. It was found that inactivation of the ferroxidase
      centre combined with the substitution of four carboxy groups on the cavity
      abolished the ability of H-chain ferritin to incorporate iron. Competition
      experiments with limited amounts of iron showed that, at neutral pH, L-chain
      ferritin is more efficient in forming iron cores than the H-chain variants
      altered at the ferroxidase activity or in the cavity. Competition experiments at
      pH 5.5 demonstrated that L-chain apoferritin is able to incorporate iron only
      when in the presence of H-chain variants with ferroxidase activity. The results
      indicate that L-chain apoferritin has a higher capacity than the H-chain
      apoferritin to induce iron-core nucleation, whereas H-chain ferritin is superior
      in promoting Fe(II) oxidation. The finding of cooperative roles of the H- and L
      chains in ferritin iron uptake provides a clue to understanding the biological
      function of isoferritins.

PMID- 1463464
TI  - Cell-mediated degradation of type IV collagen and gelatin films is dependent on
      the activation of matrix metalloproteinases.
AB  - The ability of normal rabbit dermal fibroblasts to degrade films of type IV
      collagen and gelatin when stimulated by phorbol ester was shown to be dependent
      on the induction, secretion and activation of 95 kDa gelatinase B and the
      secretion and activation of 72 kDa gelatinase A and stromelysin. Degradation was
      inhibited by exogenous human recombinant tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases
      1, specific antibodies to gelatinase and stromelysin and by the reactive-oxygen
      metabolite inhibitor catalase. We discuss the various pathways for activation of
      matrix metalloproteinases in this model system and conclude that, although
      plasmin may play a key role in the activation of gelatinase B and stromelysin,
      gelatinase A is activated by a mechanism which has yet to be elucidated. The
      involvement of oxygen radicals in the direct activation of matrix
      metalloproteinases in this model is thought to be unlikely.

PMID- 1463465
TI  - Demonstration of cathepsins B, H and L in xenografts of normal and Duchenne
      muscular-dystrophy muscles transplanted into nude mice.
AB  - The activities and contents of the lysosomal cysteine proteinases cathepsins B, H
      and L were examined in xenografts of biopsied muscles transplanted from age
      matched normal subjects and Duchenne-muscular-dystrophy (DMD) patients into nude
      mice. The activity of cathepsin B increased 9-fold and that of B-plus-L increased
      24-fold in the first week after transplantation in normal muscle xenografts. By
      the third week, the activity of cathepsin B increased a total of 20-fold and B
      plus-L increased to 36-fold the original level. The activity levels of cathepsin
      B, B-plus-L, H and D, and acid phosphatase in normal and DMD xenografts were not
      significantly different when compared 2 weeks after transplantation. However, the
      protein content of cathepsin B in DMD muscle xenografts was more than 3-fold that
      of normal xenografts at 2 weeks. The profile of cathepsin H activity in normal
      muscle xenografts was different than those of cathepsins B and B-plus-L. In the
      first week, the cathepsin H diminished sharply to about one-third of the biopsied
      muscle level and then, by 3 weeks after transplantation, it had increased
      slightly to about half the original level. The amount of endogenous cysteine
      proteinase inhibitor changed in parallel with the activity of cathepsins B and B
      plus-L. Cathepsins B and H, but not cathepsin L, were found immunohistochemically
      in regenerating muscle fibres of normal and DMD xenografts 2 weeks after
      transplantation. Staining of cathepsin B in DMD xenografts was slightly stronger
      than that in normal subjects. There was no immunostaining in degenerating or
      necrotic muscle fibres 2 weeks after transplantation. Western-blot analysis
      revealed that the cathepsin B band at 29 kDa was increased in normal xenografts 2
      and 3 weeks after transplantation. Also, 2 weeks after transplantation the
      staining intensity of this band was slightly stronger in DMD xenografts than in
      normal xenografts. These results suggest that cathepsin B participates in the
      regeneration of transplanted muscle, both normal and DMD, and in the DMD muscle
      fibre-wasting processes, during regeneration.

PMID- 1463466
TI  - Caeruloplasmin biosynthesis by the human uterus.
AB  - The blue copper protein caeruloplasmin is synthesized mainly by hepatocytes. An
      alternative transcript for caeruloplasmin produced in certain extrahepatic
      tissues, CP-1, contains an additional 12 nucleotides encoding 4 amino acids not
      present in the hepatic transcript, CP-2 [Yang, Friedrichs, Cupples, Bonifacio, S
      Sanford, Horton & Bowman (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 10780-10785]. We have
      demonstrated transcription of caeruloplasmin mRNA by a well-differentiated human
      uterine epithelial adenocarcinoma cell line, Ishikawa, and by human uterine
      endometrium and purified endometrial glands. Identical CP-2 nucleotide sequences
      were obtained for partial caeruloplasmin transcripts from human liver and
      Ishikawa cells, indicating that CP-2 transcripts are produced by uterine
      epithelial lining cells. The synthesis of caeruloplasmin protein was demonstrated
      for Ishikawa cells and another uterine adenocarcinoma cell line, ECC1. Peptide
      mapping analysis indicated that caeruloplasmin secreted by Ishikawa cells was
      structurally identical with the protein synthesized by the human hepatoblastoma
      cell line HepG2. The secretion of a 135,000-M(r) caeruloplasmin by Ishikawa and
      ECC1 cells, comparable with that of the human hepatoblastoma cell line, HepG2,
      indicated similar processing of uterine and hepatic caeruloplasmin. Incorporation
      of 67Cu into caeruloplasmin was demonstrated for Ishikawa and ECC1 cells,
      suggesting that the human uterus produces a bioactive form of caeruloplasmin and
      possesses the necessary metal transporters and intracellular machinery for copper
      incorporation into this protein.

PMID- 1463467
TI  - Possible multifunction of glucose transporter. Transport of nicotinamide by
      reconstituted liposomes.
AB  - A kinetic study of the uptake of nicotinamide by reconstituted liposomes
      containing the human erythrocyte glucose transporter, compared with that of D
      glucose, demonstrated that the Km and Vmax. values were almost the same for each
      compound, and that the uptake of D-glucose was competitively inhibited by
      nicotinamide. At 20 mM concentration, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, 3-O-methyl-D-glucose and
      4,6-O-ethylidene-D-glucose all caused 50% inhibition of nicotinamide uptake, but
      L-glucose and nicotinic acid were not inhibitory. Similar results were obtained
      for the uptake of D-glucose. Cytochalasin B binding to the liposomes was
      inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by either nicotinamide or D-glucose.
      Antibody for glucose transporter detected in band 4.5 by SDS/PAGE inhibited the
      uptake of D-glucose and nicotinamide. A possible uptake of nicotinamide by
      nucleoside transporter was excluded. In human erythrocytes, cytochalasin B
      binding was inhibited dose-dependently by either nicotinamide or D-glucose, and
      cytochalasin B depressed the uptake of both nicotinamide and 2-deoxy-D-glucose.
      These findings were well reproduced in the reconstituted liposomes. The very
      close similarities between uptake of nicotinamide and D-glucose suggest that the
      glucose transporter plays a direct role in transport of nicotinamide, which is
      structurally quite different from monosaccharides, and thus that the transporter
      is probably multifunctional.

PMID- 1463468
TI  - Evidence that GLUT-2 mRNA and protein concentrations are decreased by
      hyperinsulinaemia and increased by hyperglycaemia in liver of diabetic rats.
AB  - GLUT-2, glucokinase (GK) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) mRNA
      expression was studied in the liver of chronically catheterized diabetic rats
      during the 3 days after an intravenous injection of 65 mg of streptozotocin
      (STZ)/kg. At 6 h after the STZ injection, portal plasma insulin levels were 270
      +/- 32 mu-units/ml and blood glucose was 1.4 +/- 0.4 mmol/l, owing to pancreatic
      beta-cell destruction. GLUT-2 and PEPCK mRNA concentrations were rapidly and
      dramatically decreased (> 90%), whereas GK mRNA was increased. After 30 h, plasma
      insulin concentrations were lower than 5 mu-units/ml and blood glucose was > 20
      mmol/l. GLUT-2 and PEPCK mRNA concentrations increased 2-fold and GK mRNA
      disappeared progressively. In order to assess the relative roles of
      hyperglycaemia and insulinopenia, blood glucose was clamped at 6.4 +/- 0.5 mmol/l
      from 18 to 72 h after STZ injection by phlorizin infusion (0.5-2 g/day per kg) or
      at 6.6 +/- 0.3 mmol/l from 18 to 48 h after STZ injection by insulin infusion
      (0.25 unit/min per kg). GLUT-2 mRNA concentrations were 50% lower in phlorizin
      infused than in untreated diabetic rats. The low levels of GK mRNA and the high
      levels of PEPCK mRNA were unaffected by normalization of hyperglycaemia in
      phlorizin-infused diabetic rats. In insulin-infused rats (portal plasma insulin
      levels of 40 mu-units/ml) GLUT-2 mRNA levels were 25% of those in untreated
      diabetic rats, and they increased rapidly 6 h after insulin infusion was stopped.
      Liver GLUT-2 protein concentration showed similar changes in response to STZ
      injection and to phlorizin or insulin treatment, but after a delay of several
      hours. From this work we conclude that GLUT-2 gene expression is dramatically and
      rapidly (< 6 h) decreased by portal hyperinsulinaemia and increased by
      hyperglycaemia.

PMID- 1463469
TI  - Cell volume and bile acid excretion.
AB  - The interaction between cell volume and taurocholate excretion into bile was
      studied in isolated perfused rat liver. Cell swelling due to hypo-osmotic
      exposure, addition of amino acids or insulin stimulated taurocholate excretion
      into bile and bile flow, whereas hyperosmotic cell shrinkage inhibited these.
      These effects were explained by changes in Vmax of taurocholate excretion into
      bile: Vmax. increased from about 300 to 700 nmol/min per g after cell swelling by
      12-15% caused by either hypo-osmotic exposure or addition of amino acids under
      normo-osmotic conditions. Steady-state taurocholate excretion into bile was not
      affected when the influent K+ concentration was increased from 6 to 46 mM or
      decreased to 1 mM with iso-osmoticity being maintained by corresponding changes
      in the influent Na+ concentration. Replacement of 40 mM-NaCl by 80 mM-sucrose
      decreased taurocholate excretion into bile by about 70%; subsequent hypo-osmotic
      exposure by omission of sucrose increased taurocholate excretion to 160%. Only
      minor, statistically insignificant, effects of aniso-osmotic cell volume changes
      on the appearance of bolus-injected horseradish peroxidase in bile were observed.
      Taurocholate (400 microM) exhibited a cholestatic effect during hyperosmotic cell
      shrinkage, but not during hypo-osmotic cell swelling. Both taurocholate and
      tauroursodeoxycholate increased liver cell volume. Tauroursodeoxycholate
      stimulated taurocholate (100 microM) excretion into bile. This stimulatory effect
      was strongly dependent on the extent of tauroursodeoxycholate-induced cell
      swelling. During continuous infusion of taurocholate (100 microM) further
      addition of tauroursodeoxycholate at concentrations of 20, 50 and 100 microM
      increased cell volume by 10, 8 and 2% respectively, in parallel with a
      stimulation of taurocholate excretion into bile by 29, 27 and 9% respectively.
      There was a close relationship between the extent of cell volume changes and
      taurocholate excretion into bile, regardless of whether cell volume was modified
      by tauroursodeoxycholate, amino acids or aniso-osmotic exposure. The data suggest
      that: (i) liver cell volume is one important factor determining bile flow and
      biliary taurocholate excretion; (ii) swelling-induced stimulation of taurocholate
      excretion into bile is probably not explained by alterations of the membrane
      potential; (iii) bile acids modulate liver cell volume; (iv) taurocholate-induced
      cholestasis may depend on cell volume; (v) stimulation of taurocholate excretion
      into bile by tauroursodeoxycholate can largely be explained by
      tauroursodeoxycholate-induced cell swelling.

PMID- 1463470
TI  - Escherichia coli dihydrodipicolinate synthase. Identification of the active site
      and crystallization.
AB  - Escherichia coli dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHDPS) (EC 4.2.1.52), the first
      enzyme unique to lysine biosynthesis, catalyses the condensation of pyruvate and
      aspartate beta-semialdehyde (ASA) by a ping-pong mechanism. Pyruvate binds first
      to the enzyme, forming a Schiff base with the epsilon-amino group of Lys-161,
      followed by binding of ASA. Km values of 0.57 and 0.55 mM were determined for
      pyruvate and DL-ASA respectively. 3-Bromopyruvate inhibits DHDPS with a Ki of 1.6
      mM. DHDPS is 50% inhibited by 1.0 mM-L-lysine, 1.2 mM-sodium dipicolinate or 4.6
      mM-S-2-aminoethyl-L-cysteine. Crystals of DHDPS diffracting to beyond a
      resolution of 0.24 nm (2.4 A) were obtained under several experimental
      conditions. Diffraction patterns were compatible with trigonal space groups
      P3(1)21 or P3(2)21, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 12.26 nm and c = 11.19 nm.
      The density of the crystals indicates the presence of a dimer of DHDPS subunits
      per asymmetric unit.

PMID- 1463471
TI  - NIH conference. Gastrointestinal infections in AIDS.
AB  - As the largest lymphoid organ in the body, the gastrointestinal tract is a
      potential reservoir for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative agent
      of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and it is an important site for
      HIV-induced immunodeficiency. The resulting defects in cellular and humoral
      defense mechanisms predispose the gastrointestinal tract to a spectrum of viral,
      fungal, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens that cause relentless morbidity and,
      in some cases, death. With a thorough diagnostic evaluation, physicians can
      identify one or more of these pathogens in a majority of patients with AIDS who
      have gastrointestinal symptoms. The identification of enteric pathogens in
      patients with AIDS is important because an increasing array of therapeutic
      regimens is becoming available to treat many of these infections.

PMID- 1463472
TI  - Pigmented villonodular synovitis of the knee. The results of total arthroscopic
      synovectomy, partial, arthroscopic synovectomy, and arthroscopic local excision.
AB  - Twenty-five patients who had had a diagnosis of pigmented villonodular synovitis
      of the knee were followed for an average of four and one-half years (range, two
      to ten years) after arthroscopic treatment. Five patients had had localized
      lesions and had been managed with local resection; all five had improvement, with
      no apparent recurrence. The remaining twenty patients had had diffuse disease. Of
      these twenty, eleven had had a complete arthroscopic synovectomy. All eleven had
      definite improvement in pain and function, and almost all had a decrease in
      synovitis and an increase in the range of motion of the knee; the disease
      recurred in only one. The other nine patients had had a partial arthroscopic
      synovectomy. Although most had some improvement in function and range of motion
      and a decrease in pain and synovitis, the disease recurred in five of the nine.
      Thus, in the patients who had had diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis, the
      rate of recurrence was lower in those who had had a complete arthroscopic
      synovectomy than in those who had had a partial arthroscopic synovectomy (p =
      0.01).

PMID- 1463473
TI  - Barriers to pediatric referral in managed care systems.
AB  - Anecdotal evidence suggests that children's access to pediatric subspecialty and
      inpatient care is hampered by referral barriers imposed by managed care systems.
      To identify such barriers and determine how they affect the referral process, a
      sample of American Academy of Pediatrics Fellows (n = 1598) was surveyed. The
      response rate was 79.1% (n = 1264). Of those pediatricians in direct patient care
      (n = 956), 71.4% participated in a managed care plan. Pediatricians referred
      patients in managed care systems somewhat less frequently than in traditional pay
      systems: 8.7% and 6.9% referred managed care patients to subspecialists and
      inpatient care, respectively, less often. More than 20% and 10% of pediatricians
      with patients in managed care systems had at least one referral to subspecialist
      care and inpatient care, respectively, denied in the previous year. Pediatricians
      experienced more barriers in preferred provider organizations than in health
      maintenance organizations. These data suggest that utilization management
      programs, such as those used in managed care systems, may limit necessary access
      to pediatric subspecialty and inpatient care.

PMID- 1463474
TI  - Dengue.

PMID- 1463475
TI  - The case for using waist to hip ratio measurements in routine medical checks.
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To provide a rationale for using waist:hip ratio (WHR) measurements in
      clinical practice. DATA SOURCES: The article reviews the literature on body fat
      distribution back to the mid 1950s. STUDY SELECTION: Studies are reviewed which
      show a clear association between abdominal obesity and a range of ailments
      including coronary events, hypertension, blood lipid levels, cholecystectomy,
      diabetes and gallbladder disease. DATA EXTRACTION: Key data on the correlation of
      body fat distribution and health risks are summarised. DATA SYNTHESIS: Abdominal
      fat measured by a WHR may be a better single predictor of many diseases than
      other risk factors such as overall obesity, hypertension, smoking, or
      hypercholesterolaemia. CONCLUSIONS: The association between WHR and risk
      indicators appears to be "dose" related, and independent of sex, race and age.
      High WHRs, however, are more characteristic of men with lower socioeconomic
      status, whereas weight control programs are more commonly developed for women. A
      reorientation of weight control initiatives based on health rather than aesthetic
      priorities is needed. Measurement of WHR should be a routine part of clinical
      assessments. The predictability of the measure can be improved by combining it
      with a measure of body mass.

PMID- 1463476
TI  - Should radiologists report on every film?

PMID- 1463477
TI  - Caring for HIV-infected women and children.

PMID- 1463478
TI  - The appropriate goals of antihypertensive therapy: neither too much nor too
      little.
AB  - Although the treatment of hypertension has increased markedly during the last
      decade, many patients have been left undertreated, including many of the
      disadvantaged, the elderly, and those at relatively high overall risk for
      cardiovascular disease. A rapidly growing number of patients, however, are being
      exposed to overtreatment with resultant interference with their quality of life
      and potential hazards to their health. These include patients who are diagnosed
      and treated without adequate documentation of the presence of persistent
      hypertension, patients who are not appropriately managed with nondrug therapies,
      and patients who are given inappropriate and overly aggressive drug therapies.
      Better recognition of the frequency and potential hazards of overtreatment is
      needed so that more appropriate goals of antihypertensive therapy can be
      established and maintained.

PMID- 1463479
TI  - Treating depression and anxiety in primary care. Closing the gap between
      knowledge and practice.

PMID- 1463480
TI  - Genomic structure and mapping of the chromosomal gene for transcobalamin I
      (TCN1): comparison to human intrinsic factor.
AB  - Transcobalamin I (TCI) is a vitamin B12 binding protein that is found in the
      secondary granules of mature neutrophils. The expression of the gene for TCI
      (TCN1) within neutrophils has been shown to be restricted to the later stages of
      myeloid development and can therefore be used as a marker for granulocyte
      differentiation. To study transcriptional control regions important in late stage
      myeloid gene regulation the genomic sequence for TCN1 has been cloned. Clones
      were isolated from a genomic library constructed in Charon 4A using homologous
      full-length cDNA probes. Southern blot analysis showed the gene to reside on five
      EcoRI fragments totaling 14 kb in length. Two overlapping phage clones,
      containing the entire 14 kb, were isolated and the introns and exons were mapped
      using Southern blotting and dideoxy sequencing of subclones. The cDNA is
      represented by nine exons contained within 12 kb of genomic DNA. Comparison of
      the genomic structure to gastric intrinsic factor (GIF), another vitamin B12
      binding protein, revealed a strikingly similar intron/exon structure, with
      several positionally conserved splice sites. The gene was localized to chromosome
      11 using in situ hybridization.

PMID- 1463481
TI  - NSAID adverse effects & interactions: who is at risk?

PMID- 1463482
TI  - Can physicians afford not to get involved in hospital administration?

PMID- 1463483
TI  - Add another dose of Haemophilus influenzae vaccine.